#i am finding icecream in my freezer instead

[utahbastards]

❛ 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞… 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧, 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞. ❜

On day thirty-one, Blair found out Jax had survived the outbreak reaching campus. Someone had heard from someone else that a bunch of the "football guys" had ended up with Coach Durmić. Her brother included. On day one hundred and seventy-two, Blair heard from Killian that Jax was thankfully still alive. He'd also been quick to let slip that he'd gotten some girl pregnant. It had put her in a quietly sour mood for days. She told herself it was because he was supposed to be smarter than that and that she was worried about a little baby coming into a place like this.

To some extent, that was true. But mostly she hated that it was Maya. Blair had gotten used to seeking Jax out at parties, even though more often than not finding him consisted of standing around hoping he'd notice that she was here so she didn't have to work up the nerve to say hello. He was quicker to spot her each time. However, once her brother caught on, Beckett had stood literally a foot away from her the entire evening, steering Jax to the other side of the room. Straight into Maya. He'd glanced at her a few times, but by night's end, he had been railing back shots with the brunette, laughing together. Where Blair was shy, Maya certainly wasn't. Vivacious, playful and a little mean she watched them bounce off of one another all night. Two weeks later at the stupid Valentine's day party, she had expected everything to return to normal but there they were again. She watched with a knotted stomach and tried to tune out her brother's progressively slurring rambles.

Blair had stopped counting the days, but almost ten months ago the world had ended. Blair stared out the same window she'd been looking out of since the tensions with her brother had escalated with a gloomy pout. The view of the campus gardens was as pretty of a cell view as one could ask for and Shiloh was kinder to her than most would be with a potential traitor, but she wasn't a member of this faction anymore. She was a liability who knew every entrance and exit, who knew every trap and member, who had a brother who almost burned down their most valuable food source for a taste of revenge. For an awful week, she heard a constant rumor that a bunch of the Jocks had died as a result of poisoning, no names, just vague descriptions that could've been Jax or just about any of the others. She'd heard nothing about him in months with Killian firmly out of the loop. That could mean anything but most of the time around here, it meant you were dead.

Her name sounded through the door, it wasn't uncommon for Shiloh or Cain to check in on her in the afternoon, but it was a little early for that. The door creaked open, greeted by both instead of one or the other as Cain followed at her heel. Their little good cop, bad cop routine was sort of sweet. They said a lot of words, too many words honestly when it all boiled down to a simple statement: Jackson Lambert is down stairs willing take you off of our hands. Blair felt dizzy. None of it sounded correct, least of all the part where they asked her if she wanted to go. When did she start getting options? Shiloh said that the humanities would watch over her, Cain added that they would ensure that Blair kept things to herself.

She walked past watching eyes with an itchy feeling of dread. A punchline to a weird, offensive joke they'd somehow zeroed in on. Like someone had read her thoughts and found the perfect bizarre gotcha! Even worse was the dread that it wasn't Shiloh's trick, but Beckett's. What if he sent someone here for her finally, knowing she wouldn't have come down for someone she didn't trust? The butterflies in her stomach unsheathed their little daggers and began pricking away at her insides.

"Are you sure?" Shiloh asked a final time, tilting her head cautiously. Blair nodded a little too fast, her anxiety knocking the air from her hungs as she stared through the door breathless. Shiloh and Cain exchanged a final look before he sighed, shrugging lightly and ending whatever silent exchange that passed between them.

"Hands up and back away from the door," Cain ordered, gun raised around face height as Blair began to tremble. Half elated, half petrified. It swung back and there he was, hands raised in surrender. His eyes didn't linger on the muzzle pointed at his head, instead swinging down to her. There was scruff on his jaw that she'd only ever seen clean shaven and his hair was longer too but it was Jax. It was Jax and he was only a meter away, she could reach out and smack him on the arm if she tried and her fingers wouldn't ghost through.

The door shut behind her and five long heavy seconds passed as she processed being outside again for the first time in months; the smell of something other than stale, dirty carpet and a litany of sweaty young bodies. Every part of her shook, her teeth even clattering lightly as a million sensations hit her at once. "I don't... understand," She mumbled hazily, finally glancing up at his face. He looked back, half at odds with himself like he didn't quite know how to help. If he should touch her or if it wasn't welcome.

❛ 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞… 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧, 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞. ❜ His voice was so warm, trying to soothe what he thought was fear. She wasn't afraid. She didn't know quite know what she was, but it wasn't afraid. It sounded so woe is me in her head, but truthfully she couldn't believe that he'd actually even thought of her since this all began. Her own brother left her here, why the hell would Jax of all people give a remote fleeting fuck what happened to her? Let alone actually show up... A small laugh of disbelief burst through her lips, her expression softening all at once. Someone came for her. Not just someone, he came for her.

It was lucky he had fast hands, a Super Bowl touchdown would've flown at him slower. One second her feet were on the floor and the next Blair launched herself up into him, her arms thrown hazardously over his shoulders as he caught the hug securely, a soft noise from the impact in the back of his throat before his arms squeezed tightly around her waist in a crushing motion that knocked the air out of her all at once. "Are you insane? What the hell are you doing here?"

[chaoticgabby]

My Cheap & Relatively Healthy Grocery List for College Students

Context: I had been used to eating fast food so much because it was cheap that when I went to the doctors' they said I had high glucose content. That wasnt good. So I started eating healthier. Anyway let's skip the BS and get straight into it:

Ramen: the OG cheap food. I personally don't own ramen bc I dont like it that much, but if you want to save money this is the meal, at least add an egg or some veggies to make it healthier.

Frozen Veggies: anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar or two a bag. Can easily be kept in your freezer (if you have one) for months

Mac n' cheese: my all-time favorite. Of course, it might not be healthy for everyone to eat pasta all the time, but I do it anyway. Add some real cheese and spices for taste or chicken and veggies in it / on the side.

Other Pasta boxes (Pasta Roni, Velveeta, Hamburger Helper, etc.): basically as cheap or almost as cheap as Kraft macaroni, but maybe you arent a fan of mac n cheese.

Soup (Soup!!): Cambell's Tomato soup is often $1 a can. I like to eat mine with grilled cheese. Thats a whole ass meal. But of course you can get other soups just as cheap. Basically, any canned foods.

Canned foods & veggies: this one goes without saying. Although, the better options are sometimes $2 to $3 the same can be said for frozen veggies, but just heat these up and cook them in fried rice or just add butter and eat them aside a nice entré

Chunk light tuna: speaking of canned foods, canned tuna is soooo cheap and is a great option (if you even like tuna). Dont actually get the "pack tuna" for $1 a pack unless you want to keep it in your bag bc canned tuna is around 60 cents a can. Mix it with Miracle Whip (or mayo) and spread it over break for a good sammich.

Grilled cheese (or cheese toastie if you arent American I think??): similar to previous options, youre getting your cheese and your butter and your bread. Not as healthy as other options but way better than fast food calories.

Quesadillas: similar to grilled cheese, except spICY. My brother only eats these and he has no meal plan. I do it now too. Honestly, adding up tortillas, cheese dip, shredded cheese, & chicken is kind of costly but worth it. Also cooking chicken is annoying bc I dont have time for that. But. Yknow. A great option.

Pillsbury Crescents: a little costly, about $2+ per tube, but still fookin delicious. Also imma be real: actually havent checked the nutrition label to see if these are actually healthy. But these are sO useful. Make them by themselves for breakfast (with jam, eggs, or alone) or use the dough for other recipes. I use these with Manwich sauce, cheese, and ground beef for snacks :)

Manwiches: manwich sauce cans are $1 and although they have some sugar, its not nearly as bad as fast food. Just cook up some ground beef to go with it & maybe add cheese, sliced bread, or hamburger buns

PB&J: Another OG. I could never get tired of these. You just gotta make sure you have soft bread and the pb&j and youre good to go. Although..like.. some people apparently like theirs toasted or with different jams (I like strawberry).

Eggs!!!! : Just keep these in your fridge. Just do it. You never know when youre going to run out of food. Boiled? Scrambled? Fried? Soft boiled? With ramen? Omelet? In fried rice? Egg sandwich??? Eat them with bread, eat them with toast, eat them as a breakfast sandwich, scramble them with cheese, the list goes on. If you dont eat them often, get a smaller carton, but always have eggs! Also, for baking.

Rice, or fried rice: If you like rice, have been cooking rice for a long time, and can actually make it without burning, make sure you have rice. If you like rice but have never actually made it yourself, it takes trial and error in a pot. Or just invest in a rice cooker. Additionally, fried rice is not that difficult to learn & it fits the bill for healthy bc you can add unlimited veggies and meats. Im not here to educated you but the more ingredients, the better, is how i see it.

Fresh Food:

Fruit: I literally have "an apple a day" for breakfast. It's just good for you. Keep them in your fridge to keep them fresh. Keep one in your bag in case you get hungry. Bananas? Awesome! Use them in smoothies or a milkshake or eat them with your cereal or even with peanut butter. Possibilities are endless with fruit. Just make sure they dont spoil. Apples are OG bc they dont spoil as easily.

Vegetables: Make sure to only periodically get them so that they dont go to waste. Make some broccoli with butter & eat it alongside pasta. Or asparagus. Anything you want. Just make sure to have some with your meals sometimes. Greens are good. Additionally, carrots can get addicting if yoh eat them with ranch. The plus side is they are filling. If you have a tendency to want to munch on something: carrots.

Deli Meat / Sandwich Options: I personally dont make deli sandwiches because ham (as well as roast beef or turkey) can be expensive and then wanting to add lettuce and tomato to a sandwich sounds amazing but I'm scared they will spoil. Dont let me stop you though! Sandwiches are amazing.

Meat: you dont want to be cooking meat all the time bc it can get expensive, but the basics I always get are ground beef and chicken. I prefer "boneless skinless chicken thigh fillets" but you would need to cut off the fat. You could always get rotisserie if you arent feeling to for cooking. Also, if you're feeling expensive one week, salmon is just sooo good. I ate it with asparagus and seasoned with lemon. Delicious.

Snack / Dessert Options:

(I personally don't keep snacks or dessert in my home very often bc you dont want to binge eat. But here is what I have)

Peanut butter: classic, filling, can be potentially bad if you eat a shite ton

Nuts: peanuts, almonds, cashews, and especially pecans

Cookies: make your own, a lot of simple cookie recipes exist and it's a lot easier than you think. Baking essentials like flour, sugar, milk, and eggs are not that expensive to keep around in an apartment kitchen. Difficulties may be vanilla extract (the avg student doesnt have this lying around) a baking sheet, a big bowl, and possible a whisk. Store bought cookie dough isnt too bad either.

Box-cakes / box-brownies: simple and easy. Takes a few eggs sometimes and some oil, milk or water. The same goes for pancake mix. Honestly, I had an out-of-country roommate and he had never heard of boxed cake mix or brownie mix. They always made from scratch where he lived.

Low-calorie ice cream: okay ice cream can be pretty expensive and filled w/ added sugars. I used to eat this strawberry icecream sweetened with stevia and it was SO delicious, but I couldnt find that at my grocery store. Other options are "low-calorie" ice cream or "no added sugars" ice cream. I have one of these and the thing abt it is that its just the right amount of sugar to taste like ice cream and the neat thing is that you dont feel like binging it bc it doesnt have addicting added sugars.

Milkshakes / smoothies: this is a tough one bc me and most other students dont own a blender or juicer. I personally get my smoothies from a local smoothie place that only uses fresh fruit and then I ask not to add the natural sugars bc it is sweet enough with the fruit. Natural smoothies are delicious & I find that you can kind of make then if u freeze your fruits and blend w a fork. "Handmade" milkshakes are actually super easy w this method.

Yogurt: just...mmm.

"Healthy" snack food section, often called the gluten-free aisle: im not too experienced with this and im sure they have added sugars too but what I do know is I tried these gluten free oreos once and they were delicious

Fruits: I mentioned earlier but apples are great snacks

Veggies: also like I said earlier, carrots are great snacks. Not exactly a veggie but possibly potatoes for a meal or snack.

Granola Bars: for when youre too lazy to keep up with fruit and if fruit will spoil, granola bars (they healthy kind, not the chewy sugary kind) are so good to have in your pantry or keep in your backpack for a snack (and to keep you from on campus temptations). Also I used Nature Valley ones instead of cereal. They actually dissolve and are delicious with milk, since some cereals are so sugary.

Since my last college tips post got some notes I figured I'd keep writing these advice posts. For reference, I am hoping to become an RA next year at my college, so I'm not just speaking out of my ass. I generally have experience at college thus far and want to help students.

[strongsassysexysloane]

Take me for a Ride, Jack... 5

I don’t really care how bad this may be, im having too much fun writing it. 

. . . . 

It's mid morning when you regret not getting a coffee to go at the Diner but it seems Jack may be able to read your mind as she brings you a cup of coffee. Hopefully she hasn't been able to read any of your other thoughts.

"I was just thinking I needed one of these. Thank you." You smile at her sweetly, thankfully her body blocks the team from seeing your stupid grin.

Jack smile brightens. "You're welcome."

"Hey, what about us?" Nick whines from behind Jack causing her to turn and step aside so you can see everyone. Ellie has a big grin directed at you. McGee looked between you and Jack then went back to his work. Nick however is looking at Jack like a sad puppy who wants attention.

"Don't know your coffee order Nick." She gives him a one shoulder shrug sipping her coffee.

"It's called a phone, Jack."

"Oh yeah, forgot we all have one of those. I can't remember, when was the last time you got me a coffee?" You smirk at the sarcasm dripping from her tone. Both Ellie and McGee scoff as Jack has clearly got the upper hand over Nick.

"Last..." He scratches the back of his neck.

"Never." Jack raises her eyebrow and Nick slumps in his chair in defeat.

"Fine, when did Y/N last buy you a coffee then?" He turns his gaze to you and you sip your coffee innocently looking at your computer trying to not pay attention to them.

"She'd tried to this morning." And with that drop of too much information she exits stage left and you are left with curious eyes all on you again.

"Great." You mumble into your cup, suddenly the nice gesture of coffee isn't worth the questions that are about to start.

Thankfully Gibbs re-enters the bullpen and the questions on everyone's tongue disappear and they dive back into work.

It is around lunch time when McGee finds a lead, Petty Officer had a few recent callers from a different burner phone each month. Turns out his older brother owed some bad people some money and when he couldn't pay up he went to his family for money, parents cut him off a few months ago so he slunk to his good little brother for help. Petty Officer didn't have much but he gave his brother what he could but that stopped as well a month ago. Brother confessed to his debt, threats from the cartel boss about hurting his family and he guessed they went through with it after he couldn't find the cash.

The team stakeout the cartel hangouts over the next few days, finally when Friday rolls around you get audio of one of the higher members talking about whacking a petty officer and going after his mum next if the punk brother doesn't pay up. The team arrest him and the case is thankfully closed right in time for the weekend.

"Netflix and chill please and thank you." You sigh, collecting your things and turning off your desk lamp as everyone else packs up as well.

"Jack coming over?" Nick smirks.

"Wow, no." You laugh nervously, you hadn't even thought about asking her, should you? You'd talked a few times but it was mainly case related and you'd brought her coffee yesterday as pay back for her's the other day. "Sister is ordering pizza as we speak and I am picking up icecream on the way home. Much never sister bonding time." You all say your goodbyes and all head home.

The night relaxing, exactly what you needed after a stakeout and dealing with cartel men. Jamie has the pizza ready for when you get home and you shove the icecream in the freezer for later then get changed into comfy clothes. You watch one of your favourite movies and now you're half way through Jamie's favourite when you feel your phone vibrate.

'Sorry I missed you tonight, wanted to ask if you wanted to join me on a ride this weekend?' Sent by Jack. You grin from ear to ear.

"That message from Jack?" Jamie slips down into the couch beside you and bumps your elbow.

You shove her off, trying to hide your smile. "Maybe." Your fingers ghost over your mobile, trying to figure out how to reply.

"Love how your hesitate every time she texts you." Jamie laughs, sipping on her glass of wine and you just poke your tongue at her. "Child."

You don't reply to your sister. Instead turning your attention back to your phone. You take a bite of your pizza before replying.

'I would love to. When and Where?'

You place your phone beside you on the arm of the couch and pick up your wine glass, side eyeing your phone every few seconds waiting for the reply. It takes a few minutes and you get up to refill your glass of wine and finish your slice when your phone dings from the couch. You run to it as Jamie goes to take it. "Don't you dare!" You snatch it right before she can reach it.

"Just teasing. Someones fiesty."

You walk back into the kitchen with your phone and jump up onto the kitchen counter, your back facing the lounge room.

'How about Sunday? Any places you want to visit? I don't mind where we go.' You smile at her open to suggestion reply, clearly she was more interested in the company than the ride.

'Sunday works for me. Gives me Saturday to do all the fun chores that my sister always forgets to do. Did I mention I want to move out? You pick the destination as you're the one driving.' You slip off the counter, sipping your wine, you walk back to the couch.

"What you two talking about? I need some juicy love life gossip." Jamie giggled, looking from you to the tv.

Shrugging slightly. "We are making plans to go for a ride on Sunday." You look over at your sister who is waggling her eyebrows at you. "Shut up."

"Never. When will I get to meet her?"

"Hopefully not soon." You tease and Jamie just laughs.

"I'll be around on Sunday." She suggests and you just drop your head back onto the couch, just a tad dramatically.

"No. I'll be out the door before you know she's here." Leaning forward to sip your wine before placing it back down on the coffee table.

Jamie smiles at you less teasingly now. Her tone softer. "You really do like her."

"Jams, I've never felt like this before. I just don't want anything to mess this up before it's even started." You sigh and turn your face back to the movie.

Your phone vibrates again. 'But if you move out, you'll still do the chores so what's the difference? Let me have a think, do you enjoy going to markets?'

You snort at yourself thinking of a reply.

"What?" Jamie pokes your shoulder.

"Nothing."

'The difference is, there'd be no one poking me every few minutes wanting to know what we're texting about. I enjoy a good market.'

"You're making fun of me in your texting, aren't you?" You fake a shock expression at Jamie and laugh. "I knew it."

"Only a little. Just how you don't like doing chores."

"Hey you hate them as much as me!" She flicks your shoulder. "There's your girlfriend again." She smirks, hearing the vibrations of your phone.

'Your poker face needs work then, sweetheart.' You almost spurt out your wine reading the last word. You hear Jamie laugh and show her the text.

"Nawwww." She coo's at Jack's text. "She likes you." You feel the phone vibrate in your hand and snap back to see Jack sent another text.

'I hope you didn't spit your wine out over that.' You drop your head back onto the couch. She knows you too well already.

'You've either got cameras in my apartment or I'm just too predictable.' You send, her reply doesnt come for a few minutes, the wait makes you squirm. The movie lost in the background.

'Only in the bedroom and livinig room, kidding! I may have had a few scotchs before sending this.'

You laugh. 'I like tipsy Jack.' Really you just like everything, Jack.

'I'm glad. What are you and Jamie up to?' You love that she continues the conversation on past the initial weekend planning, although you realise you actually hadn't made a time.

'Netflix, wine, pizza and soon to be icecream. What are you up to?'

The movie you've been ignoring comes to an end and Jamie picks another one as you didn't reply to her offer. To which you now regret.

'Slightly jealous. I'm reading and drinking the Scotch I mentioned.'

Now you have a picture of Jack with her reading glasses sitting on the tip of her nose, licking the tip of her tongue and turning the page in her book and the visual makes you close your eyes and hold in a very quiet moan.

'I'll invite you over next time. Although your night sounds just as inviting'

It takes a while for Jack to send a reply through and you get fidgety thinking you may have over stepped the welcome mat but she started the flirt texting. You're onto your fourth very full glass of wine and half way through your ice cream when you hear your phone vibrate again.

'Sorry, fell asleep. I'd like that. I'll bring the Scotch and pizza.' You don't have the heart to tell her you arent a big Scotch drinker but she could twist your arm into starting.

'Done deal. I won't keep you up, good night J.' You spent way too long trying to figure out the right way to finish the text and you think making a nickname for Jack is good enough.

'Good night, sweetheart, I'm sure I'll dream about you and that's not just the drunk me talking.' This time you did slightly spit out your wine.

"I'm glad she makes you happy but please don't waste my wine." Jamie shakes her head.

'I can't wait for sober J to read this conversation. G'Night, Sweety.' You regret send Sweety but can't think of a better one because you really want to type babe but feel it's way too soon.

There's no reply from Jack and you spend the next hour finishing the awful movie Jamie picked out and eating icecream. It's past midnight when you hit the rack, falling asleep or passing out when your head hits the pillow and you don't wake to your phone vibrating a few times early in the morning. You wake up when there's a crash of glasses in the kitchen at around 0800.

"What?!" You groan and walk down the hall, checking on Jamie.

"Sorry, wanted a glass from the dish rack but all of them wanted to come with it. Don't give me that look, my head hurts as much as yours does." She whines, filling up a glass with water and chucking two aspirin in her mouth followed by the water.

"Hand me one will ya." She does as you instructed and you groan sitting down at the counter. "We should know better." You rest your head on the counter and moan.

"It's always fun at the time. You heard from Jack  this morning?" At the sound of her name, you jump up too fast and hold your head in response to the banging going on because of your quick movement but you head back to your bedroom to find your phone.

'Oh. My. God.' Reads the first text, you are already laughing.

'I really should learn to put a harder pin on my phone for when drunk me thinks its good to over step boundaries.'

'Hope we are still on for Sunday?:)' They were all sent within a minute of each other around 0600.

You flop down on your stomach onto your bed and think of a reply. 'You were quite entertaining last night. No boundaries were over stepped, just pushed further along. What time you picking me up tomorrow? You aren't getting out of it that easily, J. :)'

It takes a minute but she replies. 'I've only been in embarrassment waiting for your reply for the past two hours. I see you've made my name even shorter, I like it. How does 0800 sound?'

'Well I didn't pass out as early as someone did. I needed my beauty sleep but it didn't help this killer head ache, you're lucky I didn't wake up to your texts, I'm no morning girl, J. 0800 is great.'

'Someones feisty in the mornings. Sweetheart, you don't need beauty sleep, come on. 0800 it is.' You can see her eye roll and laugh.

You don't reply, letting her wait a little, you wake yourself up with a nice hot shower and get changed into track pants and a sloppy joe before replying to Jack. 'Alright, feisty me has gone. What are you up to today?' You wonder back into the kitchen to find Jamie has left, conveniently in time for when you decide to do chores. First you need a coffee though.

. . . . 

And there it is. Apologies for any mistakes. I enjoy the writing not so much the editing. However this will be the last chapter for a while as I’m going to the US tomorrow for a quick holiday :D NCIS Paleyfest here I come

[maraschinotopped]

🖋 icecream cake cat?👁👁

i am looking!!!!

stupid fun facts: if i remember correctly he was one of my first cookie run ocs, or at least one of the first cr ocs i actually drew digitally lmao. hes a bitch and i hate him. he was probably made because my stupid ass cant hold myself from making a cat oc in literally any universe and also i like making evil characters

actual backstory: So, he was made, maybe with some soy sauce instead of chocolate sauce ;), and because the witch is an idiot, placed him in the oven instead of the freezer. Dragonfruit cookie (oc, which i made before Pitaya dragon cookie, dont bully me) decides to help him out, and once ICC cat (im shortening his name bc its long lmao) is able to get out, he accidentally trips Dragonfruit into the fire of the oven and that ends up with him turning into Roadkill cookie, with Roadkill barely surviving and now with an overwhelming urge to kill ICC cat. Of course, ICC cat doesnt know that Roadkill survives, and after going “OH FUCK” he realizes “oh wait that was kinda fun” and just. goes his merry way. He eventually hears of Dark Enchantress and her dark powers, and he wants that. he wants the dark power because he thinks he’ll have a lot more fun murdering cookies with it. For now he just wanders, trying to find out where Dark enchantress is hiding. One of these wandering sessions, he ends up lost on a snowy mountain, where he meets Snowcone cookie (another oc), who is a very bold and outward cookie. After she helps him find his way, he pushes her down the mountain, so she wouldnt tell anyone that she had met him (by killing her) but she ends up surviving, but hitting her head hard giving her memory loss and shifting her personality quite a bit. She would now be very clumsy and shy. Eventually, he meets Needle cookie (oc!!), and they become “friends”. ICC cat is just trying to get something from him, which is some very sturdy and thick needles, to get himself some claws. Eventually, he asks Needle about it, but Needle is very skeptical about it, because why would he need claws? He should be fine without them. After Needle bluntly says no, ICC cat murders them in cold blood and quickly goes and steals the needles he needed from Needle, before vanishing from the town Needle lived in so they wouldnt catch him. Why wouldnt he just steal them without asking and then vanish? because he likes the thrill of killing someone. Currently, hes trying to find out where Dark Enchantress is, and is just wandering.

personality: He usually puts up a kind facade, but its usually very tiring for him to put it up all day if he has to. his actual personality is that hes a dick really. He’ll put up the kind facade to get what he wants, but if hes not able to get it then he usually reverts to his actual personality and either uses force to get it, or murder if he feels like it. Sometimes his mean spirit leaks into his facade and that does throw some cookies off, but he can usually win people over and gain their trust. He usually doesnt get attached to anyone, since hes gone in a few days anyway.

so

tl;dr: hes a bitch fdgsdiufydssf

[itisannak]

‘Heartbreak Girl’ by 5sos (Ashton Irwin Fluff)

Summary: Ashton has feelings for his friend, who keeps choosing the wrong guy to be with. Based on Angst Prompt #38: "We are not just friends and you fucking know it."   (Roughly based on Heartbreak Girl by 5sos) (Request) (Words: 1.6k)

'It's not the same anymore', he said. 'I love you, but not like that, anymore.' he said. So I found myself walking alone in the middle of the night, drenched by the falling rain. After I left his apartment, I just began walking aimlessly, trying to wrap my brain around the fact that my boyfriend actually called us quits once more. Every time he and I break up, he ended up apologizing, begging for me back. But this time it seems different, it feels different as well. On and off and on and off ha brought me to feeling numb at the sudden turn of our relationship. I am heartbroken but after a million times of being betrayed by him, heartbreak has become more of a tiring condition for me.

Without realizing it much, I find myself in front of Ashton's door, waiting for him to open it. "(Y/N)... What are you doing here? Are you ok? You are drenched... Come in." Ashton panics, trying to read my face for any clue of my state. "I am fine. I don't even know how I got here, really." I mumble under my breath, too worn to let out anything else. "You really don't look fine. And you are shivering." He comments, shutting the door as I get in. "I am sorry I came over uninvited. I really didn't want to go home, so I just started walking... But I ended up here. I am sorry, I should go..." I break down, pointing to the door. Ashton pulls me in for a hug, kissing the top of my head as I finally let my feelings express freely. "Don't you dare leave. My house is your house too." "I am going to drench your clothes." I sob, trying to move away from him, but his arms wrap around me even tighter. "Fuck the clothes. Tell me you are not hurt. Do you need me to drive you to the hospital?" He asks, only now pulling away from me to inspect me and my physique. "I am not hurt. At least not physically." I rub my eyes. "Then, what is it?" He asks me. "He broke up with me. Said he doesn't feel anything anymore." I mumble, shrugging my shoulders. "Again? I feel like I have had this conversation with you 10 times this past 6 months." "I know. I am sorry I keep on coming back to you after that. But you are the only person I can talk to." "You are always welcome to come here, no matter what. And you are always going to be welcome here. Now, you will slip into a shower and stay there for as long as you need, and I'll bring you dry clothes. And, while you are in there, I will order some pizza and we are going to talk until we fall asleep." He orders, giving me his signature grin. "I don't want to talk about it, nor him. It feels like my tongue is stuck in the same conversation lately. But I am not saying no to pizza." "Of course you aren't. You know where everything is, let me give you some towels and clean clothes." He presses a kiss to my forehead before we make our way to the bathroom. "Once you change, I will throw your clothes in the dryer, ok?" Ashton says as he hands me the fluffy towels. I nod my head and he smiles, getting out of the bathroom and closing the door behind him. I strip off my clothes, placing them on top of the humper before I slip into the shower cabin. I let the warm water run on my body, offering me a calming sensation, much needed after today's hecticness. I feel kind of hollow, not sure if it is because I am over it, or just sure that tomorrow morning he will call me and say he didn't mean it. And blindly, I will go running back to him. Or at least that's normal for us. I don't want to go back to him, but I have invested so much in this relationship that it feels stupid throwing it all away because of a mood swing.

I dry myself off and get dressed before I walk into the living room, finding Ashton waiting for me with 2 blankets on the couch. "I figured that you would be cold after walking in the rain." He smiles sweetly before he pulls me to sit on the couch. I bring the blanket to cover my lap, curling into a ball on the couch. "The pizza will be here in a few minutes. And I have coke and icecream in the freezer, so pick a movie and let's have a brain freeze together." He cheers, plopping on the couch. "Not a movie. Let's watch Bob's Burgers." I push my eyebrows up, smiling at him as he groans frustrated. "You always want to watch Bob's Burgers." He huffs. "At least I am easy to make up my mind." I point out and grab the remote control from him. "That you are. I'll bring glasses."

We must have watched at least 10 episodes before falling asleep. I wake up in the morning, my head on Ashton's shoulder, and a light buzz on it. The T.V. is still on, but it is on the homepage of Hulu, so it is quiet in the house. Ashton is sleeping soundly, his colored red locks falling on his face messily. I pity walking him up, after everything he did for me last night... And every other time he became my shoulder to cry on. I nuzzle up against the couch, shutting my eyes and trying to go back to sleep for a few more moments. But my stomach grumbles, so I fail. I stretch my body to reach for the pizza box at the end of the couch; if I remember correctly and my mind isn't fooling me from permanent brain freeze damage, there is some leftover pizza. And nothing tastes better than cold pizza for breakfast. But on my way to picking up the box, I accidentally wake up Ashton, who groans instead of saying 'Good morning'. "Hey. Wanna split the leftovers?" I ask, smiling at him. "Give me a goddamn slice." He mumbles as I open the box. I hand him one, watching him as he sinks his teeth into it and moans at the taste. "How are you feeling?" He asks me as I take my first bite. "Great. I don't even expect the call from him anymore." "The call?" He asks, knitting his eyebrows together. "The one he is going to tell me about regretting last night and how badly he wants us to be back together." I explain, earning a hum from him. "If he calls, are you going back to him?" He asks. "No, I don't think so. I need to end this circle." "Good, cause I don't want you going back to him." He says, cocking an eyebrow. "Of course you don't. You are my friend, you want what's best for me." I state and Ashton sighs, dropping his slice back in the box before he rubs his hand over his face. "What?" I ask, looking at him in confusion. "We are not just friends and you fucking know it." He groans. I still look at him confused, unable to understand his little tantrum. "Huh?" "We are not just friends (Y/N). At least you are not just a friend to me. Not since the day I felt you around me and heard you moan my name." "Ashton, that night..." I stutter but he stops me. "I know. I know we said that that one night was a one-time thing. But I can't remember to forget those moments. I can't forget what it was like holding you and hearing you moan and kissing you. To me, you are not just a friend. Not anymore." "Are you saying you..." "I see you romantically if you want to put it in that way. I don't know if I am in love with you, since I always have to hold myself back from seeing you through that spectrum, but at the reminiscence of what was like holding you, feeling you, making love to you, I know I want to fall in love with you." He confesses, without looking at me; it is hard watching him get awkward around me, he is always breezy and charming. "Ash, I really don't know what to say." "I know. I just wanted to let it out." "Listen, that night was amazing. Truly." "But..." "There is no but, Ash. It was amazing. Just... I've never imagined it turning into something more. I guess because I was already in a relationship." "Yeah, I figured..." He sighs. "Now what?" He asks, putting me on the spot. I rub my hand over my face, trying to figure out a way to word my unsettled thoughts. "Listen, I have just gotten out of a relationship. A bad one. And yes, I am not going back to him, but I still need some time to figure out a way to come out of this in one piece. And of course, we have to find a balance for this new relationship, or what we are going to call this. And last but not least, let's take this one step at a time. But really, one step at a time. Let's just go on a date... Then another, and not rush ourselves into this." "Sounds like a good plan to me. Way better than not giving this a chance at all." He smiles sweetly, picking up his slice again. "So, wanna watch some more Bob's Burgers?" I ask, smirking as I pick up the remote control.

My Masterlist

[ravenwritesstuff]

Repetition (2/?)

Fandom: Timeless - Set during episodes 1x11-1x12 Pairing: Lyatt (Lucy x Wyatt) Rating: Very M (SoooOoooOOooo not for kids. Go away, children.) Warnings: M (just see the warning on the first part. It is basically the same) A/N: I am absolute TRASH for this couple. I will probably write one or two more parts for this. Maybe. I don’t know. I just - whatever.

[ first part ]

He offers to drive her back to her car, but she calls a cab instead so he offers to make her a cup of coffee while she waits. She is already jittery as hell but she accepts because she needs something to do with her hands besides remember how his skin felt beneath her fingertips. She hovers in the doorway of his small kitchen as he scoops the grounds and measures water. Her eyes go to the little red light above the carafe and she just stares because she cannot look at him.

She cannot speak to him.

She can hardly breathe.

A clock ticks on the wall above his table for two (even though there is only one chair) and she tries to sync her racing heart to its steady rhythm - to the rhythm of time - and a hysterical chuckle chokes in her throat. A dark part of her heart wants to take down that clock and smash it to bits. It reminds her too much of David Rittenhouse, his son, a gun pointed at Wyatt’s head - and she has made a mistake.

She has made an awful mistake.

He pours the black, steaming liquid into two mismatched, military-sloganed mugs.

“Cream or sugar?” He asks, and the sound of his voice startles her.

“What?” She looks at him and feels her face heat. He side eyes the mugs on the counter. “Oh. Yes. Cream please.”

He goes to the fridge and pulls out a carton of milk. She tracks him as he doctors her drink.

“More?” He holds the plastic handle of the jug and looks at her with eyes sharp enough to cut diamonds, soft enough to fall into - wait. He had asked a question.

“That’s perfect, thanks.” It doesn’t really matter. She doesn’t plan on drinking it - they both just really need a way to fill the time.

Time.

The damn reason she is here in this kitchen where the fluorescent lights aren’t doing anyone any favors. Her mind races.

Time.

History.

Rittenhouse.

Rottenhouse.

Flynn.

Flynn and her journal.

Amy.

Amy.

The name alone is a stab to the gut.

Had she really does this for her? Would it make a difference? Would anything ever make a difference? It seems like everything they try to do to fix the situation only makes new, worse, more complicated problems.

He hands her a mug. It says ARMY on the side in bold black letters. His hands don’t shake. Hers do. She wonders if he has done this before - if that is why he is so calm - if she is just another girl in the long line of hookups he has used to replace Jessica. She probably is and that is the most humiliating part. He probably will forget about this and she never will and -

“We don’t have to talk about it.” He folds himself against the counter a safe distance away but she knows there is really not such thing as a safe distance when it comes to Wyatt Logan.

“O-Okay.” She bobs her head and looks at her coffee. It is just how she likes it, but the idea of drinking it makes her nauseous.

“...Unless you want to?”

He’s putting out feelers, aiming for tact instead of his usual take-no-prisoners approach and she supposes she should be grateful, but it uneases her. Somehow it would be easier if he was brusque. It would be easier to throw up her walls and deflect, but now he is looking at her with blue eyes wide and cautious like he cares and that is not fair. It is not fair at all because she does not want to talk about it. She has no idea how to talk about it - especially if he is going to pretend like it matters.

What if it does matter?

She cannot.

“You said it was for - history. And after we - after you said that now we have to wait.” He presses into her silence, prompting, and crosses his arms over his broad (t-shirt covered - thank goodness) chest. She’s tasted that chest and suddenly she needs to drink her coffee because she realizes he is still stuck to the back of her tongue. “What did you mean by that?”

She gulps two deep swallows from her mug and doesn’t taste it. All she can taste is him. She wonders how long that will last.

She’d spend longer lamenting that truth, but there is a question to answer and to be honest she has no idea even where to begin.

“I don’t know I just -” She looks down at her shoes. “I had a theory.”

“What theory?” He prods, but it is not demanding. Something curious scratches behind his words and she wonders just what kind of answer he is expecting from her.

Her eyes come back up to him, and she wants to tell him that it doesn’t matter - that this had all been some sort of fluke brought on by stress and insomnia and - you know - her life as she knew it being altered beyond seeming repair, but she knows that is not the truth. She doesn’t do anything, say anything, without knowing the reason and the cause behind it. She knows just why she suggested this but that does not mean she is ready to admit it.

“It’s just -” Her cell rings and she jumps like a gunshot (except at this point a gunshot may be less startling than her phone ringing) and she drops the mug. It falls and shatters, the rest of her coffee splatters all over the bottom of her jeans and the linoleum floor. “Shit!”

She flutters between answering the phone and picking up broken pieces.

“Answer it.” Wyatt tells her, always so cool under pressure, as he reaches for a roll of paper towels.

She obeys. The conversation lasts all of two seconds.

“My cab is here.” She says and hesitates as he kneels and begins mopping up her spill. “I have to go. I could - I’m so sorry about the mug.”

He does not look up from his work. “It was free.”

“I should stay. I’ll get another cab. I should stay and help clean up this mess.” She thinks to move, doesn’t.

He rocks back on his heels and sighs. “What’s done is done. It’s fine.”

She still doesn’t move.

“Lucy.” He says her name and that gets her attention. She did not expect that. Her eyes flash to his. “It’s okay, you know. All of it. We’re good.”

Her throat works, but she can neither swallow nor speak. She just stares.

He gestures with his head towards the entryway with his head. “Your cab is waiting.”

It is all the dismissal she needs but she still hesitates. His head falls and they both look at the ceramic pieces scattered across the floor. The juxtaposition of both Wyatt on his knees and the shattered ceramics at her feet is enough to make her heart leap to her throat and she does not want to dissect the reason why.

She all but runs out of his door and counts it a victory that she does not cry until she makes it to the cab.

What in the hell had she just done?

….

Amy isn’t at the house.

She doesn’t know why she thought she would be.

All she did was make a shitty decision and sleep with someone inappropriate in the current timeline. That wouldn’t bring her sister back. That wouldn’t change the fact that somewhere, out there, Garcia Flynn is already planning another way to make her life impossible while she is (apparently) trying to beat him to it.

She drops her purse on the kitchen stool and heads to the freezer. With any luck, her mom will have left some of the Ben & Jerry’s she bought on the last trip to the market. She needs it. Either that or a shot of whiskey, but she is making enough poor decisions without being inebriated so she’ll stick with icecream for now.

No sooner had she found the Phish Food and turned to find a spoon then she sees him. She jumps, but manages to keep a hold of the ice cream carton which makes her one for two tonight.

“Noah.” He is in the breakfast nook, but it isn’t breakfast time. Actually she has no idea what time it is, what day it is, what year it is. “What are you doing here?”

He frowns. “You haven’t returned any of my calls. Your mom says you disappear at all hours for work and don’t come back for days. I’m worried about you, Lucy.”

He comes from where he had been sitting, hands in his pocket, and she acknowledges that he is handsome. He is kind. He is thoughtful and if they were as in love and engaged as those scrapbooks would have her believe then he is probably in quite a bit of pain as well. Guilt rises up to choke her but she screams against it. His pain is not hers. He is not hers. No matter what this timeline would have her believe, but she proceeds with caution.

“I know. I know.” She sets the ice cream on the counter and braces herself. How do you explain the inexplicable? “I’m so sorry. I wish I could explain - I do.”

He stands on the other side of the island looking like he is going insane. “Then do it. Lucy - dammit. I love you and you’re acting like I’m a total stranger.”

But you are. She thinks, barely able to stop herself from saying it, and she looks at her hands gripping the edge of the counter top to keep herself from running out of the room.

“There is a lot going on right now that I can’t explain to you - or to anyone. I wish I could, maybe someday, but now…” Her head spins. This is the last thing she needs right now.

“When are you coming home?” He asks and she immediately flashes to images of Wyatt’s condo, nothing on the walls - only the most basic creature comforts, and how that had felt more like a home than all the time she spent with her fiance in their ‘home’.

She thinks of this place with Amy in it.

She thinks of everywhere except the place to which he refers.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

Noah shows himself out.

….

She goes for a run. It is raining, but she doesn’t care. She just needs to feel something that isn’t the pulsing need she has to go back to Wyatt’s place and clear the air or jump back in his bed or something. It really didn’t matter to her exactly what they did so long as they did it together because she is slowly realizing: she has no one else.

Not now.

Not after what they did.

She has single handedly managed to both create and destroy the only relationship she has in the world in one fell swoop.

She slows to a walk about two blocks from her house and lets the rain wash her tears.

….

She doesn’t even jump when her phone rings this time. She has set a special ringer for blocked numbers (the only blocked calls she ever gets is from Mason Industries) so she always knows when she needs to start preparing for corsets and polyester. This time, however, she just stares as the phone rings to voicemail. She’s playing Rummikub with her mother and she is letting her mom win and somehow that seems like way more fun than going back in time and seeing him right now.

Her phone rings again, another blocked number, and she knows she should answer it but she stays still.

“Lucy. Your phone is ringing.” Her mother gives her that I raised you better than this look.

“It’s work.” She replies and her mother’s face hardens at the corners of her mouth, her eyes.

And as badly as Lucy wants to keep ignoring it - she knows that she cannot. Mason Industries will send a car of scary men to make sure she does as they say and she is not about to try to explain that to her mother.

She answers on the last ring and hangs up on a sigh.

“They need me at the office.”

“Of course they do.” Her mother starts cleaning up the game without even asking. “Should I keep dinner warm for you?”

Lucy smiles. She wishes….

“Leave me a plate in the fridge.” She stands and kisses her mom on the top of her head and breathes in deeply, not taking any of this time for granted. “I love you, mom.”

….

She knew this moment would be awkward but she hadn’t known just how awkward. Wyatt is there, his slouchy energy magnified by a restless quality previously unseen. She doesn’t want to credit their encounter to his updated body language in her proximity but she is not naive enough to write it off. Still - there is something else there too. Something a bit too raw to just be about their lapse in judgement.

She glances at him when he isn’t looking her way and looks away the second he catches her. His eyes hold questions she is not brave enough to answer, not yet.

Agent Christopher talks to her. Somehow Lucy manages to access the fact storage part of her brain long enough to regurgitate enough useful facts about the time period and completes her report without stuttering because she is fucking capable, okay? That, however, does not stop her from dreading every step she takes towards The Lifeboat after wardrobe.

Wyatt comes up alongside her and she refuses to admit how good he looks in his period duds. It is thoughts like that that got her into this mess in the first place. Instead she becomes preoccupied with the maneuvering of her skirts, balancing her hat.

“You okay?” His voice is low and just for her and she is transported back to his bed.

Tell me what you like. He had said and she knows the answer. She likes him, hell, probably loves him, but is nowhere close to being ready to deal with the implications of that.

“Yeah. You?” She asks, but it is time to climb in.

He goes in first like he always does so he can offer a hand, help her up, and she never knew that taking someone’s hand could be such sweet torture. He pulls her up and they are a breath away. He is scruffy as usual and she remembers just how that stubble felt rubbing across her throat, her breasts, and lower.

“Better now.” He says, holding her three beats longer than necessary, and she has no idea what to make of that.

Before she even has a chance to consider it, Rufus clears his throat.

“Don’t know about you all, but I’m pretty ready to get going because the sooner we leave the sooner we get back and that sounds pretty damn fine to me.”

They break away and go to their seats, her legs trembling from proximity. Her eyes find his as they buckle and don’t leave until they touch down in 1882.

….

Better now? Better now, how?

Better because he was on a mission?

Better because being on a mission meant being closer to her?

Better because now he had added reasons to be a reckless hothead just to piss her off?

She can think of a lot of things that this situation is, but none of them have the word ‘better’ attached to them.

It is April 2nd.

She’d heard it in the briefing. She’d seen it on the calendar on the wall of her mother’s kitchen, and yet it hadn’t registered to her for even one instant that she had missed her sister’s birthday.

Amy was born on April 1st a hundred years from where she currently is, except that she wasn’t. Amy was never was born. Not anymore, and Lucy does not know how that makes anything better.

He doesn’t make her better.

In fact, he only makes it worse because if she hadn’t been so damn sidetracked by What She Did With Wyatt (The Thing She Did In Attempts To Bring Back Said Forgotten Sister) - she may have remembered Amy in the first place.

Mason says that time is linear, but she is ready to write a thesis statement that is just one big, horrible loop.

She walks by a mirror in the saloon they are in searching for leads and looks at herself. It is warped, imperfect, as was common for the time but she cannot find anything she knows to be true about herself in that reflection. She blames the mirror, but she knows it is more than that.

….

She wants out.

This isn’t fun anymore, not that it was ever fun but there have been certain perks (meeting Abraham Lincoln and George Washington - are you serious?!) but none of that matters any more. She can see the strain it is taking on Rufus, on herself, and on Wyatt.

She thought that maybe she was the only one coming unhinged, but it is clear her entire team is slowly coming apart at the seams. And Flynn Garcia is not helping the issue. In fact he is actively doing the opposite. He is pressing down on them and as much as Lucy hates to admit it - they are cracking.

She’s always been aware of Wyatt’s skill set, apprehensive of it at times, but she’s never been afraid of it. Never until now, sitting at a campfire, listening to him weave a case for something that could only be described as a God Complex and realizing that she has done the same thing. She, the protector of history, is fully and completely willing to do anything to change it. She knows better than to assume that changing one life doesn’t make that much of a difference.

Changing one life changes the world.

So when Wyatt looks at her and asks her for back up, she thinks she is going to be sick. She is no sounding board, no paragon of time virtue. She doesn’t deserve to be trusted with this much responsibility, this much power.

No human does.

….

How far would you go to preserve time?

She used to ask herself this question even before taking this job, even more so now that she has, but never did she think that she would give the answer of murder.

She did not want to kill him.

She never wanted to kill anyone.

She did not sign on for this. Any of this. She knows she’s maintained the continuity of history by eliminating Jesse James in the proper time-frame, but she’s never killed a man before. She never wants to again, hero or villain. She never even wants to be put in the position where she has to choose.

She just wants to go home, but she doesn’t know where that is anymore.

Amy is gone. She isn’t ever going to get her back. She isn’t ever going to get any of it back.

She cannot stop shaking. Tears burn the backs of her eyes. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. None of it was supposed to be like this. She wants to go back to her old job with its normal hours with its safe predictability and normal boundaries. She wants history to go back to the past, untouched - untouchable, because she cannot take it another second.

She’s in the woods behind the cabin, trying to pull it together, when he finds her. She must look a fright because he eyes her warily at best.

“You did the right thing.” He doesn’t ask if she is okay, knows that she isn’t, and choked laugh breaks from her throat.

“The right thing? Right by whom?” She presses the heels of her hands against her eyes. “I feel like I don’t know which way is up - or if there even is an up”

“He needed to die. He was supposed to die.” Wyatt comes close and grabs her arms. His touch sends electricity through her and she pulls her hand from her eyes. “You did the right thing.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“The guy was a maniac. He’d go on and kill more people than he already had. Sometime in order to prevent a greater evil you have to get your own hands dirty.”

And suddenly she knows they aren’t talking about Jesse James anymore. She looks at him. He is so close, still holding her arms, the dim light from the cabin illuminating the edges of his face in the cold night. Despite it being spring, the night air is still cold enough that she can see heavy puffs of air coming from his lips.

Lips she has kissed.

Lips she wants to, against all sound judgement, kiss again.

“You said you had a theory.” His hands tighten. “What was it?”

“It was nothing.” She shakes her head, eyes not leaving his face. “It doesn’t matter. It was stupid.”

“Tell me.” He says and she knows he is not asking. There is something too raw, too desperate in his voice, and she can feel him losing grip the same as she.

She supposes after all they have been through - after all the lies and confusion - she owes him this truth. No matter how ridiculous.

“I thought that - uh - I thought that maybe if I did something that I would never do then maybe, somehow, it would change - something. Like Amy.” She cannot make out his expression in the shadows but can feel embarrassment heat her body. “See? I told you. Stupid.”

He is quiet for a few deafening heartbeats. Then:

“You tried to take your life into your own hands. You tried to get back someone you love.” His voice holds gravel, but not cruelty. “I can’t fault you for that.”

It’s easier to talk about this in the dark, easier when she cannot make out his every expression. When she knows he cannot see the hope shine in her eyes.

“Are you going to do it? Are you going to try to save Jessica?” She asks, lips tremblings and not just from the cold.

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Wyatt…” She wants to tell him he has a choice. She wants to tell him that they all have choices. They don’t have to just take orders anymore - they can make their own. Set their own path like Emma had. Run away and be lost in time, in space, and forget that any of this ever happened, but she cannot.

Because he kisses her.

She melts into him without a struggle. For the first time in days it feel like she is standing on solid ground because he is holding her. There is no time for gentleness. They fight tongue and teeth against a world that is all too unfair. A world that is just as eager to put them together as it is to tear them apart.

He groans against her mouth and she hushes him. Rufus is close. Bass is close. They are tending to James and Grant’s bodies, are digging through the piles of modern paraphernalia abounding in the bullet-riddled cabin. This is complicated enough with just the two of them. She doesn’t want an audience.

He steps and pushes her back against the nearest tree. This is a different side of Wyatt than she had seen the first time. There is something dark, something final, about the way he holds her, kisses her but she is not giving up without a fight. She claws into his shoulders, his back, and holds him that much tighter. He answers by grabbing one of her thighs and hiking it up so her foot hooks around his knee.

And this is war.

But she doesn’t know who is fighting.

She is so tired of fighting.

Her hands go to his neck and pull him closer, her body arching up against his. That familiar ache mounts deep inside of her, begging for release. The corset and heavy trappings of clothes feel too small, her skin too exquisitely sensitive with him so near. She wants to feel him. Her fingers go to the buttons on his coat, his vest.

“Lucy.” He whispers against her lips when small hands slip under his shirt to touch warm skin and the sound of it sends a new shock of pleasure through her system.

She is doing this. He knows that it is she. He does not pull away. So no matter how fucked up this situation may be - she will hold onto that till her dying day.

They don’t have long.

He hikes her skirt up around her waist as she works loose the buttons on his fly. She can feel his hardness even before it springs up between them. He presses up against her center, thrusting a few nowhere strokes, hitting the oversensitive peak at the top of her sex, before he lines up and drives home.

She thought she would be used to this. She thought that maybe, after the first time, he wouldn’t feel so big. But he does. Oh - gods - he does, and she sees stars.

She didn’t think, ever in her life, she would be turned on by something like this. But then again until recently the idea of having primal, urgent, absolutely necessary sex up against the trunk of a tree in 1882 Missouri had never really been an option so she is willing to make an exception because - holy shit - she is not going to fight this.

His breath comes in harsh pants against her cheek. She grips his shoulders, tries to pull her leg up over his hips to draw him in closer. Despite the cold she can feel sweat break out down her spine, along her hairline. Maybe it is the adrenaline from almost dying, from killing a man, but it only takes a few moments before she is clenching hot and rippling around him. She cannot make out his expression but she can tell from the change in his breathing that he is just as surprised as she is when she clamps around him and everything goes white.

When she comes back to earth his hips stutter against hers in hard, short thrusts until he collapses against her. His mouth moves against her neck, but it is not a kiss. He is saying something, but she cannot make it out above her hammering heart. She doesn’t know if she wants to because if she does, she may have to acknowledge what just happened.

They stay there frozen, unwilling to face the fallout, until:

“Lucy?” It’s Rufus calling into the night. “Wyatt?”

They jump apart. Her skirt tumbles back into place as he does his best to fasten his pants, his vest. The proof of their encounter runs down the insides of her trembling legs and she guesses that unprotected sex is something she else does now on top of murder.

“I’m clean. I’m on the pill.” She says at the same time as she cringes that that is the first thing she thinks to say in this moment.  

“Me too.” His voice has that husky quality she remembers from the first time. She squeezes her legs together. “The clean part.”

“O - Okay.” She cannot move away from the tree. Her legs shake too badly.

“Wyatt!” It is Rufus again. “Lucy!”

He probably thinks they’ve been kidnapped or killed or -

“We’re over here!” Wyatt calls back.

He turns to her and she can see the faintest glint of his eyes in the moonlight. “You head back first. I’ll follow in a bit. It’ll be less suspicious that way.”

She’s not sure how it will be less suspicious, but she is in no place to argue - to think. So she locks her knees and moves. She finds Rufus backlit from the cabin where Bass is still sorting through things he will never understand.

“Hey.” Rufus greets her. “Where’s Wyatt? Is he okay? Are you okay?”

She gives him a half smile and hopes to whatever powers existed that she does not reek of sex as much as she thinks she does.

“I don’t think any of us are okay.”

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