#if my dad leaves the lights on and the bulbs stop working my brother will blame my mom

[citygirlcharlotte]

The Sister Halstead (Part 7)

Masterlist

Pairings: Hank Voight x Female OC, Will & Jay Halstead x Sister!OC

“I can barely walk Henry this isn’t funny.” I whined. 

After last night, earlier this morning and in the shower, I guess you could say I was hooked on henry and everything he has to offer. Unfortunately, that also means I’m going to be hobbling for at least a day because of just how good he was. At his age, I didn’t know that smug bastard had it in him. 

“You’re supposed to be able to keep up sweetheart.” He laughed, fixing us both some coffee. 

“I definitely can, you’ve just got a dick the size of a beer can and I’m not used to it yet. We’ll have to get some more practice in later.” I purred, kissing him lightly and running my hands through his still damp hair. 

“Sounds good to me sweetheart.” 

Henry had to get back to searching for the guy who shot Jay while I got to work on ordering breakfast for him and will. I grabbed my red headed brother a change of clothes from my spare room and headed down to my car. First stop food, second stop the flower shop and third stop a pharmacy to get a plan b. 

“Done, done and done.” I smiled, praising myself for making quick work. 

I pulled into the hospital parking lot armed with bags of food and flowers to make my brothers lives less depressing. 

“Knock Knock!” I announced, barging into the room. 

Will was still asleep on the pull out bed while Jay was visiting with one of Will’s doctor friends and what looked to be one of his fellow detectives. 

“Charlie, I hope there’s food in one of those bags.” Jay whined. 

I set up his flowers in a beautiful arranged before slinging Will’s clothes at his sleeping body and unloading the food options on Jay’s overbed table. 

“Choose your poison sir.” I said with a mock bow as I made him scoot over and joined him on the bed. 

“I’m starting with this eggs benedict.” He announced, quickly finding a fork. 

“He’s gonna puke if he eats all of this.” Will’s doctor friend stated. 

“Lighten up Doc McStuffins, he won’t eat it all.” I snorted, reaching for a muffin. 

“You’re literally going to get crumbs on my hospital bed.” Jay complained. 

“You literally almost gave me a heart attack by getting shot. Get over it dumbass.” I smirked, adding a kiss on his cheek for good measure. 

“It’s Dr. Rhodes.” The doctor friend interjected. 

A light bulb went off in my head. 

“Your Neils son?” I asked. 

“How do you know my dad?” He asked, getting a little defensive. 

“Charlotte Lahey, my dad is Charles Lahey the owner of Lahey Engineers. We worked on the last 2 new builds for your dad’s store.” I explained. 

“I think I’ve met your father once or twice at my dads office. Give him my best.” Dr. Rhodes said before turning to leave. 

“Weirdo.” I commented, plucking my muffin into my mouth. 

“That’s Will’s best friend.” Jay commented. 

“Stop talking with your mouth full.” I complained at him. 

His coworker sat watching us interact for a moment before it turned into staring and was making me uncomfortable. 

“Charlie, nice to meet you.” I greeted, extending my hand for her to shake. 

That seemed to break her out of her staring problem. 

“Hailey Upton, I’m Jay’s partner.” She replied with a firm shake. 

“Aren’t you lucky then, you won’t have to deal with him for a few weeks.” I joked. 

Chuckles over here was scarfing down food like he hadn’t been fed in a week. 

“I didn’t realize you were seeing someone Jay.” She commented. 

I looked around confused. 

“Whose he seeing?” I asked intrigued. 

She looked me at with a confused look. 

“You?” She questioned. 

I nearly projectile choked my muffin across the room and Jay actually choked on his egg.

“Disgusting!” I heaved, trying to catch my breath from my coughing. 

“I’m gonna puke.” Jay whined. 

All of the commotion woke up the sleeping brother. 

“What the hell is with all this noise?” Will complained. 

“Are you with Will then?” Hailey asked confused. 

“Double fuck no lady.” I exclaimed. “They’re my brothers.” 

“Brothers?! Since when did you two have a sister?” 

“A couple of months ago. Turns out old man Halstead had a daughter he didn’t know about.” Will explained, reaching for a muffin. 

Hailey took a second to look at the three of us. 

“You two make Jay look adopted.” She commented. 

“It’s the hair.” 

After Hailey left, I got insanely bored lounging around while Jay slept and Will went back to mine to get ready for shift. Thankfully the boredom ended soon as I got a call from Henry. 

“Hey baby.” I answered. 

“Hi sweetheart. How’s chuckles doing?” He joked. 

“Not being very chuckly at the moment. Mans is asleep. Are you with his partner right now?” I answered. 

“Yeah she’s here.” 

“Give her extra paperwork or something, she made me choke on my muffin because she thought I was dating one of my brothers.” I gagged. 

Henry let out a loud laugh on his end. 

“Don’t know if I can do that honey. We caught the guy who got a shot at Jay though. He’ll be hobbling just like you today.” He laughed. 

“Can I hit him?” I asked. 

“I’ll hit him for you. I just wanted to let you know we’re going to take him down.” 

“Good, thank you baby.” I sighed. 

“When’s he getting discharged?” 

“Tonight I think. With Will playing doctor at home, I think they’re gonna let him leave early.” 

“He staying at home?” Henry questioned. 

“I was going to offer my place. Will is already on and off living with me and Jay has already claimed a guest room. I was going to see if he wanted to stay over at mine until he’s better.” I explained. 

“That’s a good idea. I’ll feel better knowing you’re not alone at night.” He confessed. 

“Another way to make sure of that is for you to stay over more.” I coaxed. 

“Probably not a good idea while your brothers are under your roof sweetheart. I’ve got to head into an interrogation but I’ll call you later okay? I love you honey.” 

“Love you more baby, be safe.” I replied. 

“Can you not rub my singleness in my face.” Jay whined. 

I didn’t even hear chuckles awaken! 

“Your partner seems like she wants to change that.” I teased, heading over to his bed. 

“Don’t start.” He whined. 

“Since when did you and Henry move onto the L word?” He asked. 

“Last night actually.” I smiled. 

“You happy?” He asked me. 

“Incredibly. With you guys and now Henry in my life, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.” I lamented, leaning my head on his shoulder. 

“I better get to meet this guy soon.” Jay warned. 

My body straightened up at that comment. 

“There’s something I have to tell you but you can’t get mad.” 

“Don’t really think you get to control that.” He replied. 

“Pinky promise me Jay bird.” I complained, holding out a pinky. 

We made a promise before I spilled the beans. 

“Neither Henry nor I realized this until yesterday but you know Henry.” I explained. 

Jay had a look of confusion and he tried to go through the rolodex of people he knew for a ‘Henry’. 

“I don’t think so, are you sure?” He questioned, confused. 

“Yeah. He mostly goes by Hank but I prefer Henry.” I explained. 

He looked confused again before his face went blank. 

“I only know Hank Voight, my boss.” He growled. 

“I am in love with a man named Henry Voight.” I confessed. 

Jay didn’t even yell, he went dead silent and it was freaking me out. 

“We didn’t even know we knew the same people until he came in here yesterday and the dots got placed together.” I confessed. 

Tears started to well in my eyes at his silence. 

“Please say something.” I begged. 

He looked me dead in the eyes and shook his head ‘no’. 

“Hank Voight does not deserve someone as kind and loving as you Charlotte.” He stated. 

“But he does Jay.” I tried to reason. 

“No he doesn’t! You don’t know what he’s done, what he’s capable of. That man is going straight to hell one day and you are not going down with him.” 

“Then let me love him here on earth, Jay. He makes me so happy it hurts, and I am incredibly in love with him it’s ridiculous.” I sobbed. 

His eyes softened for a second at my tears and he reached an arm out to pull me into his chest. 

“We are discussing this later Charlie.” He vowed. 

I felt like shit the rest of the day knowing that Jay was upset but not willing to give into what I knew he wanted me to do. Will caught onto the vibes as he came in to check on us, ultimately giving Jay the all clear to head back to my place. 

“Come on chuckles, I ordered burgers.” I called out. 

I heard him hobbling into the living room as I got a call from Henry and quickly stepped onto the balcony. 

“Hey baby.” I answered. 

“Hi honey. You really didn’t have to do this.” He replied. 

Hailey had mentioned on her way out that the team was going to be pulling over time tonight working on this case so I made sure to send them all dinner from this Italian place I like to order from and some coffee from my favorite café. 

“Not a problem, I know you guys are working hard.” 

“You’re their new favorite person now. Upton spilled that the Halstead’s had a new sister as soon as she got back and with dinner, I’m sure you’re in for a round of beers once they finally get to meet you.” He joked. 

“Do I just get to be introduced as Jay’s sister or do I get to be revealed as their sexy boss’s girlfriend?” I teased. 

That earned me a small laugh. 

“Let’s start with the first one. I’m still waiting for your brother to hit me for the second.” 

“Fair enough. How are you doing?” I asked. 

“I’m okay. We should be done before midnight then I’m heading home and straight to bed and getting back here first thing in the morning.” 

“Or you could come here? Some well deserved cuddles with your girlfriend?” I offered. 

“Really don’t think that’s a good idea honey.” 

“Chuckles will be asleep by then and Wills on shift all night. The choice is yours but I won’t complain if you crawl into bed with me.” I tried to coax. 

“We’ll see sweetheart. I’ve gotta get back to the team.” 

“Okay baby, love you.” I smiled.

“Love you more.” 

I returned to the kitchen to see the chuckles in question stuffing his face yet again. 

“You leave me any?” I asked, looking at the nearly empty box of fries on the table. 

“I was shot Charlotte.” He deadpanned. 

I rolled my eyes at him using that as an excuse for eating a family sized box of fries. 

“Asshole.”

---

“Come on Jay bird, time for bed!” I shouted. 

He had some nighttime pain meds that would knock him right out and I needed to check some stitches. 

“Yes mom.” He groaned playfully, taking the pills from my hand as I lifted his shirt to see his bandages. 

“Looks good. How do you feel?” I asked. 

“Sore. Better now though. Thank you Charlie for letting me stay here.” 

“Not a problem. You’ll always have a place in my home.” I smiled, leaving his with a kiss to his head and dramatically tucking him in. 

“Don’t you let me catch you with the TV after lights out Mr.” I teased. 

“I’m literally 10 years older than you.” He groaned. 

“Then act like it!” I yelled from down the hall. 

I spent the second half of the night on the couch, browsing some shopping and ordered Will food because he called me complaining that he was starving. My grown brothers were children I swear. 

Deciding to call it a night, I checked on Jay one more time before retreating to my room and crawling under the covers. The bed still smelled like my honey and I feel asleep with a smile on my face. 

I was however awoken 2 hours later to ruffling in my room. Had I not heard Henry swear under his breath as he accidently hit his foot on my dresser, I would have thought it was an intruder. 

“Come snuggle.” I smiled, throwing the blanket open for him to enter. 

He crawled into bed quickly, bringing me securely into his chest while wrapping his arms around my body tightly. 

“Good night pretty girl.” He smiled, giving me a quick kiss on the lips. 

“Good night baby.” 

---

Taglist:

@royaltysuite @jadakiss13 @ego-allie-bap @acdassenza @alldaysdreamers @sande5098

[camslightstories]

Tolerate It - Part 13

Lena Luthor x reader, Kara Danvers x reader, Alex Danvers x reader. Baby Danvers. Female Reader.

Notes: Hey! I hope you guys are doing great and if you are not I promise things get better. I’m sorry I haven't updated but its just work and home are being hectic but I’m trying to get everything in track again. This chapter took an awfully long time write, i hope you guys like it!

My inbox is open for suggestions, recommendations, questions, and more. If any of you need help I will be honor to help you, always! Please fill my inbox with theories, comments and more i wanna hear what you guys think of the story! Hope you have a great day!

Taglist: @multi-images​  @captain-josslett​  @aznblossom​  @venteen​   @coxmicbabygirl​  @lezzzbehonesthere​

The smell of fries and burgers invaded your nose as you sat on the floor, glancing at your sore hand. Your legs extended on the floor as you held your head against the column of the place. The uncomfortable ache on your hand had seemed to increase by the second, as you sat down.

Confusion was the main thing in your head, the confused heavy feeling in your chest when you close your eyes, the twisted and ached void confusing you when reality sets in. It felt like a war between your mind and heart that neither of the two you understand. It felt like the reasons that your brain had were now gone, the reason part of feeling nonexistent.  

“Didn't think I would see you so soon” You claimed when you felt the presence of the brunette behind you. Two bags in her hand as the archer sat beside you. 

Thea replied teasingly, and flirtatiously grabbing fries from her bag, after hitting you softly in the shoulder. “Neither did I, princess”

“Thanks” You whispered as you started to eat, both of you sharing a knowing and somewhat comforting. The Queen woman smiled and kept silent giving you a nod. 

Thea had known you for a long time, but not until three years ago she saw you as her older brother’s best friend. She and Talia had taught every skill, you needed and wanted to learn. She had seen you put all of your anger everywhere you could. You were there subtly with alcohol after every break-up and make-up she had with Roy, showing your care as you sat with her drinking in silence until she couldn't anymore. 

The small creek sound of the door took both of your attention. Your mother stood silently with a white medical kit in her hand and an understanding expression on her face. You glanced at the brunette beside you, meeting her glance. A small spark in her eyes which you had never noticed before, you stopped in your way to comment on it when you heard the knowing clearing throat of your Mother. 

“Can I come in?” The Queen woman smiled reassuringly before leaving the room. Your mother stood at the side of the door, watching curiously and carefully before speaking. 

You looked up and met her eye glance, giving her a small nod as you spoke almost inaudible. “Sure”

Your mother had been making the small notes, and remainders when she saw you. She couldn't lie about the fact that her heart joined in joy and broke in less than 24 hours. It had been difficult to maintain a straight face when your oldest sister called her explaining the situation, letting her know and Jeremiah that after days of trying, they were the last option to bring some feelings to you. 

She saw your father way too comfortable yet nervous when they got the news, the trip had been too questioning and secretive that she suspected something had happened with the two of you. But seeing you with her own eyes as you stood in the room with void eyes, and rage protecting your walls. 

The complete silence from your party told her more than you knew. The isolation, the hidden pain, the calm and silence. It all reflected in one thing and it was you trying to understand your feelings, your world, yourself. It had happened when your dad had supposedly died. The heavy feeling in her chest grew as she sat beside you, while you stared at the wall quietly debating with your thoughts and feelings. 

Flashback - February 2005

You sat in the backyard of the house, dressed in black attire. Your eyes watching over the waves as they ended in the sand. The way the breeze moved the palms and softly touched your face. Your hands gripping the blanket covering you. 

You waited for everything to process in, you waited to wake up, you waited for him as you walked down the stairs that morning, you waited for your sisters to tell you it was a lie, you waited for your mom to serve his favorite lasagna as he came back home, you waited for the sound of cheer when he and your oldest sister finished repairing another part of the old car, you waited for him and Kara coming back from the forest at night after watching the stars, you waited for him to sit on the small bean bag of your bedroom as you played him something new in your instruments, you waited for the loud laughs and scolds that would come after you and your sisters would create an eating contest ending with Kara smiling proudly as you and Alex throw up, you waited for the ‘pizza and tacos night’ where the five of you somehow cooked without burning the kitchen down, ending with a marathon of movies and smiles on everyone faces. But it never came. 

The distinct voices from the house gained your attention as they felt closer. You closed your eyes, trying to focus on the sound of the waves failing in the attempt. Turning around to see both of your sisters standing side by side as one of your family members expressing their condolences to them. Kara seemed to keep it together as she nodded shyly, while Alex clenched her jaw giving a small thanks before walking away, your blonde sister watched the redhead walk away before looking at the floor excusing herself too. 

You looked away back to the beach, before deciding to get up and walk down the small hill entering the beach. Taking off your shoes, you put them at the side of the beach entrance before wrapping the blanket tightly around you. The voices began to zoom out and the sound of the ocean began to fill your ears. The soft sand on your feet as you walked closer to the shore felt grounding. The soft breeze that moved your hair out of control felt comforting as you sat down. 

Burying your feet in the sand as you closed your eyes trying to remember something, to have something to hold on to. It felt weird, out of place, like something was missing. Your mind tried to wrap up with the fact that your father was dead but even if you knew what was happening, you still had questions. Sitting on the sand, you stared blankly at the ocean, as the waves came, as the breeze moved the palms and touched your cheeks, as the soft salty smell invaded your nose, and the coldness of the day began to increase.

It was like a debate between what you wanted to believe and what was happening. There were running thoughts in your head that made you feel exhausted. It was unpleasant and even tiring to think of how this event would change your and your family's life. You avoided the thought as much as you could, wishing and hoping to wake up from the nightmare but it was real and as much as you didn't want to accept it, your father was gone, and he was not coming back.

You didn't even realize when the sun that was high in the sky had come down and reflected in the ocean, you didn't feel the breeze and air get heavier or the way the only thing illuminating the night was the light bulb you dad put at the entrance of the beach. 

It felt like time went in seconds, long seconds that you wished to take back and at the same time to move faster. It wasn't easy, it didn't feel easy, and the hole in your heart was unmistakable. You weren't a person who liked change, nor a person who easily understood what was going on around you. 

Sure when Kara came into the family, it was like the missing piece. It didn't take you long to warm up to the blonde, but she was suffering from the loss of her planet so you stayed behind the doors and waited the right moment to comfort her and make her as welcome as you could. You saw her hesitate when she was doing something that would make her happy, you saw her doubt herself as Superman came into the news, you saw her shed tears when she tried to find where Krypto would be. 

You tried constantly to win her affection, her trust, her intelligence, and more but you couldn't make her happy if she didn't heal. So you stayed awake during the night waiting to comfort her, you played with melodies on the piano so she could have a similar bed song as she had in Krypto, you ran as fast as you could after school to help her with her English or to watch and sing along with Wizard of Oz. You keep trying and trying even though she was legally your sister, you wanted to have a connection with her just like you did with Alex. So when the blonde the morning of your birthday hugged you and in English told you, you were her sister and she could be prouder than to call you that, you shredded in tears hugging her closely. 

But it was different, everything was different, it felt different, it sounded different, it even tastes different. There was a silence between your family, Alex kept her feelings inside and bottle them in trying so hard not to break, mad at the world, mad at dad, at you, at your mom, even Kara. Your mom was understanding but quiet, she tried to be your and your sister's rock during the day but at night you can hear her crying her heart out. Kara kept silent, mad at the world for taking another person from her, holding you close trying to be helpful as much as she could even if she was hurting as much as she was when she first landed. And you, you kept quiet, trying to understand, trying to find the lie, trying to reach and understand your feelings but couldn't. So you waited for the time to pass by and for things to get in order, just like your dad used to say ‘time heals things, everything gets better with time’ but as the words rounded your head you couldn't feel more than the biggest lie of the world.

Flashback ends

The soft wrap with alcohol against your knuckles ached as your mom determinately disinfected your hand. You felt her eyes constantly glancing at you when you kept silent, trying to ignore the slight throb from the small wound in your hand. You glanced from the wall you stared continuously into her eyes, before speaking. “I tried”

“I know sweetie” Eliza looked up while finishing wrapping her hand before speaking in a motherly tone. As soon as she heard you talk she knew, she knew what you meant. Just your silence gave it away, she knew your conflicted feelings weren't going to help now and they didn't before, but what scared her was how long you were going to take to heal, to flash a familiar smile, to laugh until you couldn't anymore, to look at the eyes of your significant other, to sign with your older sisters until either of your throats wouldn't give more. 

Fighting back the tears your eyes had swollen, you claimed again making eye contact with your mother, your mother's eyes redating with comfort and sadness as she looked at you. You clenched your hand into a fist but immediately opened it again when you felt the strong throb in your knuckles. “I tried, and it didn't work out. It didn't do anything”

“Healing isn't about not feeling sad or feeling numb, it's about letting in, letting go, and finding yourself again but you can't do it if you are not ready for it” She answered brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear. 

And the understanding in her eyes and voice made you doubt, as your feelings started to fall in place. Heartache, anger, sadness, disappointment, pain, and more began to feel your chest and your mind as you took the words of your mother in. Your now bloodshot eyes looked away from her as you felt your lip tremble.

You nodded quietly, and before you knew. You threw your arms around your blonde mother, tears furiously leaving your eyes as she soothed you, with comforting and reassuring words. Your head was hidden in her neck as you cried your eyes out. 

The feeling of heartbreak and pain overwhelming you as everything started to come down on you. And you wanted to cry, for minutes, for hours, days, weeks, even years. Because somehow after everything you still didn't feel enough, you felt everything you did was wrong, that you could have been better and you could have changed differently, closing your eyes you wished for it to be gone, but deep down you knew it wasn't.

“Please just make it stop, mom. Please, it hurts so much”

Flashback - February 2005

“Please just make it stop, mom. Please, it hurts so much”

You don't know how it happened or how long you had been furiously crying until you stared at the small seashells in the sand getting wet thanks to your tears. The once beige shell now was white. Grabbing the seashells from the sand, you started to throw them angrily at the water. 

The sound of the rock making contact with the water somewhat comforted you, longing to throw everything away for it, for the broken shells to absorb your problems and leave with it. Soon enough you fell to your knees sobbing out. As the night lighting shot in the ocean, as the ocean tide had gone up, the once breeze became violent air. 

One second you were crying furiously on your own, and the next you sobbed into your mother's arms, as she reassured you that everything was going to be okay. You gripped her shirt hugging her closely before looking up to her, touching your chest as your bloodshot eyes glanced in hers.

Your lip trembling from the cold and your sobs, her heart broke, even more, when you hid in her neck which made her look up as she soothed your back. She was trying so hard to keep it together for you and your sisters but the moment she caught sight of Kara and Alex with blankets around themselves walking straight to where the two of you sat, made her break into tears. 

You looked up from your mother's neck as you felt a hand rubbing your back and others grabbing your hand softly in reassurance. Each one of them by you and your mother's side, your cries had slowed down when your redhead sister asked with a crack in her voice to your mother. “Are we gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, we will be but it will take time to heal, we can't rush it, we have to be ready”

“We are going to be okay” Kara claimed as a statement of reassurance after your mother responded, but her trembling lip, bloodshot eyes, and the high tone she used made her sound more like a prayer than anything.

Your mother reassured, making you three nod slowly before falling into a reassuring silence. “Until then we have each other, and one of the most precious things you girls are going to have in your life is each other, your family.”

Flashback ends

Unknowingly to you, your sisters had been watching from the door the moment Kara heard your heart spike. Tears in their eyes as they watched your mother rocked you slowly as you cried. Silent sobs and bitten lips coming from them as they stopped each other from walking into the room. 

Alex kept her jaw clenched as her hands gripped each other hard as she tried to keep the tears inside. The redhead felt responsible for your crying, the urge to run in and comfort you debating her self-control. Doubts, questions, and more gained in her head as she saw you sob into your mother's arms, rage slowly consuming her emotions as the protectiveness over you began to show up.

Kara let out silent sobs, with her hand on top of her mouth. Her bloodshot eyes and red cheeks had overwhelming tears. The superheroine hated herself, as she felt responsible for your crying. She just wanted to hold you in her arms and tell you everything was going to be just fine, she wanted to see your sunny smile when you saw her or the bad jokes and puns you used all the time, she wanted you, she wanted her little sister but a part of her told her you needed the same space she once received from you. 

The two of them standing next to each other with broken hearts and tears in their eyes, a small sense of hope in their chest as they watched the scene. Sharing a knowing, Alex came closer putting her arm around your blonde sister’s shoulder before speaking. 

“Everything is gonna be okay, we are getting her back, I promise,” She said quietly reassuring Kara even when neither of them fully believe it.

[tracybirds]

Paper Dreams

John receives a prestigious invite and he’s not sure how to respond.

Many thanks to @gumnut-logic for the encouragement because I am nerves!!

*                      *                      *

The crisp white envelope was heavy in his hands as he hurried from the room. Paper was a formality, a mark of distinction that would surely draw his brothers’ unwanted attention. Letters didn’t just arrive unannounced in this era of high-speed data connections and quantum supercomputers. In fact, they didn’t arrive at all.

So, John was more than a little apprehensive when Grandma Tracy silently handed him the sealed envelope and walked away.

It took only a few short minutes to read through the contents and he sat back against the window in his room, the words whirling in his mind.

Mars Colonisation Project. Distinguished candidate. Invited to apply.

An opportunity of a lifetime.

A way to prove for once and for all that he was more than his father’s famous name.

John clutched at the letter, the paper crinkling in his grasp. He mouthed the words as he read them, over and over.

He looked up at the sound of a loud yell calling his name, hurriedly shoving the letter into the envelope and dropping it at his side. Snatching up a nearby tablet, his flushed ears were the only hint of the letter that remained when Gordon shoved open the door.

“John, dinner, hurry up.”

His brother tore out of the room before he could respond.

*                      *                      *

John slipped into his seat, mouthing an apology to Grandma Tracy as he did.

“Finally!” cried Alan. He wriggled back in his seat, staring hopefully at the food. “Grandma said we had to wait for you, you took forever!”

“Is Dad not eating?” asked Virgil. “I heard him come in.”

“He’s taking it in the study tonight,” said Grandma Tracy, shaking her head slightly. “Brains dropped by and they’re holing up together on that project of theirs.”

John glanced over at the conspicuously empty seat at the head of table. They all knew what ‘that project’ meant.

In the heady rush of excitement, he’d all but forgotten the silent expectation that accompanied his studies and extra-curriculars for the past five years. A pet project alone wouldn’t have been enough to deter him from his own ambitions, but the Thunderbirds, they offered something different, something more than the office politics of academia, squabbling over research grants.

He’d never known anything that could compete.

Until now.

“Hey,” said Virgil in a low tone, nudging him from his thoughts. “You okay?”

John pulled himself back into the present with a slight grimace.

“Fine. Just thinking about an assignment.”

Virgil nodded slowly, looking him up and down with a critical eye.

“Are you going to eat anything, or just push it around?”

John automatically lifted his fork, blinking as the peas fell back to the plate and landed in a pile of mushy, grey potatoes.

“Actually, I’m not that hungry.”

“Can I have yours?” asked Alan, already reaching over to grab at his plate.

“Not hungry, John?” asked Grandma Tracy. “You’re not coming down with something, are you?”

She examined the pinched look in his face and the nervous twist of one hand inside the other.

“No,” said John, wishing he hadn’t said anything. The last thing he wanted was any level of scrutiny. “I’m fine, Grandma, honest.”

He let Alan scrape his leftovers from his plate, realising with a pang than he’d had another growth spurt over the previous semester at his boarding school.

If he left for Mars, he’d return to a brother he’d hardly recognise.

Colonisation was a long-term project, the result of years in planning and decades of dreams. Countless people would put their life’s work into its development and they had every right to expect the same of their astronauts. The application process alone was heavily involved and would severely limit time with his family, to say nothing of the many years ahead for him on Mars if he made it all the way into space. He’d be travelling millions of miles from home, only to find himself living with a group of strangers that he couldn’t escape without logging an external environment report.

He didn’t even like sharing a bathroom at the university housing that much.

Still the piece of paper called to him.

“Can I be excused?”

Grandma Tracy nodded and he hurried from the room, not noticing her troubled look.

The warmth of the room followed him into the hallway and he shut the door firmly behind him. He thrust his hand into his pocket, searching for the reassuring touch of cool paper.

It was real.

It was real and if he let the opportunity pass by, he might regret it for the rest of his life.

Or he might be wasting his time, pinning his hopes on something that would only serve to distract him in the long run. He could only imagine what Scott would say, who’d never once taken his eye off a prize once he’d decided to aim for it.

He didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what he wanted, and found himself climbing into the cramped space under the roof that had generously called a playroom, then a study, then an attic.

He blinked as the bare bulb overhead lit the small room, filling it with old memories and dust.

His first telescope was still standing in the corner, pointing high in the sky and he lifted the edge of his T-shirt to wipe the dust away. Surrounding it, lay stacks of books that his mom had picked up from the local thrift store, that Mrs Delaney, the owner, put them aside just for him.

John walked carefully among them, tugging the small window open and staring out into the night. The stars shone bright in the clear, crisp air.

Crouching down, he peered through the eye piece, adjusting the focus with a practiced hand. The little reflector was nothing like the giant telescopes available at the college department, and he had to hold his breath to stop the stand from wobbling. But the universe was still out there, the same as it was when he was a kid, still holding an infinite number of mysteries despite the years he had spent uncovering the rules that held it together.

He looked up, eyes darting through the familiar patterns, searching for the anomaly he knew was wandering between Gemini and Taurus.

And there it was.

Mars.

A planet with so much to offer the world they lived on. Where he could work with a team of people who loved space just like him, where he could devote his life to researching astronomy from a new perspective and developing technology for interplanetary life for generations to come.

Where he could leave his mark alongside all the heroes of his childhood. Alongside his dad.

“After all, why shouldn’t I go?” he said, scowling up at Mars.

“Go where?”

John spun around with a start.

“Kayo! When did you get in?”

She shrugged, propping up her head with her hand.

“Long enough to see you come up here,” she said. “I waited for you, but then Mrs Tracy said you hadn’t eaten. Figured something was wrong.”

She looked him up and down with a piercing eye. John tried not to squirm. He’d always felt Kayo had something of a sixth sense when it came to knowing things that should have been a secret.

“Seems like I was right,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Everything’s fine.”

“Then where are you planning on going?”

“Nowhere. I don’t think, that is…”

He flopped down and tilted his head back with a huff.

“Not right now, at any rate.”

Kayo pulled herself up onto the floor and drew the ladder upwards.

Neither spoke as the trapdoor shut with a small ‘click’.

The dust swirled in the air, dancing in the shafts of light above them.

“Is it a graduate program?”

“No.”

“An international program?”

“No.”

“A long-term space colonisation program for specially selected candidates who have already proven themselves in the fields of communications, astrophysics and astrotechnology?”

John stared at her.

She shrugged.

“It’s my job to know.”

“So, why even ask?”

“I’m trying to get you to lower your guard.”

She smiled at the dumbfounded look on his face.

“You’ve met Brains, right? He’s got some server tracker that flags your name. They asked your advisor for academic and personal references months ago.”

“Oh God,” said John, dropping his head in his ands and staring wildly at the floor. “Does Dad already know?”

Kayo shook her head.

“Dad and I do. Security details and all. But we don’t tell him that kind of stuff, you know, he’s not spying on you.”

“You’re right, that’s a real comfort,” said John, drily.

Kayo tossed her head.

“I’m just saying.”

Her eyes softened as she watched him draw his knees close to his chest.

“He doesn’t know.” She hesitated, still watching him. “Would it be all that bad if he did though?”

John huffed a little, still staring at his knees.

“International Rescue’s all we’ve ever talked about,” he said. “I didn’t think there’d be anything else I wanted. What if I let him down?”

“He’s already proud of you, John.”

“But we’ve been working towards it for so long now. This would change everything. Delay the full scope of the project for months, or years even.”

Kayo snorted.

“You really think Jeff Tracy, resident billionaire and with access to the best tech in the world, wouldn’t be able to find another genius astrotechnician and communication expert?”

John shot her a withering look.

“Okay, so maybe he’d have to find two super geniuses.”

She easily dodged the picture book he threw in her direction.

“Leave off,” he said, rolling his eyes.

Kayo spotted the slight smile though, and grinned broadly in return.

“Can I?” she asked, nodding at the space between him and the wall.

John nodded and shuffled over as best he could, trying not to topple the book stacks around them.

Kayo wriggled into the gap, and John paid her no mind.

He hadn’t thought of who would take his place because, of course, someone must. He’d been preparing for an International Rescue without him, one where his family diverted communications for a few years and focused their efforts on establishing themselves on land and sea until Alan stepped into his role on Thunderbird Five.

He hadn’t imagined an International Rescue where he wasn’t even needed.

Kayo seemed to sense the turn in his thoughts, nudging him gently to pull him from them.

“He wouldn’t trust them half as much as you, you know.”

John shrugged.

“I don’t want to disappoint him,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “But I don’t want that to be the only reason I don’t go.”

He took a deep breath, and glanced back up at the slowly setting planet.

“And I want to go,” he admitted. “I do. I need to tell him.”

Kayo nodded, a sad look in her eyes. They sat in silence together, lost in their own thoughts. The bustle of the house downstairs filtered upwards. Muffled bangs and indistinct shouts of Gordon and Alan playing some ridiculous game, loud music from Virgil’s room – the kind he put on to drown out any interruption to his painting. Grandma Tracy seemed to be having some kind of one-sided conversation with herself, until John remembered, with a pang, that it was Saturday morning out in Guam and she was likely speaking to Scott at that very moment.

Kayo sighed and dropped her head on John’s shoulder.

“I’d miss you though.”

John swallowed carefully past the sudden lump in his throat.

“I’d miss you too.”

*                      *                      *

John was too old to be summoned to his father’s study, but somehow deliberately interrupting him felt worse. Nausea sat like a rock in his stomach, his voice box left in tatters as he knocked on the solid oak door.

“Who is it?”

He couldn’t reply.

His eyes flitted across the family photos that littered the hallway, landing finally on the image of his father and crewmates waving to the masses as they entered the Herschel-VI.

The photograph didn’t show the way his father was blind to the crowd, his farewell only for the woman who stood half a mile from the launchpad, proud, so proud, and sick with worry too. She held tight to her eldest son with one hand, and rested her other on the stroller she was rocking back and forth. She didn’t see the way he had wriggled out of his restraints nor how he was preparing to drop to the ground and run away, already intent on chasing after his father at three years old.

Jeff Tracy, first man on Mars, opened the door with a frown and a touch of impatience, and John knew there would be no escape this time.

“John.”

“Dad.”

His throat closed around his words and his hand closed around the letter in a fist.

Jeff looked down at the sound, and looked back at John, an assessing look in his eye. He stepped back wordlessly and John entered the severe room.

“What’s happened, son?” he asked, holding his hand out for the letter.

He smoothed down the crumpled edges as he read, his eyes leaping from phrase to phrase on the page.

“Well, it seems congratulations are in order. I assume you intend to accept?”

The knot in John’s chest loosened and he collapsed into the chair opposite Jeff.

“I intend to apply,” he corrected, staring down at the desk between them.

“John, they don’t reach out like this unless they want you onboard. They intend you to be on that shuttle, regardless of the formalities the bureaucrats put in place.”

“Yeah.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the blueprints, Brains’ small, neat handwriting annotating each design and his father’s looping comments scrawled liberally across them.

Jeff followed his line of sight and smiled.

“Five won’t be operational for a few more years, you know that. Don’t let her be what holds you back.”

“But this was always it, this is why I’m getting space rated. And the satellite network still needs to be launched, and the orbital mechanics calculated.”

“An opportunity like this doesn’t come your way twice, son.”

John stopped.

“You think I should accept. If they say yes.”

“Don’t you?”

There it was. His father’s blessing laid out in front of him, just waiting to be taken up like a pennant.

Everything they’d worked for, everything they’d sacrificed, gone. In its place, a single shining achievement, a global community on their sister planet. The first of its kind.

It had been a long time since John had allowed himself to dream his own dreams.

“Alright,” he said, a giddy rush spinning his head so that he hardly knew what he was saying. “I’m gonna do it.”

[asialikestowrite]

Kind Our Memories

Its my first fic feedback would be appreciated. This is an interactive fic about Katsuki and Rumi's life after a series of terrible incidents seperate them from their parents. What will happen? You decide. To participate please see the Twitter thread

https://twitter.com/FatandFriends/status/1514050865912594439?t=vcGdCYXMTDrcSqbS2jMb7w&s=19

Tw: implied child neglect, childhood trauma, quirk discrimination

🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

Rumi stared outside the passenger side window. The past year has been torture for her and this situation was not helping.

"Look I'm sorry it didn't work out for us. You're just not a good fit. You understand right?"

Rumi's ears twitched in irritation at the women's harsh words. She slowly nodded her head, without turning towards the woman speaking to her. Yeah, Rumi understood all right. This woman and her family wanted a perfect young lady to fit their perfect family and live happily ever. The only reason they even adopted Rumi in the first place was that she was a girl with a Rabbit Quirk. They thought that if she had a similar quirk to the rest of the family she would fit in perfectly. They also wanted a girl because they already had a son, and they wanted a nuclear family to match their white picket fence and ugly ass dog. What they didn't account for was Rumi having a completely different personality and not being willing to change to fit them. "I am sure there is some family who wants a more rambunctious girl like yourself. You're just not quite what we are looking for," the woman says. This woman spoke to Rumi as if she applied for a job. A family is about luv and acceptance. Why should Rumi have to change who she was? So Rumi liked to practice martial arts instead of wearing ugly church dresses and doing boring tea times. She was going to be a hero one day, she wanted to get a head start on her fighting technique

She also loved blasting Rihanna and Megan the Stallion to destress after school. They wanted her to listen to Beethoven ad Bach. Nothing wrong with classical music, but Rumi just didn't want it to be the only music she was allowed to listen to. “Aw, sweeties it’s going to be okay. You have a mom, dad and baby brother now!” Her adopted "mother" would hug her “Soon, you’’ll forget about your family and that terrible boy Bakugou”

This enraged Rumi she would yell at them to get out and leave her alone. She shouldn’t have to forget anyone! What kind of shit was that? This just made Rumi miss Katsuki and their unconventional family. They accepted her. Or they used to? They do? It's hard for her to believe it's just her now. She's pretty sure Katsuki was adopted while she was gone. The last time they talked he promised her that the next family that was going to adopt him, he would be good and not act up like he usually did. She wanted at least one of them to have a happy family and happy life. "I wish you well on your journey to be a….." Rumi didn't let the woman finish before she hopped out the car and dragged her trash bag of belongings inside. They could have at least bought her a suitcase. Cheap asses. As Rumi walks into the center, she notices the Kyundai isn't minding the desk; must be busy in his "secret" room or neglecting the kids. Rumi gazes at the run-down orphanage, she retuned to, some of the light bulbs flickered; there were pieces of tiles on the floor missing, and the food was crappier than ever. Everything looked worse than before without Katsuki. She roams around and hears a familiar voice.

"Fuck off I have things to do" That sounded like Katsuki. But a family came to take him before she left. He said he would be good and try to be happy. He promised!! She was about to give him a piece of her mind. She stomped over to the boys rooms, noticing there were others in the room with him. She stopped close to the open door to listen in. "Since you were sent back it must be because you're bad. If you're bad you are a villain. Thatmeans as future heroes we have to stop you" Sounded like Mamoru. The agreeing sounds she heard after his little speech must have been his stupid cronies. "Like you, losers are going to become heroes, You'll be lucky to be a sidekick to some busted D lister hero" Rumi holds in a laugh. Katsuki was so cheesy. She quickly composes herself when she remembers she is supposed to be mad at him. As she looks inside, she sees Momaru, wrapping his stretchy arm around Katsuki's neck, forcing him to fall to his knees and gasp. No one is allowed to beat up Bratsuki, except her, of course. Rumi immediately runs in; she had had enough. "I'd never listen to some criminals son like —- ahhhhhhh" Before the boy could pull Katsuki's neck any tighter. Rumi grabs him. His grip on Katsukis neck loosens enough for Katsuki to maneuver the arms from around his neck. "I hope this isn't what it looks like, Mamoru?" Rumi growls out as she holds Momaru's stretchy arms in her hands and pins him to the ground with her foot firmly pressing on his neck. Katsuki hops off the floor. He can't hide his happy face from Rumi, even through his little gremlin scrowel. "I could have handled him" Katsuki mutters, only loud enough that Rumi hears. He walks over to her real "casual" and "smooth" like, or at least what he considers casual and smooth. Bakugou tried to sound cool and collected, but he's really excited. Rumi is here. Shes happy he is here too, though she wouldn't admit it. The one person that makes everything she goes through at this orphanage better. The 1 thing that is always missing from families that try to adopt them. Without each other those other families were just a bunch of wannab's

"N- n- n-no we were just greeting, villian– I m-m- m-mean Bakugou. You know how much we love you guys" Mamoru, squeaks out as Rumi squeezes his neck

"Oh okay. Well if you want to greet us properly you have to say the thing" Rumi smirks sending a wink at Katsuki "You too dumb and dumber say it with your leader before I kick all of your asses"

Rumi uses Mamoru's arms as a hook to grab his two minions and drag them closer to her "Don't forget the groveling" Bakugou says crouching down to Mamoru's face

Momaru grovels reluctantly, because he really didn't want Rumi to beat him up... again.

"I, 2,3…. Oh King King Explosion Murder and Queen Bunny Ruler of the Moon and Son we humbly welcome you home" the trio says. Rumi knows it's terrible, but it makes her and Katsuki laugh. "That's fucking right. Now get the hell out of my sight before I get really upset." She frowns at the three until they leave, climbing over each other and fighting to get through the door before they finally leave. "That's what I thought!!" Rumi yells. When the boys are out of sight and she can no longer hear their cowering whimpers and rushed steps, Rumi grabs Katsuki's face squeezing it between her warm hands. "You okay? They didn't hurt you did they?" She immediately starts looking over at him, making sure he is not bruised or hurt. "Amm fine wumi. Wet goooo!" Bakugou says, squirming out her hold.

Art by @annie-jpg55

[drethanramslay]

A funny thing called Fate- Prologue

Pairing: Bryce X MC (Aisha Khurrana)

Word Count: 2.8K words

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Warning: None really, just a little cursing

Author’s note: I had been listening to Strawberries and Cigarettes by Troye Sivan and that is actually the primary spark which led me to come up with this series. Shout out to @mvalentine and @anotherbeingsworld fo letting me bounce my crazy ideas <3

AHHH so it is finally here!! This is my first time writing Bryce so I hope I can do justice to this beautiful man. This starts with Aisha’s (MC) POV and like I said, there will be a time jump. It would be first person when I’m writing in the past and then it will shift to third person when I’m writing the present. I think i should stop my rambling and let’s go!!

Terms you need to know-

-Bhaiya: Brother in hindi

-Beta: Technically it means ‘son’ but in most Indian families its used like a term of endearment too

- AIIMS, Delhi: Stands for All India Institute of Medical Sciences. This is one of the best medical schools in the country and Only 100 people out of 200,000(or more) get in. So it is very cut throat.

10 years ago- Aisha's PoV 

(Age: 16)

I am done.

Done with all the drama, done with all the lies, done with all the manipulations and done with all the heartache.

And most of all, I was done with him- the infamous Bryce Lahela. 

The boy with the stupid long hair, the stupid signature smirk and the stupid charm. Those amber eyes which reminded you of the sand and sea and those lips on which an everlasting smile played used to be like a breath of fresh air. I always thought that he was so unique, but boy was I wrong. 

All boys are the same.

I really thought that jocks like him would be different huh? Can someone just hand me my clown shoes?

But luckily, I don't have to see his face ever again because for once, instead of making a mockery of my existence, life decided to give me something that I really wanted badly.

A chance to leave all of this in my past. A chance to start over again.

My dad had a better business opportunity back in Mumbai. I am an Indian and we lived in Delhi since the time I was born but we shifted to Mauii when I was in the ninth grade because of how demanding dad's job was getting

Bhaiya chose to stay back in Delhi because his engineering college was there and he enjoyed the hostel life way too much. And he had finally managed to get out of our toxic household so I really could not blame him.

So yeah.. that is how I ended up in Maui in the first place.

It was okay in ninth grade. I kept to myself and blended in with the shadows (because hello social anxiety!). But... Tenth grade changed everything.

It was one of the best and worst year of my life and I often wonder if I could ever get over this.

I am definitely sounding like one of those over-dramatic Indian soap operas my mom watches every night.

"Aisha? Are you ready? The car is here beta."

"Yes, Mama. I am coming!! Just packing up some stuff."

Breaking out of my reverie, I stuffed in my phone and other essentials into my carry bag. As I was zipping up my luggage, I yanked open my closet door to see if I left anything behind my eyes landed on the shoebox I had stuffed in the back of my closet.

I gulped and I felt tears well up in my eyes again. A part of me wanted to take it for it had all the trinkets of the good things in my relationship with Bryce but, another part of me knew that if I took it with me, I would never be able to move on and that would completely defeat the purpose of this fresh start I have been looking forward to.

So with a heavy heart, I looked away and shut the door of the closet, picked up my luggage and left.

As the Uber pulled out of the curb I stared out of the window, to look at the beaches I had come to love and hate.

I liked Maui, I really did but all that it was reduced was a place where I was humiliated and belittled.

And it was all his fault.

PRESENT

(Age: 27)

"Oh my god. I'm gonna late!!" Aisha screeched as she saw the time on her phone. She shoved the duvet off her and jumped out of bed. She tried running to the bathroom in her small closet-sized apartment but it just ended up with her stubbing her toe against the coffee table.

"Ow ow ow." She cursed as she hobbled into the washroom and got on with her daily chores. Her hand-eye coordination was already awful and add that she was sleep deprived just made the entire thing worse. Stumbling, tripping, cursing she managed to brush her teeth and hop into the shower. The burst of cold water managed to wake her up as she furiously washed.

Why did I have to move into a room under a busy staircase?! This is why bhaiya says- Do your research. She angrily thought to herself as she wiped herself rigorously and zipped open her suitcase, searching for her semi-formal clothes.

Grabbing a granola bar and her trusty thermos of coffee, she was on her way to Edenbrook.

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

As she entered the atrium, she was in complete awe. It looked big and majestic on the outside, with a clever mix of brick walls and the glass facade, making it look welcoming. Sunshine poured through the atrium as the various doctors and nurses worked around her, not giving mind to the clueless intern gawking.

"Hi, I'm Dr Ines Delarosa, a senior resident!! You look lost. Let me guess... the first day of residency?" A short woman in a doctor's coat walked up to her breaking Aisha from her awe, her aura full of happiness, rainbows and unicorns which made Aisha a little vary.

Is it normal to be this happy and energetic?

Aisha nodded hesitantly and the resident smiled a hundred-watt smile. "Great. You are gonna need a photo ID. Follow me, I will get you all set up." Wordlessly Aisha followed Ines, slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder, nervously playing with the strap.

It is going to be fine... Aisha breathed out as she entered a room with a white background and a camera before it. "Just step over here, in front of the camera and smile."

And waste my energy? No thanks.

She schooled her features to be as professional as she could and the flash of the camera went off. Aisha walked over the tangled wires and peeked at the screen. A serious face stared back at her, the lighting doing good to her brown skin. Her nose piercing caught light and her dark mahogany hair was tied up in a neat ponytail.

"Is it okay? Or do I need to retake the photo?"

"No, it is great! I like it. Thank you."

"Well I will just stick this on your ID.... and you are good to go!! I wish I looked that good in my ID." She said and cheerfully and once her eyes fell on the title a smile made its way on her face,

Dr Aisha Khurrana... It is real and it is true.

"My first day as a real doctor." she whistled lowly shaking her head as if she didn't believe it.

"I was in your shoes last year. Believe me, med school was nothing compared to this. Your three years of residency will be the toughest, most amazing year of your life!! But the first year as an intern will be the craziest of all."

As soon as the smile had graced her features, it slipped away and she nodded seriously. "I think I am ready for it. I have been dreaming and slogging my ass so that I could work in Edenbrook. Ever since I learnt that Ethan Ramsey worked here. His research basically pushed me to apply for med school."

Also, the fact that my parents can like shut up about me being worthless.

"That is great. I will just walk you to the locker room so that you can change into scrubs." Ines offered and Aisha gave her a small smile.

"So... Any advice?"

"Make friends..."

And I am out. She thought to herself. She always struggled with making friends and that is partly the reason why she would keep to herself all the time. Sure she did make a few gem of a friends in med school but if she had to choose between mingling with strangers and drowning, you know what she would choose.

"... with your interns, year senior residents, even your patients! Friends will get you through anything. And, uh, try to not annoy the Attendings! You do not want to get on your boss's bad side."

"Noted."

After changing she was just passing through the waiting room so that she could get to the orientation when she heard gasps from the seating area. A woman had collapsed on her seat and the people were crowding around her.

Her instincts kicked in and she ordered. "Give her space. Everybody step back! I'm a doctor."

She hurried over to the woman just as another doctor rushes in. He kneeled at her side and checked her pulse. "Pulse is weak. She's unresponsive." He looked up and his eyes landed on her.

"You Rookie. Get here."

"Right away doctor. Coming!" Aisha hurried over as the doctor lifted the fainted woman on to the nearby gurney.

"What was she coming in for? Did she fill out a form yet?"

"No, she'd just walked in."

The doctor's piercing blue eyes landed on her which made her straighten her back. "If we don't figure out what's wrong with her fast, she's going to die on this table. Rookie, check B.P."

Wrapping the blood pressure cuff around the unconscious woman's arm and she pumped the bulb, peering at the numbers.

"It's plummeting. She's hypotensive. We've gotta get fluids in her."

Aisha's eyes wandered over the woman's form, trying to search for more clues. Her eyes landed on the rapidly forming bruise on her elbow.

"Doctor... Look at this bruise. I think it's a sign that she is a haemophiliac."

The doctor replied in a gruff voice. "You think or you know?"

"I know."

"Good. Also can you see the way her fingertips are turning blue? It is a sign of low oxygen saturation in the blood. Take a closer listen to her lungs. Hurry."

She nodded assertively and slipped the resonator of the stethoscope over the ribs, straining to hear the diminishing whooshing of the lungs which made Aisha gulp in fear.

"Can't hear anything on the left side and the right side is struggling. She is going to suffocate at this rate." She spoke up , her voice struggling to stay calm but as she glanced at the older doctor, he seemed to be as cool as a cucumber.

"Nurse we have got a code blue." His authoritative voice boomed over as the nurses bustled around the gurney.

Taking the bag mask from the nurse, he secured it around the patient's mouth and gently pump air into her lungs.

"What do we do, Doctor? What's happening to her?" She asked as she noticed the reducing breath rate.

He looked up. "Consider all the clues. It's all there. You know this, Rookie."

Aisha closed her eyes and took a deep breath, realigning her focus, delving deep into her mind, analyzing the clues.

Hemophilia... low blood oxygen... no lung expansion on one side...

Her brown eyes snapped open as it struck her. "It's a haemothorax!"

A twinkle of approval flickered in the ocean eyes, which vanished as soon as it came. "Precisely. A blood vessel ruptured and is filling her pleural cavity..."

"... Blocking her lungs from expanding! That's why she can't breathe." Aisha completed the sentence.

Fuck.

"But we can't repair the blood vessel over here."

The older doctor's jaw clenched. "Then we will have to do a emergency thoracotomy to drain the cavity instead. Nurse!"

The nurse hustles around handing her a scalpel and a chest tube, her eyes widening in shock.

She gulped, her nervousness spiking as she sees the doctor lift the shirt of the patient, exposing the side of her rib cage.

"We need a local anaesthetic-"

The doctor interrupted her. "We're out of time and she is already unconscious. Do it now, or the woman's life is on you!!"

She gritted her teeth with determination. I am not loosing a patient on my first day.

She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. It is just like anatomy class only... this isn't a cadaver but a real person.

But that statement, instead of calming her, it just caused the scalpel to shake in her hand.

The doctor reaches and encompasses her hand. "Hey... You can do this."

Aisha nods stabilizing herself and focusing solely on the older doctor's voice, before she looked down.

"There you go... Nice and easy."

Incision at the fifth intercostal space... anterior.. to the mid axillary line...

And when she was confident enough, she made the perfect incision, a trickle of red following the path of the scalpel.

"Now the tube."

She took and pushed it into the incision and with a spurt, blood started draining out of the chest cavity resulting in the patient to take a deep breath.

Holy shit I did that. I freaking did that.

In the daze of endorphins, she heard the doctor order her surgery, the nurses wheeling the gurney and the onlookers applauding.

She turned towards the attending, excitement pouring out of her in waves. "Doctor.. that was absolutely amazing!!"

It's was as if a switch flipped and the grumpier and sarcastic facade took place. "You're right. It is pretty amazing you didn't get her killed."

Aisha's jaw dropped.

"Wait, what?"

The doctor rambled off, pointing out her mistakes. "Your examination was slow and superficial. Your scalpel technique, amateur at best."

It took all her might to not scoff. 

Excuse me I graduated from AIIMS Delhi, thank you very much.

 Swallowing the dying need to go off she spoke in a professional tone. "Amateur? I'm sorry, doctor but it is my first day."

"Well, that is not an excuse you can use because if that patient would have died, the blood would have been on your hands..." He lifted the badge attached to her breast pocket scrutinizing on the surname.

"... Khurrana."

He tossed the id back to her, turned on his heels and walked away, leaving a steaming Aisha in her place.

"What a dick." She muttered under her breath.

"Yeah and I'm totally in love with him." A nurse appeared magically out of thin air near her, causing her to jump in surprise.

The kind eyed nurse just rolled his eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder which had Aisha bristling. "Don't worry about it, Dr Ramsey is like that to everybody."

Aisha's jaw dropped for the second time. "Wait... Dr. Ramsey as in Dr. Ethan Ramsey?!"

Shooting a knowing glance, he spoke up. "I take it, you're a fan?"

"He's only my medical hero and greatest inspiration. I've read all his research!" Aisha rushed off, horror and excitement rushing through her.

Oh my god I managed to piss of my one medical hero.. I'm such a dumbass.

Noticing the horror of her expression he gave a gentle smile. "On the bright side, you'll get plenty more chances to impress him."

She sighed and looked down to see that her scrubs were stained with blood.

First impression is last impression beta, always remember that. Her father's voice resonated in her mind.

"Dammit, I'm here for five minutes and I'm already a mess. I can't show up to orientation like this!"

"Don't sweat it. There are extras in the locker room. Come I will show you the way..."

She walked into the locker room, looking for her assigned locker. There was a crowd of half naked interns and after mumbling a couple of 'excuse me's', and rubbing shoulders (literally) she made it the end of the room.

As she turned she knocked into another woman in nothing but her undergarments.

"Uh...um.. okay then." Aisha stuttered as she felt the back of her neck heating up.

Thanks to my brown skin no one can see me getting flustered.

"What? See something you like?" She asked cheekily in an Indian accent which eased Aisha up a bit.

"Ha, you wish."

"Aren't you cute?" The woman snickered as she reached for her pants.

"That's what people say, so it must be true."

She reached for her full sleeve shirt before looking Aisha's way. "Desi?"

Aisha snorted. "Obviously. And I'm guessing you too."

"Of course. And I'm guessing that you are definitely not wearing those scrubs."

"What? Didn't you hear? Bloody clothes are like the new trend around here."

There was a moment of silence before both of them started laughing.

"It's good to meet someone from home." Aisha spoke as she pulled her scrub shirt off.

"Woah, woah, woah. Don't count on that yet. I need to see if you are gonna get in my way in this competition."

Aisha smirked as she shut her locker. "Can't say I'm surprised. Can't be desi if the sense of competition isn't ingrained in your DNA."

"Oh my god never thought that I would see Jackie's twin." A familiar manly voice wafted over to them.

Wait a second...

"Shut up scalpel jockey, this is our kind of bonding."

"Oh please, don't scare the newbie aw- oh."

Oh.

She was standing right in front of him. Face to face. The playful amber eyes, with flecks of brown hadn't changed. The long shoulder length hair had been cut and styled to be short and messy.

There was no trace of the surfer boy she met in Maui. He was a man through and through but still, the youth in his eyes poured out in waves, reminding her of the sandy beaches.

But right now those amber eyes were wide with shock.

It's not everyday that you meet your ex of ten years in the locker room of your new job.

"Aisha?"

".... Bryce?!"

HEHEHEH AWKWAARRDDD

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[before-we-get-started]

Dream Come True

Colin Shea x O/C Corinne MacAdam

Multi-Chapter Story - Complete

Summary: Colin Shea and his band Rock the Cradle are finally making it big - until something unexpected happens. When he meets a girl that makes him reconsider his player ways, he thinks his life may be coming together, until she blows it apart.

Warning: Bad language, smut, suicidal ideations - no one under 18, please

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please do not read if you are underage. I do not own the character of Colin Shea; the rest are my original characters. By reading beyond this point, you understand the disclaimers as posted.

Chapter Four

Cori’s dad set down the last box on the kitchen counter. She couldn’t believe she was finally moving into a new apartment.

“This is it kiddo,” he said, wrapping her up in a hug. She smiled into his shoulder and hugged him back.

“Thank you so much Daddy.” She watched her father’s face spread into a smile.

“Corinne, I can’t tell you how happy we are for you. You’re getting a fresh start. The world is your oyster, you know.”

She wrinkled up her nose. “I hate oysters,” she said with a giggle.

“Well, you never know, there might be a beautiful pearl inside.” He kissed her on the forehead.

Cori walked him to the door, the daunting task of unpacking ahead of her. She opened the door to see him off and stopped in her tracks. Directly across the hall at apartment 6A, a guy clad only in flowered boxers had a blonde in a tight embrace, kissing her passionately. She pulled away from the guy and said goodbye.

“Bye April,” the guy said with a wave.

“Annie.” There was irritation in her voice.

“Annie, right. Bye Annie.”

As the blonde huffed down the stairs, Cori got a good look at her new neighbor. Tall, fit, a bad case of bedhead but adorable. His upper body was chiseled muscle, his legs long and sexy. He suddenly realized she was standing in her door and gave her the once-over. He licked his lips as he admired her in her jeans, tight Red Sox t-shirt and bare feet. “Well, well, well,” he said, walking around the bannister towards her. “Helloooo 6C.”

Cori smirked at him, crossing her arms without realizing it, protecting herself. “Hello.”

He prowled toward her like a cat stalking a mouse. “And what is your name? And how did I get so lucky?”

Just as he approached, her dad stepped out the door.

“Her name is Corinne. And unless you want to press that luck, I suggest you make a U-turn and go back to your apartment.”

Colin’s eyes were wide, a startled look on his face, but he recovered quickly.

“Well hey Corinne, welcome. I’m Colin, Colin Shea, from across the hall in 6A. I’m the official welcome party for the building. Just wanted to say hi.”

“Do you always welcome new neighbors in your boxers?” said her dad.

Colin looked down, as if he’d forgotten he was barely dressed. “Ah, that, well, I wasn’t sure when I’d get a chance to say welcome, thought I better seize the moment.”

“The moment after you couldn’t remember the name of the girl you just slept with?” said Cori, not sure where she got the nerve.

Colin gave a smile, shaking his head. “Ok, I know when I’m beat. It really was nice meeting you Corinne. I promise I’m a good neighbor.”

“Be neighborly and keep your distance,” said her dad with a smirk.

“Dad,” Cori hissed. “Don’t mind him, he’s just an overprotective dad. And everyone calls me Cori.”

Colin visibly relaxed, walking backwards towards his door. “Cori it is. Talk to you later Cori.” He gave her a little salute and disappeared into his apartment.

“Oh brother,” said her dad, “now I have to worry about that guy.”

Cori laughed. “No you don’t Daddy, I’ll be fine. This is a nice building, don’t worry.”

He pulled her into a warm embrace. “Your mother will call and check on you later.” With that, he made his way down the stairs.

She stared over at 6A’s door. She was still trying to register the gorgeous Welcome Wagon across the hall. Those long muscular legs, defined pecs and a six pack, biceps for days, blonde hair and blue eyes, absolute pure sexiness, and quite evidently a heap of trouble. Her heart fluttered a little. There were lots of reasons to love this new apartment.

She’d given herself the weekend to unpack and get the apartment set up. She was finding it easier each day to look forward. The disappointment of losing her fiancée and being betrayed by her best friend was still there, but she’d managed to push it away. The experience she’d had when she’d flatlined was always at the surface but she’d always had an active imagination and was a romantic at heart. Instead of seeing a light when she passed, she guessed she’d seen a hottie by the ocean. She smiled at the memory, tucked away in her heart. She owed that guy big time, even if he didn’t exist.

She’d run downstairs to throw some boxes in the recycler and met another neighbor, a chatty girl named Cathy who invited her to a party. “It’s so nice out, we’re taking advantage of the rooftop deck. Come and join us, you can meet some more of your new neighbors. Seven o’clock, bring something to share that we can nibble on. Drinks are provided.”

Cori had thought all afternoon about it and decided what the heck, she had to start somewhere. She was still putting clothes away but found her favorite shirt, a pullover with tiny bright flowers on a black background and a deep V neckline trimmed in lace with lace-trimmed bell sleeves and her favorite black capris. She pulled her chestnut curls up into a ponytail and lightly applied makeup, squirting her favorite perfume in the air in front of her and walking through. She slipped on black flats and because she was still unpacking her kitchen, pulled a bottle of wine from a box and headed to the stairs to the roof.

As she opened the door, a warm breeze hit her. She could hear light conversation and laughter, the sun just beginning to set. String lights with Edison bulbs were strung from a large brick chimney that rose from the roof to a canopy set up nearby. Folding chairs and an old couch sat under the lights, along with a long table holding chips, dip and other finger foods. A large cooler sat next to the table.

Cori approached the group slowly. Suddenly she was regretting her decision. It would’ve been so much easier to just order a pizza and finish unpacking.

“Cori!” Cathy from the trash room was waving at her. She shyly walked over to her.

“Everyone, this is Cori. She just moved in to 6C. Please make her welcome!”

Her new neighbors took turns approaching her with warm greetings. One offered to get her a drink, taking the bottle of wine to go with the others. Each introduced themselves with a name and apartment number. They were all ages, and all very friendly.

“I just moved in as well, 4B. It’s nice to meet you,” said a nerdy looking guy in khakis and a button down with glasses. Cori shook his hand.

From behind, she felt a hand on her lower back. She turned and found herself face to face with sexy 6A, her underwear clad neighbor from moving day. At some point he’d gotten dressed – disappointing.

“Hey,” he said with that incredible smile.

“Hey,” she squeaked out.

“Now how didn’t I know you already met Colin,” said Cathy, laughing, and the group chimed in, cajoling Mr. Sexy.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he said, his face turning pink. “Can I help it if I’m friendly?”

“Friendly. Is that what they call it now?” said an older man with a laugh. He patted Colin on the back.

“Colin is our resident Casanova,” said another female resident, probably in her 30s. She gave him a bit of an eye roll and Cori wondered if they had a history.

“We met the day I moved in. He was saying goodbye to his girlfriend.”

There was a moment of silence, followed by raucous laughter.

“Girlfriend, that’s a good one,” the older man said, bending over he was laughing so hard.

Colin chuckled. “Hey, you don’t buy the first shirt you pull from the rack. You gotta try them on first, right? Gotta find the right fit.” There was a collective groan among the other tenants with a few giggles (mostly from the men).

Cori smiled. So he was too good to be true. Nothing that looked that good could be good for you. She’d guessed right.

“Cori, don’t let them get to you. I’m a heckuva nice guy. I look forward to being your neighbor.” He reached down and pulled her hand to him, kissing the back of it. Catcalls came from every direction.

“Don’t drink that Kool Aid Cori, you’ll be sorry.” It was the bitter lady from earlier. Yep, they definitely have a history.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful neighbor,” she said with a smile, and he returned it. Man, was this guy trouble.

She learned everyone’s name and they told her a little about themselves. She shared that she was starting a new job and had moved from her parents’ home, leaving out the part about getting cheated on, stepping into the path of a moving car and being brought back to life in a weird dream by a kiss from a hot guy that doesn’t exist. That might be a bit much for a first intro. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming. She enjoyed some food and chatted with her new neighbors.

“So, tell me about this new job.” Colin plopped down next to her on the couch where she sat. He casually slipped his arm behind her on the cushions.

She stiffened a little and sat forward. “I’ll be the personal assistant to a family friend in the city. Running errands, shopping, and helping her with a book that she’s writing. She also has a foundation so I’ll help her with fundraising events. That’s kind of my specialty.”

She made eye contact with him and was struck by his eyes – so blue. “Well, that sounds great,” he said, sounding only a little interested.

“What do you do?”

“I’m in a band. We play some of the bars here in the city.”

She smiled. Hmm, t-shirt and cargo shorts, Chucks with no socks, spikey hair, eating appetizers with no abandon – yep, definitely a starving musician.

“Cool, are you a cover band?”

“We do play some covers but we do a lot of original songs too. Got discovered by a label but something came up and we lost the chance to audition, but another shot will come along.”

“Wow, must’ve been something big to miss something like an audition for a record label.”

He pulled his arm from behind her and rubbed the back of his neck, the smile leaving his face. “Yeah, it sucked. But I refuse to believe it was our only shot. We’re too good not to get noticed.”

“Well, maybe what you lost with bad luck you can gain with confidence,” she said, a little snarky.

“Exactly! That’s the positive attitude I’m talking about!” He raised his hand to give her a high five and when their hands touched, a shock went through both of them. They both jumped. Cori felt heat flood her neck and face.

“Did I do that?” he said, staring at his hand.

“I don’t know, but if you did, that hand could light up the city,” she laughed.

He rubbed his hand. “What can I say, you turn me on.”

She groaned. “Really? Did you just say that?” They both laughed out loud.

She spent a little while longer, then said her goodbyes and made her way to the stairs. A girl was standing at Colin’s door, knocking and calling for him.

“He’s on the roof,” she said as she passed her.

“Oh,” said the girl, as Cori walked into her apartment.

After pouring herself a glass of wine and grabbing some cheese and crackers, she set about unpacking some more. She’d turned on some background music and was enjoying reminiscing over pictures and albums she was putting away. Things were great until she opened an unmarked album and was suddenly face-to-face with Matthew. Hikes they’d made, college parties, birthdays, nights out with friends – it was all there. She slowly paged through the photos and was overcome with sadness. The tears pooled and fell. She hadn’t healed at all. It was all as fresh as the night before her wedding.

There was a soft knock at her door. Probably chatty Cathy checking up on her. She closed the album and dabbed the tears from her eyes and headed towards the door. She wasn’t up for company so she cleared her throat and said softly, “Who is it?”

There was a pause, then softly, “Hey, it’s Colin.”

Shit. Now was not the time. “Hey Colin, I was headed to bed, can I catch up with you later?”

Another pause. “Uh, yeah, ok. I have something for you – no big deal. Good night.”

She undid all the locks but the chain and pulled the door open enough to peek out. She caught a look at him from behind – those long legs and a perfect round ass in just-right jeans. His hair came down to a little V on his neckline. The sound of the door made him turn. He was holding a cupcake in a blue cup with a daisy icing flower on top. He stepped toward the door and extended the cupcake to her. “For you,” he said with that crooked smile. His voice was deep and smooth as velvet. “I wanted to make sure you were ok after that electric high five.”

She felt like she might melt. His voice was so sexy, and those blue eyes. She couldn’t help it – every time she saw him, it took her breath away.

“Hold on.” She pushed the door closed and undid the chain, re-opening it a little more. She reached out and he came closer, handing her the cupcake.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

He studied her for a bit. She looked sad, as if maybe she’d been crying.

“You’re welcome. Look, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I know everyone was joking around up there – well, maybe kind of joking – but I really am a good neighbor. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll look out for you. Ok?”

She smiled, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Ok. Thank you Colin. I mean it.”

He shook his head and smile broadly. “Good night Cori. I’ll see you around.”

“Good night.”

She went back inside after locking the door, set the cupcake down on the table and walked straight to her bed. She was suddenly exhausted. She was awkward and broken and no fun. The hottest guy she’d ever met was entertaining all kinds of girls across the hall and she probably wouldn’t be one of them. Some fresh start this was.

[pink-flame]

Not Working - For Lilly 💜

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILLY!

For @chickwiththepurpleguitar

So, this is set in the world of WFW about a year after Julie left but it's not canon (yes I have my own canon 😂) within the WFW universe. In the world of my actual fic Luke and Bobby are just chaotic best friends/brothers who show their platonic love through fighting constantly. However, Lilly wanted Bobby pining after Luke in this universe and I love her so I have created this un-official splinter universe for her hc to live in. It does incorporate some of my actual ideas for the end of Sunset Curve in that original timeline though, just minus the pining. 😂 I hope you like it, my friend! 🥰(Also, I only went 100 words over our agreed upon word limit. Aren't you proud???)

It wasn’t working.

That was Bobby’s main thought as they packed up all their gear at the end of one of the final shows of their first tour. It was at least 2am, possibly later and they were all dragging as they forced their bodies through the second nature routine of getting everything safely into Beatrice. They had been all up and down the West Coast for the past few months, playing to decent sized crowds and getting a good response. The problem was this tour was supposed to be the thing that pushed them to the next level of success and that...that clearly wasn’t working.

Radio stations were completely uninterested in booking them to promote their performances.

Multiple venues had pulled out of hosting them at the last minute despite tickets already being sold, leaving them scrambling to find alternatives or canceling stops outright.

Even the company that printed their cheap t-shirts had politely declined their request to re-up their order.

It was like Sunset Curve had gone from being a band on the verge to a band on the verge of being unable to book a gig. None of this was that surprising given the fact that they had gone against Dec from Red Rose Records, an executive famous for holding grudges and exerting every bit of his influence to make things difficult for his targets. Part of Bobby had wanted to believe that Queenie would be able to intervene on their behalf, that she would finally stand up to her dad and find a way to make things easier for all of them. Part of him had wanted to believe she still cared enough about him to try.

Maybe she had and maybe she hadn’t and at the end of the day he couldn’t blame her either way. It had been a terrible situation all around...Luke’s attitude and Queenie’s dad insisting on that unfair contract and Bobby himself being completely incapable of putting everything out in the open when he was so scared of losing either Queenie or Luke. And that was to say nothing of Julie...all the absolute insanity that had been going on with Julie even though none of them knew it. It was because of her that he knew things could have gone much worse, could have ended with his friends dead and him as a hollow rockstar who betrayed the people he loved the most.

So even though he had loved Queenie (was probably still in love with her) and things with the band were quickly going downhill, he couldn’t bring himself to be entirely as depressed about those facts as he would have expected. He had his friends, they had each other, and they still had music. That wasn’t something anyone could take from them. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough. For him it was enough.

But he was also a realist and the reality was that things with the band weren’t working.

By the time they made it back to the questionable motel where they were staying for the night they were all dragging even more. Alex and Reggie disappeared into one of the rooms right away, barely pausing to wave goodnight to Bobby and Luke before they were shutting the door in their faces and presumably collapsing directly into bed. At the start of the tour they had all four shared a room in an effort to make their almost nonexistent tour budget stretch a little further but Alex had promptly declared Luke’s talking (and sometimes singing) in his sleep to be a crime against humanity and that to avoid him ending up with a murder charge they were going to need seperate rooms. Reggie had immediately started listing off various games he and Bobby could play to decide who got stuck sharing with Luke but Bobby had shut them all up by volunteering. That had earned him an odd look from Alex but Luke had clapped him on the back and made a speech about how it was nice to have someone on his side and the warm feeling that bloomed in Bobby’s chest was enough to help him forget opening his mouth meant he wouldn’t be sleeping much for the rest of the tour.

If he was being honest though he hadn’t exactly slept well for the better part of 2 years now. Even before Julie had arrived and all the madness that followed, Bobby had spent most nights laying awake for hours unable to fully ignore the fact that Luke was out in Wonderland curled up uncomfortably on that damn couch he still hadn’t figured out folded out. Bobby had spent a lot of time thinking about that and why exactly he could neither bring himself to go out and unfold the dumb bed himself and make sure Luke was ok or just fall asleep and ignore his friend’s relative comfort. So instead he had drifted off most nights tossing and turning, worrying about the boy who was so close and yet a world away.

So it really wasn’t that big of an adjustment for Bobby to be lying awake in various seedy motel rooms, trying no to think about how thoroughly the sheets had been cleaned and listening for the even breaths that would indicate his friend was getting some rest. He was often awakened again before long when Luke started talking in his sleep, snippets of nonsense bleeding into half-finished song lyrics fading into Julie’s name.

Bobby pretended to be asleep. He pretended not to hear.

He was a coward in some ways, always had been.

He didn’t have Alex’s wise advice or Reggie’s unexpected insights or Luke’s inspiring speeches. He didn’t have Queenie’s blunt truth telling. He didn’t even have Julie’s ability to make everything better simply by making sure you knew she was with you.

He just had good intentions and a tendency to avoid his problems, a useless combination.

But even he couldn’t ignore the way on this particular night Luke’s breathing never did even out. Instead, after barely twenty minutes of both of them lying still in their uncomfortable beds, Bobby listened as Luke slipped out of bed, pulled on his sneakers and slipped outside. He instantly sat up in the darkness and debated his next move. The typical Bobby move would be to lay back down and pretend he hadn’t noticed. That’s probably what Luke expected him to do. It might have even been what he wanted Bobby to do.

But Bobby was so sick of turning away and pretending he didn’t see what was happening around him. Pretending he didn’t see the blow up between Queenie and Luke coming, pretending he didn’t see that Julie was hiding something, pretending the writing wasn’t on the wall when it came to the future of Sunset Curve. Pretending he didn’t see how Luke still missed Julie like a phantom limb, an empty space that nonetheless managed to be an aching wound. Pretending Queenie didn’t represent the same to him. Pretending that despite the fact that he had loved Queenie (probably still did) he also thought...maybe...the other ache he felt came from loving something else...someone else...so much closer yet just as out of reach.

That wasn’t something he could ever say out loud. It just wasn’t. He was a realist and the reality was that Luke had loved Julie, still did and always would in a way that Bobby couldn’t fully understand even though he had witnessed it up close. He was never going to be the brave one, the one who told the truth just for the sake of doing it, just for an impossible chance.

So he couldn’t say out loud his inconvenient truth that maybe he had fallen in love with his best friend, just a little bit. He couldn’t.

But he could force his sock clad feet down onto the disgusting motel carpet. He could put his shoes on and slip outside and make sure his best friend was ok.

He could do that.

So he did.

At first as he blinked into the semi-darkness of the parking lot, a few flickering bulbs the only available source of light, he didn’t spot Luke at all. He felt a brief sense of rising panic flicker through him until the sound of shifting metal had his eyes darting over to the spot where Beatrice was parked. He squinted and could just make out Luke’s silhouette, hauling himself up onto the roof of Bobby’s van.

Bobby’s concern quickly melted into annoyance as he stomped over, coming to a stop next to his van and hissing up at the boy on top.

“What the hell are you doing up there?” Bobby demanded. “You’re going to put so many dents in the roof!”

Luke just scoffed, leaning over to peer down at Bobby with an annoyingly not at all repentant smile.

“Come on, Bobby,” He fired back. “Beatrice is 90% dents at this point. It’s part of her charm.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong there.

“That doesn’t explain why you’re up there,” Bobby grumbled.

Some of the cockiness drained out of Luke’s voice when he spoke again.

“Couldn’t sleep. Sometimes...sometimes looking at the stars helps.”

Bobby didn’t have to ask what exactly looking at the stars helped. He knew. And it wasn’t falling asleep.

It was missing Julie.

So Bobby didn’t fire back any of the relevant and bitingly hilarious retorts on the tip of his tongue. He simply sighed deeply before gripping the hood and hauling himself up to join his friend. If Luke was surprised by his decision he didn’t say anything, only reached his hand down to help pull Bobby up the rest of the way until they were both settled on the roof. Luke laid back and rested one of his arms behind his head as a pillow and Bobby mirrored him on the other side, their shoulders just brushing.

He had to admit, the view of the sky was a lot better than it had any right to be given where they were. Apparently they were just far enough outside of the city that the stars had a chance against the glow of civilization. The tiny pinpricks of light stretched out as far as he could see, their patterns and forms probably lost on Luke but he doubted his friend had come up here for a lesson on constellations and myths so Bobby kept his mouth shut.

Or at least he did for about 30 seconds before he glanced over at Luke and immediately regretted that decision. It was too hard to ignore all of the things he had been working so hard lately to ignore when they were this close.

He cleared his throat and brought his focus back to the reason he had followed Luke out in the first place.

“Any better?” He asked simply, rolling his head back to its original position so he could stare at the much safer vision of the stars again.

Bobby felt Luke shrug, his shoulder jostling against Bobby’s briefly.

“A little,” He said, sucking in a deep breath and then releasing it. “I just figure these are probably the same stars Julie’s looking at, you know?”

“Except for the ones obscured by 25 years of additional light pollution,” Bobby agreed.

“Wow, thanks, buddy,” Luke said dejectedly.

Bobby sighed and tried again.

“You know none of the stars we’re seeing are actually as they appear now, right? They’re so far away that even though that light is traveling to us extremely quickly it can still take years to get here.”

“I didn’t come up here for Bobby’s science time,” Luke mumbled.

“I’m saying that looking at the stars is like looking into the past,” Bobby insisted. “Julie’s probably not only looking up at the same stars, some of the one’s she’s seeing are how they appeared right here, right now. Isn’t that kind of cool?”

There was a brief pause giving Bobby just enough time to wonder if he had blown it again before Luke answered.

“Yeah,” Luke grumbled begrudgingly. “That is cool.”

Bobby couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction at that. Science could be comforting at times even if literature was his first love. The point was it had worked and he and Luke were back on solid ground again, or at least back on the creaking and protesting roof of his poor van.

“Have you heard from Queenie?” Luke asked, startling Bobby from his thoughts.

Bobby stiffened and shook his head before realizing it was too dark for Luke to see that gesture.

“Nah,” He answered, keeping his voice forcibly casual.

“Sorry,” Luke said simply.

“I’m sorry it’s still so hard,” Bobby returned. “Without Julie.”

“It’s fine,” Luke replied quickly. “Well, not fine, it’s hard everyday. You know that, but...I’m ok. I really am. You don’t have to worry.”

“But I obviously do,” Bobby snapped before realizing his mistake. “I mean all of us do.”

If Luke noticed his slip he didn’t comment on it.

“I’m always going to miss her,” He said softly. “But I believe she’s happy with her family and I have you guys and music and I’m happy too. Mostly. Usually.”

Bobby tried and failed not to let that traitorous warmth grow in his chest again at the thought of being one of the things that made Luke happy.

It wasn’t working.

So he turned his attention to the other thing that wasn’t working, the other conversation they needed to have, in an effort to distract himself.

“The tour’s almost over,” He started carefully. “Time to make some decisions.”

Luke let out another one of those deep breaths, Bobby instinctively scooting just half an inch closer until he could reassure himself with the feeling of Luke’s next inhale.

“I know,” Luke acknowledged, his voice sounding tired but not pained.

“Dec’s never going to let this band make it big,” Bobby continued gently. “And we’re almost out of money. Again.”

“I know that too,” Luke said softly. “I just wanted to finish out the tour before I made myself accept it. Even with all the struggling it has been pretty rad, hasn’t it?”

Bobby thought back to the hours and hours of driving in a smelly van and the gross motels and the cancellations and the crappy pay and the absolutely crushing exhaustion. He also thought back to the time spent with his best friends, and the small crowds singing their words back to them, and their dream, or at least some small portion of it that they had scraped and bled to come true.

He thought of Luke’s elated grin when they were playing their first song every night.

“Yeah,” He agreed with a soft smile that he knew Luke wouldn’t be able to see. “It’s been pretty rad.”

“We could keep trying…” Luke offered half-heartedly. “If we keep pushing long enough maybe something in this industry will give.”

“Or we’ll end up washed up and hating each other,” Bobby countered.

“That’s another possibility,” Luke sighed yet again. “But this is all we’ve got, Bobby.”

“Reggie’s been applying to film schools,” Bobby said, cringing at the groaning metal noise that came with Luke’s surprised reaction as he rolled toward his friend.

“He has? Why didn’t he tell me?” Luke asked.

“Nobody wants to let you down,” Bobby explained gently, turning his head to meet Luke’s confused gaze. “We love music, we do. We wanted this, so badly, you know that. But...it’s not like it is for you. It’s not...everything.”

“He could have told me,” Luke grumbled. “I would have been happy for him. I am happy for him.”

“Hey, you can tell him that tomorrow,” Bobby reassured him. “I figure we’re due for one last band meeting.”

“This sucks,” Luke huffed out, turning his head back up to the stars. “Like I don’t have any regrets cause we gave it our best shot, and I want all of you to be happy even if that’s not in the band. But on top of...well, everything else...it still sucks.”

“Yeah,” Bobby agreed simply. “It really sucks.”

“What are you going to do?” Luke asked.

“I don’t know,” Bobby offered honestly. “Maybe go to college? Study literature or psychology.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to be a shrink like your parents,” Luke teased.

“Hey, I think we’ve all proven that there are a lot of kids out there who could use someone to talk to about their messed up family dynamics,” Bobby said.

“Too bad they might get stuck talking to you,” Luke joked, bumping his shoulder with Bobby’s and sending an incredibly annoying shock of happiness through him.

“Shut up,” Bobby mumbled, not meaning it. Not at all.

There were a few seconds of silence before Luke spoke up again.

“I really am happy for all of you to do whatever you want,” He said firmly. “Seriously. But I can’t give up on music.”

“I know,” Bobby said softly. “It won’t be easy.”

“Hey,” Luke replied. “I figure impossible is relative in my life at this point.”

Bobby couldn’t resist a short bark of laughter at that.

“Yeah, that’s fair.”

They were silent again for a few long moments before Bobby found just enough courage to give voice to one last fear.

“Hey, Luke? We’re still going to be friends right?”

Luke’s answer came quickly.

“Of course, man. You’re my best friend. Band or no band.”

Bobby nodded, not caring this time that Luke couldn’t see him. When he answered he could hear the held back tears in his voice and he was pretty sure Luke could too.

“Band or no band.”

Luke reached out blindly and latched his hand around Bobby’s, just for a second, but the contact was enough to leave Bobby’s fingers tingling long after his friend had retracted his.

He tried to pretend that it was just the result of some kind of electric shock but…it wasn’t working.

Still.

He couldn’t bring himself to be sad about managing to fall in love with yet another person who couldn’t give him everything he wanted.

Julie had taught them a lot of things but one of the big ones was that something didn’t have to end the way you hoped it would for it to be beautiful, and meaningful and worth it. Love didn’t have to be forever or even returned in the same way to be beautiful, and meaningful and worth it.

Bobby had loved both Queenie and Luke (he probably still did) and he didn’t regret either.

Queenie would always be someone he wished the best for from afar and Luke?

Luke would always be his best friend.

Band or no band.

And that would keep working

He would make sure of it.

[c-rose2081]

Image Credit

Three Little Dragons

Love Like Dragons AU

Bevie | Huma | Gildrey | Mal & Audrey BROTP

—

It was happening. It was happening right now and Evie felt like she was choking. It had been a few weeks since Audrey — Ben’s Aurorian Dragon — had laid her clutch of four eggs. One of them had been lost in a battle with some stray dogs, leaving only three in the little makeshift nest. Audrey was healing up nicely from her battle wounds; a result of that night. Her mate Gil, a Costal Dragon belonging to their friend Uma, was as attentive as any father could be. And the two, in Evie’s mind, made a picture perfect couple.

Mal, her own five-year-old Isle dragon, seemed a bit sick of all the gushy stuff.

Mal was a dragon who liked to cause mischief, wrestle and play games. She was young at heart, but knew bullying Audrey wasn’t an option while the young Mother was nesting. So she took to watching Evie sew in the den, or rolled around within old scraps of fabric on the floor to entertain herself.

Sitting in the living room that night with Mal laying atop her legs, Evie glanced up as Audrey startled from her nest. Watching curiously, the creature began to pace around the eggs, sniffing at them in the plastic tote which had been their home since the incident. Evie wasn’t sure if what she saw was true, but she swore one of the eggs wiggled in its place.

“Did you see that Mal?” Evie asked her best friend, looking down at the purple beast. She merely huffed a smoke ring in response, tired already of all the baby talk. No doubt she would be pleased when Audrey healed, her eggs were hatched and things went back to normal. Turning back to the nest, Gil was standing now as well, his big armored head looking into the tote. Grabbing Mal by the underbelly to set her aside, Evie rose to her feet for a better look.

Audrey, who still paced, flicked her tail slightly in protectiveness. But she didn’t hiss or growl, nor did she bite Evie which was a blessing. Squatting down to rest on the back of her heels, the bluenette stared at the eggs, urging one to move.

And it did.

There was a little wiggle, and another, and another. All three little eggs were wobbling in their nest home.

“Sweet Merlin,” Evie breathed, rising to her feet and running full speed into the foyer. Ben, her dear husband, was working upstairs in the office, “Ben! Ben come down here quick!”

Grappling for her phone, Evie had just found Uma’s number when a brown head of hair peeked over the stair railing.

“E? Is everything ok?”

“It’s happening Ben! It’s happening right now!”

“E, this is the third time -“

“No I mean it! I saw the eggs move! And Audrey and Gil are all worked up!”

“Oh...my god,” Ben breathed, leaning against the railing, “it’s really happening?”

“Yes! Now get your cute butt down here! I have to call Uma. She needs to be here!”

And Evie called their friend, who at first was also skeptical of the hatching. Evie couldn’t blame her; she had been a little over excited at the due date of the babies coming. But she had seen the eggs move with her own eyes, and Uma needed to know. After hanging up the phone, she met Ben in the living room. Like she had been doing not ten minutes before, he was crouched down by the tote. Audrey was up on his shoulder, looking down at her brood as though to say, ‘look what I did, Ben!’.

“It’s happening tonight,” he breathed, rising to a standing position and grabbing Evie round the waist, “it’s really happening!”

Giggling in delight, Ben gladly deposited Audrey back down to watch over her eggs while they set up. Evie busied herself with filling a bowl with warm clean water, while Ben grabbed some extra soft blankets and old towels from the linen closet. When Uma arrived — clearly having ran every red light and stop sign to appear so quickly — Harry her duffle bag slung over one shoulder. Clearly, they were prepared to stay the night.

“Hatchlings outside a sanctuary are rare,” Uma told Evie while dawning a pair of yellow latex gloves, “a lot of domestic dragons aren’t healthy enough to have strong offspring. So it’s important we check that all the babies are healthy, and can get out of the eggs.”

“What happens if they can’t?”

“Baby Dragons who can’t get out of their eggs end up starving,” Uma winced, removing a small scalpel blade from her bag and examining it, “imma just make sure we won’t have any problems. Harry, go hold Gil so he doesn’t charge me. Ben, watch Audrey to make sure she doesn’t take my fingers off,”

Nodding, both men moved to their respective places. Mal, disturbed from her nap by all the commotion, grumbled as Evie picked her up as well. The Isle Dragon hadn’t shown any protective urges since the night of the dog attack in the garden, but no chances needed to be taken. Uma, using a steady hand, used the scalpel to make ‘+’ shaped incisions on each egg’s ceiling.

“It relieves the pressure in the shells, and makes them more fragile,”

And just as Uma pulled back her hands, everyone leapt in excitement as a little head began to poke its way through the first egg. It was the largest one of the clutch, dark and ribbed with a bit of white gradient at it’s bottom. And as a little beaked head with a small tuft of magenta fur poked out, sticky with egg goop, Evie’s heart melted as it gave a little chirp.

“First one out,” Uma announced, “looks like a female.”

Audrey immediately went to the baby, sniffing at her little head as though to double check she was real. Soon, two front legs with hooked claws burst through the shell. The dragon was tiny, almost as tiny as Mal had been. And Evie worried as Uma carefully reached in to pick up the critter.

“It’s alright,” she soothed Audrey, who looked a tad irked, but not ready to bite just yet, “it’ll just be a minute. Ben, eyes on mama,”

“Got it,” Ben said with a small salute, gently running his hand down Audrey’s ridge to ease her worries. Handing Uma a wet towel from the bowl, Evie watched in stunned wonder as she cleaned off the little body, revealing a pair of small wings.

“She’s got a lot of Audrey in her,” Uma commented with a laugh, “hello there. Imma just flip you over,”

There was an unhappy baby dragon chirp as the creature was rolled onto her back, revealing a unique underbelly marking. It almost looked like a white skull. Holding a finger against her chest, Uma felt for a heartbeat, “strong heartbeat. Loud crying, and no doubt she’ll start feeding the minute we give her back to Audrey. What’s her name then?”

Glancing up at Ben and Evie, the couple looked at one another and came to a silent agreement.

“Why don’t you name her, Uma,” Evie suggested, “you’ve been such a great help the past few weeks. I would’ve pulled all my hair out without you,”

“I agree,” Ben nodded, still stroking Audrey who was poking at the two eggs still unhatched in the nest, “your choice.”

“Awe well,” holding up the baby dragon for a better look, Uma nodded and smirked, “Celia. I have a friend of mine, Freddie? She’s really into voodoo magic. Says the name has some powerful undertones on the other side,”

“Celia it is then,” Ben nodded, the group watching as Uma replaced Ceila in the nest where Audrey immediately took her by the scruff to tuck under her wing. It wasn’t a second after that did the second largest egg jerked hard. The shell gave way with a mighty CRACK, and another small, flimsy looking dragon rolled from the nest and into the blankets face first.

“Talk about a grand entrance,” Evie breathed, gently reaching into the tote (while watching Audrey) to pick up the little rascal.

“Another female,” Uma commented, “and a unique pattern,”

Indeed it was. This dragon was speckled green, pink, yellow and white. Her wings were tiny compared to Celia’s, but the end of her tail was massive and poofed out in all possible directions. On her head were two forward facing horns like her father, and she had a facial marking that almost looked like a pair of glasses. In Evie’s palm she wobbled a bit, falling from her feet to her side with a squeal.

“Awe. Are you a bit dizzy?” Evie asked, gently using a finger to help the creature stand again, “that will be your name then. Dizzy the Dragon.”

“She looks good, if not a bit klutzy,” Uma chuckled, taking Dizzy from Evie’s hand to check the heartbeat, “a little fast for my taste. But that might just mean she’ll be a lot to handle,”

Placing Dizzy back in the tote, Audrey took her under her wing as well. There was one egg left, the smallest of the bunch. It was the egg with a crack in it, and the egg Uma had been most worried about.

“Don’t have your hearts set on anything, ya’ll,” she told them, her voice a tad weary. Audrey, now nursing two small dragonlings, made a small trill with her beak and reached out her neck to push the egg with her nose. From inside, they all could hear a baby dragon crying.

“What do we do?” Evie asked. Uma was about to answer when Mal leapt down from where she had been sitting on the sofa. Into the tote she sprang, surprising them all. Before Evie could even chide her, the Isle Dragon had the egg in one of her hand like claws. In a flash, she crushed the shell.

“Mal!” Evie cried, afraid that the baby inside was now dead. But to her surprise, a body uncurled and flopped down into the blankets. Acting quickly, Ben was the one to pick up the dragonling while Evie hauled Mal from the tote. It was a tiny little thing, barely the size of a baseball. It had a long ridge of fur like its mum, and tiny bulb spikes like its dad. But the colors that adorned its sisters were gone, leeched to appear black and white. No doubt a mutation caused by falling from the nest.

“It’s a male,” Uma said, “is he alive, Ben?”

Shaking the little creature, he lifted his tiny head and gave a whine of protest, “ok, sorry I asked,” Uma grumbled, lifting her hands in surrender as Ben chuckled.

“This one is Carlos. The little brother.”

“Hand him here, Prince boy,” Uma ordered, taking the baby from Ben to clean and do a checkup. At once Mal, now interested, came to see. She sniffed at the little body, blinking and making a confused noise as he reached out his little claws for her.

“Any particular reason she’s so interested in Carlos?” Evie asked innocently, “I never really pinned Mal here as a maternal type.”

“Could be a few things,” Uma shrugged, checking little Carlos’ heartbeat, “in the wild, Isle Dragons will actually throw their eggs if they don’t hatch. They’re tough puppies, so most babies actually survive it. It just helps break the shells open,”

“So it was an instinctual thing, crushing the egg?”

“Probably. But dragons are kinda weird. We may never know,” giving Carlos one last boop on the snout, Uma lowered him back into the tote. Thankfully, despite being a runt, Audrey accepted him anyway and placed him with his sisters, curling over them with a purr. Harry, who had been quietly holding Gil, released the beast. He at once ambled to the tote, reaching his long turtle neck over the edge to have a look. Audrey gave her mate a happy little kiss, one of reassurance no doubt, and Evie crooned.

Mal, who sat between Evie and Uma, huffed rather loudly. It almost sounded as though she were trying not to care, though her eyes were firmly fixed on the tote.

“So Mal,” Evie said, pulling the dragon close to her with an unhappy little grunt, “how does it feel to be an Aunty?”

Mal gave another loud wail of annoyance as Evie chuckled, and the gathered friends watched the new dragon brood. Finally together at last.

—

A/N: Decided to adjust the formatting for better reading ability. Let me know if it bothers anyone?

[maribatz-2k]

BatBug Kid(s?)

08/30/2020 Twenty

🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇

Marinette and Louis has been in Paris for more than a week now. Her commission with Luka and Chloe are taking longer than expected. She had told the boys she’d be back this week, but no matter what she couldn’t get the pieces down for the wedding dress. Louis was remotely taking classes thanks to the school emailing all of his homework for the next three weeks. Mari just wouldn’t let her mind shut up about the stupid argument with Bruce. 

Louis watched as his mother troubled over all of the fabric and work she was dealing with. Uncle Luka had came by just to check up on them only to be stopped by Louis before his mom begun to curse. Luka decided to take Louis out to go see Andre for ice cream then sit at the benched over the bridge. 

“Talk to me Petit Oiseau, what’s going on with your maman?” Luka licked his ice cream as he watched the sky turn pink.

“She’s been upset over my father. They had a fight before we left about bringing my brother with us here so he can experience our life here and meet you. But instead père refused and said something horrible. Before you asked, I didn't hear what was said, but since then I haven’t heard or seen anything from him or my brother.” Louis sighed and leaned against his uncle. They stared at La Seine together until something like a light bulb lit up in Luka’s eyes. 

“I got a plan, if your papa and maman really still love each other here is how we do it.” Luka began and they formed a plan. Louis smiled wide nodding with approval. Once the plan was in place Luka called Chloe to fill her in. She was reluctant at first then joined in willingly. All that was left was for Louis to make a call. 

“Wait until the two days before the wedding and call, then everything should fall into place there.” His uncle states dropping him off at the door. They say good night and Louis went inside his grandparents house to see his maman in the kitchen talking to his mamie. 

Three days before the wedding, Chloe came over to check on her gown. It finally fit and felt perfect. Since Chloe is eighteen weeks pregnant, she didn’t want the gown make it noticeable. Everything was beginning to fall into place and Mari was relaxing. With the wedding in just two days time, Louis set an alarm for America time zone and joined his grand-père in the bakery. 

When everyone went to bed, Louis climbed up onto the balcony and made a phone call out to Damian. After three rings he answered.

“This better be important.” He yawned, maybe calling at six in the morning wasn't a good idea. 

“Bro it is, maman is getting married in two days. You need to get your dad here like yesterday. He’s the only one who can stop her.” Louis made his voice sound scared and serious. He could hear Damian sit up in his bed. 

“You can’t be serious, your mom isn’t that stupid to get married right after leaving.” Damian said.

“Our mom is not stupid, but she is getting married. Her old crush from high school popped up and asked for her hand. She felt so bad about everything with your dad she just gave in. Damian please! I don’t want us to be separated forever, we just got back together.” Louis made a convincing sniffle and waited hearing Damian sigh.

“I’ll think about it.” Was all he said before hanging up the phone. Louis stared at his phone with a hopeful wish that this will work. 

To be continued....

🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇🐞🦇

@fsketchart @moonlightstar64 @dorkus-minimus @toodaloo-kangaroo @amayakans @miraculous786 @crazylittlemunchkin @messymessyml @i-will-be-your-ace @tbehartoo @tazanna-blythe @ertyzeta

[galactichen]

exo masterlist

all full length scenarios + drabbles can be found here for exo. please do not plagiarize any of my works!

note: former members (luhan, kris, tao) can be found in a separate masterlist featuring solo artists. also added in a cut b/c this is really long LMAO

♡  - tina’s faves

[ updated as of 5/17/2020 ]

E X O  S C E N A R I O S

all that matters || angst

home ♡ || china line ft. parents; angst

qui gagné? || casino au ft. xiuchenkai; general, slightly suggestive

O P T I O N A L  B I A S

melodic memories || non-idol au; angst

sentimental || non-idol au; angst

X I U M I N Scenarios

reminiscence || mama au; angst

seraphic ♡ || blind!xiumin x reader; fluff

snowflake || fluff!

Drabbles

“science motherfucker”

“i am not cute goddamn it I am intimidating”

“i absolutely despise the heat”

“let’s try that again. maybe without sneezing this time.”

“oh, there’s that creep. quick, hold my hand and he might not come here.”

truth  [ werewolf!xiumin ]

“i thought you trusted me...”  [ mafia au?? rivals?? idk ]

S U H O Scenarios

childhood ♡ || merman!suho x reader; romance, angst

dream girl || highschool au; fluff, slight crack?

perfection || university au; angst, general

Series

soulmate au :: [1] [2] Everything is black and white until you meet your soulmate.

Drabbles

forehead kiss + “i missed you” kiss

“call me when you get home”

“i don’t care”  [ policeman!suho ]

“you don’t know how it’s like to love someone who sees you as a friend...”

“goddamn it, why are you so sweet”

“sweetie, I appreciate the thought, but I meant a 50c package of reeses, I didn’t need the whole candy aisle”

“why are you in a tree”

“what are you talking about? i am very mature” + “it-it’s nothing, but my favourite character just died...”

L A Y Scenarios

cold hands || fluff!!

for you || fluuuff

Drabbles

awkward kiss

jealous kiss

“can I have this dance?”

“you are so important to me”

late night drives

“you smell nice. did you know that?”

“you smell nice. did you know that?”  (this one’s different lol)

never again  [ vampire!lay ]

to rest in peace  [ ghost!lay ]

“no, I didn’t fall in love with you just to lose you” + “you don’t know how it’s like to love someone who sees you as a friend...”

B A E K H Y U N

Blurbs

[ why i chose you ]

Scenarios

fragments || non idol au; angst

friends || fluff, slight angst

mistakes || highschool au; general

i’m here || college au; angst

Series

soulmate au :: [1] [2] [3] [4]  ONGOING A mark appears where your soulmate touches you.

Drabbles

“do you need water? a snack? maybe a hot bath?”

“your brother just left with a 24-pack of bud ready to party, and we’re sitting in front of the TV with Netflix and fancy cheese”

“you look...”

poolside fun!  [ lifeguard!baekhyun ]

“i’ll beat you at this game one day”

“you smell nice. did you know that?”

“stop leaving sticky notes everywhere”

“don’t be stupid, i’m not leaving you”

“i’m not what you think i am”  [ werewolf!baekhyun ]

C H E N

Blurbs

[ the choice of a spirit  ]

Scenarios

affection || non-idol au; fluffery fluff

better late than never ♡ || normal verse!au; angst, bit of fluff

cheerleader || highschool au; fluff

hold me tight, don’t let me go || biker au; romance

light bulbs || neighbour au; fluff, slight crack

nevermore || non-idol au; angst

voicemail ♡ ♡ || highschool au; a n g s t

Series

soulmate au :: [1] [2] [3] Where people age until age 18, and then stop aging until they meet their soulmate so they can age together.

Drabbles

kiss in the rain

kiss on the forehead

“i almost lost you” kiss 

“wow”

“go back to sleep”

“what? are you jealous or something?”

“i don’t know whether to kiss you or punch you”

“i’m very busy right now and you’re distracting me”

“i am not cute goddammit I am intimidating”

sneaking out

late night walks on the beach

“who said you could take a cold shower, especially without me?”

picnics in the car!

“...why are you in a tree”

“shut up i’m tanning”

“your hands are warm”

“...is that... is that my shirt”

be sorry for your sins  [ mama au ]

“babe... we have a whole hour by ourselves...”

“wait a minute, are you being nice to me? but it isn’t my birthday”

“you may be the love of my life, but there is no way in hell am I wearing that”

“this is all your fault, genius”

false guesses  [ mafia au ]  ♡

“no trust me, I am the dev- shut up, I am not adorable”

C H A N Y E O L Scenarios

adorable || college au; fluff

cute^2 || non-idol au; fluff

it’s okay || angst

they don’t know || highschool au; angst, fluff

what is love || non-idol au; angst

Drabbles

angry kiss

“sorry I made you wait”

“here, take my jacket”

“you don’t know how it’s like to love someone who sees you as a friend...” + “do you know how hard i’m trying not to kiss you right now?”

“i just got out from babysitting and I am having my tubes tied immediately”

“see, this is why we’re together. no one else could handle our terrible puns”

“do we need lessons on how ziploc bags work?”

sneaking out + concert night

summer shopping spree

“no stop being cute right now i’m trying to be productive”

“one more pun and you’re sleeping on the couch tonight”

“this isn’t exactly the best place for a makeout session, but i’m open to anything”

“could you stop being so damn stubborn and let me help you?” + “I swear; if you die, i’ll kill you”  [ mafia au ]

“what are you talking about? i am very mature”

“you may be the love of my life, but there is no way in hell am I wearing that”

“you and I came wearing matching/couple costumes and now everyone thinks we’re dating?? but shit, you’re cute, can I have your number?”

K Y U N G S O O Scenarios

best friend || highschool au; angst

home || pure f l u f f

proper farewell ♡ || fluff, angst

sweet kisses || fluff

unfair || highschool au; romance, fluff

Series

soulmate au :: [1] [2] [3] You don’t remember anything from your past life, but your soulmate does.

Drabbles

kiss on the forehead

“you can never have too many fans”

“why the fuck is it so hot outside” + “who said you could have a cold shower, especially without me?”

ice cream dates + late night drives

“...why are you in a tree”  [ dad!ksoo uwu ]

ice cream dates

“don’t be stupid, i’m not leaving you”

masquerade party

“run away. now”  [ vampire!ksoo ]

K A I

Blurbs

[ a bliss with every breath. ]

Scenarios

oh, right || fluffery fluff  f l u f f

serenade no.1 ♡ || kingdom au; fluff

sleepy ♡ || f l u f f 

sweatshirt || college au; fluff, slight slight angst

thank you || fluff, romance

you did it || non-idol au; fluff, angst angst

Drabbles

jealous kiss

“sorry i’m late”

“can you hold me?”

“everything hurts and i’m dying, but i’m not pregnant this month so that’s nice”

“who said you could take a cold shower, especially without me?”

“...is that... is that my shirt”

not like him  [ vampire!kai]

“no, I didn’t fall in love with you just to lose you”

S E H U N

Blurbs / Timestamps

[ 9:54 pm ]

Scenarios

confession overdue ♡ || non-idol au; fluff, angst

night out (on memory lane) || highschool au; romance

polaroid || college au; romance, angst

spontaneous || highschool au; romance

why || non-idol au; a n g s t

Drabbles

kiss on the neck

“wait a minute, are you drunk?”

“science motherfucker”

“remind me why i’m dating you again. please”

“you may want to hide the alcohol because I may die from how much and how badly I want to drink right now”

“i am not cute goddammit I am intimidating”

“see, this is why we’re together. no one else could handle our terrible puns” 

“shut up i’m tanning”

“...i’ll sleep on the couch with you”

“i love you more than you love me”

“my horoscope says no”

[lilyharvord]

The Chain (Part 5)

Main Concept: Two love struck idiots get sent back to a pretty UGH time period in their lives (that required me to reread all the books again) and have to hide the fact that they know everything. 

Find Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 

Tag list: @delilahlbard @king-maven-calore @scxrletguardsdawn @freaky-freiday @whatsup-gorls @kuwei @redqueenetwork @elane-in-the-shadows @evangeline-of-montfort  @evangelineartemiasamos @petergrantkavinsky (girl I’m so sorry that I haven’t tagged you yet!) @thatoddgirl777 @elliekratzzz. If you want a tag please ask ((: 

Chapter 5 

Cal leaves me a few houses away from my own, and stays in the shadows of another home’s stilts while I walk the last hundred meters to my porch. I can spot the outline of my father’s shadow in the dark as I approach and I glance over my shoulder once to make sure Cal is concealed. Even to my now trained eye, I can’t spot him. He’s much better at hiding now. 

“You shouldn’t worry your mother like that,” my father’s voice rumbles from the shadows, his eyes narrowed. They dance over my shoulder, probably trying to spot what I am looking for. He won’t spot Cal though. At least, he won’t spot him if Cal stays put until we get onto the porch. While I love him, sometimes he’s not the brightest bulb in the country. 

“I’m sorry.” I whisper to my father as he squints at the shadows down the street. If Cal didn’t stay put I think I might have to kill him. 

Slowly turning his eyes back to me, my father shifts in his chair before jabbing a thumb at the utility box. He lets out a huff. “Power went out. Thought I’d give it a look.” He wheels over to the source of his musings wheezing the whole way. I follow dutifully, already sensing the electric current humming from the ground. I can tell which wire is faulty too. Like a small spot of darkness in otherwise pure light, it sticks out like a sore thumb. “’Lec papers didn’t work?” I ask as I watch him try to tinker with the box. 

He pulls one of them from his shirts and feeds it into the box. Nothing happens though. Twisting my lips to the side, I step in front of him and hear his wheel’s squeak as he rolls out of my way. 

“What are you going to do? You can’t fix the damn busted thing.” He grumbles, and that clicking in his chest gets louder as he coughs. 

Prying the thing open with my fingers, I glance at the mess of wires. I need him to look away while I do this. I can’t have him seeing what I can do, especially if all I do is grab a wire and all the lights turn on. I step back from it then, knowing that I’ll have to do it the old fashioned way. 

He rolls forward and smacks the box before I can even try to do anything. His hand hits the metal with a deadening thump that I can feel through my own resting on top. I watch as he continues to hit it, hoping to bring something to life with each swing. I let him throw one good hit before thrusting life back into the box. Sparks dance on the wires, and above us, the porch light hums to life. 

“Well, fancy that,” Dad mutters before spinning in the mud and wheeling himself back to his pulley. Closing the box with one hand, I clench my other hand into a fist to quench the sparks that want to explode to life. 

He waits for me to approach before buckling in and saying, “No more running.” 

I nod and try to smile. I don’t have the heart to tell him what he needs to hear. I’ll be gone by tomorrow and I won’t be back for days. They’ll think I’m dead, and that’s fine. We’re alright someday, I promise myself as I watch the rig rise to the porch with a whine. When he gets there, I climb the ladder, using the time to glance in the shadows for Cal. One detaches and starts walking. He stayed the whole time, I think with a stupid smile. Maybe he had gotten a little smarter. 

At the top, Dad struggles with the rig and I scramble up the ladder before helping him with the belts. When he’s finally free, he mutters, “Bugger of a thing.” 

I can’t help but smile. For all his rough edges, I know what is beneath. “Mom will be happy you’re getting out of the house.” 

He grabs my hand tightly, and the callouses there rub at my skin, reminding me that we’re not out of this hell hole yet. His hands never do soften, no matter how long he lives in Montfort. 

“Don’t tell your mother,” he whispers to me. I purse my lips in response, knowing that given today, she could use even the resemblance of hope. “But—“

“I know it seems like nothing, but it’s enough of something. She’ll think it’s a step on a big journey, you see? First I leave the house at night, then during the day, then I’m rolling around the market with her like it’s twenty years ago. Then things go back to the way they were.” His eyes darken as he recounts what I know will come to pass. He fights to keep his emotions at bay, his voice only wavering slight at the end. “I’m not getting better, Mare. I’m never going to feel better. I can’t let her hope for that, not when I know it’ll never happen. Do you understand?”

I nod, understanding absolutely what that means. Hope comes in small flares to my family, only to be snuffed out. My brothers return from war, but not Shade. Then Shade returns, only to be lost again. They lose Shade, but they gain Clara. They lose me, but my father gains his legs and lungs back. They say goodbye to me on a tarmac when I fly back to Norta to save a country that has never bothered with me, but gain their safety. They almost lose me in Norta when I go the second time. I return to them though, dragging a heartbroken prince behind me. I wish I could tell Dad what is coming, that the future will be better, even if we lose parts of ourselves along the way. He rolls inside though, leaving me on the porch while a weak river breeze cuts through my hair. 

 ((((/////////))))

I’m already awake when the officers kick down our door. I couldn’t sleep, planning every second of tomorrow down to the second. I don’t care that my plan may not survive the first few moments. I will make sure that nothing goes completely off kilter. 

I wake Gisa slowly, and help her out of her cot then down the ladder. She accepts my help at first, and leans on her good arm for support as she goes. Mom waits for us on the floor, and opens her arms to Gisa before engulfing her in a hug. She keeps her eyes on my though. I know why. They’ve come for me, and whatever motherly instinct she possess has told her so. 

Two officers wait by the door, with Walsh between them. My chest tightens at the sight of her. In almost a month, she will be foaming at the mouth on the floor a chamber. Does she feel her clock ticking down like I do?

“We submit to search and seizure,” Dad grumbles, but the officers don’t move. Walsh raises a clean brow at my father’s words though. Stepping forward she brings her eyes to me. “Miss Barrow, you have bee summoned to Summerton.”

I expel the breath I’m holding. I had worried that Cal had given Walsh different orders, maybe to take me another way, but apparently he understood that today has to occur. Gisa’s good hand closes around mine, and I hear for the first time her whisper, “no.” 

“You have been summoned to Summerton,” Walsh repeats when I stay rooted to the spot, shocked by Gisa’s words. “We will escort you. Please proceed.” 

She gives me a smile as I step forward, but Gisa doesn’t let go of my hand. Seeing this Walsh dips her head to my parents. “Don’t worry, everything’s settled after yesterday. The Hall and the market are well controlled now.  Please proceed.”

This is a summons from the crown prince, even if Walsh doesn’t know that, she has to follow her orders. We can’t arrive too early though. I have to get there just in time, so that everything lines up. Turning back to Gisa, I untangle my hand from hers. She leaps forward, making a move to grab me, but Mom holds her back. I give her a little smile in response, hoping to calm her nerves. “I’ll see you soon.” 

Dad’s hand brushes my arm, his own form of goodbye, while Mom’s eyes swim with tears. One of the officers grabs my arm and pulls me toward the door. I look back at the three of them though. The world changes from here too. When they see me again, I won’t be the same. Cal will be with me this time though. We’ll have to come up with something far more convincing than him being from Harbor Bay when we see my family again. We’ll be prepared for that encounter at least.  

The door slams in my face, and I turn forward to watch Walsh descend our ladder. One of the officers pushes me toward it and I follow her to the ground. I’m hustled through the village then, and I know why. Queenstrial awaits, and Walsh does not want to be late. 

I focus on my hands the entire ride in the transport, counting the seconds until I’m trapped in gilded cage with Elara. While Montfort tried to teach us ways to combat whispers, the methods aren’t perfect. Elara was a master of her craft too, I don’t know how much my techniques will help me. My secrets have to remain my own though. She can’t know what is to come. 

We stop at the gate, and after we are let through, I feel Walsh’s eyes on me. She gives me a soft smile. “I’m Ann, by the way, but we mostly go by last names. Call me Walsh.” 

I know. I know more about her than she could ever imagine. She raises a brow at my continued silence. I snap my head when I realize she’s waiting for me to respond. Her name is supposed to ring a bell. Grimacing, I say, “You’re from the Stilts.” 

“I am. I knew your brother Tramy, and I wish I didn’t know Bree. A real heartbreaker that one.” She teases, and I can’t help the smile that those words conjure. A heartbreaker indeed. He had half of the Montfort women eating out of the palm of his hand after living there for only two months. She tilts her head to the side at my expression and muses, “I don’t know you though. But I certainly will.” 

Yes, yes you will. You’ll probably regret it too. 

She waits for another response before raising a brow. “Not the talking type I see. Well, you should know you’ll be working long hours here. I don’t know who hired you or what they told you about the job, but it starts to wear on you. It’s not all changing bedsheets and cleaning plates. You have to look without seeing, hear without listening. We’re objects up there, living statues meant to serve.”

Not for much longer. 

She sighs before opening the door of the transport and helping me out. After wrenching open a door from the wall, she begins to lead me down a flight of stairs. I follow quickly. Queenstrial awaits. Cal is waiting. He told me once that today was both the worst and best day of his life. Worst because he knew it was the day he would never escape Evangeline again, and the best because I managed to ruin everything about Evangeline’s big day. I had pushed a pillow into his face in response, and he’d laughed himself hoarse about it. 

Walsh hurries down the stairs, looking over her shoulder to shout, “Keep up, I don’t have time to hold your hand!” Scrambling to catch her, I descend into a dark tunnel that runs underneath the market and into the Hall of the Sun. She waits for only a moment before saying, “You serve the king now, there’s no time for dilly dallying.” 

 ((((/////////))))

I hurry along a hall of the Spiral Garden, keeping my eyes on the red servant in front of me. He’s much older than me, and I can see it in the way his shoulders slump as he walks. Queenstrial is set to begin, and a bead of sweat runs down my neck when I being to wonder if I’m in the right place. What if I’m not in the right place in line? How long was I in the Samos box for? What if I’m not the servant that goes up to the box I fell out of? Can I stage a fall from the servant’s box? I doubt it. 

By the time I get to the elevated platform the other servants are standing on, I bump my way into line, hoping that I’m in the right place. As I do so, the High Houses enter. I strain to catch sight of them, memories of sitting with Lady Blonos and memorizing their colors bubbling to the surface. Dark blue and red, House Iral. Blue and green, House Osanos. Green and Gold, House Welle. Green and Black, House Viper. Gold and Black, House Provos. I can recall them all from memory. In another year, many of them will be dead. 

I look them all over, and manage to spot Ara Iral, looking beyond bored in her box. But she’s also spying, I know that, cataloging everything away for later. In my distraction, I almost miss my call to the Samos box. I leap to attention, hurrying but trying to make it look like I’m not. I dance between bodies, lighter on my feet than I was even when I was this age. 

I enter the Samos box silently, shifting the curtain aside. From behind, I can see every muscle Ptolemus tries to hide in his fancy shirt. Like Cal, he’s never been able to hide the fact that he would rather be a warrior. My stomach still curls at the sight of him. To think in a few months he will be the reason Clara doesn’t have a father. The sight of Volo makes me queasy. Evangeline told me what fate befell her father in Archeon during the Lakelanders attack, and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to look him in the eye without picturing his face flattened against the deck of a ship. 

I draw my tongue along my lip before saying, “Sir?” He doesn’t even notice me, and a part of me almost laughs. What I wouldn’t give for him to ignore me like this in a few months. Soon, he won’t be able to. He holds out the empty water glass to me, a bored look on his face. “They’re toying with us, Ptolemus.” 

Taking the glass from him, I wait for Ptolemus to finish his. His eyes dance to me in confusion for a moment over his rim before he offers me the glass. I stifle the shake in my hand as I take it, panic coursing through me as he continues to watch my hands. “A demonstration of power, Father.” He says nonetheless as I hurry away to hide my face from him. “They make us wait because they can.” 

I want to spit in his face, or at least make a face in his direction like a child. To think Cal still respects you when you talk about him like a dog you can’t get to heel. Then again, Cal never did hesitate to throw a quip about Ptolemus out. 

I fill their glasses at the sink when the tone sounds, announcing the royal family. I close my eyes and expel a slow exhale. From where I hide in the flowers, I can see the High Houses all rise to their feet. Ptolemus whispers something to Volo, and I wish I was close enough to know what it was. Peeking out from the flowers, I watch as Cal’s father steps onto the balcony. My skin prickles at the sight of him. I can’t begin to imagine what Cal felt the first time he saw him. I know the first time I see Shade I’ll clutch him a hug like never before. I couldn’t imagine Cal doing that with his father, but I’m sure even being near him is making his heart ache. This is a torture neither of us could ever prepare for. Perhaps that’s the dark side of Giselle ability. You could see your happiest moments and the people you haven’t seen in years, only to remember that this has already occurred and you are simply reliving pain. 

From behind him, Elara floats out. I have to clutch the sink to keep from ducking out of sight. She doesn’t know I’m here, she doesn’t even know I exist yet. My plan is going to fail within seconds of seeing her, I know it. My weak little defenses will not withstand her ability. She’ll see everything. She’ll kill Cal, and hang his body up for everyone to see. Weak like his mother, she’ll say. He was sympathetic to the reds, he had to be removed. And it will be my fault. 

“Death to the Scarlet Guard!” rings out from several of the boxes, jarring me from thoughts. I dare a glance to see who is yelling. Haven is the only house I have time to catch before the King shouts back at them. 

“The Scarlet Guard—and all our enemies—are being dealt with!” The crowd silences immediately and my lips curl up in a smile at that. I don’t miss this man, not in the slightest. 

“—today we honor tradition, and no Red devil will impede that. Now is the rite of Queenstrial, to bring forth the most talented daughter to wed the most eligible son.” He continues in his speech, and I crane my neck down the stairs to check on Volo. He hasn’t moved, although he does lean over to whisper something else to Ptolemus. I grip the glass tightly in my hand as I turn the sink on again to hide my breathing. I might be sick right here in this room. If I see him, if I look into those blue eyes will I be able to avoid falling apart?

“Both of my sons honor our most solemn custom,” he waves them forward, and I dare a glance at the back of their heads. Cal’s on the other side of his father. He can’t see me, unless her turns his shoulders and cranes his neck slightly. I squeeze my hand into a fist though as Maven slowly turns, raising his hand in a greeting I know has been perfected by his mother. I slowly set the glasses down and grab the edge of the sink. 

He’s so young, so… clear eyed. He’s not haunted by his demons yet. They’re still alive and standing next to him though. And in that moment, as I look at him, I begin to regret everything. I should have just told Cal that we could do this alone. That we could get to Montfort on our own. We would be at the Rift by now if we had left last night. I should have ignored Jon, I should have said to hell with his meddling, and run. I can’t face Maven again. 

Cal is announced. He turns slowly, smiling and waving politely. When he turns to the Samos box, I can see his eyes searching. When he pauses, and makes eye contact with me, I raise my hand in a small wave. His hand barely twitches. It could be a wave to the Samos family and the others Houses will never know it was for me. He turns forward once more, and I turn the sink off. 

I told him I could do this, I told him that we were in this together. I can’t leave him now. 

In a daze, I leave Volo and Ptolemus their glasses. Even as I climb the stairs, I can’t forget the brief flash of Maven’s eyes. I won’t be able to escape them after this. Inhaling slowly but surely, I return to the servants’ platform. I feel like I can’t breathe. In an hour, I will let myself fall off a platform and into a force field and then, I’ll let myself be betrothed to the man who tried to kill me numerous times. Is this what Cal felt? In the first moment that he had run into Maven, had he felt this rush of emotions? Had his chest felt like it was going to cave in, and his legs were going to fall out from underneath him? 

His father is still shouting, completing the announcement of Queenstrial. I dare another look at him. He’s still smiling, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. As every house claims their right to Queenstrial, his smile wavers a little more until it falls so low that he has to brings his lips back up. Just a little longer, I want to tell him.

When his father turns to Lord Provos to order the arena created, Cal’s eyes dance up to the servants’ box, and catch mine. His shoulders rise and fall in what must be a slow, deliberate exhale. He’s searching for control, or maybe a reprieve. He won’t get one until we find Giselle though. 

Underneath my feet, the platform lurches, and moves. That’s the last look I’ll get until he finds me in that hallway. The hum of electricity underneath my feet tells me the shield has activated, and the fight has only begun. The floor opens and Rohr appears a moment later. She’s even tinier than I remember. She bats her doe like eyes at Cal, and smiles. She’s little more than a child. So was I though. I’m older now though, and I have the wisdom to back it up.

((((/////////))))

It feels like it has been hours. My eyes burn, and my skin crawls until I feel like I’m going to explode like a live wire. Any longer and I might just throw myself over the railing and into the shield to kick start this whole thing. Evangeline was last, but as the parade continues, I softly set my hand on the railing, prepared to throw myself over. 

The minute I think I might actually do that though, the platform at the bottom rises once more, and the sun catches the highlights of platinum blonde hair. My heart beats erratically and a bead of sweat rolls down the back of my neck. Her eyes dart up and around, but her expression is cold. Years ago, I thought that the light in her eyes was malicious. Now I know better. I know that she’s just as disgusted, and irritated with this whole process as everyone else is. Unlike the other girls, she is not seeking out Cal, she is seeking out the crown Elara is wearing. She’s seeking the safety of being queen, where no one will question Elane curling up by her side, and her father won’t be able to order her to do anything. She looks nothing like the woman I remember grabbing coffee with just a few days before I was chasing Giselle down a backstreet. 

I wish she was that woman. That would make things so much easier. 

Her father calls her name and her ability, and a moment later, I’m summoned to a box. My heart hammers in my chest as I pace down thin hallways to answer the call. Once I step into that box, my fate is sealed. I’m going to have to find something deep within myself. Jon had warned me though, had told me to find the strength to get through this. I have to have some faith. Not in him of course, but in myself. I learned that hard lesson at Corros. 

As I gather plates and glasses, I keep my eyes on Evangeline on the screen. She prowls around, searching for something to work with. With a flick of her wrists, and iron studs on her jacket start to move. I can’t help but roll my eyes at the theatrics. And she claims that I’m dramatic. She sets to work destroying the arena while I make my way slowly but surely toward the biggest open space in the box I can find. If she doesn’t tilt the arena, then all of this is for nothing. 

Evangeline never disappoints though. 

The floor shifts underneath me, and I squeeze my hand into a fist at my side. Even though I know I’m going to be just fine in the next few seconds, it doesn’t mean I want to fall thirty feet into a force field. The box tips, and I force an exhale through my teeth. A body slams into me, and I let myself fall. 

It’s a much shorter fall than I remember, so I hit the shield a lot harder than I want. Sparks fly across my skin, and I close my eyes. I feel like a battery getting recharged, and every volt of electricity that burns through me makes me feel whole. The shield wavers underneath me, and I only have a second to push to my knees and spit a curse before it fails completely. I fall the last twenty feet and curl up into a ball as I hit a pile of dust and sand. The blow doesn’t quiet knock the wind out of me, but it still leaves me stunned for a moment. 

Shaking myself out as I try to climb to my feet, I glance up at Evangeline. I’d forgotten the look she’d given me the first time she saw me. The mix of terror, horror, and fear is startling. She never looks at me like that again, not even in the Bowl of Bones when I create a storm from nothing. Above us, the rest of the High Houses gasp and murmur. 

I swallow as I glance around and then back at Evangeline who takes a tiny step back. I don’t have time to say anything this time, because she throws a hail of metal shards at me. I gasp and throw up a net of lightning to catch them. The shards shriek and burst apart a few feet away from me. I release the net and it explodes out, hitting the far wall behind Evangeline. She throws herself to the side to avoid being hit by any stray bolts. 

I hadn’t been that close to hitting her the first time. I grimace, as she whips her head around to look at the hole in the wall before turning her eyes back to me. I would stamp my foot at my stupidity, if Cal’s father didn’t shout for the Sentinels. They bleed out of the shadows in the boxes, and I lick my lips for a moment, tasting the ozone from the shield on my skin. I dare a glance up at Cal who is trying his best to seem surprised by me. Drawing my lips in a tight line, I sprint for the hole in the floor. Just as gun fire explodes behind me, I drop into a slide and go feet first down the hole. 

As soon as I hit the ground of the antechamber below, I start into a dead sprint. The cameras follow me, and every one I pass, I destroy. They explode like fireworks around me and rain sparks into the semidarkness. 

I make it to the mirrored hall and pause for a second to take heaving breaths. My chest burns and my legs already ache. I dont have much time, but I need to start thinking of a plan—gun fire explodes over my head and I drop to a knee and cover my head as pits of the wall cut across my neck. 

Two Sentinels come charging toward me. With a smirk, I charge them. They try to bring their guns up in time, but I drop to my knees and slide between the two of them and throw two well placed bolts of electricity into their hips as I go by. They collapse with a clang of metal, and I scramble to my feet, sprinting once more. At least the hallways are familiar enough to me that I don’t have to stop to think about where I’m going. I only hope that Cal’s memory is as good as mine.

I end up in a hallway, panting and a worried that I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. How far away is Cal? Had it been a mistake to knock out the cameras on my way here? Maybe that was how he’d found me last time. 

Footsteps sound from the hall that connects to the one I’m in and spin into a defensive stance, lightning dancing in my hands. Cal comes around the corner though, his entire uniform askew. He catches himself on the wall and I drop my hands immediately. He approaches quickly and his bracelet sparks before a wall of fire encircles us, successfully obscures us from view. 

He reached out for me, and I grab his arm panting, “Don’t have much time, the Sentinels.”

He nods his eyes scanning over my charred uniform. “Elara—”

“I can do this, just don’t knock me out.” I growl as I meet his eyes. There isn’t time for him to play hero or savior right now. He shakes his head quickly and says, “We’ll think of something else.”

“No time. And if you try to dissuade her, she’ll know something is wrong. Let me face her, trust me.” 

He looks like he wants to argue more, but the sound of Sentinels shouting on the other side of the fire makes him whip his head around. I grab his cheek and force his eyes back to me. “Everything will be fine,” I assure him with a little smile. He looks even more uncertain, but his jaw tightens in understanding. I let my legs go limp, forcing him to catch me. Cradling me close to his chest he slowly lowers the wall of fire, whispering, “Be brave. I’ll see you soon.”

I let myself hold onto the image of his face for a second longer than I should, but if I do mess up with Elara, I want to at least remember those as his last words. 

[vizkopa]

Celestial (FallenAngel!Doflamingo x Reader) CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10: Cain ~

”This is your fault!”

Before you could even throw up your hands to defend yourself, you felt the searing white pain as your head cracked against the wall behind you, Doffy’s hand around your throat. You gasped for breath, hands grasping weakly at his wrist. His fingers tightened.

You could barely see through the pain and fading vision, but you forced yourself to look him in the face.

“This… isn’t… you…” you choked out, and for just a split second, you thought you saw a flash of conflict in his eyes and felt his grip loosen for a moment.

Then Doffy was ripped away from you and you slid to the floor, gasping and holding your throat. You could feel something warm trickling down the back of your neck and soaking your blouse, but you felt no pain.

Oxygen flooded into your lungs and when your vision had returned, you saw a bright light standing before you like a great, blazing shield. It stung your eyes to look at it but you could just barely make out the outline of an enormous figure amongst the blinding rays, pure white wings unfurled and blocking you from Doffy’s view. At the same time, you heard a voice echo in your head.

Are you all right?

Raziel. You nodded and though the angel had his eyes fixed on Doffy, you knew he understood.

What is the meaning of this, Doffy?

Doffy was shielding his eyes against the light before him. “This does not concern you, brother”, he hissed.

Anything that concerns you, also concerns me. You are jeopardising any hope of returning home with me if you do this.

“I have no home!” Doffy roared, and you could have sworn you felt the ground shudder beneath you. “Father made sure of that the moment I was cast from Heaven. He does not want me. He has forsaken and condemned me to die with the rest of the filth on this sin-ridden planet!”

Doffy, please—

“Enough! You stand there with your wings and your Grace and call me ‘brother’, but you, too, have betrayed me. What did you say to that judge? I would rather have died than live as a mortal, you know that!”

Rosi was silent for a long moment. I am sorry you feel that way. I only did what I believed was best—

“What was best for me?” Doffy laughed and there was a hint of madness in his electric blue eyes. “You were only acting on orders, like a good little soldier. Don’t pretend you had any choice in the matter, or you’d have been cast out alongside me.”

Rosi did not reply. He stood his ground as Doffy took a step towards him, that maniacal look still in his eyes.

“Do you have any idea how painful it is to have your wings ripped from your body, to have a part of you torn away?”

He took another step forward and still, Rosi stood firm.

“Do you know what it’s like to feel hunger as you’ve never felt it before, or anger so hot it’s like the fires of Hell itself are consuming you from the inside?”

Another step.

“When Father took my Grace, he did not realise he gave me something in return. Something neither you nor the rest of our brothers and sisters have. Do you know what that was, Rosi?”

Rosi swallowed and shook his head.

“Free will.”

Doffy lunged at Rosi. You felt an invisible force throw you sideways out of the way as, with a deafening crack, Doffy had his brother pinned to the wall where you had just been. There was a cry of pain and it took you a few, long seconds to realise the cry was inside your head.

Rosi’s light had faded now and, with an uttered gasp, you realised the crack had been his wings breaking. They hung limply at his sides, feathers trailing in the blood on the kitchen tile.

“Now, brother, you know something of the pain I feel,” Doffy snarled, his face merely centimetres from Rosi’s pained expression.

“Doffy, don’t!” Your cry fell on deaf ears.

The voice in your head was fainter now as it spoke. He gave you something else as well, Rosi said. He gave you the power to feel. Anger, jealousy, hate—I see it all. You have let it consume you, Dophiel. But it doesn’t have to.

Doffy’s grip on Rosi tightened. “You know nothing of what I feel.”

I see all, brother. I am not Heaven’s keeper of secrets for nothing. I know every emotion that flows through that mortal body of yours no matter how much you try to suppress it. You know the emotion of which I speak.

You felt Doffy’s eyes flicker to you for a moment, but in your daze you were sure you had imagined it.

“You are mistaken,” said Doffy. He stepped back and pulled a pistol from the inside pocket of his blazer.

You gasped. How had he gotten it? You had been less vigilant about keeping the gun on you lately, but you could have sworn it was locked safely in the desk drawer of your study.

“Say hi to Dad for me,” he growled and he pulled the trigger.

What followed seemed to happen in slow motion. You cried out and tried to get to your feet, but a shockwave seemed to throw you to the floor again. Rosi looked as if he were frozen, his hands hovering over a small hole in his chest. A bright light was flooding out. He looked up at Doffy, a look of pure bewilderment on his face, and then he opened his mouth in a silent scream. Beams of light poured from his eyes and mouth, so bright and hot you had to shield your face. Cracks opened in his skin, wider and wider until the light seemed to burn it all away. There was one final flash of white light and a wave of heat, and then there was nothing, only scorch marks left on the tiles and wall.

Doffy seemed stunned, still holding the gun out in front of him. For the first time ever, you thought you saw fear in his expression.

“Doffy,” you choked, “what did you do?”

“What… is this weapon?”

You stared up at him. “It’s just a gun. It’s just my Dad’s old gun…”

“No,” he said. “It should have only forced him out off his physical from and back to Heaven. I didn't mean to—”

He was cut off by a cry of pain and he fell to his knees, the gun clattering to the floor and sliding across the tiles to rest at your feet. His hands flew to his face as if he had been burned, his back arching with the agony of whatever had struck him. You crawled on shaking limbs to his side.

“What is it? What’s happening?”

But Doffy couldn’t speak. He was writhing on the floor, his hands pressed over his left eye as a plume of black smoke curled upward from between his fingers. You reached out and forced his hands away from his face, and gasped at what you saw.

His left eye, once brilliant blue eye, was now dull and a rune-like mark had been burned into the iris. It sizzled unpleasantly, glowing with red embers before it settled to black. You felt Doffy’s body stop its writhing but he was still tense, his shoulders shuddering with the weight of his panting breaths.

“What just—?”

“The Mark of Cain,” he spat out between gritted teeth.

“Wait, as in biblical Cain? Cain and Abel?”

He nodded, sombre. “’He who bears the Mark of Cain is one who has spilled the blood of his brother,’” he quoted. “I have been marked as a fugitive and a wanderer. We need to go.”

You felt a pang of fear at the urgency in his tone. “Go? Where?”

“Anywhere. Do you have somewhere we can hide?”

“We?”

“Do you, or do you not?”

You flinched and managed to stammer out, “m-my Dad had an old hunting cabin… up in the mountains.”

A peal of thunder crashed overhead. Doffy shot a glance at the ceiling. “Take only the essentials. We need to leave. Now.”

He lurched to his feet and scooped up his fallen coat, throwing about his shoulders once more. You sat stunned, still struggling to process what had just happened. Doffy’s voice snapped you out of your daze.

“Now, [Name]!”

With a jolt, you scrambled to your feet and dashed to your room, pulling a duffel bag from under your bed and stuffing it haphazardly with as much as you could grab on your way back through the house. As an afterthought, you scooped up a pair of white-rimmed sunglasses from your dresser and handed them to Doffy as you passed him on the way to the door.

“Put these on. Just in case we run into anyone.”

As an afterthought, while Doffy was casting furtive glances outside at the rapidly darkening sky, you picked up the forgotten pistol, holding it gingerly as you flicked the safety back on and shoved it deep into your bag. As you hurried to the car, thunder rumbled threateningly above and far off in the distance, a fork of lightning split the sky in two.

You drove as fast as you dared on the quiet country road for the first half of the trip, then the sky opened and let forth a heavy torrent, forcing you to slow to almost a crawl. You squinted through the downpour, windshield wipers working double time. In the passenger seat, Doffy kept glancing at the rear view mirrors, his knee bouncing impatiently.

“Can you stop that? You’re making me anxious.”

“You should be. If they find us, do you really think they will believe you are innocent in all this? Do you think they won’t ask about the gun?”

You gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Okay, first all, who’s ‘they’? And second of all, why haven’t they found us already?”

“They’re called Powers. Heaven’s mercenaries. They will not stop until they have hunted us to the ends of the Earth. As for why they have not found us… When I lost my Grace, I lost my connection to Heaven, and so they lost their connection with me. I am just like any mortal on this Earth now, and so I do not stand out.”

“So we have a head start. But what about when they catch up? We can’t run forever. I have work.” It sounded laughable. Worrying about work when you were currently running for your life.

“I have a plan.”

There was silence as you waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t. “Are you going to loop me in?”

“No.”

“Bloody angels,” you cursed under your breath.

The rain was still falling when you pulled up to the dark cabin. The two of you rushed inside through the downpour and you immediately busied yourself with getting the generator running so you could have some light. When the dim bulbs flickered to life you turned to Doffy, both of you dripping onto the hardwood floor.

“What now?”

“I need the blood of an innocent.”

“Excuse me?!”

He looked down at you with contempt. “You’ll have to do.”

You gaped at him. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

But Doffy didn’t answer. He brushed past you and began searching through the drawers in the kitchen. You felt a shudder run down your spine at the sound of steel sliding against steel as he pulled out a hunting knife and tested its edge. Seemingly satisfied, he turned to you.

“Give me your hand.”

You clutched your hand tight to your chest. “Why?”

He rolled his eyes. He was getting awfully sassy for someone who two weeks ago couldn’t even recognise sarcasm. “I need your blood for a protection spell.” When the suspicion in your glare didn’t abate, he growled in frustration. “I don’t need much. It’ll only hurt for a moment.” He extended his hand to you.

You hesitated, but finally you stretched out your non-dominant hands and laid it in his. You were both shaking, though whether it was with cold or nerves you couldn’t tell. His fingers closed on your wrist and he was surprisingly gentle as he turned it so your palm faced upwards. The tip of the knife pressed into your skin, dimpling it for just a moment before it broke and red beads of blood blossomed outward. You flinched, tears welling in your eyes, but you didn’t pull away as Doffy dragged the knife across your palm. Still holding your hand, he placed the knife aside and grabbed a small ceramic bowl from the counter—you recognised it as one you had made for your Dad in a grade school pottery class—and let a trickle of blood dribble down into it.

The moment he was satisfied, he let go of you and turned away, the bowl clutched in his shaking hands as he carried it to the window, where he began drawing some kind of rune in your blood. You shuddered, clutching you injured hand, and looked away from the gruesome symbol.

While Doffy paced the perimeter of the cabin, muttering words under his breath and continuing his bloody artistry, you had rummaged one-handed in the bathroom vanity for a first aid kit and had begun to clean the cut on your hand. You bandaged it up as best you could and used your teeth to tighten the knot. Then you got to work on the wound at the back of your head. The blood had dried and matted in your hair, and the back of your shirt was a dark rust colour where the rain has washed some of it away. You turned this way and that in the mirror, trying to find the source of the bleeding.

Doffy appeared behind you in the mirror, watching you over your shoulder. Your eyes met his dark glasses in the mirror.

“It is done,” he said. “No one will find us here.”

You nodded.

He stretched out a hand, gesturing to the washcloth clutched tightly in your uninjured hand. “Let me,” he said.

You handed the cloth over to him and turned back to watch him in the mirror as he dabbed away the blood in our hair. He was a little heavy-handed and you tried not to wince because honestly, this was more than you could have every expected of him. You couldn’t see his eyes but you could tell from the way his brows furrowed and his head hung forward that he was tired. So were you.

“Thanks,” you said softly when he was done, taking the washcloth from him and rinsing it in the sink. Then you turned to face him. He was closer than he appeared in the mirror and you found yourself backing into the counter a little. You looked up into his face. “Let me take a look at that eye.”

You reached up to remove his glasses but he caught your wrist. The two of you stood like that for a long moment, staring at each other, then he surprised you by relaxing his grip. He let you continue but turned his head to the side as soon as his eyes were revealed, hiding the left one from view. You swallowed and rested a hand on his cheek, gently forcing him to look at you.

His once beautiful blue eye was now dull and lifeless, the Mark of Cain stark black against the cloudy iris. It no longer looked like a fresh burn, but one that had been there for weeks.

“Oh, it’s almost healed,” you remarked in surprise, leaning forward to inspect it more closely. You ignored the small sound of discomfort Doffy made at your proximity. “How is that possible?”

“My Grace may be gone but there are still some… residual powers,” he said.

“Huh,” you uttered, still examining him closely. You thought back to when you had first brought him home and tended to the wounds from his fall. They had healed surprisingly fast back then too. “Must be nice.”

He just stared at you. There was still the familiar contempt in his gaze every time he looked at you, but it seemed less apparent than usual. Perhaps it was just his exhaustion.

“Well, if you’re quite done…” he said, indicating your hand still pressed to his cheek.

“Oh,” you flushed and took you hand away quickly. “Yes. Let’s get a fire going before we both freeze to death. And,” you added, pushing off the bathroom counter, “I think I need a drink.”

[rottmntquotes]

Stars

Blue, or white bulbs? Purple accents, or an indigo moon? A swirly wormhole, or a dramatic supernova?

"It is but the constant struggle of an artist."

A quick scoff drew Leo out of his thoughts, and he turned to send a genuine smile to his genius twin. In response, Donnie sneered, eyes narrowing and accenting the bags that formed. This didn't throw off Leo's mood, though; if anything, the look drove Leo to work harder, walking up to Donnie and holding up two strands of lights. A happy, almost childish look was on Leo's face, and Donnie rose a brow despite his previous anger.

"Blue, or white?" Leo asked, holding the lights up respectively. "I want to hang up lights in the room."

"Leo, it's your room now. Why are you asking for my opinion?" Donnie retorted, rolling his eyes as the question was completely ignored.

"I just thought you'd like to help decorate the room." Leo hummed, moving to pick up a picture of a supernova. "What about this? Cool colored wormhole, or warm colored supernova?"

"Uh, neither. If anything, I'm more of a wintery planet sort of turtle. Studies show that many people find it easier to sleep in cold, snow colored environments. It causes the body to naturally search for heat, and when the heat is found, the body is more likely to be comfier than if it were in a hot environment."

"Okay."

Donnie paused mid-speech, watching his twin look through his phone casually. A minute or so passed before Leo shoved his phone into Donnie's face. "So, colors like this?"

"Uh... yes...?" This was weird. Why was Leo acting so... not Leo-ish? It was a question that plagued Donnie's mind, but he was quickly cut off before he could ask. Quick paced whistling filled the silence, and Donnie watched as his odd twin took hold of a few dark blue bulbs, holding them up in the air while squinting his eyes.

"Is this a good blue?" Leo asked, continuing to hold the bulbs up. "Or should we go with indigo?"

"Are... are you okay?" Donnie chose to voice his concerns instead of answering, placing a hand on the back of Leo's neck. The Slider snickered at the touch, dropping the lights and turning to kitten-slap Donnie's hand away.

"I'm fine. I just want to know how you want the room to look."

"Will you stop saying that?! This isn't my room anymore! It's yours! You were the one who hustled this room out of my hands!" Donnie shouted, his body stiffening as he curled his beak into a snarl. Leo smiled in response, shrugging and returning to the decorations.

"What do you think about having little star stickers on the wall?"

"That sounds like a great id- Hold on! NO! I don't care about anything you do to this room! You hustled it, so you can deal with what I had to deal with! And lemme tell ya, there are plenty of things wrong with this room! It's cramped, there's barely enough room to put your massive mountain of junk, and you can bet that it'll be ten times worse to crawl out of that poor excuse of a bed! You'd have been better off committing a crime and being sent to jail!"

"Then... why are you so upset?" Leo's question surprised Donnie, leaving the Softshell to do nothing more than attempt to answer. "Uh-huh, right. So, until you calm down, I'm just going to make the big decisions, and what you see is what you get."

Donnie sputtered, unable to formulate full sentences, especially as he was pushed out of his previous room. A quick yet gentle shove was all it took to get Donnie to leave, and Leo waved his brother off, turning around to continue his previous work.

__________

It was around 9:00 p.m. when the boys arrived from Run-of-the-Mill, each of them finishing up cheery stories before they all split up to do their own things. Raph went to lift weights, Mikey went to work a new project, Donnie retreated to his lab, and Leo... went back to decorating the room. A frustrated groan was let out, and Donnie was torn between staying in his lab and ignoring his petty feelings, or trying once again to confront Leo about the strange behaviour.

Then again, this would just show off that Leo was somehow managing to get underneath Donnie's battle shell. Something he was probably already doing to begin with. Happy whistling came from Donnie - Leo's room, effectively driving the Softshell crazy. A low growl came from Donnie's throat before he stood up suddenly, ignoring his body's reaction to the movement as he stormed into his - Leo's room.

"Alright, what gives?! Why are you spending so much time decorating this room?!" Donnie asked angrily, searching Leo's face for any sort of explanation. Leo simply smiled in response; a genuine look that served to drive away any of Donnie's previous negative emotions.

 How did he manage to do that???

"Well, I noticed how you've been way more sleep deprived than usual, which is my fault entirely. So, I've decided that I'll let you come in here and sleep whenever you really feel yourself losing all sanity because of dad's snoring." Leo explained, briefly turning his back to Donnie so that he could retrieve a nearby screw. "I've been working on this for weeks, and I keep asking for your opinion because I want you to be able to be as comfortable as possible when you need somewhere to rest and relax."

"Wait, but where would that put you?"

"I'll just sleep in my old room whenever need be." Leo chimed, shrugging as he moved to pick up a picture of the family. "I've gotten used to dad's snoring, so it won't bother me as much."

"So... you're willing to give up your own comfort, just so I can get a good night's rest?"

"Yup! It's what twins are for, after all!" Leo's comment was met with silence, but he said nothing on it, taking this time to begin hammering a nail into the wall. Once the nail was deemed planted enough, Leo hung the picture up, humming happily, and stepping back. "And viola! Your new- OW!"

Donnie was snapped out of his confused haze by Leo's yelp of pain, searching everywhere possible for any type of source. After a minute or so, Donnie noticed that Leo was favoring one foot more than the other, and he instructed the blue clad Slider to sit down on the... nest? Yep. It was a nest.

"Hey, I'm fine Donnie, I swear. It's just a little nick." Leo assured, standing up and immediately sitting back down. With an unimpressed scoff, Donnie grabbed Leo's foot, gasping at the sight of the large nail that had lodged itself into the skin. "See? It's nothing!"

"Nardo, there is an entire nail lodged in your foot. That. Is not. Nothing!" Donnie exclaimed, lying Leo back so that they were both in a comfortable position. "Now, I'm gonna have to pull it out- BUT IT WON'T HURT! I'll do it on three so you know when to expect it. One... two... WHAT'S THAT?!"

"What?! OW!" Leo pulled his foot back, cradling it lightly and blowing on it rapidly. Donnie, in the meantime, was studying the nail for any signs of rust. None were found, but the Softshell decided that he would give Leo a Tetanus shot anyways, just to be on the safe side. "Hey, hey, I ain't gettin' no shot! That is not happening!"

"You "ain't getting no" shot, huh?" Donnie snickered, patting Leo's head. "Do you remember nothing about the double negative rule?"

"Screw that rule." Leo spat, grumbling as he received another head pat.

"Heheh..." Donnie paused his ministrations, thinking over what to say next. "Thank you, Leo."

"For?"

"This. The room. The decoration. Everything." Donnie clarified, leaning down and bumping foreheads with his twin brother. "You didn't have to do this."

"No, but I wanted to." Leo hummed, purring at the affectionate nuzzling his words earned him. "D'aw! You're making me blush!"

"Perfect, that means less blood to deal with when I give you the shot."

"Wait, what?"

"Oh please! Just because you did something nice doesn't mean I have to neglect your health. Now come on, I don't want to carry you all the way to the lab."

"Are you calling me fat?"

"You? Fat? Why, that's like calling a marshmallow spicy!"

"Okay, I get it... I love you man."

"I love you too, brother."

[malereader-inserts]

Nocturnal Creatures [2]

Fandom: Twilight Pairing: Cullens & Son!Brother!Reader Summary: Being a vampire is hard, you don’t understand how your family does it. Word Count: 2,041 A/n: Part one can be found here

The first thing you do when you wake up is freak out.

Carlisle had to force your siblings and mother out the door to calm you down. They waited out the house, space was essential and every newborn was different with the change of new beginnings. 

“This is...” You muttered, looking disgusted, “uncomfortable.”

Carlisle looked at you with pitying eyes as you shifted your balance between your feet; everything was different. The sight was ten times more high definition than needed to be, colour vibrant than the muted colours you were so used to seeing. 

The smell, god the smell, traces of Bella was more evident to you with her scent lingering in the house. When you were in your comatose state, Edward told her not to visit knowing if her scent was around, you would go ballistic around her. Or any human for the matter. 

Then, you came to the burning feeling in your throat. You were thirsty and whilst feeding on blood repulsed you, that was the only thing that you wanted. You stare at your dad with your bright sharp red eyes. In his hand was a glass of human blood, from blood banks from the hospital.

“It’ll subside the burn in your throat, for now, we can go hunting later,” He says, sitting next to you as he passed the glass to you, and nodding to you that you can drink it. 

The blood was surprisingly satisfying, but you still cringed with the thought of it, Carlisle chuckled at your face after gulping the thick red liquid in one.

“You know, most vampires don’t have that reaction after drinking human blood,” Carlisle says, putting beside him before turning to look at you, “We’re going to help you, (Y/n), Jasper is ready to help you.”

“Will I be going to school?” 

“Absolutely not,” Carlisle asserted, “And I can’t seem to make the rest go back to school, they’ve been worried.”

“Worried that I’ll survive?” You asked, rubbing your ears, then wincing, “It’s too amplified.”

“You’ll get used to it, my boy,” Carlisle soothes, “Maybe, you can convince your siblings to go to school or not to worry over you, you do have a way with your words and your puppy eyes that they always fall for.”

“Yeah,” You speak glumly.

You don’t understand why you were upset about being a vampire, you did say you were agreeing to change after being twenty-one, but you felt too young, too babyish. You looked at your hands and see the pale stone-like complexion and despite being the made the same as your dad, his touch was comforting - soft and warm.

Then, you remind yourself of the dozens of books on the cold ones that you’ve read. baffled that you were able to easily retain most of your human memories. 

“You want to go hunting?” Carlisle asked, getting up and placing the glass on the table, “You’re probably sick of being in the office, just us two, when we get back the family will be waiting for us.”

You looked outside, this was your new life and you had to embrace it.

“I don’t think (Y/n) will be suited into going to school tomorrow,” Rosalie says, letting you rest your head against her shoulder as she strokes your hair.

If you could feel sleepy and sleep you could, but you were still getting used to the ability of not sleeping. 

“It’s one day,” Jasper argues, sitting on the other side of you, “(Y/n) has shown a fantastic ability to adapt, he’s not going to learn to repel human blood if he’s constantly shielded away.”

“Says you,” Rosalie snapped.

“Rose, not now,” You bit back, causing her to shut her mouth, the family takes no notice of her quick switched behaviour thinking it was Jasper controlling her emotions.

“Jasper’s right, Rosalie,” Carlisle agrees, his arms crossed over his chest, “And if something happens, we can just get him out as quick as possible.”

“Come on Rose, (Y/n) has been able to control his speed, he’s got used to his senses, can easily pretend he’s still human, and it’s been less than a week,” Alice convinced her sister with a smile, “Yes, he may slip up, but as a family we’re supposed to help him.”

Rose sighs, rolling her eyes. So, when the next day arrives, you slung over your backpack on the one shoulder as you stood against Emmett’s truck, you bit your lip as you could hear the whispered amplified - they were talking about you.

Missing for almost a week and coming back just looking like the rest of your siblings.

Drop-dead gorgeous.

You were brought back to reality when Emmett shakes your shoulder, “Hey there pretty boy.”

“Hey,” You say back, “Is this what it feels like? Hearing everyone talk about you?”

“Thought you didn’t mind the talking...” Jasper teased as you rolled your eyes, unhappy that you could see the scratches on the contact lenses.

“Yeah, like a week ago, now, it’s...” You cleared your throat, “Distracting.”

Jasper pats you on the shoulder, “Look at you, maybe that’s what you need.”

“This is going to go horribly,” Rosalie commented dryly, but she and the rest of the family agreed not to mention blood around you.

If you were too distracted by the whispering, conversations and heighten hearing from the scent of blood. You were informed that it was Bella’s birthday as well, as much as Jasper and Rose had disagreed with Alice, she was coming over to their house to celebrate her eighteenth.

“Delightful,” You says as Alice gives you a look whilst Rosalie chuckles and shakes her head.

“Think you’ve been spending too much time with me,” Rosalie ruffled your hair before sending you off to your class.

Going to your locker and grabbing essentials, you could feel everyone staring at you. Hushed whispered of everyone checking you out. Sure, you were talked a lot for being a Cullen, but you could never hear them or what they were talking about.

But, now you could hear a radio on a highway too far for you to even want to measure. You were the talk of the school, how you got ill and then coming back insanely good looking. Some was whispering witchcraft, you could feel the eyes of your peers as you enter your first lesson.

Sliding into the seat, history. Not your fondest subject, but with living with Vampires they helped you a lot. You took in a fake deep breath and let it go, feeling uncomfortable as you could see your teacher staring at you. 

Your history teacher wasn’t the nicest of teachers, you got along with them fine because sometimes a little bit of strict teaching couldn’t harm a person, but this teacher was known to be brutal.

“Mr Cullen, any explanation to why you were absent from my lessons?”

You gazed up at him, gripping the desk, “I was ill, sorry for the inconvenience.”

They paused, gazing into your eyes before nodding, “Of course, I cannot fault you for being ill.”

You looked at them confused because they were never one to be so quick to accept an excuse, they nodded as they give you the required sheets and fill you in on what you missed before starting the lesson.

The room was silent, sure you could hear distant tapping, teachers talking their subjects. It was hard for you to get to grips with your teacher talking about their subject. Then, you got a whiff of the scent of blood, you clutched the desk and gulped.

You were becoming thirsty. As your teacher sets out a task for the class, the class erupted into voices, but it couldn’t distract you from the festering hunger from within to bite someone.

“Mr Cullen...”

You were going to test an inkling.

“Sorry, I really don’t feel good so you’re going to let me leave.” You gave your teacher a heavy look, who looked like they were overridden with your command.

“Go ahead, I will send your work to your siblings later.”

You grabbed your bag and left the room in a rush, you wanted to throw up as you head to the boys' toilets. Washing your face as you tried to calm yourself down. You texted Jasper that you left class as you went outside to hide in the back of Emmett’s truck. 

Within a minute he texted back that he was leaving English to meet you, after five minutes he find you sitting there, looking agitated.

“Hey,” He says, getting up on the trust to settle next to you, you say nothing, “You know, I’m proud of you, most newborns I worked with can’t control their thirst, it takes them weeks, months. You’ve done it less than a week.”

“Almost, I can’t control it yet.”

“You’re doing well,” Jasper compliments you, feeling your emotions as he tries to lighten your mood as your eyes kept staring at your fingers.

“Don’t.”

Then, it stopped. Jasper usually ignores you when you’re upset. Jasper ignores most people when emotions are low, you paused in your thinking and looked at him. He looked at you inquisitively as he felt you feel confused then saw a light bulb going off in your head.

“What?”

“You know how you can control emotions, Ed’s got the mind-reading and Alice has visions?” You say as Jasper nods slowly, “What if I could control people from staring into their eyes or just by my voice, you know compulsion.”

“Well, it would make sense since you did have your way with words before you were a vampire and you always had convincing eyes...”

“Jasper, I told you to not mess with my feelings and you stopped, you never listen to me and that was just with my voice,” You explained as Jasper was finally catching up to what you were insinuating, “The same thing happened with Rose last night, she would have definitely argued with you about me going to school-”

“But you told her not now and she stopped, she would have ignored you and continued.”

“Yeah, exactly, and Jasper what was my first lesson?”

“History with that stuck up teacher,” Jasper commented, “How did you get out of the class?”

“I just looked into their eyes and told them to let me leave,” You informed him, “I didn’t ask, I told them that they were letting me leave and-”

“Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Jasper answers, “We can ask Carlisle to call Eleazar to confirm it.”

“Okay,” You smile as he smiles back.

“Ready to go back? Or should we ditch school?”

“I don’t think Alice would like that,” Pointing over to Alice who was standing in front of the school with her hand on her hips, “I’ll try and push through to the rest of the day.”

“Alright, but remember to call any of us if you need to,” Jasper reminds you, “You’re still finding your feet and we tossed you into the deep end, for blending it - would say believable, just don’t forget to move your shoulders to breath.”

“Sorry, I forget I don’t breath anymore.”

“Easy mistake.”

“I can’t wait to get rid of the contacts because it’s irritating me,” You whine as Jasper laughs, pushing you out of the truck to head back to school.

“You’ll get used to that,” Jasper follows, throwing an arm over Alice.

“You keep saying that but I’m finding that hard to believe,” Alice giggles at your whining, “Oh god, what am I going to about practise next week?”

“You can always quit,” Alice informs you, giving you a look, “Or you know, push through it, I thought you were one for a challenge.”

“I take that back!”

The two shake their head at your complaining, it was going to take a while for you to find yourself and find your feel, on top of that with a possible chance of a special ability to control, was going to be extra difficult.

 “You’ve got a long life ahead of you,” Emmett says picking you up from behind, hearing your conversation as you groaned.

“Unfortunately.”

The group smile at the dry comment of a joke.

What a time to be alive, right?

[midnighthyuck]

Painting Home | seungwoo!au

summary: the arts club made you feel home. But you’d discover later that in fact, walking home with Seungwoo, the quiet emo looking guy, was indeed... well, home.

words: 2.680.

pairing: you & han seungwoo. 

a/n: this is my first time writing something like this. slow burn? a bit poetic? idk BUT i promise i’ll write better stuff from now on.

requests are open!

Art Club. That was the only thing in your mind ever since you first heard about it from your new class mate. Moving hasn’t been the best experience so far, but in fact the new school was heaven (compared to your last and horrible experience, including arrogant girls and annoying ass boys). People were kind with the new student, always making sure you were feeling home. They were great. And the clubs as well.

Being in a bigger city offered uncountable new opportunities, from 24/7 stores to really interesting clubs in school.  

And for no specific reason the art club has been stuck in your mind. Of course, your dad opening an art gallery in the city did lean you to grow a bigger interest in the field, but it wasn’t the real reason that had you running to apply for the club before it was too late (and full of applicants). Maybe it was the feeling of ink in your hands. Perhaps the smell of wet paper and emollient that had always made you feel calm.  

In fact, painting always made you feel home.

But what got you shock in the second you arrived there was the lack of you exactly thought was going to be you worst enemy. People.

The club’s room for sure was not the biggest around school, you bet, but it wasn’t small. Or maybe it just seemed bigger thanks to the three boys in there.  

Three? Well, if your basic knowledge in math was correct, yes. Three people.

‘’Yes? Can we help you?” a guy asked from the back of the room, coming closer as he cleaned his hands on the already pretty dirty apron of his.

‘’Er, I'm here to apply for the club...’’ you said in a lower tone than actually expected.  

His expression got confused for a second, lightening up in next, opening the mouth in a honestly surprised smile. ‘’For real?’’ it only made the smile grow bigger once you mumbled a ‘yes’. You felt the warm touch of his hands on yours while taking you in the yet unknown place. ‘’Come in! Guys, we’ve got a new member”.

And now finally the others seemed to realize that you’ve been there.  

‘’I’m Wooseok! Those are Seungwoo and Eunsang. I’m the club’s president. You are...?’’ the friendly boy said, still grabbing on you.

“Y/N’’ you answered short, moving your gaze from your hand on his to his curious eyes, taking a barely audible ‘sorry’ from the guy. Once you felt free again, you took a while to observe the other boys in front of you.  

Eunsang, a weird guy with red hair. That was your first impression (the one that would change once you started spending time with the younger boy, becoming in fact one of your best friends).

Seungwoo, definitely a guy who didn’t speak much. And that followed from the next weeks, or maybe months, you weren't much sure.

[…]

The art club was everything you ever needed.  

You’d spend at least three hours, three times a week, in the place with the strong ink smell.  

As time passed your relationship with your colleagues had also started changing.  

Wooseok was a friendly person, that was clear from day one, but was also a moody one. Somedays he’d come to the (almost) empty room with bags of chocolates, ready to please his friends. On others, he’d come and go as silent as a ghost, barely seeming alive.  

Eunsang became a very dear friend. He’d act shy whenever someone praised him by his natural painting talents, but near you he’d be the annoying little brother you’ve in fact never had. He was a special boy, with a very sweet heart.

And there was Seungwoo, that even after all this long, had never started a conversation with you. Of course, you guys talked, it wasn’t as if you (or him) were stranger (yet you felt like it).  

‘’Today’s so hot.’’, ‘’Do you know where’s the yellow ink?”, “Wow it looks amazing!”, “Could you pass me the paint brush? No, no, the bigger one. Thanks.’’ and so on were the few times you had been brave enough to start a small (and when I say small, I really mean it) conversation with him.

But that was just fine. Some people don’t really talk as much as Eunsang does, you used to think.

Months had passed and you could say that for the first time you felt home.

The moody Wooseok, the annoyingly lovely Eunsang, the quiet Seungwoo. They were like family to you.

They were great to you. And for you.

[…]

Returning home late was not an usual thing, especially after school had closed. But you were up to the cleaning shifts on that day, and as Wooseok would love to point out, you can be very slow sometimes.  

Walking past the subway station where you stop by every day you heard a horrifying whistle, hurrying the pace, no daring to turn around and check if it wasn’t just your imagination.

‘’Hey, want me to take you home, princess?’’ a disgusting voice came from what seemed to be behind you, but not for sure. ‘’Why are you running, bae? Let’s just talk.’’

I’m not running, you thought, before you could think once again and maybe run for real, an almost unrealistic shaped shadow became solid right in front of you.  

Screaming was a great idea, but nothing was coming out. You tried to move, but your body just wouldn’t respond.  

‘’Get the fuck out of here, asshole.’’ the hard as rock shadow in front of you said, emotionless.  

Scream stupid, scream! Your mind shouted at yourself. And nothing. When you thought it’d be the end of you, a familiar voice whispered at you, making you finally relax after all.

‘’They’re gone. Why are you walking alone around here at this time?’’ Seungwoo asked.

Seungwoo talked to you first, for the first time, you thought, smiling without realizing.  

‘’Why are you walking alone around here at this time?’’ you made Seungwoo frown. How could she make a joke like that when she was shaking so bad 5 centimeters in front of him?

‘’I live near by.’’

‘’Well, same.’’ you smiled once again, trying to move forward to go home, but your legs were just shaking too much. ‘’I’m so scared’’ you laughed ‘’I’m so fucking scared I can’t walk.’’

Seungwoo helped you to seat nearby the convenience store, right next to your house, but that detail the boy didn’t know. He ran in and came out in what seemed like five seconds so far, bringing you some strawberry milk. For the first time Seungwoo was talking.  

He talked about the weather, about his family and how his sister hated the fact that he’d stain his uniform with ‘ugly ass ink’ at least once a month, he talked about Wooseok’s joke earlier that day, he talked about how he felt sorry for not talking to you enough to know that you guys lived close.

‘’Let’s walk home together from now on’’ he said at last, watching you finish the small milk box.  

[…]

From the next weeks you started finding yourself way comfortable around Seungwoo. Walking home, different from what you had thought, was not so quiet.  

Seungwoo did talked a lot when feeling like it. He was a good company.

And that was problem.

Seungwoo was a very good company, making you flutter sometimes.

You had always been aware of his good looks, but his personality was even... sweeter.  

That was just a thing in the first months, but after you found out by chattery Wooseok that a girl had confessed to him, you found yourself sulking, almost angry. Jealous.

That wasn’t right.

But how to take away feelings you’ve got no control in?

Perhaps painting. And so you did.

You expressed all yourself on those fabric canvas. For the next three months you secretly cried your heart out on those, hoping that’d take away that feeling you had never wished for.

One day, walking back home, you suddenly felt like crying at a specific scene.  

Seungwoo was smiling at you, screaming ‘hurry’ while pointing at a couple of stray cats on the other side of the street. The traffic light was red. You had to wait. And for a second, like a light bulb exploding inside your mind, you were sure.

You were in love with Seungwoo.  

But just like that red light, you were stuck.

You knew you could never reach him.  

[…]

‘’Are you ok?’’ Eunsang asked, taking a sip of his milkshake.  

That day you didn’t go home with Seungwoo. You said you felt like spending time with your fake little brother. And so you did.

‘’I will be ok’’.

‘’What’s up? You might think that I and the other guys haven’t realized, but we did. Your paints have gotten so... different?’’

“What do you mean by that’’

“I mean we know there’s something going on in this pretty little head of yours.’’

“I just need some time, ok?”

“Yes, ma'am.’’ Eunsang laughed. “But you know I’m here for you, don’t you?”

“I do.” you caught up yourself smiling. It was good having friends like him.

[…]

‘’You seem better today.’’ Wooseok pointed, passing by you and taking a look at your current work. “Wow, we even got color on it this time! I don’t know what Eunsang has done yesterday, but it worked.’’

‘’Shut up’’ you laughed, being followed by Eunsang in the corner of the room.

Later that day you and Seungwoo stopped by a furniture store, it was your mom’s birthday soon and you had started looking for a nice gift.  

‘’I know we’re not that close, but, you know, if you need help you can always ask me.’’ Seungwoo said out of blue.

‘’Er, I guess I know and that’s why I dragged you in here’’ you laughed.  

‘’That’s not what I mean.’’

“What do you mean then?” you asked robotically while running your fingers on the shelf in front of you, taking a better look on those decoration mugs. Your mom would probably like it, you thought.  

You’ve got no answer, but it was ok. That was just Seungwoo, he’d hang up in a conversation once in a while, perhaps lost in his own thoughts.  

You thanked the cashier before leaving the store with the burgundy classic shaped mug hanging on a plastic bag.  

‘’I mean... I care about you. I really do.’’ Seungwoo said before you entered home.

You didn’t sleep that night.

Canceling the once daily ‘home walks’ with Seungwoo became so frequent you didn’t have to even cancel anymore. He just wouldn’t wait for you in the entrance door.

A part of you was happy that you succeeded in pushing him away, other part always held a small spark of hope deep inside your heart, hoping he’d be there, waiting for you while checking something on his phone, and that he’d smile once his gaze met yours. That part of you died daily once he wasn’t there.

Instead, Eunsang was on your company almost every day.  

[…]

The first time Seungwoo missed club activities you felt something was off.

The second time you couldn’t keep your mind straight.

After two weeks of skipping activities you couldn’t help.

When conscience hit you, were standing on his front door, knocking like crazy.

‘’Why are you he...’’ he couldn’t finish. You didn’t let him to do so.

“Why are you missing club activities?’’

‘’You could’ve just messaged me, you know.’’

‘’Can’t you just answer me?’’

“What, do I own you answers now?”

You froze.

“I’m just worried. That’s what friends do.’’ you said, holding you tears down your throat trying to cover up your voice as well.

A hint of guilt made itself present on Seungwoo’s face. He really wanted to be mean, to send you away because looking at you now was painful. But seeing how much reaction he caused on you the stupid melting side of his could let him go on.

‘’Sorry... I just need to be alone for a while.’’

“Can’t I be with you?’’

He blinked twice, swallowing his words down his throat. “No.’’  

“Wooseok misses you. Eunsang too.’’ you mumbled. “I miss you.’’

Now Seungwoo was finally looking at you. In fact, it was as if he was looking through you, trying to find out something you didn’t know what.

He said nothing else. Neither did you.

Another week had passed by and no sign of Seungwoo’s lovely aura in the art club.  

[…]

After what seemed an entire month, but actually were just two weeks, he returned. No questions, no news, no nothing. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

[…]

The end of the year was close, three months exactly.  

Wooseok was giving instructions to you, who’d be the new president of the club while Eunsang and Seungwoo were finishing cleaning the floor.  

Seungwoo and Wooseok were graduating from high school and although the president appeared excited with the idea of College, your (yet) secret crush didn’t seem as happy.

The next week were based in taking off the seniors' paintings of the room.

That was when you found a very curious one. ‘’Home’’ you read out loud. For no reason the image of a child with light colored clothes walking around the flower field running to a shadow stuck in your mind for the past days.

‘’I guess Seungwoo painted about death, what do you think?” you could still remember Wooseok’s question.

But that was not it. Not death.

[…]

You tried to smile in the picture, but acting was definitely one of your poorest skills.  

You would miss them.  

You would miss him.

And maybe telling him how you felt was a good idea, but you didn’t.  

When Wooseok and Eunsang left to buy some popsicles to you all, you sat next to him, feeling alive one last time.

‘’Will we see each other again?’’ you asked. That would be the last time you’d start a conversation with him.

For a while Seungwoo made himself quiet. ‘’Perhaps.’’

You smiled sadly. So that was it. No happy endings. No final kisses. No happy forever.

“I’ve got something for you’’ he said once again before you could think about crying.  

And so he handed out, the beautiful yet mystery painting. Home.

“What’s home for you?’’ he asked.

You.

“I don’t really know.’’ you said, taking the canvas as if it was glass. “What’s home for you?”

You.

“I don’t know either.’’

“I’ll miss home’’ you felt a tear dropping by your cheeks. “I guess I will really miss it.’’

That day for one last time you walked home together. Feeling the heart ache each step you’d take.  

You took forever to walk out from the subway station that day, and took even longer to arrive home. Arriving home but leaving home. What a funny story. When preparing to wave goodbye, you felt it.

Warm.

Annoyingly comfortable and warm.

“When I said I cared about you, I meant it. And when I said I don’t really know what’s home like, I also did. But strangely I think I’m almost there when I’m with you.’’ Seungwoo held you like there was no tomorrow. And there wasn’t. “I’m gloomy and shy and quiet and I’ve got a short temperament, I also hate myself for being jealous of you. Especially about Eunsang... I hate that I can’t control this feelings. I hate that I feel so good when I’m with you. But... I do like you. So much.’’

“Why did you take so long to tell me all this?” you felt the tears running. ‘’We could’ve walked home every day. We could’ve spent more time together. I could’ve confessed to you. I could’ve... given you so much love.”

“Is it too late to be home?” Seungwoo smiled at you, running his fingers on your face, getting rid of those tear drops.

‘’It’s never too late to be home.’’

And yes, the kiss. The so waited final kiss.

“Welcome home.”

[abused-virgil-oneshots]

Patton’s Perfect Family Chapter 10: Cooking, Movies, and Punishments Part 1

Masterpost

Written with @wittlevirgilsanders

TW: Forced cuddling, talk of past punishments, forcing someone to wear different clothing, locking someone in a room

Patton woke up extra early the next morning. He was pleasantly surprised to find that Logan had slept through the alarm. His poor baby was probably exhausted. He was so upset last night, but it wasn't Patton's fault! Logan shouldn't have pushed him away so harshly. Logan should have realized, he should've been grateful that was all Patton did! Patton got him nice things and even got Logan something so he could see his stupid stars again! Then Logan just starts yelling and cursing? No, Patton wasn't going to let that slide. Logan had to learn otherwise none of this was worth it.

He had learned though. The punishment had worked and Logan had apologized and even slept with him. Now they could celebrate their marriage today! Logie could stay up here with Patton today!

After Patton took care of the rest of their family.

Patton sat up and kissed Logan's forehead gently before going over to the closet. Virgil needed to be punished today. He couldn't just get in the way of messing with his parents big day. Patton had just the idea how.

Patton slipped the key into the lock on the door downstairs, after double checking that the doors leaving the room were locked. He glanced over at Logan again. He couldn't help it, Logan was just so cute! Patton kissed Logan on the forehead again before slipping downstairs, balancing the many things he was holding and attempting not to trip.

Patton stopped at the table first, setting everything down as quietly as possible. He quietly walked over to his kiddo's room and unlocked the door. He opened their closet door. Looking in he turned towards Virgil's side. Patton had doors installed to their closet so they had some privacy between each other. Patton picked through his key chain and found the one for Virgil's part of the closet. He locked it and took the clothes he had in his hand and hung them above Virgil's door.

He stayed and admired the dress for a minute. All things considered it was a nice dress, not that Virgil would look at it like that. It would ruin his... aesthetic. It was light to dark blue dress with pink flowers decorating it. Gray sparkles were sprinkled over the dress. Patton was going to have to get a picture for the album before Virgil got too upset.

He went back into the dining room and picked up a tray and one of the two notes on the table. The tray held what was normally Roman's food in smaller portions. He clicked open the door to Roman's room. He really should keep it cleaner, it was so messy. He knew the Roman was a writer, but that didn't mean he could just have paper everywhere. He'd have to talk to his brother about it tomorrow when his punishment was over. Patton put the tray and note on Roman's bedside table and left the room. The door clicks closed and Patton locked it with yet another key.

Patton set up the kitchen table for his kiddos' breakfast and set off to his last errand; Logan's room. He walked in and glanced around. Logan's room was still a little messy from yesterday, papers were on the floor and a lamp had been knocked over while they were fighting. Patton picked up his lamp and groaned to find that the bulb had broken and glass was all over the floor. He took a paper and slid as much of the glass as he could onto a paper, cutting himself in the process.

He threw the paper in the trash and walked over to the bed. He'd have to come down tonight to clean it up. He couldn't risk his kiddos or Logie cutting themself on it.

Logan would just have to stay with him again tonight.

Patton picked up the NASA sweater from last night and folded it up. He looked in the closet and found a pair of black sweatpants in the back. He grabbed the projector, locked the door to Logie's room, and brought the stuff upstairs. Logan was still very much asleep, though Patton could blame him. It was only about 5:30 and he was probably still tired. He locked the downstairs door back and set the clothes down on the bed. He took the projector into the living room and set it up to where once it was it was turned on the stars would cover the whole room instead of just one wall.

Patton set up the living room for their day together. Patton was hoping that he would only have to leave Logan a few times to cook, at least until lunch. Patton finished the living room and left to the kitchen to work on breakfast before Logan woke up.

Virgil wasn't sure when he woke up. Sometime before eight, that's the only thing he was sure of. The only reason he knew that was because that's what the clock said now. The bright red numbers were the only source of light in the room right now. The nightlight Patton had given him had turned off at some point.

Virgil only got out of the bed because he was getting worried. Logan had yet to come to the room and wake them up and by now it was nearly nine. Logan always came in before nine to check on them, even if Patton hadn't come down yet. Though Patton was typically down by now. Virgil needed to go make sure everything was ok.

Everything was, in fact, not ok. Virgil had gone out of the room to find everywhere completely empty and every door locked besides his own and the bathroom. Even Logan's, and his was never locked. As far as he could tell, Logan had never come down last night. After looking around everywhere for someone, he had even tried going into Roman's room, but the door was locked, he went to the dining table.

There was breakfast.

And a note:

Hey kiddos! I'm sorry for all the theatrics. Me and your Papa are spending the day together to celebrate our marriage! I'll be down to get Dami before lunch for his first cooking lesson! Virgil I expect to see you in the dress when I come down. If you're not your punishment may have to be longer. Do not try to wear Dami's clothes. Your uncle is on punishment too. Don't you dare try to talk to him through that door! I'll see you at lunch kiddos! Be good for Me!

Love,

Dad<3<3<3

That solved most of the mystery's. Still not Logan's door though. Maybe it was locked to give him privacy? One thing Virgil knew for certain was that he was not wearing a dress again.

Logan could smell something cooking in the kitchen. Bacon? Downstairs didn't have a kitchen? Where was he?

Yesterday's memories hit Logan like a train. The marriage, the yelling, the box, his glasses, falling asleep. He should have expected it. Patton kept saying they were engaged, it was only a matter of time before Patton actually made them get married. Of course his stupid emotions just had to get in the way of real life. He needed to be prepared.

Logan tried to reach for his glasses before remembering again that they were in fact, not on his table. Patton had put them somewhere else last night. Logan was now successfully restricted to the bed unless he would like Patton to know he was awake, which wasn't something he was ready for right now. Or he could just run into walls and any other small things trying to find his glasses.

He couldn't take it anymore. He needed his glasses. It felt to much like his punishment, he could practically feel Patton's hands around him, feel his mouth on his shoulder, the gentle k-

"Logie? Are you awake yet? You're sleeping in awfully late."

"Y-yes Patton. I'm sorry, could you give me my glasses."

"Of course, bunny! Just let me finish this up!" True to his word Patton finished up and came back in, grabbing Logan's glasses from a table... on the other side of the room? Didn't Patton set them on a table close to the bed?

"I have an amazing day planned for us Logie!"

"That's great Pat, shouldn't we already be downstairs? You said it was late?" Patton practically squealed at the nickname, Logan hadn't even realized he'd said it until then.

"I already set everything up with the kiddos until lunch! We've got about four hours until I need to get Dami!"

"That's... that's great Patton." Logan didn't think he could last four hours up here with him, alone.

"Come on, It's time for breakfast bunny! you need to change first though!"

"Change? I'm perfectly fine the way I am Patton." Patton shook his head quickly and reached for something on the side of the bed.

"You've been wearing that since yesterday! And we're wearing pajamas today!" Patton stuffed a bundle of clothes into Logan's hands. He found the NASA sweatshirt Patton had given him last night and a pair sweatpants.

"O-ok Patton. Could you just point me to the bathroom?" Logan hadn't been anywhere beyond the bedroom and the living room since he'd been here, and the living room was only the last night. Logan shivered at the memory.

"What do you need a bathroom for Logie? We are married now." Logan's eyes widened at his suggestive tone before Patton broke into giggles, "I'm just kidding bunny! I know you like your privacy, come on!" just like that Patton was off the bed and pulling Logan to the door. Before Patton could push him towards the door he saw the box from last night. It felt like he was back in the dark, small space. Logan was knocked out of his thoughts when he tripped through the door to the bathroom. The door slammed closed.

"Be quick, won't you Logie? I don't want the food to get cold!" Logan took in a shaky breath and steadied himself on the wall. He took in a few deep breaths before stating to change as quickly as possible. There was no way he was letting Patton see him shirtless again. Or pants-less. "Logie, come on!" He opened the door as soon as Patton yelled. He was too scared to hold out on leaving for any longer. He had to stay out of that box.

"Oh! You look so cute in that shirt Logie! I knew it would look great on you!" Logan shifted uncomfortably under Patton's gaze.

"We should- um, we should eat, Patton, right? The food could get cold."

"Right! Ok, so I know it's a little different from what you normally eat, but I thought you might like some change!" Patton moved to pull Logan to the kitchen to show him... a lot of food. Bacon, eggs, toast, sausage, all kinds of breakfast foods. "So? What do you think?"

"That's- that's a lot Patton. I really don't need this much food."

"I know Logie! I was thinking you could try some and maybe come up with something else to eat in the mornings!"

"I-I like what I've been eating. I really don't need-"

"Sit down and eat Logie. We still have plenty more to do today." Patton clearly wasn't leaving room for argument.

"Y-yes Patton." Patton smiled brightly at Logan as he slipped into the seat. He piled a bit of every food onto Logan's plate.

He tried to eat as fast as he could, he really just wanted to get back downstairs. Patton seemed to have a never ending pile of food. Patton finally decided that they could be done eating and put Logan back in the bedroom while he put everything up. Soon after Patton had dragged him to the living room.

"So! I was thinking of a few different movies," Logan could see the box in the corner of his eyes, it didn't matter where he looked, "I know you like documentaries, but I like animated movies! I thought that maybe we could alternate movies to watch, or maybe you could just decide, or I could." Patton had started pulling movies from a shelf under the tv. Now it was either keep an eye on Patton or keep an eye on the box. Which was completely irrational.

Why did he want so badly to keep an eye on the box? The box wasn't the most pressing issue.

"Um, y-you can pick Patton," there was most likely nothing Logan hadn't already seen.

"Aww, but I want you to choose! This is a reward after all. You took you punishment so well! Here," he stood up and sat the movies in Logan's lap, "choose from these! We'll probably only get to watch one. I need to get Dami for lunch!"

"Uh..." Logan shifted through the movies trying to find one they might both like, which was hard to do considering everything. There was only one animated movie, and it was Winnie the Pooh. Logan finally picked up a movie with a star cover on it. It looked the most interesting. Patton put it in the DVD player and grabbed the remote and came back over to the couch.

Logan had wedged himself in a corner of the couch, which, in hindsight, was not a very good idea. Instead being the extra layer of protection from Patton, it was turning into a box.

Box.

It was intended to keep Patton from getting to close or catching him off-guard and maybe get the message across that he didn't want Patton close. Instead Patton was cuddling up into him and trapping him in the spot. His head was burying itself in Logan's shoulder and Patton''s hands were wrapped around Logan.

This was going to be a long movie.

///2338 words

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