#i can feel the motion sickness from the take off and landing already Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[onlyswan]

summary: in which jungkook won’t tell you what’s wrong and you get emotional motion sickness.

> angst, fluff / wc: 2.6k

> warnings: poor oc is hungry but gets nauseous from watching jk play mirror’s edge, one (1) ass slap, tearsss but i just love this couple very much T_T

note: my last post for the year, a humble gift from my heart <3 i hope you carry even a tiny piece of it with you to 2023 and always remember to treat yourself with the same kindness you give to your loved ones <3 i love you all :]

—

you muffle a groan, burying your face into the pillow underneath your head. jungkook switched between five games in two hours, and it seems that he ended up settling with mirror’s edge because he’s been playing it for almost an hour already.

you can confirm that your boyfriend is stronger than you in many different aspects, because you genuinely don’t understand how he’s not getting motion sickness from playing this game while you, the lone audience, has been battling with it the entire time. but most of all, because it looks like he can hold out on you for a long time, and even if your life depended on it, you can’t do the same to him.

you turn your head just enough to take a peek. his back is facing you from the foot of the bed. it’s been your view since you arrived in his room, along with the 50-inch television infront of him. you argued that he’s sitting too close to the screen again, but he only brushed you off with a quick it’s just for today, and he hasn’t spoken a word to you since.

not being able to physically meet for periods of time is normal in your relationship, but the less frequent communication from your boyfriend for the past two weeks has been concerning you. you don’t like it. you don’t like the shorter phone calls, and the fewer to no text messages. you don’t like his avoidant eyes, his dismissive words, and when he dismisses you altogether. you don’t like the gnawing feeling of something is wrong and i need to fix this when you’re completely clueless, lying on his cold bed by yourself.

when you catch him taking a break to drink water, you seize the opportunity to snatch away his controller. your knees sink on the mattress, and you slightly lose balance as you fall back on your bottom.

he reacts quickly, trapping you in between his arms to steal it from behind your back, but the rough complaint melts on his tongue when your eyes properly meet for the first time in what feels like forever.

“are you mad at me? did i do something wrong?”

jungkook’s heart drops to his stomach, his facial features softening at the sight of your glassy eyes begging for answers. despite this, you still can’t get a good grasp on what’s running in his mind. and it’s killing you.

“no, why would i be mad at you?”

“i don’t know! that’s why i’m asking.” you answer frustratedly, gripping the controller in your hand tighter. “we haven’t seen each other in weeks and you’ve been acting like i don’t exist since i came here. it’s already dinnertime and i’m hungry and upset and i- i fucking miss you.”

you chase his eyes as you speak but he takes a step back to recreate distance between the two of you.

“it’s not like that. i’ve just been distracted with playing.”

a scoff of hurt and disbelief escapes your mouth, his words and actions only adding salt to your unattended wounds. “are you being serious right now? do you even want me here?”

when jungkook realizes the stupidity of the excuse he came up with, it’s already too late. he’s just been jumping from game to game, running around aimlessly, avoiding the root of your present argument like a fool. the foreign expression of hurt on your face sends him scrambling to fix what the damage he caused.

“of course- of course, i do. that’s why i agreed that you should visit. because i miss you too.”

his desperate hold on your arms gets shrugged off when the controller lands on his lap, with you muttering, “well, it doesn’t feel like it.”

“baby-”

“it’s okay. go play your games. just wake me up when you’re ready to have a real conversation with me, okay?”

you crawl back to your side of the bed, tucking the blanket up to your shoulders and burying your face in the soft cotton. it does its job in encaging you in your own little bubble, but the smell of cozy baby powder snaps the thread of resolve you’ve been recklessly balancing on. tears drip from your eyes and stain the grey blanket shades darker. and you silently pray he would just continue playing his damn game already so crying would feel less suffocating.

“but you said you’re hungry, baby. let me make you something.” he coos, his big palm stroking your calf lovingly to coax you.

oh, so now he wants to be sweet and attentive?

“does that mean you’re ready to talk?”

and you’re met by the silence that you’ve come to recognize all too well.

“then nevermind. i already lost my appetite anyway.”

“okay,” he responds after a few beats, his lips replacing his palm on your naked calf for a chaste, feather-light kiss. and you want to scream because the intimacy of it all only makes the yearning for his love, his attention, and god, his presence, swallow you whole.

it’s difficult to have a fight when you’re the only one fighting.

you take the opportunity to wipe away your tears and sniffle as quietly as possible when the loud footsteps and grunts of his character fill the room again. but you couldn’t bear to watch another second of the game. you quickly pull back the blanket over your eyes, the nausea creeping its way back into your system and rendering you imprisoned underneath the covers. soon enough, you slip into a slumber.

jungkook exits the game after fifteen minutes. after that small altercation, he just couldn’t get into it anymore. the little butterfly sticker you put in the middle of the controller made it impossible for his mind to focus on anything else but patching things up with you. you designed the controller because it’s the one you always use when you play together, claims it’s the luckier one, and these days he finds himself instinctively reaching for it when he plays alone.

you’ve been leaving these pieces of you all over his life. you already told him that you’re in this for the long run. what is he so afraid of?

“baby, are you really asleep?” he whispers with his elbow anchored on the bed and the heel of his palm supporting his head. after gaining no response, he carefully lifts off the blanket from your face.

his lips curve into a frown as he traces your puffy eye with the pad of his thumb. making you cry is exactly what he’s been wanting to avoid, but it seems that this served as a lesson on what not to do instead. he created another problem in the process of concealing existing problems, and he hates himself for not considering your feelings firsthand.

he kisses your forehead, creating a light smacking noise as he does so, before whispering once more. “would you get angrier if i don’t wake you up? i feel bad about disturbing your sleep.”

“i would.” your eyelids slowly flutter open, droopy eyes staring directly at his wide, doe ones. “now, care to tell me why you’ve been ghosting me?”

it’s only been over a month since you said i love you for the first time, and the paranoia of what if he realized that he doesn’t want this relationship anymore will continue to keep you up at night unless you confront him about it today. as much as his answer scares the shit out of you.

“i messed up. i’m sorry. that wasn’t my intention.”

jungkook sighs heavily, sitting up on the bed and resting his back on the headboard to gather himself together. you’re always straightforward— you’re not afraid to ask for what you want. he knows he already said it before, but ultimately, this was the reason why he gravitated towards you. you’re a breath of fresh air. but on the other hand, he’s used to putting his best foot forward. it’s always about what they would be pleased to see, because if he shows them something they don’t like, he would get eaten alive. that’s just how he makes a living and how he keeps his passions within reach.

“then what were you trying to do, jungkook?”

but now that you’re sitting by his side, the anxiety he’s been fostering in his mind is starting to look ridiculous. how could this lovely human being wrapped in a blanket, adorably scowling at him, ever eat him alive? if anything, you would share the blanket with him and build a fire to keep him warm.

“things at work are just- they’re really a mess right now. it’s always been like that but it’s a different type of overwhelming and i’m scared because . . .” he pauses when he feels his voice faltering due to his emotions crashing like tidal waves along the rocky shore. he may not be able to look at your eyes right now but instead, he holds on to your hand resting on his thigh.

“what if we’re flying too high too fast because we’re being set up to crash? i didn’t- no, it’s just . . . if i talked to you in the past two weeks, i would’ve just complained about how i’m having a hard time over and over again and i would cry, or worse, make you cry.”

“yah! what’s wrong with complaining and crying?” you scold him in a whiny tone, wiping his tears away with the back of your hand while your own freely stream down your face. “you’re a human being above everything else. you have the right to feel your feelings. if you don’t, they will pile up and the weight of it will break you.”

jungkook’s head falls on your shoulder. he sobs softly as his tears soak through the material of your shirt, and the scene breaks your heart so painfully that it’s difficult to breathe. your fingers comb through his hair tenderly, and your hand pulls away from his to wipe off the tears on his chin.

“don’t treat me like a stranger. please. i love you. i know i won’t fully understand everything you’re going through because we lead different lives, but we can still share the weight of it, and we can cry it out together. won’t you let me do that? won’t that make you feel even a little better?”

when he lifts up his head, you’re surprised to see a small smile playing on his lips. you blink at him blankly in confusion.

“you’re not pranking me right now, are you?”

“no! why would you think tha-”

“if you want to break up, just tell me directly like a real man would!”

he panics. “no, no, no!” he catches your furious fists pounding at his torso, holding them securely to his chest to calm you down. “baby! listen- that’s the last thing i want!”

you cease your attack, chest heaving as you wait for him to explain himself. alright, you may not eat him alive but you sure can fight him.

“it’s just funny because i remembered that the hyungs said i should talk to you because you’re the only person i listen to.”

you look at him suspiciously, giving up your futile attempts on escaping from his firm hold. “well, were they right?”

“they were. they tried talking to me too, but i couldn’t shake off the fear of breaking down infront of you.” his grip on your wrists loosens. he peppers your knuckles with kisses before releasing you altogether. “turns out that’s exactly what i needed. my heart feels so much lighter. thank you.”

you climb on his lap quietly, hanging on to him like a koala bear, with your limbs wrapped around his waist and neck. you’ve been dying to embrace him again since the moment you watched him drive away from your apartment more than two weeks ago. you regret that you didn’t stay in his arms for at least ten seconds longer despite knowing that he wouldn’t have the time to meet up with you again in the near future.

“are you crying again?“ he asks worriedly after hearing you sniffle.

“i really thought you were trying to break up with me. i had no idea what i did.”

“i’m sorry. i’m sorry-” your cheek is granted with an apologectic kiss. “it was an asshole move.” and then your temple. “i wasn’t thinking straight. i’m sorry, baby. i promise all my free time is yours again.”

he gives a final kiss on the top of your head before resting his cheek on it, rubbing your back with gentleness. he blinks them away when tears also start filling his eyes again, but he only made it easier for them to fall.

“lean on me. use me. i want to be there when you need me the most, okay?” you pat his cheek softly, connecting your lips with his but it doesn’t even last for five seconds because-

“i can’t even make out with my boyfriend in peace.” you grit your teeth in irritation as you tug your bag closer by its straps. you lazily dish out your ringing phone from the pocket. after seeing who the caller is, you opt with setting your ringer in silent to let the call remain unanswered.

it’s the group leader in one of your on-going school projects, and you’re 100% sure he’s going to beg you to do another groupmate’s share of work because he’s not satisfied with them again. unfortunately, you’re not in the mood to be compassionate today.

“my love?”

“hmmm?” you hum absentmindedly as you scroll through the notifications from the group chat.

“why is my shampoo in your bag?”

“oh-” you smile hesitantly as scrunch your nose, eyes landing on the two bottles of shampoo nestled in the corner of your unzipped bag. “please forgive me. i wasn’t thinking straight either.”

“that doesn’t really explain anything.” he rolls his eyes jokingly.

“well- uhm- when i went to pee earlier, i thought there was a big chance i would walk out of your house broken up with you. then i remembered that you went to like ten stores to look for that shampoo when you ran out ‘cause it’s the best one you tried when you had bleached hair . . .”

the smile on his face gradually fades as the realization dawns on him.

“and you also told me that the production already got discontinued-“

“so if we broke up and you were angry at me, you would’ve stolen my shampoo?!” he exclaims, flabbergasted by your simple yet deliberate plan on delivering revenge. “how is that not thinking straight-”

“but for the record, i realized that i would feel guilty since you bleach your hair a lot so i wasn’t going to go through with it!” you abruptly defend yourself, taking out the bottles of shampoo and handing them over to him to strengthen your claims.

he tosses them aside to hold your waist, chuckling in amusement when you cutely pout at him. that’s what you always do when you try to get away with something. oh my god, he missed your face so much.

“why? if i was really planning to ghost you into a breakup then i would’ve deserved worse.”

“but you won’t do that to me.”

“mhm-mm. never.”

“and from now on you’re going to complain and cry to me when you’re struggling.”

he eagerly nods in agreement. “i promise. i love you.”

“i love you.” you give him a kiss on the lips before climbing off his lap to reach for the controller he left on the edge of the bed. “now i want to play fifa.”

he playfully slaps your ass, which doesn’t elicit a reaction from you because honestly, you expected nothing less.

“sure, but shouldn’t we eat first? it’s almost 7pm.”

you groan internally when the thought of food, and your boyfriend’s exquisite cooking at that, remains unappetizing. “you can eat first, babe. watching you play mirror’s edge really made me feel sick.”

—

taglist! @alanniys @jjkeverlast @queenofdragonsandcats @yvesismywife @enhypenslay @cramseys @witchfqllen @virgogentlejk @rkie @jeonwiixard @monilyv @bermudaisy @ameliejeannelaurent @takochelle @the1921-monsters @investedreader @seagulljk @yeow6n @yoonqkiss @hopeworldjimin @lllucere @unnatae @zqynmlk @bxbyyyjocelyn @zkdlllin @koostarcandy @tswisal1 @fragmentof-indifference @laylasbunbunny @jjk-jeongirl @cherishoshi @taexidriver @luaspersona @yn-lifeu @loveejkk + send an ask / dm if you want to be added (or removed) :D

[overtaken-stream]

3 Years Younger

Ryota Miyagi x F!Reader

I can't get the movie out of my head

Warnings: family(you have a kid), hurt/comfort maybe?

``This sucks.``

Your eyes glance over to the head of the table to meet a grumpy preteen with an angry pout as he stubbornly looks to the side, avoiding yours and his father's eyes. The movements that follow the kid's... opinion are slow, almost in slow motion for both you and your spouse. You both pause to look at each other with wide eyes. Ryota is in the middle of a bite that never makes it to his mouth while you have put your fork down on the cake-covered plate. You can feel Ryota's confusion in your gut, the quiet question of "What brought this on?" Like you have any answers. You raise an eyebrow at him, silently urging him to question the kid's statement, which he does.

``What sucks?`` Ryota throws an uncertain glance at you when the kid puffs up.

``This!`` You desperately hold in a smile as Ryota's eyebrow rises at the childs vague answer and a raise of tone. ``I'm sick of having strawberry cake every time some event rolls around!`` The sentence turns into a whine near the end. ``You don't even gimme the last slice of the cake that I know you eat dad!—``

You quickly suck in the air as you look at your beloved with the expression resembling Mona Lisa, a wicked upturn of lips that mock his form finally caught in the act.

``I do not eat the last slice of cake!—``

``You always eat the strawberries too! What if I want some!?``

``Well, you should have asked then. Stop falsely accusing me, young man.``

Their banter quickly comes to a stop, and so the awkward air of the aftermath hangs heavily over the men. Your eyes look for something to defuse the tension. Eventually, they land on the white chocolate slate on the round cake. You quickly rise from the chair to reach and steal it off the strawberry that balances it, while Ryota is busy glaring at the side of the kids head.

Kenzō likes the taste of chocolate.

The English letters on the slate congratulate you with chocolate swirls around the syllables. Your digits squeeze and tug the piece downward until you successfully break it through the middle. The soft sound draws Ryota's gaze to you. Staring at your outstretched hand, you wave the sweet to urge him to take it. Yet as his fingers hold the fragile first piece of chocolate, he contemplates crushing it. He could never find the sweet taste as delicious after his... passing. The off-white color reminds him of a bitter, cloudy day—a memory he can only live with because forgetting it won't bring him any closure.

<<HAPPY RYOTA>> his name reads under the adjective. Starring at his sons second half that you gave after leaving him with his— <<BIRTHDAY>> on top and <<&KENZŌ>> lies unfinished.

He puts the slate back on Kenzō's piece of cake, completing the sentence as the child speaks up.

``...I wanna do somethin' different.``

``... Then.`` Ryota looks at you, unsure of the next sentence.``Would you like to go to the beach?``

When you both decided to settle down, the choice to stay close to his mother was mutually agreed upon, Though the house is mostly empty because of Ryota's career choice, it isn't exactly rare for your family to travel overseas.

Anyway, the property is close to the beach, which means it is also not uncommon for your family to be seen there playing in the sea or wandering around during the colder days.

The furrowed brows on Kenzō are nothing but a false mask to conceal his mood as he turns to his father and softly nods, hopping off the chair and into his room to get his swimsuit. You won't really need much to prepare for the sudden change of plans.

Silly boy.

With that you put the used plates away and into the sink as Ryota gets an extra plate from the cabinet before cutting a thin slice of the cake into the comfortable silence, you watch as he nudges the slice to land on the white porcelain plate. This has become a tradition of sorts. Perhaps it already was before you became his girlfriend. You're looking through the cabinets for a cover.

After all, three people in your family have their birthdays on the same day.

``Do we have something to wrap this in?``

You hand him a pink see-through bag.

``This will have to do.``

``Mhm.`` Ryota notes.

It's soon after that your family starts heading towards a bitter place, containing no good memories, though, forever tied to you and Ryota. Inside the car, Kenzō makes a few comments here and there, asking where you're headed, before quieting down once you've satisfied his curiosity. It's not a shock that he doesn't know the road. You and your husband don't come here often, not since your son was born.

The heartache has long passed. However, the scar still lives on in Ryota's mind, tightening during his hardest struggles. He wishes to get the deed done quickly and quietly, not thinking much of it since there's not much left for his thoughts to digest. He had years dedicated to that process. Now, all that's left is the cold aftertaste.

The ambiance outside seems louder than the music he has turned on in the car. It's enough to get his mind off of the guilt until the familiar gate comes into view.

Within minutes, he is walking with his left hand holding onto the bag containing a slice of cake, while his right hand engulfs Kenzō's tiny palm. It's an adorable sight compared to the surroundings. The green leaves and the enchanting melodies of chirping birds around here can never truly comfort someone. They can only cradle the choking feelings, sowing hope for the next day.

The Miyagi family monument sits still, stone dusty and heavy with the heart of an older brother. It's not anyone's favorite place to visit, but in a twisted way, it brings about a sense of peace—a realm that only the drowned and his family can understand. Others can only enter and see nothing but a stone with its harsh surface.

The cake slice is put in the place of a flower. It's a tradition.

Prayers come as the pink bag rattles with movement. Quiet overtakes your family as you join his left side to pray for a boy who you never saw outside of the washed out photos, wrinkled by the time they spend sealed away in a box under your shared bed.

Kenzō can stay still for only so long before looking up at Ryota with his palms together and eyes closed.

``What if he doesn't want the cake?`` The loud exhale exits Ryota's nose, it's not from annoyance, nor frustration.

``Then someone else who does want it will eat it.``

Kenzō turns his head to the stone monument, tightening his grip on his dad's pants for a second before letting it go.

A quiet, almost shy murmur from him slices through the air, and this time, Ryota looks down at Kenzō.

``I hope he enjoys it.``

``...I do too.`` With a fragile smile, Ryota rests his hand on the boy's hair while throwing an arm around your shoulders. ``Well, we should go now, huh? The water gets colder the later it gets.``

It's barely 1PM. You are not going to mention that, though.

His palm messed with Kenzō's hair, causing the child to whine from the rough treatment and slap at the wrist, but to no avail. Ryota and you can only smile at each other. He carries the same boyish smile from high school that still manages to fill you with warmth and certainty.

The burden seems to lift off your shoulders, untwisting your gut as his pupils focus on you. His palm gently caresses your face, ignoring the squirming child on his right side as you make it back to the car in a lighter mood.

"I love you." You say it subconsciously.

"I love you too.—" His lips kiss near the corner of your mouth. It's his favorite place to be affectionate to aside from—

"I love mom more than you! Agh—" The ride to the beach is accompanied by countless karaoke numbers from Kenzō, you and Ryota also join in on some of them, singing along with a smile as his enthusiasm becomes contagious.

The ocean seemed warmer that day, the waves exceptionally calm, and the sand softer.

Ryota, and you make sure to do something more special for Kenzō the next time around.

[inkweedandlizards]

Fanfic? Fanfic!

So the draft title for this is blood soup, please be warned, there is more blood then soup, lol. Basically TK suffers a kitchen accident and Carlos has to Deal.

I haven't written fic in 20 years so feedback is very welcome, please be nice though, I may crumble to dust. 😅

(I'm very serious about there being a lot of blood, this is your final warning! also injury description, I should warn for that too)

-----

Carlos stirs the simmering stock slowly, absent-mindedly moving his head along to the quiet sound of TKs playlist blending with the rhythmic thud of his husband dicing the carrots with Carlos's new kitchen knife.

They're making soup tonight. A muffled sneeze interrupts his concentration and Carlos sighs, TK was still in the denial stage of being sick and insisted in helping with dinner.

They'd been debating whether TK had seasonal allergies or Nancy's cold as they worked when TK had gotten quiet a few minutes ago, voice giving out, the only sound from him now is the badly concealed sneezing.

"How about you go sit down and we can have dinner on the couch?"

Another sneeze answers his question, followed by a pulse of hot liquid splattering across Carlos's nape, landing in his curls, gross. As he goes to wipe it off, he turns to TK to force the issue but freezes, the words dying on his lips at what it truly is.

It's blood. Bight red, like the artificial cherry slushies TK loves, it's arterial.

Carlos follows the blood splatter to the source and the sight is one he'll never forget. There's a 3 inch gash in TKs trembling forearm, the edges gaping wide, exposing the inside, yellow fat and white bone and blood, so much blood, it pulses with each heartbeat, splattering across the island counter in a sea of red.

Thier eyes met in stunned silence, TKs bright with pain in his rapidly paling face. Another spray jerks TK into motion, the knife clattering to the floor, adrenaline masking the pain as he switches into work mode, grabbing a towel and covering the wound, unsteadily moving towards his phone to call for help before shock sets in.

Carlos remains frozen, his body feels heavy, he can't breathe, he feels strangely detached, the ringing in his ears growing louder as he numbly watches TK apply bruising force to the wound, his knuckles going white around the towel, he's trying desperately to clench the cut closed, to keep his blood where it belongs, it's not enough.

"I need a tourniquet-"

The desperate urgency in TKs voice slams Carlos back into his body with the brutal realisation that he's watching his husband uncontrollably bleed out in thier kitchen.

Carlos's crouching down to pull open the doors beneath the sink before he can register that he's even moved, hands tearing through thier oversized first aid kit for what TK needs, he's falling into work mode as well to keep functioning, to keep from thinking, to keep TK alive.

1 and a half minutes, 90 seconds, if Carlos remembers his training correctly, that's how short it takes to bleed out from an open arterial injury, he can do this, he has too, where the fuck is it.

TKs stopped moving, body swaying, he's trying to use his phone as Carlos searches, unable to do more then pause the playlist, hands uncoordinated and bloody. The towel in TKs grip is soaked red, past its saturation point, dripping blood onto the cement floor, pooling next to Carlos.

There!

Gripping the tourniquet in triumph, Carlos pivots in his crouch towards TK and watches the towel slip from TK numb fingers to land as thier feet, his phone following suit, his husband's face is chalk white, verging into grey, he looks halfway to death already.

TK's eyelids flutter closed as his body gives out, falling as the next pulse of blood goes wide without pressure, covering thier kitchen cabinetry like a cheap horror movie, Carlos catches him before he can hit his head on the counter, lowering him to lay flat on the floor.

The tourniquet is still in Carlos's hand and now TKs life is too.

"Stay with me, Tyler,"

-----

[courtney-deserved-better]

my fair lady: part nine - a gwourtney choose your own adventure!

(part one | part two | part three | part four | part five | part six | part seven | part eight) (read on ao3)

i'm going to be completely offline from 3/16-3/26 so i'm extending this poll to be a week instead of a day. here's part nine!

Gwen quickly sticks her foot out in front of Heather.

“Ack!”

Thump!

As Gwen tries to keep running, Heather grabs her ankle.

“Argh!”

Thump!

“If you’re going to try and lose the challenge, can you at least do it more subtly?” Heather hisses.

Oh thank God, she thinks I tripped her to delay our progress, not because I definitely don’t want to have a conversation about any romantic feelings toward Courtney—of which there are none! None!!!

“This is why you don’t run in heels, Heather,” Gwen says loudly, as the rest of her team jogs back over to her and Heather’s fallen forms.

Heather ignores the hand Alejandro offers her and stands up. “You’re wearing boots, what’s your excuse?”

“It was probably just the cobblestones,” Courtney says, pulling Gwen to her feet. “Now c’mon, we’ve gotta beat Team Chris to the spire!”

The team takes off running, Gwen very aware of how Courtney has not let go of her hand since she helped her up. Once they get inside the Tower, Courtney leads them up.

And up.

And up.

“I am not—” wheeze “—made—” wheeze “—for stairs,” Noah pants, stopping to lean against the wall of the landing. “You guys go ahead… I’ll catch up to you… gotta catch my breath first… don’t like playing catch…”

“Okay, bye,” Courtney says, beginning to run further up the stairs.

“Wait!” Alejandro calls. “Chris said Jack the Ripper is also hunting us. Leaving one person alone is bound to get them captured.”

“So stay and babysit Noah!” Heather says, following Courtney up the stairs.

Gwen shrugs and lets Courtney keep pulling her up. “See you guys in a bit.”

Stairs. Stairs. More stairs. And then—

Courtney gasps as she leads Gwen and Heather into a dismal room.

“Oh my gosh! This is the very room Anne Boleyn lived in before Henry VIII beheaded her!”

“Is this a medieval torture chamber?” Gwen asks, looking around at all the strange devices. “Sick!”

“I think you mean sickening,” Heather says.

“That’s an Iron Maiden,” Gwen says, pointing at the different devices, “that’s a breaking wheel, that’s a thumbscrew—”

“And that’s a rack,” Courtney says, pointing to the prominent table-like structure in the middle of the room.

Heather shudders. “Ick. You two deserve each other.”

“What?” Courtney asks.

Before Heather can respond, Chef emerges from the shadows, dressed as a medieval torturer.

“The clue’s inside,” he says, pointing to the rack. “If you wanna get it, you better tie someone on and stretch!”

“I nominate Heather,” Gwen immediately.

“I second that motion.”

“Hey!”

Alejandro chooses that moment to burst through the door, carrying Noah in his arms bridal style. He slams the door shut and the boys slide to the ground in a crumpled heap.

“…Hello?” Courtney says.

Heather frowns. “What was that about?”

“Ripper,” Alejandro wheezes, panting heavily. “Came after us. Barely got away.”

“I hate the British,” Noah adds helpfully. “What’s going on up here?”

Gwen jabs a thumb at the rack. “We gotta stretch someone to get the clue.”

“Gwen nominated Heather,” Courtney says gleefully.

“I think we should stretch you,” Heather says.

“Absolutely not! I’m the reason we made it here before Team Chris, who certainly doesn’t have a tour guide. And I already got whipped by you in the Yukon!”

“Fine, then let’s stretch Noah. He’s the reason half our team almost got caught.”

“I’m with Gwen on this one,” Noah says. “Stretch Heather.”

Courtney rubs her chin. “Alejandro is the tallest…”

“So you want to make me taller?”

“Does it work like that?”

“Come on!” Chef yells. “Just pick someone already!”

[heydorothea009]

Bread on Toast - A Future Man Fanfiction

Josh Futturman and his fellow coworker and best friend, Liv Branson, get roped into saving the world as time traveling saviors with, what were thought to be, video game characters, Wolf and Tiger. Not only are Liv and Josh completely incompetent, but they are also emotionally inept- will this cause the destruction of mankind? Only time will tell.

Warnings: strong language, Wolf does cocaine, mentions of violence

Chapter 3: A Fuel’s Errand

Tiger and Wolf had no trouble lugging Carl’s corpse down the stairwell, but Josh and Liv were stumbling down the stairs, carrying what’s her name’s corpse as both of their panic set in.

“Oh my God, oh my God, shit, holy shit, oh my God-“ Liv repeated over and over, her mind racing.

“SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT-“ Josh was yelling over her.

“Stop shitting!” Tiger yelled at him as her and Wolf took a sharp turn down the stairs.

“Why didn’t the game say they were human?!” Josh asked frantically.

“We didn’t want to humanize them!” Tiger shouted.

“What’s with the nutsack faces?”

“It’s a biomembrane, it helps them heal faster! Why’d you block our shot?” Tiger responded harshly.

“Oh my God, these are people we fucking work with.” Josh didn’t answer Tiger’s question.

“They’re barely human, they’re grown in labs!” Wolf yelled.

“Why the FUCK did you block our shot?” Tiger shouted again, growing more frustrated with Josh.

“Because killing Kronish won’t help! Okay? His research is already out there, the cure could come from anywhere!” Josh said.

“Yeah, thanks to you two dick weevils.” Wolf grumbled.

“Are there more of these things?” Liv finally spoke up through her shock of having to touch a dead body.

“Of course! They’re sleeper agents, they knew we came back to 2017 and they sent them earlier to hide in plain sight.” Tiger explained, clearly annoyed that Josh and Liv didn’t know this information.

“That’s kinda cool I guess,” Josh said in a strained voice.

“Let’s just leave ‘em here.” Wolf suggested, letting Carl’s body slump to the ground. Tiger let go too and Carl landed flat on his face.

“What? No! We can’t just leave these dead bodies here?!” Josh shook his head frantically. “You also can’t leave anything from the future in the past, it will fuck things up! It seriously could fuck up your future, come on guys! This is time travel 101! We have to get rid of them!”

Tiger leaned her elbows on the railing and shot a glance over at Wolf, who looked equally as frustrated and understanding as she did. “Okay fine, then how do we get rid of them.”

Josh opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked at Liv for some help, but she looked like she might throw up at any moment. Then it hit him. “I…I think I know how…”

“The possum incinerator?” Liv asked in a deadpan voice as Josh led everyone (including the dead bodies) into the possum incinerator room. Kronish Labs studied possum semen instead of human semen as a more “humane” way of finding a cure, even though it wasn’t very “humane”.

“How many possums do you kill here?” Wolf asked, genuinely intrigued.

“Enough that we needed to get this possum incinerator.” Josh said, opening the hatch. “People don’t come down here very often though, I don’t think.”

“It’s pretty small, we’ll have to cut up the bodies…let’s get to work.” Tiger motioned for the bodies to be put on the table.

It was a bloodbath. Wolf and Tiger were disassembling the bodies in front of Liv and Josh’s eyes. Liv stood in horror. Josh looked on the scene looking scared, but not as scared as Liv. He was becoming familiar with what Tiger and Wolf were capable of.

“I don’t think I can watch this anymore.” Josh turned his head, feeling sick.

“Hey,” Tiger grabbed his face, the blood on her hands rubbing off on his cheeks and chin. Liv was about to agree with him, but kept quiet, she didn’t want blood on her face too. “You need to watch this, you and this girl need to know how to take down these perfs for when you run into one again.”

Josh tensed up as he felt the wet blood touch his face. “This girl is named Liv and she’s my friend and you’re scaring her. And what the hell is a perf?”

“We call these genetically perfect assholes perfs.” Wolf hurled Carl’s torso into the incinerator. “Not so perfect anymore!” He jeered.

“What was this girl’s name?” Tiger hoisted up the girl neither Josh or Liv could remember the name of.

“I don’t know, Liv?” Josh asked quietly.

“I-I don’t remember.” Liv said at an even quieter volume.

“I just always called her ‘Pretty Smile Girl’.” Josh said. If the situation wasn’t so horrifying, Liv would have found the way he’d said it adorable.

“They’re all fucking pretty, they’re Biotics!” Tiger snapped. “You stab Pretty Smile Girl in the liver? That’s a kill. Stab Pretty Smile Girl in the heart? That’s a fucking kill. But you’ll wanna be real careful with Pretty Smile Girl’s head.”

“Can we please leave Pretty Smile Girl’s head alone?” Josh had to look away. Liv wanted to look away but couldn’t, seeing Pretty Smile Girl’s head swing around in unnatural ways was so deeply unsettling that she couldn’t help but watch in terror.

“No,” Wolf growled, strutting over to Tiger and Pretty Smile Girl’s corpse with some kind of device. “Every Biotic soldier has a brain bomb implanted in their head, makes it explode so they can’t be interrogated.” He held the device over her neck and the device beeped. Wolf pulled out something the size of a pen and stabbed it into her neck. Liv gagged and turned away. “It doesn’t kill them, but it disables the bomb.” He pulled it out, revealing a small ball. The bomb. “Another for the gobulator.” Wolf’s face lit up as he pulled out a small case filled with the tiny balls.

“Is that safe?” Josh pointed to the case and Wolf looked at him as if he were stupid.

“The fuck you think a gobulator does?”

Wolf and Tiger finished dismembering the corpses and threw them into the fire. They were dripping with scarlet blood, looking like Carrie White. Liv felt sick to her stomach, she hated gore. Tiger wiped her hands on her pants and spoke up,

“Alright Wolf, fire up the TTD. Let’s go back to earlier today before Future Man fucked up the mission.” Liv swore Tiger shot her a dirty look. “Let’s go get Kronish.”

Liv furrowed her brows. She felt like everyone around her was speaking a foreign language. She’d never heard of a TTD.

“You guys don’t get it!” Josh said loudly. “Kronish has been doing this research his entire life, someone could just pick up where he left off. And besides, you would have to pull like, a Terminator thing and stop him from ever being born-“

“Or! We kill him when he’s one of those little baby things!” Tiger added excitedly.

Josh shook his head. “No! Absolutely not, we cannot kill a baby!”

“They’re invincible?” Wolf asked.

“No, they’re helpless and very soft.” Tiger said.

“Perfect. Easy kill.”

“Give us a date, Future Man. Or girl, maybe you know.” Tiger said. Before Josh or Liv could speak, (Liv was growing offended by being called “girl”), Wolf interjected.

“Cat fucker! The TTD got damaged in the fight.” He groaned as he held what looked like a tablet, pulling out a vial of neon green liquid. Liv looked to Josh to see if she was missing something, but he looked just as confused.

“Shit…that’s not a lot of Cameronium.” Tiger shook her head worriedly.

“Maybe enough for one jump if we’re lucky.” Wolf studied the vial closely.

“What the hell is Cameronium?” Josh asked.

“It’s the fuel the TTD runs off of.” Tiger explained as if it were obvious.

“What’s the TTD?” Liv finally asked. She had so many questions.

“Time travel device.” Wolf said, speaking to her calmly. He glanced over at her. “We’re time travelers. By the way, I don’t know if Futute Man here explained that to you.”

“Yeah, I gathered that. Is that what you used to travel back to 1969?” She asked Josh. Josh nodded.

“Okay, new plan. We use our last jump to go kill baby Kronish, that’s the new mission.” Tiger said loudly.

“No!” Josh exclaimed as Liv shook her head violently. “We are absolutely not killing a baby! It’s wrong and makes us monsters!”

Tiger thought about it for a moment. “Agree to disagree. Give us a date.”

“I- well I don’t even know when he was born.” Josh said.

“Wolf, choke it outta him.” Tiger said calmly. Liv backed away instantly. Josh looked at her with wide eyes.

“Gladly.” Wolf advanced on Josh. Josh stumbled backwards.

“No, no, no-“ Wolf grabbed Josh by the neck and slammed him against the wall. Liv thought about running, but then again, Tiger might do the same to her.

“Give. Us. A. Date.” Tiger said through gritted teeth.

“If- if you can’t jump back to your time how will you know it worked? What if killing Kronish doesn’t fix it! Don’t you want proof?!” Liv blurted out. Tiger’s eyes fixated on her and Liv’s heart dropped. Tiger studied Liv for a moment, her stance softening, considering what Liv had said. Wolf saw Tiger considering this and dropped Josh. Josh landed on his feet and gasped for air.

“What do you even know about time travel?” Liv added, seeing Wolf and Tiger actually listening to her. “Multiverses? Alternate realities?”

“Time loops.” Josh added, rubbing his throat.

“Time loops! If you're wrong about even just one of those things it could throw off your whole mission, even though I don’t entirely understand what it is.” Liv pleaded. Tiger and Wolf looked at each other, then back to Liv.

Tiger sighed. “Fine. We’ll look for Cameronium here. But then! We’re going back and killing baby Kronish.” Josh let out a frustrated sound.

“Where’s the closest Cameronium outpost?” Wolf asked. Liv grabbed a mop, ready to clean up the crime scene that she was standing in.

“We just learned what Cameronium is, I have no idea.” Josh muttered.

“It’s biofuel, it’s been around forever.” Tiger started getting frustrated again. Josh grabbed another mop and helped Liv.

“Well, what’s it made of?” Liv asked.

“I- plants? I don’t know? You tell us, you’re the scientists.” Liv stopped mopping and looked at Josh, who also stopped mopping. “One of you is a scientist right? You work in a lab?” Tiger added. Josh looked at Liv and Liv just stared back at him. Had Josh told them that they were scientists? She raised an eyebrow at him and grew nervous.

“Those are your science wands.” Wolf said, pointing to the mops.

Tiger narrowed her eyes at them. “What is your job here?”

“Uh,” Liv didn’t know what to say. She looked nervously to Tiger and Wolf, who were impatiently waiting for an answer.

“We’re…janitors?” Josh didn’t even sound sure of his own job.

Tiger and Wolf stared at them for a second, Tiger’s eyebrow started twitching as she got noticeably more angry, letting the word “janitor” hang in the air. Wolf looked a little lost and just stared at them, but could tell what Josh had just said was making Tiger angry, therefore he was angry too.

Josh looked terrified. “Uh, are you guys cool with that, or-“

Tiger slammed her fists on the table. “FUCKING JANITORS?!” She screamed, storming out the door that led to an alley outside. Wolf shoved the table over and stormed out after her.

Josh looked at Liv with wide eyes before dropping his mop and chasing after them. Liv dropped her mop and followed him. They chased Wolf and Tiger through the alleyway.

Tiger spun around, stomping backwards. “Do you know who’s a janitor where we come from?”

“A- a robot-?” Josh guessed.

“Nobody!” She snapped. “Because in a battle of life or death no one gives a dick about clean floors!”

“I knew he wasn’t the savior, I knew it from the moment he jizzed all over my torso!” Wolf turned around too, glaring at Josh.

“Please, guys come on!” Josh and Liv chased after them like little kids chasing after a soccer ball. God, those two time traveling warriors could storm away fast.

“No!” Tiger stopped and Liv and Josh almost ran into her. “You can’t. We don’t need you.” She jabbed Josh’s shoulder with her finger. “You get in the way, you’re weak, and you fucking inspired Kronish to share his cure with the world. And on a personal level, I'm not sure I like you.” She looked at Liv. “You’re associated with him, so I feel the same about you.” She looked back at Josh. “You’re off the team, Fütturman.” She spat, mispronouncing Josh’s last name.

“Even your name’s a disappointment.” Wolf growled. He looked at Liv. “I forgot your name.” The way he spoke to her wasn’t nearly as mean and condescending, but Liv still looked up at him fearfully. Tiger and Wolf turned on their heels and stomped away.

“What- guys, don’t do this!” Josh yelled after them. “Where are you going?”

“To finish the mission without you.” Tiger yelled, not even turning around to look at them.

“You’re covered in brains!” Josh yelled back.

“Eat a dick!”

Josh stood in silence, shocked and defeated. “Well…they seemed nice…” Liv said after a long pause, scuffing the toe of her boot on the asphalt.

“Not right now, Liv, please.” Josh said in a weak voice as he sank down to the ground, putting his head in his hands. Liv looked down at him, sitting with his knees pulled into his chest. He looked so sad. Whatever this time travel mission really was, it really seemed really important to him.

“Josh…will you tell me what happened? Like please actually explain what's going on? You gave me the simplified version in the stairwell, I need the full story to really grasp the situation.” Liv said gently, bending down to his level. Josh looked up at her with those sad eyes that hurt her heart.

“Okay. After I beat my game, they appeared in my room and told me I was the savior and that ‘Biotic Wars’ is actually a training simulation sent back from the future to find me. Apparently the cure Kronish eventually will end up discovering is what leads to a super cure that creates the Biotics. To my knowledge Biotics are perfect and powerful beings who are apparently also our coworkers. I thought I was being pranked when Wolf and Tiger appeared in my room, I was so embarrassed because I was…” he trailed off. Truth be told, Josh had been jerking off when Wolf and Tiger appeared in his room. He even came on Wolf by accident…which he still felt bad about. He cleared his throat. “I- I dunno, I probably just sounded stupid to them asking if I was being pranked over and over. They used the TTD and took me to 1969, but we were still in my house, but like the 60s version. I saw my grandparents, my dad, and my Uncle Barry, and they started beating me up because they thought I was there to rob them.”

Liv started snickering.

“Shut up, Liv!” Josh couldn’t help but laugh too. “Okay, that part’s pretty funny, actually now that I think about it. But Tiger and Wolf stepped in and we were able to get out of the house and then Tiger and Wolf started wailing on these bikers who catcalled Tiger and we stole their clothes to fit in. Then! I found out it was the night of the moon landing-“

“Oh my God, the night Kronish got herpes.” Liv was starting to piece together the story.

“Yes, exactly. So we started to go to CalTech, which was where Kronish’s party was, but I guess someone had called the police, because some policemen tried to stop us. And then I think Wolf might have brutally murdered a policeman…”

“He does seem to like to kill people.” Liv said, nodding along to the story.

“Yeah…so then we stop at a gas station, and I’m all mad at them, and then Wolf goes and breaks some dude’s fingers and I had to teach Tiger what a baby was and that kidnapping is bad. Anyways, we end up at a frat party at CalTech and we are the only white people there…and then Wolf told them their mutant race should die…yeah…” he grimaced at that memory. Liv grimaced too. “He was meaning Kronish and the Biotics but it just came out racist. So then, I infiltrated the party by myself in an astronaut costume while Wolf and Tiger ‘secured the perimeter’ or something, and I cockblocked Kronish by having a dance off with him to get him away from Barberella, the girl who had herpes, and also I think I might have invented the running man and the the moonwalk. I think some other more modern dances were sprinkled in there too, I don’t really remember.” He chuckled lightly. “And then…well, you’re basically caught up, you saw what happened today.”

Liv nodded her head as she took in this story. “Oh my God,” she let out a short laugh.

“Oh! And! I left my phone in the past on accident, and now Steve Jobs and Siri don’t exist.” Josh added.

“…who?”

“Exactly.” Josh shook his head at himself.

Liv giggled. “I can’t believe you invented the moonwalk and then Michael Jackson took all the credit.”

“Eh, he can have it.” Josh looked up at her and laughed. “So, I thought I was supposed to be some savior, but apparently I’m useless.” He sighed, the weight of what just happened settling on his shoulders again.

Liv took a seat next to him on the ground. “Why does it matter so much to you?”

“Because I thought I was finally going to do something great with my life.” He looked up at the sky, he seemed to be fighting tears. “But instead I got verbally abused by Tiger and Wolf and I put your life in danger. I’m sorry.”

“Josh,” Liv said softly. “Do you want to just go home?”

Josh nodded, swiping the back of his hand across his cheeks, trying to make it seem like he wasn’t starting to cry. “Yeah.”

“I’ll drive you home.” She stood up and offered him a hand. “Also, you’ve got blood on your face.”

“I know.” He sighed.

Liv drove Josh back to his house in silence. She parked in his driveway, but he didn’t get out of the car. He sat and just stared at his house with a sad expression.

“Come on, Josh,” Liv got out of the car and walked around to his side, opening the door for him. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Josh looked up at her from his seat and then glanced down at her matching gray janitor uniform, which was splattered with blood just like his. “What about you?”

“I think I have a change of clothes somewhere in my car,” she said. “But my friend Josh needs someone to be there for him right now and I am going to make him my priority.”

Josh gave her a small, sad smile. “Thank you, Liv.”

They went into his house, which was quiet. Josh’s parents weren’t home so they didn’t have to worry about them being concerned about their bloody uniforms. Liv helped him wash the blood off of his face at the kitchen sink.

“Hey, thanks mom.” Josh lightly joked. Liv let out a slightly flustered laugh. She was actively trying to swallow the giddiness and butterflies she felt touching his face and being this close to him. “Too bad my parents aren’t here, they’d love to say hi to you.” Josh said. Josh’s parents, Gabe and Diane Futturman, were Liv’s favorite people to walk the earth (other than Josh, but that goes without saying). They absolutely loved Liv, and she’d been to many Futturman parties hosted by them.

Liv grinned as she got the washcloth she was using on Josh’s face wet again under the faucet. “Well, then tell them I say hi.”

After cleaning off Josh’s face and some of the blood that had gotten on both of their arms, Josh headed up to his room to change. Liv ran out to her car and grabbed the t-shirt and leggings she kept in the backseat and changed in their guest bathroom. When she opened the door she saw Josh walk out of his room at the same time with an “I have an idea” look on his face.

“I know how we can help Tiger and Wolf.” He said excitedly.

She looked confused. “…huh?”

“Cameronium or whatever? I know how we can get more.”

“Um…okay?” Liv raised an eyebrow. She kind of assumed they were dropping the idea of helping them at all, they were really mean and scary, and she didn’t care much for them.

“There’s this girl who works at the gaming store I go to, Tracy, she’s dating a chemist! So we talk to Tiger and Wolf, take them with us to the gaming store, talk to Tracy, go to her chemist boyfriend, and find out where to find Cameronium!” Josh looked so incredibly proud of himself.

“Cool, but Tiger and Wolf could be anywhere. They ditched us, remember?” Liv asked, putting her hands on her hips and sounding a little exasperated.

“Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, I saw them outside climbing into the sewer.”

“What?!”

“I should have opened with that, but I found them!” Josh beamed.

Liv hesitated before she spoke. “Um, are you sure that you want to go back to them? I thought they were ‘verbally abusive’.”

“Liv, I want to help them.” Josh looked at her with those again. Goddammit. Liv sighed.

“Does this mean I have to climb into the sewer?”

“Uh…” Josh stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Maybe…”

Liv did in fact have to climb into the sewers. It was a damn good thing she loved Josh, she would never in a million years be climbing down a ladder down into the sewer like she was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle if she didn’t love him. Josh was just barely in front of her as they climbed down. They could hear Tiger barking commands at Wolf. She looked up and saw them climbing down and shook her head furiously.

“No! Nope! No Futturmans, no friends of Futturmans, no janitors, and no people shorter than us can enter!” Tiger’s angry voice greeted them.

“No, guys!” Josh hopped down off of the ladder. “Look, I know you guys are super pissed off at me, but I promise I have an idea.” Liv hopped off the ladder after him.

“No, we don’t need you. We have plans, lots of plans. And leads, Wolf has leads, right Wolf?” Tiger lied.

Wolf was crouched in the entrance of a tunnel eating a rat. He looked crazy, despite the fact he had dried blood covering him. He also looked high as a kite, eyes red and looking like he had hay fever. “I don’t have leads.” He drawled, mouth full of rat flesh. Gross. Tiger glared at him for not going along with her lie. He made eye contact with Liv and lit up. “You! I can’t remember your name!” He said in an unnaturally cheerful voice for Wolf. He was grinning from ear to ear.

“What’s he doing?” Liv asked. Before Tiger could answer, Josh spoke up.

“Guys, please, let us back on the team. I know where we can find more Cameronium.”

Tiger narrowed her eyes. “You do?” Wolf had also stopped what he was doing and perked up.

“Yes, now come on, let’s get you guys cleaned up.” Josh motioned for them to follow. Tiger let out a frustrated groan as she marched over to Wolf and pulled him by his arm to follow behind Liv and Josh out of the sewer and into Josh’s house. Josh and Liv helped scrub the dried blood off of Wolf, who was still high out of his mind. Josh and Liv were scared to go near Tiger, who was still fuming at the idea of letting them help, and let her take care of cleaning herself up in the guest bathroom (assuming she knew how to).

“So let me get this straight, you went to a weed dispensary because you thought it had Cameronium?” Josh asked Wolf as he washed Wolf’s right arm. Wolf had told them about the “adventure” he and Tiger went on and how he “ate street cock” (they were able to piece together that he’d actually had a sausage).

“And I tried these things called macaroons.” Wolf sighed and grinned from ear to ear again. “So delicious.” He pointed to Liv as she washed his face. “You have a name.”

Liv glanced at Josh. Josh shrugged. “Mhm!” She nodded and answered him like she would a three year old.

“I don’t remember it.” He giggled. Josh snorted.

“I’m Liv,” She said, trying her best not to laugh. She kind of liked high Wolf, he was funny.

“Like ‘NO PLEASE!! I WANT TO LIVE!!!’ Like that?” Wolf’s outburst made them jump, but then Josh lost it, doubling over as he started laughing.

“I mean, I guess.” Liv laughed too.

“Is that your name because that’s what your enemies scream before you slaughter them?” Wolf asked.

Liv laughed even harder. “No, my parents just liked it.” Wolf nodded as if to be taking what she said to heart.

“I love it.”

Tiger came stomping down the stairs in full gear, making Josh and Liv’s laughter disappear as she glared at them. “Alright, Future Man, Future Man’s friend-“

“Liv!” Wolf corrected her, and then smiled at Liv and nodded, proud of himself for remembering.

Tiger rolled her eyes. “Right, whatever. It’s time to go.”

“Wait, hold on, Tiger, we need to get you guys some clothes to help you blend in. People don’t wear armor here.” Josh said.

“I think I’m fine.” Tiger said in a serious tone.

Josh didn’t feel like forcing Tiger into his mom’s clothes, he would rather keep his head on his shoulders, so he just dropped the idea. He still grabbed a coat for her to possibly wear over her armor later if she changed her mind. Wolf changed into one of Josh’s dad’s polo shirts and a pair of khakis. He looked like he was about to go play tennis at a country club. The four left the house on foot, making their way to the gaming store, which wasn’t too far away. They walked in and were greeted by two people standing at the counter.

“Hey Tracy, hey Paul,” Josh greeted them nonchalantly. The two people looked up at them, eyes landing on Liv.

“Ooh, Josh brought a girl with him.” Paul teased.

“Oh, this is just Liv.” Josh said, brushing off the teasing as he walked up to the counter. Liv gave them a tight lipped smile. He could have said, “this is just my friend Liv”, but, whatever.

“Break another joystick playing ‘Biotic Wars’?” Tracy asked, clearly teasing him.

“Uh, no, I stopped playing. Those characters were so unrealistic.” Josh said, watching Tiger and Wolf venture further into the store from the corner of his eye. Paul raised a suspicious eyebrow and followed Josh’s line of sight.

He eyed Tiger. “Boing.” He leered. Liv made a disgusted face as he went to follow Tiger.

“Hey Tracy,” Josh asked. “Are you still dating that chemist guy?”

“Oh, Lyle?” She asked, smacking her gum. “No, we broke up, I call him Professor Ex now.” She snickered at her own joke.

“Ha, that’s really funny,” Josh fake laughed as he drummed his fingers on the counter. “Was- was it a, um, messy kind of break up? Or was it chill, like maybe you could casually put us in contact with him?”

“Nah I hate him, he used to wear a button down shirt every time we fucked, I hate him.” Tracy said casually. “Why do you ask?”

“Uhhhh,” Josh looked back at Liv. “It’s, uh, we’re partners in this class I started taking at a, um, community college and we have to interview a chemist and I just thought, you know…”

“Oh that’s cool, what community college are you guys at?” Tracy asked, nodding along and smacking her gum again.

Liv opened her mouth to say a real community college, but Josh panicked and spoke over her. “The- the California Community College.” Liv wanted to smack him. That was definitely not a real college.

“Oh yeah? I’ve literally never heard of that college before.” Tracy said, quirking an eyebrow.

“It’s real.” Josh lied, making it sound less real. “It’s good.”

“Yeah?” Tracy smacked her gum again.

“Yeah, we became friends there.” Liv jumped in, hoping she could help.

“Shopkeep!” Wolf called, watching a tween boy play a video game. “I have some questions about this boy’s murder simulator.” Liv tensed, shooting Wolf a look to shut up.

“Right, because you take a fake class there together.” Tracy continued, unimpressed and ignoring Wolf.

“I swear to you, it is a real school!” Josh said loudly, continuing to make it sound less real.

“Oh yeah? What’s the mascot for your real school?” Tracy asked.

“It’s a falcon-“

“It’s a real bird.” Josh lied again.

“Josh…” Liv said out loud without meaning to in the most disappointed voice.

Tracy rolled her eyes at them. “You guys are terrible liars like Pinocchio, and Pinocchio was wack-“ before Tracy could finish, Paul yelped, catching their attention. Tiger had him pushed face first into the bargain bin, holding his arm up behind his back.

“Why would you talk to someone who doesn’t want to talk to you?” Tiger demanded.

“I- I dunno- ow! Ow! Just let me go!” He cried. Liv and Josh scrambled over to them trying to signal for her to stop by waving their hands and shaking their heads.

“Futturman, you know this chick?” Paul wailed as Tiger tightened her grip on his arm.

“Nope, I have never seen her before.” Josh said nonchalantly while shaking his head at Tiger.

Tiger pursed her lips. “Fine.” She said through gritted teeth and let him go. “Next time he loses the arm.”

Paul stood up and looked between Josh, Liv, Tiger, and Wolf. He then glanced back into the bargain bin, picking up “Biotic Wars”. He looked from Tiger to the animation of Tiger on the cover.

“Futturman, did you hire like a crazy strong hooker to pretend to be this girl for you?” Paul asked, shooting Josh a judgemental look.

“No, I didn’t actually,” Josh shook his head.

“What a weird freak.” Tracy said, still standing back at the counter.

“Okay, we don’t have time for this.” Tiger muttered, pulling out a knife out of Paul’s line of sight.

“No! Uhhhh,” Josh sprung to action by dragging Paul away from Tiger. “We’re just gonna have a conversation over here.” He narrowed his eyes at Tiger as she rolled her eyes and put the knife back. He gestured with his head for Liv to stay with Wolf and Tiger so they didn’t get into anything else. Liv, Wolf, and Tiger listened in on Josh’s conversation with Tracy and Paul.

“Look, for the first time my life has meaning. I am going to help a lot of people by doing this, but in order to do that I need to get in contact with your ex.” Josh explained.

Tracy and Paul looked at each other with raised eyebrows. “That’s stupid.” Tracy said. “That’s so stupid.”

“Fuck it, you know what? I’m just going to tell you the truth.” Josh said.

“Oh God, no.” Liv put her head in hands.

“I beat ‘Biotic Wars’ and it turns out it was a training simulation sent back from the future to find the savior, who is me, and now I need to be in contact with your ex so we can get fuel for time traveling. So that’s it, all of the fate of humanity rests on this moment right here and now.” Josh stated as if it were a normal thing to say.

“Oh, yikes.” Tiger mumbled.

Paul and Tracy looked at each other again. “Why didn’t you just open with that, bro?” Tracy asked.

“Yeah dude, we’re here to help! Get that address!” Paul said cheerfully. Liv’s head shot up, stunned that they believed that.

“Seriously?” Even Josh was stunned. Tracy scribbled the address on a piece of pink paper.

“Here’s Lyle, hope he can help.” She handed the paper to Josh.

“Yeah dude, good luck saving humanity!” Paul said.

“Okay…okay awesome!” Josh was in awe that had worked. “Okay guys,” he motioned for his group to follow. “Let’s go! Thanks again guys!”

Liv followed Josh out of the store in shock. “How the actual fuck did that actually work?”

“See guys, aren’t you glad that we’re back on the team?” Josh asked proudly.

“Your cover story fell apart like a shit in your hands.” Wolf said gruffly. He was definitely the same old Wolf again.

“Oh come on, Wolf, I’d like to see you do better.” Josh said, tapping away at his phone as he looked up the address.

“I could and I would do it much better than you. I’m better than you at everything” Wolf said.

Josh sighed and stopped typing. “What’s with the negativity? The plan worked, we’re like a dream team!”

“Okay, you’re both back on the team on a provisional basis and currently you’re fucking up Liv’s chances by being a smart ass.” Tiger rolled her eyes.

“Yes Tiger, you’ve made that abundantly clear.” Josh sighed.

“You remembered my name, Tiger!” Liv was touched. Tiger rolled her eyes yet again.

“Tiger, would you please put on my mom’s coat. You actually look really ridiculous.” Josh said, trying to hand Tiger the coat. Tiger furrowed her brows and looked down at her armor. “Come on, Wolf’s rocking my dad’s shit, just put it on.”

Tiger snatched the coat from his hands. “Fine. Only because you got us the address.”

“And a ride to the address.” Josh pointed to a Lyft that pulled over in front of them. “For Futturman?” The man inside the car nodded.

Josh, Tiger, and Liv loaded into the back seat while Wolf got in the front. “Sunglasses At Night” by Corey Hart played softly in the background.

“Pilot, what is this music?” Wolf asked, perking up as he heard the song.

The Lyft driver looked at his radio. “I think it’s Corey Hart.”

“…I like Corey Hart.” Wolf perked up even more.

“Wolf likes something!” Josh leaned forward. “Turn that shit up!” The driver cranked the volume as they sped away. Liv was sandwiched in between Josh and Tiger. Tiger still scared Liv, so she was sitting very close to Josh. They drove to an unmarked building and Josh checked his phone three times to make sure they were at the right place. The four of them cautiously walked into the lab.

“Hi, what can I help you with?” A man asked as he approached them.

“Hi, are you Professor Karofsky?” Josh asked.

“I am,” the man said.

“I am Josh Pastman of Kronish Labs,” Josh quickly flashed his work badge so that Karofsky couldn’t see his actual name. “This is my sister, Liv Pastman,” It took everything in Liv’s power not to show her disappointment and annoyance on her face. He gestured to Wolf. “My assistant-“

“Corey Wolfhart.” Wolf went in to shake Karofsky’s hand. The scientist immediately felt Wolf’s strength as his hand was being crushed.

“That’s quite the grip you’ve got there, Mr. Wolfhart- ow, you can let go now.” Karofsky winced.

“And this is my other assistant-“

“Tiger.” Tiger said plainly. “I’m the mission commander.”

Josh laughed awkwardly. “It sure feels like it sometimes.”

“Tiger?” Karofsky raised an eyebrow.

“It’s her Burning Man name.” Liv said casually before Josh could come up with more stupid lies like California Community College.

Karofsky seemed to accept this reason. “Ah, I’m never more myself when I’m at the Burn. Namaste. What can I help you fine folks with?”

“Over at our lab we’ve got this special piece of equipment that utilizes a unique kind of biofuel, but unfortunately the manufacturer is kinda jamming us up right now, so we’re hoping you could take a look at it and tell us what it’s made of and maybe where to find more.” Josh explained. Liv was proud, that was a good lie! “Home Depot…Lowe’s…” Josh added, catching Liv give him a deadpan stare telling him to shut up.

“Look kid, I’d love to help you solve your biofuel problem for no compensation, but…” Karofsky trailed off as his eyes locked onto the vial of Cameronium that Tiger was fiddling with. “…that’s a biofuel?” His voice went up an octave.

“Correct.” Liv said, hopeful that he seemed willing to help.

“Let’s take a look at it.” Tiger reluctantly let him take the vial from her. He looked at it under his microscope.

“What kind of machine are you running with this?” Karofsky asked.

“It’s like a centrifuge.” Josh said, sounding as chill as possible.

“What kind?” He was starting to sound skeptical.

Josh’s eyes showed a hint of panic as he stupidly answered, “A really big one.”

“What’s it made of?” Tiger said sharply.

“It looks like microorganisms living in saltwater…I’m going to run this through the calorimeter.” Karofsky said, taking the vial to a new machine.

The four followed close behind Karofsky, watching as he dropped a tiny bit of the Cameronium into the calorimeter. Within seconds of the machine turning on, the glass the Cameronium touched shattered, making everyone jump.

“Jesus!” Karofsky looked down at the vial in shock. “It, um, seems that my equipment is faulty, I’ll have to run more tests in the back.” Liv sensed a shift in his demeanor.

“No. We can’t let that out of our sight.” Tiger said sternly.

Karofsky gave her a weird look.

“She means we don’t have a lot of fuel left so we’d like to make sure that it’s safe.” Josh said, growing anxious.

Karofsky studied the four of them. “Alright. It’s a clean room and I only have two hazmat suits. Your sister and the tennis pro can stay here.” He said to Josh looking over at Wolf and Liv, who exchanged glances. Josh gave Liv a look that she could tell said, “don’t let Wolf get into any trouble”. That and he also mouthed it to her.

“Stay hard.” Tiger mumbled to Wolf as she walked away with Karofsky and Josh.

“I am hard!” Wolf grumbled defensively. As the door to the back of the lab closed behind Tiger, Wolf and Liv looked at the other two men in the lab, who were quietly staring at them. Wolf took a half step closer to Liv, almost as if he were ready to protect her.

“Hey,” one guy said. “You two wanna try something?”

Wolf’s stance was tense. “Wh- what is there to try?” Liv asked awkwardly, trying to not seem nervous under their stares. Why as men would they be staring at her?!

“You,” one of them motioned for Wolf to come closer. “Dude, you’re going to love this. Eli, go get the stuff.” Wolf looked at Liv with concerned and alert eyes. Liv looked up at him in a similar way. These men made her weirdly uncomfortable. Eli got up and walked into another room.

“What are we trying?” Wolf asked.

“Dude, have you ever tried meth?” The guy asked. Liv looked back up at Wolf in shock. “You wanna try some?” He asked Liv. “Something about you tells me you haven’t ever tried meth.”

“You know what,” she said in the same awkward voice, this time at an awkwardly loud volume. “I’m gonna skip out on the meth, I did some for breakfast.” She laughed awkwardly.

The guy blinked and then started laughing. “No worries dude! I like you, you’re funny.” This helped put Liv at ease.

“Are you allowed to be doing meth at work?” Liv asked naively as Eli came back with a tiny bag of white powder.

“Connor, just tell them.” Eli said, setting the bag down.

“Okay, okay,” the guy, Connor, turned back to Wolf and Liv. “I think you guys might have assumed we were a normal science lab, but this is a meth lab.” He lightly chuckled. Liv looked shocked and Wolf looked lost.

“So,” Wolf cocked his head to the side. “You don’t know where to get Cameronium?”

“What the fuck?” Eli and Connor laughed. “Unless that’s some kind of slang for coke now, no?”

“Then…what the fuck is meth?” Wolf asked curiously.

Liv watched from the corner of the room with eyes as wide as saucers as Wolf jumped up and down and paced around the lab yelling, “I LOVE METH!!!!” at the top of his lungs while Eli and Connor paraded behind him cheering.

“I could nose eat this stuff all day!” Screamed Wolf, trying to lean down and snort some more meth off of the table.

“Wolf! Wolf, I wouldn't do that!” Liv waved her arms, running over to stop him.

“Woah! Slow down dude! You’ll kill your heart!” Eli pulled Wolf away, laughing at his enthusiasm.

“Where can I get more?” Wolf yelled. Eli and Connor looked at each other, but before they could answer Wolf had grabbed them by their shirt collars screaming, “TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW!!!”

“Wolf! Holy fucking shit, let them go!” Liv cried. Wolf’s eyes got wide as he let them go.

“I’m sorry…” he mumbled.

“It’s okay, man. Let us explain something to you, what was it, Wolf?” Connor sent Eli to go grab a whiteboard from the other corner of the lab. “And Liv too I guess.”

Shit, Liv thought. His name is definitely supposed to be Corey Wolfhart.

“Step into my office,” Connor flipped the whiteboard around to reveal a detailed graph that read “Trickle Down Economics Of The Black Market”. Wolf looked intrigued and took a seat, looking like he was reading the graph carefully. Liv blinked a couple times. This was fucking insane. As Connor and Eli began giving Wolf a college type lecture on how the drug trade represented capitalism in its purest form, Liv was thinking about Josh…and Tiger too, but mostly Josh. It had been a while since they’d gone into the back with Karofsky, so either the tests were going really good or really bad.

Wolf turned to Liv with the widest eyes full of amazement as Eli and Connor wrapped their lesson up. “Nothing has ever made more sense to me in my whole life. “We have to go tell Tiger.” He bolted upright, excited to spread the news.

“Oh no buddy, see, we can’t let you do that. You’re not going anywhere.” Connor said, pulling a gun from his waistband and pointing it at them. Eli did the same. Liv’s heart dropped and she went pale as a ghost. Wolf on the other hand just simply raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not?” He asked. Then he burst out laughing. Eli and Connor shared glances and they started laughing too. Liv still stood slightly behind Wolf, terrified. She’d never been this close to a gun before, other than the one mounted on Josh’s family’s kitchen wall, but that was a wall mount. These were real and very loaded guns. Wolf was still cackling and Eli and Connor were still laughing along with him.

“Look, you guys seem like nice people, let’s just sit back down and keep hanging out, but we can’t let you go into the back.” Eli lowered his gun. That’s when Wolf pounced. First Wolf took down Eli for lowering his gun, then sweep kicked Connor while he was still surprised. Liv ducked behind a chair as Wolf pulled out a weapon he’d had concealed in his waistband and pointed it at the two drug dealers.

“I don’t give a shit if you won’t let us go back there, we’re going.” He growled. “Come on, Liv.”

Connor scrambled to grab his gun, but Wolf shot it with his, blowing it up. It was definitely a weapon from the future. Wolf grabbed Liv’s hand rather gently for someone who had white powder all over his face and they hurried over to the door that led to the back. Wolf whipped around and pointed his blaster back at Eli and Connor, who were trying to crawl away.

“That’s right, crawl away you little bitches!” He yelled before blasting down the door. On the other side there were more men with guns, Tiger was breaking some guy’s arm, Josh was being held down to a bench while some other guys were holding a giant jar of some rancid liquid over him, and a fight seemed imminent.

“Hard enough for you?!” Wolf shouted to Tiger as he jumped right in and started blasting up the place. Liv didn’t know what to do. She wanted to run away, but where would she run?

Tiger started knocking shelves down onto the gun men, and Wolf’s blaster shot must have reacted with some kind of substance in the lab because fire started to spread.

Liv stayed pressed against the wall in the corner. “Liv! Find the Cameronium!” Tiger shouted at her as she slammed someone’s head against a shelf. Liv’s whole body was shaking. She wasn’t sure if it was fear or adrenaline or both, but she was trembling. Before she could move she spotted Karofsky crawling out of the room and out an exit she assumed led outside, and close behind him was Josh. Liv sprinted in that direction, jumping over shelves and bodies she hoped were just unconscious. Tiger and Wolf dropped the people they’d been fighting with and took off after her. The trio ran outside to see Josh tackle Karofsky off of a motorbike he’d been trying to escape on.

“Get him Josh!” Liv yelled as she came to a stop. Josh and Karofsky got into the saddest, most anticlimactic slap fight anyone had ever seen.

“Maybe the little fucker has some fight in him after all.” Wolf said to Tiger and Liv. They watched as Karofsky grabbed Josh’s leg as Josh tried to smack him to the ground. They looked even dumber in their billowy yellow hazmat suits that they were wearing. “Should I step in?” Wolf asked.

“I think he might have this one.” Tiger said, stopping Wolf.

“Rip his fuckin’ throat out!” Wolf cheered Josh on. Josh had wrestled Karofsky to the ground in the saddest way. They were both just smacking each other. It was hard to watch, but at the same time, Liv wished she was filming it. “…or at least try to rip his fucking throat out!” Wolf corrected himself.

Karofsky tried to crawl away, so Josh grabbed him by the ankle and stopped him as he picked up his helmet and hit him over the head with it.

“Ow!” Karofsky groaned. Josh hit him again, and again until he slumped down on the ground. There was a brief pause as Josh waited for Karofsky to pop back up, but he didn’t, he was out cold.

“Yeah!” Josh threw his hands in the air. “I did it!” Josh pat down Karofsky’s suit until he found the Cameronium and held it up victoriously. Tiger just nodded and Liv turned around so Josh wouldn’t see her laughing. “I really kicked his ass.” Josh congratulated himself.

“Uh, yeah, it was the saddest and most boring fight ever, but you did it Futturman, you’re back on the team.” Tiger said.

Josh perked up. “I am? Oh, thank you! Thank you, I will not let you down!”

“Am I…back on the team?” Liv asked quietly.

“Fuck yes!” Wolf answered before Tiger could respond as she eyed Liv. Tiger sighed.

“I guess we officially have a team of four-“

“WOOOOOO!!!!!” Wolf cheered as he fist pumped the air and ran in circles. Meth was still in his system. Tiger and Josh looked at him, confused.

“He did coke in the lab.” Liv said.

“Liv, you weren’t supposed to let him do that!” Josh said before cocking his head slightly. “…how did you get Wolf to like you so much?”

Liv shrugged. “It must be because I’m so nice and pretty.” She smirked at him and Josh rolled his eyes.

“Are you two okay with being human sacrifices?” Tiger asked, but it came out as more of a statement than a question.

“What?!” Josh cried. Liv took a giant side step away from Tiger and closer to Josh.

“You heard the window-faced man,” Tiger said to Josh, nodding her head at Karofsky’s unconscious body in the parking lot. “We need another time machine.”

Josh reluctantly nodded. “Ohhh…and Biotics must have time machines.”

“And we know we can find some at the laboratory you clean, so we just have to catch one.” Tiger said. Josh and Liv nodded, sharing glances.

“Great fucking plan!” Wolf yelled. He’d been pacing around the front of the building. “Who’s up for a charge down?” Tiger pursed her lips and looked as though she was refraining from strangling Wolf. Josh got a grossed out look on his face. “I’ll take anyone. Or all of you.”

“No.” Josh said quickly.

“What’s a ‘charge down’?” Liv asked.

“Nothing! Nothing. Let’s just- just get out of here before any cops show up.” Josh unzipped his hazmat suit and carried it to the garbage.

As they walked to the nearest place with any phone signal to catch a Lyft or an Uber home, Liv finally noticed Josh’s face.

“What’s on your face?” She asked. It was sticky and looked like he’d poured juice all over his face and then rolled down a dirt mound.

“I was waterboarded with homemade kombucha.” Josh said casually, checking to see if he had any signal.

“Oh…my God?!”

“Yeah,”

“Are you okay?”

Josh thought for a moment. “…no.” He said simply.

[maddywillow]

Chapter 3 of my TBB short story series. Wanted to post it here as well as on wattpad. This Chapter was a bit rushed but I still enjoyed writing it. Enjoy! ~Maddy

"Well, what's wrong."

"She has a fever and a stomach ache."

"I can take us to the nearest medic for medicine but it will be a while. Tech sat down at the navi computer.

"The nearest inhabited planet will take us approximately half a rotation to arrive."

"That long?!" Hunter exclaimed.

"There is nothing in the outer rim close enough or inhabited enough to land by. It is our only option. Especially if Omega is too sick for me to turn the hyper drive on. If I did use the hyper drive the trip would only take us 3 hours."

"No. Let's go sub lite. I don't want Omega throwing up again. She already feels bad enough."

"Very well." Tech said plugging in the coordinates.

They set off for the nearest inhabited planet. Omega layed in the gunners mount under her blanket. Her head was feeling dizzy. Hunter walked back and put his hand to her head. She was very warm. He sighed.

"H-Hunter?" Omega said weakly.

"What is it?"

"Where are we going."

"Were going to find some medicine for you."

"Can I have some water?"

"Of course, kid."

Hunter grabbed a full cantine of water from storage doused a piece of cloth with some of it and rang out the remaining water. Then came back to the gunners mount and placed the damp cloth on Omega's forehead. He then handed her the cantine and watched as she took small sips from it. Her stomach growled and ached in pain.

"Are you sure you don't want to try and eat something, Omega?"

She shook her head frantically and hid herself under the blanket. Hunter sighed and nodded.

"Ok. Try and get some rest." He said then left her alone.

"Hey Hunter." Wrecker began. "How's the kid?"

"Not great. We better hurry and get that medicine." Hunter took a seat in the cockpit.

"You better double check and make sure we don't already have medicine in the med kit." Tech suggested.

"I'll check again but I'm pretty sure we don't."

"I hope she'll be alright." Wrecker said sounding worried."

"She'll be fine Wrecker. Its just a stomach ache." Hunter said standing back up. He went to the back of the ship and searched for the med kit. It was a large metal case with a red cross on it. He set it on a chair and unlocked the top. Carefully moving objects inside of it aside he realized that they really didn't have any medicine on board. He packed everything up and returned to the cockpit.

"We don't have any medicine. Stay on course Tech. We'll have to get extra to keep on the ship from now on."

"Copy that."

"You better get some rest too, Wrecker. It's going to be a while before we land."

"I'll rest when Omega is better."

"If you say so." Hunter said.

●●●●●

They finally landed and Omega was lucky enough to sleep almost the whole way there. Hunter went back to wake her up.

"Omega?" He said putting his hand to her head. She still had a small fever.

Omega groaned a bit and rubbed her eyes awake.

"Are we there?"

"Yeah. We made it. Time to see the Doctor. Do you want to walk?"

She shook her head no.

"Do you want me to carry you?"

She shook her head up and down. Hunter chuckled a bit under his breath and picked her up. She cuddled the lula plush as Hunter carried her off the ship. They went into a bustling but peaceful town down to where Tech seemed to have found a doctor.

"Here we are." Tech said eventually pointing to a door. The building was on a corner. They went inside. A receptionist stood from her desk to greet them.

"Greetings travelers."

"Hello. I made an appointment." Tech said.

"Yes, we received your transmission. The doctor will see you now." The receptionist guided them through another door way into a sterile room. A man was waiting for them inside. He smiled and looked very friendly.

"Welcome in. Please." He said in a soft tone motioning for Hunter to put Omega on the table in the center of the room. He carefully layed her down. Omega grumbled a bit and held her stomach in pain. Hunter put a caring hand to her head. The doctor approached her with a scanner. A blue beam shined across her face and scanned up and down Omega's body.

"Hmm." The doctor said pondering. "I've never seen a female clone before."

Hunter stared up at him shocked and hovered his hand over his holster.

"Relax. I've gotten clones here before. I don't report any of them." The doctor said. He continued studying. "How long has she had this fever?"

Hunter relaxed.

"2 rotations."

"One moment."

The doctor went to the cabinet behind himself and opened one of the doors. He fiddled around for a bit before returning with a small metal bottle. He took the cap off and filled the cap with the liquid inside of the bottle. Then held it up to Omega's mouth.

"Here, swallow this." He said.

Omega drank the liquid gagging a bit as she did but eventually swallowed it. Then gave her a glass of water.

"Here, have her take this every 6 hours with a cup of water. Make sure she drinks lots of water. She is very dehydrated which is why she is sleeping so much. She will also need a meal of some kind before her next dose." The doctor said handing the bottle to Tech. "Her fever should go down in about 8 hours. If her stomach doesn't feel better in 4 rotations please return to my office. My receptionist will check you out."

"Thankyou doc." Hunter said.

The doctor smiled back and nodded a bit. Wrecker picked up Omega from the table and they began heading back to the receptionist desk.

"C'mon kid. You'll be better in no time." Wrecker said.

Omega gave him a soft smile from his arms.

"Your visit today will be 60 credits." The receptionist said.

Hunter pulled the credits from his pocket and set them on the desk. They returned to the Maurader and Omega went back to bed.

"Get some more rest kid."

"Hunter? Wait."

"What is it?"

"When is Echo coming back?"

"Hm. I'm not sure. He said this mission could take a few days."

"I miss him."

"I know kid. We all do. You'll see him soon though."

"Do you ever worry that one of these missions he might not come back from?" Omega asked.

"To be honest, no. But we are soldiers. We always know the risks of every mission. The risk of death is always there, but its not something I like to think about."

"I think about it sometimes. But I get scared." Omega began. "I'm scared that one day one of us will get hurt really badly or worse."

"That's not something you need to worry about Omega. Nothing can hurt us as long as we are together."

"But Echo isn't here."

"He's with Rex and the rest of his squad. They are good men and don't leave each other behind. Echo is safe with them."

"Promise?" She asked.

Hunter grinned and pushed the hair from her face.

"I promise."

"Ok." Omega said putting her hand on top of Hunter's and smiling up at him.

"Let me know when you're ready to eat something ok?"

She nodded and got cozy back under the blanket. Hunter left her alone and went up to the navi computer. He sat in the chair for a minute and pondered before getting back up and stepping out of the ship for a moment. Hunter closed the door behind him before taking out his com device.

"Havoc 4? Its Havoc 1. I need a favor."

●●●●●

Omega was resting more soundly but was still feeling a bit under the weather. The ship was quiet, but she was suddenly woken up by a hand sitting against her head.

"E-Echo? Is that you?"

"Heh, how did you know it was me?"

"Echo!" Omega exclaimed sitting up. She threw her arms around him.

"Your hand is colder than every one else's." She explained.

Echo chuckled a bit and held her tightly.

"Heh heh. Yeah I guess that's true."

Omega pulled away to look at him. His smiling face was a sight for sore eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, heard you were feeling under the weather so I came to check on you. How are you feeling?"

"Actually....a little bit better now that you're here." Omega said smiling. "I missed you."

"I missed you too kid. Glad you're feeling a bit better."

"Are you staying for long?"

"I suppose I could stay for a bit."

"Yes!" Omega said excitedly. She hugged Echo again tightly. Hunter and Wrecker stared at them from the other side of the ship. Wrecker smiled.

"Seems like she's feeling better." Wrecker said. He looked over at Hunter who was crossing his arms and looked a bit annoyed at Echo. "What's with you?"

Hunter couldn't help but feel a bit jealous that he didn't have the same effect on Omega. At least right now. But he smiled knowing that she was finally starting to feel better.

"Nothing Wrecker. Good to see Echo back and Omega feeling better. That's all."

"You got that right!" Wrecker said.

Omega took out her data pad and started showing Echo how much she's been studying like he told her to. Hunter turned over to Wrecker again.

"Would you mind watching Omega for a while, Wrecker? I'm gonna take Echo with me on a supply run."

"Absolutely no problem." Wrecker responded.

Hunter stood up to get Echo's attention. Echo saw him out of the corner of his eye from across the ship and looked over. Hunter tilted his head motioning for them to go outside. Echo nodded and sent Omega to give Wrecker her attention then stepped outside of the ship.

"Something wrong?" Echo asked.

"No no. I guess I just have a few questions. Can I.... buy you a drink?" Hunter asked.

Echo agreed and they went to the nearest bar in town and took a seat at the counter. After ordering their drinks Hunter struggled to find the best way to ask his first question.

"So, I guess I'm wondering what makes Omega happy?" Hunter asked a bit nervous. He didn't want Echo to catch on, but he also couldn't hide how he was feeling. Echo chuckled a bit.

"You're not wondering what makes her happy. I know you better than that. You're wondering why she likes me so much. You're jealous."

Hunter rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink.

"Well. You're not gonna believe me Hunter but I'm jealous of you too."

Hunter sat up and stared at him quickly. He was surprised.

"You're jealous of...me?!" Hunter asked. "Why? You make her happy Echo."

"I know. But that's for a different reason. It's the reason you even called me here, Hunter. She is only happy now because I am not around her like you are. She doesn't need to miss you if you are already there."

"Yeah, but you still make her happy Echo. How are you jealous of me?" Hunter asked.

Echo faced the bar and looked down he tipped his glass from side to side. Then spoke.

"Because she admires you more than any one else in the galaxy." Echo explained. Hunter stared at him a bit shocked.

"Whenever she talks to me it's always about you. How you train her. How you teach her. How you love her, Hunter. You can give Omega something that I can't because I chose a different path. Everyday I wonder if I made the right choice to leave, because of the family that I left behind. But then I remember how good you are for Omega. I'm reminded that she is in the best hands." Echo said putting his hand on Hunter's shoulder. "As my brother I can honestly say that you have become the best father figure to Omega that I could ask for and I wish I could be the same for her."

"You are, Echo." Hunter said putting his arm on Echo's shoulder also. "Even if you're not around. I know you have become Omega's inspiration and she is motivated to learn and do better because of you."

They both smiled and pulled each other in for a hug.

"Thank you Hunter."

"No. Thank you Echo."

[sunricecake]

gonna be flying to my homeland in a few hours (+_+)

[nightowlfandom]

Kanato Sakamaki- I’m Sadistic For You

FINALLY SOMEONE REQUESTS DIABOLIK LOVERS CONTENT AAAAHHH THANK YOU BESTIE! I GOT YOUR OTHER ONE AND I’M DOING IT TOO!  

CHECKOUT MY MASTERLIST HERE!!

So ANON ASKS

For Kanato from DL ( I haven’t seen much done for him and it makes me sad because he’s a favorite ). (: I could Lowkey do some more if you’re not super bogged down I had another idea BUT I ALREADY SUBMITED ANOTHER BEFORE THIS SO IM NOT GONNA OVERWHELM YOU LOL but- anyway Fee free to be as nsfw with my prompts (if you do them) as you want. I dont have any triggers so- writing them super accurate and sadistic won’t bother me :3

Bruh....Jesus is my helmet...but NOT TODAY let’s fucking go! Okay readers, you heard, they aint got no triggers. So if you do...move it along.

52- “You can’t call me cute!”

80- “Shut up! I’m not blushing!”

31-“You need to be taught a lesson…”

81- “You look so...inviting all tied up.”

84- “What’s the word I’m looking for?....Pet!”

Also in this you and Yui are BFFs because she isn’t some cold hearted bitch (homegirl trips over oxygen, plus I love her lol)

I was legit about to have him spit in your mouth....I’m so shameful...maybe next time.

Leggo!

I’m turning into a Yandere account and I am totally okay with that.

...

“You know living here isn’t that bad.” you mused to Yui. “When no one is talking.”

Your friend laughed as she cut up some carrots. Yui turned to look at you as she prepare to peel some potatoes. “So living here is terrible every day other than right now?” she replied.

You couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She wasn’t wrong. 

You and Yui were making dinner for the house. After a ambush that landed everyone injured except you and her (thankfully). You had offered to make soup and stew for everyone. They were all in their respective rooms healing while you had prepared everything.

“They really fought hard today, I thought Kanato was about to rip that vampires jaw off. He’s really protective of you, Y/N.” she winked. “I think he likes you more than he lets on.” 

Kanato and you had a very strange relationship. He hated you, but he didn’t HATE you. No one could lay a finger on you, no one could even look at you, even if he said he didn’t care. Reiji tried to and Kanato almost murdered him.

“He then told me that Teddy said I was ugly.” you reminded her flatly. “Yeah he so cares.” you snorted.

“Maybe he has trouble telling you his feelings”

“I wish everyone was as optimistic as you.” you shook your head. “Looks like the soup is finished.” 

“I’m just saying Y/N, just think about it.”

...

You only had one bowl of soup left to deliver, to Kanato’s room. You grumbled as you stood outside the door. 

“Kanato? It’s me.” you knocked on the door. “I’m coming in okay?” 

Before you could wait for an answer you opened the door and walked in with the cart. 

Kanato was laying on his bed when you entered, groaning in what you assumed was boredom.

“Teddy, tell Y/N that I don’t want whatever she made.” Kanato turned away from you. The scars he had suffered on his back said it all. All for you...

Your recalled the terror in your voice as you had screamed for help as the rogue vampire wrapped his claws around your leg. Kanato’s name was the first to escape your lips as you had tried to crawl away to Yui. You remembered reaching out to Kanato with your strongest hand, begging him to save you.

The look in his eyes was feral as he screamed your name too, grabbing you hand and pulling you to him. You were sobbing into his chest, clutching onto him for dear life for a good ten seconds before Yui replaced him, hugging you tightly in her small arms too. Before you knew it, the rogue’s head had been thrown through a window...

...

“Y/N, Look at me! You’re safe now...you’re safe with me...”

...

“Teddy, could you please tell Kanato that while his pouting is very adorable, it won’t get him out of this?”

“Don’t call me cute! You can’t do that.” Kanato glared at you through hooded eyes. “If I wasn’t so weak I’d-”

“Well let me take care of you.” you cut him off, taking the bowl to him. “For me?”

Kanato paused, his glare softening. 

“You must be in love with me if you’re so insistent on me getting better.” he grumbled, sitting up. “Y/N is in love with me Teddy!”

“Kanato.” you felt your face heat up violently. “Don’t say things like that.” you groaned.

“It’s blushing teddy, how cute!”

Kanato’s use of the word ‘it’ wasn’t new to you. In fact when he wasn’t calling you names, chasing you around with forks pretending to stab you, or worse, it was denoting you to objects.

“H-hey! I am not blushing!” you pouted. “My face just looks that way.” you lied. “S-shut up.” you grumbled.

“And what if I don’t feel like it?” he challenged, knowing you wouldn’t say a word back. You were kind of like Yui. You wouldn’t dare challenge any of the Sakamaki brothers. It was a death sentence in every sense of the word.

“Kanato, I just want you to feel better.” you looked down at your feet. 

“There’s one thing you can do.” Kanato used his strength to stand to his feet. Despite his looks, he was tall, and under that cute exterior was a mean and feral beast. He staggered over to you, a sick smile on his face. That couldn’t be good, not by a long shot. 

“And what exactly would that be?” you asked. You couldn’t look at him. You didn’t wanna know what he was planning. You were positive that it wasn’t gonna end well either. 

“Get on your knees.”

“My knees?” you repeated. “Why do you want me to-”

“Now Y/N.” he spoke over you. You felt his hand on your shoulder. “I don’t like repeating myself.” his nails dug into your skin, causing your knees to wobble under the pain. “On. Your. Knees!”

Your feet gave out, practically sending you crashing down to the floor. You looked like a dog, on your hands and knees. You appeared weak and pathetic.

You found it in yourself to look up at Kanato. Teddy was perched on the bed, ‘watching’ you two. You felt his fingertips creep under your chin. 

“Aww...” he smiled. “You’re like a little...What’s the word I’m looking for...PET!. It’s cute.” He caressed the side of your face. “Too bad I kill all my pets...they can’t handle me...can you handle me, Pet?”

“Yes, Kanato.” you found yourself saying. You felt like you didn’t have a choice...

and you loved every second of it.

“Bullying you has made me regain my strength! Isn’t this wonderful?” he wrapped one of his hands around your neck. “You’re so fun to torment” he laughed.

“K-kanato.” you coughed.

“Is it hard to breath. Y/N?” he asked sinisterly, that crazed smile gracing his lips. His words were terrifying although his actions said otherwise. He loosened his grip on your throat, allowing air to flow more freely. It was those small things that made you think he didn’t hate you as much as he loved to preach.

“Y/N...when that vampire came...I thought I was gonna lose you for good this time” he said sadly, allowing his arm to return to his side. “I thought I had-...that you were gonna die.” 

“You saved me though.” you replied. Kanato knelt down to your level, still slightly above you. 

“Yeah...because if anyone is gonna break you, it’s gonna be me.”

“I care about you a lot, Kanato.” you finally said it. “I like you too much.” you exposed yourself. “I want you stay by your side.” you said pathetically. “Even if you hate me.”

Before you could say another word, Kanato claimed your lips in a kiss. He held the sides of your face in his hands. It was the first time he had ever kissed you. He hummed thoughtfully, pushing you down to the floor so you were laying on your back. He crawled over you, not breaking the kiss. 

“K-kanato.” you whimpered.

“You need to be taught a lesson. If your gonna be my girlfri- I mean pet, you’ll have to learn.” he kissed down your neck.

Suddenly, Kanato ripped the seam of your jeans all the way up your left leg, leaving it completely exposed to the air.

“Oh look, your clothes are messed up, guess we’ll have to take them off.” he smirked. In another swift motion, your pants were torn to shreds. The fabric fell in a circle around you both.

“Teddy look! Y/N is wearing such cute panties.” he cackled maniacally. “Her naughty place is leaking.”

You trembled, waiting for him to do whatever it was he was planning.

“I heard blood tastes better when it’s from your naughty place.” he ran his tongue along the top row of his teeth. “Y/N” he moaned, running his index finger along your clothed heat. “You smelled so much better here...I just want to- ungh.”

He suddenly drove his fangs into your right thigh. You gasped, arching your back. He violently grabbed your legs, holding them down. His tongue lashed against your freshly made wound. 

You could hear him whimpering, cursing under his breath. 

Kanato would deny it with his life, but everything about you was like a drug to you. Tasting your blood was even sweeter than every dessert he’s ever tasted. Feeling you whimper and plea for him did things to him that would make a sailor blush. 

Forget Yui, forget his brothers, forget it all.

“Fuh-” Kanato couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t stop himself from ripping off your panties and driving his tongue into your most sensitive parts. Hearing you moan for him, cry for him. 

The rumors were right, vampires were godly lovers. It was like Kanato knew what you wanted and where. He lashed his tongue against your heat, grabbing your legs. 

“Wrap your legs around my head,” he demanded. “Not like it’s gonna kill me.” he laughed manically. “

Knock knock

“Y/N, are you in there?” Yui’s small voice caused you to panic a little. As you tried to get up, Kanato pushed you right back down, growling into your pussy,

“FUCK!” you whined, making it very obvious what you two were up to. “Kanato, I can’t-”

“Then don’t.” he grunted, not ceasing his movements. “Cum, cum for me.”

“K-KAANAAA!” you cried as you came. You thrashed and writhed under his touch, but he didn’t stop. His tongue never stopped moving. “fuh- fuck! Kanato, t-too much!”

“I said cum for me, I didn’t say I’d stop.” he thrust his fingers into you to add insult to injury. “You’re so fun to fuck with!” he spat.

“Kanato!” you sobbed. You couldn’t stop moving, you couldn’t stop thrashing. Th epleasure had gotten to you so much, you were drooling.

He finally withdrew his mouth from you, smiling evilly at the mess he left.

Kanato had grabbed one of his ties that had left on the floor and bound your wrists together.

“You look so inviting tied up for me...” he shuddered as he bit his lip. He licked his fingers clean of your blood and juices. “Good thing the night is young...because I’m not done with you.”

...

[sylverstorms]

Cassandra x Maiden ----Anonymity Ch. 11 (NSFW) (END)

Ch.1 Ch2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8 Ch.9 Ch.10

If you are curious to know what my version of Alexia looks like, check here

All maids are dismissed from dinner at night.

The doors are kept sealed shut. It is clear whatever the Dimitrescus are discussing is not for ears outside of their family's to overhear.

You are thankful for the windows you have to focus on repairing while they talk. It keeps you from overthinking and that keeps you sane.

Once everything is fixed, the only physical sign of the nightmarish day you had is Cassandra's sickle, still embedded within what is no doubt a priceless painting.

You approach slowly, as though the weapon has a will of its own and can turn right around to finish the job of gutting you. Your fingers close around the leather handle. The first pull does nothing. The blade is so firmly lodged it won't budge an inch.

But you are nothing if not determined.

That is what you busy yourself with until you see a familiar fly come to land on your shoulder. It doesn't cut at your flesh, but it does bite and tug on your shirt. You understand the silent command to follow.

The insect leads you to the dining room. The table is cleaned, but the daughters are all still there, talking in hushed tones among themselves, poker faces adorning their expressions.

Three sets of yellowish eyes immediately fall to the sickle in your hand. Bela raises an amused eyebrow. The redhead whistles. "That looks sexy on you~"

"Can't imagine it would look as good in me." You give Cassandra a pointed look as you pull the chair beside her, but she only shrugs and leans back, motioning for you to hand it over.

"No... did you throw it at her?" Daniela guffaws. "And you missed?"

A sour grimace comes from the brunette. "I wasn't trying that hard..."

"What if I hadn't dodged?" you ask.

"...well. It's good that you did." Cassandra looks down at her manicured nails, as apologetic as she'll let herself be in front of her sisters.

"Do I want to know what was hit instead of Alexia?" Bela carefully asks.

"You really don't." Cassandra shakes her head and they leave it at that for both their sake.

"So." Bela speaks up after a brief moment of silence. "After our discussion with mother, we are to inform you that you're free to come and go from the castle as you please. Cassandra's key is as much hers as it is yours, now. But. Should any other maid escape using it or learn of our weakness, we'll have to do something nobody here wants."

"We'll have to brutally murder you to make an example. And whoever knows." Daniela cuts in and Cassandra gives her a glare. You aren’t looking forward to learning what their interpretation of the word ‘brutal’ is like.

"Yeah I... I could have guessed that." you reply.

"But I'm sure you're smart enough to not let that happen." Bela states. "This settles everything, I think."

"Not everything." Cassandra retorts, a shadow around her eyes.

"Cassandra, drop it. You heard what mother said." The blonde's tone grows harsh.

"What did she say, other than what we already knew?" comes the sharp bite back. "Why is she so vague every time one of us asks how we came to be?"

"I'm sure she has a good reason. What does it even matter about before?"

"Because I'm sick of having nightmares about people I don't remember!" Cassandra slams her hands onto the table. Both you and Daniela flinch back a bit.

You could have already guessed Alcina is not their biological mother. But a lot of puzzle pieces fall into place before your eyes now. And this new picture you're starting to see of the Dimitrescu family isn't a pretty one at all.

The tension between the two siblings is enough to electrify the air around the table.

"Did you ever consider it's probably for the best that you never do remember them?" Bela asks, her irritation ice-cold as opposed to Cassandra's sizzling fire. "Maybe there's a reason nightmares are all that's left."

You can see your lover's jaw clench. Cassandra's fingers curl into white-knuckled fists as she sits back down. "Don't you get these flashes? These almost-memories?"

"No." Bela says as she stands to leave. "I don't get them. And even if I did, I don't much care for leftovers."

"Daniela?" Cassandra asks, turning to her younger sister.

"I uh... I gotta go do a... thing. Bye now!" The redhead disperses into a swarm right there, before any more can be said.

Cassandra huffs in an exasperated, 'of course' manner. Only the two of you are left in the gigantic room, but you're not sure if you should speak up. You're not exactly confident in your ability to comfort others, nor can you tell where she and you currently stand. It doesn't look like either of you has the energy for any type of loaded talk.

You need each other, that much is as certain as the sun’s rise and fall.

And that's enough, for now.

-

-

Within the next few days, Cassandra and you take your time gravitating back together.

You let the thought of her ripping you in half slowly bleed away and she probably does the same with the notion of you using her weakness against her.

It starts with little touches, on your shoulder or your hand, as you make plans to spend a night or two in your house at the village once the temperature allows it.

Then one evening she comes to your room complaining about Daniela just like the old times and it feels only natural to rub her back like you used to.

Cassandra leans into you like a purring cat.

"Oh, you're so warm..." she sighs, resting her head atop your shoulder.

Absent-mindedly, you bring your travelling fingers up to her nape, pressing at a tiny knot of tension there with your thumb. A little moan slips past her lips –you're aware of just how close to touching your neck they are– and it hits you straight in the gut. You've missed drawing these sounds out of her.

Cassandra shifts against you and every minuscule brush of her lithe form on yours brings sparks to life. Her finger reaches under your chin to tip it her way.

"If you want us to stop here I need to leave now." she speaks with that impatience in the edges of her voice you recognize well.

"What happens if you stay?" you ask. It's not just your body warming at the thought of keeping her close.

"Don't tempt me, Alexia." Her lower lip just barely traces yours as she says it. "I'm not good at resisting and you know it."

You know it. Maybe that's why you tempt her with another almost-kiss in the first place. You could never deny how badly you wanted her and that certainly hasn't changed.

Cassandra crashes your mouths together hungrily, like she's been left without it for too long and now she can't go another second without having you. Her leg crosses over yours to lift herself into straddling you, two strong thighs bracketing your hips tight.

She's trying, you can tell, to not tear both your clothes off and have what she craves hard and fast and right there.

You keep a smirk to yourself when you slip your tongue into her mouth and unhook the buttons of her outfit extra slow. Her nails press into your shoulders. You refuse to speed up.

"Can you go any faster?" she breathily pants once you trail your lips to her neck.

"I can." you say. And lightly bite her.

She's one step away from ripping your shirt off, you can tell from how her fingers curl on the fabric. So you make the smarter choice and distract her with another little bite where you know she likes it best, just underneath her ear, then guide her clothes off of her.

Cassandra pushes you back into the mattress and kisses you again while her cool hands make short work of your clothes. You let her grind her hips into you for some measure of relief as you continue to suck and nibble on her flushed, sensitive skin. Her hands find purchase on your sheets when she no longer trusts her control to have them on you.

"Will you touch me already?" she growls into your ear. You can feel how badly she needs it from the way she shakes on every caress near her center, but this is your payback for that sickle throw.

"I am." you give her a smirk, then lightly push a fingertip into tight, wet heat to cut off her response.

"Ah. I— fuck Alexia!" You've never heard her curse before. And you can't figure out why it's so sinfully hot. “Oh, yes, darling, there!”

As much as she deserves to be tormented for the fright she gave you, you can hardly contain your own lust when she's moving on top of you like this, calling you ‘darling’ and hers.

Both of you come undone not long after, gripping at each other, her soft cries of pleasure filling the room until she lowers her head over your heart, completely spent.

Your fingers gently comb through her wavy hair. For quite some time, Cassandra looks so relaxed you think she has fallen asleep on you.

Until she lifts her head up and nuzzles your jawline, in a way she probably knows kills you every time she does it. Her teeth trap your earlobe. That spells trouble even before she speaks up:

"You didn't think one round would do it, did you? After all, I have yet to pay you back for sneaking into my room and stealing my key, darling…"

Well.

It turns out you won a battle and started a war that lasts throughout the night. And it's only the first, you're sure, of many to come.

For once in your life, you can't wait for what's next.

[taestefully-in-luv]

Always You | JJK (Five)

Summary: you and Jungkook have been best friends since freshmen year of college, there’s a lot of unsaid feelings and tension but neither make a move. what happens when his friend Taehyung (also your crush) needs a fake girlfriend?

Pairing: Jungkook x Female reader, slight Taehyung x Reader

Genre: friends to lovers, idiots to lovers, slight slow burn, roommate au, college au, SMUT (starting ch2), fluff, angst (in later chapters) slight crack, lots of drama

Word Count: 12.1k

Warnings: Swearing, alcohol consumption, sexual tension (?) sad oc, mentions of sex, kind of over the clothes action, drama, heated dance session lol, slight memory of sex, hair pulling, back scratching, mention of boner, second chances (?)

Notes: Okay, first of all THAT 1st TEASER PIC!!! DID WE SEE THAT? *chefs kiss*. Anyway thanks for comments you guys leave I really love reading them!!! Remember to send an ask if you want to be added to the taglist or just want to chat about the story:) have a great week everyone!

Taglist: @mooniyooni @thisartemisnevermisses @giadalin @kookiebunny097 @cosmosjk @moonchild1 @just-jeon @anpanman-sonyeondan @starlight-night0 @yessii-i @apollukee @mikasaredscarf1 @kaye-rosales @bunnyjeonjk @dyriddle @seagulljk @hass-mich-los @peachy-skz0325 @wonusbitch

© taestefully-in-luv

Previous --- Next

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May

Gloomy: The dictionary may describe it as hopeless and despairing but really it should just be a picture of your sad, sad face.

1 month…yes, one whole month has passed since you last spoke to Jungkook. No text, no calls, no random show ups, nothing. Gloom. Gloom. Gloom. Graduation came and gone so quickly…you walked the stage with your friends minus two but honestly you can hardly remember the event. You tried your hardest to be as excited as everyone else but the feeling of gloom stayed with you.

By the end of the month you finally started accepting he isn’t coming back and right around that time you actually heard from him—Jungkook that is. He sent you a pathetic text that he’s moving out and will be by to retrieve his things. More gloom.

The next couple weeks after that are a blur, you recall the sound of movers throughout your apartment. You didn’t have the courage to speak to him…you didn’t have the courage to even leave your room if you didn’t have to. You were so wrapped up in everything you didn’t even consider that fact that you will have to find a new roommate to cover the other half of the rent.

Every day just dragged on, every day a repeat of the last. Wake up, drown in black coffee, scroll mindlessly through your phone and work your full time job. You called in sick too many days already so you have to go or you’re at risk at getting fired. The same day, every day. The same gloomy fucking day.

Jimin tried to call or text every day to make sure you were like, alive. He apologized over and over for not telling you as soon as he found out about the Taehyung situation but he felt that if Taehyung was going to tell you then it is best it comes from him and not Jimin. You can understand that. He also frequently would show up at your apartment to surprise you but you rarely let him in. You did feel bad though, he’s just trying to be there for you.

Jimin 6:04pm

Please let me in?

Jimin 6:05pm

Well…I have some take out for you babe, ill leave it on the doorstep.

Jimin 6:05pm

Call me sometime ok? Love you

Guilt would consume your body but you just couldn’t deal with human contact right now.

June

Around month 2 you finally felt okay to see people again—your close people that is—aka Jimin was finally allowed in, he made you take a hot bath while he cleaned up for you and made you a proper meal. The amount of instant ramen containers lying around the place was by far one of the grossest things he’s seen. The shit that was growing…he shudders just thinking about it.

He would come over every day after work in the evenings. He left day time babysitting to Trina.

“Girl…all this over a boy?” she would constantly say.

You also tried applying for job after job, but the postgraduation life is harder than you thought…at least for you. Jimin landed a job as a kids choreographer, Trina starts up at one of the local elementary schools as a kindergartner teacher and you? You’re still working at the bakery down the street. You applied for many entry level positions in the marketing field but failed miserably in interviews…which only further discouraged you and worsened your mood.

It was also around this time you decided to finally delete Jungkook off all social media and block his number. You refuse to hear from him at this point…not that he was reaching out or anything. You wonder what he’s up to postgraduation? No, you don’t want to know or care. You considered hanging up a picture of his face on your wall so you could throw darts at it but you decided that was maybe on the crazy side. Taehyung sends you weekly texts, asking about how your day/week is going. He updates you on his life as well, apparently he got the curator assistant position at the museum that he wanted. You still feel hurt over everything but you are happy for him. It’s funny, you feel so betrayed over that but Jungkook is the cause of your gloom.

Every day just drags on, you feel heavy everywhere you go. Even when you’re just at home in bed.

By the end of the month your friends somehow convinced you to go on a date—a horrible date at that.

He was awkward as hell, a bad kisser and would lightly…tap your ass in attempt to be sexy. It was a disaster, you don’t even remember what the two of you even talked about at dinner. You just remember his tongue being horribly shoved down your throat and his weird ass tapping habit.

July

Then month 3 finally came around. A month where the weeks went by breathing became just a bit easier. Yes, any and everything still reminded you of Jungkook but it didn’t hurt as terribly as the previous months. By the end of the month you even agreed to your first real social outing. You are hesitant, but you agreed…

“I don’t know guys…a birthday party? We like, don’t even know the girl?” you frown, nibbling on the flesh of your bottom lip.

You are sitting in the middle of your bedroom floor, clothes piling all around you as you try to decide on what to wear.

“You need to get out babe…plus it’s a friend of a friend, so it’s cool.” Jimin says holding up a rose colored crop top, motioning for you to nod yes or no to his suggestion. You cock your head to the side, deciding what pants to go with it.

“I have to say I agree with Jimin, y/n.” your new roommate Holly chips in, “Since I’ve moved in I don’t think I’ve seen you go out even once.”

“Also a party is the best place to find some easy dick.” Of course that’s what Trina has to offer.

“Yes to the crop top Jimin.” You point your head towards the shirt, “Okay don’t have to call me out like that Holly.” You glare at your roomie, “And Trina, we both know I ain’t ready for no type of dick.”

“So we’re looking for some pussy tonight?” Trina smirks, “Nice.”

You rolls your eyes, a chuckle escaping your lips, “Shut up.” you throw a pair of shorts at her face.

“But seriously y/n…Maybe Trina is on to something…” Jimin sits down next to you, crossing his legs in front of him, “Maybe this is a good chance to like—”

“If you say move on I will literally kill you.” You cut in, “There’s nothing to move on from!” you throw your hands up dramatically. “Taehyung used me, Jungkook wants nothing to do with me. And—”

“Then why aren’t you ready for any type of dick?” Holly puts in her 2 fucking cents.

“Because I don’t want to be associated with any boys! Jimin is the exception.”

“Somehow I don’t feel flattered by that…” Jimin puts a hand on your shoulder.

“When’s the last time you got off?” Trina abruptly asks. You turn your head in shock at her shamelessness.

“Trina!”

“Answer her, I’m curious too.” Jimin squints at you trying not to laugh.

“It’s…” your eyes slide to the side, “It’s been a while.”

Trina shakes her in disapproval, “Damn girl, really? My fingers constantly playing DJ, you know what I’m sayin?” Trina goes in for a fist bump but you just push her hand away.

“You’re gross.” You laugh out loud, and it sounds like music to everyone’s ears.

“I’m just real babey.” She flicks her hair back with a proud smile on her face.

Having these 3 around has no doubt helped you deal with the loss you feel. You feel like you are still mourning the dead. How’s Jungkook even doing? You’re too afraid to ask Jimin. Too afraid that he’s doing amazing without you. He must of realized how much better off he is without you around and that makes you feel small.

“Fine…” you mutter under your breath…Jimin snaps his head to look at you, his sly smile growing as he watches you fiddle with a short mini skirt.

“Fine what?” Trina asks with a smirk.

“Let’s find me some dick tonight.”

“Hell fucking yeah.” Jimin claps his hands together, “Tonight is about you!”

“y/n makes her debut tonight! She’s hot, she’s single and she is ready to mingle!”

You can’t help but giggle, your hands bunching up the material of the mini skirt as you look down at it, making your decision.

“Let me get ready and we can get this night started!” you rush to your feet, all the sudden feeling excited for tonight. You are going to actually do your hair and your makeup—you even shaved. You are definitely breathing easier tonight and you have to take advantage of that!

“Let’s do shots as we wait girlies,” Holly shows a bottle of rum she had hiding behind her back, shaking it in excitement.

“Naughty girl.” Jimin winks, standing to his feet, heading towards the kitchen to grab some shot glasses.

You get ready quickly, but taking your time where it counts. You give yourself a once over in the mirror and you have to say you are impressed. Your black jean mini skirt sits right below your ass, while your tits pop in this rose crop top. You wear short heels, and simple jewelry with just the right amount of makeup that makes your features stand out, and you have to say you would kiss yourself if you could—you look fucking good.

“woooooo” Jimin and Trina whistle out at the same time as they walk back in your bedroom.

“I’d fuck.” Jimin says plainly.

“Same as fuck.” Trina says bluntly as she swallows down a shot.

“Yeah you look pretty y/n!” Holly smiles, not really on the same level of honestly as your other two friends.

You burst into giggles, throwing your head back in approval. “Thanks guys…..Lets fucking do this.” You walk towards Trina and grab her shot glass, and you take the bottle from Holly, pouring yourself a shot.

“Ready to fucking mingle.” You gulp down the rum, the burn only encouraging you, the warmth stinging your entire chest and you couldn’t feel more content.

This house was one of the bigger ones, it was full of people and more people and like, more people. You managed to swallow down 3 or 4 shots back at your apartment and the alcohol is definitely working its magic on you, the world just a little nicer.

The amount of people doesn’t even bother you like it usually would, instead you find yourself barging through the front door and making your way to the dance floor with your 3 friends trialing behind you.

The heat of the living room is already intoxicating you, the amount of bodies rolling and grinding makes you feel loose and free. Before you know it Jimin is pushing a drink into your hands and you hug him gratefully as you begin chugging it back.

“Woah slow down, we have all night—actually fuck it, I like your spirit tonight!” he chuckles lightly, his hands going to your waist, rocking you to the beat of the blaring music. Trina and Holly disappear into the kitchen to grab more drinks while you and Jimin dance to whatever b…t…ah, forget it, you forgot the band’s name.

“Are you having fun?” Jimin slurs out, his eyes barely visible as he laughs at nothing.

“So much fun!” you yell out over the music then you lean down into his ear and whisper, “Thanks so much Jiminie…I know I was a little difficult…”

“A little?” he teases.

Jimin’s eyes travel behind you before they are widening. You notice, of course. You are about to turn your head to take a look at whatever he is seeing when his snaps back to you in panic, his troubled smile growing.

“Let’s go find Trina and Holly, yeah?” he tries to usher you toward the kitchen and you oblige. Too drunk and feeling too good that his odd behavior goes ignored by you.

“Kay!” you smile, hooking your arm with his. “Letsa go!” you say like you’re fucking Mario.

The two of you walk to the kitchen, finding Trina and Holly playing a game of beer pong with two random guys.

“Hello my bitches!” Trina hollers over the thumping bass, as she scores a cup of pong, her other hand on Hollys lower back.

“Wait, gotta use the bathroom, be right back!” you slur into Jimin’s ear, he just nods distractedly as he watches the game, laughter erupting his body for probably no drunken reason.

You walk back into the living room and start heading towards the other side where the bathroom is. The journey to the bathroom is fun, you accidently bump into a lot of people but they don’t seem to mind as they will just drunkenly smile at you and you would smile back in your own drunken daze. You skim the room with a dopey smile on your face, just admiring the crowd. You are shocked with yourself…you missed people and you cannot believe it. You continue to observe when your eyes land on tattooed hands. The hands are grabbing a handful of ass on the dance floor. You know these hands. Your eyes travel from his hands to his strong arms to his face…it is hiding in the nook of some girls neck and you feel like someone knocked the wind out of you. Jungkook.

He is kissing on some girl, no doubt leaving bruises behind from his attack on her neck. His hands cupping this girls ass so tightly, he guides her hips into his. You watch as she throws her head back in pleasure and you see him smirk. All his signature moves. You are left speechless. What could you even say? Why does this hurt? Why does this make you feel fucking sick? Why does it feel like you aren’t supposed to be witnessing this? Well, you know why but god, why?!

“y/n!!” It’s Jimin, jogging up behind you, “Fuck, I was trying to avoid you seeing this…” he admit softly, “I swear I didn’t think he was going to be here tonight…he didn’t seem that interested when I asked him about it…”

“It’s fine Jimin…” you mumble.

“Does it feel weird? Seeing him with this girl…?” Jimin is obviously trying to get you to admit something right now but you are not in the right head space to even give it a second thought.

“Why should it? Plus I’m used to this…she’s just some random girl for one night.” You twirl the ends of your hair between your fingers.

“Oh babe…” Jimin glances down at the ground, “This girl…she…he’s brought her to every party for the last month…” Jimin sounds as sorry as you feel.

The same girl? That’s impossible, you scoff. There’s no way Jungkook is actually seeing someone. But that doesn’t stop your stomach from twisting and turning and making you feel fucking sick.

“What do you mean?” you finally slur out, leaning your frame on Jimin.

“He brings her and they leave together too…” Jimin holds on to you, “I haven’t really asked him about her though.”

“Whatever. Fuck him, right? I won’t let this ruin my night.” You smile coyly, draping your arms around your friend. “Bathroom please.” You pout theatrically, pointing your head towards the bathroom.

“Okay let’s get you peeing in peace.” Jimin laughs, guiding you towards the door.

Once at the door, you knock a couple times to find that it is empty, “I’ll wait for you out here.” Jimin assures you.

Once inside the small room, you bunch up your skirt and pull down your panties, squatting on the toilet. You sigh in relief as you pee, but the relief you feel in your body stops when you recall the way Jungkook held and kissed this random but not so random girl.

Why should it bother you? It’s about time Jungkook got serious! But why did he have to dump you to achieve that? And why did It have to be with someone el…

You reach for the toilet paper, ripping it after a few sheets and wipe yourself as you drunkenly sing a tune. So what? You can easily replace Jungkook too!

You stand up, pulling your panties up and your skirt down and take a long good look in the mirror. Your hair is still intact, your makeup is only a little smeared—quick fix, and your tits are still poppin’. This night is just beginning, you decide. A whole new wave of confidence begins washing over you.

“Ready!” You pounce on Jimin’s back, he stumbles forward while laughing wholeheartedly.

“Should we look for Trina and Holly again? They’re probably still playing beer pong!”

“Sure.” You smile, walking hand in hand with Jimin as you make your way back to the kitchen.

Hours pass and you are now outside on the back porch piss drunk with your 3 friends and a couple new friends. Nick and his pal that you can’t remember the name of—but you remember Nick. He’s really tall and has nice muscles covering his body, his light hair is messy and looks like you would have fun pulling it.

“And that’s why I think aliens are already here bro, like they are probably here at this fucking party bro.” No name friend finishes his point. Nick holds in his chuckle as his drunk friend rambles.

“Totally bro.” Then his eyes land on you. Fuck, were you staring? Oh well, it’s best to get to the point. You two have been making eyes at each other all night and it’s time to make the next move.

“Hey Nick, wanna grab a drink with me in the kitchen?” you inquire with a sly smile.

Jimin’s eyes widen before he’s smirking “Don’t be silly, wrap that willy.”

Trina and Holly laugh at Jimin’s words while you turn fucking red with embarrassment.

“Sorry about him…” You excuse Jimin, but you continue to smile slyly.

Nick grins with all his teeth as he takes your hand and leads you back inside the house. His hand is much larger than yours and you are already imagining what his beefy fingers will do to your vagina. God, what’s his dick like???

You enter the kitchen and you and him walk towards the cooler full of beers, he lets you stand to the side as he goes to grab them.

“Nick!!!!” you hear a familiar voice and you wince. Jungkook stands next to the cooler, his hand wrapped around the girls hand, but he briefly lets go of it to dap up your fuck for the night.

“What’s up bro!” Nick returns the handshake, a wide smile on his face.

They know each other?

“I thought you said you weren’t coming tonight?” Jungkook’s hand goes back to holding on to the girl.

“I wasn’t going to but,” he nods towards you, “Glad I did.” He winks. Jungkook’s eyes follow Nicks nod and when he sees you stand there awkwardly he goes completely pale. Your eyes meet uncomfortably, Jungkook let’s go of the girls hand without a second thought.

“y/n?” he questions with a pained expression.

“You know her?” Nick asks, totally out of the loop.

You shift from one foot to the other, not really sure what to do or say. So you settle for his name. “Jungkook.” It feels foreign on your tongue. Like if you said it 3 times in a mirror a sinister ghost would come to murder you.

Jungkook opens his mouth then closes it then opens it then closes it again.

“Baaaaabe,” the girl next to him whines, “let’s get out of here already.” She says, not even acknowledging your existence.

Jungkook shamelessly eyes you up and down, his shock is very evident as he looks at you.

You can’t help but smile a little, knowing you look damn good.

“Let’s go too, Nick.” You saunter to his side, grabbing a hold of his bicep.

That’s when Jungkook knocks out of daze, his brows crease as he looks between the two of you.

“Wait—you and Nick?” he asks, completely amused.

“Is that a problem?”

“Nope.” Jungkook looks fucking smug as he smiles, his hand going to grab the girls hand again. “See you later?” he asks you. You of all people! “Uh? Probably not?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Jungkook winks, turning around to leave as he leads his girl out.

Nick just continues to smile, completely oblivious, “So cool that we all know each other!” he grips on to your waist.

“Wait, how do you know Jungkook?”

“We—”

“Wait, it honestly doesn’t matter. Let’s just get out of here.”

“My place?” Nick breathes into your ear, he pushes your hips into his crotch so you can feel his half hard cock.

“Why are you already getting hard?” you tease, leaning up to kiss his neck.

“Honestly, I can’t stop staring at your tits. And I am imagining all the things I want to do to them.” He confesses hotly.

The uber ride to his place is short, only 10 minutes and it goes by quickly as you two have one another’s tongues down each others throats. His hands traveling all around your body, he even manages to slip his fingers past your panties to feel how wet you are.

“Fuck I can’t wait to get you inside…” his rapid breaths fan across your face as you nibble on his neck.

“Gonna fuck me?” you whisper quietly, not trying to get heard by the Uber driver, but you could also hardly care if he hears you or not, he gets 5 stars.

“Want you to ride me.” He palms his cock through his pants as he imagines you bouncing on his cock for him.

“If you deserve it like a good boy.” You replace his hand with your own, rubbing him ferociously over his jeans. You haven’t felt dick in months and the feeling is driving you absolutely wild, you haven’t felt this needy in a long time.

The Uber comes to a stop, parking in front of an apartment building. He lets the two of you know you reached your destination. You and Nick giggle as you thank him and stumble out of the car as you follow him to his apartment. He would stop every few seconds to plant kisses on your lips and grab your ass with a tight squeeze. He groans and rolls his eyes back as he explores your body.

“Wait til we’re inside,” you breathe out, your voice silky as hell.

Finally, after a short, kiss filled elevator ride later you arrive at his front door. His lips never leaving yours as he pulls out his keys, fumbling with them until he finds the right one.

He pulls away for a second to unlock the door and desperately pushes it open to let the two of you inside. Your lips are already back on his as you two trip into the entry way of the apartment, you walk him backwards, until his back is against a wall.

The apartment is dark besides the living room TV, you take a second to pull back and admire Nick’s fucked out expression, the blue glow of the TV making everything feel surreal.

You dive back in to kiss him, he prods his tongue into your mouth, swirling it around with yours making you moan into his mouth.

“Hi guys!”

Your eyes shoot open, mouth still attached to Nicks. You push your head back, disconnecting from Nick and yank your head to the left where you see a wild Jungkook sitting on the living room sofa, his mouth full of the cereal he is eating. He is wearing the most shit eating grin you have ever seen on him.

“Jungkook?! What the fuck?” You spit out, totally fucking shocked. Like, obviously.

“Hey man…” Nick breathes out heavily, trying to speak properly, “I thought you would be at Vanessa’s tonight?”

“Nah,” Jungkook smiles, “Dropped her off and came home.”

HOME?

“H-Home?” You look between the two guys, what the fuck does he mean by that. This is Nicks place, right?

“Oh you didn’t know?” Jungkook nods his head toward Nick, “Nick here is my beloved roommate.”

“What the fuck…” you mutter under your breath, trying to understand the mother fucking situation. Were you about to fuck Jungkook’s roommate? Are you still going to is the real question?

“Wait, how do you two even know each other?” Nick starts to look antsy, “Don’t tell me she’s one of the girls you’ve fucked…come on bro, leave some for the rest of us.” He chuckles somewhat bitterly.

“No!” you’re quick to say. You begin smoothing out your skirt, then your hair. “We just…”

“y/n is my bestie!” Jungkook grins, putting the cereal down and standing up. He walks forward until he is making a triangle with you and Nick.

“Was.” You spit out harshly, crossing your arms across your chest. Nick just stands there confused as hell, looking between the two of you.

“Anyway, I should get going.” You turn your body to Nick, a look of apology on your face.

“What? We can just go to my room?” he slurs, tugging on his pants uncomfortably, his boner still apparent.

“Sorry, no longer in the mood.”

You pull out your phone to order an Uber when Jungkook takes your phone from you.

“I’m not drunk, I can drive you.” He offers. You push your head back in disbelief, how does Jungkook have the AUDACITY to offer that to you?

“Why the fuck would I want that?”

“So we can…” His eyes slide over to the ever growing confused Nick, “Talk.”

You haven’t spoken to Jungkook in 3 months and today is finally the day you are able to breathe a little easier and he just has to barge back in.

“Like I said,” You snatch your phone back from him, “Why the fuck would I want that?”

Nick shifts around uncomfortably, his eyes darting from you to Jungkook.

“Well, I am gonna head to my room…uh, bye y/n…it was nice meeting you…I guess…”

You and Jungkook both turn your heads toward Nick at the same time, eyes shooting daggers at him.

“Yeah, bye.” Jungkook dismisses his roommate, his jaw clenching.

“Nice to meet you too…”

Nick walks backward until his back meets his bedroom room, he looks at the two of you one last time before turning around to disappear into his room.

“I said, let me drive you home.”

“And I said, why the fuck would I want that?”

“y/n don’t choose now to be difficult.” Jungkook takes a step closer to you, his hands running through his dark, messy hair. His eyes shut in frustration, “I just want to talk to you.”

“And I don’t want to talk to you.” You take a step back, “Plus, how would your girlfriend feel if you took me home?”

Jungkook’s eyes narrow, his mouth setting in a firm line.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Could of fooled me and like, everyone else.” You scoff.

Jungkook bites down on his bottom lip, not knowing what to say. While she’s not his girlfriend she’s also not not his girlfriend. It’s complicated.

“Can I please, just please, can I take you home?”

“No, Jungkook. The fucking audacity,” you scoff again, “You haven’t spoken to me in 3 months,” your voice fucking cracks and you feel like dying. “Don’t start now.”

“y/n…” he runs another frustrated hand down his tired face, “I didn’t mean for it to go this long…” “I don’t fucking care, Jungkook.”

You feel your chest begin to burn, and your eyes begin to gloss over but you won’t cry. You won’t give him the satisfaction.

“I want nothing to do with you.”

You stare at the phone in your hands as you begin ordering your Uber when he yanks it from your hands once again, he hides the phone in his back pocket and you snarl.

“What the hell Jeon?”

“I said I am driving you home so we can talk so that’s what we are gonna fucking do, okay?” he grabs your hand and begins walking you towards the front door. There’s something about Jungkook...you decide to listen. You watch silently as he puts on his shoes and grabs his wallet and keys.

“Okay…” you finally answer, your voice timid.

He said you guys are going to talk but the car ride has been mostly silent save the low radio playing in the background. Maybe it’s better this way, you think. You aren’t sober, that’s for sure but you also don’t think you are drunk enough to handle this properly. You decide maybe that’s also for the best.

“You sir, are a fucking asshole.” You speak up, your fingers playing with the zipper of your purse. The car smells like it always does, his fresh laundry car freshener and you get sucked into a million memories linked with this scent.

“I know.” Jungkook eyes you from the driver seat, you shiver from the running AC and so he turns it down, “There’s a blanket in the back if you want to grab it.”

“No thanks, don’t know where that’s been.”

“It’s clean, I promise.”

Your eyes go wide as you recall his last promise to you…”Just a few days. I promise.”

“Yeah, I don’t actually believe in your promises anymore.” You continue to pick at the zipper of your purse, your eyes never leaving the zig and zag of the material.

“I needed space y/n, fucking sue me.” He groans out, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Oh I wish I could.” You snap back.

You feel your chest burn and tighten again, your eyes slightly watering. You have to force them shut to keep from any tears growing.

“I called and texted you every day.” You whisper, his grip getting tighter on the steering wheel.

“I gave you a few days Jungkook. But I never heard from you until 11 at night one night telling me you are fucking moving out.”

“I know, that was…fucked up, I admit. But I had to do what I had to do and I just wish you would let me explain that—”

“No.” you cut him off, “You don’t deserve to explain anything.”

“You mean so much to me y/n…”

“Don’t.”

Jungkook pulls over on the side of the road, turning off the ignition.

“What are you doing?” you sputter out.

He clicks his seatbelt off his body and turns to face you, “Getting comfortable.”

“Why?”

“Will you look at me?” Jungkook tilts his head towards you, “Will you please look at me?”

“No.” you stay facing forward, your hands folded in your lap.

“y/n…please.” His voice sounds strained and you almost feel bad. Almost, but not quite.

You don’t need this…you don’t need him. Ouch, you feel pain in your chest as you think that…oh, the lies you tell yourself.

“Say what you need to say Jungkook, so you can take me home.” Your face stays neutral.

Jungkook sighs out, feeling almost defeated, but not quite.

“I…I am so sorry.” He finally says.

“About what?”

“Everything y/n.” his voice cracks and somehow you feel satisfied.

“You’ll have to be more specific if you ever want my acceptance”

“I know…the first thing I am sorry for is not telling you about Taehyung. That was…that was wrong of me—”

“No shit, but go on.” Your voice stays steady as you speak.

“I was worried about other shit, I was selfish and it’s taking me a long time to forgive myself…but I’ve thought a lot about it these last few months and—and…”

“Oh? You’re worried about you forgiving yourself? Shouldn’t you be a little more concerned about I don’t know, me?”

Jungkook frowns at your words, because well, you’re right. And he’s getting to that part but you keep interrupting him. But he lets you.

“Yes. I am most worried about you, of course.” He breathes out. “You have no idea what these 3 months without you have felt like…”

“Really Jungkook? If anyone knows its fucking me. I went 3 months without you too. You left me!” you start to lose your composure as you speak, your hands gripping on to your poor purse. “When I was going through a really hard time you straight up left me.” You whisper.

“Please believe me…I had my reasons. It was truly for the best y/n.”

“For the best?” you scoff. “You’re such an asshole.”

Jungkook winces at your words, he knows you mean them and that hurts him even more.

“Can you just trust me?” Jungkook blurts out.

Huh? You shake your head, disappointed he would say something so …well, ridiculous.

“Just stop, Jungkook.” You hesitantly roll your eyes, still shaking your head.

Jungkook licks his lips over and over, trying to figure out his next words.

“I really really,” he begins to lose it, his eyes darting all around the car. “just need you to trust me.” He blinks repeatedly, his eyes not focusing on anything in particular.

You, of course, do not believe your ears. Trust him? How could you possibly trust him?

“I just really…I really had my reasons y/n. And I’m sorry, but I just need you to just trust me, that I had my reasons and that I do care about you.” His voice is shaky and you’re uncertain how to take this information.

“I’m confused…” you begin, you tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. “You want me to trust you? Even after you left me? Even after I ‘threw myself’ at you?!”

“You weren’t in the right head space y/n…you were vulnerable and…and you didn’t actually want me. You just were feeling used and rejected and needed something to make you feel wanted. To feel better. You wanted to use me for that and I couldn’t let you. But how much could I handle? You liked one of my friends, dated him…sort of, even slept with him and I had to be your shoulder to cry on when,” his breathing picks up heavily as he tries to speak, “it doesn’t matter.” He grits out.

You sit there…speechless. He wasn’t wrong, was he? You were feeling lost and rejected and used and you just wanted something or someone to feel better and who better than your best friend? But it’s also his fault you needed things to work out with Taehyung in the first place!

“Jungkook—”

“I’m not done.” He breathes out, his hot breath reaching your skin.

“I needed some space to think. But I realized I couldn’t properly think things through if I saw you every day, so yeah, I moved out. I’m sorry…” He runs a hand through his hair, a light chuckle makes it way past his lips “Then I met Vanessa.”

“I don’t want to talk about your little girlfriend.” You turn to face forward in your seat, your eyes glancing at the stop sign ahead.

“I told you, she’s not my girlfriend. But it is complicated.”

You continue to look straight ahead, your heart racing in your chest. The subject of “Vanessa” making you feel anxious.

“Complicated how?” you gulp.

“Don’t worry about it.” He laughs to himself, you turn your head to look at him.

“Are you serious, Jungkook?”

“We fuck y/n.”

“But it’s more than that right?”

“Yeah…” Jungkook bites down on his lip.

You look at him bewildered.

“Do you like her? Love her?”

You grip your purse in your lap, waiting for his answer. How would you feel if he answers yes? Are you brave enough to endure that answer? And if he says no? should you be happy? Should you feel relieved?

“No.” he closes his eyes, he folds his hands in front of him. “It’s complicated.”

You sign in relief—oh. Relief is the emotion you are feeling. Why? Why should it matter?

“Why are you telling me all of this?” you whisper.

“I want to be friends again, y/n.” he says softly, his eyes searching yours.

This is madness, how the hell could you save this friendship? Your face scrunches up and the first couple of tears slide down your cheeks, you shake your head as they continue to fall.

“You don’t know how this makes me feel…” you cry out. “I don’t even know how it makes me feel.”

You miss him, so fucking much and he’s right here offering himself to you. But you ‘re so hurt.

“y/n…I know I hurt you. But you gotta believe me when I say it is the hardest thing I have had to do…you understand that right? I had to do it…you understand right?” he begs.

“You were so quick to abandon me, Jungkook.” You drop your head into your hands, the tears uncontrollable now.

“I…” Jungkook begins to panic, his own eyes glossing over. “Fuck, I’m so sorry. Please y/n…I can make it up to you.”

“Things would never be the same, you get that right?” you bawl into your lap, your words coming out broken.

“Please baby, I just need you in my life again…” Jungkook admits, his own words choppy. He reaches his hand to touch you, to his surprise you don’t flinch. His hand cups the back of your head and he begins to massage it softly.

“I have missed you so much and nothing I mean nothing can replace you.” He hesitates to continue, “trust me…I have tried.”

You sob into your hands harder, the weight of his words crushing you.

“I’m sorry Jungkook but I…I don’t believe you.”

Jungkook’s eyes widen as he absorbs your words, his mouth falls open in shock. Don’t believe him?

“What—what do you mean? What are you saying?” his panic filled voice makes your stomach churn.

“I reject your offer. Now please take me home.” You lift your head and stare straight ahead. “I’m serious.”

Jungkook face twists into a bewildered expression, he doesn’t believe his ears. You…reject him?

“Wait—”

“I said take me home now.” This time you snap your face in his direction, the cold look in your eyes piercing his very soul.

“Okay.”

Hopeless: the dictionary describes it as without hope ; despairing. But in reality, it’s just a picture of Jungkook’s poor, poor face.

Jungkook parks in his designated spot in the lot of his apartment complex, he reverses in because why the hell not. So extra. His drive home was silent… not even the radio on a low volume keeping him company, just complete silence. He turns the car off but doesn’t make a move to get out, he just continues to sit here in his car and sigh out dramatically every 5 seconds.

He’s so confused and lost on what to do. He bangs his head against the steering wheel a few times just for the hell of it, he just…he didn’t think you would reject him. But honestly? Can he blame you? All he’s done lately is be selfish and mess up over and over again. But he wishes you could just trust him but he also wishes he could just tell you the truth. Maybe then you could understand his position and you wouldn’t be mad at him anymore. But he has to wait.

Jungkook’s head is still banging against the steering wheel when more thoughts of you bombard his mind. His breathing picks up and he starts to sniffle, he doesn’t want to cry but you just…you don’t want anything to do with him. He balls his hands into fists and hit the steering wheel over and over causing the horn to go off a few times but he doesn’t care he’s so upset, he just….

When Jungkook saw you tonight for the first time in 3 months he swears his heart actually stopped. He swears it raced so quickly that it just stopped. He let go of Vanessa’s hand so quickly because he wanted to rush to you and hug you close, he wanted to just feel you. Not having touched your skin for the last 3 months…he doesn’t want to imagine even another day.

A few tears slip past his closed lids, he chuckles darkly as he recalls you and Nick. He thought, wow, the universe is cruel and also hilarious. His fucking roommate? He shakes his head, laughing again but his lips remain downward. He feels so fucking helpless right now. But he deserves this, he deserves to feel this pain. He did this to himself and he’s fully aware of that.

Jungkook thinks of your face, he thinks of your smile, he thinks of your eyes and he cries harder, his tears landing on the steering wheel and sliding down landing on to his lap. Yes, he feels like all hope is lost but he knows he cannot give up. He will win you over again one day. He lifts his head and wipes his tear streaked cheeks with the back of his hand and breathes out steadily.

“y/n…” he whispers to himself. Your name leaves his mouth in frustration. He won’t give up. He can’t.

~~~~

“And they were roommates?!” Jimin shouts, a banana half sticking out of his mouth, Trina gasps and whispers “Oh my god they were roommates.”

“Yeah, it was a total shit show.” You bang your head against your breakfast table. Holly rubs your back as she sits next to you.

“Then what happened?” she pries further.

“Yeah what the hell happened y/n!” Jimin yells out.

“He asked to be friends again…and I totally rejected him. Maybe I was too harsh? He was so sad guys…it makes me think…I might agree to kind of being…friends?”

Jimin shuts his eyes as a frown decorates his face, he places a hand on his hip and he inhales a sharp breath, “Listen…you’re both my friends and of course I want you to be good again…but he hurt you …bad.”

“I know Jiminie, but his reasons…” you bite your lip, “Never mind.”

“Well, I don’t like it.” Trina butts in. “He fucking left you, remember?”

“Yes Trina, I fucking remember—”

“Then fucking act like it!”

“Trina relax,” Holly intervenes. “They have a long history, right? It’s hard to just forget about everything…”

Jimin stands from his chair, hands on both hips. “Fine, if we are doing this…then you better actually try. Don’t half ass shit, if you’re going to be friends then don’t be an asshole to him, don’t make snarky remarks…I know your ass.”

Jimin has a good point, you haven’t actually thought about how you will act.

“I’ll be a good girl.” You raise your right arm to salute him.

“Fucking smart ass.” He rolls his eyes.

“Are we serious right now?” Trina shakes her head, “You moped around for 3 fucking months y/n. You cried every time you even thought of Jungkook…which was a fucking lot.” She points out, “Listen, you stayed strong when you talked to him in the car. Don’t break just because you feel bad for the dude because he’s fucking pitiful. He doesn’t deserve your pity girl. He’s an asshole!”

“Trina, be nice.” Holly says sternly, reaching forward to grab on to Trina’s hand. Trina visibly relaxes and nods her head towards Holly and smiles softly.

You and Jimin share a look. Are they….?

“You…” You slam your eyes shut, Trina’s words ringing loudly in your ears. You know she’s right. “I’ll think about it some more. For now, I gotta get ready for work.”

~~~~

“Doesn’t Hazel look so pretty here?” Adam shoves his phone in your face as he gushes about his girlfriend.

“Yes dude, she’s so pretty.” You deadpan. “Now can you please put the brownies in the oven? We’re low.”

“Wait wait…here’s one of us together at the park.” He nudges his phone in your hands, you roll your eyes but you take it.

The two of them are sitting on a park bench, she’s leaning into his frame and they both have wide smiles on their faces. They seem so in love. And you know they are because fucking Adam reminds you every 20 seconds.

“Their love makes me sick.” Jade walks over, her hands patting down on her work apron, her tone is bland but she still tries to smile. “Like, we get it.”

“Who loves who more?” you begin with a toothy grin, “Adam to Hazel or Lenny to the sugar cookies?” you laugh while pointing at said Lenny stuffing his face with the reject cookies. Jade and Adam chuckle while they stare at him.

“Hey guys, really?” Lenny says with his mouth full. “You know I feel bad when we throw them away.” He pouts, crumbs decorating his lips.

“Lenny I catch you eating fresh ones all the time!” Adam points out.

“Sometimes they’re a little ugly…” Lenny reasons, “So I…”

“You don’t have to explain my guy, you just really love your cookies.” You hand Adam back his phone as you head towards the walk in freezer to take out the brownies yourself. You load up a tray and stick those suckers in the oven.

“You’re useless Adam.” Jade sticks a piece of gum in her mouth and chews obnoxiously “U-s-e-l-e-s-s. Useless.”

“You’re always so mean to me Jade what did I ever do to you?”

All 4 of you shoot your heads up when you hear the bell go off on the door of the bakery, its loud chime signaling the arrival of a customer.

“Oh.” Jade says while popping a bubble. “It’s your usual customer y/n.”

You tilt your head towards the front of the store to get a look at who she is talking about, and yup its him. Your most consistent customer who orders the same damn thing every single day. 2 oatmeal raisin cookies and that’s it.

“Can someone else just take care of him today?” you whine, “I’m not in the mood to argue.”

“You know he’s just going to ask for you…” Lenny says stuffing his face with another cookie.

“God damn it.” You huff out, you grab two gloves from the box on the counter and begin walking towards the front of the store.

You reach the front counter and take in your enemy—you mean, your customer.

“And what do I owe the pleasure Mister Oatmeal Raisin?” you raise a brow towards the man. He’s only a few inches taller than you, his hair is a sandy color today and you hate to admit it looks good on him.

“You know you could just call me by name.” the man sways side to side with a smirk on his face.

“I like Mister Oatmeal Raisin.”

He has been coming to this store for the last couple of months and you two…don’t necessarily get along swimmingly. He complains a lot and is a total smart ass. And you? Well, you’re not much better.

“Well, I’ll have my usual.” He smiles, “And you know the drill, please make sure there is a normal amount of raisins and not a million, I don’t want 8 raisins a bite. But one every now and then.”

You roll your eyes extremely dramatically, pressing the buttons on the screen for his order.

“Sir yes sir.” You salute towards him, “How could I not know the drill?”

“That’s the spirit.”

You spin on your heels and head towards the back to heat up his two cookies. You carefully select one cookie with barely any raisins and one cookie with a million, just like he didn’t want. You cackle to yourself as you place them in the baggy, feeling beyond satisfied.

“How haven’t you gotten fired?” Adam crosses his arms over his chest as he watches you, “And how hasn’t he complained about you? You do this every time I don’t get it.”

“He likes her.” Jade says plainly while scrolling through her phone.

“As fucking if!” you scoff, “He wants nothing but to annoy me!” But you can’t help but smile.

“He literally only asks for you every time you’re in.” Lenny reasons, “but you shouldn’t like him back…he likes the worst cookie on the menu. Sugar is where it’s at.”

You laugh at your coworker while walking back up towards the front of the store, reaching the counter.

“Your cookies!” you hand him the baggy with an evil smirk, “I hope you enjoy them.” You wink.

The man opens the baggy and inspects each cookie and with his own evil smirk he winks back at you, “Are we serious right now?” his sly smile doesn’t leave his face as he begins to complain, “You are such a brat.”

“$4 Mister Oatmeal Raisin.”

He hands you the cash, you put it away quickly and with a wide smile you gesture towards the door for him to leave.

“Min Yoongi.” He shakes the bag of cookies in front of him, “Not Mister Oatmeal Raisin.” He turns around and starts walking towards the door but before he exits he tilts his head to look at you one last time, “See you tomorrow…y/n.”

You feel a harsh blush creep up on your cheeks, or your whole face actually. Maybe your whole body. You feel taken aback he knows your name but then you remember you have a god damn name tag.

“Uh…yeah.”

“See you tomorrow…y/n.” all 3 of your coworkers mock in a deep voice.

“Shut up guys!” you whine into your hands, “Can we please just get back to work!”

~~~~~

A few weeks later

The drive to Jimin’s is a quick 7 minutes but you did take a little detour. You decided to stop at the pizzeria that’s on the way and grab a hot pizza for the two of you.

“Hehe.” You look over to the steamy food sitting in the passenger seat.

Jimin has been such a great friend to you all this time and you feel like you’ve never really thanked him…so, tonight you two are going to have a fun night in—he just doesn’t know it yet.

Who doesn’t love being surprised with food?

You pull up to Jimin’s apartment complex and after driving in circles you finally find a parking spot. You grab your purse, your backpack, and the pizza and make your way up to his apartment.

You knock on his front door a few times but get no answer. Maybe he’s not home? No, you definitely hear music coming from the other side…so, you decide to call him.

“Hello?”

“Jimin~ let me in!” you sing into the phone.

“You’re—you’re here?”

“Let me in already!” and with that you hang up and wait patiently outside the door.

A few moments pass before the door is opening up, when Jimin really registers that it’s you he’s kind of closing the door until only his face is shown through the crack.

“Ummm…yes?”

You quirk a brow at the boy, “What do you mean ‘yes?’ let me in!” you begin walking forward when a panicked Jimin opens the door wider to let himself outside and shut the door behind him.

“y/n…why are you here? Did we have plans tonight?” he looks down at the pizza in your hands.

“Not exactly…” you admit, “But I figured we could have a night in.”

Jimin frowns. Fucking frowns!

“Or not?” you say awkwardly.

You hear some sort of banging on the other side of the door and then it clicks.

“Oh? You have someone over?” you smirk.

“Uhhh…no. Nothing like that.” Jimin’s eyes slide to the side as he tries to think of what to say next.

“Babe—”

“Jimin!”

The door is being swung wide open and your eyes travel from some horrendous toes socks to some tight jeans to a striped t shirt to yes, Jungkook’s surprised face.

“Oh.” You both say at the same time.

You and Jungkook stare at one another for a few moments, neither of your eyes leaving the other when Jimin clears his throat.

“Sorry y/n. Jungkook is already over…” he gives you an apologetic smile.

“Is it just you two?” you ask quietly.

“Huh? Uh, yeah.”

You glance down at the pizza and think to yourself. You and Jungkook may not be friends but you can be civil? Yeah, totally! You can definitely be civil! You already bought this fucking pizza so you and Jimin are going to eat it! And you guess, Jungkook too.

“Okay, let me in.” you start shoving your way past Jimin, you watch as his and Jungkook’s eyes go wide.

“Maybe you didn’t hear him, but I am already hanging out with him?” Jungkook sputters out. He awkwardly moves to the side anyway to let you through.

“I can be civil with you Jungkook. Plus, I don’t want this pizza to go to waste. So let’s eat.” You walk through, nudging the pizza box into Jungkook’s hands, he takes it while looking at Jimin with shocked eyes.

Jimin just shrugs and follows you inside.

“Yeah, let’s eat.” He says nonchalantly.

Jungkook is left at the door with the pizza in his hands as he is left completely dumbfounded. He is malfunctioning.

“Jungkook?” you call out over your shoulder, “Hurry up, I’m hungry!”

“Yeah, Jungkook hurry up!” Jimin smirks, he isn’t totally sure what’s going on but he kind of likes it.

“So what were you guys doing before I got here?” you shove an entire slice of pizza down your throat, the sauce getting left behind on your lips.

“I was teaching Jungkook some of my dance moves…we made a bet that he couldn’t learn the entire routine in 3 times…and—”

“Let me guess, he fucking learned it.” You laugh.

Jimin groans, his head thrown back as he begins nodding his head ‘yes.’

“So annoying! What can’t he do!” Jimin throws the pizza crust in the box and Jungkook immediately picks it up and eats it.

“Pshh, I could name a few things.” You point out bitterly. “But we won’t get into that.”

“Yeah, please don’t.” Jimin pleads.

“I’m curious…what is it you think I cant do?” Jungkook quirks a brow at you and your eyes darken in his direction.

“You really want me to?” you take a napkin and wipe your lips, “It’s nothing nice.” You admit.

“Oh then yes, please don’t.” Jungkook is quick to say.

“Yes, please don’t.” Jimin begs again.

The 3 of you are sitting on the living room floor, maybe only 30 minutes or so has passed by and it’s not too awkward. But it’s not necessarily comfortable either. Jimin looks between you and Jungkook constantly, waiting for someone to crack but neither of you really speak to each other. Both of you really only communicating with Jimin.

“So Jimin, are you going to show me another routine?”

“Why? So you can prove you’re the master of everything again? No thanks.”

“Jimin, maybe you can show me a few steps?”

Jimin smiles awkwardly while Jungkook is quick to burst out laughing. You snap your head towards Jungkook and raise your brows at him.

“Why is Jungkook laughing, Jimin?”

“Umm…” Jimin smiles softly, “You aren’t the most…”

Jungkook laughs harder as he watches Jimin trying to explain.

“Aren’t the most…?” You tilt your head towards the boy.

“C’mon y/n don’t make me say it…” Jimin drags out his words in a whine, he plays with his fingers, looking around the room awkwardly.

“Just say it Jimin.” Jungkook chuckles out.

“If you’re trying to say I’m a bad dancer, we all know that’s not true!” you defend once you catch on, you pout at the boys.

“Well…”

“You have both told me I am a good dancer!”

“Well, you know how to move. But steps…following a routine…that’s different. You aren’t very coordinated.” Jimin finally admits, a sheepish grin on his face.

“He means you can roll your hips but your feet are clumsy as fuck.” Jungkook says, still laughing at the situation.

“Shut up.” You glare at Jungkook.

“No, he’s right.” Jimin begins laughing as well, he looks at you and smiles. Well, if Jimin is saying it…maybe it might be true. It’s not like you didn’t kind of know. But still!

“Fine, whatever. Don’t teach me then.”

Suddenly, Jimin’s phone is going off and he rushes to the kitchen to answer it. You and Jungkook eat your pizza in silence, awkwardly catching one another’s gaze.

“So—”

“Don’t talk to me.” You cut in. Jimin isn’t here so it’s not like you have to be totally social with Jungkook.

“Oh.” Jungkook dramatically slumps his shoulders and pouts. You watch him as he throws a silent fit like the baby he is. “Okay.”

Jimin walks back into the living room looking annoyed, he stands between you two and throws a hand on his hip.

“I have to go down to the front office, there was a mix up in packages…I shouldn’t take too long…” he bites down on his plump bottom lip, “Please be civil while I’m gone. Jungkook…” he looks at the boy then at you, “y/n…” he warns.

“Sir yes sir!” you salute towards your friend with a straight face.

Jimin only narrows his eyes as he looks between you two.

“I’m serious…” he says.

Then he is putting on some shoes and heading out the front door, the soft click making you shudder. You’re alone with Jungkook.

A few minutes pass and you both awkwardly just sit there, sometimes catching the other looking. You finally huff out and accidentally giggle.

“What’s funny?” Jungkook’s curiosity getting the best of him.

“It’s just…I feel like we’re Jimin’s divorced parents and we’re trying to be civil for our child.”

Jungkook stares at you with scrunched brows, then looks away while a chuckle escapes his lips.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

You only nod your head in response. You two go back to the awkward silence.

You aren’t used to this…this awkward and odd silence that lingers between you two. It feels so fucking suffocating you almost wish you were on total talking terms so you didn’t have to endure this shit show.

“You know I could…no, forget it.” Jungkook bites his nails as he speaks, “I…”

“What?” you don’t mean to snap at him, but somehow even talking with an attitude feels better than not talking at all.

“I was going to say…I could teach you some steps…then you could surprise Jimin. He’s been working on a salsa piece…I can teach you some? Then maybe he will stop talking shit on your dancing.” Jungkook laughs awkwardly.

“Wait—he talks shit?!” somehow this doesn’t surprise you in the least.

“Only a little.” Jungkook shows you how little with his pointer finger and thumb. “But uh, want me to show you?”

“I don’t even want to talk to you, you think I want to dance with you?” you raise a brow in amusement. You forget this boy has all the audacity.

“Dancing doesn’t have to have any talking.” Jungkook states with a sly smile.

“So you’re just going to show me the steps?”

“Precisely.”

You don’t know why, but this sounds better than actually speaking and/or just sitting in miserable silence. And maybe, just maybe you have a desire to be close to him.

“You think I could learn in time before Jimin gets back?”

“With me as your teacher? Definitely.” He fucking smirks at you and you can’t help but feel that feeling in your stomach. Not necessarily a bad feeling but a fucking feeling.

Jungkook stands to his feet and extends his hand out to you for you to take.

“Here, stand up.”

Your eyes travel from his hands to his eyes and you blink lazily at him…wait, you’re really doing this? He stares down at you and he smiles softly and it creates a warmth in your chest that you’re trying so hard to ignore. You can’t.

Even so, you hesitantly begin to reach up to grab on to his hand, once your skin touches his you feel it. The burning. You should be used to it but right now, the fire is raging and the heat is almost too much. But you let him close his hand over yours as he helps you up.

You’re now standing in front of one another, in complete silence again. But this time it’s not awkward—no, it’s a different type of tension. Your hand lingers in his, neither of you brave enough to let go of the other. Jungkook looks down at you and you up at him, and you feel a million things. But the number one thing you feel is pain. You slowly pull your hand back and break eye contact with him, your head dropping low.

“Show me already.” You whisper.

“Shh, no talking.” Jungkook quietly demands. “Only speak with your body.” He puts some music on the speakers and smirks at you.

Jungkook steps closer to you and you stay grounded in your spot, you can feel the heat of his body begin to radiate and warm you. One of his hands find yours, he weaves his fingers through your own and puts one hand on your hip, he looks down at you to warn you this is how he will guide you.

“Just follow me.”

“You said no talking Mr.Jeon.” you say almost under your breath as you stare into his eyes. Jungkook rolls his head back with a smirk on his face, he looks at you and nods.

He puts his left foot forward and steps with his right foot in the same place at center, then puts his left foot back again. You try to copy his moves but even with such simple steps you step on his feet. He looks up at you disapprovingly. You only smile at him.

You two continue to try these steps until you finally manage to understand them even just a little bit. Jungkook brings your body closer to his as you two move your hips to the music while following the simple steps. His chest flush against your own, his heart beating so loudly you can feel it. Your heart isn’t any better. You start to finally get the hang of it, the music slowly taking you to another place. Jungkook moves his hips to the beat so flawlessly and honestly? You’re doing pretty fucking good if you do say so yourself.

Jungkook’s grip on your hip tightens as he grinds himself closer to you, you feel lightheaded as you two dance to the song. Your breathing getting just a little heavier and you feel lost and pathetic but you’re too immersed in the dance to care. Jungkook finds his head falling into the crook of your neck, his hot breaths fanning against your sensitive skin and you find your hand skimming up his back until you have a handful of his hair. You lightly tug on his locks and Jungkook quietly groans. You don’t know if you’re even doing the right steps anymore, your feet moving all around the place, but somehow it’s working. You’re still following his lead and you’re sure the dance looks somewhat okay. All you care about is how both of your hips move to the beat of the music and into each other. You two are so in sync its driving you nuts.

Jungkook lifts his head and watches as you close your eyes and he closes his own eyes, his head falling forward, your foreheads close to touching. You feel so dizzy, so light and airy, so fucking great like you’re floating. You can’t help but feel the heat creep up your entire body, you feel sweat start to build as you two move. You tighten your hands around Jungkook’s neck and pull him down impossibly close, until his forehead is touching yours. Your harsh breaths mingling with his. You get dragged into the memory of when he had you pinned to his dorms mattress, you recall how his lips left kisses all along your throat, his hot breath reminding you of the past. You think of how he rolled his hips into you effortlessly then as well, you think of how you scraped your nails down his back as he thrusted into you. God, you need to think of something else but Jungkook is filling your mind.

Jungkook’s breathing picks up again, as does yours. Your memories making this dance that much more sensual. You remember the way Jungkook nibbled on your ear as he let filthy words spill from his mouth when he fucked you. God, you should not be thinking this but his body feels so good. God, you should think of anything…literally anything else. You remember how he held you close much like how he is right now. You two continue dancing to the song that is soon coming to an end. You know exactly how it feels to have Jungkook inside you, moving and stilling. You know exactly what it feels like to come all around his cock. God, you need to stop. You need to slow your breathing. God, you…you…you...he continues to guide you along to the music when you feel something hard poke against you. Oh. Oh. OH. Hard. He’s hard.

Immediately, you pull back and take several clumsy steps backward. You blink at him with wide eyes when you realize that maybe he was recalling the same memories as you. Your wide eyes concerning Jungkook.

“Okay, that’s enough lessons for today.” Your harsh breaths don’t go unnoticed by Jungkook, his own breathing quite unsteady.

“Right.” Jungkook mumbles.

You two stand around for a few moments, just taking in the experience you just shared.

You still feel…how do you feel? You just shared a hot dance with your best friend? Wait—ex best friend? You don’t know. The memory of his body moving with yours, his skin touching your skin, his breaths on your neck, his hair balled up in your hands. God, it felt so good.

But so wrong.

“Umm…thanks.” You finally say.

Jungkook perks up at the gratitude, even if it’s somewhat forced. His frown turns into a small smile and you can’t help but smile back.

“I miss you y/n.” Jungkook instantly regrets it by the look on your face. Your expression turning hard. “Sorry I—”

“No, I miss you too.” You answer honestly. “But this doesn’t change anything.”

“But why not? Do you really not want me in your life for like, ever?”

Jungkook’s questions settle deep within you. The depth they hold…it’s too much. You wonder? Is this anti-Jungkook thing permanent? Or are you just trying to teach him a lesson?

Jungkook rubs his temples as he thinks, he sighs out instead of talking more.

“Not forever.” You finally say. Jungkook looks at you, a sliver of hope flashes across his face.

“But when?” he asks softly.

Yeah y/n. When? You know you both can’t go back to how things use to be but maybe starting over? God, you don’t know what to do! You know someone like Trina will be disappointed you became friends with Jungkook again so quickly, but you know someone like Jimin would be happy his two friends are back to being on okay terms. Why are you trying to please everybody? What do you want?

“Will you ever give up?” you say a little more lightly.

“No…” he says under his breath, his eyes focusing on the TV. “Not until you agree to be my friend again.”

You look at Jungkook with disbelief written all over your face, this boy has the fucking audacity once again. You’re amused though.

“Excuse me?” you say, cleaning your ear out with your point finger. “I didn’t catch that.”

Jungkook looks into your eyes, his eyes are large and doe like and it brings you back to every moment ever that he has given you this look.

“You’re stuck with me until you love me again.” He says more firmly.

“Who said,” you look at him with soft eyes, “That I ever stopped loving you?”

Jungkook smiles, he fucking smiles. His adorable bunny smile that makes your heart race.

“You still love me?”

“Only a little.” You jut your lip out, “I mostly hate you.”

Jungkook only frowns for a second before he is smiling again, “That’s fair.”

The two of you stand in comfortable silence for a few minutes, you sway back and forth wondering what you want to say to him—you miss him, of course but…

“Let’s take it slow.” You finally break the silence. You miss him more than anything and it might be worth it to have him in your life again, “You aren’t going to be a priority in my life anymore.” You crack you knuckles, the sound filling up the room.

“I know,” Jungkook feels his heart twist at your words but at least it’s something. “We can go however slow you want y/n.”

“You are on—”

“Thin fucking ice, buddy. I know.”

You exhale a shaky breath, thinking about how to go about this, “We can text every now and then, I’m not sure I want to hang out with you quite yet.”

“Okay.”

“Maybe a group hang out first…”

“I’d like that.”

Jungkook reaches over to grab your hand but you pull back, “That’s a no from me for the affection.”

Hurt flashes across Jungkook’s features but he softens up as he nods his head. “Noted.”

You wonder if you’re making the right decision. This wasn’t easy, you know? This actually felt quite hard. But somehow you feel like some weight has been lifted off your shoulders, like things maybe just maybe will be okay.

“I won’t push myself on you, I promise.” Jungkook sits back down on the floor, crossing his legs.

“Just be yourself, Jungkook.”

“If I wanted to be myself I would be hugging you right now but that’s apparently off limits.” He jokes.

“One hug.” You open your arms timidly. You feel one hug can’t be too bad?

Jungkook widens his eyes in pleasant surprise. He stands to his feet again and opens his own arms.

“C’mere.”

You watch in disbelief as he grins with his arms wide open, expecting you to go to him! And you do. You fucking do.

His arms wrap around you, he pushes you into his chest and you feel so fucking good. So warm, so cozy. His scent making you feel dizzy again, his warmth causing you to heat up. You lean back and look at his content face, he honestly looks so fucking content. Like, this hug is everything to him. And maybe it is, but you don’t know that.

“Uh, am I interrupting something?” you both snap your heads toward the front door to see Jimin standing there with a package in his hands.

“I can come back later?” he smirks at you two.

“No no no no!” you drop your arms from hugging Jungkook and take a few steps back, “We were just—”

“We made up, Jimin.” Jungkook says calmly with the softest smile you’ve ever seen on him.

“We’re taking it slow!” you rush to say.

“Oh?” Jimin winks, he walks forward until he’s in the living room joining you two. “Does this mean you will be joining us this Thursday at Jungkook and Nick’s place?”

“Huh?”

Jungkook shifts on his feet, “Yeah, uh, me and Nick are having a small get together on Thursday…you can bring whoever you want…but you’re definitely invited.”

“Before I answer that…Jimin how did you not know about Nick and him being Jungkook’s roommate?”

“Listen! Jungkook is always HERE! I never go over there! The few times I was there Nick was never home okay?!” Jimin whines obnoxiously.

“Okay, whatever. And Jungkook, I said—”

“You said group hang outs.” Jungkook pouts.

Oh. You did say that. But this soon? And is she going to be there?

You chew on your lips before answering, “Okay. But I’m bringing Trina and Holly.”

“Oh bro, Trina is not your biggest fan.” Jimin cuts in.

“Yeah, I know how she is I already anticipated that.” Jungkook shrugs, he looks at you with a small smile.

Okay, starting over? Taking it slow? Can you and Jungkook do this? You look between the boys and smile,

“Okay. See you boys on Thursday.”

[honestlyfrance]

SAMBUCKY BOOKMARKS

it’s fic yeah friday over at @fuckyeahsambucky​​​ so i wanna do a lil something something for the fandom :) check out my #fic rec tag for more! 

enjoy the more than 50 fics listed here :) be careful of the tags!

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart by Lunar_Pull

Today is the day that Steve received an invitation to the love of his life’s wedding.

Philopatry by Areiton

"I want to be safe," he says. "But I'm not." "Then why come here? Why put me at risk?" Something flickers in his eyes, little boy lost and utterly cold, and it makes Sam want to give the dude a hug and also pull his sidearm. "I have no reason to hurt you," Winter says. "I don't want to hurt you," Bucky adds, earnestly.

farmhouse by Tazmaster

"You know, I think I'd want a farmhouse."

"A what?" Sam turns to look at him, slightly annoyed. This was the first thing Bucky has said in the past hour and a half they've been cramped in this god forsaken car. He had a knack for impulsively voicing his dumb thoughts at the worst times, but whenever you wanted to know what was actually going on in that head of his, he'd never say.

They were staking out the front gate of a large mansion, very much not a farmhouse. It was mind numbingly boring, being stuck in a beetle with absolutely nothing else to do than stare at the gaudy gates of some rich asshole.

"A farmhouse," Bucky repeats nonchalantly, "If we ever get out of this business, or you know, live long enough to retire maybe--- I want a farmhouse. With a lot of animals."

---

Bucky keeps talking about a farmhouse and it drives Sam crazy, that is until he finally asks why.

Employee Discount by bopeep for queenmab_scherzo

Sam Wilson doesn't love working in a store that makes him wear vanity-sized polos and breathe in clouds of men's cologne like the worst kind of GQ aromatherapy, but the view from his cash register across the mall to the Hot Topic and the sullen Dark Prince of Wallet Chains he loves to hate may just beat the minimum wage blues.

In warm water, swimming down by targaryen_melodrama

“Why are you hiding?””Tired.”Bucky raises an eyebrow. “So you decided to swim.”“So I decided to be alone.”Bucky’s quiet for a moment. “I can go, if you want.”It’s the last thing Sam wants.

I figured out what the slashes mean by Teaismycoffee

Sam, Steve and Bucky are all living together in a safe house. Bucky and Sam discover fan fiction written about them. Steve doesn't approve. Sam and Bucky are really into secretly reading fan fiction together, or maybe it isn't the fan fiction part they are really into.

Chicken Soup for the Soul by bioloyg

“S’not my bed time,” Sam says as he buries his face in Bucky’s upper arm. Bucky laughs. “Tough. You’re sick.” Sam lets out a loan groan and says, “But my bed is cold. I was so warm, why’d you move me?” “Because your neck would’ve hated you if I didn’t.” He tries not to be so amused by how fussy Sam is when he’s both sick and half-asleep. It’s cute. ~ A fic wherein Bucky takes care of a sick Sam.

two nights in L.A. by CapnWinghead

Bucky kindly volunteered Sam to be a groomsman for Scott’s upcoming wedding. Of course, that meant Sam and Bucky had to go to the bachelor party.

at the end of the war (what's mine is yours) by notcaycepollard

They don't talk about it: that's how it works.

I'd Like That by honestlydarkprincess

Sam has been up for over 24 hours and has been dreaming about his Coffee Caramel Fudge non-dairy ice cream since about the 18-hour mark. When he gets to the store, there's only one carton of it left and, unfortunately for the guy innocently holding said carton, Sam's not leaving without it.

Or, the one where Sam is sleep deprived, yells at a cute guy, and gets both ice cream and a phone number out of it.

Ready, Set, Date! by bioloyg

Bucky wants to sleep, Natasha wants to find him a date for Steve's wedding (so he'll leave her alone), and Sam is the best thing about this whole speed dating disaster. But, Sam's not in the speed date rotations - he's at a different table weathering through dates just like Bucky is. ~ "Three dates in, Bucky decides he has made one of the worst decisions in all of his life by coming here. His first date had been an attractive enough man by the name of Greg. He introduces himself as “The Big G,” to which Sam laughs at in the middle of introducing himself to his own date. Greg likes to talk about cars a lot, which is fine. Bucky also likes cars. The only problem is that Greg’s love for cars borders on… erotic."

We'll rise up free and easy by Sarsaparilla, woofgender

Steve and Natasha are away on a mission when Sam receives intel about the Winter Soldier’s location. When he follows the lead, Sam finds something unexpected—but despite his initial impression, it’s certainly not all bad. (Post-CATWS, not AOU- or CACW-compliant.)

__________ "'Jesus Christ,' Sam said, 'Are you planning on fighting an entire army?'

Barnes looked up from examining the sights of a sniper rifle. '...no,' he said, a little guiltily, and adjusted one of the--five? Six? guns he’d already strapped to himself."

love is in the air (i smell coffee) by Flora_K, hermionesmydawg

Sam Wilson - graduate student, part-time barista, part-time salesman, and full-time father - doesn't have time to sleep, much less date. At least, that's what he tells himself.

Up at Night by bioloyg for lunaaltare

With Halloween nearing, Sam is feeling more in the mood for a scary movie than usual. He'd never watch one on his own though, so he invites his roommate to pick one out and join in on movie night. or Prompt fill for Samtember ~ "It’s quiet for a while after that. Like always, the two of them start on opposite sides of the queen sized bed with at least a foot of space between them. And, like always, they drift closer to one another as time passes, though whether it’s habitual or instinctual Sam would never dare delve into."

flowers in darkness, the moon above the sea by 27dis

Sam enjoyed his job, really.

But, not when a certain person came in.

A quick detour and a sudden arrival by iwillnotbecaged for heuradys

He found Wilson shivering in the snow, left for dead. Sloppy.

You couldn’t trust the elements to do your job for you. They were rarely so obliging.

A mission gone awry, unexpected help, and close quarters makes for an interesting couple of days.

Don't lock the door on me by TuskFM

Sam’s desperately trying to sleep when he gets a visit from the Winter Soldier at three a.m., bleeding and asking for help. Sam’s not the kind of guy who let someone bleed out on his front door, even if the said someone threw him off an helicarrier and stole his wheel.

and i run, further than before by hermionesmydawg

"What do they call you?" Bucky carefully pulls out an equal amount of caramel and cheese kernels of popcorn and pops them into his mouth. "Birdman?"

"No."

"Captain Canary?"

"Hell no."

"The Winged Avenger?"

"Falcon, dammit, and I am not an Avenger," Sam snaps, and now he's kinda pissed because yes, it's a bird name. He didn't sign up for this kind of ridicule from an amnesiac assassin.

***

Basically, the 5 times Sam actually found Bucky and the 1 time he tried to hide from him. Don't tell Steve.

Exquisite Flavor by enchantedlightningwrites for honestlyfrance

W&M's Grand Corner's growing to be one of the popular restaurants in New York, where Sam Wilson works as a chef for his sister. A wedding's in a few weeks and he has no idea on what to do about it. Notorious for his picky taste and blunt reviews, Bucky 'Winter Wolf' Barnes pays a visit. Little did he know, food could really win one's heart and lands on his stomach.

He's a Beta, You Hear That? by 27dis

Reasons why Sam didn’t realize Bucky was courting him this entire time: 1. He is a beta 2. He is oblivious 3. He thought Bucky is way out of his league 4. He is a beta for fuck’s sake

See? It’s hardly his fault for not noticing it. Why was Bucky flirting with him anyw—

Oh. Oh.

Or; Bucky swore flirting with someone was never this hard before.

stay where we belong by glittercake

He doesn't know what the hell he's doing when he turns around and shouts, "Yo! You know what—" and Barnes turns on his heel in a flash, "It's getting late, man. Looks like rain."

Sam motions to the grey sky above, and Barnes follows his eyes beyond the hanging Willow branches. "Yeah? What are you saying?"

He's got that terribly smug look on his face, the one Sam can't stand but kind of misses when it's not irritating him. But mostly, he can't stand it, "Nothing! Forget about it!"

Arms Spread Out Wide, Turn Falling Into Flight by irisesandlilies

It was easy, nothing has ever been easy for Bucky. Except this, and that terrifies him.

Years in the making by glittercake

Bucky and Sam meet as two young soldiers, but the time is never quite right to make it anything more. Until it eventually is.

or

Sam refuses to let himself fall in love while he's deployed. Bucky pines endlessly for years about the prettiest bird he’s ever seen. Sam’s no better.

If At First You Don't Succeed by SonnyD

Bucky finally gains the courage to tell Sam about his feelings. He comes up with a list of methods to woo him that were bound to succeed. He didn't account for each and every one of them failing in unexpected ways. The five times that Bucky attempts to woo Sam and the one time that Sam returns the favour.

if i could take us back, if i could just do that... by safelikespringtime

Bucky laughed, cheeks flushing red, “I’m glad you didn't. Don't know what I’d do without my wingman.” Sam groaned, poking Bucky’s side, “That was awful.” Bucky laughed. “You couldn’t survive without me. We both know it.”

How right he was.

***

Sam dies. Bucky mourns.

Strawberries and Cigarettes always taste like you by winterscaptsam

There’s a sweet agonizing simplicity in leaving behind your safe haven, like the thrill of adrenaline, reaching the top of Everest, allowed to admire its beautiful icy view but with the everlasting fear of not making it back down. Maybe that's why it was a natural instinct for Bucky to reach out for the closest thing that felt like home, slowly then all at once falling for the sweet warmth of mahogany eyes, what soon became his safe haven.

Baked With Love by Siancore

Bucky Barnes’ family owns a bakery in a small town. High school has long been over, and Bucky is dying to move to the city to pursue a musical career with his band. And his future looks promising, if he can just persuade his father to let him leave his job behind at their struggling family bakery.

It is no secret that Bucky used to love baking with his father, but things change. He just can’t fathom wasting his life away watching rising dough and hot ovens. With his mind made up to leave, Bucky convinces his father to advertise for a replacement. While interviewing candidates to fill the position he has vacated, Bucky meets Sam Wilson: An easy-going guy who is as eager about baking as Bucky is about leaving. They bond over baking and become close. Love looks like it is ready to bloom between them if Bucky, in his haste to escape, does not ruin it.

Beneath this Crown by winterscaptsam

Sam traces his fingers from James’ hairline, down to his jaw, resting the pad of his thumb on James lips. He will let himself relish in this feeling. Not even the sculptors, painters or poets could carve their words and materials to accurately describe this.

“Do you think the history books will remember us?” Sam had once asked. And James’ words were made of the purest of golds, “my love, we will be legends for the children yet to come.”

Or

Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes' love story, one a prince and the other a knight.

make my body come alive (i've got a right to hurt inside) by notcaycepollard

The body is weak. The body is hungry and soft and human. He looks at himself in the mirror, the bones of his shoulders, his cheeks hollowed out from hunger, and he thinks, gentle, you didn’t deserve this.

safe like spring time by quidhitch

“I already told you it looks good. What more is there?”

“I don’t know, man, you’re gonna live here. I just wish I knew a little bit more about how that’s sitting with you.”

Sam knows Bucky feels fine. What Sam’s probably actually after is how he feels about the fact neither of them have anywhere else to go, not with Natasha dead and Steve wrinkly. Therapists. Even the good ones, always so circular.

“I like the terrace,” Bucky offers, mostly to appease him.

Airy Laundry by AmarieMelody

Sam watches what happens when Bucky buys a clothesline.

lucky by CapnWinghead

In retrospect, it took Bucky an embarrassingly long time to realize that everyone and Scott's mom thought he and Sam were dating.

not an end, but (the start of all things) by notcaycepollard

They keep driving, for lack of anything better to do. A mission, Sam had said, and maybe that's true; maybe wherever they're headed is the way out, the way up.

So You Run On Gasoline by 343EnderSpark, ABitNotGoodieBag, OriginalCeenote

Bucky may have bitten off more than he could chew with this job, he thinks, as he ambles along the sidewalk to the cafe after leaving campus. He is running off the fumes of exhaustion and hasn’t had more than 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep in the past week. Between his students and his thesis, he knows that it’s foolish to try so hard to hang on to his barista gig, but DC isn’t a cheap place to live and Bucky can’t live with other people.

Bucky is just trying his best, despite being a human disaster.

we could jump the state lines (we only get the one life) by notcaycepollard

It starts in Paris.

“You can’t steal things just because you like them,” Sam tells Bucky, feeling innately that this is a losing battle, and Bucky cocks his head to the side, considers Sam very thoughtfully.

“Really,” he says. “I’m stealing you, aren’t I?”

we were a fire with no smoke by notcaycepollard

Sam can’t help but roll his eyes. Take the boys out of New York but they’re still Brooklyn Catholics, that’s clear enough. Bucky catches the gesture, smirks hard enough Sam can see his eye teeth. It should be dangerous but he’s beautiful, pale and charming and recklessly easy.

“You wanna come in?” Sam asks, ignoring the noise Steve makes, and Bucky’s smile gets wider.

“Yeah,” he says. Steps up close to Sam. “I do.”

Peace Begins with a Smile by Siancore

Bucky just likes the way Sam smiles.

They're Good Drones, Brent by chase_acow

When Redwing becomes infected with an alien A.I., Sam has to balance the needs of the team with his own curiosity about his new partner. Redwing isn’t the only one acting strange, he also needs to get to the bottom of Bucky’s weirdness. It takes a training exercise gone wrong that Redwing and Sam might not survive for their secrets to be exposed.

Wet Asphalt (This Is What Love Is) by ObviouslyOtter

Soft words in the dark tell us all we need to know about love. Better when they come from the person you need to hear it from most. It's crueler when you don't realize it till afterward.

Or

Sam and Bucky go out shopping for candles.

i'm gone by bi_marvel

After infiltrating a Hydra base, Sam and Bucky are sent to a safe house, and there's only one bed. Oh, golly, I wonder what will happen!

Covert Coffee & Flirtation Special by glittercake

The reporter says "—for Captain America to—"

And Bucky rolls his eyes. "Oh, here we go."

Sam looks at him then tips his head sideways, got a weird grin on his face. "Not a fan?"

"Not that. Just… the guy seems too good to be true, right? Wings and a shield? Come on."

"Uh, is that why your eyes are like glued to the screen whenever he's on?" Kate says. "Is that why you call him Captain Tight Ass?"

"He's a goddamn show-off, and you know it. Tight ass or not."

Just then Sam snorts, real loud, grabs his coffee and suffers a horribly controlled laugh on his way out the door.

The Starting Line by birdlight

A Series

Lone and Level Sands by quantum_consciousness

The almost-smile disappears off Sam’s face and he takes a step deeper into the water, and he starts unbuttoning his shirt as he wades further. One look over his shoulder and he chucks the shirt to shore, and Sam dives into the water. The ache in Bucky’s chest deepens as Sam swims. He supposes, Sam has lost a lot more, he supposes, sometimes Sam feels as lonely as he used to.

in which love doesn’t ruin us by joesnick

“Idiot,” Bucky said, so natural and deliberate that she couldn’t hear well but it was there. Relief and happiness under a small light. “Don’t do that to me again.”

“Hey, I’m here,” Sam said, before getting closer and pressing his forehead against Bucky’s. “I’m here.” They ran out of words. They didn’t need them, not at that moment. Their steadying breaths and their tenderness, saved only for each other and fed by each other, was all they needed.

Ride of Shared Melodies by enchantedlightningwrites for honestlyfrance

Two strangers, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson meet in an unexpected encounter in the airplane. Over the course of the ride, they discover their mutual love for music and connect.

Let's Fly Away by Unclesteeb

"If I could fly, I could go anywhere. I could do anything.”

Sam’s mom gives his shoulder a gentle pat. “You can in your own way.”

“How?”

“Sammy, all you have to do to be as free as a bird is to just do the right thing.”

Sam furrows his brow. “What does that mean?”

“Well,” Sam's mom starts. “The right thing is doing nice things for people. It's treating everyone how you would want to be treated. It's going out of your way to help people and love them, even if they're not nice to you at first or at all. People deserve love, and I know you have plenty to give.” She leans down to give his cheek a kiss. “All you have to do to find your wings and fly free is to just do what you feel is right. You have a beautiful heart, Sam. I know you'll use it the right way. Then you'll fly.”

Been one of those days (can I lean on you?) by hazel_eyed_bi

Sam and Bucky wrap up an exhausting, weeks-long mission, only to go back to their mutual pining while forced to share a bed at a crappy motel. Also, Nat knows what's up.

Find your love and fight for it by winterscaptsam

Sam learns to love again, quiet and composed. Love letters stay in between walls and stolen kisses don’t leave his apartment. It's not that it's a secret, loving Bucky the way he does, lord knows he’d scream it from the rooftops, travel all the way to space to let any living life form know it as well. But that’s the problem, he just doesn’t know how and it aches him to his core to keep Bucky like a secret, like this love is something to be ashamed of.

Or

Sam decides it's about time to come out.

Kings of Everything by glittercake

Twenty-five years after the events at a popular New York Bistro, Timothy DumDum Dugan tells the true story of infamous mobster Jimmy Buchanan and the man he gave it all up for.

arson we commit by winterscaptsam

Bucky seeks adventure, reaches out for an adrenaline rush whenever he can get it and he reckons this fellow will be the one to give it to him. All sweet smiled and dolled up figure showing off his attributes. Like he’s daring anyone to take the rush.

So, Bucky goes and gets what he wants.

“What’s your damage, doll?”

Or

Bucky is the hitman and Sam is the target.

The Boys of Summer by Siancore for avintagekiss24

Sam Wilson returns home to the small town he grew up in to complete his med school residency. He hasn’t been back for an extended amount of time since he left for college. While he only consistently kept in touch with childhood friend, Steve Rogers, he was keen to see the people he had grown up with. With the exception of Bucky Barnes. They had a falling out the summer before Sam left for college. What happened between them? Can they move past it now that they’re adults?

Sam's Plan by OhHelloFandoms123

“I have a plan,” Sam said smugly, hands on his hips. “I have a three-step plan for you to marry me.” At first, he thought he was joking. Then, he saw Sam’s genuine smile.

Bucky groaned, “there is no way in HELL that I’m marrying YOU, Wilson.”

Wreck In the West by OhHelloFandoms123 for honestlyfrance

There’s just something about leaning on his chest as the sun goes down and the smell of tea whilst into the air feels so amazing. And he was a wreck because of it, it tore him apart and put himself back together because it was so blissful, he almost couldn’t breathe at first.

OR

Gay cowboy proposal.

Belonging Season by OhHelloFandoms123

Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have lived their most happy, married life for 70 years. Death won’t stop them today for living an eternity.

neverending; by glittercake

Sam passes away after a long and happy life with Bucky, but Bucky never ages and life keeps introducing him to Sam's reincarnates for the next 156 years.

Lighthouse by glittercake

This guy’s trouble. Bucky knows that in his bones. It’s not bad trouble, is the problem, it’s good. Sam is so goddamn inherently good and if Bucky even touches that with a ten foot pole—fuck if he even looks at it—it’ll turn to shit.

He can’t afford another move to yet another city because his colleagues started recognizing Brock’s fist prints on his face.

But Sam is a ridiculously bright glowing light, a beacon, and Bucky goes toward it like that idiotic moth to the flame.

masterlist | ko-fi | patreon

[quanticowrites]

The Love Coach Part 3 (Alden Parker x Reader)

•• You guys really put a bug in me to pump out Part 3 to this fic! I like how this turned out so I hope you do to! 💙 Enjoy! ••

You didn't get much sleep that night. You kept thinking about all the things that could go wrong when you talked to Parker. What if you'd messed up the batter? The frosting? What if he didn't feel the same? Could you live with the shame? Next thing you knew your alarm was going off and you crawled out of bed to take a shower. Today was going to be interesting, that's for sure. Maybe you should call in sick? You sighed at the thought of Nick coming over and dragging you out the door as soon as he found out you called in. You stepped in once the water was hot and couldn’t help but think about Parker stepping in and pressing you up against the wall…

“Fuck!” You exclaimed as your foot slid across the soapy floor, making you make a mad grab for the wall. Your heart was pounding now, both from the fall and from thinking of Parker. “Keep it in your pants, (Y/n), Jesus.” After doing the rest of your morning routine you grabbed your package of cupcakes off the counter and headed off to work. You walked into the bullpen only to find that Nick had beat you there, somehow. He must have come in early. This must be important to him because Nick never came in early unless he had too.

“How you feeling, Champ?” You scoffed at his statement.

“I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so worried about it.”

“You’re going to do great, trust me.”

“How do you know this won’t blow up in my face like it did yesterday?” You turned to him and he smiled, motioning for you to come over to him. You rolled your eyes as he pulled you in for a hug. Patting your back a few times before leaning back. “Because you’re (Y/n). A badass agent who trained under the Leroy Jethro Gibbs.” You huffed, a little embarrassment leaking into your face.

“Please, everyone that trained under Gibbs is badass.”

“And,” He said putting up a finger. “Because I know he likes you too.”

“I can attest to that.” You jumped back a little form Knight’s voice as she set her bag down on her desk. “Nick told me everything last night.” You sent him a look and he pretended to be reading a paper on his desk. “I read people for a living; I know Parker likes you.” You found yourself smiling. Knight’s reassurance did help boost your confidence, at least a little more than Nick’s did.

“Thanks, Jessica.” She laughed with a smile.

“Hey, I call it like I see it.”

“Morning, Tim!” You called as you saw him exit the elevator. He smiled back as he walked in. His eyes immediately landed on the cupcakes you’d set on your desk, and he groaned.

“(Y/n), just talk to him for god’s sake.”

“I already tried that, Tim, and it didn’t pan out, so I’m just going to go for it.” Nick laughed so hard he almost fell out of his chair.

“No arguing with the Love Coach, Tim.” Tim shook his head, but you could see the smile creeping onto his face.

Once Parker arrived, everyone tried to act natural. You got up and stood beside his desk with your cupcakes in hand.

“What’s this?” He asks, stepping closer and taking the box from your hands. “Is this strawberry?”

“Your favorite flavor, right?” He doesn't say a word, he only nods. It's a tense minute and a half of silence as you both stare at each other. You open your mouth and try to speak.

“Parker-”

“(Y/n)-” He lets out a small laugh under his breath.

“You go first.” He suggests. You could feel your whole body temperature rising.

“Parker, you've been with us for about five months now, and I-” Oh god. Here you were, finally about to say it and you were choking! Say it! Say it!

“Don't give up now!” You hear Nick barely whisper, and you curl your toes. This was your moment! Do it for you! Don't let all that coaching go to waste!

“I like you. A lot. Do you…wanna grab dinner sometime?” Parker's whole body relaxes. You can see his shoulders drop down. He lets out a sigh of relief and you don't know what to do, so you point at your box of cupcakes. “So are you gonna eat one of these or am I giving them all the Nick?” He cracks a smile and opens the box and takes one.

“(Y/n), I'd love to go to dinner with you.” He reached into his pocket as his phone started to blare a Bon Jovi song. “I uh I gotta take this. But I mean it. You. Me. Dinner.” He leaned down and gave you a kiss on the forehead before heading off to the side by the windows for better reception. “Yeah, this is Parker.” Nick jumped up from his seat and put his hand up for a high five. You gave him one and handed him the box of cupcakes. You supposed he's earned one or two with how he encouraged you to face your fear and admit your love for Parker.

“You were great! I didn't even teach you those lines!”

“You helped get the ball rolling. Thank you, Nick. Or should I say, Love Coach.”

“Don't encourage him, (y/n)!”

“I'm not calling him that.”

“You're both just jealous because I couldn't help you.” He wrapped his arm around you and continued to boast himself, but you zoned out as you watched Parker on the phone. He caught your eye and his face split into a smile. God, it felt so good to tell him. You should take the Love Coach’s advice more often.

Tag list: @stanathanxoox , @nikkiwierden , @malindacath , @havlindzk , @countrygal17a , @memyselfandmaddox , @octobersmog , @mizzezm , @diaryofafan17 , @emmitheacefangirl , @littlepersonbigworld , @a-sad-excuse-of-everything

[moralesispunk]

In his eyes II (Blacksmith Pero Tovar AU)

Pero Tovar x Female Reader

Part 2 of a short Pero Tovar Blacksmith AU

Part 1 here | Masterlist here under Pero | Part 3 here

Summary: after spending some time with Pero, your relationship takes a more personal turn when he comes by your father’s house every week to teach you checkers.

A/N: At the start we get to see some of this from Pero’s POV. I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed writing for Pero until I did part 1 so I hope people enjoy this part as much as the first!

The now empty basket where the bakings so kindly gifted by the bakers daughter had arrived in sat atop Pero’s workshop table for two days before he found confidence in the depth of his body to return it. While he waited, the lily that she had wrapped in the string around the bread had been pressed between the two heaviest books Pero could find. It was something he had watched his mother do whenever she received flowers from his father before he passed. He placed the now flat flower in the front of his notebook and placed that notebook in the safe keepings of his drawer at his bedside, opening it every night to run his fingers over it before going to sleep.

He wasn’t sure what the feeling in his stomach was when he thought of her was. The first time he had laid eyes on her was when he had walked into the village. While most people had stared at him, they looked away when his eyes met theirs. But not her. She held his gaze until he had completed passed by and her soft lips had even began to curl into a smile.

He had seen her every other day since then, eating more bread following his arrival in this village than he had in the rest of his life put together. Her gentle voice would wish him a good day and try to make conversation about the weather or the new pastries her father had baked that morning. While he usually avoided conversations with others because he did not want to entertain them, he avoided talking to her because he was worried that he would scare her off in some way. So instead, he let her talk about how the sun was arriving earlier in the village this year and he would offer a smile when she joked that maybe he brought it from whatever land he had travelled from. 

Eventually, when he noticed how she spoke more to him than the others who were customers at the bakery, he began to offer his voice more. The day he learned her name was the day he swore his soul had been tied to hers for eternity. He spent the rest of his day repeating her name on his lips, listening to how it sounded in the different moods he went through as the day went on.

He still could not put a name to the feeling that swirled around his veins every second of every day for her. His stomach felt like it was flipping with every step he took towards the bakery, his heart felt like it had stopped for a moment when their eyes met and his palms would sweat when she first started talking. All these symptoms were usually of a sickness, something deep inside that had to be rid of, but he wanted to feel it more. He went out of his way to talk the long walk home from work to pass by the bakery and catch one final glimpse of her for the day, hoping she would turn and look up at him to make his heart stop.

As he lifted the basket to return to the bakers he walked by the checkers board she had commented on before she left two days before. He picked the board up folding it over and placing the checkers in a small bag to place in the basket as well. He had no one to play with and was not even sure why he brought it on his travels so maybe she and her father could have better use for it.

As he walked towards the bakery thoughts swirled his head of what she would be wearing today and whether her hair would be tied back or loose as she sometimes wore it. When he entered the bakers there was no one at the front of the shop, the only sound being the bell that rang through to the back as he opened the door. The baker walked out from the back, wiping some flour on the front of his apron as he headed towards Pero.

“Ah, Mr Tovar! Thank you again, I don’t think I have had such an easy time of making bread in years.”

Pero just grunted in response, making sure to nod his head so not to appear too rough before the kind man. He handed the basket over to the baker, watching as his eyebrow was cocked at the contents of the basket.

“What is this?”

“Checkers. Your daughter noticed it and you need two people to play,” Pero watched as the baker’s confused expression did not lift, “... and I have no one to play with so you two would have more use of it.”

“I do not know how to play.”

“Oh,” was all Pero could offer in return, heat climbing to his cheeks as he was lost for words more so than usual.

“You are not very good with women are you,” the baker chucked, “well, women like my daughter,” he clarified, both men aware that men who travelled did need their beds warmed like the rest.

“No,” Pero sighed, worried about what the baker was about to say.

If the man warned Pero away from ever talking to his daughter again he would have to respect that but his heart would ache every day. The thought of not getting to see the most beautiful woman he had seen across all the lands or listen to the most wonderful voice as she wished him a good day was already making his heart fall lower into his stomach.

“Well,” the baker interrupted his thoughts, “the bakery does not open on Mondays so you will come and teach her. Do you know where we live?”

Pero shook his head and the baker told him to walk east out of town, through the path in the forest until he reached the cottage. Pero nodded as he listened to the instructions, waiting until the baker had finished before walking out. As he reached the door he turned to thank the man. He did not know why he trusted Pero with his daughter but he had shown him more kindness than most. The baker smiled before turning and heading into the back of the shop.

For the rest of the week Pero thought about Monday. He did not sleep much the night before, something he never usually had trouble with. When he woke the next day the sun had barely risen above the trees. He set the pot of water above the fire, warming it just enough for a bath. He could not remember the last time he had spent this long in a bath but by the time he was changing into his clothes for the day the sun was well into the sky.

The walk to the baker’s house was not long but it was peaceful. It was just outside the village, through a forest path. When he finally reached the house he took three deep breaths, counting them slowly, before he knocked on the door. The baker opened it, welcoming Pero in with a smile.

When he stepped inside, the baker's daughter sat on the floor next to a small table that came to his knee height. It was a warm cottage, not just from the roaring fire than spread heat around the room, but from the personal contents that decorated each shelf. The warm browns and reds of throws and pillows to make the wooden benches softer would make anyone feel at home, even the tall, dark, mysterious man who was entering their home today.

The baker’s daughter was laying out the board, placing checkers on squares. As she looked up, he noticed the way her eyes shimmered from the candles lining the edge of the table. She smiled at him, at first a small, welcoming curve of the lips, before it turned into a wide grin that showed all her teeth. She looked so... pure. Loving. Caring. Innocent. A thousand words swam around his skull as he took her in.

She sat with her legs tucked under her, one hand playing with the hem of her skirt enough to show the soft skin at the bottom of her leg and the other resting on the board.

"Pero, I hope I set it up right I tried to remember how it looked in your workshop."

-------

As the knock finally came to the door the butterflies in your stomach were stalled. Your father walked to the door, opening to reveal Pero at the door. He was still dressed head to toe in all black but his layers less constricting that the ones you had seen him don in the village. The ones he wore now truly showed his proportions to you - his broad shoulders that looked as though they would not be able to fit through the doorway, his large arms from years of hard labour, the way he appeared slightly softer around the middle.

He nodded to your father as he walked in, his fingers rubbing together as he stepped into the house. Despite his dark eyes and hair, his scowl and large frame it felt as though the room got that bit lighter when he walked in. 

"Pero, I hope I set it up right I tried to remember how it looked in your workshop."

He looked down at the board, reaching to move two pieces into what must have been their correct spaces.

"Sit," you motioned to a pillow you had placed at the other side of the table.

You had to bite back a laugh at the huff Pero let out when he lowered himself to the ground. You must not have done a good enough job, noticing the way Pero's eyes glared into you a little before he smiled.

"I'm going into the garden, the weeds are coming back. I expect you to make my daughter a checkers genius," your father motioned between you before walking out the door.

"Your father is a kind man," Pero noted after your father had moved to the garden.

"He is," you smiled, “would you like a drink?” 

Pero nodded and you lifted the jug next to you on the table to pour two glasses and handing him one.

"You are kind too," he added after taking a sip.

"And so are you."

Pero shook his head, "I am not."

His eyes that had not moved from your face since he walked in suddenly found whatever was on the ground more interesting. You frowned, moving closer to the table.

"You have been nothing but kind to me." 

"You do not know me. What I have done before I came here," his voice quiet.

"And you do not know me other than the girl who sells you bread. I can see you're a good man, Pero, in your eyes."

Pero did not know why you had so much faith in him, he certainly did not deserve it. He looked up at you again and stopped himself from telling you that you were wrong, that he was a horrible man who had done horrible things when he saw the softness in your eyes. Maybe he could be kind for you.

"So, how do you play?" 

"You will play black to go first and I will play white. You must try to move all your pieces to my side of the board..."

He explained the game as you went, taking his time in telling you how to move around the board so you would win the first game. He never got frustrated at the questions you asked and did not care when you asked him to repeat the rules for the sixth time. As he told you to make the final move, making you the winner, he smiled, a true smile that took over his face as you laughed and cheered.

"Okay, okay. Will we play again? This time don't let me win," you laughed.

Pero chuckled, setting up the board again but still letting you go first.

"So, what did you do before you came to the village?" you asked after a while.

You watched while Pero's forearm tightened as he reached for the piece in front of him. He turned to look out the window, looking for your father before answering.

"He cannot hear us. Even if he could, he is not a naive man," you reassured.

"I sold my sword. To Kings and Lords or whoever had coins to spare. I travelled a lot of lands and fought a lot of men... and beasts."

"I bet you have a lot of stories. A lot more than everyone in this village put together."

"Probably. But for another time because I," Pero moved one final piece, "win."

You both laughed, leaning back to hold yourselves up with your palms resting on the ground behind you. The room was a lot darker than when he had came earlier today, the light from the sun almost non-existent and the fire lighting up his face perfectly. The red and amber glow that covered his face showed it perfectly. His jaw and nose were sharp as if carved from the strongest stone, softened slightly by the lines that surrounded his eyes while he smiled. 

"You will come back to play then?"

"Yes, but you should practice so I do not feel so bad winning next time," he teased.

Pero stood from the table, the few hours you had spent sitting opposite one another meaning you had forgotten just how large he was until he towered over you. You tried to stand and join him but the pins and needles running up your legs made that difficult.

Pero reached a hand out, letting you hold onto it as you stood. His hand surrounded yours easily, the rough skin contrasting the gentle hold. You held onto it for a moment longer while you spoke.

"Thank you for teaching me," you whispered.

"Thank you for letting me," Pero lifted your hand placing a kiss to the back of your knuckles before dropping your hand again.

Your eyes remained on one another for a moment until your father entered the house again.

"Ah, Mr Tovar. How did my daughter do?"

"A natural," he turned, winking at you outside of your father's view.

"Will you be back? Next week?"

Pero nodded turning to wish you goodbye as he walked by your father who held the door open for him. As Pero walked out your father headed to the kitchen to start dinner and you moved to the window.

Pero stalked the path, each step powerful and calculated as he walked away. When he was outside of your garden, walking on the forest path he turned back to your house, catching your eye. He smiled, lifting a hand to wave. You waved back, unable to stop the childish grin on your face that did not come off until Pero must have been home.

Pero came every Monday for a few weeks, teaching you new tricks and manoeuvres to better win. You learned more about him as the weeks went on. He told you about his home land, his family and even some stories from his travels. You would see each other in between Mondays with you stopping by the workshop to say hello on the way to the bakers and he would drop in for his bread as usual, you wrapping some extra sweet pastries in along with them.

You waited by the doorstep for him to come today. You could make his walk out as his body emerged from the trees. His usual dark clothing made the flowers in his hand stand out even more. You stood from the step as you approached, flattening your skirts until he stopped in front of you, lifting the flowers to hand them to you.

“I saw these and - I- I thought of you.”

“They’re- they’re beautiful, Pero. Thank you,” you smiled as you lifted to smell the flowers, “the weather is lovely today, will we play outside?”

You and Pero played your games outside today, not talking too much other than sharing a story of your past every so often. The sun shone down on the garden, the smell of the pollen and sound of birds surrounding you both. When the sun finally started to lower and you packed the board away, your father called you both into the house.

“Pero,” you smiled as your father used his first name, something Pero had requested he do after you had watched him tense every time he called him by Mr Tovar, “I am away from the village next week, I have to visit my brother. Would you be so kind to check in on my daughter while I am gone?”

Pero’s mouth opened for a moment before he forced it shut again. You turned to look at him and as his eyes fell on your face he nodded before voicing an agreement to your father.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. I leave in two days.”

And with that the conversation was done and Pero began to leave once again. As you watched him go this week, your mind spun faster than it ever had before. You imagined the next time he would walk down this path would be to visit you alone in this house.

Pero was a gentleman and he respected your father but you knew as much as Pero that your father did not have any unreasonable expectations about what would happen when he was gone, otherwise he would have asked the butcher or the farmer, people you had known since a child.

He walked away a little slower than usual this week, turning more than once to wave goodbye. You couldn’t stop the way your heart was beating faster in your chest with this goodbye, looking forward to the next time you would see his face as he walked up the path.

//

Permanent tag list // @phoenixhalliwell @asta-lily @hb8301 @princess76179 

Pero tag list // @bonktime @justpedropascal @coldlilheart @shadowolf993 @stylelovechild @frostsoldier @idreamofboobear 

//

Excited for a part 3 where Pero and the baker’s daughter get some one-on-one time...

[cheelduh]

How to get your crush to walk you to the nurse’s office (Highschool AU)

This is part 3, but it can be read alone!

Pairing: Childe x fem!reader

Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of a monster schlong, and unedited.

Parts: 1 2

Synopsis: Childe offers Lisa a shady deal to yet again sit next to you. However, all his efforts are in vain after he makes a complete fool out of himself by tripping over literally nothing because of a stupid cold. Maybe getting a cold isn’t so bad if he gets to be escorted to the nurse’s office by none other than yourself.

Note: Pure unedited crack luvs. Can’t wait for Childe rerun tmr I hope I get the ginger and the emo nun! 🥲💖

The eyes on you are suffocating, to say the least, enough for you to consider peeling a layer of your own skin off just to breathe. Every now and then, you get a teasing glance from a classmate, and you're sure you'll be an entire puddle of guts on your desk before home room even gets a chance to begin.

There's no doubt it's Signora that spread the news of your date yesterday as a means to some sick revenge. Knowing this was going to happen, you packed some salt in your backpack to cancel out all her evil. Now all you need is a chance to knuckle ball it in her face.

Fingers crossed, you pray to the archons that Childe didn't slip anything about your...brick slip yesterday. It's a good thing you weren't in a school uniform yesterday because that would've been the end of your high school life right there.

Thinking back to it, you collapse into your open hands. How could you have beaten a bunch up losers up...risking your flawless reputation for a sadistic ginger with an affinity for chaos? And worst of all, why did you care about them shit talking him in the first place?

"You okay dear? Something you want to tell me?" Lisa feigns concern, already knowing why.

With a sigh, you blink an eye open through the gap in your fingers. "Doing just fine."

"Oh it couldn't have been that bad." Her eyes shine in mischief. "I bet Childe was a real gentleman."

"He sure was." Kaeya pipes up from the back, leaning in to show you the image on his phone. It's a picture Childe took of you absolutely oblitering an ice cream cone.

You groan and slump deeper into your chair from embarrassment as Kaeya and Lisa engage in chatter, mostly revolving around your date.

Ignoring them completely, you start to ponder about Childe. Where is he? You were sure he'd be here bright and early to reminisce on your eventful date yesterday, which mostly consisted of a competition of who could win the most stall games at a local festival.

Maybe he'd even tease you about the Monoceros Caeli keychain attached to your phone. The very one he'd won for you, and the reason that started the competition in the first place.

Your cheeks warm when you fidget with said keychain, and you can't tell if the fast pace of your heart is because you're nervous to see him or because of the biology quiz you have second period.

So wrapped up in all these foreign emotions, you fail to notice the shadow that looms over you, a glittery finger guard tapping at your desk.

The student council President, Ningguang, plops down a stack of budget files on your desk during homeroom. She's gives you a light smile, and you know what's coming when you meet her alluring gaze.

"Be a dear Y/N," Ningguang smiles, tight lipped, all pretty with her hair pinned back to crown her face. "Even with all hands on deck, i'm afraid the student council's efforts will not come to ripeness concerning all of this paperwork."

This isn't the first time you've done her a favour by becoming the president's personal accountant, and it definitely isn't going to be the last.

Ningguang is powerful, with wit like no other, and you want to be able to call in a chit when the time comes.

"Of course," You reply with a smile that rivals her own. "I'll have them done by the end of the day."

"Excellent. I knew I could count on you, Y/N." She departs elegantly, probably opting to sit next to Beidou and bicker.

You're halfway on the third sheet for total income, a minute before class starts, when you're interrupted. Childe stumbles through the door quite noisily, a shitstain of a grin plastered on his face that is directed at you.

You sigh and shake your head as he approaches you. Thankfully the seat next to you is occupied by—

Shit! Where's Lisa?

Across the classroom, Lisa gives you a thumbs up with a bar of vending machine chocolate in her hand. You should've known she'd betray you yet again.

Childe slides in smoothly after bumping fists with Kaeya, and he falls short of containing his giddy nature.

"Hi Y/N." There's something weird about him today, because you're sure you haven't seen his cheeks so flushed ever. His eyes land on your phone, which is splayed on the desk, and the keychain widens his grin.

You snatch your phone and hide it in the middles of your thighs, but the damage is already done. The urge to shrink against the wall has never been as strong as it is in this moment.

"Hi." It's a miracle you haven't combusted on the spot. Is it usually this awkward? Everything went so fine yesterday, so why can't you ease into it today?

He takes that as a go ahead and instantly reaches for your hand on the table, but you retract at the speed of light.

"Don't even think about it." You're ready to connect the tip of your trainers to his bleached asshole, nose crinkled at his behaviour.

Kaeya whistles lowly, leaning forward for the HD show that is your life.

Childe's smile is sheepish as he's scratching the back of his head. "So we're not on that stage yet huh? I seriously thought you had a change of heart after you beat up those high schoolers for m—"

You muffle his statement with a hand on his mouth, and send a pointed glare to Kaeya. "You didn't hear shit."

The Captain of the skating team nods innocently, and salutes. "Yes boss."

Returning your gaze to Childe, who looks like he's having the time of his life with your small hand on his mouth, you narrow your eyes. "Stop trying to spread rumours."

He can only hum in reply, but you feel a weird pressure on your palm and—

The smug asshole kisses your palm.

You pull back your hand and wipe at your pants, full of disbelief. "Did you just??? Did you just? Kiss my hand???" Mouth twisted, you have no idea what to think.

Childe's throws his head back, and his laugh rings in your ears. You hate yourself for wavering slightly at the sound before smacking his arm. His laughs turn into coughs, probably because he may have swallowed his saliva down the wrong pipe. Charming.

Where the fuck is Zhongli? It's already been five minutes too long into homeroom.

Rolling your eyes, you opt to continue and scribble down budget numbers and add sums up or whatever you were doing earlier after Childe pipes down, choosing to admire you quietly by leaning his weight on one arm. It's enough to make you squirm, face flushed.

"Can you not?" Clicking your tongue in disapproval, you don't look up as you speak.

"If you give me a kiss, then maybe." Childe's cheeky, ridiculously so, and he points a finger at his cheek.

"I don't negotiate with terrorists." You deadpan, fingers itching to choke something or rather...someone.

Childe pouts, and then his eyes close for a second, almost as if he's exhausted when he gives you a sort of smile. With how he's leaning in so close, you can easily spot the swelling in his eyes and the paleness of his face.

For the first time today, there's no bite in your tone when you ask with a slightly raised brow. "Are you okay Childe?"

"Yeah!" He's quick to answer ecstatically, snapping out of his tired haze by straightening himself up. "Better more than ever now that I've seen you, girlie."

You blush madly, the compliment enough for you to drop your pen on the ground. It rolls over beyond your reach.

"I'll get that." Childe jumps out of his chair and you're unable to stop him as he goes to go fetch your pen like the chivalrous idiot he is. There's a slight pause in his movement, his body taking longer to process the messages his brain is sending.

He recovers from the muddle in his cognition by shaking his head, and casually goes to pick up the pen, then ends the move by falling over backwards in unconsciousness.

"Childe!" You lunge for him, managing to catch him a second prior to his ass hitting the floor with the help of Kaeya, who somehow looks like he's expected this outcome from the very start.

The entire classroom clamps up and turns to look for the root of all the commotion.

"Don't just sit there and watch!" You hiss angrily, waving them off. "Someone get Zhongli!"

Aether doesn't need to be told twice as Venti and him race down the hall together. Venti probably just to use this opportunity of sudden chaos to skip homeroom.

"Looks like a fever." The Captain accesses the situation as a small crowd forms around you two. "There's no way he didn't feel it in the morning."

"The absolute idiot." You groan at his words. "Of course he'd try to have a pissing match with a cold."

"I'm still here you know." Childe slurs, leaning into you for warmth, chest rising and falling softly. "Just a...a little sleepy. Am I dreaming angel?"

You roll your eyes, but don't make any moves to lean away from his touch. "Anyone got a water bottle?" Curling your hands around his shoulder, you shift your gaze towards the crowd.

Somebody passes you an emerald green water bottle with dandelion charms that clink against the hard plastic handle from a nearby desk. It screams stupid, but you don't have time to judge the owner.

Opening it up hastily, you're about to let Childe take a sip until it's snatched away from you at the speed of light.

"Hey what gives!" You call out to Kaeya, who inspects the bottle closely with his one eye. He then nods in affirmation as if his suspicions are confirmed.

"I wouldn't recommend it." Is all he says when he motions for you to take a whiff, which you do so reluctantly, eyes closed.

The scent hits you all it once. It's watered down vodka, except without the watering down. Tears form from the intensity.

"The goddamn bard." You choke out, and it earns you a drained chuckle from the ginger that has his head situated on your forearm.

He has half the mind to nuzzle in further, but the position is convenient enough for you to crush his skull if you wish to do so. So he refrains, albeit reluctantly.

Zhongli manages to make it in less than two minutes, sipping on a cup of steaming tea as he breaks apart the crowd to crouch down. "Is everything alright? I came as soon as I could after I made this tea. I assumed it was just another prank."

Everyone in the room shakes their head incredulously.

"Unfortunately it isn't a prank. Childe fainted briefly." You tell him politely despite the urgency, since you're whipped for all your teachers.

"I didn't faint!" Childe groans, exasperated. "Got a little dizzy s'all."

"Yeah," Kaeya cuts in to summarize the situation. "I'll be happy to take him to the nurses office with Y/N—"

Zhongli clears his throat. "You won't be going anywhere Mr.Alberich. I'm sure you have five overdue assignments in my class. Y/N here can walk him just fine." He then attempts to wink at Childe secretly like the wingman he is, but everyone in the classroom and their grandma notices.

The facepalm you do is not enough to render you brain dead.

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you sigh for the nth time today, and it's only eight thirty in the morning. "No worries, Lisa can help—"

"Sorry cutie. I'm manifesting for the biology quiz." Lisa deflects, lighting three candles on her desk unceremoniously with her eyes closed.

You don't understand why no one has confiscated her box of matches yet. This entire school is a law suit waiting to happen.

You succumb to the team effort everyone is trying so hard to display. "I guess I can go." The hall pass is already written, signed, and neatly folded into the chest pocket of your uniform. "How did you even..."

You don't even get a chance to finish before both you and Childe are whisked away to the outside of the classroom, the door shutting behind you with a slam. Your ears perk up at the sound of a lock clicking in place.

"Looks like you're stuck with me." The smug bastard still has the audacity to beam even when he's pale in the face. "Might have to hold my arm. If I fall and crack my skull—that wouldn't look too good on your record." He makes grabby hands, like a toddler.

The smile you give is unnerving, and with the speed of a snail, you manage to loop in your arm with Childe's. "Another word and let's move on to how your hospital record is going to have more than just a cracked skull."

"If you'd nurse me back to health, it'll all be worth it." The quip he sends without a beat lacks its usual goof, but it does manage to get some sort of reaction out of you.

"Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

—

Childe's busy thumbing at his phone while you pace at the foot of the bed, arms crossed with a frown etched on your features. You hope you don't look too worried, don't want to give him the wrong idea.

"Can we just get this over with?" He wails uncharacteristically from his spot on the white sheeted bed after ruling out everything he wanted to do on his phone. His hair is tousled more than usual, as a by-product of his constant restlessness.

"Shut up." You answer monotonously, arms crossed as you lean against the wall. "Let her finish her tiktok."

Barbara—the daughter of the school nurse, has her phone on the window, lip syncing and dancing to some music on beat as she films a tiktok with the utmost of important.

It's concerning that her father isn't here to tend to your needs, but apparently he's in the middle of a meeting with principle Varka. Said meeting had been going on for the past few months, but this school is devoid of logic anyways so nobody really questions anything.

"I'm literally dying here."

"Archons you're such a baby," Shaking your head, you approach his bed with a newfound annoyance. "Barbara has to create a tiktok at least once every twenty four hours or her fan club goes feral and..."

"Tries to jump off the roof as the ultimate sacrifice to her majesty." Childe sighs, and for the first time you sense his irritation. "Got it."

Just in time, Barbara finishes her cute little dance and comes over to where Childe is laying.

Childe doesn't miss the way your scowl has dissipated, and you give Barbara your undivided attention, hearts in your eyes from all the adoration. He has half the mind to call you out on it, no doubt a little jealous over how the young highschool idol can get you to show more emotion than him.

"I'm so sorry! I started those tiktoks out of mild interest but now I have an obligation to my fans." The younger apologizes profusely, getting to work almost immediately.

"No worries." Childe starts, staying still as the blonde examines him. "I'm sure it's nothing too serious. Y/N here is being dramatic, she probably just wants to spend some alone time with me."

You inhale sharply, turn to Barbara, and ask. "If I jumped out of the window right now from this floor, would it be a quick and easy death?"

The younger girl's eyes widen, and Childe stifles his snort.

"Kidding." You raise your hands up to cease her worries, and then motion towards him. "Common cold?"

"Yes," Barbara moves on and writes down something on a slip. "We'll just keep him here until his parents can pick him up."

"My parents can't pick me up." He asserts in a casual tone. "Don't call them."

"We still have to call them. If they don't come, you're to stay in this bed all day." She hands you the note, which is a viable excuse for all the classes he'll miss today. "Give this to his homeroom teacher. You'd also better get to class, your hall pass is about to expire."

"Hold up." You remark, barely paying attention to the note that you've shoved down your pocket. "I'm not leaving him here alone." There's no room for argument, your decision is firmly stated.

Childe hypes you up in his weakened state, disoriented. "You tell em girlie."

"He won't be alone." Barbara flashes you a reassuring smile. "I'll be monitoring him until his parents get here."

"No, no, you don't understand." You argue, inquiring all the doubts you have. "He's gonna try to pull some shit and I'll have to be here to stop him."

"Ease up babe." Childe tries to calm you down, despite the giddiness in his chest at the realization that you want to take care of him.

His subconscious begs him to let you stay, to let himself be doted and cared for the way he's always wanted you to, but he knows he can't let you skip class. Not when you've worked so hard and come so far. "I'll be okay for a few. You can go back to class and then visit me during break."

You bite your lips, head jumbled with all the different possibilities of how shit can hit the fan. "I can't! What if Signora shows up? She'll poison you in this weakened state to get back at me for trying to exorcise her." The hesitation in your features gives away everything.

Childe's eye twitches at the thought of Signora out of all people getting the best out of him, and also the absolute audacity you have to be calling him weak. Clearly all his efforts towards the little shows of dominance (e.g. Shoving Pallad against a locker, spraying a hefty amount of cologne on, being an asshole in general, etc.) have not bore fruit.

"You tried to exorcise her?" Barbara gasps, momentarily reminding the two of you that she's still present.

"Her evil has no bounds." Your expression is hard to read, dead serious. "I do not regret my attempt at cancelling Satan's hell spawn."

Childe himself has been cancelled hundreds of times over the span of highschool because of all his problematic traits (e.g calling Venti a twink) and it is not a pleasant experience.

Though it does give him a sense of comfort, knowing that arrogant bitch Signora is finally getting what's coming to her, even if she is one of his friends.

Serves her right for trying to Pavlov her stupid Chihuahua into biting the closest human being just by the snap of her manicured finger. As if it's persistent yapping and tendency to run in front of cars isn't enough torture to deal with on a daily basis.

Childe's yanked out of his thoughts rather forcefully at the sound of the door opening abruptly, the handle crashing into the wall, shocking Barbara's attempts to reassure you.

He knows who it is because of his top tier gaydar, dreading what's to come.

Scaramouche is a morose son of a bitch with a mean streak that hasn't been broken since he was an itty bitty shit in the fourth grade.

"I can't believe you let yourself get sick!" The navy haired boy exclaims in disbelief, doubling over with tears, clapping his hands to add on some extra effects. "Natural selection finally decided to stop pussy footing around your primate-looking ass."

You press your lips together. "Isn't he supposed to be your best friend?"

Scaramouche sputters violently, using the wall as leverage to hold himself up. "You told her I'm your best friend? Oh fuck. Oh this is good. What else did you tell her huh? That you have a monster cock?"

"First of all, you make me reconsider my opinion on the death penalty, dickhead."

Barbara is mortified. Childe continues on anyways.

"—and I do have a monster cock. But why are you so interested in my monster cock huh?"

Scaramouche scrunches his face up in disgust, amusement nothing but a distant memory. "You don't have a monster cock you plebe."

Childe has an awfully scandalized expression on his face, but smoothly enough it transitions into an unsettling grin that you're all too familiar with. "You didn't deny not being interested in my monster cock though."

It's your turn to be mortified, shaking your head at the banter that goes on back and forth.

"How did you even know he was in here? We aren't even in the same class."

Scaramouche raises a brow as if you're some sort of toddler that's babbling out a mixture of Cheerios and spit, maybe a few digested strawberries here and there. He waves his phone in front of you, "posted it on his story."

"What the—give me that!" You snatch his phone right up, staring at the screen in bewilderment.

There's a video of you doing trick shots with your tech deck on the ledge of a nearby window with a pressed expression while waiting for Barbara to finish up, captioned with: "In the nurses office rn pray for me 🙏, there's this cute girl in front of me should I ask her out?"

You check the poll and ninety five percent say yes. Scaramouche voted no. You have mixed feelings.

Shaking your head, you give Childe, who's unable to sit still, a look of pure exasperation.

Scaramouche claws his phone back from you rather harshly, the bells on his hat jingling, making it hard for you to take him seriously when he sneers your way.

"You should be thankful you're the lover of my comrade." He shivers slightly at the word comrade. "or I would have obliterated you on the spot for that little stunt."

Childe doesn't even pretend to look fazed at the older's threat when he says  "as if I'd allow a kumquat headass like you to touch my girl."

You and Barbara hastily jump in to stop the bloodbath that is seconds from happening. "No!"

Luckily, no limbs are teared apart.

[omegasmileyface]

Not in the Job Description

heres a silly lil Danny Phantom concept based entirely off a half-awake sleep-vision that made me laugh :) my subconscious brain is a genius at coming up with things that make just enough sense to be worth writing

summary: Danny's job at a local restaurant is surprisingly fulfilling, even after being crowned Ghost King. Speaking of that job, however, there are some intricacies to it that are hard to keep in mind during everyday life.

warnings: descriptions of nausea and mild sickness

words: 2180

AO3 link

===

Honestly, life was going pretty well at the moment for Danny Fenton. He wasn't even worried that it was a false security or a calm before a storm, because this kind of semi-serenity had been going on for more than a year. It was a long-term stability brought about by adaptation and putting in effort to get help and accommodation. Jazz would be proud!

Sometime at the beginning of Junior year, the Observants had chased him down and crowned him High Ghost King (much to the chagrin of both involved parties). It certainly added responsibility to Danny's plate, along with some new sensations and a series of crises (what didn't these days?), but a little political discussion with some of the more powerful ghosts ended with Danny deciding that, at least at the moment, the position didn't require him to do much more than he normally did. More ghosts would seek him out for help and he would do his best, and some "paperwork" (though there was very little paper involved and it was a lot of talking and oaths and rituals and such) happened about monthly. Otherwise, though, the Zone didn't need much more help than that, having survived off an absent King for centuries. Well, and the ambient purpose of the King as a sort of core for the Zone, but Danny didn't have to put in time or conscious effort for that.

Eventually that settled into normalcy, and Danny was back to worrying about the balance of schoolwork, self-care, and fighting. He still hadn't given up on the prospect of someday becoming an astronaut, and he was determined to have the grades for it. Don't get him wrong, he'd gotten way better about that! He'd formed a practiced, if not entirely stable, system that kept his grades at a solid B- / C+, while getting a solid 5-ish hours of sleep most nights and not bottling things up too much. It was about halfway through Junior year that he realized, with some help from his friends, that his ghosts fights were honestly pretty civil, at least against the regulars. Civil enough that he knew they had some respect for him, and was willing to risk asking for help. So a few weeks and awkward but not bad conversations later, and he had agreements with almost all his regular "foes" not to cause trouble within Amity from 11pm to 7am, 3pm on weekdays. It was more than half the day off-limits on school days, and plenty of ghosts made up for it to a degree by making themselves more common during the "permitted" hours, but it greatly increased Danny's well-being and school performance anyway. "Rivals" like Skulker and Technus had enough respect for Danny and his Lair to abide, and plenty even cared that he was taking care of himself, even between frequent sparring. Maybe a few were really just in fear of his new crown, but he chose to cautiously pretend that wasn't a possibility.

After graduation — he made Senior year with all As and Bs! — Danny's parents had encouraged him to get a part-time job over the summer. He had been interning at FentonWorks (paid! His parents might not be the most attentive but they certainly weren't unfair) since he had accidentally revealed himself a few years back, and they had been thrilled to hear that he still intended to go into NASA if possible, and had done whatever they could to help. They recommended the job because, as good as a paid scientific internship was on a resume, it would help to have a variety of activity and the opportunity to get recommendations from employers who weren't liable to nepotism. After searching local businesses, Danny found a small sandwich shop founded by a middle-aged couple who had moved in and set up shop just before the ghost attacks began. Being close to the school but not far from the commercial sector and offering small portable food (no one wants to sit down for a meal when a spirit could come crashing through the window at any moment), the place got good enough business to pay the employees a proper living wage. Better yet, they were allowed to take home unsold food! Not to mention the owners were both very kind women who held smiling conversation with employees and customers alike. Danny was more than lucky to land such a nice job, even if it meant he had to get up at 7 five days a week.

All this is to say that it wasn't as surprising as it could have been that he was having a slow and pleasant day at work.

Both the owners were out for the day on some sort of vacation, so today it was just Danny and a short teenager named Casey manning the place. Most of their orders recently had been online due to an explosion causing road work near the restaurant and it was mid-morning, leaving work slow enough that they could afford to just have the two until lunch shift started. Danny was on cashier duty today, but unless the door bell sounded, he was helping Casey in the kitchen.

"Aw, man, we're almost out of tomatoes."

"Really?" Casey looked up to the shelf Danny was inspecting and indeed saw only 3 tomatoes. "Huh, guess they didn't restock yesterday. Well, we probably shouldn't risk needing more before the day's out, do you want me to go get more?"

Danny shook his head. "Nah, I can go. I think I could use the fresh air." He said that a lot, especially as an excuse when his ghost sense went off, but that didn't mean it wasn't true. He never had liked being confined.

Casey checked the monitor to see if they'd gotten any new online orders. Since there was a grocery store just a block away, any time someone needed a quick restock they tended to just walk.

They looked up to see Danny already had his jacket on and was looking them in the eye. "Would you take over my position until I come back?"

"Of course. Ten minutes?"

With a nod and a smile, Danny was out the back door.

===

After a moment of habitually wiping down the counters, Casey went up to the register in case a customer appeared.

It was even quieter than before for a few minutes, so they busied themself with mini restocks and organization. They were in the middle of stacking some paper coffee cups when they started to feel dizzy. There had been this subtle pressure on their chest since Danny left, which they figured was anxiety for working the restaurant alone for the first time, and now it had solidified into a warm nausea that flared whenever they exhaled.

With the disinterested panic that came from having strange things happen for years, they wondered if they had missed their medication this morning. A quick glance at their phone, however, showed the notification for it checked off.

Putting the phone back away, Casey noticed the tips of their fingers were somewhat translucent. Alright then, it was definitely something to do with ghosts. Great! Just excellent. The panic was less disinterested this time.

They weren't familiar with any sort of ghost illness that made humans translucent, so they definitely needed to call someone to make sure nothing bad happened. It would be best to call the Fentons' public number so they could go over and get looked over by then. In the meantime, they should call Danny and ask him to hurry back. He shouldn't be much longer anyway.

Casey didn't even get the chance to act on their plan, however, before a short humanoid ghost appeared in the dining area. They didn't look to be up to anything, but Casey reached for the emergency ectoblaster beneath the register anyway. The nausea was getting worse, along with a new chill, and they couldn't be sure this new ghost wasn't somehow causing whatever they were going through.

The ghost looked at them with an expression that was almost desperate. "Ah! Kind human, thank you for your time." The ghost... bowed? "I am Eurusid, from the Spoken Channels. There has been a dispute which damaged public meeting grounds in the center of the Channels, and both groups refuse to allow the damage to be repaired except by the other group."

Casey's eyes narrowed. It was becoming difficult to stand with the dizziness, and if not the ghost himself, then whatever he was saying was probably a hallucination. They didn't even think about responding beyond a detached "what".

It was then that Danny re-entered the back door with the new tomatoes. Good thing, too. At least with another person there, Casey could confirm whether they were hallucinating.

===

Placing down the grocery bag and shrugging off his jacket in one motion, a skill only gained by years of laziness efficiency, Danny called toward the register. "Back!"

Once he caught sight of the teen, however, all casualness shed itself from his body and he rushed over to hold them. "Man, Casey, you feeling alright? You look really pale." The realization that their form was slightly translucent, despite the firm human heartbeat beneath, was drowned out by him finally noticing the ghost standing a few feet away. The reaction of his ghost sense had been so minor that he had ignored it.

He was surprised to see that he recognized the specter's face, marred as it may have been from worry and confusion aimed directly at Casey. "Eurusid? What's going on?"

As the ghost, still confused but unwilling to act impolitely, gathered his bearings and began to bow toward him, Danny's coworker shuddered under his hands, regaining his full attention. He thought back through the day's events for hints as to the situation, before swearing, cutting off whatever Eurusid was about to say.

Danny backed up and said, voice as clear as he could, "I recall my position."

Casey's reaction was immediate, a gasp of air like they had been kept from breathing and a return of their skin's human opacity. Danny rushed back over and put his hand on their back to steady them as their eyes narrowed and went slightly unfocused.

Figures, doesn't it? One of the many intricacies that had come up at his coronation Junior year that just hadn't come up enough to keep at the front of his mind. One of the defenses of the High Ghost Crown was the ability of the King to temporarily give their duty to someone else. As long as that person accepts, during a specified time they substitute for the King in dealing with political matters, as well as taking over as much as their ability allowed of the King's function to process the energy of the Realms.

Danny had no idea that this ability could be activated with words as vague as "take over my position", let alone that it could be used with a human. That potential had never come up during the ceremony, so for all he knew, a full ghost in his position couldn't substitute with a human. A human certainly shouldn't be able to take over any part of the energy processing, though maybe in Amity Park the average person processed enough environmental ectoplasmic energy to make it possible. Regardless of residence, though, it could not be good for Casey's body, which had no Core to properly process energy and had no human equivalent except perhaps a small emotional center in the brain, to even attempt to filter and manage some of the inherent energy of a dimension.

Their skin was still clammy and their coordination was shot. Ancients, if this is what an accidental substitution did to a human, Danny would have to word things very carefully when asking for help in the future.

"King Phantom?" Danny looked up to see that Eurusid was still floating there awkwardly. Right. He had two people here to help.

"Sorry, Eurusid. One moment, I'll be right with you." He turned back to his coworker, who looked confused and less lucid than ideal, but probably still lucid enough to realize this ghost had just called him "King Phantom". Well, he'd deal with that once it came to it. "Here, Casey, let's get you some water." He helped them walk back into the kitchen and sat them down on a bench by the back door. There was a chair in the register area, but they probably didn't want to feel exposed to the dining area like that, even with nobody but the ghost there.

Once handed the water, Casey sighed and eagerly drank from it, eyes closed. Danny rubbed his hand on their back a bit and promised to be back shortly before walking back out to meet Eurusid. Whatever he was here about was probably worth immediate attention but Danny was sure there'd be at least a solid minute of apologies on both sides before the matter was addressed. Hopefully both the Spoken Channels and Casey would be alright before the next shift came in.

[maxdark158]

OOOH two chapters in one week??? damn even i’m jealous. of myself. though this also isn’t edited so i might read it tomorrow morning and regret life, soooo

Angel in Gotham: Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6 ~ Ao3

Demon in Gotham: Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Ao3

Fanart for AiG: Riddler ~ Joker thank you @thegreysman

Please tag me in any fanart you draw for this guys ^^

oooOOOooo

The large plant in the street wasn’t promising.

Neither was the very loud scream of pain they heard as they arrived to the scene.

Damian might’ve popped some knuckles when he clenched his fists, he wasn’t fully paying attention. What the ever-loving fucking hell in a fuck was Ivy doing? Harley best not be here too or Damian may strangle both of them for coming near his Angel.

Deep fucking breaths I’m going to fucking lose it-

When they arrived, father signaled a quick “to first two follow” plan and he and Grayson went ahead, leaving Damian and Drake on the roof. Damian itched to jump and move forward. The worry was awful, filling his mind with the most unrealistic of thoughts. He tried to correct them, prove them wrong, but they were overwhelming.

What if I check through her window to make sure she’s in there and oka- he didn’t know which room she had and it would take too long.

What if the scream was hers- It was deeper, male sounding.

What if she was crushed under that plant- She wouldn’t be, right? There wasn’t any evidence of someone being under there-

What if she’s hurt? Afraid? Dying?

He heard yelling. Angry yelling, in a male voice. The constricting worry reminded him of every dangerous male villain in Gotham right now. He went through a list of those currently MIA, those who might’ve yelled. It didn’t make sense, no villain sighting was reported aside from Ivy…

But it was possible.

And the possibility made Damian want to puke.

He had to move he had to do something. He jumped down. It hadn’t been enough time yet but he didn’t care. He heard Drake hiss something in warning about Batman’s orders or something Damian didn’t fucking care about, because he had to see for himself. He had to walk in there and he had to make sure she was okay.

Before he could go in, he saw Ivy walk out through the door. What?! he moved to intercept her before seeing the blood going down her leg- What the fucking fuck happened?! Why was she bleeding?

Ivy raised a brow when she saw him. “I got a pass this time, bird. Might want to help them in there.”

The sick feeling returned. He didn’t want to trust a villain, a criminal… but Ivy wasn’t the most horrible.

He eyed the blood, the worried weeds supplying images of his Angel bleeding in the same way. Ivy was not the worst that could happen… His mind went through that handy list of villains again. Many much worse than Ivy.

Damian turned away from Ivy. Father and Grayson shattered the window the plant hadn’t gone through, he made a motion toward it before Drake grabbed his shoulder.

“Let go of me you-“

“If you’re going to disobey Batman, at least let me go with you,” Drake looked exasperated. “You’re focused on your friend, right? Someone needs to watch your ass then.”

Damian glared before prying Drake’s hand off his shoulder. If he wanted to follow, fine. Damian wouldn’t stop him. He went through the broken window and finally entered the hotel.

The vending machine was unplugged and face down on the ground, glass surrounding it. Ivy’s giant plant was in the middle of the room, steam thicker than the pot it previously inhabited and petals as big as the Batmobile’s tires. Other miscellaneous things were strewn across the room, including cut hair near the elevator.

But what had Damian’s heart pounding was the playing cards. Playing cards that were embedded in the walls and the front desk and the floor. Razor sharp playing cards. A certain villain’s playing cards.

Fucking fucking shit fuck bitch ass fuck-

“Father,” Damian’s voice was surprisingly level as he spoke. His eyes landed on the fucking purple suited clown mother fucker himself. “What is Joker doing here?”

Father however seemed to be answering something Grayson must have said, “It appears she was rescuing…”

Ivy was rescuing.

Ivy was helping.

Damian’s eyes scanned the room right as someone else made themselves known.

Marinette!

The air left his lungs. She looked worse for wear, dark circles under her eyes and blood- fucking hell blood on her person. She was shaking like a leaf in the wind, and Damian wanted nothing more than to comfort her. Help her.

He opened his mouth to speak, stepping toward her.

She began to sob.

As if Damian somehow needed to panic even more.

“I’m sorry,” the words were quietly choked out between hics and sobs. “I’m a hor- horrible person and-”

“Hey now,” Grayson took a step closer, trying to comfort her. Damian’s feet were stuck to the floor, the words stuck in his mouth, preventing him from doing the same. “I’m sure you’re not-”

She held up her hands, showing the blood on them. Damian inhaled sharply when he saw the bits of glass embedded into her palm – the green haired fuck hurt her.

“I broke his leg,” she took a big gulp of air. Damian bit back the words and he deserved it. “With a rock. And I threw things at him. A chocolate bar, a cookie, a phone, a lamp, a vending machine-”

“A vending machine?” His father glanced at the vending machine on the ground. Damian didn’t bother trying to decipher his expression, Marinette was turning red and gasping between her sobs. She needed to breathe.

“Miss, please calm down,” Grayson began to step toward her. Damian’s feet finally moved, and he began surging toward her as well.

She fell, nearly hitting her head on the way down. Damian caught her before she could though, barely. Fuck, she needed to breathe like yesterday.

“I’m terrible, horrible, I shouldn’t have done this,” the words used the last of her breath and were only a whisper.

Panic made his throat feel stuck and his voice thick. “Angel,” Damian spoke as calmly as he could. “You need to breathe.”

She didn’t breathe.

oooOOOooo

Usually, lack of sleep was associated with the coffee obsessed Drake, but it seemed Damian’s own mind was determined to show him what it was like to live like a lunatic. He wasn’t able to sleep even when he tried, though he didn’t try that much either. He’s pretty sure he spent an hour staring at his weedkiller order – an order that somehow got lost in Kentucky – wishing it to suddenly appear at the front gate. Then again after coming home, most of the night was a blur.

He rubbed his eyes and let his thoughts wander through the memories of last night. Or, early morning technically.

Marinette looked delicate and broken on the stretcher as she was loaded into the ambulance. Damian had to turn his head away. He saw Drake and Todd looking at him, but he didn’t want their fucking pity.

She’d be fine.

She had to be.

After Angel had passed out, she began to breathe again. She immediately got medical attention for her injuries, riding in a different ambulance than Joker, who also got medical attention at Arkham. Damian wanted nothing more than to skin him alive as he left, but he avoided doing it for the time being. Barely.

“There’s some of Joker’s laughing shit over here, B-man.”

“Have Red Robin neutralize it. We’ll have to check the tapes and see if anyone was affected.”

“Besides the guy who’s body we found behind the desk, I don’t think anyone else got hit. But good call. Red Robin, over here!”

Drake got the security camera feed and Damian saw the entirety of what happened in the hotel lobby. His Angel fought bravely and intelligently, though he couldn’t say he was a fan of the bitch who left her behind.

“Why did she go for the elevator? I’d hate being stuck in there with the Joker. And she let her classmate just fight?”

“Maybe she called for help once she got away. And even if she didn’t, we can’t judge a teenager for panicking in this situation, Tim. Damian’s friend is an anomaly.”

“I don’t know… too bad the cameras don’t have audio, I wonder what she’s saying before they realize that Joker is there.”

“Are you able to read her lips?”

“Golly jee I wish I fucking thought of that! Thanks for reminding me to read her lips on this old and grainy camera footage where you can barely tell her eyes from her nose!”

“Jesus Replacement, no need to bite my head off.”

Damian looked into it,and found that no calls were made to the police until the plant fell through the window. The calls then were about Ivy appearing, deduced by people nearby who saw the plant. That good for nothing bitch left my Angel with the Joker-

“No calls were made by anyone within the hotel. All the calls were made by people on the street or living nearby who saw the plant.”

“Hmm… Odd…”

“…I’m sorry but how the fuck did someone sleep through a giant ass plant breaking the main floor windows? How?!”

“Maybe it’s a French secret.”

He shook his head. After they got all the information, father decided to send the French children back early and pay for it himself. Damian, internally, knew why. He painted a target on Angel’s back, if she didn’t have one before.

“You realize he heard you, right?”

“What do you want, Todd?”

“Fucks’ sake demon spawn, listen to me. Joker heard you call her Angel.”

“…”

“I was already aware of that. I’ve made plans to have the class moved back in Paris. If it gets around, She’ll be an ocean away and more difficult to harm.”

“Alright, B. Was just trying to warn Demon Spawn.”

“Maybe next time he won’t fuck up.”

“Tim, no need to be harsh.”

“It’s vigilante 101, Bruce. Damian’s been doing this for years.”

“Perhaps instead of being berated for a mistake he didn’t intend, you should let Master Damian retire to his room to rest.”

Damian grumbled to himself, trying to push the intrusive awful worrisome thoughts out of his head. The ones that said maybe going back to Paris wouldn’t be enough to protect her. The ones that said Joker would want revenge, the ones that-

The ones that he wasn’t fucking listening to right now thank you very fucking much!

Damian sighed to himself. He needed some sleep. After handling the news, getting the class handled, and looking into everything involving Joker’s break in at the hotel he was told to get to bed as the sun began rising. It hadn’t really worked, as now a few hours later he was debating stealing some of Drake’s coffee to make it through the day.

Because he did have one very important task to do today. He needed to check on his Angel, and say goodbye to her. He had her number of course, and they could text as often as possible for the two of them, but he still needed to see her. See her and apologize for how horrible this trip must’ve turned out for her.

I’m bad luck, being near me ruined her trip.

Damian went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, ignoring that train of thought.

Riddler attacked her when I was there. Joker appeared after I dropped her off. I made her unlucky. I got her hurt.

It’d be easier to ignore that train of thought if it weren’t so fucking loud.

Time felt blurry right now. Probably because he was tired. But soon he was dressed in a hoodie and sunglasses, disguised so he didn’t get mobbed by paparazzi while visiting his Angel in the hotel. He was pulling his shoes on when there was a knock at the door.

“What do you want?” The knocking bounced in his head and made it hurt. Maybe he had a migraine, he wasn’t sure.

“Such a nice way to say good morning Demon Spawn,” Todd strolled in like he fucking owned the place and leaned against the wall next to the door. Damian wondered what it’d be like to have Jon’s laser sight so he could glare at Todd and kill him.

“You didn’t have permission to come in.”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“That doesn’t mean you get to.”

“Tough shit,” Todd rolled his eyes. “…You… alright?”

Damian narrowed his eyes at him. “Why are you asking something like that?”

“Your friend got attacked and is leaving the city because of a target on her back. Which, while I did point out that you called her a petname in front of Joker-“

“It isn’t a petname-“

“-It isn’t your fault.”

The words starkly contrasted Damian’s internal beliefs and he had to blink a few moments to make sure what he heard was real. Because what the fuck? Why would Todd try to convince him his fuck up somehow wasn’t his fucking fault!?

“It’s… not my fault that I stupidly revealed a relationship connection to a civilian in front of one of the worst villains this city has suffered?”

“Okay, that was all you, smartass,” Todd sighed. “but the other shit isn’t your fault. You didn’t hurt her, the fucked up clown did. You didn’t put her in danger, her fucking teacher and class did by abandoning her. You’re at fault for your actions, not other people’s, so if you’re blaming yourself then fucking stop. Freckles’d probably get upset if you were using her to hate yourself.”

“What on this planet makes you think I’m doing that?!” Damian’s voice rose in a snap, hypocritically, because he realized as he spoke the words that he… kind of was doing that.

Fucking feelings and fucking worry and fucking weeds in his head were the reason, of course, but he… was… fuck, he’s tired isn’t he?

“I died, Demon Spawn.” Damian raised a brow at Todd, waiting for the halfwit to continue. “Bruce and I… aren’t on the best of terms, but I did realize he… he did that. Where what Joker did was his fault. I’m not happy the fucker is still alive, but that doesn’t mean Bruce was the one who killed me. No that was all Joker.”

“What does that have to do with anything again?” Damian really just wanted Todd out of his room and not talking about things in the past. He totally understood his point and everything, but it wasn’t anything a gallon sized bottle of weedkiller wouldn’t fix.

“Wow, you must be really tired, damn,” the fucker smirked before his expression changed into something less asshole-ish. “I’m saying that if you’re blaming yourself for what the Joker did to Freckles, stop it. The fucker lost a leg and she’s on her way to the hotel from the hospital now.”

Wait.

Wait what?

“Wait what?!” Damian wasn’t even sure which one he was reacting to – the news that Angel was okay or the news that the Joker was permanently damaged.

Angel’s self defense might’ve permanently helped Gotham?!

Okay maybe he knew what he was reacting to.

Todd turned to leave like a fucking dickhead and Damian could hear the smirk in his voice as he walked away. “Check the news for the Joker thing and ask Alfred to take you to Freckles in like an hour.”

Damian was smart enough to realize that not checking out of spite for Todd would only disadvantage himself.

He still only checked a couple minutes later though. After glaring at his phone willing himself to somehow know without checking.

He needing headache pills.

oooOOOooo

The Unnamed Teenager That Defeated The Riddler Cripples Joker!

Just days after beating The Riddler at his own game, the same teenage girl holds off The Joker until Batman arrives!

“We had to amputate him below the knee,” Arkham doctor says. “There was too much glass in the wound, it cut several muscles, tendons, and arties. The shattered bone didn’t help.”

French Teenager Unavailable for Comment.

[Read More]

oooOOOooo

Damian had snuck through the lobby up to his Angel’s room. Some of her classmates were downstairs, but he hadn’t paid much attention to them, not caring at the moment.

The last memory he had of her was the blood on her hands and tears in her eyes before she fell to the floor. He wanted to change that, wanted to maybe even see if he could get her to smile. Though that felt ambitious…

He just… needed to make sure she was okay.

Damian knocked on Marinette’s hotel room door.