#i got two updates within a day of each other finally!!!!

[acerikus]

LOOP PLUSHIE IS ‼️‼️‼️‼️ FINALLY IN THE COUNTRY ‼️‼️‼️‼️

[professonalarttheclownfan]

Jealous

David x fem!reader

(I am obsessed with this man)

UPDATE-finally got round to editing it and making it a little better in my opinion.

You been hired as a part of the makeup team for the 3rd Terrfier having the first 2 be some of your favourite films, you were stoked beyond words.

The makeup and costuming department was a small due to a smaller budget. So you’d gotten the know the others well. It was the first day on set and you’d yet to meet any of the actors, getting the prosthetics ready, and talking through any final makeup changes with Damien.

You’d been given the golden ticket, working on the man himself, thee art the clown. Due to clashing schedules the cast read through was something you’d had to miss out on, so you really were a newbie. Having been in awe of David since Terrfier came out, getting to be so up close to him was a dream come true.

You’d come to set early to get set up and after talking with Damien, you grabbed your kit, laying out the things you needed and the order you’d use stuff in. Being able to be in the quiet was calming, your nerves were heightened, feeling like you were living in a dream. You were talented, but to be working with the likes of Damien and David had your head spinning.

A light knock pulled you out of your head, it was still slightly early but nothing major, still, the knock surprised you none the less.

“Come in” you called out, pushing your half empty kit bag on the the shelf. You hadn’t realised it was David that had knocked since you were stood with your back still facing the door.

“Thought I’d come say hey” his voice was gentle yet charming, you spun on your heels to face him, your cheeks turning up ward into a bright smile. There he was stood right there, within arms reach. You were taken aback at how truly handsome he was, you knew he was attractive from photos and panel videos but nothing like having him stand in-front of you in the flesh.

“Since you know we’re going to be spending hours a day together. Plus we never got to meet at the cast reading. I was kinda gutted you weren’t there. I love your work, especially that joker piece you did” he continued, letting out a small laugh.

“Hey! yeah, im y/n. It’s actually nice to finally meet you. I was so bummed I had to miss it. Im in shock that you know of my work! But thank you that really means alot!” You answered sticking your hand toward him, he returned the gesture. Gently placing his hand in yours and shaking it. You locked eye contact with the tall man, a blush rose to your cheeks, which in turn caused to look away.

You both clicked instantly, after light flirting and a conversation that seemed to flow like water, it was time to get him in the chair. This man was a charmer, you don’t know how you’d survive the duration of filming, you could already feel yourself gaining feelings for him.

~a couple of months into filming

You’d gotten to know David well, and he you. You two had become kind of inseparable. Finding that you both seemed to gravitate toward each other, even on days that David wasn’t filming you’d usually end up doing something together to get your and his mind off of work for a while. The early mornings and late nights you had together became the best part of the working day for both of you, although doing the makeup and taking the said makeup off was tedious, you and David got the trailer to yourselves and that time was filled with belly laughs and constant chatter between the two of you. Your feelings had developed for David, being around him so much just intensified them.

After filming finished, premiers and cons were beginning. Your name had gotten out there, you’d become as popular as the main cast especially due to all the content fans got from your and David’s outings.

~You’d been invited to a panel, along with David. You’d stood at the side of the stage. You’d never done anything like this before, your anxiety was through the roof, your knees shook as you waited shifting your weight from one foot to the other. You felt a firm squeeze on your shoulder you knew instantly who it was, David. He kept his arm over your shoulders whilst he stood beside you. As if he was magic, he could tell how nervous you were about the whole thing. You appreciated him.

“You’re gonna smash it pretty lady” he whispered to you, pulling you into a hug, he rested his chin on top of your head not letting go until he was called up onto the stage.

It was your turn, you tapped the tip of your middle finger against the pad of your thumb a habit you’d picked up to replace picking at the skin around your fingers when you got anxious, the crowd was far larger then you’d expected. You took the seat next to David, and plopped your self on the chair behind the long table.

The interviewer was pretty, no. Drop dead gorgeous. And you could tell she had eyes for David, you swallowed down the pit you had in your stomach. The flirting was obvious, she batted her lashes, pushed her arms to reveal more of her cleavage, all the text book things. You didn’t hate her, why would you? but you envied that she could probably have David right there and then if she wanted too. You were quiet on the stage, you’d usually be able to keep your anxiety in check and David picked up on this instantly, he hated seeing you struggling, he wanted to hug you, comfort you, but he couldn’t so instead he hooked his pinky finger on to yours under the table, if anything it helped calm him too.

If asked a question you’d answer and thank fans when ever they came up. You were extremely grateful and loved every single one of them, they meant you could be sat were you were today. But due to your inner turmoil you tried your best to stay composed remaining polite and appreciative but quiet. Jealousy bubbled, even though he sat there with his pinky intertwined with yours you’d convinced yourself he only viewed you as a friend, he was a charming beautiful soul, you hated being like this you were a grown adult. But with it mixed in with the shame and the embarrassment, for thinking about David romantically. Why would a man such as himself glance your way, when he was surrounded by such interesting, gorgeous women?

A fan had walked up to the mic situated in the audience, you were away with your thoughts and you hadn’t realised the fan had asked a question directed toward just you, having the majority of fans ask questions primarily for David you hadn’t realised this one was for you. You felt David unlink his pinky with yours and gently place his hand on your wrist, David gave your arm a slight stroke with his thumb to get your attention, offering you a reassuring smile whilst tilting his head ever so slightly toward the fan.

“Hey, Sorry! Could you repeat that? I didn’t quite hear” you smiled at the fan, feeling bad for not listening.

“Of course! hi I’m kay! im such a huge fan of you! So obviously me and the fans want to know what was your favourite thing to do in your down time when you weren’t working on the film? We’ve seen all the photos of your guys days out but I really wanna know!” Kay finished, it was an odd question but a sweet one at that with all the photos circulating of you and the cast hanging out, fans get curious.

“Hmm, probably just catching a film with David and sometimes other cast members every so often! Or me and David would find the BEST takeout places if we were filming in the same location for a while so we’d always get takeout then build Lego sets together. Elliot would join in when he wasn’t too busy too! Me and David also have a shared love of theatre so we’d catch shows together! Especially musicals. I think having down time when filming a project like this is highly important! being around guts and gore is so so fun but day in day out can get tiring”

The fan seemed super happy with the answer you gave, but what you did miss out was any time you spent with David was your favourite when working or not, even when the job load was stressful David made it all feel okay again.

You were desperate to get off of the stage, your emotions were starting to drain you and so was your social battery and thankfully the panel was coming to a finish,

“We want to thank the panel today! to the wonderful David and Y/n!” The lady said, the crowd erupted with applause, you thanked the crowd and left the stage. The interviewer nodded her head toward you as you walked off, you returned the gesture. Once off the stage you turned to wait for David releasing she’d swooped in to give David a goodbye hug, the hug lasted a while, and with that you walked away you needed air.

Mentally beating yourself up for ever thinking there was something special between you and him, surprised at yourself for just walking away, as you’d usually wait for David or vice versa. But you needed a breather. Being in love with this man was too much. Soon as the press and cons were over you’d have to go back to your old life anyway, a life that was a million worlds away from David’s . His new found stardom would mean, you’d soon become just another makeup artist he’s worked with. And it hurt.

You’d managed to make your way outside avoiding the large crowds of horror fans by navigating the labyrinth of corridors in the venue,“Hey, y/n wait up!” David called out to you, you hadn’t realised David was behind you, his tall frame taking large fast steps toward you making his way through the door that was propped open.

“Why’d you speed off? I saw you wait for me off stage for a sec then you vanished. I was gonna ask if you wanted to sneak off and go get coffee, luckily I’d seen you through the window” he smiled down at you once he caught up, your face was flush and red. It’s like you couldn’t even look at him, you’d made your self feel like a child with a one way crush.

“Just needed some air, big crowds, it’s all new to me.” You answered him, you both walked in sync with each other. You allowed yourself to take deep breaths, it was all abit overwhelming. From being around people you now considered family every day, to falling in love, to having to do press and premieres. To knowing it was all going to go back to how it was before again.

“Wanna sit?” He gestured toward a bench, and you obliged. You had seemed to manage to find a quiet haven away from the craziness that was just beyond a wall.

“Y/n, what’s really going on? I know you were anxious but on that stage, it’s like you’d lost your sparkle. And I know for a fact you can handle your anxiety like a badass.” he was so in tuned with people, especially yourself.

“I don’t know, I guess I was in my own head. Which I shouldn’t have been. The fans had come from far and wide. And I sat there, like an idiot” you looked toward your feet, kicking at the dry, dead leaves that lay on the floor.

“well, despite what’s going on in that head. You did well, I could tell you were struggling with something but the fact you got up there and did it anyways. I’m proud of you” he once again smiled at you, nudging you lightly with his shoulder.

“Thank you David, I’m so proud of what we’ve all created. But those crowds dude. They’re intense” you said whilst letting out a long breath,

“Y/n, wanna know something funny, the interviewer slipped her number in my pocket whilst we were leaving the stage! That’s an old school trick if I ever did see one.” He laughed, suddenly the jealousy came bubbling back in your stomach again, you gave a pathetic attempt at a laugh back trying to hide the hurt but failing miserably , you were never an actor.

“Bless her, I’m sure some horror film buff will make her happy” David said as he took the piece of paper out of his pocket and crumpled it in his fist. You looked at him,

“Your not going to text her?” You questioned, genuinely confused.

David looked at you, raising an eyebrow, “Why would I want to text another woman when I’ve got the woman I want right next to me.”

Your eyebrows knit together,

“Y/n, have you not caught on yet? You think I let just anyone paint my nails” he stated, as if the question was rhetorical.

you chuckled, genuine this time, “Yes David, because you’re so sweet if someone asked if they could paint your nails you’d let them” smiling at him, he was a man to be cherished.

“Well that’s besides the point, y/n. I am absolutely crazy about you. Silly. Head over heels or what ever you want to call it. I’m in love with you. And I need to tell you now, before you have to go back, other wise I’d never do it.”

You grabbed his arm, hooking yours onto his, relaxing into the bench and crossing your leg over the other in the process. A smile so wide slapped on your face you’d look manic to anyone walking by.

“Good, because im in love with you too. And thank god, because it means I don’t have to be jealous anymore” you smirked at him, as he turned to look at you, a grin plasters on his face too.

“Jealous nelly are we? I could tell you weren’t fond of that interviewer” he said as he leaned in, to finally kiss you.

[pedgito]

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 | Francisco Morales x reader

↝ other fics | requests? | ao3 | update blog | fic rec | ko-fi

summary | working your summer job you find yourself fawning over a boy you barely know, realizing by the end of the summer that letting go of him may not be the best idea.

content warning | young!frankie morales, reader is working in bar (if there’s some things wrong, just know i tried fjsjsj), background tf boys, phone texts, inebriated hook ups (frankie is a lil drunk but he’s okay i swear) smut out the wazoo, oral (m/f receiving, protecting p in v, hints of voyeurism, idk let me live in this dream pls

word count — 7.5k

The bar was supposed to be easy cash, a second job you picked up during the summer, between the interim of your final year of college and the beginning of your life—just some extra money to keep you afloat amongst the drowning seas of tuition debt. But, the job came with unexpected challenges—rude customers, drunk customers, (given that you worked in a bar you really couldn’t fault them) but it was the rowdy ones that really got under your skin. And you quickly learned the unspoken schedule of customers as they made their weekly round for a few drinks, some over-fried bar food, and a game of darts or pool.

Monday through Wednesday were some of your more favorite days, friendlier people who liked to visit earlier in the day before the bar got packed after sunset, some relaxed chit chat and a beer or two. They tipped very nicely, too.

Thursday was the slowest of the week, co-workers sliding in to catch a game of pool or watch some sports game on the old, ratty television tucked in the corner area of the bar, even with you squinting your eyes it was still barely visible and they almost always left the biggest messes at their table—but again, you couldn’t complain when it was only a few tables you had to scrub down.

Friday was always busy, the weekends just as bad—from open to close you were shuffling around behind the bar, in tune with your co-workers as you moved around each other. You knew some people by name and some would politely remind you—you saw about a hundred different faces every week, some were bound to slip through the cracks.

But, within your first week there, you found a particular group of boys would show up every Friday without fail—a few rounds of beers, a mountain of wings and fries and whatever else they could get their hands on, and a game or two of darts and a pool table they had just to themselves.

The charmer, Santiago, was the first to introduce himself.

A crisp hundred dollar bill slipped over in advance with a softer tone, “I’m apologizing in advance, they tend to get a little, uh, loud.” It wasn't the right word, but you smiled nonetheless, still checking the money behind the counter in case he tried to slide you a fake and mask it with a simple courtesy that wasn't shown often. Kindness. 

You start their tab, grab their orders, and within twenty minutes their voices are already booming over the rest and arguing about a stupid game of darts, three other boys crowded around Santiago as their faces are within an inch of the board, fingers pointing all over.

There is a straggler, though—a man who’s similar in age to most of the boys, late twenties maybe? He had to be close to your age or just a little older but the sodden expression on his face made him feel much older, sipping at the round of beers you had brought by as soon as Santiago headed back for the table.

They call him Catfish, whatever that means—and it seems like they all have nicknames for each other and you wanted to ask, but it didn’t seem worth it. Your Rolodex of names in your head was already bursting at its seams and Santiago was the only one you could bother to remember, especially when he’s sliding over a chunk of cash in advance rather than blowing up his tab and then scrambling to pay.

For a few weeks it’s just that. They come in, Santiago pays, and then they spend a few hours in the back of the bar arguing like boys, rather than men. But, they always leave you a hefty tip when they don’t fill out their tab or when they go over and pay it out and then some. 

And naturally, you’re curious. About them. About him.

So, when Catfish comes in on a Saturday night completely alone, that curiosity does get the better of you.

He doesn’t make much of a scene, sliding into the bar stool instead of taking up a table, and seeing how busy it is, he waits—quietly and with a faint smile on his face that you catch a few times in passing, refilling cups with ice and offering a polite smile back.

When you finally get to him you're slightly breathless, wiping your hands on the towel tucked into your back pocket, “Hey, sorry about—what can I get you?”

“Just a beer,” He says with a shrug, promptly sliding over a twenty as you pour and hand off the glass.

“Where’s the others?” You ask curiously, an attempt at casual conversation despite selfishly wanting to know.

“A party,” Fish explains, “Benny won his tournament so they’re celebrating that.”

The name sounds familiar but you can’t quite place it.

“The younger one,” He adds with a subtle smirk, seeing the furrow in your brow of you thinking too hard.

“So Benny, Santiago—but you get stuck with Catfish?”

It can’t be his actual name, but they never use anything else.

“Francisco,” He takes a generous sip of his beer before setting it down, tapping his fingers idly against the surface of the bar, “—but, just Frankie. If that’s easier.”

You tilt your head with a genuine smile, putting a name to a face and it feels fitting, the hat suffocating his mop of hair, curls peeking around the edge of his hat and the dark colored tees he always wore, some sort of dismay always written on his face. You can’t explain it, but it works for him.

Frankie. Francisco. Catfish.

“Well, Frankie—if you need anything just yell. That’s probably the only way I’ll hear you,” You tell him with a laugh before attempting to depart—the bar isn’t too bad at the moment, all customers dealt with but the roar of the bar is loud.

“Well—wait,” Frankie half shouts, grabbing your attention, “what’s your name? I gave you mine, seems fair to ask.”

You tell him with a shrug, “But, I only ever hear honey or sweetheart all night, so really, I’m whatever you want me to be.”

Frankie chuckles at that, looking away briefly as if to busy his mind with something else and you slip away then.

You don’t ask why he came alone—why he would skip out on a party with the men he came here every Friday night with—maybe he needed a break. Alone time. It wasn’t your business.

But, one Saturday becomes another. And two months later he’s come by every Saturday. Alone. And giving you his undivided attention. It’s sweet, you’ll admit that. 

He isn’t as closed off on Friday’s when he arrives with the other boys but isn’t as outwardly friendly as say, Santiago would be during that time. But, Saturdays—he’s a whole different person. Lighter. Happier.

He only ever orders one beer, makes small talk, and lately—he’s been walking you to your car. So, not only is he nursing that beer over the four hours left in your shift by the time he gets there, he’s waiting for you. To clock out, that is.

Really, it’s against your better judgment. Allowing a total stranger to know what you drive, where you park, what time your shift ends, but Frankie is a… friend.

He isn’t like most of the customers, terrible at small talk and flirting and only making half-assed, nasty comments toward you when they get a few rounds in. 

He’s seen it a few times. He never berates the guys, but he does pull your attention away, occupies your mind, and always manages to slip in a few words that make your legs go weak and encourage the dull throb between your thighs—even if it’s just a smile and an apology on their behalf. 

Frankie always shows interests, ask about you and your life in the politest way he can without seeming like a complete creep—you can tell he doesn’t flirt often, by the way he’s quiet around his friends when you stop by their table or how he never asks for your number despite twirling his phone in his hands idly most of the night, trying to seem occupied but mostly staring at a blank screen until he finally gains the courage to ask you another question.

The first night he walks you to your car it’s quick—he stays until you close up for the night and walks around back, a careful and watchful eye on your surroundings as he nods and wishes you goodnight with a half-hearted smile, kicking himself in the ass for not just asking for your number.

And it continues like that for weeks, within those couple months, and gradually Frankie bursts out of his shell little by little until you both are giggling one night over a particularly rowdy customer, having gotten himself arrested for indecent exposure and broken a table. 

His hand grazes your lower back as you walk out, a genuine mistake but you turn your head toward him quickly, soothing his worries with a smile as you stick the key into the lock.

“Don’t worry about it,” You tell him with a comforting tone, “I’m used to men being a little more handsy than that, so, if anything, you’re a gentleman.”

“Those aren’t men.” Frankie argues lightheartedly.

“Eh, men who act like boys,” You say, “they’re assholes either way you put it.”

Frankie nods, readjusting his cap on his head as he pushes his fingers through his hair.

You twist the keys in your hand and start the walk toward your car.

“Do you ever take that thing off?”

Frankie’s eyes dart up toward the hat and he chuckles, hidden under the scruff and grown out facial hair, “No. No, not really.”

“Would you do it if I asked you to?”

He contemplates but never gives you a straight answer, forcing you to prod him gently with the end of your key, “Don’t worry—I won’t. Not yet.”

Frankie’s fingers curl around the edge of your door as he holds it open and watches you climb in, mind swimming with a million ways to ask what he wants, but it never comes.

But, you see it on his face immediately, the caution behind his eyes in being so forward with you.

“Ask for it,” You tell him, turning on the ignition to your car, still looking at him as he looms between you and the car door, “—unless you want to make me ask.”

Frankie looks away briefly and you laugh softly at his sudden unabashed expression as he smiles and turns back to you, “Can I have your number?”

You hold your hand out in wait, thumbing in your number the moment the phone finds your palm. You send yourself a short text with a smiley face to make sure it goes through and hand it back over, feeling a sudden flutter of anxiety in your chest.

Not good, not bad—but it is something.

“Put it to good use,” You warn him, “don’t make me regret that.”

Frankie smiles wider that time, his teeth peeking out behind full lips.

“Right,” He agrees, “absolutely. I promise.”

He adds a soft goodnight and you depart, feeling your phone buzz again before you even pull out of the parking lot.

[Unknown Number]: Goodnight

You snort a quiet laugh to yourself.

An hour later, a toothbrush tucked into your cheek as you stare down at your phone when it vibrates. You had half the mind to save his number despite your exhaustion from the shift you worked.

[Frankie]: Home safe?

[You]: Yep. :) Thank you for checking on me

[Frankie]: :) Goodnight. 

[Frankie]: Again lol.

It’s stupid—it shouldn’t make you smile. But, it does.

You quickly find every day occupied by Frankie in some form, through text or just the thought of him. He’s everywhere and you can’t seem to care—and you give up sleep in the middle of the night for text conversations that come from just wanting to hear from him, as nervous as you are to just call—you could, you knew he wouldn’t care. But, you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

You try to learn as much as you can about him.

[You]: Why Catfish?

It’s a random Tuesday when the text comes through his phone. He’s busy in class, cramming himself in as many hours as possible before he tests for his pilot license.

[Frankie]: Long story. Obnoxiously long. Why?

[You]: Just curious. It’s a strange nickname

[Frankie]: So what does that make me?

Frankie doesn’t get a response for a while and he knows you’re probably working, but he finds his fingers reaching for his pocket any time his phone vibrates in the hopes that it’s you.

[You]: Sorry. There was a mess at work. 

[You]: It makes you strange btw

[You]: I’m kidding. But, it’s still a weird nickname.

Frankie can tell it’s you from the constant buzzing and he takes a peek at his phone.

[Frankie]: Oh shit. How bad of a mess?

[Frankie]: I know. Maybe I can explain it another time.

You’re busy wiping the beer off your face as you look at his text, the security dragging out the guy who had splashed the glass of liquid back at your face.

[You]: Some asshole threw a beer at me. Nothing new. Clothes are soaked.

[You]: Don’t try to make a joke about that or I’m double charging you this Friday.

Frankie frowns at the implication that you think he’s first instinct is to make a joke at your expense, but you can’t help to protect yourself from the behavior you’re used to from most men.

[Frankie]: Do you need me to bring you something? I can stop by on my way home?

[You]: I’ll survive. Thank you, though. My shift is almost over.

A couple days later you end up going down a fireshot line of questioning to get to know him, much to his surprise.

[You]: Okay. Birthday?

[Frankie]: April 2nd. 

He returns the question to which you answer but add on another text with a joke at his expense.

[You]: Damn, a day short and that would be perfect for you. So, you’re an Aries.

[Frankie]: Yeah, whatever that means.

You laugh to yourself, tucking your bottom lip between your teeth as you walk through your local grocery store to pick up items for dinner that night.

[You]: It fits you. Oh! What do you do for work?

[You]: Fair game since you know what I do.

[Frankie]: We’re all in the army. I work on aircraft.

Oh, that’s…not what you were expecting.

[Frankie]: It’s new. I’m trying to get my pilot's license right now. I’ve got a big test coming up for it.

[You]: That’s so cool! Take me for a ride sometime?

You smirk to yourself as you press send.

[Frankie]: Yes.

You look ridiculous smiling at your phone in the middle of the aisle but you can’t help it.

In the army. A pilot. And a gentleman? Or, at least he’s provided himself to be nice enough. You were both young, so it didn’t surprise you that you were both unluckily single. But, Frankie seemed like such a catch—and it terrified you how badly you wanted him. Even in the simplest form. 

A friend, a best friend, even. Or more, definitely more. But, you didn’t mind either way.

He’s due to take the test for his pilot license the Monday after your last shift, showing up with the boys on that Friday before—typical routine and behavior, but he does seem a bit more handsy. Santiago has always been friendly, but he does hug you this time he sees you, catching you on the way back to the bar and he plants a kiss on your cheek that you welcome with a soft, playful shove of your hand at his face and if it strikes Frankie with jealousy, you don’t notice.

But, he does shock you when he wraps an arm around your front and hugs you lazily, haphazardly slumping his other arm over your shoulder as he plants a kiss in your the hair at the crown on your head and rubs your hip with his thumb, leaving you dumbstruck and wanton the rest of your shift, frazzled every time you glance his way.

Santiago orders a round of shots toward the end of the night and thanks you with a wink, departing for the table and interrupting the idle conversation the men were entranced in.

You’re not sure what was going on, wiping down the counter as the night slowed down and casually flicking your eyes up to check on them, hearing them laugh occasionally, glancing your way briefly and suddenly Frankie was headed your way, fiddling around with the brim of his hat as he pressed a forearm against the countertop you had just wiped down. 

You snap him gently with the towel and give him a look, he backs away slightly, hovering over the edge of the counter.

“What’s up?”

“They’re a bunch of dicks, I’m sorry.” Frankie deflected, glancing back at the boys who were staring on with sated smirks, clearly enjoying the sight of him fumbling and dropping the ball as he spoke to you. His eyes flick up wearily, soft and so distinct to him that it makes your heart ache. “Pope—Santiago, he dared me to come over and kiss you. And it’s stupid but if I didn’t at least try I would never hear the end–”

You pull him in by the collar of his shirt, the brim of his hat being pushed askew by the force as you press your lips to his in a simple, but unmistakable kiss. Tilting your head slightly as you pull away briefly to kiss him once more, dropping your towel to push your fingers through the curls at the nape of his neck and it seems like his brain catches up too late, his fingers barely grazing your neck as you pull away.

You pointedly look around Frankie to flip the other three off with both hands.

“Get out of here,” You warn playfully, “before I murder one of them.”

Frankie huffs a soft laugh through his nose before he turns away, speechless.

They were out of there within a few minutes, but an hour later your lips were still tingling.

Frankie is different that Saturday—more energetic, seeming lighter and more playful. 

He drinks one beer, then two, surprisingly a couple shots of tequila—and before you know it, you’re seeing a much different side of Frankie than you're used to and it is quite the sight.

“Am I cutting you off?” You ask curiously, “I don’t want you nursing a hangover tomorrow when you have your test on Monday.”

“One more,” Frankie promises, “but—surprise me?”

You shrug, not finding a problem with it.

“Sweet or savory?” You ask him.

You feel your breath catch slightly as he pauses, his eyes doing a subtle drag over your body as you take a couple steps back, reaching for an empty glass.

“Sweet.” 

It has an underlying tension to it neither of you address. 

You make something up on the fly—fruity and sweet with the slightest bit of tang, nothing that screams Frankie but when you set it down in front of him and he drinks, his eyes widen slightly.

And for half a second you think he might spit it out, but then he’s chugging the rest down—and maybe it’s alcohol dulling his taste buds but he makes a quick show of assuring you he liked it, even if it’s mostly for your own benefit.

Shaking his head as he licks at his lips with his tongue in a way that feels so unnecessary that you can’t help but giggle, snatching the empty glass away from him as he smiles, his eyes half-lidded from the faint buzz he has going on, but otherwise he still seems fine.

You couldn’t let him get that drunk, not when he had so much riding on that test.

By the end of the night, your side hurts from laughing so much, forceably having to shove your hand in Frankie’s face to get him to shut up for half a second, his fingers circling around your wrist as he pulls you forward and you giggle into his shoulder.

“Stay. Let me close up and we can walk through the back.” You tell him and he nods quietly, though his grin never fades, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip idly while he watches you work around the clutter and reorganize, cleaning everything down before you’re flicking off the lights and nodding at him to follow.

If it were anyone else, you’d have given them a stiff kick to the balls and sent them on their way, but the moment Frankie noses at your neck your hard resolve melts and you shrug him away at how much it tickles your skin, feeling his hand wrap around the bicep on your left arm. He’s never been so touchy but you can’t say you don’t enjoy it. In fact, you’re eating it up at this point.

“Frankie,” You warn him playfully, working and failing to lock the door as uses his other hand to squeeze at your side, “come on—I can’t lock up with you doing that.”

“Try,” He teases, challenges, and you can’t help but like the bolder, less restrained side of himself he’s offering up to you.

The gentle nuzzling quickly turns to kisses, wet and open mouthed as he practically drapes himself over you, one hand pressed into the brick wall beside the backdoor and you sigh softly, leaning into his chest as you finally get the door locked and shrug him away.

“Am I going to see you next week?” He asks hopefully, knowing that with August looming in the distance that your job at the bar was close to being nullified. 

You shake your head with a bittersweet smile, “Tomorrow is my last day, actually. For now, anyway.”

Frankie’s brow furrows at that and he shakes his head slightly before he’s invading your space, hands cupping your face as he lifts your chin up to meet your lips and kisses you gently, your fingers coming up to curls around his forearms and you feel his lips part just as you pull away.

“What—what are you doing?” You ask him, feeling like an echo as he comes back to the surface with a delayed response, trying to kiss you again but you're pressing your fingertips over his lips until he realizes that you actually want an answer.

“I’ve wanted you all summer,” He admits and it makes your blood run hot, that distinct tingle of pleasure shooting down your spine and it is nothing you were expecting him to say, but tonight was full of surprises apparently, “do I need to prove it to you?”

He presses his forehead against your own and you shake your head in response. You believed him, you didn’t doubt him for a second—but it feels surreal. Those quick, fleeting summer flings you only hear about in passing, never expecting to experience it yourself.

You may never see him again, you had to strike the match while it was still in reach.

“Are there cameras back here?” Frankie asks hastily.

You snort, “No—we’re five minutes away from college dorms in the poorest part of town. People come here for cheap booze, not security.”

Frankie nods at that, “You’re right,” He responds but the end is muffled as he kisses you again, with less care and a lot more tongue as you open your mouth to him and find the words on your tongue are muffled by his.

And thank god the street lights were shit in the back alley, barely working amongst the occasional flicker, you eventually find your way in the darkened corner of the back alley with Frankie’s hand working at the button on your jeans, almost tripping over an overturned crate on the way there that causes you both to burst into a fit of giggles, laughing through the sloppy kisses Frankie can’t help but smother you with, sighing when his fingers dip past the denim and thin fabric underwear to cup your pussy with his entire hand, the warmth of his palm like an answered prayer.

His hat is frustrating though, constantly bumping and prodding at your head before you finally get fed up, plucking it off his head and tossing it to the ground with an annoyed sigh that forces a choked laugh from Frankie’s throat, dipping a finger down the center of your core before pressing inside of you, gasping at the sudden but welcomed intrusion. You release a shaky sigh and open your eyes to look at him, finding he’s plenty amused but still buzzed in his own way.

Half beer, half pleasure—but he looks like he wants to devour you.

Lucky for you, he was starving.

Your mouth hangs open slightly, breathing picking up as he angles his fingers and slips another inside, curling them toward you from within and you pull at the curls at the nape of his neck.

He smirks in amusement, “Wish you could see how needy you look,” Frankie comments, “all it took was a couple fingers, huh?”

You roll your eyes playfully, “Too bad it took you all summer,” You pester him as he picks up the intensity, using his other hand to push your jeans lower down your hips, “and some stupid fuckin’ drink to make you finally want to have sex with.”

“Sex?” Frankie jokes through a throaty chuckle, “Who said anything about—”

Your hand cups the front of his jeans firmly, a little harsher than necessary but you can tell he doesn’t mind, almost challenging you to tease him a little more but the moment you both hit a solid wall you’re tripping over each other’s feet and it pulls you back to the surface and despite your clothes being half-stripped away and Frankie’s hand still shoved down the front of your jeans, it brings back a surprising amount levity to assess the situation at hand.

“I mean, do you want to?” You ask him curiously, tucking a curl behind his ear as he blinks, considering how this would affect his relationship with you, as brief and fleeting as it was.

“You’re really asking me that?” He responds, “Of course.”

“Well, I mean you did just say—”

Frankie places his palm over your mouth, muffling the end of your sentence.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He deflects, hoping you’ll play along.

You work at his belt without hesitation, far over the small talk and tired of wasting time. Frankie pulls his hand away much to your disappoint, pouting slightly as he drag his hand up your stomach, under your shirt until he’s got it tucked under your chin and mouthing of your bra greedily, the fingers of his other hand peeking around the fabric to pull it down, taking the soft, pebbled nipple into his mouth and sucking with a satisfied groan as you dip your hand beyond his waistband and over his boxers, pulled tight against his thighs and groin. You could picture the sight of him in your mind for hours if you wanted, but you had him here, right here. 

Why not give yourself a peek at the real thing?

Frankie is lost, deep within the exploration of your body that he doesn’t even hear your voice when you plead with him, his voice grazing over the delicate skin of your breasts as he pulls away, already ready to descend and yank your jeans the rest of the way down, press his face between your legs and feast on you like it was the best thing he’s tried all night.

But, there’s the pout again—so subtle he would miss it had he not finally given you his full, undivided attention and he was right. You are needy.

His thumb rubs at the small sliver of your lip that’s poking out, rocking his hips gently into the hand still tucked away into his jeans—there was such a distinct charm to him, melting under his gaze the second his eyes made contact with your own. Every time.

“I don’t wanna keep you,” You whine emphatically and Frankie almost immediately begins to shake his head—

No. No, of course not. You wouldn’t be keeping him at all. Not a chance, not a fuckin—his inner monologue is going wild but he finds you perking up at the slowly growing panic on his face.

“But,” You breath, the thumb that was resting at your bottom lip trailing down the valley of your breasts before he cups one gently in his hand, “I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t give you at least something to remember this.”

“Couldn’t forget about you if I tried, actually,” He begins, but you shake your head, shushing him and pushing his hand away before you sink to your knees despite the immediate protest in your knees at the hard gravel—but god was it fucking worth it when you look up, half-lidded eyes staring back as you shake his jeans down his hips, just far enough that you can watch as he does the work with his boxers, cock bobbing free as he settles the band underneath his balls and if has to look away by that point, overwhelmed in the way your eyes roam but you don’t speak, clearly admiring and seering this to memory as you smile cheekily, taking his cock in your hand and jerk him slowly, thumb running along the vein that follows to the head of his cock.

“Get off the floor,” He begs pathetically, “gonna tear your knees up doing that.”

You laugh quietly to yourself and slide your tongue along the head of his cock, dipping down the slit of his head and to his shaft, pulling back at the skin and taking him into your mouth fully. He’s uncircumcised, thick and perfect—he fills your mouth out so beautifully in all his girth that you wonder just how much better it can feel between your legs, filling you out in the best way.

“Oh, jesus—baby, that’s,” You hum, bobbing your head in constant rhythm as your work your free hand around his balls, cupping them and allowing your other hand to cover the rest of what your mouth couldn’t take of his length and Frankie looks like he might actually pass out, looking around desperately for something, anything to lean on before he just settles for the wall behind you, resting both of his palms against the brick as he towers over you.

Frankie sighs shakily, dropping a hand to tuck against the back of your head, and your stomach swirls with anticipation as he allows himself to break his restrain a little, guiding his cock into your mouth with little aide given how eager you were as you took him as far as you could go, brush your nose against the trimmed patch of hair at the base and feel his hand flex in your hair, gripping it tight and attempting to pull you off to no avail, repeating the process until he’s begging for you to slow down, give him just a few seconds to breathe, ultimately finding that you don’t stop until he finally finds his voice again, stuttering out a desperate, “Stop, stop, stop–”

You pull away suddenly, worrying crossing your face but quickly dissipating as Frankie laughs, pulling you to your feet without much fight on your part and he does notice the few scraps on your knees, collecting with blood and he really wishes you would have listened but you brush him off, his body pressing you up against the brick wall behind you, pants still hanging at his thighs and his dick pressed against your stomach, shirt still sloppily bunched up over your tits.

“Can I fuck you?” He asks, so vulgar it makes you pulse around absolutely nothing, his eyes roving over your face curiously, his thumb tracing over your lips, with a soft mumble, “God, I need you so bad.”

“My car,” You respond, tongue pressing against the pad of his fingertip as you nod behind him, “Condoms, they’re—in the car.”

Frankie makes a face, sort of amused but a little confused.

“Shut up,” You null his question before it slips out—”It’s precaution, okay? Guys love to pull the whole—”

“No, I—I get it,” Frankie answers, a small laugh rounding out his tone, “I just figured, you know—we’d…go back to your place? Or mine?”

Your hand fists into his shirt slowly, pulling him impossibly closer like he wasn’t already pressed against every surface of your body.

“What if I can’t wait?” Your eyes soften, looking up at him and catching the swipe of his tongue over his bottom lip, wanting to taste that tinge of sugar that lingers with him, “Would you fuck me right now?”

Frankie nods eagerly and you don’t hesitate, grabbing for his hat, placing it against his chest and gripping his hand in your own before you shove him away gently and lead him to your car, mostly covered in darkness aside from the obnoxiously orange streetlight that glowed overhead. Your clothes haphazardly pulled back up as you clamber into the driver's seat to reach over the console and into the glovebox, aware of the hand that slides between your leg as you search in the poor lighting, squealing when he squeezes at the flesh under his grip and shoving the foil wrapper into Frankie’s chest when you finally get your hand on the box.

“Off,” He tells you, pulling at the zipper of your jeans, “all the way.”

There was so much going on in your mind, nothing you could pluck out and focus on but it buzzed with excitement, anticipation, the kind of adrenaline that only comes in situations when your judgment is hasty and not fully-thought out. You’re barely kicking your shoes off and pulling your jeans past your ankle before Frankie is manhandling you into the backseat, and pressing his face between your thighs as he licks into you, a surprised gasp tearing from your throat as you grip the seats wherever you can.

Your pussy throbs under the care of his tongue, and he carries on obnoxiously, making a mess between your legs as his fingertips grip at the flesh of your ass and force you to open yourself wider to him, “Frankie—” You interject weakly, but he silences you with his mouth, sucking at your clit like it was his new obsession and you whine so pathetically that you find you covering your mouth in shame, biting gently at your bicep to muffle the flurry of sounds that came out after.

He pulls away some time later—minutes, hours, days, you can’t even place it. But, you hear him shift, the rip of the wrapper and the jingling of his belt as he shifts his jeans further down and slides into the backseat more comfortably, hovering over you. His hands squeezing at your hips, a comforting gesture as he speaks from behind you.

“Are you sure?” 

It’s sweet, you can admit that. But, you don’t need that.

“Frankie.”

He wasn’t budging. Because, if by some sudden change of heart you didn’t want this, he wanted to know.

“Yes. Yes,” You say, turning slightly to look over your shoulder, his face only an inch or so away as you tuck your arm back and push your fingers into his hair, pulling his face next to yours as he pushes inside of you slowly, yanking gently at the strands between your fingers as he settles, a soft sigh falling from your lips.

“Let me hear you,” He begs, “It’s just us.”

He hears you all the time, voice carrying across the bar but never like this—for him, only for him.

He pulls back gently, snapping his hips firmly and you hum softly, slightly giddy over the entire situation. He continues that way, so gentle and cautious that it makes you wonder why you both avoided this for so long, “More?” Frankie asks. You nod and his pace quickens slightly, a little harsher, and your hand grips onto the passenger seat beside your head for leverage as he chest rumbles with a deep sigh, “Fuck this is—baby, you have no idea.”

“Tell me,” You plead, the quiet creak of the car drowned out by your loud, pathetic moans as Frankie’s fingers curl around your throat and hold, no pressing or squeezing, just another place for them to find a home.

“Thought about this—so many times,” He admits, “came here for months—fuck, months. And then you show up and I was nervous—couldn’t, couldn’t even think of what to say to you. I knew I’d embarrass myself in front of them.” He squeezes then, a gentle pressure on your throat that has your eyes rolling back in your head.

“I had to see you alone,” His throat is tight, his breath a little quicker as he speaks, his hips snapping into you at a steady pace that clouds your mind effortlessly, “wanted you for myself—and, I would’ve fucked you that first night if you’d let me.”

You cunt squeezes him tight at his words and he curses, “So greedy, baby. She’s drooling all over me—such a fucking mess,” And you need to see him, face the man who’s finally found just the right amount of confidence to make you speechless. You lean up suddenly and force a hand into his chest and he only looks slightly confused before you’re pulling him inside and forcing him to sit into the cramped back seat, uncaring of the open car door as the car rocks with the weight of your bodies and you seat yourself on his lap, gripping his dick in your hand and sinking back down onto him without a word, curling yourself over him as you push away the hair clinging to his forehead, damp from sweat and his eyes are blown wide, staring up at you like he was under hypnosis, gaze locked on your own.

“Tell me now,” You challenge him—nowhere to hide behind his words.

“Would you—have let me fuck you that one night I walked you to your car?” He asks.

You smile guiltily, remembering the heat of his hand on your back, never really an accident.

“I’d have let you fuck me over the pool table if you asked, Frankie.” You admit, “In front of your friends too, if that’s what you really wanted.”

Frankie laughs weakly, giving you the lead as you lift your hips with a sudden eagerness.

“Is that what you want?” You tease him, “You guys are all about claim, right? Army boys love to show off—I mean, they’d probably be into it. Santi, for sure—”

Frankie covers your mouth with his hand and you giggle, biting playfully at the flesh of his palm.

He squeezes at your hip with his free hand, forcing you into a hurried pace as he begins to move his hips to meet your own, lifting off the seat slightly with every snap of his hips. Your cry is muffled by his hand but Frankie sees it in your eyes, the flutter of your eyelashes that tells him.

“Touch yourself, babygirl,” He tells you, “Let’s see how bad you want it.”

You lean back between the open space of the driver and passenger seat, one hand gripping the upholstery of the seat while the other works between your legs, fingers drifting over your clit and into the mess of yourself that was leaking over Frankie’s cock from where it was buried inside of you and he wasn’t lying—you’ve never been so turned on in your life. Half-assed hook-ups and guys that didn’t give a shit about your own pleasure, Frankie was a goddamn dream and a hell of a good fuck. 

You know your body well enough that it doesn’t take long, but the show is for Frankie’s benefit alone, head thrown back over your shoulders as your middle and ring finger circle your clit, occasionally wrapping your hand around what of his shaft was available as you tried weakly to move your hips, squeezing to pull a soft little gasp from his chest. It was such a damn shame you didn’t have him fully naked, splayed out on the mattress in your shitty apartment. You wanted to dig your nails into his skin, leave half crescent marks and a reminder of you for days, weeks even. 

“Fuck, I’m right there, baby—” He warns, unexpectedly joining your own fingers and forcing you over the edge just before he pulls you in, a brutal snap of his hips before he’s muffling the deep groans of his orgasm into your skin, teeth sinking gently into your shoulder.

The next few minutes is spent in a blissful silence, moving off of him carefully as he discards the condom but never letting you drift to far, still curled up and half naked on his lap as he pushes a strand of hair away from your face, pulling you in for a kiss that takes your breath away, literally pulls from your chest and makes your heart stop.

Oh…this was not good. 

You breathe shakily and pull away with a smile that masks that sudden ache in your chest and kiss again at the inside of his palm. He leans his head against the backseat, eyes closed as he catches his breath and groans slightly when you move off of him, oblivious and exhausted as you redress hastily beside him, pulling your jeans back up your legs and over your hips, slipping your shoes on and readjusting your shirt, shaking him gently when you fear he might have passed out right there in the back of your car.

“Frankie,” You call out, saying his name a few more times before you call out, one last time, “Francisco, hey.”

His eyebrows raise in question, a subtle smile on his lips as he peeks an eye open to look at you.

“I really need to get home,” You tell him, laughing half-heartedly at his drunken stupor, “you’ve gotta go.”

Frankie seems to realize then that he can’t drag this out any longer, redressing himself slowly as he climbs out of the car, watching you fiddle with your shirt and your appearance, trying to not look like you just got fucked in the backseat of your car.

He seems to notice the slight dismay on your face, knowing that your lives were diverting down different paths, but this was still the present. Now. And he was still here.

He presses you into the driver’s side door and kisses you then, hands crawling up the side of your neck and caressing the curve of it, dipping his tongue past your lips and really stealing your breath away, moaning into your mouth like you were the greatest thing he’s ever tasted.

You pull away regrettably when you feel him start to ramp up again, “Good luck on your test, by the way.” You tell him honestly, “You can text me the good news when you pass.”

Frankie chuckles, “I will.” There’s a long pause and then he’s speaking again, the few words you weren’t sure you wanted to hear, “Can I see you again?”

The hesitance is obvious on your face and it kicks Frankie down a peg, but he gets it. He wasn’t a boyfriend, barely even a friend. But, he was still hopeful.

“Maybe.” You offer, “I mean—you still have my number. I’m just a text or call away, you know.”

Frankie couldn’t admit that you were the only thing getting him through this summer without relapsing or making another misstep, that wasn’t your burden. But, the weight on his heart is heavy and his own to bear, welcoming the hug you offer him immediately and squeezing you so tight you might break, but of course, you don’t. 

And he thinks that if he showed up broken, in pieces, that you would know exactly how to piece him back together, but he hoped that never happened. That maybe you might manage to escape him and he wouldn’t drag you down with him.

“Goodbye, Frankie.” 

He smiles and nods, settling his hat back on his head as he steps away.

You leave soon after, not sure why this sudden dark cloud is looming over you.

Frankie never texts you about his test and the texts you send in the aftermath are never responded to—and eventually you give up, feeling like an idiot for being hopeful in the first place.

↝ beta: @chaotic-mystery

↝ divider credit: yours truly.

[marcelloshdz]

double duty

summary: when you're asked to host and perform on saturday night live, you and marcello hit it off quite well. marcello x female!singer host. requested by anonymous.

“i’m so excited to be here!” you cheered as you walked through the hallways of NBC studios. you were pulling double duty on saturday night live this week, and you were absolutely over the moon. you’d been a fan of the show for as long as you could remember, and this was quickly becoming a “pinch me” moment. you were walking with some of the producers and writers on the show, getting a little tour of the studios. the writers had already pitched you some amazing sketch ideas, and you couldn’t wait to work on them and see what ended up in the final show.

the week quickly became very busy, but you were also making sure to take the time to soak it all in and truly enjoy your time there. you were having so much fun working through the sketches and meeting and making friends with the cast. you were a huge fan of the current cast, and you couldn’t believe that you were getting to work with them.

it was wednesday afternoon, and everyone had just settled into their seats for the table read. as you made your way through the scripts, your cheeks were hurting from laughing. everyone had written such incredible sketches, and you couldn’t believe that you were getting to be part of them.

the first hour passed by, and you’d made your way to a sketch that you were in with marcello hernández, playing a couple. admittedly, you’d been a bit nervous about working with him, as you’d become a fan of his (and developed a bit of a crush) in the three years he’d been on the show. you sat at opposite ends of the table as you read through the script, stifling laughs and playing off of each other very well. you looked around the table as the cast was laughing through the sketch as you and marcello and the other cast members that were part of the sketch read through the script. once you reached the end, the two of you exchanged the briefest of glances, and he shot you a soft smile. you smiled back, feeling your face flush as you moved to the next sketch. 

the rest of the week flew by, and it was finally show day. you’d been hanging around the studio all day running through the scripts a few more times before rehearsals. you’d also been rehearsing your songs, settling on your set designs and costumes. you were performing your two most recent singles, ahead of your album release coming within the next couple of weeks. 

you finished rehearsal of your first song, ready to take a break as they ran through weekend update. as you left the stage, you ran into marcello. he shot you a wide smile as he continued walking up to you.

“hey!” you said with a smile.

“hi. i liked your song.” he said softly.

“thanks.” you said awkwardly, standing there in a brief silence before he spoke again.

“so, i just wanted to let you know that our sketch got moved. we’re gonna be the first one back after update, instead of going before. that’ll give you more time to get ready before your first performance.” he said. 

“get ready, calm my nerves, all the same.” you joked.

“nah, you’ll be great.” marcello reassured you. you smiled again, whispering a small thanks before you had to move to rehearsal for the next sketch. 

before you knew it, it was finally time for the show. you stood backstage watching the cold open before moving behind the famous door. your heart raced in your chest as the announcer read through the names of the cast members during the intro sequence, followed by your name as host and musical guest. 

“ladies and gentlemen, y/n!” rang through the speakers. you pushed through the door and down the stairs, taking your place at the edge of the stage. you smiled wide, waving at the audience and taking in all the cheers. 

“wow, wow, wow. thank you very much. my name is y/n, and i am so grateful to be here hosting saturday night live!” you began your monologue, hitting all the jokes in the right places, and getting amazing laughs from the audience.

you ran through the first few sketches, getting many words of affirmation backstage from the cast and crew between set changes and commercial breaks. before you knew it, it was time for your first performance. 

“ladies and gentlemen, y/n.” you’d brought a close friend of yours to new york with you for this week, and the producers were kind enough to let them introduce your first song. 

you made it through your first song without a hitch, taking in all the applause that erupted around you. you were then rushed backstage, and allowed to take some time to take a break during the commercials and while weekend update was on. you met up with marcello for another quick little run through of your sketch before it was time to go back on stage. 

the premise of the sketch was you bringing him over to meet your friends for the first time, and him making a weird first impression. basically, a different version of his now-famous “protective mom” sketches with pedro pascal. hearing him calling you his girlfriend gave you butterflies in your stomach. way more than you’d like, but you’d never admit that out loud.

heidi gardner, ego nwodim, and bowen yang were also in the sketch, playing your friends, and taking the sketch to new heights. the jokes were getting laugh after laugh from the audience. you and the other cast members were even having trouble keeping it together. 

once the sketch finally concluded, you took in as much of the applause that you could before being rushed off the stage to get back and change for your next performance. just as you were stepping out of your dressing room, marcello found you and pulled you into a tight hug.

“you killed it! thanks for doing the sketch with me.” he said excitedly.

“thanks for trusting me! i know you had a heavy hand in writing it, and i’m glad it was picked for my episode.” you pulled away from him, giving him a wide smile before being whisked off to your spot on the performance stage to get ready for your next song. 

they began counting down from the commercial break, and you took a couple deep breaths before they came back. 

“once again, y/n.” you heard marcello’s voice announce from the main stage. your heart fluttered in your chest at the way your name sounded in his voice.

you finished your second song, and the episode began to wrap up. once it was over, everyone gathered on the main stage for good nights. you said your thank yous to the cast and crew, thanking everyone who came in for cameo appearances, and wishing everyone a good night. 

later that night, marcello found you at the after party. you both already had a couple of drinks in you, and had loosened up after a stressful week.

“hello again.” you said, sitting up on the barstool and giving him your full attention. 

“hey. i just wanted to congratulate you on a successful week. when you were confirmed for host, i gotta admit, i was really excited.” he said. 

“oh yeah?” you asked, raising an eyebrow at him. he laughed and nodded. 

“ooooh yeah. i’ve been listening to your music for a while. my sister is a fan, and she’s played a lot of your songs for me a few times.”

“mmm, she’s smart.” you laughed. “i didn’t know you were gonna be introducing my second song. that was a nice surprise.” you said, marcello taking a step closer to you.

“i’m glad you thought so. i asked specifically if i could do it.” he said with a smirk.

“wow, aren’t i special?” you asked, reciprocating his smirk. you sat up further on your barstool as marcello continued to close the space between you.

“very.” he said softly, fingertips drumming along your thigh. “so, i never do this, but,” he took a deep breath, “would you maybe wanna hang out some time? outside of all of this.” he said.

“sure. i’d like that. i’ll be in new york for a few more days before heading back to LA, so we could get together before i leave.” you said, nodding excitedly. you exchanged numbers and made your plans.

“we’re heading into an off week, so i have all the time in the world.” he said with a smile. 

you and marcello spent the rest of the night together, talking and getting to know each other. it could’ve been mostly the alcohol, but you were so comfortable with him.  you enjoyed being around him, and you loved talking and laughing with him. 

at the end of the night, marcello walked you outside to your uber that was taking you back to your hotel. 

“thanks again for a great night, and a great week. i really enjoyed getting to work with you.” you said to him as you stood on the sidewalk. 

“and i you.” he said with a smile. just then. your uber pulled up and he opened the door for you to get in. “text me when you get to your hotel.”

“i will.” you said. before climbing into the car, you pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, his face immediately turning a bright crimson. “see you later.” 

you watched from the window as marcello stood on the sidewalk, smiling and waving as your uber drove off. you let out a sigh of content, still not believing that tonight was even real, and that you’d already made plans to see each other again.

you turned to your friend, who raised an eyebrow at you.

“what are you smiling like that for?” they asked.

“just over the moon about tonight.” you said, evading a direct answer.

your uber ride was quiet as you rode back to the hotel. once you were finally back in your room, you took your phone out and text marcello to let him know that you were back at your hotel. he immediately replied, telling you that he couldn’t wait to see you again, and he wished you a good night.

you wished him a good night as well and got ready for bed. you slept peacefully that night, excited that you were going to see marcello again in just a few days. 

[chasingstardustandmoonbeams]

Once More IV

A/N: I bet a lot of people thought it would never happen. But it happened. I finally finished the update in a way that satisfies me. I only anticipate one more update (total of 5 chapters). Hopefully you all find the update worth the wait. The final chapter will be out before the end of the year. I promise!

Word Count 2.9k

Warnings: None Masterlist

For the first time since the loop began, you did not wake up with a start. Instead, you lay there, eyes closed as you drifted back into existence. The overwhelming weight of your situation was not all consuming. At least, not as it had been before. The heavy weight no longer felt crushing, it was almost bearable. 

You decided to focus on all the things you could do instead. All of the possibilities seemed real now. For the first time in a long while, the days didn’t blur together as they had before. There was a clear distinction now, the panicked and frustrated time in the loop, and the carefree adventures with Spock. 

Adventures with Spock. You couldn’t help but laugh. That was never something you would have ever imagined in your wildest dreams, and now? Well, now you found yourself hopelessly replaying the previous loops with Spock. At the forefront of it all was your conversation with Uhura and Erica. They were sure about tension between you and Spock. To be more exact, tension and lingering looks. 

You supposed there had been glances between the two of you before the loops happened, and since…that was a revelation you weren’t prepared for yet. Your time in the loops had given you opportunities to get to know Spock in ways you hadn’t anticipated. It was unexpected, remarkable, and thrilling. There was no one word you could pinpoint for your situation, your developing bond with him. 

It wouldn’t be that bad being stuck in the loop with Spock for the foreseeable future. Each day a new start with no consequences. Just chances to know each other in ways that you’d never anticipated. A life free of everything. 

Everything. 

You paused. While being stuck in a world with no consequences seemed to be thrilling, you thought of your friends. In all your loops you hadn’t thought of anything outside of you and Spock. Were they also stuck in some type of frozen temporal loop, but unaware? Or worse, were you and Spock stuck in a pocket dimension where your time no longer ran parallel with that of your friends. Were they living their lives like normal - time moving forward, and you were stuck here?

You got dressed, your mind reeling with newfound anxiety. You’d been so caught up trying not to think of the loop that the repercussions hadn’t crossed your mind. You grabbed your data pad heading towards the door. 

Opening the door, you were met with Spock’s stoic gaze. You leaned back slightly, only somewhat surprised to see him standing in front of you. Enough loops had passed that his presence had become expected, wanted, needed. 

You looked at him, his uniform pressed neatly, his hair back to its usual pristine appearance. But his eyes, his eyes looked just as lost as yours. Spock’s humanity always betrayed him when it came to his gaze. 

“Good morning,” you smiled at Spock, trying your best to silently read him. Thoughts of the last loop flashed through your mind. Your newfound feelings bubbling within you. You might have stumbled upon new feelings for him, new desires for your time together, but that didn’t mean he felt the same. You tried to rapidly crush the newly festering fear of rejection creeping up inside of you. 

“Good morning,” Spock repeated, giving you a nod. He stayed by your doorway, his eyes taking in your face. 

You took a breath, emotions swirling around you hurricane,  “I was thinking-” 

“I believe I have discovered-” 

You both paused to look at the other. Your eyes locked on his. There was something there in his eyes, a fleeting look that you couldn’t quite place. 

“Excuse me, Lieutenant?” 

You both turned to look at Sigala, right on time with two cups of coffee in his hands. 

“Sigala,” you started. Your eyes blinking in delayed recognition. You watched as he wordlessly offered you the coffee. 

“May we speak in private?” Spock interjected, his eyes trailing from Sigala to yours. 

You blinked in surprise as both men glanced at each other and then you. “Uh, yeah. Thank you, Sigala, but I’m good. I’ll, uh, see you later?”

“Sure,” he nodded at you, “I’ll see you in engineering.” He spared one more curious look at Spock, offering you both a friendly smile, before making his way down the hall. 

You stepped aside to let Spock into your quarters. He walked past you, standing at the center of your room awkwardly. He tucked his hands behind his back, his posture rigid. 

“Spock, are you okay?”you asked softly, crossing your arms in front of your chest. 

“Okay is not a quantifiable term. I would not use okay to describe-”

“Spock, what is it?” 

“I have been to analyze the storm that is causing the anomaly, however, I have not found any new significant data to determine the likely cause. It would appear that there is no correlation between the storm and the anomaly, yet, there seems to be a close relationship between the two.” 

You swallowed, rubbing your face, before you sat on a nearby chair. 

“This is impossible, Spock,” you groaned, squeezing your eyes shut. You felt Spock standing in front of you. You opened your eyes to see him giving you an understanding gaze. 

“I thought,” you took a breath, looking away from him, “Yesterday, I actually thought maybe I would be okay with being stuck here in this loop. I mean, it hasn’t all been too bad. But this morning? All I could think about was everyone on board this ship, are they stuck in a frozen temporal loop? Or are we stuck in a pocket dimension where we are stuck here, and everyone else is moving forward? I just-” You hesitated, unsure of what you really wanted to say. 

You dared to look at Spock, his face was devoid of emotion. His head tilted to the side as he looked down at you. 

You felt your own eyebrows furrow the more he looked at you. “Spock?” you asked quietly, a frown appearing on your face. 

“Spock?” You tried again. 

“I had not thought of that,” he said simply. A curious expression formed on his face. 

You scoffed at his response, “Hadn’t thought of what? That I’m more selfish than I come across?” 

Spock shook his head once, “No, that everyone else is moving forward in time, and that we are stuck in place.” 

“What?” You said flatly. 

“We have always considered that we are stuck in a loop, however, we have gone under the assumption that everyone is stuck with us as well. What if we are the only ones truly stuck, and time has warped around us?” 

You stood up from your chair standing directly in front of Spock. “Are you saying that you think there might actually be a way to get us out of this loop?” 

“We will have to try to gather as much data of the anomaly as we can within the next few loops before we can determine a plan, but yes, I do believe we can.” 

You let out a shaky breath, almost unwilling to believe what Spock had just told you. Crossing your arms across your chest, you found your gaze shifting to the floor. 

“Do you truly believe that you are selfish?” 

You froze, your blood rushing in your ears. Swallowing thickly, you kept your gaze on the ground. “Yes,” you whispered. “How else would you explain not bothering to think of our friends once?” 

“On the contrary, you have thought of our friends at every turn. I recall the look of anguish on your face when Christine collapsed in medbay.” 

You fixed your eyes to Spock, he was looking at you softly, gently. 

“Why else would ensign Sigala bring you coffee everyday? You were the first to befriend and mentor him when he was assigned to the Enterprise.” 

“How-” 

“Ensign Uhura speaks very fondly of you. Lieutenant Ortegas as well.” 

You could feel tears beginning to form in your eyes, you tried your best to blink them away. 

“I also think very fondly of you.” 

You let out a watery laugh, before the tears began to fall freely. Spock stepped forward, tentatively he reached out, placing a hand on your arm. You leaned forward and hugged him. Spock was stiff to start, until slowly, he wrapped his arms around yours. 

He held you close for as long as you needed. You breathed deeply in his arms, comforted by the gentle thrumming of his heart. When you could manage, you slowly began to pull away, your hands pressed flat against his chest as you looked up at him. 

“I’m very fond of you too, Spock,” you said serenely. When your eyes met his you could swear as if everything around you had stilled. Nothing around you was real, nothing but the feeling of you pressed against him. 

The chirping of your data pad caused you to jump, clearing your throat you pulled away from Spock. 

You grabbed your data pad off the nearby table, eyes scanning over the newfound data. 

“The anomaly” you blurted out. “It was there for a second, the readings…if we could just get a better idea of the storm…” 

“I will report to the bridge and scan for data.” 

You gave Spock a nod, “Report back at lunch?” 

Spock gave you a nod in reply and walked out your door. You were left standing in the middle of your room staring at the door. 

What in the hell just happened?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

You tried your best to covertly pinpoint the anomaly. You’d been typing away at your station for the better part of the morning. You’d done your best to dodge questions about your late arrival. Engineering was usually too swamped with work to question anything further, most people shrugged off your excuses and got straight back to work. 

A blinking light caught your attention. The anomaly. You gave the board your full attention, fingers flying over the screen as you tried to find the exact location of the anomaly. Your eyes scanned the screen trying to retain as much information as you could before you would inevitably lose it. 

“Lieutenant L/N? Is everything alright here?” 

You glanced up at Commander Pelia. She was giving you an all knowing expression, one that left you more confused than ever. 

“Yes, I just-” your eyes flicked back towards the screen. It was gone again. 

“Stranger things have happened,” she shrugged. “I suppose you would know something about that.” 

“Commander -” 

“No matter, you should be getting off to lunch now.” Pelia smiled warmly at you. “I hear that a storm-like electrical field was converging around the time of your anomaly. Perhaps there is a pattern there.” 

With a final smile, Commander Pelia left you. She couldn’t, there was no way Pelia knew about the loop. Was there? She would tell you. Wouldn’t she?

You were getting ready to leave for lunch when Sigala found you. You nearly slammed into him when you rounded the corner. 

“I just wanted to say I’m happy for you,” he smiled at you. 

Your eyebrows furrowed, “What are you talking about?” 

“You and Spock, I always suspected he might have a thing for you. I’m glad it worked out.” 

“What? I don’t-” you stammered. 

“This morning - oh,” he paused, “Are we not telling anyone yet? Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.” Sigala just smiled at you before he walked back to his station. 

You stood nearly speechless before you turned to walk towards the mess hall. You tried not to think of the implications of what Sigala had told you. 

Was it really that obvious to everyone but you?

Rounding the corner to the mess hall, you made your way inside. It was loud, people laughing and eating without a care in the world. You envied it. 

Worrying your lip, your eyes searched for Spock. You found him sitting alone in the far corner of the room. A small bowl of soup in front of him. He was typing away on his data pad, paying no attention to the people around him. 

“I think I have a theory,” you said, taking a sit across from him. 

Spock tore his eyes away from his data pad to look at you. 

“I think the storm and the anomaly are acting together - or maybe one is causing the other to react leading to the loop. If we can track when each appears we might be able to figure out the relation to the other. And maybe we might be able to time something to help get us out of the loop. Like hitting a manual reset.” 

“I believe that might work. Provided we can recognize and record any potential patterns.” 

“I was thinking I might commandeer a shuttle and go into the storm,” you shrugged, “Worse that can happen is I die and we reset.” 

You could feel Spock’s eyes on you, but he said nothing. 

“Are you going to finish that soup? I’m starving,” you reached over and took the bowl in your hands. 

“No.” 

You dropped the spoon, “No, like you’re going to finish the soup or no-” 

“No, you will not be commandeering a shuttle.” 

“Why not? I mean, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. Pelia actually might have given me the idea. That would be the best way-” 

“No.” 

“What do you mean, no?” 

“It is too dangerous.” Spock was giving you a hard look, one you were not accustomed to seeing on his face. 

“How? I’ll just reset-” 

“You are assuming that you will still reset far away from the Enterprise. There is no logic in assuming when it has not been done before.” 

“There’s no way to know unless we find out, and I’m willing to take the risk.” 

“I am not,” he said firmly. 

“Well it’s a good thing that I’ll be the one going then,” You shrugged.  

“No you will not,” he argued. 

“Spock-” 

“Do you not realize why?” 

“You’re my friend and you’re worried. You -” 

“Have you any idea what it has been like to watch you die and not be able to do anything about it? To be helpless while you die in my arms?” 

You stared at him, frozen in place. You’d never thought about it. Each loop flashed before you in your mind, Spock watching desperately as you gasped for breath or bleed to death in front of him. 

“I didn’t realize,” you said lamely. 

“When I said I was fond of you I do not believe you understood my true meaning.” 

“Spock,” you breathed out. 

“Each loop has brought me closer to you. Let me discover and understand you in ways I had not anticipated. What I am sure Ensign Uhura and Lieutenant Ortegas have implied is true. I had once believed it was illogical to pursue the growing feelings I was developing for you.” 

You watched him intently, he stood now, his body walking directly in front of you. You found yourself standing, watching as he took a steadying breath. 

“However, I now believe it would be illogical to hide from the truth. While I am Vulcan, I am also human. I can no longer deny the want - the need for your companionship. I care for you,” Spock tentatively reached for your hand. He paused, his fingers ghosting over your own. “More than I can adequately express with words or with logic.” 

You could feel eyes on you, no doubt the entirety of the mess hall was watching you both intensely. But the only person you could truly see was Spock. 

He was looking at you with a tenderness you had never dared to imagine. Your hand reached out for his, when your pointer finger brushed against his own, you watched as his eyes closed, his breath coming more quickly. 

You repeated the motion, stepping forward closing the distance between you both. Your other hand reached out to cup his cheek. Spock’s eyes opened slowly, his eyes boring into  yours. Gingerly, Spock leaned down pressing his forehead against yours before he captured your lips with his own. 

It is agonizingly but deliciously slow. You could hear murmurs of those around you, but none of that mattered to you. All that mattered was the feel of him against you, everything else didn’t matter. 

When you broke apart, Spock pressed his lips against your forehead taking slow steady breaths. 

“I think,” you breathed, “I know,” you smiled, “ I have fallen in love with you.” 

Spock pulled you close against him in an embrace. 

“We’ll figure out another way,” you whispered. “I know we will.” 

“Agreed,” he said hoarsely. 

You pulled back to look at him, giving him a soft smile. “You ready to start over? I think we gave them enough of a show.” 

“I believe I am,” you could see the faint twinge of a smile on his face. 

You turned to look at the audience in front of you, “Have I ever mentioned the time loop we’re stuck in? The endless Thursday?” 

A beat went by before alarms started to blare overhead. Spock took your hand in his. Your eyes were only on him as the crew in front of you started to panic. 

“I may have an idea on how to possibly terminate the loop,” Spock said. 

“Can’t wait to hear it,” you whispered, pulling your lips to his once more before the light consumed you both.

---------------------------------------------------

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[yetanotherhiddlestoner]

Summary ~ Daryl finds a journal on a supply run and reads it, what will happen when he sees the world through someone else's perspective?  Set in the commonwealth, straying a little from TWD timeline, but hey that the fun thing about fanfics right?

Daryl X Y/N. Words ~ 2449. Warnings ~ None (Photo found on Pinterest) Also I am trying to update I fell hard, you'll fall harder but it wont let me post it :(

The Entries Chapter 1

Daryl wasn't a man who just picked up a book to read it, not these days at least, if he found books for the kids then he would grab it and give it to them, he tries to recall the last time he actually read a book, but while he was looking for supplies, Daryl found a diary, the front looking worse for wear and covered in pink glittery stickers, something that reminded him of Princess and her style, Daryl's curiosity got the better of him and so and he opened it and read the first page. It read.

Entry one~

"This may very well be the last chance that I have to write, my family told me I should be a writer, I guess this is my last chance to ever get a book out there, but if anyone ever reads it, I hope you find comfort within the pages of this journal. My name is Y/N and this is the story about how I survived the apocalypse, or didn't I might be gone by now, in that case if would be a memoir right?"

Daryl shuts the book, placing it in his bag, he goes around gathering what supplies he can find before finally placing his bag on his back, starting up his bike and speeding back to the Commonwealth. Today was a good day for the supply run, he was able to find some medication for the community, canned food and some clothing for the small kids. That night as he lay in bed, he digs into his bag finding the journal, he starts reading it again.  

Entry two~

"I was born in 1989, 21 when the dead started attacking us, currently 26-27 years old although I have no idea if that is even right, I am just guessing the days and months at this point in this world, and I don't know how much time it has been if someone is reading this anyway back to my life story. My mother and father married at a young age, or at least young for them, they had just turned 20, been high school sweethearts, the whole Prom king and queen story line expect this was real life. It didn't take them long to start a family. My brother aka the eldest was born when my mother was 22, then another 2 years later came my other brother, the annoying middle child and then myself with a nice 5-year gap between myself and my second eldest brother."

Daryl flips the page to a collage of photos, ripped or cut to fit onto the pages. In the middle was one clearly done by a professional photographer, you are all sitting on the ground, smiling while looking at the lens, each person has their name on the photo, he looks at you in the photo. front and center, sighing at how happy you looked. Then in the corner is a photo of your parents on their wedding day, followed by photos of each child not long after they were born

"The day the world fell, I can't even remember the date, I was meant to be going to work, but my mother called me and begged for me to stay home, she begged for all of us to stay in our home, she told us all about the videos of people being shot down and them coming back and attacking people, I heard the terror in her voice, my brothers thought she was worrying for no reason, so they left for work. I tried to stop them, but they just wouldn't listen. I watched them walk out that door, hop in their cars and drive away, fearful that they wouldn't come back. I rang my friends, we chatted for a while, scared. We had planned on hanging at mine in the coming days, thinking this was just a temporary thing and that it would be fine within a week. How naive I was thinking the police and the government were going to be protect us.  I was very wrong. I watched as some of my neighbors left, cars packed up, houses left unlocked, pets left to fend for themselves. The street felt quiet, usually the kids would be playing in their lawns, coming home from school talking to their friends, or riding their bikes, now those things were left discarded. I watched the news, it only made my paranoia worse, watching them shoot down what I thought were innocent people at the time, the screams I could hear outside my door had me on high alert. My father never came home that night. He was away on business, he was meant to be coming home that day, I can only assume he is now dead. When my mother came home, she rushed us to get all the supplies and weapons we had, mostly kitchen knives, loaded them into the car, we waited for my father, constantly calling his cell phone and workmates but no-one answered, the longer we waited, the worse it got. During the night, I heard screams from down the street, saw neighbors running for their lives getting attacked, the screams as their friends chewed into their flesh, and then coming back. That night my family and I hid upstairs in one room, no lights, no noises nothing just praying we would make it through. 

Sunrise came and with it did us leaving our family home, the concrete covered in blood splatters, the groans of the dead coming out of the yards towards us, as I hopped into the car I gave the house one last look the one that I was born and raised in. In that moment the life I had known was gone. I have no idea if my friends were alive and if they are I hope they are well. That night, we tried sleeping in our car, taking turns at driving out of the city and further in land, my mother says we would be safe, away from the ones who can kill us. I doubted it though. We could see the cities being bombed from our car, the flame lighting up the horizon."

Daryl flips the page. His fingers glide over the page of photos once more, he notices that is your style, you write and then you put photos. He likes it, he likes that you are a real person, that had a real life, real friends.  Entry three~ "We drove for what feels like days, we pass the undead, we even ignore the hitchhikers, we can't risk taking on the wrong people my brother says. I've seen children biters, that is what we have come to call them, it breaks my heart. I had always wanted to be a mother but now I don't see kids in my life, not if my life is constantly running from the undead or living in fear."

Daryl keeps reading, finding himself more intrigued with each line. Another page, another photo of you and your friends, of you and a dog, he can assume might be a pet of yours once. You started drawing things you have seen on your travels; he takes in the details of each piece of art. You have a knack for art, a lot better then himself he tells himself. Another glimpse into your life. Another thing her learnt about you.

Entry four~ "The days pass in a blur now, it's been months since shit hit the fan. I think it might be coming up to winter, the air is cooler, a nice bite to it at night. I lost my brother to a biter; he was out trying to find more supplies when the dead came out of nowhere, he tried to fight them off. He managed to get away and spend his last few moments with us, his body bloodied and bitten. I watched as he turned, his eyes glossing over, the snapping of his teeth as he reached out for our mother who was crying for him to stop, I didn't think I just acted, my knife plunging into his skull, he was my first biter I had to put down, we buried him in a field under a tree. Our mother hasn't been the same since, she barely says a word these days. We lost our car, ran outta petrol, lost most of our things, I managed to save the one thing I need in my life, my photos, my memories in the one bag I don't ever want to lose" At the bottom of the page is a Polaroid of yourself."

Daryl notices the tally on the bottom of the page. Later on in the journal he would see the numbers go up each time, you didn't write about them but you kept track.

Biter - 1 Human-0 Animals -2

And then a photo of the makeshift grave you buried your brother in. His date of birth and just the year 2010 at the end.  "I know it may seem silly to whoever is reading this but as long as I got a camera, batteries and film, I'll keep taking photos, documenting what I survive through, until I can no longer find the supplies. I'll keep doing this until I am no longer able to. It is the only thing that makes me sane, it makes this world feel to real"

Entry five~ "I know death comes to all, but I didn't think my own mother would end it herself. I should have seen the signs, she stopped eating, stopped speaking, stopped living, day by day the life drained from her eyes, I think ever since we left, each day has made her realize that things were not going to get better. My brother and I buried her as best we could then we headed back out into the world, on foot for miles, tonight our home is a service station, not really safe, we are holed up in office, being as quiet as possible, we have raided the shelves for food and water, if we lucky we might get another day to rest here and then we will keep moving. I doubt we will make it to the mountains, it is too far to travel by foot."

He sees the cut-out photo of you and your mother, noting how much you look like her, you have her hair and facial features. His fingers move over the photo, he feels sorry for you, he knows how to feel to lose a loved one. You look so happy in this photo, the world can be cruel.

Entry six~ "I tried, I tried so hard to stop him, I screamed at him, begged him. But he didn't listen. Now I am all alone in the world I wasn't born for. My brother, the eldest, always looking out for me, we got stuck in a rundown house, he used himself as a diversion. He screamed at me to run, to get out. I grabbed my bag and ran, the last thing I saw as I turned back was him being over ran by them and screaming for to keep running, don't look back and that he loved me. My brother was a person who rarely said the L word, so hearing his last words as that made me run harder, until my chest burned. I have found a small tree house in the woods, I am guessing it was a child's secret hideaway, built by their parent's or at least that is what I am telling myself while I cry for the lost of my family, for tonight it is my sanctuary.  I have no idea how I am going to live alone; do I find a group? Do I try to live alone? I am scared, I haven't felt like this since day one. I have no idea what tomorrow brings, I have limited water, limited food and a couple weapons." Daryl continues reading the journal well into the night, when he glances at the clock its almost 2am in the morning, he decides to close the journal for the night, placing it on his nightstand. 

When he picks up the journal again, he can't believe how much he has read in a short time.

Entry 17~ "Found a library today, took out the undead inside, found a book on edible foods in the wild and how to survive out here. I am hoping they come in handy as my rations are almost out, also found a book to keep me entertained."

Biter-16 Human -2 Animal-8 Entry 18~ "I miss them." Daryl reads those three little words and feels a pang in his heart.

Entry 19~ "Today I snapped. A biter came out from behind a corner and in a second, I saw my life just die away. I beat that thing into a bloody pulp, smashing its head over and over, while tears formed into my eyes. Am I losing what little humanity I have left? Is being alone making me into an animal?"

Daryl grimaces at the photo of the now dead walker that you took. He wonders why you took that? Why would you want a photo of something that broke you? He has had his fair share of kills, yet he never truly wants to remember them.

Entry 20~ "Found a creek near the road I was walking, I have learnt how to filter dirty water, at least I have something to drink now, I just need to find food and a place to rest for the night. I have no idea really which direction I am going; I have to learn all this now."

Biter-36 Human -2 Animal-14

Entry 21~ "I am nearing the end of the book, the pages filled with the stories I have written, photos I have taken, I have truly lost track of time, the days, the months everything is mashed into one big never-ending nightmare. I fight for my life daily, it is exhausting. I think my next stop for me is the next town 30 miles away. For now I leave this journal here, for anyone, if there is anyone left out there that is. Please take care of my photos, my life story, it may not be anything these days."  The last words written hurts Daryl a little. "I truly don't want to die. But I don't know if I am strong enough to live."

And your signature style is a photo of you, he guessing you took it the day you finished the journal, you look sad, alone. He just wanted to hug you and tell you it's going to be alright.

[i-will-go-with-you-five]

My Five Lore

Heyyyyy I thought it was finally time to make this post! I've been doing ZR for about nine months now and have been posting from the sidelines so I figured it was about time to introduce myself and Five. Just a little rundown on what my Five is like and her story and stuff. She's basically me, but with a couple things changed.

Apperance:

She’s on the shorter side- Sam is always putting his elbow on her shoulder to annoy her but she secretly loves it :) And pretty stocky but really strong. Simon challenged her to a lifting competition once and while he eventually won, she had him sweating and it was a close thing. She wears her hair in really long double Dutch braids, and has a round face with bright hazel green eyes and a big smile. She also wears really brightly colored gear, especially shoes, its a long-lasting joke with her and the other runners. She's unreasonably attached to axes and baseball caps, and is pretty much constantly wearing something Jody made her.

She has a couple of pretty faint nicks and slices on her hands, from before the apocalypse. She got those was first learning to butcher as a teenager. But since the outbreak, she's gotten a stab wound on her left shoulder, and permanent bruising on her shins. She's very susceptible to shin splints, but its the apocalypse, so it's not like she can properly rest and treat them.

UPDATE: she has new scars now from the ending of Season Two. They are Pretty Important.

[One day I will make the most beautiful drawing of her ever. One day.]

Background:

Five is basically me, with a couple things (appearance, where she lived, some family details, etc) changed. She lived in Northern Montana, a stone's throw away from Canada, and was doing college remotely while working on a farm that raised big animals, and took care of her nieces and nephews while her siblings were at work. That's why she's such a jack-of-all-trades, with book and street smarts, she had a very diverse range of skills due to how she grew up. I consider Five as an AU of myself if I had been thrust into the apocalypse, so personality and history-wise Five and I are similar, except for the trauma of the apocalypse, where she was on her own for almost four months after Z-Day, and hardened her a bit. Five's real name is Lydia, but not a single person besides her knows that.

Early Outbreak:

She went on a rare vacation with her best friend, Nina, and her best friend's family to London two days before the outbreak, in early November of 2023. The worst timing. One day she's on a plane, the next she's seeing Big Ben for the first time, and the day after that hundreds of people have turned, including Nina's family, and they're fleeing for their lives in the chaos.

The plan was for the two of them to try and contact Lydia's family and try to find a way to get home, but the phone lines were all down within a day. So they decided to just get out of the city. Nina got bitten when they were on the outskirts of London, after a week of them surviving together. Lydia stayed with her as she died. Nina begged Lydia to kill her zombie-self, but Lydia just couldn't do it- she fled instead. She decided to kill her name, Lydia, along with her friend's death. It was the only way she felt that she could mourn.

She was then on her own for about four months, and her circumstances really changed her. She'd always been a a happy and trusting person, but each person she tried to group up with ended up betraying her, in a multitude of ways. She threw up mental barriers and became pretty grim and trusted no one. She can talk, but only to people that she likes, and only to one or two people at a time. The bigger the crowd, the quieter she is. But when she gets in a place of being comfortable, she has a lot to say. But in those four months, she said less and less, to the point where some people assumed she was mute. She had to stifle who she was in order to survive, and it took a huge toll on her. The pain of her bottled-up emotions was buried deep.

She's a Christian, and the only thing that kept her going in the apocalypse was clinging onto Christ with all of her might, even if her faith had been shaken by what seemed like the end of the world. She just kept running and fighting for something greater than herself. Save the next person stuck in a building, even if they stole her supplies. Run supplies to different groups of people, even if they then beat her bloody and left her for the zombies. Lead a pack of zombies away from a guy trapped in a tree, even if he then throttled her neck and made it even harder to speak. Give a message to a radio outpost, even if they then dishonored their side of the agreement and held her at gunpoint, rather than just attempt to send airwaves to the States in search of her family. Because if she couldn't do the right thing, and try to stay faithful to her values and Jesus, what good was left in the world?

She ended up at Mullins because, once again, she got betrayed. A group of highway robbers caught her unawares, and she literally ran into some soldiers, who promised to just help her get out of the tight spot, but instead brought her to Mullins and enlisted her. Sour and panicked, she was so uncooperative to the point where they shipped her out to Abel for Project Greenshoot so they wouldn't have to deal with her anymore.

Getting to Abel:

While the apocalypse has been The Worst Thing Ever, getting her helicopter shot down was probably the best thing that ever happened to her in the apocalypse. It was the last thing that she expected, a rocket launcher barreling towards her, after everything she's already been through, and it shook her. For the first time since when she had a depressive episode as a preteen, she just simply wanted to die. Death seemed like the best option as she fell through the air to the sound of hungry zombies beneath her. Everything hurt too much. God wasn't answering her sobbing cries of help every night. She'd given it her all and it still wasn't enough. Gave far more than she took and got hurt every time. If she gave up, everything would just be easier. She was about to accept her death and simply let go of life. It wasn't like she had any friends or family left to love her anymore.

But when that voice crackled into her headset, urging her on and giving her a name, Five, which felt right in a way she couldn't explain, encouraging her- she knew she had to keep going. Life wasn't over yet. There was still hope. So she ran. And the longer that voice, Sam, spoke, the lighter she felt and the less emotionally exhausted she became. A voice in the back of her mind told her that this was the answer to her prayers for a friend, and for help. But she was still incredibly cautious. This seemed like the nicest person in the world, but what if he hurt her? What if she got betrayed again? After all, she knew nothing of who this Sam Yao was, beyond being awkward and sweet and kind of adorable. Wait, adorable? Where had that thought come from?

She wanted to be mistrustful of everyone at Abel when she got there, that was her intent. Especially after the doctor threatened to not let her in. But having those people show her kindness that she hadn't seen in months crumpled her barriers like wet paper. By the time her 8-week training was over she'd sunk right into Abel perfectly. Jody was her good friend who was always up for a hug and a story, Janine was smart and practical and reminded her of her older sister to the point where she started to treat Janine like an older sister, Eugene was a goofball who made bad jokes with her while sympathizing with what she'd been through, and Maxine was a God-send for figuring out how to turn off her survival mode again.

And during that time, she wanted to become friends with Sam, the voice who saved her, so badly. But he was wrapped up in grief from Alice's death. Which she understood. Nina's death still ate at her. Not to mention having no idea if her family was dead or alive. So even though it killed her, because this was the first time she'd wanted to have a friend in forever, she kept her distance to protect him from her brokenness. Because even though she'd lightened up, she still was a woman of few words who held all of her pain back from everyone. Even if that voice in her head saying Sam was God's answer to her problems got stronger and more insistent every day. And even if Maxine told her multiple times that Sam relied on her more than he could express or she could realize. She had to hold back.

Being a Runner: falling for each other

Until the night run in the dark. [fanfic one shot here that will eventually become a twoshot once I finish the post-run debrief.] Where all that slammed through Sam's head was I need a miracle for Five, and all that slammed through Five's was I'm running for Sam. And the moment she crashed into Sam's arms, him sobbing with relief and her sobbing with exhaustion and delirium, was the moment that she realized that she did, in fact, love Sam Yao. And for Sam, that was the moment he realized that he had to become her best friend. And the rest of that night was the first time Five told anyone about her past and her pain and what the apocalypse had been like for her. And Sam was there. As they talked and listened to one another was the moment they firmly became best friends.

Five’s love for Sam only grows in the next few months. But… she doesn’t know what to say, or even think honestly. She’s never been in love before. Ever. She’s, well, she’s scared. Which she knows is stupid. But what do you even say about something like that? ‘Hey Sam, you've chipped away at the hardened exterior that I was forced to adopt bit by bit, and I've become myself again, and you push me to be even better than I was every day. Also I am totally in love with you.'? So she says it in every way besides words. With each moment with Sam. Each gesture is her way of saying I love you. And she runs. For the same reasons as before- her faith. Her trust in God. Her putting goodness back into the terrible world. But now for another reason too. For Sam. For his voice. And even if he doesn't understand it, how he pushes her to trust in her faith even more. Her faith and trust in God are stronger than ever now and she's very strong in it and tries to shine that light to others.

Sam realizes that he loves Five when someone sends Five to die out of spite, as revenge. She's coming back into the gates, angry but not as angry as he is. He's ready to throw down with the person who did that to his runner. Then the way she just grasps his shoulders, locking eyes with him, and reminding him to breathe, he just- falls. So hard and so fast. He knew that this was coming. He's felt it growing since she came back brandishing supplies with the biggest smile in the world for the DnD campaign he was starting. But he ignored it. And now he can't anymore. Because it's Five. His Five. But what do you even say about something like that? ‘Hey Five, you mean everything to me, actually. You've given me something to fight for each day, given me hope when I've had none, and have helped me grow so much and overcome my doubts. I really, really, really love you, more than anyone or anything.’ So he tells her with his words, with every single thing he says. Every voice crack of fear or excitement over comms. Except those three, which are coincidentally, the most important ones. He talks, for the same reason as before. To protect the people he loves. But now for another reason too. For Five. For her running. For who she's pushed him to become. How she's taught him to fight for something even bigger than before.

There is an ending for their story (its REALLY good) but you're just gonna have to wait to read it until I'm done writing it tehehehe! It's more climactic that way. I'll link it here when it's done.

And there we go! A little bit about my Five and her story <3 Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!!

@stellar-collective made my pfp! It's from this fanfic dabble

@tazzy-zooming the incredible made another drawing of her that I adore

Ao3

[bitethehnd]

I loved loved love the "miss americana and the heartbreak prince !" thing you wrote, could you do one for Naomi too?

*₊˚ ♫ 𖦹 lavender haze !

pairing : naomi mcpherson x popstar!reader

cw : basically just taylor swift!reader (obvs no physical appearance description), all fluff!

julien’s version 💜

i think reader and naomi met in a different way than the julien x popstar!reader did (that fic linked before the cut <3)

you and naomi met when you asked muna to open for you at the eras tour. you were planning to release midnights very soon, so you and your team were setting up your next tour. since the tour was going to be super long, you had to have many openers, but muna was your top pick

you had been a secret fan of muna for so long. when you had first come to terms with your queerness all those years ago, their songs were the ones to help you accept yourself while also dealing with the spotlight of being a famous singer

right after the release of one of your biggest albums, 1989, it had been leaked to the public that you were dating your best friend secret girlfriend. the media went into a frenzy, being constantly bombarded with homophobic rhetoric of the world. you disappeared for a whole year, to which no one even saw your face, but then clapped back with reputation. your career boomed after that, and you were adored by so many people yet again

naomi, and the rest of muna, had also been a big fan of yours for years. they loved how you so freely accepted yourself, even when the media tried to take you down, and you didn’t care what anyone thought. you were the biggest queer artist in the world and it showed

as you were contacting your pick of openers for the eras tour, muna was the first your team emailed. the band replied back within the day, saying they would be honored to perform for you, and the deal was set

you definitely wanted to meet them before the tour started, so you sneakily got their numbers and asked if they would want to come over and have lunch. you said it was in the premise of getting to know them, but you really just wanted to meet your favorite band

they of course agreed to lunch and the next day they came over. you considered asked phoebe to join you, since she was also another opener and a close friend of yours, but decided against it

the lunch went amazing, to your surprise. they were lovely people. all of you had more in common than you previously thought. you gushed about their music and vice versa

there was some underlying tension between you and naomi from the beginning. as soon as they walked through your door, they greeted you with a tight hug. you could feel the outline of their muscles through their shirt, and they could feel your chest pressing up against their abdominal. it drove you crazy from the start but neither of you said anything. you didn’t want to complicate things for the tour by flirting with them while they thought you were just being friendly

and just like that, you guys all became great friends. there was a groupchat made that you all texted in daily. you gave them updates on midnights and the eras tour while they gave you updates on their own tour

when you were at the studio finishing the final touches on your song ‘vigilante shit,’ you just couldn’t get the guitar right. every single combination of chords you tried didn’t sound right. you complained to them about it in your groupchat and naomi offered to come in and help you. you obviously said yes, and they made their way to your recording studio

when naomi got to your studio, you two immediately got to work. you sang the lyrics to give them an idea of the vibe of the song. as you sang, you both held eye contact with each other the whole time. the song had undertones of sexual references and it made the tension in the room amplify. as soon as you were done, naomi played a riff on their guitar for a starting point. your eyes immediately widened and you loved it. you both worked until the song was perfected, even getting naomi to sing some backing vocals for you

when midnights was released the next week, fans went crazy when they found out naomi was the one playing the guitar in the background of your vocals. rumors immediately started circling but neither of you mentioned it, too scared to make the other uncomfortable in anyway

flash forward to when the eras tour was announced. naomi reposted so many pictures of the announcement and raved about you nonstop. it made you laugh but also a bit flustered. you and all your openers were just so excited to get started

muna and paramore opened for the first night of your tour in arizona (okay i know muna didn’t open that show but let a girl be delusional). paramore was obviously fucking amazing i’m a slut for haley williams and then muna went on after. you watched from right behind the stage and danced the whole time. you couldn’t keep your eyes off of naomi’s fingers. the way they plucked the guitar made you hot in the face

you pushed your thoughts away as you went on next and sang your heart out. you started crying on stage from all the cheering and love you felt

as the tour progressed and the more time you spent with naomi, it kept getting more difficult to contain yourself. you had never felt this much yearning in your life. from the way they made your cheeks hurt from laughing so much to how they looked while they gazed down at you with soft eyes, you were whipped. it kept getting harder and harder to be professional

it was a couple shows into the tour and you started to feel the exhaust creeping up. you had to keep a certain persona one while on stage, but when you were no longer in front of a stadium full of people, you collapsed. at that moment, you were sprawled on the couch in your dressing room, trying to take your platform boots off. as if they knew you needed them, naomi knocked on the door and walked into the room

you gave them an exhausted smile, still struggling with the shoes. “need some help there, sweetheart?” they laughed out in amusement. you gave them a deadpan look and they chuckled again, kneeling in front of you to tug your boots off. after the horrendous things were off your feet, you leaned back on the couch with a satisfied sigh. naomi stayed kneeling in front of you, massaging your tired legs

“what’re you doing?” you whispered out. “just helping you relax. you put too much stress on yourself, princess.” you felt your ears heat up at all the pet names. they had always called you those sweet things, but in your tired state, it was affecting you more

“mmh, come here,” you groaned and held your arms out. they laughed and obeyed your request, sitting down next to you on the couch and pulling you into their chest. you let out a hum and snuggled into them. they gazed down at you with affection that you couldn’t see

eventually, you opened your eyes and looked up at them. you were surprised to see them already looking at you. “what?” “nothing. you just look pretty, is all,” they said and tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. you scoffed, “shut up. i’m all sweaty and gross.” “still pretty.”

you didn’t know what to say next, so you just looked up at them. you both just stared at each other for a moment. you leaned in and naomi leaned in, neither taking action. but naomi made the decision for both of you, pressing their soft lips against yours. you had no time to contemplate the consequences, giving in and kissing them back fiercely. they smirked into your mouth at your desperation and deepened the kiss, pushing their tongue into your mouth

you suddenly pulled away. “wait, wait, wait.” “what? did i do something wrong?” you wanted to coo at naomi’s thoughtfulness. “no, nom, it’s not that. i just… don’t what this to affect the tour, y’know?” they nodded in understanding. “yeah, i get it. but i like you, sweetheart. i really, really like you. and if you don’t feel the same, we can forget this ever happened and—” you cut naomi’s rambling off with a kiss on their lips, effectively shutting them up. “i like you too.”

and with that, you two started to try to work things out. it was a slow start, since you two were in the midst of a tour, but it was nice. you had never felt this kind of connection before. with naomi's dirty jokes that always made you giggle a bit before smacking their shoulder, or the way they snuck into your tour bus almost every night

by the middle of the tour, you two were in full blown honeymoon stage. sure, it was quick, but you two spent almost every waking moment together. okay maybe you guys were u-haul lesbians

no one knew you two were a couple except for a handful of people. it was nice for a while, getting your privacy from the watchful eyes, but you both wanted to show each other off. maybe you two would post subtle pictures on your stories or hold hands while getting coffee at a rest stop. i can so see naomi posting a photo of just your hands, their fingers interlaced with yours with a little heart next to them. fans definitely notice your eras tour colored nails and instantly know it’s you. twitter goes WILDDD

singing directly to them while they sit in the vip section during love songs ('lover,' 'lavender haze,' 'cruel summer,' 'enchanted,' 'new romantics') <333 naomi knows the songs are about your exes but it doesn't matter, because now they have a new meaning. and also making side eyes at them during horny songs ('i can see you,' 'false god,' 'so it goes...'). they lose their shit every time you perform 'vigilante shit.' like they see you do the chair dance every show, but it still gets them. jo definitely takes pictures of naomi's face every time 😭

sometimes you bring muna on for certain songs. like if you feature them in some of your vault tracks (they give 1989 vibes but maybe that's just me). like dancing up against naomi during the song being horny on the mainnn and people eat it up. the internet exclusively refers to you guys as mother and father

you definitely let them pick your surprise songs. like they make a subtle suggestion and it's immediately being on the list for the night

phoebe and jo being disgusted by you guys but katie, lucy and julien think it's absolutely adorable. like maybe you two are cuddling up on the couch while the others are also there, giggling to yourselves quietly. phoebe literally saying "at this point just fuck" and jo starts laughing hysterically. katie and lucy slapping them on the shoulders while julien tries to hide her quiet giggles. naomi smirks and wiggles their eyebrows at the suggestion, to which you shove their face playfully

there are so many photos of you posing in your glittery bodysuits, naomi's hand always on your ass. they can't help it; the tights make your legs look amazing

you were known to be quite the schemer. you dropped easter eggs for your next project in almost everything. soon enough, naomi joins in on the shenanigans since you obviously tell them all your next moves. in every gayotic episode they say something sneaky with a giddy smile on their face. most of the time jo and katie aren't even in on it and they just end up as confused as everyone else

once the u.s. leg of your tour is over, you take a much needed break for about a year. during this time, you attend so many of muna's solo concerts. fans always spot you in the vip dancing and singing along to their songs. you two are so cute fr

© bitethehnd

[crazyunsexycool]

My Little Love

Chapter 30

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

word count: 4.4K

Warnings: Angst, Sad Bucky, Sad kids, Angry Charlotte, Implied torture, Lottie says a bad word🤭, Implied Bucky turns into the Winter Soldier, Charlotte arguing (low-key my favorite part to write)

A/N: OMG I never thought any of my series would get to 30 chapters. I love this story so much though so here were are. Initially I was going to turn each month reader was gone into a chapter but I really wanted to be able to reunite them quickly so here we are. Also new character is introduced! Also I'm a liar, I said I would be updating one of my other series but oh well!!!!

Series Masterlist

It had been a long exhausting month since you had been taken. Everyone on the team was pushing themselves to their limits in the hopes of finding something that would lead them to your whereabouts. 

Steve had just come back to the tower after almost nine days of following a lead. The whole situation was eating him up inside. You were his best friend after all. What was he supposed to do if they couldn’t find you? Steve wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of loss for a second time, not after Bucky. 

He had been exhausted when he got back and managed to take a shower before falling asleep on his bed. Steve was out within seconds and he was in such a deep sleep that he didn’t hear the door opening or the pitter patter of small feet that moved towards his bed. It took a few seconds of something shaking him for him to wake up startled.

“Oh shit.” He mumbled as his eyes adjusted to the dark. 

“Shit.” 

Steve groaned when he heard Lottie repeat the curse worse.  

“Shit Steebie.”

“You can’t say that word sweetheart.” 

“Steebie say it.” She argues.

“Yes but it’s a bad word only for grown ups.” Steve says as he finally looks over at Lottie. She was standing by his bed with her teddy bear clutched in her arms and her favorite blanket wrapped around her shoulders almost like a cape. “What are you doing up?” Steve asked her as he checked his phone to see that he had only slept for an hour and it was still two in the morning. 

“Can habe seepover with Steebie?” 

“Of course you can.” Steve says.

He picks Lottie up and lays her down on the bed with him. It’s the first time he’s seen her in over a week and it’s obvious that you being gone has affected her. She’s lost a bit of weight, there are dark circles under her eyes and she just looks overall sad. Although that also had to do with her visions. Lottie almost lost her voice a few days after you had been taken from all the crying and screaming she was doing. Wanda had managed to block her visions but when they were strong enough they still got through. 

“Where’s Henry, sweetheart?” 

“Bubba is with gwandpa.”

“And your dad?” Steve brushed some hair away from Lottie’s face.

“Dada say bye bye an den he go.” 

“What?” Steve cursed under his breath. “Friday, where is Bucky?” 

“Sergeant Barnes has left the building. He’s been gone for three hours.” 

Steve grabs his phone and messages Sam, Nat and Tony who were the only people in the tower at the moment. He let them know he was with Charlotte and that Bucky was gone. Nat replied that she was on it and he was able to turn his attention back to his best girl. 

“Alright Lottie, let’s get comfy so we can sleep.” Steve grabs his blanket to cover Lottie up while she snuggles up to his side.  

She hums a lullaby you would normally sing to her while she is going to sleep and Steve plays with her hair.  

“Miss mama Steebie.” Lottie says after a few minutes of silence. The small whispered confession breaks his heart. 

“I know sweetheart. I miss her too, but we’re going to find her and bring her back.” 

“Kay.” Lottie says with a yawn. 

This time Steve hums the lullaby and it doesn’t take long for Lottie to fall asleep and Steve soon follows.

****

When Steve finally wakes up the next morning he finds he’s been abandoned by Lottie although her blanket is still tangled up with his. He walks out to the living room to find her in his living room watching some cartoons all by herself. She’s laying down on the couch

“Good morning, sweetheart.” 

Lottie gives him a smile as she reaches for him. Steve gladly picks her up and places a kiss on the top of her head. He tickles her side and she giggles and squirms and Steve realizes he hadn’t heard her laugh in a long time. 

There’s a knock on the door before it just swings open. Nat walks in with a grim expression followed by Eddie, Molly, Luke, Olivia and Henry. Steve puts Lottie down so that she can go to her brother and cousin. The three kids sit on the couch while the adults head to the dining room so that they can talk. 

“What’s wrong?” Steve asks as he sits down.

“I reached out to a few contacts I have. Word is the Winter Soldier is looking to get into contact with a high ranking hydra agent. The worst part is that there are rumors that he already has a meeting set up.”

“Then what are we waiting for, we have to go stop him.” Steve got up but it was Ed that stopped him from rushing out. 

“We wouldn’t make it to the meeting place on time but don’t worry I have someone that’s going to meet him instead and bring him back.” 

“I think you need to stay, Steve.” Ed adds. “I know it’s a lot to ask and that you want to go out there and find Y/N.” He gets choked up as he says your name. “But the kids need someone here at least for a few days.” 

“We’re doing everything we can for them.” Molly adds with a sad smile. “But they miss their mama and the rest of the family. Lottie had asked for you so many times over the last few days. We almost lost our minds when we couldn’t find her this morning. Fortunately Friday let us know she was here with you. I think the kids seeing Bucky so distraught over not being able to bring Y/N back yet is affecting them so much. They could use someone they’re more familiar with, even if it’s just for a little while, maybe just an afternoon.”

“You need to rest anyway, son. Y/N wouldn’t want you to run yourself to the ground either, especially if there aren’t any leads.” 

Steve nods his silent agreement and then sighs. His shoulders slump and for the first time he looks as tired as he feels. 

“Ok, I can stay with the kids. Nat you’ll keep me updated?” 

“Of course.”

“Alright. I’m going to head out to the store for a moment and I’ll be back to spend time with the kids.” 

Steve came back to his apartment in the tower about an hour later. His hands were full of art supplies since all of their things had been destroyed when the compound was attacked. 

“Hey guys.” Steve says as he walks over to Henry and Lottie who were sitting on his couch. “How about we paint something?” 

“Yeah.” 

Lottie smiles up at Steve. Henry however doesn’t say anything. He sits there quietly with a pout.

“What do you say Henry?”  

“I don’t wanna.” 

“Ok bubs you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” Steve says. “Lottie, let's go to the table.” 

Lottie hops off the couch and heads to the table. There’s a little bit more of a bounce to her step and Steve can’t help but smile. He lays everything out with Lottie’s help. Henry stands in the hallway and watches them set up. 

“What are you gonna paint, sweetheart?” 

“Make suwpwise fo’ mama.” 

Steve freezes but he hopes that Lottie’s statement is because she saw you coming home soon. It gives him a bit of hope that you will be.

“That will be nice, I know she’ll love it.” 

“Can I make something for mama?” Henry asks quietly. 

“Of course you can bubs. What do you want to make for her?” 

“The compound exploded right?” 

Steve clears his throat. “Yeah it did.” 

“Then I’ll make mama a new flower painting.” 

“That sounds like a great idea.” 

Henry takes a seat while Steve places some art supplies in front of him. He goes between both kids, helping them with whatever they need. It turned out to be a good time. There’s no worry about anything going on, just some paints and joking around. Steve hadn’t realized that he’d needed this just as much as the kids. 

“Mama comes home. I see it.” Lottie says and pats to her head. 

Hearing it floods Steve with relief. How he knows that it happens he just hopes it’s soon.

Bucky’s eyes dart from side to side as he walks down the mostly abandoned streets. Undercover of night he makes his way to the agreed upon meeting place. He only hoped this would work. There was no way he or the kids or even the team and your family could go another day without you. If Bucky could at least get a hint at your whereabouts he would walk in there by himself to save you. 

Bucky slips through a rusty door that leads into an abandoned factory. He had made sure to scope it out earlier and made sure to know all the exits just in case. With a quick sweep to make sure there weren’t any surprises Bucky makes it down the hallway on the second floor to the agreed upon meeting place. Bucky has a plan, he just hopes it actually works.

“There’s no use in hiding, I can hear your heart beating.” Be said into the dimly lit and abandoned room. 

A woman steps out from the shadows. Her blonde hair was in a braid, green eyes scrutinized his every move. She was standing in a calm but almost defensive position. 

“You’re who they sent?” 

“Yes, is that a problem?” The Russian accent put Bucky on alert; he just wasn’t sure why. 

“No, you just seem young.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders. 

“What do you want, Soldat?” She asks. 

“I want to make a trade. I’ll go back to hydra if you let her go.” 

“Let who go?” 

“Don’t play with me.” Bucky’s jaw clenched. “Y/N, you have her and I want to trade places with her. Just let her go and I’ll do whatever you want.” 

“I’m sorry, I don’t have this Y/N person you speak of.” 

Bucky takes a few steps when he hears movement behind him. He turns with a gun aimed in that direction ready to shoot at whoever is there. 

“What the fuck are you doing here, Romanoff?” Bucky grits out. 

“Do you really think we would let you do something this stupid.” 

“Hi.” A more cheerful and sing-songy greeting comes from the blonde. 

“I see you’ve met my sister.” 

“Your sister?” 

“Yeah, this is Yelena. My baby sister and a baby ex-widow.” Nat says knowing how much it annoys Yelena to be introduced like that.

“I am not a baby.” Yelena complains and Nat rolls her eyes with a smirk. 

“Wilson, are we clear?” Nat listens to her comms. “We’ll meet you at the jet.” 

“What the fuck is going on?”

“Barnes I’ll explain on the jet but we are going home now.” 

“I’m not going home. I’m trying to get Y/N back.” Bucky argues.

“Ok let’s say you manage to get back into hydra do you really think they’ll let her go? And let’s say they actually do, do you think she won’t go right back to looking for you?” 

“I don’t know but I have to try. I’d rather it be me dealing with what those monsters do than having to sit at home not being able to save her. Do you know what it’s like to have to calm a 4 year old’s visions about her mother being tortured? I need to save her.” Bucky argues. He’s red in the face as he tries to explain it to Nat. 

“I get it but getting yourself captured won’t help her and the kids. Let’s go home, we’re so close to finding her. Lottie had a vision that she came home, so we know Y/N is alive.”

“She did?” 

“Yes, it’s the first sign of good news we’ve gotten. But we have to go home. Now you can go willingly or I can force you. It's your choice.”

Bucky stares at the red head and then gives a quick nod. Nat and Yelena accompany Bucky back to the jet where Sam is waiting. 

“What is wrong with you? This isn’t the way to get Y/N back.” Sam starts saying as Bucky sits down. “What about the kids man?” 

“Save it, Nat already said everything.” 

Sam scowls at Bucky before taking a seat in the pilot’s seat and flying them back to the tower. 

**** 

“Dada.” Lottie runs towards Bucky once he’s gotten out of the plane. “Hi Yewena.” Lottie waves at the blonde. 

“So the Winter Soldier has a kid? And she knows my name?” 

“Two actually.” Nat corrects. “And she can see the future. She knew you were coming.”

Yelena nods impressed by the information.

“Hey Lottie, your auntie Sophia said she wanted to braid your hair. Why don’t you go downstairs and find her?” Steve says but his eyes are focused on Bucky. 

“Kay. Auntie Nat wets go.” 

“Alright munchkin, maybe Yelena will let you give her a makeover.” 

“I don’t need a makeover.” 

“It’s fun Yewena.” 

“Yeah, it’s fun.” Nat laughs as Lottie takes both of their hands and leads them inside. 

“What the fuck were you thinking?” 

“I was thinking of getting Y/N back. Every minute we sit here she's being tortured by hydra and who knows what else.” Bucky snaps. 

Steve just shook his head. “You're not thinking clearly and if you don’t get your shit together for Y/N and the kids sake I’ll have you benched.” 

“You can’t pull me out of this.” 

“Then don’t pull another stunt like this one. We need to be clear headed and focused if we want to get Y/N back fast.” Steve says before walking back in. 

Things had gone from bad to worse. Two months had passed and still nothing on where hydra was keeping you. The kids had grown more restless the longer you were gone. Especially Charlotte. Wanda had to block her abilities so that she could eat and sleep. Every now and then though the visions were too strong and she’d get a glimpse of what you were going through. If Wanda wasn’t around it would be difficult to figure out what she saw. Except for now where Lottie was trying to get Bucky’s attention and he was exhausted. 

“Dada mama cwying.” She says from across the coffee table. “Wumwow is bad man.” 

“I know Charlotte. I know mama is crying.” 

“Habe to help mama.” Lottie says with urgency as she points to the door. 

“We talked about this Charlotte, we don’t know where mama is yet.” 

Bucky gets up and starts heading to his room. Lottie gets up on the coffee table with an angry expression on her face. She definitely wants to get his attention as she stands there with her hands on her hips.

“Wumwow is bad man, dada. Habe to help.” 

“Charlotte that’s enough.” Bucky says as he turns to look at her. If you were here you’d make some comment about how much they looked alike with matching pouts.

“Not ‘nough dada. You no wisten.” She stamps her foot on the table and the wood creaks. Her hands balled into fists at her side. 

“Charlotte, we are trying to find mama. Now get off the table.”

“No. You no wisten. You bad, dada.” She points at him and stomps her foot again with all the fury a four year old with super soldier serum can and the table breaks. 

Bucky is right there to catch her before she falls. The sudden almost drop and Bucky’s movement scare Lottie and she begins to cry. 

“I’m sorry doll.” Bucky says with a broken voice. “I’m so sorry.” 

Charlotte thrashes against him and punches him in the chest repeatedly. 

“No wike you. You bad, dada.” 

With tears in his eyes he puts Charlotte down and she runs to the front door, leaving Bucky to wallow in his anger and ever dwindling hope that he’ll find you and get to hold you again. Now he had to add on to that, that his children would resent him because he couldn’t dig himself out of this hole. You would surely be upset with him about it if you saw him like this. Still Bucky can’t do anything but sit with the heaviness in his chest and the knowledge that it’s his fault his family has fallen apart. He runs a hand through his now much longer hair as he thinks about how to fix this.

With everyday that passes Henry retreats into himself. He can’t hear your name without crying. Lottie is always upset and frustrated that she can’t explain what she's seeing. Now add to it that she apparently hates Bucky. 

“Buck.” Steve’s voice broke through his anguish. “We have a lead.” 

Bucky looked up to see Steve with Lottie in his arms. She doesn’t seem upset anymore and Bucky wonders how much time had passed.

“What’s the lead?” 

“Rumlow. Lottie heard his name in a vision.” 

“Wumwow.” Bucky muttered as he realized what Lottie had been trying to tell him. 

“Yeah, and Tony started a search and we’ve gotten some hits of either mentions of him and a few sightings. We thought he was dead after D.C. but I guess not. We’re going to start planning on how to bring him in. Right now he’s our best shot at finding Y/N and bringing her back.” 

For the first time this was a real chance and a ray of hope that this nightmare could be over soon. 

“I’ll be down soon. I need to talk to Charlotte first.” 

“Take however long you need.” Steve sets Lottie on the floor and walks out.

“C’mere doll.” 

Lottie steps in between her dads legs as he sits on the couch. 

“I’m so sorry baby. You’re just trying to help mama and I didn’t listen.”  

“Is kay. Dada sad too.” She says as she plays with the hem of his shirt. 

“I am sad but I should still listen. Now why don’t we go find Rumlow so we can help mama?” 

“Kay.” 

“I love you so much sweet Angel.” Bucky hugs her as she sniffles at hearing your nickname for her. 

“You not bad dada.” 

“I haven’t been a great dad though, doll. I’m sorry you and your brother deserve better.” 

“Is kay, lobe you dada.” Lottie wraps her arms around Bucky’s neck and kisses his cheek.

“I love you too, doll.” 

It’s like Bucky had lost consciousness and control over his body. It was worse than sleepwalking. But it didn’t matter if he got the answers he wanted. He struggled against whoever was holding him back. 

“Bucky, listen to me. You need to calm down, this isn’t going to solve anything yet.” It was Steve’s voice that helped lift the fog he had been living in. 

When Bucky blinked back into the moment and looked around he realized he was somewhere unknown. His eyes turned to Steve in a silent question of what happened.

“Seems like you’re still a lapdog soldat.” 

Bucky turned to look at whoever said it only to find someone beaten tied to a chair. His skin was black and blue and blood was dried around his nose and mouth. 

“You found Rumlow, do you remember?” 

Bucky just shook his head. But note his cold dark gaze was on the man that could tell him where you are. He steps forward but Steve stops him. 

“Remember the mission is finding Y/N. Not killing him.” 

“That’s right, soldat.” Rumlow taunted. “If you want to know where your girl is you better listen to your handler.” 

In two long strides Bucky was in front of Brock and with one punch he was laid on his back still tied to the chair. Rumlow groaned as the pain bloomed in his face. Sam pulled him and his chair back up. Bucky hadn’t even noticed that Sam was in the room. 

“Do whatever you need to do to get an exact location.” Steve says. “You can get rid of him after we’ve brought her home.” 

“You can’t do that.” 

Rumlow fought against his restraints. He yelled and pleaded with Steve as he and Sam walked out of the room. 

“What was it that you said about listening to my handler?” Bucky’s eyes darkened as he grabbed a knife and flipped it back and forth. Toying with it as he walked closer to his prisoner. “Where is she?” 

“Fuck you.” 

Bucky huffed a laugh. “I’m so glad you’re going to put up a fight. Now you’ll get a taste of everything Hydra did to me.” 

This would be the final briefing. It took almost another month to find the exact location. Rumlow had tried to send them on a wild goose chase but he learned his lesson fairly quickly. 

“So it would work best if our team heads down toward hydra’s compound from the east.” Agent Ross said. 

As much as Bucky didn’t want to see any CIA agents again both Sharon and Ross offered their help. T’Challa and Shuri were also joining to provide back up. They were currently at the briefing via video chat along with Okoye. Fury even asked for Charlotte to be present in case she got a vision of the mission. 

“No.” Lottie shakes her head as she sits on Wanda’s lap and looks up at her, waiting for the witch to read her mind. 

“Did Rumlow say anything about the village that surrounds the compound.” 

“No, he only gave me the layout of the buildings, all entrances and patrols.” 

“Hm,” Wanda’s eyes still flowed red as she read Lottie’s mind. “Seems like the village works with hydra. Most of the people that work at the compound live there.” 

“So instead of quietly evacuating everyone we have to make sure they don’t warn anyone in the main buildings.” Ross said.

“Leave that to me, I can cut all of their communication without it affecting us.” Shuri says. 

“Good. Then we should move the drop off point for Ross and his team to here.” Steve points at a Forest north of the village. 

“We can handle that.” 

“All teams must be at their entry points at the same time. From what Rumlow said this is the biggest facility Hydra has and has been in operation for decades.” 

“That means there is a chance for there to be other test subjects in there. We’ll do our best to not harm them but if they attack first you must defend yourself.” 

“Wilson, Vision, Rhodes and Stark you’ll be responsible for any aircraft that try to lift off. We can’t give anyone the chance to escape.” 

They all nod and for the rest of the briefing Fury makes sure everyone knows their rolls. 

****

It had been exactly three months since you were taken. And this was the day Bucky would bring you back. Everyone was getting on the jet after saying their goodbyes to the kids and your family. 

Bucky was kneeling in front of them and hugging them both. He could feel the nervous energy rolling off of Henry. 

“Maybe I can help. I can turn people invisible.” He offers as he looks at his dad. 

Bucky smiles but shakes his head. 

“Thank you for offering to help save your mama but I know she’d want you to be safe more than anything else.” Bucky cupped Henry’s cheek. “I’m sorry I haven’t been the best dad bubs. But I’ll make it up to you once I’m back ok?” 

“It’s ok daddy. I love you.” 

“I love you too.” Bucky hugs Henry again. “I love you too doll.” Bucky turns his attention to Lottie. 

“Lobe you too dada.” 

“Once mama is back and healthy we’ll have a sleepover just the four of us ok.” 

“Yeah.” Lottie did a little happy dance. “Dada?” 

“Yeah, doll?” 

Lottie’s eyebrows furrow before she blinks rapidly a few times. “Mama is not kay. Bad man make her mad.” 

Bucky wasn’t sure what to do with the information so he just nodded at her.

“Ok doll, I have to go now but I’ll be back soon and mama will be back ok.” 

“Okay.” 

“Kay.” 

Bucky stood and walked up to Eddie who held his hand out. They shook but Eddie pulled him in a bit and put his free hand on Bucky’s shoulder. 

“Listen son, I want my girl to come back home already and I know you’ll do whatever it takes.”

Bucky nodded.

“But don’t you dare do some sacrifice play for her, you hear me. She’ll need you as she recovers and if she finds out something happened to you because you were rescuing her she’ll never forgive herself. So you make sure that when she comes back you’re right there with her. Understood?” 

“Yes sir.” 

“Be careful out there. We need you just as much as we need Y/N.” Ed said before giving Bucky a quick hug. 

Bucky jogs out to the jet and takes a seat next to Steve. During the whole flight he doesn’t say a word. His focus is making sure he gets you out no matter what. 

Of course hydra wouldn’t go down without a fight. Around every corner there was another group of agents ready to lay down their lives for this evil organization. That didn’t stop or slow Bucky down. He had one mission and that was finding you. At some point he must have separated from his team without realizing it. 

He had just walked out of an exam room when there was movement at the end of the otherwise abandoned hallway. With his gun raised Bucky moved quickly and quietly in hope to find someone or something that would lead him to you. 

“Stop. Turn around slowly.” Bucky orders. 

His breath hitches when the man turns around and pulls you along. He uses you as a human shield. You are dressed in a tattered old hospital gown. Your hair was matted and knotted and your hands were cuffed behind your back. 

“Y/N?” Bucky called out. 

You didn’t respond, instead your eyes stayed fixated at a point on the ground. Bucky could see how tired you looked. He couldn’t begin to imagine what they must've done to you. 

“She’s an obedient little thing now. She won’t do anything unless she’s told to do so. But you remember those days don’t you, Soldat?” The man behind you laughs at the distressed look on Bucky’s face. “She’s been so much fun to play with.”

He drops the ironclad hold he had on your neck and releases the cuffs you had on. He leans into your ear and murmurs something. 

Your murderous gaze snaps up to Bucky’s.

Ch. 31

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[not-5-rats]

Marco x Poet Bug, they'd be so cute, they'd be so perfect...they'd be so sad (lil warning I'm no poet, so any mentions of poetry/ attempts are gonna be poor at best- also the flower meanign are at the end!! ^^)

So this is set in a universe where Bugs time with the boys lasted a bit longer so they spent more time with the boys, apart from that most is the same...oh and Bug didn't run into Marco before the arena! They just ran in on their own!!

☆×.------------------------.×☆

"To my darling Lotus"

☆---------------☆

It'd been a while

He'd been busy recently, he'd go off on an adventure then when the time came for him to return home he'd be dragged off elsewhere. This lead to an...extended period away, it was hard, on both Bug and Marco

They hadn't been close for long but the time they'd spent together was unlike anything either had ever experienced. It was awkward when they first met, given Bugs initial hesitation to interact, but they quickly got over that when Marco noted the poem Bug was writing from their spot on the bed. The two quickly bonded over discussions of poetry, as well as other things...though poetry was the primary subject of their talks It was clear from the beginning...that the two were doomed destined to meet.

The two used to spend every moment Marco was home together, no matter what they had to do they stayed together. Like two beetles scuttling through life side by side. But now...he was barely around...I guess that's why he was so shocked when he found it

Marco had finally found time to come home, after a few months he could finally return. He hadn't expected much, maybe a hug waiting near the door, or an update on how everyone's doing, but what he found in the hutt was less than that...he found nothing.

There was nobody home, not even a hint of life left in the home. Marco paused in the doorway for a moment, trying to think of where everyone may be? Maybe they were napping, or maybe they were out! So they made their through the house, gently knocking on each door and when he got no response they'd peer inside...only to find nobody there. Each time the door closed Marco's mind grew worried, his footsteps became hurried and harsh on the floor, until they ended up back in the main room

They tried to stay calm, tried not to assume the worst but...well Bug didn't do this, they always knew when Marco was hoping to return so they always left some kind of sign...but today there was no sign!...at least Marco believed there wasn't, as they began to look around once more he spotted it

A small note lay on the small table just by the door, breathing a sigh of relief Marco retrieved the paper and peeled it open...but as he read the dread sunk back in

☆---------------

'To my darling Lotus,

Things haven't been perfect since you left, Timmy's in a bit of bother and I have to go help him out. I don't want to tell you where I'm going, as I don't want you to try and follow me, I need you to stay safe even if I cannot do the same. I hope to see you soon my love, however if I don't-

If I bid farewell to tonight's moon

Then never greet tomorrow's sun

Do not cry for what my future holds

But smile as you think of all I have done

~

Your life will move on, days will pass

The sun will shine, the moon will shift the tide

But as long as you keep me within your mind

I shall remain here with you, right at your side

~

Even if I never say those words again

Or if another tells you what I cannot

No matter how long my body lays still

I love you dearly and that love shall not rot

I love you Marco, even if I'm not here, I love you

Farewell for now

- your sweet Cyclamen'

☆---------------

...unfortunately Bug didn't come home, they never got out of the arena. Bodie and Timmy returned, the told him all about what happened...all about how their lover met their end

Marco tried to accept what happened, they tried to listen to what Bug asked of them...but they struggled. Life seemed to still when he realised they were gone, forever, they would never return. He would read their poem every night, their voice reading it out in their mind...except slowly it shifted, as his memory betrayed them, their voice began but a faint idea as the voice changed to their own. The day he forgot what they sounded like was the day they lost themself, he didn't want to forget, it was one of Bugs final asks...no...they couldn't forget

Time passed as Bug said it would, and Marco kept his promise, they remembered Bug and made sure others would know the circumstances of their death, they died doing what they saw as right...they deserved to be remembered, much more than he ever would

☆---------------☆

Flower Meanings -

Lotus;

Purity

Calmness & Awareness

Wisdom

Rebirth - coming out of a dark, harsh state and emerging into a life of joy & light (new beginnings)

Cyclamen;

Everlasting Love

Sincere Affection

Tenderness ans Care

Love that will withstand Rough/ Challenging Situations

[cas-backwards-tie]

I'm new to you page and wa wondering if you had discontinued the pack plan series as its brilliant:))

Ahhh, well, welcome! 💖🥰🫂 We’re so glad to have you here! I want to thank you for reaching out and asking 💕 I always appreciate asks! Even when they’re not related to my fics.

TOPP is definitely still in the works! And because you asked so nicely and cared to inquire, I feel like I owe it to all of you all to post a snippet of the next chapter! 🙌🏻 Because I definitely realize and know how long you guys have been waiting! I’ll post the snippet and then I also can give you an update about the fic/where I’m at, at the bottom.

Snippet of Ch.2:

"Why wouldn't you just tell us?!" Soap grits out, his voice taking on a dark tone as he turns his once sky blue, now stormy, eyes on you. "Do you realize what position you've gone and put us in?"

“Yeah, and what position’s that?” You engage, turning to square off against Johnny, the both of you only a foot apart since you’d been standing next to each other in line.

You’re met with a low warning growl, the motion of his hand balling up into a fist at his side not being missed by your peripheral vision. Despite your defiance not being unusual within the team, your designation now, is known, and an Omega standing up to an Alpha? Not taken kindly upon. Nor is it taken lightly. Regardless, they’re not your Alphas, and that means they have no claim over what you do or say. And while there’s always the risk of an Alpha disciplining an unruly, unclaimed Omega, you’re willing to take it.

"It's your fault, really," Ghost eggs on, making everyone whip their heads in his direction.

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

[If you don’t know what this is in reference too, here’s the masterlist for the series in question!]

So the reason why I haven’t posted the chapter yet is for a few reasons 💕 One, from a writing standpoint this one is quite longer, and I want it to be amazing for you guys! When I was writing the first chapter I had a friend to help me with the dialogue (which is why I feel I really struggle) and rn I don’t, so I think I’ve been nervous about that a bit.

But also, because in my real life there’s been a lot of major changes recently. In September I found out that I have CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) which, is basically like mold sickness but, like, permanent. So I’ve been trying to find somewhere safe to move/detox from the mold w meds bc my body can’t on its own, and I’m actually just finally moving into my new apartment on Sunday! 💖🙌🏻 so that’s cool.

Besides that, I also got diagnosed with, like, idk, I guess it’s a disability, technically, and the fact that I’ve been struggling my whole life with it but never knew has been… kind of mind blowing tbh? Like I haven’t told anyone except one person about it—not even my best friends yet—bc it’s been a lot to work through since… I guess I’ve technically had this my whole life but only now know at 25? 😅🤯

So it’s been a lot of working on my health both physically, mentally, and with moving, my family, Christmas coming up, and trying to find a job/support myself even day-to-day, it’s been kind of taxing tbh balancing everything. And that’s not even mentioning the little social life I do have 😅😭🙈 So while I know it’s frustrating waiting, and I’m sorry that it’s taken so long, I do want to be open and tell you guys what’s going on behind the scenes 💕 Granted, I know not everyone necessarily cares, and that’s okay! If you did read all this, though, I appreciate you and hope you have an amazing day!

Your ask, though, Nonnie definitely is inspiring me to sit down and really finish the next two chapters bc I have both laid out- one nearly finished, the other will be shorter (I think?) because of the plot point it’s mostly about 💕 I will say though, too, it does make me a bit anxious not having had a whole plan for this fic unlike the others which I’ve sort of started writing with a whole plot in mind 😂🙈💖 so I just hope you guys will continue to love it ask much as you’ve loved the first chapter! I genuinely have never received as much love on a work than that one chapter, alone! So I am truly grateful 💖

[taradactyls]

Progress Update for Trying to Tread Water

Welp, we all got better, and then sick again within a week. So I didn't write enough to feel ready to post the chapter before illness got me. Pretty mildly, but fatigue is a big factor and when you combine that with caring for two toddlers... yeah.

So, below is a (largely unedited) sneak peak for you, of the chapter which has unintentionally turned into a little bit of a tour guide of the route from London to Derby.

I thought I would do a paragraph or two of the journey, but then I wanted to know a few villages I could name drop (the same way Jane Austen does with Oxford, Warwick, Kenilworth, etc in Pride and Prejudice) but that required research. Which led me into the research black hole. I ended up stitching together my own maps, comparing that to two or three other antique maps which focused on different information, plotting alternate routes, excessive use of the measuring tool in google maps, google street view, Wikipedia searches (why do so many villages list the amount of Indian restaurants they have??), and finally a four page document I made of each village they would pass through, with their distance, special features, etc. Most of it isn't relevant, but I needed to know it to feel that my writing had a solid foundation, and there was too much good stuff and potential scenes for me to be able to resist including some.

Here's the first glimpse of one of those locations I 'found' as I was doing this research. Dunstable Priory (with an image of it at the bottom).

They passed two more villages before the Dunstable Downs came into view, somewhat low as the road was, but Elizabeth did indeed reckon the walk to the top would be worth it. They resolved to undertake the climb, and explore Dunstable, the adjacent market town, for a considerable time. There was unlikely to be anything more enticing awaiting them in their final two stops for the day, so they had plenty of hours to spare.

At the inn where they were changing the horses, Elizabeth asked a maid within what might be seen around the village, and whether the downs were worth the exertion.

“There is the priory, if it please you ma’am. And the view from the hills is very fine. I have heard tell it is the highest point in this part of England, and indeed you can see farther in fine weather than I have ever travelled.”

Elizabeth settled it with Mr Darcy to climb the escarpment after their meal. While that was being prepared, they walked over to explore the church, which was considerably closer by and could be managed in a short time. It was far statelier than Elizabeth expected, with a very ancient façade which only grew more imposing the closer they got. Until, standing on the path sloping down from the doors and feeling entirely dwarfed by the ornate columns and pillars stretching many stories up to crenelations and yet a higher tower, she had to laugh. “I was expecting a country church,” said she. “I feel this place once might once have been of considerable importance.”

His brow furrowed slightly in thought, Mr Darcy mused “Yet there are many grand remnants of abbeys and priories about, after falling into ruin following the dissolution of the monasteries. Perhaps it was common for places of worship to be so impressive, and the only uncommon aspect is that it survived.”

“I will concede perhaps it once had more peers, and many larger, before so many other grand religious houses were lost. But I think it must have always been uncommon in its size and ornamentation. The sheer number of tiny country churches whose simple Norman bell towers cannot rival this surely show that.”

“They show this may never been considered modest, that is true,” Mr Darcy conceded. “But it does not necessarily follow that this particular priory had any great significance. It might have been rather average, or slightly above, for most of its life, until its fellows lost their roofs in the looting following Henry VIII’s decrees and his appropriation of the income which funded such splendour.”

Elizabeth turned to him with a smile. “I suppose I have not the knowledge to counter that fully” said she, “as we would need to compare it to a comprehensive list of everything that existed alongside it. But I cannot imagine something so impressive in appearance and preservation is irrelevant.”

“Luck, and relevance to the local people might be all that was needed to preserve it. Plenty of places of undisputed national importance have been lost,” countered Mr Darcy. “If there is anything significant about this particular priory, we might expect it to be an abbey, or have heard more about it.”

“If whole palaces and abbeys have been lost to ruin, I think it not unusual if we also lost the history of a place. It might still be important despite us knowing very little of it,” said Elizabeth empathically.

“One could claim the same of almost any hill in England – there have been ancient kingdoms and barrows enough to justify it.”

“Perhaps one would be right to do so! Maybe every mundane piece of earth we tread was once unfathomably important in a time immemorable.”

A faint smile came to the gentleman’s face. “You have a romantic’s heart, Mrs Darcy.”

“And just enough a mind for history to feel I can credibly support my claim,” rejoined Elizabeth.

“Not without leaning heavily on presumptions.”

“Do not forget, Mr Darcy,” she replied archly, “I have the liberty of being able to assert that a lack of evidence does not disprove my claim, since it hinges on such knowledge being lost. All the while being safe in the awareness that it is impossible to disapprove that a place has never been sacred in all the long years of the world.”

His smile seemed fonder, as he said “Ah, you are taking an unassailable and yet unprovable position.”

“Which is the cleverest stance to take” said Elizabeth, with sparkling eyes belying her serious tone, “if one never wishes to listen to anyone who disagrees with them.”

“And if they do not particularly care about being academic.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I cannot say being academic does matter to me; but listening to differing opinions and being open to changing my mind does. I should not seriously want to adopt such stances regularly.” Without her earlier jesting, she added “Truly though, there must be many locations forgotten. Between the Normans and the Saxons and Danes and Romans and all the Picts and the like who came before, if we overlaid all of their most important places atop one another I feel the isle would be fairly fully coloured.”

“Perhaps. But I think many of the sites would overlap,” said Mr Darcy thoughtfully. “Certain rivers and hills have attracted people for as long as people have existed to observe them. We cannot say the same for any random patch of dirt.”

“No, there may not be anything special about the dirt which draws people. But it only needs once to have been a hall, or a grave, or have been the location of a sacred tree, and then it has been important. Farmers in unremarkable fields are always finding old coins and shards of mosaic. Who is to say great things did not once happen on any random bit of soil?”

“No one living,” confirmed Mr Darcy. “But we have strayed far from the original premise of our conversation – and regardless of whether the soil its foundations descend into was once significant in ages past, that not does dictate whether this priory itself was ever particularly important beyond the local populace.”

“But we have established that it might have been, even though we have heard nothing of this priory before now,” replied she.

“Yes, which is to say that we established only that we know nothing at all and have no metrics by which to make fair assumptions.”

Apparently quite delighted by this ignorance, Elizabeth smiled, and leant against Mr Darcy. The familiar ground of their back-and-forth had done much for her in dispelling the anxiety treading the unfamiliar grounds a partiality for her husband had created. But before they could settle into their ignorance, one came along with the power to dispel it. The residing clergyman had perceived them from within, and, easily deducing them to be people of some importance on their way through, was eager to make their acquaintance and offer them a view of the interior.

They gratefully accepted, and as they were walking in Elizabeth said “Our first tour of a local church – we are proper travellers now, Mr Darcy.”

The gentleman made a slight noise of agreement. “In a place I have passed through dozens of times yet never truly explored. I have climbed the downs, but never investigated this priory.”

“Well, there you have it – something new for both of us on this journey.”

(To Be Continued in Chapter Forty)

The view Elizabeth and Darcy had of the priory:

A Wikipedia page for it here

[chaotic-mystery]

Pairing: dbf!Joel x f!reader

Summary: your waitressing job has been going good so far and Joel’s finally warming up to you. Halloween being celebrated at White Pony has to you excited for all the customers you can serve…but what does Joel do when one doesn’t treat you how you should be treated?

Content Warnings: eventual smut bc enemies to lovers okay we’re getting there! 18+ mdni!, mean!joel, drinking, no outbreak!au,reader smokes, Joel smokes, Joel’s bitch ass girlfriend, slut shaming (we don’t like Michelle) groaping, fighting, mentions of wounds and blood, reader has daddy issuessss, Joel finally being NICE (will update as we progress)

Word Count: 4.3K

A/N: This shit is starting to warm up and I am biting my fingers for the barbecue scene okay!!! Will they kith? Maybe. If you can spot all my silly references in here, kiss kiss to you pookie.

Within the last two weeks of training at White Pony to be a waitress and being with Michelle almost every night, you had to see more and more of Joel. The first few days he refused to come in the bar like he always did before you got the job. It was his- as he put it, “place to be away from you.” Nice. 

Michelle was still just as scary as the day you met her. She kept Joel close in her eyesight when you first came to training but as the days passed and she watched you two hardly say any words to each other, she loosened the leash on him again. Since your blow up with him, things were still kind of weird in the way that all you said to each other was, “You done with that?” and “Another round.” 

Tonight you were celebrating Halloween down at the bar and Michelle told you all to come dressed as something, no shift unless you actually try with your outfit. It should’ve been no surprise to her that you'd show up as a blood sucking vampire and not just a regular old boring vampire. The black corset dress with the stockings and glitter everywhere had Michelle’s mouth dropping with shock. “Darlin’ when I said dress up I didn’t mean that dressed up.” Her fake witch nose was kind of crooked with the way she glued it to her face but it suited her. The passive aggressiveness she gave you was really starting to work your nerves but the tips were good here, you could easily talk shit about her attitude later while counting all your bills. 

You smooth down your dress and give a twirl, showing off your boots that you just got in the mail. You’ve already heard from Joel how many packages get delivered daily and that “the mail truck parks too long in front of his driveway” yada yada yada. He whined the same spiel every time you almost had it down word for word. 

Joel’s eyes meet yours as he leans back in the stool and he begins turning slowly while his eyes scan your outfit briefly. A sly smirk forms on his lips, “So just how much garlic should I put around me to keep you away?” His glass meets his mouth, taking a small sip of his whiskey. Your plastic tray falls at your side as your shoulders drop, your eyes low with annoyance. 

“Yeah? You feel proud of that one old man?” you mock, leaning against the bar until all your drinks are done being made. The glasses start to pile up, ready to be taken to the corner of girlfriends celebrating the night all dressed up as different colored crayons.

Your fingers delicately place each glass on the plastic tray and Joel gives a breathy laugh. “I’m proud of that, yeah.” 

“Don’t flatter yourself, cowboy. You're not my type to even sink my teeth into.” The firm tone takes him by surprise and his eyes flicker over your body once more before scoffing. 

“I’m everyone’s type, thank you very much. I’ll take another whiskey too, ma’am.” The devilish grin appears once more which only makes your eyes roll. 

“You aren’t even in my section Joel. Fuck off, get your lady to do it.” You shoot back, the annoyance not shying away from your face at all. Joel nods slowly and turns away from you, finally laying off just long enough to let you get back to your job. Michelle watches you closely as she overhears you telling Joel to fuck off, her stern look burning imaginary holes into you. 

When she busted you for talking like that to Joel, it was just best not to even look at her, this not being the first time she’s caught you with your sailors mouth in full effect.

With the night flying by from a packed bar, the tips were coming in well. Everyone was dressed up as something, leave it to Joel to dress up as…himself. 

“Let me know if you need anything else!” You shout over the music to your newest table and give everyone a smile before retreating to the bar. With Joel and Michelle in the corner canoodling at the end of the counter, you couldn’t help but throw up in your mouth a little. Her costume wasn’t going to last much longer, the evidence of a missing nose so apparent. Her costume was falling off her shoulders constantly, it was a bulky old witch dress and it looked ancient. 

Your hands run along the bar and pat it eagerly like an impatient puppy just ready for another table and more money. 

Suddenly a group of men walk in and the bar gets a tad quieter. The dress shirts they have on are so tight you can see the tank top underneath the fabric. Something about them just stuck out like a sore thumb in the best way possible and you wanted to be the one to serve them.

“Nell, how do I look? I’m gonna take that table and get the best tips for us all tonight.” You giggle and fix your hair while the bartender tells you how good you look. Joel must’ve sensed someone having fun because the next thing you know, an arm was grabbing you and walking you towards the back of the bar away from all the bustle and crowd. 

“Ow Joel, get off me. What are you doing?” You shout, grabbing your arm from his grasp and groan while rubbing the tender skin. 

“No, you aren’t taking them. They’re out of town assholes that sometimes stop in and it’s nothin’ but issues every time. Let Danny take ‘em.” He almost sounded concerned but the look in his eyes didn’t last long before he looked away. 

You stomped your foot softly and groaned, folding your arms across your chest. “Danny doesn’t even pool his tips at the end of the night like he’s supposed to! I can handle it Joel, I’ll call you if I need you to reenact Road house, okay?” You snicker at your reference and walk away before he could argue more, your tray innocently behind you as you walk up to the full table of intimidating men. 

Joel was seething in the corner, his tongue running over his teeth against his closed lips while he watched one already get handsy and try to cop a feel under your dress. Joel Miller was not jealous. He was worried for your safety and you were known to get yourself into some crazy things due to miscalculation on your part of common sense. He was almost too aware of how chaotic you could be at times but at this moment it wasn’t a joke to him. He sat back in his chair and turned it so you were in his view the entire conversation. The glasses of whiskey turned to glasses of water so he could be clear minded if things got sticky. You walked back over and he pretended not to overhear your conversation with Nell about the men fawning over you.  

Joel rolls his eyes and drinks his water, the annoyance you even entertained those assholes after he told you not to, just sitting deep inside his chest. Your small tray was packed with beers and shots of your top shelf vodka and his eyes widened, already knowing how tonight was going to play out. He sighed, smacking his hand on the bar before getting up to change the song on the jukebox. Searching for what felt like forever, he finally landed on one of his old favorites.

Porn star Dancing by My Darkest Days & Zakk Wylde. 

You stupidly sit on one of their laps and try to engage in the conversation but it always turns back to you. Hours go by of the conversation being about you and not in the best way. They’re asking what time you get off, where you got your sexy little outfit, what color were your panties, shit you shouldn’t be asking your waitress. A hand reaches to your neck and squeezes, making your skin crawl inside. They all smell of menthol and nicotine mixed with gray goose, too much liquid courage. 

Joel grabs Michelle and starts dancing with her in the corner, her back to you at the table the entire time. He keeps his eyes locked onto you, very very closely. Even when you extend an arm to grab an empty bottle out of the way his eyes are following.  They kept tugging you to sit back down, making his blood boil and his teeth clenched tightly. Somehow you managed to slip away for just a moment and make your way to the bathroom, darting around the corner into the pitch black hallway that was sheltered from noise. Joel lets go of Michelle and follows you without any sound, trying not to startle you. 

He stands against the wall and listens to your sobs muffled behind the bathroom door. The tears were pure fear and regret. Maybe, just maybe, Joel had a point. Even if you wanted to close their tab and stop serving them it would just make things so much worse for everyone. You got yourself into this mess, now it was up to you to get yourself out of it. You grab a small piece of toilet paper and blot away your tears, the post cry makeup making you look even better than before. Such a silly way of looking at the situation but you couldn’t deny a good cry moment.

A chill ran down your spine as you faced Joel outside of the bathroom, his head hanging to hear better. When the door squeaks open, his head snaps up and his eyes are on yours. With his strong gaze not leaving yours, you clear your throat and shrug like you know nothing. 

“W-why are you outside the ladies bathroom?” You knew why he was out here, he probably saw you run in here and wanted to report back to Michelle, or even worse, tell you, “I told you so..” blah blah. 

“Are you okay?” His hand rubs his neck as he stands up straight, moving closer to you. He reaches out and grumbles as he wipes away a tear. “Can jus’ ask Danny to finish out the table, s’okay if you change your mind.” Your glossy eyes look up at him and you smile, shaking your head no. 

“Can’t. I got this Joel, I just need to get through it and I’m done for the night.” Your hands wrap around your arms, shivering under the A/C vent. Joel’s shoulders drop in frustration and he sighs loudly. 

“Darlin’...” he starts, “don’t do this. Look I’ll tip you whatever they were even thinking about and more jus’ don’t do this to yourself.” His soft words were actually making you reconsider but then again, what did he care? You snap out of it and sniffle, shaking off the sadness. 

“I’ve got it Joel, promise.” A fake smile passes from your lips and he doesn’t take the bait at all. You both walk down the hall to find the table empty of bodies and three dollars squashed under a shot glass with vodka dripping down the side. Three. Dollars. You embarrassingly grab the money and look around confused as to what you could’ve done to deserve a three dollar tip. “God damnit..” you mutter under your breath. The glass clanks together as you begin to clean off the table, not wanting anyone to see this mortifying crime scene any more than they have to. 

Joel’s frame catches in the corner of your eye, his mouth covered by his hand. When you stop cleaning to look at him, he stares right into you and for a split second it doesn’t look like Joel at all. He gets up, snatching the three dollars from your hand and you knew something bad was going to happen. Joel shoves the exit door wide open and smacks the siding of the building. As he marches outside, he sees the fancy car still sitting in the parking lot, the men outside around it cracking jokes and being rowdy. 

“Joel…” You call out and immediately run after him, small struts because of your boots. “Joel sto-”

“S’cuse me fellas. Three dollar tip, really?” Joel chuckles and puts a hand on his hip, the look on his face hard as stone. Here we fucking go, you thought to yourself. Everyone from inside gathers outside and you slowly make your way to Joel, his hand flying in your direction motioning you to stop in your tracks.

“What’d you say, dickhead?” One of the men called out, his words semi slurred. His friends laugh and Joel sarcastically laughs before standing up straight. 

“See, I don’t know where y’all are from but around here we tip our waitresses real nice. Three dollars? Cmon man.” He was maybe thinking they “forgot” to put down a ten dollar bill or something, no way they meant three dollars. 

“Man she was worth three dollars but she can come home with me if she wants for the rest of the tip, know what I mean?” The assholes behind him hoot and holler, clapping their hands together and praising the man for the disgusting comeback.

“Joel stop cmon just drop it it’s fine let’s just go back inside.” You firmly shout, voice cracking from humiliation. Joel turns to look at you and pushes his hand down telling you to calm down. As his boots drag against the gravel making his way to the group of skeezy men, he tuts loudly at them. 

“Do I have to teach you a thing or two about manners, asshole? She’s not a fuckin’ fast food burger that you get for three dollars. She’s worth way more than that. You basically groaped her all night, askin’ what color her panties are, when she’s leavin’, how badly does she want your money, but I don’t have to tell you any of that. You know exactly what you’ve been sayin’ to her all while she’s jus’ doin’ her job. So let me ask you this, you do plan on tipping her correctly, yes?” Joel stopped just as he was toe to toe with the man, not a smirk to be found anywhere except on Joel. 

“Ye-yeah man um, let me get my wallet.” He hastily reaches into his pocket while he stutters apology after apology to Joel. Just as he’s pulling his hand out, he balls it into a fist all wound back to hit Joel. Never once did it connect with his cheek, never. 

Joel grabs the skeeze’s wrist and twists it roughly before throwing him on the ground, his buddies getting up contemplating if they really wanted to do this or not. Joel gets on top of him, throwing punches left and right, grunting with every connection his fist has with skin. Blood trickles down his hand between his fingers and he doesn’t stop until the guy is begging for mercy. 

Wiping his nose and breathing in deeply, Joel gets up and grabs the wallet that was supposed to be taken out before all this started. His bloody fingers split it open and find a bunch of cash, flicking through all the bills. 

“How much was their bill, darlin’?” 

Everyone's eyes were on you and the chattering started to fill your ears. 

You clear your throat roughly and walk closer to Joel by just a few steps, not wanting to get too close. 

“Uh…I don’t remember. It was around 213 dollars I believe…lots of gray goose shots.” Your eyes went wide when he pulled out two 100 dollar bills and folded them, passing it to you between his index and middle finger. You take it apprehensively, staring at the grunting man rolling around on the ground. Joel nods at you a little and asks if you’re okay. Just as your lips part to tell him thank you, someone is running up on him. 

“Joel watch out!” You shout and he pushes you back so much you fall on the ground. A fist hitting him right in the face, “You fuckin’ prick! Wanna piece of me old man?!” The other guy shouts at Joel and hits him, starting to wrestle him on the ground. They roll around causing the gravel dust to stir up and you think quickly on your feet. Going behind the guy trying to wrestle Joel to be on top, you kick him right in the balls with your boots. “Get off of him!” You shriek and grab his hair, tossing him backwards. The audible winces and groans from the crowd echo off the buildings, Joel sits up and looks at you like you were some angel or something. 

Reaching out your hand for a lift, you take deep breaths and help him up off his ass. 

“How was that for your reenactment? You okay?” He asks as he begins to brush the gravel off his palms. The men were on the ground rolling in pain still, such a funny thing to watch. 

Chuckling softly, you turn back to Joel,”Yeah I’m okay. You okay?” You nudge his arm and see his knuckles still dripping blood. A small nod comes from him and you grab his hand slowly to observe the wounds. 

“Should get some ice on that Mr.Miller.” The glimmer in his eye takes you and draws you in, standing there holding onto his hand for far too long. Everyone behind you cleared out and went inside, leaving Michelle there alone. She clears her throat and you snap back to earth and drop Joel's hand rather fast. 

“Take her home Joel. She’s done.”

“What?!” You shout in complete surprise.

“Mich come on baby I don’t think that’s very fa-” Joel’s reasoning is cut off by a groan from Michelle. 

“No! I can’t have a floozy willing to do whatever for tips work here and expect my boyfriend to protect her! You’re done!” She was expressive with her hands just like your mother used to be, which was exactly how you were feeling. A little girl once more and your mom was beyond done with you. 

Your tongue pushes against your cheek and you go inside to get your coat and purse. Nell was the only bartender who didn’t treat you like a monster and she started to get pissed off when you told her the news. Joel and Michelle were outside arguing and you stood by the door eavesdropping, careful they couldn’t see you.

“You’ve never once defended me from a creep like that!”

“Oh Michelle, is that what this is about? Really?”

“No, of course not Joel! You know damn well she knew what she was doing dressed like that coming to work and getting on their laps the way she did! What else did she expect from them?!” Her hands were flying up in the air as Joel’s head dropped, shaking side to side. 

“Michelle she’s just barely started her life, what did you want me to do, hm? Watch them take advantage of her?!” His arms reached out, searching for something that wasn’t there. 

“No but what do you think is gonna happen when she walks around here acting like a slut?!”

As your fast breaths started to fog the glass awaiting Joel’s response or even some sliver of defense, nothing. He said nothing. 

Joel knew that wasn’t true. He watched your driveway like a hawk regardless how many times he said he didn't. Tommy was the first and last person you’ve been with since you moved back but that was none of Michelle's business even if you wanted to get with everybody.The door flew open and you walked to your car, getting in the passenger side. All you wanted to do was cry yourself to sleep, Joel could drive. More muffled sentences rang outside the car, something about Joel calling her tomorrow. You felt pretty buzzed after that encounter until overhearing that fuck ass conversation. That was probably the first time anyone has cared so much about your safety, your well-being, you in general. No one has ever willingly stuck up for you like that and beat someone the way Joel did. Not even your own dad has done that or would ever. You must’ve been replaying in your head the images of Joel beating that man so much because all at once you came back to the now, his fingers snapping in front of your face.

“Cmon, we’re home. You’ve got a cut on your knee sweetheart. Let’s go clean it.” He fumbles with your house keys and unlocks the front door, making his way into your house. 

“Jus’ sit, I’ll be back. Where’s the bathroom?” Shutting the front door, you point to the left and sit slowly to observe the cut. 

It was definitely something. The nylon stocking was tattered and covered with dry blood caked onto the broken skin. Joel arrives with the rubbing alcohol sloshing in the bottle along with a washcloth. 

“I didn’t mean to push you down so hard, m’sorry.” Joel kneels down in front of you and rests your foot against his thigh so he can examine how bad it was. Those beautiful brown eyes were getting you again. It didn’t seem so far-fetched to forget everything, even the conversation you overheard, until he pressed the alcohol to your skin. Sucking in a sharp breath, you grab the armrest of the couch and whimper quietly at the contact. 

“Ow..Joel that-ah-ooh-that hurts.” You suck in sharply again, his eyes going back to your cut. 

“I know baby, I know..I’m sorry, jus’ hold on f’me.” He whispers as he rips the material of your tights until a large hole is created around the scrape. His rough hands covered in blood were so gentle on your leg, his fingers wrapping around the back of your boot covered calf. 

“You should really let me bandage up your hand, can at least do that much for you.” The room went silent and all that was heard was Joel’s deep breaths and the washcloth pressing against you. He sighs and grabs a bandaid from where he set it down on the couch cushion, opening it to cover the wound. 

With a firm press on the edges, his thumbs smooth over the entire bandaid and he glances up at you hoping you weren’t wincing in pain. 

After a long pause he mutters, “I’ll be fine, just need some ice is all. Also um…darlin’..” he started and continues to ever so slightly rub the bandaid. 

“I know you overheard ‘Chelle and I talkin and I just wanted to apologize on her behalf. She doesn’t think those things about you and neither do I, okay?” He didn’t sound too sure that he even believed the words coming from his mouth. 

You were too emotional to argue with him so a small nod was all you responded with.

It was a bullshit apology and it didn’t even need to come from him but there was too much in your head right now, an apology was the last thing you were concerned about. 

Without a word you get up slowly and step onto the front porch with a new pack of cigarettes in your palm. Joel hesitated following but he wasn’t done with you just yet. The front door squeaks open softly and before even turning around you had the cigarette held out for him to take a few drags from. 

“Are you uh..are you goin’ to your dad’s barbecue this weekend?” The smoke rolled out of his mouth and he ashes over the railing.

“I’ve thought about it..” You take a puff and pause. “What would I even say? ‘Hey dad uh I know I just got my job here but I got fired because I was dressed like a slut.’ Mmm, I don’t know, Joel.” All the smoke exited your lungs by the time you were finished talking and the glowing orange light was lifted again as your cheeks hollowed taking another hit.

Joel turns to you slightly, holding out his hand with his fingers spread and ready to take your cigarette. 

“Jus’ don’t tell him anything. He couldn’t even wish you luck or congratulate you for gettin’ the damn job anyway. Asshole.” His face disappears behind a cloud of smoke and it was probably for the best due to the shit eating grin on your face while his words echoed in your head. 

“So you’re finally getting it I see, Mr. Miller.” The cigarette slowly dwindles and he lets you have the last drag. 

“I can’t see why he’d ever treat you like that, I wouldn’t dream of treating you that badly and you really know how to work my fuckin’ nerves sometimes, little girl.”

The pair of you laugh and Joel flicks the cigarette butt on the driveway, shoving his non fucked up hand in his pocket. The dim porchlight hardly illuminated his face but the moon on the other side made up for what you couldn’t see. 

“Get some sleep, you’ve got job hunting to do tomorrow.” His boots clunked against the wooden floorboards of the steps, gravel crunching as he got further across the way to his sidewalk. 

“Oh, one more thing sweetheart!” He shouts from his porch.

“I’ll back you up no matter what. He doesn’t know you anymore, not like I do.” 

Your face was hot to the touch from his words. Joel Miller finally finding his heart? Who knew he had one? Each of your front doors closed and you went to sleep that night just imagining how the barbeque is going to go. Joel fell asleep that night with a bag of frozen peas on his knuckles and a small grin on his face.

[thedroneranger]

Mustache Masquerade

Jake "Hangman" Seresin

Précis: Jake makes an out-of-character facial hair decision during his deployment—his wife has some thoughts about it.

Warnings: 18+ only, smut.

Word count: 3.4k

Whenever Jake returned from a deployment or mission, it was always cause to celebrate. By the time you physically reunited, the hardest part was over. You already knew he was coming home, so that weight was off your chest.

Fortunately, you got deployments under your belt early in your relationship. You and Jake had been seeing each other long enough that you decided to move in together, and the very next month he was summoned to sea. 

Naturally, the reunion after that first deployment was exhilarating. Thank the gods it was on a Friday, because you spent the entire weekend tangled in your bedsheets with at least one of Jake’s heads between your thighs. 

That memory made you smile as you cruised toward the base, music playing at a reasonable decibel for once and turning heads as your arm rested out the window of your lifted, blacked-out Ford F-150 Raptor.

You slowed and flashed your credentials at the security kiosk as the gates wobbled open. The guard greeted you by name, complimented your ride and waved you through. You rolled into a parking spot and looked at the dashboard clock. Killing the engine, you then sat in the truck and scrolled through your social media. By this point, you had enough experience to time your arrival so you didn’t wait too long. When the vehicle electronics shut off, you knew that 15 minutes passed and it was appropriate to text Jake for an update. 

Nowadays, the excitement of Jake coming home was different. Yes, you still—always within the first 12 hours—broke your celibacy. However, the foreplay was sometimes a little less heavy petting and a little more verbal sparring. 

Today was one of those days.

Once you began to notice people filtering into the parking lot, you looked out the windshield and saw Jake making his way toward the truck. What really caught your attention was the lush strip of hair above his lip. Your mouth fell open as you stared at him through the windshield. You even slid your sunglasses atop your head to make sure you were seeing him clearly.

The laugh stirring in your throat finally bubbled over as you threw your phone in the cupholder and slipped out the driver’s door. You leaned against the grill of the truck with your arms folded over your chest. Jake’s pace quickened as he saw you. The two of you kept eye contact as he closed the distance. 

When he was within earshot, you finally spoke. “Hey, Bradley. Have you seen Jake? I’m supposed to pick him up.” 

Jake came to a halt and feigned pain with a palm against his stomach. “Whoa, that hit me deep.” He chuckled. 

You grinned in disbelief. “A mustache? Really?” You leaned off the truck and walked toward Jake so you could better inspect his lip sweater. One of your eyebrows crept up your forehead. “They gave you clearance to grow facial hair, and you chose a regulation mustache?”

You were truly surprised. While on active duty, Jake was always clean shaven. However, whenever he had extended leave, he would grow the fullest beard time would allow and only commit to trimming and conditioning. And you didn’t mind one bit—Jake with a beard was your kryptonite, and he knew it.

His assignment during this deployment had been to fly patrol and reconnaissance for Navy and Marine Special Forces units throughout the Middle East. To blend in with the units and the general population, he had special clearance to grow full facial hair.

While you were busy making eye contact with Jake’s mustache, he wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you toward him. His touch drew your gaze to his eyes. You tucked yourself into his side, placing a hand on his chest, still looking up at him. 

“It comes with free rides,” he explained, keeping his eyes locked on yours. His hand slipped down to your backside and squeezed. You hummed in response.

“I guess there’s no need to invite Bradley over to fulfill my mustache fantasies.” You kept a straight face, and your eyes never left his. 

Jake couldn’t help but full-belly laugh and lose the staring contest. You loved the deep dimples and eye creases that came with his laugh. You watched and waited as he composed himself. 

“Damn, if I knew a mustache would get you this riled up, I’d have grown it sooner.” Jake’s hand moved back to your shoulders and curled you closer so his lips could meet your forehead. Your nose crinkled as his lip hair tickled your skin. “I’ll drive.” He placed one more kiss on your forehead before heading for the vehicle. 

As Jake pulled out of the base, with pursed lips and narrowed eyes, you realized he was headed in the direction of your favorite hole-in-the-wall bar rather than your suburban home. “Jake.” Your tone dripped with warning. 

“Just trust me, sweetheart.” He patted your thigh. You huffed and sat back in your seat. Sure enough, you were not surprised when the truck rolled to a stop in the parking lot. Per usual, Jake came to help you climb out of the track—always a gentleman.

Once inside, you split up. Jake snagged a pool table while you ordered a couple Lone Stars. One of the reasons Jake loved this place so much is it served “some of Texas’ finest exports” he liked to say.

He was already racking for a round of eight-ball when you arrived. You handed him a beer and went to pick your cue.“Let’s make a bet,” he said as you got back, piquing your interest. You kept your gaze on him, slightly leaning against your stick. “Best of three wins,” he stated. “If I win, you get a mustache ride.” You chuckled. He was so proud of himself with his choice of prize. “And if you win…” he trailed off, waiting for you to finish.

“And if I win, I get to shave your mustache as soon as we get home.” 

Jake smirked. “Deal,” he agreed, closing the space between you. You scrunched your nose again in preparation for the hair about to tickle your face as you sealed your bet with a kiss. Jake could not help himself, snaking his arm around your waist to hold you close as he brushed his mustache all over your face. You playfully poked his sides until he let you go. 

You glared over your shoulder as you went to the far end of the table. “Ladies first.” He gestured. Staring at him, you leaned over the bumper and broke. A solid rolled into a corner pocket. You winked at Jake and lined up your next shot. 

Pool was one of the many things you and Jake tried to leisurely play but ended up fiercely competing. It was impressive you two were still together—two of the most competitive people on the planet. To keep your competitive nature satiated, you liked to bet. You wagered when your favorite NFL teams or alma maters played each other, how long it’d take relatives to perform their trademark behavior at family gatherings, and now you could add facial hair to the ever-growing list.

Right now, you were three balls away from shaving Jake’s mustache, and Jake was three balls away from you straddling his face. You didn’t have any good shots left, so you took your best one. Worst case, it would make at least one of Jake’s shots harder. Well, it ended worse than the worse case scenario. You hit the ball a smidge too hard and cleared his path instead of cluttering it. 

“Oh, sweetheart.” He leaned over the table and knocked in the first of his last two balls. He stared at you while he sank the second shot, and then called the eight ball before sinking it into his selected pocket. He stood up and wiggled his mustache at you. You rolled your eyes and gulped the last of your beer. 

Jake cleared the table and racked his cue. “Should we head home so you can make good on your debt?” He stood in front of you with his chest puffed. 

“Fine,” you drew out the word as you went to rack your cue. Jake waited for you with his hand out. You tucked your hand in his, and he kissed the back of it before leading you to the truck. 

One of the benefits of Jake winning was he was, surprisingly, a good sport. You had a hunch it was because your wagers were usually sexual favors, and no way he wanted to find out how you paid up if you were pissed off.

You couldn’t get home fast enough. Jake rolled through several stop signs and punched the gas at multiple yellow lights to get back to the house. “You have a hot date or something?” you asked as he put the truck in park. 

“Kinda.” He opened the door and hopped out. “My hot wife has a debt to pay.” You chuckled as you unbuckled yourself. The seat belt wasn’t even fully retracted when Jake flung your door open and flipped you over his shoulder. 

“Oh my God!” you yelped. 

“Jake is fine,” he teased, and then patted the back of your thigh. You kneed him in the pec and he let out an ‘oof’ but kept on his way to the house. Once inside, he marched directly to your bedroom and threw you on the bed.

You barely stopped bouncing when Jake snagged your ankle to pull you closer to the edge of the bed. In one fluid motion, he ditched his shirt and kicked off his shoes. Then, he pulled off your sandals and unbuttoned your cutoff denim shorts. He smirked when he realized you weren’t wearing panties.

While Jake was stepping out of his pants, you flipped to your belly and attempted to crawl further up the bed. “No so fast.” His hand caught your knee and pulled you back. 

You whined as Jake’s teeth sank into your ass cheek. He followed the bite with tender kisses up to the small of your back. Goosebumps bloomed as his mustache tickled your skin. “I missed you,” he cooed while spreading your legs and pulling your hips up so you stayed on your knees. You arched your back and let your cheek and chest sink into the fluffy duvet. 

A soft sigh left you as Jake peppered kisses along the curve of your ass. You moaned as one of Jake’s fingers sank into your core. “So silky.”  He curled it a few times before pulling out and trailing your arousal along your entire slit. He came back with two fingers and used the pad of his thumb to massage your engorged clit. 

You bounced your hips to match his rhythm. Suddenly, his hand disappeared and you felt a sharp sting on your ass as his palm connected with it. You whined and wiggled your hips. Jake chuckled. “Sweetheart, you’re the one with a debt to pay.” He softly swatted your exposed core. 

Rolling over, you pushed yourself up on your elbows and squeezed your thighs together while giving Jake a pout. “The least you could do is get me primed.” You dragged one leg up the other, keeping eye contact with him. 

“Sweetheart.” Jake leaned onto the bed and hovered over you. “You hardly need to be primed.” He swiped the tip of his nose against yours, and then skimmed his cheek along yours. You felt the slightest sign of stubble, which made you smile. The infamous mustache was grazing the shell of your ear. “I think the mustache riled you up plenty.” He kissed the top of your jaw.

You nudged him to roll over so you could straddle his waist. A hand resting on his sternum, you slid yourself along his happy trail, your arousal dampening the dark blond hairs. You loved the sensation. “Glad to see you didn’t shave everything,” you commented. 

Jake’s light sheath of body hair was something you enjoyed. Once in a while he shaved it, which you also didn’t mind (boy did he mind while it was growing back), but you also appreciated that he wasn’t adverse to having body hair. 

His hands rose to sit on your waist. “You’re seated near the wrong head, sweetheart.” You couldn’t help but laugh as you moved further up. As you settled over his face, Jake bit his bottom lip and let his hands sprawl up your sides until they came to rest just under the curve of your ribcage. 

You gasped as Jake’s tongue met your core, and then his lips sealed around your clit. Leaning forward, you rested your hands on the headboard and watched as he sucked and licked your heat. 

His mustache bristling against you was a welcome sensation—you hated to admit that you were enjoying it. Swirling your hips, you fell into a rhythm that both you and Jake enjoyed. 

Jake’s hands alternated between squeezing your ass and palming your breasts. Your hands were clamped to the headboard, arms splayed wide, bending you forward. This gave Jake a wonderful view of your chest. 

The heat low in your stomach was building. Jake’s pace quickened—his jaw would definitely be sore later. But it was worth it, you sitting on his face, about to come with the help of his basic regulation mustache. You would never live it down. 

Finally, your orgasm erupted. Jake gripped your hips as you pushed yourself up, sitting straight over him, hips still swirling. A strangled moan left your lips as your eyebrows knitted together. Always acutely aware of how vocal you could be, you bit your lip to stifle some of the sounds.

However, Jake loved when you vocalized. If it weren’t for his mouth wantedly trapped between your thighs, he’d be coaxing you to be louder. He watched from beneath as you tangled your hands in your own hair and palmed your breasts, feeling every spasm. 

Jake equally enjoyed every twitch and contraction. When your thighs squeezed his head, he definitely felt more blood rush to his cock. 

As your high ended, Jake helped you dismount his face. You slumped onto the bed and melted into his side. His arm engulfed you. All you could smell was yourself as he placed a kiss on your forehead. A smile graced your lips as you rested your head on his chest.

The only sound in the room was your breathing. Wrapped in a haze of post-orgasm oxytocin, you were close to nodding off when Jake kissed the top of your head, and then slid off the bed. You groaned as he disappeared, taking his body heat with him. 

You watched as he found sweatpants and put them on. Sitting up, you slipped the t-shirt over your head he had tossed at you. “C‘mon,” he said with an outstretched hand. Taking it, you climbed off the bed and allowed him to lead you into your ensuite bathroom. 

Before Jake could get to his sink, you stepped in front of it. Pushing yourself on your toes, you pressed your lips to his, wanting to taste yourself on him before he washed his face. The kiss was soft with gentle nibbles. Your arms rested on his shoulders, wrists lazily crossed behind his neck. His hands found purchase on your hips under his shirt. Wanting the moment to remain sweet, you broke the kiss. 

With a final kiss on his jaw, you hopped on the counter beside the sink and watched as he washed his face. You gave him a towel and gazed at him as he dried his hands. 

Towel in one hand, he leaned onto the counter, resting his palms on either side of your legs. You leaned toward him for a kiss, which you allowed him to deepen with his tongue.

His hand came to your knees and parted them. Anticipating what came next, you were severely disappointed when his hand dropped to the knob of the drawer you were sitting atop. You pouted as he opened it and pulled out his dopp kit. He sat it next to you, unzipping the bag and placing the contents on the counter: a soap tin, then a lather brush and cup. Your eyes met his as he handed you the straight razor. You opened it and watched the light dance along the blade. 

“So soon?” you asked.

A sheepish grin graced his face. “I got what I wanted.” He hesitated. “Plus, I don’t need a reminder of a lost bet.”

Your eyes grew. “I knew it!” You pointed the blade at him. He feigned fear. 

“You know I would never willing choose a mustache.” The razor lowered, he came in for another kiss. “But I am a man of my word, so I followed through on my debt.”

“Was part of the debt giving your wife a mustache ride?” you inquired.

Pursing his lips, he glanced off to the side before looking back at you. “Nah, that was just a really hot bonus.” He gave you another lingering kiss. 

“You’re a dog,” you giggled as he pulled away.

“But I’m your dog.” He licked your cheek. Scoffing, you pretended to be offended.

“Plus,” he ran his hands along the outside of your thighs, pulling you closer to the counter edge, “you give a really nice shave.” Jake kissed your cheek, then your neck and finally your shoulder.

An exaggerated sigh sank your shoulders as you answered. “Ok.” You acted pseudo-annoyed. Never had you been able to say no to Jake, especially when he gave you puppy dog eyes. 

Giddy, Jake hooked the strop to the sink faucet, and then took the blade from you. You slid off the counter and snagged fresh towels to begin preparation. 

You were shocked the first time Jake asked you to shave him and horrified to learn he used a straight razor after you had agreed. It was then you knew just how much Jake loved you. His patience was immaculate, and he never once complained when you inevitably nicked him. And over the years, you perfected your technique and this became one of your favorite post-deployment rituals.

Once everything was ready, you hopped back on the counter and Jake stood between your legs—he was a good height in this position. You wrapped a warm towel over his face and placed his hands to hold it while you prepared the lather. 

You removed the towel, pressing it to his skin so he got the last bit of warmth before setting it aside. He settled his hands on the sides of your thighs while you massaged shave oil along his jaw, neck and cheeks with special attention to the strip between his nose and lip. He pressed a kiss to your fingers as you pulled away, which caused you to smile. 

Only Jake’s eyes followed you as painted him with lather. It never ceased to amaze you how still he could be or how calculated his movements were. Of course, it was these times you remembered he was in the top one percent of pilots in the world, and then it all made sense.

Jake’s head did move to watch you as you swapped the lather cup for a towel to wipe your hands. Then you picked up the blade he had honed to inspect it. You looked at him and he gave the smallest nod. He returned to his stoic position, allowing you to mauvering him as needed. 

You relaxed as you made the first couple strokes along his cheek, holding the blade at the angle he’d taught you. Since he had just a light stubble over most of his face, you made quick work of it. 

Then, came the mustache. Carefully, you smoothed off half, inspecting your work before eviscerating the other half. You already had a second towel ready that you ran under warm water, wrung and then soothed his face with. He leaned into your touch as you cleaned him and finished with aftershave. “Hi,” you said cheekily, sitting back on the counter and looking at him. 

He smirked. “Thank you.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to yours. You nipped his bottom lip as he pulled away. “Test out how smooth your work is later?” He planted a kiss on your jaw before sinking to your neck. 

The moan that escaped your lips was enough of an answer for him. You, on the other hand, couldn’t help but smile, thinking of his cheeks against your inner thigh later as you watched him disappear into the bedroom.

[foreverbase1]

Bahama ❣ Sung Hanbin

❥𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Sung Hanbin x gn!reader

❥𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 1.4k

❥𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fluff

❥𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Cringe to some maybe, pet names (baby, love, Binnie)

❥𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠: BAHAMA by Aespa

❥𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: N/A

❥𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Just a cute beach date between Hanbin and Reader

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬! <𝟑

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, it was barely cloudy and here you were standing in front of the mirror making sure your outfit looked nice. Your boyfriend, Sung Hanbin, had a day off today which was rare, and due to the day being nice, he insisted on taking you out for a date.

The date he had in mind was a 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦, so he told you to pack your swimsuit too, or wear it underneath your outfit. In case you two went into the water.

So here you were, doing one final look over your outfit, making sure you had everything you needed and waited for Hanbin's arrival. After a few hours of waiting, a knock on your front door signalled his arrival.

Opening the door, you came face to face with your handsome boyfriend, a huge smile plastered on his face and a bouquet of flowers that he handed to you. "Hi baby" His smile grew wider once his eyes came to rest on you. "Binnie, you didn't have too" You exclaimed, taking the bouquet from him, a blush gracing your cheeks.

"I wanted too! You deserve nothing but the world" He said, causing you to giggle, before putting the bouquet of flowers away safely in a vase. "Are you ready?" Hanbin smiles at you once more, a look of pure love on his face. You smiled back at him, nodding your head. Once he had noticed your nod, his hand intertwined with yours as he pulled you out the door of your home, the door closing softly behind you.

The drive to the beach was silent. But it wasn't an awkward silence, it was a comfortable one. You two had been dating for about 2 years now and your drives were mainly always in silence, you two didn't need to exchange words to show how comfortable you were together. Being in each other's presence, him squeezing your hand within his every chance he got and the exchanged smiles were enough for you both.

To say you were excited was an understatement, you were ecstatic for your date today, a smile on your face as you looked outside the window of the car. Hanbin's schedule was sometimes tough to make plans around, but you two were able to make it work even if you didn't get to see each other in person. Hanbin was one to always make sure he messaged you good morning and good night, making sure to give you updates on his day and wanting to hear updates about yours, he was also one to never forget saying 'i love you'. He was a walking green flag, and you couldn't be happier.

Eventually, the quiet and nice car ride would come to an end as Hanbin parked the car once you both arrived at your destination. Stretching in your seat, you looked over to face Hanbin, your eyes meeting and a smile gracing both of your faces. Even after 2 years of dating, anyone could see that you two were still so deeply in love with each other just by the looks you both gave each other.

"Are you ready, love?" He asks you, his voice soft and his tone full of love and adoration. You nod your head again, both of you exiting the car and letting the cool, summer air touch your skin. Hanbin stood beside you with a bag in hand, placing his sunglasses on, his hand would once again intertwine with yours. You let Hanbin guide you towards the beach, both of you excited to spend time with the other after such a long time.

Once you both found a nice spot on the sand, you would help set up the necessities for the both of you. Settling down on the beach towel once you had changed into your swimsuit, Hanbin would join your side once more. "It's so nice" You whispered in content, Hanbin smiling at you, his arm wrapping around your waist and pulling you closer.

"It's nice spending time with you, especially, Binnie. I missed you" You confess, looking over to see his face. The smile never left his features, and Hanbin nods at your words, a chuckle escaping him. "I missed you too, love" And with those delicate words shared between you both, Hanbin would lean in and capture your lips. The kiss pulling at your heart strings and causing your heart to beat faster.

After an hour of just relaxing, Hanbin had gone off to the water and you had begun sunbathing. But you quickly grew bored, it was bland without Hanbin by your side and after all, this was the first date you both had planned after not seeing each other in person for a while. So why were you wasting it?

Sitting up, your eyes scanned the water for Hanbin, eventually finding his figure. A smile found it's one of your lips for the millionth time today, how did you get so lucky with one of the most attractive men on earth? Not only that, but he was the text book definition of a green flag too. You sigh happily, getting up and making your way over to the water as well.

Hanbin looked over in your direction, making sure you were still fine, and a smile found its way onto his face once he saw you approaching the water. "Hi love, you've come to join me?" He asks, a blush finding its way onto his cheeks once you begin entering the water and making your way over to him. "I got bored, it's no fun without you." You winked, causing him to chuckle at your attempt to flirt. "Cute" He responded, and you giggle as well.

But what you didn't expect, was Hanbin to splash you with water once you had looked away from. You gasped, looking at him in shock, your mouth wide open. Hanbin was laughing to himself, proud of what he had just done. "You did not" You say, staring at your boyfriend. "I did, what you gonna do about it, love?" He retorts, a cocky grin on his face. "Oh you'll pay for that Sung Hanbin" You smirk, and that's how your water fight began.

You both splashed each other with the water, both of you trying your best to protect yourself from the other's attack. Giggles escaped you both as you continued, the older people at the beach watching you both with soft gazes, seeing themselves within you both. Eventually, Hanbin had managed to sneak up on you after a successful attack had left you blindsided. His arms wrapped around your waist softly, lifting you up into the air as he had began making his way to deeper into the water.

You giggled, lightly tapping his arm as you made an attempt to escape his strong embrace. "Hanbin don't you dare! Put me down, Hanbin! I swear to god, i will never forg-" But before the remaining words left your mouth, Hanbin had dropped you into the deep end of the water, laughing to himself as he watched you disappear into the water before emerging after a few seconds, wiping the water out of your eyes.

"You are so dead" You say, trying your best to sound serious, but the smile on your face and your happy tone failed you. Hanbin swims over to you, his arms once again wrapping around your waist as you both float within the water. A soft, comfortable silence once again overtook you both as you stared into each other's eyes. The sound of the water and the voices of the other people at the beach being the only sources of sound around you.

"I love you, Y/N" Hanbin says, his gaze soft and loving. This causes you to blush, your arms finding their way around Hanbin's neck. "I love you too, Binnie" After the words had left your mouth, Hanbin leaned in closer, his lips eventually clashing with yours in a passionate kiss. You could feel all the love Hanbin held for you within his lips, and you couldn't get enough. You were intoxicated by his love, and you couldn't get enough of it.

Pulling away for air, you both saw the sun beginning to set, the day seemingly coming to a close. But both of your hearts were still warm, as you once again shared a look, silence overtaking you both again. Hanbin was the first to break the silence with his words.

"𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦"

Sorry if this was bad, but i've had this song stuck in my head, and for some reason a cute beach date with Hanbin just fit this song so perfectly for me idk.

I hope you enjoyed <33

[enhashoutout]

How Junie Met S.W.O.R.D.

Genre: mostly crack if I'm being honest

Warnings: typical H&L violence, mentions of kidn@pping, Junie jokes about getting sold, cuss words here and there (let me know if I'm missing anything so I can update this)

These are written in the order Junie met each leader/group. Since Junie is Cobra's little sister, I am writing with female pronouns, attributes, etc.

There's incorrect depiction about Junie going to a performing arts school, I don't actually know how those schools work lol I went to public school my whole life.

How Junie met each S.W.O.R.D. leader, Amamiya Kyodai, and Mighty Warriors

✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧

Mugen dominated the Chikuni City area. No one challenged them except for the Amamiya Brothers. For what exactly? Junie didn't know. At age 11, Junie didn't fully understand the concept of Mugen or the gang world. She just knew that her brother was friends with a bunch of other guys who also liked riding motorcycles. Junie didn't quite understand the impact of Mugen within the area, only that other kids would stop playing with her once their parents found out who her older brother was. Sure her brothers rode motorcycles and got into fights but they weren't bad people... This often left Junie lonely during recess, this is where this story begins.

It was recess time, and Junie had two options. 1) be lonely and sad that the other kids didn't want to play with her or 2) go exploring to keep herself busy and remember to come back before the next class started. Around this time, Junie had gone from arguing with Cobra a lot to finally putting in more effort in school. She could've chosen to follow the rules... but she was too bored today and didn't want to tell Cobra that she hated school because no one wanted to play with her. She didn't need to add more to his plate. Besides, she would only be gone for a little bit anyway; she'll come right back before the bell rings. No one will even know she was gone.

Junie made her way to the back of the school, piling a few boxes and old desks on top of each other so she could jump over the back gate. Junie slowly made her way down to the other side and checked her watch. 20 minutes left of recess. I should be able to walk around and come back in no time; she thought to herself.

Junie began walking away from the school, finding herself in front of a random drink vending machine. Junie pulled out her coin pouch from her uniform pocket and began counting the correct amount of change she needed to buy herself a bottle of juice. As Junie continued counting her change, she felt a much taller presence behind her. She turned around and looked up, meeting the eyes of a tall stranger with black spikey hair and a leather jacket.

"Hello," she said nonchalantly as she went back to buying herself a drink.

"Can you hurry up kid?"

"Can you be patient and wait your turn Mr. adult?"

"What the hell are you doing here instead of being at school kid?"

"None of your business sir."

"I-"

Just then, another tall guy in a leather jacket appeared. "Hiroto! That's no way to talk to a little kid." He knelt down so he could be at a closer eye level to Junie. "Hi. My name is Masaki, and that is my little brother Hiroto. What are you doing here? Don't you have school?"

Junie looked over at him. He was friendlier looking than the other one. He sounded nicer too. "Hello, I'm Hino. I do have school, but it's recess time."

"So shouldn't you be playing with your friends inside the school?"

"I don't have friends, but I didn't want to be bored, so I snuck out. Bye bye. Have a good day," she said as she took her drink and began walking away.

Masaki looked at Hiroto who closed his eyes in frustration. "No, Masaki, Absolutely not."

"But she's all alone. And she's so cute."

"I don't care! I didn't sign up to babysit!"

"Let's go!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"YES! I'M OLDER! YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME!"

"OH MY GOD! FINE!"

"Hey! Hino! Wait up!"

Junie turned around to look at the two guys she just met, the nicer one had ran to catch up to her. He again bent down to be closer to her eye level. "We'll hang out with you during recess so you aren't lonely."

"That's okay, I don't want to bother you guys."

"We insist."

"He insists."

"NO! We insist."

"Well, recess is about to be over anyways so I am just walking back. Bye."

"We can drop you off on our motorcycles. It'll be faster than walking."

"Sorry, I don't trust anyone on a motorcycle besides my brother. Even then, I don't really trust him either."

"Who is your brother?"

"He says I can't say his name for safety purposes but to tell people who ask that he is a part of Mugen and can fight."

Masaki and Hiroto both froze and looked at each other like 😧

"Masaki dude no. She's a Mugen kid! We can not be seen in this region with a Mugen kid!"

"But she's all alone and so cuuute."

"I'm gonna punch you."

"You guys act like a puppy and a kitten, always arguing." Now the two turned and looked at Junie like 🤨and😑 (guess which brother is which expression lol). "Now that I've stood here instead of walking back to the school I won't make it in time for class before they call my brother. Can I still get that ride?"

"Of course!" said Masaki. So Junie hopped onto the back of his motorcycle and the two brothers drove her to the back side of the school and helped her over the gate.

"Bye Hino. Do us a favor and don't tell anyone you were with us okay?"

"Okay! Bye bye Masaki. Bye Hiroto!"

"Bye kid. Stay behind those gates next time."

"No."

Masaki laughed at how Junie said no to Hiroto. The two waved back to her and drove off. As Junie was going to walk back to the playground, one of the staff came running to her.

"JUNIE! It's class time! You're 10 minutes late!"

"Sorry, I was playing with a puppy and a kitten."

"A puppy and a kitten? Where?"

"On the other side of the gate."

"That's nice but remember to listen next time when we say it's time to go inside okay?"

"Okay." Junie walked with the teacher back to class.

Later that day...

Cobra and Yamato were at the gates of Junie's school to pick her up. As usual, the other children's guardians who were also there to pick them up were talking about them. The two boys rolled their eyes. Neither boy was doing anything besides standing next to their bike and waiting for their sister, so they didn't understand why these other adults couldn't just mind their business.

Right as Yamato was getting ready to lose his cool, Junie came running out to give them both a hug. "Hi guys!"

"Hi Junie," they said back.

"Happy to see us?" (Yamato)

"Of course! Going home is the best part of the day."

The two teens laughed as Junie hopped onto the back of Cobra's bike, the three making their way over to the Mugen garage. The other Mugen members greeted them.

Junie sat on top of Cobra's bike, playing a game on his phone as he worked on his bike's wheels. "How was school Baby?"

"It was the same."

"What about lunch and recess?"

"The same also."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhmm."

"So then why did one of the teachers call me to tell me that you were late to class after lunch?"

"Oh... that..."

"Yeah, that. Where were you?"

"At the back of the school."

"Doing what?"

"Playing with a puppy and a kitten I found..."

"Why weren't you playing with the other kids like you should've been?"

"I thought you knew by now but clearly not... I don't have friends at school."

"Why?"

"Because everyone says their parents tell them to stay away from me. But that's okay! I get to walk around in peace and quiet. And the puppy and kitten I found were funny."

Cobra didn't know what to say to her, it always seemed like whenever his sister was having problems they directly tied back to him and his lifestyle.

"It's not your fault you know. I like my life outside of school. School is just a few hours out of my day, being with you and Yamato and all of Mugen is way more fun than having friends at school."

"You always know exactly what to say huh Baby?"

"I try."

Kohaku listened in on the siblings' conversation, he was always worried for the two because they were each other's only support system considering their parents weren't around often. Watching Junie's change from being super stubborn and constantly fighting with Cobra to her always reassuring him that she was fine, was reassuring to Kohaku. He knew that as time went on the two would figure things out.

The two siblings went back to what they were doing. As everyone continued doing their own thing, the sound of two more motorcycles entered the garage.

"Here they are."

"They've herded together quite nicely."

Junie turned at the sound of their voices, she knew those voices! Junie hopped off her brothers bike to get a closer look at the newcomers, to be met with the two men she just met earlier that day.

"Hino! What are you doing here?!" (Masaki)

"What the fuck do you mean what am I doing here? I'm a part of Mugen." (Cobra)

"Not you, the kid." (Hiroto)

"Junie? You know them?" (Cobra)

"Maybe?" she said as she looked at her brother. "I told you guys my brother is in Mugen earlier!" she shouted back at Masaki and Hiroto.

"And lied about your name!" (Masaki)

"Hey! No I didn't! Hino is my last name bro. You asked for my name you weren't specific about which one you wanted."

"Earlier?! Junie," said Cobra in a stern voice.

"They're the puppy and the kitten I met during lunch..."

"HUH?!" shouted quite literally everyone in the garage.

"Oh my- Yamato take her to the back." (Cobra)

"Yes sir!" So Yamato threw you over his shoulder, taking you to the back tool room and setting you down in there. "We'll come back for you when we're done okay?"

"Yeah yeah whatever you say. Just hurry, it gets stuffy back here."

Yamato ruffled your hair and locked the door. You sat in the tool room for what felt like forever while Mugen and the Amamiya brothers fought.

Before Daruma Ikka, Hyuga wasn’t involved in the gang world. Even though his brothers were a sector within Kuryu, they kept him far away from it. His older brothers made money to send him to school, to chase a better life away from danger. Things took a turn though when Hyuga Kai rumbled with Mugen.

Wanting to impress the higher ups, the leaders of Hyuga Kai gathered around and talked about what their next steps were. As the 3 older brothers were talking, Hyuga had just gotten home from school.

“Hi guys!”

“Welcome home Norihisa. How was school?”

“It was fine. What are you guys talking about?”

"Just a new task. Go wash up and do your homework. We'll call you when dinner is ready."

Hyuga took a quick glance at all the documents his brothers had scattered across the dining table, catching a glimpse of a picture of a little girl entering a school. He looked around and realized that there were multiple shots of this little girl doing various things in various places.

"Why do you guys have a bunch of pictures of this little girl?"

"She's the younger sister of a prominent Mugen member. Our plan is to kidnap her and use her as a bargaining chip against Mugen. Once they give up their claim to the area to us, we'll use that to appeal to Kuryu."

Hyuga's brothers saw the way his facial expression changed, his eyebrows furrowing in a disapproving manner.

"You do what you have to do sometimes Norihisa."

"I know... but... she's just a kid. She doesn't need to be involved in any of this. Kuryu and Mugen's business is its own matter. You guys don't need to drag a literal child into it do you?"

"It's a foolproof plan."

"But-"

"Go wash up Norihisa, we'll call you down when dinner is ready," said his eldest brother.

Hyuga walked away, slightly disappointed in his brothers for stooping low to get something done.

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Hyuga laid in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The thought of a bunch of adults putting a child in harms way to get what they want not sitting right with him. Don't get him wrong, Hyuga loved his brothers and respected that they worked their tails off to give him everything, but even the people we love can have faults and be criticized.

Hyuga slowly sat up from his bed, tip toeing around the house to his eldest brother's office. His eldest brother was usually the one to keep all their plans in his office. Hyuga quietly flipped through all the pictures and papers, looking for what exactly his brothers were planning. After what felt like forever, he found what he was looking for. Junie's name, her relation to Mugen, where she went to school, her school schedule, and what day and time they would be taking her from her school. Hyuga made a mental note of all this information, then returning to his room.

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Hyuga didn't usually ditch his classes unless it was a day he knew nothing important was happening so he could just to the library to study or maybe take a nap; and yet here he was, standing behind this elementary school at the back gates waiting for the little girl that was supposed to show up and pray he could get to her before his brothers' workers do.

Just as Hyuga was contemplating switching up his plans at the last second, Junie showed up. "Hey, hey kid. Junie."

Junie looked around and saw a guy who looked to be around her brother's age standing at the school's back gate. She walked to the gate, standing a good amount away so that she could run if need be. "Um... who are you? How do you know me?"

"My name is Norihisa, but you can just call me Hyuga. You need to come with me for your safety, I'll return you before you have to go back to class."

"I don't even know you. I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Some people want to kidnap you to make a deal with your brother and his friends. I'll hide you for a bit and return you later. I promise."

"Why would I trust you?"

"I'll take you to whatever food stall you want and buy you lunch?"

"Okay I guess," she said as she began stacking old chairs, desks, and boxes in a formation to jump over the gate.

"Wait really?!"

"Yeah. Who doesn't like free food? Plus, if you're working with the bad guys then my brother will just find you and them later," she said nonchalantly.

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Junie was nagging Hyuga on the way to the ramen shop, asking him about who was coming for her and why. He eventually caved and told her what was supposed to happen had he not ditched class to come find her.

The two sat together at a table, eating their food. Junie put down her utensils and looked at Hyuga, him doing the same.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Can I ask why are you doing this? Why are you helping me? Wouldn't you want to help your brothers?"

"Because I don't agree with what they're doing. I agree with them on a lot of things but not this. I don't think there's any good reason to get you involved between them. After all, you're not a part of Mugen, your brother is, and you're just a kid."

"Oh. That makes sense. Sometimes I don't agree with my brother on stuff too. Thanks for helping me then Hyuga."

"You're welcome Junie."

After lunch, Hyuga had returned Junie back to her school, his brothers' workers should be back to tell them she wasn't there, stopping their plans of kidnapping her.

Hyuga Kai's downfall from Kuryu after unsuccessfully trying to gain power over Mugen took a toll on all the Hyuga Brothers. The three eldest were removed from Kuryu, Hyuga Kai having to disband. The youngest Hyuga swore revenge on Mugen and Kuryu, hellbent on making them pay for what happened to his brothers.

Hyuga sat in his jail cell, knowing that this was all a consequence of his own actions. As angry as he was, a small part of him knew that he did the right thing. Junie had no business being used as Kuryu or his brothers' pawn in a game she didn't willingly choose to play.

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Bonus

This is after Road to High&Low but before High&Low the Movie

Junie madę her way through Daruma Ikka territory. There was a festival happening, a usual in this part of Chikuni City. She came upon the Daruma house, knocking on the wood of the front door. After a few moments, the door opened, Junie being met by Shu Kato. He was confused seeing Junie at the door. "Uhhh what are you doing here kid?"

"I wanted to talk to Hyuga."

"Why?"

"Why do I have to explain myself to you?"

"Oh I don't know. Maybe because we just got done with a brawl against Sannoh like 2 days ago so it's weird that a Sannoh kid would show up in this part of town afterwards."

"Who's at the door?" said someone from behind Shu Kato, Junie had a guess it was one of the Daruma babies because it didn't sound like Hyuga.

"Cobra's sister. She wants to talk to Hyuga," shouted Shu Kato over his shoulder.

"I'll go tell him!" said the Daruma baby.

Shu Kato looked back at Junie, "What do you want to talk to him about?"

"Personal stuff?"

"Personal stuff?"

"Yeah. It happened before you guys met anyways."

Before Shu Kato could respond to Junie, the Daruma baby was back. "Hyuga says to send her back." The two moved out of the way, letting Junie into the Daruma house. Junie followed as the Daruma baby led the way to Hyuga. He opened the door, closing it after Junie stepped in.

Hyuga, in all his maniacal glory sat on his bamboo mat. Candles lit up the room, smoke from incense and whatever Hyuga was smoking filled the room. A sense of attempted comfort and an unsettling eeriness filling the space. "You can sit down," said Hyuga as he motioned to the mat that sat directly in front of him. June sat down on the mat, criss crossing her legs and studying Hyuga.

"What do you want to talk about Junie. I know you didn't come all the way to Daruma to stare at me," he slurred as he looked at her.

"I haven't seen you since the day you took me out to get lunch all that time ago."

"No one has seen much of me since that day. I did go to jail after that remember?"

"I know. I just can't help feeling like that was partially my fault," Junie said quietly as she looked down at her hands that were in her lap.

"I made the decisions that landed me there kid. You had nothing to do with that, don't give yourself too much credit," he said in a joking manner. He waited for her to respond, but she didn't, so he continued. "I'm being serious Junie. I made the decisions that landed me in jail, not you."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you just come for me if you really wanted to fight against Cobra?"

"Because I still stand by my statement from all those years ago. You're a child. You aren't apart of whatever fight I have against Sannoh and Mugen. I don't put innocents in harms way, especially children."

"And I still think you're a very noble man for that mindset like I did then."

Although Junie wasn't allowed to participate in the fights of S.W.O.R.D, she had a tendency to meddle with everything and everyone anyways. When her brothers were busy and she had no one to bother, she snuck out and entered the other S.W.O.R.D districts.

The first time Junie ended up in Rascals territory Rocky was STRESSED because wtf was a kid (the girl was 12) doing in a place popular for night-life?!

Junie was small so Rocky threw her over his shoulder and took her back to club heaven, locking her in his office. Koo was stuck babysitting Junie while Rocky took care of some work before he came back. Koo's head was getting ready to explode because 12 year old Junie asked so many questions.

"Why call yourselves White Rascals? Why wear white if you're gonna fight other people? Doesn't blood get on the clothes? Is your cleaning fee expensive? How did you join? How do you fight? I like your outfit. Are you guys gonna drive me home?"

Thank god Rocky came back to his office so Koo could leave. He thought she was cute, but his head hurt because Junie spoke at the speed of light.

Rocky sat down on the other side of the couch in his office, putting space in between himself and the kid as to not scare her. "Kid. What are you doing in an area full of clubs? Don't you have a bed-time? Are you even from here?"

"Nope. Not from around here. Definitely snuck out because I was bored."

"Where is home?"

"Sannoh."

"Sannoh?!"

"Yeahhhh."

"What's your name again?"

"Junie. My brothers call me Baby because I'm the baby of the family."

"How old are you?"

"12."

"And you're by yourself?! Where are your parents?"

"This is sounding awfully a lot like an interrogation. Are you making sure I don't have a family before you sell me on the black market?"

"No kid. I protect women, I don't harm them. People aren't allowed to do that in my district."

"Oh. Sounds nice. The rest of the world should do what you're doing."

"Thanks kid. Where are your parents?"

"Never met my dad, don't know who he is. My mom is never around either. It's just my brothers."

"Who are your brothers? You got a lot of them?"

"Only one of them is my brother, you know him. Everyone else are my honorary brothers."

"I know him?"

"Mm-hmm. Hino Junpei. Cobra."

Rocky was even more stressed now. Of all kids to stumble into their turf it had to be another S.W.O.R.D leader's sister. "Where are they?"

"Out fighting. I didn't want to bother Naomi either so I went for a walk but clearly, I walked a little too far cause here I am!" said Junie with little jazz hands.

"You got a phone?"

"Yeah. Here," Junie pulled out the old phone she was given to keep in contact with everyone. Before Rocky could say anything more the phone lit up with a call from Cobra. "Ohhh I'm screwed. Hello?"

"HINO JUNIE! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Junie looked up at Rocky and then back at her phone. "Um... At Club Heaven in White Rascal district?"

"WHAT?!"

"Yo Cobra. Come get your kid and don't let her walk around by herself at night." Junie heard Cobra let out a big ass sigh before hanging up.

"Well... that went well. What's it like running a club?"

Rocky was happy to answer all of Junie's questions. He led her outside so that Sannoh wouldn't come into the club and cause a ruckus. Rocky thought Junie looked cute with his big white coat wrapped around her. The poor girl being much shorter than Rocky is, was struggling to hold the coat in her arms while talking to him, trying not to let the bottom touch the ground.

Cobra, Yamato, and Naomi arrived to take Junie home. Naomi hopped off the back of Yamato's bike, definitely not happy. "HINO JUNIE! I SWEAR I'M GONNA DIE EARLY BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR BROTHER! Why didn't you just come to Itokan?!"

"The diner was packed and I didn't want to bother you, so I went on a walk.... and then walked too far..."

Naomi put a hand on her head, calming herself down. "Next time just come to Itokan okay? Don't scare us like that."

"Yeah Baby! You had all of Sannoh running around looking for you!" said Yamato.

Junie looked at Cobra who was just staring at everyone. "You're mad at me... aren't you?"

"Not mad Baby. Just stressed. You scared us you know?" One thing about Cobra is that he never raised his voice unless needed, so hearing him say these words in such a calm voice always felt worse. Junie would've preferred if he would just yell at her so that it didn't sound like he was disappointed.

"I'll remember to tell someone next time I go on a walk."

"Thank you for watching her Rocky. Let's go home Baby."

Junie returned the coat to Rocky. "Thanks for the coat and hanging out with me Rocky!" He smiled at her (which left the other 3 young adults completely bamboozled because Rocky doesn't just smile genuinely at people).

"If you ever need somewhere to go when you're bored, you're welcome at Club Heaven Junie."

"I'll remember that! Bye!"

After that, Junie would occasionally turn up at club Heaven to bother Rocky and White Rascals. Rocky enjoyed having the little girl around even if he didn't say it. Having her around felt nice, like he got a second chance at protecting his sister. (cries)

At first the others had no idea why a random ass Sannoh kid was always found sitting in Rocky's office but they grew to like her company. Junie became the honorary little White Rascal.

Guess who loves Junie the most? Kizzy.

Kizzy thought Junie was cute and even bought her a white leather jacket to match with White Rascals. She would always replace the ones Junie grew out of as time went on also. Junie and Kizzy's first actual time meeting was what made her like Junie a lot.

It was about a month after Junie's first initial stop at Club Heaven. Junie was back from school for the weekend so she decided it was a good night to go bother Rocky because she hadn't been there in a while and Sannoh were gone for a fight again.

Junie remembered to text the Sannoh group-chat (that was made after her first time going on a walk because now Junie was obligated to tell them where she was going) to tell them she was running off to Club Heaven for a while. Junie ignored the chat after that when a few of the Sannoh members told her to just stay still at Itokan lol.

Junie showed up right before Club Heaven was opening for the night. "Hiiiii," she exclaimed as she walked into the building. Koo was the first to see Junie come in. Rocky had told him to just take the girl to his office if she ever showed up again so that's what he did.

So, Junie was locked in Rocky's office again. Koo accompanied her, and just like the first time, Junie talked his ears off. Koo thought Junie's sense of humor was actually great once she stopped asking questions and just held a conversation with him. As much as he thought this was fun, he had to go check on something happening downstairs so he pulled Kizzy into the room and told her to sit with Junie until Rocky got back.

Kizzy just sat on the couch and watched Junie as she drew on a notepad that was on Rocky's desk. Kizzy wasn't sure if she should talk to Junie so the two just kind of just sat in awkward silence. Junie continued to draw, and when she looked up to stretch her neck, saw Kizzy fixing her lip gloss.

"That's a really pretty shade of lip gloss. It matches your skin tone," Junie said to Kizzy and then went back to drawing.

This caught Kizzy off-guard. Kizzy wasn't exactly fem-presenting so when she would pull out makeup, people looked at her and judged her, but Junie didn't do that.

"Awww. Thank you, why are you at Club Heaven kid?" Kizzy took this opportunity to strike up a conversation with Junie, she seemed like a nice kid after all.

"Last time I was here Rocky said I could come back here whenever I wanted because I would always be welcomed at Club Heaven. It's been a month since then and my brothers weren't home so I thought I would come bother Rocky but he's not here today."

"Ohhh. You're Junie, the little girl from Sannoh right?"

"Yes si- wait! How do I address you?" Kizzy laughed, thankful that Juunie had the thought to ask. Kizzy thought that whoever was raising Junie was definitely doing good.

"Ma'am. I'm a woman."

"Ohhh. Are you like Naomi where you just patch up the guys or do you fight with them?"

"Both."

"Woooow that's cool."

Junie continued asking questions and Kizzy was happy to answer. It eventually lead to Junie asking Kizzy to tell her more about herself. Kizzy talked about how Rocky found her and Kaito, how she found out she identified as a woman, how her and Kaito went to the US to get married, etc.

Junie was so understanding and accepting of Kizzy that she decided from this day onwards Junie was her adoptive child😂🤍

Kizzy and Kaito were basically Junie's parents away from home and Rocky was her bougie, rich uncle. Whenever Junie popped in to see them at the club they always made time for her.

Even when she got older and had to go farther away for school, they kept in contact via text and were always excited to see Junie when she came back from school to visit.

If anyone touches Junie or harms her White Rascals will definitely be after their asses.

Junie's first run in with Oya was chaotic to say the least.

Junie's performing arts academy gave students a few days off as a reward for hard work. Some students took this time to go on vacation, and some took the time to stay at school and to continue practicing their craft. Junie however took the day to go back home. She hadn't been home in about three weeks at this point, preparing for a big performance so she was excited to be home.

Junie went out to run an errand for Naomi while she took care of Itokan, only to run into Oya while they were looking for Chiharu.

Junie had met Chiharu the night before when she arrived home, he was nice, so she couldn't understand why anyone was after him. This prompted Junie to think that the Oya high guys were kind of weird.

Junie was carrying the groceries Naomi needed when the Oya High hoard of students came storming into Sannoh looking for Chiharu. They stopped in the middle of the road, debating on which way to go to get to Yamato's shop. In turn, they were also blocking Junie's way to get back to Itokan.

She really needed to run this errand so that she could catch up with everyone then run to White Rascals territory, so it was not helping that these dudes were blocking her way.

"Hey! Can you guys like move out of the way, please?! At least stand to the side if you have to think about where you're going!"

"HUH?! STAY OUT OF OUR WAY KID!" (Seki)

"YOU ARE LITERALLY STANDING IN MY WAY BRO! MOVE! I GOT SOMEWHERE TO BE!"

Seki moved closer to intimidate her but Murayama stopped him, coming forward instead to look at her. Around this time Junie reached maybe around his chest so he bent down to her eye-level to talk to you.

"Hey kid, do you know where we can find Yamato?" (Murayama)

"Why are you looking for Yamato?"

"We need to.... talk." (Murayama)

"Head to his car repair shop."

"DO YOU THINK WE WOULD BE TALKING TO YOU IF WE KNEW WHERE IT WAS?" (Furuya)

"It's not my fault you guys stumbled onto Sannoh territory without knowing your directions."

"WHY YOU-" (Furuya)

"OI! Let the kid talk. Go ahead kid, which way do we go?" (Murayama)

"Walk straight down, turn to the left, go straight again, turn right and you'll see it. Who are you guys anyway? You guys aren't from around here."

"Murayama. Leader of Oya High. Nice to meet you, kid."

"Junie. Have fun dealing with Yamato."

"You know him?"

"Well yeah, he's friends with my older brother Cobra so he's basically my older brother. Bye! I gotta go." Junie calmly walked past the hoard of stunned Oya students like she didn't just tell them she's Sannoh's little sister. Junie continued walking in the direction of Itokan until she heard Murayama shout for her again.

"HEY KID! KID WAIT! YOU'RE RELATED TO COBRA?!"

"YEP! HAVE FUN DEALING WITH SANNOH!" she shouted back as she kept walking towards Itokan.

Junie dropped off Naomi's stuff and told her about making a quick trip to Club Heaven and that se would be back before dinner, to which Naomi said okay.

Junie ran off to see Kizzy and Kaito who made her try a new cake they added to the menu. Junie also remembered to bother Rocky and Koo. Koo drove Junie back to Sannoh and dropped her off at the entrance of Sannoh, needing to head back to tend to something going on at the club.

As Junie walked back to Itokan since Naomi said she would make Junie dinner while she was home. Before making it to Itokan, Junie ran into Murayama who was still lurking around Sannoh.

"Hey kid!"

"Hi? What are you still doing in Sannoh?"

"Tell me where Chiharu is."

"Yeahhhh no."

"No?!"

"No. It's getting late you should probably go back to Oya. I have to go home."

"Tell me where Chiharu is."

"Nooooo."

"Whyyyyyy?"

"Cobra and Yamato and Dan and Tettsu and Ken and Hikaru and Naomi said I'm not allowed to get involved with Sannoh business. That's between Sannoh and Oya. You figure it out."

Murayama moved to grab Junie's arm and her reflexes kicked in so she ended up putting him in a headlock.

"WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE STRONG FOR A KID! LET GO!" he shouted at her.

"You gonna leave me alone?"

"Okay, okay. I'll leave you alone."

Junie laughed and let go of him. He was stretching out his neck and then looked back at her.

"You know what? I think kids are annoying, but you're cool. See you around kid."

"Bye Murayama!"

"Murayama - san."

"Huh?"

"Murayama - san. I'm older than you."

"You act like we're the same age though."

"HEY!"

"Go home bro it's late."

Junie walked away afterwards leaving Murayama a little baffled but he let out a small laugh at what she had said and started walking back to Oya.

He thought she was funny, not being scared of him or the other Oya guys; and how nonchalant she was. Murayama also respected your loyalty for not giving up Chiharu.

Afterwards he just casually popped in to check on her because he saw her like a little sister. As time passed by, Murayama just grew to be protective over Junie as well.

Junie popped into Oya whenever she felt like visiting him to check up on him. The other Oya guys knew not to mess with Junie when she came around or Murayama would kill them, then Cobra would kill them, and then Murayama again.

Murayama ranted to Junie about his problems as well. How he didn't know what he wanted to do in life, how he wasn't sure who he was without the title of Oya High's leader, etc.

Junie's first encounter with Rude Boys was..... very random to say the least. (This happens during the show/RTH&L right after Yamato, Dan, and Tettsu find Chiharu working at the Red Rum factory and shut it down.)

Junie was on the way back to the gas station from Dan's store. She went to buy some snacks and a cupcake for Cobra because she was gonna stay with him at the gas station tonight. She walked past an alley while walking back home but saw movement from behind a large dumpster.

Being a curious cat, Junie walked into the alley way (not safe don't do this kids) to see what or who was there. Junie found two little girls and a boy all around the same age maybe 5 or 6 years old huddled together. Her sudden appearance had scared them, causing them to huddle closer together and farther into the corner.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you guys. What are you guys doing here?"

"We need to go home." (Boy)

"But we don't know where home is." (Girl 1)

"You don't know where you live?"

"No, no. We know where we live, but we don't know how to get home." (Girl 1)

"Where do you live?"

"Nameless City." (Boy)

"Nameless City?! Then why are you all the way in Sannoh?!"

"We need to go home. Can you help us?" (Boy)

"I, well, I think so? Do you want to come with me to drop off some stuff and then I can have someone help take you home?"

The one girl who hadn't spoken the whole time grabbed onto the other two kids and shook her head. She signed something to the other two with her hands and they looked back at Junie.

"Our sister says she doesn't know if she can trust the other people." (Boy)

"The other people would be my older brothers. They have motorcycles so they can drive you guys back to Nameless City."

They looked at their sister who again shook her head and signed to them.

"She says that she doesn't trust the adults, but you seem nice. Can you help us?" (Girl 1)

Junie thought about it for a few seconds. Does she know her way to Nameless City? Not exactly.... but she knew the general direction. She could get them there... right?

"Please? We need to go home." (Girl 1)

Cobra is gonna kill me. Then Yamato and Naomi and Dan and Tettsu and Chiharu... oh well.

"Here's what I'll do. I'm gonna go home and drop off some stuff for my older brother, make sure my directions are correct, and then I'll come back and take you guys home okay?"

The second girl signed to Junie. Junie looked at the other two kids for help.

"She says you have to promise not to tell any of the adults and promise to come back."

Junie crouched down and smiled at the three, "I promise I'll come back. It might take me a little long but I will come back."

With that, she quickly ran back to the gas station and dropped off the snacks and cupcake for Cobra.

"Baby! Where are you going? I thought you were hanging out with me for the rest of the day?"

"I just remembered I have to ask Naomi for something real quick and I'll be right back!" she shouted to him as she ran off towards Itokan. Outside of Itokan, DTC were sitting on their bikes. It looked like the trio were getting ready to go somewhere. Junie ran up to them, stopping them.

"Chiharu! I have a question."

"Oh. Are you finally gonna admit that I am older and wiser than you and you do absolutely need my help with stuff like how you ask Cobra and Yamato?"

"Absolutely not. You act like we're the same age bro. Anyways, how far is Nameless City from here? Walking wise and motorcycle wise."

"Why are you asking how far Nameless City is?" (Dan)

"Because I want to know how far you idiots went the other day to get there. Yamato texted me to tell me what happened but didn't tell me all the details."

"Oh. Well, Dan and I didn't ride our motorcycles in case we would get spotted by Rude Boys. Nameless City shares a border with Sannoh, it's to our left. We walked through Sannoh, and once you get to the border, just walk straight following the dirt road path and you eventually make it to Nameless City. That thing is huge you won't miss it." (Tettsu)

"Ohhh. Did you guys like go through the structures or anything to stay hidden?"

"Yeah we were tucking and rolling as if we were the Rude Boys." (Dan)

"What about you Chiharu?"

"I didn't have a motorcycle at the time, but I did the same walk through Sannoh. But I had to hide and enter Nameless City from the far side to get into the Red Rum factory. It usually took me around a 30-45 minute walk depending on how much I had to hide from Rude Boys that day getting to the factory."

"Oh.... you three are always doing something dumb.... sounds about right."

"HEY!" all three of them shouted.

"I'M JUST SAYING! Still love you guys though," she said as she made a heart with her hands. "Thanks for telling me the details. Where are you guys off to?"

"Just a quick night drive to patrol the area and relieve stress from everything going on. Noboru joining Iemura is really stressing everyone out."

"I bet. Well, see you guys later! I have to talk to Naomi."

"Bye Baby!" they all shouted as they drove away.

Junie walked into Itokan to find Naomi. She was tending to a few customers when she heard the bell above the door ring, turning to see who came in.

"Hi Baby."

"Hi Naomi!"

"What do you need love?"

"Do you by any chance have extra ingredients for onigiri? I'm hanging out with Cobra tonight at the gas station since it's Friday and figured we might need extra snacks. AKA I need more snacks."

"Of course, in the back where they always are."

"Also, Naomi?"

"Yes?"

"The other day I dropped off some stuff here because you said you were throwing your old clothes out and asked if I had anything to throw out also, did you take those to the donation yet?"

"Not yet, I'm going tomorrow morning before I open up the diner. Why?"

"I realized I accidentally threw a sweater I still want in the pile and was just looking for it."

"Yeah the clothes are in my car you can open the trunk and grab what you need."

"Okay thank you!"

Junie felt bad for lying to everyone today, but she needed to take those kids home. They can be mad at her later, none of them give her harsh punishments anyways.

Baby went to the back, washing her hands and started making onigiri. She ended up making 12 of them and separately wrapping each one. She put 6 in a bag, taking it with her and leaving the other 6 on a plate tucked into the corner with the other onigiri making materials and a note that read "I know you're gonna be mad at me once you find out but I made these for you guys :)"

"Naomi! I'm headed out the back!"

"Okay Baby! See you tomorrow!" she shouted back.

Junie went out to the trunk and grabbed 3 of the sweaters she was going to throw out from Naomi's trunk and went back to the alleyway.

About 3 hours had passed since she met the three kids. It was now 5 o'clock, the sun was beginning to set. Junie walked into the alleyway, looking for the kids and find them still in the same position she had found them earlier.

"Kids? I'm back."

"We thought you wouldn't come back." (Boy)

"I wouldn't break my promise like that," she said as she sat down next to them, hidden from the view if anyone walked past. "Here, I made you guys these in case you were hungry. You guys have been sitting here for a while I assume."

"We've been sitting here since last night when we jumped out of the van." (Girl 1)

"Why were you guys put in a van?" she asked as she handed them each an onigiri.

"There are bad people who always come into Nameless City. They kidnap the kids and the girls there. Our brothers usually stop them, but sometimes if they are successful we never see them again." (Girl 1)

"Oh, I'm sorry that happens. Will you guys tell me your names?"

The three of them looked at each other and then back at Junie. The second girl signed and the boy told her what she was saying. "Our sister says you've been really nice but we can't tell you. Our older brothers tell us not to tell anyone for safety reasons."

"That makes sense. My older brother doesn't like it when I tell strangers stuff also. I'll be quiet now so you guys can finish eating and then I'll take you guys home. Here is a second one if you guys want to eat it," Junie said, handing them each a second onigiri.

"We get two?" (Girl 1)

"Of course. I would've made more for all of your brothers and sisters but I didn't want it to take all night and you guys think I didn't come back. If we see each other again I promise to make you guys more."

"Okay!" they said.

The kids finished eating and got up. Junie handed them each a sweater. "Here, put these on. The walk might be a little long and it will get cold."

"Oh no, we can't take those. They'll get dirty." (Girl 1)

"Yeah, we don't want to give it back to you dirty." (Boy)

"You see the fun thing about this is that I'm giving them to you, like a present, so you get to keep them."

"You'll really do that?" (girl 1)

"Yes, you guys can keep them. A small gift from me to you guys." The three kids gave her a tight hug, grateful that she was helping them. "Okay, let's walk this way. Let's make it a game. We have to stay close together, stay quiet, and stay hidden so I can get you guys home. Okay?"

They all nodded as they held hands and followed her. Junie was walking towards the entrance of Sannoh on the left side, having to duck and hide a few times to hide from the shop owners who were closing up and residents who were out and about before retiring to their homes; scared they would contact Cobra if they saw her lurking around late at night by herself. Eventually, the group reached the border between Nameless City and Sannoh, where the paved road became dirt. Junie turned to look at the kids, "This is the end of Sannoh and start of Nameless City. Do you see how the dirt road is different from the pavement?" The kids nodded. "Remember that the bad people will always drive this way towards Sannoh to go back to their house. So if you ever find yourself stuck in a van again, when you feel the road change from dirt to pavement, try to get out and you will be in Sannoh. Then you can walk this way, and when you see this dirt road, you keep walking straight and you'll reach Nameless City. Okay?" The kids nodded at her.

"Will you be leaving us here?" (Boy)

"No. I'll walk with you home so that you guys aren't alone in the dark. Let's keep going." They all continued to walk on the dirt road.

"Our sister asked what about you? Won't you be alone in the dark when you come back?" (Girl 1)

"Yes but I have a light I can use when I walk back. I know my way home. I want to make sure you guys arrive home safely before I go back."

"Oh thank you. People usually aren't very nice to people from Nameless City. Thank you for helping us." (Girl 1)

"You're welcome. Thank you for trusting me to get you home."

The four kids continued to walk as the sun was almost completely gone. Junie saw Nameless City come into sight. Just as she was about to turn and ask the kids if they knew where to go from here, she heard a sound; like clothes brushing against each other above her head. Junie heard that same sound around them.

Well shit, Rude Boys found us faster than I expected. This is the part where I'm gonna have to plead my case about them letting me live and leave in peace.

The Rude Boys landed around them, circling around Junie and the kids.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" (Smoky)

"Smoky!" The kids shouted and ran up to him, giving him a hug.

"Are you guys alright?" (Smoky)

"Where were you guys? How did you escape?!" (Takeshi)

"We jumped out of the car when they stopped and started running. We hid behind a big dumpster for the night to sleep yesterday." (Boy)

"She found us today. She helped us come home." (Girl 1)

The Rude Boys members looked away from the kids to look at Junie, studying her. "P, take the kids back, get them to bed."

"Yes sir!"

"Wait!" the little girl ran back to Junie, giving her a hug, then looking up at hey. "My name is Eri. What's yours?"

"My name is Junie. It was nice to meet you today Eri. Remember to tell everyone what I said about the road and how to get back home okay? If you ever find yourself at Sannoh again, know that you have a friend there."

"I will. Thank you," she said as she let go of Junie to follow P.

"What the hell is someone from Sannoh doing here?" (Yu)

"Back to fight us?" (Takeshi)

"Okay woaaaahhhh hold up! Pump your breaks! I am quite literally risking my life to bring your kids back and you're accusing me of coming here to fight you guys? Do I look dumb to you? Why would I come alone?"

"Yamato came alone. Dan and Tettsu as well." (Takeshi)

"Okay, well yeah, because they're dumb that's why. I just came to return your kids. Now I'm gonna leave because I don't want any trouble with you guys."

"Junie? I've heard that name somewhere before. Who are you?" (Smoky)

"Hino Junie. My older brother is Cobra. Now I'm gonna leave, bye."

"You're not going anywhere!" Shouted Yu as he and a few other Rude Boys charged at her.

"ARE YOU FUCKIN KIDDING ME?!" she shouted as she dodged the members. Junie fought defense, not wanting to actually swing or hurt anybody because an actual fight meant that she would be in more trouble and could potentially cause a turf war when she didn't mean to. Junie continued holding them off but eventually lost energy going against 4 other people by herself. Takeshi knocked Junie off her feet and Yu threw her over his shoulder.

"HEY! LET ME GO! PUT ME DOWN! AAAAHHHH!"

"You're so loud can you shut up?" (Yu)

"PUT ME DOWN!"

Rude Boys carried Junie deeper into Nameless City as she continued hitting Yu (lightly) on the back and telling him to release her. Everyone eventually came to an area in the center of Nameless City where there were fires to keep the residents warm. Many were gone, already asleep but others were still awake and watching the commotion.

"Smoky, where do I put her?" (Yu)

"Just set her down, she can't run anywhere anyways. I know she's smarter than that." (Smoky)

Yu put Junie down, as her feet touched the floor she shoved him away. "You guys are lucky I don't feel like starting a turf war with all of you. I'm being serious! I need to go home."

"Who are you? Why are you here?" (Smoky)

"I already answered these questions! My name is Hino Junie. My older brother is Cobra. I found some of your kids hiding in Sannoh and am risking my life bringing them all the way back here. I need to get home, kindly tell your members to scoot out of my way and I'll leave."

"Why did Sannoh send you?" (Smoky)

"Smoky. I get it, you found five of my older brothers in your territory without permission and a drug farm being run out of one of your buildings without your knowledge, but I had nothing to do with that. I was at school outside of SWORD. Cobra doesn't let me get involved in Sannoh business anyways so I don't know why you think I was sent here. I was seriously just bringing the kids home, they can't hide in a Sannoh alley for the rest of their lives."

"You didn't fight us, why? If you're Cobra's sister you're just as strong as he is I'm sure." (Smoky)

"There is so much happening outside that could harm all of S.W.O.R.D, I don't need to add a turf war to it. Sannoh doesn't need that right now. My brother doesn't need that right now."

"What do you know about what's happening outside?" (Takeshi)

"That Iemura and Kuryu plan on making S.W.O.R.D crumble to take over so fighting amongst ourselves is something stupid to be doing right now."

Smoky walked closer to Junie, bending down so he was eye-level with her. "You don't look much older than some of the kids here. You're well spoken for a kid."

"Sometimes I don't have any other choice than to be well spoken." Before either of them could continue Junie's phone began ringing. She pulled it out of her pocket, Cobra's name with a picture they took together on her screen.

This is the part where I hope the ground opens up and swallows me whole.

"Shit he's gonna kill me," Junie whispered to herself as she picked it up and put it on speaker. "Hello?"

"HINO JUNIE! I SWEAR TO GOD I'M GONNA GROUND YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAMN LIFE! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" (Cobra)

"Um... I may or may not be held hostage by Rude Boys in Nameless City?"

"HEY!" shouted P as he regrouped with the Rude Boys members.

"CAN Y'ALL TAKE A JOKE?! GOOD LORD WHY ARE ALL OF YOU SO DAMN UPTIGHT?!" she shouted back at him. "I'm in Nameless City Cobra."

"WHAT?!" Yamato shouted from behind Cobra.

"FOR WHAT?! HINO JUNIE WHY DO YOU KEEP RUNNING OFF TO DIFFERENT TERRITORIES?!" shouted Naomi right after him.

"I-"

"DON'T TELL ME YOU WERE BORED AND WENT FOR A WALK MISSY!" (Naomi)

"Okay, funny story. While I went out for snacks to buy a cupcake for Cobra and a cheesecake for myself right? Then I found three kids who are from Nameless City hiding behind a dumpster in the alleyway by the store. They asked if I could help them get home but I had to promise not to tell any of the adults because they don't trust the adults. So I dropped off the cupcake and snacks with Cobra-"

"AND LIED TO HIM AND ME?!" (Naomi)

"Technically I lied to Cobra, then Chiharu, Tettsu, and Dan, and then you..."

"YOU THINK THAT HELPS YOUR CASE?!" (Naomi)

"No.... BUT AT LEAST I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH! So I left the cupcake and snacks with Cobra, lied to him about coming to talk to you, ran into Dan, Tettsu, and Chiharu, lied to them and got them to tell me the directions to Nameless City, then lied to them again and came inside to talk to you. Then I went to the back, made onigiri for the kids and made you guys some also so that you wouldn't be as mad at me, and then grabbed three of my sweaters from your trunk and lied to you again saying I was going home but I went back to the alleyway to pick up the kids and bring them to Nameless City. We arrived, the kids went home, but then Rude Boys wouldn't let me leave because they thought I was sent here to fight with them, thank you so much Yamato, Dan, Tettsu, Chiharu, and fuckin Noboru for making Rude Boys not trust anyone. Then, I got manhandled and brought to the center of Nameless City and now here we are with me on the phone with you guys. Please don't be mad at me. I'll even report my misbehavior to Rocky, Kizzy and Kaito so they don't buy me anything or allow me to eat cheesecake."

The phone was silent for a few seconds before anyone talked again.

"Baby. Where are you right now?" (Cobra)

"I told you, being held hostage by Rude Boys at the center of Nameless City."

"WE'RE NOT HOLDING YOU HOSTAGE!" (Yu)

"YOU LITERALLY ARE!"

"BABY!" (Cobra)

"WHAT?!"

"Stay there, don't move, we're coming. Is your phone on speaker?" (Cobra)

"Yes."

"Smoky if something bad happens to my sister I will rain hell on you guys," said Cobra before he hung up.

"Well... that went well. Dan, Tettsu, and Chiharu said it takes about 30 minutes on foot so it should take less on bikes. Can I go back to the edge of Nameless City so my brothers can pick me up?"

The Rude Boys members just stared at Junie because what the hell did they just witness? Smoky dismissed the others but kept P and Takeshi with him because he believed she wouldn't be much work considering she wanted to go home and wasn't trying to actively harm anyone.

The three walked behind Junie as they all walked back out to the edge of Nameless City.

"You're so weird." (Takeshi)

"Excuse me? I should be judging you guys, not the other way around."

"You're not scared of us." (Takeshi)

"Why would I be scared of you guys?"

"Because we're mysterious and have cool fighting skills." (P)

"You guys are literally just the same as Sannoh so if I'm not scared of them, I'm definitely not scared of you guys."

"That's insulting." (P)

"That I'm not scared of you?"

"That you didn't acknowledge our cool fighting skills and said we're the same as Sannoh," said P with a sad pout.

Junie turned around and started walking backwards as she talked to him. "I'm not saying it in a bad way. I acknowledge the cool fighting skills, I'm sorry. You guys do have cool techniques I know that the other S.W.O.R.D gangs don't fight that way. And I'm saying you guys are like Sannoh because you're just trying to protect your own, I respect that. It's what my brothers are always doing even if it gets them roped into trouble. I'm really sorry my brothers barged in like that, they have a tendency to make rash, in-the-moment decisions before thinking about it. And I'm sorry for barging in like I did, I would've had the Sannoh members just bring the kids back on their bikes so it would be faster but the kids were extra persistent on me not telling anyone else they were there."

"Thank you for doing that." (Takeshi)

"Yay. You acknowledged that we're cool."(P)

"Dude seriously?"(Takeshi)

"You guys even act like certain Sannoh members it's so funny. I think you guys are really cool. And you guys are very welcome, glad I could help."

"Will you always bring the kids back if you find them?" (Takeshi)

"If I'm there I definitely will but I'm not always in Sannoh. I'm usually in a neighboring city for school, but I'll force the Sannoh members to keep an eye out for any sketchy vans carrying Nameless City residents while I'm gone."

Smoky had been silently observing Junie and his brothers up until now. "You would do that?" (Smoky)

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Most people don't care much about Nameless City residents and what happens to us." (Smoky)

"Cobra taught me better than to ignore people in need."

"Cobra did?" (Smoky)

"Yeah, it's been just us, Yamato, and Naomi for as long as I could remember. They raised me, not my parents."

"Sounds like all of us." (P)

"You said five brothers earlier, we only saw four Sannoh members the other day." (Smoky)

"One of my brothers... isn't hanging out with the right people at the moment."

"Iemura?" (Smoky)

"Yeah.... Sannoh is still trying to take care of it. I guess some people just lose their way sometimes."

"I can understand that." (Smoky)

"Hopefully we get him back on track."

The four made it to the edge of Nameless City, waiting for the Sannoh members to arrive.

"Why is your brother working with Iemura?" (P)

"I guess he wants a better life than the one he had, I don't really know."

"We had someone like that." (Takeshi)

"You did?"

"Yeah. Our brother left to work for Iemura also. We couldn't get him back... I guess you could say he lost his way and we couldn't get him back on track." (Smoky)

Before Junie could answer, the sound of multiple motorcycles filled the air. Cobra, Yamato, DTC, and Naomi were here to pick her up.

"HINO JUNIE! I GOT A FEW WRODS FOR YOU YOUNG LADY!" shouted Naomi.

"Oh I am so dead," she whispered to the 3 Rude Boys.

"HOW. DARE. YOU. LIE. TO. ME?!" (Naomi)

"Well-"

"AND COBRA?!" (Naomi)

"But Naomi-"

"AND DAN, AND TETTSU, AND CHIHARU?!" (Naomi)

"Okay but like-"

"Naomi! Let the girl explain herself first." (Yamato)

"YOU'RE ON HER SIDE?!" (Naomi)

"NO! I'M JUST SAYING LET HER EXPLAIN HERSELF! She's trying to talk to you." (Yamato)

"Start talking Junie." (Naomi)

"I didn't mean to lie... but the kids said they didn't trust the adults! So I had to promise not to say anything and then I brought them home."

"What kids?" (Naomi)

"The Nameless City kids! They got kidnapped by Doubt but then they escaped and hid behind the Dan store dumpster so after I bought a cheesecake for myself and a cupcake for Cobra I found them. They didn't want me to tell any adults so I went on a little expedition to bring them food and sweaters and then take them home. I knew you would be mad so I made extra rice balls for you guys once you found out. This is like 100th time saying this at this point! So technically you can get mad at me if you want but I wasn't out being bad or intentionally causing trouble. That should lower my punishment level in my opinion."

Naomi smacked the side of Junie's head. "You're in trouble and you're still cracking jokes."

"I'm just trying to lower the tension!"

"WHAT ABOUT US?!" DTC all shouted together.

"What about you guys?"

"DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TROUBLE WE GOT IN WHEN THEY FOUND OUT?!" (Tettsu)

"It's not my fault you guys are daft so I tricked you guys into giving me directions!"

"WHAT?!" (Dan)

"OH YOU DID NOT!" (Tettsu)

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING DAFT?!" (Chiharu)

"OI!" shouted Cobra, the 4 quieting down. Cobra walked past Junie to stand in front of Smoky. "I'm sorry if my sister caused you guys any trouble. Thanks for taking care of her while she was here."

"Don't mention it, she brought our siblings back after all." Smoky looked past Cobra and at Junie. "Like you told Eri, if you're ever in the area, know that you have friends here. Be safe Junie," said Smoky as he and the Rude Boys members retreated back into Nameless City.

Cobra turned around and looked Junie, "Let's go home Baby. We can talk when we get home."

"Okay," she said quietly as she mounted his bike behind him. The Sannoh members drove back to Sannoh. DTC going home, Yamato dropping off Naomi at her home and then heading towards his. Cobra and Junie went to the gas station, continuing their all-nighter plan. The two silently entered the office, sitting in their designated seats.

Junie awkwardly sat there, the silence killing her before she looked over at Cobra and started the conversation. "You have got to stop letting me sit in silence to contemplate what I did wrong before you start talking to me Cobra. I would rather get yelled at than drown in the tension of disappointment in the air."

"At least you know what you did was wrong I guess."

"I'm sorry! I really am. But the kids didn't want me to say anything to anyone."

"I'm not upset at you Junie."

"You're not?"

"I don't really know how to feel about it. I'm glad you took initiative to help those kids out, I really am, but the running off needs to stop kid. You know that it's not safe for you to be doing that so you need to quit running off to different territories like that. I'm trying to keep you safe and out of SWORD business, so you need to quit running into it head first."

"Okay... can I use one of your ice packs?"

"For what?"

"I may or may not have fought a little with the Rude Boys and feel a few bruises forming?"

"YOU WHAT?!"

"I fought defense I swear! They were surrounding me and not letting me leave! And then one boy charged at me and then it just kinda happened," Junie said with a shrug. "Them bitches be strong though. I held my ground for a while but then got tired out because I was fighting four of them. Then one of them threw me over his shoulder and he carried me away before you called."

Cora just looked at her, closed his eyes, looked away, and let out the biggest sigh known to man. "I'm not even gonna say anything. Eat your cheesecake and don't run off anymore," he said as he took a bite out of his cupcake.

✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧

Bonus

It's been a few hours since Junie left Cobra to go talk to Naomi. They must've gotten carried away talking, he thought to himself. That tends to happen when they're together, but Cobra got a little sulky because tonight was supposed to be for him and Junie before she had to leave for school again. I'm sure she'll be back in a bit, he thought as he went back to scrolling on his phone. Just then, Naomi and Yamato hurriedly threw open the door to his office.

"WELL DAMN! AT LEAST BE GENTLE WITH MY DOOR! THAT SHIT IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR!" shouted Cobra at the other two. They were a bit stunned because his voice volume is never high. (Truth is they startled him so he started shouting.)

Naomi snapped out of it first. "Cobra, where is Junie?!"

"She said she was going to Itokan to talk to you."

"She did. And then she said she was coming back to hang out with you."

"Well, she's not here obviously."

"Okay, so what the hell is this?" asked Naomi as she handed the little sticky note Junie wrote on to Cobra.

"I know you're gonna be mad at me once you find out but I made these for you guys, with a smiley face at the end."

Before Cobra could answer, DTC showed up at the gas station to fill up their bikes' gas tanks. The 3 popped in to say hi to the other trio.

"Hey guys!" (Tettsu)

"Just stopping by to grab some gas for our bikes." (Dan)

"What are you guys doing?" (Chiharu)

"Have you guys seen Junie?" (Naomi)

"Yeah. We saw her earlier." (Tettsu)

"Earlier when?" (Naomi)

"Right before she went into Itokan to talk to you." (Chiharu)

"What did she say to you guys?" (Yamato)

"She asked us what happened when Yamato and us went to Nameless City because you guys wouldn't tell her anything. Why?" (Dan)

"Junie is missing. She was supposed to be with me but then she said she was gonna go to Itokan and now Naomi can't find her either. Did she say anything else to you guys?" (Cobra)

"She asked us how to get to Nameless City then how long it took us to get there. Then she asked Chiharu how long it took him to get to Nameless City... without... a bike..." Tettsu's words started to slow down as he realized what he, Dan, and Chiharu had done.

"You are all gonna be the death of me." (Naomi)

Cobra pulled out his phone to call his sister, having a good idea on where she is now.

The Mighty Warriors pulled up in the Kuryu provided van to Junie’s performing arts academy. “Yo Bernie, this the place?” asked Ice through the back window.

“Yep. Just gotta wait for the girl to come out now.”

“Preferably, can we just take the girl and not have anything pop off around here? There are other kids here,” said Pearl.

“I didn’t take you for someone that cared about kids bro.” (9)

“I don’t, but these kids are a bunch of rich people’s kids and I personally don’t want to get involved with any other people in power. Dealing with Kuryu is enough for me, I don’t know about the rest of you.” (Pearl)

“He’s right. We don’t want to get involved with anyone we don’t need to. Get the Sannoh Girl and we’re out of here.” (Ice)

The group went back to their own things as they waited for Junie.

Class had ended for the day for Junie and her friends. The group of girls were walking out of the building and still talking about the dance routine they had just learned, and the homework they had left to finish.

“Junie are you crashing at one of our dorms tonight or are you going home?”

“I’m gonna-”

“Junie!” Junie turned at the call of her name and looked at the group of people standing by the van they were driving.

“What are the Mighty Warriors doing in front of my school?”

“Cobra sent us to pick you up.” (Bernie)

“Did he now?”

Junie’s friend Kaya grabbed her arm and whispered, “Junie, do you know them?”

Junie turned around to look at her friends and said loudly, “Sorry guys! I guess I can’t crash at the dorms tonight, my brother probably wants me home for something. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Oh, that was easier than I thought,” said Bernie to the other Mighty Warriors.

“A little too easy.” (Sarah)

Junie gave all her friends a hug, as Junie went in to give Kaya a hug she whispered, “Call Cobra and tell him what happened when you’re safe back at your dorm okay?”

“What about you?” Kaya whispered back.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m a big girl, I’ll keep myself safe,” Junie whispered back.

Junie let go and watched the other girls walk away, waving to them. She waited for them to be a safe distance away before descending down the stairs to stand in front of the Mighty Warriors. “Let me make one thing clear. My friends have nothing to do with S.W.O.R.D. business, so whoever you just saw erase them out of your memory right now unless you want me to rain hell on your crew. I can assure you that I don’t need my brother or his gang to cause problems for you.”

“And here I thought that you were going to be easy to deal with.” (Bernie)

“Your braincells must suck ass then, why would anyone in our world be easy to deal with?”

"Girl-" (Bernie)

“We won’t touch your friends, you have my word. We’re criminals but we’re not evil, those girls are kids who aren’t tied to our business, we’ll leave them be.” (Ice)

"Thanks I guess."

“Get in the van kid, you’re gonna be our bargaining chip.” (9)

“One, you're already failing as kidnappers. You're not giving me any good bribes or threats to get into the van. You didn’t even offer to give me candy as a starter. Two, Cobra won’t be worried, he knows you’ll return me because you’re gonna get sick of my shit real quick. Three, whatever money you’re getting from this job of kidnapping me, do everyone a favor and take some of that money and fix those fuck ass braids. And I thought Tettsu’s dreads were ugly… how the fuck did you out-ugly Tettsu?” Junie pulled herself up into the back of the sketchy white van 9 told her to get into and sat down on the floor, taking off her backpack to hold at her front and setting her duffle bag down at her side. She looked out at the Mighty Warriors who all had a look of disbelief on their faces. (Something like this lol😧)

“Well? Are you guys getting in or should I run and you guys chase me?”

Ice and Sarah went to the front of the van to drive while Pearl, 9, and Bernie got in the back with Junie.

"Give me your phone kid." (9)

"No."

"Give me your phone." (9)

"No. Who are you? My dad?"

9 and Junie wrestled for her phone. 9 was able to get it from her and turn off her location tracking before giving it back.

"Now your brother can't track you." (9)

"Obviously. I wasn't born yesterday."

"Don't call or text anyone for help either." (9)

"Puh-lease it's you guys that are gonna need help being stuck with me, not the other way around, the fuck."

"We're literally kidnapping you, that doesn't scare you?" (Pearl)

"Now that I think about it, I guess I can't use the 'who are you my dad?' approach because my real dad doesn't even tell me what to do huh? And no I'm not scared."

"Why?" (Pearl)

"Dude, I got kidnapped by Noboru a few months ago and gangs are running around my home town left and right. This? This is nothing. Usually the other gangs don't touch me though because it's Cobra's rules that I'm off limits but clearly y'all didn't get the memo."

"That's cause we're not other gangs kid, we're Mighty Warriors!" (Bernie)

"You keep telling yourself that you're special. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Are you ever nice?" (9)

"BITCH! I am literally sitting in the back of a sketchy white van with some dudes who just kidnapped me from my performing arts academy! WHY THE FUCK WOULD I BE NICE TO YOU GUYS?!"

"She's got a point. How do you know who we are? You knew us right when you saw us back there." (Pearl)

"I run a tight circle with the other S.W.O.R.D gangs, they let me know what's happening and who is new in the area. Anyways.... what are your names? Don't give me stupid code names or fake names, I have a feeling we're gonna be seeing each other a lot from here on out so it would be nice to put names to faces."

"Bernie. I'm the designated Mighty Warriors' DJ."

"Pearl."

"9."

"You said you're at a performing arts academy. What do you study at school?" (Pearl)

"Piano, contemporary dance, and I dabble in ballet because it's a requirement to graduate."

"Sounds boring to me. You should check out Mighty's stuff." (Bernie)

"Does Ice also pay you to be Mighty Warriors' marketing manager? Just because my art is different from yours doesn't make it boring."

"But everything you're doing is so slooow. That's boring." (Bernie)

"And obnoxiously loud beats with strobe lights give me a headache. Your point is?"

"We can agree to disagree. Music is music and art is art right?" (Pearl)

“Yeah.”

“You not scared we gonna kill you or something kid?” (9)

“Why do I get the feeling you’re really itching to get a punch in at me or something braids?”

“BRAIDS?! I LITERALLY TOLD YOU MY NAME AND YOU’RE GONNA CALL ME BRAIDS?!” (9)

"DID I NOT TELL YOU TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THIS JOB AND FIX YOUR FUCK ASS HAIR EARLIER?!"

“Don’t let 9’s questions bother you,” said Bernie. “He’s a lil softy at heart,” he whispered to you. 9 reached over and smacked Bernie on the arm. “Ow bro what the hell!”

“Don’t tell the kid that shit! I’m supposed to look scary! Be intimidating!” (9)

“If you want my opinion you’re all doing a shit job at being scary. The only remotely intimidating Mighty Warrior member is the lady up front.”

“That’s Sarah.” (Bernie)

“The guy driving is Ice, he’s our leader.” (Pearl)

“Ohhh. She's very intimidating but seems like a cool person actually. And to answer your question, no, I’m not worried you’re gonna kill me. Something tells me you guys don’t do that kinda shit.”

“What if we do?” (9)

“Then I’ll fuckin haunt your asses forever until you all go clinically insane and can’t even think properly to make music. You’ll spend the rest of your life locked up in a 4 by 4 white room whispering to yourself while I creep around your mind and materialize out of thin air. Try me bitch. If you go low I will go lower.”

9 just looked at you, speechless and kinda terrified. Bernie and Pearl both laughed hysterically at the way you responded to 9 on top of his reaction.

“I like this kid!” (Pearl)

“Yo, can we just keep her? She's funny!" (Bernie)

"No, sorry. You're gonna have to return me to my brother eventually."

"Damn. We got you for now though so that's fine." (Bernie)

The van continued on driving as Junie bickered with the 3 Mighty Warriors she was stuck with in the back. As funny as these guys were, she knew that the people they answered to for this job probably weren't as chill as they are, and could only hope that Kaya called her brother and that Sannoh would be on their way to help her soon.

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Kaya quickly made her way back to her dorm. After checking her surroundings to make sure no one followed her or if anyone was hiding nearby, she pulled out her phone and clicked on Cobra's contact.

When Junie first came to the academy, Kaya was the first girl to become friends with her, not minding what Junie's older brother and his friends did for a living. Kaya was interested in how Junie lived her life outside of school, eventually convincing her parents to allow her to go visit Junie in Sannoh. Once she learned the nature of Junie's life outside of the academy, she was given Cobra, Yamato, and Naomi's contact information in case situations like these occurred outside of Sannoh where they couldn't get to her immediately.

The phone rang twice before Cobra picked up the phone.

"Cobra?"

"Hey Kaya, Junie staying with you tonight right?"

"Um, no. She was, but then some people were parked at the front of our school and said that you sent them to pick Junie up. Junie played along and made sure we all safely left the area first before going with them. She told me to call you when I got to my dorm. I asked her what about her and she said she would manage. Cobra I'm so sorry I didn't know what to do and-" Kaya began to cry and panic.

"Hey, hey it's okay. You did good, you did what Junie told you to do. I don't want you getting roped into our business neither does Junie. You did good it's okay."

"Okay..."

"Kaya do you know who was there? What did they look like?"

"Um, there were 5 people. 4 men and 1 woman. They were wearing street clothes. They were, um, standing in front of a white van. They knew Junie because when we got outside they called out to her and were super casual when they said that you told them to pick her up. I, um, I don't think I can remember anything else."

"Okay, that's okay. Thank you-"

"WAIT! Cobra I remember something else!"

"What do you remember Kaya?"

"When they called out to Junie, her back was turned because she was talking to us, but when she turned around she asked what Mighty Warriors were doing here."

Cobra let out a big sigh, screwing his eyes shut in annoyance. "Okay, thank you Kaya. Stay safe okay?"

"Okay... can you bring Junie back safe?"

"Bring her back I can do, I always will, but safe? Safe isn't a common word in our world Kaya."

"I know but... just bring my best friend home please?"

"I will Kaya. Go to sleep."

"Okay."

The line went dead after that. Kaya was worried but knew that Junie was tough, she could hold her own until Cobra came for her. Kaya went to bed trying not to worry too much about her best friend.

Cobra on the other hand was getting ready to blow up all of Chikuni City. It's been a long time thing that Junie is off limits when attacking Sannoh especially because all of S.W.O.R.D protects her, but clearly not everyone honors unspoken rules. Cobra got up from the couch and started to pace Yamato's garage.

"Who was that?" (Yamato)

"That was Kaya." (Cobra)

"Kaya? As in Junie's friend from school?" (Yamato)

"Yeah." (Cobra)

"What did she call for?" asked Naomi as she entered the garage.

Cobra let out an exasperated sigh and looked at the two of them. "Mighty Warriors just took Junie."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" (Yamato)

"What happened?!" (Naomi)

"Junie already told me this morning she was gonna crash at the dorms, but Kaya says that after class when they left the academy, Mighty Warriors were waiting for Junie outside. She was calm and played along until her friends were safe and out of the area before following them. Now she's with them. I just checked her location and her tracking is turned off." (Cobra)

"Idiots. Always getting a kid involved when she's got nothing to do with them." (Naomi)

"How do we find her now? We need to tell the others." (Yamato)

"We will, I think-" Cobra's phone started to buzz. He lifted the phone to check who was calling and was met with a picture of him and Junie. He hurriedly answered the call and put it on speaker. "JUNIE! ARE YOU OKAY?!"

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" (Yamato)

"JUNIE ARE YOU HURT?!" (Naomi)

"So caring. Junie must be so thankful to have so many people taking care of her."

"Kohaku?! WHERE THE HELL IS MY SISTER?!" (Cobra)

"No need to worry, she's safe, right Junie?" (Kohaku)

"I'm fine guys! Just gonna die because Kohaku and Lee's egos are so fucking inflated that it takes up all the oxygen in the room!"

"HEY!" (Lee)

"COME NEAR ME AND I SWEAR I'LL BEAT YOUR ASS! YOU CAN'T EVEN FIGHT DIP SHIT!"

"You can see her after." (Kohaku)

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AF-" the phone line went dead. "HELLO?! KOHAKU?! KOHAKU! DAMN IT!" shouted Cobra as he threw his phone onto the couch.

"What does he mean by after?" (Naomi)

"The fight," said Tsukumo as he got off of his bike and walked towards the trio, stopping in front of them in the garage.

"Tsukumo." (Cobra)

"I can't believe this." (Yamato)

"Yo." (Tsukumo)

"Where have you been?" (Cobra)

"What are you doing here?" (Naomi)

"Why didn't you contact us after getting out of the hospital?" (Yamato)

"You guys look rough... Kohaku right?" (Tsukumo)

"What fight are you talking about?" (Cobra)

"Two days from now, Kohaku and 500 members of Mighty and Doubt will come here to crush S.W.O.R.D. Kuryu had Mighty kidnap Junie to use as a bargaining chip against you. All of you. They know that all of S.W.O.R.D loves Junie, and that you'll all show up for not only the fight but for her." (Tsukumo)

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WOOHOO WE ARE AT THE END! Sorry if there are any spelling or grammatical errors, I did read through and edit this multiple times but I'm quite prone to making little mistakes here and there that I don't catch.

Did you enjoy the backstory on how Junie met everyone in S.W.O.R.D? These are all just some small blurbs and context to how Junie met everyone and why she has a certain relationship with certain groups and their members. For example, she's very close to Kizzy and Kaito from White Rascals because they act like her parents and she's close with Murayama like he's another brother to her. Whereas with Rude Boys and Daruma they are more of respectful acquaintances.

I will be writing more about Junie and Murayama's sibling like bond in future stories. This story doesn't make it seem like Hyuga and Junie are close because they definitely aren't like how she's close with Kizzy+Kaito or Murayama, but I plan to have Hyuga be like a mentor in a way to Junie in further stories because I wanted to add some depth to Hyuga's character and not just write him as a crazy fighter.

The story for how Junie met Mighty will also be included and continued in the "Junie in High&Low the Movie" post! I didn't want to post all of it here since this is just a how Junie met everyone post so please look forward to that!

© This work is copyrighted by enhashoutout. I only post my work on this Tumblr account. I do not allow people to repost or translate my work. If you do see anyone doing so, please let me know. Writers work hard on their stories, please don't be a crappy human and take our work. ♡