#i appreciate the fact that this dude sees me and decided Yes this goody two shoes can definitely be trusted with my habit of skipping cladd

[loud-whistling-yes]

Caught a cold so bad I didn't come to school yesterday and I guess my geography class didn't get the memo cause just now this kid who constantly skips geography class asked me with the most gleeful joy "omg *irl name* did you skip geo class yesterday" and I kinda went

Me:

Me: I was sick yesterday

Classmate, face showing a hint of disappointment: oh ok nevermind glad you're back

[thebrotherssalvatore321]

Keeping Secrets Ch. 14

Keeping Secrets Masterlist

Pairing: DamonxOc, Currently Tylerxoc, Elijahxoc, then Klausxoc endgame.

 Katie put on a black dress and matching flats then picked Tyler up and headed to Vicki’s funeral. They got to the church early and were sitting outside when Katie decided she could no longer stand the silence. “So, what do you think Vicki would think about you being with me?” Katie asked not knowing what else to talk about.

 He just shook his head. “She probably wouldn’t care. I treated her like crap.” He said as he leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “Kinda feels like I don’t even have the right to miss her.” he said with a shake of his head as he looked down at his hands.

 Katie leaned forward mimicking his position. “Did you care about her?” Katie asked and he looked at her to see that she wasn’t jealous or judging, just asking a simple question.

“I did.” He admitted. “I just never showed it because I knew my parents didn’t like her.”

She wanted to point out that his parents didn’t like her either, but he was still good to her. Instead of questioning him about it she tried to make him feel better. “Then you have every right to grieve her.” Katie assured him.

When the funeral was over Katie drove Tyler home, walked with him to his door and gave him a hug and a kiss. She was walking away from the house when Carol called, “Katie.” She stopped and turned back to see Carol walking over to her so she met her half way.

“Yes ma’am?” Kate asked, wondering what she’d done wrong this time.

“I know we got off on the wrong foot, finding you in bed with my son…” she wrinkled her nose and gave her head a slow shake at the memory, “was kind of a shock, but Tyler explained how your grandfather treats you and that he was just giving you a safe place for the night. I realized after I calmed down that you were fully clothed and on top of the blankets.” Katie had her hands behind her back, picking at her cuticles. “I want you to know that while I understand the situation, you will not be sleeping in the same bed as my son again.”

“Yes ma’am. I completely understand.” Katie replied taking her hands from behind her back to swing them nervously at her sides. “It won’t happen again.” She made a strike out movement with her hands.

“That being said, I wanted to thank you for being there for Tyler through all this Vicki stuff.” She told her with a small smile. “It means a lot.”

“It’s really no big deal.” She told her with an awkward shrug.

“Regardless, I appreciate it.” she told her again. “Anyway, don’t be a stranger, okay? You’re welcome here anytime and if you need to get away from your grandfather on occasion you can use our guest room.”

“Wow, really?” Katie asked a little shocked.

“Really.” Carol told her with a polite smile.

“Thank you.”

TVDTVDTVD

"Are you sure about this?" Damon asked as they pulled up to Katie's house.

She took in a deep breath looking at her childhood home through the passenger window of the moving truck that Damon was driving. "We've already packed up my stuff and the queen bed frame that you insisted I take even though I would be fine with my old twin bed. I'm doing this."

“Okay.” Damon pushed his door open and they both got out and headed to the house. Her grandpa wasn't home at the moment so Katie grabbed the hide-a-key rock out of the fake plant on the front porch and opened the door for them.

“Actually I change my mind. I want my parent’s room.” She said as she led him to the room her grand father had made his and opened the door. It was three times the size of her old room and had it's own separate bathroom.

“Okay no problem.” He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Let's get to work.” By the time her grandfather got home from work they had moved his stuff to her father's old office, the smallest room in the house, and moved all of Katie’s things into her parent’s bedroom.

Her grandfather walked in to see them sitting on his couch, both of them drinking his beer. “What the hell are you doing in my house?” He asked glaring at Katie and Damon.

Damon hopped up and walked over to the old, too buff, too tan man with a snarl of a smile and clapped his hand down on his shoulder. “Katie, wanna go up to your new room while the old man and I have a little chat?”

"Gladly." Katie answered and took her beer upstairs with her, taking a swig of it as she passed her grandpa.

After ten or so minutes Damon came upstairs and plopped down on the bed. “It's done.” He tucked his hands behind his head. “He won't bother you and I even told him to let Tyler stay the night if you want him too.”

“What?” Katie asked looking at him with big eyes. “Why would you do that? You hate me being with Tyler.”

“Yeah, but I like you more than I hate him.” He said with a shrug as he got up and headed for the door.

“Hey.” Katie called making him stop and look back at her. She walked over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Thank you.” 

“Anytime, Katie Cat.” He told her as she let go of him. “Or am I still not allowed to call you that?” He asked with a playful quirk of his brows and a smirk.

“I think you've earned back the rights to the nickname.” She told him with a small smile.

“And you better not have changed my name in your phone.” He grabbed the doorframe as he walked further out, still looking at her.

“I haven't, but if Tyler sees it I'll have no choice.” She warned him.

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes and walked off.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie headed down stairs and her grandfather, who had been sitting in his recliner, saw her dressed in a tight, navy blue dress with a lace back that stopped at her waist line and heals and he got up. “Where are you going?”

She stopped at the door and turned to look at him. “The founder’s kick off party. I’m hoping to make it onto the Miss Mystic Falls court, so I have to attend all of these stupid parties.” She explained, trying with every bone in her body to play nice.

“Oh, well, have a good time and don’t get into trouble.” He told her as he stumbled back to his chair. Katie tilted her head at him, finding it odd that he had nothing bad to say, then assumed Damon had compelled him to not say bad things to her anymore.

“You used to drag me to all of these events when I was a kid, why don’t you go anymore?” she asked out of pure curiosity.

“Big bad Mayor Lockwood decided that he’s too good to be friends with me. So I said fuck him.” He answered talking with his hands while holding his beer in one.

“Right, well, goodnight.” Katie told him finding the whole exchange between them to be off putting.

When she got to the party she found Tyler and his father talking to Matt and Kelly. When Tyler saw her she gave him a smile and a small wave. As soon as he and his father were done talking to the grieving family Tyler walked around to the bar that Katie knew was on the other side of the wall the walked back around with a bottle of alcohol in his hand. “Check it out!” he whisper yelled as he walked over to Katie and Matt.

“Dude, your dad’s going to totally beat you down if he catches you.” Matt said as the two of them started walking off.

“Yeah, let him try.” Tyler said as he took the cap off of the bottle.

“Alright, screw it.” Matt took the bottle from Tyler and took a swig.

Tyler looked behind him to see that Katie wasn’t following them, but instead stood where she had been since she saw him. “Hey, come on, booze…distracted parents…fun…this way.” He told her not moving from where he stood near Matt.

“Yeah, that’s…not really my thing.” She said with a wrinkled nose and a shake of her head.

He finally walked over to her, “Come on, it’s not like I’m asking you to get high with me, it’s just booze.”

Katie couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t told her hi, or kissed her or anything and it was really bugging her even though she knew it was a stupid thing to be mad about. “Look, Tyler, I just somehow got your mom to like me. I’m not going to screw that up by getting caught drinking with you at your parent’s party.”

“God, you really are a goody, goody. Go kiss my moms ass. I’m gonna go have fun.” He told her with a hard face and a glare then started walking away.

“Tyler, come on, don’t be like that.” she called but he kept on walking.

Damon walked by and saw Katie looking down at the floor with a frown on her face. “Hey,” Katie’s eyes shot up to him and she forced the displeased look off of her face. “You okay?” he walked over looking around for Tyler. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

“I’m fine and I don’t want to talk about it.” she answered as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m gonna go home.” She tried to walk around him, but he grabbed her upper arm, gently stopping her. “Damon, please let me go.”

He moved to stand in front of her and let go of her arm. “You didn’t get all dressed up and spend…” he looked over her hair and make up, “and hour in front of the mirror just to leave twenty minutes into the party.” She just looked at him blankly. She was hiding the fact that she wanted to cry and Damon felt like finding Tyler and ripping his head off. Instead he held his hand out to her. “Dance with me.”

“Damon, I-”

“Just one dance.” He cut her off. “Then you can go find your boyfriend and give him a piece of your mind.” She couldn’t say no to the pleading look in his eyes.

“Fine, one dance.” She told him with a small smile and a nod.

1901 by phoenix started playing when they walked over to the bar where Elena stood watching Stefan dancing to the up beat song with Kelly. "Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?" Damon asked Elena.

"Is he drunk?" Katie asked with raised brows.

"Yes." Elena and Damon answered at the same time.

"Is he going to be okay?" Elena asked Damon.

"Eventually." Elena just looked at him then back at Stefan. "One way or another." He looked at Katie and jerked his head to the dance floor. "Let's dance."

"No, no, no. I agreed to dance with you when there was slow music playing." Katie argued. "I don't know how to dance to this."

"I'll show you, come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor.

She was on the dance floor with Damon when Tyler walked in. All his eyes could see was Damon's hands on her hips as they moved to the music and the way Damon was looking at her ass in the tight dress. He had been looking for her to apologize for treating her the way he had, but she looked just fine without him. So he snuck a glass of vodka from the bar and walked off.

When the song was over Damon excused himself from her and she moved to the bar to people watch. Elena and Matt were dancing when Stefan cut in. Shortly after Katie watched as Elena bumped into a guy then Stefan made the guy apologize twice and shoved him. Stefan was walking away as Damon walked up beside Katie and asked the bartender for bourbon. "I'll totally sneak you a drink if you want it." He offered, holding up his drink to her.

"I said no to Tyler. I’m not going to say yes to you.” Katie replied and pushed the drink away.

"Wait he ditched you because you didn't want to drink?" He asked with a disbelieving look.

"With him and Matt and risk getting caught, yeah." Katie added with a nod.

"The kids an idiot." He told her and she couldn’t help but love the way his mouth moved when he said the word idiot.

"He's not an idiot. He's a normal teen boy just looking to have fun with his fuddy duddy of a girlfriend." She argued.

"Hey." Damon said dipping his head into her line of view to get her to look him in the eyes, "You're not a fuddy duddy."

"Have you noticed what your brothers been up to?" Elena asked as she walked over to stand on the other side of Damon and took an olive off of the tray on the bar.

"Nope I've been too preoccupied with yours." Damon replied as he turned his head to look at her.

"I'm gonna go find Tyler." Katie said then walked away. She had been looking for him for a while when she ran into Matt. "Hey, have you seen Tyler?"

"No, have you seen my mom?" Matt asked.

"No, wanna join forces?" Katie asked.

"Sure, why not?" He sighed and they started walking the house over. "Have you looked outside?"

Katie shook her head no and they headed out back Katie looked one way and Matt looked the other. Her heart dropped to her feet when her eyes landed on Kelly’s hands and lips on Tyler’s face.

"Tyler?" Katie asked making Matt look at his mom and Tyler making out with each other.

"What the hell are you doin' man?" Matt yelled as he rushed over and pulled Tyler back.

"Dude, calm down." Tyler said with his hands held up in surrender, but Matt punched him in the face, starting a fist fight that knocked Kelly to the ground as Tyler tackled Matt and started wailing on him. "Tyler! Tyler stop it!" Katie yelled at him, but it fell on deaf ears. "Somebody help!" Katie yelled and soon Alaric ran over and pulled Tyler off of Matt. With Tyler out of the way Katie went to Matt and kneeled down next to him. "Matt..." Katie sighed taking in his bloody face as Tyler's dad urged him back inside.

"I'm sorry." Matt said with a shake of his head.

“You have nothing to apologize for.” Katie told him with a sigh as she stood up and held her hand out to him.

She was pulling Matt to his feet when Elena ran out of the house and over to Matt and Katie. "Oh my god, Matt, what happened are you okay?"

Katie pulled Elena back a little as she whispered. "Keep him out if the house and away from Stefan." Elena gave her friend a nod. "I'm going to go get a wet rag or something."

Katie got a wet rag from one of the bathrooms then gave it to Elena and Matt. Since Elena had Matt covered Katie went back inside. She was sitting in an empty office, watching the fire in the fireplace when Tyler found her. "What are you doing in here?" He asked as he came inside and closed the door.

"I needed to get away for a minute and try to figure out what to say to you." She answered turning her hurt eyes on him.

"I'm so sorry. I don’t know what came over me." He said as he came over and sat down next to her.

"I know you are. It's written all over your face." She told him as she examined his wide, sad eyes.

"You have all right to break up with me." He told her looking down at her hand on the couch between them.

"Is that why you did it? To get me to break up with you so you don't have to?" She asked.

"I did it because I saw you dancing with Damon." He answered going from ashamed to pissed in the blink of an eye.

"Wow." Katie blinked at him. "Damon is my friend, Tyler, and if you and I are going to make this work," she motioned between the two of them, "then you are going to have to trust me when I tell you that you are the only guy I want to be with."

"How am I supposed to believe that when he constantly looks at you like he wants to eat you?" Tyler asked.

"Because that's him looking at me, not the other way around." She answered. "Besides, I wouldn't have been dancing with him at all if you hadn't ditched me to get wasted with Matt." Tyler just glared at her for a few seconds then looked away. “Look,” Katie stood up and looked down at him. “We’ve both obviously gotten pissed at each other and lashed out like stupid little kids. Why don’t we take a break for a few days? Try to figure out if we even still want there to be an us.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Tyler said with a glare at her as he stood up then left the room.

She walked out of the room to see that people were gathering to hear Mayor Lockwood make his kick off speech. So not wanting to be rude and leave before the speech Katie joined everyone that was gathered around. “Are you okay?” she heard someone asked her quietly while John Gilbert made his speech, and looked over to see Alaric standing to her left.

“I’m fine.” She told him with a polite smile.

“You just caught your boyfriend making out with his best friend’s mom. You can’t be fine.” He told her and she looked away from him.

“You know too much about your student’s personal lives.” She whispered to him.

“Only the ones involved with vampires.” He whispered back.

“Look at his right hand.” Damon said to Alaric as he moved to stand on his other side.

“Whose?” Alaric asked sounding like he really didn’t care.

“The town’s favorite son. Look at his ring.” Damon said and looked at Alaric then noticed Katie standing beside him with her arms crossed over her chest and a frown on her face.

Katie looked at John’s ring as he pulled the rope, ringing the kick off bell. “That looks like mine.” Alaric said aloud.

“Yeah, and that would be a big coincidence if he hadn’t just come back from the dead five minutes ago.” Damon said whispering the last three words.

“You killed him?” Katie asked and Damon hummed a positive answer. “Too bad he didn’t stay dead. I hate that guy.”

Alaric turned his head to Katie giving her a disapproving look and she just shrugged with a ‘what’ face. “Where the hell did you get that ring?” Damon asked taking Alaric’s attention off of her.

“Isobel, my wife.” He answered.

Damon laughed. “Who gave birth to Elena under the medical care of the esteemed Dr. Grayson Gilbert, John’s brother.” Damon whispered.

“You think John knew Isobel?” Alaric asked.

“I think John knows a lot of things.” Damon answered.

“Okay, I’m leaving. See you two later.” She said as she gave them both a forced smile and headed out.

When she walked into her front door she saw her grandfather passed out in his recliner. With a scoff she left him there, grabbed a bottle of his Jack Daniels out of the kitchen cabinet and headed up stairs to her room. Feeling tired, hurt and like a hypocrite for being mad at Tyler for kissing someone who wasn’t her when she had kissed Damon, she sat down at her desk and uncapped the bottle.

Green eyes stared back at her in the mirror that hung on the wall in front of her and she turned them down to the sparkling pendant that rested on her chest as she tilted her head back and took a drink. Thinking about Damon and what Tyler had said about him, she picked it up and looked down at it. The sapphire star sparkled up at her as if it was judging her for being with Tyler when her heart was so clearly with Damon.

But she didn’t want to be with Damon. She wanted to be happy with someone else, with Tyler. Up until tonight he had been so sweet to her, but she couldn’t help wondering if he had made up his mind that he couldn’t be better to a girl, he couldn’t make it up to Vicki by being with Katie. “Thinking about me?” She heard Damon behind her and turned around to see him sitting on her bed with one of her pillows in his lap.

“No, Tyler, actually.” She told him as she let go of the pendant, grabbed the bottle and moved to sit on the bed with him.

“Did you two break up?” he asked as he put the pillow behind his head and laid back.

“We’re taking a break.” She corrected as she put her lips to the bottle and tilted her head back.

“You know that’s better on ice right?” he asked with a nod to the bottle.

“It won’t stay on the ice long enough to make a difference.” She said as she wiped her lips. “Why are you here?”

“I wanted to let you know to stay clear of John Gilbert. He pretty much threatened to hurt you if I step out of line.” He said as he sat up and grabbed the bottle from her.

“Hey!” she said as she tried to grab it back, but he dodged her and took a drink. “Give it back.”

“There’s a reason I prefer bourbon.” He said as he handed her the bottle back. “And you know it’s not good to drink alone?” he asked as she took another drink.

“Better alone than with you.” she said recalling the last time she got drunk.

“Come on, you’re on a break. Your allowed.” He told her with a seductive look that he knew she wouldn’t be able to resist.

“That’s not what a break is for.” She shook her head.

“Sure it is.” He argued as he sat up and took the bottle from her again. This time she didn’t protest. “Back to why I came here.” He paused to take a drink then handed her the bottle back. “John knows too much.”

“How much is too much?” Katie asked before she tilted the bottle back then swallowed and wiped her lips with the back of her hand, driving Damon crazy.

“Everything and more.” Damon took the bottle from her and took another drink. “He knows about Katherine, about me opening the tomb to find her that she wasn’t in there to begin with he knows…everything.”

Katie took the bottle from him and took a bigger drink than usual. “Why don’t you just cut his ring off and kill him?” she frowned at the words that just left her mouth. “God you’re a bad influence.”

Damon rolled his eyes and took the bottle from her knowing that if she didn’t stop she was going to be hugging the toilet pretty soon. “Don’t blame me.” He told her then took a drink. “If I kill him, everything he knows is going to get leaked to the council and he will have you killed. It’s bad enough that those tomb vamps are getting too much attention from them and now with Stefan on the fritz…”

“How is he by the way? He disappeared tonight.” She asked trying to take the bottle from him but he pulled it away. “Gimme it, Damon.”

“Nope.” he told her and she made a grab for it and fell into his lap. He smirked down at her head on his legs.

She sighed and pushed herself back into a sitting position with her legs tucked to the side so she wouldn’t be indecent in the dress that she still wore. “Fine, keep it.”

“He’s not coping well at all and if he doesn’t get it under control he’s going to bring the council down on us with no help from John.” He said then took a drink from the bottle.

“He’s not going to hurt Elena is he?” she asked looking tired as she stood up, but stumbled in her heels even though they were the thick kind.

“No, but you might hurt yourself if you don’t take those shoes off.” he said and she sat on the side of the bed and took off her shoes, letting them fall to the floor with a thump.

With them out of the way she walked over to her closet and grabbed a tank top, then a pair of shorts out of the dresser. “Unzip me?” Katie asked, sweeping her waves to the side as she turned her back on him.

“With pleasure.” He answered as he stood up and placed his hand on her shoulder as the other one pulled the zipper down her back.

She sighed as his hands slipped the straps from her shoulders and the top fell to gather around her hips, the bottom of the dress too tight to fall off her body. A laugh betrayed her when he grabbed the bottom of the dress and jerked it down. “Hey, easy this stupid thing wasn’t exactly cheap.”

“If it’s stupid why did you buy it?” he asked as she turned around, covering her chest with her arms.

“Because I’ve worn all my other dresses to public events twice and that’s my limit.” She explained as she turned from him and grabbed her tank top. “Plus I thought it would get Tyler all hot and bothered.” She sighed and grabbed her shorts.

“Oh it got someone all hot and bothered, but it wasn’t Tyler.” He told her in a deep voice as he grabbed her hips and pulled her against him, the evidence pressed into her rear.

“Damon…” she sighed fighting her desires. “I can’t… I’m too drunk and I’m with Tyler.” Her body defied her words as she leaned back against him, dropped her shorts and lifted her arm to grab the back of his head.

“Drunk sex is the best.” He told her as he started kissing her neck. “And you’re on a break, you’re allowed.”

“Son of a bitch.” She growled, coming to her senses as she turned in his arms and pushed him away. “I can’t, Damon. Stop trying to get me to be somebody that I’m not!”

“I’m trying to get you to realize that you don’t belong with him!” Damon yelled back. “Figure out who you want and stop leading us on.”

“I will when you will!” She told him with a flared nostril glare.

He whooshed out of her open window without another word.

[ilooklikeaburntchickenugget]

Truths (One-shot)

A/N: More Gerard fic because, I don’t know, I’m kind of bored and have some ideas. I just recently found out about Gerard and Eliza. I’ve always been one for girls sticking up for girls, but she seemed a little crazy to me, not gonna lie. I hope you all enjoy it, and please, excuse my mediocre writing. Summary: (Kind of cliche) You meet Gerard on the Projekt Revolution tour, the two of you becoming close friends almost instantly. You were the lead singer of a small rock band which was blowing up during the time, their music hitting mainstream rock radio. During the tour, Gee ends up breaking up with his girlfriend Eliza. Like anyone is with a breakup, he’s pretty down, but you as well as others try to get him back up.

Pairing: Gerard Way x F!Reader

Words: 2395

Gerard was hurting, and you knew that.

On stage, he was an absolute beast. He could control the crowd as if he had grabbed their necks with his bare hand, he would sing his entire soul out and would give everyone one hell of a show. But then there was the off-stage, everyday dude Gerard.

He was a sweet, kind-hearted, funny, slightly disgusting guy who just like everyone else had flaws. And his tendency to care too much and put too much blame on himself was one of them.

“How’s he doing?” You walked up to Frank, who was outside of the bus smoking a cigarette. It was hot out, a scorching 90 degrees on the black pavement that everyone’s vehicles were placed on, and yet here you and Frank stood out of the comfort of air conditioning, out of care for your friend.

“Not great,” he admitted, taking another long and slow inhale, letting the smoke cascade out of his mouth. “And Eliza being bat shit crazy isn’t helping.” You sighed.

“What’s she up to now?” You asked, crossing your arms and looking up at him. You were only three or four inches shorter than Frank, being the smallest of anyone on tour.

“Won’t stop calling, texting, emailing.” He sighed, “She’s threatening him, saying she’s gonna kill herself, some crazy shit like that. I don’t know man, it’s eating him up.” You nodded.

“Where are the other three?” You inquired next.

“Ray just went out to grab some food, Bob is in someone else’s bus, I don’t know who, and Mikey’s inside, trying to help.” You looked down, letting an inaudible sigh trail from your lips. “If you want to go in, I’m sure you can. Gee would probably be happy to see you.” You lightly smiled.

“Ya think?” You asked, looking back up at him.

“Oh, I know.” He let out the last bud of his cigarette, throwing it down and rubbing it into the concrete with his shoe. “I mean, let’s be honest. You’re the highlight for most people on this tour. And your music is fucking insanely good.”

“Thanks, Frank.” You lightly blushed at his compliment. You knocked on the bus door, hearing Mikey say, “Come in.” before entering. Opening the door, and slowly closing it, you looked up to see Gerard, head in his hands obviously in distress, Mikey next to him, his hand on his back soothing him.

“Hey Y/N.” Mikey lightly smiled. At the sound of your name, Gerard looked up, giving you barely a smile. You smiled back.

“Hey, guys.” You said, only taking a few steps closer. “I just wanted to come in and check on you, see how you’re doing, and if you need anything.” Your eyes moved between the two. Mikey looked at you, then at Gerard, then back at you, before getting up.

“I’ll let you talk to someone new, okay?” He asked Gerard, who nodded. You moved to the side, letting Mikey, who flashed you a cringe, exit the bus. You immediately took his place on the leather couch next to Gerard.

“Hey.” You said lightly, looking at him with a small smile.

“Hey.” He said back, looking up for only a brief moment. His voice was in such a somber tone it almost didn’t sound like him.

“How’re you?” You asked next.

“Honest?” He asked and you nodded, “Not well, I feel like shit.” You sighed, looking back at him.

“I’m sorry Gee,” You said, barely above a whisper, “I really am.” He nodded, taking your sympathy.

You sat there for a few moments in awkward silence, both of you trying to decide within your heads who should go first, and what should be said. “Thank you for coming.” Gerard finally spoke up, “I really appreciate you checking on me.”

“Yeah of course.” You smiled, “That’s what friends are for.”

“I just hate bringing other people into my drama.”

“Hey, hey,” You looked at him, placing your hand on his, “You’re not the one starting the drama, so I don’t mind it.” He nodded. A few more moments of silence lingered between you two.

“Can I tell you something?” He looked up, making eye contact with you.

“Yeah, anything Gee.” You replied.

“I feel like Eliza really frayed our relationship, and I really hated that.” He said, “I’ve always found you to be someone I can talk to and you’ll listen and hear me and understand me, and I feel like she really tried to pull us apart.” You knew exactly what he meant. In fact, you had known for a lot longer.

You had known Gerard for three years, meeting him when your band was still playing crowds of 30 people, and Three Cheers had just been released. You and him had been good friends, but Eliza, well she was a problem.

“You need to stay away from Gerard.” She had told you only a few months prior.

“Excuse me?” You asked right back, outside of your tour bus. It was dark outside by now, probably after 10. “Gerard is one of my closest friends.”

“And he’s my boyfriend.” She sassed.

“He’s his own person.” You argued.

“I don’t want him seeing other girls.” She moved on, ignoring your valid point completely.

“We’re not seeing each other.” You clarified, “Gee and I are great friends, that’s it.” She rolled her eyes.

“I know you’re trying to take him,” She hissed through clenched teeth, “And I won’t allow that. So stop calling my boyfriend, texting my boyfriend, or contacting my boyfriend in general. And drop the nickname while you’re at it.” She smirked, trotting away like a rabid Chihuahua.

You never wanted to confront Gerard about the altercation, knowing you would have stirred the pot further. And you were sure as hell not going to tell him now when he needed less drama the most.

While you and Gerard were just friends, you had always found him quite attractive. Physically and as a person. You had kept it to yourself, only a few people really knowing. You managed to put on a pretty good “we’re just friends” face around him. “I think it was because she was jealous of you.” He spoke again.

“Oh?” You inquired. Of course, she was jealous of you. Not trying to boost your ego, but judging by her actions and words towards you, it couldn’t have been more obvious.

“Whenever I brought you up, her face would just turn almost sour.” He began, “And whenever we were around you, she would always get really protective. I had picked up on it and intended to talk to her, but I was just nervous, ya know?” You nodded. “So, I’m sorry. I was at fault for some of that for not speaking up.”

“It’s alright Gee.” You rubbed his upper arm, “Those were her own decisions, not your own.” He frowned.

“But I could’ve stopped her-”

“Knock off that nonsense.” You finally told him, “We’re still friends, Gee, and that’s what matters.”

“You’re really fucking good at looking at the bright side.” He said next, “It can annoying sometimes though.” You rolled your eyes as he smirked. You leaned back next to him.

“I could tell you we’re not friends anymore and I hate your guts now, which would be a complete lie. What would you think about that?”

“I think I would feel about a million times worst than I do right now.” He grabbed a cigarette putting it in his mouth and lighting it. After taking a long inhale, and an even longer exhale, he looked at you, motioning the rolled paper towards you. You shook your head knowing he was asking silently. He rolled his eyes. “Always miss goody two shoes.” You scoffed in response, “What? Are you going to sit here and tell me I’m wrong?” You didn’t even respond, just looked at him smirking. “What’s the worst thing you’ve done. The most rebellious?”

“I formed a rock band.” You smiled.

“Yeah, well everyone here did that.” He lightly laughed, “What about other than that.”

“Probably when I dyed my hair black.” You remembered that night.

“You sure you wanna do this Y/N?” Gerard asked as you two began getting the hair dye ready.

“Yes, I do.” You smiled, “And since you do it so often, I thought what better way to do it then with you?”

“Alright then,” He sighed, “Let’s start.”

“That’s it?” He asked. You nodded.

“Hey, it’s not like you’ve done any super rebellious stuff.”

“I was an alcoholic.” He said. You rolled your eyes.

“That’s different, Gee.” You sighed, “At least you’re sober.” He nodded.

“What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to tell me?” He asked you, out of the blue.

“What?” You asked.

“What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to tell me?” He repeated himself, “For real. I want to know.”

“Oh um, okay,” You thought. Well not really. You wanted to tell him how you had liked him and had wanted to ask him out for the longest time, but felt like you couldn’t. “I’ve always wanted to tell you how proud I am of you.”

“But you tell me that on, like, a daily basis.” He said.

“Well yeah, but I am really really proud of you Gee. You’ve come so far in music and as a person from where you were when I first met you.” He lightly smiled.

“I could easily say the same for you.” He smirked, “But actually no, you haven’t changed as a person. Which is fine because you’re a great person.” You lightly blushed.

“What about you?” You asked, “What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to ask me?”

“Honestly?” He asked.

“Honestly.” You reiterated.

“You’re the most beautiful woman on the planet.” You stopped, breath caught in your throat. You could feel your eyes go wide, mouth opening in shock, your face heating up to what you were sure was a bright red shade.

“R-really?” You asked lightly.

“Yeah,” He took another puff of his cigarette, “Of course. You haven’t been told that before?”

“Well by my parents, yeah, but that’s different.” You looked down at your fingers, pondering what to say next. “Can I change my answer?”

“Huh?” He asked.

“Can I change what I’ve wanted to tell you?”

“Sure.” He replied.

“I’ve liked you for a while now. And I know that sounds so juvenile and like I have a middle school crush, and it’s probably not great timing with all that’s going on, but you’re a great person and you’re really hot and handsome but you’re so kind.” You just looked at him, him looking back.

“Then can I change my answer?” You nodded, “I’ve felt the exact way but I was too scared to say so because I thought you deserve someone better than me.” You immediately shook your head.

“No, no I don’t Gee.” You lightly giggled. “Not that many guys like me, if any.”

“Are you kidding?” He asked, “There are teenage boys and full-grown men out there who I know get off to you.” You lightly gasped, gagging shortly after.

“Please, I don’t need that image.” He laughed.

“So does this mean that despite the fact I just broke up with my now ex-girlfriend, I can ask you out on a date?”

“Sure.” You lightly laughed.

“Is Cup Noodle fine?” He asked next, “Tomorrow at eleven, once everyone is out partying we can sit in here.” You laughed and nodded.

“Of course, Gee, that sounds absolutely perfect.” He gave you a genuine smile this time in response. “Do you feel alright now?” You asked.

“Yeah, I think I do.”

Time skip because I’m low key lazy

“What’s one thing you really want, right now, on the road?” You asked Gee, the two of you laying on the couch together, some Cokes in hand. It was probably close to midnight, parties still raging on.

“A veggie burger.” He sighed, “Like a damn good veggie burger.” You lightly chuckled. “What about you?”

“Maybe some crappy Chinese food.” You lightly laughed, “Like really shitty Chinese food.” Gerard nodded.

“Chinese food sounds good.”

“I know.” You sighed.

“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when we get home?” He asked.

“I don’t know,” You thought, “Maybe I’ll spend some time at home with my parents. Just like a few weeks.” He nodded.

“I haven’t met your parents have I?” He asked. You shook your head.

“But I’ve met yours.” You smiled, “You’re mom’s sweet. A little crazy though, but sweet.” He lightly laughed.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“You could come with me.” You looked at him from where the two of you laid. He looked back. “Meet my parents. See my house. Not for the whole time, but for a few days maybe.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready yet, ya know?” He said, “I’m not a great boyfriend, bring home to parents material.” You lightly laughed.

“My parents won’t care.” You smiled, “Their daughter is the lead singer of an alt-rock band. They don’t care anymore.” He lightly laughed this time.

“I’ll consider it.” He sighed. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.” You replied.

“Could I kiss you?” You lightly smiled, turning to see him.

“Sure, Gee.” You turned to face him, he was already looking at you. He leaned in, to give you a light kiss. It wasn’t anything special on the outside, but of course, it was special to the two of you. You smiled into it, him pulling away a few seconds after.

“You’re pretty.” He said immediately after.

“You’re pretty too.”

“Yeah but not as pretty as you.” You smiled at him.

“You’re so adorable, Gee.”

“Adorable?” He asked, a little confused.

“Yeah,” You smiled, “Adorable.”

“Actually, the first thing I’m gonna do when we’re off is invite you on a real date.”

“This is a real date.” You told him.

“Yeah but like, going out somewhere.” You rolled your eyes.

“This is just fine, Gee.” You sighed, “Can we just eat pizza on my couch?” He nodded.

“I mean, it’ll be cheaper for me so-” You smiled.

“I’ll pay for half.”

“But that wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me.” He lightly smiled.

“Oh Gee,” You grinned, “I learned long ago that you weren’t a gentleman, which is okay. Because I still like you a lot.”

“I like you a lot, too.”

(Pt. 2? I don’t know.)

[kodzuskook]

proposal | scott lang

description: scott asks you to marry him in the craziest way possible. (followed by:) tony, rhodey and happy fight over who gets to walk you down the aisle.

requested?: yes; [anonymous “Scott Lang and reader wedding? Or proposal? Whichever you’d like. And I love the idea of like Tony and Rhodey and Happy and Fury all fighting about who gets to walk her down the isle and she ends up picking Pepper and they’re all like 😦. I love Scott soooo much xxx”]

author’s note: as you can tell, i chose to write about the proposal itself, i hope you enjoy it!

﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊

“honey, i’m home!” scott’s voice rang through the quiet house, a laugh following his words, “i’ve always wanted to say that.”

you made your way down the stairs of your new house to greet scott. your eyes raised in slight fear as he accidentally hit the glass vase while trying to take off his shoes. you let out a little giggle as scott flipped around, reaching his hands out and juggling the vase until it was safely in his arms. the two of you had just finished moving in about two days prior and scott was still getting used to the layout of the house.

“hey, dumbass.” you smiled as he made a face.

“don’t call me a dumbass.” scott frowned.

you shrugged, “i’ve sworn an oath to never lie. courtesy of cap.”

you turned around and walked towards the kitchen causing you to miss scott making a face and mocking your words behind your back.

“tony called,” you told scott over your shoulder, “said something about making sure to remind you of the party later tonight.”

scott’s eyes widened, “oh, goodie.”

you cocked your head at the man who had walked into the kitchen just seconds after you, “what party was he talking about?”

“dunno” scott shrugged, picking up a berry from the fruit bowl and plopping it into his mouth, “we’ll head over there soon?”

you shrugged, “okay.”

nearly an hour later, you and an oddly nervous scott set out to the avengers tower. you decided to blast some music to calm scott down from whatever he was going through.

“you okay?” you raised an eyebrow at scott as you turned into a main street.

the man nodded, “yeah, just can’t wait to get to the party. my first stark party.”

“you’ll be fine, scott.” you slowly nodded, just now noticing the song playing, “hey! it’s our song!”

the soft music of vampire weekend’s mansard roof made its way through the car. scott’s hand found its way to yours, hovering over the side console. you smiled at the memories that this song brought back.

the day you met scott. your first dance with scott. the day you two heard it in the cafe of your third date. the day you two decided to declare the song yours.

scott shifted, pulling his hand away from yours, “pull over.”

“what? scott, i-i’m on the highway, i can’t pull over.” you sputtered out, absolutely puzzled.

“pull over, y/n!” scott turned in his seat, his fingers making their way to the car door’s lock.

you noticed his movements, instantly pushing your finger down on the lock button, pressing down every time scott unlocked his door manually.

“lang, what the fuck are you doing?! we’re on the fucking highway!”

“pull! over!” scott looked over at you, turning back around and instantly pushing his door open slightly.

you shrieked, “scott, are you fucking crazy?! what the fuck?! scott!!”

the wind blew through the car while scott yelled over it, “pull the damn car over, y/n!”

you let out an exasperated huff, “i can’t! i’m on the highway!”

“pull over or i’ll jump!” the man pushed his door slightly more, the sound of honks coming from the cars behind theirs.

“you are fucking insane!” you sped up a little, switching in and out of lanes until you reached an on-route gas station. you slowed into a stop, letting out an exasperated breath before facing scott, “are you fucking insane? like seriously, are you mentally deranged?”

scott looked at you with furrowed eyebrows, “y/-”

“have you ever been socialized? that was a basic function of society and life!” like other times when you’d lecture scott on his actions, your knowledge in psychology and sociology shined through, “a basic rule, scott. don’t jump out of  a moving car, you’d kill yourself. and i don’t know about you, but usually, dying means not living. therefore, no scott lang.”

“y/n, will you let me be spontaneous once in a while?” scott whined.

you glared at him, “no.”

scott stuck his tongue out “i think we deserve some sponataneousness in our relationship.”

“there would be no relationship if you died.” you emphasized the last bit.

“we also wouldn’t be engaged, and planning to get married.”

you froze, “what?”

scott smiled, dropping to one knee, “marry me?”

“i...wh-...scott...scott, what?” you didn’t know what to say.

“y/n, ever since i met you, i knew i liked you. and i would go into a long, long list and speech into why i fell in love with you but, i’m not gonna because hopefully, you’ll say yes and then i would have to make vows but i’m nt good at putting things into words so i’d just be repeating what i’d say right now an-”

“scott, shut up.” you gave the guy a watery smile, “you sound like luis.”

“no, you gotta listen to—did you just say i’m like luis?!—anyway, y/n, i liked you then, i like you now. in fact, i love you now, but it won’t fit with what i have to say, but you know, as beyonce once said, ‘if you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it.’” scott sang the lyrics before going back into his speech, “and i like you, so, i’m kinda hopin’ i can put a ring on it.”

he pulled out a ring from his pocket, accidentally dropping the ring onto the dusty road before pulling it back up and presenting it to you, “will you give up your single lady title once more and go from girlfriend to wife?” he worded his sentence like he did when asking you to be his girlfriend.

you smiled, nodding before dropping down to your knees and holding your hand out, “i would love to be your wife, mr. lang.”

﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊﹉﹊

“did he do it?” was the first thing you heard once you entered the avengers facility. it came from wanda, who was peeking her head out from behind couch.

at the sound of her voice, nearly every other avenger in the room stopped and twisted their head to the hopefully newly-engaged couple.

tony sat up from the couch, pointing at scott, “you. did you...?”

scott turned to you, “please welcome the new mrs. lang to this humble little facility. mrs. lang, meet the avengers. avengers, meet my future wife.”

the room burst into cheers, you instantly being tackled in hugs from natasha, wanda, and pepper, while scott got pats on his back by the men. 

sam tilted his head, “who’s walkin’ y/n down the aisle?”

you thought about his question, thinking of your father who had passed away a few years prior to today’s events.

“me, duh.” tony’s bored voice sounded through the room.

“what, are you kidding? no! it’s me!” rhodey swatted tony’s head, “i’m clearly more fit.”

happy frowned, “hey, no.” he looked over at you, “you gotta pick me, y/n. i’ve known you the longest.”

tony shook his head, “no, happy, shut up. i get to walk down the aisle, mr. l/n would’ve wanted me to take his place.” he referred to your father.

“tony, you don’t even like kids.” happy sighed exasperatedly, “i’m walking her down the aisle.”

tony frowned, “i’m a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. i have every right to walk y/n down the aisle.”

“man, shut your face. he would not want his daughter to be walked down the aisle by a so-called ‘genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist’ dude who’s got his head up his ass.” rhodey shook his head, “mr. l/n wouldn’t stand for it.”

instantly, tony and rhodey started arguing, happy throwing in his two cents every few seconds. steve turned to look at you for help, you shrugged.

“uhm, ms. l/n, it would be well appreciated if you mediated the situation at hand instantly.” vision murmurred.

you sighed, “uh, guys?”

the three stopped and looked at you expectantly. “y/n’ll choose.” tony stated.

you laughed awkwardly, your hand instantly gripped scott’s and you squeezed it, “listen, i really do appreciate you guys uhm, fighting...? over who gets to walk me down the aisle. and honestly, i wouldn’t be able to decide between you three.”

you watched their expressions change slightly, “so what does that mean?” happy asked.

you scratched the back of your head with your vacant hand, “pepper.”

“what?!”

“that’s absurd!”

“she’s not even a man!”

you looked over at pepper who looked shocked at your statement, but recovered enough to join you in rolling your eyes at tony’s last statement.

you shrugged, letting go of scott’s hand and walking towards pepper. you wrapped your arms around her shoulders, snuggling into her while smiling at the three exasperated men, “you guys know i don’t follow tradition, and seeing as pepper is neither my father, nor another father figure. she fits the criteria.”

you paused, “that is if she’d like to?”

pepper smiled, “i’d love to walk you down the aisle.”

you laughed while the three men acted like little babies, frowning and crossing their arms while stomping their feet in anger.

scott came behind you, wrapping his arms around your body, “thank you saying yes, mrs. lang.”

“it was my pleasure.”

[politicallycorrectinnocentteen]

Westcott & Chill

Hey guys,

 First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROUS REVIEWS ON MY LAST STORY!!!!!

 Special shoutout to @griffinsbigdickenergy​ and @brightpinkpeppercorn​ for their kind reviews!! I just couldn’t stop at one one-shot after that, and decided to write another one :D

 AS USUAL, I WILL REALLLLY APPRECIATE ANY REVIEWS WHICH YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE!!!!

 Title – Westcott & Chill

Summary- On a hot summer day, the gang realizes Imogen got no chills at them hanging at her house…uninvited.

Pairings – Tom/Imogen, implied Parker/MC, implied Danni/MC, Group feels & friendships

Genre- Parody/Comedy – This is a parody of it Lives beneath. All credits/characters belong to original writers. I only own the plot of this one-shot.

Words -4k. 30-60 minutes of read.

Tag list-  @brightpinkpeppercorn​ , @griffinsbigdickenergy​ , @zuaovca , @crabs-are-vengeful-creatures , @pbmychoices 

--x—x—x—x—x—x—x—x—x--x--x—x—x—x—x—x—x—x—x--x

 “This is NOT okay.” Parker protested as Danni searched the ground for a stone. 

“Don’t chicken out now Officer Shaw.” She teased. “We all agreed to it, including you.” She shrugged. 

“Yes, because for me, there is a considerable difference between paying a visit to Imogen when she is at home versus breaking into her house when she is not.” He screamed. 

“I am with Parker on this one…” Tom said, visibly perplexed at the idea. 

“I don’t know what’s the big deal,” Danni shrugged. “We are just paying her a visit.” 

“More like paying her house a visit…” Tom snarled. 

“Not my fault if she could not put water in her pool.” Danni shrugged nonchantly as if that argument did not need any more answer. 

“SERIOUSLY DANNI!” Parker shouted, irritated, “Even if it was like you had an extra key to her house or something, it was fine. What you are doing right now is a plain violation of law-“ 

“We.” Danni stood up, meeting Parker eye to eye. “What we are doing.” She said, slowly, hammering the statement word-by-word into Parker’s mouth. “Let’s face it Officer Goodie-Goodie, if you were so desperate to uphold your law then there is no way that you would fail to stop me from what I am going to do.” She sneered, “And if you’d actually fail to stop me despite wanting to do so, I would just wear a wig and go shoot for ‘Barbie goes Shopping’ commercial.” 

Tom snickered at that while Parker, who was burnt, bolted and busted at Danni’s statement, struggled for a reply. He was about to say something, when- 

“Guys…I need water, like, right now.” Vance grimaced, attracting Parker’s attention from the gruesome murder of law happening beside him. That was not good, he could not think of any place to fetch water, and Vance really looked all drained and thirsty and-

 CRACK!

 “Bingo!” Danni squealed in joy as the rock she threw broken the entire window. “Com’on Vance, you should know better than to ask Parker to satisfy your, or rather anyone’s thirst.” 

The wicked grin Danni gave Parker made it very clear on which thirst she was referring to. 

“Come, let me quench your thirst~” she winked as she casually jumped inside through the broken window. 

“Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….Whatttttt?” Vance grimaced. He could not make out anything. He was thirsty and needed to drink at least a gallon of cool water to make sense of anything in the universe. Ironically the town having a lake and a fucking lake ghost had no public place to drink some water in the hot summer. 

He nevertheless followed Danni inside, making sure to avoid those sharp glass pieces. Parker shook his head at that, before jumping into the house as well. 

“I have got a baaad feeling about this…” Tom said to himself as he jumped in.

 .

.

.

.

“There!” Danni said as she opened the fridge and handed Vance a bottle of cold water. Obviously, her gaze was only on other things in the kitchen, and definitely not on how Vance unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt to fan himself. She definitely was not interested in watching how water fell on the freshly-revealed portion of his chest. Her breath definitely did not hitch because of how kissable and luring that portion looked like. 

“URGH-HMM.” Parker coughed a bit too loudly for Danni’s comfort. “Mind handing me a bottle of water as well?” he said as he narrowed his eyes at her, his expression clearly stating the he knew what was going on in her head. 

“OH MY GOD PARKER! CAN YOU JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP?” Danni hissed as she threw a fit and stomped out of the kitchen. 

Vance looked at the door where Danni just stormed off, and then at Parker, who simply shrugged.

 “Could be periods.” Parker nonchantly said. “Can you pass me some water as well?” Parker gave the brightest smile he could while-knowing-that-he-being-a-police-officer-will-be-seriosuly-screwed-if-someone-reported-him-tresspassing-Imgoen’s-house-wit-the-group. It came off as more creepy than bright.

 Vance rolled his eyes as he tossed him a bottle and went on to refill the bottle he just gulped down. 

“Gosh, its hot in here, right Vance?” Parker chanted. 

“Yes, it is.” Vance said, his eyes still at the bottle he is refilling. “Try unbuttoning a few buttons of your uniform, might help cool you down.” 

The matter-of-the-fact way in which Vance mentioned this put Parker in a doubt on if Vance really said that just as a “bro-code” thing or if Danni was being a bad influence on him. 

It is definitely Danni. Yes, yes. It has to be Danni. 

Parker shook his head at that thought, which he made purely on basis of circumstantial evidence and not on the fact that it’d mean Vance is interested in him if he wants to peek a look at his chest. 

For once Parker agreed that bad influence named Danni Asturias is not necessarily bad. With a quick action, he unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, then second, then third-

 “OMG PARKER WHY ARE YOU STRIPPING IN IMOGEN’S KITCHEN!!” Tom flailed wildly, “THAT TOO IN FRONT OF VANCE?!! EW! EW! EW! EW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!” 

“I TOTALLY DID NOT NEED TO LISTEN TO THISSSSS” Danni’s horrified scream came from upstairs, “PARKER, TOM, WHAT THE FUCK?!” 

Parker turned beet red, especially after he saw Vance looking at him with a shocked look. Flustered at the turn of events, he growled at Tom, “Since when is unbuttoning the top button of shirt equals to stripping?!” His grip on the bottle tightened enough to dent it few millimetres. 

“DUDE HOW THE FUCK WILL I KNOW WHEN YOU WILL STOP, OR IF YOU’D STOP AT ALL!” Tom shouted. 

“PARKER! TOM” Danni’s annoyed scream came from upstairs, “THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT GETTING MENTALLY TORTURED IN A HOT SUMMER.” She then sighed, “WHY DID I EVEN BRING YOU TWO HERE?!” 

“OH REALLY?!” Tom shouted back at her, “Without me and Parker it’d be just you and Vance sneaking into Imogen’s mansion uninvited and doing god-knows-what-” He stopped as he felt Parker’s grip on his shoulder, tight enough to shut him up. He watched Vance staring incredulously and wide-eyed at him, visibly perplexed at what he just said. 

“Tom…” Parker said, trying to sound calm, “Go find yourself a room and CALM THE FUCK DOWN!” He shouted. “You sound way more agitated of us being here than Imogen herself.” Top gulped at that. 

”YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS WITH YOUR BLOOD TOM SATO. I SWEAR.” Danni shouted, and for a moment Tom was calculating the possibility if the group can get away with a murder right then. He looked at Parker and nodded a silent yes to himself. He should be quiet for his own good. 

“Wait” Vance spoke up, “Where is Danni?”

 “Yeah…” Parker trailed off, “I didn’t see where she went.” 

“She is in Imogen’s bedroom-“ Tom shut himself immediately on getting shocked and horrified expressions from Parker and Vance. 

“Tom, tell the truth,” Parker demanded, “Have you been here before…?” 

“No-I mean yes.” Tom stuttered- “I was here once for repai-“ 

“Have you been to Imogen’s bedroom before?” Vance suspiciously asked, to which Tom could feel sweat forming on all parts of his body. 

“No….D-Definitely not!” He flustered, “I-I just made a guess.” 

Vance rolled his eyes at that as he proceeded towards the stairs. He was about to climb them but stopped midway and turned to Tom. “Which of the room is Imogen’s bedroom?” he asked Tom. 

“Third one to the lef-….I-I mean….I don’t know!” Tom stuttered, earning a raised eyebrow from Parker. 

“Cool,” Vance shrugged, “Nice guesswork Tom.” He said as he went upstairs, followed by Parker. Tom wiped the tensed sweat at his forehead before following them. 

“Oh my God!” Danni said as Parker and Vance entered the room, “Three guesses for guessing the one who, instead of upholding law and order of the country, is breaking into some girl’s house.“ She pointed out to Parker, “One hint, its neither me or Vance.” 

“I-I-I” She giggled as Parker flustered, his flustering turning into annoyance in an instant, “I am here to make sure that you are not doing anything unethical.” 

“Oh,” Danni raised her eyebrows, “So breaking into Imogen’s house is no longer unethical? Cool!” She giggled as Vance laughed at that. 

Parker growled at her, his brows frowning upon Danni, who raised her hand with a ‘P.E.A.C.E` sign. 

“Imogen’s room is…quite comfortable.” Vance thought-out-loud as his eyes explored the wall posters, the queen-sized bed, the designer curtains and- 

“WHATEVER.” Danni rolled her eyes as she jumped on to the bed,” All I know is that this bed is pure bliss.” 

“Yeah, would have been better if you are on it with someone who loves you.” Parker smirked as he caught a weak nerve. “Its not much blissful when you’re single.” He gave a lopsided smirk as Danni’s shocked expression turned to throw daggers at him. 

“I SWEAR PARKER SHAW-“ Danni’s fumed, and then...gave up. She then went to Imogen’s cupboard, and much to Parker’s horror, opened it, rummaging through the items within. 

“DANNI!” this time Vance shouted, “What. Are. You. Doing?!” 

“I really need to cool down my mind now pretty boy.” She shrugged, “Imogen and I are, like, sworn sisters already. I’m pretty sure she won’t mind it at all.” She continued. 

She kept on picking items and throwing them off to Imogen’s bed…until- 

“OH…MY…GOD…” Vance screamed, which made Tom run over to them from the hall. 

“WHAT THE FUCK DANNI?!” Tom shouted as his eyes darted from Danni, to a horrified Parker and a shocked Vance. 

In her hands, was one of the most exquisite and, one might add, seductive lingerie which made Danni blush as she imagined how she might look wearing it.  

 To Parker’s utter horror, Danni folded it and kept is aside instead of keeping it back in cupboard. 

“What…are…you…doing...Danni?” He gritted, to which Danni stuttered, a stain of red forming on her cheeks. 

“I-I am sure she won’t mind me borrowing it for some time.” 

“Oh yeah?” Tom frowned, “Please tell me how this differs from breaking into her house  and stealing it.” 

“Oh please!” Danni started to defend herself. She picked the lingerie, and stood up to face Tom to-

 CLANK!!

 A huge, wide dildo which was hidden up secretly in the undies fell from it. Vance felt his eyes coming out of his sockets at that and intently fixed his gaze and the brown wall which was hopefully not hiding another dildo. 

“And that’s why” Parker snarled, “You should not look into other people’s stuff.” Parker gritted, outraged and disgusted. 

“OH, is this why you wanted to keep that lingerie?” Tom barked, and Danni visibly shook at that. 

“OF COURSE NOT! HOW WILL I KNOW THERE’S A DILDO IN IT-“? 

“For whom are you anyway “borrowing” that lingerie for anyway.” Vance interrupted her, making Danni’s face go from pale yellow to beet red. She panicked as she looked at a curious Vance, an angry Parker and a snarling Tom, and she could no longer take this. 

“SCREW THIS!” She said as she threw the lingerie, and the huge, horrifying dildo on the floor. She then proceeded to march down into the kitchen. 

“I will just go and have some of that cake lying there.”  She shouted.

 Tom visibly froze on hearing that. 

“Cake…?” Parker murmured to himself, and it was very clear to Vance that he got Parker’s weak nerve. 

“Ooooh,” Vance sang, “I know it is going to be yummy.” He teased Parker. “Imogen’s choice of cakes is the best.” He continued. “Softest bread of Pine Springs dipped in molten chocolate, topped with the yummiest and sweetest chocolate layers and-“ He stopped when he saw Parker unconsciously licking his lips. 

Better stop now… he thought as some mature thoughts came into his mind making him blush. Too good, Tom was too horrified and Parker too smitten to notice anything. 

“D-Danni” Vance stuttered, but immediately regained composure “I will also have some cake!” He said as he moved out of the room. Before leaving, he turned to look at Parker’s conflicted expression, and purred, “Anyone not eating that will regret missing such a divine cake in his life.” 

Parker muttered a silent ‘Screw this’ as he marched silently along with Vance to have some good cake. Tom simply flopped down on bed, worried.��

When Vance and Parker arrived, Danni was already cutting the cake into pieces. Parker silently went and sat at the chair, waiting for the piece to be served. Seeing Parker’s intent gaze on the cake, Danni and Vance exchanged a snicker. 

“Ahh its so hot Vance!” Danni exasperated, as she slowed down the cake cutting process to a snail’s pace, carefully eying Parker’s brow furrow in annoyance. She then proceeded to wipe her forehead of some imaginary sweats as she fanned herself with other hand. 

Parker, who was quite vexed, irritated and pested at Danni’s turtle speed of cutting the cake, snatched the cake, the knife, and cut the cake immediately into 6 pieces. Gulping down a huge bite of his piece, he offered a piece to Vance. 

“There, its veryyyy yummy!!” Parker said, his voice muffled by the bread in his mouth, “At least I did not hit my brain with a dildo and forget how to cut a cake.” He said as he eyed Danni.

 At that instant, Vance and Danni’s eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them. 

“Oh...my…God… PARKER?!” Vance screamed terrified. Danni made a face as if the ghost lake had come out of the fridge behind Parker as she fell on a nearby chair. 

“Seriously Parker?!” She gritted angrily. “What have you DONE?!!” 

Parker, incredibly confused, visibly panicked at that. 

“You stole Imogen’s cake!!” Vance shouted. 

“No-No-No…” Danni repeated to herself, as if refusing to believe what’s in front of her,” This cannot be happening. We’re dead!” 

“W-What?!” Parker defended himself, “B-But I J-just took so-some ca-cake…” 

“What’s the difference between you and some thief stealing this cake?!” Vance asked with a tint of anger and authority, as if chiding a five-year-old. The way Parker was reacting made it no different though. 

“B-B-But-“ 

“What I said I will have some cake, I was obviously joking!” Danni screeched. 

Now, if Parker wouldn’t be this horrified, he’d have surely caught Danni lying then and there. There is no way in heavens that Danni could refuse such a good and yummy cake. But right now, he feared for his life. 

“Ca-Can I not b-buy her a-another o-one-“ 

“That cake costs more than $15,000” Vance shouted. 

Danni gave an incredulous look to Vance, before joining him.

“Yes, Vance is right. It’s said she puts some special, expensive ingredients in the cake she bakes!!” 

Parker’s eyes darted nervously from Danni to Vance and then to the half-eaten cake. He put a hand on his fore head in desperation. Danni couldn’t believe that Parker fell for it. 

Seriously…Who made that guy a cop? 

“Now…how do we help him Vance?” Danni started, to which Parker looked expectantly at him. 

“Hmm….” Vance pretended to be in deep thinking as he picked up the cake from the table. “Only one way to fix this…” He said in a serious tone as he brought the cake to Danni, “We both eat it as well...” He then winked at Parker, who in a split of second realized that he’d been pranked. 

“YOU-“ 

He stopped dead in tracks as he heard the door open. 

“Fuck…” Danni whispered, “Imogen’s home…” 

“Oh, ladies and gentlemen, fear not!” Parker snarled at her, “Danni Asturias is here to state the obvious! What would we do without her!” He smirked, satisfied with his burn.

 On a normal day, Danni would have gladly dislocated Parker’s smugly smiling jaw with a punch from her knuckles, but today was not normal. In fact, it was EMERGENCY. 

“Tom!” Imogen shouted from across the hall, “You are he-“ she suddenly stopped. 

The whole group silently prayed for him. 

“Fuck, he’s goanna get us caught!” Danni spoke, which rattled Vance and Parker. 

.

.

.

Back there in the hall, Tom whispered urgently to Imogen. 

“I know babes that its our one-week anniversary, but they all just came here and-“ 

Imogen nodded in understanding. “That explains the broken window…” Her brows furrowed with rage. “What’s the damage?” 

“Well….” Tom started, “Danni peeked into your cupboard to find your lingerie and …dildo...” Imogen’s face darkened, “and they all ate the cake which we made for today-“ 

“Let’s fix this…” Imogen darkly said. The group is getting on her nerves now. Can she not have some time alone with his guy? When she and Tom became official, Vance dropped by at their “supposed-to-be” first night to inquire about some fucking cult in the town. Then at another day she found Danni enjoying the air condition in her room as she lay reading all the erotic comics she rummaged from Imogen’s cupboard. And Parker! She swears! She and Tom were in the middle of an act when Parker ringed the doorbell and said “I heard screaming coming from here? Is everything alright?”

  As she looked up, she saw three faces peeking from the kitchen, so fucking oblivious that they were already spotted.  “Play along…” she said, her face decorned with an unnaturally dark and sadistic smirk. 

“Oh, my Baby Tomm!! You are here to give me a surprise visit?” She sang in a deceptively innocent tone, as she heard gasps coming from the group. Great! Not only the group was fucking unschooled in hiding, they also didn’t know they were being loud as well. 

She then smirked as she pushed Tom onto the couch and purred, “I can relish you right now and right here.”

 “FUCK!” Parker groaned out, too loud and terrified. That was followed by a loud whacking sound. Looks like Danni and Vance are doing a good job at that. 

“BE QUIET, ELSE SHE WILL HEAR YOU!” Danni whispered. 

Imogen rolled her eyes at that. She then proceeded to strip herself out for the act, only in her bra and underwear. 

“VANCE, LOOK AWAY. I SAID LOOK AWAY!” Imogen heard two whispers as she imagined Vance’s face all heating up. 

“Can you wait a while here while I go and wear my new lingerie?” She winked Tom, who, despite knowing its just an act, got intensely heated up.

 “See if you like it baby,” She purred seductively, “Else if its not of your taste, we can always dump it on Danni.” She said, making sure it was loud enough to reach Danni’s ears. “Poor girl! Her love life is more barren than the Sahara Desert.” She taunted. 

“ARGHHHHH” Danni grunted as quietly as possible, which of course, was loud enough for Imogen’s satisfaction. 

“Poor luck for her.” Imogen continued,” I mean, what were the chances?” She shrugged. “In our gang of three boys and two girls, I get the cutest boy,” She winked at Tom, with an intent of showing off, “And the rest two boys, instead of choosing her, went gay. Perhaps with my lingerie she might one day succeed in seducing that excuse called Vance.” 

“Seduce Vance?” Parker eyed Danni angrily. 

“Excuse called Vance?!” Vance muttered horrified.

“Went gay?!” Danni almost shrieked in horror. She just stopped an urge to dislocate Imogen’s face with a punch.

 And that Vance, my my!” Imogen continued, making Vance’s breath hitch up,” That sneaky bastard is two timing them both! I saw him go with Parker to middle of deserted lake in morning, and then also to Danni’s house…or perhaps…her bedroom in the evening.” He exasperated. “You know best Tom, what happens between two people when they are close and alone, right?” 

“YOU WENT TO HER BEDROOM?!” 

“YOU WENT WITH OFFICER ROCKEAD TO THE LAKE?!” 

Vance was not in a very comfortable situation to say the least. 

“S-She got it all wrong!” He defended himself, “I did go there, b-but...you guys should know!” 

Fortunately for him, no one was paying attention to him. Unfortunately, their attention was now diverted to fighting with each other over him now. Parker and Danni clutched an arm each, and started tugging him to their side. 

“STAY. IN. YOUR. LANE. DANNI.” Parker growled. 

“Might as well as ask you that!” Danni retorted, “Don’t repeat this again.” She warned. 

“Who the fuck are you to say that?” Parker retorted. 

“STOP IT GUYS!” Vance shouted, before clutching his mouth. Thankfully, Imogen did not even look in their direction. Perhaps their hiding skills are actually to the point. 

“Oh honey!” Imogen sang, making the three cringe, “I also made a very sweet, delicious and expensive cake for you.” She purred. 

Parker’s face was covered with sweat now, his breathing uneven and hitched.

“They are always delicious!” Tom chirped, knowing where exactly its going. 

“Oh! This one will be more delicious than others” She winked, “I put in a veryyy special ‘ingredient’ in it this time…” Imogen peered at the kitchen with a corner of her eye, to see three faces listening intently withheld breath. 

“Special Ingredient?” Tom asked, surprised. 

“Yessss,” Imogen purred, “The most special ingredient...“ She purred. 

“What’s that?” Tom asked, “What ‘special ingredient’ did you put in the cake?” 

“My love…” She winked as she pointed towards her undies.  

  NERVE CRITICAL!!!

Parker is now Haunted!  (-100)

Danni is now Haunted! (-100)

Vance is now Haunted! (-100)

 Parker put a hand on his mouth as if he is going to puke. 

“I…” he stopped as he shook his head in dismay and disgust. 

“Someone was finding the cake way too delicious…” Danni said, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.  Vance eyes threatened to pop out of his sockets and fall, while Parker seemed traumatized on hearing this. Poor Parker, for once in his life did, he actually decided to not think of laws and courts while making a decision and look what happened… 

“You know what Tom…” Imogen purred again, much to everyone else’s horror, “I changed my mind. Let’s go into the kitchen. I want you to ravish me ther-“ 

She was interrupted by the sound of window breaking, along with a loud, feminine voice shouting “FUCK YOU IMOGEN WESTCOTT.”  Followed by a loud thud. 

Soon, two more thuds sounded and that was when Imogen knew she does not need to worry about the gang breaking into her house again. 

--x—x-xx—xx—x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

 BONUS SCENE:

 Imogen gave a satisfied smirk to the group, as they all sat in her room, seeing video lessons on weaving a sweater. She had always wanted to learn that, but it was so, so, SO boring to do alone. 

“See, you don’t have to do much to come into my house legally.” She teased. Danni opened her mouth to say something, but Imogen quickly added, “And in case anyone prefers dying out dehydrated in this summer heat, he or she is most welcome to do so.” She gritted. 

Danni shut up and looked at the clock. One minute to 5’o clock, one minute to freedom. A smile formed on her lips thinking that today’s lesson is over. 

Now, although today’s lesson was over, Imogen wanted to do more weaving so badly. Perhaps they might stay a little longe- 

HALLELJUAH!!!! 

Tom shouted as the clock struck five and ran to the door, and soon out of house. Everyone looked at that with gaping mouth. 

“Well….” Imogen hissed, obviously angry at Tom for that. 

“Well Imogen,” Danni said with a voice of intent. It was clear to Imogen that Danni wanted to get back to her, “I was wondering why you need a dildo if your boyfriend is so awesome as you spoke of nonstop for four hours straight today?”

Imogen gave Danni a smile, one which some old elder gave to a naïve child. 

“Oh, dear Danni!” She chirped, “Its not for me. Its for Tom!” She said, much to everyone’s horror. “I tie it along and-“ 

HALLELJUAH!!! 

Danni screamed as she dashed as fast as possible, anywhere which is a hundred miles away from Imogen’s house. 

Imogen then eyed Vance, thinking of a way to make him stay when- 

HALLELJUAH!! 

Vance got up and ran as well. Her eyes turned to Parker, who seemed stoic and shocked at what he heard.  In fact, he was too stoic… 

Was he even breathing?! 

“Parker?” Imogen asked, concerned. 

“Parker?!” 

HALLELJUAH!!!!

She turned behind to see Vance running back, this time dragging Parker along with him and running as fast as he could. 

“YOU ALL WILL PAY!!!” Imogen shouted, agitated as she threw the sewing needles on the floor.

[prettyfunkyunorganized]

Sugar Daddy Hanzo part 7

Hey there everyone! Another chapter all ready for you. Some set up for the next part and some struggles with how much you want your man back.

And btw, thanks for answering my question last time! It was super fun to see your responses! :D

Around 4,300 words today. Enjoy!

BTW, this whole business world AU is based on my bud @watch-your-grammer‘s post here. She’s glorious and so is her work.

The rest of the story: pt one, pt two, pt three, pt four, pt five, pt six 

Saturdays were supposed to be relaxing – not a clusterfuck, but here you were, half tacking on another day to the workweek and half trying to get your best friend’s baby shower in order. And all the way losing your shit.

“What the hell do you mean Clarissa’s Cupcakes pulled out on us,” you fumed at your phone as you tried to dig through your desk for the to-do list that just kept growing and growing.

“Yeah,” Jules said slowly, “they canceled on us.”

“We paid upfront for that stupid reservation! What the hell happened?”

“They said someone else made them a better offer or something. The whole place is closed for the day for a private party, dude. We’re kinda boned,” Jules said, sounding pretty damn dejected for her, but at least that meant she was taking this seriously.

You heaved a long sigh and thought a moment. “Okay, okay. That’s okay. We’ll figure something else out. If all else fails, we can have the party at one of our places. Mags will be fine with that.”

“As long as it's not mine, I’m cool with that,” Jules agreed, going right back to optimistic fast enough to give you emotional whiplash.

“Why not yours,” you asked, “you’ve got that great dining and kitchen area. I’ll help you get it ready as soon as I’m done here.”

“About that,” she laughed, “I’m in the middle of a job, and my creative process is uh, messy, as you know. And this time the subject matter is sorta graphic. Like aliens with tentacles that have teeth graphic.”

Having one of your besties be an animatronic whiz and well-respected movie monster creator was great around Halloween. Right now, not so much.

“Well fuck. Nicole will never let that many people she doesn’t know in her place, so I guess my apartment it is,” you groaned.

“No offense babe, but your place is pretty small for that. I could try to clean my stuff up some, I guess, but the alien herself ain’t going nowhere right now.”

“No, no,” you sighed, “I got it. I’ll move some stuff around and rig up some more seating. Just hope I can get home in time.”

There was a pause on the other side of the line, and you knew what was coming next. A scolding. “You better not be where I think you are,” Jules said in her most grown-up tone.

“Um,” you hesitated.

“Good freakin’ gods woman! That job is bleeding you dry! You gotta stop letting them treat you like this.” She sounded more disappointed than angry, which stung plenty.

“I know, I know, but you know me, I work hard! It’s what I do. It’s important.”

“Lovebug,” Jules said gently, calling you by your childhood nickname to get her point across, “I know your mom and dad always told you that, but working yourself into a pit isn’t good either. Especially since that company doesn’t appreciate you and all you do. You could be doing so much better! You’ve got enough big-name clients that you should absolutely have more than that cheap little cubicle. You work with fucking Lucio himself, girl! That’s big-time shit!”

“I – I know,” you fumbled, “but there aren’t any openings here for a better position. I’ve just got to wait it out.”

“You ought to ask for a raise,” Jules snorted.

“Yeah, probably,” you huffed, rubbing your temple. “I don’t know why I can stand up to Hanzo like I did but going up to my superiors here at work seems daunting – even though I know I deserve more.”

“Because your parents taught you to value your career more than relationships and you’re still internally trying to please them despite the fact that you know they’re unhealthy and unhappy,” Jules said frankly. “Childhood psychological shit, it’ll get you every time.”

“No kidding,” you laughed, taking a moment to close your eyes and remind yourself that you were so much more than just your job.

“I know you’re not going to just blow off work,” Jules said, “but don’t go crazy today, alright? We have a party to get to! And the world won’t end just because you left some stuff to be done on Monday.”

“That much I can do,” you agreed, “thanks, Jules.”

“No problem. I don’t have many wise moments, but when I do, I’m more than happy to share them.”

“Maybe you ought to share some weed with me next week to get rid of the nerves before I go ask my boss for a raise,” you suggested, only partially joking.

“Holy fuck yes! Yes! Babe, let’s do it! Nicole can give you one of her hardcore pep talks and Mags can make you feel all good and shit! Fuck yeah! This is happening. I’ve decided.”

“Oh dear god what have I started,” you giggled.

“This is the best idea you’ve ever had.”

“Jules, love, I dig the excitement, but we have other things to focus on right now. If I get my place ready for the party can you get food?”

“Sure thing,” she said nonchalantly, “snacks are basically my specialty. I’ve got a caterer that owes me a favor, too.”

“Awesome, thanks, Jules. I’ll talk to you later. Keep me in the loop.”

“Yup. You just get done with stupid-ass work, alright?”

“I’ll try.”

You spent the next few hours toiling away at work, mostly alone at the office once again. Jules was right, you did have a problem. Thankfully, your phone buzzed, reminding you that time was in fact passing and you had other, much more enjoyable things to do.

‘Hey the caterer needs to get into your place soon to drop off goodies. You home?’

It was Jules. Who would be all over you for still being at work. “Fuck,” you hissed before typing a simple, ‘No.’

‘Da faq girl,” she replied.

‘I’m getting decorations and shit,’ you lied.

‘Oh. Cool. You do you. Just get home soon, k?’

‘Yep,’ you sent back, realizing you had dug yourself into a hole. Now you had to decorate, get home, and make your place presentable in a much too small window of time. Frantically, you called Nicole to see if she could help, but no she was still at the vet with her pup. Maggie’s mother could open the door for the caterer, but then she’d freak out about how ‘dirty’ the place was and start stressing and cleaning everything – or, even worse, tattle to your parents about ‘the state of that place!’ There was Maggie’s mother-in-law, but she was something of an attention whore and a snob who would undoubtedly make up some dramatic story about having to go to some ‘tacky shop’ for ‘tacky décor’ and how she did ‘the absolute best she could under the circumstances.’

No.

You were not listening to that on your day off.

Well, your day almost off.

As you scrolled through your contact list trying to find someone to help, a sudden text popped up. From Hanzo, no less.

“Huh,” you said frowning at his name. An image of him trying to pick out baby shower do-dads came to mind and made you cackle. “Oh hell no, I’m not asking him to do that, no matter how great the blackmail would be if I got pictures. Not that I could ever see the need to blackmail him.”

Since the morning at the coffee shop, you and Hanzo had done exactly as you had agreed upon. You were civil, spoke on occasion, and played nice. He was always respectful and appreciative of any time you gave him, but the tension was still there. At times, you would sill times get shudder including memories of that night he terrified you in that parking lot, but you were starting to see that part of him less and less with each conversation. Most of the time when he reached out to you, it was for a bit of advice or asking about something he’d read. He was a voracious reader now, it seemed, devouring anything he could get his hands on about overcoming mental obstacles. That seemed to be his new safe space – where he retreated when he was having a setback or had done something he deemed to be wrong.

He was being too hard on himself, you knew that, but there was only so much you could do while keeping an appropriate distance.

It was hard not to go to him and run your fingers through his hair, whispering soft reassurances.

The sadness that often coated his voice when you spoke on the phone made your stomach twist.

But this was his battle, and he would fight it in his own way. He had others to help him along the way, and he wasn’t your responsibility.

Hanzo was, however, always saying that he wanted to repay your kindness, so maybe you could ask him for a favor. Friend to friend.

You called him up before you could chicken out and waited rather impatiently for him to pick up.

“Hello,” he said, surprise and unease in his tone.

“Oh thank goodness,” you sighed. “Hey, Hanzo it’s me.”

“Yes, of course,” he said, “is something wrong?”

“What? No,” you replied in confusion. “Why would there be?”

“No reason,” he explained, “I was just not expecting a call. Usually, I am the one asking if I may bother you with a phone call.”

“Right,” you said laughing awkwardly, “well, the thing is, I sorta need some help.”

“What can I do,” he asked gravely. You could see his pensive face so clearly in your mind. It made you smile.

“Chill, Hanzo, I’m fine. It’s a little thing really, but I didn’t know who else to go to.”

“I am glad to hear you are alright and I am of course happy to help however I can,” he said softly. That damn voice of his was going to be the death of you.

“So, the gals and I are throwing Mags a baby shower,” you began.

“I see,” Hanzo said worriedly.

“Calm down,” you snorted, “you don’t have to come or anything, I just need someone to unlock the door for the people bringing food.”

“Ah, well, that I can most certainly do. Is there a spare key I should use nearby?”

“Yeah. It’s in a little magnetized box under the ridge of the big metal planter to the left of the door. If you can’t find it, give me a text.” You grabbed your purse and headed to the stairs.

“I will,” Hanzo said, evidently still taking this quite seriously, “but something has just occurred to me.”

“What’s that?”

“I have never been to your apartment,” he said, making you stop and frown.

“Well I’ll be damned, you haven’t. Whoops. I’ll text you the address in a sec, just leaving work.”

“My, my,” he said with a small chuckle, “your dedication is admirable.”

“That’s not what my friends say,” you grumbled.

“Why is that?”

“I may have a slight problem with balance,” you admitted sheepishly, “but I’m working on it. I do have a tendency to throw myself into the office when I’m stressed about other things, though.”

“Did I cause that reaction this time,” he asked gently.

In all honesty, yes, you were still dealing with the repercussions of taking on too much work to distract yourself after you and Hanzo broke it off, but he wasn’t the only cause. “Nah, it’s more me. I need to stop this pattern I always get myself into. I’ve basically buried myself in paperwork this time.”

“I can relate,” Hanzo hummed out, sounding stressed. As usual. “Do try to take care of yourself, though, will you? I – I worry. I know you are capable and independent, but . . . nonetheless.”

You shut your eyes tightly at the twinge in your heart. He could be so sweet. Sometimes. “Just, um, let me know if you need anything else, okay? I gotta go get some stuff.”

Hanzo cleared his throat tensely. “You have my word.”

“Thanks, Hanzo. Bye.” You let out an abysmal groan as soon as you hung up. “Why does he have to make it so hard to not like him?!”

Darting through the nearest party supply store like a tornado did wonders to take Hanzo off your mind – if there was anything in this world that absolutely did not remind you of that man, it was pink streamers and glitter – but seeing him standing next to your open doorway brought a wave of emotions you really didn’t have time to deal with.

You’d never seen him dress so . . . casually before. And . . .

Damn.

“Hey,” you called to him, cursing the way your voice broke. Christ, it was like you were back in high school, fawning over an upperclassman. At least this time he didn’t have swoopy hair. You had such terrible taste back then.

Well, maybe you still did, but that was a thought for another day.

“Hello,” he said with a smile. You looked him up and down as two people carried in a few trays. “Is something the matter,” he asked when he caught you staring.

“Nope,” you said with a grin, “I just didn’t know you owned anything other than freshly pressed suits.”

“Yes, well,” he said flushing, “you called me while I was in the middle of . . . something.”

“Son of a – ” you hissed, “I’m sorry! I didn’t even ask if you were busy, did I? I didn’t mean to – ”

Hanzo reached over and took a few of the bags hanging from your arms. “Think nothing of it. You did not interrupt anything important.”

You ushered him in and set the mess of shopping bags down. “Thanks again for letting these guys in,” you said gesturing to the people arranging miniature cakes all over your countertop, “but you didn’t have to stick around if you have other things to do. They’re good people, totally trustworthy.”

“I thought it best to stay close just in case. Not because I doubted their professionalism, but to see if you needed anything else. Based on the amount of food these people have brought in, you have quite the event going on here,” he said eyeing the pile of appetizers.

“Maggie has seven sisters-in-law,” you explained, trying not to grimace.

“Honto?! I cannott imagine,” Hanzo reeled.

You giggled, “Neither can I! I’ve always had such a small family, having ten in a household seems like hell to me.”

“Agreed,” Hanzo murmured, shaking his head.

“Anyway,” you said, smiling at him, “I should be fine. I’ve still got an hour to put up some decorations and tidy up a bit before the other girls get here to help me finish up. We got this.”

“Then I will leave you to it,” Hanzo said with a small bow before heading back to the hall.

“Wait,” you blurted, not really knowing why you’d said it. He turned back to you and waited.

Your face went hot as you rushed over to the kitchen and plucked a peach topped cake for him. “Here,” you said handing it to him, “for your trouble.”

“That is not necessary,” he said kindly, giving you an impossibly tender look, “I am simply glad I could help, and for a chance to see you.”

This was the first time you had seen each other face to face since that day at the coffee shop. He looked good, and not just because he always looked good. There was a sort of calm about him, as if maybe he wasn’t so bogged down by everything anymore. A proper therapist could do that.

You were happy for him. He deserved some progress, to not be alone and attacking himself all the time. You truly believed that.

And you also knew he had a sweet tooth as bad as yours.

“Take it,” you said, grabbing his hand and placing the little square napkin in his palm. “I know you want to.”

He grinned. “I can only say so to buttercream frosting so many times. Thank you, and enjoy your party. It sounds like you could use some fun.”

“I will. Take care, Hanzo.”

“I shall do my best,” he said with a nod, “and by the way, I like your home. It is, hmm, ‘warm’, I suppose is the word  am looking for. Or perhaps safe. I never quite understood how to navigate that line between ‘house’ and ‘home,’ but you certainly have.”

Something about that sentence made you pout involuntarily as your heart dropped.

“Not that I mean to be looking for sympathy,” Hanzo said quickly, “I meant it as a compliment! I should not have made that comment about me, I apologize.”

The blush he got. It was too much.

“Don’t worry about it,” you said wavering a little closer to him. “I’m flattered that you like my place. Here I thought it might not be fancy or cleaned up enough for you.”

He scoffed, “Please, my own maid thinks I am a bit too much of a ‘neat freak.�� I know not everyone has my uncanny need to have everything polished.”

“Yeah, I don’t polish anything,” you laughed, walking him to the elevator, “but I probably should be more on top of the dishes.”

Hanzo shrugged, “If I did not have someone tidying up for me, I would likely be the same way. Or I would just eat out more often, I am not sure which.”

You parted ways with a wave that left you feeling unsatisfied. It was as if your skin was itching for his touch.

“Fucking hell,” you moaned, “I gotta get over this guy.”

The party came and went, Hanzo’s piercing eyes lingering in your mind when you weren’t occupied. You had thought you were over this dumb puppy dog love stage weeks ago, but evidently not. Maybe it was seeing the way Maggie and her wife got along that made you feel like this. Or seeing a new family being started in front of you. Or maybe it was just loneliness. Once everyone had left the house you were on your own again, wishing you had someone to vent to about your boss emailing you about picking up another coworker’s slack.

“I always get like this when I’m tired,” you tried to assure yourself, “I’ll get over it. All I need is a shower and some proper sleep. And maybe for my boss to stop being a shitlord.”

Soon, you were settled on the couch hair up in a microfiber towel and your fluffiest robe around your shoulders. You felt better, yes, but you couldn’t help but think about snuggling up in Hanzo’s wide-collared hoodie from earlier today.

“Why are boy hoodies always the best,” you asked the universe, slightly perturbed at this unwarranted slight the fashion industry had given your gender.

Your ringtone went off, and you swiped your phone from the coffee table. Hanzo again.

Now the universe was really being a dick.

‘I hope everything went well tonight,’ he had sent. ‘I forgot to mention that I set your key by the sink. One of the caterers saw where you had hidden it, so you may want to find another location just to be safe, but that may just be my paranoia at work.’

“Worrywart,” you snickered before sending back, ‘Yes I saw it. Thanks. Good idea. And yeah, we had a good time. A few hiccups, but I handled it.’

‘Hiccups? Is everything alright?’

‘There was a small soon-to-be-Grandma fight, and Bruce Wayne peed on one of my plants, but that’s all.’

It took him longer to respond than usual, but then a confused, ‘Bruce Wayne? The Batman alter ego,’ came through. You laughed and snuggled deeper into your cushions.

‘Nicole’s dog has a solemn looking face and very pointy little ears that make him look like Batman, hence the name. Gotta admit, I’m a little surprised you knew that name of the top of your head, or did you Google it,’ you teased.

‘Genji told me. He says hello,’ Hanzo admitted.

Half a second later Hanzo was calling you. “Um, yeah,” you said into the receiver.

“I told you she would pick up,” Genji said, sounding as if he were straining.

“And I asked you not to call her,” you barely heard Hanzo say. “It is late, and she has had a long day.”

“Well then maybe you should not have texted her,” Genji replied jokingly.

“That is different,” Hanzo griped. It was nice to hear them acting like normal brothers.

“What is going on,” you asked as a smile crossed your face.

“I stole Hanzo’s phone so I could talk to you,” Genji explained, “and now he is trying to get it back, but I am faster.”

There was a slew of angry Japanese that made Genji burst out laughing. “That sounds like a dangerous game you’re playing, Genji,” you giggled. “Was there a reason you called, or are you just torturing your big bro.”

“Meh, a little of column A, a little of column B,” he replied.

“Perhaps I should just call Mercy as retaliation,” you heard Hanzo say in a voice so devious you had to add a dramatic gasp to the conversation.

“WHAT,” Genji yelped, “and when did – how did you get my phone?!”

“I always took my stealth studies more seriously than you did, brother,” Hanzo chuckled.

“Damn it,” Genji said defeatedly, “okay, fine, I will give it back, but before I do, I wanted to invite your lovely friend here to a party I am having next week. Everyone at Overwatch adored you, and we would love to have you there if that would not be too awkward.”

“You want to invite me,” you clarified.

“But of course,” Genji all but sang. “It is just a casual little thing for a few friends I throw every year. Hanzo made it sound like you could use a night out, maybe one that involves less Grandmothers – no offense to your baby shower guests.”

“Just how much did Hanzo tell you,” you asked, feigning skepticism.

“I am nosy,” Genji said flatly.

“Indeed you are,” Hanzo barked.

“So will you come? I promise it will be a good time.” It sounded like the younger Shimada was almost begging you to join them.

“No funny business,” you asked apprehensively.

“Not at all.”

“And I won’t have to worry about people looking down their noses at me?”

“If anyone does I will show them the door,” Genji said.

“And you know I’m not coming as your brother’s date,” you said, a bit quieter.

“Yes, I know,” he replied, less excitement in his voice.

“Well . . . alright, I’ll come,” you agreed, not entirely sure this was a good idea considering how much you were already pining over Hanzo.

“That is fantastic news,” Genji said, “the others will be delighted to – Hey! Hanzo! I was not done with that!”

“Pardon the interruption,” Hanzo said, noises coming through the earpiece that sounded like he was holding his brother away with his other arm, “but you really do not have to come if you do not wish to. Do not let my brother pester you into joining us.”

“I don’t mind,” you said honestly, “it would be nice to see Lena and the others again.”

“There will be liquor,” Hanzo hinted, “not that I need to partake but – ”

“Why is liquor a problem,” Genji asked.

Hanzo sighed deeply. “She does not want to be around me when I drink after that night I hurt her.”

“That,” Genji started, then took a long pause. “Well, to be candid that is a very rational decision, and I approve of her looking out for herself.”

“As do I,” Hanzo agreed.

“I can still hardly believe you ruined such a good thing,” Genji lamented.

“Do not start with me tonight,” Hanzo groaned, “please? I assure you I cannot feel any worse than I already do. Just seeing her makes me – ”

“Ahem,” you said loudly, “I’m still here, you know.”

“Sorry,” the two brothers said simultaneously.

“Look, I don’t have to come to this shindig of yours if it’s going to complicate things. I’m fine,” you said with a shrug.

“No,” Hanzo said gingerly, “if you would like to come, that would be lovely. I do not need to drink that night.”

“I don’t mean to spoil your fun or anything,” you said awkwardly. You suddenly felt like a controlling girlfriend, only you weren’t his girlfriend. But you were just trying to look out for yourself . . .

“You are not ruining anything,” Hanzo said kindly, “just the opposite, in fact. Come, enjoy yourself, and I promise I will not drink. I believe it will likely be good for me to prove to myself that I can be out with some coworkers and not need a bevy of drinks to get through.”

While he didn’t sound entirely convinced in his ability to do so, you had to agree that it might be a good step for him to take. “Alright, I’ll still come. If you’re sure you don’t mind, that is.”

“Not at all,” Hanzo said, “I will let you know the details when Genji finally decides on a theme.”

“Oh yeah,” Genji yelled, “it is a costume party, but you do not have to get too into it if you do not want to.”

“Good to know,” you laughed, “tell your goofy brother thanks for the invite, but I should start winding down for the night.”

“I will. Goodnight, my beau- ” He caught himself and coughed in embarrassment. “G-goodnight.”

He hung up before you could respond, making you wince. “Fu-uh-uh-uh-ck,” you wailed, smacking yourself in the forehead. “I really, really, really wish I didn’t still want to be his god-damned beauty.” Tears began to sting your eyes, and you weren’t sure they had formed out of anger, or longing.

@collinssie @watch-your-grammer @zarcake-writes @yesthisisbae @eebbapanda1 @deercapitate@missbumblina @skyrina@justjaaaay @thewetbones @skyelentnight@ilovebva @punk-dork @cbrokeherboobs @sobanoodledragon @sydniesamm@honeyburger @knightofsexyness @queenoflabyrinths @speakingishard@iknowimcutethanks @ninevast @ivymarquis @sydniesamm @barbie-the-centrist

** please let me know if you would like to be tagged or removed from the tags in future updates and sorry if I missed anyone, tumblr is being tumblr-y again**

[pacsettravel]

Headlinin’: 11/27/17

We’re having a huge sale today, so please go check that out! Seriously guys, this is the biggest one we’ve ever done. Go get it! :D Alrighty, on to this week’s main story...

MUCH ADO ABOUT DOGEN

I’d like to talk about balls. No, not the sports ones. The kind that are metaphorical, the kind that you have when you stand up for what’s right in the face of intense opposition. I mean, think about it: there’s stuff that takes courage, and there’s stuff that takes balls. Asking someone out to prom? Courage. Telling a Firefly fan to let it go, since Fox canceled their show fifteen years ago? That’s courage with a little bit of balls. Standing up to the bully ten times your size? That’s balls. 

Bringing your baby to work with you when you’re a politician in one of the most male-dominated societies in the world? That’s more balls than you’ll find at a basketball tournament. [Washington Post]

Image courtesy Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

Just look at this picture. Words fail me. Here, check out the video:

This is Kumamoto City Representative and certified bad ass mama Ogata Yuka and her son Dogen, who has a very nice hairstyle going for someone who’s only seven months old. She made the “mistake” of bringing her son to work with her, which resulted in many male members of the chamber crowding around her and demanding she leave - with some of them even demanding she apologize for doing so (even though Dogen was being a good boy and not making any noise).

According to her official bio, Ogata is a graduate of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and holds a graduate degree from George Mason University in Virginia. She’s also worked as a program officer with the UN’s Development Program in Yemen, which I imagine is not the UN’s easiest mission. After moving back to her hometown, Ogata became interested in local politics and ran on a campaign emphasizing support for working mothers, traffic/pedestrian safety, public health and welfare, and promoting tourism to Kumamoto. [Editor’s note: we’re working on a tour pitch or two, Ogata-shigi!- Team PacSet]

Fun fact: Ogata was elected when her first child was just 1 year old, and the day she brought Dogen to work was her first day back from maternity leave. Now personally, I would have appreciated a “Welcome Back” cake, a balloon bouquet... maybe some of Kumamoto’s famous Ikinari Dango* with a nice message written on it? Like this?

But hey, I guess a bunch of old dudes being rude is kind of like a welcome. I mean, isn’t that how the bullies welcome the nerds back to class in all of those teen movies? Sorry, I digress.

Although child care is provided in municipal assemblies in Kyoto and Akita (as the WaPo points out), Kumamoto’s model male citizens decided to get their pantsu in a bunch over this, eventually forcing Ogata to leave Dogen in the care of a friend before returning to the chamber. 

In a statement, Ogata said that she wanted to bring attention to the tough conditions facing working women in Japan. She’s not wrong; numerous  [Bloomberg/Benchmark] articles [Japan Times] have been written about Japan’s shortage in adequate day care facilities and how hard it is for women in the workforce. In fact, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has cited making the working world more friendly to women a priority, since Japan’s birthrate is declining and the benefits of being a mother are not all that attractive if you want to have a career/support a family in Japan. However, apparently Abe forgot to mention this to fellow LDP member and “guy at the pachinko parlor” Haraguchi Ryoji, who said that Ogata could be “subject to punishment for disturbing the chamber over a personal reason.” [Mainichi Shimbun] Which I guess I understand... I mean, I bet no one in the LDP has ever been in a scandal for personal reasons, right? (Fun game: Google “LDP Scandals” and see how many you can find in 10 minutes!)

The truth is that there is still a cultural stigma against working mothers in many social circles in Japan. Not too long ago, having a baby meant a women would leave work altogether and focus their entire lives on child rearing. Even today, mothers that go against the grain are often harassed by other mothers and people who aren’t parents at all but have so many opinions. Which is probably one of the reasons why Japan’s fleet of online trolls have since invaded Ogata’s Facebook page and are tweeting nasty replies to English language stories about her. Nice of them, isn’t it? 

Regardless, we hope that Ogata-shigi keeps fighting for working women, that we are able to create the best Kumamoto tour EVER, and that Dogen can keep that clean, awesome looking hair forever. <3 Speaking of clean...

I’LL HAVE A WASH AND DRY WITH THAT YAKITORI

If you have traveled with us, you know how tough it can be to find coin laundromats in Japan sometimes. Fortunately, the effort to make them more common just got a massive (and I mean massive) push from a somewhat surprising source: convenience store (conbini) chain Family Mart. (LINE NEWS)

That’s right - one of Japan’s biggest conbini chains, the place where you get a meat bun when you’re hungry, a manga volume when you’re bored, and a Pocari Sweat when you’re drunk, is installing coin laundry! According to an official statement, the company is planning on rolling out the service quickly, with laundry popping up in at least 500 locations by the end of 2019. [Family Mart]

I’ll level with you guys: I’m trying to think of a negative angle to this story, and you know... there just isn’t one. The thought of being able to wash my clothes during FanFest while eating a lemon ice, buying breakfast onigiri for the next morning, and browsing the latest Shonen Sunday? What did I do to deserve this kind of joy?!?!?!?!

The best part? Because the competition between conbini chains in Japan is such a bloodbath, it probably won’t be too long before Lawson or Seven Eleven decides to try out Coin Laundry as well. Japan in the summer is all kinds of humid - keeping it clean is a concept I can definitely get behind.

TAKA IS NOT [ONE] OK [ROCK] WITH SMAP... KINDA

One guy isn’t keeping it clean this week in the world of gossip; ONE OK ROCK front man Taka sent shockwaves across the Japanese interwebs this weekend when he dissed recently disbanded J-Pop royalty SMAP during an appearance on Super Beaver singer Shibuya Ryuuta’s radio show late Thursday night. Although both of their bands specialize in rock and not the kind of J-Pop sound SMAP embodies, the two were discussing which song from the band they like most. Taka’s selection? SMAP’s 1993 single “Ten Dollars”:

This is a somewhat deep cut from the SMAP catalogue; it’s from when the group still had six members, and it wasn’t nearly as popular as SMAP’s turn-of-the-millenia hits Lionheart and Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Everyone in Japan has heard this song twenty million times oh god please make it stop**. 

After the song played, Taka voiced a sentiment that many indie rockers, rappers, and artists in Japan have long thought but always been scared to say. SMAP is... eh. From the man’s own mouth: [Model Press]

“Actually, I hate them, really. I hate SMAP. They’re like Japan’s national group,” said Taka. He’s not exactly wrong; SMAP’s TV show was one of the view where western stars appeared regularly, and even Eric Clapton wrote a song for them. Yes, ERIC CLAPTON. Taka, probably realizing that the internet could twist such a comment out of control quickly, added: “No matter which group you’re in, whether you’re an idol, a superstar... we’re all just human... Being in a group like that shouldn’t be your WHOLE life - that’s tiring. So when I heard SMAP was disbanding, I was thinking, ‘Wow, they really worked hard to come this far...’” I can’t help but agree with Taka myself; to have a group be your entire life until you’re alone again - that’s truly a Mighty Long Fall.

Taka’s comments were also a reflection of the public’s sadness when SMAP disbanded - so much so that many thought the group should keep going. Indeed, artists in Japan that are popular are expected to devote their lives to their work to a degree that many in the west would consider horrifying (just ask any former idol star... ugh). For what it’s worth, many on Twitter and message boards in Japan agreed with Taka on this point. 

Now if some of those nice, sympathetic folks would go help support Ogata Yuka... that would be awesome. 

NOTE: I’m off on Japan Holiday next week, so this column will be on hiatus. We’ll be back in a few weeks with more goodies. Until then, be lovely to each other!

*About the Dango: The popular YouTube series Cooking With Dog (RIP, Francis ;_;) actually did a segment on how to make Ikinari Dango; check it out! We miss you, Francis the Dog... <3

**title edited for accuracy

[idealisticrealism]

Blindspot 2x15 recap

(aka the one where the team does their own version of WifeSwap and also takes down a trafficking ring)

So I don't know if anyone is still interested in these (other than the couple of anons who have been gently reminding me about getting this done haha) but in honour of the new ep this week, here's my recap of last ep aka ~The Dream Team Reshuffle~

Okay so are these Kurt/Roman sparring sessions a spectator sport?? Because if so, seriously sign me up right now for a lifetime membership haha. Goddamn. And I just-- I mean, the level of trust here? The kindness? Weller understands that Roman needs both freedom and an outlet, so he gives him both, under the guise of 'triggering memories' for information on Sandstorm. Sure, that's the official explanation, but lbr he really just did it because he knows how he would feel being in Roman's shoes. And plus, what better way to get to know the brother of the woman he's in love with? ~Brother-in-law bonding time~ Aaww yeaahhh. I also love that he actually pins Roman-- Roman may be a trained warrior, but Weller's no slouch either. Just because he wears a suit most of the time doesn't erase the fact that he's literally one of the best agents the FBI has. And then ughhh Jane comes in just as he's got Roman pinned and I love that the vibe is instantly like "uh-oh, busted" haha. I love the shock in Jane’s voice though and the way she says 'Kurt'-- tbh I think it's both a "Kurt don't hurt him" and "Kurt is everything okay" because in that split second she doesn't know if this fight is just sparring or has turned real and there's just a flicker of panic where she doesn't know what to do and then Roman is all "we're fine" (aka ‘chill sis we're just engaging in manly bonding’) and she just stares, even more shocked, as Weller grins and pulls Roman to his feet. Like literally this scene has been going for like 30 seconds and I just love everything it has achieved-- Roman is proving to Weller that he can be trusted, bc he didn't try to hurt him or escape while they were sparring, Weller is proving to Roman that he understands and respects his needs and that they can be allies despite coming from opposing sides, and Weller's proving to Jane that he's good hubby material :P and obviously that he cares enough about her to go out of his way for the people she loves. Ugh. And when she suggests Roman going out into the field, he's so gentle and apologetic about why they can't allow that. And then he leaves her to take Roman back to the cell, showing trust in them both. Ugh. What a genius scene, to be so packed with meaning in such a short space of time. I also appreciate Roman trying to convince Jane to tell Weller the truth about Emma bc it’s the right thing to do (seriously woman he’s right, hurry up with that! I'm so annoyed about the lack of learning from past mistakes that's happening here like seriously this can only go badly ugh)

Wait Nas' source-phone is ringing?? Good thing she remembered the code phrase after all these months haha. Also considering that I'm still on the 'Remi was the source' bandwagon, I feel like this meet-up is a trap...

Naw Jeller walking to the lab together and then WAIT WHAT HE ASKED ABOUT THE DATE. Omg. The awkwardness level just shot through the roof (and probably continued up several floors) and Jane is staring at him bc lbr the ~thing~ between them is like the elephant in the room that goes carefully ignored and then suddenly he's asking about something that's directly elephant-adjacent and it's like is this really happening? and then she's still speechless and he assures her she doesn't have to talk about it with him (while looking like he's practically about to cry jesus christ what are you two doing to me) and then he tells her that her whole date thing got him ~thinking~ and her eyes go wide and she stops breathing because is he about to acknowledge the elephant and lbr she's so stunned at even the possibility that this could be happening but she's SO READY for it and ugh I bet her heart is racing rn and ugh ours certainly are because we're all like YES TELL HER ADMIT YOUR LOVE KISS HER KIIISSSSS HEERRRRRRR, and then--- "we need to be careful. Sandstorm is everywhee" and oh man. All that buildup just goes poof! and disappears. Goddammit, Weller, you stupid boy. Couldn't you see how loudly her eyes were screaming 'kiss me'?? Or maybe you could, and that's why you look so sad, because you believe that you two can/should never be together again. But more likely he just assumed that her stunned look was her being uncomfortable about discussing her love life with him. Ugh you two are IDIOTS. Idiots, I tell you. But lbr I do love the fact that Weller is telling her to stay away from Oliver to protect her, which I'm sure is entirely genuine-- or at least, he's convinced himself of that. I wonder if he's aware that he also just wants her far far away from any other man. And then omg Nas appears, interrupting their private moment (I love the look they exhange like they're not quite ready to let go of their connection just yet) and lol I just love that this single moment is like a total metaphor for Nas' involvement in this show, her very presence interrupting their progress back towards one another. Ugh. But anyway sidenote, it looks like when they head to the lab they actually all head back in the direction they had just come from in the first place?? Unless I got all turned around while I was focusing too closely on Jeller's intense eye contact lol, I mean that’s certainly a possibility

Anyhow they head into the lab and there's a conspicuous absence-- Reade is nowhere to be seen, which is no surprise to us, because that dude has become flakier than old paint, but it is to Weller, who has been a little too distracted in the recent weeks to have the team totally in grip like he used to. And luckily for Reade, he has Zapata to cover for him, who gives a hurried excuse of train delays. Ah, transport troubles. An oldie but a goodie. Patterson unwittingly helps by just getting straight down to business, directing all their attention to a photo of Jane's hip and thigh, meaning that they all have a clear view of the curve of her butt as well. I wonder if Jane is so used to this team seeing her body that she just doesn't even register the invasiveness of it anymore? Does Weller ever feel weird about looking so clinically and professionally at something that he would very much like to look at in a non-work setting?? But anyhow. I love that when Patterson's talking about the tattoo being a coin that has the date 1776, a hint of sarcasm creeps into her voice as she says 'the birth of our great nation'. I hope Ashley herself put that slight inflection (and social commentary) on it. Also yay Rich gets a small shoutout since he recognised the symbol from the center of the coin, which relates to some smuggler dude. I hope he’s happy back in whatever prison he’s in. And then there’s some complicated puzzle-solving involving another related tattoo that points them to some fancy medical clinic/heatlh spa thing. Jane reads the Greek off the tattoo because of course she can, and when she asks how it all ties together, Patterson quips, "It's all Greek to me!" and looks at big bro Weller with like an 'eh? eh??' expression. He's not amused, but dw Patterson, because we are. You're the cutest and it's great to see you getting your humour back. And then Weller decides they need to all split up-- a team to talk to some dude that has a connection to the smuggler, a team to check out the medispa, and a team to stay behind and coordinate everything and chase other leads as they arise. Naturally Patterson is the latter, and he pairs Jane and Tasha (yaaaaaasssss) to talk to the dude, but then rather than taking Nas with him to the medispa, he says he'll be taking Roman instead. I love that everyone's like 'whaaaaa?', especially us lol. And then he says that he got a call from Pellington threatening to give Roman to the CIA unless he starts giving them useful info and ugh I so want to know if that's true or if he just made it up so no one would try to fight him on his decision to take Roman on the mission?? Zapata's kinda against it but not firmly against it like she would have been a couple of weeks ago, and I'm super interested to see how she and Jane will work together given their conflicting opinions over Roman and their rocky relationship in the past. I have high hopes for some quality bonding time so please don’t let me down, show 

Ooh we're doing another timejumping episode like the college shooting one back in S1. Tasha is leaving a (well deserved) angry voicemail for Reade  while Jane delivers Roman to Weller and tells Weller to be safe out there. Which is her telling him to look out for both her brother and for himself and ugh I love being back to a place where these two are allowed to openly care about each other again rather than pretending like they don’t. And then naww speaking of caring, Jane checks to make sure Zapata is okay when she hears her sounding upset on the phone. Ugh yaaaayyy at them being friends aain. And then ugh they work together so well as they interrogate the prisoner guy (sidenote, I love the way Zapata says her own name. It’s hot.) and they're just so in sync and so great and just ugh. And then when they come out of the room Jane tentatively asks about Reade-- she knows something is going on and she wants to help because she cares. But she also knows that Zapata is protective of Reade and might push her away for pyring and ugh my little baby Jane just wants all of her family to be safe and happy and ughhhh she's the sweetest. I'm glad Zapata doesn't lash out, she just plays it off as no big deal, saying he just slept in. Jane knows it's not true but accepts it anyway (after making it clear she would help if help was needed). And then a new lead comes in and so they head out-- and omg Zapata is the one to reach out first, admitting it's kinda nice having Jane with her instead of Reade for a change, and then making sure she knows that she doesn't have anything against Roman anymore, she’s just worried about his former Sandstorm ties. Whaaaat. Zapata noticing that Jane is quiet/possibly upset and makes an effort to sort-of apologise to try to make her feel better? Amazing. And then Jane is honest with her about what's really bothering her-- that Weller (who is almost exclusively 'Kurt' to her these days ugh) warned her about trusting Oliver and risk of ties to sandstorm. And omg Zapata's immediate response is 'ooooh you're seeing someone?" and ugh I KNEW the ~supportive girlfriends~ connection between them was still in there. My beautiful supportive lady friends are back. She's happy for Jane, though she acknowledges that it's possible Weller has a point. And then omg they bond over the impossibility of having a life outside the job and Zapata tells Jane about her grandparents’ love story and how she has being single down to a science (me too girl, me toooo) and UGH THE BONDINGGGGGG THIS IS EVERYTHIG I'VE EVR WANTED. Anyway they arrive at the auction house place and tbh I love how small Zapata looks in this ep?? She's such a teeny pocket rocket haha. Then the blonde lady who just sounded very stressed on the phone shows them through to the back area (literally guys it's hard for anyone to believe that you're just two random peeps looking for a coin for Jane's 'dad'. You both have ~Badass Warrior Woman~ written all over you. But lucky they are so badass, because now they're in the middle of a gunfight. Which Jane has literally broguht a knife to. Help, I'm dying over the subtle comedic genius of this writing loll. Also Jane just used that knife to make a dude stab himself in the chest and then she threw him through a window. Good lord, have I mentioned lately how incredible this woman is?? Of course Zapata has held her own very well too, taking out the other dude with a crack shot before the two of them regroup and are like 'what the hell just happened??' lol

Oooh okay we've jumped back to 9am now, where a gorgeous woman is creeping out of Reade's coke-palace, while he pretends to be asleep til the door closes then groggily listens to Tasha's voicemail. Meanwhile, Patterson has been working hard because she's amazing and not flushing her life down the toilet despite the horrible things she’s gone through, and she cracks the tatt just as he gets there. She knows he's lying about his dentist appointment but she’s just like 'whatever bitch let's go, we got bad guys to hunt'. And then lol I love the fact that she's the one driving. She looks so tiny in this huge car. It's probably a good idea though-- are we sure he's sober enough to drive? But anyway she fills him in, and then gets interrupted by a call from Dr Sun, which makes me nervous. No one should be trusting Dr Sun ever. Therapy is great and I fully support it, but please honey go find a nice therapist faaaaaar removed from anything to do with Sandstorm or the FBI or Nas. Like how about my mother?? She'd love to go back to NYC for a while lol. But anyway I appreciate that Reade actually asks her how she's doing and genuinely cares about the answer. He might be living in an emotional trashcan at the moment but he still loves his team. But sigh, for a moment I was hopeful that Patterson's healthy approach to trauma would inspire him but instead he just tries to tell her she needs a night out. No Reade, your form of therapy is not good for anyone. Though I would be supportive of Patterson and Jane and Zapata having a nice little girls’ night in at some point... but anyway my genius baby can tell Reade's off but there's no time for that bc they're at the bad guy's house. But of course he walks up, talking on his phone to the blonde coin lady, just as they're at his door. So now we know who she was talking  to just as Jane and Zapata got there... Also man everyone's life would have been so much easier rn if this was the 80s and no one had mobile phones to coordinate with haha. Still, if Reade had been keeping a proper lookout... and then he gives chase and catches him, but somehow the guy mesmerises him with an emotional speech on hating himself and oh geez. Come on, Reade, you’re better than this. But nope, like an idiot he lowers his gun and is about to get shot when Patterson saves his ass (yeahhh, girl!). Back at the lab, he awkwardly thanks her and she responds by asking him if he's okay and trying to get him to get help with his problems. But of course he's not interested, and then someone comes and interrupts anyway, and now they have info on the smuggler person helping a cartel with something. Also lol Reade shows her a bill he found in that dudes apartment for some building, and its printed on perfectly clean, unfolded paper. Idk how you guys get your bills, but they sure don't look like that after being through the postal system. But anyway they send a raid on the building, finding a bunch of empty beds with handcuffs attached-- and then we see the people chained up in a van with the smuggler guy watching over them. Right, human trafficking it is...

Back to 9am (lol it's like a mini groundhog day for us) and Weller runs into Nas in the corridor, telling her to take backup to her meet while she's all 'yeah, nah' then tells him to watch his back with Roman. Bitch, he's much safer with Roman than he is with you! Ugh. And then Roman and Jane are in the elevator and he's so worried about letting Weller down and not remembering anything and being sent to the CIA and ugh my poor baby puppyyyy. And then naww Jane promises that she won’t let them take him away from her. Also it's interesting that the camera followed Jane there for a minute, showing us what we've already seen, rather than just following directly after Weller and Roman after Jane hands him over. Seemed kind of like unnecessary doubling up. But anyway ugh Roman and Weller getting into their cover outfits and talking about the plan and just overall working together and I'm so happy about it. But not as happy as I am about these GLASSES omg. Weller. Be still my heart. Lol but I’m laughing at “No weapon for me?" "Just act like you have one" bc now I'm picturing Roman with his hand hovering over his hip like a gunslinger, and like a balled up pair of socks shoved under his belt to make a bulge under his jacket hahaha. But then omg Roman thanks him for bringing him out and giving him a chance, and Weller says it's all about getting them closer to Shepherd so they can take sandstorm down and move on, but lbr that's only part of it. Part is that he feels for Roman and what he’s going through. And a big part is his feelings for Jane :P And aww I love that they made up a backstory for Roman, aka the bodyguard who is not even meant to speak. Who's gonna quiz him? Other than Weller, I mean lol. I love these two getting along. And lol "you're security, open the door" haha, he's already behaving like a pampered rich guy. Oooh this place has exactly the same security as the auction house, and the guy has the coin displayed on his desk?? Seems kinda arrogant when it's apparently the symbol of your shady dealings. And then Mr White Teeth gets all distracted by Roman's scar which is stupid bc he would never risk offending a rich client by wasting their time focusing on their bodyguard instead. And then Roman gets pissed and grabs him which earns them a timeout in the meditation room haha. A place that is clearly not very tranquil for Weller bc this time he's the one getting pissed and grabby-- and then Roman smugly presents the key-fob for the restricted area and Weller is all '...damn. I think I like this kid' lol. And then when they sneak into the area, Weller gets a call and the whole team does an adorable little conference call to update each other on what they've found out so far. While they're chatting Roman uses broken medical instruments to pick a lock on a cabinet and while that totally wouldn't work (trust me I'm a lockpick now lol) it's super cute that he opens it and then steps aside like it's an offering to Weller. And then he reappears a moment later with some medical files, allowing Weller to put together the answers-- that the cartel is trafficking people to be used as organ donors at this medispa. Then ta-da, the blonde woman appears, but by the time Roman and Weller get there, she's killed the doc and made a run for it. The badass bros-in-law chase her down and find her-- only to be tazed and kidnapped. Oops.

Back at the NYO, the team is set on finding the boys (especially Jane, which is unsurprising since it's the two people she loves most in the world). Nas has to go to meet her source and everyone is like "k, byeeee" and immediately forget about her the moment she leaves the room. Jane realises that the guy they interrogated earlier must know more than he let on so she and Tasha and Reade lean on him with their new info-- turns out his gf was doing all the trafficking stuff without his knowledge. I kinda feel sorry for the guy. Also I was gonna say he reminded me a little of Lin Manuel Miranda somehow and then I realised that it's because he's from Hamilton haha. Sigh, I will see it someday.... Anywho, he helps them by giving them a location where they can find the truck and therefore rescue the victims and their boys :)

Speaking of which, both Weller and Roman are chained up inside the truck with the others, and Roman is freaking out bc it's giving him flashbacks and ughhh Weller pulls him out of the memory and reassures him and ughhhhh my boys. And then the other prisoners help them figure out a way to escape and we find out Roman can speak Spanish bc he really is Jane’s brother (man I gotta start learning spanish so one day I can just randomly whip it out like that). Anyhow the team is at the site and are all spreading out ready to take down the bad guys and then ugh Jane sees Weller in the truck and there's a second of eye contact and then the team dives into a gunfight with the baddies (bc it's not Blindspot if there's not multiple epic showdowns per ep) and while they're engaged in that, Weller chases down the blonde and Roman goes for the smuggler, and Jane runs after them both bc she's gotta protect her boys. I love that Weller goes all Assassin's Creed and jumps from truck to truck, then pauses as he sees the blonde fleeing one way and Roman fighting a losing battle the other way-- so he directs Tasha and Reade after the woman and dives to Roman's rescue, shooting the bad guy a second before he cuts Roman's throat. And Jane is there a second later and ugh the fear in her voice as she yells Roman’s name and then ugh the way both she and Weller crouch over him ughhhh I know he's her brother but in a way they're both parent-figures to him and ugh I get emotional about it. Meanwhile Tasha and Reade are still searching for the blonde, who shoots Zapata in the freaking back, like seriously how dare she do that to my precious baby. Thank god she was wearing a vest. Reade is as pissed about it as I am, so he shoots the blonde in the back too which has just a hint of poetic justice to it tbh

Ughhhh Jeller finding each other in the hallway and she checks if he's okay and he immediately asks after Roman and she tells him that Roman's fine thanks to what he did (yes boy are you figuring out that the way back to this woman's heart is by caring about and protecting those she cares about?? Which includes yourself btw so no foolish business please). And then awwww he admits that he kinda enjoyed hanging out with Roman and he kinda likes him and she's THE CUTEST as she teases him about playing it cool so he doesn't come on too strong and ugh she jokes about it but I bet that his acceptance and liking of Roman means EVERYTHING to her. And then omg Weller brings up Oliver AGAIN (booooooiiiiii whatre u doingg) and then he tells her that though she should be careful she doesn't have to give up all aspects of her life for this fight and she's all 'so you think I should give him a chance?' (aka 'so you've definitely moved on then?') and he's all 'well that's up to you' (aka 'I literally want every man bar me to stay as far from you as possible but I can't even admit that to myself right now let alone to you so I'm gonna hedge hedge hedge') and then what the HELL is THIS bc he genuinely compliments her about always looking for the best in people and then says that it's ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT HER. ONE OF MULTIPLE FAVOURITE THINGS. ABOUT HER. LORD SAVE ME FROM THIS HELL. AND UGH HER WHISPERED 'thank you' AND THE WAY HE SMILES AT HER WITH THE CRINKLY EYES AND THEN EVEN AS THEY WALK AWAY SHE LITERALLY PAUSES AND ALMOST TURNS BACK AND UGHHHHHH WHAT IS THIS BEAUTIFUL TORTURE I LOVE-HATE IT SO MUCH

Omg then the next thing Jane does is go to Tasha and ask for her help doing a background check on Oliver which is adorable and then they find out he changed his name (so he CHOSE the last name 'Kind'?? Literally what kind of damn pretentious... sigh nevermind) and Zapata tells her not to jump to conclusions about it and Jane just looks at her and is all 'would you' and she's all 'oh yeah' and ughhhhh these two cuties ughhh

Speaking of cute pairs, omg Weller is literally visiting roman in his cell with beers and asking him if he's okay and tells him he did good work and ugh they smile at each other and joke about the spanish thing and then Roman is honest about not wanting to remember the bad things he's done and ugh Weller shares some background on his shitty childhood and ugh LOOK AT THIS BONDING. LOOK AT IT, ANAKIN. And so clearly all the pairs are having a little post-mission ~moment~ rn bc now Patterson and Reade are talking in the locker room and firstly oooh Weller's having some drinks at his place tonight, I bet Jane is gonna be there. Ugh wait I wonder if that's why he brought the beers to Roman, bc he knows he couldn’t let Roman come but he wanted to share the moment with him somehow and ughhh help me. But anyway unlike the sweet bonding of the last two pairs, this is Patterson basically calling Reade out on his shit, which I am SUPER supportive of. Then he gets defensive and says she's being stupid, which I am not at all supportive of. But she ignores him and continues on, making it clear she knows what's going on. And omg she has a brother who's an addict and maaannn this is such fascinating backstory I want to hear 100% about this. But ugh then Reade gets even more defensive and basically tells her to shut up and bugger off and grrrr Reade I am really not a fan of you these days. I miss the Reade that was sweet and sassy and supportive and stupidly in love with Sarah Weller. I loved him, but I really don't like this guy much at all. Sigh.

Speaking of guys I don't like, Oliver shows up at Jane's apartment, and yet again when he speaks I'm reminded of that terrible terrible accent of his. But sigh I will acknowledge that he's kinda sweet and they are cute with their little hand-holding thing and whatever. But oooh she goes for it an asks him about the name change and he gets pisssssseeedddd. Lbr there's probably going to be some completely legit reason for it like he had a really terrible family situation or whatever, but lbr I don't really care bc it means it got him out of her apartment (a dinner-at-home date seems like the prime situation for some lovin', so I'm very glad that it crashed and burned lol)

Aaaand speaking of crashing and burning, the basically-forgotten Nas has reached her meet-point and is now being garrotted. Oh well. But then lbr we all know she doesn’t die so no point in getting excited. Er, I mean ‘worried’...