#if little Gideon would have found out she would definitely have stolen them

[chimchiri]

Little bonus from the Harrow + Glasses ask

Paranoid Harrow has successfully kept her dark secret of terrible eyesight from Griddle for years. Until she ran out of contacts (or simply forgot them) in the chaos of Canaan house. Gideon cannot unsee the googly eyes.

I couldn't get a version with her face paint on which I liked - forgive me !

[rcksmith]

Spring breeze — Spencer Reid

Sumarry: Spencer never thought about falling in love with someone, but he certainly didn't expect that he would fall in love with Gideon's daughter. — season 3 —

Part.2 Part.3 Part.4

A/N: I am marathoning Criminal Minds again and I can not express how much I loved the interaction of Gideon and Spencer!! So this idea came as an epiphany, and I love the conception of love at first sight. Maybe this becomes a serie...

English is not my first language, so I so sorry if have a mistake.

Requests are open. Love you ❤️

Couple:Spencer Reid/Gideon's daughter!reader.

Warnings: nothing, just very fluff.

— — — — —

Something was different. Maybe it was the way the sun's rays cascaded down in an atypical way, maybe it was the breeze that carried a more lyrical intonation on its back, or maybe it was just the Earth that was adorned by an ethereal veil. Spencer didn't know how to point out what was really different, but he felt in his soul that something in the hemisphere had changed.

At first, when he took the subway to work, Spencer thought it was just an ephemeral sensation, just like those seconds when you feel the breath of the breeze more cold. But it didn't. The sensation accompanied him to work, to the plane, to the case, it stuck to him like a tattoo and Reid found himself looking around for answers that did not exist physically.

He considered all the theories that were possible to explain that destabilization in his subtly balanced world. But he found none.

“Are you feeling anything different today?” That's what he asked Morgan.

Derek shrugged, finishing packing up at the police station so they could go back to Quantico.

“No.” Then he looked Reid whit his obsidian eyes “Is something bothering you? Is the Genie feeling any peturbation in the Force? ”

Spencer chuckled through his nose at the Star Wars joke, but just shook his head in a 'No'. And the conversation died there. How could he explain something that even he didn't understand?

Trying to ignore the way his heart was beating fast, for no reason, in anticipation of something Spencer himself was unaware of, he wondered how long he was going to have that sensation. The feeling of euphoria, the taste of something, there was something exciting in the air, almost angelic.

But how long was that going to accompany him? One day? One week? Whole life? For the first time, Spencer didn't have the answer. And that was disconcerting.

When BAU's glass doors opened for agents to settle on their desks and Hotch and Gideon go to their respective offeces, a wave of icy breeze from the DC air reverberated through the enclosure. Spencer can see that Morgan shrugged in the wind, Emily looke for a coat in the black suitcase, but his own body didn't seem to be hit by the same breeze. For Reid, it had been a caustic, lyrical, almost spring, wave that carried the promise of something extraordinary on back. Almost divine.

In that split second, in a time as short as a blink, the feeling that his life would never be the same made him losing his breath. Spencer does not know what attracted his gaze to the BAU door, nor what made his whole body turn in that direction, like a magnet, like a wanderer in the desert who finds his Oasis. But he had been attracted, and as soon as a female hand pushed through the glass door and her figure came into view, Spencer understood the extraordinary thing that him heart was beating for in anticipation.

You.

It was as if the universe had been preparing him all day for that moment. As if the body itself tried to prepare it. Because if Spencer hadn't fell those feelings of euphoria all day, he would have drowned in his own reactions to seeing you.

In a burst, like a violin string popping, Reid understood what was different about the hemisphere, because why the air was ethereal, because why the night felt like poetry, and why the moon whispered swears of love. In that moment, Spencer understood the mysteries of the world, unraveled the riddles of life, drank from the wisdom of The Oracle of ancient Greece. In an instant, watching you enter, Spencer understood the reason for his life.

In an instant.

The world shuddered in slow motion, capturing all your movements, all your graceful gait, all your glory. An elegant black dress with thin straps modeled your body in an arcane, almost divine way, your legs were supported on black high heels, making your walk seem like a glide of honey.

You were not beautiful. You are gorgeous. You shone. Sparkled.

And, like an atrocious wave that broke over Reid and pulled him into the sea, that whole feeling that stuck with him all day came to accompany the female figure. Following in your footsteps like the tail of a long dress.

Spencer was sure that his life would never be the same.

They hadn't even sat at their tables when you showed up. Like the muse that came out of an action movie. And when you got close enough to attract the attention of Emily and Morgan, whose Derek opened his mouth when he noticed the female figure that was the personification of Female Fatal, Spencer felt himself letting out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. He knew that anyone with eyes and a little common sense would notice how overwhelmingly beautiful you were, so when Morgan turned his body fully towards you, Reid was not surprised.

“Hi." Your voice, to Reid, had a floral intonation “Do you guys know where I can find Jason?”

When his eyes met yours, Spencer felt his breath being stolen from him once again. Usually, girls like you didn't look twice at guys like him, Spencer knew that. Girls like you liked men like Morgan. Athletes, strong, Alpha Male. And because of that, it was an explosion in Reid's system when you took a few seconds longer in that eye contact and a delightful smile appeared on yours lips. As if you appreciate what you were seeing.

That was a shock. Was it true or was he misinterpreting the signs? Was him mind playing tricks on him, like the flickering shadows of furniture under the darkness and the flame of a candle? Spencer would not be able to say a word without stuttering at that moment even that him life depended on it. In fact, he was already starting to feel cheeks heating up. So he thanked any deities that might exist when Morgan and Emily responded to you and broke the eye contact between the two of you.

“Jason Gideon?” Morgan frowned slightly.

“He's in the office but...” But Emily couldn't finish the sentence before Gideon's voice came out over everyone's:

“Y/n?” It was in a tone that no one there had ever heard in Gideon. A sweet, loving intonation... paternal.

None of the three agents present there had time to express their thoughts in facial expressions before you said:

“Dad!”

Then the whole world took a turn and seemed to be terrified, making them feel as if they had been thrown out of the tenth-floor window. This time, Reid's eyes widened at the two friends, who also had puzzled expressions. Everyone knew that Gideon had a past, probably with divorces and children, a life he had left behind, but no one expected...that.

Perhaps Gideon's vision of a family was something that was only in the imagination, never something tangible. Until that moment. Until the most beautiful girl Reid had ever seen was the daughter of one of the men he respected most. Until him heart soared at alarming levels for him boss's daughter. Spencer had been in trouble before when it came to matters of the heart, but the trouble gained a position in the top 3.

“What are you doing here?” A rare smile appeared on Gideon's face, his brow slightly furrowed.

“We were going to dinner today, remember? In that new Japanese restaurant.” Your tone of voice was not resentful or hurt by the situation that was explicit there.

The life of a BAU agent take many things, some with a more atrocious force than others, and one of them was the availability of hours. commitments that count on presence.

“I totally forgot, I'm sorry.” Gideon's voice was always calm and controlled, he managed to speak from the most tender emotions to the most heinous crimes with a peaceful intonation. But to perceive traces of parental love was new. “The case was very complicated, my cell phone died and...”

“It's okay, Dad.” You smiled, making a casual gesture with your hand “I thought this happened, but I thinking it best to come here to see if everything was okay instead of waiting until tomorrow.”

Your smile, despite being the simple one, was the brightest for Spencer.

Gideon still had a fatherly look and a chaste and grateful smile when he turned to the other agents who were still puzzled.

“Y/n, these are agents Derek Morgan, Emily Prentiss and Dr. Spencer Reid.” Jason introduced them to you “Guys, this is my daughter, Y/n.”

“Is a pleasure.” You smiled genuinely at them.

“I had no idea that you had a daughter!” Emily gave a low, slightly bewildered laugh that also made you laugh.

“Everybody says that.” You looked at your father again, having fun.

“I'm just going to go over some reports with Hotcher before I leave.” Gideon kept a chaste smile. “Why don't you wait here and then let's go get something to eat?”

“Of course, no problem, Dad.” You agreed, adjusting the thin shoulder bag that was on your shoulder.

As Jason went up to Hotcher's office, you turned to the agents again, with a gentle smile on your face.

“My dad said great things about you.” Emily smiled at your statement.

"I'm still chocked ." She laughed, and Morgan added:

“ I really need to know...” he looked around, in a playful suspense “Is Gideon really that serious outside the FBI?”

You laughed “Oh no! Definitely not.”

So you reached for your phone in the litlle bag, hunting for a photo on it and showing it to the three agents. It was a recent photograph where you and Gideon had their faces painted in easy ink. You had a skeleton mouth made with white and black paint, and Jason had a pink glitter butterfly covering his left cheek. You two were laughing in the photo.

Morgan was the one who let out a loud, dripping laugh, with a few tears accumulating in the corners of his eyes.

“How is this possible?” Morgan was trying to catch the air.

“It was at the last Halloween, he and I bet that whoever lost in the snooker that day would have to paint a butterfly on their face.” You laughed.

“And did he lose?” Spencer found a voice for it, his mind failing to process the image of Gideon losing any game.

“I have my suspicions that he let me win” You joked “But I enjoyed the victory just the same.”

The conversation was light after that, Spencer refrained from much of the dialogue, a little fearful that you could hear him heart beating loudly whenever you smile in his direction. As the minutes passed, Derek and Emily had to go back to their duties and finish their reports, while you were sitting in one of the chairs at an empty table.

It was one of those moments when Reid tried to focus on the files in front of him to exorcise what was going on around him. Paperwork had always brought the lull needed to make Spencer meditate. It was almost like relaxation. But in moments like this, when something in the environment around him pulled his attention so much, he stayed on the same page for long minutes.

That must be why he didn't hear the wheels on your chair approach, and he didn't even notice that you were so close until you said:

“Are you really a doctor?” Your voice was low, soft, as if you didn't want to disturb the other agents who were working.

Spencer turned his head towards you, only to find the modern personification of what would be the Athena de Troia. You were close, not close enough to touch, but close enough that he could smell your perfume. You smelled like the night, the excitement of nights and the brightness of the stars. And if Spencer looked deeper into yours eyes, he would sure they contained shine moonlight.

He swallowed, the mania for blinking compulsively returning a little.

“A-ahm yes. Not really a doctor, but m-my 3 Phd’s make me a doctor.”

He might be mistaken, but the smile that spread across your face was not just friendly, it wasn't curious, it was… delighted. As if the roles were reversed and he was the most fascinating thing in that room, not you.

The glow that was adorned in yours eyes had something lyrical, ethereal, wonderful. As if the brightness of all the galaxies were inhabiting your irises, moving in your orbit. At that moment, Spencer was deeply grateful to have eidetic memory, because 10 years from now he could still remember how you looked like a muse over there. DC night came in through the big glass windows, and if Reid had to describe that moment with the five senses, he would say that the world had turned the light down to a rose tone, the smell was heaven and your smile promised to contain wonders of the world.

Holy Mother of God, you are so, so beautiful!

“My dad said there was a genius on the team.” You said, your attention on him is always tender, adoreble. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

Your perfume invaded him sense of smell once again, and he felt his heart beat faster once more. Spencer would have told you all the secrets in the world if you asked. He would have told all own secrets.

“No way.” He sat back in his chair to look at you better, oblivious to the exchange of looks that Emily and Morgan gave.

You rested your arms on Spencer's table, the chair next to his.

“You never thought of being like... the wizard Doctor Strange?” You hoped that Spencer knew Marvel “Before he was a magician, of course. But why didn't you want to be a surgeon or something?” You laughed “There is a phrase him says: I have a photographic memory and this is what made me ..."

“ ‘Get my diploma and doctorate at the same time’ " Spencer completed you, laughing softly “I know the HQs. Did you know that the Doctor Strange character was created during the Silver Age of American comics to bring a different type of character and mystical themes to Marvel Comics? It him has an intellectual coefficient close to 177 points and I have… ”

The more he rambled, the more a stunning smile spread across your face. As if you were enchanted with him. And you were. Everyone was noticing the way Spencer seemed to have you curled up on his finger, your eyes sparkling and a silly smile twinkling on your face, paying attention to every word he said. It was an overwhelmingly lovely sight to behold.

But just as everything had a time, an hourglass, your time had reached the last grain of sand.

“All right, Y/n.” Gideon went down the stairs, cutting the end of Reid's sentence “Ready?”

You stood up, agreeing with your father and smoothing the dress. When you put your hands on the chair, ready to take it back to place, you turned to Spencer once again:

“I'm going to bring my dad to BAU tomorrow, do you think me and you can meting and you give me the answer to the question tomorrow?” Your smile was able to light up the whole of Washington.

“S-sure!” Spencer's voice went up more high notes than he would like to admit.

And, even when you left, even when Morgan and Emily jokes him about it, and even when he finally lay down on his own bed, you were still the only thing that occupied Spencer's mind.

[rainydaydream-gal18]

The Mandalorian - Imagine Din Being Protective (Part 4)

Wow.  I got it done during a lunch break, and I’m so happy.  This is set near the end of Season 2.   It is pretty long, just a fair warning. 

Warnings: spoilers for near-end of Season 2, blasters, brief fighting.

   You watched the unusual exchange unfold before you before Mayfeld’s gaze swept over the group before flickering back to land on you.  He seemed to puff out his chest a little as he eyed you with interest.  “And who’s this lovely miss?”  Wonderful.  Just fantastic.

   Over the last several days, you learned that the Empire had been steadily recuperating behind the scenes.  The Razor Crest had been obliterated in the matter of seconds.  But worst of all, the Grogu was taken.  It was like one giant nightmare that you were waiting to wake up from, only to find yourself lying in a cot aboard the Razor Crest.  But you didn’t.  Instead, you were standing in the middle of a junkyard to recruit a prisoner who could help locate the child.  

   Now to top it off, this scruffy guy was hitting on you?

   You gave him a look, arms folded across your chest.  “The name is _________.”

   “Yeah?  Nice name for a nice girl.”

   Cara Dune made a fake wincing sound.  “I would back off if I were you.”

   He gave a shrug.  “I don’t hear her complaining.”

   “You better hope she doesn’t,” Cara taunted, giving him a warning look.  

   Mayfeld narrowed his eyes.  “Or what?  The Mandalorian is going to shoot me?”  He gave a laugh, shaking his head at the idea.

   “Thinking about it,” Din sighed in annoyance, the beskar chestplate rising and falling dramatically with the gesture.  He stood, hand resting on his belt in a casual stance just across from you, completely unaware of how content you were observing him in moments like this.  A part of you wondered if his annoyance with Mayfeld stemmed from his past experience working with the man, or if even a small part was because of the obvious flirt attempt he made at you.

   The prisoner’s eyes widened and brows lifted incredulously as he gestured to you.  “What, is this your girl now?  Finally got over Xi’an, eh?”

   You tried to keep the surprise and curiosity from your expression at the mention of this female, but your eyes instinctively darted to Din, whose visor was still glued to Mayfeld and refused to look your way.  The man caught this subtle expression and smirked.

   “Oops, sorry,” he shrugged with mock regret.  “Didn’t tell her about the ex, I guess.  I’ll try and keep things on the down-low then until you have a chance to talk about it.”

   You hadn’t asked Din too much about his past.  He expressed his disdain for the way he used to be, so you figured it was something best left untouched until he was ready to speak more on the subject.  Of course you didn’t want to assume that he had never had a love interest before, but he seemed so closed-off when you met him.  It was hard to imagine anyone could melt that ice.  Unless this Xi’an was something special.

   You felt a twinge in your chest.  It was like jealousy walked through the front door unannounced and picked a place to crash for a while.  It wasn’t taking over, but could be bothersome if you paid too much attention.  So you decided not to.  There were too many other things to worry about.

   “Alright, let’s get moving,” Cara said impatiently.  “We’re wasting time.”

   You boarded Boba Fett’s ship, taking your seat as the others did. The new ally began the take-off, and several seconds passed in silence before Din spoke up.  Mayfeld scoffed at the idea of obtaining coordinates to Moff Gideon’s ship.  Cara sighed and informed him that the kid was taken.

   The kid.  The child.

   Your little baby.  You kept seeing his face, his tiny green features and big brown eyes.  You pictured him happy as he sipped some broth and smiled at you.  Or the time shortly after you learned from the former jedi that his name was Grogu.  You and Din spent the afternoon calling him that and sharing laughs at how his ears perked.  The image was replaced with the most recent memory you had of him, when he was ripped right from your arms by strange droids at the seeing stone. You glanced down at your arms, heart sinking.  The bruises those droids left had already healed from bacta patches, but your arms had never felt so empty.

   Your thoughts were interrupted by Din’s disbelieving tone.  “Morak?  There’s nothing on Morak.”

   “It’s a secret Imperial mining hub, okay?”  Mayfeld replied.  “If you can get me in there, I can get you the coordinates.”

   Silence fell over the group again.  Cara glanced your way, looking as if she wasn’t sure whether to believe the prisoner or not.  You gave a shrug.  This was Din’s idea, and if he thought it would work, you trusted him.

   Din commed Boba.  “Fett, punch in the coordinates to Morak.”

   “Copy that.”

----------

   “I did an initial scan of the planet,” Boba said.  “This is what you’re talkin’ about, right?”

   Mayfeld gave a nod, pointing to the holomap.  “Yeah, that’s the refinery right there.”

   “Wonder what they’re refining in there,” Fennec mused.

   “Looks like rhydonium.  Highly volatile and explosive.”

   “Yeah, kinda’ like this one, huh?”  Mayfeld chuckled, gesturing to Cara.

   From where you stood, you could see Boba’s look of unamusement and practically feel Din’s annoyance as the two stared at him.  That sight almost made you laugh, but the situation wasn’t exactly a laughing matter.

   The group speculated on the measures the Empire had taken to keep its refinery secure.  It didn’t sound like getting in would be very easy.  Fortunately, between a criminal, three bounty hunters, a New Republic officer, and you, a pretty decent plan was cooked up.  They were going to hijack a delivery truck and infiltrate the refinery that way.

   The question was, who?  Who was going to hop into the truck with Mayfeld?

   As it turned out, neither Cara nor Fennec could.  The ex-ISB had rigged the scanners, and both of them would be recognized in the database.  Even Boba couldn’t, and while the others stared at him in confusion, you chuckled under your breath.  You even heard a hint of amusement in his tone as he said that they might recognize his face.

   “Great, so it’s me going in alone,” Mayfeld shrugged.

   “No way,” Cara protested.  “The minute he gets inside, he’ll tip ‘em off.  He’ll be a hero.”

   “Hey, this wasn’t my idea,” he pointed out, offended.  “I’m doin’ you guys a favor.”

   “I can go.”  You spoke up much quieter than you intended, and the bickering didn’t stop, so you tried again.  “I can go with Mayfeld.”  At that, the conversations around you came to a halt as they considered the idea.  Cara nodded, impressed, while Mayfeld eyed you curiously.

“You, uh, sure you can handle it?”  He folded his arms.

“I’ve been traveling with Mando for a while now, and I’ve helped him and Cara on multiple occasions,” you told him.  “I think I can handle walking in there and laying low while you get the coordinates.”

He held his hands up in understanding.  “Well, okay.  I think it’ll work.”

You stole a glance at Din to see his visor already fixed on you.  It was that stare.  The protective one that made you feel safe from everything else, yet vulnerable to him.  It was like the air was stolen from your lungs for just a moment.  You figured he would protest, but you hadn’t expected what he’d say next.

“I’ll go,” Din volunteered.

   Mayfeld’s gaze traveled to him, and he scoffed.  “Hey buddy, I might be good at fast-talking, but I don’t think I can explain away a guy in a Mando suit to Imperial guards.  So unless you’re gonna’ take off that helmet, it’s gonna’ be me and _________ heading in there.  Or say goodbye to your little green friend.”

   “That’s not an option,” you argued, feeling the pain well up at his words.  You couldn't imagine what Grogu was going through, even now as the lot of you debated how this situation was going to play out.  You didn’t want to think about it, but you kept seeing him reaching for you.

   Din’s words drew the gazes of the entire group.  “__________ isn’t going in there.  I’m coming with you instead.  But I won’t show my face.”

   “No, Mando, even if you’re going, I’m going too.”  You blinked away the tears that had just started to blur your vision, fortunately catching them before they fell, and looking at him with resolve.  “I can’t stand by and do nothing.  Not with our baby being held by the Empire.”

   It was suddenly quiet.  Much too quiet.  And that’s when you realized your mistake.  You hadn’t called Grogu the baby.  Or even just his baby.  You had definitely used the word our.  It made you want to vanish into the jungle- especially when you took in how the group was looking at you.  Cara’s lips parted in a surprised smirk as she tipped her head slightly.  Fennec raised a brow, though her expression didn’t betray her intrigue in any other way.  Even Boba Fett’s eyes seemed to soften; whether it was over your expression of care for the child or out of pity at your slip-up, you weren’t sure.  You didn’t even want to look at Din, but you found yourself staring into his visor, searching for some indication of his feelings on the matter.  There was nothing, just silence.  Mayfeld sighed, though it didn’t sound like exasperation.  It almost sounded sympathetic.

   “Look, typically for a delivery like this, there’s only two troops,” he pointed out, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.  You looked to him, glad for the attention to be taken off of you.  He caught your pleading gaze and let out another sigh.  “It’s uncommon, but not unheard of.  I think we can get by with the three of us.  But you gotta’ lay low, like you said.”  He pointed at you, and you nodded.  “Alright.  We’ve got to go.”

   The nerves were building up in your chest as you, Cara, Din, and Mayfeld dropped onto the juggernaut.  This wasn’t like going undercover at the cantina.  This was a whole other experience entirely, but you felt ready.  Before long, the two troops were taken out, and their armor taken away.

   Din disappeared around a corner to change out of his Mandalorian armor and into the Imperial trooper gear.  Mayfeld complained about the smell of his newly acquired armor, and you were grateful to be wearing the spares that were tucked away.  You found a spot on the juggernaut to slip the armor on.  It wasn’t built for a female, so it wasn’t the best fit.  Still, it would have to work.

   Suddenly, Mayfeld chuckled.  “Look at this.”  You peeked your head out of the juggernaut to see what looked like a trooper approaching, but you knew to be Din.  “Oh, the shame.  Now that right there is worth the price of admission.”

   “Wish I could say it looked good on you,” Cara said, smirking.  “But I’d be lying.”

   Din ignored her statement.  “Just make sure you take out the rooftop gunners, or we’re never getting out of there.”

   “We got you.”

   “Take care of this.”  Din handed her the duffel with his Mandalorian armor.  “Keep it safe.”  As Cara took it, she assured him with a sincere look that she would.  You knew she would.  Like you, she knew what it meant to him.

   “Hey guys. Still on the clock,” Mayfeld reminded them.  “Me and _________ are all ready to go.  Right?”  He leaned over and gave your boot a nudge from where he sat.

   You shrugged and were glad to pull the trooper bucket over your head.  For once, you could be the mysterious face under the helmet.  “I’m ready when you’re ready.”  Not to mention your voice sounded pretty cool in the modulator.  Such a shame that it was a stormtrooper helmet because you could get used to this.

   While Mayfeld was busy taunting Din in an unsuccessful attempt to get a reaction, you looked to Cara.  

   “Wish me luck.”

   “Oh, I will.”  She shot a glance at the chatty man.  “Considering the company you’re going to have.”  Then she looked back at you with that smirk from before.  “So what was that about earlier?”

   You pulled the Imperial bucket off your head so that the modulator wouldn’t broadcast your voice.  “I don’t know what happened, Cara.  I can’t believe I said that.  We’re definitely more than travelling companions at this point.  I care a lot about him. I think I even... ”

   She nodded, smirk becoming a more reassuring smile.  “I understand.  It seems like he feels the same about you.”

   “Still, I’m afraid that I overstepped in calling Grogu our child.”  You shook your head.  “He hasn’t spoken to me since.”

   “Well there’s not a whole lot of time to talk, and it’s the kinda’ thing that takes time to sort out,” she pointed out.  “I’m sure it’ll be fine-”

   “Hey, if you two ladies are done, we have to get moving,” Mayfeld called.

   “Yeah, yeah,” you groaned, pulling the helmet over your head again.  You clambered into the front of the juggernaut to get situated.  The two guys were already seated and taking a look at the vehicle’s controls.  Mayfeld seemed content to be with his helmet off, while Din of course kept his on.

   “Feels better when it’s off,” he commented, glancing over at his companion.  Din’s trooper helmet simply turned to look in his direction.  He gave a smile in response before turning his attention to the road again.  “__________, you too, huh?”

   “I don’t ever get to wear a helmet, so I’m just enjoying this while it lasts.”

   “You’re enjoying this?” Din asked.  His tone didn’t seem to carry any disdain, just innocent curiosity.

   “Well, not this.  I mean the helmet.  It’s nice to have some privacy when I’m surrounded by people who get to cover their faces.  You guys don’t know whether I’m smiling or what in here.”

      “You’re smiling right now,” Din said, making you turn your visor in his direction suddenly.

   “How did you know that?”

   “I can hear it in your voice.”  And as if to prove his point, you picked up on the amusement in his tone as well.

   Right.  You forgot for a moment that he had a lifetime to discern emotions through helmets, being that he was a foundling in a Mandalorian community and all.

   “You know, you two are just adorable,” Mayfeld interjected humorously.  “Seriously, I’m touched.”

   The conversation died down again after that.  You were rather pleased with the exchange you had with Din.  At the very least, he didn’t seem irritated with you about your earlier statement.  Things seemed to be going rather smoothly.

- - - - - - - - - 

   You’d never been so happy to see Imperial troops in your whole life.  As Mayfeld pulled the juggernaut into the safety of the Empire base, they flooded the bridge and fought off the oncoming pirates.  Din had re-entered the vehicle, groaning in pain from his fight.  You noticed his armor had been busted off in some places from the fight.

   “Mando,” you said softly, hand on his forearm.  

   His visor looked to you as he said in a strained voice, “I’m alright.”  His reassurance put you somewhat at ease.  You knew he wasn’t really fine- he had injuries- but he was okay.  He made it.

   “Never thought you’d be happy to see stormtroopers.”  Mayfeld saluted the line of troops that saluted and waved as the vehicle passed by, most likely to make things convincing.  He and Din stepped out of the juggernaut to be met with actual applause and cheers.  One even clapped a gloved hand on Mayfeld’s shoulder in congratulations.  It would have been heartwarming if not for the fact that it was the Empire, and these people were working toward an oppressive future.  You hopped out of the vehicle, glad to be on solid ground and not on a shaky roadtrip with rhydonium in the back.

   “Okay,” Mayfeld said.  “All we gotta’ do is find a terminal.”  You moved to Din’s other side, and the three of you began making your way through the crowd of cheering troops.  His gloved hand took yours for just a moment and gave it a light squeeze, and you returned the gesture before separating.  “Should be in the officers’ mess.”

   “I’ll stand by and keep an eye out,” you said.

   “Good,” Mayfeld nodded.  “We’ll make it quick.”  You watched as the two men headed for the mess hall, and you found a spot along the wall to wait, bucket tucked under your arm.  The occasional trooper stopped by to congratulate you or give you a pat on the back.  This extended contact with Imperials was starting to get to your nerves.  

   Mayfeld and Din still hadn’t returned.  Whether you were being paranoid or not, you weren’t sure.  Better to play it safe.  You headed in the direction they had gone earlier, helmet still under your arm, and tried to act casual.  Mayfeld was standing at the doorway, eyes shifting between the floor and his surroundings.  No sign of Din.

   “Where is he?” you demanded.  “Is he okay?”

   “He’s in there.”

   You followed his gaze to the mess.  Everyone in the room had their helmet off.

   “I don’t see him.”

   Mayfeld sighed.  “He’s over there by the terminal.”  Both of you leaned in to sneak a glance, and you gasped softly.  You saw his form standing there in the very back, head of messy brown hair.  “I couldn’t go in.  He had to do a facial scan to get the information.”

   “You could’ve gotten me to do it.”

   “That’s exactly what I said.”  He shook his head.  “But we wasted enough time as it is.  He was worried about you going in there alone.  You know, he’d really do anything for that kid, and for you.”

   Oh, Din.

   “Trooper,” an officer said, and his eyes were fixed on the dark-haired man in the corner that you knew was the man you’d fallen for.  He rose from his seat, and your heart was pounding.

   “We need to do something,” you said.

   Mayfeld shook his head, eyes on the floor.  “I can’t.  I already said can’t go in there.”

   “Fine, I’ll do it.”  You straightened up, taking a deep breath, and quickly walked through the mess until you intervened the officer’s path.  “Sir.  You called for me, sir?”

   He paused, eyes narrowing, as he stared at you.  “I was referring to another trooper.  The one by that terminal.”  He moved to get around you, but you side-stepped to block him again.  “I’m sorry, you’re sure there’s nothing I can help you with?”

   He gave you a condescending look.  “No, but thanks anyway.”

   You hoped that Din had escaped the mess because there was nothing more you could do unless you caused a big scene, which was not in the plan.

   “Trooper,” he continued, stepping around you.  But to your surprise, he was faced with another.  Din had walked over.  Inwardly you burned at the thought of the Imperial officer looking at his face.  You averted your gaze, feeling as if it would be wrong not to.  Even though you wanted nothing more than to drink in his features while you could.  

   “You should pay attention when a superior officer addresses you,” the man said.  He tipped his head to one side in observation.  “What’s your designation?”

   Din spoke, voice unmodulated and sounding so small.  You’d never heard him sound so unsure before.  “Transport crew.”

   “What?” 

   “My designation is transport copilot,” Din said, forcing his tone to sound confident as possible to make it more convincing.  

   “No, son,” the officer chided.  “What’s your TK number?”

   “My TK number is…” He hesitated, and you could do nothing but stand aside and wait, holding your breath.  How many numbers were in a TK number, anyway?

   “This is my commanding officer, TK-593, sir,” Mayfeld’s voice interjected as he strolled in front of you.  He spoke so casually that you were sure he’d pull it off.  “I’m Imperial Combat Assault Transport Lieutenant Tk-111, sir.”  He gestured to you.  “This is TK-501.”  Then, he glanced at Din.  “I’m afraid you’ll have to speak up to him a bit since his vessel lost pressure in Taanab.”

   Your eyes wandered past Mayfeld, catching another glimpse of dark, messy hair.  To some it might seem a minor thing, but to you it was adding to the escalating situation.  Brown eyes locked with yours, and your breath hitched.  Din was looking at you.  There was a trace of warmth in his eyes, and your hesitation vanished.  You took in the way his brows furrowed slightly over his eyes, crinkling them at the edges.  You memorized each feature.  His nose.  This cheekbones.  The handsome way he seemed to be looking right back you.  You quickly turned your gaze back to the officer in front of you who looked in Din’s direction.

   “What’s your name, officer?” he belted, enunciating each word.  Seeing Din’s face had been a shock, and in the middle of the stress, this officer’s behavior almost made you laugh, but you swallowed the giggle that threatened to make things worse and kept your composure.  The officer leaned in, waiting for a response.

   Mayfeld took the liberty of answering instead.  “We just call him ‘Brown Eyes.’  Isn’t that right, Officer?”  Din’s eyes flickered over as he gave a hesitant nod.

   “Come on,” Mayfeld landed a hand on his shoulder and his other one on yours to lead you away.  “Let’s go fill out those TPS reports, so we can go recharge the power coils...”

   “You’re not dismissed.”

- - - - - - -

   In short, things had gone from bad to worse.  Mayfeld was growing shakier by the minute as this guy ranted about the Empire and the sacrifices that were made so far.  You kept glancing at Din, who looked just as concerned as you, as Mayfeld visibly became more distressed.

   Finally he raised a blaster and shot the sick man across the table.  It turned into a firefight that ended just as swiftly as it began.  Once the mess hall had quieted, Mayfeld handed Din his trooper helmet.

   “You did what you had to do,” he said.  “I never saw your face.”

   Din stared at him for a moment before accepting the helmet.  He quickly put it back over his head just as more troopers arrived on the scene.  You sprung into action, pulling out the blaster at your belt and firing.

   From there, it was just a quaint little trip out the window and along a ledge above roaring waters of the refinery with several stormtroopers in pursuit.  Shots were fired.  You ran.

   It wasn’t until you were pulled further onto Boba’s ship by Din that you were able to stop and breathe.  Mayfeld was set free by Cara and Din after he blew up the Imperial refinery, and after he left, Boba set a course for Moff Gideon’s ship.  For the first time in a while, you and Din had a moment alone as he found the duffel bag of Beskar armor.  He paused as if thinking it over, before setting the duffel back down.  The stormtrooper visor was focused on you again.  You had long removed yours, and so you gazed back with your own eyes.  Suddenly, he placed a hand on either side of his helmet and slowly began to lift.

   “Din,” you whispered, quiet enough so no one else would hear, as you gently stopped him with the touch of your hand to his wrist.  He let go of the helmet only to put his hand over yours.

   “You need to know,” he began.  “About Xi’an.”

   “What?  No, no, there’s no need.”

   “I could tell it bothered you.”

   “Well, yes… Mayfeld made it sound like she was rather important, like you just finally got over her, and it bothered me that you never mentioned her.”  You shook your head.  “But I guess there was no reason for you to.”

   “There was nothing to get over,” he said simply.  “We flirted here and there.  It wasn’t anything real.  It wasn’t love.  I think Mayfeld was just bitter because you weren’t responding to his attempts.”  The chuckle that emitted from Din’s stormtrooper helmet made you smile.  It was a sound that you never imagined getting used to.

   You couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped your lips.  “Thank you.”

   “For what?”

   “For talking with me,” you replied.  “I was worried that after earlier you were irritated.”

   “Earlier?” His tone went higher ever so slightly in realization.  “Oh, right.  Your turn to talk.”

   “My turn?” you gulped.  “No way.  Let’s just forget it happened.”

   You could almost hear the amusement as he tipped his head, the visor staring at you in silence.

   You sighed in defeat, observing your hands as you fiddled with the stormtrooper gloves.  “Alright, well...the truth is, it sort of slipped out.  I think of the kid as yours because, well, you’ve been looking after him since before I met you.  And the Mandalorian we spoke to said that you are as his father, by creed.”  You paused, glancing up at his visor before continuing.  “But...I’ve also come to think of him as my own as well.  When I met the two of you, of course I thought he was a cute little guy, but I never imagined I could love someone so much.  I adore Grogu, really, even though I haven’t cared for him as long as you…”

   “That does not matter.”

   “What?”

   “It doesn’t matter that I’ve known him longer.  You care about him, and that’s what’s important,” Din nodded.

   “I do care about him.  As my own.  And with the two of us…”

   His visor was so close all of a sudden.  “The two of us…?”

   You ducked a little, recalling how he embraced you on that planet after a tense training session.  “You know.”

   “Do I?” he teased in a low voice, helmet even closer.

   “With the two of us together, sort of, I guess I thought of us as a family...I guess.  And it slipped out earlier.  In front of all those people.”  You raised a hand to cover your face in embarrassment at the memory.  Din didn’t say anything for a moment.  He reached up to pull your hand from your face gently, and with the other he lifted the stormtrooper helmet off with a deep breath.

   As you peered into those brown eyes once more, you smiled.  He smiled too then, the movement making his eyes crinkle.  It was a lovely sight, and you lifted a hand, pausing just below his chin.

   “Is it okay?”

   He gave a small nod, and you reached up to touch his cheek.  It was a little stubbly toward his jawline.  Then you went up to start at the crease between his brows and trace down the length of his nose to his lips.  He tenderly took that hand in his and kissed the fingertips.

   “We’re going to get him back,” he said.

   You smiled again.  “I know we will.”  Then, your smile faded.  “And if we find where he belongs, with a jedi, then I am prepared to do what’s best for him.”

   His eyes look sad as he responded, “me too.”

   “For now,” you said quickly.  “Next stop is Moff Gideon’s ship.  We are going to take him down and get Grogu back.”

   With that, Din leaned in and planted a feathery light kiss on your lips.  It was something you had not expected since the moment you first laid eyes on the Mandalorian.  You never imagined that you’d end up with him, seeing his face, or kissing him.  You returned the kiss, touching his cheek again as you let him pull you closer, wrapping both arms around you.

   The last few days had felt like a nightmare that you hoped to wake up from.  But now it seemed that even in the darkness there was a glimmer of hope.  The nightmare would give way to a dream.

[heyyyharry]

Chapter 9: Father’s Daughter

(from ‘The Conman and the Maid’ Series)

...in which hearts are broken, and Y/N is in danger.

Word count: 7.3k

AU: princess!y/n, conman!harry, prisoner!harry.

Series description: Y/N is a princess and Harry is a prisoner in her castle. With his help, she escapes from her arranged marriage in search of a happy ending, if there is one.

Wattpad link (Reyna as Y/N)

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From Harry’s own experience, when someone asked to speak to you alone, it was never good news.

His stomach churned with dismay as he followed Kenny outside and closed the door to muffle the chatter in the house. What remained was the rattling of trees, chirping of crickets, and howling of a lone wolf in the distance.

Kenny’s moon-washed face appeared paler than usual. She was thinner, too. So thin he imagined her feet floating above the ground underneath the many layers of her full skirt. He’d never thought it was possible for anyone to wear such expensive fabric and look like the unhappiest person in the world. But Kenny had proved him wrong.

Had she not been eating well? Had Gideon been mistreating her? The thought of her crying over the son of a bitch made him tighten his fists. Why she’d agreed to marry that bastard was still beyond him. She could have done so much better. Not him. Not Gideon. But better.

“I’ve never seen your mum so happy,” she said, keeping her hands behind her back like she always did when she was nervous. He pretended to not notice and returned her smile.

“Gem told me everything,” he said. “Thank you for taking care of my family while I was away.”

“I think of them as my own.” She giggled and tucked a loose strand behind her ear, staring at her feet. “But...I did everything mostly because...because of you.”

“Because of me?”

Because he’d been temporarily dead and she’d felt bad for moving on. That must be what she meant.

He kept clenching and unclenching his fists while waiting for her to continue. She worked her jaw, still staring at her feet. It seemed like she had to think very hard about what she wanted to say. It was one of the many reasons he’d loved her, though it must be exhausting to walk on eggshells around everyone.

After a moment’s hesitation, she fished out a gold hairpin from the pocket of her petticoat. “I had to hide it from my mum so she wouldn’t sell it,” she said, handing it to him. “After all, this is your first gift to me.”

“Gift sounds fancy,” he chuckled. “I stole it.” It was the first thing he’d stolen in his life.

“And you could’ve kept it for yourself. But you gave it to me,” she said with a subtle grin. “And that was when I realised I was in love with you.”

He moistened his dry lips while inspecting the valuable accessory. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected from this talk.

“Do you still love me?”

But this was far from it.

“What are you saying?” he asked, appalled and confused.

“Do you still love me?” she murmured. “Because...I still love you, Harry.”

Those were the words he’d wanted to hear many weeks ago. If this were then, he would have kissed her and said yes. But this was now. She was Gideon’s wife, a fact that he still refused to accept, but he would have to, eventually. And there was still Y/N.

“You don’t love me, Kenny. Not anymore,” he heard himself say.

She released an exasperated breath. “Crow, I’ve never stopped.”

“You married someone else.”

“I thought you were dead!”

“It doesn’t matter why you did it.” His stare pierced her face. “You married someone else, Kenny. You don’t get to fucking do this to us now.”

He’d been told he looked intimidating when he got angry, but Kenny was never afraid of him. She took a step forward, catching him off guard as she laid a hand on the left side of his face. The touch was familiar, so he didn’t back off, giving her permission to touch the other side. Her soft hands warmed his cool cheeks, and he shut his eyes for a fleeting moment.

“Let’s start over. Run away with me.”

Then he snapped out of it.

He stepped back. His heart throbbed when he looked into her tear-filled eyes. His gaze dropped to the ground so he wouldn’t have to watch her cry. “You should go home. I-I’ll take you home.”

She shrugged him off when he reached for her arm. “Don’t. I don’t want to go home. I don’t...I don’t have a home. You’re the only home I’ve ever known.” She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her heart. “I should’ve defied my mother a long time ago. I should’ve fought for us. That’s what I’m doing now.”

“Please listen to me.”

She didn’t.

“I’ve been saving money for my sewing business. We can use my money to start over. Just like how we’d planned our future before you left–”

“Before you married someone else.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” She laughed mirthlessly. “You despise Gideon! You always have since we were kids!”

“That didn’t stop you from marrying him,” he said, his voice even. “Let’s go back inside and pretend this never happened.”

His fingers closed around her wrist and pulled, but her feet refused to cooperate. “What’s gotten into you? And don’t you lie to me and say that you care about my marriage. Harry, you don’t. You–” She sucked in a breath, closing her eyes. “Be honest with me, please. You don’t love me anymore, right?”

Instead of answering, he tugged at her arm to get her to follow, but she shoved him away and stepped back, their eyes locked. A battle of mixed emotions was taking place inside his chest – anger, frustration, sadness, regret, guilt – but there was no sign of love.

In his mindless daze, he heard her whisper, “You’re in love. But...not with me.”

He didn’t confirm or deny her accusation, instead, he asserted, “You can do better than Gideon, but I’m not the one.”

She stayed silent for too long before asking, “It’s her, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“Rain. You’re in love with her.” Her lip started quivering when he didn’t respond. “You said you’d love me forever...”

“You married someone else.”

“Stop using that against me.” She didn’t shout, but her nearly toneless voice turned him stiff. “I don’t love Gideon, and I couldn’t sit around and wait for you to come back from the dead. You know my mother. So stop blaming me for everything just because you feel guilty.”

She was right. He was guilty of making her wait, of leaving her in the first place. But the next thing she said was definitely to hurt him on purpose.

“I’m sorry to break it to you, but Rain doesn’t have feelings for you.”

“You don’t know that.” He was taken aback by how fast he’d replied, but her expression stayed the same.

“I do,” she stressed. “Because she told me.”

“She told you?”

“Back in the house. I asked her.”

“She wouldn’t discuss her feelings with a stranger.”

“Are you saying that I made that up?” Her voice was dreadfully quiet, and then she lifted her chin, tears swimming in her eyes. “Ask her then. She told me to talk to you. If she had feelings for you and wanted you for herself, why would she do that?”

Another question he didn’t answer.

“I’ll walk you home.”

Before he could seize her hand, she jerked away and pressed it to her throat as if trying to stop her ragged breathing.

“The last thing I need now is your kindness.”

Those were her last words to him before she left. The hairpin was still in his hand. She hadn’t forgotten it. It was just worthless to her now. Because what would you do to the love you had for someone who didn’t love you back? You gave it away. Or better, you gave it back to them and let them decide what to do with it. They couldn’t give it to someone else, so they had to keep it, and every time they looked at it, they’d be reminded of the heart they’d broken.

He idled outside, just peering at the hairpin until the door swung open. Gemma and Caleb stopped in their tracks when they saw him alone.

“Where’s Ken–”

Gemma elbowed her husband as she interjected, “Ma is asleep. You should go check on Rain.”

“What’s wrong?” Harry asked, putting the hairpin back into his pocket.

Gemma shrugged as she said nothing, and Caleb hurried after her after wishing Harry goodnight. Harry’s night was already terrible. He’d be blessed if it didn’t get worse.

Crossing the dark living area, he lit a candle and padded to the pantry. He pulled the door open and found Y/N sitting alone in the dark. She didn’t ask where he’d been.

His mind was occupied with the conversation with Kenny, especially what Kenny had said about Y/N. It could have been a lie to get back at him, which he deserved for breaking her heart. But he doubted Kenny would lie to anyone, especially him.

“Why are you sitting in the dark?” he asked before sitting down in front of Y/N on the dirty mattress.

“It’s not dark,” she said. “There’s the moon.”

Smiling, he glanced up at the little window above her head. “There’s the moon,” he said self-consciously.

Moments were wasted as neither of them said a word. He felt suffocated by this silence. Should he tell her about the conversation with Kenny? Should he ask her if it was true, that she’d encouraged Kenny to talk to him? Why was she so quiet? What was she thinking of? He opened his mouth, but her words got out first.

“My real name is Y/N. Daughter of King Willem. Princess of Isolde.”

His heart stopped for a split second. He felt like he was levitating before being slammed to the ground so hard it shattered his bones. A small part of him wanted to believe it was just her crazy sense of humour, but the rest of him always knew something was off.

No maid could ride a horse like that, or treat swords like toys, or have the softest hands in the world. She could’ve been anything. Just not a maid. However, his list of anything didn’t include a princess.

He would have been just fine if she’d told him she was an assassin raised and trained in the castle, which had been his very first guess. But a princess? Hell, she wasn’t even a princess. She was the princess.

“Please...say something.”

“You lied to me,” he said before his mind could form a proper thought. He couldn’t even look at her right now.

“I had to.”

“At first.”

“I didn’t have the chance–”

“You had plenty.” He rested his elbows on his knees and buried his head into his hands. “We’d nearly died a hundred times and you waited until now...”

Until he’d fallen madly in love with her.

“Harry, please let me explain.” Her voice was so gentle it stabbed him in the heart. “I was going to tell you when we get to my uncle’s castle.” Her uncle was King Edgar. She’d visited her uncle that summer when they first met by the river. It all made sense now. “I never meant for this to happen.”

“For what to happen?”

She didn’t answer.

She got on her knees and touched his arm. Her hands were cold, but they blazed his skin. His brain told him to pull away while his heart was yearning for her touch. He ended up sitting so still he wasn’t sure if he was still breathing.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth sooner...I’m so sorry,” she said. “But I will fix it. Once I get to the castle, you can have as much gold as you want.”

She squeezed his arm, and his stomach shrivelled in agony. Was that what she still thought of him? That all he wanted was her gold?

“I’ll find the best doctor for your mother. I’ll have people look after her when you...when you and Kenny aren’t here anymore.”

He jerked his arm away. His eyes jumped to her pale face. ‘I never meant for this to happen’ meant she never wanted him to fall for her.

Kenny had told the truth. Y/N didn’t love him.

Tomorrow, when she reunited with her uncle – the King – she’d be a princess again. Princess married royalty, not a dirty thief. She’d had the answer to his question all this time, and she’d led him on and made him believe he’d had a chance. They'd been a lost cause since the moment they met again in that dungeon.

All the things she'd let him do to her had been driven by lust. Not love. She was saving herself for someone worthy – a noble like her. Now that she’d thrown the truth in his face and forced him to accept it, she was going to leave him.

“You are your father’s daughter,” he scoffed painfully, stopping himself before he said that endearing name. It was reserved for Rain. And she wasn’t Rain. “With all due respect, Your Highness, you used people for your advantage. My life might not matter, but Stefan, Thunder and Lightning could’ve died for you. So could the people in the brothel and those sisters in the woods–”

She was staring at her fingers, which were clawing at her thighs. “I know.”

“No, you don’t.” The rush of adrenaline made it hard for him to think. “Your brother won’t hurt you, Princess. It’s my family who’s in danger...”

And how was he going to choose between his family and her?

“Your family won’t be harmed. I promise.” Despite her ragged breathing and tears in her eyes, she managed to keep her voice steady. “I’ll leave right now. You don’t even have to take me there. Just give me directions and I’ll go on my own. I won’t bother anyone else.”

It wasn’t that easy. His anger toward her didn’t change how he felt about her. It’d kill him to let her go, and it’d also kill him to keep her here.

He clutched her arm before she could stand up. “Stay. I’ll take you there tomorrow.” His throat felt stuffed as he tried to speak. “That was our deal, remember? You helped me reunite with my family and the woman I love. Now I have to make sure you get what you want.”

Kenny wasn’t the woman he loved. He didn’t know what had made him say that, but he felt awful afterwards. It was then that he understood why Kenny was always careful with words. Saying the wrong things was more damaging than not telling the truth.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Harry.”

The way she said his name made him weak. He would miss it when she was gone.

As he met her eyes, sadness had replaced anger. He suddenly became aware of how tight he was gripping her arm, so he withdrew his hand and dug his fingers into his palms.

“I don’t,” he said coldly. “All I ask of you now is to let me fulfil my promise to you. And then we won’t owe each other anything else.”

She gave a nod, facing down.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Harry,” she said when he rose. “you can still call me Peach...”

Her voice. So sweet, so desperate, so–

Stop. Don't do that to yourself.

He gave a bow, pawing the door open. “Goodnight, Your Highness.”

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“You are your father’s daughter.”

“You used people for your advantage.”

“I don’t worry about you. I just want to fulfil my promise.”

I don’t.

I don’t.

I don’t...

Y/N woke up with those words whirling around in her head. She wanted to believe it’d been a bad dream, but her headache and the cold space on the mattress let her know it’d been real. Harry knew who she was. And he hated her.

She’d cried herself to sleep over the things he’d said, and also the fact that there was nothing she could do to compensate. How could one redeem herself if her biggest crime was being her father’s daughter? Southerners despised her last name. The name she’d been born with. If his family found out who she was, they would hate her, too. They’d lost so much because of her family. She’d been born with a silver spoon in her mouth; she wouldn’t get it.

But she never meant to hurt anyone. Especially him.

She’d really thought he was different, that he would see past the crown on her head once he knew the truth, that he’d loved her, too. Sadly, he never did. He still loved Kenny. Whatever had happened between him and Y/N had only been lust.

She loathed that word. Lust. It was misleading and treacherous. Why couldn’t you just want only one person for the rest of your life, like her mother and father? Y/N had never wanted anyone else but Harry. She might never want anyone one else ever again.

She hugged her knees to her chest, blinded by the light pouring through the window. At least she was going to see Uncle Edgar today without having to ponder over Harry’s question – which had never been sincere – or pretend to be someone else anymore.

Determination brought her back on her feet. She found a white dress draped over the back of the chair with a note saying, wear this to see your uncle, signed by Gemma. It was worn out, but surely better than the rags she was wearing now. No one presented themselves to a King looking like this.

She wandered around the house after getting ready, but she found neither Gemma nor Harry. Where was he? He’d said it would take almost a day to get to the castle, so shouldn’t they leave early?

“Ed, is that you?”

The solitary voice spun her around. In the kitchen doorway stood Harry’s mother, who was smiling as usual.

“Uh...I think Ed just went out,” Y/N said, hands on the back of a chair.

Harry’s mother rolled her eyes. “He and my son must have gone to work early. Those two are crazy about their jobs. Have you met my son?”

“Yes, I have.” She wished she hadn’t.

“Well, he’s very handsome. Do you agree?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Y/N smiled obligingly.

“You have a beautiful smile.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

The woman’s expression dulled for a second and then lit up. “I know you! You’re Peach.”

“How do you–Did Harry tell you that?”

“I found you sleeping in our pantry last night, and I thought you were lost. I almost woke you up, but Harry said ‘let Peach sleep, Ma’ and took me back to my room. I had to remember your name. You see, I always remember Harry’s friends’ names. It’s very easy because he doesn’t have a lot of friends...”

So Harry still referred to Y/N as Peach when she wasn’t around. She found herself smiling so big her jaw was aching.

“...Peach is a clever name. Your mother must love peaches. We have a lot of those here in the spring…”

Y/N wiped the beam right off her face. He still called her Peach, only because it was a habit. He probably hadn’t been thinking when the name slipped out of his mouth. For all she knew, he could be with Kenny right now, planning their romantic escape.

“Where is your mother? You should be with her. Does she know you’re sleeping in our pantry?”

“My mother,” Y/N said to her feet, “I lost my mother four years ago.”

“Oh, dear,” Harry’s mother cried out. Without warning, she pulled Y/N into a hug.

Y/N felt tears sting her eyes. She tried to stop them, but they kept coming. Hadn’t she cried her eyes out last night? Where did all these tears come from? She held her breath, fighting back the emotions only to end up bawling like a baby.

“There, there, sweet girl,” said Harry’s mother as she petted the back of Y/N’s head. “Your mother is in heaven now. I’m sure she’s very proud of her Peach.”

No. Her mother must be ashamed of how selfish and foolish she was. Her mother had been a great princess before she’d become the Queen. All Y/N had done was cause trouble and cry about it.

Harry’s mother broke the hug as she squeezed Y/N’s shoulders and wiped her eyes. “Let’s go to the market,” she said brightly.

Y/N shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, ma’am.”

It was a terrible idea. She didn’t know her way around the village and wasn’t familiar with these people. If something bad happened to Harry’s mother, she would never forgive herself. He would never forgive her.

“Trust me!” the old woman insisted. “If you don’t go with me, I will go by myself and you cannot stop me! But first I must visit my husband at the shop and—”

“I’ll go to the market with you,” Y/N cut her off. “Can you give me a minute to get my—” dagger “—coat?”

“Sure, Peach,” Harry’s mother said and patted Y/N’s cheeks before going back to her room.

.

.

.

The market was more packed than the last time Y/N had been there. Exactly what she was afraid of. She slipped into the sea of people, her fingers tightly wrapped around the old woman’s wrist, her other hand clutching the handle of her dagger.

Harry’s mother was probably the most cheerful and carefree person Y/N had ever met. She walked around with a smile on her face, greeted strangers like they were old friends and stopped by every vendor to admire the displays without buying.

Y/N had lost track of time since they’d left the house, but she guessed it was past noon now. The sun was beating down on them. Sweat had soaked the bodice of Gemma’s dress. The market had become a maze where every vendor, house, and alley looked the same. Even the faces passing by were similar.

Her heart was fighting to break free from her chest. Her thoughts were as loud and chaotic as the crowd she was in. She wasn’t used to the heat, and being squished between sweaty bodies only made it worse.

When she snapped out of it, one of her hands was holding the dagger, but the other one was empty. She closed her fingers around nothing and snapped her head in all directions.

Too many people. Too many smells. Too bright. Too hot.

She grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked so she wouldn’t pass out, her breathing urgent, her throat dry; she needed water. No, she needed to look for Harry’s mother. If she’d lost his mother, he would hate her for life. Maybe even more than he did now.

The sudden coolness at her hip stopped her in her tracks. It took her less than a second to realise it was the tip of a blade. Whoever was holding it against her leaned in, his voice rough when he whispered in her ear. “Your Highness.”

She couldn’t recognise the voice, but she knew her brother had sent him.

The stranger traced the blade to the centre of her lower back, gently pushing her forward so she could start walking. She swallowed dryly, her fingers tightened around the handle of her own dagger.

“Is my brother here?” she asked, her voice calm.

“No, Your Highness,” she could hear a smirk, “But the King will be so happy to see you.”

“Peach, someone’s behind you!”

“No!”

Y/N shoved Harry’s mother out of the way as she fenced the man’s dagger with her own. Harry’s mother fell to the ground. People screamed and ran in every direction.

This man was twice her size, his face hidden under a large hood. She aimed her blade to his chest, but he caught her wrist and tossed her to the ground like a rag doll. Sand blowing everywhere. She couldn’t see. Her dagger. Where’s my dagger?

A large hand hauled her up by the throat, lifting her feet off the ground. She started kicking violently, fingers dug into his arms which were hard as rock. She couldn’t breathe. Everything was fading.

In desperation, she shoved her hands under the hood and tore the skin off his face with her nails. They both screamed when he dropped her like a sandbag. She could barely feel any part of her body, but she gathered her strength to move her hands around until she found her dagger.

Before she could pick it up, the man stomped his big foot on her hand. She buried it into her stomach, shrieking in pain. He stepped forward and was met with a kick in the crotch that sent him to his knees.

When she pulled herself up to finish him, a horse jumped out of nowhere and pranced toward them. She jumped out of its way and the man swiftly mounted his horse. He rode fast, disappearing in the distance.

She sorely collapsed on her back, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as she gazed at the pure white sky. A scream tore through the stillness, but all she could hear was silence.

.

.

.

When Harry came home on Lightning, he was met with a distraught Gemma, who ran from the house and told him their mother had gone missing.

“I went to the river when she was sleeping and she was gone when I returned,” Gemma panted.

Harry brushed right past her into the house, straight to the pantry. Y/N was gone, but her sword was there and Thunder was still outside so she wasn’t really gone.

“Ma is with Peach,” he breathed, turning back to his sister.

“Oh God, what a relief,” Gemma said.

That was only relief because she didn’t know who Y/N was. A mad person and a wanted subject should not be wandering around town together. Harry was scared for both of them.

“You stay. I’m going to look for them.”

“Look for them?” Gemma sounded aghast as he sidestepped her to get back to the living area.

The door swung open before he could storm out, and his mother ran straight into his arms, weeping hysterically. His stomach clenched with the force of his restraint when Y/N appeared in the doorway.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Harry,” Gemma said, which he ignored.

“Have you caused enough trouble already? I don’t fucking care who you are. If something had happened to our mum–”

“She’s bleeding, Harry!” Horror tore through Gemma’s voice, and he looked down. Blood. Blood was dripping down Y/N’s fingers. Her right hand was shaking and bruised. So was every part of her body that wasn’t hidden under the black cloak which she used to hide her wound. She was hiding it from him. Because she knew he would react the way he did.

With one step, she crumpled like a puppet suddenly released from their strings, and he lurched forward, catching her before she hit the floor. He called out her name but she didn’t respond. Her blood dampened his shirt as he picked her up and carried her to his mother’s bed.

He lay her down on her back. His breathing was rough in his throat as his fingers worked clumsily on the strings of her cloak to get it off. There were red marks around her neck; someone had strangled her. The white dress she was wearing was stained with the blood oozing from the fresh wound at her hip.

He tore a piece of the cloak, balled it in his fist and applied it on the wound with direct pressure. His voice cracked as he called for Gemma. “Get Caleb! He’ll know what to do!”

Gemma nodded and ran out of the door.

.

.

.

“How is she?”

“She’s fine now,” Caleb told Harry and Gemma as he pulled up a chair to join them at the table. Caleb was a hunter and used to serve in the King’s army (before his mother got sick) so he knew how to deal with such wounds. “The stab was accidental. Not too deep. But she needs to stay in bed a few days to recover.”

“Poor thing. She was supposed to see her uncle today,” Gemma said with a frown. She didn’t mention it, but the way she glared at Harry made him feel ashamed for yelling at Y/N.

“Accidental how?” he asked Caleb. “You mean whoever attacked her didn’t do it on purpose?”

Gemma furrowed her eyebrows. “Ma said she saw that man standing behind Rain and she ran over to help, but Rain pushed her aside. He was probably threatening her, but then Ma came and Rain took advantage of that moment to react, so he stabbed her by accident.”

Harry said nothing as Caleb closed his arms around Gemma and told her he wouldn't let her go to the market alone anymore. However, Harry knew it wasn’t just some sick bastard preying on helpless young women; Y/N could handle ten of those. This one, however, had almost killed her. But he hadn’t, because Egon wanted her alive. What kind of monster would want this to happen to his own sister?

Y/N was better than her father and Egon. No, she was better than everyone. Better than Harry. He’d yelled at her after she’d risked her life saving his mother and come back covered in blood. He had no right to get angry because she didn’t love him back. She was too good for him.

He pushed away from the table and tightened his fists. “I’ll go check on her.”

When he came into the room, she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She watched him close the door, and the first thing she said was, “I’m so sorry.”

He thinned his lips, staying silent.

“How’s your mother?” she asked.

“She was scared, but she’s fine now. She’s eating in the kitchen.”

Y/N placed her right hand on her chest, her shoulders relaxed with a sigh of relief. He focused on her bruised fingers before looking at the rest of her. His heart ached like someone was poking needles at it.

She pursed her lips as her face taut with worry. “Do they know who I am?”

“No, I haven’t told them.” He shuffled from one foot to the other, hands behind his back. “Do you want me to?”

She shook her head, a line appearing between her brows. When she got up on her wobbly legs, he dashed forward to catch her, but she raised her palm to stop him.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

She held the back of the chair by the bed to keep her balance, pointing to the door. “To the pantry.”

He didn’t think she knew she was pouting. As his eyes bored into her, he imagined himself kissing that pout, and quickly stepped back. He might do it if they got too close.

“Ma will stay with Gemma and Caleb. You can sleep here tonight,” he said guardedly, moving his eyes to the bed and back to her.

“I’ve caused enough trouble already,” she said to her feet. “Can you take me to the castle, please?”

He swallowed dryly, unable to wet his parched throat. “You’re hurt.”

She stood with her head hung and didn’t respond, but her shoulders were rising and falling unsteadily. She was hiding her face from him as she burst into tears.

“I just...I just want to go h-home…”

He stood rigid in front of her. His chest imploded when a quiet sob burst through her throat. There was nothing heroic about making women cry, especially those you loved, and he really loved Y/N. So much he didn’t know how to act around her as he was sure she would never love him in return.

That didn’t justify all the terrible things he’d said out of anger or make him more deserving of her, because he didn’t. But now he knew why he’d been acting this way. Maybe he could fix this. He’d rather be dead than live the rest of his life knowing she resented him.

“Please stay until you recover and I’ll take you to the King.” He reached for her arm, but she lifted it to wipe her eyes with the sleeve. “Please, Peach.”

He didn’t realise he’d called her that until she glanced up, her eyes big and glassy. “As soon as I get better, I’m leaving.”

He nodded, his chest growing tight. “As soon as you get better.”

.

.

.

For the rest of the day, he didn’t go too far from the house. He fed the horses, cleaned the stable, chopped the wood, and sharpened his and Y/N’s swords in case Egon’s men came back for her. He had checked on her a few times to make sure she was well-rested, but never actually entered the room as she might not want to be disturbed.

Evening came. He made his own dinner and ate it alone. He brought the food to her. She ate it in silence, left the empty plate on the table and he returned to collect it. Now it was late, and he should go to sleep, but he wanted to see her one more time. It was addicting. Seeing her. He imagined himself breaking into the castle just to see her from afar and giggled at the thought. It was silly. He felt silly.

He carefully opened the door and ducked into the doorway, only to find the bed empty and the blanket folded. There was no Y/N. He almost got his sword and ran out to look for her when his mind told him to check the pantry. There, he found her sleeping on the mattress on the floor. His shoulders sagged as he released a relieved sigh. Even when she was broken, she didn’t want to take his bed.

He walked in, closed the door and got down on his knees beside her. As he ran his fingers across her cheek, she stirred slightly without opening her eyes. He gathered his courage to lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. Her skin was cold, although she was sweating through his sister’s sleeping gown. He tried to unwrap the blanket around her, being extra careful so he wouldn’t touch her wound.

Her eyes suddenly snapped open. She gasped in shock as he jerked away, sitting with his legs spread, knees folded. “I was–you...you were sweating...I just–” No, no, no, she thinks I’m a pervert. “I’m so sorry!”

She pushed herself up, her eyes too wide, taking over her face. Without warning, she crawled onto his lap. With each knee on either side of his hips, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheek flushed against his. He felt his heart thumping in his ears as his body hardened before going limp.

When she started crying, he was spiralling out of control. He placed his hands on her back before gaining more confidence to circle both arms around her waist. He missed holding her like this. He’d missed her.

“What’s wrong, Peach? Tell me.”

She pulled back, their mouths only an inch apart. He felt sick for wanting to kiss her while she was crying, but his body and mind always reacted so strongly to her. He tried to fight it and cupped her face between his palms, bringing their foreheads together. “Shh, I’m here. Are you hurting?”

She shook her head fast, her nose wrinkled as she sniffled.

“Did you have a bad dream?”

She nodded.

“It’s okay. You’re okay.” He pulled her back into his arms. Her breath warmed his neck as he kept one hand behind her head, stroking her hair, the other smoothing her back. She cried for a while before quieting down, her muscles relaxing, and her breathing steady.

“Do you want me to go?” he asked softly, and she shook her head against his shirt.

“All right. I’ll stay.”

He shouldn’t, but he must. She couldn’t be left alone to have more nightmares. He got on his knees, still holding her as he lay her down on her back, him on his side, making sure he didn’t touch her wound as he drew her closer to him.

“Is this okay?” he whispered.

This time, she spoke. “Yes, it’s okay,” and then, “Thank you.”

He hmmed into her hair and rubbed her back until she fell asleep. The moon was bright outside the window. He kept staring at it until his eyelids grew heavy.

.

.

.

Two weeks earlier

The door swung open and Egon stormed into the room, giving his guards a dismissive wave as he stopped at the end of the bed. The door fell shut again. Jo propped herself up on her elbows to look at him, but he motioned her to lie back down and came to sit on the edge of her bed.

“Your Majes–”

Before she could finish, he caught her jaw and tilted her head up with force. “You stupid bitch. You could’ve lost my son.”

Her tears were already pouring. She tried to speak, but he pinched her cheeks tighter. It wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t done it on purpose.

She had woken up that morning with a pain in her stomach. She had screamed for help. The doctor had shown up in an hour and left after telling her the baby was fine. Egon had heard the news, but instead of feeling relieved that she and the baby were in good condition, he had accused her of trying to kill his baby.

She loved this child, whether it was a daughter or a son, even though her life depended on that outcome, even though the child would be his. She would never hurt her own child.

“I would never. Your Majesty, please,” she managed to speak, sobbing hysterically.

He smiled madly at her teary face, then slowly loosened his grip. Her jaw was aching when he patted her cheek and gently lay her head back on the pillow.

“I’ve had a terrible morning, Jo,” he said while stroking her hair. “I got the news from my men that they have found our beloved Y/N.”

Jo tensed as she heard the name but didn’t dare to move as he was still petting her, his other hand pinning her wrist down on the mattress. He was so gentle, but it felt like he might strangle her any moment. If it hadn’t been for Willem’s letter, she would’ve done it herself a long time ago.

The letter.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see it on her desk. She’d been too shocked after reading it last night and forgotten to put it away. If he saw it–

“She was hiding in a whorehouse, can you believe it? A princess in a whorehouse.” Egon chuckled, shaking his head. “But don’t worry. She didn’t decide to become a whore. Though it might fit her now that she’s spreading her legs for that poor bastard. Anyway, she killed my commander with the help of the thief and got away. Are you happy to hear that, Jo?”

Jo stuttered unintelligibly.

“Answer me!”

“I just want her to come back safely, Your Majesty!”

He smiled again and brushed the damp hairs out of her face. She was sweating though the fireplace had gone out a while ago.

“Do you know what I want?” he asked.

“What do you want, Your Majesty?”

“I want my son...” he rubbed her belly over the blanket “...to be safe. If he dies, you die, and Y/N also dies. That’s a lot of dying, don’t you think, Jo?”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

He pushed himself up from the bed, standing with his hands behind his back and glancing around the room. Jo was holding her breath, her entire body rock hard.

The letter. The letter. The letter. The–

The door swung open again and a guard rushed in. “Your Majesty!”

“Speak.”

“Letter from Theros, Your Majesty.”

King Edgar.

“Right on time.” Egon waved the guard into the room, grinning at Jo.

“Would you like to read it here, Your Majesty?” the guard asked.

“Sure, why not?” Egon held out his hand and the guard gave him the letter. He then gave it to Jo. “Read it to me.” Then he ordered the guard to leave them alone.

Jo was shaking but didn’t object. She sat with her back against her pillow. Egon leaned a shoulder against a bedpost and watched patiently as she opened the letter and began.

Dear Nephew,

I’m profoundly sorry to hear about Y/N. Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of where she might be or the reason she’d committed such an awful crime. I understand that it’s of great concern to you that she’d run away with a dangerous criminal. I will send my men to look far and wide for Y/N and write back to you as soon as I have news.

Your Uncle,

Edgar

Egon snatched the letter from her hands and put it into his shirt. His expression stayed neutral, not a sign of disappointment or triumph. “Do you think he’s telling the truth, Jo?”

“I-I don’t know, Your Majesty.”

“You don’t know what? Don’t know how to think?”

She swallowed. “I think...I think he’s telling the truth.”

“Why?” he pressed on, his crazy smile gone.

“He would protect her at all costs. If she was with him, he wouldn’t have written back at all.”

He pushed his tongue into his cheek, not breaking eye contact with her. He must have expected this response from King Edgar. Egon was up to something again.

“I’m leaving now. Don’t disappoint me, Jo,” he said with one last look around the room; he hadn’t spotted the letter.

As soon as the door shut behind him, Jo hastily got up, limped to the desk, and hid the letter in one of the drawers.

.

.

.

Present day

Queen Calanthe was distressed at the news from Isolde of the princess going missing. Not because she worried or even cared about the little brat who had run away from home with a man – how tragic – but because ever since receiving the news, Edgar had been a bundle of nerves. And as his wife, she was allowed to be angry.

They had been married for almost a year. She didn’t love him, because who cared about love? Her mother and father hadn’t loved each other when they got married. The only thing that matter was, Edgar was the richest king in the South and always spoiled her with silk and jewellery. However, her life would have been better if she’d married someone she loved. If it hadn’t been for Willem.

She used to live in a kingdom by the sea called Athera until Willem’s army murdered her family and destroyed her home. Her parents had sent her to Theros before Willem’s army attacked the castle; she was the only survivor.

Willem was more a conqueror than a king. He took things but never treasured them. Athera was now a wasted land because it wasn’t large enough for his ego. He wanted Theros. Edgar wouldn’t let him. Now he was dead, and his stupid son, who was Calanthe’s age, had become King.

Isolde had cut all ties with Theros since Queen Meira’s death, and when Calanthe married Edgar (he’d married her out of pity, she believed), she’d thought she was free from her past. But now that little brat had returned, and from what Calanthe had heard and seen, Edgar loved Y/N more than anything in this world. Even after hearing from Egon that his precious niece had betrayed her kingdom and killed a commander when she was found.

He had sent his men out to look for her in strict confidence. He knew she was coming to him and didn’t want to scare her by carrying out a big search. Calanthe thought it was stupid to trust a criminal, especially Willem’s daughter, but she’d been looking forward to meeting this infamous princess.

That was only until her husband was murdered.

It was a ruthless death. The maid who’d found Edgar in his chamber said there had been blood everywhere. He’d been on the floor, face down, bathing in his own blood. Someone had broken into the castle in the night and killed the King. Who could it be? Edgar was widely loved. Not only by his subjects but also the other kingdoms. Except for Isolde.

It was a trap all along. The story of a runaway princess. Those letters from Egon. Last night, Edgar had sent his guards out of his tower for no particular reason. Y/N must have come to see him in secret, killed him and escaped.

Calanthe watched with a cold expression as the guards carried her husband’s body out of the chamber. Edgar had no son or bastard, so his Queen would inherit everything. Including the throne. Calanthe was ready for it. When she finally got hold of power, she would send an army to bring back Egon’s head. But first...

“Guards!”

Two men rushed into the crime scene when she called.

“I want wanted signs distributed all over Hemera today once the King’s death has been announced to the public.”

“Who are we looking for, Your Majesty?”

“Willem’s daughter. The missing princess.”

[highdwightofmylife]

Ohmygod, can we get more Red String of Fate soulmate AU scenarios, 🅱️lease. With the Trapper, Doctor, Bubba, and Jason (if that's too much, just the Doc and/or Trapper plz) and a survivor Reader!! ❤

decided to deviate from what i normally do, and went with little tiny paragraphs... tiny imagines... hope that’s okay! mostly just testing it out

Red String Soulmate AU Imagines

(Under the cut because it’s a long post).

Bubba Saywer | The Cannibal

Bubba had always been scared that he’d accidentally sever the string with his saw, but so far, it had never happened. It likely wasn’t even possible, but he still feared. He’d been wrapped around the thought of having a soulmate for as long as he could remember -- his brothers would make fun of his blind hope, but... That didn’t stop him. They had never found theirs, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t find his! Of course, then he’d been taken by the Fog. It’s difficult to find your true love when you’re trapped in an exit-less void. 

The trial started as normal. He couldn’t displease the Entity again; not after last time. He vowed he’d get everyone this time. There’d be no mercy. He feared the consequences of another failed trial. Bubba was too merciful for this own good, but mortal terror was often a decent motivator to get him going.

Two down, two left. He’d do what he had to do.

The string on his finger tugged. Pausing, he watched the crimson thread bounce lightly across the ground. He hadn’t seen that happen before. In the countless hours he’d wasted smoothing his large fingers over the string, he had never seen it so... Active. A swell of hope ignited in his chest. What had Momma said when he was young? To follow his heart? The let the string lead him? 

All thoughts of slaughter were gone from his head. Blind panic ignited, his chest heaving. Was his soulmate close? What if he missed them? He had to hurry! Bubba had a white-knuckled grip on the handle of his saw as he took off, almost tripping over himself with his eyes glued to the dancing thread on the cement.

Someone was out of breath; he could hear their terrified breathing. Was that...? He rushed, rounding a corner of the Gideon Meat Factory. There was a thump. when he lifted his eyes from the ground, there you were. On your knees, your eyes wide with terror as you twisted to look over your shoulder at him. He hadn’t seen you before. A... New survivor? His eyes flickered down to your hand, where your fingers lay splayed on the stone below you. The string was vibrant; almost glowing against your skin. 

Bubba felt his breath hitch. You were beautiful. You were... Connected to him. That meant you loved him, right? He dropped the saw onto the ground with a thunk and you flinched. He stepped forward, hands outreached towards you. You fumbled, desperately trying to pull yourself back. You were scared. Bubba had scared you.

He squealed, hurrying to get down to his knees before you. You shuffled back, and he shuffled forward. Your back hit the wall, and Bubba was towering over you. His hands found your hair, playing with the strands while you quivered, unable to look away from that stolen face of his.

Your fear didn’t matter to him, at least, not in that moment. He’d found you. And the red string meant you loved him. Perhaps not now, but you would with time. 

Evan MacMillan | The Trapper

Love meant nothing; or at least, it didn’t anymore. His life had been taken over by an iron-handed father, and then by the Entity. There had been no time to consider the red string that hugged his pinkie. In truth, he’d tried to get rid of it once. A lonely feeling of hopelessness one night had saw him attempt to remove it. Should there be someone on the other end of that string, he thought, they do not deserve to have someone like me. It hadn’t worked. No matter how hard he tried, that string could not be severed. Even the sharpest tool couldn’t make a dent. This was fine. He could ignore it. He wasn’t exactly going to find his soulmate in the fog, was he?

Except he was. 

Trials were part of his life now. He’d become a predator of the fog, and it was his duty to dispatch all those who wandered here. He was loyal by a fault -- first to his father, and then to the Entity. This particular trial hadn’t been going on for long; he’d barely had time to set himself up with his usual traps. A few had been placed, but not loads.

And yet, despite that, you still somehow managed to step into one. He’d barely wandered from a set trap for more than a minute before he’d heard the snap and the scream. This was fine. You’d made his job easier. He swerved round and returned to his trap. 

There you were. Quivering, your foot engulfed in those large metal jaws. Something stirred within, but he pushed it back. You were just another survivor. He couldn’t waste time on you. You were leaking red all over the place. He swiftly crouched down, unlatched the jaws and hurried to pick you up. You shrieked as he threw you over his shoulder, pounding violently at his back and thrashing in his hold. 

Just like the others, you were tossed onto the hook. You screamed and sobbed, hands darting out to grasp at the thick metal that was now jutting out of your shoulder. He pulled his hands away, his right hand brushing against yours. 

He froze, his palm suspended above yours. The red string on his finger was glowing dimly, and beneath it... Yours. It blended in with all the blood, but he could see it now. 

Evan reeled back, staring at his finger. You... You were his... He felt sick. The sudden realisation of what he’d just done to you hit him. He looked up to your face; those fat tears streaming down your cheeks. An overwhelming urge to grab you again washed over him, and he lurched forward with intent to hoist you off the hook. Pain flashed across his head. The Entity was stopping him. 

Fine. Hissing, he forced himself away from you. One of your teammates could grab you. He wouldn’t touch you again. Not this time.

Herman Carter | The Doctor

The red string of fate that stood out against his skin was intriguing. Herman was a curious man by nature, and he’d tried his best to study it. He’d tried to follow it a few times, wondering where it led. And yet, he could never seem to find the end of it. He’d tried to cut it a few times, and it was most fascinating when the string did not sever. Herman wasn’t entirely sure whether he bought into the whole ‘soulmate’ thing, but... He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t hopeful. 

Screaming echoed in his ears. He didn’t know which way to look first. The trial had been going well, and these subjects reacted oh so well to his shocking grasp. Left? He thought. Or right? Follow the screaming. Follow the violent shrieks of madness. They never failed him. He charged up the power one more time, and watched the static dance across the floor.

More screams. He realised, with an intrigued little huff, that he didn’t recognise those ones. He’d come to remember the distinct yells of all the survivors by now, but... These were new. Giggling, he began to follow. 

He found you in a corner. You’d holed yourself in, huddled against the wall with your head tightly tucked between your knees. Poor thing... You had no idea what was happening, did you? Was this your first trial? When you felt his shadow looming over you, you dared look up. You bit back a scared shriek.

Herman cackled, the electricity bouncing across his hands. The static crackled across the dirt and violently snagged at your fragile little body. You screamed again, your fingers clenching around your hair as your body seized up from the shock.

He saw the string that was coiled around your finger. His wild eyes flickered to his own hand. He hadn’t realised it before, but you were definitely connected to him. A sick curiosity dug its way into him. You. His... Soulmate? No, perhaps not. There was nothing logical about any of that. However... He had been searching for you. And now that you were here...

He charged his grasp with an extra dose of power. He had all the time in the world to study you, especially with how you’d trapped yourself in the corner like this...

Jason Voorhees

As a child, his mother had told him about soulmates. She had said that one day, he’d meet the love of his life. To be with anyone other than your soulmate was a sin. He firmly believed that. He grew up hoping that one day, he’d stumble across you. Maybe you’d find him in his cabin. Maybe he’d discover you surrounded by flowers. He had an overactive imagination, and he relied on children's books from his early years to show him how love works. His mother, now deceased, still fed him ideas. You were going to be so perfect, she told him. You’d love him unconditionally. The only other person that would ever truly care for him besides herself. She said you’d look after him when she couldn’t. 

The campers at Crystal Lake were all sinners. He couldn’t see a single string on any of their fingers. He had never been taught that he’d only ever see his own and his soulmate’s string, and so he assumed that the lack of thread on these campers was nothing but trouble. It was just another reason that he had to take care of them; to remove them from his woods. His mother demanded it. 

He’d been keeping tabs on the entire camp group. Most of them had been dispatched by now, but he knew there was another. He’d heard them call your name. He’d heard your voice through the walls. He knew you existed, and he knew that you’d be dead by the end of the night. 

His eyes fell upon a car. There was something red caught in the door, easily visibly through the silver of the metal. Jason glanced to his hand. The same colour. His gaze slowly followed the thread across the dirt of the road. It was the string, for sure. Trapped in the car. 

Pamela’s voice was prominent in his mind. ‘They’re in there’, she said. ‘Jason. My sweet, sweet boy. You open up that door and you find the person that loves you.’ 

He was nervous. Terrified, even. What if you were scared? What if... You didn’t love him? He knew to trust his mother, but that didn’t mean there weren’t doubts. He listened to his mother waffling on for a few more minutes, and the string didn’t move. You were definitely in there, huddled in the back seat. But he couldn’t see you.

Finally, he gathered the courage. He slowly put his axe down onto the ground, and hesitantly approached. His fingers curled under the door handle. It clicked open. There was a panicked breath of air from inside the car. He didn’t want to scare you, but it was a little too late for that.

He pulled open the door. You were pressed against the far passenger door, curled into a ball and quivering violently. Tears were stuck to your cheeks, and your eyes glued to him. He felt self conscious all of a sudden. The two of you stared at each other for what felt like hours.

‘Jason’, his mother prompted him. ‘They’re yours. Show them that they’re yours.’

He held his palms up to you as if you were a frightened animal he was trying to calm, and in some ways, that was true. Your eyes slowly shifted to his fingers. You saw the string, and Jason watched your gaze shift to your own hand. He saw the snippet of red around your skin. You were definitely his. 

Now if only he could coax you out of that car...

[melancholicumsomnia]

The Redeemers (A Mandalorian Fanfic) Chapter 2

All warnings/pairings and other info to follow per chapter. For now, this is safe reading for everyone. Forgot to mention that this fic will most likely not follow established SW canon. I’m actually getting dizzy checking the timeline.

Tagging @pedrocentric. Hope you like this second chapter.

You can read Chapter One HERE.

                                                 * * * * * * * * * *

THE REDEEMERS

By

Rory

Chapter Two: The Broken

“Thank you for agreeing so quickly to meet with us, Dr. Pershing. I know the circumstances of our first meeting were quite…tense.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have agreed to meet with you again, no matter what the circumstances are. But since it’s about the Mandalorian here…”

Ahsoka – who stood quietly in a corner of the freighter’s med center – eyed the Imperial doctor whom Bo-Katan was addressing with suspicion. However, as Dr. Pershing hurried to take out an examination device from his bag, the Jedi saw how the doctor was very much at ease with his present company, belying his earlier statement. There were a couple of moments when he seemed to be on the verge of saying something to Bo, but then shook his head and decided that whatever concerns he had could come later.

When Bo-Katan told her that they would be calling Dr. Pershing to check on Din Djarin’s condition, Ahsoka was swift to offer her misgivings, being aware of the doctor’s reputation for cloning experimentation. But because of what they experienced on Mortis, the Jedi acquiesced on the condition that Din Djarin remain helmeted throughout Dr. Pershing’s examination.

Before the Imperial doctor arrived, they bathed the Mandalorian and trimmed his hair, mustache, and beard. They also dressed him in clean clothes, before laying him on the bed in the med center. Throughout this process, not once did the Mandalorian rouse from his insensate state. His right fist remained tightly clenched and they could not pry his fingers open.

True enough, Dr. Pershing’s eyebrows lifted at the sight of that helmet. To Ahsoka’s surprise though, the doctor just proceeded to perform a thorough examination of his patient.

After checking and crosschecking the findings on his device, Dr. Pershing asked, “May I take a blood sample? Don’t worry though. The results will be between just the three of us. I will delete whatever I find immediately afterwards.”

It was Ahsoka who gave her approval this time, causing Bo to give her a curious gaze. “Yes, you may. I’d like to see if your findings will confirm what I suspect.”

Dr. Pershing’s eyes grew wide at that remark, but opted not to say anything else. Bending down, he extracted the blood he needed from the Mandalorian’s bared arm and ran the diagnostics. As the data filled the small screen, the doctor could barely suppress his gasp. He looked at the two women, his mouth agape like a fish.

“His M-count…” Dr. Pershing blurted out, scratching his head. “How can this be? According to our records…my past encounters with him… He hasn’t demonstrated any Force powers at all!”

“What is his M-count, Doctor?” Ahsoka inquired.

“It’s in the same range as the Child’s. 20,000 plus. But, even if I hadn’t tested him before, I’m sure that he is not Force-sensitive.”

The Jedi let out a long, harsh exhalation. Seeing the questioning expression on Bo’s face, she told the doctor, “Dr. Pershing, if you’ll excuse us, I would like to speak with Bo-Katan in private.”

Hearing this, Dr. Pershing straightened up and stood firm. “If you please, I would like to join in your discussion.” To emphasize his position, he presented his device with the screen facing them. With a press on a button, the screen went black as all the data was erased. Seeing the wariness in their eyes, he reassured, “No, I haven’t transmitted any of the data to the Empire.” The doctor then quietly confessed, “The same way I deleted the facial scan records, the security feed, and blocked the transmission of the video that revealed the Mandalorian’s face from Morak.”  

“And you expect us to just take your word on that?” Bo said, incredulous.

“I don’t presume that you can trust me so readily. I know how much your people have suffered under the Empire.” Dr. Pershing looked at Ahsoka. “And also our constant battles with the Jedi. In my defense, I can only say that if you hadn’t trusted me, even just a little, after I helped you…willingly…in retrieving the Child from Moff Gideon, you wouldn’t have asked me to come here.”

The two women exchanged quick glances, with a small smile forming on Ahsoka’s lips. “Very well, Doctor. Besides, we may need your medical opinion on this matter.” Turning to Bo, she said, “Tell us what happened to the Mandalorian…from the beginning.”

Bo folded her arms over her chest. “Ten years ago, after we rescued the Child, I convinced Din Djarin to join the Nite Owls. In truth, he had no other choice. The Razor Crest was destroyed, so he couldn’t continue his life as a bounty hunter. Boba Fett and Fennec Shand had also wanted him to join them on Tatooine. In the end, Din chose to be with us. I suppose he wanted to learn more about the Mandalorians, having lived for most of his life with the Children of the Watch. I thought it best to give him further training in fight and battle techniques and teach him about the true history and culture of Mandalore.”

“And by ‘true’ Mandalorian culture, you mean the current pacifist views that were espoused by your sister, Satine,” Ahsoka noted. “You were once a member of Death Watch yourself. So you know that you cannot just rewrite the entire martial history of Mandalore.”

“No, just certain aspects of it.” One red eyebrow lifted as Bo glowered at the helmet that Din Djarin was wearing. “In particular, that little matter that he could not remove his helmet to show his face.”

“Why would you do this, Bo? Why would you go so far as to teach him all this?”

“Because this is knowledge that he needs to lead the Mandalorian people.” Bo heaved a heavy sigh. “Din Djarin is the current wielder of the Darksaber, which, as you know, makes him the rightful ruler of Mandalore.”

Seeing the surprised expression on the Jedi and doctor’s faces, Bo-Katan narrated the events that happened on Moff Gideon’s cruiser.

Continuing, Bo said, “In the two years that we were together, I had somehow cracked through some of those stubborn beliefs he held. I had…hoped…that I would bring him to Mandalore so that he could take the throne. Maybe reunite the clans and especially bring the Children of the Watch back into the fold.”

“But right from the start, he never wanted to be Mand’alor, did he? In the brief time that I’ve known him, I know that his sense of honor would not allow him to accept the Darksaber.”

Bo nodded. “True. He kept on insisting that the Darksaber belonged to me. He did not want to rule Mandalore. Unlike with Sabine, I cannot in due conscience accept it every time he offered it to me…not after the way I lost the Darksaber during the Great Purge. As per tradition, I would’ve had to fight him for the right to wield the sword, but it wouldn’t have been proper to do so back then. When he seemed so…lost…after he entrusted the Child to a Jedi.”

“Grogu found a Jedi?”

“Grogu… Is that the Child’s name?” Bo let out a wry laugh. “Yes, I guess that little kid had found a Jedi. It was the Jedi who saved us from the Darktroopers. We never learned his name though. I know Din missed the Child terribly and I told him that we could track that Jedi down, but he refused, always saying that Grogu was in safe hands and…”

“And…” Ahsoka gently prodded.

“He said that he could feel the Child, whatever that meant. That he was reassured that Grogu was alright. That he was safe at last.”

“It’s definitely because of the bond,” Dr. Pershing interjected. “When I first had the Child, I could already see that there was a strong attachment between them.”

“But after two years, something happened, am I right? Din Djarin told you that he wanted to leave, that he cannot be the king that you wanted him to be,” Ahsoka then put in. “He was so desperate to leave, but you refused every time. He still got away from you though. That was your Gauntlet I saw on Mortis. And when he was gone, he left behind the Darksaber.”

“I admit that I was happy at first that Din had forsaken the sword. At that time, the only people who knew that the Darksaber was back in our possession were Koska, Cara Dune, Fennec – who I am sure told Boba Fett about it, but the man could be trusted to keep a secret – and, of course, Moff Gideon. Axe would know about it later. For eight years, I bided my time, continued on our mission to gather weapons for our cause to reclaim Mandalore and…”

At that moment, Bo paused, realizing what she just said. “Eight years…”

It was Ahsoka’s turn to nod. “The way I see it, a very powerful Jedi Mind Trick had been placed on you. I’m pretty sure Din Djarin put it on you, although he was not consciously aware that he did so. The only reason why you started your search for him was because the Darksaber no longer allowed anyone to wield it, including you. The Darksaber brought you back to yourself because it wanted you to find its rightful wielder.”

“Yes. It’s weird. In all those eight years, I never saw the need to use it. I didn’t want it stolen again, so I kept it in deep storage. But then, rumors started to spread in Mandalore that the Darksaber had been found again. I don’t know where those rumors originated, but I suspected that the Empire was behind it. I was going to claim the sword as my own. After all, no one knew about Din Djarin. But…the Darksaber rejected me. I was with Axe at that time, so that’s how he knew. No one could pick it up without getting burned or hurt in the process.”

Dr. Pershing shook his head in confusion. “I don’t understand. I’ve seen Moff Gideon brandishing that sword about. I mean, it’s just a laser sword. How can it choose its wielder?”

“Lightsabers, the Darksaber included, are nothing more than weapons. Anyone can wield a Lightsaber, but it requires training and skill. I must admit that the Jedi’s expertise with the Lightsaber arises from the fact that we are able to complement its use with our Force powers,” Ahsoka explained. “But the way the Darksaber is behaving now, it’s clear to me that the Force is behind it. Unfortunately, the only way that I can see how the Darksaber works in relation to the Force is if and when Din Djarin awakens and chooses to use it.”

“I confess that there is very little that we Jedi know about the Force. I’m sure the same can be said for the Sith and the Empire,” the Jedi revealed ruefully. “That fact could not be more obvious than the situation we have here, right now.” She waved a hand to the Mandalorian lying on the bed. “I can say for certain though that the reason why Din Djarin left the Nite Owls and abandoned the Darksaber was because Grogu severed their bond.”

Bo and Dr. Pershing could not contain their horrified gasps.

Ignoring them, Ahsoka continued, “The severing overwhelmed Din Djarin. Even I felt just how raw the wounds in his mind and heart remained, even up to now. It made him distraught with worry and fear for Grogu, very powerful emotions that drew the Force to him. From this point on, this is all just pure conjecture on my part. I believe that the Force sensed these emotions, his intense need for Grogu that it summoned him to the one place where he could possibly find the Child – a place that is similar but more powerful than Tython, a place that could awaken the Force that lay dormant inside him.

“Mortis was the home of the Force-wielders. Obi-Wan Kenobi told me what the Force spirit of his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, revealed to him about Mortis – that it is a ‘conduit through which the entire Force of the universe flows’, that it is a ‘planet that is both an amplifier and a magnet.’ But Mortis is not just those two things.

“You may have heard rumors about the Sith Lord, Darth Vader, he who once was my Master Anakin Skywalker. It was said that Anakin did not have a father, that he was conceived through the Emperor’s manipulation of the midi-chlorians in his mother’s body. But I believe that Ani was created by the Force itself to restore balance in the galaxy. Seeing the…changes…in Din Djarin, I believe that he was…gestated…in the raw power of the Force on Mortis, transformed into a being with immense Force potential so that both the Light and the Dark Sides continue to battle for domination over him.”

Ahsoka could not contain her shudder. “I dread what would happen if the Dark Side wins.”

For a moment, a heavy, fearful silence fell among them, as they mulled over the Jedi’s troubling words. The quiet was shattered, however, by a soft, pained voice coming from the bed, uttering a single name, “Cara…”

Suddenly, the Mandalorian’s body jerked upward, forming a stiff arch. As he plopped back down on the bed, he started twisting and writhing, muffled screams coming from his helmet.

“HOLD HIM DOWN!” Dr. Pershing cried as he hurried to the bedside. Hearing the harsh, rasping breaths, he pulled off the helmet, revealing Din Djarin’s tear-filled, agonized face.

As the two women kept the Mandalorian from thrashing about, the doctor rummaged inside his bag for a syringe and immediately filled it up with fluid from a vial. Before he could plunge the needle into a swollen vein, Din Djarin’s body made one last upward surge and he fell back onto the mattress. His right hand dropped limp to the side, his fingers opening so that a gleaming silver ball fell and rolled on the floor.

Dr. Pershing quickly ran his examination device over the Mandalorian. “HE’S NOT BREATHING!” Without hesitation, he proceeded to apply chest compressions. Bo-Katan went to his aid, tilting Din Djarin’s head back and blowing precious air into his mouth. The passing seconds seemed like an eternity, and they feared that they wouldn’t be able to revive the Mandalorian.

Then, the door to the med center opened and Axe Woves entered, bearing the crystalline case containing the Darksaber. Opening it, he seized the pulsating sword inside. In an instant, a burning smell filled the room. But Woves didn’t let go. Instead, he laid the Darksaber over Din Djarin’s chest. As soon as contact was made, the crackling energy of the blade branched out, spreading all over the Mandalorian’s body so that he seemed to be enveloped in a bright, jagged net. The net pulsed and throbbed for a minute before dissipating. To their astonishment, they saw that Din Djarin was breathing again.

Seeing the questioning expression on Bo-Katan’s face, Woves explained his unexpected entrance, “The Darksaber started pulsing like crazy. I figured something might be wrong, so I decided to bring it along for you to see. I never thought it was reacting that way because of Din. Is he okay?”

Dr. Pershing again examined his patient. At the same time, Ahsoka went toward the still figure and laid her palm over his brow, a deep frown wrinkling her own forehead.

“Yes, he’s fine…for now,” Dr. Pershing confirmed. “But I…”

The doctor was interrupted by Koska, who barged breathless into the med center. “Something terrible’s happened! I intercepted a transmission from the prison ship that was supposed to transport Moff Gideon to Oovo IV. The ship was ambushed by an unknown spacecraft. Before the transmission died, the pilot said that Gideon and a Morgan Elsbeth were retrieved from the prison transport. He also said that…”

It was the Jedi who finished her sentence for her as she drew away from the Mandalorian with deep sorrow. “Marshal Cara Dune has died. The moment that Din Djarin went into seizures, he felt her die.”

Bo-Katan was stunned by this news. In the brief time that she knew Cara Dune, she had been impressed with the Marshal’s bravery and loyalty to Din Djarin.

Dr. Pershing gazed at the Mandalorian before him and made up his mind instantly. “That settles it. I would like to join you…if you’ll have me.”

Everyone in the room stared at him. But the doctor said, “I’ve long been thinking about leaving the Empire, especially after the things that they made me do to the Child and…and…” Dr. Pershing found that he could not continue. The thought of the experiments he had done filled him with shame. Instead, he said, “I always made the excuse that it was for science, but my conscience knew that what I was doing was wrong.” He turned earnest eyes to the people before him. “Please. Allow me to help the Child’s father. Din Djarin has spared my life on two occasions. I owe him and the Child this. Also…I’m afraid that he’s dying. If you know where…Grogu…is, I believe it is only he who can heal the Mandalorian.”

Bo thought for a long while. When she lifted her head, determination was set on her features. Turning her gaze to Ahsoka, she said, “I think we should pay a visit to our old friend on Endor. I’m sure she can help us locate that mysterious Jedi.”

Ahsoka smiled at the memory of the kind, valiant Twi’lek general who was both comrade and friend. “I agree. It’s been a long time since we last saw Hera. A reunion is definitely forthcoming.”

The Jedi bent down and picked up the silver ball which was once the Child’s favorite toy. “And as soon as we find Grogu, I’d like to hear his explanation on why he hurt his father this way.”

 TO BE CONTINUED

[purplebenjy]

Barlights || AU 2018

“Amycus. Come on. You’ve got to let me in.”

Benjy’s arms cross over his mesh shirt, partially in agitation partially to try to warm himself up. 

“It’s fucking cold out here, man.” 

Amycus for his part, genuinely looks the part when he sighs and shakes his head. 

“Can’t do it, Benj. I know you’re not eighteen.”

Benjy scoffs, his breath turns into a poof of smoke in the air that lights up pink from the Lagoon’s neon sign. It was a seedy, shithole gay bar-and thus the best place for rich closeted men to frequent. If people recognized them, they were either in the same boat or too blitzed to care. And even recognition was difficult inside the club with it’s nearly pitch dark lighting and constant color changing and flashing lights. 

Benjy has been going pretty consistently over the past two years, that was, until last week, when someone snitched on him to Oscar. A lot of the other men he worked with were jealous of Benjy’s ability to both appeal to and woo the higher end clients. It was a side effect of growing up in the Black’s various mansions-even if he was just their Show and Tell only foster child. When there were big events, chances for Mr. Black to look good and devoted, they rolled Benjy out, droning on and on about how full he made their lives-their only son.  As soon as the cameras left, they went back to ignoring him save for a weekly chore list he had to work on-nevermind the girls never had to lift a finger. Still, even being basically a servant, Benjy had picked up on a thing or two-including a decently posh accent. He had a client tell him one time that paying him for sex didn’t seem as dirty because Benjy didn’t seem as dirty. He still isn’t sure if it was a compliment or not, but it definitely stuck with him. If anything, Benjy has ramped up the poshness, embodying the dutiful doting nature of too many of the women he had witnessed in his foster mother’s inner circle. And it worked.The men ate it up and he was making more money than he ever had before in his life-clearly someone had tipped Amycus off in an effort to try to move in on his business.

“You don’t know I’m not eighteen.” He says easily as he steps into Amycus’s personal space. He’s not ugly-not that that matters anymore- with big broad shoulders and dark almost perfect skin. He’s got some sort of scar that looks like a burn mark on his neck-Benjy bets it’d be sensitive if he kissed it. Amycus’s brown eyes watch him warily as Benjy produces an ID.

“See? Eighteen.”

“According to that, you’re twenty.”

“Yeah.” Benjy says easily, not missing a beat. Lying is so easy at this point it’s basically his second language. 

“Benjy, this is an even worse fake than last week’s.”

Benjy sighs, takes a step closer.

“Maybe we can work something out?” His voice is low, his touch soft as he traces the outside of Amycus’s thumb around his fake ID. For his part, Amycus’s breath hitches just slightly.

“I don’t sleep with little boys.”

“Who’s little? I’m twenty-one.”

“Twenty.” 

Benjy laughs. “Sure.”

He leans forward and carefully kisses the spot on his neck, smiling when he feels Amycus melt under his lips. That never got old-regardless of who it was or how much he was making. After a few more kisses, Amycus’s strong hands pull Benjy away, resting on the outside of his arms. He’s trying and failing not to smile as he speaks, holding Benjy in place.

“You’re something else.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Amycus’s smile wins out and Benjy smiles back. He is pretty cute. A small part of him wonders if he could push this further-get Amycus to claim him permanently, but he pushes that pipe dream away as soon as it crosses his mind.

“Go ahead.” Amycus says, nodding to the three older men who have materialized out of the shadows. After they enter the club, Amycus turns back to him, still holding him at arm’s length.

“How the hell’d you end up here anyway, Benjy?”

Benjy shrugs as best he can.

“How does anyone?”

He remembers briefly. Andy popping up in his room at 2 in the morning, whisper yelling at him in a hushed voice  that Narcissa had seen him kissing his friend Ollie before Benjy got out of his car. How she just told The Blacks-how her father was planning on sending him to some sort of camp in the morning. She’d helped him pack and given him one hundred quid she’d stolen. That first couple of months spent bouncing between shelters and motels and the street, texting Andy when he could find Wifi, trying to survive. He’d found a job cleaning office buildings until his coworker and eventual room mate Gideon showed him just how much he could make on the street. Gideon introduced him to Barty who, for 40% of what he earned, let Benjy stay in the run down apartment building his family owned. Barty, who was expecting a big amount of money from him tonight and would do lord knows what if he didn’t bring it to him.

“Come on, Amy. Please?” 

Amycus knew Barty-that was how they ended up at this club in the first place. Amycus sighs, Benjy tries again, speaking quickly.

“It’s not like anyone is gonna call about me being in there-there's too many risks and too much loss for everyone if the Lagoon shuts down. Come on. I won’t even drink. I promise.”

Amycus chuckles slightly.

“You promise, huh?”

Benjy nods really enthusiastically. 

“Yep. Hate drinking when I do this anyway. I really need the money, mate. Can you help me out?”

Amycus’s eyes meet his and Benjy knows he’s won.

“When’s your birthday?”

“November. November 23rd.”

Amycus drags his fingers slowly down Benjy’s arms, making him shiver.

“If I let you in-and you don’t drink-and you’re still on the scene by your birthday...maybe I’ll let you pay me back.”

Benjy grins.

“Does that mean I get to go in?”

Amycus rolls his eyes good naturedly. 

“Fine. But if you drink-”

“I won’t.”

Benjy closes the distance between them and gives Amycus a sweet kiss on the lips. He tastes like cough drops and cigarettes.

“A taste of what’s to come in November. There’s no way I’ll be anywhere else.”

But Benjy had no idea how wrong he was.

~

It’s been a relatively good night, and Benjy’s only been inside for an hour. Someone had pulled him into the alley and paid him for a blowjob that had lasted maybe three minutes-easiest fifty bucks he’d made. The man left without looking at him and that had stopped hurting a long time ago. Benjy stands, counting the money again as he put it in his pocket, and heads towards the side door, sneaking back in. A few people leer at him as he makes his way through the crowd, but he’s expecting it. He’s in what he calls his uniform-or one of the versions of it. Black mesh shirt so he can show off the tattoos on his chest-face shaved, his long dark back in a small ponytail with a few pieces springing out to frame his face. He’s got on tight faux leather pants-glorified leggings really-with nothing on underneath to allow the easiest access to his body as possible. Most of his clients liked to fuck him in the alley behind the bar, or, if they were really feeling fancy, the backseats of their luxury cars. He’d learned early on that underwear just got in the way. He has on his old beaten up Doc Martens that were a size too big-easy to slip on and off and also good for a well placed kick if he needed to get away. He’d been lucky in that aspect, though Benjy suspected that had largely to do with Barty and his nearly constant stream of blackmail threats if clients didn’t pay or got too aggressive.

He smiles at the bartender and one of the owners-Alecto-who sort of smiles back. She always gives him shit but she also looks out for all the boys who come through there, kicking out and banning the particularly nasty older men.

“Diet Coke please, Lecto.” 

“And?”

Benjy smiles at her. “Ice cubes.”

She rolls her eyes and starts making his drink. Benjy turns around from the counter, his back pressed against the bar as he surveys the crowd.

“Kept your promise, I see.” 

The sound of someone else startles him, but Benjy recovers quickly, glancing to his left at the sound of the voice.

And his heart stops.

He’s looking at the most beautiful man he’s ever seen. He’s got green blue eyes that sparkle when they meet Benjy’s, perfectly coiffed dirty blonde hair. He’s got the perfect amount of stubble on his strong jawline and the only thing that takes Benjy’s eyes away from that is his perfect, white smile. It feels like the swallows tattooed on Benjy’s collarbone are swooping in his stomach when this stranger licks his lips.

“Uh…” Benjy says, turning himself to fully face this man. “What are you talking about?”

The stranger jerks his head to the front door.

“Your promise. To Amycus. Not to drink. I heard you two talking on my way in.”

Benjy’s eyes must grow wide cause the Stranger’s smile grows.

“Your secret is safe with me, Benjy.”

Oh the way he says his name makes him want to sink to the ground right there, but he resists-he doesn't really get a choice as to when he does that these days. He smiles, still not taking his eyes off of this stranger.

“I appreciate that.”

“Is it short for anything? Benjy?”

Why does it feel like he’s looking through him when he talks? And why is Benjy desperate to know what he sees? 

“Uh, yeah. Benjamin.”

The stranger hums, finally looking away when Alecto puts a drink down beside Benjy’s still untouched Diet Coke.

“I like that.”

“Then you can call me it.”

The stranger smiles as he takes a drink of his gin. 

“You’re pretty adorable, you know that?”

“I’ve been told.” 

Benjy grins when the stranger laughs. 

“God, you’re a touch cheeky too? It’s almost unfair.”

Benjy takes a sip of diet coke to wash the taste of his last client out of his mouth.

“What’s unfair, handsome?”

“That I have to go through a few hoops before I get to have you.”

Benjy smiles, looking over at him as he slowly creeps his hands towards the stranger’s, not speaking until Benjy’s fingers dance along the back of his palm.

“It’s probably not as many hoops as you think.”

The stranger chuckles.

“How much?”

Benjy shrugs one shoulder. “Depends on what you want, honey.”

“To take you home.”

Benjy stills and he knows the stranger can sense his hesitation.

“I uh, don’t think you could afford it. If I go home with you...I lose a whole night of work.”

“How much?”

Benjy laughs at that.

“Cute.”

“I��m serious.”

Benjy looks in his eyes and his blood runs cold with excitement. He is serious.

“Um…” He chuckles. “Well, if I was having a good night...”

“I’d say you are.”

“...then I’d make about two grand.”

The stranger nods.

“So we’ll call it three?”

Benjy laughs, not believing him. The stranger opens his wallet  and pulls out the biggest stack of hundred pound notes Benjy has ever seen. He counts out three thousand worth and puts it gently on the counter in front of him. 

“Believe me yet?” 

Benjy stares at the money, dazed.

“Uh…”

“You’re not forgetting about my commission, right Benjy?”

Barty appears out of nowhere, sliding up behind Benjy and draping his arm over his shoulder.  Benjy stiffens.

“No…”

“Hello, Crouch.” Forest says easily, and Barty quickly removes his arm to stand up straight.

“Everly. It’s been a minute, hasn’t it?”

“A few.”

The stranger, Everly, says coolly.

“Look, you’re interrupting something here. What’s your commission?”

Barty’s hand appears on the small of Benjy’s back, gripping his skin so hard that it  stings. Benjy gets the message-shut the hell up.

“Fifty Percent.”

With a shrug, Forest counts off fifteen hundreds and pushes them into Barty’s chest, sweeping Benjy off his school and collecting the money on the bar in one movement as he stands.

“Fine. Now sod off.”

Benjy is shocked when Barty doesn’t argue, disappearing into the  crowd. Everly’s hand moves off of Benjy’s back for a moment and hands him the money.

“What do you say?”

Benjy is stunned beyond words, something that never happens. Carefully, he takes the money, folding it as much as he can to put it into his back pocket. It’s so much money, money he can’t even imagine-even if he did make two grand tonight, Barty would’ve taken a chunk of it. And it was handed to him by a man who he’d easily go home with of his own accord if he had any left. Everly smiles at him softly as he keeps ushering Benjy out of the bar. Benjy doesn’t speak until they’re past Amycus.

“Um-as excited as I am, there’s a lot of men back there who wouldn't have cost you four thousand five hundred pounds.”

“But they aren’t you.”

Benjy laughs.

“What’s so special about me?”

Forest beeps the unlock button on his Jaguar and then opens the passenger side door for him. Like a gentleman. Who the hell was this guy? That scared Barty enough into silence, that threw money around like it was nothing and opened doors for him? Benjy’s instincts tell him Everly is powerful-but he’s not quite sure if he’s safe. But Benjy decides three grand is worth the risk. Maybe he likes to choke and hit during sex-not Benjy’s thing at all for for three thousand pounds? He’d do about anything. 

“Do you always question your...suitors like this?”

“Most of my clients don’t even want to look at me in the face or tell me their names, so no. Can’t say I do.”

Benjy settles into the seat in silence as Everly gets in and starts the car. Benjy can’t even begin to fathom what it cost.

“Forest.”

“What?”

Benjy likes his smile even more in profile if that’s possible. He watches him as he speaks.

“My name’s Forest. Do you really have no idea who I am?”

Benjy doesn’t say anything for a second, worried he’s offended Forest, but then Forest snorts.

“Bloody hell that sounded pretentious. Sorry. I just figured with Crouch saying my last name you’d uh, you know, put it together.”

Benjy blinks slowly as it dawns on him.

“Everly like….like the deputy Minister?”

“Exactly. That’s my father. I’m sure you understand now why I have to be discrete.”

Benjy doesn’t keep up with politics, but as Forest drives in an easy silence, his mind races, piecing it together. The Everly family has been involved with the government practically since it started. A Dynasty. The Blacks were always excited whenever a member of the Everly family was slated to be at one of their events. There’d been a son, he remembers. Older and handsome. And Benjy was now sitting in his car. 

“You still didn’t really answer my question though.” Benjy says softly, breathing in slightly when Forest’s hand moves from the gear shift to his knee. 

“What’s your question, Benjamin?”

“Why me? You could get anyone and I’m…”

He doesn’t even know how to finish that sentence. Next to nothing is the phrase that comes to mind. Trash is another.

Forest looks over at him as he takes a turn.

“I like people who keep their promises.”

~

Benjy tries to keep his cool when he follow Forest into the elevator, but he knows he’s fighting a losing battle when he pushes the lift button for the penthouse.

“It’s so posh.” He mumbles, shifting between his feet, suddenly feeling a tad out of place. He relaxes the second  Forest holds his hand.

“Nothing to worry about, love. It’s just gonna be me.”

Benjy nods, smiling despite his nerves at how good Forest’s hand feels in his.The doors open into a beautiful, clean, white apartment. Decorated minimally but still somehow inviting. Forest, still holding his hand, leads Benjy across the hardwood floors towards an all white conversation pit.

“Get comfortable. Do you want something to eat?”

Forest looks about as in his element as he could be, while Benjy’s black outfit makes him quite the contrast. Benjy pauses as he gets settled on the couch.

“Um...no, I’m okay. I don’t like to eat before uh, I do my job.”

He blushes and he’s not sure why. Nor why he’s being coy-Benjy’s been on the streets for almost two years-why is he acting like a fucking virgin? 

“I’m not going to have sex with you, Benjamin. What do you want to eat?”

Benjy stares at him, eyes wide as his brain races, blurting it out before he can stop himself.

“Why not?”

Forest laughs, moving something around the kitchen. Benjy watches as he pulls out and pours one glass of wine.

“Clearly you don’t know me well. And I intend to fix that. You’re underage, Benjy. And I can’t be with you that way in good faith while that’s the case.”

“So you don’t want to have sex with me.” Benjy says, not even failing to hide his disappointment. Forest chuckles, bringing over a cheese plate and a glass of wine for himself.

“Oh, quite the opposite. But not while you’re still seventeen. Come on. Eat something? You look hungry.”

He was starving, he’d skipped lunch, but Benjy still doesn’t move towards the plate.

“So what are you going to do to me?”

Forest looks at him, his face softer but his eyes almost dangerous.

“Well I was hoping you’d talk with me.”

“And what else?”

Forest laughs.

“Eat maybe?”

“But what’s the catch? What happens after?”

Forest shrugs. “You can sleep here if you’d like. Though I’m afraid we’d have to share a bed. There’s no catch, Benjamin. I just want to get to know you. You’re beautiful and you’re interesting and I just...have a feeling about you.”

“You shelled out 4500 pounds because you have a feeling?”

Forest smiles, taking his hand again.

“It’s a really, really good feeling.”

~

They talk for hours, learning so much about each other. Benjy realizes he’s never told anyone the full story about what happened to him, but he tells Forest. He listens. When he gets choked up, Forest takes him in his arms and pulls Benjy so he’s sitting sideways on his lap. Nothing sexual, just close. He holds him and he lets him be sad. Benjy can never remember ever feeling as safe as he does then. He listens to-about how hard Forest struggled, how when he told his dad he might be gay he beat him until he almost died. And how after Forest had left the hospital-the papers had reported it as a motorcycle accident-he was sent to the camp that Benjy had been supposed to go to. Changed, tortured and broken, Forest had done everything he was supposed to, and the second he got the chance, pretended to be ‘cured.’

“I’ve made a big enough name for myself now.” Forest says, handing Benjy another slice of the massive pizza they’d ordered once Benjy finally agreed to eating something. “That I’m able to have some fun again. And when I saw you tonight I just….knew.”

Benjy blushes, warmth spreading up from his chest and coloring his cheeks.

“You’re going to have fun with me?”

Forest nods.

“Not the kind of fun you’re thinking, not yet at least,  I just...you’re easy to talk to Benjy. Maybe, uh, and you can say no of course, but maybe every time I need someone to talk to, I come to you?”

Benjy grins, still on Forest’s lap as he pushes his face into his shoulder.

“You wanna see me again?”

Forest puts his slice of pizza down and takes Benjy’s face in his hands, they’re greasy but Benjy doesn’t care when Forest smiles at him.

“I need to see you again.”

Benjy leans into the feeling of Forest’s thumb caressing his cheek, savoring the moment before speaking.

“You can call Barty anytime. He always knows where I am.”

Forest scoffs.

“Barty. Please. Benjamin…”

He pulls away.

“I know this is crazy, and I know it’s too fast-but, well, I was thinking if tonight went as well as it did-you could move in here. I don’t-I can’t be here all the time. I have to keep up appearances with my wife, but during the work week I stay here. I can get you your own bed if you want but…”

He plays with Benjy’s fingers.

“I like the idea of you being here. Keeping me company. Telling me about yourself. And I just can’t stand the thought of you being out there-other people touching you...hurting you. I want to help you, Benjy. I want you to stay safe. I can keep you safe. And you can keep me company.”

Benjy’s head is swimming but he feels like he’s floating, not actually believing what he’s hearing.

“You want me to live with you?”

Forest chuckles.

“It’s too fast. I know.”

“You want me to live...here?”

Benjy looks over Forest’s shoulder into the rest of the apartment.

“Do you want to?”

Benjy grins. 

“I mean, I don’t know-I haven’t even seen the bedroom-”

Forest laughs and Benjy feels like he’s won something.

“Are you saying yes?”

“There’s really no catch?”

Forest shrugs.

“Well I mean...when you’re eighteen, I would like to explore a physical relationship with you. So I guess that could be the catch.”

“So the catch is something I want anyway?”

Forest laughs.

“You’re supposed to want whoever pays you though, isn’t that your deal?”

Benjy shrugs.

“I would’ve come home with you for nothing if Barty wasn’t around. Here.”

He shifts, digging the money Forest had given him out of his pocket and holding it against his chest.

“I don’t want it.”

Forest shakes his head, pushing Benjy’s hand down.

“It’s yours. Keep it no matter what.”

They sit for a while, quiet, feeling how the fit together. Benjy breaks the silence first.

“If I live here...would I be your boyfriend?”

Forest nods. “Something like that.”

Benjy’s face hurts from smiling. 

“I’ve never had one of those before.”

Forest smiles back at him.

“So you’ll move in?”

Benjy nods.

“One condition?”

Forest traces Benjy’s lower lip.

“Anything you need.”

“I wanna-can I kiss you?”

Forest groans.

“When’s your birthday?”

“November. Two months. That’s it but...I can wait on everything else, Forest. I promise. But I can’t wait for this.”

There’s something about his eyes that makes Benjy want to fall in.

“Please?” Benjy asks, surprised at how quickly he’s become desperate. Forest smiles softly at him, somehow wanting and wicked all at once.

“Okay. Once. Then we have to wait.”

Benjy nods as he sits up straighter. Tomorrow, when he wakes up in the big white bed in Forest’s arms, he’s still not going to believe it. He’s going to spend his first day getting used to his new life, take Forest to his apartment building and watch as he covers all the debt he supposedly owes Barty. He’s going to load the meager possessions he has into Forest’s trunk and come back here to start anew.

And he’s going to spend tomorrow, and every day after, ignoring the creeping feeling that he, Benjy, has become a possession in his own right.

But for now, he closes his eyes and seals his future with a kiss, happier than he’s ever been in his entire life.

[singledarkshade]

Thief

Summary: Gideon Ryder meets a very unusual man at a party thrown by Queen Consolidated but is he what he appears to be.

Author’s Note: Day 2: Crossovers, Fusions, and AUs – Do you have ideas for what happens when Rip meets Pikachu? Or perhaps you’ve plans for Rip hanging out with the Avengers. Alternate Universes are also welcome, from coffee shops to rock stars to ancient mythology, anything goes. Here is my little AU for today. Enjoy.                                 ********************************************* The museum was somewhere Gideon never thought of as a venue for a party, but she did love the idea. Taking a quick breath, she put a smile on her face and started inside. She had been surprised, but amused, that her possible future employers were trying to woo her to their company by inviting her to a gala. She wasn’t sure she wanted to work for them, but it was a night out.

“Miss Ryder,” Robert Queen greeted her with a smile, “Welcome. I am so happy you decided to join us tonight.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” she said sweetly, “I do love museums.”

“Considering what you do, I must admit I wouldn’t expect you to,” Mr Queen noted amused.

“Just because I’m good with technology does not mean I can’t appreciate the arts,” Gideon replied archly.

He laughed, “I hope you’ll continue to consider my offer while you appreciate.”

Gideon smiled back, “I am thinking it through, Mr Queen but I have several offers to consider.”

“Then in that case,” he chuckled with a twinkle in his eyes, “Think of this as a bribe in our favour.”

Giving her another smile, he motioned her inside before turning to greet his next guest.

Walking further inside Gideon admired the paintings on the walls slightly irritated that she was here alone. Originally Ray was supposed to accompany her tonight but typically his long-distance girlfriend was in town. He’d given her the puppy-dog eyes and she’d told him it was fine to see Anna instead.

Grabbing a glass of champagne, Gideon stopped to look at one of the paintings, it was a landscape and she smiled admiring the vibrant colours.

“It’s beautiful,” a voice with a Star City accent came from her side making her turn to find a man standing there, tall with green eyes, a Romanesque nose and short sandy hair, “One of my favourites in this museum, although there is another by the same artist in Central City which is similar but just doesn’t have the same feel.”

“You sound like you know a lot about art,” Gideon noted, trying to work out why he was talking to her.

He shrugged, “I’ve spent a lot of time in museums.”

Gideon nodded, about to ask his name when he spoke again.

“I’m sorry,” he apologised, “I haven’t introduced myself. My mother would be utterly horrified by my bad manners. I’m Michael Xavier.”

Taking the hand he offered, she gave him a smile, “Gideon Ryder.”

“You have a lovely accent, Miss Ryder,” he noted, “Which part of England are you from?”

She shrugged, “Basically all of it. We moved every few years with my mother’s job. And you, are you native to Star City?”

“Born and raised,” Michael nodded, “Although I travel a great deal with my job.”

“Which is?”

“I curate several travelling exhibits including this one,” he explained.

“Which is why you spend a lot of time in museums,” she laughed in realisation.

“Would you like a guided tour?” Michael asked with a charming smile.

Gideon hesitated for a moment before nodding, “I would.”

They walked through the room, Michael stopping at each painting, statue and sculpture providing information on the artist, what it meant and anything else he thought she might find interesting. Gideon found herself quite fascinated by him. It was unusual for her to meet a man who wasn’t intimidated by her intelligence, but then again, she usually only met men within her own field. She was rarely in a situation where she didn’t know much about the subject.

  Several hours passed and they continued to talk, Gideon surprised by how much she was enjoying herself when she had not expected to at all.

“I’m sorry,” Michael said suddenly, “I have to leave. It has been wonderful getting to know you, Gideon. I wish I could spend more time with you.”

Confused Gideon didn’t get a chance to say anything as he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before he disappeared. A little stunned and confused, Gideon was jerked out of her bemusement by an alarm sounding and guards running around.

“Mr Queen?” she asked when their host appeared at her side, “What happened?”

He grimaced before sighing, “A valuable statue has been stolen. It’s part of the travelling exhibition. Mr Jones, the curator of the exhibit has asked no one leave until they’ve searched the grounds.”

“Wait?” Gideon caught his arm, “The curator is called Jones, not Xavier?”

Queen frowned, “Yes. Why?”

She shook her head, “He was possibly just trying to impress me, but a man called Michael Xavier told me he was the curator.”

The man’s frown deepened, “I know everyone who was invited tonight, and the name Michael Xavier is not on the guest list.”

Catching one of the guards, Robert Queen had him bring up the security footage. He showed it to Gideon who stared stunned that Michael had somehow managed to hide his face from every single camera.

“I am so sorry, Mr Queen,” she breathed, horrified that she had been used by this man.

He rested his hand on her arm, “You had no way to know, Miss Ryder.”

When Mr Queen left her to talk to the man who was actually in charge of the exhibit Gideon sighed, she had liked Michael.

All in all, this was a definitive sign that working for Queen Consolidated was not for her.

                                  *********************************************

  Rip Hunter, (the real(ish) name of Michael Xavier), stood in front of the other man trying to keep himself focussed. He placed the bronze statue on the desk keeping his face blank as he apprehensively watched the man standing there.

“Very well done,” Druce noted, picking the statue up and examining it closely, “Stolen at the beginning of the night, you managed to stick around for several hours and didn’t get caught on camera at all. You were always my best pupil, Rip.”

Rip grimaced before replying, in his normal London accent, “As per our deal, this is it. We’re out for good.”

Shaking his head Druce sighed, “You’re both the best I’ve ever trained. You are the bar which everyone strives for.”

“Then it’s best that we leave at the top of our game,” Rip replied coldly.

Druce shook his head, “I have a lot of jobs coming up that I could use your expertise in.”

“Pass,” Rip stated, continuing quickly “I want everything you promised us now and then you will never see either of us again.”

Opening his safe Druce brought out the money he owed them, Rip caught his breath waiting for the other man to break his promise. Thankfully the envelope was placed on the table.

“Good luck, Rip,” Druce said, “I will miss you both.”

Without another word Rip grabbed the cash and left. Climbing into his car he slammed his hands against the steering wheel in annoyance before starting to drive.

  Miranda looked up from her reading when Rip walked into the bedroom and dropped onto the bed beside her.

“Well?” she demanded.

Sliding his hand onto her large stomach, Rip nodded, “He gave me everything.”

She let out a long sigh of relief, “I admit I wasn’t sure he’d let us go.”

Rip nodded, “Neither was I.”

They lay together in silence for a while before Miranda winced as the baby kicked.

“Are you okay?” Rip asked worriedly at her yelp.

She rested her hand on his, “Of course I am. He’s just kicking me in the kidneys again. You don’t have to worry.”

Rip sighed, “Kind of hard not to worry about you.”

“I know,” she smiled at him sweetly, “Personally I want to know if you’re okay.”

“Why would I be anything else?” Rip asked confused.

Miranda gave him a smirk, “The woman you spent all night with. You liked her.”

Rip winced, “She was a good cover.”

“You kissed her, idiot,” Miranda laughed.

Sitting up confused he stared at her, “How…”

Laughing Miranda shook her head, “I hacked into the security cameras and listened in. I wasn’t letting you do that job without someone watching your back.”

Rip smiled slightly, he felt better knowing that she had been with him. He sighed as he thought back to the beautiful and brilliant woman that he’d spent the evening talking to.

“You did like her,” Miranda sympathised, wrapping her arms around one of his, “I’m sorry.”

Shrugging Rip hugged her, “Considering I just used her as a cover to steal something, not to mention I’m about to become a father. I don’t think she would be amenable to spending any time with me.”

“Hey,” Miranda cuddled against him, “We were idiots, got completely drunk and I’m now pregnant. You’re my best friend, Rip. We have been together forever and no matter what we’ll always be there for each other but that doesn’t mean we both can’t find someone.”

“There is still the issue of me using her tonight to avoid getting caught,” Rip sighed.

Miranda chuckled.

“Forget about it,” Rip said decisively, “We have all the money we need, Druce has let us go and we have a plan for our security business. From now on we look to the future.”

“The future,” Miranda agreed, miming clinking a glass making him laugh.

Hugging her tightly Rip let out a sigh, they were free from Druce and they were with one another.

No matter what, they’d face the future together.

[tornrose24]

CU Pinocchio AU

I couldn’t stop thinking of the potential of a CU Pinocchio inspired AU and I just... I HAD to get it out of my system. Or at least what I could come up with at the time.

While I could see such an AU going either way, the one I imagine has CU himself as Pinocchio with George and Harold as a combination of Gepetto/Jiminy Cricket. The setting I have in mind is a 1940′s WWII era (I’ll explain why in a bit), and while my version has a small amount of Egg Casserole, I see this AU having a little more platonic/familial love involved between CU and the boys.

This is what I was mostly able to come up with (the climax and ending would need to be it’s own separate thing however). I didn’t pick out who would get to be the antagonists yet, especially in case I get any recommendations, and I didn’t flesh everything out in case anyone wanted to put their own ideas out for this.

So this AU takes place in America during WWII because while it’s a time of when superhero comics were a big deal, it was also a time of chaos and while only the bravest of adults would have gone overseas, there’s still a handful of adults back home who wouldn’t be willing to risk their lives so easily and might be suspicious of anyone who seemed out of place. It would definitely be a time period where believing in a happy ending or heroes would be hard amongst the fears and tragedies.

In this AU, both the boys and Heidi were orphaned (their parents either succumbed to the remaining effects of the Great Depression or they went overseas into the war and didn’t survive). They all have to live in this orphanage that’s kind of like the sucky orphanage in Annie, complete with some jerk running it (no it’s not Krupp because he’s merged with CU in a way this time around). I also imagined Edith working there too as an assistant, but she’s the only nice adult who works there that the kids adore and she’s struggling to make sure they all have enough to survive and not have to suffer.

But as per usual, George and Harold still make comic books about CU for the other kids when there’s not enough money to buy their own.

Then one day while exploring after school, they find an abandoned, unfinished marionette puppet that not only is adult sized, but is shaped almost exactly like their superhero. So they take the puppet back to the orphanage and after finding it the right clothes and after Harold uses his artistic skills to fix the puppet up, it manages to look exactly like CU.

They use the puppet to delight the other kids and act out some scenarios. They even manage to get Edith involved and she pretends to be a damsel in distress that ‘CU’ saves and she even kisses the puppet on the cheek as thanks (to the disgust of half the kids and the amusement to the others). But when she asks what ‘CU’’s civilian name is, Heidi tells her it’s top secret because not even Superman revealed his identity to Lois Lane. George and Harold are amused by this and let Heidi choose ‘CU’’s secret identity name and she settles on ‘Benjamin’ because it sounds right for some reason.

Though before the kids have to go to bed, they all admit that it’s too bad ‘CU’ can’t be alive. Then that night, George and Harold look at a certain star through their window and admit that it would be nice if CU was real–there’s not enough nice adults in the world, and they want at least someone who won’t let them down and who can be there for them. They don’t want their parents to be replaced, but they just want someone who can make everyone’s lives better and fun again.

And this is where I had some trouble with who would get to be the Blue Fairy since I obviously didn’t go with Edith. I was considering Erica, but I could see Lisa and Billy in this role too (especially since Jimminy fancied BF a bit and I could see this happening with the boys too.) George and Harold wake up in time for CU to come to life and it’s a complete shock for everyone–ESPECIALLY for CU himself.

So much like in the Disney version, in order for CU to become completely human, he has to prove that he has the right qualities needed to look after a child. Kindness and bravery are of course two of them, but there’s some that’s going to be the hardest for him–having wisdom and maturity (I don’t think honesty would be a problem for CU but THIS one would be).

As you may guess, considering CU’s personality and behavior, the boys are going to have a lot of work ahead of them in order to help him.

From here on out I have a few ideas, but not enough for a complete story at the moment.

-I had the idea that Heidi is the only other kid that George and Harold first reveal CU’s existence as a living being to.

-Another idea I had was that the boys try to get CU to wear clothing out in public for awhile to 1. Hide that he’s not human and 2. No normal person dresses like CU does and he would draw unwanted attention. They also convince him use the name Benjamin. Then they just happen to be there when Edith gets in a bit of trouble (a stolen purse most likely), and when CU helps her out the two have an instant attraction to each other. Of course, Edith doesn’t immediately recognize ‘Benjamin’ as the puppet from before because not only does the disguise work well enough to fool her, but you’d have to really look at the details of his face and hands or be able to touch him to know that he’s not made of flesh.

-Like I said, I’m not sure who would get the roles of the antagonists, especially when it comes to Honest John and Gideon since those two are fan favorites. I could easily see either Meaner or Bernice getting the role of Stromboli because of how hilarious it would be (but it would also be a bit dark and have a certain layer of meaning if CU turned out to be one of Bernice’s unfinished puppets that she horribly mistreated. And if things had gone bad, CU could have easily turned into Krupp at his worst if the boys never found him and shown him proper care and affection as an inanimate puppet in time).

-Pleasure Island would be a hard one because it would also be a temptation to George and Harold since it comes across as a fun place on the surface (but then again, when I think of how they didn’t participate at the theme park in CU’s brain in the season 2 finale, maybe they have more restraint than I thought). And by this point, while they do love CU, he keeps getting them all in so much trouble that it’s hard to stay patient and they get more angry with him. Then when they all finally escape into the ocean, CU and the boys get separated and only CU returns back to the town.

-Which of course would make him upset with himself as he begins to realize how much they looked after him when it should have been the other way around, how much trouble he put them through, and now he’s lost them. When he returns to the orphanage and talks to Heidi about what’s happened, she tells him a bit about the circumstances that lead to the boys and herself being sent to the orphanage and how CU truly is one of the few adults the children trust after so many have let them down. He still has a chance to become real–maybe he just needs one moment to really prove himself worthy. I also had this cute idea that Heidi teaches him the song ‘When you wish upon a star’ since it was a song her mom used to sing to her and Harold to cheer them up (and what was what ironically made Harold consider wishing him to life). So of course he sings it and a nearby Edith is alerted to the voice which recognizes it as the voice of the strange, yet sweet man who helped her out earlier and who she developed a bit of a crush on. Though when she sees that ‘Benjamin’ is the very same puppet the boys brought back home, the shock is enough to make her faint before him and Heidi. Oh, then ALL the kids find out CU is alive.

-Also much like in the film, the AU’s blue fairy reveals the location of the boys’ whereabouts to CU, via a letter.... and unfortunately the boys got swallowed up by a monster of the sea, which horrifies all the kids because they thought that it was a scary story the adults made up. Though of course CU is going to get the boys back, no matter how scary it will be, so Heidi, the kids, and Edith get him back to the ocean and make sure he’s tied to a heavy stone to keep him from floating to the surface.

-Though I had a hilariously cute idea–when CU reassures Edith that he’ll be fine and make sure the boys come back safely, she gives him a small kiss on the cheek for luck/as a way to thank him for earlier. Of course he gets so excited/flustered that he trips and falls off the something feet high cliff and into the ocean.

That’s all for now. While I guarantee that CU reunites with the boys and that it will be sweet, the climax will unfortunately have to include some heart break/that one tear jerker moment.

[imgilmoregirl]

Prompts List: 23. “If we get caught I’m blaming you.”+ madarcher?

Yay, my first MadArcher! Thank you so much for the prompt, anon, I was kind of dying to write them ever since I got to see more of Robin in the last episode. So, it actually ended up with a bit of Rumbelle too, but would love two write more about those two wonderful girls.I hope you like it!

This work can also be found on AO3.

Summary: Alice and Robin take a look at Rumple’s travelling book together and take some conclusions about love.

Stolen Books and True Love

Ascurious as Alice was, she would never, at any circumstances go throughRumplestiltskin’s things, both because she respected his space and because shewas pretty sure he would freak out if he caught her with one of his precioustrinkets, like the damaged cup. The same couldn’t be said about Robin, however.Zelena’s daughter was quite an adventurous thing and most of the times in whichshe came to the shack in the middle of the woods, where her girlfriend livedwith her imp-friend, she was fascinated by the collection displayed in a fewshelves and always begged Alice to allow her to take a look at those things,which the other girl always denied.

Itcouldn’t be different in that day. It all had started with the two of them satagainst a three doing what they called “practicing” and discoveringall the new, interesting ways their mouths could work together when, in a pausefor breath, Robin suggested they entered the shack and took the opportunitythat Rumple wasn’t at home to see what he had hidden in there. Alice hadn’tliked this idea, but as excited as Robin was, she couldn’t keep her fromrushing inside the house with a giant smile on her lips. The blonde girl wentimmediately to the shelves, hands running across the cover of Rumplestiltskin’stravelling book.

“Whoa,this looks interesting, where do you think he have already gone to?”

“Lotsof places,” Alice quickly answered, staring at the book as if it couldstart to burn at any second, “now pull it down, please. You have no ideahow much he cherishes it.”

“Relax,babe,” Robin said, rolling her eyes and taking a seat by the small diningtable, “he won’t show up just now.”

Oh,she didn’t know the ability Rumplestiltskin had of suddenly appearing out ofnowhere. Alice had gotten used by now, but it used to surprise her quite a lotwhen they first met. She had been living here and there until that day she ranon him in that road and started to follow the old man around, doing some jobsfor him - like keeping an eye at his grandson, Henry - and he built this shackand bought her food in exchange.

“Ifwe get caught,” Alice started, “I’m blaming you!”

ButRobin wasn’t listening to her, she opened the travelling book, seeing aphotograph of Belle - the wife - and a blondish toddler. It was a blurrypicture and she had a grimace stamped on her face, the boy trying to reach forsomething she couldn’t see.

“Oh,look it’s Gideon! He was a cute baby.”

“Didyou know them?” Alice asked. “His family?”

“Notreally,” her girlfriend shrugged, turning the page. “I know that hiswife, Belle, played my babysitter quite a few times. My mom says she was reallysweet and smart.”

Alicenodded. She always got herself thinking she wished to have knownRumplestiltskin’s wife, because if someone could make the old man smile like afool as he did in most of those pictures, them it was certainly someone worthher time. He had promised Alice he would take her to meet his boy, Gideon atsome point, but it all had change a while ago, when he got his impish appearanceback, because of her. His son hadn’t known him like this - what he considered amonster - and Rumple didn’t want Gideon to see him this way.

“Hereally loved them. He still does.”

“Mm,I think this is in chronological order…” Robin murmured to herself,going forward to see the most recent photos, finding a couple of Rumple andBelle grey and weary in their house at the Edge of the Realms. “Oh yeah,I’m plenty sure it is. They look so old in this one.”

Thegirl nodded in agreement, watching as Robin went back to where she was before,analysing the oldest pictures, in which Belle and a little boy smiled happilyat the camera.

“Shewas beautiful,” Alice murmured.

Lookingup at her, Robin arched an eyebrow.

“Areyou preferring brunettes now? Because I can dye my hair?”

Brownarrowing in confusion, the girl questioned: “Dye your hair?”

“It’sa thing from this other world I’ve told you about, you just change the colourusing a product.”

Eversince Alice discovered there was this other world she could see inRumplestiltskin’s pictures, where people lived in a totally different way shethought it was very weird. She remembered when he first showed a couple ofphotos to her, all from this same book, and she spent hours filling him withquestions about that place, asking what exactly those huge weird towers wereand if it was ever allowed for woman to wear such tiny clothing like that thinghe called a bikini.

“Don’tdo this, I like your hair.”

“AndI like yours,” Robin replied stealing a quick kiss from her pinkish lips.“Now back to the photos.”

Turninganother page, they saw a new picture, in which Rumple was carrying Gideon inhis shoulders, the little boy, covering his eyes, as he laughed spontaneously.

“HaveI already told you he thought I would do I good match for his son when we firstmet?”

“Poorguy,” her girlfriend chuckled, moving her fingers to the next page, wherethey saw Belle, wearing a tight emerald dress, that accented the small slightcurve of her stomach. “Oh, look, I think she is pregnant in this one. Didhe tell you about a third child?”

Alicethought about it for a second, searching on her memories of those longconversations she used to have with Rumplestiltskin, in which he sat by hisspinning wheel trying to work as she bounced around the shack, unable to keepquiet.

“Uh,no, I don’t think so.”

“Weird,she certainly has a small bump here, but it could be just fat skin.”

Suddenlythe book disappeared from her hands, appearing in Rumple’s. Alice swallowedwhen she saw that he was standing there right in front of them, hugging thetravel book close to his chest, eyes fixed on the floor.

“Itwas a baby,” he confirmed. “We lost it.”

“Oh,”Robin mumbled.

“Rumplestiltskin,”Alice exclaimed, surprised. “We didn’t mean to…”

“Ofcourse, you did, you were dying to see all the pictures. You’re just likeher.”

Hehad mentioned it a couple of times before, how her talkative way and curiosityreminded him of his deceased wife and how it really annoyed him sometimes, butAlice couldn’t help herself. She really thought she would like this Belle if theygot to known each other.

“I’msorry.”

“Wereally wanted that, another child. A chance of doing things right, from thevery start and she was glowing with happiness when we found out,” Rumpletold them. “But then one night she started to bleed and it was all lost.She never wanted to try again.”

Hisvoice was sad and low and she had never heard something so heart-breakingbefore. Alice thought her own experiences in life had been painful enough, butafter she started to make friends, she realised maybe other people had beenthrough worse circumstances.

“Haveyou ever told this to anyone?” Robin asked.

“No,”the imp shook his head. “I was very personal, but it didn’t matteranymore. I’m going to reunite with her soon in a place where pain doesn’t exist.”

“Rumple…”Alice murmured.

Hewalked towards her placing a little basket he had in hands - which was full ofstrawberries - in front of her.

“Ibrought them for you.”

“Thanks.”

Shewatched as he left the shack, still hugging the book firmly, head down. Fromall people she thought he deserved the most beautiful of the happy endings.

“Hecares a lot about you,” Robin pointed out, “as if you’re the daughterhe didn’t have the chance to have.”

“Ihave a father that I love very much and I’ve been separated from him.”

“AndI have a mother, but both of us were raise by one parent only, we stick tothem, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t other people playing an important rolein our lives too,” her girlfriend explained. “Rumplestiltskin havebeen taking care of you for years now.”

Aliceswallowed. It was true, he may not be her beloved papa and may never replacehim, but he definitely loved her and she needed to admit that after everythinghe had done in the past few years, she loved him equeally.

“I’llmiss the old man when he is gone,” Alice said. “But I’ll be happythat he’ll finally be with her.”

Robinpassed an arm around her shoulders, pulling the girl close and kissing herforehead.

“Iwant to have this kind of True Love with you, the one that lasts longer than death,”she whispered. “Eternal.”

“Promiseme we won’t be separated?” Alice pleaded.

Cuppingher cheeks Robin deposited another kiss to her lips, murmuring against them:“By any means.”

[agentmarymargaretskitz]

Captain Canary: "Are you sure it's not illegal to kill carolers?"

Sara watched the snow fall outside the window. “Do you think this was supposed to happen or is Caitlin using her powers?”

“The forecast called for a chance of flurries,” Leonard replied as he came to stand beside her with two mugs. “But I’m betting Snow was feeling festive.”

“Good move on her part,” the assassin nodded, taking a mug from him. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

Sara padded back to the couch and took a sip of the hot chocolate. “Tastes good even with the mini marshmallows.”

“Excuse me for not being a whipped cream heathen,” Leonard smirked, earning him an eyeroll from her.

“I’ll forgive you,” Sara replied, taking another sip. “Now, toppings aside, I think we were about to do something.”

“Yes,” Leonard turned to the coffee table. “Gifts.”

“You didn’t have to give me two, you know,” Sara told him as she took the wrapped present she had for him. 

“Birthday and Christmas,” Leonard shrugged as he handed them over. “One for each. They weren’t stolen either.”

“Wow,” Sara raised her eyebrows and grinned. “I must be pretty special then.”

“Go and open the gifts.”

Sara unwrapped the larger of the two first, which was the birthday gift. It was a new jacket. She’d had to throw her previous one away a few weeks ago. There were too many rips and tears from bullets and knives and futuristic weapons to keep on fixing. Now, she had a replacement.

“Thanks,” she put it on overtop of her pajama shirt. She liked the way it fit on her. There were even a few hidden compartments that could hold weapons.

Then she turned to the second gift, the Christmas one. This one was slightly smaller. Pulling the wrapping paper off, Sara was greeted with a small black box. She lifted the lid and studied shiny golden object inside. Picking it up, she realized that it could be unfolded into three frames. In two of them, there were pictures of herself with her parents and Laurel respectively. The third was left empty.

“Figured you could use something for the captain’s office when we get back on the Waverider,” Leonard explained. “Your dad gave me those two pictures after I told him what you were doing. The third one is for whoever you want. Maybe Gideon can get a good picture of the team.”

Sara smiled. “Or we could take one later. It’s your turn now.”

Leonard picked up her present. While Sara was one to rip the paper right off, he was more precisioned. It was more like he was unfolding the gift wrap from the present. Sara found herself starting to grow a little more impatient waiting for him to get to his gift.

Finally, the crook had the paper off. Sara sucked in a breath as she waited for him to react. He picked up the content and turned it over in his hands. His fingers ran over the snowflake that rose slightly from the surface before finding the catch.

“What’s this?” he asked as he popped it open to reveal a small button.

“Something I had Cisco and Ray make,” Sara explained. “After what you went through after the Oculus, we all thought you were dead. This is something to let us know you’re out there. It’s a distress beacon for emergencies. If you’re in serious trouble, activate it and the Waverider gets a signal. If the timeship doesn’t get to it within an hour, a second signal gets sent out to STAR Labs.”

Leonard stared at it. “You’ve given me a way to save my ass.”

“Now that I know you have a sacrificial streak, none of us really want to lose you again,” she smiled. “I, for one, definitely don’t. But if you ever activated that, then I would have us all go after you.”

“I’ll have to remember to press it when things are looking bad,” he replied as he closed the lid of it. “Thank you, Sara. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Leonard.”

She leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned his head at the last minute. The movement did surprise her a little bit, but it wasn’t unwelcome. After so long of thinking he was dead, that one potential timeline had died out with the Oculus, there was hope again. Now he was back, and their futures had potentials with each other again.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Leonard groaned at the sound of the off-key singing. “That’s the third round tonight. Don’t they realize we don’t want to hear them?”

“Are you sure it’s not illegal to kill carolers?” Sara grumbled as they continued to sing outside the apartment.

“Very,” Leonard sighed. “I like you, but getting arrested might put a damper on your birthday.”

“Better than the birthday I spent dead.”

He frowned. “I’m not sure if that counts as a birthday then.”

“Point taken. Shall we ignore them?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

[alternctives]

hey yall ! i’m v, 20, she/her, living in the est . . . yikes i’m so late and i suck at intros but i swear i’m excited to rp with u all and i promise i’ll be replying to messages soon ( i’m nOT ignoring you ! ) . . i just wanted to get this out of the way first . forgive me, i can be a bit slow at responding sometimes but give me all the plots tbh!! anyway, this’ll probably be a big ol Mess because i haven’t thought everything completely through just yet, but here i go anyway . under the cut you can find a bit about my two babies, gideon & leni ! x

GIDEON “ G ” CHALLENGER !

keith powers. — oh, have you met gideon challenger? he is a twenty-three year old cismale that is feeling skeptical about the planet’s imminent doom. an event coordinator, this sagittarius is known around town as the schemer, because he is magnetic & crafty, as well as duplicitous & brash. hopefully, g will survive. // v. 20. she/her & est.

gideon’s got a very ‘big man on campus’ vibe to him, y’know ? ? lots of confidence, loves to fool around, make jokes, tease, etc. he’s just a super charismatic and lively presence!! like, people love to be around him and he loves to make people have a good time.

also, he’s very much a big liaison for people in town. since he’s really good at making friends and making people happy, over time, he’s developed a big network ! basically, he has a lot of connections. which comes in handy for his job... well, actually, he got his job bECAUSE he has so many connections

he’s an event coordinator, so basically he organizes and puts togethers parties and events all around town ... mainly at clubs and lounges and bars and stuff. like, if you need something to do on a saturday night, g has got you. he’s the party guy basically. he works for a lot of different clubs around town, but he also does some work out of town in other cities because of his connections

he’s a smart guy, but he can get a bit in over his head sometimes in the sense that he can go a bit far and be too reckless or gamble his chances a bit too much. more specifically, he doesn’t always get involved with the best people.

like, he has a lot of connections, and because of these connections, he’s gotten himself involved in some sketchy shit as of late. i’m talking like the whole car stealing business, selling stolen parts, selling stolen cars, and all that. he’s become a bit obsessed with the rush and the money, and being so involved in the party scene, it was hard not to get sucked into the underground, dark stuff. 

so yeah ! he’s very much a night owl and loves to party, but he’s also a bit of a con man in the sense that he deceives people and is involved in some underground crime. he’s also been known to cheat a little ? like, he’s a very crafty and cunning guy so a lot of the time, he takes short cuts that may not always be the most legal or the safest option, in order to get what he wants, while planning an event or something. he’s a bit of a trickster, honestly. likes to bend the truth and make this whole beautiful spectacle of a party while there may be some sketchy shit going on underneath !

as for his family life, he’s a bit of a lone wolf, but he does have his parents and his sister . . a protective ass mama and a jokester of a dad. 

LINNEA “ LENI ” VERMETTE !

maggie lindemann. — oh, have you met linnea vermette? she is a twenty year old cisfemale that is feeling skeptical about the planet’s imminent doom. a performing arts student/aspiring actress, this virgo is known around town as the peitho, because she is starry-eyed & incandescent, as well as waspish & guileful. hopefully, leni will survive. // v. 20. she/her & est.

OKAY ! so right off the bat, i’ll just say that linnea HATES her name and usually always goes by leni, so unless ur special or for some reason want to get on her bad side, then don’t call her linnea ! she never liked it much growing up and leni always stuck better so its leni !

she’s loosely based off of manny santos from the old degrassi from back in the day when degrassi was the shit ? ? like, mainly in the sense that she was very much a girl people saw as small and cutesy when she was in elementary & middle school, but by high school, she hated that ! she wanted to be more than just the cute best friend so she transformed herself into a bit of a seductress. in high school, she became obsessed with the idea of being mature and hot and sexy, instead of cute and small, so she had a dramatic wardrobe and attitude change at the beginning of high school. and then suddenly, people saw her differently and she wasn’t that innocent, little doll people used to see. like, she started to act more confident and get people wrapped around her finger, and she adored that SO YEAH that’s her now !

she’s also similar to manny in the sense that they both wanted to be actresses, even though their parents didn’t agree with that dream and wanted them to pursue something else. which is very much the case with leni. she did well in school, and her parents wish she would follow a more practical path like becoming a doctor, but leni refuses to do so .. but more about her acting stuff a bit later

ANYWAY .. leni very much strives to please, like she can’t stand the idea of somebody not liking her, even though maybe sometimes she will act like she doesn’t care.... bUT SHE DOES ! she needs to be liked, praised, obsessed over, etc, etc. no matter how much she doesn’t outright admit it. so that’s why persuasion and seduction are really her thing because she loves the feeling of having control over someone’s attention .

but she’s definitely not a super promiscuous person or anything, like she loves love and relationships, and has had her fair share of love interests - but when i say attention, i mean attention of all kinds ! she can be a bit deceiving with her whole persuasion persona, like she loves to have people wrapped around her finger and she likes giving people want they want . . . but never TOO much, y’know. she likes to keep that suspense and ‘hard-to-get’ vibe about her. she likes to play around, but she’s not heartless.

leni is a big hopeless romantic in the happily ever after sense with love and all that, but ALSO in the dreamy sense. like, she has a lot of goals and dreams she wants to achieve and sometimes gets caught up in the delusions and naiveties of her thoughts .  she basically just has a lot of hopes and dreams, she’s very whimsical in that sense and not at all pessimistic. she’s very much an idealist and a fantasist, obsessed with her own fantasies and visions. which sometimes get her in trouble !

leni is a performing arts student, so she loves to act and sing and perform and all that. she has big dreams of making is huge and becoming a star as an actress SO here’s where her dreams have clouded her mind a bit.

straight out of high school, she decided to do some travelling to follow her dreams so she spent a bit of time in LA and new york, trying to get auditions and make connections and all that, but it was harder than she thought so she got to the point where she was very disappointed and desperate. she doesn’t come from a super rich family and her parents don’t really support her acting dreams, so she didn’t have much money either. 

her parents don’t like where shes going and don’t agree with it, but they’re not awful or anything . . they still try to help leni out. . . but just aren’t 100% sure about the whole acting thing yet

ANYWAY so long story short, through some parties and connections, she ended up getting close with some random producer in LA. she was eighteen at the time and had reached that point of desperation and disappointment in herself that she felt as though she would do anything to make it big. anyway, meeting this producer kind of lightened her path because she thought that this could be it yknow ? ? but turns out he didn’t have the most sincere intentions and wasn’t too concerned with her acting abilities. however, leni didn’t realize that at first and ended up sleeping with him just to get in his good books. she thought if she slept with him that he would open doors for her, but after their little fling, he pretty much dropped her so she became SUPER embarrassed and ashamed of herself after that. 

so she just returned home and decided to study performing arts first before jumping straight into that world !

PLOTS !

for leni, i’m pretty much down for anything. past girlfriends/boyfriends, flings, pals, enemies, ride or dies, some family connections, sisterly/brotherly friendships, what have you. but also maybe some connections with people who also are involved in acting/singer/show business or like to do that sort of thing ? or maybe someone who found out about her sleeping with the producer just to get ahead but it not working out so maybe they use it against her ..  or they don’t ? ? bc shes super embarrassed by it and wants to forget it completely ! maybe someone who knows her secret and is her confidant!! that’d be fun too!

for gideon, basically the same thing i mentioned with leni in terms of the basic plots that everyone wants/needs ! but also maybe some people who are also involved in some sketchy/underground stuff like he is, or even the same sketchy stuff  ..  people that work for him / with him ? maybe people who are skeptical of him or think he’s up to something and want to find out ? 

i don’t know .. . ANYTHING TBH !

[justanoutlawfic]

Where The Heart Is: Chapt. 11

Story Summary:  The sequel to “I Won’t Let Go”. 22-year-old Emma is back home in Storybrooke. Just when she thinks she has things all figured out, she gets a very unexpected surprise. Mary and David are still by her side, trying to help their little girl deal with the real world.

Chapter Summary: Emma and Mary plan a party, while also discussing something the former has been putting off for months. Little do either realize, shit is about to hit the fan.

Also on AO3/FF

Mary and David sat on the edge of Neal’s bed, watching him carefully. They had gotten home from the hospital earlier that day and he had been so exhausted, he had willingly taken a nap for the first time since he was a toddler. They watched him sleep, his chest rising and falling. They couldn’t help but stick by his side. They weren’t sure how they were going to let him out of their sight ever again. A trip to Archie was definitely necessary, but for the time being, it was just them.

“Guys, this is overkill,” Emma mumbled.

 David smiled down at her, they weren’t letting her out of their sight either, adult or not. She was curled up into David’s side, who had an arm around her. Mary had a hand on her stomach, clearly thinking that’d protect both her and their grandson. She was putting up a fuss, but obviously didn’t care too much.

 “Suck it up,” Mary said. “You’re our babies. We’re spending our first night back home together.”

“You’re lucky that dad is comfortable,” she replied, letting out a content sigh.

David chuckled, ruffling her curls. “Seriously, Princess…how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

She sighed again, this one not as happy. “Honestly, I’m just glad he’s away. Hopefully the prison won’t be so stupid to let him out again.”

“We won’t let that happen. He’ll never be able to hurt you or Neal again.”

 Mary watched as Emma’s eyes drifted shut, rubbing her back. It wasn’t long before she began softly snoring. She couldn’t help but giggle at that.

 “She somehow gets that from you.”

“I don’t snore,” David protested.

“Um, yeah, you do.”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s weird the little things they seemed to inherit from both of us. Neal’s love of books from you, Emma wanted to become a cop like me, they’re both stubborn just like you…”

“Hey, that’s a trait from you, mister.”

“I’d beg to differ. Look at you.”

Mary looked down at Emma, smiling softly. “Nah, she was stubborn from the moment she got here. Remember how long it took her to actually accept our help?”

“I thought she’d kill herself with the dishwasher.”

“Can you believe how much she’s grown since then? I don’t just mean emotionally.” She frowned a bit. “Sometimes I look at her and all I see is that little girl.”

“I know, I do too. Now that little girl is having a baby.”

“She’s going to be an amazing mom.”

“Well, she did learn from the best.”

 Mary smiled, pecking his lips and leaning into his other side, pulling Neal a bit closer in his sleep.

 “We’re going to have another baby around here soon,” she mused. “We’ve never had an actual newborn here.”

“We used to babysit Gideon when he was that age.”

Mary gave him a look. “It’ll be a bit different from babysitting. Though, I guarantee that Miss Stubborn here is going to insist on doing most of the work herself.”

“Of course she will.” He paused for a moment. “Do you ever think about reaching out to Bae?”

“You mean to kill him?”

“I just want to talk some sense into him is all. He’s young, maybe he doesn’t realize what his reaction is costing him. Maybe, he’s changed his mind. I’ve known him for years, I really got to know him once he became friends with Emma. This just doesn’t seem like him.”

Mary frowned. “It doesn’t, does it? But you know what they say, babies either bring people together or tear them apart.”

“Still...after all his mother put him through…it just doesn’t seem like something he would do”

“What are you trying to say? That he was taken over by an alien?”

“Look, I get what you’re saying. This isn’t the Bae we know, I doubt it’s the one his parents do either. At the same time, how much have we really seen of him since he took off to see the world? Sometimes people change, David. It sucks and I wish it didn’t, for our daughter and grandson’s sake…but it happened. All we can hope is that in time, he sees the error of his ways and that Emma will let him around when he does. Your father came around for you.”

“I just hope it doesn’t take that long for Baelfire.” He chewed on his lip. “So, you don’t think we should reach out to him?”

“No. Emma says she plans on telling Belle and Ralph, let her do it in her own time. They can decide what they want to say to their own son about it. I think we know that we’d have something to say to Neal if he was acting this way.”

“I guess you’re right.”

 David kissed her temple and leaned against Neal’s headboard. He knew Emma was putting on a good front, but also knew that all of this had to be killing her. There were so many things in life that he could fix for her, this wasn’t one of them and it was killing him.

Emma rubbed her hands together, a huge smile on her face. She had finally gotten her appetite back for grilled cheese and was celebrating by eating the biggest one that Granny’s had to offer, along with a large side order of onion rings. The kid had also stopped his grudge against hot cocoa it would seem, so she was able to enjoy it again.

 It had been 2 months since the kidnapping. Life hadn’t been easy, not by a long shot, but they were adjusting. Both she and Neal had been seeing Archie for their trauma and it seemed that Neal was slowly getting through things. He still struggled with his fears of turning into Ed and as Archie put it, he had a hero complex to get over. He wanted to save people, he didn’t want them to get hurt like his sister had. It was sweet, but it could lead to him getting in trouble down the line. He was learning when to step up and when to ask for help.

 Emma hated seeing her baby brother go through hard things. She just wanted him to be a kid. He could be, to an extent, but there were these fears looming over his head. Ed had stolen a part of his childhood, just as he had stolen all of hers. It was a sad reality and one neither would ever really be “over”. They were lucky to have each other to lean on. Their parents were supportive, but they’d never fully understand. They spent many nights cuddled up together, discussing everything. Emma told him parts of her childhood that she felt he could handle, Neal shared his fears.

 They had a decent age gap between them, but they were still close and could still go to each other. Emma was really grateful for that and she knew Neal was too. She wouldn’t trade the bond they had for the world.

 Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden binder being dropped in front of her. She blinked a few times before looking up and finding her mom standing there, a huge smile on her face.

 “Mom?” She raised an eyebrow. “How’d you know I’d be here?”

“I called the station and your dad told me you would be.”

“Oh.” She smiled, it had been awhile since they’d had lunch together. “What’s this?”

“It’s just some ideas I’ve had,” Mary explained, sliding into the other side of the booth, beaming. “For your shower.”

Emma groaned, rolling her eyes. “Mom.”

“Oh come on, it won’t be so bad. Every mom should have one for her first child.”

“You didn’t have a shower,” Emma pointed out, cheekily.

Mary rolled her eyes. “Well, they don’t have showers for sarcastic teenagers.”

“And somehow you survived and were able to become a mom. I will too.”

“It’s not just about the gifts, it’s about celebrating the fact that you’re bringing a life into the world.”

Emma sighed. “Look, I’m not entirely opposed to the idea for that. I just don’t want anything too cutesy. Nothing blue or gender specific, yes he’s a boy, we don’t need to make a whole fuss about it.” Mary flipped forward a few pages of her binder and she cocked an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“Just a little something I’ve thrown together, it’s ideas for your shower.”

“When did you put it together?”

“Maybe a little after you told me you were pregnant, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

 Emma couldn’t help but laugh. This was her mother, a planner to the very end. She started looking through some of the designs her mom liked. They weren’t really her style, but she was trying to keep an open eye. Then, she found a cool idea that stuck out to her.

 “I like the yellow bugs,” she said.

Mary grinned. “I picked that one out before we found out you were pregnant.”

“I think that’d be cool…especially using yellow as a jumping off point. It’s a neutral color and you know I’m partial to bugs.”

“So, you’ll go with this one?”

“Yes, but I really don’t want it to be a huge production, small guest list.”

Mary Margaret nodded, starting to take notes. “That’s fine. Who were you thinking?”

“Dad and Neal, for one. I know guys normally don’t come, but I don’t like that rule.”

“Neither do I, go on.”

“Well, Lily, Regina and Ruby, of course. Granny and Mal, too.”

“Uh huh.”

“And I guess, um…Ralph and Belle.”

Mary Margaret set her pen down. “You do know that requires telling them that you’re pregnant, don’t you?”

“Gee Mom, no. I thought I’d just invite them and let them think it was for you.”

She gave her a look. “Emma.”

“I know, I know.” She sighed. “I’ve put it off long enough. I avoid them as much as possible, I’ve gotten everyone to keep their mouths shut. I guess I’m just scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“What if they side with him? Or think that the baby’s not his? I’ve known them a long time…I already lost Bae…I don’t know if I could lose them, too.”

 The truth was, Belle and Gold had been just as much of her childhood in Storybrooke as her friends. Mal and Granny were the same way. They were adults that helped shaped her life. Seeing Bae with Belle had given her hope that adoption could work out, that a parent could love a child that wasn’t their blood. They were still such a huge part of her life, becoming friends with her parents, Gideon was Neal’s best friend.

 It had hurt her to keep the secret from them, just as much as it would’ve to keep it from her own parents.

 “I know Belle and Ralph,” Mary Margaret said, squeezing her hand. “I think at the end of the day, they’ll just be disappointed with Bae. They’ll still want to be there for you…and the baby.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’m a mom, I know everything.”

Emma gave her a look. “Mom.”

“It’s just a super power we have.” She kissed her forehead. “And no matter what, you know that I’m always here for you, right?”

She nodded. “Even if I don’t deserve it.”

“Hey, don’t say that.”

“Mom, I know this is the last thing you and Dad need right now. You have a grown daughter and a son that’ll be a pre-teen in a few years. Now, there’s going to be a newborn around…”

“And we couldn’t be happier. Emma, we love you kids more than anything on this planet. We want to be there for you.”

 Emma wasn’t sure if it was talking about Baelfire or the pregnancy hormones, maybe a combination of both, but she started to tear up. Sometimes it was just too much to remember how unconditionally she was loved. Her parents were so amazing and she didn’t feel deserving of them some days. Mary saw the tears in her eyes and squeezed her hand.

 “Oh sweets,” she said, softly. “Don’t cry.”

“It’s the hormones,” Emma sniffled. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, baby.” She kissed her cheek. “Now go on, enjoy your sandwich.”

“You want some onion rings?”

Mary smiled and nodded. “I’d love some.”

Emma stood on the steps of the salmon colored house, running her fingers through her hair. It had been far too long since she had been by. When Bae was in town, he typically stayed in the loft above the pawn shop and Emma would visit him there. It hadn’t changed much over the years, the only real difference was the bike leaning against the garage. It seemed to get bigger every time she dropped by, a reminder of how fast time was going for Gideon and Neal, a bittersweet thought. She wanted to freeze time.

 In fact, she wanted to go back in time. She wanted to be 16 again and to be pulling her bug in the driveway to hang out with Bae. Sometimes they’d be watching Gideon, stealing kisses when he watched a movie. Other times, they’d hang out in the garden, their fingers intertwined with each other’s. All the times they managed to make love up in his bedroom…

 Quickly pushing the thoughts out of her head, she rang the doorbell. A moment later, Ralph answered the door. He was dressed in one of his trademarks suits, a lopsided grin on his face. It faded a bit upon seeing Emma.

 “Miss Nolan, how may I help you?”

“I um…I needed to talk to you and Belle.”

“Belle took Gideon to see her father.”

“Oh.” Emma knew the complicated relationship Belle and Gold had with Maurice. “Well, you then.”

“Does it have anything to do with the pregnancy you’ve been hiding for the past few months?”

Emma blushed. “What…I…how…”

“Emma, you’ve always been a skinny thing.” He looked her up and down, shaking his head a bit. “It became quite obvious when you got bigger and then tried to hide behind it.”

“Does Belle know?”

“Yes. I haven’t told her about what I know, however.”

Emma tilted her head. “What you know?”

“I remember about 6 months ago, finding you in my shop before hours, coming out of Baelfire’s loft.”

She cringed. “That.” She had done all she could to erase the memory of that morning from her mind, it hurt too much.

“Considering that Bae hasn’t called me, I’ve assumed that you didn’t tell him.”

“Do you really think I’d keep this from him?”

“What am I supposed to believe? That my son just wouldn’t tell me he was to be a father?”

Emma’s lip formed a firm line. “Maybe because he doesn’t want to be one!”

Gold raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I told him that I was pregnant, I e-mailed him a sonogram. He told me that he didn’t want a thing to do with me or the baby, to never contact him again.”

 Gold stared at her for a few moments and she knew he was trying to tell if she was telling the truth or not. It was a look he had given her early on in her relationship with Baelfire. One thing they always joked about was having equally overprotective fathers, who didn’t trust their child’s significant other. They didn’t want them to be hurt, no matter what the cost. Heck, they had both spied on their first date. It had been something they laughed about for years. Emma understood Gold’s hesitance, but her hurt wasn’t allowing her to handle the situation diplomatically.

 “You expect me to believe that my son, the one who was abandoned himself, would abandon his own child?”

“It’s the truth.”

“How do I know that you’re not lying so you can keep his child from him? How do I know that you’re not just deceiving me? This doesn’t sound like my son.”

“I know it doesn’t. That’s partly why it hurts so much.”

“Do you love him?”

Tears brimmed in Emma’s eyes. “You don’t think I love him?”

Gold shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“I love him, I’ve loved him since I was 14 years old. That’s why it hurts every time I see him, because I never stopped.” She bit her lip, shaking her head. “But he doesn’t love me, not anymore. I’ve had to accept that.” She wiped away her tears, not wanting to break down in front of him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.”

 Gold watched Emma briskly walk away, letting out a small sigh. Digging through his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone, pressing 2 on his speed dial.

 “Baelfire Cassidy Gold, you have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.”

A few days later, Emma sat next to her father on the floor, examining the instructions laid out in front of them.

 “I’ve read Latin text that makes more sense than this,” David muttered.

“Give them to me,” Emma said, taking it from him. He had insisted that she not worry about it, that he could put the crib together, but this was her baby after all. “Alright, it says take screws E with washers D…through bar C…” She watched her father pick up the bar in question. “Using wrench F…” She squinted to read the small print without her glasses. “Which is not provided.” She sighed in frustration, dropping the parts in her hands.

“We could always call Marco,” Mary said from her seat on the couch. “He’s a carpenter after all.”

“No!” Emma and David exclaimed at the exact same time.

Mary rolled her eyes. “Stubborn, party of two.”

“Annoying, party of one,” Emma quipped back, throwing a piece of bubble wrap her way.

She chuckled, hearing the doorbell ring. “Neal, can you get that? Your father and sister are too busy trying to drive me crazy.”

 David and Emma focused back on the crib, managing to find a wrench of his that would work. Just as they were getting the first part together, Neal’s footsteps could be heard coming into the room.

 “Emma?”

Emma focused on what she was doing. “Yeah, kid?”

“Baelfire’s here.”

 Emma was about to tell him how not funny that was, until she noticed a familiar pair of work boots. Her eyes slowly went up the body and she found Bae’s face staring back at her. The parts fell out of her hand and her eyes widened. Bae rubbed the back of his neck, looking just as surprised as she was.

 “So it’s true,” he said. “You’re pregnant.”

 She didn’t know what to say at first. There stood the man that she had believed to have torn out her heart and stomped on it. She stood up with the help of her father, who seemed to be wanting to go off her lead before he went to protective dad mode. She walked over to him, a protective hand on her bump, the other out to keep a barrier between them.

 “What the hell are you doing here?”

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: The Most Beautiful Mistake (13/16)

Summary: Belle French and ‘Rumpel’ Gold have been best friends for a long time, ever since Belle first walked into Gold’s yarn shop. One stormy night, one bottle of wine, and a couple of heartfelt confessions later, and their relationship will never be the same again.

Rated: NC-17 overall, this chapter is G.

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[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Eleven] [Twelve] [AO3]

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Thirteen

Before her first scan, Belle had been pacing up and down the diner with worry, a constant stream of what-ifs running through her head and all sorts of terrible scenarios dreaming themselves up behind her eyelids. This time, she was still unable to sit still, but it was out of excitement rather than anything else. Gold was going to come with her and they were going to find out the baby’s gender, and nothing was going to go wrong. She wasn’t sure where her new-found positivity had come from, but it was probably something to do with the fact that there was no longer that weight settled on her shoulders of keeping her baby’s parentage under wraps. Now it was out in the open and there had been no unpleasant consequences of it (well, they’d all been sorted out, at least), and she finally felt completely free to enjoy her pregnancy for the first time since she’d taken the test.

Well… maybe not completely free. There was still small question of being hopelessly in love with her best friend with whom she was having a baby, but she kept pushing that to the back of her mind, always working on the principle that tomorrow was another day and they would be able to get themselves together soon enough. The trouble was, they’d kept going through a lot of tomorrows and she was still no closer to actually admitting her feelings to anyone, let alone Gold. Maybe she just needed Ruby to kick her ass into gear like she had done weeks ago when she’d forced them to talk about the baby.

A car pulled up outside the library and she recognised the slightly spluttering engine of Gold’s rusty old VW, rushing outside as fast as her bump could take her and locking up the library. He was waiting on the sidewalk for her just outside, and he looked to be just as excited as she was, although maybe not expressing it with quite so much pent-up energy.

“Ready?” she asked.

“As I’ll ever be. You?”

“Yeah, I can’t wait. I’ll finally find out whether my hunches are correct.”

“You’re going to be annoyed if it turns out that it’s a girl, you know,” Gold pointed out as they got back into the car and began the journey towards the hospital.

“Not really. I’m happy whatever he or she turns out to be. I’ll just be annoyed that apparently I won’t be able to trust my instincts anymore.”

“We’ll just have to wait and see. Not long now.”

They fell into companionable silence for the majority of the short journey, and Belle kept stealing glances across at Gold in the driver’s seat. It would be the first time that he would be seeing their baby properly, rather than as a piece of paper, and she wondered how he felt about that, whether it would still pull forth all the same emotions as it had when he had first seen Neal’s scan. She thought that it would. She couldn’t think of anyone who had ever been more enthused about being a father, but perhaps she was just biased, now that everything was on an even keel and she was not being so stubbornly disbelieving. Maybe she was overcompensating for earlier in the pregnancy, but she didn’t think so.

He didn’t speak again until he pulled into the hospital carpark, whereupon he looked over at her, and his hand closed over hers where they were clasped in her lap, trying to stop the shaking that she was not sure when it had begun.

“Ready?” he asked.

Belle nodded. “Definitely. You?”

“I’ve been ready ever since you gave me that first sonogram picture,” Gold admitted, and Belle had to giggle.

“All right, let’s go and meet our son or daughter.”

No-one in the maternity unit waiting room paid them any mind as they entered and signed in, and as Belle looked around at all the other expectant couples, she felt her heart beating hard in her throat.

“Your hands are still shaking,” Gold observed, and he took one of hers in both of his, rubbing gently in that soothing motion she knew from so many years of watching him spin. “What’s wrong?”

Belle shrugged. “I don’t know. I was a nervous wreck before the first scan but I don’t know why I’m shaking now.”

Well, perhaps she did, but she wasn’t going to admit that to Gold just yet. Her emotions were bubbling below the surface; feeling so much at once that she feared everything spilling out in a huge fountain of tears and fears and declarations of love right here in the hospital waiting room.

“It’s all going to be ok. Are you going to get another picture for Ruby?” he asked. Belle had to laugh. Ruby was still keeping tabs on her pregnancy and asking for updates almost daily, despite the fact that she was no longer quite as closely involved as she had been at the beginning.

“I think I might be disowned from her circle of friends if I didn’t,” she admitted. “Anyone would think that she was the one having it.”

“There’s no harm in having an overenthusiastic aunty,” Gold said. “Well, I don’t think it did me any harm, but Neal might beg to differ.”

“How is Neal?” Belle was grateful for the change of subject, teetering so close to the emotional knife-edge as she was. The mood swings and mental tenderness were not something that she was particularly going to miss once the baby was born.

“He’s all right.” Gold gave a soft laugh in memory of Neal’s antics. “He and Emma seem to be going strong. There haven’t been any more exploits with stolen cars, which I should probably be grateful for. Honestly, throughout his first two months at college I kept expecting a call from the Boston police station. I mean, he’s always been the most sensible of his friends but when I heard about some of the scrapes that they’ve managed to get themselves into…”

He shook his head with good-natured despair. “The last I heard, he was going to enter a bagel eating competition this weekend.”

“Naturally.” Belle raised an eyebrow. “Maybe my next care package to him ought to include a large bottle of Pepto Bismol.”

“He would probably welcome it,” Gold said with a soft huff of laughter. “He sends his love, by the way. He always asks after the baby whenever he calls.”

Belle smiled. “He’s a really good kid, Rumpel,” she said. “You’ve brought him up well and I know that you’ll bring this one up well too.”

“I certainly hope so.”

They fell into silence again for a while, and Belle found herself leaning in against Gold’s shoulder.

“I don’t know why I thought that you didn’t want to be father again,” she murmured under her breath, although none of the other couples appeared to be taking any notice of them.

“We were both making some silly assumptions,” Gold replied. “We’ll say no more about it and just be thankful that we’re here now and that we definitely want to be parents.”

“Yes.”

Of course, Belle wanted to be slightly more than that, but here in the hospital really wasn’t the time or place to get into that, not when this was supposed to be such a joyous occasion. And it was a joyous occasion, as long as she didn’t let her bloody feelings get in the way again.

“Belle French?”

Belle looked up to see Dawn the sonographer waving to them from the corridor down to the consultation rooms. If she was surprised to see Gold with Belle this time instead of Ruby, then she didn’t show it, and she simply led them on down to the same scanning room where Belle had had her first scan, eight weeks ago now. The time seemed to have flown by, and she supposed that it was because everything in her life seemed so much happier now.

“So, do you want to find out if you’re having a boy or girl today?” Dawn asked as she helped Belle up onto the bed and got her prepped for the scan. Gold took the seat beside the bed, looking around a little nervously, and Belle reached out to grab his hand. They could be nervous together. As Dawn switched on the transducer and began to run it over her bump, she crossed her fingers. Everything had to be all right. They couldn’t have come this far and overcome this much for things not to be all right at this stage. The steady swishing sound of the baby’s heartrate thumping filled the room, and Belle breathed a sigh of relief as Dawn smiled.

“Well there’s certainly nothing wrong with baby’s heart,” the sonographer said. “The measurements are looking good too, a healthy rate of growth and no signs of any abnormalities. You can take a look now.”

She swung the monitor round and Belle gazed at her baby, so much bigger than the first time she’d seen it.

“All right, as you can see here…” Dawn moved the transducer over Belle’s belly. “You’re expecting a boy.”

Belle blinked. For all she had been certain that the baby was a boy, she hadn’t anticipated the moment when her instincts would be proved right.

“Did you think you were having a girl?” Dawn asked, seeing her stunned expression and giving a little smile.

Belle shook her head. “No, no, I was certain that it was a boy, but to have it confirmed…” She couldn’t think how to express what she was feeling, and it was with great embarrassment that she realised she had begun to cry. The sonographer said nothing, just passing over a box of tissues and letting Belle snuffle and blow her nose as she switched off the scanner and wiped the gel off her bump. Gold squeezed her hand, shuffling a little closer in his chair and putting his other arm around her shoulders, holding her as close as he could given their awkward position.

“I’ll go and print off a couple of copies of the picture and give you two some time,” she said, leaving them alone in the room.

“Gideon,” Belle breathed, touching her stomach where his head had been on the screen. “My lovely boy.” She glanced over at Gold. “Sorry. I just… I started calling him Gideon in my head. We don’t have to call him that.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Gideon. I like it,” Gold said. His voice was choked with emotion and Belle passed the box of tissues to him. “It’s a good, strong name.”

“A hero,” Belle agreed. “He’s going to be perfect.”

“Yes he is.”

She felt Gold’s lips peck her forehead and she smiled, that little moment of intimacy just putting the icing on the cake of what had been a wonderful afternoon. Beside her she heard Gold blow his nose and she glanced over to see him drying his eyes. She really couldn’t blame him for his emotion, she was on the verge of bursting into fresh tears of wonder herself. It seemed more real now that their baby had a name; he had more of a personality, he was a character in his own story now, someone in his own right. She pressed her hand over her bump again, and she gave a little gasp when she felt something move.

“Rumpel,” she whispered.

“What is it, is something wrong?” Gold was suddenly on high alert and she shook her head vigorously to reassure him that all was well.

“No, no, but I just felt him move. Here.” She grabbed his hand and put it on her tummy where she had felt the movement. “It was right there, I swear, he was moving.”

“I believe you, don’t worry.” Gold chuckled, although it still sounded throaty, like he was laughing and crying at the same time.

The little movement came again, more persistently this time, a gentle pressure.

“He’s kicking,” Belle breathed in wonder. “Oh Rumpel, this is the first time I’ve felt him move and now you get to feel it too. Isn’t this wonderful?”

Gold nodded his agreement. “Definitely.”

The sonographer came back into the room with the printouts and smiled warmly on seeing them mesmerised by the small unseen movement.

“Looks like the scan woke him up then,” she said, passing the prints to Belle, who immediately gave one to Gold before tucking the other two into her handbag. “Now that he’s started wriggling around, you won’t be able to stop him. He’ll be jiving in there all night.”

“I don’t mind,” Belle said as she got off the bed and pulled her sweater back down. “I’d far rather know that he was alive and kicking and ready to meet the world than not feel him.”

Dawn laughed. “You might not be saying that a few days down the line,” she said. “You need all the sleep you can get in the runup to the birth, because you’ll be getting even less after it.”

“I know,” Belle said. The sonographer had a point. “But at the same time… Right now it just feels unreal. I can’t quite believe it. My son’s here and he’s perfect and he’s saying hello.” She was still unable to wipe the smile of wonder off her face as Dawn showed them out of the room and they made their way out of the hospital. Gideon had quietened down and she did not feel him move all through the journey back to the library, but Belle could have walked on air. Despite the weight in her abdomen, she was as light as a feather and no fears or worries could bring her down.

“I’ll see you at Granny’s later?” Gold suggested as she got out of the car outside the library. Belle nodded.

“Yes. I can’t wait to see Ruby’s face when we tell her it’s a boy. I mean, it’ll be exactly the same as if we told her that it would be a girl, but she’s been so excited to find out and I want to tell her as soon as possible.”

“I can appreciate that.”

They said their goodbyes and Belle opened up the library again, settling herself behind the desk and trying not to bounce up and down in her glee.

“Hello Gideon,” she said softly to her bump. “It’s nice to meet you. Mama and Daddy are going to take very good care of you, I promise. We both already love you so much, and you’re going to have the best big brother in the world to show you the ropes in the big wide world once you’re ready. You’ll see. It’s all going to be amazing.”

She fell back to thinking about the time that they had spent together in the hospital, about how close they had been and the little kiss that Gold had planted on her forehead.

When Neal had been home for Christmas he had said that she and his father were the closest friends that he had ever come across, and in a way she supposed that it was true. The friendship that she shared with Gold was something more than a friendship. Well, they were having a baby so it was obviously something more, but even before then…

Belle sighed, wondering what she was going to do about the jumble of thoughts that were currently taking up residence in her brain and wondering just how she ought to define her relationship with Rumpel. More than friends, but less than lovers, two people who understood each other so very deeply and yet, could get each other so very wrong sometimes.

X

Gold smiled as he slipped Gideon’s sonogram picture into the frame beside the first. His son, his second son. A second miracle that he’d been gifted with. He didn’t think that he had ever been happier than when he had looked up at that monitor and seen his child, alive and well and as close to meeting him in the flesh as he could get before his birth. And Belle, so stunned and so emotional, and yet the strong one in their relationship, friendship, whatever the thing between them was. She was utterly remarkable, there was no other word for it. His hand hovered over the phone, itching to call Neal straight away and tell him the good news. In the end he settled for sending a text, Neal might be in class and he didn’t want to disturb him.

It’s a boy.

Neal obviously wasn’t in class, or if he was then he wasn’t paying attention, because less than a minute later the phone rang.

“Congratulations,” Neal said. “So, I’ll be getting a little brother in a few months’ time then?”

“That’s certainly what it looks like at the moment.”

“Well, I’m very happy for you both. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of you two actually confessing your feelings for each other now, is there? Maybe during an emotional moment when you feel him kick for the first time. It’s got to be a movie-worthy moment, of course.”

Gold sighed. “We’ve felt him kick for the first time,” he said. “And there were no confessions of feelings. Besides, how many times do we have to go through this, Neal, that the feelings are on one side only.”

“I swear that they’re not. Dad, it took Belle years to go out with Gaston even though he’d been showing interest practically since she moved to town. I was slightly too young to recognise it for what it was at the time, but I’m pretty sure that she was waiting for you.”

“Neal, please. She’s half my age and utterly beautiful. I’m fairly certain that we’re just friends.”

“No, you’re definitely more than just friends. You’ve been more than just friends for ages. The relationship you two share goes way deeper than that.” There was a pause on the other end of the line and Gold could almost hear the thoughts whirring through Neal’s brain at mach three. “You know, I don’t really believe in the whole notion of soulmates but I think that if any two people are going to be soulmates then it’s you two. When you’re not barking up completely the wrong tree, of course.”

“Ok, there’s no need to remind me of those few weeks,” Gold groused. “I don’t know, Neal. I know that I’d like it to be more than just friendship, but how can I possibly know if she feels the same way?”

“You could just ask her,” Neal suggested. Such a deceptively simple idea, and yet such an utterly unworkable one at the same time. “Please Dad, just take the plunge and talk to her about the way you feel.”

Unseen, Gold shook his head. He couldn’t do that. Not when they were so happy at the moment. Everything was too good for him to go and ruin it by introducing his unrequited feelings into the mix and the last thing that he wanted was Belle to do something she either regretted or didn’t truly mean out of pity.

“Well, whatever you end up doing, I’m pleased that the baby’s doing ok. Have you named him yet?”

“We’re going to call him Gideon,” Gold replied, glad that the conversation had moved away from dangerous territory.

“Nice, that’s not a name you hear often but it’s not really weird. I approve. It’s way better than Englebert.”

Gold had to laugh out loud that once again the name Englebert had come up in conversation about the baby. It seemed to be following them around.

“Well, I’ll speak to you soon, Dad. And please at least think about telling Belle how you feel about her. You need to take a leap of faith some day.”

“Bye, Neal. Take care of yourself.”

“I will. I’m on a steady diet of pop tarts and deadlines.  Bye Dad.”

As he hung up, Gold thought about Neal’s words, that he and Belle shared something deeper than friendship. It was definitely true, but whatever his feelings were, he was content to be Belle’s friend and to be the father of her child, and he did not want to cheapen their friendship by putting his heart on the line.

[lilacmoon83]

Perfectly Charmings

AN: I know, I know, I'm starting yet another new series. But this is just something I really wanted to do. I will continue to post one shots periodically in my Once Upon a Snowing series, but this one-shot series will be more themed. I do have quite a few other stories on my plate, but I will manage updates to this one as much as possible, at least once a week and hopefully more. Prompts and requests will definitely help!

This first one-shot will set up the series and then I'd love to get prompts for this one. But here are the specifics:

So...when Gideon stabs Emma and the light erupts from her, he's not the only one that is de-aged. Emma is an infant again. I know this won't be popular with CS fans, but I really like the idea of Snowing raising their two babies together and juggling being Sheriff and teaching, with lots of help from Red, Granny, Regina, and the dwarves.

So if you have a Charming family/Snowing prompt, please review! It can be domestic fluff, romance, or even adventure, cause Storybrooke can never be too peaceful.

Neal and Emma can be babies or toddlers, or older even. Pretty much anything that matches the parameters that Emma was de-aged after the final battle. Enjoy this new series!

Perfectly Charmings

A Happy Beginning

When the light cleared and the wave of true love's kiss from Henry subsided, all present were astonished to see a wriggling baby where Emma once was.

"What...what happened?" Snow asked. Did she dare to hope for it? Or believe it could be true?

"Bloody hell…" Hook uttered. David knelt down and gazed at the smiling baby, wrapped in Emma's baby blanket, as she flailed her arms. He smiled at her and she smiled back. He gently cradled her in his arms and stood up, as he walked over to Snow, who's awe was equal to his. They would know her anywhere. This was Emma...their Emma.

"Emma…" Snow said with a big grin, as David placed her in his wife's arms. He smiled at her and kissed her hair. He knew their joy was probably a bit insensitive to Hook, but they couldn't help it. The Final Battle was over and somehow, everything stolen from them was returned. They weren't surprised though when Hook started a commotion.

"No...you have to change her back!" he pleaded to Regina. But the former Queen looked a bit lost, though wore a pleased smile. As much as she would miss adult Emma, somehow she knew this would be a true happy beginning for her friend.

"I didn't do this...I wouldn't even know where to begin," she admitted truthfully.

"I...I think it might be my fault," Henry admitted.

"What...what do you mean?" Hook growled, but Regina and David quickly got between him and Henry.

"Whoa...you need to calm down," David warned.

"I didn't mean to. I just wanted my Mom to finally be happy...I wished for her to be unburdened by the destiny of the Savior and find her happy beginning. I...I didn't think this would happen," he said.

"She's definitely unburdened now," Regina replied.

"I was her happy beginning! You're the author! You need to fix this!" Hook cried.

"And you need to stop screaming at my son," Regina warned darkly.

"What's going on?" Belle's voice broke through the tension. They turned and saw her and Rumple, also with a tiny bundle.

"Well...it would appear our son isn't the only that was de-aged," Rumple stated.

"Crocodile...you can fix this!" Hook pleaded.

"And what you're asking me to "fix" would require experimenting with potions and spells on an infant. Even if I was interested in doing so, I don't think they would allow it. Not that I can blame them," he said, motioning to Snow and Charming, as they doted over their baby girl, who giggled at their attention.

"How can you be happy about this?!" he raged. They frowned slightly and looked up at him.

"We're sorry...but how can you expect us not to be happy about this?" David asked.

"She's my wife...your grown daughter! You should want to change her back as much as I do!" Hook growled.

"We love Emma, no matter what. But her childhood was hell…" Snow started to say.

"Because you abandoned her!" he spat.

"We never wanted to give her up, you know that! And you're not the only one that has lost someone here! How dare you throw that in our faces!" David spat back. Regina put her hands on Henry's shoulders and squeezed gently.

"It's okay gramps...I'll miss her, but Mom deserves this. She deserves to get to grow up with you and grams, just like Neal is," Henry said.

"That's very brave of you, sweetie," Regina replied.

"Well...we're all still a family. It will be just a little different now," Henry said. Regina shared a smile with Snow and David.

"Yes...we are," Snow said.

"No...I'll find a way to change her back! If you won't help me, then I'll find someone who will!" Hook cried, as he stalked off.

"Well, it didn't take him long to show his true colors," Regina muttered. Snow and David couldn't help but be relieved. They had never been as okay with Hook as they led everyone to believe. They loved their daughter, but she had changed in the time she was in a relationship with Hook. And not in a good way. It was also hard to forget the times when Hook had almost killed them all when he brought the Dark Ones to Storybrooke to punish their daughter or the fact that he was the reason David had grown up without a father. Perhaps this was fate's way of righting a few wrongs.

In the weeks that followed, things in Storybrooke calmed down considerably. Obviously with two babies now, Snow and David knew they needed a bigger place, especially when David had encountered Wilby at the animal shelter recently as well.

David decided he still wanted to be Sheriff, especially now that Emma could no longer be for obvious reasons. He had to admit that he would miss working with his daughter every day, but at the same time, he found there was no greater joy than going home to his wife and babies at the end of the day. Even so, they had still decided on a farm, with a large red barn, complete with horses and sheep, behind a beautiful two story home.

He convinced August to become his deputy and they had become good friends. August was the reason he even knew who his father's real killer was in the first place and truly loved Emma and Henry. He also hired Leroy and Happy as deputies as well, which allowed him to work a bit less and spend more time with his family.

Their lives were truly a happy beginning now.

By all rights now, they were entitled to take over the mortgage on Emma's house. But that house just had bad vibes and they associated it with Emma's time as the Dark One. So despite Hook screaming at them for it, they sold the house, since Emma's name was the only one on it. They felt bad for Hook and continually offered him a place in the family, despite all he had done. But he refused and all but stated they were now his enemies again. It was clear that he had quickly reverted to his old ways and they were making sure to keep an eye on him.

In the mornings, he, the babies, and Wilby saw Snow off to work, while he got the babies ready. Then about nine, he would drop them off at Ella's daycare, before heading to the station. Then he would meet Snow at home later around four after she picked them up. Then evening would be theirs then and he had hired enough deputies to ensure he worked no weekends. Sometimes, it was surreal and he could hardly believe this was their lives now.

Snow leaned against her husband, as he sang to their babies and they slowly drifted off. She loved listening to him sing, as he had such a wonderful voice. He insisted that she did too and many nights they joined together in singing to them.

The sheep mobile hung above Neal's crib and the Unicorn mobile hung above Emma's. They had immediately gone to the shop to purchase it after the final battle and Emma's subsequent de-aging. But neither Rumple nor Belle would have it and gifted it to them.

"Can you believe it? I still can't sometimes," she mentioned.

"I know exactly what you mean," he agreed.

"Some mornings I wake up and I just rush in here to see if this is all a dream," she said. He smiled.

"Sometimes I get up and do that in the middle of the night," he replied. She smiled back.

"I know, I've caught you in here at three in the morning before," she agreed fondly, as he kissed her tenderly.

"I really miss our grown daughter too...but this is amazing. I won't feel guilty for wanting this," Snow confessed.

"And you shouldn't. I miss our grown daughter too, but this is our second chance. This is Emma's second chance. There will never be one moment where she feels unwanted or unloved ever again," he promised. She nodded and leaned her head against his chest.

This was their happy beginning. And like happy endings, happy beginnings are not always what they think they will be. But they had to be fought for and they had most certainly fought for this. And now they were going to finally be the family they had always imagined.

"It's like a whole new adventure for us," she mentioned. He smiled contagiously.

"Just a Prince and a Princess on an adventure," he echoed. She grinned.

"And this time with a tiny prince and a tiny princess tagging along," she agreed, as their lips met again. They spared another glance at their precious babies, before finally slipping out of the nursery and heading to their own bedroom. Tomorrow was another day in their happy beginning...

[pinebypine]

Mind over Mabel

Tripet AU fiv. Mabel finds another amulet and gets up to some sexy fun.

“Blargh, root cellar, more like root smeller.” Mabel pinched her nose and swept the beam of her flashlight through the darkness ahead. Truth be told: Grunkle Stan’s cellar was pretty bare of actual roots. Over the years it had become something of a dumping ground for whatever junk didn’t have a proper place, but wasn’t quite ready to be sold or thrown out yet. There were stacks of slowly molding cardboard boxes, a couple of old bicycles, and even what appeared to be a car’s engine block.

She just needed to find the old tool box Stan was sure was down here, then she could get it to Soos and he could fix the cart. Mabel stalked slowly through the dank space, wary where she put her feet; this seemed like just the sort of place where all sorts of gross vermin would hang out. She peered carefully behind stacks and crouched to look under and old bedframe that was rusting in one corner.

Her quarry turned out to be in the farthest reached of the cellar, of course, mostly buried under a pile of damp lumber. Mabel tried to pull it out but wasn’t able to budge it with the weight on top of it. She sighed; she was either going to have to pull each of those chunks of wood of one by one or she was going to need help.

Something rattled in the darkness behind her, a clink of glass on metal. Mabel spun, sweeping her light over the piles of junk. She couldn’t see anything moving. It must have been something settling in one of the piles. As she turned back toward the cellar door, a faint glow caught the corner of her eye. She cast the flashlight beam in that direction, but couldn’t see anything. On a whim, she thumbed off the light and let herself fall into darkness.

High up on top of a stack of boxes, something was definitely giving off a pale aqua light. She had to turn the light back on to navigate over to it, but once she was close enough she could make out the strange light above her. It was too high to reach and Mabel really didn’t like the idea of climbing up that rickety stack. As she was considering her best course of action, there was another metallic clink and the light shifted jerkily. Mabel’s eyes widened as the source of the glow bounced a little and came over the edge of the boxtop it rested on, falling in a slow arc in front of her face.

Instinctively, she put up a hand and the little amulet fell into her palm. It felt warm against her skin and made little tingly waves run up her arm.

This seemed very familiar.

She had used something like this before, years ago. She could still picture the bodies going through the window, over the drop, and those terrifying frozen seconds before she’d snatched the bolo tie from the floor and used its power to stop three falling, struggling people. And then, she’d smashed it against a rock, hadn’t she? There was no way it could be here now.

She brought the dimly glowing amulet close to look closely at it. No, this was definitely not the same amulet she’d stolen from Gideon Gleeful and destroyed. This one  still hung on a chain, had never been modified to act as the clasp for a bolo tie, and the layer of dust and grime on it was so heavy she couldn’t imagine it had been touched in decades. She closed her fist around the little charm and glanced back at the toolbox, still stubbornly stuck under the planks of wood.

“Well,” she said with a shrug, “it wasn’t the help I was expecting, but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?”

*****

Ty sat on the thin cot in their little attic room and started the song from the top. She’d gotten so little time to practice this summer that the callouses she’d worked so hard to develop were already starting to soften. She plucked her way through the arpeggio of “Oh My Sweet” and then played the chords of “You and Me All Night” in double time. Had to make the most of this time when both of her siblings were occupied; it was impossible to get anything done with them around.

Her hands on autopilot, Ty closed her eyes and found herself thinking about Dipper as he was doing dishes this morning, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his hair still mussed from sleep. She remembered seeing Mabel walk closely behind him, her hand reaching out to brush along the small of his back in an intimate little touch. The painful twang of a discordant chord yanked her from her little fantasy. Ty cursed and readjusted her fingers, depressing all the right strings this time

Geeze, she thought, not even here and they’re still distracting me.

She leaned back against the attic wall and started to idly pick her way through “Come Back to Us” which was probably the only thing she’d ever written that she actually liked. Humming the vocal part along with her playing, she remembered that she really needed to finish writing the lyrics.

A feeling like a pair of lips teased at Ty’s earlobe, causing her to smile. That was the spot that Mabel always liked to nibble on and it drove Ty wild. She shifted on the bed, then her eyes shot open wide. She looked around; had there been someone else in the room? No, she was definitely alone.

She could have sworn someone had just been touching her. Ty shivered a little and put her guitar back in its case, resolving to spend a little less time alone.

*****

“What are you doing up there, sis?” Dipper called up.

Mabel was perched, cross legged, on the peak of the Mystery Shack’s roof. She giggle a little, but didn’t move. “I’m just communing with the universe, bro-ham; trying to open up my inner eye and all that junk.”

Dipper sighed. “Well are you planning on coming down and actually helping out around here today?”

“I already got that toolbox for Soos. What else does a girl gotta do around here?”

“Somebody needs to muck out Waddle’s pen and seeing as he’s your pig…”

Mabel groaned. “Fine, consider it done.”

After nearly a minute, she still hadn’t moved. Her brother tapped his foot impatiently. “Are you coming down to do it or what?”

“I said consider it done, Dipper. So just consider it done.”

He cast his arms up in frustration and trudged in the direction of the pig pen, resolving that he’d be stuck doing it himself. When he arrived though, the straw had already been cleared of droppings and respread. Waddle had his enormous face happily buried in a trough nearly overflowing with kitchen scraps and feed. Dipper scratched his head; he could have sworn it had looked awful just a little while ago.

As the walked back toward the house, he jumped suddenly; it felt like somebody had goosed him.

*****

Ty steadied herself on the towel rod, breath heavy on her lips. It was like a dozen hands were running up and down her body. She could feel them all over, hitting every sensitive patch of skin, prodding every pressure point she had. Either she was going mental or something deep into weird territory was going on here. Ty looked in the mirror and saw a few patches of greenish light flash and slither underneath the surface of her clothes.

A set of invisible fingers dug greedily into the flesh of her butt and an ephemeral mouth found one of her nipples. Ty reached up and stifled a moan behind a hand. She started to lose her balance again, her knees having gone completely wobbly, and with a little luck and guidance, she landed on the closed toilet lid.

Ty reached down toward her crotch, not sure what she was going to even do down there, but something seized around her wrist and yanked her hand away, pinning her arm against the nearby countertop. She watched as her skirt was pushed up around her hips and her panties pulled aside. She wasn’t even trying to close her legs, but pressure on her knees told her they were new being held apart. She felt exposed, vulnerable, even out of control, and as much as she liked it a big knot of fear was swelling in her stomach.

She pulled her hand away from her mouth and grit her teeth. The forces holding her were strong, far stronger than her. There was only one thing she could think of and it seemed like a really stupid idea. But as the sensation of real danger grew, it started to seem like the only one she had left.

“Six-pack O' Lope” she gasped breathlessly, then repeated it again more clearly.

Everything hung still for a moment, the invisible hands that had glided over her skin all stopped in their tracks. In rapid succession, each one disappeared, gone from a solid force that she could feel into a poof of nothingness without a trace. At last, her underwear was righted and her skirt draped back in a modest fashion. Then it felt like someone cupped her cheek in a soft hand and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Ty let out a long breath of relief. If the safeword had worked, then the source of all that weirdness wasn’t hard to work out.

*****

“Dipper Pines, I thought I might find you here.”

Dipper turned from pouring himself a cup of coffee in the shack’s little kitchen and felt his pulse quicken. “Wendy? I didn’t know you were back in town.”

The redhead shrugged. “I’m not really, just passing through on my way south. Thought I’d stop in at the ol’ shack and see how things were doing. I let myself in; hope that’s OK.”

Dipper grinned; he hadn’t seen Wendy in the flesh in years, just the occasional phone call or text since she went off to college. He realized with a start that his growth spurt two summer ago had given him a couple of inches on the girl who used to seem so tall to him. “Well, you’re timing is good. I’m just on break from your old job at the register.”

“Stan finally got away with paying even less people to work for him, eh?” Wendy brushed a long strand of fiery red hair behind her ear and leaned against the wall of the little kitchen.

Dipper shrugged. “With me, Soos, and the girls, we can pretty much handle the place. Grunkle Stan doesn’t get around so well anymore; I’m happy we can help.”

Wendy smiled at him. “That’s pretty cool of you, dude.”

Dipper glance around the otherwise empty kitchen; it felt like someone was staring at the back of his head. Something jostled his elbow, causing some of the coffee in his mug to slosh onto his pant leg. Dipper swore and grabbed a towel to dab at it.

“Say,” Wendy chuckled and gave him a mischievous grin, “how long do you think you could ditch the register for? Ya wanna grab something to eat at Greasy’s? It’s about all I have time for before I hit the road and I’d love to catch up.”

Dipper wrung the coffee soaked towel out over the sink and considered this. “You know what? I think this place will get along without me for an hour. Let me close up the gift shop and I’ll meet you outside.”

Wendy’s face split into a big smile and she headed out the front door. Dipper went into the shop, double checked the register was locked up tight, and flipped the open sign to closed. He figured he had better tell his sisters that he was heading out and went looking for them. They were both on the roof now.

"Hey girls!" He yelled up. "Wendy just showed up; she's passing through town."

No response.

Geez, he thought, they must be really meditating up there.

“Anyway, we’re going to go grab a bite to eat so I closed up; the shop was dead anyway.”

“Have fun.” Ty gave him a little wave.

He pulled on his old blue and white cap and headed toward Wendy’s pickup.

*****

“Can you believe that guy?” Mabel cast an arm at the cloud of dust that was settling back into the dirt road to the shack. “He’s stepping out on us!”

Ty took a deep breath and let her head slowly fall back until it rested against the back of Mabel’s. “Dip’s been over Wendy for an exceedingly long time, Mabes. I don’t think we’ve got anything to be worried about.”

Mabel’s lips tightened into a line. “I could’ve stopped them.”

“I suppose, but that’s doesn’t show much faith in Dipper, does it?”

The older triplet sighed. “Yea, you’re probably right, Ty.” She felt her sister’s hand reach back and grip her own.

“Thanks for stopping earlier, by the way.”

Mabel shrugged. “That’s how the system works; what else would I do?”

“Well, I still appreciate it.”Ty squeezed her sister’s fingers. “Think of it this way: if the Dipster is off misbehaving, then when he gets back he’ll deserve a little punishment, whereas if he’s a good boy and up to nothing untoward, he’ll deserve a little reward. Right?”

“I like the way your brain works, Ty-flyer.”

*****

It was edging toward sundown now and Dipper was feeling in a pretty good mood for just having had a pretty mediocre meal. He hopped from the truck’s cab and laughed. “Man, the look on that thing’s face when we pushed it into that tube. Still gets me.”

Wendy chuckled and got out as well. “That was a pretty wild time, dude”

He turned to the redheaded girl and gave her a grin. “It was really nice seeing you, Wendy.”

The start of a blush tinged her cheeks. “Yea, well, I’m sorry about saying all that junk about you and me and…” She trailed off. “You’re probably right; it’s not like we ever see each other.”

Dipper grabbed her around the shoulders and gave her a bear hug that lifted her boots off the ground. “No worries; it was kind of a nice having the tables turned like that.”

When he set her down she gave him a punch in the shoulder and started back towards the truck. “I’ll catch you later, Dip, and don’t hesitate to call if you wanna talk.”

He gave her a little wave and headed towards the shack’s front door, feeling very warm inside. As he approached, Ty was sitting on the front porch drinking a bottle of water, a satisfied smirk on her face.

“Hey there, Dip. How’d your date go?”

Dipper felt himself flush a little. “It wasn’t a date. At least it wasn’t supposed to be.”

His sister winked at him. “You’ve never been too good at reading a lady’s intentions. Mabel and I practically had to hit you over the head with a club.”

Dipper glanced around instinctively, looking for anyone who might overhear. Ty jumped up and grabbed his arm.

“Soos left already and Grunkle Stan took his hearing aids out and conked out in front the of the TV; so you can relax. Come on, Mabel has something to show you.”

She started to drag him around the back of the little complex of buildings. As they closed on it, Dipper saw the door to the old root cellar was wide open. The eldest Pines triplet stood there, a faint aqua light coming from a pendant at her throat, and the wickedest grin Dipper had ever seen across her face.

*****

“OK, OK. I give up; you’re the alpha triplet.”

The greenish glow that encircled Dipper’s body writhed and pulsed like a living thing. His hands were pinned together at the small of his back; his feet dangled a few feet from the old air mattress that lay on cellar floor.

Mabel smiled. “Told you I could get you to say it!” She planted her fists on her hips in a pose of victory.

Dipper bit down on his lower lip and groaned, the feeling of fifty pairs of hands rolling and stroking his body overcoming him. They were everywhere, running through his hair, stroking his things, running nails down his back, cupping, massaging, stroking him. He was suspended by them, held by them, completely immobile and helpless. He could feel Ty’s gaze from behind on him and hear her own pleasure on her lips.

“Fuck!” He cried. He felt so unprotected, laid bare before these two women who, at the moment, held every bit of power over him. “Are you gonna keep this up all day?”

Mabel faux pouted. “Does our good little boy think he deserves something special?” Dipper didn’t respond, his heavy breathes rasping in and out with little noises of pleasure. “What do you say, my lil’ Dip?”

“Please,” he gasped. “Please let me come.”

Mabel held a teasing hand to one ear, as if having trouble hearing.

Dipper relented “Please let me come, Lady Mabel the Alpha Triplet.”

She stepped forward and caused Dipper to float forward and angle down, bringing his head on level with hers. She dug her fingers into his sweat soaked hair and pulled him in for a deep, long kiss. Some part of the green glow intensified and a low noise came from Dipper’s throat. A moment later, he hung limply in the air, on the verge of passing out.

Mabel stared at him, points of green light glowing in her eyes, but made no move to let him down. Ty rose from her chair and moved to check on Dipper, but suddenly felt a band of force pin a wrist to a point in the air. Dipper raised his head, vision blurring and looked into his sister’s eyes. A chill ran through him, sobering him from his reverie; it was no longer Mabel looking back at him.

He tried his best anyway. “Sascrotch? Sascrotch, Mabel.”

There was a long pause, pregnant with terrible possibilities, before the light in Mabel’s eyes began to fade, and Dipper dropped slowly and gently to the air mattress. The moment he was safe on the ground, Mabel ripped the amulet from her neck and tossed it against a pile of junk where it clattered to a resting spot on the floor.

She sunk to her knees, face suddenly stricken. In a flash both her siblings were on her in a triplet embrace. Dipper ran his hand along her back and held her face against his shoulder as Ty squeezed them both around the middle and kissed Mabel’s bare shoulder.

It took them a little while to compose themselves. Mabel was the first to speak. “That was a terrible idea.” She smacked her head. “Stupid Mabel!”

Ty’s arm tightened around her sister’s shoulder. “You pulled out of it for Dip just like you did for me. That’s what safewords are for.”

Mabel shook her head. “There was a moment there when I really honestly didn’t want to stop; I didn’t care that he was done and called it. That thing,” she pointed accusingly at the amulet, “was janking with my brain. Pushing me.” She shuddered.

Dipper stepped over and picked up the little charm on its chain. He sighed. “It’s like the one Gideon Gleeful had. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised if it messes with the user’s brain.”

He tossed it to Ty, who plucked it out of the air and held it in front of Mabel. “Well, at least you resisted it before anything serious happened.” She kissed her sister’s cheek. “That took a lot of effort, I bet. Way to go, Mabes.”

Mabel gave her siblings an unconvinced smile.

Dipper picked up one of his clunky hiking boots in one hand. “I suppose that thing’s proven to be a bad idea to keep around. Do you want me to take care of it?”

The eldest triplet squared her shoulders and took the boot from her brother’s hand. “I destroyed the last one; I’ll do this one too.”

Ty dropped the amulet on the ground and Mabel slammed the heel of the boot down on it with all the force she could muster. A puff of iridescent green smoke disappeared into the air and there was a sound like a far off scream.

She sighed in relief, rose, and put an arm around her fellow triplets. “OK, we’re sticking to regular stuff like ropes and leather straps from now on.”

Dipper gave a sardonic salute/ “Anything you say, Alpha Triplet.” Then he wrinkled his nose and made a face.

Mabel winced. “Oh yea, I was keeping that at bay with the amulet. You’ll probably want to hold your nose as you get dressed.”