#i'm honestly still shook you guys are incredible :'))

[bloodreinasbathwater]

Run for the Hills

Prologue

Jack Hughes X F!Reader

a.n: This is definitely not one of the anticipated chapters you guys want but I'm trying to get myself back into writing, so I made a new fic to try out and see where it goes for now.

Warnings: cursing, bad jokes, frat boy humor

Word Count - 3k

The only sound in the room was her soft breathing and the occasional scratch of paper from her novel. She was so engrossed in the page, a daydream she lost herself inside that the outside world paled in comparison to.

Y/n licked her finger and flipped the page and settled deeper into the couch where she had burrowed herself into for the last three hours. The silence in the room was shattered as the front door crashed open, sending a gust of wind whipping through Y/n's hair as she looked up from her book in surprise.

"Get up and help me!" her roommate shouted, staggering through the doorway with her arms full of overstuffed grocery bags.

Y/n hurriedly marked her page and set the novel aside, springing up from the couch just as one of the flimsy bags gave way, sending a cascade of canned goods and produce tumbling to the floor with a cacophony of clatters and thuds.

"Oh no, let me help!" Y/n rushed over, kneeling down to scoop up the fallen items as her roommate kicked the door shut behind her.

"I didn't realize you'd be back so soon," Y/n said breathlessly, glancing up at her roommate's harried expression. "What's the hurry?"

Her roommate let out an exasperated sigh, shifting the remaining bags in her arms. "I ran into an old friend downtown and got roped into helping her move some furniture. I was supposed to be back an hour ago but it took forever." She shook her head, shooting Y/n an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for the mess - can you grab those last few cans while I get the rest of this put away?"

Y/n nodded quickly, grabbing the stray items and following her roommate to the kitchen. With her roommate's unexpected return and the sudden chaos, the quiet solitude of her novel-induced daydream already felt like a distant memory. “So, what did you do today? Any plans? Any new boys?” Alyssa suggested slyly.

Y/n thought for a second as she filled the empty shelves with cans. “No boys and no plans, not that its anything new.” She replied honestly, almost embarrassed to admit it. A beat of silence followed. “Actually, I’ve realized I prefer fictional men as company,” she added with a laugh.

"Ugh, boring. Why'd I even bother asking?" Alyssa groaned, dramatically throwing her head back. She paused mid-eye roll, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Wait. This is perfect actually. The Bruins are playing tonight."

Y/n raised an eyebrow, failing to see the connection. "And that matters because...?"

"Because," Alyssa drawled, hopping onto the counter with the grace of someone who'd clearly done this a thousand times before, "every basic bro in the city will be glued to their TV screens. Which means..." She drummed her perfectly manicured nails against the granite, building suspense.

"Which means?"

"The good bars will be practically empty! Come on, Y/n. When's the last time you wore that little black dress that's been collecting dust in your closet? The one with the slit that makes your legs look incredible?" Alyssa's eyes sparkled with possibility. "I know for a fact that new cocktail bar downtown, Luna, will be dead tonight. We could actually get seats at the bar, maybe talk to the cute bartender I've been eyeing—"

"Alyssa—" Y/n started to protest, but her roommate was already in motion, sliding off the counter and grabbing Y/n's shoulders.

"No excuses! Your book boyfriend will still be there tomorrow. Tonight, we're trading fictional men for real ones. And I'm not taking no for an answer." She gave Y/n a gentle shake. "Besides, I have tea to spill about that furniture-moving friend I mentioned. Trust me, you're going to want to hear this story over a proper martini."

…

Y/n stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror while Alyssa worked her magic with a curling iron, fighting the urge to retreat to her book. The truth was, it wasn't just that she preferred fictional men – real ones had become disappointingly predictable. Every dating app conversation felt scripted, every bar interaction a tepid reproduction of the last. She'd grown tired of pretending to be impressed by startup jobs and fantasy football leagues, of dumbing herself down to stroke fragile egos.

"Earth to Y/n!" Alyssa's voice cut through her thoughts. "Are you ignoring me? Anyway, I’m done! Look at my handy work and tell me you don’t look hot."

Y/n had to admit, the black dress did look good, hugging curves usually kept hidden behind work attire. But even as they walked into Luna, even as heads turned to track their entrance, she felt that familiar emptiness creeping in. What was the point? No one ever made her pulse race, made her wonder what they'd say next, made her want to chase the high of their attention.

Three hours and several expertly crafted cocktails later, Y/n was actually enjoying herself – though that had everything to do with Alyssa's company and nothing to do with the parade of predictable men who'd approached their corner of the bar. She'd perfected the art of polite dismissal, sending them away with practiced smiles that never quite reached her eyes.

The bass pulsed through Luna's speakers as Y/n nursed her martini, watching Alyssa hold court at their corner of the bar. Three guys in button-downs – clearly fresh from some financial district happy hour – had been hovering nearby for the past ten minutes, shooting what they probably thought were subtle glances their way.

"Here we go," Y/n muttered under her breath, catching the familiar look of determination cross the tallest one's face as he finally worked up the courage to approach.

"Ladies," he announced, spreading his arms wide like he was presenting a TED talk. "My colleagues and I couldn't help but notice you've been drinking alone." He gestured to his friends, who flanked him with identical smirks. "We thought we'd fix that tragedy."

Alyssa straightened, flashing her practiced giggle. "Oh my god, that's so sweet of you!"

"I'm Brad," the ringleader said, then pointed to his friends who y/n couldn’t help but notice both had no socks on with their loafers. That was just the first of many icks she received that night. "This is Chase and..." he faltered for a moment, "...Tyler."

Y/n bit back a laugh. The third guy – apparently Tyler – looked slightly offended that Brad had to think about his name.

"Let me guess," Y/n said suppressing a giggle, unable to help herself. "You all work in finance?"

"Investment banking, actually," Chase jumped in, puffing up his chest. "We just closed a huge deal. Brad here's basically a genius with emerging markets."

"Bro, stop," Brad said with fake modesty, though he was clearly pleased. "But yeah, it was pretty impressive. The partners were blown away by my analysis of the—"

"The Asian markets?" Y/n finished dryly. "Let me guess, you're really into crypto too?"

The sarcasm flew right over their heads. "Holy shit, how did you know?" Tyler exclaimed. "I've got this sick NFT collection—"

"Oh my god, that's fascinating!" Alyssa cut in, shooting Y/n a warning look. "Tell us more about it!"

Brad moved closer to Y/n, mistaking her eye roll for interest. "You know, you look like a girl who appreciates ambition. I just got promoted to junior VP, and my bonus this year..." He trailed off suggestively.

"Fascinating," Y/n deadpanned. "Do you also have a podcast?"

"Actually..." All three of them lit up simultaneously.

"It's about mindset and grinding—" Chase started. "—and disrupting traditional paradigms—" Brad added. "—with a focus on sigma male energy," Tyler finished proudly.

Alyssa was doing her best to appear enthralled, but even she couldn't completely hide her wince at that last part.

"We should totally collab," Brad continued, edging even closer to Y/n. "I bet you'd love to hear about my morning routine. I wake up at 4 AM to meditate and do cold plunges—"

"Wow," Y/n interrupted, finishing her drink in one gulp. "That's incredibly..." she searched for a word that wouldn't entirely crush their spirits, "...consistent of you."

"Right?" Brad beamed, completely missing her tone. "Hey, you should check out my Instagram. I post daily inspiration quotes over pictures of wolves. The engagement is insane."

Y/n felt her soul trying to leave her body. She caught Alyssa's eye, silently pleading for an escape route, but her roommate was already deep in conversation with Chase and Tyler about their "entrepreneurship mindset course."

"Look," Brad said, lowering his voice to what he clearly thought was a seductive tone. "I don't usually do this, but I sense a real connection here. You're not like other girls."

"Oh god," Y/n muttered under her breath.

"You're obviously on that grindset wavelength. I could tell by your aura. So what do you say we—"

Y/n opened her mouth to answer when her phone lit up with her sister's ringtone. "Saved by the bell," she laughed, grabbing her phone. "I should take this – back in five!"

She headed for a quieter corner near the back of the bar, weaving between groups of people. The phone was still buzzing in her hand when someone slammed into her from behind, nearly sending her face-first into the wall. Strong hands caught her waist, steadying her, but instead of immediately letting go, they lingered – warm and sure against the thin fabric of her dress.

"Shit, I'm so sorry—" a voice said above her, close to her ear, low and touched with amusement. "Though I've gotta say, this isn't the worst collision I've had tonight."

Y/n turned, ready to deliver the kind of cutting remark she'd perfected over years of unwanted bar encounters – but the words died in her throat. The man still holding her wasn't anything like the finance bros she'd just escaped. He was tall, dressed in dark jeans and a perfectly fitted black henley that did nothing to hide the athletic build underneath. He was looking at her not with the desperate eagerness of Brad and his crew, but with an almost lazy confidence that made her pulse quicken.

"You can let go now," she said, finding her voice. "Unless you make a habit of holding onto strange women in bars?"

His hands slid from her waist, slowly, deliberately. "Only the ones who look like they're plotting escape routes." The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. "Though I can't blame you, if you were running from those walking LinkedIn profiles I saw you with earlier."

"You were watching me?" Y/n raised an eyebrow, surprised by the little thrill that shot through her at the thought.

"Hard not to. You looked about ready to commit murder when the one in the blue started talking about his morning routine." He leaned against the wall, creating a bubble of space that felt separate from the rest of the bar. "I'm Jack. And you're definitely too interesting to be stuck listening to cryptocurrency bros all night."

"Interesting?" she challenged, surprising herself by stepping slightly closer. "You don't know anything about me."

His eyes dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second before meeting her gaze again. “I know you're intrigued right now, even though you're trying not to show it."

Heat crept up her neck at his directness. He wasn't wrong, but she wasn't about to let him know that. "That's a lot of assumptions from someone who's spent the last five minutes running away from his own problems."

"Running away?" He laughed, and the sound did something to her insides. "More like making a strategic retreat. Though I'll admit, diving behind the bar wasn't my smoothest move."

"Do I want to know why you were diving behind bars?"

"Depends." He shifted closer, just enough that she had to tilt her head back slightly to maintain eye contact. "How do you feel about blind dates, sports journalists, and elaborate escape plans?"

"That sounds like the start of either a very good story or a very bad lie."

"Buy me a drink and find out?" The challenge in his voice was unmistakable. "Unless you'd rather go back to hearing about sigma male energy and cold plunges?"

Y/n felt herself teetering on the edge of something dangerous. Jack wasn't like the others – there was something magnetic about him, something that made her want to push back, to see what would happen. He carried himself with the easy confidence of someone used to getting what he wanted, but there was something else there too – a spark of genuine interest when he looked at her that made her skin tingle.

"Counter offer," she said, meeting his intensity with her own. "You tell me the story first, and I'll decide if it's worth buying you that drink."

His smile turned wolfish. "I like the way you negotiate." He stepped even closer, until she could feel the heat radiating from his body. "But I should warn you – once you hear this story, you might not want to let me leave."

"That's a pretty big assumption," she replied, though her heart was racing. "I'm not that easy to impress."

"Good," he said simply, his eyes dark with promise. "I like a challenge."

…

"So about that blind date," Jack started, leaning against the wall beside her. His sleeve brushed against her bare arm, sending electricity through her skin. "My teammate thought it would be hilarious to set me up with his cousin – didn't mention she's also a sports journalist who's been trying to get an exclusive with me for months."

Y/n raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "And running away was your sophisticated solution?"

"Hey, I made it three whole minutes before I spotted her voice recorder in her purse," he laughed, running a hand through his already disheveled dark hair. "Though I'll admit, diving behind the bar and army-crawling my way to this corner wasn't my proudest moment. The bartender's face was priceless though."

"You did not," Y/n gasped, eyes widening with delight.

"I absolutely did. These jeans?" He gestured to his knees, where sure enough, there were slight wet marks. "Casualties of war. But hey, it led me to crash into you, so I'd say it was worth the dry cleaning bill."

The way he looked at her when he said it made her stomach flip. There was something magnetic about him – the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, how he seemed genuinely interested in her reactions, the subtle way he'd shifted closer as they talked.

"So what's your story?" he asked, his voice dropping lower. "What's a girl who clearly doesn't want to be here doing in a bar on game night?"

"What makes you think I don't want to be here?"

"Because you've been watching everyone like you're taking mental notes for a novel. Like you're observing rather than participating." His observation was so accurate it caught her off guard. "Until now, at least."

Before Y/n could respond, a familiar squeal cut through their bubble.

"There you are!" Alyssa's voice rang out as she materialized beside them, her eyes widening as they landed on Jack. "Oh my god, Y/n, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"

Y/n felt her walls slam back up, recognizing the predatory gleam in her roommate's eyes. She'd seen it before – countless times. Alyssa had a way of commanding attention, of making herself the center of any interaction. And men always noticed her first, or noticed her eventually. It was an unspoken pattern in their friendship that Y/n had learned to accept.

"Jack," he offered, politely extending his hand to Alyssa, though his eyes flickered back to Y/n.

"I'm Alyssa, Y/n's roommate and best friend," she gushed, placing her hand in his and holding on a beat too long. "You look so familiar. Wait – oh my god, are you Jack Hughes? The hockey player?"

Y/n's stomach dropped. Of course he was someone famous. Of course this moment, like all the others that had promised to be different, would end the same way.

"Guilty," he admitted with a slight grimace, still trying to maintain eye contact with Y/n even as Alyssa positioned herself between them.

"This is crazy! I was just telling Y/n we needed to come out tonight because of the hockey game. I'm like, your biggest fan. Y/n doesn't follow hockey at all, isn't that funny?" Alyssa laughed, touching his arm.

Y/n watched as Jack tried to navigate the conversation diplomatically, occasionally attempting to include her, but Alyssa was a force of nature when she wanted something. She felt herself backing away slightly, the familiar role of wallflower settling back over her shoulders like a well-worn coat.

"I should probably check on that missed call," she said quietly, though she doubted either of them heard her.

As she turned to leave, she caught Jack's voice, sharp with what sounded like frustration. "Actually, Y/n—"

But Alyssa cut him off. "Oh my god, we should totally get your number. For like, future game tickets and stuff?"

Y/n didn't stay to hear his response. She'd seen this movie before, knew how it ended. She made her way back to the bar, signaling for another drink, trying to ignore the ache in her chest. For a moment – just a moment – she'd felt something real. Something that made her want to lean in instead of pull away.

But real wasn't for girls like her. Real was for girls like Alyssa, who knew how to claim what they wanted without hesitation. She raised the fresh glass to her lips, determined to wash away the lingering warmth of possibility.

She didn't notice Jack's eyes following her retreat, or the way he barely registered Alyssa's number in his phone, or how his jaw clenched when he realized Y/n wasn't coming back.

[bluebeary-jay]

Be still my foolish heart (don't ruin this on me)

Neighbor!Joel Miller x f!Reader

Summary: you and Joel have been neighbors for a while but despite your mutual interest in one another, you never crossed this line. until, after one tense situation, Joel slips up (based on this wonderful request!)

Tags: friends to lovers, love confessions, fluff and angst, Joel is your sexy neighbor you shamelessly drool over, also his toolbelt is an important character in the fic (don't judge me)

Warnings: angst, 'nice guy' alert 🙄, attempted assault (stopped by Joel), some nsfw content but not actual smut (yar girl is gettin there 😌)

Word count: 6.2K

A/N: hiiii my darlings!! sorry for the wait, i know it's been a long time but life was crazy. here's sth i've been workin for a looong time and honestly i stared at it for so long i no longer know if i'm proud of it or not 🙈 anyway, i really hope you guys will like it and as always, happy reading!! 💕

“I really don’t know how to thank you, Joel. This is incredible.”

Joel watched, slightly embarrassed, as you walked around the table with a wide, bright smile. You gripped one of the legs – the one that was previously crookedly attached and broke down when you put something heavier on the counter – and tested its stability. After a successful inspection you looked up at him.

“You’re a lifesaver.”

“Nah, nothin’ of the sort.” He waved his hand, feeling a big lump in his throat when you directed that pretty smile of yours at him. “M’just glad I could help.”

“You didn’t have to fix this, too, though.” You brushed the edge of the table which Joel sanded so you wouldn’t get a splinter from the rough surface. His eyes followed your fingertips before he coughed.

“Didn’t want you to hurt yourself. This side was practically smashed up, after all…”

“Still, I didn’t even need to ask you.” You shook your head in thoughts before glancing at him with gratitude. “Thanks again.”

“You really gotta stop thankin’ me.” Joel started to gather his things into the toolbox and wiped his palms on his pants (certainly not because they were slick with sweat). “It was a piece of cake.”

“But, you know.” You tilted your head to the left and right, scrunching your nose playfully, and it was so fucking adorable that Joel thought his heart was going to give out. “You already fixed the sink in my kitchen, that hole in the wall, my door, and now my table… Are you sure I’m not leeching off your generosity?”

A half-smile found its place on Joel’s face, and he shook his head with a chuckle. “M’sure. It’s only fair since we’re neighbors, sweet girl.”

Sweet girl.

Joel never knew if he wasn’t crossing the line by calling you that. You never gave any sign of discomfort or disgust when he did, but he also recognized that regardless of your reaction, he should stop. He couldn’t deny that his old heart harbored an embarrassingly big crush on you – after all, you were the most beautiful girl he had ever laid his eyes on – but it wasn’t right to think about you in that way.

If he only knew that every time he let those words of endearment slip, your heart started to do crazy somersaults.

Joel Miller was an extremely handsome man, there was no denying that. And with his deep drawl, the salt-and-pepper hair, the warm, brown eyes and that dangerous smirk he sometimes sent in your direction… it was no wonder you fell for him.

It also didn’t help that he was so kind, always ready and eager to help you with the smallest inconvenience. Sometimes it made you want to smash something in your house yourself, just to have an excuse for him to come over again and for you to be able to watch him work.

But you weren’t that desperate, yet. Yet.

Your daydreaming was rudely interrupted by a series of knocks on your front door. Both your heads snapped in the direction of the sound, but when you recognized the familiar pattern of it, your mood dampened in an instant.

Joel noticed the change in your expression, of course, and immediately stood up, leaving the toolbox on the floor.

“What is it?” he asked with a hint of alert in his gruff voice, but you shook your head.

“It’s nothing. Don’t go yet, okay? I’ll be right back.”

You exited the room before he could ask another question, and Joel furrowed his brows. He stayed rooted in spot, listening to your heavy step as you walked to the door and opened it. And then… he heard a male voice that started to say something to you.

Joel couldn’t help but grind his teeth as he finished gathering his stuff, ready to go back home. It was the second time that some man came to visit you while you had him over, and the bitterness he felt in his mouth was even more noticeable than on the previous occasion.

He knew you were quite popular in Jackson, especially with boys your age. There was always someone offering to buy you a drink or dance whenever you went out with your friends, and once Joel had to even step in when two drunk guys kept pestering you. But as much as it pained him, some of those men who showed genuine interest in you were quite nice. And good-looking.

And a lot younger than him.

He knew very well that he was too old for you. He knew that he shouldn’t fantasize about sharing a life with you, and that thinking of any form of intimacy between you and him was making him a big old creep, but no matter how many times he swore to himself it’ll be the last, he could not stop. You were just so beautiful, so sweet and so nice…

He saw your smiling face when he went to bed late at night, and imagined your body beside him when he woke up early in the morning. He looked at your house on his way to work and wondered if you were eating breakfast already, taking a shower or still sleeping peacefully amidst the many blankets he saw once on your bed. He felt a rush of energy and endorphins every time you knocked on his door, asking him to help you with something, and it only enhanced his already existent protectiveness toward you.

Suddenly, Joel heard a raised male voice from the porch, which instantly got his guard up. He quickly followed the sound, and upon rounding the corner he saw you trying to close the door on Jack, a boy he recognized but never talked to. He saw him a couple of times at the bar, though he wasn’t one of those bothering you and never seemed to give anyone any trouble.

Still, you looked really uncomfortable, so when your and Joel’s eyes met, he nodded reassuringly and took his place in front of you.

“Is somethin’ the matter?” he asked dryly. The sight of him took Jack aback and he opened his mouth, looking lost for a good moment. Joel raised his eyebrows, and the young man cleared his throat.

“Nothing at all. We were just chattin’.” Then Jack looked over Joel’s shoulder at you, completely ignoring the other man. “What the fuck is Miller doing in your house, anyway?”

You stammered, but Joel kept his cool, leaning against the doorframe casually. Jack was tall and well-built, but still smaller than Joel, and he made use of this fact to intimidate the boy to the extreme.

“Mr Miller is helpin’ her with the sink that needs fixin’,” Joel answered instead with a pang of irritation. “And you’re kinda interruptin’.” Jack didn’t move, and Joel clenched his jaw. “Scurry. Now.”

The boy huffed, murmuring something under his breath before he bid you a grudging adieu. Joel shut the door behind him with more force than he intended and took a second to calm his breathing before turning back to you.

“Sorry if that was too harsh–”

“No, don’t apologize.” You sighed tiredly and went to the living room, plopping down on the couch. “It’s okay. Maybe he’ll back off a little.”

Joel bit the inside of his cheek, wondering if he should ask the question that was gnawing at him mercilessly.

“Are…” he started, and you lifted your head. “I mean, are you two…”

“No!” you quickly answered, blushing a little to Joel’s surprise. “No, no, nothing of the sort. He asked me out and I told him I’m not interested, but he still tries to…” You waved your arm in the direction when he saw the youngster last. “I don’t know, convince me?”

Joel sat down next to you, clasping his hands together. “Well… if he ever gives you any trouble, you lemme know, alrigh’?”

A small smile spread across your face when you tilted your head to look at him.

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Then a playful glint appeared in your eyes, and your smile turned mischievous. “...Mr Miller.”

A breathless laugh escaped Joel, and he dragged his hand over his face, praying that he managed to stifle a groan wanting to escape his chest. He shook his head to regain some clarity, but could still feel all the blood in his body rushing down. It didn’t help that your couch was too small, and your knees were touching – though Joel couldn’t tell if it happened when he sat down or a little bit later.

Fuck.

“Shut up,” he just murmured, not looking at you in fear you’ll see what your words did to him. “I tried to make him leave quicker.”

“And he did. And I think you deserve a reward for your help.”

You stood up and for a second Joel panicked. A reward, you said.

He couldn’t help the images that flooded his brain in that moment – of you on your knees in front of him, or bent over the table he just fixed. His eyes went to your thighs, and his own flexed involuntary when he envisioned how you’d feel underneath him, what sweet sounds he could coax out of you, how soft your skin would be in those places you kept covered…

But then you walked past him, and he snapped out of the naughty daydreams.

“Wh-where are you goin’?” he asked, his voice strained, and you looked over your shoulder with an oblivious smile.

“I made a cake this morning. I’m gonna bring you a piece, yeah?”

You didn’t wait for an answer, and just left the room with pep in your step.

Joel groaned and let his head fall back, covering the redness of his cheeks with his hands.

Idiot.

Almost two weeks have passed since the last time you asked for his help with something, and surprisingly, Joel was okay with that. After that embarrassment he experienced in his own mind, he told himself that it would be prudent to distance himself from you for a little bit. At least until he could act normally around you.

He still thought about you constantly, that he couldn’t help. Every time he saw you in town he instantly felt lighter, but so very often you were accompanied by another man – and no matter if you seemed comfortable with the attention or not, Joel always had this urge to come over and protect you from any unwanted suitors.

He was being ridiculous, he knew that. You didn’t like him the way he liked you, and even if he somehow grew a pair and told you about his feelings, a pretty and young girl like you would never be interested in someone who could be her father’s age.

The thought of you thinking of him as a father figure churned up his guts, making him feel sick. Jesus Christ.

But it still did nothing to weaken his infatuation, and when you finally knocked on his door again, asking if he could fix the rack in your room, he didn’t even hesitate before agreeing.

So here you both were. Joel, looking at the problem at hand, and you, looking at (none-the-wiser) Joel.

“S’nothin’ big,” he finally said after some examination. “I’ll replace the shelf and reaffix it to the wall better. Shouldn’t take long.”

You nodded, but truthfully you were only half-listening. The sight of Joel in your bedroom was far too distracting.

It’s been so long since Joel was a guest in your house – well, only a couple of weeks tops – but you missed seeing him in your private space. Though one could say, he never truly left with how often you thought about him.

So maybe that’s why you were so shameless with your staring.

His broad shoulders were to die for, and you bit your lip absentmindedly as your eyes wandered across his muscular back and forearms, usually hidden under the sleeves. You knew you shouldn’t be ogling your neighbor who was nice enough to lend you a helping hand whenever you needed, but… well, a little admiring wouldn’t hurt anyone, right?

And there was a lot to admire.

“You listenin’ to me?”

The brutal wake-up call of his voice pulled you out of your thoughts, making you blush wildly and your body hot with embarrassment at being caught staring.

Okay, maybe it would hurt someone.

“Y-yeah,” you stuttered, feeling your whole neck heating up rapidly. “Uh-huh. I understand.”

Joel’s lips stretched into a lopsided smile, and he turned to face you fully.

“I asked if you have some nails in the house,” he repeated, not breaking eye contact. If you allowed yourself to be delusional, you’d say his voice sounded almost… flirtatious. But that was probably only your head telling you what you wanted to hear.

“Yeah…” you breathed distractedly, but then shook your head quickly. “I mean, no. No, I don’t.”

Joel smirked, stepping closer to you and making you swallow heavily. Your gaze once again dropped to his strong arms, down to his big hands and… fuck. He had his thumbs hooked in his tool belt, already hanging low on his waist, and it made him look so ridiculously hot.

Lord have mercy.

“What got ya so distracted, sweet girl?”

Have fuckin’ mercy.

“Nothing!” you said, a bit louder than you intended, crossing your arms over your chest to do something with this splitting tension in your body. “I was just looking at… the shelf.”

Joel’s eyebrows shot upright. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that he didn’t believe you. “The shelf,” he repeated blankly, and you nodded, trying to appear calm despite feeling like you were going to burst into flames if he kept looking at you like that. But then Joel chuckled, and his eyes turned as warm as always. “M’only teasin’. Stop lookin’ so scared.”

“I’m not–” you started, but your lips also spread into a grin when you saw his genuine smile. “God, you’re insufferable. Will you fix it or not?”

“So demandin’,” Joel mused, shaking his head and walking out of the room. “I’m gonna go get the nails from my house. Be right back.”

You whispered under your breath something he didn’t hear, but it made him smile to himself nonetheless.

It was so easy to slip back into this playful banter with you, Joel thought as he made his way back home. Maybe things between you two won’t be as awkward anymore (though he was aware all this awkwardness was his fault), and he could go back to being your friend.

No matter that he wished he could be something more. No, it wasn’t right to think that way. What you two had was enough.

Still, as he looked for those damn nails, he couldn’t get out of his mind the way that adorable blush spread across your face. And how your eyes lingered on his figure when he looked at you. But no, surely he was only imagining things.

…right?

Joel sighed, closing the door behind him and going back toward your house, his thoughts already on the best way to fix that shelf of yours and maybe stabilize it a bit more, because by the look of how it hung on the wall, it was only a matter of time until he’ll have to visit again.

Or maybe he’ll leave it be. Only to have an extra excuse to see you sooner rather than later.

He rolled his eyes at his own musings, but the train of his thoughts abruptly stopped when he saw your front door slightly opened. He slowed down, wondering if you went after him… but no, there was no sign of you anywhere, and he was pretty sure he closed it on his way out.

And then he heard a faint sound of glass shattering.

Joel’s mind went completely blank. In a blink of an eye he stormed into the house, his survival instincts formed over the last twenty years kicking in and screaming for him to find you, to make sure you’re safe and unharmed.

But your bedroom was empty and when Jeol yelled your name, no one answered him. You were within the safe walls of Jackson, and there was no way the infected or raiders could ambush you, but still Joel felt an icy wave of panic washing over him, his mind providing him with terrible scenarios that would explain the open door and your silence.

Then a small thud reverberated from the other room, and Joel’s legs carried him there without a second thought.

He slammed the door open, and his eyes immediately locked on the man holding you against the wall. Your assaulter – that fucking kid, Jack – had one hand covering your mouth, the other forearm pinning your shoulders to the wall. His knee was between your legs and Joel could see you standing on your tippy toes, trying to pull away as far as possible.

Joel’s hands were itching to get rid of the threat that guy was for you, but first his gaze involuntarily shifted to your face – and his heart clenched painfully when he noticed your terrified expression and tears streaming down your cheeks.

The blinding rage in Joel’s veins almost charred him from the inside out and he felt like he was about to explode from the fury seething inside of him. In two long strides he ran towards Jack and all but threw him off of you, stepping to the side to act as a shield between you and him.

“You just signed your death sentence, kid,” he growled and punched the other man in the face when he tried to get up. You screamed behind him, but Joel ignored it, the need to beat the living daylights out of this little shit almost overwhelming his senses.

“What the fuck is your problem?!” Jack yelled from the floor, holding a hand in front of his face. “You broke me fucking nose, man!”

It was true, the blood was flowing freely from the already swelling nose, but it didn’t feel like enough. Joel had to utilize every fiber of his willpower to keep himself from venting his wrath on this kid. He knew damn well it wouldn’t end well for either of them – Jackson had hard laws when it came to violence.

“You deserve a lot worse,” Joel gritted his teeth and motioned with his head towards the exit. “Now get out.”

“She wanted it!” Jack shouted, as if he hoped that his explanations would make the situation any better. He wiped the blood flowing from his nose, glaring at you angrily. “Stupid bitch,” he snarled, “can’t make up her mind. Didn’t I do enough for you?! I was nice, always helped you–”

“Get the fuck out of here before I break your jaw,” Joel cut in, clenching his fists and taking a step forward. The young fucker seemed to size him up for a couple of seconds, probably wondering if starting a fight was worth it, but eventually spluttered contemptuously.

“Fine,” he snarled, and then looked below Joel’s arm at you. “I wouldn’t want to catch somethin’ from you, either way, if you’re already fucking this old geezer.”

Your face, and also Joel’s, grew hot – but while yours was red from embarrassment and shame, his was burning from barely concealed rage.

“OUT!!” he shouted, his thundering and powerful voice making both you and Jack flinch. His face was twisted in fury and the other man must’ve realized that staying here longer would only mean worse for him, because he scrambled to his feet and ran out without another word.

The front door slammed shut behind him, and for a few seconds a heavy silence hung in the air.

Joel took a steadying breath, trying to restore his cool, but he felt himself shaking from rage. If he didn’t come back in time… if he was a minute late, he didn’t want to think what that bastard would’ve done to you.

Trying to shut down the intrusive thoughts, Joel turned around and knelt by where you were still seated on the ground. He couldn’t will the tension in his body to lessen, and his muscles and tendons were so taut that he thought they were going to snap. But he forced his hands to unclench before he gently cupped your face.

“Did he hurt you?” he asked quietly, his brows knitted in worry. You shook your head, but your eyes were filled with tears, and it felt like something was ripping Joel’s chest apart.

“He pushed me. And I… the glass.”

You lifted your hand and Joel winced when he saw a shard of green glass – from the flower vase which previously stood on the table – embedded in your palm. A trickle of blood was running down your wrist, but he presumed there would be much more once he took it out.

“It’s alright, sweet girl. I’ll take care of it.” I’ll take care of you. “Let’s go to the kitchen so I can patch you up, ‘kay?”

You nodded, letting him pull you to your feet.

Once you made your way there and you instructed him on where some bandages and disinfectant were, Joel gently grabbed your waist and hoisted you up onto the table, seemingly without any problem at all. You blushed when you felt his touch, for a moment forgetting about the pain piercing your palm, but the gravity of what you just experienced crept up on you again soon enough.

Joel noticed your silence as he carefully removed the shard and bandaged your hand. He didn’t want to imagine what exactly happened when he was gone, but it was obvious it shook you quite strongly. So when he saw tears welling in your eyes, he threw all caution to the wind and wrapped his arms tightly around you.

Not one ounce of regret had time to haze his mind over, because you instantly clung to him, too, letting out a shaky exhale. Joel hugged you tightly, letting go of all the tension and fear in his body. He was never this close to you before, and he allowed himself to indulge in the warmth of your body and the feeling of your arms around him, reminding him that you’re okay, that you’re with him now. He breathed in your scent, hiding his nose in the crown of your head and pressing his lips to your hair, hoping to calm you down.

“It’s alright, baby. I’m here, you’re safe now.”

You tensed, but Joel just held you closer, not realizing he said something wrong. He planted a soft kiss on your hairline, sighing when you started moving your hands up and down his back soothingly. Despite standing up, Joel felt relaxed like never before, like he could fall asleep right here and now.

That is, until you spoke up.

“What did you say?”

…shit.

Joel opened his mouth, then closed it almost immediately. His eyes raced wildly across the room, trying to think of what to say, but he didn’t let go of you. There might’ve been a selfish reason behind his inaction, but mostly he didn’t want you to see his flustered face.

“Nothin’,” he answered after a pregnant and rather uncomfortable pause, and cleared his throat. “You don’t wanna… t’was nothin’ important.”

Maybe you really didn’t hear him. It would have saved him a lot of trouble and embarrassment, and probably another two weeks of his life of avoiding you. But judging by the silence in the room, he wasn’t so lucky.

“Did you…” You swallowed before finishing softly, “call me ‘baby’?”

Joel cringed, closing his eyes tightly, and prayed for some higher power to smite him off the surface of the Earth. But again – luck wasn’t on his side.

The silence prolonged, and you finally grew impatient. You pulled away, looking up to scan his face. “Joel?”

“I’m sorry, it… slipped out,” he mumbled, all red and not meeting your eyes. That was a shame, because if he did find the courage to look at you, he would notice a small smile forming on your face as you regarded him.

“So I heard you correctly?” you asked again, and he sighed heavily, running his hand over his face and rubbing his eyes.

“Yes, yes you did. M’really sorry, I wasn’t thinkin’. I just tried to comfort you and– fuck,” he whispered to himself, lowering his hand but still not looking in your direction. “I, I don’t want ya to feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry, I can go…”

“No.” Your uninjured hand shot out and grabbed his shirt before you could process what you were doing. Joel glanced down at your fist clutching the material, and then back up into your wide eyes. “Please, no. Stay.”

His lips parted slightly at your request and unexplained (at least from his perspective) hope filling your gaze. He looked so adorable that you had never wanted to kiss him more than right now.

“Come closer,” you pleaded, barely louder than a whisper.

Joel obliged, letting your hand guide him. You gently pulled him to you, so that he was almost standing between your legs, and your fingers loosened their hold, now smoothing over the material of his shirt.

You took a deep breath and leaned forward, bracing your weight on his chest. Joel looked puzzled by your behavior, but when he realized what you were doing, he stopped you gently by putting his own hand on your shoulder.

“No,” he whispered, his voice full of pain, but steady. “Don’t do that. You… you’re in a state of shock.”

“I know what I want,” you spoke equally quietly, staring at him with nothing but pure genuineness and need in your eyes. “And I want you, Joel.”

“Please, ba–” he cut himself off before he could finish this word. It pained him deeply to reject you, but he knew that if he let you kiss him, you’d regret it later. And that he wouldn’t be able to survive. “I’m sorry, sweet girl, but it wouldn’t be right. I don’t wanna be takin’ advantage of you.”

Your face fell in confusion and disappointment, but you didn’t let him go even when he put a light pressure on your hand.

“You never..” you gulped, searching his face, “thought about it? About… me, in that way?”

Christ, what was he supposed to say to that? He wouldn’t be able to lie to you, not if you kept looking at him with those innocent and full of desire eyes of yours.

“Don’t ask me.” Joel closed his eyes, the muscle in his cheek pulsing when he felt your touch on the side of his face. “Please, don’t ask me.”

“Because I have,” you continued in a sudden rush of courage. “I think about you constantly, and about us. Every time I invite you over or see you in the town working... And I’m only saying all that, because I thought maybe… maybe you felt it, too. I think you do.” Joel didn’t answer, and you looked up at him with determination you didn’t really feel. “Tell me.”

Joel clenched his jaw, exhaling heavily, but didn’t pull away. He weighed the options in his mind while you waited patiently, and finally, his resolve cracked under your hopeful gaze.

“I think about you,” he began slowly, earnestly, “every night. Every fuckin’ night and day, sweetheart.” His voice was raspy, but that drawl of his so soft and delicious to your ears. “But I shouldn’t. You and I both know that.”

He still hasn’t looked your way. You tried to lean to the side to fit in his field of vision, but Joel turned away even more, attempting to take a step back. You grabbed his shirt again before he could do that, and he didn’t fight you.

“Why not?” you whispered, transfixed on his handsome features.

“‘Cause you deserve better. I’m way too old for you,” he answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, like you should know it already. “You have so many admirers who are probably much more fit for you, and it would be… it is so wrong that I’m lettin’ those thoughts linger.”

“I don’t want any of them, though.” Joel finally locked eyes with you, but still seemed conflicted. You slowly let go of his clothes and reached for his hands, then guided them to your cheeks. You saw his throat bob nervously when you placed them there and brushed his knuckles with your thumbs. “Look, it’s hard for me to open up, but… I really like you. Really.”

Joel swallowed heavily, his face contorted in pain – as if your words were wounding not only his soul, but his very flesh. Then the pressure on your cheeks became a little stronger, and he tentatively swiped his thumbs under your eyes in a loving manner. Your heart fluttered like a hummingbird’s wings as he slowly scanned your face for any sign of hesitancy, then let his eyelids drop and pressed his forehead to yours. You lifted your chin slightly, nudging his nose with the tip of yours.

“Call me that again,” you whispered pleadingly. His wooden, earthly scent was enveloping all your senses, making you feel so very calm and safe. You’d gladly lose yourself in him. “Please.”

Joel instantly knew what you meant. His resolve was wavering and his body giving in, but the doubt was still there in his mind. The fear that he was somehow reading you wrong.

“Don’t beg me, sweet girl.” His breath was on your lips, beckoning you even closer. “M’too weak for that.”

“Please,” you repeated more urgently, and when he didn’t move, you turned your head and pressed your lips to the inside of his wrist tenderly. “Joel.”

He cursed softly. It appeared that the tension between you both was getting to him, too, and Joel was losing the battle he fought with himself. He lowered his lips to the edge of your jaw, his pupils blown wide and eyelids heavy, almost as if he was under a spell. You whimpered when he withdrew one of his hands on your cheeks, but the loss was quickly replaced by relief when he moved it to the small of your back, pulling you closer and flush against his body.

“You sure about this?” he murmured lowly, making you shiver against him. His nose traveled along your jaw and the column of your neck, then back up until his lips brushed the shell of your ear. “I don’t want ya to regret it.”

“I won’t,” you promised. “Please, baby.”

Your plea sent a shiver down his spine. Joel couldn’t hold back anymore, didn’t want to. It was clear you wanted him, and he never was a strong enough man to deny you anything.

Your eyes met, and Joel took a second to get his heart under control. You were so beautiful, and your skin so soft under his touch… He tilted your chin up, barely able to comprehend that all of it was really happening, that it was you who put his hands on yourself. And you wanted him to kiss you.

For fuck’s sake, you begged him to.

All the remaining traces of his self-control evaporated in a heartbeat, and he pulled you in, pressing your body closer before bringing his lips to yours, locking them in a soft kiss.

His mouth molded perfectly to yours, causing you to sigh with relief at the gentle caress. You felt heat pooling in your stomach, and you were glad for sitting down because your weak knees would surely buckle under you in different circumstances. The intensity of the kiss gradually grew until it became so heated that you had to grab a fistful of Joel’s hair on the nape of his neck for support.

At one point, Joel pried your lips away, searching your eyes with concern. You worried that he was having second thoughts, but the longer he looked at you, the more his own irises darkened with lust and insatiable hunger, making your face burn like it was on fire. His clear want and the knowledge that you were the cause of it made you feel powerful, but somehow at the same time completely naked under his gaze.

Without any warning, he dived back in, his wide palm enveloping one side of your face while he tangled the other hand in your hair. He tugged on it, probably a little rougher than he intended, eliciting a needy moan from your chest. You instantly felt embarrassed about your response, but when you tried to pull away, Joel practically growled, not letting you turn away.

“S’alright, baby,” he rasped, trailing hot kisses down your neck, making your breath hitch in your throat. “Keep makin’ those pretty sounds for me.”

You felt dizzy. Like he could make you melt from the tone of his voice alone.

Having his lips on yours felt better than you have ever imagined, and so perfect that you never wanted this moment to end. But one thought kept nagging at you, making it harder and harder to focus, and finally after some time Joel softly drew away. He sent you a soft, almost shy smile.

“What is it, sweetheart? Not havin’ second thoughts, I hope?”

It hit you in that moment that it wasn’t the first time he looked at you with so much warmth and affection in his eyes. You just never noticed before that he always looked at you this way.

“No, no,” you hurried to reassure him. “Just something… Something I wanted to do for a while.”

He raised his eyebrows playfully. “Somethin’ other than kissin’ your handsome neighbor?”

You clicked your tongue at his unexpected cockiness.

“Not exactly.” Your answer only made him more intrigued, and you grinned. “Indulge me and take a step back.”

Joel squinted suspiciously, but eventually humored you. You bit your lip, feeling giddy at finally having a chance to do something you thought about every time this infuriatingly handsome man was in your house.

His eyes followed the tip of your tongue when it ran across your bottom lip… and you took this moment to hook your thumbs on his tool belt and yank him forward.

Your lips connected again, though it was far from perfect – your teeth clashed together and your noses collided, causing you both to yelp in small pain and discomfort, but you didn’t let go of him. Your joy from this silliness lasted only a couple of seconds, though, because before long Joel started to laugh uncontrollably.

You huffed and tried to kiss him again, but he withdrew out of your reach, wrapping his arms around your waist with a big, goofy smile.

“Get back here.”

“What the hell was that, sweetheart?”

His eyes crinkled in amusement and you felt a bit foolish from what you just did. You turned your gaze down, but Joel lifted your chin with his fingertip, and you couldn’t help but smile, too, when you saw how happy he looked.

“It looked more romantic in my head,” you murmured with an awkward chuckle. “I actually wanted to do it the first time I saw you with that belt on.”

“S’that so?” Joel asked and kissed you briefly again, this time with a hint of hunger he was keeping at bay until now. “You like seein’ me in it?”

“I really, really do,” you whispered, hiding your face in his chest. “I don’t know why, but it look so fucking hot on you…”

“My dirty baby,” Joel purred into your hair. The bright grin on his face only grew when he heard you groaning in embarrassment. “Gimme a kiss.”

You didn’t move, not wanting to face him, so Joel opted to nuzzle the sensitive skin of your neck with his nose. “You’re adorable, y’know that? Don’t get all shy on me now, babygirl.”

A deep sigh escaped your chest and the tension in your shoulders lessened. Joel smirked into the crook of your neck, still planting soft kisses on your skin. His lower back was starting to ache from the position, but there wasn’t anywhere else he’d rather be.

And then all the discomfort in his body was put in the shade when you moaned quietly, pressing yourself against him more and wrapping your arms around Joel’s neck.

“Do you wanna get back to my room?” you asked after a while, and Joel hummed into your skin, now littered with love bites his lips and teeth left in their wake.

“You want me to fix that shelf of yours?” he teased back, making you snort.

“Just wanna cuddle with you. If that’s okay.” You nuzzled into his neck, and added quietly. “I can still feel his touch on me. And I only wanna feel you.”

Though Joel would be more than okay with that, by the sounds you were making and the look you were giving him, he doubted that’s all you’ll be doing. Still, his back hurt like hell and he almost let out a relieved groan at the thought of laying down.

“If you want me, baby. If you want me, then I’m all yours.”

Not a week has passed, and Joel had to get his toolbox out again – this time to fix your broken bed.

Though now he knew exactly what caused the damage.

[miryum]

"The Crime Scene"

Summary: Detective!Jason Todd x detective!Reader based on Jake and Amy’s relationship

Series Warnings: Swearing, descriptions of violence (but nothing descriptive), guns and other police stuff

Series Masterlist

Y/n stood by an apartment door that was blocked off by police tape, scrolling through her pictures. She and Jason had officially been dating for three weeks, and in her opinion, it was going great. Two nights ago they had another date which consisted of going to the State Fair. Y/n had insisted that they get the famous cookies (“They’re a staple of the fair, Jaybird! It wouldn’t be the State Fair without diabetes!”), ride the giant slide (“Darling, I’m an adult male with a full-time job. As much as I wanna make you happy, I’m not riding- oh my god, oh my god … Okay, can we go again?”), and go on the skyride. The day had ended with a camera roll full of Jason and Y/n pictures, Y/n’s favourite being Jason going through the children’s faux farm where kids had to collect small packages and do chores akin to farming. They followed a dirt path and collected plastic apples, packets of corn, and swaths of real sheep wool. At the end, they cashed it all in for an ice cream sandwich. Luckily, Y/n had been able to snag a picture of Jason in a tiny apron and holding a wicker basket. His mouth was downturned, but he waited patiently in line for his promised ice cream sandwich. 

“Hey. Sorry I'm late,” Cass said and Y/n looked up. “The coffee guy was…”

Y/n choked on her spit. “Assaulting your head?  What is going on up there?” She referenced Cass’ hairstyle. Instead of her loose pixie-cut, Cass’ hair was ironed straight in a tight bob.

“Is it bad?” Cass grimaced.

“Before I answer that question,” Y/n said, “do you currently have a knife on you?”

“Yes, several.” 

“Then I love it.” Y/n gave her a thumbs up. “It really... I mean, it’s hair. You look like Edna from The Incredibles. I'm sorry, don't stab me.” She shielded her face with her arms.

“My girlfriend, Harper, is going through beauty school. This week they’re doing hairstyles,” Cass explained. “She’s practising on me.”

“You’re still with Harper?!” Y/n giggled. “Geez, I love her! Uh, don’t take this the wrong way, but… is she passing?”

“Honestly, I don't know.”

“Well, let's get into this murder.” Y/n rubbed her hands together gleefully. “I'm hoping it's a dope one.” She flung open the door and ducked under the police tape. When she saw the apartment, she froze and her eyes widened in appreciation. “Mamma Mia. That's a bloody pizza pie.” She was referring to the scene before her, the floor smeared with blood in long lines, evidence markers covering every other metre, and the photographer was just finishing up. 

“Detectives,” a detective named Al Kelly greeted them. “The Roomba was running when we got here. It smeared blood across the entire apartment.”

Cass smirked and turned to Y/n. “Is this dope enough for you?”

“It's a bloody robot, Cain.” Y/n grinned. “It's clearly a good start, but it's gonna take more than that to be certified as totally dope. Who's the victim?”

“Name is Steven Carlyle,” Kelly said.

Y/n hummed and shook her head. “Kind of a boring name. Not super dope.”

“He was a psychologist,” Kelly continued. 

“Okay, a sharp turn away from dopeness, but who found the body?”

“His boss called the cops when he didn't show up to work, so he was found by Officer Fields.”

“Officer Fields?” Y/n whined. “You are seriously undoping this. Do you have anything else for me? Al?”

“The apartment was locked from the inside?” Kelly offered, wondering what Y/n wanted to hear. 

“Mysterious. Dope,” Y/n nodded along. 

“The alarm system was still armed.”

“Dope, dope, dope, dope. So hard to solve.” Y/n’s mouth dropped open appreciatively.

Cass asked, “any surveillance cameras?”

“Oh, yeah. Tons of them, but we checked them. No one was seen going in or out. Whoever did this was a ghost.” Al handed Cass a case file and she started flitting through it.

“Yes!” Y/n exclaimed. “A ghost! I officially declare this case ‘dope!’” She turned towards the apartment. “I love the first walkthrough of a crime scene. It's kind of like arriving at summer camp, except the lake is full of blood and your bunk mate is dead.” She paused before ambling through the room. “I think I may be bad at metaphors.”

Cass held up an interview transcript. “So after Carlyle comes home from work, the only person who even approaches his doorway is a delivery guy?”

“Yeah, but he never enters the apartment.”

Y/n gasped and pointed to an evidence marker. “Hey, Cass. Check it out. Triple digies!” The evidence marker displayed one-hundred and eighteen. “There's so much evidence, we hit triple digies!”

“Cool,” Cass commented.

“Very cool indeed,” Y/n agreed. “But you know what's not cool? Carlyle ordered his dinner from House of Lettuce. There's no way this guy knew he was gonna die! No one would want lettuce as their last meal. For example, my last meal... is gonna be any candy I get my hands on,” she shoved her hands in her pockets and extracted a pack of M&Ms.

“You just keep those in your pocket?” Cass pushed back a smile.

“We face death every day,” Y/n pointed out. “I gotta be prepared to go out on my own terms.”

“I can't even think about eating,” Cass gagged. “It smells like Tim’s armpits after he’s refused to go home for four days and is running on coffee.”

“When have you smelled Tim’s armpits…” Y/n trailed off.

A heavy set man with a thick moustache saddled up to them and said, “that's the heat wave. It speeds up the body decomp. I guess you could say this mystery is straight outta decomp......ton.”

“No.” Y/n rejected the attempted pun. “Who are you?”

“Angel Rojas. I'm running CSI and forensics.” The man took a sip of his coffee. 

“If the heat is causing the smell, why don't we just turn on the air conditioning?” Y/n asked.

Rojas shook his head immediately. “That kind of air flow is gonna kick up all kinds of dust particles. That AC stays off, which means the odour in here? Only gonna get worse.” He dug a small clip out of his pocket and shoved it on his nose. “Pro tip: plug your noses. Had this bad boy custom-made to fit these sweet nosters.”

“Are you trying to abbreviate ‘nostrils’?” Y/n stared at Rojas, completely bamboozled.

“In CSI, we don't try. We do, son.”

“Son? I mean, transgender people are great, but that’s not how I identify, thank you very much.” She shot Rojas a pair of finger guns before saying, “well, it's been sort of okay meeting you. We're gonna turn our backs and ignore you now.” She and Cass loyally turned their backs. 

“Hey, Y/n/n,” Cass smirked. “You know what it's time for?”

“I sure do! Y/n and Cass’ first impressions!”

Cass pointed to blood patterns on the wall. “Cast-off pattern on the far wall suggests upward knife slices. Y/n?”

Y/n knelt down next to Carlyle’s body. “Wounds on the vic's back means he didn't see the killer coming. Oof. Cass, my dearest?”

Cass shook her head and continued, “laptop, wallet, keys all in plain sight. No sign of forced entry. Doesn't connote a robbery. L/n?”

“But it does connote that our killer was waiting for Carlyle in the apartment.” She hesitated and asked, “did I just use the word ‘connote’ correctly?”

“You did.”

Y/n grinned. “Great. I’m just super smart. Please text Tim and tell him to suck it and that I am amazing and he should love me. Also, tell Jason that I’m the smarter one in the relationship and that even though he reads all the time, I am superior.”

“I’m not doing that.”

A voice frantically cried from the hallway, “I'm his mother! Let me in!”

Y/n grimaced and her jaw tensed. “Rock-paper-scissors for who has to talk to the vic's mom.”

“Deal.” The pair slammed their fists into their open palms and Y/n glared at Cass as the former held up paper and Cass showed two fingers to indicate scissors. 

“It's a game of chance. How the hell do you always win?” Y/n groaned loudly.

“You always pick paper,” Cass said.

“That is not true,” Y/n scoffed. “Here, go again.” Y/n flattened her palm as paper and Cass held up scissors. “One more time. Alright, one more time. One more time. One more time. One more time.” Y/n kept holding up paper and Cass easily beat her every time with scissors. “Alright, one more time. One more time. God, this reverse psychology is a bust!” Y/n sighed and stepped outside to the hallway. “Ma'am?” she found Carlyle’s mother and smiled softly. “I'm Detective L/n. This is Detective Cain. I'm so sorry for your loss.”

“Please tell me whatever you can. Nobody will tell me anything,” Carlyle’s mother, Amy, begged.

“I really wish that I could, but we're just starting our investigation,” Y/n explained. “Now, is there anyone you can think of that would want to hurt your son?”

“No! Everybody loved Stevie. I don't know why this happened! Please, you have to find who did this.”

“We're doing everything we can,” Y/n reassured her.

“Promise me,” Amy pleaded slowly, staring helplessly at Y/n, “you'll find who did this.”

Cass stepped in and frowned, “ma'am, we can't promise-”

“Promise me!” Amy placed a hand on Y/n’s forearm and tears started forming in her eyes. “Stevie was my whole world. I'm a single mom… or, was a single mom.” She sniffed and wiped at her eyes.

Y/n took a breath and nodded. “I promise you.”

Cass falsely grinned at Amy, who was thanking Y/n profusely, and shoved Y/n back into the rotting apartment. “You really are an idiot, aren’t you?”

“Um, exsqueeze me?” Y/n crossed her arms, offended.

“Did you really just full-on promise a victim's family member we would solve a crime? You broke the number one rule of dealing with a victim's family member. What were you thinking?”

Y/n shrugged and muttered, “I don't know. She reminded me of my mom, okay? A single mother crying in the hallway? Those are some of my frequent childhood memories.”

Cass sighed and rubbed her temples, speaking more softly, “dude, you never make a promise, because if we don't solve this, you've given her false hope, and that is way worse.”

“Normally, I would totally agree with you, but we're going to solve this case. We have so much evidence. We hit triple digies! We'll interview his friends, neighbours, and coworkers. Come on. We got this!”

“Alright, fine. But you have to deal with her if we can’t solve it.”

“Okay.”

“My goodness.” Y/n placed a hand over her heart and raised her brows in Cass’ direction. “Did Mother Gothel finally let you out of the tower?”

Cass’s hair had been lengthened significantly by hair extensions that fell down to her waist. “What?” Cass squinted at her.

“It was a Tangled burn,” Y/n explained. “Jason and I had a Disney marathon last weekend.”

“Cool, but no. Harper’s learning how to weave in hair extensions. Anyway, I talked to the neighbours. Our vic had a party three nights before the murder. I talked to everyone on the guest list. They all have alibis, so I got nothing. How did your interviews go?”

Y/n sucked in a harsh breath. “Not great. I talked to his coworkers, friends, and family. No one had a motive. Everyone loved him. The dumb jerk. RIP,” she added quickly, waving a hand around in a bad rendition of crossing herself.

“Did you promise any of them that you'd find the killer?” Cass asked, glaring at Y/n.

Y/n stared at Cass for a tense moment before admitting, “yes, his aunt. She also reminded me of my mom. Her name was Y/m/n!”

“Y/n!” Cass reprimanded. 

“Look, it's gonna be fine. This apartment is full of forensic evidence! There is no way that CSI hasn't found something. I have never been more confident in my entire-” she threw open the door and groaned as the smell immediately blasted her. “I can taste the smell. Ugh. You shouldn't be able to taste smells.”

“That's the heat cookin' the blood rot right out of the floorboards.” Rojas sauntered up to them. “Set scent to simmer. Serve over rice.”

Cass gazed uncomfortably at him before saying, “just so you know, Rojas, we're not responding positively to you as a person. Maybe just give us an update on the labs.”

“Copy that. The victim was stabbed 30 times. Coroner puts the time of death between six p.m. and seven-thirty p.m. Sunday night.”

“Okay, and how many DNA matches did you find?” Y/n asked.

“None.”

“What about hair?”

“None.”

“Fingerprints?”

“None,” Rojas repeated. “I have no matches of anything on any criminal databases whatsoever.”

Cass turned to Y/n. “Still feeling good about your promise, L/n?”

“Still feeling good about that haircut, Cousin It? I’m sorry, I’m a little frustrated right now but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I love you, Cass.” Y/n took a breath after her quick speech and said, “Rojas, how did you guys not find anything? You had fifteen people in here.”

“First of all, you sound so ignorant right now. I had fourteen guys here.” He scoffed. ”Like I'd ever get approval for fifteen guys. That's insane. Second of all, don't worry, we found something good. We tested the blood. This blood splatter belongs to the victim, this to a second individual, and that to a third.”

“Oh, hells, yes. We might have some perp blood in here. This is huge! Cass, we’re gonna solve this case!” She high-fived Cass and a couple mornings later, she stood outside the apartment, and greeted her friend, “ah, good morning, Prince Harry.” Cass’ hair was a brilliant, stark red.

“You seem particularly chipper this morning,” Cass remarked.

”Indeed I am,” Y/n agreed. “Because I finally tracked down the guy who delivered our vic his final meal and, in so doing, maybe saw the other two guys who bled all over this apartment.”

“We don't know there were three people in the apartment,” Cass reminded her friend.

“Delivery guy,” a cop introduced Y/n and Cass to a young, thin man dressed in a work uniform.

“Hello, sir,” Y/n smiled kindly and shook the delivery boy’s hand. ”We'd like to ask you a couple of questions.”

The delivery boy, who must’ve been no older than twenty-five, looked around at all the uniforms and equipment there. He nervously admitted, “okay, look, I ate a couple fries out of the bag, but everybody does that.”

Y/n shook her head, fingers tucked in belt loops. “That's not why you're here.”

“Oh, shit,” Max, the delivery boy, looked petrified. “Is this about weed?” he asked quietly, like it was a secret.

Y/n’s brows shot up and asked, “should it be?”

“No?”

“You delivered food to the guy in this apartment at six-forty p.m. on Sunday,” Cass cut in. “And within the hour, he was murdered.”

“What? How? That's horrible!” Max cried.

“Did you see anything suspicious?”

“No,” Max said. “But I didn't go inside. The guy came to the door. I just gave him the food.”

“And did you see or hear anyone else in the apartment?” Y/n crossed her arms.

“No, just that one guy. He ordered, uh, three beetroot zucchini wraps,” Max stuttered.

Y/n grimaced dramatically. “Three disgusting wraps. Three disgusting bloodstains. I knew it. There were three people in there.”

Cass stepped forward. “Would you be willing to go inside and let us know if anything looks different to you?”

“Yeah. Sure, that's fine. I don't care,” Max agreed as Y/n began to open the apartment door. Max stepped in and took one look around before screaming out, “why would you show this to me? Oh, I'm too high to see this.” He gagged and his eyes fell on the fishbowl which had bloodstains on the glass. “There's blood on the fish! On the fish!”

Y/n turned to Cass and said quietly, “I always forget how weirdly numb to horrific things we are. Do you think it affects the relationships we build with others?”

“Oh, for sure,” Cass agreed, nodding stoically as Max continued wailing.

“Oh.”

Cass placed a hand on Max’s back, who was currently bent over, retching up air. “You must have seen something. You delivered the food at six-forty, and sometime before seven-thirty, Carlyle was stabbed to death.”

“Stop saying ‘stabbed!’” Max pleaded. “What I saw here forever changed me. My heart is still pounding!”

“Wait. Carlyle was wearing a smartwatch, right?” Y/n asked, whirling around to the evidence marker that stood by Carlyle’s phone. “Those things track your heart rate. If we look at his phone, we can see the exact moment his heart stopped beating. Here we go.” She opened the phone. “Activities app. And... boom! His heart rate dropped to zero at exactly six-oh-three.”

Cass’ brows furrowed and she muttered, “the food wasn't even ordered until six-sixteen, which means…”

Both detectives exclaimed, “the killer ordered the food!”

Max, who was sitting in fetal position, yelled out, “oh, god. Did I talk to a murderer?!”

“Y/n,” Cass ignored Max. “This guy saw the perp. We have to get him in front of a sketch artist.”

“Oh, yeah. I'm feeling it now, Cass.” She bounced up on the balls of her feet. “At this time tomorrow, we're gonna know exactly what our killer looks like!”

“We have no idea what our killer looks like,” Cass said the following day, bags under eyes.

“Well, that's not totally true.” Y/n shuffled through sketch renderings. “We now know that the killer might look like Sebastian Stan, Winona Ryder, or Bilbo Baggins.”

“The delivery guy kept starting over. Apparently, he's always high.” She shook her head. “I'm sorry, man. Our big break turned into nothing.”

A voice sounded from the end of the hallway. “Detectives,” Captain Wayne strode up to them, cap under his arm.

“Ah! Captain,” Y/n plastered a grin on her face. “Did you come down here to take a look at the two best detectives you've ever worked with in action?”

“The two best detectives I've ever worked with are Prince and Pennyworth,” Wayne said immediately.

“Oh.” Y/n nodded once and stared at Wayne. “You never mentioned them before.”

“They were excellent,” Wayne replied. “I'm here because Major Crimes wants the case. I was hoping to tell them you have some leads. I overheard you mention a Bill Bo-Baggins. Should we bring him in?”

Y/n stifled a chuckle. “Well, as much as I would love to meet him, he is not a suspect.”

“Okay, so who is?”

Y/n swallowed and said, “at this time? No one. But... we are currently investigating no leads.” She drew her lips in and waited for the disappointment.

“So you have nothing,” Wayne restated.

Cass glared at Y/n. “Not nothing. L/n made a new best friend. The vic's mom. She promised her she'd solve the case.”

Wayne pursed his lips. “That's a rookie mistake.”

Y/n held up her hands defensively. “Okay. Fine. Maybe I'm not Pierce and Pennyweather.”

“Prince and Pennyworth,” Wayne corrected. “And they would've remembered your name after one mention.”

“Because we're memorable, and they're not.” Y/n held up a hand to Cass for a high-five. “Turned it around.” Cass shook her head and Y/n dropped her hand, continuing, “alright, look, Captain. Cain and I are gonna solve this case. The answer is in this room.” She gestured around to the bloody apartment. “We just have to focus and let the room speak to us.” She shouted out to the open house, “isn't that right, room?”

“When you talk to the room,” Wayne deadpanned, “I lose even more confidence in you.”

“Why?” Y/n shrugged then turned to beg her Capitan, “can you please just buy us some more time? Sir, I feel like we've earned this.”

Wayne sighed heavily and conceded, “work fast.”

Y/n shot him a thumbs up and beamed. “Got it.” She turned back to the apartment and rubbed her hands together. She said to Cass, “okay. Let's look at the scene like we're seeing it for the first time with fresh eyes.” She jumped to the floor, next to where Carlyle’s body used to lay. “Vic was face down.”

Cass stood in the kitchen, analysing the blood on the wall. “Cast-off splatter suggests upward knife slices.”

“No signs of forced entry. Laptop, wallet, keys were all there,” Y/n said, staring at the desk where all the items lay.

“Doesn't connote a robbery,” Cass finished.

“Wait a minute. Have we said this already?” Y/n looked around. “Are we having the exact same conversation?”

“Yep.”

“Cool.” Y/n’s jaw twitched. “Moving on. Windows and doors locked from the inside. Nobody in or out.” She pressed her fingertips to her temples. “Think, think, think... oh!” She snapped her fingers and her head whipped upward to focus on the ceiling. “The upstairs neighbour and his best friend drilled through the ceiling, murdered Carlyle, bled all over the apartment, then climbed back up and sealed the hole behind them!”

Rojas spoke up from behind them. “Negative, we would have found construction debris and microscopic paint fibres. The only thing that needs patching... is that theory.”

Y/n waved him away. “Okay. New idea. We're gonna get inside the mind of the killer. We eat the veggie wraps!” She opened the days old food container and unwrapped the veggie wraps. A shiver ran up her spine as she took in the disgusting looking food. “Here we go,” she hesitantly took a bite of the wrap and immediately gagged. “Oh, this sick bastard,” she groaned. “Oh, man. This is one twisted motherfucker. Oh, the beets are raw. This guy is demented, Cass!” She harshly swallowed down the food before throwing away the rest of the veggie wrap, glaring at it. “How can someone stomach that…?”

A week later, Y/n stood in the middle of the room and held her arms out wide.“Okay. All we have to do is figure out what kind of person can walk by cameras without being seen. Someone camouflaged as a wall.” She glanced around, squinting at the walls, as if she could find the person.

“Unlikely,” Cass said.

“Harry Potter and his invisibility cloak,” Y/n said proudly.

Cass pointed out, “Not a real person.”

“Well, uh, how do you know, Cain? Have you searched all of Britain for a magical castle? I didn’t think so.”

A couple days later, Y/n sat on the kitchen counter, legs crossed and wearing a tank top and pyjama shorts. She suddenly gasped loudly and waved her hands around. “My god, Cain, come here. Look at the blood spatter. Do you see what I see?”

Cass walked over from the bedroom and wondered, “Uh, blood?”

“I think I just made a connection,” Y/n said. “The number three is everywhere. Three people. Three types of blood. And guess what the tax was on the veggie wraps? Three dollars and nineteen cents, but if you ignore the nineteen, then it's three!” she cried out.

Cass shook her head. “Okay. You've officially lost your mind.”

Y/n jumped off the counter and hissed, “what? Who told you that? Was it room?”

“No. It's the fact that you think the room has a voice and also you're working in your PJs!”

“To beat the heat, Cass!” Y/n shouted. “To beat the heat! If we can't turn on the AC, this isn’t crazy, it's just smart.”

Cass took a deep breath and said quietly, “Y/n, I gave the case to Major Crimes.”

“What?” Y/n’s lips parted in disbelief. “Cass, y-you can't do that. I promised Amy.”

“Yeah, and now you can't let it go,” Cass argued. She opened the apartment door and a group of men in uniforms and windbreakers entered. “The scene's yours, guys. I'm sorry, Y/n/n,” she said softly. “It's over.”

Y/n scoffed and marched out. “Okay, fine! I'll leave. Come on, room!” she called out to the apartment.

“You left your pants,” Cass said loudly.

“I don't care!” Y/n shouted back.

Cass slid into the briefing room, noticing Y/n who was crouched on the floor. “Hey, Y/n?”

Y/n popped up and gasped. “Ah! Hello, Cassandra, my coworker and dearest friend.”

Cass shoved her hands into her pockets. “Look, I know you're mad at me, but I only gave away that case to help you. You were acting like a lunatic.”

Y/n placed a bottle of ketchup on one of the tables. “Don't even worry about it. You were totally right. I was in too deep, and honestly, I feel so free not having to work that case anymore, so thank you.” She didn’t know what to do, so she gave Cass an awkward little bow.

Cass smiled, relieved. “Cool, you're welcome. Uh, what's up with all the ketchup?”

“It's, um… for my hot dog.” Y/n nodded slowly. She began to push Cass out of the room. “Anyways, this has been a great chat, but I better get back to my hot dog.”

Cass frowned and pushed past her and froze at the sight of Stephanie who was laying on the floor, covered in ketchup. “Oh, wow.” Cass said slowly, eyes wide.

“There's nothing crazy about this, sister,” Y/n said. “It's the crime scene!” She pointed to the differently arranged tables in the briefing room. “There’s the stove, the kitchen island, blood,” she splattered some more ketchup on a table. “And of course, the body,” she flourished towards Steph.

“Hi, Cass!” Steph waved at her friend. “I'm the body.”

“You gave away my case, but guess what?” She let out a ‘boo-yah’ and held up two fingers. “I spent two months in that apartment. I can recreate it in my sleep.”

“Have you slept?” Cass crossed her arms.

“No,” Y/n said.

Dick walked into the room and looked around, shocked at the mess. “What the hell is going on here?!”

“Y/n’s gone insane because she promised the victim's mom she'd solve her son's murder,” Cass explained.

Dick placed his hands on his hips, disappointed. “Seriously? You never promise a victim's relative anything.” He took a breath and commanded, “clean it up and get out. You've lost your mind,” he decided.

“That's not true!” Y/n retorted. “I'm solving this.”

“Hey, sweetheart?” Jason placed a comforting hand on Y/n’s back. He had gotten a concerning text from Cass that had persuaded Jason to stop by Y/n’s apartment during his lunch break. He had originally knocked on the door, but when she didn’t answer, he had used the key she gave him for emergencies. 

Y/n jumped at the contact and whirled around, eyes bloodshot and the bags under her eyes were darker than ever. “Jason? When did you get here?” Before her sat the blueprints of Carlyle’s apartment.

Jason’s eyes widened at her appearance before his expression softened sadly. “Oh, darling, how much sleep have you gotten?”

“Uh… when was Monday?”

“Four days ago,” Jason answered gently. “Come on,” he gently helped her out of her chair and led her to the bedroom. “Can we get some rest?” Y/n nodded reluctantly and allowed him to tuck her into bed. “I’m just gonna stay here to make sure you get sleep well,” Jason whispered. 

“Okay…” Y/n soon fell asleep, a small smile tugging on Jason’s lips. He returned to Y/n’s living room and sat down on the couch, turning the TV on, making sure the volume was low so as to not disturb her. 

However, an hour or so later, Jason heard some rustling from Y/n’s room. Worried, he crept to Y/n’s room and peered in. When he saw what his girlfriend was doing, he sighed heavily. “Y/n, my darling, please go to sleep.” 

Y/n was using the blueprints as a blanket, reading over them intently, eyes blurry and exhausted. “Never,” she muttered. Jason took the blueprints away from her before typing a text message on his phone.

That afternoon, Cass stopped by Y/n’s apartment. She was greeted by Jason who led her inside and motioned to the bathroom. Y/n was sitting in the tub, cuddled in a blanket, and muttering to herself. Cass sighed and knelt down next to the bathtub. “L/n,” she said. “So, I can see how much this case means to you. I was thinking that maybe I could help you solve it.”

Y/n glanced up and the blanket fell off her shoulders. Jason came up behind her and rewrapped the blanket around her. “Really?” she asked. “But I thought Major Crimes just labelled it a cold case.”

“They did,” Cass confirmed. “But clearly, you’re not gonna let it go. And hey, if they’re out of the way, then we can take all the credit ourselves.” She smirked loosely and Y/n beamed.

The detective leapt out of the bath and wrapped her arms around her friend. “Thank you, Cass!” 

The following afternoon, Y/n and Cass arrived at Carlyle’s apartment. “That's weird,” Cass hummed. “The police tape's already gone.”

“Oh, yeah, Major Crimes released the scene yesterday.” The pair walked into the apartment as Y/n said, “but I'm sure they haven't had time to clean up the evidence…” she trailed off, looking at the perfectly spotless rooms.

“Oh, shit, they emptied the place out.” Cass said. “Nothing left in here. I can't believe this is how it ends.”

“Yeah. Is it weird that I miss the smell?” Y/n’s lips turned up in a reminiscing smile. “Wait a minute, do you hear that?” Her head tilted to the side as she tried to figure out if the soft humming noise was coming from the apartment, or if she really was crazy and it was all in her head. “I've spent six hundred hours in this room, and I have never heard that sound.”

“It's because the air conditioning's never been turned on. It's coming from that vent,” Cass pointed to a large vent in the wall.

Y/n immediately took out a swiss army knife and unscrewed the bolts. She faithfully got down on her hands and knees and crawled into the huge vent. “I don't see anything,” she called back to Cass. “Wait, there's a bend. Oh, my god.” She came across a pack of plastic water bottles and some empty chip bags. “There's food and water in here!”

Half an hour later, Cass and Y/n stood in the precinct, Cass’ laptop propped open in front of them. Cass said, “we never saw the killer leave this apartment because he never left. But he couldn't have survived in there for months. That's insane.”

“He wasn't back there for months,” Y/n explained. “He just waited for the body to be discovered and then snuck out sometime after that.”

“But this place was crawling with cops.”

“Which is exactly what he wanted,” Y/n scratched at her nose. “He snuck out dressed like a cop.”

“Even if he had a uniform, somebody would've recognized him,” Cass said, thinking logically. In order for them to figure this case out, there couldn’t be any holes in the story.

“Not if his face was covered.”

“By a Hazmat suit!” Cass’ mouth fell open. “The CSI guys! Rojas said he had fourteen techs, but didn't you count fifteen?”

“I did count fifteen!” Y/n exclaimed loudly. “My maths was right! Suck it, Mrs. Wilson! She was my Algebra two teacher. She was actually very sweet. She believed in me.” Cass shot her a look and Y/n remembered, “oh. Yeah. Here's the security footage. Play the tape.” Cass pressed play and Y/n narrated along to the video, “okay, so there's us arriving. Alright…. Wait. Go back.” She pointed to the one guy on the screen. “Look at this guy. All the other techs are wearing their little booties, but he's not. Follow that guy.”

“Where's the footage from the grocery across the street?” Cass muttered to herself, pulling up the camera logs.

“We have that?” Y/n asked, astonished. “That is so crazy. We’re under surveillance at all times. I'm sure it's fine and it won't backfire and ruin society.” She shook her head, ridding herself of the thoughts. “Zoom in on his face. Hm… that man isn’t CSI. But he is about to say… CS-bye.” She grinned at her pun and announced, “okay, Cass. You know what it's time for!”

The friends high-fived each other and said, “Cass and Y/n’s final impressions!”

“The dude’s a hit man. He snuck into the apartment during the party several nights earlier, hid in the vent for three days, then emerged and murdered Carlyle. Y/n?”

Y/n took over and added, “he then spilled bags of blood that he stole from a blood bank all over the floor and turned on the victim's Roomba to make the crime scene as messy as possible. Cass?”

“The messy scene meant there'd be extra crime techs, allowing the perp to sneak out in a Hazmat suit, which records show he bought online. Two weeks before the crime was committed. My only question, who was behind all this?”

Two days later, a man by the name of Warren Lawford (“Really? That’s the most ironic name ever!”) sat in the interrogation room and said, “I was hired by a depressed grocer.”

“Wow.” Y/n muttered. “Dopeness taking a late hit here, but we still got you! See you at the sentencing, peace, and we're out!” She held up a peace sign before she and Cass swept out of the room, looking smug. 

Amy waited for them outside, face contorting into relief when Cass explained that Lawford was pleading guilty. “Oh, thank god. But why did he kill Stevie? Was he doing something bad?”

“Not at all,” Y/n reassured her. “Steve dropped one of his clients that was too emotionally attached to him and the client went kinda crazy and issued a hit on him.”

“Well, is anybody going after him?”

“If they're not, then I will. I promise you,” Y/n said softly.

Amy’s eyes filled with tears and she spread her arms open. “Come here,” she sniffed, wrapping Y/n in a big hug, electing a squeak from the detective.

“Why are you promising her?” Cass mouthed to Y/n from out of Amy’s line of sight.

“I can't help myself!” Y/n whispered harshly.

“Goodbye, detectives,” Amy grinned before exiting the precinct.

“Take care,” Y/n called after the woman. 

“I gotta say,” Cass huffed a chuckle. “We would not have solved that case if you hadn't gotten involved emotionally.”

“Think we'd be better cops if we did that all the time?” Y/n asked.

“Absolutely not, never again.”

“Yeah, it was a total nightmare.”

[sopebubbles]

Nine

Master list

Synopsis: in a world where alphas, betas, and omegas live along side modern humans as second class citizens, you've fallen through the cracks of a society that wants to take everything wonderful from you. Luckily a timely encounter with the boys just might save your life.

Chapter summary: encounters with people from your past challenge your future with the pack.

Warnings: people generally being assholes, mentions of blood, car accident

WC: 8.2k

A/N: when i came home and said i wanted to write, beastie said "make it hurt" so lets blame this on her.

It's been three weeks since the pack left for the new house, leaving Yoongi and Jimin behind to fix some minor repairs on the old house and wait for you. Just this morning, Yoongi had finished patching up a hole in the drywall where Namjoon had once tripped and pushed his hand through just with his own strength. But there was still no sight or scent of you.

Yoongi had just finished making a sandwich when the front door opened and Jin walked in. 

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Yoongi grumbled before biting into his lunch.

"I came to see you," Jin replied, almost convincingly casual.

"Why?" The younger man asked with a full mouth.

Jin sighed, he genuinely wanted to be pleasant. This wasn't the first time he had come to the house and wanted to patch things up with Yoongi, but the man wasn't making it easy with his cold behavior. Still, Jin decided it would be best to be upfront so he could have a real conversation with him. "We got an offer on the house this morning."

Yoongi paused mid bite before he continued and chewed without responding.

"I wanted to run it by you," Jin continued.

Yoongi snorted. "What does it have to do with me? It's your house, yours and Hoseok's. The one your parents bought you. I've never been anything but a guest here."

"That's not true, Yoongi. You know it's not. You're an important part of our lives. I know I was selfish, but please give me a chance to show you how sorry I am and how much I love you," Jin begged. "I'll do anything."

Yoongi turned his head away, unable to look Jin in the eyes. "The only thing I want right now isn't something you can give me," he admitted. He wished that he could think of anything other than you, but even patching things up with Jin wasn't something that he could focus on for very long.

"You still haven't seen her?" Jin asked softly. Yoongi shook his head.

"Looks like she really doesn't need me to be her alpha. Hoseok was right."

Jin took a step closer, wishing he could get close enough to comfort his packmate. He'd still think of Yoongi that way no matter what. "I'm certain Hobi didn't mean that. And she doesn't seem to know what she needs, to be honest. She'd be incredibly lucky to have you as an alpha, Yoongi." 

He couldn't respond, too choked up on his own emotions. He knew that Jin was right, because he knew he'd be the best alpha possible to you, but right now he was just a mess. 

"One of the ways my mom has used to get inside my head is telling me that you want to take the pack alpha position from me," Jin admitted. 

Yoongi looked at him with surprised eyes and lifted brows. "When have I ever made you think I wanted to do that?"

Jin shrugged. "You kinda have pack alpha energy. Even my mom noticed it the few times she met you. And ever since we met you've always argued with me. Honestly, since you came to us I've always been a little insecure about it."

Yoongi laughed quietly. "To be completely honest, when I first met you guys I thought maybe I could take the leader position from you. But as soon as I got to know you, I didn't feel like I needed to."

"What changed your mind?"

"The way that you treated Tae after the incident. You were so gentle and caring with him. You never made him feel bad for what happened or shamed him. You just took care of him. And then I knew you would take care of all of us, so that's when I remember falling for you."

Jin frowned. "I'm sorry I didn't live up to that version of myself."

"You can probably do it again," Yoongi shrugged.

"I promise, I'm really trying." A moment of silence passed between them but the air felt a little lighter. "Will you and Jimin come home, please? It won't be right for any of us until you guys are there. We all miss you both."

Yoongi nodded sadly, "I guess I can't wait for her forever."

"Hobi has been putting together a room for her," Jin told him, but it only seemed to make Yoongi's heart stink further. "You will find her, Yoon."

"How?" Yoongi breathed.

"I don't know. There's this old thing that people used to talk about, called fated mates. No one really believes in them anymore. But the idea is, some people are meant to come into your life, and I don't think you would feel like this for no reason."

If you're wondering why you haven't gone to Yoongi yet, it's because things were actually going quite well for you, at least by comparison. One company on Jimin's list stood out to you immediately. The cleaning service was owned by an omega named Ana, and you learned that she was particularly passionate about helping other omegas who escaped abusive situations like she had. She knew working gave you the ability to be independent, but that it wasn't easy to keep up. She took one look at you and knew you were exactly the kind of girl who needed her help. Jimin's name only sealed the deal, though she didn't bother to call him up. When she said someone was needed to clean at the public library, you jumped at the chance to work somewhere you already knew. 

It had been three weeks now, and everything was going well, by your standards. You were still staying at the shelter, but you'd already gotten your first paycheck and in a month or two you might be able to get yourself out of there. For the first time in several months, you felt like things might be okay.

It was almost the end of your shift when you saw them. They were standing in the aisle you were about to turn down to dust, but you pulled back as soon as their scents hit you and hid yourself behind the end of the row of shelves. Sure, those scents could belong to anyone. Everyone's scent was unique, but lots of people shared general scents. You were hardly the only apple scented omega in the world. But the combination of chestnut and pine was too familiar. It had layered the pack's house and mingled in a uniquely homey way. You were certain that it was Seokjin and one of his other alphas. You'd never gotten his name. You'd never even spoken to him or looked at him directly. For good reason, too. He was absolutely massive, standing at least a foot over you. One look at his hands and you knew that he could kill you if you upset him. Seokjin was tall and broad as well, and Taehyung was not much smaller at all, but for some reason it was the unnamed one that terrified you most. The two of them together were downright terrifying, and your brain did a good job of reminding you of that every time your inner voice started longing for Yoongi or Jimin or Hoseok.

You decided to turn back the way you came before they could smell you, too. You could hide in your custodian's closet for the next twenty minutes of your shift. It was Saturday and the library would be closed tomorrow. A little dust could wait until Monday morning.

You emerged from the closet at the end of your shift, having changed out of your cleaning uniform and into jeans and Yoongi's hoodie. It didn't smell like him anymore, but you were reminded of his scent every time you used the citrus scented cleaner for the floors. It was a mockery of his natural smell, but it brought him to mind nonetheless. Few scents have been imprinted into your brain as deeply as that one. There was a card in the front pocket of the hoodie, just a small rectangle with a name and contact information printed on it and Jimin's neat, careful numbers written on the back. The cardstock had lost its stiffness after the hours you've spent clutching it, the corners were tearing from all the worrying of your fingernails, like they were doing now.

Go catch them, she whispered in your head as you watched two tall, broad sets of shoulders walk through the doors of the library.

You know what Seokjin will do to you. 

You don't know. Yoongi wouldn't let him.

Round and round they went again, never giving you a moment's peace. 

Please call Jimin.

You walked toward the information desk where Maria sat at her computer, next to the phone.

"All done for today, Y/N?" Maria asked with a pleasant smile. You nodded.

"Can I use your phone to make a call? Mine was stolen. It's local."

"Yeah, of course. Just dial nine to call out," she said as she turned the telephone toward you.

This is a bad idea.

You picked up the receiver and pulled out the card from your pocket. You dialed nine, then five, and then you froze. A scent filled your nose, one that you hadn't smelled in many years. One you thought you'd never smell again. It was spearmint stronger than any gum or mouthwash. His scent was always so potent, you were amazed your sap parents couldn't smell it. How could they have thought he was one of them? You turned to look for him, but he saw you first.

"Y/N?"

"Eli?" You asked, astonished. You couldn't have expected to see him in this city. 

"What are you doing here?" He wondered, stepping close to you. For a moment you thought he might try to hug you, but you were never like that with your adopted brother. You hadn't seen him since you were thrown out of your parents house, and you always figured it was best that way. 

The years between his presentation and yours had been tense. You could smell him as soon as his scent started to develop. It was the first sign you had that you wouldn't turn out sap like they said you might—truthfully, your average sapiens don't understand the genetics of cross-breeding that well. And of course he was terrified of you giving away his secret, no matter how vehemently you vowed that you wouldn't. You only ever hoped you could be as lucky as him. To be a beta and to go undetected for as long as possible. But it didn't work out like that for you, and all these years you might have resented him a bit for that. 

"I work here," you confessed, looking around as people went about their business in the library. Maria looked to be paying you no mind. "I just finished. What brings you here?" 

"Just returning some books. Are you free?"

You finally placed the receiver back in its cradle and removed your hand. "Yeah, what did you have in mind?"

"Are you hungry?" Eli asked. You were and you weren't. On the one hand you hadn't eaten yet that day, but on the other, your stomach was twisted in its usual knots. You nodded anyway.

Eli took you to a diner close by and promised he was paying so you could order anything you wanted. You ordered a cheese burger to try to pack in as many calories as you could in one meal. 

"Do you still talk to them?" You asked quietly after you'd run out of small talk. Eli held your gaze for a moment before he answered.

"Sometimes," he admitted. "It's not like they were ever big talkers. But they know I'm here and about my job, my fiance."

"Fiance?"

"Yeah. We're planning to get married next year." You nodded thoughtfully. "She's sap, and she doesn't know about me," he admitted, unprovoked. You looked him deeply in the eyes before you spoke. You couldn't help feeling jealous of what that must be like, to be able to deny yourself so easily.

"How is that going?" 

"Pretty well. It's not a problem," he said, but it didn't seem to ring true on his face.

"What about you? You work at the library?"

"I clean there. I just started this month." You shifted uneasily in your chair, a little because you were uncomfortably full but also because he had been talking about himself most of the time and how he was turning the attention on you, and that never felt like a good thing.

"Oh, nice. Your pack lets you work?" 

His question caught you off guard because for one thing, you were surprised that he assumed you had a pack. For someone who was denying who they were to their most intimate partner, he sure did jump to the conclusion that you wouldn't be. But you didn't appreciate the fact that he thought you needed permission to work. For some reason you couldn't really understand, you said, "yeah."

"That's interesting. You don't meet a lot of omegas out there working in public. Seems like most alphas like to keep them locked up at home."

You wanted to tell him he had no idea what he was talking about. As far as you could tell, Eli has less experience with Lykos culture than you did. What did he know about alpha and omega dynamics? But you didn't bother. "Well, my alpha isn't like that."

Eli brushed off his hands as he finished his fries. "That's good. Let me take you home. I'd like to meet them."

You didn't know the address of the pack's house, but you remembered how to get there from the library, and you were able to direct him there without much trouble. 

"It's that blue one up there," you told him when he turned onto the right street.

"This one?" Eli asked with a raised eyebrow, seeing what you did at the same time: a for sale sign with a triumphant red 'SOLD' sign sitting atop it. You swallowed thickly and felt your eyes begin to burn.

See, all these weeks of torturing yourself with indecision, and they didn't want you anyway. You never listen to me.

You could feel Eli's eyes on you, waiting for an explanation, so you cleared your throat. "I don't actually live here. I stayed here for a little bit, with a pack, but I guess they've moved on."

"Your pack left you?" He asked incredulously.

You shook your head, "they aren't actually my pack. They just took care of me for a few days when I was sick. It was a while ago. I just didn't want to tell you where I'm really staying, so I lied."

"What were you gonna do if they were here and I asked to meet them?" Eli smirked and you shrugged.

"Hope they'd play along until you left."

"And then what?"

And then ask if I could stay.

Idiot.

"I don't know," you admitted. You had no idea what you were going to do if you saw them. You didn't know what you would have said if you'd called Jimin and he'd answered earlier.

"You still haven't learned to think ahead, have you, Y/N?" Eli sighs and puts the car back in drive. "So, where are you staying?" 

You sit up straighter in your seat and reach for the door. "It's fine. You can leave me here. I've wasted enough of your time tonight."

"Don't worry about it. Just tell me where to go."

You directed Eli downtown to the shelter, only for him to have the reaction you had feared. You moved quickly to get out of his car but his hand on your arm stopped you.

"Y/N, why are you staying here?" His voice was filled with shock.

"I'm just going through a little rough patch. I'll be back on my feet soon. I have a job. I just need time," you rushed out all your defenses.

"Do you need money?" 

"No! God, I don't want your money."

"Y/N, you can't stay here. I've heard awful things about this place."

"Well, it's better than the street, or some predator."

"You can do better than this."

"I'm trying, okay! You think I like this? I don't. But what's it to you anyway! We meet randomly after five years and you're suddenly an over protective big brother? Do you think my life has been easy?" You've started to shake and you knew you were getting hysterical, but you didn't need his opinion on things he would never understand.

"Y/N, I know things haven't been easy for you. Let me help," he offered softly.

"How can you possibly help me?" You sat in the passenger seat with your arms crossed, looking every bit his teenage sister.

Eli swallowed before he spoke. "Come stay at my place for a bit."

"At your place?" He nodded. "What about your fiance? Doesn't she hate Lykos?"

"I never said she hated them."

"Us."

"Us. She just had some bad experiences with some alphas when she was younger. She doesn't really like to be around our kind," he explained, as if that made it better.

"Doesn't it make you feel crazy to have to pretend all the time?"

Eli shrugged. "I'm used to it…with our parents. They still don't know about me. It's not that hard, really. You can pretend for a little bit. You can get heat suppressants or whatever."

You know he's right.

You leaned your head back against the headrest and closed your eyes.

I don't want to pretend anymore.

What's so great about being the real you?

I'm gonna call–

If you were going to call him you would have by now and besides, they literally gave you a sign. It was all a lie. Just go with Eli. 

You sighed. "I have some stuff inside. If I leave it, they'll throw it out."

"I'll wait," Eli said and let you get out of the car. 

Yoongi and Jimin arrived at the new house just as Hoseok was finishing dinner preparations. Taehyung had set the table for seven, and for the first time in weeks it felt complete. No one would hold it against Yoongi for needing space, or for doing what he needed to do in hopes of bringing you into their pack, but that didn't mean they hadn't missed him and Jimin like crazy.

And it wasn't as though they hadn't seen each other at all. Taehyung had driven Hoseok back to the old house on many occasions, to bring his boys food or to take their laundry, no matter how many times Yoongi insisted they could go to the laundromat. He couldn't bear the thought of it. Jungkook stopped by after work anytime he didn't have a night shift. Namjoon and Jin had come over a few evenings when Yoongi was working so that Jimin wouldn't feel lonely.

It was strange for Jimin to spend time alone. He'd spent most of his adolescence surrounded by others and then the last four years in a pack house where someone was always home. In fact, the point in his life when he was the most alone was right before he met Yoongi and the others, and moving in with them had been a huge relief. Jimin hadn't been exactly lonely during those weeks when it was just him and Yoongi, but the quiet was hard to get used to, and the noise that surrounded their return was welcomed and familiar.

No one was going to admit it, because they were too happy to be back together again, but the time apart hadn't been the worst thing in the world. It had given them space to work on bonds that they had not paid as much attention to as maybe they should have. Seokjin and Namjoon had gone on several dates, just the two of them, the pack leader letting his mate take him to every museum in town and casual trips to the library. Jin hadn't even realized how much he was neglecting the second alpha in his pack, nor how much he had truly missed quality time with him. As soon as the realization hit him, he made a heartfelt apology to Namjoon for focusing too much attention on Hoseok and their plans. Of course, Namjoon forgave him easily. He always would.

Namjoon couldn't really put it into words, but his alpha status had never sat quite right with him until he met Seokjin. Sure, he was large and strong and everything an alpha should be on the outside, but he'd never felt the stereotypical aggression or need for control that alphas were known for. This had always felt like a character flaw in himself until he met Jin, who simultaneously had shown him that being an alpha didn't mean he had to be an asshole, and who was also willing to take on the burden of control that Namjoon rejected. When he met Jin, he could just be himself, and for that he would always love him above all others.

Hoseok, too, had used his time wisely in getting more in touch with the feelings of his younger packmates. The fact that he hadn't realized how insecure Taehyung had been feeling and how often Jungkook had been sleeping outside of the nest ate at him constantly. Although he and Tae had been companions at home for years now, Hoseok made a concerted effort to spend more quality time with him, to ask him his opinions on every detail of the new house, not only so he would feel included and welcome or because of his artistic eye but because of the boxy grin Tae gave him every time gave him immeasurable happiness.

Jungkook got the lion's share of Hoseok's attention whenever he got home from work, whether it was 5 pm or 5 am. It always involved lots of touching and scent marking, although if Jungkook came home smelling like lavender and oranges, Hoseok spent considerable more focus on getting those smells onto his own body. If he had a hard time getting Jungkook to smile and laugh once he was in the nest, Hoseok would gently coax him into talking so he could comfort the beta. 

On the whole, everyone in the new house was feeling much better than they had a month or even months ago, except for the fact that two integral parts of their lives were missing. It didn't feel the same as it did before they met Yoongi and Jimin. They had been irreversibly changed. And those two hadn't quite seemed to benefit as much from the separation as the rest.

Jimin squealed and giggled as Jungkook lifted him off the ground and spun him around. "Put me down, Kookie!"

"Never," the other beta mumbled into his shoulder. "I missed you too much."

"I saw you two days ago," Jimin reminded him.

"That's two days too long."

Yoongi couldn't help smiling at the betas as they greeted each other. It warmed his heart to see how little changed between them as Jungkook began to scent mark Jimin until he smelled like something fresh out of the dryer.

"I'm glad you're back," Hoseok said as he cupped Yoongi's smiling cheek in his hand. His heart ached when he watched the man's smile diminish.

"Yeah, I missed you guys," Yoongi admitted, but somehow the omega could tell that longing for his pack wasn't the dominant feeling in his heart at that moment.

"Let's eat dinner, and then I'll show you around the rest of the house," Hoseok encouraged and Yoongi nodded, setting down his bag before going to the table.

"You made kimchi-jjigae?" Jimin asked before taking a seat.

"I wanted to do something special, so I made your favorite to welcome you home," hoseok shrugged.

Jimin walked over and put his arms around the omega in a tight hug. "I love you, hyung."

"I love you, too, Jiminie," he smiled into the man's soft hair. Yoongi watched with a smile of his own. Nothing was as nice as watching Jimin get doted on the way he deserved, and he felt a pang of guilt for having kept the man to himself for so long. Yoongi had heaped tons of love and attention on him during their time alone, but Jimin always deserved more. He was sure he'd feel the same way about you if– Yoongi cut off his own thoughts. He wasn't going to go there anymore. He needed to give up for the sake of his pack, and he knew it. It wouldn't be easy, but he had to. He couldn't let himself believe in anything as fickle as fate to bring you to him.

After they'd all eaten until they were stuffed, Hoseok led Yoongi upstairs by the hand. 

"That's the master bedroom," he pointed out as they passed it by. "This is the room we hope will be the nursery," he said walking by the middle room on the second floor. Yoongi gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "And this room is for your little pup."

Yoongi swallowed thickly as he walked into the room. The walls had been painted a serene shade of sea foam green and the mattress was fitted with cream colored bedding.

"I didn't think she was a pink kind of girl. Or at least I wasn't sure, so Taehyung suggested this color might be soothing for her. What do you think?"

 "You guys worked so hard on this." Yoongi ran his fingers down the gauzy cream curtains. "It's great, Hobi, but," Yoongi sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. "She's not coming."

Hoseok frowned and settled himself atop Yoongi's lap. The alpha wrapped his arms around his waist naturally to hold him in place as he had so many times. "She hasn't come yet. But that doesn't mean she won't. I know you're feeling hopeless, but you need to have a little faith."

Yoongi looked up at him with weary eyes. "How can you be so positive about it?"

"I might be a tad bit more objective about it than you are," Hoseok smiled as he leaned into him. 

"Every minute feels like an eternity," Yoongi whispered.

"I really think she might be your fated mate," Hoseok giggled.

"Do you actually believe in that stuff?"

The omega shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think I've ever met any, but as you know, I don't get out much. I only know stories. Do you have a better explanation for it?"

Yoongi thought quietly for a moment, opening and closing his mouth as he searched for the right words, but he thought maybe they didn't exist. "All I know is it feels wrong to know that she's out there…in the world…and I'm not there to protect her."

Hoseok gently knocked their heads together. "Sounds like fated mates to me." Yoongi rolled his eyes playfully. "Don't give up yet, Yoon. Jimin and Jungkook found her by chance, but that doesn't mean it wasn't meant to be. When the time comes, you'll be in the right place at the right time, too."

"I hate the feeling that I won't be there before something terrible happens."

Hoseok clicked his tongue at the man. "You're so paranoid. Lighten up. She's coming! And when she does, this room will be her home. Won't that be nice?"

Yoongi smiled, giving into Hobi's relentless optimism. "It will be perfect."

Eli drove you to a stylish looking apartment building on the other side of town. It was obvious the moment he took you inside the apartment that he hadn't used the time while you were gathering your things to warn his fiance that you were coming. A tall blonde came quickly toward the door wearing an expression you couldn't quite define but leaned towards angry.

"Babe, where were you? I just got home and you weren't here. What's going on?" She asked as her eyes fell on you and even you could feel yourself shrink under her sharp eyes.

Eli leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I'm sorry, baby. I should have called. But I ran into my sister. You remember, I told you about Y/N." 

"Not really," she admitted with a tight smile as your brother stepped aside and she got a good look at you. "I thought she ran away," she whispered.

"Yeah, ran away, not died," he whispered back. You weren't sure if they knew you could hear them or they didn't care but you felt smaller and smaller by the second. "She lives in the city now, and she needs a place to stay," he said loud enough for you to hear, although she clearly wished he wouldn't.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Eli?" She asked with the same tight smile, and it occurred to you that you didn't know her name. Had you forgotten it, or had he simply not mentioned it to you before at the restaurant?

"We'll be right back, Y/N," Eli nodded.

Whatever room they moved to was not far enough away or sound proof enough to keep their conversation from your ears.

"What the hell? You can't bring random girls to our home, Eli!"

"She's not some random girl. She's my sister. She has a difficult situation right now, am I not supposed to help her?"

"Doesn't that seem a little convenient to you? That your long lost sister suddenly finds you when she's fallen on hard times?"

"What are you even insinuating? I'm the one that ran into her at her work."

"I just think it's fishy. And you never talk about her. I think you've mentioned her twice the whole time we've been together, so what's with the big brother act?"

"I just feel bad, okay? Our parents weren't easy on her. I just want to help her out for once."

A long pause settled between them.

"Please. Just a couple weeks, three tops, until I can find her a place to live."

"Did she ask you for money?"

"No. She didn't even ask if she could stay here. But her other situation wasn't safe."

"Jesus. Are you sure she's even your sister? Hasn't it been like ten years? She still looks like a teenager."

"She's just small. It's her, trust me. Everything will be fine."

"Fine. But three weeks and not a day more, Eli."

You turned toward the door to leave. You didn't want to be an inconvenience, much less cause strife in their relationship. He'd already lied to her about you enough, saying that you ran away instead of telling her how and why you were thrown out of your home. Every moment you spent there would only heap more lies up between them. You didn't know what he was thinking of bringing you here, but he was misguided.

"Y/N," he spoke just as you reached for the door knob. "Everything is fine. Come, I'll show you the guest room."

There was always something that made your skin itch about a 'guest room.' Maybe it was just that you never needed it spelled out for you that you held a place of impermanence no matter where you went. You didn't belong. You wouldn't be staying long. These were things you knew without needing them codified in words. 

"There are fresh sheets in this closet," she told you, making a reappearance with a somewhat more believable smile on her face. "I would have made it up for you if I had some warning."

"That's fine. I can make it myself," you assured her quietly. "I'm sorry, I forgot your name."

She sighed quietly. "I'm Kate. There are extra blankets in there as well in case you get cold."

"Thanks, Kate," you murmured before she turned to leave.

"Get some rest, Y/N. We'll talk in the morning," Eli said before he closed the bedroom door and you were alone.

The following day, Kate seemed to find reasons to be out of the house all day. You did your best to have as little contact with Eli as possible. I'm spite of his recent charity in bringing you here, you had never really been that close. The years between you and the resentment you felt were high barriers. Besides, you'd become too suspicious of kindness in your life to truly trust him. 

During the week, you returned to work, and even though he offered to drive you and pick you up, you insisted on taking the bus across town, if for no other reason than that it extended the time you were out of their home. When you were there, you cooked and cleaned. It was the only way you knew how to do penance for your ever inconvenient existence, the only payment of a perpetually uninvited guest. And when she realized how quiet and clean you were, Kate did thaw toward you, if only slightly. 

The main benefit of staying at their apartment was the opportunity to get quality sleep. It was quiet, and you were spared the frequent interruptions that occured in the shelter, as well as the constant anxiety of being around so many strangers and strong smells. Among the many practices that made the True Life Ministry different from other shelters was that they didn't separate you by secondary gender, only by male and female, so the threat of alphas was ever present. Although behavior was strictly monitored, you never felt entirely safe.

There was one thought that continued to itch in your brain as you laid on the bed and tried to sleep. It was still pretty early in the evening, but you'd had a pretty rotten day. One of the Lykos who frequently passed her days in the library had decided to make you an object of interest today, whiling away the afternoon throwing trash at you every time you came near where she sat in the computer lab while you emptied the bins or cleaned a table. Eventually, one of the librarians asked the alpha to leave, but it had already soured your mood. You cooked and ate dinner silently before turning in early, and even Kate was a little concerned by the way you kept your head hung low and didn't look at either of them even once. 

Now, the only comfort you could think of was sitting in the closet mere feet from your bed.

The blue and white striped blanket is so soft. At least start there.

You know you're not supposed to do that.

Hoseok said it was good for me and it was so nice when he did it.

You aren't Hoseok. You're barely even a fucking omega. You know it never leads to good things for you.

Please. Just a little nest. I need it. Just for a little while. Please.

You sat up in bed and stared at the closet door. There were several very soft blankets in there going unused. Kate did say you could use them.

She said if you got cold. You're not cold. You're fine.

"What's it going to hurt?" You whispered to yourself.

Do you really have to ask? Remember the first time? 

You pulled back the quilt laying on top of you and scooted off the edge of the bed. Creeping to the door, you opened it slowly.

You don't even know how to build a fucking nest. Don't even try.

It's not that hard. Start with the white one.

Eli told you to pretend. What if they find you acting like an animal?

For once you ignored the harsh whispers in your head and followed the smaller voice's instructions. You laid the soft white blanket out as a base, then bunched up two knitted blankets to make a perimeter. You didn't need a very big nest. You were so small. Finally you fluffed the striped throw blanket across the top before climbing into the nest. For once, all your voices quieted as you wiggled your body around, finding the perfect spot for you that made you feel warm and fuzzy and protected. All the world fell away as you nuzzled your face against the fluffy white blanket beneath you. You might have been falling asleep, or maybe just falling within yourself to a quiet, soft place you can only really remember going to when you were in Hoseok's nest last month. You'd never managed to get there with your former pack, where they mocked you for your pathetic attempts at a nest until you gave up altogether. 

Kate, despite her previous coldness toward you, could tell there was something wrong with you. She could tell you were still awake by the soft, albeit strange noises coming from the guest room, and decided to check on you to see if there was anything you needed. When you didn't answer her knocks, she decided to open the door anyway. It was her home after all, right? When she turned on the light, she didn't expect to see you lift your head from a pile of blankets, hair a static mess and pupils blown wide. You whimpered at the bright light.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her tone a mixture of shock and suspicion. "What's going on? Eli?" She called loudly.

You stared at her in confusion until he came to the doorway. "What?"

Kate pointed a finger at you. "What the hell is she doing?"

Eli cursed under her breath as he walked toward you on the bed. He took your face in his hands. "Wake up, Y/N. Snap out of it!" He muttered. 

"Is she…is she one of them?" She asked, pitched raised. You whimpered again.

"Damn it, Y/N," Eli groaned. "I didn't know."

"What do you mean? Are you one of them too?"

"No. No! She's adopted. You know that. My parents thought that's why she ran away, but I didn't know for sure," Eli lied.

"Fuck, Eli. You know how I feel about those...things," Kate cringed.

"Baby, please. I'm sure she's harmless." Eli approached her with open palms, but she only backed out of the room. 

"Get her the fuck out of my house. Right now!" She shouted. 

Eli looked between the two of you anxiously. He stepped closer to you once again and felt his heart clench at the desperately scared look in your wide, vulnerable eyes. "I'm sorry, Y/N, but you have to go."

You whined and pressed yourself closer to the blankets, as if they would protect you. Eli sighed. You weren't difficult to pick up and pluck out of your nest. You'd lost whole pounds since your last heat.

"I'm sorry Yn," he muttered as he carried you down the hallway toward the door.

"Make sure she's out of the building," Kate grumbled as he went by her holding the door open.

Eli nodded and carried you into the elevator before he set you on unsteady feet. "You couldn't fucking hold it together could you?"

Your brain was scrambling to come back online, but you didn't have words yet. Fucking stupid omega brain.

"I swear to God if you ruined this for me," he muttered. You wished you could tell him what I fucking fake he was, but your tongue was glued to the top of your mouth. The elevator reached the lobby and Eli walked you outside. "Sorry, Y/N," he told you once more before he turned to go back inside. "Have a nice life."

The night air was chilly with that feeling it might rain at any second. You thanked yourself for wearing Yoongi's hoodie to bed and turned to walk in an unknown direction.

We fucking told you so. You never fucking listen.

Yoongi wasn't the only one who spent his nights on duty feeling like the next call was going to be the one he dreaded most. Rainy nights always filled Jungkook with a specific kind of dread. It was the kind of night that led to avoidable accidents, which is what he thought had happened when he and his partner stopped their patrol car behind a parked car in the middle of a narrow one way street. The short whoop of the police cruiser when they came to a stop got the attention of the driver of the car, who turned and quickly began shouting at Jungkook as soon as he opened the passenger side door.

"It wasn't my fault, officer! She pushed him in front of my car! There wasn't anything I could do!" The woman screamed hysterically.

"Calm down, ma'am," Jungkook's partner, Xavier, said cautiously before he leaned into his walkie talkie and requested back up. 

Meanwhile Jungkook walked around the passenger side of his vehicle and sniffed the air. The falling rain made it harder to smell the scents around him, but he managed to pick up a few things. The sour fear coming from the Sap woman, smoky sage, and blood. When he reached the front of the car, he could tell those last two scents came from the alpha lying unconscious in the road, blood flowing from his head to mix with the engine oil and rain water on the sleek blacktop. He knelt down when he got closer and spoke into his own radio to call for an ambulance. And then he smelled it. The apple cider vinegar that telegraphed your fear. 

No matter what Jin and Hoseok said, Yoongi wouldn't attribute the foreboding and acute anxiety he felt tonight to the possibility of fated mates. He felt nervous every night he sat in the ambulance waiting for the next call, hoping it wouldn't be your body that was injured. Tonight was rainy and dark and that always meant car accidents. Yoongi was just anticipating what anyone in his line of work would do on a night like tonight.  

"Do you think it will be her this time?" His coworker asked with casual cruelty as Yoongi drove to the scene of an accident. 

"Shut up," he muttered in reply.

"Don't be so sensitive. I thought alphas like you would be able to take a joke," the Sap teased.

"It's not a fucking joke." Yoongi barely held back a growl.

"Relax. You're not the first EMT to spend the night driving around looking for someone they love in every scene. We all go through it at some point. It's never them.*

But that was where he was wrong.

Yoongi freely admitted that he'd been a paranoid mess the last month, scanning every face at every site for you. But he had never imagined your smell, so he knew he wasn't imagining it now. It filled his senses the moment he opened the door of the ambulance. He could smell the blood, too, but he honed in on your scent only. He could focus on nothing else.

You were sitting on the curb between the bumpers of two parked cars with your head between your knees, but Yoongi didn't need to see your face to know it was you. Only you could be so small and fragile, even under the shock blanket Jungkook had the good sense to put over you. He wanted to scoop you up and get you out of the rain. The fact that Jungkook was standing protectively in front of you lessened his panic by a fraction.

"Is she hurt?" Yoongi asked, kneeling in front of you. "Y/N, are you okay?" 

You didn't respond, simply continued to rock back and forth with your hands clasped over your head. 

"She's not injured. She's just in shock. She hasn't said much," Jungkook told him.

Yoongi reached forward to touch your chin. "Look at me, princess. Let me see if you're okay."

When you lifted your eyes to his, you looked as terrified as you smelled. "Alpha? Is he dead?" You asked painfully.

"Yoongi, over here!" His partner called from the road. The alpha didn't take his eyes off you. How could he leave you like this? "Yoongi!"

"Go on, hyung. Do your job. I'll take care of her. I won't let her out of my sight. I promise."

Yoongi's eyes remained locked on yours for a moment longer. You had asked him only one thing, and if getting you reassurance was all he could do then that's what he would do. "I'll go check on him. Everything will be okay, princess. Wait here." He tried his best to sound reassuring as he stroked your wet hair and you leaned into his touch before he tore himself away to go help the alpha bleeding out on the asphalt. 

His sage scent faded as life drained from him, but the other EMT was applying pressure to his head wound, so he wasn't gone yet. Yoongi went into autopilot to help his partner stabilize the patient, but he was desperate to know what had happened and how you had been involved. Should he even be saving this man? Who was he to you? 

They managed to get the man onto the stretcher and into the ambulance while he still clung to life without Yoongi having much idea at all of what he was doing. He stayed in the back with the patient while his partner drove, otherwise Yoongi would never be able to make himself leave without you.

"Y/N, I'm taking you to the police station," Jungkook told you after the ambulance had left and another police officer had taken the driver of the car away. 

Without any other acknowledgement, you stood, letting the shock blanket fall from your shoulders as you turned your back on Jungkook and placed your hands behind your back.

Jungkook frowned, "you're not under arrest, Y/N. I'm just taking you to the station to give a statement and wait for someone to come get you."

You turned to look at him confusedly. "No one will come for me."

Jungkook smiled sadly. "Yoongi will come. Let's go."

At the station, Jungkook sat you next to his desk in the bullpen and went to go get you a warm drink. He placed a paper cup of hot tea in your hands, which you took without looking at it or him, but just stared blankly ahead.

"Y/N, can you tell me what happened before the accident?" Jungkook asked, fingers poised over his keyboard.

"Eli threw me out."

"What?"

"Was walking. Was raining but…nowhere to go." You took a sip of the too hot tea to ease the dryness of your throat. "Smelled him first. Hate that smell. So I walked faster, but he's bigger, faster. He caught me. Grabbed my arm."

"Did he hurt your arm?" Jungkook asked. You honestly didn't know. You felt numb all over, just like you had since you'd smelled the burning sage earlier. Setting down the small cup, you pulled up the sleeve of Yoongi's hoodie to reveal the bruises that were blossoming along your forearm. "Shit," Jungkook muttered. "We'll take pictures in a minute. What happened next?" 

"We argued."

"About what?"

"Wanted me to come with him. Didn't want to."

Jungkook studied your face cautiously. "Why did he want you to come with him?" 

You shrugged. "Same as always. Wanted to breed me."

"Is that Eli?" He questioned.

You shook your head. "Eli is my brother."

Jungkook nodded. "But you know that man."

You nodded dumbly. "My alpha."

Jungkook felt his stomach turn over and over. Knowing what little he did about your experience with your past alpha, your barely-there behavior made more sense.

"What happened when you argued?"

You swallowed. "I tried to get away, to get him off. He wouldn't let go, so I–I pushed him and he slipped. He fell into the street and then the car was there."

"Did you see the car before you pushed him?" Maybe Jungkook shouldn't have asked. He wasn't formally interrogating you. Something in him just wanted to know.

You shook your head. "Its lights weren't on. Dark and wet. Couldn't see behind him."

Jungkook swallowed thickly and turned his attention to his screen to finish entering the information you had given him.

"Did I kill him?" You asked blankly, making Jungkook pause to look at you.

"He was still alive when they left the scene. Even if anyone is at fault, we would first look at the driver of the car. You aren't in any trouble right now, Y/N." You nodded in understanding. "For now, it's probably best if you stay quiet."

You were sure time passed, although you didn't feel it. Jungkook went and came back, took photos of the bruises on your arm and brought you a fresh drink. The world continued to turn because it had never stopped for any of your crises, big or small, why would it now? It might have been hours or minutes. You couldn't tell. Everything around you was blocked out until you felt a cold breeze sweep through the station carrying a sharp citrus scent.

Alpha.

Without any thought, you found yourself on your feet. As if acting on their own, they shuffled past the rows of desks. There was a wall and gate separating the back part of the station from the public entry, but you pushed past them until you could see Yoongi. His black hair dripped rainwater onto his cheeks, and he pushed the wet strands back. You couldn't hear what he was asking the officer at the desk, but the words went silent when he turned toward you. Without an invitation you found yourself pressed against his chest, your arms wrapping around his waist.

It took him half a second to respond, encircling you in his own strong arms and holding you to him. "It's alright," he whispered.

You nuzzled your forehead against his chest and murmured back, "Alpha."

I hope the end of this roller coaster made up for the journey. I promise it's going to get better now. Thank you for sticking it out. Please tell me what you've liked in this chapter or any time up until now, and what you're looking forward to or hoping for going forward. Here's a Yoongi, you've earned it.

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[collapsedglasshouses]

Hi! You're so cute 😍 I'd like to request a noah x pregnant reader! I'll leave all the details to you!

A/N: AAAAAAH! Sooo first of all... Thank you for calling me cute! I blushed a little ngl... But thank you even more for requesting! (you are my first request ever lmao) Please keep in mind, I am a childless woman and I would like to keep it that way, so I'm not that into pregnancy and baby stuff, BUT I wanna try different things! I did my best and I hope you like it!

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x pregnant!reader

Warnings: pregnancy, angst, fwb, mentions of sexual intercourse, let me know if i missed something

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

You first met Noah about four years ago. You were at a bar with your friends in Los Angeles and the guys just happen to stop there after a show they played.

You had no idea who they were but Noah caught your attention since you definitely had a type for tall guys with tattoos and long hair.

To your surprise, he was pretty shy at first, but it didn't take long (about one and a half beers and a lot of small talk) for you two to seemingly ripping of each others clothes, just with your eyes.

Let's just say the night was pretty eventful.

That night, when you reached your apartment together, not giving each other a second without touching each other, you were sure, when you woke up the next day, he would be gone for good and you would never see him again, but you couldn't have been more wrong. When you opened your eyes, his arm was wrapped around your waist tightly and you felt his breath on your neck.

You found yourself smiling at it a little. Honestly, you were kind of glad he hadn't left. You had had a good time at the bar and to top it off, the sex was also incredibly good.

When he woke up, you two were a bit awkward at first, both not being used to one night stands still being there when waking up, but quickly adjusted to each other's presence. The morning was filled with a lot of laughter and stolen kisses or touches but soon, he needed to go.

You had decided to exchange contacts and he said goodbye by giving you one last kiss, before leaving you absolutely shook about your experience.

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

You stayed in touch. You two quickly agreed that you weren’t really ready for a committed relationship, so you decided to just be friends.

As it always is with people who feel extreme tension to each other, this wasn’t the case for long…

Before Covid even really hit, you two were over each other every second possible.

Random hook up, when you came over? Yes.

Make out session in the kitchen? Why not.

Horny shower sex? Definitely.

Quickly you two found yourselves at a point again, where you needed to talk about where this was going.

You still agreed you weren’t ready to commit to a relationship and officially became friends with benefits.

This was going fine for years. It was going so well in fact that it even seemed scary for the two of you. You talked honestly with each other when you needed to and even more important, first and foremost you became the bestest of friends other the years.

But everything changed one eventful afternoon when you realised your period was late…

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

Your hands were sweaty when you walked down this specific isle at your local grocery store.

You only needed that one thing but you were so nervous, you also grabbed your favourite candy and randomly some frozen broccoli to 'hide' your next item.

Your fingers shook as they grabbed the box off the shelf and dropped it in your cart. The fact that you even needed to buy a pregnancy test made you feel dizzy.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. You didn’t even know what to do, if this would come out positive. How the fuck should you tell Noah, he is going to be a dad, when the next tour would start in less than a week?

It would affect both of your careers. You weren’t ready for children at the moment. Hell, you weren’t even ready for a real relationship or else you wouldn’t have been fucking around with your best friend for years at this point.

You took a deep breath before you started walking again. You were only a few days late. Maybe five or so. There was no total guarantee, you were pregnant. The test was just a precaution. You needed to know.

When you came home you were relieved to see that Noah wouldn’t arrive at your place for at least another hour, as you planned over text.

You made your way to your bathroom, getting even more nervous than you already were. You followed the instructions on the package and than…

… You nearly lost your mind. You didn't even need to set the fucking timer. By the time you finished washing your hands, that undeniable pink line had formed in the little result window.

"Fuck no…", you muttered under your breath and supported yourself on the bathroom counter, while tears started to form in your eyes. "There is no way…"

There literally shouldn’t have been such a high chance you were pregnant. The two of you never slept with each other without a condom and you didn’t realise any accidents.

You tried to contain yourself while staring at the second line for several minutes. Every ones in a while you closed your eyes, in the hopes when you open them again, the line disappeared again. But you weren’t lucky.

So you tried your utter best to stop crying before you put the test back into the package and stored it in your bathroom drawer.

You stepped into your kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, just to drink in all at once.

Your mind was racing. You didn’t know what to do. Noah was going to arrive any moment and you were a total wrack, always on the verge of tears and very much pregnant with his child.

When you heard your bell ring, you thought like you were going to throw up. On your way to the door you dared a look in the mirror and almost cried again. You looked awful. Your eyes were puffy. Your cheeks were a deep shade of pink. Your nose was runny and you definitely couldn’t just ignore Noah.

So you crept to the door and opened it to reveal Noah’s smiling face. When he saw you standing there like you would almost collapse, his face dropped and he quickly closed the door and took your face into his hands.

"What’s going on? Are you okay? What happened?" He instantly wanted to know, checking you out for any physical evidence of your state.

Your heart raced and you started to panic, so you quickly said: "I don’t know… I think I'm getting sick."

Noah stopped in his tracks and looked at your face again, dropping his hands and raising an eyebrow. You instantly knew he didn’t believe you.

He eyed you closely, before you felt the tears stream down your face again.

Quickly he lead you to your couch and sat next to you. He immediately put his arms around you, what made you cry even more. You wrapped your arms around his neck and slid even closer to him, in fear it would be the last time you had him this near to you.

"Y/N, tell me what’s going on." He softly spoke when you calmed down a bit again.

You looked into his dark eyes and almost immediately the tears rolled down your face again.

"I can’t tell you, Noah." You cried out with a raspy voice and you felt like you were loosing your mind.

"Why can’t you tell me?" Noah wanted to know, wiping away your tears with this fingers.

"It'll change anything. You will hate me." You answered and tried to calm yourself down, only resulting in becoming more frantic.

"Are you seeing someone?" Noah than asked and took you by surprise.

"What?" - "You're seeing someone, right? And you want to end this." You immediately realised, he became much colder, even though he tried not to.

"I'm not." You answered him surprised. "If haven’t been sleeping with anyone else but you for at least a year."

You didn't even have to justify yourself, you two had discussed that you would only have to tell the other about other partners if you hadn't used protection.

Noah went quiet like he's been caught in something.

"Are you… seeing someone?" You wanted to know and Noah immediately shook his head. "I'm more than satisfied with you. I don’t need anyone else."

With that you felt your cheeks warm. It wasn’t the first time he had said something like that. You had a feeling your relationship had changed over the past few months. You became even closer.

With closer you meant, him hugging you longer when you greeted each other, him touching your hand more frequently, him touching your face when he sees you're deep in your thoughts and last but not least, he started to kiss you during sex.

That had been an unspoken rule between you after your first one night stand. No kisses. But somehow you both seemed to break the rule over and over.

You felt like you calmed down enough to finally speak up. You needed to tell him. You couldn’t just pretend like you weren’t pregnant and than disappear as soon as it showed (not to say you hadn’t thought about it, in your panic moments).

"We are there for each other, right?" You wanted to make sure and grabbed his hand. Confused he lifted his eyebrows for a short second before nodding.

"Promise me, you won’t leave me." You than said and looked him deep in the eyes. You ignored the warmth that formed in you stomach, when you saw his eyes flicker to your lips for a brief second.

He swallowed hard before he answered: "Jesus, did you kill someone?" - "PROMISE ME." - "YEAH YEAH, I PROMISE… Hell, Y/N, your making me nervous."

With that you took a deep breath and got up, not letting go of his hand and leading him into your bathroom. When you came to stand before your bathroom drawer, you let go of his hand and stared at it.

"Is the murder weapon in there?" Noah joked but ended up with your elbow in his stomach. "This is serious, Noah."

In defence he lifted his arms and looked at you uplifting. You took another deep breath before you opened the drawer and pulled out the package. When you opened it, you felt how shaky your hands were.

You couldn’t even look at Noah, when you pulled out the positive test and handed it to him.

Than there was silence. Cruel and long silence. In fact it was quiet for so long that you thought he had just died on the spot while staring at the two lines.

"What is this?" He asked. "What's what?"

He lifted the test and you could see, he was also close to tears.

"That is a pregnancy test." - "Is it yours?"

You slightly nodded and your vision started to blur again. You did your utter best to keep yourself from crying but seeing Noah like that made you feel dizzy again. He would leave.

"How accurate are these things?" He than wanted to know.

"The second line immediately showed up. I wasn’t even done washing my hands and it already showed." - "Maybe it’s broken." - "I'm late, Noah. Should have gotten my period half a week ago."

Noah looked at the test again, before taking a breath and running his hand over his face in shook.

"Maybe we should take another one before jumping onto conclusions." He suggested. You blinked at him a couple of times before asking: "You're not mad?"

"Why should I? It takes two people to get someone pregnant and since you told me I am the only option, it’s my responsibility to be there for you. No matter how you'll proceed." He answered you honestly.

"Is it over?" You than wanted to know. "What?" - "This." You pointed your hands back and forth between the two of you.

Noah took a deep breath. "No. I won’t leave you."

You couldn’t hold yourself anymore. You knew you had a rule but you were so overwhelmed with the things that happened in the last couple of hours that you couldn’t resist but wrap your arms around him and kiss him.

Surprised he quickly lay down the test and grabbed the bathroom counter for support. At first you thought he would back away but than his hands landed on your hips and before you knew, he had pressed you against the counter and was literally devouring you.

It felt like this was the first real kiss between you two. It felt like you were starting to levitate while your tongues thought for dominance even though you definitely knew this was a lost game for you.

Soon the kiss slowed down and he wrapped his arms around you, while you pulled yourself even closer to him.

When you broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against yours while you to tried to regain your breaths.

Neither of you dared to open their eyes. Neither of you wanted to let this moment go. A moment of unspoken feelings, where it was more than clear what you felt for each other.

"We'll go through this together."

⨯ . ⁺ ✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

Not even three days later, you found yourselves at your doctor's appointment. Even though the next tour would start soon, Noah had tried to not leave you alone for as long as he could.

So when you set there and the doctor came in with a smile on his face, you nearly crushed Noah's hand.

"Congratulations, you are pregnant." So know there was no doubt anymore. "Do we want to discuss options?"

The doctor and Noah looked at you expectantly. You closed your eyes for a second and thought to yourself. Were you ready for it? You had a stable job and income, friends who would support you and your baby daddy already said he wouldn’t leave. When you deeply thought to yourself you could definitely imagine a family with Noah. You wanted one with him.

When you opened your eyes again, you looked at Noah. He squeezed your hand in support.

"No." You answered the doctor and smile lightly. "We know what we want."

"Okay, I'll give you both a moment," the doctor said than said and left the room, while Noah squeezed your hand tightly.

"So we're gonna be parents?" He asked and smiled at you lightly. You nodded.

"I wouldn’t be mad, if you said you weren’t ready, Noah. You’re doing so well with the band and I don’t want to hold you back." You than explained to him but he shook his head.

"You definitely aren’t holding me back. I can manage it. I will do it for you. For us." He exclaimed and than placed a hand on your stomach. You couldn’t help but feel the warmth form in you again and quickly wrapped your arms around him.

"Thank you so much." - "No need to thank me. But we should definitely talk about us when we get home."

You backed away from him and looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"

"I don’t wanna talk about my feelings at a doctors office." He gave you the hint and with that you quickly nodded and stood up.

"Than let’s go." With that Noah also stood to his feet, grabbed your hand and you left the doctors office together, knowing you would manage this together. As a family.

[their-pebble-bear]

Them (BakuSquad X Reader)

----------

Note: Honestly this was a unofficial request and I'm here to please ;)

Gender Neutral Reader so everyone can enjoy ❤️

I also headcannon Sero being really good at languages. Is this true? I don't know.

I also don't write about Mina.

----------

Masterlist - Requests: Open

----------

Summary: The Bakusquad is pining after reader and they start discussing with themselves who deserves reader the most.

Warnings: None tbh. From now on I will not be warning about cussing. It's a given with me.

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Taglist: @antisocial-minnie

I am opening a taglist, just comment on the post of you wanna be added to my MHA taglist :3

----------

Maybe in some world, the boys would have been civilised about this discussion. But even as pro heroes they were still teenagers at heart.

"No, look I deserve to be with them. I'm a protector, can handle a thousand punches and I have the personality of a Golden Retriever." Kirishima said with a shark toothed grin.

All the boys groaned and looked at him with plain faces.

"Y'all are dumb. Of course I'm the most suitable. I'm strong, hard working, extremely dedicated and feriously loyal." Bakugou said with a smirk, putting his arms on either side of him, taking up most space and leaving them behind Kiri and Sero who sat on either side of him.

The boys all looked at eachother and nodded. He wasn't wrong but they wouldn't dare mention his temperament. They wanted to get home to their shift tomorrow and preferably not burnt.

"Guys, I know they will choose me. Nobody can deny these amazing eyes and incredible humour." Denki winked as he finger gunned.

They all stared dead faced at him and continued. He pouted as he huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Honestly I think I have the best chance, I mean I'm the linguistic here, sì? Le persone cadono tutte ai miei piedi quando comincio a parlare in una lingua diversa." Sero purred as he spoke in Italian, leaning with a hand under his chin and a finger swiping at his lips as he said so.

They couldn't really stop their hearts from beating faster, to stop the small flush of pink from appearing on their faces.

"Or I want all of you and we can all be together?" The person in question rolled their eyes as they shook their head.

They all looked at eachother and shrugged.

Yes it was that easy.

___________________

sì? Le persone cadono tutte ai miei piedi quando comincio a parlare in una lingua diversa."

Sero said; "yes? The people all fall at my feet when I start talking in a different tongue."

____________________

Please note! This is all my original work! I do not give permission to repost, credit yourself or steal my ideas. Reblogs are appreciated! The picture is not to be saved and used! That is originally made by my fiancé!

[bellaxgiornata]

Falling For the Devil [Part nineteen: "The Time You Almost Told Him"]

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Summary: Matt accompanies you as your date to a charity event where you're being honored for a journalism award.

Or

Absolutely everything has you nervous–your speech, how handsome Matt looks in a tux, Katy's inappropriate silent commentary, Jessica Manning (a news reporter who always has it out for you), and the fact that Matt apparently notices something off with your body every damn time you almost blurt 'I love you.'

[Series of one-shots about Reader meeting, falling for, and dating Matt Murdock.]

Warnings: 18+ for this series; contains humor, fluff, romance, angst, smut (like...a lot of it later in the series), language, some violence

Word Count: 4.3k

a/n: Another fluffy installment here with Matt being sweet (and Katy being Katy). You can find the full list of the installments for this series on tumblr here! There's a total of 75 of these bad boys I'm still trying to transfer over from AO3...

"...and I just want to thank the Pelman Foundation for honoring me tonight with this incredible recognition, though I certainly had some help from my sources when it came to outing the corrupt elite in our city," you said, throat feeling uncomfortably dry as you neared the end of your speech. "And honestly, they're as much to thank for that as I am."

You were trying hard not to focus on the many eyes staring up at you as your hands fidgeted nervously, toying with the fabric of your dress. You felt like you were going to throw up right on everyone who was standing just below the stage you were on with the way your stomach had been twisting the moment you'd stepped your shaky, heeled feet onto the stage. Maybe you'd even manage to vomit on the foundation owner standing just your left if you did, and that thought only had you rushing faster through the rest of your speech. Silently you thanked whatever deity above that you'd refrained from a drink before you came up here. That would have made things worse. 

"When I chose journalism as my profession, I honestly had no idea how often I'd be chased by guys with guns wanting to kill me," you nervously joked. 

A few people laughed, but a multitude made faces at the comment and your instinct to bolt quickly set in. Your eyes darted to Matt, who was smiling in amusement up at you among the sea of people– he was the real reason those guys with guns had been thrown behind bars and had never managed to do more than try to intimidate you these past few months. Really, he deserved this recognition. But he had practically forced you to promise him that you'd in no way make a public statement linking you to his alter ego for your own safety.

"So–so thank you, again," you stammered, eyes darting to the foundation owner now as you stepped away from the microphone, desperate to get off of the stage.

Polite applause erupted in the ballroom and you quickly shook the foundation owner's hand once again, giving him one more nervous 'thank you' before you and your trembling legs hurried across the stage as fast as possible without looking too ridiculous.

Hands shaking just a bit as the adrenaline still surged through your nervous body, smiling politely at those you passed who offered a friendly congratulations, you carefully made your way back towards Matt from across the ballroom. His dark glasses were covering his eyes, but with the wide smile spread entirely across his face, you knew he was focused solely on you despite the room full of people you were slipping your way between as gracefully as you could. 

Your heels clicked along the wood floor with each step, the silk of your floor length black dress swishing softly across your legs. You'd picked silk intentionally for tonight, knowing how much Matt had seemed to enjoy it on you at Marci and Foggy's wedding. Since he could only feel what you were wearing, you’d found another way to dress for him–and he’d certainly complimented you on the dress a few times already this evening. 

And just like at Marci and Foggy's wedding, Matt looked heartbreakingly handsome in his tuxedo with the bow tie you'd helped him with earlier tonight. The coat fit him just right, his shoulders somehow looking even broader underneath it. Somehow the full ensemble made him look even more intimidating to you tonight. Your heart had been wildly beating in your chest when you'd first seen him open the door to his apartment, entirely in amazement that this man was accompanying you as your date tonight. Before the two of you had left for the event together, you had been almost more nervous to spend the evening with him than you were to give the brief acceptance speech you had just given.

"That was terrifying and I never want to do it again," you told Matt when you finally reached him, wringing your hands anxiously in front of yourself. 

"You were perfect," he told you, warmth and calm radiating from him as he reached a hand out, placing it gently on the small of your back. "Just as I said you'd be. I'm proud of you, sweetheart."

"I almost tripped going up those little stairs," you told him, stomach still twisting with nerves. 

"No one noticed," he assured you. 

Still wringing your hands in front of you, you tried to release a deep breath, but the exhale came out as shaky as your knees. Matt's hand on your back pulled you in towards him and you eagerly accepted the comforting embrace. To anyone else it probably looked like he was congratulating you, but you were grateful for the brief moment to bury your face into his neck and block out the room around you as you inhaled the faint warm, woodsy scent of his cologne while his strong arms held you to him. 

Slowly stepping out of his embrace a moment later, you tried to take another calming breath. "I don't know how you do it," you muttered.

His head tilted curiously to the side as he gazed back at you. "Do what?" he asked.

"The whole lawyer thing," you said, waving a hand at him. "Having to memorize your speeches and deliver them in front of so many people. And they're picking apart everything you say. Not to mention the consequences of fucking up are pretty big, too."

He chuckled lightly, his hand gently rubbing along your back. "Somehow you just managed to make me nervous for court on Tuesday," he teased.

"Sorry," you muttered. 

"I'm kidding," he answered with a smile. "I do get nervous, actually. I just hide it well. Plus knowing my client is innocent and having the evidence to back it up helps."

"You do everything well," you mumbled. Matt chuckled beside you and you blushed, realizing you said that aloud. "Sorry, I'm really focused on not throwing up right now."

"Yes, I've noticed," Matt said. "You just need to take a few deep breaths, sweetheart. You were great, really."

"I didn't say anything stupid like I did earlier to the senator, did I?" you asked him nervously. 

Matt barked out a laugh, the sound carrying as his head fell back along his shoulders. You frowned at his response, noticing a few eyes on the pair of you now.

" Matt ," you chided. 

He tried to recover, shaking his head as his laughter died down. "I'm sorry," he said, still smiling, "but you brought it back up. I can't believe you told the senator you thought Daredevil was probably 'a pretty cool dude' in defense of his vigilante endeavors."

A hand flew to your face and you groaned. "He's not being a pretty cool dude right now," you mumbled behind your hand, which only brought on another round of laughter from him beside you.

“Alright, I’ll stop laughing,” he promised, removing his hand from your back and offering you his arm instead. “Would you like to dance?”

Your hand dragged its way down your face and you studied his offered arm for a moment. “Can we…get some alcohol in me first?” you asked. “Now that I don’t need to worry about slurring my way through that speech?”

The smile never fell from Matt’s face, his arm still held out to you. “Seems a terrible way to try not to throw up,” he teased, “but yes, whatever you want. You are the woman of the hour.”

“Please do not say that,” you begged as you slipped your arm through his. “I would much prefer to fade into the background for the rest of the night.” 

You began to lead Matt towards the bar at the opposite end of the ballroom, careful to navigate the pair of you between the different small circles of conversing individuals gathered around the areas not filled in with tables. His cane was currently folded up in his right hand, allowing you to do most of the guiding, even if he did have his extra senses that he was pretending not to be using. 

“Why do you so often want to go unnoticed?” Matt asked curiously.

Caught off guard by the question, you turned a fraction towards him, your heel slipping along the floor and causing your ankle to twist uncomfortably. You would have fallen straight to the floor if Matt hadn’t instantly tightened his hold on your arm, his other hand that was holding his cane quickly darting out to grab your waist and steady you. Readjusting your foot, you slowly glanced up at Matt beside you as you regained your balance.

“Thanks,” you whispered.

He shot you a charming grin, his hand falling from your waist. “Anytime, Bambi,” he teased lightly.

You snorted inelegantly, noticing a tall, slender blonde nearby turning and shooting you a disgruntled look at the sound. Biting your lip, you threw a hand over your mouth and glanced away, carrying on leading the pair of you towards the bar.

“You never answered my question,” Matt pointed out.

“I just…don’t like the attention,” you answered him. “Not all of us are as charismatic and charming as you, Matt.”

“I think you certainly are,” he disagreed.

You couldn’t resist the laugh that came from you. “Pretty sure someone would be more inclined to describe me as awkward and socially-inept. And I am still waiting for you to realize that.”

“I’d be more inclined to say quirky and adorable,” Matt countered, shooting you another charming grin.

You couldn’t fight the smile that slid onto your face as you reached the bar. The pair of you ordered a drink, waiting for the bartender to make them. As you were about to open your mouth, attention returning to Matt, you felt an arm sling itself over your shoulder and you startled. Glancing to your right you spotted Katy with a drink in hand and a sly smile on her face.

“Congratulations lady,” she said. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Katy,” you told her. “I honestly can’t believe they picked me this year.”

“Oh, I can,” she replied. “You’ve been busting your ass chasing some big, dangerous stories all year long. But I meant I’m so proud of you for giving that speech up there. You did great and I’m sure you were fighting to not vomit on the head of the Pelman Foundation that was standing beside you the whole time.”

You rolled your eyes, handing Matt his drink from the bartender before accepting yours. “Yeah, and now I’m planning to drink off the lingering nerves,” you informed her.

Her attention shifted to Matt just in front of you, her smile still widely plastered across her face. “Hey, Matt,” she greeted him. “Been a few weeks since I last saw you. You treating my girl good? Because I’ll kick your ass if I have to,” she threatened him, raising her half-finished wine glass and pointing a finger at him firmly.

Matt only grinned in response. “Threatening a blind man, Katy?” he joked back.

“Yeah, I am,” she said with a shrug. “Equality. Don’t hurt my girl.”

“Katy,” you said, shooting her a look.

Matt’s free hand reached up, adjusting his dark glasses on his face as he smiled back at her, entirely unphased. “You know,” he began, something in his tone causing you to instantly narrow your eyes suspiciously at him, “our girl here said you seem to be under the impression I own a bakery?”

A hand flew to your mouth instantly, covering the laughs dying to break free from you. Your shoulders were shaking lightly as you fought them down. Beside you, Katy’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I just want to clarify that I’m a lawyer,” he continued, that charming fucking grin on his face. “Not really sure I’d know how to bake a cake.” His head turned towards you, the lights overhead glinting off the red of his glasses as he added, “Though I do appreciate a good cake.”

The laughter died in your throat, your eyes on him like a deer in the headlights. Katy beside you bit down on her lip, fighting back laughter at your discomfort and embarrassment now. 

“Good to know,” Katy said with a laugh, slapping you hard on the back. “Hope you both enjoy some cake later. I’m going to go find the cute brunette in the blue suit. Keep an eye out for Jessica–she’s exceptionally pompous tonight.”

You huffed, shoulders sagging at the mention of that particular woman, but as you watched Katy take a few steps away, she abruptly came to a stop when she was just a little behind Matt. Spinning back around, her movement catching your attention, Katy waggled her brows at you and your eyes narrowed as you watched her just over Matt’s shoulder. She exaggeratedly gestured a hand towards Matt’s ass before shooting you two thumbs up, managing it even with the wine glass in hand, and then followed that up with a few lewd hand gestures afterwards. Matt’s head tilted curiously, his gaze still on you.

“She’s behind me, isn’t she?” he asked you.

“Yeah,” you answered, shaking your head roughly at Katy.

You watched as she gestured to Matt’s ass again before making the same lewd gestures, this time adding an inappropriate facial expression. Your eyes went wide, mouth dropping.

“She’s making hand gestures, too,” Matt said. “I’m guessing about my ass?”

You swallowed hard, trying to shoo her away with a hand and a pointed glare. She rolled her eyes at you, turning and ignoring the older gentlemen who you were pretty sure was some big CEO shooting her a disturbed look at the scene she’d just been making.

“Yeah,” you answered Matt, attention returning to him. “She wants me to–” you abruptly stopped, shaking your head as Matt’s mouth twisted into a sly grin. Blushing, you quickly said, “Not important. How about we chug these and go dance?”

“Now I’m curious,” Matt whispered.

"And you're going to stay that way," you told him, bringing the glass to your lips and downing it.

With a wince you set the glass back onto the bar counter, Matt slowly raising a brow at you.

"You were serious about chugging the drink?" he asked.

"Or at least moving far, far away from this spot," you said, your eyes catching sight of Jessica making her way right to the bar. 

You grabbed Matt's wrist, trying to be mindful of the drink in his hand, and led him away from the bar. He willingly followed along beside you, but as you maneuvered around a group of people loudly discussing some current political drama, you almost ran headlong into Jessica Manning. Internally you felt yourself deflate.

One of her perfectly plucked and penciled dark brows slowly slid up on her forehead, her blue eyes that looked almost as soulless as you knew her to be scanned you from head to toe, taking in your dress. Of course she looked like a living doll in her form-fitting and quite low cut red dress. She said your name–as if it was something that tasted horrible–in way of greeting.

“Jessica, hello,” you greeted flatly.

“It’s cute they’re still giving awards to print journalists,” she sneered. “Surprised The Bulletin is actually being read and not just used as packing material and fire kindling.”

Your grip tightened on Matt’s wrist at her words. Katy was right–she was extra pompous and insufferable tonight.

“Though I suppose you don’t have quite the right look for actually being on the news,” she mused aloud, her eyes once again scanning you over. “Or the presence and refinement necessary.” Her eyes slid over towards Matt, approvingly and openly roving his face and his body with her gaze. “Suppose that’s how you landed this particular date–he can’t quite see what you’re lacking. But let me assure you," she hissed, leaning towards Matt, "you certainly can do better than her .”

Her words stung, striking something inside of you that was already vulnerable and unsure when it came to you and Matt. You fought hard to keep your composure, forcing away the sting of tears. Opening your mouth to form some sort of retaliation or dismissal, you were quickly cut off by Matt beside you. 

"It would appear you lack the refinement you claim to have," he replied, tone low and sharp, yet somehow oddly composed. "Only a jealous woman would tear down the success of another and make a tasteless comment about someone's disability in the same breath. So," he continued, "I'm quite certain you've only further cemented the reason I'm here with the beautiful and talented woman beside me and not someone quite as… lacking as yourself."

He pulled you along beside him, your mouth partially agape as Jessica Manning stood seething, a group of onlookers having overheard the brief interaction and whispering to each other as they glanced in her direction. 

Quickly you remembered you needed to lead the pair of you and you focused on guiding the both of you towards an emptier corner of the room far away from Jessica. You hadn't expected Matt to stand up for you like that, and as you glanced over beside you, you saw his dark brows pinched together behind his glasses, his cheek twitching just a bit as if he was irritated.

Drawing to a stop, you released Matt’s wrist, your hands once again nervously fidgeting in front of you. That had been embarrassing and humiliating even if you were touched that he'd stood up for you.

"I'm sorry," Matt abruptly said.

Your brows furrowed together at the unexpected apology. "What?" you asked him.

"I'm sorry you've had to watch as women slip me numbers and flirt while you're standing right there," he answered, his voice low. "I'm sorry any of them ever made you feel like you were somehow less than. Or like you're somehow not good enough. It–it pisses me off," he admitted, the irritation still apparent on his face. 

"It's not your fault, Matt," you whispered. "You don't control how others react or what they say." You sighed, crossing your arms over your chest. "But Jessica is…another thing entirely. She's been like this ever since I started at The Bulletin and I ran into her covering the same story."

"She's jealous," Matt told you. "I read it in her body the moment we ran into her."

You laughed lightly–Jessica Manning, New York City's favorite, darling reporter–was jealous of you? That was even more unbelievable than the fact that you'd received the Pelman Award tonight. 

"The only thing I'd believe she was jealous of was you not being on her arm," you told him. 

Matt shook his head, his expression finally relaxing. "No, she was reeking of jealousy before she even noticed me, sweetheart," he told you.

You blinked a few times, trying to wrap your mind around that information. It was still too absurd to believe. The motion of Matt raising his glass to his lips and downing his drink caught your attention again. When he'd finished, he roughly set the glass on a table beside him, his eyes never leaving you. He shifted the folded cane in his hand, setting it down on the table as well before holding a hand out to you. Your eyes dropped down to it, feeling your stomach flutter pleasantly.

"Why don't we focus on enjoying our evening instead," Matt suggested, the irritation gone from his voice. "Dance with me? Make up for all the dances I missed out on with you at Fog and Marci’s wedding?"

You swallowed hard, eyes slowly sliding up to the sweet look on his handsome face. Your heart stuttered in your chest–one of these days that 'I love you' was going to just come barreling out of your mouth at him. 

But no, not tonight. Despite how sweet he had been handling Jessica and your feelings after, and the fact that he was choosing to focus on you instead of the situation, tonight was not the night. You'd make sure the alcohol didn't loosen your tongue too much just in case. The last thing you needed was to drunkenly admit your feelings.

"I'd love to," you whispered instead, accepting his hand.

You led the pair of you out towards the dance floor where there already were a handful of couples holding each other close and swaying to the live string quartet playing just off to the side. Finding a place a little out of the way, you stopped, turning a little nervously in towards him. He flashed you a curious smile and you couldn't fight back your own nerves at the sight.

"What?" you asked him.

His hands easily slipped onto your hips, gliding their way over the silk of your dress towards your lower back and carefully drawing you in close. Your hands carefully slid underneath his arms, snaking their way to his back.

"You've been nervous around me all night," Matt finally answered as the pair of you began to gently sway to the music. "And you just got really nervous before we stepped out here to dance. More than you usually have been during our relationship so far. Reminds me of back before we were together and you'd find reasons to bolt out of the room whenever we were alone. I've noticed it off and on the last couple of weeks, but you seem even more nervous than the other times. What's going on?"

Of course Matt would notice every time your heart fluttered and your body freaked out whenever you were fighting down the urge to tell him how you felt these past couple of weeks. Your nerves had also increased tonight solely because he looked like he should have some model hanging on his arm instead of you with your awkward bumbling in your heels. 

Lightly clearing your throat, you quickly replied the first not ‘I love you’ response that flew out of your mouth. “Nothing. Nothing is going on at all. You’re just, you know, really attractive and sometimes when you focus on me, like you’re doing right now,” you rambled, the words just spilling out of you with no end in sight, “it makes me incredibly fucking nervous. And it doesn’t help that tonight, in that tux, you look really, really good. And you have that goddamn fucking charming smile on your face and it’s making me blurt shit that’s almost worse than having just blurted the actual reason and–” 

You stopped, eyes going wide as Matt’s charming smile slid into a triumphant and devious smirk mere inches from your face.

“So there is a reason and I’m not just misreading you,” he whispered.

You tensed in his arms, swallowing hard as your cheeks grew warm. Licking your lips nervously, feeling like your breathing was becoming shallower, you asked, “Can we just, uh, forget I said all of that? Because I…I’m pretty sure I’m going to vomit and faint simultaneously if I have to answer your question for real right now.”

His head shifted, face lowering down towards yours. From this close you could see his eyes behind the lenses of his dark glasses; they were slightly narrowed, curiously scanning around your face and then dropping lower, towards your chest. Head canting a little to the left, the right corner of his mouth curled ever so slightly upwards. A moment later his gaze drew back up around your chin, the smile spreading a little further on his face and his eyes creasing lightly at the corners behind the glasses. You shot him a questioning look in return even though he couldn’t see it. 

What was that look about?

“Well, we certainly wouldn’t want that, now would we?” Matt teased gently.

One of his hands left its place along your back and a moment later you felt him gingerly tilting your chin with his fingers until your lips were almost brushing his. Immediately your gaze lowered, focusing on his own lips as a dizziness washed over you. Gradually he leaned in, closing the distance and drawing your lips against his in a soft kiss, one that sent your heart racing in your chest. A moment later you felt his lips tighten, pulling into a smile against yours, his fingers still carefully holding your chin. You swallowed hard, eyeing him curiously as he drew back.

“What?” you asked him cautiously.

He had an unusually large smile drawn wide on his mouth, one that was a prime example of the whole cat-that-ate-the-canary expression, and you were currently feeling like the goddamn canary.

“Nothing, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I don’t want you simultaneously throwing up and fainting on the dance floor.” An amused grin slid across his mouth now as he straightened. “You might find that to be a little more embarrassing than talking about how Daredevil is a ‘pretty cool dude’ to a U.S. senator.”

Matt let out a laugh as your forehead dropped to his solid chest, your eyes closing and a groan of embarrassment falling from you. His other hand returned to your back as he held you close, still swaying with you to the music. 

“For the record though,” Matt said, leaning closer to whisper into your ear, “Daredevil appreciated the compliment.”

A slow smile spread across your face as it rested against Matt’s chest, your hands clutching the material of his suit from their place along his back. He had been amazing tonight handling your nerves and every other potentially embarrassing thing that had happened, and internally in that moment you let yourself tell him ‘I love you,’ even if you were still too terrified to actually say it aloud to him.

[everyonewooeverywhere]

I saw drabbles were open and I am here to be a menace to society~

Typical evening in the WooJoongJong (idk sis if u got a better name I'm all ears 😭) dorm? Maybe them arguing over dinner and gn!9th member MC platonically getting in on the chaos?

I just love those three platonically sm, genuinely wanna be besties they seem like a riot

ok ok i had a lot of fun writing this 😭 do i know what the fuck is going on?? no, but at least it was enjoyable

thank you for the ask, love 💗💗 this was a blast to write

✭✭✭✭

If you were being honest, quiet was a rare occurrence in the dorms. With the sheer number of people, it was almost impossible that you would find a moment of complete silence in your day in the dorms. 

Tonight, though, it seemed like that might happen. You and Jongho slurped away at the dinner you had so graciously cooked for the two of you (it was payment for him killing the roach you had found in the bathroom only two days prior). No words were exchanged. He silently scrolled on his phone while you skimmed through the book you were trying to read. It was incredibly boring, but somehow you didn’t mind. It was peaceful. 

You were excited to hopefully enjoy a nice and peaceful night. It was the start of a night you could only dream of.

But when Hongjoong burst out of the bedroom, your dreams instantly shattered. Wooyoung trailed behind him. Both looked unsettled. Joong was clearly upset, and Wooyoung looked like he had gotten the first glimpse of that. You could only assume you and the man seated across from you were going to receive the next moments of his rage.

Jongho, clearly unbothered, had yet to look up from his phone. 

“Alright!” Hongjoong started. You waited in anticipation, but Jongho only glanced up at the man, “Who broke the lamp?”

“What lamp?” Jongho inquired. 

Hongjoong scoffed, “What lamp?” he mocked, voice pitched higher than usual. “We only have one fucking lamp. And it’s broken. So…who broke it?”

You and Jongho glanced at each other. Clearly thinking the same thing. You both turned to him, “Wooyoung.”

“Ok fuck you guys,” the aforementioned man piped up from behind Hongjoong, “You both know I didn’t break it. It was that stupid rabbit Y/n brought home last week.”

You gawked at him, “Snitch.”

“Rabbit!?” Hongjoong was clearly thrown off by the presence of the little critter you had acquired.

“Yeah Y/n bought a rabbit, and they’ve been keeping it under your bed,” Jongho finally put his phone down, “I’m honestly surprised you haven’t noticed.” 

You shook your head, so called friends. They had promised they wouldn’t tell, but you, too, honestly were pretty surprised Joong had yet to notice the newly acquired animal. She wasn’t quiet, at all, and she shed profusely. Maybe he had thought the hair was one of your guys’.

“Why the fuck did you get a rabbit? What happened to ‘no pets’?”

Shrugging, you answered him, “She was really cute. I couldn’t help it! And it’s only temporary! My parents are coming to get her next month when they visit Seoul. I honestly didn’t think it would matter since she’s in a cage when you're here.”

“So you were purposely hiding it from me?”

“Her. I was specifically hiding her from you. Because I knew you’d freak out.”

You saw the door behind him open, and behind him emerged Jongho (who you didn’t notice had gotten up from the table). He had the rabbit in his arms. 

He showed her to Hongjoong. “She’s honestly pretty cute.” Jongho said, pushing the rabbit into your friend’s arms.

You, in real time, watched him melt at the sight of the little white bunny. 

“Ok, yeah she is kinda cute.”

You laughed at him.

“But the lamp is still broken.”

You waved a dismissive hand, “We can just buy a new one.”

Joong glared at you, “No, you can by a new one. And I’m keeping the rabbit.”

“What!? No the fuck your not!”

He shrugged and retreated into the bedroom with your daughter in his arms.

[oscurascout]

Y/N As A Doorman

From "That's Not My Neighbor" game

Note - Well this is the ending, thank you everyone and also sorry for making it so short I don't know why but I always write short endings, and sorry if it's disappointing, I don't really know how to start nor how to end story but oh well that's just how I do it, well I hope you guys enjoy it.

Edit - I didn't like the ending so I made a new one, but it's a bit long hope it's better.

Part 10 (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9)

A few days later, I was able to go back home, but not to work. Hoon and D helped me get home. I was so happy to finally leave the hospital. During my stay, all of the residents visited me. Selenne and Elenois also came to see me for very long periods, which I was honestly happy about since I was glad they were okay.

I got out of the car and started walking towards the front door. Strangely, Hoon didn't rush over to open the door like he usually did. I dismissed the thought and opened the door, only to be greeted by a party popper.

Everyone- "Congratulations!"

"Huh!?" I exclaimed, confused and surprised. I stepped back and bumped into Francis, who gently popped a party popper.

Francis - "It's a party for you, to congratulate you on your recovery and for everything you've done."

I looked around, surprised, and saw everyone from the apartment. Then, I was bear-hugged by Hoon.

Hoon - *happily* "Hoon hoon!"

"Thanks, everyone!" I said with a smile.

Soon I was greeted by the other neighbors who had brought some gifts.

Mia - “I'm glad you are back with us. You don't know how worried I was when I heard of what you did.”

Dr. W. Afton - “Make sure to rest. Here, *gives Y/N some chamomile tea bags,* this will help in your recovery.”

Mclooy - “Kid, what you did was not only reckless but also very dangerous, but I'm glad you got out of it alive.”

Margarette - “Oh, stop bothering and lecturing the poor soul. They did the right thing and that's what matters.”

As Margarette and Mclooy started a friendly argument, I felt a tap on my shoulder and as I turned around, Angus hugged me. Behind him, I saw Steven and Izaack.

Angus - “You are incredible! Not only did you fight two doppelgängers but you also won!”

“Technically it was the D.D.D wh-” I was interrupted by Izaack also agreeing with Angus.

Izaack - “Nonsense, you also contributed to their defeat, and if that ever happens again, call me and I'll deal with them! Ha ha ha!”

I only saw how Steven shook his head, yet he smiled and nodded.

Steven - “You are a brave soul, but please make sure to also focus on your safety.”

I nodded and smiled. Steven then handed me a yo-yo. I looked at him confused.

Steven - “No special reason, just thought that it would make you happy.”

“Thanks, I'll be sure to use it when I'm at work,” I said and gave it a try, but I felt like I wasn't good at it.

Anastacha and her mother, Nacha, came close to me, and I noticed how Anastacha looked at the yo-yo. “Wanna try?” I asked and handed it to her. She took it and it seemed that she was a master at it since she was even doing tricks. She then handed it back to me.

Anastacha - “I can teach you or whatever, … you are also very cool or whatever.”

Nacha- *smiled and handed a bag of cookies* “Here Y/N, this is for you, and for everything you do for us.”

"Thanks to both of you," I replied as I tasted a cookie. They were the best. I then saw Lois and Roman walking towards me with flowers in their hands, while Albertsky and Robertsky were also coming my way. Lois and Roman reached me first.

Lois - *handed the flowers* “Sorry for not getting something better. I hope the symbolism of the flowers covers for it.”

Roman - “I'm glad that you escaped with your life and that you are still able to continue being with us.”

I smiled and gave them both a hug. Roman wasn't one to talk so openly, so his words truly meant a lot. I knew Lois was often involved with flowers; she had even studied everything about them.

Lois - *looked at Roman* “Let's move, dear. The Peachman brothers also want to talk to them.”

After they smiled at me one last time and left, the Peachman brothers approached me.

Robertsky - *handed a pair of fluffy slippers* “We know it ain't much, but we made these cloth slippers.”

Albertsky - “They are made with the best cotton, so you'll never be uncomfortable with them.”

“Thanks to both of you, you truly are the best shoemakers,” I said and quickly put on the slippers. To be honest, they were amazing. In that moment, the Peachman brothers moved, and Arnold, Gloria, Alf, and Rafttellyn took their place. Gloria had a piece of embroidery in her hands, while Rafttellyn held a very pretty and decorative flower vase.

Gloria - *handed the embroidery* “Here, Y/N, this is something that my husband and I did for you. We poured all of our hearts into it.”

Arnold - “You truly are strong. Continue like that and you'll achieve many great things.”

Alf - “Yes, make sure to always be better. Never allow those monsters to hurt you again. Next time, be sure to beat them up pretty bad.”

Rafttellyn - “Ok, ok, dear. I think they got it, *she handed the vase* this is a very special vase after all. I got it custom made just for you, dear.”

“Thanks, everyone. I truly appreciate all your gifts,” I said with a smile, really touched by their words. Suddenly, Selenne grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her and her sister. I only heard the couples chuckle and walk away.

Selenne - *handed a candle* “I know we had a bit of a rough start, but I truly appreciate how you were willing to risk your life for us.”

Elenois - *handed a basket full of flowers* “Thanks.”

I smiled and hugged them both, “Even after everything, both of you are still people I care about,” I said as they hugged me back. I knew how their personalities were. Selenne may seem and act mean and rude, yet she was a very caring and good person. Elenois was of few words, yet her actions spoke far louder than anything.

And that's how we spent our time, enjoying ourselves and having fun. I was really happy to have everyone with me. I was glad I took on the doorman job, even though it was very difficult at times. It was the best decision I had ever made.

[macravishedbymactavish]

This is for the 'send me a character for headcanons of 3 pros and 3 cons of dating them':

This was a very long thought over choice but I picked Merrick because I'm honestly genuinely curious of the pros and cons of dating Mer-Bear.

This one started as a challenge, then somehow came naturally?

| Blog HQ | Ghosts Masterlist | Price's Version | Hesh & Logan's Version |

Pros & Cons of Dating (Thomas A. Merrick Headcanons)

Pros

His memory (especially when it comes to you) is top tier. He has your favourite drink, and take out order memorized so he can surprise you on nights you need a pick me up or you're both too lazy to cook

Sitting on the couch, recovering from what felt like the longest day in existence you heard the front door open and the familiar greeting of your boyfriend as he entered.

A smile tugging at the corner of your lips when you saw your favourite drink in his hand, "a small peace offering" he shrugged 

He cooks as a hobby, and truly enjoys trying and creating new recipes

"The next step is to fold in the cheese" You giggled, watching as he rolled his eyes. Focusing on the task at hand.

"What does that mean? What does fold in the cheese mean?" He played along, smile widening as you laughed harder. Nearly falling off the counter in the process.

The two of you were trying out a new recipe he found online a few nights ago. He was doing the cooking, while you kept him company and read off the instructions.

"Cheese is folded like origami into this, now what?"

His music taste is vast but refined

Whether it's humming along to the radio, or able to tell you what song is playing by the first few notes -- he never fails to shock you with how many bands he listens to.

It's also incredibly sweet when he starts playing new songs when you're around. All on the premise that he heard it and either thought of you, or thinks you'll enjoy it.

Cons

Good luck watching movies with him. Either he stops paying attention halfway through or falls asleep within the first 15 minutes

Arms resting behind his head, he watched as you grabbed the remote and your favourite snack. Clicking play with a smile, you cuddled into his side.

"Don't fall asleep this time" you teased, feeling him chuckle from beside you, promising not to. 

It was about 1/3rd of the way through the movie when you felt him shift his weight a few times. Opting to lean further into the arm of the couch. You paid little mind, as this was a movie you've been waiting to see for months.

It was around the halfway mark, a quieter scene when you glanced over at the man. Seeing him glancing between the TV and his phone. With a soft sigh, you reached forward and paused the movie; knowing all too well what was happening.

"Need a break?"

For a guy with only facial hair, he spends a surprising amount of time and money on it

Knuckles tapping gently against the wood of the door, you softly inquired as to whether or not he was ready to leave for the night.

You'd been ready to go, waiting on the couch for the last 20 minutes. Waiting for him to finish up in the bathroom; where he was finishing a couple last details.

Peeking your head in, you were met by an array of different hair and beard products lining the counter….and your boyfriend still not fully dressed.

Snores like a freight train

Jumping slightly, you blinked the sleep out of your eyes. Looking around the room as you tried to comprehend why you were awake suddenly.

After a few seconds, you closed your eyes again. Willing your heart to calm down as you cuddled into your boyfriends side. Eyes shooting wide open again at the snore that came from his mouth.

No, it can't be.

Glaring up at him, you shook his body. Urging him to wake up and fucking breathe. His hand pressing back against you, sleepily shoving you back as he got more comfortable.

Sighing, you sat up and grabbed your pillow; pressing it gently against his face until you felt him wake up. Pulling the fabric away, you looked down at him and simply whispered:

"An eye for an eye, you bitch"

Taglist: @bloodonmyhands-1221 @bowtruckleninja @v1naco @ai-luni

[swiftiephobe]

OKAY SO.

i didn't have any friendship bracelets because honestly i could not be fucked making them and they generally just aren't really my thing. so i wasn't on the hunt to trade but two nice girls offered me bracelets (one girl spotted my arm lyric and gave me a speak now one and another girl gave me a dbtc one as we were leaving the stadium) which was very sweet of them!

i'm very VERY glad i didn't watch heaps of livestreams or the tour movie because while i was definitely familiar with most of the show i still felt like there were little details that surprised me!!

i may have gotten teary at the opening. it truly cannot be overstated just HOW emotional of a moment that is.

the bracelets during yntcd are so so gorgeous!

i had gone through 500 emotions by the time the lover set had ended and i knew i was in for an exhausting (in a good way) night

fearless really is THAT album like even if it's not high up on your ranking i really don't think you can be a swiftie without appreciating that album and everything it represents and what it did for her career

i had NO IDEA the intro for willow would be like that and it took me so off guard

her champagne problems speech was so!! ahh!!! i felt like the lover + fearless sets were fairly "rehearsed" in their crowd interaction (not that that's a bad thing!!) but in the evermore set she really started to open up and pour out her emotions.

i was surprised that she talked about the flashlights for marjorie because i assumed that was just something the crowd did every night and she would be used to it by now but she seemed genuinely touched by it tonight!

i also didn't know she talked to the crowd after the champagne problems applause so that was a really nice surprise!

the don't blame me/lwymmd transition was mindblowing as predicted

i simply cannot imagine a version of this tour without long love in it

i will NOT be hearing a single bad word about the red set going forwards. yes it's all the hits and none of the deep cuts but they are HITS for a reason!! i simply cannot make the hits not hit!

TELL HIM HE'S DREAMING

the folklore set is an interesting one. i was predicting it to be my fave as a certified folklore girlie and it was amazing BUT i felt like having it placed directly after atw10 put it in a spot where i was feeling VERY drained and i really had to work to pick myself up to get back into it.

everything after this felt very rapid fire like 1989 was just a barrage of major hits!!!! incredible just how many hits that album produced

the SYDNEY chant was a lot of fun

she sang should've said no (thereby declaring debut rights) and i screamed. then she sang you're not sorry one of my fave fearless songs and i screamed. then she mashed up new years day and peace and i screamed.

idk if i imagined this but while singing peace when she sang "would it ever be enough" it looked like she shook her head and it had me :(

the midnights set had my fave visuals of the whole show methinks

no "karma is the guy on the chiefs" for us tonight but i'm sure it was felt in spirit ❤️

thanks for reading my word vomit on all my thoughts about my show (i will probably have more tomorrow) i think i am going to sleep now

[captain-mj]

I have something for Vampire hunter Gaz and Vampire Alex

Gaz is angry and embarrassed because well getting found by Price was the most awkward thing that ever happened to him. He swears to himself he will kill Alex for it, when they meet again.

Alex just wants to check up from afar on the hunter but gets jealous when he sees him interact with Soap. Gaz is his. So he breaks in to Gaz place to fuck him... eh talk to him.

Alex brings a gag and a lot of rope with him.

Part one here! This is from when I was still writing on my wife's account

~~~~

Alex perched on the rooftop, watching carefully. The sky was incredibly dark, overcast with rolling black clouds. Perfect weather for stalking watching his favorite human.

He knew Gaz was... upset about him leaving, but he thought taking him home would be presumptuous. He wanted to woo Gaz. Make him love him. Once Alex turned him, they could be together forever and he wanted to put down the foundations of a healthy relationship.

All of that flew out of the window and shattered on the ground the moment he saw Soap. The man talked to Gaz so casually, putting his hand on his shoulder. They bumped into each other as they walked like bees.

Alex had to choke down a terrible amount of feelings. Rage, jealousy, desperation. Gaz plagued most of his thoughts and here he was! Going out with some random guy!

He knew where Gaz lived. It hadn't been on purpose, but he had find out where and it would come in handy now.

So Alex waited in Gaz's apartment, rope and gag handy. His hands folded over his lap as he waited. And waited.

Gaz took forever and when he entered the apartment, he smelled faintly of alcohol and strongly of the bastard he had been out with. Alex hated both.

He stepped closer, not making a sound. With a quick movement, Gaz found himself pressed tight against the wall as Alex wrapped silk rope around his arms.

"You asshole!" Gaz snapped immediately. "You left me there for Price to find! Do you know how awful that was??"

Alex ignored him, picking him up and carrying him like a bride further into his home. "What should I have done? Turned you right there? Eaten you alive?"

"Would've preferred that honestly." Gaz hissed, trying to fight.

Shaking his head, Alex gently set him in his bed and looped his bound hands over the headboard. After fixing his ankles to the bed so his legs were spread, he turned the lights on so he could admire Gaz. He didn't think he could ever get enough of him.

"Gorgeous."

Gaz glared. "I'm going to kill you."

Alex just shook his head and straddled him, starting to unbutton his shirt. He stopped with a hiss, Gaz's crucifix burning him.

"I had a feeling you'd try something like this." Gaz got one of his hands free and reached for Alex, grabbing a handful of his hair. Alex kissed him immediately, ignoring that his chest sizzled against the necklace. It burned, not like fire. More like a snake's venom pouring right into his veins. Gaz's lips were more than a good enough balm. They were sweet, soft. More than enough of a reward to deal with the pain.

Gaz pulled back, staring into his eyes. Alex stayed where he was, mouth still open.

"Jesus." Alex winced immediately when Gaz said that. Gaz frowned before pressing his necklace right against Alex's chest and kissing him again. Alex leaned back into the kiss, ignoring the burn. His vision started to swim, but his hands reached for him, holding him closer until it felt like there a hole forming.

Gaz shoved him back and pulled the necklace off, tossing it to the side.

"You're fucking mad." His human looked at him, eyes wide.

Alex took a shaking breath and fixed his binds. "Maybe. You're addicting. I saw you today. With that fucking guy."

Gaz went to explain and Alex gagged him. "You belong to me. With me. And I belong to you." Alex shoved Gaz's shirt open and his pants down, unable to take them off due to the binds but that was fine. He kissed his neck, drowning Gaz's in his attention, in his affection. His teeth cut through his skin and Alex drank from him sweetly, holding him tight.

Gaz tried to fight it off but he ended up melting, falling apart so nicely. He pressed closer, moaning softly. Alex hated that it had to be muffled, but he couldn't stand the thought of hearing his excuses.

Alex brought lube this time, coating his fingers in it. He gently prepped him, dragging it out much longer this time. Last time, he had been way too hasty. This time he took his time. Kissing along his stomach and nipping, making dozens of marks. Mixing hickeys with nips from fangs. He crooked his fingers, pressing against his prostate right as he sank his teeth in probably, leaving an imprint where he could count each indent.

Gaz screamed, well tried to, arching his back. His eyes rolled back. His body betrayed him, cock twitching.

"I should've done what I wanted. Should've taken you home. Made you love me." Alex licked along his cock, the blood on his lips smearing on him.

Gaz trembled, arching into him. His mouth moved around the gag, but it was useless.

"My love, I won't do anything you won't enjoy to you. I promise. But tonight, I fear I may be a bit selfish." Alex pulled his fingers from him, happy to find that he was properly prepped. "I'm not going to turn you."

Gaz relaxed minutely and Alex lined up with him. He pushed in gently, burying his face in his neck and holding him. His fangs found their way to a vein and he drank from him while he slowly started to thrust.

Gaz felt like a livewire, trembling from how tightly he was tensed.

Alex kissed along his jaw. "My darling." He licked at the blood, rolling his hips and moaning at the tight heat around him. If it was up to him, he'd stay here forever, in this moment, both of them intertwined.

Gaz finally started to relax and Alex continued to take it slow, taking him apart. He started tugging insistently at the rope on his wrists, reaching for Alex.

Alex was a lovesick fool so he let him back out of the ones on his arms, feeling him wrap his arms around him. He moaned softly and continued his conquest of his body, kissing and stroking every inch he could find.

"My sweetheart." Alex purred, the two of them pressing even closer. Gaz's legs were still bound open, unable to close his legs as Alex continued his steady movements in and out of his body.

Gaz traced the features of Alex's face gently, making him purr before he nuzzled his hand. He reached his hand down to stroke Gaz's cock, pressing hot open mouthed kisses to Gaz's throat. He felt him shudder as he came. Alex fucked him through it before finally coming in him.

Alex was more than content to wrap his arms around Gaz and sleep away... night? day? whatever it was at the moment. But Gaz was human and needed to be tended to. He sat up slowly, removing the gag and the rest of his binds. He rubbed his wrists, kissing his fingertips. Gaz had a curious reaction, looking at him hazily. Before he could blink, Gaz was kissing him again, moving so he was in Alex's lap.

"Addicted to me, huh?"

"Irrevocably." Alex muttered, gazing up at him with naked obsession.

"If I would've had a stake instead of a cross, would you have sank it deeper into your chest just to kiss me?"

"Of course. How can I think of survival when you're within reach?" Alex dug his hands into him. "Have to make sure that other guy knows who you belong to."

Gaz shook his head. "Should kill you right here."

"Stop trying. Might let you next time."

[ellephlox]

Okay. So.

I'm STILL FREAKING OUT.

I didn't say anything in advance on tumblr because I didn't want to jinx anything and have my flight get cancelled or something but I MET CHARLIE.

I. MET. CHARLIE.

THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

Basically this last weekend I flew out to German Comic Con and was lucky enough to do a photo op and autograph with Charlie!! Plus I got to watch his panel and ANYWAY HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED

First was the panel!! I was lucky enough to be sitting near the microphone so I had the opportunity to stand up and ask a question. The bad part is that I was so nervous that I forgot to say my name/where I'm from, plus I wanted to thank Charlie and Elden for being there but I COMPLETELY forgot. Also I had no question prepared so it was a really terrible question that I asked but honestly I'm just so tickled that I got to ask something at the panel!!

Then was the photo op!! It literally lasted all of six seconds but it was the most wonderful six seconds ever. He was so remarkably kind and warm, really just a down-to-earth guy!! He asked me my name and then shook my hand, then we hugged (he's a really, really good hugger!!!!!!) and the best part is HE SAID MY NAME TWICE. The poor guy had to take a photo with hundreds of people yet he took the time to listen and actually say my name again — first, he said, "Nice to see you [my name], how's it going?" AND THEN he said "God bless you [my name], have a great day." Which honestly meant the world to me as I have a religious background and hearing it from Charlie just made me SWOON

And then the AUTOGRAPH. I'm going to post the video of the autograph next so you can see it (my mom recorded us) and it lasted so long!! Honestly such an incredible experience. We don't deserve Charlie, he was so nice and made my entire year just with his smile and kindness 💕 anyway thanks for reading my rant and i'll post the autograph video next, you can watch it here

[lilithkirei]

A little sneak peak of my story, if you guys want to read more my full story is on wattpad. It's still in progress though

"I didn't know you could sing!"

Younger Gregory said, smiling big and clapping.

I blushed a bit and nodded slightly.

"O-oh, y-yeah, I'm not fully good at it, but you know.."

"Not fully? What do you mean? You're absolutely incredible!" He spoke up, taking my hands in his, making me blush more.

"Though, must you have to wear all black all the time? Why not wear some color? I can't imagine wearing a single color all the time." He says as he looks me over

"I think blue would be a suitable color for you, brings out your eyes, don't you think?" He suggests softly, and he raises my hand to his lips, making my heart pound.

"Y-yeah.. sure.." I say softly, blushing more. He smiled softly and tucked a strand of my black hair behind my ear and I looked up into his eyes and I got lost in them those beautiful eyes that were unlike anything I've ever seen.

He smiled lovingly before he tugged my hand.

"Come on, let's go to the library. There's a book I found I know you'll enjoy." He spoke full of joy and energy yet also sophisticated at the same time.

I sighed softly as I followed him as we held hands.

"You're quite something else, Gregory." I remarked, giggling, and he laughed.

"Yes, well you adore all sides of me, right?" He asked teasingly, and I can't help but blush.

"Yes, of course~"

*end of memory*

"Lils? Lils! Hello earth to Lils!~"

I heard a velvety like accent speak. I shook my head and realized we were at Craig's house and stood before me was Gregory, who was still carrying Thomas' corpse over his shoulder.

"Darling, you've been zoning out quite a bit. Are you alright?" He asked, leaning down to meet me at eye level, given he was 6'2 almost 6'3 and me being 5'5 I blushed heavily as his gloved hand touched my forehead.

"O-oh yes.. I'm fine.. just a little tired is all." I reply and sigh softly as I scratch the back of my head. Gregory raised an eyebrow and looked me over from head to toe.

"What did I say about you wearing mostly black? You really need to wear more color, you know how I feel when you wear mainly black all the time." He scolded a bit annoyed.

"H-hey, I'm wearing a bit of blue!" I show the laces in my dress that were blue, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, blue laces, but honestly, don't think I haven't seen you during your high school so far.. you've worn black only 𝐴 𝐿𝑂𝑇." He says, clearly not amused.

"You know damn well that after you died, I was an absolute mess, so cut me some slack, would you?" I hissed, catching him off guard before going into the house with Estella, who was already upstairs in Craig's room.

[fixfoxnox]

"Please ask me more about Jackson I love him sm"

I, for one, would love to hear more about Jackson (and Gaz).

I will always drop more information about Jackson and Gaz, they honestly deserve all of the love they're both so underrated

Gaz, unlike Jackson, comes from a small family. He's an only child, his parents are divorced

He has a good relationship with his parents and his parents get along pretty well still despite being divorced so they usually did like 1 Christmas together, 1 birthday, 1 new year, etc.

Realized he was queer in middle school, had his first boyfriend in highschool, hasn't really dated much since joining the military

Gaz latched onto Price within like two days of knowing him. He liked that Price didn't underestimate him, but still took the time to walk him through different things to help better him

Gaz was lowkey scared of Roach when he first met him. He hid it super well but he definitely talked to Soap about it

"His name is Roach, he managed to out cryptid Ghost, he was shot and was back up and around within like two weeks, his accent? I'm telling you he has to be a demon"

Was still somehow the first person that Roach befriended on the team. Like fully believed Roach was the devil in disguise and was still within two days like "new bff alert :)"

His love language is gift giving

Primarily he gives food, as can be seen when Roach is injured.

This is from his grandmother who used to stuff him with food when he was sick as a child. He picked it up from her

But usually he'll also pick up knick-knacks for the teams while on missions. When he Ghost, and Soap were on their mission with the bombs in Russia, he bought some cigars for Price to try from the local town and picked Roach up a little roach shaped stress ball

Sometimes he'll come back from missions with rocks to give the team because they "reminded me of you guys"

Price keeps all of the knick-knacks Gaz gets him around his office for everyone to see. Ghost has a little box he keeps his in. Soap's are usually placed on a shelf for display. Roach keeps his spread around everywhere. Some are on display others are actively being used (stress ball)

When he, Soap, and Ghost came into the cafeteria while Jackson was visiting he literally stopped right in the doorway to the cafeteria after seeing Jackson

Soap literally ran into him and he nearly face planted because he was so shook

Heart eyes on Jackson the entire night. Price is the only one who really noticed.

Jackson, hid his reaction to Gaz like a billion times better

But in his head it was essentially: "mouth falls open, eyes bulge, tongue out of mouth, panting, awooga noise"

Was flirting with Gaz all night at the bar, dropping just the worst pickup lines all night, each of which he thought was incredible

"So, Gaz, aside from taking my breath away, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm in the military??? You didn't realize?"

"Do you have a band aid? I scraped my knee falling for you?"

"I can go ask the bar tender if he has any"

"I would never play hide and seek with you, cause someone like you is hard to find"

"I am really good at hide and seek"

Gaz was literally so oblivious all night. Jackson was crying out of desperation for one of his lines to stick. Price was embarrassed for Gaz.

Gaz is just a tiny bit of a himbo sometimes, mainly when it comes to pretty guys which is exactly what Jackson is.

Its mostly okay? Because Jackson is also a himbo when it comes to pretty guys, which Gaz is

So they're just both very dumb together at all times

However when they finally to get set up on a date/work things out, they're like the cutest fuckers ever

Jackson brings/sends Gaz flowers like once a week

They're both sports guys so they Watch American/European Football together. Gaz has no idea what is going on in American football, likewise Jackson has no idea what is happening in European football. They are still both super supportive.

Jackson, after he gets his prosthetic leg, immediately swings Gaz over his shoulder to prove that he could do it

Gaz is both surprised and turned on by his boyfriends strength

Jackson was not joking to Roach when he said he would move to England for Gaz. He gets attached fast so when the team get moved to a more permanent home base in England, Jackson follows them and sets up a new gym location there.

Soap and Ghost don't realize Gaz and Jackson are dating at first so they keep seeing Jackson on base and talking to Roach. They're both jealous

They only find out when they inevitably walk in on Jackson having Gaz pressed up against any available surface kissing the hell out of him because Gaz did something adorable (so literally anything in Jackson's eyes)

Jackson gets the shovel talk from Price

Gym boyfriends

Like these two go to the gym together and flirt over the exercise equipment.

They fully take advantage of the fact that Jackson owns a gym and do private workouts together (where they actually work out don't worry)

Gaz joins one of Jackson's yoga classes at one point to "try something different"

Jackson literally has to cut class short that day cause he's so distracted and from that point on him and Gaz do private sessions together

Definitely call each other "dude" and "bro" cause they think its hilarious to call each other that then kiss

"Dude, sick rep"

"Thanks for the spot bro"

*immediately kisses the other*

Do it a lot in front of Roach because it literally makes him want to pull his hair out

"Your ass looks great today bro"

"Thanks bro"

"I literally hate both of you"

Just the cutest like most in love boyfriends on the planet (outside of the ghostroachsoap trio)

[searaeberry]

After the Revival

Decade long lurker, first-time posting anything ever. Guys I'm losing my mind about this.

Many months ago now someone had posted about there not being any "Modern girl in Faerun" fanfics available. I dusted off my writer's gloves and spat out something that I find to be half decent. I don't have anything that I consider finished, and I don't know if I ever will. However I have put together what I consider to be a complete chapter in what amounts to a retelling of the events in game, and how they could be different if someone were dragged from our world into BG3.

I have fragments of other scenes written out, and if people like what I have maybe I'll post more in the future. For now, please enjoy my self-indulgent filthy fanfic.

After the Revival -

After being overwhelmed by a pack of gnolls, our hero wakes from death and faces the reality of how far from home they really are.

When I next opened my eyes I found Shadowheart sitting beside me, reading one of the many books I looted along our travels. I slowly sat upright in my bedroll.

"Welcome back." She said gently, setting the book aside. "How're you feeling."

I thought a moment, checking in with my body before nodding. "Like I died."

"Makes sense. You seem to be full of all sorts of surprises."

"Surprises are a lot of work... I suppose you'd like to ask me a bunch of questions?"

"You've been respectful of my history. Everyone agrees. We won't push you. Whatever you wish to tell us is up to you."

"Thank you." I sat quietly for a moment. "Honestly, I wasn't really sure if I was in another world, or just crazy. Where I come from, you don't just show up in a different plane of existence. You used to be locked up in a padded room for even suggesting such things."

"Makes sense why you wouldn't bring it up right away then."

I nodded. "I've just been trying to piece enough things together to pass as normal. I've been lucky, by surviving an Illithid kidnapping I've been given leniency." I gave a weak smile.

"A great many things would be forgiven given the circumstances." She returned my smile. "For what it's worth, you feel like the most normal person in this camp."

I laughed at that. "Thanks. I don't know what the social etiquette is, but I hope we can still be friends, despite my... otherworldliness."

"I would like that. Where you come from doesn't change the things you've done since your arrival. You still rescued me from that pod, you still brought all of us together, and you've still been helping everyone on your way. For better or for worse."

"It does seem to drive Astarion insane whenever I agree to help someone."

"I admit, even I would have passed up the tieflings in the grove. But watching you garner their goodwill, and see the smiles on the children's faces... It feels right."

"I'm glad someone said that out loud. I was worried that you hated everything I did for some reason.."

"We just questioned the choices you were making." She smiled, realizing how that sounds out loud. "What I mean to say is, you did a lot of unusual things. If you're not from this world, then a lot of things suddenly make sense."

"Like making friends with a Gith?" I teased.

"Like making friends with a Gith... I still don't like it. But she's proven useful."

"If it makes you feel better, I think she's said the exact same thing about you."

She shook her head. "I would rather not think about it today" She stood and dusted herself off. "Wyll and Gale both made food for the camp tonight. I thought they were going to fight over it, but they worked it out. I'll bring you some broth. Unless you'd like to join everyone by the fire?"

"That sounds lovely, but I really would like to just stay here for a while. Last time I saw everyone I tried to kill the guy that can bring people back from the dead."

"Broth it is. Coming right up." She smiled warmly and left my tent.

I felt incredibly grateful for her and pulled my blankets close. I felt exposed and vulnerable. Emotional too, and I really didn't want to deal with that right now. I felt weak and I felt hopeless. I pulled the blankets in even tighter. I was starting to spiral and I didn't know how to stop myself. My breathing started to hasten. I tried to slow it down, but it just made my chest hurt. Just as I was about to panic, I heard a small whine just outside my tent.

"Scratch?" I turned and caught his warm brown eyes. He gazed back at me with earnest. "I'm sorry boy, my potion has worn off. I can't understand you right now."

He still seemed to understand me however. Striding over, he gave my arm a heavy nudge and snorted. I smiled and started to pet him. Tears fell from my cheeks and eventually I pulled him into my lap and held him close. Running my fingers through his thick fur helped pull me back to reality. "You're a good boy, Scratch." He licked the tears off my face and I pulled away with a laugh.

"Gods, you just let him into your tent?"

My head snapped up to see Shadowheart's disgusted look. "Scratch needed a hug." I gave him a little squeeze and smiled at Shadowheart, aware of how pitiful my lie was.

"Well, I brought you a bowl. There's more than just broth if you're properly hungry. I'll just leave it here if you don't mind."

"Thank you, Shadowheart." I smiled at her, and even Scratch gave a little woof of approval.

She paused, but the corners of her mouth turned up just the slightest bit. "I'll leave you to it."

I ate with Scratch stretched out across my lap. I was overwhelmed and my chest was tight. But so long as I could still fight, I would. Even if that meant being revived by a forgotten god in order to fight some more. I would see this through if for no other reason than because no one else deserved this fate.

I reached for the bowl and gave it a careful sip. It was delicious. I would have to give my thanks to the boys. I rubbed Scratch’s side while I sipped at the broth, feeling the warmth soothe my chest. I could hear the camp speak in hushed tones between bursts of what seemed like them pretending nothing was wrong. Once I finished the broth, I just sat quietly for a moment.

So I would see this through… That’s all well and good, but now I’ve made the choice, I had no idea how to proceed. I gave Scratch a pat and he moved off my lap. Carefully I peeked out of my tent, unsure if I was ready to face anyone yet. The moment I saw someone come into view I flinched. I pulled away feeling a pang of guilt, and looked around my tent. It was cozy enough, but I felt trapped. I rummaged through my pack and found a couple vials of ‘speak with animals’ I brewed myself. I wanted to see how my own skills were compared to the premade stuff I found. I threw a vial of it back and swallowed the grassy liquid. I winked at Scratch as I slipped on a pair of shoes and shimmied my way out from under the rear of my tent.

I wasn’t trying to sneak per se, but I wanted more time by myself. Time that seemed to be increasingly difficult to come by in recent days. So with the greatest amount of stealth my tired body could muster, I meandered down by the river. Many seasonal flowers were in bloom and with the blazing sun overhead, I thought for a moment I was in a painting. I smiled and started to carefully pick a variety of long-stemmed flowers. While I wasn’t in a real painting, I could admit the beauty of the world around me. I pressed a flower to my lips, the velvet petals tickling my skin as I inhaled its scent. It was unlike any flower I knew back at home, but its familiarity was welcome. I brushed my fingers over a fern-like leaf that belonged to a flower that reminded me of Queen Anne’s lace. To my surprise, my hand came back smelling like carrot, like it would from the flower back home. Maybe there was more home around me than I originally thought?

Resuming my flower picking, I let the nature around me fill my heart with something important to me: hope. I’ve heard people call hope many things. Dangerous, was the first that came to mind. I longed to ask them, ‘dangerous to whom?’ I slowly made my way closer to the water, sorting through the tangle of feelings in my head and heart. Things were both easier and more difficult now that I’ve died. I hadn’t expected to make it very far in this adventure, so revival means I’ll face greater challenges ahead. But it'll be easier because I already experienced the worst-case scenario. There is no worse consequence than death. That’s it. I’ve done the bad ending. Now to find the good one.

I sat on a rock facing the setting sun, eyes unfocused, ears tuned in to the babbling water and gentle rustling of leaves. I was still tired from my resurrection. I breathed the warm air deeply and wove the wild-flowers together into a small flower crown. It was cathartic to meditate on things while keeping the hands busy. An art that had taken years to learn for myself.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard footsteps behind me. I paused my weaving and smiled at the figure that approached me.

"I thought I might find you here." Gale said with some amount of relief in his voice. "Might I join you for a moment?"

I cleared the flowers from the spot beside me and gave it a gentle pat. "By all means."

"Ah. Thank you." He took the space beside me and sat quietly for a moment. He looked like he was still gathering his thoughts, so I gave him a moment. "How are you doing?"

"I am... exhausted." I gave a weak chuckle. "But in time, I'll be better. Just, maybe not today. I need to process a lot of things."

"I can only imagine. Dying is difficult for anyone. Let alone coming back from death when you aren't anticipating it." He inhaled slowly, and looked more hesitant than I had ever previously seen him. "I had been doing some thinking of my own. About my condition-"

"Oh!" I reached into my pocket and held out a necklace I had found before the gnoll attack. "I meant to give this to you earlier for that."

He gripped the hem of his robe and exhaled. "You quite literally died. Experienced your first resurrection. You would be forgiven for forgetting such things. Honestly, the fact that you died and you are still thinking about… not yourself." He eyed the necklace, reluctant to take it.

I placed it on his lap after he didn't grab it. "You need it. It's that simple."

"What I was trying to say... I think I'm a greater liability than I am an asset. You experienced, a frankly gruesome and horrible death, and I can't help but feel responsible for that. If I hadn't faltered in that moment, if you hadn't needed to step in-"

"Gale… first off, look at me."

It took a moment, but he relented. Guilt and strife clear in his brown eyes.

"Speaking as the person who died the very fiery and horrible death, I don't have any regrets. As for you being a liability, that moment could possibly be the worst example you could provide. It was your spell that pushed enough of them away to let everyone get to safety. If it weren't for you, more of us would have fallen. Easily."

He looked away again, unable to hold my gaze anymore. "It is very kind of you to say that." He took the necklace from his lap and held it firmly in his fist.

"I don't say it to be kind. It's the truth. If you're thinking that you need to repent or something, or you think we'd be better off without you- well you'd better just stop. Everyone in this camp would be poorer with your absence. So, suck it up buttercup."

"Buttercup?" He looked incredulous.

I laughed. He smiled. "I don't have a locally equivalent phrase, I'm sorry."

"Well, thank you." He softened his grip on the necklace. "You truly aren't from here then?"

"No. As it happens, I am not." It was my turn to look away. I watched the water flow past rocks and reeds.

"Tell me about it. Where you're from, I mean."

"For starters, death is significantly more permanant than around here."

"I gathered that much from your rather recent reaction."

I looked away sheepishly. "Not my proudest moment. I already had a complicated relationship with death before ressurections were on the table..." I wasn't sure if I was ready to expand on the more personal details of my life just yet. "I could probably tell you about the part that would shock you the most." I offered.

"Try me." He looked so confident. Smug? Probably.

"Well for starters, there is no magic where I'm from."

I watched him pause for a second while he processed what I had just said. "At all?"

"None. Not even a little. Withers and all his grand destiny confirmed it."

"That can't be right. You're sure?"

I pursed my lips and nodded my head solemnly.

"Well, that explains… some things. No offense, mind you but- no magic at all? How does your society function? How do your gods do anything?"

I did this to myself. "You think that's wild? I'm not even certain my world has gods. And if we do, nothing like what you know."

His eyebrows furrowed deeply as he mulled over the information he was given. "I think this will have to be a conversation had over a course of several days. No magic? No gods? Yet you somehow seem perfectly normal-"

"Hey! Don't be rude." I laughed despite myself.

"Apologies." He gave me a sheepish grin.

"You can make it up to me by sticking around, yeah?"

"It's a deal." He looked down at the necklace I gave him, properly looking at it for the first time. "You hid your lack of magical knowledge well. A necklace of keen sight. Might be of more use to an archer than me?"

"It isn't better than what everyone's already using. Go on." I nudged his shoulder gently with mine.

"I really don't think I can thank you enough. You have the patience of a saint as far as I can tell; putting up with my condition, being thrown into an entirely new world, as well as being infected by mind flayers like the rest of us.” He chuckled, really seeing what I had been doing for the first time. "Just back from the dead and here you are, making flower crowns, ostensibly having a regular evening by the water."

"Careful, you inflate my ego anymore, my head will float away."

"Ah, well we can't have that now can we?" He paused for a moment. "You know, if you ever have need of a teacher, I am quite versed in all things arcane. I was never fond of the idea of teaching entry-level magics in the past, but I’ve never had such an unpredictable student before. Though I would probably have to rethink what defines 'entry-level' in your case. How much so called 'common knowledge' would be lost on you that we take for granted here?"

"It sounds like you've already made up your mind." I smiled to myself. Glad that he seems more focused on solving the problems right in front of himself than he is on leaving the camp out of guilt. I caught myself admiring him just a little bit before shaking my head. "Take your necklace already. I don't think Withers would appreciate it if you endangered yourself after just reviving me."

"Of course." He closed his fist around the necklace and a radiant light beamed from between his fingers. He winced and grasped his chest with his other hand. There was a flare of purple as the magic within him devoured the softer light of the necklace. The strain on his face didn’t lessen like it had the first time I watched him absorb a magical item. Even when the necklace crumbled to nothing his expression did not relax. "Something's not right," he muttered almost to himself before looking up at me. "Usually absorbing the weave of an enchanted item acts like a torrential downpour over a forest fire, soothing the discomfort. This is more like a gentle rain." He winced again. "This does not soothe."

I reached a hand to try and comfort him, but stopped short, unsure of how I could even help. "Was the necklace not potent enough?"

"I'm not sure, but I might need another item sooner rather than later."

I nodded my head. "Just let me know. I might have another one ready for the chopping block."

He chuckled despite himself, discomfort still clear on his face, that glimmer of guilt back in his eyes. With hesitance I reached my hand back out to him, and tentatively rested it on his shoulder. He closed his eyes to breathe and slowly, with each breath, his expression relaxed and softened. After a little while, he opened his eyes again.

"Better?" I asked, gently removing my hand from his shoulder.

"For now." He gave a curt nod.

I smiled wryly at him. "At least the vampire just needs a bit of blood every now and then, huh?"

He just shook his head and looked back at me. He looked like he was going to say something.

"Gale, I swear, if you thank me again I will vomit."

"I said nothing."

"You were thinking. Very loudly. It was deafening."

He held his hands up in a mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. Shall we at least return to camp before we lose what little daylight is left?"

I opened my mouth to tease him again, but paused in thought. He waited so patiently for me. “Actually. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sit out here for just a moment longer.”

“Whatever you need. Shall I leave you to your solitude or..?”

I felt his unspoken question and I found myself relieved by it. A feeling that admittedly caught me off guard. “I think I’d quite like a little company honestly. If you aren’t busy?”

“Ah, well, I’ve got a parasite nibbling away at my brain, a bottomless magic pit in my chest… But I might be able to squeeze you into my busy schedule.” Our back and forth made me laugh. It made me feel normal.

“Speaking of busy schedules,” he began to add. “I saw a glimpse of your work, connecting Jergal and Withers. Not even in this world a tenday and you have more notes than we have coin. It’s impressive to say the least.”

“Thanks. It started as homework to blend in, not give myself away as not being local. But then something I read kept nagging at my thoughts. I can’t even remember what it was anymore, yet I kept trying to put something together. I don’t think I really learned anything more than when I first woke up here, but I haven’t been able to shake the feeling that there's a bigger picture we're missing.”

“You think this Absolute cult is related.”

It wasn’t a question. “I can’t prove anything. But I learned a long time ago that if something seems convenient there’s usually a reason. In a world where gods are real? You’d have an easier time convincing me that I really did die and this entire world is in my head.”

“Admittedly, seeing everything we’ve come across written down, I find it difficult to argue coincidence. The only thing I would ask is, what is the correlation between the Absolute and Jergal?”

“That’s a puzzle piece I’m firmly missing.” I shook my head in temporary defeat. “Withers has motivation to keep me alive and fighting. The only people we’re actively fighting right now is a goblin hoard who have forsaken their god for the Absolute. That’s as far as I could get before this mess with the gnolls and the druids.”

“I had been so preoccupied with our infection, my affliction… Somehow I’ve missed everything you’ve been putting together all this time.”

“There was no reason to believe they were related. Besides, no conspiracy I might come up with is worth anything if we die from our immediate problems.”

“Let me help you put the rest of these pieces together. Please. You’ve shown yourself to be more than competent, but I would appreciate the honor of lending my own expertise.”

I gave the wizard a gentle smile. “Alright. I look forward to your help. It’ll be nice not having to keep track of everything in my head going forward.”

“Excellent. When would you like to start?”

“Perhaps we should head back to camp first? I feel ready now.”

“That’s probably for the best. You gave Shadowheart a fright when she couldn’t find you in your tent.”

“How did you know where to look for me then?”

“You always face water when you're lost in thought.”

It was so matter-of-fact that I was caught off-guard. Did I always look at the water while thinking? With a blink, I realized that I was in fact looking at the water now. Thinking. I shook my head to clear it while Gale got to his feet.

I gathered up my flowers and finished crowns. I was so preoccupied that I almost didn't see the hand extended out to me. I blinked and looked up at Gale who was already standing. "Thanks." I carefully accepted his hand and he helped me up.

"The absolute least I could do." 

I could feel the looming and overwhelming feeling of awkwardness growing inside of me. I took a relaxing breath. "I was thinking of stopping by the grove tomorrow. I thought some of the girls might like these. Maybe make them feel normal again. I also have a few tools I think will make Dammon feel like a smith again."

"Yes, he was quite floored to be working with wooden tools. The right woods themselves can be as hard as steel, but I'm not too certain that that is the kind of wood the druids have access to in this area."

"I'm also keen on invading some of Kahga's privacy this time around." I could feel his confused gaze boring a hole into my skull as I continued. "She's acting with a little more purpose than just ‘protecting’ the grove. It smells.” 

"Well, druids are known to want to be particularly close to nature..."

"No, different smell. She smells physically different than the others. Nettie, and the woman we spoke to outside. They smell like leaves and rain. Kahga smells more like... Cut mushrooms and prairie swamps."

"You don't trust her because she smells different than the other druids?"

“It's probably nothing, but I'd rather be wrong than proven right. She was willing to kill a scared little girl. She would have too."

"Fair point. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to at least look into the matter. Even I must admit that she is rather... Intense for a druid."

"I'm thinking Astarion will be the best to snoop around while we talk to the other druids in the cove. Shadowheart will have to stay outside of course... But that admittedly works in our favor. Wyll is absolutely against showing his face around anyone from the grove since Mizora's visit and Lae'zel continues to pick fights with anyone who moves. Just letting her speak to that one tiefling I thought he'd die of fright."

"And you called my thinking deafening."

The warming glow of the campfire welcomed us once we made it back to camp. "It isn't my fault everyone has gone along with the random shit I've suggested. Honestly,  I'm surprised any of you considered the things I would say. Now moreso."

"You have the most unbiased opinions here out of all of us. If anything we might be more inclined to heed your thoughts now than when we thought you were from a different region." Gale mused.

"It explains why she's so damn weird compared to the rest of our eclectic group." Astorion chimed in from behind us. "What's this I heard about me snooping around? You know I'm not just some common thief in the night."

I spun to meet his gaze. I didn't even pretend that I heard his approach. "No, you're just some common night stalker." I sing-songed.

His hand moved to his chest dramatically. "Words wound you know."

I rolled my eyes. "As if you're upset about stealing from the druids."

"Oh, I'm not. I just can't believe you'd call me, of all people, common."

"Mm, he's got a point there." Gale acquiesced. "Calling Astarion common is offensive to all the other perfectly normal vampire spawn."

"Now you're just being rude."

"Happy to help." Gale grinned at the elf.

"Alright, boys. Play nice. Astarion, we already know you're fabulous."

"Thank you. It's just nice to be recognized." He snubbed Gale, who just rolled his eyes in response.

I sighed, already feeling my exhaustion returning. "Look... I'm going to eat something and go to bed. We can talk details in the morning."

"A fine idea. You should be focused on your recovery after your resurrection after all."

I smiled softly at Gale. Was that an eye roll from Astarion? I looked at the two of them warily. "Don't make me get Karlach..."

They both took half a step back. I nodded to myself and started to walk away from them, calling Scratch to give him pets. I couldn't help but overhear their bickering.

"Suck up." Said Astarion.

"Charlatan." Gale retorted.

I just smooshed Scratch's face and rubbed his ears while speaking quietly to him. "I think these guys are going to be why I go crazy. You're the only truly reliable one around here." I cooed while he leaned into my hands with a happy groan. I smiled warmly, wondering if the 'speak with animals' potion I tried brewing myself actually worked. I was too busy brooding to talk to any animals.

I paused my pets for Scratch and he gave a mighty shake. "Of course I'm the most reliable one here. I thought that was obvious."

I laughed. "Yes. Yes you are Scratch. I will never doubt you." I kissed his soft little head. "Let's get something to eat."

With a bark of enthusiasm he led the way to the pot of stew that was waiting. If the broth I had earlier was any indication of what was to come, I was more than excited. Wyll handed me a bowl and gave Scratch an affectionate pat. I sat with both Wyll and Karlach, even Lae'zel joined us. When she thought no one was watching, I watched miss grumpy Gith herself sneak Scratch a piece of beef, whispering to him how he has to be strong to protect the weaklings around them. Shadowheart wandered over, complaining about how Scratch was eating with us like he was some kind of person. Lae'zel was about to retort when Karlach spoke up first about how she'll keep him over by her side. Shadowheart huffed taking a seat beside me, accepting her own bowl. Astarion wandered by, with a goblet of what I assumed was actually blood and not wine, complaining about how noisy we were all being. Gale remarked how it wasn't like we were hiding from anything and that some liveliness was a good thing. I hadn't seen when he joined us around the fire. Wyll started to talk about a time when he was adventuring alone and did have to hide from some horrible monster. I heard a few groans. But I smiled, taking a bite of my stew. That's when I realized something for the first time since waking up on that awful ship. This could be home.