#i have to do some stupid ass ''wellness'' courses like chair yoga and shit

[shaunashipman]

I am not neurotypical enough to deal with tomorrow

[youreacowgirllikeme]

Workout

note: alright, I just had to get the excitement about the #letsgetafterfit video out of my system. This is nothing but filth, I am so sorry

words: 1.3 k

warnings: rough smut, brief mentions of spanking, choking, slight exhibitionism

sorry for typos, enjoy

“That’s the right angle, perfect.” Chris said, adjusting the phone in your hands.

“Now just keep it like that and try to avoid moving to much or you’ll mess up the video.”

Your boyfriend had asked you to record him doing a workout tutorial in the back yard and as a supportive girlfriend, you had agreed. It was purely selfish, of course. You loved seeing Chris working out, seeing his physical strength reminded you of how easily he could manhandle you, something that turned you on to no ends.

“Chris, I know how to film something with a phone, I’m not stupid.” you replied, sticking out your tongue at him. “Now start your little workout session before it’s getting dark.”

“Don’t be cheeky, baby.”

+++

Saying you had difficulties holding still was an understatement.

“So, this is one is called the GOT” Chris explained, going down into a squatting position. His attention was on the camera, yours on the way the muscles of his legs tensed up with each movement.

Fuck, he looked so hot. He wore a shirt that stretched tightly over his pecs and arms, and if he moved in a certain way, you could swear that you saw the outline of his cock trough his loose sweat pants.

Chris’ deep groan as he did a particular straining exercise made a flash of heat shoot between your legs and you had to hold yourself back from jumping him right there.

Every passing minute made it more difficult for you to focus on your task of recording the whole workout. Soon, your single remaining thought was how to get Chris to rail you as quickly as possible. Seeing him all sweaty, his voice breathy and strained from exertion made you think of all the ways he could ruin you. You clenched your thighs together in an effort to get some friction on your aching pussy.

Chris raised his hand to signal you to stop recording.

"Why are you fidgeting like that, babe?” he asked, sounding a tad annoyed. “I want to upload this and the quality will be horrible if you don’t stop.” He looked at you with a frown. But when he saw the way you were biting your lip, basically undressing him with your eyes, realization flashed over his face.

“Behave.” he said in a low voice. “Be a good girl now and I will make it worth your while later.”

“Ok, fine.” You muttered in response, pouting a bit. Secretly, you enjoyed how he was calling you out in that authorative tone. Maybe you should try pushing him a little bit more, just to see what would happen.

Pausing the recording again, you looked at Chris, who immediately stopped the exercise he was doing.

“What’s up now, why did you pause?”

“Nothing, I’m just thinking about how bad I want you to fuck me.” You said bluntly, your voice filled with feigned innocence.

Chris eyes darkened and he took a step in your direction.

“Careful, baby.” He growled. “Didn’t I tell you to behave and wait? Loose that attitude, I don’t want to repeat myself.”

“You’re so right, we really need to continue filming now, I hope this” you pointed to the prominent bulge beginning to form in his sweat pants with a smug grin “is not bothering you too much while you get after fit or whatever.”

Hearing that was what made Chris snap. He threw the huge weight he had been working with on the ground and was onto you in two large strides. He took your face into his huge hand, his grasp on your jaw almost painfully tight. Your phone just fell to the ground as your body went limp under his touch.

“What do you wanna achieve, huh?” he snarled “You wanted to rile me up by acting like a little brat? Well, congrats, you did it, baby.”

Without warning , he picked you up and threw you over his shoulder as if you weighted nothing.

You tried to wiggle out of his iron-like grip, but not a chance. He just gave a sharp smack to your ass, and your squeal rang through the whole garden.

Chris carried you all the way to one of the huge deck chairs on the and unceremoniously dropped you onto it. His strong hands gripped the hem of your short yoga pants and just pulled them down your legs before you could even try to stop him.

“Chris.” You cried out, trying to clench your legs together. “What are you doing?”

But Chris was not having it, he grabbed your thighs and spread them, exposing your naked core to the chilly outdoor air.

“Isn’t that what you wanted the whole time?” he said with a cruel grin playing on his face, pressing his fingers to your naked core. “You didn’t even wear panties, baby, and your already dripping for me.”

A blush, part mortification, part arousal, crept over your face and you let out a needy whimper at the feeling of Chris’ fingers parting your wet folds, sliding into you with ease.

“That’s what you wanted, my fingers in your pussy, Y/N?” he asked smugly, crooking his digits inside you so you could only reply with a gasp.

“I’d like your dick better.” You moaned and gave the bulge inside Chris sweatpants a hard squeeze.

Chris swore under his breath, retreating his fingers to pull down his pants and underwear. His cock was heavy and hard, and you reached out, wanting to wrap your hand around it.

“Oh no, hands and knees.” Chris said sharply, delivering another smack to your naked ass. You quickly complied, and a second later, his hands grabbed your hips and the tip of his hard cock nudged at your entrance before he filled you with one hard thrust. He wasted no time and started slamming into you relentlessly, making you cry out.

“You fucking asked for this, baby.” He grunted, his fingers digging into your hips.

“Chris, slow down please. I can’t stay quiet, the neighbors might hear us.” You whined, your voice breaking every time Chris hit that perfect spot inside you.

“You should’ve thought about that before you acted like a fucking brat. You want attention and now you got it.” Chris growled, and reached out to wrap his huge hand around your throat. “Maybe this will help you to tone it down.”

The feeling of his grasp on your neck, combined with his hard thrusts, made your arousal skyrocket and your stained cries came out louder and louder. All worries about being heard were erased from your brain, the only thought left was Chris fucking you.

“Come on, Y/N.” Chris snarled. “Come on my cock like a good girl.” He deepened his strokes even more, slamming into you so hard you almost toppled off the deck chair.

His deep voice saying your name was everything you needed to reach your peak. Your orgasm was so powerful that your legs started shaking and you were thrashing against the forceful grasp Chris had on your hips.

“Shit, baby, you’re so tight. So fucking perfect.” Chris hissed through clenched teeth, and with one last deep thrust, he spilled his load inside of you.

As soon as Chris’ grip on you loosened, you almost fell forward, your limbs were giving out under you in the aftermath of your climax. But his strong arms wrapped around your mid and pulled you back against his chest.

“You’re happy now?” he murmured, kissing your neck affectionately. You nuzzled against him, totally satisfied.

“I am, but I’m also cold.” You chuckled. “Can we do the rest of the video inside?”

“Anything you want, baby.”

[mrsalwayswrite]

To Call Forth Love (Modern!Ivar x OC) Chapter 1

So I recently joined the Vikings fandom (better late than never, right?) and could not get this one-shot out of my head. This is my first time writing for Vikings and writing Ivar. Let me know what you think. 

Also a huge shout-out to @saritanotserena​ for helping me with the moodboard. You are the best, babe! 

Words: 4300

Warnings: mild swearing, mild sexual content, mild angst?

Series Masterlist

 "I'm going to get something to drink!" Kari yelled into the ear of her friend, Alana, hoping she could hear it over the deafening music blasting from the nearby speakers. 

 Alana nodded, ignoring the brunette in lieu of the man who had his hands on her hips and cock grinding against her ass. 

 Without waiting further, Kari squeezed her way through the crowd on the club's dance floor and towards where their table was. For the umpteenth time, she tried to tug down the short, skin-tight black dress over her thighs, unsuccessful in covering the vast amount of skin showing. Even if Alana told her it looked fine and to stop worrying, it still made her personally self-conscious. Right now, she would much rather be at her shared townhouse eating popcorn and binge watching a show or reading one of her new books, comfortable in yoga pants and a soft sweatshirt with preferably no bra. Definitely no bra if she had a choice. But no, she had used up all the valid excuses she could conjure and now had to pay the devil his dues. Or in this case, go out clubbing with her friends. 

 Quickly, she made her way to the table and plopped down in a chair, reaching for the bottled water she was smart enough to bring this time. She ignored the couple sticking their tongues down each other's throat on the other side of the table as she took a sip of the water. Yes, she had told Alana she needed a drink but mostly she just wanted a break. She never wore heels unless for special occasions and with all the dancing she had been forced to endure amongst the mass of sweaty bodies, her feet and ankles were killing her. 

 She peeked at her phone, seeing the late hour and wondering if she could use it as an excuse to leave. She knew her friends planned to stay longer, or leave soon with company for the night. Perhaps no one would notice if she snuck away, feigning exhaustion or some illness. 

 As if sensing her thoughts, a voice called out to her from the other side of the table. "Don't even think about it."

 Kari looked up, meeting the narrowed, brown eyes of her friend across the table from her. "Rach…."

 "No, don't you, 'Rach' me." She pointed a perfectly manicured finger at Kari. "I see you, and you are trying to figure out how to leave. It's not happening. You know the deal."

 "Please? It's getting late and there is no one here…"

 "Bullshit. Quite trying to make excuses. You agreed to the deal and you can't leave until you fulfill your side of the bargain and you bet your ass I'm watching." She leaned back against her boyfriend, brushing a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear. 

 Kari grumbled under her breath. "Doubt it. You've been trying to eat each other's faces the whole time."

 "What was that?"

 "Nothing."

 "What is the deal she agreed to?" Seth asked smugly, arms wrapped around Rachel's waist and laying soft kisses over her exposed shoulders and neck. 

 "Before Kari leaves tonight, she has to make-out with someone...and not just a quick peck either. Full. On. Snogging." Rachel answered with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a crooked smile. 

 Kari dropped her face in her hands, groaning. She knew there was a snowball's chance in hell that Rachel would have forgotten about what Kari reluctantly agreed to but still…. she had hoped. 

 Rachel continued speaking to Seth but Kari could feel those brown eyes on her. "She hasn't kissed anyone since her ex; so Alana, Jasmine and I decided that we needed to take matters into our own hands."

 "Her ex... shit, wasn't that like two years ago?"

 "Yep." Rachel popped the 'p' loudly. "Now, Kari, you get back on that dance floor and find someone or I will pick them out for you."

 Almost giving herself whiplash with how quickly she raised her head back up, Kari stared horrified at her friend. 

 "You know I would."

 "Shit…." Kari mumbled, fiddling with one of the diamond studs in her ear. If there was one ultimate truth in the world, it was that Kari did NOT want any of her friends picking out someone for her to make-out with. The thought alone made her shudder. To say they had different tastes was an understatement. Her friends seemed to prefer the big, Viking-looking, blonds that seemed to enjoy going outside and chopping down trees…. for fun. Her preference was for, well not that. She downed the rest of her water and stood up, tugging down her short dress once again. "I'm going to the bathroom."

 The blonde rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you better get back on the floor once you're done. We can be here all night if we need too."

 Kari scurried away without a response. She did not actually have to use the bathroom but used the excuse to check her makeup and hair...and hide…. possibly for the rest of the night. Hoping to kill even more time, she took the long way to the bathroom, pointedly looking at the floor to avoid encouraging anyone to approach her. 

 She stumbled past the short set of stairs leading up to the VIP section, silently cursing her heels. All she wanted to do was kick them off. It was becoming a miracle she had not face-planted yet. Making a mental note to never let Alana choose her attire again, she pressed on, moving down one of the half walls along the raised VIP section. 

 As if fate sensed her thinking about her loathed heels, it decided to do something about it. 

 Someone suddenly shoved into her, pushing past her on their way towards somewhere. All the brunette managed to catch a glimpse of was a long, blonde braid and a backless dress. The force was enough to lose her balance on the stupid heels and slam into the wall next to her, her momentum and gravity then yanked her towards the ground. Just as she thought she would at least fall to her knees or kiss the dirty floor, a strong hand grabbed her bare, upper arm, keeping her upright. 

 She staggered drunkenly for a moment, her hands automatically reaching out to grip the shirt of the person who magically appeared in front of her, and really saving her from utter humiliation. No exaggerations. At all. Utter. Humiliation. 

 Once her mind refocused on no longer falling to her demise, the first thing she noticed was that whoever was holding her was definitely a man. Not just because the person was taller than her, but the sheer size of the pecks underneath her fisted hands in his shirt and the broad shoulders were a dead giveaway. Even one handed, this person was holding her upright with ease. The second thing she noticed was his scent. Yes, she knew that thought was beyond creepy but her body decided to take notice. Not her fault. Obviously. She just got to enjoy the repercussions. Whatever cologne he was wearing, it should be illegal to wear out in public. It conjured images of a fire in a hearth, bourbon, hot sex under furs and debauchery. 

 In the next moment, she lifted her gaze, wanting - no, needing to know who this man was. To thank him for saving her. Of course. That was it. Yep. Not to sear his image into her brain to fantasize about later. Not at all.  

 As her eyes met his, any words of thanks died on her tongue. For whatever working brain cells she had left silenced under his gaze. Staring down at her was the most vivid, gorgeous and terrifying blue pair of eyes that both soothed and scorched under their allure. 

 He never spoke a word, just stared at her. His hand held onto her upper arm as if worried she was suddenly going to drop. 

 Later, she would blame it on the combination of his touch, that intense look in his gaze and his cologne that made her act irrationally. So, before her mind could convince her how stupid she was, how reckless this was, how outside of her normal behavior she was acting…

 ...she rose up slightly on her toes and kissed him. 

 His lips were surprisingly soft against hers but unmoving. Slowly she retracted, hurt by his inaction but honestly not surprised. It was probably for the best. This idea was a failure from the start. She did not even know the guy, he just saved her from falling. She should have said 'thank you' and walked away…. not…. not kissed him! Opening her eyes to meet his now painfully hardened gaze, it only confirmed her stupidity. Before she could apologize and retreat to hide away from the world for at least the next century, he spoke. 

 "Are you drunk?"

 His abrupt, harsh question startled her. Her answer tumbled out of her mouth before her mind could filter the proper response. 

 "What?...no, I've had like two drinks but that's it...wait. Oh gods! Was my kiss that bad? Shit. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll just...sorry." She tried to pull away from him, face flushed from embarrassment. What had she been thinking? This was why she never just made-out with random guys. Whatever self-esteem she had evaporated beneath his piercing gaze. Her ex had called her frigid but this….

 His hand tightened ever so slightly on her arm, not enough to hurt but to certainly impede her desire to run away. His eyes bored into hers as if trying to read all the secrets of her soul. It was now, caught in this trap of his gaze, that she noticed the predatory glint in his eyes. She wondered if this was what a rabbit felt like while staring down a wolf, too frightened to move away. Well in her case, she was probably more of a hamster than rabbit. At least rabbits were fast and could try to hide. A hamster had no ability to outrun or outsmart a wolf. And everything about him screamed predator. 

 "Come." He commanded, releasing her arm and took a step to the side. 

 "Wha...what?" 

 He cocked his head to the side slightly, eyes narrowing. "Come. I am not through with you."

 A sharp shiver ran down her spine at the severe scrutiny sent her way but for some reason found herself agreeing. "Ohhh….um, ok." Her friends had wanted her to make-out with someone right? 

 She followed him, carefully ogling him from behind. The nice button-down he wore only accentuated the broadness of his chest and shoulders, plus with the sleeves rolled up and those toned forearms on show, he could have easily been just walking out of a photoshoot for some fashion magazine. Even the dark wash jeans and white Adidas sneakers could not deter from his overall striking appearance. His dark hair was long on top and shaved on the sides, something she had never seen before but it gave him a serious look instead of it being comical. 

 Surprise coursed through her when he started up the few steps leading to the VIP section. Somewhere she had never been nor expected to go. Only people with money or connections were allowed to be in there. She wondered which one of the two he was. It was also now as she followed him that she happened to notice the slight limp in his gait which drew her attention to the braces around his legs. Her mind wandered with questions as to why he needed braces. Had he been in an accident recently? Or surgery? Should he even be up walking? 

 Once they ascended the few steps, passing the bouncer at the top of the stairs who only gave her a passing glance before returning his eyes to the rest of the club, she continued to trail him to a short 'L' shaped couch with a low table in front of it. There were short half walls around all of the arrangements giving the illusion of privacy for those seated on a couch. Glancing around quickly, she could hear laughter and see some heads over the partitions but no one seemed to have paid any attention to her and the stranger she followed. 

 The man dropped down unceremoniously onto the black leather couch, stretching his legs out in front of him. Immediately, his intimidating gaze turned on her and she could not help but thickly swallow at the pure wicked look that sent shivers down her spine. Without a word, he held his hand out, beckoning her closer. 

 For the rest of her life, she would always question why she moved closer, why she took his hand, why she let him slowly guide her to straddling his lap. 

 All she knew was in the moment….it felt right. 

 "Good girl." He breathed out; rough, calloused hands held her hips steady over him. His fingers skimmed the hemline of her dress, now indecently high, almost no longer even covering her ass. 

 Her rational side screamed at her, reminding her she never did this, that she did not know this man. That if her family ever found out, gods forbid, they would probably disown her and not care if it left her starving in the streets due to her wanton behavior. Though their opinions no longer truly mattered in her life. 

 But her emotional side softly whispered that for once, to just give in, to let someone else be in control, to revel in the pleasure his touch brought forth. To throw caution and fidelity to the wind and enjoy life for once before she locked away her heart again. 

 Tipping her head forward, she pressed her lips to his once again. Where he had been unresponsive to her prior kiss, this time his lips slammed against hers, dominating and controlling. It sucked the very air from her lungs. Right now though, he could happily own all the oxygen she ever needed if he continued to kiss her like this. His hands slid to grab her ass, coaxing her even closer and drawing a needy moan from her. As her mouth opened, his tongue slipped in to explore as if he owned it. He kissed as if he was making love to her mouth and giving her a hint of what he would be like in bed. 

 Eventually she yanked her mouth from his, chest heaving and desperate for air. His head dropped to her chest and she gasped when she felt his tongue traced the line of cleavage her dress exposed. 

 "Fuck, you taste amazing." He whispered, practically branding the words into her skin as his lips tasted her. Before she could move or question him, his tongue was back on her exposed skin. This time it slid up from the hint of the valley between her breasts up her chest and neck to end with him sucking just below her earlobe. A whine, or was it a purr, was all her brain could handle, so overwhelmed with sensations she had never experienced before. Sure she had been kissed before but it had never felt like this. It all felt so…. tame compared to what this man elicited out of her. As if her prior understanding of fire was only looking at a lit match; while now she could only stare, completely absorbed by the raging bonfire that threatened to touch the sky with its unending flames. 

 Her hands shifted from grasping his shoulders to keep her upright under his onslaught to gripping his face and forcing his lips back to hers. A heat continued to build in her belly, an inferno that she wanted to dive into without fear or care of being burned. Her hips ground against him, feeling his hardened length between her legs only spurred her on. 

 "Fuck, kitten, keep going. Ride my cock." He growled into her mouth. 

 Before she realized it, the waves of pleasure and heat she had been riding exploded. She ripped her mouth away from his, head thrown back in a silent scream. She could feel his mouth move back to her exposed skin, kissing and sucking as he continued to grind under her. Her mind felt shattered into a million pieces but instead of frightening her, she felt pure bliss. Eventually she came back down from her high, her mind whirling with what just happened. 

 "What…." She licked her lips, wondering why her mouth was suddenly so dry. "What, um, was that?"

 "What are you talking about?" He asked smugly as he placed open mouth kisses along her chest and neck, never stopping his ministrations. 

 "Um, that feeling… I just...wow…."

 He stopped to tilt his head slightly and meet her gaze. "Have you never had an orgasm before?"

 Her eyes widened as realization swarmed her. Hastily, she tried to scramble off his lap but one of his hands grabbed the back of her neck, while the other still gripped her hip, forcing her to remain on his lap. His eyes scoured her, pupils blown wide but it was the dark, heated look in them that caused a whimper to slip from her lips. 

 "You never have…" he murmured, in something between surprise and a dangerous, boyish glee. Mumbling something in a foreign language, his wicked gaze never released her from looking away. One of his fingers returned to tracing her cleavage, teasing her occasionally as it dipped between her breasts only to continue its path. She could feel the heat slowly building in her core again, but if it was due to his touch or the devious smirk he wore, she was unsure. Never more had she felt like prey being toyed with by a hungry predator. 

 "Are you a virgin, my pretty kitten? Mmm?" He asked in such a filthy voice, it should never be allowed outside of a bedroom. 

 She whined, "please…" 

 Agonizingly slow, he leaned closer to her once again, his mouth just hovering over hers with a mischievous smirk that proved he knew what he was doing to her. 

 "Kari!"

 She jerked at the unexpected calling of her name. Turning to look over her shoulder, she could see Rachel and Alana both standing next to the bouncer at the top of the steps into the VIP section. Rachel was staring her down while Alana's blue eyes bounced back and forth between Kari and the man under her. 

 "It's time to go." Rachel yelled at her over the loud music, still easily heard this far away. 

 Kari turned back to...to him. "I need to leave."

 He nuzzled the crook of her neck, brushing her hair out of the way, before whispering into her ear. His hands never relinquished their hold on her. "Answer my question first."

 "I... I need to go. I'm sorry. Please. I just…"

 His hand trailed around her neck so he could grip under her jaw, forcing her face back up to meet his. His vivid blue eyes covetous in their intensity. "Answer. Me." His breath ghosted over her lips. 

 "Yes." The single word came out in a just barely heard whisper. 

 A hesitation, a pause, as if both were frozen in the moment due to her confession. Then his mouth slanted over hers in a greedy kiss, as if claiming her through sheer willpower and his ardent touch. Unable to help herself, she moaned into the kiss. Her hands gripped his shirt as if clinging for her life.  

 "Stay." He whispered against her lips. 

 "I can't…"

 "I'll bring you home. We aren't finished yet." As if to emphasize his point, he rolled his hips under her, his hardened length pressing against her wet core. 

 "Please, I'm sorry. I want to stay, I promise. I've never…. I…. I just need to go. I'm sorry."

 Deliberately slow, his grip on her loosened. First the hand on her neck, his thumb caressed her pulse point before dropping next to him on the couch. The hand on her hip glided up her body leaving a trail of fire in its wake, up to her arm and down it to her hand still clutching his shirt. Gently, almost reverently, he entwined their fingers. His blue eyes stared into hers as he helped guide her off his lap to stand before him. The lust was still evident in his gaze but now she noticed something underneath, something hidden by the ferocity. Yet she could not name it. Though it made her want to pull his head to her chest and just hold him, let whatever the unnamed emotion there bleed from him and comfort him. 

 "KARI!"

 She jolted at the frantic call of her name, pulled away from gazing into his eyes. 

 "Can I see you again?" He quietly asked, running his thumb along the back of her hand.

 "I hope so." She smiled gently then stepped away, before she did something stupid like give the man her number. That would be too forward for her. Turning her back to the man, she walked towards her friends. 

 Once she reached them, Alana slipped her arm through hers and they started to follow Rachel down to the main floor. At the last second the brunette looked over her shoulder to glimpse him one more time. His elbows were on his knees, body leaned forward and eyes glued to her as if trying to commit everything about her to memory. 

 For the briefest of seconds when their eyes connected, his gorgeous blue meeting her blue-green, she considered returning to him. To see what happened next so she never would have to wonder. To try and label what lay behind the dangerous glint in his eyes that she glimpsed. 

 Then her steps brought her to the main floor and away from his piercing gaze. She was too much of a coward to give in and taste the forbidden fruit he so freely offered. Even if a part of her wanted too. Her family rules seared into her brain since birth would never allow her too. 

 Quickly, the three women headed towards the exit. Just before they reached it, Rachel directed them to a semi-secluded alcove. 

 "What the hell was that?" The angry blonde demanded, turning on Kari with a vengeance.

 "What?" 

 "No, don't you fucking 'what' me! We told you to make-out with someone, not plan on getting fucking murdered!"

 Kari almost stumbled back at the venom in Rachel's voice. Her eyes bounced back and forth between her friends, trying to understand what she obviously was missing. "What are you talking about? Murdered? He was nice…. I thought."

 "Nice? Oh, he was nice?" Rachel stared at her for a long moment in shock. With a huff, she pinched the bridge of her nose as she harshly asked her next question. "Do you have any idea who that was?"

 "Um, no... we...he didn't say his name." 

 "Gods, you are so stupid sometimes." 

 Alana cut in, before Rachel could continue to berate. Her doll-like face ranging in expressions from concern to pity and fear. "Kari," she spoke as if explaining a simple matter to a child, her blue eyes pleading and intent on her face, "that was Ivar."

 "Huh?" Kari stated, dumbly, mind not fully processing what that meant. 

 "You know…. Ivar Lothbrok…." Alana gave a pained smile, tugging on one of her large hoop earrings under her blonde, pixie cut,"....one of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok."

 The sudden knowledge felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head, freezing any semblance of warmth she may still have carried from their interaction. "What? I didn't…. are you sure?" 

 "Well the braces on his crippled legs should have been a damn giveaway." Rachel practically snarled. 

 Alana spoke back up, laying her hand on Kari's shoulder. "I know you haven't been here long but the Lothbroks have a…. reputation…. especially Ivar, for being, well, um, brutal. We just want you to be safe." She sighed and peeked over at Rachel. "Let's get out of here. Everyone else is waiting outside."

 "Ok." Was all Kari could say as her mind whirled with this new information. She followed behind them like a lost puppy, too absorbed in her thoughts to pay attention to where they were going. She could faintly hear Rachel harshly muttering something under her breath as they continued. 

 She knew who the Lothbroks were but kept that information to herself. Honestly, she probably knew more about that family than her friends did. She had listened to her uncle curse them enough times she had grown to associate their surname with a one-way ticket to the gates of Hell. If mortal enemies were a thing, her family and the Lothbroks would be that. 

 Her thoughts though stayed focused on a pair of brilliant, piercing blue eyes, soft, dark hair and a voice that called something out in her. There certainly was an aura of danger that hung over him like a shadow of doom plus with the predatory, wicked glint in his eyes, Kari could understand what they meant by dangerous. It was the other look her mind continued to replay over and over. Now away from him, she could pinpoint what it was. Vulnerability. When he asked her to stay- in anyone else she might have mistaken it for begging- that confidence he wore as a mask slid away just for a moment and allowed her to peek underneath. No wonder she wanted to crawl into his lap and hold him close. A part of her yearned to turn around and rush back to him to do that very thing. But her feet kept moving, following her friends. 

 She was not stupid, naïve maybe but not stupid. They wanted her to stay away from him. She could read between the lines well enough. Though if she encountered him again, she was unsure if she would be able to stay away…. or would want too. 

[artificialqueens]

Galactica, Chapter 48 (Group Fic) - TheDane/Veronica

A/N: Click here if you’re looking for previous chapters (or here if you’d rather read on AO3). 💫

Last Chapter: Aiden threw a tantrum when he found out he’d be assisting at the holiday show, and Courtney tried learning more about her best friend’s sister.

This Chapter: The Galactica Holiday Show very nearly goes off without a hitch...but not quite.

***

There were times, in this job, where Courtney couldn’t help but be extremely grateful to Violet for all the binders full of detailed instructions that she’d left behind.

Today was one of those times.

Courtney had never been to a showroom show, had no idea what to expect, and hadn’t even known they existed before Ivy had told her to put it in the calendar.

However, between Violet’s checklists and Ivy’s lead, Courtney felt like she stood half a chance of, at the very least, not fucking up too badlfy.

She’d spent last week pulling together everything they needed for the gift bags, from sponsors as well as Miss Fame’s preferred vendors, and made sure that she’d written everyone attending personalized notes as usual, thanking them on behalf of the company and Miss Fame for coming.

A last-minute change with the look books meant that they weren’t going to be ready until 6:30 am, so she’d been up at the crack of dawn to get to the printers in Queens the second they opened, now arriving at the venue holding the two heavy banker’s boxes, mind racing with everything she still had to do to make sure the day went smoothly for Miss Fame, calculating exactly how much time she needed to have her breakfast and coffee so that it would still be hot when she arrived later.

Courtney was so deep in thought that she almost missed seeing Tatianna, her friend standing at the elevator, bouncing nervously in her tennis shoes.

“Courtney!” Tatianna smiled. She was wearing a pair of tight fitting yoga pants and a white boxy t-shirt, a backpack over her shoulder.

“Tati!” she cried. “Hi! I would hug you but-” She motioned with her chin to the banker’s boxes.

“Here, let me help.” Tati took one of the boxes before she could protest, kissing Courtney on the cheek in the process, her lips silky smooth on Courtney’s skin.

“Thank you! I wasn’t expecting to see you so early.” Courtney was pretty sure that the models all had a 9:30 call time, and it was barely 8.

“I know, but I was all freaked out about the train being on time,” Tati explained, shrugging her shoulder.

“Well, I’m super relieved to see you.” It was true, Tatianna’s familiar face looking even more beautiful than usual. “I’m kind of panicking.”

“Why?”

“There’s just so many things that can go wrong, and I feel like I’m kind of over my head, and-”

The elevator doors finally opened on the showroom floor, revealing the bustling space that was formerly an extremely posh apartment, Ivy speaking to the event coordinator over by the bay windows, a lighting technician climbing a ladder nearby and a contractor stapling the last of the runway carpet to the floor so no one could slip.

Courtney had only been at the showroom once before, briefly, to pick up a suit for Miss Fame, but it had been totally renovated since then, nothing looking familiar, especially not the rows of white chairs set up for their guests.

She spotted the gift bag boxes that her and Ivy packed up and sent over on Friday, all stacked under a large folding table, and hurried over to set her banker’s box down, Tati on her heels.

“Thanks so much for your help. Let me try to find out where-”

“Court!” Ivy called out, walking over to her. “Hi, glad you found the stuff! By the time you’re done setting up the bags, I’ll have the names on all the chairs so it should be easy to put them out. And that door-” she pointed, “leads to the room we’re using for Miss Fame, so check it out and let me know if you’re missing anything.” She then noticed Tati putting down her box, and stuck out her hand. “Hi! I’m Ivy Winters.”

“Ivy, this is my friend Tati. She’s one of the models-”

“Of course! I should have guessed!” Ivy exclaimed, giving Tati her typically charming smile. “Come with me, I’ll show you where you can hang out until they’re ready for you. You’re a bit early, but that’s okay, because that means you get first choice at the craft service table!”

Courtney smiled, happy that Tati was being taken care of, praying that everything today would go smoothly.

***

“Feeling nervous?” Sutan looked over his shoulder as he made his way up the winding staircase to the Galactica showroom apartment.

The showroom was placed in an older building, Fame purchasing it when Galactica had finally started to make actual money, a proper showroom something she refused to pinch pennies on, and since they were still in business, it seemed like it had been the right decision.

“I’m not going to shit my pants if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Ha,” Sutan smiled, Symone two steps behind him, her long hair in a braid. The gorgeous girl was one of his newest hires, her 19th birthday only just ticking around. He still remembered the text he’d gotten from the scout, who had been scoping out some regional teen beauty pageants in the south. He’d seen her picture and instantly instructed the scout to book her a flight to NY. He hadn’t meant to keep her, hadn’t intended to put her on his roster, but he liked her, her fighting spirit lighting up any set she walked on, and so far, even though she’d proven to be a fast learner, he still felt mildly protective of her.

“Not what I asked,” Sutan waited for Symone to catch up, “But good to know.”

They had almost made it to the showroom, Sutan giving her one last look over before they made it to the door. He had picked her up at the modeling apartment she was staying at, making sure she had a light breakfast and plenty of water, her black jeans and white crop top close enough to approved that he hadn’t bothered to ask her to go back inside and change.

Sutan knew it was probably nepotism to make his sister take Symone on so soon after the holiday fittings, but showcases were a good way to test drive newer models, to see if they were ready to do bigger and better things, and Sutan had every hope that Symone could be big.

“Okay, so,” Sutan turned to Symone. “Remember what I taught you. Shoulders back, chin up, back straight. Be polite, be nice, do as you're told.”

Symone nodded, her eyes resting on Sutan’s face, taking in everything he was saying.

“And most importantly.” Sutan smiled. “Have fun.”

***

“Okay, so has everyone found their models?”

Violet smiled as Trixie was standing in the middle of what probably used to be a smaller living room, holding his little clipboard, Alaska, Kim and Amy set up for makeup and hair at the side of the room, Raven already in one of the chairs, a magazine opened on her lap.

“Yes coach!” Maxwell yelled back, the man with Yuhua from tailoring who was making the final adjustments to one of the models. On one hand, it was a little unnecessary for Violet to be there, her holiday gown done and ready to go, the finished styling of the models not a task that fell in her hands at all.

Still, she was happy to be there, happy to get to experience this, but most of all, she was happy she wasn’t Courtney.

Courtney had been running around, trying and almost succeeding in making sure that Fame was in a good mood. They had never had a chance to test run a showroom show, but Violet knew she had left behind a binder with instructions for Courtney, keeping Fame level one of the harder tasks on a day like today, since a large portion of Galactica’s budget depended on impressing the rich and powerful that walked through the door.

Violet had been backstage at several shows, but this was the first time she was really paying attention to the models. She never used to think about what agency models came from, or even the models themself. At Parsons, no one had been able to afford them, and as Fame’s assistant, she only needed to give a single call to have every agency in town jump at the chance.

“Violet!” Violet paused, the sound of her name coming from a voice she didn’t recognize. “It’s so good to see you!”

Violet turned, coming face to face with the angel she remembered from Halloween.

“Oh,”

Tatianna was just as gorgeous as she had been the last time she saw her. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, her brown eyes, golden-tan skin and bright white teeth apparently just how she looked.

“Hello-”

“I didn’t know you worked here!” Tatianna grinned, a cup of coffee in her hand.

“I do-” Violet cursed on the inside, the answer absolutely lame. “I haven’t seen you here before. Who are you with?”

“With?” Tatianna looked confused for a second. “Ah! You mean who I work for? So it’s actually kind of a funny story. I don’t really have a manager yet, but Courtney got someone named Max to take these headshots-”

“Violet!” Violet’s head snapped to attention as Tatianna was cut off, Trixie calling for her. “One of the model management models needs a robe. Can you find one for her?”

“Yes coach.” Violet nodded, thankful for the escape as she made her way towards the rolling clothing racks at the back of the room, Ivy stuffing them full of everything anyone could possibly need, the things toppling over if anyone breathed in the wrong direction.

***

Over the weekend, Aiden had taken the time to look deep within himself, tried to figure out the actual source of his discontent. Maybe it was silly to focus so much anger on Violet, just because she was brand new and already getting more chances and support than he’d gotten over a year. After all, it wasn’t her fault that she seemed to fall ass-backwards into every possible opportunity. Maybe she wasn’t the actual enemy.

Of course, the second he saw her on Monday, he realized that all of that was garbage: he hated her, and her face, and her stupid high ponytail and impractical heels. She was a stuck-up brat who didn’t appreciate how easy she had it. And besides that, her dresses were overworked and reductive.

Aiden had tried to stay calm, had tried to do what he was supposed to, which was assist and support.

Holiday was a smaller collection, which Aiden knew because he had been at Galactica for forever, unlike Violet, so there wasn’t that much to do, tailoring only sending them fully finished garments which didn’t always happen during the mad dashes that were fashion weeks.

Aiden had helped Kiara, and had even taken a trip downstairs to get a box of shoes, but he had quickly faded to the back of the room, standing amongst the racks with a cup of coffee, watching everyone else work.

He heard her before he saw her, Violet’s heels clacking on the floor as she made her way towards the racks with her stupid little scissors, the gold glinting in the light. She was probably going to go over the final check of the garments, snipping any and all loose threads, once again acting like she was better than everyone else.

Aiden was about to say something, but Violet didn’t notice him, didn’t even see him as she walked up, didn’t acknowledge his existence.

And that was the final straw.

It was an impulse. A whim. A passing thought. After a glance around the room to make sure nobody was watching, he did it--shoved the rack as hard as he could, causing both Violet and the rack to crash to the ground, Aiden not hearing the sickening crunch of Violet’s foot that got caught on the bar.

***

[So, any takers on when her majesty will lose her shit today?] Sutan smiled at his twin over the rim of his glass of mimosa. They were standing on the outskirts of the showroom, Ivy walking from white chair to white chair as she put showcards down, a big box under her arm. The showroom was set up in the classic style, a black carpet in the middle of the rows with several smaller circles on the corners so the models had time to twirl and really show off their garments.

He had tried to catch a glimpse of Violet when he had dropped off Symone, but he hadn’t been able to spot her, Raven chatting his ear off before he had made his retreat to go look for his twin.

[Don’t even joke about that asshole.] Raja smirked, her arms crossed, her own glass about half empty. She was looking absolutely stunning in one of her suits, her long hair up in a high ponytail, jewels hanging from her ears. [Also, I think we need a new nickname. Fame is catching on to majesty.]

[Ha,] Sutan snorted. He loved being able to speak Indonesian with his sisters, the language like their own little secret, the perfect way to gossip without being discovered. [We could workshop the upcoming storm?]

Raja laughed, just about to open her mouth, when they both heard a loud crash.

[What was that?] Raja turned around, Fame’s little assistant rushing by them as she ran backstage.

[It sounded like something falling?] Sutan hadn’t heard a scream, and even though he could clearly pick out commotion backstage, he couldn’t make out the sound of anyone crying. [I’ll go check.]

Sutan drowned his glass, giving his sister a smile before he started walking, hoping that it wasn’t anyone from Elite who had fucked up.

***

“Is everyone okay?!”

Courtney could feel her heart in her throat as she ran into the backstage area. She had been at the front, practically dropping the box she was holding the minute she heard the crash.

Several racks at the back of the room were toppled over, clothes everywhere in a gigantic mess. Courtney ran over, a circle of people blocking her way.

“Everyone!” Courtney heard Trixie, a surprising note of authority in his usually gentle voice. “Back off!”

They all did, Courtney now able to press her way forwards, forcing her body past Max, when she heard the last name she had expected.

“Violet.” Courtney made her way towards the front of the row, and there she was. “Violet. Are you okay?”

Trixie had a hand on Violet’s knee, and Courtney had never seen her look like this. There were tear stains on Violet’s cheeks, her normally perfect appearance frazzled and broken.

“Oh my god,” Courtney threw herself forward, scrambling to get on the floor next to Violet, her only thought being near her friend. “Violet, are you-”

“Courtney-” Violet looked at her, her brown eyes practically black, her mascara smudge. “My foot, I can’t- It got caught-”

Courtney turned her attention to Violet’s foot, easily telling which one it was since her shoe was strawn to the side.

“This one?”

Violet nodded. A bruise was already beginning to form, visible through her sheer stockings, her skirt around her knees.

“Kandy-” Courtney searched the group for the design assistant, finding her watching the scene with frightened eyes. “Go to the bar and ask for a bag of ice.”

“Okay!”

“Violet!”

Courtney turned to see Raja’s brother racing in, coming directly towards them. All she could remember was how, months ago in Fame’s office, he’d made Violet cry and forced her to leave -- and Courtney was in no mood to deal with some macho bullshit when there was a medical emergency.

“Don’t look at me!” Violet held a hand up in front of her face, clearly trying to shield herself from him.

“Lovely eyes-”

“Mr. Amrull.” Courtney tried to step between them, to help her friend, everything in her burning to protect Violet. “Please stay back, we’re trying not to-”

“That’s my fucking girlfriend!” Sutan exclaimed, ignoring Courtney completely and rushing to Violet’s side, crouching down by her head. “Violet. Please-”

Courtney opened her mouth to argue, but when she saw Violet reach toward him, Sutan grabbing her hand, Courtney realized that maybe his presence would be comforting to her, in spite of the bad taste he’d left in Courtney’s own mouth.

“Vi…” Courtney said gently, still kneeling at Violet’s feet. It was too early to see if there was any swelling. “Can you put any weight on it?”

Violet tested it, wincing deeply and then shaking her head no. “I’m sorry-” Violet’s voice broke, sounding almost embarrassed.

“Okay,” Courtney swallowed, trying to stay calm, “I think we need to call for an ambulance.”

“No! No no.” Violet exclaimed, holding up the hand that wasn’t clasped in Sutan’s. “I don’t need an ambulance. I’ll just ice it and take a cab after the show-”

“After the show?!” Courtney almost wanted to hit the other woman. “Violet, you are not staying here when you’re hurt!”

“I have to do my job.”

“Lovely eyes-” Sutan tried to cut in, the panic in Violet’s voice rising.

“I made a huge mess and-” Violet reached for her throat, her fingers scratching her neck. “I can’t just-”

“Violet.” Trixie cut in, Courtney genuinely forgetting that he was still there, his tone leaving no room for arguments. “We’ll take care of this. All I want is for you to be okay. Kandy is calling an ambulance for you and-”

“No, please-” Red splotches had shown up on Violet’s cheeks. “No ambulance, I can’t afford that, I’ll-”

“How are you even going to get yourself downstairs to a cab?” Courtney sighed. She’d never been able to get used to the fact of how expensive everything related to healthcare was here, how people had to worry about money when they were lying on the ground with a possible broken bone. “You can’t go to the hospital on your own-”

“I’ll take her,” Sutan said gently, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, and Courtney smiled slightly. Maybe she’d misjudged him.

“But what about your-” Violet looked up at Sutan, the man taking most of her weight.

“That’s not important. I’m coming with you, even if I have to carry you out of here.”

“Please,” Violet snorted, her panic forgotten for a moment as she smiled. “Don’t be ridiculous,”

Just then, Kandy rushed back in with the ice, and so Courtney decided to give up the fight, helping to find Violet’s bag and coat, instructing Kandy to take them down the service elevator, knowing that Miss Fame would be furious if they interrupted the party, even for an emergency.

***

Violet couldn’t remember ever feeling this embarrassed in her life. She was leaning against Sutan who had said a few words to Raven before taking off, the man supporting her like it was the most natural thing in the world as they entered the service elevator.

Violet had never been more grateful for how overprepared she was, the pair of foldable ballet flats she always kept in her bag almost making it bearable to move. She had no idea how she’d face her coworkers when returning to work, thick shame curled up in her belly, the pain in her foot the only reason she hadn’t fought harder to redirect the attention, everyone staring at her without a doubt showing up in her nightmares.

Violet had no idea how the entire accident had even happened. One minute, she’d been ready to do the final check Trixie had asked of her, completely in her own world, the next, several racks had taken her down.

The only explanation Violet could come up with was that she must have accidentally kicked the rack, that her foot had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, that this was her fault.

Violet didn’t know if her dress would be okay, if her coworkers could salvage the mess she had made, but she hoped that she hadn’t ruined anything, and that she still had a chance to keep her job.

***

Bianca strolled into the Galactica showroom, impressed by the renovation that had apparently taken place since she was last inside. At least one wall had been knocked down, opening up the space and allowing the light to pour in through the bay windows, and all the furniture was brand new, what appeared to be lovingly restored antiques. She looked around, finally spotting the bar and walking over. It was only halfway through the workday, but since it was a holiday week, she figured it was fine to indulge.

As she waited for the world’s slowest bartender to make her cocktail, she turned around again, surveying the room. Most of the guests were high-end buyers, socialites, people known for spending big bucks on couture. Bianca knew a few in passing, socially, but this really wasn’t her crowd. She sighed, annoyed, wishing she’d just asked for a glass of wine.

Just then, there was a stir in the room as Miss Fame appeared, making her way graciously through the crowd and finally greeting Bianca with a delighted smile.

“Bianca! Darling!” Fame was a vision in white, the creamy fabric hugging her hips, the short cape sleeves and the knee length her signature silhouette, gold glittering from her fingers and ears. “So glad you could make it!”

“Of course, blondie, I wouldn’t miss it!” Bianca gave her friend a couple of air kisses and a hug, careful not to crease her clothing. “So, will I be impressed?”

“It’s my most fervent hope,” Fame said, sounding so drily sincere that Bianca couldn’t help but laugh.

“How’s your jaw?”

“My jaw?” Fame raised a perfect eyebrow.

“You know, days like this...it must really ache from sucking all this metaphorical dick.” Bianca gestured towards the clientele around the room, then turned slightly to pick up the cocktail that was finally ready for her.

“Ugh, really Bianca,” Fame scolded, nose wrinkled distastefully, but she couldn’t keep up the act, soon letting a smile pull at her mouth, giving Bianca’s arm an affectionate squeeze.

It was then when Bianca noticed a petite blonde hovering timidly by Fame’s shoulder, shifting from foot to foot. Courtney was obviously trying to get to her boss, but afraid to interrupt.

She looked absolutely adorable--a short, classic black A-line dress with a starched white Peter Pan collar, hair held off her beautiful face with a narrow black headband, clipboard in hand like a dutiful little assistant. Bianca caught her eye, dimples appearing in her cheeks as she smiled.

“Hi Courtney.”

“Hi.” Courtney returned her smile as she stepped closer. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, I’m-”

“It’s okay, do your thing. Nice shoes.” Bianca gestured to her Mary Jane style Gucci heels, knowing that they were probably procured second-hand and even then, probably a prized possession to someone on Courtney’s salary. The delighted expression on Courtney’s face at the compliment confirmed that she was right, a smile that made her glow from the inside.

“Bianca,” Fame said. “How on earth do you know my assistant?” Her face was still smiling, but with slightly gritted teeth now, her eyes telling a clear story.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Bianca winked at Courtney, whose cheeks began to turn a charming shade of pink.

Fame turned her head and flashed Courtney a dangerous look, causing her to stammer out, “Oh um, I’m just… Bianca’s sister is my best friend, Miss,” cheeks reddening even more.

Letting out a mildly terrifying laugh, Fame responded, “How very delightful! What a small world we live in. Courtney dear, is everything alright backstage? On track?”

“Oh yes! That’s what I came to tell you. The situation has been handled and they’ll be ready to go in twenty minutes as planned.”

“Good.” Fame turned back to Bianca, dismissing Courtney with a little wave and, “That’s all.”

Courtney nodded, taking the signal and hurrying away. Bianca watched her go, and Fame watched Bianca, her eyes narrowing.

“Bianca Del Rio…”

“What?” Bianca turned back to Fame, batting her thick black eyelashes innocently.

“Do not. Even. Think about it!”

“Come on, I’m only human…” Bianca flashed a dimpled grin.

“I am serious. Leave her alone. Or I will end you.”

“Ooh, I’m so scared! You gonna nag me to death?”

“Bianca…” Fame’s eyes narrowed again. “I am telling you. Do not. Especially not this week when I already have my in-laws to deal with, and-”

“Alright, alright. I’ll wait until next week.”

“Bianca!” she huffed, and Bianca let out a loud cackle at her enraged expression.

“Would you calm down? Angel face over there is straight.”

Fame shook her head. “Yes well…So’s spaghetti until you get it wet. ”

Bianca laughed again, raising her class. “Cheers to that, blondie!”

[romanceimp]

Love Bakugo: Pt 4 A New Perspective

Think of a man who done you wrong and input his name for the  ____  (that’s the shit boyfriend’s name)

He had known that Y/n had been good friends with Bakugo in there UA days but he hadn’t been aware how close. She was working for his agency now and he couldn’t believe it. Not to mention, her first day working there had been the exact same day that his embarrassing high school year book photo was flashed at the staff meeting. Of all days, the day his girlfriend started working there. Maybe it was a good thing, a distraction so she wouldn’t catch on to his deceptions. It was horribly embarrassing that he had to confess to his boss that it was actually him. “You don’t look like this guy…” Bakugo had said. Which made it all the worse, the explanation of the nose job and all. He shut the door to the bathroom in his apartment softly behind him and pulled out his phone, ‘I miss you, call me’ He instantly felt calm seeing the text. ‘actually can I come over, we need to talk’ ‘of course’      ‘bring wine ;)’

_____ went into his ringtones and pressed the demo for his work calling ring tone. As soon as the sound stopped, he spoke. “Hello?” he said, and waited the appropriate amount of time to make the fake phone call sound convincing. “I can’t believe it, gosh he’s been here 2 weeks and- I’ll be right over.” ____ grabbed his coat and rushed into the living room. His girlfriend was curled on the couch reading a book. “Hey, work emergency, I think I’ll have to go out for a while...”  She looked up from her reading. “Oh what happened? Is everything okay?” she asked concerned. He shook his head, “it’s fine, there’s just something wrong with the engines on some of the new jet packs and we’re gonna be doing the demo tomorrow. For a corporation who might want to distribute them to hero’s world wide.” He smiled, as he watched her eyes widen in surprise. She broke out into a grin, “wow that’s amazing! you’re so smart _____.” He wished that were true now that she seemed so impressed with him. “That’s a huge achievement,” her eyes narrowed, “why didn’t you tell me?” He was kicking himself now for trying to impress her. He could have just left it at ‘presentation tomorrow’. Fuck. Looking at her now he got the feeling he always got when he looked at her long enough, the feeling that she was too good for him, the feeling that she would one day realise this and that one day she would leave him. “I’ve just been working so hard, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” She smiled, “ I understand, but it really hurts my feelings when you leave me out of these parts of your life...” She paused then and look up at him with a gentle expression, “I can’t help but feel you’ve been distant lately...” Does she know? Am I caught? Fuck. “I’m sorry, work has just been really out of control lately with these new recruits,” he said hoping that she would buy it. She nodded her head slowly. “Just be honest with me...” He froze. Oh god, she did know, she knew everything, or maybe she suspected. Part of him hated himself for lying and the other part of him loved the thrill.  “Is this about me working with Katsuki?” It absolutely was about her working with Bakugo. _____ hated that she said his first name so casually like that. Katsuki. Katsuki. Ugh! But she looked guilty, like she felt bad. “No, honey, it’s just a work thing, nothing to do with you at all.” She nodded, “okay, I just wanted to make sure...” _____ grasped her shoulder, “I love you, nothing you say or do could ever change that,” he said before grabbing his keys and heading out the door. And he meant it.

He picked cheap bottles of Chardonnay and Rosé from ‘buy one get one half off’ shelf at a liquor store that was on the way to her apartment. UA was visible as he exited from the fluorescent store. He cursed UA for brining Bakugo together with Y/n.

The elevator doors opened to a long hallway with a single door at the end. _____ knocked their special knock, and the door opened a few moments later. “Hi Echo,” he said taking her in. She was wearing his shirt and a pair of underwear, her hair pulled on top of her head in a messy bun. She was pretty, in an ordinary sort of way. Her features were all aesthetically pleasing, but there was nothing unique or special about them. Her quirk was similar. Everyone called her Echo, and always had, even though that wasn’t her real name at all. She had the ability to make anyone repeat what she said as long as she was looking at the person, and they heard what she said. “Oh you did bring wine!” she said as she pulled him towards her couch. She set the bag down in her chair and climbed into _____’s lap as soon as he sat down. She began to kiss his face. “I missed you,” she said and went back to her kisses. _____ kissed her back but hesitantly. “I missed you too,” he said in between kisses. “I really do want to talk though,” he said trying to get on track. “About what?” She hummed against his mouth questioning the type of talking that he would be doing. “I’m serious,” he said and Echo pulled back looking at him with big innocent eyes. “It’s about Y/n, she’s working with Bakugo,”_____ said waiting for her reaction. A big smile crossed Echo’s face. “I know, it’s amazing! Bakugo is a great boss. A little bit brash but he’s amazing. I’m so happy for her!” Echo went back to affections leaving _____ confused and slightly frustrated. “But that’s bad, because you’re going to be working with her too.” Echo furrowed her brow, not liking _____’s tone. “Duhhh, it’s not like I’m gonna say anything to her about us... It was just nice to meet her. She’s an amazing hero,” Echo said. Yes, Y/n was that for sure. “Wait… you met her?” Echo nodded, “yup, she’s just as lovely as everyone says she is,” Echo giggled then wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to look ather. “But you love me more right?” she asked. He didn’t know what to say, he loved Y/n but he loved how Echo made him feel more. He decided it would be best to change the subject. “But we have to be sneakier than usual and probably no more fun in the office anymore.” Echo groaned, “you’re such a kill joy,” she leaned close to his ear, “isn’t the almost getting caught the most fun? She had a point there. _____ took off his shirt and reached for Echos but she stopped him. “Now what do you have to say to me?” she questioned. _____ was silent, he wasn’t sure. “I love you Echo,” she said. “I love you Echo,” _____ said.

Work emergency? Work emergency your fucking ass. Why couldnt you see it before? You thought about that a lot. Ever since Katsuki told you your boyfriend was a big fat cheater the signs were so obvious. As soon as _____ left you’d called Katsuki letting him know the plans were a go. You pulled on some black yoga pants and a black sweat shirt. You grabbed the $50 that you stole from ____’s wallet and went outside to meet Katsuki. He was waiting in front of your building in his car. You hopped in the passenger seat, “hey, you wanna get ice cream after this? My treat,” you said holding out the fifty. Katsuki began to drive towards his agency. “Would love to get ice cream after, but you’re paying for nothing.” You brushed your fingers against the collar of your shirt. “Well, it’s not my money,” you said giving him an impish smirk. Katsuki shifted gears, “in that case…”

As Katsuki parked on the top floor of the parking deck, you felt defeated. There weren’t any other cars in the garage, except the van for the midnight cleaning service. Part of you, an idiot part of you, had hoped that possibly, maybe, your boyfriend’s car would be there. That it really was a work emergency. That Bakugo had made a terrible mistake and it wasn’t him after all. It was another close colleague that happened to look just like him. The worst part was how stupid you felt that you even hoped that was a possibility. You could feel tears welling in your eyes. But you pushed them back with your palms. “Hey, let’s go- wh-what’s wrong?” Bakugo was standing with his face pressed against the glass. “I-I’m fine!” you said a little too enthusiastically as you got out of the car. “If you don’t want to do this anymore…” You shook your head and walked through the doors.

It was 3 floors of installing cameras in and around closets, stairwells, and locker rooms, and offices later that Bakugo said something other than a few gruff instructions about drill assembly. He was standing on a ladder, but stepped down a few rungs to look at you. “I need to ask you something and I was gonna wait for a good time but, doesn’t seem like there will be a good one for a while…” he paused, was he scared? “Did you ever read the letter?” Your heart dropped, “Katsuki I-“ He nodded his head slowly to himself, “so you did huh?” He went back to installing the tiny camera in the ceiling vent. “I didn’t know what to do with it, no one had ever been so nice to me-“ “Listen, I said in the letter it was fine, I just would have liked an answer, ya know, back then.” He didn’t sound angry, which was somewhat comforting, but he sounded sad, which was way worse. “I know,” it was all you could say.  

You finished installing the cameras together. You tried making things lighter again by reminiscing about UA, it helped but there was still a lingering sadness between the two of you. After drilling in the last screw, for the last camera, Katsuki climbed down the ladder. Maybe it was seeing a tall strong man holding power tools, maybe it was that this super tough man just finished another 2 hours of doing a favor for you, but something took over you. You grabbed his waist and held him close to you. You could feel the tears again but didn’t have the strength to push them back. You didn’t have the strength to lie to yourself or to him anymore and the truth bubbled out of you like silver water from a fountain. “I wish I’d picked you. I would have been so much happier. And I’m so sorry that it’s taken me so long to figure that out and I know it’s too late now…” He didn’t say ‘it’s okay’ because it wasn’t and you knew that. You’d fucked up by not responding to what he had written so long ago.

He drove you back to your house, “I really can’t thank you enough, there aren’t words…” He smiled and brushed his fingertips against your hand. You got out of the car, wrapping your arms around yourself, guilt seeping deep into your whole self. “Hey Y/n,” he’d gotten out of his car and the look in his eye was determined. “It’s not too late, unless you want it to be.” It what? You stuttered something back, frozen where you stood. He approached you and before he could reach you, something lit up in you. You were so fucking in love with Katsuki it wasn’t even funny. You ran to him, and kissed him. For the second time in your life, but the first where you initiated it. You’d wondered for years if the movies got anything right… It wasn’t until now you understood why some people say ‘like fireworks’. As he pulled away you realized there was a lot you had to do to prove yourself to him after practically ignoring the letter. Actually, it was time you reread it…

Tag List: @rebel---black​ @random-fandom-girl-24​ @unawi13-blog​

[keelywolfe]

FIC: Some Sense of Normalcy ch.3 (baon)

Summary: It’s Edge’s first day back to work at the Embassy, but his job isn’t the only thing on his mind.

Tags:  Spicyhoney, Kustard, Established Relationships, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mentions of Past Injury

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 |

~~*~~

Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.

Read Chapter 3 on AO3

or

Read it here!

~~*~~

Stretch was only two steps out of the elevator and already he could taste his own sweat heavy on the back of his tongue. It was fine, no big deal, it was only a bunch of equipment, right? The harsh gleam of the overhead fluorescent lights on stainless steel shouldn’t be that damn upsetting, it shouldn’t.

Shoulda woulda coulda, and fuck it all, because it damn well was, and the bitch of it was that Stretch wasn’t even sure why.

He started to turn around. Not to get back into the elevator, no, he wasn’t peacing out. Only to breathe for a minute, use those hard-learned tactics for controlling an incipient panic attack that Doc Lee spent the past year trying to pound into his hard skull. She hadn’t said it in so many words, but Stretch got the idea that they’d all been thoroughly tested already on Sans.

Close his sockets, focus on breathing deeply through his mouth. In for four, hold it, out for four. He was supposed to be so damned good at math, he could manage that much.

What felt like a hard, rubbery fist clenched in his chest was starting to ease when he heard someone calling his name.

“Stretch!” He turned to see Alphys almost scurrying up and her smile was warm enough despite the trifle of worry in her eyes.

Yeah, okay, better to keep her worries on the right path. Stretch hung on a 100-watt smile and beamed it right her way, “hey, lizard lady, how’s it going? i didn’t even have a chance to ring the bell.”

She held up her phone. “I g-get an alert when certain k-keycards are used in the elevator. C-come on, come to my office.”

Going to her office sounded like a super plan.

Stretch followed after her as she led a path through the maze of metal tables and equipment, the other scientists in their long white coats. He knew the way to her office, but it was easier to focus on the long yellow tail poking out of the back of her lab coat, concentrate on keeping that breathing nice and even.

Alphys wasn’t always the most observant person out there when it came to social cues, but she sure as hell understood anxiety. She knew he wasn’t keen on the labs. Not from anything Stretch said, not fucking likely, but he was pretty sure Ass-gore had a top-secret file on him somewhere with a nice long list of his skills sets and another one of his phobias. He kinda thought the skill list was longer, not enough to bet on it. He hoped whatever pictures they stuck in it caught his good side, namely his ass.

The second Stretch was through the office door, Alphys closed it, shutting out all the bustling sounds and reflections, and the relief of it being out of sight, out of mind, made Stretch let out an explosive sigh.

Alphys gave him a nervous smile as she gathered a stack of folders out of the guest chair. “So-sorry about the mess.”

On her desk, bookshelves, and even the chairs were cluttered piles of papers and diagrams, surrounded her computer monitors like flimsy skyscrapers, the bright corners of manga books poking out from random levels, and empty coffee mugs standing around like statues.

There were toys, too, statues and plushies both, one that looked distinctly like smiling piece of poo, another of dragon, curled around one of the coffee mugs. On her desk was a figure from ‘Mew Mew Kissy Cutie’ and that gave Stretch a little pang to see.

Back home, (no not home, not for a long time now) it was ‘Bow Wow Smootchie Beauty’, the main character an anime girl with adorably floppy ears. For the first time in longer than Stretch could remember, a longing twinge for Undyne rose up in him. Not this world’s Undyne, his Undyne, and he hated phrasing it that way, but he couldn’t think of something better.

He and Undyne hadn’t been besties, but they’d still been friends. Close enough that he’d gone to her place a few times to hang out, watch anime, and chatter on about the episodes and what was the best kind of cup noodles. So many words tossed back and forth about nothing at all. So long as they stayed in her rooms and out of the lab proper, it didn’t bother him, and Undyne never brought up her work, even when it was kinda obvious she wanted to.

That wistful look started showing up more and more, and Stretch stopped going even before everything went to shit in Underswap. There was something for his regret bucket. That he hadn’t taken the time to keep up his end of the bargain, hadn’t invited her over to his place for some movie viewing and yeah, she hated Snowdin, but he hated Hotland, so it was a fair trade. What wasn’t fair was knowing that if he’d been in Underswap, he would’ve gone to Undyne about this problem, without ever letting her talk about her work. Watched her nervously rub her hands together, half her face obscured by her long hair, hiding behind that curtain.

Stretch blinked hard, tearing his gaze away from the little figure and focused back to Alphys’s concerned face. Underswap was a long time ago and he needed to keep the count his of personal issues to one hand, thanks.

“hey, so thanks for meeting with me,” Stretch said. He plunked down into the chair while Alphys sat at the one at her desk, specially designed to allow for her tail. He didn’t bother resisting the urge to reach for his lighter, letting the rhythm of weaving it through his fingers soothe him.

“No problem,” Alphys said, “we got off c-course with t-tracking your HP. Is it t-troubling you again?”

“let me get straight to the meat of it,” Stretch said, “i want you to run another scan on my hp, then you can tell me.”

She nodded. “Have you been h-having any symptoms?”

“i’ve been really tired lately, run down,” Stretch admitted, “i take a nap and i wake up still tired. i can fall asleep anywhere.”

Alphys hummed thoughtfully, “S-sounds like Undyne r-right now.” She gave him an unexpectedly teasing look, "Are you s-sure you aren't p-p-pregnant, too?"

"har, har, al." Stretch about sprained an eye light rolling them as hard as he could. “unless i grew some unexpected equipment, there won’t be any knocked up at my door.”

"Well, in theory, s-soul mating c-could result in the c-creation of a souling, there were experiments—"

"in theory, sure,” Stretch interrupted, unreasonably annoyed; he didn’t want to talk about experiments, thanks. “but that requires rubbing two souls together long enough to make a fire. since edge and i stick with rubbing pelvises, i'm going with not." Stretch shuddered; just the thought of it was nightmare fuel. "sorry, preggies is okay for people who want it, but i'd rather donate a femur to the cause.”

"I th-think I wouldn't have m-minded," Alphys said, shyly. "But Undyne has better HP than me, so we d-decided she should be the one to c-carry the baby.”

Even talking about this was making him a little uncomfortable, but Al had the look of someone who wanted to talk, maybe needed to. She was doing him the favor, here, the least he could do was listen. Probably Al didn’t get to talk about it much, since she wasn’t the one with the bump.

The memory of his Undyne made him push aside his discomfort. Stretch forced a chuckle and said, "heh, if that's the deciding vote, then if we were gonna baby it up, Edge would be the pregnant one."

"He would have very f-fashionable maternity clothes. He and Undyne c-could bond over prenatal yoga." Alphys looked at him curiously, rocking back in her office chair, “P-pardon me for asking, but are you t-two looking for a surrogate, then?”

“fuck, no!” Stretch blurted. Yeah, that might have been a little excessive, Alphys winced, cringing into herself. Stretch tied on his smile again, “sorry, sorry, that was rude.”

Alphys shook her head, and her words were gentle and nonjudgmental, “N-not at all, it’s a p-p-private decision, I shouldn’t have p-pressed.”

Probably not. He and Al weren't specifically close, as friends or anything else, so Stretch wasn't sure why his stupid mouth chose to add, "i really don’t want kids and edge…i mean. he says he’s fine with it.”

If Alphys was surprised to hear him toss out that conversational gambit, it didn’t show. She only leaned in, her eyes kind behind her glasses, “You d-don’t believe him?”

Wasn’t that the ten-dollar question? Stretch really wished he was sure about the answer. He wanted to believe Edge, maybe Edge even believed himself, tried to, anyway. Stretch looked down, away from Alphys’s gaze, and said in a small voice. “i don’t know.”

“Hm.” Alphys stood and waddled over to stand next to him. Even sitting, he had to look down at her as she settled a clawed hand on his shoulder, “I really want this baby,” she said, clearly, “But I th-think if Undyne d-didn’t want to have kids, I’d be okay w-with that.”

There was enough quiet sincerity in that to make him swallow hard against a knot settling in the back of his throat. “yeah?”

“Yeah,” Alphys smiled, a loving, brilliant smile meant for someone else, someone tall and brash, with a lot of red hair. Not his Undyne, but hers. “I f-fell in love with her, n-not her DNA,” Alphys said, firmly. “Although she does have very n-nice DNA. So maybe you should b-believe him.”

Stretch offered her a smile of his own, one that felt a little wobbly, but hey, it was there. Look at him, communicating back and forth like a grown up and all. Doc Lee would be so proud. “thanks al. congrats by the way. how are undyne and the bump?"

"Impatient," Alphys sighed deeply, and wasn't there chapters of meaning in that one word.

“know much about the sprog yet?” Stretch teased and it felt okay. “gonna be twins? tadpoles?”

She giggled and shook her head. “N-no, the ultrasound is showing one baby. She’s d-due anytime now, it can be d-difficult to gauge with mixed Monster species.”

The scientist in him was a little curious about that; he’d gone for physics over biology. He wondered who they’d gone with for the dad juice, but he wasn’t the kind of asshole who would ask.

“i do like kids,” Stretch admitted, “i just don’t want part ownership with one. bet edge would like to babysit.”

She hummed thoughtfully, “B-be careful with that offer, I’m s-sure we’ll take you up on it. Now, we’ve g-gotten off-topic.”

Stretch winced. “yeah, sorry, sorry, i know you’re busy.”

“Not so busy that I can’t h-help,” Alphys countered. She turned around to scrabble through the clutter on her desk, came back with a notepad and a pencil. The tip of the pencil hovered over the paper, ready to write, “Now, you’ve been t-tired. What are you getting when you run a Ch-check?”

Of course she’d ask that, it made sense, it was the very first thing to be done to see a Monster’s stats. Quick, painless, and loaded with info, and Stretch didn’t really have a good reason for not doing one already, past ‘don’t wanna’.

Time to face the tunes. “i haven’t run one,” Stretch admitted quietly, “i know, i know, i’m wasting your time--”

“Hm? No, I don’t think so,” Alphys scribbled something down on the notepad. “Anything else out of the o-ordinary?”

“i thought about it and the only thing i can think of is i’ve been doing a lot healing lately, more than usual.” He didn’t say why and Alphys didn’t ask. “a lot of shit’s been going down. honestly, i don’t even know if something is wrong, but if there is, i wanted to get a leg over on it, get checked over before anything worse crops up.”

“You’re t-tall enough to get a leg right up over my h-head,” Alphys said, and the gentle tease soothed. Right up until Alphys set aside the notepad and picked up a tablet with a pair of electrodes dangling from it. “Right then, l-let’s run some t-tests. Can you summon your soul?”

Fuck, he hated this part. Or maybe hated was too strong a word. It wasn’t that bad, really, Stretch was used to a certain clinical touch on his soul from time to time, he got sick too often not to be. Used to the feel of gloved hands holding it steady to slip in an IV needle, or to attach leads, or to take a minuscule sample to study under a microscope, checking for what kind of germ hooked its wagon to his personal shining star this time. He was pretty numb to the whole ordeal at this point.

If he were honest with himself, and hey, sometimes he was, it hadn’t felt quite so invasive until he’d let Edge go hands-on with it. No one else had ever cradled his soul in a gentle hand, gazed at the silvery light that poured out of it with adoration. Sure as hell no one else had ever seen it during sex, rubbed a careful, bare thumb across its smooth surface and dragged such toe-curling pleasure out of him he’d damn near fainted from it.

Yeah, it was hard to sit back down in the waiting room once you got a glimpse of paradise.

He summoned up his soul, and didn’t watch as Alphys went to work. She was professional and gentle, hooking up the leads with barely even a pinch. She tapped the tablet and almost instantly, her expression changed into something... complicated. Um. That didn’t seem good. “what?”

“Oh, it’s n-nothing, let me--”

“it’s not nothing, you look like someone gave you a pinch on the ass. what is it?”

“It’s n-nothing bad,” Alphys corrected. “L-let me finish first, hasty c-conclusions lead to bad r-results.”

True enough but that was easier to deal with when it came to his experiments on growing better yielding plants through hydroponics, not so much when it was his soul on the line.

He waited impatiently while she poked at the tablet and managed to give her all of three minutes before bursting out, “okay, so what’s going on?”

“See for y-yourself.”

She held out the table and on it was a screen was a visual display of all his stats, from his soul pulse (running too fast) to his defense (sitting at its normal too-low), to his HP, displayed down to the tiniest decimal.

His HP, which had been slowly ticking upward for the past few weeks, was still doing it. Only now it was above five, closer to 5.3453367883. The last three crawled upward as he stared, turning to a unaccusing four.

“it’s going up,” Stretch said blankly. Way to state the obvious, there. His mind wasn’t calculating anything past that, nothing beyond his initial shock. He’d been expecting bad news, braced to hear the worst, and this was the exact opposite. It was like a trash bag breaking open to reveal piñata candy inside.

“Y-yes!” Alphys said happily. She tapped a clawed finger on the tablet screen. “It’s s-still going at the same r-rate as before, only it’s traveled p-past your base HP!”

“but…why?” Pointless question, what did it matter so long as it was going up, but Stretch didn’t like mysteries, not on television and not in life. He liked answers.

“That’s harder to d-determine,” Alphys admitted. “You d-did say you’ve been getting more rest lately, but th-that usually causes a one-time boost, n-not a cumulative effect. You said you’ve been using your m-magic a lot m-more, yes?”

“yeah, more than i usually do around the house.”

“M-maybe you should keep that up.” She snatched up the notepad and started scribbling furiously, leaving Stretch to gingerly remove the leads himself and allow his soul fade back into his chest. “T-take more shortcuts, practice a few a-attacks. We aren’t meant to hoard our m-magic in our souls, we need to l-let it out, k-keep it from going stagnant.”

“i guess i could.” Shortcuts, anyway, Stretch wasn’t really keen on making any sort of attack, not even for the magic drain, thanks.

“I think you should t-t-try it,” Alphys said decisively, “For th-this week, work on using your m-magic more than usual, then come back and we’ll r-run another test. It’s worth investigating.” She paused. “Of course, there is a-another possibility.”

“what?”

Her smile was a little tremulous, “M-monster souls response well to h-happiness.”

Before Stretch could say anything to that, his phone rang, showing an incoming call from the main source of his current happiness.

Fuck, he’d told Edge to call on his lunch.

He held up a shushing finger to his mouth and Alphys nodded, even as he swiped to answer it, “babe! i was just thinking about you—”

“I hope they were kind thoughts and not nefarious plans.” Just the sound of his voice was soothing, the soft underlying humor wrapped around his concern, “How are you feeling?”

Too much enthusiasm was going to set off alarm bells, so Stretch settled for, “better, i think. more myself, anyway.”

“That’s wonderful to hear, love,” Edge said warmly. “Then if you’re feeling better, perhaps you’d like to come upstairs to my office and have lunch with me?

Welp, so much for secrets. He should have known better to even try at the Embassy. If the spy gear didn’t get you, the gossips sure did. “who tattled.”

“I’m afraid I can’t reveal my source.”

Yeah, about the only person that took out of the running was Andy, and only because he’d promised not to tell. “yeah, i’ll be up in a mo’.”

“Wait,” Came unexpectedly from Alphys. “C-could you ask Edge to c-come down here? For a few m-moments?”

“um, sure, al,” Stretch said slowly and all his relief about his HP started to curdle until she hastily spoke up again.

“It’s n-not about you. O-or it is, but n-not in that way, it’s n-nothing bad, only an experiment I’m doing. I c-could use both your help.”

That didn’t sound at all ominous or anything, did it. But he owed a favor and Stretch did like to pay off his tabs. Eventually.

“babe, can you come down to the labs, to alphys’s office?” Stretch said into the phone. “she says it’s nothing bad.”

“Of course,” Edge replied, surprised, “I’ll be down in ten minutes.” The call disconnected and left him alone again with Alphys for ten long minutes, ten minutes that he didn’t really want to discuss experiments in until Edge was here. He could give Alphys that much, more than he’d ever given his Undyne.

But only when Edge was here, that was the thing and it was okay; Edge might be the one with all the strategy, but Stretch had a trick or two up his sleeve, too.

“did you see the last mew mew kissy cutie holiday special?”

Alphys brightened visibly and took the bait, babbling her way excitedly into his trap. Stretch settled back into his chair to listen, for at least ten minutes, but his wandering thoughts were more on his HP and that slow upward tick.

~~*~~

tbc

[bubble-booty-valkyrie]

So Emerald, I heard that your plan to get Broly to fuck you is by annoying him till he snaps and takes all his frustrations out on your fat ass. How did that work out for you?

One thing was for certain, Emerald had never worked so hard to get a stud in her life, but could you really blame her when Nora had described every jaw dropping detail about how he fucked her unconscious in just an hour? Every slut in this damn school was trying to find a way into his pants!

But this chocolate slut had a plan, and it was fool proof! Every single day she would make sure to rub agains him in the halls so he could feel every one of her best assets, whenever she could she would ‘accidentally’ drop something right in front of the massive mountain of muscle, bending at the waist to oh so slowly let her mini skirt raise up passed the curve of her massive, jiggly, cocoa colored cheeks and thong, giving him the perfect view of her ass that she knew would drive him crazy~

It didn’t stop there either, she would make sure to follow him to the gym each morning to practice all of her best moves exactly in his line of sight~ From stretching, to squats, to yoga, and of course, blasting music through her earphones and twerking her fat ass like she was getting paid to do it~! Emerald knew when she was getting to someone, and he had all the tells of a man holding himself back, right down to some very sext growls under his breath, and always looking just a bit meaner when she pulled off something extra slutty for him.

What the bubble booty slut never really noticed, however, was the way his eyes would shine a soft gold whenever she really got on his nerves.

Everything was going as planned, but Emerald was never really a patient slut, a patient thief yes, but she couldn’t hold herself back if it meant she was gonna get fucked by such a handsome stud. So at lunch time, Emerald made her move.

Broly sat down at the cafeteria table with a silent scowl while eating his meal, the many plates of food filling the entire table just to feed the massive beast of a young man. He was really starting to get annoyed with all the scantily clad women constantly getting in the way of him and his training, the long nights of waking up to a knock at his dorm room door just to find some women practically drooling while dressed in nothing but lingerie was getting old.

Broly was a red blooded, young, sexually active man. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what they wanted. And one of them had been going above and beyond to put her body in his face every chance she got. She had dark skin and green hair, and she had a butt so big that he couldn’t help but wonder where she got pants to fit her. Though, considering she barely wears anything but shorts that look like thongs and skirts that definitely couldn’t hide her ass, maybe she didn’t find clothes that fit her.

It didn’t matter, not when the only thing on his mind for the last week had been that thicc, round, jiggly ass she had. And that annoyed him to no end. He couldn’t train when all he was doing was imagining using her slutty body like he did Nora on the first day, the sounds she’d make when he finally-

“You don’t mind if I sit here, right~?” Emerald cut off the warriors thought as she cooed into his ear, plopping her massive, squishy, warm, cushy ass right into his lap like she belonged there, leaning back into his torso with her legs crossed. She was small, very small compared to him, maybe not like Neo or Nora, but she barely reached the man’s perfect pecks. With a little wiggle of her ass, Emerald got comfortable, loving the masculine scent of the massive man all around her, feeling his muscle tense and move like steel wires all coiled together. “A big guy like you, I bet you can’t even feel little ol’ me~”

With a smug grin, the dark-skinned beauty reached forward and plucked a piece of bacon off the man’s plate and gave it a nibble, slowly, sensually, firmly grinding and rubbing her massive bubble butt side to side in his lap. And holy shit, it felt like she was sitting on a wooden log~! Squished right between her cheeks, so close to her needy holes was her prize, and it was fucking huge~! She could feel every single throb and vein through his pants as she slowly built a rhythm up, hotdogging the massive beastly man through his clothes as he sat ramrod straight.

Emerald knew she finally had the man where she wanted him, he didn’t make a single noise as his cock grew even harder, practically doubling in size from his half hard state, and the chocolate slut could feel her own panties getting wet as it felt like if he got any harder he would lift her off his lap with his cock alone~! Gods, he was so fucking huge~!!

“What’s the matter Broly~? What’s this giant thing poking my butt~?” Emerald teased, leaning forward against the table so he could look down at her absolutely juicy, thicc, plump ass wiggling in his lap around his clothes covered cock. Maybe he wasn’t as in control as Nora said, either way, she was gonna get this cock inside her ass, today~! Eagerly twerking her ass up and down in his lap to really drive home why she was sitting there. “Already so hard~? Am I too much for y-”

Emerald stopped the moment she looked over her shoulder at the massive, silent, seething stud, her grin falling from her face as the man looked at her with a cold anger that was both chilling and hot as fuck at the same time. She noticed that his eyes changed color, something she didn’t know was something he could do, and, uh, did he look bigger..?

As his hair slowly grew a little wilder, his shoulders broadening, his muscles growing more and more pronounced, Emerald realized that she never actually knew what the massive man’s semblance was, but from the looks of things, she was about to find out.

It was only the sound of the man’s chair straining to hold his new mass that Emerald realized that the clothes covered cock in his pants had kept growing passed what she thought Nora had described, his usually baggy pants now strained from the massive, thick, scary spire tenting his pants and pressing hard between her cheeks. Emerald loved when men got angry with her, but even she had to admit that a furious Broly was something a bit more frightening then she thought it’d be.

Suddenly Emerald felt a lot more small and vulnerable when the man had seemingly stopped growing, his deep, masculine grunts and breaths showing just how hard he was holding himself back, even if his golden eyes showed off his animalistic needs.

“U-Um, sorry, maybe I got a bit carried awa-AH!” Emerald was trying to remove herself from the clearly angry man’s lap when she suddenly found herself bent over the cafeteria table with a giant hand pushing her face down against the surface, the massive mitt grabbing the back of her head and forcing her face down and her massive jiggly ass up high. It all happened so suddenly, quicker then she thought such a huge guy could move, the way he got up so fast that his seat was sent flying to the ground behind him as he stood up to his new massive height, a full head and shoulders taller then the already absolutely massive man usually was. A height that Emerald realized wasn’t just taller, but bigger in every way, including the man’s hot, thick, steel hard cock. “O-Okay, I’m sorry, I was just trying to have some fun~!”

The stud only replied with a deep, animalistic snarl as he eyed her massive, round, twin globes of wobbly chocolate ass with searing golden eyes. If this fucking slut wanted to get fucked so bad, the slut that was known around school to even him as a pain loving anal whore, who was he to deny her such a request? With another snarl, Broly ripped the chocolate beauties panties and skirt off her body like tissue paper, throwing the ripped cloth in some random direction before reaching down to pull his own absolutely massive, throbbing, musky, veiny, wrist thick, actually steaming hot fuckstick free from his pants to slap it down against Emerald ass, laying across her juicy ass and halfway up her lower back, sawing that pillar of meat between her cheeks with a vicious grin.

“H-Hold on, w-will that even fit~?! M-Maybe you should w-wait until I can warm u-up a little~?” Emerald was well known around beacon as a painslut who never backed down from a challenge, but his cock was fucking massive!! It felt like he just laid a baseball bat between her asscheeks!

Lifting her up onto her hands and knees onto the table to get the perfect angle, Broly put that absolutely massive, fat, broad, battering-ram tip of his precum dripping cock against her far too tiny, pre-lubed, tight, clenched little pucker that clearly wasn’t big enough to fit the man without some substantial force.

But clearly, that’s all that Broly had, pressing the tip of his absolutely monolithic pillar of meat against her little asshole with a snarl while the chocolate buttslut wiggled, thrashed, and squealed in pleasure and pain from the feeling of being stretched beyond belief.

Clearly the two forgot that they were in public as a solid second of silence filled the room before a loud, slutty, desperate squeal of pleasure crashed thoughout the dining hall when Broly suddenly got tired of waiting and slammed his hips forward to stuff half his cock inside the tiny slut’s even tinier hole, grabbing her perfect breeding hips even for his size for even better leverage while he yanked and pushed her as deep into her as he could, grunting and gritting his teeth as he fought to fill the little buttslut’s chocolate booty.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH~!!!!!” Tears flowed down Emerald’s face as she broke out into the sluttiest, most broken expression the school had ever seen her in, her eyes crossed, her tongue hanging out, droll dripping down her chin. And Emerald only got louder as Broly FORCED the rest of his absolutely giant cock into her asshole, his hips smacking against her voluptuous, slutty, thicc, jiggly chocolate ass with a ripple and a clap, his heavy sack slapping against her femcum dripping pussy.

Broly didn’t care to let her get used to the feeling, too filled with rage and lust to care about anything else besides ruining the hole he stuffed his cock into as he yanked his slick cock out and slammed it back in just as fast, creating an absolutely blistering fast, brutal tempo that filled the whole hall with loud clapping of his hips against Emerald ass, only drowned out by her loud screams and squeals.

Every thrust made the entire hardwood table rock and bounce, sending glass and plates falling to the floor with a loud crash each time, a pool of femcum and precum forming underneath Emerald’s poor, abused asshole on the dining table. Phones and cameras were pulled out to record every second by the gathered crowd, every single second of Emerald brutal, fast, absolutely animalistic anal pounding by the absolutely MASSIVE man behind her.

Every single long, thick, hard, steaming hot, throbbing inch of Broly’s massive fuckstick scraped and pounded into Emerald’s favorite hole harder and farther then she’d ever been fucked before, his massive, rough, strong hands mauling and groping her massive globe of squishy bubble butt before giving it a nice harsh smack, making her squeal just a little louder for a second. Every second felt like an hour as the green haired buttslut clawed and gripped the hardwood table for dear life, her entire body rocking and shaking with every firm thrust from behind.

“D-Daddy~!! Yesh~!! F-Fuck me more, Daddy~!!” Emerald had never been fucked so hard in her life, her fat cheeks stretched and squished around the man’s shaft as it disappeared and claimed her asshole as his personal fuckhole~! Her world was rocking and she couldn’t even see straight, the loud banging of the table filling her ears before she was suddenly yanked off the man’s cock and thrown over onto her back, too weak to even lift her head as she stared straight up at the ceiling.

“W-Wha~?” She started, before her world was filled with nothing but the cut figure of the young man who still wanted to use her poor, tiny abused asshole. She could feel him grab her juicy thighs and lifting her knees up so her legs were next to her head before getting into position and SLAMMING his cock back into her hole, putting the little broken slut into the deepest, hardest, most brutal mating press she had ever had. 

The man slammed his hips up and down like a jackhammer, slamming his pillar down into her asshole over and over again with grunts and snarls that of a breeding animal, his muscles tensing as he used every ounce of strength he had to fuck the little chocolate slut into the table.

Emerald couldn’t even remember her name at this point, just licking and kissing the man’s muscles every time he slammed into her like she was madly in love with him, not caring in the slightest that she was nothing but a glorified fuck toy for the massive stud.

And apparently, Broly thought so too, lifting up the tiny women and flipping her around to hook his arms under her legs and really use her like a fleshlight, bouncing and jerking her body up and down his dick like a cocksleeve made just for his dick.

“AAAAAHHHH~!!! YESH~!!!” Emerald was seeing stars, barely able to keep herself from cumming over, and over, and over again, squirting all all over herself with every particularly hard thrust from the young man, the whole school could hear the absolute wrecking Emerald’s asshole was getting from the wanted stud.

This went on for hours, the young man constantly moving the chocolate beauty’s body into every slutty position he wanted, using her her for his own pleasure without a single care for her well being, and finally he put Emerald back to her first position on the tablewanting to see that fat ass jiggle and bounce in his lap again as he got ever closer to his finish. And he was close.

People had been staring on in shock for the solid hours he was using the women, skipping class to watch the absolutely obscene show that no one had ever witnessed before, recording and even self indulging as the women was used by the massive beast that was Broly. And he wasn’t done just yet as he grabbed a nice handful of the women’s green hair to yank back as he began fucking her even harder then before, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she screamed and squealed herself horse.

Grunting, snarling, and even shouting in pleasure and anger, Broly started slamming into her even faster before finally letting loose his practically boiling hot cum into Emerald asshole, his cum shooting out around his shaft as he let out a loud, masculine snarl of anger and pleasure. Each thick, stringy, gooey shot of cum shot deep into Emerald abused hole, making her already sore voice come out for a final time before she finally fell unconscious her body going limp on Broly’s cock as she passed out onto the broken table.

With a harsh tug, Broly yanked his cock free of her gaping hole, a fountain of cum pouring out onto the floor as he admired his work with an almost malicious grin. But with a sigh, he went back to his usual neutral expression, not even looking at the shocked crowd of people as he gathered his things and went on his way, wondering when combat class was starting now that he was late for everything else.

Emerald was still face down on the messy, broken table, unoncsious with her gaping asshole pouring out cum onto the floor, team Rwby and the other girls staring in shock with cold food on their plates, not sure if they should go take a shower together considering they all came in their panties a few times.

[immortalbarnes]

The Auction

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: You attend one of Tony Stark’s infamous fundraisers and meet a mysterious Avenger

Warnings: Swearing, SMUT (unprotected sex, female receiving oral)

A/N: this is my submission for @ugh-supersoldiers​‘ 5k writing challenge! i’m still pretty new at writing smut, so feedback is greatly appreciated!

Fuck parties. You’ve hated parties since highschool. You’ve always been more into intimate get togethers, or just alone time. That’s probably how you climbed your way to riches, now being the CEO and founder of a multi-million dollar technology startup you began senior year. You were too busy creating the next best selling product online to attend parties, but now that you’re somebody in America’s capitalistic society, you need to give yourself a good image to keep your business afloat.

That’s why you’re sucking it up and attending Tony Stark’s fundraiser tonight.

Honestly? You’ve never been the biggest fan of the billionaire, but he was a fun guy nevertheless, and his parties weren’t unbearable, so you decided to stick it out for a few hours, bid at the auction to save the pandas or whatever this was for, and sneak your way onto some tech blogs to help your reputation flourish.

Of course, you have to look good, so you slip on a black chiffon mini dress from Prada. It’s sheer at the top, and drops down to your midthigh, for long gowns were never your thing. You add some red bottom pumps to match. Your stylist gives you loose curls to wear down, and a minimal eye look, but adds red lipstick for drama.

“Thanks, Kayla,” You say as you pay her for her services, “it’s rare I ever go to these things.”

Arriving at the event at the Avengers Compound, you instantly swerve through the crowd, making it to the balcony as soon as possible. You’ve never been a drinker, and the bar and dance floor were always too crowded, so you decide to reside outside until the charity auction begins. Leaning over the ledge, you overhear the infamous Mr. Stark. Looking to your left, you see him persuading another brooding character that looks like they have the same thought process as you.

“C’mon, Barnes! It’s one night, and maybe you can find a special someone!” Stark entices.

“No thanks, it’s one thing to convince me to participate in this stupid auction, so don’t keep pushing it.” The man replies, eventually the light catches on his left hand, the metal revealing that it’s none other than The Winter Soldier.

“Whatever, if you want Sam and Steve, they’ll be at the bar.” Tony begins to walk away before you catch his eye, you try to avert your eyes, but he’s too quick, “Y/N! So glad you could make it!” He strides over to you, so you force a smile and turn to lean your back against the glass wall protecting you from the edge of the flooring.

“Pleasure to see you tonight, Stark, why are you out here?”

“Just trying to get grandpa over there to cheer up, but I should be asking you the same question, Y/L/N, there’s a whole bar and dance floor in there!”

“Never been a drinker, so I’m just waiting for the auction, so we can save some pandas.”

“Turtles, actually, but may I interest you in my pal, Mr. Barnes over there? You both seem like the loner type, and I wouldn’t dream of leaving either of you alone on a night like this!”

You begin to protest, but he already has you by the wrist, dragging you across the balcony to Bucky, you stumbling over your too-tall heels until you’re face to face with the Soldier. He’s wearing a black suit with a black dress shirt and no tie. Your eyes meet his crystal blue ones, his hair that reaches his shoulders is slicked back perfectly,  he has a bit of a stubble on his strong jawline, and right now you’re realizing how gorgeous this deadly man truly is.

“Bucky, I’d like you to meet a very special friend of mine, this is Y/N Y/L/N, founder of Y/L/N Corp.” Tony introduces.

“Oh yea, your company is like Starks, except better!” The brunet chuckles. You notice that his eyes crinkle a little bit, making your heart flutter, “Nice to meet you, doll.” He seems a lot happier than he was earlier when conversing with Tony alone, but who could blame him.

“Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Barnes.” You finally manage to get out.

“Wow, you just met, and are already in better moods. Thanks to me! Keep staring in each other’s eyes, I’ll see you at the auction.” Tony says before returning back inside.

“So what brings you to the balcony?” Bucky asks.

“Never been a huge party person, just here for the charity shit.”

“Me too pretty much. My friends are inside, probably at the bar, but alcohol has no effect on me, so there’s no point in wasting the booze.”

“Oh, you’re bidding?”

“No, I’m part of the auction. Stark convinced all of the Avengers to be part of the prizes to bid on. Sam’s doing flying lessons, Natasha’s doing a yoga session, I think Wanda’s doing a cooking class, and so on.”

“What are you doing? I might just have to bid…” He laughs, and once again you’re paying attention to the crinkles near his eyes when he smiles.

“A date, sadly. I wanted to do a training session or gun range lessons, but Steve already called the training and Tony said that guns are too controversial,” He sighs, “plus apparently I need to put myself out there more. Believe it or not, I used to have game… in the forties.”

“I’ll bid on you, so you won’t have to deal with some rich cuck’s wife drooling over you for two hours.” You reassure him.

“Hey, if you win, I wouldn’t complain about going on a date with you.”

“Really?”

“Of course, darling, in fact, you don’t even have to-”

Before he could finish his statement, you hear someone call for him,

“Buck! We gotta go backstage, the auction is about to start!” You turn and see Steve Rogers poking his head out the glass double doors.

“Well, see you after the bidding, doll.” He winks and walks off with Captain America.

Maybe this party isn’t so bad afterall.

…

Not long after Bucky leaves, Tony on a mic calls all to the auction room. A sea of chair being filled by America’s richest lay before a small stage holding Tony Stark with his microphone. You pick up a paddle by the door and choose a seat somewhere in the middle of the crowd.

First up to bid on are small gadgets and technology Stark invented, you don’t bid on any because you could make something better in a heartbeat. After they’re all gone, Tony speaks,

“Tonight, we have a special collection of auction prizes. A plethora of classes and experiences with none other than Earth’s mightiest heroes… The Avengers!”

The crowd erupts in applause and excitement of the news. You shift in your seat, nervous for the bidding on Bucky to begin.

First is archery lessons with Clint, then yoga with Natasha, cooking with Wanda, then finally Tony leads out Bucky,

“Now ladies and, well, ladies, your chance at a date with the Avenger’s most eligible bachelor; Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes!” He earns himself an elbow from Bucky at that comment, “Okay! Let’s start the bidding at $500!”

You sit and wait for the early bids, knowing you can easily outdo any of them. Once the bidding reaches $3,000, you lift your paddle.

“$3,500 for Ms. Y/L/N over there, can we get $3,750?” Another paddle raises, and another bringing it to $4,000.

“$5,000!” You shout and raise your paddle.

“$5,000 from Ms. Y/L/N!”

“$7,000!” All heads turn to the other side of the room, where a girl with dirty blonde hair in a bun is raising her paddle. Her name is Sarah Palmer, and if there’s anyone you fucking hate, it’s Sarah Palmer. She hasn’t done as much as lift her finger her entire life, for all her money comes from her daddy. Your eyes meet Bucky’s panicked ones as he silently pleads for you to outbid that spoiled brat.

“$7,500!” You call out.

“$10,000!” Sarah calls back, you meet her glare from across the room.

“This bitch wants to play dirty…” You mutter, “$15,000!” You rarely spend unnecessary money, but this wasn’t just for you, it was to save Bucky… and also the turtles.

“$20,000!” She calls out after you. You gulp and almost accept defeat, until you remember you’re a goddamn millionaire, so what’s a few thousand to help out a new friend?

“$30,000!”

“$30,000 from Ms. Y/L/N! Going once… going twice… going-”

“$35,000!” Sarah screeches, she must have had to ask daddy if that was too much.

“For fucks sake, $40,000!” You yell, hoping that pushes her out of the running. You look over to her asking her father if she can go any higher, but he shakes his head no. Meaning you won.

“Alright!” Tony says, “$40,000 going once, twice, sold!” He bangs his gavel on his podium, “A date with the handsome Mr. Barnes is all yours, Miss Y/L/N.” Sighing, you sit back down in your seat, meeting eyes with Bucky as he gives you a grateful smile.

…

After the rest of the auction closes out, you go backstage to set up your date with the operations assistants. You see Bucky come up to you in the corner of your eye,

“You’re quite the firecracker aren’t you. I knew you were rich, but not $40,000 on a date with my old ass self rich!” He leans an arm on the wall and smiles.

“It wasn’t just for the date, it was for the turtles! And to save you from two hours with the demon spawn of Mr. Palmer.”

“Is she that bad?”

“She’s one of the rudest, most spoiled people I’ve ever met. She’s probably crying in the bathroom right now because daddy’s money wasn’t enough to win a night with you.”

“Speaking of a night with me, when do I get the pleasure of treating you like a queen?”

“Well, Barnes, the official date is next Saturday, but you can treat me anyway you want any night you’d like.” You wink.

He smiles and bites his lips, “Then why are we still here? My room is two floors up.”

“Lead the way, Sargeant.” Saying that earns a devilish growl from him as he grabs your wrist and drags you out of the backstage area. The trip to the elevator consists of weaving through the crowded dance floor of the main room, and one the way, you catch the puffy eyes of one Sarah Palmer, who glares daggers at you. You throw her a wink before Bucky tugs you into the elevator.

As soon as the doors close, his lips are on yours, soft and plump, he kisses you so hard that you’re taken aback for a moment, but soon return the gesture. His hands grab your hips ferociously and pull you in. Luckily with your heels, you reach him just fine. Only pulling apart once the elevator dings and he grabs you by the wrist once more and pulls you down the hall into his room.

“FRIDAY, lock the door.” He says, then he throws you on the bed like a ragdoll. You kick off your heels and watch Bucky stalk towards you on the bed, lips slightly red from your lipstick. He pulls his jacket and shoes off when he reaches you, and then he pulls your dress over your head, revealing your matching black lacy bra and underwear, “Oh, doll,” he purrs, “You look marvelous.”

You blush a little as he reaches around you a unclasp your bra with the utmost ease, “Wow, Mr. Barnes, and you said you had no game.”

“I might be a little rusty, so bear with me.” He chuckles as he begins to unbutton his shirt, pulling it off you can’t help but gasp as he reveals his god-like build. Golden abs, an impeccable chest leading to brutal scarring connecting his mortality to his black and gold vibranium arm.

“Is… this okay?” He pauses as he catches you staring.

“O-of course! You’re just so gorgeous I wasn’t ready for it.”

At that he smirks and begins to undo his belt and pants, revealing an incredible bulge straining against light gray boxer briefs. Bucky then pushes you against the comforter and attacks your exposed breasts. His hot tongue on your right while his cool metal arm caresses your left. He swirls around your nipple before switching to the other side, every small movement coaxing a moan out of you.

“God, doll, your tits are so fucking perfect,” he says as he nuzzles in your cleavage and plants kisses on the soft skin, his long hair tickling you. He begins to press kisses down your stomach towards where you’re wanting him most. You sit up on your elbows and watch as he bites the top of your panties and pulls them down and kneels on the floor, his eyes not leaving yours. You swear that it’s the hottest thing you’ve ever seen.

Bucky’s mouth comes back up and instantly latches onto your clit, and you scream in pleasure as he flicks his tongue over your sensitive nub. It trails down toward your hole and he begins to fuck you with his talented tongue. Your thighs are trembling and squeeze around his head, his eyes look back up at you and you feel him smirk against your core. His hands go up to hook them under your thighs and pull them apart so he can fuck you deeper with him tongue.

“Oh- oh my God, Bucky!” You whine. Electricity pulses through you as you climb to your first orgasm, legs shaking even harder around his head. At once, everything rushes out when you hit your high, but the soldier helps you ride it out, licking bold stripes up and down your core, cleaning up your juices.

“The sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.” Bucky says as he stands up to tower over you, his scruff slick with your arousal.

Pulling down his own boxers, he uncages his impressive cock, which has you watering at the mouth, “Like what you see, darling?” He smirks at your slack jaw.

“Oh my god, Bucky, fuck me, please.”

He basically pounces on you, enclosing you between his arms, voice low and gravelly, he purrs, “Beg for me, princess.” Your lips barely brush against each other.

“Bucky, baby, please, I can’t take it! Please fuck me with your fat cock!” You choke out.

“Your wish is my command.” He says as he slowly slides into you, stretching you out so well.

“Holy hell, Barnes.” You moan as his pelvis reaches you, his tip almost hitting your womb. He gives you a moment to adjust to him, but soon enough you're begging for him to move, “Move, please.”

Smirking he slowly begins to slide in and out, the pace painfully slow. You know he’s teasing you from the devilish look on his face, and you’re having none of it, so you begin to grind against him.

“No, no, no, doll.” He growls, “I’m in charge here.” He places his metal hand on your hip to still you.

“Then please move faster!” You plead.

“Well, since you asked so nicely.”

At that, he begins to relentlessly pound into you, shaking you to your core. Grunts and whines come out of both of you with every thrust that makes a harmony that’s music to Bucky’s ears. Keeping eye contact with you the whole time, you fall limp in his gaze and become mush in his hold.

The electricity begins to run through you once more and you feel the knot build in you again as you reach your climax.

“Bucky, baby, I’m so c-close!” You can barely make out.

“Come for me doll. Should I pull out?”

“N-no! I’m on the pill. Want you to fill me up, Barnes.”

“On the count of three, baby, come with me.”

You squeeze your eyes shut as you prepare for your orgasm.

“One”

He strikes into you mercilessly, pulling everything you have out of you.

“Two”

It’s felt like years, as you open your eyes and meet his gaze once more. His pupils are blown as he studies your blissed out face.

“One.”

Everything within you releases, and same with him. His white hot seed erupts within you. It feels like pure magic.

“Oh my god.” You breathe out. He collapses next to you, panting.

“Doll, you’re fucking incredible. You are a firecracker.”

“So worth $40k.” You laugh.

“Oh, Y/N, that wasn’t even the date.” He chuckles, “Just wait until Saturday, when you see what blowing $40,000 on James Barnes gets you.”

“All for the turtles.”

[remywrites5]

Hey there! I really love your fics, and ficlets, they brighten my day every time I read or re- read one! I'm sort of having a rough day, and I went through all your wolfstar, because wolfstar is one of my favourites, and then I really got into spideypool, but it seems I can't find that many good fics out there! Is there any chance you could write something where peter gets kidnapped because he photographed something he shouldn't? Only if you have free time of course!

I’m sorry you were having a tough day! Again this ask is from forever ago but I hope all is well. Thanks for you prompt! 

******          

 This was just…well…humiliating was the word that came to mind. Peter had been kidnapped –or abducted seemed more appropriate because he wasn’t a child no matter what Mr. Stark said. It wasn’t his fault that these big, muscle-y guys had jumped him as Peter. He couldn’t exactly fight them off without giving away his secret identity. It’s not like mild-mannered Peter Parker could fight off five guys.

           He had a feeling he knew exactly what this was about too. He’d been snooping around Oscorp and had taken some pictures of them doing human testing for some new kind of drug that appeared to be some kind aggression hormone based on the way the subjects freaked out. That was all the world needed, more Hulks. He’d hadn’t had a chance to sell the pictures to the Daily Bugle yet because Jamison was a grade A asshole who had chosen to haggle with Peter over the price.

           Now he was chained to a chair and he probably could have busted out of them if he’d given it his whole strength but again Peter Parker can’t break out of chains. So Peter sat stewing in a ball of frustration when he heard gunshots. His eyes widened and he wondered if he was going to have to blow his secret identity just to not get shot in the fucking head by whoever was coming.

           He was just about to break the chains when the door swung open and in strolled Deadpool. “You coulda had a bad bitch! Noncommittal!”

           Peter groaned and shook his head. If the Avengers found out he was rescued by Deadpool, of all people, he would never live it down. The only saving grace was that Deadpool didn’t know Peter’s secret identity.

           “Oooh!” Wade said, holstering his guns. “I must have walked into the pantry because I just found me a snack!”

           Peter rolled his eyes. “A little help, please?”

           Wade cocked his head to the side. “Say, aren’t you the guy who takes pictures of Spider-man? Do you know him? Can you get me an autograph?”

           “Why would I know him just because I take pictures of him?” Peter asked, shuffling uncomfortably in his seat. “Do you think everyone that works for US Weekly knows Taylor Swift?”

           “You’re my looooover!” Wade sang out.

           “Can we focus?” Peter asked impatiently. Although he knew Deadpool had a thing for leaving a stack of bodies in his wake, he didn’t want to chance that someone might come along.

           “Right, right, more helping, less talking,” Wade said, going over and inspecting the chains. “I need a key. Hold on, I think I killed a guy with some down the hallway. Don’t go anywhere, sexy!”

           “Where am I meant to go?” Peter growled after him in frustration.

           He sat there with Taylor Swift stuck in his head while he waited for Wade to return and rescue him. This pretending to be helpless thing was the worst. He was about to just break the chains and claim a rat ate them when Deadpool reappeared. “Fancy meeting you here!”

           “What are you even doing here, anyway?” Peter asked as Wade unlocked the chains. “I doubt you came here just to save me.”

           “I mean, if I had known a cutie like you was in peril I would have done this job pro-bono, but Justin Hammer paid me a lot of dineros to sneak in here and steal some science-y information, and also kill a bunch of people. But, since you’re here and I’m here and I’m about to be filthy rich, why don’t you and I do dinner?”

           Peter shot Wade an absolutely baffled expression. “Does this really seem like the time to be asking me out?”

           “No time like the present, baby boy,” Wade said with a shrug. “I don’t wanna wait for our lives to be over!”

           “Please for the love of god, stop singing,” Peter begged, looking up and down the hallway to try and figure out where his camera might be stashed. He supposed he would just have to go room by room, which would be much quicker if he could lose Deadpool and go about it as Spider-man.

           “Not a fan of the creek, huh?” Wade asked, following Peter as he took a left and began opening doors one after the other. “How do you feel about Golden Girls?”

           “Wade,” Peter said, walking over and putting his hand over Wade’s mouth. “Is there anyone alive left on this ship?”

           Wade shook his head no.

           Peter groaned. “Shit! This is going to take forever to find my camera.”

           “I saw a camera!” Wade said as soon as Peter removed his hand and began his search again. “Come with me!”

           Wade grabbed Peter and hauled him over his shoulder, carrying him like a sack of potatoes. “I can walk you know!” Peter said, huffing indignantly.

           “I know,” Wade said with a grin that stretched his mask. “I just wanted a close up look at that ass. Do you do yoga? Pilates? It’s fairly toned for such a nerd.”

           “Wade?” Peter said as evenly as he could.

           “Yeah?”

           “Get your hand off my ass.”

           “Whoops.”

                                                                       ***

           Once he got back to his apartment, Peter posted the pictures on the internet for free, not wanting the hassle of fighting with Jamison over them. At least the word would get out about what Oscorp was doing. More than anything, Peter just wanted to put the whole ordeal behind him.

           Which was extremely difficult to do considering Deadpool was currently breaking into his apartment through the window, and making a fuck ton of noise while he was at it.

           ‘Hey Petey!” Wade said, tumbling into Peter’s bedroom.

           Peter watched Wade scramble to his feet. “So you found out my name, huh?”

           “Yup!” Wade said, strutting around the room like he was proud of himself. He wasn’t in his full Deadpool gear, just sweatpants and a hoodie with his Deadpool mask.

           “And you’re here because…” Peter gestured for Wade to fill in the blanks because Peter really had no clue.

           “I’m your new bodyguard!” Wade said, puffing up his chest. “And don’t worry, I know you’re a struggling college kid, so you’ll only have to pay me in food. Or kisses. Whichever one you prefer.”

           “Why do I need a bodyguard?” Peter asked, watching Wade walk about his room and rifle through his stuff.

           “Word on the street is that Norman Osborne is pissed about the pictures you took and posted online,” Wade explained, holding up a pair of Peter’s underwear that had Cap’s shield on them. Peter jumped up and shoved them back in the drawer before closing it forcefully. “So I’m here to offer my services.”

           Peter chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully. If Osborne was gunning for him then it might not be a bad idea to have some backup. Getting abducted had been really stupid and at least with Deadpool around the chances of that happening were significantly decreased.

           “Fine,” Peter said, holding his hand out to Wade. “You’re hired.”

           “Oh Petey!” Wade said, ignoring his hand and pulling him into a bear hug. “You won’t regret this!”

           Peter doubted that very much.

                                                           ***

           It had been three weeks of round the clock Deadpool and nothing had happened. No attacks, no retribution, no nothing. The worst part of all was that Peter was kind of starting to…like Wade? Having him around wasn’t quite as annoying as he had thought. It was actually nice to have some company for once and despite what he had said, Wade was the one who provided the food most of the time. He did mention the kissing more than a few times but it obviously never amounted to anything.

           Which is why Peter really hated what he was about to do. “There was no threat against my life, was there?” he asked, already having a feeling about the answer.

           Wade looked around for a moment to avoid answering the question and then slumped down. “No,” he grumbled.

           Peter huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I mean, I’m relieved but why did you lie?”

           Wade shrugged. “I wanted a reason to see you again.”

           Peter laughed. “We could have just hung out, Wade, you didn’t have to make me fear for my life.”

           “People don’t really hang out with me if they can help it,” Wade informed him unhappily.

           Peter figured that was probably true. He thought about all the times he had blown Wade off as Spider-man, declining his offers of epic team ups. Maybe Wade had a point and it was kind of hard for Peter to stay mad at him.

           “Hey Wade,” Peter said, scooting closer to him. “You can come over whenever you want. Just no more busting in on me in the shower, okay?”

           “I had to make sure you were safe!”

           “We just established that I wasn’t in danger!”

           “Better safe than sorry, Petey.”

                                                                       ***

           Peter was a little offended when Deadpool kissed Spider-man, which made no fucking sense because he was Spider-man. But Wade didn’t know that and something about that hurt. Like Wade was cheating on him with him, and the whole thing made Peter’s head hurt.

           Peter had texted Deadpool for help patrolling the city one night, wanting to see Wade and figuring he could make up excuses to see him. It only seemed fair. They’d stopped a bodega from getting robbed and a purse snatcher. It hadn’t been the most exciting night but it had been fun. When they sat down on a roof to eat their hard earned tacos, Wade had pounced the moment Peter had rolled his mask up.

           Peter found himself flat on his back on the roof with Wade’s tongue slipping into his mouth. He would have enjoyed it if he hadn’t been so offended on behalf of his alter-ego.

           “Mm, Petey,” Wade murmured, sucking on Peter’s lower lip.

           “Wait,” Peter said, shoving Wade off of him. “You know?”

           “Puh-lease,” Wade said, rolling his eyes. “Like I wouldn’t recognize that Spider-man and the guy I’ve been spending all my time with lately are the same? Not to mention that ass.”

           “Oh,” Peter said dumbly, propping himself up on his elbows. “Well, that’s okay then.”

           “So we can go back to the kissing part, then?” Wade asked, crawling back over Peter. “I mean you do owe me for three weeks of service.”

           “You didn’t do anything!”

           “I protected your sweet ass, Petey,” Wade said, nipping at Peter’s chin. “Made sure it wasn’t violated by nefarious persons unknown.”

           “The only nefarious person my ass was in danger from was you,” Peter quipped, capturing Wade’s lips again.

           “Mm,” Wade hummed, cupping Peter’s face in his hands. “I’ll violate that ass any time, baby boy.”

           “If I let you do that I’m pretty sure that makes me a prostitute,” Peter said, laughing softly. “Selling my body for good and services.”

           “It worked for Julia Roberts.”

           “Are you going to scale a fire escape with some flowers and profess your love to me?”

           “Any time, any place, you just name the day, Petey.”

           “White limo too, or it doesn’t count,” Peter teased, wrapping his legs around Wade.

           “Obviously,” Wade said, kissing Peter breathless. After several moments he pulled back. “Although I think our story is more like The Bodyguard.”

           Peter laughed. “I’ve never seen it.”

           “What??” Wade shook his head. “Whitney Huston? Kevin Costner. And I-I-I will always loooove youuuu.”

           Peter grinned. “Wanna go home and not watch it while we make-out on my couch?”

           Wade matched his smile and then stole Peter’s breath away with another kiss. “I fucking love you.”

           “Love you too,” Peter said, pressing kisses against Wade’s scarred cheek. “I don’t know if I ever said it but thanks for rescuing me.”

           “And you rescued me right back.”

           “Nice Pretty Woman call back.”

           “It’s what I do, Petey.”

           Peter gently pushed Wade off of him and grabbed the bag of tacos. He put his arm around Wade’s waist and held him close. “Come on, let’s go home.” Peter shot out a web to the building across the street and took of swinging in the direction of his apartment with Wade signing “Rewrite the Stars from the Greatest Showman in his ear the entire time.

           Peter couldn’t even find it in him to mind it all that much.

[trilliastra]

I read this tweet that said "this guy was sitting on the floor of the gym on his phone and he looks up at me and goes "my girl has my location shared and i promised her i was gonna go to the gym more so now i just sit here and watch netflix". Which just screams sterek fic to me XD

Derek notices him the first time heshows up wearing jeans and a t-shirt, definitely not appropriateexercising gear. He’s correcting Mr. Wilson’s posture, buthe still sees the guy walking towards Erica, saying something that makesher laugh and then taking a seat at the lobby.

Derek figures he’s waiting forsomeone, so he just focuses on Mr. Wilson and lets the guy be.

Two days later the guy is back, thesame stupid smile on his face as he says hi to Erica and collapses onthe same chair, phone in hand. Derek frowns before Laura is callingfor his help with one of her exercises - his sister just doesn’tknow when to stop trying to gain muscle, god. 

January and February are the busiestmonths, people who usually just run outside come into thegym to avoid the cold and the snow, so Derek doesn’t have the timeto wonder about the guy. But three weeks after the first time Dereknoticed him, Erica goes into labor.

She sounds calm when she calls Derekinforming him she won’t be able to make it, but five minutes afterBoyd leaves the gym in a hurry she calls Derek again, yelling about her husband not being there with her yet. Erica is his best friend andDerek’s going to be her daughter’s godfather, but damn - he coulddo without her screaming.

“Hey.” The guy comes into the gymwhen Derek is sorting through stacks of paper, taking care of thefront desk while Erica is probably yelling obscenities at thehospital. “Where’s Erica?”

“Having a baby.” Derek answers,arching an eyebrow when the guy’s eyes shine and he smiles.

“Oh, cool!” He yells,enthusiastically. “I like babies.” He says before taking his phone and starting to watch some video.

Derek’s eye twitches. “Areyou waiting for someone?”

The guy looks up, gives Derek anonce-over and shakes his head. “No.”

“Then why are you here?”

“My girl has my location shared andI promised her I was gonna go to the gym more so now I just sit hereand watch Netflix.” He smiles like that’s a completely normalthing that people do.

“Did Erica give you our wifipassword?” Derek takes a deep breath, tries to remember his friendis in pain right now.

“Yep.” He pops the ‘p’,not taking his eyes away from his phone. “We are buds.”

“Right.” Derek closes his eyes,rubs at his temples. “That will be 10 dollars.”

“What?” The guy all but jumps,dropping his phone on his lap. He licks his lips and Derek followsthe movement with his eyes, groaning inwardly. Figures the guy wouldbe hot - and have a girlfriend. With hands like that, of course hedoes. He bets those fingers can do things tosomeone. “I’m just using your wifi!”

“For free.” Derekstresses.

“I -” the guy sputters, trying tocome up with something, “I wanna talk to the owner!”

“You are.” Derek smirks, crossinghis arms over his chest. He tries not to laugh as the guy freezes.

“Ugh.” He takes hiswallet, slams a ten dollar bill on the desk. “And Ithought Erica was scary.”

“She is.” Derek smilestriumphantly. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just tell yourgirlfriend the truth?”

The guy snorts, humorless. “No.”

“Oh well,” Derek shrugs, “suityourself.”

-

Erica laughs until she cries whenDerek lectures her about giving their wifi password to strangers. Hisglare is less effective when he’s holding a tiny cute baby in hisarms, but - well, Erica was always immune to his glare.

“His name is Stiles.” She informs, taking Bea from him. “He’s Scott’s friends, you know?The guy who works with Isaac.”

Derek does know him, Scott is a nicevet and a nice guy. Stiles - and what kind of name is that? - is not.

“He shouldn’t be lying to hisgirlfriend.” Derek states, just to have something to say. Boydcomes into the room and smiles softly at his wife. “And ifyou’re coming to a gym every other day, why don’t just try itout?”

“Not everyone likes lifting weightsas much as you.” Boyd points out, clasping Derek’s back andsmiling teasingly.

“Well,” Derek mutters, runningone finger over Bea’s nose, “I guess he doesn’t reallyneed much exercising.” Not that Derek was looking.

“Interested much?” Erica teases.

“He has a girlfriend.” 

“So?” She smiles, taking Boyd’shand. “Boyd had a girlfriend when we met, now look at us.”She winks. “A house, lots of sex, one daughter.”

Ugh.

-

“Hey, Derek!” Derek groans, hideshis face further in his arms. “Woah, what happened to you?”

“Took Boyd out to celebrate.” Hemumbles. It’s been so long they went out, he had forgotten Boyddrinks a lot.

Stilessnorts. “Sucks being you.”

“Ha-ha.”Someone slams a door inside and Derek winces. “I hate my life.”

Aglass of water is placed in front of him and when Derek looks up,Stiles is smiling. “I heard it helps.”

Dereknods, slowly. “Thanks.” He says, watching as Stiles sits on thechair that Derek now thinks as ’Stiles’ chair’and takes his phone. “What are you watching?”

“MadMen?” He says. “Have you watched?”

“Thefirst two seasons, I think.” Derek drinks the rest of the water,thinking about the last time he sat in front of the TV to just watchsomething. Paperwork is a bitch.

“I’mstarting the third.” Stiles smiles. “You wanna?” He waves hisphone and pats the seat next to him.

Dereklooks at the stack of papers on the desk, his head still pounding.Fuck it. “Yeah, okay.” He sits next to Stiles and tries not tothink about how he smells so nice.

-

It’s been two weeks since Erica hadBea and she’s still home. She came to the gym the week before tointroduce Bea to the rest of the staff, took one look at Derek’s deskand insisted she was ready to work. Derek only shook his head andsaid he could handle it – it’s a lie and they both know it, butErica has a baby to take care now. Derek can deal with a fewsleepless nights, mostly because he knows Erica is not sleepingeither.

“So what do you teach?” Stilesasks, leaning against the front desk and running his eyes over themess Derek spent most of the afternoon trying to sort.

“Everything.” Derek shrugs.“We’re a little short-handed since Erica is on her leave andJackson left without any explanation two months ago.” Even thoughJackson is an asshole and they’re much better without him, that meansDerek has to cover his shifts. Which also means less sleeping, moreworking. “And what do you do?Besides coming here and doing nothing, that is.”

Stilessnorts. “I work from home and I mostly do my own hours. Lucky me, Iguess.”

“Yeah,yeah.” Derek waves him off, pointedly not staring at his smile. Theattraction was easy to ignore when Stiles was just sitting therequietly, but now he’s decided they needto talk. It’s the worst – the guy couldn’t just be hot, he has tobe smart, cute and funny too. Cora is having the time of her lifeteasing him. “Here,” he hands Stiles a calculator and a list ofnumbers, “do the thing.”

“What?”Stiles fumbles with the paper. It’s stupidly cute. “Dude, did youforget I’m the one paying you?”

“You’redistracting me.” Derek says. “So shut up and do somethinguseful.”

“Rude.”Stiles mumbles, but he sits next to Derek and begins to work.

Stilesdoesn’t leave till Derek closes up and then practically drags him tothe coffee shop on the corner. It’s one of the best work days Derek’sever had.

-

Stiles shows up next Monday wearingsneakers and sweatpants, it’s not what Derek would have chosen but itwill have to do. “No.” Derek doesn’t let Stiles sit, takeshis arm and drags him towards the room they use for yoga classes. “Doyou know how to stretch?”

“What.” Stiles blinks. “Ofcourse I do, but what - “

“Then stretch.”

“But I don’t want to!” Stileswhines. “Can’t I just go back to watching Black Mirror on myphone?”

“Nope.” Derek smiles. “Newpolicy: you’re in my gym, you do what I say. Stretch.”

Stiles groans, but do as Derek said.He alternates between complaining and glaring, but Derek doesn’tmind. He’s enjoying himself watching Stiles suffer. This hasnothing to do with the way his arms look. Or his ass.

Shit, that’s a nice ass.

“Are we done?”

“As if.” Derek smirks, dragginghim to the treadmills. “Ten minutes, then let’s see what youcan do with the weights.”

“Nothing!” Stiles complains. “I’mweak! I do computer programming and I never leave my apartment! Iplayed lacrosse in high school and I only watchbaseball on my TV, please stop torturing me.” Derek snorts, makingStiles glare at him again. “You’re an asshole.”

“I know.” He turns around. “Tenminutes.”

-

Even though he complained for thefirst ten or fifteen minutes, Stiles is surprisingly good atfollowing instructions. Derek makes him do pull ups, works histriceps and his legs with different exercises and finishes withanother ten minutes at the treadmill. 

“I’m dead.” Stiles says whenthey are done. “You killed me, I hate you. Where’s Erica?”

“Still taking care of her baby.”Derek shrugs, looking down so not to give into the urge to lick at astray drop of sweat running down Stiles’ neck. “You know youcan change instructors, right? Maybe you’d prefer Cora?” Hepoints at the far end of the gym, where Cora is yelling at Danny topress harder. Stiles visibly shudders. 

“Yeah, no.” He sighs. “Thanks, though.” Stiles scratches at the back of his neck. “Iactually need to start doing stuff, I’m just too lazy to admit.”He smiles shyly, and Derek feels himself flushing red.

“I’m doing this for yourgirlfriend.” Derek says, turning around to mess with some neatlyorganized papers, just so he can have something to do with his hands.

“Yeah,” Stiles starts, “shebroke up with me, like - weeks ago.”

“Oh?” Derek turns, feels hisheart begin to beat faster. “Why did you keep coming, then?”

“I don’t know.” Stilesshrugs. “I guess I just like it here.” It’s Stiles’ turnto look away. “When you’re not making me exercise or helpout with the bills, you’re actually nice.”

“Oh, I –” Derek swallows hard,tries to hide his blush, “thanks, I guess.” He’s so bad at this,no wonder he’s still single. Sometimes people come into the gym andstart hitting on him and Derek only finds out days later, when Ericacalmly explains at him that ‘no, Derek, she didn’t actually need helpstretching, she just wanted your hands on her’.

“You’re welcome.” Stiles says,looks down at his phone and then up at Derek again. “I guess I haveto go. Unless, you want me to stay? Help you out some more?” Hesmiles, tentative.

Derek licks his lips, looks away.“Nah, it’s fine.” He shrugs. “I – you go ahead. I – uh, seeyou tomorrow?” He risks a glance at Stiles and sees him nod slowly, almost disappointed.

“Sure.” Stiles says, pocketinghis phone. “See ya.” Derek watches him walk away with one lastwave, follows him with his eyes as Stiles gets on his Jeep. Hedoesn’t turn on the engine, though, just stays there, hands on thesteering wheel, breathing in and out.

Derek doesn’t know what does it –if the look on Stiles’ face or if he’s just too tired after all thistime wanting and wondering– but one minute he’s watching Stiles mutter something to himselfand the next he’s sprinting across the room and towards Stiles’car. “Stiles!” He knocks on the window, watches as Stiles’ faceturns surprised and smiles. “I – do you wanna go on a date? Withme? Tonight?”

Stilesblinks and then he grins, brightly. “Of course.” He says. “Ithought you’d never ask.”

“In mydefense,” Derek says, smiling back, “I thought you had agirlfriend.”

“Fairenough.” Stiles concedes. “But in my defense, you lookreally cute when you’re tired and that’s just really unfair.”

Dereklaughs, leaning over the window to press a kiss against Stiles’cheek. “Meet you at the coffee shop in two hours?”

Stilesbrings one hand to rest over the spot Derek just kissed, eyesshining and a beautiful smile on his face. “I’ll see you there.”

–

Even afterthey start dating, Derek keeps making Stiles exercise but less at thegym and more at home. On his bed.

[garglyswoof]

billy russo goes after karen to hurt frank

Thanks for the prompt, Luce! It’s not super long as i need to be writing my damn challenge fic instead of this but it was good to get something out.

Motion sensors blared the first warning, but Frank barely glanced up as he loaded a clip into his .357. This was all part of the plan, like so many plans before it, just a little bit fancier with the addition of Micro’s toys. He’d come a long way from the days of listening to police scanners.

In some ways.

Frank punched at a ceiling tile, slinging a sawed-off shotgun up into the cavity before grabbing the edge of the beam and swinging himself up into the ceiling. Hunched over, he picked his way across the metal, grace belying his size. Curtis had always made fun of him practicing yoga, but that shit kept him limber and light on his feet. Power wasn’t all you needed in a fight - stamina, agility, will, focus - those were the things that kept you from getting killed.

Those same things would keep him alive tonight, knowing full well that the trap he’d laid was just as much a trap set for him. Whoever was hunting him wasn’t stupid, and neither were the mercenaries they’d hired.

“Hi honey, I’m home!” a voice called out with an edge of cruel amusement as it rounded the entrance into the latest basement-dweller warehouse Frank had commandeered. He tended to hunt these kinda places out, perhaps as a nod to Micro, perhaps just recognizing the tactical advantage a place like this offered.

Either way, Frank recognized the voice that called out to him now even before he spotted him through the cracks in the ceiling tiles.

“Frankie boy! Let’s talk!” Harkin. Ex-military, of course. Mercenary who earned quite the price for both his high kill rate and low profile. Smart. Twisted. Firmly in Russo’s pocket with a serious point to prove. Frank knew the type - young, cocksure, and ambitious, Harkin saw Frank as a ticket into notoriety. Springs squeaked as Harkin slouched down in a chair at the main console Micro had installed. Frank watched him, his eyes lit by a flourescent bulb that shafted up through the cracks, his body in shadow, coiled and tense. There were no other soldiers. What the hell was going on?

Harkin thudded his boots up on the desk, long legs crossed at the ankle, hands cupped behind his head in a picture of relaxation. Frank’s eyes tracked back and forth, mind whirring, methodical. Harkin wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t let his guard down so utterly without good reason, but Frank also wasn’t stupid, and waited patiently for a reveal he knew had to be coming.

“What would your wife think, Frank? That you have a pretty piece not even a year after she was ripped to shreds in a cloud of bullets? A year since you watched the blood spread across her pretty sundress, clot in your daughter’s hair?” Harkin’s dark eyes scanned the room as he pushed off the desk, the chair sent in a controlled spin. “Can’t have a weakness, Frank. Should know better than to show us where you bleed.”

Frank held back, clenching his jaw. He knew Karen was a mistake, knew it even in the brief moments he’d thought he could be free of this life. But humans are funny like that. Sometimes you craved the mistake. Karen deserved much better than his broken ass, that was for sure. But now she was a liability, a taunt to hang over his head, yet another person he’d failed. Fuck.

He had to hold back, not rise to the bait, shit, convince Harkin that Page wasn’t bait. Had to pretend not to care while figuring out how to keep her safe. He thought of her gun in her purse, bouncing against her side as she walked in those heels and those damned pencil skirts.

Sure, she could take care of herself, but she shouldn’t have to in the first place.

Harkin still spun slowly below, and Frank could see a flicker of doubt in the merc’s eyes now as he combed a hand through his short military-issue buzz cut. A lot of habits died hard. Frank began picking his way across the beams, circling behind the shelves that backed up against the console for coverage.

“You hearing me, Castle? I can at least offer you a soldier’s death. Be better than what we give the reporter.”

Frank felt the thought prick behind his eyes, the idea that this would never, ever end. That the choice he made could never be undone, his enemies and the injustice of it all a hydra spitting new heads up as soon as he could cut one off. And despite this, there lay the truth of it that he lent a final second’s thought to as he dropped down from his perch, spinning Harkin out of the chair with a one-handed blow from the shotgun - away from the computer equipment, Micro wasn’t easy to find these days - and firing point blank.

Harkin had made the mistake of thinking he was needed, that the threat he issued against Karen warranted keeping him alive to pump for information, because that’s what Harkin would do. But Frank already knew what he needed to do, who he needed to kill, what he needed to protect. He left Harkin’s corpse spreading its blood on the concrete, flip phone to his ear, making the same choice he would always make, the truth ringing in him as she answered.

“Frank?” Somehow her voice was nervous and expectant all at once, and something fierce bloomed in his chest as he responded:

“Time to go.”

[dancingalone21]

Another Chance

Summary: The reader ends up on a double date with Dean. Will they have a good time or will they drive themselves and everyone else crazy?

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Word Count: 1,979

~

“I can’t do this. I’m leaving your ass here. Call me when you need to be picked up!” You declare strongly, ignoring the sheer panic flashing across your best friend’s pretty features.

“Don’t you dare. Let’s go!” Jenny huffs theatrically, grabbing a hold of your bicep and refusing to set you free.

“I did not agree to this.” You whine dramatically making your best friend suddenly shoot daggers at you.

“You agreed to go on this double date! Come on, Y/N. This is my first date with Sam and I’m really nervous. I need a buffer.”

“I figured my date would be someone I actually like. Sam has so many cute friends and he picked his god damn brother. What the fuck?”

“Sam had someone picked out but then Dean said he wanted to go…” Jenny adds, casually avoiding eye contact.

“Yeah because Mr. Smooth needs to be setup.” You scoff while trying to pull your arm out of Jenny’s grasp. Of course she won’t budge, knowing you’ll take the opportunity to run away.

“I think Dean likes you.”

“I know. He always hits on me.”

“No he likes you, Y/N.”

“Oh please. He’s a playboy. Always has been and always will be. His feelings about me do not go beyond wanting to see me naked.”

“Just give it chance!”

This is what you fucking get for being an amazing and thoughtful friend. For giving a shit about someone else’s happiness besides your own. This is why a 5'1 spunky brunette is dragging you into a hole in the wall Italian restaurant.

You groan louder than intended once you spot the Winchester brothers across the room. Immediately you assess that the table is tucked away in the corner, giving a perfect view of the entire place. There’s no way in hell you can ditch this stupid double date without one of the guys catching on.

For fuck’s sake, your lame scheme is ruined which means it’s time for Plan B: a shit ton of alcohol. Jenny automatically side eyes you, already knowing how your stubborn brain works. Damn it. This is gonna be tougher than you thought.

You’re momentarily distracted as Jenny locks eyes with Sam, it’s quite clear that they’re already head over heels. You feel pleased for her but it doesn’t last long, Dean’s rough voice unfortunately snaps you back to reality.

“Hey, Y/N. Look at you.” Dean immediately scans your frame, licking his lips like you’re on the god damn menu.

“Hi Dean.” You manage with a somewhat polite smile, before catching the knowing expression on Sam’s face. You can tell he’s holding back a snicker and you’re definitely not amused. Oh he’s so gonna pay for this.

Forty five minutes later and you’re still annoyingly sober, Jenny speaks up every time you try to order hard alcohol. And you know better than to cause a scene with Sam there. She would full on kick your ass to the moon and back.

Dean has been surprisingly subdued which is strange for him, the amount of obnoxiousness that usually pours out of his mouth is absent. He seems to speak up more with each beer that he downs and you’re confident that it’s not a good thing.

“So Y/N, you’re a nurse right? You must love the sponge baths, especially when it’s a hot patient. Shit, talk about easy access. You don’t even need to go on dates.” He smirks ignoring the obvious elbow shove and glare that Sam gives him.

“I don’t bother with the patients. Not when there’s hot doctors running around, Dean.” You retort happily, enjoying the aggravation evident in his body language.

“You work the night shift, right? That must suck sometimes.” Sam eagerly jumps in, ignoring the scowl on his brother’s face.

“It can but I’m single so it’s not a huge deal. I’m sure once I get married and then have kids I’ll want to adjust the hours to something more flexible.”

“Marriage! The end of spontaneous sex, travelling by yourself and buying whatever you want without having to ask permission. Right?” Dean cracks loudly with an obnoxious expression to match.

“Real mature, Winchester. No wonder you’re single.” You mumble, getting an automatic glare from Jenny while she squeezes your leg under the table.

“The last thing I want is some needy chick all over my ass about everything. I already have a mother. I don’t need two.” Dean huffs, chugging the rest of his beer and slamming it down on the glass table.

“I bet the girls are lining up for your charming ass.” You say with a chuckle, instantly wiping Dean’s smirk away.

“It’s not like you would understand, Y/N. I’m pretty sure you have the nagging thing down pat. You probably live for that shit.” Dean challenges leaning further back in his seat.

“Guys, keep your voices down…” Sam quickly chimes in, exchanging annoyed glances with his date. The table is drawing attention from other patrons and it’s getting embarrassing. At least for him and Jenny. You and Dean are too busy insulting each other to notice.

“You just revealed a lot about yourself, Dean.” You reply with a shake of your head, refusing to acknowledge that Jenny is now squeezing the shit out of your thigh.

“Really.” He smirks getting a kick out of your observation.

“Yup.”

“Well, do tell. I’m all ears.”

“You make stupid decisions. Like the girls you choose to date.”

“I like the girls that I date.” He scoffs visibly irritated.

“If you want a decent fuck and someone to get bombed with on weekends then sure. None of them are marriage material. And the fact that you think getting married means you’d gain a second mother is pathetic. Maybe you should just stop acting like a child.” You spit while feeling heat rush to your cheeks.

“The doctors must run in the other direction when they see you coming, sweetheart. Jesus Christ.” Dean growls back before looking over to his brother. Only Sam is no where to be found. You follow his gaze and see that Jenny is missing too.

“Great! They fucking ditched us.” You grumble now seeing Jenny’s text on your iPhone.

“They went to grab drinks at a bar.”

“Which one?” Dean asks defeatedly.

“Doesn’t say. I doubt they want us fighting there too.”

Lovely. You wanted to ditch this dumb date and instead you’re the fucker that got ditched. Now feeling a heavy gaze, you snap your head up to see Dean watching you. This just keeps getting better. You need to flag down the waiter and get the fuck out of this form of hell.

“Wanna get dessert?” Dean wonders out of nowhere, he’s choosing to ignore the look of shock on your face and continues  on.

“They have good cake here. Or we can get ice cream down the street.”

“Are you���are…what? You can’t be serious.” You finally stumble out now staring at a confused man.

“Why not? Might as well finish the date.”

“You’re insane. I’m going home.” You laugh humorlessly, throwing some cash on to the table before pushing back your chair.

“Later, Winchester. It’s been a blast. Let’s not do it again.” You roll your eyes at his cocky head nod in your direction and then book it out of the restaurant.

This is exactly how you wanted to spend a night off from work. You wanted to be stuck on a date with a man child and then fight publicly with said man child. Ugh. You need to consume strong alcohol and you need to do it now.

~

You’re barely home for thirty minutes before you hear a loud knock on your apartment door. What the hell? You’ve had enough social interaction for the fucking night. You quickly finish changing into your yoga pants and hoodie then unwillingly head for the door.

“Seriously.” You groan under your breath once you see the tall drink of water that is Dean Winchester. You swing open the door without a word and just wait for him to talk. He doesn’t speak, just checks out your comfy clothes before making eye contact with you again.

“You’re a fucking pussy.” Dean finally says looking pleased with himself.

Well, that was worth the wait.

“Hello to you too, dumb ass.” You sigh heavily dragging your hand over your face.

“How did you know where I live?”

“Jenny told me.”

“Oh wonderful. Remind me to thank her.” You say as Dean pushes the door open wider so he can stroll right on in. So much for being invited.

“I’m giving you another chance.” He declares proudly.

“To do what?”

“To date me.” He plasters a huge grin on his face and it makes you quirk an eyebrow.

“I love how you act like it would be an honor.” You giggle plopping down on your couch while Dean does the same.

“This is a joke, right? Are you drunk? Should I call Sam to come and get you?” You sass sitting Indian style.

“First of all…shut up. And second…that’s not what I meant. Even though I am pretty bad ass.” Dean clarifies ignoring the amusement on your face.

“Let me take you out on a real date. I wanna do this right for once. I’ll pick you up, wear nice clothes and take you wherever you wanna go.”

“Dean…”

“Usually I just wear a flannel and ripped jeans then take a girl to some bar to get wings and beer. I usually don’t put much effort into it, to be honest I’ve never had to.” At this point you know he’s not done rambling but you stupidly try to stop him.

“Ok but Dean…”

“Obviously the right girl isn’t that easy to get. She has standards and won’t just accept a shitty date because a cute guy suggests it. A girl like you.” He finishes appearing slightly awkward and nervous, clearly being genuine with the opposite sex isn’t his thing.

“We literally just fought at the restaurant. The other half of our double date left us because we were being assholes.” You can’t help but chuckle at how ridiculous this night turned out.

“You like me. I know you like me. You know that I know you like me.” Dean gives you his trademark smirk and you literally wanna smack his head.

“And I obviously like you too. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. This real dating thing isn’t something that I’m used to but I want to change that. No risk no reward, right?”

You silently yell at yourself to just kick this bastard out of your place and never ever think of him again. But he’s such a handsome, funny, adorable bastard. Fuck.

“I’m gonna regret this.” You mutter more to yourself than to Dean.

“That’s a yes, right?” He asks excitedly making you pinch the bridge of your nose.

“Yeah. I’ll do it but you better not screw me over, Winchester.” You poke him hard with your finger making a deep laugh rumble from his chest.

“Oh and ya know that crap you said about getting married?” You add causing him to hesitantly nod his head.  

“First, if I’m with a guy…I’ll fuck him whenever, however as much as he wants because I love sex. Second, traveling alone is cool for about a day and then it becomes boring as fuck. And third, if a guy is responsible and takes care of the shit that needs to get done, I don’t give a fuck what he buys after that.” You’re finally done on your tangent, now registering that Dean has a huge smile overtaking his face.

“Still wanna take me out?” You giggle making him do the same and it’s music to your ears.

“Hell yeah, baby. I’ve been waiting for a girl like you my whole life.”

~

[delta-roseblr]

30 Day OC Challenge: Day 16

Its free space day!

Okay, so before I get into the meat of this one let me warn you this was supposed to be a cute ficlet about how Dean and Felix first met with a little bit of stuff to set the stage for where Felix was at with the move and everything but it got away from me a little bit. 

What I’m saying is this is long- I apologize for nothing.

Felix was sitting in a chair that he was one-hundred percent positive was older than he was, probably his parents too. That chair was in what the principal called an office but was the size of a closet, although it had a window so at least there was that. The space was only made to feel smaller by the oversized furniture that was crammed into the space; there was a desk, two half-full bookshelves, and far too many chairs.

It was supposed to be his new guidance counselor’s office but he wasn’t feeling too confident in the man’s skills. The guy sitting across from him on the other side of the desk was small, disheveled, and probably about two months away from a decade overdue retirement.

As the failed-community-college-professor stared at what Felix could only assume was his transfer file Felix realized he was too big for the chair he was sitting in.

Great, Felix thought with great annoyance, I can just add that to the ever-growing list of how his parents’ divorce had fucked me. That might have seemed petty but it was a pretty expansive list- his mom was banging some twenty-something yoga instructor from her gym and all his friends knew about it, his dad decided that he needed to suffer so he dragged him from his home (not his saintly little sister, Ally, just him) to the back-fucking-woods of the god-damned south, he had to transfer schools with like six weeks left to the fucking school year, and if all that wasn’t bad enough his girlfriend of like two years of dating changed her Facebook relationship status to it’s complicated the night before.

Well, fuck her! No one uses Facebook now anyways.

“Felix Jackson,” The wizened old man behind the desk finally decided to start talking as he looked up from the folder that laid open before him. It was about fucking time! What was he even reading anyways? Felix doubted there could be much more than a transcript sitting there, he wasn’t that fucking interesting. “Felix is an unusual name.”

Felix shifted in his too-small-chair and pulled this arms over his chest. “I guess,” he retorted in a clipped tone. Yeah, that was rude but why should he care, and wasn’t that a rude comment.

The counselor seemed oblivious of Felix annoying which seemed fucking impossible considering the fact Felix felt like he was practically wearing a god-damned sign. “Family name?” the geezer questioned with sincere interest.

What a stupid fucking question. “Not that I know of,” Felix replied in the same disinterested tone as before. Again, Felix realized he was being rude but it had a point, maybe the old man would take a fucking hit, stop wasting Felix’ time, and get on with this shit already.

“Oh,” The man (Felix probably should have paid more attention when the guy told him his name) actually seemed to notice Felix’ attitude. He actually seemed a bit taken aback by it which Felix would have found amusing if he could feel anything but pissed. In Vermont, if Felix had talked to a teacher that way he was he would have been told flat out to cut the attitude but that apparently wasn’t the southern way. The man coughed slightly and looked down at Felix’ folder for a few seconds before quickly shifting his gaze to his seriously outdated computer monitor. “Well, let’s get you signed up for some classes.”

“Great,” Felix replied without enthusiasm. He just wanted to get this whole stupid thing over with.

Ancient counselor man started ticking away at the keys of his even older fucking computer. “We can put you in American history, trigonometry-”

“Already took it,” Felix stated cutting the guy off. Again, he just wanted to move this bullshit along. It was so stupid this was even taking up his time, there was like six weeks left to the school year. “I was taking pre-cal back ho…” Vermont wasn’t Felix’ home anymore, but he was still getting used to that idea. There was part of him that actually expected to wake up in his old bed and find out that all of this craziness was just a bad reaction to too much beer or bad weed. That hadn’t happened yet, hence the resentment. At least this time he caught himself before he actually said the word home. “Back at my old school”

“Oh…” The man looked away from his computer screen with an expression that couldn’t mean anything good. “Well, I don’t think we are offering pre-cal this year,” He stated like that was fucking normal as he turned back to his screen and typing at away. “Not enough interest, but you’re a sophomore so you’ve got two years ahead of you if you’re still interested It could be offered at some put.”

What the actual fuck? What piece of crap, back-fucking-woods, hick school did his dad enroll him in that they can seriously talk about basic classes not being offered on a regular basis? Felix wondered with increasing frustration.

The counselor didn’t seem bothered about how truly shitty the school he was working for as he clicked a few buttons. He actually had the fucking audacity to smile at him as he questioned, “What about business math instead?”

“No thanks,” Felix replied not even trying to hide his revulsion. He didn’t see how learning the basics of balancing a checkbook (which was fucking common sense) compared learning Euclidean vectors or matrices.

At least that time Felix was sure that the old man actually caught on to his discontent. He gave Felix an odd look which made it more than clear that he wasn’t used to dealing with such sullen and rude teenagers. That must have been a southern thing, but the guy was shit out of luck because Felix wasn’t some ass-kissing southern boy. “Right,” the man looked back at his screen clearly unsure how to handle Felix. “Well since you have all your right math credits we’ll just put you in an elective, any area of particular interest?”

Felix shifted in the too-small chair, and it wasn’t exactly out of nervous but that was a bit of an uncomfortable topic. It wasn’t that Felix didn’t have interests he just didn’t know if that was the image he wanted to present first thing at a new school- Felix Jackson, computer nerd.

Whatever, it wasn’t like he wanted to make friends with the future farms of America anyway. “Are there any computer science classes available?” Felix questioned, it was good to at least have an idea of his opinions.

“We’ve got keyboarding,” the man offered brightly like that was even fucking related.

Felix was speechless. When he was told that he was moving he thought that was the end of the world but it just kept getting worse. Not only was his dad moving, he was moving out of state all the way to fucking Tennessee. And even though his dad actually managed to find a job pretty close to Nashville he had to go and buy a stupid fucking house in the middle of god-damned no-where. So Felix got dragged halfway across the country, away from his school and his friends and his life. And now, like the icing on the god-damned shit cake, he was apparently attending one of those crappy country schools where he would be lucky if his classmates could fucking read. Call Felix crazy but he had never wanted to know what it would be like to be the smartest person in the room. Guess he didn’t have a choice now.

The counselor went on about what classes Felix would take unaware of Felix internally freaked out and missed most of what he said. Felix was signed up for all the basic courses and somehow he managed to get signed up for keyboarding too. Felix just couldn’t find it in him to care enough to argue.

When everything was finished the counselor actually looked fucking proud of himself like Felix schedule was a work of art or some shit. “I think that’s about it,” the old man offered happily.

“Great,” Felix replied flatly.

He just wanted out, Felix was half out of the chair when the man made an unhappy noise. “Wait, oh that might not work,” the man declared as he started shuffling through the few papers that had been in Felix’ file. “Didn’t I see something about you being on the soccer team?”

“Are you actually asking me?” Felix actually laughed, what the fuck was the point that stupid fucking folder in front of him. The man looked at Felix and he actually seemed to be losing his patience which was probably more amusing than it should be. Still, getting a guy that old to take a swing at him would probably get Felix sent to a special level of hell so he shrugged and answered, “Yeah, I played.”

“Do you plan to try out for the team here?” The man questioned.

The answer was he hadn’t even thought about it. He thought about lacrosse but was told almost immediately that is crap school didn’t have a lacrosse team. He was a decent soccer player, but it wasn’t really his passion. “This school actually has a soccer team?”

It might not have been his passion but it might be a good way to meet a few people, maybe make a few friends.

“Yes,” The man smiled brightly, “quite a good one actually or, at least, that is what I’m told.”

“I guess I might try out,” Felix shrugged. He didn’t want to commit to anything too seriously. And even if he was absolutely planning on trying out, it was none of Father Time’s business.

“Right,” the man nodded before turning back to his computer screen, “Well, then we will need to switch your English class,” he informed although Felix didn’t see why. He began typing away at his computer again, “just in case.”

“Okay,” Felix huffed even though that still didn’t make any sense. He actually wanted to question it but that would have led to him being stuck in the stupid office even longer.

There was some more typing that might as well been the falling ping of a hammer. It was infuriating and weirdly soothing, Felix was kind of surprised when the ancient man said he was free to go. He wouldn’t have been surprised if an eternity in that office.

He was surprised that the man didn’t actually hand him his actual schedule when he questioned it the main just pointed him toward the secretary that was stationed in the space just outside the office. Well, at least he was done with Old-Man-Time.

Sitting in the reception area at a desk that had probably been nice when it was purchased which from the looks of it was about forty years ago was a plump older woman busy at work. Felix approached the desk but didn’t get a chance to say anything before the woman turned and smiled at him brightly (too brightly). “Well, hello there sweetheart.”

No one had the right to be as cheery as that woman was but unlike with the old counselor, Felix didn’t feel like he could take his own bad mood out on her. “Ah, yeah hi,” Felix tried to sound friendly and hoped it didn’t come out sounding too forced, it wasn’t exactly a tone he was well-practiced with anymore. “That guy-” he pointed back toward the office from which he came, “-say you’d give me my class schedule.”

The women seemed to brighten with understanding before hopping off her chair and waddling over to a nearby print. She grabbed a piece of paper off the tray before waddling back over and passing it across the table. “Here ya go hon. You’re all set.”

“Thanks,” Felix replied uncertainly and without enthusiasm. The woman’s overly cheerful demeanor stood as such a stark contrast to his mood and the current state of his life Felix genuinely didn’t know how to handle it.

“Of course, hon” The women replied happily. “And if you need anything, feel free to stop by and ask, alright?”

“Sure,” Felix replied under his breath as he picked up his schedule barely glancing at before folding it and tucking it in his pocket. He probably should have been more worried about where exactly his class was but the school was tiny he knew he could figure it out. He took a few steps towards the office door but found himself dragging his feet. “Um,” Felix stopped at the doorway and turned back to the unrealistically nice secretary. The words weren’t even out of his mouth and he already felt like an idiot. It didn’t matter, it wasn’t like there was anyone around that he cared about anyways. “So that guy mentioned something about there being a soccer team.”

“Absolutely hon!” The woman exclaimed excitedly. “One of the best teams in the state!” She actually sounded proud, like she had something to do with it personally.

“Yeah,” Felix offered because, honestly, he didn’t know what else to say to that. “Would you know if try-outs are in the spring or fall?”

The women’s face dropped. “Oh hon, I don’t,” she replied her own disappointment evident.

“Right,” Felix shrugged and tried not to let his own disappointment show. It really wasn’t even a big deal, he could always ask around and it wasn’t like he was even sure he wanted to try out for the team anyways. “Thanks anyway.”

Felix turned to leave and was halfway out the door when the secretary called after him, “Oh, but you know what?” The woman was seriously too peppy, Felix was seriously beginning to wonder if she spiced up her coffee with a little something extra, like cocaine. “You should ask one of the Solace boys, I’m sure they’d know.”

Felix blinked, hard. He was sure this was one of those southern culture shock type moments because she certainly couldn’t have been serious. It was all Felix could do not to make a Dukes of Hazard reference because all he could picture was two hicks doing freeze frame car jumps in a piece of shit car. “Solace boys?” It even felt weird even saying it out loud.

“Yup!” The women exclaimed taking any of the questioning in his voice at face value instead of recognizing it for the existential crisis that it represented. She smiled brightly at him as she chattered on, “I think one of them is out sick, the poor thing, but the other one should be around and it doesn’t really matter which one ya find they’re both good boys.”

“Okay,” Felix really didn’t know how to even begin to handle all of that extremely bizarre information so like everything else in his life that was bizarre, or unmanageable he was choosing to not. “Thanks.” The women let him go after that with little more than a wave which was definitely for the best because about another couple seconds of her peppiness and Felix was pretty sure his head would explode. 

Still, by the time he managed to make his escape from the shitty space this school called a guidance office one class period was almost over so, Felix decided not even to both going. It wasn’t that he couldn’t make it, the school was one-tenth the size of his old high school, it just didn’t seem worth it to sit in a class for maybe a minute.

Instead, he headed to his next class, getting there just in time for the bell indicating the end of the previous class period to ring. Once the flood of students exited the room Felix entered. The teacher already knew him as the new kid because apparently information traveled at the speed of light in such a small school.

Science wasn’t Felix’ favorite subject but it was closely enough related math that he did decent enough so he wasn’t really worried. The teacher seemed nice enough, very welcoming, or at least she did until she started talking about lab write-ups, specifically how Felix would have to do extra lab write-ups. The teacher tried to sound nice as she explained that even though Felix had done more than the thirty lab write-ups required to take the biology final at his old school she really preferred students do at least ten as part of her class. She even had the audacity to comment how it was a shame that he had transferred so late in the school year, a few weeks earlier and he would have been able to meet the ten lab requirement in class.

For Felix’ part in the conversation, he kept his mouth shut and didn’t call the teacher a raving bitch out loud for which he was pretty sure he deserved a medal. How was it even remotely fair to punish him because his dad was a fucking asshole who decided to uproot his life when there was only like a month and a half left to the school year? Felix was definitely adding this B.S. to the ever growing lists of complaints about the move.

“I do make-up labs after school on Tuesday but you need to sign up,” The teacher explained tapping a clipboard on her desk with what looked like a sign-up sheet on it a few times with her pen. At about that same time the first student walked through the classroom door. From where Felix was standing he really could only see the motion from the corner of his eye but whoever it was immediately captured the teacher’s full attention. “But you will be in good company,” the teacher stated absently as she handed Felix a pen. Felix got the impression that that statement wasn’t just for his benefit.

Curiosity won out and Felix looked in the direction the teacher’s attention was still focused. As soon as the tall figure came into focus Felix’ first thought was, Fuck that Guy. The dude who looked like he was trying to sneak toward a chair toward the back of the room was tall enough to make Felix, who was on the taller side of average, feel short. His clothes were crumpled, but not enough to look trash our unkempt- instead he just looked like that type of laid back and cool guy that didn’t care what he looked like, his hair was fashionably tussled, and he had a tan that was more southern California then backwoods Tennessee. All and all the guy’s whole appearance said I-Just-Rolled-Out-of-Bed-And-I’m-still-hotter-than-you. Felix honestly thought the only time guys that looked like that was in high school was on television.

“Mr. Solace,” the teacher called and the guy stopped dead in his tracks. There was that name again. Was Solace like some weirdly common name in the south or was that one of the Solace boys the secretary was referring to.

The guy's shoulders slumped noticeably and he turned toward where the teacher was standing. Seeing his face straight on wasn’t making Felix want to hate the guy any less, no one had the right to be that good looking. Felix felt….weird, and downcasted his eyes rather than having the guy notice he was staring.

“Yes, ma’am?” The guy replied nervously.

“It amazes me how your ability to adequately complete biology labs has dramatically decreased in Will’s absence,” The teacher informed her voice stern enough to convey whatever brand of disapproval the woman was trying to communicate.

The guy sighed and adjusted the strap of his backpack which was hanging off one shoulder. “It must be sympathy mono,” he replied without any real enthusiasm.

“Uh-hu,” the teacher retorted sounding unconvinced and not particularly content. “I assume I will be seeing you this afternoon?”

“Yes, ma’am,” The guy replied with a bit of a nod as he dropped himself behind a desk.

Felix smirked slightly, the guy handled that better than he probably could have. The general sense of camaraderie was short-lived when he caught the teacher giving him one of those stern looks that told him he should get moving. Felix took the hint and leaned down to write his name down on the sign-up sheet.

“Well, you will have a lab partner,” The teacher commented as Felix slapped her pen down on the clipboard.

When Felix turned and expected the guy to be doing anything but paying him any attention. Fuck was he surprised to see blonde guy looking right at him with a bit of a smile. As soon as Felix noticed the guy sort of nodded to the empty desk next to him.

Felix wanted to play it cool but he really hadn’t expected anyone to acknowledge his existence. After all, that was how everyone treated new kids at his old school, or at least that is how his old friends treated new kids. This guy didn’t look like one of those desperate losers that needed to scrap the bottom of the barrel for people to socialize with.

Any excitement Felix might have been feeling was kept carefully in check as he nodded back in a show of understanding as he made his way to the back of the room. He dropped himself behind the desk to the guy’s right and greeted casually, “Hey.”

“Hey,” The guy replied holding out his hand. It probably took Felix a solid minute to figure out that the guy was offering him his hand for a handshake and another thirty-second to actually remember how he was supposed to do that. He was pretty sure he hadn’t shaken someone’s hand since he had to go to church with his (ex?) girlfriend’s family. The guy’s eyes didn’t exactly help his concentration, they might have been the deepest blue Felix had ever seen. Up close Felix noticed the guy had a subtle spray of freckles on the bridge of his nose and across his cheekbones. Felix had never though freckles could look good on someone but damn. All those thoughts clouded his brain and distracted him from basic social skills he actually had, and that wasn’t even mentioning that they were fucking weird (he really was too stressed or something). Resigned to the fact that he was already coming across awkward as fuck Felix finally reached out and gave the guy’s hand a quick shake.

Awkward as fuck or not the guy responded with a friendly smile before introducing himself. “I’m Dean.”

“Felix,” he replied “I’m new.”

“So, I’ve heard.” the blonde guy, Dean, replied with a bit of a chuckle. Reflexively Felix cringed, he remembered how quickly rumors spread in his old school and there was easily three times the number of students in that place then there were in this tiny school. Everyone in the state of Tennessee probably knew he was the new kid at this point.

Dean must have noticed, his broad smile seemed to widen slightly in a reassuring way. “It’s a really small school a new kid is the most exciting thing to happen around here in a while,” he explained.

“Right,” Felix nodded and failed to sound particularly reassured. He appreciated the guy’s effort but that didn’t really make Felix feel a whole lot better.

“Don’t worry, it won’t last long,” Dean reassured. He went as far as to reach out and nudge Felix’s shoulder lightly with his hand. Felix really wasn’t a big toucher but in this instance, he didn’t really think about it, probably because he was too distracted by the size of Dean’s damned hand. It was fucking huge! They must put weird ass steroids in the water around here or something because, damn.

Dean kept talking, seeming not noticing as Felix tried to sneak a look at his feet. If his hands were any indication, Dean probably wore a size fifteen shoe. If all the guys were like this guy Felix was sure he was going to end up with an inferiority complex. “Most people around here have the memory span of a goldfish,” Dean assured his smile which had been the textbook definition of welcoming twisted slightly. It was still friendly but it had a humorous edge like it was about to be a smirk but hadn’t quite gotten their yet. “And I’m not talking the smart goldfish that learns tricks either, I’m talking the goldfish you win at the county fair that has one eye that is kind of bugging out of its head and that repeatedly swims into the side of the fishbowl.”

Felix laughed, it was hard not to in the face of that eloquently put imagery. “Well, I guess that’s comforting.” He was smiling, Felix had doubted he was even capable of that anymore but there he was smiling and laughing. Tennessee still fucking sucked, that went without saying but Dean might be cool.

“Good,” Dean chuckled and ran his (long) fingers through his hair giving his flaxen locks a fresh tassel. “That was what I was going for.”

Dean smiled even more brightly if that was possible, and damn the guy had a really nice smile. Felix had known the guy for all of five seconds but he was starting to think he was literally perfect. The guy was clearly physically flawless unless he had an extra toe or some crazy shit Felix couldn’t see. He was funny (that goldfish thing was kind of fucking hilarious), he seemed pretty friendly, and his eyes- his blue, blue eyes.

Felix was staring, it dawned on him suddenly and too late for it to go unnoticed. He must have been sleep-deprived or something. He looked away and grabbed his backpack finding a notebook and a pen more for something to do than actually carrying about class or taking notes. “So,” Felix started just as he finally found a pen buried at the bottom of his bag. “Your last name is Solace, right?”

“Yup…wait why?” Dean questioned, Felix looked up to see Dean dropping a notebook of his own onto his desk, his expression was still friendly, his voice teasing. So apparently, he didn’t notice Felix staring like a fucking weirdo, that was good. “What have you heard?”

Felix laughed, again. Damn, twice in one day? He was so out of practice, his face was probably going to be sore if he kept this up. “I heard you’re on the soccer team.”

“Oh yeah,” Dean nodded “That I am,” he confirmed as he turned his attention to his notebook, flipping past page after page of sloppy handwriting and doddles before setting on a blank one. “I’m a forward,” he informed before looking back up at Felix “You play?”

“I did,” Felix shrugged, he wasn’t even sure why he was bringing it up. It wasn’t like he had decided he wanted to get back into soccer at his new school anyway. “At my old school.”

Now Dean was the one that was staring at Felix with interest. “Any good?” He questioned seriously.

“I mean, I think I was pretty decent,” Felix replied feeling a little awkward. People always told he was a good player, and his coach had even gone as far as to say he was the best player on the team but Felix never really felt like that was true. It hadn’t mattered that he was the team’s youngest captain either, he just figured he was an alright player. Dean was probably a kickass player, he totally had the right build for a forward, tall but with a lean build. “My team won championships last year.”

“What position you play?” Dean questioned with what seemed like sincere interest.

“Center forward,” Felix answered matter-of-factly.

“Fuck, a striker!” Dean actually whistled like he was just so impressed, it was kind of cute…. No, cute wasn’t the right but Felix couldn’t think of the right one. “You must be good.” Felix resisted the urge to squirm at that, boy was Dean going to disappointed. Dean didn’t notice as he seemed to think on something for a moment. “We technically have one of those assuming the jackass decides to come back from New York ever but you should still try out.” The good-natured smile that Felix had begun to suspect was a permanent feature on Dean’s face faltered slightly. Felix wanted to question it but it wasn’t like they were friends, they had just met. And the guy kept talking before Felix had a chance anyway “We can always use good players.”

“I’ll consider it,” Felix stated casually enough but somewhere in the back of his mind, he recognized that he had already made his decision. “When are tryouts?”

“A few weeks, I think,” Dean replied sounding uncertain. “I know they haven’t happened yet, even though I’m already on the team I have to go, it’s a stupid rule. The coach is the gym teacher, I can ask him later.” Dean shrugged, “I can let you know.”

“Really, that’s…..” Felix was about to say that wasn’t necessary but it didn’t seem like the thing to say. “Thanks, that’d be cool.”

“No problem,” Dean beamed, and damn the guy’s smile was almost hypnotic. “Least I can do, being new has got to suck.”

“You have no idea,” Felix admitted with a bit of a chuckle. That was definitely not something Felix expected to hear himself do, laugh about the move and his unfortunate life in general.

Dean took a breath, opened his mouth, and was definitely about to say something but the teacher’s voice came from the front of the room calling for the class’ attention. Glancing toward the front of the room Felix was surprised to see that most of the desks were now occupied.

When did all these people get here, Felix wondered. He guessed as he talked to Dean he just hadn’t noticed the other students’ arrival. Weird.

The class got started, the teacher started talking about photosynthesis, which might have been the most boring subject in the history of biology. Felix attempted to take notes for all of two minutes before giving up and starting doodling on the blank spaces on the page.

It couldn’t have been more than five minutes into class when a light poke on the arm caught Felix’ attention. Felix glanced sideways in Dean’s direction and the blonde leaned closer to him ever so slightly and whispered. “And if anyone hasn’t said it, welcome to Tennessee, Yankee.”

“I’m from Vermont,” Felix corrected in a whisper of his own. Wasn’t that whole Yankee thing about New Yorkers?

“Yeah, a Yankee,” Dean replied with a mischievous grin.

Oh, Felix realized, he’s fucking with me. Yeah, he definitely liked Dean.

[cheryllclayton]

Sometimes It's Not What It Seems - Chapter 5

Some people are really wanting the sexy times in this lol, patience my friends 😉 Enjoy! *********************************************

Betty woke to sunlight streaming through the window and a pounding in her head.

“Owww” she moaned, putting a hand to her forehead.

The sunlight hurt her eyes and her mouth was like cotton. She rolled over and squinted at the clock on the night stand, 9:43 am, she hardly ever sleeps that late.

She sees water and what she assumes is Aspirin next to the clock, which must be FP’s doing. Sitting up slightly against the wall, she grabbed both, throwing the pills down her throat and greedily chasing them with the water.

The man’s a Saint she thought as she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes urging the noise in her skull to subside.

What time did they get home last night? How did they get home last night?

She tried to think about the last things she remembered….it was all dancing and shots, shots and dancing, it’s no wonder she feels like crap.

She can vaguely remember the feeling of someone’s hands on her body as she moved, whispers in her ear from behind, Gawwwd, groaning inwardly, she hoped she didn’t do anything stupid last night.

She would have to ask FP to fill in the blanks from their evening. It would be, without a doubt, incredibly awkward, but with any luck, she wouldn’t hate the answers he provided.

As much as she didn't want to get up, she needed to pee, and on top of that she could smell coffee brewing and surprisingly it didn't make her stomach turn, in fact it smelt wonderful.

Eyes still closed, she sat forward causing the sheet to fall around her waist, waiting a moment, wanting to see how the movement affected her head before continuing. Mercifully, it seemed like the Aspirin had started to kick in already.

She opened her eyes as she threw the sheet off of her legs, and that's when it hit her that she was pretty much naked.

She looked down in confusion, “What the HELL??” she muttered to herself. Why was she naked and how'd she get that way??

HOLY FUCK! DID SHE HAVE SEX LAST NIGHT!? Who would she of slept with? FP??? Oh god oh god oh god she panicked shaking her head.

Okay get a hold of yourself, you still have your panties on she reasoned, but realistically, that didn't mean shit.

She swung her legs so she was sitting on the edge of the bed and as an experiment, slowly rocked her hips back and forth and side to side, everything feels.....normal, no soreness or ache. So she gets up and stands in front of the mirror, checking her body for marks. She ran her eyes over her neck and thighs and hips, than did a half turn to check the back side of herself before dropping back on the bed with a sigh of relief, no marks.

She can see that her dress is sitting on the end of the bed and her shoes are on the floor, so it would appear that she made it to her room clothed. And given the evidence, it's probably safe to say that she most likely undressed herself before climbing into bed.

She can only hope that she's correct and that it happened of her own accord and preferably after FP had delivered the water and pills to her.

She pulls on a pair of yoga shorts and a loose fitting NYU sweat shirt and with her overnight bag in hand, she heads to the bathroom. She pees, brushes her teeth and hair and washes her face before shuffling her way to the kitchen.

FP's sitting, feet propped on the table, reading the Register and drinking from his own cup as she heads straight for the coffee pot.

He gives her a knowing smirk, “Morning Sunshine, how ya feeling?”

“Well considering the fact that I woke up with a jackhammer in my head, the dull knock that resides there now is not too terrible. Thanks to some Angel” she said emphasizing the word, “that came in the middle of the night baring hangover supplements. I’m assuming that was you” she stated matter of fact not looking for a response.

She wrapped her hands around her cup, closing her eyes as she breathed in the heavenly aroma. “And I'm sure after some caffeine and maybe a little food, I’ll be better yet.”

Betty walked over taking a seat at the table with him, she might as well get this over with she supposed, fingering her cup nervously as she continued.

“So” she started timidly, “I...um...don't remember a lot of the evening last night….at least not the latter parts” she admitted, flushing as he watched her, clearly enjoying himself.

“I was hoping you could kind of” she paused, “clear up a few things?” she rushed out, staring into her cup anxiously.

FP’s face softened as he took in the magnitude of her discomfort.

“Of course and hey” he said lifting her chin so she would look at him, “you know you can ask me or tell me anything, right? Please don't ever think you can't, and to put your mind at ease, you did nothing to be ashamed of last night.”

Her body relaxed at his words, “So I, uh, didn't sleep with anyone then?” she asked making FP choke on his coffee.

“What!? No!” he sputtered, “What would make you think that?”

She ran her hands through her hair, “I don't know! I can remember hands on my body as I danced and suggestive whispers and then nothing” she waves a hand at her head, “I blank! Then to wake up practically naked, what do you think ran through my mind!” she said confessed.

“So, let me get this straight” he said taken aback “you think that I'd just let someone take advantage of you, in that state!?” he asked, frustration obvious, “I thought you knew me better than that!” he spouted incredulously studying her in disbelief.

“Wait??.....You didn't think that you, and I....” he uttered, pointing to his chest as he trailed off.

She looked away from him, biting her bottom lip as tears pooled in the corner of her eyes.

“Jesus Lizzie, you were drunk and even if you weren't, I would NEVER take advantage of you or let anyone else for that matter” he sounded pained.

Betty looked at him then, the amount of hurt on his face pulled at her chest, threatening the tears to overflow.

“I know” she breathed out reaching for his hands, “I'm so sorry FP, I don't know what I was thinking, I just panicked. I know you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my safety or my feelings and that you wouldn’t let anyone else either, please forgive me?” she begged clenching down on her lip again to keep it from trembling.

FP grabbed her chair with one hand sliding it up against his and pulled her against him.

“Hey” he soothed running a hand down her hair, “I'm not mad, just a little wounded, but you're forgiven” he paused then went on with a lilt to his voice, “besides, if we had slept together, I can promise you that you'd remember it in the morning” he said as seriously as he could muster.

Betty pulled out of his grasp and snorted before punching him in the arm, “Very funny you jerk!”

“Ow!” he yelled rubbing his arm, eyes sparkling in amusement, “I was kidding, yeesh!”

She laughed in spite of herself, “Okay, so we've straightened that out but it still doesn't explain the touches and the whispers” she stated.

“One word” FP replied, 'Ferrett'”.

“Aahhh, figures, that makes total sense. He is VERRRY persistent” she chuckled “maybe I should throw him a bone one day” she said, tilting her head up like she was seriously considering it before breaking into giggles when she saw the unimpressed look on FP's face, “What?” she exclaimed “he's cute and he's got a hot bod!” she said with an eyebrow wiggle.

“Elizabeth!” he said feigning shock and making her giggle all over again.

She got up still snickering to herself, dropping her cup in the sink, “Well, if you don't mind, I am going to borrow your shower to wash off the stench of bar that is still clinging to my skin”, a look of minor disgust on her face.

“Thanks again for watching out for me last night and making sure I made it home okay, even though it was supposed to be your night” she said with sincerity.

“Oh and one more thing, I got undressed alone...by myself.....right?” she asked wringing her hands in nervous anticipation.

“Yes, yes you did, well except for you shoes, I did that” he said in amusement with a hint of something else that she couldn't read.

“Phew! I was worried you had to help me or that I had stripped down in front of you or something, I'd be so humiliated” she admitted shaking her head, “Thank God that didn’t happen!” she mused.

“Weeellllll.....I didn't say that” FP drawled out.

Betty's head snapped back towards him, “What!? What do you mean, you just said that” her words tumbling out.

“I said that you undressed yourself, by yourself, but if we're being completely honest” he beamed “you did it 'before' I brought you the water and the Aspirin.”

“OH. MY. GOD!” she squealed, putting her face in her hands.

FP got up, pulling her hands away from her face and bending his head to catch her gaze.

“C'mon, it's not that bad, I've seen naked women before you know” he teased ���plus, if it makes you feel any better, you were already in bed when I walked in and were facing away from the door, so I only got the back view” he placated while trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably.

“Really, FP! No, that doesn't make me feel any better!” she shot back sarcastically folding her arms in front of her chest.

He held her glare in delight, tongue in cheek, until she huffed and turned away from him, resting her hands on her hips, head falling forward.

“Fuuuck, I feel so embarrassed” she confessed.

“Well you shouldn't be” he affirmed with a shrug.

“Oh yeah, and why is that!?” she threw back at him spinning around.

A smug smile spread widely across his face.

“Because....you got a great ass, Cooper.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock as she turned a deep shade of crimson. Gathering herself, her lips snapped shut as she gave him her best death stare before turning on her heel and stomping down the hallway, FP's laughter floating after her as she went.

***

July had rolled hotly into August and Betty busied herself on her day off by putting together some cold drinks and a lunch for the crew down at Andrew’s Construction. Since the pair had returned for the summer, Archie had resumed working for his father’s company alongside FP and a few of the other Serpents. Their lease for their apartment had expired at the end of June and there was nothing major holding them to New York for the summer so they had settled back into Riverdale.

Betty had taken a summer job at the Register, it wasn’t the ideal situation but at least her mother agreed to pay her this time and she managed to convince them to let her set her own work hours so she only worked Monday to Thursday.

She had also gone back to waitressing at Pop’s Monday’s and Wednesday’s for a little extra cash.

All this had left her Fridays free to do what she pleased and then on weekends, she worked with FP, not for money however, as she’d never entertain the idea of him paying her, but for the knowledge and experience it provided and more so, for the pure fact that she enjoyed it.

Living at home again proved to be trying to say the least. Alice was well…Alice and her constant lectures, ideals and hovering were not helping to heal the wounds on her hands. But Betty wasn’t in high school anymore and she needed her space or specifically space without Alice in it.

So despite how much her mother constantly chided her for it, she would spend a couple nights a week at Archie’s, and further to Alice’s dismay, Betty had found herself, more often than not, sleeping at FP’s during their ritual Friday’s.

This routine had provided her two glorious Alice free days a week. Her mother would be gone to work on Friday mornings before Betty got up and then, seeing as how she spent Friday night at the trailer and Saturday with Archie, Betty wouldn’t see her again until Sunday.

Those two days a week had been one of the only things keeping her sanity in check. And today, she was more than ready for a breather given the way the tension between her and Alice had seemed to reach maximum levels lately.

Betty finished packing everything in a plastic cooler and dragged it out to her car, kicking herself for not using a couple smaller coolers instead of the larger one that she could barely move.

She finally got it positioned on her back seat, wiping the sweat from her forehead. The sun had been relentless for the last week with temperatures skyrocketing to degrees that would rival the fires of hell. Even in her tiniest jean shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top that left an inch or two of her stomach exposed, she still felt overdressed in the heat.

A/C was cranked as she sang along to the radio and tapped her fingers on the steering wheel.

She had told Archie and FP that she was bringing lunch today and to let the crew know. As a result, she wasn’t surprised to see them all sitting on pallets or end gates in the shade of the office trailer already waiting for her when she pulled in.

It looked like a scene straight out of Magic Mike she thought amused, what with the hard hats, white tanks, and rippled muscles shiny with sweat, not to mention the couple of men pouring water over their heads trying to break the heat, it was a glorious sight to behold.

Betty ran her tongue along her lips, being in a relationship didn’t mean that she couldn’t admire the view, and admire she did. She may be a more ‘reserved’ woman but she wasn’t dead, she appreciated the beauty of the male body just as much as the next girl and these were some fine specimens.

She turned the car vents towards herself and let the A/C cool the flustered heat that rose to her skin for a moment before turning the car off.

FP walked up as she got out, “Hey, you need a hand with anything?”

“Sure, cooler is in the back if you don’t mind. I will warn you though, it’s heavy as hell”

“I’m sure I’ll manage” he said with a smirk opening the back door.

He grabbed the cooler by both handles and pulled it out like it was made of feathers.

Betty couldn’t help but stare as he hoisted it up in front of his chest, biceps tightening. She hadn’t been blind to the fact that working construction for how many months had done wonders for his physique and witnessing the display of strength had her imagining what else he could do with that body.

Betty flushed at the thoughts racing through her mind, which apparently were obvious to FP, evident by the wink he shot her as he walked down to the trailer.

Get it together Betty she scolded herself giving her head a shake.

Archie made his way over to her putting an arm around her waist and dropping a quick kiss to her lips, “Hey Babe, is everything OK? You look off” he observed, brows pulled together with concern.

“Yeah, yeah, no I’m fine, just a little overheated I think” she said giving him a reassuring smile as they walked towards the group.

“Yeah this weather is killer lately, maybe we can go to the river later for a swim” he proposed.

“It’s Friday Arch, you know I have plans” she reiterated turning towards him when she saw his jaw clench. She put a hand on his arm and squeezed to try and placate him, “What’s a matter Archie?”

He looked down, kicking at the gravel, “It’s nothing, forget it” he huffed.

“It’s not nothing, I can see it in your face” she pushed “You know I’ll be over tomorrow and I’ll spend the whole night with you” she promised.

“Yeah I know, it’s just..” he sighed looking up at the sky taking a breath before dropping his eyes back to her, a hint of coolness in them.

“Maybe I’m just getting tired of sharing my girlfriend with a bunch of guys that look at her like she’s a piece of meat!” he snapped raising his voice, one arm swinging towards the crew as he spoke.

Betty stepped back, dropping her hand from his arm, surprised by his tone and his remark. Archie wasn’t one to yell and when he did, it generally wasn’t directed at her.

“What are you talking about Arch?” she questioned quietly trying not to make a scene now that his voice had brought the other men’s attention to them. “You’ve never had an issue with my friendship with FP before, which is platonic, and which had already existed when we started dating I might add. As for the rest of the guys, don’t be ridiculous, they’re just kidding around”

“Kidding around?” he scoffed “anyone can see that they want in your pants Betty, especially Ferrett, the way he looks at you leaves nothing to the imagination and it doesn’t help when you come around dressed like that!” he spouted motioning up her body.

“Do you know how this looks, my girlfriend hanging out in the Southside how many days a week, spending nights in Sunnyside trailer park! Do you know what some people are saying?” he fumed.

Betty could feel her own anger rising to the surface at his words, “Wow Arch, I know you can be jealous but go on, tell me how you really feel!” she replied sarcastically, “Where is this coming from?? I've never given you a reason not to trust me and I surely never thought you'd be the type to fall privy to gossip” she challenged crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“This conversations been coming for a while now and you know it” he stated simply.

“Oh I knew we were rocky Arch and that we needed to talk, I didn’t know, however, that our biggest problem was all because of some sort of pissing match!” she said throwing her hands up in frustration, she had just about had enough.

“What would you like me to do, drop my friendships because you’re insecure?? Apologize for foolishly believing that men and women can have meaningful relationships without falling into bed!? Be honest Arch, would you feel the same way if it was Reggie or Moose that I was spending time with or is this more about the ‘specific’ company I’m keeping?”

Archie didn’t answer, instead looked away and grit his teeth.

“Wow, that’s what I figured, it surprises me that you'd be such a snob Arch” she shook her head at him disbelievingly.

“But I see how deeply concerned you are” Betty continued, her voice lifting with mock understanding, “And I’m soooo sorry that I’m hurting your image” she bit out with wide unapologetic eyes, “Gotta keep up appearances and all” she clipped.

“Keep up appearances…my image?? Shouldn’t you be more worried about your image?” he hissed loudly.

“Doesn’t it bother you Betty, the stares, the whispers?? Do you like that people think you’re some sort of….” he paused flicking his wrist up and down her again, “Serpent Slut!” he finished spitefully.

Betty stumbled back like she’d been slapped and the guilt that flickered across Archie’s face showed that even he knew he went too far.

Some of the crew, including FP, had overheard what Archie had said, and no longer being able to ignore the quarrelling couple made their forward.

But Betty regained her composer and fixed an icy stare at the red head.

“You know what, Fuck You, Archie Andrews! We’re through!” she yelled in his face, tears brimming before turning and making a beeline for her car.

Ferrett grabbed Archie by the shirt, “What the hell man!” he snarled in the gingers face.

“Mind your own damn business!” Archie retorted pushing the Serpent away from him before marching into the work trailer and slamming the door.

FP followed after Betty, jogging to catch up with her before she left.

“Elizabeth” he called to her but she kept walking, angrily wiping tears from her face. He grabbed her arm lightly as she reached for her car door.

“Hey, hey, look at me, Elizabeth” he said softly turning her body towards him and holding onto her shoulders, “are you okay?”

“Ya, I’m fine” she sniffed, swiping at her cheek again, chin quivering.

“That's not very convincing, you don't look fine” he said gently raising a brow, swiping a tear from her other cheek with a thumb.

“Really, I just, I need to be alone for a bit, I…I need to go, I’ll see you later” she choked swinging her door open and jumping in before he could protest.

She managed to hold it together all the way home, before throwing herself down on her childhood bed and letting the tears come once more.

***

Betty woke to a door shutting downstairs, she stirred, still on top of her bed having cried herself to sleep. Her head hurt from crying and her face felt swollen, she looked at the bedside clock and saw that it was already four and she had slept most the afternoon. She could hear rustling about downstairs, usually her mom wasn't home until late on Friday's so she must have had to stop back to the house for some reason.

Betty wasn't ready to deal with Alice just yet, instead she got up and trudged her way to the bathroom.

She cringed at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes were rimmed red and her cheeks were definitely puffy. She splashed some cold water on her face hoping to bring down the puffiness and then turned on the shower. She grabbed a couple of towels before undressing and stepping into the tub letting the warm spray wash over her.

Her body felt sore from sobbing and the heat soothed and relaxed. She thought about the argument with Archie while she washed. She knew that their relationship was heading to an end, she could tell, she had felt it for a while now but she didn't think the end would be so...explosive. She knows a lot of what he said was in the heat of the moment, Arch could get emotional and had a habit of speaking before he thought, and she can almost guarantee that he has huge regrets about the word vomit he let spew out.

That being said, it doesn't mean she was going to forgive him easily either, that would take time. The words he flung at her had cut deep, especially coming from him.

Archie had always been understanding, supportive and caring and it was a disheartening contrast to see him be so brash. Their romantic relationship was comfortable and communicative and the physical side was good too, not mind blowing but good enough. But despite all of that, something was always missing.

He didn't really get her, not the real her, she actually thinks that side scared him a little and he didn't know what to do with it. To Archie, Betty had always been the perfect girl next door and then the perfect girlfriend and that was a high standard to live up to every day.

Their relationship had been nice, easy, maybe too easy, as it lacked passion and that deeper connection that made it epic or timeless. The over the moon kind of love that lasted through the decades. Not that she was specifically looking for or needing that right now, but she hoped she'd be lucky enough to find it some day.

She had thought she had found it once, when she was 18 but she was wrong then and she knows that she doesn't have it now, so there's really no point prolonging the inevitable, especially after today's blow up.

She loved Archie, she always would, but she wasn't 'in love' with him, and if she's honest with herself, she doesn't know if she ever really was.

Archie was there when she needed someone and his affections made her feel wanted again and safe. She knows that reasoning doesn't paint her in the best light and she doesn't want him or anyone else to think he was a rebound or that she used him because that couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, it meant so much more to her than that. He had helped heal her heart and open it to the possibility of love again and for that she'd forever be grateful.

She knows she told him they were through, but she doesn't want to just leave it like that, he's one her oldest friends and she can't imagine her life with out him in it somewhere. They would need to talk eventually, about everything, but that would have to wait for another day, she wasn't ready to see him yet, regardless of her resolve, she was still pretty pissed at him.

After drying off, Betty threw on a pair of white cotton shorts and a light lilac top that hung off of one shoulder and had an uneven hem that barely covered her navel. The evening may have been upon them but the heat hadn't dropped more than a few degrees and FP's trailer didn't have air conditioning so there was no way she'd survive the night if she dressed conservatively.

She grinned at herself as she studied her image in the mirror. High school Betty would have never thought about wearing something that showed that much skin but over the last year, her confidence had grown, she had started to appreciate her body and the womanly curves that had developed over the last couple years. Plus, her daily yoga had done great things for her muscle tone. For the first time in Betty's life she was happy with her appearance and she wasn't going to let Archie or anyone else make her feel bad about that.

Betty blow dried her hair straight, leaving it hanging loosely down her back. She put on some light make up and her favorite strawberry lip gloss and then grabbed the overnight bag she had put together before bounding down the stairs.

Her mother was standing in the kitchen looking over some papers when Betty came in.

Alice took in her bag and her clothing choice with a frown.

“And where do you think you're off to Elizabeth?” she inquired.

Betty knew that she knew damn well where she was going but she played along, “It's Friday mother, I'm going to FP's”

“For the night...dressed like that?” she added raising a brow.

“Don't start Mom, I am not in the mood for this drama today” she huffed.

Alice carried on like she never heard her “Elizabeth, nice girls shouldn't hang out with snakes on the Southside, you should know this” she tsked.

“Really? Have you been talking to Archie, because I just got deja vu”

“No, why did you and Archie have a fight dear?”

She sighed knowing there was no getting out of this now, “We kinda...broke up.”

Alice stared at her, waiting for her to go on.

“He started this fight today when I brought the crew lunch that ending up becoming huge. He was yelling about appearances and Serpent's, about what people think, worried about the 'image' being tarnished, both his and mine I guess. He was being completely ridiculous and said some really awful things, so I ended it” she finished, dropping to one of the kitchen stools.

“Well he's not wrong you know” Alice stated “people do talk and are wondering what sweet Betty Cooper is doing on the Southside all the time, first with that article and now you're spending days and nights with a man twice your age. It's quite concerning really, not to mention embarrassing for your father and I.”

“Look Mom, we've been over this, they're my friends, including FP. They are not bad or dangerous and there is nothing 'shady' going on with me and the Southside. Even the Serpent's are on the up and up now and you know that. Plus, I don't care what people think, it's just a bunch of loose lipped gossip from people who have nothing better to do. I have no problem ignoring it and I would suggest that you do the same” Betty finished defensively.

“Well I for one will be happy when the summer is over and these Friday sleepovers and the tinkering with cars nonsense stops”

“What are you talking about?” she looked at her mom suspiciously, “I'll still come home most weekends when I'm at NYU just like last year” Betty insisted.

“Oh that's right, we haven't gotten to the good news yet” she grinned coyly “do you remember that studying abroad scholarship program that NYU offers for Journalism students?”

“Vaguely, the one I said I wasn't interested in” Betty replied warily.

“Well lucky for you, I went ahead and applied on your behalf and guess what Elizabeth? You were one of the students accepted!” she beamed. “This is a huge deal Sweetie, they only ever accept the best students into the program” she praised.

“WHAT!? What do you mean I got accepted?? So you're saying you went behind my back and applied for a program, that takes place in another country, that I wasn't even interested in!?” she shouted in disbelief.

“Don't yell Elizabeth, I did you a favor, it was silly and reckless to not apply. You're a bright girl and it's a great opportunity, it'll be good for you and as a bonus, it will get you away from here and the company you've been keeping.”

“I'm not going” Betty said defiantly, standing as she placed her hands on the counter to keep them from curling into each other. “You can't make me take the scholarship instead of going to NYU again.”

“Actually, I've already sent in your acceptance for you, you're signed up and ready to go. And just in case you get any ideas about skipping the program and going back to New York, I'll have you know that the moment 'You' accepted the scholarship program, meant that you were no longer enrolled at the NYU campus. So it's the program or nothing Elizabeth” she said with finality.

“Now you better go say your goodbyes because you leave in a week” she threw over her shoulder as she walked out of the room.

“UUUUGGHHH!” Betty let out a frustrated scream as she grabbed her bag and stomped out of the house slamming the door.

***

End Chapter