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scathecraw · 3 years ago

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BBRae Week 2021 - Day 3: Into The Woods

“Summer camp has been so much fun, Rachel. Teether hasn’t cried once since the day after you dropped us off, and Tommy got first place in the obstacle course. You were right, we should have done a camp last year, too.” Melvin chattered excitedly on the office phone while Rachel listened patiently. “They’ve made a bunch of arts and crafts, and the woods here are so cool. They’re really old, and Gar knows so muchabout all the trees and animals and bugs.”

“And who is this Gar, Melvin? A new friendof yours?” Rachel’s emphasis was obvious, and Melvin’s blush was practically audible.

“NO! He’s a counselor. He’s really nice, but he’s really old. Like, 50 or something. You’ll meet him on parent’s day next week.”

Rachel didn’t remember anyone older than the director, a middle aged woman she had spoken to when getting them enrolled and again during drop-off. She suspected Melvin was fibbing to cover her embarrassment, but she brought it on herself by teasing the preteen. “I’m sure I will. Does this mean that you’re going to drag me out into the forest when I come? I thought it was going to be an afternoon of arts and crafts and then some campfire songs, not a forced march.”

“Duh. Arts and crafts are lame. Gar said that next year he’d show us how to whittle, which sounds better than making lanyards.” There was muffled adolescent shouting, and Melvin covered the receiver and yelled back. “I gotta go. We’re going swimming. I’ll call you on Friday. Love you, bye.” She hung up before anything could be said back, and Rachel was left with dead air while Melvin sprinted after her friends, untied shoelaces flailing behind her.

Arriving at the aforementioned “Parent’s Day”, Rachel wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The camp had at first seemed like a good way to get the three adopted children outside instead of rotting their brains, but the sheer noise of a few dozen milling, clamoring kids and groups of socializing parents made her wonder what she had subjected them, and by extension, herself, to. She was late, which probably didn’t help the situation, but she looked around the chaos in an effort to find her own three chaos engines. Instead, she was spotted.

A wild, dirty missile made a high-volume impact with her legs, nearly toppling her and babblingso fast that even Rachel’s practiced ear couldn’t discern what he was saying. She was wobbling and about to fall over when a firm hand caught her upper back and helped her regain her balance. “Teether, dude! I said you could go get her, not try to body slam her.”

Rachel finally planted her feet, acknowledged Teether with a gentle hand on his head, and looked up. And up. They both froze for an instant, but the tanned, blond man recovered first. His slack jaw snapped into a smile, and he said “Hi. You must be Rachel. I’m Gar, one of the counselors here.”

His hand was still on her back and heat radiated from it like afternoon sun. Her face had never fallen into the silly expression his had, but unconscious thought raced before she could regain her composure. ‘Definitely not fifty,’ she thought. “Hello. Yes, I’m Rachel, Teether’s mother.” She peeled Teether from her leg with practiced ease, and he sprang off of her and ran.

Gar realized that his hand still rested behind her, almost possessively, and retreated to a more respectable distance. He chuckled, nervously. “Heh. Um, Melvin and Tommy are with their friends, still, but we should probably get them. Ms. Waller asked me to show you around – she said you had just moved to the area?” It wasn’t a question, but he phrased it like it was. They began walking back towards the milling crowd of parents, children, and quite possibly enough noise to drown out a jet engine.

“Yes, it’s our first summer here. She mentioned that most of the kids made this an annual activity, but I didn’t think we’d be so strange as to warrant a personal detail.”

“Oh it’s nothing like that, it’s just that there’s not really many other summer camps around, and ‘cause we go from K-12, we get pretty much everyone. A lot of the other parents already know everybody. You’re not strange, just… new.” His eyes never left her, even as they began walking.

Back with the crowds, Melvin and a gaggle of similarly aged girls watch the two of them. One of them nodded decisively and turned to Melvin. “Okay. They’re too cute together. Look at how awkward they’re being.”

Anotherhuffed a little. “They’re just staring at each other. They should be holding hands or something, right?”

Melvin’s eyes narrowed critically. “It’s been like 10 minutes and they aren’t kissing yet. Gar’s probably too much of a nerd to do anything. We need to do something to make sure they know how perfect for each other they are.”

“Like what? They aren’t going to start making out in the middle of the crowd.”

An evil smirk crept across Melvin’s face. “Maybe not in the middle of the crowd, but what if they were all alone in the woods? Then they’d have no excuse not to!”

A look of awe crossed her companions’ faces. “That’s evil. I love it.”

But the smirk fell, half-formed plot evaporating. “But how could we get them out there alone? It can’t be anything serious, or else Rachel will ground me forever, and I bet she won’t even go unless we can trick her into it.”

“Could you just tell her you feel sick?”

“No.” Melvin shook her head slowly. “Then she’d either stay with me or just take me home early.”

One, heretofore silent, chimed in. “I think I know what we can do. But Mel, you’re going to have to make a lanyard.” She giggled at the disgusted look, and said “C’mon, we only have like 15 minutes before they start wondering where we are.”

Across the crowd and a million miles away, Garfield and Rachel were, in fact, being tremendously awkward as they watched the kids run and play. Gar fumbled his words and couldn’t decide to stare at her eyes, the curve of her neck, or decidedly anywhere except her. Rachel was the opposite. She answered in short, monosyllabic whispers and swallowed, trying to ease her desperately dry throat.

“So, uh, you said you just moved here! Do you have a job, er, of course you do, unless you don’t! That’s fine, too! Nothing wrong with… that. Yeah.” He trailed off, before gamely trying again. “So what do you do when you’re not, y’know, coming to summer camps?”

Rachel took a deep breath and centered herself. Gar started. “I’m not, like, annoying you, am I? I’m sorry, I tend to blabber -”

“No. I’m just… a little off-kilter. I’m a curator of antiquities at the museum.”

“That is so cool. Gar’s eyes were like dinner plates. “I love the museum! I always wanted to volunteer there, but I never feel like I have time between summers here and planning classes during the year.”

“Oh, you’re a teacher? Grade school or high school?”

“High school and occasionally some classes at the community college. I figured I was already teaching AP and college bio isn’t much different. I’m sure the kids get tired of me after the sixth year, though, heh.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, uncomfortably warm even for a summer afternoon.

“I suppose they wouldn’t let you teach so many years if you weren’t good at the job. Not that biology is my area of expertise.” She clarified, hearing his unspoken question. “I studied history and preservation, so a natural history museum is certainly a big change.”

“Wow, I bet. Still, nobody does what they expected to when they were in college. I got a bachelor’s in Environmental Science, but it turns out most of those jobs are just telling corporations what they want to hear.”

Rachel leveled him with a newly assessing gaze. “Believe it or not, so are quite a few jobs in archaeology. It’s what put me off of the field.”

“But hey, teaching led me to Jump and to Lake Titan Camp, so I can’t complain.”

While the two nominal adults conversed, a far more intricate conversation was happening in the craft cabin. Kole, a pink haired co-conspirator of Melvin’s, was creating a half finished lanyard in pink and purple while the rest strategized. “Okay, so I need to throw her off so she’ll agree. The pink and purple color scheme is good – pink for me, purple for her, but I need something to knock her off her game.”

“You could tell her something that surprised her, maybe. But what?”

Realization dawned. “Okay. This is a little mean, maybe, but I was planning on talking to her about it anyway. I know just what to say. Kole, how’s the lanyard coming?”

“I’ve got it to the perfect length. Just long enough that you might ‘Need a little while to finish it, pretty please.’” She held up the dangling lengths of string. “Everything ready? We’re running out of time.”

“Now or never. Let’s go.” Melvin took a deep breath and led them to the doorway.

Garfield and Rachel were deep in conversation. The initial awkwardness had faded, and while there were still sparks flying whenever they made eye contact, it was more a static buzz than the almost painful live wire sensation of their first glances. At some point they had migrated closer to where Teether and Tommy’s two groups had merged into a supercrowd of children all making noise, forcing them to stand closer to one another to be heard. They were in this huddle, all focus on each other except for both of their frequent check-in glances to the children. Rachel had dipped her toe into a hint of vulnerability to test the waters, quietly and without fanfare explaining that she had adopted all three of them from the same orphanage she had found herself aging out of.

Gar reciprocated. “That’s really incredible. I was adopted pretty young by some family friends. I know how complicated that sort of relationship can be, but it’s doing something amazing for all three of them.”

Melvin, seeing their closeness, hesitated, just a bit. She was messing with fate, a little. But she was certain it was for a good cause. And it was now or never, they were already cutting it close to “Shared Activity Time” for her age group. “Umm. Rachel.”

“Yes, Melvin?” Rachel saw that Mel was nervous. Melvin was never nervous.

“I want to finish a project for you, but won’t have time later. So, uh, I need you to find something else to do. During the Activity Time, I mean. I just want to finish making this. Please, M-mom?”

Time stopped for Rachel. She had adopted them six years ago, and there had never been a time when Melvin had consciously called her “Mom”. Forms asking for “Mother’s Name”, sure. Mother’s day celebrations, absolutely. Even a few mostly-asleep, teary pleas, but never, never while Melvin was in control of her faculties.

But while time had stopped for Rachel, it marched onward for everyone else. Melvin held her breath and waited for long, tense seconds, but Rachel didn’t seem to be coming back to her senses, so she hurriedly spat out “Okayloveyouseeyousoon,” and fled back to the safety of her friends.

Gar, too, was frozen. Not to the same degree, nor for the same reasons, but he felt like he had intruded on something intimate that he had no business being a part of. He looked around, helplessly as Rachel gaped. After several seconds of silence, he couldn’t not do something. “Uhh. Rachel? You… okay?” More frozen immobility. He waved a hand in front of her face. “Rae? You there? Do I need to get a doctor?”

She seized his hand. “Did… did she just call me “Mom”? Or did I have a stroke?”

“Yeah, ouch. She did. I’m guessing this was new?”

“I… Yes. She’s never… What… what do I do? Was she angry I didn’t answer? Where did she go?” Rachel began looking around for her.

“Whoa, slow down. She’s with her friends. She wasn’t mad, it seemed like she was nervous, but not scared. And what you do is let her come to you and talk to her like you always do, and just make sure she knows you’re okay with it. As long as you are okay with it, right?”

“Of course. I just thought...” Rachel trailed off.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about! She loves you and just told you how she feels. That’s a good thing. Let’s give her a chance to do whatever she’s doing. The rest of the kids are about to go do an activity, so we have time.”

“I think I need to get away from the crowd for a minute. I can’t believe I’m asking this, but is it alright if we just go for a walk?”

“Of course.” Gar’s grip had at some point shifted to be holding her hand back, and he led her down a dirt path towards a grove of trees. “This path is quiet and not too hard.” Her sudden harsh look had him follow up. “You’re not really wearing the shoes for hiking, Rae.”

“Hmf. And since when did I say you could call me Rae, Garfield?”

He looked stricken. “I am so sorry. I dunno what I was thinking, Ra-chel. Rachel.”

She narrowed an eye. “Rae is… acceptable, as far as diminutives go. Just don’t make a habit of it in public.”

“Cross my heart. Hey, at least being a little mad at me put your mind off of Melvin, right?”

“And now it’s right back. So very helpful,” she deadpanned.

“Easy come, easy go, right?” His smile grew a little. “I don’t wanna pry or anything, but is it really that surprising? She said you were her mom like, a dozen times during camp.”

“I suppose not. It caught me very off-guard, though. Teether and Tommy sort of switch between Rachel and Mom, but Melvin’s never really seemed like she even wanted that sort of, I don’t know, ‘Official’ title for me.”

“Listen, the whole ‘mom’ thing isn’t as scary as you’re making it out to be. You’re already giving her the kind of love a mom is supposed to, and she loves you. She talks about all the time with stars in her eyes. Being adopted doesn’t make her less your daughter. Rita Farr isn’t any less my mom for taking me in when I was eight, and Marie Logan isn’t any more or less important to me just because she’s not around.”

Rachel took a breath and sighed it out. “Thank you. That does make it easier.” They walked in silence for a short time. “Wait, Rita Farr, as in the movie star? As in, the philanthropist and art collector, married to Steve Dayton?”

He blushed a little. “Whoops, probably shouldn’ta dropped that so casually, I guess. Yeah. Steve and Rita adopted me when my parents died. It’s not always easy, but I love ‘em.” He watched her reaction carefully, hoping she wouldn’t suddenly start treating him differently for having such well-known parents.

Rachel schooled her face after having that bombshell dropped on her. “Well, if we ever meet we’ll be able to talk about some historic pieces she has that I wrote papers on.”

A beat passed, then Gar’s loud laugh broke relative silence of the forest. “Aw man, she is gonna love you.”

And just like that, the tension was broken. All the concern, the lack of balance, everything fell away, and the static buzz of easy conversation punctuated by something just a little too close to intimate for an average friendship was back.

They wandered together down the shady paths, miles away and only a few trees distant from the campground. Rachel didn’t notice the distance she had walked on the formerly dreaded forest hike, and Garfield forgot to try quite so hard with his jokes and wise cracks. They walked, hand in hand and only somewhat realizing how close they were to one another, shoulders nearly touching.

The spell was eventually broken, as they always are. They rounded a final bend, seeing in the distance the campground they had left, what, less than an hour ago? And the reality that they had left behind when they entered the sun-shafted canopies woke them up, and they found that really, their hands were quite slick. Had they been clasped together the whole time? And Rachel, especially, was starting to sweat from the heat and the walk. Garfield was suddenly nervous, after all, he never talked this much, not without making a fool of himself.

But even after emerging from that hazy dream, they held on, gently rising out of the fog and into the real world so no sudden movements could disrupt the memory, the closeness that two almost strangers that fit together like complementary puzzle pieces had shared.

It wasn’t even fully dispelled when their hands slipped apart to be wiped on cargo shorts or dark jeans, though the almost hidden flight from behind a few low-branched trees of blonde hair and untied shoelaces and quiet giggle quickly sobered them.

Garfield turned. “Was that -?”

“Melvin. Oh, that little brat, she is too damn smart for her own good. I would put money on her scheming to get us alone.” Rachel fumed and her face tightened into a mask of cold anger. “I can’t believe that she would manipulate me like this! How could she – How could she finally call me -” and the mask broke, shifting from anger to near tears in seconds.

Gar panicked. “Whoa, hold on, no. She’s not that cruel, I know it and so do you. We’re probably missing something. You just said you can’t believe she would do this – she probably didn’t. Rae I promise you, there’s got to be an explanation that makes sense.”

Rachel took a deep breath, followed by another, centering herself. “I am going to get to the bottom of this. Where would she be doing this “project” she made up?”

“The craft cabin. I’ll take you there, but I guarantee you it’s not as bad as it might sound.”

It was like the crowd parted for them without even reacting. No one looked at the worried counselor or at the steely featured parent, but nonetheless they found their path almost unimpeded. Gar held up a hand just outside the door. “Let me get you two some privacy. Please.”

“Fine. Do it.” Terse and unhappy, Rachel’s displeasure was apparent in her voice, and it made Garfield wince.

He opened the door to see five preteen girls, huddled and tittering. At least until they saw him and his serious frown. Then their eyes went wide, and they looked to Melvin in a panic. “Out, girls. Clear the room. Not you, Melvin.” He stopped her when she tried to take shelter in the middle of the pack. He turned to follow them, and glanced back almost pityingly, then shook his head and exited.

The girls all ducked their heads when they saw Rachel just outside the cabin and hurried off, racing to be the first around the corner and away from the ticking time bomb.

Garfield simply nodded, and left her to it. Rachel entered the cabin and saw Melvin almost trembling, and it broke her heart. She had worked up a head of steam on the walk and the wait, but seeing her precious daughter actually afraid stopped any real anger and left only a bitter emptiness.

Rachel wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands. She settled on a vague, open armed shrug gesture. “Why, Mel? Was it just a prank? Just a way to manipulate me?”

Tears brimmed in Melvin’s eyes. “No, I just wanted to give you guys a chance to talk alone. I’m sorry I lied, I really did try on the lanyard, but I’m just bad at them so I had Kole do it. I’m sorry, I am.”

“What? What lanyard? Melvin, I don’t care if you had a friend help with a lanyard! I just can’t believe that you would call me your mom, just to trick me into talking to someone. I can’t tell you how badly that hurts me. I… I love you too much for that.”

“What!No, nononono, Mom, I promise that wasn’t a trick. I promise. I was gonna talk to you about it, but I just – I thought that if I – I thought that maybe if I just did it you’d just let me and maybe you’d talk to him and then it everything would be perfect. I promise. I love you, Mom. I do. And I was just trying to maybe make you not spend all your time watching me and talk to him. He’s really cool, and I could tell you like him, and he’s completely in love with you, and you’re perfect for each other. I was just trying to help you be happy!” She sobbed, breathless.

Rachel froze, then instinctively wrapped her daughter in her arms and let her cry. “Mel, you don’t need to worry about me. I am happy, I promise. I don’t need you to try to trick me into being happy. Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to say I’m not mad, but I get it. You don’t have to trick me into talking to, what did you call him, “really old, like 50 years old” guys? If we talk, we talk. That’s how adults work.”

“No, it’s not! I’ve never seen you go on a date, and you just ignore people when they try to talk to you. I know it was dumb, but I had to try something ‘cause otherwise you’d just give him that serious face until he ran away, and he’s perfect for you if you’d just give him a chance!”

“Mel. Mel, okay. I promise. I will give him a chance. But you don’t need to be worried about me. I don’t need a twelve year old playing matchmaker. You should be doing kid things, not bad romcom plots.”

“*SNRK*. They’re not bad. They’re sweet. And you like them, otherwise you wouldn’t have so many of them.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and glowered.

Rachel internally cursed Kori. “If you say so. Now let’s sit here for a minute, then we can go wash your face and you can go hand out with your friends. And I will have a talk with Garfield, and you will not stick your nose into my dating life. Understand?”

“Yes, mom.”

It still startled Rachel to hear that coming from Melvin, but it also warmed her heart. She hadn’t even known she wanted it until it happened, but it was like a spoken guarantee that she really was doing things right, and her little family really was working.

They sat together and Melvin showed her the lanyard that she had made via Kole. Rachel put it on the silver chain she wore around her neck and let it rest beside her heart promising mostly to herself that it would be kept safe at home. Then, when Mel had calmed down, they headed to the bathroom where Mel cleaned the tear tracks from her dirt-smudged face and rinsed her red rimmed eyes. Rachel gave her a final kiss on the forehead, and sent her off.

Gar found her standing there, staring off into space against the wall of the concrete shack. He leaned against it and slid down to sit around the corner and next to her. “So.”

“So,” she said back.

“Not saying it just to confuse you?” He glanced at her, gauging her reaction.

“No. But she wasn’t against confusing me.”

His eyebrow cocked. “Not mad?”

“Still mad. Still going to be grounded, probably. But she did it out of love.”

“Y’know, I don’t want to say I told you so, but...”

“But you totally want to say ‘I told you so,’” she finished for him.

“Yep. So what now?”

“Now, I guess I do what I was going to do before we had all this to deal with,” she said, the soul of nonchalance.

“What’s that?” he said, and when she didn’t respond, he stood up and looked around the corner. “Rae?”

“This.” with only his head around the corner, she turned and kissed him, gentle and sweet, and far too short for either of them. “I’d like to go out sometime. I want to take you to a behind the scenes at the museum, and I’ll let you choose the restaurant.”

His head spun and his eyes were out of focus. His thoughts were like molasses and he could barely get out the word “Okay.” before she was gone, a little bounce in her step.

AO3 FF.net

#bbraeweek21 #bbrae #fic

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impala666 · 4 years ago

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The One With The Stoned Guy Part Two (Amuse Bouche)

Sorry it took so long! But here is the next part to the Friends Rewrite. I’m just kind of writing when I find time. Enjoy all!!!!!!

Last Part (Part One), Series Masterlist

It was the next morning and the night before was the first night where you actually slept at Bryan’s apartment, you didn’t even go to yours and Ross’s apartment. But no you found yourself walking toward Monica and Rachel’s apartment for early breakfast before everyone went off to work or in your case school and the work. “Good morning,” you cheered with a smile. Everyone in the living room bid you a good morning in return while Joey sat there and stared at you with that same sad dog expression. So Ross must have told him that you never went home. “So, I heard you didn’t make it home last night.” Rachel confirmed your suspicions, but apparently Ross just decided to up and tell everybody.

“Yeah, last night was my first night actually staying there,” you smiled brightly at her when you thought about all of the adventures that you had with Bryan.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Rachel asked as she scrunched up her face and came closer to you to make your conversation a bit more private. You were about to answer her when all of a sudden the apartment door slammed from behind you.

“Can you see my nipples through this shirt?” Your big brother asked after he entered. He made sure to lift up his suit jacket so that all of you could have a good look.

“No,” Rachel answered for him as she carefully looked. “But don’t worry I’m sure they’re still there.” You laughed at her harmless joke.

“Where’re you going Mr. Suity-Man?” Phoebe asked him from her spot in the living room next to Ross.

“Well,” Chandler reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a business card. “I have an appointment to see Dr. Robert Pillman, career counselor a-go-go.” You listened to him as you took a seat on the couch, but realized that you sat too close to Joey like you used to. So you had to awkwardly slide in the opposite direction no matter if it made you a little upset and Joey very. “I added the a-go-go.” Chandler emphasized as all of them ignored the thing that just happened.

“A career counselor?” Rachel asked him, wondering why he was going to see this guy.

“Hey, you guys all know what you want to do.” Chandler whined to you all as he started to get defensive.

“I don’t,” Rachel chimed in.

“Hey, you guys in the living room all know what you want to do. You have goals, you have dreams. I don’t have a dream!” Chandler declared. But no matter how serious he tried to come across as, you all still found it a little funny.

“Ah, the lesser-known “I don’t have a dream,” speech.” Ross called Chandler out on his mistake.

“Y/N/N?” Chandler asked and placed his hand on your shoulder so that you would turn in your seat and look at him. “How did you know you wanted to go to Esthetician school?” He only asked because you had taken such a big leap to follow your dreams even if it made a few other people unhappy.

“I don’t know really. I just never really enjoyed or got into anything that I was learning while I went to college. But I always enjoyed skin and skincare and makeup, so once I actually found a career in it. I just decided to go for it.” You explained. “And even though it was terrifying at first, I know that it was the perfect decision.” Chandler couldn’t find words, he was just so proud and jealous of you. He just wished that he could find something that he was just as passionate about.

“Oh, I love my life! I love my life!” Monica cheered as she had just gotten back from an interview with that restaurant guy. She was beaming from ear to ear and it looked like it hurt.

“Oh, Brian’s Song.” Phoebe guessed, thinking that Monica was quoting a song.

“The meeting with that guy went great?” Rachel asked her after Phoebe’s strange outburst.

“It was so great. He showed me where the restaurant’s going to be. It’s this cute little place on 10th Street; it’s not too big, it’s not too small. It’s just right.” Monica beamed as she shared her experience for her new job opportunity.

“Was it formerly owned by by a blonde woman and some bears?” Chandler joked, when Monica accidentally quoted the famous nursery rhyme.

“So, anyway I’m cooking dinner for him Monday night. You know, kind of like an audition.” Monica continued as she just ignored everything that Chandler just said. “And Phoebe he really wants you to be there,” she explained as she made her way over to the woman in the living room. “Which would be great for me because then you can make oh’s and ah’s and you can make yummy noises.”

“What’re you going to make?” Rachel asked Monica.

“Yummy noises,” Phoebe answered instead, acting like it was obvious.

“And Monica, what are you gonna make?” You asked, changing the question to one that everyone could understand.

“I don’t know. It’s just got to be so great.” Monica answered you as she walked over to her shelf of cookbooks to try and come up with some ideas.

“Oh! I know what you should make.” Phoebe announced as she ran over to join Monica and Rachel in the kitchen. Almost knocking you down in the process as you made your way over to them, as well. “You should make that thing with the stuff.” Phoebe said as she sprinkled imaginary spices into her hand. “You know that...thing.” She just couldn’t think of it. But Phoebe could tell she wasn’t getting through to any of you. “Okay, I don’t know.” She finally gave up.

“Hey, guys. Does anyone know a good date place in the neighborhood?” Ross asked, changing the subject.

“Uh, how about Tony’s?” Joey suggested, and seeing as you used to date him you could see where this was going. “If you can finish a 32 ounce steak, it’s free.” Ross looked up at you for confirmation to see if he ever took you there.

“Yeah, no. That was the date from hell.” You felt bad for saying so, but it was true.

“You said you loved it!” Joey whined.

“Yeah, but we couldn’t finish because no human can, so you got upset and left, sticking me with the cheque.” He treated you like a queen, but you had to call a spade a spade. That date stunk.

“Okay, does anyone know a good place if you’re not dating a puma?” Ross asked again as he joked at Joey’s answer.

“Who are you going out with?” Chandler asked him with a chuckle.

“Oh! Is this the bug lady?” Phoebe asked Ross.

“I love you, Ross.” Rachel joked as she started buzzing like a bug and using her fingers as antennas.

“Her name is Celia. She’s not a bug lady. She’s curator of insects at the museum.” Ross defended.

“So a bug lady?” You asked since Ross was trying to be technical, but he knew that you were messing around.

“So, what’re you guys gonna do?” Monica asked as she flipped through a cookbook at the table.

“I just thought we’d go out to dinner and then bring her back to my place and I’d introduce her to my monkey.” Ross sounded like he was 100% joking but when you looked at him his face was serious.

“And he’s not speaking metaphorically.” Chandler mumbled to himself.

“So, back to your place. You’re thinking maybe, heh-heh?” Joey asked Ross as he implied sex.

“Well, I don’t know heh-heh.” Ross said under his breath to Joey. “I’m hoping heh-heh. So Y/N can you steer clear of the apartment tonight.” You nodded even though you had nowhere to go since Monica had her dinner tonight and you and Joey were broken up. You would have to just go back to Bryan’s, oh well. Too bad.

“I’m telling you-that monkey is a chick magnet. She’s going to take one look at his furry cute little face and it’ll seal the deal.” Joey promised him.

*******

It was later in the evening, all of you were back at Monica and Rachel’s while Monica tried out some new recipes to have all of you try. Joey, Phoebe, and Rachel sat at the kitchen table. While you and Bryan sat alone in the living room. You really were surprised at how well everyone was getting along with Bryan, including Joey. They weren’t really best friends because clearly Joey still harbored some feelings, but they were able to be in a room together. That was all you could ask for. The both of you sat on the couch talking with Bryan’s arm wrapped around your shoulders. Bryan was about to continue the fire story that he had been meaning to tell you, but he jumped out of his seat when the apartment door slammed shut from an aggressive force. “Oh, my God. What happened to you?” Rachel asked, you kneeled on the sofa to turn and look who had entered. It was Chandler with his shirt unbuttoned slightly and tie loose, with a stack of folders looking he had had a day.

“8 and a half hours of aptitude tests, intelligence tests, personality tests and what do I learn?” Chandler also seemed a little on edge. “You are ideally suited for a career in data processing for a large multinational cooperation.” Chandler read off of the test result that he had gotten.

“That’s so great! Because you already know how to do that!” You cheered him on sarcastically. Bryan chuckling quietly as he looked up at you.

“Can you believe it? Don’t I seem like somebody who should be doing something really cool?” Chandler asked all of you as he paced along the kitchen, half-heartedly waving to Bryan without looking at him. “I just always pictured myself doing something…something.” Chandler frowned down at the floor as he lightly stomped his foot.

“Oh, Chandler, I know.” Rachel got up from her seat and half hugged the man as she patted him on his chest. “I know. Oh, hey! You can see your nipples through this shirt.” But Rachel’s realization did not seem to help Chandler as he turned his head and glared down at the woman.

“Here you go. Maybe this will cheer you up.” Monica tried as she offered Chandler a plate of mini food.

“Ohh, you know I had a grape about five hours ago. So I better split this with you.” He joked again as he tried to push passed his disappointing day.

“It’s supposed to be that small, it’s a pre-appetizer. The French called it an Amuse Bouche.” Monica taught all of you. So Chandler took one for the team and popped one into his mouth, when suddenly he wasn’t as upset at the moment.

��Well, it is amoozing.” Chandler joked even though he couldn’t help but get where Monica was coming from.

“You’re friends are so weird.” Bryan said quietly to you as he deeply chuckled.

“I know,” you beamed. “Isn’t it amazing.” You smiled at him in return and Bryan wrapped an arm around your waist as he pecked a kiss to your forehead.

“Hello?” Monica said as she answered the phone that had started to ring a couple seconds ago. “Oh, hi, Wendy. Yeah 8 o’clock. What did we say, ten dollars an hour? Okay, great. I’ll see you then. Bye.” Monica hung up the quick phone call and you couldn’t help but notice the hurt and surprised look on Rachel’s face.

“Ten dollars an hour for what?” Phoebe asked, before Rachel could jump to conclusions.

“Oh, I asked one of the waitress’s at work to help me out.” You couldn’t help but cringe when Monica didn’t even realize her mistake.

“Waitressing?” Rachel asked in surprise.

“Uh-oh,” Joey sang as he stood up from his chair.

“Of course I thought of you, but...but,” Monica couldn’t even think of an excuse.

“But-but?” Rachel repeated for her, you could tell that she was starting to get a little upset.

“But you see this night had to go perfect, you know.” Monica’s excuse was already flimsy. “And well, Wendy’s more of a...professional waitress.” She really was just digging herself in deeper.

“Oh. I see, and I’ve sort of been maintaining my amature status so that I can waitress in the Olympics.” Rachel joked to hide her hurt.

“You know, I don’t mean to brag, but I waited tables in Innsbruck in ‘76.” You added to try to make the conversation a bit more lighthearted. But Rachel did not find it funny at all when she glared at you, so you shrunk down and hid behind Bryan for protection.

“Amuse Bouche?” Chandler offered Rachel the plate of food to try and diffuse the situation. You were about to kiss Bryan when he leaned in, but a voice made you jump up.

“Hey, Y/N.” Joey’s voice rang out.

“Yeah?” You asked, wondering what could be so important that he was interrupting your moment with Bryan.

“We’re still on for hanging out, right?” He asked, you just furrowed your eyebrows at him. What game was he trying to play at?

“Um, yeah. Sorry must have forgotten,” you tried to play it off. But even you knew that your face just read surprise.

“Great, see you then,” Joey smiled. So then you tried to play it off with a smile, but you were breaking when you felt Bryan look at you with slight confusion.

Taglist:

@vampiregirl1797

@kellysimagines

@shizzybarnaclee

#friends rewrite #friends #Joey Tribbiani #joey tribbiani x reader #reader #bing!reader #sister!bing #chandler bing #monica geller #ross geller #rachel green #phoebe buffay

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today-only-happens-once · 4 years ago

Text

(un)claimed

Title: unclaimed

Summary: Virgil is a demigod. The good news is that he is not alone. A Percy-Jackson!AU fic. Platonic/found-family DRLAMP dynamics.

Word Count: 4217

Warnings: some violence and weapons, Greek mythology, passing mention of curses, feelings of anxiety, some self-doubt and self-deprecation, parent issues (of course, it’s a pjo!AU), no Side is a bad guy but there’s some tension between Remus and Roman, I play a little loose with PJO timeline stuff woops, Janus has done some light antagonizing of the gods.

A/N: Honestly, it should surprise nobody that I wrote this. Heh. Just for fun to release the happy chemical in my brain. Not that deep or involved. Just a light little diddy. <3 Hope you enjoy! Edited by yours truly so all mistakes are mine. No tags because it’s a fandom-specific AU, not because I don’t love y’all. <3

///

“See that tree on the hill?”

Virgil quirks an eyebrow at the boy beside him, taking in his bright orange t-shirt and the three beads on his leather necklace. He has what Virgil would swear was snake scales across the left side of his face. Janus, he had said his name was. (Like the god? Virgil had asked. No relation. Not unless Athena has some explaining to do, the boy had told him with a wry smile as if that was somehow supposed to make sense.)

He’d met Janus four hours ago in New York in Central Park after a very weird encounter with a cyclops. Though if he’s being honest, the cyclops had only been the most recent run-in with vicious creatures out of his mother’s old Greek myth anthology. He’d been ducking and dodging and outrunning them for nearly a year at this point. Janus had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, sliced the cyclops with a dagger and it vanished in a puff of gold dust.

Then Janus told him he knew a safe place to go. Perhaps he was an idiot, but Virgil had followed without much objection. The idea of a place that was safe was nearly too good to be true, but Janus had just dusted a cyclops. And Virgil figured there was at least some power in numbers, if nothing else.

Virgil follows where the other boy is pointing and sees a tall pine tree at the top of the steep hill. He nods.

“Go there. You’ll see a camp in the valley. Chiron will explain.”

“Chiron?”

“Yes. Activities director. You can trust him.”

“You’re not coming too?” Virgil looks at the boy beside him again. Janus is looking in the opposite direction of the tree back the way they’d come and he yanks the dagger out of his belt.

Janus’s mouth twitches. “We’ve got company. I will hold them off. The border is protected. You’ll be safe once you cross the tree line.”

Alarmed, Virgil looks over his shoulder and sees a winged creature in the distance. It looks almost a like a bat, if a bat could be the size of a human person. “What is that?!”

Janus gives a slight shove to Virgil’s shoulder. “Run, Virgil!”

“I can’t leave you behind—”

Janus mutters something that sounds foreign, and yet Virgil understands it. A curse word in… was that ancient Greek? Virgil isn’t given time to process it before Janus grabs Virgil’s arm and takes off at a sprint up the hill. Virgil stumbles but he manages to keep his feet under him as he takes off at a run for the looming pine. As they get closer, Virgil chances a glance over his shoulder. The winged creature is maybe twenty yards away. It’ll be on them any second.

Janus whistles sharply. “Hey! We got incoming!”

Seemingly out of nowhere, three other kids appear from near the tree. One of them notches an arrow in an honest-to-gods bow. He aims, then releases. Virgil watches, stunned, as the blow strikes true and the winged creature vanishes in a puff of gold dust that gets caught in the breeze.

Virgil rests his hands on his knees as he catches his breath. Janus, beside him, is breathing hard as well but he nods to the kid with the bow and arrow.

“Nice shot,” Virgil tells him.

The kid looks to be maybe a year older than Virgil, and is wearing a t-shirt that matches Janus’s. He’s also got a necklace of beads, though his has five of them. Virgil realizes that some of them match Janus’s, plus a few more. He slings the bow across his back and flashes Virgil a bright grin.

“Thanks! I’m Sloane.” He extends his hand.

“Virgil.” He shakes the kid’s hand.

Sloane nods to the other two kids that had materializes near him. One of them is a girl that looks a little younger than Virgil, maybe 14, with dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. The other is a guy in a backwards baseball cap and a plaid shirt over the orange tee that looks about Sloane’s age. His necklace only has one bead on it.

“This is Valerie,” Sloane introduces. “She’s from Cabin 10. And this is Kai. He’s from Cabin 9.”

“Sloane,” Janus interrupts. “Where’s Chiron?”

Sloane jerks his head down the hill. “In the Big House with the lead counselors.”

Virgil watches Janus’s brow furrow. “Seems unusual. Did something happen?”

Valerie sighs. “Kind of. Dionysus gave one of his kids a quest. Counselors are meeting about the prophecy to see who is going.”

Janus’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Which one?”

“Jack. The prophecy mentions a death. That never bodes well, and kids aren’t exactly lining up to work for Mr. D.”

Janus hums thoughtfully, his eyes trailing over the crest of the hill. Virgil watches as he shoves the knife into his belt. Kai cocks his head slightly, studying Virgil closely. Then, he looks at Janus. “Has he been claimed?”

Virgil frowns. “Claimed?”

“No,” Janus tells Kai, then looks to Virgil. “Follow me. I’ll explain as we walk.”

Janus nods to the other three and Virgil follows him down to the valley below. From this vantage point, Virgil sees the cabins Janus has been talking about, forming something like a horseshoe shape. In front of it is a large building that Virgil assumes is the ‘Big House’ that Sloane had mentioned. He sees other buildings and structures, but decides to wait to ask about them.

People mill around, most of them wearing the orange t-shirt that has a winged horse and the words Camp Half-Blood printed on them. When they notice Virgil, most of them throw a curious glance to Janus. Janus doesn’t even seem to notice.

“Welcome to Camp Half-Blood,” Janus says as they walk. “It’s one of the few safe spaces left for demigods like us.”

“Wait,” Virgil says, certain that he heard Janus incorrectly. “Demigod?”

Janus glances at him. “Hm. I gather you really don’t know very much. Yes, demigod. Half-god, half-mortal.”

“And you think I’m one of these, uh, half-bloods?” Virgil shakes his head. “Listen, I think you’ve got the wrong guy.”

Janus looks almost amused now, an eyebrow arching almost like a challenge. “You couldn’t have gotten across the border into camp if you weren’t. Let me guess… you have ADHD and dyslexia.”

“Wh—I mean, yes, but—”

“You were raised by either a single parent or no parent at all,” Janus continues.

“My mom, until—”

“You see things others either don’t see or don’t remember.”

“I—”

“Please. Do stop me if I’m wrong.”

Virgil falls silent, his chest a bit tight. He crosses his arms over his chest as they walk.

Janus waits for a beat before he elaborates, sounding like it’s a spiel he’s given a dozen times already. “The ADHD is the battle reflexes. Dyslexia is because your brain is wired for ancient Greek, not modern English.”

Virgil’s mind is reeling. “But—”

“The things you see are because you’re a demigod. You are able to see things as they are. Mortals—most mortals—get deceived by this thing called the Mist. Someday, with training, you’ll be able to manipulate it as well. It’s a useful skill.”

Virgil feels suddenly way too hot, and yet still has the sudden desire to pull the hood of his hoodie up over his hair. “Demigod,” he repeats, though saying it aloud doesn’t help it make sense. “Are… Are you telling me that my dad is a god? Like a Greek god? Zeus? Apollo? Those guys?”

Janus glances at him and looks, for a split second, almost apologetic. “I understand that it’s a lot to take in at once. This is why Chiron usually takes the initiation. He usually has a more, ah, sensitive means of broaching the subject. But since he’s meeting with the lead counselors, I’m afraid the responsibility falls to me.”

Virgil blinks. He can feel the pressure in his chest building and he forces himself to take a breath. It doesn’t help as much as he’d been hoping it would. “Which one?”

“Hm?”

“Which god is my dad?”

They’re passing in front of the Big House now. There’s two people standing on the front porch—a blonde girl holding a Yankees cap and a boy with a goatee leaning against the railing—seeming deep in conversation. The blonde girl offers Janus a small wave. Janus nods back.

“To your question, the answer is that we don’t know,” he says. “Since you haven’t been claimed yet, your guess is as good as ours. But you might be claimed any minute now, or never claimed at all. I was claimed three days after arriving at camp by Athena. But we have several campers who haven’t been claimed at all. Remy Short is one such example.”

“Athena. Goddess of wisdom and strategy,” Virgil remembers. He’d read that name in his mother’s library when he was younger. And he has a vague memory from sixth grade social studies.

“Indeed,” Janus replies. They circle around the house and Virgil realizes that Janus is leading him towards the semi-circle of cabins. “Since you haven’t been claimed yet, you’re designated to Cabin 11. Hermes’ cabin.”

“Janus!” A bright, cheerful voice calls from behind them. Janus stops and turns, and Virgil follows his gaze. A boy that looks about Virgil’s age, maybe a year older, is running towards them from the Big House. He’s got a flop of curly hair and big round glasses.

“Patton,” Janus greets as the boy slows to a stop near them. “Virgil, this is Patton. He’s the head of the Hermes cabin.”

Patton grins and holds out his hand. “Hi, Virgil. Welcome to Cabin 11. I’ll talk to Chiron about getting you some supplies—”

“I’ll talk to Chiron,” Janus interrupts as Virgil shakes Patton’s hand. “I need to ask him about some things anyway. Patton, could you—”

“For sure,” Patton agrees readily. “I’ll show Virgil around!”

Janus excuses himself and starts towards the Big House. Virgil rubs the back of his neck and offers Patton an awkward smile. Now that he’s closer, Virgil realizes that Patton is maybe an inch or so shorter than him. He’s got four beads on his necklace.

“How ya doing?” Patton asks him, startling him out of his thoughts. Virgil meets his eyes. Patton’s are a warm brown, and his smile is sympathetic. “I remember my first day at camp. It’s always overwhelming.”

Virgil huffs. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“You’ll love it here,” Patton says with a surprising amount of confidence.

Virgil arcs a skeptical eyebrow. “I’ve heard that before. I don’t seem to, ah, stay in one place very long.”

“Kicked out of school?” Patton guesses. He starts walking around the cabins and Virgil follows, slipping his hands into the pocket of his hoodie.

“Yeah. Several times.”

“We all have,” Patton says, not unkindly. “That’s the best thing about camp. In the mortal world, we’re all labeled as weird or outcasts. But at camp? We’ve all been through it. Oh! This is Cabin 10. Aphrodite’s cabin.”

Patton walks Virgil around the semi-circle, explaining each cabin’s assigned deity. He adds that Cabins 1 through 3 are empty, though apparently there was a girl that used to be in Cabin 1—Zeus’s cabin—who joined the Hunters of Artemis and left camp. Cabin 2 was Hera’s, and since she didn’t have children, the cabin was mostly honorary. Cabin 3 usually had a kid in it, but he apparently was on some kind of recon mission and wouldn’t return for another day or two. Cabin 8—Aretmis’s cabin—is also, usually, empty except when the Hunters visit.

“Since you don’t know who your dad is, you get to bunk with us at the Hermes Cabin,” Patton explains. “We take all unclaimed kids, since Hermes is the god of travelers.”

“I thought he was the god of thieves,” Virgil says before he can think about it.

Patton smiles sheepishly. “Yeah, that too. If you’ve got anything important, maybe keep it with ya. Just in case. I try to dissuade stealing, but old habits die hard for some of these kiddos.”

Patton leads him around the camp, pointing out the strawberry fields, the armory, and the forge that mostly gets used by the Hephaestus kids. A few of them wave at Patton, who eagerly waves back and calls a few of them by name. He shows Virgil the arena, where two kids are sparring. Patton takes a seat and Virgil sits beside him, watching the two boys circle each other.

Both of them are wearing matching orange t-shirts—Patton had told him that he’d be getting one too—and some armor. One of them has dark hair and square glasses. He’s got two knives, one in each hand, and even from a bit of distance Virgil can sees the slight sheen of sweat to his forehead. The other one’s hair is a couple of shades lighter. His sleeves are rolled up and he wields a sword and a shield.

“The one with the glasses is Logan,” Patton explains. “He’s a child of Athena. The other one is Roman. He’s a child of Apollo. I met both of them in Seattle before we made our way to camp together thanks to some help from a satyr.”

“All three of you have been claimed?” Virgil asks, watching as Roman charges at Logan who rolls out of the way and then nimbly jumps back up to his feet. He slashes at Roman’s back but Roman parries the blow with a well-timed flick of the sword.

“Not immediately,” Patton says. “Logan was claimed as soon as we got to camp, but it was a month or so for me. And Roman was nearly a year before Apollo claimed him during a campfire song. It certainly surprised a lot of people.”

“Why?”

“His brother was claimed by Ares three months before him, so most people thought Roman was Ares’ kid too.”

Virgil glances at Patton. “Roman has a brother?”

Patton’s mouth presses into a thin line for a moment, and Virgil gets the sense that it’s a touchy subject. “Yeah. Remus. It’s unusual for two kids of the same family to both be demigods, and the fact that their father are two different gods led to some… tension. Roman and Remus don’t exactly get along.”

Virgil nods his understanding and turns his attention back to the sparring pair. Roman blocks a quick slash from Logan with his shield and swipes at him with the sword, but Logan parries the blow with the other knife in his hands. Then in a series of quick movements—Virgil isn’t sure how it happens, exactly—Roman is flat on his back and Logan is on his chest with the knife to his throat.

Roman says something that Virgil can’t make out, and Logan says something in kind before he climbs off Roman and helps him up. Roman flashes a grin and shoves Logan��s shoulder before he glances past his sparring match and sees Patton and Virgil sitting on one of the benches.

Roman waves. “Heya, Padre!”

Logan glances over his shoulder and quirks an eyebrow at Virgil but stores his daggers as Roman jogs over. Patton stands and Virgil follows him down to meet Roman halfway.

“Hey, Roman,” Patton replies. “I didn’t know you started using a sword!”

Roman grabs a towel off a nearby bench and mops the sweat off his forehead. “It’s new. I’m still trying to get used to it. I think the balance is off.”

“The balance is fine,” Logan quips, stepping up beside him. “You just need more practice.”

Roman rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue. “Either way, Specs. I’ll take archery any day over waving a sharp stick around.”

“You are definitely a son of Apollo,” Logan rejoins back without malice. “And it would be unwise to only be versed in ranged attack.”

“And you are definitely a son of Athena.”

“Correct.”

Virgil snorts, and then a part of him regrets it as Roman and Logan both look over at him. Virgil flushes slightly, uncomfortable with the sudden attention, but Patton seems to only perk up more.

“Oh! Sorry, this is Virgil. He’s a new camper. Janus ran into him on his way back and brought him along.”

“Which cabin?” Logan asks.

Virgil shrugs. “For now, Cabin 11, I guess.”

“Unclaimed, then.” Virgil listens for the judgement in Logan’s voice, but he doesn’t hear it. It sounds more like a flat statement of fact, as if reporting the weather. Logan nods once. “Very well.”

“I was just showing him around,” Patton supplies. “You guys wanna join?”

Logan starts shrugging out of the armor he’s wearing. “Regrettably, I said that I would assist Harley with some blueprints when I had finished sparring with Roman.”

Roman slides the sword into the scabbard at his side. “And I’m overdue for a Pegasus lesson. I can’t miss it again. The last thing I need is Mr. D giving me another earful.” Roman gives a quick two-finger salute and rushes out of the arena.

Virgil blinks at Patton. “Pegasus?”

Patton grins brightly. “Come on. I’ll show ya.”

…

Patton spends the rest of the afternoon showing Virgil around the camp. They go to the stables (where Roman offers to take Virgil for a ride but Virgil immediately declines because he’s never been a fan of flying). They swing by the beach on their way to the climbing wall. Virgil watches, amazed, as two kids climb with impressive speed and narrowly avoid the magma that starts to pour down it.

One of the kids has a Morningstar gripped between his teeth, a green bandana around his upper bicep and a matching one around his head. He’s fast, scaling the wall with a well-practiced ease. Virgil hears him laugh delightedly when his hand slips and he almost gets burned by the lava. It’s somehow both impressive and disconcerting.

“That would be Remus.”

“That’s Remus?” Virgil repeats, though when he looks a bit closer he sees the similarity in hair color and skin complexion. “I guess I see the resemblance.”

“Don’t tell Roman that,” Patton says lightly. “C’mon.”

They pass the amphitheater where, apparently, there would be a bonfire tonight. Patton shows him the volleyball court where four kids are playing one another. They wave at Patton as they pass.

“You seem popular,” Virgil supplies. He’s lost track of how many kids have waved at them as they walk around.

Patton lifts a shoulder modestly. “I dunno. Since Hermes is the catch-all cabin, a lot of camp knows me since they come to our cabin if they haven’t been claimed yet. Sometimes we get kids that get claimed right away, or kids that already have been claimed, but otherwise? I get to be their lead counselor for at least a little bit.”

“Sounds like a lot of responsibility.”

“I kind of like it,” Patton admits with a smile. “It’s like I’m everyone’s honorary camp dad.”

The conversation cuts out as dinner is called and they head to the mess hall. Patton explains the offering to the gods prior to the meal, and Virgil scrapes part of his plate into the fire. He doesn’t know what to ask for.

It’d be nice to have a family again, dad, he thinks, unsure of who he should even direct the comment to. Patton waves him over, offering a seat beside him.

Virgil chances a glance around the mess hall as they eat. The Hermes table is certainly the most crowded, though Virgil can’t say he finds that surprising. Athena’s table has several kids reading while eating. Two kids at the Ares table are in the middle of an arm-wrestling competition. One kid at the Hephaestus table is pouring over a blueprint, and Virgil wonders if that was the Harley kid that Logan had mentioned.

Towards the end of the meal, a few kids at the Apollo table starts singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” and it’s not long before most of their table is doing the entire song with harmony. Someone from the Demeter table tells them to ‘save it for the campfire’, but it does nothing to deter the Apollo kids. Virgil catches Roman laughing as he sings, one of his sibling’s arms slung around his shoulders.

Virgil glances over and sees Logan at the Athena table sitting next to Janus, watching the chaos unfold and the faintest quirk of his lips betray his amusement.

Virgil feels some of the tension in his chest relax just a little.

…

The bonfire starts around dusk. Virgil is making his way to the amphitheater from dropping supplies off at the cabin when Roman comes up from behind him and loops his arm through Virgil’s, chattering excitedly about how much he loved this part of camp. Virgil sees an ukulele case slung around his shoulder.

Logan appears a second later on the other side of Virgil, commenting dryly that the Apollo kids had done their vocal warm-ups during the dinner. This only served to lead Roman to do actual vocal warm-ups—trills and scales, specifically—as they walked. Patton and Janus were already sitting down, three rows back. Patton waves when he sees them file in. Remus is sitting beside Janus, seemingly trying to goad him into some kind of competition that he was having no interest in. The firelight glints of Janus’s scales.

“Hey,” Virgil says to Roman and Logan. “Can… I ask what happened to Janus?” He immediately regrets the question, cursing his lack of a filter, but neither of the other boys seem perturbed by the question.

“A curse from Aphrodite,” Logan answers. “Janus had gone on a quest for our mother, and it led to some… unsavory tension between himself and Aphrodite. From what he’s told me, he accused Ares of being a snake in the grass while in the presence of Aphrodite, and… well. The love goddess didn’t take kindly to that. But it’s purely cosmetic.”

Virgil arcs an eyebrow. “Remus seems chill with him.”

“I’m not sure that Remus is aware of the accusation Janus leveled at his father,” Logan muses. “And Janus is not one to hold the children accountable for the actions of their godly parent.”

“It doesn’t benefit him,” Roman adds in, using his free hand for air quotes. “Or something like that. Janus is all about himself and how he can improve his own standing.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” Logan quips dryly.

Roman scoffs, but when Virgil looks at him, there’s a teasing glint to his eyes. “Well, I wasn’t going to say it, but you guys are half-brothers for a reason.”

Logan looks at Roman over the top of his glasses, but Roman just shoots him a cheeky smile as they approach the other three. Virgil slides into the seat beside Patton, followed by Logan and then Roman. There’s a few kids—Virgil isn’t sure what cabin they’re from—trying to lead a call-and-response chant as campers file in. Down the row, Remus enthusiastically calls out the responses at the top of his lungs.

“Roman!” A new voice calls out from the end of their row. A tall guy, a couple of years older than them, is holding a ukulele and jerking his head down towards the bonfire. “You ready to help me kick this thing off?”

Roman grins and jumps up. “Would be an honor, Thomas.” He rushes off and he and Thomas start playing a song together with practiced ease. He and the other Apollo kids start singing, and before long the vast majority of campers are joining in. A few of them, including Patton, sway a little. Virgil doesn’t sing, but he listens and tries to remember the words.

The sky grows dark. The Apollo kids eventually cede the floor to some Ares kids who start up another chant. More songs are sung, some snacks get passed around, and Virgil is starting to think that maybe, with time, he could get used to this.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Patton says beside him, as the next song starts. He drops something into Virgil’s lap. “I got this for ya.”

Virgil looks down. It’s two camp t-shirts. The black winged horse and the Camp Half-Blood print stares up at him. He looks over at Patton.

Patton just smiles. “Claimed or not, you’re one of us. We claim you.”

Virgil feels like maybe that’s good enough for him.

#sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides au #platonic drlamp #virgil sanders #percy jackson au #pjo!au #fighting #weapons #violence #found family? in my fics? its more likely than you think #janus sanders #remus sanders #patton sanders #roman sanders #logan sanders

411 notes · View notes

thelastspeecher · 4 years ago

Text

D R A M

The title of this post is actually what I named the Word doc that I wrote this up in. This write takes place in an AU inspired by a post that said something along the lines of “supervillain winds up marrying the ex-spouse of their superhero archnemesis”. I saw that post and was like “time to make another version of the Superhero/villain AU”. So here you go.

——————————————————————————————

Stan slid into his regular stool at the bar. At the sound of soft muttering, he looked over. He raised an eyebrow. Normally, no one sat next to his stool. But today, a young woman sat there, staring morosely at her drink and mumbling something.

“Hey, hot stuff,” he said cheerfully, leaning in. She held up a hand. Light glinted off the golden band around her ring finger.

“I’m married,” she said dully.

“You don’t sound too happy about it,” Stan remarked. She glared at him. “I call it like I see it, toots.”

“Don’t call me ‘toots’,” she snapped.

“Fine. What should I call you, then?”

“By my name.”

“Which would be…?”

“…Angie.”

“Angie.” Stan held out a hand. “I’m Stan.” Angie shook the offered hand. “So, what brings a troubled wife to my favorite dive?”

“My dick of a husband,” Angie groused. She slumped over the bar. “I swear…some days he acts like a completely dif’rent man than the one I married.” Tears shone in her voice, along with a distinct southern accent. She picked up her drink and pulled on the straw. It rattled in the ice at the bottom of the otherwise empty glass. “And I’m all out.”

“I’ll cover it. What’s your drink?”

“Long Island iced tea.”

“Oof. Maybe I shouldn’t get you a second one of those. Those are a bad decision in a glass.” Angie straightened, her eyes boring into Stan’s.

“I can handle my liquor, sir. I bet I can handle it better ‘n you can,” she snarled. Stan held his hands up.

“Okay, okay, I believe you. Man, you’ve got claws, don’t you?”

“Maybe.”

“Heh. I like a woman with a bit of fight in her.” Stan winked.

“Still married.”

“To that dick? Why?”

“He treats me right,” Angie mumbled into her drink. “…Sometimes.”

“Sometimes? What about the rest of the time?”

“He tries to get me to quit my job and be a housewife.”

“Why?”

“If I knew, I’d tell ya,” Angie said with a shrug. She tapped the rim of her glass. “So, about that drink…?”

“Hey, barkeep?” Stan called, flagging down the bartender. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one corner of Angie’s mouth turn up, into a ghost of a smile.

-----

Stan had just about finished putting his boots on when his favorite coworker, Undertow, stormed into the locker room. He watched with a raised eyebrow as Undertow tore open his locker, muttering under his breath.

“You’re in a mood today,” Stan commented. Undertow sighed. He looked back at Stan. The crew’s general policy was to keep masks on at all times in HQ, since there were some new heroes with telepathy who might be able to take a peek at a villain’s memories. Undertow’s outfit had a full cowl, rather than a domino mask like Stan’s, but even partially obscured, he had one of the most expressive faces Stan had ever seen. And at the moment, Undertow’s expression was frustrated and saddened.

�� “I thought she was fin’ly goin’ to leave him,” Undertow said. Stan’s second eyebrow raised to join his first.

He’s pretty damn upset. Normally, he keeps that accent in check.

“Who?” Stan asked.

“My sister.”

“You have a sister?”

“Two.” Undertow sat on the bench next to Stan. “But the one I’m speakin’ of is my twin sister.” Stan racked his brain for any hints about Undertow’s background. As someone without villainous family connections, he wasn’t privy to information that some of his coworkers had. But he remembered hearing once that Undertow came from a long line of villains.

“Is she…in the trade?” Stan asked. Undertow shook his head.

“No. When we were younger, she wanted to be. But she decided not to, when she started datin’ the feller what became her husband.” Undertow scowled. “Her husband’s a real piece of shit.”

“Did he prevent her from being a villain?”

“Nah. He don’t know ‘bout our fam’ly bein’ full of villains. But he’s on the straight ‘n narrow, and wouldn’t have liked his wife to be breakin’ the law.” Undertow sighed heavily. “As it is, he don’t really like his wife doin’ much of anything. Which is why my sister needs to dump his sorry ass.” Undertow rubbed his face. “And I thought she was goin’ to do it this time. But she didn’t.”

“What happened?”

“They had another argument about how he wants her to start poppin’ out kids. She don’t want to yet, ‘cause she feels like takin’ maternity leave right now would cripple her career trajectory. And his response was that she won’t need maternity leave, ‘cause she can just quit her job. He keeps pushin’ that issue over ‘n over. He don’t like her workin’.”

“Sounds like a douche.”

“He is! And after that fight, she came to my house fer a shoulder to cry on. I did my best to sway her, but she still went back to him once she’d calmed down.” Undertow groaned loudly. “Honestly, at this point, I can’t think of a single thing that’d get her to leave him.”

“Maybe I should make a pass at her,” Stan joked. Undertow snorted.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to that. You’d be better fer her than what she’s got right now.”

-----

Stan went to the bar every night, hoping to see Angie again, but it took a month before she showed up. This time, she arrived after he did, visibly in tears. She made her way to the stool next to Stan’s and sat down. Faint breezes danced around her, kicking up her caramel-colored hair.

Is…is she a super? I knew she was something special. Stan wordlessly slid her his whisky, which she downed in one swallow. He winced.

“Your husband again?” he asked. Angie nodded morosely. “Well, at least he lasted a month before he pissed you off enough to make you drown your sorrows.”

“Nah, I just went to my brother’s last time,” Angie said hoarsely. “He’s got real moonshine, and I wanted somethin’ strong.”

“If your brother’s got hooch, why are you coming here?” Stan asked. Angie slid Stan’s empty tumbler back to him, determinedly avoiding eye contact.

“I…wanted to talk to you.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Look, lady, I’m not a marriage counselor.”

“I know. But you don’t have an agenda. My brother does. My whole fam’ly does, all my friends do. All they say is ‘leave him’.” Angie met Stan’s gaze. Her eyes were a bright, brilliant blue, swimming in tears. “I just need someone to listen.”

“I can do that, but you’re gonna have to pay for another whiskey for me first,” Stan said. Angie managed a watery chuckle.

“Fine.” Angie waved over the bartender and ordered herself a Long Island iced tea and another whiskey for Stan.

“All right,” Stan said once his drink was in hand. “What’s going on?”

“My ma became a stay-at-home mother when I was a tot. She kept house and raised six kids-” Stan coughed roughly.

“Six kids?” he croaked. Angie nodded. “What the-”

“We’re Catholic.”

“Ah, okay. Carry on.”

“Props to her. It’s a rough job to have, and I don’t look down on it.” Angie slammed her hands against the counter. A wind picked up, rattling the old beer advertisements on the wall. “But it ain’t fer me!”

“Lemme guess. Your husband wants you to be a stay-at-home mom.”

“Yes. Which I knew. But this time- this time, he brought my ma into it! Told me that I’d be good at it ‘cause my ma clearly was. I just-” Angie gestured wordlessly. “How- how could he think that’s a compliment?”

“Probably ‘cause he’s so dead set on you doing that,” Stan said with a shrug. “He’s already decided you’ll do it, so he’s already started complimenting you on it.”

“…That makes sense,” Angie said softly. She groaned loudly. “Why is he like this?” Stan shrugged. “I want to stay with him, to get him to change his mind-”

“That’s not your job. Your job is-” Stan frowned. “Wait, what do you do?”

“I’m a zookeeper.”

“Your job is to keep zoos,” Stan said. Angie furrowed her brow, like she couldn’t decide whether she was amused by Stan’s phrasing or not. “Not to drag your husband out of the fifties.”

“But I’m his wife.”

“And?”

“I’m s’pposed to help him change.”

“What if he doesn’t want to change?” Stan asked. “What do you do then?” The winds that had entered the bar with Angie abruptly died down.

“…Yer right.”

“I am?”

“He don’t want to change. He don’t want to listen to me. I can’t force it, I shouldn’t have even tried.” Angie dropped a twenty-dollar bill on the counter and stood to leave.

“Hey, uh wait-” Stan started. Angie looked at him.

“Yes?”

“I, uh, I never got your last name.”

“It’s Hillcrest.” Angie slid her wedding ring off and tucked it into the pocket of her jeans. “But not fer long.” She paused for a moment, watching Stan, then leaned in and placed a gentle peck on his cheek. With that, she left the bar.

Stan stared at the door long after she had gone, his mind running a mile a minute.

Did I just get her to break up with her husband?

-----

Stan walked out of the shower and headed for his locker to get dressed in his civvies. After he had his pants on, Undertow entered the locker room and went for his locker as well.

“Hey,” Stan said. Undertow grunted. “Is it your sister’s husband again?”

“Hmm?” Undertow turned around. “Oh, no, she finally dumped him.”

“Really? Good for her.”

“Yeah. But she’s got a new beau, and she insisted on dinner with him tonight.” Undertow sighed. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Is he a dick, too?”

“Don’t know. Haven’t met him.”

“Ah. I get it. You don’t wanna meet your sister’s new man just yet.”

“No, I do not.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m not looking forward to dinner tonight, either,” Stan said, slipping on his T-shirt. “I’m meeting my girlfriend’s brother for the first time.”

“Oof.” Undertow looked at him sympathetically. “Don’t worry too much, Flamethrower. You’re a great guy.”

“Thanks, but I dunno if her brother’s gonna think that. My girlfriend says he can be a bit tough.” Undertow walked over to Stan and clapped a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

“I’m sure it’ll go great.”

“Hopefully,” Stan muttered. Undertow smiled at him.

“If her brother doesn’t like you, he’s a damn fool.”

-----

Stan walked up to the address Angie had given him. When she divorced her ex-husband, she had moved in with her twin brother, Lute. Apparently, Lute was thrilled to have her with him again.

I get it, though. That twin bond is strong. Stan stopped in front of the door. He took a deep breath and knocked.

“Comin’!” Angie called. Stan felt some of his nerves disperse at the sound of her voice. The door opened, revealing the beaming face of his girlfriend. “Stanley!” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Thank you so much fer agreein’ to this.”

“You said it’s important, so…”

“It is,” Angie said softly. “It really is.” Her eyes lit up. “Oh! And, um, remember how ya told me that yer not exactly…on the side of the law?” she said, her voice low. Stan nodded. Telling Angie he was a villain had been nerve wracking, but she had proven herself once again to be the best possible girlfriend and taken it in stride. “Well, the reason I took it so well is ‘cause I have a lot of fam’ly members who ‘re in the same career.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yep! Lute’s one of ‘em. If things go well tonight, I can prob’ly convince him to put a good word in fer ya, get ya moved up in the ranks a bit.”

“You really think so?” Stan asked eagerly. Angie nodded. “That would be awesome, Ang.”

“Just be charmin’, okay?” Angie messed with his shirt. “But that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Hey, Angie, the oven just beeped!” a voice shouted. Stan’s head whipped up.

That almost sounded like Undertow.

“All right, I’ll come take care of it,” Angie called back. She kissed Stan on the cheek. “Come on in and take a seat in the livin’ room.”

“You got it.” Stan kissed the top of her head and entered the house, following the hallway until he arrived at a cozy living room. He took a seat on the brown couch. Shortly after, a young man that looked eerily similar to Angie entered, holding a glass of water, and took a seat next to him.

“So, um…” the man said. He cleared his throat. “Yer Stan?”

“Yeah. I’m guessing you’re Lute?”

“Yessir.”

“Nice to meet you,” Stan said, holding out a hand. Lute shook it, visibly reluctant. “Angie speaks pretty highly of you.”

“She does the same fer you.” Lute cleared his throat again. “What do you do?”

“I sell used cars.”

“Used cars?”

“Yeah.” Stan shrugged. “It’s just to make some dough while I work on my passion projects.” Lute eyed Stan with interest. Much like when he had heard Lute’s voice earlier, Stan was reminded of Undertow. Something about the look in Lute’s gray eyes was eerily familiar.

“Passion projects? Like what?”

“Oh, uh, I’m keeping them to myself until they work out,” Stan said.

Don’t wanna spill just yet that I want to become a villain full-time.

“Ah.” Lute seemed disappointed. He looked down at his glass of water. After a moment, he spoke again. “You a super?”

“Yeah. You?” Stan asked without thinking. He fought back a wince.

Angie just told you he was a villain, of course he’s a super, you dumbass. Lute smirked. The water in his glass shot up, hovered as a sphere for a split second, then zipped around the room before returning to his glass. Stan’s jaw dropped.

“Whattaya think?” Lute asked snidely.

“…I think you’re a super,” Stan said.

Shit, it is Undertow! How did I wind up dating my coworker’s twin sister without realizing it?

“Yup.” Lute winked. “Better yet, I’m a mask. Give ya twenty bucks if ya can guess who.”

“Lute!” Angie scolded from the kitchen. Lute groaned.

“Fine, I’ll drop it.” Before Stan could think of what to do with the information that Lute was Undertow, the villain in question spoke again. “So, ya sell used cars. What’s yer education like?”

“Uh, high school.”

“That’s it?” Lute asked. Stan nodded. Lute frowned. “My sister has a-”

“Doctorate in herpetology, I know,” Stan said.

“And you don’t think it’s odd at all that someone so educated is with someone who only graduated high school?” Lute pressed. Stan shrugged.

“It just means that she’s smart enough for the both of us,” he said airily. Lute froze. His eyes began to frantically search Stan’s face.

“…What did ya just say?” he whispered.

“That Angie’s smart enough for both of us,” Stan said. A memory abruptly surfaced of a conversation he’d had with Undertow a few days ago. He had mentioned his relationship, as well as the discrepancy between his education and his girlfriend’s. And Undertow had simply replied that Stan’s girlfriend would have to be smart enough for the both of them, then.

“Hmm.” Lute leaned back, still staring at Stan. “Say, yer a super, right? What kind?” In lieu of a verbal response, Stan snapped his fingers. A flame burst to life on his fingertips.

“Whattaya think?”

“Flamethrower,” Lute whispered. Stan extinguished the flame.

“Undertow.”

“Yer- I-” Lute dragged his hands down his face. “Consarnit!”

“Yeah, I gotta admit, finding out that my girlfriend’s twin is my favorite coworker is pretty weird,” Stan confessed. Lute groaned. “But you seem to be taking this way harder than you should be.”

“It’s just- yer my fav’rite coworker, too.”

“You make that sound like it’s a problem.”

“It is. I like ya, Stan, which is goin’ to make it difficult to be hard on ya.”

“Wait, what?” Stan asked. Lute sighed.

“I have to be hard on ya to make sure yer all right fer my sister.”

“What? Come on, man!”

“My sister just got out of a bad relationship. I don’t want her to wind up in another one right off the bat.”

“You know me. I’m a good guy. I treat Angie right.”

“That’s what I thought ‘bout Max,” Lute said softly. “Hell, we’d been friends since we were in diapers. I thought he was a decent sort. So when he ‘n Angie started datin’ in high school, I didn’t bat an eye. I should’ve. If I had, maybe I could’ve stopped Angie from needin’ a divorce.”

“Lute.” Stan and Lute looked up. Angie had entered the living room. She crossed over to Lute, knelt in front of him, and placed a hand on one of his knees. “Don’t blame yourself. The only person to blame is me. I should’ve left the minute he became a hero, and I was goin’ to have to abandon the dream of followin’ the fam’ly tradition. But I stayed. Even when he started raggin’ on me ‘bout how I needed to be a more traditional wife.”

“You were in a toxic relationship,” Lute said softly. “Yer not to blame.”

“The only person to blame here is your dick of an ex-husband,” Stan said. Angie and Lute looked over. “Lute’s right, Angie. It’s difficult to leave a toxic relationship. My mom’s proof of that. But Angie’s right, too, Lute. It’s not your fault, either. Sometimes…sometimes people start out good, but then they get worse. Even if you had been hard on Max when he started dating Angie, things still could have played out the way they did.”

“Yeah,” Lute said. He sighed. “Yer right, Stan. We should be blamin’ Max, not ourselves. Especially since he’s apparently a hero.” Lute directed the statement at Angie, who paled. “Banjolina, what’s that about?”

“Banjolina?” Stan mumbled.

“I didn’t share information either way,” Angie said tartly, getting to her feet. “I ain’t a snitch.”

“Ya won’t be tellin’ us what his hero name is, then?” Lute asked. Angie shook her head. “Hmph. Guess we’ll just have to figure it out on our own.”

“Speaking of secret identities,” Stan said, “why didn’t you warn us that we already knew each other?” Angie grinned.

“I might not have ever gotten into the villainy game, but that don’t mean I ignore the chance to stir up some mischief.” Something in the kitchen beeped. “Oh, I’ve got to get that.” She rushed back into the kitchen.

“Given what ya just said and what I already knew about you,” Lute said slowly, “I’ll drop the protective big brother speech.” Stan leaned back.

“Cool. I mean, no offense, but you’re not as intimidating as you think you are,” Stan replied. Lute rolled his eyes.

“Whatever.” He leaned closer to Stan. “Between the two of us, I think we could figure out which hero it is what broke Angie’s heart and trapped her in a bad relationship fer years on end.” Stan nodded.

“I agree. That motherfucker needs to get a firm ass-kicking.”

#I changed Lute's villain name from Tsunami to Undertow bc Tsunami was so that it would match Angie's name of Sirocco #but he doesn't have that motivation for his villain name in this situation #I am a big fan of Drama in my AUs so this AU is v fun to play with lmao #Best Revenge AU #Stanley Pines #Angie McGucket #Lute McGucket #Stangie #ficlet #my writing #my stuff #speecher speaks

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i-dream-of-twilight-sparkle · 4 years ago

Text

Chapter 5: Starlight’s Secret

A few hours after Twilight suddenly popped up through a portal in her wagon, Trixie has finally woken up again after having gone back to sleep. She yawns and stretches her hooves. Once she gets out she looks at the face of the pony that makes her the happiest… her own face in the mirror.

Trixie: Today, Trixie starts the preparations for a grand show in Saddle Arabia! But first, to fulfill a mission the Princess gave me in getting Starlight there.

Trixie grins at herself in the mirror

Trixie: Granted, Starlight has been a wonderful assistant in many of my shows. I probably would of smuggled her in, even if Twilight explicitly told me NOT to bring her. But as is, inviting Starlight is now Trixie’s good deed of the day!

Trixie steps out of her wagon and proceeds to head to the School of Friendship, where Starlight has recently been promoted to be the new Principal when the previous one got a promotion of their own in Twilight becoming the sole princess ruling in Canterlot. Trixie herself with a job at the school as the new counselor. She approaches the Principal’s desk.

Trixie: Hello Principal Glimmer, is it fine for Counselor Lulamoon to have a few words?

Starlight turns around her swivel chair and smiles

Starlight: Hey there Trixie, good to see you! Though I don’t know why you’re being so formal. We’re currently on break between school years, I’m just here because I still have some paperwork to fulfill before the next school year starts.

Trixie: Maybe Trixie just wanted to start getting used to saying Principal Glimmer and Counselor Lulamoon for when it is time.

Starlight: Haha, I guess it does give you a sort of professional title to boast. Though please focus on using your job on helping out students and not flaunting the fact that you were hired to counsel students. Helping students shouldn’t be something you brag about doing. You just do it, you’ll get the praise you want when the students say you helped them. I may be your friend, but I’ll still be your boss. I will not hesitate to fire you, if I feel like you’re using your title over the concerns of the students

Trixie: Ok, ok, ok. I’m sorry, guess I was just a little excited that we’re going to be working together. Though speaking of together, I actually got something to invite you to. And believe it or not, Twilight herself told me to go invite you after inviting me herself!

Starlight: Huh, Twilight visited to invite you somewhere?

Trixie: She did, yes!

Starlight: Well, I guess you two have actually been friends longer then you’ve been friends with me.

Trixie: Just want to say that despite having been friends with Twilight for longer, you’re still my BEST friend. *winks*

Starlight: Aw, thank you Trixie. But anyway, what did Twilight invite you to and in turn, what are you inviting me to?

Trixie: Saddle Arabia is apparently having a Royal Ball in the palace. There’s also a wedding between 2 of Twilight’s friends that live there, though it’s your choice if you want to attend both. I don’t know if I’ll be at the wedding, but Twilight invited me to the Royal Ball both as a guest and an entertainer. I’ll be on stage, and of course I’d like to have you as my assistant for another show.

Starlight: Sure thing, Trixie. It’s good that we may finally get to see Saddle Arabia after we failed a little while ago.

Suddenly, a door knock is heard outside the office door.

Starlight: Trixie, could you go see who’s here?

Trixie: Sure!

Trixie opens up the door, and it’s Sunburst. Another friend of Starlight who will be in the staff as the Vice Principal.

Sunburst: Hi Trixie! Hi Starlight! Are you two already discussing the next school year?

Starlight: Maybe a little tiny bit, but Trixie actually had something else in mind that we’re talking about a little more.

Sunburst: What’s that?

Starlight: Twilight and her friends are going to Saddle Arabia for a Royal Ball and a wedding. Trixie was invited to go from her, and she’ll be among the entertainers to go on stage. She was also tasked by Twilight to invite me.

Trixie: Oh yeah, Twilight also mentioned you Sunburst so if you want to come too, we can make sure you’re invited as well.

Sunburst: Sure, why not?

Suddenly a portal appears in the room of the office

Starlight: What the?!

Twilight: Hi there, Starlight, Trixie, and Sunburst!

Trixie: Twilight?! What are you popping in for, if you were going to talk to Starlight. Why did you even task me to go invite her?!

Twilight: I… didn’t pop in for that, but at least I know you went and did it. In fact, I tried seeing you in your wagon first in case you were still there, but you were gone, so I guessed that you went to the school to do what I told you. Thank you for that. Buuuut I just realized I forgot to give you something before I closed the portal into your wagon. Your own pack of portal gum for you and Starlight to use in case you have others outside Ponyville you want to invite. Me and my friends are gathering friends and family from all over the world. I need to give you the chance to do the same if you have any in mind.

Twilight tosses a pack of gum that lands on Starlight’s desk.

Starlight: Thanks Twilight, I guess. See you at the ball, then?

Twilight: Yup! Have a good day!

Twilight waves goodbye, and closes the portal

Trixie: Well, I guess this time we won’t have to worry about the long travel like we went on last time.

Starlight: Yeah, true. That was such a horrid trip, we didn’t even get to Saddle Arabia. So it’ll be great to have a shortcut to anywhere in the world. Though now the question is, who should we invite? I was going to say maybe Maud first, but I have a feeling Pinkie Pie’s likely already got her covered.

Trixie: I might go get my Mother in Canterlot

Starlight: Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever met your Mother. What’s her name?

Trixie: Dandy Lion, and she is somepony I love very much.

Starlight: I suppose while you’re mentioning a parent, what about your father?

Trixie just gives an annoyed expression

Trixie: No comment…

Starlight: Oh… sounds like you don’t want to talk about him… though I sympathize sometimes given what my own father is like… You’ve just never ever brought up your parents before, so you never really told us how you feel about them

Trixie: I’ll just say my past in Canterlot was… complicated.

Starlight: You’re not the only one with a complicated past, Trixie. Trust me

Starlight looks to the side solemnly

Sunburst: I suppose we have our own parents we can invite, my mother is obsessed with plans. But I wouldn’t mind letting her have some fun in a vacation. Maybe she’d loosen up a bit from her plan-oriented lifestyle.

Starlight: Ugh… going to see my father is like going face-to-face with one of the sources of my complicated past I just mentioned… But I guess I can.

Sunburst: Do you perhaps want to talk about said complicated past?

Starlight: Not really at the moment, but perhaps I should sometime... But I guess for now, we three should get going to invite the parents we can or at least willing to reach. Here’s your own piece Trixie, so you can go see your Mom. And this one is for me and Sunburst to go to Sire’s Hollow.

Trixie: Thank you, Starlight! I’m gonna go see my Mom right now, I’ll come back here after I’ve invited and finished talking to her.

Starlight: Alright Trixie, seeya in a moment.

Trixie blows her portal gum bubble and heads off to see her Mother. Meanwhile Starlight takes a deep breath.

Starlight: So back to Sire’s Hollow, huh?

Sunburst: At least for only a few minutes. We don’t have a a whole friendship quest to figure out this time around. We only have to say “Hey Mom, or in your case Dad. We’re going to Saddle Arabia soon, would you like to join us when we do?”. And then regardless whether they say yes or no, say we can’t stay for too much longer, and if they ask why, just bring up our school jobs.

Starlight: I guess you have a point there, Perhaps it won’t be too bad.

Starlight proceeds to blow her bubble and the portal that pops from it, is a view of Sire’s Hollow the town where many awkward memories for both Starlight and Sunburst persist. Starlight closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and enters the portal.

((Story continues after the break))

Upon entering Sunburst can already see his mother is out and about keeping an eye on any progress of the town being made. Sunburst sighs.

Sunburst: I might as well talk to her to get it over with…

Sunburst walks closer and starts to call out to his mother.

Sunburst: Um, uh… Hi! Er, Mom?

Stellar Flare’s ears perk up, and she turns around with a wide-eyed, big grin hearing the voice of her son.

Stellar Flare: SUNBURST!

She trots up and hugs him tight.

Stellar Flare: How’s my little vice principal of the next year of the Friendship School doing?

Starlight: Wait, you already know that Sunburst was hired as Vice Principal?

Stellar Flare: Oh yes, and of course that means I also know about you, Principal Starlight! *winks*

Starlight: But how? We definitely haven’t been here since that happened.

Sunburst: I told her recently, I’ve actually started to respond to her letters more often. Maybe if she knew more recent news about me more often, maybe she’d at least think I wasn’t doing nothing… honestly maybe I should of at least told her last time that I helped with babysitting Cadence’s daughter in the Crystal Empire. She would of thought that I was doing an important job then.

Stellar Flare: You did mention that in one of your recent letters, yeah I probably would of been a little more satisfied knowing that before the previous visit. Though certainly having a role in the School of Friendship is a much bigger deal, you’ll be shaping the future of the next few generations of not just Equestria but some students from outside of the country as well, non-ponies included! I just want to say I’m proud of you, Sunburst. This is all I wanted for you, a solid future for yourself!

Sunburst: Heh heh, thank you Mom. Though perhaps you should be thanking Starlight, she was the one who was promoted from counselor and then hired me on as Vice Principal.

Stellar Flare: I guess that’s fair too. *She turns toward Starlight* Thank you Starlight, for being such a dear friend and selecting my son as your Vice Principal!

Starlight: You’re welcome, I guess?

Sunburst: By the way, Mom. Looks like you’re overseeing something getting built. How did you get Firelight to sign up on it, weren’t you two still at odds about construction?

Stellar Flare: Well, we still fought over things a little bit after you left last time. But some time ago, we finally reached a bit of a compromise. Remember when I said I wouldn’t let Firelight turn this town into a museum?

Sunburst: Yes?

Stellar Flare: Well, I thought of something. If I let Firelight have a museum in the town, then I can have something I want, once that’s done! What’s being built is a Sire’s Hollow museum!

Starlight: I guess that would be one way to satisfy my Father.

Stellar Flare: We together will make a museum that both respects the history of our little town while the building itself will have plenty quirks about other thriving cities! It’ll have something for the both of us, and after that I’ll get to have one thing I want. Though I haven’t even decided yet, do I want a casino? A sports arena? Perhaps, a hotel? Oh, just thinking about the possibilities has me filled with excitement! *She has both hooves on her cheeks with star-filled eyes*

Sunburst: Well either way, it sounds very nice. Glad you two came to a good deal that benefits both of you.

Starlight: Ahem, Sunburst... I think we may have gotten a little sidetracked of what we came here to do

Sunburst: Oh shoot, yeah. Blame my Mom’s way of carrying a conversation. Um, Mom we actually came here to invite you to something.

Stellar Flare: Wait, are you actually saying you… hehe…

Sunburst: No…

Stellar Flare: Came here…

Sunburst: No no no no no no, please don’t say it….

Stellar Flare: WITH. A. PLAN?!

Sunburst: ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Sunburst yells in mental agony as her mother implies he’s becoming like her. Starlight giggling a little bit. Stellar Flare looking at Sunburst with a smug grin.

Stellar Flare: Hehehehe, sorry I just had to. But where and what did you PLAN *winks* to invite me to?

Sunburst: Ugghhh, well Mom. There will be a royal ball in Saddle Arabia, Princess Twilight and her friends will also likely bringing many of their family and friends from across the world. That included us, and she gave us free reign to invite whoever we wanted to bring as well. We thought it’d be a good gesture to bring you and Starlight’s father along to it.

Stellar Flare: Sounds like fun! I’d love to be there, consider it my plan to be there.

Sunburst: Alright, we’ve got my Mom invited. Now I suppose it’s your dad’s turn.

Starlight: *sigh* Yeah… Stellar, have you seen my father?

Stellar Flare: I believe he’s currently in your old home, Starlight.

Starlight: Well then, I’m gonna head in and get this over wi-

Stellar Flare: Though there is one thing I admit is odd, he has not come out at all today. Like I know he’s still alive at the very least, I heard him mixing up his coffee in the morning. But he hasn’t come out all day. Which is weird because I would of thought he’d enjoy watching his museum’s construction being underway.

Starlight gives a somewhat concerned look to both Sunburst and her mom.

Starlight: Well I’ll go in alone and see what’s up, you’re right that it doesn’t sound like him to stay in the house like that…

Starlight walks on over to the house that she grew up on, she knocks. But even after a few minutes, there’s no answer. Now Starlight got really concerned, Sunburst’s mom said she thinks he’s not dead based on hearing the sounds of coffee being mixed, but who knew if that coffee had like poison or something else happened since then. Starlight barge opens the door and yells out.

Starlight: Dad? Are you feeling alright?

After quieting herself, she hears the faint sound of… a stallion crying. Her father’s alive which was a relief, but sounds like he’s really upset about something. Starlight goes in the direction in which he can hear the sobbing and eventually finds her father just sitting up on the side of his bed. Tears streaming down his face.

Starlight: Dad?

Firelight is surprised by the sudden appearance of his daughter, he was still in the house and didn’t hear any part of their conversation with Sunburst’s mother, so he didn’t know Starlight was in town.

Firelight: Starlight?! I didn’t even know you were here, um… nice to see you… dear…

Starlight: Now I know something really is wrong, you didn’t begin with calling me “pumpky-wumpkin” or “sugarplum”.

Firelight: *sigh* Am I that predictable?

Starlight: Come on, Dad. Fess up, what’s on your mind that’s got you in such an emotional mess?

Firelight just closes his eyes and turns away from his daughter.

Firelight: If you must know… today happens to be the date of when… she… left…

Starlight: She…?

Starlight ponders for a moment, but suddenly realizes what he meant

Starlight: You mean… my mother!…

Firelight just nods

Starlight suddenly gets a determined look on her face.

Starlight: Perhaps it’s time then you finally tell me who she was, you still haven’t told me at any point my entire life. I asked you so many times when I was a filly, you just kept either dodging the question or said you’d tell me later. I think we’re well past later at this point, will you finally at least tell me her name?

Her father just stays silent, Starlight gives him a few minutes to say something. But still nothing. Starlight’s anger starts rising.

Starlight: Father! Please! Tell me something for Equestria’s sake! Maybe you don’t even have to tell me her name! At least tell me if you know what happened to her after she left, maybe?!

Another minute of silence passes before Firelight speaks at least a little.

Firelight: That last question, I still don’t know for sure yet myself… but… I still don’t think it’s time yet to share who she was…

Starlight now fully in a rage, perhaps the most anger she’s felt since prior to her being reformed by Twilight.

Starlight: FINE! JUST STAY AND MOPE THERE WHILE LEAVING YOUR ONLY DAUGHTER IN THE COLD ABOUT THE VERY THING YOU’RE MOPING ABOUT, YOU APPARENTLY DON’T HAVE A BUCKING CLUE HOW MUCH KNOWING WHO MY MOTHER WAS MIGHT HAVE HELPED ME YEARS AGO! I SHOULD TEACH YOU A BUCKING LESSON BY BURNING DOWN YOUR BUCKING PRECIOUS MUSEUM BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW!

Getting such a tongue lashing from his daughter, all he can do is simply just hunker down further and remain silent. Tears streaming down his cheek again.

After a few heavy breaths after her angry rant. She takes one, large deep breath. And says a more calmer but not any less stern talking to her father.

Starlight: You’re lucky vengeance isn’t my style anymore, I won’t really destroy it. But what good is holding on to the past of the town if there’s something about the past you won’t even tell your own daughter? Just what is it that makes it so important for me to not know? Do you plan on keeping up this secret even past the day you’re buried six feet deep?

Firelight: Of course not…

Starlight: Then why not just tell me now? Please don’t tell me you intend to make me wait until you’re super old and/or on your deathbed to tell me…

Firelight: If it’s any comfort, I don’t plan to tell you on my deathbed. But… I’m still not ready to quite say it yet, Starlight. I’m sorry.

Starlight huffs in her failure to get anything out of her stubborn father. She finally gives up, and turns her back on her father.

Starlight: Well… before I go… I just want to tell you that me and Sunburst are going to a Royal Ball in Saddle Arabia where Twilight and her many friends and family will also be attending. We came here to invite you and Sunburst’s mom. I won’t rescind your invitation just because of our conversation, you can still go and Sunburst can come pick you and his mom up when it’s time. But... you’re not exactly doing yourself any favors in the near future to convince your little “pumpky-wumpkins” to even bother make another visit to this forsaken town.

Firelight is silent for a little bit before finally saying

Firelight: Yeah… I’ll go…

Starlight: Then my business is done here, goodbye father.

Starlight finally leaves the room, Firelight just sulking and now probably his tears aren’t going to be just about what the date was, but also the problems between him and his only daughter.

Starlight walks out of the room but with a very noticeable angry expression. Sunburst looks very concerned for her.

Sunburst: What happened in there Starlight? I couldn’t hear exactly what you were saying, but I’m pretty sure I could feel the familiar vibes of your voice whenever you were SUPER angry.

Starlight: We’re getting out of here Sunburst, our parents were invited. We got what we came here for...

Sunburst: Starligh-

She gives Sunburst such a mean stare that if looks could kill, would probably drop him dead instantly.

Starlight: Sunburst… Lets. Get Back. To. The. Bucking. Office.

Sunburst just remains silent, and follows Starlight back into the Principal’s office of the School of Friendship. Once they’re back in the office, Starlight slumps back into her desk chair still with that angry expression that she left her house in. Sunburst seats himself a distance from Starlight and stays silent. And for a little while, it stays that way. It was perhaps a good 15-20 minutes before something broke the silence. A portal re-opening back from Canterlot, Trixie was back. And she was overjoyed in happiness in huge contrast with a silent room of anger and awkwardness.

Trixie: Oh my Celestia, my mom is so amazing! She accepted my invitation, and also gave me humongous congratulations on getting the school counselor job. Then we had a mother-daughter snuggle hug, she gave me cookies, and even perhaps gave me the greatest idea for the finale of my act in Saddle Arabia! Oh, I love my mom so much!

Starlight utters a big strong growl at Trixie. Sunburst looking at Trixie, just moving his head to side-to-side to signal that Starlight’s really not in a good mood at the moment. Trixie never really knows what to say when Starlight gets this angry, so she just sits a distance away from Starlight along with Sunburst.

Trixie leans over to Sunburst’s side to whisper

Trixie: Sunburst, what in Equestria happened in Sire’s Hollow for Starlight to be this angry?! I swear this is scarier then when she was bottling up her feelings, when she was angry at me!

Sunburst: I’m not exactly sure either, Trixie. She just stormed out of her father’s home like this, obviously they had a tense moment.

The room is silent once again for another few minutes with Starlight still not changing her expression as Trixie and Sunburst just awkwardly sit there, occasionally side-eyeing each other waiting for an unclear sign of when to approach or say something that could help calm down Starlight.

But a few minutes later, Starlight’s expression finally changes. She goes from unrelenting anger… to absolutely overflowing sadness. Sobbing, her face on her desk with her hooves on top of her head from what seems like utter despair to Trixie and Sunburst. Starlight’s tears even make a puddle on the desk that makes all the paper on the desk soaked.and even drags pencils off the edges of the desk from the sheer flow. That’s when Trixie and Sunburst finally approach to try to comfort their upset friend. Sunburst and Trixie both each with a hoof on Starlight’s shoulders.

Sunburst: Starlight, we don’t know what you talked about with your father. But obviously something was very distressing about it to you, you don’t have to tell us what exactly is wrong. But let us at least try to perhaps help you calm down, in any way we can.

Starlight still has tears streaming down her eyes. She raises her head off the desk and looks side to side to both her friends. And then finally speaks again.

Starlight: Actually, I probably should tell both of you what it was. So at the very least, I can be better then my bucking useless father in terms of telling important secrets that probably would be beneficial for friends to know now...

Trixie: You have some kind of secret that you’ve never told anypony else?

Sunburst: Yes, tell us Starlight. You’ll get things off your chest much easier if you just trust us to understand what’s upsetting you.

Starlight sits up a little more strongly, and takes a deep breath.

Starlight: Alright, Sunburst… Trixie… I’ll tell you now, I’ve held this up from almost every pony I’ve come to know for years. I probably haven’t even mentioned it to anypony other then my father since before I started that “Our Town” cult.

Sunburst and Trixie are metaphorically and almost literally on the edge of their seats. Whatever it is that Starlight has to tell them, must be huge.

Starlight nervously looks side-to-side through the entire office, and looks at each of the concerned but eager friends to know what she’s trying to say… until finally she just snaps and blurts out…

Starlight slams her hooves on her desk, before going back into another tearful sob fit covering her eyes with her hooves, tears streaming down her forelimbs. Sunburst and Trixie both wide-eyed, and huge gasps coming from their mouths.

NEXT UP: Chapter 6: Starlight’s Cutie Mark

#Secrets Of The Dragon's Tear #Starlight Glimmer #Trixie #Trixie Lulamoon #The Great and Powerful Trixie #Sunburst #Twilight Sparkle #Genie #Stellar Flare #Firelight #Dandy Lion

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eiirisworkshop · 4 years ago

Text

Avengers as Teachers AU Fic

For Good Intentions WIP Fest, details of which can be found @goodintentionswipfest

I have a lot of scraps of Avengers fics that, if I’m being honest, I’m never gonna finish. This is one of them--probably the one that has the most actually written.

***

Start of term is Monday, August 18th. Student move in is August 15th through 17th. All faculty are expected on campus to assist with move in. Any faculty who will be living in staff campus housing must move into their apartments during the week of August 4th through 10th.

Clint Barton set a cardboard box down on what was going to be his coffee table for the next nine months. His staff apartment was a bedroom, bathroom, and livingroom with kitchenet, all of it decked out in what seemed like Ikea's slightly classier cousin, though Clint had no idea where someone was supposed to get classier Ikea. He reached in his pocket, pulled out the note he'd found taped to the front door, and unfolded it. Neat, looping handwriting read, “Welcome, new guy, to the psychological crucible known as boarding school. Brace yourself, the Europeans are almost as crazy as the teenagers, have fun!”

“Heh,” Clint mused to himself, “that's not ominous at all.”

He shook his head, chuckled, and set to work unpacking. Shortly, he was interrupted by a knock at the door. He went to answer it and was met with the sight of a slim, redheaded woman leaning casually on the doorjamb. She grinned. “Hello neighbor.” She straightened up. “Everyone is talking about the newhire who's waited until the last minute to move in, but no one wants to be the first to snoop. I volunteered.” She held out a hand. “Barton, right?”

“Uh, yeah.” He shook the proffered hand. “Clint Barton.”

“Natasha Romanoff. I'm in the flat next door.” She nodded her head to indicate the apartment down the hall to her left, making her auburn curls bounce.

“I think you might be one of the crazy Europeans I've been warned about.”

The woman, Natasha, laughed, eyes glinting dangerously. “I think I might be. Did someone leave you a new guy note?”

“Yeah.” Clint snorted, fished the note back out of his pocket, and handed it to her.

She unfolded it and snorted. “Oh, Maria.”

“Maria?”

“Maria Hill. She's the school counselor. Does her best to keep us all sane.” Natasha handed the note back. “Tomorrow is the first teacher workday.”

“I know. Uh,” Clint stepped back, “d'you wanna come in?”

Natasha held up a hand. “No, that's okay. I have to finish up my own unpacking. See you tomorrow. Staff meeting starts at eight, don't sit next to the big blond if you value your hearing.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

She sauntered the few steps down the hall to her door and he closed his.

The next morning, Clint took the stairs down from his apartment on the second floor and found himself in the middle of a group of three young women in the lobby of the staff housing building. The women stopped talking and eyed him. He cleared his throat awkwardly and grinned. “Is all the faculty but me and the headmaster beautiful women?”

One of the women, a fairly petite but curvy thing with curly dark hair and plastic-framed glasses, crossed her arms and studied him. “I think I like replacement Sitwell.”

“Darcy,” said one of the other two women, a dirty blond with an English accent, “you cannot call him 'replacement Sitwell.'” She sighed and shot a dark look at the third woman, who looked like she was probably some kind of mixed and was stifling a giggle. “I'm sorry. We're glad you've joined the crew. Now, we ought to all go or we're going to be late.”

The three women and Clint left the housing building and started across the green that lay between it, the main school building, and the student dormitory. The curly haired woman, Darcy, looped an arm through Clint's. “So, replacement Sitwell, since Jemma here doesn't think I should call you what you are, what should I call you?”

“My name's—”

“Clinton Barton.” The third woman shrugged. “I backed up all our digital files over the summer, I saw the hiring paperwork. I mean it's no secret or anything, I think most of the staff just didn't bother to look up when we heard Fury'd found a new lit teacher.”

“Skye does most of the school's IT support for the school and teaches two classes,” Jemma explained as she pulled open the door to the main building. “I teach biology and Latin, and Darcy—”

“Political science. And I'm the history department's bitch.”

The four of them filed down the hall and into the half full conference room across from the headmaster's office. There was a clump of people—two redheaded women that weren't Natasha, two dark haired men who both looked like they had some Latin blood in their pedigrees, two black men, and a woman with a long black ponytail—clustered around a decanter of coffee near the far corner, and three men were leaning on the edge of the conference table—a tall, muscular blond who Clint figured was the loud one Natasha had warned him of, a brunet with his hair pulled back into a spiky little tuft of a ponytail, and a slightly wiry man in a suit. The one with the ponytail glanced up, nudged the one in the suit, and nodded toward Clint, who was standing a bit awkwardly in the doorway, having been abandoned by his escort in favor of coffee. The man in the suit looked at him, stood, smiled, and held out a hand. “You must be Clint Barton.” The man clasped Clint's hand firmly. “I'm Phil Coulson, the other English teacher.”

Before either Phil could continue or Clint could respond, a voice from the other end of the room interrupted, “Excuse me, your first name is 'Professor.'”

It was one of the two vaguely Latin looking men from the group in the corner. He had dark, wavy hair dusted lightly with silver and a goatee that made him look like somebody's evil twin. Phil sighed and said conspiratorially to Clint. “Ignore him.”

“Whoa, hey, no, no, no. Don't ignore me.” The goateed man made his way around the table, cup of coffee in hand. Several other members of staff exchanged looks of amusement or concern. The other Latin looking man hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. The one with the goatee slung the arm that wasn't occupied with coffee around Clint's shoulders. “Hello there, new guy. Barton? Yeah. This your first teaching gig?”

“Uh, yes.” Clint glanced around for someone to rescue him but no volunteers stepped forward. Everyone was either watching or had returned to their own conversations.

“Well, you see, it doesn't matter what you think your name is, the kids decide what your name is. For instance, Bruce over there—Bruce, say hi.”

The other Latin looking man raised a hand in greeting.

“Thank you, big guy. Bruce is Dr. Banner. I, on the other hand, am Mr. Stark despite holding several doctorates.” Mr. Stark shrugged. “Your department mate is Professor Coulson and always Professor Coulson and the only teacher in the whole damn school who's consistently professor-anything. I think it's something to do with a suit.”

“Tony, don't traumatize the new guy.” Natasha had just walked into the conference room, flanked by a brunet woman, both of them in slacks and blouses.

“I'm not traumatizing him, Natasha. I'm educating him.”

The brunet woman removed Tony's arm from Clint's shoulders. “As your students will and do attest, your brand of education is often mildly traumatizing. Shoo.”

Tony made a sound of mock hurt and swept back to the corner with coffee. “I will finish educating you later.”

Clint turned to his rescuer. “Maria?”

She smiled thinly. “At your service. Can we please all start sitting.”

Everyone found their way into seats as another clump—three men, one blond with a goatee, one who Clint at a guess would have said was Mongolian, and one huge, redheaded, and bearded—filed into the room. The new group sat around the woman with the long black ponytail, who let out the long suffering sigh of a much harassed elder sister. Clint sat next to Natasha at the end of the table opposite the tall blond who had been talking with Phil. She leaned to whisper to him, “You're avoiding the wrong blond.”

“Huh?”

“Hello friends!” a voice boomed from the doorway, making Clint jump and fumble in his pocket for a remote he repeatedly hit the volume down button on. A muscular mountain of a man with long blond hair was standing just inside the threshold with a waif of a woman at his side. He beamed at the group at the table. “I hope you've all had a wonderful summer.”

The small woman tugged on the big man's arm. “Let's sit down, dear.”

Clint glanced at Natasha. “You meant that one.”

She smirked and nodded. Over the next few minutes, six other people came in: a woman with long titian hair back in a french braid; a tall, slender man with black hair; and older woman with blond curls who put a hand on the shoulders of the tall, thin man and the loud blond one before taking a seat next to the woman with the braid; a severe looking Asian woman; a young man with tight, flaxen curls who Jemma pulled the chair next to her out for; and a slightly heavy man with short, dark hair. That left only one chair empty at the head of the table. Soft chattered fluttered around the table. The small woman who'd come in with the loud blond was sitting next to Clint on the side that Natasha wasn't on. She smiled up at Clint. “Hi, I'm Jane Foster.”

“Clint Barton.” Clint smiled back, hand returning to his pocket to hit the volume up button a couple times. “Nice to meet you.”

Jane tilted her head curiously. “Are you wearing headphones?”

“Uh, no.” Clint unlooped the little grey plastic gadget from behind one ear and held it up. “Hearing aids.”

“Oh.” Jane blinked. “I am so—”

“It's fine.” He put the aid back on. “I'm not weird about it.”

“Oh. That's good.”

To Clint's other side, Natasha's eyebrows were raised in amusement with the realization of how ironic her earlier warning about avoiding the loud blond for the sake of his hearing was. Clint elected to ignore the other raised eyebrows around the table.

A tall man with an eyepatch dressed in a black suit strode into the room, flicking through a folder, and kicked the door closed behind him. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.” Headmaster Fury dropped his folder at the head of the table in front of the empty chair. “Hope you all took damn nice vacation's 'cause in one week we're gonna be overrun with adolescents and all their special brand of crazy. Before then, we have to get shit done. First order of business, everybody say hi to Clint Barton. He's filling the position in the English department left open by Sitwell's—” he cleared his throat “—resignation. Try not to scare him off. Stark, that means you.” Most of the room chuckled while Tony put a hand to his heart and declared he was wounded. Fury kept talking right over him, diving straight into an hour of bureaucratic housekeeping and discussion of curriculum. The headmaster flipped a page in his folder. “Now that that's done, about extra curriculars. The chess club Sitwell ran is out unless someone wants to take over sponsorship.”

“I could do it.” Fitz, the young man with tight, curly hair said, his accent distinctly Scottish.

“Great. Other than that, all the extra curriculars from last year will remain the same. Stark's damn robotics club—which had better not blow anything up this term—drama club, and writer's club, Rhodes has his co-ed boy scouts thing, Hogan's still doing the test prep thing, and there's our one sorry excuse for a sport other than track and field, cheer leading. Now, Barton has volunteered to coach an archery team. Any objections?” There was silence, a few shrugs, and some head shaking. “Congatulations, Coach Barton, you now get to be one of this school's crazy blond coaches of random sports.”

After the meeting, the staff were released to prepare for the arrival of the students in a week. Up on a chair, taping a poster to the wall of his new classroom, Clint asked over his shoulder, “So, there's twenty-eight members of staff, including me?”

“Right.” Phil was sitting on a student desk, eating Chinese delivery. “Are you going to eat anything?”

“Not hungry.” Clint stepped down from the chair. “Not right now at least. I'll get pizza or something later.”

“Since we're both teaching freshman and junior classes, we might want to compare syllabi at some point.”

“Yeah, sure.” Clint sat on another desk. “But so you, me, Fury, Stark, Natasha, Maria, uh, Banner. That's seven I can name.”

“Relax, you've got all week.” Phil held out a box of fried rice.

Clint took to box and a plastic fork. “I've got a week to learn the names and faces of more than two dozen people, settle into a new apartment, and prep for my first ever first day of class as the teacher.”

“You've done student teaching, and assistant teaching, right? You'll be fine.”

“Somehow I doubt it's the same.” Clint shoveled a few bites of rice into his mouth. “I'm also a little scared Stark's gonna make good on saying he'd finish 'educating' me and then whatever he says is gonna be the only way I think of everybody.”

Phil laughed. “You just met Tony today and you've already figured him out.”

“So, he teaches...math?”

“Yup. He and Fitz make up the math department.”

“Fitz?”

“Scottish kid.”

“Oh, right. Lots of Europeans on the staff.”

“Twelve.”

“Wow.” Clint chuckled. “You know, Maria left a note on my apartment door. She warned me the Europeans are almost as crazy as the students.”

“She's not wrong. The Brits aren't bad, the Norwegians are, well, they're interesting. And then there's Natasha.”

“Am I right to be scared of her?”

“Oh yeah.”

Later that afternoon, Clint was sitting behind his desk, hoping the damn thing would feel less awkward by the end of the year and going through lesson plans when there was a knock on the doorframe. He looked up. Tony Stark was leaning in the doorframe. In his band T-shirt and jeans he would have looked more like a high school student than a teacher if it weren't for the grey hairs and the bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand. He raised the bottle in a kind of salute. “I come to edjumacate you!”

“Are you drinking in the school?” Clint dropped his pen, busy gaping at the math teacher.

“No way, Fury would have me skinned alive.” He shoved off from the wall, took a few steps into the room, and swished the amber liquid in his bottle. “This is tea. I have plenty of booze bottles and it's fun to watch people's faces.” He took a swig and perched on one of the desks. “As I was saying this morning, the kids decide your name.”

“I'm trying to lesson plan right now.”

Tony waved a hand dismissively. “You've got all week.”

“As I keep getting told.” Clint sighed, picked up his pen, and capped it. “So the kids name us.”

“Right. So I'm Mr. Stark, Bruciekins is Dr. Banner—I guess he just looks like a Dr. somebody, probably the glasses—Coulson's Professor Coulson. I told you those this morning. Everybody calls the Scott Fitz, students and staff, except when they're talking directly to him, the kids call him Mr. Fitz, which I think sounds like it ought to be the name of a cartoon dog. Simmons is just Simmons unless she's just professor; she's never Professor Simmons—”

“Sorry, who's Simmons?”

“British chick, light brown hair, bio teacher.”

“Jemma?”

“Right. Skye is Skye—have you met Skye?” Tony held up a hand as though to tell himself to stop talking so Clint could answer.

“Yeah, I met her this morning. She does the school's I.T, right?”

“And teaches computer science. She's pretty cool. Thor—big loud blond one with the tiny wife—is Coach Thor to his face, otherwise just Thor. He's super formal and weird but really friendly at the same time so you almost have to be on first name basis with the man. On that note, hearing aids, do they have volume control?”

Clint smirked. “Yes.” He pulled the little remote out of his pocket. “Remote volume control.”

“Okay, I'm officially a little jealous. Everybody needs volume control when Thor's around. Anyway, his wife, Jane—I know you met Jane—she's Dr. Foster or Absent Minded Professor Foster when she's being particularly spacey. Sif is the only one who's managed to name herself, she tells the kids they have to pronounce her last name correctly or they have to call her Lady Sif. Nobody can pronounce her last name—it's some crazy jumble of consonants and vowels with extra lines—and the punishment for saying it wrong is extra vocab homework so all the kids call her Lady Sif.”

“Okay, that's hilarious.”

“It is. But I've got a better one. Steve, other big blond, he's the art teacher, kids call him Captain. He's got no military background or anything,—he was scrawny as hell in high school, I think I remember him telling me they wouldn't even let him join ROTC—never been with the police, doesn't do sports. No, they call him Captain 'cause he's got this dinky little boat that he's ridiculously proud of. Seriously, do not diss the man's boat.”

“I'll remember that.”

“You should.” Tony took another drink of his tea. “Oh, before I forget, and I will forget because I never have to remind people of this, every year after the first week of classes, I throw a faculty pool party. You're invited. There will be alcohol and barbecue.”

“Cool, thanks.” Clint laughed a little. “You don't live on campus, do you?”

“Naw.” Tony shrugged. “I've got a place in town.”

“Rich jackass has a mansion in town.” Bruce had appeared in the doorway, a plastic bin of batteries, light bulbs, and wires in his arms.

“It is not a mansion,” Tony said defensively.

Bruce looked scathingly at him over his glasses. “It's a six bedroom, three story house—four stories, counting the basement—with a pool and home theatre.”

“Okay, maybe it is a mansion,” Tony conceded. “So, yeah, pool party at my mansion for everybody who survives the next two weeks.”

*** Chapter 2

Sunday night, Clint found himself crammed onto Natasha's classier-than-Ikea couch along with Maria, Phil, Bruce, Skye, and the Russian herself, all of them eating fried chicken out of a cardboard bucket—except for Bruce, who had tofu tacos. Clint sighed. “No one told me 'student move in' meant 'ninth circle of hell.'”

“I think, by now,” Skye said through a full mouth, her long straight hair pulled up into a very messy bun, “the move in/hell association is so automatic we don't think to say it.”

“Preach.” Natasha sucked a trace of chicken off her thumb with a dignity that should not have been possible.

Clint snorted. “On the bright side, I think I've finally learned everybody's names.”

“One day before you have to learn two hundred more,” Bruce pointed out dryly.

“Uhg, don't remind me.” Clint leaned against the back of the couch.

Phil chuckled. “Seating charts and class rosters are good crutches.”

“That they are.” Natasha poked Clint in the shin with the tip of her pointy shoe. “But if you know everybody's names, let's hear it.”

Clint rolled his eyes. “Natasha, Maria, Skye, Phil, and Bruce—obviously.”

Maria grinned over a sporkfull of mac'n'cheese. “Obviously. Go on.”

“Headmaster Fury. Tony. Thor, Jane, Loki, Frigga, Sif, uh, Sygin, Hogan, Fandral, Volstagg. Other Hogan.”

“Happy.” Bruce tossed one of his taco wrappers into the trash across the room. “Other Hogan's first name is Happy.”

“Right.” Clint took a breath. “Pepper, Peggy, Steve, uh, James Barnes who's Bucky, and James Rhodes who's Rhodey. Jemma and Fitz. Sam. Darcy.” Clint was quiet for a minute. “I'm missing someone.”

“May,” Phil provided. “Malinda May.”

Clint rubbed a hand over his face. “I'm going to die this week. If I don't drown in teenagers I'm gonna get murdered by one seriously intimidating female veteran or another.” He glanced at Natasha. “There's what, three of you? Four?”

Natasha lightly smacked the back of his head. “I'm not military. But I will absolutely kill you.”

“I think that's my cue to go to bed.” Clint stood. “Thanks for dinner.”

As he let himself out of the small apartment, Maria called after him, “My office is room number seven if you start to go nuts.”

Coffee in hand the next morning, Clint was almost to his classroom when Natasha cut him off in the hallway. “I actually have an excuse to kill you now.”

Clint blinked at her. “Hm?”

“You got up at five thirty and I can hear your alarm clock through the wall.”

“I went for a run and I'm nearly deaf.”

“Don't they make vibrating clocks?”

“Yeah, I have one. It makes noise too. I'm not completely deaf.” He stepped around her, continued on to his room, and set his bag on the desk at the front of the room—the desk he had determined not to sit behind. It was early enough still that there were almost no students around, Clint's classroom was completely empty, but as the clock ticked closer to seven-twenty, four hundred odd fourteen to eighteen year olds descended upon the school building, uniforms neatly pressed. Clint had never gone to a school that required uniforms but—watching the first few sophomores of his first-hour class trickle into the room, their charcoal slacks or skirts, white shirts, and cobalt ties or ribbons all tidy—he highly doubted the movie like perfection lasted more than a couple days.

One dark haired girl who had the sleeves of her white buttondown rolled up past her elbows had plopped herself into a desk at the front of the room with her bag propped against the leg of her chair, and was studying Clint over a piece of toast she'd apparently filched from the dormitory dining room. After a long moment of contemplation she said, “You're new.”

Clint resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He was supposed to be the adult here. “Yeah.”

“What're you doing here?”

“Fury bought me from the circus.”

The girl snorted. “Right.”

“Okay, so I ran away from the circus.” Clint shrugged. “One way or another I get to make you read Shakespeare now.”

The girl frowned. Behind her, two boys who must have been twins snickered. The bell rang and the rest of the class flooded in, filling all thirty desks. Clint took a deep breath and stepped to the front of the room. “Good morning and welcome to tenth-grade English. I'm Clint Barton, Mr. Barton will do just fine, but I've heard from your other teachers that you're all likely to rename me.” He paused, relieved to see at least a dozen grins among the class. “I haven't got a clue who any of you are, so I'm going to take role. If you go by a nickname or if I butcher the pronunciation, tell me. Okay?” He snagged his first-hour roster off his desk. “Katherine Bishop.”

The dark haired girl with the rolled up sleeves waved her half-eaten toast. “It's Kate.”

By lunch time, Clint had made it through two hours worth of sophomores and one hour of juniors. Phil, in whose classroom he was eating, had survived three hours of seniors.

“It wouldn't be so bad,” Phil said, punctuating his statement by stabbing a meatball with a fork, “if it weren't for this one kid, Peter. Two girls like him, he's been going back and forth not quite dating both of them since they were freshmen, and there's another guy who, I don't know if he actually likes Peter or if he's trying to be funny but he flirts shamelessly and tactlessly with the poor kid. All four of them are in my first hour.”

Clint cringed sympathetically. “Sounds exhausting.”

“It is.”

“I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Couple of boys in my first class, last name Maximoff. That's really not the most common name on earth so I've gotta ask: Any relation to the politician?”

“She's their mother.”

Clint nearly choked on a mouth full of pasta. “Okay, I knew this was a high end school, but I wasn't expecting that.”

Phil shrugged. “We're close enough to D.C. that we're a convenient place for better off government types, diplomats, and other luminaries to send their kids, get them away from the city. And we're a safe place for them too. I know you've noticed how much of the staff is ex military.”

“I assumed there was some magnet force under the school that attracts badasses.”

Phil laughed. “It's called Nick Fury and he's in the office, not under it.”

After lunch, Clint had another class of juniors, which went almost exactly like the one before lunch. At the end of that class, while two of the more interesting juniors filed out, sharing some not entirely typical teenaged chatter—“Still think it's funny they've got the blind kid in the deaf guy's class.” “He's not Deaf, David. I know you know that.”—the one class of the day Clint had been really dreading began filing in: freshmen. As the class filtered in, Clint noticed that the freshmen were even more perfectly pressed than the older students. They stared at him with a wary scrutiny. A sturdy Latina girl dropped into a desk and crossed her arms defiantly. Clint raised his eyebrows. “You okay?”

“Class I just had is full of dicks.”

“It wasn't that bad.” A boy with headphones around his neck dumped his bag on the desk next to her.

“You're the worst out of all of them, chico.” The girl sounded ready to punch someone out and looked like she could do it and make it hurt.

“Okay, okay,” Clint intervened, “you, how old are you?”

“Me?” The boy pointed to himself dumbly.

“Yeah you.”

“Fourteen.”

“What's your name?”

“Peter.”

Clint looked at the girl. “Your name?”

“America.”

“Okay.” Clint shrugged. “Peter here is a fourteen year old boy. As a former fourteen year old boy myself, let me say that they are more or less all dicks.”

America blinked. “I have never heard a teacher call anybody a dick before.”

“Welcome to high school.” Clint winked. She grinned.

The boy, Peter, leaned forward. “Are you wearing headphones?”

Clint sighed. “They're hearing aids.”

“Dude, are you deaf?” Peter sounded excited.

“No, I'm Hard of Hearing. If I were completely deaf, hearing aids wouldn't do me any good.”

America and Peter shared a look then both shrugged.

The freshmen didn't turn out to be as bad as Clint had feared. The next hour of sophomores, though, was the last class of the day, and Clint had to fight to be listened to. After that it was curriculum talk with Phil, Skye making him look like an idiot while showing him how to use the gradebook software, dinner in the dining hall, old cartoons, then bed. The rest of the week went about the same.

Friday, as soon as the final bell rang, the kids all rushed out. Clint called after them. “Archery club first meeting is a week from today!”

The last of the kids left and Clint turned to his desk and the stack of persuasive essays he'd had his students write him about their favorite movies with the promise that each class would get to watch the movie that got pitched the best within their class. There was a quiet whirring behind him and he turned to see something like a streamlined, somewhat scaled-down assembly line robot trundle up to him, a slip of paper held in its three fingered “hand.” It extended its arm with a soft hum of servos that Clint would have described as curious if he didn't know better.

“Uh.” Clint took the slip of paper. A note was scrawled on it in a messy angular handwriting:

This is Dum-E. He's not very smart but he tries. New guy, this is your reminder to grab your trunks and get your butt to my not-a-mansion @ 4

-A. Stark

Tony's address was on the back of the note. Clint hesitated then awkwardly patted the robot's “head.” “Thanks, uh, Dum-E.”

The bot whirred with what might have been pride and turned to leave—presumably headed back to Tony's classroom. It bumped into a desk on its way out. Clint frowned.

A couple hours later, he was walking with Natasha to her car to head to Tony's party—she had volunteered to, or rather insisted that she drive. Clint stepped into the sleek, black sedan. “So, Tony has a robot?”

“Yeah.” Natasha started the car and pulled out of her space. “He's got two.”

“He has two robots?”

“He's disgustingly over qualified to be teaching high school.” She gunned it down the winding drive to the main road.

Once they stopped, Clint clambered out of Natasha's car. “I am riding back with somebody else, did you used to race? Holy crap that's a big house.”

Natasha snorted, leading the way along a path from the driveway around to an extremely expensive looking fence over which the sounds of revelry and smells of barbecue floated. Her beaded flipflops smacked quietly against the flagstones. “Four stories and a basement.”

Clint followed. “Is he married?”

“Are you joking? Stark, married? Ha. No. He lives here alone.” She unlatched the gate and pushed it open.

Stark's back yard looked like something out of a magazine, fire pit, koi pond, perfectly green grass, question mark shaped pool with hot tub waterfall, and trapezoidal deck with outdoor kitchen. The hot tub—accessed from the deck, spilling into the main pool—was full of beautiful bikini clad women, namely the school counselor, IT expert, biology teacher, and the history department's bitch. The last of whom, Darcy, stood and waved at Natasha and Clint. “Hey! The Cyrillic Cyclone and the new guy are here!”

Everyone—Stark, Banner, and the guy with the spiky ponytail at the grill; the Scottish guy, Pepper, and the big blond art teacher in the pool; and redhead who wasn't Pepper or Natasha and the two ex-military black guys leaning on the deck rail—all looked around. Natasha waved back and hissed to Clint, “Stop staring at Darcy's boobs,” before striding across the yard, dropping her purse and coverup on a lawn chair, and settling in as beautiful woman number five in the hot tub.

Clint quickly averted his gaze, shook his head, then went to drop his own things on a lawn chair, then stepped into the pool. Pepper floated by, hugging an inflatable orca. She nodded to him. “Hey, can you swim with those things?”

“Huh?” Clint hopped down the last step up to his waist in water. “My hearing aids?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you kidding?” He snorted. “Ever since I was a kid I've refused to have hearing aids I can't get wet.”

“Great!” Grinning, Pepper released the orca and splashed him.

He flinched, laughed, and splashed her back. Some of the splash went past her and caught Steve on the shoulder. He turned to glare at Clint.

“Hey!” Clint laughed. “Pepper started it.”

“Did she now?”

“Steve, Steve! Wait!” Pepper spluttered laughter through a face full of water.

“Steve, play nice.” The guy with the spiky ponytail walked to the edge of the pool, munching a fresh made cheeseburger.

“I am playing nice, Buck.” Steve waded over to the edge of the pool. “Can I have some of that?”

The guy with the ponytail rolled his eyes, “Sure,” knelt, fed Steve a bite of his burger, then kissed him.

Clint felt his eyebrows arch. “I think I missed a memo.”

Fitz chuckled behind him. “This is the first time you've been around them outside of work hours, isn't it?”

“We behave when the kids are around.” Bucky set his burger and paper plate down.

“If you can call giving each other bedroom eyes across the lunchroom 'behaving,'” redhead who wasn't Pepper or Natasha came up behind Bucky and pushed him into the pool.

He came up spluttering, long bangs in his face, dripping. “Peggy!”

“Man, I love this school,” Clint laughed.

Peggy jumped in the water. “I went to university with Steve, I've been pushing both of them around for years.”

*** Bonus Scene

“Sonnet one forty one.” Clint waved his book dramatically. “Now before anyone starts going on about 'oh what I sweet love poem' I want you to think about what he's actually saying here. Billy, would you read the first two lines for us?”

The darker haired of the Maximoff twins flattened out the page of his own book. “In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,/For they in thee a thousand errors note.”

“And what does that mean?” Clint shoved off from his desk and paced down the center aisle between his student's desks. “He's saying to his girlfriend that his eyes don't love her 'cause he can see, visually, a thousand things wrong with her.”

The lighter twin frowned. “Are we sure he's talking to a girl?”

“This time, yes. It does say 'she' in the last line. Shakespeare does have some sonnets that we know were addressed to a young man, we can argue about the nature of that relationship later. Anyway, so he doesn't like what he sees. Couple lines later he tells us, basically, that if I met this woman I'd want to turn my hearing aids off her voice is so bad.”

The class chuckled.

#fanfic #Avengers #marvel #clint barton #good intentions wip fest

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charmingcentry · 5 years ago

Note

Bechloe = high school AU. Love popular Beca/nerd chloe

thanks for the suggestion anon! hope you enjoy :D

“Hey, you’re drooling again.”

Chloe fixates her attention back towards her best friend Aubrey, immediately clearing her throat nervously. It’s lunch period and presented before Chloe is an untouched, unwrapped, peanut butter and jelly sandwich; she didn’t enjoy how peanut butter stuck on the roof of her mouth anyway. The redhead would have been consuming the poorly-made cafeteria food yet she finds a petite brunette more appealing than satisfying her hunger.

The brunette chuckles loud enough for Chloe’s table to hear; the redhead couldn’t help but smile. The redhead continues staring and notices Beca’s head drift towards Chloe’s table and she shoots a small smile at Chloe when the two make eye contact. Oh, how the redhead’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She notices one of the guy friends rest his arm against Beca’s shoulder as the brunette snatches a sandwich from another person.

“Chloe, seriously, I think your glasses were fogging up too at this rate…” Chloe blushes and removes her oval eyeglasses, cleaning the lenses with the microfiber cloth.

“She’s really pretty Bree. I mean, just look at her!”

Her best friend doesn’t miss a beat with her response. “Yes because the dozens of ear piercings are totally attractive.” Aubrey notices Beca’s gaze return onto her best friend as Chloe rolls her eyes and lightly smacks Aubrey on the shoulder. “I’m joking… kind of. I mean, whatever works for you.”

Another female slipped into the rectangular lunch table - Stacie Conrad. “We talking about Beca again? I saw Chloe blushing like miles away.”

The redhead groans and buries her face into her sweater sleeves, ignoring the slight push against her face from her glasses.

Beca, a name that swiftly induces a noticeable blush across Chloe’s face with no hesitation. Starting from Day 1 of freshman year where the redhead’s seat was directly behind Beca’s, she couldn’t help but notice the immediate butterflies fluttering in her stomach or an immediate stutter when Beca would ask her something; Chloe felt enamored by her presence.

Perhaps Chloe loves how blunt Beca is or the amount of confidence the brunette exerts around her huge group of friends; nevertheless, Chloe definitely feels something for Beca and could possibly rant how amazing she is.

One problem.

The popularity circulating around the brunette would raise attention to Chloe if she ever communicated with Beca and its definite rumors would be spread. And, she’s definitely dating that Jesse Swanson guy. So, the redhead prefers to admire from afar, even if it may hurt.

She slowly raises her head and is met with bright light along with the bell that echoes throughout the school, signaling that it is time for 6th period. Chloe sighs as she slings her baby pink backpack over her shoulders as she waves goodbye to Aubrey and Stacie. She adjusts with the sleeves of her sweatshirt as she walks towards her AP Calculus classroom. Heading up the staircase, she feels a slight tap on her shoulder.

Tap-tap, tap-tap

It’s almost too rhythmic for a simple shoulder tap... Chloe glances over her shoulder and finds navy blue eyes looking directly at her. The redhead trips on the final step of the stairwell, her heart rate picking up faster. Chloe immediately springs up and repositions herself against the wall, avoiding the swarm of underclassmen and upperclassmen. Again, she finds a short brunette, quirking up an eyebrow.

“You seem clumsy…” Chloe’s mouth goes dry as she attempts to create a response. A taller male wolf-whistle at the two, Beca immediately whipping her head back and glaring at the male. Chloe swears he mouthed “Good luck Beca.”

“I-I, uh, yeah! Heh, sorry about that. Um, d-did you need something or… something.”

Beca lets out a short amused chuckle. “Actually, I just transferred classes and I know you’re in that class and stuff.” Chloe could feel her knees go weak and her head become light-headed. “Can you like take me there maybe?”

The redhead nods enthusiastically and immediately wraps her hand around Beca’s wrist, pulling her towards the classroom. To her surprise, the brunette doesn’t pull away.

Chloe and Beca enter the classroom together, the redhead escorting the brunette towards an empty seat that luckily is next to the redhead. Chloe lets herself relax as the teacher begins class once the tardy bell rings its annoying popping pattern. He claps his hands together and walks to the front.

“Team-up. You will be preparing a project about limits, basically a lesson video. Groups of two, no exceptions since there are now 28 of you.” He makes eye contact towards Beca who surprisingly sinks lower into her seat. “It is due next Friday. You will have today and tomorrow to prepare. I will not accept any late videos. Good luck. The rubric will be distributed at the end of class.” The teacher claps his hands together and the class roams about with the sound of desks and chairs scraping against the tiles echoing throughout the room.

Not having her friends in this period, Chloe immediately turns to Beca, a smile spreading across her face. Yet, someone is asking Beca already.

Damnit.

Before the redhead turns back around, she notices the person walking away sadly and Beca turning towards her; the feeling of light-headedness came back.

“You uh, wanna work on this together?”’

Chloe couldn’t believe it, Beca Mitchell is asking her to be her partner! The redhead clears her throat, biting back a gigantic grin. “Yes, that would be awes.”

Beca slides her desk towards Chloe’s. “Uh yeah… awes.”

“Time’s up.” The class goes silent. “What are you waiting for? Go work on it!”

Chloe notices how Beca tenses up: her jaw is stiffened, her shoulders are raised slightly, and her navy blue eyes are wide open. She clears her throat and turns her body towards Beca, who’s tugging her sweater sleeve frantically. The redhead taps Beca on the shoulder. “Hey, are you okay?”

The brunette immediately stops tugging her sleeve. “Uh, yeah. Just, kind of nervous I guess? So let’s get started on this fucking project!” Chloe raises an eyebrow at Beca’s hand gestures and emphasis of the cuss word. The brunette immediately shoves her hands into her pockets. “I-I I’m sorry, I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Chloe only smiles at Beca’s nervousness. “You’re fine Becs… let’s get started on the project before Mister yells at us.” The redhead slips out a piece of lined paper as the brunette slips out her phone.

“You wanna like… exchange numbers or something?”

Chloe happily complies, taking out her own phone and swapping numbers with her project partner.

She found it amusing that someone who exerts an intense amount of confidence is actually pretty nervous and awkward.

Aubrey finds her friends in the library, Stacie beside a seemingly giddy Chloe. The redhead’s face has flushed shade of pink with Stacie trying to capture her attention. Aubrey walks closer to the table and notices the Cheshire Cat-like grin washed over Chloe. She pulls a seat across from the two and sets down her belongings.

“Uh, what’s going on?”

Chloe doesn’t reply but instead lets out a series of giggles. “Beca is coming over to her house tomorrow… found her like this after the bell rang.”

Well, well, well, looks like Chloe is perhaps one-step closer to dating that annoying alt-girl.

Chloe is running back and forth throughout her household, arranging her family’s belongings to ensure that her home is tidy and clean. She spent around an hour and a half vacuuming around her place, making sure the floor is free of crumbs. Although Beca wouldn’t care since she generally seems laid-back, Chloe wanted her first impression of the Beale household to be perfect; she even went as far to mow the lawn!

She glances towards the clock, 12:45 P.M, Beca is scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes. The redhead storms up the stairs, dashing swiftly into her room - the untouched place of her household. Chloe quickly gathers the scattered clothes and tosses her laundry in the closet. She arranges the school items on her desk in the corner and quickly makes her bed. The redhead’s adrenaline finally simmers as she takes a step in her doorway, feeling satisfied with the cleanliness of her room.

Her adrenaline quickly emerges once again when she hears the first note of the doorbell; it has her rushing down the stairs, attempting to not slip and fall. Chloe unlocks the door and takes a deep breath; thank God her family isn’t home.

She swings the door open and finds Beca with her backpack and laptop and Chloe notices how her mouth slightly parts. “Hi Becs! Come in.”

“Oh, uh yeah… where are your uh-” The brunette gestures towards her face

Chloe slightly blushes as she leads the brunette towards her room. “Oh… I wear contacts at home.”

“You should wear those at school y’know… you look really pretty.” The redhead widens her eyes at Beca’s comment, her blush growing frantically. “Not that you’re not pretty without them! Uh, just like, you should wear those more often… I guess.”

“Why thank you! You’re so sweet… uhm, let’s get started on this?”

The brunette takes a seat on Chloe’s freshly-made bed, booting her laptop up. “Yep.”

Once Beca’s laptop starts up, she notices dozens of MP3 files scattered across her home screen, each one labeled as a song. Her background is her gigantic group of friends at what appears to be an amusement park… she sure is well-known. The brunette selects the editing program and retrieves a USB cable from her school bag along with the Calculus textbook.

“How come you just transferred into our class? It’s the third week of school.”

Beca flips through the book, settling on the page where the Limits lessons and problems are located. “Uh, my math teacher beforehand told me to ask the counselor to see if it was possible… the teacher for AP Calc let me in.”

“How come she wanted you to switch?”

The brunette meets Chloe’s gaze. “Said I’m ‘too smart’ for the regular math class.”

“Is popular Beca Mitchell secretly a math whiz?”

Beca rolls her eyes, an amused smile spreading across her face. “That’s one way to phrase it… and I’m not really popular dude.”

“Says the one with like what? 3 friend groups? And a boyfriend!”

Chloe notices how quickly Beca’s demeanor changes, her eyebrows raising and her face scrunching up, her smile quickly replaced with a grimace.“Boyfriend?”

“Yeah! That Jesse dude?”

Beca pauses for a bit before breaking out into a fit of laughter. “You think Jesse and I are dating? Dude gross! Not in a million years… he’s like my brother.” The brunette catches her breath after laughing for a bit. “Besides… I uh, play for the other team y’know?”

Chloe attempted to hide her felicity, a smile fighting to be seen. The redhead bit the inside of her cheek and tightened her hands into fists, bundling an area of her bedsheets. The girl she’s been pining on since freshman year is gay! Chloe might have a chance only if Beca feels the same way. “That’s really cool… but you are popular though. You’re always going to those parties right?”

The brunette skims over the textbook, dragging her finger delicately across the thin pages. “Uh yeah. For money.” Beca notices the redhead tilt her head like a confused puppy… cute. “I just play music. A DJ type of gig I guess?”

“Do you make your own music?”

Beca exits out of the editing program seeing how their conversation is clearly not math-related. She leaves her home screen visible for Chloe and slides the laptop towards her curious project partner. The redhead drags the cursor over each file, reading the titles of her mashups. Her mouth drops open when she comes upon a certain file.

“Titanium AND Million pieces? Those are my favorite songs!”

A corner of Beca’s mouth lifts up. “Really? None of my friends have heard of them. You wanna listen to it?”

Chloe immediately nods her head enthusiastically, double-clicking on the file. The audio player appears on the screen and the redhead’s room fills with the melody of Titanium and the lyrics of Million Pieces. A smile gradually grows on Chloe’s face as Beca appears to be worried, tugging at her bottom lip, looking at the redhead who seems happy with the music.

“This is so good Beca! No wonder you get paid for these types of things…”

The brunette returns a soft small to Chloe, adjusting her position on the bed to face towards Chloe. “I guess… it’s not that much. Maybe like $20 or $30 dollars.”

“An hour?”

“No for the whole night.” Chloe lets out an astonishing gasp

“You need to be paid by the hour! Your an amazing DJ. I’ll talk to those party people if I have to!”

Beca snorts, laughing at Chloe’s exasperation. “What are you, my manager?”

“I could be.”

“Since you seem so good at math and all… I’ll consider it.”

The redhead nudges Beca’s shoulder. “You’re good at math too you nerd.”

“Not as good as you though… you’re like what, the top of the class?” Chloe goes silent as she reopens the editing program, sliding Beca’s textbook between the pair. “Knew it~”

“Oh shut up, let’s just get started on this.”

Sprawled out before the pair are stacks of lined papers along with Chloe’s whiteboard that is filled with graphs and mathematical equations. The brunette is arranging the video clips together as Chloe leans in, directing which clip should be placed. The textbook is wide open, a few pencil marks marking the thin laminated pages and the clock reads 6:23 P.M… Beca’s been at Chloe’s house for five hours which the redhead is trying to remain calm about. As the last video file transfers into the editing program, the brunette’s phone vibrates once. Chloe leans away, allowing space for Beca to retrieve her phone from her back pocket. A slight smile is replaced with a frown as the brunette slips her phone away.

“My mom is here, I need to leave.”

Chloe frowns as well, hoping to spend more time with Beca. “Aw… okay. I’ll walk you down.”

The brunette gathers her belongings and gently slips them into her backpack. Beca puts her shoes back on and as the two are about to walk out of Chloe’s bedroom, the brunette springs back around and looks at Chloe.

“You wanna come to a party with me next Saturday?” Before Chloe could answer, Beca interrupts her with one more proposal. “And if you want… we can go out before? Like uh… a date.”

The redhead’s knees go weak as a wide grin appears on her face. “I would love to. Both the date and the party.”

Beca smiles. “Sweet.”

The two walk downstairs, Chloe escorting Beca to her mother’s car. As the two drive away, the redhead whips her phone out and messages the group chat with her two best friends.

GUESS WHO ASKED ME OUT

Stacie immediately replies YES CHLOE!!!!!

And of course, Aubrey isn’t as enthusiastic oh dear god.

Saturdays are becoming to be Chloe’s favorite day.

#bechloe #bechloe prompt #beca mitchell #chloe beale #enjoy

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starlight-starwings · 5 years ago

Text

The Adventure Zone Season 2 quotes.

Unfortunately the quotes I saved between seasons 1 and 2 were lost because I got a new phone, so this is starting with episode 6 of Amnesty. If anyone has good quotes from the first arc, experimental arcs, ans the live shows during the experimental arcs, feel free to add or send them.

• - listen... ok, we could... agdgsbjsbuhah. how they eat and breathe... its just a show, just relax

- technically the .. waste water systems and the regular water systems of a city or not connected, and so like theres a lot of.. a lot of ways to figure it out. But yea, maybe you get the idea that this thing doesn't.. it can.. it.. is weird man...

• hey there adventure zone lovers. I dont know if that means you love adventure zone, or you... heh heh heh, ya know.

• - can you feel it?

- the idea of feeling is kinda weird-

- close your eyes and tell me if Im doing it

- well you already did- ok.

- close your eyes. Did I do it?

- you did it

- aaahh, I didnt

- ok. This is not a fun game for me

• - its our first day here!

- yeaa. Like... Let me ask you about the fucking... cast of Friends

- youre talking about Matt Leblanc and Matthew-

- Ah fuck.

- ah shit

- damn

- son of a b- he's good, he's real good

• - Don't I have to roll?

- we have not played dungeons and dragons in so fucking long!

- Here

- what are you rolling to do?!

• - tell me, is patience one of your more valued v-

- yes!

• Hey. No ideas bad. It just wasn't good.

• - I got eleven? You got any cash on you?

- uhh yea I happen to have nine bucks right here. Griffin cant prove otherwise.

• listen Pidgeon, here's the thing: I... love... to... practice fishing. But... the running water... frightens me. Its called hydrophobia. And I would love to practice my cast in a real water environment, where I can get in a large body of water, where I can guarantee that running water wont be a factor. And I would just love to practice my casting in a guaranteed still body. But here's the other thing! Sometimes if you do it in a lake, thats what youre thinking, a fish will bite it. And normally thats ideal but Im just trying to practice casting. If like.. when you dont want to catch em. Thats when they're biting. Ya know what I mean? I need a still body of water, that I can guarentee won't move, to practice my fishing casting.

• - Noooo

- are you sure?

- yeaaaaa

- Beause its our podcast!

- noooo

- we're actually doing our own podcast

• - Make uhhh.... check. You're gonna need to make a check for this one

- I got the gum. But I have the gum

- It's good gum; you'll have advantage on it.

• Cause I mean a 4 legged octopus is a horse.

• - What does control water do?

- Merle can- well gee wiz. It makes spaghetti! What do you think control water does?

- whats the fucking card say?

• Good you know my sister Jane was doing missionary work in Honduras and normally I would spend the uh, holidays with her. But uhh I had some friends come in from uhh out of town. And uhh... I wanted to communicare this to anybody who might be listening somehow, and I thought this might be a more organic way of uh, doing it.

• um... nah so ok right... so... the pizza hut sign... started to fall, cause of the weather. And he ran up there on a... fire escape, and tried to... push it? With a bat? Dammit. Nah. He just pushed it. And it fell. But then he fell. Cause he got shocked. I bet. Mmmm. I didn't see. I was in- Ah shit. Alright. Hey folk- hey guys. Rewind. I- hey guys rewind a second. Aahh fuck. I was inside I didn't see. Anything. I don't know. This man. I do know this man. His name- fuck. Alright. I'm met.. high net... here... Mmmm, alright. So, This man's is name is Ned. And he's uh.. friend of mine. And I dont know what the hell happened to him. But you know this guy. He's always getting into something. I don't know. I was in the building. I almost got killed by a pizza hut sign. I might be in shock.

• Write the fucking story with me! We are New York Times bestselling authors!

• - Ok. Go ahead. Uhh where are your wings? Obviously you can't see them right now because I'm wearing my disguise. Would you like to see my wings?

- Yes.

- I don't know you very well, so no, not- not quite yet.

• Aw Juno this is so embarrassing. Um last week, uhh, my truck got beat up, and I... I had to take it over to Whistle's. And he wa- while he was fixing it up I had to borrow yours to run out uh... to- to do a check on... a body of water. In... the... tree... zone... forest. Fuck. It was a body of water in the tree zone. And I had to check on it in your car. And when I- I drove your car, without asking, and... I think I left my... pants? No. Wallet? Money. I left my wallet in your truck and I was wondering if you could go look for it real quick.

• - a goat..

-well. No its.. i mean you look at the legs you can kinda see... yea...

- its pan!

- no were not crossing over

- there no crossover here sir. No.

• - oh thats easy. All you have to do is press that red button right there.

- and what will that do?

- itll give you the key sphere

- well hold on....

- merle casts zone of truth!

- so what happens when I press that button?

- the red button? Itll give you the key sphere

- what will the blue button do?

- it'll kill ya

- what would the other frankenstein tell us?

- well my companion over there always lies. He'll tell ya to hit the blue button.

- oh okay. Its kinda one of those- ya know what Im gonna check his flavor real quick

- ok.

- I flip the lever

- No that'll kill me!

- the other Frankenstein sits up and says oh hey! Im Frankenstein. A lot of people say Im Frankenstein's monster but-

- yea yea yea. Ok we get it. Uh is this Frankenstein in the zone as well?

- uh yea.

- These buttons over here what will the red one do?

- oh the red one? Its the key sphere one. I would've told you its the blue one.

- ok I slam-

- No listen. Listen. No listen. Listen listen listen. Hey. Stop wait! Im the liar Frankenstein.

- I hit the red button.

• - Merle casts shield of faith

- ok. On whom?

-um.. it surrounds a creature of my choice

- yeap. So..

- time to make that choice

- that is kinda the question I asked

• - are you a grief counselor?

- yea you a grief counselor?

- I do have some counseling experience, um, but right now think of me more as your friend.

- I could really use a grief counselor I think more than a friend at the moment. I got-

- ok then Im a grief counselor, yes.

• - and Im gonna roll 2 d6... god almighty... hatchy matchy...

- howd you do, Justin?

- Well I got a 4 on that one, Trav. Which is, what we call in the biz, we call that bad. That is less than ideal.

• A charisma check. Okay. Hahahaha! That's a threeee.

• I know how you young people talk: It was rad.

• hey! Hey man fucking bigfoots behind you dude, drive! Jesus Christ! Hey Ive been skitching this whole time brother, Im really sorry but you gotta fucking drive right now dude, come on! Im vulnerable as hell! Come on! Dont make me fight bigfoot, I want thinking through this shit, go! Im not gonna fucking fight bigfoot.

• No, you know what- I'm gon- ya know what? It's fine. Ya know what? Its fine. Its fine. Im gonna- it- thisll be fine. Thisll actually be fine. Uhhh Im gonna cast lightning bolt on the tank. I thought about it, thisll be fine.

• - dont worry, the rest of us will take care of this. I think the best plan is if the three of you go up the spire to face the final confrontation alone

- why is that the best plan??

- cause theres exactly enough people outside- robots outside, that we'll need all of the army...

- but then why dont we wait and help you kill all of the robots?

- we'll kill them and then we'll all go up together

- theres no time!

- what are you talking about were just fighting a bat- theres plenty of time

- we got a whole other act!

- huurrryy

- okay we'll hurry, yes fine, yes.

- good luck

- well now dont say that! You said to go on ahead!

- I'll remember you

- this passive aggressive stuff...

- youre sending mixed signals. Should we stay and-

- the doors that ive just invented shut behind you.

• Okay uh, Hollis. Let me ask you something: Okay, on the other side of this portal- im gonna lay it out for you. Alright. Are you ready? One hundred percent honesty. On the other side of this portal is another world. Just like, the same scope and size of ours, with a population of people, and... just like us. People just like us. Right? And... think about this. In... lets say West Virginia alone, not even the whole world, the whole earth, west Virginia alone, right. How many people do you think there is, a per capita ratio, thats murderers to just regular people? Right? So what if somebody said "there are murderers in west Virginia, so we're gonna march into west Virginia and kill everyone there, cause they might be murderers." Right so what if the only thing you knew about west Virginia is that some murderers came from here? And you said "so let's just go in and wipe everone out"? You would come in and wipe out the whole state, and murder innocent people, just in case they might be murderers. What does that make you, Hollis?

• - Aubrey what... what are you?

- Oh I'm bisexual.

- Do all of bisexuals have this power?

- Yes.

• - uh lets jump right in

- im in. Already. I actually got in before you did. Just to make sure the water was okay.

- oh how is it? Hows the scene doing?

- the scene is good. Im already in it, but because the narrator has not joined us we are locked in... stasis. We are characters in search of an author as it were, in the pernella play.

- so theyve been there for 2 weeks? Or whats up?

- theyve been there for 2 weeks. Locked in perfect stasis, until time itself should turn its gaze upon us and let us resume our merry roles in this play called existence.

• - did you get the part where we're gonna find the quail and just crush its heart or whatever?

- its uh- its- it- its quell

- yea thats what I said, quail

- you said quail like a big ol bird

- wait what are you saying?

- yea quail

- no quell

- quell?

- quell

- quail?

- quell

- kwäil?

- listen- listen kwaiell

- quail!

- you said quail. Its quell

- the mothman uh, grabs your wrist duck and looks at the watch on it and says 'boy howdy I sure hope that those arent several minutes that we will need to uh prevent the apocalypse. Because they are gone now.

• - Ju- Ju- wait a minute. Juno? Juno Devine?

- yes shes-

- Juno Devine is- shes in the forest service? (Switches to character voice) Ahh-ha! Well that makes a lot of sense! She- she loved the forest. That- ahh...

- that is... did you just do a player to character cross-fade?

- that was so fucking wild Ive never seen anything like that on this podcast

- that melted my brain

- it was like Clint started the sentence, and then Thacker ended the sentence

• I can roleplay a gay elf with magical powers. I dont think I could roleplay someone who likes beef jerky

• We've all been trying to help people right? And sometimes you fuck up. Sometimes people get hurt, sometimes you can't- sometimes you act and you do things, and you're wrong. And if you let the fact that you fucked up stop you from trying to help again, thats... thats the real mistake. Ive fucked up so many times. You cant be afraid to help. Because yea, you might hurt. But you also might help. You just have to keep helping. Dont be afraid. Im not.

• - query: are the extraterrestrial invaders engaging in deception? 89.84% affirm

- now listen. You all don't know Duck like I do. Believe me, he can not engage in deception to save his life.

- he's also an employee of the federal government!

- it skyrockets up to 98.64%

• It makes sense right? Great power; great responsibility. But you know what people forget? Is that the green goblin dosen't swing up to your door everyday and blow your whole life away and in one moment you have to figure out what to do, ya know? The responsibility is every day. Its every moment, and it's- every time I pick one of those saplings up and I put it in the ground, and pat the ground around it, and I pour water on it, and I think about our childrens childrens childrens children will breathe the air that this thing makes, and Minerva, thats power. Thats my responsibility. I dont have to fight no more. I did it. And now Im gonna grow.

#the adventure zone amnesty #mcelroy brothers #podcasts #my post #quotes

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thirstytrashblogger · 6 years ago

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Such a Kind Man Part 2

A/N The spirit of winter has given me the strength to write and I've been facing writers block with the second part of Reigen Arataka x reader but here it is! I've finally started on season 2 and I have so many ideas for the new chapter. Sorry this is so so late. I've been so busy with school but I've tried very hard on this and hope you like it. Happy late Valentine's day.

Riegen POV

It had been about two weeks since that night I met (y/n). I found myself checking my phone more often to see if she had called but there was nothing. Maybe it was for the best. She was under a lot of stress that night, I don't want her to feel obligated to owe me anything just because I was in the right place at the right time.

All of a sudden my phone rang. HOLY SHIT IS IT HER???

“Spirits and su-”

I was cut off my a screaming man on the other side. He sounded like he was shitting himself after seeing a floating flower pot in his apartment.

“Yes sir. I'll be right there.” I hung up the phone and went out with Mob to see the client.

---

We arrive at a shady looking apartment complex. I told Mob to be careful in case of non spiritual danger and rang the bell to the door.

“Hey, Spirits and Such here.”

I'm suddenly yanked into the apartment by a terrified looking guy. He was kinda short and husky with black curly hair and a slight butt chin. The apartment was full of different plants. It looked like a jungle.

“Are you real or another one of those creepy spirits?” the guy asked me super close. His breath smelled like old cat food, I just wanted him off me.

“Cool it, man. I am Reigen Arataka, famous psychic here to help.”

The guy finally let me down and I called for Mob to come in.

“So what are we looking at here?” I asked.

The man sat down on his worn out sofa and had to collect his thoughts. The guy was obviously shaken up by something.

“It's been going on for about a week. I came home and started finding things missing or out of place but I live alone and then I saw these creepy faces show up from time to time but being alone all the time in here, I figured it was my imagination. BUT THEN this morning I saw my beloved zebra lily in mid air. It was floating before it crashed on the ground! My beloved baby! I had to work fast to save its life and then the room shook and spiders came from everywhere! It's crazy!”

“hmm interesting. Mob, do you feel anything?” I figure if anything it's a low level spirit or a minor earthquake happens and with all these plants spiders were startled out of them.

“Only a very small one but its fading, master”

“Is Dimple around?” I asked

“Dimple you are being summoned” Mob summoned

“Huh what's it this time? I'm still tired from the last job.” Dimple rubbed his eye with sleepiness.

“You're a spirit, you don't need to sleep.” I spoke

“Doesn't mean I don't like to sleep” dimple replied

“Okay, scope the area and see if there's any spirits floating away.” I commanded Dimple.

“Fine fine. I don't feel anything.” He said after looking around for a minute “oh wait. There's something”

Mob and I look out the window and see a little wandering dark green spirit in mid air. It was shaped like a tiny man and looked more confused than scary.

“Huh? Why is it just wandering around?” I asked

“It's confused. Master, I don't think it can see” Mob said

“*whistle* hey spirit, why are you bugging this guy's plants?” I ask out the window

The spirit looked at us and started coming over slowly. It was still trying to figure out where the sound if talking came from.

“This way man, Jeez”

“S-sorry. It's been so dark and I didn't know someone else lived here now. I used to live here and I always kept it so dark in the house. I'm not used to light. I just want to go to sleep” the spirit said talking to the wall instead of any of us.

“Mob, is it saying anything?”

“It says it can't see in the light and just wants to go to sleep”

“my plants need the sun though. Tell it to sleep somewhere else” the client said, holding one of his plants close.

“If I exercise you, you won't have to see the light anymore” Mob explained to the spirit.

“Will it hurt?” the spirit asked.

“Eh. Just don't freak out man. It'll be fine.” Dimple answered the spirit's question

Mob let a ring of blue aura surround him as he exercised the spirit with ease.

“It's gone! Oh glory haleluya! Thank you so much!”

Another happy customer.

“Good job, mob. I can sense you are getting stronger with your abilities every day.” I told Mob on our walk back to the shop.

“He doesn't know anything about that, kid. But you are getting stronger. Maybe that club of yours is helping.” Dimple commented.

Along our walk a woman carrying a bag of groceries passed us. I couldn't see her face because of the bag but she must have recognized my voice when I was talking to Mob. She turned around just after we passed her and called my name. I turned around only to see lettuce in the way of her face.

“Huh? Sorry ma'am. Do I know you?” I asked a bit confused.

She moved the bag a but to show her face. LETTUCE HEAD LADY WAS (Y/N)!! I'm such a dumbass.

“(Y/N) wow. I was wondering when I would see you again.” I was just so happy to see her again. I hope the lettuce in her face was preventing her from seeing my sweating, blushing face.

“Haha. Hello again, I was going to call sooner but I've been very busy lately.”

“That’s okay. Oh, this is Mob, my apprentice in spiritual practice.” I introduced politely I completely forgot Mob and Dimple were next to me for a minute.

“Good afternoon, miss (l/n).” Mob bowed.

“Good afternoon Mr. Kageyama”

“wait a moment, do you two know each other?” I was confused

“Miss (l/n) is a guidance counselor at the middle school” Mob answered

Now I really feel like a dumbass.

“It's true. I didn't mention that last time we talked.” she said. She wore a slight blush. It was quite adorable.

“Wow. I would have never guessed. So how have you been since last we met?” I asked. I hope she was doing fine after that hairy situation. She was wearing a short sleeve shirt today and I could see she had no new bruises on her skin. The old ones were how a faded yellow.

Dimple and Mob waited patiently for the conversation to wrap up.

“Hey kid, ya know that feeling when you go to the grocery store with your mom and she runs into a friend? You stay there for hours on end until the conversation ends. By the time it's over, you grow a beard and have built a tent in the frozen food isle. I don't know about you but I would always get bored out of my mind. Let's ditch this guy.” Dimple tried to convince Mob to leave the scene.

“Excuse me master, it's getting a bit late, I should head home now. Good day, miss (l/n).” Mob dismissed himself.

“Oh yeah. See ya.” I called back

~(Y/n) POV~

“So, Riegen I wondered if you were still interested in meeting me anywhere? There's no rush, of course” I was so nervous to bring it up. We haven't talked in weeks and I wondered if he had forgotten. I really would have called him sooner but a lot has happened these past two weeks, what with my ex being charged for domestic abuse, and I had to move out of that apartment. It was very stressful.

“Oh yes. I'm free this Thursday if that works for you?” he asked me. He must be very busy too, I'm sure. I took a small pause.

“Thursday sounds wonderful” I was a bit in awe. I must be a blushing mess.

~Reigen’s POV~

“Sounds perfect, (y/n) I'll keep in touch.” man, I'm so good at talking to people but it's so different when you're heart is beating faster than usual.

“Okay, awesome! I should get going now. It was great seeing you again.”

“It was very nice to see you too, (y/n) I took her free hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. Even with the lettuce, I could tell she was blushing. At least I'm not the only one.

With that we parted ways. Wait isn't today Monday?? I have so little time before I see her again.

---

I was sitting in my office the next day, Dimple appeared to talk to me.

“Hey, you look more stressed out than usual.” He commented. “What's eatin ya?”

“I don't know what you mean” I replied, smoothly playing off the subject.

“It's that lettuce girl we saw yesterday isn't it?” Dimple was trying to pry.

“She's only an acquaintance.”

“You like her. I don't blame ya. She was pretty cute.” Dimple stated matter of factly

“Heh? Since when do you care about anyone's love life?” I asked.

“I've been showing Shigeo to the ropes for some time now. Until now I didn't even think you had a love life”

Wow now I'm the loveless doofus

“Well maybe I do, maybe I don't. It’s none if your business. And don't you feel like some creep prying into a middle school kids love life?”

“okay, suit yourself but just so you know she likes you too.”

“Huh? You don't know that.”

“Of Course I do. I am a spirit so I can see human auras. Both of you were glowing with emotion when you saw each other. Maybe you should go up to her with flowers and sweep her off her feet

.. or you can stay here like a loser.”

“Hey, we've already set a date for Thursday. I don't need you prying into this.”

“This Thursday? Don't you know what day that is?” Dimple asked me

“The 14th?” I stated. What's he playing at?

“You really are an idiot. This Thursday is Valentine's day”

“huh?” I played myself. my face looked like I was about to die

“You just asked a girl out on a date on Valentine's day, man! Eh it's just a made up holiday anyway.”

“But it must be important to her. And she accepted the day. She must think I have some huge event planned?” I can't disappoint her. I've only ever been on 2 other dates in my life and the first girl was just trying to get back at her boyfriend and the second one yelled at me so much on the date I ended up trying not to cry on the train home. This would be my first Valentine's day with anyone.

“Hey man, you still got time. What were you planning anyway? You said you met her before, where did you go then?”

“We just went to my place last time and she slept over.”

“Wow. I misjudged you, I didn’t know you got her in bed on the first date. Well if she’s that kinda girl I wouldn’t worry too much about that Valentine’s crap.”

“What??? You idiot! We didn’t do anything. I performed a public service and then offered her a place to stay the night”

“How the hell am I supposed to know that based off of your wording!?”

“I’ve got it!!” I knew exactly what to do.

“Oh, how so?”

“A DOUBLE EVENT”

“I don’t follow”

“It is simple really, a restaurant date would be full of couples going on romantic dinners and people being proposed to. A movie date would not allow us to talk and get to know each other very well. But a Karaoke bar/ comedy club is perfect! An average karaoke club has small personal rooms that might be too intimate but a big party of it means everyone can make a fool of themselves and no one will judge each other. The fun and light hearted atmosphere does not promote any unnecessary pressure of the date leading anywhere she doesn’t want to go but allows the freedom of her having the option to do what she wants. Groups of friends, couples, and singles will be there all to have fun. By the end of the night, we’ll both have had a great time with no pressure of being together on Valentine’s day.” It’s a genius plan!

“It’s a stupid plan” spoke up Dimple

“What do you mean?”

“She must have had loads of great Valentine’s days. She’s probably wanting something more intimate.”

I thought about what it must’ve been like for her with that terrible relationship she was in. She might still be afraid to jump into something so serious so soon.

“Trust me, I think she’d appreciate something more public and light hearted.”

---

(Y/N) pov

I went to meet him at the train station as planned. I wore a pastel pink turtleneck with some blue jeans and casual matching pastel pink wedges. I put my hair into a high ponytail with some strands next to my face and a little fake gold circle necklace.

I waked to the train station pretty quickly. I’ll admit I was nervous. I hadn’t been on a first date in years and it was going to be something different. I had never really had a Valentine’s day in that time either but that’s in the past now. I’m going to do what’s healthy for myself and what will make me happy.

I saw Reigen waiting for me. He looked so nice. He wore a grey hoodie with a denim jacket and some dark wash jeans with white shoes. I didn’t know he could be more dashing than he was in a suit.

Reigen's POV

“Hi, you look so lovely tonight.” I was a little star struck but managed to keep my cool

“Thank you. You look very handsome, yourself.”

“Thanks. You'll love what I have planned for us tonight. Shall we?” smooth smooth

---

The train ride was crammed with people. The ropes were a bit higher than she could reach so I put my hand over her shoulders to keep her stable through the whole ride. She was a bit surprised but welcomed my touch. After the train got to our stop, she held my hand to keep us from drifting away from each other as we exited the train. I couldn't help but blush.

“It's just around here. Ah. There come on” we walked over to the location. I was honestly excited. I hadn't even noticed she was still holding my hand. It was so cute to see how tiny her hands were next to mine. We entered the karaoke place and her face just lit up. It felt so great to know the place I picked made her so happy.

“I had no idea you enjoyed singing” she smiled up at me.

“Well. Not particularly but I figured this would be a fun experience for us both.” I wouldn't look her in the eye. She's too cute.

We walked in and already there were drunks making happy fools of themselves and groups of friends laughing and having a good time. My speculations were correct. The whole building had a happy feeling. Suddenly the music ended and the announcer called for the next group. A group of friends began singing “You making my dreams come true” by Hall and Oats. They all sounded terrible but they were having a fun time. (Y/n) and I got drinks and talked about nothing for a while. People continued to sing and laugh. Then we danced most of the night away. Neither of us stopped smiling the whole night. I didn't feel like I had to wear a mask around her. She was just happy being with me.

“Would you like to sign up for a song?” I offered. We were taking a break from dancing and sat at a table watching the singers.

“I’m not much of a singer but maybe it could be fun. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun.” she was beaming with happiness.

We tried to decide on a song to sing but then it hit me. The perfect song. I hadn't told her what it was and she was excited. We were finally called up and when the music started she looked up at me with a huge smile.

*Time of my life* begins and we sing in perfect crappy harmony. We were both a little drunk and in love. By the end of the song we were holding each other up with our foreheads touching.

After a wonderful night we both figured it was time to head home when the people started clearing out and crying singles were singing sad songs on the mic. We were about to step out when we heard thunder and it started pouring rain. I should've checked the weather before. Now what? Suddenly she hopped out if her seat and started digging in her bag.

“Good think I checked the weather.” she spoke as she pulled a black umbrella from her bag. One I played the tab we headed out. She opened the umbrella and the underside had a beautiful cloud pattern. It was like our own little sunny patch out of the rain. Being taller, I held the umbrella for us and she held my arm as we walked to the metro. We kept laughing and talking. Neither of us wanted the night to end. Before we walked down the stairs to the train she stopped walking and looked up at me. Her eyes were like stars and fort the first time in awhile I couldn't think of anything to say. She cupped my face and kissed me softly on the lips. I almost dropped the umbrella as I melted into the kiss. I used my free hand to grab the small of her back and deepen the kiss. The sound of heavy rain around us.

We pulled back for air and touched foreheads as we stared into each others eyes. This was the best Valentine's day ever.

(A/N) wow. This was longer than I expected it to be.

#reigen arataka #mp100 reigen #mp 100 #mp 100 season 2 #mp 100 fanfic #mob phycho 100 #reigen arataka x reader #reigen arataka imagine #fanfic #fluff #mp100 fluff #valentines

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hcreandthcre · 3 years ago

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𝕚𝕚 ⌆ Click.

“...Hey, ghost recorder. It’s 2̕͞5̷́͟:̸2͜5 again, and I... don’t really know why I’m still doing this. I know no one listens to these recordings. Maybe I should just... “...No, no. I’ll keep doing these. Talking, even if it’s just to you, ghost recorder, it... it helps.

There’s a short pause for an audible sigh. “Today was... fine, I guess. No campers or counselors were hurt during today’s events, so I... wasn’t needed today. Which, heh, should be a good thing, as a camp nurse, it means everyone was able to keep themselves out of harm’s way. But... I don’t know. Maybe I’m just...

“...Lonely.”

An unsure hum sounded from his tightly pressed together lips, followed by a moment of silence that was disturbed only be the ticking of a clock on the wall.

“...Jedidiah spent the whole day in his office again. I thought about knocking on his door after the lunch announcements, to ask if he wanted to help me join in on today’s fun by building our own effigy for the nurse’s cabin, enough though we wouldn’t qualify for the effigy building contest. But... I didn’t. Instead, I remembered how he’d gotten out of bed this morning and walked straight into his office and locked the door. I remembered how he... He didn’t even say anything to me, even though I was already stirring to consciousness.”

Another pause, for another sigh. “I want to tell him that I miss him, that it doesn’t seem so fair that his work has taken over his free time, that I should hold a higher priority than where he’s been placing me recently. I want him to feel... bad, about not spending as much time with me as he used to, for using nothing more than his words to confirm that he still loves me.

“...Oh, god, what am I saying? I don’t want him to feel bad. I just want him to care.”

There’s another moment of ticking silence, interrupted only by a slow, shaking inhale.

“...I should just get some sleep. Maybe, after a conversation with that red-suited stranger who keeps coming to me in my dreams, I’ll feel better.

“...Good night, ghost recorder. We’ll speak again tomorrow.”

𝕚𝕚 ⌆ Click.

#𝔼ℕ𝕋𝕀𝕋𝕐𝟚。⌜ყօսг ƈօгժﻨձl ձռռօսռƈεг⌟ 𝕚𝕚 ⌆ sydney #// don/t reb///log #;;d.rab.ble / tag tba

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themanicgalaxy · 3 years ago

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SPN 7X5 Shut Up, Dr. Phil

I will say, monsters of the week is nice

oh FUCKING HELL COME ON

K A R E N

ok hair bleaching

there's NO way this can go wrong

I'll say horror of the mundane is INCREDIBLY effective

the birds eye view(pov view?) makes it worse oh my god

aww he's dreaming of Cas

and then Sam and him

what is the end plan here

"your search results for 'freaky accidents'" LMAO DEAN

SAM WENT ON A JOG

PrOspErity, InDIAna

where'd Sam get apple headphones

LANCE ARMSTRONG T W I C E

Dean bs'ing his way out of it sir EVERYONE CAN SEE THROUGH IT

"yeah, ok" "no don't say yeah ok like that" "yeah, ok" LAMAOOO

SIBLING BEHAVIOR

ooo mans has two lobe piercings

ah her sister

ok so golden girl fine ok

"it couldn't have happened" interesting

ah they found something they missed

very sibling written this episode

LIQUOR? AGAIN??

oH SHIT NOT THE PORTAPOTTY

ha he got nailed

there's literally no way for that to happen what the fuck

HIS EYES? JESUS

it's all real estate, huh?

oh wow they really do know a lot

"Close-knit community"

and a pillar, again

coin, again

oh WOW he dOES LOOK NICE IN SEASON 7

"hot and heavy emails" lmao

Don stark, in everything

ROMANIAN CYRILLIC

ROMANIAN COINSSSS

ah the bus bench

it's the girl isn't it

Exploring

welcome to "no I'm totally FBI"

that does kinda look like slavic papers tbh

like the historical ones

DONALD TRUMP wow that didn't age well

"y e p that is totally what we heard, yes" dean lmaooo

ah he cheated on her

ahaha DeaNN

they're like quietly double teaming him it's HILARIOUS

"grovel...wouldn't hurt" oh my god monogamy has changed him it's so fun

"bewitched reference" DEAN

heh the dried plants being unintentional is nice

AHAH SAM

SKSK THE CAR ALARM

not bad dude

man these guys are rich, this house is BIG

I think...she noticed

Man Jenny's just making her cupcakes

oh boy

SPELL'S IN ROMANIAN!

like horrible pronunciation but that's not her fault!!

ahhfsdaf that is horrifying

she's just..vomiting up blood

did she...bite her own heart?? WHAT?

"should I slug her" "give it a minute" lmaooo

AND IT WASN'T EVEN A THING SHE WAS DOING

oh god please don't be her best friend

well at least she's a good friend? I think?

she's protective at least

"not my fault" sir this is not gonna fly

boy he really does suck

Hunters...she knows what hunters are

please give me more backstory, her husband knows, tell me tell meeee

LMAOO THAT WAS A MESSAGE

NO NO TE LL M E THE CONTEXT PLEASE

"no don't need to write it down" *needs to write it down*

ASIAPFSIH

she's a bit of a control freak

she just fucking shot out the power

LMAO THEY'RE HANDLING THIS GREAT

eyeball in the martini?

the paintings are...running? melting?

oh boy

FUCKING KILLED SUE

oh DEAR LORD

so they're both witches great

War of the witches with the town as collateral damn

and of COURSE the leviathans

LMAOOO AND THE THING DOESN'T WORK

that camera pan was FUCKING HILARIOUS

EY IT'S ROMANIAN AGAIN

THIS IS SO FUNNY THEY'RE JUST SAYING EVIL SHIT AGAIN

DEAN GO BE THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR LMAOOO

"it's kinky, go do ur thing" DeAN

THEY'RE BOTH TAKING ONE AND GETTING FUCKED OVER BY THE OTHER ONE THIS IS HILARIOUS

....800 years of cheating on each other

SAM MARRIAGE COUNSELED THE IMMORTALS

hey it worked

ah shoot, it's leviathan

hehe I'm funny

THE WITCH KILLED THEM?

Hell yeah Don

ah Don helped Maggie not kill her

"gotta love her, right....no never mind"

"dean you gotta open up" "no fuck off"

Sam is so desperately trying to get Dean to talk about his feelings LMAOOO

SAM LOOKS SO TIRED

AHAHA

He's trying to be normal sorry bud

1. Sam trying to get Dean to open up is HILARIOUS

2. the sibling ness in the relationship was great

3. I can't believe therapy saved the day for once that's hilarious

4. I'll be honest, I just like two witches that have been married for 800 years, traveled everywhere together and have marital problems. ALSO, they're romanian witches. That was never explained, but it made me happy

5. no this is just Don came and helped them at the end, that was nice

6. I COULD UNDERSTAND THE ROMANIAN!!!!

7. and they were too powerful to kill

8. They totally changed their names tho, fucking Don and Maggie Stark, absolutely bs

#pawswatchesspn #7X5 Shut up Dr. phil #Diversity win: the unkillable incredibly powerful immortal monster witch couple is Romanian #that was literally my only takeaway long with Dean Pretty

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chantelle-x0x · 7 years ago

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The Coffee Stop - Chris x MC (Ariana) AU

Masterlist

Note: This is day one of the Christmas prompts HERE. Today’s prompt is “Ugly Sweaters”. The posting goes for 12 days, and starts on the 13th of December. (Day 2)

Pairing: Chris x MC

Rating: G/T I’m horrible at ratings and it also depends on the chapter

Summery: Ariana wakes up one morning and receives a call from AJ to meet her at the coffee shop. - Ariana also buys a few ugly sweaters. I’m also really bad at summaries heh

Ariana woke up, body aching after all the running and snow fighting she had done the day before. She turned her head to the man sleeping next to her and tried to decide whether to poke his shoulder, kiss him, or whisper in his ear to wake him from his slumber.

She leaned over to kiss his lips. Her soft lips barely grazed his when he grumbled and pulled the covers over his face. “Oh come on Chris, it’s 9:00am on a Sunday.” Chris’ reply was muffled, but understandable to Ariana. “Mm-hmm, that’s why I don’t wanna get up yet.” Ariana smirked.

Out of the two of them, Chris had more often than not, woken up earlier than her. But, given it was December and Christmas season started, she was up before him.

“Fine Chris, have it your way. Just know that if the house gets broken into and I get ‘kidnapped’, it’s all on you.” There was a slight tease in her tone. As she started to get out of bed, Chris grabbed hold of her waist with one hand and pulled her back into bed, which stunned Ariana.

“Chris!” She shrieked. Chris responded with a chuckle. “I’m sorry baby.” He leaned into her and kissed her.

________________________________________________________________ After about 30 minutes of lying in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, Ariana made her way to the kitchen and Chris made his way to their bathroom.

Ariana started to make breakfast when she received a call. “Hello?” “Hey Ariana.” It took her a moment to realize who was on the other end. “Oh, hey AJ. What can I do for you?” “Uh, nothing much, I just wanted to know if you wanted to meet up for a coffee. I need to talk to someone that isn’t exactly my blood family.” Ariana let out a small giggle at AJ’s attempt to make her feel better? “Sure, I’d love to. Just tell me what time to be at the coffee shop and I’ll be there.” Over the phone, she heard AJ let out a breath of relief. “You’re the best. Umm does 12 sound good?” “Yeah, sounds great AJ. See you then.” Ariana hung up, mind wondering to what AJ needed to talk to her about.

Soon Chris made his way out of their room dressed for the day. “Food’s on the table babe.” Ariana gave him a small peck and then went to their room.

She made her way into the bathroom and turned the shower on. While it was heating up she quickly undressed and then hoped into the shower. She suddenly felt nauseous even though she hadn’t eaten anything all morning. “Coffee should do the trick.” She mumbled to herself.

After her shower, she wrapped her towel around herself and brushed her teeth. She applied her everyday makeup look then left the bathroom to dress. She put on a long sleeve, high neck top that was light pink, a short skirt and a pair of high socks underneath her thigh high boots. She went back to her bathroom and untied her hair then brushed it so became her usual wavy hairdo. Her hair was usually dark brown, but she recently got it coloured to become ombre. Her hair’s length ran a little below her shoulders.

She left the room almost running when she checked the time. “Crap it’s already 11:30.” Chris had heard her whisper to herself. “Hey, slow down. What’s up?” Ariana took a deep breath to slow her heart rate down. “Sorry Chris. I’m meeting up with AJ in half an hour. I don’t wanna be late, that’s all.” She gave him a reassuring smile, and instantly saw him relax. “Have a good time alright?” Ariana nodded as Chris kissed her goodbye. “Oh wait, Ariana two things.” She quickly converted her view to Chris. “Hmm?” “One, you forgot your purse and handbag.” Ariana looked down at her empty hand. “And two, have you eaten?” Ariana started to make her way towards the bedroom and called behind her, “Nope. But I promise I’ll eat at the cafe.” Chris nodded and followed her to the door. He gave her one more kiss goodbye before going closing the door and heading to the study to work on some drill’s that he needed to run when they got back from break.

________________________________________________________________ Ariana parked her car and walked to the cafe. Through the window, she could see AJ sitting down with a cup of coffee. Ariana walked through the door, ordered a mug of coffee then sat down opposite AJ.

“So AJ, what’s up?” AJ hesitated for a minute. “If I tell you something, you either have to help me tell Chris or keep this a secret for a while okay?” AJ’s face was serious. “Yeah sure. Whatever you want.” Ariana became even more eager to learn what the secret was. “Ariana, Nick and I have become really serious, and I know that Chris isn’t really that fond of him, but Nick asked me if I was ready to take the next step with him.” AJ started to blush and Ariana knew that exact feeling. “Look AJ, I know that Chris isn’t the…most…uh happiest person when it comes to Nick. Hell, everyone knows that.” AJ’s face turns uncertain. “But, if you think he’s the right person, then say yes.” AJ started to smile, but Ariana thought she needed some more reassurance. “Okay, think of it like this. When I first introduced Chris to my family, my uncle Finn absolutely hated him. But after getting to know Chris, he started to like him, and gradually my uncle Finn, didn’t hate him anymore.” During the re-tell, Ariana got her coffee so after she told AJ the brief memory, she took a big sip. “What I’m saying AJ is, let Chris and Nick have some quality time together. Does Nick like football?” It looked like a light bulb went off in her head because AJ’s face lit up. “How had I forgotten to mention that to Chris?” Ariana giggled. “Maybe because you were so stressed about Chris liking Nick, you forgot to tell him things that they both liked?” AJ laughed. “Maybe. You know Ariana, your job of being a counselor is an amazing job for you. You really do know how to make one feel better.” AJ had finally started to smile.

“Tomorrow, invite Nick over okay? We’ll go to the mall, Chris and Nick can come with us, we can have so much fun.” AJ nodded. “That sounds amazing Ariana.” “Hey AJ? Can you come with me to the shops that are just down the road. I wanna get a couple of sweaters for Chris and me.” AJ started at her blankly. “Ariana, your married to Chris. I’m sure you would know by now that he’s a human furnace.” Ariana laughed lightly. “I do. But as a couple, I wanna do something cute. Also, I’m not a human furnace so I need it.” AJ got up and led her out the door.

As they got to the open streets AJ took Ariana to the best place that sold cheesy looking sweaters. “Enter at your own risk. These sweaters are addictive to buy.” Ariana entered with a laugh.

“Hey AJ, don’t tell Chris about you and Nick ‘till tomorrow okay? I need him to be okay with it and the only way is to try and get him to be okay and happy with Nick and you to start with.” AJ nodded at Ariana. “Okay, but I have to tell him tomorrow, whether or not he likes him.”

________________________________________________________________

As Ariana unlocked the door and walked inside the house, she saw Chris sprawled out on the couch cuddling Charlie. “I’m back!” Chris got off of the couch and ran to her. “Hey.” He took the bags out of her hands and kissed her.

“What are in these bags?” “Before I tell you, I have to say that AJ was very much right when she said that it’s addictive to buy these.” Chris became very curious. “Here.” She handed Chris a green sweater that had a red and white dog that was ‘dancing’ with white snowflakes surrounding the sweater. Chris started at her grimacing. “Um,” he cleared his throat. “It’s uh, very.” “Very?” “Very ugly Ariana. It’s a very ugly sweater.” Ariana burst out laughing. “I know, but we can wear them together. I bought so many different ones Chris.” Her eyes sparkled. “I’m not wearing those Ariana.” He shook his head. Ariana pouted. “Please Chris, for me?” Chris picked her up. “For you anything.” She smiled at him and he smiled at her with this warm tenderness.

“You said anything. So do you mean anything anything? or just anything you want to do?” Chris put her down on the couch and snuggled against her. Making her giggle. “Anything anything. Why?” Ariana sat up properly and faced Chris. “What’s wrong.” Concern crossed his face. “Chris, tomorrow we’re going to the mall with AJ and…Nick.” Chris stiffened. “Nick? Why Nick?” Ariana laughed. “My love, Nick is a really nice guy. Take time to know him would you?” Chris let out a frustrated sigh. “Do I have to?” “Chris, you sound like a child.” Chris just shrugged.

“Why don’t you like Nick? He has always been so good to AJ.” “I don’t like him because I can see that he will hurt AJ.” Ariana shook her head. “They’ve been together for 4 years Chris. He hasn’t hurt her.” Chris refused to look into her eyes.

“Fine, whether you like it or not Chris, we’re going to the mall with AJ and Nick, but we will also get to wear the sweaters.” Chris quickly looked her in the eyes. “Y-you were serious about those sweaters?” He stared at her with an open mouth. “What? We can wear the blue ones, or the red ones. How about the green ones?” Ariana was smiling at him.

“One torture at a time Ariana.” “Yeah, that’s the torture isn’t it?” Chris raised his eyebrow. “Nick is not torture Chris.” Ariana stood up and started to walk away, calling behind her. “Nick and you will get along Chris. I can see it now.” Chris rolled his eyes, a bright smile on his face.

“You never seize to amaze me with your gentleness and care Ari. Never!” He called out to her.

“I’m gonna give Charlie a bath okay?” She picked up Charlie and walked upstairs to the bathroom with a smug smile on her face.

#chris x mc #chris powell #chris x mc christmas #the freshman #the sophomore #choices #chris x ariana #chris x mc day two

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peterjonesparker · 7 years ago

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so here’s the fic i’ve been writing for the last few days that’s the reason behind why i haven’t posted anything else. i like songs a lot and wanted to share them so here’s a fic where i can do that. and i’ve got nothing else to do but think about my own life so have a fic inspired by it! and before i forget, @spideychelle-romanogers, @spideychelleblessup, @bellamywarriorblake.

in which mj sends peter music recommendations and peter tries to make sense of what it all means.

have a song (ao3 link)

friends by nas & damian marley

The first time it happens, Peter’s lying in bed, scrolling through news about Spiderman on his phone at one in the morning on a Tuesday in January because he can’t fall asleep after the night he’s had patrolling. He’s about to open an article with the title “Spiderman’s Identity Revealed!” when he gets a notification at the top of his phone.

Michelle Jones

hey loser. have this.

And then another message comes through with a link attached. He opens the message and it’s a link to a YouTube video of a song. He looks back and finds that their last text exchange was last Thursday when she asked him if he was going to make it to the first decathlon practice of the year so he could start the new year off right. Odd.

Nonetheless, he opens up the song, listens to it, jams a bit to himself in bed even though he can feel his exhaustion in his bones, and then sends her back: it’s a good song. thanks. After two minutes, he gets a response.

Michelle Jones: no worries, parker

And that ends the conversation. He falls asleep shortly afterward, not thinking more of the out of the blue exchange. However, when Wednesday afternoon rolls around and Peter’s munching on the chicken pesto sandwich May’d purchased from Trader Joe’s, Michelle walks over to a seat across from him and Ned and sits down in it.

Peter is confused. Because Michelle always sits several seats down from them, reading a book while occasionally listening in on their conversations. She’s never sat across from them before. But she pulls out a book and starts reading, not acknowledging the fact that Ned and Peter have stopped talking. She glances up and scrunches her eyebrows together, “What, losers?”

“Nothing.” Peter says quickly, turning back to Ned and asking him about the history reading. Michelle doesn’t say anything else for the rest of the day, but she does steal two of his carrots. He gawks at her but she just shrugs her shoulders and pushes her bag of chips toward him. He takes a few. Only to make things fair. Not because they’re his favorite brand and flavor of chips.

He doesn’t think anything of the sudden change in seating arrangements, though. Michelle is weird. Maybe she just wants to be able to swap food and have background chatter while she reads. Peter also doesn’t think anything of it when Michelle sits next to him in Chemistry suddenly.

She plops down in the seat next to him and when Cindy gets to class and sees her seat taken, she just scrunches her eyebrows together and walks over to sit by Abraham in Michelle’s usual seat. Then, when their teacher tells them about a lab they’ll have coming up, Michelle asks Peter if he wants to be her partner. Which, Ned is always his partner. But Peter finds himself saying yes anyway. Michelle’s weird but also a little terrifying and he doesn’t want to say no to her, honestly. (Ned gets upset at him after school that day because he’s going to have to partner with Betty Brant now and Betty makes him nervous.)

It’s only after Michelle texts him again, the next week, asking about the lab report that he thinks of it. The last message she’d sent had been about the song. Friends. Is this Michelle’s odd way of asking to be friends? Sending a song and then inserting herself into his life?

Weird. But Michelle is too, so he supposes it’s fitting. Besides, he kind of enjoys having her around now, anyway. Peter could do friends with Michelle.

cool by zack villere

By the time summer rolls around, Michelle and Peter are solidly friends. Peter thinks. He’s calling her MJ now and toward the end of the year she’d stolen his phone and changed her name to Michelle “I don’t deserve her as a friend” Jones. Which is the name that pops up around ten at night on the Thursday before he’s supposed to go to one of Flash’s summer parties with Ned.

Michelle “I don’t deserve her as a friend” Jones: heh, sounds like you.

She sends a link to a song and he listens to the first twenty seconds before getting offended. (“I’ve always wanted to be cool. But I’m not that cool, that cool.” Those are some of the offending words.) He replies with “rude”. She tells him to listen to the whole song, noob. So he does. Because she asked and he can’t really say no to her. It’s a cool song. He kind of likes it. But he still feels a bit slighted by the message, so he doesn’t respond. That’ll show her. (It won’t.)

The next night, Ned picks him up around nine at night to drive them to the party. May tells them to be safe and looks Ned sternly in the eye, telling him that if he drinks a single drink he should call her to pick them up. Or else. Ned takes a big gulp and nods his head frantically because May can be incredibly scary when she wants.

When they arrive at the party, Ned steers clear of any alcohol that’s present and gets pulled aside by Betty because she has a question. (Yeah, sure.) So, Peter is left alone. He meanders around the party for a bit with a beer in his hand because it makes him feel less out of place. Then, he sees her.

She’s standing off to the side, eating a banana as she observes everyone at the party, eyes scanning the room and settling every so often. Her arms are crossed over her chest like she’s slightly uncomfortable. He walks over because he, for himself, is incredibly uncomfortable. He quickly realizes when he starts walking over and she notices him that he has no idea what to say. He remembers the song and manages, “Look who wants to be cool now.”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “You’re still the loser.”

“Ouch.” He chuckles, leaning back against the wall beside her. She’s got a small smile on her face, and he’d like to think it’s because she likes talking to him. She looks more comfortable, so at least there’s that.

“Didn’t realize you were a beer drinker.” She nods her head at his hands, which are tightly gripping a beer bottle that’s been opened but not sipped from.

“I’m not.” He says, a little sheepish. “It made me feel more comfortable here.” Which, he feels a bit embarrassed telling this to MJ, who is so unapologetically herself that she would never compromise her identity to fit in. But Peter is less sure of himself.

“Well then,” she says quietly and grabs the beer bottle from him, placing it onto the ground. She grabs a bag of fruit gummies from her pocket (why does she have those?) and hands them to him. “Have these instead.” He thanks her silently and chews on the gummies. They’re actually quite tasty. He’s pretty stoked. “So,” she says between pursed lips before asking her next question. “What brings you to the house of your nemesis for a party?”

And then they just start talking. From school to excitement about junior year to movies to music. (She complains that he never sends her music even though she sends him songs all the time. He panics and tells her that she should check out Hiatus Kaiyote’s Tawk Tomahawk because he’d just listened to it.)

Ned comes over while they’re in the middle of an argument (debate, MJ will claim later) about Jyn’s characterization in Rogue One. He slaps Peter lightly on the shoulder and nods to MJ. “Peter where have you been? You missed Flash getting thrown into the pool.”

“Oh,” Peter gets out, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. “MJ and I were just talking.”

Ned eyes him suspiciously. Peter doesn’t like that look on his face, either. “For the last hour and a half?”

“Uh,” Peter glances back at MJ. She looks entirely unimpressed with this whole exchange. He turns back to Ned. “Yeah?”

“Okay.” Ned drops it for the time being. They all talk for another twenty minutes before it’s almost Peter’s curfew and he and Ned have to leave. As soon as Peter closes the door to the passenger side of the car, Ned turns to him and punches him in the shoulder before yelling, “You never told me you had a crush on MJ!!”

Peter sputters and hopes the furious blush on his cheeks aren’t too noticeable in the dark light. “I do not!”

“Peter Parker, why would you ever keep this information from me!?!” He continues to yell in the car, and Peter hopes the people walking by don’t hear them because the last thing he needs is other people thinking he has a crush on MJ. Because he doesn’t.

Peter pouts and Ned drops it after a few more aggravated, “This is so ridiculous. I’m your best friend. I can’t believe you’d lie to me like that.” But then Peter starts unconsciously singing the lyrics to the song MJ had sent. He remembers how she’d scrunch her eyebrows together when talking through all her points or how she’d smile and call him a loser when he got too passionate about something unimportant. But most importantly, he remembers how he’d make a joke and her laughter would bubble out of her, loud and surprised, as if she hadn’t expected to like his words so much. And he thinks, maybe I’m not cool, but MJ thinks I am.

recess by ravyn lenae

At the beginning of second semester junior year, Peter meets with his guidance counselor to talk about college. He assures her that he’s going to be going to MIT. He’s been planning on it since he was a sophomore and his mentor, Mr. Stark, has a pull there so it shouldn’t be an issue. But she still shoves pamphlets in his hand and tells him about an interest session MIT is giving near the school in a few weeks.

When May finds out, she tells him they have to go. And it’s leaving the interest session, twirling his phone in his hands, when he gets another song.

“still too good for you” mj: this one is really good. check it out.

But he’s with Aunt May and he doesn’t want to play it out loud in the car and he can’t just put in headphones because May will complain to him about how he’s always trying to tune her out. So he spends the whole drive home jumping a bit in his seat because he’s excited to listen to the song. He makes conversation with May about the session and the presenters and how well-spoken they were and how difficult it is to get into the school. As soon as they’re home, though, he thanks May for taking him and goes straight to his room, lying down on his bed as he plugs his headphones into his phone and plays the song.

It’s a smooth song. He likes the beat, and he shakes his shoulders side to side along with the music as he lies in bed. He listens to it again. The second time is when he starts to hear the lyrics, and he panics a bit. It becomes obvious that it’s a song about a young boy. A young boy with a crush on a girl.

Peter is a bit suspicious, but he doesn’t dare mention anything to MJ. He’s worried, though. Does MJ know about his steadily growing crush on her? Does she notice how his eyes light up and he sits a bit straighter when she walks into a classroom? Or that he follows her every word at lunch time? Or that he’s suddenly much more invested in decathlon and attending every single meeting that he can? Has she noticed that he’s starting reading books she suggests or has an entire playlist dedicated to songs she’s sent him? That he brags about her taste in music to other people? He’s tried to be subtle about his crush, he swears. He supposes he wasn’t doing the best job.

Then, the decathlon team is all chatting about colleges and which ones they’re thinking of applying to and what they like and dislike about each school. Peter notices, however, that MJ is oddly silent about it. She’s usually so outspoken about her opinions, and she’s the smartest one on the team. Surely, she must have some opinions about what college she wants to attend.

Peter waits to ask her about it until they’re alone. They’re doing homework in his room at eleven on a Tuesday. May is asleep and MJ has an hour until she has to drive home. (She’d called her parents beforehand.) Right after they finish up a question that asked them to prove the definition of a limit for the function f(x) = x^3. (Peter usually dislikes proving things in math, but MJ is oddly fascinated by the whole process that he can’t help but see the beauty of it when he works with her.) “You haven’t been talking about college with anyone?” It’s a statement, but the question mark at the end is clear in his tone.

She’s silent, just like at school. But then: “I’m worried I won’t get in and everyone will think I’m not actually as smart as I thought I was.” A beat. “Or that I’ll get in and people will think it’s only because I’m black.” She takes a deep breath, in through her nose and out slowly through her mouth. “I’m applying to Harvard, restrictive early action.”

And, Peter’s a bit in awe. Because, like, it’s Harvard. But if anyone deserves to go to Harvard, or would thrive at Harvard, it’s MJ. “You are, without a doubt, the smartest person I know. Harvard would be absolutely lucky to have you.” He pauses for a moment, because he doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t know if there’s any way to assure her or comfort her in this regard because he can’t change racial prejudice. “I’m sorry that you have to go through this. I wish you could be allowed to only stress about whether or not you get into college, not the implications either will have.” It doesn’t feel like enough, and she still seems uncomfortable even though she gives him a brief smile. “Thank you for trusting me with this.”

She rolls her eyes, smacking his shoulder lightly. “We’re friends, loser. Don’t make it a big deal.” He tries to keep his smile contained, too not smile too brightly so that’s its suspicious. But then she’s going over how they should approach the next proof and he just can’t help it. She’s pretty fucking amazing.

foreplay by jalen santoy

When school ends after junior year, Peter is pretty happy. He, Ned, and MJ hang out all the time over the summer. They do all their applications together in little study parties, with loads of snacks covering the tables and music playing lightly in the background. (He plays all the songs Michelle has sent, and tries not to find her eye whenever one comes on so he can see her reaction.) When they get their scores back, they all cheer loudly and adjust their Common App pages.

Peter’s also incredibly happy because MJ spends lazy weekends at his apartment. (Ned goes to church with his family and they go to a lot of banquets.) She lies on his bunk bed, her feet propped up against the wooden slats that hold up the top bunk’s bed. Or she lies on the top bunk, her head leaning over the edge so she’s reading upside down. (She doesn’t keep that pose for very long, but it’s the most adorable thing he’s ever seen.)

Further, it’s hot. It’s the middle of July and New York City is humid and sticky and blisteringly hot. So, sometimes, Peter takes off his shirt. He asks MJ every time and she just rolls her eyes at him. “Whatever floats your boat, loser.” So he strips off his shirt and tries not to watch for MJ’s reaction. She always keeps her eyes resolutely focused on her book. (Though, one time, he was putting in a new lightbulb in his lamp and when he finished, he caught her staring at his abs. He had to keep his squeal of delight in his mind.) MJ’s also taken to wearing short shorts and tank tops. It makes sense. No need to cover more skin that necessary if you’re going to be baked alive. It’s just…frustrating for Peter sometimes.

Summer is not all lazy days with friends, however. He still goes out on patrol regularly. He gets hurt a decent amount. And about a week into the summer, MJ asks him how the whole Spiderman thing has been going and he spits out his milk. (So, she’d found out.) Which, he likes having MJ know about the whole Spiderman thing. Because now he doesn’t have to feel like a liar all the time around her. However, he also doesn’t like having MJ know about the whole Spiderman thing. Because they fight. A lot.

They get into loud arguments about how he risks his life every day for people he doesn’t know and she won’t talk to him for three days after he gets badly hurt because she’s pissed. She tells him he’s too reckless and that he doesn’t prioritize himself when he goes out as Spiderman. How he’s too young and not well trained so he’ll continue getting nicked in the side by knives and bullets. He tries to reason that he does it to protect the little guy, tries to get her to understand that he needs to do this. “Peter, you’re one of the little guys. You need protecting too.” That upsets him. Because he’s not a little guy. He’s a fucking superhero. He’s an Avenger. But it all boils down to the fact that both of them care too much.

it’s the loser, do not answer: i care about you, mj. i care about you a lot. but i also care about new york.

He waits three hours for a reply, though he knows she reads it immediately. (He doesn’t know whether to be grateful for read receipts or if he should burn them in hell.)

michelle “my headache” jones: the problem is i care about you too much.

But mostly, they’re fine. Things are still okay with them. Which is why, two days before they’re going to hang out again, she sends him a new song.

michelle “my angel” jones: this one’s got a jazzy vibe. it’s a jam.

His horny “I’m seventeen and have a crush” brain freaks out a bit at the title of the song. He listens to it anyway. (MJ sent it. He’ll always listen.) He tries not to think too much into the fact that the song’s lyrics include “I love you”, “I hate you”, “I fuck you”, “well fuck you”. It’s all a little too close to home for their relationship since MJ joining Team Spiderman. He tries not to think about how, often times, their arguments will end with them up in each other’s faces. Or that he’s usually able to feel MJ’s hot breath heaving out against his face. Or that sometimes her eyes will flick down to his lips and he’ll almost lean forward.

But it’s fine. Peter likes the song. Then, when she comes to visit, he plays it and she signs along. he tries not to be entranced when she sings along. He tries not to let his heart do flips when she sings, “I love you.” And he tries not to feel it in his pants when she sings the words, “I fuck you.” He does his best to keep his mind free of inappropriate feelings and thoughts about his best friend.

sex jam by woo park

He gets the text from MJ while he’s out on patrol. He’s just said hello to the guy at the hot dog stand and stopped a purse snatcher. He’s swinging from one building to the next when his ass buzzes. He stops at the neck building and opens her text, nearly choking.

boston buddy: this is literally a jam. it’s cool though. sounds like that band.

He composes himself and plays the song out loud on his phone while he sits on the edge of the building. (He figures he can take a small break.) The song is good though. It sounds like Hiatus Kaiyote, which he’d mentioned to MJ at a party like two years ago. He didn’t even realize she listened to them. So maybe MJ sent it for that reason and not because the song is literally called “sex jam”. He tries not to think about it too much.

But then it’s lunch time on a Thursday and Peter’s picking the onions out of his sandwich when a red rose is dropped on top of his meal. He looks up, and it’s Abraham. The boy is smirking and Peter’s going to ask what this means, but he leaves. Then Sally comes over and drops another rose onto his lunch and giggles before walking away. Soon, the whole decathlon team is dropping a rose onto his lunch and he’s so supremely confused. But then he sees MJ, carrying a whole bouquet of roses, and everything kind of clicks into place. He starts laughing and she has a small smile on his face as she rolls her eyes. “You’re a loser. But you can be a loser with a date to prom.” He hands him the bouquet and raises her eyebrows, stuffing her hands into her back pockets. “So? Be a friend and take a girl to prom?”

He shakes his head, all fond and shit. But he stands up and wraps his arms around MJ, pulling her into a tight hug and she laughs. “Yeah, I guess so.” He says into her ear, and she squeezes a bit tighter. He doesn’t even think about the fact that this is prom and it’s usually romantic. Because MJ’s his best friend and she asked and why wouldn’t he say yes?

He doesn’t think more about prom until Flash makes fun of him a week later before AP Gov starts. “Guess Penis Parker finally gets to use his penis with another person.” He snickers, and Peter rolls his eyes, trying to ignore the bully and keep his face from turning red because he does not need to be thinking about having sex with MJ in the middle of school. “Don’t forget to make your sex jam playlist.”

And there it is. The song is back. Right at the forefront of his mind again. Did MJ actually mean it like that? Had she been trying to tell him something? Is she going to try to have sex with him after prom? (Peter starts freaking out.)

When prom night finally does roll around, he wears a suit Tony had bought for him. It fits nicely and he thinks he looks pretty good. Aunt May cries and hugs him a bit too tightly. (“May, I gotta breathe.” “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”) Then he drives to pick MJ up from her house. Her mother answers the door, all smiles and hospitality. She welcomes him inside and tells him she’ll go get her daughter.

He’s waiting in the living room when he first sees her. She’s walking down the stairs, wearing a sleeveless black dress. Peter’s brain short circuits for a moment. He doesn’t snap out of it until she steps in front of him, crossing her arms over her chest and saying, “You look nice, Parker.” He sputters for a bit before he can return the compliment. She laughs and they turn so her mom can take pictures. Then they’re off to prom and he keeps worrying about what Flash said.

He shouldn’t worry. Prom is a good time. They hang out with the decathlon team and everyone gets a bit emotional. He and MJ slow dance together a few times, but it’s fine. And they don’t sleep together. They do, however, sit for several hours at the bar of the hotel where their prom is. They order sodas and chili fries, munching on them and talking about the future and what they’re both going to do in Boston. At one point, MJ falls asleep on his shoulder and he kisses her head. The waiter walks over with refills of the soda. She smiles. “You two are such a cute couple.”

Peter looks down at MJ, who looks so peaceful and content. “Thank you.” He smiles at the waiter. He’ll let himself have tonight.

you give me that by raveena

The summer before college, Peter feels like he, Ned, and MJ see each other almost every day. With Ned going to school across the country in California, Peter feels like he has to squeeze all the time in with his best friend that he can. Ned and MJ have grown fairly close on their own right. So everyone’s a little emotional when Ned leaves to go to the Philippines with his family for two weeks in the middle of the summer.

It’s during those two weeks that Peter realizes how amazing it’ll be to have MJ in Boston with him all the time. They see each other almost every day during those two weeks. (MJ gets sick in the middle so he doesn’t see her for two days.) They talk about college shopping lists and go over “College Essentials!” lists to figure out what should actually be necessary. They talk about classes they want to take. They come up with various personalities they could have if they wanted to reinvent themselves. (Neither wants to commit to that.) They watch a lot of movies they get from other students on the Facebook pages for incoming freshman for their respective schools. (They have a running commentary going for each one. They make fun of the lame ones and laud the good ones.) They also listen to a lot of music together. Like, a lot. Like he and MJ lie on the floor of her room while songs flow from her speakers and they don’t say anything, just lie there on her rug with their heads close. Occasionally, they’ll glance at each other and smile. Scrunch their nose if they don’t like the song and want to skip it. Reach for the phone when they want to know the song playing. They also send each other a lot of music during the times of day when they aren’t together.

pawk the cah in hahvahd yahd: this one is nice. smooth.

It is nice. It’s a very smooth song. Also a bit sexual? He really worries about whether or not MJ is trying to tell him something. Because if she is, he’s totally, one hundred percent on board. Like, all the way. But he has no idea if she’s trying to tell him anything at all. She could just be sending him a song she liked and that’s it. (He hopes that her songs have meaning.)

What he does know for sure is that the song has a really good pace. A pace that drives his eighteen-year-old horny brain up the wall. Which is why he starts to play the song while he masturbates. Because it’s a good pace. It’s smooth and slow and perfect for the build-up because it seems sensual and more romantic. (And okay, so, maybe he also pictures making out with MJ to this song and that really helps but his chest flushes red when he remembers this so he’s not going to talk about.)

It’s over the course of all these times (there are more than he’d care to admit) that he learns the lyrics to the song. It’s a good song, really. For reasons other than the masturbation variety. Which is why he plays it one day when they’re hanging out in his room, sitting against the edge of his bed next to each other. And since he knows all the words, he sings along to the whole song. When it ends, he turns and sees that MJ is staring at him. She looks confused and slightly surprised.

He feels uncomfortable and gets worried that she’ll catch onto the fact that he has this massive crush on her. So he shrugs and says, “What? I like your music.”

She turns her head, letting her curls fall over her face. “Good.” She turns back and her classic smirk is waiting for him. “I was starting to get worried that you didn’t like the recs because you never send stuff back.”

He balks and sputters. “You just send so much! How am I supposed to keep up?”

She rolls her eyes at him, laughing. “You’re a loser. Explore a little.” She knocks her shoulder against his and smirks at him. He smiles because he can’t help it. He can’t help a lot of things around her.

“I really do appreciate the music.” He says, earnest. “I really like your music.” She looks a bit stunned and turns her head again, pushing back some hair that had fallen into her face. She doesn’t say anything else and the next song plays. But she leans so that their shoulders are touching and he tries to stop the rapid beating in his chest. (He’s unsuccessful.)

get you by daniel caesar (featuring kali uchis)

Peter really likes college. He’s two and a half months into his first term, and he enjoys all his classes thus far. He’s made some good friends and he and his roommate are really close, which is nice. The food is pretty good and he gets to run along the Charles River every morning, which is really pretty at sunrise. Life is pretty nice.

He can’t not mention MJ either. They talk every day. They hang out at least once a week. Likely, more than that. They study together and his roommate and MJ are friendly. All of MJ’s roommates know him and they always giggle whenever he’s around. (Part of him worries that one of them has a crush on him, but he knows that’s ridiculous and pushes that thought aside.) They get lunch sometimes during the week and MJ steals food from his plate, but he steals some of her atrocious soda concoction so it all balances out. And, of course, MJ still sends him music.

the pretentious harvard one: oh my god, you’re a dumbass. here’s a song.

It’s out of the blue this time. No lead up, no mention of music in the last three days. He feels the buzz in his back pocket while he’s in physics on a Tuesday. After class, he puts the headphones in his phone and plays the song. The singer’s voice is silky. The words flow from his mouth like honey and Peter’s absolutely enraptured so he plays the song on repeat as he walks to his next class.

When he listens to it again that night, he finally realizes that the song is very…sexual. He looks up the lyrics and finds a video of the artist talking about the song and he literally says of some of the lyrics: “Yeah, that’s just good pussy. Good loving.” But the song is also incredibly romantic in its own right. About two people totally enraptured with each other and in their own world.

Peter freaks out. He tries to compose himself because he’s supposed to go to MJ’s dorm that Friday and watch a movie together for her film seminar. So he takes the next three days to focus and get himself prepped so he doesn’t spend the whole night looking at MJ like a lovesick puppy. (Or so that he doesn’t get a boner because he’s too busy thinking about what it’d be like to make love to her.)

So, at eight o’clock after a long day of class, he walks over to MJ’s dorm. As he walks into the dorm, he sees MJ’s roommates. He waves hello and smiles, because he wants to stay on good terms with them because he’s at MJ’s dorm so often. But they all just kind of…snicker at him as he walks by. He tries not to think too much of it.

The door to MJ’s suite is open, so he walks in. He knocks on the door to MJ’s room before opening it and she’s lying on her bed, elbow propping up the arm holding her head. She looks at him and he can’t quite decipher the expression on her face. But she asks, “You ready?” So he decides to let it be.

They watch the movie on her laptop, which is resting on her lap, so he has to lean into her a bit. He takes deep gulps because she’s in a loose tank top and she’s also not wearing a bra (not that he was looking!) and her sleep shorts, which are very short and give him a nice view of her legs. (They go on for ages, oh my goodness.) She smells like old books and it’s so entirely MJ that it’s all overwhelming. He’s not even paying attention to the movie at this point. It could be twenty minutes or even an hour later (he honestly doesn’t know) when the two characters on the screen start making out. Then they start having sex and Peter is overwhelmed because MJ is right next to him and they’re watching two people have sex on the screen.

Then, MJ pauses the film and he’s shocked. He looks over at her, stunned, with wide eyes. She looks so entirely fed up with everything. She crosses her arms over her chest and looks pointedly down at his pants. “Are we going to ignore your hard on or are we going to do something about it?” He gulps, but she just raises her eyebrows, looking down at his pants again and he can feel the blush spreading quickly across his face.

“Do you,” his voice cracks, so he takes a deep breath to compose himself. “Do you want to do something about it?”

All of her confidence from just a few moments before is suddenly gone. She’s bashful. She won’t meet his eye. She brushes her hair to the other side of her head and with a much softer tone of voice, she says, “I mean, if you want to, then sure.”

He’s smiles because it’s perfectly MJ. He leans in, slow, because he wants to savor and remember this moment. But when his lips meet hers, he becomes more frantic. One of his hands grabs her hip and squeezes and her arms wrap around his shoulders, pulling him so that he’s on top of her and pushing her into the bed. It’s a good kind of pressure. Then she’s running her hand down his abs until she’s reached his jeans and she’s palming him through his pants. He gasps, hips grinding down into her touch and he breathes deeply against her neck before latching on to kiss her there. She manages to get his shirt off somehow and run her other hand from his hair, down his back, and to his ass. She squeezes and she’s still palming his dick and it’s all a lot so he pulls back and slides down to her pants. He glances up, meets her eyes with a pointed look. “May I?”

She nods quickly and she’s a bit out of breath. But then her pants are off and he runs one of his hands slowly up her leg, watching her as he does so in case she gives any indication she wants him to stop. But she’s eyeing him and it feels significant. She’s biting her lip and nodding, so he starts to rub her through her underwear. She reaches down and adjusts his hands, guiding him so he’s moving them the right way. Then she’s gasping and leaning her head back against the bed. He moves so that he’s hovering over her, hand still moving against her through her underwear. He bites her eye, whispering, “Do you like that?” She sighs, moving her hands so that they card through his hair. They pull and he likes it a lot. “Yeah, you like that, don’t you?” Another nip at her ear and then he asks, “You’d like it if I ate you out, wouldn’t you?” She nods frantically. Her eyes are closed and she groans, pulling his head back and shoving him down. He chuckles, but pulls her underwear down before pulling her legs over his shoulders so she’s encasing him in his own personal garden of Eden. Her hands are tangled in his hair, and her grip tightens as he kisses and bites at her thighs. (He’s not going to admit to researching extensively about how you should go down on a person with a vagina. He looked up a lot of articles and diagrams and tips. He hopes some of them pay off.)

She pushes his head down to where she really wants and he flattens his tongue and licks. She pushes his head further down and gasps. He moans, which she seems to like because her legs shake. He takes it as a good sign and continues his ministrations. He involves his fingers at some point and then she’s moaning very loudly, gasping out every so often. She pushes her legs down into his back and lets out, “Fuck, Peter.” And then he crooks his finger and her muscles start tightening and spasming. Her mouth is open but not a sound comes out except for a squeak. She looks frozen in place, but her legs are shaking. He continues licking until she pulls him up by his hair and kisses him roughly. He’s sure the taste of her is now in her mouth and he likes that perhaps a bit too much.

He pulls back because he’s smiling too much to kiss her. She just laughs, running a hand across her forehead. “Fucking hell, Parker.”

“Good?” He asks, all smug and confident. But he really wants to hear her say it. To tell him he did a good job. And oh, he should explore that later.

“Really fucking good.” Then she’s running a hand across his abs and her hand is palming his dick again and he almost forgot. His mouth opens ridiculously and he groans, dropping his head into his shoulder, burying it there. He pulls his pants down and then shakes his head. “Oh wait, condom?” He really hopes she has a condom. She just smiles, leaning over the bed and pulling one out of a box. He rolls it on and positions himself. But then he looks into her eyes and kisses her deeply. She smirks. “You gonna fuck me or what?”

And oh ho ho, is he gonna! He slowly eases himself into her and she bites his shoulder. He hisses, but he likes it. (Another thing he should explore.) But if she’s biting his shoulder, then her screams are masked so that’s a plus. He sets a punishing pace and she’s rolling her hips up into his. Her thumb is rubbing circles into her clit and he runs his hands over her chest and waist and ass, anywhere he can reach. Then she flips them over and puts her hands on his chest so he can’t sit up. Her hands get dangerously close to his neck without quite reaching it. He likes it a lot more than he thought he would. There’s a lot of things he wants to explore, but that’s for another time. For now, he’s too busy holding onto her hips and rocking along with her. They ignore the squeaks that her small, old twin XL bed makes. Their gasps make more noise, anyway.

He’s thankful her roommates are gone, so they don’t hear when he starts talking to her. He’s rubbing little circles into her clit like she’d be doing a little while ago and he’s speaking in a low, husky voice. “You like that, don’t you? You look so fucking beautiful, riding me like your life depends on it.” He goes on and on about her breasts and her hair and the sheen of sweat that covers her whole body and makes her glow like an angel. Then he’s coming and gasping and groaning and his head falls back and he can’t say anything else. MJ laughs, slowing down the rolling of her hips against his. His hands drop and he’s lying back, completely spent. MJ chuckles, leaning down to kiss his forehead and his nose and his cheeks until she finally reaches his lips. She gives him a light peck, looking down at him with a bright smile. “Your orgasm face is so stupid.”

He sputters out a chuckle, wrapping his arms around her torso and pulling her tight to his chest. He kisses the side of her head and whispers into her ear, “Yours is beautiful.”

“Oh shut up, you loser.” But she buries her face into his shoulder and he can feel her lips smile against his neck. He smiles, running his hands up and down her back lightly. He tries to say as casually as possible, “You know, my hands are pretty nice.”

She pulls back, eyes twinkling and lips pulled into a mischievous smile. “Wanna prove it?”

“Always,” he whispers, in awe. Then he uses his hands and brings her back to the edge for the second time that night and he sees her orgasm face and it’s honestly the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. Hands down. No lie. And then she’s the one who’s spent and wrapping her hands around his torso to pull him into a hug. He snuggles into her chest, kissing the top of her left breast lightly.

“You know I like you, right?” She asks, and her voice is so small. Tentative. As if she’s unsure what his reaction will be. “Like, I like like you.”

He leans up and kisses her nose. “I like you too. Like like you.”

She smiles, bright and happy. Then she smirks and asks, “Does this mean I can tell my roommates we’re dating so they’ll stop bothering me?”

He laughs. “Oh my goodness, I knew it!” She just rolls her eyes and pushes his face back into her chest. But he pulls back one more time. “Is this what you were getting at when you sent me all those songs?”

“Yeah.” She rolls her eyes, fond and content and he’s over the moon. “Only took you three years though, genius.” He kisses her deeply and then settles back into her chest. He likes snuggling into her like this. Her hands pulling lightly at the tips of his hair as her chest rises and falls slowly. He feels like he could stay here forever.

“Thanks for being patient.” He whispers and she leans down to kiss his forehead.

“Anytime, Peter.”

#spiderman homecoming #spiderman: homecoming #spideychelle #peter parker #michelle jones #peter x michelle #michelle x peter #peter x mj #mj x peter #sh #otp: i'm just kidding i don't care #i write things #lol #here's the 7200 word fic no one asked for #but i hope you appreciate how much effort i put into formatting this and putting in all the appropriate italics because tumblr hates me #i also spent a ridiculous amount of time on it so i hope you like it :ooo #if you don't it's okay #this was a personal project mainly #but felt i should share what's been taking up my last few days

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leaughrilke · 8 years ago

Note

How does everyone react(including Stella) to Stella being gay

well kiddos lets take a jaunt down lesbian lane (these two go hand in hand so i’m including them together!)

also here’s a warning at the top (its also tagged and if you blacklisted the slur, this post should be blocked) i use the d slur once in here, towards the bottom

so obviously its not that she grows up closeted necessarily like its more?? she just never acknowledges that part of herself?? and she doesnt have to for a long time, bc she’s so used to just picking up one what other people are feeling and like?? idk how to phrase this. boys are louder? like girls, stella’s noticed, like sort of monitor their thoughts, even in their own head, but boys dont and so its boys’ feelings for her that she always picks up on fastest, reflects back on the basis of those feelings being so strong. so it takes her a while to even notice her own feelings??? notice the funny feeling in her stomach whenever the cute girl in her bio class smiles at her

and its not that her moms dont talk to her about attraction, bc they do, they talk to her about crushes and relationships and the whole shebang but stella never indicates that she’s having trouble with any of that and they just figure maybe she’s not interested in people romantically and then when she comes home saying she has a date with a boy, its not as if they’re about to interrogate her?? like they notice that her relationships rarely last longer than a couple months or so, if they even get to that stage?? but she’s in high school, you know?? relationships dont always last long at that age

and they kind of figure that she knows its okay?? if she’s gay. like. lena’s a giant lesbian. kara’s bi as hell. finn and maia both had really quiet coming outs??? quite frankly they didnt even have to come out, like kara and lena have always used gender neutral language when it comes to dating for the kiddos until they point them in the right direction, like one day finn mentions he has a date with the running back from the football team and no one bats an eye, kara just asks where they’re planning on going. maia brings home a girlfriend one thanksgiving. kara and lena just sort of figure that stella knows its fine?? and she does. she does. its just easier to feel what other people are feeling. easier to not feel what she’s feeling

so stella dates boys in high school sometimes, avoids romantic and sexual situations most of the times bc there’s also a lot of consent issues tied up with it all for her, like she’s always terrified that maybe the other person is only feeling what she’s feeling?? so they can’t rlly consent, or she’s terrified its the other way around, that she’s not rlly in control of her own feelings and wants and desires, that she’ll end up doing something she doesnt really want to do. she gets harassed for that a lot, how she’ll go out with a guy for a hot minute and then break up with him out of nowhere, just when he thinks they’re going to sleep together; maia beats up like. several assholes in high school for her (that stella only rlly finds out abt later)

and then the summer after high school?? stella works as a camp counselor and one of the other counselors is like. Attractive. rlly butterflies in ur stomach, heart in ur throat, burning up when she looks at you attractive and stella has no fucking idea what to do with these feelings like shit does this girl have a crush on her?? how is she gonna break it to her that she’s straight

surprise! stella’s not straight. in the slightest. she finds out when lo and behold, its six weeks into her internship and that’s usually around the time whatever feelings have a hold of her dwindle, disappear and she’s?? still????? feeling them????????

and stella’s like. hm. i should test this tiny lil baby theory i have and she asks this one other counselor if they know what Hot Counselor Girl’s deal is and they’re like?? she’s straight as an arrow babes, you’re barking up the wrong tree and stella’s like OH SHIT she’s not the source of these feelings then. that means they’re all mine. that means??? fuck what does that mean

she comes back for the last couple month before college starts and she’s so sad and hesitant and distant bc like?? there’s this whole part of her that she’s been ignoring, been repressing bc she didn’t want to address it. bc she was scared of what owning her feelings would mean. and her moms pick up on it, obviously bc they’re literally the Best, but stella wont come out (heh) with it so they have to draw their own conclusions and they kind of just figure she’s worried about starting college??? so they focus on that

so she goes to college, still working this out and then one night it feels too big, too much, and she just quietly calls for kara (who, like, is always listening for her kiddos. always always always) and she’s going to ncu so its not a long flight, she kind of just blinks and then her mom is slipping in through her open window and stella takes one look at her and just bursts into tears and kara’s like honey!!! whats going on, what hurts, do i need to kill someone and stella’s just like i need to go home and so kara flies them home and lena’s like abt to fall asleep on the couch, waiting up for kara, but wakes right the fuck up when suddenly she has a lapful of crying stella

and stella’s still crying when she asks when she and kara knew they liked girls and there’s this moment where kara and lena look at each other and kind of go oh, like everything makes a little more sense within this context?? so they tell her. lena tells her about her friend from childhood, skirts around the bad parts. kara talks about how it wasn’t a thing on krypton, it wasn’t until earth that she realized it was

and like they know where this is going?? its hard not to guess, what with the way stella’s sobbing, trying to keep quiet so she can hear what theyre saying, trying to match up her own timeline to that, trying to put all the pieces of her life that she’s collected together through this new, clearer lens. and finally lena’s like stella, love. do you like girls? and she nods, still crying, but its not bad, its just a lot?? she’s like. finally admitting it to herself. finally owning it and that’s like a Big Thing

she stays the night and the weekend bc her moms are like hey, you shouldnt be alone right now, just spend the weekend here okay? and stella’s like OKAY bc a) she rlly shouldnt be alone (when she gets overwhelmed, it’s rlly hard for her to be rational??) and b) she misses her moms ok

by sunday she can say it. and she does. she’s like idk how to look like a lesbian and lena gives her this look like are you actually serious or but then realizes stella’s absolutely joking, so she rolls her eyes, says they’ll go shopping for flannels next weekend

so stella came out to her moms in like the Most Dramatic way rlly and its kind of weird bc its not like coming out is even rlly a thing in her family, not with her gay as hell and bi as hell moms, her Lesbian Wine Aunts, the fact that like there’s like one straight person in the entire family (its one of alex and maggie’s kids and she jokes abt it all the time, is always kind of like i was waiting for my gay card to come in the mail but alas)??? like she doesnt have to rlly Come Out if she doesnt want to, she could just like bring home girlfriends and no one would blink but stella’s kind of worried she’ll never fall in love and be able to pursue it so its important that she make the statement separately?? have it be independent from her relationship status

she just tells finn the next time theyre face timing and he’s technically in the middle of studying for an exam but he drops everything to fly home and wrap her up into this big bearhug and stella’s just grinning bc it feels good to say??? its like. liberating and finn’s so happy for her, happy that she seems more fully herself, seems happier and smiles wider and he’s so proud of her??? he rlly is

and stella waits until maia’s home to tell her, feels like its something she should tell her in person and she figures that’s probably the right choice from the weird, soft look maia gives her, the rlly careful hug she pulls her into and the sneaky way she looks around before she says if you want, i can get you into the only decent lesbian club in national city and stella’s like um??? yes pls????? which is how the newest generation of danvers girls winds up singing karaoke at a lesbian club in the heart of the city at two am on a tuesday

she tells the rest of the family in one long sentence where she’s telling them about how college is going when its thanksgiving, like she literally says yeah, my stats class isnt terrible, i’m a lesbian, and like i think i want to take psychology next semester?? and everyone kind of surreptitiously looks at each like i heard that right, right? and then they all just move the fuck on, but for christmas, alex gives her a flannel and a beanie with a grin

so her family obviously reacts rlly well right??? well college is a different ball game

like most ppl give zero shits and her friends are all rlly supportive but there are these girls on her floor that complain to their ra and are like ummmmm we dont feel comfortable with a lesbian on the floor, like we shower here??? and their ra is rlly good, is basically like well go shower elsewhere if youre that concerned, or better yet, i can put in for a room transfer for you and tells stella to let her know if anyone from the floor ever fucks with her

no one else from the floor does (bc of her ra and also bc maia catches wind of what happened later and like. maybe paid a visit to these girls. and maybe explained that what happened to that boy from stella’s seminar?? for sure will happen to them if they so much as breathe in her baby sister’s direction)

and then theres that fateful incident in her seminar, like its before class starts and stella’s chilling on her phone, living her life and this one guy comes up to her and is like heavily flirting with her and she’s just about to deflect gracefully when this other guy from the other side of the room scoffs bro, don’t even bother, she’s a dyke and like the room goes fucking silent like everyone’s just like holy shit we knew he was a dudebro but we didnt know he was a DudeBro and stella just fucking stares at him like. what the actual fuck. she just legit doesnt know how to process it or what to do and the dude is like carrying on like nothings changed and then class starts and its not until that night that she like?? has a chance to unpack it/?? and she just sobs, like it’s awful

maia is comes to town the next day bc she’s interviewing for grad school at ncu and she and stella are supposed to grab brunch and stella’s calling to cancel just as maia’s coming up the stairs to her room and she opens the door and is like oh, right, okay i’m good, lets go and through all of brunch she’s like??? rlly withdrawn in a way that she never is unless something’s wrong and so maia pushes and prods and waits until finally stella quits poking at her pancakes and says this one dude just said something kind of shitty to me yesterday, its no big deal but like she’s rlly upset abt it right?? so it comes through to maia even as stella tries not to and maia sees the word, the slur in big ugly letters in her mind and then stellas starting to cry a little bit, begging dont tell moms, dont tell anyone, please maia, it’s fine and maia’s like ???? fuck that, he hurt you

but stella’s fully crying now, so maia doesnt say that, just hurries to box up their food and pay and then shuffle stella out of the restaurant

she tracks down one of stella’s friends the next day though, after her interview with the grad school admissions counselor is over and they take one look at her, ask you’re stella’s badass older sister?

yeah. wait does she really call me badass

and stella’s friend gives it up with no hesitation like fuck that guy right

maia beats the shit out of him tbh. like. obviously not that bad, and she made sure to take her supplement so that she’s not hitting with superstrength or anything, but stella is her baby sister and maia wont admit to this for a while but she would absolutely kill for stella, in a heartbeat, no questions asked. like?? she loves her so so much. and this guy made her cry, made her hurt, a hurt maia only got a taste of and maia remembers those awful weeks after she ended things with her Shitty Ex, when stella refused to leave her side, took on so much of her pain and suffering so that maia could sleep at night. so yeah. maia beats the shit out of him

#supergirl #supercorp #superbabies #kara danvers #lena luthor #theres like minor #homophobia cw #and one slur so ill tag it??#d slur #anonymous #human interaction

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