#i put Vic as THE head of something with no one to report to but his own demons

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Radiation AU where they're all workers in a Factory Who are working inhumane long shifts because their boss (Victor Shepard, I'm looking at you) is a shitty asshole and they Heard something explode but they don't know it's the nuclear plant so they're stuck wandering through an empty town while everyone else has already ran the fuck away from there

noooo not the Chernobyl AU /silly

[ninii-winchester]

Revived (Part 2)

Pairing : Dean Winchester X Reader

Word count: 1.6k

Warnings : fluff, slight angst, violence, canon level gore, language, demons, unedited.

A/n : turned it to a mini series. The next part will be the last.

I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO COPY MY WORK, TRANSLATE IT OR POST IT TO ANY OTHER PLATFORM. REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED.

Y/n groaned in her sleep, snuggling back into the covers. She felt soft kisses being placed all over her face and she smiled her eyes still closed. "Dean, let me sleep." She mumbled sleepily.

"Wake up, sunshine." Dean whispered in her ear. "I miss those pretty eyes."

“You’re so cheesy.” She giggled turning her face away from him. All she wants is a few a extra minutes of sleep.

“Sweetheart, I’m making up for lost time, it took only three revivals for us to get together.” He said, she was enjoying his over-the-top cheesiness, before he jokingly added, “God forbid one of us dies again.” He let out a chuckle. She froze at as he spoke. Dean noticed her sudden stillness and questioned, “you okay?”

“Yeah.” She said turning to look at him, finally opening her eyes. “Just don’t like you talking about either of us dying.” She said softly. It wasn’t a lie either, she didn’t like to think about Dean dying again.

“I’m sorry I won’t bring it up again.” Dean apologised, he understands it must be hard for her to watch him die time and time again. He doesn’t even want to think about, how he’d feel something were to happen to her, ever. He’d probably lose his mind. And that’s putting it lightly.

It had been six months since Y/n made the deal and Dean came back from the dead. Y/n was relived that the incident has been fairly forgotten, the boys don’t bring it up anymore and she doesn’t have to fake her expressions while talking about it. She needs to make sure that they never find out, unless she wants to be on the bad side of angry Winchesters.

Later that day, Y/n had been surfing through the internet looking for cases. And she did find one, in Wyoming.

“Boys!” She yelled from the library and the Winchesters appeared in the war room. “I found us a case.” She said looking at them.

“What is it?” Sam asked walking towards her, leaning over her chair to read the news. “Three dead, reports of strange noises, cattle mutilation, sudden temperature drop.” He read out loud.

“Sounds demon-y.” Dean said sitting on the table.

“What do ya say?” Y/n asked expectantly.

“I say gear up.” Dean replied nodding at the two.

The three of them settled into Baby and headed to Laramie, Wyoming. It was an nine hour drive approximately, including stops for gas and food. When they arrived at the motel Y/n’s whole body was sore, feeling cramped in the backseat the whole journey, she jumped out and stretched her body.

It was late at night when they arrived so they decided to just rest for the night and then jump into action first thing in the morning. Y/n and Dean shared a bed while Sam took the other. Another good thing of being with Dean, none of them had to settle for the uncomfortable pullout couch.

The next day Y/n and Sam went to police station, dressed as refined Federal Agents, while Dean looked around for anything out of ordinary and spoke to the local people. Dean was already back at the motel when Sam burst through the door, agitation clear on his face, Y/n quietly trailing behind. The younger Winchester slammed the files on the table.

“I don’t understand.” He voiced out.

“What’s wrong?” Dean questioned looking concerned.

“I read the files there’s nothing unusual, went to the vics’ house, none of them made any deals. No trace of sulfur at the houses either.” He said running a hand through his hair.

“Maybe it’s not demons? Witches?” Dean questioned.

“No hex bags either.” Y/n replied. “What did you find?”

“Jack with a side of squat.” Dean rolled his eyes.

“The omens clearly point to demons but there’s something wrong here.” Sam sighing dropping on the chair.

“Don’t fret it, Sammy. We’ll figure it out.” Y/n placed a hand on his shoulder. “Food anyone?” She questioned hoping to ease the tension and Sam nodded. She quickly changed into her regular clothes and grabbed her jacket.

“Be safe.” Dean pecked her lips. “And don’t forget my pie.”

“Alright, you big baby.” She kissed him briefly and she was out of the door.

Forty five minutes passed and there was no sign of Y/n. Dean was growing restless with each passing minute. He tried calling her but it kept going to voicemail.

“Something’s wrong, Dean.” Sam stated. He pulled out his phone and sighed in relief. “Her GPS is still on.” Sam said showing his phone to his brother.

The two didn’t say another word before grabbing their jackets and running out of the door. They followed her trail and reached an old looking building. There were angel warding signs on the front of the place.

The boys quickly grabbed a fews guns, an angel blade and Ruby’s knife from the artillery in the trunk of the Impala. Gripping the blades tightly in their hands they made their way inside.

There were voices coming from further down the hall. They recognised one voice as Y/n’s and the other was a manly but unfamiliar one. There were two other demons positioned outside the room the voices were coming from. With a quick nod to each other Sam and Dean attacked. Plunging their blades into the demons, killing them instantly.

Dean immediately rushed inside the room and Sam followed behind. Y/n was tied to a chair, bloodied and bruises littering her face. A man stood few feet away from her, beside a table full of knives and blades.

“Oh look, Dean Winchester is here for his whore.” The demon taunted as he hears footsteps approaching. “I don’t have anything to do with you two so you can walk away unscathed.” The demon said looking at the Winchesters.

“We’re not leaving without her.” Sam said, two more demons appeared and grabbed Sam and Dean.

“What beef do you have with her?” Dean growled. His eyes briefly flickering to her battered figure.

“I’ve got a bone to pick with her.” The demon walked behind her and pulled her hair to make her look up.

“I don’t even know who you are.” She muttered heaving lightly.

“Oh I’m sure you’ll remember pretty soon.” He said slapping her face. He picked up a knife and stabbed her in the thigh. She screamed loudly and Dean yelled at the demon to get away from her.

“You..” she panted. “You’re…that crossroads…” she trailed off.

“So you do remember.” Y/n’s head lolled to the side. “I’ve been waiting for so long to get my revenge, you bitch. And when I heard your soul is up for collecting, I knew I’d be the one to drain the life out of you.”

“What the fuck do you mean?” Dean growled.

“Oh so you don’t know that your beloved Y/n sold her soul?” Dean’s eyes widened at the demon’s words. He looked at Y/n who avoided looking at him. The demon smirked before adding, “you really didn’t. I wonder what else dear old Y/n hid from you. Do you know what she did when you went to Hell?”

“Dammit Y/n/n what did you do?” Dean asked softly looking at her.

“You’re precious little whore, tortured demons to bring you back. She killed many, but she made me suffer. Bitch would’ve killed me too had I not escaped, somehow.” The demon growled but then he smirked evilly. “I wanted to kill her so many time, but every time you two showed up. Then word got out Y/n L/n sold her soul. I wreaked havoc here to bring her here and now I’ll drag her ass to hell.” The demon cackled.

Before he could do any further, he was thrown against the wall and the demons holding Sam and Dean loosened their holds and stepped back looking at the intruder. The brothers wasted no time stabbing their captors and rushing to Y/n untying her from her binds.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The familiar voice said walking towards the demon.

“I was just taking her soul to hell.” The demon said standing up. “She sold her soul.”

“You think I don’t know that!” The voice exclaimed. “I MADE THAT DEAL. How dare you swindle my deal.” Crowley’s voice echoed through the vacant building. “That’s not how business works. And I don’t have place for incompetent employees.” He said snapping his fingers disintegrating the demon.

“The fuck you mean you made that deal?” Dean questioned holding a barely conscious Y/n in his arms.

“You died, Squirrel. She brought you back.” Crowley replied.

“Yeah and how’d did you manipulate the situation for yourself huh?” Sam accused approaching him menacingly. “How much time did you give her?”

“Fifteen years.” Crowley’s answer made him jerk back a bit.

“What?” Sam questioned but Crowley just rolled his eyes.

“All this skepticism after all this time, Moose.” He said poofing away.

“We gotta get her back to the motel, her thigh is bleeding too much.” Dean said walking outside and placing her in the backseat of the Impala.

He was going insane, he couldn’t focus. The only thing that kept ringing in his head was,

She sold her soul. She sold her soul. She sold her soul.

How could she do that. She promised, no deals. There’s a lot to talk about, there’s lot he needs to know. But the only thing on his mind at the moment is getting her back to the motel, treating her wounds and make sure she’s alright.

“Hang on, baby. We’re almost here.” He whispered softly, unsure if he was reassuring her or himself.

[kimmyluvg]

A Scientist and A Profiler

A Criminal Minds AU

Summary: A case about the unsub using chemicals to kill his victims… How does he do it? Special Agent L/N seemed needing the help of her high school sweetheart for it.

“We have a case.” Nanami Ryusui, your team captain, said as all of you gather around into the meeting room to discuss about the latest case you have as Profilers. Your job is to figure out who the unknown subject or unsub is, track him down and arrest him. Now, you are one of the three women in the team and you certainly can shoot and fight with your bare hands… But in this case, it’s gonna be different.

“Minami, report.” Ryusui said as the girl cleared her throat before clicking the remote she holds to control the black screen in front of the team. “This is Fujiwara Shino, a 23 year old woman who is just fresh out of college. She was found in a dumpster of a bar, which is just a couple blocks away her apartment building.” Hokutozai Minami said as she describes the victim’s state before she was found by the bar owner. “Half of her face got melted down and her other half did not?” You asked as Minami opened her mouth, “It was most likely acid that melted her skin.” Minami replied. “Her apartment is a couple blocks away from the bar, which means that anyone could’ve saw her leaving.” One of the males in the team, Gen, said as the man beside you agreed, “Then most likely the bar has a security camera on the front entrance.” Kohaku, one of the girls said, as Ryusui nodded then sent out orders.

Your team isn’t going to be flying, like usual, because it is happening in your city and luckily, you know who did the autopsy. “Hey doc. What did you find sus about this vic?” You said as the doctor chuckles, “Really now Y/N, if I weren’t married… I would’ve flirted right back.” The doctor said as you chuckled, “Just testing you, Chrome.” You said as Chrome lead you and Nikki, who is your partner for today, to where the body is being examined and you jsut so happens to saw another one of your friends, “Oh, Chrome-san, Nikki-san, Y/N-chan.” The girl’s voice says, “Yuzuriha, finished the autopsy?” Nikki said as the girl nodded as she listed the things she has found in the victim’s body. “And there is something else..” Chrome said as he went to the body and opened it up again to show you and Nikki what he’s seeing. “Are her…?” “She’s almost completely melted inside..” You and Nikki commented as you turned to the two, “Is that even possible?” You asked as the two looked at each other, “It is not in ourn expertise on what made her body like that but…. Most likey, that your victim died from it.” Yuzuriha said as you and Nikki were baffled.

Nikki then proceeded to call to Ryusui about this as you examine the body more. “This case must be a first, right?” You asked the two as they nodded, “We really don’t know what causes this, Y/N…” Yuzuriha said as an idea came to your mind. ‘What if I call him about this…?’ You asked yourself but then doubted because he wouldn’t really have a real reason to be here… “I must be out of my mind..” You mumbled, “Hey, Chrome… Are you still in touch with…” You started as Chrome tilted his head to the side before getting the idea and nodded, “I still have his cell number. You’re thinking of calling him?” Chrome asked as he handed to you his phone and you dialed in the number, “It’s the only option we’ve got onto solving how this woman really died..” You said as you placed your phone on your ear, waiting for him to pick it up.

Click!

“Hello? Who is this interrupting my work?” His voice rang towards your ear, oh how you miss this. But it is not the time to feel very emotional because there’s a killer on the loose. “Senku… It’s me.” You said as a pause can be heard from the other line. Then he cleared his throat as he put down the glasses he is holding, “Y/N? How did you get this number?” Senku asked, right out of the ordinary, which is odd for you. “Chrome gave me your cell… But anyway, can you come over and examine something for me?” You asked as Senku asked what it is for, “My victim here has her organs almost melted and I need to know what caused it, fast.” You said as you heard footsteps on the other line, “Where?” He asked as you told him the location of the building. Soon, Senku came in and he looks much more handsome than when you were both in high school.

“Hey.” You just said as he gestured it back before Yuzuriha had to snap you both out of it, “Less emotion, more solving please.” Nikki said as you nodded to Nikki. “Senku, can you examine what casued this?” You asked as you pointed out the melted parts of the woman’s body.

Meanwhile, while you and Senku continue to figure out something, Yuzuriha and Nikki got into some talking. “Who is that?” Nikki preferred to the man known as Ishigami Senku, “That’s Senku. One of our good friends and a specialist for chemistry and science in general. And Y/N’s ex.” Yuzuriha said as the two girls gossiped while you and Senku did your thing. “Really… So they still like each other but still separated because of college?” Nikki said. Meanwhile, you heard their conversation and sighed before you saw Senku nodding. “You know what caused this?” You asked as Senku turned to you and Chrome, who happens to be behind you. “It’s most likely caused by Sodium Hydroxide mixed with water.” Senku answered as you recognized the term, “Lye? The one used for deadl animals?” You said as Nikki approached you, telling you that it’s time to go back to headquarters. “Alright, go to the car.” You said as she nodded and left. “Thank you, Senku. I think we may have found a major piece to this puzzle.” You said as Senku just said that you just needed help. “I’ll be in touch..” You said as you kissed his cheek and left. Leaving the poor green haired scientist, speechless and flustered.

“So, you two gonna date again?”

“Shut up, Chrome.”

[snkts]

🎲 - From Victor

Kiss Roulette!

38. A kiss while one party is carried

He’s struggling to stop his eyes from glazing over. Logan is a good soldier. Logan memorises and follows his orders. He carries out his missions without complaint. He’s effective. He’s good. He’s the best. He’s bored out of his skull. He knows he’s not the only one. He catches Victor’s eye and, when the COs are turned around, makes a show of letting his shoulders droop and grimacing. There's a ghost of a smirk on Vic’s face and he pops his eyebrows in silent agreement. A flicker of movement, the sound of shifting weight, hints that the CO is about to turn around, and the two men face forward. More information they don't need. Yeah, knowing was half the battle. Yeah, Logan always made sure to read the reports and briefing notes. He did his homework. 

But this was too much. The officer turns back to the display, and Vic nudges his shoulder. Logan glances his way. Vic raises a hand to scratch innocently at his jaw, then, for just a second, his hand makes the shape of a pistol, and he jerks his head to the side as though ‘shot’. Logan clamps his jaw down to avoid grinning. At least they have this. Makes it halfway tolerable. At his right, Maverick sighs and rolls his eyes. Nice to know he was dead set on being a drag. Finally, finally, the display clicks off. Thank Christ. It’s a struggle not to say something like that out loud, but he manages. 

“... Which concludes our briefing.” The officer said. What was his name again? He wasn’t one of their usual handlers - Parson, or Peterson, or something like that. Whatever. “Are there any further questions?” 

Silence. 

Special Agent Parson-or-Peterson nodded. 

“Very well.” He said. “If that’s the case, we’re done here. Your personal briefings will be delivered to you later today.” 

“Sure. Drop it off when you put the mint on my pillow.” Victor retorts and Logan has to duck his head and bite his lip to keep his reaction contained. He gets away with just a snort. Maverick sucks in a sharp inhale. Silver Fox hisses a warning “Victor!” through her teeth. Kestrel huffs his quiet amusement, and Mastodon tensed so suddenly Logan heard his shoulders clench. Victor didn't spare them a parting glance. He wasn't looking for their approval. Logan caught his eye when he looked up again and, when Victor sees his smile, his entire scent and posture blooms to delight. It's adorable, and Logan lets his smile show a bit more. Victor grins. 

“Sabertooth.” Parson-or-Peterson snaps. Vic’s expression shifts to a barely restrained irritation. “Do you think you’re funny?” Vic seems to ponder this for a moment, then shrugs, clasping his hands loosely behind his back. 

“You saying I should quit my day job, sir?” The humour in Victor’s voice is colder now, sharper. More dangerous. Uh oh.

“I would advise against it.” The officer sounds equally terse. The air in the room is thick with anticipation, dominance, anxiety. 

“Vic-” Logan mutters. His caution is ignored as Parson-or-Peterson continues. 

“Perhaps we should have you take point on this mission.” He sneers. Victor grins again, making a point of showing his fangs. 

“I’d love that, sir.” He rumbles. That, at least, is not a joke. Victor may not have much interest in leading the team, but being set loose with nobody in charge of him? Dream come true. 

“A shame.” The officer sniffs. “Because Maverick will call the shots.” At Logan’s other side, Maverick sighs quietly and stands straighter. 

“Yes, sir.” He says curtly. Victor snorts, but says nothing. The officer turns and leaves with another harsh ‘dismissed’. Wild Cat, Kestrel, Silver Fox, and Mastodon go one way. The real top dogs of Team X - Wolverine, Sabertooth, and Maverick - go another. The door shuts and, to Logan and Victor, the officer’s footsteps continue in a third direction and vanish. It’s safe to talk now. It’s safe to be close. 

Logan adjusts his stride until his arm brushes Victor’s with every step. In a movement as natural as breathing, Victor hooks his little finger around Logan’s. (Subtle enough they won’t get caught, warm enough to mean something.) 

“You should be more careful.” Maverick breaks the silence. 

“Careful?” Victor echoes. 

“Yeah. Careful.” Maverick says again. “You’re stirring up trouble for all of us. I don't like this Paulson guy any more than-” 

“Paulson! That’s the bitch.” Logan exclaimed, snapping his fingers. Victor let out a surprised bark of laughter. Maverick blinked.

“What-?” 

“Couldn’t remember his name.” Logan shrugged. Victor snickered. Maverick groaned. 

“Never mind. Do what you want. Just don't make me haul your dumb asses out of another firefight.” 

“Wouldn't dream of it, bub.” Logan grins. Maverick shakes his head and peels off down a different hallway. Once he’s out of sight, Logan slips his hand into Victor’s properly. Victor’s ears turned pink even as he squeezed Logan’s palm. 

“I don't like the way he was looking at you.” He muttered. Logan’s face scrunched in confusion.

“Who? North?” 

“Wh- No! No.” Victor shook his head and held on tighter. “Agent Paulson. He was freakin’ me out - didn’t you notice?” Logan shouldered open the door to the bunkhouse and tilted his head. 

“Is that why you were so tense back there?” 

“I’m not tense.” Victor grumbles. Logan studies him for a moment, watching as Victor stands with his arms crossed and looks anywhere but at him. Something is really bothering him. 

“You wanna-”

“No.” Victor turns away more, but Logan doesn’t miss the way he fidgets. He frowns.

“But you’re not tense.” 

“I’m just peachy.” Victor’s claws flex in and out. So he didn’t want to talk. Fine. 

“Alright.” Logan shrugged, wandering over to his own bunk. “Guess I don’t gotta help you relax, then.”

“What?” Victor’s head snapped up so fast Logan swore he heard the vertebrae crack. Bingo. 

“Well, if you’re not tense.” Logan says innocently, peeling his shirt off and tossing it on his cot to fold. “Ya’ don’t need any help unwinding.”

“I’m tense!” And Vic is behind him, his hands on Logan’s hips. “I’m tense, I’m so tense.” Logan smirks and turns around.

“Yeah.” He said, then hooked his hands under Vic’s thighs and lifted. His mate’s back hits the wall with a thud and it’s so sweet, watching his face flush so quickly. “I know.” He leans up for a kiss and Vic responds eagerly, holding the sides of Logan’s face in his palms. 

“Don’t get yourself so worked up, Kitten.” Logan whispers against his lips. “Anything they wanna throw at us, we can handle together.” 

Victor responds with teeth.

[druidx]

Her Countenance was Light - Chapter 7

CW: None AO3 ; Chapters: 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06 Tag list (ask for +/-): @aquadestinyswriting @hannahcbrown @jacqueswriteblrlibrary @babyblueetbaemonster

"Well, this is all quite the curiosity," says Snips, bringing them back from their thoughts. Elo glances over to see him running a hand over his own face. "I am afraid, however, I must leave you to it, for I am exhausted." "And we still have a victim to find justice for," Elo says, agreeing with him. "This – whatever this is – will have to wait."

Snips rises, dusting down his dapper brown suit, and Farren opens the door for him, following him out and hollering for Cobbleskater to arrange a car to take Snips home. Elo idly thinks she needs to remind Farren as well that Irvine is not their gofer – but later. Right now she's tired. She still aches from the phantom strikes to her head and chest. She is confused about the artefact causing her to speak in tongues and the vision it caused in front of the ice box. Just the thought of it makes her wince – and freeze, her whirling thoughts halting in a jagged crash. She – but not she – was struck in an alley not far from a canal, and she was struck in the head and stabbed through the torso. The artefact showed her Eve– the victim's last moments. She can find the first crime scene. Elo is sure that she will know it when she is there. But she has to play this carefully. All her worst fears will be realised if she blurts out why she thinks she knows this; even Farren – ever loyal and supportive Farren – will not be able to ignore this breach in her supposed sanity.

Elowyn leaves the room, pondering as she walks over to where Farren sits at his desk. "You okay?" he asks. "Mm. Just thinking," she replies. "Snips gone then?" "Yeah." Farren's expression is turned inward. His hands search out the tobacco pouch that lives inside his jacket pocket, and he automatically starts making a roll-up. She sits, pulling out the report she has still utterly failed to read, to look through the photos again. "So, the victim was found on the barge, but she was moved there from elsewhere, right?" she says, calling him from wherever his thoughts are taking him. His fingers tense around the match he's fumbling from its box, starting out of his thoughts. Then his shoulders drop, and he strikes. The match flares and soon the air is filled with the familiar scent of tobacco. "That's what the attendings thought," he tells her. "But she couldn't have been moved far, given the pool of blood on the tarp." "Right. We need to look for the site of the murder then." Elo points to the overhead photo of the scene. "These alleys, for example. They'd be ideal for an ambush. Hide behind an industrial rubbish bin – the vic wouldn't see it coming." "Maybe under the bridge?" "Maybe. But I've got a strong feeling about the alleys." Farren quirks an eyebrow. "You're the boss, boss." Elo grins. "Guess what fun activity we're doing next?" Farren rolls his eyes, standing to pull his jacket from the back of his chair, but Elo knows it's in jest – he's looking forward to getting something done as much as she is.

"Ah, O'Toreguarde, there you are." Elowyn turns. Captain Fugit is behind her, coming back from the break room, a steaming mug in one hand and a pastry in another. "What can I help you with, sir?" Fugit's face twists, like someone put lemon in his coffee. "You're being pulled from the Strucker case." "What? But, sir–" "My office. Now," Fugit says and walks on without waiting for her to say anything. She glances at Farren. "Just you, O'Toreguarde," Fugit calls over his shoulder. Farren offers a shrug. "Guess I'll take Cobbleskater." "See if you can grab Ayton and Terrell too. And don't forget about the bins." "This ain't my first rodeo, Bug," Farren says with a quirked eyebrow. "O'Toreguarde!" the Captain yells, glowering from the threshold of his office. "Plastic bins, Constable Breakwood," she says, as she turns away.

"Sir," Elowyn says, as she closes the door to the Captain's office behind her. "Why am I being pulled from the Strucker case? I already said I can handle the conflict of interest–" Fuigit holds up a hand, as he sets down his mug. "There has been another development, Sargent." Elo bites her tongue as Captain Fugit sits. "It seems," he continues, fishing through the papers on his desk, "that the General is back early from wherever he was off to. He's currently debriefing, and they have yet to give him the news." Fugit sighs as he finds what he is looking for – an ornate envelope embossed with the City's seal. Elo gets a cold feeling in her gut. It's only made worse by her Captain pulling out a tumbler from his desk and pouring a measure. Fugit continues, "Secretary Evans feels that, in the absence of any other close family, it would be good to have someone on hand who can assure him we are doing everything possible to find whoever is responsible for his daughter's murder." Elo can't help herself. "You want me to lie to him?" she asks bitterly. Fuigit tilts his head fractionally. "No," he says, mild confusion in his tone. "Why would you say that?" "Well, because we're not doing everything are we?" Elo says, struggling to keep the rising anger out of her voice. "I've been pulled off the case to waste time flitting about because of politics." "Sergeant O'Toreguarde, I suggest you mind your tongue," Fugit snaps. "The department will not grind to a halt with you gone." Fugit grits his jaw. "Besides, this isn't just about politics. As I said, besides you, he has no other close relations. He's going to need someone to be with him when Evans gives him the news. Someone who's on his side." Elo bites her lip. Yes, she supposes, if he's anything like herself – like anyone in their kind of work – he's not going to allow himself to come undone in the presence of a stranger. Fugit swirls the liquor in his glass, and with a heavy sigh says, "This isn't even the development which is pulling you from the case." Elo drags her thoughts back. "Sir?" "A Triumvirate courier dropped a message off with instructions for you to be at City Hall no later than 1030 hours. Acting Magister Clayrmantle and Master of the Exchequer Brauma are the ones who've pulled you from your regular duties." For a long moment, Elo can only stare, breath catching in her throat. "Sir? Why?" It comes out pitchy. "Are they not satisfied with my performance? How long is this for? Have they–" Fugit holds up a placating hand. "Easy, Elowyn. They require your assistance with, in their words, a sensitive matter, and wish to– Oh now, what was it?" From the gilt envelope, he plucks a letter on crisp white paper. "They want to, quote-unquote, redistribute the resource presented in Sargent O'Toreguarde's capabilities." Elo blinks. "The hell does that mean?" "That they need your help. You've been reassigned to the office of the Magister." "For what? For how long?" "Need to know, I'm afraid. And it seems I do not need to know – the message doesn't say." Fugit takes a sip of his liquor. "I expect you'll find out at 10:30." "But sir. I've got work to do here. Isn't there any way–" "Sargent." Fugit sets his glass heavily upon the desk, the other hand rising to massage his temples. "For once would you just accept there are things at play here you have no understanding of? They wouldn't have asked for you without a damned good reason, and the Stucker case is in good hands with Officers Breakwood and Cobbleskater. They'll have whatever resources they need. And gods' know Breakwood will do enough complaining for the pair of you, so if you could save my ears, I'd appreciate it." He glances at his watch. "You've got forty-five minutes to get yourself to City Hall and report to Magister Clayrmantle. I suggest you get a move on, Sargent." Elo longs to kick up a stink – to keep things under her careful control. But she knows it's pointless and time-wasting. In the end, she'll do as instructed. "Yes, sir," she says instead and exits the Captain's office.

Farren has already left by the time Elowyn exits Fugit's office. She scribbles a note, dropping it on his desk along with the artefact from her pocket, and makes her way down to the precinct's garage. Here is where they let her store her baby, an Atilia Dragon TT motorbike. She doesn't need it much since her return to the city, living only a stone's-throw from the precinct, but the city center is over an hour away by foot. Elo runs a loving hand over the golden faring and down the glittering tank. "Hey, Auri," she croons. "Oh, it's been a while, I know." From the top box, she pulls a leather jacket and leg guards. Partly attired, she fettles and kicks-starts the engine. Her dragon roars, the full-throated blast sweeping through the underground car park, before settling down to a purr as the revs drop. Elo pulls on her helmet, and then they are away, speeding through the city streets.

[cuiizhu]

Helios Rising Heroes - Sing in the Darkness 3

Chapter 37:

[A few days later]

Small Boy: Ah, it’s Jay!

Small Girl: Jay! Give me a high five~! 

Jay: Aah, alright. Here, high fi~~ve♪

Small Girl: Yay!♪

Small Boy: Me too, me too! I want a piggyback ride too~!

Small Girl: Hey, that’s not fair! I want a piggyback~! 

Jay: I got it, I got it. You can take turns…..no, actually I can carry you both at the same time! 

Jay: Here we go! 

Small Girl & Small Boy: YIPPEE~!

Gray: Ehehe, they’re having fun…. Jay-san also seems to be enjoying himself……

Billy: Got that right♪ Feels like we’re back to the bright city it was before! 

Gray: All that chaos from the other day almost doesn’t feel real anymore…. I can’t believe that really happened… 

Billy: Right! According to the research department, everyone was in a state like they experienced a nightmare—

Male Citizen L: H-hey, you two…..

Gray & Billy: ?

Male Citizen L: I’m sorry about the other day….I said a lot of things to you heroes…. 

Female Citizen J: Me too…..I’ve heard about the cult. They were trying to villainize heroes and drive you out of New Million, right? 

Female Citizen J: I got swept along by the tide and even ended up participating in a protest…. As a citizen of New Million, I did something embarrassing. 

Gray: Awawa….please lift your head…. Anyone would have done the same in such a situation…..

Billy: Crowd psychology is scary, isn’t it? I never thought I’d be told to leave New Million. 

Male Citizen L: What would have happened to New Million had the heroes actually disappeared….. 

Female Citizen J: Right. The city, we, have always been under your protection…….

Female Citizen J: Once again, I really, truly, am sorry—

Jay: You don’t have to apologize

Billy: Jay! 

Jay: It’s great that everyday life has returned to normal. We heroes worked hard for that, so there’s nothing to apologize for. 

Jay: Heroes are on the side of the citizens, no matter what. 

Citizens: Jay….!

Gray: Jay-san….

Billy: Hyuh~! That’s Jay Kidman for you! 

Billy: Here is a HERO you can believe in*…..right☆

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

Licht (stirring): —-... N,.... nnn…..

Nova: Ah, he woke up!

Licht: ……?

Victor: Good morning, Licht. 

Licht: Uh….so bright……

Nova: Eh, are you okay!?

Nova: Hey Vic, could it be that your glasses are reflecting too much?  

Victor: That kind of….

Licht: Where….is this….? 

Nova: This is the Helios infirmary, it’s within the Tower. ….Can you see it from the window’s view? 

Licht: ……..

Victor: Do you feel any discomfort in your body? 

Victor: You were already bedridden for over a week, but in addition to that, you underwent various treatments….

Licht: ….What did you do to me?

Victor: We administered a drug that stops the functions of Substance. 

Victor: However, since you were forced to take unusual measures, there’s concerns on whether this is putting a strain on your body. 

Nova: Normally, with our current technology, we’re only capable of incorporating one Substance per person. 

Nova: However, two substances were confirmed within your body. 

Victor: …This was the same case we observed within Siams of the Trinity. 

Victor: We have received reports from the heroes of the 12th generation….did you have any contact with Sirius from the Trinity? 

Licht: ……..

Nova: Vic….. After all, your glasses are reflecting too much aren’t they, you’re scaring him~ 

Victor: …….. (｡╯︵╰｡)

Prev || Masterlist || Next

TL note: 

*this is a reference to the Helios motto

[the-teddy-bear-butch]

I’m posting Cyberpunk Ronance thoughts because it’s my blog and I can do what I want

I’m just, I know the game isn’t the best in the world, but god if the storyline didn’t break me, okay?

If you care about Cyberpunk spoilers (not including the show), do not read any further

I think there’s a lot of different ways this au could be played

I think Nancy being V makes good sense if you look at V’s characterization as this badass, ambitious person who ends up in a shitty situation but keeps fighting because it’s all she’s ever known. Bonus V and Nancy and GUNS and general badassery. In this version, perhaps Robin is Johnny—chaotic mess of a human who’s life went to shit, although I see her being less of an overall bastard. Robin in aviators? Robin in aviators. The banter between them with Robin literally stuck in Nancy’s head and apologizing over and over for literally being a sentient brain tumor? Kill me now. Bonus, Barb is Jackie, the good natured friend who helps Nancy and gets killed early on as a consequence of her and Nancy’s ambition. As much as my sad little heart loves angst, I like to think the ending could be twisted, like maybe they find Robin’s body so her engram can be put back into it and Nancy can survive. I just don’t want the ending to be sad, damnit. Panam could be Max maybe? Hmmm. Or maybe El.

I’m also fond of the idea of Robin as V, however, and it boils down to the V/Johnny relationship. Picture with me for a moment: Eddie as Johnny. He fits the bill too well. Bastard of a rocker boy who did drugs and has pretty hair. He gets stuck in the head of one Robin Buckley, and it’s instant wlw/mlm hostility (but it morphs into solidarity, I promise). In this version, I think Steve is heartbreakingly Jackie. Their personalities line up too well. Throwing a bone to the Steddies tho, Steve could be Kerry and all the Johnny/Kerry moments become Steddie. Then Barb could still be Jackie? Or Steve is Jackie and Barb is T-Bug, RIP. Who is Nancy, then? Well, I think Panam or Judy are both excellent options. Just think, Nancy Wheeler, the tech genius who reports and edits brain dances on the side, an ex member of the baddest girl gang in Night City, the Moxes? Sick. But! Nancy Wheeler, badass mercenary who strikes out from her clan on her own to follow ambition and independence, but eventually coming back as a leader. Tbh I’m leaning more the Judy route, as much as I love Panam. The underwater date? Nancy finally being vulnerable, showing Robin her flooded home? Memories of Mike—long since moved away—and her family? Nancy saving Robin from almost dying because of Eddie’s damn chip? Robin being so soft with her afterward? Nancy giving Robin her key? Also Nancy is a vengeful woman and the whole Clouds arc would be something she could do, I think—and Robin helps because ofc, it’s Nancy. THEY’RE GAY YOU’RE HONOR. And, because of course I’m choosing the ending where you leave with the nomads, Nancy leaves Night City with Robin, and she promises to help Robin find a cure (and they do because fuck you ambiguous game ending). I’m thinking this is the ideal scenario for me.

Or the above but it’s Eddie as Johnny, Nancy as V, Robin as Panam, I like that too.

Chrissy is undoubtedly Misty in any version, only she’s not dating the Jackie character because she’s a lesbian in my mind and you can pry that headcanon from my cold dead hands. Maybe Vickie is Victor (heh, Vic, same nickname) and they have a little tension going on with Chrissy’s Esoterica being right outside Vickie’s Clinic.

Maybe agent Owens as Takemura? Henry is Yorinobu, Brenner is Saburo. The female agent who’s name I can’t remember is Hanako. I feel like these all fit scary well.

Ofc Hopper is Saul, you can’t tell me he doesn’t fit that role damn near perfect. Most of the rest of the Hawkins crew are probably Aldecaldos as well. I’m thinking Jonathan is Mitch and Argyle could be Scorpion (I know that one is a bad fit but fight me on it, Jargyle boyfriends and also Scorpion/Argyle gets to live because it’s my au and I can do what I want). Thinking about El as Panam more now actually, her stubborn personality and whatnot. It’s vibes, okay? It’s 1 am, let me enjoy my brain worms.

Beyond who’s who: think about Nancy Wheeler with mantis blades. Need I say more? She’s a badass with a katana and throwing knives, and REALLY scary good at hacking. She has a professional cyberdeck and all the best tech. I think she’d be a Corpo background V. Don’t put her in hand to hand combat though, she is small and will get her shit wrecked.

But! Robin Buckley would have less tech. She doesn’t trust it—maybe she’s a conspiracy theorist, sue her. She’s a Nomad background V, and she is really good with bigger guns and weapons that require less finesse. I’m picturing her with a trusty baseball bat and a shotgun that she alternates between. When she does hack, it’s usually cameras and whatnot for stealth missions—but we all know she’s bad with coordination and most stealth missions turn into guns blazing missions. Oops?

[stardreamer28]

‘cause I got this idea stuck in my head after I used that dang screencap lol...enjoy!

It started one day when he walked into the diner.

“Whale,” David nodded. He’d just finished giving Grumpy a ticket for the way he’d parked his truck after drinking.

“Nolan.” They may not have been friends but after some shouting from Snow about them being ridiculous and the Sheriff can’t just shove people because they stood too close, Charming! No he wasn’t thinking that, he’s with Red now.

They eventually became cordial. Victor still didn’t address him as the Prince but he also mostly stayed out of his way. He did need certain permits at times, you know.

David narrowed his eyes a bit and Tink who was at the next table tilted her head. Victor didn’t notice their reactions, just picked up a plate from Granny and set it in front of a customer.

“What?” he asked after finally seeing their stares when he grabbed a to-go bag for Henry’s wife and daughter.

“Long day?” David asked, hoisting little Neal from a highchair.

“Only the middle. Back-to-back patients before lab work,” the blonde answered. “Why, was there an accident report the nurses didn’t pass through?” He was usually on top of those lately.

“No just...”

Lucy and the young prince started giggling. The doctor flashed the kids a questioning stare and Lucy calmed quickly at her mother’s whisper.

“Vic, you just, you look very nice today,” Tink put in. The smile on her face widened. Perhaps a bit mischeviously. “New look?”

Now he really frowned. “Is this about my hair again? I told you all Ruby convinced me and I liked -”

Granny glanced up and cut him off by calling to the back kitchen, “Red! Grab another post-it!”

“Granny, I just gave you -” Ruby came sauntering out in an apron and red overshirt over her blouse.

Before she could ask if the order was wrong, the group gestured to the doctor. He exhaled exasperated and turned to her.

But the wolf just smirked at her boyfriend and bent down to jot something in blue pen. She then took the sticky note and pressed it to his jacket. He glanced confused at it and looked back up.

“You forgot again,” she whispered, leaning over the counter to run her fingers through his messy hair. Then tapped the glasses on his face.

Victor’s eyes widened and it would’ve been hilarious if he didn’t blush and turn serious really fast. “Yes, well one must wear safety goggles when experimenting.” He turned to their friends. “I guess I forget to take them off when caught up in my work.”

Everyone chuckled, Tink squeezing his arm, and the small family filing out to go on about their day.

Victor turned back to Ruby. “I remember, I just get busy sometimes.”

“I know,” her fond grin still in place. “But you do look really cute in them.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked on his own smirk. “You like them that much?”

“Yeah, very sexy.” She leaned in for a quick kiss.

“Maybe I should forget more often.”

“Honey, this is a family diner, move it along. Ruby, just tell him before he leaves the house next time, and get back to work before I add more deliveries to your list!”

Ruby rolled her eyes but laughed.

“Sorry, Gran,” Victor laughed now too before looking at his girlfriend. “See you at home later?” he asked.

“Definitely. And maybe...” she touched his goggles again before tucking them in his shirt collar.

Victor now smirked devilishly and backed out of the door with his bag.

If extra post-its showed up around the lab or his office at the hospital.... If she stuck one to his notebook when he wore the thick black reading glasses.... Or if they traded red tinted glasses when one of them squinted in the sun too much....

Well, that was for them to know.

[kaihoku]

V23    SCHOOL - January, 1996

Rather than the score on a test sheet, I now find it more wonderful to be able to put more importance into the name that's written next to it.

~*~

The best times of my life are still in the the time I spent in middle school. The school I went to was huge and the classes for each grade spanned from A to J. The ground was so spacious, it had a baseball ground, a soccer field and even a couple of courts each for soft tennis and basketball. And I haven't even mentioned the gym and the school buildings yet. To me, it wasn't a place to learn, it was a place where I get to meet people. I mean, I do listen during lessons but I never take down notes.

That school didn't have a single regulation. In the student handbook, there were only the school anthem and road signs printed. Students can wear their pants baggy and their shirt collars unbuttoned and they can even bleach whatever they want. The freedom is almost absolute, though I did get chased down by teaches a couple of times after being caught doing some minor thing or other I shouldn't at the back of the gym building.

Bullying is slightly more rampant than it is now, I think. It's not the kind where lunch money gets extorted and more the sort where a kid would get manhandled into a toilet stall and have water sprayed over their heads. They'd get called all kinds of names like poison mushroom or whatever and be told things like, "Dayum, I came in contact wit'ya and now I can't wear these clothes no more!"

Strangely enough, though, you'd still see the bullies and their vic going home together after school and when they're in the same team in a basketball or soccer or volleyball match, they'd still pass the ball to their vic and basically get along.

The first high school I was in had conventional rules in place. Anyone who had naturally frizzy hair or if their hair was naturally brownish, they'd have to carry documentation that proves it's natural. In the end, though, I only went there for a year. I had a more interesting time in the part-time one I transferred to after. There I met a kid who could sing English songs better than anyone and there's also a kid who can play the guitar so well, everyone would shut up and listen whenever he picks one up.  There wasn't a uniform so everyone groomed their appearance however they wanted and outfitted themselves in fashionable clothes.

As far as studies go, I did all I could to maintain enough credits to graduate. I've even gone as far as do things that would get me side-eyed. Which is to say, I cheated. I'd arrive at school way earlier than everyone else and jot down all the answers to questions I think will appear on the desk with a mechanical pencil. But despite expending so much effort into the task and it was my own desk I vandalized, someone came in during lunch break and from there, the seats got filled up randomly one-by-one. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

There was also once where some of us in class shared answers and got found out because we ended up all making the same mistakes. Called into the teacher's room, I was told to write an apology letter in the form of a haiku so I half-assed it and submitted something that went along the lines of, "This test is stupid. Doing it has no meaning.  Why must we do it?" But instead of getting mad, the teacher said, "Good job!" and then proceeded to enter it into some kind of Tokyo-level competition. It even got published on a digest or journal of sorts...

Even now, I harbor no regrets for not studying harder back in school. I can't even recall most of what I learned there. And even if some people were to have gotten straight As in their report card as kids, I have yet to come across a single person as an adult who'd go, "I was a straight-A student, ya know?" I also don't think I've met anyone whose good results in school directly contributed to where they are now.

If anything, I think it's enough to get a single A even if everything else is a C. Like, SMAP does a number of things but I can't say we are good at everything we do. But for the things I'm good enough at to score an A for, I'd invest everything I've got into it. I think that's what it means when you're doing something as a profession.

Even among friends, if one person is weaker at something, as long as there is someone else stronger at it who is able to make up for the lack, everyone in the group can compensate for one another's shortcomings. People do say that when incomplete puzzle pieces come together to form a whole, many facets that would otherwise remain unseen become visible.

Dont get me wrong. I'm not saying that everything we've learned in school is useless. But once we've become adults, we will come to learn that it isn't as important as they made it seem back in school. Because what's more important when we grow up is how much we are able to back up the things that we say and do, and how capable we are in taking responsibility for them. This is something all adults would already be wise to so I've always found it strange that most of them would still pressure kids to study hard in spite of their wisdom.

You won't ever catch me doing it, no sir. I'll never utter a single peep about it. Though I'm guessing that, in itself, may become a bit of problem at some point.

-yotsuya-

[or-something-better]

July 14, 2022

(Nightly RP - Charlie’s monster of the Week)

Sam

Sitting at the map table doing my usually slow-scroll through the police blotters of surrounding counties, before I move on to boarding states. Most everything is routine, a few domestics and one B&E that seemed to get quite a haul. Nothing really that would slow me down for long.

Charlie

scrolling through and running a program in the background that would give me any unusual hits I look up at Sam  quiet so far… but maybe it’s not a bad thing?

Sam

Chuckles Charlie, so help me if you jinx this night....

Charlie

You’re right… should never use the ‘q’ word

Dean

I come in with my arms loaded with groceries I struggle down the stairs and through the map room to the kitchen hey guys! Got everything I think walk into the kitchen setting the bags on the table and start putting them away

Ruby

Need to start one of those Swear jars only for jinxing

Charlie

Ruby no! I’d be broke

Henry

is making pizzas for everyone

Ruby

Henry can cook anytime!

Alex

Smiles mmmm smell good

Dean

finish putting everything away trying not to get in your way hey henry! grab a beer and head into the room with the others

Henry

Hi Dean

Charlie

my program hits on something but turns out it’s just a lot of county fairs are sharing the same dates so I sigh in frustration

Patience

How are the kids Alex

Henry

brings out the miniature pizzas

Ruby

Those smell incredible Henry!

Alex

They are good Olivia is reading and Skyler almost ready want crawling and my nuggets Riley and Athena and Austin they are good they are cranky sometimes Smiles

Sam

An article with the title salacious headline “7th Missing Pregnant Woman Reported” out of Saline County in southern Kansas catches my eye and then my complete attention. Hey guys, listen to this…down in a little southern Kansas town and three neighboring cities, they’ve had 7 pregnant woman reported as missing.

Henry

I made one for everyone

Ruby

That sounds suspicious.

Charlie

Are you sure it’s not just a serial killer with a fetish?

Patience

Oh my doesn't seem possible you are such a good mother

Ruby

I wonder how "small" they are talking? BB?

Sam

Thank you Henry takes one and get a big bite Mmmhh good

Alex

Aww thanks you and sometime it hard single parent and sometimes it easy

Dean

take one thank kiddo goes perfect with my beer

Charlie

taking one of the pizzas I have a bite and listen

Ruby

Sorry, I was thinking out loud. They say there was a small round hole in the window.

Patience

I bet thought if dad were here though you'd hate it

Henry

sets them down and listens while eat

Dean

look up from my pizza well that’s a hell of a calling card... Let me cut a hole in the window and take you for a ride..... smirks

Sam

Small hole in the bedroom of the vics? That would lead me to suspect a sex offender, you know, some kind of peeper pervert…

Alex

Pause he is….he gone Gabe turn him to stone and sent him to hell

Charlie

Again serial killer with a fetish…. What else would do it?

Charlie

Shifter maybe? Were the Vics ever seen again?

Crowley

I stand at the head of a meeting table glaring down the table at my demons. My plan is starting in to go into motion and your all dragging your feet. I need souls and I need them fast. Pure souks snatched from heaven.  So move your asses!

Patience

Yeah that kinda sucked but he did something bad right?

Dean

Maybe what about hmmm. No.... Never mind

Alex

Yeah he cheating on me

Pamela

flying in frantically I can't find my niece! so upset I'm shaking I talk to her every day.

Pamela

But she’s not answering my calls

Patience

Are you ok Pamela

Sam

Pamela? stands up out of concern. What?

Pamela

shaking my head I don't know what to do. trying to catch my breath. I start to tell Sam about my niece

Ruby

I give up my seat for Pamela

Charlie

Hey Pam… putting my arm around her shoulders take a deep breath… let’s start at the beginning…

Henry

gets her a cup of tea

Sam

Glad to see that Charlie is helping calm her down. Sit down and tell us anything you can about what’s happened…

Pamela

I talk to her every day, I haven't heard from her in 3 days. Thank you Ruby.

Alex

Pam Look over what wrong?

Pamela

She’s pregnant.  And we've spoken every day. But in last few days she hadn't answered her phone.

Henry

hands her tea

Dean

finishing my pizza as I hear pam I take a drink of my beer and almost spit it out when I hear her pam? Where does she live?

Pamela

Thanks Henry.  Can we add a shot whiskey?

Henry

Sure  gets a shot of whiskey

Pamela

Salinas

Sam

I recognize the name of the city, but don’t share it. Pamela is upset enough and there is no reason to scare her without any real information. I pull up a map of Kansas on the laptop. Salinas looks to be about 2 hours from here.

Dean

South?

Pamela

downing my drink would you guys mind helping me check it out?

Sam

I catch Dean's eye South

Charlie

turning to Pamela after all you have done and given up for us…. It’s the least we can do

Dean

I agree totally lets go...

Ruby

Can we take the car this time? Just in case I need to use my magic, I want to have enough energy for it.

Sam

Pamela, we don’t mind checking on her for you… it's practically our own backyard

Dean

Everyone get reedy

Pamela

taking a sigh of relief thanks guys

Henry

gets my bag

Sam

Yeah, sure Ruby. Let’s drive this time.

Alex

On it sir

Charlie

I head into my room and grab my go bag, I add my laptop and chargers to the mix  ready when you are

Patience

Got my go bag

Dean

grab my duffle that’s already packed and ready to go

Alex

Went to grab her gear and walking to the car

Sam

My gear in already in the trunk, so I find my keys and snag the laptop Who's riding with me?

Ruby

I check my satchel then head for the car

demon

walks into the room where Crowley is sir… we just got our 8th victim. A Barnes girl. We won’t need many more now

Crowley

A Barnes girl?  And where did you find this one that it took you so long?

demon

Salinas Kansas…. We are kind of located in that area right now

Crowley

You chose a Barnes in Kansas? You're going to get us all caught!!! She's most likely related to that psychic.  What have you done to her so far?

demon

We captured her boss. She’s being held like all the others

Crowley

I throw a knife at the demon pining him as I finish my drink and start pacing Why? Why do I ever outsource anything. If I wanted this done quick and efficient, I would have been better off doing this myself. Go, just get the hell out! I'm going to clean up your mess." I vanish topside to deal with their mistake.

Sam

Ruby and Charlie road with me and the 2 hour drive to Salinas went by so quickly. We played a Charlie-version of name that tune using Spotify and Ruby handed us our asses. Turns out when you’ve lived pretty much through the entire history of music, you know a thing or two.

Pamela

I hop in the impala just so nervous guys

Ruby

Heading for the Charger, I get in the backseat to give Charlie shotgun

Henry

hops into Deans car

Alex

Get in back seat in impala

Dean

I put my duffle in the trunk and get in the car and take off once everyone is in

Charlie

sitting in the car I watch out the window while we play I navigate as Sam drives leading the way

Dean

I turn up the music as we go since everyone is so quiet

Charlie

I point out our exit to Sam  there!! It’s not far now

Dean

take the exit behind Sammy

Alex

Dancing in her head whiles listening to music

Ruby

I look around at the suburban neighborhood. I hear the lyrics begin...'Or house, is a very very fine house..'

Sam

Pulling up before the address that Pamela gave, I shut off the car and look around. Nice neighborhood

Charlie

I get out of the car and wait for the others to pull in well let’s be safe while we investigate huh?

Dean

pull in behind Sam

Ruby

Getting out, I wonder if we'll draw attention?

Charlie

I wave to the others as they get out of the impala

Dean

I get out of the car looking around

Ruby

Hey, Sam. You suppose they have neighborhood watch?

Sam

I'd bet on it Ruby... I’m going to check around the side of the house. Pointing out my direction to Dean, I follow the shrub line next to the house, with nothing standing out to me. As I round the corner, I think I’ve gotta be near to a bedroom or possibly an office. Checking along the windows, it didn’t take me long to find the small hole that had been punched through the glass. Damn it. I lean over to see if there is a sightline view to anything inside the room or if it’s just a hole to thread a camera through.

Alex

Look around and get out the car

Charlie

looking around at the surrounding trees   not sure a watch committee would see much…. But surely we can find something…. Everything looks too…perfect

Henry

gets out of car

Dean

follow the perimeter the opposite way from Sam

Gabe

appearing ninja silently behind Sam with Donna at my side shhhhhhh belle  I pull out a clown horn and sneak it behind Sam’s ear squeezing the bulb  SQUEAKY SQUEAKY !

Sam

The sudden unexpected appearance of Gabe and Donna next to me, catches me off guard and causes me to jump in shocked surprise. SHIT! Jesus… ya gotta stop doing that.

Donna

Hi ya Sammy!!! laughs as he jumps!

Henry

Dad! face lights up like a child at a candy store

Gabe

Jesus? Where? looking around  I swore we left him at home

Dean

hearing Sam I run the rest of the way around the house to you Sammy?!? You ok?

Donna

Sorry. I couldn’t help but watch it! Lol

Sam

The sound of my heart beating in my ears, blocks whatever Donna said What?

Gabe

Hey kiddo picking you up and hugging you

Ruby

Sam! Did you hear that? I ask Charlie, running toward the backyard

Alex

Heard Sam and I run Sam! You ok what happen?

[9:14 PM, 7/13/2022] Donna SPN: We did!

Charlie

hearing the noise I run out back my heart pounding, relieved to see Donna and Gabe

Henry

giggles and squeals

Dean

Oh hey Gabe! Donna! laughing

Donna

laughs more!

Ruby

I round the corner and nearly run into Donna.

Sam

Pacing a few feet to calm down and walk it off, damn

Alex

Hey Donna and Gabe laughing

Donna

waves!

Ruby

Donna? Gabe?

Charlie

Impeccable timing as usual!

Donna

Whoa!!!!! You good?!

Ruby

You got that right!

Gabe

Hey guys. We were just kinda bored thought we’d check up on the fam.  looking around  you guys have this odd idea of fun

Donna

Yo! Lol Hi Alex!!

Dean

Not exactly fun...

Alex

Ahh we are on hunt

Donna

Agreed! looks around confused! a hunt? Ohhhhhhhh lol makes more sense now

Ruby

Pam's niece is missing

Gabe

Don’t you guys ever take a day off? Enjoy life a little? Speaking of which donna and I have an announcement

Dean

This is Pam’s niece's house there’s a case of missing pregnant woman and we came here because Pam’s niece who is also pregnant went missing

Gabe

Did you check behind the curtains? Maybe she’s playing hide and seek

Donna

Oh no!  looks to Pam! doing okay???? I know the feeling!!!!

Gabe

Pam family can’t seem to keep their clothes on

Donna

💛💛

Pamela

just rubbing my hands up and down my thighs I'm not ok.. I’m worried

Alex

What announcement you Donna have?

Donna

Oh shit!!!!

Patience

I walk up and touch window and have a vision ahhh I scream

Ruby

I turn toward the scream

Gabe

walking over  you good over here? Is it like three obese people going at it?

Donna

walks over and gives her a soft light hug! we found my niece we’ll find yours! giving you a warm smile!

Dean

You good?

Pamela

Thanks

Patience

Hey everyone there's an animal cut in half

Dean

Come again?

Gabe

Huh??? What’s going on here?

Ruby

Where?

Charlie

In your vision?

Alex

Where?

Patience

I saw it not sure where but it's in half

Donna

Ewwww

Patience

touch the window again hopefully I get another vision to tell me where

Dean

So an animal breaks into houses now?

Henry

That's gross

Patience

I think we should look out back

Ruby

I hope there's not a grave...for Pam's sake

Patience

I'm thinking that's where the animal is. Because I saw this house

Crowley

I pace invisibly around the group glad that the Winchesters seemed clueless to my involvement

Pamela

trembling I can't sense anything here guys. I'm too shaken up. Where has gone? trying to hold in my anger

Charlie

having searched the grounds over I’ve come up empty

Sam

No signs of any kind of animal that I can find

Henry

Let's go camp out

Sam

I agree Henry, but let's find a hotel and set up

Donna

Sounds like a great idea! nods!

Charlie

Yeah I think we need to research

Dean

That sounds like a good idea

Alex

I agree… besides checking the time I should call the sitter and check in

Ruby

Thinking back to previous stake outs, I hope we don't set up a tent in the room

Alex

Call sitter  Jane hello? Hey I calling see how kiddo doing

Jane

they are good

Alex

Ok thanks you Jane I hang up

Dean

I head back to the car and wait for the others

Henry

gets in the car

Dean

get a room and head to chars room

Charlie

after checking in I quickly set up my laptop and start surfing the hunter web for anything that might target a pregnant woman

Henry

follows Dean

Gabe

snapping creating an Oasis for Donna and I

Donna

after getting to hotel with the clan and beloved, I see Charlie on the laptop searching… I watch and read over her shoulder! Duh HECK??! Gawd I love you!!!

Gabe

Love you too gorgeous

Donna

I’m the luckiest woman in all the worlds!

Charlie

All the victims have been pregnant women… I need to know what we are up against

Dean

So what all we got so far? Anything useful?

Donna

Pregnant women???? Attacking ladies at their most Vulnerable??? raises an eyebrow! Well other women! wipes the smirk of my face, and quickly returns to worry for the Pam’s niece and other soon to be mommy’s!

Gabe

walking over putting a reassuring hand on your shoulder we’ll stop this thing Mi amour . I promise

Pamela

sitting at a hotel table, having a  glass of whiskey just upset and worried

Dean

Definitely just gotta figure out the what so we can get the how

Donna

I place my hand on yours and look to you! let’s get em!

Patience

really need another vision right now

Henry

Can we order room service and get dinner?

Crowley

I appear in the woods not far from where the abduction had been. They were so sloppy. Why is it that only morons become demons? We have smart people in hell and yet I throw my arms up in frustration.

Charlie

I’ve got it!!! Mananggal!!!

Sam

What?

Henry

Huh?

Dean

What the hell is man and gal??? Like is that like 69 only murderous?

Patience

Yes that's it as I look at the picture

Alex

Eww that is gross

Charlie

According to this, it’s an ancient creature. It preyed on pregnant women and took their life force after it eats the heart of their unborn fetus… they have a super long tongue stored inside their head for that purpose

Pamela

pissed off and confused as to why that thing has taken my niece this is just crazy! Why? WHY!!?

Sam

I’ve never heard of a Manananggal… I immediately pull out my laptop and look for information from some of my bookmarked sites.

Henry

That's gross

Donna

Ohh food! Avocado! Good question!!!

Crowley

my head whips up feeling insecure and go to the lair of my creature Manny? Where are you?

Dean

Nope definitely nothing of 69.... That’s just gross!

Henry

Looks like no one else wants food

Donna

my hand not realizing it moves to my tummy and look to my ArchAngel! More for US!

Henry

orders room service

Dean

looks at donna and back at Gabe... wait are you..... Um

Patience

Not really

Crowley

Hey, Manny. You need to change locations. The minions messed up. You're in danger.  Don't worry, I'll keep you fed.

Donna

looks to Pam seeing her worry, and Mama Angel clicks on again! We’ll get her back! Promise Pam! 💛

Gabe

Charlie how do we kill this thing?

Alex

Smiles

Charlie

Well… reading further  apparently it detaches it’s torso to get to its victims maybe why patience saw it cut in half…. When that happens if we can cover the legs in salt and burn them… it dies …. But these things have been locked in purgatory for centuries

Sam

My head snaps up from my computer screen Purgatory? Looking across at my brother. Dean, what do you think the chances are these things were let out when Eve came?

Henry

gets the food and hands some to Donna

Gabe

Salt and fire? looking around the room  where in the world will we find those things?

Donna

Duh HECK??!!!!!!

Charlie

grins one thing we are never in short supply of

Donna

Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!! eyes wide! thank you Henry!!!!

Alex

Ohh

Gabe

Add in whiskey and beer and it’s the anti hunter

Donna

Hmmmm no idea! takes a bite of food! Mmmm

Dean

hearing Sam and again all deans fault..... shakes my head cuz I’m just this huge screw up huh Sammy?

Henry

You are welcome  eats

Sam

Not what I said Dean

Alex

Dean it not your fault

Ruby

There is an entry to purgatory through Hell.

Dean

Yeah because we dont ever have those right?

Henry

Yes Crowley

Dean

look at Henry

Sam

Crowley’s been keeping things kinda quiet for a while now Looks over at Ruby to see what her reaction is to Crowley being brought up.

Gabe

eyes lighting up as I hear that deceitful demons name  I’m going to enjoy killing that toad

Dean

Figures Crowley would be behind this somehow

Donna

Well… maybe Ruby could do recon? Insider POV? takes another bite of food!

Ruby

I still have a few friends down there. They can help me. I'll find out what I can.

Alex

That never good news

Henry

throws away my wrapper

Donna

Coolnesssss!

demon

I look up meekly at Crowley as he yells

Crowley

You have no idea,  NO IDEA how terribly you have endangered this for us. Why did you take the Barnes woman? I feel my eyes changing to glowing red as I yell at the demon

demon

I had no choice… stammering y-y-you told me to do whatever m-m-m-manny said…. He’s crazy he doesn’t care about the politics He said the power of the psychic would make him stronger

Patience

Oh so since Pam is psychic he thinks her niece may be also

Crowley

Gabriel is involved. An Archangel. The new guy sitting on the big man's chair. If we die, you'll wish I killed you. I glare darkly at him. I'm staying here to keep you in line.

demon

Yes sir—maybe you can talk sense into him

Crowley

Where is he right now? Or did you lose him as well as get the Winchesters on our ass? I glare at him intensely.

demon

Inside sir, follow me

Dean

So how the hell are we gonna lure this thing so we can kill it?

Sam

Chuckles Dean, I just don’t think either Henry or I can pass muster as a pregnant woman.

Henry

Yeah no we're dudes

Dean

Obviously we'd be rich if that could happen

Patience

Pamela try and get a feel for it

Donna

listening licks the wrapper of her dinner, not realizing how hungry I was!

Ruby

Popping back from my visit to Hell, I meet with the others to tell them what I've found. Well, it's like we thought. Crowley has his goons going after pregnant women. I had to leave before I found our more. I look at Pam I'm sorry.

Pamela

I've failed her. shaking my head in disgust with myself

Gabe

hands you a snickers  you’re not you when you’re Hengry

Patience

Maybe you should try and get feel for her

Pamela

Yes, let me try. touching the sonogram picture my niece sent me, I begin to search for something

Charlie

Well if you can find her… we can probably find the other victims too….

Crowley

I straighten myself up and stride after the demon. Manny, darling.  Did you get my warning?

Donna

Mmmmmmm CHOC-OLATE!!! eyes get huge, takes it thank you! and Yums down!

Henry

We need to get the monster out of the way first

Manny

growls and nods

Patience

Pamela are you ok can you send me anything

Alex

I can be a bait Look at her team

Sam

Alex, we appreciate the offer, honest we do. But you’ve just had new babies of your own, I think we should find some other way to do this

Alex

Nod ok

Dean

No....no...Absolutely freakin not!

Crowley

The Barnes girl, the psychic, she's drawn unwanted attention to us. Her family wants you dead. They have the ridiculous luck to manage it.

Pamela

Give me a min

Alex

Ok Nod

Manny

deep throaty voice  the Winchesters will have no idea what hit them and I’ll devour the Barnes girl my king

Crowley

You should lay low. They're going to try and draw you out. Trap you.  Kill you.' He warns.  "I can find your another psychic."

Charlie

I can see Ruby is thinking what’s on your mind Ruby? I can almost see those wheels turn

Manny

They want me? They shall have me. It’s the last thing they will ever do

Crowley

No, no. It's that arrogance that loses me my actually useful people.

Ruby

Well I could do it, I’m certainly stronger than Alex. And I’m sure I’ve faced worse in hell

Sam

Leans over to Ruby and mumbles under my breath I’d have a better chance pulling off being pregnant than you would.

Gabe

No, listen Ruby, you’re a demon, they would see that from a Mike away

Ruby

I could give it a shot. Anybody got a pillow?

Alex

Look over I right here

Donna

finishing my snickers bar, with a yum Well…. I mean…

Donna

I have an idea! I stand up!

Gabe

shaking my head no  no way not a chance. God has spoken!!! the heavens rumble

Alex

Look up heard thunder easy easy Gabe Hand him energy drink and snicker

Donna

my eyebrows go up! it’s okay daddy angel! We go this! I smirk a naughty, but evil smirk lets kick some ass!

Gabe

letting out a deep breath the heaven settle but I say nothing

Donna

I slip my hand into yours! tell ‘em Daddy Angel! I look into your hazel eyes!

Gabe

Well grinning ear to ear we’re expecting

Dean

Again? Awesome! Congrats!

Gabe

12 more ! A new personal best  kissing belle and smiling against her lips

Sam

I stand up and manage to stop myself from saying the first words that pop into my mouth and settle for just saying Congratulations… again, wow 12? I shake my leg to try and get the stupid thong into a better place under my jeans.

Dean

12? More?

Donna

giggles, and kiss you back! oh goodness! smiling bit too! let’s go for it!

Donna SPN: Wellllll….. working on it!

Ruby

Congratulations. That settles the question. The answer of you doing it is No, you have enough to worry about

Sam

Donna are you really sure that you want to take such a big risk? Isn’t the start of pregnancy one of the precarious times for... you know, a new mother?

Gabe

You good there Sammy ??

Dean

Yeah donna are you sure Gabe will kill us all if we screw any of this up and you get hurt

Sam

Slaps him in the chest and sits back down

Gabe

With tortures Crowley’s mind couldn’t imagine

Donna

I got this!

Dean

We better not screw this up....

Charlie

Let’s go find a place to set it up…

Donna

Aw thanks for the care… but I’m mama angel… it’s different! 😁 I’ll be okay. It’s just a monster… we’ve taken on gods. Like daddy angel says… easy peasy! 💛

Manny

laughing at Crowley there’s something delectable up there, something I e never had and I will find it and eat it. I can tell it will make me even more powerful!!!

Henry

zones back into reality

Dean

Well ok then let’s go grabbing my things ready to go

Crowley

Manny we just talked about it.  It's a trap. You can't go up there or you'll die.  The new God is involved. I grab at the monster’s arm alarmed

Charlie

I grab my surveillance and sound gear and take it with us

Henry

follows Dean

Sam

Follow but not sure we should really do this

Gabe

Hmmmmmm what kind of house would this monster like??? heading out  I assume something with a lot of nurseries and pregnant women. You know Donna I used to hang out at maternity wards before you came along ….

Ruby

Tags along after, hoping things go according to plan...for once

Dean

is extremely nervous about this trying not to imagine the tortures we would be put through if anything goes wrong

Alex

Gasp congratulations Gabe and Donna Smiles

Gabe

snapping a huge house with tons of nurseries In it

Dean

Nice work bro! That’s huge!

Sam

mumbles wonder where he got hte idea for that

Gabe

Donna says the same thing, minus the bro

Ruby

Hopes the neighbors don't call the cops before we catch the creature

Dean

laughs very funny Gabe

Henry

watches in amazement

Charlie

I grab my gear and start setting up cameras

Gabe

looking at Ruby  what cops ? snaps the police department to another country

Ruby

👍

Dean

That works no cops

Donna

Oh you did! I follow next to you and raise an eyebrow!

Manny

shoving past Crowley  don’t get in my way or I’ll eat you first little man

Gabe

Yep , I knew those chicks put out

Henry

Wonder what the people thinking of extra cops in their country

Donna

taps my nose! hello! Lol! HEY!!! Lol

Ruby

🤭

Dean

Welll besides you...

Crowley

I right myself and stand proud You will stop and obey your king. Going out there is certain death. We can build something great if you just stop and don't act on impulse.

Gabe

What? You I had to woo. With them a pint of hagndaz and I was in like Flynn

Pamela

making sure Donna has everything she needs with Ruby and Alex

Sam

Walks around the outside of the house and checks to see where the best sightlines for the house are

Manny

laughing I pick you up and throw you aside walking out the door  keep it up little man and I’ll eat you

Ruby

asks Sam. you think first floor or second?

Alex

Help set up the bedroom

Sam

I think outside, so that nothing can even get that close to Donna

Ruby

Good luck with that. I head inside to give a hand. You got enough pillows Donna?

Henry

outside making sure we have cover

Donna

Good NESS!!!! Lol! You naughty boy!

Gabe

Donna are you sure you want to do this?

Charlie

I set up the last of my sound monitoring gear and get into my place and wait for the others to do the same

Donna

Thanks so much! looks around!

Alex

Took a deep breath

Donna

Lol! ALLLL THE PILLOWS!

Gabe

You don’t have to there’s got to be another way if anything happens to you a guarantee I’m going apocalyptic on this things ass and theirs pointing at the team

Pamela

holds Donna's hand just be careful hun

Gabe

watching this I like

Donna

Baby I’m sure! I look into your eyes and give you a kiss! easy peasy!

Ruby

seeing I'm not needed, I go outside with Sam to surveil

Dean

jumps at Gabe’s words

Alex

Donna? Hand on her shoulder please be careful Donna

Donna

I give a soft laugh! I know you would. But us angels got this! walk in the park compared… L… and A.. raises eyebrows! and many more! laughs

Donna

Will do! Thanks! I will bear bear! That monsters ASS IS GRASS!! Well ash!!

Alex

Smiles hell yeah

Dean

Donna....this isnt your normal stake out.... THOSE were mostly human this..... Is most definitely.....well.....NOT

Manny

sniffing the air growling as I pick up the scent  oh this is different this licking meaty lips and razor sharp teeth  this is going to be divine letting out a roar that shakes the entire house to the foundation  Give me the special one , the pregnant one, my feast , and none of you shall have to perish!

Ruby

Trying to make as little noise as possible, I wait for the others to show up

Dean

head out taking my place outside as i see the man gal thing

Alex

took a deep breath walking with Sam we got this

Sam

Feeling like things are getting closer to happening, I tell Alex and Henry. Let’s find cover guys I hide behind a large tree, making sure the others are hidden from sight too and I keep my eyes on the house.

Henry

hides in a bush

Manny

stomping towards the house eyes wild nostrils flaring

Alex

Nod yes sir went to go take cover

Charlie

I stay in the shadows and wait for the inevitable

Manny

I can smell you hunters, all I want is the pregnant one! The rest of you can be on your way

Crowley

Crowley appears running behind the creature Manny stop. This is a trap! You're going after a heavily protected person. You're going to get killed! I grab the large arm pulling him.

Gabe

in the house ready to tear the damn thing apart

Dean

I start heading into the house behind the thing cautiously

Charlie

I listen closely and hear a second set of footsteps behind the monster and a whiny voice that sounds familiar

Manny

turning as you grab my arm I look down grinning, my face getting so close to yours you can see the saliva dripping off my teeth and smell the rancid rotting flesh of the other pregnant women I’ve eaten  and who is going to protect you? grabbing you I throw you sending you crashing through one of the windows and into the living room of the house. Turning back, I head to find my prey

Dean

duck back to make sure I’m not seen

Sam

Making a rush towards the monster, I see Crowley for the first time. Crowley! I knew it! This is all on you, isn’t it? What the hell have you done?

Dean

as I watch crowley get thrown

Henry

Crowley?!

Charlie

running out of my position I head towards the monster, unsure yet of what I was going to do besides distract, I pick up a rock and throw it

Henry

jumps from a bush

Dean

slip inside the house staying in the shadows

Crowley

I land with a grunt Well I tried to convince him this was a terrible idea for one.

Manny

smelling the scent of the woman on the breeze I turn and head straight for Donna I’ll devour you slowly and savor your unborn child, picking my teeth with its bones!! charging towards you

Charlie

I run behind the beast and grab a gun from my waistband and take a shot

Gabe

watching the commotion, I sneak of getting an idea

Dean

I feel a shot of pain go through my back just missing my spine and yell out FUCK!

Charlie

I take another shot at the monster this time hitting his leg, hoping it’s enough to warn mama angel

Manny

avoiding the bullet I laugh as the knife pierced my skin grabbing the flea off my back and throw you against a tree shattering your spine

Dean

fly through the air and feel ever bone on my back crack horribly as I drop to the ground

Crowley

I stand up and stalk towards the being again Manny stop! You'll die. Do your edge to return to purgatory?

Manny

head detaching from my body it flies around me grabbing you with my razor sharp teeth and eating you crushing your bones and skull between my teeth like nothing more than lettuce your blood dripping from my mouth as my body continues to fight

Alex

Gasp

Gabe

the hell?! seeing the monster nearby. I stand my ground. Fear washes over me for a second but instantly relaxed by protection strength and a little bit of rage! My eyes start to glow white, my hair starts to float! be gone Monster of Hell! and with a gush of hurricane force wind, breaking some nearby windows, I push the monster far away!

Henry

runs inside

Manny

falls back pissed and growling my head flying towards the blonde woman the hunger growing by the second  YOU!!!!

Charlie

Let’s go! We need to stop it! I run toward the monster and start unloading more bullets

Alex

Run inside

Henry

tries to shot at monster

Donna

Me!!!! my white eyes glaring him outside the house. Me inside! you don’t scare me!

Ruby

I head toward the house, ready to that that bastard.

Manny

head reattaching to body I storm towards the house

Ruby

I raise my blades Bringing them downward

Crowley

Looking around in the chaos I turn to run I messed up. Oh I messed up

Manny

grabbing the railing from the deck of the house I hit you with it sending you flying across the yard

Ruby

I am hit by his tremendous blow, feeling ribs crack

Crowley

I grunt and feel my shoulder shatter when I land Dammit Manny, things were going so well.

Charlie

I run towards the monster and shoot a few more bullets and watch the demons to see if they get up

Manny

turning back to the blonde incubator I go after my dinner

Ruby

I carefully sit up, feeling blood running out of my nose

Ruby

pissed now, I wipe the blood on my sleeve and return. gathering my energy, I bring it up and send it at the monster full force

Manny

using my huge paw and slapping you hard making you fly across the yard  NO MORE GAMES THE WOMAN IS MINE!

Manny

flying across the room I hit the ground body splitting in half

Sam

I run forward and grab onto the lower half of the body of the Manananggal and try to hold it down! Hang on!

Charlie

I’m thrown back, the wind knocked out of me, but when I see ruby I know this is our shot….running ahead I grab the legs

Henry

helps Sam hold the lower half down

Crowley

I grunt and stand up worried, grunting as my shoulder collapses on itself I'll get out of here. Live to see another day.

Charlie

Pamela!! The salt!!

Pamela

I pour salt all over the monsters’ legs

Patience

Come on

Gabe

appearing behind Crowley I freeze him letting my claws out holding them to his throat  I should end you for putting my wife in danger, you have 3 seconds to tell me where the other women are or I’ll carve you into things even Rowena wouldn’t recognize. eyes glowing bright blood red

Ruby

I stand back and watch the others take care of the monster

Manny

screaming thrashing and fighting as the salt spreads across my wounds

Charlie

grabbing a lighter from my pocket just for good measure I set the legs alight and stand back

Sam

Letting go of the thrashing monster, I jump back out of the way

Crowley

I shake and scrunch my eyes shut They're in the abandoned mine shafts. I tried to stop him from coming here. I knew it was a death sentence.

Alex

light the lighter now? Throw the liger

Gabe

The death sentence should be yours Crowley you’ve always been a despicable bastard but I’d never have thought you would go after women and unborn children. Your worse than Lucifer, and that’s not a compliment.

Henry

jumps back

Manny

exploding into purple goo

Pamela

feeling goo hit my face eww

Henry

Eww slime

Charlie

Gross!

Ruby

Is glad I stood back

Sam

I spin around and get covered from behind with goo

Alex

Gasp ewwww gross

Pamela

Pretty much. Lmao

Crowley

He went rogue.  I tried to talk him down. Everything has sacrifices, but it wasn't supposed to go like this.

Donna

hurrying out of the house! Back to normal! is it? looks around! Ewwwww… yep

Sam

Which mine shafts, Crowley?!

Gabe

pulling out my blades I hold them to your throat my hand quivering with anger  you disgust me , but I need to go save dean shoving past you I head for the exploded body

Gabe

looking around  well this can’t be good . Everyone back up!

Alex

Bear shaking off

Charlie

I back away from the mess wiping goo from my face

Crowley

I turn and look behind myself, following Gabe’s actions with momentary regret before making my escape.

Donna

watching … knowing much better than to interrupt my archangel like this! 🔥

Gabe

eyes glowing as I look down at the remains of the monster  my hands glow as atom by atom  the body of Dean  is reformed, his heart begins to beat and air fills his lungs

Alex

Walk over we all did it donna we kill it

Henry

Dean! watching dad make dean alive

Gabe

heading over to Donna you ok love? Are all 13 of you ok? dropping to my knees I lay my head against your tummy

Dean

I gasp loudly as my lungs fill with air and open my eyes looking around confused

Henry

runs to hug you

Dean

Henry hugging you back what'd I miss?

Henry

covering you with goo the monster exploded

Dean

Ugh I look up and around for everyone else seeing you all its over?

Henry

Yup just need to find the people

Patience

hopefully still alive

Charlie

The only mines I know of are just about a mile from here

Dean

I get up slowly lets go

Sam

I asked Crowley, but he didn't share the exact location

Henry

Let's go get them to safety

Charlie

Sam can you drive? And Ruby…maybe a spell so they forget?

Sam

Walking towards the Charger Charlie, you navigate

Henry

gets inside Dean’s car

Charlie

I get in the car with Sam and wait for Ruby

Ruby

I hop in the back Let's do this!

Pamela

in the impala

Alex

Get in car with Sam ruby and Charlie

Donna

13???? my heart skips a beat and giggle, I watch you rest you head on my tummy, and beam so big, my hand playing in your hair! I’m good my love! And so is she..she’s!? 😆

Dean

I get in the car and start driving

Charlie

I direct Sam and within minutes we’re at the entrance to the mine shafts  looking at the door I can see some recent damage look! I think they came out of there

Sam

Ruby can you feel anything?

Dean

follow Sam’s car

Ruby

I can sense them I'm going to go to them and lead them out. I turn on my flashlight Be right back.

Charlie

Thanks Ruby I get my first aid supplies out

Pamela

nervous, worried, scared with excitement I hope they're ok.

Ruby

Leading them out, I show them the way with the flashlight

Sam

I put my hand on her shoulder She will be

Charlie

I smile when I see Ruby and the women, they all appeared to be in good health and unharmed so far

Pamela

holding on tight to Sam’s hand thanks

Ruby

Quickly conjuring a spell, I quietly wipe their memories of the kidnapping until now

Charlie

Let’s hurry and get them home before they wake up too much huh Sam?? Pam, would you like to stay with your niece? We can come back and get you later

Sam

Agreed.. Starts leading the girls toward the cars

Pamela

Yes thank you. waiting for my niece impatiently. I grab her and hug her soo tight

Ruby

I can stay here with Pam and take them home

Charlie

once the girls are loaded and headed home I breathe a sigh of relief and am ready to go myself.  you sure Ruby?

Pamela

That works for me!

Ruby

Go, get the others home

Sam

Helping them into the back seat. They all look to be in pretty good shape, just dirty

Charlie

nodding I get into the car with Sam  let’s go then

Ruby

Waving as they leave, I turn to Pam. I'll bet you want to be home. Ready?

Sam

I drive to the local Hospital and let them out just next to the doors of the emergency room

Dean

help the load some in the car and follow Sam to the hospital

Pamela

I am. Let's take her my place so I can keep an eye on her. Thank you Ruby.

Henry

stares out of the window of Dean’s car

Dean

the women get out and go inside i honk at Sam  HOME???

Ruby

I pop us to Pam's and make sure they get inside Take care. I pop back to the bunker.

Sam

Home!

Charlie

as Sam finished driving I doze off until we reach the bunker

THE END

………………………………………

1. Sam and Charlie are sitting at the map table on their laptops looking for cases. Dean has been on a supply run and returns to put away the food. Henry is already in the kitchen making lunch. Alex and patience are sitting down talking about the babies. Sam is reading an article about several missing pregnant women across the state. So far 7, within three neighboring towns. Ruby says that sounds suspicious. Charlie asks if it might just be a serial killer and Ruby reads further into the article where it specifies a small round hole in the window of the pregnant woman’s bedroom. Dean says that’s an odd calling card and they start to talk about what might be doing it. meanwhile Crowley is in hell setting his plan into motion he is directing some demons to to choose targets and to be quick about it

2. Pam bursts into the bunker and is upset saying she can’t find her niece. She continues by telling them that she talks to her every day but hasn’t heard from her in three days. Charlie gets up to calm Pamela and Henry goes to get her a cup of tea. Alex and patience join the team and are asking Pam if she is ok. Dean asks where Pam’s niece lives and she tells them Salinas. Sam pulls out a map and sees that it’s just in the southern part of the state. About 2 hours away. Pam asks if the team would mind taking her to check it out. Charlie says after all Pam has done, they owed her at least that. Sam and dean agree and ask everyone to get ready. Ruby suggests they drive this time so she can save her strength just in case. meanwhile Crowley is receiving some information from some of his demons and cursing about one of the targets chosen—knowing the Winchesters will get involved, he goes off on a rant to himself and says if he wants this done, he will need to take care of it himself and goes earthside.

3. The team gets ready to go to Salinas, Pam Alex and Henry go with dean in the impala, Sam ruby and Charlie go in the charger. The drive is uneventful and the first stop is a small house in the suburbs belonging to Pam’s niece.  Sam and Dean take the perimeter while the others check the yard for clues.  Sam finds the hole in the window and swears. Gabe and Donna appear behind him scaring Sam almost to death. Dean and the others hear the commotion and run to his aid. Gabe says he was bored and decided to check on the family. Charlie and Ruby comment on his impeccable timing and Donna asks what is going on. Dean tells her about the missing pregnant women, Pam hearing this for the first time starts to worry. Patience comes up and touches the window, she sees some sort of creature cut in half, she screams and tells the others what she sees. Gabe says maybe it’s worth sticking around.  meanwhile Crowley is listening in, and is hoping to gain useful information

4. They don’t find much else besides the hole, and Pam says she is too upset to sense anything. Henry suggests finding a place to camp out, and to see what they can figure out. Alex agrees that’s a good idea, and she needs to call and check on her kids. They head to a motel and check in, they get three rooms but all meet in one to go over what information they had so far. Charlie is on the hunter web and is looking for anything that targets pregnant women, Donna is reading over her shoulder and comments on how that’s a dirty trick, to target women when they’re at their most vulnerable. Gabe rests his hands on her shoulders and reassures her that they will solve this. meanwhile Crowley appears in the trees and sees gabe and Donna appear and curses to himself and about the sloppy demons that chose this house. He heads out to find his monster to warn him.

5. Charlie says she’s found something, Sam and Dean are asking her what it is and she says it is a Manananggal. Patience comes over and says yes that’s what she saw.  Dean makes a remark on the name of it, Alex says it is disgusting and Pam is freaking out because that thing has taken her niece. Donna tells her they’ll figure it out. Gabe asks Charlie how they kill it, she tells him and he comments about how much of that should be available with this many hunters. Everyone kinda laughs at that comment, and then Charlie shares that they’ve all been locked in purgatory for years. Sam questions if dean let them out when eve came. Donna asks why they’d  wait this long to show up. Dean remarks how it’s always his fault, Alex tells him that isn’t true and Ruby reminds the team there is an entry to purgatory through hell. Henry immediately says Crowley

6. Gabe’s eyes light up at the mention of the name. Sam says he has been pretty quiet lately. Alex says that’s never good news. Donna asks Ruby if she can maybe go find out some insider information and Ruby says that won’t be a problem. meanwhile Crowley is meeting with a demon in an unknown location telling him how horribly he’s screwed up by taking the Barnes chicks niece and the demon tells him he had to and why. Crowley tells them that gabe has joined forces with the Winchesters and they had better not fail, and he was going to stay right here to make sure they didn’t screw it up.

7. Dean asks how they’re going to lure the monster. Sam says there’s no way he or Henry could pull off being pregnant ladies. Ruby comes back and affirms their suspicions and tells the team Crowley is behind it. Pam swears feeling like she has failed her niece. Patience suggests trying to get a “feel” for her and Pam readily agrees. Charlie says if they could find her, they could likely find the other victims too. Henry says they will need the monster out of the way in order to save them all. Alex says she could be bait, it’s not the first time she’s done it. Dean is adamantly against it and Sam says they need to come up with something. Ruby offers to do it, but gabe says that since it is a supernatural being it would probably know Ruby was a demon.

8. Donna speaks up and says she has an idea. Gabe tells her no, and she hushes him. She shares some news with the group and everyone reacts, then ruby says she has enough to worry about. Sam asks Donna if she’s sure and dean says Gabe will kill them all if they screw it up and Gabe agrees. They head out and Gabe creates a house and the perfect setting for the monster to strike. meanwhile the monster is headed out and Crowley tries to stop him the monster shoves him out of the way saying he senses some particularly yummy food out there and once he has it that will be enough. Crowley tells him it’s certain death—the monster laughs and leaves.

9. Pamela, ruby and Alex are setting Donna up in the bedroom of the new house while Charlie is setting up surveillance equipment and sound monitoring. Gabe is asking Donna if she’s sure about this and she’s telling him she’s been doing stakeouts since long before they met. Dean reminds her most of them were human and she waves him off telling them they all need to stop and take their places. Sam and Ruby are outside with Alex and Henry making sure they all have cover and the rest of the team joins them and they take their places just as the monster shows up with Crowley close on his heels telling him that this was a horrible idea he didn’t know what he was about to mess with. The monster throws Crowley back and heads straight for Donna. The team starts to move in headed for the monster, Sam and Henry see Crowley and yell at him asking what he’s done now and Crowley tries to defend himself saying hell has been boring.  And Alex tells him that’s no reason to go after innocents while they argue dean tries to fight the monster alongside Charlie Gabe has snuck off for a surprise attack

10. Donna is inside when she sees the torso of the monster in the window, her eyes and hair begin to glow and she throws the monster back, angering him. Forgetting about Crowley for the moment everyone runs toward the house and begins to battle the monster ruby is thrown back, and she’s angry about it so she uses her demon powers and throws the monster at the house causing him to split in half. Sam Henry and Alex hold the torso while Charlie and patience grab the legs and pam covers them with salt, the creature screams and explodes covering everyone with purple goo. Crowley tries to run and Gabe freezes him and demands to know where the victims are and threatens to end him for going after Donna. He quickly reveals where the women are and Sam and Ruby go to get them with the help of Alex Henry and patience. Gabe pulls out his blades and is about to take care of it when Crowley tells him the monster went rogue and he couldn’t stop him even though he tried. (Free run how you want to finish this—Donna comes down and joins the team after too

[boldlyvoid]

touch me

spencer reid x reader

Summary: Spencer is incredibly touch-starved and hard on himself since coming home from prison. Luckily, the medical examiner in this small town is really good at reading people, and exactly what he needs.

warnings: mentions of cases, insecurity issues, female reader, smut, blowjobs, riding, praise, emotional hurt/comfort. emotional sex, strangers to lovers, hook-ups,

word count: 5.8k

They had been in New Mexico for almost a week, solving a series of murders that seemed to have no end in sight. There was nothing they could do but go back to their hotels to sleep, hoping there’d be a connection in the morning.

Spencer and JJ were sharing a room as the small town hotel didn’t have accommodations for everyone that was visiting to help with the case. They didn’t mind, it was like a long sleep-over.

They did their own thing, kept their space and Spencer really did enjoy overhearing her on FaceTime with her kids. It was refreshing happiness in the middle of the madness murder sadness and despair they were swallowed by.

When his phone rang at 6 am, just shortly after he returned to his room for a quick rest, he sighed deeply, “Dr. Reid.”

“I’m so sorry to do this to you, but another body dropped and I need you to go to the ME,” Prentiss explained softly down the line. “It’s weirder than the other’s and you’re the only person who would be able to work it out with the examiner.”

“I’m on it,” he replied with a tightlipped smile. He hung up and looked over at JJ, already peacefully asleep on her bed. He closed the door softly on his way out, not wanting to disturb her any further.

At the other end of the hallway, Spencer stood and waited for the elevator. It seemed to be taking forever, everything he was doing lately dragged on and on with no end in sight. He was exhausted, still struggling with his PTSS, just all around not having the best time.

He was in the middle of rubbing the sleep out of his eyes when the elevator opened with an equally tired woman waiting inside. “Hi,” she said before covering her mouth to yawn, “sorry.”

“I get it,” he smiled as he stepped inside. “Lobby?”

“Yes please,” she smiled. “Are you here for the case too?”

“Uh, yes,” he answered softly, “I’m Dr. Spencer Reid, with the FBI.”

“Oh, hi! I’m Dr. Y/N Y/L/N, the medical examiner,” her face lit right up. “Agent Prentiss said you’d be joining me I just didn’t think this quickly.”

She was adorable, bubbly and happy in a way he envied. He missed the feeling of random giddiness, smiling at her as he felt the butterflies swirl in his stomach. “Do you need a ride? I have an SUV from the bureau.”

“Yeah,” her smiled got bigger. “That would be really nice.”

They walked closely together through the lobby and towards the parking structure, he hit the unlock button a few times while trying to figure out which SUV his keys matched to. Finally getting in and watching her climb in the passenger seat.

“Do you know anything yet about the body?” Spencer asked as he turned on the ignition.

“Yeah hold on,” she pulled her iPad out of her bag and started sliding through emails.

“Your tech girl sent me the initial police reports, witness statements and overview,” she began to explain. “Like the others, she’s a 25-year-old female, blond, blue-eyed, athletic.”

“Prentiss said it was a weird one?” Spencer added.

“They think she was embalmed before the unsub staged her,” Y/N added with a tone of disgust on her voice. “Do you have your tech girl’s number?”

“Yeah, hold on,” Spencer dug his phone from his pocket and dialled the number.

“Penelope Garcia, the 8th wonder of the world at your service,” she answered after just one ring. “How are you doing on this fine morning, my fine furry friend?”

“Not so hot,” Spencer replied. “I’m with the ME right now on the way to the body, she has a question for you.”

“Oh hello, ask away.”

Y/N was smiling on the front seat, enjoying the show they put on for her. “Um, hi I was wondering if you could look into anyone in this town buying embalming equipment, or if any has been stolen from the funeral home? This town is so under-resourced already, I don’t know where this guy could get this stuff.”

“Absolutely, I’ll add that to my parameters,” Garcia’s voice was lovely and soft. “I’ll call you back if I find anything!”

“She’s lovely,” Y/N exclaimed as Spencer place his phone back in his pocket.

“Yeah, she is.”

Spencer pulled into the morgue’s parking lot, the lights were all on and the Coroners van was parked by the loading doors. Inside there was just 1 officer, waiting beside a body bag as Spencer and Y/N walked in.

The officer gave them both a quick rundown of the crime scene findings, as well as information about where all the equipment was before leaving them to their work.

“Have you ever examined a body?” Y/N asked Spencer.

He nodded, “I’ve been present during a few, held some organs, but I’ve never done one myself.”

“They’re pretty gnarly,” She scrunched her face and giggled. “Let’s get you all geared up.”

She handed him a hairnet, a white plastic suit, goggles and a mask. “Gloves are on the wall, pick your size.”

He felt like a lunch lady standing beside her, taller than her by almost a foot, dressed in all white with a hairnet. He could tell she was smiling at him under her mask, her eyes gleamed up at him in a way that made his heart melt.

He had to remind himself multiple times that this was nowhere close to the time appropriate to want to flirt with someone. They were about to examine a dead body, and potentially solve a case. There would be time to flirt later.

But he was just so amazed by how she worked, being able to tell everything that was going on by just looking at the body. Making notes on her own and only occasionally explaining things to Spencer. In her own little world, solving the puzzle with expertise.

“The other 4 vics were just strangled and staged, dressed up and left in different areas around town,” she ran the case down more for herself, needing to hear the words to make a connection.

“Yes,” Spencer followed her train of thought, tilting his head as he listened.

“She was murdered, embalmed, staged and sexually assaulted. His MO is completely different and it’s only been 2 days since the last body dropped. I think he’s found his signature,” She explained her thoughts. “His sexual aspect comes out only when they’re dead and cold, we’re dealing with a necrophile.”

“While most serial killers start with small animals before moving on to humans, he started with women and then eventually grew to what he really wanted. That’s what we were missing,” Spencer’s eyes lit up.

“He’s a lot younger than you hypothesized in the original profile,” She added.

“You read it?”

She nodded, “yeah I like to know what you’re looking at to see if I have answers.”

“This is really going to help us,” Spencer smiled, his eyes mimicking hers now.

“I can finish up here if you want to go back to your team? I can get a cab,” She offered. “Go catch this guy.”

“Okay,” Spencer said, backing up from the table and taking his equipment off. Placing them in the hazmat garbage. “Are you sure?”

“Yes Dr. Reid, I’ll be fine,” She laughed. “Can I call you if anything comes up?”

He smiled again, “call me even if something doesn’t.” He dug a contact card out of his pocket and placed it on top of her purse. Waving as he walked out of the room.

—

He thought about her smile for the rest of the afternoon, leaving his findings with Prentiss before heading back to his room to sleep for a few hours.

He finally found his way back into the police department 5 hours later, coffee in hand as he tried to absorb all the new information. They had a lead, stolen embalming equipment from a funeral home a few towns over was reported 4 days ago.

He stayed back during the apprehension of the suspect. Simmons, Lewis and Rossi were closer and they didn’t think the unsub would be dangerous. No one was missing and he wasn’t expecting them, should be easy to get him to come in for some questions.

Much like the rest of this case, it didn’t go to plan. They found another woman in his home, having to shoot him in the process. Ending the spree, ridding the world of a necrophile. It just didn’t feel like justice was served when another person had to die.

Spencer sat on his bed, calming down slightly from the end of the case. Saving a woman, killing a murderer, it was all a lot to process in such a short time.

JJ was in her bed on the other side of the room, scrolling through Facebook as she looked at photos of her kids. It was a much easier way for her to calm down, remembering that she could go home to pure, unadulterated happiness at the end of a case.

They heard a small knock on the door, Spencer volunteered to answer, opening it only a small amount as he looked out.

“Oh, hi,” surprised to see Y/N behind the door.

“Would you like to come and drink with me?” She asked, holding up a bottle in her hand. “In my room,” she added.

“Yeah, yes um, hold on,” he closed the door on her softly.

“Who’s that?” JJ smirked at him.

“My friend,” he replied quickly, running to the bathroom to look at his hair and fix his shirt. “I’ll be back later.”

He grabbed his wallet, making sure he had a condom first, before opening the door only a small amount to slip out into the hall. Hiding Y/N from JJ as she tried to look out the door.

“Sorry, my co-worker and I are sharing,” he explained.

“It’s okay,” she smiled, heading towards the stairs. “I’m just a floor up, and the elevator takes a million years.”

Spencer held the door for her, watching her head up the stairs as he noticed the bottle in one of her hands and her shoes in the other. She walked up the steps in her socks, exhausted from the day.

“Did you get any sleep?” She asked him softly as she kept climbing the steps.

“A few hours, did you?”

“Yeah,” she laughed, “I woke up just before they called about the body this morning.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to just go to bed? You’ve been working for 12 hours,” Spencer worried for her.

She reached the door for floor 3, pulling it open with the hand she held her shoes in, “Sleep is the for weak.”

He laughed lightly, “do you want me to hold anything?”

“Here,” she handed him the bottle, “thanks.”

She dug the keycard from her pocket as he followed her towards the right door. Excitement bubbled in his chest as she opened the door and welcomed him inside.

It was exactly like his room downstairs, only there was just 1 queen bed and a few couches by the window. She set her things down on the bed, sighing deeply as she sat on the edge.

“Do you have any cups or mugs?” Spencer asked, reminding her that he was holding the alcohol still.

“Yeah, on the bar table over there,” she pointed. “I’m just going to change in the bathroom quickly, you can pour yourself a drink.”

“Okay,” he smiled awkwardly as he crossed the room.

She dug through her suitcase quickly. Spencer saw from the corner of his eye as she took out some shorts and a shirt, not even slightly worried about being so casual in front of a complete stranger.

He inspected the bottle, it was just a cheap scotch, nothing too special. He poured about an inch of the golden liquid into two cups, not a big fan of drinking but tonight he felt a little risky.

She came back looking more refreshed, very cozy, and still breathtakingly beautiful. He hadn’t felt this way about someone in a long time, the tightening in his chest as he wondered where the night was going to go.

Not to mention the longing he felt.

Even before prison, he wasn’t one to spend a lot of nights alone with a beautiful stranger. The added isolation in his life changed him on a fundamental level, he realized just how much he craved contact, and just how much he’s deprived himself over the years from both men and women. He just wanted to be loved properly.

He silently handed her one of the cups, smiling at each other softly as they tapped cups. Taking the whole drink, “oh, yep that was exactly what I needed.” Y/N’s eyes watered as her face scrunched up, coughing a bit.

Spencer felt the same, only being able to hide it a bit better. The burn was nice on his throat, it made him feel alive. “Did you want to order some food or anything or?”

She laughed, “that would be the smart and responsible thing to do.”

“Are you okay?” He asked softly.

She looked up at him, her shoulders dropping as she released the tension in her body. Looking into his eyes with care, it was so different from the way his co-workers looked at him. She didn’t think he was broken, she had to reason to believe he was even damaged.

“Yeah,” she smiled, placing her hand on his chest as she stepped in closer to him. “Do you like mushrooms on pizza?” She giggled, even this close to him with every opportunity to kiss him, she chose to just make him smile. Something that didn’t happen too often lately.

“I do, it’s my favourite topping actually.”

She took his tie in her hands and dragged him to the couch, “I enjoy topping sometimes too.”

She sat down on the couch and looked up at him, waiting for him to sit beside her. Patting the cushion beside herself while he swallowed sharply, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, making her smirk.

“I won’t bite Spencer,” she laughed finally. “I’m sorry if that was too much?”

“No,” he said, sitting down beside her quickly. “No, it’s fine honestly, I’m just not used to it.”

“Too busy with the FBI to find anyone to hit on you?”

He shook his head softly, pushing his hair out of his face. “I uh, I was framed for murder and in prison for 3 months. I haven’t really had a conversation with anyone I don’t work with in a while.”

“Oh,” she didn’t look surprised or scared. “That makes sense.”

“What does?”

“You’re soft,” she leaned in to press her hand against his chest once more, eye level with him now. Seeing his eyes dart from her lips to her eyes every few seconds as he licked his lips. “You don’t look like you want to hurt anyone, but something about your aura is changing. You know how to protect yourself now, and you’re stuck thinking you’re still in danger.”

“How can you tell all that just from looking at me?” He asked softly.

“If I showed up at any other man’s door with a bottle of alcohol and the offer of a night alone, I would have been pushed against that door the second we got here,” she explained. “You respect me, almost a little too much.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” His face was soft and curious and proving her point.

“You see me as a person, but I can tell you’re touch starved. Every time I get close to you, it’s like you don’t want me to move away,” her voice was barely a whisper as she leaned in even closer to him.

She could feel his breath on her face, her nose was close enough to brush against his as she stared at his lips, “but you won’t make the first move. You want to protect me from you.”

He nodded his head lightly before rubbing the tip of his nose against hers and making her smile. He let out a sigh, relaxing his shoulders as she straddled his lap, leaning him back against the couch. He bit the bullet and let his hands rest on her hips, looking at her softly in the hopes it was okay.

“Tell me?” She begged, holding his tie in her hands, running it through her fingers as she waited. “What do you want? What you miss? Let me be that for you,” she begged.

“Anything,” he finally tells her. “Just touch me.”

She loosened his tie, freeing his neck finally. She slowly undoes every single button on his shirt, untucking the hem from his pants as she opens it up.

Her fingers are warm on his skin, but he still gasps at the touch. Her fingers were so soft, like angel kisses as the pads of her fingers traced the skin. Gliding over every freckle, raking through his chest hair, bumping along the barely-there abs.

His thumbs rubbed against her bare thighs, where he held her lightly. “You can touch me too,” she whispered.

His hands travelled up to her waist, he gently pulled her in closer. No longer resting on his legs, but pressed close to his chest. Her hands landed on his shoulders, looking down at him with nothing but pure lust as her breathing hitched.

She cupped his face, gliding her thumbs along his cheeks softly as she stared at his lips. He opened his mouth to breathe, his bottom lip was plump and beautiful and she couldn’t help herself from rubbing her thumb over it.

He kissed her thumbprint before taking it in his mouth, sucking on it softly making her hips buck into his lightly. The suction on her thumb was more erotic than she expected, the feel of his hot mouth, his wet tongue swirling around it before he let her go with a pop.

She accidentally let out a moan that excited him, “like that?”

She immediately felt her heartbeat in her clit, she nodded feverishly. Suddenly at a loss for words, wondering where this Spencer suddenly came from.

“How far are we taking this?” He asked softly. “We can stop and order that pizza at any time?”

There he was, the soft and sweet man that she brought here in the first place. “Pizza is even better after sex,” she couldn’t stop the giggle from erupting from her, even as she bit her lip.

He smiled at her like she was the world. A complete stranger making him feel more than anyone had in the last year. “I’m going to need longer than it takes to deliver a pizza,” he admitted.

“Luckily they’re open late,” she compromised, leaning in and finally kissing him.

It was soft at first, then he pulled her in even closer. She was chest to chest with him as he breathed her in deeply. She melted into his grasp as if he had just stolen her soul right out of her body.

She was his now.

She kept his face in her hands, holding him as he broke the kiss to explore her jaw. Kissing every inch of her neck and chest as she gripped his hair, making him moan as she used her nails to comb through the long locks.

“Does that feel nice?” She cooed, running her nails along his scalp as he tilted his head back.

“My favourite thing,” he explained as he closed his eyes, letting her repeat the same motion again and again.

He looked so peaceful, running his hands over her back and sides softly as she massaged him. She leaned in and kissed his cheeks, the tip of his nose, both eyelids and his forehead.

He wanted her to touch him everywhere, her delicate touch made him feel worthy for once. Every self-hatred of his washed from his body as she explored him with care, care only one would receive if they were a most prized possession.

He felt loved.

It was overwhelming, he didn’t realize a tear had slipped down his cheek until she was wiping it from his skin. Shushing him softly before kissing him quickly on the lips.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, embarrassed.

“It’s okay, what’s on your mind beautiful?” She asked softly as she brushed through his hair once more.

“I just,” he looked in her eyes ever so innocently. “I’m not used to feeling cared for, no one pays attention to me this way.”

“That’s shameful,” she looked utterly perplexed. “Look at you? You’re gorgeous, you’re smart, you’re powerful. You’re kind and lovely and soft?”

“But I’m also weird and too much to handle,” he interjected.

“Not to me,” she corrected him. “this morning you could have said nothing in the elevator, you could have driven by yourself and awkwardly waited till I was finished my work. But you didn’t, you had a conversation with me, you helped me many times, you cared about me making it back here safely and you didn’t even know me. You’re a special kind of person Doctor Reid, and anyone who doesn’t see it is an idiot.”

He pressed his lips together in an awkward smile and furrowed his brow, “do you ever give out parts of yourself to everyone because you know how hard it is to feel appreciated?”

“All the time,” she laughed softly. “But not now.”

“Me either,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

“I’ll make you a deal, you tell me the worst thing you’ve ever done and I’ll tell you mine,” she offered. “Even the playing field.”

“How so?”

“Right now you think I’m super nice and kind right? And I just told you how I feel about you, but you hate yourself and outside of here I hate myself too. Share a secret, we can be fucked up together,” she smiled.

“In order to keep myself safe in prison, I poisoned a batch of heroin and almost killed a lot of people,” he responded without thinking.

“Okay,” she was a little shocked that he gave in so fast. “One time I stabbed a guy who tried to touch me after I pushed him off me twice already. He didn’t die, it barely even went in.”

“Both are technically self-defence,” he shrugged.

“See?” She smiled. “You’re not as bad and scary as you think you are. You’re smart and cunning.”

“Are you sure you’re not a therapist?” He teased her, “because this has been better for me than any therapy appointment I’ve ever gone to.”

She laughed again, kissing him softly. “I think it would be against the rules for your therapist to do this, I guess that’s why some men cheat.”

“How so?” He just liked listening to her speak.

“It’s easier to be open with someone you’ll never see again than it is with your therapist or wife because there are no consequences. They can’t judge you or hold anything against you, they do what you paid them for and they leave,” she explained herself.

“I’d like to see you again,” his voice barely a whisper. “If you’d like that?”

She nodded softly, “maybe I’ll move back to Virginia, finally.”

“Is that where you’re from?”

“Born and raised. I moved to Albuquerque with my girlfriend 5 years ago, and she left me about 2 years ago now,” Y/N explained. “I liked my job too much to move all the way back there and start over.”

“I can put in a good word for you where ever you want,” he offered before he could stop himself from looking too desperate.

“I’ll look into it,” she smiled.

He kissed the centre of her chest again before pulling her into a hug. Hearing her heart beating in her chest softly as she pressed her cheek to the top of his head and rubbed her hand over his back. Soothing him so completely, he felt beyond amazing.

And then she was gone, pulling back from him and standing up. “Wh-?” Before he could even ask, she was lifting her shirt off.

He stared at her breasts, eyes wide and jaw dropped. She walked over to the bar, taking another shot before she pushed her shorts down and climbed onto the bed. Completely naked in under a minute.

He stood then, pushing the opened shirt off his shoulders and immediately undoing his belt. He took a condom from his wallet before kicking off his shoes, dropping his pants and underwear to the floor and stepping out of them.

She was laying back against the pillows when he crawled over her, resting his naked body against hers ever so slightly. She just smirked as she looked up at him, “hi.”

“Hello,” he whispered.

“What do you want?” She asked.

“You.”

He kissed her softly on the lips, or at least he planned to. Y/N wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him down against her. Swiping her tongue across his bottom lip, begging to make out with him, finally.

Grabbing and tugging at each other as everything started to heat up, she could feel his erection against her leg as he ground down on her. Sucking on his tongue, lightly making him moan into her mouth.

His hair kept tickling her face, every time she’d push it away it would just fall right back against her skin. She pulled him off by his hair, gasping for air as they stared at each other again.

“Can I be on top?” She asked lightly.

He wrapped his arms under her, holding her close as he rolled over. Watching her settle more onto her knees as she sat on his hips. “Better?”

“Much,” she said as she sat up, taking a hairband off her wrist and putting her hair up. Raising her arms in a way that made her tits perk up. He reached up and cupped them, rubbing his thumb lightly across her nipples before giving them a squeeze.

She just laughed as she finished her ponytail, “having fun?”

“Absolutely,” he smiled up at her.

His hands followed the curve of her body, from her boobs to her waist and down over her hips. She was stunning, confident, everything he ever wanted and more.

She found the condom in the sheets, the bright purple packaging making it easy to see. She played with it in her hands, seeing how long it would take before he got desperate, but he never did.

“How long have you had this?” She asked, trying to tease him.

“Not long,” he was honest. “I just got out of prison, remember?”

“So you haven’t had sex since before you went in?” She looked excited.

“No, why?”

She smiled, “so I’m taking your free man’s virginity.”

“I don’t think that’s a thing?”

“It is now,” she giggled before leaning down to kiss him once more.

Trailing kisses down his neck, stopping only to suck a mark near his Adam’s apple. Hearing the sweet little gasps he made every time her tongue came in contact with his skin. She kissed his clavicle, his shoulder and down his chest. Making her way across his abs and over his lower tummy.

He gripped the sheets, not knowing what she had planned or where she was going. Spreading his legs, she kissed his groin, his right hip bone and the inside of his thighs. He couldn’t believe it, the way she explored him so delicately.

She ignored his cock for a while, kissing and sucking at any and all the visible skin she could find. He felt her smile against his thigh then, getting closer and closer before she took his cock in her hand and kissed the base.

He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding in, settling into the bed like water filling a glass, he was liquid in her hands. Her mouth was a blessing and she chose him to worship.

“Fuck,” he moaned as she took all of him as far as she could. Dragging her tongue along the shaft as she pulled back up. Swirling her tongue around the tip before taking him all the way in once more.

She pulled off with a pop, sitting up now with his dick still in her hands. She tore the condom open with her teeth, taking the package off and rolling it over him.

His dick bounced back against his stomach when she let go of it, hard enough that it had a mind of its own now. She bit her lip as she lifted herself over him more, setting herself down softly where it laid against him.

The head of his cock brushed her clit as she ground down on him, his hands found her hips once more as he instinctively helped her find a rhythm.

He could feel how wet she was, the way she glided over him so easily. Her breath hitching every time her hips bucked, she was enjoying herself. It made him even more excited. She leaned back down then, kissing his neck once more as she continued to push down on him.

“I need you,” Spencer gasped.

She smiled against his skin, lifting her hips enough for him to line up with her before she started to sink down on it. He watched himself disappear inside of her, feeling the way she took him in like he was always meant to be there.

“Fuck,” she gasped as she sat down fully, her hands resting on Spencer’s stomach as she tried to get used to it all. Listing herself up and down little by little to get the rhythm going again.

Spencer pulled her back in again, arching her back so she could bounce easier. She held him close, tucking her face into the crook of his neck as she started to move faster and faster on him. Hearing his breathing pick up as his grip tightened on her asscheeks.

She kept one hand in his hair as her other hand reached for her clit, pleasuring herself slightly the way she knew she liked it. “Jesus Christ,” she whispered against his skin as she fucked him.

It had never felt like this before, it was so personal for the first time. They worked together perfectly, not having to communicate at all, following the other person’s rhythm like a well-oiled machine with a task.

He felt her everywhere. Her hands in his hair, her lips on his neck. The way her hot breath tickled right under his ear as she tried to catch her breath against him. The way she pulled off him and sucked him back in, again and again, her breasts against his chest and her ass in his hands.

He couldn’t believe it. That a real human being cared about and appreciated him, even after learning his worst secret. She was special and different and everything he needed.

He could feel himself getting closer, wanting to savour every moment with her that he could. His hands roamed her back, over her shoulders and arms. He wanted to touch every single inch of her while he had the chance.

“I’m so close,” she whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek and resting her open mouth against his.

They weren’t kissing, they were panting over each other with their foreheads resting together. Euphoria filling the empty spaces between them as she came, gasping and shaking violently over him.

“Fuck,” he groaned, bending his knees and driving into her a few more times before he finished.

She tugged on his hair then, biting his bottom lip as she felt him twitch inside of her. Letting out the smallest gasps and whimpers as she pulled her hand out from between them and pushed herself off him.

Dropping her body against his, resting her head on his chest as they caught their breath.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her in a hug as he repeatedly kissed the top of her head. “Thank you,” he was still out of breath as he said it.

She smiled, laughing against his skin again as she hugged him back.

—

He woke up to the sun in his eyes and the feeling of lips against his skin. He blinked as gained consciousness, finding Y/N laying against his chest again. Her face in his heck where she was placing lazy kisses, trying to wake him up nicely.

“Good morning?” His voice was groggy and deep, it made her smile against his skin. A feeling he didn’t realize he missed so much during the night.

“What time is your flight back?”

“10:30, why?” He asked softly, rubbing his hand over her back softly.

She held him tighter, breathing him in deeply as she did so. Not wanting to let him go any time soon, “it’s 9:45.”

“Is it bad I’m hoping there’s a secret serial killer in Albuquerque?”

She laughed again, sitting up this time so she could look at him again. “Maybe I’ll come to visit my parents soon a find a reason to stay in Virginia?”

“I’d like that,” he smiled, pulling her into a kiss. Never wanting it to be the last one.

He waited till the last possible moment to finally peel himself out of her grasp, trying to find all his clothes and belongings from the night before

He kissed her quickly at the door before taking off down the steps and back to the room he was supposed to be sharing with JJ. He knocked on their door lightly, hoping to every god on earth she hadn’t left yet.

She opened the door and just stared at him with her mouth open, “oh my god?” She laughed.

“What?” He asked, completely oblivious to how he looked.

JJ dragged him inside, pulling him towards a mirror and pointing at his reflection. “What happened to you?”

His hair was a mess, he had hickeys all over his neck. His shirt was barely buttoned, definitely not untucked and he didn’t even have his shoes on. “oh.”

“Oh?” JJ couldn’t believe it. “Who is she?”

“Um, the ME from this case,” he explained, scratching the back of his head as he squinted.

JJ just laughed then, “hurry up and look somewhat presentable, pretty boy, the team is going to eat you alive for this.”

Sure enough, when he finally sat in his little corner of the plane with his glasses on and a hickey still visible above his collar, all eyes were on him. No one wanted to ask, they all just made it abundantly clear that they were curious.

Alvez even took a photo to send to Penelope, who sent it to Derek, who texted Reid only 20 minutes into the flight asking who she was. He rolled his eyes and put his phone back in his pocket. About to get really pissed when a second text came in.

555-0623: if you’re still serious about that recommendation, there is a spot available at the DC medical examiner’s office… I’d probably be closer to you than your therapist’s office 💋

He smiled then, saving her number and starting his letter.

[imaginesfordifferentfandoms]

It's Going To Be You

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Prompt - I knew I did from that first moment we met. It was…not love at first sight exactly, but - familiarity. Like: oh, hello, it’s you. It’s going to be you.

—————————————————–

Spencer Reid knew from the moment he laid eyes on you that you were something else, he could tell from one glance that you would change his life. No words needed to be exchanged for the man to be completely and utterly taken by you. He watched as you walked through the door, though your head was held high, shoulders pushed back giving the impression of complete confidence, he saw the way you fiddled with the strap of your bag with one hand. When he looked at your other hand he could see your forefinger picking at your thumb, clearly a nervous habit. He watched as you looked around the room, watched as Rossi made his way over to you, guiding you over to Hotch’s office with a smile.

“Down, pretty boy.” Derek grinned as Spencer startled, his head snapping around to face Derek just as you entered Hotch’s office. “I’ve never seen that look on your face and you don’t even know her name.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Spencer replied, cringing at how unconvincing he sounded.

He turned away from Derek and tried to focus on his paperwork but he could stop his eyes from straying over to the closed office door every few minutes much to Derek and Rossi’s amusement.

“Who is she anyway?” Derek asked.

“She’s lucky number ten,” Rossi told them, smothering a smile as Spencer looked over, “who knew finding another agent would be so difficult.”

“Wait,” another voice interrupted, “there’s a new person here? Is she nice? Why is that always my first question?” The group laughed as Penelope quizzed Rossi.

“Listen, I know as much as you people.” He said and before anyone else could speak Penelope was being handed a folder causing them all to groan.

-

“Agent Hotchner?” You asked as you were granted access to the office.

Hotch stood as you walked in, moving around his desk to hold a hand out to you.

“Yes and you’re Y/F/N Y/L/N, I presume?” He asked, smiling slightly at you as you nodded, still fiddling with your bag. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, please have a seat.”

“Thank you sir.” You smiled, taking a seat in the offered chair watching as he made his way back behind his desk.

“Your supervisor spoke very highly of you when I spoke with him, your success rate is impressive.” Hotch praised, glancing down at the file in front of him. “Your latest case seemed rather difficult, are you sure you’re ready to be back in the field again?”

“I passed all my psychiatric exams, I was cleared to return.” You told him stiffly.

“I’m aware of your results, I just want to be sure you’re ready. Infiltrating yourself into the life of Douglas Miller couldn’t have been an easy feat.” Hotch watched as a look of satisfaction took over your face.

“I’m ready, sir.” You told him, relaxing slightly. “It was a tough case, I’ll be the first to admit that seeing what I saw had an impact but I can do this.”

Hotch smiled at you before closing the folder.

“I believe you,” he said, “I think you’ll be a valuable addition to this team.”

The words were what you were hoping to hear, you’d wanted a job with the BAU for longer than you could remember but you paused. Surely it wasn’t that easy, right?

“Wait? That’s it?” You asked.

“That’s it.” Hotch confirmed, fighting back a smile at your expression.

“But- but I’ve been here less than five minutes.” You countered back, there were so many emotions going on within you that you felt slightly overwhelmed.

“Y/N, ever since your name was put forward I looked into your work and I was impressed. Your skills at undercover work are far above what I’ve seen in a long time, that alone would be an incredibly useful assest to the team but on top of that your ability to connect and empathise with unsubs, fast thinking and your profiling skills- trust me, you deserve this job and I have complete faith in you.” Hotch’s words had left you speechless, you had no clue how to respond but thankfully you didn’t have to as the door was pushed open and both you and Hotch turned to look at the brightly dressed woman in the doorway.

“I’m sorry to interrupt sir but we have a case.” The woman said and Hotch stood gesturing for you to follow.

“You have a to go bag?” He asked as you both walked out the door.

“Yes sir.” You nodded, still baffled by how well things had gone.

“Good, welcome to the team Y/L/N.”

-

“Everyone, this is SSA Y/F/N Y/L/N. I’m sure proper introductions can be made later.” Hotch said as the two of you entered the room before gesturing to Garcia that she could begin.

“Ok, yes, so, we have five bodies so far found in Wyoming. The first two bodies were hidden amongst some trees close to firehole bay. The ME presumes that the time of death was mostly likely a week ago but we should have full confirmation when you arrive. The victims, who we haven’t been able to identify yet, but I am working on it, were stripped completely and the wounds, that are in your files because I so do not need to see that, show heavy signs of torture. ” Garcia informed you all.

“The next body was a single male, again stripped and tortured and the ME says this death is most likely four to five days old. This body was found a few miles away from Basin Bay Point campsite.”

“Wait a second,” somebody interrupted, causing you to turn your head. There sat a man, younger than the rest of the team, he was…how you had missed him you didn’t know but now you felt like you couldn’t look away. “If I’m not mistaken those places are roughly twenty miles from each other at walking distance.”

“And driving distance?” An older man asked.

“I don’t think there is a way to drive to Basin Bay Point, especially not to where the body was left.” The younger man replied, looking down at the folder he was given with a frown.

“I’ll have a map ready for you on the plane.” Penelope assured him before continuing. “Now, the next two bodies were the most recent, ME says they were killed a day or two ago and these victims we have been able to identify as Taylor Gomez and her boyfriend Jack Gaskarth.” Penelope said as she brought their pictures up. “They were never reported missing because they had told friends and family they were going camping, which checks out because their bodies were found three miles away from Lewis Lake campground. They show the same wounds as the other vics.” Garcia explained.

You grimaced as you looked down at the tablet Hotch had passed you as you saw a young man and woman, naked with slices all across their bodies, as well as deep bruising to the neck.

“What was the CoD, Garcia?” The younger man spoke up again.

“ME still needs to run a full examination but her best bet is that it was asphyxiation.” She told him with a frown.

“That makes sense, there isn’t a lot of blood or scabbing which suggests they were done post mortem.”

“So what,” you spoke up, pausing for a moment when everyone turned to you, “the unsub blitz attacks the victims and kills them before torturing them? What’s the point in that?”

“It could be a number of things actually. Perhaps it’s not about the kills for him but more to do with the fascination of the human body, we’ve seen it before where curiosity leads to this kind of attack. It could also be that he has to kill, he has a compulsion to kill and once he’s given into that compulsion he gets to fulfil other urges. If I had to guess I’d say the victims are victims of opportunity-” The younger man rambled, his hands gesturing in front of him as he spoke causing you to smile.

“Because there is no set pattern, he crosses race and gender lines and there’s no secondary location.” You cut off the other man who looked at you with a grin.

“Exactly, the area is so isolated that he can get away with quick and easy killings but because it doesn’t seem like there’s a secondary location yet we have to presume that the torture is a means to satisfy himself when he can’t hold his victims hostage.”

“It’s a long flight and this unsub doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Wheels up in fifteen.” Hotch said as he stood up, everyone was quick to follow until it was just you and the guy you had spoken to left.

“Hi.” He said, causing you to turn around with a smile.

“Hi.”

“I’m Spencer, Spencer Reid.” He introduced himself.

“Y/F/N Y/L/N, nice to meet you.” You replied, reaching out your hand to shake his, your eyebrows pulling together slightly as he shook his head.

“Sorry, I don’t um,” He said, causing you to drop your hand and nod understandingly, “it’s nothing against you, just…germs.” He trailed off, berating himself in his head.

“No problem.” You smiled again, god that smile. Spencer felt his heart race.

“Congratulations on joining the team.” He praised as the two of you walked out of the round table room.

“Thank you, I’ve wanted this for so long.” He watched as the smile fell from your face before you shook your head slightly.

“Is everything ok?” He asked, understanding the nerves. He couldn’t help but glance down, almost smiling as he saw you picking at your thumb.

“Yeah, I’m just, what if I mess up?” You couldn’t help but ask. After wanting this job for as long as you had, all the hard nights and long days spent training you were finally here and you’d be damned if you screwed everything up.

“You won’t, Hotch wouldn’t have hired you if he didn’t think you were good enough, trust me. I think you’ll be amazing.” He told you, flushing slightly at his own words and the soft smile that replaced the frown on your face.

“Thank you Spencer.” You replied softly and before he could respond the rest of the team was calling for the two of you to head to the air strip.

-

On the plane you were properly introduced to everyone as you took a seat next to Spencer, sitting opposite Hotch and Rossi. On the table in front of you Spencer had both a map of the US and a smaller map of Wyoming. You watched his fingers trace invisible lines as his eyebrows knitted together.

You were trying not to stare, really you were, but there was just something about the man that made you want to get to know him.

Thankfully before anyone noticed your eyes glancing at Spencer every few moments, the man himself spoke.

“Guys, if you map out where the five victims were found,” Spencer began, circling three places on the map as he did, “it looks like the victims might have been hiking the continental divide trail.”

“Pretty boy, isn’t that trail like thousands of miles long?” Morgan asked, watching as Spencer nodded, pushing the little map of Wyoming out of the way for a moment and drawing a line down the map of the US.

“This is the continental divide trail, it’s 3,300 miles long and it’s actually quite difficult to hike. These people had to have been exceptionally fit and healthy which further backs up the theory that these were blitz attacks. You can go days without seeing other people when hiking the trail and most hikers have to give up because of lack of supplies or needing urgent medical care from injuries and illnesses they attract. A part of the Wyoming part of the trail includes a 120 mile stretch of desert with water sources few and far between.” Spencer rambled and you couldn’t help the soft smile, though you did try to hide it behind your hand, glancing away from Rossi when you locked eyes with him and he raised an eyebrow at you.

“So we have a serial killer and 3,300 miles of potential hunting grounds?” JJ asked.

“So far he seems to be focusing on Wyoming, which narrows the geographic profile down to…’ Spencer paused as he pulled the Wyoming map closer to him, “550 miles.”

“I hope you all brought your hiking boots.” Rossi said as groans filled the jet.

“Hello my crime fighters.” Garcia’s voice sounded through the speakers. “Hotch, the families of the latest two victims are at the station waiting for you.”

“Thank you Garcia,” Hotch replied before turning to the team. “JJ, I want you to come with me to the station and help interview the families. We also need to get ahead of the media on this before they start glorifying the unsub. Reid, since the geographic profile is mostly established, I want you to take Y/L/N and head to the latest crime scene. Dave and Morgan, the two of you head to the second crime scene.”

You and Spencer both shared a look at the news you were travelling to a crime scene that couldn’t be driven too. Whilst you managed to pass the FBI’s training and fitness tests you weren’t exactly athletically inclined and seeing from the look Spencer was giving you neither was he.

Judging from the chuckles that filled the plane the others had come to the same conclusion that you and Spencer were not going to recover from this trip.

-

You had driven as close to the crime scene as you could get, which was thankfully closer than the one Morgan and Rossi had to go to. It was still a hell of a hike to get to where the unsub had dumped the bodies.

“Ok, ok,” Spencer panted, cheeks flushed from the heat. “Let’s take a break.”

“Please.” You were quick to agree and the two of you sat down heavily on a fallen tree trunk. You had all been warned that you needed supplies, even for a short hike. So you had both been sent out with backpacks filled with water bottles and food. There were other supplies like maps, compasses and first aid kits that you were hoping you wouldn’t have to use. Thankfully you had been paired with the man with the eidetic memory because you couldn’t read a map to save your life.

After the two of you gulped down some water and caught your breath Spencer spoke up.

“Why the BAU?” He asked suddenly, causing you to look up in confusion.

“Sorry?” You replied.

“You said you had wanted to join the BAU for a long time, why?” He asked again, not pushing you when you paused.

It wasn’t a secret what had happened to your family, Spencer could easily find the information out if he wanted to but you wanted to be the one to tell him. It wasn’t a story you liked sharing with people but something about Spencer made you feel…safe.

“When I was a kid there was a serial killer but he was in the next state over and we were from a small town so nobody thought to worry and after a while things went quiet so everyone just assumed he stopped, you know? Anyway, one day I went to my friend’s house, it was summer and I was always out with my friends. I was there for a few hours but I was always home in time for dinner except for this day, I ended up losing track of time and headed home an hour late. When I got home, my momma was there in the kitchen. She was covered in blood and I just screamed. The rest of my family didn’t make it either. When the police came they said the markings were the same as the victims from the next state over.” You told him, not pausing for breath as you rushed through the story. You watched as his expression fell, his sympathy written on his face.

“I’m so sorry.” He told you and you could hear the sincerity in his tone. You gave him a small smile before continuing.

“I could just never understand why. The thing that kept me up at night was that question: why? Why them? Why did he come here? Why wasn’t I home? Why did I deserve to live? I started researching and somehow came across an article about the BAU, from there I knew I wanted to work there.”

“Most people wouldn’t be able to come back from something like that, especially at such a young age.” Spencer said, causing you to glance over at him. “They’d be so proud of you.”

You couldn’t help but let out what sounded like a chuckle and a sob at those words, causing Spencer’s eyes to widen in fear he had upset you further but then you smile brightly and he couldn’t help but smile back.

“I like to think so.” You said softly. “You ready to continue?” You asked, chuckling as he groaned before standing up.

“I hate Hotch.” Was the grumbled response and the laugh he received in return made every sore bone and the aching feet worth it.

-

“We know that this unsub is a physically fit white male in his mid to late thirties.” Hotch began.

“Looking at the geographical pattern it’s safe to assume that he too is hiking the Continental Divide Trail in search of victims who are isolated from the rest of civilization. He also has no problems taking down two victims.” Spencer continued.

“The period in between kills is lessening so we should expect to find another body soon, have as many officers as possible on the rest of the trail.” You picked up.

“Considering the last kill was two days ago, the average person could walk up to 30 miles a day on normal terrain but we have to consider that the terrain out there is harsh so lets say he walks 20 miles a day that gives up a 40 mile radius he could be in. He is guaranteed to stay on the continental divide trail so stop every male you see.” Spencer told the LEO’s and after some more information was shared everyone headed off in different directions, the BAU members heading into the room they had been given to work in.

“Y/N,” Hotch said, causing everyone to look over at you.

“Yes sir?” You asked, looking up from your laptop.

“You’re probably the most skilled undercover agent in this room,” He said, causing your cheeks to flush and Spencer couldn’t help but smile. “I know this isn’t exactly the type of case you’d usually be assigned but perhaps if we send you out there we have a better chance of catching him. This man is impulsive, if he sees you he won’t be able to control himself.” Hotch explained, ignoring the questioning looks he was getting from most of the team.

You, however, relaxed, thankful that you hadn’t done something wrong. Undercover work was easy, you were comfortable with it, you knew you were good at it. Obviously you weren’t as confident at this part of the job yet, how could you be on your first case, but undercover work? That was your area of expertise.

“Of course sir.” You agreed easily before remembering how fun the small hike to the last crime scene was…your body would not thank you for signing up for a much longer hike.

“Hotch, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Morgan spoke up causing you to frown. Sure they didn’t know you yet but surely your record spoke for itself. “No offence to you,” he said quickly as he turned to you, “it’s just-“

But before he could finish Hotch cut him off, “I have full faith in Y/L/N’s abilities.”

You couldn’t help feeling a swell of pride at Hotch’s words, a man who you looked up to, a man who barely knew you but was trusting you with so much already. You locked eyes with Spencer who smiled at you reassuringly.

“I’m not doubting the kid’s abilities,” Morgan continued, missing the way you rolled your eyes at being called a kid. “I’m just saying maybe don’t send her in on her own on her first case.”

“I’ll go with her.” Spencer spoke up before Hotch could argue back.

Your eyes widened at Spencer’s offer, he did just as well as you did on your first outing and now he was offering to put himself through hours more of that for what?

“Are you ok with that, Y/N?” Hotch asked you.

You didn’t even hesitate to nod, more than happy for the opportunity to spend time with Spencer Reid.

-

“We’ll be close by the whole time,” Hotch told you as he passed you your backpack filled with supplies, “the second we hear something, we’ll be there.” He assured you and you couldn’t help but smile at his concern.

“I’ll be fine, sir. This is actually the part of the job I’m good at.” You laughed, watching as his lip twitched upwards.

“You’ve been a great help in coming up with a profile too.” He assured you and before you could say anything the rest of the team was flooding in.

The plan for you and Spencer to hike up to a specific spot that Spencer had managed to pinpoint the unsub at and set up camp there. From there you would wait and hope for the unsub to appear. The man was impulsive and his need to kill would be overwhelming by now. The two of you were wired up so that if the unsub appeared the rest of the team could step in and help with the arrest.

You and Spencer were dropped off half an hour away from your campsite just so that if the unsub was around he wouldn’t suspect anything.

The walk was mostly silent, both you and Spencer focusing on not breaking an ankle on the uneven terrain when Spencer finally spoke up.

“Morgan didn’t mean anything insulting.” He told you, causing you to pause before shrugging your shoulders and continuing. When you stayed silent Spencer continued, “he’s just protective but sometimes he isn’t really good at showing it and it comes across…”

“It comes across like he thinks I can’t do my job despite this being my forte.” You finished with a huff before sighing. “I’m sorry, I just…you can’t imagine how many times a male colleague has said I can’t do something and then a supervisor has agreed, you don’t understand how hard I have to fight to be given assignments and not have somebody constantly berating me.” You ranted.

“People look at me like I’m a child. When I first joined the BAU nobody would take me seriously, without Gideon I don’t know what would have happened.” Spencer told you quietly, causing you to frown.

“So you can understand why it’s so frustrating that someone who doesn’t know me didn’t even want to give me a chance.” You replied, causing him to nod sadly. ‘I know he probably didn’t mean anything but…”

“You’ve heard that your entire career.” Spencer finished.

“Hotch was the first person to give me a chance without any hesitation.” You told him softly, watching as he smiled at that. “This should be close enough.” You said as you looked around, the place looked similar to the image Spencer had shown the team.

“Please tell me you know how to put a tent up.” You said, watching as his face twisted.

“I know the theory?” The way his response sounded like a question made you smile as you pulled poles and material out of a bag. The two of you staring down at the mess with matching expressions of confusion.

“Now would be a really good time for the unsub to attack.” He muttered, causing you to laugh loudly. Spencer couldn’t help but grin over at you, your cheeks flushing as you caught the expression.

It took longer than either you or Spencer were willing to admit to put the tent up, despite the fact that it wouldn’t get used, you had to make it look like the pair of you were really camping. There was a lot of grumbling, many curse words and a cut or two.

There was also a lot of laughter coming from the comms in your ears causing both you and Spencer to roll your eyes.

Once the tent was up, Spencer lay a blanket down outside of it and sat down, gesturing for you to do the same. Miraculously the two of you got a fire started and as the sun set and the night time air chilled you were thankful for it.

“I don’t camp but I guess I can see the appeal.” Spencer told you as he titled his head back to look up at the stars. You glanced up too, the sky wasn’t totally black yet, more of an inky blue colour and you could see every star on the cloudless night.

It was beautiful and yet you still found your gaze falling back on Spencer.

“Yeah, me too.” You replied softly, your voice quiet so as not to break the peacefulness around you.

Somehow the two of you ended up laying down and looking up at the sky, you had a smile on your face that refused to move as Spencer’s hushed voice told you facts about stars.

“I’m glad you’re on the team.” Spencer whispered after a long pause of silence. It took you a moment to register his words before you turned your head, coming face to face with the man.

“Me too.” You whispered back, meaning the words with your entire being.

Just as Spencer went to say something you heard a rustle in the bushes and locked eyes with Spencer who nodded.

The two of you waited, not waiting to disrupt the operation if it just turned out to be an animal, but as you pushed yourself up on your elbow and discreetly looked around you saw a faint outline of a man. He was hidden behind a tree but he was watching the two of you.

“The hike up here was exactly what we needed.” You told Spencer and through the comms you heard the team moving out.

“You’re right.” He played along, smiling up at you from his reclined position.

Before you knew what was happening Spencer had his gun out and the unsub grabbed you, placing you in front of him as a human shield. If someone asked you, you would never have been able to recall the events that led to you having a knife held to your neck.

You saw the panicked look in Spencer’s eyes but you couldn’t hear his thoughts, they were overwhelming. Thoughts of Maeve passed through his mind as he pleaded with anyone who would listen to let you be ok, he couldn’t lose you too. Hell, he’d only known you a few days and yet he knew you were special, he knew he had to have you in his life. If you died now…

“Just let her go.” Spencer said, keeping his gun trained on the man.

“I let her go, you ship me off to death row.” The man responded, his face close to your face, too close. The smell of his breath had you grimacing.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Spencer responded, not even thinking. He just needed to get you away.

“Spenc, what you doing kid?” He heard Morgan through his ear piece but he just shook his head before shooting you a reassuring smile, trying not to focus on the tears in your eyes or the blood on your neck.

“I’m listenin’.” The unsub replied after a moment of silence, gesturing for Spencer to continue.

“Let her go,” He said, lowering his gun, “I won’t arrest you. You can get a head start before anyone else gets here. Just let her go.” Spencer pleaded.

It was a tense few seconds in which Spencer never took his eyes off you, he hated to see that scared look in your eyes, the fear in them made Spencer ache.

“Let her go.” Spencer said once more and he let out a sigh of relief as you were pushed into his arms.

Just as the unsub ran to leave, you twisted around in Spencer’s arms and drew your own gun, shooting the unsub in the leg. The rest of the team ran in just as the man fell to the ground.

Spencer turned you around so that you were facing him, his hands on your shoulders.

“Are you ok?” He asked, Morgan and Hotch walking over whilst Rossi and JJ dealt with the man.

You didn’t respond with words, instead you wrapped your arms around Spencer. He didn’t hesitate to wrap his own around you, holding you close as you let the tears slid down your face.

You pulled away abruptly, rubbing your eyes as you did.

“Sorry, you don’t like to be touched and here I am-“ You said but Spencer just cut you off.

“It’s fine, really.” He assured you before his attention turned to your neck. The knife hadn’t pierced the skin too badly, there was a small bit of blood where the knife had nicked you when the unsub pressed a bit too hard.

“Are you ok?” He asked again, fingers on your jaw so that he could tilt your face and get a better look.

“Spencer, I’m fine.” You assured him but that didn’t stop him from getting you medical attention the moment you were back in the town.

Spencer watched as you squirmed away from the nurse seeing to you with a soft smile.

There was something about you that made him feel so free, like he could be himself and the thought of losing you…he didn’t want to think about it again.

“You like her.” Derek said as he came to stand next to the younger man.

“That’s ridiculous, I’ve known her for a few days.” Spencer shot back but he knew his friend was right.

“If she’s the right girl, a few days is all you need.” Was Derek’s reply before he walked away, leaving Spencer looking at you with a thoughtful look on his face.

-

The plane ride home was uneventful.

You took the seat next to Spencer again and watched him pull a book out. You couldn’t help but glance down at it, your eyebrows knitting together in confusion as you didn’t recognise the language.

“It’s Russian.” He told you quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone as they settled in for a long flight.

“You read Russian?” You asked just as quietly, watching as he smiled bashfully and shrugged before nodding. You glanced down at the pages again before letting out a small yawn. “Can you read to me?” You asked him, smiling as he nodded again.

“Of course,” He said and with that it wasn’t long before you fell asleep to the soothing sound of Spencer Reid.

-

“Ask her, man.” Morgan said as both he and Spencer watched you leave the office after finishing your paperwork. Spencer too was done and Morgan assured him he’d make sure Hotch received it.

There was only a brief moment of hesitation before Spencer snatched his satchel up and ran to the elevators, getting there just before they shut on you.

“Hey.” He greeted as he stepped in.

“Hi.” You smiled, brushing a piece of hair out of your face.

“I was wondering, I mean if you wanted to, of course you don’t have to, I was only suggesting but I’d really like it if you would,” Spencer rambled before cutting himself out with a groaning causing you to giggle.

“Are you asking me out?” You asked, cheeks flushing as you asked.

“I’m trying to,” he told you, “but I’m not very good at this.”

“Just ask.” You told him softly.

“Would you like to go out with me?” He asked after taking a deep and calming breath.

“I’d love to.” You grinned, thankful that the man had made a move. You wouldn’t have risked asking him on the chance that you were reading him wrong and he didn’t like you but thankfully he had taken it into his own hands.

“Good. Great. That, that’s great.” He repeated, a soft grin spreading across his face causing you to giggle as the doors opened.

The two of you walked out together and there was a moment of awkward silence before Spencer dipped his head down to kiss your cheek, making your blush even more prominent.

You looked so pretty when you blushed, Spencer thought.

“I’ll call you.” He promised.

“I hope so.” You replied before heading towards your car, when you turned around you saw Spencer still stood by the doors with a smile still on his face. You giggled to yourself but couldn’t stop smiling yourself if you tried.

Spencer Reid was something else and you couldn’t wait to learn everything about that wonderful man.

[englishstrawbie]

Serendipity (32/?)

Fandom: Station 19, Grey’s Anatomy

Characters: Maya Bishop & Carina DeLuca

Summary: A chance meeting at a bar leads to these two idiots falling in love. Follows canon and fills in the gaps of their relationship that we didn’t get to see on screen.

Also @ AO3.

* * * * *

Scar Tissue

I was scarred but I was not broken. Beneath my wounds I was still whole. Beneath my insecurities, beneath my pain, beneath my struggle, beneath it all, I was still whole. - Amy Harmon

Maya sits in the captain’s office working on her incident report, the letters forming an incoherent jumble as she stares at the screen. Her chin rests on one hand while the other fiddles with a spare pen, tapping its end against the wooden desk. There is a lot to write up today – Travis’s injured nose, Vic’s bruised jaw, Ben’s assault; not to mention the whole team’s exposure to the drug paraphernalia that was lying around the house of the couple they were called out to help.

At the time, she’d had little sympathy for them as she had watched Travis try to stop his nose from bleeding while the mother-to-be, Gina, was swinging a baseball bat wildly in the air. Beer cans and used needles scattered around the front yard, Maya’s patience wore thin as the situation escalated quickly. She had not hesitated to call the police department to the scene thanks to the erratic behaviour of their two patients.

With some hindsight, she sees it differently. They were two people who desperately need help to get their lives back on track, for the sake of their new baby as well as themselves. She knows it is possible that her report will be used to press charges against one or both of them, and she wants to write it with some empathy.

Except, next to her right hand, her cell phone sits open with the last message that Carina sent her, regaling her with a story about the meal she is prepping for dinner tomorrow. Maya had been immediately riled by it. She can just imagine the state of her kitchen right now; it was bad enough this morning with her pasta hanging to dry and the smell of her stinky cheeses lingering in the air.

So she hasn’t answered the message yet, because she doesn’t know what to say that doesn’t sound rude or snappy.

That doesn’t sound like her father when he was annoyed.

Instead, she tries – and fails – to focus on her incident report, but it is not good. Giving up, she changes out of her uniform and heads to the station gym, annoyed to find it already occupied.

“Sorry Cap,” Dean says as he lifts a heavy dumbbell. “I can be out of here in, like, ten minutes?”

Maya shakes her head, figuring she can find some chores to do as an alternative. “Don’t worry about it.” She nods towards his right leg. “Your knee doing okay?”

“Yeah, good as new,” Dean says. “Ready to get back on active duty.” He stares at her pointedly and Maya shoots him a knowing smile.

“Fine, you’re off desk duty,” she says, laughing as he woops with delight. No firefighter likes being stuck on desk duty, even if there is good reason for them to be. “But only if whatever’s going on between you and Sullivan won’t affect your ability to work with him.”

She’s not stupid, she heard about the argument they got into when the team got back from their call, and she still feels the impact of Rigo’s death.

“It won’t, I promise,” Dean says.

Maya nods, trusting him, and walks out of the gym, heading towards the bunk room where Vic is putting away the rolled hoses – or trying to, since she is still trying to hold a cold compress to her jaw at the same time.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?” Maya says, leaning against the door frame as she watches her.

“I will when I get this done,” Vic says, with a heavy sigh. Something is playing on her mind, Maya can tell, and she waits to see if it is something she wants to share. It isn’t long before Vic looks over her shoulder towards her. “I wish you hadn’t called the cops on that couple so quickly.”

Maya raises her eyebrows, surprised that Vic would still have sympathy for them after getting clocked by Eddie’s elbow.

“I didn’t have a choice,” Maya starts, but Vic interrupts her.

“There’s always a choice.”

“They were unpredictable and dangerous,” Maya reminds her. “My team was at risk. Look what happened to you, to Travis, to Ben.”

“We were handling it,” Vic argues back.

“No, we weren’t. They need help that we can’t give them,” Maya says.

“And the police can?” Vic says. “You think they’re gonna turn their lives around in jail?” She sighs, knowing she is taking it out on the wrong person. “Sorry, I’m just having one of those days where I’m pissed we can’t do more.”

“I know,” Maya says. She steps inside the room. “You should go and rest, I’ll finish up here.”

Vic looks at her with surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah. I need the workout.”

Vic doesn’t need to be told twice. She drops the hose in her hands and grabs her ice pack, brushing her shoulder gently against Maya’s as a sign of thanks as she passes her.

Maya gets to work, the physical demand on her body a relief from the tension she carries. She pumps her arms as she carries each hose to its resting place, squatting in between moves and enjoying the feel of her muscles burning. She thinks only of the task in hand and pushes everything else out of her mind.

She doesn’t notice Andy appear in the doorway until her voice captures her attention.

“Captain doesn’t stack hoses,” she points out.

“Only one person allowed in the gym at a time,” Maya says. “I’m making do.”

She can feel Andy’s eyes on her as she continues to put the hoses away.

“That family. They, uh, they remind you of the mess you grew up with?”

“No, no,” Maya says. What they saw today was far from the suburban life she grew up with. “My dad raged and threw things, but only at the walls. Never at us and never in front of the neighbours.” She slides one of the hoses onto the rack. “I’m afraid to go home,” she admits.

“To Carina?”

“No! God, no. Carina’s a salve,” Maya says. “It’s me, I’m afraid of how much I'm like my dad.”

Andy looks at her curiously and waits for her to continue.

“You know, my brother and I chose such opposite ways of dealing with him. Mason buried his head in the sand like my mom. And me? I just wanted to please him.” She throws another hose into the rack. “I made myself into a perfect copy of my dad so that he wouldn't find a reason to be mad at me. I spent so many years learning how to read his sighs and silences, the hunch of his shoulders. So many years mimicking the tone of his voice.” She sighs as she realises what has been playing on her mind ever since Carina moved in.

“I'm scared that by protecting myself from him, I turned myself into him.”

“You are nothing like him,” Andy says quickly.

Maya isn’t so sure about that. She feels it, bubbling away inside of her, every day. She sees it in her reactions, hears it in the words she says out loud.

“And for my thirteenth birthday, I was allowed to have three friends spend the night. I didn't have three close friends, but some girls from the softball team came over, and we hung out in the basement. We painted nails and talked about first kisses, and I pretended like I only liked boys.”

They both laugh at that.

“And this one girl, Holly, she went to the kitchen during the movie and she came back with a soda, and I freaked out. I asked her where she got that because those were my dad's and no one else was allowed to touch those. And Holly shrugged because she was thirteen and it was a can of soda.”

Maya pauses, panting, a combination of her workout and the way she can’t stop the words from spilling out of her mouth. The hoses are all tidy and she has nothing else to distract her from everything she thinks and feels.

“And then, sure enough, a few minutes later, my dad came tearing down the stairs. ‘Who drank my last soda?’,” she mimics him, exhaling deeply. “I can still feel every muscle in my body tensing up. And Holly was terrified; and he pointed his finger at her and he said, ‘Who said you could drink that?’. And she just stared at him, suddenly this… this tiny, little girl. And he came lumbering over to her and he ripped the can out of her hand. And he went back upstairs. And she called her mom, crying, and her mom came and picked her up.”

Maya grabs one of the rolled-up hoses that she has just stacked away, desperate to feel the aching in her muscles, the physical pain a distraction from the emotional pain she can’t shake, no matter how hard she tries.

“This morning, I woke up in the apartment and I looked around at her cheeses and her pastas and all of her wonderful everything, and I could feel the rage building inside of me. I could feel the ‘Who drank my last Coke?’ rage. Because I'm so used to having control over every last inch of my space. And now she's here, and it's terrifying. I am terrified that I am gonna snap at her like him and that she is gonna stop loving me and…” She shakes her head, almost too afraid to say it. “Am I broken?”

She feels broken. She feels like her father broke her down and she is trying to rebuild herself, except the pieces don’t fit together properly any more.

Andy looks at her with an empathy that she isn’t sure she deserves.

“Look, I'm still working on this one myself, Maya,” Andy says, “but I think being afraid to be like your dad is the first step to not being like him.”

Andy steps forward and takes the hose out of Maya’s hands, putting it back in the cage from where she has just taken it.

“And you should talk to your girlfriend,” she says pointedly. “Because Carina loves you and she’s not gonna stop loving you if you let her in. You need to trust her. And you need to trust yourself too.”

Andy reaches out and squeezes Maya’s arm in comfort, while pulling a face at her.

“Also, you need to go shower before dinner.”

Maya chuckles at that, comforted by Andy’s words, even though her stomach is still twisted into knots. She hasn’t thought about that memory for years and now it is all she can think about.

With the hoses in their rightful place and the bunk room tidy, Maya takes Andy’s advice and heads to the showers, before going back to her office to finish her report. As she steps inside, a familiar face waits for her.

“Diane.” Maya immediately reaches for the mask in her back pocket and hooks it around her ears.

Diane Lewis spins in her chair and stands up, although she keeps her distance. “Captain Bishop, it’s nice to see you.”

“You too,” Maya says with a small frown, surprised to see the psychologist in her office. “But I wasn’t expecting you, was I?” She walks around the desk and sits in her chair, wondering if she missed an email.

“The department asked me to stop by each station to check in with the teams, make sure everyone is coping with work and lockdowns and sickness,” Diane explains. “I was visiting Station 23 and thought I’d pop in to see if you were around. I just saw Travis sporting a swollen nose?”

“Yeah, we had a tricky call earlier today,” Maya says, twisting her lips regretfully.

Diane sits back down in her chair. “So, how’s it going here?”

That feels like a big question.

“I think everyone’s doing as well as they can, you know,” Maya says. “It’s busy, we’re seeing a lot more call outs, so everyone’s tired all the time – on top of worrying about their families and loved ones. I’m trying to go easy on them if chores don’t all get done.” She shoots Diane a wry smile. They both know she has high standards. “I’m spending time with B and C shifts too.”

Most of her shifts are with A team, as it has always been, but she switches it up every now and again, making sure to have 1-2-1 time with everyone under her care. It is exhausting, but she steps up because it is her role as captain.

“And what’s that like for you?”

“For me?”

Diane smiles kindly. “Leading a fire house in the middle of a pandemic can’t be easy. You have to take care of yourself as well as your team.”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Maya says dismissively.

Diane looks at her with a look on her face that says she isn’t convinced by her answer.

“I am,” Maya insists. “I have a great team at work…” She smiles wistfully. “And I have a great girlfriend at home.”

Diane looks interested in that piece of news.

“Carina. She’s a doctor at Grey Sloan. We’ve been together for four months,” Maya says. She doesn’t know why she is telling Diane all this, but she has a way of getting her to talk. “I know moving in together is quick...”

“I don’t think relationships should be dictated by time,” Diane says. “Does it feel right?”

Maya smiles. “Yeah, it does. It feels good – really good.” The smile drops from her face quickly as she remembers the way she hurried out of the apartment this morning.

“But?” Diane asks, picking up that there is something on her mind.

Maya doesn’t know how to respond to that, so Diane waits and watches her, leaving Maya wondering if this is her ploy to get her to fill the silence. It works though, and Maya silently berates herself for falling for her trick.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever lived with someone,” Maya eventually says. “I mean, I’ve lived with friends, but Carina’s the first girlfriend – or boyfriend – that I’ve lived with. So it’s new – and different.”

“That’s a big step to take on top of everything else you’re dealing with,” Diane observes.

“I guess, but not being with her when everything around us is falling apart was hard – for both of us. We’re better together.”

Diane smiles. “Well then, it sounds like it’s the right move for you both.”

“Yeah, I just hope she doesn’t regret it.” She immediately wishes she had not been so open. “I mean…”

Diane tips her head to one side. “Why would she regret it?”

Maya rolls her eyes. “The last time you were here, I told you how broken I am.”

“You think you’re broken?”

“You don’t? I was jealous of Rigo for being dead. I dreamed of finding solace in the clouds.” Maya sighs. “My girlfriend is the sweetest, kindest person that I have ever met. She makes me French toast for breakfast and I want to run in the opposite direction before I ruin it all.” She shrugs. “Because I will ruin it. Because I’m broken.”

Diane twists her lips thoughtfully and Maya hopes that she has a quick fix for her broken thoughts.

“I don’t believe in the idea that people are ‘broken’,” she says.

Maya looks at her cynically. “You’re a therapist, isn’t that your job? To fix broken people?”

“I help heal people,” Diane corrects her. “Look, I think emotional scars are like physical ones – like Travis’s nose. Bad things happen and sometimes that trauma will leave a scar. Some of those scars are deeper than others and take longer to heal, but they do heal. And yes, sometimes those scars will leave a mark forever. But with some kindness and tenderness, it becomes a blemish. Something that you might notice once in a while, but doesn’t impact your life.”

She leans forward in her chair.

“Let me ask you this, Maya. Do you still look for solace in the clouds? With all the stress and craziness of the pandemic, have you thought about disappearing into those clouds to escape?”

Maya shakes her head. “No. I just…” She smiles to herself, understanding the point she is making. “I just want to be with Carina.”

Diane returns her smile. “It sounds to me like those scars of yours are starting to heal. And it takes time, you can’t expect trauma to disappear overnight, even when you take big steps forward. You need to be patient with yourself, you won’t get it right every time.” She smiles. “That’s what an apology is for.”

Maya nods slowly, lost in thought as she takes in Diane’s advice. They have never spoken about her father’s abuse, only his ‘eyes forward’ lesson, but Diane has been doing this job long enough to recognise a deep-rooted fear instilled in someone who worries they will never escape their past.

“I’m gonna go and talk to the rest of the team,” Diane says, standing up. “It was good to see you, Maya. Feel free to call me any time you want to talk, okay?”

Maya stands up to see her out, straightening her shoulders as she shakes off her moment of vulnerability. “Thank you, Diane, for coming stopping by to see us. I appreciate it.”

“You’re doing a great job here. Just remember to go easy on yourself too.”

Diane exits the office and heads upstairs to see who she might find in the beanery. Maya’s eyes drift down to her cell phone, Carina’s message from earlier still answered. She opens it up and types a quick message.

Spaghetti puttanesca sounds great. I can’t wait to spend a quiet night at home with you. I love you.

She can get used to the pasta maker and stinky cheeses,  right?

She is not her father.

* * * * *

Carina dries her hands on the dishtowel and picks up her cell phone, smiling when she reads Maya’s message. She is still getting used to Maya’s shift pattern and spending every other night by herself in her new home – more sometimes, when Maya swaps shifts to be with B team or C team – and she looks forward to the nights when Maya is home with her the most. She misses going out for dinner and especially those evenings when she can persuade Maya to go dancing with her, and she can’t wait for the day when everything reopens; but, for now, a quiet night with her girlfriend is the tonic she needs to get through each difficult day.

She looks around the kitchen at the mess she has created. Just because she doesn’t say it, doesn’t mean that Carina doesn’t know that Maya doesn’t like the chaos she creates in the kitchen with her homemade pasta and hanging basket of vegetables and assortment of Italian cheeses.

But she can’t give them up. There are some days she is barely holding on and looking around at these reminders of home keep her going.

When she was six years old, her Mama had taken her into the local town one Saturday morning. Andrew was just a baby and he had taken his first steps that week, and Carina had been feeling a little put out by all the attention he was getting. Mama knew that and had invited her to help with her chores, their first stop being the local deli. If she stood on tiptoes, she was just tall enough to peer into the cabinet, her sticky figures marking the glass as she tried to keep her balance. In front of her was more cheese than she had ever seen, more than the spread that her aunt and uncle used to put on for every family gathering. They let her try a few – some hard and nutty, some soft and creamy. Afterwards, Mama took her to get a milkshake and it had been just to the two of them, for the first time in a long time, and Carina had been so happy to have that time with her.

When she was eight years old, and Andrew was still a toddler, they had both come down with chicken pox – a gift from another child at Andrew’s nursery. Andrew had been cranky, he wasn’t sleeping and would cry for most of the day. Mama had tried to distract them with the television, back when they only had a few channels to choose from and no internet to scroll through, so they had to settle on something they would both watch. On day three, Carina developed some blisters in her mouth and had refused to eat, complaining that it hurt too much. Mama had sat them down at the kitchen table and they had chopped up fruit – soft fruit for Carina and Andrew with their blunt knives, apples and pears for Mama. They had made fruit smoothies for Carina to drink, adding ice to the blender so that the liquid was cool against her sore throat, and she remembers how comforted she was by the care they both showed her.

When she was thirteen years old, she’d had her heart broken for the first time. Everyone called it a silly crush, a boy called Bruno in her class who all the girls liked. Carina had been on top of the world when he had invited her to the cinema on a Saturday afternoon, except she had been left waiting for him, only to find out that he had stood her up to take another girl bowling. She had called home, sobbing down the payphone to her Papa, who had jumped straight into his car to come pick her up. He had taken her to the family restaurant run by Zia Alice and Zio Ricardo, where they had pulled her into the kitchen and let her help them make dinner for the early diners. It had been the first time she had ever made ravioli, filling them with lobster and ricotta and sausage meat, and her Zio Ricardo had praised her delicacy with the thin pasta sheets he had rolled out.

When Mama and Andrew left for America, her Nonna had turned up and dragged her into the kitchen to teach her how to make her famous minestrone soup, packed full of vegetables and beans and pasta. Carina had not cared much for it at the time, but the chopping and stirring and seasoning had distracted her from the gaping hole in her heart at losing two of her most favourite people in the whole world. It became her go-to meal during medical school when she was stressed by her studies and exams. It is the same soup her Nonna brought round every day in the week after Mama died, with fresh bread from the bakery, forcing her to sit and eat when her grief weighed her down so heavily.

As she looks around the kitchen now, these memories fill her mind and, if she closes her eyes, she is back in Italy, the sights and sounds and smells of home flooding her senses. Despite the aching in her heart from the distance between them, thoughts of her family also bring her comfort, knowing that she carries them with her wherever she is.

Her Papa continues to avoid her calls. He sent her a text message a few days ago, talking about a Covid research project that he is trying to start. He didn’t ask how she was, or how Andrew was doing, or what life was like for them in America. His focus was solely on himself and his work, like usual. In fact, Carina can’t remember the last time he expressed any concern for her or her brother, even though he knows about Andrew’s recent breakdown. Not that she is surprised. Acknowledging Andrew’s bipolar would mean acknowledging his own, and he refuses to do that.

It is too late in the day to call him, so she sends him a message, asking if he has checked in with the family lately. Her Nonna is sick, but refuses to leave the house to see a doctor. It is almost like she is resigned to her fate. If she is going to die, she is going to do it on her own terms and in her own bed. She has always been stubborn and, despite the grief she feels at potentially losing one of the most important women in her life, Carina can’t help but smile at how she refuses to let anyone else dictate her life – although it is a smile tinged with sadness, like so many are these days.

Every positive has a negative, and every negative has a positive – that is how life feels at the moment.

She shakes her body, as if trying to expel the negative feelings from her, returning to the kitchen to tidy up. She needs to keep busy on her days off when Maya is working to stop her from sitting with her feelings too much.

Dinner is a lonely affair. Maya video calls her from her office to say hello, but no sooner as she has answered, the station alarm goes off and Maya has to go. Not in the mood to spend the night in front of the television, Carina retreats to the bedroom to curl up under the sheets with her book. Reading has become a relief from the real world, escaping into in the lives of fictional characters who don’t have to worry about a global pandemic.

It is just after ten o’clock when her eyes start to droop, tired from reading. She perseveres for a while until it is no good and the letters start rearranging themselves on the page. She is about to turn in for the night when her cell phone rings. There are only three people in her contact list who have their own ringtone: Maya, Andrea… and Papa.

It is almost eight a.m. in Italy and she answers immediately.

“Papa, ciao.”

Vincenzo DeLuca doesn’t bother with a ‘hello’. Instead, he launches straight into telling her more about the Covid trial he is trying to start. Carina tries to interject but he ignores her, and in the end she gives up, letting him talk at her instead of to her.

“So, are you in?”

“In what?”

Vincenzo sighs dramatically. “To help with my trial,” he says. “Me in Italy, you and Andrea in America. The DeLucas working together again!”

It is like he has forgotten how badly it went the last time when he came to Seattle with his external gestational sac project.

“I also have some contacts in England and Switzerland who are interested.”

“Do you have the money to fund this project?” Carina questions.

She hears him purse his lips. “Not exactly. I was hoping you and Andrea could…”

“No Papa,” Carina cuts him off.

“Carina!”

“Papa, are you staying safe? Wearing a mask and following the rules?” Carina asks, using the phone call as a chance to check up on him. “Have you talked to Nonna recently?”

Nonna may be her Mama’s mom, but the Rossi family had set aside their misgivings about her father to embrace him into their family when Lucia and Andrew had moved to America – or they had tried to. Vincenzo was resistant, of course, although he leaned on them to help raise his wilful daughter.

“This trial could help her,” Vincenzo says. “It could open up new treatment methods, maybe even a cure. Imagine it, Carina – the DeLuca vaccine!”

“Papa…”

“Are you willing to help me or not?” Vincenzo demands, growing impatient. “Or are you just going to waste your career delivering babies?”

It is a common trait with him, resorting to insults when he is not getting his own way. Carina – being the person who often tells him ‘no’ – is used to bearing the brunt of these insults, usually at the expense of her chosen field.

“I don’t just deliver babies, Papa, you know that,” she reminds him, but it falls on deaf ears.

“You have the chance to be at the forefront of developing medicine! To excel!” Vincenzo says. “You have the chance to do something worthwhile for a change.”

“What I do is worthwhile,” Carina says.

“Pfft. This trial could lead to accolades and awards. Money for whatever research projects you want to do in the future. You could move away from obstetrics and go into a proper speciality.”

Carina bites her lip. She knows that arguing with him is pointless when he is like this, and her silence aggravates him even more.

“Fine, don’t help me,” Vincenzo says. “I’ll call Andrea, he has always excelled greater than you anyway.”

Carina blinks back tears as he hangs up the phone. Maybe she should have been more willing to listen to him, to hear him out – to keep him calm. But there is no calming Papa when he is manic.

She sends Andrew a quick message to warn him to be wary if he gets a phone call from their Papa, then sends another to Maya to let her know that she is about to sleep and that she loves her, comforted when she gets a quick response, telling her she is loved back.

Carina turns off the light and closes her eyes – not that sleep comes easily. She is too wound up by her father’s phone call to be able to rest. She tosses and turns for the next few hours, wishing Maya was there to soothe her, until exhaustion wins.

Her alarm wakes her up the next morning after a disturbed night, marred by dreams of her mama and papa and family, that all start happily but finish with twisted endings where someone gets sick and dies, because that is what keeps happening to the people she loves right now and she can’t control it or stop it from happening.  

Maya is running late after her shift thanks to a late night call to a house fire, which upsets her even more, because it means they will only have a brief moment together before Carina has to get to work. She is packing the last of her belongings into her bag when Maya walks into the apartment.

“Hey,” Carina greets her, noticing the exhaustion in the way she looks and moves.

In the comfort of her own home, Maya removes her mask and walks towards her, one hand reaching out, and seeking a kiss.

Despite the desire for her physical touch, Carina leans away. “Ah ah ah ah ah, shower first,” she insists. She won’t break her own rules, always fearful that they might make the other one sick. It might be pedantic, but it is one thing that Carina can control.

“Seriously?” Maya questions her.

Carina’s skin prickles with irritation. Maya knows the rules, she knows how important it is that they keep each other safe. “Bella…”

Clearly disgruntled, Maya takes her bag from her shoulder and dumps it unceremoniously on the table with a heavy sigh as she strips herself of her denim jacket. “Okay, I'm sorry, but what is with our kitchen becoming a cheese cellar?”

Carina recognises immediately that she is trying to pick a fight, which is usually a sign that there is something on her mind that she is trying to work through.

“It reminds me of home,” Carina says, trying not to take the bait.

“Yeah, I know. You said that, but it is starting...”

Carina usually has more patience when Maya is like this. In the past, she would have insisted that they talk about it but she learned the hard way that pushing Maya to talk when she isn’t ready isn’t the right thing to do.

Except the lack of sleep and constant worry she carries means she doesn’t have any patience for her grumpy mood today.

“Maya, my home is really scary right now. It's worse than here – and here is really bad.” She thinks of the phone call from Papa last night. “I'm… I'm scared for my dad.” She steps back into the kitchen to create some space between them.

Maya’s shoulders drop, realising that she has slipped back into the pattern that she is trying so desperately to break.

“He was never the one to follow the rules,” Carina continues, “and I cannot be there to take care of him and to make sure that he does what he's supposed to. So, um…” Her voice starts to shake as she pours herself a coffee into her travel mug. “It feels good to look up and to be reminded of… of the good memories of Italy instead of the constant fear and worry.”

She wants Maya to get it, she needs her to get it. She needs Maya to have as much patience with her way of dealing with this messy world as Carina has for hers.

“I'm sorry,” Maya says eventually. Her body language tells Carina that she means it.

“You don't have to be,” Carina concedes, giving her some slack. She doesn’t want to argue with her about this, or anything. She walks back towards the table and places her mug next to her bag. “I’ve gotta go get ready to bring some babies into this terrifying world.”

She heads into the bedroom to grab her jacket.

“I did that today,” Maya calls after her.

“You did what?” She steps back into the hallway as she pulls on her coat.

Maya moves across the apartment to stand in front of her. “I brought a baby into this terrifying world.”

Carina raises her eyebrows curiously. “You did?”

It feels like a concession from Maya, like a way of finding common ground between the two of them after their sniping.

“I mean, brought – maybe more like caught,” Maya explains.

Now Carina is even more curious. “Tell me everything.”

“Well, first I'm gonna shower,” Maya says, turning playful, “and then I will tell you all about it – naked, in bed.”

If she is trying to make up for snapping, it works. She pulls Carina into the bedroom, making her laugh. “No. No Maya!”

Once inside the bedroom, Carina wriggles out of Maya’s grasp. “I can’t. I want to but I have to get to work.”

Maya pouts. “Tonight then?”

Carina nods. “Si.” She watches as Maya pulls off her t-shirt and pants, sees her relax a little from whatever caused her to snap when she walked into the apartment. “Are you okay?”

“I’m…”

She is pretty sure that Maya is about to tell her she is fine, but she stops herself, the corners of her mouth dropping.

“I’m trying,” Maya says. “Us, living together, sharing a space that used to be mine. I know I’m not very good at it sometimes, but I’m trying.”

Carina feels her stomach flip. “Do… do you still want to do this?”

“Live together? Of course I do,” Maya assures her. “I want it so much. I’m just… I’m adjusting, that’s all.”

“Me too,” Carina says. “You’re not the only one who’s used to living alone, remember? It’s new to me too.”

Maya smiles. It never ceases to amaze her how understanding Carina is with her. “So tonight? Me and you?”

Carina smirks. “Me and you – and Andy?”

Maya blushes. “Right, I forgot.”

Carina’s cell phone pings. “Ah, it’s Bailey, there’s a trauma coming in she needs me for. I’d better go.” She pauses. “We’ll find our hole, you know?”

Maya shoots her a look that tells her she didn’t get that one right, her lips twitching with amusement.

“Slit?”

“Worse than hole,” Maya says, laughing. “You mean we’ll find our ‘groove’?”

“Ah, si, yes,” Carina says, with a resolute nod. “We will.”

With a lingering look at her half-naked girlfriend, Carina steps out of the bedroom in search of her bag, smiling to herself when a cry of “I love you” follows her down the hallway.

[oro-e-diamanti]

Quiet Music: Poco a poco forte

In collaboration with @bethanysnow (whose askbox is always open!)

Jealousy was never a good look with stardust in the other’s eyes. Boundaries are tested. Fantasies are made hot and heavy with some alcohol. Will they make it back to the hotel all in one piece?

Content | Fluff

Pairing | fem!Reader x Damiano

Word Count | 5845

Taglist | @damianodavide @lizstans @unitersmoonshine @its-afucking-mess @ethaneskin @dont-let-me-drown-in-you @vampirtet @lividisuigomiti @juststalking @tabi-toast @ethan-torchio-angelo @cheese-toastie-11 @thewitchinthemountain @ethanesimp @sofckinelectric @man3skin @daddydamiano @finelinejpm @superchrystaldrug @ginny-lily @nientedaridere @rainbowmarta @tiaamberxx @shaunthesheesh @enjcltaire @rocketqueen @aleksanderwh0r3 @damianodavidhands @megann-duff @teatrodellavita @coven-daddy @till-you-scream-and-cry @solasullabarca @fanfictionandfluff @makapaka11 @slave4yourlove @geklutst-ei  @marriedwithmarktuan @bookish0918 @mehrmonga @kanevill @butterfly-skinnylegend @lidiyabest @killerqueen1985 @ccweasley @bluscryn @deluxeplanteater @ohtorchio @messyhairday-me @bidet-and-legolas @maybanksslut​ @fuckim-so-gay @demoiselle-en-detresse00 @petit-poussin @fedorable-killjoys @luvbadass @buttercup-beeee @navs-bhat @etaerealboyv  @tryymebitch @mell-bell @fenhakwe @solacestyles @softforlukescurls @vicsangel @theimpossiblehologramtree​

***

Copenhagen was a whirlwind that barely left any time to breathe. Even the short break Y/n was granted in between was promptly used to make a dash for the nearest tourist shop. Adding a fridge magnet to her growing collection. No misses so far. She’d be lying if she wasn’t proud of it. Victoria gave a little tour through the city, giving ample opportunity to provide the fans with content via various social media platforms. A mad scramble back to the venue, soundcheck, dinner. A gig full of little mishaps, including Ethan losing a drumstick halfway through and Damiano almost tumbling off stage. At least the crew had gotten into a groove, ‘new tour’ jitters finally forgotten. That night, at the hotel, Y/n had found herself standing outside her door, empty ice bucket in hand. Somewhat wondering, hoping, someone would join her. Not just anyone. Him. But she wouldn’t knock on his door and he didn’t come to hers. It wasn’t to be. At least not that night. 

The morning had brought the band another wake-up call from Y/n. Everyone was starting to settle into their routine. Get ready, get on the bus, get handed coffee by Y/n. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t enjoying this little comfort of domestic bliss, taking care of the people she was starting to consider friends. It felt right.

***

Damiano’s morning wasn’t quite as peaceful. His thoughts were plagued by images of Y/n. His decision to ‘cool it’ and back off a little seemed to be biting him in the arse. When she had come around to wake him up, she had been in a partially sheer blouse, black jeans and boots and he thought she looked like the perfect little alternative housewife. Luring him out of bed with the promise of coffee and breakfast. Now he was sitting on the couch on the bus, watching Y/n fly around the little kitchenette and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her bum in those jeans.

Nope, he wasn’t going to do anything about it. Not now. The conversation with Victoria two nights ago was still ringing in his head. He had decided she was right - no use in pursuing anything unless he was certain what he was feeling and what he wanted out of it. He would still have enough time to make his move once he figured it out. Right? He didn’t know what Y/n was thinking. Or what she thought of him, so no use dwelling on it. Still the thought struck him, he barely knew anything about her. He should probably talk to her more. Infallible logic, he thought to himself. Backing off and talking to her at the same time. Great.

“Y/n… how do you usually take your coffee, by the way?”

“Lots of creamer, usually. Sometimes a bit of sugar, if I’m feeling fancy. Or if I’m feeling really fancy at a café, I might get a caramel macchiato.”

“Caramel is always nice.” Of course, she would like caramel, he thought to himself. “Do you normally drink coffee or are you more or stereotypical British tea drinker?”

“I enjoy a cuppa when I’m home, definitely. Italians aren’t exactly known for their tea now, are they?” A smirk appeared on her face, maybe a little baffled by the conversation, but happy to humour him. “Lady Gray is a particular favourite. Followed by breakfast tea with some sugar and milk. Before coffee. I can make you some tea sometime if you fancy?”

“That’d be great. You know, I just had an amazing idea actually,” Damiano grinned. “When we first went to Berlin, there was this amazing tea shop - would you want to go when we have the gig there?”

“That sounds lovely,” Y/n replied. “Of course.”

Another step closer to getting to know her.

***

“Right, we’ve all got an hour until soundcheck and some press things, I’m gonna go take Chili on her walk, you lot do whatever you want until then.”

Y/n had expected a few non-committal grunts, a wave, maybe a “see you later, I’ll go have a nap”, but instead, the whole band seemed to be on their highest energy levels. All of them immediately scrambled to their feet, looking for shoes and jackets, proclaiming they wanted to see the city, maybe take some pictures for Instagram along the way. Y/n wouldn’t dare complain about the company.

It didn’t take them long to reach the harbour, walking along the river as they enjoyed the bustle of town and the view. Y/n found herself pulling out her phone, telling everyone to gather around her.

“I’m no photographer, but I do need some memories of all of this. Thomas, stop pulling that face!” Thomas quickly dropped the grimace as she took the picture, the historic old town in the background. Chili was busy running around between the five of them, loving whoever gave her the attention the most. Y/n thought Victoria was reaching for the leash, already preparing to hand it over, but instead the bassist grabbed her hand. Obviously in a giddy mood, she began swinging their intertwined hands between them as they walked. Y/n couldn’t bite back a smile. She had missed having a close friend ever since she had moved to Italy leaving her best friend behind in the UK and she felt like this blossoming friendship with Victoria could truly begin to fill the void in her heart.

The blonde girl pulled her into a deep hug as Chili decided to go bother Ethan instead.

“I want a photo with just you,” Vic explained, pulling out her own phone for a snapshot. Y/n complied with a sigh but wrapped her arms around her, ready to take the picture. Right as the click went off, Victoria pressed a kiss to her cheek, taking her by surprise. Neither of them could hold back a giggle at her face in the photo.

“I’ve got a surprise for you, by the way,” Y/n spoke up as a little break in the conversation offered itself. If only to distract from the affection and it worked perfectly. All eyes and ears on her. “I’ve booked a little dinner for tonight. But not just any dinner. A burlesque one!”

The group let out various cheers. Thomas immediately ran ahead of the group, shamelessly faking a striptease as they kept walking. Damiano made sure to record the performance, already giggling to himself. Thomas was in the middle of shrugging off his jacket, walking backwards, when - ouch! - he bumped into a pole, heavily bonking his head. Everyone erupted into hysterical laughter, and after rubbing the back of his head with a pour for a moment, even the guitarist joined in.

“You alright?” Y/n asked breathlessly, trying to hide the giggles in her voice, genuinely concerned about him still.

“Besides the fact that I just got all of you to drop your panties for me? I’m great!” The blond grinned at his own joke, as everyone else rolled their eyes.

“Yes! Oh my god, take me Thomas!” Damiano gasped dramatically, pushing himself up against Thomas, who grabbed onto his leg to dip him.

“Wait! Hold on!” Y/n shouted, once again grabbing her phone as the captured the moment. “Now that’s one for the fridge.”

***

Backstage was business as usual. Y/n once again took the time to watch the band soundcheck, always feeling soft looking at the way they played without having to be ‘on’, without putting on a big performance. Yet, she was still in work mode, phone displaying the name of a reporter she was waiting on, along with the name of the magazine she was working for. It didn’t take long for her to appear.

The woman was undeniably beautiful. Thin figure, long, red hair, picture perfect makeup. Even her clothes were pressed, luxury brands decorating her, adding to the pristine image. A press pass hung around her neck, acrylic nails tapping something into her phone. Leaning back, Y/n noticed the particular red leather on the bottom of the woman’s heels.

It was only after putting her phone away that she acknowledged Y/n at all.

“Anywhere I can sit down with the band?” Her eyes barely even met Y/n’s.

“Uh, yeah, once they’re done with soundcheck, they will be in the greenroom,” Y/n said, mustering the woman. “You the reporter?”

“Sure, sure. Can I go there now, sit down, get ready?”

Y/n studied the press pass on the woman’s neck, making sure she was actually the person they were looking for and shrugged. “Alright, follow me.”

She led the reporter further backstage. The greenroom was fitted with a couch and a couple of chairs, a vanity in front of the mirror and makeup already carelessly thrown around. A costume rack in the back.

“Make yourself at home.”

“Thanks,” the woman muttered, looking around the room, obviously dissatisfied with it’s slightly chaotic state and - probably - lack of style. “That’s all I need you for, then.”

Y/n’s eye twitched, busying herself with the clothes, reorganising them to distract herself.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but rules are rules. Can’t be in a room alone, privacy reasons and all that. I’m sure you understand.” 

“Well then.” She carefully placed herself on one of the chairs, highly aware of her posture, her face, and the fact that she’d be right in view of everybody entering the room. “Maybe you can be a bit of help, then. You know, a little insider information between us girls… How into the whole, you know, rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle are they really? I’m talking, drugs, alcohol… groupies?”

It was no question as to what she was hinting at.

“Well, Damiano has a whole tattoo verifying that he hates parties. Plus, they’re not really known for that kind of stuff. And for the interview, I’d rather you stick to the approved questions that your magazine has discussed with our management. There’s no ‘insider information’ here -” Y/n was about to talk herself into a whole rant, when the door opened and the band moved into the room, joyous and hyped for the show that evening.

Victoria was the first to bounce over to Y/n, kissing her cheek, before collapsing on the couch next to her. Ethan, Thomas and Damiano followed suit. Chili had followed the band, now hopping onto the couch and making herself comfortable on Y/n’s lap. Ethan looked over at the reporter, brow raised. “You here to do the interview?”

“Oh you know it,” she winked. Y/n didn’t miss how her whole demeanour had changed and she couldn’t have been more annoyed. “Lovely to meet you all.”

She held out her hand to Ethan, the smirk never leaving her face, before greeting the others in a similar fashion. She held onto Damiano’s hand much longer than the others.

“Nice to meet you,” Damiano said, politely, sitting down as well.

“Oh, that’s no trouble at all,” she beamed at the singer. “Now, you’re here in Hamburg today, and in the part of town most notorious for having Europe’s largest red light district. Do you feel like that’s the perfect background for your gig tonight? You know, with the music you play and the way you dress - it’s not like you’ve been shy about sex in your career so far.” 

They all chuckled slightly.

“Well, sexuality isn’t something to be ashamed about, at least we don’t think so. It’s part of everyday life and part of our own experiences so we put that into music,” Victoria eloquently explained. “And what we’ve seen of the city so far has been very beautiful.”

“Well, maybe I should give you a little tour then, show you the naughty parts of town,” she laughed. “Back on topic though, I imagine touring can be hard, being away from everyone. Do you ever get lonely on tour? For friends or… something else?”

Damiano coughed. “Sure, we get lonely, like anyone else would. But we make a family out of the crew. Everyone on our team is very close to us.” Y/n could clearly see in his eyes that he knew full well what the woman was hinting at. “We love touring, so when you love something, it doesn’t feel like work.”

Ethan nodded in agreement. Y/n could see through all of them easily - none of them wanted to be there.

“Yes, of course, touring can be difficult, but we have fun, so not that bad,” Thomas added.

Y/n didn’t miss the way the reporter briefly looked over her shoulder to muster a reaction from her. “Well I’m sure you’re easily able to find some fun away from your… crew. Lots of parties on tour so far?”

At that point, Y/n was ready to rip the reporter to shreds. But she knew she had to stay professional, and the band was more than able to hold their own, so she stayed quiet. Ethan next to her sat up a little, obviously uncomfortable.

“No, we don’t party. No time.” His vision went dark as he looked at the woman in front of them. As kind and mindful as he usually was, he didn’t shy down when it came to showing his scarier side when he needed to.

“Yeah. We sometimes go to a bar on a day off, but that’s about it. Work is more important,” Victoria threw in as she put an arm around Ethan on the back of the couch.

Y/n felt a wave of pride at the way the band was holding up. It was absolutely no secret to her that they were desperately waiting for this interview to end, annoyed with the reporter and the lines she kept trying to cross, but they stayed polite and professional. She thought that this was what made them real rockstars in that moment.

“Okay, one more question, then. You entered this business really young, you still are, yet you write quite mature music, how do you manage that?”

“We write what we want to write. Perform how we want to perform. I don’t think that has an age limit,” Damiano spoke curtly. His eyes flickered over to their assistant. Y/n was sure he didn’t miss the way she was staring daggers into the back of the reporter’s skull. “And music has always been a passion of ours. We just got lucky really early in life, I guess.”

“Well thank you very much for your time,” the reporter said, standing up, and once again reaching out her hand to say her goodbyes. “Hope to see you around…” As she came to Damiano, Y/n didn’t miss how she stuffed a little note in his hand. “...hopefully.”

“Can I go kick her face now?” Y/n stood up, seething, as soon as the reporter had left the room. “Sorry, no, that’s actually rude. But I’m going to call management and report that woman.”

“Yeah, that… wasn’t cool,” Ethan contemplated. “How about you make that call and then we take your mind off it with the dinner show you booked for us, yeah?”

Y/n took a deep breath, looking at Ethan, whose eyes had turned back to show nothing but kindness. She couldn’t wait to forget about this disaster for the rest of the evening and enjoy herself. With the band in tow, she was sure she would.

***

Damiano hadn’t been quite sure what to expect from dinner that evening - but it wasn’t a table smack in the middle of the first row right in front of the stage. He should have seen it coming, really. When Y/n planned and schemed, she always made sure to get them the best of the best. Determined to make sure everyone was having fun. She truly took care of them like no other.

A waiter was at their table in no time, taking orders for drinks and food, and the openers started before Damiano even had a chance to take a sip of his wine. As soon as it became obvious that the first act of the evening would be pole dancing. The rest of the band started snickering, nudging Damiano’s side. Still, they all watched in amazement as the dancer started their performance, music filling the room.

“You know, I could do that,” Damiano whispered in Y/n’s ear as he leaned in close. She looked over at him - at the performer - back to him.

“Sure you can,” she giggled.

“Oh I can,” Damiano insisted, leaning in closer than necessary now. “And in heels.”

Y/n couldn’t stop herself from coughing, choking ever so slightly on her drink, as her eyes widened and a slight shade of pink appeared on her face.

Damiano simply couldn’t help himself. He knew he had meant to back off, give her a little space, give himself some time to think, but the words simply slipped out. “I can always offer you a private show, you know?”

This time, she only paused for a moment before whispering back, “You teach me pole dancing, I’ll teach you rumba, yeah?”

Fuck, he hadn’t expected her to get the upper hand so quickly. Still, he never once lost his smirk, murmuring a “sure” back at her. She had gotten back her cool, focusing back on her meal now, only looking up to watch the performance every now and then in between bites. She was making it way too hard for him to back off. He wondered if she knew what she was doing to him.

Leaning back into his chair, Damiano watched the performer on stage. They were beautiful, no question about that. Amazing at what they did. It was impossible to keep your eyes off them, even Y/n kept getting distracted. He wondered if she’d look at him the same way if it was him up there. Or if he did a little show himself that night, on stage at their own gig. Catching her attention like the dancer was doing now. Maybe making her lose her mind a little bit. It was worth a try…

The performance was over much too quickly for his liking and only shortly after, the main dancer of the evening was announced to go on stage soon. It didn’t take long for the lights dimming, before fading to black completely. A hush falling over the crowd. A spotlight found a petite, blonde bombshell in the middle of the stage. Perfectly sculpted hair, blue boa feather skirt, a glitter corset that dripped with silver and gold accents. She seemed to be glistening under the stage light, body glitter accenting all the right curves and features. Then she turned around.

Damiano’s jaw dropped - along with just about everyone else’s. She was così bella, un angelo. She walked to the front of the stage as the crowd cheered and whistled. Damiano was enraptured by her. She was mystifyingly beautiful. Each move was carefully planned out, knowing exactly what she was doing and how to do it. She was feeding off the crowd, spurred on by the shouts and comments, as she moved across the stage.

Damiano’s eyes followed her closely. He felt hypnotised by her performance. He had never given burlesque much thought, but this show was changing his mind rapidly. The only thing to pull him out of his was a sigh - a disgruntled noise maybe - coming from his left. It was hard to make out Y/n’s face in the dark, he realised as he turned towards her. But if he’d learned anything about her body language in the past days, he was certain that she wasn’t happy. Her arms were crossed in front of her and she was leaned back in her chair in a way that tried to suggest she wasn’t bothered. But she was. He just couldn’t figure out why.

He was distracted when the dancer was back in front of their table, looking down at them from the stage. She sent all of them a wink, before pulling the elbow-length gloves off one by one and throwing them to the side with a smile. She mesmerised him, even as she moved away from them to give another table some attention. Yet, Y/n was playing at the back of his mind.

Why did she seem so mad? She was the one who had booked this dinner, why wasn’t she having fun? Was she still preoccupied with the reporter from before? Sure, that one had definitely stepped over lines, but he thought they’d all gotten out of there pretty unscathed. And the reporter's number had wandered into the bin immediately. He considered the matter closed.

The woman on stage slowly lowered herself into a split, causing pretty much the whole audience to lose their minds. This was too good. More cheers and applause from everywhere. Damiano heard Vic shouting vague words of encouragement as the woman lost her bra, only pasties covering her nipples now. Y/n let out a little groan and from the corner of his eye, he could see her rolling hers. This time, Damiano wasn’t the only one who noticed. He watched as Victoria and Ethan exchanged looks, then nods, and finally shrugs.

Finally the performance ended, the dancer leaving the stage with another wink and kiss blown towards them. Damiano wished it could’ve gone on for longer. These people knew how to turn sex into art, and he’d by lying if he said it didn’t inspire him.

“Okay, gather up, no time to waste,” Y/n order, getting up from her seat the second the lights were turned back on. “You have a show to play and I don’t want you to be late.”

Damiano threw another look around. Even Thomas, who had been too preoccupied drooling over the dancer to notice anything else, was now staring at Y/n questioningly.

“What’s going on with her?” The guitarist asked as they all gathered their stuff and followed their assistant outside.

“Fuck if I know,” Damiano mumbled. “But I wanna find out, sooner or later.”

***

It wasn’t like her to be jealous. She didn’t care much about what other people found enthralling. But Damiano had looked at the dancer as if she was god’s gift to humanity. Yes, she was pretty, yes, she knew how to shake her arse. Was it all that special? The dancer was petite, a perfect fit for Damiano’s arms. A perfect figure to match his. Y/n was confident, she knew she was beautiful, but unfortunately the rest of the world didn’t always think the same. Unlike the dancer on stage. That woman was more than beautiful… She was palatable, sexy, perfect in all the ways a woman should be. Qualities that Y/n was currently convinced she didn’t possess any of.

Okay, maybe she was jealous. But she didn’t have any right to be. The dancer was simply doing her job. And so what, if Damiano had fancied her? It wasn’t like they were together. She worked for him, that was all. She didn’t have any right to want anything from him beyond that.

The fresh air hit her face as she left the venue, forcing some clarity onto her. She’d have to get a grip and get back to focusing on her job. It’s what she was there for, after all.

***

Victoria bounced over the Y/n as she left the venue, full of adrenaline and happiness from the show she had just watched.

“That was amazing, Y/n! Where did you get the idea for this being today’s dinner?” She asked, hooking onto the assistant’s arm.

“Looked up places we could go online, found this one in a travel blog. Said it had amazing wine so I thought we could check it out,” she explained without looking up from her hands, which were toying with the receipt.

“Well, you sure do have impeccable taste,” Victoria grinned and kissed her cheek. It seemed to pull Y/n out of her head enough to look up at the bassist. But Vic’s smile vanished quickly when she saw the look in her eyes. It was cloudy, gloomy, enough to make Victoria freeze up. Thomas was excitedly chattering about the show in the performance in the background, how hot he thought the performers were, especially the last dancer. Damiano eagerly agreed. Y/n’s seemed to have a flash of venom on her face, and suddenly it clicked in Vic’s mind. Oh, she knew that look well, had carried it herself a couple of times in her life.. She was jealous. Y/n was jealous of the way they all - or maybe, someone in particular - had reacted to the woman on stage. And she was doing a bad job hiding it.

As soon as the car pulled up, everyone scrambled to get it. Y/n immediately started bouncing her leg, still a stormy look in her eyes. If it didn’t seem so serious, Victoria would be amused at the state their assistant was in. Yet, with the expression on her face right then and there, the bassist didn’t dare make a joke.

Damiano was sitting next to Y/n, and Victoria desperately tried to catch his eye. It took a slight kick against his shin to get him to look at her. She flickered eyes back and forth between Damiano and Y/n, motioning him towards the woman. Hoping he would understand. Luckily, they’d long gotten used to reading the other’s face, no need for a verbal conversation. Damiano looked down at Y/n’s hands, still picking at the receipt, and he quickly grabbed one of them. Interlacing their fingers and offering her a smile when she looked up. Her leg stopped bouncing immediately.

“You alright?” He whispered.

“Yeah. Am now.”

Victoria couldn’t bite back the smile on her face, quickly turning towards her phone to be less oblivious. Those two would do just fine, sooner or later, she was sure of it.

***

The concert venue was smaller than some of the others they’d been playing on this tour, but if anything, it had caused the crowd to be even more rowdy. Y/n once again sat to the side of the stage, engrossed in her phone. Damiano snuck a peek through the curtain, before retreating and watching Y/n instead. She didn’t seem half as gloomy as she did at the dinner show. But a certain forlorn quality was still obvious. She had never been this type of obviously sad or upset before. At least not to his attention. Well, he was determined to get her to laugh tonight. Whatever had ruined her mood, he was going to fix it.

The band was getting hyped up, gathering around, some last minute fixes to their instruments among excited chatter. Yet, apparently, it hadn’t been only him who noticed Y/n’s mood. Once again sharing a look with Ethan, Victoria motioned her head over to their assistant. He nodded, before walking over to Y/n, taking her by the hand to get her to stand up, and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Victoria quickly followed suit, then Thomas, who had caught on. Damiano quickly gave a wink before kissing her forehead instead.

“For luck!” He shouted, as he ran on stage, welcoming the crowd. A quick look back confirmed a bashful smile on her face.

Everyone was on fire that night, even Y/n seemed to let go of her bad mood more and more. Damiano didn’t miss the way she sang along to their cover of ‘Take Me Out’, obviously getting into the show more than previous nights. Knowing all the lyrics, dancing ever so slightly… Damiano realised he really had it bad for her.

He decided to go for it during “For your love”. With a pointed look towards her, he slowly started rolling off one arm of his jacket. Then the other. A little mock burlesque show of his own, dramatically shimmying his shoulders as he got rid of the jacket completely. The crowd more than appreciated his little performance, judging by their screams. The rest of the band was eating his energy up, playing harder, going crazier. As Damiano jogged over to grab some water, he didn’t miss the opportunity to turn his back towards Y/n, shaking his arse in a bad attempt at twerking. Turning back, he could see that she was desperately trying to bite back a smile. But he wasn’t done yet.

Making sure she was still looking at him, he began playing with his microphone. Giving it a teasing lick and sending her a wink at the same time. Watching her as he let his hand rest on his chest, slowly wandering lower with a teasing touch, until it rested in his lap. He only managed to keep it up for a second, before he couldn’t hold back the laugh at her expression anymore and turned back towards the audience.

But apparently, Y/n had some trick of her own. Well, it seemed like she wasn’t even aware of them, but they worked on Damiano all the same. She was taking her hair out of the pony tail for the night and he thought the way it cascaded around her face was beautiful. He felt like a movie cliche, watching as the main character let her hair down and everything suddenly happened in slow motion. Yet, here she was, trying to shove a bobby pin back into place, and he was losing his shit. He thought it was ridiculous though. The crazier her hair went, the crazier he went about her. She swayed to the music and for a second Damiano could swear time stood still. 

I wonder if she likes her hair pulled… The thought distracted him to the point that he forgot what he was singing, quickly covering it up by animating the audience to sing it instead. He was glad to be nearing the end of the set. He’d never wish to go off stage, per se, but Y/n was once again occupying his thoughts and the way she was moving to the music now didn’t help.

Another song, another bow towards the audience, another well-practised “Danke!”, and they were off stage. Damiano briefly considered going over to Y/n, only to see Thomas basically chasing her away, threatening her with a sweaty hug. Her slightly panicked squeals proved she wasn’t a fan of the idea. He didn’t mind. He’d make sure there’d be more time to catch up with her later.

Briefly dropping into the dressing room, Damiano grabbed his cigarettes and a hoodie, before heading outside for a smoke. The backstage door led to a quieter alley than the famously busy Reeperbahn on the other end. But there were still more than a handful of people walking past, singing, dancing, shouting into the night, beer bottles in hand. It didn’t take long for everyone else to join him. Ethan headed outside first, bumming a cigarette off the singer, before Thomas and Victoria followed. They were once again involved in some sort of mock argument. Y/n stepped outside a minute later, phone in her hand, already back to work-mode and probably checking the plan for the next few days. Everyone was still on a high from the gig, chatting and giggling, but Damiano felt himself taking a step back. He loved watching his friends, loved what they did, loved that he got to do it with them. And now Y/n too, in a way. Not even a full week in and he knew that this tour wouldn’t have been the same without her. 

He was rapidly pulled out of his thoughts as a group of men came towards them, obviously way past drunk. Yelling and hollering for no reason but to be annoying and get everyone’s attention. Damiano hated those kinds of drunks. In his experience they were nothing but trouble. He had half a mind to retreat back inside before they reached the group, but even in their inebriated stupor; they were quicker than expected. 

“Now, who are these beautiful girls?” One of them slurred, stepping forward.

“Yeah! Bet you give a man a good time,” another one laughed loudly. “And a cheap one too.”

One of them was moving closer now, almost touching Victoria - but without even a moment to process what was happening, Y/n acted. Damiano watched, fascinated, as she grabbed the man’s extended hand, twisting it around his back and shoulder checking him into the brick wall of the alley. No second thought, no hesitation. Shouldn’t the men have been the one to react and take care of their girls? Well, it didn’t seem like Y/n was one to wait to be saved.

In a tone that he had never heard before - and neither had the rest of the band judging by their reactions - Y/n spoke, “You couldn’t afford me, mate. Or my friends. So I’d take your piss drunk self elsewhere, m’kay?”

The men were gone faster than lightning, stumbling to find their footing as they ran, only starting to comment on how she was a “fat fucking bitch” and how they “wouldn’t have wanted her anyway” when they were far enough away. Y/n wordlessly rejoined the group.

Damiano found himself releasing a breath. The whole scene had been over so quickly, he barely registered it. He wasn’t the only one either, he realised. As the other three kept staring at her, amazed and maybe slightly intimidated, while Y/n didn’t even react.

However, Damiano wasn’t just mesmerised by her behaviour. He was thrilled by her - in more ways than one. The way she had handled herself was downright hot. She was fierce, self-confident, and strong. He couldn’t keep himself from contemplating whether this was a side she would let out in the bedroom as well. Was she the type to take control? Order him around? Push him to a wall like she’d done that guy, only with very different intentions? He would be 100% okay with taking orders from her, he decided.

Y/n finally looked up from her phone, apparently feeling everyone’s stares on her.

“...What. I told you I worked security before.” She looked at Victoria, quietly asking her if she was alright. She simply nodded. Damiano still couldn’t keep his eyes off of their assistant. Damn, that woman had more to herself than she let on.

***

Damiano was still thinking about it an hour later. After everyone had gathered their stuff and gotten back to the hotel and split up into their rooms. After he’d gotten in the shower. His mind was still running wild. He quickly turned the water to cold, letting out a hiss at the change in temperature, but he knew he didn’t have the time or the privacy to do anything about his thoughts. Neither would he be knocking on Y/n’s door, desperate for some kind of attention.

Not tonight.

[druidx]

Snippet 2 from Elowyn Investigations

CW: Implied kidnapping, mind/body control, blood This raw, unedited, plot-holey snippet from Elowyn Investigations is to provide context for a later chapter of Her Countenance was Light. Tagging HCWL list: @aquadestinyswriting, @hannahcbrown, @jacqueswriteblrlibrary, @babyblueetbaemonster

"Since it's our night off," Farren said. "Do you want to go out for dinner? Somewhere slightly more genteel than the Pit. My treat?" "I don't know…" I said. "I feel maybe we should be sleeping more." "Ah it'll be fun – quiet night at the Scholar," he said, and looked around. "Oh, looks like it might just be thee and me," he added. None of our usual crowd in sight. "Sorry, but I don't think so," I said, wary of being alone with him and booze. "Alright," he said with a shrug. "Your loss. I'll see you tomorrow then." He threw on his cloak and wandered towards the door, pulling out his baccy pouch as he did. I watched him go, and sighed to myself. I knew it was safer not to. I knew that, right now, I needed safe to counterbalance the events of the past two days, but still, it was difficult to watch him go. Not least because of Withnail's Rule of Two. "He'll be fine," I told myself as I wandered on down to the canteen for my own tea. "He's a big boy, and only going to get dinner. He'll be fine."

–– The next morning I woke as usual. I fetched water, put the coffee on, and wrote some reports until the kettle began to sing. I automatically looked towards the upper bunk, expecting to hear Farren stirr, but he wasn't in it, and it appeared to not to've been slept in. I frowned, poured only the one mug and went back to my reports in silence while I drank the bitter brew. When I had done, I gathered myself, and walked through the squad room on my way to the Garden of Galana. I glanced over at our desk, thinking I might see Farren, somehow, awake before me, but aside from the paper garlands, and stacks of paperwork it was empty. Henson was at her desk though, as was Allmers at his own desk, behind hers. I wandered over. "Morning. Either of you seen Breakwood since last night?" I asked. Henson shook her head. "Sorry, no. Last I saw him was when he left for the pub," she said. "I think I saw him in the Scholar last night," Allmers said. He nodded to the door. "Broughton was with me last night, she might remember. Hey! Vic!" Broughton looked blearily at us, and ambled over. "Could you maybe not be so loud," she said. "I've got a minging hangover." "Yeah, well maybe you should learn to not drink so much," Allmers said, with the sympathy of a brick. "Listen, half-pint's lost her partner. D'you remember seeing him at the Scholar last night?" "Remember?" she scoffed. "Why do you think I've got such a headache. Bastard got me completely wankered last night, challenging me to a drinking contest. Then some gnome bird started chatting him up, and off he went with her." She sounded a little bitter I thought, like maybe she'd been expecting something more for her drinking. I ignored the tiny sliver of jealousy that prodded my heart. I sighed. "Okay, so he's gone off for a one-nighter with some lady. That explains why it looks like he never came back last night." I nodded, trying to be unconcerned. "He'll rock up like a stray cat around noon, I've no doubt. Okay, thanks." Broughton nodded the careful nod of someone who thinks their head might fall off if they move it too much and wandered in the direction of the coffee machine. "I've got to get to the Gardens," I said to Henson, Allmers having turned back to his work. "If he does show up, that's where I'll be." She nodded with a little frown. "Look, I know you're both adults, and it's your day off, but, um, with all that's happened…" "I won't go off with any strange men, or chase leads where there are none. Cross my heart," I said, and drew an x over my chest. She rolled her eyes at me. "Fine then, Little Miss Sarcastic, off you go. Have fun," she said. I grinned and headed out the door. The day had come out fine again, with a fresh breeze coming in from the plains, bringing the smell of grass. I smiled, looking forward to the Feast, and trotted off along the street.

–– [time skip of ~5 hours over preparations for the feast of Galana, description of the feast table and some general world-building & character fluff] ––

I was coming back with them to the main table when I saw him. Farren was wandering up the lawn from the main entrance, towards the feasting tables with an odd aimlessness. "That's strange," I said. "Here, Wick, take my plate back would you?" I added, as I handed it to him. "Okay… Elo? What's up? Oh," he said, catching sight of Farren. "I'll let Mam know." He took the plate, and went back to the table, but Ashbury loitered. "Does this mean you have to go back to work?" He asked, sounding disappointed. I touched his arm. We were around the same age, and in another life we could have been twins. I knew he was sad; we didn't get to spend as much time together as he would like. "I don't know, Ash," I said. "He doesn't seem in a hurry… I won't go without letting you know, I promise," I told him with a squeeze to the arm and went to speak with Farren.

By now my partner had reached the tables and was walking down the far side. He didn't seem to be looking for me, but just wandering up the way, through the revellers, towards the top tables. I couldn't think what he might be doing here besides looking for me, but that didn't seem to be his plan either. An inkling tickled in the back of my mind, my gut telling me something was not right about this situation. I looked around. It would take too long to go around the tables, either way – the quickest was through the middle. I spotted a gap, the occupants of the seats away at the buffet table. I ran over, crawling underneath, and out the other side. He was still wandering, not gotten very far as I pelted across the gap. A few people pointed, shouting at me, but most gave me no mind. I ran along the wrong side of the tables, trying to keep Farren in sight and maybe get ahead of him, until I found a gap in the table. "Here, what are you doing, love?" asked a human lady, as crawled under and I popped up on the other side. "Trying to find my friend," I said. "Sorry!" I stood up, scanning the crowd. There! A gap was forming around him, and as I moved forward to intercept I could see why. Blood covered his chest and face, dripping from his nose maybe, or his mouth – the amount of blood made it difficult to tell. "Farren!" I ran towards him. "Farren what happened to you!" As I drew closer I could see that there were bloody welts on his wrists and scraps of rope still dangling from them. "Oh all-gods!" I swore. "We need to get you to a healer…" I said, reaching out, but he brushed me aside, like he didn't even see me, his lips silently moving. "Farren stop!" I yelled, grabbing his arm. He slowed, glancing down at me, before turning his attention back to the top tables. "Can't," he said, distracted. "She wants me to keep going. I have to complete the mission. I have to do what she wants." "Farren, no. No you don't." I said. I looked around. "Someone, please, help me! This man needs a cleric!" A few people looked in our direction. A burly human and an elf stood up. "Here, lad," the human said. "The girl's right. You look like maybe you should take a seat and let us go fetch you a cleric." "Can't " he said again, this time actually looking at me. "She has a sniper. Gonna take you out, little bug." "What?" I stopped cold, and he walked past me. The man and male elf looked askance at me. I held up a hand, warning them off. I wasn't worried about myself, only – if there was a sniper out there, there were a lot more innocent people, with a chance at being hit, between that bow and me. "Okay, okay. So what's the mission Farren, what does she want you to do?" We'd come a fair way, even wandering as we were, and were maybe two bread-rolls-throw from the top tables. "She wants me to say a word," he said. "Okay…" I frowned, confused, looking back at the elf and man. They shrugged. "What word is that?" I asked. Farren stopped suddenly. "I'm sorry," he said, tears standing in his eyes. He looked at the top table, his arm out-stretched. "Nemoćan!"

[bitches-who-write]

Can you do headcanons siblings of the gang ? Like, how they act with them and how they treat them and how they let the gang act with them ?

Somewhat important note below~

So we know we said we take requests on a first come, first serve basis; however for the sake of time today (and due to the fact that we did not post anything last week) we decided to take on this request early. PLEASE do not be offended or upset if you are still waiting for your request! We promise we will be getting to them ALL. After this post now, we will go back to our fist come, first serve rule.

We have a few requests which we'll be writing longer stories for vs casual headcannons. Stories typically take us several hours to complete since your 2 lovely bitches who write do not live close enough to one another. We write together via FaceTime and Google Doc. We appreciate all your support and patience with us as we write you guys the best content possible! Enough rambling now, Enjoy these headcannons!!!

Patrick With A Little Sister-

Oh boy… Patrick is crazy over protective of his little sister.

Maybe the word should be obsessive and controlling instead~

He watches her every move. He even comes into her room as she sleeps just to occasionally check on her.

Whenever she gets out of Belch’s car heading to school, Patrick keeps a close eye on her again. Mentally noting everyone she talks to.

He makes sure everyone is in line. It doesn’t matter if it’s an adult or a kid. If they do something Patrick doesn’t like, they’re getting fucked up.

Patrick refuses to let guys talk to her. Only Henry, Vic and Belch are allowed to.

When Patrick isn’t around, he puts the other Bower’s Gang members in charge of her. And she knows well enough to listen to them.

He sometimes makes inappropriate comments about her, resulting in a smack off the head by the other guys.

Patrick LOVES to mess with her.

Always holding things over her head so she can’t reach.

Laughs as she tries to jump up and grab it from him.

He’ll lean down and rest his arms on the top of her head since she’s so much smaller than him.

When she doesn’t listen to Patrick, he will literally just pick her up and throw her over his shoulder and laugh as she struggles to get down.

Even though she’s a girl and a few years younger than him, doesn’t mean she’s safe from how rough Patrick gets.

He still wrestles her to the ground and puts her in a damn headlock.

Definitely gets a few bruises from Patrick playfully hitting her. (Patrick doesn't realize his own strength.)

One word… tickled. Patrick is always tickling the shit out of her to tease her.

It’s even worse when the entire Bower’s Gang joins in on torturing her.

Look… this is Patrick. So he still has a mean, sadistic side.

He gets off on fear so he loves to scare her anyway he can.

Whether that is by jumping out at her, or doing something dangerous and reckless like picking her up and dangling her over the cliff edge to the quarry. (she hates heights and doesn’t know how to swim.)

“Uh no! You’re slipping! Better hold on, sweetheart. I know you don’t know how to swim.” He chuckles darkly, smirking down at her as she grips onto his forearm tightly and cries.

Patrick doesn’t hesitate on the low- blows, either. Making comments that he knows will make her cry.

If she threatens to tell their parents on him, Patrick will grab her from behind agressively, making her gasp as he covers her mouth tightly and whisper tauntingly in her ear:

“Now, Now.. Just why would you say that? You know that only gets you in trouble, little one..” He chuckles darkly and tightens his grip in a painful manner.

Patrick With A Little Brother-

…… I think we all know how this ended…. Patrick disliked his little brother, Avery… a lot. You see, Patrick likes being the only male sibling. It’s less competition and less hassle for him. Only Patrick is allowed to make (more like break) the reputation of his family’s name in the small town of Derry, Maine. Bottom line, if Patrick had another little brother, it would result in the same outcome as Avery. Sorry.

Belch With A Little Sister-

Very protective. Does not let her out of his sight for a second.

Hovers over her when they walk in the woods so she doesn’t trip or fall down.

He brings her along when he goes out with the guys sometimes, unless he knows they will be partaking in illegal activities.

Keeps snacks in his car for whenever she rides with him and always makes sure she eats 3 proper meals during the day.

Not only does he have extra snacks but he has a first aid kit, too.

He’s always prepared knowing she’s small, so there’s a good chance she’ll accidentally get hurt hanging around the guys.

And yes, it has happened on more than one occeasion.

He checks on her during school and makes sure no one is messing with her.

After school, Belch makes sure she does her homework but never really helps her with it. Why would he? He doesn’t even do his own assignments.

For the most part, he’s pretty sweet but sometimes the big brother power goes to his head.

He makes her do her chores and his around the house.

If she ever did something wrong, Belch goes right to blackmail.

“I won’t let mom know about that F on your report card… only IF you wash my car everyday the rest of this week.

Henry purposely spills his drink on the hood of the car right after she just got down cleaning it.

“Opps.. looks like you missed a spot. Better get to it, kid.” Henry says mockingly as he ruffles her hair walking by.

Belch always makes sure she’s safe in bed by the end of the night though.

He even kisses the side of her head when the guys aren’t around.

Belch With A Little Brother-

He takes him under his wing.

Loves to talk about cars- the makes and models, horsepower, you name it.

Even though his little brother isn’t old enough to drive yet, that doesn’t stop Belch from giving him driving lessons.

But bet your life he threatens him before taking off. “I swear to fuck though man, if you crash my car, I will end you. Okay, now put it in reverse. Let’s go”

Belch watches sports with him and even plays in the backyard, as well.

Belch acts as if he’s his coach to prepare him for the school’s team.

He also teaches him how to properly lift weights and spots him, too.

Belch told him “the ladies love a man with muscles, so to keep lifting bro.”

Speaking of girls, Belch was the one who gave him ‘the talk’... in very elaborate and explicit detail leaving his brother shocked, disgusted, and intrigued all at once.

Although he does hang out with his brother from time to time, sometimes Belch chooses friends over family and takes off for long periods of time.

Belch for the most part tries to be patient with him, but still gives his brother tough love as a form of preparing him for the real world.

Overall, Belch is a pretty decent big brother.

He means well but sometimes misses the mark.

Henry With A Little Sister-

Their father works long shifts, often resulting in an absence in their home life.

Henry’s dad basically tells him he’s fully in charge of his little sister.

Henry acts pissed off about that like she’s a bother and interrupts his life but deep down, it makes him feel important for once in his life.

Henry is both very strict and protective over her.

He’s also very controlling such as who she’s allowed to talk to or what she’s allowed to wear.

Nothing short or low cut is allowed. She better not even think about talking back, either,

Henry doesn't have much patience for anything and his temper is even worse.

For example- Her short legs means she walks slower than the rest of them.

Henry rolls his eyes and ends up dragging her by her wrist or sometimes just throwing her over his shoulder because he can’t stand waiting for her.

When it comes time for school, Henry makes sure everyone knows she’s a Bowers. If anyone (child or adult) even just so much as looked at her funny, Henry is throwing hands.

Speaking of school, Henry doesn’t help her with any bit of projects or homework. “Don’t fuckin’ ask me! You do it, or don’t, I don't really give a shit.”

When it comes time for dinner, Henry makes simple stuff like peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, mac n’ cheese, or sometimes just fixes a bowl of cereal. But he always makes her clean up the mess / dishes after.

If she talks back, Henry has no problems getting in her face and yelling loudly.

Sometimes when his anger gets the best of him, he’ll smack her across the face.

He stiffens up when he sees the tears form in her eyes. Sometimes he just walks away and doesn’t want to deal with it, and other times he stands there stiffly and gives her an awkward hug.

“Sorry kid. I didn’t mean to hit you. You just pissed me the fuck off.”

Henry would never let anyone ever see this but occasionally he gives her a quick kiss to the side of her cheek when he’s feeling extra guilty. 

Similar to Patrick, Henry loves to get on her nerves.

Tripping her as she walks by.

Embarrassing her in front of the other guys just to see her blush.

Smacking her off the head as he walks by- her angry face makes Henry laugh.

Tickling her to make her admit something or as a form of punishment because he knows she hates that.

Barges in her room without knocking first.

Warns her she's never, ever allowed to have a boyfriend. And if she has a crush on either Vic, Belch, or Patrick...she’s dead meat.

Won’t allow her to drink alcohol or smoke. If she sneaks and does it, Henry teaches her a ‘lesson’.

“Find you wanna drink? Then here, take it. But now you have to drink the entire thing.”

He smirks and watches her get sick from the alcohol thinking that actually taught her a lesson and will deter her from it in the future.

Speaking of drinking-

When their dad comes home drunk, Henry is the one to take all his shit just to protect her because deep down he does care about her even though he calls her a “little fucking shit” daily.

Henry With A Little Brother-

In Henry's warped mind, his brother is a guy too, so he doesn’t need to be coddled like his little sister does.

If Henry has to withstand hits and verbal abuse, then his little brother should too. “Why should he get a pass?” Henry scoffs.

Henry gives him a lot of tough love.

He tries to make him ‘stronger’ by saying some really rotten shit to him. “Builds character, get used to it, kid.”

Henry does teach his brother how to fight though. “Put those stupid fuckin’ books down pussy. Books can’t teach you how to be a fucking man, but throwing punches will.”

Henry gave his little brother his own knife for his birthday.

He told him since he’s a Bowers, he's a target so it will come in handy~

Gives his brother “advice” on girls and sex; telling him which girls around town ‘put out’ the most.

One day when his brother asked Henry about a particular girl Henry responded with: “Ooh yeah, (random girl’s name), the only thing good about her is her pussy. Face is busted.”

Overall, Henry isn’t too bad towards his brother but once again, when his temper is raging, no one is safe from him.

Vic With A Little Sister-

Overly cautious and protective of her. He’s basically like a helicopter parent.

When the guys are swearing around her, he covers her ears and tells the guys to cut it out.

“Guys! Language!”

“I’m only a few years younger than you guys, I’m not a child!” she retorts.

Patrick, being classic creepy Patrick circles around her. “Just give it a few more years babe. Based on how your mom looks...” Patrick licks his lips envisioning Vic’s mother until Vic smacks him in the balls making Patrick hunch over in pain.

Vic likes to keep her in sight so right after school, he goes straight to her locker and makes sure she rides home with them, too.

When they get out of the car to bully some kids, Vic tells her to stay put. He doesn’t want her involved in anything.

When walking through the woods to the quarry, He always has a hand around her upper arm for support when climbing down the embankment.

He watches her like a hawk when swimming, so paranoid something will happen. Again, think helicopter parent

While he’s sweet for the most part, there’s times he just loses his temper.

He’ll explode and begin yelling at her, only inches from her face.

Sometimes when she does something really, really out of line, Vic will shove her into Henry and Patrick.

“Here guys, teach this little bitch a lesson for me. And don’t go easy on her.” Vic says walking off to calm down.

A part of him feels a little guilty when he sees her cry but other times he feels it’s justified.

He isn’t overly affectionate with her around the guys, the most he does is put an arm around her shoulder.

Sometimes sneaks behind her and tasers her sides and laughs when she jumps and collapses to the ground.

But when no one is around, he 100% gives the best hugs.

When she’s going to a sleepover at a girl-friend's house, Vic tells her to be safe and mumbles, “love you.”

Back at home before bed, Vic will tease her for being paranoid as she makes her way around the house, triple checking to make sure all the windows and doors are locked.

“What? Afraid the boogeyman is gonna getcha?” Vic mocks.

If she’s having a nightmare and calls for Vic, he’ll come and sit on the bedroom floor next to her bed until she falls asleep again.

Vic With A Little Brother-

Vic isn’t as protective over his little brother as he is with their little sister; but he still cares for him.

He just feels that his brother is able to hold his own while his sister needs more protection/ guidance.

He let’s his brother tag along with the guys. They all don’t mind. If anything, they refer to his little brother as Vic number 2.

He genuinely listens to his brother’s interests. Okay.. sometimes he zones out when he drones on and on but he always acts interested.

Vic is pretty book smart so he helps his brother with school work, especially in math.

Tries to make his brother more confident when it comes to talking / picking up girls.

Basically acts as his wing man.

The guys try to give his brother tips on how to pick up girls...Vic usually tells him to ignore everything they say because all that's gonna earn him is a slap in the face.

Tells him not to listen to Henry or Patrick for girl advice.. EVER.

He does teach his brother how to fight though.

Just because Vic is one of the sweeter ones in the gang; that doesn’t change the fact that he’s in a gang to begin with…

When his brother told him he was being picked on, Vic taught him how to fight, but also got involved himself.

Nothing like sending an intimidating message to a few assholes.

When Vic and his brother fight with each other, he doesn’t hold back just because that’s his little brother.

Overall, they get along for the most part and Vic is a pretty decent older brother to his siblings.