#i’m gonna bite whoever left this here

[cr0ws-cha0t1c-c0llect10n]

i’m literally being TORTURED in the lunchroom rn cause someone just left a FULL tray of food at the seat in front of me and ISN’T EVEN HERE,,,,, but they MIGHT be back cause there’s a backpack on the floor,,,,, but lunch is almost over and if they just throw it out i’m gonna be so sad forever,,,,,,, and i’m so hungry still,,,,, i couldn’t focus on homework cause i’ve just been looking over at this and drooling :{

[whoisneo404]

Ride or die.

Summary: Nick and latino boyfriend. NSFW. Also, Sub Nick (cus I know you all love that shit)

“Come on, it will be fun.” Nick begs as I roll my eyes at him. he got invited to another party this month, I feel like I will die if I go to another party, I just wanted to relax with him tonight, but I can’t resist his pretty eyes and his cute outfit. “I’m already changed, come on. Please.”

“Ugh.” I sigh, and consider what options I have.

“Please, amor. (amor)” Nick grins and sits on my left leg, his arms wrapping around my neck. “Please, I don’t wanna go alone.” He whispers against my ear. My arm wraps around his waist and I look up at him.

“All right.” Nick immediately jumps out of my lap and runs to grab his phone, sending an audio to whoever invited him saying that he is going with me and to wait for us. I roll my eyes because I can’t believe how weak I am for him.

In out way to the party Nick was extra sweet and loving with me, his way of thanking me. The party house was big, as usual, filled with people, music and alcohol. We walk inside, my hand on Nick waist, we pass throw the drunk people and get to a big living room where a few of our friends were sitting and chatting. Some girl approaches Nick and make him sit besides her while they talk, I sit next to Chris and he offers me a bear.

“Hi man. Thought you guys were gonna chill at you place.” He says loudly so I can hear him over the music.

“Yeah, you know how it is. If the prince wants something he gets it.” Chris laughs, after I finish the bear I join the conversation fully, laughing and catching up with a few of them.

After two or three bears I feel relaxed, I lean back on the couch, a brand-new bear on my hand, the music vibrating throw my body. I feel a little tap on my shoulder takes me out of my trance, I turn around and Madi is standing there.

“Hi, I just wanted to let you know that Nick is dancing over there, my legs hurt a bit and I wanted to sit down, just so you know where he is.” She smiles warmly at me and I follow her finger until I see Nick dancing and jumping here and there. I smile at her.

“Thanks, Mads.” She goes to sit with the rest of the group. I lean back on the couch again, the cold liquor hitting my throat when I sip it, I spread my legs to try and adjust the growing problem in my pants. I smile at myself while admiring Nicks body dancing to the loud music. When I finish the bottle, I put it on the ground and stand up, walking slowly but decided to him. when I’m behind him I grab him by the waist and press him against me.

“You alone, lindo? (cutie).” I whisper against his hear. I feel him giggle, but he doesn’t stop swaying his hips from side to side.

“No, I’m here with my boyfriend.”

“Oh, are you?”

“Yep.”

“I don’t see him.” I kiss the back of his ear, making his back arch a bit.

“He knows how to fight.”

“Bet he does. What else?”

“He is super rude.”

“Really? And why a niño bonito (pretty boy) like you is with such a mean guy?”

“He is good to me.” Nick turns around, his arms wrapping against my neck, our chest touching. “So good to me.” He kisses my cheek and I roll my eyes.

“Hi, guapo (handsome).” I kiss him back. “Madi told me she ditched you.”

“She didn’t ditch me.” he rolls his eyes. “So… you came so I wasn’t dancing alone?”

“I mean, I don’t mind watching you dance alone. It was a really nice, I might ask you to dance for me more often.” His cheeks light up a bit. “A little show just for me, what do you think?”

“Maybe… I’ll have to think about it.”

“What a tease…” I grab him by the waist and pull him closer to me, my hardness pressing against his soft tummy. “Let’s go home.”

“But-“ I move my hips a bit, rubbing a bit more onto him, his cheeks grow redder and he bites his lip. “Okay, I’ll tell them you are sleepy, go turn on the car.” I smile widely, grab him by the hair and pull him into a sloppy wet kiss, when I let him go, he is red and panting.

“I’ll wait for you on the car.” I go to the car, I wait maybe 5 or 8 minutes until Nick is inside the car and I quickly drive to my house, lucky for us it wasn’t that far away.

We stumble into the house, his shirt already on the floor when he pushes me against the door while locking it. Our hips meeting, rolling and pushing to get the friction we needed. I take off my shirt and push him, walking forwards while still kissing, the back of his knees hit the couch and he falls into it, I climb on top of him while unbuckling my belt.

“I’m gonna ruin you, god, I want to hear you scream tonight.” I leave my belt on the coffee table and take his pants off, a little wet stop on his boxers where his tip lies. I smile to myself while I attack his neck, leaving red marks all over it, my right hand rubbing and massaging his hard dick.

“Please, need you.” I bite down, my teeth leaving a mark close to his jaw. I slap his butt and sit up.

“Work for it.” He sits up to, his face blushed and a confused face. “Put on a show for me, come on, make me want to fuck you.” Nick looks down and bites his lips. He stands up, I open my legs so he is standing between them, his hips start to sway and roll, his pretty face all flushed as he dances for me. When I feel like I have had enough I pull him into my lap, the rough material of my jeans rubbing against the wet and soft cotton of his boxers, his hips start to buckle and roll on top of my clothed dick.

“Did I do a good job?”

“Claro, mi amor (of course, mi love). I loved it. You deserve to be ruined.” I smile, his lips meet mine, a hungry and needy kiss is shared between us, his hips never stop moving, my arms wrapped around his waist, grabbing and pushing down on his ass making our bodies be even closer. “Shit, I need you. Take those out.” I demand, when Nick starts to take off his boxers, I take my jeans and boxers out too, tossing them on the floor. Before Nick sits down on my lap again, I speak. “Pass me the belt.”

“W-what?”

“I think I spoke clearly, pass me the belt.” He gulps and grabs my belt from the coffee table. “Good boy, turn around for me.” When Nick turns around, he puts his hands behind him so I can tie them up. “It would be just like last time.” I kiss his lower back gently. “¿Por que tan nervioso? Recuerdo que esa noche me pedias que no parara (why so nervous? I remember that night you were begging me to not stop).” I laugh a bit and kiss above his elbow. “Turn around. On your knees.” I look down at him, my hard dick on my hand, his soft lips leave a sweet kiss on my tip, then he goes down on it, his head going up and down, up and down, his back arching prettily.

I groan and moan as he makes a mess out of me. “Enough, enough.” I say, my chest going up and down. I pat my lap. “Come on, you earned it.” Nick stands up, I grab him by the waist so he doesn’t lose balance, he straddles my hips, I grab the base of my length with one hand so its easier for him to slide down. When his hips meet mine, he lets out a loud moan.

“Fuck.” His chest heavily falls up and down. Nick hides his face on my shoulder and I feel him bite down on it.

“I know, I know.” After a few seconds I feel him starting rolling his hips. “That’s it. Good job.” Nick picks up the pace of his hips, starting gently bounce up and down, I throw my head up, my hands squeezing his plushy waist helping him move above me.

I can hear Nicks pants and moans against my neck, one of my heads leave his waist and goes to his hair, with a firm tug I make him look at me, his pupils dilated, his furrowed brows and watery eyes making him look so hot. I attack his mouth, our moans and groans suppressed by each others mouths. When Nick pulls away his gaze meets mine.

“You look so pretty bouncing for me.” I slap his ass, bot of my hands again on his waist, my thumb massaging and my fingers squeezing his flesh.

“Fuck- can’t, please.”

“Please, what?” he looks down where our hips meet, his lip between his teeth.

“Can I cum? Please.” he begs. I grab his waist firmly, making him stop his movements.

“¿Como decirte que no? (how could I say no to you?)” my hips buckle up, hitting the right spot with every thrust, his back arches, his moans are uncontrollable, I feel intoxicated by the way he says my name and his eyes are shut with pleasure. The wet noises mixing with the lovely sound of our bodies hitting together filling the room. I feel him clench around me, and with a loud moan his legs end up shacking, Nicks forehead against mine, his whole weight on top of me again, heave breaths leaving him, I give him a sweet kiss while he rolls his hips against me, the warmth of his cum all over my chest dripping down to my stomach.

Once his breath steadies, I speak. “Ready?” Nick just nods and hums. With a swift move I turn him around, his chest and face hitting the softness of the couch, his hips still attached to mine. “Come on babe, arch that pretty back.” I massage his lower back and lean in to kiss his shoulder when he arches his back. “Eso es (that’s it), good boy. Que obediente (how obedient).” The first thrust few thrusts are soft.

“Please…” Nick moans prettily, his eyes meeting mine over his shoulder.

“Dios… me vuelves loco (god… you drive me crazy.” My thrust increase speed and I try to hit as deep as I can, my hips rolling to make sure it feels extra good. I lean forward again, pushing his chest down with mine, I moan and bite down on his neck. “¿se siente bien? ¿si? Se que te encanta cuando hablo español, que sucio que eres. Dios, solo escúchate. (does it feel good? Yeah? I know you love it when I speak spanish. God, just hear yourself.) You sound like a slut.

“Fuck. Yes, ‘m yours, your slut.”

“Good boy. God, you are so hot.” I shut my eyes, biting down on his shoulder. “Close, baby.”

“M’too. Wannit inside. Please.” His hands grab down on the couch, his hips backing up against mine.

“As you wish.” My legs shake, my heart races. “Ah, mierda (Oh, fuck).” Nicks legs shake, his legs going limp, when I pull out my white seed falls from his insides. “Oh shit.” I try to catch my breath. Nick turns around, he is laying on his back, his vest going up and down heavily. “¿Como estas mi amor? (how are you, my love?)”

Taglist: @freshloveforthefit @shywolfapricotfan @sturnphilia @matty-bear @thenickgirl @stvrniolvsp @paige05 @soursturniolo @miloisdone1 @teenagetrash00 @lovely-calypso @h3arts4harry @malirosee

[cultofdixon]

You just know sometimes

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • So much had to happen between Terminus and Alexandria…You in your situation being one of them • ANGST/SFW • TW: Injuries / Bruises / Scars / The Claimers & Cannibals Mentioned / Anxiety

Requested by: Anon

You failed Daryl Dixon

You fucking failed and people have died because of it

All you were tasked to do was to keep them safe

But yet here you are…and where are they?

Fucking DEAD

Daryl snapped out of his half asleep haze with a small grunt of annoyance which caught Carol’s attention instantly. She didn’t say a word but gave him a concerned look as they were currently holding up camp in the woods after another failed attempt at staying in a neighborhood. If only the herd didn’t come through it.

It was really starting to feel like the nine months before the prison.

When the group returned to the main road, they heard someone or something running in the woods which they obvious drawn their weapons thinking a possible threat. Rick directed with his head for Daryl and Glenn to join him going into the trees to figure out what that could possibly be.

“Glenn you take the right, Daryl left, and I’ll go forward” Rick stated as they instantly acted on such.

They equally gotten far into the woods and Glenn came across nobody, but there was a blood trail that he followed until he ran into Rick. When both were now following the blood trail, Daryl was occupied by some walkers that after taking out the few he came across he noticed the blood that the others have caught on. But the trail stopped at a tree and there’s no foot prints either.

Daryl flinched when he felt acorns fall on his head resulting in him looking up to find a person, a woman holding onto the base of the tree for dear life as the branch she sat on barely supported her.

“Did you find—-“ Daryl held his hand up stopping Rick from saying anymore before pointing upward.

Rick gestured for Glenn to take another angle but she wasn’t much of a threat.

“I-I know you’re t-there. I don’t have anything”

“What makes you think we can trust—-“ Glenn stopped his question when her pack dropped to their feet. He knelt down looking further into it finding only a lighter and what looks like a shiv because she has no weapon. She probably had to get creative with walkers. Then the obvious. “Wait. Are you bit?!” He snapped instantly causing Rick to ready his gun again as Daryl elbowed him to stop.

“I would like not to be dropped on by a walker, Daryl. You can’t be too sure what happened until she makes herself—-“ Rick stopped when the woman they were talking about finally climbed down the tree.

No obvious bites

But very obvious injuries

“I’m not bitten. I’m…being chased” She stated and it didn’t take long for the four to be alerted by the commotion on the road. Which had Rick sprinting without a second thought given his kids were there.

When the leader returned to the rest of his family, he noticed they had taken care of it. There were three men. Two were taken care of and one had gotten away but not without something to show for it.

“They were asking if we’ve seen some woman, then it got a bit hairy as if we were trying to hide something from them” Abraham started.

“They threatened to hurt the kids. We were going to let them live obviously” Carol continued as she had been hovering around Judith and Carl just as much as Michonne has with Tyreese.

“The third got away. To be honest with you, he ain’t gonna make it very fair” Noah frowns gripping the strap to his weapon while looking into the direction they had come from as Rick grew anxious of another threat like the Claimers only a few of them came in contact with. Which brought into question if they should let the woman they found in with them.

Given her state and lack of weapons, she’s no threat to them besides whoever wants her dead.

“We have the woman. She’s in bad shape. No weapons but a makeshift knife that could only really take out a rotting corpse like a walker.” Rick stated waiting for any negative sign from the group that would tell him to not bring her in.

“How bad is she?” Maggie frowns growing worried before turning to the sound of footsteps finding Glenn stepping out with Daryl who helped the woman walk. “We’ll help her”

“Is that really a good idea bringing in more trouble?” Sasha questioned only for Maggie to now have an annoyed look.

“We all actively entered Terminus and practically brought ourselves more trouble. We have the upper hand with whoever these men are, they don’t stand a chance”

“Then we’ll take her in. For right now, we should make camp before it gets too dark to see where we are going” Carol added as she followed Maggie’s lead in approaching the woman to help her, noticing Daryl was glued to her suddenly when they went to help her.

Y/N is her name

Rosita forced Eugene to help her and Glenn make up the trigger line as Tara added the cans. The technique to warn them of walkers when they make up camp in open areas. Abraham took care of taking first watch after checking out their perimeter.

Daryl took the first aid kit from Maggie once she found it out of all their persons, to bring it to Y/N and help assess her injuries noticing a few of the cuts on her arms were deeper than he anticipated. None of them could do stitches in the conditions they were in. He had to manage with heavy bandaging and she let him patch her up but the second he was done, she instantly retracted into herself.

“He feels guilty”

Rick watched Carol sit beside him as they were watching the scene before them.

“What do you mean?”

“He feels guilty for Beth so he has this need to save her” Carol frowns watching Daryl take out his canteen handing it to Y/N who rejected it. Regardless of how hard he insisted. “Save everyone even if it means tearing himself down”

“Well, he’s got us. They both do”

During the night when most were asleep, Daryl took over watch for Abraham letting the man get some sleep. He noticed Y/N get up from her spot and started to move past the trigger line keeping herself quiet…that’s probably why she’s gone unnoticed at first until her escape became dire.

“Take watch” Daryl whispered to Glenn not giving him a second to respond as he was already on his leave. Maggie couldn’t help herself from stirring awake when her husband moved but she noticed the archer and couldn’t help but worry.

“Where are you going?”

Y/N stopped in her track giving him a deer in headlights kind of look, especially given the light from his flashlight shined in her eyes.

“I’m leaving” She relaxed turning away from the light as Daryl turned it off but quickly took a hold of her arm as gentle as he could. “Listen—-“

“I’m not going to listen to anything by the lines of “it’s to protect us” when we’ve all had our fair share of bullshit in this world”

“But Daryl—-“ silence was quickly met when another set of footsteps were heard, and not just one and no sound that determined a walker or frankly any of their own.

Daryl only had his knife as did Y/N. He went to reach for his but she halted him, letting the two listen for a while longer.

“That stupid bitch just had to go and get some help”

“They should’ve let her bleed to death”

“Useless pig” the third whispered but there were more to follow and Y/N gave Daryl a concerned look before suddenly booking it after she grabbed the flashlight in his hand.

A diversion is what she decided upon without telling anything to Daryl as he stood there in a bit of shock watching her fade into the night until the light of his flashlight turned on. Then the sudden shift of stealth approach those chasing her, turned into sprints and shouts. That quickly alerted the others while Daryl ran back to get his crossbow that Maggie already met him halfway on.

This was stupid Y/N thought as she ran and dodged as many trees as she could in the night. Even with a flashlight, she couldn’t help but bump into a few and that only drove the pain from her previous injuries to a higher level.

“She just ran?!”

“As a diversion one can assume” Rick sprinted after Daryl with Maggie and Carol on either side of him and Abraham, Rosita, and Michonne following shortly behind.

The trail ran dry, how it could it have run dry?

“Fucking hell!” One of the men shouted and with his anger brewing externally, he pushed one of the others onto his back. “That fucking slut just had to get loose”

The one on the floor slowly picks himself up but only for the third, who seemed to be the angriest out of them all.

“If you had tied the knots better, she would still be the squirming mess beneath me back home” the tone of his anger only made it clear that he was the leader of them all. He quickly dropped the guy when he heard footsteps as two others quickly stepped toward the sound to investigate, only for one of them to meet their end with an arrow through his eye. “Motherfuckers—-“

“If you wanna live” Which you won’t

“You’re going to want to stay right there” Rick stated after Daryl, with his gun raised as their family had their weapons drawn to the living three that were more empty-handed. “Where’s the woman? The one you are after”

“Like we are going to help you find—-“ the one on the left side of the leader dropped dead after Daryl shot another bolt. This action caused the other lesser to panic.

“S-She ran off. W-We don’t k-know where she—-“ he met his end from Maggie, who had enough of the absent of clear answers.

“I’m the last one here. If you’re smart, you wouldn’t kill me if you want to know where she is” Which he didn’t know. “She’s always been this much trouble. You’re only signing yourselves up for someone who leaves when we were only doing her a favor”

“The injuries she bears, have nothing to do with “doing her a favor”” Glenn frowns keeping his attention on the man like the others, until he felt something from above hit him. He kept his composure letting Rick take lead in talking while he looked up while the others were still focused on the man. Finding Y/N hiding in the trees but also moving herself to get above the man.

“What did you do to her?” Daryl knew from what he saw, but how it happened was still a mystery. “What did she do to you to have what happened to her, happen?”

“Asking a lot of questions. She got what she deserved and she still needs to pay for a lot of it”

Michonne gave a quick glance to Rick in a way of telling him to just end this man. But she was observant enough to hear the movement above resulting in her and Glenn grabbing the few in front (Daryl, Rick, and Maggie) to pull them back letting Y/N fall from the tree and on top of this guy.

The force causing him to collapse and Y/N instantly drove her knife into his neck. She rolled off the man leaving the knife in him as she felt hands on her resulting in a total body jerk away when it was just Daryl helping her. He didn’t help until she relaxed enough and while he helped her, Rick searched through their packs finding some food they desperately needed.

Maggie went through one of them and pulled out a few photos held together by a paper clip. Only to realize Y/N was in these photos and they weren’t what you think given she was taken by disgusting men. It was photos that originally were hers and they had taken everything of hers.

“These belong to you” Maggie said with a soft reassuring smile as she gave Y/N the photos resulting in a few tears spilling from her eyes in relief. “How’d you…even end up with these guys?”

Y/N held the photos in her hands finding one of her and her family resulting in more tears but she quickly wiped them away. “I was with my family and we got into trouble with someone? Even in the end, there are people with power and these guys were sent after us when we left…and they wanted to do certain things to me that only got my dad and brother killed trying to protect me.”

“Did they—-“

“No…I kept fighting back to a point they had enough and just” Y/N gestures to herself and her injuries which were being eyed the entire time given she’s opened a few bandages resulting in a few bleeding again.

“Let’s get back to the others…get some rest” Maggie gave a warm smile to her as they all made sure there were no more before making their way back.

Finally their group settles with no threat other than walkers…everyone slept except for Rick on watch, and Daryl and Y/N who were too awake in that moment. He helped her with new bandages but she couldn’t help but get a feeling from him.

“You…are a protective person aren’t you?”

“What?”

“When I stumbled into your group, you didn’t hesitate to invite me in and protect me from the harm that is no longer a threat”

“There will always be a threat. You’re just…a part of us now. We’re protective of each other”

Y/N couldn’t help but strike that cord.

“I would protect the next person needing to be saved if I lost someone dear to me” She didn’t need to know about Beth, all she needed to know was the feeling and that’s what she got from his.

His silence only gave her the answer. She reached out and took his hand squeezing it to reassure him even if she didn’t know how it happened, that it wasn’t his fault.

“I barely know yea, and vise versa…yet you know so much”

“I’m good at reading body language when I’m not in distress. It comes in handy”

“Hm. Well. Aside from that, get to know us without reading just body language”

“I will” Y/N smiles, giving a soft thank you when he finished the last bandage. Daryl rose to his feet going to relieve Rick of his watch but as he looked back at her, she kept a smile.

It will come in handy one day, knowing someone just from their body language.

Daryl sat on the porch railing one night with one of his homemade cigarettes in hand thinking too hard on something. His attention instantly snapping out of it when the front door opened letting Dog out but also for Y/N to step out and sit next to him.

“I don’t—-“

“I know, but I’m here” Y/N reassures every thought coursing in his mind with that smile of hers which brought him to wrap his arm around her shoulders bringing her close.

“You do just know things”

[mountedeverest]

7x10 Coda | BuckTommy date + Bobby call | T

Starts cute and then I rip your heart out 🙃😘 sorryyyyy

NP tags 💖 @tizniz @hippolotamus

“Not to be a U-Haul lesbian but if you keep cooking like that every time, I’m gonna have to ask you to move in.” Tommy said, bringing the glass of wine to his lips once more.

Buck almost choked on his own wine as he ducked his head and laughed nervously. “Don’t tempt me ‘cause I’ll say yes.”

Buck lifted his eyes to reach Tommy’s, half hopeful in spite of him. They both knew it would be too soon, but Buck’s emotional baggage and fear of abandonment still rang a clear ‘what if’ in his head. Though they may have been joking, Evan’s eyes betrayed him, as if to say ‘I’m serious. If you ask me now, I’ll say yes.’

“Interesting.” Tommy answered, gaze lingering. His eyes narrowed, the corners of his mouth curled upwards slowly, tightly from atop his wine glass, a shield between them. His eyes said something as well, ‘Not now, but soon.’

The air now hung heavy, promise being held back by the fear of spooking the other, overshadowed by immense desire and suffocating devotion. Buck was so giddy he could burst.

“Be-besides, many lasagnas were sacrificed for this skill. The cooking, I mean.”

“Aaah so that was the smell here the other night.” Tommy laughed. His nose scrunched up and Buck could melt. Just like that, the tension was gone. Buck squirmed in his seat all the same, like his skin was too tight, except he loved it. With Tommy, Buck felt exposed in the best way, like every nerve was a string on an instrument, every touch a new note in a new melody. It made him feel so alive.

They ate, and they talked, kicked their feet under the table. Fingers lingered upon fingers, pinkies touching in a whisper of a touch only to momentarily satisfy the itch of being apart. Their chairs pulled closer as they leaned in further in their conversation, and their wine glasses emptied and filled up, and emptied and filled up. Every moment they inched closer without noticing, knuckles now brushing against the side of a thigh, or fingers idly tracing up a forearm.

Soon, they were so close they could feel each other’s air. Buck broke first, a small satisfied groan escaping him when he finally closed the distance between Tommy and him.

It wasn’t long before Tommy pulled Buck into his lap, the chair wincing slightly in protest. Hands soon found purchase everywhere they could: hair, neck, shoulder blade, ass cheek. Dirty dinner plates and near empty wine glasses were now abandoned for desert. Perfectly sweet and with just enough bite, Tommy tasted exquisite.

Things heated up fast, becoming sloppy and needy and everything Buck needed to be right now. He felt the burning shape of Tommy’s massive hands under his shirt, dipping into the back of his pants, gripping at hard flesh. Every slight rock of their bodies together punched little gasps out of Buck, like he’d forgotten how to breathe properly.

“I can’t fuck you in this chair.” Tommy grunted between two biting kisses, sounding lost. His eyes were swimming in Buck’s, pupils blown wide.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go up to my bed.” Buck dove in for another deep kiss, tongue rolling and swirling against Tommy’s own, and then another, and another. They were unable to tear away from each other, even as they made their way to the stairs and up the loft. They’d reached the top when Buck’s phone started to ring from where he’d left it on the kitchen island.

They let it ring until it stopped, hands going to buttons and belts. Then, Tommy’s phone started ringing, which gave them pause for the first time that night.

“Whoever’s trying to reach you seems adamant. I better answer.”

Reluctantly, Buck let Tommy trot back down the stairs to pick up his offending phone.

“Go for Kinard.”

Buck made his way down the stairs and plastered himself softly behind Tommy, hugging him loosely as his fingers toyed with the hem of Tommy’s shirt.

“Okay. Yeah. Which one?” Tommy placed his free hand on top of Buck’s, soothing and stopping him at the same time. “Okay. We’re on our way.”

Buck froze then. Something was wrong. Tommy sighed and hung his head. From the back, Buck couldn’t see his expression, but he felt the tensing in his back, like hackles raising.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“That was Hen. Bobby… something happened, he and Athena are in the hospital. She’s fine but Bobby, it’s… it’s not good.”

If Buck were made of glass, there would be a very apparent crack going through him head to toe right about now. Gears started turning in his head, but with absolutely no coordination. Usually in a crisis, he could tell the order of things, which questions to ask and when. Now, he felt like a mess of Christmas lights, unable to see the beginning or the end of the cable for the tangle in between.

“Hey, hey hey stay with me Evan, don’t go there yet.” Tommy took hold of Buck’s shoulder, searching for his gaze in eyes that now stared at nothing. “I’m taking you to the hospital, I’m driving. I’ll grab you a coat, just put your shoes on I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Tommy?”

Tommy stopped, looked back eyes wide at his boyfriend. Buck looked so small, his eyes rimmed red and threatening to spill with tears.

“Bobby’s not just my captain, y’know?” Buck’s voice sounded strangled, like wrestled from deep within. “He’s pretty much my dad, I-I can’t lose him.” He looked so scared.

Tommy’s eyes softened and filled with sadness as he grabbed Buck into a big hug, squeezing him tight and bringing Buck’s face into his chest.

“You won’t, baby. You won’t.” Tommy murmured softly as he held Buck, promising that also to himself, hoping that luck once again favoured them tonight and that Bobby would be okay, that Buck would be okay.

[wosomaanum]

Just In Time | Frida Maanum

Summary: You and Frida decide to go to a party where not everything goes to plan

Warnings: creepy people, homophobia, alcohol, party things yk

You and Frida are getting ready in your shared apartment, the scent of her favorite vanilla body spray mingling with the faint sound of indie music playing in the background. Frida stands in front of the mirror, adjusting her earrings, while you fuss with the shirt. She catches your eye in the reflection, offering a reassuring smile.

"Ready to go?" she asks, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Yeah, let's do this," you reply, taking her hand as you head out the door.

The walk to the party is filled with light conversation and laughter, Frida's presence always a source of comfort and joy. When you arrive, the house is already buzzing with energy, music pumping through the walls, and groups of people scattered around, talking and dancing.

“Wow, it’s crowded in here.” You state, a hint of uncertainty present in your voice.

“It is. Just stay close yeah?” Frida replies, her thick Norwegian accent peaking through.

“Don’t worry, nothings going to happen.” You reply, you weren’t sure if you were trying to reassure Frida or yourself.

“Darling, I know you can handle yourself. I’d much rather be safe than sorry. Just let me know roughly where you’re gonna go and remember: you have a phone for a reason.” She stays, matter of factly.

“Right. I’m just gonna go to the toilet then alright? Love you.” You kiss Frida on the cheek offering her a smile to what she exchanges cutely.

On your way to the bathroom, you decide to take a look in the kitchen to scout out the drinks. You were by no means a drinker but you knew Frida was the designated driver. Which meant two things:

1. You could get tipsy

2. You could only get tipsy. Not flat out drunk. Or Frida would be on your back.

The kitchen is packed, but you manage to find a spot near the counter. As you pour yourself a drink (okay, just a quick one), a guy you don’t recognise sidles up next to you. He's taller than you, with an overly confident smirk plastered on his face.

"Hey there," he says, leaning in a bit too close for comfort. "I haven't seen you around here before. Can I get you another drink?"

"No, thanks. I'm good," you reply, trying to keep your tone polite but firm. You were already feeling tipsy by now as you had spontaneously chugged down two solo cups worth. You knew Frida would be scolding you later - but that didn’t matter right now.

He doesn't take the hint, instead stepping even closer. "Come on, just one drink. What's the harm?"

You glance around, hoping to spot Frida, but she's still across the room, chatting with some friends. "I said no, thanks," you repeat, more forcefully this time.

The guy's smirk fades slightly, but he doesn't back off. "Don't be like that. I'm just trying to be friendly."

You try to step away, but he blocks your path, his presence becoming more oppressive. "Seriously, I don't want a drink," you say, louder this time, hoping someone nearby will notice.

His eyes narrow slightly, and he leans in even closer, his breath hot on your ear. "Why are you being such a prude? I'm just being nice."

Panic starts to bubble up inside you, your heart racing as you try to push him away. "Leave me alone," you demand, your voice trembling.

He chuckles, clearly enjoying your discomfort. "Relax, I'm not going to bite. Just trying to have a conversation. What's your name?"

You take a step back, trying to put some distance between you. "It's none of your business," you snap, hoping to sound more confident than you feel.

He rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed. "No need to be so rude. I'm just asking a simple question."

"Look, I'm here with someone," you say, trying a different tactic. "I'm not interested."

"Oh, come on," he says, his tone turning condescending. "Whoever it is, they can't be that great if they left you alone. Just one drink, and if you still want me to leave, I will."

You shake your head, backing up further. "I already told you, I'm not interested. Please, just leave me alone. And don’t insult my girlfriend.”

His expression darkens, and he steps forward again, ignoring your plea. "You know, you're making this a lot harder than it needs to be."

"I don't care," you snap, louder this time, hoping the raised volume will attract someone's attention. "I said no. Now back off."

He laughs, a harsh, mocking sound that sends a shiver down your spine. "Feisty, I like that. Come on, just one drink. It's not going to kill you."

Desperation starts to creep in as you look around the room, searching for a familiar face. "I'm not interested," you repeat, your voice shaking with anger and fear. "Why can't you just take no for an answer?"

"Because I'm not used to hearing it," he replies smugly. "You're not going to find anyone better than me here, so why not just give it a shot?"

You glance around again, feeling trapped. "Look, you're making me really uncomfortable. Please, just go away."

"Uncomfortable?" he scoffs. "I'm just talking to you. You don't have to be so dramatic."

"I'm not interested because I'm here with my girlfriend," you say, hoping that will make him back off.

His expression changes, a sneer spreading across his face. "Oh, so you're one of those. That explains a lot."

"Did I not already tell you that? And, What do you mean by that?" you ask, feeling a surge of anger mix with your fear.

"Just that it makes sense why you're so uptight," he says, leaning in closer again. "Trying to play the victim, huh? You think you're too good for a guy like me because you like girls?"

"That's none of your business," you say firmly, trying to keep your voice steady. "Just leave me alone."

"Come on, don't be like that," he says, his voice dripping with condescension. "Maybe you just haven't been with the right guy yet."

"Back off," you say, louder now, hoping someone will notice and intervene.

"What's going on here?" Frida's voice cuts through the tension, her tone calm but authoritative. She walks up, her eyes immediately assessing the situation. Sliding her arm around your waist, she fixes the guy with a steady gaze. "Is there a problem?"

The guy looks between the two of you, clearly irritated. "We were just talking," he says, attempting to brush off the situation.

Frida tightens her hold on you, her eyes not leaving his. "It didn't look like she wanted to talk," she says calmly but firmly. "She told you to leave her alone."

"Mind your own business," he snaps, his bravado faltering slightly under Frida's intense gaze.

Frida maintains her calm demeanor, her voice unwavering. "She is my business. If she asked you to leave her alone, you should respect that."

He hesitates, clearly not used to being challenged. "Look, I'm not trying to start anything. Just having a conversation," he says, his tone trying to sound reasonable but failing.

Frida's expression softens slightly as she addresses him again. "Look, she clearly doesn't want to continue this conversation. Let's all just move on and enjoy the party, okay?"

"Whatever," he mutters, but he doesn't move.

Frida remains calm, her grip on you firm but gentle. "Did you not hear her? She's not interested. Leave us alone."

The guy's face flushes with anger and embarrassment. "I just don't get you people," he says, his voice rising. "Always playing the victim card. Maybe if you weren't such prudes, you'd see how stupid this all is."

"Excuse me?" Frida's voice remains calm, but there's an edge to it now. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," he snaps, his bravado returning. "You lesbians always think everyone's out to get you. Maybe if you tried being normal for once, you wouldn't have these problems."

Frida takes a deep breath, her eyes never leaving his. "We're not the problem here. You are. We're here to have a good time, just like everyone else. If you can't handle that, maybe you should leave."

"Oh, I'm the problem now?" he scoffs. "You two are just asking for trouble, flaunting your lifestyle in everyone's faces."

"Enough," Frida says, her voice firm but controlled. "This conversation is over. Leave us alone."

He glares at both of you, clearly frustrated. "Fine, whatever. You're not worth the trouble." He turns and stalks off into the crowd, disappearing from view.

You let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding and turn to Frida, who is watching you with concern.

"You okay?" she asks, brushing a strand of hair from your face.

"Yeah, thanks. He just wouldn't take a hint," you reply, leaning into her touch.

"I know, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to deal with that and I’m sorry I didn’t get to you quicker. Let's get out of here," Frida suggests softly. "This place is too crowded anyway and you need to get home before it’s dark."

You nod, grateful for her suggestion. She keeps an arm around you as you both navigate through the throng of people and out into the cooler night air. The drive home is quieter, but Frida's presence beside you is as comforting as ever.

When you reach your apartment, she unlocks the door and lets you in first, her protective instincts still in high gear. Inside, you kick off your shoes and collapse onto the couch, feeling the tension of the evening finally start to fade.

Frida sits next to you, her hand resting on your knee. "You sure you're okay?" she asks again, her eyes searching yours.

"I'm fine now," you assure her, taking her hand in yours. "Thanks for stepping in. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't."

"Anytime," she says with a soft smile. "You know I've got your back."

You lean against her, feeling safe and loved. The party might not have been what you expected, but having Frida by your side makes everything better.

“I can’t believe he said all that. I know I was tipsy but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out his intentions, in fact I think the ‘prude’ may have done it.”

“It’s best not to think about it hey. He was a total dickhead but I’m just glad your safe that’s the most important thing. Let’s just calm down now and we can talk more in the morning if need be. I’m here for you, you know that.”

The rest of the evening is spent in the comfort of your apartment, wrapped up in each other. Frida makes sure you're okay, periodically checking in with gentle touches and reassuring words. She walks you through your feelings, letting you vent about the guy and how he made you feel, always listening intently.

As the night grows later, she suggests you both watch a movie to distract from the earlier ordeal. You agree, and soon you're cuddled up on the couch, the soft glow of the TV casting a warm light over the room. Frida holds you close, her arms wrapped around you.

————-

You wake up the next morning encased by Frida’s strong arms. You both stir awake.

“You know, now that you are feeling better, I think we better discuss you downing two vodkas eh?”

[justagalwhowrites]

Yearling - Ch. 34: Anything

You're left behind in Jackson when Joel goes on overnight patrol. A continuation of Yearling ch. 1-33 found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: Canon-typical violence. Smut :). No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ Only 

Length: 9.2k

A/N: We are heading into the final arc of Yearling and we are going to see some TLOU 2 OVERLAP again. There isn't any this chapter but there will be in this arc and here's how: a character from that game will be mentioned as will the spoiler-y incident from a few chapters ago. What happens plot wise in this arc is completely separate from the game and entirely original content BUT there is that character overlap and more specific mentions of the incident and the motives behind it. If you're trying to go in blind to season 2, it might be wise to step back. Feel free to send me a DM, I'm happy to answer any and all questions!

AO3 | Chapter One | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

September, 2013

The gunshot made you jump. 

It was distant but sharp, the crack jarring against the quiet of your cabin. Marisa’s head shot up from her book, a frown on her face in the flickering firelight. 

“Was that…” 

“Shhh,” you sat up from where you’d been lying against her, held a hand out to her, ear perked and listening. Another crack, a little louder this time. You set your book down and went to the front window, drawing the curtains and pinning them shut so no light from the fire would slip through. 

“What…” 

“Stay here,” you said, your heart pounding as you got your rifle off the wall. 

“You’re not going out there!” She shot up, her eyes wide. 

“Not gonna sit here and wait for whoever that is to show up at our door,” you replied, grabbing a flashlight, too. 

“Well, I’m going with you,” she said, going to get her gun, too. 

“No,” you said, grabbing a saddle bag with ammunition and turning to face her. 

“Yes, I am,” she narrowed her eyes at you but there was a tremble of fear in her voice, her rifle clutched tightly in her hand. 

“No,” you said quietly, reaching out and gently taking her face in your hand. “You’re not. You’re staying here to look after Savannah…” 

“But what if something happens to you?” Her eyes searched yours, wide and frantic. “You’re her mom, not me. I can’t be that for her like that, just… stay here, we’ll figure it out if they find us just…” 

“Not lettin’ them that close to the two of you, baby,” you said, brushing your thumb over the arch of her cheekbone. You kissed her gently. Her eyes were wet. “I’ll be back soon. But… if I’m not, take care of Savannah for me.” 

You didn’t wait for a response, going to jump on Nike, not bothering with a saddle. You were too afraid to take the time, you had to protect the people who had become your home. You couldn’t lose them, you couldn’t let anyone take them away, you had to make sure they were safe. 

There was another gunshot and you followed the sound, your heart racing, eventually finding a man with two infected nearly ripping him apart. You shot them quickly, the man’s fearful gasps loud in the night. 

“Fuck,” he panted as you turned on the flashlight, shining it around the nearby forest. You caught a glimpse of another infected on the ground about 20 feet away before turning the light on him. He was limp on the ground, his eyes wide. “I think I’m bit, I think… I think they got me.” 

You knelt beside him and looked at his exposed skin. There was a vicious bite on his hand, the flesh already looking sick and wrong and so like Justin’s bite all those years ago. 

You sighed. 

“Yeah, you are. I can make it quick for you, if you’d like. Can’t let you leave here, though. You can wait ’til you turn, if you’d rather.” 

He blinked a few times, staring up at the dark canopy of trees as moonlight filtered through the leaves. 

“Just do it,” he said, turning his eyes to you, cocking his head slightly. “Is it just you out here?” 

“Kind of,” you said. “Got my girlfriend, my daughter. No one else, though.” 

He looked back to the sky and nodded. 

“That’s good,” he said. “It’s hard, being alone. Been alone for a few months now, wife got bit back in June. Should’ve just ended it then, don’t know why I waited this long.” 

You nodded slowly. You understood that. You stood up again, rifle in your hand. The man’s eyes were still wide, looking up at the trees. 

“Here OK?” You asked. “Might be able to get you somewhere you can see the sky…” 

“No point,” he said, still staring up. “Just do it.” 

His eyes refocused, looking at you. 

“And thank you. Know it’s not easy.” 

You aimed the gun at his head and he went back to looking at the trees. 

“I’m sorry it’s endin’ like this,” you said. “Hope you get to be with your wife again.” 

“Yeah,” he whispered. “Me too.” 

You took a deep breath, pulled the trigger and he was gone. 

You stayed for a little while after, waiting to see if there were any clickers that would come for the noise you’d been making but none showed up. You realized you didn’t even know the man’s name. You were the last person he spoke to and you didn’t know his name. 

You cleaned the blood off your hands as best you could and made your way back home, Nike moving slowly through the trees and you didn’t rush her. When you opened the door, Marisa damn near knocked you down, you barely catching her as she threw herself at you. 

“You’re OK,” her voice was thick and wet and she clung to you for a moment before pulling back to look in your eyes. “I was so scared, I heard more gunshots, I didn’t know…” 

“I’m sorry, baby,” you said gently, kissing her, her lips plush and soft on yours. “Didn’t mean to scare you…” 

You got cleaned up and took her to bed and made her come on your fingers before she had to swallow the desperate sounds of your orgasm to keep from waking the baby. You held her close after, telling her what happened in the forest, that you’d go bury the body in the morning and do a check for infected, that she was safe here with you. 

“I think you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met,” she said quietly, toying with your fingers, her breath warm on your skin as she lay her head on your chest.

You scoffed. 

“Don’t feel very brave. I was scared shitless the whole time, thought my damn heart was going to beat out of my chest.” 

“Oh baby,” she whispered, adjusting so her face was over yours, the light of the moon making her dark skin glow. “That’s what makes you brave, that you’re scared and you do it anyway. You don’t let the fear own you. That’s why you’re going to make it through all this, I just know it.” 

You hummed, not really agreeing or disagreeing, just wanting her close again. She rested her head on your chest again and you gave her a squeeze, focusing on how she felt against you as she fell asleep. 

It didn’t really matter if it was bravery or not, you supposed. If it kept the people you loved most alive, you could push past the fear. Life wouldn’t matter without them, you would do anything if it meant it would protect them. 

Anything. 

May, 2028

“No way.” 

You cleaned the last of the gunk out from Shimmer’s back left hoof and set the pick down. 

“Bambi,” Ellie drew out your hame, whining it. “Please? I swear, I’ll owe you forever…” 

“I am not coming out to your dad for you,” you grabbed the file. “Absolutely not.” 

“But…” 

“Ellie,” you looked up to her as she perched on a stall in the barn. “No. That’s not something you just do for someone else. If you want Joel to know you’re gay you need to be the one to tell him, I can’t do that for you.” 

“But why not!” She pouted. “You already know and you get it and you can help him get it and…” 

“I’ll help you do it,” you cut her off. “I can be there when you tell him, I can intervene if he reacts badly - which he won’t - but I’m not doing it for you.” 

“That’s bullshit,” she huffed. “I don’t want to tell him…” 

“Then don’t,” you shrugged, finishing filing the hoof down and getting the next horseshoe ready to go on. “Live the rest of your life in the closet if that’s what you want to do.” 

“But that’s not what I want.” 

“Then tell him,” you shrugged again. “Those are your options, kiddo, hate to break it to you.” 

“You know, straight people don’t have to come out,” she kicked at the stall post. “This is dumb.” 

“That I can agree with,” you said. “But, unfortunately, that’s not the way the world works. If you want to be out, you need to come out. It sucks but that’s the way of things.” 

Ellie sighed and crossed her arms, leaning her head on the post at her back. 

“Do you really think I should?” She asked. 

You shrugged. 

“I think you have a father who loves you more than life itself,” you said. “And I think he’s also a man who has proven that he really does not care what a person’s sexuality is, given that he’s married to me. I think you should do what feels right but you should know that Joel is going to love you to pieces regardless.” 

She sighed again. 

“You’re right…” 

“Usually am.” 

She glared at you before going back to staring straight ahead. 

“I just don’t know why I’m so freaked out about it.” 

You shrugged.

“It’s a big deal. You’re telling him ‘hey this person you think I am? I’m actually different than that.’ It’s hard.” 

She considered you for a moment. 

“Did you come out to your parents?” She asked. 

You laughed. 

“No, I did not,” you said. “Never had the chance. I would have eventually, I think. But I was about your age when the world ended and it felt a lot safer to hide it from my parents when I was that age. I lived far away and they weren’t as… open to other ideas as Joel is.” 

Ellie scoffed. 

“I mean it,” you said. “They had a hard enough time handling the fact that I wanted to get thrown off horses for a living. They’d have had a hell of a time understanding why I was bringing a girl home for dinner. You know Joel ain’t that way. All he cares about is that you’re safe and happy. Everything else don’t really matter.” 

You finished shoeing Shimmer and set her hoof down. She twitched her tail and chuffed in response. 

“Can you at least tell Joel you gave me…” She scrunched her nose in disgust. “The talk?” 

You laughed a little. 

“Yeah, that I can do,” you said. “I’ll tell him I told you everything you need to know. Which is be smart about who you take your clothes off with and if a man ever tries anything, cut his dick off.” 

She barked a laugh. 

“Yeah, that I can handle,” she said. “I can’t believe he thought someone needed to talk to me about sex…” 

You were less surprised about that fact than Ellie, but then, you had the full context. 

You’d been watching Savvy and Kyle from what you hoped was a respectful distance, giving her the chance to fall for a boy in the way you always wanted her to be able to. But there was the other part of that, too. You knew what teenagers were like and, while Savvy knew about sex, you’d never given her the sex talk in the context of her being around boys. She had questions about seeing animals mating when she was a girl and you’d answered them and explained that humans worked much the same way. She’d scrunched her face in disgust and you laughed a little, not bothering to tell her that, one day, that was going to be damn near all she was interested in doing. 

But that had come with the knowledge that, in all likelihood, it would be years - if not decades - before she even had the opportunity to find someone she wanted to do that with. You figured you’d update things as she got older or when there was a person she was interested in. 

Now, the time had come. You just weren’t sure how ready you were for that. You’d gone to Joel for advice about it, feeling like you were flying particularly blind in this arena. 

“Shit, baby, been a long time since I’ve had that conversation,” he said as he traced abstract little patterns over your bare skin. “Tryin’ to even remember how I brought it up with Sarah now… My face was burnin’ up the whole time, that much I know.” 

“There were perks to being hermits,” you sighed, pressing yourself closer to him. “Didn’t have to worry about my kid getting knocked up as a teenager for one.” 

“Mmm,” Joel hummed in agreement. “Least she has boys to flirt with now.” 

“You say that like it’s a good thing,” you muttered but smiled against his skin all the same. 

“I can talk to her with you if you think it’ll help,” he said. 

“Let me give it a shot on my own,” you sighed. “See if she will actually listen to me. If she doesn’t, I’ll call in the reinforcements.” 

Savvy had, mercifully, been at least open to the conversation. 

“I already know this stuff, Mom,” she’d rolled her eyes, arms crossed as she sat on the couch.

“You know the biology of it,” you said. “But it’s… different. You’re older now, there are going to be feelings you have that you want to act on…” 

“Ugh!” She buried her face in the arm of the couch. “Please don’t!” 

“You’re young,” you said. “Too young to really understand the risks. Do you feel like you’re ready to raise a child?” 

“No!” She pulled her head up. “Obviously not!” 

“Then you shouldn’t be having sex right now,” you shrugged. “That’s the risk. Not to mention that there are a lot of emotions that come up when you do that with someone, it can complicate relationships and you’re too young to figure that out on your own…” 

“I’m not a baby,” she practically scowled at you. “I can handle emotions!” 

“I’m not saying you can’t,” you said gently. “I’m saying that adult relationships are complicated for adults and, as grown up as you might think you are, you’re still a kid. I understand that you might want to feel close with someone and, honestly, there’s not much I can do to stop you. But I want you to understand what you’re risking if you go that route and I want you to not let anyone pressure you into it, even if it’s someone you care about. OK?” 

“Alright, jeez!” She groaned. “Can we stop talking now? Please?” 

After that conversation, though, Joel became worried about how much time Ellie was spending with Jesse. 

“Never really thought about what she did or didn’t learn in the QZ,” Joel said gruffly that night when it was just the two of you. “What if she don’t know how to keep herself safe?” 

“I don’t think you have much to worry about,” you said, trying to avoid telling Joel exactly why he didn’t need to worry. 

“Would you be OK talkin’ with her for me?” He’d winced as he asked it. “Feel like you’re her mom, think she’d be a little more… receptive to it coming from another woman.” 

You’d said yes more to buy time than anything else. 

You weren’t thrilled about the idea of lying to your husband but you could tap dance around the truth of it well enough. At least, that’s what you were telling yourself. 

“While you’re trying to decide whether or not you want to tell your dad,” you said, getting up to lead Shimmer to her stall. “Think I’m going to call in that favor you owe me…” 

“What favor?” She demanded. “You’re not telling him for me!” 

“No,” you shook your head. “But I’m also not telling him that I didn’t give you the talk and he needs to do it himself…” 

“Jesus…” 

“So,” you continued. “Can I ask you to keep a closer eye on Savvy while Joel is out on patrol the next few days? She’s still… more comfortable talking with him than with me. Want to make sure she’s doin’ OK…” 

“Of course I will,” she said, relaxing a little. “You know, I still think…” 

“Ellie.” 

“I’m just saying!” She said. “I know she’s doing her best to move past shit, she really is, but it would be a lot easier if she knew what she was actually moving past, that’s all I’m saying.” 

“She’s getting there,” you said, giving Shimmer a scratch. “You don’t understand this yet but it’s hard when you know you can’t protect your child from everything. I can protect her from this.” 

“Whatever you say,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m going to the mess hall. As far as Joel knows, you’ve talked to me, right?” 

“Right,” you said. “Feel free to act all awkward and lay it on real thick…” 

“Alright, bye,” she rolled her eyes and stalked off and you laughed, watching her leave. 

It was good to see Ellie acting like she normally did. You knew she was worried about Joel going out on a longer patrol, too.

You were trying not to panic about it. It was time. Consciously, you knew that. He was ready for it, his body as healed as it would ever be. He still had a bit of a limp - one you knew he tried to disguise when he thought you were watching - but he was fully capable. You’d seen it on patrol with him the two times you’d gone, the second one thankfully far less eventful than the first. 

He’d since gone out just him and Tommy, never going too far from Jackson. It still made you nervous, even though he always came back whole and well. You always clung to him when he got back and he let you, holding you against him, a hand running soothingly up and down your spine as he did. 

But this was his first overnight patrol. He was going to be gone for a few days on a route that had been calm lately, you knew you didn’t have much reason to worry. That didn’t make it much easier. 

“What’s got those wheels turnin’?” 

Joel’s voice made you jump as you brushed Shimmer down in her stall. He was leaning against the entrance to the stable, arms crossed over his broad chest as he watched you, his denim shirt rolled up to his elbows. 

“Who said they were?” You asked, giving the horse a final brush before leaving the stall and walking up to your husband, your own arms crossed over your chest. He smiled and quirked his jaw, shaking his head ever so slightly. “What brings you here, cowboy?” 

“Tryin’ to get my wife all to myself for a bit,” he said. “Think I can entice you away from the mess hall for the evening?” 

“I dunno,” you stepped closer. “What’d you have in mind?” 

He shrugged. 

“Just have to see.” 

You laughed, dropping your arms and the pretense. 

“Lead the way.” 

He draped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you in to kiss your temple before walking slowly back to your house. When you stopped to think about it, it still struck you as funny that it was your house and that you thought of it that way and not as Joel’s place. But you did, it was the place you’d made your life together, feeling more like you belonged here than you had almost anywhere else you had ever lived. 

When you got in the door, there was a small bouquet of wildflowers in a glass in the middle of the kitchen table, a table that was set for dinner for two. You looked at him, brows raised in surprise. 

“What’s this?” 

He shrugged, a sly smile on his face. 

“Wanted a night in with my girl. Might have talked my way into a steak or two. Think you take yours… medium rare, right?” 

“Yeah,” you laughed. “I do.” 

“Well,” he pulled you in for a long, deep kiss. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up and when you’re done, there’ll be a medium-rare steak waitin’ here for ya.” 

“Think I can be convinced,” you smiled against his mouth before kissing him again. “Feel like you’re butterin’ me up or something here…” 

“Just tryin’ to make sure you remember why you’re married to me while I’m gone,” he said. “Try to keep you from getting too fed up with my shit…” You laughed and he smiled. “Go on so I can get this going, you’re too distracting standing this close.” 

You rolled your eyes but obeyed, going to shower and, instead of putting on jeans or sweats after, finding one of the dresses in your closet, one that Joel had never seen you in. You got your wet hair out of the way and went downstairs again, strangely aware of how the dress hugged your curves. 

Joel’s back was to you when you came in but the plates were on the table, steak and green beans and a pile of fresh potato chips on each one. 

“Are you kidding me?” You gaped at them. “You realize we’re already married, right? You don’t have to try this hard.” 

“Like tryin’ hard for you,” he turned around, glasses in hand, and his mouth fell open, blinking a few times in surprise. “Hot damn, baby…” 

“Shocking, know,” you smirked. 

“I ever tell you you’re the most beautiful goddamn thing I’ve ever seen?” He asked, setting a glass down at your place. “Now, let me feed you before I change my mind and try to pull that dress off right here in the kitchen.” 

Joel really did grill a mean steak. He’d even made the two of you whiskey cocktails with a recipe he’d gotten from Julie and, by the time dinner was done, you were pleasantly tipsy and full. 

“Where did you get the flowers?” You asked, trailing your fingertips over the tiny white blooms. 

“Might have gone outside for a bit,” he winced a little. You raised your eyebrows. “Not far, the kids in town sneak out that way all the time…” 

“Wait, what?” You gaped at him, practically jumping out of your seat. 

“Not Savvy and not Ellie,” he said quickly and you settled. “Made sure they know better. But lot of the other kids do. S’pretty out that way, have to take you sometime. Still owe you a trip to the lake. But, in the mean time…” he got up and offered you his hand, pulling you to your feet. “I’ve got someplace to take you tonight.” 

He led you to the living room, a nest of pillows and blankets and sleeping bags set up in front of the TV. 

“Just one second…” he turned the TV on, the opening sepia toned shot from Titanic on the screen. 

“Joel!” You gasped. “Where’d you even get this?” 

“Asked around,” he smiled. “Would’ve gone and hunted it down just to see you get all excited though.” 

You elbowed him lightly in the side and he laughed as the two of you settled into the pile on the floor, you in Joel’s arms with your head on his chest as his fingers trailed up and down the bare skin of your arm. 

The movie was just as good as the last time you’d seen it with Joel. Better, really, because you got to watch it pressed completely against his broad, strong body. But you could only really pay attention so long, twisting in his hold so you were looking at him and not the screen. 

“Know it ain’t exactly a date like before,” he said softly. “But… I do OK?” 

“Oh you blew past OK a while ago,” you laughed a little and he smiled. “This was… thank you, Joel.” 

“Course, baby,” he trailed his fingers over the outline of your face. “Gonna miss you when I’m out there.” 

“You could just not go,” you said. “Don’t think anyone’s holdin’ a gun to your head about it…” 

He laughed once, softly. 

“I know,” he said. “But… I do appreciate you lettin’ me go. I know it ain’t easy for you. Don’t blame you for it. But I’m feeling a lot more like myself since I’ve been patrollin’ again. I feel useful. I missed it. Thank you for letting me find that again.” 

Your eyes searched his. You couldn’t really argue that with him, not when he was being so damn open and honest about it. 

“Just need you to come home to me,” you said quietly. “You can have and do whatever you want, long as you come home.” 

“Long as you’re here to come home to?” He said. “I’m comin’ home. Every time.” 

He kissed you, gentle at first but deepening, until he was shoving your skirt around your waist and pulling your underwear down your legs. He sank into you, slow and firm, his breaths heavy and hot on your skin. You sank your fingers into is skin, holding him close and tight and the worries you had about clutching onto him too hard were far away. 

Joel kept his pace, his body so large and strong on top of and inside of yours. You could feel his heartbeat, his eyes locked on your own and you focused on how close he was to you, how you knew he was safe and whole like this. How you knew he wouldn’t lie to you, that he would do everything to come back home to you. Your body got tight and needy, the heat inside you pulling into the center of you and burning hotter and brighter with every desperate stroke. 

“You’re gettin’ close baby,” he pressed his mouth into your throat, nipping at the tender flesh there before soothing it with a brush of his tongue and a kiss. “Want you to come for me. Love makin’ you feel good, fuckin’ live for it…” 

“Promise it’s not the last time,” your voice was tight, too, the intensity of your orgasm crashing into the fear that you couldn’t seem to shake. 

“Promise,” he pulled back from you enough to look in your eyes again, his large hand coming to cradle the crown of your head. “Nothing’s keepin’ me from you, baby, nothin’, it’s OK, it’ll be OK, promise it will…” 

Your back arched, last ounces of tension gripping you for a moment before releasing in a forceful, desperate wave. 

“Fuck, there you are,” Joel panted, fucking you through it, never easing, chasing his own orgasm through yours. “Feel so good, so goddamn good, fuck, that’s it, keep comin’ for me, know you can…” 

As your own orgasm started to ease, his took hold, pressing himself deep inside and emptying himself into you there. 

Joel pulled himself from your fucked out body with a groan and collapsed beside you, immediately pulling you tightly to him as you gasped short, shaky breaths. 

“You’re OK,” he said gently, still breathing heavy himself. “I’ve got you, s’alright…” 

You buried your face in his neck and fought to catch your breath, focusing on his scent and the feel of him against your skin. 

“I’m sorry,” you said eventually. “I thought I was stronger than this but ever since… I can’t stop thinking about how close I came to never seeing you again and I just…” 

“I know,” he said gently, pulling away from you enough that you could see his face. “I know how you’re feeling. I feel it, too. But I need you to know that I mean it when I say I’m comin’ back. I am, baby.” 

You just nodded and focused on the feeling of him tracing the outline of your face in the dim light of the TV, his body close beside your own. He pressed a soft kiss into your lips, holding you closer as he did and staying close after he pulled away, so close that his nose brushed yours. You stayed like that, not bothering to turn to watch the movie let alone put in the second tape when the first one ended. Instead, you just memorized how he felt against you, how his eyes looked into your own, how his fingers found their familiar paths along your skin. 

You weren’t sure when you fell asleep but you were still entangled with him in the morning, his forehead against yours, his breaths easy and deep in sleep. You ran your fingers through his graying curls and his face tensed a little in his sleep before he adjusted, sliding down your body to bury his face against your chest. You just stroked his hair and held him there, the early morning light becoming pink with the sun. 

When you couldn’t avoid it any longer, you woke him reluctantly and the two of you made your way to the stables, your body tucked against his. He gave you a squeeze before separating from you, the two of you working together to get the horses ready to head out on patrol. You walked with the patrol to the front gate, Joel leading his horse by the reins instead of riding him so he could hold your hand on the way. 

“Be safe,” you said quietly as he faced you, every other horse on the other side of the wall now. 

“Promise,” he said gently, his large hand going to the back of your neck and holding you at just the right angle to press a gentle kiss to your lips. “Take care of yourself and our girls. Gimme somethin’ to come home to, OK?” 

You smiled a little. Like something was going to happen in Jackson. 

“Promise.” 

You watched the patrol leave until they were out of sight, trying to calm the thudding of your heart as you headed for the stable to get started on all the work for the day. 

You’d purposely set yourself up for a busy few days with Joel gone. If you were occupied, your mind couldn’t wander. So you focused on training horses. 

It was the hardest part of your job but also the part you liked the most. You had to concentrate on it otherwise you’d get thrown. The horse could always tell when you were distracted, if you gave them an inch they would take a mile at this stage. 

You were finally thinking about finishing up for the day, the sun low in the sky and your back sore after getting nearly thrown off a horse more times than you cared to count when Ellie and Savvy wandered into the stable, giggling to each other as they made their way over to you. 

You took a moment to fully appreciate what they were to each other. You’d always felt bad for Savvy, having just you in the world, no one closer to her own age to bond with. Now, she and Ellie were attached at the hip, sharing the kind of bond you’d always longed to have with the sister who had never materialized, no matter how much you begged your parents for one. Both of them meant so much to you, the whole of the future wrapped up in them. You had survived a lot to get to this point, horrors you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, but you’d do it all again to see these two girls find sisterhood in each other. Conspiratorial whispers and knowing laughs and deep love was everything you wanted for your daughter and she had found it here. 

“Terrified to know what this is about,” you half smiled as they walked over.. 

“Why does it have to be about something?” Ellie rolled her eyes. “What if we just wanted to come say hi.” 

“Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen you two stop by to just say hi,” you said. “So that would be highly suspect. What do you want?” 

“Can we go spend the night at Dina’s?” Savvy asked, the words all spilling out of her at once. “I promise we’ll behave and…” 

“Dina’s?” You asked, raising your eyebrows at Ellie. 

“Yeah, my friend Dina’s,” she gave you a firm look as she said it. 

“And what will you be doing at Dina’s?” You asked, turning your attention back to Savvy. 

“Just hanging out with some friends,” she said. 

“Any boys?” You asked. 

“No,” Ellie said quickly. “Mostly some of the girls who just finished up school and the girls who are about Savvy’s age, nothing crazy…” 

“Please Mom?” Savvy interrupted her. “It’s going to be so fun and I haven’t done anything like this before but I’ve read about it and it sounds so cool and I really want to go and…” 

“And Dina’s sister will be there?” You asked Ellie, who perked up at the question. 

“Yeah,” Ellie said. “And she doesn’t let Dina get away with shit…” 

“You do realize that you’re 18 and I can’t do a damn thing to stop you, right?” You said to Ellie. “Adults don’t need to ask their moms for permission.” 

“I know,” Ellie said. “But so is Dina. And it’ll be more fun if Savvy can go. I’ll keep an eye on her, I promise.” 

You looked between them, Savvy looking more happy and open with you than she had in months, so like how she used to look at you when asking for something when she was small. Her eyes were so wide and hopeful and you couldn’t say no, not when she was looking at you like that. 

“Alright,” you sighed. Savvy squealed. “But you have to behave. Savvy, no drinking. If there are boys, you come home. No doin’ stupid shit like climbing buildings…” 

“Oh that was like one time!” Ellie protested but you silenced her with a look. 

“And I expect everything to stay PG,” you finished. 

Ellie frowned. 

“What the fuck does PG mean?” 

You shook your head a little, some things still surprising you about how different the world was, even after all these years. 

“It’s a saying from before,” you said. “Means make sure whatever you do, it’s family friendly. That means if you say you and Dina are friends, you act like friends.” 

“We are friends,” Ellie rolled her eyes. 

“Oh sure,” Savvy drew out the last word, laughing. “I always want to kiss my friends…” 

Ellie elbowed her and she laughed harder before quieting down. 

“We won’t cause any trouble,” Ellie said. “Promise.” 

“You two have fun,” you said. “And come by the stable in the morning so I know you’re still alive.” 

“OK Mom,” Ellie rolled her eyes, nudging a giddy Savvy toward the door. 

“Thank you, Mom!” Savvy called, giving you a wave as Ellie urged her outside. 

You just laughed and watched until you couldn’t see them anymore before taking your time getting everything set for the night. Your house would be empty overnight for the first time since you’d gotten married. You hadn’t slept without Joel beside you in months, you weren’t in a rush to get home and feel his absence there. But, after a while, you couldn’t stall anymore. You made your way to the mess hall, already mostly empty, but found Maria there with William next to her. She smiled and waved you over and you joined them, sitting across the table as William crashed a carved moose and deer into each other, complete with sound effects. 

“See you’re putting off being home, too,” she said, putting one hand in the middle of William’s back. 

“Yeah, well,” you sighed. “That’s a damn big house for one person.” 

She smiled tightly, knowingly.

“It’s always hard, thinking about them out there like that,” she said. “But this one feels harder.” 

“Yeah,” you said, laughing once, darkly. “It really does.” 

“Hey Aunt Bambi,” William looked up from his toys, his brown eyes reminding you of Joel’s. There was so much of the Miller men in his face it made your heart ache. “Did you know that moose are the biggest deer sp…sp…” he frowned and looked up at his mom. 

“Species,” Maria finished for him before looking over at you. “He’s been obsessed with that carving ever since Joel gave it to him for Christmas so we’ve been learning about moose…” 

“Well, moose are pretty cool,” you said knowingly. 

“I want to see one,” he said. “Mommy says I can’t ride it but I bet I could ride it.” 

You tried really hard not to laugh, William’s springy curls bouncing as he looked down at the carving in his chubby hand. 

“I don’t think ridin’ it would be a good idea,” you said. “They’re big, could be very dangerous. But they are neat to see.” 

“They’re not dangerous,” he frowned. “I bet we would be friends, just because they are big doesn’t mean they’re dangerous…” 

“OK let’s I’d rather not think about you riding a moose,” Maria rolled her eyes. “We can start with seeing one from afar once you’re older.” 

He just sighed heavily, as though the weight of the world were on his small shoulders, and went back to playing with the carvings. 

“I remember when Savvy was that age,” you smiled a little. “She was all about horses, though…” 

“Wonder where she got that from,” Maria smiled back. 

The three of you were the last to leave the mess hall, the clean up team heading to the kitchens  before you started heading out. 

“You’re welcome to come over if you don’t want to be at home,” Maria said, carrying William as he started to fall asleep on her shoulder. “Our door is always open…” 

“Thanks but I need to bite the bullet,” you sighed. “If Joel’s going out on longer patrols again, I need to get used to spending some nights home alone.” 

“Well, the offer still stands,” she said. “As long as you don’t mind my kid babbling to you about moose, apparently.” 

You laughed a little. 

“He can babble to me about whatever he wants,” you said. 

You parted ways and walked around Jackson for a few minutes before heading for the barn where the dogs were kenneled overnight, leaving a note on the log and taking Gatling from her designated place. She trailed behind you home, happy to be under your control again, and you fell asleep with her curled up against your stomach. 

It was a relief to start the next day. You were halfway through your days with Joel outside, not sure if he was safe, too far away for you to see our touch. You could do one more night. You brought Gatling back to her kennel before heading to the stables and getting to work.

The girls came by in the late morning, both looking exhausted but otherwise OK. 

“We’re going to go home and take a nap,” Ellie said, talking for Savvy who was staring straight ahead, looking dazed. “But we’ll be in the mess hall at lunch…” 

“Go sleep before you fall over,” you smiled and shook your head. “Fill me in on everything later.” 

Ellie steered Savvy out of the stable and you laughed a little. Savvy had friends, friends she was staying up all night with. It was everything you wanted for her, watching her grow up both beautiful and sad, thinking she would never have friends like this. 

The girls beat you to the mess hall, their backs to the door you came in, their heads together, talking conspiratorially. 

“She can’t know,” Ellie said quietly. “She’d freak out…” 

“We can handle it,” Savvy said, quiet but sharp. 

“Handle what?” You asked, making both of them jump, their eyes going wide. They looked at each other quickly and you frowned. “Girls. Handle what.” 

“Nothing,” Ellie said quickly. Savvy was looking at you with a strange expression on her face. “Just… there’s a girl we know, this guy is being a dick. I think we can handle it without talking to her because I think if she knew it’d just be extra shitty.” 

You frowned. 

“Not gonna go pick a fight, are you? Because…” 

“No,” she said. “Not picking a fight.” 

“OK,” you said, still uncertain. “But I think…” 

“Actually, Bambi, if it’s OK, we’re just going to head out,” Ellie said, cutting you off. “We got here early and I need to go bug Jesse about something.” 

“Alright,” you frowned, looking between the two of them. “Are y’all sure everything is OK? Because…” 

“It’s fine,” Ellie said before you could finish. “Right, Savvy?” 

“Yeah,” she said, still looking at you with an expression you couldn’t quite place. Part of it like she didn’t know you at all. “It’s OK.” 

“Alright,” you didn’t really believe either of them. “Look, if this boy is a serious problem…” 

“Nothing like that,” Ellie cut you off again. “C’mon, Savvy.” 

She got up and took Savvy’s hand, pulling her to her feet, too. 

“Where can I find you two later,” you said. “Because…” 

“We’ll be home,” Ellie said. “Don’t worry. It’s fine.” 

She started pulling Savvy along behind her but Savvy just stayed where she was, her feet planted, eyes locked on you. 

“Are you sure you’re OK?” You asked, brows knitting together. “If there’s anything you want to talk about…” 

Savvy threw her arms around your waist, catching you totally by surprise, burying her face in your shoulder. You slowly, cautiously, put your arms around her, too, just holding her for a moment. It was so foreign yet familiar, so long since she’d latched onto you like this but holding her one of the only things it felt like you’d been made to do. 

“You can always talk to me,” you said softly, running your hand over the back of her mass of curls and pressing a kiss to her temple. “About anything, I’m always here for you.” 

“I know,” she said, stepping back and looking at you again. “I love you, Mom.” 

You just stared at her for a moment, heart feeling like it was cracking open. 

“I love you, too,” you said, your hands still on her shoulders. “More than anything.” 

“C’mon Savvy,” Ellie said, taking her arm and tugging her away. “See ya, Bambi.” 

You watched them go and debated following them before deciding to give Savvy some space. But, by the time you finished having lunch, you’d thought better of it. You were heading to see if they’d actually gone home but Olivia stopped you as you went past the stables, needing help with the horse you’d been working with the day before. It was hours before you could make it back to the house, bypassing your front door and heading straight for the back yard, knocking on Ellie’s door instead. 

“One sec!” Ellie called and you heard her scramble for the door, breathless when she opened it. “Hey Bambi, what’s up?” 

“Nothing,” you shrugged, not asking for permission and just stepping inside. Savvy was sitting crosslegged in the middle of her bed looking a little more like herself. Or, at least, the self you’d come to recognize her as lately, a little angry with her mouth set in a firm line. “Wanted to see what you girls were up to tonight, make sure everything was OK.” 

“We’re fine,” Savvy said, sounding less angry than she looked. “Just pretty tired.” 

You nodded slowly. 

“Get that stuff figured out with your friend earlier?” You asked, looking between them. 

“Think so,” Ellie said. “We can handle it. Right?” 

“Right,” Savvy said, giving her a firm nod. 

You looked between them, hoping one of them would elaborate. Neither did. 

“Alright, look,” you said. “Both of you are actin’ real weird. I need you to tell me what it is you’re schemin’ up because, while I understand that you want to take care of your friend, you can’t just go around causing problems here in town over something like a break up…” 

“We’re not causing any problems in town,” Ellie said reassuringly. “I promise, we’re not going to go beat up some kid in Jackson or anything like that, I swear.” 

You looked to Savvy. 

“She’s right,” she said. “We really aren’t.” 

You clenched your jaw for a moment. Something felt… off. They were telling the truth but you were uneasy. Something was up. 

“We’re actually still really tired,” Ellie said after a minute. “So, if it’s OK with you, we’re just going to call it a night…” 

“You swear you’re not going to go beat up some boy?” You asked, looking between them. 

“Promise,” Ellie said. “The Jackson boys are safe from us.” 

You sighed, hoping to get Joel’s help getting more out of them when he was back the next night. 

“Alright. You two actually get some damn sleep, OK?” 

“OK Mom,” Ellie rolled her eyes and you smiled a little. At least that seemed like Ellie. 

You went back to the house, sitting at the window to the backyard with a cup of tea for a bit, until the lights went off in their little house. Something still pulled at you but you went and settled on the couch, putting on an old VHS tape that had been in Joel’s house, whoever had lived here before’s recording of some episodes of Seinfeld. You didn’t fast forward through the commercials, marveling at how far away the world that sold things like Oreos seemed. You’d only been about Savvy’s age when this had been recorded. Your relationship with your mother had been fraught, too. As hard as it was to have the only reason you’d fought so hard to survive be distant, she’d done more with you today than you would have with your own mother at that age. You sighed. Maybe you were through the worst of it. Maybe this was just what it was like parenting a teenager, strange distance interspersed with shocking moments of vulnerability. 

You dozed off halfway through the third episode and the pounding on your front door made you sit bolt upright, shocking awake with a gasp. 

The sound was relentless, a fist slamming into wood instead of rapping against it. You scrambled off the couch and pulled the door open without bothering to see who was on the other side of it, your heart in your throat. What if it was Maria? What if something had happened to Joel?

But standing on your porch was Kyle, the boy Savvy had been spending time with, his shock of red hair slick with sweat, his freckled skin blotchy and red. There was a gash on his cheek.

“Mrs. Miller,” he panted, looking at you with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry, they let me go, they let me go to come find you…” 

“Slow down, kid,” you said gently, heart still pounding. You put your hands on his shoulders and guided him inside. “Take a deep breath, what’s goin’ on, is everyone OK?” 

“No,” he shook his head, his eyes still wild and frantic. “No, they’re not OK. He’s got them, he’s got them, I tried to stop him but I couldn’t, there were too many and…” 

“Who’s got who?” You frowned. “Need you to slow down, you’re not making any…” 

“Savvy and Ellie,” he said. Your heart stopped. “He’s got them.” 

***

“Swear to God this is the longest damn patrol I’ve ever been on,” Joel said, happy he could actually recognize some of what was around them now. 

“And we’re even gettin’ back a few hours early,” Tommy gave him a cocky smile. “At least it was an easy one.” 

“Jesus, don’t know if I’d call it easy with how my damn leg is feelin’,” Joel said. “Swear all I’m doin’ tonight is soaking in the damn bath…” 

“See how your wife feels about that,” Tommy teased and Joel rolled his eyes. “I’ve seen how you two look at each other…” 

“Fuck off,” Joel said, smiling all the same. 

“S’what I thought,” Tommy said. 

It had been an easy few days, all things considered. They’d picked off a few stray infected but no signs of a larger group. No immediate signs of raiders, either, the territory they covered broad and quiet. They’d made good time coming back, closing in on Jackson around noon instead of that evening. It was one of those times that Joel was glad that you worked in the stables, happy he’d have an excuse to go right to you the second he was in the gate. He didn’t care that he knew that he smelled, days of sweat and dirt stuck on his skin and clothes. You wouldn’t mind. You’d damn near tackle him, throwing your arms around his neck and pressing your body into his and he’d forget for a moment just how bad his damn leg was hurting after spending two and a half days on a horse. 

But Joel knew something was off the second the gate opened, guards whispering low to each other as Joel and Tommy dismounted. 

“Who died?” Tommy frowned, looking around. 

“Maria’s on her way up,” Jason, one of the guards, said. “She knows what’s going on…” 

Joel frowned at Tommy, who’s face had fallen, skin going pale. 

“I’m sure s’all fine,” Joel said, limping more than usual as he went to stand beside his brother, clapping a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s Jackson, what could happen?” 

Maria appeared then, walking quickly and talking seriously with Warren. 

“Oh Jesus,” Tommy said softly. “This is bad…” 

“Think we lost someone?” Joel asked, voice low. 

“Feels like we’re about to go to fuckin’ war,” Tommy said, matching Joel’s tone. 

“Good to see you two back and in one piece,” Maria said, Joel’s stomach lurching at her tone. She was talking like a member of the council not like his sister-in-law. “Jason, take the horses to get settled. I need to talk to Joel and Tommy.” 

Joel’s heart beat a little faster. She said it like she needed to talk to him, like Tommy was there to make sure he didn’t fly off the handle. She put her hand in the middle of Joel’s back and guided him to the Tipsy Bison, the bar empty this early in the day. 

“What’s goin’ on?” Tommy asked the second they were in the door. “Is William OK? Why’s everyone actin’ like someone fuckin’ died?”

“William is fine, he’s with the neighbors,” Maria said gently before turning her attention to Joel. “I need you to stay calm…” 

“Why,” he demanded. “Maria…” 

“We don’t know everything,” she cut him off. “We’ve only known about it for maybe two hours, we’re still coming up with a plan and…” 

“Known about what,” Joel demanded. “What’s goin’ on?” 

Maria took a deep breath and looked him dead in his eyes. 

“Bambi, Ellie and Savvy are gone.” 

Time slowed. His heart dropped and there was a high pitched whine ringing in his head. 

That didn’t make sense. This was Jackson. Things were safe here, everything was supposed to be safe here, that’s why he’d stayed here, risked everything to bring Ellie back here, done everything to keep you here when you’d tried to leave before and something had taken you from him anyway. 

“What do you mean they’re gone?” Tommy’s voice snapped him back into his head. “Where’d they go? What happened?” 

“This is everything we know,” Maria held a folded piece of paper out to Joel, his name in your handwriting on one half of it like you were addressing a letter. “We’re doing everything we can…” 

Joel unfolded the page with trembling hands, the crinkle of the paper almost sharp in his ears. 

Joel, 

I know I promised to be here to come home to but Cody has our girls and I’m going to get them back. He told me to come alone or they die and I can’t risk them. Please don’t come after me, not until we know they’re safe. I’ll do everything I can to come back to you but if I don’t, protect them and take care of yourself. They need you. 

If I never see you again, I want you to know that loving you was worth surviving for. Getting to be your wife and taking care of our girls with you was the best thing that ever happened to me. 

Be safe. 

I love you. 

You signed your name, your real name, like you had the tape you gave him for Christmas but there was one notable difference: your last name was Miller. 

Joel’s fist got tight around the paper. He’d lost you and his girls. He’d let the man who had hurt you live and now that had all three of you, doing who knows what to you. 

“They were here yesterday,” Maria’s voice sounded far away. “It must have happened overnight. When Bambi didn’t show up at the stables today, Olivia sent someone to check on her around 10 a.m. and they found the note…” 

Joel wasn’t listening, turning and stalking for the door, taking mental stock of the supplies he still had on him. How much ammunition? He was pretty sure he had a good count of how many rounds he’d fired on patrol but now he was less certain. 

“Joel!” Maria’s voice was sharp, making him stop, one hand on the door, the sunlight pouring through the glass of it oddly bright. How could anything be bright right now, at a moment like this? “What are you doing? You can’t just…” 

He looked back over his shoulder, his brother and sister-in-law, the pair of them standing and watching him with cautious looks on their faces. 

Joel hoped they wouldn’t try to stop him. He loved them both, they were family, but if he had to choose from you and the girls or his brother, his brother would lose every single time. He wouldn’t hesitate to go through them. 

Joel had felt like he’d been meant to do very little in his life. Before, he’d worked a job that let him pay his bills and watched college football for a school he’d never had a shot at getting into. Since, he’d done plenty to get by and distract himself from the emptiness of his existence, none of it feeling like it was worth a damn thing. The one different, constant piece had been how he felt about the people his world revolved around. Sarah, Ellie, you, Savvy. The four of you were his calling. The four of you were why he was here at all. He’d survived the loss of Sarah by the skin of his teeth. In so many ways, he never really recovered. He wouldn’t have recovered at all if it weren’t for Ellie. 

He wasn’t doing that again. He wouldn’t survive it again. This was life and death, not just for the three of you but for himself, too. 

Joel met his brother’s gaze.

“That monster’s got my wife, my daughters,” Joel said, voice dark and firm. “I’m gonna hunt him, I’m gonna hurt him and I’m gonna bring them back.” 

Next Chapter

A/N: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I know, more angst. I don't know why I'm like this either. Feel free to yell at me in the comments or my ask box or my DMs. I'll still love you.

Thanks for putting up with me and all my shit and for continuing to read this story. It really does mean so, so much to me.

I love you!!

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[anxiously-going]

Found this piece tonight. Apparently I had decided to do something with my AU idea of Bones being a doctor in the rescue efforts on Tarsus IV

Len cautiously stepped into the holding cell and crouched down beside the bed to try to get to the kid’s eye level. “I’m so sorry,” he said softly. The kid simply stared back in guarded confusion. “They never should have done this to you. This is wrong and I’m so sorry. I’m gonna undo these restraints, okay? But I need you to be still, okay? I don’t want you pulling on them and getting hurt. I bet they already hurt, don’t they?”

The kid hesitated then nodded almost imperceptibly.

Len nodded and let out a sigh. “I’m gonna undo them, but I’m gonna go slow, okay? If you were already tuggin’ on ‘em you probably bruised yourself up, there might even be a few fractures, alright? And the last thing I wanna do is hurt you while I’m tryin’a help you. So I’m gonna start with the middle one, then do your right side, then your left, okay?” he waited for another nod from the kid then stood. “My name’s Len, by the way.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“I am. I’m a family doctor from Georgia.” Len answered and carefully loosed the strap over the teen’s chest then tossed it over the edge of the bed. “I’m gonna start with your wrist, okay? Don’t punch me.” He offered a smirk, but the kid didn’t seem interested in the joke.

“Why are you here?”

“I was recommended by Commander Christopher Pike-”

“Is he here?!” the kid tried to bolt upright, was held back by his wrists and fell back, biting back a loud groan of pain and tired rolling onto his right side.

“Easy, kid, easy!” Len urged.

“Don’t touch me!” he snarled when Len rested a hand on his chest, trying to push him to lie flat.

Len raised his hands and took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Where is he? I wanna talk to him.”

“I’m sorry, kid, he’s not here. He’s still on earth. Kid, listen I’m really worried about that arm, I think you might have stress fractures from the restraints. It’s really important that I get those off and that we get regen going so we get you feeling better.”

“I wanna talk to him.”

Len pulled out his communicator. “McCoy to-”

“Security is on their way,” a voice interrupted.

“If a single security guard steps into this room I’m gonna put ‘em on a stretcher!” Leonard snarled. “My patient knows Commander Pike and would like to speak to him. Get communication back to earth as soon as possible.” he snapped the communicator shut before the voice could argue. “Can I please fix your wrist now?” Len waited for the kid to nod then stepped forward and gingerly picked up his hand. “Alright, kid, this is probably gonna hurt coming off just try to be still, okay?”

The teen audible winced and really tried not to squirm.

“Shh. It’s okay,” Len murmured. He laid the hand back down once the restraint was off. “Okay, I’m gonna get the other ones, then I’ll take a scan on your wrist and we’ll go from there, okay? And after that I’m gonna help you sue the pants off’a whoever did this for medical malpractice and negligence. So. You gonna let me keep caliin’ ya ‘kid’ or are you gonna tell me your name?” He tossed aside the right ankle restraint.

“Didn’t you read my file?”

“I did. You have quite the laundry list of allergies by the way. But I don’t want to assume you go by ‘James’ and I’d rather call you by what you're comfortable with. And if that’s ‘kid’ that’s fine too.”

“JT.”

Len glanced up from the left ankle.

“You can call me JT.”

“Nice to meet you, JT.” He set to work on the last restraint. “My name is Leonard, so you can see why I go by Len. Or McCoy, that’s my last name. I’m gonna take a scan on your arm now, okay?”

JT watched him carefully as he ran the tricorder wad over his arm. “How bad is it?” he asked when Len sighed.

“It’s not bad as far as breaks go. You’ve got some stress fracture that…actually looks kinda old. It’s nothing we can’t fix. Just makes me angry that you have them at all. Honestly, kid, you're gonna need to be careful for a while. Right now you're pretty severely malnourished, so your bones are weak and they're gonna break a lot easier than they normally would. We can do some diet modifications and treatments like that, but it's still gonna take some time before you've gotten your strength back."

"Are you some kind of bone specialist?"

Len gave an amused smile. "What makes you ask that?"

"You're the only one who checked them."

Len's smile faltered. "No, I'm not a specialist. But they are pretty important. Wouldn’t be able to hold a shape without them. Have you ever had any regen done for a broken bone?”

JT shook his head and Len let out another sigh.

“Alright, I’m gonna explain how it works because I have a feeling you're not gonna be a fan. So to start, it’s not actually your wrist bones that are fractured. They’re bruised, but the actual fracture is right here-” He held up his hand, palm out and touched each side of his arm just under the wrist “-in your radius and your ulna. There was uneven pressure because of where the restraints ended and that’s what caused the fractures. Now, the regenerator is going to go over your hold wrist and part of your arm, kinda like a brace. It’s gonna have to stay on for probably a good two hours. And you gotta keep the arm still while it’s on, alright? I’m not gonna lie to you, JT, it probably won’t be very comfortable, and it’s okay to feel anxious about it. Especially considering what those...fools did to you before. But that is the best way to take care of it. If you really don’t want to do that I can put an old fashioned cast on you, but then it’s gonna take about six weeks for it to heal and you’ll have to wear the cast 24/7 that way.”

“Can’t it just heal on its own?”

“Not without some kind of support to prevent the fractures from getting worse. It’s a miracle they aren’t worse already. Your body needs calcium for a lotta things, JT. One of those things is muscle movement. When you’re not getting enough calcium through your diet your body starts breaking down your bones to get it. That’s why your bones are so brittle right now. The only other thing we can do is I could sedate you-”

“No.”

“Okay. I won’t do that then. How ‘bout this. We try the regen first, we’ll leave it on for...half an hour. If you’re feelin’ a little overwhelmed we’ll take it off and you can take a break and we’ll go from there about and see how you feel. Maybe we get it going and you feel like you can do a little longer, great! We’ll do it for longer. Maybe we just do this in short bursts. It might take a little longer than just the two hours that way, but if it makes you more comfortable we can do that.”

"We can try it," J.T. agreed.

[kiwisfics]

Succiduous - Ready to fall; falling

Summary: A leap of faith.

A/N: Pre-relationship hurt/comfort thing. Not that it wouldn't be terrifying without a phobia, but reader is written with the idea of having a phobia of heights.

-

“Bird, you’ve gotta let go.”

She could hear the metal straining and screeching, could feel the minute movements as the metal twisted and drew all the closer to collapsing inward. She couldn’t even remember how she’d gotten here, but she was sure that whoever had put her in this situation knew the significance between her and Nightwing.

That didn’t matter now, though. What mattered now was that if she didn’t let go, she was going to go down with this half-finished skeleton of a building and Dick would never stop blaming himself and she’d never get to actually feel his lips against her own because they were both too stupid to bite the bullet and ruin their friendship.

“Come on, baby. Let go, I’ll catch you.”

“But- but what if-“

“No. I’m going to catch you, [Name], but you’ve gotta let go.”

Her real name stung coming from his lips, a reminder that there were only two ways for this to end, and both ways were equally terrifying.

“Okay. Okay. I’m- gonna let go.”

“I’ve got you. I’m going to catch you.”

As the balls of her feet pressed against the scaffolding of the building and launched herself towards the one that he was waiting on, the metal fell away from her feet, like the pressure of her leap was all the weight it took to send it collapsing into itself.

The fall couldn’t have lasted longer than a few seconds, but it dragged on for what felt like forever. She knew she had to have screamed, but her heartbeat in her ears drowned out any other sound even as the wind slammed against her skin hard enough to sting.

And just as quickly as her free fall began, she hit his body, his arms wrapping around her form as he fell back and landed on the ground, one hand cradling her head and the other gripping her hip hard enough to bruise.

Honestly, she wasn’t sure where it come from, but it left her lips before any logical thought could even go through her mind, “I love you, Dick.”

His grip against her hip tightened even further, enough that it might have hurt if she wasn’t so high on adrenaline that everything felt foggy and far away.

“Bird, I-” his words caught in his throat, sounding like they were verging the line of tears, “I love you, I love you so much, I- are you okay? Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?” He pushed her back enough to give her a once over, his hands just barely trembling where they rested.

“’m fine, I’m- I almost died. I almost died, Dick.” Against her volition, her nails dug into his arms through the suit. He was just as unaware of the sting as she was, far more concerned with examining every inch of her that he could see. 

“I’ve got you. You’re okay. You’re okay.”

As sirens blared in the background, they clung to each other, desperately searching for comfort in the other.

[cosmicjoke]

Winter

Winters in the Underground are bleak.

It’s the drafts, Furlan knows, coming in through the holes in the caverns roof, the ice melt which sinks down through the sewer grates, and flurries of fat, freezing flakes of snow. There is no sun to melt it as it carries on the strange currents of wind which suck down like a vortex into the open space, blowing endlessly through the dark tunnels of their world.

Isabel hates it. Complains constantly about how cold it is, shivering and shaking as she tries in vain to warm herself by their pitiful firepit.

Levi bears it like he bears everything. In silence, grim faced and unreadable.

Though, sometimes, Furlan catches the tremble in his small hands.

This year is worse than usual.

There’s a famine up above, apparently. No rain during this last spring resulting in fields of dead crops.

It’s well hard enough getting food down here, even when things up top are thriving.

But people struggling for food on the surface meant people starving to death in the Underground.

It’s been hard for everyone, even the three of them, who usually did a descent enough job staying afloat, thanks, mainly, to Levi.

But these last, few weeks, they’ve had to take to scrounging through the gutters in hopes of finding some tossed out and molding piece of bread, or wilting, days old vegetables, just to get by.

There’s no food. The merchants from the surface willing to come here, few and far between as they are, have all packed up their stalls and left, and whoever’s left has nothing to sell at all, stands left bare and empty, their owners gone and out of sight.

Levi had managed to hit one of the fleeing merchants about a month back now and steal a sizable sack of dried goods from him, and they’d been living off that ever since. But, between the three of them, even with Levi skipping meals and leaving the bulk to Furlan and Isabel, much to their dismay and protests, they’d finally bled the haul dry, and now they had nothing.

Each new day was weighted with uncertainty, then, as to whether they would eat or not.

They all knew what starvation felt like. They’d all been through it.

That didn’t make bearing it any easier.

It didn’t make the pain, or the fear, go away.

And the cold was only making things so much worse.

It was fucking freezing, even holed up in their little space as they were, clinging to each other for what little warmth they could share. Levi has his arms around both of them, drawing them against his sides as they hunch with their heads together in front of their meager fire, and Furlan can feel Levi shaking just as violently as he and Isabel.

Through the thin material of Levi’s shirt, Furlan can feel his ribs and the ridges of his spine. He’s lost a lot of weight, from skipping so many meals these last weeks.

“… I’m gonna’ die, ain’t I?” Isabel’s voice breaks the pressing silence, dried and cracked and barely more than a whisper.

Furlan feels Levi stiffen.

“Don’t be talkin’ like that.” He scolds her, his own voice barely seeming stronger. “You ain’t gonna’ die.”

“… B-but I’m so hungry, B-Big Bro, and… and I’m cold. Oh, God…”

“I know. But ya ain’t gonna’ die, Izzy. I wouldn’t let that happen. Alright? You trust me, don’t ‘cha?”

“Y-yeah Big Bro. Yeah…”

Levi’s arms squeeze tighter around them, and the room goes silent again, but for the pops and crackles of the fire.

Furlan squeezes his eyes tight and bites the inside of his cheek ‘till he tastes blood.

He knows Levi means it. He means it when he says he isn’t gonna’ let them die. Knows Levi would give his last damned breath to keep both him and Isabel going. But… strong as Levi is, it doesn’t amount to much when there just isn’t any food to be had.

Shit… they might have to resort to trying to catch rats soon, if things don’t improve.

Furlan doesn’t think Levi would eat a rat. He doesn’t think Levi could bear it, twitchy as he is about disease and filth and the like.

Something to do with his mother, Furlan thinks, who Levi told him died from disease when he’d been a child. He hadn’t said more than that; Levi rarely spoke about himself at all. But Furlan can guess at the ugliness of the thing.

“… I’ll go out and look for somethin’ to eat. You two stay here.” Levi says after a while, and he starts to stand.

Furlan is slow to react, his energy sapped almost to nothing, and it takes too long for Levi’s words to process. By the time they do, Levi is already wrapping his cloak around his shoulders.

“Levi, wait…” he starts to protest, beginning to stand. “you can’t go out there now. It’s too cold. You’ll…”

“Stay here Furlan. You and Izzy keep holdin’ each other, try to stay warm. I’ll be back soon as I can.”

“Levi, please, you could die out there…”

Levi just shakes his head, starting for the door.

“I’ll be alright. I’m strong Furlan. You know that.”

“Y-yeah, but…”

“I’ll be fine. Stay with Izzy. Don’t leave. Don’t come after me neither. Alright? I’ll be back, soon as I can.”

Before Furlan can lodge any more protests, Levi is gone, the shabby wooden door creaking shut behind him, and Furlan feels what’s left of his energy drain outta him as he sinks back to the floor. Isabel throws her arms around him, burying her face against his shoulder.

“H-he’ll be alright, won’t he Furlan? Big Bro’s the strongest, s-so he’ll be alright. Yeah?”

Furlan puts his arm around her, laying his cheek to the crown of her head and holding her tight against his side.

“… Yeah.” He promises, and wishes he felt as confident as he forces himself to sound. “He’ll be alright.”

//

Levi doesn’t come back ‘till almost four hours have gone by. Isabel had fallen asleep, somehow, and Furlan had been grateful for it, because he’d been starting to grow sick with worry, more and more convinced with each second that past that something horrible had happened to Levi.

He didn’t know what they would do if something happened to Levi.

He didn’t know how they would survive.

But then Levi walks in through the door, carrying a heavy looking sack over his shoulder.

Furlan stands immediately from where he’s still sat by the dwindling fire, stumbling forward a step, before coming to a halt partway, eyes wide.

Levi’s got blood on his face, a thick smear of it coated across his brow, over his eyes, running from what Furlan can see is a large gash, just a little above his left temple. Gaze dropping to his hands, and Furlan sees Levi’s cut up and already swelling knuckles.

He’s been in a fight, then. A bad one, from the looks of it.

Furlan can’t help the words which spring unbidden to his tongue, a tight, sick knot in his gut.

“What happened?”

Levi looks dolefully back at him, silent.

It wasn’t that Furlan was surprised.

Levi was rough stock. He came from some kind of hardship extreme even from down in this place, and for a long time, violence was his only friend. The only thing he could depend on to make it from day to day. Furlan knows that. He knows. Even though Levi rarely spoke about his life before he met him, or Isabel. You could hardly miss the scars littering the kid’s hands, or all over his body. Knife fights, long, gnarled ropes of raised, white skin, some clean and straight, some jagged and twisted, like whoever’d done the cutting meant to make it ugly as possible. There were starburst shaped patterns of raw, too smooth skin on his chest, parallel in place on his back, and Furlan knew those to be entry and exit wounds from bullets.

Yeah, Levi was rough stock, and he’d made his way before mostly through fighting.

That was the thing down here, in this place. Predators picked off the weakest looking prey, and Levi was small. Just a tiny kid. The top of his head barely reached to Furlan’s chin. Hell, Furlan knows, when he’d first seen Levi, he’d thought like everyone else. Short, scrawny looking kid, should be an easy mark, even though, by then, there’d started to be talk of a scrappy little midget who could take down men twice, three times his size, even. And like everyone else, Furlan had wanted to see if the rumors were true.

Well… Levi was rough stock. He was fucking terrifying. Stronger than any man Furlan had ever seen. He’d felt it, one time. How strong Levi really was. One time, when a guy from a rival gang had come charging at Furlan, ready to sink his knife into his back, and Levi had caught Furlan by the arm and jerked him outta the way before it could happen. In his panic, Levi’d grabbed him hard, harder than he’d meant to, Furlan knows, and the power in his hands, in his grip, had stolen the breath right outta his lungs. He could break bones with his bare hands. Furlan knew it then sure as he knows his own name. And then that’s what he did. He took hold of the man who’d tried to put a knife in Furlan’s back, and he’s crushed his hand. Mangled it, ‘till he couldn’t hold a knife, or any other kind of weapon, ever again.

You didn’t fuck with Levi.

That’s what kept Furlan and Isabel safe. Because everyone knew. You try anything with them, and it was Levi you’d bring down on your own head. And you didn’t fuck with Levi.

Unless you were the MP’s. They fucked with Levi all the time, ‘cause they fucked with everyone, down here, and ‘cause they knew Levi wasn’t fool enough to kill no government workers. That’d draw attention. That’d get people from up above involved. And Levi was always telling him and Isabel, it was best not to get people from up above involved, ‘cause they had money, and money gave ‘em power, and they could take everything from them. Levi was always saying. They could take everything.

Furlan’s eyes catch on the sack over Levi’s shoulder. It’s one of those stitched potato sacks, starched white, and printed out in bold, black letters across the front, are the words “Government Property”.

Well, shit…

“Levi… what happened?” Furlan asks again.

Levi slides the sack down, lying it gentle onto the floor.

He doesn’t say anything as he kneels down on one knee, starts undoing the tie round the bags end.

“Levi… did you kill military police?” And even as the words leave him, Furlan feels a dizzying horror in his head, threatening to black out his vision. If Levi killed police, then…

“… I didn’t kill ‘em. Just roughed a couple up. They ain’t dead. Just socked ‘em, some.”

“Levi…”

“They did me first. I… I tried talkin’ to ‘em Furlan. You know how I ain’t good with no words. But I tried talkin’. I told ‘em I could do stuff for ‘em, if they was willin’ to spare some ‘a their food. They got… all this food, Furlan. More ‘an they need. It ain’t fair. It ain’t right, down here, what you got people starvin’ to death, droppin’ dead in the streets from starvin’, and cold. I told ‘em Fur… I said…”

“Levi, alright. It’s alright.” Furlan says, keeping his voice even and level.

Levi got like this, sometimes. He got emotional, like this. He kept himself so even keeled most of the time. Was most of the time so reserved. He only got worked up like this when he was real upset about something.

Levi sniffs, wipes the back of his hand against his nose, and keeps working at the bags tie. He gets it open after a minute, and starts pulling what Furlan can see are dried goods, mostly. Crackers, standard military rations, some cans of beans. Stuff like that.

Levi’s hands are shaking.

“… What did you tell ‘em you could do for them, Levi?” Furlan asks, even though he doesn’t want to.

Again, Levi says nothing, just keeps pulling the goods from the bag.

There’s a lot.

Enough to last ‘em several weeks, Furlan thinks.

Their lives are saved.

“Levi, you didn’t…”

“I said, ‘cause, like… you know.” Levi cuts him off. “I said I could do ‘em some jobs. If they needed anything, like… like, I could steal stuff for ‘em, or what. You know how good I am at that stuff Furlan. You know, ‘cause I’m small. I can sneak into any place. You know it, right?”

Furlan nods.

“Sure do, Levi.”

“Well, but then they got to laughin’ at me. And one of ‘em says, he says, what I could do for him is suck his dick, ‘cause I’m… ‘cause he says, I’m the perfect height for it. And they were laughin’ at me Furlan. And I got mad. So I beat ‘em up, and took a bag. They got dozens ‘a bags, Furlan. They won’t miss just the one.”

“… Okay.”

“They were laughin’ at me Furlan. They… they used to laugh at Mama like that. I remember. They used to laugh at her just like that. I got mad.”

“Okay.” Furlan feels his heart sink.

“But I didn’t kill ‘em. I just socked ‘em good.”

“… What happened to your head?” Furlan tries, and Levi blinks at him.

Furlan points to his own head, near his temple, and he sees understanding come into Levi’s eyes.

“… Yeah. I socked the one who said about my height, and the other one came in and hit me with his billy. Caught me good too. I almost went down.”

“God, Levi…”

Levi shakes his head.

“But I kept my feet. Kenny says to me, you gotta’ keep your feet, no matter. No matter what they hit you with. So I kept my feet, and I socked him too. I just knocked ‘em cold Furlan. I didn’t kill ‘em, so you don’t gotta’ worry none about that. Don’t worry none. Only, maybe we’ll have to move soon, in case anyone comes sniffin’ around. Them MP’s don’t like to be stolen from. You ask me, they’re the ones stealin’. There’s people starvin’ to death in the street, Furlan. There’s little babies dead out there in the cold.”

“I know, Levi.”

Levi looks at him, and his eyes are, for a moment, so damned hurt, that Furlan has to look away.

Fuck…

“Well, I gives some ‘a what I stole to some poor lady, ‘cause she had a baby, Furlan. I lied, before. I’m sorry. I took more than one bag. I… I took a couple. And I gives one to some poor lady. Don’t be mad, Fur. We gotta’ eat. You know that. We gotta’ eat.”

“I ain’t mad Levi. God, I ain’t mad at ya.”

And he isn’t. He can’t be.

Fuck, Levi just had too much feeling in his heart, and Furlan couldn’t ever be mad at him for that.

It got sometimes so he could hardly stand to look though, for all the hurt Levi had in him. All the hurt he had for everyone else.

People didn’t know, ‘cause Levi was rough stock, and he grew up learning to keep it all in, pressed down so nobody could use it against him. He kept it all in, usually. But when he got like this, there it was, plain as anything, all that feeling and hurt he carried around inside him for everyone else, and sometimes Furlan could hardly stand to look.

He couldn’t imagine what that felt like, to be carrying around all that hurt, keeping it all inside like that.

“… Yeah? Well, alright then.” Levi says and starts up emptying the sack again.

“Say, Levi, that can wait ‘till later. I should clean up that gash you got on your temple. Okay? Fix up your hands too.”

Levi keeps unpacking the canned goods for a moment, before he stops, rubbing at his nose again.

“… Okay.” He finally agrees, and Furlan feels an almost dizzying relief.

He has Levi sit down along the bench in what they’ve designated the living area of their small hovel, and tells him he’ll be right back, going to fetch a bowl of water and some clean rags.

They’d filled a couple wooden buckets with water a few days ago, when the ice stopping up the well a little ways from their place had final broken enough apart, but they were gonna’ have to get more soon. Assuming the well hadn’t frozen over again. It probably had. Furlan tries not to think about it. Getting drinkable water down here was almost as hard as getting food, now.

He sees Levi’s removed his cloak, finally, as he makes his way back towards him, and he’s got his arms crossed against his chest, his hands stuck in the pits of his arms. He’s shivering, and Furlan knows he must be freezing, though Levi won’t ever complain about it.

Furlan knows better than to make a fuss about it either. Levi never liked anybody fussing over him.

Instead, Furlan just takes a seat across from him and sets to work, cleaning his wounds.

The gash along his temple is pretty bad. Might even need stitches, Furlan thinks, frowning to himself. He tells Levi as much, and Levi huffs, but doesn’t otherwise protest as Furlan gets up to set the bowl of water to boiling over the fire and fetch a needle to sterilize. He needs to add some kindling to the fire to make it hot enough, and Isabel tosses and turns in her sleep, mumbling incoherently to herself, dreaming.

“She alright?” Levi asks as Furlan comes back.

Furlan shrugs.

“Sure. Good as she can be, I suppose. She’ll be happy to see you’ve got us food.”

“… Yeah.” Levi says, and goes quiet again.

Furlan doesn’t say much as he sets to cleaning and stitching Levi’s wound, good as he can, and Levi doesn’t complain, sitting stiff and still, mouth pulled tight at the corners.

“Hands.” Furlan orders after, and Levi dutifully holds them out for him.

There’s scar tissue all over Levi’s knuckles, the skin split and bleeding now. It must hurt, but Levi gives no indication of it as Furlan works, trying to be gentle as he can.

“Alright.” Furlan says when he finishes, letting Levi’s hands go.

“Thanks, Fur.”

Furlan smiles tightly back.

“No problem.”

Furlan packs the materials away, leaving the used rags in the bowl of water to soak for a bit. He’ll have to clean them later, or Levi will get upset.

Levi busies himself by storing away the food items he’d nabbed, and there’s a heavy, comfortable silence which falls over the place.

Furlan wants to ask Levi if he really thinks they’ll have to move again soon, but he knows Levi will let him and Isabel know if they do. If he’s anything, he’s cautious, and keeps his eyes open and ear to the ground. He’ll know if their spot’s been compromised.

Furlan rummages around in their pile of wood bits they’ve been collecting for kindling, throwing a few more pieces on the fire, stocking it and building the flames back up.

“Levi, you should rest.” He calls to the smaller man after a while, watching Levi move restlessly about the space. He’s got his duster out, aimlessly waving it at different surfaces. Even from half the room away, his face looks gaunt, pale and too thin. The circles under his eyes are like dark bruises. He must be exhausted.

Levi stops, but he doesn’t turn to face Furlan, just stands there, staring at the ground.

“Come on, Levi. You can lay by the fire, try to warm up a little. You need rest.”

“… Okay.” Levi at last relents, placing the duster down and making his way to where Furlan and Isabel are lying together. Furlan scoots some to the side and holds his arm out, inviting, as Levi settles down, nestling against him.

They’re quiet for a while, and Furlan stares absently at the ceiling above them as Levi turns, pressing his face against his shoulder.

There’s a thousand and one things Furlan thinks he wants to say to Levi. He wants to beg him to stop doing this. Going out and putting himself in so much danger like that. He wants to thank Levi for it, for taking care of him and Isabel, even at the expense of himself. Wants to find a way to show Levi how much he appreciates it, how grateful he is. Wants to understand why it is Levi seems to care so little about himself in turn. Why he… treats himself like a tool to be used, instead of a person who matters.

Maybe it’s his fault, Furlan thinks dismally. Maybe, because when he first met Levi, that’s all Furlan saw him as too. A tool. Somebody he wanted, so he could use him to move up in the Underground gangs. Somebody who’s strength he coveted.

He was still using Levi for that, in a way. Even though Levi was their de facto leader, he let Furlan make all the plans, let Furlan, ultimately, call all the shots. He didn’t have to. If Levi wanted, he could rule their gang with an iron fist, and there wasn’t anything Furlan, or anybody else, could do about it. But Levi only ever leant his strength to make Furlan’s plans reality, only ever did all the hard stuff, the dangerous stuff, and Furlan let him.

He thinks he shouldn’t.

But he does, and he knows it’s because it’s comfortable for him, this way. Because he’s too selfish to try and change their setup. Because his plans, he knows, wouldn’t even be possible if he didn’t have Levi backing him up.

So he says nothing now, just curls his arms tighter round Levi and Isabel both, lets the silence settle over them as the night deepens outside.

[havin-fun-imagining-twd]

Spell your last name, please.

What -- Daryl's back at the Green's farm after falling down the ridge twice, hallucinating you and Merle, then making it home only to get grazed on his head by a bullet. In this chapter, he wakes up after losing consciousness. S02E05 Chupacabra

Who -- slow burn Daryl x Reader

When -- ten minutes after Daryl gets grazed by that bullet courtesy of Andrea following Invisible, tugging strings, Part 2. <- Read this chapter first!

Perspective -- 3rd person Daryl

Reader's pronouns? -- neutral again, slowpokes, they/them

TWs -- a few cusses in Daryl's perspective

How long will it take me? -- 7-10 minutes

Specific chapters to refresh your memories with -- How's your head? Part 2, Invisible tugging strings, Parts 1 -> and 2 <-

The title of this chapter is weird -- I know, y'all XD. It's in reference to a common (medical) trauma question to check cognition

Where's your Masterlist? -- official one here, chronological one here.

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for better context, reread Invisible, tugging strings, Part 2 here. It's got the word-for-word part of S02E05 Chupacabra with Merle before Daryl makes his way home and sees an angel you.

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Hm? Where in the—where is he and what’s warm stuff he just swallowed? Who the hell's this holding hi—

A bunch of voices start saying stuff, and all he sees is brightness and the outline of faces.

But there’s one, familiar voice closest to his ear that soothes, “Shh, sweetheart, you’re safe. Close your eyes awhile, it’s bright in here.”

...oh shit, is this heaven? It's real? I made it?

“Oh man, sorry,” the voice chuckles. “You’re just so hurt, pet names are floppin’ out of my mouth. Which is what some of your tea just did, too. Here, I’m gonna give you the straw. You’re in the Greene’s house.”

He starts to open his eyes again as he sips down more of the warm, peachy drink through the straw. Once he’s aware of it hitting the back of his throat, he starts to slurp it down because hot damn, he’s thirsty.

Finally, he’s able lift his eyes to see the angel his friend beside him, holding a mug.

Y/N.

“It’s from the box of peach tea we found yesterday,” Y/N happily tells him.

They look miles better than they did a few hours ago. He’s relieved.

Awareness of what’s going on and what happened snaps into gear and he tries to look behind him at his side that’d been gashed open, but doing that makes his head spin.

Also he’s—got a tube in his arm?

Y/N notices his confusion. “You need fluids, dude. Maggie suggested I rub your throat to get you take the drink down while you were half-conscious. It was workin’, too, just like for a cat. You’re on your second IV bag already, the first one went in right quick.”

Not to mention, what’s left of the peach tea in the mug is empty within seconds.

“Don’t worry, there’s more of that. You weren’t out too too long,” they mumble, setting the mug down. “We already checked you over for bites, now we’re disinfectin’ your side wound. Mr. Greene and Patricia are gonna resume that, okay? Then Maggie and I are gonna clean up your head.”

The best he can do is grunt in acknowledgement. He’s tired as fuck. Mumbling and quiet conversation fills the room.

“Daryl, spell your last name, please."

Spell his—huh? “Why’d d’you need my last name?” he slurs.

“To see how loopy you are,” Y/N dryly puts it. “I’m going to ask you to tell me the number ‘thirteen’ in a few minutes, deal? Thirteen.” They then uncap a—ha, orange gatorade? That’s their favorite—and place the straw in it and direct him to, “Hold this, drink, spell your last name for me.”

“D-I, um, X-O-N.” Ouch, his voice sounds like he gargled with pebbles. Feels like it, too.

“Did you take any kind of drug this afternoon, mushrooms?”

He makes an nuh-uh type of groan in response, and mumbles, “Tossed Merle’s hard stuff this mornin’.”

He feels whoever’s cleaning his gash pause, then continue. There’s extra hushed whispering, too.

“Th-that’s, um, very good! Ohh my.” His friend clears their throat. “So I guess we’ll only clap you in irons over charges of grand theft horse,” they snort. “Now, did you get mugged, did you fall, what happened to you out there, man?”

Whoever’s cleaning out his bolt wound, they’re pouring liquid stuff and dabbing at it, and shit it is stinging like a mother-fucker, ow!

“Rough afternoon,” he groans. Then, Daryl remembers the most important thing and slurs out a rushed, “Th’doll!” while opening his eyes again and trying to sit up. Pain stops him from moving much.

“Yes!" Y/N giggles. "Straight up, everybody here could’ve kissed you when we saw you’d found it, Daryl. Can you tell us where you found it?”

This rush of heat from outta nowhere zaps his cheeks as he rests his eyes again and relaxes down onto the pillow. “Bottom of the ridge,” he tells them.

“Clever man, you said it would be the best vantage point. Now, about those injuries, what made your afternoon ‘rough’ specifically?”

“…Fell down it.”

A small noise left Y/N’s mouth.

It's the old man’s voice who asks, “Is that how you got the wound to your side, here?”

“Happened th’first time I went down. Bolt.”

“The 'first time.' Y-you fell down it more than once? That’s—” squeaks from Y/N's mouth, then some babbling. “Oh m—does he need a traction collar or, or—”

“You said ‘bolt.’ Would that be from your crossbow?” comes the old man's voice again.

“Mm.”

“It’s remarkable the injury didn’t perforate any organs, passed clean through,” he comments. “Do you have any numbness or a tingling sensation anywhere on your appendages?”

His negative groan was hopefully sufficient. He kinda wishes he had numbness, because all he feels now is sore. It’s like he got whumped by a Mack truck.

“Tap your fingers to your thumb,” the old man then orders.

He does.

“Did any of that hurt?”

Another negative groan. He tries to shake his head, too.

A woman’s voice he’s unfamiliar with hushes, “Y/N, he’s okay for now, just keep checkin’ his cognition and feeling his head. Ears and nose, too, for fluids. Maggie, sweetpea, you check his toes for movement and sensation.”

He liked the sound of the woman’s voice. It was down-home twangy and no-nonsense, in a good way.

Now his shoes are getting untied, which must be Maggie. That’s the short-haired chick, if he’s remembering it right?

His friend sighs. “That guardian angel of yours is having a very busy day, Dary-bear.” There are some rustling noises near his head. He opens his eyes to see them pull what looks like a very skinny flashlight from the first aid bag. “I’m going to use this penlight, now. Can, um,” they pause and look around the room.

Wait, how many people are in here?

“Teddy, please hold the drink for him?” they call behind them. “Let’s get that bottle drained.”

Sure enough, T-Dog walks over from wherever he was, crouches down, and holds the bottle by Daryl’s mouth so he can sip from the straw.

“Sorry you had to wake up to all this fussin’ and chaos, man. But, you heard ’em, drink this down.”

“Wiggle your toes, please?” the short-haired chick calls, similarly twangy like the blonde woman and Y/N.

He wiggles his toes.

“Now point, then straighten your feet and toes for her,” Y/N murmurs.

He does.

“Straighten, then relax your legs if you can.”

He can, and does.

“Any of that hurt or feel tingly?”

“No,” he grunts again.

“Next, look at my nose, please,” his friend says. They guide his left hand in theirs and position it so it makes a wall between his two eyes. “Keep your hand there and repeat the months of the year. I’m going to shine this near each eye a few times, just keep starin’ at my nose while I do.”

As he recites the months in between gulps of the gatorade, he notices by the time he says “October” that he’s been staring into their eyes and at their lips instead of their nose.

When they gently take his hand and lower it back down, he gets a rush that helps him feel more awake.

“Now let’s have the months backwards,” they instruct.

He does his best.

“Let me know if you feel anythin’ off,” the blonde older lady says to Y/N. “I’ll palpate when you’re done.”

“Yes, ma’am. Okay, please tell me what memory came into your head when you saw the orange sports drink,” Y/N asks him next, their hands lightly pressing around his head, almost in a massage type of way. He doesn’t know what it is or why they are doing it, or why he isn’t flinching at someone touching him, but here he is. It feels really nice—OW!—except that spot didn’t feel as nice, that hurt!

“I, um,” he croaks. For real, his voice croaked. Rough afternoon. “It’s your favorite.” He rests his eyes again and remembers how Y/N’s floppy sandals squeaked as they’d walked to the wash area together. He’d been holding their bucket. That memory helps him relax more…

“You rememb—um, y-yeah, it’s my—sorry, you remembered that?”

“Give the man credit, Y/N,” T-Dog says under his breath in a way that sounds like he’s joking.

“Theodore,” they whisper back. “He’ll think you’re serious.”

Daryl isn’t sure what that was about, his eyes are still closed and heavy.

Y/N clears their throat. “Anyway, here I thought you’d just mention that you’d given me a bottle, friend. Um, ten points if you can state the name of the generic gatorade?”

T-Dog has tapped him with the straw to get him to drink more, so he opens his eyes and manages a grunt in response while he sips, then closes them again.

“Eh, you’re right, that’d be a stretch even if you didn’t just go through the wringer. It was Sportsman’s Signature Electrolyte Rehydration Beverage,” Y/N fills him in. “Now, I’m gonna check both nostrils and both ears for stuff coming out them, just bear with me, I’m usin’ a gauze square for it, I’ll be poking it into those places. How about you remind me the name of your favorite uncle.”

“Uncle Jesse,” is his answer before Y/N even finishes saying ‘uncle.’ The tickling feeling of the gauze in his nose almost makes him sneeze, then the feel of it in his ears is just uncomfortable.

At least his eyelids and his body don’t feel as heavy as before.

He open his eyes again. Sees Y/N is scribbling something down in a notebook.

“And what number did I ask you to remember, sweetheart?” Y/N checks. “Ugh, there I go with the pet names again. Sorry, honey, ain’t nothing, please tell me what that number was?”

Number? Number, um, uh, honey…um…three…thirteen. “Thirteen.”

“High-five, perfect recall!”

He finds himself tapping his palm to theirs and almost smiling.

Whatever they’re talking about now, though, is going right over his head. He’s gonna rest his eyes again…

“GCS is a solid 14, I think? He’s oriented, it’s just takin’ him slightly longer to get his words. Long term recall was good, short term he passed, too. Seems like he’s wakin’ up. What’s your take, Miss Patricia? Do y’all even use GCS in real life?”

“Ain’t heard ‘GCS’ since workin’ third shift ER for my first job. Oh, that was years ago,” came the twangy woman’s voice. “But it’s used a whole lot. 14 means he’s doin’ pretty good now. We’ll check it again later, I’ll teach you all about RLA scoring.”

“What’s RLA stand for?”

“Rancho Los Amigos, right?” is what Daryl thinks he hears T-Dog answer, but it makes zero sense so he must’ve heard wrong. “A few buddies of mine got concussions back in the day,” T-Dog explains, but it still doesn’t make sense. He opens his eyes as if that’ll clear things up.

Lucky for him, his friend repeats “Rancho-Los-Amigos?” which really is the damn name, the woman assures them both.

Daryl tries to look back again to see his gash. He doesn’t feel as dizzy as bef—where’s his shirt?

His pulse starts to pound in his ears.

He’s got no shirt on. In front of all these people?

Cold chills and a hot waves pelt through him at the same time. If, if his shirt if off and all these people are in here, that means they saw it. His back.

“Please stop trying to twist around,” comes the voice of the old man from behind him. “The wound is clotted and I want it to remain that way before I stitch you up.”

Y/N chirps in like an oblivious damn canary before he has a chance to react or think. “Oh, Daryl, would you mind if I watched? I wanna see it done as much as I can so I can learn.”

Turns out, this was a good thing. Him not being able to react to realizing he’s got no shirt on gave him time to see that a clean towel was bunched around his stomach, as well as positioned over his back shoulder; most of him is covered.

He’s shirtless, yeah, but covered.

And he now sees that his position on the bed means that, although the door is behind him, he’s blocked by the angle and by the blonde woman with the twangy voice and the old man.

“You just paled like you seen a ghost. Brother, you feeling okay?” T-Dog whispers.

Daryl meets his eyes for a second. How is he supposed to admit to not wanting anyone to see him without his shirt without sounding like some priss?

It’s just that—he’s shit at lying and the scars he’s got are kinda obvious. He’d tried to lie to a doctor once about it, the guy saw right through it. Daryl had been over 18 by then, so none of that CPS stuff happened, but still. The look on the doctor’s face made him feel like some pitiful kid and it made him feel small and weak and like he’d done something wrong.

“Y/N, can you check his blood pressure?”

It’s pointless for Daryl to try to say it was nothing, because Y/N was beside him again and pumping up that cuff thing within half a damned minute. He ends up officially meeting the owner of the twangy, no-nonsense voice, too. Patricia.

“He’s 108 over 64, Miss Patricia. That’s good, though, not too low. Oh.” Y/N’s face drops and they pause removing the cuff. “But he is a smoker, d-do you think that means it’s-it’s too low? I-I don’t know his baseline! Honey, what’s your baseline?”

“Daryl, spell that last name again for me?” the woman asks, and way calmer than Y/N.

He spells it again. “D-I-X-O-N.”

“14 times 2 is?”

“Uh, it’s, uh 28.”

“Five squared is?”

Squared is multiplying a number by itself, so…“25.”

“Your older brother’s name was?”

‘Was?’ What does she mean ‘was?’

He perks all the way up, and with a vengeance. “His name still is Merle,” he pretty much snarls back. Merle ain’t dead.

The woman makes a one-sided smile at Y/N and T-Dog with a brow raised. “He’s definitely awake now, doin’ just fine. Hersh, I’m gonna check his skull for any issues, then let’s double check if he’s got spinal damage. Did you check his nose and ears for CSF, Y/N?”

“He’s clean.”

“Anythin’ feel off on his head?”

“Some goose eggs, especially by this area here.” Daryl feels the warmth from Y/N’s hand as it hovers over the area he’d winced at. Their fingers trail along his hair for a sec, if he didn't just imagine that... “But no wiggly bits or step-off. His pupils were good.”

“After I get a good feel for his skull and neck, Maggie and Y/N, please give his hair a quick wash before cleaning and bandaging his graze. Then which of us is gonna stitch him up, you or me, Hersh?”

“I think Mr. Dixon here would prefer fewer people in here. I’ll do it.”

Those words are music to Daryl’s ears. So many damn people fussing over nothing. Patricia is done checking his skull or whatever, now she's poking around his neck.

“How many people are in here, anyway?” he asks whoever will answer.

“Mr. Greene, Patricia, Maggie, T-Dog, Rick, and me. Carol, Lori, Shane, Andrea, Dale and Glenn and Jimmy are out in the hallway,” Y/N tells him. "Carl's still in bed, of course, so Beth's with him."

…The whole group? Even the teenage kid?

What’s he supposed to, um…why the hell are they all crowding around and waiting? For him?

The old man saves his ass again. “Let’s leave dressing his head wound until after he’s stitched up. Everyone out, please.”

The name Sophia pops into the forefront of this thoughts. If they all acted fast, maybe she could be back by tomorrow morning! “I gotta talk to Rick.”

The old man's fuse is low, that’s obvious. “You’re the patient,” he responds.

“Then Y/N, you can stay, too,” is not what Daryl expects would next leap out of his mouth like a frog over hot tar, but there it goes. They wanted to learn, the old man better let them.

Weird part is, he understands that in offering that they stay, Y/N is definitely, 100% going to see the scars if they’ll be watching him get stitched…he doesn’t know, it’s just weird; he doesn’t have any kind of dread or nothing in the pit of his stomach about it. It's better when they're around.

He looks at them for a second, a bloody rag in their hand that they're back to pressing to his head. There's one, little tug to his chest in their direction, then it's gone.

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> Masterlist link here

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[thetargaryenbride]

Nail To The Coffin - S2 - Chapter 9

Warnings: mention of the word fag, some blood and injury description

Pairing: Steve Harrington x f!Byers!Reader

Word Count: 5086

A.N: FINALE of season 2. I hope I did Billy justice. It's hard to imagine someone with his personality having a vulnerable moment and trying to reach out but I hope I did his character justice...before the impending doom that is season 3 :')  As always, please do make me know if I’ve written certain characters OOC and if you think there is something that can be corrected within the story. Thank you for reading. Hope you like it! 🖤 🥀

Masterlist || Chapter 8 || S3, Chapter 1

You woke up a few days later when the afternoon sun shone harshly on your face. For a moment there you thought you were back in your room and that it was yet another tiring school day, making you groan as you tried to get up. And then you felt the throbbing pain in your side which elicited a loud whimper.

“Y/N!?” exclaimed Steve as he and Jonathan rushed to your side and began fussing over you.

“How are you feeling?”

“Does it hurt too much?”

“Should we call the doctor?”

“I think we should.”

“Jesus…whoever said that men weren’t emotional?” you drawled jokingly and they looked at you in surprise before bursting into light chuckles.

“She’s alive and kicking, ladies and gentlemen!” exclaimed Steve and you smiled at him.

“How did the doctors even let you and your loud mouth in?” you shook your head.

“I just told them they can’t keep me from seeing my girl, that’s all,” he shrugged as a soft smile graced his features and your cheeks heated up as you stared at him lovingly.

“I’m…still here,” coughed awkwardly Jonathan and you and Steve sputtered.

“Uh, yeah, right!”

“Sorry about that…”

“Yeah, I’m just, uh, gonna get a doctor,” he excused himself before leaving the room which left you and Steve alone.

The boy sat on the edge of the bed, careful to not make contact with your torso, and took your hand in his, entwining his fingers with yours while his other hand went to stroke yours. He stared at your two hands, biting the inside of his cheek. You wanted to ask what was eating him up but chose to give him time to speak whenever he felt like it.

“I thought I lost you,” he finally muttered, gulping nervously, and your expression melted into one of guilt and sympathy.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered and he shook his head.

“It’s not your fault…I just…I just wish I was there to protect you,” he finally looked up and you could see the guilt in his eyes.

“Hey, no, you can’t do this to yourself…” you muttered as you lifted your free hand and gently placed it on his cheek. “You couldn’t have known about Will and the lab and the monsters…It all happened too suddenly…Steve, you did more than enough for me and for my family,” you reassured him and he gulped again, nodding hesitantly. “Come here,” your hand slid from his cheek to his neck as you pulled slightly and he understood what you wanted to do, lowering himself closer to your face.

You stared into his deep, brown eyes filled with regret, guilt, worry, and love and you wondered how blind you must have been to not notice that love before. You traced each bruise on his beautiful face, the hand that had been entwined with his now coming to caress his black eye. You grasped both sides of his face and brought him closer, peppering each bruise with soft kisses before halting and looking at his lips.

Before you could move, he pressed his lips against yours and you felt as if dozens of fireworks erupted inside you.

“I love you,” you breathed out in the kiss and you could feel him smiling before deepening the kiss. When you finally parted he looked at you, seeing the way your own eyes were equally as full of love and admiration as were his. He too wondered how he hadn’t noticed earlier. The two of you had been able to put on masks and restrict yourselves from doing things that were deemed inappropriate if a boy and girl weren’t together. But all you really needed to do was look at each other – properly look at each other.

As cheesy as it sounded, it was all in the eyes. They were proclaimed the window to the soul for a reason.

“I love you too,” he said with a smile as he bit his lip and you chuckled breathily. “I can’t believe that Henderson was actually right about something,” he shook his head and you lifted your brows curiously.

“About what?”

“He called us blind idiots,” snorted the boy and you guffawed.     

“I mean it hurts my pride to be called out by a thirteen-year-old but…”

“Well…better late than never.”

“Alright, so, here’s the prescription of the antibiotics, probiotics, and other supplements Y/N/N will have to take for the following sixty days until she recovers fully. Uh, the doctor said he wants to keep her for at least a week before discharging her,” your brother explained everything the doctor had told him to your mother who had just arrived after Jonathan had called to tell her you were awake.

While waiting for your mom to arrive and after speaking to the doctor, Jonathan and Steve filled you in about everything that had happened after you had gotten admitted to the hospital.

Apparently, Hopper had done a good job with the stitching but some blood had still managed to seep through and when you had been suddenly jerked and moved around, some of the stitches had torn which had resulted in more blood seeping through the gashes. On top of all, it turned out that the monster had damaged some of your organs when it had slashed at you. It hadn’t been able to tear the tissue or puncture them but it had grazed the surface of the colon and the spleen, breaking some ribs in the process, and when you had been jerked around, those broken ribs had contributed to the graze by making it larger and rupturing the spleen and also digging and tearing more into your flesh which had caused more blood to gush out, hence the blood loss on top of the damaged organ. But the good news was that you hadn’t spent much time in this condition and you were brought to the hospital fairly soon so the doctors had done a blood transfusion and had treated your injuries. You had taken a couple of days to regain consciousness because your body needed lots of rest in order to gather enough energy to heal and adjust to the sudden loss and gain of blood.

A jarring experience it was. 

“Ok…ok, we’ll-we’ll do that. We’ll do that and you’ll see how fast you’ll recover, honey,” smiled Joyce as she let out a big breath of relief and squeezed your hand soothingly.

“Don’t worry, mom. I’ll be ok,” you smiled at her reassuringly before your eyes flickered to Steve who was sitting on the chair behind her, legs spread, using them as armrests. He sent you a smile and yours grew even more. Then you turned to look at Will who was quietly sitting on the chair by the bed, looking at his lap and fiddling with his fingers. “I’m more worried about this guy, however. What’s wrong, sweetie? What’s bugging you?” you asked and Will chewed on the inside of his lip before he looked you in the eyes.

“I’m sorry…it’s my fault all of this happened. You got hurt…again…” he muttered and your eyes widened.

“Wha-what are you talking about!? You have no fault in this!” you shifted in your sitting position, straightening up and scooting closer to the edge of the bed so you could grasp his shoulders firmly. “Listen… Listen well. You have no fault for any of this. We’re talking about a monster from another dimension. Do you think a child stands a chance against that kind of thing? Hell, not even grown people like the scientists could handle this…Nobody expected that thing to be so powerful and smart, much less to wreak such havoc. A-and look, even if it wasn’t you, the creature would’ve surely found another victim to use in order to get to our world and do damage. I don’t want to hear you blame yourself ever again…ok?” you asked as you looked into his eyes, searching for some kind of agreement and enlightenment but there was nothing in there but guilt and sadness.

He nodded but you knew he didn’t really believe your words. At least for now. So you just pulled at him, making him sit on the bed, and brought him to your side to hug him tightly while Steve, Joyce, and Jonathan looked on with pained expressions. “We’re going to share this burden…until you realize it’s not your fault, we’re going to share the guilt,” you stated after a while and he pulled away to look at you, confusion written on his face.

“What?”

“Look, if I had brought you to Dr. Owens as soon as I wanted to, things would’ve been completely different. I just know it. We would’ve brainstormed, would’ve come up with the idea of burning this shit out of you sooner. Also? Bob died because of me. Not you,” you told him and his eyebrows furrowed as he went to protest but you beat him to it. “If I hadn’t wasted time standing there and had moved faster, the two of us could’ve escaped the monster. But I didn’t…I just wasn’t fast enough…and Bob died saving me,” you gulped as your eyes watered.

“But I led the Demo-dogs into the lab,” he sniffed. 

Joyce shut her eyes, tears escaping the corners, as she listened to her children try to take the burden off each other before she clapped her hands, gaining their attention.

“Enough of this!” she voiced firmly as she looked at you both and closed the distance, placing hands on each of your shoulders. “None of you is to blame. None of you is responsible for either of this... You are not responsible for Bob’s death. The monster would’ve jumped on him b-because he was standing right t-there. You saved him by pushing him away. It was-it was his choice to come back and save you… He chose to be a hero and not a coward,” she told you wobbly as another tear slid down her face and your lip trembled. “And you are not to blame for being possessed by an alien monster and being connected to its army. Your actions weren’t yours. You were just being used,” she sniffed as she spoke to Will.

“Mom’s right…you have no fault for any of this. You were just victims of this creature. You are innocent,” joined Jonathan as he too came to sit on the bed.

You and Will could only look at each other before back at your mother and brother and the four of you got into a big, family hug. Steve smiled as he watched you hug and something akin to longing was filling his heart. He wished that his family was as tight-knit as yours. He felt all alone in the world sometimes.

But then you beckoned him over and he just stood there frozen, not knowing if he should come over but when you sent him another look he hesitantly approached you and joined the hug, being warmly welcomed not only by you but by the others as well.

You didn’t know how long all of you cried and hugged one another but with each passing second, warmth and ease were spreading in you more and more and you hoped that Will felt the same way. It might not be right now. It might take time. But you were going to overcome this together and you would come out stronger as individuals and as a family.

And now you had an additional member too.

You woke up the same night because of a rancid feeling. You felt as if your lungs were bubbling and filling with something and you couldn’t breathe as you shot up in bed and clutched your chest, taking ragged gulps of air. The hustling immediately woke up Steve and your family and they were by your side in seconds.

“W-what is going on?” exclaimed Joyce worriedly. “Jonathan, call a doctor!” she all but shouted and your brother was out of the room in an instant.  

“Bathroom,” you gasped out as you struggled to get out of bed and Steve quickly unplugged all and any cables and IVs that were connected to you and helped you get on your feet.

You took ahold of his arm and clutched it tightly as you rushed as much as physically possible to the bathroom and pretty much collapsed against the sink, gripping tightly the white marble as you belched and coughed. Blood came out of your mouth and stained the clean surface, making everyone gasp as their eyes blew open in shock and panic.

And then you coughed out something that landed with a disgusting squelch. It kind of looked like a slug, but not really, and it seemed to be dead because it was unmoving. Saliva and blood dripped from your mouth as you tried regaining your breathing, the horrible feeling in your lungs now gone.

“What the hell,” mumbled Steve and Will gulped as he stared at the creature.

“It almost looks like a smaller version of Dart.”

“Fucker!” you gasped out in disbelief as realization hit you like a ton of bricks. “Now I understand why Dr. Owens said I was marked…but he was wrong. I wasn’t a host and I wasn’t building any connection…I was a goddamn incubator,” you scrunched up your face and the others mirrored your appalled reaction. “That thing used me to grow its spawn inside of me,” you spat out the remaining blood and saliva and glared at the dead creature.

“It probably used Will as well. Maybe that’s how the Demo-dogs came into existence. I mean, there’s no other logical explanation,” offered Steve and you rubbed your forehead in frustration.

“I cannot believe this.”

“Well, at least they all died after El closed the gate. This one here serves as proof that everything is good now. No more monsters,” tried to comfort you Steve as he rubbed your arms up and down and you leaned against him, nuzzling in his shoulder.   

You desperately wanted to believe his words.

With the gate closed you were looking forward to peaceful times and no more monsters.

A couple of weeks later

You exited your car and let out an anxious sigh as you stared at the house that stood in front of you. For a moment there it felt much larger than it was in reality, towering over you like a gigantic predator. It was ridiculous to feel scared of approaching this and it seemed much easier when you imagined it in your head but actually coming face to face with the boy you didn’t know how to feel about was intimidating.

You drummed your fingers on the car’s ceiling a couple of times until you finally decided to close the door and march towards the house’s entrance. You rubbed your hands nervously before ringing the doorbell. 

“What is it?“

“Billy, hi,” you smiled at the boy who had yanked open the door and he raised his brows.

“Byers? The hell are you doing here?” he asked, tone filled with curiosity, but before you could respond, you lost your voice when your eyes landed on his bruised cheek, split lip, and blackening eye.

“What happened?!” you exclaimed as you took a step closer and he immediately took one back.

“Got into a fight. Nothing of significance.”

“I’ve seen you get into many fights before, including the one when you almost beat my boyfriend into a coma, but you just never seem to get any physical consequences,” you chirped and he let out a huff.

“That’s only ‘cause everyone here is weak as hell.”

“Then how come this one got you that good?” you narrowed your eyes and his lips tightened.

“Billy!” an angry voice sounded from inside the house and you leaned sideways to look from around the boy, noticing an approaching figure. “How many times do I have to repeat myself about-“ the man finally came to the door and his yelling ceased the moment he saw you, angry lines melting into a charming smile. “I didn’t know we had company.”

“Uh, yeah, she was just leaving,” cleared his throat Billy and you looked on with furrowed eyebrows, eyes darting between him and his father, lip twitching and threatening to curl up in a disgusted sneer as you slowly began putting pieces together. 

“It’d be rude to just send her off without inviting her, wouldn’t it? Where are your manners, boy?” smiled tightly the man and although he was trying to keep a more light-hearted tone, you could detect the sternness and the bite he was trying to suppress.

“Yeah, sure. Come in, Byers,” he nodded with his head and stepped away, allowing you to enter which you did hesitantly, mindful to not get close to the unpleasant man.

“What’s your name?” he asked as he extended a hand for greeting. “Mine is Neil Hargrove.”

“Y/N Byers,” you grasped his hand but didn’t return his smile, causing his to falter ever so slightly.

“Oh…you’re the girl who got attacked a couple of weeks ago.”

“Indeed, I am. And Billy was the one who brought me to the hospital. Saved my life,” you revealed and Neil looked at the boy in question who only fidgeted in his spot a bit, not used to hearing you speak like this, especially because it was concerning him. He didn’t know you well but to him, it almost felt as if you were subtly trying to put off his father. Tick him off on purpose. “You must be very proud of your son, Mr. Hargrove,” you poked at him, looking him dead in the eyes and he cleared his throat.

“Of course I’m proud.”

“I was wondering if I could speak to him…in private?” you asked and he was quick to agree, telling Billy that he could take you to his room.

The boy obeyed silently and began climbing the stairs with you following slowly, observing the house of the Hargrove family with mild curiosity.

His room was almost exactly as you had thought it would be – with a big bed, vanity full of male cosmetics, cigarette boxes, and half-filled ashtrays, some strewn clothes, and workout equipment. 

The moment he closed the door, you were in his face, hands grasping his chin and cheek, moving his head up, down, and sideways so you could inspect the damage and he took ahold of your wrists, prying you away from him.

“Why did you come?” he grit out. He was never going to admit it out loud but he felt threatened and vulnerable at the way you had caught him in such a moment – in the aftermath of his father’s abuse when he felt lower than the grass.

“He did this, didn’t he?” you answered his question with a question of your own and you could see his face heat up. What you couldn’t put your finger on was whether it did so because of anger or embarrassment.

“This is none of your business,” he replied curtly before gently shoving you away so he could go to the bathroom but you didn’t give him the chance to and quickly gripped his shoulder, making him turn around.

“Billy, just talk to me. I’m not exactly a stranger to this,” you stated firmly and his eyes widened as he stared at you for some time before he let out a sharp exhale and took a few steps backward, plopping down on the bed.

You hesitantly took a step forward and wrapped your arms around your torso as you observed the boy and waited for him to say something, hoping that he would decide to open up so you could lend him a hand in this battle and show him that he wasn’t alone.

“My dad’s a grade-A asshole, alright? Yeah…he does shit like that,” admitted the boy after a minute of silence as he aggressively grabbed the Marlboro box from his bedside cabinet and took out a cigarette, lighting it up. You could only look at him with sympathy.

“Is that why you asked me about my dad? Back at the diner?” you asked, already knowing the answer, and he nodded. Another moment of silence passed as you tried to gather the courage to speak candidly about your experience. “You know, he used to torment my brothers a lot,” you began as you took out your own box of cigarettes and popped one into your mouth while dragging your feet towards the bed and plopping down next to the boy. “He’d call them all kinds of bad things. He’d yell at them, belittle them, push them… He wanted to turn them into his, own sick and twisted version of a man by making them do bad things like hunt and hurt animals just for the sake of killing something. He’d say that getting your hands dirty makes you a real man, otherwise, you’re good-for-nothing trash and a…and a fag,” you shuddered at the offensive word as you took a long drag and Billy snorted.

“That’s…familiar,” he drawled with a mocking smile. “Mine would always call me useless, weak, or a fag if I didn’t perform perfectly at whatever bullshit he’d pick for me to do… At one point, seeing the disappointment on his face turned from something scary into a sick, guilty pleasure of mine. So I’d fail or refuse to do shit on purpose,” he shrugged, blowing our smoke.

“Mm, that’s a feeling I know well... Unfortunately in my case if I did that, he’d just go back to tormenting my brothers. So I had to follow through with whatever he wanted and just…try to distract him and keep him away from them,” you took a drag as you looked at the floor, mind flooding with unpleasant memories you were trying so hard to permanently bury. “Mind you, sometimes it’d become too much to handle, you know… Many times I snapped back at him, yelled at him, called him names…and I’d get my punishment for it,” you chuckled dryly and Billy looked at you intensely as if his eyes could penetrate your present-time, clean skin and see the skin of the past, filled with bruises.

“Mine wants to, uh…make me learn respect and discipline,” he spat out. “He doesn’t think of me as a son. He thinks of me as a soldier he has to train,” he drawled and you let out a long exhale through your nose, rubbing your temple with one hand while the other was busy putting out the cigarette. 

When you lifted your face and locked eyes with the boy, you smiled sadly. “We’re more alike than I thought,” you muttered and he stared at you before releasing a light snort, the corner of his lips twitching into a knowing smile.

“Surprisingly we are.”

Silence engulfed you for a minute and before he could say anything, you stormed in the bathroom. He could only scrunch up his face in confusion at the sound of you rummaging through cabinets but when you came back and he saw the alcohol and cotton pads in your hands it all became clear to him.

“Look, I don’t want to be pitied or babied, ok? I’m a grown-ass man. I can take care of myself. You’ve said what you wanted to say. You can go now,” he waved his hand dismissively but you refused to listen and sat down next to him, making him groan in frustration.

“Do you remember what I told you that night?” you questioned and he lifted his brows. “That if you stop acting all tough and mighty and like a jerk and begin showing some more kindness to people you’d surround yourself with good friends who’ll do anything for you? Everyone needs good people in their life. Everyone deserves happiness and kindness to be shown to them…So why do you run from it?” you looked him in the eyes and did not let go of the iron hold you had won over him until he finally relented, his scrunched-up features relaxing as he let out a sigh of defeat.

You smiled and poured some alcohol on the cotton pad and gently began dabbing at his bruises.

“Listen, about your father,” he spoke suddenly and you ceased your movements. “I’m sorry you had to go through this shit too,” he muttered and you smiled, taking a hold of his hand and squeezing reassuringly.

“Hey…I think we’re going to be ok, you and I…we’re tough nuts to crack.”

“Pass me this.”

“Lucas, don’t touch the chicken. Wait for everyone to gather first.”

“One, two, three, four-“

“Another chair right here!”

It was a chaotic December day when you had announced that you, your mother and brothers would be hosting a gathering and the whole party gladly joined you and your family to properly celebrate the end of the horrible events, the closing of Hawkins lab, and the upcoming holidays. Everyone was there – Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Nancy, Steve, and even Hopper and Eleven had come. Speaking of the man, he was responsible for the grill.

“Hey. Hey! Make way for the sausages!” he called out as he marched to the table with two plates full of sausages and Lucas and Dustin hurried to move away.

You had done your part of the helping and cooking already and you were tired so you opted to just watch the scenery from the place by the window you had taken, nursing a mug of hot chocolate. You watched the falling snow and the way some trees swing lightly at the wind and your mind wandered off to deep waters yet again. You almost jumped when you felt arms slither around your waist and a head rest on your shoulder as warm lips kissed the side of your neck and you shifted to get a better look at Steve.

“You looked deep in thought so I came to distract you,” he muttered and you pecked his nose.

“I feel,” uncertain of the future, is what your mind screamed at you, “fine,” you told him and his hold on you tightened, the two of you choosing to stay silent and watch both outside the window and the crowd inside.

You fished out one of the swimming marshmallows and nibbled on it as you chuckled at the bustling going on around you and the multiple cheerful voices, filling the air and creating a joyous atmosphere. Will in particular was having the time of his life, trying to steal some of the fried chicken with Lucas, both of them impatient to try the food, when Hopper slapped their hands away and sent them a scolding look, making them scurry. 

Your brother ran to your side and tried using you and Steve as shields which only made you giggle more. You ruffled his hair as you stared at him, eyes filling with hope and heart – with ease.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?” asked Will in confusion as his hand immediately flew to his cheek and you chuckled, shaking your head a bit.

“It’s nothing, you’re fine…It’s just good to see you smiling again, sweet boy.”

He gave you a hug and you placed a kiss on his head but just then the doorbell rang and you had to let go and check who was at the door.

“Did you miss your favorite rock star!?” shouted out Eddie as he barged inside and did a typical pose of his, making you snort. Will and Jonathan smiled as they came to greet him and he didn’t hesitate to take Will in his hands and rub his knuckles on his head, making your brother wriggle and groan as his hair got all messed up.

“Guys! I want you to meet one of my best friends,” you announced and everyone turned to look at the boy who suddenly calmed down his erratic behavior and cleared his throat, looking at you uncertainly. You nodded and nudged him with your elbow, urging him to finally take steps forward and go meet the others.

“It was a great idea to invite him. He needs this,” said Jonathan as the two of you observed the way Eddie communicated with the kids and you smiled. 

“He deserves to have a big, loving family…And I think we fit the description.”

The doorbell rang again and you and your brother shared a confused look, opening the door.

“You came,” a bright smile graced your features when you came face to face with Billy and Max.

You had told Max of the gathering that you’d be hosting and asked her to invite Billy as well. You just felt that if he was to spend some time with your party, he would begin thinking of some things differently and maybe, just maybe, he would start opening up more and letting actual good people into his life which would definitely be beneficial for his growth. So you were very happy to see the two of them standing at your doorsteps.  

“I just came to drop off Max. I’m not staying,” said Billy and your smile fell.

“Well, what if…you stayed just for a while? To warm up and get some food?” you asked hopefully and he just stared at you, pondering on your offer.

“For a while,” he drawled and the smile was back on your face as you stepped aside to let him in.

“I’m sure he’s just playing hard to get. Don’t mind his distant and cold behavior,” smiled Max apologetically and you brought her in for a hug. She was a bit shocked and stood still for a moment before wrapping her arms around you.

“I’m just happy that you two are here.”

She didn’t say anything as the two of you hugged for a while and then you let go and gave her a smile that she returned before you turned to look at the huge group gathering at the table and with a last shared look, the two of you joined them.

It was the most peculiar and miraculous thing – the way your family had expanded.

And because of this outcome a part of you – a more selfish part of you – was grateful for the monsters and the events that you all had to go through. Because it was them that brought you all closer and turned you into this big family.

Life was much more fun with that many friends in it.

[idontplaytrack]

✧ I’ll make it anywhere

Janis ‘Imi’ike x Regina George(+ little sister reader)

Warnings: fluff, coarse language

Part 2 of 3. Read part 1 here.

“I asked her out.”

“And?” Regina asked.

“Thea said yes. We’re going out Friday after school to see a movie and hang out at the mall.” You nearly squealed.

Regina chuckled, “See? We told you everything would be fine.”

“I just…don’t really want to be too excited about this because mom’s been keeping a real close eye on me ever since you’ve been out of the house.”

“I get it.” Regina answered. “Have fun, though.”

“I will, Reg. Thanks.” You sat down on your bed, dropping your backpack on your desk chair.

You got up on your feet a minute later, still on the phone with Regina when you put your phone on the dresser and put her on speaker mode. “How’s Janis? She had the flu a couple days ago, didn’t she?”

“Hi, y/n.” Janis greets, “I’m all better now, thanks for asking.”

“That’s great.” You smiled while opening up your dresser drawers to grab a change of clothes. While you got changed, Janis asks, “How ya doing?”

“Cannot wait for summer already.” You sigh, flopping back onto your bed with your phone in hand.

“Plans?” Regina asks, curious.

“I barely made a few hundred over spring break. Not sure if I wanna continue working while school’s ongoing.” You laugh, “Just dreaming about the city again, and the bagels, god the bagels.”

“We can fly you in again, you know.” Regina mentions. “Or let mom know and you two will be here before you know it.”

“Eh, true.” You chuckled. “Can I stay with you guys again?”

“Of course.” They answered in sync.

You hung up after awhile, wanting to take a nap. “I’m gonna go, I wanna take a nap.”

“Okay, remember to do your homework.” Your sister reminded you.

“I will, right after I get some sleep.”

“Bye, ladybug.” Regina says with a laugh, “Talk to you again soon.”

“Bye, Reggie.”

You tossed your phone aside and quickly fell asleep. When you woke up, it was only because your mom knocked on your door.

“Dinner’s ready, honey.”

“I’m up, Mom. I’ll be right there.” You rolled over onto your back, stretching your arms out. You took your phone with you and sat at the table with your mom to have dinner together. “You’re not going to meet up with Dad?”

“No, I already told him. The answer will always be no. He left us. I don’t want to be around him anymore.” You bite back a sigh, poking your fork into the vegetable lasagna. Dinner went by as per usual, some questions here and there about your day, but it was generally…okay, sometimes a little awkward since you wouldn’t have much to say. You really just didn’t have much going on right now.

“Hey, honey.” She held onto your wrist, and you stopped walking.

“Yeah?” You turned around to face her.

“How is that situation with um…” She began.

“Doran?” You asked expectantly, “He apologised and hasn’t stared at me since. Let’s…hope it stays that way.”

She nods, giving you a hug, “That’s great. But you know what to do if—”

“I’ll tell you, and tell the school.”

“That’s right.” June nodded, “Okay, have a good night, honey. Sleep tight!”

————

“Hey.” You felt a tap on your shoulder, causing you to look back swiftly.

“Oh, hi, Thea.” You smiled, “What’s up?”

“Nothing much, wanna sit together at lunch?”

“Sure, whoever gets to the cafeteria first finds us a table?”

Thea agrees, “Sounds good. You have calc before lunch?”

“Yeah, in 313.”

“Oh.” Thea nods, “I’ll be in 117 right near the cafeteria.”

“Nice, would be helpful since we only have thirty minutes for lunch.” You chuckled.

“Thirty minutes is not enough.” Thea quips.

The first bell rings, interrupting the conversation. “Especially with you.” She continues. You looked away so quickly, feeling your cheeks heat up. She gives you a hug and says, “See you at lunch. Have a good day.”

You laughed awkwardly, “See you at lunch, Thea.”

The rest of your day seemed to drag on. You were practically buzzing with excitement, staring at the clock watching the time tick by. You couldn’t wait for lunchtime. She kept creeping into your mind— it was distracting.

Three hours later, it was finally time for lunch. You made a beeline for the cafeteria, winding your way through the sea of students in the hallways. You saw Thea sit down at a table, so you walked faster to get to where she was. “Hey!” Thea’s face lit up at the sight of you.

“Hi, Thea.” You set your bag down, “Let’s go get our food before the line gets any longer.”

“Good call. I hate queuing up for lunch, we barely have enough time to eat most days.”

“I actually thought of making my own lunches. But I don’t wanna sacrifice my sleep.” You laughed, moving up in the line.

“If you ask me, sleep is more important. Considering how early school starts, and we have to get ready, have breakfast, make our way here.”

“Exactly!” You exhaled, “Most days I get home from school and I just crash until dinner. Then I have dinner, do my homework or some revision, I shower, then I barely have enough time to do anything else for myself.”

“It’s probably only gone get worse from here, y/n.” Thea chortled, “We have one foot out of high school to college.”

“Ugh.” You groaned, “College freaks me out a little right now, if I’m being honest.”

“It’s pretty scary.” Thea agrees, “It’s still quite far away, but near enough that we know we gotta quit playing around.”

“I have like seven schools in mind, three dream schools, four safetys.” You revealed,

“I have eight. Four each.” Thea scoffs, “I know I’m a good student but somehow it just doesn’t feel like enough. The grades show it, but I can’t help but feel like I will still suck somehow,”

“Our minds…tricky.” You nodded, lips pursed, “We could be doing the best we can but sometimes still feel like our best isn’t good enough, even though we may be working ourselves half to death.”

Thea quirked a brow, nodding.

“Well that took a dark turn.” You bit the inside of your cheek, sipping on your sparkling water.

“It’s the truth. I agree with that, life can be tough in that sense.” Thea shrugged, unfazed.

“Mm.” You hummed, glancing at her.

————

After that little lunch thing with Thea on Tuesday, that’s how the rest of your week went. You sat with Thea during lunch whenever possible, and got to know her outside of class. Turns out, the two of you had pretty similar beliefs. In particular, how the universe always had three answers for people: no, not yet, or I have something better for you.

You believed in that for as long as you could remember. But ever since getting to know Thea, that belief has only strengthened.

School let out early on Friday so you went home right after to get ready to go out with Thea in a couple hours. You met up with her at the mall, watched the movie and was then walking around just chatting. Everything was going great, you felt like you two really clicked. She was really sweet and went home with you that night to make sure you got back safe and sound. So absolutely nothing would have prepared you for the hell that was the coming weekend. Thea asks you out to brunch the next day and being excited to spend more time with her, you agreed. Everything went fine— like usual, the conversation was unending, lots of anecdotes shared…along with laughter. But then it came to a screeching halt when she mentioned that her parents were out of town, and invited you to her house. You chewed the inside of you cheek, feeling your heart beginning to race. The way she asked you…you were sure she didn’t just want you to go to her house to hang out. She wanted to hook up with you. You wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but then she continued and asked if you wanted to have sex. She actually explicitly used those words. And well, your eyes looked like they were going to pop out from your head, having not expected a question like this. Even though the thought has crossed your mind once, actually going through with it was scary.

Somehow, you were in her room, making out with her— you’d let desire take over instead of letting your head freak you out. Thea did say that you two didn’t have to do anything more if you didn’t want to.

You feel her hand roaming lower and lower, and your sobriety became more and more apparent. “Mm-mm, no, no. I don’t want to. I’m not ready.”

Thea instantly pulled away. “That’s okay.”

“Excuse me.” You stumbled out of her bed, asking her where her bathroom was.

“Right across from the hall.” She told you.

You walked in there, locking the door behind yourself as you stared at yourself in the mirror, hands grabbing the edge of countertop till your knuckles turned white. You took deep breaths until your breathing evened out again, screwing your eyes shut until the racing thoughts died down.

“You alright, y/n?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I uh— I just— I just need to go, I’m sorry. It’s been a lot of fun, but I freaked out and I’m sorry—”

“Hey.” Thea looked at you, concerned, “Hey, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it, we’ll let things happen naturally. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it’s fine too.”

You exhaled harshly, “Okay.”

“Do you want me to drive you home?”

“It’s okay, I want to be on my own for a bit. Thank you, though.”

“Yeah, of course. Have a safe trip back home.”

From the moment you got home and have been debating in your head who to talk to. It then became a toss up between Janis and Regina. Your final choice was Janis.

“Hey, what’s up?” She chirped.

“Uh, so— I don’t know if Regina told you but I went on a date?”

“With Thea yesterday.” She replied.

“And today.” You continued.

“Okay.” Janis answered calmly.

“It was great at first, we just went out to brunch and talked a bunch then she suddenly told me that her parents weren’t home and asked if I wanted to go over to hers,” You started to explain, “I thought, ‘okay, that would be fine’. But no, she said more— she asked if we should hook up. Well, long story short I did go over but we only made out. But she wanted to go further, I stopped her because I didn’t want that yet. I told her I couldn’t do it, she said it was okay but I was still freaked out and decided to leave…to go home. I don’t even know why it’s such a big deal because things turned out to be okay, I’ve been home a few hours now I thought of calling Regina but I thought you’d be the better choice— I just don’t wanna worry her. And she can be a little— overwhelming.”

“I get it, it’s a lot to process but it’s still very early on. If it makes you feel any better I was so damn nervous about my first time but if it’s with the right person, you just forget about your worries eventually. If you two had a conversation about it, and things were okay before you left her house, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Take the rest of the weekend to clear your mind, focus on yourself, doing what you want. To put it simply, if she really likes you and cares about you, she wouldn’t force you into anything. A relationship isn’t just about the physical things.”

“I- I know. Thanks, Jan. I just needed to get that out of my system. Thanks for hearing me out.”

“Any time, bubs.” She assured, “And um, it was a good thing you didn’t call Reg because she went to bed early— her back started to act up today and she took painkillers then just slept.”

“Oh, no.” You sulked, biting your nail, “Is she okay? Did the meds help? Sometimes it doesn’t help.”

“She’s fine, it did help. It took away some of the pain, she managed to fall asleep pretty quickly. I’ve been up for a bit to complete a new art piece and keeping an eye on her. So far, everything’s going well.”

“Okay.” You gnawed on your bottom lip, “Don’t sleep too late though.”

“No promises.”

“Janis.” You warned, “Come on.”

“Alright, alright. Thirty minutes then I’m off to bed. You, too, okay?”

“Fine.” You sulked.

“Good niiight.” She chuckles.

“Night, Jan. Thank you.”

She joked, “Of course, bubs. Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

🏷️Tag list:

@ashecampos @auliisflower @cheesysoup-arlo @frogs00 @ludoesartandstuff @pda128

💭A/N:

Took wayyy longer than expected but I got it done. Hope you enjoyed 🥲✨

[kybercrystals94]

The Hostage

(Part 2)

Read here on Ao3!

Master Post here!

Rated: T | Words: 1547 | Summary: The boys search for their sister while Omega learns about her captor's motives.

She was under their protection – his protection – and he’d failed her. What was he thinking, leaving her outside on her own. At least inside, she would have been flanked by their brothers, even if something had gone wrong during negotiations. She's been part of more than her fair share seedy deals before. It is practically the only life she's ever known after Kamino, much to Hunter's disdain. She deserves more than this, and Hunter has been secretly striving for it. A way to put this life behind them, of running. Hiding. Doing questionable jobs to make it for another standard week. He wanted more for her, and now she might...

Hunter cuts himself off from the thought, turning down another side street.

“Hunter, anything?” Tech’s voice interrupts through his in-helmet comm. 

Hunter shoulders his way through the crowd that seems intent on working against him. “Still nothing.” 

“I suggest you return to the ship. It is highly unlikely the kidnapper is still in the area. Our best option is to wait until they make contact with their demands.” 

“If they make contact,” Hunter bites out.

“They would not have left Omega’s bow and comm for us to find if they did not plan to,” Tech says, his tone even and matter-of-fact. 

Hunter wishes he had even a fraction of Tech’s confidence. “Has Wrecker checked in?” 

“He is on his way back. He says that he checked his sector of the city twice but didn’t find anything that would indicate where Omega was taken. Echo and I have reviewed all security footage within the timeframe of Omega’s disappearance. Whoever did this, Hunter, knew what they were doing. There is no sign of Omega on any feed that we gained access to.”  

“If they were going to contact us, why haven’t they done it yet? It’s been hours.” 

There is a pause. “Uncertain.”  

“What if it was a bounty hunter? What if they left Omega’s bow and comm to throw us off, to make us wait around for a call that would never come?” 

“That is why we have taken measures to search the city and security footage. We are not simply taking a kidnapper’s word. However, we also have no leads other than that the kidnapper claimed they would be in touch. I for one believe they will. This individual has shown their ability to disappear entirely, so why give us any hope of hearing from them at all?”  

Hope. A flimsy, terrible thing that Hunter dares to cling to with both hands. He takes a breath. “I’m heading your way, Tech.”

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Omega wakes to the sound of a blaster being reassembled, slowly… meticulously. She’s listened to it many times, watching her brothers clean their own weapons, the sound of metal fitting into metal, latches clicking into place. It is a familiar sound, a welcome sound. A sound that means she is safe and protected. 

“About kriffing time you woke up,” a voice growls. 

Familiarity evaporates, and in its place a sickening twist of panic. Omega jerks upright, finding herself fastened securely into a crash seat. Sitting across from her is the man who attacked her and stole her away. She struggles against the restraints, hands searching frantically for the releases. 

“Calm down,” the man sighs gruffly, standing up. He holsters his blaster. “I’m not gonna hurt you, kid.” 

“Then let me go!” Omega snarls at him. 

The man reaches out and unfastens the harness. “There, you’re free. Happy?” 

“No!” Omega scrambles to her feet. “Take me back to my brothers!” 

“Mouthy little thing, aren’t you.” The man goes back to his seat, takes out his blaster again, and sits down. He holds the weapon loosely, a casual threat. He grins, a twist of his lips. “You’ll go back to your brothers just as soon as they do a little something for me.”

Omega stands stiffly, hands balled into fists at her sides. “You’re not a bounty hunter?”

“Not strictly speaking,” the man says. He reaches into his vest pocket, pulling out a small device. “Do you know what this is?” 

Omega glares at him. 

The man tosses it at her, and Omega barely catches it before it hits her in the face. It is heavy, larger than her palm. Curiosity overwhelms her, and she activates the device. Blue luminance brings up an image of a twi’lek man. Words coil around the base of the image. Her gaze flickers back to the man across from her. “What do you want me to do with this?” she asks. 

“That’s the information we are going to give to your brothers when we make contact.” 

“We? Why would I help you?” 

The man leans back. “Because if you don’t, your brothers won’t have what they need to have you returned. You see, I’m interested in a little trade. My bounty delivered to me in exchange for a little brat. Reasonable enough.” 

“You went to all the trouble of kidnapping me so you could make my brothers do a job for you?” Omega asks, incredulously. 

The man heaves one shoulder in a shrug. “Work smarter not harder, kid. Snatching you is a hell of a lot easier than going up against an assassin in my book."

“So you are a bounty hunter,” Omega says, gripping the puck in both hands. 

“This job is gonna get me into the guild. Once your brothers deliver my bounty.”

“Isn’t that cheating?” 

“Only if I get caught.” The man shifts the blaster, aiming it lazily in Omega’s direction. “So I better not get caught.”

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

“A transmission is coming through on our secure channel,” Tech announces, accepting the call without waiting for his brothers to crowd around him. Omega’s flickering image appears. Tech is relieved that she appears unharmed, even with the poor quality of the transmission. 

“Omega, where are you?” Hunter asks at Tech’s shoulder. 

Omega’s eyes dart to something beyond them. “I don’t know,” she admits, “but I have a message for you.” Her words are stilted, rehearsed. 

Tech asks, “From the individual who took you?” 

Omega nods. “He doesn’t want you to see him or hear him.” Omega holds up what Tech immediately recognizes as a holopuck. “He is going to send an encrypted message with the details of a bounty. If you want me back–” Omega stops short, and even with her features blurred in blue lines, Tech sees her expression crumble. It makes Tech’s chest tighten. His sister blinks hard and starts again, voice carefully even, “If you want me back alive, you'll finish the job. He says that he wants all the credit for the bounty.”

Tech can think of a dozen questions to ask, perhaps more; however, they all seem to get caught in his throat. Their time with Omega is short, any one question might be their last. Perhaps the last thing they will ever say to her at all if they are not able to comply with the kidnapper’s request. 

“Don’t worry, kid,” Echo speaks up, “We’ll have you back in no time at all.” 

Omega offers them a tight smile just before transmission cuts off. 

The silence that follows is heavy and unbearable, Echo's fragile promise hanging by a delicate, invisible thread. 

“Is there any way to trace the transmission?” Hunter asks, voice hoarse.

Tech shakes his head. “It was heavily encrypted and long range.” 

“So our only way to get Omega back is to do what this guy says?” Wrecker asks. 

“Such seems to be the case,” Tech replies. He cannot help but feel a small sense of relief that it is something they can do rather than something they have to give. They barely have enough credits to live on, let alone pay any sort of ransom. This will simply be another mission, although the stakes have never felt so treacherous. 

The ship’s comm chirps, indicating an incoming message. Tech opens it and frowns as he reads over the details.

“This job isn’t going to be easy,” Echo says, reading over Tech’s shoulder. 

“It makes it clear why the kidnapper thought that forcing us to complete his bounty for him would be advantageous, especially as taking Omega was substantially easier than the alternative,” Tech says. 

“Taking Omega shouldn’t have been easy,” Wrecker mutters. 

The silence that follows the statement is agreement enough.

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Her captor’s name is Tonor Javik. It wasn’t hard to figure out since he carves his name into practically everything. Property of Tonor Javik is plastered on every crate, and he’s even crudely etched his name into some of the walls.

“How are they supposed to tell us when they finish the job?” Omega asks, picking at her ration bar. It tastes moldy.

Javik glares at her from across the table. “We’ll check in when I think they’ve had enough time,” he tells her. 

Omega rolls her eyes. “It’s been three rotations. Unlike you, my brothers are actually capable.” 

This earns her a growl, but Omega only smirks at him. Aside from their initial interaction where he snatched her up from the alley, Javik has kept his distance while watching her every move. He seems almost scared of her, although it's probably the enhanced clones he coerced into doing his dirty work that he’s afraid of. 

Good. Omega thinks. He should be afraid. 

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[straightouttatheashes]

DAY 1 - FLIRT

DWC 2024 Day 1 - Flirt A little continuation from This Story

---

She’d seen him again a few times since that encounter on the beach, and she could have sworn she knew he’d caught her eye the moment that smirk appeared on his face. Phe never gave him the chance to come over and gloat about it though - she always disappeared beforehand. Though the longer she stayed around the Bay, the harder it did become to avoid him. Not that she was avoiding him out of embarrassment to what they did. No, that had been really fun. It was more annoyance that he’d stolen right out from under her nose - using her in the process. …Although, that had been on her, hadn’t it? There was a severe lapse in judgement, not that she was complaining..sort of. The sex had been great, but the fact she had to ghost her employer or be shamed to hell? Not so great. “God you’re obvious.” He’d come up behind her as she sat in the tavern, and she felt herself roll her eyes so hard they may as well have gone into another dimension. “Fuck you want?” “Damn, touchy, huh? You seem tense. I could help with that…” The half-elf joined her at the table and she was surprised he didn’t keep his distance. What was he playing at? “Yeah, I bet you could.” A frown and she had to almost down half her bottle to stop herself from biting back further. He made a joke about her gag reflex, and she stared at him for a moment. “I should punch that smirk off your face.” “Sure, if it’d make you feel better. I know I’d feel pretty damn good.” Pheonix wasn’t sure if he was being serious about that or not. --

Barry. That was his name. She should have expected that somehow, she’d have another night with him. Pheonix wasn’t even sure how she got there, but once again she was left feeling damn satisfied…and at least he hadn’t stolen anything from her. That she could immediately see, anyway. She’d find out later that her gold pouch was a little emptier than it should have been….and when the moment he had swooped in to charm the shopkeep and save her ass from having guards called on her. He sat beside her on the docks with a grin, eyeing her as she stared out at the ocean. “...Thanks.” Barry laughed and shrugged a shoulder. “Yeah, you seemed like you needed it.” “Wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for you.” “Damn, that’s a pretty big accusation out of nowhere. Look around, you’re in a town of pirates.”She knew it was him. He knew it too. “Okay, smartass.”

The pause before she had spoken had let him know that Pheonix had more to say, but she held herself back. A knowing smirk (as always), and he rested back on his hands.

“You must be really into my dick if you’re hanging around waiting to run into me.” “What?” Pheonix shot him an incredulous look. “That’s not the fucking reason I’m here what -” His brow raised, and she realized he’d caught her out. “I mean…” “You’ve been here awhile. What’s your deal? Belong to a crew?” “...Not really?” She mulled over that one for a moment. Best she was doing was jumping between whoever could pay her for whatever reason. “Just doing jobs.” “Like looking for treasure? And losing it?” “Shut the fuck up.”

He laughed and nudged her, as if they were best buddies all of a sudden. Pheonix knew he was doing it to rile her up. “You gonna leave at all?” “I dunno. Maybe.” She could at any time. She just didn’t really have anywhere to go at the moment, nor a set plan. “Let me know when you do.” “Why?” “So I can see that ass again one last time.” A shove had him almost fall into the water, but Pheonix laughed despite herself. -- She’d grinned at him as she stood over him - having taken him to the floor after catching him stealing from her again. But now, it felt as if they were just playing. Rough-housing. It was like a game to them, and the thrill that got them both off. Of course, Barry was actually stealing from her, but she didn’t have much so there weren’t many things she really missed if he took them for himself to sell. She’d always see a bit of that coin back anyway later at the bar or something. Pheonix wasn’t sure what was going on, but they’d happened to take a few jobs together, flirts exchanged between them the entire time. Kisses stolen all over Booty Bay. A regular room they’d taunt each other up to in the tavern. A few times she caught the boat with him back to Ratchet, and she’d lose him for a bit while she carried out her own agenda. But by the time she returned to the boat, there he was. Pheonix knew it wouldn’t last. Maybe she’d never see the guy again. It didn’t stop her from enjoying every single encounter until then, though.

@disruptanddisturb for mentions @daily-writing-challenge

[atomicbird101]

Happy Birthday, Butch.

Butch DeLoria x Lone Wanderer | 1,210 words Content warning: alcoholism, CPR mention

"Happy Birthday to me," Butch sarcastically cheers with a bottle of his mother's vodka to his lips. Another year of only two gifts from his best pals – a pack of cigarettes from Wally and novelty flask with the Tunnel Snakes logo etched onto it from Paul. All of his other "birthday presents" were given to him two days ago, (one of the many great things about being born so close to Christmas) and his mother is too drunk to even function, much less have prepared him a gift other than a halfhearted apology and a pat on the back. Birthdays are always so depressing for Butch DeLoria, and his sweet sixteen is no exception.

He's startled out of his night of drinking on his own, however, when he hears a knock on his door. Maybe one of his pals left something behind? However, he answers to find Robbyn Brake, the goody-two-shoes Poindexter herself at his doorstep with her hands behind her back.

“What do you want, Nosebleed?”

Robbyn instantly recoils at the stench of alcohol on his breath.

“Yeesh! Banner year, huh?”

“Yeah, well, unlike some people ‘round here, I don’t exactly get shit handed to me on a silver platter.”

She grits her teeth in annoyance at his instant hostility, as well as his presumptuous and condescending statement – however cruel his comment was, it at least got him out of seeing that expression he so hates: pity. And man does he hate seeing it from her.

“...I… know it’s your birthday, and, y’know, doing the math, it must not be the most wonderful time of the year – what with it being right after Christmas, and your mom, and–”

“Lemme stop you right there, geek. I know what you’re gonna say, and I don’t wanna hear it, so you can fuck off with that shit.”

“But I just–” Robbyn stutters an incomplete counter argument as she brings a freshly baked sweet roll out from behind her back and holds it out in front of her, causing Butch to freeze in his  tracks.

“Is that a sweet roll?”

“Uh, yeah…?”

“Why?”

She’s caught off-guard by his question, but she quickly scrounges up a lie that Butch doesn’t believe for a second.

“I, umm, I made it, and there were too many, and, well…”

He raises an eyebrow at her, rolls his eyes, and says, “I know you’re full of shit, but I’ll take it anyway. Better not suck.”

She rubs the back of her neck as he takes it, and she decides to spill the truth after a relenting sigh.

“Look, I know we’re not friends or anything, and I don’t know why you hate my guts, but I do know you’re a miserable son of a bitch who’s more than likely alone on his birthday, and maybe nobody needs to be alone on their birthday. Not even pricks like you.”

There it is. That fucking pity in her eyes.

“I don’t need your God-damned sympathy, so cut that shit out.”

He takes a bite of the sweet roll, and much to his disdain, it’s fluffy, buttery, and overall incredible.

“Listen, man, I’m not asking you to bask in my sweet, saintly glory or whatever, and I’m not here to judge poor Butchie. I’m just dropping off a baked good and fucking off so you can jerk off or whatever it is you do on your birthday,” she says as she turns towards her own dorm.

Butch is savoring every bite of that delicious sweet roll, but pride forbids him from confessing that it’s the best damn thing he’s ever tasted.

“Whatever. Thanks for the pastry, loser.”

She lets out a curt sigh and turns back to face him.

"Y'know, I know you're angry – and don't get me wrong, you have a lot to be angry about – but I don't know why you always have to be such a dick. I know for a fact that you're not always a complete asshole. And I'm praying to God that you're too drunk to remember any of this in the morning, because if I'm being really honest, I kinda miss the Butch from three years ago. Not whoever this is." Her hand gestures all over the douche in the leather jacket before she shakes her head and starts to walk away again.

Butch freezes. His brow furrows and he suddenly looks extremely uncomfortable as he realizes exactly what she’s referring to – the time he gave her her first kiss. He's never brought the lip lock up before, but now she's dropped it, and she says she misses it? He isn't sure how to respond, and his prolonged silence causes her to think that he doesn’t remember, but he remembers that kiss – he remembers it well, since that was his worst birthday by far.

He had just turned thirteen and his mom had had to get her stomach pumped, and despite all the shitty things he'd done to Robbyn, she stayed outside the clinic in the hall to comfort him while her dad was administering CPR. She held his hand and gave him tissues, and as they were talking to keep his mind off of his mother's dangerous alcoholic binge, it came up that Robbyn had never been kissed. After all the kindness she showed him (not to mention her adorable eyes and freckles) he volunteered to be her first kiss. She was taken by such complete surprise that she couldn't do anything but nod her head and let him kiss her, and he held her like glass. This boy who used to pull her hair and push her around touched her so delicately, like he was scared of  accidentally breaking her.

The way he held her that night still confuses the hell out of her to this day. They've literally fistfought numerous times since then, but she still thinks back to the time his touch was soft and hesitant, and she can't explain this ache in her chest when she thinks about it, but she knows she misses that tenderness. In all honesty, it was the first time she felt like she could be loved, and she's never been able to make sense of that feeling because it came from her damned bully.

Now she stands at her own door, entering the code to get into her apartment, and he's staring at her, no longer chewing the sweet roll she baked. He doesn’t get this girl. She’s the only gal who’s thought to stick up for him and be nice, but she’s also tough on him and kind of a brat. He’s racking his brain for some kind of witty remark or comeback, but all his sloshed ass can think of is finishing the roll and letting out a small belch.

She scoffs in disgust, then disappears into her dorm – and, if Butch listens very, very closely, he can hear a frustrated growl travel through her living room window. As he gazes after her, he starts to get overwhelmed by various emotions swimming in all that vodka: anger, confusion, and something…sadder. He doesn’t know what she means to him, but she means a lot, and he’s not sure he’ll ever be ready to tell her.

[szagaloree]

His wife….

Chapter 3

Contains: fluff/angst/mentions of death/ ptsd

I stirred in my sleep from a bad nightmare, whimpering in my sleep spider slowly stirred waking up, I lean up shouting as spider jump from being frightened, “mom? Mom hey it’s okay,” he stood up, I gasp trying to catch my breath “it’s okay you’re fine, it was just a bad dream,” he says, “more like a nightmare,” I huff putting my head in my hands, “what was it about?” He asks “some really deep stuff, it’s scary to almost forget you were in the military till your ptsd comes back and bites you in the ass,” I said.

I sighed laying back down, “what do you think our life could be outside of this? Why don’t we just go and be with Jake and the rest?” He asks “the rest?” I raise a brow “Jake a family, they all live in the forest,” he said, “wow I’d sing even know that, that’s crazy,” I cocks a brow, “I don’t know, I can’t just leave they would be hunting us too, we just gotta figure out how we’re gonna get out of here,” I said.

Next day carries on and I was doing some combat training with Raven, spider sat down watching as I tumble Raven down wrapping my legs around her neck, Quaritch walked in wide eyed, “what are you doing kid?” Quaritch asks spider “just watching,” he said, “Jesus Christ you didn’t have to put me down like that,” I laughed pushing her, “you cheated,” Raven said “I didn’t cheat I just beat your ass,” I said, as we tackle again I wrap my ankle over her and push her down. “Aye aye not you tryna jump me,” I laughed as Allen lifts me up, “I wonder if my mom remembers everything, all of her past,” spider says, “probably it depends on what triggers it,” Quaritch says as he watched me.

I went to grab my bow that I got made for me, “when did you get that?” Ellice asks, “earlier, you know had to get my baby back,” I smirked grabbing an arrow, I place it correctly pulling back on the string. I shoot at the target wall almost making a bullseye “traaash!” Raven yells out “hey I almost made a bullseye and it’s been literally years since I’ve used a bow,” I shake my head, I look to my left to check on spider and see him talking to Quaritch but Quaritch was staring at me, his unconsciously glued to mine. I try to look away but my eyes seem to not look back but it got cut short when Raven pushes me, “move you jerk,” I push her back smirking.

…

As I leave spider’s room I head towards mine till I heard a certain somebody call “Corporal” I stopped, Quaritch was leaning on the wall almost as seemingly on purpose. He stares at me, “what?” I said nonchalantly, “it’s awfully lot of things going around about you and they ain’t good,” he said, “you telling me this why?” I question, “I heard you were alongside them and sully, so let me guess.. they got a spy lurking around these parts,” he says leaning off the wall “I’m not know spy, I fight for myself,” I said “what about your son? You just found out that he’s yours and you didn’t even know,” he says, “don’t speak on him, you don’t know everything so stop trying to act like you do,” I said warning him, he cocks a brow “who’s the daddy? Wonder if he’s alive, he must’ve knocked you up for you to have a child on this planet,” he said, I glare at him and walked up to him.

“And you did a pretty good job at,” I said.

I walked away to leave him in his thoughts as he was frozen by what I said he couldn’t tell if I was just making a remark or was I being for real, I walked down the hall sighing, but I realize what I just done I may have exposed him to being spider’s father and if he thinks about it to hard he’ll realize it. “Fuck!” I mumble in annoyance, I made my way close to the quarter but was pulled into a dark room, I tried to pry myself off and fight whoever it was but he had my arms pinned as he shuts the door, I was going to shout but he covered my mouth the lights turn on and it was Quaritch “tell me you’re lying! Tell me I was mistaken by what the hell you said!” He said almost has he wants to me to but knows he wants the answers out, his heart raced anxious and worry but also fear.

“Tell me that kid isn’t mine! Is it?!” I stood quiet as tears falling my face, “you better tell me right now,” he said his jaw clenching tightly, “spider’s your son,” I admitted his grip loosens, his whole heart flipped upside down, “there’s no way…no..I cannot be,” he freaks out “he is.. your son,” I said “when we’re you pregnant?” He asks “before I even died and before you sit up there destroy their hometree and the tree of voices just to piss then off,” I said, “I don’t think you deserve to know everything, after everything you have done,” I said shaking my head, I got to walk but he grabs my wrist “n-no, I need to know!” He says, I sighed I go to the screen and look for my files, “its obvious they wiped some of you memories because of they didn’t you would remember everything,” I said, I pull up my log from the time I was 6 months pregnant, Quaritch stood walking close to the screen.

“Well, here’s a baby bump update, the progress is going good,” I smiled showing my belly off, “I can’t wait to know the gender in fact we just got it today and if this asshole is here, he can read it,” I said looking to look for him “can you look for mikes please?” I asked they nodded, “yesss?” He answers “sit down I told you we were supposed to find out the gender of the baby” I said looking up “oh yea yea yea” he pulls a chair over.

Quaritch eyes widen watching the video in disbelief.

“You read it,” I give him the paper, “I don’t think I’m ready, I’m hoping for a girl,” he says, “now your thoughts is on a girl you said boy,” I chuckled “I don’t know,” he chuckles as he reads, “okay… so it’s a boy!” I squealed excitedly, “ayyyyee, I can teach him some good ole Basketball,” Quaritch smirks, “I’m so happy,” I smiled as Quaritch smiled proudly before pulling me in a kiss.

Once the video ends, “wha-ho-I-oh my god” he felt so lightheaded after watching that video but that wasn’t the only one he needed to see.

“I am Gwen.. Stefani Quaritch,” I said, “I would say I’m surprised to even be here but I guess this is what my job turned into, being on Pandora to be the scientists bodyguards or whatever,” I sighed.

“I was your wife,” I said, he looks at me, “no.. I don’t remember having a wife,” he said “of course you don’t,” I said “but don’t believe me, look at the back of right ear, there will be a infinity tattoo, We both got it after we gotta married I have on my left ear see,” I pull my ear forward to show him, he looks for a mirror or something to try and see. There it was the infinity tattoo, he gulped, “when I was pregnant with spider, I was happy, finally like I could leave and pull away from this rda bullshit! To be free! And I thought you would too, but that was cut short when I died,” I said with tears. He walks up to me “h-how did you die?” He asks.

“I died giving birth to spider… I died giving life,” I said.

His eyes widen, “and you were going to this stupid selfish war against these people and I died alone! Alone miles!” I shoved him, “mom” I gasp looking to see spider, “spider what are you doing up?” I ask, “couldn’t sleep, what’s going on?” He asks looking at us, “n-nothing everything is fine,” I huff wiping my eyes “go back to bed please,” I said, he sighed listening and starts to leave “ I would’ve never left if I knew you were giving birth,” he said “lies! You would’ve still went to war after he came, you don’t care! You were to busy trying to reck havoc to these poor people who want to be alone! We could’ve lived a good live away from this shit miles!” I cried, “I wanted you to change to finally open your eyes stop being stuck on being a marine! This isn’t safe of a child,” I argued, he sighed, “this is all that I know,” he says “being a puppet is all that you know huh? Really? Wow” I shake my head disappointed, “this is all that you think you know! If you are not going to step up and be a damn man to face your demons then you need to stay the hell away from him, you’re not going to turn my son into a heartless killer,” I said leaving him in raining of thoughts, his ears goes down. He didn’t know what to do, now that he knows the truth what is he going to do, change or stay the same?

To be continued…