#i hate when nightmares seem so real that you have to text whoever it was about to check and make sure they're okay

[coweringbear]

Hate waking myself out of a nightmare by mumbling and getting so scared and overwhelmed by what happened in the dream I start crying

[gagethatcher]

NUNEZ, OLIVIA:

He must’ve known her well because the second he mentioned banging Stella and using her to piss off her brother, Liv saw red. They may be friends, and he may be a fun dick to ride but Stella was her girl. She’d break his precious penis before she ever let him anywhere near her.

Sure, Stella could probably take care of herself and Liv had no room to talk or prevent Stella from seeing other people and boning them while she did the same things herself but it was the circumstance that bothered her. The devil was in the details.

“You better be joking,” she warns. Albeit, she lightens the mood again with a rough, playful shove to the shoulder. “I’m not sure you’re Trix’s type, to be honest. Then again, I think she has boned a few animals. And if you’re proposing what I think you’re proposing, then you need to get in line.” Because he was being so openly candid with her, Liv felt compelled and comfortable to do the same. “I’m already trying to line one threesome up. If it doesn’t pan out the way I hope, maybe we’ll give you a call. Just don’t hold your breath. Or maybe you should. I’ve met her brother. Sick fuck. Mean as can be. I’d hate to be you if you ever did manage to con Trix into fucking you and he found out. I’ll write you a good eulogy though.” Scouts honor.

As she waited for him to type out and send the texts, Liv absentmindedly drew invisible lines across her taut stomach, tempting Gage without actually meaning to. “Actually, I appreciate the slice but do you think you can loan me a gram? You know, just in case I need to sweeten the punch for what I’ve got going on later?” It seemed fair enough. Not that mauling Gage in public was truly horrendous. In fact, it would be her greatest pleasure.

“We should go. Just in case she’s close by and we need to beat her there.” Liv sat up and closed the door to his van before hopping into the passenger seat up front.

-

Gage was surprised when she got offended but then relaxed when she eased back into their usual banter. He knew how close she and Stella were and didn’t want her to think he would hurt her. That wasn’t the idea behind his vicious plan to get back at Dante. It was only supposed to hurt D’, no one else. Then again, messing with family always has its consequences. Not that he would know. His parents weren’t the loving type. His father was a real bastard and his mother was a delusional hag with more demons than Hell. With such a fucked up lineage, it was no wonder he couldn’t escape his own shadows. His parents were still his parents after all. Their degeneracy was his degeneracy. And if he were to ever have children, they would probably come out just as cruel. The thought in itself was a nightmare because he knows how much Camila wants a family of her own, and he’s not so sure his offspring would live up to her fantasy. 

“Fucking me isn’t the worst she could do, Liv. You’ve fucked me, you would know. But yeah, if your little threesome doesn’t work out, call me. I’ll be gentle.” He teased, knowing she could handle anything he throws at her. He wasn’t the only animal here. Liv was a firecracker and honestly, with the way she rides a dick, he wasn’t so sure he could handle two of them. She almost broke his dick one time — He had it looked at a few weeks later and the doctor said there was some inner scarring. Whoever she was setting up was in for a real treat — or trick. 

“I’m not a drug dealer.” Gage lit another cigarette as he turned the wheel toward the pier before parking in the lot. “—But because you’re my only real friend, sure.” He moved to the back of the van to rummage through his stuff. There were some food boxes, beer, a box of condoms, and even a picture of him with Camila taped to the wall. He had to make sure Olivia didn’t see it. “Just stay there. It’s a mess back here.” Then again she might be able to make Camila out when she shows up, even if was getting dark out. “Fuck it. I don’t care. You’re cool...” The inner workings of his mind came out. “The girl is Camila Garza, okay? It’s too hard keeping it a secret from you. Just don’t tell anyone. If you do, I’ll break you like you tried to break my dick last year.” He shuffled back over to her and slapped the gram in her palm, wrapped in ceramic to stay fresh. 

[lily-drake]

Death

Death was nothing new in Marinette’s life.  In fact it played a large role.  Her friends and city had died a hundred times over.  Her brother.  Her funny, smart, loving, dramatic brother had died at the hands of a mad man.  She didn’t think it was wrong for her to use the horse miraculous to visit her brother's grave.  It was officially five years after all.  He would be 20, he would have loved to plan out her 16th birthday this year.  She sat down and read Pride and Prejudice out loud, only a few tears falling as she glanced at the grave every so often.  She had also brought a bouquet of white lilies, statices, red carnations, and white daisies.  Soft grass laid over the dirt, the sun gleamed above, and sometimes when she would lean against the grave it was almost like she could feel him.

Dark storm clouds began to cloud the sky, and she knew she would have to leave soon, though she didn’t want to.  Dad would be upset if he caught her, though considering how many weeds she had to remove from the grave and how abandoned it looked, she doubted anyone had visited any time soon.  Suddenly the rain began to pour down and it felt like the earth shook.  She felt a great imbalance, but where, and how?  She touched both of her ears and she could feel her miraculous still there, Tikki even poked her head out from her bag with a look of fear.  A shiver ran down Marinette’s spine as rain came pouring down soaking everything in sight.  She looked around, and she kept spinning searching for something, anything that could have caused or been affected by the imbalance.  She waited there for many minutes just waiting, when she felt the dirt beneath her feet begin to shift a little.  She quickly moved away and watched as the dirt slowly moved and shifted.  She felt sick, because the dirt moving was directly where Jason was lying in eternal rest.  This couldn’t be right, this must be some mistake!  Her brother had died, she had seen the body, it haunted her nightmares for so many nights.  He’s been gone for five years!  This can’t be possible without some type of wish.

The grass began to move and shift away, and a fleshy mud covered hand raised from the ground causing a scream to rip from her lungs.  Her body sprung into action before her mind caught up to her beginning to help dig up her brother's grave, and when she saw the jet black hair covered in dirt and mud she knew that it was him.  She heaved him out from the hole and stared in shocked horror as he just sat there staring at her.  His eyes were the same blue she remembered, but they were so clouded.  Fear, confusion, and nothing shown in his eyes, like he wasn’t even truly there.  This must be a dream, it has to be, no, a nightmare.  Her brother shouldn’t be back, he died, she saw his limp body in dad’s hands, even if Alfred and bluebird tried to stop her.  But the imbalance was real, she could tell, and he was affected by it.

Slowly she raised her hand and hesitantly placed a hand on his cheek.  He leaned into her hand, though his eyes were still clouded and void.  He may be alive, but he wasn’t fully…alive.  She tackled her older brother into a hug and began sobbing onto him, but just sat there, head leaning against hers.  Pressing her ear against his chest she could hear his gentle heartbeat, and just for a moment everything seemed like it would be ok.  Then she felt a sharp prick in her neck and the world faded to black.

________

Marinette awoke to darkness.  She tried to sit up and felt her hands held behind her back being held together by something cold and thick.  Memories flooded back into her mind and she snapped into awareness and looked around.  It was dark, though there was a small light coming from a window far above where she could not ever reach.  The walls seemed to be made of thick stones and there was a heavy iron door a few feet in front of her.  Jason wasn’t there though, he wasn’t in the room, she didn’t understand.  Suddenly the door opened and she looked up and saw her mother’s green eyes.  Her panic grew again, how did she get here, was she captured too?  She had visited her often in Paris.  She was very vague about her job, and she knew it was probably sketchy, but could it be bad enough to be captured?

“Marinette, My Darling.  I apologize for your treatment, I did not realize that you were part of this.”

Talia rushed towards her daughter and unlocked the chains.  She was pulled into a tight hug that Marinette quickly returned.  After a few moments she pulled away but held her shoulders gently.

“I must show you something, come.”

Talia quickly stood and helped her daughter to her feet and walked swiftly through the calls of Nanda Parabat.

“What is mom?”

Talia smiled at that, she had always loved when her daughter called her that.

“It’s a surprise, My Flower.”

A few more twists though hallways and they stopped in front of a thick wooden door.

“I want you to meet someone.”

The door was pushed open and there sat a small baby in a crip with dark black hair, tanned skin, and dark green eyes.  Marinette gasped and covered her mouth,

“Meet your brother, Damian.”

Marinette slowly walked over and stared at Damian through the top of the crib.  He silently watched and studied her without making a sound.

“He’s about 3 months old.”

Talia said, smiling happily as she watched her daughter run her fingers through Damian’s small tresses of hair.  With a snap of her finger one of her shadows stepped next to her.

“Bring Jason.”

And with that order they were gone returning a few minutes later with a boy who was alive physically, but was mentally gone.  She could fix that though, it would be the last resort if all else failed, but she could fix it.  Marinette looked up when she heard Jason’s footsteps and her bright smile fell slightly into a small sad one.

“Jay-Jay.”

She whispered softly as she took slow steps towards the boy.  She quickly ran and hugged him again.  He no longer smelled like mud and he wasn’t wearing his suit, and he was….he was alive again!  Tears fell down her cheeks, because she missed him so much.

________

Marinette stayed with her mom in what she learned was Nanda Parabat.  She trained with Jason, but he was catatonic, just going through the motions blankly.  It worried her, especially as she watched her mother grow more anxious.  She cared for her little brother, and wondered if her dad knew, or if he would even care.  She often looked at Paris news for when she needed to go for Akuma attacks, but if her host parents even realized she was gone.  They hadn’t, nor had any of her “friends” apparently as they hadn’t sent her a single thing from the weeks she’s been gone.

Marinette knew that Nada Parabat wasn’t a good place, knew that the people were bad, knew that her grandfather was the head of it.  He didn’t seem to care who she was, he just thought she was some nurse for Damian, and she was thankful for that.  She knew that the Lazarus Pits were here, what they did, how they were made, how her grandfather used them for selfish purposes.  She didn’t do anything though, she was mad at her father for sending her away, mad that he adopted a bee kid only a year after he sent her away, mad that he never talked to her, mad that Dick never fought for her or looked for her, mad that Jason was forced to wake up and climb his way out of his grave only to be practically brain dead, mad that her classmates believed lies over her, mad that her host parents believed them and treated her like dirt or an invisible object meant to seen and not heard, mad that Chat Noir would leave her during battles because she didn’t return his affections, and mad that no one cared that she was gone!  So she trained as hard as she could, made sure that she perfected everything her mother threw at her.  Took care of her family and made sure they knew how thankful she was for them and loved them.  Then when she finally got a text from someone it was insults for being a horrible person and hurting Lila when she hadn’t been there for weeks!

She threw her phone at the wall and the crack echoed around the room.  Her breathing was harsh and ragged and then the tears she had been holding back finally fell.  Sobs wracked her body as she bit her lip to keep silent.  She tried to take in deep shuddering breaths, but it was no use and the sobs came out.  Her knees felt weak and she crumpled to the ground.  The door burst open and she saw her mom there knife in hand looking around the room with swift deadly eyes.  When she didn’t see any visible threats she kneeled in front of her daughter and looked directly into her eyes.  Eyes a storming blue that flooded with tears and made her heart ache and her want to murder whoever made her precious daughter look so broken.

“My Flower, what’s wrong?”

“N-nobody cares ab-about me!  No one cares that I’m g-gone.  Everyb-body hates me, and I’m so tired of it!  I’ll n-never be enough for an-anybody and I’m t-trying so h-hard to do wh-what everyone needs or exp-ects me to be!”

Marinette stuttered out between sobs.  Talia glared at that and felt anger at Bruce.  She thought that he at least checked in with her every once in a while.  She had guessed wrong then.  She pulled her daughter into a hug and let her cry against her shoulder.

“Shh, shh.  It’s okay.  You are perfect the way you are Marinette.  You don’t have to prove anything to me.  You’re such a good sister, you train so hard, and you have so many amazing skills and talents.  You are enough, don’t let anyone say anything different.”

Marinette gripped onto her mom and they both just sat there in silence as Marinette finally just cried.  After who knows how long Marinette gently pushed away and looked her mom directly in the eyes with complete seriousness said,

“I want you to help me fake my death.  If everyone wants to pretend I’m gone or wants me to disappear, then fine.  I will.  I don’t want to be seen anymore.”

Talia stared at her daughter in shock for a moment then gave her a small smile.

“It will be done my dear, you will be free.”

“Thank you mom.”

Taglist:

@queenz-z @aespades @fandomsaremylifeline @stainedglassm @toodaloo-kangaroo @prettylittlebutterflie @trippingovermyfeet @liquid-luck-00 @unoriginalmess @buginetye @miraculouslydumb @laurcad123

[tinyboxxtink]

"Doppelganger" *Part 9*

I don't know if this counts as two chapters today, but there will probably be another one up late tonight which most of you won't see until tomorrow, so I think this is cool to drop now.

Reminder: We are nowhere near the end people, don't worry.

Part 8

Part 10

Tag List

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

@omgsuperstarg

@objection-argumentative

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

::Let’s rewind that back::

As soon as you felt that orange liquid run down your throat, your mind blacked out. You woke up in a dark, dark room. You blinked a few times, trying to get your bearings. And then in the distance you saw a light. You ran towards it, it was a small window. You ran to stare out of it, and you saw...Nevada? You could hear your voice echoing around you.

“Vada,” You heard your voice eerily happy. What the��? Then it dawned on you, what Rafael had said about being under Olivia’s spell. It was like he was stuck in his body, screaming to get out. This must be what was happening. Oh God, this was hell.

You saw “yourself” fighting the love of your life. There had to be a way to stop this, there had to be. You ran every direction in the pitch black, trying to find a wall to hit. You ran to the window, banging on it. You felt the room, your “head” shaking, hurting. The window began to crack, you yelled:

“RAFA!!!!!!” You heard yourself speaking. Your eyes filled with hope, but then the weirdest thing happened-- you could hear Nevada’s voice booming through your head.

“NO. YOU HATE HIM. KILL HIM.”

What the hell. What the hell?! No! This could not be happening. You saw your body push him away, walking back to Nevada, then making out with him.

This was a nightmare.

-------

The Next Day

Rafael decided to do something he really didn’t want to-- ask for Olivia’s help.

He nervously walked into the precinct, as soon as he locked eyes with Olivia the biggest smile appeared on her face.

Crap.

“Rafa!!!” She ran over to him and started to give him a kiss, but he stopped her.

“I--Uh, Liv, can I-- can we---?” He gestured to her office.

“Ooooh, private time. Absolutely,” She took his hand and led him inside.

“Now, where were we?” She wrapped her arms around his neck but once again he pulled away from her.

“No, Liv-- Look,” He sighed. “...The...me, that came to you yesterday. That wasn’t...me,”

“....What are you talking about?”

“I…” Rafael hesitated. He knew if he told Olivia about Nevada, she could tell the whole squad, maybe the entire police force. They’d always think he was Nevada pretending to be him, he’d lose his job, maybe his career if they never caught Nevada. But they had to catch him, otherwise he’d never see you again. So really, he had nothing to lose.

“It was Nevada Ramirez,” He finally admitted.

“...I’m sorry, what?” Olivia half laughed. “The drugpin of The Heights?”

“Yeah he-- we, have the same face,” He felt stupid saying it out loud.

“....So what are you, twins or something?”

“No, not at all.” He shook his head. “I...I had no idea. You know he’s always been a ghost, nobody’s seen his face before,”

“So how have you?” She raised an eyebrow.

“....He has Y/N,” He gave her a puppy dog face.

“Ah,” She nodded. “I see," She shook it with a sad laugh. So, yesterday when you were talking about ditching her for me--”

“That wasn’t me,” He gave her an apologetic face.

“Right,” She nodded sadly.

“You don’t believe me,”

“No actually, I do,” She continued to nod. “It did seem pretty odd that you would just come waltzing in here and denouncing your ‘true love’ for me,”

“Liv I’m sorry he did that-- I really am,” He laid his hand over hers.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” She shook her head with a sad laugh. “I guess I kind of deserve it,”

“Well--” Rafael made a face.

“So why did you come here then?” She gave him a look.

“Because I believe you when you say that you really love me,”

“You do?”

“Yes, but you need to believe me when I say that if you truly love me, then you’ll let me be happy with whoever I choose, even if it’s not you,”

“....So you want me to help you get her back,” She raised her eyebrow.

“...AND take down the most notorious criminal in New York,” Rafael added. “Think about what that will do to your reputation,”

“Right, because I care so much about accolades,” She rolled her eyes. “But...I guess I don’t really have a choice. I mean if I don’t help you, it’s not like I’ll get you anyway. And if I let her die, then I’ll never even recover our friendship,” She looked at him sadly. “And I do cherish that,”

“Me too, Liv,” Rafael took her other hand. “I swear to you, I really do,”

“Alright then--,” She smiled while squeezing his hands in return. “Where do we start?”

“....I’m gonna need your signature on some things,” He said in a "I'm really sorry to ask this but--" tone.

------

Meanwhile

Nevada paced his penthouse apartment while your body sat there like a robot. Inside the black hole of your mind prison, you were screaming at yourself to run, make a break for it, something.

“God DAMMIT!!! You screamed. You jumped up and down, pounding on your ‘eye window’. You felt yourself shaking your head, it was pounding. You were coming out of it.

“I…” You started to speak, but realized he still thought you were still under his power. You quietly stood up and tried sneaking towards the door while he kept pacing and looking at his phone, waiting on Rafael’s call. You had almost made it to the door of the penthouse when out of the corner of his eye, Nevada caught you trying to escape.

“Hey! No no no, you sit back down!” He commanded you.

“Fuck you,” You spat as you threw open the door and started to run out and down the hallway, but were met with two of Nevada’s men with guns.

“Ayyyy, hermosa,” Nevada shook his head with a laugh. “Do you think I’m estupido, not having constant supervision? I’m a very wanted man-- in many ways,”

One of the men grabbed you and forced your arms behind your back.

“Now why the sudden change, mujer?” He stroked your face. “Don’t you like being mi reina?”

“I’ll never be your anything, you piece of shit!” You yelled.

“Ooooh!!!! Kitty’s got claws,” Nevada laughed, but soon turned serious. “....You must need another dose, don’t you? Dios mio that’s annoying,”

“Keep her here, I’ll be back,” Nevada ordered his men who dragged you back to his penthouse. He sighed and walked down the hallway to the elevator.

“Always gotta do everything myself…” He shook his head. While he was walking, his phone pinged in his hand. A text from Rafael:

“I have your papers,”

“Ah, bien,” He smiled to himself as he got on the elevator. “At least something’s going right today,”

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

Nevada entered the old woman’s shop, with an unamused glare on his face.

“Ah what now, penjedo?” She crossed her arms.

“Tu anciana estúpida!” He grabbed her by the throat. “Why didn’t you tell me your voodoo only works in a time limit?”

“Well what did you expect, tonto?” She gasped as she wriggled in his hands. “Uno y hecho? That wouldn’t be very good business practice,”

“Ah I see,” Nevada chuckled as he released the old woman. “I can appreciate a good buscavidas such as myself,” His smile turned to an evil scowl. “But not with me. Now you’re going to make me enough of your poción that I can keep mi puta under my thumb for a very, very long time. Or I might not be so nice the next time I decide to visit your little pawn shop,”

“That’s going to take a while, cabron,” She scoffed.

“I’ll wait,” Nevada crossed his arms with a smirk, pulling up an old rocking chair.

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

It had been about an hour since Rafael had texted Nevada and he still hadn’t gotten a response. It was beginning to drive him nuts, thinking about why he wasn’t answering. What was he doing? What was he doing with YOU? It was torture. On top of that, he hadn’t gotten any sleep last night just replaying the events of last night over and over in his head. He knew you were in there, he saw you. And those brief moments that you were in his arms, he was terrified he’d never have that again.

“...You look like hell, Rafa,” Olivia’s voice knocked him from his thoughts.

“Thank you?” He laughed sarcastically.

“You should go home, take a nap,”

“But what if--?”

“I’ll forward your texts and calls to my phone, so if he responds I’ll call you and wake you up, okay?”

“....Okay,” He said reluctantly. He didn’t know how much he trusted Olivia with access to his phone, but it wasn’t like she could contact you and mess with you. He left her office and headed back to his place to take a nap.

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

Before he knew it, there was a knock at his door waking him from his sleep. He walked out of his bedroom and towards his front door.

“Liv you could have just called--” He started to speak, but the image in front of him rendered him speechless.

You were standing right in front of him.

“...Y/N?”

“Hi baby,” You smiled as you pulled him into a kiss. He picked you up and carried you inside, not breaking the kiss as he sat you on the couch.

“How did you--?” Happy tears started rolling down his cheeks as stroked the side of your face, before he had a horrible realization.

“....This isn’t real, isn’t it?”

“Not yet,” You smiled sweetly, stroking his face as well.

“Right,” He nodded with a sarcastic smile, remembering when this situation was reversed. Wait, when it was reversed.

“But this is you,” He held your face in his hands.

“Well duh,” You shook your head with a laugh. “You think you’re the only one who can dream walk?”

“...I don’t think that’s actually a thing,” He gave you a look.

“It is for us,” You pointed out.

“Because of our love?” He said semi sarcastically.

“Because our love can do anything, Rafa.” You placed your forehead against his. “Haven’t you figured that out by now?”

“I suppose I should have,” He chuckled.

“In fact, right now I’m not even under any of Nevada’s powers, the dumbass didn’t think he’d need to keep me under,”

“Wait so, so he’s not having sex with you right now?” His eyes perked up.

“Rafael!” You hit him playfully. “Gross,”

“Yeah you say that now…” He made an uncomfortable face.

“Look, we don’t have time to unpack all of...that,” You made a face, not really wanting to talk about what you’d eventually have to discuss.

“Just-- Just know, that whatever happens when you see me in person, whatever I say or do to you, it’s not me,” You assured him.

“I know that carino--” He smiled at you while stroking your hair.

“Yeah I know you know that but I need you to know that,” You took both of his hands and squeezed them tightly.

“...Okay?” He gave you an amused smile.

“Just-- I need to hear you say that you know that, okay?” You pulled his hands toward you.

“I just said--” He started but you needed this.

“RAFAEL,” You crossed your arms. “I am doing my damndest to astral project my brain into yours, the least you can do is humor me,”

“Okay Okay,” He softly chuckled, pressing his lips to yours. “I know it’s not you,”

“Okay,” You smiled, pulling him into a deeper, more passionate kiss. A kiss that rivaled your epic “yellow swirly memory floating” kiss.

“Te amo, mi amor,” Rafael whispered, knowing how much his spanish speaking meant to you. “Te amo mucho,”

“I love you too, Rafael,” You kissed him one more time before the both of you were pulled away back into consciousness.

----

Rafael was woken up by the sound of his phone going off, it was Olivia. She had forwarded you the text from Nevada:

“Excellente. Meet me outside your courthouse, wearing your black and pink suit. I’ll be waiting in a town car,”

Great…

------

“Hey amante, nap time’s over,” Nevada shook you awake from your nap in his bed.

“What now, Vada?” You grumbled sleepily.

“Good news baby, we’re going to see your abogado,” He smiled sweetly, before pulling out a champagne bottle full of bright orange liquid.

“But first...a toast,” He added with an evil grin.

Oh no...

[bangchanshehe]

The Trespasser pt.6

You were on top of the world with the new title of leader of your family’s clan. You were the strongest clan in all of the orient and you were proud. But your family feels that there are threats still lurking around making you a target. When they introduce you to a potential man for a business and marriage merger will it help your clan or make matters worse?

Word count: 2.2k

Wonho x Reader, Shownu x Reader, Jooheon x Reader

When you finally reached home you quickly threw your car in park and stomped inside your house to your office. You could feel your phone vibrate in your pocket and you pursed your lips, mentally ripping your mother a new one. And with this temper you would be doing your mother a favor to not answer the phone right now.

When you sat down at your desk you pulled out the whiskey that you kept stashed in your desk drawer and poured yourself a generous glass and swallowed it down like it was water. You practically slammed the glass down on your desk, startling whoever was on the other side of your office door making them freeze with the door half-open.

You looked at your door to identify who had the worlds worst timing to see Shownu peek his head around the door frame. When you made eye contact you calmed down a little and you cleared your throat as he made way to stand in front of your desk.

“where have you been?” you asked him with your stern voice

Shownu gave you a small glance and then looked down at the floor to his shoes “At the warehouse, with the trainees ma’am.” He responded politely

You looked him over to see that he was still in his clothes from the night prior. “you were there all night?” you asked after a moments hesitation. You weren’t sure if you wanted the answer to that question or not.

Shownu finally looked back up at you and looked across your face trying to find something there that your words weren’t relaying. “yes ma’am. I had something that I needed to deal with” he responded again as cold as day.

You stared down at your desk and decided that you needed to make some things clear with Shownu before anything became more serious between you two or with the contractual marriage. You quietly got up and walked towards your office door to shut it so the two of you could have some privacy.  On your walk back to your desk you ran what you needed to say through your head in hopes that you could say it in the easiest way possible. But just as you had passed Shownu he grabbed hold of your wrist making you freeze in your place.

You looked down at where he sat on the couch and took the place next to him.

“I’m sorry if I made you worry” he said softly

You gave him a small smile and shook your head to ease his worries. “I would just appreciate at least a text so I know you aren’t lying in a ditch, dead somewhere.”

“sorry” he said again in a hushed voice so softly that you almost didn’t hear it.

“Shownu, we need to talk about a few things” you said making your voice sound a little more firm.

He turned his head to look down at the floor and he gently nodded his head. Shownu could be foolish but he certainly was no fool and he knew that he was about to get the talk that he was anticipating for a while now.

“Things with this contractual marriage are starting to become more legitimate. Hoseok is from a good family that has been partners with our clan for a while. And from the sounds of it…. Hoseok has been my planned spouse for a while now. So it looks like things will be moving forward if I don’t Find aything that dissuades me.” You took a moment to gauge Shownu’s reaction but his face remained still as a statue as he continued to stare down. “Hoseok and I have spoken about our expectations from this marriage and we both only want something that will mutually help our clans. Nothing more and nothing less. And while this marriage will be a legitimate marriage, we will not be pursuing and active marriage lifestyle.” You finished and Shownu finally swallowed and relaxed a little bit by leaning back in his seat.

“Hoseok is aware of the nature of our relationship and he sees no issue with it. However….” You began but you stopped yourself from continuing so you could take a deep breath. “I don’t think that you and I are on the same page with what our relationship means.” You turned to look at him and his calm demeanor transitioned into one of anger “shownu…. I love you very, very much. But what we have is just sexual for me. And if having hoseok around is going to constantly trigger you and make you uncomfortable then we should stop.”

“why does it have to be him?” he asked you with a harsh tone “what happened to the plan of possibly doing the marriage with jooheon or me?”

You stared at him for a moment while you waited for him to calm down a bit “the entire purpose of me even having a contractual marriage is for the merger and protection of another clan joining us in the case of an attack…. If I were to marry one of you then there would be no merger… and it would be pointless to get married in the first place since its something that I don’t actually wish to do.” You explained.

Shownu looked at you like a kicked puppy and you could tell that he hated the idea of this as much as you did. Or at least as much as you did at first. Now that you had a few days to meet hoseok, research and consider what it would do for your clan you didn’t have hardly any complaints, besides your mother trying to force the marriage so hard that it feels like a real one.

“if things go through then Hoseok will be staying here. He will have his own bedroom and office and we will need to treat him as an equal, however my business and his clans business should remain separate unless there is something that requires the skill of both clans.”

Shownu sat in silence for a few moments before he asked with a quivering voice “is that all?”

You gave a slight nod to answer his question, not even bothering to look him in the eyes and shownu scoffed. And without missing a beat shownu was on his feet and leaving you behind in your office.

When you heard your office door click shut you let out a deep sigh and laid back on your couch, closing your eyes and internalizing that you had just ended things with shownu. But before you even realized that you had fallen asleep you woke up to a dark office. You got up and walked to your desk to check your phone to see what time it was. 7:30. Shit. You groaned for having let the day get away from you and you checked your missed calls and text messages.

4 from your mother. Surprise, surprise. You were sure that she was pissed for you ever so gracefully skipping lunch, and 1 text from and unknown number…. Confused you opened it up to read the message.

Unknown: Had I known that this was supposed to be a family lunch I wouldn’t have imposed.

Unknown: oh, your mother gave me your number by the way….

You had rolled your eyes and quickly saved the number as Hoseoks, and quickly called your mother back. Now that you had slept and worked a few things out you were confident that you could talk to her without ripping her tongue out.

“oh so now you would like to grace me with a phone call?!” she answered the phone with a less than thrilled tone.

“hello to you too mother” you replied

“what do you want? I’m about to cook dinner for your father!” she barked back

You took a deep breath before you continued “I’d like to talk to you about what I wanted to discuss at lunch.”

“hmm” your mother huffed. “if you wanted to know then why didn’t you come to lunch?”

Why did she have to be so petty? “because it was something that I wanted to discuss with elders from our clan… it was not a conversation that was meant to be had with outsiders mother.” You explained

“outsiders?” she gawked “Hoseok is not an outsider. He’s practically already my son-in-law”

“mother…” you warned

“fine! What is it that is so important to know?”

You mentally scrolled through all of the questions that you wanted to ask at lunch knowing that with your mothers temperament you would probably only get answers to 2 or 3 before she hung up. “Is it true that Hoseok was always my planned partner?” you asked and the other line went dead silent “Hello?”

“yes. Okay? Are you happy?” she finally responded “Hoseok has always been a very special boy and you took quite a liking to him as a child”

As a child? You didn’t remember ever having a childhood sweetheart or friend named Hoseok. You let out a long sigh before you asked your next question, anticipating that your mother was going to give you an earful “And why does it have to be Hoseok? You guys seem so dead set on it being him?”

“My darling listen to me. If anyone is aware of how much power the Shin’s have it’s your father and I…. And while their clan might not be the most ruthless or imposing clan they are very honorable people.” She began “While Hoseok is not the leader of the clan we are aware of his leadership capabilities. And you father has a particular interest in him because he sees a lot of you in him.” You mother said completely throwing you off guard

“what is that supposed to mean?” you asked her

“well… I’m not to sure what exactly your father sees but I can tell you that the two of you are very good people. You both care for you clan and your family as if they are one in the same. When the two of you work you give it your all and you never hold back until you have your desired results. And lastly the two of you are very business minded people and you don’t do anything that would be a waste of time Or put your family at jeopardy of war without a reliable cause. In other words the two of you aren’t just out for blood and money. You both have legitimate agendas and plans.” She further explained.

You took a moment to really let what she had said sink in. At the very beginning of this entire nightmare you thought that this would be the death of you. That this entire set up with Hoseok was so fishy that it was bound to go south and be a set up. But the more that you looked into Hoseok and the Shin clan the more you realized that this might actually work out to be a very mutually healthy thing for your clans.

There would be more balance, less violence between your clan and others, less hostile interactions between yourself and other leaders and it would make the both of your parents very happy to say the least.

“okay” you said quietly.

“okay?!” your mother squealed on the other end of the phone “like okay let’s do this or okay that’s what I wanted to know?”

“okay let’s do this…” you said softly.

You heard nothing but complete silence from your mothers end until a horrific screech nearly busted your eardrum. You yanked the phone away from your ear so your mother wouldn’t singlehandedly give you the migrane of the century and waited for the phone to quiet down before you even attempted to talk again.

“mom…. Mom!” you had to yell to get her attention

“what?” she yelled back

“please keep this between you and dad until I solidify things with Hoseok please! “you begged

“of course!” she said as if she wasn’t the biggest gossip on the planet. “do get things going soon though! Your father and I would like to see you get married before we die.”

You chuckled to yourself and pinched the bridge of your nose. Leave it to your mother to make things dramatic…. “ill talk to you later mom, okay?”

“bye darling ill share the good news with your father!” she said chipperly before hanging up on you.

As soon as the call disconnected you looked down at your phones messages and hovered over hoseok’s contact. You cleared your throat before you finally called and the moment the call was answered you wasted no time for formalities and began to explain.

“unless you have any further inquiries, I would like to proceed with the marriage. I’ll draw up a contract and we can meet to discuss the terms and conditions that we would like to apply. You can pick the time and place whenever you’re free.”

As soon as you said what you needed to say you hung up the phone. There was no need to listen to what Hoseok had to say since it was obvious that he was on board with the marriage from the get go. Now you just needed to prepare for Hoseok’s bedroom and office. And of course… your wedding.

[clonewarslover55]

Even though I’m pretty sure I know almost all the answers already 😂 Rose and Vau for the ship questions?

Hell yeah!!!! (I fucking love you lol) 

Find Memoires here or here

Find the game here

(It’s pretty long so see the answers below!!)

who hogs the duvet

Mird does, of course!! They blame one another anyways though, because they do both try to hog it. 

who texts/rings to check how their day is going

They don’t do this till later in their relationship, like when they’re established. But it’s mostly Vau who does this, believe it or not. Mainly because he’s the one that’s away to war more often, while Rose is bounty hunting.(for the most part) So Vau likes to stay in touch. 

Rose is the type of person that accidently ghosts people too. She just forgets she can contact people and ignores her shit unless it’s Vau. Well....Sometimes when it’s Vau. 

who’s the most creative when it comes to gifts

Defiantly Vau! Rose is the type of person to give him a cool rock or something she found(Of course he keeps the rock) But Vau is the type to steal pretty jewelry from dead bodies, search markets, etc. Rose will do that sometimes as well, but it’s something Vau does a lot more. 

He also knows what she likes. Walon is hard to “shop” for. Rose is not lol 

who gets up first in the morning

Walon does, mainly because he has a hard time sleeping. His nightmares and such usually keep him awake. Rose usually sleeps fine, and likes to sleep in. Sometimes in the morning Vau just watches Rose sleep. Not in a creepy way, it just calms him down. Sometimes he just doesn’t believe she’s real, because he doesn’t deserve her affections. 

who suggests new things in bed

Oh this is a hard one! Both are kinky as fuck and horny. Am I allowed to say both? Because it’s defiantly both of them.

who cries at movies

Neither of them, they’re just not that emotional. Especially Vau. 

When Rose is pregnant though? She cries during any movie. 

who gives unprompted massages

Rose does! She’s random like that. 

who fusses over the other when they’re sick

Mird does

They both do it to one another, more so Vau than Rose though. He fusses over her all the time anyways, making sure she eats enough and all that. So when she’s sick he doesn’t leave her alone really. Rose pretends to hate being fussed over. 

When Vau is sick Rose gives him some more tough love. “aww poor fool. Someone who should’ve listened to his wife-” Things like that, but she makes sure to take care of him. She annoys him while doing it too. 

who gets jealous easiest

Oh this is another tricky one!! It’s nearly a tie they’re both so possessive. 

But I’d have to say Rose! Especially when she's pregnant. She doesn’t keep him on a short leash though, because she trusts him. But she still watches those around him closely. 

who has the most embarrassing taste in music

Walon Vau and his classical ass. 

He’ll listen to really anything. He seems like a metal and rock dude to me.....But his favorite is classical music. Instrumental things. Star Wars Beethoven and Bach. 

who collects something unusual

Rose and her too many blades and sharp objects 

who takes the longest to get ready

Vau does. He has a reputation of looking nice. Rose, on the other hand, doesn’t care if she looks nice or not. Her hair is always a mess and her eyeliner was put on the day before. Vau puts effort into his look. 

who is the most tidy and organized

Vau is. Both are pretty tidy, but Vau is far more organized and clean than Rose. and she’s pretty damn clean. The only thing of Rose’s that is organized is her blades and husband.

who gets most excited about the holidays

Rose because she can dress up Mird in the sweaters Vau knits. 

(Hehehhee here's a fic called Sweaters that’s about Mird in sweaters)

who is the big spoon/little spoon

Vau is taller so he’s usually the big spoon. But it really depends on the moods they’re in. When he has nightmares or just a shitty day Rose is the big spoon. Whoever is the little spoon has Mird curled up against their chest.

who gets most competitive when playing games and/or sports

Rose does! She’s fucking terrible when it comes to being competitive. 

who starts the most arguments

It’s a mix of both......but still mainly Rose. She never shuts her mouth and it leads to arguments. 

who suggests that they buy a pet

Neither of them. Mird is enough. 

what couple traditions they have

Arguing 

They’re far from normal so they bounty hunt together! But something normal they do? They cook for one another as often as possible, even if it’s improvised and on their ship after a difficult bounty 

what tv shows they watch together 

Ooohhh this made me think!!

  Soap operas

Probably documentaries so Mird can watch too. It likes to watch the animals, making noises at the holoscreen. Mird is their entertainment, not the show. 

what other couple they hang out with

No one. They scare other couples off by their constant arguing and teasing 

how they spend time together as a couple

Bounty Hunting, going to war, arguing, etc. You know.....regular Mandalorian things! 

who made the first move

In Memories I dedicated a whole flashback to this!! 

Both are horny idiots, so it’s a little hard to tell who makes the first move. But it’s Rose! Vau quickly catches on though! 

who brings flowers home

Mr. Romance Walon Vau. He loves giving Rose odd but beautiful flowers he’ll find or buy. Especially roses that are odd colors or have patterns. 

who is the best cook

Rose’s slightly impatient ass is a better cook, but mostly with quick things like pasta. 

Vau was a rich kid so he didn’t learn to cook till he joined the Mandalorians. So he learned as he got older. He can cook pretty well, even better than Rose on some things. Mainly things that take longer. 

He’s better at baking, because that requires exact measurements and Rose is too stubborn to do that. Plus it takes longer. 

So both are good, but Vau is better with things that involve patience. 

I had so much fun with this!!! Thank you for requesting this!! 

Tags: @leias-left-hair-bun @iamassbuttkingofhell @catsnkooks @colorfulloverbatturkey @ahsokatano-thetogruta @peacefulwizardfox @jedi-mando @julyzaa @feathersforclones @chr0nicbackpain @jedi-nila-rhyn @strangebroadwaykinks @fyrepen33 @mistflyer1102 @kamino-mermaid @cherry-cokes-world @darmanfi @silverinkandstardust @chewychewyque @majorshiraharu @ravenpuff01 @808tsuika @valkyrieofthehighfae @roseofalderaan @ct7567329 @jadetheaverage @anstarwar @klay97 @seafoamandlilliesinthesea 

[mrfandomgage]

Ralsei: Do you have any stories?

Me: yeah, a few. As my name may apply, most are to things I enjoy

Ralsei: Oh? Can y-

Susie: Hey, we're back!

Lancer: I'm here too!

Me: Do you wish to hear a story?

Susie: A story? Can it at least have blood?

Kris: Susie, not everything needs blood. What does your story have?

Me: Death, violence, blood

Kris: ...

Susie: Yeah!

Ralsei: uh, how bad is it?

Me: I probably can't describe it as well as normal, but it's of my favorite creation. I'll tell the origins, the original story, and revisions.

Lancer: ...

Me: yes Lancer?

Lancer: Can I have some popcorn?

Me: yes

*One popcorn break later*

Me: thanks for the microwave Jevil. Is everyone ready for the story?

All, plus Jevil: Yeah!

Me: The origin of Night Terror. Originally, she was only meant to be a Roleplay character. A character to be nothing but a puppet, for evil actions and tom foolery. However, she needed a backstory, and concept. I took from dreams and nightmares, and my little understanding of Freddy Krueger as a "Dream Demon" to kill in people's sleep.

Me: Her original story was bad. "Oh whoah is me. I've been killed to an uncountable number, and now I'm a being of pure vengeance that killed everyone in the world". So instead of dropping this character like others, I gave the ideas flesh and bone. Instead of being uncountable, it's uncounted and exaggerated. Instead of nonsense violence, I gave the violence flesh, abuse, to a point that'd break bones for one off action. Instead of being the sole reason her world died, it died around her as she got used to killing. I left the blood on her slit throat to let others know, she's already dead.

Susie: that sounds cool and all, but are you going to tell a story?

Kris, Whispering: Susie! Rude!

Me: No, I find that fair. Now one last stage to let you know her life being alive. Her true name is Frisk. She was a girl who was very, tired, in her world. I designed it to beat her down, just so she'd be willing to kill anything. Of course, it was hard for her, she was naturally a pacifist. She is a dream, a soul of positive energy. In a world of nightmares, they hated the energy she put off. Her own parents murdered her as a baby, but all they knew is that she put off less energy, when she woke up. So they devised to keep her energy low. They'd give her old hard as coal beds to keep her restless, if she was happy with a day, they'd shout at her for any tiny mistake or fault even when it wasn't hers. Those parents hated her favorite things, like vibrant yellows, and gave her only greys and traditional purples for special occasions, not that they wouldn't make those purple items irritable. Best of all for the parents, all they knew was that if they had really wanted to beat down their little girl til she bled on the carpet, not fully knowing they already have, she would be in misery for weeks. They never gave her bruises, she never had evidence when waking up again. She was bullied at school for sleeping at her desk, and when it got physical, it was something her parents could taunt her for. She had a friend, but he'd demean everything she said of herself. She tried to hang herself once, but when she woke up, all she could do was cry. One day, one the rare occasion she was forced to be out on the schoolyard, kids were talking of a legend. The kids taunted Frisk, stating what she believed herself. "Nobody wants you, you should climb into Mount Ebott, so you'll never return". That day, she confided in her friend, of her "nightmares" and the thought of Mount Ebott may ending her for good. Her friend tried to sew doubt into her mind of this plan, in the end, only making her cry, and giving her more reason to see to it that she could die. In the dead of night, she only took a flashlight and her purple clothes up with her to that mountain. She entered a cave and found a deep hole. She stepped to it, stood with her back facing the drop, and plunged herself into the underground. It took her a while, but she woke up. She woke up. She woke up. She was upset, but her friend was right. She met a giggling flower. "Ah, another human. You seem different, but does that matter? Have fun in your grave!" Frisk smiled at the thought of dying. She walked the tunnels and carved out cave to find a floor of spikes. She tried to drop herself onto them, only for them to retract from underneath her. While getting up, she notice that only sets of retracting spikes are sharp, while the ones that were out were as dull as rocks. She marched on, growing tired, and falling asleep in the halls. When she woke, she was in an old used bed, it was remarkable compared to home. Getting out of bed, she left the room, and tried to leave the house. Approaching the downstairs door, she caught flame. Her nerves screamed from end to end in torent pain, her lungs prayed for oxygen only taking in the smoke and ash of her own body, blood and flesh. She tried and tried and burned to ash, she finally found the monster burning her flesh, admitted she wished to leave. Learning that the monster didn't want her to leave. The monster ran to the exit with Frisk hot on their tail. Screaming and crying, the monster attacked her, I shouldn't have to say, but she had died multiple times. She became exhausted, and moved without thought, with her only thoughts to be to improve her movements, before falling to the cold. The snow was biting her senses, even though she just got some sleep, she was exhausted. As if she was walking for days. A loud snap reminded Frisk of her bones. She dropped to her knees in the freezing snow, and drops thinking something broken. In the first time in a while, the girl had a real friend. The friend talked to her, he convinced her that she was ok, and knew a place where she could rest... sorry, my throats getting dry

Susie: Awww... It was just a little interesting

Kris: could be better if you extended it

Me: I literally don't have enough text space or patience to do that yet. Trust me, I've wanted to make this story whole for a while.

Lancer: Can she at least be a little more happy? I mean, she is a dream and-

Me: no, she's constantly weakened by negative influences, mainly her own thoughts after what her parents did to her. Her only friendly relationship with other humans is still one that undermines her own thoughts and feelings. Her only dream, her only hope, is to not be useless.

Ralsei: it's good... but I have a question. Why was she born a dream?

Me: Dreams and Nightmares used to share a universe, and even though they started to hate eachother doesn't mean they didn't mix. After a rift of magic, the worlds split, and Dreams became a recessive trait to Nightmares and vice versa. It became extremely unlikely, but there's still a chance in one in a billion.

Kris: Why are monsters separated from humans?

Me: the amount of magical power to create that rift was only created by the power of monsters. Humans feared if war were to break, they too could be thrown into oblivion. Seven mages forfeited their souls to bind monsters and whoever entered. Monsters realized that they couldn't break the spell, due to the power of the seven souls, even with their collective power... can I please stop talking?

Jevil: How does she come back after dying?

Susie: When does she murder people?

Me: After blending her soul, Susie. She comes back because dreams were extremely persistent, practically a bunch of immortals. Nightmares knew this when they shared a universe, but as I said, they had a few generations and forgot. The only thing that can truly kill a dream is when they have no dream for themselves.

[fork-tectors]

trusted ⁽ᵖᵃʳᵗ ²⁾

; among us au trusted ; unordinary / among us reader insert [ unedited ] [ word count ║ 1108 words ] [ part one ║ part two ]

One (1) impostor remains.  

What the absolute hell? No one informed us that there were gonna be two of them. They never at least hinted at it. I thought once we ejected the one, then the nightmare would be over, we'll be back to our separate daily lives. But, surprise, surprise, there were two.  

I huffed. This sucks. Finding the first impostor took four days, we don't know how long the next one would take to be discovered. Maybe less? One can only hope so. If it lasts for more than a week, chances are that everyone gets murdered.  

I squeezed my eyes shut, rolling over to my side to pretend to sleep.  

The transition from evening to the early morning was horrendously long, let's just say that I didn't get the amount of sleep I need to be energized enough. I didn't want to get up from the bed. I covered myself of the blandly coloured blanket, going back to complete my rest. It's so cosy...  

I was distracted by the loud knock on my door, I groaned in annoyance.

Enduring the relentless knocking, I finally left my bed. Both of my feet came into contact with the cold metal floor, sending a chill throughout my whole body. I brushed off the feeling and walked over to answer whoever was here.

  Not bothering to get ready before answering the door, I open it. The teal haired girl was shyly standing in my doorway, already suited up in her cyan spacewear whilst I was still dressed in the white shirt and shorts they supplied for all of us. It's a uniform, I guess. It's weird, yes.

"Oh! Uh, (Y/n-), I mean, White!" She quickly corrects herself, not that mind her addressing me by my real name. If I was talking one-on-one with another crewmate, I'd feel comfortable if we'd address each other as our name. We all agreed to identify ourselves as our colours. It's easier.

  "It's fine, you can call me (Y/n) if you're more comfortable."  

"Oh, thanks. But I think it'll be better if I call you by your colour." Elaine or Cyan replies, "By the way, um, you should dress up. They're waiting for you in the cafeteria."  

"Fuck, I'm sorry. I'll be quick, I promise!" I head back into my room, hearing her tell me that she'd wait for me, then I heard a click of a door. I grabbed a towel from the clothes shelf and ran into the bathroom.

I finished doing my thing, not wanting to waste more time. I made sure I decently dried myself with towels before I got suited up, so it wouldn't feel uncomfortably moist in it.  

Once I finished, I caught up with Elaine, so she didn't have to wait long for me. The cafeteria came into view, and we decided to spit. Everyone was keeping to themselves, except for the trio. Blyke, Isen and Remi.    

I quickly acquired the tray with the space food, which wasn't exactly appealing, but if I was to get through the day; I might as well feed myself enough. Unwillingly, I trudged myself into an already occupied table, each table was.  

Dark Blue was sat in this one, he was mindlessly pushing the thing around his tray with his utensil; looking like he had no plan on eating the remains. "Um, do you mind if I sit here?" He dropped his fork as a reaction.  

I awkwardly chuckled at him. "Nah, it's cool. I don't mind at all."  

I set myself beside him, but not too close and ate my food. We made small talk here and there, but nothing of importance. He seemed pretty nice, It'll be a shame if he would be the impostor.  

The day went as is. Completing tasks, suspecting impostors, voting to skip due to having not enough shreds of evidence and leaving to our rooms for rest. It seems like the impostor was preparing for something, something big maybe. I was growing more anxious by the minute.  

Those days of us waiting led to this moment.   

"It's orange, I tell you! He was the one who murdered Cyan! Not me! I was there!" Holden pleaded with desperation in his tone. He's close getting ejected as the time of votation counts down, the number of votes pinned on him was high. It was around maybe four or five.  

"Don't fucking lie to my face!" Blyke sneered, "You were alone in navigation with the body. No one else was in there! You're not taking me for a fool, are you?!"  

"Orange vented out of Navi! Fucking listen to me! Why do you always take his side?!" Holden gritted his teeth, looking aggravated.  

The duration of choosing came to an end. Green was loosening the ejection chute, but not opening it yet, preparing to throw Dark Blue out.  

The photos of each crewmate along with the votes they received were displayed on the screen. There only two people who were competing for the ward of ejection. Four voted for Dark Blue, who were Purple, Pink, Green, and Red. Dark Blue and Yellow we're the only ones who went to Orange. I didn't get to vote, the time ran out before I get wrap my head on who to choose.  

Not that anything I did would change the result.  

Remi must've noticed the ratio and turned to the quiet male, "Yellow, why'd you vote Orange...?" She asked in a not-so-obvious accusatory voice.  

Arlo didn't reply, just brushed her question off. My ears hurt as I heard the loud pleas for him to stay on board. "I didn't do anything wrong! I'm innocent!"  

His words were left unheard while he was harshly shoved into the chute, no regards for his comfort. The guy was gonna die, maybe not make it too painful.  

"I hope you're happy now," was his last sentence to us as he was pushed off the ship and pulled into a breathtaking hug by the dark blanket of space. I watch his body go limp through the thick glass. There was no point in fighting it since he was bound to run out of oxygen in no time.  

He’s gonna die.  

Our faces were washed over with guilt as the bold text appeared letter-by-letter on the large screen followed by the italicized words. It was mocking us of our mistake.  

Holden/Dark Blue was not an impostor. One (1) impostor remains.

Idk where will this go tbh. Consume my creation. Tumblr just hates it when I indent my writing. The formatting sucks ass :)))

[popculturebuffet]

The Loud House Reviews: Ghosted!

Halloween Havoc returns! Lori is haunted by a ghost and brings in LIncoln and Clyde ot fix things.. only to find out he’s actually the beloved school mascot and must enlist Lucy and her crew of goths to help her. The bar from the overlook hotel, 1900′s disco, and Boris, the best loud house character i’d never heard of all insue. All hail boris, and prepare for full review with spoilers. under the cut. 

We’re back! I’m sorry this is a week late. This is both due to having a LOT going on.. as well as my own fault for pushign this review back to do a review of the first episode of Starkid’s “Nightmare Time”.. only to have to push BOTH back after I was unable to finish this weeks’ Ducktales on Monday because I ended up having to get off it so my mom, who works from home, can use it, and because AT&T is an utter nightmare we’re thankfully leaving, so if nothing else that will hopefully never be an issue again. 

TLDR: I kept putting this one off, didn’t realize this week’s episode was in fact on this week, and now I have to get 5 reviews done in the span of three days: I have this episode, this week’s loud house, the amphibia halloween special, and reviews of Ducktales “The Duck Knight Returns” and the first darkwing duck episode “Darkly Dawns the Duck”. 

I kid, this blog will end as I too hope to end.. taking rusty and Zach with me. But i got myself into this mess and i’m getting myself out of it. I will get these done even if it kills me.. my ghost can then take care of the two fictional children. ON with the review!

We open at Fairway University. 

I had to. Lori is practicing for the big tournament coming up.. which normally would have me super excited as tournaments are my shit... but we’re not talking two people beating the shit out of each other, wether it be for the sport of it, because their master told them to, because one of htem is a demon who will end the world, or because their loved ones will be murdered if they don’t beat people up as a team for demons, nor people playing card games for their grandpa’s soul, or a grudge caused by an abusive childhood that leads to a battle over gods inside trading cards, or because the school decided why not, or because you need to both keep your godlike dragon that’s also in a card and your friends safe, or.. you get the idea. I love Anime tournaments in what anime I have watched. Me watching or reading of those is like coke to me... a golf tournament however?

Yeah i’m not big into non-wrestling sports in general, let alone one where hte main action is a ball went really far. I mean it IS impressive a golfer can do that and accuratley no less, that’s some Hawkeye level stuff, it’s just not for me. I do HIGHLY enjoy mini golf, and mini golf episodes as both simpsons and gravity falls episodes on that are a good time. I mean any episode that gets flanders to say this is worth at least one watch. 

And thanks to fond memories of my grandpa using them to get around his carnival, yes my grandpa owned a carnival and yes it was great and yes he was a great man and I miss him every day, and carting me around in them. If it were street legal i’d have one. And finally I LOVE happy gilmore. While Adam Sandler took a turn, and hopefully Hubie Halloween is a sign that long national nightmare is over, that film still holds up and is still REALLY damn funny. And by this point your probably wondering what the hell my point is.  Well the hell my point is is that in light of me liking golf related things for weird reason despite praying for death but death won’t come at the thought of watching actual golf, I love fairway university. I love the fact that a golf based college is credible, I love the fact it goes so far in it’s theme that the text books are all golf related, the dorms are all weirdly golf themed, and students apparently can get an arnold palmer at any time of night. I also assume the dorms have on demand streaming for happy gilmore and caddyshack, and a genisis with a copy of lee carvillo’s putting challenge.  Back on the actual episode at long last, Lori is putting in some driving practice and facetiming bobby. The reason the tournament is so important is that she needs to beat the evil elf Malketh at golf or else Suryr will end all life... I may of been reading walt simsons’s thor lately but admit it you would watch that. No it’s more mundane than a fire giant trying to commit universal genocide: Being the only freshman on the team, as in that good, if she dosen’t do well, she might loose her scholarship. Granted I DOUBT they’d take it away after one game, but it’s understandable why she fears loosing it: She can’t afford college any other way. Her parents finances are spread among 11 kids who all live comofrtably and while every loud would gladly give things up so she could go to college still.. Lori wouldn’t accept it. She’d be grateful.. but she wouldn’t have her family be miserable for her sake, even if it’s her dream. This is her one shot for the career she wants and loosing this would destroy her. Even if she’d still have Bobby.  But Bobby is pulled away because his customers are annoyed.. and by customers I mean just Vito.. the rest seem fine despite the line, who complalins his spumoni is melting... because apparently he can’t just have bobby get him a fresh one as Bobby would be happy to do because he’s made of pure joy and it was nice seeing him. Though I do hope to see him in college himself next season. It is WEIRD having the casagrandes season 1 paired with a season of the loud house taking place months later.. and having the halloween episode for season 2 show up months ahead of season 2 itself. 

But soon Lori has bigger problems than Bobby having to go or crushing loss... after consulting the school gopher, because the dean apparently really loves caddyshack as ANY dean of a golfiing school should. I forgot to mention it above but I freaking love that movie too. Good stuff. Back on point, Lori soon gets stalked by a g-g-g-host! And nope this ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around.. nor is it a scooby doo esque scheme. This is an actual ghost. Represented by a ball of light but .. yup they went there. And look I get the show breaks from reality a lot: Luann acts like the silver age joker once a year and gets away with it, Lisa gets up to dexter’s lab esque shenanigans on an episodic basis, and Girl Jordan isn’t part of the group despite clearly sharing their intrests and being intrested in both lincoln and stella.  There are stretches in reality.. but mostly for humor or because it’d make a good plot. Most of the plots are grounded in reality: From Luna’s entire romance arc, with her insecurities and her and sam’s worries about each other, to Luaan’s nervousness about her first kiss, to Lincoln and friends having to learn that sometimes a girl dosen’t want to date you just because their nice to you, to Lynn learning not to be a dick and hten forgetting it overnight because this show hates me, the show grounds wacky shenanigans in relatable slice of life stuff. It’s what makes it and it’s sister show work so well. Grounding the exagerated comedy with likeable relatable characters. IT’s what works.  Why I bring this up is this and family bonding show a possible trend of the show getting into more bizzare stuff. A ghost here, a secret agent there.. it means the loud world can get as insane as it wants and the reason I bring it up is simple: Is that a GOOD thing. And my opinon, it CAN be if used right. With Family Bonding the fact there are Secret Agents is just.. casually mentioned. Like yup james bond esque spies exist and have weather dominators and an 11 year old just stopped them. It’s just.. treated like a normal thing when it’s not. Here.. a ghost showing up.. is treated like someone suddenly finding out ghosts are fucking real. Lori slowly comes unraveled a bit as the first few minutes go: She deals with seeing a ghost glow on the range, having the ghost drop books on her in the library, and having it serve her an arnold palmer.. in what genuinely looks like the bar from the overlook hotel from the shining. 

I get it’s a deliberate shout out, especially since it’s bartender is a ghost. But it just raises so many questions: Was it a concidence or did whoever put this bar in really love the shining? Did he want teenagers to murder their wives and children? Did he? Is this building haunted and not just by the genearl ghost that haunts everything? Did they take this from the overlook since it didn’t burn down in the movie? Does this mean shining and loud house are the same universe and by the same token so is community and the casagrandes? WHy is a tea with lemonade called an arnold palmer? But yeah after breaking down in her room Lori can’t take being stalked by a ghost and does what 80% of people in a paranomal activity film take too long to do and calls a ghost hunter. Specifically clyde! And to my shock this is apparently the first time the two have interacted since season 2! And it shows.. their on perfectly fine terms, to the point she has his number and they can talk like humans. I like it.. it’s subtle. Again wouldv’e appricated the episode where he got over here being more finte, but still, this is better than him either passing out in his own master roshi esque blood or trying to get her to leave bobby because bobby is a saint. The worst he’s done is break up with someone because her brother made his sister cry, when none of that makes any sense but he’s dumn and noble enough i’ll allow it, and telling sergio never to come back, which his show framed as a bad thing but really I would two after two minutes with him. 

She called Clyde because he’s the brains behind the outfit... but Clyde has her on speaker. Wah wah wah. Their watching ARRRGH! The ghost adventuers style show that showed up in an episode I never saw but read about. Wah wah wah indeed, but it was apparenlty made up. Why their still into it I dunno, but apparently argh ghost blasters ARE ACTUAL LASER GUNS. This show has gone enitrely off the rails and i’m fine with that. As long as it’s funny. But seriously who gives out actual proton packs I ask you your just asking for some kid to blast himself in the face. But yeah Clincoln McCloud is on the case. And while i’m still annoyed they didn’t bring at least two more friends to play ghostbusters, presumibly stella because she’s the compitent one and Zach because he could NOT belivie in something for a change and tha’td be funny. I know i’m beating a dead horse but it dosen’t HAVE to be all or nothing with their friend groups. You do know that right writers?

I mean I get only using them here as opposed to family bonding, but still, if you can use LIam outside of his episodes you can use the rest of them.. and I don’t even like Zach but he’d be in his element here. It’s not complicated but it is frustrating.  Anyways the boys and Lynn Sr arrive with Lynn Sr making a scene.. which embarasses Lori but i’m on his side here. His oldest went to college. She left the nest. It’s a lot. Plus she apparently hasn’t visted home yet so he misses his baby. Just accept it. She also asked the boys to be subtle about their ghost hunting which does not work at all. Lori you knew who you were asking for this. It’s like asking Sterling Archer NOT to be sarcastic, loud and slightly hammered. It’s part of the process.  Natrually hyjinks insue as our heroes chase the ghost with the most... on this campus.. and end up shaming him into leaving. Yes really. Clyde even says that’s what usually works on him. Oh Clyde.. if that were true you would’ve stopped trying to break up two people clearly in love with each other for your own benift, you twit.  So problem solved right, ghost busted, no more stalking and no lori turning into a monster and ushering in 80 sequels with no real resolution right? 

Yeah I mean this is a half hour special. Everyone at Fairway starts playing off, and it turns out because they realized the ghost was missing. Yes.. everyone knew the ghost was real. Thankfully given this is a halloween episode fairway isn’t some kind of rosemary’s baby, midsommar, herditary, paranomal activity , god a lot of movies use this death cult scenario. That we’re aware of Lori may just not be the target. The team captain takes Lori aside to explain things: They normally don’t tell freshman this until after their first game because the plot says so, but Fairway has a ghost. And again what makes this work is the guy does realize people might not belivie this and while normal for the students of fairway, it’s not normal for everyone and they might not belivie in it.  But no turns out the ghost is beloved 1900′s era Caddy, Shanks Bogey, who in the moment that cemented him as a legend singelhandidly helped Fairway to a big comeback in their first tournament ever, and was given a permanent positoin after graduation. Because they train caddy’s here too which makes sense. And now his ghost lives there too and still helps to this day. OR did anyway. Now why he coudln’t of told her this or why they don’t check to make sure one of the students dosen’t bring ghost hunters around or an exorcist or ash williams?

This episode already runs on nonsense i’m just going with it. Point is LOri’s hair’s falling out, more apparenlty, from the stress as she retreats into her hoodie.. Clyde gave her one to protect her because ARRRRGH! is really freaking shameless apparently. While LIncoln dosen’t know how to put a ghost back luckily Lucy has the mortuariy club over and LIncoln sends them over. Also Lori dosen’t want dad driving them, but Lincoln was on speaker which.. yeah Clyde I might get, the only person he’d probably want privacy with is his girlfriend, he and Lincoln have the exact same running crew but lincoln has 10 other people int he house who may eevesdrop.  But hell yeah, it’s my first Lucy episode on the blog and my first with her club period. For Lucy she IS one of the sisters I like I just haven’t checked out her episodes since season 2,a nd that’s my fault and something I intend to correct. She’s adorably, hilarious in her creepiness, and endearing in how she feels ignored at itmes.. because she is. They also ALL can apparently do her suddenly sneak up on people batman schtick as they all pop up on lincoln when he mentions a ghost. But yeah I love she has her own adams family esque group of goths, and that one of them is a Haiku from an earlier episode. While he and clyde hitting it off went nowhere it IS nice for the show to actually bring back an earlier character they entirely forgot about. It’s very rare for them. 

But yeah I already like these guys, arriving in coffisn and accidently sending my new faviorite borris flying.. a boy who talks like dracula, looks like an orlock and talks in the third person, though he ends up completing a cheer pyramid, because as an intentional joke or not, fairway , a school for a sport built on quite conversation... has a cheers squad. But hey we get boris talking about his hollow bones and cheering out of it so we’re good. 

But now the goth gang can get down to business. They try the obvious first a séance which.. yeah if bill and ted and beetlejuice have taught me anything, Seance’s can only end in friendly ghost murder. Granted unlike Otho I think Lucy knows what she’s doing, I just don’t want Shanks to die. This dosen’t quite work as while there is some bubbles it’s just Froggy 2 who apparently goes here when he’s not with adelaide. Good for him, getting some higher book learning. That’s rare for frogs. Though the faces on the Club are priceless as they are adorable. 

Plan B is to set out Shank’s faviorite food, Ferminted Bean Meal.. which yes is both to set up a fart joke and may or may not exist. He also liked pigs in a blanket, which is a good gag. Lori asks why theyd idn’t go with that I say they simply did because these are professional Goths, and they will always go for the weirdest option possible. It’s who you signed on for lori. You could’ve just called the fentons at the start of this but no, no crossover for us. And yes it’d be butch heartman free but as far as I’m concerned he can go fuck himself for, most among a LARGE pile of him being a jackass, promoting faith healing seminars that among serious illnesses.. include autisim, aka equating what I have to things like alhimers and cancer. No joke there just screw him, don’t screw danny phantom it’s great, moving on.  They intend for shanks to eat it but Lori’s teamates do instead as does the one club member who has weird hair that really unernves me. I get it’s supposed to be spider like but still, the rest of the club is really well designed, including him minus the hair. Why this why. They all get stomach poisoning and blame Lori for it despite, you know, eating strange food left in the middle of campus which is never a good idea, as it’s either someone’s elses or possibly spiked. What did you think was going to happen? Lucy’s last ditch effort is partying like it’s 1900. We do get the club and lori in top hats and canes with presumibly pocket’s full of miracles. So that’s neat. But it fails thanks to the cheerleaders coming in, boris very much included. Lori is desparing,.. until it turns out the disco ball which broke offers a mirror to the other side.. and thus where shanks is.. at the graveyard just off campus. Haiku finds this school creepy and wants to go there. Me too little sister, me too. 

Lori opts to go alone.. while this shit terrifies her, understandably, it was her mess and she needs to clean it up.. even though him not explaning himself to her or anyone else did this I don’t know if he can talk so fair enough. He can however caddy obviously as Lori gives him a heartfelt apology, and then plays a round, with him helping.. though apparently returning her ball also opens a doorway to hell. Go figure. Great gag though especially lori’s casual “that was disturbing”. He dosen’t give a sign he’s coming back though. Then we cut to the game.. with no real sign lori told anyone anything.. was.. was a chunk cut out of this episode or did they just run out of time? I dunno it’s jarring but the game is down to her, and Lori ends up in a sandtrap with the sun in her eyes. But luckily shanks returns! He llfts an umbrella for her. Again I think it’s less that he’s inconsiderate and more that he’s mute.. or maybe he’s just a jackass I dunno. We don’t know enough about him. Point is Lori wins, her scholarship is secure and her family is cheering her on.. well okay her family in terms of lincoln, clyde, because he counts dammit, and her parents the rest of the girls minus lucy are absent because they needed room for her club. Whose in the sun somehow. Lori wins, Boris does an exorcist head spin, and Lucy feels he’s lost to them. I mean.. he has to go home.. unless he dosen’t have one... which is probable. Man now I want a fairway spinoff even more.. I mean just give lori and bobby an off campus place, have leni and her two friends move in, maybe throw in carol and have boris living in a hole in the backyard and we’re good. Please nick, greenlight this. I will write it for you just give me the go ahead. 

Final Thoughts:

This one was okay. As I said the reality breaks are fine if their used for good reaosn, but I felt the episode put Lori though a bit much. She hasn’t been unsympathetic in so long, and she has a genuine heartwrenching reason to want to do well and is terrified of shanks. It’s not her fault no one told her. I mean that should be in the brochure “We have a ghost but he’s a casper ghost and not a gozer ghost so your good”. I mean the fact Jack Fenton HASN’T come blaring down the campus is only because he already did that and is banned from campus. that and he drove through the comisary.. like through both walls. The Fenton Van is thick.  Point is lori goes through a lot of pain and humilation for no reason. It also feels like a two parter put into one half hour: The first half has a problem that’s seemingly solved only to have a cliffhanger with Lucy coming in as the solution. That being said I aboslutely love the mortuariy club. Why they can’t repalce spider head with rocky I don’t know, but otherwise I love em. Especailly boris who i’m fine with him staying at fairway as long as I get that spinoff> The Clyde and LIncoln antics are just “ha ha their mech dosen’t work”.. when they still have rayguns as part of the merch, though I do appricate that them running out of power is set up: Their guns discharge as a running gag so it’s no suprise their out by the time our heroes need them. And Clyde’s line about shame and guilt “Just like me!” was gold. This dosen’t really have the missed opprtunity smell of family bonding or strife of the party, it did fine enough and the scene of lori and shanks playing golf was really sweet.  It really is just okay: Not AMAZING, but not terrible. I’ve seen much worse already this season, but the creative halloweeny premise, fun with the goth gang, and general weirdness of fairway make it a hole in two. Not a slam dunk but still fun. Just because an episode is mostly okay dosen’t make it bad.  If you liked this review follow for more, as I have weekly coverage of ducktales and loud house and ocasionally the casagrandes and later today should have, space and time permitting, reviews of the new loud house, the new amphibia, and later this weekend some darkwing duck. Until then stay safe, stay spooky and happy halloween. Play us out white stripes!

[dayawantstosleep]

His Name

Summary: Aria wants to pay her sister's medical bills. She donates blood to vampires for money. Falling for Jisung was not the plan. Jisung is one of Aria's clients, a rich vampire who wants more than her blood. 

Genre: Vampire! Han, Supernatural Romance

Word Count: 5,155

Warnings: Mentions of Blood

Notes: I've decided to make this fic because of Han's birthday so this is a gift you could say. I've come to love everything about this man in the past month I became a STAY. This man has it all: the looks, the rap and singing skills and his ability to be both cute and hot at any given time. Anyway, happy birthday to one of the most beautiful men that has crossed this Earth besides the rest of Stray Kids.                                                                                                                        If Han Jisung ever reads this story - I love you, darling and I will support you and Stray Kids forever! 😍💕💜

Han     Felix     Seungmin    Chan      Minho

"What are you doing here?" I rolled my eyes at the boy in black hair and piercing gaze that spoke.

He took a sip of a red liquid in a glass cup. The same liquid everyone here was drinking. If people weren't drinking, they were dancing. I sighed and looked at the small paper in my hands.

"Came looking for you." I said, thrusting the piece of paper at him. He glanced at the piece of paper and made a small choking sound.

"This is too much. I don't have that kind of money."

"I could always leave you to starve. You're the son of the CEO, who by the way is CEO of one of the most famous entertainment companies in Korea."

"You're mean." He growled and took his cellphone out. I watched him click buttons and my cell phone beeped.

"You'll get the other half when our job is done." He grumbled, putting his phone back in his pocket.

"It's dangerous here, you know?" He walked towards me slowly and I rolled my eyes. They always had a thing for dramatic flair.

"I can handle a couple bloodsuckers. Just like I can handle you." I grabbed his hands and put them on my waist. His eyes seemed to sparkle with lust, just like every other time he feeds.

"If you drink more than a few liters, I will rip your fangs out."

"Noted." He inched closer to me, lips trailing my neck.

I closed my eyes and he bit into me. I let out a soft yell as a flash of pain hit me. His grip on my waist tightened, a sign he was almost finished.

"I have more clients in a few hours." I said, opening my eyes.

"What did I say about having more clients?" He growled.

"I need the money, Jisung. Hannah needs to get better." He licked the wound and pulled away from me.

"I could pay for your sister's treatment."

"I don't like charity, Han. I'd prefer earning my own money. I'd need to pay you back and I don't like owing people."

"You could always be my companion." I laughed. Companion usually meant walking blood bank.

"That's funny, Jisung. I have to go." He nodded and took his phone out. I strapped my small crossbody bag over my shoulder and heard a familiar beep.

"When do you want to meet?"

"I'll tell you when I'm hungry." I laughed at his lame joke and pecked his cheek.

"Thank you." He smiled at me, his cheeks proofing up, making his appearance seem like a squirrel's.

"No problem. Have a safe trip home." I nodded and walked to the door before going out, away from the glowing red eyes.

                                                     ___

Meeting in a dark alleyway was not my ideal place for a job. Alas, my client always preferred that and he gives me money so who am I to say no?

"Sorry, I was busy. Needed to see my sister, plus I met Jisung at the club." I yelled out to the seemingly empty alleyway. It was never empty.

"How is she?" A smooth voice called out. No matter how many times he does this, it still gives me chills.

"She's surviving but barely. The treatment is keeping her alive."

"You could always ask Han or I to turn her."

"You know how I feel about that."

"I also know you go home weak and sometimes pass out from the loss of blood, Aria. If she becomes one of us, you wouldn't have financial problems."

"She's my responsibility, Chris. If she gets turned, whoever turns her needs to check up on her. I don't want to feel like a burden."

"Everything would be easier."

"Does it look like I care, Bang? All I care about is paying her medical bills. Now, are we going to do this or not?"

He came out of the shadows and smirked. He motioned with his head for me to go to him and I rolled my eyes. I've had it with the dramatic flair.

He wore all black with the exception of his hair, which was silver. He was handsome, with a strong jawline, pale skin and beautiful brown eyes.

"Here." He held a white envelope and I grabbed it.

"You're supposed to give me half, and give me the other half when the job's done." He shrugged and turned to the floor.

Am I seeing this correctly? Did I make a vampire shy?

"Is this pity money? I need to do my job."

"No. I just don't feel like feeding."

"You could've texted me instead of making me come over."

"Would you just take the money? I know how important this is for you." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"Fine. I'll see you later." I turned around and felt a hand on my wrist.

"Wait." He said softly. I turned to him and he walked closer to me.

"I want to do something. Will you let me?" His eyes seemed to sparkle.

Han and him were my favorite clients. Some clients were absolute slobs, but they were not. They were kind and gentle souls. Unlike most vampires.

I nodded and he leaned towards me. He stopped inches from my face and I felt my cheeks go red. He closed the gap between us as he kissed me.

                                                    ____

"Hannah!" I yelled out as I opened the door to our house. The house was quiet, not even the TV was on. My mind flashed back to the kiss with Chris.

I can't hide it anymore. I like you, Aria.

"Hannah! Are you here?!" I walked through the hallway and into her room.

It seemed untouched, her bed and pictures on the desk were in the same place. I walked out and walked to my room. Everything was in its place. Why do I feel like something's about to happen then?

An ear piercing scream cut through the air and I ran. I was probably stupid to run towards the scream but I kept running. I entered the kitchen and gasped.

A man in black was hovering over my sister. She was on the floor, blood poured out of her neck. The man turned to me, an evil glint in his eyes.

"Whose this, Hannah? Your sister?" The man smiled evilly, blood coating his teeth.

He looked like a monster. Not like Jisung or Chris. I felt myself unable to move, as the man stood up straight.

"Don't touch her." Hannah said weakly. The man walked towards me, and I wanted to run away but my body wasn't complying.

"Her? No, I won't touch her. I already did what I came to do. Goodbye." The man disappeared in front of me. I ran to Hannah and applied pressure to her neck.

"What did that man want? No, nevermind. Don't talk right now. We have to get you to the hospital." I tried pulling her arms but I couldn't move her.

I was weak from Jisung drinking my blood earlier. I rushed to get napkins and put it on her neck. The blood just kept coming and it was making me panic.

"You'll be fine. Hannah. Just hang on, okay? You can't die on me." I felt the waterworks coming.

"I feel fine, Aria. Don't worry about me." All hell broke loose as I cried. I looked at the blood on my hands and cried even more.

"You have to be fine. What will I do without my big sister? I don't think I'll survive on my own, Hannah." She put her hand on my shoulder.

"It'll be fine. Now, I'm going to take a quick nap, ok?" Her eyes began to close. I grabbed her shoulder and shook her.

"What? No. No. Hannah! Don't close your eyes! Hannah!" Her eyes closed and I felt some part of me die.

Hannah was dead and it's the monster's fault. I closed my eyes tightly. It must be a dream, right? I'll wake up any second now.

In the back of my mind I knew this was real. Being with Jisung at the club was real. The kiss with Christopher was real. Everything was real.

I stood up from the floor and walked to my room. I'll deal with her body later. Right now, I need a shower.

                                                     ___

"Aria, wake up!" I let out a groan and turned around. I need sleep to forget that my sister is dead. In my dreams we'll be together.

"Aria! Breakfast will get cold!" I turned around and hugged my pillow. Someone was being rude. Can't they let me sleep.

"Aria Park. Get up right now!" My eyes shot open as a feminine voice called my name. I turned to Hannah on the foot of my bed, looking concerned.

It was a dream then. I imagined everything. I wasn't with Jisung or with Chris and Hannah is not dead. I stood up and smiled.

"Hannah? I had a nightmare. You were there and Jisung and Chris were there too."

"Tell me over breakfast." I pulled the covers off me and frowned. I wore these exact clothes in my dream.

I walked out of my room and followed Hannah to the kitchen. Two plates with eggs, rice, bacon and toast were on the table. I sat down silently, glanced at Hannah.

Something was off about her. Her hair seemed darker and her skin seemed paler. Reality hit me and I ran a hand through my face.

"It wasn't a dream, was it?" She looked at me with sad eyes. I gripped my fork tightly, blinking back my sobs.

"You're not like me anymore then? You're like Jisung. I should be happy right?" I took a bite of my egg. Happiness is the opposite of what I felt.

"It's not like I promised mom and dad when they died that I would protect you. That nothing would harm you."

"I know you feel bad, but you won't have to do odd jobs to put food on the table. You won't be a blood bank anymore."

"Just for you? I- I gotta go." I pushed my plate away and walked out the door.

I took off in a sprint, not caring that I left my undead sister in our house. I could not stay there anymore. 

In a couple minutes, I reached the woods. I used to play with Hannah alot here as a child. Tears pricked my eyes at the memory.

"What are you doing here?" I turned around to see Jisung walking towards me.

"Jisung." I said and I let out a curse. I really hated when they popped out of nowhere.

"Aria, are you okay?" I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him as soon as he was within arms reach.

"I-I don't know what to do. I feel really bad. There was this man who broke into our house yesterday. He..." My voice broke and I began sobbing.

"He bit Hannah. She- I thought she died."

"She didn't?" Concern was laced in his voice. I shook my head, tears starting to fall.

"She got turned."

"Isn't that good?" I sighed and groaned, pulling away from him.

"She-I- I made a promise to our parents on their deathbed that I would protect her. I failed. While I was out with Chris, the man attacked her. I should've been there."

"You couldn't do anything. It's not your fault."

"It is. Now, my sister's a monster! Like the man! She's..." I trailed off and widen my eyes. I had screwed up.

"You think we're monsters, then? That explains a lot." I turned to him, his eyes were full of hurt. It hurt me to see him that way.

"The way you always called me a job. Making it seem like I wasn't human." He chuckled bitterly.

"No. Jisung. That's not what I meant."

"I know exactly what you meant." His eyes turned dark. That was bad.

His eyes glowed red and his claws were out. He wouldn't  kill me. He can't. Out of instinct, my hand grabbed a small knife from my pocket.

"You're even afraid of me." His eyes stopped glowing, turning their normal shade of brown. My lips felt dry and my.palms started to sweat.

"Jisung." He shook his head and turned around, walking away. I ran towards him and wrapped my arms around him.

"Jisung." He went rigid and stopped. I hugged him tighter, afraid he would disappear.

"No, Aria. You're right. I am a monster. So, stay away from me." He pulled me off him.

"Jisung. Look at me." Tears ran down my cheeks, regret eating me.

"Jisung." He turned to me, slowly. His gaze was cold, lifeless. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

I did the only thing I could do that I've been wanting to do ever since I met him. I ran to him and crashed my lips to his.

He pulled away and frowned before shaking his head. I couldn't have broken him, he's stronger than that. He'll bounce back and it'll all be normal again.

"You smell like him." He snarled and walked away from me.

Chris. He smelled Chris.

Just like that all the world's left unsaid disappeared. All it took were four little words for me to crumble.

                                                   ___

I knocked on the white door, waiting for it to open. My mind wandered back to Jisung as I stood outside the white mansion.

Did Jisung really care what I think? I was just human, nothing special. But I have known him for a few years now. That must be why he got hurt.

"Aria?" Chris looked at me quizzically.

"Can I come in?" He nodded and moved aside. I walked into his house and he closed the door.

He must be rich. His couch was leather and the center table looked to be marble. I plopped myself on the couch.

"What's up?"

"Well, I made a mistake. Lots actually. When I got home yesterday, Hannah was hurt. She got bitten by a man who broke into our house. At least I think he broke in, I'm not sure. And I got so mad because she turned. I couldn't even talk to her this morning."

"What did you do?"

"I ran away. Got all the way to the woods and Jisung was there."

"Yeah. You smell like him." He wrinkled his nose and I remembered Chris' kiss.

"Shut up. Anyway, I told him what happened exploded. I call him Hannah and him monsters. I didn't mean it but he got hurt and left."

"You really care about him huh?"

"Is it very obvious? I was pissed over Hannah. Now I think I lost both of them." He hugged me and I pressed my head yo his chest.

"You'll always have me. And Hannah is a vampire now, but she's still your sister."

"I know. But I felt really useless. I promised my parents I would protect her and I didn't. I let the man turn her. I just want to find him and rip his damn eyes out."

"He'll kill you love." He sat on the couch with me.

"I don't care. As long as he dies too." He pulled away from me and his finger grazed my chin, lifting my head to face him.

"Don't say stuff like that. If you died I don't know what I'd do." He leaned towards me and closed the gap between us.

The kiss was short and sweet. I felt guilty kissing two guys knowing I like both of them. I ended the kiss and leaned my head against the couch.

"I don't know what to do. This shouldn't even bother me that much. Ok, sure, Hannah got turned, medical bills got fixed. But, she doesn't have a job, at least this pays for food. And don't even get me started on Jisung." I closed my eyes, feeling drained.

"Relax, Aria. I could help you. My mom's one of the top models of Korea, so I'm loaded." He joked and I let out a weak chuckle.

"No. But, will you let me stay here for a while? I really don't want to face my sister right now."

"You can stay here whenever you'd llike.You can stay in any guest room you want."

"Great. Let me take a short nap on your couch. I'm digging the leather." I took a deep breath and let sleep consume me.

                                                       ___ 

 "Aria, wake up." A male voice said from far away but I just turned around.

"Aria, I brought a friend." My eyes fluttered open to see Chris smiling at me. I stood up and stretched, trying to ignore Chris eyeing me up and down.

"Where is your friend?" I asked, cracking my neck.

"He's in the bathroom. C'mon." I raised my eyebrows at him but followed him. He opened the door and I turned to him.

"Why would your friend be- whaaaa!" He pushed me lightly into the room and closed the door.

"Chan Christopher Bang! When I get out of here I will grab some mistletoe and shove it up your ass!" On the other side of the door I heard him chuckle.

"Laugh while you can, Bang. You won't live to see the light of day!" I turned around and my breath hitched.

Han Jisung was staring at me amused, eyes red. He must've been crying. Even when crying he still looks cute. Ugh, don't distract yourself from your goal; killing Chris.

"Ok, Chris is definitely dead. I will kill him painfully and slowly when I get out!"

"Do you need help? He invited me to play Fifa a few minutes ago so I came and he locked me here."

"You can bury the body." I joked and he smiled slightly. Then I realized how bad the situation was.

I was standing in a huge restroom with one of my crushes, unable to get out because my other crush locked us in. Fantastic.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what got into Chris. I really really messed up. You're important to me and I wasn't thinking. I ended up causing more harm than good and it's the man's fault. Since, now my sister is going to drain all my blood and- mmmmph." I stopped in my tracks as Jisung's lips crashed into mine.

"You talk too much." He pulled away and I just stared at him, moving my lips like a goldfish. My brain short circuited as I just stood there.

"You're not mad?"

"I was at first. But then, Chris called me and I spend an hour listening to him. I realized that I care for you too and I'm sorry for overreacting." I smiled at him brightly and laughed.

Why was I laughing? I did not know. Maybe I was finally crazy after spending time with vampires. Maybe I really adored both Jisung for being in the bathroom, and Chan for locking me in here.

"Go out with me?" He asked, walking towards me and I nodded. He wrapped his arms around me and I hugged him back.

"I'm still killing Chris." I said and he let out a laugh.

                                                    ___

I knocked on my house door, feeling nervous. Was she mad at me for leaving her almost all day? She must feel so alone now that she's a vampire. Maybe I should introduce her to Jisung and Chris.

The door opened and out came my sister. I opened my mouth to speak but she grabbed my and pulled me into a hug.

"Don't scare me like that again. I didn't know where you went." She pulled away and I closed my mouth.

"Sorry for leaving. I was just shocked, still am. How do you feel? Hungry?" She shook her head and I walked inside the house.

"I ate some food from the fridge. Should we call the hospital about my medical bills?" I nodded and took my cellphone out.

"We should say it was something you drank. Or a vaccine they put you." I said as I dialed the hospital's number.

"Hello? This is St. Adam's Hospital." The receptionist said from the other line.

"Yeah. I'm Aria Park, calling about Hannah Park and her medical bills."

"What's the patient's ID number?"

"4469."

"Do you need help knowing how much you owe? Or how many treatments there are left?"

"Both."

"You need one more treatment and it would cost about $200." I winced at the amount. That would be at least two more blood transactions from me if she were human.

"Alright. I'd like to cancel everything. The last vaccine did the trick."

"We still need to check to make sure everything is in order. You need to make an appointment for that." I sighed but nodded, as if the woman could see me.

"When is the earliest?"

"Tomorrow at ten. Is that alright?"

"Yeah that's fine. If she doesn't need treatment can you cancel everything?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for contacting us. Good day."

The line went dead and I pocketed my phone. I turned to my sister and smiled at her. She smiled back, fangs visible.

"Since you're all better, you should get a job." I joked and she pushed me playfully.

                                                        ___

"Guess who just got a job!" Hannah bounced around the living room. I lifted my gaze from my phone to her.

"You got a job? Where?"

"Well, at the hospital."

"What?"

"Yeah. Shift starts in a few hours. Do you mind being alone for a few?"

"Nah. Jisung might be down to hang out."

"You mean your new boyfriend?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. I felt my cheeks heat up.

"He's not my boyfriend yet. He barely asked me yesterday. We're going with the flow. Anyway, how did they give you the job so fast?"

"I used some of my compelling skills for it." I clicked my tongue and put my phone in my pocket.

"No, really. How did you get a job so fast." She glared at me and I frowned.

"If someone catches you, Hunter's might come, Hannah."

"I know. I was careful. It was only one time."

"It better be."

"It will. Anyway, don't you have better things to do than nag me? Maybe go out with Jisung?" I chuckled.

"Nope. Since my sister came back to life, I'm dedicating all my life to protect her." I partially joked.

"You should get a life."

"Says the one whose dead." I laughed and turned my attention back to my phone. I quickly asked Jisung a question and clicked send.

Jisung, do you want to hang out. You can meet my sister

I turned to my sister and smiled at her. Maybe it would be nice for them to meet. I have been gushing about him to here for a while now.

"Do you want to meet Jisung?" She nodded and my phone beeped.

Be there in five. 🐿

                                                    ___

I turned the TV on and checked what was on. My sister was next to me, a bowl of popcorn in her lap. Jisung was on my other side, with his arms around me. I kept changing channels until I stopped at Channel 5.

"Breaking news. A man was found murdered a few blocks from the Metropolitan Library. According to the FBI. He was a mass murder, murdering innocent women all over the globe."

The screen flashed black with a warning that said warned viewers of the grotesque scenes and a picture of a man came up.

There was a huge slash on his neck with dried blood around it and a few cuts on his body. All that was visible was a mop of black hair and pale skin. His face was blurred out.

"That's him." My sister stood up, spilling the popcorn on the floor.

"Him who?"

"The man that turned me. He's dead." I sighed and rubbed a hand through my face. Jisung's grip on me tightened and I leaned towards him.

"Let's go to Julia for the weather report." The anchor woman said as the screen turned into a map.

"At least he won't be terrorizing more people." I grabbed the remote and changed the channel.

"When does your shift start?"

"In thirty minutes. I gotta go guys, have fun. But, not too much." Hannah turned to me and winked. I felt my cheeks heat up as she stood up.

"Have fun." I called out as she walked out the door. I turned to Jisung and he smiled at me.

"What do you wanna do? You wanna feed?" I asked him. He shook his head and kissed my cheek.

"Let's watch a movie." I grabbed the remote and clicked on Netflix.

"Which movie? Or do you want to watch a show?" I scrolled down, watching movie titles.

"I don't know yet. But, I'll watch whatever you want to watch." He kissed my cheek again and I clicked on Teen Wolf.

My phone beeped and I turned to my phone. Chris had texted me. I quickly sent him a message and put my phone in my pocket.

"I have work, Ji. It'll be quick so we can watch Netflix." I stood up and he just stared at me.

"What's with the stare?" I asked.

"You called me, Ji."

"Was I not supposed to?" I grabbed my crossbody bag and raised an eyebrow at him.

"You've never called me Ji before."

"Get used to it. You can call me Ari. Or just stick with Aria, either way I don't mind. But, I have to go. See you in a bit."

"Wait, do you want a ride?" I gave him a puzzled look.

"You don't drive, Jisung."

"But I can run really fast, Ari. We'll get there in seconds." The way he said Ari made me happy.

"Ok. Do you know Chris' address?" He frowned and shook his head.

"Ok  then. Let's go." I turned the TV off and walked out the door.

"Hop on." Jisung knelt down and I laughed.

"You're going all Twilight on me."

"Yep. So, hop on." I rolled my eyes but jumped on his back.

"You should eat more, you barely weight anything." I hit his head playfully.

"It's because of your hellish strength. Anyway, Chris' house is near St. Adam's Hospital."

                                                     ___

Jisung stopped outside Chris' mansion and I got off him.

"Well, spider monkey, let's not do that again. I felt like barfing halfway." I said as I walked to Chris's door and knocked.

"Hey." Chris said as the door opened. He smiled brightly at me.

"Yo. Ji, can you wait for me in the living room? I don't like when people watch." He nodded as Chris let us in.

"Ok. We'll be back." I walked to Chris' bedroom with him in tow. I closed the door behind me and turned to Chris.

"Hey." I sat on his bed and smiled at him.

"Hey." He walked to me and took his phone out. He clicked buttons and put his phone in his pocket.

He leaned towards me and I held my arm out. He looked at my arm, then at me.

"Do you mind biting my wrist this time?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Not at all." He said as he grabbed my arm and bit it.

I let out a yell as he drank from me. He pulled away and licked my wound.

"Is he treating you well?" I nodded and he took his phone out to send me money.

"Yeah. He's great." My phone beeped and he put his phone in his pocket again.

"Good."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to lead you on."

"It's fine. Even if I really like you, I don't want to lose our friendship."

"I don't want to lose it either."

"If you ever need me, I'm here. As a friend or anything more. Although I will destroy Jisung if he hurts you." I let out a laugh and smiled.

"He won't. I'll see you around." I stood up and walked to the door.

"Yeah. Have a safe trip home." I nodded and both of us walked out the door.

"Let's go, Ji. See you later, Chris." I opened Chris' front door and walked out the door.

"Hop on."Jiisung knelt down as soon as I closed the door. I chuckled and hopped on his back again.

                                                    ___

My phone beeped and I took my phone out as soon as we got home. My sister sent me a message and I groaned.

"We have to go to the hospital. They're giving Hannah some tests to make sure she's healthy."

"Alright." Jisung knelt down again and I hopped on his back once more before he started running.

We got to the hospital quickly and I opened the door to the hospital. The smell of alchohol and cotton balls made me want to immediately leave. I never liked hospitals.

"What room is Hannah Park in?" I asked the receptionist at the counter.

"Room 456." She said smiling.

"Thank you." I said as I walked through a hallway.

"Hey, you!" I announced as soon as I passed the door to Hannah's room. She was in a hospital bed with a doctor next to her.

"Aria." She said as I walked towards her.

"Hello, I'm Aria Park. Her sister. How is she?" I asked the doctor.

"Somehow she's healthy. It might have been the last vaccine we gave her. She's free to leave but please give her lots of electrolytes to hydrate herself. If she feels worse, bring her back."

"Of course. Thank you doctor." I turned to her and smiled brightly.

"The amount due for the medical procedures will be canceled within the next twenty four hours." The doctor said and I nodded.

"Thank you doctor."

                                                      ___

"You know I really thought I would be forever trying to pay Hannah's bills." I said, laying my head on Jisung's chest.

"You worry too much." He kissed my temple and I sighed.

"I guess I worry a bit. You know, I never really thought you and I would become a thing. I always thought I would always be just a blood source for you."

"You thought wrong. I never told you because I thought you would always look at me as a monster."

"I'm sorry again, for what happened two days ago. But hey, at least you're here with me. And that's all that matters." Jisung turned to me, a sultry look on his face.

He put his hands on my waist and pushed me lightly so that my head was near the armrest of the couch. He climbed on top of me and grabbed my hands, placing them over my head. His hands kept mine in place as he smirked. He looked hot like this

"What's my name?" He growled, eyes flashing. Vampires loved dramatic flair. Not that I minded, it was enjoyable. I rolled my eyes and raised my head to kiss his nose.

"Jisung."

[dollsted]

Chains

Chapter one: The Sting

Source: A03 --- F0rce0fnatur3

NSFW Warning: 18+

Pairing: SasuSaku | SakuIta

Plot: Sakura was just going about her daily life when her world shatters after being taken by two men who were sent to do their jobs and help fill the bank account of the third party they work for. When the job gets botched due to Sakura's intrusion her fate suddenly becomes tied in the hands of the brothers. What do they do with an extra witness? And should they tell their employer about this slip up?

I drag my fingers through my silky pale rose colored hair, green eyes fixed on the cross walk sign waiting for the light to change and the slush of people I’m mobbed into moves. I can feel the slack in my tie holding my bun up threatening to come lose, so I crane my neck so that it is straight and proper without too much motion. A few shorter layers that frame my cheeks have come free already and a bad habit of mine is to twine my hair around my finger while strangers press uncomfortably behind me crowding the corner. I’m urged forward as we move like a swarm of fish across the road to the other side. I can feel someone who’s too inappropriately pressed behind me breathing hot breath on the naked nape of my neck. I can feel him jut against me when I try to gain distance like a pair of flats that is a size too big and the extra space slaps at my heels each step. Finally I surge forward yearning for freedom and to break free from the blobby monster and break through the congestion making my way toward Macy’s.

               Everyone steals these moments by emerging from their homes after being cooped up for the hopelessly long winter. Colors finally begin to paint against the sky above the skylines and warm rays of light dips its fingers through the spines of the buildings. Spring is in the air. We all mimic the flowers that are still hidden beneath the flat and muddy colors of the city, we angle our faces to the sun which has been hidden behind a veil of gray like a face behind a paper fan. We want to soak up as much vitamin C as we can and I feel the light burn against my exposed skin. Yesterday when I passed this way the store was still in muted colors reflecting the sludge outside but today it is bursting with pink. I stare in awe at the window display. Flamingo’s the size of the entire span of the window towers on each side of the entrance to the door all adorned and anatomy made up of pink roses! If these are fake, whoever fabricated the material made it look as realistic as possible. Hanging above their crowns are real flowers that dangle in tight tangles and it renews the stores vigor. I imagine the workers tirelessly staying through all hours of the night to prepare the store for spring.

              I brush the left strand behind my ear and begin my shameless hunting. It’s been awhile since I binged for myself and after yesterday’s messy blood and stitches night at the hospital I felt I needed to wipe the memory clean with something material. I thumb through the sales rack, I look at the new lines on the outer edges of the store, I even gravitate towards the jewelry. Black pearl earrings. Ino told me once that my complexion was fair, so soft pastels of pinks and whites would best accent me. But I found emeralds didn’t contrast against the hue of my eye color, and soft yellows also seemed to flatter me. What did she know? She was always wearing crop tops that cut off just under the lines that silhouetted her breasts and shorts that clung too tightly to her ass. I assess a bright red sweater that would free my shoulders from its grip and add it to my basket. I swipe my right stray strand behind my ear and inspect a rose gold ring that appeals to my depth of symmetry. The gold is like filigree that curves gracefully in sharp patterns and arches that eventually build up to its center which dawns a black pearl that gleams a soft shade of gray when it hits the light and bleeds to deep black like the depths of a sea. A smatter of diamonds adorn random patterns like stars. Five on the left side of the pearl, three on the right. This will match my earrings.

               With a single bag slung around my arm I wander to my usual spot which has become my favorite place to frequent for coffee. I sit at the high table crossing my legs over one another arresting the fabric of my skirt to keep it from coming loose. I pull out the book from my purse and jot down little notes. What no one tells you in medical school is that although yes you are saving lives there are more bad days that outweigh the good one does. It’s getting harder and harder to find the slips of those good moments and the more gore filled ones blot out that and remain in your head like scars. I’ve woken up numerous times in a sheen of sweat and nightmares of the faces I couldn’t save laid there on the table like a cold dead slab of meat as if they’re waiting for me to stitch up the pieces of their broken body. One of my coworkers suggested I start writing down the good. It’s a sparse entry but a little girl came in with a flesh eating virus after she went into lake water with a small open wound no more the size of my pinky’s tip. The bacteria entered that small entry point and within hours she got severely sick and in no more than eight hours later her leg began to blacken. We were able to extract the bacteria and eradicate any other threats. Had she been another hour later, she would have lost her entire leg up to her calf.

              The hospital is always filled with patients. Like the cars that pack together outside like flakes of snow, so too are the halls of the hospital. I work endlessly. I’m afraid to admit that I now lean heavily on the assistance of caffeine. Like the officers that are allowed leave after a bad case to get their sanity back together, so too have I put in for two weeks’ vacation. Tsunade insisted I take more but if I don’t do something I only drown in my own thoughts and vanish into naps. She suggested I actually go on a vacation and get out of the city but it felt so odd to picture myself somewhere tropical and warm. Like residents in hotter climates who never get snow for Christmas.

              Hinata shoots me a text. I extract the phone from my jacket pocket looking at the small rectangular screen and thumb away all the notifications clogging my feed until finally I get to the message board. She wants me to meet her at her apartment. She’s not too far from where I am, it isn’t a big enough strain to have to hail a cab. With four blocks I’m there buzzing at the front gate. I ride the elevator eleven floors up and walk halfway down the hall before knocking on her door. Quietly and quickly she opens it, her face is flushed, and she has tears rimming in her eyes like diamonds against her black lashes. Her pearl white eyes plead to mine and her brows are knit together. I’m startled. She’s truly upset. Usually she smiles and pretends there’s nothing wrong but after Ino and I finally staged an intervention to get her out of her abusive relationship she had been struggling. She motions me in. Her family has money but after Hinata left our small town and migrated here with Ino and I she had opted for a small apartment in a more down trodden part of the city.

               “Sakura, I’m so glad you’re here. Something terrible has happened.” I look at her, my own brow arched in confusion and she’s moved like a ghost effortlessly into the other room. I go to follow but she’s already floated back and produces a note tightly gripped in the confines of her shaking hand. I gently pull the letter from the feed of her palm and look over the document. The note is hand typed and not signed. The content of the letter sends a shiver through my body.

               “Someone sent you a threatening letter?”

              “D-do you th-think it could be h-him?” Her whole body convulses now and her hands find one another gripping until her knuckles are as pale as the color of her pearl eyes.

               “No. Your ex is a jackass but he’s a coward at heart and wouldn’t send something like this.” I take a seat suddenly feeling a dreadful weight in my body threatening to pull me down. “It seems to me the person whose contacting you wants a piece of your fortune.”

               “Should I tell father? Oh…he’ll be cross. He’ll want to send the police force and private investigators.” Her voice is a feather against the drumming in my ears. She hasn’t been able to look at me since she retrieved the letter. Gingerly I put my hand against her quaking shoulder offering warmth and softening my voice.

               “Hinata, I think you should let your father know about this. It could become serious…”

               “No one even knows I’m out here…who…who could…?”

              “It’s easy for a woman to be stalked. I hate to admit this to you too and scare you even more but if one wanted to type in your full name the internet isn’t shy about revealing articles about your fathers charity work and that you and your sister are heiresses.”

               I watched her shrink into herself. I looked back to the letter.

               “I don’t want my family to get hurt.”

               “All the more reason to warn them that you and them may be targeted.”

              I spent the rest of my visit cooing soft words of encouragement and making her several pots of herbal tea to calm her jittery nerves. When I suggested she speak to detective Naruto about all this she was all too eager to change the subject or dismiss it. I loved Hinata as the dear friend she was to me but, sometimes it was like speaking to a child who was afraid of her own shadow. Children could be difficult and stubborn and no matter what I pitched to her she shot down. Finally I had to threaten to tell my own sources about the letter and that seemed to sap any of her protests. She didn’t want me to get involved and made a promise that first thing in the morning before work she would go to the authorities with her proof and ask for help. It was enough to sate me. The letter gave her a two weeks’ notice to produce the money or transfer it to a secure private fund so I felt a little at ease that perhaps they wouldn’t come to collect her in exchange for that promise.

              I lay awake all night feeling guilty about Hinata. It became too hard to leave her alone and when I shot her a text to come back to my place for the time being she politely declined still feigning that she didn’t want me to get hurt in any of this exchange so I fled my apartment taking a cab as if precious moments were slipping from my fingers. Her building was alight and it helped douse a little of my fears but when I reached her front door it was then I noticed there was a splinter in the wood at the hinge. My heart was in my throat as my fingers lightly touched upon the wood of the door and it yawned open. Her apartment was dark and I could hear muffled talking. Maybe Hinata was retiring for the night and speaking to her father but then why would her door be affected by such a thing?

               I dared two steps into her room when the creak in the floor threatened to tattle on me if I moved further. I craned my neck trying to peer around the corner to the kitchen. The only light was the clock on her microwave and stove. I inched against the frame of the wall getting closer to the rush of voices. Now I heard the distinction of a male. I strained for a minute to hear Hinata’s reply but nothing came. A shadow moved across the wall in the living room. I went to strain my eyes to look into the stretch of darkness but felt a large hand press my locked lips against my teeth restraining my cries and screams of help. There was a wall of muscle at my back. My arms were pinned at my sides as the other arm snaked around me. My only free limbs were my legs which were easily lead in a dragging motion as the assailant directed us by holding my weight up and guiding us into the bedroom. My eyes widened. Hinata was slung over the shoulder of another male that seemed only a figment in the room. I could hear the venom in the elder male’s words as he hissed to the one man handling me.

                “Who the fuck is that?”

              “Don’t know. She was lurking at the door. What should we do?” I felt the pinprick of fear radiate up my spine and I began fighting. With little avail he easily coiled his arm flexing his muscles tighter against me. It was hard to take in air. I could see black blotting the corners of my vision.

               “She’s seen too much. Get rid of her.”

              “This might be the one she was texting.” I felt his hand move from my mouth and I took a sharp breath of air into my lungs but felt the scream vanish inside my throat when the clicking sound and cold round press of steel touched under my jaw. It came out as a startled gasp.

              “Don’t you even fucking dare.” My entire body began shaking. His voice was as deep and vicious as the steel under my chin. His arm uncoiled, he transferred the gun to his other hand and the free one plunged into my pockets. I let out a small yelp of surprise trying to shrink myself to get away from his invasive hands but moments later he plucked my phone from my back pocket. I glared blindly at him in the dark and shut my eyes when the shock of the bright screen flashed over my retinas. I blinked back burning tears watching him thumb through the phone then stopped.

               “That the one?” The other male ground out through tightly gritted teeth.

              “Yep.” Said my assailant with a careless sigh. He slipped the phone somewhere behind me in one of his pockets and then he resumed the hold he had before. The guns position changed to my temple.

              “Your call.” The casual exchange made me think these two criminals knew one another on a personal level. Maybe even related? I couldn’t think about that right now. Right now I needed to pine for my survival. I spent my years trying to save lives and to think of becoming just a stain within my legacy and a good front page article that would be looked over by tomorrow’s new stories made my stomach churn.

              “I know you two were the ones that sent the letter. I---I’ve already contacted the police about it.” There was a long stretch of silence that curdled the bile in my stomach even more painfully sour. The elder spoke.

               “We’re wasting time here. Bag her too. We’ll figure it out once we’re in the clear.” The one behind me didn’t respond. He only moved awkwardly behind me slipping one sleeve of a jacket to him and forcing the other sleeve to my arm. His free hand was hidden between the shared garment and the barrel was now tightly pressed at my back. I swallowed a wet gulp feeling the block roughly glide down my throat.

               “Here’s the deal. You scream. You say anything. I shoot you first. Then I shoot all the people you call out too. I don’t care if it’s a kid either. Got me?” I gave a curt nod. “Say it!”

               “Yes I understand!” I held the front of my sweater with my free hand trying to steady my nerves.

              Given the time of night there was no body that inhabited the entry ways or hallways. The elder had moved Hinata so it looked as though with her arm slung around the back of his neck and him holding her by her waist he looked like a gallant gentleman escorting his drunk girlfriend into a cab. But in the cabs stead was a black Lincoln. She was put in the trunk however…and I was forced to duck into the cabin of the back row of seats that faced one another. The elder took to the wheel. The black divider hid him completely and I was face to face with my captor who freed himself from the jacket. I was too terrified to shrug the rest of it off me. We were moving and I looked to the tinted windows walled around me. I felt small. I felt hopeless. My life was out of my hands. I knew in this moment how my patients felt…

              The younger captor was tall, not as tall as the other one but still larger than my short stature. He had long elegant legs that were cloaked in black jeans with faint tan stitching at the seams. He had heavy steel toed boots that somehow he controlled to keep his footfalls as silent as a cats. I saw the gray outlines in his shirt that made up the peaks and mountains of his midsection to his chest. His biceps were bulging from the clad shirts tight hold. The same arms that almost crushed me in two like a toothpick. He slung his forearm on the back of his seat showing the deadly muscle beneath his flesh. I looked away before his eyes could catch hold of mine. Charcoal black and bottomless like a shark’s. He had a long aristocratic nose and his lips were thin but were perfectly shaped so if he smirked they tips of them would be like little arrows that would point to his long cheekbones. His hair was a mop of thick locks and like babies he was cursed with terrible cowlicks that swirled and curved upwards but yet---it made him look distinguished and just fit to his angelic appearance. I crushed my thoughts digging bloody moons into my palms.

               Why had he put Hinata in the trunk? It wasn’t like he couldn’t overpower us if she awoke. Perhaps he didn’t want us speaking to each other. I felt my body temperature rise, the arm that was buried in the jacket suddenly burning setting wildfire throughout my other limbs. I shirked it off pulling my feet to the wide expanse of the seat tucking my knees to my chest. He was busying himself with my phone going through it and erasing the contents. I just wanted to sleep. My eyes burned with need but my body was wide awake. All my nerves were firing away with adrenaline. But as the hours went by and my mindless gaze watched the landscape scrape by in blurs I was fading. I hadn’t noticed when I stopped holding my head up and came to attention when my forehead was pressed against the cold glass. I jerked awake but couldn’t fight sleep any longer. Maybe I should just take a minuscule one---it might be my last chance for sleep. My thoughts grew heavier and became scrambled and finally I gave in to the darkness.

[ddarker-dreams]

undesirable information. yandere!dabi x reader

dabi and reader are on a date, reader is entirely oblivious to his true nature. that’s when reader gets a call from an old friend, claiming that dabi is not who reader thought they were originally...

word count: 1.8k

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” you inquire, sparing a quick glance over to your boyfriend. He’s standing at the door frame of your bathroom, arms crossed. You dust a bit more blush onto your cheeks, your eyes going back to the mirror in front of you.

“Not really,” he confirms, nonchalantly. “If you really want to we can.” 

At this, your lips form into a smile. A part of you felt guilt when you made the plans originally, but hearing that Dabi doesn’t mind in person makes it all the better. For your three month anniversary, you texted and asked if he’d mind going to a fancier restaurant with you. 

Dabi has voiced his displeasure for dates in public, preferring just to hang out with you in your apartment. You had nothing against that, but you loved eating there and was hoping he’d enjoy it too.

“Thank you so much!” you exclaim, twirling around to finally face him. You strike a pose, sending him a wink.

“What do you think? I worked so hard to look nice for you.” you teasingly ask, attempting to get him to blush. To no avail, as his eyes slowly scan your entire body, his mouth quirking into a smirk.

“Maybe I want to stay here with you after all, sweetheart.” he begins, slowly walking towards you. He places his hand against your neck, slowly moving it down to your shoulder. The touch makes you shiver.

He moves his lips to your ear, relishing in the quickened pulse of your heart.

“Lookin’ the way you do now isn’t fair. You’ll make it up to me later, dollface.” 

He accentuates his words with a wink. Your plan seems to have backfired, as you entire face flushes. Playfully, you gently punch his shoulder.

“I will, I promise. Here, let’s get going before we miss our reservation.” 

While you start to walk past him, he wraps his arm across your waist, and squeezes you against him.

---

So far, your experience with Dabi has been pleasant. Aside from a few stares from other customers in the restaurant at Dabi’s appearance, nothing of note has happened. 

Currently, you were engaging Dabi in an exciting conversation about your week as you wait for your orders.

“That’s why I think the ending to the show was bad. If you’re going to commit to a path for a character, you need to stick to it! Suddenly making them evil is bad writing, not a good plot twist.” you conclude to Dabi, who is surprisingly still paying attention.

“I recall you saying that show was one of the best you’ve ever seen,” Dabi snickers. “I never understood the appeal. It was obvious to me what they were going to do.”

You hum, wondering if that’s true. “I don’t know... maybe their reaction to some stuff was off, but I didn’t think they’d actually kill their former rival in the end. It doesn’t make sense.” 

Before you could continue your conversation, you hear your phone buzz. Sparing it a quick glance, since you don’t like using your phone on a date, you realize it’s from an old friend.

From: Yuuta-kun

I have something urgent to tell you. Please get back to me as fast as you can.

Squinting, you begin to debate your options. Yuuta was a friend from a few years ago, one that you lost contact with. If you remember correctly, he said he wanted to become a private investigator since his quirk wasn’t suited for hero work.

Ever since then, you’ve heard nothing from him. This would be the first time. You can’t help but feel anxious while thinking about the message, and wonder if he’s in some kind of trouble. 

Biting your lip, you fail to notice Dabi closely scrutinizing your expression. He breaks you out of your thoughts by speaking up.

“Something the matter babe?” 

“A-ah... just someone saying they need to talk to me. I’m sorry, I’ll write back fast and put my phone away.” 

To: Yuuta-kun

i’m a bit busy right now, i’ll talk later. are you okay?? 

The response comes instantly.

From: Yuuta-kun

I need to call you right now. You’re in danger.

Now your anxiety is beginning to spike. A part of you wonders if this is a joke in poor taste, but you know Yuuta -- he was never the joking type. This makes matters worse as your mind runs through countless possiblities. 

“I’m really sorry Dabi. My friend says it’s important. I’m just gonna call them and see what’s up, and come back okay? It shouldn’t take long.” you explain, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of your face.

Dabi simply nods, raising a glass of water to his lips. You give him one more apologetic smile, and begin to walk towards the front of the restaurant to call Yuuta. 

Once you leave, you immediately call him. Bringing your phone to your ear, you prepare yourself for whatever it was he wants to say.

“[First]! Oh thank god... listen, this is going to be a lot to take in. I need you to breathe. Where are you now?” Yuuta’s voice is uneven, he sounds almost out of breath. Your lip quivers. 

“I’m on a date...? Yuuta, what is all of this about? You’re really scaring me.”

“You’re still with that Dabi guy, aren’t you?” Yuuta asks, his voice serious and low. 

“Yeah? What does that have to do with any of this?”

On the other line, you hear an uneasy sigh. “Listen to me very carefully. I saw the two of you in public a few months ago. I was hired by a hero to dig some information up on the League of Villians you probably hear about in the news all the time.”

“Your boyfriend is apart of it. This news hasn’t been released to the public yet, but I couldn’t live my life in peace knowing how much danger you’re in.”

None of it is settling in your head yet. You stare ahead at the traffic in front of you, heart pounding, and mind racing with numerous thoughts. Your entire body feels cold, as it slowly starts to settle in.

“N-no... that can’t be right. Dabi might not be the nicest person ever, but he would never do the things those people do...!” 

“Where do you think he goes during the day?”

You blink, wondering. He has told you he does freelance jobs, doing whatever when someone contacts him.

“The night of the attack at the U.A. training camp, where was he? You remember that on the news don’t you?”

Dizziness sets in.

“His quirk has to do with fire, doesn’t it? Blue fire? The people he murders are burnt to a crisp. Witnesses who have gotten away have mentioned his quirk.”

Murders.

“Yuuta... what... what do I do?” your voice is weak, barely a whisper. A sense of dread unlike anything you’ve ever felt before overtakes your entire body. The entire world around you feels like a blur as the information clicks. 

“You need to go to the police. They won’t be able to do anything about him, but, they’ll contact a pro hero to protect you. Don’t talk to him, act as natural as you can--”

Yuuta stops mid sentence, as what sounds like a disgusting squelching noise greets your ears. Frantically, you begin to call out his name. The low quality sound of a thump makes your blood run cold.

“[First]... run--” Yuuta’s voice sounds terribly forced before the phone hangs out. Too many questions pound in your head, as you shakily bring your phone back to your side. Did Dabi kill him? Was that even possible? What do you even do? 

‘The police. I need to get to the police.’

Primal instinct seems to take over your body as you run from the entrance of the restaurant, remembering a nearby police station. If you run as fast as you can, it’s possible you could get there in ten minutes. 

Dabi was still inside, waiting for you. What if he got suspicious? What if he comes after you?

You shake your head as your feet harshly hit the ground, breathing uneasily. People on the street gave you weird looks as you run past them as fast as you can. You see an alley that would give you cover for a few minutes so you can call the police.

Taking a harsh turn to the right, you bring your phone back out. Shakily, your fingers begin to type. 9-

“I didn’t take you for a dine and dasher type.” 

That voice.

Slowly, you lift your head up. It feels as if your blood went cold as your eyes meet dark blue, his expression ever unchanging. The cruelty in his voice was present, different from the teasing Dabi normally did with you.

You prepare to bolt, but before you could even blink, he was in front of you. You open your mouth to scream, but his hand slaps over your mouth before you could form a coherent thought.

He uses his other hand to pin you against the wall of the alley, using the weight from his body to keep your squirming self in place. You’re ready to activate your own quirk, a quirk that can utilize light, but stiffen when you feel his hands grow warmer.

“Here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna hand me that phone of yours, and we’re going to go back to my place. Now, keep that pretty mouth of yours shut or I’ll kill whoever comes to help.”

This has to be a nightmare. This can’t be real. Dabi couldn’t possibly be threatening you. You feel your legs weaken, as tears begin forming in your eyes. He frowns at your horrified appearance, before flashing you a grin.

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d find out so soon,” he sighs as if he was irritated. “But it is what it is. I won’t hurt you, dollface, but I can’t make that promise for any unfortunate souls you try to ask for help from.” 

Dabi retracts his hand from your mouth, a small blue flame forming in his hand.

“You’ll be a good girl for me, won’t you? I’d hate to have to punish you.” 

All you can do is nod your head, dread filling your entire being. Dabi seems pleased with your robotic response, but speaks against.

“Tell me you’ll be good.” 

“I-I’ll be good. I promise. Please, don’t hurt anybody...”

He snickers at you, his free hand reaching out to grab your own.

“That’s all up to you, princess. Though, that snooping pest has probably bled out by now,” he states casually, pulling you along to god knows where. “No, it wasn’t me who did it. Simply a friend in the area. If only they had been a little faster, who knows? We could’ve gone home and fucked like I originally intended.” 

The way Dabi seems so casual about this horrific situation makes you want to throw up. Instead, you silently mourn the loss of your old friend and follow him into whatever hell he had in store for you.

[feistypaants-archived]

Between The Pipes [Chapter 16]

Rating: M Words: 2162 Pairing: Kristanna Summary: When a new owner takes over the Arendelle Ice Breakers, Kristoff isn’t sure about his future with the team. That is, until a PR nightmare throws the newest member of the media team, who also just so happens to be the daughter of the new owner, right into his arms. Kristoff and Anna can’t even stand the interviews they have to do together… how on earth are they going to fix this mess? Hockey!AU.

[Chapter Index]

Where To Read: [AO3]

Notes: I’m a little bit sorry. 

Enjoy!

“Papa, please, could you just listen —“ 

Anna was pacing the small length of her apartment, listening as best she could to her fathers’ enraged rambling. Elsa had given her a heads up that Gerda thought it would be for the best that no one knew that it was for PR. You never knew who would be the one to spill the beans and ruin everything. Elsa had also let her know that she went with the story that Anna was so moved by his actions that they got to talking, and then decided to date. After the photos were taken. 

It didn’t seem like he had taken the news so well.

“I saw in the pre-game coverage,” he seethed, his voice low and threatening. “You two were fooling around on the bench, and then he plays like that?” She could almost hear the tapping of his fingers against his desk. “Absolutely not, Anna. If you’re a distraction, then maybe I just need to find some other work for you back here.”

“Papa.” She sighed, dropping down to sit on the bed. “Everyone has off games.” 

“I’ve already let this kid get away with so much —“

“The fans love his chivalry —“

“If his game isn’t worth keeping him around, what is even the point?” He cleared his throat and she could picture him shaking his head, gaze dropping to the ground like he always did when he was disappointed. “You’re very sweet, Anna, and you care about people. But you don’t understand the implications, here… I’m starting to regret taking your opinion into consideration.”

Anna swallowed around the new lump in her throat. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t. 

“I’m…” She wasn’t sorry. She knew she was right about keeping Kristoff. Everyone had bad games once in a while. He’d bounce back in no time. “I understand why you feel that way.”

He didn’t say another word before he hung up.

Anna didn’t let herself get this kind of mad too often, and before she did something dumb - like throw her phone against the wall and hope it broke so he wouldn’t be able to call her ever again - she pulled her fluffiest pillow up to her chest and curled around it before screaming until her downstairs neighbor slammed something against their ceiling to shut her up. 

She did let herself cry, now.

—

She wasn’t sure how much later it was when she woke up, but her head was pounding and her throat was raw and everything felt stuffy and muffled and weird. Glancing at her phone, she saw a few missed calls from her sister, and one from Honeymaren all timed at about two hours ago. 

So she had been out for a bit, then. 

One voicemail from Elsa: 

Anna, I’m so, so sorry. He did not seem that mad when he said he was going to call you. I tried to talk to him - tried to explain that you’re an adult and can date whoever you want… but he just said something about how Bjorgman is on contract and shouldn’t be fooling around with you. I think he thinks Kristoff just wants some sort of leg up? As if our father wouldn’t trade him for dating you. Maybe we should try Gerda again. See if she’ll let us tell him it’s fake? 

Anna, I’m sorry he spoke to you like that. I… I’m just really sorry.

One from Honeymaren: 

Heeeeey, Anna… so, Kristoff’s in a mood today. Not sure if you knew why? Also your father has called everyone who has any sort of say in anything down here demanding to know why he wasn’t told about the… um… torrid love affair… between the two of you. Hah. Never knew a man who demanded to know about his daughter’s sex life before. Pretty weird. Anyway, that’s not my business I guess.

My business, however, is letting you know that… after much deliberation, Gerda decided that - if and only if you want to - we can… discuss letting a person or two in on the whole scheme. Just uh, call me back, I guess!

Anna couldn’t stop glaring at her phone. Now they say it’s fine to tell him. Now they give her permission, after he already told her she was a screw up who couldn’t do anything but distract men. Awesome. Great. Fantastic.

She was pressing call before she had even realized it.

“...Hullo?”

His voice was thick and sleepy, and Anna frowned. It was an away game, and it was prime time for most of the team to be taking their pre-game naps. 

“I’m sorry ah…” she felt herself sniffle and then everything went downhill from there. “I didn’t even,” a wet laugh, “realize I was calling you.”

He sounded more awake, and she could hear some bed sheets rustling. “No, hey, it’s all right. What's up?”

Anna wiped at her face and let out another pathetic kind of laugh. “It’s so stupid, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t even be bothering you right now. It’s just… I guess I couldn’t think of anyone else to call and cry to.”

He let out a chuckle. “It’s really okay, Anna. Are you all right?”

She hated herself, then, because just the sound of his warm laughter lightened the weight on her chest and started to make her feel ten times better. “Ah, god, no. I mean… yeah… It’s nothing serious, like I said…” 

Hugging the pillow tighter to her chest, she breathed out a heavy sigh. “Just… my dad. I guess he doesn’t like that we’re… dating, or whatever.” Kristoff was quiet on the other end, and Anna immediately started beating herself up. It wasn’t real, and she had to stop talking about it like it was. “Gerda said… we shouldn’t tell him? I guess? Anyway he just basically… I don’t know. He thinks I’m distracting you, but I told him everyone has bad games … and I guess… I just wanted to talk to you, weirdly enough…”

He still hadn’t spoken. 

“I’m… sorry. I’m sorry, Kristoff I’ll… let you go.”

She heard him take in a deep breath. “We’ll… talk when I get home, okay?”

Anna started gnawing on her bottom lip, powerless to stop it. “... Yeah. I’m sorry, again.”

There was a sound of affirmation before he hung up, and Anna had never felt more alone than she did right then. 

—

-

—

Kristoff already knew that he needed to distance himself from her. 

Her calling him when she was upset just solidified it. 

He had to shut it down before it took on a life of its own. 

He had been playing like absolute garbage since their date, and he knew she was the only thing different in his life. He couldn’t stop thinking about her - both about her smile and her perfect ass - and he couldn’t stop staring at her on the bench. He couldn’t help the stupid rise of jealousy that burned at his throat when she interviewed his teammates and giggled along with their dumb jokes, either. 

At least she wasn’t on the roadie. They had managed to scrape out a couple wins and had started to recover from his last two godawful home games. They had one more game out here in Seattle and he would not let the knowledge that Anna was upset distract him. He couldn’t afford it.

This was why he didn’t date. 

He couldn't afford to be soft out there, or else he let his entire team down.

—

They had won against Seattle. Barely. The whole team had to work three times as hard to scrape by with a win in overtime because Kristoff had let in too many easy shots.

In the end, Kristoff got chewed out by Mattias and was warned that if he had one more game like this, they were going to bench him for at least five games, if not more. The bus ride was tense. The whole team was mad at him, and Kristoff could practically feel the tension in the air, it was so thick. 

Sven tried, like he always does, but in the end his jokes and positive mental attitude pissed Kristoff off.

He sat alone in the back. 

On the plane, too.

When they touched back down at home, Kristoff went straight to his truck, went straight to his home, took a hot shower and did his best to force himself to sleep. There were a few texts that he had missed while getting ready to sleep, and Kristoff couldn’t help the white knuckle grip that he was clenching his phone with. 

Sven. Hey man, are you okay? I’m here if you need to talk.

His mother. Baby, what’s going on? You don’t let in those easy glove shots. Is everything all right?

And Anna. I’m really sorry about earlier. I’m around whenever you want to talk. If you want, I guess. Congrats on the win. Hard fought and well-deserved.

Kristoff threw his phone down somewhere in the mess of his sheets and buried his head into his pillow, hoping more than anything that sleep would come quickly. 

—

The next morning he woke early, texted Anna to see if she was awake, then headed to her apartment even though she hadn’t responded. He knew he had to get this over and done with as quickly as possible. He was going to hate every second of it.

He knocked on her door a few times, waited, knocked again, sighed, knocked once more, and then when he was just about to give up he heard the locks clicking. Anna swung open the door, clearly still half asleep, and grumbled a “whatdoyouwant” that was so slurred he was amazed he even understood it.

She was sleep rumpled and adorable in her oversized tee and tiny, tiny shorts that barely poked out from underneath the top, her face flushed and hair messy, and he almost decided he didn’t want to do this. But his fucking career was at stake here. 

“Hey.” Kristoff kept his voice warm and even. “I’m sorry to wake you.”

Anna looked more alert when she noticed it was him and promptly stepped aside to gesture for him to come into the apartment. 

“I need to… say something.”

She stared at him for a moment, and if not for her blinking eyes he would’ve sworn she fell back asleep standing up, but then she nodded and held up one hand. “Let me just… coffee… You want some?”

Refusing, Kristoff waved her off and moved to take a seat on her couch. He had barely gotten dressed, just threw on some sweats and a t-shirt, and suddenly his mind was full of early mornings with her, looking like that, him still in his own pajamas, her bringing him coffee as he cooked them breakfast and fuckfuckfuck.

He stood quickly and marched into her kitchen and took in a breath before he stated from the doorway “we need to stop interacting as much outside of publicity things.”

Anna’s eyes were wide, a scoop of coffee grounds slowly poured onto the kitchen floor as her fingers lost their grip, the spoon dangling loosely from between them, and he had to avert his gaze when she made an obvious effort to swallow. “What?” Her voice was so quiet.

“I think,” he didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he clenched them by his hips. “Maybe…” He needed to give it no wiggle room. “You’re getting the wrong idea? We’re… not…”

She scoffed, threw the spoon onto the counter and then crossed her arms. “I know we’re not.” And then he watched her flicker between angry and sad too many times to count. “But I thought we were… kind of friends…”

He felt nauseated. 

“We need a more clear separation, Anna. You can’t...” He scratched at the back of his head. “I’m not actually your boyfriend.”

Anna’s gaze had drifted to the counter, and she was doing a fantastic job of staring a hole into the fake marble pattern. “I know.”

“I…” Don’t apologize. “It’s for the best, you know? Keep it…” He stupidly cut a hand through the air and cursed himself for not just keeping his fists at his side. “Cut and dry. No… confusion.”

“Sure.”

She hadn’t moved, and Kristoff took a step back. “So… okay. Just the… events, then. From now on.”

Silence from Anna was the worst thing he had ever experienced. Her still body made it worse. How had he taken her, so alive and energetic, and made her look like that? He knew it was for the best, but he couldn’t help the ache that squeezed in his chest. “So,” he cleared his throat and pointed his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Anna only gave him one stern nod before he let himself out, heading immediately to the gym because god fucking damn it he needed to punch something. 

[artificialqueens]

The Goode Case, 3/14 - Juno

Chapter Summary: Jaida can’t sleep, thanks to her recurring nightmare, which prompts her to relive how Jackie revealed her own gift, and how she found out about Jaida’s, in an evening that Jaida, Jackie and Brita are unlikely to forget any time soon …

(A/N: I really appreciate your supportive comments, thank you! Hopefully I will have another update ready in the next couple of days on this monster of a story. For now though, here is part three.)

Sunday 29thOctober

4.13AM

Jaida sat up, drenched in sweat from the familiar nightmare.

She blinked, and she could still see her Papa in the corner, as she had that horrible night.

The nightmare was almost always just a replay of the experience. The first time she recalled seeing a spirit.

She and her parents had stayed in the room with her beloved Papa’s body in the coffin the night before his wake, when Jaida was just seven. She’d known her Papa was in the coffin, but suddenly his spectre was in the corner, pale and blank; she’d watched him walk from the corner of the room to Jaida, while Jaida lay paralysed with fear, unable to make a sound; and reach his hand towards her, bringing his face closer …

That was always the point that Jaida woke up, and today was no different. She waited for her eyes to focus in the dark, her breathing to calm, and she closed her eyes, counted to five, and when she opened them, Papa had disappeared as he always did.

But the memory didn’t fade. It never did.

Jaida had not had many close relatives die, but she remembered her friend Marty back in senior year of high school, seeing his mom behind him, reaching to shake his shoulder, but Jaida being the only person to see her. Marty had spun round at Jaida’s cry, not seeing his mom even though she was right there, clear as crystal, to Jaida’s eyes at least. He’d then avoided Jaida the rest of senior year when it had turned out his mother had had a fatal heart attack earlier that day.

And later at college. Laura stood on the bridge, looking down at the water, then at Jaida, then at the water again. A day before Jaida had found out that Laura had leapt from that same bridge three days ago.

Part of Jaida really hated the gift – or curse, as she thought privately – but without it, she and Jackie wouldn’t have become so close so quickly. Jackie’s telepathy, and subsequent mental bond that she’d formed with both Jaida and Brita, had been weird at first, but now Jackie was the only person who knew about Jaida’s ability.

Jackie referred to it as mediumship, while Jaida just called it a pain in the ass.

Jackie couldn’t see these spirits, just as Jaida couldn’t read minds, but at least Jackie knew that she wasn’t crazy, or lying. And as the oldest, the self-appointed ‘mom friend’ of the group, Jackie would often look after them at her own expense.

For instance, at this moment, Jaida knew that her nightmare, and seeing her Papa in her room, would have made Jackie wake up, sensing Jaida’s terror even from this distance, thanks to that psychic bond that Jaida had insisted on trying out with her. Jackie would now be online, waiting for Jaida to message her if she needed anything.

Sure enough, when Jaida picked up her phone, waiting for her eyes to focus, Jackie was the only person online, apart from that one girl from college who’d moved to London and was five hours ahead.

Springing from her memory, she remembered Jackie describing her telepathy to her and Brita, after they’d taken Jackie to Vanjie’s after her first week.

————————————

It was, oddly enough, Brita’s idea. Brita was not one to suggest a trip to the bar, normally being more inclined to rest at home in the evenings one of her hoards of books and a mug of hot chocolate; but the day Jackie joined back in June, that fateful Monday, Brita was dumped. By text, as well.

Brita had pulled Jaida into the bathroom at the end of the day, outwardly as always a tower of strength, professional and proud; to crumple into a heap over the sink, inconsolable, crying so desperately that it was all Jaida could do not to cry herself.

Luckily for Brita, her seemingly endless torrent of friends rang her phone off the hook the next few days, trying to persuade her to go out, telling her to forget him, sending her pictures of plenty of hot men and women to drool over. Brita had just chuckled, but Jaida knew she was feeling the love from all angles at this time.

That week she’d already been out with her friend Paul Mantione and his sister Jan on the Wednesday; and her two older sisters on the Thursday for food and plenty of red wine; but Friday she suggested to Jaida a trip to Vanjie’s after work, as Vanjie’s was for an LGBT+ crowd which suited them both. They’d invited Jackie mostly out of politeness, not sure how she would feel in a gay bar, but Jackie had accepted with such enthusiasm that it seemed to seal the deal.

Vanessa, the owner of Vanjie’s, and Brita had been joined at the hip through most of college, but Vanessa had bought the lease to the bar after winning big money on her spontaneous trip to Vegas that time, along with her on-again off-again partner Brooke. At that time, they were off-again, which meant Vanessa wanted everyone to enjoy themselves as much as possible, and that meant free shots.

So the tequila slammer was free, and that served to loosen the pockets for one more each. Tequila slammers were not Jackie’s strong suit, but Jaida could probably take three and be fine, and the three of them had ended up in a booth afterwards with some tall cocktails, heads feeling fuzzier and fuzzier.

After two slammers and a cocktail, Jackie’s tongue had loosened considerably. She had started finishing Jaida’s sentences, and then Brita’s too. It started to become a little annoying, Jaida had to admit.

But then Jackie was finishing sentences, and starting sentences that Jaida was only thinking.

“How are you doing that?” Jaida had asked Jackie, whose face was getting quite pink. She had leaned in towards Brita and Jaida, putting a finger to her lips.

“I can hear other peoples’ thoughts,” Jackie had whispered, laughing at her own remark.

Of all the things that Jaida might have expected Jackie to respond, that had been pretty low on the list. Jaida could only stare open-mouthed, and finally nod. “Okay, that’s cool.”

“Maybe you’ve had enough now, Jacks,” Brita had laughed uneasily.

“No, you don’t understand, it’s a gift, my mom says. Well, I didn’t ask for it, and it’s a bit strange, and sometimes I don’t know what it does, so it’s like, a perfect birthday gift from relatives,” Jackie had continued, still laughing.

“Child –“

“You’re joking, right?” Brita had asked in a low voice.

“No, Brita, it’s real,” Jackie had sighed. “Okay, think of something and I’ll tell you it.”

“Alright,” Brita had screwed up her face in concentration.

“Oh, come on, you have to think of something harder than that! You’re just thinking about your birthday. It’s September 16th. I thought you were going to test me!”

The smile fell from Brita’s face, and Jaida had felt her own stomach twist uncomfortably. Jackie had just snorted with laughter at both of them.

“Your faces! Oh my god! You didn’t believe me at first!” She’d placed a hand on Jaida’s forearm. “Do you believe me now?”

“What’s mine, then?” Jaida had asked, thinking of a random date.

But Jackie had cocked an eyebrow. “You’re thinking of July 10th, but you’re trying to throw me off. That’s not your actual birthday.”

“Wait, what?” Brita had looked stunned, her eyes wide, turning from Jackie to Jaida and back again.

Jaida had felt a strange lump in her throat. “That was the right date I was thinking, but it’s not actually my birthday. How – how did you know?”

Jackie had shrugged. “I hear almost everyone’s thoughts. Mostly just whispers. So if there’s a lot of people in a group, they all get confused, but if I’m just with one or two people, I can hear the whispers.”

“Can you hear, like anyone’s thoughts? Like, can you hear Lisa Rinna’s thoughts?” Brita had asked in awe.

But Jackie had shook her head. “No, I can only hear people who are nearby, like, not more than about two metres away. So I can hear your thoughts, just the whispers, but I can’t hear Vanessa’s at the bar. Only people who are nearby. Unless they’re someone I’ve connected with.”

“Connected with?” Jaida had asked.

“So if I form a mental connection with someone, I can also know when they’re feeling an extreme emotion, wherever they are in the world. When my mom was ill, I felt it every time she woke up in pain, or was in hospital, or thought she was dying, or was scared or like, really excited when she was getting better. She’s in Toronto.”

“Is she better now?”

“She’s much better, thank you.”

“Does that mean she can read your thoughts too?” Brita had whispered.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone can. Unless you’re also psychic.” Jackie had hiccuped and then giggled. “Sorry, alcohol makes me chatty! But, I think everyone is a little bit psychic, maybe in different ways.”

And Jackie had turned to Jaida, looking straight in her eyes.

Could Jackie hear her own thoughts …

Jaida forced herself not to think about anything, to make her mind as blank as possible.

“SHOTS! Who ordered shots? Oh wait, it was me!” It was Vanessa who’d broken the spell, appearing at the corner of the booth, three more tequila shots and a plate of lemon and salt beside it. “Get some shots down your throats ladies, and maybe later get something else down your throats too!” Vanessa had cackled at her own joke.

Jaida had felt her shoulders relax a little. Jackie wasn’t a big drinker, and was a bit more drunk than she and Brita were, so Brita had taken two slammers leaving Jackie to just relax, and take a sip of the water on the table.

“Who do you have a connection with then?” Jaida had asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Whoever I choose,” Jackie had replied mysteriously, wriggling her fingers in both their directions before collapsing into giggles.

——————————————————

Jaida looked at her phone. Jackie was still online, and Jaida knew she wouldn’t log off without a prompt.

Jaida:I’m ok Jackie, thanks

Jackie: He can’t hurt you

Jaida:I know

Jackie always told Jaida this, every time Jaida had seen … someone. She wasn’t sure how Jackie had so much knowledge of all this psychic stuff, and she wasn’t even sure why Jackie was so open about it with people she had hardly met. Part of Jaida was convinced that Jackie found out about it from that night in Vanjie’s, although it wasn’t confirmed until … until that night at Jackie’s apartment.

She had a gnawing sense of regret at asking Jackie to do what she’d crudely titled “the connection thing” with her. Brita had been a bit more cautious as usual, but Jaida had wanted to know what it meant. And if it would make her know Jackie’s thoughts too.

——————————————————

In mid-July, Jackie invited them both to her apartment, as a bit of an attempt to get to know the two of them a little better. She had moved in with some girl who had so many jobs that she was never in, but left a whirlwind of clothes and bowls of cornflakes in her wake.

Jaida marvelled at the atmosphere that Jackie had managed to create. They rented, so they weren’t allowed to do major renovation, but a patterned shawl here and a plant or two there had given the plain magnolia walls some life. The living room led out to a tiny Juliet balcony with just enough room for the ashtray and a packet of menthols next to it, and a pair of dirty walking boots on the floor.

There were two bookshelves along the wall of the living area, a large oblong room with a dining table pushed against one wall. Jaida ran a finger along the titles, several French books among them too, and a small collection of Farsi books in the top left shelf.

“You got almost as many books as Brita!”

“I’ve got far more books than this!” Brita waved her hand dismissively.

“Some of these are my housemate’s as well.”

“Wait, you speak French?” Jaida pointed to one of the French titles.

“Sure. I’m Canadian, we had to take French at school.”

“And are these Farsi?”

Jackie nodded. “I’m bilingual in Farsi and English. I wish I got the chance to speak it more, normally I just chat to my mom or her siblings, when they call up. It’s easy to lose bits of it when you don’t speak it or use it too much.”

“And is this … oh, girl,” Jaida pulled the chess set out from one of the middle shelves, her eyes lighting up. “I haven’t played since seventh grade.”

“What? That’s when I started playing!” Brita exclaimed.

Jackie laughed. “You’ll both have to teach me again, I’m so bad at chess. But go ahead and play if you want, while I get the food ready.”

A beautiful smell was coming from the kitchen area. When Jackie had said she’d cook for them, Jaida had maybe expected frozen pizza, but Jackie had really put in an effort to impress them, running back and forth, chopping and blitzing noises filling the room. Jaida and Brita unpacked the chess pieces and started to play, but Brita kept calling to Jackie to see if she needed any help.

“Nope! It’s all under control!” Came Jackie’s chirpy reply each time.

In chess, Jaida had learned long ago to watch her opponent’s eyes to see where they was thinking of moving to and from, and sure enough Brita’s brown eyes flicking between the pieces gave away her every thought. Jaida liked to pride herself on having a much better poker face, letting her vision drift across the board, and trusting her instinct, even if her pieces started disappearing.

When Jackie finally came to sit in front of them, it was Brita’s move, and she was scratching her neck and licking her lips. Brita was one of those who took five minutes or more with each move, planning her strategy each time, always meticulous to take every single angle into account.

Jackie moved her gaze between them both, a small smile playing on her lips, not attempting to break the silence, just enjoying having their company in her home.

“You’re both really interesting to listen to, while you’re playing,” Jackie said finally, as Brita moved her bishop into place.

“What?”

“I mean, your thoughts, your plans for the game. You’re both strategising. You’re both just thinking about your plans.”

“Oh, okay.” Jaida ignored Jackie and moved her rook past Brita’s bishop. “Check.”

“Wait, how?” Brita peered at the board. “Ah, shit,” she mumbled as she realised. “Shit, sis, I completely missed that.”

“Sorry,” Jackie whispered, getting up and moving back to the kitchen.

Brita reached to her. “No, wait, I didn’t mean it like that!” She got up and followed Jackie to the kitchen. Jaida glanced at the board, then sighed and got up.

A minute later, Brita measuring out rice, while Jackie handed Jaida some vegetables from the bottom drawer of the fridge. Brita had felt like she’d insulted Jackie, and had insisted they help with some food prep. Jaida had been volunteered for salad.

“What is it?” Jaida peered into the simmering pan. “Smells great.”

“Khoresh Bademjan. It’s Persian. You’ll like it, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. And don’t worry, Jaida, I made it vegetarian.”

“Cool, thanks,” Jaida smiled.

The food was gorgeous, although Jackie kept glancing at them, as if looking for some kind of validation – but once they were all done, Brita immediately leapt from her chair and dragged Jaida to the sink to tackle the washing up. With Jaida drying and Brita washing, Jackie insisting on putting the dishes away, they settled into a comfortable silence between the three of them.

“Thanks for everything, Jackie.” Jaida passed her the last dish and cleared her throat. “Sorry I made you feel a bit – you know, weird. That was rude of me. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Jackie shook her head sadly. “I’m used to keeping it to myself, but it kind of feels nice to talk about it though.”

Jaida had to admit she’d only half-considered how Jackie was feeling about talking about it.

“Do lots of people know?” Brita asked her.

But Jackie shook her head. “My mom does, and one or two of my closest friends back home. And you guys, but we’re friends too, right?”

“Sure, we have each other’s backs!” Brita pulled Jackie into a one-armed hug, squeezing Jackie into her side.

“If you’re psychic, why can’t you just wash these dishes with your mind?”

They’d rarely heard Jackie laugh louder than at Jaida’s remark. “Jai, that’s telekinesis! I’m only telepathic! Well, I say only telepathic!” And she carried on laughing. “I only hear thoughts, nothing else, I can’t move things!”

“So you can hear our thoughts, but you have to, like, connect with someone to be able to have a mental bond?” Jaida asked. “I don’t quite get it.”

“I guess … people I have a bond with, I hear more clearly. People I don’t I just hear whispers, but anyone I have a bond with, I can hear what they’re thinking really clearly, and from a longer distance.”

“Who have you got a bond with then?”

“Oh, you know, not many people,” Jackie murmured.

“Family? Friends?” Brita badgered.

Jackie sighed. “Those kinds of people, yes. My mom, a couple of my friends. One ex.” Jackie shuddered. “Bad decision. Wouldn’t recommend it.”

“What about us? Would you do the connection thing with us? For work?”

Jaida hadn’t expected the words to come right out of her mouth, but now that they were, Jackie looked as if she was pondering it. Maybe Jaida had felt that she needed to make it up to Jackie for earlier. Maybe … it was a sort of morbid curiosity.

Jackie’s gaze had softened, and she’d shrugged.

“It’s not a bad idea,” Jackie mused, “if we’re working on any high profile cases together, and if anything happens to you, I would know.”

“And vice versa?” Jaida asked.

“I’m not sure,” Jackie muttered, “but nothing has really ever happened to me.”

“You can’t tempt fate, sis,” Brita chuckled darkly.

“Okay,” Jaida said, “it makes sense to do it. What do you do, to connect?”

“I’m not so sure about this,” Brita hesitated.

“Come on Brita, it does make sense. Especially in our line of work. Does it take long, Jackie?” Jaida asked.

“It probably won’t take longer than about fifteen seconds, and I just need some form of touch, and eye contact. And you need to be willing, of course.”

Jaida held out a hand on the bench, and Jackie gingerly took it, raising her eyes to meet Jaida’s.

“You sure you want to do this? You don’t want to back out?” Jackie’s voice was higher than usual, and a little bit timid, as if she were afraid to have any form of connection with them.

“Go ahead, Jackie,” Jaida tried to make her voice sound as stable as she could.

“Okay. And you have to keep eye contact, until the end. You’ll know when it’s the end.”

Jackie took a deep breath in and out, and Jaida did the same, feeling her body relax a little bit as she did so. At first Jaida felt nothing, but held Jackie’s eyes, both of them falling silent. She could see Brita shifting out of the corner of her eye, but she kept focused on Jackie, breathing steadily, normally.

The seconds passed, but nothing was happening. She could see Brita biting her lip, a little confused.

“Nothing’s happening,” Jaida opened her mouth to say, or at least she thought she did, but nothing came out of it, and she wasn’t even sure her mouth moved.

“What?” She tried to say, but her mouth definitely didn’t move that time.

Jackie was still staring into her, and it was becoming intrusive, unnerving, but Jaida found she couldn’t look away, she was becoming a little light-headed at the focus.

She felt an internal jerk, as if electricity had gone through her; felt her mind race, a whole rush of emotions and memories play back to her in her mind, some echoes of thoughts that weren’t her own; saw herself briefly through Jackie’s own eyes, felt her own hand in Jackie’s, heard herself thinking thoughts that were definitely not her …

Jackie pulled back, blinking and shaking her head wildly, and Jaida was finally freed, feeling as if she had been yanked backwards out of a vacuum. She rubbed her forehead, finding she was sweating.

“Woah,” Jaida whispered.

It was rare to see Brita scared. Her wide eyes flicked between Jaida and Jackie, her mouth agape, looking less and less sure she wanted to do this.

Jackie held out a hand to her. “Brita?”

Brita was no coward, Jaida knew this well from the various jobs she had seen Brita complete. She might have been frightened, but she nodded slowly, holding her own hand out, facing Jackie and locking eyes with her.

Jaida watched them both. Watched as Jackie’s face grew intense with concentration. Watched as Brita’s brow furrowed, as if she were in pain.

“Ow,” she breathed.

But Jackie didn’t relent.

“Oww,” Brita’s voice was weak, but she maintained focus.

They both flinched at the same moment, pain etched in the lines on their foreheads, but Jaida didn’t know what to do in this strange psychic battle. It seemed to be going on longer than she had done with Jackie, their stares so intense they could have burned through each other.

“Jackie, what’s happening?” She asked, but Jackie didn’t respond, nor Brita, both still intensely concentrated on each other.

“What’s –“ Jaida raised a hand, but they both jolted at that moment, breaking apart, Brita ripping her hand away, and Jackie looking down at the floor, biting her lip.

“Sorry,” she muttered, “it’s not meant to hurt so much. It never has with anyone else …”

But Brita, her eyes glassy, blinked twice and stumbled out of the room as if she hadn’t heard, making her way away to the bathroom.

“Brita?” Jaida started to move after her, but Jackie grabbed her forearm.

“Let her go, Jaida, I think she needs to be alone,” Jackie murmured, and Jaida stepped backwards, watching Brita’s dazed walk to the bathroom.

Jaida’s own mind was reeling at the contact. Her mind raced with questions.

Were she and Jackie now bonded to each other mentally?

Did that mean that Jackie knew about Jaida’s own sixth sense, the Bruce Willis cliché twist; that Jaida saw spirits that most others didn’t?

“Yes,” Jackie muttered. “And yes.”

Jaida saw Jackie watching her, her eyes full of something that Jaida thought was … pity.

————————————————————————

Jaida sighed at the memory. It had brought the three of them closer, that was for sure, but Jackie had refused to tell Brita what Jaida saw. Just as she had refused to tell Jaida what had happened with Brita too – she’d argued that they both needed to take charge themselves.

The clock said almost four thirty by now, and Jackie was still online, so Jaida turned her phone off. Jackie would go offline and back to sleep, as long as she knew Jaida was alright. The mom-friend, who wanted to save everyone in the world.

Jaida wondered if Jackie had craved that support, that care, when she was learning about her own telepathy; to make her offer herself so selflessly now.

She lay back down, pondering that warm July night.

And Brita … she and Brita knew so much about each other. Jaida had been the first person to whom Brita had confessed to being attracted to women as well as men, and Jaida had helped Brita plan her coming out to her sisters and parents. And when Silky had broken up with Jaida back in May, Brita had been at her house within half an hour, mopping up the tears that Jaida rarely let the world see, getting them both dressed and made up, and pulling both Jaida and Widow to a karaoke bar to belt out some tunes, Heidi hot on their heels.

Jaida smiled fondly at that memory. Jaida was a terrible singer, she knew that, and Widow was a bit too shy to sing, but Brita’s voice was fantastic. When Brita had hit the high note in Unbreak My Heart, Jaida had felt goose pimples run down her arms, before she was crying again and Widow had wrapped her up, not saying a word, simply letting Jaida unravel in her arms, while Heidi had stroked her back soothingly.

It was wrong that Brita still didn’t know what her gift was. Jackie was right – Jaida knew that she and Brita were keeping huge parts of themselves hidden from each other, even though they’d been friends for three years.

Enough was enough.

Jaida resolved to talk to Brita in the morning.

[yastaghr]

Five Blue Tongues

Pairing: Errorberry, Sanscest

Characters: Error, Blue (Underswap Sans)

Kinks:Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Knotting, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Breeding, Prostitution, Ecto-Penis (Undertale), Ecto-Vagina (Undertale), Ecto-Tongue (Undertale), Penis In Vagina Sex, Rough Sex, Shibari, Bondage, Gags, Enthusiastic Consent, Come Inflation, Mating Bites, Claiming Bites

Warnings:  Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence, Implied/Referenced Abuse

Summary:  Blue and Error are just good friends. But can one little encounter change that forever?

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23821192

A dark-wood doorway rippled into view in the white monstrosity that was the Anti-Void. Well, it had once been white. It was now filled with furniture, boxes of craft supplies, and stolen food. The ceiling was dripping with glimmering blue threads that looked like the most disorganized spider web on the planet. Human and monster souls of a thousand different colors were scattered in the ropes. Against all that, a dark brown stained wooden door that suddenly appeared was hardly out of place. It would have made more sense if it had come with a wall, though. Or if it touched the floor. Instead it hovered about half a meter above the ground.

The doorknob rattled for a moment, then it fell off. Someone on the other side of the door cursed. It was a high pitched voice, and the way it swallowed the tail of the word implied that it might get in trouble for swearing. Nothing but dread-filled silence happened for a moment, then a knocking started. It was persistent, incessant, and arrhythmic. In other words, it was designed to annoy whoever was on the other side of it into opening the door.

After about ten seconds of this an irritated voice cursed it’s way over to the door, occasionally crashing into things and breaking them. This voice was glitched and smokey. It belonged to a multi-colored skeleton, mostly black with bits of red and yellow, who was wearing a paint-spattered t-shirt and gym shorts. He had a ball of steel wool in his hand. His skull was still half-covered in bubbling green paint. The other half was covered in soap that smelled like lemons.

“dAmNiT, bLuE, wHy dOn't yOu jUsT OpEn tHe dOoR? i gAvE YoU ThE KeY To...oH,” Error took in the state of the knob on the floor. “dAmN. i wOnDeR WhAt fReAk gAvE StReTcH ThIs iDeA. sToP YoUr hAmMeRiNg, BlUe, I NeEd tO OpEn yOu a pOrTaL.”

Error took a step back and opened a glitchy portal into Underswap #832. Blue was standing with his back to him, facing the door to his room that, unfortunately, still had the backside of the lock panel but no longer had a doorknob. Blue spun on his heels (actual heels, Error noticed. A simple pair of red pumps). The skirt of his 60s style halter dress spun out. Error couldn’t make out the pattern without his glasses, but it looked vaguely red on white. Both were good colors against Blue’s, well, blue magic. There seemed to be a lot of it showing today.

Blue ran through the portal and crashed on a nearby couch, panting. Error closed the portal, dismissed the door, and turned to face his friend. He looked nice, as far as Error understood the matter. Why was he wearing all that when he was just coming here? Error crossed his arms and tapped his foot, waiting to find out.

Blue gave him a sheepish smile and said, “Hi, Error. Thanks for rescuing me. Stretch is getting even more...well, he didn’t like that I was going out to a public dance with Alphys and Undyne dressed like this, so he locked me in my room. I texted Alph only to find out he’d called telling her I tripped coming down the stairs and broke both my legs, so I know what’s coming later, at least. I didn’t realize he’d decided to mess with the doorknob. He’s never done that before.”

“yOuR BrOtHeR Is aN AbSoLuTe fUcKeR. aRe yOu sErIoUsLy gOiNg tO LeT HiM BrEaK YoUr lEgS JuSt tO KeEp uP ApPeArAnCeS?” Error growled.

He hated Stretch, like, a lot. But Blue had made him promise not to kill him. He’d said something about it being a problem with Stretch’s soul that he’d fix as soon as they got to the Surface and he made it through medical school and got his MD that way. Stretch had to agree if it came from a doctor, right? Error didn’t believe it for a minute, but a promise was a promise, and, anyway, it was the only way he could convince Blue not to try and lecture Ink for hurting him so much. Ink would probably turn on him like he turned on Dream after he announced that Nightmare and he were going to soul bond and raise kids. That had gone horribly. Error didn’t want the same thing for Blue. Dream was a god. He could survive wounds that would kill Blue. No backtalk at Ink.

Blue looked down. “Well, you said Chara wasn’t going to leave the Ruins this round, so I just need to keep things going until they RESET. I don’t know how long it will be until they get bored. So I have to.”

Error grumbled, “yOu wOuLdN'T If yOu'd jUsT LeT Me tAkE SoMe dUsT FrOm aNoThEr uNdErSwAp sAnS AnD LeAvE It iN YoUr rOoM WiTh a nOtE. iT'S NoT LiKe hE WoUlDn't bE HaPpY FoR YoU To gO.” The way Blue talked about it, everyone would.

Blue sighed. “I don’t know, Error, I just...I don’t want to do that to Chara. They’re a nice kid, and they need me to get to the Surface.”

“tHaT WoUlDn't bE A PrObLeM If yOu'd jUsT LeT Me tAkE ThEiR SoUl sO YoUr wOrLd fReEzEs aGaIn. No oNe bUt yOu aNd tHeM WoUlD KnOw.”

Blue huffed. “Error, drop it. I’m not doing it and that’s final. Now, how did your-”

The whole Anti-Void convulsed with a red aura. Error and Blue both flinched.

“rEaLlY, aNoThEr oNe? FuCkInG HeLl, InK, jUsT LeT Up fOr fIvE MiNuTeS, wOuLd yA? hEh. SoRrY BlUe. YoU KnOw hOw iT Is. I'Ll bE BaCk iN No tImE. lItErAlLy. HeH.”

Blue waved a bandaged hand at him. “No, no, go ahead. Try not to let Ink hurt you, but if he does, I brought my medical kit. Have fun!”

Error’s eyes gleamed. “oH, i wIlL. tHiS TiMe iT'S An uNdErSwAp. I CaN TeAr sTrEtCh aPaRt aLl i wAnT AnD StIlL KeEp mY PrOmIsE. hEh. If oNlY I CoUlD Do iT To tHe rEaL OnE.”

“Error,” Blue said warningly.

Error opened a portal to the new Underswap copy Ink had made and waved Blue away. “i kNoW. sEe yOu wHeN I GeT BaCk.” Then he stepped through the portal and left Blue to his own devices.

=====

The first sign that Error had returned was a low growl that shook the souls in their web. The next thing was a smoky scent, the kind of smell that comes off a burned out computer. Underneath that was a musky smell that had Blue sitting bolt upright in his chair, blushing. Was Error going into rut? Maybe he should leave...no, first he should make sure that Error had someone to help, then he could leave. He knew how hellish it was to suffer through a heat alone. A rut probably felt similar for an Alpha.

“Error! I’m in the knitting room!”

Thumping and grumbling followed a convoluted path. Finally Error walked through the nonexistent wall from the kitchen and flopped into the other chair. He had more paint all over him, and one of his arms looked like it had gotten splashed with acid. Blue immediately pulled out his medical kit and started tending to it. He let some small talk float between them.

“So, Error, I didn’t realize you were an Alpha. That’s a lovely scent you have there. Who are you going to share your rut with? One of Nightmare’s gang?”

Error looked at him with a deadpan that just barely hid confusion. “yEaH, nO, i'm nOt gOiNg iNtO RuT. i'm nOt dUe fOr aNoThEr...tWo wEeKs? SoMeThInG LiKe tHaT. sO YoU DoN'T HaVe tO FuCk oFf aNd wE CaN JuSt gO BaCk tO KnItTiNg iN PeAcE.”

Blue secured the end of the bandage he’d been wrapping and stood up, right in Error’s personal space, but still conscious enough not to touch him. He could already feel his resonant heat starting. Error’s smell was strong, and Blue’s heats could be set off so easily after all the monsters he’d been with. Time to use that to his advantage.

“Error, take a whiff of my scent and tell me what you feel.”

Error reflexively sniffed. His face focused and blushed with yellow heat. He panted, “iT SmElLs sO FuCkInG GoOd, BlUe, I-” He teleported a few feet away. His face was a ticked off scowl. “nO, yOu'rE TrIcKiNg mE. sToP It.”

Blue calmly sat down on the start white “floor” of the Anti-Void and spread his legs open obscenely wide. “There’s no trick here, Error. I resonate with just about everyone, so your rut kicked off my heat. If you want me to leave, I will, but I am completely available for you to use to get over your rut.”

Error laughed giddily and wiped a hand across his face. “hEh. YoU'Re jUsT MaKiNg iT Up. YoUr dAyS As a pRoStItUtE ArE CoMiNg bAcK AnD YoU JuSt wAnTs tO FuCk tHe oNe pErSoN WhO DoEsN’T HaTe yOu.”

Blue winced. That one hit a little bit too close to home. Reluctantly, he said, “You’re probably right. My heats have been unbearable because no one would help me with them. This is the first time there’s even been a chance. :But I said you were free to kick me out. I wish you luck finding someone you actually want who will help you through this rut.”

Blue brought his legs together and attempted to push himself to his feet. Familiar blue strings wrapped around him and bound him in place, leaving only his hands free to move. Blue watched Error stomp over to him. He set his hands on his hips and loomed over Blue.

“tHaT’S NoT WhAt i mEaNt aNd yOu kNoW It, BlUe,” Error barked at him.

Blue gulped, swallowed his excitement, and asked, “What did you mean, then?”

The yellow blush on Error’s cheeks was quite lovely. The glitched stammering was, too. It sounded almost like a song. Finally, Error strung together his words. “sHuT uP!”

Cheeky giggles escaped Blue’s mouth. “You should make me, Error.”

Error growled and pushed him back with a slipper-clad foot. Blue went down willingly, opening his legs wide and inviting Error to have his way with him. “I can still speak, you know.”

Blue strings snaked around his skull and bound his mouth wide open. It hurt a bit at first, but his body got used to the stretch and calmed down. Error did not. He summoned a sharp bone and carefully sliced his way through Blue’s dress. Too bad. He loved this little rose-covered halter dress, but letting Error be in control was more important. Error needed this. He was an Alpha; Blue was an Omega. That was all that needed to be said.

=====

Error raked his eyes over Blue’s many scars. His eye lights lingered on his lowest left rib, which was still over calloused after being broken. His hand reached over to touch it, but froze a millimeter away. He just couldn’t bring himself to touch Blue. Even though it was Blue, his haphephobia was still too strong. This was going to be a problem. Error glared at him, willing himself to come up with a solution. Finally, he had one. He’d never had a problem touching someone’s magic before. If Blue just summoned enough magic, Error wouldn’t have a problem touching him.

“sUmMoN ThAt wEiRd tHiNg wHeRe yOu wRaP MaGiC ArOuNd aLl yOuR BoNeS,” Error ordered him. Blue complied. A thin ecto-body came into existence with a sound like ‘gloop’. It started at his collarbone and extended down to his ankles and wrists. It was pretty light blue, almost a periwinkle color. There weren’t any visible scars, but Error knew better than to trust that. He wanted to see the real Blue. “nO, nOt tHaT OnE, tHe rEaL OnE. i kNoW YoUr bRoThEr hAs gIvEn yOu sCaRs. ShOw tHeM To mE.”

This time the ecto-body Blue showed him was almost tragically thin. There were scars everywhere. A few were even fresh, not bleeding but not healed. There was a giant slash that cut between his plump breasts that Error knew every Sans had. Most of the rest, the newest ones anyway, were from Stretch.

Error reached out and touched one of those scars, a circle-shaped divot a few centimeters across that lay just above Blue’s iliac crest. It was pitted, but Error loved the texture on it almost as much as he loved getting to touch his best friend. He explored the feel of it, then another, then another. Before long he had touched every scar on Blue’s body, and he loved them all. Blue had never shown them to anyone but him. That made them his.

Blue wriggled underneath him and Error smiled. His strings held Blue down with just enough force to let him wiggle like a worm, but not get away. Speaking of strings, he felt like adding a couple more. He pulled a few strands out of his eye and quickly wove them into a rope. He made a loop halfway through it, tied the loop off, and pulled the tails on either side of Blue’s neck. Then he made what looked like a chain ladder down the front of Blue’s body, ending with the tails separated on either side of his crotch.

Then Error slipped the tails underneath Blue without crossing them and fed them through the loop he had made at the beginning. He then made a very pretty double zigzag that attached to either side of the rope ladder and pulled it tight across Blue’s chest. He finished the ropes off just below Blue’s butt, which was loose and jiggly.

The sight of Blue wrapped up prettily in all his strings made Error horny as hell. He slipped the thumb of his right hand under the hem of his shorts and revealed his dick. It was the classic short, thick shape of every Sans dick done up in neon blue. There were several uneven ridges along the length of it, almost like error bars. Beneath them was a thick, thick knot. All in all it was an intimidating dick that made Blue salivate.

“hEh. SeE SoMeThInG YoU LiKe tHeRe, BlUe? DoN'T BoThEr aNsWeRiNg. YoU'Re lUcKy i'm iN RuT RiGhT NoW, oThErWiSe i'd nEvEr sToOp sO LoW As tO ToUcH YoU. nOw, SuMmOn a dEcEnTlY BiG PuSsY FoR Me. DoN'T FoRgEt tO AdD A WoMb. I ThInK YoU'D LoOk gOrGeOuS AlL KnOcKeD Up wItH A LiTtEr fOr mE,” Error chuckled evilly.

The pussy Blue summoned was better than Error could have imagined. There was a big clit throbbing for him, and blue slick pooling on the white floor of the Anti-void. The lips were puffy, and he could see the shape of Blue’s whole reproductive tract through the glow of his magic.

Error growled through his smile, “i kNeW YoU'D Be eAgEr tO Do tHiS. i cAn't wAiT To fEeL YoU ArOuNd mE.”

He started rubbing his dick in Blue's juices. It wasn't anywhere near the strong, confident strokes he had intended. There were way too many glitches for that, and he just couldn't bring himself to thrust too hard against Blue. He knew how fragile his best friend was, and he really didn't want to see what his dust looked like. It was bad enough that he had to kill other versions of Blue. He didn't want to kill this one.

When those first few strokes didn't hurt Blue, Error grew more confident. Soon he was rutting into Blue like a rabbit.

Error's growls turned into panting. The look in Blue's eyes made him impatient. It was drawing him in, willing him to fuck him now. Who was Error to argue with that? “I cAn’T fUcKiNg WaIt AnYmOrE!” Error warned Blue. Then he hilted inside of Blue’s pussy in one quick move. He didn’t wait long before setting a rough place. Blue’s boobs jiggled like jello in an earthquake.

The fast, hard pace had Blue moaning around the gag in his mouth. His lovely, sweet scent was driving Error mad. No wonder he’d been so successful as a prostitute in his world. Error would have paid good money to get to have his way with an Omega that smelled this good. He didn’t understand how people could just abandon him. He was scrumptious, but he was also smart, kind, and absolutely devoted to the people he loved. Why didn’t someone snatch him up like the perfect little mate he was?

Error growled as his impossible pace sped up. “yOu’rE So fUcKiNg tEmPtInG, bLuE. i nEvEr tHoUgHt i’d gEt tO FuCk yOu. YoU’Re sO FuCkInG TiGhT It’s uNbElIeVaBlE. sO SoFt, ToO. yOu fEeL So gOoD AgAiNsT My rIdGeS. i hOpE ThEy fEeL JuSt aS GoOd tO YoU.”

Blue nodded as much as he possibly could around the restraining and gagging strings. Error’s insane grin widened. “gOoD. i cAn’t wAiT To fIlL YoU To tHe bRiM. i wOnDeR HoW MuCh i cAn mAkE YoU SwElL WiTh mY CuM. yOu’rE LiTtLe bElLy wOuLd lOoK So nIcE RoUnDeD OuT WiTh mY MaGiC. hEh. It wOuLd lOoK EvEn bEtTeR RoUnDeD OuT WiTh mY BaBiEs iN YoUr bElLy. I WoNdEr hOw mAnY I CaN PuT In? NiGhTmArE’S BeEn aNnOyInG Me wItH HoW MuCh hE BrAgS AbOuT DrEaM’S BiG LiTtEr. YoU’D BeTtEr gIvE Me mOrE BaBiEs tHaN ThAt pAlTrY NuMbEr. We’lL NeEd aT LeAsT SiX, bUt i kNoW YoU’Ll bE A PeRfEcT PaReNt fOr tHeM. iF YoU CaN TaKe cArE Of tHaT FuCkInG BaStArD Of a bRoThEr yOu cAn tAkE CaRe oF AnYtHiNg.”

The eye lights in Blue’s sockets had widened the moment Error’s monologue had turned to breeding, but Error could see the eagerness in his face. If that wasn’t enough, Blue was nodding almost desperately. Nothing could up a monster’s confidence like that kind of consent.

Error let his thoughts wander into some fantasies that he’d been harboring for a long, long time while he pounded into Blue’s tight cunt. “i wOnDeR WhAt iT WoUlD Be lIkE? i’d cOmE HoMe fRoM ThE EnD Of a lOnG DaY DeStRoYiNg aUs tO FiNd yOu aLrEaDy wAiTiNg iN ThE AnTi-vOiD FoR Me, SaFe AnD sOuNd. YoU’D Be eAgEr tO TeNd mY WoUnDs lIkE AlWaYs, BuT NoW It wOuLd bE JuSt a bIt oF A ChAlLeNgE. hAvInG ThE BaBiEs gRoWiNg iN YoUr bElLy wOuLd mAkE BeNdInG So mUcH HaRdEr. YoU’D LoOk aBsOlUtElY GoRgEoUs lIkE ThAt.”

Error was close, but he didn’t notice. He was too wrapped up in his fantasy. “tHeN I WoUlD PuLl yOu cLoSe aNd iT WoUlDn’t hUrT BeCaUsE YoU’Re mY MaTe. I’D GeT To hUg yOu aNd kIsS YoU… oH, fUcK, bLuE!”

He buried himself inside of Blue, then pushed his knot inside Blue’s pussy with a pop. He rocked excitedly into Blue as the balloon of his womb expanded and expanded, filling up with Error’s cum. His grin expanded, too. Five blue tongues licked his lip as he watched himself cumming. Then he threw all caution to the wind and pressed his lips to Blue’s own. It… didn’t hurt? He was touching teeth to teeth and bone to bone, and it wasn’t hurting! Did that mean-

Error pulled back to look into Blue’s eyes and saw the naked desire in his face. Then he watched as Blue deliberately bent his head to one side, exposing his neck in a very plain show of raw submission. Blue wanted him. Blue wanted him.

He growled and dug his teeth into Blue’s shoulder. The blood and raw magic on his tongues was amazing. He poured in his own magic, marking Blue as his for the rest of their shared lives.

Error didn’t bother to release his grip when he felt his knot give out. He just shifted his hips, pulled his dick out of Blue, released the strings that held Blue to the ground and the ones that gagged him, and wrapped himself around Blue in their place. If he was going to get to touch Blue without it hurting he was going to take full advantage. Besides, being close would strengthen their bond. They had the rest of his rut to spend together. Error wasn’t going to waste a second of it.

=====

Blue felt like he was on cloud nine. Error’s magic was rushing through him, not just in his uterus but in his blood now, too. He’d claimed him. He’d actually claimed him. He wanted to laugh, but he also wanted to cry. He’d wanted this for so long, but he’d never thought it would be Error. But those words had sparked a desire in him that was even stronger than he’d ever imagined. He was so, so glad to be Error’s.

Still, it was probably a good idea if they talked about this some more. Communication was essential in a healthy relationship. “Error,” There was no response, “Error,” Blue said, putting just a bit more force into the words.

Error prized himself off of Blue and shot a glare at him. The glare held no real ire whatsoever. “wHaT?”

He hesitated. What was it that he wanted to say? He let the first thing that popped into his mind pass his lips. “You felt comfortable and in control, right Error?”

The black-boned skeleton laughed. “i wAsN’T ThE OnE WhO WaS TiEd uP AnD GaGgEd, BlUe,” Error said. Blue gave him a look. It was the one that said, ‘this is important to me, so please answer my question’. Error grudgingly admitted, “iT wAs FiNe.”

Blue smiled and rested his head against Error’s shoulder. “I’m glad. Um…” Blue hesitated, but the feeling in his stomach pushed him on, “... Did you mean what you said about me carrying your children? I know you just claimed me, and that makes us mates now, but I don’t want to assume that you really meant that.”

Error looked down at him as if he was mad. “oF CoUrSe i mEaNt iT.”

“That’s good, then, because… I can kind of already feel the souls developing inside of me? I can’t tell how many there are, but the little sparks are there. Is… that okay, Error? Error?”

Blue looked up at him, then giggled. The loading bar hovering above them told him everything he needed to know. Blue shifted just a little, finding a comfortable position to wait in. He was looking forward to seeing Error every day, too.

[lovelyirony]

"Set out hearts ablaze, and every city was a gift/and every skyline was like a kiss upon the lips" for winter13

Sharon is in charge of Winter Soldier. That’s...huge. 

“You’re in charge of rehabilitation,” Maria tells her over drinks one night. “He needs to not have missions, but he needs someone who’s capable of fighting him. I picked you. Don’t let me down.” 

Sharon applies for a Stark Industries credit card. Tony grants her one, albeit she has to answer why. 

“Is this a national security thing?” 

“Yeah, but when has that stopped me?” Sharon asks, reaching up for her favorite coffee mug. It’s the one with Gonzo from The Muppets on it, and she’s pretty sure the mug is from the seventies. It’s tacky and the worst. Tony hates it. She loves it. 

“I need it for Winter Soldier’s rehab,” Sharon explains. “He needs to get out of the house, so to speak.” 

Tony gets a strange look on his face. 

“Did they tell you anything about him?” 

“I haven’t read the files. I assume he did something to you. I only see that look when--oh. Oh shit.” Tony nods. “I...Tony I won’t ask for that. I’m sorry, I should’ve read up, and I should’ve--” 

“No, it’s fine,” Tony explains, face still tight. “I...I’m not even mad about that, you know? Just with...Steve.” 

Steve’s a sensitive topic for a variety of reasons that Sharon’s not allowed to know about. 

“He didn’t tell me,” Tony continues. “About any of it. Didn’t want to.” 

Sharon’s anger rises a level. 

“I won’t kill him, but you tell him that I’m mad,” Sharon says. “Better yet, I’ll tell him--” 

“I understand it,” Tony says wearily. “I just don’t like it.” 

“Then tell him.” 

“Maybe.” 

“Yes.” 

“No.” 

“Yes!” 

“Do you want the credit card? Do you?” 

The conversation is ended. Sharon gets the rundown, the number for the bank, and the number to contact Jarvis with. 

(Or, she pretends like that’s new. Jarvis texts her all the time, mostly if he notices that Tony needs some form of good contact with someone he loves or he needs to eat something substantial. This is why she and Tony go for monthly burger runs.) 

Winter Soldier has a duffel bag and that’s it. So does Sharon, although she still brings a suitcase. 

“That will hinder escape,” Winter Soldier says. 

“It’s to pack new stuff away,” Sharon says. “And I know you only have two changes of clothes, which is unacceptable. Our flight’s tomorrow, let’s get shopping.” 

James Barnes is...confused. They told him Agent Thirteen would be handling his resettlement into civilian life. She shows up to greet him in leggings, hair in a ponytail, and an over-sized sweatshirt that shows outdated Stark advertising. 

It is not professional or uptight. She is relaxed, at ease, and driving him to a store to get “better shirts than whatever the hell you thought worked.” 

She makes him get a button-down shirt. He thinks it’s less suitable than the one he has, the white one that has a starchy collar and takes a hell of a long time to button the top button. 

It’s black. She approves of it. 

“Okay, we need to get you sunglasses.” 

“I have my field ones.” 

“Those look lame as fuck, get real Barnes.” 

This is how he learns that he hates polka dots, shiny lenses, and finds out that he can wear sandals. 

Interesting. 

- 

He finds out that they’re not going on a mission. Sharon wants to go to Italy. 

“Last time I was in Italy was 87,” Bucky grunts. 

He still doesn’t have to go through TSA. Sharon flashes her badge, gestures to him. 

“Newbie on the field, a little jumpy. You know how military is.” 

They let him through without comment. 

Sharon holds power, he recognizes that. It’s not like previous handlers, with the iron grips on guns and hidden knives in sleeves. It’s not the sly smirks of realizing that you will get away with something. 

She is confident because she knows what she’s doing doesn’t have to be shrouded in secrecy, in lies that make it seem like polished silver. 

Sharon Carter navigates security with ease and gets on a plane, greeting the flight agents. Barnes gets an aisle seat at the back so he has a full vantage. Sharon gets out the cheesiest looking romance book he’s ever seen and settles down. 

“You’re not scared of me?” He asks. “Not even a little?” 

“Oh, I am,” Sharon admits. “More than I should be for someone who is as well-trained as I am. But I know that you cannot kill me yet because I’m your handler and I have to check in every hour at a specified time that you don’t know yet. Also, we’re on an airplane. You’re setting yourself for a Rodney Dangerfield crack.” 

He doesn’t get that reference. 

And then they’re off. 

They land in Italy. Specifically Rome first. Sharon converses in nearly-easy Italian, smiling at the driver. She holds her bags close and gets a car in about ten minutes. 

“You been here before?” 

“A couple of years ago,” Sharon answers. “Had a...weekend. It was cool. Got to see the Sistine Chapel, which is absolutely gorgeous. Italian painters got it right.” 

Barnes isn’t sure that he’ll make it to any holy place of residence. He’s not quite sure that whoever the hell is up there would let him step a foot in. 

Their hotel is nice. An old building that’s kept in relatively good condition. Sharon sets down her bags, James sets down his. 

“You want rest or lunch?” 

His stomach growls before he can stutter an answer. 

“Lunch it is,” he affirms. “Know where to go?” 

“Nope, but I figure we’ll be fine.” 

He has the best meal of his life and it’s paired with excellent wine. He has no complaints, especially not hearing the lilt of voices that he can understand slightly. Sharon talks to him about history, about the last time that she was there. 

They sleep that night. James does not sleep well and nearly jumps out a window because he thinks he sees someone. 

Sharon yawns, walks steadily to the window, and shuts it with a loose latch. 

“I’d rather not clean you off the pavement,” Sharon says. “You want some ice cream?” 

As it turns out, she had gone to a grocery store, gotten a couple of pints of ice cream. “It’s not gelato,” she says, getting spoons out of the drawer. “But it’ll do.” 

Ice cream is very cold. It soothes how hot his face feels, how embarrassed he is. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t have to apologize to me yet,” Sharon says. “You haven’t broken a window.” 

She doesn’t ask about dreams or nightmares. She just tells him that if he likes orange-cream sherbet, then he’s a disappoint to existence. 

“Guess I’m a disappointment,” he says with a shrug. He tried to make a joke. 

It works as Sharon’s smile breaks out. 

“That’s the spirit. I’m a disappointment too in different categories. Mostly involving fruit.” 

Her smile is nice, he observes. 

Italy lasts for a week more. They visit the various chapels and places where great art is. Sharon tells him all about her favorite pieces and what some fun facts are. He googles them on his phone later, writing them down to share with her. 

Sharon’s taking the trip as they go. 

Barnes is remarkably good at finding the stores down the beaten path, getting into the quiet cafes, and locating interesting sights. 

He also, somehow, finds trouble. Because of course he does. 

Sharon wakes up to a knife being thrown, a curse, and the realization that she doesn’t have pants on. Fantastic. 

“Get the bags and run,” Barnes orders. 

“After pants.” 

“Why no pants?” He yells. “Why?” 

“I was comfortable!” 

Sharon gets on a pair of shorts, grabs the bags, and watches as Barnes flips someone over the window. 

“Our flight’s in two hours!” Sharon yells. “Can you finish this up pretty soon?!” 

“Get me--” There’s a crash. 

Then a boom. Sharon’s slightly worried. Also wondering how much will be added to the bill. 

“Get me the blue knife!” He yells. 

Sharon tosses it, he catches it without looking. 

Knew it was hot, just wasn’t expecting it, Sharon thinks. 

She puts down the duffel bag, sighs, and launches herself at the first guy she sees. 

They have fun. They call Maria for clean-up, get packed, and make their flight on time. 

“Where to next?” James asks. 

“I’m thinking we attempt to go to all of the Smithsonian exhibits,” Sharon says. “You up for the challenge?” 

“Bring it.” 

Sharon holds his hands as the flight goes on. She smiles at him. 

“Maybe coffee?” she asks. 

“Of course,” James answers. “But only if I get to take you out dancing later.” 

“I’ll need to make a pit-stop for my dancing dress,” Sharon remarks, smiling. 

“Can’t wait.” 

-

Sharon shows up in a blue dress that’s enough to make any man swoon and keel over. 

James feels particularly lucky.