#i like the top left hand. the rest of this is ehhhhh for me but it was fun to make so im okay with it | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

one-piece-dumpster-fire · 6 years ago

Note

A nsfw scenario of biscuit daddy and mochi reaction to their s/o ask if they can watch them to touch themselves to get better at pleasing them >/////

Oh.MAH GOD. I’m literally living for this so much??? Like, this is kindof one of my kinks xD? Ehhhhh lol ANYWAY here comes my second try at two smol filth scenarios!!! Hope you enjoy and there is nothing but dirt under the cut xD! (Update: the cut doesn’t work??? Ayayayay I’m so sorry!)

….when you’re watching them please themselves- dirty scenarios

Biscuitdaddy (Charlotte Cracker)

„Haaaah?Did I hear that right, princess?“

Awide, lecherous grin immediately started to form on his lips asCracker held your quivering form in his arms, while a huge red blush wasburning on your cheeks as you averted your gaze back to the groundand fumbled around with the straps of your top, which your boyfriendhad already started to tug down.

„I,uhm, I mean you don’t have to, of course! I just thought that… itcould help me with understanding how to properly please you…“

youmuttered as panic and embarrassment spread through the entirety ofyour body. Once again you had found yourself in the confinement ofCracker’s office, at first only to pay him a visit and bring oversome muffins you had baked for him, but within seconds you foundyourself sitting on his desk once more, with your boyfriend suckingand nibbling on your sensitive neck. Everything seemed to play out asusual, when suddenly a thought crossed your mind- something you hadwanted to ask him for quite a while now, but never really found agood opportunity to do so. Well and maybe this wasn’t the right timeeither, after all he seemed totally caught offguard, and gosh what ifhe thinks you are some sort of dirty pervert now and-

„Alright(Y/N). I’m gonna masturbate for you.“

„E-ehhhhh?!?!“

…and nowit was your turn to be caught offguard by the sudden bluntness of hisreply, and for a moment you lifted your head a bit and came face toface with that huge, toothy grin you knew oh so well. „I-I-,“ youstuttered, unable to form a sentence, and with a low chuckle Crackerpushed you back onto the table before leaning into his chair whilefumbling around with his belt.

„Mhhh,since you want me to put on a show for you, I’ll gladly do so~!Anything to help you get better at pleasing me, my shy little flower.“

hegrinned as his pants- and soon after, boxers- hit the ground andrevealed his already semi-erect manhood, which seemed eager as alwaysto greet you.

Aloud gasp escaped from your throat as you slowly sat up to get abetter look at what was going on, but the blush on your cheek justincreased as Cracker slowly put a hand around his member. God, youcan’t- this is, this is all weird and… what the hell did you getyourself into?!?!

„Nowwhat I want you to do is watch closely. If I see your pretty eyes onanything but my sword, there will be some punishment, understood?“he purred as his hand slowly started to pump up and down, „this wasyour idea after all, so I won’t let you off the hook now!“

Ashudder went through your body as his words settled in your ears, anda scared yet oddly excited feeling began to spread in your lowerabdomen. Unable to form any words, you simply nodded your head inagreement, which caused Cracker’s grin to widen even more. „Now,what you wanna do is start like this…“ he continued as if thiswas just like a normal lesson at school, as his fingertips suddenlystarted to seemingly dance around his manhood, softly touching it invarious spots which caused him to groan softly. Was he teasinghimself…?

„Youdon’t want to start with the real thing right away my love, first yougotta get me in the mood…“

Crackerpurred once more as he pressed a finger to his tip, which caused ashudder to run down both his and your spine.

„Hah,hah… usually it takes a bit longer, but I’m not used to anaudience, especially one that sexy, so things might move a bitfast…“ he admitted and swallowed softly with what seemed to be anapologetic smile on his lips as he held his almost fully erectmanhood in his hand now.

Hisother hand was resting behind his head which almost caused him tolook like he was relaxing, or being casual about doing somethingso… raunchy right infront of your big, innocent eyes. But by now youmanaged to adapt to the situation a bit, and although the blushwas still prominent on your cheeks, your gaze was no longer trying toavoid exactly what he was doing, and instead completely focussed onhis manhood as if you were studying it itensly like some newlydiscovered entity.

Crackernoticed that as well and couldn’t help but laugh at your oddlyfascinated stare before he started to rub along his member at arather fast and firm pace. Various groans and moans escaped from histhroat in the process, and you could see the sweat that was startingto form on his forehead and ran down his face.

„Hngh…do me a favor and pull that top down a bit, princess…“ hesuddenly hissed in a hoarse voice, and that demand immediatelycaused you to shudder in suprise.

„M-mh…okay…“ but you immediately gave in and slowly started to lift the top over yourhead before carefully putting it down next to you on his desk, withyour lacy black bra now revealed to his hungry eyes.

„Ah,my favorite one!“ Cracker hummed as his trademark grin reappeared once again and a small trail of drool started to form in the corner of hismouth, „did you plan to suprise me today~? Hah, how considerate!“he moaned and pumped faster and faster, his eyes fixated entirely onyour cleavage. „hehehe… your marshmallows look exceptionallytasty today! Perhaps I could earn myself a taste later?“ Crackerwhispered in a low voice, and now he wasn’t the only one gettingsweaty anymore. You pushed your thighs together and started to softlychew on your bottom lip as he continued pleasuring himself.

„There,and then you gotta pump it like this…“ he groaned and started tojerk his manhood with newfound vigor, when a sudden idea suddenly poppedinto your mind.

Hedidn’t even notice that you had left the desk and were now just astep away, his mind and whole body was just too focussed on theincredible feeling running through his veins. Oh this felt way betterthan the other times he did it by himself, it seemed like having younear simply had an extra bewitching effect on him…

„Uhm,like this…?“

His ears immediately perked up at the sound of yoursoft voice coming from between his legs, and with eyes widened insuprise Cracker looked down, only to find you right there, strokingalong his length with one of your hands just like he was still doing.There was less vigor in your movements, but it still felt just asintense as the rough treatment he was giving himself. It took amoment for him to realize that this wasn’t really a weird pre-orgasmfantasy, and his usual grin immediately appeared back on hislips.

„Yeah,like that baby…“ he moaned and slowly pulled his hand away to letyou take over. He could feel the clumsiness and uncertainty in yourtouch, but with an encouraging nod he signaled you to keep going.

Shit,this felt good, way too good, plus the sight of you between his legslike this was simply too much to handle….

„HYYYYAAAARGHHHH!“Cracker yelled all of a sudden, which caused you to wince back insuprise, and a moment later something hot and sticky hit your cheek.„Ouch, what the-OOOWWW!“ you shouted as his hot seed suddenly hityou in the eye, which caused a burning sensation to spread throughyour body.

„Owthat stings, that stings so bad…“ you whimpered and tried to wipethe semen out of your eyes, as Cracker was collapsing back into hischair, now heavily breathing but with a large and satisfied smirk onhis lips.

„That…was amazing, darling.“ he chuckled, still completely unaware of theirritating situation you were in right now, the afterglow was simplytoo effective.

„Ohbaby, we gotta do that again soon…“

Charlotte Katakuri

„Hm?You want what now?“

thedonut Katakuri was holding close to his mouth slowly started tocrumble as his grip around it tightened, his eyes widened withsuprise and a brow raised in your direction. He must have heardwrong. Yeah, definitely- the sound of him gulping down his favoritetreat overshadowed what you had just said, and his mind somehowpieced together something odd, something you would never ask,something-

„Uhm…I… I would like to see you touch yourself, please…“

-impossible.

Thedonut in his hands immediately broke apart, his face now flushed andyour tall boyfriend slowly chewed on the remaining chunks in hismouth before swallowing hard. He avoided looking at your face, whichyou were more than grateful for because your cheeks were on fire, andyour mouth was quivering in embarrassment.

„You…you want to watch me touch myself?“

Herepeated with a slightly more calm voice, and after his initiateshock Katakuri turned to look at you, his eyes unusually soft and asmall glint of confusion reflected in them. Huh, he almost lookedlike an innocent child who just got asked to clean the dishes orsomething, but there was also that understanding spark in his eyeswhich told you that he at least wasn’t mad or anything of that kind.

„I,I just want to get get better at pleasing you… I always feel likeI’m doing something wrong, so… I was kind of hoping that you couldshow me…“ you whimpered and shook your head in discomfort, ohthis was going terrible. Talking to him during his Merienda was aterrible idea in general and you should have known that, especially sinceKatakuri is always just focussed on gulping down his delicioussnacks, but there simply wasn’t any other place that would give youthis privacy with your boyfriend. Plus, this was the one genuine timeof the day when he let out his cute little goofy side, so you weregambling on the hope that he might have taken it more lightly… well thatdidn’t seem to work however.

Butsuddenly, a loud sigh tore through the silence and you could hear theclinging sound of his boots as Katakuri was stepping closer to yoursmall body. You shifted in your mochi made seat, a look of discomfortall over your face. Was he going to scold you now? Will everythingturn even more awkward then it already was…? You quickly shook yourhead and gulped before trying to find the right words. Maybe therewas still a chance that you could make him forget about this whole thing…

„Katakuri,I-“

thud.

Beforeyou could even start properly, a large donut piece was suddenly dropped intoyour lap, which immediately caused you to jerk upwards in suprise.There he was, looming over you, his eyes focussed on a spot on yourright and- was that red hue on his cheeks… A blush?!

„Here,hold onto this for me. And don’t make any funny noises, okay?“

Katakurimuttered in an unusually low tone, before he turned back around andwalked over to the spot where he had been ravishing donuts just a fewmoments ago. With a quick move of his hands he opened his belt andtossed it aside, before slowly letting his tight leather pants slidedown.

You held onto the donut piece as your gaze was focussed on hisblack, striped boxers but much to your suprise there was nothinggoing on in there. Not even a small bulge.

„…..don’tlook yet, I need to get it hard first!“ Katakuri suddenly gruntedas he noticed your glance, the red on his cheek getting more and moreprominent in the meantime. You simply gave him a weak nod beforelooking up at the ceiling of his selfmade mochi shrine, almost as ifyou were studying the edible architecture now.

Yourboyfriend of course wasted no time and closed his eyes as he startedto calm himself down. He was never really one for masturbation, andthe fact that you were there, sitting across from him, didn’t helpone bit. But instead of giving into the despair, Katakuri simplydecided to blend everything out and focus on naughty thoughts. Ormore specifically- you, lying under him as a moaning and whimperingmess, begging for him to let you cum as he was once again ‘punishing’you for your previously dirty behaviour…

Alow sigh escaped from his mouth as he could feel his manhood comingto life. And after spending a few more moments in his dream scenario,Katakuri nodded and opened his eyes before signaling you that it wasokay to look.

„Iwill begin now.“ he announced and started to place a hand againstthe tent that had formed in his boxer, a relieved hum leaving hislips as he started to massage his manhood through the thin fabric.Katakuri still didn’t look at you, he knew it would just throw himoffguard, so the only thing he focussed on was groping and squeezinghis member. But not after long, just feeling himself through theboxers wasn’t enough and the tall man quickly stripped out of them,which immediately caused his erect manhood to spring free withexcitement.

„A-Ah…“you quickly pressed a hand against your mouth as the small noise ofheated curiosity escaped your lips, and quickly averted your eyesfrom his hard member, desperately hoping that he didn’t notice it…

Katakurihowever did notice. Of course he did. And for some reason, hecouldn’t help but smirk at how curious, almost hungrily, you wereeyeing his erection just a moment ago. A new wave of desire floodedthrough his body as his hand slowly resumed to doing what it hadpreviously done, but this time without any fabric in the way.

Lowand throaty grunts started to escape from his mouth as the Commandertried to stay as quiet as possible, but the more his hand massagedhis member, the more difficult it was getting. Soon enough he had to switchfrom simple stroking and fondling to straight out starting to pumphis length, as the desire in him continued to build.

Bynow you were holding onto the donut piece as if it was the only thingthat kept you sitting on the ground, otherwise this oddly eroticdisplay might catapult you into a place unknown to mankind. Your pinktongue quickly darted out to sweep over your suprisingly dry lips,and a small drop of sweat was running down your neck. Did seeing yourboyfriend masturbate really have such a strong effect on you aswell…?

„(Y/N)….“

yes,it had. As soon as Katakuri growled out your name it felt like yourcheeks weren’t the only things on fire anymore, and you had to resistthe strong urge to reach between your legs to confirm if that placewas as slick as it felt right now.

Hecontinued to growl your name, and was getting progressively louder inthe process. For some reason, have you next to him like this,watching as he was doing something so sinful… just awoke a desiredeep within him to punish you for even suggesting something sofilthy in the first place… perhaps he should be calling you over, demanding you to help him get out ofthis situation you basically put him in and-

„I…I’m here.“

Eyeswidened in suprise as your soft whisper reached his ear, sounding soclose, so touchable, as if he just had to reach and-

„Iwant to help, uhm, if it’s okay with you of course!“

-thereyou were. Right there next to him, with big eyes staring at hismanhood almost hungrily, but with an innocent spark of curiosity aswell. That sight alone almost caused him to cum right there and rightnow, his hands pumping at such a fast pace that it almost made himfeel like he was tearing off his own member, but upon seeing you andyour desire to touch him, he immediately slowed down until his handscome to a total stop.

„Iwas just going to suggest for you to help me.“ Katakuri mused witha low chuckle and immediately released his manhood from his grip,which allowed you to take matters into your own hands. Literally.

„Uhm,let’s see…. you did it like this…“

Your shaky voice reminded the tall man of a gentle breeze, something so lightand comforting… Katakuri couldn’t help but release a content hum asyou clumsily started to repeat his movements, your hands pumping onhis rock hard manhood at a nice and slow speed. Of course you neededboth of your hands to just grasp around his manhood, and rubbing his entirelength felt more like a workout than a quick handjob, but yourdetermination and desire to please him made you push that aside asyou continued working.

„Mh…. (Y/N)… prepare yourself…” Katakuri suddenly groaned as he felt his passion build up more and more, and it was getting almost impossible to control…

“I will let go now!” he announced with a deep growl, and just a moment later his hot semen squirted from his tip and against, the ceiling, almost like a fountain which caused you to wince back.

It didn’t take long for him to empty himself, and once his essence was starting to drip back down Katakuri turned to the side, grabbing your small body with a low growl which caused you to gasp in suprise as he placed you right ontop of his chest.

“Now, my dear (Y/N)… as for your punishment…”

#one piece #charlotte cracker #charlotte katakuri #dirt #op scenarios #one piece scenarios

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minijenn · 5 years ago

Text

Universe Falls Chapter 72

Ehhhhh so yeah I rushed on this one not gonna lie, wrote about fuckin half of it tonight alone so ya its... sorta mediocre but nothing too bad, still pretty cute so I can appreciate that. Anyway here ya go, enjoy!

Previous: https://minijenn.tumblr.com/post/188458922089/universe-falls-chapter-71

***

Chapter 72: Hit the Diamond

CALXFR FA, XIFH UHP AJTUL XIY EIE YENE HTUHGYU A STUCZ XIE CFCY KUVAO GT ESVUH DPF WZMDH EPBM OMML ACPVW XIETC XOJXI

A collective, equally startled, equally frightened gasp arose from the Gems and Pines alike as they caught the very first glimpse of the Ruby emerging from the Roaming Eye. As she coldly, quietly surveyed the surrounding area, fortunately she didn’t seem to take notice of the group right away, allowing them at least a little time to react to her absolutely unexpected arrival.

“Hey,” Mabel began with wide, curious eyes. “Isn’t that…?”

“Ruby?” Steven finished, though just as soon as he did, the young Gem was suddenly, sharply yanked aside by Garnet. Likewise, Ford did the same for Mabel, quickly following after everyone else as they rushed to momentarily hide away inside the barn just as even more Rubies began to emerge from the downed pod.

The eye Ruby hopped out of the ship with a growl, her expression still severe, even if the Ruby who came after her was the exact opposite. “Oh! What a lovely planet!” this next Ruby, whose gemstone rested upon her navel, quipped cheerfully as she slipped out of the pod to get a better look around. The next Ruby to emerge had her gem on her upper arm, and appeared much more serious as she aggressively jumped to the ground, violently plucking a flower before kicking it hard away from her.

“W-wait!” another Ruby exclaimed anxiously, her gem on her leg as she poked her head out of the ship. “So we just… get out and walk around?”

She received no answer as another Ruby, the final one and the leader of the pack with her gem on her chest, booted her out before addressing her squad sternly. “Alright! Listen up!” she exclaimed, taking a perch on top of the pod. “We’ve gotta pin down that Gem the scanners locked onto. Let’s fan out and search the area!”

The other Rubies nodded their agreement with this plan with various levels of enthusiasm as they began to split up and comb the barnyard for anything out of the ordinary. Yet even still, none of them really seemed to pay much attention to the barn, even as the group hidden inside it tentatively glanced out to observe them from afar.

“Whoa, look at ‘em all!” Steven exclaimed, admittedly amazed to see such a collection of Gems.

“Uh, anyone wanna explain why we’re hiding out from a bunch of walking, talking squares in here?” Stan asked rather dryly.

“Uh, because they tried to kill us with their space ship,” Dipper pointed out just as deadpan.

“Aw, c’mon, they can’t be that bad,” Mabel shrugged with a smile. “I mean, just look at them! They’re adorable!”

“They are NOT adorable!” Peridot huffed, cowering behind the barn door nervously. “They’re after me! This is the end of the line!”

“You weren’t kidding…” Lapis noted, raising an eyebrow as she looked to the green Gem.

“No, I wasn’t!” she shook her head morosely. “I told you; I disobeyed a direct order from Yellow Diamond, and I called her a clod… to her face.”

“Oh, honestly, you call everyone a clod,” Pearl remarked, rolling her eyes.

“Yes,” Peridot admitted, still clearly anxious. “But not everyone has command over all the armies of Homeworld waiting for the word to shatter me!”

In a meager attempt at making herself even more scarce, the green Gem scampered off, emptying a box that had otherwise been stockpiled with baseball supplies before curling up inside it to hide. For a moment, her soft, fearful whimpers could be heard under the box, that is until Steven stepped over to lift it off of her with a small, encouraging smile.

“Peridot, we won’t let them get you.”

“Yeah! If those Rubies want you, then they’ve gotta go through all of us first!” Mabel chimed in with a daring grin.

“Haven’t I caused you enough trouble?” Peridot asked with a small groan, still curled up into a small, tight ball on the barn floor.

“Oh, you certainly have,” Ford nodded, smirking slightly. “But that doesn’t mean you deserve to face Yellow Diamond’s wrath just for being a pretty persistent annoyance.”

“…Wow, thanks,” Peridot whispered, genuinely touched despite the somewhat backhanded dig.

“Don’t worry, Peridot,” Garnet assured, hands on her hips. “It’s our sworn duty to protect anything that calls this planet home. And that includes clods like you.”

“That’s my word…” the green Gem muttered, her voice still small and feeble.

“Listen up, everyone,” the Gem leader addressed the others firmly. “I have a plan. Or should I say…” She grinned, holding up her hands to reveal her gemstones on each palm, both of them already shining brightly. “We have a plan?”

That bright light soon overtook Garnet’s entire form until it slowly, calmly split her entirely. And, as expected, the glow faded to reveal Ruby and Sapphire, both in high, confident spirits as they held hands, still connected, despite now standing apart.

“Hello, everyone,” Sapphire greeted with a small, friendly wave.

“Ruby! Sapphire!” Pearl, Amethyst, and Ford alike all exclaimed, pleasantly surprised to see the couple making an appearance.

“HUUUGS!” Steven shouted, racing to embrace the pair, something that Mabel readily joined in on.

“Oh, great, these two again,” Stan remarked, rolling his eyes.

“Good to see you again too, Stan,” Ruby countered with a wry, knowing grin.

“So what’s this plan exactly?” Dipper asked the couple, curious.

Neither Ruby nor Sapphire offered a direct answer, instead turning to each other, still lingering close and affectionately all the while. “You’ve got this,” Sapphire said to her partner with a warm smile, imparting her with a brief kiss on the cheek for luck. “Just act casual.”

“Yeah,” Ruby nodded, bolstered by the blue Gem’s loving encouragement. “Casual.”

After a brief moment of steadying her resolve, the red Gem emerged from the barn, her posture stiff and her expression even stiffer as she rather awkwardly approached the group of Rubies still outside. None of them seemed to notice her slipping in to stand among their ranks as their leader called them to order once more.

“Focus, Rubies!” she snapped, still standing atop the Roaming Eye. “This is an important mission from Yellow Diamond, so we can’t mess it up.”

“Uh, h-hey!” Ruby spoke up anxiously, trying her best to not let how nervous she really was. “W-what are we all doin’ over here?”

For a moment, Ruby briefly feared her infiltration had failed as the other Rubies all looked to her skeptically, their expressions all borderline suspicious until the leg Ruby raised her hand innocently. “Yeah, what are we all doing here?”

“Ugh, I already told you ten times now!” the lead Ruby huffed, crossing her arms. “We’re here to retrieve the leader of the Earth mission!” She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes at the group of similar Gems gathered before her and spotting one particular oddity among them. “Hey, wait a second… It seems like there are more of us than usual!”

“There’s supposed to be five of us,” the naval Ruby pointed out with a smooth smile.

“Five Rubies!” the arm Ruby echoed gruffly.

“Hm…” the lead Ruby mused as she proceeded to take a headcount. “One, two, three, four, five…” She nodded, apparently forgetting to include herself among the group, much to Ruby’s relief. “Tch, never mind. We’re all here.”

The entire group let out a relieved sigh at this, though Ruby’s in particular rose among the others as she realized she miraculously hadn’t been found out. At least not yet. “Now, back to our mission,” the lead Ruby continued devoutly. “The leader of the Earth mission must be around here somewhere…”

“W-well, she’s definitely not in that barn!” Ruby quickly professed, pointing towards said barn in the hopes that the other Rubies would take her word and overlook it. Unfortunately, of course, they didn’t.

“Whoa, I didn’t see that before,” the lead Ruby said. “We should go check it out.”

By now, Ruby was all but panicking, realizing that her attempts at acting casual were all but failing her. Even so, she maintained her calm act as best as she could as she hastily volunteered herself for the task before any of the other Rubies could. “Uh, I-I’ll go! By myself!”

Without sparing another word, Ruby ran off, hoping that none of her fellow Rubies would follow suit. And unfortunately they didn’t as she slipped back into the barn, where the others all eagerly awaited to hear the report of what she had gleaned from their unwanted visitors.

“They wanna search the barn!” the red Gem exclaimed, frantic as she pressed up against the wall.

“We heard,” Steven nodded fretfully.

“We saw…” Pearl frowned, eyeing the Ruby squad outside skeptically.

“So, it seems as thought they really are after Peridot,” Ford mused as he turned towards the green Gem. “You are the leader of this so-called ‘Earth mission’, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am!” Peridot snapped fearfully. “And they’re gonna come in here, find me, and drag me back to Homeworld where I’ll be entirely left to Yellow Diamond’s mercy. Which is really bad, since she doesn’t have any mercy!”

“Pfft, they aren’t even gonna get close, P-dot,” Amethyst assured, her manner turning aggressive as she picked up a baseball bat lying on the ground. “Mostly since we’re gonna ambush ‘em!”

“Yeah!” Stan chimed in, grabbing another bat. “Now you’re speakin’ my language!”

“Huh, you know we do outnumber them by like… a lot,” Dipper noted thoughtfully. “Man, if only I still had the Sword of Seasons! Taking care of them would be so easy with that!”

“What? You lost the Sword of Seasons?” Ford asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked to his nephew.

“Uh, I-I never said that!” Dipper quickly countered defensively, not quite ready to reveal the doomed fate of his now missing blade to the author who’d made it just yet.

“We don’t need any swords or bats,” Sapphire spoke up rationally. “No one needs to get hurt. Let’s be reasonable.”

“What should I do?” Ruby asked worriedly, lingering close to her partner for much-needed support.

Fortunately, the blue Gem managed to steady her, just as she always did by gently placing her hands over her own. “Just go out there and tell them this is a place where humans live.”

“…I don’t wanna go alone…” Ruby frowned, sighing sadly.

“Oh! We’ll come!” Steven brightly volunteered himself, Dipper, and Mabel.

“Yeah! What better way to convince those Rubies that there’s nothing but humans here than by showing them a bunch of humans?” Mabel pointed out with a smile.

“Plus, we could always give you some backup if you end up needing it,” Dipper added just as confidently.

“And here’s some backup for your backup,” Amethyst said gruffly, handing the kids her baseball bat.

“And here’s some backup on top of that backup,” Stan chimed up, presenting his favorite pair of brass knuckles to the group. An act that caught a series of critical glances from Pearl, Ford, and Sapphire alike. “What, too much?”

All the same, Steven took the bat as him and the twins allowed Ruby to ‘escort’ them out of the barn and over to the Ruby squad as they remained on standby to hear what she had to report. “I-I check the barn and I just found a bunch of humans there!” she exclaimed, overdramatically motioning to the trio of kids she’d brought along with her.

“Yep!” Steven agreed innocently. “Nothing here but us humans!”

“Yeah, just us humans,” Mabel added much more naturally. “There totally isn’t a whole bunch of Gems hiding out in that barn, that’d just be silly, cause like we said, there’s just humans in there.”

“Yeah… just humans…” Dipper echoed dryly, sending his sister a critical look for her lack of subtlety.

“…Really?” the lead Ruby asked, clearly doubting this simple claim.

“Yep! Looks like we failed!” Ruby cut in with a wide, forced smile. “Time to go back home and never come back ever!”

“Eh, I think we’d still better double check,” the lead Ruby said, looking past the group towards the barn. “You remember what happened last time.”

“Last time?” Ruby frowned, not having the faintest idea as to what she was talking about.

The other Rubies, however, simply laughed her confusion off as if it was the funniest thing in the world, bewildering her even more. “Oh, Ruby!” the naval Ruby chuckled with a wave of her hand. “You’re so forgetful!”

“Alright,” the lead Ruby spoke up, sobering the squad up to more serious matters. “Let’s search the barn!”

“Yes, Ruby!” the others all dutifully saluted, though once again, Ruby interjected in a desperate attempt at stopping them.

“Wait!” she exclaimed nervously, glancing around for something, anything that could get them out of this tight strait. “You can’t, b-because… uh…”

“You have to play baseball!” Steven interupted, largely without thinking as he stole the briefest of glances down at the bat in his hands.

“Baseball?” Dipper and Mabel both echoed, exchanging a baffled glance at this.

The Rubies, however, were even more lost than the twins were, looking to each other as they tried to make sense of exactly what this ‘baseball’ thing was. Fortunately though, Steven didn’t waste any time in explaining the terms that, by all accounts, he was largely making up as he went along. “Yeah! It’s a human thing. I-if you win, you can go inside the barn and look around, a-and if you lose, you… uh… gotta leave forever!”

Upon hearing these conditions, the twins looked to each other once more before meeting Steven’s glance back towards them, all three of them joining Ruby in desperately hoping this wildly reckless plan would somehow work. And yet, by some chance of fate or miracle or something else entirely, it actually did.

For the most Ruby and the kids could do was stare, dumbfounded, as the lead Ruby slowly nodded in agreement with this bizarre wager. “Base… ball…”

***

“Baseball?!” Just about everyone back inside the barn was equally confused upon hearing Steven’s impromptu plan, and understandably so. After all, between all the ways they could have possibly dealt with the Rubies, this was by far the most bewildering, something that Sapphire didn’t hesitate to point out right off the bat.

“I saw this as a possibility…” she noted thoughtfully. “Though I am surprised that this is the path we’re taking.”

“But why even bother?” Ford asked, sparing a brief glare out towards the Ruby squad. “We have more than enough manpower and resources to outdo five tiny Rubies—no offense to you personally, Ruby-” He corrected, though he still caught a rather sardonic glance from the red Gem all the same. “So why don’t we just save ourselves some time and take care of them the easy way as opposed to… the ridiculous way?”

“Because if we simply poof and bubble them, then Homeworld will just send even more in their place,” Sapphire noted simply, evenly.

“And,” Mabel interjected much more pleadingly. “We can’t just beat them up! I mean, just look at how cute and cube-y they all are! Especially Leggy.”

“Leggy?” Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, me and Mabel named each of them based on the placement of their gems,” Steven explained. “There’s Leggy, Army…”

“Navy, Eyeball,” Mabel pointed to the other Rubies outside of the barn. “And… uh….”

“Doc!” Steven finished, giving the undecided lead Ruby a name at last.

“Well… that is easier than just calling them all ‘Ruby’,” Dipper shrugged, following the pair’s rather odd logic.

“So we gonna beat these squares at baseball or nah?” Amethyst cut in, getting the group back on track.

“Yeah!” the kids cheered, ready to do just that.

“All we gotta do is go out there and pretend to be human,” Steven grinned. “Well, I mean, the Gems have to pretend. That already comes naturally for me and you guys,” he nodded over at the Pines.

“Hmph, it sure does,” Stan remarked, slowly smirking as he glanced outside of the barn with an emerging idea. “In fact… that might be exactly what’ll get those tiny twerps out of our hair…”

“What do you mean?” Dipper asked, confused.

“Look, all I’m sayin’ is that short, loud, and cranky over here didn’t know jack squat about how things work here on Earth when she was holed up in the shack’s bathroom,” Stan began, motioning over to Peridot.

“Hey!” the green Gem huffed, offended. “I know plenty about the Earth and how it functions now!”

“Suuuure, you do, now,” the conman rolled his eyes. “But those chumps out there sure don’t.” Sure enough, as everyone looked out to the Ruby squad, they were still largely meandering about, uncertain of their new surroundings. While Leggy was fascinated with the feel of the grass she was sitting on, Army was aggressively chasing down a bee that had flown by her in the hopes of obliterating it, all while Eyeball was engaged in an intense staring match with the sun itself. “So its not like any of them would know if we… oh, I don’t know… tweaked the rules of this baseball game just a bit to tip the scales in our favor?”

“Grunkle Stan!” Mabel gasped, appalled. “I can’t believe you! Are you saying we should cheat?!””

“Uh, yeah, I’m saying we should cheat,” Stan said quite flippantly. “You wanna get rid of these square simpletons without beating them senseless, right? And ya wanna use baseball to do it? Well then, cheating is bound to be our best bet for making things go nice ‘n easy.”

“Hm… I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I actually agree with you, Stan,” Pearl frowned diffidently. “After all, if we don’t cheat, then there’s a significant chance those Rubies could win, despite not knowing much of anything about the basics of baseball…”

“And then they’ll find me and I’ll be DOOMED!” Peridot cried, hunkering down in fear.

“Not as long as you stay here in the barn and hide,” Steven pointed out, offering the green Gem a comforting smile.

“And as long as we cheat,” Stan added with a satisfied smile.

“As… absolutely morally bankrupt as that is,” Ford remarked, sending his brother a dour look that he hardly even noticed.

“So… cheating at baseball it is then?” Dipper asked tentatively glancing around.

“Yeah!” Amethyst cheered daringly. “Cheating at baseball! And if that doesn’t work, we go back to the plan where we ambush ‘em!” Her grin widened as she held up a baseball bat once more, shaking it around threateningly.

“No, we don’t,” Sapphire shook her head. “Baseball… and, well… cheating should suffice. Hopefully.”

“Great!” Steven grinned, relived to hear this coming from the clairvoyant blue Gem herself. “So, is everybody in?” The others all largely nodded with varying degrees of enthusiasm, save for one, who had largely been hanging back in the shadows of the barn the entire time, completely unengaged in the conversation until the young Gem called her out. “Lapis?”

The blue Gem looked up, her arms crossed and her expression stoic, until she ended up folding into a small, snort of a chuckle over just how bizarre this entire situation really was. “This plan sucks.”

***

Not wanting to keep the Ruby squad waiting any longer than they had to, the Pines and the Gems made their last minute preparations for the baseball brawl ahead of them. In an effort to be more discreet, Pearl, Sapphire, Amethyst, and Lapis all shifted their attire to more casual wear, both for the sake of blending in and for hiding their respective gemstones in various ways. Likewise, Mabel encouraged the humans among the group to do the same as she took of her sweater and tied her hair up, relieved Dipper of his vest while turning his hat backwards, much to his annoyance, and encouraged both Stan and Ford to take off their respective overcoats to look more ‘sporty’. And once they were all set up and solidified on their plan, the collective group emerged to meet their opposing team, which Ruby made sure to slip back into without much notice at all.

“We’re the humans!” Steven announced, beginning the line-off of the supposedly ‘human’ team. “Steven!”

“Mabel!”

“Dipper!”

“Stan!”

“Ford.”

“Earl!” Pearl provided a false, rather clever name as she tipped her hat down a bit to conceal her gemstone.

“Amy!” Amethyst grinned, crossing her arms and adjusting the scarf around her neck to hide her own stone better.

“Bob,” Lapis said flatly, completely unengaged in the competitive spirit the others shared.

“And Sophie!” Sapphire finished brightly, electing a hot, flustered blush from Ruby on the other side of the line.

“Understood,” Doc nodded gruffly. “Our team is the Rubies! Consisting of… Ruby!”

“Ruby!”

“And Ruby!”

“Uh… we’re still gonna call them by their cute little nicknames, right?” Mabel whispered to Steven, aside.

“Oh, definitely.”

“Hey, hold up!” Doc interjected, eyeing the other team suspiciously. “Aren’t there more of you than there are of us…?”

“Uh…” Steven began, unsure of how to explain this very obvious disparity between the two teams. After all, they outnumbered the Rubies by three, a sight that just about anyone could see as plain as day. Fortunately though, he didn’t have to come up with a reasoning for this as Stan did so for him.

“Oh, what, you don’t know?” the conman asked, putting on a wry, knowing front. “Six to nine is how you’re supposed to play baseball. And since we’re on our turf, we’re the team that gets to have nine.”

“Hm… that seems a little unfair…” Leggy noted with a small frown.

“Nah, its totally fair,” Dipper shrugged, completely in on Stan’s act for the sake of the greater good. “You guys just don’t know how the game works. It’ll make way more sense once we actually get started.”

The Rubies exchanged something of a dubious glance at this, briefly chatting among themselves as they tried to make sense of this odd rule before Steven went on to explain the others. “So here’s how it works. We take turns throwing the ball at each other. The batter tries to hit the ball with the bat, and then they run around the bases. Whoever gets the most runs wins. You get three tires to hit the ball, but if you miss each of those tries-”

“Then you loose points,” Stan cut in succinctly.

“Huh?” Mabel frowned, confused upon hearing this. “No, you don-”

“And,” the conman continued, rushing to cover his niece’s mouth before she could blab out the truth. “Ya also gotta wear these shirts.” He held up five small-sized t-shirts, each of them reading “Baby’s First Baseball Game” in large, bright, rather embarrassing letters. “And only you guys gotta wear the shits because… uh… cause I don’t have enough for our team. Yeah, that works.”

“Stanley, why on earth do you have those?” Ford asked, sending his brother an incredulous look.

“…I have my reasons…”

“Alright, everyone!” Steven called both teams to order to finally get things started as he tossed the first baseball up in the air. “Let’s… play ball!”

And that’s exactly what they did. The Rubies were up to bat first, with the ‘human’ team taking to the bases and outfield. With everyone in position, Ruby stepped up to the plate first, sending Steven a coy wink out on the pitcher’s mound that she was on the same page as he was when it came to the plan. The young Gem nodded, winding up his pitch before tossing the ball her way. And, quite intentionally, the red Gem swung just a bit too late as it passed over the home plate and landed in Amethyst’s glove instead.

“Striiiiike one!”

“What?!” Army snapped from the sidelines, the other Rubies just as outraged to see one of their own miss such a simple ball.

“Striiiiiike two!” the purple Gem called as Ruby swung too early this time, trying her best to act casual about it as she did so once more.

“Striiiike three!”

“Oh darn!” Ruby shrugged, dropping the bat. “Guess I’m out!” At this, Sapphire let out a small chuckle from the far side of the field, playfully waving over at the red Gem, who discreetly smiled back at her.

“You swung too slow!” Army snapped her back into reality as she punched her hard in the back, prompting her to hurry back over to the other Rubies. “Do it like this.”

Steven was admittedly a bit more nervous as he pitched to Army, and with good reason. For not only did the arm Gem swing perfectly on time, but she hit the ball with such incredible force that it went flying hard and high up into the air, soaring past the field to the point that it disappeared entirely into the distant hills. “Aaaand… that’s called a home run…” Steven sighed, disappointed as Army proudly walked the bases in full.

Still, the next several rounds of the first inning played out in steady succession. The Rubies managed to score another point thanks to a precise hit from Doc, one that Ford tossed back to home plate just seconds shy of the chest Gem running over it. Even so, Pearl managed to land a lucky catch, striking Navy out instantly. Likewise, Mabel eagerly snatched up a ball hit by Eyeball and happened to tag her out just as the eye Gem ran by her base, though she did catch quite a bit of ire from said Gem in doing so. And in the process, the Ruby squad hit their first three outs, prompting not only a switch in sides, but a switch in uniform as Stan handed off the rather embarrassing t-shirts to each one of them (including Ruby, who took it in stride, considering the circumstances).

With this change, Amethyst was the first up to bat, seemingly hardly invested in the game at all as she reeled her bat back. However, she still managed to catch Doc’s pitch squarely, hitting it completely out of the park with a single, mighty swing. Still, to make sure none of the Rubies caught it, the purple Gem jumped into a spin dash, laughing wildly as she rolled around all of the bases before making it back home in record time.

“Nice!” Pearl cheered from the sidelines.

“See? Amethyst gets it,” Stan remarked with a satisfied smile. “That’s what I call cheating.”

“Wow! That purple human is really good!” Leggy exclaimed, amazed from the infield.

“Haha! Yeah!” Steven laughed nervously as he hurried up to Amethyst to push her away from the diamond. “Us humans, we’re, uh, full of surprises!” Even so, the young Gem dropped his voice down to a worried whisper to the purple Gem in particular, lest she blow their cover entirely. “Amethyst, be careful!”

Fortunately, the Rubies wouldn’t get any more possible cause for suspicious as Dipper stepped up to bat next. He was admittedly a bit shaky as he did so, not entirely experienced with the game, though he hoped his swordsmanship skills would somehow serve him well here as well. Even so, he did outright miss the first pitch, as well as the second, though he did hit the third ball successfully… right over to first base, where Eyeball easily caught it, instantly striking him out.

“Oh! Great job, Dipper!” Lapis cheered, finally breaking out of her consistently dour attitude as he walked back over to the bench, disgruntled.

“Uh… Lapis? I struck out…” Dipper pointed out with a confused frown.

“I know!” the blue Gem smiled somewhat obliviously, though clearly proudly. “I saw! And you did a amazing job of it! Congratulations!”

Dipper didn’t really know what to say to this as he exchanged a bewildered glance with Steven. Even so, the young Gem was quick to let out a leveling sigh as he took stock of their current status. “O-ok, this is fine, its just one out. We still have two more chances to catch up to them!”

“Um… you might not want to speak so soon on that…” Ford spoke up, nodding to home plate, where Sapphire had just stepped up to bat. With Ruby as umpire however, it was immediately clear from the get-go that both of them were more than distracted by each other.

“Heeeeey, Ruby,” Sapphire smirked, widely swinging as she missed Doc’s first pitch altogether. “Nice shirt.”

“Striiiiike one!”

“Heh, you really like it?” the red Gem blushed brightly.

“Mmhm,” Sapphire swung far too early this time, far before Doc could even pitch at all, though she hardly even seemed to care as she continued conversing with her significant other. “It brings out your eyes.”

“Aw…” Ruby chuckled, warmly flustered as she put on the act that she knew she was supposed to be playing at. “Say, haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”

“I don’t know,” the blue Gem all but ignored Doc as she winded up her next throw. “I don’t get off-planet much.”

“Striiiiike two!”

The pair of Gems shared an affectionate laugh over this, not noticing the confusion of both the Rubies in the field and the group watching from the sidelines.

“What’s going on?” Steven asked fretfully. “What are they doing?”

“Flirting,” Lapis said flatly.

“Uh oh…” Pearl frowned, catching the young Gem’s worry.

“Ooooooh my gosh! Those two just get cuter and cuter every time we see them together!” Mabel gushed, about the only one among the group excited by this turn of events. “Where’s my camera when I need it? I gotta capture this moment for “the Best of Ruby and Sapphire” section of my scrapbook!”

“Now’s really not the time, Mabel!” Dipper scolded, crossing his arms.

“Striiiike THREE!” Doc called as Sapphire missed her final pitch, finally breaking the couple out of their romantic revere. They exchanged a brief, anxious glance at this, both of them realizing as they met the disappointed glances of their teammates, that they had been the sole cause of their second out.

The team’s third out, however, did come after a successful series of hits that led to Stan scoring a home run, though an unfortunate catch of Ford’s first hit right after that led to another switch in sides as the first inning came to a close. Still, it didn’t take very long for the Rubies to get their first out either as Lapis narrowly managed to catch Eyeball’s high ball just by inching a bit over to the left. Wanting to ensure they didn’t fall too far behind, Stan enacted another cheating tactic as he heckled Leggy as she was up to bat with the old ‘swing batter batter’ trick, which worked far too well in the most innocent of the Rubies. However, the squad did score yet another point thanks to Ruby once again distracting herself by fixing her gaze on Sapphire in the outfield, accidentally hitting the ball in the process, eliciting an excited, if not misguided cheer from her partner. The hit allowed Doc to make it back to home, much to the other Rubies’ elation, save for the very one who had hit it in the first place as she happened to catch Steven, Pearl, Dipper, and a few others shake their head disapprovingly at her.

The next several innings all followed in what almost felt like a dizzying succession. With each changing of the bat between teams, Stan made sure to spice things up on the Rubies’ end of things, hoping that one of his attempts would finally be enough to trip them up completely. Between encouraging them to close their eyes to catch the ball better, to telling them to hold the bat upside down, the Rubies all gullibly fell for his ‘tips’, much to the conman’s immense amusement. However, even these scams did little to prevent the squad from maintaining their surprising lead, a lead that the ‘human’ team could never seem to catch up with, despite their best efforts.

Even if Steven, Dipper, Ford, and Pearl ranged from subpar to standard when it came to the game, Amethyst, Stan, and even Mabel managed to carry the team in most degrees. However, if there was any sole factor keeping them from getting ahead, it had to be Ruby and Sapphire. Despite several scoldings and warnings to keep their cover up, the couple simply couldn’t keep away from each other as they continued stealing loving glances from each other instead of stealing bases. They continued affectionately shooting the breeze instead of striking the ball. And, even as intentional as it was, they continued focusing less on the game as they focused far too much on each other instead.

As hectic as the game was getting, Steven and Mabel still made a quick check in on Peridot inside the barn as they hurried to fetch another bat to replace the one that Eyeball had snapped clean in half. “Hey, how’s it going?” the green Gem whispered to the pair, making sure to remain as out of sight as she could as they rushed past her. “Are we winning?”

“Umm…” Steven frowned as he looked back over to the game. Of course, what he saw was none other than Ruby teaching Sapphire how to properly swing, the pair whispering sweet nothings to each other all the while as Eyeball watched them suspiciously from afar. A sign that if the couple kept their continuous barrage of flirting up, then their cover would be blown to pieces in no time at all.

“Ahah! We’re doing great, Peri!” Mabel cut in with a loud, forced laugh. “No need to worry! We got this in the bag!”

“Y-yeah,” Steven agreed much more anxiously as they began to rush back towards the game. “E-everything’s gonna be a-ok!”

“You’re lying to me!” Peridot snapped angrily.

“To make you feel better!”

“…Thank you!”

Before anyone could even see it coming, the final inning of the game had arrived, and with it, a far-too close score for comfort. The Rubies had kept their lead throughout the entire game, though the other team wasn’t that far behind, set back by only a single point. A point that could cost them more than just the game if they didn’t somehow manage to score it back.

“Ok,” Steven began as the team huddled up to discuss this issue. “It’s the bottom of the ninth. We’ve got Lapis on second, but one more out and its game over for us.”

“Uh… it might end up being game over for us anyway…” Dipper noted, nodding towards home plate as Sapphire all-too-casually approached it.

“N-not if she hits a home run!” Mabel professed, hopeful.

“Why do I feel like the chances of that happening are… highly unlikely given our track record here?” Ford asked, frowning as Ruby and Sapphire engaged each other in playful conversation once more.

“Eh, we can always just tell them that there are more than nine winnings and that we keep going till we win,” Stan shrugged, unconcerned. “Its not like it won’t work; those Rubes fall for anything.”

“True, but do we really want to keep this going forever?” Pearl asked, voicing a sentiment that just about everyone agreed on.

“Looks like there’s only one thing to do then,” Steven took in a deep breath, determined as he looked over to the couple. “Hey! I call a timeout!” He managed to stop Doc just short of her first pitch, giving him enough time to slip up to the pair at home to give them a much-needed prep talk. “Listen, you two,” he began, his tone quite serious as he looked between the surprised couple. “I know its hard being seperated, but we have to keep them out of the barn or they’re gonna find Peridot, remember?! Ruby, stop being cute, and Sapphire, keep your eye on the ball!”

“Pun… intended?” Ruby attempted to joke, though it hardly amused Steven whatsoever.

“What did I just say?” the young Gem huffed, sending a warning glare at the pair as he headed back over to the bench.

“You really think this is gonna work?” Dipper asked, aptly nervous as Steven returned.

“We always got the ambush thing as a backup plan, so no worries,” Amethyst assured, patting a spare bat into her hands.

“Aw, c’mon, you guys, have a little more faith in them!” Mabel urged earnestly. “Garnet always comes through for us, which means Ruby and Sapphire will too! Right?”

None of the others really had much of an answer for this as they all intently looked to the game watch more, desperately hoping that the couple would do just that. However, the chances of that happening didn’t seem very good as Sapphire missed the first pitch, though not for a genuine lack of actually trying to hit it this time.

“Strike one!”

While a growing wave of worry washed over the team on the bench, the Rubies exchanged a confident collective glance, assured of their soon to come victory at hand. However, though everyone else had their doubts in the blue Gem’s ability to carry them home, her partner had no such concerns whatsoever. “Come on, I know you can do it,” she whispered to Sapphire, gently yet encouragingly. As anxious as the blue Gem herself was, Ruby’s warming words did manage to raise her spirits somewhat, though not enough for her to land a successful swing on the next ball.

“Strike two!”

“Just look at the ball,” Ruby instructed, her tone steady when everything else felt like it wasn’t.

“I’m trying…” Sapphire whispered back, gripping the bat tighter as she watched Doc wind up another pitch. “But all I want to look at is you.”

“Don’t worry,” Ruby grinned. “You can look at me when you’re running for home.”

The blue Gem took in a soft gasp at this, though ultimately a wide, loving smile filled her face, her affections for the red Gem soaring higher than ever before. In fact, this promise was just enough to provide her with the solid determination she needed to face the final pitch head on.

Confident that this would be the final ball of the game, Doc threw it fast and hard, surrounding it with burning flames as she sent it flying for home. However, unlike every single time before, this time Sapphire struck it, swinging wide to the point that she caught the ball and held it there. The blue Gem stood her ground, letting out a fierce shout as she doused the flames entirely, coating the bat in a thick, sturdy sheet of ice. And, fueled by both her resolve to win and her feelings for Ruby, she sent that ball flying, letting it rebound in an icy blast towards the skies.

There wasn’t a chance for any of the Rubies to catch it as it disappeared into the clouds, allowing Lapis to score a casual home run all the way from second base. Sapphire, on the other hand, was by far more excited, dashing between the bases all for the sake of reuniting with her partner once more. The team on the sidelines cheered with newfound elation as the Rubies all watched in sour disappointment while the blue Gem rounded third, laughing brightly as she made the final stretch towards Ruby’s awaiting arms.

“Come to me!” she encouraged cheerfully and Sapphire happily complied, leaping for her and easily falling into her open embrace. However, amidst their affectionate excitement, both Gems failed to notice as their forms were enveloped in light until that light ended up bringing them together one more.

Garnet still shared Ruby and Sapphire’s laughter as she landed on the ground, momentarily lost to the joy of her respective halves. That is, until she realized exactly what had happened and the many sets of eyes that were now on her as she did. “…Oops.”

“Welp, forget the whole cheating thing,” Stan remarked dryly, tossing his bat aside dismissively. “Cause this whole operation just fell apart.”

“I’ll say…” Pearl muttered tightly, already starting to prepare for the no-doubt violent fallout.

“They’re GEMS!” Doc shouted in appalled realization.

“We’ve been tricked!” Army growled, absolutely outraged by the deception as Eyeball joined in with a fierce, frustrated growl.

“What a turn of events!” Navy gasped, seemingly surprised.

“Huh? What?” Leggy chimed in, completely lost as to what had just happened.

“Sorry, guys,” Garnet apologized, rising to stand as the others all rushed to join her. “Game’s over.”

“Why, I bet all of those ‘tips’ you kept giving us about how to play baseball weren’t even true either!” Doc snapped at Stan specifically, though the conman hardly seemed to care.

“Uh, no duh,” the conman deadpanned, crossing his arms. “What was your first clue? The part where I told ya that only pansies wear catcher’s mitts while playing baseball? Or was it the shirts? It was probably the shirts, though I do have to give you twerps credit for actually wearing those things the entire game.”

Upon hearing this, Doc was the first to rip her t-shirt off in a heated rage, followed not too far behind by Eyeball and Army, with Navy doing so much more casually. Leggy, on the other hand, was the only one to hold onto the article of clothing a moment longer, looking down at it with a fretful frown. “Aw… but I kinda like mine…”

“TAKE IT OFF!” Army shouted, prompting the leg Gem to do so out of fear alone.

“That’s it!” Doc exclaimed boldly, ready to put these tricky humans and Gems alike in their place. “RUBIES! COMIBINE!”

The other Rubies quickly did so, all piling on top of one other in a steady formation that very quickly led to a fusion. Said fusion was ultimately just one singular massive Ruby, sporting all five of the gemstones of its various components as it towered over the group before it, large and intimidating as it let out a mighty roar. For a moment, no one really knew quite what to do against this surprisingly substantial threat, though in yet another sudden turn of events, they found they didn’t have to.

“WAIT!” Peridot cried from the barn, not hesitating to rush out of her hiding spot before the Ruby fusion could even try to attack the others. She scampered frantically across the barnyard over to the group, outright tripping and falling over herself several times along the way, but even so, she arrived to place herself in front of the others and in harm’s way instead. “Wait! Stop! Please! I-its me you’re after, right? I’m not gonna stand by and let my friends fight by battles!”

“Whoa, Peridot, that’s… surprisingly heroic of you,” Dipper noted, impressed as even Lapis nodded in awestruck agreement.

“Aww, Peri loves us!” Mabel chimed in, warmed by the green Gem’s sentiment.

All the same, the Ruby fusion simply leaned in, scowling threateningly down at the much smaller Peridot all the while. “Are you the Peridot assigned to the failed Earth mission?” she asked, her voice deep, slow, and admittedly scary.

“N-not sure if ‘failed’ would be the right word to-”

“Where is Jasper?” the Ruby fusion interupted starkly, catching just about everyone else off guard completely.

“You’re looking… for Jasper?” Peridot asked, beyond confused by this turn.

“Correct.”

“W-wait, but I’m the one who betrayed the mission!” the green Gem professed hotly. “Who called Yellow Diamond a clod! Who saved all these simple humans from sure destruction! The new leader of the Crystal Gems!”

“What?” Pearl looked to her, baffled upon hearing such a bold assumption.

“Excuse me?” Ford likewise echoed, hands on his hips as he sent the green Gem a critical glance.

“We don’t CARE!” the Ruby fusion snapped thunderously. “Tell us where Jasper is NOW!”

“Jasper, um… w-we know where Jasper is, she’s…” Peridot trailed off, looking to the others for some sort of explanation. Though of course, the only answer any of the other Gems really had to give was that she had fallen somewhere into the depths of the Earth back on the island. Something that they couldn’t very well just outright tell to the already incensed Ruby fusion standing before them now.

“WELL?!” said fusion shouted impatiently.

“Uhh…”

“Neptune!” Steven suddenly interjected, shouting out the first and most distant planet he could think of. “She’s on the planet Neptune!”

For what seemed like ages, no one said anything to this, largely since they hoped that this bizarre ruse would be enough to convince the Rubies. And sure enough, it certainly was as the fusion backed off, smiling contentedly with this information, however false it might have been. “Well, why didn’t you just say so?”

Both Gems and Pines alike let out a shared sigh of relief as the Rubies unfused, seemingly peaceful as they prepared to take their leave to continue their search for the missing orange Gem. “We all here?” Doc asked, doing another quick headcount of her team. “One, two, three, four, and… ha! Five!” She grinned, finally including herself on that count to square off her entire squad. “To the planet Neptune!”

“Let’s move out, soldiers!” Army called, beckoning the others to head back to the ship.

“Neptune! What a lovely sounding planet!” Navy grinned, skipping blithely after the others.

“B-but we just got here!” Leggy frowned, though she did stop short to pick up her discarded ‘Baby’s First Baseball Game’ shirt. “I’m just gonna… take this…”

“Let’s go, newbie!” Doc interjected, grabbing Leggy and dragging her, as well as her shirt, back over to the ship.

Out of all the Rubies, however, Eyeball was the last to linger, looking to the group before her intensely before she showed her stiff, admittedly frightening gratitude. “Thank you.”

And with that, the squad all piled up back into their ship, which roared to life once more as it picked itself up out of the ground and lifted up into the air once again. This time, however, it showed no signs of ill-intent as it simply warped itself away, disappearing back into the vast expanse of space from whence it came and leaving a very bewildered group behind in its wake.

“Uh… y-yeah, that’s right!” Stan heckled after the group even after their ship had left. “And don’t come back either, otherwise we’ll pound ya into the ground in some other sport, like… uh… anyone good at hockey around here?”

“Aw, I’m gonna miss those guys,” Mabel frowned. “They really were adorable when they weren’t trying to kill us.”

“Am I the only one who thinks that ended way too easily?” Dipper asked, somewhat concerned.

“Nah, man,” Amethyst remarked, hands on her hips as she shook her head incredulously. “Rubies are dumb.”

Garnet, on the other hand, smirked at this, adjusting her shades as she kept her sights set on the skies the Rubies had disappeared into, half of her knowing very well that out of all their kind, one Ruby in particular always had, and always would stand apart. “Not all of them.”

14 notes · View notes

connorssock · 6 years ago

Note

Id love to see a sort of AU of sorts of that super cute/badass fic you wrote where Gavin got sponsored in gymnastics so when he got kicked out he had somewhere to go (with the sponsor?) And eventually competed world wide before retiring to become police

I spent so long thinking about this and I tried to make sure Gavin still ended up on the police force but…I hope you can forgive me for taking this idea and twisting it a little, Nonnie! I’m not going to lie, this turned into an Olympics AU that nobody really asked for.

For those curious, this is the post being referred to.

Much like in the other post, Gavin’s 18th birthday present is a pre-packed bag and being shown the door. But this time, he’s got somewhere to go. There wasn’t any money in the backpack and Gavin doesn’t exactly have much in the bank, so he figures that as the weather is good, he can walk for a couple of hours to get to Hank’s.

The house is silent when he gets there. Perhaps he should be concerned that he knows where his coach lives and that it’s not the first time he’s been there, but Gavin’s got his heart set on the Olympics and Hank was one of the few willing to work with him. Maybe the way they’d met wasn’t quite conventional either. Gavin had been aware of Anderson’s fame in the heyday, knew he was destined for great things in the gymnastic world. He’d been a role model to many right up until the fateful crash that shattered his elbow and robbed him of any future in the sport. Even worse, his son was killed and Hank all but dropped off the face of the planet.

As luck would have it, Gavin lived in the same town Hank had run away to. There were rumours at the club about the great fabled Anderson living locally and Gavin decided to take matters into his own hand. He’d done a bit of detective work and tracked Hank down, only to knock on his door unannounced one evening after school.

The man who opened the door reeked of alcohol and yelled at him to piss off. His words slurred and Gavin was torn. The person who could have gotten him to the Olympics was nothing more than a washed up drunk. But something nagged at him, urged him to come back. So Gavin did, he pestered Hank until the man finally snapped. Told him that if Gavin could do an Arabian Flip then and there, he’d consider taking him on.

There was a stunned silence when Gavin dumped his bag on the ground, took a step back and did a wonky Arabian Flip on Hank’s front lawn. His landing didn’t stick, the twist wasn’t a complete 180 but it was good enough when not warmed up, stressed and put on the spot. Gavin shoved his phone number and training regime into Hank’s hands and ran before did something stupid.

Three days later, Hank was by the sidelines at the club when Gavin arrived. He even wore an ugly shirt.

Despite the rocky start, Hank proved to be a better coach than expected. Sure, he pushed Gavin hard, put him through his paces but it meant that by the 2020 Olympics, Gavin had secured himself a spot in Tokyo. He never expected his parents to shatter his hopes by not signing the form that would have allowed him to travel. All Gavin remembers of the Olympics that year was sitting on Hank’s couch and getting progressively more drunk together as some haughty Russian took the gold he’d wanted to badly.

A couple of months later, Gavin waited for Hank to get home from wherever he was. At least it was still only cool and not cold, sitting on his doorstep with a bag between his feet. When Hank finally rolled up, he took one look at Gavin and wordlessly let him in.

Within a matter of weeks, Gavin had his own place. He didn’t mind sleeping on Hank’s couch, but it didn’t do his back any favours. All the same, Hank had pulled some strings and suddenly Gavin had a couple of sponsors, a bit of money in the bank and a place to call his very own. It was the best possible outcome for his situation and he was content.

Training and competitions came and went. Gavin built up quite a name for himself and by the time 2024 rolled around, he was comfortable in the knowledge that he had earned a place in the competition and his parents wouldn’t be able to stop him from going to Paris.

The trip to Europe was a bit of a blur. It was Gavin’s first time on an aeroplane and he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. Next to him, Hank snored merrily with an eye mask shutting out any light. There was a small part of Gavin that was jealous of his easy sleep, but at the same time, he didn’t want to miss anything about the trip.

Once they’d landed, got their luggage and were outside the airport, they made their way to the Olympic village. Hank had warned him numerous times that it was all a bit hectic, a bit crazy. People were doing things they wouldn’t normally do. In the end, all Hank had said was “what happens in the village stays in the village” with a grin that spoke of many memories Gavin was sure he didn’t need to know about.

Of course, Hank had been right. It was absolute chaos. There were petty cat fights followed by makeup sex, sometimes in a rather public setting. Gavin would have loved it if he could say he had only once walked into one of the communal lounges to find an archer bent over the back of the sofa by a shooter muttering about true aim.

In all of this, Gavin tried to keep his head on straight and was down at the practice grounds every day. It was inevitable he’d run into his competition, including the defending Russian champion. Now, Gavin could admit when someone was attractive, he might have even slurred something along those lines to Hank four years back. They’d even passed each other in a few competitions but they never struck up conversation. The problem was that up close, he was more than handsome. Even worse, Hank had nodded along but mumbled something about liking them a little softer and approachable.

Everybody called him Nines because of his average score. His trainer was Amanda Stern and she looked every bit the harpy. It was a matter of luck that their rooms were opposite Gavin and Hank’s. To make things a little more confusing, some mornings Gavin swore Nines looked a little different. Shorter and more willowy. He snorted when he realised Nines must wear fake contact lenses to get the piercing blue eyes.

It didn’t help that one morning Gavin stumbled out of his room to find Hank leaning against the wall a little too casually and was chatting to Nines. Jealousy wasn’t quite the emotion that flooded Gavin, but Hank was fraternising with the enemy. The enemy that he himself may or may not have quite a strong attraction to at that. Hank glanced his way and smiled before he turned back to Nines with a smile.

“I better get going, catch you around, Connor.”

That was not Nines’ name. Gavin blinked and watched as Hank waited for him to puzzle it out. No explanation came to mind and all Gavin could do was let out a confused “ehhhhh?” and wave.

“That’s Connor, Nines’ brother and fencer. Was going to be a gymnast but Amanda almost destroyed his and Nines’ relationship with her training regime and constantly pitting them against each other. So he saved their relationship and decided to take his frustrations out by hitting people with a sword instead,” Hank shrugged.

Suddenly Hank’s words about preferring them softer made more sense. Because Connor was softer than Nines and there was no conflict of interest either which definitely eased things. Gavin idly wondered how long Connor and Hank had been friends.

“His English is pretty good,” Gavin tried to probe gently.

“Father was Russian, mother was American. They were orphaned here so Amanda took them in when they were around 8. For all intents and purposes they’re Russian but…well, they could apply for US citizenship if they ever wanted to.”

It was impossible to miss the wistful note in Hank’s voice and Gavin knew exactly what he was thinking.

Training and avoiding parties became Gavin’s focus as he prepared for the competition. It was suddenly all too real and he needed to prove himself. He was in the last three minutes of his allocated practice time, tired and frustrated when his landings wouldn’t stick no matter how much he tried to keep his knees soft. All it took was one moment for his concentration to blip out and he was flat on his backside with a groan.

A hand was offered to pull him up and Gavin blinked in surprises as Nines backed away.

“Your left foot isn’t completely straight, it’s why your landings aren’t good enough.”

Before Gavin reply, Nines stalked away.

He began to see more and more of Nines. Watched his routine as the crowds screamed for him, how the judges nodded along. It was infuriatingly seamless and he was shot straight to the top of the leader board.

When it was Gavin’s turn, he stood nervously, palms damp with sweat despite being covered with chalk. His name was announced and his mind went blank while his body took over and went through the familiar steps of his routine.

Gavin would never be able to remember much of what happened, it was all a blur of anxiety that warred with the comfort of knowing what he was doing. He was where he’d always dreamt he would be and nobody could take that away from him anymore.

He remembered Hank hugging him tight, his name being called again on the loudspeaker along with a score. It didn’t beat Nines’ near perfection, but it was a personal best. Gavin was even tactful enough not to mention how Hank’s cheeks were tear streaked when he released him from the bear hug.

“That was a very credible performance,” Nines shook his hand when Gavin stepped into the changing rooms.

From there, they watched the rest of the competitors together. Cringed when the guy from Denmark landed wrong and twisted his ankle, cheered when the Chinese gymnast rescued a flip with an inch to spare from crashing out. Neither of them really knew when the space between them decreased or when they decided that dinners and holding hands in private was a great idea, but it made them happy.

They stood next to each other on the podium, Nines with his gold medal and Gavin with his bronze.Neither of them could keep the happy grin from their faces.

Like with everything, things came to an end. They exchanged contact details and agreed to try and stay in touch. Their e-mails were infrequent and secretive, Nines never said it out loud but Gavin knew that if Amanda found out about them, it would be a disaster.

He almost had a heart attack when, after a training session, Gavin dropped by Hank’s place and thought he saw Nines. But it was only Connor sat on Hank’s old couch with Sumo’s head in his lap.

“I have something for you,” Connor said and quietly slipped into the bedroom.

Gavin valiantly didn’t think about the fact that there was only one bedroom in Hank’s house and all of Connor’s things seemed to be in there. Any such thoughts vanished from his mind when a soft parcel was pressed in his hands. He didn’t open it in front of Connor, but the next time he went to practice, Hank was there with Connor at the club. It was fairly obvious that Connor had no clue what he’d brought over for Gavin, but his eyes widened when he recognised the hoodie. Thankfully he didn’t say anything.

In an effort to stay in touch, Gavin looked into more international competitions, managed to grab spots at a couple Nines was at. Their stolen moments were even better than beating him to first place on the podium.

By the time the Olympics came to LA, Gavin was excited. He waited at the airport for the plane to land from Russia. Connor was at his side, vibrating with excitement at seeing his brother again. He never did tell them what had happened, but a year after Paris, he retraced his mother’s heritage and moved over to the US. It was going to be the first time he was competing against his old Russian team in the Olympics and he was nervous.

“Brother,” Nines greeted him with a squeeze to his shoulder before he nodded at Gavin. “Nice to see you both.”

Gavin offered to drive while Connor sat in the back with Nines. They were catching up when Connor suddenly switched to Russian. Whatever he said got a very terse and annoyed reply from Nines and all conversation ceased.

Much like in Paris, the Olympic Village was manic. But this time, Gavin knew what to expect and was grinning wildly at the fact that Nine was his neighbour this time. Something told him it wasn’t pure luck it worked out like that. Especially when on Hank’s other side Connor moved in.

The tabloids were going nuts over the athletes. They speculated romances, feuds and delighted in mulling over tragedies. Oddly enough, Nines and Amanda became a frequent topic. They were often caught arguing in hushed tones, both looking furious. Nobody knew the root of the problem but it was obvious that the Russians were in a pickle.

The day of the competition came and Gavin settled in to watch Nines. A hush of anticipation fell over the hall as Nines took up position. His first landing was botched, his flips messy, timing deliberately a little off. Gavin held a hand to his mouth to hide the noises.

“What is he doing?” Hank hissed next to him.

With a final sloppy cartwheel, Nines finished, stood straight with his arms in the air. Both his middle fingers extended as he did a quick turn towards where Amanda sat and with a sneering smile took a mock bow before marching out of the arena.

“Holy shit, that is one heck of a statement.” Hank’s voice was lost in the mutterings of the crowd.

Needless to say, Nines crashed out of the competition in the first round. He looked smug as he sipped something that was in all likelihood alcoholic while lounging on one of the communal sofas.

“What the fuck was that about?” Gavin asked when he found him, Connor and Hank hot on his heels.

“An artistic expression of what I thought about Amanda. I thought the message was quite clear,” Nines shrugged. “Incidentally, Connor, you don’t have a couch I could stay on for a bit? I have a feeling I’m not returning back to Russia once the games are over.”

It was one heck of a way to declare his intentions but Gavin couldn’t let Nines distract him. He was competing the next day and needed to keep his focus. All the same, he was filled with warmth when he spotted Nines next to Hank in the trainer’s box just before he walked to into the arena. The small wink Nines sent him made him flush but then there was no room to think as he began his routine.

Gavin stood proudly on the podium, a gold medal around his neck. There were flashes of the cameras going off around him, people calling his name. It wasn’t something he ever really truly expected to experience despite wanting it for pretty much all his life.

He ginned when he saw Nines walking towards him and stopping in front of him.

“You’re actually taller than me for once,” Nines mused before crooking a finger at him.

Gavin leaned down and almost dropped his bouquet when Nines grabbed him by the medal and tugged him down for a kiss. If Gavin thought the cameras were going wild before, it was a veritable lightning storm now. The tabloids were full of the picture of them kissing, mulling over whether it was a kiss of affection or a Russian threat.

All in all, it was a great thing to giggle over, the two of them entangled on Gavin’s couch and giggling before returning to filling out Nines’ application for citizenship.

#reed900 #hankcon #hannor #dbh: gavin #dbh: rk900 #dbh: hank #dbh: connor #olympics au #prompt fill #gymnast gavin #gymnast nines #gymnast hank #fencer connor

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aviewfromthepanopticon · 5 years ago

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Doctor Who Short Trips: 1963

Big Finish’s summary: The Doctor takes Ian and Barbara back to London on 23 November 1963, where the clocks have stopped and the city is silent. Written by: Niall Boyce Directed by: Nicholas Briggs & Ken Bentley Release Date: February 2011 Series: Short Trips Volume II, Story 1 Read by: William Russell

The two most important takeaways of this story for me were:

Barbara Wright had a ~~~~rebellious phase~~~~ where she dated a boy with a flick knife

Barbara’s beloved Aunt Cecilia is a lesbian.

In this short story, the Doctor somehow manages to land the TARDIS just an hour after he kidnapped Ian and Barbara on November 23rd 1963. They are very surprised, but of course also delighted. Unsurprisingly, he messed up the landing, and the TARDIS is no longer maintaining the field that allows time to flow normally following her materialization

The Doctor describes it as a problem with the heartbeat of the TARDIS:

DOCTOR: When the TARDIS lands, it must continue traveling in time at the same speed as its owner. Too slowly and it would vanish into the past. Too quickly and it would hare off into the future. The heartbeat of the TARDIS works to synchronize the ship with its pilot’s timeframe. Now because of a flight mechanical fault, the heartbeat of the TARDIS began to skip. Hah! Become irregular.

When this happens the TARDIS lands at a single static moment, with its crew stuck in said static moment with her. This is to allow repairs to be made without the ship going anywhere.

Which is to say that time appears to be entirely and fully 1000000% frozen, and everyone and everything in London looks like a statue.

There is a lot to be said about this aspect of the story. One is still pretty unfamiliar with his stolen TT Capsule, and is figuring it out as he goes. He never even passed his flight test, and doesn’t yet have centuries of experience under his belt! I also really appreciate the idea that the London Barbara and Ian wish to return to is just a frozen impossibility. Obviously when they finish their travels they return to three full years after they left, but even putting that aside, neither Ian nor Barbara are quite the same people they were when they left. They’ve experienced so much, and and by this point (Vicki is with them so they are than a season into their travels) they really can’t just pick things up from their moment of departure. Instead they are separate from their home time, outside the field keeping the rest of London frozen together.

Yet even in that state they are together. It is together that Barbara and Ian go off into the city to explore, marveling at the frozen world around them.

As they explore London, Barbara remembers that she has a standing date to have tea with her Aunt Cecilia every year on her birthday, and November 23rd is her aunt’s birthday. She was going to go meet with her after she and Ian were done figuring out what was up with Susan, so her aunt is probably at their meeting place, wondering where Barbara is.

I love the idea that Barbara had someone waiting for her, it really drives home that she and Ian had full lives that the Doctor disrupted when he kidnapped them.

I also just love Aunt Cecilia, I really do.

Aunt Cecilia is in maybe three sentences total during this story, and her immense powerful lesbian energy shines so so bright, it truly is amazing. Seriously it is impossible for this woman to be any gayer than she is, she is at max gay, and I say this as a person committed to living my own life at max gay levels.

Before I get to the wonder that is Barbara’s very very gay Aunt Cecilia, I really do need to point out what we learn about Barbara’s ~~rebel phase~~~, which she mentions as she wanders around London observing the various frozen scenes:

NARRATOR: The man cowered before his attacker. His right hand raised to fend off the blow. The knife his assailant was using was familiar to Barbara. For a brief period in her teens, during what her mother called her “rebellious phase,” she had dated a boy who carried one. It was a flick knife. Its blade was folded in the handle, and released at the touch of a button.

I also want to point out that Barbara is starting to understand the Doctor’s tendency to travel with teen girls, when watching him interact with Vicki. Vicki is of course the very first teen girl the Doctor was not related to that he traveled with, and the third Human he’s been friends with overall:

NARRATOR: The Doctor and Vicki were waiting for [Barbara] [in the console room]. They exchanged a mischievous glance as she came in. It sometimes seemed to her that she saw the spark of a younger man in the Doctor’s eyes, whilst Vicki was the most precocious young lady she’d ever met! Perhaps, in some way, that made them equals?

This story also had wonderful character moments for Ian. Such as a scene of Ian irritating the fuck out of of Vicki by calling her Victoria, and being offended in return whenever she tried telling him that Vicki is her full and proper first name, it isn’t short for anything, and she really hates it when he does that.

Overall, Ian is such a loveable dork in this story, and I can’t with him.

NARRATOR: “This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper,” [Barbara] recited. “What’s that,” said Ian, “poetry?” “T.S.Eliot” “Oh,” Ian replied, “I think I prefer his stuff about the cats.”

And now the truly important part. Every mention of Barbara’s very gay aunt:

NARRATOR: “Wait a minute!” Barbara stood up, abruptly. She lost her grip on the smooth surface of the water. In an instant Ian shot to his feet and put out his arm to steady her. “What is it?” he asked. “The 23rd of November! It’s my aunt Cecilia’s birthday! I was supposed to meet her, I’d forgotten all about it!” “Where?” asked Ian. “Not far away, actually,” she replied. “There’s a Lyons on the Strand she always liked.” “I remember you telling me about her,” said Ian, “maiden aunt, wasn’t she?” Ehhhhh, not quite, thought Barbara… but kept it to herself. “Oh Ian, can we try to find her?” “It may not be a good idea,” said Ian, cautiously. “I want to see her,” said Barbara, “just briefly. Then we’ll go back to the TARDIS and see if the Doctor’s worked out what’s happening.”

NARRATOR: Fortunately the freeze had occurred at the exact moment someone was pushing open the door at the Lyons corner house on the Strand. It was a woman in her mid-twenties, holding the hand of a small child wrapped up in a duffel coat and woolen hat. Barbara and Ian stepped around them and into the interior of the cafe. At the nearest table to the door sat Barbara’s aunt, Cecilia. She was a woman in her late forties, with severely cropped dark hair, wearing a closely cut tweed jacket. She had a novel open in her left hand. Something called “The Price of Salt.” And with her right, she was raising a teacup to her lips. Her eyes peered over the top of her book. She was looking in the direction of the door, perhaps alerted by the sound of the woman and child coming in. Barbara had the strangest feeling for one moment that Cecilia was actually staring directly at her. That she was about to rise from her seat and deliver one of her usual sardonic remarks. “She was waiting for me!” Barbara whispered to Ian, “just like she did every year. But I never came.” Ian didn’t reply. “Ian,” said Barbara, “what is it?” “Do you realize,” said Ian, “that we don’t have reflections?” Barbara looked up. It was true! She was standing in front of a large panel of silvered glass. She felt suddenly as if her very existence was in question. That at any moment she might dissolve. She walked up close and tapped on it. “Ian! Barbara!” Vicki was leaning through the entrance to the restaurant. She looked flush and breathless. “Come back to the TARDIS! The Doctor’s figured out what’s wrong!”

NARRATOR: In the Lyons corner house on the Strand, a middle aged woman waited for her niece, who was late. Fifteen minutes late, to be precise. But the woman didn’t mind. She was quite absorbed in the book she was reading.

Overall I really enjoyed this short story, and Barbara’s role in it especially. Naturally as a huge lesbian myself I was fascinated by Barbara’s Aunt Cecilia, and would love to know more about the impact she has had on Barbara’s life, and what it meant for Barbara to have such an obviously queer family member in 1963, when homosexuality was very much illegal in Britain. For example, I am pretty sure Barbara spent this story worried about how Ian would react to her Aunt Cecilia. That how he acted upon encountering her was, for Barbara, an important test for him to pass as she finds herself falling for him. I am sure that when Ian was concerned about their lack of shadows, Barbara’s concern before Ian gave voice to the issue was that he might be repulsed by Barbara having and being close to a queer family member. Which is to say that it manages to introduce a whole lot of character background into a pretty short piece.

Generally I find that Big Finish’s Short Trips manage to pack a lot into their half hour to forty minutes of run time, and this story is no exception.

#Barbara Wright #Ian Chesterton #Doctor Who #Big Finish #Short Trips: 1963 #First Doctor #Vicki Pallister #Short Trips #The Doctor

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smolbeandrabbles · 6 years ago

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Out of Nowhere Girl - Talos/Keller/OC (Captain Marvel)

Set In Canon MCU Captain Marvel / Guardian’s of the Galaxy Universe with a few out-of-canon ‘twists’...

Author’s Note: Posting this a week after I see Captain Marvel (AS FOLLOWS CANON!) but still tagging with spoilers.

Oh my god. I was having an existential crisis after the movie and the fic that I posted that is not canon (Science & Faith. If you want to read you can click the thing) That I wrote this between acts at the C2C country music festival on 9th March... That makes this the quickest write and edit I have EVER done. It’s probably quite telling... (It’s 10/3/19 @ 8:26 PM GMT.) She is with Keller, Talos just simed him. I’m making that clear right now! It’ll make sense when you read! This is an alternate version to ‘Science & Faith’ - so that characters there are the same. This one just follows actual movie canon.

Don’t worry it’s not the same story. It has a few similar elements... It will likely go back and forth between the two time periods. Please someone get what I did with his full name... 😂😭

NOT reader insert. Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC... I am slightly bending canon on Supernova; but I liked the concept. Maybe I've set it so there's more than one? Like a special forces part of the Nova Corp? (Tbh still figuring this out) So you can have it coming from another Saal... sorry not sorry Expositional conversation-narrative heavy... Sorry!

Simmed? Simed? Sim-ed? Which is it!?

Premise: When Keller gets sim-ed by Talos as a result of the Kree-Skrull war the aftermath is of no great consequence to his partner... However, when exploring on behalf of the Nova Corps Keller’s distress signature coming from a planet half way across the galaxy leads her to investigate...

Word Count: 4384

Warnings: Spoilers! Murder (I guess) Actually this might assume you know about her from Science & Faith...

My little out, out of nowhere girl Where you been all my life? Where you been trying to hide? It's like you’ve come Come from another world Fell right out of the sky And landed right here tonight...

Keller had had a day. He’s had days before, as a S.H.I.E.L.D agent and sometime-Scientist he expected for days to be a part of his life. But this had been something else entirely. When he opened the door to his apartment, he was at least glad to be greeted by an essence of normality. Well, as normal as it could get he supposed…

Maliyah was pouring over drawing after drawing and ship schematics. She still couldn’t get something on that ship of hers to work right. Or, maybe she knew she was just stalling for time… She looked up with a smile; “I can already tell you have a lot to tell me…” “Yeah…” He sighed, throwing his keys on the counter and allowing a pause. “It’s where to start…” He looked across to her, at the way her skin sparkled just at his presence… She’d crash landed to Earth nearly two years previously. Through studying her they had built a friendship – and now it was a lot more than that. The blue lights across her skin; because, all of his were blue or white, or purple… used to only light up when he touched her. Or, when he was feeling something at the extreme end of the spectrum. They turned red every time he got hurt, and that hurt her too… So he’d tried to make his life easier. Tried. Now the lights appeared just because he was in proximity… She said that showed they had a strong bond. Keller was only human, so he felt proud of that. He hadn’t ever expected to see anything else otherworldly – until today happened. “Maliyah… You know a lot about the other species out there… right?” She put her pen down and turned her full attention on him; “Yes. Enough. Why?” “Because you were the only other race I thought I’d ever see. But clearly, I was wrong. Because-” He faltered, squinted in remembering and then tried again “…Tell me about shapeshifters?” “Narrow that down. It isn’t an exclusive trait…” She tilted her head “…But now I’m worried.” “Okay, uh… Green… pointed ears… Like… linear markings or patterns…or…” “Skrulls!?” She was takenaback “Skrulls on Earth!?” Then she slammed her hands on the table, more in interest that anger; “WAIT! Did you get SIMED by a Skrull!?!??!” Clearly he had no idea what that meant by the look on his face, but she couldn’t hide her laugh; “…Wait. Skrulls are on Earth? Okay, I’ll roll with it… Did a Skrull shapeshift into YOU.” “…Yes.” She laughed again “Oh God!” Then she attempted to stop herself “Oh! Baby, that’s terrible!” “Doesn’t sound like you mean it.” She cleared her throat, “Whilst it’s funny it’s not exactly good news…” She rested her hands on her thighs and chewed her lip “…What did you think about..?” “Huh?” “Your last thoughts. Before they simed you.” “Probably something like: Oh GOD I hope I don’t die?!” “You didn’t think about me, at all?” He hesitated, it probably wasn’t the best idea to confess to his other half he hadn’t thought about her whilst waiting on the fate of his own life… “…Uh…No…?” “Good.” “Good?!” She was clearly as full of surprises. As any ‘alien’ should be, he guessed. “Yes. I’m an Auron, my race and my planet are dying… Sightings of us are rare even in our part of the galaxy… As an adult female I am worth a hell of a lot to my home planet – And a lot of my abilities will be worth something to a race like to Skrulls.” “…So you’re telling me that not talking about you – like you asked - and therefore obviously not consciously thinking of you is good?” She nodded; “I wonder if the Kree war has come all the way out here?” She almost laughed again “That’s no good for me either… Considering my affinity with Xandar… You’ve done very well if they don’t know a THING.” “…Have you seen me today!?” Her sentence sparked panic in him. “Right now and when you left. I haven’t been out of here even once. I’ve been working this algorithm…” she shook her head “You haven’t come back, I haven’t called you… Zip. I promise.” “…Okay…” “Don’t worry about me… I’m more worried about you… Getting Simed is not the experience you want to have… are you okay?” “Seeing someone change into me… That’s bad, getting tied up and left in a Blockbuster though… Ehhhhh….!” She shook her head “…You really went through it then, huh?” She beckoned him over, and he was all too glad to walk into her arms… She brushed some stray hairs out of his face, her touch gentle and welcoming… A different set of colours formed on her skin – these lights pale and milky… pastels… enveloping him in her arms the effect was instantly calming… “I’m sorry…” “…You don’t need to be sorry…” “I told you, nothing about another race coming to Earth is good…” He almost laughed; “That makes you an anomaly then… You must be the one good thing.” ** Nick Fury almost jumped at the next knock at his door. This time it was Keller that opened it. "Oh! SIR!!!" He looked more than a little weary and Keller knew why. "Nick, I swear it's actually me! And I can prove it, but to do so you have to come with me." "Yeah that sounds... Safe." "Unfortunately I'm not the one who needs to information in your head. Or I could just stand here." He winced as he realised it maybe wasn't the best choice of words "Urm. Look just... Come to my office..." He backed out with an attempt at a convincing smile and wandered down the corridor to his own work space.

As usual it was hard to get Maliyah to look inconspicuous. This time she put up a fair argument of she'd only be going car, to security door, and then to his office. Still, she was sitting in a top that cut across her shoulders AND exposed her stomach and a short, layered skirt that showed off her legs. The marks across her skin, and all his fault, were more than just visible. And the jacket she'd brought because he insisted she wore one, was of course emblazoned with her Nova Corp rank insignia. Geez... He almost thought about loosening his tie just looking at her. She was curled up in one of his chairs reading a file of his. He rolled his eyes, of course the first thing Maliyah would do was break into his cabinet. She had a stack in front of her too. Her shoes kicked off and left by the chair. "I've asked him. The rest is up to you." "Does he trust you?" She didn’t look up "Would you?!" "...Not entirely. Depends what Sim Keller did!!!" "Well it probably wasn't GOOD!!" He sat behind his desk and nodded to her files; "Careful with those." She turned a page towards him "Why do you have a Nova symbol?" "It’s a very complicated astrological algorithm..." Why she thought everything centred around the 8-point star of Xandar was beyond him. "... Did you do this..." she nodded to the algorithm itself "Yes" "You're a scientist!?" "Part time... I don't... Not all the time... I dabble..." "That's why you wanted my blood. Right?" "Your bloodwork is... Incredible." "You should have tried some Skrull blood if you think MINE is interesting." He was at least amused; "... Bit late for that advice!!" then tilted his head; "Does it… Change? Now we are... Now we have a...?" connection? Did her race give that a name? "Yes?" "We should do yours again." "Worry about your own." She noticed the way he furrowed his eyebrows in concern; "... What we did... It'll affect yours too." He stared at his hands with wide eyes "And I'm not entirely sure what being simed will do to you…" "Geez! I clearly just need to take you everywhere with me don't I!?" "I don’t wanna get Simed...!!!!" That was the wrong thing to say as his door opened.

Jonathan knew it, and Malyiah knew it by the way he put his head in his hands. She thought it was cute. She thought a lot of things humans did to display their emotions were cute. She hadn't known a race feel so acutely as this. She'd chosen well, she couldn't have ever expected to. He was the best surprise. Nick looked across to the female voice that had spoken and almost had a heart attack; He wasn’t faced with a straight-laced, suited, female S.H.I.E.L.D agent. Instead her purple fading to pink hair, eyes so deep blue they were purple, the mish-mash of clothes she was wearing - that still strangely matched - and the foreign markings visible every so often on her skin, like someone had tattooed her with white ink, made him think she wasn’t human at all. "Who the hell are--!?!" Jonathan Keller jumped quickly to her rescue; "Nick there's a lot of classified stuff that's happened in the last two years..." "Two years!? WHAT!?" "Remember that crash we were called to in Utah?" "... Yeah. Highest level. You were there ages... No-one ever spoke about it." "Yeah... Uh..." he brought his hands together and pointed across to the girl in the chair. "...Hi!" she smiled "You must be Nick Fury." He turned to Keller "Sir!!! Don't start telling me there's more of them!!! What is she S.H.I.E.L.D intelligence!?!" "... The fact there IS more of them is exactly why we NEED to tell her everything. But I was tied up in a Blockbuster ok, so I'm no help! You are." She was looking down at herself; did she look like S.H.I.E.L.D intelligence? Nick wasn’t sure he was following; "He employed you... Right? That's why you're here and you know everything...?" "No I'm not employed. HEY! Jonathan there's a thought!" "I'm not paying you. That's got implications I'd rather not have...!" If Maliyah didn’t catch on, Keller's agent did; "Wait---!! Are you two!?" Nick quickly grasped the situation as he pointed between the two of them. Keller nodded in silent admittance "It wasn't meant to be like that. I had to study her... But they were... It was inhumane Nick. I moved her out here... She's trying to get her ship back in order." Malyiah shrugged as if that wasn’t the explanation she would give; "I won't know what I'm gonna do until it's fixed. At the moment it's in a high security area back in Utah..." "Yeah, I've seen it. I didn't know there was anyone involved... So you know about the Kree? And Skrulls." Her jaw tightened at the mention of the Kree; "So they DID bring their war here." "I'm not sure it was intentional." she hummed, fingering the pages of the file she was reading for a second "And what happened? Where are they now?" "Gone. Why..." "Gone where!? Like gone, gone!?" Keller looked glad of that, juxtaposing Maliyah’s sudden panic. "She didn't say where she was taking them..." he narrowed his eyes "Whose side are you on!?" Fury wouldn’t risk Carol’s life. Never. "... I'm not really on anyone's side... BUT... I guess I align better with the Skrulls..." She gave a shrug. "... The war isn't my problem. Them siming Keller is my problem. The Kree out here with me here that's ALSO my problem. " " Maliyah..." It was Keller’s warning " I'm not trying to start anything!" she held her hands up and turned back to Nick; "You can't help me, but you know they’re all gone? " " We have a Flerken though... " "I can tell by your eye... " she tilted her head, reading Fury’s own emotions; "What are you afraid of?? Is it him or me?? I'm stronger than you Terrans are but I'm not dangerous... And he's him. But I can understand the wary feeling there... " Nick tried to make it look like he wouldn't be afraid of Keller and he didn't know what she was talking about... And it worked. For around half a second. He took a breath and pointed to his boss; "Prove he isn't one." "He's not. He reacts to me." "Prove you aren't one." "I doubt they can get my empathic abilities spot on... They can probably try, but I doubt that they can get their skin to react exactly the same... It’s a unique pattern... And it's triggered through a DNA reaction. A Skrull would need both, but it can only sim to one set of DNA... " "Hang on... What?! And - WHAT!?" Nick realised he hadn’t listened to her first explanation clearly. She took a breath; "Like this..." She watched him carefully as she guided years of evolution through her race to latch onto Keller... The feel of him around her was intense enough to let the bright lights flicker over her skin in all his shades. Nick was at least staring at her in wonder. "That's how you know I'm not one.” "... How does... That work?" She tilted her head "At first instance. For these unique patterns... Intimacy. Real physical intimacy. For anything more than that... For a real connection... Blood. His mixed with mine, mine with his." "That sounds... Painful…” His eyes flicked to Keller again, who was keeping his gaze locked on Maliyah; "Have you..." "No. I wouldn't ask that of him." She didn't like that Nick would insinuate that she would "It is by far a conversation for another time..." Nick at least noticed that Keller look uneasy, which settled him a little. He changed the flow of the conversation again; "Why are you so intent on knowing where they went?" She shook her head "I'm just trying to make sure they don't know about me. And the only way to do that is to check in on their simed memories." "I don't think they are much of a threat to you... Right?" "Huh." Maliyah folded her arms "I'd rather they didn't tie him up and sim him. Guess we'll let that one go too, huh?" He had to crack a smile, she wasn’t human. Obviously, but she was so human. He wondered if that was her upbringing or Keller’s influence; "Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D Agent.” She stood to shake his hand; "Maliyah Saal. Nova Corps. Ravager Captain... Auron by way of Xandar... Pleasure to meet you." She gave him a warm smile, and it was like he instantly got why Keller had been taken in. She seemed strong, she had a sass about her that clearly EVERY extra terrestrial had... But she had an instant warmth... She turned to Keller which made Nick do the same; " I think we could be in the clear... Guess we'll need to keep a check on everything. " "You'd make a good agent. Are you sure we can't hire her!? " "Absolutely not." Keller let him know he thought he must be joking. She laughed, with a wink; "It's okay, Nick. My duty is to the Nova Corps. I leave S.H.I.E.L.D in the capable hands of its Human workers... "

" I think I've figured it out. " "What? " "The problem with your ship...? " "... At 3am!?" "You’re clearly not sleeping either..." She rolled over to stare at him. He was looking at the ceiling. His glasses were pushed up into his hairline and he was squinting "... No, I really think I've cracked it." "At least I was awake for something that wasn't stupidly thinking about fixing my damn ship." "No... But... I looked at your notes. You've been working on them for two years... I wanted to help... And formulate some for myself. I think I've got it Maliyah. I think I can get you home..." He turned to face her, but the look she gave was one of fear. "Don't you dare say that like I want to leave!" "Maliyah... You know it is dangerous for you to stay here... " He was extraordinarily calm. Like he was already letting her go. It only caused her to shake her head. "NO!" She buried herself in him; digging her nails into the skin of his arms and her head on his chest her colours burst into life and illuminated his darkened room. "Maliyah..." He ran a hand through her hair "... Let me let you go... Earth is not where you belong." She shook her head again; "Look at this..." He took her hand in his free one and lifted her arm, the way the colours danced for him. "Jonathan. I don't belong out there either... I belong with you." "I cannot protect you from your planet..." "Do not ask me to leave. I will not leave you." He was pretty sure she was crying... He gathered her close in his arms. "I'm human.... Maliyah... My race is breakable. It's vulnerable... It’s clear to me we have NO idea what’s really out there... You don't want this..." "Stop telling me what I want. I HAVE what I want." "Anywhere else in the world and I would believe that." "... What about anywhere else in the universe?" "Huh?" She looked at him, sadness in those purple-blue eyes... But something else too. An idea sparking to life: "If you can really help me fix my ship... Come with me. Come back to Xandar with me..." "Mali... I can't just leave..." "WHY!? Everything in your head we could use on Xandar." "Maybe... Maybe one day..." He said it softly "But your planet... If it’s at war.... It needs YOU and until you win; and you will win it my supernova... Until Earth gets a good grip on things out there... You cannot stay. And I cannot go."

** …10 Years Later… Maliyah piloted the Milano very cautiously. She knew the sector of space; just not as well as she would have liked. Kree these days were still running havok. Maybe not too much around Xandar... But things were shaky at best, which is why she was piloting her tiny Milano though this, rather than her Nova Corps star ship. The planet that Keller’s "distress signal" was coming from looked small and harmless. But it was the other side of the galaxy. Keller, even on Earth’s best space day, was not reaching here any time soon.

It made her hesitate. She shouldn't trust it, but what choice did she have? It didn't mean that someone hadn't taken Jonathan here, although that was unlikely it was not impossible. And it wasn't like it was a signal to her ship... Or any communications device. Keller’s very DNA and feelings were sending a direct signal to her. And for nothing in this known universe would she ignore something like that. Entering the planet’s atmosphere she knew exactly why the feeling was of distress. It looked dead. Or at least incinerated. The earth was scorched and there wasn't a trace of greenery or life anywhere. Yet, the feeling persisted. Which meant whatever was giving off Keller’s signal was here. And was very much alive.

She landed on about the clearest strip of land she could find that the Milano would fit into and took a deep breath. Whatever she was about to face would not be good. She was already suited up for Supernova... Hopefully she wouldn't have to use it. Exiting the Milano she kept her blaster holstered. She wouldn't fire unless fired upon and whoever did that would be making a big mistake.

Pillars of smoke rising from the debris made the perfect cover... She breathed in and out, closing her eyes she focused on what ‘Keller’ was feeling. It wasn't nice for her to feel it, either. She pinpointed a location in a matter of seconds and headed towards it. Only for her to start noticing the purple, everywhere. And it was blood. She continued through the mess of debris, every so often a body or two would present itself. They're Skrulls. She realised. The bodies were Skrulls. She knitted her eyebrows together. Carol Danvers, who she had met a few times whilst traversing the galaxy, had told her nearly everything to help her piece together what had happened when they were on Earth. She had given them a home, and finished the war. Clearly someone was trying to start it up again... And if this was the planet that Carol had made their haven. The Skrulls were from Earth. Which meant one thing... From what Keller had confessed to her that could mean only one thing... And it was something she didn't even think possible.

She sprinted to the signal on that notion alone; across the ground that kicked up with every step she took. What had the Kree done here!? Why was he still alive when so many others were not!?! She stopped. Suddenly tense. He was walking toward her. His stance was fighting and she could read those emotions a lot clearer now. Her race and its engineering had failed her. It was confusing Keller’s real DNA with simed DNA from years gone by. Hopefully that wasn't about to cost her her life. Upon recognising him, she took two steps back. She'd made a point of studying Skrulls as soon as Keller had mentioned them. Talos. And he was big news. Huge news. He was a General that ran a whole sector, he was a good leader. He'd simed her life partner. Maliyah held her hands up in an attempt to show she wasn't trouble, as far away from her weapon as possible... "I've come from Xandar. So... I'm not here to destroy you like everything else... Unless you don't care; in which case... You're much more of a threat to me..." He took a step forward, which made her concede another, he was studying her uniform carefully. The eight-point shining yellow star running from her chest down her abdomen, framed by a metallic light blue. The three-point ‘V’ of the Nova Corps shimmering just behind it, glowing faintly every so often. The rest of the uniform navy. Except the gold stripes up her boots. She thought she should have worn her Nova Corps over-jacket; multicoloured rank ribbons and clearer Corp red star emblazoned sleeves. Too late now, though.

He straightened, seeming satisfied but tilted his head. “Who are you?” She tilted hers in turn; “You should know. The fact that you don’t means he did real good to keep me out of his thoughts…” Or any part of his life. Keller’s desk, his car, his pager, his wallet. If nothing held the slightest trace of her then she owed Jonathan her very life. God, she knew that already. He looked confused, as he rightly should. “My name is Maliyah. Quite a few years ago when you were on Earth you simed a Terran known as Jonathan Richard Keller. Unbeknownst to YOU at the time of doing so I had already formed a connection with his DNA. Now, apparently, because siming creates an exact DNA copy of his - I have got some kind of connection with you.” “…You’re Auron.” She was more than a little surprised that he knew that, it made her smile; “Correct.” “Keller… Fury’s boss? How is he and his beautiful blue eyes.” She raised an eyebrow to a phrase she didn’t expect; “…That’s the man. And he’s well… No thanks to you and his constant reoccurring nightmare…” Every so often Jonathan would still wake up in cold sweats with the word simed coming off his lips – Usually it was drink induced, but telling him to stop drinking was pointless. She smiled, but it faded as she looked around her “…So… About this distress that I felt from half way across the Galaxy and came to investigate because Jonathan should be nowhere NEAR this sector… Human’s still haven’t figured out their space travel, God bless ‘em…” “…Well. It’s pretty obvious isn’t it.” “Yeah… Your distress signal tells me one thing I am grateful for. You need help. It looks like a lot of it. And I am here to offer my services... First off, you need to tell me what happened.” “Why should I trust you.” “You have no reason to, and I have no reason to trust you either – In fact I have LESS reason to trust you considering Keller – But Fury trusts you, and so does Carol. So. Yeah, I trust you. Just put a little faith in me…” His eyes flicked back to the Star emblazoned on her uniform and he nodded to it; "If you are really from Xandar then you know what happened." She swept the landscape with her eyes again "Kree... WHY!? It's over, your wars are over..." "There are those in the outside that think they should just end it." "... Is this planet all that’s left!?" "No... Thank god. There are still some of us back home..." She turned again, not wanting to voice it but feeling like she should know everything; "Are you...?? Did they..." "Not everyone. A few, as a statement. An example. My family... They are..." He looked to the stars for a minute "I don't know where they will have taken them but for now they are alive..." She followed the trace of his eyes "I can track that... I'm sure I can track that." She turned back to him; "Obviously first things first. I can't leave you here." "Oh really." She tilted her head at the sarcasm he was displaying. It wasn’t unlike that of her older brother. She couldn’t help but smile, Perhaps she would have more affinity with him than just Keller… "One, you're alone. Two, whatever this connection to Keller you have is... It won't let me leave "Keller" here. So. You simed the right guy. I guess... " Maliyah half turned back to her ship; but kept her eyes on him. He knew the reason she was putting faith in him was the same reason she was still standing over there looking at him like any moment he might change. Or change form. It looked more like a stand off than a potential team-up. Because Jonathan Keller for him was just a Terran male that worked for S.H.I.E.L.D had all the access codes and clearances he needed and eventually got him to his family. For Maliyah, Talos had inadvertently intervened with something sacred. The very fabric of her race’s evolution. Her relationship with Keller now blurred into him. And without this travesty none of them would be any the wiser. "Does he know?" "Jonathan? No. Why would he? I'm the only one that feels anything... He knows all the intricacies of what I am. Whether he understands them...” She afforded explanation with a shrug "He’s human. After all. About the only race out there not involved in the rest of the universe. And integrating even one of them isn't easy... But you should know that." She gave a small, mysterious smile, “So, congratulations. Siming Keller had consequences that you and I are both stuck with.” Talos folded his arms; for all her talk of helping, he hadn’t seen anything that would actually help them out yet. He decided to test that one; “How do we even get out of here… They’ve destroyed all the technology we had. You are some kind of… Supernova. So…” “Supernova is just the name, Jonathan used it all the time it kinda stuck, And I didn’t get here via the Nova Force...” Yet again Talos surprised her with just how much he knew… She wondered if he’d ever been to Xandar… If he’d ever Simed someone from there. Now was not the time to ask the question. “Then how DID you get here?!” She looked back at her Milano, now at least partially visible through the dust clouds as the sun hit the shiny paintwork, then turned to him with a significant look; “…Are we going to save your family, or not?”

#Talos #Keller #Captain Marvel #Captain Marvel spoilers #OC #KellerXOC #Ben Mendelsohn #Oh my god I wrote this TOO quick #But I don't care #I need more Keller in my life #Linzi Writes #Linzi Queues Things #Maliyah #7 #Out Of Nowhere Girl #OONG

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welllpthisishappening · 7 years ago

Text

Going Tape to Tape

They must have set some kind of record.

The doctor thought they were insane – asking for more printouts and more copies and no one in the history of modern medicine had ever asked for so many sonograms. Emma was convinced. But they had a dinner to go to and a gold medal to celebrate and there was an entire team waiting for official announcements and vaguely emotional moments.

Anna wouldn’t put her phone down. Will kept taking pictures. Mary Margaret might have been crying. And Killian was totally going to come up with a sitting schedule for Emma.

She was only kind of overwhelmed.

Or: Emma and Killian tell the Vankalds about Matthew Jones.

Rating: Ehhhhh high T? Making out. They’re going to have a kid so... Word Count: Listen, I got feelings and I need adjectives to describe them. 9.3K AN: This has been a very long time coming and I’m sorry to all of those who requested this that it took several decades, but here it is! Mini post-game vacation! David trying to break down a door! Doctor’s appointments! Overly emotional expectant father Killian Jones! Robin and Emma bonding! The Vankalds! This is a whole lotta fluff, basically. If you guys missed the memo, there are Blue Line one shots coming every Sunday at 12 EST because I’ve written a lot of words. I am, however, still down for more words and more requests or questions or prompts so if you want to see something, don’t be shy. Also on Ao3 if that’s how you roll.

“What are you doing?” Emma froze, breath catching in her throat and she nearly lost her footing – which probably would have sent Killian into several different types of metaphorical and literal tailspins – spinning on the spot to find him staring speculatively at her.

He was leaning against the frame of the open door, feet crossed at the ankles and what appeared to be a fairly new team-branded t-shirt on. And he was smiling.

Emma squeezed one eye shut. “Nothing,” she muttered, but she was the worst liar in the history of several different worlds and he absolutely knew already.

She was standing in front of the goddamn mirror.

“Yuh huh,” Killian nodded, taking a step into the room and resting his hands on the sides of her hips. “That was bad, Swan.” “Yeah, well, you surprised me.” “Are you telling me that if I hadn’t just caught you staring at your own reflection in the mirror, you would have been able to come up with a better story for what you were doing?” “That was a very convoluted question.” “Sounds like a yes.” She groaned, leaning back against his chest out of instinct and habit and want, which, might have been some kind of symptom, but they’d been under self-imposed house arrest for the last three days and hadn’t even looked at their phones, let alone looked up pregnancy clichés. Or symptoms. Whatever.

Emma had no idea where her phone was.

“What are you looking for exactly, love?” Killian asked, and he couldn’t quite keep the laughter out of his voice when he ducked his head to press a kiss against the curve of her shoulder.

She scowled at open air, but he apparently had eyes in the wall or something equally impossible, because he laughed again and caught her fingers before she could actually swat at his thigh.

“That is stupid unfair,” she accused.

“Swan, we’ve been over this. Bad liar, standing in front of the mirror with your shirt rucked up. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two--” “No, no, the reaction time,” Emma interrupted, appreciating his quiet hum of confusion more than she expected to. “You’ve got crazy reflexes.” “Yeah, well, rumor has it I’m some kind of professional athlete.” Emma laughed – or it might have been a giggle, which she absolutely planned to blame on hormones for, just, like, the rest of her life. “That’s the rumor, huh?” she asked, twisting in his hold to sling an arm over his shoulders and Killian’s eyes fluttered shut when her fingers found the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Look who’s cheating now.” “None of this conversation makes much sense, you know that, right?” “I beg to disagree, Swan. I think we’re making plenty of sense, you’re just avoiding my questions and my incredibly on-point points because you’re distracted and slightly attracted to my previously mentioned professional athlete reflexes.” “God,” Emma groaned, but he knew he was right and she knew he knew and they were going in circles. He kissed the top of her hair when her head landed on his chest. “Awfully presumptuous of you.”

Killian made a dismissive noise in the back of his throat, pressing another kiss to her head as his hand found its way to her stomach and they hadn’t been out of the apartment in three days, but that kept happening.

Emma wasn’t keeping track.

Of course not.

Obviously.

She should have looked for her phone while he was in the shower.

“I’ve got some good sources on that,” Killian mumbled, and Emma didn’t have to look up to know that he was smirking. He was probably doing something stupid with his eyebrows.

She leaned back, lifting her own brows and pointedly ignoring whatever it was his hand was doing – tracing out patterns and he kept doing this thing with his thumb, making semicircles on her skin like he was skating from blue line to blue line. Or like he was just trying to make sure this was all really happening.

“More than one source?” Emma asked archly. “Or more than one kid?” If asked, she would promise that she absolutely, positively did not do it for the reaction. Emma was an adult. An impending mother. A goddamn professional who really should have found her phone because the New York Rangers were absolutely going to want to honor America when they played at the Garden again.

If asked, Emma would have absolutely lied.

And Killian would have known.

Because she really, really liked whatever his whole body did whenever she used that word, thumb stilling and shoulders sagging just a bit, like he still couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it, or come to terms with how incandescently happy he was.

He’d used that word several times in the last three days.

She’d definitely done it for the reaction. “Cheater, cheater, cheater,” Killian said, pressing kisses to her jaw and the bridge of her nose and the edge of her eye and it was a miracle Emma didn’t dissolve into a fit of giggles, hormone-induced or otherwise. The arm around her waist helped.

“Yeah, totally,” she admitted. “But that’s like a thing, right? Genetics or whatever?” “You’re just saying words, Swan.” “Elsa and Liam have twins.” “Yes.” “And?” “And what?” Killian repeated. He tilted his head when he realized, hair falling dangerously close to his eyes and it really shouldn’t have been that attractive, but they were talking about their kid and they had a doctor’s appointment in a few hours and a party to celebrate America at the brownstone later because the Rangers didn’t play until the next day and neither one of them was looking forward to a three-game swing on the road so soon after getting home.

And he knew what she’d been doing in front of the mirror.

“I have no idea how genetics work,” Killian said. “But I’m fairly certain that’s why they have doctors and appointments and ultrasounds. Right?” Emma nodded, but her pulse was racing and there were butterflies in her stomach and she was wearing team-branded too. God, they couldn’t both wear team-branded to the doctors.

She didn’t really want to change.

“I was just…” she started, and eventually she’d have to thank him for not smiling too wide because she wasn’t sure she could quite deal with that. But he did look somewhere close to overjoyed and incandescent was a really good word for the last three days. “Doesn’t look any different,” Emma finished. “Right?” They both needed to stop adding questions to their statements.

Killian hummed, eyes flitting down towards his hand, like he was checking to make sure. “Did you think it would?” “Did you?”

“Swan, you can’t answer my question with one of your own. These are basic conversational rules, love. And, no, I didn't.” “Why do you know that?” He eyed her meaningfully, but Emma just pressed her lips together and tugged lightly on the front of his shirt. That was a mistake – her ring was on her left hand and they had far too much news to share with the Vankalds.

The butterflies were in her throat.

“You weren’t supposed to be looking at your phone,” Emma accused. “There were rules to this vacation, Captain.” “This was a vacation?” “Killian!”

He laughed, eyes bright and Emma chased after him when he brushed his lips over hers, a fact that, if it were any sort of normal day, would have led to several vaguely sarcastic and equally charming remarks. But they didn’t really have time and their three days were up and she was only a little concerned about those wires Killian had yanked out of the wall when they got back from the Games.

Someone on this stupid hockey team must known an electrician.

“I didn’t break any of the rules,” Killian said softly, taking his time on every letter and the butterflies in Emma’s throat got a little distracted by the sound of her impossibly loud heartbeat. “But there was wifi on the plane and you fell asleep pretty quickly and--” “--I’m pregnant, I’m supposed to be tired all the time. That’s normal in the first trimester.” He beamed at her.

And, really, Emma should have expected that because she kept using very specific words and Killian was a giant, sentimental sap who really enjoyed hearing those very specific words.

But the expression still left her a little breathless and Emma was only slightly convinced she wasn’t just made of butterflies at this point.

“I know it is, love,” he whispered. “But I’m answering your question.” He waited a moment, as if he expected her to interrupt again, and his smile, somehow, got even wider when she didn’t. “And,” Killian continued. “I had wifi on the plane and a little bit of time, so I looked some things up. For...curiosity's sake.”

“Curiosity?” “Mine. Specifically. And I think the twin thing is Vankald genetics, so really that happened because of El.” “Oh, let me be there when you tell her that, please,” Emma laughed, but Killian was already shaking his head before she’d even closed her mouth.

“Do not tell her I said that.”

“She’d find a stick and check you in the ankles.” “I’ve got no doubt, that’s why I don’t want you to tell her I said that.”

She grinned, the butterflies returning or migrating or whatever it was metaphorical butterflies did, falling back into the pit of her stomach and Emma, at least, felt like she could breathe a little easier. “You’re obsessed with websites,” she muttered, and she’d never let go of his shirt.

“Curious,” Killian corrected. “I am curious. Mostly about a permanent set of kidneys.” “I’m sorry, what?” “That’s what the thing said. If my math is right, around seven weeks, there are permanent kidneys and arm and leg joints. And he’s growing about a hundred brain cells a minute.” Emma gaped, and that certainty that her lungs were a functioning, normal part of her body seemed to fly out the still-open doorway in front of her. Her knuckles went white around Killian’s shirt. “Oh,” she breathed, a note of something that sounded like awe and felt a bit more like disbelief in the letters. “Wow.” “He’s probably a genius by now. So job well done by us.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure that’s really how it works,” Emma mumbled. “Although it does sound better than hummingbird heartbeat. Leg joints, huh?” Killian nodded slowly, palm still flat on her stomach and she’d never actually fixed her goddamn shirt. She was totally looking for something. “You need those to skate.” “Generally knees do come into play while skating.” “And elbows.”

“Difficult to stick-handle if you can’t move your arms.” “You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” Killian’s eyes widened at the not-quite insult, a flash of blue and feeling and Emma was a complete and utter mess of emotions and hormones and butterflies, because she was pushing up on toes before she really thought about it, finally letting go of his shirt to sling both arms around his neck and kiss him – hard.

He stuttered slightly, probably because she was attack-kissing them in the middle of their bedroom and his hair was still damp from the shower and neither of them had had any contact with the outside word in seventy-two hours, but Emma kind of felt like everything was happening at once, and she needed an outlet.

Her fiancé’s distinct ability to make out with her felt like a fairly good one.

Or it would have been if someone didn’t appear to be breaking into their apartment.

“What the fuck?” Killian hissed, not bothering to pull away from Emma’s mouth, and her answering laugh was a little manic. She really needed to change her shirt.

“Let them take whatever they want,” Emma muttered. “We’ll just trace the IP.” “What?” “I mean obviously someone’s discovered that we stole the Conn-Smythe and now they’re here to steal it and auction it off on the internet. I bet Ruby knows how to trace an IP. Or David. That makes more sense.” “I’d imagine we’d go to the police when reporting this crime, Swan.” “You think you’re hysterical.” “From time to time,” Killian admitted, but the words got caught in the air when he was trying to kiss her at the same time. “And we really didn’t steal the Conn-Smythe. Borrowed.” “That makes it sound like we’re going to give it back.” “Eventually, eventually. Maybe after the kissing. And the doctor. And teaching our kid how to stick handle properly.” “You don’t know how to stick handle properly,” Emma muttered, smiling when Killian made some kind of disbelieving noise in the back of his throat. And, really, they probably would have spent another ten minutes standing stock-still in the middle of their bedroom making out like several varieties of cliché teenagers, but whoever was trying to break into their apartment appeared to be leading with their shoulder against their front door.

It was very loud.

“If this is anyone except some door to door salesman, I’m going to find a stick and check them in the ankles,” Killian muttered.

“Do traveling salesmen exist anymore? Isn’t that just Harold Hill?” “What?” “You know. Seventy-six trombones and you’ve got trouble. With a capital T.” “You are speaking in tongues.” “I’m not,” Emma promised, eyes flitting towards the door when it sounded like someone kicked at it. And she could just make out the muffled voice on the other side of the wood, demands to make sure you’re still alive because everyone is really worried and Emma rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. “You might want to actually find that stick,” she suggested, twisting around Killian before he could stop her or say something stupid overprotective because the police officer currently trying to break into their apartment really did have their best interests at heart.

David nearly fell over the threshold when Emma opened the door.

“Did Mary Margaret send you?” she asked. He shook his head. “Ruby?” Another shake. “Who?”

“Merida,” David said, running a hand over his face and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Although Ruby was probably a close second because Merida went to her first. And I’m going to go ahead and award myself the bronze because you should really at least have some way for us to reach you.”

“We ripped out the wires.” “I’m sorry, what?” “Do you know how to fix that?” Emma asked, but David looked torn between disbelief and hysterics and she was kind of glad no one was coming to steal their Conn-Smythe.

“I am not an electrician,” he said. “And as mentioned, here to make sure you’re not both nursing several broken bones or life-threatening injuries and because your assistant is having several different types of meltdowns.”

“What?” “Yup. And it took Ruby some time to respond, I guess, because everyone’s sleep schedules are still messed up and she is actually good at keeping secrets, so your assistant doesn’t know that you need to be sleeping more.” Emma groaned. “Oh my God.” “That’s just a fact.” “Were you looking up facts, Detective?” “No,” David said quickly, gaze darting over Emma’s left shoulder when Killian moved into the living room. Emma arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t! But, uh,” he added softly, digging the toe of his exceptionally shiny dress shoe into the ground. “Mary Margaret might have. Just out of…” “Curiosity?” Killian suggested, and David shrugged in response. He, quite clearly, did not want to be checked in the hallway.

“Something like that.” “And she thinks she’s my mom,” Emma added, but she couldn't quite get her voice to sound as frustrated as she wanted it to. David bit back a smile. “What exactly did Mer want, David?” “To brainstorm or something, I guess. Something about America.” Emma hummed, rocking back on her heels, and it only took a moment for Killian’s hand to land on the small of her back – like he was trying to make sure she didn’t topple backwards. She couldn't bring herself to be frustrated by that either.

“We won a gold medal,” Emma reasoned. “Seems fairly safe to assume that the Rangers would want to hype that. We should probably do something for Phillip too, though, right?” “He didn’t win, Swan,” Killian pointed out.

“Yeah, but he was there and he’s on the team and…” “And you’re going to do way more work than you have to. Merida can do the extra stuff if she wants to. She can send stuff to the season-tickets. You don’t need to do all of that.” “He’s got a point, Em,” David muttered, widening his eyes when Emma sighed. “Something about sitting down and pressure on your spine.” “Oh my God,” she groaned. “There is no pressure on my spine. My spine is perfectly fine. And I am more than capable of sending e-mails to the season-tickets. That actually requires me to sit down, you know.”

David didn’t look convinced. “You’d figure out a way to do that standing up if you had to.” “I am fine.”

“Not nursing any broken bones or life-threatening injuries?” Emma scowled, and David finally let himself smile, leaning forward to tug lightly on the sleeve of her shirt. “I worry about you, kid. And your sleeping habits.” Her expression had never really reached glare-type levels, but Emma felt any hint of frustration disappear at the look on David’s face and the honestly in his voice and, at some point, Killian’s hand had moved from her back to her stomach. “I know you do,” Emma mumbled. “But I’m fine. Really. I can get a doctor’s note to prove it later, if you want.” David nearly fell over.

“What?” he sputtered. “When? Today?” “You’ve got very bad timing, Detective,” Emma grinned. “We’re probably going to be late because of you.” “You’re going to the doctor?” “What part of that was confusing?” “You just told me you ripped wires out of the wall!” “We did that after we made the appointment,” Killian reasoned, and David’s face looked questionably pale. Emma wasn’t entirely sure he was still breathing. “Did you come here on your lunch break to make sure we weren’t dead?” “What gave me away?” “The badge on your hip was a pretty good tell.”

David hummed, but it still sounded distracted and his eyes kept darting towards Emma. “I don’t need a doctor’s note.” “That’s good because I totally wasn’t going to get you one.”

“Yeah, I figured,” he muttered, taking another step into the apartment and it wasn’t easy for all three of them to occupy the same few inches of space, but they figured it out and Emma smiled when David pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Mary Margaret’s going to lose her mind at dinner tonight, you realize that?” Emma nodded. “I’m fully prepared for that.”

And, honestly, it wasn’t really a lie. They’d already decided she was awful at lying. There was no point in lying when Emma was, almost painfully, aware of just how much Mary Margaret was going to lose her mind at dinner.

She knew they all were – the whole goddamn team and probably Mr. and Mrs. Vankald and Emma was ready for it.

She was.

She was happy and thrilled and the living embodiment of the word incandescent, even with wires hanging out of her wall.

But it all changed as soon as she sat on exam table paper and the stupid thing ripped under her and Emma hoped that wasn’t some kind of twisted sign from the universe, because they kept winning things and getting things and she wasn’t sure she took a single breath from the time the doctor walked into the room until the moment she asked if they wanted an ultrasound.

“It’s not necessary,” she explained, but Emma’s lungs felt like they were on fire and she could see Killian’s jaw clench. “You’re in perfect health, but it’s up to you. We can wait until your next appointment or we can...get on with it.” “Get on with it,” Emma echoed. The doctor shrugged.

“It’s up to you.” “Swan?” Killian asked softly, and she could barely hear him, but that might have been because she was so focused on not squeezing his hand in half. There were still bruises there. “It’s up to you, love.” She nodded.

The jelly, goo, whatever the doctor slathered on her stomach was freezing cold and the whole thing was a little surreal – like Emma was watching it in some out of body experience, but still feeling all of it and Killian kept tapping his thumb against her wrist.

She really needed to breathe.

“Ah,” the doctor said triumphantly. Killian hissed when Emma’s grip tightened. “There we are.”

“We,” he repeated, and if Emma weren’t having some kind of actual meltdown she would have teased him for the crack in his voice.

“Genetics, Cap,” she muttered. “Genetics.”

The doctor looked confused, eyeing them with something that felt like concern for their overall wellbeing, but they were both still a little jet-lagged and Emma was starving all the time – except when the Uber had driven by some food cart on Columbus Ave and she was fairly convinced she was going to die from the smell.

But that was neither her nor there.

“I was speaking in the more metaphorical we,” the doctor said, as if that would do anything to get rid of the look on Killian’s face. Emma tried not to laugh. “But, uh,” she nodded towards the screen next to her and the tiny blob of something that was flickering there. “If you look right here...you were right, Ms. Swan, about seven weeks.”

“Oh,” Emma breathed.

She’d wish she said something slightly more emotional or concrete later, when the realization had sunk into her toes and probably her soul or something equally absurd, but in the moment she was far too busy crying and staring at the screen and listening to the way Killian’s breath caught to be worried about appropriate reactions to seeing their kid for the first time.

Their kid.

“Swan,” Killian whispered, and his voice shook on her name, eyes a bit glossier than normal when she finally tore her eyes away from the screen.

Emma shook her head, which, really was the dumbest thing she could have done, but her heart appeared determined to beat its way out of her chest and there was still freezing cold goop on her stomach and a doctor staring at them like they’d collectively lost their minds.

So, really, it made sense when Killian bent down and kissed her.

“I love you,” he whispered, thumb brushing away tears as quickly as they came. “More than anything.”

“I love you, too.”

He’d never let go of her hand. Or the other way around.

Whatever.

Semantics weren’t important.

There was more to it all – another talk with the doctor and suggestions to use ginger to help fight off the morning sickness that seemed to last all day, and more tests than Emma was aware existed in modern medicine – but they walked out of the office with more than one copy of the ultrasound in their hands and a date firmly planted in the back of their minds.

Emma didn’t change out of the team-branded shirt before dinner.

And Killian couldn’t quite keep the smile off his face when he noticed, standing outside the Garden after not-really-morning skate and Emma’s meeting with a clearly flustered Merida, and he wouldn’t let her hold her own bag.

“You’re going to give yourself a heart attack,” Emma mumbled, climbing into the backseat of the cab he hailed. “This can’t be good for several different internal organs.” He grinned, giving the driver an address and they were absolutely going to hit traffic. “You really do not need to worry about my internal organs, Swan. I skated perfectly fine today. Better than, in fact.” “That’s not what I meant at all and you know it.”

“I do,” Killian nodded, and he held his arm up expectantly when Emma stayed firmly on her side of the backseat. “Ah, don’t make me ask, Swan.”

“You’re clingy.”

He hummed, cheek brushing over the top of her head when he nodded, but his arm felt pretty goddamn fantastic around her shoulders and the doctor’s eyes had widened when they’d asked for so many printouts of one ultrasound.

They didn’t say anything for a moment, Emma’s eyes fluttering because he was warm and comfortable and they weren’t really moving in Midtown traffic at rush hour, but her head snapped up when she heard Killian’s voice. “What?” He blushed. “I just...I love you.” “Yeah, you’ve mentioned that a few times since we got home.” “No, no, I just…”

It wasn’t very often that he stumbled over the words, and Emma’s whole body did something absurd at that – butterflies and questionably quick heartbeat and her hand was flat on his cheek as soon as the thought entered his mind. “I’ll let Mer e-mail the season-tickets,” she promised. “She can recount them all with a detailed rehash of the New York Rangers first line exploits in South Korea and then we can auction off signed merch and make a shit ton of money for charity. That work for you?” Killian laughed, or possibly just exhaled, pressing his lips on the inside of Emma’s wrist and she didn’t have her laces anymore, but she was fairly positive he knew what he was doing. “Yeah,” he agreed. “That works for me. Although maybe not all the exploits. Don’t want to get fined.”

“Obviously.”

They were late, Killian waving off the driver when he started to apologize and question the state of the New York Rangers penalty kill in the same breath.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Killian promised, grabbing Emma’s bag and ignoring her laughter as he closed the cab door behind her. “Not a word, Swan,” he warned. “Arthur's got to move Sean off the kill. It’s embarrassing.” “Aye, aye, Cap,” she saluted back, and the reflexes were on full display again, fingers around her wrist and bag dropped unceremoniously on the sidewalk when he tugged her flush against his chest. Her laughter got louder.

“And you were accusing me of thinking too highly of my own jokes before.”

“That’s because I was right,” Emma said, but her voice shook and his fingers had already found their way under the bottom of her jacket and she couldn’t think when he kissed just behind her ear. “God, you’ve got to stop that or we’re never going to go inside.”

“That’s not exactly a bad thing.” “It’s a party.” “I miss vacation.” “You didn’t believe me when I called it that.” “Ah, well, sometimes I enjoy teasing you,” Killian admitted, leaning back to look at her, and Emma should have been better prepared for the breadth of emotions there. She wasn’t.

The butterflies were getting stronger.

They were probably forming some kind of coup.

“Yeah, sometimes,” she mumbled, and there were several increasingly sentimental and decidedly clingy sentences on the tip of her tongue. Because she was kind of dreading this three-game swing and her desk chair had apparently evolved into some kind of torture device while they’d been at the Games because she couldn’t find a single comfortable way to sit that afternoon and the doctor told her to drink less hot chocolate.

“Swan?” Killian asked softly. Open book and a distinct inability to lie to her fiancé were both vastly overrated.

Emma shook her head, but she didn’t get the chance to actually say anything, another voice and another shout and Killian nearly growled when they both realized who it was.

“KJ,” Anna snapped from the doorway. “Are you kidding me? You want to stop attacking your girlfriend for half a second? Come inside and let Emma sit down.”

“Fiancée,” he corrected, and Anna’s nearly fell over. “If you want to get technical, Banana.”

“I’d really love to get technical, actually.” “What you doing here?”

“That’s rude, KJ.” “Weren’t you in Colorado this afternoon?” “Yes, that’s how air travel works.” He glared at her, but Anna didn’t back down – regaining her traction after the technicalities were thrown around in SoHo – and her answering smile probably could have rivaled several suns in a variety of universes.

Emma swore her hair got redder.

“I wanted to be here,” she muttered, yanking on the zipper of Killian’s jacket when they finally got to the top of the stairs. “El and Liam obviously couldn’t, so I offered my miles and my phone’s ability to FaceTime and here I am ready for as much familial joy as we can muster.”

“An appropriate amount of familial joy,” Killian said, and Emma got the distinct impression he was doing it to quiet her nerves and the butterflies and they really must have set an ultrasound printout record. “You didn’t say anything to Mr. and Mrs. V, right, Banana?” Anna punched him. “KJ, are you serious?” “That’s a fair question!” “God, you are the worst. No, of course I didn’t say anything to Mom and Dad! Who do you think I am? And El would kill me. Telepathically. With her mind.” “How would she know?” “KJ!”

“Yeah, that’s probably true,” he admitted, but his arm tightened around Emma’s shoulders and she could already smell something baking and hear laughter around the corner. “Are Locksley and Scarlet here yet?” “Locksley is. I have no idea where Scarlet is.” “Here, here,” a voice called from the end of the block and Will was out of breath by the time he skidded to a stop in front of the slightly icy bottom step. “Shit, Cap, tell Mr. and Mrs. V to salt their sidewalk.” “I think the city is responsible for that,” Belle said, tucked against Will’s side. “Oh, hey, Anna, I thought you were in Colorado!” Anna rolled her eyes. “That was the rumor, apparently. Whatever, I’m mostly here for the baked goods. “There are baked goods?” Will asked.

“Did you lose your sense of smell in South Korea?” “Wow, Anna, you’re hysterical. Side-splitting humor. I’m laughing. Can you see how much I’m laughing?”

“Shut up, Scarlet,” Killian muttered, and Anna’s eyes were going to get stuck mid-roll. “Can we come inside now, Banana or you want to keep dishing out insults?” “I’m fairly positive I can do both of those things at the same time, KJ. And it’s way more fun when Scarlet is involved.”

Will did something with his face – and his hand, drawing a quiet reprimand out of Belle and another string of insults out of Anna and if Emma weren’t slightly nervous and a little nauseous she probably would have laughed.

“C’mon, Vankald,” Will muttered, twisting around Killian and into the foyer. “If Emma doesn’t sit down at regular intervals, Cap actually starts to steam and that’ll probably just freak out your parents. And he’s on edge because of the doctor.” “What?” Anna screeched, and Emma wasn’t sure if she mumbled oh my god or Killian did. The semantics of that didn’t matter much either.

“God, Banana, take seventy-six deep breaths. Scarlet, how did you know that? And how did Locksley get down here before us?” Will shrugged. “Gina probably glared at their Lyft driver. And uh...Mary Margaret told Ruby who told A who told me? She thought you’d be late to skate or blow off PT.” “Did you blow off PT?” Emma asked sharply, and it was starting to get very cold on that top step.

“No,” Killian promised. “She thought I would because she’s not here, but she’s probably as good at telepathically killing people as El is, so I figured there was no point in risking it.” “Not with impending fatherhood ahead of you,” Anna added softly, sticking her tongue out when Killian sighed dramatically.

“Is it impending if it’s happening now?” Emma asked. Anna made a noise that was not human. Even Will gasped. “Aw, c’mon, you guys knew that. Everyone knows.” “Except Mom and Dad,” Anna said.

Emma’s stomach did not stay where it was supposed to. The butterflies were plotting world domination at this point.

Killian glanced at her – and then back towards Will and he glared at Anna – but he didn’t actually say anything and Emma wasn’t entirely sure what she was so inconsistently nervous about. She wished her body would make up its goddamn mind.

That probably had something to do with hormones too.

She should have asked the doctor more questions.

And she was right – Mrs. Vankald had baked and there was enough food to feed several NHL teams let alone the first line crammed into the brownstone’s dining room. There was talking and laughing and more food, and Mr. Vankald brought up hat trick no less than twenty-seven times over the course of dinner.

It was good. No, that wasn’t enough. It was better than good. It was nice and as familial as promised and Anna kept taking pictures, sending them to Elsa seemingly every two seconds.

It was all those adjectives and then some, particularly when Mrs. Vankald asked to see Emma’s ring, a small smile on her face.

Mary Margaret might have squealed.

“Oh, wait, wait, wait,” Anna said quickly, and Emma couldn’t believe she’d ever put her phone away. “This should be FaceTime’d right? Right, KJ?”

She eyed Killian meaningfully, Emma’s lungs doing that less-than-pleasant burning thing when she refused to keep breathing like a normal human being, and he didn’t answer quickly enough.

Mrs. Vankald tilted her head in confusion. “Killian?” she asked. “Is everything ok?” “Everything’s fine,” Emma answered, holding her left hand out and she had no idea who was crying. It might have been everyone. Mary Margaret might have been sobbing.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous,” Mrs. Vankald said, her fingers soft when they held onto Emma’s. “That’s...I’m so happy for both of you.”

And the butterflies evolved again – twisting and flying and fluttering in the back of Emma’s throat, a mix of emotions and nerves and everything and maybe that was the problem.

Everything.

All of it happening, simultaneously and never-ending, and she was so goddamn incandescently happy, she was half certain her whole body was going to explode into confetti at some point, but Emma was also a little overwhelmed and they hadn’t really planned on any of this.

They just asked for two dozen copies of their first ultrasound.

God, that really had to be a record.

“We should toast, don’t you think?” Mr. Vankald asked, appearing with a bottle in one hand and a plate of baked goods in the other. Killian tensed behind Emma. “What? We...there’s champagne.”

It was like someone had pulled the oxygen out of the room or cast some kind of freezing spell, all of them stuck stock-still with wide eyes and Mary Margaret had her hand over her mouth.

Emma’s stomach flipped.

“Emma,” Mrs. Vankald said slowly, and she could almost hear the gears working in her head. “Are you alright?” “Fine, fine, I’m just...just need some air.”

She moved before anyone could respond, and she couldn’t actually go outside because it was still freezing out and Killian would actually explode if he realized Emma was anywhere that wasn’t perfectly temperature controlled.

She wound up on the staircase in the foyer, the voices quiet down the hall and Mary Margaret was talking, playing distraction and decoy and Phillip might have been talking about his and Aurora’s wedding plans.

“Hey.” Emma’s head snapped up to find Robin staring cautiously at her, a smile tugging at the ends of his lips. “Hey,” she repeated. “What are you...is Killian…” “Fine, fine, trying to answer Mr. and Mrs. V’s rather impressive amount of questions without actually answering them, but he’s had enough media training. I think it’s Lucas’ proudest moment, honestly.”

Emma’s laugh was shaky at best, but her lungs appreciated the burst of oxygen she provided them. “Do you think I can just blame hormones for everything?” she asked, and Robin’s entire expression shifted when he smiled.

“For the next nine months at least.” “I’m already about a month and a half in.” “Ah, technicalities,” he promised, dropping down next to her. “You know, when Marian was expecting Roland, I was a mess. Constantly worried and terrified of being on the road and it was…” He shook his head, licking his lips, and Emma tried not to blame hormones for the tears in her eyes. “And I didn’t really have anyone when it was…” The rest of the sentence hung in the air around them – when it was over and he was alone with an infant and a professional hockey career and the tears were warm when they landed on Emma’s cheeks.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Robin shook his head. “That’s not your fault. And not why I came out here. I’m not trying to ruin the mood of the celebration.” “I think I did a pretty good job of that, actually.” “Nah, freaked Cap out a little bit, but you might have to get used to that.” “Yeah, I kind of figured,” Emma admitted. “Scarlet was joking about sitting schedules, but I think Killian’s actually started considering those now that the idea’s been planted.” “I’ve got no doubt. That’s not a bad thing, either.” “I know. And I know I can’t really blame the hormones for freaking out, but I wasn’t entirely expecting champagne and do you think Mrs. Vankald is real? Like a real, human person?” Robin’s laugh echoed off the walls of the foyer and the very fancy banister next to them and Emma had to check and make sure the photos just underneath hadn’t fallen on the floor. “You know sometimes I wonder,” he admitted. “It would take some kind of saint to raise Cap and Liam at the same time. But, uh, I think she did a pretty fantastic job. Her and Mr. V. They’re…” “Next level?” “Yeah, exactly that.”

Emma hummed in the back of her throat, tugging on the ends of her hair and the ring around her neck and she knew there was more to this conversation. “It’s been so different,” Robin murmured, soft enough that Emma wasn’t sure she heard him at first. “Cap, I mean. He’s...when he got hurt, we thought that was it. He shut down. Sat upstairs in that room and wouldn’t get on the ice and I thought he was going to check me into the wall when I got here.” “Wait, what?” “That’s Liam’s fault, really, he taught Cap how to do this thing with his stick right under a guy’s shoulder blade and--”

“--No, no, that’s not what I meant,” Emma interrupted. “You came here? To do what?” “Get Cap back on the ice,” he shrugged. “That’s...Cap never mentioned that.” It wasn’t a question, but Emma shook her head anyway. “Nah, I think he’s kind of ashamed of it?” That was a question. She squeezed one eye closed. “He’s a bit of a perfectionist, y’know?” “Yeah, a bit. Scarlet would have several other opinions about it, but he lived with Cap, so he’s got a whole slew of stories. But, uh, yeah, I came and told him to get his shit together. HIs life wasn’t over, even when he thought it had to be, even after he thought he’d ruined everything.” “Liam’s injury wasn’t his fault.” “I don’t know that he’ll ever truly believe that,” Robin muttered, a note of something on the edge of his voice. “But that’s kind of where I’m going with this and why I understand how you ended up on these steps.” “Yeah?”

Robin nodded, and the teasing glint in his eye was far too similar to Roland’s. “Cap thought everything was over, but we got him out of that room and back on the ice and he’s finally starting to realize that there’s even more away from the ice. That’s because of you. And I know he’s worried because shit can wrong and sometimes it does go wrong, but sometimes it’s…”

He exhaled, that same smile on his face when he met Emma’s gaze. She was just going to cry for the rest of the night.

“Sometimes it’s absolutely incredible,” Robin finished. “And you think you’re going to be alone forever, but you stumble into a city and a team and a family that inadvertently freaks you out with champagne toasts.” “Was it that obvious?” Emma asked.

“Painfully.” “Jeez. I should apologize.” “Nah,” Robin objected, bumping his shoulder against hers familiarly. “But neither one of you are alone in this. Maybe too not alone, honestly.” “Those double negatives.” “You totally kept up.” Emma nodded, smile feeling a bit more natural and pulse a bit more normal and she wasn’t even surprised to hear another set of footsteps coming towards them.

Mary Margaret’s eyes were red. “You ok?” she asked, and Emma nodded with a honesty that was equal parts nice and a little surprising. “Scarlet is telling slightly out of place jokes and recounting your ability to pick locks to the Vankalds in an attempt to distract them.” “Oh my God,” Emma groaned. Robin kept laughing. “Is Killian…” “Fine, fine, appropriately deflected and then started muttering something about ginger and searching the cabinets and he kind of lost me after that.” “Morning sickness,” Emma and Robin said at the same time. Mary Margaret’s eyes widened.

“I know some things,” Robin shrugged. “Like how Mary Margaret’s been dying to stare at your ring for hours.”

Mary Margaret gasped and Emma nearly cackled, but they’d been holed up in some quasi vacation for three days post-Games and her ring was stupid gorgeous.

“Lucas told me,” Robin explained. “She got very chatty while trying to decide who to call to break down Cap and Emma’s door.” “David made a pretty good dent,” Emma muttered, groaning when Mary Margaret nearly ripped her wrist out of its socket. “Jeez, Reese’s, my hand’s not going anywhere.”

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” Mary Margaret mumbled. “I’m just…” “Excited?” She nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

They sat there for another five minutes, Mary Margaret staring at Emma’s ring like she knew how to describe luminosity or what a carat was, asking questions about wedding planning and trying, rather obviously, to get Emma’s nerves under control.

It totally worked.

And none of them were surprised when Killian walked into the lobby, tongue pressed on the side of his cheek and his left hand stuck in his hair.

“Scarlet’s started talking about that one kid who kept trying to talk to me while I was checking him, so I figured that was my cue to leave.”

“Someone was trying to talk to you while you were checking him?” Mary Margaret asked. “In the Olympics?” “They wanted his autograph,” Emma explained. “He’s super famous and important.” “Makes sense.” Killian didn’t object, but his eyes flitted towards Emma and she should probably apologize to him. “Well,” Mary Margaret said, standing up abruptly and none of them were very good at subtle. “This is probably the point where we go and make sure Rol and Henry aren’t trying to play hockey in the hallway, right?” “Too late,” Killian said, nodding towards the sound of a crash. “The house is used to it.” “Mrs. V is honestly a saint.” “That too.” Robin nodded, Mary Margaret already halfway towards the kitchen and Emma needed to learn some breathing exercises or something. She scrunched her nose, twisting the ring around her neck, and Killian appeared have become some kind of statue at some point.

“I think it’s about time little Vankald and I had a serious discussion about her boyfriend’s inability to provide me with an adequate amount of stick-tape every night," Robin said pointedly.

“Yeah, Banana will love that,” Killian muttered, as Robin clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re as subtle as two tons of bricks.” “And one threat to check you down the staircase and into oncoming traffic.”

Killian blinked, a reference Emma didn’t entirely understand, but she had a pretty good hunch and Roland had absolutely broken something in the hallway. “Where did he even get a stick?” Emma asked as soon as Robin was gone, working a quiet sound out of Killian. “Roland. And I’m assuming Henry. Do they both have sticks?” “I’m at least ninety-nine percent positive Banana found them.” “From the Garden?” He shook his head, sinking down next to her and tugging her fingers away from her ring. “Nah, they were downstairs. One of them’s got my initials on it.” “You put your initials on your stick?” “To make sure Liam couldn’t use it. Mine had more goals.” “Ah, naturally.” “He was more of a set-up guy anyway,” Killian reasoned, and his fingers fit very nicely in between hers. Emma focused on that. It helped settle the butterflies. “Are you alright, Swan?” he asked, the question sounding far too loud and far too cautious for the number of sonograms sitting in her bag a few feet away.

“Yeah, I think so. I’m...are you…” “You’ve got to finish the sentences, love.” “I know, I know,” she mumbled, and she didn’t think she imagined the way his hand tightened. “Ok, I’m going to say something and it’s not bad, per se, but--” “--Emma.” “Oh my God, you can’t just do that.” Killian widened his eyes, and it was way too much blue and even more feeling, but Emma’s lungs continued to do their job and her stomach stayed where it was supposed and she wasn’t even surprised when he tugged her hand up to brush his lips under her other ring.

God.

“It all happened really quickly, didn’t it?” Emma asked, not entirely appreciating the way her voice sounded. “And I know I keep circling around on freakouts here, but I’m really considering blaming hormones forever and, like, even after we have this kid and--”

She didn’t finish. That was probably for the best. She’d lost track of her point as soon as Killian started kissing her again.

They were sitting on different steps, so the angles were a bit off, Emma twisted and Killian trying to lean up, with his weight resting on his left hand and that couldn’t have been good for the bruises that had started looking a little green two days before.

He didn’t let go of her hand, but Emma’s fingers still managed to find their way into his hair and it was a goddamn disaster of teeth and lips and whatever the hell he was doing with his tongue, tracing it over her bottom lip until she was fairly positive she was actually melting on the Vankald’s staircase.

That would probably make this whole impending grandparent thing kind of awkward.

And, like, family holidays.

They got family holidays now – on some sort of indefinite basis.

“God, we’ve really got to stop answering major life questions with makeouts,” Emma mumbled, but the point got kind of lost when she hadn’t actually moved her mouth away from Killian’s.

She could feel his smile as easily as she could hear it, a whole other level of happily ever after, and maybe she wouldn’t freak out about the rest of their lives for, like, at least a week after this.

“I love you,” he said, and for all the times he’d told her that in general and that day, this one felt decidedly different. It felt like a promise and something bigger than that and his fingers were soft on her cheek when she started fucking crying again.

“Was that the answer?” “That and the makeouts.” Emma laughed, sliding down the stair and rolling her eyes when Killian groaned at the unnecessary risk. “Heart attack,” she mumbled. “Blood pressure. Something about stress being detrimental to scoring goals.” “I don’t think that’s an actual scientific study.” “I’m going to find one. Or use you as my subject.”

“Seems a little devious, honestly,” Killian said, slinging an arm around her. “It’s quick, Swan, or quicker than previous plans. But...it’s good. The best. Right?” “Are you asking me for confirmation?” “Yes.” She pulled back at the quick response – all three letters feeling like they were hanging in front of her face and waiting for her approval, but Emma had never been good at talking or discussing and they were so goddamn good at kissing.

It felt wrong to break the streak, anyway.

“Did you totally know?” she asked, a few moments later. They would have to do something about Killian’s hair before they went back into the dining room.

He nodded. “I had a fairly good feeling. And I get it, Swan, I do. I am...terrified isn’t the right word, but it’s...the rest of our lives, right?” “You’ve got to stop checking for confirmation. I'm sorry for freaking out.”

“I spent an entire international flight looking up facts about brain activity and joints and how early kids could get on the ice. I think we’re on fairly even footing, Swan.” She bit her lip so she didn’t do something absolutely absurd like giggle again or possibly start sobbing, but neither of those seemed like options the world wanted her to have and Emma was incredibly in love with her fiancé.

She kept calling him that in her head.

It was nice.

“All-time leading goal scorer,” she muttered. “Scarlet really ran interference on the Vanakalds?”

“Lucas helped. Lots of Olympic stories and something about luge. Locksley and Mary Margaret tag-team on the supportive speech?” Emma shook her head. “Robin ran solo for awhile, actually. I kind of forgot it was all something he’d been through before, you know? Hockey and a kid and figuring it all out.” “He needs to update his hope speeches,” Killian muttered, but he couldn’t quite get enough venom in his voice to make it sound like he was actually upset. And he couldn’t seem to stop touching Emma, fingers tracing over her shoulder and her side and ghosting over the front of her stomach. “That hasn’t changed in several years.” “Ah, well, tried and true, right? And maybe he can get some tips from Reese’s.” Killian grinned, kissing her quickly and his hand hadn’t moved. “We should probably explain your aversion to champagne, Swan.” “Yeah, probably. I’m not...I’m not running anywhere, I promise, just trying to process having it all, you know?”

“I know, love. That makes two of us. C’mon, before Banana starts complaining about using up all her data.”

It took a couple moments to get everyone back into their designated seats in the dining room and several different phones were playing several different Olympic highlights, Roland climbing on top of Killian as soon as he sat down.

Mrs. Vankald looked nervous.

“So, uh,” Mr. Vankald started, sitting at the head of the table, and Emma could just make out Liam laughing from the FaceTime in Colorado. Elsa sounded like she told him to be quiet. Anna was barely holding onto her phone. “Can you get them to be quite?” Mr. Vankald asked, nodding towards the screen and there were muttered sorry, Mr. V and sorry, Dad from several thousand miles away.

“I’m sorry about before,” Emma said. “But, well--” “--It’s not just an engagement, is it?” Mrs. Vankald asked, and Emma shook her head. Killian’s hand found hers underneath the table.

“I’m pregnant.”

Anna dropped her phone – several exclamations and curses from Colorado and no one apologized to Henry or Roland because they were all too busy screaming and shouting and cheering and no one was sitting down anymore.

Emma squeezed Killian’s hand.

Or the other way around.

Neither one of them let go.

Mr. Vankald moved first, stepping around the table to shake Killian’s hand and pull Emma into a tight hug. “That’s wonderful news,” he said, voice gruff and no one in that dining room had any control over their emotions.

“There’s, uh….there’s more,” Killian muttered softly. Emma was briefly concerned for the state of Mrs. Vankald’s eyes.

It couldn't have been safe for them to be that wide.

“It’s not bad,” Emma promised, practically shouting the words at the crowd around them. “Really. It’s more of a request?” “What kind of request?” Mr. Vankald asked.

Emma felt Killian take a deep breath behind her. “Well, it’s way too early to know for sure, but we went to doctor today and…” The room exploded in another round of noise, Elsa’s cry probably doing damage to everyone’s ears, but Killian couldn’t glare at all of them and he only let go of Emma’s hand to wrap it around her waist, fingers toying with the end of her team-branded t-shirt. “None of you are getting the pictures if you’re all going to be assholes about this.”

“There are pictures?” Mary Margaret whispered, Ruby behind her with both her hands over her mouth and tears in her eyes.

Killian nodded. “Yeah, way too many honestly, but you’re all distracting me from my point.” He turned, another deep breath and Mrs. Vankald was biting her lip. “It’s way too early to know,” he repeated, “but, we were thinking if it’s a boy, we’d like to name him…Matthew.”

Anna was going to do permanent damage to her phone.

Mrs. Vankald sat down.

“Oh,” she muttered, hands shaking slightly to try and brush the tears away, and Emma didn’t quite push Killian forward, was probably some kind of joint effort, but he moved and he was crouched in front of Mrs. Vankald, and Will might have been taking pictures.

“Anna’s too busy crying and trying to make sure El sees this to do it,” he reasoned when Emma glanced at him questioningly.

Mrs. Vankald rested her hand on Killian’s cheek, a small smile on her face and Emma couldn't remember seeing Mr. Vankald look like that – as if the entire world had been righted on its axis and nothing would ever be wrong again.

It all kind of felt like that.

Happily ever after or happily ever...the rest of their lives.

“Of course,” Mrs. Vankald mumbled. “Of course. That’s…” “Thank you,” Mr. Vankald finished, shaking his head before Killian could get his objection out. “It’d be an honor, my boy.”

No one really stopped crying, and the baked goods were almost unfairly good, which almost begged the question why they even still tried making bread pudding at Christmas, but Emma forget the question by the time they passed out sonogram photos and she was going to make fun of whatever noise Ruby made as soon as her eyes landed on the little blob-type thing for the rest of her life.

“The doctor thought we were insane,” Emma said. “We just kept asking for more.” “Yeah, well, you guys are super weird,” Ruby countered, but the insult didn’t land when she was sniffling. “Was there...you’re supposed to get some kind of due date, right?” “Why do you know that?”

“Did you not?” “You’re avoiding the question.” “I’m good at my job.” Emma rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling and she wasn’t quite dreading the road trip when an entire downtown brownstone was clutching seven-week sonograms like they’d been dipped in gold. “Start of next season,” she answered. “October. ‘Ish.” “So just in time for a title defense, huh?” Will asked. “No jinx.” “No jinx,” Emma repeated.

She fell asleep in the backseat of the cab, her head on Killian’s shoulder and his arm around her waist. “Just tell him to keep driving around,” she mumbled. “Put that contract extension to good use.” “Yeah, I think that’s what college funds are for, Swan,” Killian chuckled. He kept his arm around her as they moved into the building, nodding in response to another critique of the penalty kill and make sure you get that push in the standings, huh, and Emma barely opened her eyes while they were in the elevator.

She wasn’t quite sure how they got to bed, simply content that they had, pillows kicked onto the floor and blankets twisted between them, and the only thing she’d noticed was the sonogram on the fridge door.

“I love you,” Emma mumbled, mostly into the pillow under her head, but Killian kissed just behind her ear and she knew he heard.

“I know, Swan. I love you, too.” It was the best she slept since they got back from the Games.

#cs ff #captain swan #cs #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #blue line one shots #it was about time robin and emma hung out #robin and mary margaret tag team hope speeches from here on out

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foxissofoxy · 7 years ago

Photo

My current muse…

“Love is blind, they say; sex is impervious to reason and mocks the power of all philosophers. But, in fact, a person’s sexual choice is the result and sum of their fundamental convictions. Tell me what a person finds sexually attractive and I will tell you their entire philosophy of life. Show me the person they sleep with and I will tell you their valuation of themselves. No matter what corruption they’re taught about the virtue of selflessness, sex is the most profoundly selfish of all acts, an act which they cannot perform for any motive but their own enjoyment - just try to think of performing it in a spirit of selfless charity! - an act which is not possible in self-abasement, only in self-exultation, only on the confidence of being desired and being worthy of desire. It is an act that forces them to stand naked in spirit, as well as in body, and accept their real ego as their standard of value. They will always be attracted to the person who reflects their deepest vision of themselves, the person whose surrender permits them to experience - or to fake - a sense of self-esteem .. Love is our response to our highest values - and can be nothing else.” ― Ayn Rand ——————————————————————————————- “What’s that?”

I was silent. I could honestly hear what my friend was hearing. There wasn’t any denying it. The walls that separated my Dads bedroom from my own were practically paper thin based on the sound effects that were coming from his side.

My lack of response confirmed to my friend Andre that what he was hearing was the sound of-sex.

“That’s your Dad?”

I nodded.

“Wow! He’s really giving it to her.”

We both listened to the headboard knocking against the far wall, the rocking of the bed and my Dad grunting as he encouraged for more and faster.

“Since when did your Dad start back to dating?”

"Not sure. I do know he’s banging. Now you know too.”

“I didn’t know he had a girlfriend.”

“I didn’t either.”

Andre and I did our usual fist bump and peace sign. He was out. Deuces.

I have known my Dad for 15 years, all my life actually. I can recall the earliest memory of him. I guess it’s the moment we all become self-aware based on a significant moment where an insignificant memory begins to build and retain on top of other long ago father and son activities. What I can’t remember is ever hearing him have sex with my Mom. Ever. The thought alone was cringe-worthy to think of my parents in that way. This new set of events that was on its fourth night, a school night I might add was something I would have to bring to his attention.

“Oh my God, Rick…Oh, my God. Right-ahh-there. Ohhh,Yes. Yesssss…Yessss.”

“You like how I’m giving it to you? You like this?”

My Dad was asking her over and over again. She finally responded to him.

“Yesssss. Oh, Yes. Yes. Yes.”

“I fucking live for this-All of this. Right here. Oh shit. Yessss.”

I wanted my Dad to say nothing else. I only wanted to hear her.

Whoever she was, she was way more vocal this time around with the oooh and aaahs that I couldn’t help but have more of a boner as long as my Dad kept quiet or quiet enough where I could unleash my teen fantasy on Beth Smith who worked in the lunchroom.

Beth Smith was four years older than me, and she was my girl crush, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Sunday was spent in the Catholic church where I spilled every sordid detail to Father Gabriel in the confessional booth. The heathen side of me was reborn every Monday like clock-work when my eyes would lock with hers in the cafeteria line.

I would fantasize about Beth. I imagined Beth and me together almost obsessively. I reached for the cock sock that I kept in my nightstand drawer. I was ready to burst at the seams. I was prepared until my Dad yelled, “Myyyyyyyyy. EHHHHH. Uhhhh.” Then silence. Seconds later, giggles. UGHH. I put my sock back in my drawer for another time.

Our confrontation happened in the kitchen.

I waited for him to come out of his bedroom the next morning. My Dad was dressed in his uniform. He’s a Deputy Sheriff. Our routine was always the same routine since Mom left him for what she considered a better life going on three years ago. He was adjusting his gun belt. I was at the kitchen table doodling guitar tabs to piano chords that were running through my mind at high speed. I am a gifted Pianist. I’ve also been told that I am a dark spirit. I take it as a compliment that my genius has manifested in order take over the world by storm.

“You missed the bus?” He was surprised to see me still home.

“I didn’t sleep.”

“Do you want me to take the TV out of your room along with your game system?”

This was his usual threat that he never acted on, but he felt it was a motivator for good behavior to not miss the bus 4 days in a row.

“I could turn up the volume of my TV to drown out other noises, but then neither one of us would get any sleep.”

“What are you talking about, Carl?”

I didn’t have a chance to answer because his phone vibrated loudly and his attention was on whatever was displayed. The smirk on his lips was every indication that it wasn’t work-related. If I had someone to bet against, I would put my whole life savings that it had everything to do with last night and the night before and the night before that and so on. I watched his fingers move and wondered when did he ever become so proficient with texting?

“You aren’t staying home. I will take you to school. If you get detention, you are going to serve it. I am not going to get you out of trouble.”

“Who is she?”

He began to search the refrigerator for the creamer. It was right in front of him, but it was like he couldn’t see it. It took him a whole 10 seconds to grab it. The refrigerator wasn’t stocked with much.

“Who’s who?”

“Who is it that you have in your bedroom?”

“What?”

“No. Who?”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

I allowed him to have that. Her name was Oh. I was going to give him time to clarify if Oh was an Asian lady or if Oh meant something different. But it was more like a dragged out Ohhhhhh!

My Dad poured himself a cup of coffee, forgetting the creamer as he stirred and texted. He placed two slices of visibly green pieces of moldy bread in the toaster. I sat back and watched with amusement.

“We only have one Oh that I am aware of and he’s the math teacher.” I was referencing my former math teacher Glen Oh. My Dad knew Glen on a personal level for years. “Are you messing around with his wife Maggie Oh who works in the library?”

“For God sakes no.”

“Then?”

“For shit sakes, Carl. I’m not messing around. What’s happening…What’s going on is just…”

“Just what?”

“Different.”

“Different?”

“Very different.”

“You’ve had Jessie over, and I never heard anything. So, I guess. Whatever.”

My Dad was right, whoever he’s banging in his bedroom this time around has caused him to have an incredible vocal range of a grunting caveman that has scarred my brain for life.

"That was over a year ago. It was a mistake. Something I regret. Something that I would rather die than repeat.”

The Jessie fiasco.

The woman who was so abused and found her way into our home, in my father’s bed with her two sons attached to her hip sharing my bedroom whenever she came around. I would immediately take to the couch or stayed at my best friend, Andre’s home that was positioned directly behind where I lived. I would stay with him and his parents until where I lived with my Dad was cleared of the pests. I’d never liked Sam nor Ron. Their Mom was a Milf but not much else.

It still didn’t answer who could have my Dad flustered in revealing who he wanted to have sit on his face. Knowing what I know, I will never, ever drink or eat anything after my Dad. He likes to eat this person, and my brain will forever remember where his lips have been.

He took a look at his phone that indicated he got another message.

“I have to get my keys.”

I’m sitting back twirling my pencil between my fingers casually watching him set his phone down on the kitchen counter to go in search for his car keys. The keys were by the front door where he always leaves them. He went into his bedroom as if the keys would be in there.

His phone…

I was compelled to see. To investigate and hopefully have answers before he comes back out of his bedroom down the short hall.

Queen: Is Carl still home?

Rick: Yes. I will take him to school, and then you can slip out.

Queen: I was thinking about playing hooky. You in that uniform, yum.

Rick: That can be arranged. I’m crazy about you.

Queen: Oh yeah?

Rick: My son heard us last night.

Queen: No!

Rick: We may have to come clean.

Queen: Come into your bedroom NOW!

Whoever he’s banging was still in our home, and her name was Queen. Queen? Queen Elizabeth? We didn’t have any Queens that I was aware of in our small enough town to know a name like that. A name like that would stick out. Whoever he’s’ banging is royalty. This news is Gold. I couldn’t help chuckling.

The toast was finished. I tossed it in the trash along with the rest of the moldy loaf. I put the creamer back in the refrigerator while still scrolling through my Dad’s messages. I found a lot of sexting shared between him and Queen.

Rick: I can still taste you.

Queen: It’s my turn tonight.

Rick: Wonder if you can handle it.

Queen: Don’t doubt me.

Rick: Will I have to hold back?

Queen: I plan to swallow.

Rick: Yeah?

Queen: Lick every drop.

The sound of his bedroom door opening was enough to cause a slight panic to run through me. I turned his phone off.

“Carl, hand me my phone and let’s get going.”

“Did you find your keys in your bedroom?” I played it off cool walking over to him with his phone. It helped that he was visibly distracted by whatever happened in his bedroom.

“Why would I go into my bedroom for my keys? My keys are always by the front door.”

His response was an indication that he wasn’t 100 percent himself. I was going to have some fun.

“Dad, I left something in your bedroom. I’m going to check to see if…”

My Dad’s whole attitude had changed lightning fast. His agitation was on butt load when I boldly began walking past him heading to his bedroom. He grabbed my arm and hauled me out the front door with a not so friendly shove, slamming the front door behind him.

“Hey, I was just joking!” I pretended to be upset with him handling me the way he did.

“Let’s go.”

My Dad was pissed off. He didn’t give two shits.

Now going to school was another matter. I hated school. I hated the whispers about my Dad and Principal Benton. I hated the drop-off in his cruiser almost equally to everything else I hated.

The rumors were annoying to Andre, too. We were in the same gifted classes. Andre is a talented violinist. He’s gifted on the piano as well as having the sickest rap lyrics of all time. I’m his biggest fan. He’s considered to have a dark spirit too. He doesn’t care because he knows he’s going to take over the world by musical storm one motherfucking kick drum at a time.

Andre’s mom’s the Principal at our high school. His Dad is an attorney who works in Alexandria. I’ve only met his Dad a couple of times. He seemed very chill but his Mom…Principal Benton didn’t have much of a sense of humor. She was no-nonsense, by the book, and she rode us both hard if we were acting like delinquents. I have to be honest, Principal Benton was annoying as fuck in school.

I sat in the cruiser. My Dad’s mind was evidently a million miles away as he drove the usual route that was considered the fastest in the direction of King’s Gifted Academy. The road with no sidewalks was the reason for many of us to have to ride the bus if we weren’t lucky to have a parent willing to take us to school every day or old enough to have a license to drive. I much preferred the bus than the cruiser.

“Who’s My Queen?”

“I don’t know, Carl.”

I watched my Dad try to swallow his lie.

“What do you mean, you don’t know? Do you just randomly text people about still tasting them?”

“What have I told you about snooping?”

“You know there are rumors, right?”

“What rumors?”

“You tell me who’s My Queen and I’ll tell you about what everyone seems to be talking about.”

There was no deal to be made other than maybe a silent epiphany that I could hear everything on the other side of the walls. I just couldn’t see through them.

“I met someone. Well, I’ve known her for awhile, and you may know who she is and right now we aren’t ready. She’s not ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“To commit. To commit to me. I’m giving her time to handle things. She asked me for that, and I am giving her that.”

“Sounds like you’ve been giving her more than that.”

“Carl!”

“Dad!” I challenged him.

“There’s a reason your mother has you with me. You know that?”

“I’ve never heard her having crazy sex.”

“I’m sorry about that son. I wasn’t aware that we could be overheard and now that I know we will be more discreet about things.”

“There’s the Holiday Inn. There’s the Red Roof and Meryl’s Lodge.”

“Next time we will be quieter. If there is damn next time.”

By the time my Dad dropped me off in the school parking lot,I had noticed something else odd about his behavior, and it was what he didn’t do next.

“See you later, Dad.”

“Yeah.”

He didn’t drive off. He was texting again. He didn’t even realize I got out of the car or that I was watching him from a distance.

He got out of his cruiser probably thinking that I had gone inside of the school. Principal Benton had already pulled in to her designated parking spot.

Their confrontation happened in the parking lot.

I watched my Dad approach her without any regard to who could be watching or possibly overhearing what looked to be a very controlled, heated disagreement.

I wasn’t close enough to hear what they were saying, but I did find it odd that Andre’s mom had on the same clothes from the night before that she wore to our soccer game. Her and my Dad wore matching sweatshirts with our school logo last night which could mean nothing because there were a few that had them on. Easy to dismiss.

My Dad was sitting behind her in the stands cheering our team on. Andre and I were forced in sitting the game out courtesy of coach Abe with the blessings from Principal Benton. Our stunt two weeks ago had affected almost everything in our lives. We were considered God’s by our peers but devils by our elders.

I refused to believe what was apparently true.

My Dad was having an affair with my very married Principal who was also my best friend in the world’s mother. She is who he’s banging, and I’d acquired videotaped proof a few days later that I just sent to all my contacts by accident.

——————————— https://m.fanfiction.net/s/12954337/1/

#ff.net

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whydontwe-fanfics · 7 years ago

Text

Capture and Effect (J.M)

Description: When live on YouNow, fans capture Jonah’s face while looking at you and rumors spread like wildfire.

Warning: Jonah being a smol bean, FLUFF, that’s it

Word Count: 3.2k

---

The Marais family was practically your family. You grew up next to them all your life and everything they went through, you went through.

Like when Jonah announced that he'd be moving to L.A to share a house with his four other bandmates. You, along with his family, were devastated. Jonah was your best friend, your ride or die, the Clyde to your Bonnie. But then he left and returned ever so often. Of course, you'd visit him a few times but it wasn't the same.

Even when he did leave Minnesota, you didn't lose contact with anyone. You would hang out with Esther and Svea and have dinner at their house whenever your parents were working. Sometimes you'd watch Svea while everyone else was busy and other times you and Esther would go out and do whatever you two could possibly do at the time.

You hadn't spoken to Jonah in a while, though, which was very upsetting because it was like the two of you were missing out on one another's lives - something that was always rare between the two of you. You always told him everything and vice versa, so it kind of sucked not knowing what he was up to. There were his Snapchat and insta stories, but that's all you had.

So imagine your emotions when he walks into your room at three in the afternoon on a random Saturday, Esther standing in your doorway recording everything.

Your eyes widen as you feel too astonished to move for a moment, not believing what was before your eyes.

"Jonah!" You scream after realizing that is was really him standing in your room. You jump up from your bed, your homework falling off your lap, and throw yourself at him.

He is quick to catch you, your arms wrapped around his neck and his around your waist. Your head rested on his chest as it vibrated from him chuckling.

"Hey, Buttercup," he mumbled, kissing the top of your head as you melted in his embrace that you've been longing for quite some time.

"I missed you," you murmured, his arms tightening around you when you say that.

"Awww," Esther cooed as she stopped recording.

You pull away from Jonah and he furrows his eyebrows when he sees the glossy look on your eyes.

"Don't cry," Jonah sadly smiled, cupping your cheeks.

"Shut up," you scoff before going back to hugging him.

The three of you headed to their house after you changed into some jeans and a clean tee.

"Jonah's back!" Svea squealed when you walked into her room, said boy walking on your heels.

"I know," you grin. She scooted over and you sat beside her, pushing strands of hair out of her face. "Now we've got him all to ourselves." You glance to Jonah who grins in the doorway.

The rest of your day was spent at their house. You and the Marais siblings hanging around and talking about anything and everything.

That night, Esther had gone to sleep early so it was just you, Jonah and Svea hanging on the back porch. You and Svea sat on the porch swing, her head resting on your shoulder as she plays games on your phone.

Jonah sat on a plastic chair in front of you as he signed into YouNow and started a live broadcast.

"Why now?" You ask, swinging back and forth on the swing.

"Why not?" He replied, shifting his laptop so you're in the view just as the views start growing.

"I see your point," you hum.

"Hey, guys, what's up," Jonah greets his fans as the view count grows by the second. "I'm back in Minnesota for the week, with my family and stuff."

"You're supposed to avoid being knocked off," you tell Svea as she plays another one of your games.

"Oh," she nods before retrying the level.

"The fans who've been here for very very long know Y/N and Svea, and if you don't, Y/N is my best friend and Svea is my little sister."

You salute to the camera with a small smile as the comments flood with the sweetest greetings to you and Svea.

Jonah answers questions and replies to as many comments as he can for the next thirty minutes.

where are you right now???

"Minnesota, my hometown, Stillwater."

never heard of stillwater

"Yeah, it's sort of a small town, I guess you can say," Jonah shrugs.

AWWW Svea is falling asleep back there

Jonah looks back and sees Svea sleeping against your shoulder, your free hand running through her hair gently. He smiles at the two of you just as you look up.

"What?" You raise a single eyebrow.

"Nothing," Jonah runs a hand through his hair. "She should probably head to bed."

"Yeah, I just don't wanna wake her up," you frown.

"I can carry her," Jonah suggests.

You sigh and purse your lips to the side. "Svea," you whisper, rocking your shoulder slightly. "C'mon, you're tired."

"Hm? No, I'm not. I was just resting my eyes. I wanna stay up with you two," Svea pouts.

"We're both gonna be here in the morning," you tell her.

"Yay," Svea yawns before sliding off the porch swing, you following after her.

"I'll be back," you tell Jonah as you follow Svea into the house, your hands on her shoulders. Jonah watches you two leave, slightly biting his lower lip before turning back to his laptop.

Is Y/N your girlfriend? || Y/N and Svea are so cuttteeee || you look whipped || Y/N AND JONAH 2k17 MAKE IT HAPPEN

Jonah laughs with a small shake of his head. "Y/N's been my best friend for sixteen years, guys - not my girlfriend." He continues reading the comments. "Yeah, Y/N is like another sister to Svea and Esther, she's part of the family."

I WANT JONAH AND Y/N TO BE TOGETHER || i'm so okay with y/n and jonah || Jonah if you get with anyone other than Y/N I s2g || WE NEED SHIP NAMES

By now, Jonah's face was red and he faked a small chuckle to hide his embarrassment. "Guys," he complained, covering his face. "Stoooop," he laughs. "I adore Y/N as my best friend."

A few minutes pass before you return, sitting in a plastic chair beside Jonah now and not on the swing.

"How's everybody doing out there?" You spread your arms out and try your best not to be loud because Jonah's mom and sisters were currently all asleep.

Y/N I LOVE YOU || HIIII || IM DOING GOOD

"I love having fans because of you," you tease Jonah, who rolls his eyes with a smile.

"You have fans because everybody loves you," he mentions.

"That, too," you wink at him playfully before turning back to his laptop, bringing a knee up to your chest. "They want you to sing," you tell Jonah, poking him in the cheek.

"I have a sore throat right now," he frowns, using his knuckle to gently knead at his throat, knowing that that won't do anything to the cause. "You should sing."

"Haha, very funny," you deadpan.

Who remembers when Y/N sang in a YouNow a few months ago? || OMG WHEN Y/N SANG TITANIUM what a throwback || I wanna hear Y/N sing!

"I have a yucky voice," you say.

"No, you have a beautiful voice," Jonah says as he swipes under his nose, so his voice is kind of muffled, but both you and the audience he sported heard clearly.

"Aww, thank you," you coo, a cheesy grin on your face. "I could sing Twinkle Twinkle-"

"Oh, gosh," Jonah throws his head back as you laugh. "Sing the boys and I's new song."

"You and the boys have a new song?" You tease.

"Have you been under a rock?"

"I'm sorry, the world doesn't revolve around you, Jonah Marais," you snort, narrowing your eyes a bit. "No, I don't wanna sing These Girls, you fuck boy."

Jonah's jaw drops. "That's not what the song is abou-"

"Ehhhhh," you squint one of your eyes and cock your head. Jonah sighs and slouched in his chair as you send a wink to the YouNow viewers. "If I sing, you've gotta sing with me," you slap his leg.

"I can't sing with a sore thro-"

"Um, yeah you can. Jonah, you can sing with marshmell’s in your mouth. I know you," you tell him.

"Ugh, fine."

You smile and go to poke his cheek, a habit of yours, but he sways your hand away. You fake a frown and he rolls his eyes at you before pulling your finger up to his cheek, your smile reappearing after that.

"What song?" You hum.

"The A Team," Jonah quickly responded. You look at him with amusement for a split second.

"That was my favorite song in-"

"2011, yeah I know," he says, causing your insides to go warm.

FIND U A MAN WHO KNOWS YOUR FAVE SONG FROM 6 YEARS AGO || more goals than i'll ever be capable of || OH JUST KISS ALREADY || I LOVED THE A TEAM, TOO || ed sheeran for liiiffeee || I’M.-.

Jonah and you don't pay attention to the comments as you both start singing the song, his voice a little deeper than normal but overall still amazing.

“White lips, pale face Breathing in snowflakes Burnt lungs, sour taste Light's gone, day's end Struggling to pay rent Long nights, strange men

And they say She's in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen But lately, her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries”

You pay more attention to your untied shoelace during the song while Jonah's eyes never leave your face. He forgets that they were live and all he sees is your face that he's been in love with for the past seven years.

“And they scream The worst things in life come free to us 'Cause we're just under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams And she don't want to go outside tonight And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland Or sells love to another man It's too cold outside For angels to fly Angels to fly”

His eyes glance to your lips for a mere second before he goes back to watching you whole, enjoying the sound of your voice syncing with his. You turn to him and catch the smile on his face, one growing on yours as well.

“Ripped gloves, raincoat Tried to swim and stay afloat Dry house, wet clothes Loose change, bank notes Weary-eyed, dry throat Call girl, no phone

And they say She's in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen But lately, her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries And they scream The worst things in life come free to us 'Cause we're just under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams And she don't want to go outside tonight And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland Or sells love to another man It's too cold outside For angels to fly An angel will die Covered in white Closed eye And hoping for a better life This time, we'll fade out tonight Straight down the line

And they say She's in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen But lately, her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries They scream The worst things in life come free to us And we're all under the upper hand Go mad for a couple grams And we don't want to go outside tonight And in a pipe we fly to the Motherland Or sell love to another man It's too cold outside For angels to fly Angels to fly To fly, fly For angels to fly, to fly, to fly For angels to die”

By the time it was over, you were grinning and Jonah was holding himself back from placing his lips on yours.

"I told you you were good, even with a sore throat," you smirk.

"I could sound like trash and you'd still tell me my voice is amazing," Jonah stated.

"That is very true," you point out. "That's cause I love you," you brush some hair out of his face and turn back to the viewers who were all holding their breath at the tension between you and Jonah, something you happened to be very oblivious to.

Jonah knew that either some or all of them caught him staring at you, and nothing was holding them back from commenting it for you to see.

If Jonah isn't whipped, I'm not human || OMG JONAH LOOKED SO IN LOVE LOOKING AT HER || TELL ME SOMEONE CAPTURED THAT MOMENT || SO MANY SCREENSHOTS || i want to be Y/N so bad.. ||Y/N, JONAH LOVES YOU PLEASE LOVE HIM BACK

You didn't get to read a single comment because Jonah quickly announced that it was getting late and closed his laptop.

"What was that for?" You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion.

"It's getting late. We should head to sleep," he stretches his arms out.

You shake your head and rise to your feet.

"That was so weird, though, how you just slammed it closed. They all must be so confused."

"Now I feel guilty," he says, flicking the porch light off and letting you go into the back door before he does, locking it afterward.

"You should," you chuckle, heading to his room and collapsing on his bed.

"Do you still have clothes here or did you take them back while I was gone?" Jonah asks as he places his laptop on his dresser and opens his pants drawer.

"They're still here," you get off his bed and open the closet, pulling out the basket full of your clothes. You pull out a pair of dark red leggings and a Plant Fitness t-shirt, changing into them with your back turned to Jonah.

You had gotten used to changing in front of Jonah by now, being that you two were closer than any other friendship you've ever known.

When you guys were young, changing in front of each other was normal and it still was now. To you, at least. You had no idea that whenever you'd take off a shirt in front of Jonah he had to hold his breath and think of the most disgusting things so his little friend didn't make an appearance, and half the time that wouldn't work so he'd have to go take a cold shower.

Like, now, for instance.

"I'm gonna take a quick shower," Jonah grumbles, using a pair of sweatpants and a blue hoodie to cover his boner.

"Okay," you turn to him just as he rushes out the room.

---

You woke up beside Jonah with your head on his arm and your legs tangled together under the bed sheets. You shifted your head so that you could look up at him.

"Morning, Buttercup," Jonah murmured, his voice low and raspy.

"Morning," you sigh, sitting up and stretching your limbs before falling back to where you lied previously and curling up even more in Jonah's side. The two of you lie around on your phones before you hop into the shower and get dressed for the day. You, the Marias siblings and their mother would be heading to see a movie in a few hours and you wanted to be ready early.

After you had gotten dressed, you hung around Jonah's room until he also got out of the shower and got dressed. Jonah was on his laptop while you sat right beside him, your thighs leaning against one another as you went onto Instagram.

Your normal daily scrolling goes by but something catches your eye.

You had always followed fan accounts for the boys, Jonah, Jack, Zach, Daniel and Corbyn. There are even a few for you. Chrstina and all siblings related, and you always smile when the people behind the accounts grow so happy when you either follow or like their posts.

Though this morning all of the accounts you follow seem to be focused on one thing.

There was one video of you and Jonah singing with a red circle focused on Jonah's face, which was directed towards yours. Jonah looks absolutely positively whipped, read the caption with a ton of hashtags underneath it.

Then there was a collage of you and Jonah from the live last night. One picture was of you brushing hair out of Jonah’s face, and the others were of Jonah looking at you with that adoring love-struck look on his face. I'll sell my soul for these two to become a thing that caption read.

You glanced up at Jonah with scrunched up eyebrows before looking back at your phone. For the next ten minutes, that's all you see. Edits and photos and collages of Jonah with comments and captions all focusing on Jonah's apparently obvious feelings for you. Well, not so obvious that you caught on.

You avoided the hate comments, too busy being confused on why Jonah would look at you so intensely.

You went into more digging and even found a few screenshots of Jonah looking back at you and Svea with comments that made you nearly choke on air.

Jonah realizing Y/N's got mom qualities || OMG THEY'D BE SUCH CUTE PARENTS

"What's wrong?" Jonah asks when he sees your face turn beet red.

"I-uh... have you been on Instagram at all, lately?" You ask awkwardly.

"No, why?"

"Because all your fans who watched the live last night think that you have feelings for me," you rush out, not looking at him as you bite the inside of your cheek.

Jonah's eyes widen as his breath hitched in his threat. His unresponsiveness made you turn to him as he tried to find something to say.

"Jonah?" You ask slowly.

"I-um... I..."

"Do you actually have feelings for me?" You question, to which he still sits there nervously. But his silence is all you need. "When did it start?" Your voice was quiet now, and Jonah didn't know if you were disgusted, amused, confused or all of the above.

"When we were twelve," he mutters, glancing down at the bed sheets. You were taken aback by his answer. "It just started out as another crush but then over the past few years they grew and I can't look at any other girl without thinking of you. Trust me, I've tried to get over it, but I can't."

"Why didn't you tell me?" You frowned.

"I thought it'd ruin everything. You're my best friend and the feelings are unrequited-"

"I never said that," you pull in your lips. Jonah halts as his eyes snap up to meet yours.

"What?"

"I mean... there's always been that thought that crosses my mind every once in a while... but I was sure that you only thought of me as a sister, being that that's what you always say."

"I just... I want to try, but I don't want us to ever split as best friends. I've had you by my side for sixteen years and the last thing I'd want to do is mess that up."

"So let's do what you said. We can try," you shift closer to him, sitting with your legs in straddling position on the bed. Jonah's eyes glanced to your lips before the two of you leaned in. Your lips attached and you both moved closer to one another, your hands cupping either side of his neck as he has one arm around your waist and the other caressing your cheek.

"Just promise me one thing," you breathe, pulling away slightly. Jonah nods, his eyes not leaving yours. "No matter what happens, we will always be best friends, even if this all turns to crap in the end."

"It won't," he shakes his head. "It won't turn to crap."

"Just promise me," you beg.

Jonah looks at you with assurance before nodding. "I promise."

"Thank you," you sigh before leaning back in and connecting your lips once again.

---

Masterlist | Request Here

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otome-doll · 7 years ago

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Merry Christmas Rayheart!

@rayheart-wh surprise! It’s me your (not so secret anymore) Santa! Sorry it’s a little early, different time zones and stuff. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been following your blog for a while now and I absolutely love your art! It’s seriously amazing! So, I hope you enjoy this fanfic. Also, I know you like Klias so I added some cute brotherly love fluff angst idk bai. And Merry Christmas~!

“Uh oh” You muttered to yourself quietly, staring down at your test paper. “Remember,” You heard professor Schuyler’s stern voice from the front of the class room. “If you have failed the test, then you are staying at Gedonelune for the Christmas holidays” You cringed, not being able to take your eyes off of the looming ‘F’ on your test paper. All the consequences of not passing the test ran through your mind, making you gulp. Christmas…You were going to spend the Christmas holidays with your boyfriend and his brother at your village. But now… You felt your eyes sting, but refused to let the tears fall down. Just thinking about how disappointed your boyfriend and his brother would be when they found out. Not only had you let down the brothers who had helped you study, you also couldn’t spend Christmas together, which all three of you were looking forward to! “y/n….? Y/n…?!” You heard your name being called, realising that the bell for lunch had rung and most students had left. You looked around you to see that Elias was standing beside your desk. Just behind him was Klaus, marching straight towards you two. You quickly snatch up your test paper before either of the two could see the mark. “E-Elias! Klaus!” You stuttered, hugging the paper to your chest. “What did you get?” Elias asked. “What’s wrong bunnyhead?” Klaus demanded as he approached your desk. “W-Well…um..uh” You mumbled, looking down. “Show us” He then ordered. You decided to just get it over and done with and you passed Klaus the paper, bowing your head in an apologetic manner. “I’m so sorry you guys!” You cried. ‘I guess you’ll just have to have Christmas with your family like usual…” You trailed off, taking at glimpse at both of the brother’s expression. “Hey, bunnyhead…Who said we were spending Christmas with our family” Klaus finally said. “Huh?” You asked. Elias just sighed. “I guess, we’ll be spending the Christmas holidays helping you study” You looked in bewilderment at Klaus…and then Elias. It was final- Elias and Klaus would be spending Christmas with you at Gedonelune academy!

That afternoon, you rushed back to your dorm to inform your roommate about the events of the day. “I just can’t believe I failed!” You complained with a sigh to Amelia. “Oh well” She replied with her usual smile. “At least your boyfriend offered to stay with you! And his brother too! That means they both really care about you” She pointed out. “Plus, you can still do cute coupley things together, right?” You smiled. “Yeah that’s right! You cheered. “And you’ve got them both perfect presents!” You nodded enthusiastically, glancing at your draw in which you had hidden both the brother’s presents in.

Christmas Eve “Elias….! Klaus!” You barged through the door to your dorm, finding the two already there, sitting on the couch. “You’re late” Elias called. You couldn’t help but giggle at his Tsundere nature. “S-Sorry” You panted, closing the door behind you. “I had to wrap your presents!” You began to walk up to the boys on the couch, clutching two gifts, one wrapped in bold dark blue and one in a soft yellow. You collapsed onto the space in between the brothers that they had left for you. “What’s in this, bunnyhead?” Klaus smirked, trying to make a grab at the present that was obviously for him. You had to move your arm out of his reach. “Hey! You can’t have it yet! Wait until morning” You stated. “Well, put it under the tree then” Elias said. “Okay then, I will” You answered, rolling your eyes as you got up, searching for the small Christmas tree that you had put on a table. But that’s went you finally noticed the huge, not to mention real Christmas tree in the corner of the room. “EHHHHH?!” You could hear Klaus chuckling from behind you. “Took you long enough to notice” Elias said, averting his gaze. You walked up to the tall, undecorated Christmas tree that sat in the corner. You noticed that it already had two presents under it. Both were wrapped neatly in a soft (f/c). The wrapping skills nearly put yours to shame. But it was the thought that counted, right? You placed the presents under the tree before returning to the brothers. “Do you guys want to decorate the tree now?” You asked. “Okay” Elias smiled softly and you grinned. The three of you took out a large box filled with many large glass ornaments in all different colours and styles and began decorating the tree. You watched as Elias brought out his wand, pointing it at the box. “What are you doing!” You demanded quickly. “What does it look like? I’m trying to decorate the tree” He replied as though it was obvious. “You can’t do that!” You argued. “Why not?” Came Klaus. “It’s quicker and easier” You turned to Klaus who had his wand out as well. “I-It’s just not the same as doing it by hand…Because…It just feels more special that way…So put your wands away cause we’re not using magic” You scolded both of the boys who sighed at you. “Fine…” Elias exhaled. You put your hands on your hips triumphantly. That’s right! This time the three of you began to place the ornaments on the tree. You left the top for Elias and Klaus and focused more on the branches that you could actually reach. The tree was so massive that it took nearly an hour to finish putting all the decorations on. You glanced out the window and noticed that it was now dark. Glancing into the box that the ornaments had come from, you noticed the star. “Who’s going to do it?” Klaus asked, and the three of you looked around at each other. “I think one of you two should do it” You state. You watched as Klaus’s gaze immediately wandered to Elias. “Would you like to do it, little brother?” Klaus asked. Elias just looked away, blushing slightly. “I-I mean…fine” Elias stuttered, earning a giggle from you and a chuckle from Klaus. Klaus used his wand to make a small step ladder appear so that Elias would be able to reach the very top branch. “Be careful Elias!” You called, a hint of distress portrayed in your voice. “Don’t worry (Y/n), I’ll be fine” He said with a confident smile. You watched Elias carefully climb the step ladder, gingerly reaching his arm up to the very top of the tree. He went on his tip toes and you held your breath, waiting in anticipation. Elias’s eyes squinted in determination and finally you could stop holding our breath. He had placed the star on the tree. “Alright, good job Elias. Now come down” Klaus told him. “Yeah” was all Elias replied, and he went to get down. But that’s when everything went wrong. Time seemed to stand still as you watched in horror. The ladder suddenly wobbled and Elias’s eyes went wide with shock as he slipped. Before you had a chance to do anything, suddenly Klaus launched over to him, sweeping his brother’s falling body into strong, confident arms. “Elias! Be more careful!” Klaus’s voice was nearly a shout. You watched as Elias became extremely flustered, blushing bright red as he turned his head and looked away. “I-I’m sorry…” Was all Elias managed to get out. Klaus reluctantly let his brother out of a protective grip, setting him on the ground.

“…Well, at least the star’s up!” You smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Yeah…” Elias muttered. Uh oh…The room was now filled with awkward tension! But luckily you were a smart cookie and could fix it, quick! “H-Hey, I made some mince pies for everyone! Why don’t we have some” You interject quickly. Both of the boy’s faces seemed to light up. You rushed over to your desk, pulling out a small container and returning to the two. Klaus plucked a small mince pie out of the container and grinned at you. “Thanks, bunnyhead” He plopped his hand on your head, patting it gently. You felt yourself go a little red so you just turned and offered one to Elias. “Hey bunnyhead, don’t turn your attention away from me” Klaus grinned. “K-Klaus!” You stutter out. Why was he such a tease! You ducked out of his head pat and shoved the container in Elias’s face. He muttered out a polite thank you as he picked one up. You took one for yourself, putting the container away before the three of you returned to your positions on the couch. You and Elias watched in bewilderment as Klaus devoured your cooking, not a trace left in sight. You and Elias just smiled at Klaus’s enthusiasm, quickly finishing yours after him. “Y/n…You have some crumbs on your face” Elias called. “Huh?” You say quickly, bringing the palm of your hand to your mouth and wiping it. “Still there” You grunted in frustration, vigorously rubbing around your mouth. You watched Elias let out a sigh, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket…and pulling it right up to your face! A-Ah! You began to blush intensely as Elias gently dabbed at the side of your mouth, before pulling away. Elias’s eyes widened slightly as if only realising what he and just done and he averted his gaze, cheeks glowing red. But it only made you and Klaus laugh together. The rest of the night was filled with fun, laughter and happiness. Eventually, you fell asleep, cuddling up to your boyfriend, his brother on the other side. As the three of you slept soundly, sleigh bells could be heard throughout the night.

#whsecretsanta

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nightblink · 7 years ago

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Blink Reads Oathbringer - Chapters 58-63

In which I stare Branderson straight in the eye as I crank up the volume on Paleblood Moon.

I know you play this game. I see what you’re doing here.

Part Three – Defying Truth, Love Truth

[squints] I'm not sure how I feel about this Part title. That fashion folio picture on the back page though! EXCELLENT YES GIVE US MORE

Chapter Fifty-Eight – Burdens

Oh niiiiiice, we're getting transcriptions of the information crystals left in the drawers in the Urithiru library! Definitely a good type of chapter-header.

How high up is Urithiru, if even without clouds below they can't see the ground from the cliffs?

Dalinar, you're only mid-fifty-something, and you still have a tight butt. You're not that old.

Probably good to put a pause on vision-walking while you don't know how much Odium can affect them. One time alone was nearly enough to give you (and the readers) a heart attack.

Uniform design note - “right leg pocket” and it has buttons

Good, they're figuring out how to use their Fast Travel at decreased Stormlight cost; that'll definitely help with resource allocation. And they're finally going to Thaylenah!

...wait what. Kaladin is l a n d e d now, wHAT

(that land is in Sebarial's princedom, Dalinar, did you get permission form him to give that away) (...oh. part of the Crownlands, all right. fair.)

Time/event note – 'Midpeace', which is obviously the low-flow season when all the intermittent and ephemeral streams go dry, possibly the halfway mark of the year from Lightday

Kaladin, you adopt practically everyone you come across who needs it. This is just the logical extension at this point.

You'll move your family if they agree to it. Lirin might have some objections.

The Fused advance is originating from the south, likely close to the Shattered Plains since that's where the changed Listeners would have begun from. Good to know.

….why do I feel like this delay of you becoming Highking is going to have Bad Consequences.

Oooh, shit, Thaylen City is basically avalanching down upon itself from the exposure to the Everstorm. And on top of that, what must have been nearly a tsunami wiped out the docks as the Everstorm hurtled across the sea.

(Culture note – Queen of Thaylenah has a Prince Consort and not a king.)

It's just one more reason that Queen Fen didn't want the Alethi coming through – there's no real way to defend themselves at this point. It's practically all in ruins.

Chapter Fifty-Nine – Bondsmith

[gasps at the chapter title and does a screeching circuit of the room] Okay I'm good

...maybe. A Dustbringer entry this time, one of a woman who wishes to leave memory of her family. Aaaaaahhhhhh-

[cackles] You're bored, Dalinar. You just want to move on and get to the point of the visit, admit it. Keep calling him out on it, Navani.

“I am a diplomat.” Not yet, not really, Dal, but you're trying. You're trying very hard and with great honesty, you're just not used to it yet. Practice. You still need diplomatic experience, in whatever form you can get.

[screeches and rolls at the reinforcement of trust he shows in taking her hands. plural. both of them.]

Huh. So the Everstorm can have rain, or ash and embers, all sorts of variation. Good to know it's intentional and not an inconsistency on Sanderson's part.

Ah. They're using the temples as makeshift hospitals. Perhaps you can offer to send Renarin through to do what he can, Dalinar? It'd be good experience, if nothi-

Goddamn it Taravangian. As generous an offer as that is, I don't think I trust your surgeons. There's bound to be at least a few or more of the Diagram among them.

Taravangian's already written these people and this place off as Unnecessary. He just wants the Death Rattles.

Ehhhhh, letting you come here relatively alone is one thing, but letting Alethi armies come through the Oathgate? Even if she starts believing that you really want to help, I doubt that's going to happen anytime soon, Dalinar.

The throne of Thaylenah isn't hereditary, but they still call their leader 'Queen'. Do they run as a monarchy even? Interesting. We need information on how the Thaylens choose their leader(s).

OH and then we get a bit of the answer right there. Council-elected.

“Does it involve punching someone?” YES. IT DOES. OF COURSE IT DOES. EXCELLENT. PERCUSSIVE DIPLOMACY.

Ooo, that triggered something – something buried deep. Was it what broke you, that memory?

[CACKLES] Just let your emotions reach your expression, Dalinar. Even Navani thinks it'll work.

'Dalinar, instead, decided to pick a fight.' Well, that is the thing that Kholins are best at. Show 'em how it's done, Dal.

Oh my god. Dalinar. Dalinar. You're just. (SNUG UNDERSHIRT I'M DYING)

This is almost as much Drama as Jasnah

You're just going to go out there unarmed? Huh. Okay, okay, you're skilled enough that I can see you lasting the three minutes, probably disarming him at some point in the process.

He's here to make treaty with you and your people, not accuse people of assassination in a fight (that he set up). Besides, he's a Radiant with Stormlight. You're not winning this, kid.

Oop, ooop, lots of dodging, this is another part where it's very plain to see that Sando plays Dark Souls and Bloodborne

Dalinar. Dalinar what are you planning, why are you just standing there at the end of the time-

WHAT

HOLY FUCKING SHIT, DALINAR. I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE A SHOW, BUT. DUDE. SERIOUSLY.

TALK ABOUT KHOLIN EXTRA™

And you're just. Going to go on and compliment him on his form as you take his hand and shove the sword further in. Casually standing there. No big deal. Just Kholin-ing your way through the scene.

Well. You've convinced them that you're a Radiant. That much is completely indisputable. I'm just not sure that you've convinced them of much else. And that's why you're disappointed in yourself, isn't it? You're thinking it yourself – other than the Stormlight healing, this sort of display is something you've done many times over. So. What do do next? What can you do?

!!!! And… you're hearing the spren of the Temple? Oh oh oh are we going to get to see you Surgebind-

Yes. Along with imbuing yourself with so much stormlight that you're lifting boulders, and I'm not sure that that's part of a Surge – you're just enhancing your strength that much, probably halfway to Plate-strength. H e r ald s.

Bondsmith.

[gasps] Are you sending for Renarin for his healing, please tell me that you are.

….and look at that, you're still going around shirtless. Fen's son seems to be in a state of confused but productive awe, though. Heh.

YOU DID BRING RENARIN TO HEAL. YESGOOD, TRUST HIM WITH RESPONSIBILITY

!!!! And you're somehow getting a sense of another language through your unique Bondsmith power? Oh man, you're basically going to be able to forge Connection once you get used to this, aren't you? Oh that is too cool.

'Renarin kept blaming the healings on him.' Renariiiiiiin, that's… you need to be able to accept the thanks for what you yourself have done. This is your power, something good, and even with no negative connotations like that carried by foresight! (…..[insert Midoriya vs Todoroki “it's YOUR power!” shout here]) What's holding you back in this instance? I… worry about you; this doesn't seem to be the same sort of reluctance that you discussed with Rock.

Culture note, Alethi military saying - “Shardbearers can't hold ground.”

Yessss, good on you admitting (aloud! And to another, independent ruler!) that you need different perspectives, that the world needs them. And then you even go for her advice, even 'unsavory' advice, with “Try me. I'm starting to appreciate that the way I usually do things has severe limitations.”

You're much changed from the man you once were.

Chapter Sixty – Winds and Oaths

….that foreword does not bode well.

!!!! STRIKE TEAM TO KHOLINAR, GO

Okay, so nine total, not a bad size since their infiltration is for an entire city. The 'maidservant' though, I wonder… is that Ishnah. Did Shallan bring Ishnah along. Ishnah doesn't know that Shallan is Veil, though. Hmmmm.

Kaladin: “how does she achieve such heedless joy?” Shallan: [suppresses all Bad Feeling so hard that they start leaking out in Multiple Personalities]

Really, though, he's idolizing her for her coping mechanisms, not her for herself, which is Not Good. I feel like Sanderson knows this, but I'll bet that this rising dread within signals the start of a Love Triangle Plot (which I hate. if you're going to do this, Sanderson, get it over with quickly and decisively, please.)

I'm snorting with laughter at Adolin, though. It doesn't seem like he's afraid of the height like Dalinar was; rather, he's too used to being in control of his own motion and is trying to correct this even though he can't. I get it, man, it happened to me the first time I went skydiving, too.

[screeches delightedly over the growing empathy/telepathy evidence we're getting from the Nahel bond]

[drags hands down face] SYL please understand that your human is demi and does not need to get laid to be happy, and let him choose any romantic entanglements he wishes for himself. If he starts actually getting to know Shallan rather than idealizing her, that's one thing, but shoving him towards her? Especially right now? I love you dear but you are not helping in this regard.

Bless Sigzil for trying his best to quantify Kaladin's Surges so the rest of us have some idea of what's going on

([snorts] Team OT3 stopping to wisecrack at each other in midair is a lovely scene, though. Adolin self-deprecating to lighten the mood, Kaladin snarking, and Shallan going on a tangent with a punchline.)

Huh. Amazingly enough, it looks like Kholinar isn't under occupation yet, even if it is under threat of such. I'd've thought they would've launched the attack by this point.

[whoops and punches the air] Kholinar does have the colouring of the Zhangye Danxia, I was right, headcanon CONFIRMED g o d that must be utterly gorgeous with the windblades

...but of course there's a marring darkness. Odium-influence of some sort, even if the Voidbringers haven't punched through yet.

Oh, Kaladin.

[winces] Kaladin makes a very good (silent) point about Elhokar not appearing to care about his wife and son – he didn't even refer to them by name right then, and we never heard him mention them himself back in the other two books. It could be many things – an aftereffect of Gavilar's tendency to apparently ignore his own wife and probably his kids as well, I'd bet, though there is also the possibility that it was a political marriage alone and Elhokar just never came to care for his wife (and maybe even his son, when there's a good chance that he's barely even seen the kid while he's playing the war-king).

Ouch. Trying to sound decisive but then trailing off. It's good that he looks to others for their opinion, but the way he does it doesn't inspire confidence. The way Adolin automatically responds – measured and strategic without appearing to override Elhokar's authority – makes me think that this is the way it's always been. Elhokar recovers, bolstered by the given advice, but still.

Chapter Sixty-One – Nightmare Made Manifest

...well that's an inspiring chapter title. We do get a map of Kholinar, though, for which I am thankful.

The chapter quote is from a very snappish Skybreaker, but doesn't reveal much, alas.

The Fused, at the very least, aren’t afraid of unarmed, untrained humans (and why would they be?) so they see letting the refugees go into the city not as giving the enemy possible soldiers, but overwhelming their supplies and space and weakening their ability to hold a siege. Smart, really. Kaladin’s not picking up on it; the Kholins might.

Shallan’s been making damn good use of her practicing. All night is a long time to hold a single illusion, especially using only little light.

Hah – Elhokar definitely didn’t go through the army training that Adolin did, and Shallan hasn’t really had to sleep without shelter save for one night after the shipwreck. The bridgemen, of course, handle a little weathering like it’s nothing.

Oop, yeah, there it is, Adolin understands the Fused’s strategy there.

I am really worried about what might be in the Palace complex. All in shadow? Shallan’s sketch of it warped and twisted? If it’s another one of the Unmade…? The Midnight Mother was bad enough, I worry that in an urban area Branderson’s going to pull something full Bloodborne on us.

Elhokar is doing so much better than he was in the past. Giving him a goal and responsibility that he can work with that a) doesn’t require him to make public/crowd, social decisions and b) he can bounce ideas and opinions off of his crush and his cousin without feeling like they’re going to undermine him.

You can still pretty much see the bridgemen rolling their eyes in the background as he’s speaking, though.

YES YES ILLUSION TIME

I need a description of what Kaladin looks like, stat, because Adolin gleefuly calling the illusion “wretched” does not suffice, even more so when Drehy winces.

[CACKLING OVER ADOLIN’S ILLUSION THOUGH] “Oh, now that’s unfair.” “If I stretch a lie too far, people are more likely to be suspicious.” B l e s s. I can only imagine what poor Kaladin's wearing if that's what you're going with.

That line/excuse on Shallan’s part makes it even more interesting that she Lightweaves Elhokar into a woman, even with the explanation she gives. And he is immediately, perfectly fine with it. Huh. Interesting. Could be just distracted, though; he’s definitely focused and raring to go.

PFFFFFT, even Syl- Shallan what did you weave for him

Not ‘dignified’? Syl, you can totally be a mirror, come on. Wyndle made an excellent, elegant Shardfork, after all.

Elhokar, your crush is showing.

Yeaaaaah, Elhokar is cracked right through, Kal, and if the cryptics he’d seen in the mirror all the way back in TWoK was any indication… Well. At least you’re starting to see it now.

Elhokar, don’t go all fatalistic on us like this, or you might make us think it’s foreshadowing. [side-eyes Sanderson] Also, once again you say “my wife and child” without using their names; it makes you sound very… detached from them.

It’s the arrogance, Kaladin – it’s a Kholin fault for all of them save Renarin and you know it.

‘Stormblessed’ is the mask you made for yourself, even if other people gave it a name. Also mention of Tarah who we still know pretty much nothing about. That needs to change, and hopefully within this book.

‘Those strata remind me of the tunnels in Urithiru.’ In colouration? Layering? How? Sanderson plz elaborate on your geology for me.

H e r alds but Kaladin's illusion-face must be awful.

Yeaaaah, what with the situation both inside the walls and especially at the palace in severe question and no information on what's currently going on, they'll need a base of operations. This is not likely to go quickly or smoothly, and if there is an Unmade there…. oof. I wonder what kind of place Adolin's talking about though? It would be brilliant if we could meet some of his old friends – actual friends, not cordial-political friends like Jakamav and the like used to be.

Aaaaand there goes Kaladin with the needing to feel things to understand them. He needs that emotional tie to really get something.

BOYS. BOYS BEING NERDS AND SHARING SMILES. I am so glad that you two grew so believably into actual friends – from that day all the way back in Sadeas' warcamp to now, it's been a journey.

Uh oh, has the city reached capacity for the refugees it can support, or are they worried about taxing their supplies with an army on their doorstep (like the Fused planned/hoped)?

Oh goddamn it Elhokar they told you all to stay back. If nothing else, the imperious manner and demands might get them answers though (or kicked out entirely. That's also an option.)

….'Azure' does not sound like an Alethi name. It's also a colour. Do I sense a Nalthian woroldhopper…? But then how would they have made it to the rank of Highmarshal, especially since Elhokar's apparently never heard of them? I'm suspicious.

“The highmarshal has no commander.” EVEN MORE SUSPICION, AND WORSE

Look Elhokar I'm sorry but from what we've seen Aesudan is not the most competent of Queens, and it's entirely possible that the city just defaulted to martial law by this point

Weeeeeell, shit. Is this the start of the full assault, or just a harrying force?

Oh, Kaladin. You want to follow that binding urge to protect, but that's not what you're here for. Mm, thankfully, Adolin's already assessed the situation and is managing to get through to you.

There's that saying again, the second time from a Kholin - “Shardbearers can't hold ground.”

The city is stuffed to capacity. The Fused's strategy of herding the humans here to overwhelm the defenders looks to be working.

Yeah – Kaladin may have a good grasp of small-unit tactics, but overall strategy not so much. Nice to have that saying explained out, though, confirming what I thought it meant.

….is that performer basically wearing a bastardized Mistcloak

Behaviour out of the normal, and spren out of the normal too? Affected by Odium? I'm starting to wonder if I wasn't far off in thinking Branderson'd go for a touch of Bloodborne…

Oh my god, Shallan, you made him look memorably hideous. [CACKLES] Well, you're right in saying that people will remember something entirely different from how he actually looks.

“We'd need to stay with someone I'd trust with my life, or more. ”

Adolin.

Adolin please

(please help me I love this dumb, brilliant, vain man so much)

(so much)

Chapter Sixty-Two – Research

A Skybreaker at the beginning of the chapter does not fancy the idea of giving up Urithiru, but there's still no mention of why they abandoned it in the first place.

…Shallan, I know it’s for research, but can you try to attract something other than painspren. How about creationspren instead, that seems to happen around you often enough. And please, please don’t ask Adolin to do it for you, he’d probably recoil in horror at the thought.

Finally getting information on the riots! GOOD, the cliffhanger with the ardent and Aesudan was not comforting in the least.

What is comforting is, apparently, Adolin. I need more info and backstory about him and Yokska, because he feels very familiar with her, waaay beyond just an artisan-customer relationship, even though fashion is one of his Interests. We’ve seen before that he doesn’t trust his life and that of others to someone easily.

Speaking of fashion, examples of civilian fancywear, yesgood. The design seems very early-19th century English or French, which makes sense when Sanderson’s said the military ones are similar to Napoleonic ones.

[winces] Aesudan essentially provides that match for the flames of the riots, then disappears. That doesn’t bode well for her possible survival.

….Elhokar, referring to the probable-Unmade in the palace as ‘the dark spren’ without the person you’re talking to having any context isn’t exactly going to instill confidence – it just makes you sound possibly unhinged and definitely in denial.

SHALLAN, NO

Fucking hell, don’t do that, stormlight healing or no! Listen to Pattern. Effective it may be, but that’s a bad idea

….and the painspren that come to her are basically zombified versions. With claws. Lovely. That’s not good. Unmade influence, or that of Odium directly, it has to be.

Kaladin’s getting more used to being called ‘brightlord’. Not even a twitch.

Ooop, the shadow appeared after the first Pass of the Everstorm. Hmmm.

So the Royal Guard and the Watch are both AWOL – possibly dead, possibly insane, who knows with this different Unmade? Either way, no wonder the wall-guard are listening to this Azure person over anyone else. Their chain of command was thrown into chaos.

I wonder where Aesudan came to the knowledge that the Parshmen were/are Voidbringers. This was after Kholinar lost contact with the rest of the world, and Jasnah didn’t mention anything, so that information must have come from somewhere else.

Huh. Not all of the spren in Kholinar are affected by whatever it is that’s happening to them. It’s not a blanket, immediate AoE, though it could be corruption over time.

Shallan is going to give me some terrible secondhand embarrassment here, I know it.

L o r d

I was right. 'Mortifying' is definitely the correct word for that.

….the highmarshal 'appeared'. Oh, that's not suspicious at all. My money's definitely on Azure being a Nalthian worldhopper at this point, high Alethi rank or no.

So the parade wasn't just a parade, but part of a cult showing and/or ritual – the 'Cult of Moments'. And people might be having scattered visions, or might just be interpreting the changing spren as a sign.

Cultural Note: Alethi addresses for royalty at least follow the English 'your Majesty' → 'your Highness' pattern. Unknown as to others, though I might have missed a 'your Grace' at some point.

Holy shit. No wonder they couldn't call into or out of the city via spanreed, if the voidspren and Fused react to their mere activation like that.

Thank you for your support of Yokska, Shallan. She definitely needed that, and Adolin was apparently too focused to notice (he does have a tendency to tunnel-vision) though he did immediately react.

YES PLEASE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AZURE AND THE WALL GUARD

Haaaaahahahaha Kaladin knows you did that on purpose omg

Elhokar is actimg more like the king he is now that he's not under the accidental crush of Dalinar casually steamrolling his way into power. Between his social anxiety and getting shoved out of the way in major decision-making, it was easy to misjudge said decision-making skills. (Not that his paranoia helped.)

Ooof. You may be the only one that directly faced an Unmade, Shallan, but still. Please, please skedaddle rather than face an Unmade without backup.

...also you don't want people to know about your Personality Problem. Kaladin's observant enough that he'd probably pick up on how Veil even thinks differently, though he'd already expect a disguise to act in a different manner.

HAH IT IS ISHNAH SHE BROUGHT AS A 'HANDMAIDEN'. Oh man, I wonder how Veil explained that 'their Brightlady' wanted to bring her along on this mission. That skyeel's out of the bag now, though.

And you're casually jumping out of windows now, I see. Well then.

Chapter Sixty-Three – Within the Mirror

ANOTHER MENTION OF AKINAH IN AIMIA, and this time by a Willshaper! Interesting. The mention of maps just makes me sob over Eshonai and my (now reluctantly abandoned) theory that she'd make a good Willshaper.

It's likely the trapped spren that power the fabrials somehow drawing the voidspren when they activate, so yeah, Surges wouldn't grab their attention in the same way.

Huh. Veil automatically thinks of Kaladin as 'the bridgeboy'. That's…. hmm. Adolin and Kaladin have become close enough that those nicknames they use don't feel derogatory anymore, but when Veil uses it it still feels… Not Good.

[winces] Looks like even proximity to the palace complex is having an adverse effect on those nearby, if the guards in the city manses are anything to go by. How close does the area of effect extend, I wonder…?

'She left the park as Veil playing a part. … She was still Veil. Merely in disguise.” Every chapter we get with Shallan fading to the back of her own mind, the other personalities seem to grow more… solid.

The cultists are putting a sort of guard on the Oathgate? Or are they basically doing so for the palace entire? If the Unmade has a hand in the whole spren-cult, then they're much more dangerous than any of the Strike Team first assumed. Considering that there's screams coming from the direction of a fire on the platform they guard? I wouldn't put it past them to be burning “prayers” in the form of people.

[winces again] Shallan. Bringing up the Boots Incident is not the way to endear yourself to Kaladin – quite the opposite, in fact.

…really, Veil? Really? You're eyeing up Kaladin during a mission? Not that he isn't Canonically Gorgeous, but I'm rolling with laughter here over 'dangerous eyes'. She's seeing the stone shell and nothing of the marshmallow insides. (And you think Adolin is bland? H e r alds, Veil, for all your powers of observation, they seem remarkably restrained to the superficial.) Also, Kaladin glaring at you? Not a good reaction. That's reminding me of the satisfaction you felt at the resolution of the Boots Scene, as opposed to his takeway from that same scene of 'Lighteyes take what they want from people without care or consideration.'

Ooo, shit, the Unmade-spren might have some sort of reality-warping influence, or at least some way to twist anything visual.

Veil is absolutely as foolhardy as Shallan, you're just deluding yourself.

WELL THEN. So much for not killing the messenger?

Are the guards inside all being mind-controlled? Or are they dead and reanimated? I wouldn't put it past Odium to zombify people. And what was that figure in the mirror, white-eyed and surprised? A spren, a human?

She's getting better all the time at her infiltration and distraction skills, but her coping mechanisms just keep bottling emotions and reality away deeper and deeper. Sooner or later, this is going to explode, and it's going to be messy.

The pun duo strikes again.

#blink reads oathbringer #oathbringer spoilers #I didn't think there was going to be a reason why I occasionally wrote SA well to this song #WELP #ABOUT THAT

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inuykago · 8 years ago

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Her Wingman, Part 2

*LONG POST WARNING Apologies for the long post but I am itching to post this already and I'm not near a laptop so T-T anyways, because I saw @brokenangelwings83's tags to continue this and I thought WHY NOT XD Enjoy 😜💕 @hireikotsu @kags09 @kaze-ranna @justafewsmallsteps @inunanna @rikareena @missuprealeaaa @keichanz + anyone else I forgot 😅 ___________________________________________________ The boy woke up the next morning feeling defeated. Images of the one he, unknowingly, held so dear to his heart kept on popping up one after another, after another, after another. His mind couldn't seem to get over the way her luscious hair was finally out of the way of her face, revealing the true natural beauty it had been trying to hide. His hands yearned to feel the way her body would feel against his; the silk of her jumper soothing his own skin. His eyes didn't have the guts to rip its glare from the radiant smile that emerged from her face when she saw him, and he saw her. But it was nothing. And so he said to himself, “This means nothing.” He suddenly felt a vibration beneath him. The bed shook harder after each pause. He tossed and turned, throwing his blankets and pillows in every-which-direction in order to find the thing that was driving him mad. Finally, after all the sheets, blankets, and pillows were ripped off the bed, he rubbed his eyes to see if that whole hassle was even worth it. And it was. “WAAAAKKKEEEEEE UUUPPP SLEEPYHEAD!!!” Kagome shouted in a sing-songy tone. Inuyasha shot a glare at his alarm clock, - 7:35 AM - he grumbled and rubbed his hand across his face, “G-Gomes… what the hell…. Woman… it's 7 in the morning…” The girl’s giggle echoed through the phone, sending chills down his spine. “Silly! We’re going shopping! Remember?!” She was so upbeat and excited; Inuyasha loved the girl but at this moment he really wanted to glue his hand to her mouth. “Gomes… The malls aren't even open yet…,” he spoke as he threw his head into the crest of the bed. “Wait a minute,” he shot up. “Please don't say-” “ROAD TRIP!!!!” Kagome squealed ecstatically. Inuyasha could basically feel her smiling so big through the phone. Inuyasha fell face forward to the other end of the bed, “But… Goooommmmeeeessss…” He exaggerated, “The sun isn't even up yet…” “Open your eyes, bud” The sun was up all right. Kagome giggled again, her laughter choppy through the call, “Have you never been up this early?” “Gomes, it’s Saturday. Saturday morning,” his sleepiness slowly fading. “I don't move until one o’clock in the afternoon.” “LAME,” she teased the boy. “My house in fifteen!” He stared at the ceiling after being left with the end tone. He laid there frozen both because: he was half-asleep and his heart was pounding, practically, out of his chest. Realizing what his body was doing - or feeling - he attempted to aggressively shake away his emotions. “We’re just friends,” he assured himself. “She's just my best friend.” ________________________________________ The sun was bright and there was not a cloud in the sky. The wind was moving so swiftly between the trees and its leaves. The flowers’ aromas engulfing the air. Inuyasha slammed his car door behind him, as he bent down to check his hair in the side mirror; tightening his ponytail and fixing the hair that was left. He silenced his mind as he made his way up the many - many - steps that led up to the Higurashi household. As soon as he stood before the door, hand in a fist, ready to knock - it was already opened. “INU-NO-ONIICHAN!!!” Sota screamed as he threw himself on the guest. “O-Oi! H-Hey, kiddo!” Inuyasha awkwardly patting his head. “How did you-” “Neechan told us you were coming over!” The boy grabbed Inuyasha’s hand. “Come in and join us for breakfast!!!” Inuyasha, following in the direction of his pull, was ready to make his escape before inhaling the smell of food that made his mouth water. “Inuyasha!!!” Kagome’s mother rejoiced. “Come in, come in please!” Her huge grin made it impossible for him to refuse. “Sure thing Mrs. Higuras-” “NO TIME FOR THAT” Kagome screeched as she snatched Inuyasha from his chair, zooming out of the kitchen within 0.5 seconds. “WE’LL BE HOME LATER FOR DINNER, MAMA!” Kagome was running at the speed of light; her grip so tight on Inuyasha’s hand, was making him feel like he was going to learn how to drive one-handed today. “First you wake me up at the crack of dawn and now you're making me run?!” He sarcastically yelled. “Woman, are you trying to kill me???” “Stop getting your panties in a bunch!” They stopped in front of the car. “It's already 8 o’clock. The outlet mall is an hour and a half away, but you know with our luck - or your luck - we’re gonna get caught in traffic.” Inuyasha nodded his head in agreement, “Alright… Fine…,” he grabbed her face. “You better not fall asleep!!!” She placed a hand on her chest and awkwardly opened her mouth, “Wha-” “You always fall asleep in traffic and I did NOT roll out of bed for you to sit in traffic and have a conversation with my radio,” the boy explained crossing his arms, pretending that he was truly pissed off. Kagome snickered, raising her hand up to her forehead, “Sir yes sir!” But she still fell asleep. ________________________________________ After a two and a half hour drive alone with his radio, the two finally reached the outlet. Inuyasha turned off the car and pulled up the hand brake. As he unbuckled his seat belt, ready to wake up Kagome, he paused. She looked so peaceful. Her hair was in a messy bun, and her mouth was slightly curved. Her head rested lazily on her arms against the window, which she tried to substitute as a pillow. As he took in all her breathtaking features, she began to move. “Rise and shine, princess,” he softly breathed with only minimal sarcasm. She stretched her arms - nearing punching him in the face - and rubbed her eyes, “E...eh?” The sentence ending with a yawn. “OOOOOHH, WE’RE HERE!!” “W-Wha… How are you s-” “NO TIME FOR THAT” Kagome shouted yet again, unbuckling herself, practically pulling Inuyasha out the car with her. ________________________________________ It had just turned 10 o’clock in the morning and the outlet mall was already packed. Herds of people were already walking in and out of stores, four to five shopping bags already at their grip. Inuyasha tried to keep up with Kagome, but she was constantly drowning in the sea of people. He peaked over the rippling tides of the crowd, keeping his eye on the girl; her gaze meeting his repeatedly. “Why'd we have to come all the way over here?!” He shouted to the girl as he bumped into another person. “The malls near us have the latest trends, and honestly, a great variety of colors,” his patience was running low, but he took a deep breath to try to hold it in. “BECAUSE,” she exclaimed, grabbing his arm and pulling him into a store. “THIS IS THE BEST STORE WITH THE BEST SALES!!” Kagome jumped up in excitement as she sped her way through the store. There were clothes that were 10% off, 20% off, 50% off and others that were $10, $5, hell even, $3. She was right; this place was fashion heaven. Inuyasha made his laps around the store within fifteen minutes. His hands occupied by piles of new shirts, jeans, and jackets. He expected his friend to be done - with probably double the amount of clothes - but when he found her in the $5 section, he found himself proven wrong. “Ah! Inuyasha!” She spun around and held the shirt to her chest. “What do you think of this?!” Inuyasha scratched his head, nearly dropping all his clothes, “Ehhhhh. Not your color.” She held it up to herself again and peeked at the mirror, “Yeah, you're right. I'm not much of a yellow girl.” But then she picked up the blouse again, “Butttt…. Hojo-kun’s favorite color is yellow so maybe-” “Gomes, no,” the boy repeated, shaking his head rapidly. He settled his clothes down a table before disappearing for about two seconds. He returned with a periwinkle blouse with lace designs on the collar, “Now, THIS,” he shook it around. “This is a shirt for you.” Kagome basically ripped the top out of his claws. She spun and leaped in satisfaction, holding it close to herself. “Thank you, best friend.” Inuyasha felt himself blush and forced his cheek the other way, “So uhhh, how was your date, Ms. Bigshot?” He forced a smile. “Oh, Inuyasha. It was great!!!” the boy practically heard her heart beating at an unhealthy pace. “He was so sweet, kind, and such a gentleman!” “Heh…. oh yeah?” He fiddled with his fingers, leaning on the pile of clothes he put down. “Yes!!” She flung herself close to his body. “And he asked me out on a SECOND date!!” “Ahhh…,” he cracked a smile and embraced her. “That's great, Gomes. You deserve it.” Her grin was so huge that it reached up to her eyes. She felt so warm in the boy’s hold. He couldn't help but admire her in this moment. “And it's thanks to you!!!” Kagome wrapped her arms around him, dropping the three shirts and two pairs of jeans she had chosen. “Wh-what?” Inuyasha stammered. “But all I did was help choose your outfit…” “AND, that's what gave me so much confidence! By doing that, you showed me how much you care for me and support me,” she nuzzled his chest and gripped him tighter. “And that you've got a helluva sense for fashion! I didn't know you had it in ya, chief.” Inuyasha giggled at the girl’s silly remark, “What can I say…..Daddy’s got it.” Kagome then raised a brow and released herself from his embrace. “Yes… daddy does got it…,” she jolted from the boy before he could even come up with a thought. Minutes later, she came back with a girl. “Haaaaaaave you met Inu?” She nudged the girl forward, inching her closer to the boy. “Gomes, what are yo-” “This here is Janice,” Janice reaching out her hand. “And this, is my dear beloved best friend, Inuyasha. He's sweet, funny, caring, and just the most amazing person anyone could ask for,” he awkwardly met the stranger’s touch. “Gomes, I-” “Just look at him! Look at that sexy silver hair in a ponytail. Look at how he's able to match that black v-neck shirt with dark cuffed jeans and a black Nike windbreaker. And to top it off, look at those black and red…..something sneakers-” “They're Jordan Bred 4s,” he corrected. His patience running low again. “Kago-” “ANYWAYS,” Kagome winked at the boy. “I'll let you two kids get acquainted.” She then sneaked in a whisper, “BEST WINGWOMAN EVER.” As Kagome walked away, Inuyasha felt like both his head and his heart wanted to explode. He turned to face Janice and softly said, “I'm sorry,” before storming off behind his friend; his friend with whom he was completely and hopelessly in love with. He put a hand on her shoulder and she shuddered, unaware of who it was, “Ha… Thanks.. uhh, Gomes but uhh…,” her eyes screaming out confusion. “I'll just meet you back at the car.” ________________________________________ “Inuyasha! Wait!” the girl shouted from across the street. Inuyasha ignored her call-outs and refused to turn his head. She chased behind him, but constantly got held up by passing cars. “Damn, there is too many people here,” she sprinted past the cars and groups of people. Then, finally, she caught up with Inuyasha. But, he still didn't utter a word, nor bother to look at her. “Inuyasha!!!” he opened the car door. “What is the matter?!” she ripped open hers and hopped inside the vehicle. The boy didn't pay no mind, keeping an emotionless look on his face as he turned the engine over. And he kept up with this act for twenty minutes into the drive. Kagome just sat there; staring at him and trying to figure out what he was thinking. When she reached to touch him, he didn't flinch or make any kind of gesture. He just kept his eyes on the road, and his thoughts on his mind. Until- “Look,” he turned to glance at her. “Why did you do that? Back at the mall?” Kagome was happy to finally hear his voice, “I-I’m sorry… I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me!!” She offered a smile. “I didn't want you to do that,” he faced the road again. “I didn't need you to do that…” “What?” She placed a hand on him. “Why not?” “BECAUSE I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU” Kagome had no words. “I… I-I didn't realize it before… because of course you're just my best friend… but these last couple of days have shown me so much more of you…,” he stumbled over his words. “You're beautiful. Whether you're wearing a champagne ball gown dress with gold studded heels… or one of my oversized hoodies and gray sweatpants… you are breathtaking…” Inuyasha pounded on the brakes, nearly sending both himself and the girl flying out the window. However, he didn't do that out of frustration. It was because a long line of traffic was placed in front of them; a two-hour-long-looking line of traffic. “Great,” he angrily mumbled. “Inuyasha…. I… I didn-” “Don't sweat it,” he interjected. He stole another glance at the girl and noticed how wide her eyes were open. Her brown eyes piercing into his golden pair. He felt knives stab him in the chest and the throat, making it hard to breathe. He heard the sound of his heart begging to be released of this pain; he wondered if she could hear it too. “I don't…. I don't wanna talk about it,” he chuckled silently. He rubbed the back of his head with his right, and laid back more freely, staring out of the window. “Mmkay..” Kagome quietly murmured. She brought her legs up on the seat, and turned to face the opposite window; letting her body fall soundly to sleep. ________________________________________ After a two hour and fifteen minute drive filled with confusion, heartache, frustration, and a conversation with the radio, the two finally returned to the Higurashi household. As soon as they pulled in, Kagome was already awake. “Oh,” he retreated his arm. “You're already awake. Usually takes you awhile,” he uttered a laugh. “Heh… yeah. I couldn't sleep,” she looked up at the boy. His eyes were screaming confusion and his stomach was fighting butterflies. “Well,” he cleared his throat. “I'll walk you up.” ________________________________________ The sun hid behind the white puffy clouds. The cool breeze had slowed down its pace between the tree and its leave. The flowers’ aroma still faint in the air. “Kagome! Inuyasha!” Mama Higurashi shouted from the kitchen window. “Back so soon?” Inuyasha and Kagome blushed, and turned away. The two accidentally touching each other’s hands. They both embraced the touch, but Inuyasha hesitantly pulled away. “Uh-huh… be there in a second, mama!” she turned to face the boy, and her cheeks began to get warm again. “Inuyasha, come on, let's go in-” “Sorry, Gomes,” he awkwardly shuffled his feet. “I uhh… I gotta go.” He took a few steps before turning back around, the girl looking more upset and disappointed than ever. “I'll see you tomorrow,” he saluted the girl. “INUYASHA, WAIT” Kagome sprinted back to his side. She was breathing hard, and felt every bone in her body shaking. “G-Gomes….? Wh-what are y-you…?” Her body leaped into his. His arms immediately wrapping around her waist as the two shared their first kiss. It was gentle, yet passionate. The heat from their friction causing steam to erupt from their bodies. He held her face as she felt chills and steam travel throughout her fragile self. The two let themselves go, and lived in every nibble, bite, and lick. “I love you, Inuyasha,” she gently kissed his cheek. “You've always been more than just my wingman.”

#long post #long post for ts #aj writes fics #inukag fanfic #inukag ficlet #inuyasha x kagome #inuyasha x kagome fanfiction #inukag

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universitykpop · 8 years ago

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The Shop; Part 1

Genre: fluff, slight smut, mature themes

Member: Luhan (appearances by Xiumin, Chen, and Chanyeol)

Words: 2,237

A/N: I’m not sure if I like this... ehhhhh

prologue

Thinking there would be more of a fight for parking spots, you arrive to campus early. Since you have fifteen minutes to waste, you take your time walking to your class while looking at your phone. Usually you’re a pro at dodging people; it’s multitasking, right? Put it on the job apps.

But when you see a tweet about some celebrity fight, you’re too busy to notice the person carrying boxes and collide right into them. The top box falls and scatters test packets across the sidewalk. You immediately start apologizing and picking up as many tests as you can before you even catch a glance of the other person. Handing them over, you lock eyes with a familiar brown pair. Your jaw slightly hangs open as you stare at them.

“I know you from somewhere,” Luhan furrows his eyebrows as he examines your face, “Oh, you were at the shop the other day with your funny friend. You bought that-”

Your hand flies over his mouth before he can finish his sentence. Eyes wide, you’re surprised by what he was about to say and what you just did. You quickly remove your hand with a blush burning your cheeks.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t want you to say it out loud.” You look to the ground for comfort.

What you don’t expect is for him to chuckle. “No, I should be the one sorry. I forget other people aren’t as open about those kinds of things as me.”

“Yeah, um, anyways. Sorry for running into you. I have to go.” You end the conversation before you can say or do anything else embarrassing.

Rain falls in a steady drizzle as you fish through your backpack praying you left your emergency umbrella in there. Once you successfully find and open it, you begin your trek back to your car. It’s strange to be raining when the weather was so nice earlier. You hadn’t bothered to check the weather report that morning.

The wind starts to pick up from the speeding cars passing by. Campus police clearly aren’t out to stop these morons. One particularly fast car forces your umbrella to turn inside out. You try to jerk it back into place but it’s a lost cause, and you toss it in the closest trashcan.

Nearing the crosswalk to the parking lot, you glance both ways before stepping out. As you make it to the median, a car doesn’t yield, splashing water from a pothole all over you.

“Asshole!” You yell knowing they won’t hear it.

You attempt to take another step, but another car drives by only slowly and stops in front of you. The driver’s window rolls down revealing the handsome guy from that morning.

“Hey, do you want a ride?” Luhan asks as he inspects your drenched clothes.

“No, I’m fine. It’s not much further for me to walk.” You assure him with a fake smile.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Thank you though.” A crack of thunder jolts you out of your facade. “No, never mind.” You scamper into his little silver car.

He’s laughing when you sink into the passenger seat. He has the heat on, and it feels good on your shivering body.

“So where to?” Luhan peers over at you.

“Um, just to the parking lot over there.” You gesture out your window, and he begins to roll. “My car is at the back of the lot.”

He hums in response. There’s quiet music playing on his radio; you realize it’s one of your favorite songs from a few years ago, and a bashful smile spreads across your lips. This guy is just giving you more reasons to find him attractive.

“Hey, Y/N.” Your friend wanders into your room grinning at her phone. You hum in response, not taking your eyes off your computer screen.

“Do you remember that cute guy Minseok from our astronomy class last semester?” She asks as she plops next to you on your bed.

“Yeah, why?”

“He invited me to this little hang out at his apartment, and well, I don’t want to go alone.” She’s already sheepishly peering at you.

You sigh deeply and shift your gaze to her, “Only because I know you had been drooling over him from across the room.”

She immediately perks up and squashes you in a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Once you successfully push her off, she has a devious glint in her eyes. “His friends will be there too. Maybe you can find someone to replace your little toy.”

“Get out of here before I change my mind.” You glare at her as she giddily runs out of your room.

The worst thing about being the designated driver is being announced that you’re the designated driver. As soon as you and your friend were offered a drink, she had practically yelled it. Now Minseok and his friends are referring to you as “Mom.” It was cute at first, poking a little fun, but at this point, you’re convinced they just don’t remember your name.

Your friend is sat in your lap at the dining table playing a card game with a few of the guys and other girls. A guy named Jongdae sitting next to you is trying to include you in the conversation amongst the players, but it’s hard when your friend is blocking your view of who’s talking.

“You should meet Dad.” Jongdae says to you, starting a conversation with just you.

“Excuse me?” You look at him in confusion.

“He’s the other designated driver. I think he’s out on an alcohol run with Chanyeol, but he’s Minseok’s roommate. You two would probably like each other.” He smiles.

Just as you’re fixing to ask about ‘Dad,’ a round of cheers fly through the dining room. You hear Chanyeol’s name, several hello’s, and high fives. Your stomach tightens because you know what that means.

“Hey, Dad! Come meet Mom!” Jongdae yells, and someone enters from the hallway blocked out of your vision.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” A scarily familiar voice asks with a laugh.

Your friend suddenly stands up, revealing the owner of the voice. Luhan looks just as dumbfounded as you feel.

“Hey, Y/N, it’s that guy from the store.” Your friend shakes your shoulder.

“You two met at My Pleasures?” Jongdae rhetorically asks, and rest of the guys crack up.

You feel your face getting hot and your stomach churn. Luckily, Luhan notices your uneasiness and steps in.

“Jongdae, don’t make me tell them about what you made me buy for you.”

“Ah, Lu! You said you wouldn’t say anything!” Jongdae whined, his eyebrows knitting together.

With a grin, Luhan looks back to you, gesturing toward the kitchen, “Y/N, come help me with the beers.”

As you follow him, the table erupts with whoops behind you. An embarrassed flush falls down your face. Luhan opens the fridge and starts stacking bottles inside. You help him get two shelves full of alcohol in silence. It leaves you itching to start a conversation because you feel the awkwardness taking over your body. But before you can open your mouth, Luhan turns to you with a sheepish smile.

“I’m sorry they’re like that.” He says, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s okay. I’m used to embarrassment by now.” You shrug jokingly.

He shyly chuckles and looks down at his feet, “Um, do you want to go get food or something? They won’t notice we’re gone, and I’m starving.”

You glance at your friend, who’s now cozying up to Minseok. She’ll be fine.

“Sure.”

A tray with a large fry dumped across it is sat in the middle of the table. Luhan is laughing at one of your embarrassing stories from middle school, and your heart swells at how cute he is. He doesn’t seem like the type of person to work at a sex store. He’s just too innocent and adorable.

“So, how did you end up working at My Pleasures?” You ask, popping a fry into your mouth.

“Well, um, we were parked in front of the store to eat at the pizza place next door, and when we left my idiot friend thought he had the car in reverse. But instead of backing up, we went right through the front window of My Pleasures. The owner made a deal with us that we work for her until we pay off the damage, but I ended up actually liking the job and just kept working there.” Luhan answers with a sheepish smile.

“Who was the friend?”

“His name is Sehun.”

You snort; you know the guy through your history class.

“You know who I’m talking about?” Luhan chuckles, gazing at how you try to hide your smile.

“Yeah, I can see him doing something like that.” You nod as you calm down.

“You ready to go back? I’m surprised no one called us.” He checks his phone with a glance.

Your friend is passed out in Minseok’s room; the rest of the group is being taken home by Luhan. The TV is on as you curl up on the couch going back and forth between watching it and playing on your phone. It’s calming to be by yourself but also weird because you’re in an unfamiliar place. But once you see Luhan come through the front door, you feel relieved.

“You’re still here?” He asks, placing his keys on the coffee table in front of you.

“Yeah, she’s asleep on Minseok’s bed and has a death grip on him so I figured I’d let her rest for a bit.” You answer quietly.

“Ah, I see.” Luhan sits on the other side of the couch.

“You don’t have to stay in here with me. You can go to bed if you’re tired.”

“I don’t mind staying up with you… Do you want a blanket? You look like you’re freezing.” He smiles as he notices how you’re sitting.

“No, I’m fine.” You don’t want to be a burden any more than you already are, but Luhan gets up anyways, “Really, you don’t-”

He disappears towards the bedrooms and comes back with a fluffy blue blanket to drape over your legs. It smells musky like him; you don’t mind it at all.

“Do you have selective hearing or…” You joke as you cuddle up under the blanket.

“Sorry, what was that?” He looks over, failing to suppress his grin.

“You’re such a dork.” You laugh, admiring the way his eyes crinkle up.

Your laughter dies down, and you fall into a comfortable silence. When you peer over at him, he’s on his phone. You feel awkward again like you’re an inconvenience.

“You should see what Jongdae said about you.” Luhan speaks up and shuffles across the couch until he’s pressed up next to you. You take his phone to read the text.

“‘Y/N is really hot. Is she single?’ Oh, my god.” You slap a hand over your mouth to keep from giggling too loud.

“So… Are you single?” Luhan asks softly, his face seemingly closer than just now when he was reading over your shoulder.

Your eyes can’t help but glance down at his lips. “Yeah.” You answer or maybe you just think you did because his mouth finds yours in an instant, the taste of him making you forget, his phone dropping on your lap. One of his hands rests on your thigh, and yours cups his cheek. There’s a growing tingly feeling in your chest.

Suddenly, he guides your legs over his to move even closer, the blanket being pushed off the couch. He wiggles an arm around your waist as his other hand caresses up your thigh. You swipe your tongue across his bottom lip, daring to deepen the kiss. You feel the heat building in your core while your fingers tangle in his hair.

As much as your body is wanting it, you can’t let it go past this intense make out session. You’re reluctant to break the kiss. The two of you catch your breath but don’t move away from each other.

He swallows hard before whispering, “I think your friend’s awake.”

That’s when you tune back into reality and hear hers and Minseok’s muffled voices.

“I should probably go then.” You say, slowly taking your legs off him and standing up.

“Dude, what the hell? We agreed no fucking on the couch.” Minseok startles the two of you. He and your friend are standing at the end of the hall.

Luhan wraps himself up in his blanket like a little kid and pouts, “Why do you think I’m so greasy?”

Your friend giggles and stumbles over to you.

“Are you sure you can walk or are you still sleepy?” You steady her.

“I can walk. I’m just groggy.” She replies and starts to head to the front door.

“Thank you for having us over, and I’m sorry we stayed so long.” You apologize to Minseok and Luhan.

“It was no problem.” Minseok smiles and looks between you and Luhan suspiciously before walking back to his room.

“Um, anyways…” Luhan awkwardly mutters and then focuses on you, “Text me when you get to your apartment so I know you’re okay.”

“I will.” You agree, watching the way he bites his lip.

Looks like your little toy is going to be used tonight…

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