#i mean whos to say they all died in the wall in dees apartment

[cutemeat]

ok so i guess we're just moving right past that comment then

[phoenixmaiden-gaming]

The Wolf Among Us part 3

This is a continuation of the last part, the rest of Chapter 5 where I went to inspect Prince Lawrence's apartment where he lived with Faith. I headed inside and did not expect what I found. Then I went through the last chapter of the episode and still didn't get a whole lot of answers and yet another murder. Here is what happened.

Episode 1: Chapter 5 part 2 - Consequences

I started the new chapter talking to Snow as we headed to Prince Lawrence's apartment. She wanted to do things quickly so they should pick a way to do things and stick with it, but Bigsby said that murder investigations don't work that way, it was rarely simple. Snow just didn't want anything to fall through the cracks.

We made it to Lawrence's apartment and went inside and found him on the floor nearly dead from a gunshot to the head. I had to go get him some water and headed to the kitchen. On the fridge was a note from Faith that said to not look for her.

I went back to the living room with the water, gave it to Lawrence, and asked him who did it, but all he said was "Faith" after that he died. I started looking around and found the gun, but it hadn't been fired recently and the bullet casting matched the gun. With a hole in the wall, it looked like Lawrence shot himself...but that didn't make sense. If he shot himself in the head and he just died, but the gun was last used a week ago...that means he would have been lying here dying for a week? But there was also a knife with blood on it, was he stabbed too? So many questions.

I was looking around the apartment again and started to open the closet doors when someone suddenly burst out and ran out the door. I don't know who he was, but he had blood on him and I continued to chase him through another apartment building. The chase was fast and I couldn't take many pictures, but I was able to follow him out a window and into a dumpster outside.

The man said he was a private investigator and said he had nothing to do with what happened to Lawrence, but Bigby didn't believe it since he was covered in blood. He had just come to ask about the girl, Faith, and didn't know that Lawrence didn't know she was dead. He then shot himself before he could do anything. The man then said that he knew Bigby was looking for the Woodsman and had heard from his employer that he was at a place called the Trip Trap and that they could go together.

Bigby said no and he wanted to know who had hired him, but the man said it was confidential. So instead Bigby wanted to take him back to the office, but the man said Dum. Bigby got confused and repeated it, but the man said, no, he was Dee, that was Dum. Before Bigby could turn around, someone hit him from behind and knocked him out. I then understood that they were the twins Tweddle Dee and Tweddle Dum from Alice in Wonderland.

After a minute or so, Bigby woke up to Snow hovering over him. She said that she found him lying there and after asking where they went, she said that the twins, after kicking him a bit, got into a car and took off. Bigby said that Dee had mentioned the Trip Trap, so that was where they had to go next.

While in the cab, Snow voiced how uneasy she was about everything. Bigby said that they had to talk to the Woodsman since he was the last person who had been with Faith and the only lead they have. Snow then asked who I thought did it. I had to give an answer and I didn't know what to chose, but based on the information I had, I chose the Woodsman. I wasn't completely sure, but he did have a motive. We won't know for sure unless we talk to him and get answers.

Snow then made a comment that seeing all this, it made her see that the Fables were struggling a lot more than she thought. She just wished she could do more. The system was broken and she wasn't helping the ones that really need it. I then had a choice of what to say and told her that she will figure it out and trusts that she will do the right thing. We then made it to the Trip Trap and it was a shady place, so Bigby was going to go in alone while Snow went back to the office.

Episode 1 : Chapter 6 - Trip Trap

Bigby went into the bar and there were only two people inside, the bartender and a guy at the end of the bar, neither of them was the Woodsman. When Bigbsy asked if the Woodsman was here the woman behind the bar was rude and said he wasn't here so he could leave. Of course, Bigby didn't listen and came in to ask again if they had seen him but the woman said he hadn't been in here for a while and it was just the two of them as she kept glancing at the man at the bar. Obviously taking cues from him.

Bigby went to go sit next to the guy at the bar and he wasn't too happy about it. Bigby just said that he didn't want to be here either but the sooner that he answered his questions, the sooner he would leave. But was they were talking there was a flush from a side door, so obviously someone was here and who was it? The Woodsman. But he didn't run, he just sat down at the other end of the bar saying he was done fighting.

Bigy got up to go and talk to him but the man at the bar, Gren, stopped him but he just said that it's been a long day and he wasn't going to leave without answers. Gren said that maybe he didn't want to talk to him, but the Woodsman said it was okay. So Bigby went to sit next to the Woodsman and he started talking about how the tables had turned, he was the bad guy while the Big Bad Wolf was the Sheriff. I then got to ask my questions.

I told him that he knew why I was here and the Woodsman started talking about something entirely different. I thought in the beginning he was talking about casing Faith's house to rob her, but the Woodsman said that she had money, he was sure of it...but Faith and Lawrence were broke, that's why she had resorted to prostitution. And he was going to do it, but then Bigby was there.

All of it didn't make any sense but when he said "Grandma" I realized he was talking about Red Riding Hood and her grandmother. He had been planning on robbing the grandmother, but the Big Bad Wolf was already there, so he had saved her thinking he would get a reward, but he didn't get anything. Everyone was thinking he was something he wasn't and he didn't even get anything out of it. I had another choice but missed it since the timeline was too fast so I didn't get to ask him if he killed Faith.

Instead Gren, the other guy at the bar started speaking up and got angry how Bigby was a lap dog for the rich people in the Woodlands and don't care about the poor. I tried to say that it wasn't like that, he knew that there were problems with the way things worked, but that didn't have anything to do with what was happening.

Gren continued on his run on how Holly, the barmaid's sister had gone missing but no one seemed to care, not even the bitch Snow White who just pushed him out of the office. I was given some new choices and chose to stick up for Snow and BIgby got up and in Gren's face telling him to not call Snow names or it will end badly.

Gren called Bigby Snow White's bitch and Bigby hit him knocking him to the floor. But it wasn't over. Instead Gren shifted into his Fable form, some sort of monster that looked wrapped in cloth, as did Holly who was a troll. A fight then insured.

I found it was easier to fight with mouse instead of controller since i kept missing all the prompts, but the fight turned nasty and Bigby started to get his ass kicked, but then he shifted too and became some sort of hybrid of his wolf form and started to kick Gren's ass. Soon the fight was over after Bigby stabbed Gren in the shoulder with a pool pole.

I was then given the option to keep going or stop and I chose to stop. He then walked over to the bar, ordered a drink and drank it down while he calmed down. The Woodsman asked if he was going to be treated like that if he let Bigby take him in, but Bigby said that if he came quietly, he'd be treated with respect. But if he had killed the girl, then...well he knew what that meant.

I thought everything was settled but then the door to the bar opened and Dee stepped in, still wearing his bloody shirt, saying that he would give anyone $100 if they had information on a girl. But he stopped and saw that Bigby was there. It was then pandemonium and everything went very fast. Dee started to run back through the door and the Woodsman started to turn to the back door to take off. I had to choose who to go after.

After talking to the Woodsman, he didn't seem like he was completely there, but for some reason, I didn't think he killed Faith. But Dee on the other hand, had been there when Lawrence was killed and he had his twin knock me out. So I went after Dee and Bigby put him under arrest and led him out the door.

I guess the Woodlands weren't too far because they just walked there, but there were blue flashing lights up ahead. So Bigby handcuffed Dee to a pole so he could go check it out. The scene then played out with the Woodland apartments being blocked off by police and yellow tape. Beast ran up and was stopped by a police officer, so something had happened.

Bigby just walked under the police tape and went to the steps of the apartments where a bunch of police were huddled and on the steps where Faith's head had been found just days before was a new head...Snow White's. Oh Damn.

The chapter ended and I was shown various scenes on what would be happening in Episode 2 and looks like more is going to happen including the questioning of Dee, the Woodsman being loose, confrontation with Beast and Belle, and something to do with Scrooge.

What a wild ride, this was only the first episode and a lot has happened especially in the last few chapters. So I'll state the facts. Faith was the prostitute who had died whose head had turned up on the steps of the Woodland Apartments. She had an altercation with the Woodsman right before that and doesn't know where he went after, so he doesn't have an alibi. Faith's husband died in his apartment, but whether he did it himself is unclear, Dee had been hiding in his closet and had run off, so that is suspicious. Then with Snow, I had just left her and she was alive and the Woodsman had been in the restroom, though if he got out from that way that meant there was a back door...I may be looking too deep into it though. Dee is also suspicious since he walked in after, don't know where he was before that. Not sure if it was enough time for either of them to kill Snow. I'll have to see what else I I find out in Episode 2. Until then, Happy Gaming!

[vintagedolan]

mixtape | track seven

| masterlist | faceclaims | playlist |

*contains smut*

When Nicole died, Indiana convinced herself that someone was holding down a fast forward button on her life. Some greater power with a universal remote, carelessly keeping a finger shoved down on the little button with the double arrows, with no regard to the fleeting few days she had left with her most important person.

History seemed to be repeating itself, with the best physical representation being the very quickly evolving tiny homes.

The first thing on Grayson’s agenda when they’d made it back to NYC was to decorate the property for Halloween. It hadn’t seemed like the most sound plan to Indy, considering last time they were out in the field it was just raw building materials, a platform and lots of grass. But when she climbed off the back of the quad, away from Grayson’s warmth and into the chilly air, she was standing in front of a house, or at least the bones of one, with the beginnings of the loft and stairs formed inside. It wasn’t polished yet - in fact, there wasn’t even a front door to hang the spider wreath that he had bought at Home Depot. But there was a house, and it stood as a reminder that time was passing quickly.

Despite how over the top the Dolan’s were about it, Halloween was a blink. Ethan was still in California, spending a few more days with Eden, but they facetimed in their costumes anyways - Indy had been convinced into dressing up at the last minute, which resulted in a witch costume that consisted of black leggings and a black bodysuit, which got covered up by a spare hoodie of Grayson’s early in the evening, brought on by the ever-dropping Jersey temperatures. But they celebrated with Lisa, and with E squared across the miles with a bonfire and too many pieces of candy, and Indy realized at the end of the night that it was the first holiday she’d had with family in years. It filled a vacant room in a back hallway of her heart that she didn’t realize had been abandoned, and as soon as the calendar turned to November, she was determined.

“Thanksgiving. Me, you, Lisa, Ethan, Eden, Cam, Charlie and Devin. Thoughts, opinions?”

Grayson quirked an eyebrow from the other side of the couch, face lit by his laptop screen.

“Vegan thanksgiving?”

She nudged him in the side with her foot, getting the perfect angle from where she was laying to tickle him. “Nah, we’re gonna cook a whole meal that 25% of the participants can’t eat. Sounds like the holiday of dreams.”

He poked her with a toe. “Yeah, that sounds good to me. Might have to find an extra table at Ma’s though.”

“I can plan out a menu, make sure everyone brings something. Charlie can bring plates, for all our sakes.”

“Then Ethan can bring cups, cause god knows he doesn’t know what the fuck to do in a kitchen. And I can do the menu, you’ve got enough on your plate.”

“It’s not that bad this week,” she countered, but before she could say anything else he’d picked up her planner, looking at all the little color coordinated blocks that she’d drawn out. Grayson had never had a planner before, much less an hourly one, and it stressed him out a bit just to see how little time she didn’t have allotted to something. His finger moved over a little block in dark blue, a tiny scribble inside it - time with g :).

“You block out time for us to hang out?”

“I block out time to do just about everything but pee,” she laughed, keeping her eyes on her textbook as he continued to look through her pages.

“You haven’t peed in like… 3 hours. Drink your water.”

She stuck her tongue out but did as he asked, watching the way he found something on the page and frowned, eyebrows creasing across his forehead.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He answered it too quickly, and it was her turn to frown.

“Babe. What is it?”

“It just says, uh, ‘deposit from Kenneth’. Who’s Kenneth?”

Her breathing stopped for a moment. She hadn’t heard that name said aloud in years.

“Oh um. That’s my dad. Kenneth Cross.”

He switched from realization to guilt in an instant, flipping the planner shut. Grayson wasn’t privy to much information about Indiana’s father, but he didn’t need much to know that the relationship wasn’t great.

“Shit, Dee, sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

She closed her textbook, sitting it aside with a sigh. Sitting up, she crossed her legs on the couch, a bid to get a little closer to him.

“No, it’s okay. We probably should have talked about it by now anyways. What do you want to know?”

“Whatever you want to tell me.” He offered her his hand, knowing she liked to toy with her fingers when she talked, hoping it would help.

“Well. He wasn’t always a shit head. Actually, he used to be a pretty good dad. When Charlie and I were growing up, he was always there. He coached Charlie’s basketball team, then mine. He helped mom with dinner, we all went on vacation together. I mean, I had a good childhood, I really did. But things changed when mom got sick.”

“How long was she sick?”

“Six months. It took her fast, much faster than usual with her stage and her type. I thought my dad would step up, but he didn’t. He shut down. And I get that, it was hard, but we needed him and he just… wasn’t there. Charlie had to take her to appointments because I couldn’t drive yet. He stayed at home and worked, and drank, and then drank some more and called it work. He never talked about mom, never even admitted to himself she was sick I don’t think. So Charlie and I did our best, and we stayed with her as much as we could, especially towards the end. I’d ride the subway out of the city to get to school cause I slept at the hospital most nights. And I guess Charlie and I didn’t realize, but he was working on selling the house while we were doing all that, before she was even fucking gone. So, when she did go, all of a sudden she was gone, and my house was gone, and Charlie was going to school, so it was just me and him.

“We moved into a smaller house. He didn’t talk to me. He was a shell without my mom. And I thought it would get better but it didn’t. So, I taught myself how to be okay without him, and without my mom… without anyone. I think he realized it too, and some part of him felt bad. But he knew he couldn’t fix it. So, the summer before college, he said he’d pay for wherever I wanted to live for school. I couldn’t swing rent on a Jet’s salary, and I wanted to get out of his house, so I agreed. I moved in here freshman year, and we haven’t seen each other since. Haven’t even talked on the phone really. He deposits rent in my account each month, and as soon as I can get enough money to not have him do that, I’m going to tell him to stop. I don’t want him to think I need him, for anything.”

Indy looked up for the first time since her story started, and she sucked in a breath at the sight of Grayson’s watery eyes. He blinked it away and cleared his throat, but the way he opened his arms up told a different story.

“I don’t like hating him. But I don’t know how to forgive him either.”

“C’mere,” he mumbled, waiting for her to readjust and climb on top of him. His arms wrapped around her tightly, like he wanted to press her into him and make her a part of him.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that with your mom like that, I can’t imagine.”

Indy lifted her head and looked at him with sad eyes.

“Yes you can.”

The knot in his throat grew, and he kissed her head when she relaxed against him again. He let the silence settle for a few minutes, tracing a heart against her back and pressing his lips into her hair over and over.

“I had my mom though. She helped us through the entire thing. And I had Ethan, and Cam. And I know you had Charlie, but thinking about you having to do that without a parent.” He shook his head. “I hate it. Not to mention the rest of the bullshit he’s probably put you through that you’re too nice to tell me about.”

It was her turn to get teary.  

“Well, I’m okay now. I made it, and so did you.”

He ran a thumb over her cheek with a soft smile.

“Wish you didn’t have to make it through it at all.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Grayson shifted then, rolled them over to the side so Indy was between him and the back of the couch, coiling his arms around her tightly, shifting her up enough for him to kiss her. He let his hand roam down her back, over her ass, grabbing and moving until her leg slotted above his.

“I love you,” he said, hoping she knew just how much. She moved her hand from his cheek, let her arm wrap around him, trapping him closer to her.

“Love you more.”

He shook his head at her, making her laugh against his skin.

“You don’t have a nap written in your schedule, am I gonna screw it all up?”

“I can shift things. I’m flexible.”

He laughed again, a beautiful sound that bounced off the walls of the apartment and filled the space. Indy kept her leg wrapped around him, holding him close and finding his lips with hers again, breathing him in - her favorite distraction.

“Flexible hm? How flexible?” His voice had dropped slightly, throat gruff.

She knew they weren’t going to sleep, so she gave in, dipping down to kiss along his neck, taking charge a bit more than usual.

“You know, I think we might be the only couple who can switch from parental trauma to horny within 60 seconds,” she mused, smiling at the rumbling laugh it got out of him.

“Maybe we’re just built different.”

“Hate that,” Indy mumbled, moving back up to kiss him again. He wasted no time in coaxing her shirt off, sitting them up with her in his lap so he could do the same to his own, getting her bra off quickly after his own sweatshirt was gone. There was no better feeling than her skin against his, he was sure. Her hand landed on the middle of his chest and she hummed, smiling.

“You didn’t shave your chest hair.”

He pulled back a bit with an incredulous look. He hadn't even thought about it, but she was right. “You noticed that?”

“I notice everything about you. You’re my favorite thing to study,” she smiled, and his heart melted in his chest. The only way he knew to respond was to pull her back to him. In a bed, he would have rolled them over, climbed above her, but the couch limited him and he was at her mercy for the time being.

She didn’t seem to be in much of a rush, and between the slow roll of her hips and the kisses she pressed along a path from his jaw to his collarbone, he was very much wishing she would pick up the pace. His hands slid down to her hips, pressing her down against him in a bid for friction.

“Easy,” Indy laughed his favorite laugh, the breathy one that seemed like an afterthought. “If I’m gonna rearrange my schedule, I get to set the pace.”

“Well then, take it away,” he chuckled, but it faded into more of a groan when she nipped at his shoulder, letting her hands run down his sides. She left goosebumps in the wake of her nails, and he couldn’t help but shudder as she toyed with the waistband of his sweats for a moment, like she was playing a game. Grayson Dolan wasn’t used to being at the whim of anyone, and it was liberating in a way that had his nerves buzzing.

Indiana was perhaps enjoying herself a bit too much. Usually, she was so overwhelmed by him that she didn’t have time to really take him in. So, she soaked up the opportunity of having him displayed out for her, tracing her fingers over every plane of him - the v of his hips, the muscles over his ribs. Down his arms, back up to his shoulders, running her thumbs over his scruff as she cupped his face. When she made it back down to his abs she felt them flex under her hands, his hips bucking up just barely against hers.

“Baby.” His tone was stern, and she played into a bit, looking at him as innocently as she could.

“Hmmm?”

“You’re teasing.”

“I’m admiring.”

“Okay, then you’re cheesy and you’re teasing.”

“Guilty as charged,” she murmured, shrugging a bit.

Bad move.

His arms wrapped around her tightly, ensuring he didn’t lose his grip as he planted a foot on the floor and rose up just enough to roll them, getting her underneath him on the couch. It happened so fast that all she could do was gasp, eyes wide as she stared up at him, the blues bright with shock.

“Now, where were we.”

His cockiness was back in full swing, but he paused at the pout that came over Indy’s face.

“What?”

“I kinda liked being up there,” she said, running her hands along his arms as he held himself up above her.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“You wanna switch again?”

“Kinda.”

“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. Pants off, then we switch.”

“Deal.”

He stood up first, taking her hand and pulling her up to her feet. They shimmied out of the pants and underwear quickly, leaving them in a pile on the rug in a rush to get back to each other. The mood shifted yet again when he guided her onto his lap as he sat down, lighthearted and fun as she got herself settled. Grayson had never had lighthearted sex before he met Indiana Cross. It was always scratching an itch, even when it was with people he was in a relationship with. She seemed to unlock another side of him, one that made it so much more fun to have her above him, struggling to keep her hair out of her face and get close enough to him at the same time. He wasn’t sure how she managed to be adorable and sexy at the same time, but when she finally got herself lined up and began to sink down onto him, he didn’t have the brain power left to care.

“Shit Dee,” he groaned, using every bit of self control he had to keep his hips still, letting her set her agonizingly slow pace.

She whimpered with every inch that she moved down, finally taking all of him somehow, arching her back for a moment before she caved, leaning forward onto his chest, burying her face in his neck.

He started as slow as his body would let him, groaning as she started to grind her hips, searching out an angle that kept the pressure building. It took a moment, like it always did when they tried a new position, but when she found it Grayson knew by the way her nails dug into his shoulders. He grabbed her hips to hold her there, memorizing the way their bodies fit together so he could get right back to that same spot over and over again.

“Gray,” she whimpered into his ear, bracing her forearms on his shoulders as he chased her high for her, determined to have her shaking. All she could do was moan and hold on as he thrusted into her faster with a renewed purpose, only stopping when she clenched so hard that he could barely move.

“Fuck fuck fuck,” Indy whined, every muscle in her body tightening down in defense of how overwhelmed she suddenly felt, breath catching in her throat as her orgasm ripped through her. His arms coiled around her back as if he was trying to hold her together as she shook, and he chased the last of his high, lifting her off of him at the last possible second before he came, white streaks landing on his torso. He knew it would be a mess and he didn’t care - he pressed her back to him, wrapping her up for a moment in his arms and letting the two of them come down.

“Woah. Good woah,” Indy mumbled, pressing kisses to his neck where she could reach.

“I second your good woah.”

“Good.”

“Do you have time in your flexible schedule for a shower? I got you all sticky.”

She sat up and pretended to ponder it for a moment, making a show of quirking her eyebrow just to make him laugh. “I suppose I could pencil it in. C’mon.”

She climbed off him and took his hand, leading him to her bathroom with a smile. They paused in front of the mirror for a moment, and it was the first time in a long time that Indy felt happy to be looking in one. But still, she turned around and looked up at her boyfriend - he looked better in real life than in his reflection anyways.

“You know, if you play your cards right, you might just win yourself a round two.”

That was all it took for him to pick her up so fast she squealed, carrying her behind the privacy of the shower curtain for a second taste.

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

Bekah’s hands were always cold, but they felt like ice cubes in Indy’s hands. She rubbed along her skin in a bid to warm her up, eyes wandering over to Grayson.

“She’s pale,” he murmured, keeping his distance as he stood at the end of the bed. The sight of her so still in her hospital bed was unsettling. He had expected their first visit back to be filled with smiles, and ‘I miss you’s’, stories of California and her recovery.

Instead, they’d walked into Bekah’s room to find her fast asleep underneath her Halloween blanket, brows furrowed in what he hoped was concern and not pain.

“Her body is probably just trying to get used to the new cells. Not making enough blood, she’s probably up for another transfusion soon.”

“How do you know?”

Indy nodded towards what Grayson had assumed was an IV pole - he supposed it was, but instead of the usual bags of clear or milky liquid, there were just empty hooks.

“An hour.”

Bekah’s voice was dry and horse, and although it was quiet, it made both of them jump.

“Hey! How’re you feeling?” Indy immediately perked up, painting that smile across her face that Grayson had started to associate with everything hospital, from the sounds to the smell of bleach.

“Tired. My next transfusion is in an hour.”

“Did the doctor say anything about your counts?”

Bekah looked at her and rolled her eyes, wincing as she tried to sit up in bed. Indy reached to help her but she held a hand up.

“I have a transfusion in an hour, you tell me what my counts are,” she muttered, sitting up for a moment before she let out a sigh and put her face in her hands.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay Beks,” Grayson said.

“No, it’s not. You all came to see me and I’m being an asshole.”

“No one is nice when they don’t feel good,” Gray offered, moving to the other side of the bed and resting a hand on her shoulder. It was a simple gesture, a small attempt at consoling, but it was too much for Bekah. The sniffles turned into broken sobs that shook her entire body so hard it looked like she would come apart.

“I’m just tired of this. I’m tired.”

There wasn’t an adequate response to give, so the room filled with silence apart from her sobs as they did their best to hold her together, wrapping their arms around her, around each other. Indy’s eyes were red by the time Bekah’s cries quieted, and Grayson scrambled to come up with something, anything, to lighten the mood.

“Well, if we have an hour, that means we have time for an episode of something. Didn’t you say you were watching Vampire Diaries while we were gone?”

Bekah nodded, laying back against the pillows.

“Then let’s watch one and just chill. Save your energy.”

He set it up quickly, turning off the lights and pulling his chair over to the side of her bed as it started to play. When he looked over, there was just enough light to see that Bekah had reached for Indy’s hand. And to his surprise, she reached for his too. He took it, trying to ignore the way his throat tightened at the feeling of her squeezing weakly - a silent thank you as the episode began to play.

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

The first two weeks of November passed with unrelenting speed. Indiana buried herself in her school work, carving out what she could for quality time for Grayson, even if it was just going out to Jersey with him for a movie night that ended with her asleep on his lap before the opening scene was done. He didn’t mind - he just liked having her around, watching her get closer with Ethan and his mom, knowing she was safe because she was there with him. It was hard to help someone who was so determined on being independent, but he did what he could and she did the same, spending what little time she had encouraging him and supporting him.

Grayson had his own work to focus on, and it filled the time nicely as they worked to get their brands up and running through the holidays, plus the task of finalizing the plans for the details of the tiny homes. Somehow, it was already the week of Thanksgiving before he stopped to take a breath, which he found in the backyard with his brother the day before the holiday.

“Listen. I can make rolls. I can’t fuck that up.”

“Ethan, you could fuck anything up, including rolls. Just get cups. And things to put in the cups.”

“Fuck you,” Ethan grumbled, tossing the football a bit harder than necessary across the back lot. Grayson wished he’d put on gloves, but

“When is evil coming in?”

“She lands tonight, gotta go pick her up at 10:30. Is Indy staying out here tonight too?”

“No, I’m staying at her place, her sister and her boyfriend fly in tomorrow morning so we gotta pick them up. You’re picking up Cam tonight too right?”

“Yeah. Damn, I feel like dad,” Ethan laughed, a puff of white in the cold air.

Grayson waited for him to elaborate, throwing the ball back.

“He was always the chauffeur. I mean jesus, how many times do you think he picked us up from the airport when we came home?”

“True, he fucking hated that drive too. Complained about it the whole time, every time.”

“Like you don’t hate driving into the city.”

Grayson quirked an eyebrow at him, tossing the ball a bit harder, trying to put a different spin on it.

“Okay, fine, used to hate it. Now you just like it cause you get laid at the end of it.”

“True,” Gray grinned. “That makes me sound like a douchebag though.”

“You are a douchebag.”

“We’re identical twins, so if I’m a douchebag you’re a douchebag by association,” Grayson said.

“True. You aren’t a douchebag when you’re around Indiana, I’ll give you that.”

“Yeah, she wouldn’t put up with that shit.”

“You are a simp though.”

“Says you.”

“I never said I wasn’t.” Ethan shrugged, offering up a smile as he threw. “Eden really likes her by the way. Says they’d be great sister-in-laws in the future. I told her to chill with that shit though.”

Grayson missed the ball, not even bothering to watch it bounce away on the ground.

“Why?”

“Well, you said you were never going to ask her to leave, or move or whatever. And you live in LA, we live in LA, so... I mean, being here this long is just because of the tiny houses. And I know you, you can’t do long distance bro, you’re too physical.”

“Oh fuck you, I can survive without getting my dick wet if it means being with somebody I love.”

“That’s not what I fucking meant, I mean you’re touchy, and you need to be close to the people you love. Like physically close, as in in the same room, in the same house at least. That’s why I haven’t said shit about you being at her place every night of the week. I get it Gray, it’s how you are. But that shit won’t work when you’re on the other side of the country, and I know you aren’t going to ask her to fly out there to see you after how bad those flights were for her. And I love you, and I’m gonna support you, but you can’t fly home every weekend either. We have businesses, we have shit to do. Work.”

“I know that, I’m not stupid.”

“And it makes me feel like a shit brother but you always tell me that I’m supposed to keep you on track, so if that means being the bad guy then that means being the bad guy.”

“E I know.”

“I’m not saying you have to like break up with her or anything but, I just, I think it’s gonna be hard. Like really really hard.”

“Ethan. I know.”

“I just don’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.”

“Yeah. I get it. But can you just drop it for two fucking seconds? It’s almost Thanksgiving, let’s just focus on that. Besides, you’re the one who said to wait to cross the bridge when we come to it,” Grayson huffed.

“It’s the last week of November almost. Hate to break it to you, but the bridge is right in front of you.”

The thought made his stomach drop.

“Let’s go inside. S’cold.”

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

It felt unnatural to have her sister in the back seat, but that’s where Charlie climbed in after Grayson had helped them load their minimal luggage into the back of the car and made his introductions. They’d borrowed Lisa’s SUV for Devin’s sake, knowing that his long legs would be cramped in the backseat of anything, especially the truck.

“How was your flight?” Indy turned almost fully in her seat, trying to soak in every minute she had with her sister - they had to fly out bright and early the next morning.

“Bumpy,” Charlie laughed, picking at her nails in her lap. Indy frowned when she noticed - it was her nervous tick.

“Devin I have no idea how you fit in coach bro, I barely fit and I’m tiny compared to you,” Grayson chimed in, checking over his shoulder as he pulled out of the pick up lane.

“It’s a struggle my man, it’s a struggle. But I don’t think anyone in their right mind would look at you and call you tiny. You’ve got me beat in every department but leg length.”

“Hey, if you’re actually serious about growing muscle I can throw together a workout for you while you’re here.”

“For real? That would be sick bro, I could really use the help.”

Indy held back her laugh at how they both slipped into bro mode so quickly, and Charlie seemed to be on the same page as she snickered. Eventually conversation gave way to music, Indy proud of herself for finding a perfect 2000’s throwback playlist that had everyone singing and bouncing around in their seats. By the time they made it to the house, they were all a bit breathless and full of nostalgia.

When they climbed out onto the gravel, Charlie stuck close to her sister.

“Lisa is mom. And Ethan is the twin, Eden is the sister, Cameron is the girlfriend?”

“Cameron is sister, Eden is girlfriend,” Indy laughed. “Thank god you asked.”

Charlie gave a bit of a chuckle, and Indy nudged her.

“They’re good people Char. Don’t worry, they’ll love you.”

“I just… haven’t done this in a while.”

She wrapped her arm around her older sister’s shoulders as they approached the house, squeezing her lightly.

“I know sis. I know.”

Inside, Eden was trying to be subtle as she peeked through the blinds on the windows, watching the whole crew approach.

“They’re here! Come to the door, they’re here!”

“Babe, that’s creepy. Just come sit down,” Ethan laughed, waiting for Cameron to make her next move in chess.

“It’s not creepy, it’s friendly,” she countered, but she stood back from the door at the last moment to try to make it less intimidating.

“Hey guys!” Grayson’s voice boomed loud through the house as soon as he opened the door, his excitement obvious. Cam and Ethan abandoned their chess game for a moment, and Lisa came from the kitchen with a warm smile.

Indiana officially met Cameron for the first time, happy that she went in for the hug. Lisa hugged everyone, making everyone laugh when she looked up at Devin and said “my god you’re tall.”

Once everyone had met everyone, Lisa clapped her hands.

“Alright, let’s get to work!”

The Dolan’s did things in stations it seemed, which pleased Indy’s organizational side that usually went a bit crazy around the holidays. Lisa was nice enough to assign each couple a dish to work on, which of course became a competition, like everything seemed to. Indy wasn’t sure how they were going to truly compare E squared’s vegan stuffing to Charlie and Devin’s vegan mac and cheese, but she didn’t care.

Because Grayson was beaming beside her as they worked on peeling potatoes over the trash can, and everywhere she looked she saw smiles. Devin was swaying his hips to the music while Charlie tried to copy him, just a blip behind the beat. Ethan and Eden raced to see who could chop vegetables quicker until Lisa told them to slow down so someone didn’t end up needing stitches.

LIsa was the master of the operation, working on three different things at once, waving off Indy’s offer of help.

“I used to feed all three of them and their dad. Cooking for an army is second nature,” she teased, but that familiar tone was in her voice that tugged at Indy’s heart. Ethan eventually connected to the speakers and shuffled a playlist filled with everything, from Elton John to Cudi. Grayson got vegan butter on his shirt at one point while dancing too hard, and when Indy laughed he swiped it off with a finger and smeared it on her nose. The kitchen got so hot they cracked a window, with the revolving door of the oven trying to handle all the dishes and all the bodies close together.

By 2pm, everyone took turns carrying everything into the dining room to the massive which Cameron had decorated. Everyone took their places at the table, with LIsa at the head, Grayson and Ethan beside her with the girls beside them, and Charlie beside Indy, Devin beside Eden, who had seemed to hit it off with him in their short few hours of knowing each other, and Cam at the other head.

“Before we start, I think we should all go around and share something that we’re thankful for,” Lisa proposed. “I’ll start. I’m very thankful for my health, and for my family. For my wonderful daughter, and my amazing boys, and my husband, who I love and who watches over us every day.”

She could only speak for herself, but it was a safe bet that everyone’s throats tightened. Ethan cleared his before he spoke.

“I’m thankful for my family, for the quality time we get to spend together. For my brother’s ability to deal with my ass and his help in chasing our dreams and making that shit happen. And for Eden, because… well just because.”

Eden laid her head against his shoulder for a moment before she spoke up.

“I’m thankful for my dream job, and getting to do something I love every day. I’m thankful for Ethan, for loving me and keeping me sane. And I’m thankful for all of you, especially you Lisa, for welcoming me into the family.”

“I’m thankful to be here, to meet new people and get to eat some awesome food. Thank you, for inviting us in and sharing your holiday with us,” Devin said, polite as ever.

“I’m thankful for the wine,” Cam grinned, sipping from her glass quickly just to get an eye roll out of her mom. “And for all of you, and good food, and for family. Charlie?”

Charlie threw Indy a nervous glance before she spoke.

“I’m thankful for my sister, and my boyfriend, who always keep me together and on track, and who make me laugh. And I’m thankful for new friends, and good food.”

Indy had been so intent on listening to everyone else that she hadn’t even thought of her own response.

“I’m thankful for my sister, and for all of you guys, who have been so kind to me. I’m thankful for this guy,” she bumped Grayson’s shoulder. “For loving me, and supporting me in everything I do. And, I’m thankful for the years I had with my mom. I wish she could be here today, but I know she’s up there watching, and she’s thankful that I have you guys.”

She ignored the way her eyes stung, turning to Grayson, who squeezed her thigh under the table.

“I’m thankful for my family, and for the way that dad guided us to be who we are today - all of us Dolan’s. And I’m thankful for Indy for showing me what strength and determination looks like. And for everyone here, because we’re all family. I love you guys.”

The weight of his words hung in the air for a moment as everyone soaked them in.

“Alright, dig in!” Lisa broke the silence, reaching for the rolls.

Grayson squeezed Indy’s thigh once, tracing a little heart with his index finger when she leaned over to kiss his cheek before turning back to the table. They all ate until their plates were clear, almost all of them heading back in for seconds. The final verdict was that the vegan mac and cheese was the winner of the side dish competition, much to the pride of Devin. The evening settled into various activities, from Grayson teaching Devin proper pull up form to Charlie letting Eden take test shots on her camera. Indy mostly watched from the sidelines, happy to see all the people she loved all together in one place.

Her family.

“Thank you for this.” Lisa’s voice startled her a bit, but she relaxed when the older woman moved to stand beside her.

“I should be thanking you!”

“No. We didn’t do Thanksgiving last year. Everything was still too… raw, I suppose. Everyone is here because you asked them to be. So, thank you, truly.”

The tears that Indy had been fighting all day finally found their place on her cheeks, and she sniffled through a laugh when Lisa hugged her.

“Well, thanks for sharing your family.”

“It’s not sharing if you’re a part of it my dear.”

She pulled her close for a hug before the two of them folded themselves into the mix, running around in the cold air of the backyard and enjoying each other’s company as the night drew to a close. They opted for pie and vegan ice cream to finish off the night, and Charlie insisted they take some pictures before the food comas took over. She’d thought ahead enough to bring a tripod, and she sat it up in the living room, making sure every couple got a few that they liked, and that they all got one together. Lisa requested one of just her kids where they of course all goofed off enough to annoy her. Charlie would send them all in the next few days, Indy’s favorite being the one of her on Grayson’s back, wrapped around to kiss his cheek while he grinned with his eyes squeezed shut. It became her lock screen as soon as she saved it, and Lisa went on to get the family one framed, as well as the one of all of them together too, both beside each other on the mantel held with equal importance.

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

The Thanksgiving leftovers only lasted two days in Indy’s fridge. With the stress of preparing for four cumulative finals, she didn’t have time to cook anything, and the microwaveable vegan leftovers were a god send. So was Grayson, who stayed by her side each day as she studied, quietly keeping himself busy with work until she needed him. It was a nice co-existence, both of them understanding the need for quiet but enjoying each other’s presence nonetheless. By Wednesday, she was only left with one last final, though it was her hardest, and she couldn’t convince herself that she’d prepared enough despite pulling multiple all nighters. He quizzed her when she asked, even though he butchered half the pronunciations. His commentary was the comedic relief she needed to get through it though, and she was more than grateful that he was there.

“Last set, and then you need to take a break.”

“But-”

“No buts. Unless you’re talking gluteus maximus.” He grinned when she rolled her eyes. “Baby you’ve been going non stop for 4 hours now.”

“Okay fine, hit me with it.”

“Soleus.” She pointed to the side of his calf. “Extensor carpi ulnaris.” The outer side of his forearm. “Zygomaticus major.” His cheek. “Iliopsoas.” The inside of his thigh.

“Dee, you know these. You literally don’t even have to think about it, you know them.”

She shook her head before he even finished his sentence. “I need more practice.”

“The only thing you need more of is sleep,” he countered. “C’mon, we’re both exhausted, let’s just take a nap.”

“Once we finish the set, then we can.”

“Fine. Serratus anterior.”

She tickled his ribs, making him squirm away from her.

“Biceps femoris.” She heaved his leg up from where it was resting on the couch, pointing to a spot in the middle of the back of his thigh.

“Teres major.” It was a reach, but she made it around to the back of his armpit.

“Teres minor.” She poked the same spot, just a bit harder.

“Okay, ouch, don’t abuse my teres. Uh, gastrocnemius.” She was gentler on his calf.

They went through the rest of the stack like that, with Grayson doing his best to say them correctly while Indy poked and prodded.  

As soon as he flipped the last card he yawned, sitting the stack aside and leaning forward to grab her, dragging her on top of him and nuzzling his nose into her hair. Indy sighed and relaxed into him, his warmth and the weight of his arms settling her body down. She could remember the days where she’d always wanted something as simple as this, just laying on her couch with someone to hold, and she tried to soak it in.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you more,” Grayson countered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. His hands moved under her shirt over her back, finding space.

R-E-L-A-X

“Can’t. My mind won’t stop.”

“Well, I’d offer to sing to you or some shit, but your ears would probably bleed,” he chuckled.

“S’okay. I’ll just dream about muscles or something. Innervations.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“Oh yeah, riveting stuff.”

She wiggled around to get comfortable, her cheek squished against his chest as he rubbed her back.

“Sleep, have your little anatomy dreams,” he teased, reaching over the back of the couch for a blanket to drape over the two of them.

It took a little while, but she managed to drift off to the soothing sound of his heartbeat and the feeling of his fingers against her skin.

And she dreamed.

Indiana was in a hallway. White, smooth walls with doorways that stood black and brooding on either side. Her stomach turned a bit, unease washing through her veins as she took a few small steps forward, moving to peek past one of the frames.

“Don’t sweetheart.”

Her head shot up. At the end of the hall was Nicole. She looked young, even younger than Indy’s last memories of her. Youthful, and full of life, her blonde hair familiar as it hung down and framed her face.

“Mom.”

“Hi my love.”

Indiana ran. She barreled past the doors, not even giving them a second thought as she finally, finally landed in her mother’s arms. The tears were inevitable, but she didn’t care that she shook as Nicole held her, the way only a mom could. Held her body, but held her soul.

“Where have you been? Where’d you go?”

“I’ve been here the whole time. Right here with you.”

“I miss you. I miss you so much.”

“I know. But I’m here.”

She pulled back, letting her mom brush her hair behind her ear the way she always used to when it fell into her eyes.

“Look at you. You’re all grown up. Look at those beautiful eyes. So blue.”

“Just like yours,” Indy said.

“Just like mine.”

A part of her knew that she was dreaming. She knew her mother was gone, that this wasn’t real. But her heart refused to accept it, because she could feel her mother’s skin, hear her voice, feel her like she hadn’t been able to in so long. So she just stared. Tried to memorize every part of her face, every smile line, every freckle. She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, but Nicole was the one to break the silence.

“Baby. I need you to be careful.”

Indy frowned. “Careful?”

“With your heart. I need you to be careful with your heart, with my heart.”

“Momma what do you mean?”

Nicole looked to the left. Indy followed her gaze, surprised to see that the light was on in the doorway.

The doorway to Bekah’s room.

“Beks,” she breathed. Her feet automatically moved, taking her into the room until Nicole’s arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her back.

“Indiana,” Nicole cautioned. “No.”

“No, no Mom it’s okay, she’s getting better, see? Look, she’s fine.”

She pushed forward, but Nicole’s grip only tightened.

“No baby. Look.”

Indy listened. And she watched. Watched Bekah try to sit up in her bed. She was probably calling for Jessica, or Emily, or maybe even Indy. Her mouth opened, and no sound came out, her eyes going wide for a moment before she fell back against the pillows, chest rising too fast, too shallow. Indy knew what that meant.

“No. NO! Beks! Bekah!”

“Shhhhh baby, there’s nothing you can do, Indiana stop, there’s nothing you can do.”

“BEKAH!” She cried anyways, fighting her mother’s grip as she watched the monitors light up, heard their mocking monotone calls as they alarmed. Nurses appeared, and Indy watched them do all the right things, give all the right medicine.

She didn’t wake up.

“No, no no no no,” Indy wailed, thrashing in her mother’s arms.

“Indiana. Indiana. Dee!”

She was back in her living room, and Grayson was scared.

“Wha-” she looked around, bewildered. She was sitting up, which disoriented her a bit, though she was with it enough to realize she was still in Grayson’s lap.

“Hey, you’re okay, you’re safe,” Grayson said, eyes still wide. He pushed her hair back out of her face as she looked down, only then realizing that she’d balled up his shirt in her hands. She let go, looking at the disheveled fabric, which was also splotched with dark spots.

“I’m- sorry, I don’t… I uh… I had a nightmare. Sorry.”

“It’s okay baby,” Grayson murmured. “You okay?”

Those two words brought on a whole other wave of tears, and she crumpled into him, shaking her head as she cried.

It took him by surprise for a moment - he knew she didn’t like to cry, and he’d never really seen her so upset. So he took a moment to process, and then he lifted her arms up over his shoulders, coiling his own around her and squeezing her to him as tight as he could without crushing her. He didn’t speak. He just held her, let her get it out of her system, whatever it was.

When her sobs turned to sniffles and his shirt was fully soaked through on the shoulder, he spoke up.

“What do you need? What can I do?”

She pulled back from him, frame seeming even smaller somehow as she sat there.

“Can you go check on Bekah? I know it’s Wednesday, and I know we’re going to tomorrow but… you don’t have to, I just, I know she’s alone up there, but I have so much work to do, and-”

“I can go. I’ll go,” he said. The pieces fell together in his brain, and he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Thank you,” she exhaled, shoulders slumping back down.

“Are you gonna be okay here by yourself while I’m gone?”

“Yeah, I need to study anyways, I’ll keep myself busy. Just need to know she’s okay.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure she’s good, might hang out for a bit and watch something if she’s up for it.”

“That sounds amazing. Thank you.”

He didn’t like the idea of leaving her there, but he could tell she wouldn’t have any peace of mind until she knew that Bekah was okay. It reminded him off all the times he’d called his mother in the middle of the night in those last few months before he’d officially come home, just to make sure his dad was still there.

“If you need me, call me okay? I’ll turn back around.”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. I love you,” she said, kissing him quickly.

“I love you more.”

He shifted her off him onto the couch and got up, putting his shoes and coat on quickly before he could convince himself to stay. It was already dark outside despite it only being 6pm, and he kept his head down on the streets on his way to the hospital, mind racing until he got up to the unit and signed in.

He half expected Bekah to be lying still in her bed, on her back with all her machines on. Or, at least for her to be drained and tired like she had been the last few times they saw her. But when he cleared the doorway she was sitting up in bed on her phone, random Tik Tok audio’s playing. She looked up at him and smiled her brightest smile.

“Earrings! It’s a Wednesday, the fuck are you doing here?!”

He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“You get an extra dose of me this week, deal with it,” he teased, unzipping his coat and laying it over one of the chairs.

“Where’s Indy?”

“Studying for finals. It’s a me you date tonight, you pick. What’re we doing?”

“Well, I restarted Vampire Diaries.”

“Restarted? Bro, you were on season 7 yesterday!”

“Yeah so? The best seasons are the first two, we’ve been over this.”

“Whatever, scootch over.”

She did as he asked, though he had to put the bedrails down to even fit halfway on the mattress.

“Here, get in here so we can send some motivation to Dee,” he said, pulling out his phone and opening snapchat. They moved so just their noses-up were on screen, making Bekah laugh as he sent it off.

She screenshotted it and sent back a heart, which put his mind at ease enough to relax and attempt to enjoy an episode, though he wasn’t really following the plot considering they were almost halfway through the first season.

“So, what’s happening exactly?” He finally asked 20 minutes into the episode.

“Stefan is trying to be all ‘you deserve better than me’, and Damon just doesn’t give a shit. Essentially, Stefan doesn’t want to hurt Elena so he wants her to make the decision to break it off so he doesn’t have to. He doesn’t want to be the bad guy.”

“But if he loves her, then why does he want to break it off at all?”

“Well cause he’s bad for her. She would have to give up so much for him. She’s having to lie to her friends, hide all this stuff for him. Change her whole life really. But she wants to, because she loves him, he just doesn’t think it’s fair to ask that of her. But like… he’s still asking her to do it just by being with her, you know?”

He knew.

“I mean, and he’s a fucking vampire. Yah know, suck suck and all that jazz,” Bekah laughed. “If the rest isn’t a deal breaker, then that definitely is. I mean, yeah, Damon’s a vampire too but at least he just accepts it, and he doesn’t ask her to change or anything.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m Team Damon, if you couldn’t tell,” she tried again.

“Yeah. Me too.”

Grayson tried to shake himself out of his thoughts, but it was proving difficult. Luckily, Bekah just mistook it as him being super invested in the show, which made her happy. Jessica let him stay an extra fifteen minutes, and he took a quick video of Bekah wishing Indy luck on her last final before he left and headed out.

The walk home was worse. It was darker somehow, colder as his mind raced with realization after realization. He did his best to do the math in his head. It was December 3rd, which meant 30 days until he was supposed to go back to LA. All the way to the other side of the country, only coming back to Jersey every few months if he was able to. Ethan’s voice rang in his head as he trudged through the lobby and into the elevator.

That shit won’t work when you’re on the other side of the country.

He tried to breathe it off, put on a positive face before he opened Indy’s apartment door, smiling when he saw her on the couch, pencil tucked behind her ear as she looked over diagrams.

“Hi! How was it?”

“It was good, she’s good. Looks great actually.”

His phone buzzed in his pocket once, then again, and he pulled it out to check it.

A notification of a payment from the joint bank account, and then a text from E.

Booked the flights for the 2nd. Hope that’s cool.

“Everything okay?” Indy asked.

He put his phone back in his pocket and smiled.

“Yeah. Everything is fine.”

[sparrow-flies-south]

I Can’t Decide (Whether You Should Live Or Die) 3

Title: I Can’t Decide (Whether You Should Live Or Die) Pairings: Romantic Thomceit Warnings: More murder attempts, stabbing, references to child abduction and abuse, references to torture, and a character who, while not actually suicidal, is prepared to sacrifice his life. Summary: Deceit is one of the best assassins in the business. So assassinating Thomas Sanders should not be difficult - except Thomas seems to have the amazing ability to happen to escape from death. And the longer it takes Deceit to kill Thomas, the less sure he is that he even wants to.

My Masterpost   Read on AO3  Part one  Part two  Fic tag

The agency has safe houses dotted across the country, but it’s only the new members who rely on them. Over time, assassins fain their own network of safe houses and bolt holes; some that belong to them, others that another agent will let them use.

Deceit can’t use any of the agency’s safe houses. He can’t use any belonging to his allies, either, though there were only ever a handful of them. He inherited some of his own safe houses from the Dragon, which leaves only a few that he can go to. Fortunately, one of these is in Florida.

The owner of the building the flat is in gets paid handsomely to not ask too many questions. The other residents believe Deceit is a rich man who spends most of his time travelling the world. There are a number of ways out of the building for if it does get discovered, and it’s located close to the main road out of town.

It’s long past midnight when Deceit arrives, meaning he has officially failed his mission. Officially abandoned his mission, which is worse. If he’d just failed, his reputation would be ruined, and he’d have to fight to repair it, but he’d still be welcomed back.

There’s only one case that he knows of where someone abandoned their mission, when it had turned out the target could pay better than the agency did. Deceit had tracked the agent down in Budapest.

“What the fuck would you know about anything?” she’d snarled at him, back pressed against the wall and bleeding from her side. “You’re brainwashed by the agency!”

He hadn’t taken offence to her insults. Everyone knows that it wasn’t exactly his choice to become what he is today. People wondered why the Dragon had shown up after a mission with a freshly orphaned child, why she’d sunk her time and resources into training him, but everyone agreed that it had worked.

It hadn’t been a violent process, the remaking of him, but a gentle one. A band wrapped around his old self, so that as he grew, that part of him died and rotted away. Before long, the only name he’d gone by had been the one the Dragon had given him.

He’d buried the traitor by the side of the road; one last sign of respect that she didn’t deserve. The greatest honour any assassin could have is to go unremembered.

Janus should be dead and gone like she is, but Deceit dug him up when he’d told Thomas his name, and now he’s Deceits own spectre.

He doesn’t even know why he told Thomas that. A name makes no difference when he won’t see Thomas again.

And he won’t see Thomas again. Going back is too risky, it’s the first place the agency will look for him. And Deceit doesn’t know what he’s doing, doesn’t even know what he is anymore, but he knows he doesn’t want the agency to find him, not yet.

A day passes, two, and Deceit stays in the safe house as much as possible. He destroyed his phone after fleeing Thomas’ house, so he buys a new one when he has to stock up on supplies. He could call Thomas – he has Thomas’ number memorised. Then he can tell Thomas that he isn’t going to kill him, and Thomas will know he doesn’t have to even think about Deceit anymore.

He doesn’t call.

And then, on the third day, someone calls him.

Deceit answers it solely out of curiosity. It isn’t hard to recognise the high pitched, nasally voice on the other end.

“Sup, Deedee,” the Duke says. “Heard you fucked up.”

Out of everyone in the agency, Remus is the closest thing Deceit has ever had to a partner. They’re both the best at their job, though they have very different methods, and Deceit is one of the few people who tolerates the Duke’s antics. So when two people are needed for a mission, they end up paired together. And when a job is outside one’s realm of expertise, the other gets called it.

Deceit has been asked to clean up after Remus many times.

“How did you find this number?” Deceit asks.

The Duke laughs. “Figure it out! Unless you’re getting too rusty. Heard you’ve been having trouble getting it up – and by ‘getting it up’ I mean killing people. So now I get to come out to play instead!”

“You’ve been given the Thomas job,” he realises. It’s not much of a surprise; the agency doesn’t leave their targets alive just because one of their members fails.

“Ooh, first name basis. What’d he do, suck your dick? Or did he turn out to have secret ninja training or something?”

“Remus-”

“Sorry, Dee, can’t talk, got a plane to catch. See you when I’m done with him!”

The Duke hangs up before Deceit can say anything. Deceit stares down at the phone. He’d known something like this would happen, he just hadn’t thought about it. He hadn’t wanted to think about it, though that’s hardly an excuse for getting sloppy.

The Duke is going to kill Thomas. That’s without question. He might kill Virgil, too, but that hardly matters, since Deceit isn’t the one doing it. And Thomas knows he’s going to die, has been given time to make peace with it. Deceit has granted him that kindness.

Remus is among the best. Even if Thomas and Virgil get lucky again, they won’t be able to stop him for good. Only an assassin would be able to do that.

Deceit groans and buries his face in his hands. It’s one thing to fail, it’s even one thing to desert. But it’s a completely different thing to turn traitor, and that’s what he’ll be if he tries to intervene. And then he’ll be killed horribly, and Thomas will die as well, and none of it will have mattered.

Is Thomas worth such a pointless, suicidal mission?

Deceit curses, then storms out of his apartment.

*

He finally finds Thomas and Virgil and the mall, between Hot Topic and Pandora. Virgil is on his phone, and Thomas is talking to him. Thomas looks up, spots Deceit coming towards them, and smiles, face relaxing with relief as he raises a hand to wave.

Before Deceit can get there, Virgil is in front of him, putting himself between Deceit and Thomas.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Virgil snarls. His hands are clenched into fists, but Deceit can still see that he’s shaking.

Clearly, Virgil must have the sense that Thomas is lacking; he’s hostile and suspicious, and Deceit won’t be able to change that any time soon. It would be good to see, if it wasn’t getting in Deceit’s way right now.

“We need to get out of here,” Deceit says to Thomas.

“Yeah, no,” Virgil snaps. “I’m not letting you take Thomas somewhere to murder him.”

“As opposed to murdering him right here?” Deceit asks. “Or when he gets home? You know, for people with assassins after you, you’re not taking many precautions.”

“Deceit, buddy, you’re not really helping your case,” Thomas sighs. Some sense of urgency must show on Deceit’s face, though, because Thomas goes serious and asks, “What’s wrong?”

“You’re in danger,” Deceit says. “Quite possibly very immediate danger.”

“Pretty sure the danger is standing right in front of us,” Virgil mutters.

“The danger is that you’re standing here talking when you should be moving,” Deceit hisses. “Or did you actually think ignoring the problem would make it go away?”

“Okay.” Thomas pushes between them. “Deceit, I am very confused. Could you please just explains what’s going on? And where have you been?”

Deceit forces him to take a slow breath in and out. Is helping people always like this? It’s exhausting.

“I’m not the only assassin out there,” Deceit explains. “The Duke is looking for you, and believe me, you do not want him to find you. So we need to leave now.”

Thomas goes pale. Virgil tenses up.

“No fucking way,” Virgil says, at the same time as Thomas says, “Okay, let’s go.”

Virgil stares at Thomas incredulously. Deceit feels the same way, but he’s not about to question it now that things are finally doing his way. Virgil has no such qualms.

“What the fuck?” he snaps. “You’re seriously trusting him right now? His name is Deceit.”

Thomas shrugs sheepishly. “He hasn’t killed me yet.”

“That cannot be where the bar is.”

“If you’re quite done,” Deceit says, and Virgil turns all the venom in his gaze back to him. “We really should be going.”

Thomas nods, takes a step forward. “Virgil, I know you don’t trust him, but trust me. I’ll be fine, okay?”

Virgil shakes his head. “Fine,” he snaps, “But I’m coming with you.”

“No,” Thomas says immediately, and the intensity startles both Deciet and Virgil. “I’ve already put you in danger, I’m not putting you in any more.”

Deceit scans the mall. They really do not have time for this.

“Please,” Virgil says. “You’d be dead five times over by now if it wasn’t for me, Sanders. Someone has to watch your back.”

“Wonderful, we’re all going,” Deceit says. “Can we just get a move on?”

Thomas and Virgil seem to have a conversation with just their eyes, and then Thomas nods. “Okay,” he says. “You, uh, you do have somewhere to go, right?”

Deceit rolls his eyes, already leading the way out of the mall. He hears Thomas and Virgil hurry to keep up with him. “No, I barged in here without a plan,” he answers. “Honestly, Thomas, what do you take me for?”

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Thomas roll his eyes fondly, even as Virgil grumbles.

*

They don’t go far. Deceit takes them to an empty shop close to the mall, and ushers them upstairs, into what used to be an office room. Virgil hovers close to Thomas the whole time. Deceit leaves them there, and goes downstairs to check the perimeter.

There are a lot of places the Duke could enter – the main door, a back door, the large windows at the front of the shop which are boarded up but not boarded up well, and the windows upstairs. It’ll have to do for now, though, as Deceit doesn’t want to risk taking Thomas and Virgil across town until he knows where Remus is.

So he gets to work making it as safe as he can; he blocks off the front door first, as that’s the most obvious point of entry, and then switches to the back. There’s not a lot he can actually use – he was able to move some furniture still left in the front to block off that door, and he finds some wood and nails, presumably from boarding up the windows.

He’s only just set to work when someone moves behind him. He spins, already pulling out a knife and preparing to throw it when he realises who it is; Thomas, hands raised and a sheepish smile on his face.

“Sorry,” Thomas says. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

“Be glad I’m too well trained to have thrown that,” Deceit answers, and Thomas’ lips quirk up even more into a smile, as if Deceit isn’t talking about killing him.

“If I’m not back upstairs in ten minutes, Virgil’s going to come down,” Thomas says, grimacing. “He made me say that.”

“Okay.” Virgil’s suspicions is equal parts refreshing and grating, though he’s not sure what Virgil thinks it can possibly accomplish.

“What happened?” Thomas blurts, and it’s clear he’s wanted to say this for a while. “You show up at my house having a panic attack, and then you just disappear. Where have you been?”

“A safe house,” Deceit answers.

“Yeah, that narrows it down,” Thomas says. “Janus-”

Deceit goes perfectly still when Thomas says that name, and Thomas trails off, looking uncertain.

“I just- are you okay?” Thomas finishes.

“Clearly,” Deceit says. He’s here, isn’t he?

“That’s not what I mean,” Thomas says. He places a hand on Deceit’s arm, and Deceit’s brain short circuits. “Look, if you- want to talk or something, I’m here, okay?”

Deceit stares at Thomas’ hand. His touch is gentle yet solid. “You won’t like what I have to talk about.”

Thomas shrugs. “I can deal with it.”

“I’m fine.”

Thomas doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t push it.  Instead, he asks, “Who’s the Duke?”

“An assassin who works for the same people as me,” Deceit explains. “Since they aren’t happy with my progress, he’s been given the job.”

“And now he’s trying to kill me,” Thomas finishes, and Deceit nods.

Deceit gives Thomas a moment to process this before continuing, “The Duke is one of the best. Dealing with him will be difficult.”

“You said you work together. Is he your friend?”

An absurd thought. “I don’t have friends.”

“Except for me,” Thomas says.

That= Deceit doesn’t know what to say to that. It’s ridiculous – he and Thomas can’t be friends, even if Thomas is still touching him. He’s tried to kill Thomas multiple times, and Thomas kidnapped him (technically), and now Thomas is worried about Deceit’s mental state, and Deceit is risking his life to protect Thomas.

Deceit is about to explain all of this, when upstairs Virgil cries out, “Thomas!”

The panic in Virgil’s voice is clear, and the shout Is cut off at the end. Thomas takes off running first, but Deceit quickly overtakes him, so he is the first one to enter the room.

Virgil is still alive. The Duke stands behind him, one arm wrapped around Virgil’s neck, keeping him still. The other hand holds that ridiculous morning star that he likes so much. Somehow, Virgil manages to look both scared and pissed off all at once.

“Hi, Deede,” Remus says cheerfully. “Didn’t expect you to be such a sore loser. I got this job fair and square, you know.”

Deceit can tell the minute Thomas catches up, because Virgil’s eyes fly to someone in the doorway, and Thomas himself lets out a strangled noise. Deceit takes a smooth step back, so he’s standing next to Thomas.

“Funny,” Deceit says. “I didn’t expect you to get the wrong person.” He wraps his fingers around Thomas’ arm, and pulls him towards himself. Thomas stumbles as he moves, clearly not expecting Deceit to betray him.

Deceit pulls Thomas in front of him, and wraps one arm around Thomas’ chest. With their bodies pressed so close together, Deceit can feel Thomas’ breath speed up. Across the room, Virgil snarls and struggles, only to go still when Remus tightens his grip. Remus tilts his head, looking rather like a dog that just wandered in from the street.

“Why haven’t you killed him yet?” Remus asks, and Thomas’ breath stutters.

Deceit shrugs, watching for any sign of movement. “I’m having fun.”

“You fucking bastard,” Virgil snarls, kicking at Remus. Remus just holds onto him and whoops with laughter.

“Careful,” Remus says. “There’ll be time for you, too.”

Remus might very well kill Virgil here and now – the only reason he hasn’t is probably so he doesn’t get distracted.

“Why wait?” Deceit asks. “Consider him the consolation prize.”

Remus’ grin turns feral, which means he recognises the challenge. That ends up being the only warning Deceit gets before Remus in launching himself across the room, Virgil thrown to the side like a discarded doll.

Deceit flings himself and Thomas to the floor, dodging the swing of Remus’ mace. He leaves Thomas there and moves to meet Remus. He’s fast enough to grab Remus’ arm and twist it, forcing Remus to drop the mace.

Remus grabs Deceit’s wrist where he’s still holding Remus’ hand, and tries to flip him to the ground. Deceit is able to break free of the hold, and he aims a kick at Remus’ legs. It makes Remus stumble, and Deceit uses that to knock Remus to the ground, and pin him in place.

He can’t see Thomas or Virgil. He hopes this means that they’re smart enough to get the hell out of here while they still have a chance-

The knife slides into Deceit’s abdomen, and the surprise is enough for Remus to be able to throw him off.  Deceit gasps in pain, tries to pull himself upright, but Remus is already there, pushing him back down again.

“Eh, don’t feel too bad,” Remus says, patting Deceit on the cheek. “Better luck next time, right?”

“Remus, don’t,” Deceit begs, but Remus ignores him and picks up the morning star.

“C’mon, I won unfair and square,” Remus says.

Deceit is able to push himself to his feet, though he knows fighting Remus won’t do much good. Thomas and Virgil are standing in the doorway, which means he hasn’t even managed to give them a head start.

He lunges forward, grabs Remus by the arm, desperately trying to stop him, but Remus shakes Deceit off with a snarl. Deceit is already off-balance from the wound, and now Remus throws him to the ground. The air is forced out of his lungs, and he can only stare up at Remus, standing over him.

“Please,” Deceit is able to gasp out.

Remus tilts his head. “It’s only a job,” he says, a bit reproachful.

Deceit shakes his head. He wants to tell Remus it’s not, but he can’t, and someone is running across the room towards them.

“Stop,” Thomas cries, and Remus swivels to look at him. “Look, let him and Virgil go, and- and you can kill me. I won’t try to fight you.”

Remus glances between Thomas and Deceit, and then shrugs. “Kind of a weird thing to say, but I’ll take it.”

“No,” Deceit snarls. He tries to push himself upright, but is unable to.

“Deceit, don’t,” Thomas says. “It’s okay. You did everything you could.”

“Hang on,” Remus says, lowering his mace. “He knows you name?”

“Well,” Thomas says shakily, “It’d be kind of weird if I kept calling him Mr Assassin.”

 “Okay,” Remus says. “Can one of you tell me what in the ever loving fuck is going on?”

Deceit opens his mouth to explain, but before he can Virgil is at his side, one hand gingerly touching near the wound on Deceit’s abdomen.

“What the fuck, you just got stabbed,” Virgil hisses, which Deceit thinks should be fairly obvious by this point.

Virgil shrugs out of his hoodie and presses it against the wound, stemming the bleeding. Thomas crouches down on Deceit’s other side.

“Is he going to be okay?” Thomas asks.

“How the fuck should I know?” Virgil snaps. “I’m not a doctor.”

“I’ll be fine,” Deceit says. “I just need to close it.”

“What if it hit something important?” Virgil asks.

“Oh, please,” Remus says. “I’m not an amateur.”

Virgil and Thomas both startle at the reminder that Remus is here. Deceit sighs.

“If you find me something to stitch this with, I’ll tell you everything,” he says to Remus.

Remus hurries out of the room, and Deceit stumbles to his feet.

“What are you doing?” Thomas asks.

Deceit staggers to a chair, pushed against the side of the wall, and sits down in it. Virgil hurries over to press the hoodie against the wound again.

“It’ll be easier to stitch it like this,” Deceit says.

“Stitch it, right.” Thomas sounds faint. “Because that’s what we’re doing.”

“It’s what I’m doing,” Deceit corrects, waving Virgil away. “I don’t trust you with a needle.”

Virgil is reluctant to let go of the hoodie, until Deceit begins to peel his shirt off. He drops his shirt to the floor, next to Virgil’s blood soaked hoodie – he’ll have to help Virgil get the stains out of it later. When he looks up again, Thomas and Virgil are staring at him in horror.

“What happened to you?” Thomas asks.

Deceit glances down at his chest, and then shrugs. Most of the wounds he’s received are from accidents, or training, or times when the target decided to fight back. Those are the smaller scars, though, and Deceit has a feeling Thomas and Virgil are looking at the big ones. The ones that only happen when someone knows what they’re doing and wants to make it hurt.

“Business,” Deceit says.

“That’s a shit explanation,” Virgil points out.

“DeeDee got caught a few years back,” Remus says from the doorway, where he is now standing. He’s found a needle and thread somewhere – most likely something he brought with him.

“And they did that to you?” Thomas asks, choked.

Deceit glances at Remus, who shrugs, looking as confused as Deceit feels. “It was a long time ago.”

That doesn’t seem to make Thomas or Virgil feel any better, so Deceit takes the needle and thread from Remus and busies himself with stitching his wound. Thomas makes a strange, choked noise, but Deceit chooses to ignore it.

Remus is able to keep quiet until Deceit is almost done, when he blurts out, “Okay, seriously, what the fuck? You guys know he wants to kill you, right?”

It’s a fair point. Deceit looks up at Thomas and Virgil to see what they have to say to it.

“We got that after the first couple of assassination attempts,” Virgil mutters.

“But he hasn’t,” Thomas says. “And I don’t think he really wants to.”

“I don’t,” Deceit agrees. He finishes the last couple of stitches and ties it off.

“What, did you suck his dick or something? Cause if so, you must have been really good.”

Thomas turns bright red at that. Deceit avoids making eye contact with him.

“It’s not like that,” Deceit says quickly. “It’s-” Deceit hesitates, uncertain what it is like. “He’s my friend,” he finishes, though that doesn’t quite fit.

Remus pulls a face. “Gross.”

“This doesn’t change anything, does it?” Thomas asks. “I mean, even if you decide not to kill me, they’re just going to keep sending more people, right?”

“Then we go into hiding or something,” Virgil says, glancing at Deceit desperately.

“It would be difficult,” Deceit says slowly, “But not impossible.”

“And what happens to you two?” Thomas snaps, gesturing at Remus. Deceit doesn’t answer. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Maybe we should just- get on with it.”

“Absolutely not,” Deceit snarls.

“You just got stabbed. He could have killed you! He could have killed Virgil! I’m not- I can’t just let you guys get hurt for me.”

“Too bad,” Virgil hisses. “Because we’re not leaving.”

“Um,” Remus says, “Do I get to make a suggestion?”

“No,” everyone snaps.

“Alright, fine. I mean, I was gonna suggest we stop the contract, but sure, don’t listen to me.”

Wait.

“Stop the contract?” Virgil echoes. “As in- make it so there isn’t a price on Thomas’ head anymore?”

“The Agency doesn’t just stop contracts,” Deceit points out.

“Unless the client cancels it,” Remus corrects. “Honestly, Dee, were you even paying attention to how things work?”

“Hey, that- that actually sounds like an idea,” Thomas says.

“Barely,” Deceit says. “You’re suggesting that we find the client – something which is kept secret – and then somehow persuade them into not having Thomas killed, all without the agency finding out what we’re doing and killing us.”

“Okay, well, when you put it like that,” Remus mutters.

“Do we have any better ideas, though?” Thomas asks. “Because, no offence, but the idea of spending the rest of my life on the run isn’t very appealing.”

And the thing is, Deceit doesn’t have any better ideas. In fact, he’s pretty sure he could figure out who the client is, though the Dragon would almost certainly find out about it.

“Actually, Remus might be on to something,” Deceit says.

“You just listed all the reasons why it’s a terrible idea,” Virgil complained.

“Well, yes,” Deceit says. “There’s no way of getting to the client without the Dragon finding out. But we’re not going after the client.”

“Then who are we going after?” Thomas asks.

Deceit smiles. There’s a rush of energy through his body, the same as he gets before a particularly difficult mission. “We’re going after the Dragon.”

[lifeisntafantasy]

Bathtub

!!Suicide Warning!!

Even tho I already said suicide warning I also wanna warn you it talks about self harm and drowning so like don't read this if it triggers you please.

The ship is anxeitmus (Virgil x Deceit x Remus).

This is much longer than I expected it to be. I’m also kind of proud of it ig? I posted this on Wattpad, but almost forgot to post it her. Actually, I forget to post most things on here tbh.

Deceit smiled to himself as he got in the warm water of his bathtub, and he immediately felt his muscles relax. It was so nice and quiet, and he couldn't hear any of the other sides. He felt so calm that he could probably fall asleep right there.

Which is exactly what he planned to do. He already took about fifteen sleeping pills, he didn't know how many he would need, so he could fall asleep in the tub. He would be asleep as he drowned because instinct would make him pull his head out of the water if he were awake.

Deceit didn't even take off his clothes, which were just a yellow t-shirt and some ripped jeans, before he got in the tub; right after he took the pills he wrote several notes for the other sides, and doing that wasted the little energy he had. He couldn't leave without letting them know what they had done to him. They needed to know how their glares, hateful words, and insults had affected him.

He didn't have the energy to take his clothes off since the pills were already taking affect, and he needed to be in the bathtub before he passed out. He needed this to work. He couldn't deal with eveything and everyone.

Deceit chuckled dryly as he looked at his arms, scars and cuts covering them. Some of the cuts were from earlier that day, so his arms were stinging slightly. He knew the other sides wouldn't look for him until his death affected Thomas; they didn't care about how he was doing. They never noticed how he sometimes didn't eat for three days. They didn't notice he sometimes didn't leave his room for days because he didn't have the energy. They didn't care.

Deceit hoped his death would affect Thomas quickly, if only because it would make the other sides try to come find him. He left the door to his room and bathroom unlocked to make it easier for them to find him.

Deceit knew the other sides would worry about what would happen to Thomas after Deceit died, but he wrote in his notes that another side would eventually appear in his place. Roman would just have to help Thomas more, since acting was kind of like lying.

Deceit smiled tiredly as he felt his consciousness slip away. He'd finally be at peace.

Soon enough Deceit fell into a deep slumber, and his head slipped under the water. His lungs filled with water as he took a breath in his sleep, eventually killing him.

Not even an hour after Deceit's death, Thomas was affected. He was hanging out with Joan in Thomas's apartment when he felt something change. He could tell it was something to do with his sides, so he needed Joan to leave. They didn't know that Thomas's sides were real, and Thomas planned to keep it that way.

"Hey, Joan, can we cut this short?" Thomas said with an apologetic face.

Joan looked at Thomas, their head tilted in confusion, "Why? Is it because I took the last pizza slice?" they asked, chuckling to show they were joking.

"No it's not that. Something changed and now I need to call my sides to see what's up," Thomas said. It took a moment before he realized he didn't come up with a lie like he meant to.

Joan just laughed, thinking Thomas was joking, "You mean the Sanders Sides? That's just you acting for your YouTube channel."

Thomas laughed nervously, trying to tell Joan he was just joking, but he couldn't lie.

"My sides are real. I can actually summon them," Thomas said.

Joan looked at Thomas a bit apprehensively, "You're joking right..?" they asked, confused.

Thomas took a deep breath as he summoned Logan, not being able to lie to Joan and make them leave.

Logan rose up, book in hand, "Hello, Thomas. How may I help you?" the side asked, not looking up from his book.

"What?! Is that Logan?!" Joan shouted in fear, making Logan look up from his book slightly startled.

"Um hello, Joan. Yes, I am Logan, Thomas's logic. Thomas what are they doing here? I thought you weren't going to tell them that we were real?" Logan asked, his voice sounding slightly nervous.

Thomas sighed, his voice shaking slightly, "So apparently I cannot lie right now, and Joan and I were hanging out when I felt a weird shift in my head, so I tried to make Joan leave so that I could summon you guys, but they asked me why and, as I said, I couldn't lie to them because I cannot lie right now so I accidentally told them you guys were real and they didn't believe me and I had to summon you because I can't lie," Thomas took a deep breath since he said that all in one breath and he was slightly panicking.

"It's right Thomas, just breathe. You will be okay," Logan said calmly, although he was slightly worried.

Thomas nodded as he took a couple of deep breaths to calm down.

Joan was looking at Logan.

"So wait.. all of you guys are real? Like Roman, Virgil, Patton, Deceit, and Remus?" they asked Logan.

Logan nodded, "Yes. Although something seems to be wrong with Deceit, seeing as Thomas cannot currently lie."

Joan nodded their head, "That's cool that you guys are real. When we do videos is it really Thomas or do you guys trade places when he says he goes to change?" they asked, slightly more curious now.

"Usually it's Thomas, but he sometimes does ask us to do it for him when he is feeling tired," Logan responds. "But that's not important. What is important is figuring out why Deceit isn't doing his job. Thomas, would you mind trying to summon Deceit?"

"Okay," Thomas says, more calm after breathing a bit. He tried to summon Deceit a couple of times before he gives up, Deceit not arriving.

"Hm. That's odd. Usually a side cannot ignore a summon from you," Logan thinks aloud. Then he turns to Joan. "Joan, we will be visting Thomas's mind and, seeing as you are not him or one of his sides, you cannot come. You may stay here if you would like, or you may leave."

"I'll leave," they say. "It'll probably be awkward for me to just sit here. I'll talk to you later, Thomas."

Thomas nodded to them as they left. Then he turned to talk to Logan, "Should we get the other sides, too?"

"Yes, that might be a good idea."

Thomas nodded determinedly as he summoned the rest of the sides, including Remus.

They all looked at Thomas, then at each other. Virgil looked at Remus and then went to look at Deceit, but he noticed he wasn't there. Remus noticed too, and he clearly wanted to know why his snake like boyfriend wasn't there.

"Hey! Where's Double Dee? Why isn't he here?"

Thomas looked at Remus, "He's not here because I can't summon him. I also apparently can't lie, and Logan and I think that there's something wrong with Deceit."

"What? Something's wrong with Deceit?" Virgil asked, quickly getting worried.

"We don't know for sure, but it certainly is a possibility," Logan responded. "Which is why Thomas summoned you all so we could visit his room to see what is happening."

"Yeah and I'm getting worried, so let's go, okay?" Thomas said quickly.

All the sides nodded and quickly sunk out and into Deceit's room.

As they rose up, they realized Deciet wasn't there, which was very odd. They started searching around the room, not seeing him anywhere. Virgil decided to check the private bathroom. He immediately regrets it.

Virgil stumbled out of the bathroom, tears streaming down his face and his breathing labored. He forced himself to keep going, grabbing Remus and dragging him to the bathroom. There they find their boyfriend, very pale and head under water.

Virgil finds the closest wall to sit down and lean against, quickly slipping into a panic attack. Remus swore loudly, shouting to the other sides to come into the bathroom, before rushing to Virgil to calm him down.

"Hey, hey Virge, look at me. Virge I need you to look at me," Remus said calmly, although he felt like breaking down right then and there.

Virgil looked at Remus with wide eyes, panic and sadness written clearly over his features.

"Hey hey hey. It's going to be okay. I promise. Can I touch you? I promise it'll be okay. Can I touch you?" Remus said softly. The others were already in the bathroom, for some reason staring at Remus and Virgil instead of Deceit's corpse in the tub. They all looked surprised at how softly Remus was speaking to Virgil.

Virgil didn't seem to notice the other sides and Thomas, silently nodding at Remus. Remus grabbed Virgil's hand and placed it on his chest, willing his heart to calm down.

"Just copy my breathing, okay?" Remus said, taking a deep breath.

Virgil nodded, attempting to imitate Remus's breathing. After a couple moments Virgil could copy Remus. After Virgil's panic attack ended, he fully broke down sobbing. Remus pulled Virgil into a tight hug, letting the latter cry into his boyfriend's chest.

"I just- I can't- Why- why would he do this?" Virgil sobbed. "Didn't he care about- about us?"

Remus just rocked gently, letting tears slip from his eyes. After a couple minutes Virgil finally stopped crying, and Remus pulled away.

"I'm going to get up. Would you like help up, too?" Remus said softly. Virgil only nodded, letting Remus pull him up off the ground.

Virgil quickly pulled away from Remus's grasp, searching the bathroom for some sort of sign as to why Deceit's would leave them. After only a couple of moments of searching, he found notes for all of them.

He handed all of the sides their papers. Virgil and Remus got a note assigned to both of them. It explained why he killed himself, the pain he had to deal with, and how much he loved them both. After reading it, both sides were almost sobbing and glaring at the other sides. They had all finished reading their notes, and the only other one who had any tears was Thomas.

Patton seemed guilty, but not sad. Logan seemed impassive, but you could see some confusion in his face. Almost as if he was confused as to how to feel. Roman was the only one showing sadness, but it was barely there. He clearly didn't care, he was just sad he couldn't "save the damsel in distress".

Thomas was the only one who was showing any genuine sadness. He was clearly heartbroken over the loss of his deceitful side. Although his presence made Thomas feel a bit uneasy, he wanted to get to know Deceit, and see what the side was passionate about, what he loved, how he did things. Thomas was truly upset.

Virgil and Remus were enraged. How could none of them care that they killed one of the best sides in Thomas's mind?

Patton looked at Virgil, the latter's face slowly turning red from rage.

"Hey kiddo, why don't you just calm down?" Patton said softly, like he was talking to a scared animal.

"I am not your kiddo!" Virgil shouted, his tempest tongue flaring, making the other sides flinch. "You all killed my boyfriend. I will never ever forgive any of you. And when the new deceit shows up, you better treat him with the highest respect, or I will let Remus out on all of you. You will regret what you did, and that's a promise." Virgil finished and left the room and pulled a seething Remus with him, leaving the other three sides in a terrified and remorseful silence.

As Deceit had said in his letters, a new Deceit appeared within a week. Virgil broke down crying the first time he saw the newly formed side, and the light sides were forced to watch as Remus helped him. Ever since Virgil snapped at them, he'd been avoiding them like the plague.

The light sides greeted the new deceit with open arms, just like Virgil had told them. They didn't need Remus attacking them since Virgil was already affecting by avoiding them and giving them anxiety. He was staying true to his word and making them regret ever treating Deceit badly. The only time Virgil would talk to them was during videos.

The new deceit was happy, and that's all that mattered.

idk how to end this so thats it.

[redfoxwritesstuff]

Of Dust and Ashes: Chapter 30

Hello! I intended to have this up yesterday morning (on time!) except I was off in the middle of nowhere. The joys of family visits. 

Chapter warnings: None

Chapter 30: Leaving

“Can we take a break?” Rachel asked for the fourth time that morning. 

They answered “No.” in unison. 

Stopping wasn’t an option. It was warmer that morning than it was the morning prior and they were thankful for that. Thick white clouds hung low in the sky, tinted with the rising sun. A few fat snowflakes fell, threatening to call for more. 

Under normal circumstances, Dee would have loved the possibility of a heavy snowfall. The snow wasn’t perfectly white but it was white enough. If she pretended that it was just some dirt or ash from a fire nearby, it was white enough.

A fresh snowfall covered the world around them until it melted some or real life came and disturbed it and every time that happened, Dee clung to it. It hid away the horrors of broken glass, covered corpses and auto wrecks just the same. It blanketed everything. 

Dee sent a silent prayer to no one in particular that it would wait to snow until they made it to the truck. Right now, fresh snow could mean trouble. They were already taking enough of a risk in keeping to the main roads but it was easier walking, allowing them to make better time. 

Still, it left them in the open in exchange. The last thing she wanted was fresh snow for them to leave obvious tracks in. Clint said he was pretty sure that the followers of King Jacob had abandoned the city but that only could give so much comfort. 

It was a simple case of risk management. Trust hadn’t wanted to eat much that morning. He had little interest in water and lacked some of the energy he had the night prior. They told themselves it was the pain, they wouldn’t want to eat in his condition either. 

But there was that voice, in the back of the mind, telling them that he didn’t have much time. They needed to hurry. 

There was a chance that Sasha would refuse to help the dog. She wasn’t a vet. They needed her to help him though. Dee needed Trust. Sasha would help. She had to. 

In her heart, Dee knew that Clint wasn’t above withholding aid to force her hand. 

Clint looked back and Smiled at her. They walked single file, with Rachel in the middle and Dee in the rear.

“How much longer?” Rachel asked. “My feet hurt.” 

“A few more hours.” Clint answered. 

Rachel looked like she was about to say something, complain some more. Dee impulsive reached down and grabbed a chunk of old snow. Parts crumbled in her hand, some stuck to the fabric of her glove. Without thought, she chucked it at Rachel. 

It landed with a light thump, falling apart on contact. Rachel’s head snapped back. Before she could say anything, Dee gave her stern look, willing her to mind her tongue. 

They only stopped walking when the baby fussed. Dee insisted that Rachel try and nurse. Rachel protested the idea but Dee refused to give her a bottle until she tried. 

The tiny infant struggled to latch. Dee had expected it and reassured Rachel as much as she could. There were layers and coats in the way, she was stressed and the baby was cold. Once she settled and the tiny body started soaking in the body heat directly from Rachel’s skin however, she made a better effort. 

“I told you it wouldn’t work.” Rachel hissed as she fixed her shirt and snached the bottle from Clint. “This isn’t warm enough.” 

“It’s as warm as it’s getting. We don’t have time to boil water.” Clint said before starting ahead again. Break time was over, the babe could drink from a bottle while they walked. 

“I know it felt like a failed attempt.” Dee walked next to Rachel. “It wasn’t, though. She latched and she got something. It takes time but your body will respond as long as you keep trying. Don’t give up.”

 “It’s not going to work.” 

“Not with that attitude.” It was a phrase Dee had once said to her children every time they said they couldn’t do something. Somehow, though Rachel wasn’t really all that much younger than her, it felt right to say it.

~~~~~<3

“Why are we getting off the road?” Rachel had been quiet most of the walk. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to complain, she did. They were simply walking at such a pace that she was almost always winded. 

Dee was thankful for Rachel’s silence. She wanted to believe that Clint wouldn’t just leave the woman behind or that she wouldn’t let him. The truth was that she wasn’t sure of either of those things though. 

“The truck is up ahead, off the road.” Clint answered.

“I don’t see it.” 

Dee rolled her eyes. “That’s the point.”

“Why go through all that trouble?” Rachel asked as they got closer. “It’s not like someone’s going to steal it.”

“Never count on that.” Dee reminded her. 

“Get this through your head, unless what you’ve got is locked up where no one else can get to it- never count on that. If you want to keep what you’ve got, always, always count on there being someone else who wants to steal it.”

“It’s not like I’ve got anything to steal.” Rachel grumbled as Clint uncovered the truck.

“You’ve got a coat. Boots too.” Clint answered.

“Your body, too.” Dee added. They all knew what was done to at least some of the women back in the city under the rule of King Jacob. “You never know who is going to want to take what you’ve got.”

Clint carefully nestled Trust on the floor behind the driver’s seat. The dog gave a small whine of protest at being jostled around. Still, his tail tumped against the seat as he licked Clint’s arm. 

“Just a bit longer.” He whispered, scratching the dog’s neck. 

“Careful not to bump him.” Dee said, helping Rachel into the backseat of the truck. It was small and cramped. Being an older model, the truck’s backseat was more of an afterthought than a proper seat but it did the job. 

“You care more about that dog than me.” Rachel was more talking to herself but that didn’t stop Dee from answering. 

“I do.”

The truck roared to life as Dee slammed the passenger door closed. The sound of the engine was music to her ears. As Clint pulled onto the ice covered road, Dee relaxed into the seat. 

It didn’t take long for her to doze off. Between the movement of the truck, the sound of the road and the warmth that was soon pouring from the vents, it lulled her into a peaceful sleep. She shifted to get more comfortable, causing her back to pop. Clint chuckled to himself and the sound carried her off to sleep.

~~~~~<3

When the truck stopped, Dee jerked awake. “What?”

“We’re here.” Clint reached over with a reassuring hand, squeezing her thigh and offered her a smile. He knew every bit of what she was feeling. It was always a shock to fall asleep while in transit while on a mission. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Rachel asked as she keeped between the seats. 

“Yeah.” Clint answered before turning his attention back to Dee. “Stay here with her. I’ll talk to Sasha then I’ll come back out.”

“You make it sound like it’s not safe.” Rachel complained. 

Clint paid her no mind as he got out of the truck. The force of the door slamming shut rocked them. He found it was easier to deal with Rachel if he ignored her. Dee’s ability to reason with the damned woman and shut her up was beyond his amazement. She would be a fine asset to any team and he was thankful to have her on his side. 

“Sasha!” He called as he walked along the front of the building, making a point to be in view of the windows. “It’s us.” 

There was movement of the curtains where he assumed she was watching him. He walked slowly toward the main door. Sasha was lucky, though this was a clinic it lacked the large panes of plate glass windows and doors that many modern clinics would have. 

It was a cabin style building with thick walls and few windows. Icicles hung from the roof, showing evidence of the warmer few days they had enjoyed between the winter snowfalls. Newer buildings were often designed in a way to prevent them for safety but this building wasn’t newer at all. It had thick walls and a heavy wooden door, painted the color of berries and with only a small window.

Clint’s knuckles rapped against that heavy wooden door. “Sasha! If you don’t open up, I’ll come inside my way.” 

The sound of something heavy being moved across the floor was muffled by the door. He didn’t like that sound. He didn’t like not knowing what was on the other side of the door. There wasn’t anything he had seen that made it look like anyone other than them had been to the Clinic but that didn’t always mean anything. In the back of his mind, he wondered if perhaps somehow the late King Jacob’s men had found this place and was lying in wait for him. 

The door opened a crack, revealing Sasha’s tired face. She looked better than when they had first seen her. Her hair was pulled back in a braid and looked to have been brushed recently. Her skin was blotchy and had more color to it. It was amazing what a few meals, heat and a little support could give a person. 

“You came back.” She said.

“I promised we would.”

“Did you bring more food?” 

“Not yet. I- we need your help.”

“With what?”

“Trust- he got shot. I don’t think he’s doing that good. It looks like it’s probably just a flesh wound- I hope it is at least.”

“I’m not a vet.” She protested like he had predicted she would.

“That dog, he’s everything to Dee. You take a look. You do the best you can for him or you never see us again.” 

“What if I can’t save him? What if he dies anyway? Then you’ll still leave me to die?”

“You have my word that we won’t. All I’m asking for is for you to give it your best shot. Just try, that’s all.”

Sasha signed. “Bring him in.”

“There’s another thing-”

“God, what else?”

“You remember the baby?” Clint turned and waved for Dee and Rachel, signaling for them to head inside. 

“Is she alright?” 

“She’s fine. Doing great actually.”

“Thank god.” She interrupted. 

“She’s probably good enough for you to give her some of her shots. Anyway, we have her mother with us.”

“I thought you said she was captive in the city?” Sasha opened the door wider as her eyes flicked over to Dee and the new woman.

“She was. King Jacob is dead now. The city has been freed.”

Dee gave Sasha a warm smile as she slipped through the doorway. Rachel hung back, clutching the baby to her and watching carefully. Clint held his arm out to her, calling her forward. She didn’t want to get closer but she pushed herself closer. 

She didn’t know what else to say, so she said “Hi.” 

“This is Rachel.” Clint added, placing a reassuring hand on the small woman’s back, much to Rachel’s surprise. “Let’s go in and talk?”

It wasn’t a question of if they could go into Sasha’s space, though it was worded as one. Rachel was very sure that Clint was the one in charge. Sasha had very little say in the matter. It was only presented as if ‘no’ was an option for her. If what they had said was true, if Clint and Dee had given Sasha their word that they would supply her, she needed to keep them happy. 

Sasha opened the door wider and stepped aside. The inside of the Clinic was warm, but dark. It felt good to be warm. Rachel hadn’t been truly warm in a long time. She hadn’t thought that it could feel better than being in the truck with the heat pouring out of the vents but it did. 

“I’ve been trying to save wood, getting it nice and hot in here at night and keeping a low fire going during the day- mostly just embers to keep the smoke as light as possible so no one finds me.”

“Have you seen anyone else since we left?” Clint asked as she locked the door behind them. “Let me.” He said when she went to push the heavy arm chair in front of it again.

“Yesterday, a few men ran by on the main road while I was outside. They didn’t see me or even look down the road.”

“Are you sure?” Clint tensed instantly. “Why were you near the mainroad?”

“I found- Dr. Walker had a gun in his office. I was walking through the woods- along the road so I wouldn’t get lost. It was a warmer day so I figured if I got lucky, I’d see an animal or something. If I got luckier, maybe I could shoot it? I don’t know.”

“No, that’s good. And staying in the woods is good too. You did good.” He sighed, adding to his mental list of things to bring down to Sasha. “Have you seen anyone else?”

“Not sense them.” She answered. “I should check the baby- and Rachel.”

“Not yet.” Clint answered.

Dee sat with Rachel on the large couch in the waiting room, watching. She knew that Clint was bartering, making sure Sasha remembered that he was in charge. Sasha longed to do something that reminded her of what was before the snap. She longed for something normal and to pretend for a few minutes that none of this had happened. Dee also knew that Clint was using that as a reward for after she’d done what they needed. 

“I’m going to go back out and bring Trust in. He’s been shot. You are going to look at him and do what you can for him. Then, and only then, do you get to check out the baby and Rachel.”

Sasha sighed as she watched Clint move the chair again. She didn't want to treat a dog. It was an insult to her education. She wasn't a goddamn veterinarian. She was a nurse. 

When Clint returned with the dog in his arms, she had to admit he did look in rough shape. She wasn't blinded to how much he meant to Dee. There was the simple fact that she needed them hanging over her head. 

"Put him on the floor in an exam room. Hold onto him, don't let him bite me." She couldn't believe she was going to do it. 

“Thank you.” She turned at the sound of Dee’s voice, tearing her eyes away from Clint as he walked back to his truck. 

“Don’t thank me yet.” Elizabeth fussed in Rachel’s arms, drawing Sasha’s eyes to her. “Let me check her while he gets the dog?” 

Rachel’s eyes darted to Dee as she opened her mouth. Dee spoke faster however. 

“No.” She said. “Not until after Trust.” 

“You’re being ridiculous.” Sasha signed. “you all are." 

Dee crossed the room, to the door when she saw Clint approaching. She held it open for him, taking the chance to give Trust a scratch behind his ears as they went by. When they were inside, she pushed the heavy armchair once again in front of the door. 

Clint put the dog on a cushioned exam table. It was clear Sasha didn't approve but he paid her no mind. What mattered was if he approved. She needed him far more than he needed her and they both knew it. Power was in his hands. 

"How much do you think he weighs?" Sasha asked. 

"Why?" 

"I'm going to sedate him. I don't feel like getting bit."

"Is that safe?" Dee asked from the doorway.

"There's always a risk." Clint answered. "Wait with Rachel? I don't want her alone." 

Dee nodded but lingered in the doorway for a few seconds longer. With a sigh, she disappeared. 

"Probably around 80 pounds?" Clint said, answering Sasha's earlier question. 

"Hold him." Sasha asked as she drew liquid from a vial into a syringe. "I'm doseing like I would for a kid. I can add more if I need to but…"

"Giving too little you can correct. Too much you can't." Clint offered and Sasha nodded. 

His arms wrapped around the body of the dog. He moved Trust's head to rest on his shoulder, snout behind his neck. If he lunged from the needle poke, chances are he wouldn't get anyone. 

Sasha gave the dose and Trust flinched, offering only a whimper of protest. It took a few short minutes for the medication to relax him and his eyes to slip closed. Clint tapped the dog's nose a few times, checking for a reaction. 

"I think he's out." 

Clint agreed. "I'll keep an eye on his breathing."

~~~~~<3

Tag list: @usedtobegoodfriend96​, @alcoholic-muffin​, @theoneanna​, @alexakeyloveloki​, @winterisakiller​, @missaphrodite23​, @j-u-s-t-4​, @toozmanykids​, @bambamwolf87​, @nonsensicalobsessions​, @tinchentitri​, @xoxabs88xox​, @queenoftheunderdark​, @carissime72​, @myoxisbroken​, @coyotesongwriting​, @wegingerangelica​, @faemapfae​, @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123​, @tnystrk-exe​

[pie-yrites]

I was a touch from six years old when it happened. Dean was four, not even halfway to five, and little Sammy was six months old. Mom burned on the ceiling, Dad telling Dean go run out with baby Sammy, our entire lives falling apart in a split second. 

I don't write any of that, of course. My teacher asked for our name and one important fact about ourselves onto a note card, to read out loud to the rest of the class. Not only is it disturbing but also unbelievable, and would raise too many questions. 

"My name is Violet Winchester, I hate the colour purple and I'm seven years old." I pout, reading out from what I actually wrote down in red crayon. My attitude seems to garner some giggles and a smile from the teacher, who all think I'm simply being playful. The positive attention brings a small smile to my face and I sit down, not even bothered by the fact that I just got laughed at for hating my own name. 

I wonder how Dee and Sammy are doing.

--

Since mommy died, my life is a lot different. Once it's time for our first recess, I sneak out of the colourful room (walls decorated with paper crafts, soft traffic and space rugs covering the floors, some toys scattered around) and run through the hall, to where I know my Dee is. He's two years younger than me, and Its my job as the oldest to check on him. Dad said so, and what dad says goes. 

Later on I'll realize just how many levels of wrong everything is, just beginning with the fact that my brother should be in kindergarten, but right now that doesn't faze me. My world is small, just me, my family, and the Impala. 

I knock on the door loudly, practically banging my tiny fist against it. The door opens, revealing a teacher unfamiliar but friendly looking nonetheless.

"Hi! Is Dee Winchester in there? I mean Dean. Is he here?" I ask, a stutter coming out from my nerves. This teacher is a boy, unlike mine and it makes a strange difference in my mind. The only boys I like are mine, my family, other boys tend to pick on me for being strange. 

The teacher smiled, slightly unsurprised. It wasn't hard to guess the situation at hand. This wasn't uncommon, for siblings to try and find each other. 

"You must be Violet! Dean has talked a lot about you. Here, come in!" He motioned in and held the door open. I poke my head in, unsure, but instantly relax upon finding him sitting at a table. His classroom was similar to mine, but that wasn't important.

"Pie!" He called out, excited. We ran to each other, and to his dismay I grabbed him into a fierce hug. He was now getting to that age where he wanted to be a man, too tough for his big sister's affection but that didn't bother me.

"Let me go! You have cooties!" He shrieked, as we devolved into wrestling. He was still smaller than me, so I had the upper hand. 

"Nope! Big sis wants her love!" I laughed, not aware of the attention I was bringing us in that classroom. Within seconds, Dee's teacher came over, chuckling. 

"Alright you two, break it up. Violet, you need to go back to your class." And many times over the next few years, that's how it'd go. Any chance I got, I'd seek out Dean. And then eventually, pick him up and find whatever Sammy may be, once he got into school. 

At whatever school we were at for the month, we seemed inseparable, happy, but ultimately normal. 

--

"Grab me a beer, huh Pie?" My dad groaned out, from the couch. I could tell today had been long for him, his voice extra gruff and his movements fatigued and slow. His entrance into the hotel room thankfully hadn't woken Dee or Sammy up, from where they were curled up together on one of the beds right next to the couch. 

"Can I get a pop?" I asked in response, already opening the mini fridge and seeking the cold, brown bottle. The fridge was like many we had before, each in a new and forgotten city, each time stocked with only the bare necessities. Beer and whiskey, formula and baby food, and sometimes if we were on good behaviour, cheap off brand soda pop. 

"It's past midnight. Grab me the damn beer, now." He demanded, his temper short. I'll take that as a no, then, I thought sourly. My only outward response was silence, and then to sit down next to him. The tv was already on, set to the animal channel. He took the bottle from me, a nod as thanks and popped the cap off with the bottle opener he kept on his belt, while I flicked the channel to the local news. 

At this point it was common enough to be a habit. On the nights dad was out late on a hunt, I'd put the boys to bed with a promise that I was just going to shower than lay too. Typically I only took a fast one, in case dad wanted the hot water. Wait on the couch for him, even if it meant staying up far too late and sleeping the next day away. Some nights, dad would order me to bed immediately as soon as he came back, and I'd scurry and try to force myself under to avoid his exhaustion-induced wrath. Other nights he'd ask for a drink and we'd watch television together. On the best nights, his drink would be a pop and I'd even get one too. 

I was physically six,  but with the way we lived sometimes I felt far older. I was old enough from the beginning to realize that our new nomadic lifestyle was something bigger, something much darker. Looking back, I can see that from the youngest of ages, I could always tell when someone was lying to me, or was hiding something insidious. It didn't take long for me to find out what dad was really doing everyday, moving us from city to city, state to state.

"Sammy's about to start walking." I broke the silence between us one night, clearly trying to infer something to my dad. He grunted in response, and took a sip of his beer. The news was covering a traffic accident, involving a motorcyclist. 

"Yea dad, he's been trying his hardest too all day, he's got standing down. Dee's been teaching him, it's been great to see." 

"..." John Winchester was no fool and it was easy to see where his daughter was going with this topic. With a sigh, he turned to me and turned down the tv. 

"You know what I do. I have to protect you, you three are all I have left." He said, slightly sympathetic. 

"Don't go tomorrow. There's a park down the road, take us there. Please dad!" I whined, trying to keep quiet. I didn't know how else to explain myself, that we need him here. That I need him here, and how hard we were living. 

"Go to bed Violet. You're getting cranky. Now." As if the discussion was over and done with. I huffed, which got a glare out of him. 

"Violet…" Dad threatened.

"Yes, dad." And with that, I got up and curled myself up under the covers of my crappy uneven bed. In most situations, dad would try and get a room with two beds and a pull out couch, so Dee and Sammy could share, I could get my own bed, and he'd take the couch. 

--

The next day, after all was said and done, I took a peek at my dad as I fell asleep. He was smiling, writing in his journal on the couch. We were all tuckered out, piled up on the same bed into a power nap. Today Sammy finally walked, towards his big brother (but my little brother), and fell on his face. I hoped that maybe our conversation helped, changed dad for the better. 

I wish everyday was like today. I thought, finally letting sleep and the comforting presence of my brothers lull me to sleep. 

--

Anyways thanks for reading if you got this far. I plan on writing more better stuff, with some actual plot and direction. This turned into more John and reader insert interaction than intended, but I guess that's a given since she takes on the role of eldest now?

[depths-of-hope-and-despair]

Cicatrix

(( Short story time guys! This will be a new series where I post the longer stories about the girls I write in my free time. These stories are events currently happening, that you are encouraged to send asks about. These are not build up to events though, just simple slice of life stories. That being said, enjoy my first character driven story, this time with Aditi and Iyabo. Feel free to send asks about the story to the girls! They'll respond as if it just happened. Enjoy! ♥️ ))

The sun shines bright on the riddling tides. The white sand hurt the tallest girl’s eyes, which were far more accustomed to the dark. Aditi, as objectionable as ever, leaned on the wall of the small beach-house, twiddling her thumbs. Fay had enthusiastically suggested the group spend this Saturday at the beach to enjoy the warm weather. Finn and Putri latched onto this idea to practice their respective talents, Iyabo seemed to hesitate but caved, and Aditi was carted a long since her vote no longer counted. Democracy and all that. Fay sat down at the end of the beach, letting the tide hit her feet, and giggling about how cold the ocean was. Finn was already a mile out to sea, all smiles and ready to “catch some waves,” as he put it. Aditi trusted he’d be safe, his title wasn’t for nothing, but her eyes always looked over to make sure he was above water. Putri, had selected a few fire dancing tools and set up shop very far away to avoid hurting anyone with the flames. Sand isn’t flammable like the grass of their backyard, luckily. All was as it should be. Wait. One. Two. Three…… Aditi’s attention turned to the beach house she was currently leaning against. Iyabo had disappeared inside to change into her swimsuit nearly thirty minutes ago. She barely took ten to get ready in the morning time. Concern filling her chest, the goddess took a quick glance back at the others, before making her way inside the cabin. —————— Nothing looked out of the ordinary inside the changing house, in fact, it was quite pristine and.. girlie. Pastel colored walls, polished sinks, stall doors for privacy with flowers on them. She was certain Iyabo would’ve rushed out of here as soon as physically possible, which only added to her concern. Noticing one of the doors being closed, Aditi walked closer on silent feet. Her hand reached out and knocked. “Iyabo.” “Geh-!” The girl behind the door jumped out of her skin, holding a hand over her chest to calm down. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ, beanpole. Do ya wear shoes that absorb sound or somethin’? Fuckin’ hell…” That was definitely Iyabo at least. Ignoring the question, Aditi moved on quickly. “You have been gone for half an hour. I was concerned for your safety. Are you alright?” She asked, her tone flat. “Yea… yea, I’m straight. Wot are ya? My mum? I don’t need ya lookin’ out fer me. I’m a grown ass adult, y’know?” Iyabo answered back, her voice prickling defensively. “It just took me a minute ta figure out this damn bathin’ suit. That’s all.” “Grown adults don’t typically need thirty minutes to put on a swimsuit.” Aditi commented, earning a disgruntled sigh from her friend. “Is there something wrong? Aside from your struggle with your swimwear?” Silence fills the air for a second. Aditi bites her lip, hoping she didn’t say the wrong thing. “It’s….” Iyabo began, only to trail off back to saying nothing for a moment. Aditi hesitantly took a step back, prepared to leave if the other girl took this as a chance to yell and holler at her for being nosy. “Just-! Come in ‘ere. Te door’s unlocked.” Iyabo piped up. The taller girl blinked in surprise, at a loss for a moment. “... Pardon? You want me to come into your changing room?” “That’s exactly wot te fuck I said, now get in ‘ere, ‘fore I change my mind!” Iyabo said in a rush, pushing the door open slightly to urge her roommate to do as she said. “Don’t make dis weird, just come in!” She huffed. After a moment's worth of catching her mind up with the current events, Aditi did as she was asked. —————— The changing room wasn’t exactly roomy, Aditi finding herself only four feet apart from Iyabo despite how petite both girls were. The close proximity wasn’t a problem to the tallest, who often hovered for no other reason than a need to be close. Iyabo however… “Step back a lil’, will ya? I asked ya ta come in ‘ere, not breathe down my neck. Fucksakes…” She grumbled, doing her part in backing up. Aditi flattened her lip, but took a step back. “Satisfied? Why did you insist I come in here to begin with?”

“Ta see this fuckin’ bathin’ suit, dingbat! Look at it, will ya!?” Iyabo snarked, pointing down to herself. After that small outburst however, she looked unreasonably bashful, now that Aditi’s eyes scanned her.

Navy blue, that was the right color to describe the two piece swimsuit that Fay had graciously picked for Iyabo to wear on their beach day. The top was frilly with a small but noticeable star on the left strap, while the bottom was a plain bikini fit, to draw more attention to the top half obviously.

Despite all her observations, Aditi couldn’t see the problem. Was there a problem? Was she just looking for validation? “It looks lovely.” Aditi commented, tilting her head to the side. “The color serves as a good contrast to your hair and skin tone. I don’t see a problem with it.”

Iyabo blanked. “... There’s an obvious fuckin’ problem ‘ere, beanpole.”

Oh, she missed something? What could possibly be wrong? Maybe the compliments weren’t directed at her insecurities? Let’s try again. “Aside from the fact that half of your oversized hindquarters are hanging out, I stand by my previous statements. You look perfectly fine.” Aditi snickers.

“Wot!? Don’t-! Urrragh!” Iyabo blushed furiously, her hands flying up in the air to dance around aimlessly as she explained. “The scar! The bloody scar, Aditi! Good god-!”

It dawned on Aditi, she hadn’t even bothered to notice the scars on Iyabo’s body. They had become so mundane, a simple part of her being, that pointing them out felt uncalled for. One on her neck, one on her right arm under the bandages, and various on her left. They varied in size, shape, depth, color, so different and full of character.

Her eyes traveled downward to Iyabo’s torso and was greeted by the problem at hand. On the left side of her body, a giant scar had formed from the mistakes of her past. They were definitely teeth marks of an animal that had gotten a hold of her, the noticeability of the scar leading Aditi to believe the bite depth was harsh. Despite the wound being old, the bruised tissue had grown over at a poor rate, leaving it looking new and fresh. “... Oh.” Was all that Aditi could muster to say, as the realization dawned on her.

“Glad yer finally on te same fuckin’ page.” Iyabo sneered at her friend's befuddlement, at first. The scrutiny from the taller girl caused her to fidget in place, tempted to cover herself up. The zoologist settled for running a nervous hand through her bangs. “Do ya get it now? Why I don’t wanna be seen like this?”

“Somewhat.” Aditi admitted, one question sticking out in her mind more than any other. “What makes this one any different than the scars on her upper body?” She asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Iyabo stalls for a moment, seemingly baffled that she needs to explain this to her. “Well, look at it, Dee.” Her bright orange eyes look down at her own body as best they can, not noticing the fact she had picked a friendlier nickname to use. “It ain’t like my other scars.Te other ones, they don’t look this bad. They’re neat an’ no one thinks twice when lookin’ at ‘em. I don’t care ‘bout ‘em ‘cause nobody ever really asks ‘bout ‘em. But…” Her hand grazed over the grizzly bite mark. “Everyone notices this one. It’s… an eye sore, an’ I hate te way people look at me when they see it. They look at me like some little girl who lost ‘er mum in te grocery store. Like, I’m helpless. Some poor victim. An’ when I tell ‘em that I’m fine, they still push! They wanna know every god dan detail ‘bout wot happened that day, they care all of sudden. I don’t want their bloody pity!” She yelled, full of indigence.

Iyabo took a moment to breathe and calm her boiling anger, and allow Aditi a moment to process this information. “I, just…” The zoologist began again, looking downward towards the ground. “I don’t wanna be looked at like that. Like I’m weak. I hate it..”

After what felt like an eternity of processing and trying to understand Iyabo’s point of view, Aditi finally felt some form of closure. She could see the need to be strong behind her friend’s sneering attitude. Her fear was being weak, or being seen as weak. Was she never allowed to be weak in the past? Would her pride not allow it? Aditi wondered about the source of the problem, but realized it should wait. She needed to act on the issue at hand.

“I believe you have a false narrative planted in your mind, Iyabo.” Aditi reaches out, placing a hand atop the shorter girl’s shoulder. “Scars are not an indicative of weakness. Quite the opposite, in fact.”

Iyabo tries not to flinch at the touch, steading herself against the wall behind her. She met the ravenette’s gaze, confused. “Can ya say that in yer lamest terms fer me, Shakespeare? Because, I’m startin’ ta think yer takin’ this as a joke-!” She snarked, being cut off by the feeling of Aditi’s hands catching her wrists mid air.

“Meaning..” Aditi continued, ignoring the sass for this moment, her grip on the other firm but not damaging. “You don’t form scars from events that make you weaker. Your scars come from you powering through an event that could have likely killed you. Scars, mean you went through hell, survived it, and came back stronger. They are a testimony to your strength.” Her lime eyes scanned down back to Iyabo’s gruesome reminder of the past. “I, for one, respect that.”

Iyabo, held in place and forced to listen, felt her jaw work aimlessly at that statement. After staring blankly, her expression turned sheepish, looking towards the ground. “.... I never thought ‘bout it that way.” She admitted quietly, not even attempting to pull away curiously.

Hearing the gentleness in Iyabo’s voice made Aditi feel taken aback as well, her hands releasing the smaller one’s and giving her an unusual look. One full of relief and sympathy, when she typically looked so stoic and unreadable. “Well, I hope you do think about it that way, from now on.” She said softly.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence and stares, Iyabo let out a disbelieving breathless laugh. “Alright, alright. We done with this chick flick moment, or do ya still need to profess yer undyin’ love ta me or some shit?” She joked.

Aditi huffed a laugh, rolling her eyes despite the smile on her face. “Hardy har. I almost forgot how you cheapen every meaningful moment with your excuses for humor.” The tallest turned and exited the changing stall first.

“Yer life would be borin’ without me, an’ ya know it.” Iyabo proclaimed in a smug fashion, sticking her tongue out and blowing a raspberry in the air. She too exited the stall following her roommate over to the gateway back to the beach.

“Yes. Yes, I suppose it would be.” Aditi agreed with a feigned tired sigh, smiling before it flattened once again. Opening the doorway, the breeze of the sea hit both parties’ faces like a truck. Aditi stepped out first, stopping on the third step once she noticed Iyabo was not following. There was a look of uncertainty on her face in spite of their heart to heart conversation from before. With a look of understanding, Aditi grabbed a towel from the stair rail, and offered it to Iyabo to cover herself. “Baby steps?”

Iyabo hesitated, looking from the towel, back to Aditi and her group of friends enjoying the sun. Nodding, she reached out, grabbed the towel and flung it around her shoulders. Aditi raised an eyebrow at this action, watching as Iyabo walked down the stairs and darted in front of her. “I’m more of a dive in head first kinda gal, beanpole.” She grinned, before running off to meet the others.

Aditi watched as Iyabo joined Fay on the beach towel, chatting with her until Putri came running over to pull the pair into one of her hairbrained schemes. Her mouth twitched into a smile once more. This time, the happiness lingered.

How strange.

[bleepblopbloop56]

The Murder In The Dressing Room

Chapter 9

Mostly unedited.

Warnings: blood, major character death, guns.

For an update on the situation read this post

"He's so tiny…" Logan laughed lightly, watching as Patton's little hand wrapped around his pinkie, not even closing all the way around it. He tried to pull in his hand to his mouth before Logan tutted and pushed a pacifier in instead. The news that he now had a real human child still hadn’t fully sunk in yet. He was properly accommodated, of course- the apartment was stuffed with cribs, bottles, pacifiers, toys, baby clothes (including Patton’s current light blue onesie dotted with little white cupcakes- which, as a police officer, Logan could say with authority was illegally cute), and diapers galore- but that didn't make it any less terrifying. 

"He looks like a baby doll," Virgil commented, playing with his toes. Patton squealed and drooled around his pacifier.

"He is rather perfect, don't you think?" Logan giggled. A lot had happened in the last few months. Roman had cheated on him, his best friend had died giving birth and he’d had to fight to adopt her child as soon as possible… but now he was here, holding Patton in his home for the first time. 

"Uh oh, is Detective Grey getting all emotional?" he giggled, tickling Patton lightly. "You hear that? Dadda's getting all emotional over you! Your dadda looovesssss yooooou!" he baby talked, punctuating each sentence with a tickle. Patton kicked his little legs the best he could in fits of giggles.

"He loves you so much Patton! He's gonna be the best dad in the whole world!"

 

“Please pick up, please pick up, please pick up,” Logan chanted as if it would actually do something as he shot down the road. He had barely had enough time to shout out directions and get his gear before racing down the street like his life depended on it. If Logan had his way, he'd make the forty minute drive in ten or crash trying.

“Yellow?” Emile's typical greeting was as cheerful as ever, despite the obvious grogginess in his voice. That was what he got for being an old man who went to bed at 6 o’clock. 

“Patton- where is he?” Logan demanded, taking a turn a little too fast and sliding off the road for a moment before straightening out, mumbling obscenities under his breath all the while. How many traffic laws was he breaking? What would he do if he came across another car on the road? Did it even matter? 

“He's in the living room- Logan, what's wrong?” he started sounding more conscious, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. “Are you okay?”

“Go check on him right now," Logan ordered, “and don't let him leave your sight until I tell you its safe.” Another car swerved around him, nearly hitting him. Distantly, Emile could hear a horn honking and Logan shouting curses in return. 

“Logan what's happening?” He shuffled on a robe, pulling himself up and towards the door. A quick peek into the living room verified that the toddler was sleeping peacefully on the baby bed Emile had managed to stuff in his car while picking Patton up. As if he could sense Emile’s gaze, Patton sputtered a bit before rolling over, the picture of peace. “He's fine, fast asleep, but Logan, are you okay?” 

“Go get him. Now. Don't let him out of your sight until I say so, okay?” There was only hesitant silence from the phone. “Okay?!” 

"Okay," Emile whispered back softly. He picked Patton up with shaking hands, shushing him when he started to wake up. But it was to no avail: despite his best efforts, Patton started to cry on the walk back to Emile’s room. "Logan," he pleaded, "just tell me what's going on."

Hearing the sound of Patton's voice made him slow down significantly. Getting killed in a car crash would only hurt Patton; besides, if Logan was going to die, that son of a bitch would have to kill him himself. Logan wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of doing it without putting in the work. 

"There's been a threat... I can't come get him until we know the suspect is in police custody." Logan faltered, his attempt at a neutral voice failing, and he had to clear his throat before continuing. "They got Remy… my partner. We have a significant lead, but that's all I can say. This is all going to be over soon." He didn't mention that by "lead" he meant "I know who killed them and I'm currently speeding to his house to either kill him or get killed."

"What does that mean?" Emile put down Patton on his bed, rubbing his hand through his hair to get him back to sleep. His brother had always told him everything, and him evading the question like this was enough to make him feel as if the world was ending. Logan didn't lie, and he didn't avoid questions. No matter what you asked him, Logan would respond quickly and honestly, even if that answer was I don't know. 

"Someone’s made a threat on Patton's life," he said quietly, pointedly not vocalizing "and mine as well.'' "I need you to double check your doors and windows for me, make sure everything's secure, and call 911 if you hear anything at all, okay?" 

The other end was silent as Emile struggled to think of a response.

"Please be safe" he settled on. Logan nodded, mumbling an "I will" before hanging up, grip on the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. 

"Roman?!" Logan screamed. Distantly, Logan wondered what his colleagues would think if they saw him like this, wild-eyed and hoarse from shouting and breaking down doors in a house he didn’t have a permit to enter. He wasn't clearing rooms, he didn't have his gun in his hand; he was just ransacking the place in a blind panic. All of it went against protocol, and right now he couldn’t care less. "Roman, where are you?!"

His mind jumped back to the text he'd gotten right after he had found Remy’s body. Logan had been standing in his office- the room he worked in nearly every day, defiled by the blood of one of his closest friends- when his phone chimed. He could only stare dully at the words flashing there. 'I can't do this, I'm going home,' they read, and for a second Logan wondered if this was it- if he was going to lose Roman as quickly as he’d gotten him back.

But that hadn’t been Roman. It couldn't have been. Logan wouldn't believe it. And the only thing worse than the idea of Roman leaving was the idea that Roman had left because he was in trouble- that Ethan had gotten to Roman before he could.

Logan froze at the sound of the front door slamming behind him, the noise cutting through even Logan’s shouts. He had known, at the back of his mind, that he was being unforgivably reckless. He had entered Ethan's territory disregarding the fact that he had proven himself more intelligent and capable than any criminal he faced before. But he had still thought that he would get farther than a few rooms into the house before being caught.

And now he was going to die.

"God, this is so fucking sad," a voice hissed, the telltale noise of a gun cocking behind him far too close for comfort. "You couldn't just stay put, could you? I was JUST about to go find you, and now I have to worry about fucking blood stains on my white carpet…"

Logan whipped around, only to freeze again at the sight of the barrel of a gun in his face, Ethan behind the trigger. Ethan kicked him in the stomach before he could reach for his gun, knocking him to the floor. Logan wheezed, desperately trying to regain his breath and get back up, but Ethan loomed over him, pressing his gun to Logan's forehead. 

Logan braced himself. He'd been a detective for a long time- he knew what was coming next.

But Ethan only made a tutting noise, wagging his finger disapprovingly. "Silly little detective…" he laughed. "If you behave, I might just kill you the easy way! Let's not make this harder than it has to be…" He traced the gun down Logan's face, the cold metal gazing his eye and cheek before landing on his lips. "Well, let's see how well you roll over for me. Why don't you give it a kiss, huh?" The look in his eyes dared Logan to say no. Like he wanted to see how long he could drag out his little game before either he or Logan snapped.

It would be beyond degrading to kiss the gun that would most likely end him, to look his killer in the eyes when he was on his knees. But between the choice of humiliation and survival… Logan puckered his lips and lightly kissed the gun. If he could just keep Ethan distracted until backup arrived everything would be okay, it had to be… 

"Good boy!" The sick feeling in Logan's gut only worsened at Ethan's tone- it was as if he was talking to a dog who had successfully performed a trick rather than a human being he was threatening to murder. "Good boys get treats! You know what your treat is?!" He spoke in high trills, happy hisses filled with poison. Logan noticed Dee had scale tattoos crawling up his arm, starting presumably from underneath his yellow glove. "Your treat is a quick and easy death! Do try to keep it down, we don't want the noise to scare Roman. " Dee traced the gun around his face again before pressing it against his temple. He pushed Logan's head gently with the gun, moving until his cheek pressed against the wall, and Logan could tell instinctively that this time Dee wouldn’t hold back.

"Wait!" Logan shouted, the refrain keep him distracted, keep him distracted running through his head. "I want to have another… treat." Over the blood thundering in his ears, a thought reverberated in his head, slamming like a wave against his brain again and again: This is the lowest moment of my life.

Ethan perked up, happy his little toy was playing his game so easily, but the suspicious glint in his eyes told Logan he didn't have long to talk.

"Let me say goodbye to Roman.." The words ached in his chest. Logan knew he had to play up the pathetic factor to get Ethan to humor him, but they came out too honest and real for him to convince himself it was all for show. Somewhere behind the desperation, it was a legitimate request. 

Ethan hesitated like he was thinking about it, clicking his tongue a few times in thought. "I don't know if you've been that good" he said slowly. "I think I'd rather just kill you!" He smiled, and Logan suddenly thought back to the brief personality profile that had been pulled together on him when Roman was deemed a suspect. Everything about Ethan seemed to point to a perfectly friendly, if slightly closed-off, man with a clean record and plenty of friendly acquaintances. Nothing to suggest someone like this..

Logan was out of options, out of time, and he decided if he could just drag this out, just long enough to keep roman alive.. If he could just llay into what ethan wanted from him...

Put on a show… 

He hunched his shoulders and began to cry.

"Please," he begged, hoping that Ethan would enjoy seeing Logan in pain enough to let the scene last longer. Maybe not long enough for Logan to come out of this alive, but long enough for the cops to arrive, long enough to save Roman… "I know I took him from you-" appealing to him directly- "and I know that you're angry, but please… Just let me see him one last time." 

His shoulders were heaving now, real tears falling to the ground. It wasn't just Roman he was crying about- it was all of them. All of the innocent lives taken simply because they knew the wrong people, caught in a spider web of murders only because they had offered a home to Roman or a helping hand to Logan. He cried for how he had screamed and broke things after finding Virgil in the bedroom until he heard the sirens approaching his apartment. How he'd pulled Roman away from his brother, lying in a pool of red, the one and only time Remus had ever been quiet. How he had said goodbye to Thomas one day and then hadn't visited him again until he had been murdered. How not even an hour before now he had seen his partner, his friend, Remy sitting where he did so often, coffee cold on the desk and glasses broken on the floor. How Patton could be next, and by association Emile.

And Ethan laughed.

"Oh, alright!" he giggled, high-pitched and manic. He pushed Logan's chin up with his gun to look at him. "No need to look so pathetic, little detective! This'll be good for Roman, to see you die." 

Logan moved to stand up, but Ethan leaned down and grabbed his hair, shoving him back down. 

"Nuh-uh-uh!" Ehtan chirped, bringing the gun up to Logan’s forehead again and pressing down. "Be a good little boy and crawl for me?”

Logan froze, his thoughts from before echoing. But he had no way out, and they both knew it. Ethan grinned like a hunter watching their prey walk into a trap. "Come on, let’s go." 

It couldn't have been comfortable for Ethan to pull Logan forward through the whole house, but for the pleasure of humiliating his victim, it was worth it. He dragged Logan all the way to the back of the house until they reached a door so small Logan probably would’ve skipped it while searching for Roman. He flipped open the lock and turned the light on one-handedly before starting down the stairs, allowing Logan to walk while keeping a firm grip on his hair.

"Logan?" Roman's voice was scratchy from crying, but it flooded with disbelief, wonder, hope- until he registered who Logan was with. "Ethan, what are you doing, let him go!" he yelled, scrambling to his feet.

Ethan shoved Logan to his feet, sauntering forward to Roman. "Little Detective Grey here cracked the case, and this is his reward! He wanted to say goodbye to his precious little baby." The fake pout in his voice was somehow more disrespectful than anything he'd done so far. Roman's lip trembled heavily, crying despite having no more tears. 

"But I followed the rules!" he pleaded. "I didn't run or yell or call anyone- Ethan, I'm sorry, I'll be good- I followed the rules, please! Please, don't hurt him-" He clutched onto Ethan's shirt, shaking enough to match his stuttering, but Ethan just shoved him off forcefully.

"This is for your own good, Roman," he sneered. "You have sixty seconds to say goodbye. Play nice, boys," He let go of Logan's hair and let him lurch for Roman, like a dog being let off their leash.

"Fifty-eight! Fifty-seven!" Roman began to sob as the countdown started, loud and He started counting down loudly, Logan hushed the apologies and sobs from Roman, trying to get him to quieten down for long enough to hatch a plan. 

"Roman, listen to me, he'll be watching my hands. I need you to grab my gun and when I say go I need you to use it," he mumbled quickly in his ear. He was trembling himself despite trying to keep things together for Roman. "It's loaded- all you have to do is pull the trigger, okay?"

"Logan-" he sobbed, hand fighting Logan's as he led it down and on top of the gun. 

"It's gonna be okay, Roman… I love you," he said quietly, in the background he could tell they were running out of time by Dee's counting, his numbers getting faster and more gleeful as he counted down. 

"I love you too," Roman said through sobs, gun fully slid out of the holster and now in his hand. 

"Ready?" Logan asked. Five seconds left…

"3…  2… 1," Logan counted down alongside Dee, jumping out of the way of Roman as he pulled up the gun and pointed it towards Ethan's chest. 

It was as if time slowed down to make a frozen tableau- Logan slamming into the hard floor, Roman's shaking hands pulling the trigger, Ethan's expression dropping as he was forced to face the consequences of his actions for the very first time. The noise of the gun was deafening within the small basement, ringing in their ears for what felt like hours after it went off.

One shot, straight to the chest, and Ethan was done, flung backwards by the impact.

Roman dropped the gun after he hit him, flinching at the crash of it hitting the floor and wrapping his arms around himself. 

He looked down at the man in front of him, not dead yet but not alive either. In that state of being where Roman assumes you see your life flash before his eyes. Roman wondered what he saw... 

"I'm sorry..." He cried, jerking away when Logan touched him, hitting the wall and closing his eyes, sobbing as hard as when he had seen remus, shaking like he had been dunked in ice water and left in the arctic, and breathing as if he never would again. 

A door above them bursted open police shouting and flashlights searching every room. "DOWN HERE!" Logan called, flashlights shining in his face when they reached the basement door. Roman raised his hands above his head, now a murderer no better than Ethan.

Taglist

@cataclysm-al @knightinsoftpastels @intruality-fusion @katie-the-noble-fangirl @whizzie72 @grayson-22 @i-have-n0-idea-what-im-d0ing @winterwonderland7669 @missieluvsmurder @sign-from-god-complex @dragonindigo245 @angryfanboyscreaming @ninja-wizard101 @sombraookami @crystalistrappedintheinternet @imtooaromanticforthis @why-should-i-tell-youu2 @dragon-hair @satanblessi @spookilyfingergunsoutofexistence @skruffy901 @selectivereality @nonbeenary-enbee @imbasicallyshakespear @cats-vetal-miking-vomit @incoherentfangirl @oofmood @nonbinary-pineapple @royalnerd829 @idontgiveafuckaboutshit @magma-llama @chumo-cookie

[buginabog]

Am I Dreaming Or Dead? Ch. 3

Summary: sanders sides horror story. Purely self indulgent.

Pairings: loceit, royality, remile

Warnings: sympathetic deceit, horror, body horror, death, Remus/the duke, guilt, guilting

-

Virgil walked along the edge of the forest, "why cant we just go in?"

Remy looked back, "we need to spend as little time as possible in the forest. The more time we're in there, the less protection we have."

Virgil nodded and looked at the road, silently wishing his dad would come and hug him and tell him it was ok. Remy could do it himself, and he didnt have to go into the scary forest with a body count.

Remy tapped his shoulder, then gestured into the woods, "this way."

His phone rang and he pulled it out, looked at the contact, and his face went pale, "oh shiiit it's your dad."

Virgil frowned, "which one?"

Remy answered the call and put it on speaker, "heeeeeey Dee?"

Declans voice sounded angry, and not amused, "Remy. Where are you and is Virgil with you?"

Remy flinched, "yyeeees."

Declan took an audible breath, then started to yell, "REMY! ARE YOU INSANE?"

Remy nodded along, "I mean yes. Probably."

Declans voice changed to a growl, "Remy why the hell are you bringing my son into the forest?"

Remy sighed, "to free Roman!"

Declan sighed, "just wait until me and Lo get there."

Remy frowned, "... he cant come in."

"He says he knows what you have to do."

Remys face stilled, "well, so do we. Snd I'm not risking his life."

Declans tone turned amused, "so you dont hate him then?"

Remy frowned, "of course I dont! Why would you-" he looked ashamed, "he thinks I hate him?"

Logan piped up, "it's a fair assumption Remy."

Remy sighed, "well... ok. We'll wait for you."

-

Ten Years Ago

-

Remy burst in through the front door, "did you find him?"

Logan looked at him, and shook his head with tears in his eyes, "I- I'm so sorry Remy..."

Remys eyes flashed and he stalked toward Logan, "what the hell did you so specs!?" He pulled him up, "where is he?!"

Logan stammered and tried to get away, "he went into the forest! I don't know! He said he saw something! He left a note! Remy put me down!"

Remy dropped Logan and snatched up the note, his eyes scanning the writing, "no. Nononono NO!" He turned on Logan, "this is all your fault!"

"My fault what did I do?"

"You never believed in him! You always critiqued his ideas and never took him seriously! All he wanted was for his brother to take him seriously and did you? NO!"

Logan stepped back, shocked, "Remy I- I didnt know... he never said anything... I didnt know... is it my fault? It cant be my fault."

Remy snarled at him, "well it is."

Declan stood between them, "everyone calm down!" He glared at Remy, "we're all scared for Roman. But blaming each other," he looked at Logan, "or ourselves, wont help anything!"

Remy growled, "of course you'd side with him." He stalked out the door, "I'm going to look for Roman. Maybe he'll respond to someone who actually loves him."

-

Present Day

-

Virgils head snapped up when he heard a car pull up. He saw his dads step out and he ran to them, "L! Dee!" He stopped in front of them and hugged them.

Declan patted his head, "Its ok Virgil. We're here."

Logan pulled away and put his hands on Virgils shoulders, "I hope you know how much trouble you're going to be in once we're done here."

Virgil laughed nervously, "I think I have a... rough estimate?"

Logan arched an eyebrow, then hugged Virgil, "I'm just glad you stayed out of that forest."

Remy coughed behind them, "speaking of... hes gonna need to come with me and Declan."

Logan glared at Remy, "why is that exactly?"

Remy rubbed the back of his neck, "well, you can't go into the forest cause you dont have any warlock blood. So you'd die or at the very least get trapped." He gestured at Virgil, "I need one of you in order to find the crystal. And by all accounts Virgil is safer in the forest then you would be."

Logan sighed, "but-"

"Do you want to save your brother or not?"

Logan broke, "of- of course I do... but..." he sighed, "he has to be between you two at all times." He looked at his husband, "never take your eyes off him."

Declan kissed Logan, "of course." He rested his hand on Virgils shoulder, "you ready?"

Virgil nodded, "as I'll ever be."

-

Roman sat next to Morality, "my brother... I let him into the Chamber."

Morality gasped, "is he there now?"

Roman shook his head, "no. It was a dream."

Morality sighed in relief, "good." He looked to him, "do you think..."

Roman finished his sentence, "that he'll save us? Perhaps. Perhaps not."

Morality sighed and leaned on Roman's shoulder, "I hope he does."

Roman wrapped an arm around Pattons shoulder, "me too, my dear."

Morality sighed, "what do you miss the most about being alive?"

Roman laughed, "Morality, dear, I've answered this question before."

Morality looked up at him, "but your answer may have changed. Humour me?"

Roman sighed and looked up at the sky, "I think... acting." He nodded, "I always felt so important up there on that stage. With everyone watching me and cheering for me..."

Morality sighed, "if we get out of here, I want to see you act. It sounds like you really enjoy it. And miss it."

Roman squeezed Morality a little closer, "I do. And I would love that." He looked down, "what do you miss the most?"

Morality sighed, "my son. He was so little when I died. I always wonder what happened to him."

Roman sighed, "maybe... we could try and find him? He has to be somewhere."

Morality smiled bitterly, "that is a nice thought Roman."

-

Virgil looked around anxiously. He didnt trust this. He didnt trust the dark around him. Stretching out on all sides.

He didnt trust the howling of wind that sounded like laughter.

He didnt particularly trust Remy if he was being completely honest.

All that he trusted was his dads hand on his shoulder, protecting him.

Remy turned around, "ok, kid, I'm gonna need a refresh on where it is. I'm warning you in advance cause I'm gonna need to look."

Virgil nodded and took a breath, "do it."

Remy removed his sunglasses and looked, down down down, deep into Virgils soul, and left. He nodded, "got it." He turned sharply, "let's go."

-

He went from tree to tree, watching the warlocks fight their way through. They were protected for now.

But eventually he would have them. Eventually their protection would fail and he would be free to devour them all.

For the forest is hungry.

And it wants to feed.

-

He passed behind tree after tree, watching his family pass through the forest. They were protected, for now.

But eventually the Hunter would try and take them. Eventually their protection would fail and Roman would have to watch as they were devoured.

For the forest is hungry.

And it needs to feed.

-

He watched his son.

Did he remember him? Would he know him if he saw him again?

He hoped so.

Would his son save him? Free him?

Yes. He had faith.

-

Declan looked around, only to see trees for miles. He could feel eyes watching him. Two sets of eyes, and one of something that was not quite eyes anymore.

The wind sounded like laughter... or were the trees laughing at them? Nothing seemed right...

He has to always be on guard.

For the forest is hungry.

And it will feed.

-

Remy pulled apart vine after vine after vine after vine after-

They were in that forest for hours that stretched into centuries.

Until finally, finally they reached a dome of writhing brambles, a faint glow coming through the cracks.

Remy gasped, "...we're here."

-

Virgil looked up at the neverending wall of thorns, "...how are we supposed to get through?"

He rubbed his wrist anxiously, it seemed almost impossible to get through, the wall looked so high and thick, how were they supposed to get throu-

Purple filled his vision as he was pushed back by something.

When his vision cleared, a hole had punched through the brambles, the edges glowing a faint purple. He frowned, "what... what happened?"

Remy looked at him, "...you're a lot more powerful than I thought you were kid."

-

That one.

That warlock was different from the others. Dangerous dangerous. But also so so tempting.

He would keep Remus going for centuries.

But he had to be careful, clever.

Not the soft one... he looked closer at the one with glasses... him.

He would have laughed... but that was something he lost long ago.

-

Roman squeezed Morality's hand tighter, he could feel the Duke's gaze on them, his winds swirling around, his roots raising beneath their feet.

"Morality-"

Morality squeezed back, "I know dear... he cant hurt us."

"I know that... but our family..."

"...they're protected... they have to be."

-

Virgil looked at the hole, "did I make that!?"

Remy nodded slowly, "yes..." his head snapped up, "hurry, its closing!"

Virgil got up and scrambled to the hole, barely making it through.

The trio looked at the crystal, pulsing green, blue, purple and all other colors.

A man manifested in the opposite side of the clearing. Virgil gaped at him. He was sadly smiling, and he looked at Virgil like a man forgotten. "Dad?" Virgil whispered.

The man started crying, "hey kiddo."

Virgils eyes filled with tears, "Dad!"

He started to run toward him, but Remy grabbed his shoulder, "Virgil wait!"

Virgil pulled his arm out of Remys grasp, "get off!"

He ran into the arms of the man in front of him. As soon as his arms wrapped around him, he felt thorns prick into his back and sides, he looked up to see a thing made of thorns and leaves and bark.

It started to talk, "how nice of you to come running into my trap! I'm Remus," it grinned, "nice ta meet ya!"

Cold rushed into Virgil and he fell into black.

-

"-do? Kiddo?"

Virgil blinked awake to see two men looking at him, one was a man who looked just like Logan, and the other was, "dad?" He propped himself up onto his elbows, "is that... you?"

Patton reached out and cupped his cheek in his palm, "yes. Its me." He smiled sadly, "you remind me so much of your mother."

Virgil grabbed his hand, "really?"

Patton nodded, "yes. She was so, so brave and strong. Just like you."

Virgil shook his head, "I'm not brave, or strong, or any of that."

Patton shook his head, "but you are." He smiled sadly, "you need to tell your parents that they did an excellent job raising you after I died."

The other wrapped an arm around him, "if I know my brother at all, they took good care of him."

Virgil gasped in realization, "you're Ro-"

Patton clamped a hand over his mouth, "dont say his name! Names have power. If the Duke knows your name, he can take all of you."

Virgil nodded slowly, "ok... ok."

Pattons head snapped up, he looked to the side for a few minutes, as if he was listening to something Virgil couldnt hear. He turned back to Virgil, "always remember I love you." He leaned in to kiss Virgils forehead, "you have to wake up now."

-

Virgil gasped as he shot up sitting. He saw Remy and Declan standing over the shattered remains of a crystal. Remus screamed as he came undone.

Two men walked into the clearing, smiling. Patton turned to Virgil, "you did it... you beat him."

Declan walked over and extended his hand, "hi, I'm Declan, Virgils dad."

Patton hugged him, "thank you." He pulled back, "thank you for looking after him."

Remy stepped towards Roman, "...Ro?"

Roman ran towards Remy, "Remy!"

Remy burst into tears, "it's really you..."

-

Epilogue

-

Virgil went downstairs to see his dad cooking breakfast happily, Declan was humming as he fussed with multiple pans and pots. Logan was sat on a counter, drinking coffee. Virgil laughed, "I thought you said counters weren't for sitting?"

Logan sipped from his mug before answering, "I'm your father, I'm allowed to be a hypocrite."

Declan laughed as he kissed his husband on the cheek, "of course dear." As he turned back to the oven he called to Virgil, "by the way, Roman and Patton are coming over later, they might want to see you latest drawing?"

Virgil hunched over, "well..."

Logan smiled at his son, "Virgil... theyll understand."

Virgil nodded, "right... yeah, I might show them." He turned to Declans back, "hey, could I go over to Remy and Emiles? I wanna hang out with Elliott."

Declan nodded, "after breakfast. Make sure to be back by two."

Virgil nodded, "sure thing dee-dad."

Declan turned and scrunched his nose at Virgil, "good."

-

Everything was... more or less back to normal.

And if Virgil flinched when something poked his back,

If Patton and Roman's skin felt like crumbling leaves when you brushed against it,

If Declan and Remy hated everything to do with crystals,

Well, no one was going to blame them.

-

Taglist:

@burningpersonflapsuitcase @an-absolute-failure @lucifer-in-my-head @fury-of-rome @nonbinaryblossom @spirits-in-my-thoughts @eternalmoonlight19

[dragonindigo245]

So I know there’s a superhero AU for the sides but consider... supervillain?

Bare with me. This is going to seem really funky but I figured why not? In this AU Thomas is a superhero and the sides are supervillains. Here’s a semi-breif- Oh nvm this is way to long. Woop dee doo. Feel free to scroll away if you don’t want a long AU. If you’re into that... here’s some character descriptions!

Thomas

•Thomas is a YouTuber who vlogs and is known for his small skits and vines. His most popular series after vine died though is his Awkward Adventures.

•He collabs with his friend Remy to do some “sleep” skits.

•He used to collab with Patton, Logan, Roman, and Virgil back when vine was around too but they hardly knew each other.

•Thomas hardly remembers them besides a few off set jokes.

•Thomas was born with the powers of flight, super speed, and to feel emotions.

•He can’t alter them but he does try to help others like the good person he is.

•Actually was convinced by Emile to take up superhero work. Emile didn’t mean it in the “go beat up bad guys” way but here they are.

•Everyone knows Thomas identity. He doesn’t hide it.

•Joan and Taylon designed him a superhero outfit. It is basically a white jumpsuit with rainbow cuffs and a giant, glowing rainbow star symbol in the middle. There’s also an epic rainbow cape to go with it.

•He doesn’t view the supervillains as bad guys, but rather broken people. He only uses physical force if they attack him. Otherwise he try’s to convince them to turn themselves in. Course it doesn’t work all that well but he tries.

•He doesn’t go by anything besides Thomas. He doesn’t need a superhero name to be super.

Patton

•Patton has two kids who go by Fiona and Liam (The kids from vine) and is a single parent.

•Their dirt poor and often have trouble scraping by. His kids don’t even go to school due to school fees.

•He declines any money from his friends and his family has given him all they can. They aren’t as poor as Patton but also aren’t comfortable.

•Logan actually comes by Patton’s house weekly to try and tutor them to his best abilities. In certain subjects they know more than kids there age but in some their lacking.

•Patton was born with the powers to alter emotions and to fly.

•He actually alters his own emotions so he can remain happy around other people.

���Problem is that only represses them for later. When he’s alone he’s a total mess.

•He started going into crime around 5 years after he adopted his kids, when poverty was at its max.

•He doesn’t have a job unfortunately because he was to low on money to send the kids to school, hence not having time for a job.

•Pat only does crime for the money so his kids can eat and he can keep his apartment. He really hates it though.

•He doesn’t have a supervillain costume but he wears the typical black mask superhero mask along with his cat hoodie.

•Despite hating crime, he’s the best at it compared to the others. He can actually be really intimidating when he needs to be.

•The only crimes he has committed are robbery, attempted murder (course he would never actually kill someone), and trespassing.

•His kids don’t know he’s a supervillain and he intends to keep it that way. They have gotten dangerously close though.

•He hasn’t been captured yet.

•He still calls Virgil his “dark, strange son”.

•Virgil accepts this and the kids treat him like an older brother.

•Patton was the one who got Virgil into eyeshadow surprisingly.

•Patton actually hasn’t gotten hurt by Thomas. He munipulates his emotions to make him not hurt him. Thomas has stopped him from doing whatever crime every single time though.

•His supervillain name is Curse, due to him wearing a cat hoodie and the whole black cats have bad luck thing. Also based on him often using fear to keep enemies away.

Logan

•He lives in a two room apartment, one room always remains locked and with a few modifications, made the door booby trapped.

•Only he knows how to get past them without destroying them.

•There’s actually a booby trap designed to go off if you destroy the door trap.

•He often tutors kids other than Patton’s. However they know what they should be learning so their significantly easier to tutor than Fiona and Liam.

•He received his powers in illegal experimentation though he was a test subject so he wasn’t in much trouble.

•Really he just had a migraine for a few days and suddenly he could lift an entire couch with one arm.

•His powers are unique. He is quite literal when he says “Knowledge is power.” His strength is based on how much intellect he possesses.

•Currently he can lift 2,000 pounds comfortably. This does mean he can lift some cars.

•Ironically because he looks so skinny, people tell him he should go to the gym so he’s able to hold his own in a fight.

•If you mention a new topic to him he doesn’t know much about, he will get a splitting headache and he is almost incapable of resisting researching it. He will become hyper fixated on it for like a month.

•His supervillain costume is a black jumpsuit along with a black bandana. Patton stitched in a black hood to the jumpsuit because Logan was worried that he could leave a hair at the scene of the crime, and get caught. He also extanges his glasses for contacts.

•He commits crimes the least often compared to everyone else, only doing so to unleash bottled up anger. When he gets angry enough for that though, all hell breaks lose.

•His first crime was commited in his softmore year of High School.

•His crimes include homoside, arson (don’t ask where the fire came from), assault, kidnapping, property destruction, and finally trespassing.

•He has been captured twice but has gotten away before they could unmask him.

•His supervillain name is Mind Bender because he wasn’t exactly discrete how his powers work. Really Thomas just came up with it on the fly and the media loved it.

Roman

•Roman lives in a two bedroom apartment with his roommate Remy who knows of Romans identity.

•Thankfully Remy doesn’t give a shit unless Roman intrupts his life with it. He had to take an oath not to tell anyone as long as Roman doesn’t bother the Starbucks industry.

•Remy may not care Romans’ a supervillain, but he will keep his identity a secret because he doesn’t go back on his word.

•Roman was considered to be a magnificent actor but was disgraced once Remus became a supervillain.

•He now works for a modeling company... as a photographer.

•He loathes he can’t be a model himself but doesn’t make a fuss about it.

•Honestly being the photographer is just rubbing salt in the wound for him.

•His powers include the ability to make anyone enamored with him and he counts his reflexes as a power even though it isn’t. He’s just crazy talented.

•His powers actually were a hex from Virgil, as a way to able him to be a supervillain. He also has been begging Virgil to give him the power to communicate with animals but Virgil has told him to wait for awhile.

•Problem is, his powers actually make him more prone to falling in love. Magic always takes its toll.

•He’s actually once had 3 relationships in one week before. It was just sad.

•After losing the acting carrier, he became extremely greedy and obsessed with riches. You can imagine why he is a supervillain.

•He started becoming a supervillain around the 2 month mark for his photography job.

•His list of crimes are theft, robbery, shoplifting, arson (again nobody knows where they get the fire), manslaughter, and kidnapping.

•Though with the kidnapping he literally did it to spite the ladies boyfriend. Really nothing happened to her. She sat in a dark room, tied to a chair, having a debate with Roman which Kardashian was the best. Then the police showed up and Roman jumped out a window.

•Romans outfit is the same princely getup as in the series and a white and gold masquerade mask. Also a gold crown that he bought himself. He carries a sword as well to aid in battle but he uses it as an accessory all the same.

•Patton once swapped Romans’ crown for a Burger King crown in the middle of a heist. He didn’t even realize until Patton handed him his original crown like half an hour later.

•There is viral camera footage of this event. Roman is still a bit bitter towards him but secretly finds it funny.

•He has been caught five times (every time he went on a heist with Remus) and has had his secret identity revealed in private by a few cops. They were all killed by Remus before they could tell anyone.

•Technically Roman owes Remus.

•His supervillain name is Prince for obvious reasons. Remus claimed him as his sidekick immediately so that helped the name decision.

•Everyone thinks Remus is Romans sidekick though. Nobody believes Roman is the lesser one here.

Virgil

•Virgil lives in a 3 bedroom, house with Dee and Remus.

•He’s actually been alive since the dark ages.

•Currently he works at a Hot Topic.

•He’s a supervillain because he is actually a serial killer. Virgil loathes this fact though and tries to repress it as much as he can.

•His powers come from a spell book he has. He can do electrical magic and some illusion magic without help from the book but otherwise he has to read it from the pages in combat. Easy to do with cops, hard to do with superhero’s.

•The spellbook however gives the user intense fear for as long as it’s left open. He tries not to use it to much.

•One time however he literally collapsed and had a panic attack while fighting Thomas. Thomas actually stopped fighting and helped Virgil through it though.

•The athoreties showed up with Virgil proped up ageist the wall beside Thomas. He willingly came but wouldn’t allow for his identity to be seen. He was rescued by Logan later on before he had to go to court.

•Virgil has been detained twice, the first time being him beaten down, the second time him willingly going.

•His outfit is a black cloak along with the rest of his body wearing black. He has fingerless gloves too. His face is hidden by a simple black bandana.

•His supervillain name is Shock, in both the electrical way and emotion way. Another one Thomas came up with.

Dee

Well for starters I just found out how to do this easier. Okay anyways resuming.

Deceit goes by Dee or Dec. He refuses to tell anyone his name. If they ask he says something like “Karen” or “Linda”.

He doesn’t have a job for this reason.

Oh and the fact he can’t cover his identity very well so he’s on the run from the law.

He was involved in the same experimentation Logan went through, but was tested for something different.

Long story short: His body ended up going through the extremely painful process of growing scales on his right half of his body, his canines (teeth not dog) grew into poison filled fangs, and his tounge became thin and forked. An unfortunate side effect was him going blind in his right eye.

He was the one who actually got the experiments shut down.

He was treated as a freak of nature and feared. Eventually he developed the mindset that society was a lie and it needed to be torn apart.

So I guess now he wants an anarchy.

He’s also a narcissistic liar so he fits the role of a snake.

His powers are being immune to physical damage on his right side, and having a venomous bite.

He wears the same bowler hat and everything he originally wears. There is no need to change when you can’t conceal your identity.

He’s actually terrified of snakes despite being part one. Unfortunately snakes are attracted to him.

Remus constantly reminds him that snakes can have two d-

He started a few years ago with his whole anarchy thing from Orlando but Thomas quickly put a stop to it.

His list of crimes just... keep going... it’s to extensive but let’s just say genoside is on there.

His supervillain name is Deceit. He made it himself.

Remus

Ho boy the real train wreck.

He’s currently hiding at Virgil’s place along with Dee.

He is not mentally stable enough to have a job. He’s also the most wanted person in America. This guy can’t get a job.

He’s literally chewed his way out of a straight jacket. This mans unhinged.

His powers? Nobody knows where he got them. Probably used Virgil’s spell book.

His powers are teleportation and shapeshifting.

Leads to some interesting interactions.

He has the achievement of being the only person Thomas has genuinely lost his cool with.

Remus doesn’t conceal his identity. His outfit is just his normal duke outfit he wears everywhere.

I mean when the police first showed up on his first heist he was eating a dollar bill and introduced himself as, “Remus, but you can call me Duke.”

He’s frankly terrifying.

He’s committed every crime in the book. Tax evasion to mass homocide.

His villain name is Duke and it is a household name across America.

Somebody get this man under control oh my god.

So there’s the character bios. Here’s some little tad bits of information!

Emile Picani is both Thomas and Virgil’s therapist.

Virgil hasn’t told him about being a supervillain but oh he knows.

Emile very discreetly is trying to get him to be better one step at a time.

All the supervillains logos were designed by the media.

“Curse” And “Mind Bender” are apparently I dinamic duo on the internet?

Patton, Logan, Roman, and Virgil often team up. Their not official team members or anything but just good friends.

The four often try to pull each other out of crime. For example someone will anonymously give Patton some money, keeping Logan calm, ect.

Virgil used to team up with Deceit and Remus all the time but slowly started to pull away due to them being absolutely unhinged.

Fiona and Liam actually are friends with Thomas.

Remus can actually be quite calm around Deceit and Roman. There can’t be anyone else in the room though.

Thomas is very insistent on finding everyone’s identities and helping them out.

Remy actually knows everyone’s identities besides Virgil’s but because the unhinged ones are already known, he doesn’t care.

Virgil and Roman will sometimes come over to Patton’s house to give him a much needed break from being a single parent.

Logan and Dee are actually extremely good friends and have been since the experimentation. Everyone is pretty good friends with everyone but those two are a whole new level of friends. The others are convinced they might have telepathic powers between each other.

Emile and Remy often hang out together and chat about whatever.

Welp there’s that! I’ll probably be writing some stuff for this so stay tuned! Enjoy the rest of your day!

[monstercupcake61176]

Okay this was written for an angst prompt from @elytra-galaxy who requested Sleepceit with the prompt “I love you, not them.”

I guess it was too long or something because it wouldn’t let me post it along with the ask, so here it is now. 

Also, I’ve never written for this ship before, and I hardly ever write for Sleep. So hopefully I didn’t mess anything up. 

----

Sides and Functions.

One group dealt with personality, determining how a person would behave and act.

The other dealt with, less complicated things. While no two people had the exact same personality, everyone could relate to feeling Hunger and everyone had a Brain.

And everyone, at one point or another, needed Sleep.

Sleep was, at his core, the one responsible for the amount of rest his host received. It was a job that the other Functions held in a rather high regard. All of them knew that they would benefit from a good night’s rest, and in the beginning, trusted that Sleep would ensure they received such vital rest.

Oh how wrong they all were…

Sleep was lazy, unreliable, and at times, downright disrespectful to their host. He was one of the few that actually “hung out” with the host on a regular basis and the interactions between the two were (while amusing) not the best for the host.

Sleep was nothing like the other Functions. He seemed to take pleasure in causing as much mischief as possible. Whether it was not allowing the host to rest when he wanted, or refusing to let him get up in the morning when it was long past time for him to be awake.

Another thing that he was in control of was dreams, which he used mostly for his own amusement.

No one understood him, no one really liked him.

It got to the point where the Functions went to the Sides for help. Normally, the two groups didn’t interact. Besides Logic and Brain, who made sure things were running smoothly for the host. It was Brain that ended up bringing the issues with Sleep up to Logic, who had promised he’d look into it.

All Sides were aware of Sleep’s odd behavior, but none of them really knew how to deal with him. Sleep and Anxiety were currently not on speaking terms after a misunderstanding that had happened a while back involving the Side being caught in the host’s bed.

When Creativity tried to talk to him about the dreams, he’d just ended up being flirted with to the point that he’d run back to the others in a flustered mess.

Morality had attempted to give him a kind lecture about the importance of responsibility, but not even halfway through the lecture Sleep had fallen asleep.

Logic himself had gone to the host in hopes that he’d be able to get Sleep in control, but sadly, Thomas could be a bit of a pushover and that plan fell flat on its face.

Which was why, Deceit was now being sent in as a last resort. He didn’t really have a reason for wanting to help, and if he was being honest (shocking, I know) he didn’t really want to help.

The Side sighed as he made his way to the side of the mind where the Functions resided. It didn’t take him long to find Sleep, who was leaning back lazily against a wall sipping his imaginary Starbucks.

“Sleep.” Deceit’s voice was stern. His eyes narrowed.

“Yeah gurl?” Sleep glanced over, peering at him from behind his sunglasses.

“We need to talk.” Deceit got closer. “About…?” Sleep drawled.

Both stared at each other, faces indifferent.

That was, until Deceit suddenly pulled Sleep against him and into a kiss. The Function quickly pulled away, laughing gleefully. “Oh Dee Dee~ You just can’t resist can you?”

“How can I when you’re so perfect?” Deceit grinned.

“Well, could you be careful next time? You almost made me spill my coffee.” Sleep smiled and took a drink. “So, what did you need to talk to me about?” “I’ve come on behalf of my fellow Sides who have some, concerns, regarding how you do your job.”

“Uh uh. No thank you ma’am. No. Thank. You.” Sleep waved his hand dismissively. “Pops already lectured me enough.” “Well, they wouldn’t leave me alone unless I went and talked to you about this. So here I am.”

“Oh fiiinnneee…” He took another drink. “Make it quick, babe.”

“In short, Thomas’ current sleep schedule is not ideal. He isn’t getting nearly enough and it’s affecting his work.”

Sleep stirred his coffee around with his straw. “Sooo… What do you want me to do about it?”

“Perhaps work with Logic on creating a proper sleeping pattern? I know Brain would appreciate it, as would everyone else.”

“Okay, hun, that sounds great. Except for like, everything involving schedules or patterns. I don’t work like that.”

Deceit sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sleep, I love you, but sometimes, you have to make sacrifices for others. In this case, for Thomas.”

Sleep hummed and downed the rest of his coffee. “Dee Dee, sweety, can I be real with you?”

“Of course, I’m not sure why you’re asking.”

“Well, honey, the truth is, I don’t really care.” He tossed the empty cup away.

“What do you mean?” Deceit frowned.

“I don’t really care about the other Functions, they’re all bunch of killjoys. As for the host, well, he kinda just has to go with my flow if you know what I’m saying.”

“Sleep, I feel about the same way about the other Sides. The only reason I’m here is to get them off my back and to see you. However, I also know that if we all don’t work together, things will fall apart and everyone will be hurt. Including you.”

“Uh huh, why do you care?” Sleep leaned against the wall again, crossing his arms. Deceit was taken aback. “Why do I care?! Because I love you! I don’t want you hurt!”

Sleep sighed and took off his sunglasses so he could rub his eyes. “I know that honesty isn’t really your cup of tea, but, I need to spill a rather cold cup on you.”

“What are you talking about?” Deceit got an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

“Tell me, do you think the Functions went to you for help because they’re concerned with the host? Because they want to make sure he’s safe and well?”

Deceit said nothing, allowing Sleep to continue.

“Functions only care about one thing: Keeping the host functioning. We don’t establish emotional bonds with the host. Heck, we don’t even call him by his name because why should we? Now, Sides, you guys are all about feelings and actually caring. You want the host to be healthy and that’s great, but you all take it one step further and befriend him.”

“What is your point, Sleep?” Deceit inspected his nails, feigning disinterest.

“My point is: I’m breaking up with you.”

Deceit froze. For a moment he didn’t react. He barely moved.

Sleep sighed. “Look, Deceit, it was fun. I enjoyed our time together. But, I’m sorry. I can’t love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

Deceit trembled and shook his head. Finally finding his voice. “Sleep… Why are you doing this?”

“I tried. I thought I could make this worse, but I couldn’t. It’s just not in my nature to love. All I’m meant to do is make the host sleep. And I’m not even good at that.”

“You could be!” Deceit insisted. “I’ll help you, we can make things better.”

“Girl, I don’t know what I’m doing. I know I have a job, but I’ve got zero clue on how to do it. So I just, stopped caring.” He shrugged and summoned another coffee. “As for you and I, trust me when I say you can do so much better. With a Side.”

“I love you! Not them!” Deceit felt tears sting his eyes, but he wouldn’t cry. “You’re the only one who doesn’t judge me for who I am, for what I represent. You fell in love with me.”

“That’s the thing, babe.” Sleep returned his sunglasses to his face. “I fell in love with the idea of you. Well, not really, because I can’t actually love. But I liked to entertain the idea of being able to do so.”

Deceit felt his heart shattering. This wasn’t happening, he should have been able to sense if Sleep’s love was false. Unless, he’d been too blind to see it…

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have led you on like this. But, I can’t change what I am.” Sleep took a sip of his coffee. “But, you have a choice. You don’t have to be a prisoner to your function.” He walked up to Deceit and gently lifted his chin. “And you’ll find someone better than me.”

“Sleep…” He wanted to beg him to stay, but the words died on his tongue.

“Later, Dee.” Sleep stepped back and walked away. Leaving Deceit alone to watch him disappear from sight.

Alone, with nothing left but a broken heart….

[fandomoniumflurry]

Twenty Four Hours

Danneel Harris x Genevieve Cortese

For @thing-you-do-with-that-thing  Girl Power Challenge!

Prompt: Pink- Fuckin Perfect

Language, self doubt, negative thinking, fluff

1.4k words. edit by me

Twenty four hours. She hadn’t heard one word from her for a full twenty four hours. That wasn’t like her. Even if they fought, she would send a text just to say ‘I still love you’ or ‘I’m safe’, just something to let Danneel know that she was still there. But this time there had been no fight. They had been just fine, at least as far as Dee knew. Genevieve had been sick for a few days and so things had been pretty quiet because the tiny brunette had been spending a lot of time sleeping, getting the rest she needed to get over her illness. So a few hours without a word from her was usual and gave Dee no reason to worry. But after a full night and now into the afternoon of the next day, Danneel began to worry.

Calls went to voicemail, emails went unanswered, texts were ignored, even Facebook and instant messaging didn’t get a response. This was unlike Gen and Danneel couldn’t help but think the absolute worst. It was no secret to her that Gen had struggled with depression and anxiety from time to time but Dee had always been around to help her through it. And though the brunette wanted to lock herself away in her apartment during her sickness it didn’t stop Danneel from fighting her on it, suggesting that Dani fly up there to take care of her. Gen may have won there but Dee still checked in as often as she could. But now, Dani’s mind was racing ninety miles an hour, concocting the scariest possibilities for her girlfriend’s silence.

She began to worry if she had done or said something to cause the other woman to cut her out. Maybe Gen just didn’t want to be with her anymore, maybe she fell out of love. Danneel’s opinion of herself never lived up to everyone else’s high expectation of her. She was seen as a strong, beautiful independent woman but Gen knew that she was actually an insecure and broken woman who struggled with the same daily demons as any other person. And it was times like this that the faults and flaws reared their ugly head and sent Dani into a downward spiral. With each passing hour without her girlfriend, she laid around her apartment either staring at the ceiling or at the wall whether she was on the floor, the couch or her bed. She couldn't focus on anything else which gave her mind plenty of time to wander.

She wasn’t perfect by any means and there were plenty of times that she questioned why Genevieve was ever with someone like her. The actress deserved so much better than the auburn haired mess that Dee believed herself to be. There was no way that this wasn’t her fault, that Gen’s disappearance was all because of her. She had been a pain to deal with, breaking Gen’s heart plenty of times, making her cry, pushing her away before dragging her back in. Maybe Gen had finally had enough, finally dropped her. She would deserve it but it didn’t make it hurt any less.

Or maybe it had nothing to do with Danneel at all. What if her sickness had gotten worse and she had ended up in the hospital or was suffering at home alone? What if she had been in an accident or kidnapped or even murdered? No matter what situation Danneel concocted in her head, it never ended well. Her girlfriend’s silence could only be bad. This was why Dee hated living so far away from the brunette. She should have just flown up there even against Gen’s wishes just so she could be there for her no matter what.

After a hopeless afternoon, Danneel finally gave in and grabbed the phone to call the airline. She would get the next flight out of LA to Vancouver and settle this once and for all. Showing up unannounced at Gen’s apartment was better than sitting in her own apartment stewing and worrying. The phone was ringing in her ear when there was a knock at her door. Her brow furrowed in irritation at the interruption. She had no time for visitors, she had better things to do. With heavy strides, she stalked toward the door, the airline answering on the other end of the line. She began to speak as she opened the door.

Her jaw dropped when she saw a petite brunette standing with a big grin on her face. The phone fell from Dani’s ear and a questioning voice sounded from the device as it hit the floor. The auburn haired actress threw her arms around her girlfriend, lips finding Gen’s frantically. The smaller woman was stunned and giggled as she wrapped her arms around the other woman. “Dee, baby, it’s good to see you too but what the hell?” Her laughter ceased when Danneel pulled away from the hug to look into Genevieve’s eyes. “Danneel, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Tears ran down the tall woman’s cheeks as her chocolate hues fell to the floor. Her hands moved down Gen’s arms to find her hands and intertwined them. “Baby, you’re scaring me.” Genevieve squeezed her hands, bringing them up closer to her chest hoping it would make Dani look at her. “Tell me what happened.”

Danneel backed into the apartment, Gen removing a hand to close the door behind her before dropping her bag from her shoulder. She was quick to return her hand to Dani’s watching her closely as she waited for a response. “Talk to me.”

“Where have you been?” Brown eyes lifted to look at Gen, moisture clouding Dani’s vision. “I’ve been calling and texting all day. I was so worried. I thought something happened, I thought you didn’t want me, I thought so many things.” When Danneel’s voice began to speed up and sound frantic, Gen stepped forward to wrap her arms around her neck. She pulled Dani’s face against the crook of her neck as a hand combed through auburn locks while the other rubbed her shoulder blades. Danneel’s arms wrapped around Gen’s middle and she buried her face into Gen’s neck and taking in the fresh scent of her shampoo in her dark strands that fell down to her shoulder.

“I’m right here, sweetie. My phone died and wasn’t able to get a new one before I had to leave last night and the flights were ridiculous. Weather delayed my first flight so I was stranded at the airport then I had to have a layover in Salt Lake City for some reason and I didn’t leave there til this morning and they lost my bag at LAX so all I have is my carry on.” The aggravation was beginning to shine through Gen’s voice as she recounted the events of her past twenty four hours. Dani couldn’t help but giggle as she squeezed her arms tighter around her tiny girlfriend. A warm smile played at Gen’s lips before she kissed into Dee’s hair. “You had nothing to worry about. Everything is just fine. Well, other than the fact that I don’t have any underwear or clothes.”

A brighter laugh escaped Dani’s lips before she pulled back to look at Gen. She lifted a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and the brunette leaned into the touch with a smile. “I was just so scared I lost you. You know how I always think the worst. I couldn’t help but blame myself--”

Before she could continue, Gen captured her lips in a loving kiss. Distracted from her thought process, Danneel melted against her mouth. Gen sported a smug grin when she pulled back, resting her forehead against her girlfriend’s. “You are fucking perfect and I flew all the way from Canada because I fucking missed you. So don’t ever question how I feel about you because I love you, you idiot.”

A quiet giggle fell from Dani’s lips before she pecked a kiss to the tip of Gen’s nose. “I love you too.” After months of being together, this was the first time they had ever said those three little words and all the worry and doubt washed away. A moment passed, the both of them reveling in the warm feeling of love between them before Danneel grinned. “I won’t get sick though, will I?” Gen laughed and shook her head. “Good. Because the weekend I’m planning on, you aren’t going to need that suitcase.” Her brows wiggled and Gen let out a laugh. Her head shook and she kissed Dee once again.

[heeeatofthemoment]

Delirium x Reader

Next one in my Endless x Reader fics. This one was a lot more fun though I’ll admit the ending isn’t the best XD Either way enjoooy!

“I like the ribbon,” you hear a small voice say from behind you.

“Uh huh…” you answer, only half paying attention, your eyes not breaking contact with the mess that is your work on the wall. Though you suddenly snap back to reality, exclaiming, “Wait-” as you turn to find the voice.

Your caffeinated brain not fully registering what was before you.

“Red is a good colour, only when it stays inside though, outside it gets messy and everywhere,” said the small girl who was sat on the edge of your bed.

“How did you get into my room?” you ask, looking at the door to see if it was open.

“Well I turned left from my place, walked upside down for a bit in this dark place and came to a door. It was pretty easy to get past, as long as you know how, which I do,” she replied with a beaming smile before flopping backwards onto the covers.

“But it was locked, and we’re on the third floor of my campus apartment?”

“I did meet someone on the way here, and they were quite shouty. I think I made think a penguin was attacking him, but I’m not sure. But the door wasn’t hard. I just asked it nicely. Or was that the man?”

This girl spoke so quickly it was giving you a headache. Or at least, a worse one, which was the last thing you needed at the moment. This university project was driving you nuts, because it was due in a week and was taking up all of your time.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with you family or something?”

The girl sat up and tilted her head, gazing at you with her… eyes. Which were mismatched, one being blue and the other green.

“Well… A lot of them scare me, especially Despair, Destiny and very muchly Desire. Dreamy is kinda sweet, but I think he’s judging me behind his frowning. Death is always nice to me, she’s cool, and likes to chat when she’s not busy…” she pauses for little while. “…and I had a brother but I don’t know where he is and I miss him… but he gave me a Barnabas, and I like him a lot!”

You blink. In the process of explaining… whatever it was she had told you, you were pretty sure her hair had changed colour. It was a vibrant green, but now had turned to a dark blue with yellow highlights.

“Right… Well, please, can you go? I’m sorry I just have this thing-”

“Ooo, what is it?” she interrupts you, springing off the bed and climbing up onto your desk, examining your work. As she passes you notice she smells kind of like sour wine.

“Hey! Careful! It’s my latest class project,” you protest, but before you can stop her, she’s looking at everything. All across the wall you have various papers, articles and other pieces of information stuck on via a mix of tac, pins and tape, and connected via strands of red ribbon. You had spent weeks carefully putting it all together and even though it looked like an unorganised mess, it made sense to you.

“I met a solving man once, he called himself Dee Tektiv,”

“Do you mean he was a detective?” you ask.

“Um… yes. But anyway, he had a wall like this, though he used boring blue ribbon, which isn’t inside or messy. His wall had a man who stabbed someone, though he wasn’t sure”.

“That sounds delightful…” You mumble to yourself. In the blink of an eye the girl is suddenly an inch from your face, glaring into your eyes with her own from the on top of the table.

“That isn’t me. Not now me. A while ago me. I don’t like thinking about Delight me. It hurts. Like it did to that stabbed man who was stabbed”.

Before you can apologise, even though you weren’t sure what you or her had said, she had turned back to the wall as quick as she’d looked to you.

“Where are the stabbed people on your wall?” she asked inquisitively.

“I’m not a detective, there aren’t any dead people there,” you pinch your brow in frustration. “If you must know, I’m doing a psychology project assignment on why nightmares are so vivid”.

After hearing this, the girl jumps off the table and starts jumping up and down, clapping cheerfully as she does.

“Oh, oh, oh! I know someone that can help you! I mentioned him earlier, he’s great with all the stuff about dream stuff, I’ll go ask him”.

With that she disappeared, with a sound that resembled a quick trumpet note. Like straight up gone before your eyes. For a second, her shadow still remained on the floor before also blinking out too leaving behind a faint smell of spearmint. You don’t move for a good minute, eyes fixed to the spot she was just stood. You drop to the bed and place your hands over your face.

“I’m losing my mind,” you muffle, letting out a large sigh. “It’s just the stress, why else would you be seeing things?” you assure yourself. Taking a deep breath, you open your eyes. Only to be met with blue and green.

“Hello, sorry if you were sleeping, or were dead, or both. I used to know a woman who had that happen too,” said the girl. She was standing by your bed and was leant over your face. You aren’t even annoyed by her presence.

“What happened to her?” you ask, unsure as to why you are playing along with what was clearly a hallucination at this point.

“Oh… she died. Or fell asleep”. She shook her head violently. “Speaking of, I spoke to my brother about helping your wall. He said he was busy and didn’t know what I was talking about, which I thought was odd, since I’m sure I used words”.

At this point you had given up trying to understand… whoever she was. The way she disappeared like that and the way her hair kept shifting was unsettling. In fact, her clothes had changed slightly too. She was wearing a pink shirt with a leather jacket over it and ripped jeans. But now her leather jacket had changed to a simple red hoody.

“Who are you?” you finally ask, since you realise you don’t know her name.

“People have called me lots of things, I’ve forgotten a few of them though. I think they have too, I’d like to know where they left them… Usually my sister calls me Del and I like it when she does. Barnabas calls me ‘girl’ but I think he’s just jealous I have hands, see?” to prove her point, she waved her hands wildly.

You stare at her for a second or two, then sit up and lean back against your wall, resting your hands on the top of your head.

“Am I going mad? Is that it?” you sigh to yourself. It was the only thing that made sense. As a teleporting shapeshifting teenage girl wasn’t possible, so your brain must be fried from all the overworking you’ve been doing.

In response, Del gazed deep into you, slightly tilting her head as she did. She narrowed her eyes, looking like she was genuinely considering the question.

“Not quite,” she finally responds. “You’re almost in my realm, but not really. Like, the door is unlocked but you’re undecided”. She said this with such certainty you can’t help but believe… whatever she was saying. The way she spoke made it seem this was a topic she understood, which was no less comforting.

“How do you know that? What do you mean by your realm? And are you even real?” you ask, firing out questions like malfunctioning conveyor.

“I just do. I know a lot of things, more than my oldest brother, though he doesn’t like admitting it. My realm is a cool place, though someone not… um… with screws loose, wouldn’t like it, what with all the hurty. And real is difficult. Sometimes things are real and I don’t mean it…” She trails off during this sentence, as if distracted by something.

“Uh, hey? Del?” You wave your hand in front of her face and she snaps back.

“Yes? Oh sorry I was thinking about these butterflies my sis-bro stole and made them set themselves on fire. I didn’t like that,” she huffed and sulked, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

You blink, slightly frustrated you didn’t get an answer for your last question. Relenting against your better judgement, you get up off the bed and look down to her.

“Listen… I have no clue what you want with me, but are you thirsty at all?” you ask her, crouching down so you’re eye level.

“Do you have any mango juice?” she responds quickly.

“No I don’t, sorry”.

“Good, cause that stuff is bad. Can I have a bowl of water please?” she looks at you and smiles in a cutesy way, and you can’t help but oblige, despite the odd request.

“Sure thing Del”. You stand up and walk out of your room and into the common area kitchen. You bump into a friend who gives you a confused look when they see you filling up a cereal bowl under the sink, though they dismiss it and leave you to it. You pour yourself an apple juice and make your way back to the room, where she is still sat.

You walk over and sit in front of her, handing the bowl. She claps in excitement and produces a straw and handful of some powder from her coat (which was now a green denim one, that was two sizes too big for her). She drops the powder into the water and puts the straw in her mouth. Taking a deep breath, she then proceeds to blow into the liquid, producing several bubbles.

Somehow, each one was a different shape, with spheres, cubes and even cylinders now floating around your room. One floats over and pops on your nose, creating an odd smell of a freshly peeled banana. You can’t help but let out a laugh, an honest outburst of enjoyment that you hadn’t felt since before this project.

Del also lets out a giggle, before blowing more bubbles. Another one pops near you and it somehow makes a noise like a miniature foghorn, which almost makes you spit out your drink. After producing another wave, she jumps up and begins to try and catch them, popping bubbles left and right and producing various sounds and smells.

Acting quite unlike yourself, you also stand up and burst a single bubble, delighting in the honest-to-goodness cartoon ‘POP’ sound it makes. You can’t help yourself as you continue. Before long, you and Del are running around your room like children, and you couldn’t care less.

All your worries fade away as you revel in the childish endeavour. At some point, you knock over the drink you left on the floor, though you aren’t fussed by it. After a while the bubbles are all gone and you slump to the floor to catch your breath. Del picks up the bowl and drinks the rest of the liquid, which is followed by a sharp belch as a frog shaped bubble flies out her mouth and pops on the floor.

“Ok, I’ll admit that was fun,” you pant, smiling at the mess all over the room. “Seriously though who are you? And are you real?”

This time, she doesn’t avoid the question, and shuffles over until she is sat right in front of you. She gingerly lifts her hand and reaches out, gently, but kind of firmly, poking you on the nose.

“See? All real!” she says, confirming with a second prod. “As who I am, I told you it depends who you ask, but I’m happy with Del”.

“Ok…” you are still just as confused but you continue, “what are you even doing here?”

“Um...” she says, genuinely confused by the question. “I can’t remember, I’m pretty sure I was looking for something?” she taps her chin and looks around the room, as if looking for something that will jog her memory.

“Looking for something?”

“Oh, I know! My friend Barnabas! Have you seen him?” she says, looking at you expectantly.

“Not that I know of, what does he look like?”

“Small, grey, very talky, four legs?”

You pause for a second, confused at what she’s saying, before you work it out. “Wait, is he your dog?”

“Oh you have seen him then?”

“No, I haven’t, though I can help look if you-” before you can finish you hear a loud bark from outside your window, and all of a sudden, Del disappears with a sound that resembles a champagne cork.

A second later she is back with a dog of the description she gave.

“Is this Barnabas then?” you ask, somehow unfazed by her teleportation.

“Yup that’s me,” says Barnabas. For a small moment you almost lose it, but regain your composure as you realise this isn’t the weirdest thing you’ve seen all day.

“We were playing catch in her realm when someone threw it too far and it landed here!” the dog turned and looked judgingly at Del, or at least as much as he could as a dog. “Then you get distracted and come here?”

“I’m sorry Barney, but the door was closed and I couldn’t turn it down!”

“That’s not how that works Delirium”.

“Aaaand there were nice ribbons!” as she says this she points at your project wall.

“Yes, yes, very nice, can we go home now?”

“Oh fine! I just need to get my penguin”.

“Your what now?”

And with that both of them blink out, leaving no trace behind. You sit in still for several minutes, thinking on what to make of the whole experience.

Soon though, you stand up and walk over to your bed, where you see a small plastic tube. You pick it up and with a smile you read the label “Bubbles”.

Thanks for reading this far! :D

[youmightbeanidiotif]

Canon Wincest quotes in SPN:

(Dean, Sam, S1-S15) “Sammy” “Dee” (11.04, 11.12, 14.03)

(Dean & Sam, S1-S15) “Bitch” “Jerk”

(Larry & Lynda, 1.08) “Let me just say, we accept homeowners of any race, religion, color, or... sexual orientation.” “Let me just say, that we accept homeowners of any race, religion, color, or... sexual orientation.”

(Dean, 1.11) “You’ve always known what you want. And you go after it. You stand up to Dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I—anyway… I admire that about you. I’m proud of you, Sammy.”

(John & Sam, 1.22) “Killing this demon comes first, before me, before everything.” “No, sir. Not before everything.”

(Dean & Sam, 2.07) “What do you think, Scully?” “I'm not Scully, you're Scully.” “No, I'm Mulder. You're a red-headed woman.”

(Dean, 2.09) “You make a move on him, you’ll be dead before you hit the ground.”

(Sam & Dean, 2.09) “It’s over for me. It doesn’t have to be over for you. You can keep going!” “What if I don’t want to?!“

(Henrikson & Dean, 2.12) “Yeah, I know about Sammy. The Bonnie to your Clyde.” “Yeah, well, that part's true”

(Bobby & Dean, 2.15) “You're bickering like an old married couple.” “No, see married couples can get divorced. Me and him, we're like, uh, Siamese twins.”

(Molly & Sam, 2.16) “Right before, we were having the dumbest fight. It was the only time we ever really argued, when we were stuck in the car.” “Yeah, I know how that goes.” “You know the last thing I said to him? I called him a jerk.”

(Dean & Sam, 2.20) “It was just a wish. I wished for Mom to live. That Mom never died, we never went hunting and you and me just never uh... you know.” “Yeah. Well, I'm glad we do.”

(Bobby & Dean, 2.22) “Something big is going down, end of the world big.” “Well, then let it end!“

(Dean, 2.22) “I’m gonna take care of you, I’m gonna take care of you, I gotcha. That’s my job, right? Watch out for my pain in the ass little brother?”

(Sam, 2.22) “I mean, you sacrifice everything for me.  Don't you think I'd do the same for you? You're my big brother. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.”

(Sam & Tamara & Isaac, 3.01) “So, how long you two been married?” “Eight years this past June.” “The family that slays together...” “Right. I'm with you there.”

(Dean, 3.01) “Because I couldn't live with you dead. Couldn't do it.”

(Kyle & Sam, 3.05) “This guy, he... he killed my brothers. How would you feel?” “Can’t imagine anything worse.”

(Dean & Sam, 3.06) “Look at you, sticking up for your girlfriend. You cougar hound.” “Bite me.” “Hey, not if she bites you first.”

(Sam, 3.07) “I just wish you would drop the show and be my brother again. Cause…just cause.”

(Dean, 3.11) “Sammy, I get all tingly when you take control like that.”

(Trickster, 3.11) “This obsession to save Dean? The way you two keep sacrificing yourselves for each other? [...] Dean’s your weakness. And the bad guys know it, too.” 

(Sam & Dean, 3.15) “Then, whatever the magic pill is, I'll take it too!” “Oh, what is this? Sid and Nancy?”

(Dean, 3.16) “Sammy, all I’m saying, is that you’re my weak spot. You are, and I’m yours.”

(Dean, 3.16) “SAM! SAAAAM!!”

(Sam & a crossroads demon, 4.09) “I don't want ten years. I don't want one year. I don't want candy! I want to trade places with Dean.” “No.” “Just take me! It's a fair trade!”

(Cara & Sam, 4.14) “Haven't you ever been in a relationship where you really love somebody and still kinda wanted to bash their head in?” “Sounds like you're speaking from experience.” [...] “His name was Karl. We were married. [...] I mean I loved him. Still do I guess but... I don't know. It's like one day I looked up and I was living with a stranger and... you know what I mean, right?” “I guess. Or, I don't know, maybe.”

(Nick, 4.14) “I gave him what he needed. And it wasn’t some bitch in a G-string. It was you. A little brother that looked up to him”

(Dean, 5.04) “Because whatever we have between us... love, family, whatever it is...”

(Dean, 5.04) “The point is…maybe we are each others Achilles heel. Maybe they’ll find a way to use us against each other, I don’t know. I just know we’re all we’ve got. More than that. We keep each other human.”

(Hotel manager, 5.09) “And at 4.30 there's the 'Homoerotic Subtext of Supernatural.'”

(Dean & Castiel & Sam, 5.13) “Really? Anna? I don't believe it.” “It’s true.” “So she's gone all Glenn Close, huh? That's awesome.” “Who's Glenn Close?” “No one, just this psycho bitch who likes to boil rabbits.” “So the plan to kill me, would it actually stop Satan?”

(Ash, 5.16) “A few people share. Special cases. Whatnot. […] Aw you know, like, uh, soulmates.“

(Zachariah, 5.18) “You know Sam and Dean Winchester are psychotically, irrationality, erotically codependent on each other right?”

(Dean & AU!Sam/Dean & Sam, 2.20 & 5.18) “Why are you doing this?” “Because you’re still my (big) brother.”

(Castiel, 5.18) “I don't have the same faith in you that Sam does.“

(Crowley, 5.20) “My valet hid a tracking device in your car, a magical coin that easily trumps your little bags o' bones. It allows me to hear things, too and, my, the things I've heard.”

(Chuck, 5.22) “This is the stuff that's important. The army man that Sam crammed in the ashtray – it's still stuck there. The Legos that Dean shoved into the vents – to this day, heat comes on and they can hear 'em rattle. These are the things that make the car theirs - really theirs. Even when Dean rebuilt her from the ground up, he made sure all these little things stayed.”

Chuck, 5.22) “In between jobs, Sam and Dean would sometimes get a day – sometimes a week, if they were lucky. [...] They could go anywhere and do anything. They drove 1,000 miles for an Ozzy show, two days for a Jayhawks game. And when it was clear, they'd park her in the middle of nowhere, sit on the hood, and watch the stars... for hours... without saying a word.”

(Dean, 5.22) “Sam, it’s okay. It’s okay, I’m here, I’m here. I’m not gonna leave you.”

(Sam, 5.22) “It’s okay, Dean, it’s gonna be okay. I got him.”

(Chuck, 5.22) “Dean didn't want Cas to save him. Every part of him, every fiber he's got, wants to die, or find a way to bring Sam back. But he isn't gonna do either. Because he made a promise.”

(Chuck, 5.22) “I'd say this was a test... for Sam and Dean. And I think they did all right. Up against good, evil, angels, devils, destiny, and God himself, they made their own choice. They chose family. And, well... isn't that kinda the whole point?”

(Dean, 6.01) “So I'm dead? This is Heaven?”

(Sam & Dean, 6.01) “You finally had what you wanted, Dean.” “I wanted my brother. Alive.”

(Lisa, 6.06) “You two have the most unhealthy, tangled-up, crazy thing I’ve ever seen.“

(Veritas, 6.06) “Mallory to your Mickey.”

(Dean & Sam, 6.15) “Yeah, but here, you got a pretty good life. I mean, back home, the hits have been coming since you were 6 months old. You got to admit, being a bazillionare, married to Ruby, the whole package. It's no contest.” “No, you know, you were right. We just don't mean the same thing here. I mean, we're not even brothers here, man.” “All right, then. Let's get our crazy show back home.”

(Sam & Dean, 6.15) [Sam knocks on the wall.] “Solid. It's real. Nice.” “Yeah. Yeah, real, moldy, termite-eaten home sweet home. Chock full of crap that wants to skin you. Oh, and, uh, we're broke again.” “Yeah. But, hey... at least we're talking.“

(Sam, 6.22) “I was with two guys. One was like a male model type, and the other was an older guy named Bobby.”

(Balthazar, 6.22) “How's Sleeping Beauty? You didn't steal any kisses, I trust?”

(Tortured!Sam & Sam, 6.22) “Why is this so important to you?” “You know me. You know why. I'm not leaving my brother alone out there.”

(Sam & Don & Maggie, Sam & Dean, 7.05) “See? Guys, guys... You're talking. All these years, you... you buried your anger and your disappointment till it tore you apart. All you needed to do was talk.” “He's right. I couldn't kill you. All I ever wanted is you, Mags. I've been crushing on you since forever. You're the woman that I want to never grow old with.” “I could never murder you either, Don. It's crazy... But true.” [...] “Hey, were you, um, were you listening to the Starks tonight?” “Uh, a little, when I wasn't getting slammed into a wall or stung by bees.” “You notice how they, uh, you know, how they... how they opened up, got everything off their chest?” “Yeah. Kudos on selling them that crap.” “It wasn't crap, Dean. It worked.”

(Dean, 7.06) “Sammy. Not Sammy.”

(Leviathan!Sam, 7.06) “You could be anything. You're strong, uninhibited, smart enough, believe it or not, but you're so caught up in being good and taking care of each other.”

(Dean, 8.03) “I know where I'm at my best, and that is right here, driving down crazy street next to you.”

(Mrs. Holmes, 8.03) “I don't think he could bear the thought of life without me. That's why he drove off that bridge.”

(Michael, 8.04) “Is it just me or are you getting a workplace romance vibe from those two?”

(Kate & Michael & Brian, Dean, 8.04) “I'm pretty sure that FBI agents don't say "awesome" that much. You know? And they definitely don't hunt and kill college kids.” “Did... did they say anything else?” “Dude, they just sat and talked about how they have been apart for a year. You were probably right about that whole office-romance thing.” [...] “Do I really say "awesome" a lot?”

(Sam & Amelia, 8.05) “You have no idea where you're going, either, do you?” “No. Not really.” “And that's because you have no one. I mean, at all, right? I mean, that's why you're... here, in this place.” “I used to... have someone, I mean. But that's over now. It's gone. You know what that's like, don't you?”

(Dean & Sam, 8.10) “What do you want to hear, Sam? That I was wrong? Fine. I was wrong. Okay? But if you’d have just heard me out, if you’d have trusted me, all of this could have been avoided.” “You didn’t want me to trust you. You wanted me to trust Benny, and I can’t do that.” “Right. Okay, well, then, what the hell do we do now?” “That depends. It depends on you. On whether or not you’re done with him.”

(Dean, 8.14) “I want you to get out. I want you to have a life, become a Man of Letters, whatever. You, with a wife and kids, and grandkids, living till you're fat and bald and chugging Viagra... that is my perfect ending.”

(Dean & Sam, 8.14) “Sam, be smart.” “I am smart, and so are you. You’re not a grunt, Dean. You’re a genius. When it comes to lore you’re the best damn hunter I have ever seen, better than me, better than dad. I believe in you, Dean. So, please, please believe in me, too.”

(Dean, 8.23) “There is nothing, past or present, that I would put in front of you.”

(Ezekial/Gadreel as Dean, 9.01) “I made you a promise, in that church. You and me. Come whatever.”

(Ezekial/Gadreel as Dean, 9.01) “There ain’t no me, if there ain’t no you.“

(Jody, 9.08) “Come on. You and Dean? That's something special, don't you think?”

(Castiel & Sam, 9.11) “Sam, the trials. You chose not to go through with them for a reason, didn't you? You chose to live rather than to sacrifice yourself. You and Dean, you chose each other.” “Yeah, I did. We did.”

(Alonso, 9.13) “Hey, new guy. Quit flirtin’ with the trainer and keep scoopin’, huh?”

(Dean, 9.23) “I’m proud of us.”

(Sam, 10.02) “I don’t care. Because you’re my brother and I’m here to take you home.”

(Sam, 10.03) “Come back. [...] Come back to me.”

(Dean, 10.03) “What did Sam say? Does he want a divorce?”

(Castiel, 10.03) “It’d take a lot more than trying to kill Sam with a hammer to make him want to walk away.”

(Dean & Sam, 10.04) “I never even said thank you, so...” “You don't ever have to say that, not to me.”

(Dean & Marie, 10.05) “Why are they standing so close together?” “Reasons.” “You know they're brothers, right?” “Well, duh but, subtext.” 

(Dean, 10.05) “I don't need a symbol to remind me how I feel about my brother.”

(Marie as Sam & Sam, 10.05) “The two of us against the world!” “What she said.”

(Heddy & Beverly, 10.06) “I knew those boys were trailer trash the moment they rolled up in that American-made.” “Not to mention homosexuals.” “Homosexual murderers.  Like Leopold and Loeb.”

(Sam, 10.12) “Look, man… do I wish the mark was gone? Yes, of course. Absolutely, I do, but… I wanted you back.”

(Sam, 10.18) “This is my life. I love it. But I can't do it without my brother. I don't want to do it without my brother. And if he's gone, then I don't...”

(Sam, 10.18) “If there’s a cure, we’ll do it and deal with the consequences later. I can’t lose you.”

(Sam, 10.23) “You will never, ever hear me say that you—the real you—is anything but good.”

(Dean, 10.23) “Close your eyes. [A tear runs down Sam’s face as he continues to look up at Dean.] Sammy, close your eyes.”

(Sam, 10.23) “Take these. And one day, when you find your way back. Let these be your guide. And they can help you remember what it was to be good. What it was to love.”

(Sam & Dean, 11.01) “I unleashed a force on this world that could destroy it, to save you.” “And I told you not to.” “And I'd do it again.  In a second, I would do it again.”

(Sam, 11.04) “Dee, it’s late, I’m exhausted.”

(Sam, 11.04) “We are home.“

(Lucifer & Sam, 11.10) “No wait, here’s my personal favorite, is you doing every stupid thing you could to cure the Mark, even after you knew it would go bad.” “My brother was dying!” “Yes! And you’d do anything to save him. And he’d do anything to save you. And that is the problem. [...] you’re so overcome by guilt that you can’t stand to lose Dean again and he could never lose you, and so instead of choosing the world you choose each other, no matter how many innocent people die.”

(Dean, 11.11) “All that matters now, all that’s ever mattered, is that we’re together.“

(Sam, 11.12)

“Dee, listen...”

(Sam, 11.16) “The nest messes with their victim's head, shows them things they love, parts of their soul in distress.”

(Sam & Dean, 11.16) “You said the soul eater made you see things, plural. So, what else did you see?” “I saw you, dead on the floor.” “How messed up are our lives, that you seeing a vision of dead-me is actually kind of comforting?”

(Dean, 11.17) “Bring him back. Bring him back and take me instead.”

(Michelle, 11.17) “I watched the man I love die. There's no normal after that.”

(Dean & Cesar, 11.19) “You guys fight just like brothers. Almost as bad as us.” “Well, it's more like an old married couple.”

(Dean, 11.20) “I’m not leaving you, ever!”

(Dean & Sam, 11.23) “C’mon, you know the drill. No chick flick moments, c’mon.” “Yeah, you love chick flicks.” “Yeah, you’re right I do, come here.”

(Dean, 11.23) “I need him, he needs me.“

(Dean, 12.01) “Listen, bitch. I don't care who you are, I don't care what you want. You have my brother. [...] Now, I'm gonna give you one chance, just one, to hand Sam back. [...] You think you can run from me? Try it. Because when I find you, and I will find you, if he is not in one piece, I will take you apart. You understand me? [Lady Toni hangs up, Dean snaps Gregory’s cellphone in half.]”

(Mary & Dean, 12.02) “Sam had a chance to get out, and he came back?” “When Dad disappeared, Sam and I looked around and something became very clear. The only thing we had in this world, the only thing aside from this car, was each other.”

(Dean & Sam, 12.06) “He’s more of a, uh… animated Japanese erotica chick.” “Don’t tell her that!” “Tell her what?” “It’s Jody, man.” “Dude, be proud of your hobbies. It makes you who you are.”

(Dean & Billie, 12.06) [Dean is pounding on the door, trying to get in.] “Sam. Sammy! Hey!” “You can huff and puff, but that house is on supernatural lockdown. They can’t even hear you.” “Hunters are dying in there.” “Everyone dies.” “You got in there. You got in there to reap that soul. You can get me in.” “But it’s a one-way ticket. And you’re gonna owe me one.” [The door glows and Dean tumbles through it and rolls into the room.] “Where’s my brother?!”

(Dean, 12.07) “We're the brothers that rock together.”

(Dean, 12.09) “Being locked in that cell, with nothing? I’ve been to hell, this was worse.”

(Sam & Dean, 12.11) ”Dean, do you remember HBO?” ”Uh...” ”Cinemax?” ”Skinemax?” ”Great, alright, come here. We’re just gonna sit you right here.” “Is this like, live Skinemax?”

(Dean, 12.11) [Sam screams in pain.] “S-Sam?”

(Sam & Dean, 12.11) “I can’t believe you rode Larry.” “Hey, I was awesome on that bull. I was like a God.”

(Sam & Dean, 12.11) “Just, you know, some of the things we've done, we've had this weight for- forever. And seeing it gone, you looked happy.“ “Look, was it nice to drop our baggage? Yeah, maybe. Hell, probably. But it wasn't just the crap that got lost, I mean it was everything. It was us. It was what we do, you know? All of it. So... that's what being happy looks like? I think I'll pass.“

(Dean, 12.14) “Sammy? Lucy?!”

(Sam & Dean, 12.15) “Dude, why don’t you take a shower and change your clothes, you’ve been wearing the same pair of boxers for four days.” “Okay, one, weird that you know how much underwear I’ve packed...” “That’s what’s weird about this?”

(Dean & Sam, 12.15) “Alright, let’s get to it then.” “Yeah, that’s fine, um... after you get cleaned up.” “I got baby wipes in the car.” “Dude! Dean, I’m serious man. You smell like roadkill.” “That’s ‘cause I do all the heavy lifting. ... Alright, but I’m using that fancy shampoo you keep hidden from me.”

(Gwen, Sam & Dean, 12.15) “Why couldn’t I just tell him the truth? I didn’t, I lied. I lied to make things easier.” [...] “Either way, I shouldn’t have lied to you and I’m sorry, man, I” “Well, okay.”

(Sam & Dean, 12.15) “Every job we’ve worked in the last two weeks, they’ve all come from the British Men of Letters.” “Really.” “Yeah, I didn’t tell you because I know how much you hate them.” “No, we hate them. Us. Together.”

(Mick & Sam & Dean, 12.16) “Kendrick’s is the largest collection of occult lore in the world.” “Cool.” [Dean gives ultimate bitchface.]

(Mick & Sam, 12.16) “Booked us all suites.” “Wait, you... we’re in separate rooms?”

(Dean, 12.16) “Yeah. Sam’s best friend. They’re like nerd soulmates.”

(Sam & Dean, 12.22) “Is this how you pictured it? The end?” “You know it's not. I always thought we'd go out like Butch and Sundance style. Blaze of glory.”

(Dean & Sam, 12.22) “You come back.” “Promise.” “Bitch.” “Jerk.”

(Sandy & Dean, 13.17) “What are you doing?” “They took my brother. I’m gonna get him back.” [Dean continues to make chemical bombs.]

(Dean & Sam, 13.19) “WHERE THE HELL IS MY BROTHER?!” [Dean enters the room where Sam is being held.] “SAM!” “DEAN!”

(Dean & Sam, 13.20) “I don’t care what happens to me, I never really have, but I do care what happens to my brother.” “Dean, we're going to that place, and we're gonna save Jack and Mom. Together. And if something happens, we will deal with it together. And if we die? We'll do that together, too.”

(Dean to Sam, 13.22) “I thought I’d lost you, man.”

(Dean to Sam, 13.22) “We’ve lost friends, we’ve lost family, we’ve lost each other.“

(Dean, 13.23) “Sammy!” [Lucifer disappears with Sam and Jack.] “SAMMY!”

(Castiel & Dean, 13.23) “Dean, you can’t.” “Lucifer has Sam!”

(Anael & Michael!Dean, 14.01) “Why would he say yes to you?” “Love.”

(Sam, 14.01) “If it meant finding Dean, I’d... I’d do anything.” 

(Dean, 14.02) “Sammy... It’s me...”

(Dean & Sam, Jody, 14.03) “It’s just every time I think about it, it’s like a nightmare. I mean, I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, it’s just always there... watching.” “Dee, it’s just a beard. I’ve been a little busy lately.” “Well, that’s not an excuse ‘cause Duck Dynasty called and they want it all back.” “Some people say I look good.“ “No. No Sam. No people say that.“ [...] “Hey, I like it!” [Sam is smug, Dean is exasperated.]

(Dean & Spencer & Sam, 14.03) “Yeah, not Michael anymore.” “Right, Chief told us. Welcome back.” “Chief?” “Yeah, I asked them not to call me that.” [Dean is exasperated.]

(Jody to Sam, 14.03) “First love strikes quick, and to lose it like that… Wow, you two are having a time of it.“

(Sam to Dean, 14.03) “For me, you were gone, for weeks. I didn’t know if you were alive… I just need you to talk to me, slow down so I can catch up.”

(Dean & Sam, 14.04) “Oh wow.” “What?” [Dean gestures to his jaw.] “Oh. Yes, I shaved.” “I mean, it’s so smooth. It’s like a... dolphin’s belly.”

(Dean & Sam, Samantha, 14.04) “Soft, delicate features, luxurious hair, she’s like your wonder twin.” “What? What are you talking about?” [Sam and Samantha simultaneously push their hair behind their ears.]

(Stuart & Dean & Sam, 14.04) “I broke it off before we could MIRL.” “Merle?” “M.I.R.L Meet in real life.” “Why do you know what that means?”

(Dean to Sam, 14.04) “Thanks, man. You, uh... You got me out here 'cause you needed to get me out my funk and get me a win, and you did. So... thanks.”

(Sam & Dean, 14.04) “Hey Dean, when we get back to the bunker, man, you gotta stop hiding out in your room.” “I’m not hiding out.” “And I get why you’re doing it, I do. What happened with Michael... you said yes for me. For Jack, for your family. You did the right thing. And what happened after [...] I don’t blame you, no one blames you, but you gotta try to stop blaming yourself. Please.” “I’m never going to get over it, okay? I’m just not. But you’re right. [...] Whatever you need, I’m there.”

(Dean to Sam, 14.04) “Alright, Chief?”

(Dean & Sam, 14.04) “Next year we're doing Halloween right, okay? I'm thinking matching outfits. Batman and Robin.” “No.” “Bert and Ernie.” “No.” “Yeah, that’s weird.” “Yes.” “Uh, Rocky and Bullwinkle.” “Dean.” “Shaggy and Scooby!” “Why would we...” “Turner and Hooch.” “Ugh.” “Ren and Stimpy.” “Come on now...” “Thelma and Louise!” “Thelma and...” “ We just put it in drive and go.”

(Dean to AU!Bobby, Dean to Sam, 14.05) “He’s doing his best. He’s doing better than his best.” “Well, she learned from the best.”

(Jack to Dean, Charlie to Sam, 14.06) “Sam wanted someone around when you came back. He’s worried about you.” “He’ll be fine. Your brother, I mean.”

(Dean to Jack, 14.06) “Sam won’t like it.” [aka mom] “Remind me to give you the talk later.” [aka dad]

(Dean to Kaia, 14.09) “I need that spear to save Sam so, if you’re not going to give it to me, kill me.”

(Michael!Dean to Sam, 14.09) “Dean was... resisting me. He was too attached to you.”

(Sam & Dean, 14.11) “You were gonna leave, and you weren’t even gonna tell me. Me!” “You're the last person I could tell, the last person I could be around, cause you're the only one who coulda talked me out of it!”

(Sam & Dean, 14.11) “But there has to be another way...” “There’s not, okay? Sam, you’ve tried [...] and I love you for trying.”

(Chuck to Sam & Dean, 15.19) “Hey, guys. Enjoying a little alone time?“

(Sam & Dean to Chuck, 15.19) “We'll give you what you want.” “The whole Cain and Abel thing, us dead, whatever. I'll kill Sam, Sam will kill me, we'll kill each other. Okay? You pick. But, first, you got to put everything back the way it was. The people, the birds. Cass.”

(Sam & Dean, 15.19) “You know, with Chuck not writing our story anymore, we get to write our own. You know, just you and me going wherever the story takes us. Just us.” “Finally free.” [Sam and Dean drive off into the sunset together on a road trip.]

(Sam & Dean, 15.20) [Ordinary Life by Van Morrison plays over domestic montage in the bunker.]

(Sam & Dean, 15.20) “You got anything?” “I got something.” [Dean takes Sam to a pie festival.]

(Sam to Dean, 15.20) [Sam smashes a slice of cream pie in Dean’s face.] “I have wanted to do that for a very long time.” [Dean scrapes the cream off his face with his fork and eats it.] “You’re right, I do feel better.”

(QOTD board, 15.20, Barn Scene, The Night We Met by Lord Huron)

(Sam & Dean, 15.20) “I'll call for help. I'll get the first aid kit.“ “Sam, Sam! Sam... stay with me. Can you stay with me, please?” “Okay. Yeah.” “Okay. Alright. Listen to me, you get those boys and you get them someplace safe, alright?” “We [motioning to both of them] are gonna get them somewhere safe.” “No. You knew it was always gonna end like this for me, it was supposed to end like this, right? I mean, look at us, saving people, hunting things... it's what we do.” “No, no. Stop, okay? Just... just stop.” “It’s okay, it’s good. We had one hell of a ride, man.” “I will find a way, okay? I... I will find another way.” “No, man. No. No, no, no, no. No bringing me back, okay? You know... you know that always ends bad.” “Dean...” “Okay.” “Please...” “I'm fading pretty quick, so... there's a few things that I need you to hear. Come here.” [Sam moves close and Dean puts his hand on the side of his neck.] “Let me look at you. Yeah, there he is. I'm so proud of you, Sam.” [Dean’s hand on Sam’s shoulder, Sam holding onto Dean’s wrist.] “You know that? I've always looked up to you. Man, when we were kids, you were so damn smar... smart. You never... you never took any of dad's crap. I never knew how you did that. And you're stronger than me. You always have been. Hey, did I ever tell you... did I ever tell you that night that, uh... that I ca... that I came for you when you were at school? You know, when dad hadn't come back from his hunting trip?” “Yeah, um.. uh, the woman in white.” “The woman in white, that’s right. I must have stood outside your dorm for hours... because I didn't... I didn't know what... what you would say. I thought you'd tell me to... to get lost or get dead. And I don't know what I would've done... if I didn't have you. 'Cause I was so scared. I was scared, 'cause when it all came down to it, it was always you and me. It's always been you... and me.” [Sam is crying.] “Then don't leave me. Don't leave me. I can't do this alone.” “Yes, you can.” “Well, I don’t want to.” “Hey, I'm not leaving you. I'm gonna be with you... right here.” [Dean is crying, he places his fist over Sam’s heart.] “Right here... every day. Every day you're out there and you’re li... and you're living and you're fighting, 'cause you...you always keep fighting. You hear me? I'll be there every step. I love you so much, my baby brother. Oh, man. Well, I did not think this would be the day. But it is. It is, and that's... that's okay. I need you to... I need you to promise me. I need you to... to tell me... that it's okay. I need you to tell me that it's okay.” [Sam looks away, shaking his head.] “No.” “Look at me. Look at me. I need... I need you to tell me that it's okay. I need you to tell me... tell me it's okay.” [Sam places his hand over Dean’s on Dean’s chest.] “Dean… it's okay. You can go now.” “Goodbye, Sam. Goodbye.” [Dean closes his eyes, a single tear falling down his face, his head falls onto Sam’s shoulder, Sam holds onto Dean and starts crying hard and brokenly.]

(Sam & Miracle, 15.20) [Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits plays over montage of Dean’s funeral and Sam grieving in the bunker.]

(Sam, 15.20) [Sam wears Dean’s hoodie and watch and takes Dean’s duffle when he leaves the bunker.]

(Dean & Bobby, 15.20) [Dean arrives outside the Roadhouse, Bobby sitting on the porch.] ”What memory is this?” ”It ain’t, ya idgit. [...] That kid of yours, before he went wherever, made some changes here, [...] he set some things right. Tore down all the walls up here. Heaven ain't just reliving your golden oldies anymore, it's what it always should have been, everyone happy, everyone together. [...] Your mom and dad, they got a place over yonder. It ain't just Heaven, Dean, it's the Heaven you deserve, and we've been waiting for you.”

(Dean & Bobby, 15.20) [Dean looks a little pensive, a little sad.] “It’s almost perfect.” “He’ll be along.”

(Bobby & Dean, 15.20) “You got everything you could ever want or need or dream, so, I guess the question is, what are you gonna do now, Dean?” [Dean looks over and Baby is there,  wearing her original license plates.] “I think I’ll go for a drive. [Dean walks over to Baby.] “Hey, Baby.”

(Dean, Sam, 15.20) [Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas plays over montage of Dean driving in Heaven and Sam raising Dean Jr. on Earth.] [Sam, old and gray, removes a dustcover from Baby and sits in the drivers seat as though he can feel or imagine Dean there.]

(Dean Jr. & Sam, Dean & Sam, 15.20) [Carry on Wayward Son by Neoni plays.] [Sam, very old now, lies in a hospital bed in his living room, surrounded by photos of Dean, John, Mary, Bobby, and Dean Jr.] “Dad, it's okay, you can go now.” [Sam nods, places his hand on Dean Jr’s. He closes his eyes, his head falls to the side and a single tear falls down his face.] [Dean stops on a bridge and enjoys the view, he gets a look of awareness on his face that turns into a happy grin.] “Hey Sammy.” [Dean turns to see Sam, he’s the same age he was the night Dean died.] “Dean.” [The boys look each other over and note they’re both wearing the same clothes they had on the night Dean came and got Sam from Stanford. They smile at each other, relieved and happy and joyous and emotional, and hug. They walk over to the railing, Dean’s arm around Sam, and enjoy the view.]

Comparisons, parallels, direct lines, feel free to add to this list.

[dragnews]

Where a Taboo Is Leading to the Deaths of Young Girls

TURMAKHAND, Nepal — Not long ago, in rural western Nepal, Gauri Kumari Bayak was the spark of her village. Her strong voice echoed across the fields as she husked corn. When she walked down the road at a brisk clip, off to lead classes on birth control, many admired her self-confidence.

But last January, Ms. Bayak’s lifeless body was carried up the hill, a stream of mourners bawling behind her. Her remains were burned, her dresses given away. The little hut where she was pressured to sequester herself during her menstrual period — and where she died — was smashed apart, erasing the last mark of another young life lost to a deadly superstition.

“I still can’t believe she’s not alive,” said Dambar Budha, her father-in-law, full of regret, sitting on a rock, staring off into the hills.

In this corner of Nepal, deep in the Himalayas, women are banished from their homes every month when they get their period. They are considered polluted, even toxic, and an oppressive regime has evolved around this taboo, including the construction of a separate hut for menstruating women to sleep in. Some of the spaces are as tiny as a closet, walls made of mud or rock, basically menstruation foxholes. Ms. Bayak died from smoke inhalation in hers as she tried to keep warm by a small fire in the bitter Himalayan winter.

Each year, at least one woman or girl — often more — dies in these huts, from exposure to the cold, smoke inhalation or attacks by animals. Just this June, another young woman was found dead in a menstruation hut, bitten by a snake. Her family tried to cover up the death, the police said, by destroying the hut and quickly burying her body, but the authorities exhumed it and are investigating what happened.

The practice is called chhaupadi (pronounced CHOW-pa-dee), from Nepali words that mean someone who bears an impurity, and it has been going on for hundreds of years. But now, the Nepali government and advocates for women are trying to end it. Starting in August, for the first time, it will be a crime to force a menstruating woman into seclusion, punishable by up to three months in jail, though it’s not clear if that’s going to make a dent in the tradition.

Many women keep doing it, out of intense social pressure or even guilt, and every evening, across these rippled green hills where little wisps of smoke melt into the darkening sky, hundreds of menstruating women and girls trudge out of their houses into chhaupadi huts.

One woman, Mansara Nepali, sheepishly showed me hers. Made of stone, it was no more than three feet tall. As Ms. Nepali bent herself nearly in half to get in, she thunked her head on the tiny door frame.

“We built this ourselves,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “That’s why it’s not so good.”

Like many other women I met, Ms. Nepali, who thought she was around 35, was illiterate. She had never gone to school and seemed embarrassed about her poverty. Her face was deeply grooved, cheeks reddened from laboring outside every day on a windy mountainside.

In these villages, women are the workhorses. I saw one middle-aged woman shuffle into a market carrying what must have been 200 pounds of apples on her back, in boxes tied by ropes around her chest.

Another problem that many women in this area have, aid workers said, is a prolapsed uterus, a painful condition in which the uterus slips down and protrudes from the vagina. It can be caused by heavy lifting and difficult births, both common here.

“It’s all part of the suffering and humiliation women have to endure because of harsh traditions,” said Pashupati Kunwar, who runs a small aid group to help women. “Domestic violence is still bad. Child marriage is still high. We are trying to convince people that times are changing, but superstition is still strong.”

The chhaupadi tradition seems especially hard to break. From the earliest age, people here are taught that any contact with a menstruating woman will bring bad luck. Most do not question it.

“If a woman goes inside the family’s home during her period, three things will happen,” explained a farmer named Runcho. “A tiger will come; the house will catch on fire; and the head of the house will get sick.”

Mr. Runcho spoke without any doubt or flourish. When asked if he had ever seen a tiger in his village, he smiled and didn’t answer yes or no, but then told a long story about how, maybe 10 years ago, he accidentally brushed up against his daughter when she was menstruating and lost his sight for several days.

“It was a nightmare,” he said.

As he spoke, his teenage niece, who was having her period, was getting ready to crawl into a storage space beneath his house. The sun was setting behind the mountains, a cool wind sweeping in. The storage space was dark, cold, cramped and smelled like wet fur — and it was filled with itchy straw.

“I’m happy to go down there,” said his niece, Devika. “I don’t want my parents to get sick.”

Her uncle watched her closely.

“The only problem,” she added, “is that our mobiles don’t work down there. We need to go outside to check our Facebook updates.”

When I asked Mr. Runcho if he would like to sleep in the crawl space, he laughed. “Why should I?” he said. “It’s for women!”

In some villages, menstruating women are sent to cow sheds. Women who just gave birth are also considered polluted, and many remain isolated with their newborns for several days. Two years ago, said Ms. Kunwar, the women’s aid worker, a mother left her newborn alone in a shed for just a few minutes to wash her clothes. A jackal skulked in and snatched the baby.

Many religions observe rules around menstruation, and Hinduism places a special emphasis on purity and pollution. Still, scholars are not sure why the menstruation taboo is so strong in western Nepal, where countless villages, across an area comprising hundreds of miles, still practice it.

It may be because this region of Nepal is poor, relatively homogeneous, overwhelmingly Hindu and remote, and the houses tend to be small. (In other Hindu subcultures, menstruating women can be secluded to some degree within their homes.)

Some women have to sleep in the huts for an entire week. When it comes to meals, they are not allowed to cook, which several women said was actually a relief. They often sit by themselves in their menstruation huts and wait for family members to slide them plates of food.

They are also not supposed to touch livestock; if a calf or goat strays into their hut, they have to yell for someone else to shoo it out, out of fear the animal will get sick. During the day, the menstruating women work in the fields like everyone else, though they make sure not to come in contact with other villagers; at night, they go to the huts.

“These practices are done in the name of protecting the purity of the community,” said Kathryn March, an anthropologist at Cornell University who has worked extensively in Nepal. “That’s why it’s so hard for individuals to change them.”

But a growing number of people are trying.

Dharma Raj Kadayat is one of the chhaupadi rebels. He grew up in a small mountainside village in western Nepal, a couple hours’ drive from where Ms. Bayak died and where women still pound grain with a seesaw-like plank. He then spent nearly 20 years in Kathmandu, Nepal’s relatively cosmopolitan capital.

When he recently came back to take a job as an administrator in a hospital, he said he felt ashamed that his relatives were still practicing chhaupadi.

“It’s so backward,” he said.

A few years ago during a Hindu festival, he stood up in front of the whole village and made a speech about how any woman who does not want to go into a shed when she was menstruating was welcome to stay in his house.

“Are you drunk?” a man yelled out from the crowd.

He said that activists had persuaded many families in his village to destroy their huts. But a few months later, people got scared and rebuilt them all.

It was the death of Tulasi Shahi, an 18-year-old woman bitten by a snake last year while staying in a cow shed, that pushed lawmakers to write the new anti-chhaupadi law, several lawmakers said.

Though menstruating women of all ages sleep in the huts, chhaupadi seems to disproportionately kill the young. Activists said this may be because young women aren’t as savvy about protecting themselves; for example, they might not know which type of snakes are poisonous or how important it is to keep the hut’s door slightly open if there’s a fire burning.

“Our conclusion,” said Rewati Raman Bhandari, a former member of Parliament, “was that if we left this up to society to change, it would take hundreds of years.”

Mr. Budha, the father-in-law of the woman who died in January, Ms. Bayak, now tells as many people who will listen about the chhaupadi dangers.

“But people don’t care,’’ he said. “I say, ‘My daughter died, yours could, too.’ But then they say, ‘We are sorry but that is our culture.’ ’’

It wasn’t lost on him that Ms. Bayak, who the family said was around 20 when she died, was something of a feminist, leading birth control classes and encouraging women to stand up for themselves.

“But even she still followed this tradition,’’ he said. “The pressure’s too strong. If she hadn’t gone to the hut during her period, she would have felt embarrassed.’’

He misses everything about her, he said: the way she read books, her enthusiasm for life, her voice. Ms. Bayak moved in with her husband’s family after she married and grew especially close to her in-laws. After she died, it was her guilt-ridden father-in-law who smashed apart the menstruation hut with his own hands.

Since then, he has insisted that his wife sleep in the main house during her period.

“And you know what?’’ he said. “Nothing bad has happened. All these years, we’ve been fooled into believing a false superstition.’’

Bhadra Sharma and Rojita Adhikari contributed reporting.

A version of this article appears in print on of the New York edition with the headline: Nepal’s Grim Superstition, Known to Lead to a Death by Shame. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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