#his other part near the end is probably gonna be chris

[77ngiez-archive]

screaming and crying and clenching my teeth [trying extremely hard to make nana sing in russian]

[probablyoutyappingorsomething]

Summer Camp-C.S. Chapter 2

Warnings- cussing, making out (near the end)

Make sure you read part one! It’s gonna continue from there! Keep in mind this is my first series so it might be ass! Love u sm

xoxo-Val💋💋

I really couldn’t sleep last night, maybe I was homesick or maybe I was thinking about Chris, either way I had to get up at around 8, and eat breakfast in the dining hall. Before I left I put on some quick mascara I don’t care if anyone sees my under eyes or whatever, but they do not need to see these bare eyelashes. I’m not much of a breakfast (or morning) person, so I just had some toast and orange juice.

Then I saw him, he was sitting with the dickhead guys that were hitting on me last night, but fuck them they’re not getting any of this. I looked away even though I felt a little awkward for staring so long but who the hell cares? I scanned the dining hall, some guys there were cute in my eyes, I couldn’t help but sneak a few glances at Chris.

************************************** The day went by surprisingly fast, at around noon me and the same girls from last night (Jennifer, Rose and Anastasia) were all hanging out around the camp, I was wearing a camo tube top and some shorts, with a white bikini underneath just in case I wanted to go swimming again (this time probably with a swimsuit)

I noticed Chris was walking out way, he was alone, and stopped in front of me. “Wanna walk around with me?” He asked, looking me up and down, not being subtle about him checking me out what so ever. “yeah, yeah sure.” I said almost immediately, seeming a little eager.

Once they were out of earshot from anyone, and walking down some random path they found he started asking more questions, this guy was quite the yapper. “How did you sleep last night?” Chris asked as he kicked around a stone as they walked. “Uhm it wasn’t the best, I won’t lie, but I had a headache.” I lied, I most definitely didn’t have a headache unless it’s name was Chris, I seriously couldn’t stop thinking about him last night.

After a moment of comfortable silence he asked “So….uh…what’s your favorite number?” he was still kicking around the stone, I had the slight urge to pick it up and throw it at his head, but I resisted.

“Uh I’d have to say 7, and 182, what about yours?” I asked as we walked, he finally stopped kicking the stone, I looked back up at his fluffy long brunette hair, made me wanna run my hands through it-…oh my god what am I thinking, I was snapped back into reality when he said “Ehhh, I’d have to say 3, and 69.”

I let out a soft laugh, “What?! 3 and 69, why three?” I was genuinely curious now.

“Well 69 speaks for itself, but three cause I’m a triplet, the other two aren’t here this summer though.” Chris answered, running a hand through his hair. “You’re a triplet? That’s pretty cool, honestly, are you all three guys or-“

I was cut off by Chris nodding and saying, “Yeah, all three guys, there’s Matt and Nick, they’re like my absolute best friends, I miss them a lot right now.” he answered, and I noticed a slight blush or sunburn on his cheeks, and nose, whatever it was, it was pretty hot.

*************************************** We walked and talked for what felt like forever, it was soon lights out, and I feel like I honestly got to know him a lot. The information I gathered from him was that: he was from Boston, he had a dog named Trevor, he has three brothers, but I honestly can’t remember their names.

I got a few hours of sleep before I woke up at around three in the morning. I sat in bed for a minute before thinking of things I could do at three in the morning..that’s when I remember a previous conversation Chris and I had.

***************************************

“You play piano?” Chris asked as we walked around the camp.

“Yeah, I play why?” I asked, discretely taking in his facial features, his sharp jawline and cheekbones, his nose, the small freckles on his nose and his bright eyes.

“Well, next to the library, there’s a small auditorium with a piano in it, I’d go at night though that’s when no one is there. But be careful, it’s kinda loud.” He advised, noticing me taking in all his features.. “See something you like?”

“Shut up..” I said feeling a small blush on my face, so I looked down at the ground hoping he didn’t notice.

*************************************** I made my way to the auditorium, still a little groggy from only waking up around 10 minutes ago. Finally after what felt like ages I got to the small wooden auditorium, it wasn’t in terrible shape, it was lit from the moonlight peering in through the windows, and the light of my flashlight. I made my way to the stage, sitting at the stool that was in front of the piano. Before I played I checked if it was even in tune and to my surprise it sounded pretty good.

I started to play a song I memorized, my hands doing a familiar dance on the keys, my voice hitting the notes I needed, my voice was still a bit quiet in attempt not to get caught.

At the end of my performance, there was a slow clapping coming from the left side of the auditorium, I could only guess who it was…

“I was there the whole time, hope you don’t mind.” Chris said as he walked on the stage, and sat next to me.

“No- I don’t mind- I guess.” I said, my hands hovering over the piano, “No one was really supposed to eat that though.” I said softly as I brought my hands back to my sides.

“I won’t tell anyone, I promise.” Chris said with that same warm smile that made me wanna melt right then and there.

“Good…” I said, a pink blush on my face, hoping he couldn’t see it. He was weirdly giving me butterflies, maybe him being this close, maybe it was just him in general.

“Can I ask a question though?” Chris asked, as he fiddled with his hands seeming nervous, and I nodded my head wanting him to continue.

“Sorry if this is cringey or something but can I kiss you?” Chris asked, still fiddling but now looking down at me, I nodded, wanting nothing more than to kiss him. We both leaned in, our lips met, there was some kinda spark, I mean I’d kissed guys before but not like this. I tilted my head, deepening the kiss, he let out a soft groan as he softly parted my lips, our tongues doing a dance that came naturally.

There was a noise from outside the auditorium, I pulled away, looking out of the dimly lit windows. “What the hell was that?” I asked, a blush and flustered look on my face.

“I’m guessing a counselor.” He whispered, looking in the same direction as me. “Come on there’s another exit in the back.” Chris said as he grabbed my hand and leaded me to the exit. We walked out, it lead us into the woods, he walked til we were sure we couldn’t be seen.

“Where were we?” he asked as he put his hands on my hips, gently pinning me against a tree, he leaned in, and continued the kiss- well it was more making out now…

After a couple minutes I reluctantly pulled away. “Uhm, I think we should really get some sleep, I’ll see you tomorrow, goodnight Chris.” I started walking off after giving him a quick kiss. Walking back to my (most likely) empty cabin. Everyone around here was sneaking out, and most of the time no one found out.

“Goodnight, Y/N, see ya tomorrow.” Chris called after me as I kept walking with an idiotic grin on my face…wow, so it was true, I was falling for the guy at Summer Camp.

TYSM for reading, honestly idk how I feel about this one, lmk what you wanna see in the next part, or if you even want a next part😭. The Taras Little Sister fic will be posted soon, so stay tuned for that!!

xoxo- Val💋

Tags: @pussypie456 @hearts4werka @zariyam @c0metss

[dollivication]

Hihiiiii, this is gonna be long, i've got a rant AND an idea thingy. i've mentioned before not bein into anyone other than Wesker in Resident Evil buuuut I just watched Resident Evil: Vendetta and I GET THE HYPE, I ADMIT, I GET IT. LEON'S MODEL IS SO FINE. I'm guilty to say seeing him in the movie and the old games vs in RE2+4 Remake, I prefer this design. He's more rugged? LAIK I KNOW HE STARTS OFF AS A ROOKIE BUUUT THEY COULDA KEPT HIS LOOK I saw people speaking about the newer design for his character saying they gave him the 'dumbass pretty boy' look cuz it makes more sense for him as a rookie cop in 2 but man.... Rookies can look like anything so if that were the case for the change....eeeeeh.... Also unpopular opinion, I also prefer Louis' old design. I'M SORRY, HE DOES GIVE OFF THE CREEPY UNCLE VIBE IN THE REMAKES MODEL. ANYWAY, I hope you're doing well today, staying hydrated and fed! Gotta look after yourself above all else. To make this less of a rant, I shall be the first (I think) to make a Wesker scenario/idea thingy. Wesker is all about himself, right? It's a part I surprisingly love about him. BUT LAIK, if he deems you special enough to make you his 'pet', just know he's NEVER letting you leave him. He knows all, where you go, who you talk to, what you're doing, etc. And if you even think of trying to contact anyone (perhaps a certain STARS agent...) you can find yourself tied up by his Uroboros tentacles and used for hours until he's done with work and uses you himself. He's superior, he tells you that, and he'll fill you up with his cum, talk about giving you a 'purpose' , laik breeding you to have his obviously 'superior, god-like children' OOP- He's a feckin menace, I can imagine if you go to get help in person (he has eyes on you at all times, so ofc you can roam around but not for long if you keep creep round some rookie or CHRIS) you'll end up in a bloody puddle, not dead but certainly taught a lesson... ☉▵☉ JUST AN IDEA FROM A DEPRAVED WESKER FAN DON'T MIND MEEE Love ya, Dolly (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ -Nell 🍓

NELLLLLL HAI HAILLO HEY :3!!!! WHEN I SAW THIS I LIT UP I CANNOT LAI… it’s always a treat to hear from yu!!! ^.^ and oh my we have MUCH TO DISCUSS TAKE A SEAT MWAAA 🩷🩷🩷

VENDETTA LEON IS JUST A SKRUNKLE!!!! HE IS a sopping wet andgrumpy kity… AND NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT,, it would be interesting to see him laik dat in re2.. laik how could this stingy critter get even stingier… a leon miserable from the start would’ve been pretty funy methinks LMAO

you are SO right about luis’ old design you are voicing thoughts i am 2 shy to say.. laik his new design is great!! but there’s a certain peculiarity to his old wan that screams yucky weirdo uncle.. might be dat wack ass hair and outfit GIGGLING he looks laik a vampire too !!! they’re both in special parts of my heart…. 🩷

I AMMM DOING SPLENDID and oh my lordy lord i forgot to drink water today THANK you for the reminder LMHREKSLFG i promise that’s not usually like me.. I HOPE YOU ARE DOING THE SAME HOWEVER !!!!!! please take lots o care!!!! >.<

THE. THE WESKER SCENARIO. IM SAT.!!!!??? TENTACLES,, ESPECIALLY FROM UROBOROS,,, ARE THE WAY TO MY HEART …. THE SUPERIORITY COMPLEX. BY JOVE!!! he’s so narcissistic and he’d probably tell you to be thankful that he chose you to have his kids… anyone would die for a chance like that!! (he is NOT wrong HEL))

his freaky ass would probably even put a shock collar on you,… god forbid you do anything that’s remotely out of line! AND ESPECIALLY god forbid you go near chris he’ll actually tweak the fuck out … i want wesker to stab me and say it was my fault for pushing him i CANNOT lie.. laik yur rite king i’m sorryIMSO SANE IM SO SANY

nell i’m hugging yu so tightly rn this crumb of thought was yumy… i lauv wesker so badly….sighs dreamily💔💔💔

[heathneycanon]

td new cast ranking (spoilers)

hiii if you know me at all you know i loveeeee ranking things and i already made a tierlist but i'd love to give my detailed thoughts on the new cast. maybe to get them out of my system maybe to have more thoughts to develop later?? who knows. i've also already shifted around rankings so they're different from my tierlist bc as i wrote this my opinions changed and developed SDJFKD. but anyway. new cast ranking with explanations under the cut!!

16. Chase - I mean. It's Chase. His relationship with Emma is... not good! He is kind of the worst! However this does make him the tiniest bit funny . He's extremely pathetic and a misogynist and a bad boyfriend however. The undeniable fail energy is amusing. When he isn't winning. Like this man is at his best when he is absolutely failing, so Emma needs to break up with him. For her own sake, obviously, but also for Chase's failure energy to remain strong. He cannot get what he wants he needs to remain failing!!!

15. Caleb - There's nothing wrong with Caleb. Unfortunately there is also just. Nothing with Caleb, period. I'm fully expecting this to be rectified next season, but for now like... this man is not even a character. Nowhere else to rank him but here. Although this does go to show how much I like the cast LMAO because everyone above him is someone I have mostly positive feelings towards.

14. Nichelle - She was sooo funny I love how everyone (including the cast!) thought she was gonna be so good but then she turned out to be a girlfailure. We need more girlfailures in Total Drama and this season delivered!! We didn't see too much of her (and honestly?? She didn't stand out too much to me until her girlfailure tendencies were revealed which was right near the end lmao) but I fully believe she's gonna be GREAT next season. Especially with my suspicions that next season is going to be sort of similar to TDA, with fewer generally physical/Survivor-inspired challenges, and more entertainment industry related challenges. Idk she didn't give us very much but I do have hopes for her next season. Also her elimination was sooo Jerry's fault. I wonder if my season 2 predictions are right if Jerry might show up? I hope so. Get your revenge Nichelle!!

13. Emma - EMMA GET UP!!!!! Chase is not the love of your life he is not even the love of your week!!! Once again though, the loser tendencies are soooo strong in Emma. Idk I liked the haterism it was good. We need more of that and less of her and Chase. Break up with him!! She and Bowie were a fun duo while they lasted, I honestly love the way their designs really complimented each other? Probably my favorite version of Emma was during the pole challenge, like. Yessss get angry that was so fun. She did get back with Chase at the end of that but. Let's ignore all that. Idk she's just silly!! I think I'm getting repetitive at this point but I do want to leave this with the final thought that, once more, she NEEDS to break up with Chase. For his fail energies to remain intact, for her dignity and standards, and for me as the audience... leave that boy!! Kiss Nichelle or Julia instead I'm fully convinced Emma does not know girls are even an option and once she does it is OVER for Chase.

12. MK - I was expecting MK to be one of my favorites preseason and while she was not, I still liked her. I hope her parting words were foreshadowing and next season she makes a friend, because (as I've seen other people mention), she kind of... needs to have some sort of connections to be an interesting character? And the fact that she seems opposed to that makes any potential friendships next season even more interesting. I also love how she just has no respect for the intended rules of the game and Chris just... lets her do her thing. It is so funny. Like yesss hang out and control the shields. Watch all the confessionals with the phone you shouldn't have and also upload a video of Julia bullying a dinosaur. Honestly the lack of care Chris had surrounding phones in general this season (especially considering his initial show of confiscating what turned out to be like. A fraction of Julia's phones) was so funny. Sam and Dakota were watching from their couch fuming I just know it. Or maybe they were happy for the new generation. Who knows.

11. Zee - He's just fun! Like... chill guy. Was definitely high the whole season. I do maybe think he could've benefited from being around an episode or two less? Like he was good, but it wasn't like he was exactly getting any development or anything? He was kind of static character, which is fine, and he was a likable one for sure! But if he'd gone home two episodes sooner we wouldn't have had that . Nose scene. Which kinda makes me gag every time I think about it. Genuinely I don't think Total Drama has ever grossed me out more. Which is a feat. I need more of him and Ripper next season the whole bird scene with them was hilarious. Honestly, his dynamic with Chase was pretty funny too? Idk. Just a good dude! I also thought his different stories about losing his leg were great.

10. Millie - She wasn't really doing anything for me until the very end? I thought the concept of her character was kind of creative but I found her like... initial sort of... self-important deal kind of obnoxious? Her friendship with Priya was sweet but again, for the first half of it I found it kind of one-sided (on Priya's end) and so I wasn't loving her. Of course, at the end she became invested in the friendship, had her previous sort of... bad friend behavior revealed, and then was like... surprisingly vulnerable for Total Drama standards? Not unheard of, but not like... what I expected. And reconciled with Priya with everything out in the open. And that completely changed my feelings on the character (which had already been sort of slowly shifting). Overall, I still feel like she's one of my least favorites on the cast, but I still like her, and honestly, if I were to rewatch, she might be ranked higher. The fact that she admitted that she was only writing about everyone like that because it was easier to judge them than try to fit in was really good and rewatching those earlier scenes with that in mind might make me more sympathetic to her then? I do also really like a friendship between two people who haven't had friends before. So. Honestly I'm liking her more as I'm writing this. I really hope they do something good with this friendship next season. Also okay this is so funny when I wrote all this out she was number 14 and I keep moving her up one rank at a time. She's climbing.

9. Priya - PRIYA my friend Priya. Girls when they are normal and regular and have no problems whatsoever. You cannot expect me to be normal about someone who has grown up friendless making their first friend and immediately getting very attached. I absolutely loved her defending Millie in front of Chase that was when I knew I was gonna get attached to her character. Like... come on. I mentioned this in the Millie ranking but I kind of love how their friendship played out? Like in the moment as I was watching I wasn't sure I was loving it but after the fact? Yeah it's good. I like the way there was some tension but they actually communicated and resolved things. And of course there is Priya's whole Deal like. There is so much to unpack there. She has been training for Total Drama for her whole life for her parents and now she's done it!!! I hope season two sees her resolve to put her foot down and go to med school because like. I need her to have her happy ending.

8. Ripper - As I said in another post Ripper has unfortunately grown on me. Like mold. When they're not using him for grossout humor, Ripper is actually like... hilarious? The humor this season was honestly surprisingly good (again, barring the grossout jokes) and Ripper was like. Delivering. He is so pathetic and we all know I find that a wonderful trait for a character to have. Like... "So you're not gonna see me cry! I'll wait until I get home." like that is so 😭😭 honestly it's the delivery half the time. As the season went on I liked him more and honestly I liked how he tried to help Millie win back Priya? Idk. I was annoyed with his team for booting people I liked more instead of him like. Three times. But I like him now. He's just a silly loser guy. He's also bi but I'm not sure he knows it yet.

7. Bowie - GUYS. I was never in the camp that thought Fresh was gonna write the gay characters abysmally, I had a little bit of faith, but they really exceeded my expectations. Bowie was SO fun. The perfect reality TV villain honestly- having fun with it! His alliance with Emma was good, but IMO the highlights were obviously the Julia rivalry/fake alliance (rivalliance??) and RAJBOW. I wish we got to see more of Bowie and Julia because that dynamic was amazing, and I hope they continue to interact next season, and then of course his relationship with Raj was just. Really good. If Emchase was the price we had to pay to get Rajbow... then it was worth it. Like they were so good?? Raj's little crush?? The mouth guard??? The poem????? I do think it's a little unfortunate that they had their first kiss in a pool of tapioca pudding but this is Total Drama we're talking about. And they didn't seem to mind. Very excited to see what they do with their relationship next season. Back to Bowie on his own, I was talking about how funny Ripper was at times and Bowie was also one of the absolute funniest characters this season. As I've mentioned before I love haterism and Bowie has it in the most fun ways possible. Sometimes he would say exactly what I was thinking as I watched a scene. Top tier Total Drama confessionalist. The majority of the best confessionals this season had to have come from him. I love his scheming I love his humor I love his strategy and I love his relationships like... that is a good TD character right there!

6. Damien - I feel like he's gonna win next season. I'm not sure whether that's a genuine prediction, or whether I'm simply manifesting, but... come on! He was just fun! He wasn't a standout at first, but pretty quickly he became one of my favorites (and was promptly voted off </3) like. First of all. He was the first one to call Scary Girl Scary Girl so I have him to thank for that amazing name. Second of all, he's just... sweet! I loved the little hints of Damien/Priya we got this season, I'm definitely here for that relationship if they choose to make it canon in the next season. The Damien and Scary Girl dynamic was also absolute gold like yesss chase him around on a jackhammer. Anyway now he's actually gonna try to play the game, and I'd love to see him do well! He's got like... such a fun energy and enthusiasm. He's truly got "just some guy" energy which is wonderful. We need more "just some guy"s. I just think he's neat!

5. Raj - Top 5 time lets go... technically he is tied with the next entry (do not separate) but I didn't want to mess up the format so. Raj! I've talked about Rajbow already but let me reiterate: Rajbow good. Raj's crush was so sweet and I really enjoyed watching those two get together! But talking about something I haven't talked about yet... Raj and Wayne! Their friendship was SO good my god... I loved their incomprehensible (to me) hockey talk. I loved the genuine love and support between the two. I LOVED the joint medevac like SDJFL it would be wrong to send one home without the other... I hope if they're eliminated next season they go out in a double elimination or something... Idk both of their energy this season was just fun!

4. Wayne - Once again, tied with Raj, and I said most of what I wanted to say about Wayne already? But I do think the excitement he had surrounding Raj coming out to him was so good. You may think you're Rajbow's biggest fan, but nobody is a bigger fan of Rajbow than Wayne.

3. Julia - She just. She just got better and better as the season went on. She was already kind of funny with her influencer speak but when she got hashtag cancelled for BULLYING A DINOSAUR she became so much better. I've already mentioned how much I love her rivalry with Bowie so I won't talk about that too much. I will say I loved that one moment when they both fully judged Emma and Chase's relationship as well as their joint confessional like the rivalry was good but I need these two actually aligning even more. I also think she and Emma should kiss or something. I hope she sticks around for a while next season even though she went pretty far this season like... I need her to make the merge at least. LOVED her challenge beast tendencies, winning all those clutch immunities... What a character. Top tier TD antagonist, or at least close to it.

2. Axel - Yes I got attached to the second boot. What can I say she's coming to win next season trust! Idk you cannot show me a zombie apocalypse prepper character (who is clearly gay) and not expect her to be my favorite. Loved when she pushed Ripper off the boat. Love when she bit Ripper's hand. Love when she killed a bunch of squirrels and cooked them for her team like that's a team player right there!! Not to peddle the ScaryAxel agenda toooo hard but. I need to see them align next season like girl who is really into horror and girl who is really into survival/zombie apocalypse stuff? And they both bit Ripper and will eat cooked squirrel together? Ummmm that's couple goals. Honestly I want to see more of the Axel and Ripper rivalry too. Honestly just wanna see more Axel she rocks

1. Scary Girl - Surprising nobody. I know she's like... kind of a gimmick character which I've historically not totally loved but... she's so good. The voice acting (as others have mentioned) does a LOT for her like props to the VA, she really makes the character. The animation in general this season was a major improvement but it definitely helps Scary Girl as a character too. She had a great dynamic with Damien for what little time she was there, I've mentioned the potential of ScaryAxel already, and. Tell me you don't see how Scary Ripper could be one of thee funniest dynamics ever. The dynamic is called Scary Ripper and one of their key interactions was her trying to bite him. Do not get me started on Scary Axe Ripper like the name itself is just too much fun and BOTH of them have tried to bite him (one succeeded). She got voted out because she wanted to make sure the skull she needed to bring to Chris looked presentable and she just. Did the skull's hair and makeup to match hers. And then kept the skull when she was voted out and brought it with her to the finale. I hope the skull is also in season two. Scary Girl is the Total Drama character of all time.

[saintsofwarding]

EMBRYO

Chapter 15: Epilogue

A few minutes before her bus was scheduled to reach its stop, Rose gave Sam a call.

She picked up.

"Rose?"

"Hey, Sam," Rose said. She leaned the side of her head against the cool glass, watching the small town roll by. Illuminated windows cast panes of amber over the snow, and Christmas lights hung from fences and around doors, colors bright against a darkening sky. Even in the dead of winter, this place had a cozy feel, trapped in time.

"Where are you?" Sam asked. "Are you okay? Those people in the suits, they...they told me you wouldn't be able to talk to me anymore, that...that I shouldn't try and contact you..."

"Yeah. Technically I shouldn't be calling you at all. I just wanted-" She cut off with a sigh. "I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. And that...I wish it had all worked out differently."

Sam was silent on the other end of the line.

"You still there?" Rose asked.

"Yeah. I'm...just thinking."

"About what?"

"The same thing."

Rose smiled a little. She shifted on the bus seat, adjusting the strap that hung crosswise over her body. "What are you doing?"

"We're gonna go to this ice-skating thing they put on every year. Me, and dad, and...and my mom." She paused. "She's doing better."

"That's wonderful, Sam."

"It is. I wish you could be here. Meet them." She paused again. "Maybe...someday..."

"I actually have all these records I wanted to ask if you would listen to with me."

"No way. Records? Get out."

She sounded so unenthusiastic Rose snorted. The bus driver glanced back at her; she was the only passenger on the bus, a girl with blonde hair now bobbed to her shoulders, dressed all in black, something that might have been a lacrosse stick in a sheath over one shoulder. It wasn't a lacrosse stick. Rose fixed her attention on the snow flurries outside.

"We don't have to do that," she said, allowing herself to luxuriate, for a moment, in the fantasy. "It probably won't be cold enough to ice-skate once I get back, so...roller skating?"

"I totally suck at roller skating, heads up."

"Well, I've never been at all, so you've got that on me."

The automated voice called out her stop. Sam must have heard it over the phone. "Got to go," she said, softly.

"Yeah."

"Take care of yourself, Rose."

This time, her smile felt true. "Always."

Sam hung up. Rose listened to the silence.

The bus drew to a halt. She swung out and onto the icy pavement, waited for the bus to shudder along, then dropped the burner phone to the ground and crushed it under her heel. With a glance at the darkening sky, she began up the path, toward the cemetery gates.

It spread before her, blanketed in snow, in deep-blue shadow. Gravestones stood like dark smudges against the snow, trees creaking in the light breeze, in the flurries of snow that gusted each time the wind blew.

Rose moved through the cemetery with her hands in her pockets, her chin in her scarf, headed for the lonely tree atop a small hill near the place's center.

The grave beneath it wasn't ostentatious. No grand mausoleum, no monument. Just a slab of dark granite, a little carved scrollwork at the corners, and an inscription.

In loving memory of

ETHAN WINTERS

a kind husband and loving father

who put family before all else.

"I know you did, Dad," Rose whispered. "Thank you."

No one was buried here. According to Chris, the grave was empty. The last he'd seen of Ethan Winters was his back at a distance as he faced down Miranda and the Black God, as he set off the explosion that ended them all. Whatever remained of him, whatever remnant, crystalized corpse or bones or dust, was still there, in that mountain village, where all of this began.

Where she began.

Part of her, at least.

Was she Rosemary Winters? Had she ever been? She lifted her hand, snowflakes drifting into her pale palm. All consciousness within the Black God, combined. A dead girl, a girl made to be a monster, a girl born to be a god, and her. Maybe Ethan Winters had never truly saved his daughter at all.

Her hand curled into a fist.

Maybe it didn't matter.

Now, she reached to her back and grasped the hilt of the sword sheathed there.

After the docks, after Chris had worked out the situation with the backup the BSAA had sent, once the last remains of the Embryo were destroyed, he'd taken Rose to an evidence lockup and showed her everything they'd pulled off Heisenberg when they took him into custody. There was the Tickle Stick, of course, now oozing oil. A clutter of spare machine parts, pocket knives, and cigar stubs, the kind of junk he took around everywhere. A tiny brass compass on a chain. And a hammer.

Massive, welded together from scrap metal, too heavy even to lift unless you happened to be able to cancel out its weight with magnetism. Rose recognized it, of course; Heisenberg had brought it with him from the apartment.

"He had something of a penchant for these," Chris had explained, with a hint of bewilderment. "It's yours, now. If you, uh, want it."

Rose touched the edge of a gear, traced the snarl of wires and cables that attached the massive head to the handle. The places where his finger marks had worn divots into the handle was almost too much. Looking at them, mere hours after she'd last seen Heisenberg seemingly consumed in an explosion, was painful as a finger in a bullet wound. Was he still in one piece? Had her mother put him into crystalline stasis, like Rose had once been put into, a dreaming state somewhere between life and death?

Either way. She ran her hands over the divots in the wood, as if, somewhere, he might know she wasn't gonna give up.

"Kinda ostentatious, don't you think?" she said, keeping her voice steady as best she could.

Chris had shrugged. "Seems to me that was his style."

He was gonna be so mad at her when he saw what she'd done to his hammer. Rose figured she'd be able to handle it when the time came. They had a mutually-agreed-upon ass-kicking appointment, after all.

Now, she drew the sword. It gleamed darkly in the fading winter light: a massive blade forged from the hammer's scrap, its hilt a twisted thing made of cables and gears and a tiny brass compass, handle molded perfectly to her palm.

She swung it round and plunged it point-down into the earth over Ethan's grave, then knelt, her hands clasped around the sword's hilt.

"I'll fix this," she vowed. She pressed her forehead to the flat of the blade. "This whole mess."

It wouldn't keep going forever. The fear. The vengeance. The grief that had driven Mia Winters to do such terrible things, all in the name of family. Cycles of rage, cycles of pain. It had to come to an end. It wasn't Rose's fault to make right, but she'd make it right anyway. For the people she loved. For the dead.

For herself, and the life she knew was possible, somewhere on the other side.

She had a plan, her and Chris. The beginnings of one, anyway. Mad, maybe. Dangerous, almost certainly. Would it work? She doubted it.

Would she still try?

Until her heart stopped beating.

The sound of engines traveled to her through the still, snowy air. Slowly, Rose stood. She withdrew the swordpoint as footsteps crunched through the graveyard, approaching her.

"That is so dramatic," Chris said.

"Yeah, well. I was raised by the most overdramatic showman in Europe, so. It's kind of my lot in life."

Chris joined her before Ethan's grave. Silent for a long moment, he contemplated the stone, the inscription.

Then, "You shouldn't have left."

"I know. I had to see this place."

"Yeah, I get it." He paused. "You ready for what comes next?"

"Are you?" Rose said.

A smile split Chris's chiseled features. "He'd be so proud of you," he said, nodding at Ethan's grave.

Rose nudged him, lightly, with her elbow. "I think he would be of you, too."

"Then let's do this."

"Okay." Rose nodded. "Let's go get our monsters back."

She made a promise, then, deep inside herself. She'd find Heisenberg. She'd find her mother. And when the fight began in earnest, everyone standing in her way would see why even Miranda was afraid of her.

Then-

She'd show them all what she was really made of.

***

[sluttywonwoo]

no nut november — felix (loser #6)

pairing: lee felix x fem!reader

warnings: swearing, special guest appearance, jealousy, smut (18+), fwb, protected sex, hard(ish) dom!felix, spit kink, choking, multiple orgasms, orgasm control

a/n: part of @gimmeurtmi and i’s collab <3

word count: 3.6k

series masterlist

No one had expected Felix to last this long, least of all Felix himself. When he woke up to Chan’s text saying he lost, he almost couldn’t believe it. Bang Chan was one of the most competitive members of the group. He honestly thought Chris would have had a little more control. 

But Chan’s loss left Felix in the final three, which felt like a big deal. Felix considers himself to be competitive as well, even though he isn’t particularly good at games. He isn’t particularly good at not cumming either, so it’s a miracle that he hasn’t yet. He hadn’t put much stake in the bet at the beginning since he didn’t think he had any chance at winning, anyway, but as more members dropped out and the finish line crept closer, he began to take it more seriously.

He’d even been so careless to have tried to have sex with you at the beginning of the month, convincing himself he could last through it, before pulling out a couple minutes in with a frantic “no no no no no!” 

Felix hasn’t taken any risks since then. 

You’ve been completely understanding about it, to his relief, and haven’t stopped hanging out with him even though you know you won’t be getting laid like you usually would. That type of behavior is obviously expected from a girlfriend, but you’re not his girlfriend even though he treats you like one and talks about you to the guys as if you are. They all know it’s not official and if Felix refers to you as “his girl” without actually making you his girl one more time, he’s convinced Chan’s gonna slap him. He’d deserve it, to be fair. He’s a coward and he knows it. 

You’re not dating, you’re simply friends with benefits and he likes it like that- at least that’s what he tells himself. It takes the pressure off. Even though you’re not exclusive, he’s not fucking anyone else. You are kind of his person in his mind but he would never admit that out loud. He loves spending time with you and going on dates with you and waking up next to you, but at the end of the day he’s a bit of a commitmentphobe. So what if it’s a shitty excuse? He just doesn’t want to fuck up what you guys have going on and lose you completely. Maybe one day he’ll get the balls to have that talk with you, but for now he’s content with the dynamic you already have, that is until the last week of November.

The end of the month is just around the corner and victory is so close he can taste it. He’s been doing so well, resisting the urge to touch you whenever he’s near you. You’re over a lot these days, which he loves but also hates because of how hard you make everything, literally. 

 You’re in his bed today, dangerous territory already, but Minho and Seungmin were occupying the living space so you had no choice but to hang out in his room. Somehow you’d ended up tangled together beneath his sheets, making out and desperately grabbing at each other. Felix feels you grind into him, feels himself getting harder in response, and realizes he won’t be able to stop if you keep going like this. He’s so tempted to just say fuck it and throw caution to the wind, but he’s so close to winning that he knows he’ll never forgive himself if he gives in now.

Felix forces himself to pull back, breaking the kiss. “We should... probably stop,” he says breathlessly, hating himself for ruining the mood.

You take a moment to process and then push yourself away from him, nodding. “Oh, right. I totally forgot about the bet, I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it’s okay. I’m sorry that we haven’t been able to- that I haven’t been able to you know.”

“Lix, how many times have I told you it’s not a big deal?”

“It’s not fair to you, though. I hate leaving you hanging when you’re horny.” And you seem really horny. You were all up on Felix a few seconds ago, already whimpering into his mouth and tugging at the buttons on his shirt.

You scoff. “It’s not like I’m going to die if I don’t get some dick in the next hour.”

“You’re all worked up now, though, and-” 

“I promise you, Felix, it’s fine. I’ll just call Wooyoung to pick me up in like thirty minutes.”

Felix nods before he processes what you’ve said, then it clicks and he whips his head back up to look at you. “Wooyoung? Jung Wooyoung?”

“Mhm.”

“Why would he pick you up when I can just take you back home myself-”

“Lix, he wouldn’t be taking me home...” you trail off a little uncomfortably. 

“What, are you guys like fucking or something?”

It’s supposed to be a joke, a suggestion so outlandish that it would break the tension but you don’t laugh. Felix panics. 

“Wait, seriously?”

You sit up and cross your arms over your chest. “I mean, not as often as you and I but yeah... we hang out sometimes.”

“And by ‘hang out’, you mean his dick hangs out inside of you?”

“Lee Felix!”

“Sorry! It’s just... this is news to me, that’s all.”

That’s not all, and Felix is afraid you can see right through him but he tries to brush it off anyway. 

“Are you okay?” you ask tentatively, reaching for him. 

He jerks away from you out of instinct and immediately regrets it. This is not a good look for him and he knows it. He huffs out a breath and takes your hand in apology, squeezing in reassurance. 

“Lix... is this going to be a problem?”

“N-no, no it won’t be,” he lies. “Just, will you stay a little longer tonight?”

You soften. “Yeah, of course.”

Felix shifts on the bed and pulls you in close, playing with your hair as you nestle yourself into his side. He thinks back to the last time he saw Wooyoung. It was at some stupid after party for The Fact Awards, just over a month ago. You were Felix’s date, he’d gone to get you both a flute of champagne from the table of refreshments, and when he came back, you were in the middle of conversation with Wooyoung. 

Felix didn’t even know you knew each other. If he had, he would have invited you to more of their Strayteez hangouts- any excuse to spend more time with you, honestly. 

He approached the two of you and presented you with your drink, placing his newly free hand on the small of your back as he sipped from his glass. 

“Felix!” Wooyoung exclaimed and pulled the younger man in for a hug. Felix nearly spilled his champagne down Wooyoung’s back but managed to hold it just out of the way so that only a little bit splashed out onto the floor. 

When Wooyoung finally released him, Felix looked between the two of you, trying to connect the dots. 

“So how do you guys know each other?” he asked. 

You just exchanged looks with Wooyoung and chuckled awkwardly, something Felix hadn’t caught on to at the time.

 He feels like an idiot looking back on it. Wooyoung had known this whole time that they were both sleeping with you and never thought to mention it. It was technically none of Felix’s business, but he couldn’t help feeling betrayed by his friend. And Changbin! He was even better friends with Wooyoung than Felix was. He had to have known you were hooking up and also managed to neglect sharing that important piece of information. He would be having words with that man whenever you left and he got back from his girlfriend’s house. 

“I’m sorry for not telling you,” you whisper all of the sudden, breaking the silence. “I just didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I know you can be sensitive about these things so-”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Felix blurts out. 

“But-”

“We’re not exclusive or anything and we agreed on that. As long as you’re being safe with him...”

You nod. “You don’t have to worry about that. We use condoms, just like us. No one’s getting an STI.”

Felix hums thoughtfully. He’s honestly relieved that you aren’t letting Wooyoung fuck you raw, not because he’s worried about protection even though that is a concern, but moreso because it would imply you like him more or you’re more serious about him than you are about Felix. It’s a petty victory but a victory nonetheless. 

He wraps his arms around you and kisses the top of your head, enjoying the feeling of having you close. It’s not a very ‘friends with benefits’ thing to do so he hopes you don’t mind, but you don’t move away from him which he takes as a good sign.

“Don’t go to his place tonight,” Felix murmurs into your hair. “Let- let me take care of you instead.”

You stiffen in his arms. “But... the bet.”

“I don’t fucking care,” he rasps. 

You turn a little more so that you can face him. “Felix, I’ll stay. We don’t have to have sex.”

“I want to,” he insists. “Unless you don’t?”

“No, I want to,” you assure him. 

“Are you sure? You’re not just saying that?”

“Positive. I was all over you not even ten minutes ago, remember?”

Felix grins. “I remember, I remember. But things can change, you know?”

“You’re sweet,” you say, kissing the corner of his mouth like you were rewarding him for it. 

“I try.”

“So how do you want me?” you ask. 

He takes a moment to think about it. “Um, want me on top?”

“Mhm that sounds good.”

“Yeah? You like just laying there and looking pretty? Like me taking control?”

The change in his demeanor makes you whimper, stroking Felix’s ego significantly. He pushes the blankets off of your bodies and rolls on top of you, taking your chin in his hand so that he can force you to look up at him. 

You arch to kiss him but he dodges you, smirking and still holding your jaw in place. You pout and try to turn your head to the side to break out of his grasp but he manages to keep his grip, surprising you both. Felix isn’t weak, but it’s usually pretty easy for you to overpower him. When you realize you can’t this time you stop trying, relaxing back into the mattress with a sigh of annoyance.

“Look at me.”

You do, eyes wide and eager. He spreads his fingers until his thumb is resting on one of your cheeks and the rest of his fingers are splayed out across the other, squeezing your face gently to get you to open your mouth. 

“C’mon, baby. A little wider.” You obey easily and Felix spits into your mouth. “Swallow. Good girl.”

He’s quick to undress you both so that he can get his head between your legs, needing to taste you after going so long without having you on his tongue. You’re wetter than he expected and he can’t stop himself from groaning at the sight. 

“God, baby, making a mess already. Gonna have to change my sheets after this.”

His comment makes you shrink into yourself in embarrassment. “You have no one to blame but yourself for that.”

Felix grins. “I know.” 

He makes you cum with his tongue and his fingers twice, feeling a little like he has something to prove after learning that he has competition. He wants to go for another, but his cock is aching at this point and he’s worried he’ll cum his pants before he gets to fuck you if he does. 

“Still okay?” he asks, checking in. 

“Perfect,” you respond. “You’re so good at that.”

Better than him? Felix wants to ask, but he doesn’t. He’s not entirely sure he wants the answer to the question, not entirely sure he’ll believe you if you tell him what he wants to hear. 

“Are you good to keep going?”

“Yes, please fuck me already.”

Felix chuckles. “Always so impatient.”

“You would be too if you knew how good your dick is.”

He curses, dick twitching. “You always know just what to say, don’t you?”

“I try,” you parrot. 

Felix gets up on his knees and reaches over to his bedside table. He opens the first drawer and pulls out a condom, bringing the foil packet to his teeth to rip it open when you suddenly reach out to stop him. 

“Let me?” you ask. 

“Yeah, baby. Go ahead.”

He hands it to you and watches as you do the same thing he was about to. You take the condom out of the wrapper and hand the trash back to Felix. He scoffs but accepts it anyway and tosses it in the bin that was easily within your reach without complaint. 

You pull his boxers down just below his butt, just enough to get his cock out, and roll on the condom, jerking him a few times before you do. You’ve never done this for him before and it all feels very intimate. His breath catches in his throat when you touch him for the first time and he shudders. He makes himself stay very still as you work. One wrong move and he’ll cum all over your hand and ruin everything. 

He’s in awe of how careful you are with it. You gently guide the material down his length, making sure that the elastic doesn’t accidentally pinch him in the process.

“That feel okay?” you ask once it’s on all the way. 

“Mhm. Now come here.” 

He hooks his hands under your thighs and pulls, yanking you forward and making your head fall back onto the pillow. Once your body is flush with his, he positions himself and guides his cock inside of you, holding his breath yet again as his name falls from your lips in a strained whisper.

God, this was a mistake. He’s going to embarrass himself, isn’t he? Why did he think this was a good idea? Why did he let his jealousy color his judgment? It wasn’t even about the bet anymore. He already knew he wouldn’t last when he decided to fuck you. He wasn’t that naive. 

No, it was the fact that his pride was on the line and it’s taking all of his strength and willpower not to cum on the spot. It’s been weeks since he’s felt you, felt anything for that matter, obviously it was going to feel incredible. 

Felix always cums faster than he wants to when he’s with you. The (literal) grip your pussy has on him is ridiculous. Does Wooyoung have this problem? Honestly, probably. Felix likes to think that anyone in his position would struggle.

“Fuck, fuck, don’t move,” Felix pleads. “Just. Stay like that. One second.”

You start to nod before remembering what ‘don’t move’ means and then freeze in place, mild concern replacing the lust reflected in your eyes.

“I’m fine,” he grunts out and closes his eyes, willing the feeling to pass. 

“Are you sure?”

“I’m s-sure.”

He can tell you don’t believe him but you don’t press any further which he’s thankful for. You wait patiently for him to recompose himself and when he finally does, he asks you if he’s good to start moving. 

“Yeah, give it to me.”

“Careful what you ask for.”

You roll your eyes and wrap your legs around his waist, forcing him deeper inside of you with a smirk. Brat. 

“Behave,” he warns.

“Or what?” you challenge, raising your eyebrows. 

“Do you really want to go there?” 

You shrug indifferently. “Haven’t decided. Now, are you going to fuck me or what?”

He has to cover your mouth with his hand when he starts snapping his hips into yours, forgetting about how loud you get when you’re this worked up. 

“Baby, we’re not home alone, you have to be quiet,” he hisses, even though he’d much rather hear all your pretty sounds. 

“Feels too good,” you whine. “Fuck me harder, Lix! Please, harder...”

“Harder? Gonna break you in half if I go any harder.”

“Yes, yes, break me in half,” you sob. “It’s been so long. Missed this so much.”

“Will you be good and stay quiet for me if I give you what you want?”

You nod. “I can be good.”

“Are you lying?”

You hesitate. “Maybe.”

Felix laughs coldly and shakes his head in disbelief.

“But not because I don’t want to be good!” you protest. “I just can’t help it.”

“I know, baby,” he coos condescendingly. “Can’t even think straight when you’re so fucked out like this, isn’t that right?”

“Uh-huh.”

The change in dynamic is almost comical. Mere minutes ago, Felix could barely move without cumming, too lost in the feeling of your hot cunt to concentrate. Now, you’re the one gasping for air and clawing at his back like an animal. Even Felix is surprised by the amount of self-control he’s exerting. He’s using it to his advantage though, taking the opportunity to thoroughly ruin you like you deserve. 

Even if you’re completely silent, the sounds coming from Felix’s room are obscene and anyone that walks by would immediately know what you were up to. Seungmin or Minho had probably already texted the groupchat announcing Felix’s loss but he didn’t care. All he wanted was to make you feel better than Wooyoung ever could. 

“Does he fuck you like this? Huh?” Felix is wandering into dangerous territory, he knows, but he can’t help asking. He needs to know. “Does he make you feel this good? Cum this hard?”

“No!” you cry. “No, he doesn’t!”

“Be honest,” he growls, wrapping his hand around your throat. He only applies a little pressure, just enough to make you lightheaded the way you like. 

“I am! I’m being honest, I promise.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Lix, ‘m gonna... gonna cum,” you whine. 

“Who told you you could do that?” 

Your eyes get wide at his response, bottom lip trembling. “What?”

“Who gave you permission to cum?” Felix demands. He’s right there on the edge himself so he doesn’t really know why he’s dragging it out, but he just wants to see you squirm a little more. 

Thankfully, you’re quick to adapt to the new rules. “Can I? Can I please cum? I need it, baby. Please make me cum... please tell me I can. I’m not gonna be able to stop myself if you don’t...” 

The desperation in your eyes does something for him, and knowing he can’t hold back any longer, he relents. “Go ahead. Be a good girl and cum for me, baby.”

He’s only halfway through the sentence when your body locks up and you scream his name, gushing around his cock. If he’d waited any longer you wouldn’t have been able to obey him. He helps you ride it out by rubbing your clit and fucking you through it, letting his own orgasm wasm over him as you’re still clenching around him. 

“Oh god, I’m cumming. I’m cumming, fuck!” he groans, making a last ditch effort to stop it before it happens. But his efforts are in vain because it’s too late and he’s cumming into the condom so hard his vision whites out.

When he starts to come down, you’re still weakly rocking your hips into his, whimpering with every thrust. 

Felix winces at the oversensitivity but doesn’t stop you. With how long it’s been since he last got off it won’t be long until he’s hard again. 

“Insatiable tonight, aren’t you?” he muses. “Came three times and still want more.”

You frown and try to get yourself to stop without much success. It’s like your hips are moving on their own accord. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be. Want you to be satisfied.”

“God, you’re so good to me,” you moan and wrap your arms around Felix’s neck, making his chest feel tight all of the sudden. 

“It’s what you deserve.”

He doesn’t have enough energy to hold himself up above you properly so he has you roll over onto your side so that he can slip himself inside of you and you can fuck yourself back against him that way. 

While you’re doing that, Felix feels around the bed for his phone, grabbing it when he feels it under one of his pillows. 

Like he predicted, he doesn’t even have to announce his loss because his roommates did it for him. 

Min: Felix lost

Chris: what? how do you know?

Seungmin: we heard it happening :/

Min: and we’re traumatized

Innie: thank god i wasn’t home

Felix: you guys could have LEFT. you didn’t HAVE to listen!!!! btw changbin i need to talk to you

Min: oh no not his government name. someone’s in troubleeee

Binnie: um. 0.0 should i be worried 

Felix doesn’t respond right away, wanting to make Changbin sweat a little for the trouble he’d put him through. 

He puts his phone on his bedside table so he doesn’t lose it in his bedding again and turns his attention back to you. The oversensitivity had started to bleed together with pleasure and Felix could feel his cock getting stiff again. He groans and buries his face in your shoulder, inhaling the scent of your shampoo. 

There was still a lot to talk about with you. He needed to address his feelings, be honest about everything. But for now...

“Round two?”

nnn tags: @doesthismeannothingtoyou @yellowroses-world @allyoops @thelostverse @karlitaburrito @lydataylorsversion @septemberkisses @caticorn61 @multifandomtrash-dree @cixrosie @mchslut @cutiequokka @fairygemss @multistancheck @lady—-boner @stay-bi @compersian @raspbinniecreme @skzgallll @strawberriesandknives @laylasbunbunny @goddessofhiddenpleasures @brit97 @jonaticdragon @linobuns @vampcharxter

[harcove]

you uh. wouldn't mind an angst request would you haha because I have had this one scenario stuck in my head where leon (probably resi 6 leon) has been drinking a lot more and has been neglecting his s/o and they finally call him out on his shit

anyway ooga booga they fight and decide it's best they give leon his space and take a break and maybe he finds them at a bar he goes to to get wasted to already find them drunk off their ass

Angst is absolutely one of my most favourite things to write and to read like damn I do be out here making myself CRY. So I definitely don't mind angst like hell yeah!

I was gonna end this was a happier note- but uh, I really love angst so I left it semi-open ended but also pretty sad I think. Also not really dialogue-heavy, more like... I write too much detail-heavy :,) Also this isn't edited, I spent days on this cause I was overthinking it and felt it was just not good so oof I'm sorry!

Length: 2k

Request: in the ask

Warnings: angst, drinking, lowkey it's alcoholism on Leon's part, being drunk

Leon x Reader - "I know."

How long had it been since you had held your boyfriend's hand? Since the two of you had really sat together and done something together, fully, completely, involved, and focused on one another. You didn't even remember, which was agonizing to think about.

You had been through so much with Leon. And you knew where his deepest thought lay, but you could never truly know. And it didn't help that over the years the two of you had together, he had started to become more distant. And instead of finding his comfort in your arms, he found it in some glass bottle.

At first, you didn't really protest much, you didn't say much about it. A drink every once in a while couldn't hurt. Yet, it wasn't every once in a while. It was more often than you'd have liked. And he was using it to forget. To focus on anything else but his life and his memories. Your soft words trying to talk to him didn't do much to stop him or dissuade him. He brushed you off more often than not. It tore you up from the inside out that you couldn't help him, that at some point a bottle was his chosen form of comfort over you.

The guilt mixed with sadness, and then with anger. And in the end, those feelings came together and created an explosion between the two of you one night.

Your throat was hoarse as you swallowed as much air as you could. You couldn't exactly remember what the argument stemmed from but you knew it had to be related to him drinking.

"Will you just listen to me?!" You shouted, the words coming out uneven as your throat begged you to stop, "put that shit down Leon, and look at me!"

The man sitting at the aisle in your kitchen put the flask he had down in front of him, but still had his hands on it. He turned his head to look at you, barely even moving at all, and his eyes were looking at you like he was unimpressed or annoyed.

"I'm listening."

You wanted to pull on your hair and scream because he wasn't. He wasn't listening, and he hadn't been, at least not for a while.

"No you aren't, you are not listening to a word I say, you never do!"

He scoffed, turning back to his drink and taking another sip.

"Where am I going on Friday?"

"What?" He looked at you incredulously, completely lost as your voice went from yelling at him to speaking relatively peacefully, but there was no peace in your voice.

"I said, where am I going on Friday, Leon," you repeated with clenched fists, "if you listen to me if you even bother to pay attention to me, you would know the answer. So where am I going on Friday?"

The silence was your answer, as you expected it to be, you just hadn't expected it to be so painful.

"I'm going to visit my family in the town over," your voice was low and tired, and you wanted to cry but you couldn't even find it in you to do that, "I told you that a thousand times Leon I..."

Biting your lip hard, you felt yourself break skin, and the metallic taste of blood invaded your taste buds. You were so angry at him moments before, angry enough you had been yelling. But suddenly you weren't angry anymore. You were just so sad; sad for yourself and sad for him. He wasn't going to listen to you, not right now, that much was clear.

"I've been busy Y/N-" whatever he said was wasted on deaf ears as you drowned them out unintentionally, your eyes trained on the flask he nursed.

For once, you knew you had to let it be. You had to give him space, and give yourself space.

"I'm sleeping in the guest room," you offered lamely after the long silence between the two of you after he had finished whatever he had said. Leon looked up at you, with a look of surprise, and confusion, "we both need space. From each other. I just... Don't stay up drinking all night."

"Y/N-" his words once again fell upon deaf ears, and his fingers just missed your arm as you turned and went upstairs to the room usually used by people like Claire, or Chris, sometimes Sherry.

When morning came, you had gotten up later than usual, Leon was already gone as he usually was early in the morning with his job and everything. Your heart felt heavier as you walked into the empty kitchen and noted the vodka bottle you two had been given as a gift was half empty. Something in you asked if it was all worth it; did it really do so much that he drank more than he should've? Did it take away the feelings of hopelessness, like the one you were currently stuck in?

Those were the thoughts that followed you the entire day as you went about your routine. They followed you all the way to the spare bedroom of one of your old friend's homes as you decided you and Leon needed to take a break. If you didn't do that, you feared you would only lose him completely. Or lose yourself. It was exhausting.

But what was even more exhausting was not seeing him. You worried for him, and even if you sometimes felt like he didn't, he worried for you.

It would take about a week before something would crack, before the storm that had been brewing between you two, the one that laid dormant after you walked out to take from your relationship, would begin to thunder again, but in a much different way.

"We're here to have fun," your friend who had been letting you stay over said as she pushed a shot of... something into your hands, leaning against the bar from your side while you said on one of the barstools, "and loosen up. You specifically."

You rolled your eyes; this wasn't in your plan for the day, going to a bar. But it was more than you had done in the past week now. Your routine consisted of going to work and heading back to your friends. Nothing more, nothing less.

You wanted Leon. But you couldn't have him right now. You were still upset, and you didn't even know if he wanted you right now. Everything was a mess.

Things seemed to blur together over the course of the night in the bar, your friend insisting on you trying each new drink she got, some not new too. You had had one drink that you ordered of your own volition, and it had been a regular bottle of beer. But the shots your friend got for you two, and the sips of the drinks your friend ordered, culminated into more than you realized and you could say you were a bit more than just tipsy.

For some reason though, your friend seemed to be chugging along much better than you, you must've been a lightweight.

You hadn't even seen your friend in a while, but you also were so out of it that you couldn't exactly comprehend time properly at that current moment in time.

A hand on your arm and a familiar voice seemed to sober you a bit as your eyes met familiar blue, but they were clouded over with pain, with worry. Confusion too, and a bit of shock. Your fingers twitched, aching to touch his arm. His face. To smooth the furrow that seemed to be etching itself into his brow, threatening to become a new and permanent feature.

But the sober feeling you experienced also stopped you from doing any of the above. Rather, your body stiffened a bit and you pulled away from his touch, only barely missing the look of hurt that glided over his features as you did so.

"L-Leon?" the alcohol in your system made it sound more like you were questioning if he was real rather than saying his name, "What are you-"

The question you were going to ask didn't even need to be finished. It didn't even need an answer from him, because even if you were drunk, you knew Leon. And you knew why he was there.

"Oh," you couldn't help but scoff, "you want my drink? It'll start you off-"

Leon wasn't going to pretend that he hadn't come to the bar to drink away his sorrows; to forget all the pain he held onto and the nightmares he couldn't escape, and now the pain of not having you around. But when he walked in and saw you? Something in him stopped. Something in him twisted and he felt nauseous and for once it wasn't because of a hangover, but it was because of you.

You looked so miserable. Not that you realized you were wearing your heart on your sleeve at the bar, with the dejected look on your face and the limp hand holding onto a beverage you clearly didn't enjoy. Whilst at the same time, you looked empty.

Is that what you saw? Is that what he looked like to you when he was drinking? When he was at home or at a bar, focusing on anything but reality?

Leon didn't want a drink anymore, he wanted to get you out of a place that didn't suit you whatsoever. He wanted to take you home, he didn't want you to be him.

"You didn't come here alone, did you?" He cut off whatever you were trying to say as he looked into your eyes sternly.

"What? N-no I'm not stupid... I came here with a friend."

It didn't take long for Leon to figure out the friend because he spotted her coming near the bar, and recognized her.

"Hey, I'm taking Y/N home," Leon tried to not sound aggressive when he spoke, but it may have only made him sound more upset.

"Leon? Oh, ya, of course. Are you two...?"

"We'll be fine," Leon replied as he helped you stand up, "thanks for being with them."

He hadn't just meant in the bar but in the past week. It was left unsaid, but it was laid bare.

As much as you wanted to pull away from the man who gently wrapped one of his strong arms around your waist, and used the other to hold your arm behind his neck, you couldn't. You didn't have the strength to, and you missed him.

Leon was glad he had taken the car and not his motorcycle. There was no way in hell he would've been able to keep you on a motorcycle all the way back to your home that you shared, or well, you hadn't for the past week. But that wasn't the point.

"You're so mean Leon..." you mumbled as he helped you get into the passenger seat of the car. He all but carried you into it like a child and leaned across you to put your seat belt on. You leaned your face into his neck as he did so, breathing deeply.

"I just... Want you to be happy," you continued sloppily, "but you won't... Let me in..."

Leon's breathing stopped for a moment as he stilled, his hand still on the seatbelt he had just finished putting you in. He quickly pulled himself together and pulled back, adjusting the belt on your body so it wasn't digging into your lazy form, but it was still doing its job.

"I know."

There was so much more he could say, but he couldn't.  He wasn't sure if he ever could.

He settled himself into the driver's seat and got ready to start the car up.

"I still love you though..." your words were slurred as you rested your head on the car window, feeling your eyes grow heavier.

"I..." Leon's hand was turning white at the knuckles from how hard he was holding the steering wheel. He didn't deserve you. And you didn't deserve this.

"I know..."

[leverage-commentary]

Leverage Season 3, Episode 5, The Double-Blind Job, Audio Commentary Transcript

Marc: Hi, I'm Marc Roskin, Director of this episode.

John: I'm John Rogers, Executive Producer.

Melissa: Melissa Glenn, one of the writers.

Jessica: Jessica Rieder, the other writer.

Chris: Uh, Chris Downey, Executive Producer, and this is The Double-Blind Job.

John: Uh, how was this - how was this born?

Melissa: Well, this was... one of the early episodes that we were breaking in season three, and, if you recall, you had been working on a pharmaceutical, um, story to be the end of the premiere.

John: Oh, that's right, it was - this was the crime story that originally Edwin Hodge, Aldis's brother, was gonna be involved with in the premiere. We made it a much simpler crime, 'cause it be - it became about the jailbreak, and that crime glomed into this. This is one of my favorite openings to an episode, by the way.

Marc: Oh yeah, this opening is great.

John: It's just, it's very open and bright, and yeah, and also just structurally.

Jessica: Um, yeah, so we basically pillaged your episode, John, and uh--

[Laughter]

John: We use all the parts of the buffalo, kids. All the parts of the buffalo.

Jessica: We made it our own!

Melissa: So we just dove into, you know, pharma research, getting into pharmaceutical sales and development, and learning all about just the gems of an industry that, um, that they are.

John: And it really is one of those great industries where, no matter where you poke a stick, you will come up with evil.

Jessica: Yes.

John: You know, that's- it's not a hard bit of research.

Chris: And it's certainly not one of the main sponsors of our show.

[Laughter]

John: No! Not at all.

Jessica: Speaking of conflicts of interest, my entire family is in pharmacy, so I told them not to watch this episode!

Marc: I am the son of a pharmacist.

Jessica: Yeah! I'm the daughter of one.

John: You're just selling poison, you're not making it. Oh, Rieder, before you freak out, who's on the napkin, yeah? The napkin with your friends--

Jessica: My friends, I used all of my friends' names.

Melissa: They show up, like, on headstones.

John: You'll notice - how far are we into this without seeing the Leverage team?

Marc: We're far.

John: We're far.

Marc: Katie Lowes was great.

John: This - Katie Lowes is carrying the opening of the show. She looks - she looks like the scrappy little Sandra Bullock heroine in The Pelican Brief.

Marc: And there's of course Dave Connell's Charger that makes it in every show.

[Laughter]

Marc: Because he won't park in near crew parking.

John: How did we come up with this opening? I'm trying to remember, because I remember when we came up with it, it was just delightful, the idea that, for once, we just slammed into them.

Melissa: Yeah, I think we just wanted to mix it up.

Jessica: Yeah, I think that that's true.

Marc: And the best part was not - was not revealing Christian until we swing over to him. 

John: For god's sake, that's just such a comic - that's one of the advantages of sitcom comedy experience in the room, because... I think it was written that way, that we just swooped over to him.

Marc: Yes, yeah. It was written that way, and Christian did his - he poured his own coffee on his chest.

Jessica: He was a trooper.

John: Just to prove he could do it.

[Laughter]

John: 'God, isn't that scalding?' [impression of Christian] 'Yes, yes, it's scalding!'

Jessica: [impression of Christian] 'I'm a man!'

Chris: What I like about this episode, and even that - that scene is, all of Christian's fights take place offscreen.

Marc: This is one of the few--

John: This is one of the few episodes with no actual fights in it.

Melissa: How interesting.

Jessica: It's probably 'cause Melissa and I don't write fight scenes well, so we just write...

John: You write good fights.

Chris: It was actually better just having Aldis's reactions.

Melissa: And this one was actually interesting to write, because it was the victim intake scene kind of mashed into, you know, the team intel, what we call the LA Law scene, so it was all wrapped into one, which was - which was fun to write, it moved through really quickly.

John: It was one of the first four times we did that this season, and you'll notice when you watch the DVDs, we try to do it a lot, we - we really try to get a really accelerated opening to these episodes this year, because the audience knows the format, you know, and now we all know how we wanna start. Also, Beth played that jealousy beat just kinda perfectly.

Jessica: Oh my gosh.

John: Not really jealous, just kind of, 'What am I feeling here?'.

All talking over each other: Yeah/yes.

Jessica: Confused.

Chris: I thought that - I thought that was great, she was- she kinda- she couldn't tell what the feeling was, and it came out in strange ways, and I thought it was really wonderful.

John: And this was - this was also really nice to establish that, um, yeah and something that, you don't - you don't play to the fans, but certainly get fan feedback, the idea if Aldis Hodge were in love with you, that you would be able to fend that off for any length of time was getting a little ridiculous!

Jessica: Yeah.

John: You know, charming, sw- the character, Hardison, and charming, sweet, dedicated to you, and just the idea that, it would have to be, um, not returned, but at least, you know, acknowledged, or else you start to not like the character on the receiving end of it.

Jessica: It's true, yeah. She sort of crosses, then, from loveable sociopath into-

John: Actual sociopath.

Jessica: Yes, to actual sociopath, yeah!

John: Which is not quite as lovable. 

Jessica: But that's one of those examples where, like, you write something on the page and then, when the actor gets it, it becomes a hundred times more, you know, like Beth just takes these small beats that you give her, even if she has no lines, and just makes them these moments that you remember.

John: See, watch her in the deep background. Nice.

Jessica: She's amazing, yeah.

John: Derek Frederickson's computer graphics, again, saving us an awful lot of time. 

Melissa: Yeah, it's true.

Marc: The moped.

Melissa: The moped. Seems like it's just character? No, no, it has a story purpose as well.

Jessica: It does!

Melissa: We don't mess around.

Chris: Seems like he's a quirky guy, rides a moped, right? Not so fast...

Jessica: Oh no.

John: The, uh - I like Katie also here is one in a line of, um, of spunky science girls this year. She's like - she's - when we meet a character that we can kind of keep invested, it’s tricky; we try to keep the victims involved, they need to have information, otherwise you're just keeping them around for no reason. And so, because of the nature of our - our crimes, it tends to become that sort of character.

Marc: And it helped with her relationship with Hardison.

John: Oh yeah, very much so. You had to give her Hardison.

Marc: That Parker's jealous of that as well.

John: Well also it was one of the challenges in the writing, I remember, it was like, alright, we want someone Parker to feel jealous, why is this girl around? There has to be a legitimate story.

Jessica: To keep her around.

John: And, you know, she keeps them up; she's dedicated her life to solving this mystery, she's the one with the information.

Chris: Now an astonishing amount of debate went into whether or not we could bring her upstairs into Nate's apartment. 

Melissa: Yes.

Jessica: Yes!

Chris: Don't think that we don't talk about these things.

John: No, and what is the - what is the thing we quoted from last year, which is obviously true? You do not bring Vicky Vale into the Batcave. You do not.

Melissa: Unless you plan on gassing her, and then it turns out ugly.

John: Wow, you know, I have that rule, but most people don't think that's funny, but when you say it, it sounds okay.

[Laughter]

John: Which led us to using the lovely back room. That was the--

Chris: Which turned out great.

John: Was that the first time this year?

Chris: No, uh...I don't know--

Jessica: We used it in The Bottle Job.

Chris: It was in The Bottle Job, but it might've been the first time--

John: It might have been the first time they used it as the auxiliary office.

Melissa: Because it was rebuilt. I mean, it was rebuilt and moved over there.

Jessica: Yeah.

John: And it was nice because, um, it was another one of those, we'll just use it this one time, and it turned into one of our favorite little sets, you know. Much like the bar really became a much bigger part of it than the--

Chris: -Than a year ago. I thought this looked - this looked great.

John: This looked great. What was the challenges? 'Cause that's the first time anyone had shot in that set, I mean. It wasn't built for it.

Chris: It wasn't built for it - it laid out well and the actors really took to the blocking and Tim really made use of the room, you know, when we use the table you'll see him get in front of the screen, you'll see him take his, like, command position at the bar, and then later on you'll see we - we did one shot, you know, steadicam, from the back room all the way to the bar as well.

John: Which was nice, having those - and I will admit actually, I opposed the idea of expanding the bar. I didn't think it was a good use of space, but it wound up having that secondary office, wound up being a really smart, uh, really smart idea.

Jessica: Yeah, it's true.

Melissa: We're about to see the first dead body, right? This is our first dead body in that room?

Jessica: Yeah!

John: No, in The Jury Job we killed a guy. That guy was dead when he hit the ground.

Chris: Well...!

Melissa: To be fair.

[All talking over each other]

Marc: This guy's all the way dead; this is our first murder, this was our first murdered dude, yes.

Jessica: Yeah. Breaking new ground.

John: We are a - yes, thank you for murdering someone for the first time, girls.

Jessica: You're very welcome.

Chris: Oh, 'You don't have to live in pain any longer', one of my favorite... 

Jessica: That was so great. 

Chris: The slogans of the company and all the graphics...

John: Oh yeah. Coming up with the evil pharmaceutical companies, the evil agricultural companies, is fun because we to run our stuff through clearances, it's a legal department--

Melissa: Oh yeah.

John: To make sure we're not actually infringing on real stuff. The cheesier and more horrible we come up with, the more likely someone's already really doing it.

Jessica: And again, on behalf of my family, pharmacy does a lot of good for a lot of people.

John: Yes, yes, alright, fine!

[Laughter]

Jessica: I have an inheritance to protect!

John: We're not like - we're telling people not to take prescribed drugs. We're telling them that sometimes giant corporations do evil things. It's two entirely different things!

Melissa: It's amazing we have any sponsors for the show whatsoever.

[Laughter]

John: This was also a nice touch, by the way, the- Eliot knowing the nine places to inject a body. It's one of the reminders that we were building to - and by now you've seen the season finale - to remind the audience, because Christian, Christian's a very inherently charming human being and we play it very light... he used to kill people.

Melissa: Yes.

John: And it's an important thing to be kind of locked into. Oh, graveyard scene!

Marc: Graveyard scene, yes. Love this scene.

Jessica: This was originally not the end of the act, but it shot so beautifully that we flipped it around, 'cause you have to end on this moment. And there's my friend's name on the gravestone!

John: That's not creepy at all.

Jessica: Yeah.

Marc: Big crane shot.

Jessica: Wow, look at this.

Melissa: This park was so gorgeous.

John: Is this where we shot the finale? The season two finale? That looks familiar.

Melissa: I don't know, it was just this beautiful flowering tree, it was just--this place was just breathtaking.

John: It's gorgeous.

Chris: All dead.

Jessica: They killed everyone!

John: The way we came up with that, I remember we were trying to figure out a way to make the talking scenes interesting, like, they'd go around to this town, and it's like, well, you know, how is that interesting going door to door? And we also ran out of page space. And then, just in the room it was like, well just kill him. Just put him in the ground; use the visuals.

Melissa: Yeah. We found him, but we don't have any answers.

John: Exactly. It's a good mystery episode, it actually worked out pretty well trying to solve the: 'We can't do anything without Hardison'.

Marc: Dammit, Hardison.

John: Everyone gets a 'Dammit, Hardison' in this one, right?

Jessica: That’s true. This is a really fun scene though, because we got Nate and Sophie just alone together, just doing their bantering thing, which is just fun. Usually it's like, you know, usually the whole team is there and-- but the two of them when they're alone together, you just get to sort of enjoy their- their chemistry.

John: Especially when you see them planning like this. You really get the sense--and we talk about this a lot in the commentaries this year--Nate's their peer now. He was their boss, and now because of the general, various screw-ups that he's made, he has to accept the fact that they have a lot more feedback into this process. And Sophie's a very good grifter, you know, she's one of the best, so she's gonna be--you're gonna have to listen to her when she pitches.

Marc: And it's so much more fun to cover two people.

[Laughter]

John: Goddamn directors, all they want to talk about! Pan up--pan up legs. 

[All talking at once about Parker's legs]

Marc: I even did one version where it's in, like, slow motion, at like 120 frames, of Parker coming in, that was a little too much!

Jessica: That was just for Roskin's home video!

[Laughter]

John: That's just, that's his iPhone.

Marc: Well this is all based on true research, too, which is a surprising number of--surprising percentage of pharmaceutical sales reps come out of cheerleading programs. 

Jessica: Yep.

Marc: Their knowledge of the actual workings of the drugs are much less than their perky and attractiveness.

Jessica: And the length of their skirts.

Marc: And the length of their skirts!

Jessica: Or lack thereof.

Marc: I love this--I love these looks that Beth gives, uh, Beth gives Katie Lowes here.

John: Wait, you can just take people's heads and put them on different pictures? What the--I've gotta go!

[Laughter]

John: Uh, this is a great--this is a great 360, the 360 of jealousy, this is nice.

Jessica: [Laughing/Whispering] ‘The 360 of jealousy.’

John: Also, using Katie, you can see, actually, Katie's throwing her look, and that's what's motivating the camera moves, which is nice.

Jessica: Wow. Was that planned, or...?

John: Who’s playing the FDA rep?

Marc: Um, the, um, uh--Tracy. Tracy...Gaillard. Yeah, she was great.

John: Did a really nice job.

Jessica: She was a Portland local, wasn't she?

John: Yeah. Yeah, again.

Jessica: We love Portland.

John: We have so many great Portland actors, we got really lucky up there. And, uh, yeah, the whole, uh, seducing the out-of-town FDA...The FDA actually in the Leverage-verse is more effective than the FBI. 

[Laughter]

Jessica: It's true!

John: If you actually measure their competence levels, I'd much rather have the FBI of the Leverage verse chasing me than the FDA!

Jessica: That’s so true.

Melissa: And this location was the former offices of the Columbian newspaper up there, in Vancouver, Washington. It was a gorgeous building.

Marc: We shot several episodes--

Jessica: Yes!

John: When you look at the next episode in order on the DVDs, which will be the one I directed, The Inside Job, it's that building. Except we look right in the lobby! Imagine off to the left of all of my shots in the lobby, this entire episode is happening.

Marc: In Top Hat Job it was the, uh...

Jessica: Oh yeah!

John: That's right.

Jessica: This is, I think, the first time we see the amazing Michael O'Keefe.

John: Oh man, is he good in this.

Jessica: Who we were so lucky to get, and just...man, did just such...

John: He's really great, he really dug in on the whole... well, who did you, don't say the name, but what was the model for this guy? 'Cause you guys found an interesting model, rather than just a straight pharmaceutical dude. 

Melissa: It was a pharmaceutical dude--

John: He had a habit, right?

Melissa: But he had a habit of just chasing a CEO job from company to company, kind of, you know, didn't really matter--

John: Because that's a non-pharmaceutical job.

Melissa: He had tons of non-pharmaceutical- it was just, ‘Where can I get on the top?’. So that was kind of our model for him, was a guy who didn't grow up in the industry, just grew up wanting to be the top, so, yeah.

Marc: And when I talked to Michael O'Keefe about the part, he said, 'I am gonna play this like Harry Limes in The Third Man. No matter how bad things are getting, I know I can get out of it. I will never look defeated.' And he plays it, up until the exact last moment of the whole episode.

Melissa: And then even after we stopped rolling at the very end, he was like, 'I can explain.'

[Laughter]

Melissa: He walked off at the end of the day with his last little, 'No, I can explain this.'

John: And let's face it, these guys pay a fine and then they get away with it.

Jessica: Yeah.

John: And that's your depressing thought for the day.

Melissa: Thank you.

John: You're welcome.

Melissa: This little scene was originally cut--well, we originally didn't have time for it, and then we edited it back in, and Trina, who is...

Marc: Lisa Foiles?

Melissa: Lisa, she was so fun, it was great to add this scene back in.

John: Ah, that's nice.

Chris: And there's our prop guy, JPD, as well.

Jessica: Yes! Love JPD.

Melissa: My shout-out is that he's named after Doctor Nessin, my father-in-law, so--we were just putting our fingerprints...

John: You know, guys, you have to get forms filled out when you do this--and people's permission, right, before you can use their names?

Melissa: Um, then that has no likeness, resemblance, to anyone, living or dead!

[Laughter]

John: Just, um, just a heads-up that, just on future commentaries you may wanna let that slide...

Jessica: Legal? Are we gonna need to get legal on the phone? 

Chris: Look at that acting here, nice job!

Jessica: It's great!

Melissa: We should actually cast him with some lines someday.

John: The, uh--another bad Parker sales job. It's fun tracking her inability--her evolving ability to interact with her friends and her continuing inability to interact with everyone else.

Melissa: Yes.

Chris: She's not the most patient salesperson.

Marc: This was actually shot while we were making your episode.

Melissa: That’s right.

John: Oh, that's right! You just were in another part of the building, weren’t you?

Melissa: It's like, ‘hey, take a break from running around being chased and go get pharma [unintelligible].

John: That's why her hair might not totally match, because it's just a different look.

Melissa: This is a small thing, but when she pulled these blinds, she just did it with such accuracy, it's just, it's like--she's so Parker in this moment.

John: It is--it is wonderful watching her drop into thief mode, because not only when you're watching her perform--what's that?

Chris: Especially in that skirt!

[Laughter]

Chris: Sorry, did I just say that?

John: Yes, it was out loud, that was out loud! I remember when she showed up in the dress, in the season finale of season one, and we bumped into her when she walked out, and she was like, 'What do you think, guys?' and you stared at her for a few seconds and then just went, '...Green'.

[Laughter]

John: Because there literally was no other response to that dress than acknowledge its existence.

Chris: [Unintelligible] It wouldn’t have been actionable.

[All talking over each other]

John: But it's--Beth disappears into Parker anyway, but then when Parker drops into thief mode, it's like two levels down, it's great to watch.

Melissa: Yeah, it's true.

John: This was a really nice use of space considering it was the first time you shot there.

Marc: Yeah, it was great, it was also great to get her involved in the scene with Nate.

John: It's--it's tricky, that--it's hard to invite the audience--it's hard to invite proxy members into the family, 'cause they really are watching and it takes a really unique actor to pull it off. And Katie did a great job.

Marc: Did a great job, and you know, because she is the victim, because this is all the research that she's done, it was like, motivated for her. To be active.

John: I don't remember what comes after the act break here, are we just--oh, it's a reset.

Chris: Wow, she really is in this whole--

John: Yeah, she is--well, we have to motivate that jealousy, you know, we really have to--

Melissa: We saw a lot of her, you know she worked, like...four days eventually.

John: Also it's one of those things where, when you're in the edit, there's a version where you could cut this and she's not there that much, but because she's such a charming actor, you feel it's a nice presence.

Jessica: And like you said, at the end, we really did need to motivate, like, what happens between Aldis and Parker--sorry! I'm mixing fantasy with reality! Between Hardison and Parker. And that didn't, you know, if that--if you didn't spend enough time with Katie...it actually wouldn't feel as motivated, so, you know. It's great, it was great to have, uh, to have her in so much.

Marc: Well there's the shot that goes from the bar--backroom to the bar.

John: Smooth! All the way to the front door? Oh, nice! Somebody’s showing off, there!

Melissa: Yeah. That would be Roskin.

John: What I love is that there--there are people in this bar who constantly look at Nate walking through the bar going, 'Oh, it's that crazy guy who talks to himself again. That's very sad.'

Melissa: You know, let's face it, they're there at 10AM drinking, so they--who are they to judge?

[Laughter]

Marc: I really enjoyed the energy of this scene, especially, you know, your--they start counting down because Beth's in there, in the office, and Aldis then comes storming out, which, uh, which just gave it a lot of movement and energy, and there's a ticking clock...

Melissa: A lot of urgency, yeah, it's true.

John: Well, it's tricky because, you know, we cross-cut--we don't cross-cut for pace we cross-cut for location, and you know, and trying--you only have so many editorial tools, and we mix them, we use them, we double up on them, and so when you can actually combine, just like, cross-cutting for location creates--gives you also your sense of urgency; take the win. This is a lovely look that Tracy plays here, by the way. Just the little, very flattered...

Marc: And I also love how, like, it's Tim's confidence and he's pushing the team, and he's taking chances.

Jessica: Yup, yup. And you get to drop in again a little bit of Hardison's sort of protectiveness of Parker, you know, that it's like...

John: And then Sophie calling him on it--this is--this is, in theory, Nate has just come back from prison, he's still trying to make his bones on being able to call stuff live. Uh, with Scheherazade, big giant, you know, big, giant--almost too tough to pull off job, you know, going into this. 

Marc: I think this was originally slotted for three, wasn't it? 

John: I think so, and then we moved it, moved around in broadcast form.

Melissa: Yeah. These things get shuffled around quite a lot.

John: Yeah. We didn't--we didn't slide them as much as we have some years, but definitely kinda moved back and forth a little.

Jessica: But it's true, I never really think of what the people in the bar are thinking when he's having one of those conversations into his earbud.

Chris: That's the show, you know, within a show. That's the web series.

Jessica: It's true, we totally need to do that.

Chris: Just, point of view in the bar.

John: Like the older--like Fitzy? I always imagined Fitzy was like--

Chris: You see him when he comes home to his wife, 'Oh, there was another fight in the bar, yeah...I saw a guy's tooth fly out in slow motion!'

[Laughter]

John: And then Sophie gets to chew him out. Good chewing out this year, it was motivated by professionalism rather than relationship stuff, that's always much more satisfying. Also because she's had the kid, Gina can now turn on the stern mom thing pretty well, I don't know, I guess it's actually a genetic thing, I had no idea! But yeah.

Jessica: It just kicks in.

John: A little gravitas there.

John: Yeah, there's the people at the table awkwardly trying not to notice them, him getting yelled at now.

Jessica: These people are having a very awkward fight, ah, just sitting here eating fries.

Chris: It's a first date, I mean, you know...they met online...

[Laughter]

Melissa: Seemed like a safe place to meet; turned out to be nuts.

John: This is a great scene, because of the way you wound up playing it, not angry, just exhausted. Just, he's not used to this kind of courtship.

Jessica: It's true!

Marc: It was great how--how Dave lit this scene, uh, 'cause he and Dave Connell was the one who ended up picking where Tim should end up, and it just played great with the--with the depth and the lighting.

John: You got a real noir look in there, look at that, uh, look at the blinds. Nice.

Chris: Ah, that's a great shot.

John: Yeah, popping depth of field back and forth, that is nice. That's nice, that's a little like in the middle of, um, Glinda, actually, when he, when the guy playing the husband's just in silhouette. That is gorgeous.

Melissa: Yeah.

John: And the, uh...

Marc: And just to hear the dialog from a distance, too, is nice.

Jessica: It really changes the scene when you space it out like that. That's not originally how I think we pictured it when we wrote it, but it adds this element of distance between the kids and the dad, you know.

Marc: Especially for the--the last two lines of it as well. Prison's changed him.

Jessica: And then they can have...yeah.

John: They can have that conversation way over there. This is a--incredibly difficult scene to write, and you guys did a great job, because it’s just an enormous--it's a great, uh, great Evil Speech of Evil. One of my favorite Evil Speeches of Evil. I forget where we found the number, number just popped up in the research, it was like a tip, and then, um...and then, now, but I will give this to Marc because, this is an enormously static scene, how did you wind up shooting this? 'Cause this is tough.

Marc: Well I knew I was gonna position them here just for the, for the looks, 'cause you know they have the window, the backroom, and then in the two shot, to have that full bar, that shot. Now here's where Michael O'Keefe said, 'I don't know if I should do this.' In rehearsal he did it, and he said--

Jessica: He kept eating olives.

Marc: 'Oh boy, I'm gonna regret this.' He ended up having fifteen olives.

[Laughter]

Jessica: So disgusting!

Marc: And it's, you know--I love doing scenes like this 'cause, you know, it's just--it--it lets the actor just chew into the material, into the dialog, into the characters, and they had such a good time working together.

John: There are long scenes in this episode.

Marc: Yeah.

John: I mean, they're really big character scenes in this episode.

Chris: Also that shot is so apt, when they're talking about drugs, and you have this great shot of just a wall of bottles of booze.

Jessica: Ah, that's true.

Chris: I mean it really is fantastic.

Melissa: And that bar was just right next door, too.

Marc: It was basically 'cause it was right next door to, the Columbia building, and it worked out great. 'Til I found out we didn't close the restaurant, so in the middle of this scene of evil you hear two tourists from Omaha laughing in the restaurant.

Jessica: ‘Tehehehehe.’

Chris: Ah, look at that, that is great, that's a nice panning shot.

John: So are you creating an equivalence between alcohol and other pharmaceutical drugs?

Chris: No! Certainly not... people use alcohol to medicate themselves...

Jessica: Pharmaceutical drugs help many, many people.

John: Alcohol helps many--alcohol helps your showrunner not kill you!

[Laughter]

Jessica: That is true! We are grateful for both types.

John: The number of times in the middle of the day when I've reached for your throat and then the Irish whiskey's just slightly to the right...

Jessica: Just landed there. Yeah.

John: There you go. And then Nate--Tim's just there! I love that, I just. No, I mean really, if you--if you're a young baby director, take a look at how Marc did this, because this is a looong scene. This has gotta be a four minute scene, five minute scene.

Marc: Oh yeah.

Jessica: You must've hated us.

John: And it's all done in just rotating those--those eyelines.

Marc: And it was great, now all of a sudden, now he's in the other side of the table.

John: Now you just suddenly see, now he's in the bad guy seat.

Jessica: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that was really--Marc, you must have just wanted to kill us when you read the scene. 'How am I gonna make this interesting?'

Chris: It's not--it's not one scene, I mean, it's just...

John: Well it's two scenes, that's the trick. It's really a French scene, if you think about it.

Marc: But these are the scenes that I really enjoy, because it, you know, the actors--especially in Leverage episodes, so many times you're cutting away and cutting away and cutting away, and you really get to just focus on--on the acting and the writing.

Melissa: I love Gina's little look there, it's like, oh, we switched? Oh, okay.

Jessica: Really, we're there? Yeah.

John: She looks great there, that's a nice lip color on her, actually.

Jessica: The two of them, they had great chemistry--or maybe it was just Marc. I just--they really enjoyed the scene and I think you can tell it, you know, like--when two actors really enjoy working with each other. 

Marc: And, uh, yeah 'cause the first scene we did, I believe, was--was Michael and Tim, and Tim was the one who suggested Michael for the role. And you can always just--when you get a great guest star who shows up, uh, it just, it just changes everything.

Jessica: Yeah. Everybody elevates, I think, to meet.

John: This is a great--this is kind of a--I think I said this, actually, when we were doing the other season, this is a proto-Leverage, this is, like, one of the Leverage episodes you go for when someone's looking for the model Leverage episode.

Chris: But the opening I thought was, I thought was innovative.

John: No, but I mean that in a good way, it's like it's got enough twists, it's got enough variations on a theme that it feels fresh, but you know, if you did not know what Leverage was, you could watch this and know what the show was. You know, which is a compliment.

Jessica: Another little shout-out to my own life, 7-2-9-8 is my anniversary, 7-29-08, yeah.

John: 7-29...anniversary of what?

Melissa: Her anniversary.

Jessica: Anniversary of, you know, my relationship!

John: Oh, okay.

Jessica: Which we don't have to talk about, but I'm just saying!

[Laughter]

John: No, let's share with the audience!

Jessica: Shall we!

John: I'm sure the audience would love to hear this!

Chris: Now you're going to get some cards. And there's gonna be some Facebook shout-outs.

John: I tell you right now there's gonna be a lot of broken-hearted boys out there who saw you on that Writer's Room video. 'Oh no, the glinty tooth girl has a boyfriend!'

Jessica: ‘She's taken!’ Yeah.

Marc: This is a great look. 'Good luck.'

John: Oh! That's just so cold. That's so horrible. And that kind of little move forward—and Katie kind of plays it too, just like, 'This isn't happening, right?’ 

Jessica: ‘I’m terrified.’

John: ‘She's not actually stepping towards me...?'

Melissa: It is great to have someone from the outside; everyone else is kind of used to Parker.

Chris: There's Connell's car again.

John: Why does—he just won't park in the...?

Chris: That's gonna be a drinking game now! You look at every episode, there's a black Charger.

[Laughter]

John: Michael O'Keefe plays that nice, it's very flirty, it's very—

Melissa: But also creepy. Creepy, at the same time...

John: You believe he killed someone.

Jessica: Oh, yeah.

Chris: And I mean, like, that's the guy from Caddyshack, you know? That's Noonan!

Marc: The Great Santini. 

Chris: Oh, Great Santini, he's great in the Great Santini.

John: It's interesting, it tells me a lot about your childhood, you went to Caddyshack, you went to Great Santini.

[Laughter]

Chris: ‘Gotta win by two, sports fans.’

Melissa: If you'll notice, there's orange soda now in the room, you know—the props, and—they kept moving up the different, uh, you know, on the tables there was food and then there was half-eaten food, and finally there was orange soda, to show the comfortability.

John: We have long talks, actually, the props and set design and set decking guys are very big on exactly how the sets evolve, uh, and an enormous amount of time is spent on such things, which seems crazy, but is an accretion of detail that helps make it more believable. ‘Lord of all he surveys.’ That's a nice, up and down, was nice. Was that determined by the set? Or did we put that—I think that was set, I don't think that was in the script.

Marc: Um... Yeah, I think it was the set...I believe.

John: Yeah, 'cause he was originally just across the lobby.

Chris: Oh, look at that Vio—there's the big Vioplex—

John: Wasn't that an art museum in the second...?

Melissa: Yup, shh! 

[All talking over each other]

Marc: Lotta screens, establishing champagne glasses...

John: There you go, people at parties, pictures taking... Who has that on their Facebook? 'Me and Tommy at the Vioplex opening!' You've been tagged.

[Laughter]

Melissa: Look at all of this artwork and posters, I mean, they were just—they were great.

John: This is insane!

Melissa: ‘I don't wanna live in pain any more, gimme some Vioplex!’

John: This is amazing when you think that we ask our—because we are a very specific type of show, you know—Law & Order, they're not asked to create totally new corporate logos, and all this corporate artwork every single week. Our guys have to create a new, fake, evil company every week with all the accompanying—

Jessica: Look at those people, they're not living in pain any more! I believe it!

John: I like the new pretty hair.

Marc: Yeah, this was—you know, she—she just spent a lot of time having fun with Eliot, and she's let down her hair.

Jessica: Literally.

Marc: Enjoying herself.

John: Did they have sex?

Marc: Um, I can't comment on that.

Chris: They walked the Freedom Trail.

Jessica: They literally walked the Freedom Trail, that's in the script!

John: And that's in the script, it wasn't a metaphor?

Jessica: No! 

John: Alright.

Jessica: He's still faithful to Amy from season one.

[Laughter]

Jessica: Guys, they're having a long-distance relationship!

John: Wow, you are—it is three years later and you're still riding that hobby horse!

Chris: Is that anniversary between you and Eliot?

John: Is that what that number is? When he was with Amy-slash-Jessica in that episode? Oh no!

Melissa: So you'll see now she's putting her hair back up.

John: Emotionally shuts down.

Jessica: Trying to pull out of this spiral.

Melissa: Bring us back.

John: I love the snarky little, 'You want a little time to shake that off?' Just that—

Melissa: Yeah. I love it.

John: What is that dot? Oh, that's Parker.

Melissa: That is Parker's trail. They're comparing it to Hoffman's trail.

John: Oh, that's a kicky little jacket. Yeah, I like the collar on that.

Jessica: Oh, is that the thing that we shot twice?

Melissa: Yes. Yes.

[Laughter]

John: Not this section!

Melissa: This little hallway may have been the first time that I was, you know, alone on splinter unit, and may have forgot to give the case to Parker.

John: You mean the case that she had to carry, the entire point of her being in that corridor...?

Melissa: Isn't her jacket great?

Marc: Now, to be fair, folks—

John: Her jacket is great.

Marc: —there's a lotta...these things are shot out of order—

John: They are.

Marc: —and it's sometimes hard to realize...

John: They are, don't get me wrong.

Jessica: I'm not pointing any fingers, I just thought it was an interesting little tidbit.

Marc: This is fun to see that—

John: No, no, we—well, wait, Glenn was on set, where were you? When she was off doing splinter unit on her own, were you back in the trailer writing 'Mrs. Jessica Spencer' in a notebook over and over again? Little heart over the 'i's?

Jessica: There was only one time that happened! One time I had too much to drink at craft service!

[Laughter]

Jessica: Also...never mind, I'm done telling little personal tidbits from my life, I'm done! 

John: Probably a good idea.

Jessica: I'm stepping back.

John: This keypad has been seen in a lot of Leverage episodes. Once you build a good, functioning keypad, don't screw around.

Chris: You need—you need to change up the keypad, I’m just saying.

John: That's a good, suspenseful shot of the two of them, looking through the camera, that's—some smart person should get Katie Holmes in their show, 'cause they'd do well for themselves.

Jessica: Katie Holmes? Or Katie Lowes?

John: Katie Lowes, pardon me. Katie Holmes, don't try to get her!

Chris: She's much more difficult!

Jessica: And that poor guy—

John: And here's my question: where was he going with that pen?!

Chris: He was going to grab a cocktail napkin, and uh, give his phone number, he's a sales rep!

Melissa: He had met this girl—

John: But he was leaning with the pen in hand, it was—it was a little messy!

Melissa: He needed to write down his number, quick! There's lots of ladies out there.

John: I do love the sort of truculence with which Parker triggers the motion sensors in the flatbed, this sort of like—that her hatred of in any way having to be a lesser thief.

Marc: She does not wanna set off alarms, no.

Jessica: Yeah. That was hard—that was hard to film because it needed to mean two things simultaneously, yeah. 

John: Yeah, we do a lot of that, that's [unintelligible].

Jessica: That was tricky.

John: Thank god for the actors.

Marc: And also you don't see it until the flashbacks, so, getting everybody up on the same page, a little difficult to accomplish.

John: Oh gosh, that's right, when we were—when we were breaking this in the room, that was a big deal, was trying to make sure that everything tracked logically both ways.

Melissa: Right.

John: 'Cause I think this has one of the longest runs of, you have to think the other thing.

Jessica: Yes.

John: And the most detailed thing of you have to think the other thing.

Marc: Look how serious Jimmy Mack is.

Jessica: This is Jimmy Mack, our set PA, he's—

Chris: Boy, he's really in character, I didn't recognize him.

John: Yeah. And he was my first AD on, uh, Splinter finale, did a great job. 

Marc: No he wasn't. [Clears throat pointedly]

John: No, that's right, no he wasn't.

Jessica: That's one of the coolest, ah, stunts I think we've ever had.

Marc: Yeah

John: Was that, uh...

Melissa: That was Jesse.

John: Our regular Parker?

Melissa: And she just literally, I mean, dropped from the ceiling. It was amazing.

Jessica: It was so badass. Am I allowed to say that?

John: Yes, you are. I said 'bullshit' earlier.

Jessica: So badass.

Melissa: And this—I mean this is one of those things—the way that we scripted it was just that she throws it out and runs out, and when they did it, it was, that's amazing, that looks really badass.

John: Was that Jesse, again, with the throw?

Melissa: Yup.

John: Yeah.

Melissa: The slide, tackle, and throw, it was very cool.

Marc: Yeah, Jesse looked at the ceiling and she said, "Yeah, I can just do that, I can just drop and land on my feet." 

Jessica: "No, I'm good."

Marc: She said, "I'm good."

John: She also, she did the same thing with the ventilation shaft in mine, she just kind of crawled out the ventilation shaft.

Jessica: Poor guy.

Chris: Right in the happy...! He's a retired surfer.

Marc: This was, I think, the actual first scene we shot with Michael, and Tim.

Melissa: Yeah. It was.

John: Tim has really mastered the whole, 'I'm going'—the 'I might be dead or I might be in charge here.' He's really got that—that expression down cold.

Melissa: We make him do that a lot, yeah.

Marc: It's—what's great about this location is we didn't have to keep the blinds closed to have a nice background, like that.

Jessica: Oh my gosh, this is so gorgeous.

Melissa: It was in the middle of a really rainy season though, and I remember at one point thinking the sun came out, and when I looked out the window, oh, it’s the condor.

[Laughter]

Jessica: It's an actual light!

Melissa: It's just a giant light, yeah. I was fooled. 

John: Michael O'Keefe, so dismissive—he's a good bad guy, man, he's just, you're right, you can just feel him being in control.

Marc: Right. And this whole fight takes place off camera.

Jessica: So great.

John: There's a lot of good comedy techniques in this, the bang-out.

Jessica: Yeah.

John: And then we have the case trick, which we, uh, which was a little tricky 'cause it was one of those things where, um, because I know magicians, I know exactly how it worked, but trying to explain to people exactly how to build one of these things was a little tricky.

Jessica: Yeah. And at the end it was just—

Marc: Yeah.

Jessica: It happens and you don't see it.

[Laughter]

John: All good magic works that way.

Jessica: Yeah, exactly. 'Look over here!'

John: It's easier to imply than to build.

Melissa: Yeah.

John: It's not, uh, it's not rocket science; they're not hard to build.

Jessica: And that scene was so great, just having Tim and Michael, just acting their faces off, you know, it was just like—and I think it was, this was still the first day Michael was there, and just diving right in, they were so comfortable together, and it was really fun.

John: Well there is, interesting because there are guys who come in and, and—I say 'guys' generically for actors—where they want to find something redeeming in that villain. And that's good acting! But Michael was really the first guy to go, uh, 'No.'

Jessica: I'm just—

Melissa: What I'm gonna get away with. 

John: Yeah. There are people like this in the world, and that's what they're like. This is a complicated little switch. And then the- yes, and then she has to play the attitude of setting off the motion detectors; it's fun.

Jessica: Yeah. This was I think the most complicated sort of jungle gym choreography of, like—you know, like the—

Marc: It's a lot to explain, and you have to...

Jessica: Yes.

Marc: You can't spend a lot of time in each shot.

Jessica: Yeah.

John: Well also 'cause you play an emotional beat in the middle of it.

Melissa: Right.

[Laughter at Parker jumping up and down in front of the motion detectors]

Melissa: She's not pleased.

John: It's fun, too, 'cause a lot of times we do get, like, 'Oh, you know, how—it's not that easy to fool security.' Yes it is, it's awfully easy to fool security systems. Look at—it's all going on in the eyes right there. Nice. And, and Tim's also made an interesting choice with Nate, now that he's out of prison, where it's—it's a crueler edge to how he treats the villains. You know? It was sort of this religious righteousness in the first two seasons, and now—now he's a bastard.

Melissa: Yep. It's like, 'We've got you!'

Jessica: Sort of the gloves are off, you know? Yeah.

John: Well it's his evolution, his evolution towards being a wolf, you know.

Chris: Well and also this guy was particularly, you know—this is one of our... he killed someone, this is one of our eviller...

Jessica: He killed an entire town!

John: He didn't kill an entire town; he killed like nine people in a town!

[Laughter]

Marc: More champagne glass shots, just keep setting them up, keep setting it up.

John: Love, loving that! Well it solves the big thing for actors, which is what you do with your hands. All actors will tell you that's the worst thing you have to worry about.

Jessica: That's so creepy.

Marc: Emotionless face.

John: It's like—it's like it's the really sexy British version of the ghost from, uh, from The Ring.

Jessica: Yeah, yeah, it totally is! ‘I'm coming out of the screen at you.’

John: ‘With a champagne glass.’ Oh, that's not so bad. That's not a Japanese girl out of a well at all.

Marc: So here's Michael going into the party, and still maintaining control.

Chris: ‘Oh yeah, it's just fine!’

John: ‘Just freaking out a little!’

Jessica: ‘I'm just taking care of this champagne, don't worry!’

Chris: Sorry, folks, if this ever happens, everything's fine. If you’re at an event and someone comes in and they're just knocking the champagne...

John: You're not at all going to suffer brutal liver failure in the next 48 hours. Oh, and by the way, that's the whole, uh, thing that this does to you is actually based on a mushroom. It was based on that great mushroom toxin we found. Something that you could drink and that would, you would not feel, but you are dead.

Marc: I love this part of this script where it's a reveal to everybody.

Melissa: Yeah.

John: You like a good group gloat.

Marc: It's great, you have him just surrounded by everyone, the press...

Chris: And it's here now that the camera swirls around...

John: I like—I like the idea of, while they're swirling around and everyone's going 'I can't believe the perfidy of that company, I can't believe they murdered people', one person's like, 'Hey, my champagne!'

[Laughter]

John: They're—they're totally not clueing in to what's going on.

Jessica: It's true.

Melissa: It's true to life. Not everyone catches on at the same speed.

John: Exactly. 'Well, I came to this party with my friend, and...!'

Melissa: Some lady in the corner's like, 'My shoes! There's champagne all over my shoes.'

John: This might be the record for flashbacks, this episode.

Melissa: It's possible.

Jessica: I think it might be.

John: And now putting him in the power position above, up on the balcony.

Jessica: Very nice.

Melissa: And if you'll notice Jennifer Pearson is on the phone, you know, calling in the wrath of the FDA.

John: The strike team of the FDA.

Chris: FDA strike team. In the other version there were FDA guys coming down on ropes.

Jessica: Yes, paratroopers!

John: Like Aussie fast-rappelling?

Melissa: We didn't have time but it was beautiful!

Chris: We had to cut it.

John: Because in the Leverage-verse, people care about whether your kids were poisoned by their food. Not the real world, of course, but in the Leverage-verse! They take that very seriously.

[Laughter]

John: I—some time we should put a wiki page together about where in history the Leverage-verse is different from the real universe, to explain why these changes are in place.

Marc: I don't know if we've done that before, the, uh, headline pull-back.

John: I don't think so, we've done the—we've done the CNN pull-back.

Marc: Yeah.

John and Jessica: [start talking at the same time]

Jessica: I'm sorry.

John: No, go ahead.

Jessica: I was just gonna say, I think that from now until the end is probably the most fun I have ever had on set. Like just, Katie and Hardison, and—I tell you, again I'm mixing up all the names—but like, this whole scene was just so much fun to watch the actors play. Like, it was really, like—

John: Yeah, 'cause having looked at the—looked at the dailies, they dialed up a couple different variations of this, you know.

Jessica: Yeah. It was so much fun.

Melissa: We had a long conversation of how intense their hug should be at the end.

Jessica: Oh my gosh, yeah.

Melissa: Rosco and I were both on the, 'a little less intense, maybe with a couple of little taps on the back'...

Jessica: Yeah we actually discussed should there be a tap or not.

Melissa: Jessica would've been fine with a long makeout session here.

[Laughter]

Jessica: I was like, ‘can they—can they kiss?’ It's true, I...

John: Now, I would also note by the way, I made a change in the script here, because in the original fantasy sequence, she kills the girl with a beer bottle!

Jessica: She did not kill, she moved towards with some malicious intent.

John: She threw the beer bottle in one draft, and dropped her! 

Chris: This was like the first draft of Fatal Attraction.

John: She dropped her like a sack of hammers!

Melissa: We did have to dial up and down Parker's violence.

Chris: We said we couldn't kill the victim.

John: No, in her fantasy sequence, she did it, but it was—I remember laughing at the time, but I was like, ‘Wow, somebody who wrote this script is working some shit out.’

Jessica: Just really worked out this stuff.

John: So you're saying you've had this fantasy sequence? 'I can propel this beer bottle at 700 miles an hour across this bar.'

Jessica: I'm not admitting to anything...This has nothing to do with my life.

Marc: Katie played this part great, where she just—just the little look, she's just, 'Maybe I should go.'

Melissa: She knows what's going on.

John: Because she's both emotionally sensitive and afraid for her life.

Marc: Yeah.

Jessica: 'That girl just crushed a beer bottle with her bare hands, I will make my exit.'

John: 'You're sweet and clueless, I'm out. I got a couple million dollars and a—and a new list of people I can help, I'm done.'

Melissa: 'This has been fun.'

John: In my head she goes and forms like another little, a very earnest, law-abiding Leverage team with the money.

Jessica: I kind of want her to have her own series!

John: She's on the CBS show. Like, you know—earnest college-aged kids out solving, uh, doing the right thing.

Chris: You have a million-dollar idea there.

[Laughter]

Jessica: TNT, anyone from TNT listening to this?

John: Gina played this really well too, that she's sort of, and—look, the kind of vague frustration that they're utterly clueless. And getting outta here. ‘I'm gonna punch someone.’ Now this is wonderful. This is a wonderful scene.

Jessica: I just love them.

John: And because, again, if you go and you look at the script—and someday we'll publish these, um—it can—we didn't put a lot in the stage directions here. I don't think there was anything in the stage directions. 

Melissa: It's very spare.

John: It's—it's just dialog, and they're making all these emotional choices.

Melissa: Mm-hmm.

John: Very nice.

Jessica: Roskin, I think it was your decision, wasn't it you that was crushing the beer bottle? Or was it you that came up with doing it twice?

Marc: I actually think Tim came up with doing it a second time. I think it was Tim who came up with that, yeah.

Jessica: It's a collaborative medium.

Marc: Did I just give an actor credit?

John: Don't do that.

Jessica: Um, we're going to need to rewind and re-tape that? Yeah.

Marc: We give each other points.

John: It's also nice, it's also a nice callback, a joke that we do regularly, that she has inhumanly strong hands. That nice—that little moment there, is just when he, just when he, just acknowledges it and realizes that the dynamic in the relationship has fundamentally shifted in a way that he is more equipped for than she is.

Jessica: Yeah.

John: And that look down, and...up, up, go up, go up—there you go! And then back down.

Melissa: Yeah. A fun moment to watch them play.

John: Went out on a very neutral look, which is nice. And that's, uh, The Double Blind Job, which is a fantastic, fantastic episode, really, really a lot of fun. Thanks so much for watching, and, uh—well, you'll be back in six more episodes, right? Come back and talk to us.

Melissa: Yep.

Jessica: Yeah, just can't get rid of us.

John: Six Guinesses from now.

Melissa: With Roskin again. 

Marc: Yeah!

Jessica: Yeah! We got him twice this year. Alright

John: You're not tired of him yet, are you? 'Cause we are still [unintelligible].

[Laughter]

[thisissirius]

must i imagine you there [ao3 link] eddie/buck, eddie week day three: competence + “we’re getting out of this.” bombs. hurt/comfort. fear of death. drama :))))

“Buck,” Eddie says, “stop moving.”

It’s a testament to how well they work together that Buck immediately stops. “What?”

Eddie slowly sinks to his knees, studying the device they’ve inadvertently disturbed. “Shit.”

“Eddie.” Buck’s still not moved, and Eddie relaxes a fraction. “What’s going on?”

“It’s a bomb,” Eddie says, because Buck deserves the truth. “Motion sensors. That red light on your chest?”

“The trigger,” Buck says. It’s the lack of inflection that hits Eddie. “You should go.”

Eddie ignores him, reaches for his radio. “Cap, you there?”

There’s a crackle from the other end. “Diaz? You okay?”

Buck shakes his head. Again, Eddie ignores him. “We’re in the basement. Cap, there’s a bomb.”

“You need to move!”

“Uh, not happening, Cap. It’s motion activated and it’s trigger point is right on Buck.”

______

The bomb itself is rudimentary and obviously self-made. Eddie spends the whole time voices crash over the radio in a cacophony of noise analysing it. Buck’s staying still as he can, breathing heavy, and it’s all Eddie can do to focus on the task at hand. 

When he spots the timer, his heart sinks. 

“Cap,” Eddie says. Then, louder, “Captain Nash!”

The voices stop. 

“There’s a timer.” Eddie meets Buck’s eyes. They’re round, scared, and it breaks Eddie’s heart.

Bobby’s voice is shaky when he comes back on the line. “How long, Eddie?”

Eddie closes his eyes. “Not long enough for the bomb squad.”

______

“You have to go.”

“Shut up, Buck,” Eddie says. The radio is next to his knee and he can hear Bobby, Hen, and Chim on the other end arguing with someone else. Eddie knows they won’t get help here in time. 

Buck makes a noise and Eddie looks up. Anger wars with terror on Buck’s face. “You have to go.”

Eddie shakes his head. “No. I’m not leaving. I can defuse this.”

Buck looks more terrified than Eddie's ever seen him. "You were a medic!"

"We were walking into IED fields all the time," Eddie explains as he bends down, studying the homemade device. "You think I didn't learn how to defuse a bomb on the off chance I might have to?"

"Eddie," Buck says, and he sounds wrecked.

"Hey," Eddie says, looking up at him. He lets his confidence shine through; he might not have faced this particular bomb before, but he needs to do this or Buck's dead, they're both dead, and they have a kid to get home to. "I'm not gonna let you die, you hear me?"

Buck doesn't say anything.

Eddie stands smoothly, hands up in front of him. Less to protect himself and more so that he shows Buck he's taking this seriously. "I'm getting you out of this, Buck. I promise.”

“It’s not that.” Buck’s eyes drop to the bomb, then back up. He swallows, shakes his head. “You can’t do that in time.”

“I can,” Eddie says. There’s no other option; Eddie isn’t leaving Buck here to die.

Buck sounds angry when he says, “You can’t stay and watch me die!”

I can, is on the tip of Eddie’s tongue, but he doesn’t say. He peels off his gloves and lets out a shaky breath. “Cap?”

“Eddie,” Bobby sounds strong but concerned. “You can’t do this.”

“I have to,” Eddie says, watching the time tick further away from them. “Buck doesn’t have that long.”

Bobby doesn’t want him to do this; the brass probably don’t want him to do this, and the bomb squad definitely won’t, but Eddie’s not about to let his best friend die because of red tape. “Eddie, if this goes wrong—”

Buck dies. 

The words ring out and Eddie refuses to acknowledge them. 

“It won’t.” Looking up at Buck, he begs him to understand. “We’re getting out of this.”

“Chris,” Buck says, a pleading note to his voice. 

Eddie nods. “You think I wanna go home, look him in the eye and tell him I left you alone?”

Buck’s eyes widen, his lips parting and he closes his eyes. “I’m scared.”

“I know,” Eddie says quietly. He shifts closer to the bomb, tries to get a grip on his emotions when his hands shake. He can’t afford anything to go wrong. 

“Eddie.” Buck’s voice is quiet. “If you stay—”

Eddie shrugs, peeling back the debris from around the device. It’s not unlike some of the shoddily made IEDs when he was in Afghanistan. At least the ones he remembers taking apart and putting back together a hundred times until he understood them. Blowing out a slow breath, he ignores the timer, the red light hovering over Buck, and concentrates on the device itself. 

“Tell me about Mango,” he says, when the silence draws on too much. 

Buck huffs a sigh. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“I’m trying to distract us both,” Eddie admits. “I need you to talk, Buck.”

Silence. Then, quietly, “You’ll watch me die.”

It’s not what Eddie wants to talk about and he feels chilled. Swallowing down the urge to snap back, he’s suddenly glad for the kit they brought with them. “Shit.”

“Eddie,” Buck says again, louder. “Please—”

“Buck,” Eddie snaps. “Neither of us is dying, but if I can’t get this bomb to stop, I’m not leaving you to die alone!”

________________

Eddie sheds his jacket. 

It’s hot; sweat running down his forehead and he can only imagine how Buck’s doing. 

The bomb is complex, but Eddie can do this. The timer won’t let him rest for a second more than he needs to. Buck’s breathing heavy. Bobby and the others have stopped talking. 

Silence descends and Eddie takes a deep breath. 

“I’m having a niece,” Buck says, breaking the silence. 

Eddie sends him a silent thanks, and exposes the wires. “Yeah?”

“Maddie told me last night,” Buck explains. His arms are straining from holding still so long and Eddie wishes he could go faster, but he can’t get this wrong. “I was gonna tell you later.”

“They have a name yet?”

Buck shakes his head carefully. “No. I keep trying to convince them Eva is a great name.”

Eddie laughs, sticks the clippers between his teeth and gets his fingers between the wires. The light is dangerously close to his left hand and he takes a few deep breaths. “Why not Edie?”

There’s a laugh there, Eddie knows, but Buck keeps still. “Fuck you. Not while I’m near death.”

“Sorry,” Eddie says. He cuts one of the wires, biting at his bottom lip. 

It takes Buck a little longer to speak; Eddie cuts another wire, thinks he’s narrowed down the one for the timer. He doesn’t wanna cut that one. “I love you.”

Eddie pauses. “Don’t.”

“Please,” Buck says quietly. “I need to—”

“You think I don’t know?” Eddie glances at the timer, then looks up at Buck. 

Buck swallows. “Eddie.”

Eddie shakes his head, focuses back on the task at hand and cuts another wire. “Don’t say goodbye,” he says, through gritted teeth. “Please.”

“I love Chris,” Buck says, plowing on as if he can’t hear Eddie loud and clear. Eddie ignores him, tries to pick up a bit of speed because he can’t do this, he can’t. “He’ll be a good cousin.”

Oh.

Fuck no. “Buck.”

“You’ll be a great uncle,” Buck says, his voice wobbling. “Mango’s lucky.” Then, quietly, “I’ve been lucky.”

“Please,” Eddie whispers again, fingers trembling as he narrows down the last couple of wires. The timer’s picked up speed and he can feel worry clawing at his chest. “Buck—”

Buck sobs and Eddie’s heart shatters. “I’m lucky you came to LA. That you listened to Bobby. That you—that you were mine, even for a little—”

“No,” Eddie snaps, isolating the last wire. “You’re not dying and you don’t get to—”

0:10. 

“Eddie—”

0:07. 

“No, stop—”

0:05.

“Eddie!”

__________

“You can let go,” Bobby says. 

Eddie blinks, stares down at the device, then up at Bobby. “Bobby?”

Concerned, Bobby slides a hand down Eddie’s arm, takes the clippers from hands that won’t work. “Eddie, you with me?”

“Buck,” Eddie says, forcing himself to shaky feet. 

“Outside,” Bobby says. He meets Eddie’s gaze, holds it. “You checked out.”

Eddie collapses forward and Bobby catches him. Eddie can’t stop the trembling, from gasping out Buck’s name. 

“You did it,” Bobby says, holding him. “You did it, Eddie, you can breathe.”

_______

The water washes away almost everything. 

The heaviness remains in Eddie’s chest and he can’t stop the racing of his heart. 

When he comes out of the showers, he sits on the bench. 

Buck’s at the hospital, everyone clamouring to make sure he’s okay. Eddie feels adrift without him, like he’s gonna float away if he doesn’t find something to ground him. He’s talked to Chris; made sure Carla can drop him off when he and Buck make it back home. If Buck wants to go with him. He doesn’t know if��

“Hey.”

Eddie’s head snaps up. Buck’s crouched in front of him, hands on Eddie’s knees. 

“You keep checking out on people,” Buck says quietly. 

“You’re okay,” Eddie whispers. 

Buck nods, then breaks, surging forward and dragging Eddie into a hug. Eddie holds on, buries his face in Buck’s neck. “Eddie, fuck, Eddie.”

Eddie doesn’t know what to say. He holds on, revels in the feel of Buck beneath his hands. 

When Buck pulls back, he presses a hand to Eddie’s face. He’s shaking, Eddie realises. That, or Eddie is and they’re just a mess of shaking and heavy breathing. It should be gross, but it just means they’re both alive. “If you ever do that again, I’ll kill you myself.”

“Do you,” Eddie starts, cuts himself off. “You can’t ask me to leave. Ever. You can’t ask me to leave you alone.”

Buck stares, then nods quickly. “Okay. But you, you think I wanted you there? Chris needs us both, okay?”

Eddie nods. “I couldn’t leave you,” he says again. “I can’t do this if you’re not right next to me.”

The kiss is expected. The hand to the back of his head is soft. 

The ground beneath his feet is solid.         

[violetlilysunshine]

Late Night

Chris Evans x Female Reader

Summary: You meet Chris working in a bar, before he invites you to his house after closing.

WC: 3,525

Warnings: maybe a quick make out?? idk if I need to warn that, but better safe then sorry. Fluff, fluff, fluff 

A/N: I’m sort of feeling a part two, because I’ve been in such a fluffy turned smutty mood recently. Anyone down?? Lemme Know :)

Tagging the lovelies that wanted this! @maximeevansblog @saltyflowermakertaco

MASTERLIST

You’ve been working in this small bar for years now; it mainly catered to older folks, the owners having fallen in love with the 40s and 50s and themed their bar after that. You quickly fell in love with the decades as well, hearing the old music and seeing all of the older people’s faces light up, reliving their glory years. However, usually, there were a couple younger groups there to relish in the theme a bit.

You started as a waitress at 18, trying to work your way through college. Quickly, you moved up to bartender, before one slow night when you randomly decided to sing along to one of the songs that the Thursday night live band always played. They were a pretty good group, and you soon found yourself listening to the songs they played in your free time. After you sang with them, the owners decided to add you to the regular Thursday night entertainment, still bartending on other nights.

You were nearing the end of your set, just two more songs to go before you could take off the heels you had ridiculously decided to wear tonight. They were very 50s and you loved the look, but, carelessly, you hadn’t broken them in yet. You thought you would be fine, but your typical little dance during Fly Me to the Moon had suffered greatly. However, they matched your midi-navy-polka-dot dress and your pin-up style curls, so it wasn’t a total loss.

“Alright everybody, we’re getting close to that time of the night,” you hummed into the microphone, “for this next one we’re gonna slow things down a bit. To those of you I’ve been watching sit in your chairs all night, you’ve only got two more chances to ask your ladies to dance. Even if you don’t know how, ask her anyway, she'll love it.” you joked.

The band started to play Paul Anka’s Put Your Head on My Shoulder, a personal favorite of yours.

“And remember, if anyone needs a partner, I’m ready and willing,” you joked as the intro played. Quite a few times, older men who no longer had a partner took you for a spin for a song or two and you loved it.

You hummed a bit before you started singing along.

As you were singing, you watched a few of the younger guys in the back finally bring their girls out on the floor. Smiling as you watched them, you swayed back and forth.

You kept going with the song, almost at the end, glad that someone hadn’t asked you to dance, because your feet were really killing you.

You finally finished it off, earning a small applause as you twirled with the mic.

“Alright y’all, last song of the night and you know what that means as well,” you spoke to the crowd, “last call for alcohol,” you sang out.

You pointed back at the bar, and your friend who was tending tonight, before she waved at the group. A few people left the dance floor to get a drink as you continued your end of the night spiel, “fellas still sitting by themselves, last chance to take a spin on the floor. I see you still sitting there in the back! It’s a short song, I promise,” you chastised the last table you saw still sitting there.

Two couples from that table got up to dance, leaving one man sitting by himself. You felt kind of bad for turning everyone’s attention to him, but you had offered earlier to dance if anyone needed a partner, so the ball was in his court.

You signaled to the band to start up and spoke, “alright here we go,” into the mic.

It’s Been a Long, Long Time kicked off, and you instantly swayed. The band didn’t usually play this song, but after your Marvel obsession kicked in, you convinced them to add it to the set list.

You sang away, loving life, but your eyes didn’t leave the man in the back. He was obscured by shadows - probably purposefully - but you felt drawn to him already. Something about him sent tingles down your spine.

Before you knew it, the song was over. You took a small bow before turning and pointing at your band, getting the audience to applaud them individually.

“Thanks everybody, have a good night and drive safe. Hope to see you next week!” you spoke quickly and everyone filed off the dance floor to collect their things.

“Thanks, you guys, that was a good show!” you spoke to the band before you rolled up your mic cord and packed it away backstage. As soon as it was safely in its case, you took a seat on one of the saxophone cases and started rubbing your feet.

Soon, the band came back to put their instruments away and you reluctantly gave up your seat. You headed to the bar to sit with your friend while she finished cleaning up; this gave you a chance to rest your feet a little more before attempting to maneuver yourself home.

You glanced around the room quickly and everyone had cleared out except the back table. They were all standing, putting on jackets, and just beginning to file out the door. The couples went first hand-in-hand, followed by the single man. You looked back at your friend and began to make small talk about the next night, seeing as you were off, before you felt a tap on your shoulder.

“That was a great set,” the man spoke out in a low raspy voice, “I wish I had a dance partner.”

“Thank you, but if I remember correctly, I did offer to dance with anyone. Anyone included you, Chris,” you quipped back lightly, chuckling.

“Well, doll, the way you were stumbling about up there, I didn’t want to risk it,” he joked back, “and you know who I am?”

“I’m gonna head in the back to finish cleaning up and then we can go,” your friend spoke, gently tapping your forearm. You usually carpool to work because you live a few houses down from each other and it just makes sense.

“Alright, sounds good,” you answered her before turning back to Chris, “well I did just sing Steve and Peggy’s song. I wouldn’t be doing it justice if I didn’t know at least its major history. And I don’t think I was stumbling.”

“Okay, fair,” he answered, “maybe stumbling wasn’t the right word, but I can tell your feet hurt in those shoes.”

A small silence settled between the two of you as you got lost in his eyes, barely registering what he had said. His lips curled into a small smile as he gazed back. His eyes darted from yours to your lips for only the slightest second, before wandering down to your feet, which you were rolling slightly on the leg of the barstool, attempting to massage them a little. He looked back into your eyes again, his smile growing. The tension in the room rose quickly, and you began to get a little hot under his gaze. You were wondering how you ever got so lucky to have Chris freaking Evans looking at you like that.

“I’d offer to get you a drink, but you did say last call a little while ago,” he spoke slowly.

“That I did,” you answered, “maybe next time.”

“Or, I could take you somewhere else,” he offered lightly, his voice raising in pitch.

“Hmm, I don’t know if my feet are up for it,” you said softly, “and I don’t know where else we would go on a Thursday night. Everyone is probably announcing their own last call.” You were surprised by your own confidence in front of him. You had no idea how you were keeping it together, let alone flirting.

“Another option,” he suggested, “I could offer you a nightcap at my place. Or maybe coffee? A glass of wine?”

“Eager there are we?” you quipped.

“Well, what can I say, that last song did it for me,” he chuckled, “but really, it would be totally casual, no expectations.”

You thought for a moment, weighing the options. He probably wasn’t a murderer, or a kidnapper. He was probably one of the gentlest guys you could go home with, and lord knows you’ve taken a few risks with others.

“Totally casual doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Really?” he asked, “great! Do you have a car here?”

“No, we carpool,” you said, gesturing at your friend who had just walked back into the room.

“Ready to go?” she asked.

“Actually I was going to head out with Chris,” you said, looking at him while you spoke.

“Oh, okay,” she said, her voice dropping slightly, “well, I’ll lock up the front and we can head out the back together then.”

“Great,” Chris answered, his eyes never leaving you.

You slipped your shoes back on and stepped down from your stool. You grabbed your purse from next to you and turned to grab your jacket, which was no longer on the back of your chair. You looked up and saw Chris holding it open for you and you slipped your arms in, your heart swooning wildly. You smiled at each other and followed your friend out the back.

You hugged her quickly, whispering “I’ll send you my location,” in her ear. After all, a girl can’t be too careful.

You followed Chris to his car around the front of the building, where he opened the door for you before jogging around to the driver’s side.

His car was nice, as to be expected, but not flashy and you enjoyed his modesty. It smelled freshly cleaned - a big plus - but also rode incredibly smoothly. You were more than content to drive around with him, listening to pop songs and belting out musicals, but before you knew it, he was pulling into his driveway.

He got out first, stepping out quickly. You waited half a second, sending your location to your friend quickly. As you were reaching for the door handle, it was being pulled from the outside. Always a gentleman, he is.

Chris flashed you a charming smile as you stepped out, swinging your purse over your shoulder.

“This way, darlin’,” he spoke lowly, shutting the car door. His hand was quick to find a home on your lower back, gently guiding you towards the front door.

Once up the stairs, he crossed in front of you, unlocking the door and slowly pushing it open. The alarm on the wall chirped, signaling the opening of the front door. Chris quickly bent down with his hands in front of his knees, preparing for the impact. Dodger came flying around the corner having heard the chirp, and slammed right into his dad’s hands before jumping onto his dad’s legs begging for pets.

“Hey bubba, how you doin’?” Chris spoke to his best friend, rubbing his ears, “this here is Y/N, be nice to her buddy, no jumping.”

Dodger quickly took notice of you and immediately tried to jump onto your legs, a greeting you weren’t necessarily against, but since Chris said no, you quickly pushed your hand down and met him on the ground. He sat at your feet, immediately accepting your presence.

“He never does that!” Chris spoke, shocked at how quickly Dodger took to you.

“What can I say? I must be magic,” you joked and shrugged at him, making him laugh.

“Well let’s move out of the doorway, yeah?” Chris asked before closing the front door behind you.

Chris moved to the side of the hallway quickly; he kicked off his shoes and encouraged you to do the same. You happily followed suit, aching to get those damn heels off again. You sighed in contentment once your bare feet hit the cool hardwood floor, throwing your head back slightly, closing your eyes, and breathing deeply.

“That bad, huh?” Chris chuckled, waiting for you at the end of the hall.

“Oh yeah, I definitely have to get used to those before I try to wear them again,” you answered back.

“Well, follow me and we’ll figure out that drink I offered.”

You set your purse on the bench next to your shoes before following him into the kitchen. He strolled around the island, resting his forearms on the island.

“Take a seat, doll,” he encouraged you, gesturing to the barstools on the other side.

Usually you wouldn’t have obliged so quickly, offering to help him make whatever, but given the state of your feet, you hopped up quickly.

“Alright, so you have a lot of options, water as always, coffee, beer - my personal favorite - tequila, a slew of other liquor, juice, soda, milk, - which would be weird but whatever - wine, take your pick,” he said smiling at you.

“Coffee sounds good to me, to be honest,” you answered quietly. You would’ve chosen beer simply because it was his favorite, but you weren’t a big fan if you’re being honest.

“Coffee it is, gorgeous,” he answered, filling the pot with water and loading in the grounds, “milk, creamer, sugar, black? What do you like?”

“Milk and sugar would be good.”

“You sure? I’ve got peppermint creamer,” he coaxed you.

“On second thought...” you chuckled, taking him up on his offer.

“Alright, doll, peppermint it is,” he laughed.

Soon the coffee was ready and as excited to try the peppermint creamer as you were, you could’ve watched him flutter around the kitchen for days. He handed you a sleek navy blue mug, taking a red one himself.

“Shall we head to the living room?”

“Whatever you want, it’s your house,” you laughed.

“Alright, follow me,” he said, leading the way, “you too, Dodge,” he called over the island. Dodger had been sitting at his feet the whole time, watching his dad.

He settled into one arm of the couch, pulling the coffee table closer to rest your mugs on. He placed his mug down and gestured for you to join him. You sat on the other end of the sofa, gently, looking over at him. He threw an arm over the back of the couch, kicked his feet out in front of him, and turned his body towards yours. Dodger watched you sit down and looked at you, almost saying “you’re in my spot,” before turning around and going over to his bed by the fireplace.

“How’re your feet doing now?” he asked you.

“They’re okay, it may take a few days to recover,” you laughed back, turning to face him as well. You held your mug in one hand, bringing the other to your foot as you swung your legs up at your side.

Chris reached over towards your feet, pulling them into his lap, “here let me,” he spoke.

You blushed lightly at the very domestic action, but who would say no to a beautiful man rubbing their feet? He massaged them gently and you let out a little groan.

“You really don’t have to do that, but you’re so good at it I don’t want you to stop,” you told him.

“Well then I won’t stop, darlin’.”

He looked at you from across the couch, making your heart swoon again. You let out the quietest moan, enjoying the work of his hands, and closed your eyes.

Chris laughed lightly, whispering something to himself under his breath. You were a little lost in the moment, so you didn’t hear him.

“Sorry, what was that?” you asked him.

“Oh, nothing, just talking to myself,” he answered. You knew that wasn’t the case, but let it rest anyway; it couldn’t have been too important.

Chris started asking you about your work and friends and family, what kind of movies you liked, and music preference of course. You asked him as well, really getting to know each other. He had stopped rubbing your feet a long time ago, but kept them in his lap, an arm thrown across them, rubbing your shins and ankles lightly. Dodger was snoring loudly across the room, and had been for quite a long time. The both of you were so lost in the conversation, that you didn’t realize how late it had gotten. You glanced out the window behind him, beginning to see the sunrise.

“Oh my goodness, what time is it?” you asked him, chuckling.

He glanced at his phone quickly, “almost 5:00,” he said with wide eyes, “I didn’t realize it had gotten so late.”

“I’m so sorry,” you said a little embarrassed, “I’ve stayed way too long, I’ll just get out of your hair.” You began to pull your legs out of his lap, but he locked them down.

“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to,” he spoke quietly, “I’ve really enjoyed your company.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to overstay my welcome…” you trailed off.

“Positive, sweetheart. Please, stay.”

“Okay, if you’re sure,” you asked him, raising an eyebrow. He nodded slightly at you. “Then I'll stay,” you said, settling back into the couch.

“Can I get you another cup?” he asked, gesturing to your mug.

“Sure,” you answered lightly, handing it to him. He got up and trailed into the kitchen. You waited half a second before following him.

Chris heard you walk into the kitchen, turning around to look at you quickly, “sorry, can I get you something else?”

“No, I’m fine,” you answered.

“Oh, well, uh… I would’ve brought your mug back to you,” he chuckled.

“Oh that’s okay, I felt weird just sitting there,” you laughed lightly.

“Oh, okay,” he chuckled back, “well, since you’re here now, can I offer you breakfast?”

You didn’t realize how hungry you’d gotten until he offered, “only if I can help,” you responded.

“Oh well, that’s a deal breaker, darlin’,” he answered, almost seductively.

“Well then no breakfast for me,” you laughed.

He was starving too, only having had a small dinner before he went to the bar last night. He didn’t know when you’d eaten last, so you must be hungry as well.

“Well, maybe there is one way, you can help,” he said in a high pitched voice.

“What can I do?” you asked quickly.

“Come here,” he said.

You walked around the island you had been leaning on, joining him between it and the cabinets on the wall. Chris extended a hand towards you. You took it quickly and allowed him to guide you closer to him. Once you were fully in front of him, he dropped your hand and grabbed both of your hips. He picked you up quickly, surprising you, before setting you on the counter.

You laughed lightly at him, “okay, now what?”

“Now, you sit there and look pretty while I make breakfast,” he chuckled out, standing between your knees, keeping a little distance between the two of you.

“Chrissssss,” you whine out at him.

“What, doll?” he asks, taking a step closer to you as you wrap your hands around his shoulders.

“I can do more than just sit here.”

“Oh, really?” he asks, taking another step towards you, now standing between your thighs, almost flush to the counter.

“Yeah, I can,” you breathe out, barely able to contain yourself now that he’s slotted between your legs.

“Nope, darlin’, this is enough help. Promise,” he says quietly.

Chris glanced down at your lips quickly before looking back into your eyes. He ran his hands up your thighs, starting at your knees, before settling onto your hips again. The temperature in the room seemed to rise at an unbelievable rate as you stared into each others’ eyes. You could feel his breath on your lips, you were sure he could feel yours as well, the smell of coffee and peppermint radiated between you. He slowly leaned in and connected your lips.

It was like time stood still. He moved one of his hands around to your lower back, pulling your body to the very edge of the counter and flush against his chest. The other hand stayed firmly on your hip, digging in just a little. You wrapped your arms around his neck even tighter as you molded your lips together. He licked your bottom lip slightly, asking for entrance, which you granted. He explored your mouth just a little bit before pulling back, breathless, and resting his forehead against yours.

“Well, that was, uh…” he spoke.

“Yeah,” you answered, breathless as well.

You held his gaze for another second before moving forward and kissing him once again. You pecked him sweetly, before mumbling against his lips.

“I’ll let you cook, as long as you let me clean up,” you laughed a little before connecting your lips again.

Chris let the kiss hang just a little longer than a peck before pulling back completely. He pecked your forehead quickly, before answering.

“No,” he said firmly, turning around and letting out a loud laugh, one you knew so well.

You laughed right back at him, watching him start to cook and shaking your head to yourself. How did you get so lucky?

[andreafmn]

I’m Not Afraid - Chapter 2

Word Count: 4,585

Characters: Female Reader Argent Character, Original Male Argent Character, Derek Hale, Allison Argent, Scott McCall, Stiles Stilinski, Isaac Lahey, Lydia Martin, Chris Argent, Jackson Whittemore

Story Description: (Y/N) Argent arrived at Beacon Hills to put to rest her father’s sister, Kate Argent. For the first time, her family has decided to settle down and sustain a life in this interesting small town. After 17 years, (Y/N) has the opportunity to establish interpersonal relationships but will she be ready to face the complications that come with relating to her cousin’s, Allison, friends; especially, the infamous Derek Hale. She will face the adventure of being associated with the Derek and McCall pack as well as being faced with the discovery of certain aspects of her life she never imagined.

*DISCLAIMER* I do not own in any way Teen Wolf, all credits of the pre-established characters, script, and storyline belong to Jeff Davis and MTV Network. The only thing I own is Argent Reader insert, her immediate family, and her storyline, as well as her effects in the others’ storyline.

Chapter: 2/?

A/N:  SOFT DEREK, SOFT DEREK!!!!! If you enjoy my writing I’ll also be posting them in AO3 and Wattpad along with other stories (I also hope to start taking requests if ya’ll want) Hope you enjoy and all constructive criticism is encouraged.

<- Previous | Next ->

Chapter 2

5:00 am my phone read. 

It was usual for my brain to be awake at this hour. Since before I can remember it was part of the schedule I followed, everywhere I went. It was a small thing, but the sense of normalcy was a comforting friend. It made sense to follow a routine I could have anywhere. I was out of bed and into workout clothes, ready for a quick jog around the woods. 

I started off with a slow and comfortable trot before speeding up once I reached the tree-filled terrain. The smell of wet soil, the sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling, the crunching of leaves under my feet was oddly comforting. There was a strange pull that came from the heart of Beacon Hills. I had lived in many places in my short lifetime but this place was different, the atmosphere was different, the people were different. One of those people was Derek Hale, the mysterious, broody, sarcastic man that had bumped his way in. 

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

"Why are you stopping?" He asked, a small chuckle escaping his mouth. 

"How did you get here? Where the hell did you come from?"

"You're not the only person who jogs in this town and this happens to be the trail I take. You know, you should work out on a trail that is closer to your house. Makes it easier to actually go back."

I looked around. Once again, I had trailed off and didn't know where I was. "Lucky for you, I have a great memory. We can finish off running and I'll instruct you back to your house."

"You know you sound like a stalker." We started to jog once again.

"How so?" 

"Well, you've only been there like two or three times and you already know the way back. Creepy!"

"Oh, come on, it means that I have a very sharp memory. Unlike you who can't seem to remember what house you live in."

"Touché."

The con and occasionally laughing at something. It felt good talking to him, almost natural. There was a supernatural attraction that I felt when I was near him, an unusual need for his closeness. Our relationship came easy, as the cliché would have it, it felt like I had known him all my life. 

We ran for about an hour and a half before we turned back. "I think it's time we went back. You have school in an hour."

"Whoa, take the stalking down a notch."

"Oh, come on, I went to that school before you, I think I know the schedule."

"Alright, grandpa. Let's head back. It's time for your breakfast smoothie and then some bingo."

"Very funny." He ruffled my hair whilst fake laughing.

"I try." We ran and ran until I came into view of the curb that led to the house. "Well, this is my exit. Would it be too much to ask for you to take me to school?"

"Not a problem. Meet you back here at 7:45?"

"That would be perfect." He kissed my cheek and left to run to where I believe was his house. My face turned red, and I ducked inside.

"Mom? Dad?" I entered the kitchen and noticed a note over a covered plate. "Left for work early. Eat your food and go to school." I read out loud.

I took my time getting ready for school. My bag was already packed, as was my lunch. A long shower and a slow breakfast were in store as I awaited Derek's black Camaro to roll into my driveway. 

"Thanks so much for the lift. I packed you some breakfast." 

"No problem and thank you." He smiled. "You know, maybe after school, I can finally give you a tour around town. So you can familiarize yourself."

"That would be wonderful." I checked my schedule. "Actually, you can pick me up an hour before school ends. I have study hall at that hour, and no one would care if I left."

"I think I can make that arrangement." He looked at me showing a perfect set of white teeth and a smile that would make anyone melt. "But wouldn't your parents know that you left school? I mean, you won't be there when they go pick you up."

"I'll just tell them Allison gave me a ride or walked home," I said thinking of more excuses I could tell my parents. Distracted by my thoughts, my hand started reaching out to the powered-off radio and I didn't notice that so did Derek's. A sharp current went up my arm as our hands make contact. We both quickly pulled away and I could feel the blood rushing to my face turning it a deep shade of red.

"Sorry, I shouldn't impose. It's your car." I spoke up, quick to start picking at the skin around my fingernails to busy my hands. Derek perceived the nervous nature of my actions and stopped my fussing by putting one of his hands over mine. 

"Don't worry it's fine. Just put the radio on whatever station you like." He smiled reassuringly and I reached to the radio and just turned it on, leaving it in the last station it had been on.

"Ugh, I absolutely dread going to school. Most of it I'm gonna forget either way."

"I'd tell you to ditch but that would be shame on me, so I won't. But think about it, this day you'll only get 7 hours of school and then you can hang out with me. Best present ever."

"Yeah, don't think so highly of yourself. Maybe I'll just wander around town until I find my way home."

"Very funny." He stopped at the drop-off zone. "This is your stop."

"Thanks again for the ride, awfully kind actions from such a sour wolf" I laughed at his scowl. "I'll see you in the afternoon."

"Looking forward to it." I exited the car and he waited till I was on the sidewalk to speed off.

"Was that Derek Hale that just dropped you off?" I turned around and was met face-to-face with Scott.

"Yeah. What's the problem?" Not that it will matter.

"You shouldn't trust him, he's bad news."

"Honestly, Scott, I understand your good intentions, but I'll sort out the wrong kind on my own terms." He looked taken aback at my response, probably thinking I would not talk back.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, but he is not a person that anyone should be with." With that, he left with worry evident on his face.

I understood that he was looking out for my "well-being”, but he didn't know me and I'm pretty sure he didn't know Derek either. Maybe that's what Derek meant when I met him. Everyone thinks he is a bad person, but he hasn't done anything wrong in my eyes.

I walked over to my locker and started exchanging my books. Closely next to me I could hear Scott talking to Allison about me and Derek, and my name should be out of his mouth. Once I finished with my locker, I slammed the door and they both stopped talking, noting my close presence. I walked past them feeling their worried stares burning my back. This was going to be a hell of a year. The only thing that could get me through it was the acquaintance relationship I have with Isaac. I did text him a bit last night but mostly helping him with homework. Lord knows he needs all the help he can get.  

We all stood around in gym class as Stiles and Erica climbed the rock wall. Everyone else had gone including Scott who mastered a great fall. Stiles appeared to have fun, but Erica would let out sounds of discomfort and shortness of breath as she climbed. At a point, she stopped. 

"Erica, are you dizzy?" Coach said. "Is it vertigo?" 

"Vertigo is the dysfunction of the vesicular system of the inner ear" Lydia stated in a mocking tone. "She's just freaking out." 

"Erica!" Coach screamed.

"coach, maybe it’s not safe. you know she's epileptic." Allison stated. How does no one care? 

"Wh-why does no one tell me this?!" Coach Finstock questioned annoyed. "Erica, just fall back, there's a mat that will catch you." 

She slowly let go of the wall and made her descent. No one seemed to care that the poor girl was shaken to the core; they all laughed.

When class was over everyone headed to their respective locker rooms to change. Something inside me kept pulling me back to the gym, so I walked back as I put on my shirt. As I opened the doors, I saw Erica fall from the wall and luckily into Scott's arms. He slowly put her on the floor as the class ran in behind us. 

"Put her on her side," I stated. 

"How did you know?" Allison whispered to Scott.

"I just felt it." He whispered back. 

After Erica had calmed, the coach called an ambulance to take her to be checked at the hospital and the day went by normally. I was currently in my "last" period. Tapping my nails in a rhythmic pattern waiting for the stupid bell to ring. Only 5 more minutes and I would be out of here. This was the first time I had done something like this. I always stick by the rules and make sure to follow all of them. My heart was racing, and my palms were sweating. In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Cue the bell. I grabbed all my things and stuffed them in my bag. I used to my advantage the fact that everyone was piled in the hallway and headed outside. Waiting for me was Derek in his black Camaro. Suddenly my heart steadied its pace and I felt relaxed.

"Hey there, rebel." He smirked at me as I entered the car and buckled my seatbelt.

"Don't make small talk. Just go." I said whilst trying to hide by burrowing in the seat. If I could I would have jumped into the trunk to avoid any hidden stares from authority figures.

"Don't tell me you've never done this before." I shook my head no and felt my face growing warmer by the second. "Aw, you're so innocent. For a big mouth that is." I slapped his arm as hard as I could.

"Don't be rude." I crossed my arms, slouched down, and pouted. He looked over at me and laughed. That made me slouch farther down.

"Oh, come on. Don't get mad." He ruffled my hair and laughed once again when I swatted his hand away. "Yeesh, feisty."

"So, where's our first pit stop?" I asked whilst looking out the window not wanting to look at his face.

"A small diner I know. Wouldn't want you to starve." He smirked. "Might make you angrier."

"I am not angry, just annoyed."

"Got some feelings hurt?" He said laughing.

"Derek, don't be rude. You will regret it."

"Oh, what could you do?"

"Is that a challenge?" He didn't answer, just laughed. I rolled down the window and stuck my head out. "HELP!! This man is kidnapping me!! HELP!! Bloody he...!" 

My sentence was cut short by Derek's hand pulling me down by my jacket and onto the seat again.

"Why did you do that?" I asked innocently. I had caused the faces of a few people on the street to look at the car in horror.

"You know why! That was totally uncalled for."

"I told you that being rude was something you would regret. I'm not one to say this a lot but, I told you so." 

He tried his best to keep a tight scowl on his face but in a matter of seconds, we were laughing at my past actions.

"Whatever, we're here." He turned off the car and went to the passenger side to open the door for me. 

"Why thank you," I said and took his extended hand to pull my weight up. 

"No problem." I smiled at his goofy courtesy but as we walked inside the establishment I could feel my heart beating faster by the second. "Table for two." Derek pointed at a booth made for two people exactly. Once we had sat down a lady maybe in her late thirties approached us to take our order.

"What do you want to order today, darlings?" She gave us a warm smile as she waited for our response.

"I'll have the bacon cheeseburger with some onion rings, a stack of pancakes, and some chicken fillets, a Diet Coke, and afterward some pie, please."

"Would you like the kitchen sink with that?" I said in shock. "I think I'll just get the, ummmm, bacon cheeseburger also with some onion rings and an iced tea. Maybe add some pie afterward too."

The lady laughed a bit, nodded, and smiled at us as she turned to the kitchen to put out our order. 

"So, someone's a bit hungry. Huh, sour wolf?" I chuckled.

"Why do you call me that?" He said somewhat annoyed.

"I don't know. It just fits you."

"How?"

"Cause you're very sour and you kind of look like a wolf. Hairy face and crazy hair. I don't know how to explain it. It's just a nickname, though. If it makes you mad I can just call you something else."

"I'm not mad. Just wondering." He slouched on the seat looking less tense. "How is it that I'm usually so bad with meeting people yet with you, I just clicked?"

"I don't know. I'm just special that way."

"Very funny."

"I know! I could take up a career in comedy." He chuckled as he threw a sugar packet at me. "So, since we are getting to know each other we should know basic things about one another. Let me start. What's your favorite color?"

"Maybe black or blue. What about you?"

"Totally red and black." The waitress came with our drinks. I took a sip of my iced tea and continued with the questions. "Favorite place to be?"

"That house in the woods where we met." I gave him a weird look.

"Why there? It barely stands with a foundation. What could possibly be there?"

"It's the house I used to live in before it burnt down. My family was in there." I choked on my drink when he said this.

"Oh my gosh, Derek. I'm so sorry I brought it up. We can drop the topic."

"Don't worry about it. It happened such a long time ago it's sometimes relieving talking about it." After there was an awkward silence, so Derek cleared his throat and asked a question. "Um, and what's your favorite place to be?"

"I'm not sure. Usually, I like places more because of the people I'm with. But if I had to choose probably the woods, it's the calmest place I know. The only place where you can actually be free."

"Wow, Ms. Argent. So poetic. It touched me." He pointed at his heart. "Right here."

"Very funny, now, favorite sport?" And the game went on even when our food served. Whilst eating we kept asking each other questions and getting to know each other profoundly. This has been the first time I had ever opened up to someone. It felt strange. Letting someone know small details about yourself. Making yourself vulnerable to them. Showing them how they could break you. But this was different. I felt like I was just becoming closer to him.

"We should do that someday. I mean the thought of just leaving for a whole day, not knowing where you are going, just finding an adventure."

"Definitely. You decide when the first time." I smiled at him.

"That's a deal." He looked down at his watch. "I think it's time I take you home. Don't want your parents to worry."

"Alright. Let's go." I grabbed my bag and was about to pay my part of the check, but he wouldn't let me. He grabbed the money I left and paid completely. "I don't understand the need of being such a gentleman if this wasn't a date. Just two people hanging out."

"So, this wasn't a date?"

"You thought it was?" I thought about it. "What do you classify a date per se?"

"An outing in which two people go out and get to know each other a little bit more." What he said made sense. It had never dawned on me that this could have been anything other than just a casual outing, but not being too well versed in normal social encounters, let alone dating encounters. 

"Alright, you win. I have officially gone on my first date."

"No way. This could not have been your first date." When he saw the serious look on my face, he stopped chuckling. "I'm so sorry you had to have given you such a crappy first date. I promise I'll make up for it one day."

"Deal." We even shook on it. "Now let's get going before my parents know I'm late."

During the drive back, he pointed out different key places I should know when going around Beacon Hills as well as easier routes to these places. Although I was heavily grateful for all the useful tips, my brain could hardly remember the first route he showed me. 

When we got to my house, I noticed that my father's car was not in there. I guess they haven't arrived yet. I said goodbye to Derek and entered the house, thanking him for a lovely afternoon. I changed into workout attire and, deciding to stay home, went to the basement and started working out. After half an hour of running and half an hour of physical training, I decided it was enough and went to take a shower. I noticed that my parents weren't home yet.

"I wonder what's holding them back?" After my shower, I continued my current read of Pride and Prejudice. But something was bothering me, a thought that wouldn't leave my head.

I'm leaving once the year is over. Getting close to Derek will fuck me up once I leave. I've never had to say goodbye to anyone. I can't start now. I'll need to start avoiding him. Don't know how, but I must try.

I went downstairs to get a glass of water when I heard a knock on the door. It was Uncle Chris.

"Hey, Uncle Chris. What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for your father. Is he here?"

"No, I haven't seen him. I got here and neither mom nor dad was here. Is something wrong?"

"No. Just couldn't reach his cell. I'm sure he's fine. Have a good night, sweetheart." He kissed my forehead and left. I started to worry. What if something had happened?

So, I decided to call him. Fortunately, he picked up.

"Dad, where are you?"

"Oh, honey, I forgot to tell you. Your mom and I will be out for the rest of the week. We left some money on the first drawer of the right side of the kitchen island and if you want you can stay with your uncle."

"But Uncle Chris came by and he didn't know where you were. Does he know you left?"

"Oh, I forgot to call him. I'll do that right now. Goodnight, munchkin, go to sleep."

"Goodnight, dad. Love you."

"Love you too." I hung up the phone and went upstairs completely forgetting about the glass of water I went to drink.

My phone buzzed and I looked at the caller ID signaling that Isaac was calling.

"Hey, Isaac."

"Hey, (Y/N). Um, do you think you can pick me up?" Isaac said in between short pants.

"Sure, where are you?" I asked. He told me where he was, and I took the keys to my mother's car to look for Isaac. He looked scared and frantic when I neared the spot, he told me about. His physique also looked different. Usually, he would walk cowering but now he stood tall and seemed a bit more buff. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just, um, do you think I could stay with you tonight?"

"I guess." I started driving to my house. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, totally. Just tired." I took the hint. He didn't want to talk, and I wasn't going to press on.

At my house, I arranged the guest room and got him spare clothes to change into. He thanked me and left for the bathroom. Something was wrong. But what?

***

Three days had passed.

Three days that I had stayed in my house for my daily workout.

Three days that my phone had been buzzing with messages from Derek asking where I was.

Because three nights before I had decided to avoid Derek at all costs.

The only way to leave it all behind is if you don't associate yourself with anyone. That way you won't feel any remorse or pain once you disappear. One time when I left was when I was approximately six or seven years old, and I had to say goodbye to Allison since we were sharing a room at that time. The second time was when I had to leave Josie. After that, I started familiarizing myself with the feeling of loneliness.  It wasn't that bad once you remembered the fact that you would always see your parents when you got home, and everything would be better. Although, these days I had housed Isaac in my house, rare was the occasion that we interacted other than doing homework. Isaac would come home late in the night and quickly went to sleep. But, he stayed in my spare room for two nights and told me he had found a place to stay. He left thanking me for my hospitality.

When I finished my workout, I ran upstairs and took a shower. I changed from my stinky workout clothes to a plain white shirt and black jeans, obviously paired with my leather jacket. Once dressed I went downstairs and grabbed some cash to buy myself a muffin and a big coffee. Finally, I found the keys to my beautiful matte black Harley Fat Bob. My father had gotten me this motorcycle about two years back when he noticed I just kept crashing cars. The only thing I never crashed was his motorcycle and because he was worried I would, he bought me my own. I tend to wreck a lot of stuff. It's not intentional, I'm just clumsy at times.

I opened the door to the garage and noticed it sitting in a corner covered by a blanket. Once I took it off, I smiled. I passed my hand over the beautiful color, the smooth surface, the cold metal. It all felt familiar. A part of me. I grabbed my helmet and got on it. Once I sat my body felt relaxed, at ease. A spark of adrenaline was shot through my body when the engine came to life.

I backed up from the garage and went to the local café store. While waiting to pick up my order I noticed Derek walking in with his jogging clothes on. He still hasn't noticed me, too busy looking at the menu. When my name was called, he looked at me and called my name, but I ran out of the café with my order ignoring him.

When I got to the school everyone was staring at me. The new chick was now badass. I walked in with my backpack slung over my shoulder easing towards my locker.

"Hey there, gorgeous." I closed the locker door to see Jackson standing next to me. I rolled my eyes.

"Hi, Jackson. What do you want?"

"I was just wondering when you were free."

"Oh, well from tomorrow to never gonna happen. Get down from the cloud, buddy."

"Oh, come on, we both know you want some of this." He motioned over his body.

"Get over yourself." I scoffed.

"Babe, it doesn't hurt to try."

"I believe she's not interested, Jackson." A strawberry blonde girl appeared. Her confidence struck me like lightning, a very apparent aura of dominance radiating from within her.

"Why don't you mind your own business, Lydia. I'm talking to her, not you. You've already ruined everything else."

"Well, I think she has no business with you so why don't you scram?" With a huff and a puff, Jackson finally gave in and I turned to greet my hero, who was surprisingly accompanied by Allison.

"Thank you, so much. He wouldn't take no for an answer."

"No problem. I'm Lydia, but you knew that."

"(Y/N). Argent." She motioned between Allison and me. "Cousins."

"Pleasure." Then the bell rang. "Guess I have a new best friend, (Y/N)." You guessed wrong.

I entered Mr. Harris' classroom and sat down next to Isaac and as usual Mr. Chatty Pants tried to hold a conversation from the table behind us. Seriously, how much can someone talk? I took out my notebook and started writing down everything the teacher was saying is the homework on the board. Stiles had finally gotten the hint and didn't talk to me the whole class. That was a relief. Maybe it was due to the fact he was too focused on the strawberry blonde who had saved my ass from Jackson.

The day went on quite smoothly except at lunch. It wasn't the same Erica that had fallen from the rock-climbing wall. She completely changed; a more confident walk, she was wearing makeup and tight-fitted clothing, and her hair was perfectly styled. She left the lunchroom after taking a bite off an apple seductively and Scott and Stiles followed, as did I. Curiosity had taken the best of me as to this overnight transformation.

She opened the front doors to the school and there he was. Derek Hale in his black Camaro with the biggest smirk on his face staring at Scott. When he directed his sight to me his smirk kind of fell but was brought up quickly. During that Erica had gotten inside the car and they left, together. I don't know why I was jealous because he meant nothing to me, but it broke my heart. I got nervous. I think Scott noticed because he looked at me worried.

"Are you okay, (Y/N)?" I nodded rapidly and out of breath. I had no idea what was happening.

"I think you're having a panic attack." Stiles pointed out handing me an inhaler.

"I used to have panic attacks, too." I inhaled a pump and my breathing seemed to normalize. "You okay now?"

"Yeah. Thanks." I handed him the inhaler.

"No, keep it. I don't need it anymore." I said a low thanks and walked back to school to head to my next class.

I felt extremely weird the rest of the day. Why did I feel that way when I saw Erica and Derek together? It wasn't like anything was going on between us. Also, he's far too old for me. Or maybe I'm too young. I don't know. But I couldn't shake off that sour taste of jealousy that the image of them left.

I knew I wanted to stay as far away as I could from hin but at this moment there was nothing more that I wanted than to be close to him.

Tag: @lokisgoddesofpower

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A/N: Please check out my last post about the fandoms I’ll be writing for. 

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

By Your Doorstep (Part 4)

Summary: The reader and Dean celebrate Tessa’s birthday with a big surprise before making a drastic change to their relationship...

Pairing: Doctor/Neighbor!Dean x reader

Masterlist

Word Count: 4,100ish

Warnings: language, angst, mentioned past sexual assault (not graphic)

A/N: Parts of this series are told from two different POV’s. Dean’s POV are written from limited third person. Reader’s POV are second person (like a typical reader insert). Enjoy!…

_________

Dean’s POV

Two Weeks Later

“Oh fuck yeah!” said Dean, jumping up and down in the driveway as he read over the letter in his hands. 

“Dr. Dean that’s a bad word,” said Emily, the five year old three houses down. Dean slapped a hand over his face as she rode past on her bike, her father laughing to himself.

“Hope it’s good news, Dean,” said Chris.

“Very. Sorry about that,” said Dean, Chris waving him off as Dean jogged back inside. He read over the letter again and looked through the packet. “Alright. As long as you keep a B average or above you’re golden kiddo. You get straight A’s anyways so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

Dean smiled and gathered up all of the documents, getting them together with Tessa’s birthday present. Y/N had tried to tell him that giving away his old iPhone was too much but all it did was sit in a drawer now when it worked perfectly fine. He was pretty sure she wasn’t going to be thinking about the phone at all once she found out about the grant.

He looked back at the bag on the table and frowned. Maybe she’d take it the wrong way, like he was trying to save her sister or their family or something like that. He could have given them the application and had them fill it out. They would have probably gotten it still. Dean knew his letter he’d included didn’t hurt but he didn’t want to be that guy. He was already a doctor, already helped Y/N with a job, already paid for dates and things. It was no issue for him at all and he knew she didn’t care about the money but he didn’t want to rub it in her face that he could help more than she could.

Dean grabbed his phone and called Cas, Sam stuck in some network client thing all night he’d told him. It rang a few times before it picked up, the echo in the background telling him he was on speaker.

“Deano!” said Benny. “Gonna make it over tonight after all?”

“Hey guys,” said Dean, sitting down on his couch. “You got the crew together?”

“Nah, just us and the girls. They’re still out shopping. What’s up?” asked Cas.

“You know Y/N?” asked Dean.

“The girl you’re clearly in love with? Yes we know her,” laughed Benny. Dean was quiet and heard them shift on the other end.

“Everything okay?” asked Cas.

“I think I fucked it up. I think I’m going too far too fast.”

“What do you mean?” asked Benny.

“Tessa, her little sister, she’s in high school and I applied for a grant on her behalf for her college and she got it,” said Dean.

“That’s a problem how?” asked Cas.

“I don’t want it to come off as me trying to save them or anything. I’m nervous she’s gonna get mad at me,” said Dean. His friends were quiet and knew a teasing comment wouldn’t come. “Guys.”

“Tell her you applied on a long shot and a grant is what helped you with school. You’re not saving the day, just sharing a benefit you got,” said Benny. “Shit I wish I’d had someone do that for me.”

“What’s going on Dean? You’re normally the last person to freak over shit,” said Cas. Dean sat back and stared up at the ceiling. 

“Talk to us bud,” said Benny.

“I like this girl and it’s been years and years since I had a girlfriend. You guys know I’m not good for more than a fuck,” said Dean.

“Lisa was a super bitch and you know that’s not true,” said Benny.

“I am in my thirties and I’ve never had a real relationship. I don’t even know how. I’m gonna fuck this up so bad. I know it.”

“Contrary to how often I call you a dick, you are one of the best people I’ve ever met,” said Cas.

“I agree and you know all our friends and especially Sammy would say the same thing. Brother you gotta relax. This girl from what you’ve said and everybody else says, well we ain’t never seen you so happy so stop freaking, go get ready for your date tonight and put some faith in this girl that she’s not gonna hurt you back,” said Benny.

“I didn’t say-”

“Dean, we’ve known you forever. We know when you’re scared. I know most people in your life end up hurting you but take it from us, not everyone will. I got a good vibe from her,” said Cas. 

“Me too,” said Dean quietly.

“You doing okay?” asked Benny. “In general you know.”

“Yeah. Most of the time I’m great now. The past few weeks have been awesome. I think maybe that’s why I keep freaking out over this girl. It’s like, fucking finally, I understand what a good relationship can be.”

“You been to Ketch lately?” asked Cas.

“No, not as a patient. I’m okay.”

“Well still go for a tag up every once in a while for us,” said Benny.

“I know. Never would have gone without you assholes getting on my back in the first place.”

“That’s what friends are for,” said Cas, Benny chuckling. “So where you guys going tonight?”

“Monico’s.”

“Fancy,” they both said and Dean rolled his eyes, smiling to himself.

“Goodbye assholes,” said Dean, hearing them laugh before he hung up. He sat up and took a deep breath. “Alright. Shower. Shave and fingers crossed tonight goes well.”

Reader’s POV

“Okay, presents before or after dinner?” you asked as you carried in a bag to Tessa’s room. 

“Before, obviously,” she said. 

“Alright, well I know you wanted something really badly this year,” you said. “Why don’t you open the green one first?”

“This feels like an iPhone box…” she said with a big smile. She tore off the paper and grinned. “Awesome! What one is it?”

“It’s a ten. It’s used but in really good condition. I got you a case and extra charger too,” you said. “We can swing to the store and activate it tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Y/N, really,” she said. She grabbed the card next and her eyes went wide when she saw the cash inside. “Y/N.”

“It’s your money you gave me. It’s yours. Buy whatever you want, okay?” you said. She nodded and unwrapped a few more small things, a book she’d been talking about, some make up you knew she’d use, a new pair of her nike running shorts that’d been on sale thankfully. You smirked when she picked up the last two presents in the bag. “Alright. I hope these are...suitable for you.”

She tore off the wrapping on one and started to laugh.

“It’s hot pink,” she giggled. “Why is it hot pink?”

“Cause vibrators come in a variety of colors,” you said with a laugh. “I will let you read through the charging instructions on your own and same for the other box. There is toy cleaner because yes you need to wash these things properly and I got some water based lube. Go with water based. It dries up faster but it works better to me. Oh and wash everything like five times before it goes anywhere near anything, okay?”

“Okay,” she laughed. “I can’t believe you actually bought me this stuff.”

“Can’t get pregnant off a toy,” you said.

“Definitely can’t do that,” said Dean, Tessa wide eyed as he popped his head into the doorway. She shoved the boxes back into the bag and he laughed. “I’m a doctor. Sex doesn’t bother me and I think your sister has a point.”

“Oh my God, I forgot he was here,” she said, running her hands over her face.

“I was wondering where you two ran off to,” he said. He stepped inside and pulled out a box from behind his back. “Happy birthday, Tessa.”

“Thanks,” she blushed. She undid the bow and paper, smiling as she opened the box. There was an envelope inside but she picked up the headphones and shook her head. “Dean I can’t accept this. It’s too much. I already know the iPhone must have been yours.”

“You are smarter than you look,” he said. “But I can’t accept your refusal of my present. I have new ones and those never get used and I’m bigger than you so you’re gonna lose this argument one way or the other.”

“I’d listen to him, Tessa. He gets his way when he wants it,” you said. She rolled her eyes but smiled.

“Thank you. People haven’t been nice to us the past couple years,” she said. You glanced down to the floor, Dean leaving his arm wrapped around your waist. 

“People weren’t all that nice to me either for a long time,” he said with a nod. “Someday when you’re able, you help somebody else out, understand?”

“Yeah,” she said with a nod.

“Open the envelope. This one’s a present to you both,” he said. You cocked your head as she tore it open, reading for a long time before she pulled out a paper and handed it to you.

“Dean,” you said, sitting down on her bed after you’d read it a few times. “Dean this…”

“It’s a grant. It’s very similar to a scholarship. I’m an alumni of Elmdale and the medical school there. Tessa you qualify and so I applied on your behalf a few weeks ago and you were accepted. The grant will cover half of four years of tuition,” he said.

“What does that mean?” asked Tessa.

“It means we will have to pay very little with financial aid,” you said. She was beaming and you shook your head. “You applied weeks ago?”

“After I met you two. This house seemed familiar to me for some reason until I remembered. Y/N I told you someone helped me when I was eighteen?”

“Yeah?”

“I think his picture is hanging in the hall,” he said.

“Our dad?” asked Tessa.

“He got me a job and helped me pay for part of my school. I came here once when I needed his help. Your father was a very good man and it’s clear his daughters are the same. Neither one of you deserves to go through all the pain I did. I don’t want you to. It was no trouble at all to do, I swear.”

“Tessa, I work at Dean’s office as a lab tech,” you said. She turned her head and you saw Dean nod. “I lost my job before. We were scraping by. Barely. We’re okay now but without this grant...it would have wiped out our inheritance. That was for weddings and down payments for houses. We can keep it now...we can keep the house now.”

“You hate this house though,” she said. “I hate this house.”

“Tessa-”

“We can downsize,” she said. “Y/N, every night you stare down at their bedroom door. It’s like we live with ghosts or something. It doesn’t have to be so tight. Do we really need a five bedroom house?”

“It’s not as tight anymore. We’ll talk about it. Let’s go celebrate all the good news,” you said. “I’ve been dying for a Monico’s steak.”

“She seemed pretty happy tonight,” said Dean as you sat on the front porch a few hours later. You hummed and rocked in your seat beside him, resting your head on his shoulder. “Did I overstep?”

“No. You were the boy in the mailroom, weren’t you. Dad used to talk about you sometimes. Mostly when I didn’t want to do something. He told me some people my age have it so much harder.”

“True. But you can’t compare one person’s struggles to another’s. It’s not fair to either one.”

“Would you sell this house if you were me?” you asked.

“I like that you live close by. I’d miss that. But it’s a lotta house for the two of you and it sounds like a change might be a good thing. You could downsize to somewhere else in the neighborhood and probably bank a good chunk of money for later on.”

“We could.” Dean was quiet, gears turning in his head. “What are you thinking of?”

“My house is a five bedroom too.”

“Yours is also newer,” you said. “And bigger.”

“Tell me if I’m crossing a line but...you guys...could stay there if you decided to sell this place. Temporarily. Or not temporarily,” he said. You stared up at him and he looked away. “Like I said, I’m sorry, I know it’s...I should go.”

“Hey. I’m not afraid of you.” His head turned back towards you and he swallowed thickly. “Tell me another secret and I’ll you one.”

“I think I I’m falling in love with you and I’m afraid I’m going too fast and that you think I’m creepy or weird deep down and I’m up to something when all I really see is me and my brother in you and your sisters places and I know how much it sucks and how much it hurts and I know you protect her from stuff she doesn’t even know about. I’m sorry for saying that about the house just now. I’d still like to see you though if that’s okay.”

“I think this is fast too but I also think that part of me fell for you the day you carried her home. You don’t want anything from us. Just to help and it’s not because you pity us or anything like that. If I’ve learned anything yet in life it’s that you don’t know when it’s gonna stop and there’s no use in wasting time.”

“What are you saying?”

“You willing to put up with a teenager, a service dog and someone who has not had a moment to themselves in two years?”

“As long as you don’t snore,” he smiled. You laughed and kissed his cheek. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t like this house anymore. If she doesn’t want it, I don’t want it. Maybe we can do some test runs, stay over for a weekend or two, see if we want to make it a not temporary thing.”

“That sounds great,” he smiled. “We’ll figure it out, sweetheart.”

Two Months Later

“I’m home,” you said on the way back from the store. You’d been staying at Dean’s for two weeks now after a nice couple closed on your old house. So far it’d been great and you were perfectly happy to stay there with him and Tessa for the foreseeable future. “I picked up some-”

“He is not my dad. I am eighteen,” said Tessa as she stormed over to the foyer. You glanced back to where Dean was over in the kitchen and sighed. “I want to go to Paulie’s tonight.”

“Who is Paulie?” you asked as you kicked off your boots.

“A friend,” she said.

“You’ve literally never mentioned him before,” you said, carrying some groceries through the family room and to the kitchen.

“That’s what I said,” said Dean as he peeled a potato at the island.

“I thought I said you’re not my dad so you can shut the fuck up.”

“Hey!” you shouted, Tessa freezing up. “Apologize to Dean.”

“He-”

“We are stable for the first time ever because of him. I trust Dean to make decisions for you when I’m not home. If he said no, then the answer is no. Go to your room,” you said. She grumbled and pounded her feet upstairs. You washed up and gripped the countertop. “I’m sorry. I can’t believe she said that to you.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be the bad guy,” he said as he picked up another potato. “Paulie what’s his face doesn’t sound like he wants anything other than in her pants so she can swear all she likes at me.”

“What’d she say exactly?”

“She wants to go over to Paulie’s tonight to hang out with some friends but I overheard her and Hailey talking earlier this week about a party and I don’t need a medical degree to put it together.”

“If she sneaks out I’ll kill her,” you said. You glanced down to Toast’s dog bowl and paused. “Dean what would happen if she drank on her medication.”

“She can’t drink alcohol on that stuff,” he said. 

“What would happen if she did.”

“She could have a seizure,” he said. 

“Tessa!” you shouted. You jogged upstairs and found her bedroom empty. “Tessa!”

The house was quiet and you put your hands on your head. 

“Toast!” you shouted, the dog trotting out from Dean’s bedroom. You immediately ran inside, Dean already upstairs and you saw her sitting out on the balcony in a chair, her face in her knees. 

“Can I…” said Dean and you nodded. You followed him outside, Dean walking over and squatting by her seat. “Tessa, what are you doing out here?”

“I wish I was normal, didn’t have a fucked up head.”

“I got one too,” he said.

“Do you have to take medicine for seizures? No?” she said.

“No but my dad used to beat me up,” he said. She turned and he nodded. “He would try to beat up my little brother too sometimes but I would take the hits when I could. Tessa, you can’t drink when you’re on your medicine. You just can’t.”

“I know that,” she said.

“You can’t sneak out and leave Toast behind either. It’s not safe.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Y/N and I get scared too is all.”

“You just pretend to like me cause you fuck my sister.”

“For the record, I don’t fuck your sister. Relationships are complicated. You might not realize this but I care about you for you. If I didn’t I would not want you in my house, in our house, and I wouldn’t get scared about you going to parties with guys that just want to use you for sex. I give a shit about you Tessa whether you believe me or not.”

“You don’t care,” she scoffed. “You feel sorry for us. Nobody on earth would ask two strangers to move in unless you-”

“Tessa you can think whatever you want about me. I’m not your father and I’ll never try to be him. But I sure as shit know how to be an older brother. So be pissed off and be rude and whatever else you want to. I’ve done this before with my own brother. You don’t scare me. The only thing that does is you getting taken advantage of or you getting hurt and Toast isn’t there to help. Someday you’ll get it through that thick skull of yours what the truth is but until then, I’ll be the asshole who doesn’t let you go to parties you’ll get hurt at.”

“You pity us.”

“I’m jealous of you.” She stared at him and you swallowed in the doorway. “Your parents loved you. Mine didn’t. You want to talk about being fucked up? I’m here anytime.”

She nodded and he sat up on the bench with her. You went inside and finished preparing the potatoes, mashing them up and saving them for later. It was nearly ten by the time you heard the stairs creak and Dean walked down them.

“Y/N,” said Tessa. You got up from the couch and walked to the bottom of the stairs, Tessa glancing down. “I’m sorry for how I’ve acted today and treated Dean lately. I was…”

“It’s okay,” he said quietly as he rubbed her back.

“I was scared when we moved in here a few weeks ago. I don’t want to lose you too and Dean takes up time that it used to be just us and I know the accident wasn’t my fault but I feel guilty still sometimes and I know your life is different because of it too and I want you guys to be happy, I do. I just get scared you’ll forget about me. I don’t wanna be alone. I’m not ready.”

“You don’t ever have to be alone, Tessa,” you said. She nodded and looked up at Dean.

“I know. I was silly. But I’m better now,” she said. 

“It wasn’t your fault,” you said.

“I know,” she said. 

“Why don’t you head to bed, Tess. Tomorrow I can come to your session with you like we talked about,” said Dean. She nodded and walked upstairs, Toast trotting into her room. You walked upstairs and into your bedroom with Dean, shutting the door after yourselves. “I should have...change is difficult on kids with PTSD. I should have realized that’s why she’s been so snippy. I thought it was just hormones.”

“Probably both,” you said, climbing onto the bed. He lay down next to you, staring up at the ceiling. “You care for her.”

“You two are a package deal, sweetheart,” he said with a light chuckle. “Can’t love one without loving the other.”

“Like you and Sam,” you smiled. “I can’t wait to meet him in person.”

“Me too.”

“Is Tessa okay? You guys talked a really long time.”

“She was afraid I would replace her, push her out. Granted I do like spending alone time with you and everything but she needs you and I’m not here to take you away from her. I think she understands that now.”

“Dean why haven’t we had sex?” you asked. He sat up and you shrugged. “We’ve dated nearly three months and you don’t even try to cop a feel. For how fast certain things are between us, that one feels a little slow. I just want to understand. I don’t...I’m not saying it’s a problem I just want to know.”

“You asked me on our first date, or you made a comment, that I don’t seem like the shy around women type.”

“Yeah?”

“I didn’t use to be. A smidge, especially if they were the one that seemed to be controlling the situation but it was always good. I had some girlfriends, had some hookups. More than my fair share of hookups. The girlfriends…”

“The bitch one?” you said, getting a chuckle out of him.

“I stopped thinking I was relationship material for a while. So I did hookups for a long time and that was good. Until about two years ago. I haven’t had sex since.”

“Did someone hurt you?”

“No. I just...I asked her to stop and she didn’t.”

“Dean she hurt you.”

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Well I don’t want to talk about it anymore, okay?” he said. He put his back to you and you took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know we sleep in the same bed and…”

“And I don’t need to have sex with you. Would I like it? Sure. But my sister and I aren’t the only ones in this house that need to be taken care of. You’ve done a really good job of that lately and I’d like to start pulling my weight in that department. When you’re ready for sex, you tell me, otherwise, I will just cuddle you real hard until then, okay?”

“Alright,” he said quietly. He reached behind himself and wrapped your arms around him. You kissed the back of his neck, Dean taking slow breaths. “I don’t really know how to let someone take care of me though.”

“We’ll take it slow,” you said. “Like maybe with you being little spoon tonight.”

“Alright. I can try, sweetheart.”

_______

A/N: Read Part 5 here!

[buckys-other-punk]

 Merciless

Pairing: Asshole Ex-Boyfriend!Chris Evans x Reader

Request: Could I have a part 2 to Insensitive were the reader comes back and she’s a bad bleep?

Summary: A couple months after their breakup, Y/N has changed since the last time Chris saw her. 

Word Count: 1.3K

Warnings: mentions of previous cheating, alcohol, cussing, mentions of sex, and badass reader aka justice lol I don't know 

A/N: Hello! Thank you @vanillabqrnes​ for the request apologies for this taking forever and I hope you like this! Also sorry to those who follow me, I promised to write more and that didn’t happen, but here’s something lol. Whenever I wanna write I open my computer and then bam writers block. Also please don’t mind any minor mistakes this is unedited. Anyways hope you enjoy and I’ll meet with you at the end of the fic ; ) 

Previous Part

It had been six months since your breakup with Chris and honestly you were doing great. I mean at first after all the rage you remembered the good memories from your relationship. While recalling those “good”memories you realized that four months prior to you finding out he cheated that he had been acting strange and distant. But you’ve moved on and could care less about that asshat.

You quickly moved on and actually you’ve completely changed your mentality when it comes to relationships. You have started to become more comfortable with yourself and not let anyone walk over you. Your closest friends have noticed your change in demeanor and they love it. They have literally called you a badass heartbreaker, solely because you have turned down almost every guy who reminded you of your asshole ex-boyfriend.

With your new look and attitude you were able to find the perfect match for you. You met your boyfriend, Henry *cough Henry Cavill cough*, at a party hosted by a mutual friend. The two of you were trying to avoid the crowd which didn’t help since the two of you were seated at the bar. You both had people flock towards you offering to buy drinks, which you both rejected. The two of you noticed one another when a woman asked Henry for his number, he declined, then she started flirting with you. You shook your head and scoffed, turning her down as you stood from your seat. You walked closer to the man taking a seat right next to him. After that the two of you had a pleasant conversation about who had the most people to hit on them, you won, and then the rest is history.

Your new relationship was completely different from your previous one. Henry adores you, treating you way better than you know who ever did. Also lets just say the sex was clearly better and you learned new things about yourself with your boyfriend. You never really got to explore that side of you when you were with Chris. He would be the one to take charge and never let you try something new.

Anyways you and Henry were actually going to lunch at one of your favorite fancy restaurants. Opting to sit near the open glass window you ordered your food. You didn’t give a fuck how these rich people were staring at you because you were wearing. You wore a long leather coat showing the right amount of cleavage and thigh high black boots. Henry wore a white button up shirt that clung to his muscles and dark blue dress pants. You laughed at a joke that Henry made, you glanced out the window and your eyes widened. Henry looked outside and he felt his blood start to boil.

*Chris’ POV*

After the break up the infamous Chris Evans was having a slightly rough time. He still didn’t understand what he did wrong. Then about a few months later Brittany, his second girlfriend while dating you, dumped Chris because she apparently found a better, richer man. Chris had been miserable in his house ever since. He thought about calling you after his break up with Brittany, but then he thought a grand gesture would be better. So he ordered the most expensive bouquet of roses and had them delivered to your house. 

A letter was immediately sent back saying that you had moved out of your small apartment, but the man who lived there kept the expensive flowers. Chris yelled out in frustration which startled his maid. She tried to comfort him telling him what he wanted to hear, that you would eventually come back to him, but deep down she knew that what she said was a lie. She knew about what her boss had been doing, but Chris offered to pay her to keep quiet.

Chris never stopped thinking about you. He would walk by your old apartment, sometimes even drunk. The man who lived there always saw him through his window feeling a bit bad for Chris, but assuming he probably deserved the heartbreak. As more months passed Chris decided that drinking would help numb the pain. It didn’t, drinking honestly made him think about you even more. Thoughts and images of you flooded his head and he didn’t know if he wanted them to stop or continue.

Chris decided that going out with other women would help, the break up messed his game. He would accidentally call his new girlfriends your name and some would stare at him with a blank face and the rest would ignore it. Eventually he found a woman who resembled you to the tee. The two of them were together for a while and Chris was kind for getting tired of her because she wasn’t you. He decided to go to a fancy restaurant to make reservations for their most elegant seating to break her heart. That’s when he saw you through the window with a man.

----------------------------

Henry looks back at you, “Is that?” You nodded your head and stood up from your seat. “Be nice.” he huffed as he remained in his seat unfolding the napkin on the table and placing it on his lap.

You stormed out of the restaurant stopping Chris from entering. Chris was shocked by how you dressed, he never saw you dress like that before. You saw Chris eye your entire body looking from your head to toes stopping at your chest.

“What do you want?” you harshly said crossing your arms over each other.

“Obviously, I’m here to make a reservation.” he snarkily replied. “How was I supposed to know you would be here?” 

“Bitch, I don’t know?!” you exclaimed. “It’s not like this is my favorite restaurant.”

“Again, how was I supposed to know that?” Chris angrily replied.

“Seriously?!” you huffed. “You’re still a dick you know that?”

“So what? You gonna teach me a lesson?” he flirtatiously said.

“God, you’re disgusting.” saying as you turned away from him.

“Wait,” he stopped you, grabbing your arm and pointing to the window, “who’s that you’re with?” 

Snatching your arm back from him. “That is my boyfriend, no begone.” you said shooing him away not caring about the people who were staring.

“Boyfriend? I bet he doesn’t treat you as well as I did.” he says c, crossing his arms. You slapped his face hard and shook your head.

“Oh, you're one to talk.” you yelled back at him. “You never changed, did you? You’re still an asshole prick that just wants a nice woman by his side to make him feel better about himself.”

“That’s not true!” he exclaimed.

“Oh really? Then tell me the real reason why you’re here?” you questioned looking at the man.

“As a matter of fact I’m taking my girlfriend here.” he replied with a smirk.

“Yeah, to break up with her?” you asked, shaking your head.

“How’d you know that?” He placed his hands on his hips.

“Because that’s what you did to the girl you dated before me, asshole.” you exclaimed.

“Well, why not after I break up with my current girl, you and I find a nice place to properly talk.” he smirked at you.

You walked closer to him and he smiled as he felt your chest against his. He looked down at your cleavage and back up to your face smiling even more. You put your hand on his shoulder smiling at him and that’s when you kneed him in the crotch.

“Go find someone else to feed your ego. I’m busy.” you said as you walked back to the restaurant and your boyfriend.

As you sat down on your seat, your boyfriend placed a kiss on your cheek. “Were you nice?” he asked, taking a sip of his wine.

“I tried to be.” you huffed as you looked out the window staring at your ex who laid on the ground in pain.

“Well, looks like I need to teach you some manners then.” he smirked.

“You sure do.” you smiled, winking back at him.

A/N: Ahhh hello!! How was that? I feel like this wasn’t my best but at the same time not bad. lol I literally have no clue how to write a bad bitch reader (because i ain’t one), but hopefully I did this request justice! Thank you for reading and lemme know what you though of this. Feedback is very much appreciated and lemme know if you wanna be tagged in my stuff!

Taglist:  @lostinthoughtsandfeelings​ @sebtheromanianprince​ @aquabrie @who-the-hell-is-sebastianstan​  @anbrax5553​ @wintersoldierissucharide​ @caplanbuckybarnes​ @miraclesoflove​ @kitkatd7​ @saiyanprincessswanie​ @fandomsandxfiles​ @hailmary-yramliah​ @coffeebooksandfandom​ @thefallenbibliophilequote​

^^please lemme know if you wanna be added/removed for future tags or dm me if I forgot you^^

[nevermindirah]

Dorothy Freeman facts

By facts I of course mean headcanons, because Nile's mom doesn't get a first name in canon (or even confirmation that her last name is Freeman). All we know about her is the picture on Nile's phone lock screen (which is Kiki Layne's real-life mom and brother!) and a few lines that Nile tells Andy about her. I’ve been collecting my Dorothy headcanons for a while now to eventually make a post, and @mprosperossprite​‘s excellent post giving non-Americans context for what it means that Nile is from the South Side of Chicago prompted me to go ahead and share this. Disclaimer that I’m white and I will absolutely make corrections if it’s pointed out that I’ve caused harm with any of this.

So here have some fun facts about the version of Mama Freeman who lives in my head rent-free:

Her family and growing up:

she was born in the mid-'60s and named after Dorothy Dandridge

I can’t decide whether she was born in Chicago or moved there later on (maybe with Nile’s dad?) and when in the waves of the Great Migration her family left the South

she came of age in the "post"-Civil Rights movement and went to college in the mid-80s when a lot of what are now the foundational classics of Black feminism were being written

she was a young adult when Anita Hill risked so much to report that a Supreme Court nominee had sexually harassed her, and as a result she HATES Joe Biden

Marriage and babies:

she met Nile's father — I can’t decide how they met and I have two competing headcanons for his name, either Gideon for the hefty Biblical masculinity vibes (Giddy for short among family, that man loved to laugh) or Carl, which started out as a shitty Carl’s Jr burger chain joke that turns out to be perfect (it means free man!), and @knoepfchen​ used it in the sequel to if you do take a thief where Carl is alive!! — and Dorothy was a little skeptical of his near-religious devotion to the military but he was really hot and really devoted to her and they made it work

she's a little pissed that she was right but it's unbearable if she thinks about it too often

it's going to be a long, long time before she can look back on pictures of Baby Nile stomping around the house in her dad's combat boots (this is a Gina Prince Bythewood headcanon, whyyyyyyyy can I not find a link to where she said this)

she named their second baby Indus, Indy for short (this is nearly as established fanon in Book of Nile circles as how much Booker loves eating pussy, and Indy Freeman as a young adult is portrayed by either Aldis Hodge or John Boyega I don’t make the rules)

Work:

Dorothy did some office jobs but nothing really grabbed her, and she was probably gonna have to move for her husband's career, so she decided on teaching — high school humanities

she’s been active in CTU (one of the strongest teacher’s unions in the US) her whole career and one year she was on the bargaining committee and her babies know damn well never to trust a boss, not even one who says all the right things — if she ever finds out the way Nile said "like Quynh?" when Andy promised to protect her, she will lose her mind with pride

(Nile was 18 and freshly graduated from high school in 2012 when CTU went on strike for the first time in a generation and she brought her mom snacks on the picket line)

one of her very favorite things is getting her students to laugh despite themselves at her "oh my GOD you're so EMBARRASSING" old-people jokes

she's one of those teachers who can get 30+ teenagers to go dead silent with judicious application of body language

she's known to occasionally go easy on grading subjective things like essays when she knows students are having a particularly rough time at home, but the second she gets the feeling they're taking advantage and not trying their best that shit is over and they better mind their Ps & Qs

she's the kind of person who says old-people shit like that

she gives her students assignments like "help 5 neighbors register to vote" and "write a compare/contrast table about the candidates in this local election" and "research 5 different ways you could get grant money to do X" and other practical civic-minded shit

standardized testing is her supervillain origin story, just kidding it’s Rahm Emanuel, why the fuck did Obama trust that asshole

After her husband died:

she would have lost her goddamn mind if it weren't for her church friends after her husband died, people from the church raised money so they could make ends meet while his pension paperwork was taking forever, church friends watched Indy so Nile could go out for the soccer team, etc etc

she sold her and her late husband's house and moved to a 3-bedroom co-op unit when Nile started high school, it's more affordable and it meant she didn't have to worry about household repairs in the same way, she can use a wrench if she needs to but she doesn't have time and it just makes her grief flare up (co-op housing has a long history in Chicago and other US cities (like Washington DC where I live) as a way for Black people to access decent, affordable housing in the face of entrenched discrimination)

the move meant putting a longer commute between her and church, but she didn't even bother looking for a church closer to their new home, she loaded the kids into the car on the weekends, parking is hell in their new neighborhood but it's worth giving up a hard-won parking spot to not have to wait so long for the L on Sunday mornings

Indy lived with her through college and he was gearing up to get his own place when Nile died, Dorothy was planning to move into a one-bedroom in the co-op building because she doesn't need so much space anymore, Indy took a day off from his new job (not so new anymore, her baby's so grown!) to help her sort things to donate when those dress-uniform Marines came to their door

part of her wishes she could've been home more and not had to rely on Nile so much for help with Indy, but he's turned out such a kind young man, and he's a much better cook than his sister is (was, oh God — no wait, is! she’s alive! what do you mean you’ve been alive all this time??)

some of the girls from church are encouraging her to check out this social dancing thing, nobody's pressuring her to date but there's definitely been some ribbing, and with Indy out of the house... maybe? probably not, but maybe

Her feelings and beliefs and likes and dislikes:

she's an absolute badass and also she's a soft human woman with lots of feelings

she's very, very traditional in some ways, and part of her mixed feelings about Nile following in her dad's footsteps is gender stuff, she's proud of her daughter and would never stand in the way of what Nile wants to do with her life, and if Nile came home and told her she's a lesbian she would never reject her, but if Nile came home and told her she's bisexual maybe she can just try focusing on men? “I love you sweetheart and I want you to be happy I just know how hard it is already for us in this world” type shit

she has been on team natural hair basically her entire life and one of the worst fights she and Nile ever had was over Nile wanting to straighten her hair as a pre-teen

Indy takes more after her and Nile takes more after their dad, she's so proud of both of them, but Dorothy's activism was mostly wearing her natural hair to work and daring bosses to give her shit, Indy's out there marching in the streets like her parents had and she WORRIES

she teases Indy for going to so many protests like he's using it as an excuse to meet girls, but she WORRIES

when she turns 60, she gets box braids with streaks of dark purple, subtle enough that it's still work-appropriate but it makes her smile, she may be old now but damnit she’s still pretty!

she loves Grey's Anatomy and Star Trek and she watched Bridgerton all in one day

she has a dirty-old-lady celebrity crush on Chris Hemsworth

if she's ever masturbated thinking about Donna Summer, well, that's nobody's business but her own (do non-Americans know about the queen of disco??)

If you want to read fic featuring Dorothy:

I won't have to leave alone, 1000 words, Nile has a nightmare and decides to go tell her family she's immortal

I See Your Eyes Seek a Distant Shore, 65k, Nile adjusts to immortality and does a lot of soul searching about what it means to "do what we think is right", Booker goes to grad school for trauma studies, the working title of this fic was Booker Reads Edward Said and Gloria Anzaldúa and Goes Down on Nile and the final product has an annotated bibliography in the author's notes if you’re into that kind of thing, a lot of my Dorothy Freeman headcanons were born of my process writing this

Gather round the table, we'll give you a treat, 2279 words, college AU, Nile brings her Jewish boyfriend home for Christmas

a contribution I made to Shitty Old Guard Deaths: (Booker, USA, 2025, cause of death: a mother’s righteous wrath)

[extremelyblackandwhite]

tolerate it

pairing: mob!bucky barnes x reader

warnings: violence, harassing

a/n: at this point do i know how many parts this is gonna have? no i’m expecting there to be at least two more, who knows tbh. this part was originally supposed to be champagne problems but i decided to change it to tolerate it and champagne problems will MOST LIKELY be the next one followed by tis the damn season. “tolerate it” the song is from bucky’s point of view and not y/n.

INIVISIBLE STRINGS - CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS

If it's all in my head tell me now, tell me I've got it wrong somehow ...

     - We need to talk. - her father stood in front of the door, his police hat hanging from his head. - The chief wants to put someone else on the field. 

     - Why? - her stomach dropped and she felt sick. Why did she felt sick? Someone else on the field would make her job easier, safer. But her job wasn’t dangerous or it hadn’t been dangerous so far. Bucky hadn’t been rude, harmful or anything of the sort. He’d protect her even and cared for her his own way. Last thing she needed was one of her father’s colleagues following her around as if she were a child. She had gotten the name of his enemy ... although she had little to no will of revelling it. 

     - Catherine’s son. You remember him. He’s fresh out of the police academy and you two used to be great friends when you were kids. Already got some info on the mob upstate and he could help speed things up.

    - Edward was an asshole and the reason why he got info on the mob upstate was because he stole it from his partner. - she crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn’t the best undercover agent in the world, maybe because she wasn’t an agent at all but it had been their choice to put her alone on the field. A second person would only mean that any slip from them would lead to her getting offed. At least if she was alone, she could blame herself for any harm that came her way.  - Shouldn’t I have been consulted when you made that decision?

     - You’re not part of the force, Y/N. Besides, the sooner this is over, the sooner you can return to your life. What are you wearing anyway?

     - I ...

     - Y/N, thank god you’re home. - Wanda rushed into the living room, crying. Her senses were immediately heightened and the fact her father held no confidence in her whatsover no longer mattered. Wanda did. - Patrick broke up with me.

    - Patrick? - who the hell was Patrick? She remembered Johan and to some extent Ben could be considered an ex-boyfriend but Patrick? Who the heck was he? Before she could question her about it, Wanda was already hugging her side, forehead pressed against her covered. 

   - Well, I see you’re busy. I’ll speak with you later, Y/N. - her eyes remained on the ground as the sound of his heavy uniform boots registered past her, opening the once closed door and returning it with a closed bang to its latches. The defeating sound of silence haunted both of them as Wanda stepped away, cleaning the tears of her cheeks.

   - I was seeing he’d never leave. You’re lucky you have a very good actress for a friend.

  - Thank you, Wanda. I’m sorry I’m this late. - she pulled Bucky’s jacket which was still laying atop her shoulders. - So, is Patrick a fake person?

  - Don’t change the subject. Whose jacket is that? I called the bar and they said you weren’t there. I was worried, Y/N!

    - I was with Mr. Barnes. - she held the jacket against her chest, the scent of his expensive cologne somehow calming her down. Wanda was right to scold her, she wasn’t thinking straight or safe but yet again she didn’t feel in danger when he was near her so why did it matter?

It clearly mattered to Wanda. She knew danger and she knew what they were capable off, being herself a fan of true crime. Last thing she wanted was for Y/N to suffer an accident or suddenly have an overdose or go into alcohol coma. Yet Y/N couldn’t help but stream into the unknown that was so addictive, the warm blanket of safety that he gave her. She was dumb enough to have gotten into the job so she would see it through. 

The brunette of course knew why she was so sweet on this safety. She had known Y/N since the two were babies and there was no lie or hiding when she was intrigued by someone. It had happened two times in her whole life - with Chris when she was 5 and with Joshua when she was 18. There was this twinkle in her eye, that walk of pure calmness as if there was no problem in life. This, this definitely was another time that Wanda would even regret seeing or love to talk about during ringing bells’ celebrations. 

   - You’re a smart girl, please tell me you know the game you’re playing.

   - I do. - she walked out without any more words. She knew if they were to come out she would merely wound herself and what was the use in wounding herself and holding the mirror of truth up to her face if not to drown in her own sea of insecurities?

She sat on her own bed, swallowed by the covers and blankets, shoes thrown aside and earrings in her hands. What was she doing? What was she feeling? Was it even a good idea to think about what she was feeling or even put it into thoughts? No, it wasn’t because a deep and dark part of her knew what it was and the one who wanted to do good, the one who always did good, perfect A’s, perfect assignments refuse to look at. It was best to sleep, nothing good would come out of her if she were tired and so she decided to sleep. 

Morning came like a bad memory and she was up and at those classroom halls in what seemed like minutes. Things went by slowly and she found herself falling asleep on the top of her hand more than usual and she probably would’ve slept throughout her whole anatomy lesson had it not been for the girls sat on the row above her chatting in a very annoying tone. Usually Y/N would’ve just ignored it and razor focus on the lecturer but today all she wanted was to do was to ignore what he was saying. She found herself eavesdropping on their conversation; apparently there had been some confusion on the city centre deriving to some violence which also in a regular day wouldn’t have caught her attention had it not been for the mention of the mob. Her senses perked up and she started tapping her foot against the hardwood of the ground until the clock finally hit finishing time and she was out of the classroom in a rush.

Y/N held the books tight against her chest as she ran down the street, wind penetrating through the knitting holes of her cardigan as shivering her skin as she continued to run on loose and broken cobblestones not exactly knowing why and where she was running to. Well, she knew where to, she just thought better to tell herself she knew where not to. 

The unlit lights of the bar/club came into view and she rushed through the door and straight to the back and to the door she was told never to open. Her hand grasped the handle and pushed it open hoping to not see it empty.

    - What the ... - Mr. Barnes turned around on his chair, expecting to yell at whomever of him clumsy workers had walked in without the decency of knocking only to see his own clumsy bartender. - Looking for tutoring, petal?

    - What? - she questioned before looking at the books she was holding. - Oh, no I was just ... I heard, I saw ...

    - Good that means your ears and eyes work properly. 

    - I heard there was a commotion in the centre and that the mob was involved and I ...

   - You thought to check on me? - he gave her a toothy grin, hands placed on his desk as he rose from his chair. - I’m flattered, petal. 

   - No, I ... I ... - she looked down at her shoes, feeling his presence as he approached her. - I thought my shift would’ve been cancelled if you or anyone else had been harmed. 

   - No. - he hooked a finger under her chin, gently pushing it upwards. - I’m afraid you’ll still have to work. 

   - Ahh ... good. - she felt her mouth dry up as she stared at him. No, you can’t do this anymore, Y/N. You’ve been compromised, go away, give up, quit, say you don’t want to work here anymore. - I have to tell you something.

No, shit. Don’t blow your own cover, what are you doing? Her inner voice yelled at her.

   - I’m all ears.

   - I ... - she was parched, world spinning around yet for some unholy reason she was gonna come clean and maybe eventually end tied to bricks at the end of the river. Why was she coming clean? What are you doing, Y/N? - I’m ...

   - Mr. Barnes? - a third voice shattered everything, making both the mob boss and the bartender look to the owner of said third voice. Edward. - Oh, hey Y/N, I didn’t know you worked here.

   - You know each other? - James’ hands were immediately on his pockets as he took a step in front of the bartender. Had she not known any better, she would’ve assumed it was a protective stance. 

   - We used to date each other back in prep school. 

The answer knocked the two of them back. Y/N mostly because she would never in a million years dated someone like Edward as one he was the son of one of her father’s ex-girlfriend and two she barely could stand him. James, on the other hand, seemingly couldn’t see his bartender, his very clumsy bartender who enjoyed to pretend to be Betty Draper on auctions, dating the newest bar’s cleaning boy, one whom he particularly disliked. 

   - I see. Well, you ought to know I don’t accept work relationships. If that’s all, I was having a conversation with Y/N. 

   - No, it’s fine Mr. Barnes. I need to speak with Edward myself. - she punctuated the last word as if it spewed poison. Bucky looked at her, hands in fists as she walked out with the cleaning boy by the hand as if she herself hand a place in the mob herself. 

She wanted to throw him to the floor once they were out of sight and had it not been for the fact he was taller and physically stronger than her so instead she shoved him against one of the walls.

    - What the hell, Edward? Your ex-girlfriend?! - she whispered-shouted at him.

    - It’s a reason for us to be close so instantly. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.

    - Stay the fuck away from me and don’t you talk to me. - she pointed at him before storming out but not before realising she had left her books, her library borrowed books, on Mr. Barnes’ office.

She turned around out of anger, not really knowing what she was mad about. It wasn’t like she was expecting her father to pay any homage to her wishes of not having Edward around. It didn’t matter really except of course it did but she would never dare to say anything about it. She knocked on the office’s door this time, one which was opened by a very surprised James as if he expected the two ex lovers to be behind his bar reminding themselves of what love feels like.

   - Forgot something, petal?

   - My books. - she pointed at them laying on top of one of his chairs. - I ... they’re from the library, I need them. 

   - Of course. - he handed them to her as if it weighed nothing. - Anything else I can do for you, petal?

   - Oh yes, sorry I forgot. - she opened her bag rummaging through it to find the box of incredibly expensive earrings she had been nervous about carrying with herself the whole day, afraid of being robbed. The bartender handed him the box, receiving a mere eyebrow raise from him. - It’s an incredible gift, Mr. Barnes but I couldn’t possibly accept it. 

   - Why not?

   - It’s too expensive.

   - It’s nothing compared to what I have.

   - Well ... I’d have nowhere to wear it.

   - You should wear them here.

   - I don’t ... I’m not the type of woman who wears things like these. 

   - Come with me. - he took the box from her, moving away from where he was standing and out of the office. As if she were attached to him by some invisible string, she followed straight away, wondering where they were going. He wouldn’t kill her here, and to be honest she started to wonder if he ever would.

He stopped in front of the bathroom’s, opening the door for her and standing near it. She looked at him in confusion, not entirely knowing what he wanted to do in the bathroom or why he wanted her in the bathroom. Was he going to kill her in the bathroom? She stood on her two feet still for a few seconds before going inside still wary of his intentions, whatever they were.

She could hear the sound of her ballerina slips as she entered the tilled dark decorated bathroom which was cleaner than it did during the night. His hand stood in the small of her back leading it against the black marbled counter connected to the mirrored wall. 

     - May I? - he opened the box and she nodded, looking at herself in the mirror. She stood there, motionless yet with feelings heightened as he pushed her hair away from her ears to put the earrings on her. They were slightly heavy, a sign of their value and her mind couldn’t wrap around the fact such expensive jewellery was hanging from her ear lobes. - You look exactly like the type of woman who wears things like those, petal. 

     - You flatter me.

     - I think you just don’t flatter yourself enough. - she turned her head to face him. She could feel his breathe against her forehead. All she could sense was that, his breathe, the smell of his cologne and the sound of silence. Looking up to him, he could see her own reflection, the reflection of her earrings glistening on his baby blue eyes. She didn’t know what to say, eyes glued to his as they both got close to each other until each other’s lips were touching, melting in want.

The silence seemed to burst into fireworks of each other’s heartbeats as his hands held her waist close to him. They were too lost on each other, both forgetting for a moment who each was to give way to their own choices. 

    - Mr. Barnes? - someone knocked on the door, that invisible string pulling them together breaking as they stopped kissing and stepped away from each other. 

     - I’m busy. - he yelled out.

     - Mr. Barnes there’s someone here for you. 

     - I said I’m busy.

     - No, it’s fine. - she rushed her fingers through her hair, one hand against the counter holding her up. What had she done? - You should go.

     - Petal.

     - It’s fine. - both hands now held the counter, eyes shut. - You should go. 

I sit and watch you ...

taglist: @lookiamtrying @mariamermaid @sebastianstansqueen @unmagically @buckybarnes1982 @mela-noche @lowercasegenius @randomweirdooo @projectcampbell @sebbystanlover-vk @jevans2 @hollarious @itsallyscorner @tcc-gizmachine @saiyanprincessswanie​ 

[winterscaptain]

a real hero.

Aaron Hotchner x Gender Neutral Reader

a/n: so about five of you asked about 6x06, devil’s night, when jack dresses up as his dad for halloween. when y’all make the call, i deliver! here’s just over a thousand words of total fluff, thrown together in about an hour (please forgive my errors and tell me what you think!). this stands alone, but i’m throwing it in the ajf pile for good measure, as well!

words: 1.2k warnings: language

summary: “we're taught to expect unconditional love from our parents, but i think it is more the gift our children give us. it's they who love us helplessly, no matter what or who we are.” ― kathryn harrison, the kiss

masterlist | a joyful future masterlist | ajf faq | requests closed!

“..today it rivals only Christmas in terms of popularity.” Spencer and Emily come into the round table room, and you suppress a smile. 

If you know anything about Spencer, it’s that his love for Halloween knows no bounds. 

Emily sits down next to you, explaining, “All I asked was what he was planning to do this weekend.” 

You hide your laugh in your file, looking at Hotch over the top of the folder. There’s the smallest pull in the corner, the threat of a dimple. He looks up at you, and the dimple appears for just a split second before disappearing again. 

+++

Aaron’s anxious as you all wait for the go-ahead from air traffic control. He keeps checking his watch, and his leg bounces under the table. You’re the only two still in the cabin, the others took two other cars and are apparently taking their damn time to arrive from the precinct. 

You throw a Hershey’s kiss at him. He jumps and looks over at you. 

“What’s wrong?”

He sighs. “I’ve never missed a Halloween with Jack. I’m just nervous we aren’t going to make it back in time, is all.” 

You offer him a little smile. “You’ll make it back.” 

Just then, his phone rings and he answers it. “Hotchner.” A smile breaks across his face. “Oh hi, bud. Yeah. We’re almost in the air...Just a couple more hours...What?” He looks at you, and you furrow your brow. “...Let me ask.” 

He covers the mic. “I’d imagine people in their twenties have better ways to spend Halloween than with an over-excited five-year-old and his boring dad, right?”

You snort. “Hell no. I’m in.” 

And it was true - you didn’t have anywhere else better to be, and the lights in your house were already dark and had plans to stay that way to deter trick-or-treaters. There was no better way, in your opinion, than to spend Halloween with an overexcited five-year-old and his (allegedly) boring dad.

He shakes his head with a little smile and returns the phone to his ear. “Yeah, bud. We’re on for the three of us.”

+++

You sit on the floor of Jack’s bedroom, having been dragged in by two of your fingers immediately upon entering the apartment. He told his dad to wait in the dining room and closed the door behind him, so you imagine he has some serious business to discuss with you. 

“I don’t want to be Spiderman.” 

Your brow pinches. “Why not, bud?”

“The costume’s itchy and he’s not a real hero.” 

You hum, thinking. “Are there any real heroes you want to be, or do we want to toss out the hero idea entirely?”

He considers the options carefully, the pinch of his mouth starkly reminiscent of Haley. “I think I want to still be a hero.” 

“Okay. Do you want to come up with some ideas? We still have a little bit of time.”

A little bit of time was pushing it - Aaron wanted to get going before it got too dark out, giving them time for a movie before bed after Jack acquired his haul in the neighborhood. 

An idea comes to him, lighting up his face. “Can you get one of Dad’s ties? They’re…” he looks up, remembering, “...hung up on the front of the bathroom door in his room or inside the closet by the light switch.” 

“Of course.” You kiss his head, shutting the door behind you. You sneak down the hall and open Aaron’s door, trying to be as quiet as possible. 

“You know,” comes a voice from the dining room, “I can hear you?”

You throw your head around the door frame. “No, you can’t!” ...And shut the door behind you.

In Aaron’s room, you find the little hanging tree with all his ties, finding one of the red ones he wears all the time and one of which he has about five near-identical versions, just in case something happened out in the wild. 

You have half an idea of what Jack’s planning, but your only job right now is to follow instructions.

You throw the tie over your shoulder and make a play at sneaking back into Jack’s room while Aaron’s amused huff chases you down the hall. 

Closing the door behind you again, you told up your prize. “I got it.” 

Jack turns around, wearing the suit he got for Haley’s service. It’s only a little small on him, but he’ll probably lose the jacket anyway, working up a sweat even in the chilly Fairfax fall. “I’m gonna be Dad.” 

A little smile pulls at you, and for some reason, there’s part of you that wants to cry a little. Nevertheless, you pull it together quickly, kneeling in front of him to tie the tie. “I think that’s a great idea.” 

Jack puts his little hands over yours. “Can I try it?”

“Mhmm.” You put your hands in your lap, watching him fruitlessly tie knots, trying to get that crisp line Aaron manages every morning. When he gets a little frustrated, you ask, “Do you want some help?”

He nods, looking up and away as you undo his handiwork, giving him a four-in-hand knot that won’t eat him alive. You tighten it just enough to tuck under his collar, smoothing his jacket and fixing the ducktail sticking out of his shirt. 

“Ready?”

He nods, and you open the door. Jack tucks behind your legs. “Dad, don’t look at me!” 

Aaron, ever faithful, has his back turned right where you both left him in the dining room. “I’m not looking! Are you almost ready? ...Need any help?”

You nod at Jack, and he goes into the hallway. “No.”

“Okay.” 

You keep your distance, leaning up against a free spot on the photo wall as Jack steps into the dining room. 

“Whoa,” Aaron says, clearly surprised. “That is definitely not Spiderman.” He looks at you, but you don’t give anything away, a little smile on your face. 

“He’s not a real superhero,” Jack explains. 

“He’s not?” Aaron looks entirely the part of the confused father at the moment, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, a questionable orange-ish sweater. It almost makes you laugh. “Okay. I give up. Who are you supposed to be?”

You can hear the grin in Jack’s voice. “I’m you, Daddy.” 

Aaron’s face softens and he walks over to his son, embracing him before picking him up. He looks at you over Jack’s shoulder. “Was this your idea?”

You shake your head. “All him. I only filched the props.” 

Aaron shakes his head with a little smile you can’t read. Redirecting, he grabs his keys and his wallet with one hand, shoving them in his pocket. “Let’s go get some candy, my little G-Man.”

You grab your coat and Aaron’s from the coat tree, the bucket for Jack’s goods, and follow the boys out the door. You lock the door behind you, finding both of them waiting for you at the end of the apartment hall.

There’s no thought to what the other twenty-somethings are doing tonight. 

Nothing could be better than this. 

+++

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