#i got a lot of scans and labs everything looked good except i said hey do i have endometriosis or something and the docs said maybe lets

[matoitech]

got discharged from the er home and showered i was there umm like nine hours. my final message: fibroid warriors assemble! not for long tho (hysterectomy this yr, maybe i can get it pushed up now lmao)

[marvelsbetch]

Peter Parker’s field trip part 2

March 7th

Peter's POV

I woke up peacefully to Friday playing Highway to Hell and telling me it was 6:30am and I needed to get up for school. Concerned for Wade's sleeping I quickly told Friday to be quiet and that I was up, I obviously didn't want to wake him at such a cruel hour.

Stumbling out of my room in a sleep filled haze, almost walking into the door frame and tripping over my shoes, I made my way to the kitchen to find Pops trying to cook breakfast and silently arguing with Thor who put his hammer in front of the fridge yet again, Loki really is a bad influence on the God.

"Uncle Thor please move the hammer so I can have breakfast. Please." I requested giving him my puppy dog eyes knowing he can't resist them.

With a small grunt Thor moved his hammer and set it on top of the kitchen counter out of people way. Pops sent me a grateful look before pulling eggs, milk and cheese out of the fridge to make Captain America's famous omelette. I smiled slightly and moved to sit on one of the bar stools at the island counter and watched slowly as all the Avengers plus Loki, T'Challa and Shuri were woken up by the amazing smell. All but my boyfriend who could probably sleep through an earthquake, hurricane and tsunami all at once. It's a gift.

-1 hour later-

After breakfast I got ready to just come back here, grabbed my back, kissed my now awake boyfriend goodbye, hugged my Dads goodbye and made my way to the car with Happy prepared to take me to school. On the way Happy gave me a lecture on how I was basically representing Dad and SI so I should be on my best behaviour. It was boring and in all honest, I'd heard it before on the field trip to the zoo we have last month, that didn't end well in all honesty. It's better left saying some monkeys escaped and it totally wasn't my fault.

"Right Kid. We're hear, I'll pick you up tomorrow from here so message me when you're on your way back to school." He told me, I could tell he was going to miss me but I could also tell he was looking forward to the extra one hours sleep he was going to get tomorrow from not needing to drop me off.

"Bye Happy. Tell everyone I'll miss them. See you tomorrow and I'll give regular update and text you if anything happens." I told him before exiting the car and walking up to Ned who was waiting outside the bus ready for me.

"Hey man. You looking forward to the surprise field trip?" Ned asked as we stepped onto the bus.

"Not really. I'm gonna miss everyone at the tower. Wade arrived last night as well so I'm not gonna see him for like another two days." I sighed as we sat down next to each other in the middle of the bus.

"Hey penis. I know what the field trip is and you're gonna be in so much shit." Flash tainted as he passed us.

"Steve wouldn't be happy with your language." I mumbled so only Ned heard. We both giggled a little but everyone was soon quietened down by Mrs Robbins shouting at us.

"Okay so before we leave we must take role call to see who's here." She explained and started reading names off of her sheet. Everyone responded with a simple yes miss and everything was going well until she got to my name.

"Patricia Parker!" She yelled and looked directly at me. I simply ignored it and continued to stare out of the window until she shouted it again louder.

"Come on Penis just answer. Don't try and stall this." Flash huffed from the back of the bus.

"Fine. Peter Parker is here." I told her emphasising the work 'Peter'.

"What ever." She grumbled going back to role call.

-30 minutes later-

As we were driving I noticed a lot of places, it took a few seconds until it finally clicked as to where we were going. Stark Industries. Over night. Oh dear.

“Right kids. We're going to be there in roughly 5 minutes so please get you begs sorted, make sure your areas are clean and you have everything with you." Mrs Robbins told us from the front of the bus.

"I bet you'd recognise this way from your internship, if it was real." Flash sneered as if it was going to affect me.

Soon we pulled into the visitor parking lot and exited the car. I was slightly shaking with anxiety especially when Happy and two other security guards, Johnson and Stone (I don't know their first names) walked over to us and started running through the security guidelines.

"And finally and type of bullying or intolerance towards anyone inside this building with not be tolerated and the person doing it will be kicked out immediately. That could be in 10 minutes or at 2:00 in the morning. It will not be tolerated." Happy finished giving me a look that said 'I know something you don't know I know'. Shit.

"Okay now that that is out of the way with, follow us." Happy said leading us inside the lobby of the building by swiping his security card.

“Okay we're gonna give you all access passes. These are the lowest of the 10 levels you get get so basically all you can use them for is the toilet. We have a strict no re-printing policy and a display policy. In other words you must always have your pass on display on your outer most layer of clothing, if it's lost then you will be searched and escorted out of the building if it is not found. Let that be a warning to everyone." Johnson explained as Stone started handing out the passes, glossing over me, Ned and MJ of course, until everyone had them.

Me, Ned and MJ all had to pull out our avenger themed cards. Mine was half and half Iron Man and Captain America cause there my dads. Ned's was a combo of everyone's as he couldn't decide which one he preferred. MJ went for Nat cause MJ liked the fact that she, and Pepper, could control all of us and was the only girl original Avenger. MJ admires her as a icon for women.

"Okay everyone scan your passes as you walk through the scanner like this." Stone demonstrated as he scanned his pass and walked through the scanner with his hands out.

"Logan Stone. Security level clearance:8. No unauthorised items." F.R.I.D.A.Ys voice announced.

"Now all of you do it." Happy instructed.

Everyone started going through the scanner, Flash being the most smug as his level 1 clearance was announced, until it got the the final three. Me, Ned and MJ. MJ decided to go first, F.R.I.D.A.Y announced her name, level 9 security clearance and the fact she had no unauthorised items with her. Next was Ned, F.R.I.D.A.Y announced his name, level 9 security clearance and the fact he had no unauthorised items. Next was me, I was dreading it.

"Come on Patricia, just admit your internship is fake now and save us all the trouble." Flash shouted over everyone making Happy stop and glare at him. He was about to make a move towards Flash but I put my hand out and stopped him.

"Just leave it Hap. He's not worth cancelling whatever Dad's got planned." I told him in a low voice trying to be unheard.

"He says one more thing and I'll knock him out." Happy threatened.

"I have no doubt you will." I sighed and decided I stalled enough. I quickly scanned my card and walked through the scanner with my hands up like everyone else.

"Peter Stark-Rodgers, level 10 security clearance. No unauthorised items. Mr Stark-Rodgers has already been informed of your arrival. Thank you for using the front entrance." F.R.I.D.A.Ys robotic but slightly sarcastic voice announced.

The tour started off normal. One of the actual interns, Owen, greeted us and me separately. We were quite good friends as he was one of the people to help me when Wade asked me out, I will be eternally grateful to him.

"Okay, our first stop on this tour is the avengers museum. You will be allowed to take photos but please refrain from touching anything as they could activate. Everything thing in this room is the real deal except a few things. We will also be trying to lift Thor's hammer in this room with him there of course." Owen explained. So, this is where Dads plans begin.

We walked into the museum and was greeted with 3 main area. Original Avengers, later added Avengers and Avengers associates. Then, I saw a red and blue display. Spider-Man has his own display IN THE LATER ADDED AVENGERS SECTION. Did this mean Dad wanted me to be an Avenger? What's going on? Did Fury know about this?

Ned grabbed my hand and led me to the display cases where I saw my old suit and computers next to replicas and photos of my current ones. This is so cool.

“Spider-Man is the latest mighty hero to join the Avengers in their mission to protecc the Earth and Asgard. Spider-Man has been described my many to be funny, witty and charming. He the only Avenger to have not revelled his identity yet but we are sure he will in due time. Fun facts about Spider-Man:

He is afraid of Spiders ironically,

He's a complete Daddy's boy,

He made his first suit himself,

He lives with Tony and Steve Stark-Rodgers,

And finally, he can rival Tony Stark-Rodgers levels of Sass." Ned read from the information

I silently groaned at the second fun fact knowing full well Dad was just trying to boost his ego. Oh well, it's kind of hard not to be true.

"Oo Penis Parker checking out the exhibit on his 'friends'." Flash sneered putting air quotes around 'friends'.

"Right, come along people. We have an exclusive lecture with Dr Banner on Gamma radiation and how it affects the human body. Everybody make and orderly que and and we can make our way there." Owen informed and instructed.

We all qued up with me and my friends at the back and started to walk towards the elevator to go to Bruce's lab. Once we found ourselves outside of the lab the reality of the situation set in, we're going to be talking to my Uncle Bruce. While no one in the class knows he's my Uncle and I'm with my Bully and Transphobic teacher. I dread to think what's about to happen.

"Okay kids. Be very polite and respectful, we don't want a code Green." Owen instructed before knocking on the door and waiting for Bruce to open it as Owen didn't have high enough clearance to open the door.

After a minute of waiting and no sign of Bruce Owen knocked again but to no avail. I knew that Bruce was working on a new project last night so it's highly likely he's asleep so I stepped forward, security card in hand and swiped it for entrance.

"Peter Parker, access granted." F.R.I.D.A.Ys voice sounded from above the door way.

I opened the door slowly and saw Bruce asleep on the couch. Motioning for everyone to give me a minute I creeped into the room to gently wake him up.

"Uncle Bruce, you have to give my class a lecture. Uncle Bruce wake up." I said softly and gently shook him awake.

"What? Peter? Aren't you supposed to be in school?" Bruce asked slowly sat up.

"I'm on a field trip and you're supposed to give a lecture to my class. They're all outside but you fell asleep." I informed him.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry. Ask them to give me a minute and I'll be mostly ready. Thanks Pete." Bruce replied scrambling to clean up a little bit and get sorted.

"He'll just be a minute." I informed my class while exiting the room waiting for Bruce when I heard Uncle Clint shifting in the vents. Oh no, this has been planned.

“Hello Midtown. Sorry for the delay, life of a stressed scientist. I'm sure most of you know what that's like. Come in, take a seat and please excuse the mess." Bruce greeted and opened the door wider for us to enter.

We all shuffled into the highly cluttered room and sat down in one of the fold out chairs set us in the centre of the room infront  of three dry erase boards. Uncle Bruce started his lecture but I soon tuned him out as I had heard it all before.

"Peter!" Clint yelled popping his head out from the vent with a grin on his face.

"Barton." I said in a monotone voice to hopefully convey my disinterest in whatever he was planning.

"I was asking if I could go into your room to borrow some silly string. Tony fucked with a few of my arrows and I'm not happy about it. I was literally shocked!" He shouted the last sentence making me wince and cover my ears.

"Yes you may but only one can. I need the rest for Loki cause he's the only one out of all of you that hasn't had a string attack yet. Hopping to change that soon." I informed.

"Cool. I'm taking the blue one. Bye, see you later." He waved before disappearing back into the vents and crawling away.

"He has this all planned doesn't he?" I asked Uncle Bruce signing slightly.

"Sorry kid." He smirked and continued with his lecture despite people only being focused on gawping at me.

Soon after that his lecture was finished and we moved on. Owen took us to a more general development lab where people started their testing to see if it was possible and worth perusing. As soon as we entered I was greeted with Shuri running towards me and hugging me tightly.

"Shuri, you literally saw me last night. Why are you hugging me so tightly?" I asked smiling slightly.

"I still missed you. Brother has been boring but these labs are very interesting, still they would be more so with you here." She told me pulling away and looking at my astonished class.

"Hello children of Midtown High School. I am Shuri Princess of Wakanda and this is my brother, the king." Shuri introduced smiling at everyone's shocked faces.

"I can introduce myself sister." T'Challa told her.

"Now you know how I feel." She told him smirking before walking off to see one of the experiments happening in the room.

We looked around the lab for a little while, I helped a few people with equations and how to improve their testing. Shuri and I shouted memes and vines at each other from across the room. Flask and Mrs Robbins glared at me any chance they got.

"Right Children, it's time for lunch. You've been privileged enough to have lunch on the level 7 balcony right near the landing pad. Please be calm and sensible and respectful of the employees eating there." Owen explained and lead us up to the eating deck.

Once there I immediately noticed Uncle Thor and Loki waiting around the corner obviously looking for me. They truly planned this. Anyway, me, Ned and MJ all walked over to an empty table and they took out their lunches when I noticed I left mine in the kitchen this morning. Shoot.

"Peter!" I hear Thor yell as he and Loki walk around the corner with his arms out.

"Hello Thor. To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked jokingly formally.

"Does one need a reason to visit his favourite nephew?" Thor asked bringing me into a hug, possibly crushing everyone of my ribs in the process, while Loki stood awkwardly to the side.

"If your all going to embarrass me can I ask you a favour in return?" I asked the brothers.

"Of course Peter! Anything for my nephew!" Thor all but yelled and clapped me on the back.

"Yeah, I left my lunch on the kitchen counter today. Could you possibly run up and get it for me please." I requested when a flying object fell from the sky.

My lunch.

"YOUR WELCOME!" I heard Sam yell from above us.

"THANKS BIRD BRAIN!" I yelled back at him and sat back down as the table, Thor and Loki soon following.

"Peter, I was wondering later if you could help me with my magic. I've been trying to work on my long distance aim and I think you'd be the perfect person to practice with." Loki asked shyly, he still isn't comfortable with all of us yet but he's made loads of progress.

"To hit or to avoid?" I jokingly asked earning a slight laugh out of the giant.

"To miss. I'll place the object I want to hit next to you and 'throw' a spell at it. If you're next to it it gives me more motivation to not hit it." Loki explained.

"Yeah sure I'll do that. What time were you thinking?" I asked.

"Well, you're class is staying the night and tomorrow day so maybe we could find time tonight or tomorrow night." Loki said making me realise my entire class has witnessed this entire encounter. For frick sake.

"Peter!" The deep voice of Bucky yelled from the doorway to the balcony.

My entire class looked in shock as I hugged good bye to the Gods and James 'Bucky' Barnes walked over to me with a bag and an apron saying 'Kiss the cook' on it. Once he was within range I could smell the contents of the bag. White chocolate and caramel cookies. My favourite.

"I made cookies and thought you might like some while they're hot." He explained handing me the beg witch I immediately accepted and took a cookie from.

"Thank you Uncle Bucky." I said but it was muffled by the whole cookie I shoved into my mouth. Classy.

"Hey you said you'd wait for me!" I hear my boyfriend shout appearing at the doorway and running towards me with his arms spread.

"I said I was leaving in one minute and you could come if you wanted. I never said I'd wait for you cause I know how long you can take." Bucky complained to Wade who crushed me into a hug and kissed my lips briefly.

My entire class and teacher were stunned at this point. Every single jaw, except Ned and MJ's, was on the floor. When Wade kissed me I could faintly see from the corner of my eye my teacher so red and angry. Close minded female dog.

"I've not seen you all day how are you?" Wade asked pulling away.

"I'm fine, you saw me less than a few hours ago. Not much changed." I told him smiling a little and pulling him into another kiss. I did this to annoy my teacher but mainly because I just loved to kiss my boyfriend. Sue me.

"I know but anything could happen while I'm not there. I love you too much to allow anything to happen to you." He said to me after a solid 40 seconds of kissing.

"Right well, I'm gonna go back upstairs. Wade, you can stay with Peter as long as you keep your hands to yourself." Bucky warned before walking off back into the tower and Me and Wade sat down with me on his lap.

After a few minuets the shock wore off and people started whispering and pointing at me and Wade. Nothing I didn't expect if I'm honest but it's a lot more annoying than I thought it would be.

“I love you Wade." I said putting my head on his chest and eating my cookies.

"I lub you too Pete." He responded making me giggle a little. "And you're ass that will be mine tonight." He whispered seductively into my ear and gently grabbed my ass.

"You two make me want to be sick." MJ joked making a disgusted face at us before continuing with her lunch.

"Right everyone, we have ten minutes before we need to move on." Owen warned.

To be continued...

[just-dreaming-marvel]

Love and Medicine ~ 10

MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 3,110ish

Summary: Kinda all over the place... hope it makes sense.

I do not own Marvel or Grey’s Anatomy.

You were sleepily cuddled up to Steve in the comfort of your bed when you heard Val’s voice outside your door.

“Clint!” She exclaimed. “You locked the door. I need to take a shower.”

“Uh, uh, I’ll be out in a minute!” Clint responded.

“What are you doing in there?”

You groaned, curling into Steve further. His hold tightened around you as the bickering continued out in the hallway.

“It’s private!” Clint answered.

“Oh. Oh my. I’m sorry!” Val said. “I get it! I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“They’re so loud,” Steve grumbled. “Don’t they know that we’re right here, trying to sleep?”

“Just ignore them,” you mumbled in reply. “They’ll eventually stop.”

“I am not doing what you think I’m doing!” Clint continued.

“You know what, there's really no need to explain,” Val responded. “I'll wait. You just… finish.”

“No, I’m... I'm coming. I'm coming out.” 

You heard the bathroom door open, causing you to bury your face into Steve’s neck. Then Val and Clint continued talking, annoying you greatly. With a grunt you separated from Steve and got out of bed.

“Where are you going?” Steve asked, reaching out for you.

“I’ll be right back,” you replied, kissing his lips lightly before be-lining for the door. You tore it open, causing Val, who had been leaning on it, to struggle with her balance. “What is going on out here?”

“Nothing,” Clint quickly answered.

“He's freaked out cause I caught him playing with little Jimmy and the twins,” Val responded.

“Val! I have a girlfriend.”

“Okay,” Val laughed with a nod.

Clint huffed, storming away to his room and slamming the door.

“This sounds like fun out here,” Steve said, walking up behind you. His phone began ringing. Giving it a quick glance, Steve stuffed it away in his pockets.

“Aren’t you gonna get that?” You asked. “It might be the hospital.”

“It’s not.” He gave you a kiss. “Breakfast?”

Steve walked down the hall, leaving you standing there a bit suspicious. And still annoyed that your roommates had woken you and Steve up.

~~~

Natasha was at the medical center. She was hiding in the stairwell, on the phone.

“No, look, I told you people I’m not coming for a counseling session,” she told whoever was on the other end of the call. “I know all my options… Yeah, uh, well I made my decision, and I made my appointment. I'll be there on the 16th.”

She hung up as Bruce walked up the stairs.

“I paged you last night,” he said, slightly nervous.

“Oh, I wasn’t on call,” Natasha replied.

“That's not why I paged you. You could give me your home number.”

“Um, Banner… I… uh, I gotta go.”

And she quickly went through the stairwell door, leaving Bruce standing there confused.

~~~

Clint and Laura, his new nurse girlfriend, were chatting at one of the nurses station.

“I had a really good time the other night,” Laura flirted.

“Yeah, me too,” Clint responded. “Are you, uh, feeling okay and everything?”

“I’m good. Great, now that I got to see you. Why?”

“Oh, no reason. I’m good too, you know? Really good. You know. But, um, a little itchy.”

“Hey, Clint,” Val greeted, walking up. “Hey, Laura.”

“Hey,” they both replied.

“I’ll see you later, Clint,” Laura said, wiggling her fingers as she walked away.

“Okay, bye,” Clint replied, turning to Val. “Yeah. She’s into me.”

“Way to go, Clint,” Val congratulated with a playful punch to the arm. “She’s cute. So this morning you really weren’t—“

“Anytime you want to apologize…”

“Then what ere you doing in the bathroom for so long?”

“I have to go.”

Clint swiftly left. He went straight to the locker room where he found Scott and Peter alone in there.

“Um… I need to ask you both something,” Clint said, nervously.

“Sure,” Scott answered.

“Depends what it is,” Peter replied.

“I seem to be having this skin thing going on, like a rash, really,” Clint said. “And I think I know what it is, but I can't get close enough to tell for sure.”

“Let’s see it,” Scott said.

“It’s kinda located in an, um, you know, private—“

“You’re a doctor, Clint,” Peter interrupted. “It's called a penis. You have a rash on your penis?”

“I think I can describe it. Um, it's k… red.”

“Look, just come on. Just show us your junk so we can get this over with.”

Clint looked around before slowly untying his scrubs and pulling his pants down. Both Scott and Peter looked, grimacing.

“Ew,” Scott muttered.

“So?” Clint wondered.

“Dude,” Peter laughed, “you’ve got syphilis.”

~~~

While you were were in surgery with Chief Fury (and being watched by Steve in the gallery), Clint had a blood test taken. He was picking it up from the lab at the same time Val was dropping off a patients labs.

“I need this back ASAP,” she told the lab tech.

“What a shocker,” the teach rolled his eyes.

“Hey, what did you get?” Val asked Clint. “Something good?” She quickly snatched the results from his hand. “Syphilis? That’s not surgical. Who has syphilis?” Clint quickly pulled Val into a supply closet, while she looked at the results closer. “You have syphilis?!”

“Shh!” Clint shut the door and turned on the light. “I don’t know how this happened.”

“Of course you do. Gosh, Laura must really be getting around.”

“Laura’s not like that.”

“People are like that, Clint. Apparently all except you.”

“You don’t know. Maybe I’ve been sleeping around. Maybe I got ladies.”

“All while pinning over Y/N?”

“Shut up. Just… what am I gonna do?”

“It's no biggie, couple doses of Penicillin will knock it out.”

“What am I gonna do about Laura?”

“Well, for starters, stop sleeping with her, unless you want that thing to fall off.”

“Okay, that is twice that you have trash-talked the girl that I could one day potentially… well, maybe love.”

“If she gave it to you, you have to tell her.”

“Three.”

“Fine.” Val held up her hands. “She didn't give it to you. She was a virgin when you met. You still have to tell her so she can get tested.”

“Oh, yeah? How am I gonna tell her? ‘Uh, hey, Laura. How you doing? By the way, I got the syph. How about you?’”

“Maybe not quite like that.”

“No, it's good advice, really good advice. Thank you very much.”

~~~

Clint ran into Laura in the stairwell. Laura quickly began making out with Clint.

“About time I got you alone today,” she mumbled against his lips before kissing him again.

“Laura..” Clint gasped, trying to push her away.

“What time is your shift done?”

“Laura—“

“Because mine's over at 8, and I thought maybe you could come over.”

“Laura!” She finally separated slightly. “I need to tell you something.”

“What's wrong? Are you breaking up with me?”

“What? No! Oh, no. Really, no. It's just… Okay, you're the only person that I've been with in a long time. I mean, not unusually long or anything, you know? Just a normal amount of long time. But it wouldn't matter to me if you've been with someone else. Maybe you have? I'm not accusing you of anything or, you know, judging you or handing out scarlet letters or anything, you know? It’s... you're a woman, you know? A very attractive woman. Of course you've been with other men. Not that you've been with a lot of men, it's not like you're a prostitute…”

“A prostitute?”

“No! Not a… not a prostitute. What…? No, the opposite of a prostitute, a lady. You're very ladylike. I mean, you're very bendy, but…”

“Clint, breathe.”

“Okay. It's just… okay, here's the thing. I really like you, Laura. I like you a lot.”

“Well, I like you too.” 

She started to make out with him again. Clint got lost in it for a moment before pushing Laura away again.

“I have syphilis,” Clint stated. Laura looked at him, a tad horrified, before running off without saying anything. “Well, that could have gone better.” He softly hit his head against the wall, leaving it there. “Idiot.”

~~~

After your surgery with the Chief, everyone, that was available, was called into a large room. Fury was standing in the front, arms crossed, not looking pleased. Maria Hill was standing near him.

“Three interns, four residents and six nurses on this surgical floor have been diagnosed with syphilis,” Fury stated.

The room made oohing noises. Clint and Laura glanced at each other from across the room.

“Clint and Laura are two of those cases,” Val said quietly from beside you, trying to stifle a laugh.

“What?!” Both you and Natasha whisper shouted.

“Who gave it to who?” You asked.

“Oh, come on, Y/N,” Natasha said. “Clint doesn’t get around."

“There are over 70,000 new cases every year,” Maria explained to everyone. “Undiagnosed, syphilis can lead to blindness, insanity and death.”

“If you are having unprotected sex with another member of the staff, get tested,” Fury ordered. Bruce and Natasha made eye contact. “This is not a request.” Everyone laughed. “Maria will now give you a safe-sex demonstration.” Laughing continued as Maria pulled out a banana and a condom.

"When the time is right, and, gentlemen, you'll all know when that time is, carefully open the condom packet and roll it onto the banana,” Maria said. 

As you listened, you watched Steve come in and whisper something the Chief. You were concerned as Steve had been a little distant today.

“Open communication is essential to a healthy relationship,” Maria continued. “In a responsible relationship…”

“Poor Clint,” you whispered to Natasha.

“Yeah,” Natasha agreed. “You know, I think he really likes Typhoid Mary.”

"Well, not many budding relationships survive a good dose of VD.”

“Yeah.”

“When the banana is finished,” you turned back in to Dr. Hill, “gently peel off the condom and dispose of it properly. With every fresh banana, always use a fresh condom.”

“Do you and Steve…?” Natasha wondered.

“Condoms, all the way,” you responded. “You have anyone you—“

“No,” Natasha shook her head quickly. “Not at all.”

~~~

Steve paged you not long after the meeting. You hated to admit it, but you were excited that he needed you. You found him in a small room reading scans.

“You paged?” You questioned, trying to hold back an excited smile.

"Yeah, I need you to help me out on something for the Chief,” he replied. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Better than you think.”

He moved slightly and pointed to the brain scans. “Fury has a small tumor pressing against his optic nerve. We need to operate, but he wants it on the down low.”

“When are you operating?”

“Tonight, when less people are in the hospital.”

“And here I thought we were going to be able to have a date night.”

“We can. Just later.” He gave you a small smile. “Can you take to Dr. Gamora? Get her on board?”

“I can try.”

“And get a few others as well. Close to the Chief.”

~~~

After checking on your patients, you found those close to the Chief, asking if they could assist. They all readily agreed. You then went searching for Gamora. You found her heading down a hallway.

“Gamora,” you called. “Can I talk to you?”

“Make it quick, L/N,” she responded.

“Dr. Rogers and the Chief need your help. But they’ve asked that you not tell anyone.”

“What is it?”

“Fury has a small tumor on his optic nerve, Rogers needs to operate. They were wondering if you could assist?”

“Count on it.”

Steve then came jogging up. “How goes our special super secret silent sunset surgery?” He wondered, a bit cheerfully. “I've been practicing that.”

“You have too much time on your hands,” Gamora stated, rolling her rolls slightly. “Uh, tell the chief I'll be there. Just let me know when and where. I'm in.”

“Okay,” you nodded and then Gamora left. You turned to face Steve. “Are you nervous?”

“It's a complicated surgery,” Steve answered. “I make one mistake, I end a fellow surgeon's career, my mentor's career. Oh, no, I'm not nervous.”

“So just for the record…”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You’d tell me if I needed to get tested, right?”

“You think I have syphilis?”

“No, I don't. It's just… we never made any rules or anything. I mean, we never said, "We have rules," and I wouldn't hold it against you.”

“When would I have time to go out and get syphilis? You're a handful enough as it is, and besides, we're like, practically a condom ad.”

“But no more glow-in-the-dark ones.” You smirked.

“You see? There's nothing to worry about. Maybe we should, you know make some rules, I mean.”

“We should.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Just for the record…”

“Uh-huh?”

“I like the glow-in-the-dark ones.”

“I bet you do.”

~~~

Val and Natasha paged you to the abandoned hallway you all frequented, wanting to talk to you about something.

“You guys want to perform an unauthorized autopsy?” You repeated.

“I know you, Natasha,” Val said. “You do not want to be known as the new 007. An autopsy clears your name.”

“Nat, no.”

“What about Franklin's wife? You saw the way she was looking at me. She wants the autopsy. She just didn't want to fight with her daughter. She looked so sad. Ok, Natasha Romanoff, license to kill.”

“Okay, I’m in,” Natasha agreed.

“I am so not involved in this,” you said.

“Y/N, this is fight club. Nobody talks about it.”

“Fine.”

“We have to do it when Gamora’s not around.”

“Gamora’s always around,” Val complained. “She's everywhere and knows everything.”

“Well, we have to take our chances.”

"Gamora's got something tonight from 7 to 11,” you told them. “You two will be the last thing she's worried about.”

“How do you know that?” / “What kind of something?”

“Oh, I can’t tell you that. It’s fight club, too."

~~~

You taped the do not enter signs on all the OR doors. Steve had made sure that the OR chosen didn’t have a gallery in it. Steve let you stand on his one side, able to see everything. It was amazing to watch had occasionally help. 

“Okay, I've sutured the drain in place,” Steve stated, finishing up the surgery. “The staples look fine. Alright, we're done here. Dr. Gamora, you want to wrap him?”

“I got it,” Gamora replied.

“Nice work, everybody. Nicely done.” Steve walked into the scrub room.

“Do you think the optic nerve is damaged?” You asked Gamora.

“If it is when he wakes up, he’ll—“

“He’ll be blind? For how long?”

“Forever. Page Valkyrie and Romanoff. Tell them I want them covering your patients. I need you to stay and monitor the Chief.”

“Val and Nat are, um… I think they’re already swamped.”

“With what?”

“Labs. They had to check on some labs.”

“Oh, you are lying. I know you’re lying. You know how I know? Cause you’re a bad liar! I hate a bad liar.” Gamora turned to the person next to her. “Take over for me. I know exactly where they are.”

~~~

You were outside of Fury’s room, filling out his chart, when Steve walked up.

“How is he?” Steve asked.

“He’s still asleep, but nothing seems to be wrong just yet,” you replied. “How are you?”

“Good,” he sighed, glancing into Fury’s room before looking down at you. “How are you?”

“Tired. Ready to go home and cuddle.”

“Me too.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to your forehead, brushing his fingers down your cheek. “Me too.”

Unbeknownst to the both of you, Fury woke up just in time to see that term of endearment. After another soft kiss to your forehead, Steve left and you went in to check on Fury.

“Y/N,” Fury said in a reprimanding tone. “He’s an attending. You’re an intern.”

“You saw us?” You questioned. “You can see.”

“I'm gonna tell you what your parents would say if they were here. You're making a mistake, a big one.”

“You know my parents? You know who I am?”

“Always have. I was close friends with them. I understood the name change. But this,” he motioned his hand around, “I do not understand. And it needs to stop. For more reasons than you know.”

~~~

All you interns were in locker room, getting ready to go home, when Laura entered. Clint immediately noticed as she came up to him.

“Hey,” he greeted. “Um, about before—“

“Clint, I want you to understand, when we started dating, I was already kind of seeing someone,” Laura said. “I didn't know how much I'd like you, and when I realized, I broke it off with the other guy—“

“Other guy? Who’s the other guy?” Laura looked over at Peter. “You and Peter? You and Peter?!” Clint turned and began attacking Peter. “You gave me syphilis?!”

“Clint!” You, Val, Natasha, and Laura exclaimed, pulling him off Peter.

“I don’t even feel back,” Peter said. “Cause the sex was—“ Clint attacked him again, causing the four of you to separate the two once again.

“Clint, you’re all ready,” Val stated. “Let’s go home.” She dragged him out of the locker room.

~~~

Finally, you got to the lobby. Steve was already there, sitting, waiting for you.

“Long day?” He wondered, studying you.

“Yeah,” you agreed.

“Somewhere out there is a steak with your name on it,” he said, standing up, “and maybe a bottle of wine.”

“This is why I keep you around.”

“So we need to talk.”

“Wine first, talk later.”

“You trying to, uh, get me drunk so you can take advantage of me?”

“I think I like this rules thing.”

“Me too.”

Steve grabbed your hand, staring at you as you both started for the door. When he turned to look at the door, he froze, stopping you two in place. His eyes went wide, which worried you. You looked to see what he was looking at. Walking towards you was this beautiful brown haired woman, with fiery red lipstick.

“Y/N, I am so sorry,” Steve whispered. The woman walked all the way over to them. “Peggy. What are you doing here?”

“Well, you'd know if you'd bothered to return any one of my phone calls,” the woman responded, surprising you with a British accent. She turned to you, overing you her hand. “Hi. I’m Margaret Rogers.” You shook her hand.

“Rogers?” You repeated, confused.

“And you must be the woman who’s been screwing my husband.” 

next chapter >

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[aellynera]

The Best Years of Your Life (Reeves x Reader)

THE BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE

(hey hey, this is my other submission for @wasicskosgirl and her 800 follower celebration! and yes, you read that right - it’s REEVES. i had a lot of fun writing it and i hope you enjoy reading it! CONGRATS Amanda!!)

Word Count: um like 6200ish oops it was supposed to be a blurb

Summary: They say the best years of your life happen in high school, but what do they know?

Warnings: Some language. Female reader implied but no pronouns/description. Teenage angst. Adult wistfulness. Mostly fluffy tho. No promises about proofreading. Frog murder. 

with the prompt - “Like what you see?”

It all started back in high school. Sometimes you wonder how often people say that, and if it’s really true or they’re just falsely remembering how things happened because high school is supposed to be the best four years of your life.

But in this case, it’s true. Because high school is when you met Reeves.

Sophomore Year. High School. A Friday. 

It was the third day of sophomore year, fourth period on a Friday morning, your last before the lunch break. Biology class was maybe the one you were least looking forward to, not exclusively because of the required frog dissection, but pretty damn close. Gross. And you never understood why the school year didn’t just start on a Monday, but you were new here in San Diego. Maybe they just did things differently.

It was bad enough being the new kid. It was worse when you walked into class halfway through the lecture, even if it wasn’t your fault. The timing of the move was weird, and you’d spent most of the first two days, and this morning, doing placement tests and talking to your counselor. 

And now you were being called out in front of the entire class.

“Ah, there you are,” your teacher announced as you walked in the door. “Everyone, this is our new student, please make them feel welcome. You can sit over there.”

Your eyes followed as she motioned to the empty seat at the lab table in the back of the room. Suddenly you weren’t sure if your face felt hot because of embarrassment or because of the boy in the other chair.

Dark, curly hair cut close on the sides but longer on the top. Deep brown eyes framed by long, long lashes. Full, plush lips curling up into his cheek on one side. A nose that, okay, maybe might be a bit oversized but for some reason worked on his handsome face and--

Well, shit. Definitely not the embarrassment.

You shuffled your way to your seat and slid into it with your head down. A few students watched you curiously but soon turned their attention back to the lesson. You tried your best to focus on what was going on, to not look to your left at the distraction next to you.

You weren’t very successful.

By now you thought you’d sneaked enough covert glances to know that we was wearing a leather jacket, had a small diamond stud earring in his left ear, a bunch of silver-studded brown suede wrap bracelets around both wrists, a silver ring on his right index finger, and oddly precise handwriting as he took notes. In between relevant facts the teacher was sharing, he was doodling tiny music notes in the margins of his notebook.

And he totally caught you looking.

“Like what you see?” he leaned over and whispered.

Your mouth felt drier than the Sahara but also somehow so moist you were afraid you might have actually drooled on yourself. You should have opened your mouth to respond but your brain refused to make the connection. Probably for the best.

At least, at first. When it finally caught up to you, the only response your brain could provide was, “Maybe?”

Now would be the perfect time for the floor to swallow you whole.

He just winked at you and his attention went back to the doodles around his notes.

You shifted your gaze back to your own notebook, but you don’t know if anything else of importance was said, and don’t remember writing anything down. The bell ringing sharply pulled you back to reality and you hastily shoved your books in your backpack, ready to escape.

Just as you were about to leave, a voice called out. “Hey, sorry about earlier. If I freaked you out or anything.”

You looked up. He was smiling at you, a little shyly. You bit your lip, your brain and mouth still refusing to connect.

He stuck his hand out. “I’m Reeves. You’re new here?”

“Um…” you smacked yourself internally. This was ridiculous, you weren’t really shy, you knew how to have a conversation, he was just introducing himself. You were going to have a serious conversation with your brain later about proper communication techniques.

It felt like hours had passed, but you finally pulled yourself together enough to respond. “Yeah. My- my dad got transferred for work, we moved here like a week ago. He literally dragged the family across the country. I’m originally from New York City.”

His eyes lit up. “Oh, cool! I always wanted to go to New York City!”

You found yourself smiling back.

“Do you...wanna sit with me at lunch?” he asked, tilting his head to the side. “Maybe you could tell me a little about the city? And...about you, since we’re gonna have to commit heinous acts of violence on an amphibian together? I’d like to know who’s wielding a scalpel next to me.”

The giggle that escaped your throat could not be contained. This boy - Reeves - was adorable. “Oh. Okay, yeah. I’d really like that.”

The Present.

Poor Lenny the Frog never stood a chance. Then again, neither did you.

To be fair, Lenny was already dead when you and Reeves got your hands on him. Well, when you got your hands on him, because for the full first half of that specific class period, Reeves refused to touch him and nearly turned as green as Lenny once was. That’s when he insisted on naming your cadaver, because somehow giving it a name made it easier to deal with.

You were pretty sure Reeves was nuts.

By the middle of sophomore year, you were dead too, but not for the same reasons.

By the middle of sophomore year, you weren’t sure how you were still alive, because every time he looked over at you and gave you a sly smile during class, gave you that look, you felt your heart go taut and you forgot how to breathe and certainly, rightfully, should have been dead.

Your friend Alexis stuck her head into your bathroom. “Hey, we’re just waiting on Vanessa, and then we’re good to go. Drinks first? The show doesn’t start until 8 so we have time.”

You glanced up from your makeup and nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Alexis grinned. “Aaaaaah I’m so glad you agreed to go out tonight! It’s gonna be so much fun!”

“Oh, it’s gonna be something,” you muttered, going back to your eyeliner.

Alexis had been the first one to see the concert announcement about a week ago. A benefit show at one of the clubs down in Greenwich Village, some punk revival thing (for charity) with a bunch of different singers and musicians. Not normally your scene, but Alexis scanned through the names and suddenly remembered you’d known Reeves in high school. You said yes, he was in your class, and you’d been lab partners once. Vanessa squealed in excitement and Alexis announced you were going to the show. There was never any actual agreement.

Because of course Reeves was going to be there. And of course, you had to be too.

Junior Year. The Parking Lot. A Tuesday.

“I’m just saying, it was a ridiculous foul, and it should never have been called,” Reeves groused as you walked out of the gym.

“We also should have made like twenty more of our own foul shots,” you pointed out.

The Lake Howell Silverhawks had fallen to their arch-rivals in a somewhat glorious fashion. You didn’t even like basketball that much. But that didn’t really matter. The games were just an excuse to go out for burgers before and hang out with your friends during.

It was definitely an excuse to hang out with Reeves.

Junior year, you were both disappointed to find you didn’t have any classes together, but you still almost always ate lunch together. He’d come over to your house to study during the week and sometimes just to chill out on the weekends. Over the past year, he’d shown you all around the city and taken you to his favorite places. You told him all about New York, how you missed it and one day you’d go back, and all the famous sites and which ones were tourist traps that he was only allowed to visit the very first time and then never again.

You spent so much time together, even your mother liked to tease you about why he wasn’t your boyfriend.

It took a while for you to find the words to tell her it was because he was someone else’s.

As much as you liked to pretend she didn’t change anything, Randie Rustenberg changed everything. It was gradual, like a creeping vine of ivy, and she slowly took him over. There was no malice; it was just one of those things that happened. Reeves spent less time with you, his best friend, and more time with Randie, his girlfriend.

The girlfriend you desperately wished was you, because ever since that first biology class you’d had the biggest, stupidest crush on him.

Eventually you had a boyfriend of your own. Theo was a nice guy, he really was. Polite, friendly, had a good sense of humor, liked your family. And your family loved him. Your mother was so happy that you had a boyfriend, she seemed to forget to ask how Reeves was and if you’d seen him lately.

Of course you saw him. You saw him every day, in the cafeteria, at his locker, passing by in the halls. Sometimes you could find him playing the grand piano on the stage in the empty auditorium. Yes, if your mother bothered to ask, you saw Reeves all the time. Now it was just always with her.

Except this week. It was a break of sorts, no classes, just some sports and other school activities. Randie was on some trip with her parents for some kind of church function, and Theo was fishing with his dad on some lake up north. He’d told you where, but you honestly couldn’t be bothered to recall. So when a bunch of your friends and a bunch of his friends all said everyone was going to the basketball game, there was no debate.

As if there was any way you’d say no.

Sometime during the game, your friends wandered off to the snack bar and never ventured back. His friends started a game of hacky-sack under the bleachers. And you found yourself pretending to understand all the finer points about hoops strategy, cheering and yelling along with Reeves and having a great time, just like you used to.

“Where’d you park?” he asked as you left the gym and headed out into the sea of cars. You vaguely pointed in the direction of yours and he grinned. “Oh, good, I’m that way too. Come on, I’ll walk you.”

The faint glow emitted by the lampposts in the parking lot bounced off his curls and his eyes, when you could catch a glimpse, were bright beneath them.

As if there was any way you’d say no.

The walk wasn’t very far, but it felt like it was over in a second. You hadn’t said anything on the way, just soaked in the comfort of walking next to him as he kept commenting on the game.

He was waving his hands everywhere, looking at them as he talked as if his hand motions would make things make any more sense to you, in the middle of saying something about your center and how they needed to get better about blocking out when you finally spoke.

“Oh, shit.”

Reeves looked up at you. “What, you don’t agree?”

You dropped your bag on the ground and rolled your eyes. “No, my car is locked and I left my keys inside.” You pointed to the passenger seat. Your keys stared back at you derisively.

You both stared back at them for a moment, then he grinned. “Hang on, I got you.” He held up one finger and trotted off to his car, coming back a minute later with something in his hand. “This should take care of it.”

You took a step back. “Reeves? Um. Okay, why do you have a coat hanger in your car.”

He rolled his eyes back at you. “For emergencies, duh.” He quickly twisted the hanger into a hook shape and went to your passenger side window.

“And why do you know how to break into a car with said coat hanger?”

“Like I told you,” his tongue poked out between his teeth as he worked, “for emergencies. You think I haven’t locked my own keys in my car once or six times?”

“Did Randie teach you how to do this?” The words were out of your mouth before you could think. She probably had. She might have been churchy when required, but she was also responsible for about half of Reeves’s stints in detention (the other half just being him making the wrong joke at the wrong time and pissing a teacher off.)

Thank god he didn’t seem to hear you as he kept working at the lock. Finally you heard a *click* and he pumped a fist into the air with a little “yessss!”

And then you’re not really sure what happened. You bent down to pick up your bag and then you were standing up and Reeves’s face was literally about three inches away from yours and for the eight thousandth time since you’d know him, you forgot how to breathe.

Neither of you said anything for what felt like days. You just stared at each other under the dim halo of the parking lot lights.

“Here you go.” He took your hand and dropped your keys into it.

“Thanks,” you whispered.

“Like what you see?” the corners of his mouth quirked up, just the slightest little bit.

“...Maybe.”

And the staring recommenced. Were you two getting closer? Physically closer, you meant, of course you were close, you’d always been close. Well, at one time you were really close but then Randie Restenberg happened and it wasn’t fair that she got to know what those lips felt like and did he always smell this good or--

“Yo, Reeves!” A pickup truck full of guys skidded to a stop behind your car and one of his friends - Jake? Jack? you barely remembered your own name right now - stuck his head out the window. “Fight to the death ping pong tourney at Matt’s house! You in?”

Reeves bit his lip and closed his eyes for a second before he pulled back with a soft “I’m sorry” before turning to his friends. “Um, yeah, sure. Sounds brutal. I’ll meet you there.” 

The pickup sped off, tires screeching out of the parking lot. Reeves turned back to you, but you’d already gotten into your now unlocked car and started the engine.

You rolled down the window a fraction and gave him a weak smile. “Hey, um. Thanks for saving my butt. Now go kick theirs at ping pong, yeah?” Your face felt so hot, and for once you were grateful for the dim lights in the lot.

“You could, um, come along if- if you want.”

“Nah, I’m...I’m tired, I’m just gonna...um, head home. But I’ll see you tomorrow maybe?”

Reeves looked like he was about to say something else, but he didn’t. He just stepped onto the curb in front of your car, smiled, and raised his hand in a little wave as he watched you drive off.

The Present.

A series of shrieks and the slamming of the door told you Vanessa had finally arrived. It sounded like they were jumping up and down on the tile just inside your front door, which was ridiculous since you’d all just seen each other the day before. But typical.

You smoothed a pinkie under your eye, checked your makeup one final time, and went into the living room.

“Oh, you look hot,” Vanessa gushed. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and plopped down on your couch. “Who are you trying to impress tonight?”

“Reeves, of course,” Alexis laughed, leaning on the kitchen counter. She sorted anything she might need from her big purse into a little evening bag as she talked. “You know we go to all his shows. And you know they went to high school together.”

You snorted. “That was a long time ago. I’m not even sure he’d remember me.”

Vanessa waggled her eyebrows. “You’re probably right, No offense, honey, but no one was that hot back in high school.”

He was, your brain supplied. Very helpful. You smiled wanly.

Vanessa continued. “But you were friends, right? You’ve never really talked about it. God, it must be so cool now to think that you were friends with Reeves back when he was an awkward high school teenager.”

“Reeves was never awkward,” you laugh. “It was kind of unfair.”

“But you totally had a crush on him,” Alexis offered.

Had? What do you mean, had? Oh my god, shut up, brain.

A pillow flew in your direction and you ducked as Vanessa giggled and Alexis rolled her eyes. “Come on, tell us something about him,” Vanessa goaded. “Wait. Was he, like, your prom date? That’s your secret! You totally went to prom with Reeves and you never told us!”

Senior Year. Prom. A Saturday.

The night was not supposed to go this way.

It was supposed to be limousines and corsages and dinner with dates and friends. It was supposed to be endless pictures while your mother told you how gorgeous you looked and how handsome he was and your father gave a thinly-veiled shovel talk about how he knew what happens on prom night and what would really happen if that actually happened. It was supposed to be punch and cookies and balloons. It was supposed to be dancing closer than the chaperones were comfortable with and kissing with tongue when they weren’t looking.

It was supposed to be the best night of your life. It was supposed to be fun.

Nowhere in your weeks of dreaming of this night did it involve sitting on a bench in the girls’ locker room, knees pulled up to your chest, while the party carried on in the gym just beyond.

It definitely didn’t involve crying.

The bass beats of the deejay and the harmony of laughter temporarily got louder as the locker room door opened, and then faded back into a muted thumping as the door closed again a second later. You could hear footsteps headed in your direction but before you could unfold yourself and wipe your tears away, a familiar voice called out.

“Hey, there you are!”

Being able to find the words to describe how he looked in his tux, his curls slightly tamed by some gel, the blue rose (of course it would be an off color, why would he pick something standard?) pinned to his lapel, his lopsided grin… Finding the words was nearly impossible.

Of course he would show up now. Because your night wasn’t already crappy enough and half the reason you were sitting there weeping instead of out there dancing was standing right in front of you.

You realized that wasn’t fair. It was probably more like, twenty-five percent of the reason, and it wasn’t his fault. But that didn’t make it any better.

“Why are you in the girls’ locker room, Reeves?” you sniffled.

He furrowed his eyebrows and his nose scrunched up in concern as he took in your mascara-streaked cheeks and puffy red eyes. “One of your friends said you came in here like half an hour ago and nobody’s seen you since. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.”

“Clearly not.” He sat down next to you. “Wanna talk about it?”

A deep, shaky sign left your chest. You didn’t really want to talk about how, earlier in the evening, you’d excused yourself to use the restroom and come back to the gym to find Theo dancing with...you didn’t remember her name, nor did you care. You didn’t mind that he was dancing with another girl, in theory, but it was another matter entirely when his hands were on her ass and she was sucking a deep purple mark into his neck. And he was laughing. 

A short, vicious argument ensued in the coat room after you’d cut in and dragged him off by the elbow. And it turned out that he’d been seeing whats-her-name for months, somehow, behind your back while pretending that everything was perfect with you. When he was supposedly visiting his grandparents? He was with her. When he had to work an extra shift? He was with her. When he got off the phone with you, saying he needed to get to bed early? He was calling her.

Prom wasn’t supposed to involve a very public break-up.

And things didn’t get any better when, deciding you needed something to drink, you went back into the gym and immediately saw Reeves and Randie, dancing cheek to cheek, arms snugly wrapped around each other as a soft, romantic song wafted through the air. Because of course he was with her. She was his girlfriend and Reeves wasn’t a detestable cheating asshole.

There was always another her.

You couldn’t handle it.

So you took off to somewhere almost guaranteed to be empty. You figured the locker room wasn’t really the kind of place kids would want to make out, and you were right. It was blessedly empty. Until now.

But you couldn’t tell him the second part, so you just went with the first. His eyes got wide as you blubbered through the sordid details of Theo being a complete and utter twat. Another quivery sob half-burst from you and Reeves got up. He grabbed a few paper towels from the dispenser and handed them to you as he sat back down.

“Thanks,” you hiccuped.

“I never liked him,” Reeves announced.

You found yourself choking on a huff of air. “What? Yes you did! Everybody loved him. That’s what makes it extra shitty.”

“Did you?”

“What?”

Reeves cocked his head and looked at you with an expression you couldn’t quite place. “Did you love him?”

Your mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. Why did you always seem to forget how to make words when Reeves asked you questions?

“What?”

He shrugged. “Everyone else loved him. Did you?”

You used every last ounce of willpower you had to not jump up on that bench and shout that of course you didn’t love Theo, you idiot, because I love you.

That would not make this night any easier.

The next thing you knew, Reeves put an arm around your shoulders and pulled you into his chest, hugging you soundly. He rested his cheek on the top of your head. “Doesn’t matter. You’re better off without him.”

You dabbed at your eyes. Nope, still couldn’t make words.

Minutes, hours, days. You had no idea how long you stayed like that, pressed to him and feeling him breathe beneath you. You no longer had any idea how long it had even been since everything crashed around you and he’d come to try and help you pick up the pieces. You just listened to his heartbeat, strong and steady, as the muffled music and joyful shouts of classmates went on past the closed door.

Finally he spoke again. “Hey, you wanna get one of those complimentary pictures?”

“What?” Oh, great. You were finally able to answer his question but you could still only come up with that one word? Stupid brain.

“Well, I…” he sat up straight and, after the briefest look into your eyes, he glanced away. Was he blushing? You weren’t sure. “I always kind of...I kind of thought we’d have a prom picture together. I mean, I just figured, y’know, we’d go with a bunch of friends, but I always hoped I’d get a picture with my best friend.”

The sniffles were back in an instant. Damn him. “Reeves, I...you really want to get a picture now? I look horrible, I can’t get a picture taken like this!”

He took the paper towel from your hand and gently dabbed at your cheeks. “You couldn’t look horrible if you tried. Come on, it’ll be fun. And just think how excited your mom will be when she gets a copy of it.”

Despite your best efforts, you had to laugh. “Okay.”

You headed to the photo area after you washed your face, Reeves helped you wipe off the stray streaks of mascara, and you reapplied just a bit of makeup to make yourself feel better. You were never sure what Reeves said to the photographer before the shots, but he seemed quite happy to take multiples. Reeves stayed pressed against your back with his arms down around your waist, hands clasped together in front of you, for each and every one.

At some point between the second and third shot, he leaned just a little closer into you and you suddenly felt his breath against your ear. “Like what you see?”

For maybe the first time that entire night, your face broke into a genuine smile. “Maybe.”

For a few minutes, your night was absolutely perfect.

The Present.

It was the greatest date that never was.

“No, Reeves was not my prom date,” you told your friends with a shake of your head.

You left out most of the other details, partly because you didn’t want to answer eight hundred questions from Vanessa and partly because, well, you just wanted those moments for yourself.

After the pictures, Reeves had asked if you would like to dance. Until then you didn’t realize it was possible for eyebrows to shoot that far up a person’s forehead, but yours were up for the challenge. You’d mumbled something about if Randie would mind, because you were sure she absolutely would, but he brushed it off. Randie had gone off with her friends when he came to find you, and he really wanted to dance with you, just one dance with his frog murder accomplice. And he said that with a straight face and a twinkle in his eye and there was no way you could refuse.

As if there was any way you’d say no.

One dance turned into two, and then several, until the girlfriend in question finally did show back up and Reeves was pulled away, leaving you with a soft smile and a mouthed “sorry”.

Definitely the greatest never-date.

After prom, life returned to what vaguely resembled normal. Your love life sucked and Reeves still had a girlfriend that wasn’t you, and you didn’t see him much. To be fair, the end of senior year and graduation did creep up pretty fast so there wasn’t a lot of time anyway. Graduation was there before you knew it; he cheered for you and you cheered for him as you each walked across the stage. You made brief appearances at each others’ graduation parties and talked a bit and then, once again before you knew what happened next, it was time to leave for college.

You went back to New York. Reeves stayed on the west coast.

And over the years, like so many other people before you and after you, you just fell out of touch.

“And anyway,” you asserted, “we were just kind of friends. Yeah, like I told Alexis before, we were lab partners sophomore year, and we hung out sometimes, but that was it. Really.”

Alexis snorted and Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “Mmmhmm.”

You threw the pillow back at her. “Mmmhmm.”

“All right, you two,” Alexis chided. “Come on, let’s get going.”

Somehow, you managed to get down to Greenwich Village without further interrogation and minimal shenanigans.

The Present. One Hour Later. Another Saturday Night.

The bar inside the club was pretty packed. Granted, it was a Saturday night down in The Village, so it wasn’t too uncommon, but you were honestly surprised that this many people showed up for a punk retrospective.

There were a few other relatively big-name acts you recognized on the bill, and a fair number of people were wearing t-shirts with Reeves’s most recent album cover on the front. There were even a few that had shirts with his face on it, which was frankly kind of weird.

“Looks like you’re not his only number one fan,” Vanessa smirked.

“I just enjoy his music,” you said off-handedly as you tried to flag down a bartender. “But anyway, tonight isn’t even about him. We’re just here to support charity, right?”

Alexis pretended to agree with you. “Right.”

You glared at both of them before turning your attention back to the bar. Yes, you came to every one of his shows in the area. When you had time. When you could take the night off. When you could rearrange your schedule and switch shifts at the last minute and promise favors to be able to attend them. When you maybe once or twice just called out sick because nothing else worked. So what.

They were really starting to get on your nerves. 

The bartender finally noticed you and took your order, and you looked around the club again while you waited.

Lots of people, ranging from just-allowed-to-buy-booze to mid-sixties businessmen. A few folks that looked to currently be in their golden years but were clearly once punks in their prime. Many people in black and chains and mohawks and neon hair and piercings, to the point where you honestly couldn’t tell who was a performer and who was a patron.

The one person you were looking for was the one that you couldn’t pick out of the crowd.

“He’s gotta be here somewhere!” Vanessa’s voice shouted from somewhere behind your shoulder.

“Vanessa, you’re getting a little weird about this,” you called back as you grabbed your drink and turned around.

“Like what you see?”

Eyes wide and mouth slightly hanging open, you almost dropped your full glass.

Vaguely, nearby, you heard the sound of glass shattering and shot a glance to your left. Alexis really had dropped her drink, and Vanessa was clutching onto her arm for dear life. She was holding her glass at a slightly odd angle and the contents were dripping onto one of her shoes.

The crowd silently pulsed backwards as one, clearing out around the four of you for a respectable distance. Several people watched curiously; surprisingly, they just stood back and stared instead of trying to get involved.

Reason Number One why you really couldn’t blame them: Reeves stood there, right in front of you. Literally less than two feet away, looking right at you. His mouth pulled up into his familiar lopsided grin, his hair still dark but shot through with strands of silver, curly on the top and shorter on the sides. His nose with the little dent, perfect on his face under those dark, luminous brown eyes and...holy shit, was he wearing eyeliner? He was wearing eyeliner.

Reason Number Two why you really couldn’t blame them: Leather pants. Under his old, faded t-shirt and black leather jacket (you were used to seeing him in brown, but you had to admit the black looked good) he was wearing leather pants.

Reason Number Three why you really couldn’t blame them: Quite simply, Reeves was standing in the middle of a bar in New York City and he was talking to you.

You blinked once, then twice. You may have blinked more times but all you could think about was the fact that, after all these years, your brain still couldn’t make words when Reeves asked you a question.

That same old question.

Suddenly you were grinning back, completely ignoring your friends and their dumbfounded squawking and sputtering next to you. You were smiling because even though your brain couldn’t make full sentences of words, it could pull one particular word out of the void and let it come out past your lips.

“Maybe.”

Reeves grinned fully now, his eyes lighting up and the crinkles at the corners deepening.

Someone - maybe Vanessa, maybe a total stranger, you couldn’t be sure - might have swooned from the sidelines.

“Always told you I wanted to come to New York,” he said.

“Always told you I’d go back.”

And the next thing you knew, the next thing that made any sense anywhere in your mind, was that Reeves had stepped forward, wrapped his arms around you, and placed the softest, sweetest, most heart-achingly gentle kiss on your lips.

You pulled away in a daze, felt the heat rising in your cheeks, as you heard a muffled choking sound halfway behind you. Definitely Vanessa.

Alexis and Vanessa’s eyes, already bugging out of their faces, nearly fell out of their sockets when Reeves turned to address them.

“Hey, ladies. I’ll come talk to you after the show, but for now, I just need to borrow your friend for a few minutes, okay?”

There were somehow still more bizarre, mostly inhuman noises that came out of your friends and even later, when they’d deny ever acting like that in front of a famous rock star (and rolled their eyes at you when you corrected them that he was a musician, not a rock star), it wouldn’t matter because you weren’t paying a single bit of attention to them them anyway.

You only had eyes for one person.

He took your hand and pulled you past the bar, into a little room in the back; the office, presumably. The second you were both inside, he wrapped his arms around your waist and looked you in the eyes. He just stared for a few minutes, or maybe hours, you weren’t sure.

It really didn’t matter.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do that?” he whispered.

“Third day of school, fourth period biology class, sophomore year?”

Reeves smiled softly. “The second you walked in that door.”

“Why didn’t you?” you tilted your head to look at him. Okay, to gaze into his eyes. You tilted your head to gaze into his eyes and your subconscious hoped to any gods that would listen that you did not have actual hearts or stars in your pupils.

Not that it really mattered.

His arms never left you but he gave a little shrug. “Never seemed to be the right time. And then I had a girlfriend.”

“Yeah,” you laughed. “And I ended up with that lame excuse for a boyfriend. But do you know how long I’ve wanted you to do that?”

“When you couldn’t stop staring at me when you sat down at the lab table next to me?”

“Hmmm, maybe. But definitely when you told the teacher we had to have a funeral for Lenny.”

“Hey, Lenny was a fuckin’ hero,” Reeves batted his eyes at you innocently. “He performed a brave and great service to his country.”

“I am oddly happy you’re still an idiot,” you giggled.

“I’m ecstatic that you kept coming to all my shows in the city.”

You pulled back slightly and looked at the ceiling. “You noticed?”

Reeves gave you that look. That look he always gave you, when you were teenagers, when you said something either completely ridiculous or completely profound. That look he gave you when he thought you might not be looking, even though you were always looking. That look that said he always had your back and you were his best friend. That look that you thought you’d be lucky to see one more time but probably never would.

That look.

“Of course I noticed. I thought about having security make you stay back, but that’s just...no. You always looked happy, and I don’t know...I just didn’t want to intrude, I guess? Just always wondered why you never stuck around after the shows, never stayed to talk to me, never came knocking on the dressing room door.”

You thought about that for a minute. You really did try, but you couldn’t come up with a decent answer. You were happy. Just seeing him was enough, you told yourself. Just hearing him sing was enough, just being in the same room with him, just being near. Just like it was back in high school.

Only it wasn’t high school anymore, and now that he’d finally, finally - after years of would’ve and should’ve and maybes - kissed you, you knew enough wasn’t going to be, well, enough.

So that’s what you told him.

And Reeves pulled you close, leaned in closer, and kissed you again.

You pulled apart, breathless again, and rested your foreheads together.

After minutes, or maybe days, or maybe hours, and definitely years - it didn’t really matter - Reeves was there. You were there. And for once, you were really there together.

“Like what you see?”

“...definitely.”

The Future. Any Day. Every Day.

You always thought, and your friends always said, that the best years of your life happened in high school. And to a certain extent, that was true and you believed in that notion for a very long time.

But ever since that night, that one glorious night in a Manhattan bar, you realized you were wrong.

The best years of your life were still happening.

~end~

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[chemist-ana]

Chapter 9. The Ride Along— Sams POV

Book: The Nanny Affair

Characters: Sam, Ana Schuyler (MC), Robin

Pairing: Sam Dalton (male) x Ana Schuyler (MC)

Rating: 18+

Content Warning: NSFW, Sexual Language, Adult Language, Sexual Situations

A/N This is a brand new series that I was inspired to write. I am going to go chapter by chapter in Sam Daltons POV. This story is completely inspired by Choices The Nanny Affair. I have used most of the dialogue from the actual story, anything written in BOLD was taken directly from the book and therefore is not my writing- credit to our good friends over at Pixelberry! All characters are credit to Pixelberry except for my OCs

Summary: When an office tour of Dalton Enterprises takes a turn, who will be left picking up the pieces?

Word Count: 5800

Tag List: @txemrn @secretaryunpaid @lifeaskim @aussieez @pixie88 @thefrenchiemama @sfb123 @mainstreetreader @shewillreadyou @khoicesbyk @lady-calypso @choicesficwriterscreations @somersetmummy @melalicious8383

I hear the elevator ding and glance at my watch, 6:15… who is here this early?

“Oh good, you are awake.” Sofia strolls into the penthouse, setting her bag on the bar and resting her hands on her lips. “We need to talk.” Oh great…

I fold the newspaper and set it down on the counter, bringing my coffee to my lips and taking a small sip before focusing my eyes on her. I wait for her to start… its too early for me to play these games.

“That little stunt that Ana pulled last night was completely unacceptable.” She purses her lips and narrows her eyes at me. “I can’t have someone under our employment treating my family like that.”

I bite my tongue with a sigh… first of all, she is under my employment… not ‘ours’.

“Sofia… the boys love her… I really don’t want to do this to them.” I choose my words carefully as to not give away my true feelings… I have never lied so much in my life…

“Sam, it was embarrassing and out of line.” Red color rises up her neck as the volume of her voice rises.

“Come on, Sofia. Don’t you think you’re being a little irrational here?” I plead.

“She completely humiliated my father in front of everyone! Some of the club staff heard her.” She takes a step toward me, lifting and pointing one long manicured finger at my chest.

“She was defending you.” Now I am starting to get annoyed, this really isn’t up to you Sofia.

“I don’t care. There’s a way to handle that sort of situation and that wasn’t it. I want her fired immediately.”

“Look, I will take care of it, but there is absolutely no way I am letting her go. That is not even up for discussion, and it ultimately is not up to you.” I turn from her and pick up my coffee, effectively ending the conversation. I hear her scoff as the sound of her heels echo through the penthouse.

I run my hands down my face with a sigh… fuck.

***

My feet pound against the pavement as the sun starts to rise over the New York skyline. Maybe today would be a good day to bring Ana into the lab… I shake my head at the thought… she has been avoiding you…

I stop to catch my breath, resting my hands on my knees before looking up at the bluing sky.

I know she has to have aspirations outside of being a nanny… like being your wife? My eyes widen… what the fuck, where did that come from? I pinch the bridge of my nose before taking the final sprint to the penthouse… Duty and responsibility…

***

I lean against the kitchen counter, bringing my coffee to my lips. She has to come in here eventually… I hear the light tapping of feet and she quietly rounds the corner into the kitchen, her eyes widening when our eyes meet.

“Sam! I didn’t expect you to be up so early.” Her emerald eyes quickly drop to the floor.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you. You can be a difficult woman to find, when you want to be.”

“I know what you’re going to say, but you’re wrong.” Her eyes rise to meet mine and she pushes her shoulders back with confidence.

“I am?” Where did that come from?

“Maybe I embarrassed Paolo. Maybe I spoke out of turn. But I was also honest and right.” Her eyes narrow as her pink lips turn down in a frown. “Aren’t those the values you want me to teach Mason and Mickey?”

“I’m not going to fire you, Ana.” I breathe a sigh of relief before reaching out and lightly touching her arm.

“But Sofia-“ Her mouth opens with surprise.

“Sofia doesn’t get a say in this.” My tone comes out more angry than I intended. “Yes, she was upset about what happened at the club, but I wouldn’t fire someone just to soothe her ego. Especially when everything you said to Paolo was spot on.”

“Good, ‘cause I’m not gonna stop speaking my mind.” I see determination in her eyes and it sends a wave of desire through me.

“I wouldn’t want you to. Besides, if I fired everyone who voiced their opinion, I’d be an army of one. The world needs more thinkers like you.” My gaze lingers on her lips as she shines from my praise. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about this morning… your future. I thought maybe you could come to the office with me today. Carter can watch the boys, and I know you have ambitions outside of being a nanny. This is your chance to see a Fortune 500 company up-close and personal.”

“Dalton Enterprises is a little out of my league, don’t you think?” She turns to get a cup of coffee, looking at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Nonsense, I’ve seen your credentials. I almost handed your resume over to HR instead of hiring you personally.” Don’t sell yourself short Ana, you are as brilliant as you are beautiful.

“Really? I would’ve loved working under you… it any position.” Her eyes darken, making my cock twitch, as I imagine her bent over my desk.

“I don’t doubt it. You’re very… capable.” I turn towards the counter to hide my growing desire… calm down Dalton.

“Thank you, Sam. Or should I call you ‘Mr. Dalton’ again today?” Her pink lips turning up in a smile.

“‘Sam’ is fine. Now, do you wanna tell the boys, or should I?” Her eyes light up as she turns on her heel.

“I’ll tell them.”

***

The car ride to work is quiet and riddled with sexual tension as the memories of the last time we were alone together in the back seat come flooding back. I steal a glance at Ana, who has her thighs clenched shut and a blush creeping across her cheeks. She is remembering it too.

When Carter rolls to a stop and opens the door, I have managed to successfully control the fire building in my chest. Ana and I walk into Dalton Enterprises confidently, side by side. This just feels so natural…

“Good morning, Mr. Dalton. I made a submission to the patent folder whenever you have a moment to review.” Grant walks up to me, effectively ending my day dream.

“Excellent. Grant, have you met Ana Schyuler?” I step to the side, gesturing to Ana.

“Haven’t had the pleasure. Are you new here?”

“Oh no, I-“ Her eyes widen.

“Maybe someday, if we’re lucky. She just got her masters in chemistry, and shows a lot of promise.” I glance down at her and I see her flash me a grateful smile.

“Mr. Dalton, call for you on line one.” Stacy, my assistant, has appeared at my side.

“Be right there.” I look back at Ana with a nod.

***

When I go to rejoin Ana, I watch her face as she talks to Grant. Her features are alight as she clearly talks about something she is passionate about. God she is so beautiful…

“Spoken like a future boss.” I hear Grant say as I walk up.

“Should I be worried about my job?” I ask as Ana’s radiant smile is turned towards me.

“No, I’d keep you around to smooth the transition of power.” She says with humor.

Grant leaves to join a meeting and I fight the urge to place my hand on Ana’s lower back as I guide her to my private elevator. I step in after her, the smell of jasmine filling my senses as her eyes flick to mine. My mind races with the possibilities of being alone with her in this elevator, and right as the doors are about to close, a hand slips in to stop them.

“Sam, we need you. There’s a problem with the office in Milan.” Robin’s face is etched with concern as his eyes meet mine. I watch his concern turn to pleasure as his eyes settle on Ana. “Hey, Ana. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Hey, Robin. What’d you do now?” I stifle my laugh with Ana’s choice of words.

“I never said it was my fault.” His eyes scan her body as his tone drops.

“Strategic guess.” Her eyes are fixed on him.

I narrow my eyes at Robin who is too infatuated with Ana to notice.

“Damn, Ana, I don’t want to just abandon you here, but these meetings can go on and on…”

“I can take her off your hands and skip the meeting altogether. It’ll be lunch before you’re done anyway…” Robin’s eyes still haven’t left Ana’s body.

“I like that idea even less.” My voice gruff as I try to grab his attention.

“Can I sit in? That’s why you brought me today, right? To see you in action?” Her eyes widen as she looks up at me.

“That’s true. Alright, follow me.” The doors to the elevator open and she follows me out. We walk into the conference room, and I watch as Ana takes a seat at the table. Her eyes flick to mine and I give her a smile, that’s my girl. Robin pulls up Luca from the Milan office whose face is dropped in worry.

“Signor Dalton, c’e un grosso problema qui.”

“In inglese, per favore, Luca. Non tutti qui parlano italiano.” I respond back to him, wishing to continue this conversation in English.

“We’ve had a security breach. Several files were lifted onto a jump drive. We think it was a former employee. The suspect was last seen in Lab C.” His words make my temper rise and I quickly forget about the other people in the room as the rest of the board members begin to murmur around me.

“Our customer DNA profiles are in that database. If the data get’s out, it’ll be the most catastrophic violation of privacy in our lifetime.” My hands turn into fists at my side.

“Our stock is going to plummet.” Luca’s voice rings out over the speaker.

“Our stock? What about the millions of customers who trusted us?” Our fucking stock is the last thing on my mind you imbecile. I close my eyes and are a deep breath as I try to collect my thoughts. “Luca, how did a former employee even have access to those files?” I narrow my eyes at him and he seems to falter at my question.

“That was my fault, Mr. Dalton. I lost my temper and gave him immediate notice instead of following our usual protocol. I’m sorry-“

I put my hand up, and he stops his useless apology. “Seal off the complex and tell security to do a thorough search, building by building. Then, alert the police. Call me as soon as it’s done. Your job is on the line here, Luca.” I reach over and end the call before he can say anything else.

“Fiona, follow up with the Milan office in an hour. David, I’m going to need projections on the impact of the breach.”

“You’ve got it, boss.” Fiona pulls out her phone ad furiously starts typing. I turn my attention to Robin.

“Robin, write up a press release. You’ve always been good at getting people who should be mad at you to calm down.”

“It is one of my many talents.” He sits back in his chair with a cocky smile.

I can feel Ana’s gaze on me, but before I have a chance to settle my attention on her, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

“It’s my father. I have to take this.” I reach into my pocket and step out of the conference room making my way to my office.

“Can you get Ana and have her meet me in my office, please.” Stacy gives me a nod before I step into my office and bring my phone to my ear.

“Hey Dad.”

“What the hell is going on in Milan, Sam?”

“We had a security breach. Luca didn’t follow protocol and now we have someone loose in the complex with our customers data.” I hear my dad take a sharp intake of breath.

“Do you know who this person is?” He asks, and I can hear the anger in his tone.

“I have Fiona following up shortly. Luca is trying to clean up his mess now.”

I hear a knock on the door and the vision of Ana is standing there, all long legs and olive skin. I wave her in, my body responding to her presence like a breath of fresh air.

“I’ll update you again when there is an update, Dad… You know everything I do, promise.”

“Sam, I expect a lot more than that. Luca needs to be held accountable for his actions…”

My dad continues to drone on as I look at Ana and roll my eyes. I watch her gaze grow heated as her eyes travel up my body, lingering in all the right places, until finally her eyes rise to mine. Her gaze doesn’t break when she realizes I caught her staring, her emerald eyes dark with desire, and the fantasies of what I want to do to her in this office come rushing back.

“…Dad, I’ll call you back.” I hang up the phone before he has a chance to object. I might regret that later…

“Sorry about all the excitement. This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I invited you to the office.”

“No need to apologize. Besides, it’s been kind of… thrilling to see you in action.” She clenches her thighs shut. “I like the way you take charge.”

Fuck…

“Good to know…” Is all I can think of to say in that moment. Try to keep it professional… “It seems you’re quite the hit around the office already.”

“I am?”

“Everyone is so curious about you… I blame Grant.” I also blame how damn beautiful you are. “Well, that and the fact I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been able to give you a proper tour. But I booked the labs for this afternoon to make sure we have them mall to ourselves.”

“Really? That’s amazing! Thank you.” Her eyes light up, god you are so beautiful when you are happy.

“You’re very welcome. Although…” My voice trails off. How do I word this….?

“What?” She asks casually leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs.

“I’m an impatient man, Ana. I’m not sure I can wait that long to get you alone…” My eyes trail over her bare legs as I imagine them spread open before me.

“What did you have in mind?” She notices my heated gaze.

“We could have lunch together, away from the prying eyes of my employees. Honestly, after the morning I’ve had, I could really use the break from the office. What do you say?”

“Let’s go.” She stands up confidently and moves towards the door.

“Great. Let me send a quick text and we can head up there.”

***

Soon, Ana and I are walking side by side along the High Line, I have a picnic basket in my hand. I find a quiet bench and sit down. I watch her fold her body next to me, the electricity that arcs between us, making me feel alive. She grabs the picnic basket and begins ruffling through it, the corner of her lips turning up in a small smile before she looks over at me.

“Are you telling me that they managed to whip all of this up after a quick text? There must be enough food for twenty people in here!” She holds up a whole range of appetizers.

“I admit, I was hoping you would take me up on my offer, so I planned ahead a little bit… But really, all the chef did was pack what they were serving in the cafeteria into a basket instead of onto a tray to send up to my office.” I shrug my shoulders.

“You have this kind of food everyday?” She looks down at the content of the basket.

“One of the perks of the job.” And the perks of being the boss.

“Mmmm, my compliments to the chef.” She says after taking a bite, her eyes fluttering closed with pleasure.

“So, first impressions. What do you think of Dalton Enterprises?” I pop an olive in my mouth and watch her carefully.

“Seems like a great place to work, especially if you get to eat like this all the time. Everyone’s so friendly and excited about their jobs here. I could see myself working here in the future… assuming things aren’t too complicated between us.” Her eyes grow distant as she shifts her attention to the people walking by.

My mood immediately turns serious as I reach over and place my hand on top of hers.

“I think you’d be a great fit. And the last thing I want to be is a ‘complication’ for your career. Regardless of what happens between us.”

“I know you’re not the kind of man to hold that sort of thing against me… but still, it’s nice to hear you say it.” Her emerald eyes swing to mine as she gives me a small smile.

I turn my attention to the view, enjoying this rare moment of peace between the two of us. I think back on the meeting with Luca and wince as I realize she saw that side of me.

“I hope it didn’t bother you too much to see me get tense in the Milan meeting.”

“Not at all. This company is your baby, and sometimes that requires tough love.” She pauses, and takes a sharp intake of breath, her face turning to resolve. “In fact, it made me want you to discipline me someday.”

My gaze cuts back to hers, did she really just say that? God, I want to bend you over and spank you right now for saying that to me out here…

“Ana… you can’t just say that to me. Not when we’re in public. Not when I can’t do exactly what we both want, right here, right now.”

“I’m not stopping you.” She leans towards me, her eyes flashing.

“No, but the threat of a public indecency charge is.” I smile at her challenge.

“Wheres the fun in that? Maybe I should break a few rules until you tie me up and teach me a lesson.” She gives me a knowing smile and I picture her round ass bare and pink before me, begging for more.

“I have thought about creative ways to punish you…” I admit, my voice husky.

“Like what?” She whispers.

“Drive you to the edge and not let you fall over. Even when you’re begging for it.” I lower my voice as my body leans towards hers.

Her eyes darken as she moans my name, a blush creeping across her neck and up her cheeks as I watch her body shudder.

A dog barks in the distance, bringing me out of my fantasy, I sit up and clear my throat.

“Dessert?” I ask her, swallowing down my desire.

“Dessert? Yeah, sure.” She blushes again.

I grab a strawberry, dipping it into the soft chocolate and offering it to her. She looks between he strawberry and my face before taking it carefully from my fingers. I watch as she traces the curve of her lower lip tantalizingly slow, her eyes never leaving mine. Her tongue darts out and licks the chocolate away. I shift to try and hide the growing hardness in my pants.

“Mmmm, that’s so tasty.” She moans, her eyes fluttering closed. “Sam, I need more…”

“Ana…” Fucking hell woman.

I watch her grab a strawberry and dip it into the chocolate, bringing it up to her lips and sucking lightly on the tip. A wave of desire makes my cock twitch as I imagine her lips wrapped around me.

“Are you trying to kill me? Because its working…”

“I can see that.” She gives me a sly smile, her eyes drifting down to the obviously bulge in my pants.

I swallow, trying to regain control as my mind wanders to the fucked up situation we are in, and the reality hits me hard.

“Ana… I’m sorry you’re caught in the middle of all this.”

“All what?” She asks, her face passive.

“My life. My engagement. My… desire. It’s not fair for me to put you through this… not when I can’t give you everything you deserve.” I reach out and gently place my hand on her cheek, running my thumb across her full, pink bottom lip. “But I can’t seem to stay away.” Because I don’t want to stay away.

“What if you are what I deserve?” She asks me, her eyes searching mine.

I can’t help but feel like you deserve so much better than me… I watch her lean her body closer to mine, I can tell she wants me to kiss her…

“You have no idea how much I wish I’d met you first.” I whisper as I look between her emerald eyes which are fixed on mine. My thumb caresses her soft olive skin.

“Sam, it doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it out. I’m not going anywhere. Not after finding you.” Her words strike me hard as I realize what she is saying.

“Really? You’ll wait?”

She slowly nods her head and leans into my palm.

“Forever and ever… although I’d really rather we work something out sooner than that.”

God, she is giving me way more than I deserve… you stupid ass hole, what are you doing?

“Me too.” I say with a smile. “I will find us a clean way out of this mess. I promise.” I don’t even know if that is a promise I can keep, but I am going to try my fucking hardest. “For now, though, let’s just enjoy each other’s company? For one childfree day?”

“Deal.”

I drop my hand from her cheek as we continue to enjoy each others company, the lunch hour passing way too quickly.

***

After lunch I lead Ana to my favorite part of Dalton Enterprises: the labs. I feel like a teenager as we descend down the elevator and through the key card locked doors. I ensured Stacy understood that we were not to be interrupted, and ignored the weird expression that crossed her features at my request.

I swipe my keycard in front of the final door, pushing the door open to the robotics lab. I take a deep breath and breathe in the smell of metal and feel the charge of electricity in the air.

“This is where the magic happens. The prototypes, the formulas, the fistfights over whose name goes first on the patent…” I turn my attention to Ana. Her eyes have widened as she looks around in awe.

“I can picture it now.”

“This is my favorite part of our new line. Granted, it’s got some kinks to work out.” I lead her to a table with our latest project, slipping the gloves onto my hands which make the tiny robotic arms on the table match my every movement.

“Whoa. I can’t decide if you’re a mad scientist… or if the tiny robot is too cute for words.” She says with amazement.

“Are those the only options?” I give her a wry smile.

“Cute or crazy? More often than you’d think.” Her gaze lingers for a moment before she turns her attention back to the miniature robot.

“I’ve never seen you so passionate.” Her voice comes out low and my eyes snap to hers.

“Oh, I’m not sure about that. You’ve seen me plenty passionate.”

“I meant about your job.” She rolls her eyes with a grin, and a blush spreads across her cheeks.

“I do love a good experiment. And as messy as it can be, I’m glad that’s a trait I passed down to the boys.” I stifle a laugh.

“So, if you’re in one for a promotion to CEO… will you have to leave all this? The lab?” Her eyes scan the lab and my stomach sinks.

I look down at my hands, slowly peeling the gloves off.

“Unfortunately, yes… I’m not looking forward to that part, but I’ve been waiting to lead Dalton Enterprises for a long time. It’s my namesake. Even if it’s not easy to let go of what I love… sometimes you have to.” The double meaning in my words is not lost on me… but I hope she doesn’t notice.

I watch as Ana leans back on the counter and watches me carefully. The words duty and responsibility ring in my ears like a broken vinyl, the ache in my chest growing as I scan the curves of her body.

“Why is your dad hanging on to the title of CEO, anyway? He’s not even here today.”

“He’s easing his way into retirement, but it’s hard for him to let go… especially given my so-called ‘wild youth’ before the boys. And then as a widower, I think he saw me as a liability. Too fragile. Adrift.” My mind sinks back into the memories of the countless arguments my father and I have been in. “It’s taken so long to finally earn his trust, prove to him that I’m a reliable man.” Which is why you need to control yourself…

I watch Ana reach out to console me, but I hand her the gloves first. Duty and responsibility… self-control… you have worked so hard to get where you are… don’t fuck it all up now.

“Anyway, why don’t you try it now?” I give her a small smile and I watch her lips turn down in disappointment which she quickly masks as she pulls the gloves onto her slender hands. She makes slight movements with her hands, which the robots effectively match.

“Okay, this is really cool.” Her eyes dance with excitement as she blows me a kiss. You are making this really difficult… but the light in her eyes is contagious. You are so radiant when you are happy…

“Clever.” My eyes meet hers with a smile before the moment is broken by the sound of the robot flipping over onto the table.

“Crap! Did I break it?” Her eyes widen slightly in alarm.

“We built it to be more resilient than that. Here, try it like this. You have to go slowly. Gently.” I position myself behind her, and the smell of Ana, jasmine and sunshine, suddenly fills my senses and clouds my judgement. I run my hands down her slender arms, hearing her breath hitch at the heat and contact. My hands come to rest on top of hers and her body involuntarily leans back into mine. “Go too fast, and the whole system shorts out.” I whisper, my lips brushing the shell of her ear.

She turns slowly in my arms, and I am acutely aware of how close we are, our breathes mixing in the silent, still air. My eyes scan the delicate features of her face, ending at the curves of her plump, pink lips. A forbidden place that draws me in like a moth to the flame. I am going to hell…

“Sam…” her lips open and she whispers a desperate plea. She leans toward me until our lips are only centimeters apart. My head starts to swim in the intoxicating smell of her, remembering the sweet taste of her lips, and the delicious blush that covers her body when we touch.

“What if someone walks in?” Her emerald eyes flick between my eyes and my lips.

“No one’s going to. I booked the lab for us. No one will dare interrupt.” My voice is husky as it betrays my desire. My self control is teetering on the brink. I see the moment that her resolve finally crumbles and in that moment I reach up and cup her cheek, as our lips meet in a desperate kiss.

“I tried so hard to hold back… but it feels so good to let go.” She leans back for a moment, her eyes scanning my face.

“I know exactly what you mean…” I pull her lips back to mine in a heated kiss that deepens as my self control effectively disappears. All I can think about is how sweet her lips taste, how intoxicating she smells, and how badly I want to feel every inch of her skin.

My fingertips graze down her curves, as she leans into my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips. She closes her lips around my tongue and sucks hard, sending a shooting wave down to my cock as I groan into her mouth. I feel her lips turn up in a smile and I moan her name.

“You’ve been thinking about this all day, haven’t you?” She pulls away, her lips red and swollen from our kisses and that blush covering her cheeks.

“God, yes…” I admit as I run my hands down the curves of her body, unbuttoning her silk blouse and pushing it off of her shoulders exposing her perfectly round breasts in her lace bra. My fingertips graze her newly exposed skin as I push her skirt down to the floor and I take a moment to appreciate her figure. God… you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen… “I think about this, about you, all day, every day.”

I put my arms on her lower back, pulling her body to mine as my lips leave a trail of kisses down her neck, then her shoulder, tasting her skin and listening to the soft moans that leave her beautiful lips, have me blind with my desire. She moans my name and the sound of my name off of her lips is almost enough to unman me.

She pushes my jacket off of my shoulders and I watch her shaking fingers quickly unbutton my shirt, pushing it from my shoulders and exposing my chest. She tries to reach out, but I grab her body and bring her breast to my mouth. I suck on her nipple through the lace and I feel her coming apart in my arms.

“I could kiss you forever, Ana.” Because you taste so damn sweet. I drag my teeth across her breast and she gasps as her body responds so perfectly to mine.

“I’m tired of just kissing.” She grinds her hips against my growing desire causing a moan to escape my lips.

“What’s gotten into you?” I look down at her and her eyes are dark and hooded.

“I liked seeing your sexy dominant side. You were so firm and strong and hard with that Luca guy, showing him exactly what kind of boss you are… it was hot” A smile plays on her lips as she continues to grind against me.

“Remind me to let you watch whenever I discipline someone at work.” A fire is raging inside of my body as the friction continues.

“I’d rather you just discipline me instead.” She moans before our lips meet again in a frenzied kiss.

My fingertips travel around her exposed skin before they dip inside of the cup of her bra.

“What’re you doing to me, Ana?” I whisper breathlessly against her lips.

“You’re the one who - oh!- makes me…” I don’t let her finish her thought as my fingers dip lower, feeling the pooling wetness between her thighs. I feel her body start to tremble.

“Sam, are you… sure?”

I pull back and look at her eyes which are wide as she pants. I grab her hand and place it over my racing heart.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I’ve never wanted anyone more in my life.” In this moment I realize truer words have never been spoken. This woman has my heart, I don’t know how it happened… but in the few months that I have known her, she has completely consumed me. I realize in this moment that I have to do whatever I can to have a future with her. “Don’t you feel the same way?”

“I have never been more sure of anything too.” Her eyes search mine in her confession. “No matter the consequences. I’m all in.”

Her words send a fresh wave of desire through me as my eyes scan her every curve, memorizing every freckle on her olive skin.

“Tell me what you want, Ana. Whatever it is, it’s yours. I’m yours.”

“Sam, I want you on the table.” She grinds her hips against my desire again.

I lean back and give her a sly smile before she grabs my hand and pulls me to the other side of the lab. I watch her perfect peach of an ass walk away from me, her hips swaying from side to side.

“I always wanted to do this.” She says with a smile before she brushes all of the papers off of the table. She lifts her hips up and lays herself back as if in offering before me. I take a moment to marvel at her body, spread before me.

“Good thing none of that was important…” I smile.

“Would you care if it was?”

“With you spread out before me, moaning my name? Not even remotely.” My eyes travel down to her most intimate place as I spread her legs wide. I bring my lips to the inside of her knee, blazing a trail of hot, fiery, open-mouthed kisses up thigh. I bring my nose to the apex of her thighs, inhaling the sweet scent of her desire. So fucking sweet. I am going to take my sweet time with this delicious pussy. I can feel the moisture as I run my tongue along the lace. Her hips writhing as she moans my name. God, its so fucking good.

I reach up slowly to hook a finger into her panties when the worst sound I could possibly hear in this moment rings through the lab. That fucking buzzer.

My eyes fly to hers as she lifts her head in alarm.

“What was that?”

“Someone just used their keycard to enter the hall.”

I stand up quickly, grabbing Ana’s hips and helping her off the table, before we hurry to the opposite end of the lab where our clothes lay strewn on the floor. We dress quickly, and just in time, before I hear a closer buzzer signal that whoever is coming down here is about to join us. I look over at Ana who is making still blushing and her lips are still read. Fuck. I run my fingers through my hair.

Thats when Robin walks into the room and my anger flares.

“He should just be in here.” He is holding a phone to his ear.

“Robin! What a pleasant surprise!” Ana exclaims and I fight the urge to pinch my nose.

My eyes are fixed on Robin as he looks between the both of us and gives me a knowing look. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Sofia, Im gonna have to call you back.” He narrows his eyes at me before pulling the phone from his ear and hanging up the call.

This isn’t good.

***

A/N- There are a few choices in here I really struggled to make with my MC, I played it several ways and ended up with this, before Ana really knew what she was getting herself into. I had to rethink who she was at this point in her life with Sam, but please forgive me if you don’t like the choices that I/She made. Muah!

[starryknight09]

Surprise?

Febuwhump Day 27: identity reveal

Read on AO3.

________________________________________________________

“Hey do you want to come over tonight?” Ned asked as they stood at their lockers, shoving their books into their backpacks.

“I can’t.  It’s a Friday remember?” Peter said, feeling kind of bad.  He knew he’d been neglecting Ned lately with everything that was going on in his life.  Juggling decathlon, school, homework, Spiderman, and his internship made it seem like there was just never enough time in the day, or week for that matter, for all the stuff he needed to get done.

“So?” Ned frowned.

“I have my Stark internship on Fridays.” He reminded him.

“Oh right.” Ned nodded as they walked down the hallway toward the school doors.  “So, are you going to tell Mr. Stark about you know what today?”

“Um no.” He winced.  He’d applied for the Stark internship on a whim a year ago and had actually gotten it.  The day he’d found out he was going to be interning directly under Tony Stark, he’d almost wet himself, but after almost a year of working with him, that had definitely faded.  As Mr. Stark would say, he sassed him more than he complimented him now.  

When he’d gotten bit by the radioactive spider six months ago, he’d thought about telling Mr. Stark about his new powers, but by then they’d grown close enough that he was worried Mr. Stark wouldn’t allow him to keep being Spiderman if he found out.  And then Ben had died.  And thoughts of anything else had gone out the window.

“Peter.” Ned chastised.  “It’s been weeks.  You should just tell him.  He’s going to figure it out soon anyway.”

“Not necessarily.  Spiderman’s been around for the last six months and Mr. Stark hasn’t figured it out yet.” Peter hedged.  Ok, so realistically he knew Mr. Stark would eventually figure it out, but he’d been extra careful ever since the man had started up his hunt to find out who Spiderman was.  Besides, Peter had an advantage.  He worked directly with his enemy, so he was always one step ahead of him and Mr. Stark had no idea.

“Yeah he’s been around for six months, but Mr. Stark has only been looking for him for the last three weeks.” Ned argued.  “He’s getting closer and you know it.”

Peter did know it.  On Wednesday Mr. Stark had shown him a clip of Spiderman swinging into an abandoned alleyway to change.  His mentor had been so sure he’d had him, but then a garbage truck had driven by the entrance of the alleyway just as Peter was leaving in his street clothes, luckily obscuring his identity.  Mr. Stark had sworn up a blue streak and Peter had made a mental note to be much more cognizant of city cameras whenever he was getting in and out of the suit.

“But if I tell him who I am then it’ll take all the fun out of it for him.” Peter smirked.  He’d known Mr. Stark long enough to know that as much as he kept complaining about ‘this webhead’ he was enjoying the challenge of it.  Peter didn’t want to spoil it for him.  At least that’s what he’d been telling himself the last few weeks ever since Mr. Stark had told him he wanted his help to find Spiderman.

“You’re playing with fire dude.” Ned warned as they passed through the school doors to outside.

“Why?  What’s he going to do to me if he finds out?” Peter said with false bravado.  “Ground me?  He’s not my dad.”

“Does he know that though?” Ned joked.  “Didn’t he pack you a lunch for school when you stayed over at his place last week?”

“Yeah.”

“And didn’t he spend all day watching a Star Wars marathon with you last weekend when he doesn’t even like Star Wars?”

Peter made a face.  Ok, so Ned kind of had a point.

“And don’t him and your aunt have like coffee dates every month now just to talk about you?”

“Ok ok I get it.”

“So how do you think he’s going to react when he finds out you’ve been keeping this from him?” Ned asked.

“He’s going to be pissed.” He decided.

“Right.” Ned nodded.  “And do you think he’ll be more or less pissed if he finds out on his own instead of you telling him about it?”

“Definitely more.” Peter agreed.

“Ok so you agree you should tell him today.”

“No.”

“Peter!” Ned shook his head.  “You’re hopeless.”

“It’s all a moot point anyway.  He’s not going to find out.”

“Hopeless and in denial.” Ned said.

Peter rolled his eyes.

“Whatever dude.  It’s your funeral.  Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Ned clapped him on the shoulder and turned to start walking home.  “Text me if you want to hang out this weekend.”

“I will.” Peter said and made his way toward the nondescript Audi waiting for him.

“Hey Happy.” He greeted the man behind the steering wheel as he crawled in.  Or as he liked to think of him, not-so-Happy.

Happy didn’t respond to his greeting as he started driving away, but Peter still liked to think he was slowly growing on the man.

“Guess what we did in chemistry today?  Our teacher said—”

“I’ll give you this snickers bar if you don’t talk for the next ten minutes.” Happy interrupted, holding up said candy bar as proof.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Ok.” He stared out the window.  The man was bringing him candy now.  He was definitely growing on him.

**********

Ned was wrong.  Mr. Stark didn’t figure out Spiderman’s identity that week.  Or even the week after.  Or the week after that.  Although Peter did have another close call with a traffic camera he didn’t know was installed nearby when he’d taken his mask off to deal with a bloody nose.  In the intervening weeks, he’d thought more seriously about coming clean to his mentor because Mr. Stark was getting a little obsessive and it was making Peter’s life a lot harder.  He had to completely avoid the area near his apartment now because Tony had come up with an algorithm to track where Spiderman was sighted and he was using it as a tool to try to narrow in on his possible residence.  Admittedly smart, but super annoying for Peter because now he had to walk at least ten blocks home every night after Spidermanning.  And his mentor had even figured out the components of his web fluid, although he hadn’t been able to successfully reverse engineer it yet.  Part of Peter felt a spark of pride at that even though some of his Mr. Stark’s failure might’ve been his fault.  He’d been trying his hardest to slow him down.  But now that his mentor knew the web fluid materials, he was looking for people who had bought large quantities of those exact chemicals.  At least Peter was safe in that regard, he still mooched everything from his chemistry class.  But by now even Peter had to admit it was only a matter of time before Mr. Stark thought of something even Peter couldn’t foresee or deter.

Ned had been on his case the past week about telling the man and Peter was seriously considering it for the first time.  

“Hey Mr. Stark!” He greeted as he walked into the man’s lab, feeling his usual flash of wonder.  After a year, having access to Tony Stark’s private lab still hadn’t gotten old.

“Hey Mr. Parker.” His mentor said, spinning in his desk chair to face him.  “How many more times am I going to have to tell you to call me Tony?”

Peter shrugged.  Honestly, he did it now solely because he knew it annoyed him.  “What are you doing?” He asked, sidestepping the question and pointing to the holoscreens Mr. Stark had pulled up over his desk.

Mr. Stark narrowed his eyes at him as if trying to decide whether or not to push the name thing, but after a moment he twirled back to face the screens, letting it go.  “I’m hacking into a bodega’s security camera.”

Peter walked over to him, dropping his backpack on the ground next to the desk with the weight of the knowledge that it held the suit of the very vigilante Mr. Stark was looking for.  He stared at the screens over the man’s shoulder.  They looked oddly familiar.  “Why?”

“Because I’ve finally got the little pipsqueak.” Mr. Stark said with eager excitement.

“What are you talking about?  Because you’re starting to sound a little supervillainy...” Peter joked.

“Spiderman.” Mr. Stark answered.  “I finally got him.”

Peter’s heart leapt into his chest as he asked nervously, “You did?  Um h-how?”

“He repeatedly patrols around this area.” Mr. Stark explained and pointed to the corresponding area on the map of Queens.  The part right by Mr. Delmar’s shop.  Oh shit.  He hadn’t thought of that and he thought he’d been so careful.  “Ever since I realized it, I’ve had FRIDAY continuously scanning the traffic cameras and we got lucky.  She caught him going into this alleyway here.” Mr. Stark pointed to the alley on the screen.  “Now watch.  A minute later someone comes out.”

Peter watched himself exit the alleyway with his navy hoodie pulled up over his head to obscure his face.  He breathed a silent sigh of relief.  There was no way you could tell that was him.

“Now, I know you can’t see his face, and I couldn’t get a good enough angle from any other cameras in the area, but I managed to follow him the next three blocks to this bodega.  I screened the footage from outside of it for the previous hour before he goes in, and if I’m right, it should be completely empty except for him.”

Yeah, that tracked.  No one had been in there when he’d visited Mr. Delmar and Murph yesterday.

“So?” He asked, sensing Mr. Stark was waiting for him to do so.

“So my young grasshopper, whoever this guy is goes in with his hood up, but when he comes out ten minutes later, look.” Mr. Stark pointed to the screen.  “His hood is still up but the strings around it aren’t pulled tight anymore which means…”

“He took it off in the store.” Peter mumbled in shock.  He had taken it off in the store.  He’d thought he was safe, and he hadn’t wanted Mr. Delmar to think he was being a weirdo punk.

“He took it off in the store.” Mr. Stark repeated with satisfaction.  “So, if I can hack into the bodega’s security footage, I can finally figure out exactly who this little twerp is that’s been evading me these past couple months.”

“Uh huh.” He said distractedly as he tried to figure out a way out of this, but no ideas came to mind.  Shit.  He never should’ve stopped for a sandwich yesterday during patrol.  It didn’t matter how hungry he’d been or how good they tasted.

Mr. Stark continued typing away and moment later declared, “Ah ha!  I’m in.”

“Um Mr. Stark, there’s something I need to tell you.” Peter tried to nervously interject, but his mentor was in the zone.  Peter could’ve been screaming he was on fire and Mr. Stark wouldn’t have heard him.

“Get ready to be amazed kid.” Mr. Stark said, cocky as hell as he brought up the footage from the camera behind Mr. Delmar’s counter.  “It’s finally time to see exactly who you are Spiderman.”

“Uh…” He really needed to say something or do something or—

Too late.  The feed from Mr. Delmar’s camera came up on the screen.  He froze.  There was Mr. Delmar, and Murph lying on the counter, and there he was walking in with his hood over his head.  Shit.  His hand moved up to his hood.  It was a lot like watching a train wreck in slow motion.  And his hood was off.  His profile wasn’t very descript, but he knew any second he’d turn toward Mr. Delmar and be facing the camera straight on.  And yep.  There he was.  In all his idiot glory.

“Wait.” Mr. Stark frowned and leaned closer to the screen as if he didn’t believe his eyes.  “That looks like…”

Peter winced and a split second later Mr. Stark whirled to face him, face showing absolute shock.

“You.” Mr. Stark accused and then said in disbelief.  “It’s you.”

He fake shrugged, holding his hands out, palms up.  “Surprise?”

“What the f—”

“I’m sorry!”

Mr. Stark stood from his chair so fast it fell over backward.  He pointed a finger at him.  “You’re Spiderman?  This whole time I’ve been looking for him and he’s been in my own lab?  My very own intern?”

“Um, it looks like it?”

“Don’t be cute.  Yes or no.”

“Yes.” He nodded, backing up as Mr. Stark slowly advanced toward him.  Peter’s eyes widened.  “I was going to tell you!  I was!  But then I just…didn’t?”

“You were helping me look for him!”

Peter made a considering face.  “Well, I was pretending to?  But really I was trying to stay one step ahead of you.”

He bumped into his desk chair and fell into it.  Tony stood over him, arms crossed, still looking more than a little angry.

“How.  Did.  This.  Happen?” Tony ground out.

“Um, remember that field to Oscorp that I went on about six months ago that you said I shouldn’t go on?” Peter asked nervously.

“Yes.”

“Turns out you were right.” He said as he nodded.

“What?”

“I uh got bit by a radioactive spider, and it made me so sick I thought I was dying, but then I woke up and I was this.” He gestured at his body.

Mr. Stark’s eyes narrowed at him.

“Oh.  Um.” He lifted his shirt so Mr. Stark could see his perfectly chiseled six pack abs.

“Jesus kid.” Mr. Stark shook his head.

“Oh and I lied about getting contacts.  I didn’t.  I just don’t need glasses anymore.  The bite fixed all of that.  And I don’t have allergies or asthma anymore either, so you can update that on my employee form if you want.”

“Yes because that’s what’s important right now.” Mr. Stark scoffed.

“I’m sorry.” He repeated although it seemed like Mr. Stark’s anger was cooling.  He didn’t look like he was about to have an aneurysm anymore.  “I should’ve told you when you started looking for Spiderman.  I know I wasted your time.”

“No!  You should’ve told me six months ago when it first happened!” Mr. Stark yelled.  Ok, so maybe he was still pretty mad.  “You thought you were dying and you didn’t tell anyone?  And then you woke up with superpowers and you still didn’t tell anyone?”

“Yeah, that’s the gist of it.” He grimaced.

Mr. Stark put his hand over his face as she shook his head.  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before dropping his hand and meeting Peter’s gaze to ask, “So no one knows?”

“Well, um, Ned knows because he caught me sneaking into my room as Spiderman, and now…you know.” Peter answered.

“May doesn’t know?”

“No.” He shook his head vehemently.

“Of course not.” Mr. Stark scoffed. “Because why would you tell a responsible adult you’re going out at all hours of the night to fight criminals.  Jesus.” Mr. Stark shook his head again in disbelief.  “You’re going out at all hours of the night to fight criminals.  Well that ends today.”

“No!” Peter shot to his feet and raised his chin as he faced Mr. Stark unflinchingly.  “I’m not going to stop!  And you can’t make me!” He knew the wording made him sound like a petulant child but he didn’t care.

Mr. Stark raised his eyebrows at him in challenge and Peter had to force himself to stand tall and not wither under his gaze.  Sometimes he forgot Mr. Stark was Ironman, Tony Stark, but at times like these, getting stared down by the man, he remembered.

Mr. Stark shook his head and said, “You’re fourteen years old.”  

“I’m fifteen!  And I know you know that!  You got me a birthday present.” He accused.  “Besides, I’ve been doing this for six months and I’ve been fine.  I’m not going to stop now.  And this is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you!  I knew you’d go all nuts about it!”

“Yes because not wanting to let a child run around in the middle of the night fighting crime is nuts.” Mr. Stark rolled his eyes.

“I’m not a child!”

Mr. Stark frowned and the next second he suddenly spun on his heels and marched over to where he’d left his backpack, lifting it up to his desk and opening it.

“Hey that’s mine!” Peter protested, hurrying over to him but it was too late.  Mr. Stark fished out his Spiderman suit from the bottom of it and held it out.

“This? This is what you fight crime in?  It’s a onesie!”

“No it’s not.” He frowned.  He’d put a lot of work into making that.  He didn’t appreciate Mr. Stark making fun of it.

“What is it then?”

“My super suit.” He smiled.

“We are never watching The Incredibles again.” Mr. Stark shook his head.  “And what are these?” His mentor asked, holding up his goggles to his own eyes.  “How the hell do you even see anything through these?”

Peter snatched them from his hands.  “They help.  Ever since I got my powers all my senses are have been dialed to eleven.  There’s way too much input.  Those help me filter it out and focus.”

Mr. Stark frowned, looking at him in a way he never had before, like there might be something wrong with him, which didn’t make any sense.  He’d never once looked at weak, little, half blind, asthmatic Peter Parker the way he was now looking at Spiderman.  Peter didn’t like it.

Mr. Stark dropped his suit to his desk with a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.  “So let me get this straight, you got bit by a radioactive spider, almost died but didn’t, woke up with super powers and then decided to sew a onesie and start swinging around town fighting crime?”

“Um, yeah.”

“Tell me why.  Why are you doing this?” The man ordered and Peter could tell this was important.

“Because…when you can do the things I can and you don’t and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you.” He explained solemnly and tried not to think of his uncle lying limp on the concrete, bleeding out.

Mr. Stark sighed and dropped back down into his desk chair, resting a fist over his mouth as he examined Peter.

Peter tried not to fidget under the scrutiny.

“If I let you do this, we’re doing it my way.” Mr. Stark finally spoke.

“Yes!” Peter thrust his arms in the air and then threw himself at Mr. Stark to hug him.  “Thank Mr. Stark!  Thank you!”

Mr. Stark patted his back awkwardly.  “Yeah.  All right.  All right.  Don’t thank me yet.  There are going to be ground rules.  A lot of ground rules.  And a curfew.”

“Aw come on.” Peter complained as he pulled away.

“And I don’t want to hear any sass about it, because you can say I can’t stop you all you want, but you and I both know I can.” Mr. Stark held a finger up at him in warning.  It was true.  He did know.  “First of all, I’m going to make you a suit.”

“Really?” His eyes went wide.

“Really.  You’re in dire need of an upgrade.  I can’t let you keep swinging around town in this.” Mr. Stark poked at his super suit as if was a stinky pile of garbage.

“It’s not that bad…” He argued but the thought of having a suit built for him by Mr. Stark made him want to jump up and down in excitement.

“And I’m telling May.” Mr. Stark said.

“No!  Please Mr. Stark, you can’t tell her!”

“She needs to know kid.  You’re her responsibility and you’re out there risking your life.”

“Risking my life is kind of an exaggeration.  I mean I don’t do that many dangerous things.  I’m more like the friendly neighborhood spiderman.”

“I saw a video of you webbing up bank robbers last week.  They were shooting at you.  Very real bullets.  Very real life risking danger.” Mr. Stark said, not amused.  A second later he frowned as he stared off in the distance at the wall behind Peter, looking like he was deep in thought.

“Uh, Mr. Stark?” Peter prompted.

“Just replaying in my head all those videos I’ve seen of you doing stupidly dangerous stunts.”

Peter rolled his eyes.  “They’re not that bad.”

Mr. Stark arched an eyebrow at him.

“Please don’t tell May.” He pleaded.  “If she knows she’s going to freak out and then I’m going to freak out and she doesn’t need this kind of stress right now, not after…” He trailed off, not wanting to talk about his uncle’s death.  He could tell Mr. Stark understood though because he made the face everyone made whenever Peter mentioned Ben these days.

Mr. Stark ran a hand down his face and nodded.  “Ok fine.”

“Thank you!”

“But I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.”

“Fine.” Peter didn’t like it, but it was better than the alternative.

“So.” Mr. Stark sighed and slapped his thighs before standing.  “That web fluid.  You made that yourself?”

“Yeah.”

Mr. Stark smiled, and Peter didn’t think he was imagining the pride in his eyes.  “Where’d you get the supplies?”

“Chemistry class.”

Mr. Stark snorted.  “Of course you did.  You want to walk me through how you make it?”

Peter grinned.  “Sure.”

Huh.  Maybe Ned had been right.  Mr. Stark finding out hadn’t been as bad as he’d thought it would be.

[fires-of-ninjago]

Dr. Hybrid - Prologue

Okay, I’ve been working on this for a while. While I did want to post this as a complete chapter, I thought that it might be better to split this part up into a prologue.

Also, @dangerbuffed I’m tagging you because you asked... Enjoy part 1! ;)

Word Count: 1,315

TW: None

PART 01: The Old Office

“Wow, I can’t believe your dad actually used to teach here,” Jay said as they unlocked the old lab door. Zane was excited; he didn’t even know that his father had once been a professor of Electrical Engineering at the Imperial University of Ninjago.

“I know,” Zane replied. “He never mentioned what he did before he moved out to the woods. I wonder why he left?” It was kind of bizarre in a way; Dr. Julian had been a very private person, but Zane thought they knew everything about each other… Zane stepped into the old office; if it weren’t for the thick layer of dust covering everything, Zane could have mistaken the room for still being currently occupied. Then they turned on the light, and saw the mess that the room was in. 

“Huh...I guess your dad wasn’t really all that into organization,” Jay quipped as they looked around. Kai however, didn’t miss a beat with his own observations.

“Yeah, because it totally couldn’t be all of the giant monster battles that nearly destroyed the city multiple times!” Zane had to agree with Kai’s assessment; the university was close to the South Docks of the city; all of the seismic issues stemming from their battles, not to mention the general number of earthquakes this part of the continent experienced were more than enough to wreak havoc with a space like this.

“This is why the University wants us to clear it out; there’s some kind of liquid draining into the labs below.” Zane searched the room for anything that could be the culprit, but everything looked like it was in order.

“What I don’t get is why the school didn’t clear this place out when he left?” Kai asked as he looked at some of the old technical books on one of the shelves.

“According to my scan of the real estate deed, it would appear that Dr. Julian owned this building, and was leasing it to the University,” Pixal replied.

“Wait, what?!” Jay asked as he dropped one of the files he was looking through. Zane didn’t miss a beat as he too pulled a few files from one of the many cabinets.

“Yes, my father held several patents that are still quite lucrative. How do you think I have been able to afford the Bounty’s fuel all these years?” Zane put the file back, after reading through everything in there. All that he found were the answer keys to various tests that his father used to administer.

“So let me get this straight: Your father built an entire building for the University, claimed a floor of an ENTIRE WING for himself, and they just, what? Left, like, a quarter of the building, completely locked-up for 50-odd years?” Kai asked incredulously. The Nindroid understood where he was coming from, but he didn’t really have an answer that he knew his brother would like...Primarily because he didn’t like it either.

“Well, yes,” he began. “The University had no legal authority to break in, and my father was also paying for all of the building utilities. If they had, then, as per their leasing agreement, they stood to forfeit their usage of the rest of the building. Which would have cost the school a large amount of not only money, but prestige.”

“But...this is a public college; they haven’t charged tuition since the Royal Family of Ninjago became the sole sponsors!” Jay said in his own confusion.

“It still costs metric fuck-ton to relocate a bunch of classrooms and equipment to another building, Jay!” Kai chimed in. Zane nodded in agreement as he opened another filing cabinet.

“Wait, how do you know that?” Jay asked.

“Believe me Jay, I know…”

“Kai spent a lot of time looking at colleges with me before he became a ninja,” Nya replied as she checked-over some old computer terminals.

“Nya was doing pretty good in school...really good. But, our system out in Ignacia only went on until you hit the age of 13 or 14, and then you were done.” Jay took a seat as he thumbed through an old text book while he listened, but Zane could see that he didn’t like the possibilities of what could have happened if they’d never met.

“We were looking into a bunch of different programs for me when Sensei showed up.” Zane perked up at the 

“Wait, are you telling us that the only reason you two stuck around was because of me?” Nya chuckled as she leaned against one of the bookshelves in the back.

“We stayed because Lord Garmadon was still a threat,” she started. “And...because Kai knew better than to stand in the way of me making my own choices.”

“Well, I’m glad that both of you decided to stay,” Zane said as he tried to open one of the cabinets on the other side of the room. He struggled with the handle as he rattled the doors.

“What’s going on? Is the door stuck?” Kai asked as he came up beside him. Zane nodded as he let go of the handle.

“I believe that it’s rusted shut,” he said. “Perhaps you can use your fire to help loosen the lock?” Kai frowned as he grabbed the handle and gave it a quick jiggle to test it’s range.

“It’s pretty bad,” he said. “I can try, but we might still have to destroy the door.” Zane gave him an understanding nod as he stepped back. Kai grabbed the handle and began heating it up slowly. Zane could see the rising temperature from his thermal vision, but the handles didn’t appear to be budging. Just as he thought that Kai was about to give up, a loud ‘CRACK’ sounded from the other side of the door.

“Hey-hey, I think I got it!” He said triumphantly as he twisted the handle down freely. Kai pulled the cabinet doors open quickly to see what was inside.

“Well, what’s in there?” Nya asked as she and the others stepped over to see what they were looking at. They heard her gasp in surprise as she saw the interior. The back wall of the cabinet had been removed, and instead of containing files or old experiments, its doors hid an extra entrance to a whole other room.

“I think we found where that leak’s coming from,” Kai said as he took a step into the hidden room. Almost in a trance, Zane followed him inside; taking in the number of glass water tanks, and computers that lined them.

“What is this place?” Pixal asked as she picked up an old clipboard. Zane touched the glass pane of one of the empty tanks closest to the door; looking it up and down. Somewhere deep inside his mind, he started having flashes- Little blips and images of being inside of one of these tanks. After a couple of moments of silence, Zane finally responded.

“I think,” he began; “I think this is the lab where my father created me.” Zane stared at his own reflection in the glass, trying so hard to dredge more of those memories to the surface.

“Uh, guys? I don’t think we’re alone in here…” Jay said from further down the line of tanks. Zane shook himself out of his riviera to see what he was talking about.

“What do you mean? What’s-HOLY CRAP!!!” Kai yelped as he reached the tank Jay was staring at. Zane ran up to see what they were talking about, but nothing prepared him for what it was. He looked into the tank to see his own face staring back at him. Except...much much younger. Looking down the rest of the line, he could see that there were other versions of him in most of the tanks...along with a tag at the very top with read: ‘CLONE STATUES: DECEASED’.

[foradecision]

‘ the agony of my feelings allowed me no respite; no incident occurred from which my rage and misery could not extract its food. ’ — mary shelley ; frankenstein.

HARRAN COUNTRYSIDE, DAY 175 ; 14:56:23.

     “— goddamn it. of course.” 

     the tank is dry, nothing but stale air coming through the siphon hose. same as the last one. same as the last dozen fucking vehicles he’d checked, gutted, stripped, and abandoned, up and down this fissured backroad to nowhere. from nowhere. this whole place is nowhere. 

     a thin line of trees borders the gravel to his left, curtaining the wide spread of empty fields like a patchwork quilt. farmland, mostly. dead and disused. to his right, past the scrub, the ground slopes gently downward to a rock - lined creek. there’s a spitting toad nearby; he can hear the guttural heave of its bloated throat from here. 

     distantly, high up on a cliffside, an eagle’s cry goes unanswered. 

     the creek is tempting. he’s tired. sore. filthy, to the point where it’s getting to be a concern. where, if he were to walk up to the gates of jasir’s place looking the way he does right now, they might mistake him for a zombie and shoot him on sight. threadbare amusement curls the edges of that chasm in his chest, just for a second: then it’s gone again.

     leaving his buggy where it’s parked, fishtailed at the road’s grassy shoulder — useless, gas gauge riding on empty — crane hangs a right and heads for the water.

     a bolt is loosed from his crossbow. the toad falls before it can hit him with an acid burn. there’s a scar on his neck from the last time, an inch or so of rougher tissue that runs above the line of his collar. 

     he does a quick scan of the shoreline. two or three biters linger maybe a hundred yards away, but they haven’t noticed him. they’re slow. far enough that he’ll see them long before they get too close. 

     fuck it. 

     he unloads his gear. strips off gloves, vest, boots; clothing peeled from his skin layer by layer until he’s bare except shorts and the grime - caked chain around his neck, dog tags sticking to his chest. one set, of the two he was issued. deanna has the other set.

     no. no goodbyes.

     no goodbyes. just hold onto ‘em for me.

     it’s a freshwater creek; murky and tinged green with algae, but clean. uncontaminated. he wades out until he’s waist - deep, takes a breath, and dives beneath the surface. the shock of cold wakes him up like a rush of adrenaline. he stays under until he can’t, and then he stays a few seconds more. when he comes back up, there’s a clarity to it: a sharpness to his senses, focused as the finely whetted edge of a knife. he swims again to the shallows and starts to wash. 

     this is day ten, since the others returned to the slums. since they’d chased a clue given to them by a dying man delirious with fever. since their last - ditch, desperate search for a cure had come up empty and every move he’d made leading up to it — everything they’d done, everything they’d lost — slipped through his fingers like fine sand. he couldn’t face them. none of them. couldn’t stomach the thought of going back, of walking into the tower to tell lena and brecken and everyone else that it was all for nothing. he just needed time. that’s what he’d said. just a little time to work through it all, get it straight again in his head. camden was still working, sure. still holed up in old town in a lab littered with corpses. he’d hit some kind of breakthrough, but his labors since then hadn’t borne fruit. bad samples. limited testing material. crane doesn’t understand the science of it. what he understands is that a month after that radio call, people keep getting sick. people keep turning. people keep dying.

     crane, why do you even give a fuck what happens to these people? you don’t belong here! this is just a job for you!

     no. not anymore it’s not.

     there’s no contract now. no mission objective. no target. there’s just him, and them, and a long stretch of nothing.

     this is day ten. 

     the afternoon sun hikes steadily across the cloudless sky. six hours ‘til nightfall. he fills his canteen, redresses, gathers his gear. shuffling footfalls and the solitary groan of a biter drifts downwind towards him. a pause, mid - step. a glance over his shoulder. 

     she trips up the slope as she tries to follow. he doesn’t glance at her again.

     there’s a gas station up the road, beyond the fields and half a klick east of the creek. a ten minute walk without interruptions. all told, he makes it in less than fifteen. the pumps are a no - go, but he finds enough fuel left in a semi and a rusted jeep to fill his jerrycan two thirds of the way. gnats hum in his ears as he cuts through the tree line and he’s sweating again by the time he returns to the buggy. fucking gnats. fucking heat. 

     fucking harran. 

     the buggy itself is a battered thing. mesh and steel, spikes up front, hood rigged with electrical cylinders to fry at the push of a button. UV lights mounted to a protective cage around the single seat. at some point, the paint job was blue. it’s lost under a spattering of mud and streaks of dust, blood in varying shades: dark brown to copper to fresh sprays of red. she’s not quiet, and her suspension’s been shot halfway to hell since he flew off that overpass near the train tracks, but she’s solid. fast. decent off - road traction, even through the roughest terrain. she gets the job done. 

     crane turns the keys in the ignition. a loud, vibrating rev, a scrape of tires against gravel. behind him, the biter from the creek makes a clumsy lunge for the vehicle’s rear. he leaves her in the dust and drives. 

     he’s been doing a lot of that. driving. maybe he missed it. maybe he likes the solitude, except for that ribbon of isolation that runs through him constantly like a wound spreading poison. no: what draws him is something else. 

     static crackles through the radio hooked to his dash. 

     “kyle, can you hear me?” 

     the skip of his heartbeat drops back to a dull rhythm. he should have known better. communication between here and the slums is shaky on a good day, worse down here behind the mountains. 

     “yeah, bilal, i hear you.” 

     “i’ve got the parts to fix your ride, if you want to come by and let me take a look.” 

     “she’s doin’ fine for now.”

     “you sure? it’s no trouble. hell, i can probably have her running again by —”

     “yeah, listen, i’ll stop by tomorrow, alright?” he says it without the intent to follow through on it. 

     “whatever you say, brother. hey — don’t be a stranger, okay?” 

     “sure thing.”

     he ends it there. veers left to avoid an upended van and a spill of toxic waste. doesn’t correct to avoid clipping the biter crouched over a strewn mess of gore, greedily devouring someone’s remains. or several someones. the buggy jumps a little. his expression stays as unmoved as if he’d just bucked over a speed bump or a pothole. 

     the sun is behind him now, dipping westward. 

     he drives. 

     it’s beautiful out here, in its own right. the kind of place he might’ve visited by choice, before, when the world wasn’t like it is now. the road unspools behind him, twisting south towards the dam. he hears the water before he sees it. rushing noise off to the right. he doesn’t stop. keeps going past the turnoff and down a winding side - road until he pulls over onto a patch of asphalt that used to be a small parking lot. a couple of vehicles, a truck, a trailer hitched to a hatchback with luggage piled high. he’s checked them all before. cleaned out the bags and the gas tanks, salvaged what parts he could from under their hoods. there’s a single building, a two - story cottage converted to a restaurant converted to a safe house, UV bulbs strung along the balcony railing like christmas lights. 

     past it, where the road dips into a curve, the open maw of a half - collapsed tunnel is just visible beyond the scattering of trees and abandoned cars, biters meandering listlessly in the afternoon heat. 

     four hours. 

     he parks the buggy and climbs up to the balcony, barricading the door once he’s inside.

     no one uses this place. that’s why he’d picked it. quiet, deserted, off the beaten path. no one uses it because of its proximity to the tunnel. deep within the reeking darkness, volatiles nest and thrive. they prowl too close after nightfall. no one wants the risk.

     no one except crane. 

     the note was pinned up on an old door used as a bulletin board at jasir’s farm. warning people away from the area, to steer clear at any cost. during the day, the hive is full. they only scatter when darkness falls, emerging to hunt, to feed, to roam the countryside freely and without borders. that’s what he’s counting on. 

     but there’s a trick to it. something he discovered — stumbled upon — when he went looking for sabit and found a nest instead. volatiles can breed. they’re not made exclusively through the natural evolution of the virus, but nor do they procreate in a traditional sense. hive mother is the closest comparison he can make: sentient creatures within the hives that somehow trigger the mutation. again, it’s a science he doesn’t fully understand. he knows the logistics. he knows enough. destroying those things stops the spread. 

     kill the beating heart, and you kill the beast.

     he hefts his duffel bag onto one of the tables and unzips it, a side pocket where a tightly - wrapped pouch is nestled within the folds of a spare shirt. inside, a medical injector and tool slots that used to house five vials of antizin. the final vial is loaded into the injector. the shot is quick. practiced. another four days bought on the calendar; beyond that, the pages are blank. 

     it should worry him more than it does. 

     after he checks the alarm on his watch, crane moves to the sleeping bag unrolled on the floor and lies down fully clothed. he’s trained himself to fall asleep like he’s stepping off a curb. no thought, just muscle memory. 

     four hours, then he can go. 

     dreams are less muscle, all memory. he sees them every time: living faces turned to dead ones turned to taunting, hungry ghosts. children screaming. a little girl and then a little boy, the plush yield of a bloodstained teddy bear under the tread of his boot. you can’t go yet, i thought of a name!

     someplace safe.

     the monsters are gone. 

     semper fi, marine. 

     residual hallucinations blend seamlessly, threading sepia and bronze through the black and mottled grey, the arterial red. jade’s voice brushes the threads like a hand searching for fever; soft, then bleeding, then telling him to let her go, and then jade isn’t jade, she’s deanna, and she isn’t saying let her go — she’s saying let go.

     no goodbyes, remember?

     make it count.

     you don’t know what suffering is.

     there’s an old ache just under the hook of his left clavicle. a starburst of pain sings sharply outward with the waking breath he sucks in, then pushes back out. he presses the heel of his right hand against the scar from rais’ dagger, the one he didn’t dodge fast enough. that’s a running theme. not fast enough. not soon enough. not enough. his other hand lifts, wrist tipping, as the digital numbers on his watch go from 20:59 to 21:00.

     he cuts the alarm.

     night out here sounds nothing like night in the slums, or in old town. there, it’s all infected moans, wind rippling through tarps and rustling trash; it’s all crackling fires and the creak of scaffolding, clangs of metal as virals throw aside manhole covers to scrabble out into the streets.

     here, it’s quiet. crickets chirp, cicadas chitter and hum. an owl hoots from somewhere in the trees off to the right of the cottage. 

     he waits by the balcony door until he hears them passing by. ragged, growling breaths. heavy steps. they come out of the nest in droves but then they scatter. then they fade into the dark. 

     crane hops the railing and heads toward the tunnel’s waiting mouth. 

     years ago, on the ground in fallujah, he led a stealth mission of five other marines to infiltrate a hostile - run outpost at the city’s downtown core. tactics he relied on then to evade detection are called back on now. he stays low. hugs the shadows. mindful of every move, every breath, every beat of his heart. the first biter he kills doesn’t have the time to react. he snaps its neck, fast and clean. drags it off into the cover of the trees and slices a deep line across its swollen belly. then a second line, stem to stern. 

     bandanna tightly secured over his mouth and nose, he reaches gloved hands inside the wound and begins to cover himself in gore.

     the smell is overpowering. sour and almost chemical, thick with rot, seeping through the fabric. but overpowering is the entire point. dahlia claimed she had a magic potion to move amongst infected, to blend in; everyone thought she was crazy. so did he, or delusional at the least — until she’d asked him to gather what she needed to make more tincture. one whiff of those mushrooms, and he understood. 

     she didn’t have a magic potion. she just knew which plants were odorous enough to mask the scent of living flesh.

     and if that worked, crane figures this will too. 

     three measured strides into the tunnel confirms it. the biters don’t turn. don’t react at all. he passes them in silence, a chameleon, unnoticed and undisturbed. this is the easy part. the deeper he goes, the more perilous the risk. virals twitch and mutter, grouped around piles of reeking carnage mounted nearly ceiling - high in some places. he doesn’t turn on his flashlight for chancing exposure. it takes his eyes a few minutes to adjust to the gloom. 

     he has eight hours, give or take, before the volatiles return and this excursion goes from dangerous to suicidal. eight hours is plenty.

     bones. the ground is littered with them, crunching underfoot. some are smaller; animal, maybe — birds, rodents — but most aren’t. bigger things. human. skull fragments that are all teeth. the smell has gotten incrementally worse, distinguishable even through his own cloak of viscera. it’s suffocating and rank. biological. metallic like a slaughterhouse. choked with dirt like a grave. 

     edging a pool of stagnant water that fills the crevice between cracked slabs of cement, he pushes on. 

     he’s getting closer. he can hear it now. an unearthly vocalization that pitches above the rest, echoing off stone. it’s a howl and a groan and a wail and a scream all in one, wordless, feral, made of pain and desperate hunger. 

     he sees it near a blocked door to a maintenance hall, in front of a wide wall of concrete debris. tethered to the earth by flesh and tendon like roots. there’s no lower half: only a head and torso, its other parts impossible to identify. the head is thrown back. spikes of bone push through bloody sinew in odd places, and the jaw is split along both sides, a wide, disjointed yawn. nothing about it is human. nothing about it suggests that it once was human.

     circling behind it, crane braces one hand on its shoulder and draws his blade with the other. the machete is driven clean through, back to front, gleaming point emerging from its chest. 

     kill the beating heart — 

     the death rattle is jarring, a wet, retching sustain, and then it stops. the thing stills, goes limp. he pulls his blade out again. 

     — you kill the beast. 

     there are three more of them, nestled deep within the labyrinth. he finds them by sound, repeats the same routine with each. in a way, it feels merciful. killing sabit was merciful. he wasn’t long in this state when crane had found him; too far gone to save, but with enough human left in him to plead for release. 

     these ones don’t plead, but release is granted anyway. 

     because of how deep the nest goes, of how careful he is in navigating it, it’s coming up on midnight by the time he turns around to work his way back. that isn’t worrisome: sunrise starts washing the horizon in swaths of pale peach at 5:30, doesn’t fully spread her rays ‘til six. he still has a seven - hour window, and all he has to do is reach the cottage again. the camouflage is working. his pulse is steady. 

     everything is playing out accordingly, right up until it’s not. 

     a viral staggers from behind one of the vehicles in the tunnel, an old city bus that blocked it from view. he misses it, focused on a through - path to avoid the others. it knocks into his shoulder. hard. 

     crane stumbles a little. it wouldn’t be enough to throw him had his footing been on even ground. 

     his boot slips off the edge of the crevice. 

     his ankle, the same one roman had fucked up months before, torques harshly in a direction it isn’t supposed to go, skewing his balance sideways.

     “oh, f—”

     the curse is caught before it’s anything more than a breath. 

     he falls. water splashes around him. 

     four feet away, the viral lets out a screech. 

     the noise. that’s all, he tells himself: just the sudden noise drawing attention. but the filthy pool around him begins to turn filthier, a runoff of blood and entrails slipping from his clothes. he freezes. holds absolutely still, unblinking, barely breathing. three more virals and a handful of shuffling biters are starting to congregate around the water. sensing some disturbance, some change in the air. one of them presses in closer. he realizes what’s about to happen a microsecond before. 

     the biter trips over the slab and lands in the pool with him, dousing him in a second wave. he scrambles backward, kicks it back when it lunges, but the damage is already done.

     they smell him now. they see him. 

     crane jumps from the pool and bodies the first viral that comes at him. the tunnel fills with shrieks and groans, a ravenous stampede with a single piece of prey. 

     his machete cuts through the nearest throat. then he breaks into a run.

     the firecrackers he throws behind him buy enough time to clear the tunnel’s entrance, to dip into the trees, to move at a flat sprint until ultraviolet lights wink at him between the black canopy. he vaults the awning, grabs hold of the balcony rail. 

     a volatile’s hunting cry reverberates through the moonlit night.

HARRAN COUNTRYSIDE, DAY 176 ; 6:02:45.

     “lena. lena, do you copy? ... shit.” 

     still nothing, just the static noise of a poor signal. the transmission is weak. he curses under his breath, throws a glance down the ridge behind him, hikes further up the crest. the air thins. he stops and tries again. 

     “lena, come in. do you copy?”

     this time, finally, the static catches traction. 

     “crane? is that you?"

     “thank god. yeah — yeah, brecken, it’s me.”

     “holy shit.” relief, even through a weak transmission, hits him center mass. “it’s good to hear your voice, mate. it’s been too fucking long.” 

     “i — i know, man. i’m sorry. really. i —”

     “nah, nah, save that for later, okay? tell me you’re finally through with this poxy country holiday and you’re ready to come home.” 

     home. that hits, too. emotion swells in his throat. a dammed flood he’s been so diligent to keep at bay. 

     last night was sleepless. he’d kept watch until sunrise, kept alert, because it occurred to him when he’d hit the water: he doesn’t want to die. losing hope is a dangerous thing. and maybe it is hopeless. maybe the antizin will run dry and he’ll turn, and one of them will have to put him down, like he did rahim and jade, and there won’t be any stopping it. no cure. no way out. 

     maybe he thought he did want to die — or maybe it was just that he didn’t care if he lived. 

     home. come back home.

     it’s not about him. it’s not himself that he’s living for. 

     not anymore.

     “yeah,” he manages. “yeah. i, uh — i think it’s past time for that.”

     brecken blows out a breath. “sanest thing i’ve heard you say in a while. look, let me grab the others and —”

     “no. no, don’t do that. i don’t have a lot of time — could lose the signal again at any second. brecken ... listen, just — just tell ‘em i’m on my way, huh? tell ‘em ...” 

     “yeah. i will.” 

     “i’m sorry.” 

     “i know, crane."

     a steady inhale is pulled and released. 

     he hears something. something that seems to shake the air around him, above him; something a lot like the whirring engine of an aircraft. but it can’t be that. there haven’t been any drops in months. squinting against the sun’s rays, crane scans the skyline, searching —

     “hang on,” brecken says, “you hear that?”

     “what? you’re not tellin’ me it’s loud enough t—”

     “there’s a — oi, get ayo up here, right now! — there’s a fucking plane. what the fuck, crane, i thought the GRE weren’t dropping supplies anymore?” 

     “no, they’re not, they’re — wh— hang on, what do you mean there’s a plane? there’s a plane right —”

     “listen, call me again once you’re close, okay? get your ass back here as soon as possible, we’ll talk then.”

     “n— wait — brecken, don’t —”

     the radio goes dead.

     overhead, a fixed - wing transport plane banks left and makes a hairpin turn to circle the cliffside. minimum altitude over rural land is five hundred feet. it’s close. 

     close enough to catch a flash of color from the massive logo painted on its fuselage.

     a medical cross inside a circle, bold letters spelling out GRE.

[booksarelife-stuff]

The Story of Us- Chapter 3

Jily (James Potter/ Lily Evans), minor wolfstar

Word Count: 2,814

Modern Muggle AU. When Lily Evans meets the man across the hall due to a fire alarm, she has no idea that a new chapter of her life has begun. Featuring a librarian Lily and sports journalist James.

Masterlist    Read on A03    Chapter 4 

Chapter 3- show me the places where the others gave you scars

Lily was having a great day. First, Marlene let her do story time for kids. Lily loved seeing all the little babies and toddlers as they sat in their parents or nanny’s laps. Second, Remus had gotten the coffee so Lily didn’t have to see Severus. 

Remus sighed, taking up his post at the circulation desk. His cardigan with the leather elbow patches getting slung on the back of the chair, He turned in the chair, watching Lily finish up repairing a book that had a page fall out of it. 

“Remus, dear,” Lily said, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. “The point is to be ready for our patrons. Not watch me make repairs,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. 

“No one is here. Except Samuel,” he said. Samuel was a regular who used the computer lab. 

Lily smiled. 

“I think I’m going out to lunch. Want me to pick you anything up?” she asked, closing the fixed book and placing it on the cart to get reshelved. 

“Nah, I brought mine,” he said. “Would you get me the paper though?”

“Yeah, no problem,” she said. The paper was normally at the steps of the library every morning, but the morning regulars typically took it first and never put the pages back in order, which bothered Remus to the extreme. 

She felt a buzz in her pocket and took out her phone. She smiled when she saw James had texted her. She had given him her number so they could plan Outlander days. He had loved the show more than Lily would have thought, so they were meeting up once or twice a week. 

She really liked James company and there had been more times she could count that they ended up pausing the show and talking. Last Thursday, they had only gotten one episode in and then talked until eleven. 

She had learned a lot about James. His brother was adopted after they had become close friends at his Posh Boarding school. She found out that James had wanted to play football for a living, but got a knee injury in uni that benched him and he found a love of writing about sports. 

Lily always gave something in return about herself. She found that James was a good listener. They bonded over their father’s deaths. Lily lost hers when she was 14 and James’s father had passed only two years ago. 

Lily was about to pull her phone out when James walked in. It was starting to turn colder, so he was sporting a light jacket that had his old uni’s logo on the front. 

“How can I help you?” Remus asked. 

“That’s James, Remus,” Lily said, smiling at him.

“Oh! The Outlander neighbour!” Remus said. Marlene had gotten to Remus first, so he was bent on Lily dating James. 

“That's me,” James said, smiling. “I’m here to return my books.”

James put his books on the counter in front of Remus. Remus looked over them. 

“Fancy some bowling?” he asked, scanning the barcodes. Lily leaned against her desk, watching them interact.

“I have to report on our professional bowling league,” James said. “I had to familiarize myself with some techniques.”

“We have a bowling team?” Remus asked. 

“The Cannons. They practice at the Hog’s Head Bowling Alley.”

“Huh,” Remus said. “That’s interesting.”

James turned to Lily and she smiled. “Thank you for returning your books on time,” she said. 

“I couldn’t let them be late,” James said. “There’s a pesky librarian who lives across from me. I think she’d be disappointed if I started racking up late fees.”

Lily laughed.

“I think she’d just annoy you until you turned them in,” she replied. They stared at each for a second before Remus cleared his throat. 

“Lily, aren’t you going to lunch?” Remus asked. 

“Oh yeah,” Lily said, turning around and grabbing her phone. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Wanna grab lunch?” James asked. Lily looked up and met his eyes. “It’s my lunch break too.”

“Sure,” she said, shrugging. 

They walked out the door into the street. It was warm in the sunlight, but the breeze felt good against Lily’s skin. She was a winter person and detested the hot weather that made her sweat. 

“Where do you want to go?” James asked. 

“I was planning on the sandwich shop around the corner,” she said. “I’m open to suggestions though. No Starbucks though.”

“A sandwich sounds brilliant,” he said. 

They started walking, Lily leading the way. 

“What’s wrong with Starbucks?” James asked. “Other than the fact that lunch isn’t really their speciality.”

Lily huffed. They hadn’t exactly discussed their dating lives yet. 

“You know that guy who was talking to me when you first came to the library?” she asked. 

“Vaguely. Wearing all black?” 

“Yep. We sort of dated. He’s a barista there.”

James snorted and made Lily turn her head towards them as they rounded the corner. The sandwich place in sight. 

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“Nothing,” James said. She saw him fight a smile. She punched lightly in the arm. 

“It must be something,” she said, pulling the door open and smelling the air. The smell of freshly baked bread would never get old to her. 

“I’ll tell you after we order,” he said. Lily shot a playful glare as she went and ordered. She wasn’t a vegetarian, but their veggie sandwich was her favorite. Once her sandwich was done, she paid and then grabbed a table outside for her James, as they didn’t have any in the store. She was eating when he joined. 

“So what does that snort mean?” she asked as James sat down. 

“I didn’t mean it in like a bad way or anything,” he said, unwrapping his sandwich. “I just… didn’t think that would be the type of guy you went for.”

Lily rolled her eyes. 

“I don’t have a type,” she said. “Besides, he seemed sweet at the time. I gave him a chance.”

“What happened?” he asked. 

Lily knew that James was the least judgemental person on the planet, based on how he had listened to Lily’s other stories. But she knew that this may paint her in a bad light and she didn’t know if she was ready for James to see that side of her. 

“Bit personal, there?” she said before taking a bite of her sandwich. James raised his eyebrows and finished chewing before he spoke. 

“And here I thought we were friends,” he said. 

“We are. Just don’t know if we’re at the point to start swapping dating stories,” she replied. 

James blinked and Lily noticed her eyes looked golden in the sunlight behind his glasses. She also could see hints of warm brown in his dark hair. 

Lily would be a fool not to admit that James was devastatingly handsome. His curls and the dimples in his cheeks made Lily wonder why he was still single, but she never thought to ask. 

“I’ll tell you mine, if you tell me yours,” he said. 

“It’s embarrassing.”

“Mine is sad and makes me look like a complete tosser,” he fired back. 

Lily leaned back in the metal chair. 

“Severus had seen me a few times and made my coffee,” she started. “He came after his shift one day and asked me out.”

“Wait a second,” James interrupted. He titled his head a little. “Did you tell him where you worked?”

Lily thought about it for a second. “I can’t recall telling him, no.”

“That’s red flag number one.”

Lily made a face. “How so?”

“It’s like he stalked you!” 

“He probably just saw me jay-walking across the street to the library.”

“Still.”

“Says the guys who randomly showed up at the library I told him I worked at!”

James looked away, mocking offense. 

“I was there to check out books! Not to ask you out!”

Lily closed her eyes. “Fine. I don’t know I’m defending him anyway.”

“Continue, please.”

“I saw yes because why not? I don’t get asked out very often and sure, I don’t know a lot about this guy, but our first date will be in the public place, so no harm.”

“Wait,” James interrupted again. “Did you find him attractive?”

“I thought he had some attractive features,” she replied. 

James leaned back and crossed his arms. His wide hazel eyes on her. 

“Yes or no.”

Lily sighed. 

“Overall, not really.” she admitted. James’s mouth dropped open. 

“Why would you go out with him then?” he asked, putting his hands on the table. 

“Because looks aren’t everything, James!” she defended. 

“Well when it comes to dating, it bloody well helps,” he said.

“I’m not shallow,” Lily said, sticking her chin up. 

“Evans, I know you aren’t shallow,” he said. “But I think attraction is the whole point of dating.”

Lily bit her lip. James had taken to calling her Evans once she told him her last name. No one had ever really done that before, but she found she didn’t mind it when James did it. It’s like she’d always know when James was talking to her. 

“Yes, but I still gave him a chance, okay?” she said. 

“Okay, fair enough. It never hurts to try,” he said. 

“Exactly, thank you.”

Lily told him how awkward the first date was but he had seemed really excited when he asked for her another one after an awkward hug in the parking lot of an Olive Garden. She had just gotten to the park of their second date when Severus had a comment about proposing to her there because it was now “special” and James lost it. 

“That is too much,” he said. “Way too much.”

Lily’s cheeks were red. 

“He was just really excited,” she said. James shook his head. 

“Lily, no person in their right mind would say that on a second date, even if they were sure they had the one,” James said. “At least he didn’t lead with an ‘I love you’.”

“No, that came on the third date,” she said. 

She started laughing with James as he lost it again. Their hour was quickly coming to a close, so they tabled the rest of the story for another day. James walked with Lily back to the library, still silently laughing she was about to open the door when James stopped. 

“Hey, I wanted to let know that I’m having an ‘apartment’ warming party on Saturday,” he said. “I wanted to invite you. It’s only me and my brother so far, so you can invite your friends as well.”

Lily smiled. “Sure. That sounds fun.”

“Alright. Just know my brother is a bit of a partier,” he said. 

“Him and Marlene will probably get along well, then.”

He smiled. 

“Brilliant. See you later,” he said. 

~~~

Outlander was paused on the screen in front of them. Buttercream was sleeping peacefully in Lily’s lap as she absent mindedly petted him. There was an empty pizza box on the coffee table and a half drunk bottle of white wine.

The conversation had gotten steered back to their dating life. 

“I mean there are some pretty big red flags, but he doesn’t seem horrible,” James said. 

“I haven’t told you the worst one,” she said. “It’s a little x-rated.”

James, ever the drama queen, squeezed his eyes shut. “How can this get any worse?”

“So we had our first kiss while he was making me watch this god awful boring movie about a war or something. And he just landed on right on me.”

“He didn’t ask?”

“Nope.”

James sighed and continued to watch Lily in the glow of the television. 

“So he kissed me and it was awful. I felt nothing. Nothing at all. I’m talking, thirteen year old me felt more when she kissed some random guy in her year when she played spin the bottle.”

“Awe, was that your first kiss?” James asked, smiling a little. 

“It was,” she confirmed. “But anyway, he kissed me and looked at me like God himself had sent me down to him. He went on for ten minutes about how great the kiss was.”

“But you felt nothing?” he asked. 

“Nothing at all.”

“Must have been a great ego boost though,” James pointed out. 

“I was too busy panicking on the inside because I just knew we needed to break up,” she said. “This is where I’m going to look bad.”

“We all our faults,” James said. “Except for me.”

Lily tossed a pillow at him from her seat, which he let hit him in the chest. 

“So we start making out while I’m trying to figure out a plan of how to do this.”

“Oh Evans. Why did you let him snog you?”

“I had never done this before,” she said. “And as I’m working up the courage, he stops and he looks at me and says…”

Lily trailed off, the heat of embarrassment coloring her face. She couldn’t believe she was about to tell this guy, who she’d know for only a few weeks. It had taken her months to tell Marlene and then had been friends when it happened. 

“Evans,” James said, looking serious. “What did he say?”

“He… he asked to touch, and I quote, to touch  ‘my pussy’,” Lily whispered, shutting her eyes.

All she heard was silence. Even Buttercream had stopped purring. She didn’t want to look at James. 

“Oh my god,” he said. “Wow. That is… something.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Please note I’m trying, so hard not to laugh.”

“I can feel it.”

“Evans, that is the most embarrassing story I have ever heard,” he said. “And I was pantsed at a school dance.”

Lily let out a little laugh. 

“Please tell me you broke up with him.”

“I made an excuse, went home, texted him that it was over and that’s been that,” Lily said. “The coward’s way out.”

She opened her eyes and looked at James, who looked thoughtful and not all like he was about to make fun of Lily for the next century.

“I don’t think that was the coward’s way out,” he said, his voice soft. Lily raised an eyebrow. 

“No?” she asked. 

“No. Because from what I gather, he had a way of making you go out with him again,” he said. “Whether he guilt tripped you or put you on the spot. Then he would cross your boundaries and then get mad at you for when you tried to speak up for yourself.”

Lily blinked at him. For some reason, she didn’t think of it like that. Neither had her friends. Sure, they would admit he was creepy, but Lily had always felt like a fool that she had allowed it to go on for as long as she did.

“I think you did what you had to do,” he continued. “Maybe it would have been better if it was in person, but I think you chose a way that made sure he wouldn’t rope back in. He seemed to know that you were too nice and used it against you.”

Lily held back tears. 

“I’ve never thought of it that way,” she whispered. 

“I wouldn’t blame yourself, Lily,” he said. 

It fell quiet for a second. 

“Thanks James,” she said.

“No problem.”

“What about your dating life?”

“That is a tragic story,” he said, turning away from her to stare at the paused screen. 

“We don’t have to talk about it,” she whispered. 

“No,” he said. “I promised I’d share. Plus Sirius has told me it would help if I talked about it more.”

He said he started dating a girl at boarding school, Emma, he called her. They dated his junior year of college. James thought things were fine, was even thinking about proposing, until one her friends reached out and said that she was cheating on him. 

Then his dad died and he got really depressed. He took some time off school, but finished eventually and applied to any job that remotely interested him. And it landed him here. 

“I still feel like a fool sometimes,” he said. “I should have seen it coming. Sirius was even pointing things out to me, but I just didn’t want to believe it. It’s made dating a little hard, even though I feel ready sometimes.”

“James, that is so awful,” Lily said. “You weren’t a fool. You just wanted the person you loved.”

James nodded. 

“I’ve been on a few dates since then, but no one has clicked, really. Nothing as bad as you went through though.”

Lily sat Buttercream aside and realized it was time to break out the ice cream. She felt comfortable enough in James’s apartment now that she went and got it herself. She handed James a bowl and he smiled warmly at her, like their previous conversation had never happened. 

[hoeforbilly]

science project

MASTERLIST

request: Hey!! Could u please write a Billy x f!reader where the reader is new to school and has like this super cool car and when she gets out of school she sees a bunch of people around her car and like Billy is there because he thinks it belongs to a guy and it's ready to beat his ass so he gets and idea of who runs this school and he doesn't care about his stupid car (because everyone is paying a lot of attention to your car) and then when you get there you just get on your car and get out of there and he waits for the next day to talk to you (because you know, y/n is a cutie) and you can still from there however you want @amarachoren

Hey! I love your writing and I was just wondering if I could request a smut where Billy and the reader are paired up for a project. Reader tries her hardest to ignore his attempts at flirting but as we all know... he's irresistible. He states that he'll get to work if she gives him a kiss. She obliges but it's really hard to stop kissing him. Especially when his hands are touching her and he smells so good. @jamesbuckybarnes13

warnings: filthy filthy smut, daddy kink, choking, spanking, overstimulation, orgasm control, basically everything oops, also unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it pls)

genre: fluff, smut

word count: 4.3k (my longest one yet!)

There was a fucking Toyota Supra parked outside of Hawkins High and Billy didn't like that. People swarmed around the car, pointing out how awesome it was and how the red outisde matched the burgundy leather seats, and how sick the pop up headlights were and blah blah blah. Every square inch of that car oozed with coolness and Billy was furious about it. It drew attention from his Camaro and as much as he hated to admit it, it stung. He was the cool guy with the cool car. He ran this school. And he was determined to make sure whatever asshole drove the Supra new about it.

The final bell rang through Hawkins High and Billy sped to the parking lot. There were already people waiting around the Supra, curious to see the owner. He stood a few feet away from them and lit his cigarette, waiting. Not even halfway through his smoke he noticed a girl he's never seen before, confidently walking through the parking lot. Tommy said something about a new student at lunch but Billy never payed much attention to what he had to say so it just flew over his head. She was cute, pretty face and a nice body, he smirked scanning her figure. She wore a short skirt and an oversized denim jacket and the closer she got, the more he liked the look of her.

She stopped right in front of the little crowd formed around the Supra and cleared her throat. Billy raised an eyebrow, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"Excuse me, guys I'd like to get to my car" his jaw dropped at her words. She couldn't be the one who drove that car, there was no way. But sure enough, she took the keys out of the pocket of her jacket, opened the door, threw her bag on the passenger seat and drove away, leaving everyone dumbfounded. As much as Billy didn't wanna admit it, he enjoyed this little turn of events. He decided it would only be appropriate to give the new girl a warm welcome. And maybe a tour of the town. Or his bedroom. Whatever she was into.

You were used to your car getting a lot of attention and you didn't really mind it. It got annoying at times, especially when people were more interested in the Supra than you but you didn't take it personally, not interested in getting to know most of them. Pretty much the only person who caught your eye was the tall blond guy you saw in the parking lot. He had a cute curly mullet, a little moustache and that look in his eyes that made girls melt as soon as it landed on them. He radiated confidence, the cigarette hanging from between his lips, and that's why you noticed him. He looked like fun. And you were determined to find something fun to do in this boring town.

When you rolled into the parking lot the next morning he was already parked in the spot right next to yours. A smirk on his lips as he leaned on his blue Chevrolet Camaro. Cool car. You chuckled realizing he was probably waiting for you.

"Hey there sweetheart" he looked at you from under his lashes and extended his arm to greet you. "Name's Billy, I hear you're new around here" you shook his hand and held it a little longer than appropriate.

"I am, actually" you smiled as sweetly as you could. "My name is Y/N."

"Pretty name for a pretty girl. How 'bout I show you around huh?" he offered. You thought it would be harder to get his attention but it seemed like being the new girl had its perks.

After a rather rushed morning tour with Billy you couldn't stop thinking about him. You were convinced he was pretty much the only interesting person in Hawkins. Some kids were talking about Steve Harrington but he seemed too stuck up to be fun. So did his girlfriend, Nancy. You quickly decided to stick with Billy, at least for now.

You smiled as you noticed him at one of the desk in the science lab. He waved at you to sit next to him and you gladly obliged.

"Mr. Newman hates me" he whispered right into your ear, sending chills down your spine "He might hate you too if he sees us together" he had a cheeky grin on his face.

"I think he's gonna love me" you winked at him, getting your folder out. "I mean, look at me" he chuckled as you turned to face the front of the classroom. He liked how no matter what he did, you weren't intimidated. It was refreshing.

You didn't really take notes the whole class, occassionally scribbling something down when you thought it was especially important. You noticed Billy glanced over at you pretty regularly.

"Do you wanna hang out today?" he whispered in your ear, making you jump a little.

"We can talk about that later" you simply stated, returning your attention to the teacher. Since when was science more important that Billy Hargrove asking you out. You really were something else.

The bell rang and people started pouring out of the classroom.

"Miss Y/L/N, would you mind staying behind for a second?" Mr. Newman didn't even look at you from the paper he was studying.

"Of course" you smiled politely, gathering your belongings.

"You too Hargrove" Billy's face twisted into a grimace but he nodded, moving to the front of the classroom. The last student left, closing the door behind him and Mr. Newman turned to you.

"I've had the chance to get familiar with your report card Miss Y/L/N" he started and you saw Billy's expression turn into a smirk. "And I have to say, I'm extremely impressed" this time it was you smirking.

"Thank you Mr. Newman" you answered with a wide smile.

"This here, Hargrove on the other hand" he scoffed. "Let's just say he could use some help" you stopped yourself from laughing at the offended expression on Billy's face. "I'd like for you to work with him on an extra credit assignment. It would help his grade a little and give me an insight into how you work" you nodded, a polite smile ever-apparent on your face.

"Of course Mr. Newman, if Billy doesn't mind" you turned your eyes to him just to see him blush furiously.

"I don't mind" he tried to sound confident but it was apparent how out of place he felt.

"Then it's settled. I'll give you the topic today after 5th period. Have a nice day" he smiled at you and left. Billy swore it was the first time he's ever seen Newman smile.

"Seems like we'll be hanging out more than just today" you winked at him and left the classroom before he could say anything.

Billy managed to collect himself pretty quickly, determined to get you back for how flustered you made him. He was excited to see you again and spent the whole 5th period staring at the clock. When the bell finally rang, he quickly walked over to Newman's classroom. You were already inside, collecting the papers from Newman.

"Billy Hargrove, that boy is bright I can't deny that" he heard the teacher say from outside the door "He's just so damn lazy. Don't let him talk you into doing the whole project alone Miss Y/L/N" Newman warned you.

"Oh I won't let that happen" you answered with such confidence in your voice, Billy almost believed you. Almost.

"So how about we go over to my place?" he shot you his signature smirk but you shook your head. "Can't do, I have to go get my brother, his baseball practice ends at 5". you weren't just gonna give in to him that easily.

"My place at 6?" he winked and you laughed.

"Works for me. What's the address?"

"4819 Cherry Lane" you nodded and got into the car.

"See you then!" you shouted over the music and drove away.

"She really is something else" Billy mumbled under his breath and got into his own car.

You pulled up into Billy's driveway, instantly recognizing his blue Camaro. It was just a few minutes past six, if he asked you would blame it on the fact you were unfamiliar with the town. In reality you couldn't decide what to wear. Eventually, you opted for a denim skirt, a cropped sweater and high top converse. Casual, but cute enough to make you feel confident. "Here we go" you thought getting out of the car.

The house was empty except for the two of you, seated on the floor of Billy's room. Despite what you had told Mr. Newman, you were finding it extremely difficult to make Billy cooperate.

"Come on" you moaned, frustrated "We gotta work on this Hargrove. I'm not doing it alone" the smirk never left his face, your irritation amusing to him.

"I can think of a lot more fun things to do" his voice was so sensual you wanted to punch him.

"Quite frankly, me too" you scoffed "So let's get to work so I can go home."

"I wanna get to know you better" he stated, completely ignoring what you just said. "Where are you from?" maybe the best option was to just answer him?

"New York. We moved cause my mom was tired of the city. She grew up here" he nodded. "What about you?"

"California. We just moved out here last fall."

"So you were the new guy before I was the new girl!" he just shrugged.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm not gonna stay here any longer than I have to. It's a real shithole".

"It really is huh?" you pulled your legs up to your chest, resting you chin on your knee. "I can't wait to get out of here too" he gave you weak smile.

"So you have s brother?" he seemed genuinely interested.

"I do. He's 14."

"My stepsister is 14! They probably go to school together."

"Probably. He's been hanging out with some kids, I don't remember their names though." he chuckled.

"So, Y/N..." he inched closer towards you. You crossed your legs. "How about we make a little deal princess" your heart fluttered at the pet name.

"And why would I wanna make any deals with you Hargrove?" you raised your eyebrow. He reached out to brush a strand of hair behind your ear.

"I'll work on the project. I'll actually try. But that's if..." he moved his face closer to yours, leaving less than 2 inches between the two of you "You let me kiss you" he finished.

"You're nuts" despite your harsh words, you didn't move away from him.

"It's your call sweetheart" he smirked and you nodded slowly.

"Okay Billy. One kiss and we get to work."

"Whatever you say" he smiled and leaned in, placing his lips on yours. It was almost as if he wanted you to take the lead. You tangled your hand in his hair, moving your lips over his. He hummed approvingly, deepening the kiss, placing his hand on your waist. Before you knew it, you were seated in his lap, his hands roaming under your sweater.

You pulled away to look at him, your fingers still playing with his hair. His eyes were filled with lust, heavy breathing sounding in the room. He gripped you waist tighter and you couldn't stop him if you wanted to. Everything about him was intoxicating. From the way his hands felt on your body and how he looked at you to his scent lingering in the air. He smelled like a mix of cigarettes, cologne and leather. You didn't hold back when he pressed his lips to yours again.

His hands held your ass firmly, guiding him to grind into him.

"That's right baby" he mumbled, kissing your neck. A small moan left your lips, your pussy getting wetter with every movement. You threw your head back, and swiftly took your top off. He groaned at the sight of your boobs, cupping them through your bra.

"Such a pretty girl" he moaned sucking a hickey onto your clevage. You rythmically moved your ass on his clothed dick, rubbing him through the denim of his jeans. You felt one of his hands leave your body and not even a second later a slap landed on your ass. You didn't even try to stop youself from moaning. His hand rubbed over you ass before spanking you again, gaining another moan from you.

"You like that baby don't you?" you nodded furiously and he laughed. "You have such a pretty little mouth, so use it". Another slap landed on your ass.

"Yes Billy, I like it" you managed to get out, the throbbing between your legs making you go crazy.

"What is it that you like babygirl?" he asked making you blush. "Don't be shy now".

"I like it when you spank me..." you opened your eyes to examine his face "Daddy".

His eyes widened at the name, cupping your cheek to bring your face closer to him.

"What was that princess?" your heart was pounding so fast you were sure it would jump out your chest.

"I said I like it when you spank me daddy" you whispered and he spanked you again.

"Like that?" he wrapped his fingers around your throat. Another spank.

"Yes, fuck, just like that."

"And do you like daddy's hand around you throat?" you nodded. Another spank.

"Use your words baby."

"Yes daddy. I love feeling your hand around my throat" he gave you a proud smile.

"Good girl" he rubbed your ass before spanking it again. And again. And again. "Go lay on the bed and spread those pretty legs for me" he whispered and you nearly tripped trying to get there as soon as possible. Your skirt was bunched up around your waist, leaving your lace panties on display. You quickly layed on your back, leaning on your elbows, legs as far apart so you could get them.

Billy stood up and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, finally throwing it to the floor. His pants quickly joined the rest of your clothes, leaving him in nothing but his underwear. Your mouth salivated at the sight of the buldge.

"Like what you see" he laughed and you nodded, your own smile just as wide. He finally started making his way over to you and you felt your pussy throb in anticipation.

"You're so pretty" he whispered running his fingers up your sides. "Such a good girl" he squeezed you boobs and let out a moan.

You reached behind your back and unclasped it, revealing you hard nipples. He instantly leaned down and took one into his mouth, sucking and biting a little. The way his tongue felt on your body was heavenly.

"Fuck Billy, you're so good" you moaned, tangling your fingers in his hair. He hooked his fingers under the waistband of your panties and looked at you for permission. You nodded furiously, lifting your hips to help him get them off. Your skirt shortly joined them on the floor, leaving you completely naked under Billy. He kneeled down and inched his face close to your pussy.

"So wet..." he whispered, massaging the insides of your thighs. "So fucking goregous, just for me" the last words came out close to a growl. He looked up at you before running his tongue down your slit. And you just melted into his touch. His blue eyes, probably the prettiest blue eyes you've ever see, analyzed your face as he places his mouth around your clit, sucking gently.

"Please more, I need more Billy" you moaned to which he hummed in approval, picking up his pace. Your pussy was so wet his chin was coated in your juices. He ran his two fingers down your slit, gathering up some of the moisture and moved them up to your face. You instantly started sucking on them.

"That's it baby, taste yourself on daddy's fingers" he squeezed your boob with his free hand. "Good girl" he smiled as you let his fingers out with a loud pop.

He attached his mouth to your clit, licking and sucking, while his fingers teased at your entrance.

"You want my fingers princess?" you nodded, eyes rolling at the very thought of how good that would feel. "Then you gotta beg for it" there was a challenge in his voice and you were always up for a challenge.

"Please finger my pussy daddy" your voice came out a lot weaker than you expected. "Fuck Billy I need your fingers inside me, please, I promise I'll be good" you felt like your whole body was on fire.

"Good girl baby" he pressed a kiss to your clit, making you tremble. His fingers stretched you out in the best way possible, he slowly slid them both all the way in, giving you time to adjust. You felt your pussy clench once his tongue came in contact with yout clit again and he let out a low growl.

"God baby girl I can just imagine how my dick is gonna feel in that tight little pussy" his words made your walls clench once again. "You like that huh? Such a dirty little slut" your pussy tightened around his fingers again. He started moving his fingers, while his tongue found its way back to your clit. Not even a minute later you could feel your orgasm coming.

"I'm getting close daddy" you panted and you just knew he had that smirk on his lips.

"You don't get to cum until I say so" he responded, going right back to sucking your clit. You whined at his words, knowing you wouldn't be able to stop yourself much longer.

He kept working his magic on you until you couldn't take it anymore.

"Please let me cum, please. I need to cum so bad daddy please" you cried out but he shook his head. "Fuck daddy please, I can't hold it anymore" you sounded desperate and he chuckled a bit, his eyes finding yours.

"Who does this pussy belong to?" he asked, his voice so raspy you basically saw stars.

"You, fuck it's all yours Billy" he smirked. "I'm all yours just please let me cum" you cried.

"You can cum now" he said, fingers moving in and out of you even faster. "Come on now baby girl, be a good girl and cum for daddy" these words were all you needed. You threw your head back, toes curling and felt waves of pleasure go through your body. It was the strongest, most amazing orgasm you've ever had. He never stopped sucking on your clit, making you ride it out for as long as possible. Even longer than that. Your pussy was so sensitive you tried to squeeze your legs together but his firm grip made it impossible.

"Please stop Billy" you moaned out. "It's too much, I'm too sensitive" he didn't say anything and just shook his head. It was like nothing you've ever experienced before and you felt a knot form in your stomach once again.

"Come on princess, I know you can take one more" Billy murmured into your pussy, the vibration making you arch your back. "Just like that, that's my good little girl" you felt yourself get so close and you tugged on his hair. "Fuck yes baby, cum for daddy" you let yourself go at his words, wetness pooling out of you. He keeps his fingers on your clit, but moved up to attach his lips to yours. By the time you came down from your high you feel him smile into the kiss, his hands caressing your sides with such affection it was unbelievable.

"You did so well for me angel" he whispered. "Such a good girl" he placed a kiss on both of your cheeks and despite how sweet he was, you could feel his hard dick pressing into your core.

"I want you so bad Billy" you whimpered and he smiled at you, kissing you once again.

"Ass up, face down. Right now" he growled getting off you. You didn't waste any time, immediately rolling over and doing as you were told. "Good girl. You like to do what you're told don't you?" his hand ran over your ass, making you shiver.

"Yes daddy. I only want to be a good girl for you" he spanked you and you jumped a little, not expecting it at all.

"Such a perfect little slut" he spanked you again before he lined himself up with your hole. "If it hurts or feels uncomfortable just tell me and I'll stop" he reassured and you nodded, excited to finally feel him inside.

He moved his hips, sliding his dick into you painfully slow. He was even thicker than you aniticpated, the size making you gasp. His pace was slow and steady, and before you knew it he was moving in and out of you. One of his hands rested on your hip, the other wrapped around your throat. He bagan to pick up his pace, making you cry out in pleasure after every move. You heard him moan behind you and it made you feel even better. It was you making him feel good.

"Fuck Y/N your pussy is so tight" he panted.

"It feels so good Billy" you cried and he started going in and out even faster. His left hand found your clit, fingers rubbing furiously. He was making you see stars.

"I want you to cum for me angel" he whispered. "I need to feel this wet little pussy squeezing my dick" his voice alone was making you tremble. There was no way in hell you weren't gonna cum when he asked you like that. You felt a knot form in your stomach and seconds later, your whole body was shaking in pleasure. Billy let you ride out your orgasm, not sure how he managed to keep himself from coming when your perfect pussy was clenching on his dick. He swiftly turned you around, and nearly choked at how gorgeous you looked laying under him. Your cheeks were flushed, forehead glistening with sweat. Your lips were red and there was nothing he wanted more than to kiss you. So he did. He leaned down, placing the most gentle kiss on your lips. You both felt like you were in a different world. The kiss grew more and more intense and before you knew it, he was sliding his cock back into you. You threw your head back, eyes shut tightly, it felt even better than the first time.

"I need you to look at me babygirl" Billy mumbled and you did as he said. Strands of hair were sticking to his forehead, his eyes glued to your face. "How are you this stunning" he asked before kissing you again. You wrapped your legs around his waist and he moaned into the kiss. "I'm not gonna last much longer" he warned.

"Me neither" you smiled weakly and he picked up his pace once again.

"I want you to cum with me princess" he was back in his dominant persona, voice low and movements sharp. "Do you think you can cum again?"

"Yes daddy" you gripped his bicep, pleasure building up.

"Yes what?"

"I can cum again daddy" you managed to get out. "Please make me cum again".

That was all he needed. He didn't know what about you made him feel this way but it was like nothing he's ever experienced. He slept with plenty of girls in his time, most of them absolutely gorgeous. Not a single one made him feel the way you did.

"Come on babygirl" he gripped your throat with one hand, the other lowering down to rub your clit. "Show daddy how much of a good girl you are." he was determined to make you feel so good you would lose control. There was nothing he wanted more than to see your body shaking under him.

"I'm so close Billy" you panted and he hummed approvingly.

"That's right angel, get right to the edge" he felt himself get close too, his movements getting slightly sloppier. "Don't cum before I tell you to" he warned. A few thrusts later both of you were ready to let go.

"Daddy I need to cum please" you cried.

"Not yet" he growled. He wanted to make you hold it in just a little longer, though he wasn't sure he could take it.

"Billy I can't" you whimpered.

"Yes you can" he squeezed your throat harder. He was hitting all the right spots inside you and you really didn't think you could take any more. Thankfully he didn't either. You felt his dick twitch inside you.

"Come on baby, cum for me" he moaned, letting go as well. You watched him throw his head back, waves of pleasure going through both your bodies. You've never felt this good with any guy you've been with before. No one could stand a chance with Billy.

You had no idea Billy was currently breaking all of his rules for you. He let you sleep in his bed. You were cuddled up to his side with your head on his chest and he was stroking your shoulder gently not to wake you up. It wasn't something he ever did, Billy Hargrove didn't cuddle his flings. But you were so pretty and your skin was warm and soft and your hair smelled nice and you just seemed like someone he could actually talk to. He didn't want you to end up just being a fling.

He thanked heavens that Neil tagged Susan along for one of his work event thingys and that he had the house to himself. He didn't want you to see just how fucked up things really were for him. Maybe this could turn into something. He wanted to get to know you better, try to actually be friends with you first and he was determined not to let Neil scare you away.

[ghostxofxartemis]

Prologue of my Fanfic Complete.

I’m just too excited, I want to share. I’m hoping to get an invitation to Archives tomorrow to post the First chapter, as I just completed it. But I don’t want to give too much right away! But here’s my complete prologue! 

Author’s notes: Hi everyone, welcome to my first fanfiction for Mass Effect, my all time favourite game! My canon Shepard, is default Shepard, Earth Born, War Hero, infiltrator class, paragon with a few renegade options, like kicking the merc out the window in Ilium and killing Kai Leng with that renegade button quick for Thane. Chose to destroy the reapers, and survived. He also romanced Ashley, and I wanted to delve into their story a bit more. However, most of the story will revolve around their daughter, 25 years later. I believe Shepard’s story is done. But that doesn’t mean that another Shepard can’t come and continue his legacy. Everyone survived except for Mordin while dispancering the genophage cure, Thane while chasing Kai Leng, Legion and EDI. However, EDI will be back (I can’t kill her off completely!) 

Another note, I always preferred to write in first person. I know it technically goes against all rules of writing, but I will be switching from John Shepard’s and Alex Shepard’s Point of view.

Also still brainstorming Titles.

Prologue

“The war is over. The Reapers have been defeated. 

Against all odds, and in the face of the greatest threat this galaxy has ever known, we survived. 

We suffered many losses. The relays are severely damaged, but we won. 

This victory belongs to each of us... every man, woman, and child. Every civilization, on every world. Now, as we take our first steps toward restoring what we lost, we must remember what it took to win. This wasn't a victory by a single fleet, a single army, or even a single species.

If this war has taught us anything, it is that we are at our strongest when we work together. And if we can put down our grievances long enough to stop something as powerful as the Reapers, imagine what we can achieve now that they are defeated. 

It will take time, but we can rebuild everything that was destroyed.

Our homes, our worlds, our fleets and defenses. All of this - and more. 

Together, we can build a future greater than any one of us could imagine.

A future paid for by the sacrifices of those who fought and died alongside us.

A future that many will never see. 

And while we still have many challenges ahead of us... We can face them together. 

And we will honor those who died to give us that future.”

Gasp. My lungs filled with air, I felt pain, everywhere. In all my years in my career, all those shots I’ve endured couldn’t compare to this. All I saw was rubble. Did it work? Did the crucible fire? Or did I just imagine that? “Shepard!” “Shepard, where are you?! Come on Commander?!” “Shepard?!” I recognized those voices. Samara, Jack, Miranda? But they were on the other side of the battlefield. I tried to move, but movement shot pain all over my body again and I saw stars in my vision. I was on the verge of slipping in unconsciousness. I knew if I did, I may never wake up again. All my medigel was dispensed during the final push, I had to stay awake until someone found me at least. Then they can take care of the rest. I tried again, slowly this time, I moved my head around, looking for something that could alert them where I am. I shot the tube didn’t I? Back at the crucible? Think Shepard, your pistol must be around! With great effort I started to feel around me, God this rubble is heavy!  There! I felt the pistol. I aimed in the sky and prayed there were still a couple shots left in the thermal clip. I squeeze the trigger. Bam Bam. Two shots that's it, I hear the empty click. They should have heard that, they must be closed otherwise I wouldn’t have heard them. 

“Get down!” “They’re not shooting at us.” “It’s Shepard!” 

“Shepard, stay with me, we got you, we’ll get you medic” Miranda’s face appeared in my vision as she spoke, her omnitool bright orange, I started to feel light headed but my pain was slowly diminishing, for now. How much medigel did she give me?! Oh, why does it matter, she knows what she is doing, she put me back together after all!  “MEDIC, OVER HERE! IT’S SHEPARD!” I heard Jack yell, before my vision went black. 

“Stay with me Shepard!” Miranda again, I was on a gurney, they were running with the medics, Miranda had her omnitool at the ready. Looked like she was scanning the damage, her face, didn’t look right...worried? “Miranda…Ashley?” I tried to reach for her. “Shh, save your energy. Just stay with me okay, you’ll be okay! The Normandy made it out on time, you did it Shepard” I didn’t know whether she was telling the truth about me making it, but it didn’t matter, all that mattered was that Ashley and my crew...my friends, were safe. All went dark. 

I woke up again, who knows how long I have been out, and heard beeping noise around me. I searched my surroundings, and noticed a heart rate monitor, tubes in my arms. I’m in a hospital, still alive, well at least I think so? Miranda’s face appeared in my vision, as well as someone else, don’t know who they are though. “Hey Shepard, you got some broken ribs, your left arm is broken, we’re keeping you under a coma for you to recover faster. But you’re going to make a full recovery.” I heard Miranda say to me before she turned around to the other man in the room and said “give him a dose, a bigger one this time, trust me he’ll be fine.” I couldn’t help but chuckle and I saw Miranda’s lip quirk up, I knew she got the same sense of deja vu: the first time I woke up in the Cerberus lab when she rebuilt me. But I knew I was going to be fine, after all Miranda would know best. All went dark again.

I woke up again, and I heard some rustling beside me, and I hand touched mine. “Hey Hero-Man, glad to see you finally awake.” I didn’t need to see who it was, because I would recognize her voice anywhere. A smile spread on my face, I never felt so much joy in my lifetime. Ashley was okay, and she was here beside me! I turned to face her, and tried to speak, but it almost felt like I had no voice. “Shh, shh, you’ve been out a while, just take it slow Skipper.” I had to say this though, and I squeezed her hand, cleared my throat, and with pure will I muttered a raspy “I love you,” she smiled and said “I know” and I fell asleep again. 

The next time I woke up, I felt much better. I couldn’t say how much time had passed, I figured maybe about a few days. Next to me Ashley had fallen asleep, she had her head on the bed all the while sitting in the chair she pulled up. I gently ran my fingers in her hair, and I felt her stir under my touch. “Hey pretty lady” I whispered, “Hey” she said back at me as she slowly lifted her head off the bed “You’re awake”. “Just woke up myself. How long have I been out?” I asked her. “Hmm, just about a month now, Miranda’s been looking after you until we could get the Normandy fully functioning again and back into orbit. We got back to Earth as soon as we could and got here. Dr. Chawkas took over your care after that” she replied. A month?! I took a moment to process that, I thought I had been out a few days, but a month?!  I was in shock. Normandy fully functioning? What the hell happened?! “Ash...what happened? After I got to the crucible? What happened?” I reached for her hand and squeezed it. I needed to know what happened after everything went dark. “The crucible shot red beams of light, and all synthetic, the Geth, Edi, even the Reapers, they all went dead. The Normandy was hit, we sustained a bit of damage before hitting the relay, we landed on an uncharted world. The crew worked all together to get the Normandy back up. Took us about 3 days, and then 2 weeks to get back to earth. But you did it Shepard - you destroyed the Reapers, the war is done. But there’s one more thing… Admiral Anderson..” she started saying, I nodded my head “I know, I was with him.” “I’m so sorry Skipper” for the first time ever, I saw a tear run down Ashley’s cheek. Throughout everything, Kaidan’s death, even when she was in the hospital and waiting for news on her family, Ashley Williams never cried, and here she was shedding a tear. I took my free hand and placed it behind her neck and brought her forehead to my lips and planted a kiss, and I held her there. She pulled away, and whipped her tears, “I should get Dr. Chawkas, I’ll be right back,” she stood up and walked out the door to get Dr. Chawkas, and I leaned back into the bed and sighed. I felt relieved that the Reapers were truly destroyed. But cords pulled on my heart. Edi had truly died. I was supposed to be dead. I had hoped that the catalyst had lied, but it hadn’t. Now Joker had lost the love of his life. 

I heard the door whoosh open again and turned my head in it’s direction, Dr. Chawkas looked at me, a smile spreading ear to ear, and behind her was Miranda. I could see Ashley talking to Admiral Hackett and James leaning up against the wall. I guess I could expect a huge welcoming party after speaking to Dr. Chawkas and Miranda. I was pretty sure there were others there that I couldn’t see. “Glad to see you awake Commander. You’re looking a lot better. I’m just going to run some scans here. I have to say, I’m impressed with Miranda’s medical skills, it was touch and go there for a while” she was saying as she lit up her omni-tool to do her scans. 

“Well, if anyone would know my body inside and out, it would be her, it wouldn’t be the first time either” I chuckle, and heard Dr. Chawkas chuckle as well, while I swear, Miranda’s cheeks turned beet red. “I suppose you're right. Scans look commander, you’re healing well. You should be good to go to physical therapy in a few days. But first we should probably get you some food,” she cocked her head in the direction of my stomach, as it made a growl, I swear everyone in the next system heard. “I’ll go get you something to eat, in the meantime Admiral Hackett would like to speak to you,” she turned on her heels and made her way out the door only to stop to speak quickly to Admiral Hackett “he’s all good Admiral, ready to see you” she nodded and Hackett give her a nod back “thank you Dr.” and made his way towards me. “Shepard, I don’t still don’t know how you pulled that off. That wasn’t short of any miracle” he reached out with a hand and I took in my own to give him a hand shake. “I don’t really know what really happened myself, tell you the truth Admiral” I replied. He pulled his hand back and clasped them behind his back, taking on his usual casual stance. “Tell me what you remember.” 

“I don’t know where to start Admiral. I reached the beam, and landed somewhere in the Citadel. Somewhere I’ve never been before. They were collecting human remains, and looked like they were gathering them to make another Reaper, maybe. I don’t know.” I pause to sigh and bring my thumb and forefinger to pinch the bridge of my nose for a moment, deep in thought. When I pulled my hand away again, I recollected myself to continue my debrief. “I made my way to the control panel, and Anderson had already reached it. He was trying to open to the Citadel arms. But the Illusive man was controlling him, stopping him from accessing the controls.” Hackett made a noise that sounded like a hmm. “So he managed to learn how to control humans, and not just husks?” he asked. “Yeah...thought he was implanted with reaper technology. He managed to get control over me as well. I tried to pull him out of his revelry, but he made me shoot Anderson, before he pulled the trigger on himself.” I sighed at the memory. I felt guilty, and it must have shown in my expression, for Hackett immediately interjected “It wasn’t your fault Shepard,” “It doesn’t make it any easier, sir”.

It must have taken me about a good 10 mins to explain everything, from the catalyst to the destruction of the Reapers. Hackett had agreed that taking control of  the Reapers would have been too much of a risk, what if down the line I would have become indoctrinated and started up another war? Rewriting human DNA is unethical. Destruction was the only way to go, even at a great cost. Peace between synthetic and humans is possible, as I had managed to prove to the galaxy with brokering peace between the geth and the Quarians. 

Hackett thanked me for the briefing and wished me a speedy recovery. I knew I would be out for a bit, but thanks to my cybernetics, it wouldn’t be as long as a normal person. Something I was grateful for, to be honest, even after everything that just happened, I still wasn’t ready to retire. 

After Hackett left, Ashley came back in followed by James, Traynor Carrying a vase full of “get well flowers”, Garrus, Liara and Cortez. “I brought you some flowers Commander, I’m glad you’re doing better commander, everyone has been worried about you” Traynor said as she placed the vase on the bedside table. “Thanks Traynor.” 

“Just couldn’t help yourself from destroying the reapers with a bang, uh Loco?” James chuckled, I just rolled my eyes at him and shook my head. No doubt I’ve just earned myself more “Loco” points. “S’cuse me” Dr. Chawkas was shimmying herself between the crew with a tray of food in her hands, and when she reached me she handed the tray and I reached out and grabbed it and placed it on my lab. I scrutinized what was on the tray, military rations albeit not being the best and tastiest of food, certainly looked more appetizing than the clump of goo that was sitting in front of me. I looked up at Dr. Chakwas, eyebrows raised in a quizzical look “what is this supposed to be?” She shrugged and her expression  turned sympathetic, no doubt not wanting to be stuck with this goo and feeling horrible about handing it over to me. “It’s supposed to be oatmeal. Something soft but not too solid yet, have to slowly introduce food into your system. You’ve been out a while Commander.” 

I picked up the spoon, scoop up a spoonful, only to purposely drop through the goo back into the plate. “I think I lost my appetite” I grumbled. “We’ll leave you to it commander” Traynor gave a sympathetic look  towards my way before gesturing to the others to do the same. Miranda lingered behind a bit “I’m glad your back Commander” and turned towards the door to follow the others out. Only Ashley remained behind. I moved myself a little closer to the edge of the bed and pat the empty spot beside me for her to sit down next to me. She was more than happy to oblige, her smile spreading across her face. She lay down and leaned her hand on my shoulder. “I know it’s not appetizing, John, but you should eat” she said. I sighed, “I know, I just didn’t want to make faces in front of everyone” I replied, and she snorted. I sighed again and took another spoonful and slowly, the food made its way down to my stomach.

The few weeks I spent in the hospital and physical therapy had been slow and excruciating. Not in the sense that my body hurt, it was mostly all healed up at this point, thanks to my upgrades. But it was the fact I was stuck there and hadn’t gotten the all clear yet to get back into the field. Ashley thought I was crazy, that I had more than earned some shore leave. But I wasn’t one to just sit around and do nothing.

I also had ceremonies to attend. I had been given more awards for my part in the war. The Normandy crew had been granted the Galactic Unit Citation for their part in helping win me this war. I had been awarded my second Star of Terra, along with the Star of Sur’Kesh, Silver Dagger, and Nova Cluster. My recognition in this war had gone with plenty of notice. 

Eventually I was given the all clear to head back and command The Normandy again. Hackett wanted the Normandy's help in patrolling  the system, making sure no one went rogue. With the government in chaos, and the Alliance in scramble right now. And with all the repairs that needed to be done to the mass relays, he wanted to make sure no pirates or mercs decided to attack anyone at random. The Normandy was to escort fleets to other systems so that we can start making the repairs on the mass relays ASAP. I was more than happy to comply. 

The welcoming I received was heartwarming. Everyone was glad to see me up on my feet again. New armor had been sent to the armory to replace the one that had been scorched in the final push. Walking up the ramp I plot our first trip to Arcturus Stream for our first escort. “You got it, Commander” was Joker’s voice coming through the speakers. I couldn’t help but smiled as I turned around and headed to the elevator up to my cabin. It was good to be back on the Normandy, and quite frankly, I was looking forward to a night alone with Ashley. 

[maddie-the-princess]

If You Love Me, Let Me Go Part 3

Fandom: Sanders Sides

AU: High School 

Pairing(s): LAMP

Summary: Virgil and his family are new to the neighborhood. He starts a new school where he learns to love himself, and maybe, love his new friends. 

Warnings: Mild language, Gay panic, Slight panic attack

Thank you to @kuroyurishion for helping me with this chapter. Please enjoy the story. 

Chapter Three: Logan, Remus, Remy, and Roman

Virgil’s POV

I compared schedules with Dee and found out we had most classes together. The morning was split into three classes, then lunch, and then another three classes. In the morning I had Math, Science, and History. In the afternoon, I had a Study Hall, English, and then Art. I shared most classes with Dee except for Science, History, and Art. Dee was taking Psychology as his science while I took Anatomy. As for History, Dee was taking Public Speaking as his course. And when I had Art, Dee had Study Hall. I quickly packed my things and stood up before I heard the bell ring.

“C’mon shortstack, I’ll walk you to your next class. Mine is in the same direction.” Dee said, walking out of the classroom. The two of us walked down the hall, talking about how the school works, before stopping in front of what looked like a science lab. “Here you go shortstack.” Dee said, waving goodbye as he walked to his class. Taking a deep breath, I walked into the classroom. 

The science teacher looked a lot nicer than the math teacher. He smiled at me and gestured to his desk. “Welcome to science class Mr. Sullivan!” he exclaimed politely. “I’m Mr. Williams and I’ll be your Anatomy teacher this year. I understand that you took both Biology and Chemistry in your old school, correct?” he asked. I nodded to his questions. “Wonderful. I told everybody about you coming here last week, and the class is ready to make you comfortable. Here, take your textbook and syllabus. Your seat is in the back of class.” He smiled apologetically at that last statement. I gave him a brief smile and a nod of thanks before taking my seat and taking out my things. I doodled in my notebook while waiting. 

The rest of the class shuffled in, some of them looking in my direction curiously. I didn’t look up from my doodles until I heard Mr. Williams got out of his seat after taking attendance. I snapped my head up. I like science class better than math because at least there’s an explanation for something. And anatomy is pretty cool too, which is a bonus.

“Alright class, today we will continue our study of the human body by looking at the human body’s cells. Now, who can tell me what the study of cells is called?” No one in the class answered Mr. Williams right away. I racked my brain for the answer. It was definitely something I learned in freshman year at my old school.

‘Cytology.’ I thought to myself, going to raise my hand, but I stopped. Should I actually raise my hand and answer? What if I get the question wrong? Will everyone laugh at me? Oh god, Mr. Williams seems like a pretty nice guy, so if I answer wrong and he’s disappointed in me, he’s gonna see that I’m such a dumbass. My thoughts were spiraling until I hear Mr. Williams call on someone. 

“Cytology is the scientific study of cells. Cytology is mainly used to screen for cancer or other diagnosis.” a cool voice answered. I looked over to see who answered. It was a boy about my age. He had dark brown hair and matching eyes and wore glasses. He wore a black polo and dark washed jeans with a dark blue tie and black shoes. He looked stoic and dedicated to his work. I cursed. 

‘Oh of course I get to sit next to a nerd. He’s a hot nerd, but- ok, Virgil let’s stop these thoughts right now before you have a gay panic.’ I thought to myself, fighting the blush that was appearing on my face. I quickly turned my head so he wouldn’t notice me staring at him. The class continued like that. Mr. Williams would lecture and ask questions, Mr. Owens answers, and I get to stare at my neighbor while also taking notes. I just hoped and prayed to whatever cryptid out there that he didn’t notice me. Those prayers didn’t work.

Why? Because Mr. Williams let us have the last five minutes of class to ourselves with our only homework will be to study the lesson we had today. Quickly, I put my books away and buried my head in my arms, groaning quietly. I needed to breathe, so I turned my head. I saw Mr. Owens reading a book, and with the sunlight streaming through the window, he looked even better than before. I froze. ‘Nope, not happening. I’m not gonna have a gay panic over this one.’ I thought desperately. I didn’t notice I was still staring at my seatmate until he turned and looked at me curiously. He smirked, like he knew I was sneaking glances at him, and winked. 

He winked. At me. 

When the bell rang, I gathered my things and bolted out of the classroom and tried to find my next class. 

***

I had lunch with Dee. I walked into the bustling cafeteria, scanning for my one and only friend. He spotted me first and waved me over, and I walked toward him and his table and sat down next to him. 

“Hey there short stack.” Dee greeted me fondly. “How were your morning classes?” I gave him a groan in response and he laughed at me. How dare he. “Lift your head up, short stack, I want you to meet some people.” I groan again but comply. Dee smirks and it’s now I notice there were two other teens at the table. One of them was wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses, even though we were inside, and sipping a Starbucks coffee. The other had messy brown hair and wore a green shirt and black pants. 

“‘Sup babe.” the teen wearing the leather jacket teased. “The name’s Remy Anderson.” I blushed lightly at his teasing

“And I’m Remus King!” the other teen piped up. He took his fork and started poking Dee with it. “And who’s this little one?”

“My name is Virgil Sullivan. I just moved here.” I introduced myself, then I glared at Remus. “And I’m not little.” This caused Remus to cackle out loud, drawing other people’s attention to us. I lowered my head instinctively.

“Holy shit Double Dee.” Remus breathed. “I like him already!”

“He is kinda cute, isn’t he.” Remy mused, sipping his drink. 

The rest of lunch passed with us bantering and eating. I felt comfortable with these guys. They seemed cool, and we all have some things in common. We exchanged numbers before the lunch bell rang. Maybe this school will be different from the others.

***

Everything went smoothly until after study hall. I thought I could get through the end of the day without any more issues. I was wrong. So very wrong. Study hall was spent by doing homework while listening to music and doodling in my notebook. Mostly, it was me daydreaming about the people I met. After study hall, I gathered my books in my arms and was out of the room and into the hallway. 

I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings, so I accidentally bump into someone, knocking my books to the ground. The other person and I both groaned and I kneeled to pick up my things. This was embarrassing. The other quickly joined on the floor, helping me. 

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Il said shyly. He was a mess today. 

“Ah, no, don’t apologize. I should apologize because I bumped into you.” the other person said quickly. The two worked to gather all of Virgil’s books and stood up. It wasn’t until l put my books in my bag that I realized the other teen was staring at my sketchbook with wide eyes. He kept staring at the sketchbook while I stared at him. The other teen looked very handsome. He looked like Remus, but his attire was more refined and cleaner. He wore a red shirt and blue jeans with matching red converse. He had dark brown eyes and slightly tanned skin. 

‘Oh no. I think I’m gonna panic because of this one.’ I thought helplessly. He looked over with me with a wide smile. 

“These drawings are really good!” he complemented, holding out my book. I squeaked out my thanks before taking my sketchbook and dashing away. My breathing was getting heavy and I could feel the heat on my face. I could feel people looking at me and whispering. I raced towards the bathroom and leaned over the edge of the sink. Thank goodness no one was there to see me panic. I leaned against the wall and slid down, pulling my knees to my chest. I took a deep breath in, trying to calm down, but I couldn’t. I buried my head in between my knees.

I didn’t hear the bathroom door open, so I didn’t notice another person standing there until they called out to me. 

“Are you alright?” I heard a familiar voice asked. It was Mr. Owens from  Anatomy class. “May I touch you?”

I nodded my consent and I felt two hands gently grasp my hands. “You need to breathe for me Virgil.” he said. “Follow my breathing.” And I did. I followed his rhythmic breathing. In for four counts, holding it for seven counts, and then exhaling for eight counts. We did this repeatedly until I was ok, picking my head up from my knees. “Good job Virgil.” he said, helping me up. 

“Thank you.” I said gratefully, my heart hammering in my chest. “You’re the guy in my science class. I never got your name.” . 

“Ah. my apologies. My name is Logan Owens, pleasure to meet you.” he replied. “And I would shake your hand, but…” I followed his gaze to where he held my hand. I gasped and went to remove my hand and apologize, but he held on when I tried to let go. He smirked at me and squeezed them reassuringly. 

“No, no, it’s fine. I just wanna make sure you’re not going to panic again.” he said. He pulled me out of the bathroom, still holding my hand. “You have English class next, yes? You’re new here, so I’ll take you there. 

‘No. no, you stupid hot nerd, you’re going to be the reason I’ll be in a panic again.’ I thought. Thankfully, the hallways were nearly empty when we got out, so no one really was paying us any attention. He led me all the way to English class. Before he left for his own class, he squeezed my hand one last time. “Have fun in there, short stuff.” He left me gaping. 

English class went the same way as Science did. She explained that her English class will be more interactive because she enjoys making students partner up and do projects. She gave me a textbook and syllabus and pointed to my desk right near the window. I sat down and watched the students walk in, including the handsome teen that bumped into me. He dramatically greeted the teacher, who’s name was Mrs. Davis, and everybody else in class. Then he noticed me and his smile somehow became brighter. 

‘Oh god, please don’t let your desk be next to mine.’ I prayed desperately. Again, my prayers were not answered as he plopped down in the desk next to mine. 

“It’s you! The one with the pretty sketchbook!” he exclaimed loudly. 

“Keep your voice down.” I whisper to him. I didn’t want to have any attention on me. “I’m Virgil Sullivan.”

The teen smiled apologetically. “I’m Roman King!” he stage whispered. “It’s a pleasure to finally introduce myself to you.” 

I opened my mouth to say more, but Mrs. Davis quieted the class and began her lesson. She said the class will start their first book of the year, and today would be an introductory day for it. She passed out papers about The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and advised us to look over them tonight. Then she concluded her lesson and let us have ten minutes of free time. Roman turned to me. 

“So, tell me gatito, what do you have after this class?” he asked innocently. Oh of course the handsome boy next to me can speak a different language. Of course. 

“Art.” I managed out, blushing when he smiled. 

“Are you gonna show off your pretty drawings to the teacher? I think he’ll be impressed once he sees them.” 

I pursed my lips as I looked at my closed sketchbook. “You think so? My art really isn’t pretty.”

Roman gasped. “How dare you say that about your art! Your art is absolutely beautiful. Magnificent! Stunning!” he rambled, complimenting my artwork as I stared at him in disbelief. No one has ever complimented my art before. People always said it was weird and not creative. The bell rang when Roman was still talking. “I’ll see you later, gatito, ok? Get to class safely.” he teased. I didn’t need to be told twice. I waved him a goodbye and went to my last class.

As I walked into Art I was greeted by Patton, who was happily smiling. He grabbed my hand and brought me over to a man who I’m guessing was the teacher. “Hello, I’m Mr. Moore. You must be Virgil.” He smiled softly, I nodded and he told me about what we would be doing in art and told me I could sit wherever I would like. Patton, who was still holding my hand, brought me over to one of the desks and we sat down, and after a few minutes the rest of the class had come in and we started on the lesson. Mr. Moore had decided to give us an easy day and let us sketch whatever we wanted to, as long as it had some sort of meaning behind it. Patton and I started talking about random things and I looked over to see small puppies and kittens scattered on Patton’s page as he talked with me. 

“Um, Pat you do know that it’s supposed to have meaning behind it right?” He looked back with an ‘Oh’ sort of expression.

“They do have meaning! Well, sort of… They’re just so cute I couldn’t help myself!” I giggled softly at the bubbly boy’s reaction and went back to my drawing. “So what are you drawing Virge?” Patton peaked over my shoulder trying to see my drawing and I pulled it off to the side in embarrassment. 

“Please? I won’t judge you or anything!” He pouted giving me the cutest pair puppy dog eyes. After a minute or so I moved my arms away so he could see, Dang those puppy dog eyes! “Ooh Is that a raven?! It’s beautiful Kiddo!” I nodded and blushed in response. “Aw, you're such a Lil cutie pie!” 

‘Ahhhhh! Pat, not you too!’ I mentally screamed. I felt my face heat up for what was like the umpteenth time today, This school is definitely different from my last. Maybe it’s because there are a lot of pretty and cool boys here and wow I’m a disaster. Fortunately, before I spiraled further, the bell rang. Patton and I gathered our things and walked out the door. We stopped by our lockers before walking out of school. 

“Bye kiddo! See you tomorrow!” he exclaimed and hugged me before walking off. I stood there, frozen for a couple moments before walking home in a daze. My parents weren’t home, probably because they were at their new jobs, and I was so glad they weren’t because they would have seen my blushing face and questioned me relentlessly. Taking some food with me from the cupboards upstairs to my room, I locked my door behind me and attempted to do whatever homework I had.

When it was late at night, I reflected on my first day in my bed. I made a couple new friends, and I’ve met three people who sent me into a gay panic one after another. Groaning, I turned over in my bed. Hopefully, I won’t panic when I see them tomorrow. 

Anyone wanna be in my taglist? Let me know! 

Taglist: 

@sure-i-exist

[anangelicday-mrwolf]

Wolfsbane : Noblesse Fanfic (post-ending)

(previous chapter)

Chapter 24 – 3rd Elder’s Bizarre Experience

Practice makes perfect.

Frankenstein would have thrown that in 3rd Elder’s face upon seeing the latter at work shopping for groceries, comparing products by price, details, and manufacturers before he paid the cashier.

Now the ex-elder was more than practiced; however, he was not perfect.

Partially because for the first time ever, he got to put himself against a self-checkout machine.

‘What should I do...?’

The white-haired man gulped. He could swear he did exactly what his preceding customers did, but the machine just would not let him pass on to the checkout stage.

It has been quite long since he has moved into Frankenstein’s island. With the owner of the island stuck in his lab for the majority of his time spent awake, 3rd Elder has been entrusted with getting supplies whenever needed.

Unlike before, he had plenty of time, now that he lost the title as the elder of the Union.

There were a lot of options available for him once he crosses the sea, but today he opted to visit Korea.

Among many rules Frankenstein required his consent on upon entering the island was the rule of shopping: do not consecutively visit the country or the market he has visited, lest the Union finds out what he is doing.

Which is why he was beyond bewildered to find a self-checkout machine – a modern artifact he has never seen in his previous visits.

He managed to memorize what the other customers would do, and he mimicked them accordingly, scanning each product on the small transparent surface. However, the machine simply whipped up a noise that was far from pleasant to the ears, refusing to let him actually check out.

To top it off, it was a weekend with thousands of people, and the employees were nowhere to be seen.

The 3rd Elder was sweating over his entire body, feeling how the eyes boring into his body were growing sharper and hotter, until a help arrived from someone not at all expected.

“Hey, mister!”

Yelled a little girl, making the 3rd Elder start and stare down at her.

Barely taller than his waist, a girl stuck her head out to look up into his eyes, revealing a set of teeth missing an incisor above.

“You need to put them here! Or else you can’t pay!”

She pointed towards an empty spot on the machine, her finger extremely short of a threat despite her apparent attempt at a threat.

Upon turning his eyes, 3rd Elder spotted a sign, so big and fat and obvious that he could not even fathom how in the world he missed it: Please put all your products here before check-out.

“Okay? Now be good and follow the sign!”

Her hands very proudly on her waist, the girl trotted to her mother, who was just packing her groceries at the machine right next to his.

Check-out completed so ridiculously fast, 3rd Elder’s eyes chased the girl, now far away and smaller than a dot, a feat for which he needed an effort, with the market teeming with children.

In fact, the market was teeming with more than children.

Girls and boys about to write college application essays in a year or two.

Young men and women preparing themselves for the bigger world outside lectures.

Middle-aged couples and elders.

The 3rd Elder could see a variety of age groups, which was rare considering how at the Union, whether they were agents or researchers, most employees and personnel were in their twenties and thirties, in forties at most.

Which was probably why 3rd Elder was deep into reflection – also a rare occasion – probably thanks to the fact that he has been staying away from Union.

‘If I were not part of the Union, would I be in these people’s shoes by now? Worrying about studies and job, dinner for the day, and living for tomorrow? Ordinary as hell?’

Just because the people here are not physically fighting for their lives would not mean their lives are far from fierce.

He could not feel any of the innate-slash-natural possession any Union-affiliated being would beget: razor-sharp, touch-me-if-you-dare atmosphere based on daily struggle for survival, betting on one’s own life as well as those of others, or otherworldly presence fashioned from experiments, combats, and training beyond human understanding.

And the point was that this place was full of men and women around the same age as the people of Union, which led to another reflection for the 3rd Elder.

‘My trusted, faithful followers at the Union must have had lives like these before meeting me. So if it weren’t for the Union, if it weren’t for our encounters, if it weren’t for me... Maybe they would have been happy in the ordinary world, without throwing away their lives in vain.’

Never before had he regarded his followers’ sacrifices for the sake of Union’s progress as “vain.”

But now, simply and offensively put, Union is done for.

These days he was seriously haunted by a question perhaps a bit belated: just for what had his followers thrown their lives away?

“Haa......”

He could not help sighing in the middle of the street as he exited the building, with no one’s attention on him. The passersby merely gawked at him for a second or two out of pure reflex to his sudden halt.

Which was rather odd to him as well.

Every soul at the Union would bow to him as soon as his cloak flapped in the air, but nobody was treating him with awe and distant respect, and he knew it was not simply because he was missing his elder’s cloak.

In addition to the fact that as of now he looked like a highly ordinary man, everyone was busy with themselves.

“Honey! You forgot to put socks on our baby!”

“Hey, do you mind if I copy your homework? Oh, come on! Just for one day! Be a pal and save my ass, will ya?!”

“So what’s the last item on the list, darling?”

Man or woman, young or old, everyone was occupied with their lives.

And 3rd Elder found this situation rather difficult to comprehend, for as far as he was concerned, the public’s interest on nobles has skyrocketed ever since Crombell played his mind game on the world.

Nevertheless, contrary to his knowledge, the people he was witnessing could not be less interested in nobles, Lukedonia, or non-human entities.

Not that these people would represent the entire public in the world, but at least they were too busy devoting themselves to their everyday lives.

And in their presence, 3rd Elder could feel everything he has gone through fading into tiny dust, as Union, as an elder, as a modified human.

He believed everything he had ever committed was for the sake of mankind; however, his belief was melting away as he was standing in midst of plain life so very far from body modification, wrestle against werewolves and nobles, or struggle for power to stand at the apex of the world.

Everyone was busy bustling, rustling, and being busy.

He could see how each face bore personal challenges and ordeals of life, but he could also see such things could not hinder them from fully dedicating themselves to their lives.

‘And they look happy.’

He could feel his mind growing dreamily numb in the middle of a crowd boasting the perfume of ordinariness as they weaved minute knots and ties of their ordinary lives.

And he could feel guilt.

This was not his first time ever feeling guilty, but recently his guilt has grown more dominant as his question grew.

‘What if my goal – the Union’s goal to make mankind flourish was but nothing?’

The 3rd Elder broke free from his reveries, mortified by his own thought.

And then things took a sudden flip, like a set of dominoes stroked in a flash of light.

Pow!

A boom of cacophony made everyone within 100-meters radius eject themselves from their spots, and 3rd Elder joined the others to find the source of the noise.

He could find a car entering the parking lot dangerously shaking to the side, leaving angry skid marks on the road with one of its tires burst.

There was a good chance its driver forgot the very basic rule of driving: never speed in the parking lot. Which was why everyone could feel threat for their lives just by watching the said car.

“Aack!”

“Everybody, run!”

People were making themselves scarce, looking for a safe place; meanwhile, the car with a flat tire was rushing towards a child and her mom.

And the 3rd Elder recognized the child – his little lifesaver at the self-checkout machine.

‘No...!’

Without wasting even a split second, he focused his gaze on the mother and the girl, and his eye long sealed away blinked with life.

I am about to push a pair of eggs onto the floor, and I must save them without breaking them.

Telling himself to be extra-careful, he pushed the girl and her mother to a nearby bush with his power. And he could not hesitate to find out if they were safe, for he had to stop the car as well.

Screech!

Glaring into the car that was stampede-rolling into his direction, 3rd Elder concentrated his power on the mold of metal, as if pushing the thing into a stop.

To his relief, his effort was reciprocated in a good way.

“Someone call 911!”

“Are you alright, sweetheart?”

“Are they out of their goddamn mind? This is a parking lot, for Christ’s sake!”

The voices told him the girl and her mother were safe, except for a few scratches they could not avoid.

The driver looked unscathed as well, apart from the fact that his driving record would not remain so.

‘Thank god... Oh, THANK GOD.’

The 3rd Elder had never been more grateful in his life, his shoulders and chest heaving and slouching in a huge sigh.

Once he saw things settling down, he finally took his leave.

But he could not fancy where he was headed; his legs were uncontrolled, his mind disconnected from his body.

This was the very first time he used his power for the purpose of protection, with no return on his side.

It was a bizarre experience, but it did not feel so bad.

However, such small delight did not last long.

‘What the...?’

He did not classify himself as a combatant elder.

Of course, as an elder with a one-digit number on his title, his battle competence was by no means to be underestimated. Nonetheless, his specialty was coordination of things from behind the scenes.

But that did not stop him from shaping his so-called battle instincts, as one of the top fighters in Union.

And his instinct just signaled him he had someone trailing him.

Scurrying around a dozen corners to find a place with no eyes or ears, 3rd Elder at last turned around once he made it to an empty alley, before he immediately stiffened.

“You...?!”

(next chapter)

This is personally one of my favorite chapters for this fic. Years ago, I once read an interview featuring authors of Noblesse, and they said they wanted to show how precious is the ordinary life we are born with. I don’t remember anything else from the interview, but that comment remains vivid in my head. So through this chapter I wanted to shed some light on the ordinary life in 3rd Elder’s point of view. Of course, it was a challenge writing this chapter, but it was definitely worth it. XD

[fallen-imagine-angel]

Birthday Boy - Peter Parker x Reader

Notes: It’s technically two hours late for me but don’t @ me because today was too busy lol. Anyway, here’s Peter’s birthday one-shot because I love him with all of my heart even though it’s a little late. Please reblog/comment/like, thank you! xoxo

Summary: Peter thinks everyone has forgotten his birthday.

Birthday Boy

Peter Parker x Reader

Requested?: Nope

Word Count: 2,494

Warnings: None? A tiny bit of angst but not bad. a lot of fluff though. cute stuff.

A buzzing on his bedside table wakes Peter up in the dead of night. He groggily reaches over and turns his phone to face him, seeing your name pop up on his screen. A small smile makes its way onto his face as he reads the time.

12:13

“Hey, (Y/n). What’s up?” Peter yawns into the phone.

“Hey, Pete. Have you gotten any school supplies yet? I just remembered my mom wanted me to ask you because you’re, like, the most prepared guy that I know. Especially when it comes to school.” Your voice rings into his ears. His smile drops.

“That’s what you called for at midnight?” He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as he lays on his back, phone lazily held to his ear.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so late. I’ll call you back later, though? Oh, wait, I forgot.” You chuckle.

“Forgot?” Peter perks up, hoping you had remembered that it’s his birthday.

“We’re getting lunch today anyway, right? I’ll just let my mom know that I’ll get an answer from you then. Okay, night, Pete! I’ll see you tomorrow-- err, later today!” You hang up the phone.

Peter frowns and sets the phone back on his bedside table, laying back down on his back. He stares at the ceiling for a while.

Maybe she’s just tired and forgot. She’ll remember in the morning, Peter tells himself, closing his eyes.

Yeah. She’ll remember in the morning.

~+~

The next morning, Peter wakes up with his alarm blaring in his ear. How long had it been going off?

He scrambles for the phone, seeing missed calls from both you and Ned. He calls you first.

“Where are you?” You answer, your tone impatient. He checks the time.

Noon.

“Oh, crap! I overslept!” He jumps out of bed and gets into the nearest science pun t-shirt and jeans.

“No, duh. Get over here soon, I’ll order your favorite.” You hang up, clearly a little agitated at him. He doesn’t blame you.

“Gotta go, May! Bye!” Peter calls out to his aunt as he gives her a quick peck on the cheek before running out the door.

He runs to the Delmar’s Deli-Grocery down the street, seeing you already outside with two sandwiches in your hands. He sheepishly slows down in front of you and takes one as the two of you find a table to sit at.

“You’re late.” You point out, one brow arched.

“I overslept.” He states again. You frown.

“You already said that. Are you okay? Like, mentally?” You chuckle, taking a bite of your sandwich.

“Yeah, of course, I am. But, I mean, I get to be a little crazy today, right?” He grins at you. You furrow your brows.

“What’s today?” You ask, setting down your sandwich in confusion.

“You-- you seriously don’t know what today is?” He asks, a look of hurt running over his face.

How could you forget his birthday?

“Uh, no? Am I supposed to?” You ask, eyes scanning his face for any clue of what he’s talking about.

“N-No, no, today is-- it’s nothing. Forget I mentioned it.” He mumbles, looking down at his hands. You shrug.

“Okay, weirdo. Wanna go for a walk?” You ask, giving him a cheesy grin as you finish up your sandwich.

“I think I’m good. I’m kinda feeling a little sick, so I’m just gonna...take a nap.” He stutters for an excuse, looking anywhere but at you.

“Okay...oh, and have you gotten school supplies? And if so, what all do you have already? My mom won’t stop nagging me about it.” You chuckle. 

“I haven’t bought any yet. I was going to some time this week.” Peter shrugs, getting up abruptly.

“Oh...okay. Um, I’ll see you later tonight for movie night, right?” You ask, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a light pat.

“Uh, maybe. We’ll see how I’m feeling.” He shrugs your hand off and turns away, walking off. You frown.

~+~

Once Peter gets home, he calls Ned.

“Dude, (Y/n) was calling me saying that you were late for lunch. You good?” Ned asks. Peter sighs.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I just overslept. And I’m really upset. I mean, can you believe that (Y/n) didn’t know what today is?” Peter scoffs, flopping onto his bed as the phone is pressed against his ear.

“What?” Ned asks.

“Yeah, I know, right? It was crazy! I kept trying to drop hints that today was special but--”

“Peter, why’s today special? It’s just Saturday. Oh, no. Did you hit your head this morning?” Ned asks. Peter goes silent.

“What’s today’s date?” He asks quietly.

“August tenth, why?” Ned responds immediately.

“You...are you kidding me? You, too?” Peter murmurs, disbelief and hurt evident in every bone in his body. How could both of his best friends forget his birthday?

“Me, too, what? Peter, you’re scaring me. Did (Y/n) hit you? Do you have a concussion?” Ned asks, obviously concerned.

“No, I’m just feeling sick,” Peter lies, “I think I’m gonna take a nap.”

“Okay, yeah, you do that. See you at movie night.” Ned hangs up.

Peter stares at the ceiling, shocked and confused by everything happening today. He was born on August tenth, right? Of course, he was. So why is nobody else acting like it’s his birthday?

He dials MJ’s number. The phone rings.

And rings.

And rings.

No answer, it goes straight to voicemail.

“Hey, this is MJ. If you’re my friend, and you guys know who you are, leave a message after the tone. If you aren’t, why are you calling me?” --BEEP--

“Hey, MJ! I just wanted to ask you if you know what today is? Thanks, see you later.” He leaves the voicemail, setting his phone down afterward. He stares at the ceiling, contemplating life for a couple more minutes before he decides that he knows who will know his birthday.

May and Tony.

“Aunt May!” Peter calls out, walking into the kitchen. She’s gone. Instead, there’s a small sticky note left on the counter. He checks it.

Out with Happy, be back later tonight. Have fun! (P.S. Not too much fun) I larb you!

Peter’s face falls. If she had known it was his birthday, she wouldn’t leave him alone all day.

Why is everyone acting so weird?

Tony. Peter gets in his suit and swings to the compound, right into Tony’s lab.

“Mr. Stark!” Peter launches himself in through the window, landing on his feet. Tony turns to look at his intern.

“Oh, hey, kid. What’s up?” He asks, finishing a few touches on his own suit. Peter grins.

“What’s today?” Peter asks confidently, putting his hands on his hips.

“Uh, me and Pepper’s anniversary?” Tony asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Holy crap-- really?” Peter’s eyes go wide. Tony deadpans.

“No, not really. Today’s August tenth, kid. What’s with August tenth?” Tony furrows his brows. 

“Well-- it’s nothing…” Peter trails off, sighing. If no one remembers his birthday, then what’s the point?

“Then let’s get to work. No more wasting time, we’ve got suit upgrades to build.” Tony claps Peter on the back, handing him some tools.

“Right...got it.” He begrudgingly gets to work, although anyone could see that he’s sad.

He’s seventeen and no one knows except himself.

~+~

After a few hours of working with Tony, his phone buzzes. Peter answers it and sets the phone between his shoulder and ear as he continues to work.

“Pete?” Your voice rings through his ears, immediately bringing a smile to his face. You tend to have that effect on him.

However, after remembering today’s events, the smile drops.

“Hey, what’s up?” He asks, voice dull.

“Are you coming over for movie night? Ned’s already here and we have the living room set up.” You tell him, and he can already tell that you’re biting your lip. It’s a nervous habit of yours.

“I mean...I dunno, maybe? We’ll see--”

“Please, Peter? We’re playing your favorite. Star Wars! You can’t miss Star Wars.” You complain, backing Peter into a corner. One, he hates disappointing you. Two, he does love Star Wars.

“Okay, fine. I’ll be over in a few.” He groans, setting down his tools and picking up his phone from off his shoulder.

“Girlfriend?” Tony mouths, wiggling his eyebrows at Peter. Peter waves a dismissive hand at him, although his bright red cheeks tell Tony otherwise.

“Great! I’ll see you in a few minutes, hero.” You chuckle and hang up, sending another smile to Peter’s face. He loves it when you call him hero. His favorite is when you call him your hero.

“Movie Night with your girlfriend again?” Tony hums, looking up at Peter. Peter nods, not willing to fight the subject right now.

“Yeah. I gotta go. I’ll be back tomorrow, though, okay?” He points a finger at Tony. Tony nods.

“I’ll be here. I always am.” He jokes, sending Peter off on his way. Peter swings toward your apartment, landing in the alleyway next to it about fifteen minutes later. He exchanges the suit for comfortable clothes as he strolls into your apartment building.

He knocks on your door and you answer, cracking it open slightly.

“Oh, hey, Pete! Glad you could make it!” You open the door wider, a large smile on your face.

“Surprise!” A group of people screams at him as the door swings open to reveal all of Peter’s friends and family.

“W-What? What’s this?” Peter’s eyes go wide.

“It’s a surprise party, duh!” You grin at him.

“A surprise-- for me?” He asks, pointing at himself.

“No, it’s actually for (Y/n)’s birthday.” MJ rolls her eyes, crossing her arms.

“Yeah, sorry, Peter. It’s for my birthday on August tenth.” You chuckle, pulling him inside and shutting the door behind him. May, Tony, Happy, Ned, MJ, and you are all standing there, wide smiles on your faces as you look at Peter.

“Thank you, guys. I...I thought you all forgot about my birthday.” He admits, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. 

“You seriously thought that every single one of us forgot your birthday?” You give him a skeptical look. He nods shyly.

“Maybe you are crazy. Anyway, go make your rounds,” You drop your voice to where only Peter can hear you, “and afterward meet me on the fire escape. I’ve got a special present for you.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Peter grins at you, going to say hi to Tony, Ned, MJ, May, and Happy. You slip out onto the fire escape and wait, a little velvet box sitting in your hands.

After a few minutes, Peter steps out onto the fire escape and sits down across from you.

“So, I have a present for you. Tony and I worked really hard together to make this.” You shove your hands, with the box, toward him. He takes is gingerly and opens it.

“Oh, this is so cool! It’s like a little spider!” Peter pulls out the necklace with his spider emblem as the charm.

“Yeah! It’s a necklace that can help you with--”

“I’m going to wear it all the time, (Y/n)! It’s the cutest thing. Although, I don’t know why Tony had to help you with thi--”

“Hey, guys! I was wondering if--” Ned pokes his head out the window, and both you and Peter turn to look at him.

“Not now, Ned.” You and Peter say in unison. Ned looks at the necklace and the box, knowing that you’re giving Peter his gift.

“Oh-- got it. Sorry, I’ll come back out in a few.” He winks at you and Peter before going back inside. You giggle.

“Anyway, what were you saying?” Peter turns back to you.

“I was saying that it’s not just a normal necklace. It’ll help you with your spider duties.” You tell him, leaning forward to look at the necklace.

“How so?” His brows furrow. You reach for the necklace, fingers hovering over where it lays on his upper sternum. You look up and realize how close your faces are, lips hovering a mere couple inches apart. You gulp deeply.

“Like...this.” You press the necklace twice and the suit starts to form around him. Soon enough, he’s in his suit. You don’t move from your spot, still only a couple inches away from his face.

You reach up and take the bottom of the mask, rolling it up to his nose. You take a deep breath as you see the eyes on the suit narrow. You stare at his lips. They’re right in front of you.

“Is this okay?” You whisper, looking up to the eyes on his suit. He nods. Without even thinking, you press your lips to his, hands slipping under the mask to cup his cheeks as the kiss intensifies.

Peter pulls the rest of his mask off with the hand that isn’t in your hair. He tosses it to the side and sets a hand on your hip, moving closer to you. He’s waited for this for so long.

So have you.

“Hey, guys, the rest of-- oh my--”

“Ned!” You and Peter stop what you’re doing and turn to face Ned who has once again peeked out of the window.

“I’m so sorry, I just--”

“Get out, dude! We’ll be in the living room in a minute!” Peter gives Ned the ‘seriously!?’ look. You giggle, but your cheeks are heated from embarrassment.

“Okay, okay! I’m going! I’ll tell May and Tony that--”

“No!” You and Peter jump up, running back into your room from the fire escape. Ned grins.

“See you guys in the living room in a second. I won’t tell if you don’t take longer than two minutes.” He smirks, giving you a knowing look. You groan.

“Fine, we’ll be there soon, just give us a second.” You blush furiously. Ned laughs.

“I was mostly kidding. We do need to get on with our movie marathon, but it’s whatever.” Ned shrugs, turning around and walking out.

“Now...where were we?” Peter asks, turning you back to face him. You bite your lip.

“I believe we were just going to the living room….”

“(Y/n),” Peter whines, hands gripping your waist.

“It’s your birthday, Peter,” you peck his lips, “there will be plenty more where that came from, we just need to do it when it’s not your birthday that you’re supposed to be spending with everyone.”

“Fine.” He pouts, giving you another short kiss. You giggle, holding his hand as the two of you walk out into the living room. Ned starts the movie, smirking at you guys. You blush.

“Shut it, Leeds.” You scrunch your nose at him.

“We guessed it as soon as you guys went out there.” MJ snorts, giving you an incredulous look. You give her the stink eye.

“It’s true.” Happy, Tony, and May nod. You and Peter blush and sink into the couch.

It was a good birthday after all.

--------------------------------------------------

Tag List: @witchyandkin

[a-tragedy-told-in-metals]

A Tragedy Told In Metals: Copper & Arsenic

Chapter: 1 link AO3

Playlist (Youtube) Playlist (Spotify) Songs 1-3 apply to this chapter

CW: chronic illness, mild injuries, past abuse

[I’m just jumping to posting in real-time w/ my AO3]

Toni drummed her fingers on her desk watching the chemical formulas for different filaments swirling in front of her eyes. And then what she was almost positive would happen, happened: a red marker reading “failure” blinked in front of her. She dropped her sweaty head on the cool surface of her desk.

“We can keep trying,” JARVIS said.

“Yeah,” Toni muttered.

The formulas, graphs and test results continued to mock her from the screen and Toni sighed. She felt tired but grabbed the stupid chlorophyll shake and downed it. The disgusting drinks were meant to slow the poison. She was going through the motions,  pretending this wasn’t as bad as it was. Just pushing through, she wasn’t dying, absolutely not. Except she was and had been since, well, probably since forever, but this particular threat had started the day she survived. It was horribly ironic that the stupid glowing light in her chest, which had saved her life, was now slowly killing her.

That level of irony was honestly funny but she was laughed out. Now it just left a bitter taste in her mouth along with the smoothie. Toni ran her hands along the hardened veins on her chest. The brittle feeling made her feel slightly ill, but that might just be part of the constant nausea she was going through.

Toni was really only going through the motions now. She had already finished writing her will The money was split four ways between charity, Rhodey, Happy and Pepper. Stark Industries went to Pepper. Rhodey got the suits, JARVIS’s mainframe and the Bots. Happy had his choice of cars. Properties, expensive stuff she had and shares of SI would just be split between her friends. Rhodey’s family also got some shares of the company to set them up past the cash Rhodey had.

Toni had it all planned out, it wasn’t guess work. The business had to go to Pepper, she was the only one Toni trusted to not turn Stark Industries back into a weapons company. Rhodey was the only person she would trust in a million years to take care of the Bots and JARVIS with the love they deserve, and, well, he did get the suits; he was the only one who could figure out how to use them if necessary.

“Toni!” Pepper said walking into the lab, her high heels clipping along the floor.

“Yes, Pep?” Toni re-buttoned the top button on her shirt before she spun to face Pepper.

“You returned these forms to me.” Pepper brought up a form on her Stark pad.

“Yeah I did, my signature is there and everything,” Toni replied pointing at the screen

“You signed this page, and the last one but there were a bunch of signature lines between them.”

“Oh,” Toni said with a sigh.

“This is like the fifth time you've done something like this. All of your work is like you’re trying to do it in your sleep.”

“I’m really not Pepper I’m just, ya know, tired. I’ve been busy with SI, and the Iron Queen and just like sleeping and life things.”

Peppers deep suck of breath at the words ‘Iron Queen’ did not go missed by Toni who directed her eyes away from the other woman.

“Well, you can’t leave me to do everything just because you want to fly around in your metal toys. It’s your company and half-done work, late reports,  and missed meetings just aren’t fair to everyone else.”

“They aren’t toys. None of this is a game!” Toni shot back.

“Nor is your company! At least not to me, you’re the CEO and no one else is here to do your work for you anymore.”

Toni ground her teeth together as an image of the men who had run the company before filled her mind for a moment. She breathed out, steadying the immediate way her hands shook just thinking about them.

“I know that, okay? I do.”

Pepper sat heavily into the couch and looked to the side, her fingers resting on her lips. She shook her head softly, “I know you’ve been through a lot lately and all. But I’m being the CEO right now.”

A switched flipped into Toni’s head. Why not make Pepper CEO? It was her plan after she died anyway.  Toni looked up, “Why aren’t you?”

“What?”

Toni stood up, she grabbed a long piece of scrap metal from her table.

“Ta’ da you’re the new Stark Industries CEO” Toni mimed knighting her.

“Haha, this is important Toni,” Pepper said sliding the scrap from her shoulder.

“I thought we established we weren’t joking tonight.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deathly.”

“Well umm, I think we should have the actual paperwork done up.”

“Sure, yeah, we can do that.” Toni nodded.

“Toni,” Pepper said in that “I’m about to say or ask you something you don’t want to answer” tone of voice.

“Yeah?” Toni replied exhausted

“I’m still going to need you to do some work though. You still own Stark Industries, and I assume you will want to continue working on product development.”

“Yeah, I know that. But now you don’t have to do two jobs anymore. You’re the only person I would ever trust with SI anyway. You’re better for the job anyway; you have the degree, the attention span and people skills.”

“Thanks, Toni. Can you still sign this though?” Pepper pointed to the tablet on the table.

“Sure, right.”

~~~~~

Toni was laying on her couch with ice on her knee, shoulder and head all at once. A particularly bad day of “Iron-Queening” had left her feeling really banged up. Everything hurt, but Toni almost didn’t mind. She was used to being in pain and destroying the Stark weapons cache was something worth getting hurt for anyway. Plus, she actually remembered how she got these injuries, which was cool.

“Ms. Toni, Ms. Potts  and an unknown woman are at the door.”

“She armed or suspicious or anything?” Toni said sitting up slowly.

“Not on first scan.”

“Alright let them in.”

Toni sat all the way up and kicked an empty beer bottle under the couch and blinked till her vision cleared up. Pepper was trailed by a woman around her age with bright red hair and light skin.

“Toni, how are you?” Pepper asked.

“Peachy, all these ice packs are for fun!” Toni snarked.

Pepper sighed and rolled her eyes, “JARVIS and the legal department drew up the papers to change Stark industry’s CEO.”

“That's good, but who is she?” Toni pointed to the new lady.

“This is Natalie Rushman. She is going to be your new PA.”

“You're CEO shouldn’t you have one?”

“Oh I will I’m still looking for one suitable. I think you need one or you will never get anything done on time.”

“Hey, JARVIS reminds me of stuff.”

“JARVIS is soft on you.”

“No, he’s not.”

“Yes he is. He's almost as bad as Rhodey.”

Toni sighed.

Natalie walked forward and tried to hand Toni what she assumed were the papers from the legal team. But even if she rationally knew what it was she still flinched back.

“I don’t like being handed things.” Toni explained, “Can you put it on the table?”

“Oh. Yes ma'am,” Natalie said placing it down.

“Oh yuck, just call me Toni. We’re like the same age.” Toni leaned forward and signed the papers, and smiled at Pepper. “Now you're the boss.”

“I’m the boss?” She said returning Toni’s smile, which much to Toni’s annoyance made her stomach swoop. Apparently, that crush she had was not going away and it was really frustrating.

“Yup. Can you stay for dinner?”

“What are you ordering?”

“Actually I’m trying to learn to cook. So I'll make some Pasta. Apparently, cooking is a good skill to reintegrate into life, connecting with the body something, something.” Toni waved her hand as she walked stiffly into the kitchen.

“JARVIS better make sure you don’t burn the water,” Pepper said

Toni shook her head. It was quick work to make spaghetti, not something hard to do. Having Pepper with her made it more enjoyable, though. While Toni was working on making the pasta, she watched Natalie from the corner of her eyes. Something was off with her. Even with a permanently distracted state of mind, Toni could clock signs of Natalie not being what she seemed.

She was really stiff, unnaturally, so. Most people would be really fidgety when in a new place. She didn’t look uncomfortable, per se, and she wasn't so comfortable that it seemed like she had no emotions at all. Natalie just seemed...chill. Toni decided to test Natalie. Was it nice? Probably not, but she needed to figure out what was going on.

“So, Natalie, where are you from?” Toni asked.

“Ashland Oregon.”

“I’ve only been to Portland. Do you have any siblings?”

“No, I’m an only child like you. I’m not really close to my family.”

“That sucks. But friends are so much better than family, if your family’s shit.”

“I just moved here so I’m not close with anyone yet.”

“Well this is kind of a crazy place to meet people but the parties are still really fun.”

“Ah, partying hasn’t been my thing recently.”

“Recently? So was there a time it was?”

“Well, I had a bit of wild stage in high school and college. But I got my head back on straight at the end of college. I had to make sure to get good enough grades in class to get a job like this. ”

“What was your poison of choice?”

“Rum, weed the usual stuff”

Toni traced her eyes over Natalie, there hadn’t been enough pause, hadn’t been enough shame. She did smile, though, and lean into the table. Gave Toni a bright smile. It was charming, and she was for sure hot, but Toni knew fake people, had lived with them.

After eating Toni sucked in a large breath. It was time to enact the next part of her plan.

“Hey, can I show you something in the lab?” Toni asked.

“Sure. Visiting the lab is always a mix of cool and a disaster” Pepper said, turning to Natalie who shrugged and slid off the chair.

Down in the lab, Toni sat in her chair glanced behind her. Both women were watching her expectantly. Toni clicked on the keyboard and the design for her next Stark Pad came up.

“In between my Iron Queen life and having to go to your meetings I actually finished this design.” Pepper walked forward and slid through the specs on the screen. While Pepper was looking away, Toni kicked her foot under the table and caused a pile of stacked up raw material and tools crash to the ground. Pepper jumped and yelped like any normal person should. Toni watched Natalie closely as the redhead also quietly jumped, and then quickly assumed a fighting stance. Natalie’s eyes snapped around the whole room, not to the site of the crash.  Yeah, she wasn’t someone ex-party girl PA.

Great, someone was in her house who was lying to her about, well, maybe about everything. Why did people keep making her life so fucking complicated?

[strangerivy]

Let The Rain Fall - Two

Summary: After an interesting and eventful first day at school, Elena returns home and decides to explore the woods behind her house. But she doesn’t know just how dangerous those woods can be and what is lurking in them Warnings: None in this chapter, some anxiety attacks throughout the series Pairings: Jasper  x OC (Elena)  Genre: 17+ | Fluff Word Count: 3084 Author’s Note: Let me know what you think! I am always open to feedback to better my writing ♥  

Links: || One | Two | Three || Masterlist ||

My house was only a 20-minute drive from the school. I was pulling up our driveway noticing my mom’s car was still there. I parked my car next to hers and got out going up to the house. It was a small two-bedroom two bath house, perfect for just the two of us.

I could hear she was on the phone, I stopped at the front door trying to listen to the conversation. Yelling. No, Screaming. It’s dad. I opened the door loudly shutting it, so she knew I was back. She poked her head out of the kitchen giving me a small wave hello.

"I don't want to hear it, Tom! She doesn't want to speak to you!" She yelled into the phone going back into the kitchen. I sighed walking down the hall going into my room. I was still unpacking so most of my stuff was still in boxes scattered around the room.

When I moved into the room it was painted this light mossy green, my mother offered to paint it, but I told her it was fine. It fit with my stuff well enough. I dropped my backpack off by the door shutting the door leaning against it. I silently thanked my mom for not making me talk to him.

After I found out why my parents were getting divorced, I wanted nothing to do with him. My dad had always been an ass especially as he got higher up in the business world but never did I think he would cheat on my mother.

I pushed myself off the door grabbing one of my boxes off the floor labeled hiking. The rain was more of a mist now so going outside wouldn't be too bad. I grabbed my boots and rain jacket out of the box putting them on by the front door.

"Mom, I'm going for a walk!" I yelled before exiting the house. I walked to the back of the house admiring the thick forest. Behind our house was the national forest which was convenient for someone who likes to be outdoors. There was a small trail going into it that I followed. It was quiet in the woods and everything was so green. Almost too green.

"Well, it’s not called the evergreen state for nothing," I joked with myself. The ground was mushy and wet, but my boots were keeping my feet relatively dry. I don't know how long I walked for, but I was deep into the woods now not even able to hear cars drive by on the road. I looked up towards the sky and noticed through the small gaps in the trees it was starting to get dark. I decided now would be a good time to turn around and back to the house but then I heard a branch break. I stopped my eyes widening; panic starting to rush through me, my heart began to beat faster. When I was looking into the area before we moved just to see what was around here, I had come across some articles regarding animal attacks and two of those attacks being fatal.

I looked in front of me scanning the tree line. Nothing. I gulped letting out a breath trying to calm my breathing as best as I could, I turned around slowly trying to make as little noise as possible and looked. Nothing.

"Okay... it was probably just a deer. Just. A. Deer." I whispered trying to calm myself down. I looked back up and that's when I saw it. Two yellow eyes maybe twenty feet to my left. I stopped breathing the hairs on my arms beginning to stand up as I stared directly at the eyes and them back at me. It was panting heavily and whatever it was it looked mean and tall. Like HUGE. That's when I heard the howling breaking my stare to look around me not sure where the howl came from because it didn’t sound like it came from where the eyes were. I looked back at where the eyes were to now see nothing.

All those things I read in articles on what not to do when in this situation, went right out the window and I did the one thing you don't do; I ran. I ran as fast as I could hearing its paws hit the ground behind me Shit. Shit. Shit.

"Agh!" I cried in pain as I fell to the ground my foot caught on a root that was sticking out of the ground, I quickly unhooked my foot feeling a sharp pain shoot up my leg when I moved my ankle. I sat up and listened. Too afraid to move. It should have caught up to me, but it was quiet again. I looked ahead of me and thanked God under my breath because I could see my house. I waited before pushing myself off the ground to make sure it really was quiet.

After a few minutes of silence, I decided it was gone. I hobbled my way to the front door unlocking it and walking inside slamming it shut and locking it. My mom was gone now off to work at the hospital noticing her missing car from the driveway. She was a nurse and worked nights at the local hospital. I was kind of glad because I really didn't need her hovering over my ankle.

I sat down on the couch leaning down to untie my boots to look at the damage. It was sprained. The bruise was already apparent. I cursed myself, I really didn't want to deal with this. I hobbled my way on one foot back to my room to get my brace. Sprained ankles weren't uncommon for me. I put it on and got dressed in my pajamas before getting in bed I threw one of my pillows to the end of my bed to elevate the foot.

I looked out the window and I swear I saw Jasper. I sat up and turned to turn on my lamp but when I turned back, he was gone.

"Too much. This is too much, I need sleep." I fell back onto my pillows exhausted deciding it was the adrenaline making me see things before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

 I called Bella in the morning asking for a ride to school.

"You sprained your ankle?" She was trying to hold back laughter after I explained why I needed a ride, I sighed completely embarrassed by my klutziness.

"I said I hike; I didn't say I was good at it." She laughed and said she would be right there; I sent her a text with my address. I got up from my bed and jumped in the shower before she got there. It wasn't raining today so jeans and a sweater would do fine but grabbed a rain jacket just in case the weather decided to change. I had to loosen one of my vans for my brace to fit in it. I reached into the closet grabbing my crutches I had decided to keep a few years ago from another sprain accident. 

I opened my door and peered into my mom’s room. She was asleep still in her scrubs, I smiled before grabbing her door to shut it. I heard a rumble outside, and I looked out the living room window. It was Bella in an extremely old truck. I exited the house and Bella got out to help me into the truck.

"So, " she began pulling out of the driveway "How'd you do it?" She was getting a kick out of this. I smiled looking out the window.

"I was out in the woods and ran into an animal, except..." I trailed off deciding whether to tell her about the wolf or not, I turned to face her, she would probably know more, "do you guys have wolves?" I asked, her body went kind of tense and her face seemed strained like she was trying to hide her emotion back.

"Why, did you see one?" She asked looking at me, her face looked as if she was trying to hide something, but her eyes were filled with concern.

"I think so, well I know I did." We were pulling into the parking lot now. Edward was already there, and his face too seemed worried but stern kind of like he was listening to someone speak but no one was around him. They were defiantly hiding something.

Bella parked her truck in the back of the lot and Edward came and opened the door for me offering me a hand. I took it giving a small thanks as I grabbed my crutches from the truck bed.

"Well Bella, it looks like someone might be more prone to accidents then you," Edward joked, you gave him a small push 

"Shut up, I was almost viciously eaten." I laughed, he looked over at Bella, like he was looking for confirmation from her over something that I couldn’t give. "I swear I saw a wolf last night in the woods while I was out walking, but it was, it was strange because I mean it was HUGE. Taller than any wolf I've ever seen."

"Maybe it was just a bear Elena," Bella suggested as you walked to the school, I shook my head, I know what I saw and heard. There was no doubt in my mind that it was a wolf. But what kind? There were no species of wolf that I could think of that would get that tall. Not without some sort of genetic mutation but that would have to be done in a lab it wouldn't be out in the wild.

The rest of Edwards family pulled up in a silver Jeep parking toward the front. Jasper got out of the car and looked over at me noticing the brace and crutches, he frowned. He raised his eyebrow at me as if he was asking what happen. I gave him a shy smile before going into the school grounds. I'd explain later, maybe he would believe me or give me a better idea of what it could have been.

"No, " I shook my head. The body was two thin for a bear and the howling there was more than the one I saw. Remembering the howl sent shivers down my spine, I shook them off "It was a wolf."

"Elena?" I jumped startled by the new voice; I turned my head to see Jasper was next to me. I looked at him confused. There was no way he could have gotten here that quick from his car. We were on the other side of the campus now.

"Oh, hey Jasper." Bella and Edward said bye so they could head to their class, Bella looked back at me with a grin spread across her face. I shook my head trying to ignore her "How are-"

"What happen?" He cut me off, I sighed getting ready to explain my accident again.

"Oh, just my stupidity in the woods last night" I chuckled trying not to act as nervous as I was. He was so intimidating but not in a bad way he made me want to just tell my entire story to him. My hopes, my dreams my struggles. Everything. "There was a wolf in the woods last night and I tried to run away from it and well roots," I explained lifting my foot to show my brace.

"A wolf?" His voice was concerned, and his face was stern I was a little taken back, I mean I had just met him so it was confusing as to why he would be so concerned. I was flattered though; I knew I had feelings for him, but I didn't know if I really wanted to pursue them. Yet. I shifted beginning to feel uncomfortable. 

"Umm yeah, a wolf, but uh I need to get to class so I'll see you in history, okay?" I tried to avoid eye contact with him as I began walking to my next class. I was much slower with the crutches.

I couldn't help but think about how they reacted to my injury or more my reasoning. It WAS a wolf. I was positive. Jasper was outside each of my classes today helping me with my books and backpack. It was sweet and I was grateful, moving around became extremely difficult but more importantly, it allowed us to talk more.

"You rode horses?" he asked surprised looking down at my foot. I laughed and jokingly hit his chest.

"I may be clumsy, but I can ride horses," I said as we continued to my fourth-period class. "I competed a little too, plus the horse does most of the work, I just tell it what I need it to do."

"You competed?" He was clearly intrigued, and it made me smile. 

"Not often but sometimes, it was kind of my town's thing. Horse riding. Almost everyone was involved in riding," I said as we got to my fourth class. He opened the door for me, and I waved goodbye as I entered. I looked up and Bella had this huge smile on her face she was seeing something I wasn't. I sat down next to her trying to avoid her gaze. She wanted to talk it was obvious. I wasn't used to having someone like her around. Someone to confide in. It was a new thing for me, but I was starting to like it.

"So," she was clearly giddy about me talking to Jasper, I had run into her a few times in the hall today with Jasper and every time she would give this weird cheesy grin. I didn't understand why. We were just talking but maybe it looked different from an outside perspective. Whatever it was, I didn't mind.

"So?" I looked at her questioning what she was trying to say, she shrugged as the teacher walked in, she clearly wasn't going to drop this. The nice thing about Bella is we were similar. She was just about as awkward as I was when it came to conversation. It made talking to her easier because she just understood.

"Jasper seems to have taking a liking to you," she whispered, we were watching a movie in class today. I looked over at the teacher and he was playing solitary on his computer clearly not paying attention to the class.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," I whispered back keeping my eyes on the screen. Jasper and I were just talking, I have no idea why he would take an interest in me. Especially since he was gorgeous. He could have anyone in this school and there were way betting looking girls than me. 

"Maybe you don't see it, but I do." I shook my head and continued watching the rest of the movie in silence. The bell rang and I got up from my seat, Bella handed me my crutches and we both walked out of the class to head for lunch, Jasper was waiting for me in the hall. 

"Hey Jasper, are joining us for lunch today?" Bella asked with a smile, I elbowed her trying to get her to stop.

"If that's okay with Elena?" He gestured toward me and I nodded not seeing anything wrong with that. We got to the table we sat at yesterday and I plopped down in the chair except I missed and hit the edge and hit the floor with a loud thump. Jasper was next to me instantly, I looked at him grimacing in pain, my foot hit the table leg and pain was shooting up my leg.

"Are you alright?" That voice again. He was worried, I could see it in his eyes, he was very open with his emotions. I felt a calmness run over my body again like that first day in class and the pain in my leg was barely noticeable now. 

"Um yeah, yeah I'm fine, thanks." I grabbed the edge of the table trying to lift myself back up, he offered his hand for support and I gladly took it. This was pathetic.

"Elena at this rate we're going to need to put you in a bubble." Edward joked walking up to the table grabbing my crutches out of the way of my seat and setting them down next to me. I gave him a joking smile while getting situated in my seat.

"I would just pop the bubble." He scoffed at my response before taking his seat next to Bella.

Lunch was awkward, to say the least, Jessica and Angela were clearly uncomfortable with Jasper at the table. From what I could gather, he never broke away from his siblings much. I looked over at the table with the rest and noticed the blonde was staring at me clearly pissed off. I looked over at Jasper and he was staring off lost in his own thoughts.

"Jasper?" He looked over at me hearing my voice, "Is your sister okay?" I asked gesturing over to the blonde. Edward and he scoffed. I was clearly missing something.

"Rosalie is just like that, don't pay attention to her," He mentioned pulling his attention back to the table. I heard a tray slam startling me a little, I caught myself before falling out of my chair again. I looked up noticing it was Rosalie, she was fuming. Her heels clicked echoing through the now silent cafeteria. She walked right past the table glaring before storming out of the cafeteria. The dark-haired guy from yesterday was over at Edward whispering something to him before going after Rosalie.

"Uh will you excuse us, Jasper and I have to deal with something," Edward said getting up from the table kissing Bella on the head before following the other two out. Jasper got up clearly annoyed on whatever was going on. He grabbed my hand and my cheeks were instantly on fire, I looked up at him confused about what was going on. He just gave a soft smile and squeezed my hand gently before following Edward out. I stared at my hand not sure what to think. I looked at the door they had all walk out of and over at Bella who was quietly eating her salad now. What in the world was going on in this town, or more specifically this group?