#if you flash freeze your skinny friends they stay good for weeks

[ameliajessicawilliamspond]

PART 2

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

A heavy kick to his ribs was Luke Skywalker's rude awakening.

"Rise and Shine, sweetheart!" A cruel voice mocked.

"Come on, Qiler." Someone responded, exasperated.

Luke looked around the room grogily. The jedi was surrounded by five men, his hands bound above his head to an old rusty poll in a cold, dingy bunker. His head was still spinning from whatever they had given him to knock him out.

"Hey, kid!" A man to his left slapped him across the face to get his attention. "What are you doing in our territory?"

Luke bit his lip, thinking. If they knew why he was here, they might kill him. If they knew who he was, they might kill him. If he said nothing, they might kill him. Either way, this was not an ideal situation to be stuck in. His silence earned him a punch to the stomach from the larger man to his right. "My friend just asked you a question. I suggest you answer."

"Haha! Good one, Keye!" Another laughed.

"I..." Luke began before biting his tongue once more. He had to decide how best to deal with this situation. He could use the force right now, break the bonds, take these ruffians out and be done with it. After all, Din was unconscious somewhere out there in the cold; freezing, dying, alone....

But these men may be their only help around for miles. Plus, they could be the smugglers who had found the holocron, which means it could be close.

He had to be smart about this.

Luke leaned forward, his mouth open as if he was about to speak, before sighing and leaning back against the cold metal behind him. "Nah, you guys wouldn't know what I'm looking for."

"What do you mean?" The man in the middle -Qiler, he remembered the skinny one say earlier- asked.

"It's just that...well," Luke looked them up and down, wrinkling his nose. "it's above YOUR paygrade." He said, as snoody as he could, earning himself another slap across the face. Qiler grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him close enough that their noses nearly touched.

"We are the famous Smugglers of Kajimi." He said, glaring into the jedi's eyes.

Luke blinked. "...Who?"

"The..." Qiler stuttered. "We're..." His grip loosened as he broke eye contact to look at his comrades. They all looked as surprised as he was. "You've never heard of us?"

"Sorry." Luke shrugged. "Must be local fame or something."

"Where are you from?" The skinny one asked.

"Ever heard of the Galatic Republic?" The jedi felt tension rush through the room at his words. "I was sent on a mission to find some artifact for them."

"What kind of artifact?" The big meaty one asked.

"Like I said, you've probably never even heard of it." Luke said, sitting back again, nonchalantly. "I mean, it's common knowledge where I'm from, but maybe not all the way out here."

Qiler reached forward at lighting speed, grabbing his jaw and pulling him close once again.

"What. Is. It?" He demanded.

Luke stared the man down for a moment before yanking his face from the man's grasp. "A Jedi Holocron."

The men looked at each other. Luke shrugged, regaining his non-chalant demeanor. "Like I said, I'm sure you've never heard of it. Why would you?" He laughed.

"Oh yeah, smartass?" Qiler yelled, turning back toward the table behind him. He reached into a drawer and pulled out an odd cube.

There it was.

Din was right. The Smugglers of Kajimi did find it. But they hadn't sold it yet!

"What do you think of that?" He said, tossing it in the air like it was a ball and not one of the rarest artifacts in the galaxy.

"I think you better give that to me so I can return it to the Republic." Luke said, his whole demeanor had changed, his tone low and serious.

Qiler let out a hearty laugh, putting it down on the table with a loud thump that made the Jedi flinch. "Empire, Republic, none of them have ever done nothing for me."

Luke took a deep breath before shrugging and leaning back against the pole that held him there, trying to regain his charade. "Oh well. The Republic would have paid you big for that, as well as for me." He made his eyes go wide, feigning surprise. "...oops."

"What was that?" Qiler asked, rising from his seat.

Luke stayed silent.

"Maskter, run a search on him." He said and the group turned their backs on him. Maskter ran through the bounty database before finally pulling up Luke's bounty.

"A jedi?" Maskter read. The group looked between each other. The bounty on him was...It was insane.

Just as they were about to round on the jedi, Luke sprang into action. He snapped his binds and stood, extending his hand and shoving the group apart with the force. He pulled Din's scarf from his back pocket and rushed forward, grabbing and wrapping the holocron in the fabric before making a break for the door.

It flew open, intense cold rushing in and wrapping around his body like frozen fingers gripping at his limbs. A sudden memory flashed through his mind of --Cold, so cold, Ben? Ben was here. Degoba? Pain, pain, pain...Han?-- He shook his head, pulling himself from the awful memory and rushed into the snow, cradling the artifact. He didn't know where he was, and he didn't care. He knew he had to get out of the area first, find the waterfall, get Din and get the kriff home. His mind swam with the last image of Din he had; laying on the bank, reaching for him...

Engrossed in his own worry, he missed the sudden sharp warning in the Force as something tore through his abdomen.

Luke stopped in his tracks, the air sucked out of his lungs. With wide eyes, Luke slowly looked down, his hand touching his stomach. When he pulled it away, it was wet with blood.

A bullistic. And not blaster fire, a solid bullet had gone through his body.

So, his bounty was dead or alive, then?

Luke dropped to his knees, one shaking hand gripped over the wound and the other clinging desperately to the wrapped holocron.

Behind him he heard voices. The smugglers were gaining on him.

Luke screwed his eyes shut, trying, desperately trying to push past the pain spreading through his body. He stood slowly, ever so slowly, placing the holocron down next to him.

He stretched out his fingers, trying to stall their shaking with little results. The men got closer, their voice grew louder. He raised his arms high in the air before slamming them down. The earth beneath him shook and a huge flurry of snow flew up behind him, blinding the group pursuing him. They screamed in frustration as they stumbled and got lost in the sudden snow storm.

Luke bent down, letting out a cry as his wounded side protested the movement, then ran as fast as he could. He ran and ran and ran, not caring where he ended up, he just had to away. Away from the smugglers, the bunker, the violence, the pain. He ran until his body didn't allow him to run anymore. He found a large snowbank and rushed behind it, falling behind the freezing cover, hoping it was enough to shield him from his pursuers. Luke gasped in breath after breath, trembling hands gripped against his wound, dropping the holocron next to him so both hands could put pressure on the wound. His body wouldn't respond anymore, too cold, too hurt to move. Luke choked back a sob as another rush of pain went through him.

He really hated the cold.

"I'm sorry, Din." He mumbled, before slipping into unconciousness.

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

"Luke!" Din woke with a start, the jedi's name dripping from his lips. He sat up before instantly regretting it, his aching body bringing him swiftly back to the ground.

"Well, well, the sleeping beauty awakens." A gruff voice says from behind him. He turns to see a woman entering the doorway, a pile of logs in her arms. She looked to be in her late 60's with long blue hair and shining orange eyes hidden behind the markings of wisdom her age had earned her.

"Where am I?" Din asked.

"You are a guest in my home, even if as a reluctant one." She said, tending the fire.

Din's memory began to catch up with him and he remembered his last cognitive memory; Luke being drugged and dragged away by strangers as they left him for dead. "Where is my companion?"

"I didn't seen anyone else. Although there were a lot of markings on the ground from what looked like a scuffle." She told him.

"Who's out here?" Din asked.

The woman froze for a moment. "There's been some activity around the waterfall within the last week."

"Pirates?" Din questioned.

Her glowing eyes latched onto his helmet. "The Spice Runners of Kajimi."

Din's chest tightened. If the Spice Runners discovered who he was, Luke would be in a world of danger. His face was plastered all over the bounty boards, and from what he last saw a few of those were marked "dead or alive." He stood up, rushing toward the door.

"Hey, a thank you would be nice!" The woman yelled after him.

Din froze, hand hovering over the door handle, before turning back toward his host. "How did you know to check the lake?"

The woman's eyes became distant. "I just...felt like I needed to go there." She explained slowly, like she wasn't sure what had brought her there herself. "There was this...feeling. Like the heaviness of desperation was burnt into the air, a silent voice begging for help through the wind..."

Din sucked in a breath.

--Oh, Luke...-- Din thought.

"Thank you for saving me. I have to go." He said, turning back to the door.

"This companion of yours, must be pretty important." She said. Din didn't answer. The woman stared him down, studying him before reaching down into a bag and pulling out a metal cylinder. She tossed it to the Mandalorian. Din caught it, studying the tube. It was Luke's Lightsaber.

"Found that near the lake. This friend of yours. He's one of those jedi." She said. It wasn't a question.

Din stayed silent.

"I used to run with them. I know where their base is." She said.

"Why are you helping me?" Din asked.

The woman turned her head and bit her lip, contemplating what to say. "One of his kind helped me get away from those people when they turned on me. It's only right I return the favor."

"You knew a jedi?" Din asked, stepping toward her.

"A togruta woman. She carries two of those. She was looking for someone, ended up finding me instead..." She reminisced. "But that's a story for another time." She said, making her way toward a drawer against the wall. She reached in, pulling a holomap from it, then handed it to Din. He activated it, the place where Luke was being held glowing before his eyes. He wasn't far. He thanked her again, shaking her hand. She nodded at him. "Go find your jedi."

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

Luke's could feel hands on him, shaking him back into consciousness. One was gripping his shirt, the other tapping his face. Someone was trying to wake him up.

"Din?" Luke whispered out, hoping beyond hope.

"He's alive!" Someone yelled. Luke screwed his nose up at the sound.

That wasn't Din's voice.

He was pulled roughly to his knees, the movement jostling his aching body and pulling a cry from his trembling lips.

"You wanna treat us like we're stupid?" The voice said above him, hitting him hard across the jaw. "You wanna pretend you're better than us?" He said again, a knee entering his sternum, causing the jedi to cough, blood mixed with spit falling on the prestine white snow.

"Please..."Luke begged, his body screaming against the assault.

"Oh, now you want to beg? Too late!" The man mocked. "You make a mockery of us, you don't leave alive!" He yelled. Something cold and hard was pressed against Luke's forehead.

"Hey, we may get more credits if he's alive!" Someone yelled from behind Qiler.

"No! You saw that thing he did with the snow! He's too dangerous, I want him dead!" The man screamed, beyond crazed with anger. The barrell was removed from his head, the man grabbing him by the jaw, ripping Luke's head up to look at him as a knife was pressed to his throat. "The only question is if I wanna do it fast or slow." He growled.

Before Qiler could make his desicion, the earth erupted around them.

Single spikes from what seemed to be bombs set off around the perimeter. A row of them cut off Qiler from the rest, seperating the party. Qiler looked around at the disruption before turning his wide, crazed eyes back to the jedi. "What did you do!?" He screamed. Luke was too cold, in too much pain to respond, he tried to shake his head to convey this wasn't his doing this time. Qiler hoisted Luke up by the shirt and flipped him around so that his back was flush against Qiler's chest, knife to his throat as the smuggler backed away from the commotion. Scattered screams echoed incoherently through the blinding snow as whoever was hunting them made their way through the crew.

Using the diversion to his advantage, Luke shoved the man off him with the little amount of Force he could muster, his broken body crumpled to the ground.

Qiler recovered, letting out a frustrated scream as he barrelled after the jedi. He grabbed his ankles and flipped Luke onto his back, pinning his arms above his head and digging a knee into the wound on his side, mounting him. Luke screamed, his voice cracking in the process. The knife was pressed to his throat once again, this time, drawing blood. "Bye bye, jedi." He mocked.

But his threat remained unfinished, thanks to the blaster bullet the just went through his skull. The man fell off Luke with a thump, legs still tangled around his damaged torso.

Luke didn't move, he couldn't anymore. Any adrenaline he had left was sucked dry the second he landed on the ground. He lay there, staining the white snow red like the sands of Crait, shivering so violently it could be mistaken for convulsing. He heard footsteps approaching him. Luke pinched eyes shut, waiting for whoever hunted down the smugglers to do the same to him.

"Luke?"

The jedi's eyes shot open. That voice sounded familiar.

The man kneeled down next to the fallen jedi. Luke gasped, in spite of himself as a familiar helmet came into view. "You're alive?"

Din Djarin nodded. "I told you we were getting off this blasted rock, didn't I?"

Luke's wrecked body finally caught up to him. Every nerve seemed to be frozen over, except for his side which screamed at every movement. He caught a glance at his reflection in Din's visor. His blond hair was thick and frozen, little blond icicles dipped in red from the blood that had pooled around him. His lips were purple, chapped beyond compare. His neck leaked blood from where the knife had pushed in and Luke realized this was the first time he'd ever experienced a murder attempt that was actually a threat since... He couldn't hold back the sob that escaped his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Luke, this never should of happened. I'm so, so sorry." Din said, voice shaken as he put pressure on the wound, pulling a cry from the younger man. Din shook his head. "Kark that blasted holocron, I'm taking you home."

The Holocron! Luke looked past Din, spotting the artifact still wrapped in the scarf. Luke reached toward it, trying to pull it with the Force. When the thing wouldn't budge, Luke let out a grunt of frustration, trying to sit up. Din pushed him back down. "Luke, enough, please, cyare, enough." He begged, taking Luke's shaking hand in his own.

"No, Din, please, please!" He managed to say, ripping his hand free from Din's, pointing a trembling finger at the wrapped box.

Din glanced back, spotting what had Luke's attention. "I can get another one, it's alright." He said about the scarf, continuing his field medicine.

"No, no! Please!" Luke insisted, wiggling against the pressure on his abdomen, shoving at Din's hands. Din let out a sigh as Luke stubbornly pointed at the scarf again.

"Okay. Okay, cyar'ika, alright. Put pressure on this." He instructed, guiding Luke's frozen hands to his side, pressing them into it. He stood, fingers lingering over the man's wrecked body for a moment, before turning to go. "I'll be right back." He promised.

Luke watched with greying vision as the mandolorian reached down and picked it up. With a sigh of relief, he looked back up at the sky, watching the snow fall lightly around him. He had stopped shivering, something that should have worried him more than it was. He didn't have the energy to care, he was too tired. His eyes slipped closed and he gave into oblivion.

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

[TAG REQUEST! @asthefirerisesblog @reinaorgana @zarakem @16mistypaw @ryleeamberrr @bi-witch-rose @mayor-aaya @theonlyredcar @kineko123 ]

If there are any mistakes please let me know!

There will be a part 3!!!! Comment in the notes if you'd like to be tagged in it!

EDIT: Just went through and fixed a few buggy parts. Sorry, did not check this right the first time! Hopefully that's a bit better!

[thiswasinevitableid]

For the meet ugly prompts, 02 indruck?

Here you go! I went SFW on this one and interpreted the prompt kind of broadly. It's set in the same world as this Sternclay prompt

Fun fact: there is a fire lookout in the Monogahela, but the structure I describe is based on more elaborate ones elsewhere

02. I bought a house three months ago but I’m finally moving in and discover you’ve been squatting because you’re homeless

Only in Duck’s life would “dream job” and “months alone in the woods” be equivalent.

The Bickle Nob Fire Lookout is a coveted position, and Duck is pretty fucking flattered they chose him as the ranger for July and August. He took the high clearance off-roader to get here, he’s got his bags full of everything he needs not to die of boredom (or anything else) and his schedule of supply drops. He’s as ready as can be and so fucking excited when he opens the door of the wide-windowed cabin.

Then he jumps back, startled to find a skinny, silver-haired man asleep on the floor.

“Uh, sir? This site is off-limits to visitors.”

The man wakes up in a series of catastrophic movements; he bangs into the wall, tangles in his blanket, and nearly stumbles out the window when he manages to stand.

“I, I’m sorry, I didn’t foresee anyone coming here.”

“Department spent all of June arguin’ about whether it was worth allocatin funds for this, so that’s why the place was empty. Fire up North two weeks ago scared ‘em enough to send me up here.” Duck explains with a casual smile; after all, even if he’s way off the trail, there’s no reason to assume this guy is out to cause trouble, “if you got lost hikin, I’m happy to radio down and ask for someone to come get you and take you back to your camp.”

“Nono, I, ah, I’m not lost. One needs to have a destination to be lost.”

“O-kay. Uh, well, whatever you’re lookin for, I’m afraid this ain’t it. This buildin is for the fire lookout only.”

“I promise I’ll be very unobtrusive. I even have my own supplies, you won’t have to worry about me in the slightest.” The man smiles,opening one of his two bags to show it crammed with shiny packets of food.

Duck shakes his head, “Can’t do it, sorry. I’m serious though, if you need a ride into town I can get a hold of someone who can help. Maybe, uh, you could find whatever you’re lookin for there?”

“No” the man sags, but begins zipping up his bags, “I do not think I will find it there. I am sorry for intruding.” He steps out the door, turning towards the deeper woods on the western slope.

“You need a map?” Duck calls. The man doesn’t so much as look over his shoulder.

Duck unpacks as much as he can, checks the weather station and notes the readings suggest those thunderheads on the far horizon are coming his way. By dinnertime, they’re right on top of him, rain pattering on the roof and thunder rattling the windows. He’s scanning the trees when he spots a metallic flash, not of lightning but of silver hair. His mystery visitor is huddled under a tree, wind forcing the hood of his raincoat back over and over again.

The rules and regulations in the forest are there to keep the environment and visitors safe. If something doesn’t violate those basic requirements, Duck sees no reason not to bend them.

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

“I really cannot stress how grateful I am that you allowed me back in.” The visitor, who introduced himself as Indrid, finishes packing their scant trash into the can, “I promise that as soon as the storm passes I’ll leave you be.”

“Yeah, about that.” Duck scratches the back of his neck, “you really don’t got anywhere to call home, do you?”

Indrid opens his mouth. Duck stares, pointedly, at the holes in his white shirt and the worn shoes sticking out from frayed jeans.

“....No, I do not.”

“In that case, you stay here the next two months, on two conditions: one, you don’t get in the way of me doin what I’m here to do. Two, you don’t tell anyone I let you do this. Deal?”

“Yes, yes absolutely” Indrid shakes his hand, bouncing up and down a bit, “thank you so much. You will barely know I’m here.”

This turns out to be completely true and utterly false.

Indrid does keep to himself most of the day; he draws, reads, lays in the sun outside the cabin and generally stays out of Ducks way while he’s working. But he’s also the person who sits and jokes with him during meals, who eagerly follows Duck’s hand when he points out interesting birds or plants, and watches intently when Duck reads his instruments.

He never thought he could live in a fifteen by fifteen foot space with another person and not have a full head of grey by the end of it. Indrid Cold is the exception that proves the rule, Duck certain he’ll never be able to be cooped up with anyone but Indrid ever again.

It helps that he still gets his quiet time; Indrid will got out for walks, even watches for smoke so Duck can do the same. They use the wild foraging guide and Duck’s knowledge of local plants to bring back extra food. Indrid was particularly pleased when he located some wild blackberries. When Duck reminded him to watch out for bears near the berry patch, Indrid simply smirked and said there was only one bear on the mountain who could get him.

Duck’s daydreaming of what Indrid might do if caught on his way back from a dusk walk. And, more urgently, how he can convince Indrid that he wants to sleep outside tomorrow night. So it takes two tries of the front door before he notices it’s locked.

“Indrid?” he knocks, “you in there?” Stepping back, he finds the windows hastily covered by his bedsheets and blankets. He knocks harder, “that’s real fuckin dangerous, if there’s a fire we won’t see it. ‘Drid! Open the damn door!”

He continues banging, unanswered, as the moon--two days from full--rises above.

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

Indrid covers his ears to block out Duck’s increasingly worried shouts from outside. This is the right choice, the best of a bad bunch; it will keep Duck and anyone else nearby safe. The ranger will probably turn him away come morning, rightly furious at his irrationality. Indrid resolves not to argue with him; he’ll slink back into the trees, just like he did the last time someone threw him out for his transgressions.

It starts in his chest, his heartbeat climbing to marathon speeds in spite of him holding still. Then his skin prickles, silver hair sprouting from every follicle, followed by his back bowing in pain and his jaw elongating with a crack. From there the adrenaline kicks in, flooding his body so the transformation doesn’t render him unconscious (and therefore helpless) with pain. When next he raises his head, a werewolf with glowing, red eyes looks back at him from the darkened windows.

Beyond the covered windows, someone howls. Then he scents it, another of his kind coming dangerously close. He has to go out, he can’t leave Duck out there with something that will rip him apart, surely he likes the human enough for his mind to see him as a friend, not prey-

CRACK

The door splinters off its hinges; he growls, ready to defend his home. A deeper growl answers him as a larger wolf, black-furred and yellow eyed, stalks across the threshold.

“What. the. Fuck?” the newcomer snaps, “I told you, you can only stay if you don’t fuck up my work and locking me out comes real fuckin close to that!”

He cocks his head “Duck?”

“No, I’m the fuckin president of the united states.”

“I, I’m so sorry.” Indrid drops to all fours, then flattens to his belly just to be safe, “I didn’t know, I just wanted to be sure I wouldn’t hurt you.”

Duck points to the broken door, “you coulda just done that from the opposite side and I woulda been dinner.”

“No I, I know that if I confine myself I tend to be...calmer. I don’t get overstimulated and then agitated.”

“You coulda just told me. Lockin me out is real rude.”

Indrid whines, crawls close enough to nose at him.

“You don’t gotta do that; I ain't assertin dominance or some shit, I’m just a little annoyed.”

He whines again, “please don’t make me leave.”

“I won’t.” Duck’s voice turns softer.

“And you will not get angry at me for not being appropriately grateful for your leniency?”

Duck frowns, “Aw jesus, did you come from one of those old-school packs?

“Yes” Indrid grumbles, hating himself for how easily he fell into manners he loathes, how deep the teachings of his home run.

Duck eases him up so they’re both sitting, then noses the side of his face, “We don't do that around here. Least, I don't. I don’t spend a ton of time with most of the other Weres when they’re wolfed-out, but they ain’t big on tradition and hierarchy the rest of the time.”

“Ah. That’s, that’s good.”

The other Were stretches, stands and pads about the room, removing the make-shift curtains, “You gotta teach me how you’re so fuckin accurate on when the moon is full enough to make us shift whether or not we want to; I thought I had a day left. I, uh, I was gonna ask you to sleep in here while I ‘slept under the stars’ so you wouldn’t know.”

“You’re not afraid of hurting someone?”

“Nah, especially not this far out. Sometimes I hunt deer, but whatever strain of this I got doesn’t go feral unless some shit goes majorly wrong.” He drops the blankets on the floor, “don’t know about you, but I don’t feel like huntin tonight. Or stargazin. I’m beat from work.”

“Agreed. Transforming against my will always makes me tired.”

Duck lays down on the floor,yawns, “In that case: sleep tight ‘Drid.”

Indrid tries to do just that. But every time he catches Duck’s scent he wishes he could move closer to him, then remembers that would be rude, and continues in that back and forth until he’s wide awake. It doesn’t help that his Were form runs cold; he’s shivering in spite of it still being close to eighty degrees.

His ears flick at Duck’s footfalls. Then a warm, bulky frame curls around his freezing, lanky one.

“This okay?” Duck carefully drapes an arm over him.

Indrid sighs, feeling safer than he has in a year, “better than.”

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

“I’m a seer.”

Duck looks up from his breakfast, mouth full but question clear.

“Last night, you asked me how I knew we’d transform. Seeing the future makes it rather easy.”

“Damn, that does sound handy.”

“In many ways it is. Though it carries some, ah, some downsides.” Indrid steers his thoughts towards safer paths, “If you’d like, I could use it to help you with the fire lookout.”

The ranger grins, the expression twice as warm as his fur the night before, “That’d be fuckin great.”

Indrid smiles back, keeps his eyes on the windows so as not to look longingly back at the rumpled sheets. They awoke this morning in a heap, Duck’s modesty preserved only by a blanket and Indrid’s hair stuck in all directions. He’d been ready to apologize for not moving away before dawn, but Duck simply reached out, stroked his hair down, and asked if he wanted coffee.

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

“You’re right, you can see more animals this way.” They’re perched, fully transformed, on the rocks outside the cabin. Indrid knows how to use his night vision for hunting, but Duck is teaching him how to use it for more peaceful matters.

“Yeah, long as you stay put most animals get up the nerve to nose around some.”

They’d transformed side by side, Duck banging his head in the process. Indrid licked near the bruise and made soothing, sympathetic sounds when Duck whined and cursed his luck. Back home, being demonstrative was frowned upon; here, Duck seems to always be casually bumping their bodies together.

When they go to bed several hours after moonrise, they curl up side by side without hesitation. It’s so very easy to tune out his visions when Duck is near and Indrid falls asleep while the ranger is still whispering about the birds they can hear.

He wakes up an hour later in a panic, disasters of visions past tearing through his mind.

“‘Drid? What’s wrong?” Duck noses the base of his neck.

“Nothing. Just a bad dream.” He closes his eyes, tries to focus on Duck’s scent, his breath, the wind in the trees, but still the ghosts of his memories lurk in the corners of his vision.

“Can I try somethin?” Duck murmurs. Indrid thought he’d gone back to sleep.

“Of course.”

Teeth tenderly and ever so carefully clamp the fur and skin of his neck. He goes limp in one breath. He was high status enough that no one ever did this to him, but goodness does he wish they had

The ranger let’s go, “Do I need to do it again?”

“Please.”

Duck obliges and Indrid whimpers, melting shamelessly in his arms.

“Thank you. I think I can sleep now.”

“Any time, ‘Drid. Uh, before you, uh, go to sleep there’s somethin I wanna ask you. Since you need a place to stay, do you, uh, wanna stay with me? In Kepler.”

“You’d really like that? You, if this is out of pity-”

“It ain’t.”

There were no futures where it was. Indrid wanted to hear the words all the same.

“Besides” Duck nuzzles him, “we already know we make damn good roommates.”

Indrid can’t help it; he howls, brief and joyful, safe in the knowledge that Duck will be ready with a laugh and a kiss in reply.

[tamsong]

pull you from the tide - keefitz

summary: in which fitz tries to hammer it into keefe’s head that he deserves to be loved. 

notes: this is half vent, half fix-it. this my first time writing fic for kotlc since i was like 13, so let me know what you guys think?

warnings: swearing, very vague references to homophobia and bad parents

***

keefe doesn’t come home.

a week passes, then two. a month. three. everything is weirdly silent on the neverseen front, despite sophie’s daring act of burning down the waterfall hideout. it feels like time is standing still- keefe’s absence hangs heavy in the air like ozone in the hour before it rains. 

fitz has barely spoken in those three months. in another world, he might’ve been angry like he usually is. in this world, though, no one’s around to be angry at, and fitz feels like his roots have been ripped out of the ground.

at the next black swan meeting, fitz quietly asks to speak to mr. forkle alone. the black swan leader nods resignedly, like he already knows what fitz is going to ask. sophie raises her eyebrows at him from across the room. i’ll tell you later, he transmits to her, but he doesn’t plan on it. sophie’s been hurt enough, and if she knows about this and it doesn’t work, she’ll be devastated.

mr. forkle walks him down the hall. he doesn’t say anythin

“i want to go look for him,” fitz says, trying to sound confident. but he’s anything but. he doesn’t feel like anything more than the desperate, frightened child that he is.

mr. forkle opens his mouth, but fitz cuts him off. “please,” he adds. “i... i don’t know what else to do. i know he said he doesn’t want to be found, but i- we can’t go on like this. i know the forbidden cities better than almost anyone, so i might as well try. please.”

“i can’t promise you’ll find anything, mr. vacker,” mr. forkle replies. “but if it’s really what you want, i can give you a leaping crystal.”

fitz sighs. “i know. trust me, i know. but if there’s any way i can get him back, i still want to go.”

the black swan leader nods in response. “very well. i’ll meet you at everglen tomorrow morning, and i’ll monitor you to ensure your safety. now, go on and meet your friends, and put this out of your mind for the rest of the day.”

he thanks mr. forkle profusely, then does as he’s told. only a few minutes after he leaves does fitz realize that his request was granted far too easily- mr. forkle, while certainly not a cruel man, expects him to fail. there would be a lot more lecturing and protocol if he didn’t.

fitz doesn’t blame him.

***

the next morning, fitz takes the blue crystal from mr. forkle, his hands trembling. he’s dressed in the same jacket, jeans, and boots from when he first found sophie. he thought the memories would be calming, but the sense of deja vu only unsettles him, really. on that pleasant thought, fitz holds the crystal up to the sunlight and steps into its path, holding his breath.

he arrives in an empty park, hidden between two trees. freezing rain is pouring down from the sky, a sharp contrast from the eternally pleasant weather at everglen. fitz shudders, puts his hands in his pockets, and steps out of his hiding place.

he roams the streets of san diego all afternoon and evening, ducking in and out of stores, cafes, and libraries, all of it to no sign of keefe. finally, when the sky is nearly dark and the rain has slowed to a drizzle, fitz stops in front of a building with sign reading san diego youth services. he shrugs and opens the door. it’s as good as anything, i guess.

“have you seen my friend?” he asks one of the staff in heavily accented english. “he’s tall and skinny, has blond hair and light blue eyes. about my age, doesn’t speak much english.” 

the woman squints and brushes her wet hair out of her eyes. “we had someone like that come in a couple months ago, and he comes here to sleep most nights. fidgety guy, looks sad all the time?” 

fitz pulls his jacket hood further up. “that's probably him, yes,” he answers, trying and failing to keep his voice steady. may i see him?” 

she nods. deep frown lines run down her face, like she’s seen too much tragedy in her short life. “sure. last i saw, he was out back.” 

the staff woman walks fitz through the building out to a secluded area adjacent to an alleyway, protected from the public eye. fitz doesn’t see anyone at first, but on second glance spots a flash of blond from further down the alley. he hurriedly thanks the woman and dashes over, heartbeat picking up. 

he skids to a stop when he sees keefe there, sitting on a step and dripping with rainwater. he looks up, startled, at the sound of fitz’s footsteps, and his mouth opens and closes in shock once he realizes who’s in front of him.

fitz expects a snarky comment, something like well look who we have here! or wow, guess i’m famous, but keefe says nothing. on one level, it’s terrifying, because fitz has rarely ever known his friend to be silent. on the other hand, though, he gets it. even without keefe’s strange new ability that makes speaking a risk, what else is there to be done in a situation like this? two years ago, they both would have laughed if told this would be their future.

they hover there for what feels like hours, neither boy knowing what to do.

finally, fitz breaks the quiet. “hi,” he says lamely, and then slaps himself mentally. really? is that the best you can give him? 

he tries again. “keefe. i...” no. that wouldn’t do either.

“you couldn’t even bother with a goodbye?” he finally bursts out, trying to muster up the anger he doesn’t feel. this isn’t the right way to approach it either, but fitz doesn’t know how else to communicate. “did you think i wouldn’t care? sophie’s not the only one who was fucking sad, you know. biana can barely do anything but cry. dex isn’t talking to anyone, and neither is linh. even tam- i know you guys never got along, but he wants you home just as much as the rest of us.”

he shakes his head. “i know this can’t be easy for you, but we want to help you. even if we can’t, then we can find someone who can.”

“i’m not even mad, really,” fitz continues, looking up at the sky. he can’t bring himself to make eye contact. “if you didn’t care to say goodbye to me, i get it. i haven’t exactly been best friend material lately, and i wouldn’t blame you for never wanting to speak to me. but i read what you wrote to sophie, and it’s the biggest bullshit i’ve ever heard. be happy? forget about you?” he scoffs. “do you even hear yourself? i- she- we could never do that. you’re giving yourself too much credit.”

he turns around, fists clenching so hard his nails cut through his skin. “so this is my goodbye, i guess. i meant to bring you home, but you deserve a choice after everything. stay away, if you must, just know that we- i care for you, keefe. you deserve to be cared about. and if you don’t come home... i’ll miss you. i want you to know that.”

fitz finally exhales. he’s said his piece, laid all his cards out on the table. it’s keefe’s move now, and fitz will respect it, even if it fucking kills him to do it.

“fitz.” keefe speaks for the first time since fitz arrived, his voice hoarse and miserable. fitz whips back around, searching for any sign in his best friend’s face that might signal a change of heart. 

“fitz,” keefe repeats. the expression he wears is downcast and resigned. “i want to come home, more than anything i’ve ever wanted. but i can’t. it’s not safe, not for you or anyone else.”

“then tell us how to make it safe,” fitz begs. his hands twitch, desperately wanting to reach out. “anything you ask. hell, we could even hide you in my closet at everglen like the time when we were little and your dad was coming to take you home.” 

keefe’s mouth twitches, and even if it’s not a whole smile, fitz counts it as a victory. “that’s... nice of you to say.”

fitz softens. “of course,” he replies, not hiding how choked up he is. “anytime.”

keefe taps his fingers against his thigh, looking down. after a long moment of silence that seems years long, he lifts his face and speaks again. “you’re not making this easy.” his eyes gleam with unshed tears. “maybe if you make it a little harder...”

fitz’s hands move of their own accord, resting on either side of keefe’s face. the other boy’s cheeks are warm despite the bitter, freezing rain.

fitz... actually has one more card he could play. it’s one he’s kept in his pocket since the middle of level three, never shared with anyone, not even with sophie. 

there’s never been a world in which revealing it would be acceptable, but maybe things are different now. more complicated and painful, yes, but if there’s even the slightest chance that this secret could bring keefe home, then he’s willing to accept that pain.

fitz lays his final card on the table.

he kneels in front of where keefe is sitting on the step, never breaking contact for a second. keefe’s wide eyes follow him as fitz lowers himself down, his expression open and vulnerable. fitz leans in close, but pauses just inches before his friend’s lips, giving keefe time to move, time to reject him and run away.

when keefe makes no effort to resist, fitz closes the distance and kisses him.

it’s a short, soft thing, the connection as fragile and fleeting as a candle flame in a windstorm. but to fitz, this kiss is everything. it’s a representation of his enduring care for keefe, the affection that sprouted when they were children and has only blossomed since. despite everything standing in their way, fitz has loved keefe and always will.

he just hopes it’ll be enough for keefe. 

fitz pulls away, not letting himself linger too long. he resists the urge to look away, instead gazing into keefe’s eyes and smiling gently. he’ll wait as long as it takes for keefe to make his move, and he’ll respect it. he just wants his friend to know the truth.

suddenly, keefe bursts into tears.

he throws himself forward, nearly knocking fitz over. he buries his face between fitz’s neck and shoulders, his body wracked with sobs. fitz hugs him back, running his fingers through his friend’s tangled hair. keefe cries and cries, holding tightly to fitz until his sobs fade to tremors and there’s a wet patch on fitz’s sweatshirt from his tears.

“okay,” keefe finally whispers, sending shivers down fitz’s spine. “i’ll take us home.” 

keefe shifts and moves his hand up between them to fitz’s shirt pocket where fitz always keeps his home crystal. he plucks the crystal out, scans the area, and raises it up to the last dim sunlight trickling through the rainclouds. 

fitz holds keefe close as the two boys dissolve into the light, leaving san diego behind.

[bts-story]

Hello, can you write a sequel to Not The Only One but from Suga’s perspective while he’s cheating and realizing what he’s done after. Thank you so much! You’re an amazing writer.

Not The Only One — SUGA Pt.2

Characters: Yoongi X Reader

Rated: A for Asked for a part 2??

Part. 1

Sinking, sinking, sinking. Sinking to the bottomless pit. Sinking to the unknown, sinking to the darkest of the darkest places. There is not light to guide him back home, and Yoongi struggles against the current, his head bobbing up and down between the thin line of coherency and unconsciousness. He also struggles to breathe, water fanning into his lungs and concealing every crevice that ever dared to open for oxygen.

Yoongi was going under. Far, far, far under without any looking back, without the want or the need to ever go back up. There was no light, no way to get out, no way to breathe. Numbness spread throughout his whole body, freezing his senses. Hot, irritated tears formed in his eyes, mixing with the water, turning his whites into red. His lips quivering as if he had been standing in the cold for hours on end. The blood drained from his face, leaving him pale as the snow.

“I’m sorry,” his own voice echoed somewhere above him, too far out of reach but too close not to hear it. It resounded loud and clear inside his brain. Yoongi was hearing his own voice breaking, voice hoarse and tired, pleading for repentance. “I’m so sorry, please, please.”

The water was swallowing him whole, but even the pressure couldn’t block away the memories of that night. That night everything changed. The night Yoongi made the biggest mistake of his life.

Yoongi has always been distrustful and warry when it came to his love-life. He always suspected to get his heart broken, afraid to let his guard down so someone might take the chance to take a peek at his heart, breaking it in a million, million pieces. It’s amazing how someone can hurt someone else so badly. They spend weeks, months, years and even the majority of their life putting effort into a relationship, only to get their heart broken.

Maybe that’s how love is – Yoongi guesses that’s how relationships end up going down the drain; they lose trust and they wonder if they can ever forgive the other for what they did to them. Yoongi always found firewalls and build the thickest of defenses around him because he wouldn’t let anybody hurt him. He wouldn’t allow anyone to dig a hole in his heart, leaving him bleeding to death.

It’s funny. It really is funny, somehow, that Yoongi found himself being the one to be unfaithful. When it happened, when the alcohol was too strong on his tongue and his senses too dizzy to make intelligent decisions, Yoongi’s world crashed down. When he kissed her, fucked her, sent her into oblivion, Yoongi knew this would be the moment he’d lost all reason to live. Because how can he live in a world where he’s a cheater?

There was no point in lying, no point in hiding the truth and Yoongi wouldn’t even have been able to look his girlfriend in the eyes, whispering loving words and kissing her lips, while knowing how much of an asshole he was. “I have been unfaithful.” It’s hard to hear those words, let alone say them.

It’s a promise of all ideology crashing down, a peaceful world disturbed by firebombs and blood and death. Apocalypse looks so lovely on the other side. Yoongi did not fake tears, trying to act like the other girl came onto him and he was just getting to the point where he was going to push her away. He didn’t claim any apology, shouting how much he loved his partner, how she was the only one for him. He didn’t try to sell lies out of his dirty mouth, he stood silent, head down, preparing himself for the yelling and the punching thrown his way so hard that his whole face should sting for hours. But not even violence could fix the broken heart that was already starting to ache in the middle of her chest, that night.

The phone rang. It was distant, at first, but as Yoongi opened his eyes, the sound became closer and closer. Air filled in his lungs when he surfaced the water of his bath, water splashing all around down on the bathroom floor. Yoongi choked for a moment, clearing his throat as he tried to gain back his breath. The loud ringing was impatient and Yoongi almost choked again on air when he read the caller’s name.

He never found the strength to change her name, and when the device illuminated ‘Babe’, Yoongi thought he might be dreaming. However, the photograph of them kissing under the Statue of Liberty the year before, just under the name, couldn’t mistake him.

Yoongi’s phone almost fell in the tub, too eager to answer the quickest possible. He touched the answer button, but Yoongi couldn’t speak, it was like his mouth had frozen from hyperthermia or frostbite. His hands were shaking as he desperately tried to regain control over his own body. But Yoongi couldn’t find himself capable of doing that. “Yoongi?”

It was her, indeed. And it’s been so long since Yoongi heard her voice that he might be crying on the spot just at the sound. But he can’t answer, he can’t tell her he’s here and he’s listening. Doesn’t get the courage to ask her why she’s calling.

“I –“ she cut herself immediately, and Yoongi hears nothing much on the other side of the line. There’s only her, sniffling, “I don’t know why I’m calling.” She doesn’t wait for an answer. She doesn’t ask for conversation and Yoongi wonders if she’s mistaken into thinking she has reached his voicemail. “I’m drunk, and I missed you, so I wanted to call you. Jenny says I shouldn’t call but, I just wanted to hear your voice.”

It was silent again, and still, Yoongi can’t find his voice. He couldn’t couldn’t couldn’t tell her he was here, and he was listening to whatever she had to say. He could even have stayed there, phone on his ear, listening to her breathing if she didn’t even want to talk, as long as she was there, on the other end of the line.

She sniffled and Yoongi knew she was crying, didn’t have to see her to know. The sound of her breathing was shallow and the way her voice cracked when she spoke again was only confirming his theory, “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Some people like to think that crying over a break-up is over-dramatic and used for attention; some people accuse that crying over a break-up is stupid and they say that going out and having fun is going to fix a broken heart in just seconds. But that’s not how it works, a broken heart has to be mended. People have to cry themselves because it’s healthier to relieve stress. They have to eat comfort foods and go through mood-swings when watching romantic comedies because they are feeling every emotion, not just sadness. They have to start building themselves up again, knowing when or when not they’ll be fine again. It’s a part of the process that makes them, them again.

Fixing a heart does not work on the first try. It’s not magic. “I can’t stop thinking about you and it’s fuckin’ driving me mad. I can’t even drink coffee because the smell reminds me of you, because somehow you always manage to drink eight freaking cappuccinos per day. And I – I, fuck, I can’t do anything anymore. Everything I do reminds me of you, everywhere I go I see your face and I can’t do it anymore, Yoongi. I can’t, I can’t do it.”

The tears were flowing hard down on her face now, Yoongi could tell easily. And they were matching his own, because it felt like waterfalls streaming down his own face. The pain was too much, like a train was crashing against his ribcage, forbidding him from breathing. But he’s not selfish, and only he can think about her own pain and how much worse it must feel like.

“I don’t want to ask you why you did it, I don’t want to hear excuses or anything. I just want you to know,” she took a deep breath, a muffled cry stopping her for a moment, “you broke me. You fuckin’ broke me, Yoongi.” The loud whine escaping her throat at that very same moment could have echoed his own. But he wouldn’t let his voice croak or let any sound live the threshold of his lips, he can’t give up, he can’t let her know he’s listening live.

Memories of them together flashed past Yoongi’s eyes, making him wince and flinch every time. That summer they went to the beach, searching all around for crabs and seashells. That winter up in the mountains, hidden behind the thick walls of her parents’ chalet when they did make love in front of the burning fireplace, just like in the movies. Late nights walks, skinny dipping, ice cream in winter, hot chocolate in summer. Things like this, gone forever.

All gone because Yoongi couldn’t control himself, he couldn’t take a hold of his own mistakes and let his feet drag him to the darkness that is heartbreak. He knew all of this would happen, he knew she wouldn’t ever forgive him, he wouldn’t have, if he was being cheated on. And it feels like his heart is bleeding non-stop, it hurts when he’s breathing, everytime he closes his eyes, he can feel hear his heart broke a little more with each second passing.

He’s alone, and it cut him up, threw him down, and stomped all over his useless body. “I didn’t deserve this, I don’t deserve so much pain. I – fuck, I’m the first of my class, I had a great education, I’m a freaking pastor’s daughter, I went to church. I – I donated to charities, I even did that freaking marathon for the poor three years ago. I’m a good friend, I give wonderful advices and, and I’m nice. I’m likable, I’m a freaking good person. Why did you do this? Why did you fucking do this to me?”

The tears couldn’t stop streaming down Yoongi’s face, but he was biting hard on the back of his hand, forbidding himself to let out any sound, forbidding himself to let her know he was there, and he was listening it all.

And while he was listening, while she was pouring her anger out, Yoongi couldn’t move.

Frozen in time, only ears wide open to hear all the dirt and the chaos he created. And unable to ponder about all the wrongs things in this world, Yoongi lied in the bathtub, heart beating fast through the broken pieces of his soul. Maybe he only seek chaos, maybe all he ever touches breaks and burns.

Part. 3

——-

‘While he’s cheating’ was too difficult for me, so I preferred writing about the after takes, I hope you don’t mind and you like it just as much :)

- Nageoire 

[rydenstories]

I heard my best friend’s voice again. I almost immediately wished I hadn’t.

REDDIT

I remember when my childhood ended, and I suppose that isn’t normal. Many people, I’m sure, just grow into adulthood naturally. For me, though, I felt it end deep down in my core when my best friend, Whitney, died. We did everything together; even alternated having dinner at each other’s houses each night. Living just across the street, it was easy for us to spend all our time together. Then, at 11 years old, she was just gone forever. Some hidden heart defect that had been with her since birth, it was hard to understand as someone who was just shy of 11 myself. Still, like a severed limb, something fundamental felt as if it had been brutally removed and I went numb. I drew back into myself and didn’t talk to anyone for weeks. 

It got worse when I woke up one morning, looked out my bedroom window, and saw a moving truck in front of her house. Apparently, her parents couldn’t take living there without her and the pain split them up. Their house was empty and they were gone in a day, without so much as a tearful goodbye. 

Days after that, I couldn’t sleep without having night terrors that I still cannot recall to this day. I’d try my best not to sleep at all. Instead, I’d stare out the window at that empty, brooding house, imagining that Whitney was still there. On one of the many nights that I woke up, sweating and racking my brain for what exactly had frightened me, something about the light outside looked different. I pulled myself out of bed and walked over to the window. A single, blue light shone from somewhere inside the house; in Whitney’s room.

Honestly, I thought I was still asleep and dreaming, that’s why I decided to forgo waking my parents and instead, quietly snuck out the back door. I didn’t even bother to get into my tennis shoes and coat despite the fact that it was a freezing March night. I barely noticed the biting cold as I ran across the street and behind the house, knowing the sliding glass door in the back had never had a lock. 

The emptiness inside the house felt so very wrong to me. I’d basically spent half of my childhood there. It was home, and now it wasn’t. Nothing was left behind except a low sound coming from somewhere upstairs. Before I knew it, I was at the top of those stairs and staring down a hallway with all doors open except one. Light leaked from underneath. Again, somehow believing in my mind that I was dreaming, I didn’t hesitate when walking down the hallway or opening that bedroom door.

What had once been a little girl’s crowded, toy filled bedroom was now near empty, but not completely. There were a few boxes, an old desk, and Whitney’s TV. It was pink, Hello Kitty themed, with a built in VCR and Karaoke machine. She’d gotten it for Christmas and I had been jealous.

It was turned on, tuned into a children’s movie we both loved - Thumbelina. I felt myself smiling as I walked closer to the TV. I stood there for a minute, feeling tired and a bit in a trance as I watched the colorful characters dance across the screen. It only lended to the dream like moment when the screen fuzzed out and the image was replaced by a face - a real face.

Whitney’s face.

“Emily? Is that you?” her voice spilled from the speakers, unmistakable. My heart began to beat a little fast, but feeling that there was no way I couldn’t be dreaming, I responded. “It’s me! Whitney, I miss you!” Her face was close to the screen, basically the only thing visible. “I miss you, too.” There was a pause after she said it. A few moments of silence where I didn’t know what else to say. Or maybe I was afraid I’d wake up and the dream would be over.

From somewhere downstairs, there was a crashing noise. It startled me enough to cause me to turn towards the door, and it was that moment that I knew that I was awake. Nothing moved in the hallway and no other noise came, so I turned back to the TV. It was still fixed on Whitney, but the picture was coming in even more fuzzy. This made no sense. I was awake - I knew my friend was dead - but there she was, on the screen.

"Aren't you..... dead?" I didn't want to say it out loud, but I had to ask. Plus, feeling much more awake in that moment, part of myself reasoned that it COULD be a recording. If I hadn't been fully awake before, maybe I dreamed the previous responses. However, when Whitney smiled almost immediately after the question, I knew it I probably hadn't.

She giggled. "Of course I am, you know that!" With each word, the screen grew a little fuzzier. "Ask me anything if you don't believe me!" her voice echoed, sounding off-key and almost layered. "C'mon.... don't you wanna know what it's like? Being dead?" Again, Whitney laughed, her face still taking up a majority of the tiny screen. 

I shook my head, tears involuntarily streaming down my face. So many questions rushed through my mind. Why was she doing this? Why did she want me to know this? 

There was a second of silence on both ends. I, frozen in front of the TV and her, staring from somewhere inside. Whitney's smile began to grow larger and larger - each tooth sharpening into points. The voice that came from the speakers now sounded more like seven, and all were deep and filled with blissful rage. "Well, why not?" it bellowed and the screen flickered black.

Everything on my tiny body trembled. It had already been cold that night, but something inhabited the air in that moment that felt sub-arctic. My feet were already cautiously propelling me backwards before my mind even registered them doing so. Still, my eyes didn't leave the TV screen as it rotated between plain black and white. Gurgled sounds came from the speakers. They began to form words around the time my body reached the threshold of the bedroom door.

"IIIIIITTTTT FEEEEEELLLSSS AAAAAAMMMMAAAAZZZZZIIIIINNNNGGGGG!!!!!!" It chanted over and over again, the sheer volume greatly contrasting from Whitney's quiet voice. The floor underneath my bare feet began to shake. The windows rattled. "Oh, don't gooooooo!" The voice called from the TV. The screen finally ceased flickering, illuminated the bedroom with plain white light for a minute before shifting back to a distorted, almost human-like face - nearly resembling Whitney, but not quite. "Don't you want a hug from your besttttt friendddddd!?" It shrieked. 

Just then, the face pushed through the screen and into the real world. In three dimensions, it was hideous. The skin of an 11 year old girl stretched over the face of something horrid - something inhuman. Black goop dripped from it's overstretched, grinning maw, onto the carpet. Sharp, angular shoulders emerged as well, then long arms with dirt-covered fingers reached out. Reached down. Braced against the floor. 

With every move, it's face became more distorted, it's voices multiplied. "DON'T YOU WANT TO FEEL THIS? IT FEELS SO GOOD!"

I still didn't even notice the steady stream of tears falling down my face. "No! You aren't Whitney! I don't want this!" My eyes couldn't leave the steaming, elongated, horrible form that was pulling itself from the tiny Hello Kitty TV into the real world. Somehow, though, my hand reached for the doorknob. In a flash, I slammed it closed behind me and practically launched myself out into the hallway. Almost instantly, as the door latched, no more light leaked from underneath. The house was now dead silent. Still, I didn't stay to take the chance, running home and locking every door behind me. 

The following day, the house was silent. Not a single suggestion that anyone was inside, so once the babysitter let me outside to play, I snuck back in again. The bedroom door was closed, as I left it, and the TV was off. The carpet underneath, once tan, was blackened and burnt. I unplugged it and, despite being a very skinny 11 year old, lugged it across the street and into my dad's work shed. At least, I thought, it would be safe there.

Neither of my parents ever asked questions about it, even when I asked them to please not touch it under any circumstances. There would be nights when, despite knowing nobody had been out there, I'd look out a window to see the shed lit up. Instead of repeating the same mistake, I'd wait until morning and always find the TV plugged in somehow. I'd unplug it again, move it away from the outlet, but it'd always find it's way back there until it inadvertently got sold while I was at summer camp in high school. 

Now, to this day, I don't know where it is - though there are times where I think it doesn't matter. There are more than a few nights where I wake up with the TV on. Sometimes, it's a fuzzy screen and others, it's a children's movie I love. Pulling the covers off me, as if it's nothing abnormal at all, I get up out of bed and unplug the TV set, hoping that her familiar face doesn't flicker onto the screen again.

[knightofthecourt]

Shards - Part 5

Final one!

A Handful of Malec snippets, based on various prompts. Alec Lightwood x Magnus Bane - Fluff and romance with a spot of angst.

41. Winter

“Don’t be mad.” 

Magnus glanced up from the book he was reading, to the face of the Shadowhunter in the doorway. He raised an eyebrow inquisitively. “Why would I be mad?” he asked. When Alec didn’t answer he sighed and placed his book down on the coffee table. “Alexander?” 

“I said don’t be mad.” The Shadowhunter narrowed his eyes and then glanced down. 

Magnus followed his gaze and noticed an odd-shaped lump in Alec’s jacket. 

“What is that?” Magnus asked, alarmed. He stood up and took a step towards Alec. “Did you get injured on patrol? Are you hurt? If you got hurt again and Jace didn’t call me I’m going to-”

“Stop.” Alec interrupted. He raised an arm towards Magnus, warning him to stay back, and then reached his other hand inside his jacket.

Magnus’ watched his boyfriend uneasily. If Alec clearly wasn’t injured, but he was still acting strange. If he’d brought home another newfangled weapon he wasn’t going to be happy. He’d almost burned down the living room trying to work out how to use a flamethrower last week and Magnus had finally put his foot down. The apartment was a weapon-free zone. Well, except Alec’s bow of course, but that was hardly a fire risk. 

But when the Shadowhunter’s hand emerged Magnus had to stifle a laugh. 

“I found her in the alley next to the subway station.” He said, gazing down at the small ball of white fluff in his hand. “Her name is Winter - she doesn’t have a tag or anything, I just thought it suited her. She just looked so sad, I couldn’t leave her there and we already have cat food and other cat stuff for Chairman Meow and… well, can we keep her?”

The expression on his face was enough to make Magnus melt. The warlock reached out a hand, slowly, as not to frighten the animal, and the kitten nuzzled her damp nose into his palm. 

“Well, seeing as you’ve already named her.” He smiled as Alec’s face lit up and then bent down to get a better look at their new friend. 

“Hi, Winter,” he murmured, “welcome home.”  

42. Film

“So -- what’s it like, being a vampire?” 

“Aline!” Isabelle looked appalled. “You can’t just go around asking people what it’s like to be a vampire!”

Alec snorted, drawing the girls’ attention to him. 

“What?” Isabelle asked, glaring at him. 

Alec shrugged. “Nothing, Gretchen Weiners.”

“Did you just call her a weiner?” Aline swiveled to face Alec. 

“Urm, no.” Alec spluttered. Weren’t they just fighting? Why was everyone staring at him now? “I just… it’s from a film,” he finished lamely.

“Yeah right” Isabelle scoffed, “Since when do you watch films?” 

“Yeah,” Aline agreed, “which film is it from?” 

“It’s… uh. A film about a mundane high school.” Alec could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. 

“Oh! Mean Girls.” Simon, who had been standing quietly in the corner, forgotten during their exchange, piped up. “It’s a chick flick with Lindsay Lohan in. Hey-,” he smiled at Alec, “that’s quite funny.”

Alec ignored the vampire’s praise and focussed on Izzy. As soon as Simon had said the words ‘chick flick’ a large smile had spread across her face. 

“Ohhh,” she said, grinning “Is this Magnus’s influence?” 

“Magnus?” Aline’s brow crinkled. 

“Alec’s sort-of boyfriend.” Simon supplied, helpfully. 

“Boyfriend?” Now Aline was grinning.  

“Urgggh!” Alec moaned, hiding his glowing face behind his hands. Next time Magnus requested a movie night, he thought, Alec was going to choose the film himself.

43. Green

Green will mend our broken hearts. 

Magnus winced as he caught a glimpse of his emerald green dress shirt in the reflection of a restaurant window as he made his way across the street. After another long, restless night he hadn’t put much thought into how he’d dressed that morning, simply pulling on the first thing his tired hands had dug out from the wardrobe. The irony, that on this day in particular, his random selection had turned out to be green hadn’t hit him until this moment, when the flash of colour bought that line from the old Shadowhunter nursery rhyme to the front of his mind. 

The corner of his lips quirked up ruefully, somewhere between a grimace and a smile, and he wondered briefly, as he weaved purposefully between the New Yorkers cluttering the sidewalk, whether his subconscious had pushed him towards this shirt. Maybe decades of living with a Shadowhunter, of upholding their customs and traditions had actually rubbed off on him. Maybe his unconscious yearning to heal, to mend, made him willing to believe in something as childish as the power of colours. 

The smile slipped from his lips as he walked through a set of tall iron gates, leaving the bustle of the city behind. He paused for a moment, adjusting to the heavy silence that enveloped the area like a fog, and then headed up the well worn path along the side of the cemetery towards the marble angel statue that he knew overlooked the rest of the grounds. The same statue he’d visited every day for the past five years. 

No. After all this time, if there was one thing Magnus had learnt, it was that nothing could fix a broken heart. There was no healing, no mending, no moving on. You simply had to bear the pain, and try to survive.

44. Punk

“What are you wearing?” 

Alec paused, mug of coffee halfway to his mouth, as he stared at his boyfriend. 

“Fabulous, isn’t it?” The warlock gave a wiggle and then twirled so that Alec could see the outfit from every angle. 

“No. I mean, you look good,” said Alec, abandoning his coffee on the counter. “Well, great actually. But you’re not going out like that?” 

“Of course not.” Magnus waved his hand dismissively at the Shadowhunter. “I’d freeze in this weather.” 

Alec nodded mutely, taking in Magnus’s clothes. Or rather, lack of clothes. The warlock was wearing a pair of black ultra-skinny jeans that appeared to be made entirely of scraps of material held together by safety pins and, Alec suspected, willpower. His oversized charcoal t-shirt had a large rip in the side that revealed more than a little of his toned caramel skin and his eyes were ringed artfully with a black glittery eyeshadow that matched the sparkles in his inky spiked hair. 

To Alec, he looked like pure, unadulterated sex. 

“I wore this in the ‘80s you know,” Magnus circled the kitchen slowly, so Alec could take in the full effect of his clothing. “I was quite the punk in those days, got myself into all sorts of mischief.” He dropped one eyelid in a single glittering wink and smirked when Alec almost choked. “I just wanted to see if it still fit.”  

“Uh-huh.” Alec was starting to feel like he was missing something, like he was an unwitting participant in some sort of game. “I thought that was kind of the thing with being immortal though, and, well you. You don’t exactly grow out of your clothes do you?” 

Magnus paused. He leaned forward over the counter and tilted his head as if deep in thought. Then he drummed a finger against his lips. Alec’s gaze dropped to the older man’s mouth and he swallowed unconsciously. Was it him or was the kitchen getting a little warm? 

“Well,” Magnus said, finally. “I guess you’re right, but you can never be too careful. I have a few more outfits I wanted to try on, maybe you can come and give me your opinion?” He raised an eyebrow at the Shadowhunter. 

“Oh?” Alec’s brow furrowed. Magnus wanted him to look at his outfits? But he knew Alec was useless with fashion - oh. He smiled as the realisation clicked in his head. “Oh,” he smiled shyly at the warlock who was now grinning openly at him, and took his outstretched hand. “Yeah, ok, sure.”

45. Paranoia

He was running, sprinting full out into the darkness, legs pumping, thundering down the street as if his only hope of escape was to keep running. And it was, his only hope. The creatures that had been following him for the past three days were almost upon him. He couldn’t see them, in fact he hadn’t managed to get a good look at them this whole time, but he could hear them. That shrill, screeching screaming sound that started as a low buzz and then exploded into ratcheting peals as they grew closer. This is what it would sound like if demons could laugh, he thought. 

Alec swerved left, cutting into the narrow path between two tall, dilapidated buildings and swore violently. It was a dead end. 

He must have gotten turned around. Years of patrolling the streets of Brooklyn with Jace and Izzy meant he knew the city inside and out, he’d never been cornered before, not unless it was part of the plan - using the tight space as a tactical advantage or luring whatever hell beast they were tracking into a trap. This time he was the one who had been caught. 

He ran his hands frantically across the rough, uneven surface of the brick wall in front of him, hoping to find a jutting stone, an exposed pipe, anything he could use as leverage. But there was nothing. 

With a start, he realised that the screaming had stopped, replaced by the heavy thumping sound of blood pumping in his ears. His body was exhausted, three days of hiding and running had driven him to the edge of his physical limits, now he’d finally stopped, he didn’t even have enough energy to defend himself. His legs shook and his muscles ached. The only thing that seemed to be working was his heart, he could feel it pulsing, pounding wildly in his chest as it pushed blood, thick and sluggish around his body.

When he heard it he almost wondered if he’d be able to move. But his body acted on autopilot, years of training kicking his muscles into one last burst that spun him out to the side, away from the dark, hulking shape that lurched towards him. He hit the side of one of the buildings and then sank to the ground, legs finally giving out. Through wavering vision he finally caught a glimpse of his attackers. The three looming beasts were unlike any demons he’d seen before. They had legs and arms, like a human, but their limbs were impossibly long, as if they had been stretched too far. Red glowing eyes were set deep into the thick, cracked black skin that coated their bodies and as one of them opened their mouth to emit a piercing shriek, Alec saw rows upon rows of sharp grey teeth. 

The tallest demon, the one that had shrieked, towered over him and raised one long, thin arm. As strands of blistering purple venom erupted from the creature, Alec closed his eyes and allowed his body to close down. Huh, he thought, as the world darkened around him and heat spread through his body, I always thought this would be cold. 

Izzy knelt beside her brother’s collapsed body and checked his pulse. 

“It’s there but it’s weak,” she said. “We need to get him back before he wakes up.” 

Magnus nodded in agreement and shot a few more flickers of magic into Alec before lowering his arm. “I don’t know if I can keep him under for much longer, although he seems pretty exhausted.” 

“Yeah, you’d almost think he’d been on the run for three days.” Jace commented dryly. 

Izzy cocked her head towards him. “It’s not funny Jace,” She chided, “that demon bite clearly did something to his brain.” 

“I didn’t say it was funny. If anything, it’s shocking - who knew Alec could outrun either of us for three days. He’s not exactly Captain America.” 

“Children.” Magnus glared at them. “Do you think we could do this when Alec is venom-free? Paranoia demon bites might not be fatal but they still pack a punch.” He watched as Izzy and Jace nodded, then bent to pick up Alec. 

“And,” he added as he conjured a portal and stepped through, “I really don’t fancy having to fight off a hallucinating shadowhunter again.”

[sprnklersplashes]

heart of stone (7/?)

AO3

Unlike most of his peers, Damian isn’t excited at all about moving out. There’s a lot he loves about living at home-having a mom who cooks him his own meals, not having to pay bills, living withing walking distance of his best friends and a not having to do his own laundry. All those little conveniences are things he’ll miss sorely when that day comes, but the biggest reason has nothing to do with any of that. No, the reason he dreads moving out is because he’s not sure if he’ll be able to find a roommate that will put up with his constant singing around the house. Especially around audition time.

Which is why now, he’s practicing his rendition of Dressing Them Up in his bedroom, his mom being incredibly cool about the whole thing downstairs and Janis on Facetime, earbuds in and bopping along with him and giving him more enthusiasm than the actual audience probably will.

“You sound great.” She’s sitting cross legged on her hospital bed in a sweater and leggings, her face more bare than it was yesterday, but her eyes still bright and laugh lines creased around her eyes and mouth. She’s still her.

It was tough, seeing her for the first time, but weirdly, it wasn’t nearly as tough as he thought it would be. Once he got past the strangeness of the hospital environment and the little emotional hiccup she had with Cady, he knew she’s still her. Hard situation, uncomfortable new world, but still his Janis.

“You think so?” he says. “I don’t know about this song. All the forums say it’s a really good song to audition for the Emcee with.”

“And it’s your party piece,” she tells him. “Remember freshman year, you sang it for my grandpa?”

“I miss your grandpa,” he sighs.

“I’ll let him know. He calls me weekly now.” She shifts on the bed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Before he even realises what she’s doing, he checks her arm. No IV in there. Why does that make him feel better? “So do you think you’re going to change it?”

“Should I?” he asks, looking through his music. “The audition’s tomorrow. I don’t know if I can research and learn a new song by tomorrow.”

“Then don’t,” she tells him. “You’re overthinking it.”

“You’re telling me off for overthinking,” he says rather indignantly, raising an eyebrow at her. “This is the same girl who texted me at 2 in the morning for my opinion on a dog meme to send to Cady.”

“I needed a second opinion,” she says.

“Thought you didn’t need opinions,” he teases.

“Maybe I need yours,” she says softly, the grin on her face lighting up the screen. “Dick.”

“Don’t even love you,” he replies, blowing a kiss softly to the screen. Janis giggles, hiding her face behind her hand.

“Okay, you have the scene worked out as well?”

“I think so.” He picks up the extract from his bed. He’s done it for everyone, Janis, his mom, Janis’ mom, Cady, even the plastics. He learned that day that Gretchen is amazing at giving weirdly specific compliments and also knows more about theatre than he’d have guessed. Maybe in another life she’d be a drama geek like him. “It’s just an audition anyway. They’re not looking for the finished product. Just potential.”

“And you my good man are 6’2” of raw mother fucking potential.”

“Janis, language!”

“Raw mother freaking potential. Sorry, mom.” Somewhere behind the phone, Janis’ mom says something and Janis chuckles, rolling her eyes. “I’m not allowed to cuss in here. Since this is a ‘children’s ward’.” She quotes the word with her fingers. “Which is apparently where I belong.”

“You are a children,” he reminds her.

“I am older than you!” she spits back, laughter shaking her voice. She leans back on the bed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. The joke slips from her face, leaving soft sincerity in its place. “Are you nervous?”

“I don’t get nervous.” She raises her eyebrow at him, of course. By now she can see into his brain like there’s a little window on his forehead. It’s why he can’t bullshit with her, and conversely, why she can’t with him. “A little. I just really want a good role, you know. It’s our last show.”

“Which is why you’re going to ace that audition so hard,” she tells him. “Just don’t drink dairy in the morning and do your breathing before you go in. And stay away from the candy!”

“Pity you’re not here to remind me,” he says.

“True, but I did take the liberty of passing on all the info to Cady,” she tells him. “She knows what to do.”

“You’re a hero, babe.”

“Don’t I just know it,” she says. “Are you going to do the whole ‘dress for the part you want’?”

“Of course.” He runs over to his wardrobe and shows her the outfit he’d picked out for tomorrow, black silk waistcoat and black skinny jeans, his dance shoes in his bag. “What do we think?”

“Oh, that’s so sexy,” she tells him. “We need to bring waistcoats back to the collective again. I miss them.” Before he can answer, she looks beyond the camera, nodding along to a conversation he can’t hear. She casts an anxious glance at him, so quickly that he would have missed it if he blinked. “Okay. Okay, yeah fine, I know. Okay fine.” She turns back to him, letting out a long exhale that makes the hair on his arms stand up. He can’t help it; he has built-in parental instincts and they’ve been heightened ever since Janis went to hospital. So much so that even when she flashes up a peace sign and grins, it’s hard for him to grin back. “I have to bounce. Go get a good night’s sleep, ace it tomorrow, and tell the drama club that my services are still available.”

“I’ll let them know,” he says. He sits on the bed, tucking one leg under his body. He’s reluctant to let her go, their time together so precious now. “I love you, honey pot.”

“Love you more, bitch.” Her face freezes and then she’s gone. Not gone, he corrects himself. Just… not around for him right now.

“Okay,” he exhales, giving himself a shake. She’s fine. She said she was fine, she looked fine, she is fine. And she will be fine. She even said that she might be well enough to come see him in the show, all things going smoothly. The thought alone is enough to make him smile. Of course she will. The show won’t be for months anyway. He just has to get through this first. So he picks up his music and bounces down the stairs, ready to treat his mom and sisters to yet another rendition.

                                                                                               *****

It’s just after second period when the nerves do start to kick in. He’s not scared or intimidated, he can’t be he approaches auditions the way Cady would a calculus test, as a thrilling challenge to be overcome and a way to improve, whatever the outcome. But like he said to Janis, it’s his last year. He’s not gotten parts before but would be different. He wouldn’t throw a fit or leave the show if he didn’t get it, those types of divas make him cringe so much it hurts. But he can’t shake the idea that it wouldn’t be as special if he were in the ensemble in his last year. Besides, this is his part. Always has been.

“Hey.” He jumps off the floor, so wrapped up in his own thoughts he’d barely noticed the person sliding up beside him. He’s even more surprised when he sees who it is; Regina, wearing a lacrosse jersey over her white dress and a smile that’s uncharacteristically apprehensive. Since when did Regina George doubts? More to the point, since when did Regina talk to him? He wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t even know his name until Cady told him. He just assumed he was ‘Janis’ gay friend’ to her, nothing more. The same way she’s nothing more than ‘asshole Queen Bee I’d punch given the chance’ to him.

“Hi,” he says flatly. Her smile falters at his tone, and he has to hide his own smirk behind his locker door. Someone clearly isn’t used to not being given the golden treatment.

“So… how’s Janis doing?”

And the surprises keep on coming.

“You care?” he snorts.

“Yeah, I do.” Her tone is more defensive this time, the familiar anger that’s become her trademark making an appearance. Somehow, she sounds more natural this way. She shakes her head and tosses her dark hair over her shoulder. “You’ve talked to her recently, I’m guessing.”

“Of course I have. She’s my best friend,” he fires back, suddenly finding himself on the defence. Heat prickles on his skin and he wants nothing more than to get out of this conversation.

“I just… wanted to know how she’s doing,” she says, her voice quiet and her arms crossed over her chest. He closes the locker door and looks at her, trying to find some semblance of the ruthless predator he knows rather than the timid, vulnerable creature before him. It’s unsettling, seeing her like this, and he’s almost certain it’s a trap. “So how is she?”

“She’s great.” He slams the locker door closed and now it’s her turn to jump. “Janis is doing great. And she’s being let out for a week on Friday. So, she’s great.”

“O-okay,” she replies. She picks at her nails, her eyes growing wide. It’s only when she takes a step back that he can breathe again. She gives an attempted smile and it doesn’t look right on her face. “That’s cool. That’s good to hear.”

“Yeah.” He puts his bag on his shoulder and pushes past her. Admittedly, he does feel a little guilty here. Regina’s a horrible person, but she’s still a person, right? Maybe she is worried about Janis, that there’s some sincerity beneath the make-up.

No. Of course not. And if Regina wanted his respect, she should have started back in middle school. And in any case, why is he even thinking about Regina? He’s got way bigger things to worry about today than her.

He checks his phone at lunch, finding nothing from Janis. Which is normal these days. Normal re-adjusted pretty quickly and she’s just finished another round right about now, so she’s probably resting from that. Besides, no news is good news, as his mom likes to say.

“Damian. Damian!”

“Woah, yeah, I’m here.” He shakes his head, grabbing the side of the table. He really needs to tune back in today. Cady is sitting beside him, her hand on his shoulder and her eyes big with concern.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am,” he says, patting her hand. “Just daydreaming, kid.”

“Okay.” Silence settles over them, tight and uncomfortable. It hurts. Janis’ absence hasn’t rocked their friendship at all, but at the same time it’s felt like there’s been something missing since the start of the year. And that there’s constantly something going unsaid with them. “When’s your audition?”

“T minus four hours,” he tells her. “They’re after school.”

“Speaking of I see you’ve broken out the two-litre bottle of water.”

“Are you kidding me?” he asks. “Honey, I am a professional.”

“A professional drama queen,” she teases. “You think you’re ready?”

“As I can be. My mom and sisters all gave me a standing ovation,” he says proudly. “And I think my cat liked it.”

“I mean that’s all the validation you need,” she says. “When you go into your first Broadway audition, all you need to tell them is how highly your cat recommends you.” They burst into laughter as Karen and a forlorn-looking Gretchen sit down next to them, Karen holding the other girl’s hand and looking helplessly at Cady and Damian.

“Hey, what’s up, Gretch?” Cady asks. Without a word, Gretchen slides a crumpled sheet of math questions over the table and lets out a huff. Despite trying not to look, Damian can’t help noticing the score at the top, and the “see me” written at the bottom. Cady’s face falls instantly as she takes in a sharp breath. “Well, it’s just the second week. And it’s one homework.”

“Oh, what’s the use,” Gretchen sighs. “I’m never going to get it. It’s all so complicated. I wish I had a brain like yours, Cady. You’re super great at math.”

“Well you’re good at stuff too,” Cady responds.

“Yeah,” Karen agrees. “Like you’re super good at English. And at picking out clothes.”

“I don’t think Ms Gardner will appreciate me picking out clothes,” she says glumly. “Besides, I need to get better at math this year. For one thing, my dad will totally kill me if I get another C.”

“Well… hey why don’t I tutor you?” Cady offers, changing Gretchen’s entire demeanour in an instant. She sits up and gasps, a smile breaking out across her face and lighting up the cafeteria.

“You would? Really?” she squeaks.

“Of course! I mean, I did all this stuff last year, so I know it well. What do you say?”

“Oh, thank you so much!” She reaches out the table and grabs Cady’s hand, and judging by Cady’s face, it’s stronger than you might think for Gretchen’s slight frame. “This makes me feel so much better.”

“What does?” Regina sits down beside her, looking from Cady to Gretchen and funnily enough, avoiding Damian entirely.

“Oh, Cady’s going to tutor me in math,” Gretchen explains.

“Oh, cool,” Regina says. “You know that’ll look great on a college application.”

“Yeah. I mean of course that’s not the only reason I’m doing it,” Cady replies, smiling at Gretchen. “But I know. All I’ve heard since we got back is ‘college applications’.”

“Me too,” Damian sighs. “And I am not looking forward to telling Miss Meyer I want to do theatre.” He rolls his eyes and mimics shooting his head.

“Oh, hey Damian, Cady?” Karen asks. “Can I ask you something.”

“Um… sure?”

“What kind of muffins does Janis like?” The four of them all fall quiet, Damian looking to a confused Cady before back at Karen, who seems to be the only one who sees the sense here.

“Muffins?” he echoes.

“Mm-hm. Well, I want to bake her muffins to cheer her up, and since you two are her besties, I thought you’d know,” she explains. “Trust me, there’s nothing worse than bringing someone the wrong muffins. One time my cousin brought my other cousin muffins that weren’t her favourite and I was so, so ashamed for her.”

“Oh, okay,” he says. Karen nods severely, apparently taking the muffins incredibly seriously. “Um… she really likes raspberries I guess. Oh, and white chocolate. That’s one of her favourite combos.”

“Perfect!” she chirps. “I’ll start shopping for those tomorrow. I told my mom about her and she said she might like something sweet.”

“That’s… really nice,” he says. Life with the former-Plastics is a surprise even after spending the summer with them. He isn’t sure how ‘former’ he’d consider them, especially Regina, but they’re softer than they were a year ago. Gretchen more caring, Karen more kind. Or maybe they were always like that and he simply didn’t notice.

As they get up to leave, he takes out his phone and checks it. Still nothing from her.

He walks Cady to her next class, the two of them being on the same floor.

“Should I wait for you until your audition’s done?” she asks him.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” he says, patting her on the back. “Go live your life, little one.”

“Okay, but…” She rests her head on his shoulder and warmth sparks in his fingers and a stupid grin crosses his face. “Would you like me to wait until after your audition? We can go to the donut place after?”

“Did Janis tell you to do that?” Grabbing donuts after auditions to unwind has been their tradition since middle school.

“Well, yeah,” she says, shrugging innocently. “Just thought it would be cool. It’s what you always do, right?”

“Yeah. Yeah of course, totally. That’d be awesome.” They stop outside her history classroom. “Okay, I will see you later.”

“I’ll be in the library,” she explains. “You can meet me there?”

“Awesome blossom.” They have a quick high-five before he sets off down the hall to American Literature. As he goes, he finds a small but fierce sense of anxiety sparking in his chest and he can’t work out what it’s for. Probably the audition. After all, no amount of experience can chase away the terror of this process. Waiting around, learning and re-learning lines, sitting by his computer waiting for an email and fighting through crowds to see the cast list. He puts up a confident face, but that will never stop shaking him.

He takes out his phone again, just to check the time and location again. There’s nothing from Janis again, which is fine. Completely.

“Damian Hubbard.” He halts and looks up at the face of his Literature teacher, Mr Bock. He’s not great, but he’s not awful either. Once upon a time he may have actually liked kids. “Is that phone meant to be out during school hours?”

“No, sir,” he replies, sliding it back into his pocket and hoping for the best.

“Well come on, you’re in my class next and I won’t have anyone being tardy.”

“No, sir,” he repeats, doubling his pace and making it into the classroom, looking up at the clock as he does so. Just three more hours to go.

                                                                                               *****

He spends the time waiting for his slot breathing and doing small vocal warm-ups, enough to get him ready but not enough to irritate anyone else. As well as consoling a fearful looking little freshman kid. There are few things in the world that warm his heart quite as much as seeing new faces in auditions and watching them bloom during the show. He always makes sure to build connections with each and every one of them, taking up the role he wished someone had done for him. By the time Damian’s name is called, the freshman is grinning and his hands are nearly steady and he even whispers ‘good luck’ before he goes in.

“Afternoon all,” he greets the panel; Miss Petersen, the director/oldest drama teacher, and the perky little new one, fresh out of teaching college and rearing to go, as well as the choreographer and head of the drama club. Three familiar faces and one new, all smiling back at him. Something he tells every freshman; they want to cast you. He hands the sheet music to the girl at the piano and takes his spot, always remembering to smile and compliment her.

“Hi Damian, how are you?” Petersen asks.

“I’m great,” he replies. He clears his throat slightly, not having realised how tight it was. Did he not warm up enough? “Ready to go.”

“Okay so what song have you picked for us today?” the new teacher asks. Miss Hadsell, someone said her name is. She’s cute, with wide dark eyes and blonde hair in a messy braid. He wonders if she also takes art, he hasn’t seen her around the art room.

Then he remembers he hasn’t been in the art room this year.

“I have picked Dressing Them Up from Kiss of the Spider Woman,” he says brightly, bringing himself back. Here and now, that’s what matters.

“Good choice,” Miss Petersen says. “And you’ll be reading for the part of the Emcee?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Okay.” She grins at him, although it doesn’t really do anything to bring his focus back. What is wrong with him today?

He takes two deep breaths, and then another, and quickly shakes out his hands before nodding to the pianist. Once the song starts, he’ll be fine. Lost in the music, laser focussed. And he is. After missing the first note. He’s never missed a note before. Still, he manages to pick up the rest of it and keep going, throwing everything into it.

But it doesn’t feel enough. Like something is holding him back. Every time he’s sang this song before it’s come as naturally as breathing, the movements coming from him, not a character or persona. Now nothing feels right. Like he’s on a string and someone else is moving his limbs and every gesture is artificial.

By the time he finishes, it’s almost a relief. And he’s never thought that about performing.

“That was great!” Miss Hadsell says. “You must love that song a lot.”

“It’s an old favourite of mine,” he agrees. He can still bring this back. Maybe it was better than he thought.

He reads through two scenes for them before he’s asked to leave. At least those are stronger, partially because he knows them like the back of his hand. He feels more himself in them, or rather he feels more like the character. Even if his mind’s still a little fuzzy, it clicks for him. If only it could have happened earlier.

Rather than running right to the library and Cady afterwards, he sinks down onto a bench in an empty corridor, wringing his hands together. He doesn’t remember ever feeling that nervous or having an audition like that. Not even when he was a kid. Being in drama clubs since he could walk chased away the strong jitters that could affect him like that. So what happened in there?”

You know a voice in his head whispers. He goes to wave it off, but he can’t quite do it. Because what if there’s some truth in it. He’s worried about Janis, he’s only human. But he has it under control. She’s getting what she needs and she’ll be back with him by Christmas, and they’ll move forward like nothing ever happened. He presses his fist into his palm and bites his cheek. He’s handling it, and his own issues have never affected his performances before. Why would they now?

There’s no point in worrying now, he tells himself. It’s over, so just go home, tell everyone it was fine and whatever happens, happens.

It’s with that mantra that he gets up and heads to the library to pick up Cady.

                                                                                               *****

The next day is Wednesday and when he wakes up he’s suddenly immensely excited and won’t pretend he doesn’t know why. As his mom likes to say, ‘Wednesday is halfway to the weekend’. Which is enough of a reason to be happy in itself, but this means something more. It means it’s two days until Janis gets out of hospital and three days until they hang out again. They arranged it a few days ago; a movie night in her place, just like always, with blankets and pillows and junk food and an equal balance of musicals and old sci-fi and horror. So he can’t not be excited, so much so that it’s enough for him to block out the memories of his audition yesterday.

So when he half-walks, half-dances into the kitchen, it’s justified, and what’s more, his mom picks up on it.

“Someone’s in a good mood,” she remarks.

“Sun’s shining, birds chirping,” he replies as he puts on the coffee pot and pops bread into the toaster.

“Did you talk to Janis at all last night?”

“A bit.” He pours himself a cup and one for his mom. All the milk in his and one sugar for him, black and two sugars for his mom.

“How’s she doing?”

“She’s fine,” he says. “You know her. Tough as hell, fighting anything.” His phone vibrates in his pocket and it brings an instant smile to his face. “As a matter of fact that’s her now… oh…”

Janis’ message is a picture of the medical student, Jackson, fiddling with her IV, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Below is the caption ‘forgot to send you this yesterday. Thought you might enjoy’. And a winking face, of all the emojis.

‘Appreciated, thank you,’ he texts back. ‘Though I am debating the ethical ramifications of this.’

He probably won’t get an answer for a while. She tends to sleep in in the mornings.

“Her poor mother,” his mom sighs, seemingly to herself. He looks up at her, her hands tight around the hug and her head shaking. “I mean, poor Janis as well of course. No one deserves to go through that. But if anything like that were to happen to you…” She runs a hand through his hair, a fond smile along with her sad features. “God knows what I’d do.” There’s a small moment, a sigh, and then she kisses his head.

“Mom, you’re so mushy,” he sighs, not meaning any of it. Mushy is a well-established Hubbard trait passed from mother to son and he’s not ashamed of it, not at all. It’s that exact mushy-ness that gives him the capacity to love his friends the way he does and let them feel it every chance he can. He’d never trade it for anything. “I have to get ready. Don’t want to be late. Love you!”

When he gets into homeroom, Cady is bent over her notebook with her pens out, which strikes him as odd. Surely the study bee Cady Heron isn’t catching up on homework already. He’s not even catching up on homework yet.

“Hey.” He pulls on her ponytail, a far more amusing way of getting her attention that tapping her shoulder. She grins and looks up at him, stretching out her arms. “What are you working on?”

“Trying to make a schedule for tutoring,” she explains, handing it over to him. The page is divided into seven days and those into hour long slots, and true to form, everything is colour-coded. School is green, Mathletes is blue, and so-called ‘Janis time’ is purple. Her name is written in silver glitter pen rather than black ballpoint, and there’s a little star doodled in the corner. It’s nothing short of adorable, and Cady’s cheeks go pink as he knowingly catches her eye. “Gretchen says she can’t do weekdays, so I might squeeze her in on Saturday mornings.” She takes the page and tilts it, scrunching up her face. “Wonder how many more I can fit in.”

“How much tutoring does she need exactly?” he asks.

“It’s not just Gretchen,” she says, shrugging. “I just thought, well, why not expand it. See who else needs tutoring? I could make some money off of it. And it looks great on-”

“The college applications,” he finishes, earning an eyeroll from her. Still, they both smile. “I think that’s a great idea little slice. As long as no-one’s faking stupid to score a date with you.”

“Oh hush,” she chides, swatting at him playfully. “Besides, no one would dare. Half our grade is kind of terrified of Janis.”

“We all know she could still kick their collective asses.”

“Even hopped up on chemo, she could.”

“Yeah, completely.” Something shifts inside him, and suddenly his smile feels more plastered on that natural. Keep it together, he tells himself. “So has anyone gotten back to you about tutoring?”

“I haven’t put the word out yet,” she says. “Although I did make this!” She reaches into her bag and hands another page to him, this time with a photo of her in the centre and “Tutoring Services-Math and Science, specialising in calculus” printed below it, and her phone number and email address in a different, cursive font below. And true to form, she decorated it with little ClipArt lions and tigers. “What?”

“Nothing.” He hands her it back. “It’s just very you. And if I needed help with math, I’d call you in an instant.”

“You flatter me,” she jokes, putting it back in her backpack and dropping it on the floor. It catches his eye and he doesn’t understand why it would for a second, but then he remembers. She bought this backpack the day they went to the mall. She picked the white one with the little frogs. Janis had laughed at it, affectionately calling her a ‘permanent child’. That was the day Janis had passed out. The day she had overslept. The day before she had gotten that doctor’s appointment. And all the while, none of them knew the truth. None of them had put the pieces together.

“Damian?”

“Oh, yeah.” He nods quickly. “Yes, you should definitely do that.” Across from him, Cady’s eyebrows are shot up, her mouth half open. He’s blown it. Whatever ‘it’ is.

“Okay,” she sighs. “Um… are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay.” He leans back in his chair and tosses his head.  “Look at me, I’m the King of Okay, baby girl.”

“I know a bad Doctor Who reference when I hear one,” she tells him. She taps her pencil on the desk. If she knows a Doctor Who reference, then he can recognise a tell. She’s building up to something. “Look, it’s okay if you’re not okay. I mean what’s going on right now with Janis… it’s rough. It’s okay if you’re a little out of it. I am too.”

“Well that’s fine, but I’m not.”

The words shock him as soon as they leave his mouth. He wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t said them at all, rather someone behind him, and he wishes that were the case. He’s not like that. Those words are sharp and he’s rarely ever sharp. He made himself a promise never to be sharp or cruel or nasty unless absolutely necessary. He’s put in so much work over the years building up his cheerful, warm persona and it took a while for it to become fully natural. Apparently, he still needs work, because Cady’s face is falling at his outburst and she’s turning around him her chair and his gut is twisting and churning with guilt.

“Caddy, wait.” He reaches out and grabs her shoulder. “I’m-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like that. It’s just-I’m so sorry, Caddy.”

“Hey.” Cady takes his hand and wraps her own around it, giving it a comforting squeeze. “It’s okay. Everything’s a lot right now.” Is it? Well, it is anyone can see that. But he’s coping, he’s sure of it. He woke up today so full of happiness he may have burst. How did he go from that to this in the space of an hour?

“Yeah,” he simply says. He runs his thumb over Cady’s knuckles, still shaken from what he said. He grips her hand tighter as if that can make sense of it. “I’m sorry.”

Despite Cady telling him it’s okay, a bad feeling follows him around all day, guilt combined with something else he can’t figure out. It leaves him feeling nauseous and uneasy all through his classes and even during lunch with his friends. It sits there all day, right in the pit of his stomach and wearing him out. By the time his first class after lunch starts, all he wants to do it go home. That very last bell is music to his ears and he barely remembers to bid goodbye to his friends before bolting out the door.

His hands are cold and unsteady as he pulls books out of his locker, his heart beating quickly and faintly beneath his shirt. He checks his phone, his messages empty, and makes a mental note to text Cady later before closing his locker and heading to the front gate. Hopefully by the time he gets home he’ll have come back to himself.

“Damian!”

Oh god, he thinks, suppressing a sigh. Ms Towers slips out in front of him, a file held close to her chest and her glasses perched on her head. She’s the school guidance counsellor, someone he’s never really interacted with. All of his issues were either fixed or in the process of that by the time he reached high school. She sure had her work cut out for her when the Burn Book was released though.

“Um, hi,” he says.

“Could I grab a quick word with you?” she asks.

No you cannot is what he wants to say. The school bell has gone, I’m free now.

“Sure,” is what he says instead, and his body follows her into her little office and even takes the seat she offers. It’s only when she sits down that he turns off autopilot. “Is this going to take long? Only I’ve got a lot of homework.”

“Not long at all,” she replies. She clears her throat, pretends to fix some papers on her desk, and leans forwards on the desk, her hands clasped beneath her. “Damian, what you’re going through is very difficult.”

“That’s indeed one word for it.”

“And the schoolboard is fully aware of any challenges you might be facing this year,” she goes on. “You probably know your teachers are all aware of the toll this may take on your schoolwork.” He hadn’t actually thought of that before. “But there are many support systems in place outside of the classroom. I want you to know that if you need any of them, we would be more than happy to schedule something for you. You could talk to me, or one of my colleagues on the care team, during one of your free periods maybe once or twice a week? Or if you want, our pastoral care team would be more than willing to talk to you in the school chapel-”

The image of Damian sitting in a church sitting on a pew talking to a priest about anything is so ludicrous to him that he actually bursts out laughing in her face.

He’s really being the resident asshole today, isn’t he?

“Sorry,” he replies, making a show of clearing his throat. “Something caught in my throat. You know how it is.”

“Oh, of course. I can get you some water if you like.” He shakes his head, taking his own bottle out of his bag, and gives her a gesture to keep talking. “Just if you want to avail of any of these services, they’re here. We’re all here for you Damian. So… do you think you might?”

“I appreciate the offer,” he says. His hand wraps tightly around his knee. “I really do. But I’m fine. I don’t need any school therapy or anything like that.”

“I don’t mean therapy,” she says. “Well, I could. But just if you needed a quick chat. This is a hugely stressful situation.”

“I know,” he snaps. He takes a deep breath in. He feels as though his insides are shaking, like a town caught in an earthquake. “I know. But I’m fine. I’m coping. And I have my own people anyway. I’ve got my friends; I’ve got my mom.” He stands on sore and unsteady legs and puts his bag on his back. “Besides, everything’s fine. Janis is coming home this weekend and we’re going to have a movie night and it will be exactly like it always has been. So we’re all good here.”

He lets her nod before bolting out the door. He doesn’t let anyone slow him down this time as he runs outside, down the front path and out the school gates, only starting to slow down when he’s off that street.

All the while, he doesn’t let himself think about Ms Towers’ offer, because doesn’t need it. He’s good. He’ll make himself good if he has to. He’s had enough practice at that after all.

                                                                                               *****

Saturday night takes forever to come around. The clocks on the wall tick by too slowly no matter where he is. Janis must get home late on Friday, because at some time after nine she posts a video of her dog cuddling her on her bed with the caption ‘I missed this boosh so much’. While Maxie takes up half the screen, he can see the smile in her cheeks. She looks good, healthy, happy, and that’s the main thing.

But finally the time comes, and he’s standing on her doorstep with a rucksack full of treats, DVDs, and the sleepover essentials. Butterflies flutter in his stomach, something he hasn’t felt since the early teens, and he has to hold back his arm lest he press the doorbell again.

“Hubbard!”

“Sarkisian!”

The moment he’s in her house, he envelopes her in a hug, letting her head rest in his shoulder and his hand rubbing up and down her back. His knees buckle in relief once she’s back with him, back hugging him. Sure he’s seen her before back in the hospital, but that was too alien. This is home. This is real.

“Missed you, dork,” she whispers.

“Missed you more,” he replies. When they finally let each other go, he sees her dressed down, blue and green galaxy leggings and a deep purple sweatshirt with a cartoon dinosaur on the front. Sleepover wear.

In the living room, Laura is setting up a bowl of popcorn and a try of tortilla chips, as well as a litre bottle of water and one of lemonade. She brightens up at the sight of him, hugging him lightly like you would a family member.

“Nice to see you, kid,” she tells him. “Hey how were the auditions? Janis told me they were this week.”

“Oh yeah,” he replies. It’s an effort not to wince. “They were fine. You know.”

“Well, we’ll be expecting front row tickets,” she tells him. “And a discount.”

“Sorry Laura no can do. Janis knows the importance of providing funds for the drama club.” Behind her mom, Janis nods as she fiddles with the DVD player.

“Oh, Janis, hon, let me do that.”

“It’s fine,” she replies, force behind the words. “I’ve got it. Besides you’re the one always asking me how to work it.”

“Fair enough,” she mutters. “Well, you two enjoy your night. I’m just down the hall if you need anything.”

“Cool. Thanks Mom.”

“Do you want me to take the dog out?”

“We can keep him. I think he’s missed Damian anyway.”

“And I’ve missed him,” Damian adds in. Maxie is pawing at Damian’s legs, his head rubbing against his legs and his tail wagging.

“Okay, just make sure you keep him calm. Otherwise he won’t let you sleep.”

“We’ll keep him calm,” Janis promises. “He’s a good boy.”

Laura mutters something to the contrary as she leaves, the door clicking shut behind her. Janis rolls her eyes at her.

“She’s so mean to the baby,” she says, patting the ground. “Come here Maxie-boy. Isn’t mama just the meanest and nastiest to the poor baby boy?”

“Should I leave you two alone?” he asks, only half-joking. Janis looks up from where she was making kissy faces at her dog and chuckles.

“I missed him,” she says. “Can you blame me? Imagine not letting your dog into the hospital with you.”

“It’s lunacy all right.” He kneels down beside her, opening up his rucksack. “Okay, I brought chocolate peanuts, I brought mini pretzels, I brought sour gummies. And to top it off, I brought your faves… crispy NemNems!” He holds up the box of M&Ms, wiggling them in her face. She bats them away, grinning.

“Perfection. Okay, what do we watch first?”

“You pick. That’s the rule after all, remember?” he reminds her. “Your house, your rules.”

“Okay. Then I pick…” She holds up the DVD to him; A Nightmare On Elm Street and wiggles her eyebrows. One of her favourites, which just so happens to be one of his least favourites. He’s not a horror fan. It’s one of the few disagreements they have.

“Deal. But I may have to hide behind your hair.”

They settle themselves on the couch, a pair of blankets resting on the heater behind them and Maxie plopped on top of them for extra warmth. His little head is on Janis’ lap, demanding pets, and she is only too happy to oblige. He snuggles further into her with his paws up on his legs and whimpering whenever she so much as shifts.

“Someone missed you.”

“Yeah he did,” she replies, her voice fond. “You know when I came into the kitchen last night he peed himself because he was so excited.” She leans down to the dog and starts speaking in what they call her ‘Maxie-voice’. “Didn’t you to a peepee on the floor and Daddy had to mop it up?”

“Awww. Also ewww.” Janis digs him the ribs even as she laughs. Maxie is oblivious to this, his ears pricking up as he looks between the two of them. Damian cracks open the snacks, already commandeering the tortilla chips (what can he say, he’s a carb lover) and placing the rest of them delicately between them before opening the M&Ms and handing them to Janis.

“Oh, thanks…” She picks a few out of the bag while holding the dog down with the other hand, lest he eat something he shouldn’t.

When he looks back in the bag, it’s like no-one took anything. Sure enough, there’s probably only three or four in her hand right now. And they’re one of her favourite things in the world, ever. She’s hidden them under pillows at sleepovers before. Before he can stop, she notices him looking and gives him a shrug.

“I’m just not that hungry,” she explains, taking a sip of the water. “It’s fine.”

It’s fine. There you go. She said it’s fine, so it’s fine.

Despite that reassurance, and against his better judgement, he doesn’t stop taking peeks at her as the movie goes on. It’s probably a good thing he doesn’t like this movie. She picks at the food she would normally be fighting him for, eating a pretzel here and there and nothing else, only long, slow drinks of water. The hair on the back of his neck pricks up at it, his instincts once again kicking in.

Maybe instead of instincts, he thinks he might just be paranoid. Janis said that she hadn’t had much of an appetite recently. It’s just a side effect of the medicine. Nothing to be worried about, surely, especially with the way her eyes are wide and her grin is excited and bright, the way she jumps at scares she’s seen ten times over and ‘ooh’s at Freddy coming down the hall. She even calls him a ‘magnificent bastard’. Why should he focus on what she’s eating when she’s still her and is in good spirits? With that in mind, he turns his attention to the movie, properly this time, accompanied by Janis’ rantings and commentary.

When he does lose focus on Freddy Kruger again, it’s nothing to do with Janis or ‘instincts’, but rather nature calling, courtesy of a half-empty lemonade bottle on the floor. He stretches his stiff legs and turns to let her know, probably having to tap her to pull her out of the movie… only to find her curled in on herself, eyes closed, lips slightly parted. Her hand rests limply on Maxie and her chest rises and falls slowly. How long has she been like that, he wonders.

“Janis?” he whispers. Nothing. “Janis.” She doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch. That’s her for the night.

She looks younger in sleep, especially without make-up. And a lot less tough. It’s easier to see her as the little girl he met crying in a bathroom all those years ago. But she was tough even then, and she’s even stronger now. He rises slowly, careful not to wake her. Maxie is still awake, but antsy at sitting down for too long.

“Come here, kid,” he says quietly to him. He lifts Janis’ hand a little and coaxes him off her, patting his knees until he reluctantly climbs down. He settles beside her instead, sitting beside the couch like a little guard dog. “Good boy.” Next he takes the blanket from the heater and throws it over her, making sure to tuck it over her shoulders. That’s what moves her, and for a second he panics, but she only murmurs something and burrows into it. His heart swells in that moment, and he presses a swift kiss to her head.

“Good night, kid,” he whispers, even if it’s still light outside.

He doesn’t go home after that. He sticks around all night, despite Janis’ mother asking if he wants to go home. Neither one of her parents are surprised she fell asleep, telling him she’s tired a lot in the hospital. Her dad heaves a sigh before telling him that’s how they know it’s working. Damian nods, unsure of what else to say, and heads back to the living room. The idea of leaving her alone in there unsettles him for whatever reason.

He slides Cabaret into the DVD player, the volume at 2 and the subtitles on. At least if Janis does wake up, it’ll be to something she likes. For now he bounces between watching the movie and watching her until he gives up entirely. He changes spreads himself on the couch next to him, the light from his phone the only light on in the room. As he does start to doze off, a mere four hours after Janis, he starts thinking about what her dad said. If this is how they know everything’s working, then he can take it. Because it means she’ll be okay at the end.

[hunnywrites]

Arcade Dreams: Chapter Thirteen

Summary: There’s a new girl working at the Palace Arcade and Hawkins’ Family Video. Billy can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual. No matter what everyone else seems to think.

Pairing: Billy Hargrove/OFC

A/N: We have a Hopper appearance! He might start to pop up a bit more along with Steve. I haven’t quiet decided yet. But we’re finally past Billy’s bullshit for now! Yay!

School was back in session. Teddi’s life was now drastically different than it had been two and a half weeks ago. People were of course talking about what happened at the New Year’s bonfire. The story differed depending on who you asked. Some people would say that Teddi and Billy had started this wild love affair and that Tommy was trying to steal Teddi away. Some said Billy had tried to actually kill Steve when he showed up with Teddi. Her favorite so far was that quite a few people thought Billy and Carol were sleeping together behind Tommy’s back, Teddi was dating Steve to make Billy jealous and they had run out of the party together and driven off out of state to get married. She had said plenty about how boring Hawkins was, but Teddi had to admit the gossip was a hell of a lot more wild.  

Billy ended up staying at Teddi’s until the ball drop at midnight. Mostly he complained about all of the musical acts on TV until Teddi got him to admit that Shout by Tears for Fears wasn’t actually that horrible of a song. Soon after he left to go pick up Max, and Teddi climbed into bed. Her parents had come home sometime in the middle of the night just like Steve had said they would, much to her relief. She couldn’t imagine what might have happened if they had decided to come home early and saw Billy there. 

Teddi called Steve the next day and apologized for ditching. And after a very long lecture about how there’s “like serial killers and shit out there, Teddi” Steve finally let it go. Of course she appreciated that Steve looked out for her, but ever since he started hanging around Dustin he had become almost overly protective. And the gang teased him constantly about it. They called him “mother hen” much to Teddi’s delight. 

But now Teddi was stuck in gym. And she hated gym on a good day. Adding in girls giving her dirty looks and whispering behind her back about Billy of all people made her want to blow her brains out. Both the girl’s and boy’s classes were stuck inside for the day. The coaches had decided it was still too cold for any outside sports, so it was the little miracles Teddi guessed. The boys were all playing basketball while the girls were running laps. 

Teddi had given up after about four trips around the large gym and was perched on the bleachers praying for time to move faster. “Larsson, this is pathetic.” Teddi gave Billy a tired look. Of course Billy lived for gym. He’d had his shirt off before the coach had even gotten “We’re playing shirts and skins, boys!” out. Teddi had been watching him practically asserting his dominance over every other guy on the court, all while gloating over the fact that all the girls were stopping to drool over his sweat covered body. 

Now he was over at the bleachers, tossing a towel over his shoulder before he crossed his arms and gave her a mocking look of disappointment. “Gym is pathetic. I’m not built for physical activity like you are. I think I’d literally kill someone to be out back smoking. I don’t care if I freeze,” she complained. They were both very aware of the eyes on them. The hushed voices of the girls that jogged past them. Teddi rolled her eyes. “Your groupies hate me now by the way. I’m definitely not gonna be ‘that one nice girl everyone sorta likes’ anymore thanks to you.” 

Billy smirked, glancing behind him and throwing a wink at the group of girls watching him. He turned back to Teddi with a grin. “That ‘cause we’re married now?”

Teddi laughed. “You heard that one too, huh?”

“That and I heard I banged you and Carol right in front of Tommy,” he said. Teddi groaned and covered her face. “Give it a week, Larsson. They’ll have something else to obsess over by then.” Teddi knew he was right, but she still dreaded having to deal with the dirty looks for however long it took for the focus to move off of her. 

“Teddi Larsson!” Teddi groaned again at the sound of the girls’ coach, coach Greene, calling her from across the gym. 

“Kill me. Please kill me. I’m begging you.” she mumbled into her hands. Billy laughed, turning to watch as coach Greene made her way over. 

“What do you think you’re doing, Teddi? I said you girls have to run laps. Not flirt with the boys.” she shot Billy a dirty look. He flashed her that charming smile of his, not moving an inch. Teddi wanted to slap him. 

“Coach Greene, I just don’t think that running laps is very conducive to my energy. I have a lot of stress on my shoulders what with making good grades and getting into a good college so that I can become a productive member of society and all.” Teddi explained. Billy laughed again, quickly covering it with a cough when coach Greene turned to glare at him. 

“Teddi, if you don’t run laps I can’t let you pass gym. And if you don’t pass gym then you won’t get into college. So get your skinny butt up and let’s hit it, Missy.” 

“...I’m like 120% positive that that’s a complete lie.” Teddi said bluntly. 

Coach Greene crossed her arms. “You either run the laps, or you have detention.”

“Oh, I have a choice?” Teddi asked. “I totally choose detention.” 

Her answer had clearly thrown the coach for a loop. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before her jaw set tightly. “Fine. And you,” she turned and jabbed a finger in Billy’s direction. “Shouldn’t you be over there?” she asked, nodding to the basketball court. 

“Coach says we’re on a water break,” he said with an overly sweet smile. Coach Greene looked at the both of them before letting out a heavy sigh and stomping off. “Detention,” Billy clicked. “I’m disappointed in you, Teddi.”

“I’m not. That means peace and quiet to finish my homework and no running. I say this is a win/win for Teddi.” she said with a triumphant smile.

Billy shook his head. “Whatever you say, Weird Girl. Just try to stop staring at my ass so hard once I get back out there.” he tossed his towel at Teddi who let out a loud “ugh!” 

“I’m pretty sure I’m the only girl in here that’s not staring at your ass, Billy.” she argued. That wasn’t completely true. She had maybe caught herself looking once. But could anyone really blame her? 

“Uh-huh. Just try and not get into anymore trouble, Teddi.” he teased before heading back to his game. Teddi was sort of amazed at how her relationship with Billy had nearly done a 180 since the bonfire. They still harassed each other sure, but now it was in a more playful way rather than a mortal enemies sort of way. They hadn’t fought either...well, unless you count the time that Billy told her she was never ever allowed in the Camaro again if she asked if he had any Bon Jovi cassettes. 

It wasn’t a perfect transition or anything. He was still Billy after all. He mouthed off a lot and he and Max still bickered, but there was a difference. He was trying, and that’s all that Teddi could ask for. There still wasn’t any luck with getting him to play Dungeons and Dragons much to her disappointment. She’d wear him down eventually. It was a talent of hers. 

And as surprised as Teddi was with the fact, Billy was a pretty good friend. Something between them had finally clicked. So when Teddi found herself in detention a few hours later she couldn’t say she was entirely surprised to see Billy saunter in. “And you tell me to stay out of trouble?” she asked with a raised eyebrow as he made his way over to her. 

He plopped down into the desk next to her. “I’m not. I’m here for a jail break.” he folded his hands and placed them behind his head as he leaned back. 

“What? No. I’m doing my homework...well, trying. Plus, they’ll totally kill me if I leave early.” Teddi had been stuck on the same math problem for the last twenty minutes and she was this close to throwing her text book across the classroom. 

Billy leaned over and scanned her notebook. He pointed to the question. “It’s twenty six,” he said cooly. “And this is Hawkins, Ted. No one’s gonna give a shit if you skip out. Do you see anyone in here anyways?” he asked, looking around the empty classroom. “Trust me, I’ve been here plenty of times to know that they’re not really running a tight ship.”

Teddi blinked at him a few times before shaking her head. She plugged Billy’s answer into the problem and let out a loud huff. “Are you telling me that you’re secretly smart on top of everything else?” 

Billy grinned. “Don’t tell anyone. I got a reputation to uphold. Now come on, Larsson,” he slid out of the desk and began walking off without even looking back at Teddi. She started muttering as she tried to grab her books and backpack as quickly as she could. “So, what are you gonna tell your parents about the detention slip?” he asked,nodding to the pink slip of paper in Teddi’s hands. 

Teddi rolled her eyes. “I’m forging my mom’s signature. You think I’m gonna actually tell them I had detention?” Teddi had learned to forge her mother’s signature in the fifth grade. After she came home with a bad grade on a math test and her dad’s head had practically spun around she learned it was better to keep things like this from them. Plus, it wasn’t like they cared enough to ever show up to an open house at school or anything. 

 “By the way, I should be thanking you.” Billy said as the pair made their way through the halls. 

Teddi frowned over at him. “Thanking me? For what?” 

“Cheryl Burns heard what happened at the bonfire. She was all over me today after gym.” he grinned. Teddi rolled her eyes and Billy’s grin turned into a glare. “What?” 

“She ditched you to go bone Brian Jean, remember? Don’t you think you should date someone that won’t cheat on you every time she’s easily distracted by pretty boys?” 

Billy scoffed. “We’re not dating.” 

“You’ve been out with her like a handful of times. I bet if you ask her she’ll say you’re dating. I mean, in her own Cheryl Burns sorta way.” on paper Teddi supposed that Billy and Cheryl were perfect for each other. Cheryl was gorgeous in a way that almost made you think she didn’t belong in a place like Hawkins. Just like Billy. The two stuck out like sore thumbs. But then the fact that neither of them could keep it in their pants added on top of everything else was a recipe for disaster. 

“What is it with chicks and wanting to tie guys down?” Billy asked.

“...I’m gonna ignore that generalization and say that she probably wants the whole school to know that your hers. Like an alpha female sorta thing. So if you don’t wanna date her you should probably stop doing her...or at least have a talk. Personally, if I were you I wouldn’t date someone that was so similar to you when it comes to...matters of the flesh.” Billy’s sex life was the last thing Teddi wanted to talk about, but if they were going to be friends it was something she’d probably have to get used to. As much as it irritated her.

“Matters of the flesh?” Billy said with a snort. “Is that Weird Girl lingo for fucking?” 

Teddi could practically feel her cheeks burn as she blushed. “I mean, I wouldn’t put it so bluntly personally,” she chose to ignore the way Billy was smirking with her. “Look, just maybe put some thought into this is all I’m saying. Your dick isn’t gonna fall off if you stop using it, trust me.” 

“Are we speaking from experience, Larsson? Been awhile?” Billy teased. 

It wasn’t that sex was a topic Teddi was embarrassed of speaking about. She definitely wasn’t. She just didn’t need it to live in the same way that Billy seemed to. “Ugh...maybe. And no, I’m not telling you how long. I already told you I’m swearing off dating until college...maybe after college.” 

Billy shook his head as they both emerged out into the school parking lot. Teddi could see her van parked next to Billy’s Camaro, and Max was waiting impatiently next to her brother’s car with her skateboard in her arms. “Your funeral, Teddi.” he shrugged. She ignored that comment too. 

“What took you guys so long?” Max asked, throwing her head back in annoyance. 

“Teddi got detention.” Billy said with a taunting grin.

Max raised an eyebrow as she watched Teddi throw her backpack into the back of her van. “You got detention? No way.” she laughed.

“Gym class is barbaric. Besides, he broke me out. He’s even more of a delinquent than I am.” she pointed an accusing finger at Billy. 

“Well we all know that already. Can we go now? Will’s supposed to help me with my math homework.” 

Teddi sent a sweet smile in Billy’s direction. “You could always ask Billy for help.” 

Max let out a snort. “Yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it.”

Billy sent them both unamused looks. “Just get in the damn car, wise guy.”

Teddi snickered and threw a wave over her shoulder. “I’ll see you guys later!” she called before making her way around to the drivers’ side of the van. Billy had pulled out of his parking spot and was nearly out of the lot before Teddi could even turn her car on. She shook her head and slowly backed out of her parking space and headed off for the arcade. 

Billy and Max would most likely be in later that night. The past few times they’d come in Billy had stuck around to annoy Teddi and try his hand at a few of the games. Keith had already warned him that if he kicked any more of the machines because he lost that he’d be banned for life. Teddi was never going to let him live that down. 

Things were still slow when she got to the arcade. There were only a handful of kids around, and Keith was behind the prize counter with an issue of Fangoria. “Chief Hopper’s looking for you.” he said, barely looking up from his magazine. 

Teddi frowned. “What the hell does he want with me?” she asked as she made her way around the counter.

“No clue. He’s next door waiting for you. You and Billy knock over a 7/11 or something?” 

Teddi rolled her eyes. “You’re so funny.” she said before disappearing into the back room. She’d be lying if she didn’t feel anxious at the idea that Hopper was looking for her. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Had something happened with her dad at work? Was he okay? Teddi struggled to change into her Palace Arcade shirt as the countless possibilities ran through her mind. It was probably something as simple as he needed help picking out a movie to rent for El and him to watch. Nothing to worry about. Hopefully.

“Try not to get locked up. I still need help around here.” Keith said once she walked back out into the arcade. Teddi stuck her tongue out at him before heading over to the video store. Chief Hopper was waiting for her at the counter. It wasn’t completely unusual to see him there. He came into the video store pretty often to rent westerns for El and him to watch on the weekends, but once Teddi saw the expression on his face she was pretty positive that that wasn’t the reason he was there. 

“Hey, Chief. Keith said you were looking for me? Is everything okay…?” she asked. 

Hopper gave Teddi a small smile before looking over both shoulders to make sure no one else was listening to them. He let out an uneasy sigh before placing both of his hands on the counter. It did nothing to ease Teddi’s anxiety. “Look, kid...I don’t usually get into people’s business,” he began, letting out another sigh. “But a few weeks ago Joyce mentioned to me that you came into Melvald’s with a black eye. And she told me you said you slipped on ice, but she was worried that maybe something else was going on,” Teddi could feel her heart beating faster and faster. 

Hop was quiet for a moment as he thought of what to say next. “Before I adopted El, things were pretty...rough for her. But she’s always been good at reading people. So when she came home after sleeping over at Max’s and told me she’s noticed some things with you that seemed a little unusual I figured maybe I should ask you about how things are at home.” Teddi was honestly a little surprised at the concern in Hopper’s eyes. 

“Oh…” was all Teddi could say at first. Clearly she hadn’t been hiding things as well as she thought. Or maybe Billy had been right. It’s hard to keep a secret from someone that’s keeping a similar secret themselves. Maybe this was finally her way out. Maybe she could just fess up to everything. Hopper would help. She knew that he would. But still...it seemed like too much trouble. “Um, no. No. Everything’s totally fine. I mean, honestly between how much I work and my dad works none of us see each other.”

Hopper watched her for a few moments before he nodded. “Alright...but if you ever need anything or need to talk the station’s right down the street.” he offered. 

Teddi nodded and offered him the best smile she could manage. “Definitely. Thank you. Um, is there anything else? There’s a few more Eastwood flicks El hasn’t seen.” she offered, glad to change the subject. 

“Nah...well, actually I guess it couldn’t hurt. Better than those soap operas she likes to watch.” Hopper rolled his eyes.

Teddi laughed and nodded. “I’ll be right back,” she ducked out from behind the counter and disappeared for a few moments before coming back with two tapes. “Eastwood and this is another one that I think she’ll really like.” she slid the tapes over to Hopper.

He picked it up, flipping the case over to inspect it. “The Last Unicorn?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. 

“Uh-huh. She said she wanted to learn more about mages, and I’m sure that Will and Mike are doing a pretty okay job of explaining, but this is probably a little more entertaining for her. And it’s based on a book too. She mentioned you guys both like to read.”

Hopper nodded as he read the back of the case. “Ah sure, what the hell, right? Thanks, Teddi...and remember, just down the street, okay?” 

“You got it Hop. I’ll see you on Wednesday.” Hopper gave a small wave before leaving, and Teddi left out a heavy sigh. That was it. Maybe it was time to move out before her last five months were up. There was that apartment building that Steve mentioned on the night of the bonfire. Maybe she could look into that and be out as soon as that coming weekend. 

She briefly wondered if she should say something to Billy. If people were figuring out that her home life wasn’t all too great, it would only be a matter of time before they started noticing the same for him. But even if she did bring it up, Teddi was pretty positive Billy wouldn’t leave with Max still stuck at home with Neil. So she’d leave it alone. She’d look up the address in the phone book and find some time to check it out later that week. It was a scary feeling, the idea of being on her own. But then technically Teddi had sort of always been on her own. 

A couple of hours later Keith poked his head into the video store’s door. “Teddi, your boyfriend’s here.” Teddi looked up to see Billy’s Camaro pulling into the parking lot. “I’ll take over here. You make sure he doesn’t abuse any of my machines.” 

Teddi rolled her eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend. And stop worrying. Your precious machines will be safe in my hands.” she said, patting Keith on the shoulder and walking out to meet Billy. Okay, she thought to herself as Billy and Max both made their way over towards the arcade, maybe I’m not completely on my own. 

[discocritic]

mad as rabbits by panic! at the disco?

(quick warning for attempted suicide (if this counts): a character is seen standing on the edge of a building, considering jumping, but is stopped before they attempt anything.)

~

The first time they see the boy, he’s shoplifting at Tommy Chow Mein’s.

The figure in the second aisle, frame hidden by an oversized purple hoodie, is inspecting the merchandise just a little too closely. As Pony watches, he makes a move to slip something up his shirt.

The store owner, arms full carrying a box of plastic toothbrushes, suddenly drops the package and rushes over to him. The two other customers pretend they’re not paying attention and continue browsing the overpriced-by-ten-carbons goods.

“What do you think you’re doing, boy?” he barks. The boy jumps and a can of beans falls out from under his ratty jacket.

“N-nothing,” he stammers. “I was, uh…”

The boy’s got to be eighteen or nineteen, somewhere around Show Pony’s own age. (At least, they assume that’s their own age; you can’t be too sure out here. Time passes strangely. Maybe they’re actually thirty and just lost track of time.)

Chow Mein snatches back the can and gives the boy the evil eye. “Out of my store now.”

Show Pony watches him walk out with his hands jammed in his pockets. He’s lucky he didn’t get more than a cold warning. Tommy has a gun specifically to scare off the older teenage thugs.

They figure this kid doesn’t fit the criteria. He’s scrawny and not really threatening enough. He gives off more of the “homeless wanderer” than “juvenile delinquent” vibes.

The next time they see the boy, it’s from the back of Dr. D’s old pickup two days later. They and two other Zone rats lounge in the truck bed, feeling the sun beat down on their uncovered faces and the wind thread through their hair. Hot Chimp is driving because the Doc’s having a particularly bad day—the jarring, persistent pain that barely ever goes away has come back worse in both legs—and they’re going to Zone One to drop off the truck in exchange for a supply of stronger painkillers. He won’t be driving around anymore regardless, so there’s no need to keep the pickup any longer.

They roll to a stop in front of a half-collapsed warehouse. (It looks a little seedy, but Pony’s seen worse.)

Chimp presses the horn, and a heavyset man with two little dogs nipping at his heels comes out from the back exits. The DJ gets out to negotiate a deal.

Pony jumps down and ties his shoe, and then heads for a rock nearby. The warehouse is backed up next to a shallow cave, and little stalagmites (or are they stalactites?) jut up from the ground at the entrance.

They settle down on top of a nice-sized boulder and survey the landscape. The other two ‘runners that came with him stay behind, holding hands and cuddling and just generally doing stuff that girlfriends do.

They’re lonely by themself, having not been with a partner in a while, so they don’t really want to sit there and watch and be even lonelier. They decide to stay here and bask in the sunlight, doing their second favorite thing: channeling the spirit of a lizard.

Lizards are cool. They make nice earrings when they bite onto your earlobes and dangle—if you can deal with the little sting of pain.

And if that gets annoying, well, at least they’re nutritious.

Win-win for Show Pony, eh?

They must fall asleep somehow, because the next thing they know, the sun is going down and they’ve fallen off their perch. Hot Chimp looks like she’s almost done negotiating the deal, and as they walk back, they hear the end of the terms of the deal. The guy’ll come to the station tomorrow to pick up the truck with one of his buddies, so right now they’ll have a way to get back home.

As they hop in the back, wedging themself snugly between two bales of hay, a glint of something catches their eye back at the cave.

They squint. It’s the boy. He’s scurrying around the entrance with a metal pot or something, and Show Pony realizes that’s what was making the sun glare off at them a second earlier.

Maybe they should get out and introduce themself?

But the truck roars to life and they’re pulling out before they have a chance to move. They wave as they pass the cave one last time anyway.

The boy looks up, watching them, but he doesn’t wave back.

The third time they sees the boy, it’s pouring down rain and he’s about to jump off the second floor of an abandoned parking complex.

Show Pony initially ventured up here to get out of the thunderstorm, but they got distracted after walking inside. A couple cars sit in their parking spots, left years ago at the start of the Analog Wars. They don’t bother to check any out; they were looted and siphoned of gas long ago.

Thunder crashes loud enough to make them jump and the hairs on their arms stand up on end. It sounded like that was right beside them.

Then there’s a muffled cry from the level above and they freeze.

Someone else’s in here! A friend!

Well, it could be a drac, which would definitely not be a friend, but it could be another ‘runner. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a little company during the rain.

So they head up to the next level, thinking how great it would be to get one of those shopping carts lying around the Zones and push someone down this ramp in it. They’ve seen a couple outside of the Paradise Motel, but that’s a long way away from here. Wherever here is. Zone One or somewhere cl—

All of a sudden, a shadow makes them look up. There’s someone standing on the edge of an opening made by a bomb blast. His knees are bent like he’s going to jump down.

Down to the ground, two, almost three stories below. In the rain. Landing onto concrete.

“Hey!” they call, suddenly afraid he’s going to leap right then and there. “Don’t do that!”

He turns around, almost losing his balance, and Show Pony sees who it is. They run forward just as he clutches a pipe sticking out from the opening, narrowly avoiding falling off.

“Get down,” they say, softer this time. “Don’t jump, please. Let me help.”

The boy shakes his head. Well, now that they’ve seen him up close, he doesn’t look much like a boy. More like a young man. A skinny, terrified, young man.

Lightning flashes, illuminating his face.

He has brown hair the same color of the dirt smudged across his face. His sweatshirt, the same one he was wearing at the store the first time Pony laid eyes on him, is pretty much rags instead of sweatshirt. There’s a large hole in the knee of his jeans, dried blood peeking out from between the last threads struggling to hold the fabric together.

“Nobody can help,” he says, despair saturating the words. “I can’t even help.” He looks back at the hole in the wall, but Show Pony grabs his wrist before he can edge back over there. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

He crumples to the ground, pulling them down too. Tears pool in his eyes and he buries his head in his arms.

“You gotta name?” they ask, sitting cross-legged beside him. They’ve carefully positioned themself between the wall and the guy in case he tries to jump again.

“It’s Max,” he mumbles after a long moment. Show thinks they’ve misheard him. His words are muffled since his face is still hidden. But they don’t make a move to get him to look up.

Max? That’s not a great alias. Easy for Better Living to track you down with.

“I mean, like, a 'joy name. No birth name-givin’ here,” they chuckle awkwardly. “I’m Show Pony. Didn’t get named that when I popped out. But 'ey, I think it’s a little more interesting than any normal name, y'know?”

Dammit, they’re rambling again. It’s not really the time for jokes.

Thankfully, the boy doesn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. People about to jump out of buildings don’t usually care about dumb jokes.

“No, no Killjoy name,” he whispers. “It’s just Max Armstrong. I just got out of the city a few days ago.” He wipes at his face, then raises his gaze. “Me and my brother. But he's… he’s not doing well.”

“What d'you mean?”

“They were gonna—well, y'know the pills?”

Show Pony nods. Of course they know the pills. Everyone knows the pills.

“Well, I stopped taking mine a couple months ago. But my brother didn’t, uh, he actually got into the stash I had building up and he overdosed two weeks ago. Um, Better Living Medical saved him, but as soon as he “got better” they said they were gonna take him to re-evaluation. Which, you know, no one ever comes back the same after that.“

Max shuts his eyes before continuing and takes a deep breath. "So I broke us both out as soon as he could walk. But he’s really sick now, with Zone flu or something and now—and I can’t find real medicine, and nobody has food and we don’t have any money. He—his name’s Gabe, um, Gabriel actually, and now he’s so sick he won’t even wake up. H-He hasn’t woken up in two days and… I was gonna jump 'cause—I’m so tired, I… I’m just—because I can’t do this anymore—”

He makes a little noise like he’s trying not to cry, and Pony reaches over to pat him on the arm. “Please don’t try to jump,” they say.

The pounding rain’s almost stopped; it’s quiet enough again to hear him without straining.

“Do anything but jump, okay? I’m sure there’s gotta be a way to help you.”

Max turns away and picks at a thread on his sweatshirt, presumably to hide his watery eyes.

Pony doesn’t care. They won’t judge.

“Show me where he is and we’ll help him. I know a guy… he’s good at stuff like this. Had a lotta practice. We can get your brother back. How old’s he?”

“Twenty-one. He’s my big brother and I just—I want him to get better and I’m scared that he’s never gonna…” He stops when his voice trembles. “I just wanna—I’m trying to be strong just in case.”

“Come on,” Show Pony says. “The storm’s almost passed. If you take me to him, I can radio my friend Dr. Death-Defying on the way over and he’ll meet us. I think he’ll know how to help him.”

“Okay.” And he stands up, and that’s it. Show Pony just successfully talked someone down from the ledge. They feel eternally relieved.

Max goes, and they follow him down the ramp and all the way back to the little cave they’d seen from the back of the truck, where Gabriel lays motionless inside underneath a stolen tablecloth/blanket. He’s using a backpack as a pillow. He has a fever just below one hundred and four degrees.

They get out their radio immediately.

Show Pony doesn’t really remember what happened after that, because everything is going so fast, but somehow it’s suddenly evening of the next day and the sky is clear. Max and Gabriel Armstrong are in the radio station, one room over, as Dr. D and Cola tend to the older brother.

It takes another two days, but he survives. He pulls through faster than either medic thought was possible.

When Pony asks how he recovered that quickly, Cola says he did it for his brother. That he knew he was there and woke up for him.

It’s probably true. They have one of the strongest sibling relationships they’ve ever seen.

And Pony becomes well acquainted with the two of them through the years. The brothers find two other 'joys in need of a larger crew and become one of the most famous desert gangs. Everyone knows who they are. Everybody knows their names. They’re legends.

But still, even though no one else has ever heard the story, even after the Fab Four are long gone, Show Pony never brings up the stormy night they helped save the lives of both Party Poison and the Kobra Kid.

[nanowrimo2k18blog]

Chapter 2: Night Fishing

I helped my mom carry the crock-pot of stew across the sandy terrain, focusing intently on not spilling it and burning myself. Around me, people were talking and laughing, already sipping wine and beer. Tiki torches did little to banish the night, but a short distance away, teens were building a gigantic bonfire. The moon was only a sliver as it worked its way to becoming full. Younger kids were making noises of joy as they flashed their sparklers. Food was lined up on long, white foldout tables, and the mayor nodded to me in both hello and appreciation as I sat the heavy container down.

The conch shell swung as I bent over, and even after wearing it for such a short time (an hour), I had gotten used to its weight. It was comforting; it felt like I had always had it.

I escaped the adults to join my friends by the fire, on the outskirts of the celebration.

Carly had been my friend since third grade. We connected over drawing and art, and had been inseparable since. Her wild, dark, curly hair had gotten her the nickname Curly. Nobody minded.

Austin was the daredevil of our group. His bright red hair was always sticking up in the back, and he constantly wanted to do something extreme. He and Curly had been dating for about a week and were locked to the hip. By this point, it was strange to not see them together with their tongues down each other's throats.

Ethan was the newest addition to our little group. He was the mayor's oldest son; quiet, calm, smart and a little gloomy, he balanced out Curly's cheerfulness and Austin's excitement.

I sat down on the log, an appropriate distance away from Ethan. He handed me a Coke, and I cracked it open. The cold, acidic bubbles were a comforting taste. Even though we were all old enough to drink, I preferred to be sober.

"That's pretty." He gestured to the shell hanging from my neck.

My fingers came up to rub the shell absentmindedly. "Thanks."

The crackling and flickering of the flames were hypnotizing; it was making me sleepy. I took another sip to distract myself.

Ethan stretched out. "Were people still arriving?"

"Yeah, the food wasn't all here yet. We might be able to get some now, though." I looked over to where the majority of the town was.

"Yo. Come up for air and get some food." Ethan threw his crumpled beer can at Austin.

The redhead glared at him, but Curly was already on her feet and bouncing excitedly in the sand.

"Yes! I'm starving!"

The flames caught and reflected the light from the fire in the glassy beads woven in her hair. She was cute as she teasingly kicked up sand.

The food was tasty; I was pretty sure I ate too much.

"We all should go skinny dipping." Austin grinned mischievously, tossing his plate into the fire.

"Far from the adults. Just us four."

"Absolutely not." I said flatly.

It was the worst idea I had ever heard him utter: four (barely) adults, naked, alone, our family not knowing we were in the sea at night when all the monsters were out.

Yup. Definitely a place I wanted to be.

"Aw, c'mon Ames!" He whined.

"I'm not getting naked." Ethan shook his head. "The ocean's freezing right now."

"Okay fine, then keep your clothes on. I'm going swimming. Curly?"

She looked at me guiltily. "Only if Ames is going."

They looked at me with a mixture of pleading, hope and expectation. "America?"

Feeling pressured and guilty, I gave in. "Okay. But I'm not going in."

Austin knew he wasn't going to win this battle. The whole town knew I never swam in the ocean. "Okay fine."

I followed after them, trooping in the soft, warm sand. I caught my Mam's gaze, and waved to her. She waved back, then went back to laughing with the butcher's wife.

At least someone would know we left the party.

The docks were dark, lonely and cold, far from the rest of civilization. The spray from the salty water sent shivers down my spine as I watched my friends frolic and squeal in the inky depths. I gathered up the tossed clothing and shoes, placing them neatly in a row. I laid down on my back and looked at the stars; their shouts of laughter seemed to fade, and I think I started to fall asleep.

"Whoa! Guys, did you see that??" Austin cried, shaking the water from his eyes.

"See what?" Curly asked, still giggling.

"I swear I saw a mermaid."

Ethan snorted. "Don't be stupid. Mermaids don't exist. I didn't see anything."

"Wha-but-you really didn't see it?" Austin seemed dismayed.

"No. Where was it?" Curly asked.

"Under the docks. Right under where Ames is sitting." Austin pointed.

I sat up. I hadn't seen anything, too busy looking at the stars and trying to stay warm and awake. "It didn't touch me, and I didn't see it, so I don't know about that. What did it look like?"

"I didn't get a good glimpse, it was gone before I could see it. It had weird eyes, though, and I think it was watching us."

"Really?" Curly was hanging onto his every word.

"Oh yeah, definitely. Completely white like two full moons plastered to it's face." Austin pressed his cupped hands to his face like goggles. "It totally gawped at you."

Curly laughed and splashed him. "No way!"

"Yes way! It was creepy!" Austin splashed her back.

Ethan was characteristically silent, but he seemed anxious, frequently glancing back at myself and the docks.

"Let us know if you see something." He called.

I gave him a thumbs up as I pulled on his jacket, too cold to not steal clothing. It smelled great, like something sharp and spicy and cozy. I couldn't place exactly what it was, but I knew if I had the choice, I wanted to keep the jacket always and forever.

Curly suddenly screamed and started to flail. "Something grabbed me!! Something grabbed my feet!! Oh my god something touched me!!!!"

Something moved just under the surface of water, pale and fast. I jolted to my feet, screaming at her. "Get out of the water!"

Ethan was already scrambling for the docks as Austin half carried, half dragged his hysterical girlfriend. Ethan hauled her up, and I fumbled with my phone before shining my flashlight on her ankles. Austin half rolled onto the docks, tired from carrying Curly.

"You're not injured." I said, drying her feet with my shirt. "It didn't scratch you."

She was in tears. "It grabbed me and-and- I thought it was gonna pull me under!! I kicked it in the face!!"

Something splashed out in the water. We all looked at each other, icy horror sliding down our spines as we realized she wasn't making any of this up.

We booked it for the shore.

[shrimpcache]

Journal 3, 6/28/21

this time, from italy!

Its been a good, good time. I dont have to worry about anything; nothing exists here that must be dealt with immediately lest we face dire consequences. Ive been thinking it these weeks, but it just seems that life moves a lot slower where i am. I dont want to romanticize a country im only visiting, as i dont know the problems they face and the troubles they have to work around, but at least from my perspective, life here seems to be a life id enjoy living more. Perhaps if it wasnt so hot id change my name and move here. or maybe france, since i know more french...or sweden? Somewhere not north carolina, somewhere where the people are nice, somewhere where i feel i can be something. in north carolina, i am no one. I went to school and my teachers have already forgotten me, or they will soon. I was never enough to get attention; never good enough, never loud enough, and i could have been something to someone if anyone tried to spend the time to let me. But my melancholy of my perpetual lostness in the place meant to be my home isnt what i want to talk about; it’s always there, in the back of my head, and at least for now it can stay that way.

The buildings here are beautiful. Smooth stone with vibrant oranges and pinks and greens. The shutters here, solid wood, nearly all of them a rich and heavy brown, are real and they serve a purpose. During the day, the shutters stay closed as to let what little cool there is stay trapped inside, and to keep the burning rays of the sun out. The sun sets around 9:30, and by july, it’ll still be light past 11. But the wind between the buildings in the cobbled town is cool, and the water is spring fed, and a freezing mountain river runs down just a few minutes down the road. The mountains in the distance are lined with white, highlighted on their ridges and valleys, and the runoff over the rocks of the river is crystal blue. if it weren’t so frigid, it would be idyllic. 

We stayed in venice for two days, and there was barely any tourists in sight. Few travellers due to covid meant the streets were bearable, and the shade from all the buildings and the wind from the grand canal made for great weather. Though, its only been reinforced in my mind that any beautiful street turns terrifying at night. So much safety in my head relies on the presence of a crowd; the thought that if i screamed, someone would hear, and people would come running. We went to these two italian boys’ house, and left at 3am after smoking some hash and drinking, but I felt completely sober as we made the 20 minute trek home through empty streets. It felt more claustrophobic with no one there, like my vision had suddenly closed up and the streets ceased to be connected. When i turned around out of precaution, there was a figure there. I also dont know why ive turned on my writers brain, but something about being here and not writing for however many months has me wanting to wax poetic. 

Anyways. Here begins my scary story! If anyone besides me reads this, tw for sexual harassment.

So. theres a male figure behind us. We have our arms linked, both of us women under 5′5 and under 140 pounds, with alcohol and THC in our brains. I couldn’t feel either when i saw the guy. I tend to be paranoid, no matter what; when we were going to join the previous boys for a smoke, the whole time i wondered if these streets would close behind us, and they would remember how much we drank and the way we stumbled. But they were fine. We turned down a road to avoid the man behind us, and to my horror, it was a dead end. So we sat, and we waited silently, my friend holding her full metal waterbottle as a baton should someone round the corner to find us. We listened; footsteps echo through stone walls easily, so we assumed we’d hear when he passed. Silence for a minute. We continued.

He had waited. He was looking down at his phone, and when we reemerged, walking quickly, he resumed. After seeing the way we rushed, trying to leave him behind, desperately paying attention to google maps (without wifi, without service. No one was in reach), he called, “sorry! Sorry! im not trying to scare you guys! Sorry!”

we didn’t care. we stopped, and said, “Okay, then you can pass us.”

instead, he stopped to talk, saying we didn’t have to be afraid because he was gay (i dont think he was gay.) He said, “as my sorry for scaring you guys, i can walk you to the rialto!”

we didn’t say where our hotel was, just that we needed to get to the rialto bridge. for some reason, we didn’t say no, we know how to get there. Maybe we both had the thought that it was better to have a strange man than no man at all; the united states engrained in us that women alone are women in danger. and we felt in danger. As we walked, we tried to make conversation so that we didnt seem so afraid. We were gay too, our parents are the floor above us in the hotel (they werent. they were on another island), that they were waiting for us. Saying we’re gay too was a mistake, perhaps, because he took the inch as if it were a mile.

He started by saying he liked when women peg him. That he likes in it in the ass. We nod along, uncomfortable, not changing the subject for some reason. He stops after a while. We move through plazas, passing a few people, a group of police, heading towards the grand canal. I have my phone checking for dead ends the entire time. If he didnt want to scare us, why would he start talking about sexual things so much? that he liked girls who use strap ons? did he think liking anal made him gay? he was skinny, and my friend would flash her pseudo baton every time he stepped to close. we could easily beat him, but we didnt want that to happen.

We were close to the bridge when he asked my friend if he could come to our hotel and she would fuck him with a strap on. We both said NO, she said i dont have one. he said that she could just use her fingers. In my head, an escalation had occurred. It had gone from talking about his sexual preferences to revealing that he wanted one of us to do that to him; that he wanted something from us. that he was thinking about her fucking him. that we were suddenly involved in his desires that we hadn’t wanted any part of. It was my last straw. We quickened our pace, and i waved and said “We know where we are now. You can make your way back home, thanks for walking us!” and we left. we did everything but sprint; we went to our hotel and i could feel adrenaline under my skin, still buzzing.  It made me feel sick. A few minutes later we agreed it had been sexual harrassment, talking like that to us when we spoke nothing of it, after he had approached us in a dark alley in a country we dont speak the language of. When i think about it i still feel gross.

But other than that, its been a great time! end of this journal for now, i have tax documents to attend to. oh what weird memories im getting here.

[klaineanummel]

Story of My Life 7/24

Kurt reflects on the past twelve years of his life, coming to realize that one man in particular has affected him far more than he ever thought he would

Welcome to day seven of my @klaineadvent fic, written for today’s prompt, Genuine. I... don’t think that I filled the prompt very well. It’s like... a bit of a stretch. Oops?

WARNINGS: Kurt/Sebastian (sorry to those of you who liked Adam!), some Blaine pining related angst at the end.

Oh, I keep forgetting to mention this, but please make sure you are keeping an eye on the dates for each part. It’ll help with situating when this is happening. I’m hoping to make a timeline soon that’ll state everybody’s birthdays and what ages they are at which points in the story. 

Hope you all enjoy, and see you tomorrow!

Attachment   |   Bucket |    Collapse   |   Drink   |   Example   |   Fraction   |

Read on AO3

October 15th-16th, 2014

“This is so pathetic.”

“Tell me about it. They’ve just been sitting there for days.”

“It’s really sad.”

“I’m glad you called me over, this is really something else.”

“They aren’t even eating ice cream or crying, they just… sit there.”

“I think Rachel has gone completely catatonic at this point. Hold on, let me check something.”

A flash goes off, and Kurt can’t ignore his friends any more. “Can you three fuck off, please?” he asks, turning to Cooper, Tina, and Elliott, aiming his dirtiest glare at them.

“He lives!” Tina cheers.

“Hard not to when you three won’t stop nattering over there about how pathetic Rachel and I are.”

Elliott is the one who comes close, sitting on the edge of the coffee table and leaning forward. “Kurt, you know I love you, but you have to admit, this is getting kind of pathetic.”

“I will admit no such thing,” Kurt says, crossing his arms over his chest and pulling his legs up onto the couch with him, trying to get away from his friend.

“Come on, Kurt. It’s Friday night and you two are sitting in your sweatpants, staring at literally nothing, like zombies.”

“We’re heartbroken, and misery loves company.”

“Please,” Elliott rolls his eyes, causing Kurt to scowl. “Adam left almost two months ago, so you have no excuse, and Rachel,” he turns to her, and Kurt looks too, finding his friend still staring vacantly ahead. “You already knew that Brody was a douchebag, so these two weeks of moping is really over the top and unnecessary.”

“Brody was a douchebag,” Cooper chimes in, and Kurt sees Tina elbow him.

“Listen, I can mope as long as I want,” Kurt huffs. “Adam was the love of my life, and he barely gave me any warning before jetting off to England to fulfill his dreams of leaving his boyfriend in the dust.”

“He was not the love of your life, come on, Kurt,” Tina says, coming forward and sitting next to Elliott. “Yeah, he was your first serious boyfriend, and he was a great one, but love of your life?”

“He may have been,” Kurt says, turning away from them as much as he can. “I guess we’ll never know, since apparently going back to England was more important than making things work with me.”

“That’s not fair, Kurt,” Elliott butts in. “He got a role on the West End. Granted, it was ensemble, but still. That’s basically like getting a role on Broadway.”

“Fine, but he could have told me about it beforehand. He could have told me he was auditioning, so that I would have some warning, and he could have asked me if I wanted to try long distance instead of just abandoning me.”

“I know, Kurt. You know how I know? Because you’ve been a broken record about this for almost two months now. It’s time to get off the couch, get out of the sweatpants, and move on.”

Kurt scowls. “You’re a terrible motivational speaker, Tina.”

“No,” Rachel suddenly speaks up, making everybody turn to her. “No, she’s right.”

“What?” Kurt stares at her with narrowed, suspicious eyes.

“She’s right. So is Elliott. Adam left a while ago, and I already knew Brody wasn’t good for me. We’re wasting our time, and dragging everybody down with us. It’s time to move on.”

Kurt stares at her for a few moments, and she stares right back. Her eyes are filled with more emotion than he’s seen since she showed up at their apartment two weeks ago with a bag and the words, “He cheated,” on her lips.

“We should go out,” she continues when nobody else speaks.

“Go out?!” Kurt practically shrieks as Tina pumps her fist and says, “Now you’re talking!”

“Yes, Kurt,” Rachel says. “We should go out. It’s Friday, we’re all single, and we deserve to have some fun. Let’s go dancing.”

Elliott and Cooper hoot in agreement, and Tina claps her hands, excited. Kurt stares at Rachel for a few more second, then sighs.

“Fine,” he says. “But I’m not having any fun.”

“Then you’ll miss out,” Tina says, cackling. “I’ll call Sam and Mercedes and let them know.”

“I’ll call Quinn,” Elliott says.

Kurt frowns, turning to him. “You still talk to Quinn?”

“Yeah, all the time,” Elliott replies. “Ever since I made friends with you I’ve been more invested in actually keeping my class-friends around, and Quinn is cool.”

Kurt does remember enjoying the project he and Quinn worked on in the class they shared during the fall semester. He nods, then says, “You better warn her that I’m not going to be any fun.”

“Oh, trust me, she’ll know as soon as she sees your face,” Elliott says, smirking at Kurt. Kurt flips him off, but then forces himself off the couch and to his room, finally changing out his sweatpants for some skinny jeans.

Much as he’s loathe to admit it, his friends are right. He already feels better.

*

The club they attend allows people over eighteen and under twenty-one in, though they’re forced to wear bright red wristbands. Elliott, Rachel, Tina, and Quinn all smirk at Kurt, Cooper, Mercedes, and Sam as the bouncer puts on their wristbands, giving them all stern looks as he does.

“I hate this,” Cooper grumbles as they walk into the club. “I feel like a toddler.”

“Whatever, I already knew this was going to blow,” Kurt replies.

“Oh, come on,” Mercedes loops her arm through Kurt’s. “You’re telling me you’d have more fun lying around at home then out with your friends?”

“Or at work,” Kurt says. Since Adam left, he’s practically buried himself in work, to the point where Isabelle has had to ask him to take on less hours, wanting him to focus on his schooling as well. “I’d be there right now, actually, but Isabelle doesn’t let me stay past nine, or on the weekends anymore.” Her far-too-concerned, “This is only supposed to be a part-time job, Kurt,” rings in his ears, and he shakes his head.

“Well, I think you’re lame, and a party-pooper, so I’m going to dance with my boyfriend, and you can come join us if you feel like being less of a downer.”

She disappears onto the dance floor, leaving Kurt and Cooper awkwardly standing by the bar. He glances around and sees that Rachel, Elliott, Quinn, and Tina have all disappeared, too.

Cooper is looking around, then seems to land on what he’s searching for and says, “Hey, I’ll find you later, okay?” before running off. Kurt watches him disappear into the crowd, assuming that he’s going to try and dance with Rachel. He shakes his head, knowing his friend is headed for definite heartbreak.

He walks over to one of the few empty barstools and hops onto it, calling the bartender over and asking for a Coke. The man nods, glancing at his wristband, and grabs him a can. Kurt pays him right away, then pops the can open, ignoring the glass the bartended places next to it.

“You look like you’re having fun.”

Kurt turns to see a man around his age (with no wristband) standing between him and the person on the barstool next to him. He’s tall, with sandy brown hair and green eyes that seem to be staring right through him.

“What gave me away?” Kurt asks, inconspicuously placing his hand over the top of his hand.

The man shrugs. “The fact that you came in with like, ten other people, but instantly came to the bar instead of going out to dance.”

Kurt raises his eyebrows. “You noticed me come in?”

The man smirks. “You’re surprised by that?” He drags his eyes over Kurt’s body.

Kurt blushes and takes another sip of his drink. Despite his reluctance to come out tonight, he has to admit that this feels nice. Being noticed like this. Being approached by a total stranger.

“I’m Kurt,” he decides on, extending a hand to the man.

The man chuckles, but takes his hand. “Sebastian,” he replies. He keeps his hand on Kurt’s and says, “What are my chances of you saying yes if I asked you to dance?”

Kurt looks the man over. He’s attractive enough, tall and slim, and his grip on Kurt’s hand is firm, which his father always told him was a good sign. “High,” he says.

The man raises an eyebrow and gestures to the dance floor. Kurt nods and sets his almost-empty Coke can on the bar, letting Sebastian lead him onto the dance floor.

Maybe coming out wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

*

The following morning, Kurt wakes up with an arm slung around his waist and a warm body tucked into his own.

For a moment he forgets, allowing himself to cuddle closer to the man behind him. Then, his eyes widen as he remembers that Adam is in Essex.

This isn’t Adam.

He turns around, his memories of the previous night confirmed at the sight of Sebastian sleeping behind him. He tenses, eyes wide, then ever-so-carefully extracts himself from Sebastian’s hold. Sebastian doesn’t seem to care much, turning over and continuing to sleep without a problem.

Kurt pulls some pyjamas on quickly, disbelief running through his entire body.

He had a one-night stand.

He can’t even blame it on the alcohol, because neither he nor Sebastian drank last night. He can’t blame it on anything other than recklessness and impulsivity.

Oh, god, his friends are never going to let him hear the end of this.

He tip-toes out of his room and heads to the kitchen, wanting to get away from his room and the strange man in it. He freezes, though, as soon as he enters the kitchen.

Because sitting there, in the breakfast nook, across from Cooper, is Blaine.

“Kurt!” the boy grins and hops up, hurrying to Kurt to give him a giant hug.

“Blaine,” Kurt says, hugging him back carefully. “You’re here!”

“Yeah, I wanted to surprise Cooper, and Mom has a bunch of meetings here this weekend, so here I am!”

“Surprise Cooper? Why?”

Blaine frowns, glancing at Cooper in confusion before looking back at Kurt. “Because it’s his birthday?”

Kurt’s eyes widen, and he turns to Cooper in shock. “Oh, my god. I totally forgot your birthday.”

Cooper waves a hand in dismissal. “It’s fine. You were otherwise occupied,” he winks at Kurt, who blushes at the implications. “Speaking of which—”

“So when did you get here?” Kurt interrupts, shaking his head discreetly at Cooper.

“Just a few minutes ago, actually,” Blaine says. “Mom dropped me off and then had to run to a business meeting. We’re all going out for dinner later.”

“Sounds fun,” Kurt says. “Make sure your mom stops by before you two leave. I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“Of course,” Blaine says. “Or, you could join us for dinner! I’m sure mom wouldn’t mind.”

“No, no, I can’t impose. What kind of friend would I be if I crashed his birthday dinner after forgetting it was his birthday?”

“A shitty one,” Cooper says, and Kurt nods in agreement. “Though I know how you can make it up to me.”

Kurt shakes his head again, worried about what Cooper might say. “Oh, yeah?”

Cooper nods. “You know your friend Quinn?”

“Yeah?”

“So, I totally made out with her last night, and I’d love it if you gave me her number.”

“Oh,” Kurt’s eyes widen, totally surprised. In all the time he’s known Cooper, he’s never seen him so much as look at a girl other than Rachel. “You… Wait, what?”

Blaine squeaks, and Kurt glances down, wondering if the subject of his brother making out with a girl is uncomfortable for him. Instead, though, he finds him staring behind Kurt, and Kurt turns to see Sebastian standing behind them, pulling his sweater over his head.

“Hey,” he greets once he’s fully clothed, then moves toward Kurt and pulls him in for a hard kiss in one fluid motion. Kurt is so shocked by the action that he doesn’t even close his eyes, staring just past Sebastian’s forehead, wondering if the ground can just swallow him whole.

When Sebastian pulls away, he says, “I have to go, but you were a pretty good fuck, so I left you my number.” He winks at him, then heads to the apartment exit, waving over his shoulder and calling out, “Call me!”

Kurt stays frozen where he stands even after Sebastian leaves. He doesn’t want to turn around, isn’t ready to see the look he knows he will find on Blaine’s face.

“He’s forward,” Cooper says, and Kurt winces.

“Is he, uh,” Blaine clears his throat, and Kurt shuts his eyes. “Is he your new boyfriend?”

Kurt groans quietly and, hesitantly, shakes his head.

“Oh,” Blaine says, and Kurt forces his eyes open, turning around hesitantly.

He was right. Blaine looks like he just saw someone kick his puppy.

Kurt sighs and walks over to Blaine, wrapping him up in another hug. Blaine clings to him instantly, and if anything, it just makes Kurt’s heart break more.

“Hey, what do you say the three of us go get breakfast at the Spotlight Diner?” Kurt asks, staring at Cooper pleadingly over his head. “I think Sam is working, and I have to see how he’s holding up after last night.”

“That sounds like a great plan,” Cooper says. “Blaine, you okay to wait while Kurt and I change?”

Blaine nods against Kurt’s shoulder, then slowly extracts himself from his arms. He smiles hesitantly and Kurt smiles back, heart somewhere in his throat.

Cooper and Kurt leave the kitchen together, and as soon as they’re out of Blaine’s sight, Cooper says, “Jeez, dude. Talk about the worst time to have your first ever one-night stand.”

Kurt groans and says, “I know, Cooper. Trust me. I know.”

Part Eight: Health

[piratelover27]

A/N: Hello fellow Marvel fans. This is my first official Marvel fan fic so go easy on me. This is a Darcy and Bucky one-shot and it is inspired by a writing prompt on Pinterest, that my sister, cousin, and I like to do as a challenge for ourselves. I saw potential and decided this will be the beginning of many fanfics to come. Please let me know what you think good and bad. I accept both and hope you like it.

Warnings: Also just wanted to let everyone know it is x-rated and is posted on ao3 as well.

Prompt: TFR’s writing prompt number 146. “Do we need more wine?” “No I need you to put your pants back on.” “But life is so freeing without them.” “Pants. On. Now.”

“Do we need more wine?” Darcy questioned.

“No I need more wine, you need to put your pants back on.” Jane countered.

“But life is so freeing without them.”

“Pants. On. Now.” Jane commanded before walking away.

Darcy scrunched up her face not wanting to get up. She hated the pants she was wearing hence why they were off. Any other pants she had were in her room. Which was a floor above this one and she was too lazy to move. She wasn’t planning on getting this drunk tonight, but after a long day of working in the Avenger tower, alongside Jane and Erik, she decided she deserved a drink.

Darcy was able to convince Erik to join them, he was visiting the tower to look at some of Jane’s research. Eventually, Thor had dropped by and slowly everyone staying in the tower joined the party. Spread out among the area conversations flowed around her.

The only person who hadn’t joined was Steve’s best friend, Bucky. Darcy couldn’t deny she was curious about the guy. Only hearing rumors and maybe glancing at his file, once on accident. Other than that she didn’t really know much about the guy. And there in lined the problem, she wanted to know more about him but in a way that wouldn’t scare him off.

She held back an eye and thought to herself, now it sounded like she was talking about a scared kitten rather than an ex-assassin.

Darcy looked over her shoulder and saw Jane involved in a conversation with Bruce and Thor. Taking the opportunity to sneak off to her room, she pushed to her feet only to grip the armrest as the world began to spin around her. Glancing around the hall, hoping no one was watching, as she took her time getting to the elevator.

When she got to her floor she tried to walk in a straight line toward her bedroom, which lasted for about two seconds. Bare feet slapping against the hardwood, she started walking toward her room. A cold breeze whispered down the hall, sending a shiver down her spine. She pulled at her knitted shirt, trying and failing to cover herself up, but it wasn’t long enough to cover anything.

Glancing in the opposite direction of her apartment she tracked the breeze to a set of sliding glass doors that led out to a balcony. Goosebumps pebbled along her pale skin as her curiosity got the best of her. Her feet moving of their own accord she decided to check out the open door. The closer she got to the door the more nervous she became. She didn’t see anyone, and she silently prayed it was nothing. She let out a gasp as a chill ran over her body. When she peeked outside a dark figure popped out of the darkness. She jumped and the person became startled before stepping out into the light.

She put a hand on her chest as she stepped outside. She recognized the person coming out of the dark, “Bucky you scared me.”

Disappointed flashed across his face, “Sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“It’s alright I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be out here.”

Bucky’s eyes softened as he looked her up and down.

Shivering she tried to pull her shirt down again. “It’s freezing, why are you out here?”

“It feels good, and I like to look out at the city.” Bucky shrugged. “It calms me to sit out here.”

Darcy could hear the sound of chatter and laughter from the floor below, where everyone was still drinking and having a good time. “Why don’t you come downstairs?” she suggested. “Have a drink with me.”

He seemed to mull it over, his lips slowly working up into a smirk as he began to look like he was really thinking about her suggestion. “I’d liked that.”

She smiled, but as she glanced down she finally remembered she wasn’t wearing pants. She backed away slowly. “How about I go put on pants and then we can go downstairs, does that sound good to you?”

Bucky nodded and she smiled, only to be slightly surprised when he returned it. Feeling warm Darcy stepped back inside to make her way to her door. Once she was back inside, she walked over to her room. Which was right across from Wanda’s room. They had become very close in just a few short weeks they’d know each other.

She pushed her door open and instantly tried to find something comfortable but still cute to wear. Even though she was planning on just putting on some pajamas earlier now she felt like she had to wear something else. Any sane person could see that Sergeant Barnes was hot but why Darcy felt that she had to change her whole wardrobe for him, she didn’t know. Normally this would freak her out but she tossed the thought, blaming it on the alcohol in her system and that she felt like she had to.

Darcy started getting frustrated and began to throw her clothes from the boxes. Hoping something would either appear or she would see something that could go together. She hated when Jane was right about her unpacking but she just kept putting it off. Darcy was going from one box to another with clothes spread out all around her when a light knock was heard from the door. Darcy turned to the person who knocked and it was Wanda with a confused look on her face. “Double D, what are you looking for?”

“I’m trying to find a cute but comfortable outfit to wear.”

“Weren’t you already wearing a cute outfit?”

“Yeah, but that was work clothes, and I kind of wanted something more comfortable to wear.”

“And what brought on this sudden interest in changing your clothes?”

“I was just uncomfortable in my work clothes,” Darcy said as she sat down on her bed.

Wanda had a look at the clothes on the ground and what was left in the boxes. “So this has nothing to do with a certain solider that has a metal arm?” she ended with raising her eyebrow at Darcy.

“Was it that obvious?” she questioned

“If you’re wondering if he knows, I don’t think so but I should warn you Clint and Sam are betting on you two.”

Darcy mouth fell open and then closed immediately she shouldn’t be surprised. But it did make her wonder who else knew about her affections. The sound of Wanda talking brought Darcy out of her thoughts. “If you want double D, I can help you pick out an outfit.”

Darcy’s eyes lit up with joy. “Wanda, you really are the best and I would love your help.”

“Before we get started I think you should know that James will love you regardless of what you wear.”

Darcy smiled at Wanda and then she went to work. It didn’t take her long to pick through her clothes and find something for her to wear. Wanda picked a simple outfit that had Darcy written all over it. She picked out a pair of light blue skinny jeans with a tight dark red shirt showing off her curves. Darcy twirled in front of her mirror and she smiled at Wanda happy that she had her to help. When they walked out of the bedroom. Darcy immediately saw Bucky, he had closed the door and was waiting patiently for Darcy to come out.

As Darcy stepped under the lights her eyes instantly met Buckys. A moment too long as Darcy’s cheeks turned a shade of pink. She turned her head, “I hope I didn’t take too long, sergeant.”

Bucky shook his head while walking forward to fill in space between them. “Please call me Bucky.” He spoke softly.

“Right . . . sorry. Let’s go get me a drink, huh.” Darcy repeatedly pressed the elevator button praying silently for its arrival.

It didn’t take long for the elevator to arrive. Darcy stepped in following Wanda and finally Bucky being the gentleman he was holding the door for them.

The elevator filled with silence with only the slight hum of the motor to fill the box. Darcy had to fill the silence. “Everyone was pretty chill when I left. I’m sure no one will bother us while we drink.” The elevator beeped at their arrival and the thoughts of quiet instantly vanished from everyone’s mind. Music was blasting from the speakers. Clint and Sam were cheering as Erik and Thor were chugging their beers as Tony was timing them.

Slowly the three of them entered the room. Darcy regretted entering the room hearing the slam of the elevator doors behind her. Gave away her chance of escape. Just when she thought she could sneak away Hawkeye aka Clint Barton looked over and screamed shots.

Running toward Darcy, he reached her before she could slip away. “Darcy come do a shot with me.” Someone that sounded a lot like Wilson shouted body shots.

She shook her head repeatedly not realizing she was already at the bar. Having a shot glass way overfilled pushed into her hands. Natasha who she didn’t even see at the bar handed her a lemon with what looked like salt on it. Clint, Sam, and Nat all did the shot immediately together in one swift chug.

Clint said, “Darcy do your shot, come on.”

Darcy glanced behind herself and saw Bucky was standing next to Steve. Having a conversation of their own. She turned back around as Sam was leaning over, “Don’t worry Darcy, we have a plan.”

Nat shook her head pouring herself another drink. Darcy raised the glass to her lips chugging its contents and then slammed her glass down. Immediately afterward bit and sucked on the bitter but salty lemon she had in her other hand.

The bitter taste was the last thing she remembered before she started hearing voices as she laid passed out on the couch. Somebody with cold fingers lifted her body off the couch as she drifted to a bed. She wanted to open her eyes to look at the savior that put her drunkenly body to bed. She guesses Thor who had somehow always taken care of her but deep inside she had hoped to be someone else.

Darcy smacked her very dry mouth as she sat up in the mysterious bed. Swinging her feet off the bed she found the ground and stumbled out the bedroom following the light through the cracked door. Laying on the couch Bucky was watching tv. She didn’t want to disturb him but her bare feet betrayed her when he sat up seeing her watching him.

She glanced at the blanket and pillow gently placed on the couch. Seeing the blanket and pillow suggested that the couch would be his bed for the night. She trusted Tony’s furniture was very comfortable but she knew no one liked to sleep on the couch. “Hi” she whispered.

“Hi” he replied.

Darcy stepped closer wanting to apologize for her behavior. “Thanks for putting me to bed, I hope I wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Not at all, doll.” He easily replied.

“That doesn’t look too comfortable.” She said gesturing to the couch.

Without looking away he spoke, “It’s not but it’ll do for tonight.”

Darcy shook her head and thought for a moment. She turned her head away trying to think of a way so they could both get some good sleep tonight. “It can’t be comfortable, why don’t you take the bed?” she suggested.

Bucky shook his head, “No way, doll. What kind of gentleman would I be to take the bed?”

“Fine then why don’t you join me then? It’s big enough for both of us.”

Bucky looked at her skeptically with the bright light shining on his face. But she had already made up her mind. Darcy walked over to Bucky and held her hand out for him to take. He looked up at her and saw the determination in her eyes. He reached for the remote, turning off the tv then he put his flesh hand on top of hers. He stood up as she began to back up leading them back into the bedroom. She stopped in the middle of the room remembering she wanted water.

He tilted his head, “What’s wrong, doll?”

“Do you think I could bother you for some water?”

Bucky’s hand slid from Darcy’s as he walked away and into a dark part of the room. And out of her sight. There was a brief moment where the light came from the fridge and then it was gone as it slammed shut. As quiet as a mouse he returned to Darcy’s side and handed her the cold water bottle. She popped it open sipping the cool water testing her stomach. To make sure she could handle the cool liquid. After a moment she chugged half the water and place the cap back on.

This time Bucky grabbed her hand and a smile grew on her lips as he led her into the bedroom. Without turning on the lights Bucky led her carefully to the bed. They parted ways as he went to his side of the room. Darcy placed the water bottle carefully on the bedside table and then climbed into bed facing the window. She watched as Bucky did the same sliding into bed. He felt so far away, she didn’t even feel the pull of the covers. She wanted his warmth and the chill of his metal arm around her. But it was too much too soon for both of them she didn’t want to scare him away she wanted to take it slow. She looked at Bucky and his eyes we closed. She knew she should sleep too but her mind was turning.

Somehow she couldn’t believe she was even in his bed. She pulled the covers up to cover her shoulders as she sank into the bed. Feeling the weight of her tiredness. Just as her body was drifting into sleep, she felt the bed jerk. Her eyes popped open and her heart starts beating fast against her chest. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark and she saw Bucky’s face was all screwed up and his whole body was tense.

He was having a nightmare, she thought, that part was clear. But what was unclear was if she should wake him up or not. With panic in the front of her mind, she almost called out to Friday. When she remembered back when she was little and would have nightmares. She looked at Bucky and saw that he was on his stomach but his face was still facing her. Swallowing her fear she moved closer to Bucky and started rubbing his back and stroking his hair.

Not even a minute later he jolted awake and almost bolted out of the bed. Expected to still be in the nightmare, he had a mix of fear and worry in his eyes. She shushed him until he was calm and relaxed.

He grabbed her hand and she froze unsure if he wanted her to stop or not. “Darcy, did I hurt you?” He asked so softly almost breaking her heart.

She shook her head, “No Bucky, you didn’t do anything.” She paused for a moment, “Do you want to talk about it?”

He let her go and flipped his body to face the ceiling. Debating on her questioned. “It was nothing just a bad dream.”

“I don’t think it was.” She said shocking Bucky. He turned to her with tears in his eyes.

“I went bad again. I couldn’t control myself and I . . . they made me hurt you.”

It shouldn’t have surprised her that he had a dream about her and yet she laid there stunned. “The stuff they made me do to you.” He spoke as the tears rolled down his eyes.

They hadn’t known each other long but somehow they had formed this connection. She knew from the moment she met him, actually saw him that they would have an unspeakable connection. She started stroking his hair again and he leaned into it. She wanted to help him, to comfort him but she didn’t know how.

So Darcy did the only thing she knew how to do. She grabbed the back of his head keeping him still. She pressed her lips against his gently and sweetly to take away the pain. That’s what she did for herself whenever the nightmares would come or the darkness started taking over she would find some other miserable soul and fuck away the pain.

But kissing Bucky didn’t feel like any other time. This time she felt the light entering her body. It shocked her and she pulled away for air. Bucky opened his eyes while licking his lips. She wanted to taste that tongue. Bucky put his hand on her hip and pulled her closer this time he placed his lips on hers. She felted the spark but this time instead of pulling away she embraced the light. She pushed on Bucky deepening the kiss her right hand digging into his hair and her left rubbing up and down slowly over his shirt.

Bucky pushed back and since he was stronger he overtook her weight. Going right over the top of her not breaking the kiss. His metal hand creeping down to her butt cupping it and squeezing it. The motion set shivers right to her core. With one of his legs in-between her legs, she began to grind wanting to feel any type of friction. They took a breath of air as he started nibbling on her ear then moving down her neck kissing as he went.

Darcy wanted everything off but she was afraid if they stop he might not start again. But Bucky was way ahead of her moving her shirt over so he could kiss her shoulder. A moan escaped her lips it all felt so good but she wanted more. She started reaching for the end of his shirt wanting to take it off.

Bucky noticed what she was doing and stopped. He stood up on his knees taking off the rest of his shirt. Darcy took the moment to be rid of hers. She was still working on her shirt when she felt two hands touch her breast. One in each hand, she threw her shirt on the ground watched as Bucky took one boob out her bra and started gently kissing the tops. Working his way down he started sucking on her nipple earning a hiss from her mouth.

Darcy arched her back wanting more from Bucky but also wanted to remove her bra. After pulling her bra off and flinging it across the room. She wanted to finish what she started. While Bucky was attending to her other breast she started reaching for his pants wanted to get those off. It proved harder than she thought and decided instead to reach inside for his member. She gently grabbed it and it was already hard. While gently squeezing it she started rubbing her hand up and down. Bucky stopped sucking on her nipple and closed his eyes at the friction going on in his pants.

Darcy used the distraction to flip herself and Bucky so she was on top. “It’s time for me to take over solider.” She released his dick and started taking off his pants and then his underwear. Throwing them behind herself and onto the floor. She traveled up giving him a mouthwatering kiss and then slowly slipping down his body giving him kisses all over. The only sound that filled the room was Bucky soft moans and each time Darcy kissed him. As she moved lower then moans became deeper and deeper. She got to the bottom of his stomach and started using her tongue. Leaving a trailer and no imagination to him. She grabbed a hold of his dick again and he was already dripping with pre-cum. She anxiously wanted to taste him. Her tongue slid around the tip of his dick and this time it was him hissing. But she wanted more, she wanted all of him.

As her pussy ached for him to be inside of her, she wanted to take care of him first. She took a break to lick her lips leaving a mix of her saliva and his cum on her lips. She looked up at him and he stared right into her eyes and she took his large member into her mouth slowly. A growl erupted in his throat and it made her hum. Just knowing what she was doing to him turn her on more and more. She began bobbing her head getting him nice and wet and hollowing out her mouth for the best feeling.

She kept going like that for a little while and soon enough his hips started following her lead. Darcy was loving the sounds she almost didn’t hear him call for her. She didn’t stop until he sat up and took her head on the tip of his two fingers. “Doll, if you keep going like that. I’m going to cum in that beautiful mouth of yours.”

“I want you to Bucky. Let me take care of you.” She pushed him back down and he went willingly.

Darcy gave her attention back to his penis but this time he gently grabbed the back of her head. Guiding her down and up on his wonderful dick. Darcy watched Bucky as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he whispered her name as his cum shot up and into her mouth. She swallowed what she could and wiped her mouth.

Darcy gave Bucky a minute to collect himself and then laid down to go back to bed. But Bucky had other plans. He pulled her and slid her under him and she giggled at the feeling of being pulled. He claimed her mouth with kisses sliding his tongue in. Tasting himself and her together. And he loved their taste even with the mix of alcohol in her mouth. He leaned back going straight to her waist and pulling off the tight jeans. After throwing them to the floor he started kissing her belly. Then moving slowly to her legs kissing every inch he could. Now it was Darcy’s turn to moan.

He traveled down to her underwear spreading her legs and kissing directly where her clit would be. Darcy yelped at the feeling and Bucky smiled loving everything he was doing to her.

Bucky laid down on his stomach and licked his lips wanting to know exactly what she tasted like. He moved her silky underwear over running the tip of his tongue along her lips and up to her clit. She moaned and at the end whispered his name and that’s all he needed to hear. Before sliding her underwear off. “It’s my turn to take care of you, doll.”

She chuckled which only lasted for a second as he dove into her pussy. Paying close attention to her most sensitive spots almost instantly. Almost as if he’s been doing this for years instead of the first time. It didn’t take long before she started whimpering and then begging Bucky. Over his licking, all he could hear was her silent pleas for what he wasn’t sure but he could guess. He stopped only for a second, “What is it doll? Do you want to cum? Or do you want more, should I add a finger?”

Answer himself he inserted his flesh finger. For the first time, he wanted to feel all of her. And watch as she came completely undone for him. Darcy bit her lip and he knew that she wanted more before she could say anything. He inserted another finger and she started to grip the sheets. But he knew she could handle more, that she had to in order to fit himself in.

Bucky added another finger and Darcy couldn’t keep still or silent. She was moaning and silently cursing. He started going faster using both his tongue and fingers to bring her over the edge. He could feel and see that she was close. He moved his tongue just an inch over and Darcy couldn’t contain herself anymore. “Bucky, I’m going to. . . Going to. . .”

She couldn’t even finish her sentence and he was too busy. In response, he hummed and that’s all it took for her to silently scream and raise her body as she came all over his face and beard. He leaned up on his elbows and licked her through her high as she said his name repeatedly. Bucky began to slow down his licking and once she was back on the bed flat he sat up. Wiping his chin and licking his lips.

Bucky could feel that he was hard again, he felt it the moment he saw Darcy reach her peak. And he was greedy, he wanted to know what it felt like to be inside of her. He wanted all of her to himself and he knew once he got a taste he would want more.

Darcy sat up and put her hand on Bucky’s face. She gently kissed him on the lips silently thanking him for the best organism she ever had. She was about to pull away when he grabbed the back of her neck to keep the kiss going. Darcy leaned into the kiss causing to two to collapse against the bed. Without breaking she climbed on top of him wanting to continue what they had started.

Darcy hovered right over his dick and slowly started teasing him. He growled in retaliation and she smiled through their kisses. She slowly lowered herself onto him and hummed at the sensation of him filling her up. She broke the kiss sighing as he completely filled her. Once she was comfortable she began to move up and down and Bucky placed both his hands on her hips helping her stay on.

If it weren’t for Bucky’s guidance she wouldn’t be able to keep the pace. Her whole body went numb with each slam of their bodies slapping against each other. Bucky sat up kissing her neck and then biting all over the front of her body leaving little marks on her skin. He knew just how to drive her mad with the warmth of his mouth all over her body. This started out with her trying to fuck away the pain but now it seemed like he was taking away her pain. The pain she didn’t even know she still carried around with her.

Bucky flipped them and set the pace at a new level. He was close but he wanted to feel her cum first to feel her drip all over his dick. He took one leg in each hand and raised them to get a new angle and that motion had Darcy moan she tried to keep quiet but he wanted her screaming his name. He dropped one leg and slid his hand in-between them. Reaching for her clit to bring her over the edge. Her hips raised to try and match his rhythm but she was close and just needed something anything to bring her over.

“Fuck me, Bucky. Fuck all the pain away. They are no longer in charge of you and I want all of you. So take me.” Bucky looked down at her and his eyes grew dark as he grew closer to climax. He started pumping at uneven and powerful strength. He took his metal hand and started twisting her nipple. The sensation went right to her core making her shatter underneath him. Sending him right along after her he came with a moan and jerked a couple more times into her.

Bucky took a moment to rest against her and then fell beside her. When their breath caught up with themselves he turned on his side and saw Darcy was passed out beside him. He pulled her in close and kissed her temple. He was attached to her at that moment and he didn’t mind one bit.

The next morning Darcy woke up to the bright sun pouring in through the window. She instantly smelled bacon and food cooking coming from the other room. She was still naked from last night’s activities so she went to the bathroom to freshen up. Once she finished in there she grabbed one of Bucky’s shirts and walked out of the room. Bucky was standing over the stove standing in his pajama pants and completely shirtless. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his mid-section.

Bucky smiled and then turned off the stove. Putting breakfast on hold. He turned around with Darcy still holding onto him. He leaned down to kiss her, “Good morning, doll.”

“Good morning,” she replied, “are you fixing me breakfast?”

 “It was supposed to be breakfast in bed, but yes it’s only eggs, bacon, and toast.”

“It all looks delicious, let’s eat.” Darcy sat down at the table and Bucky got the rest of the food put out. They enjoyed the meal together Bucky watching Darcy with a smile on his face. Once they were finished Bucky took the dishes and started washing things. Darcy helped him dry but for some reason, he was absolutely quiet. She guessed he had something on his mind and she was worried that this would be the end of their story.

She grabbed the half-clean dish from his hand and put it to the side. “What’s going on Bucky, you haven’t said a word.”

He turned to her, “Sorry I just got a lot on my mind.”

“Do you want me to leave?” He grabbed her arm gently.

“No, of course not I just want to apologize for last night.”

“Last night was amazing, there’s nothing for you to apologize about. If you’re talking about your nightmare you can’t control that.”

“I know I can’t control the dream but I meant that it took me so long to make a move. I wanted to ask you out for a while, I just didn’t know if I could or if I should. I know I’m not the machine they made me into anymore but I didn’t want to put who I was on you.”

Darcy got up and kneeled beside him, “You can go at your own pace Bucky. I was nervous to approach you myself, I’m not good at relationships. But as long as we communicate I want to try. Bucky smiled and brought his face closer to Darcy. She closed the distance sealing the kiss.

[artificialqueens]

The Good, The Bad And The Dirty part 2/? - Opal

A/N: Hey! I finally finished it, and here it is! I said on my latest fic that this was gonna be up by the end of last week, and because i have absolutely no willpower, i never got it done (yay me)

And to the lovely anon asking: yes, the title is indeed inspired by P!atd! It’s one of my favorites on the album, (if you haven’t heard it i suggest you give it a listen, it’s great!)

we have a few tw’s, but they’re very minor in this specific chapter: Smoking, implied depression, very slight mention of suicide, alcohol mentions, mentions of homophobia

Anyway, no one likes long author’s notes, so i’m just gonna stop now.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

When Alaska woke up the next morning her whole body was aching. Mostly from the events from the day before, but also from sleeping on such a thin bed. Alaska had never been a very athletic person, so her body wasn’t used to being pressured like that.

It had been cold that night, but Sharon and her had kept each other warm by being so close together.

Alaska stretched her body, and stuck her foot out from under the blanket, only to be met by freezing cold air. She quickly pulled it back into the warmth under the blanket, as chills traveled up her spine and through her bare arms. She closed her eyes for a second, and wondered what time it was. It certainly wasn’t more that 6am, since it was still pitch black outside.

Alaska took a deep breath and opened her eyes again, and turned to face Sharon who was still sound asleep.

Cerrone was snuggled closely to her, and he was softly purring in his sleep. Alaska reached out to stroke him, and the moment she touched him he jumped. Alaska squeaked, as he leaped across her, and disappeared into the darkness of the room. Alaska’s sudden noise woke up Sharon, and her eyes shot open.

“Alaska?” She said, sleepily.

“Mhm?”

“I just wanted to see if you were awake.”

Alaska could barely see Sharon’s face in the darkness, but she could see the outline of her shoulder, the curve of her hips under the blanket and her mane of black hair.

“Well, I am,” Alaska giggled, and a smile tugged at the corners of Sharon’s lips.

“Where’s Cerrone?” Sharon asked, propping herself up from the bed, resting on her elbows.

“He ran over there a second ago,” Alaska said, waving her hand towards where Cerrone had gone, fully aware Sharon couldn’t see a thing.

“Oh. How long have you been awake for?” Sharon asked, sounding a little confused.

“I don’t know, a while.”

Sharon lay down on her side, facing Alaska. Their bodies weren’t touching, but Alaska could feel the warmth radiating from the other woman.

Sharon shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She wanted to tell Alaska something, she had originally intended to say the day before, but the timing just wasn’t right. She moved her legs to get comfortable, and accidentally bumped her knees with Alaska’s. “Oh, sorry,” she said, and Alaska giggled. “It’s okay.” Sharon knew she apologized too much, and Alaska knew what that was like. She had grown up in a society where if you didn’t apologize, say thank you or show gratitude, you would get in trouble.

“Alaska?” Sharon said, and Alaska once again escaped from her thoughts and paid attention to Sharon.

“Mhm?”

“You know, what you said, about that you’re leaving when your knee is okay again?” Sharon said, voice low and raspy.

“Yeah?” Alaska said and furrowed her eyebrows.

“You don’t have to. You can stay here,” Sharon said, now sitting up completely.

“Your friends don’t seem to be very into that idea, and I really don’t want to bother you guys.”

It was true. Alaska really didn’t want to be an issue. And even though the thought of staying, under a roof, with a bed and food and water seemed intriguing, she was determined to find her family.

Sharon nodded.

“That’s true, but you can’t just go out there again. It’s too dangerous.”

Alaska hesitated. “I’m gonna have to think about that,” she said and shut her eyes for what felt like a few seconds, but when she opened them again, the sunlight had already started to seep through the cracks in the walls, and Sharon was sitting on the edge of the bed, tying her black leather boots.

When Alaska started stirring behind her, she turned around with a grin on her face.

“Thought you would never wake up,” she said and Alaska squinted. The room was almost completely lit up by the 6 large ceiling windows.

“What?” Alaska said, confused.

“You fell asleep in the middle of our conversation. You’ve been out for about an hour,” Sharon said and stood up from the bed and looked at Alaska.

She was wearing her usual high waisted black skinny jeans, and a sleeveless dark gray top.

It had ripped right by the left side of her ribcage, so she had tied it up, so it was fitted right below her breasts. Over that she was wearing her old black leather jacket

Her thick curls framed her face perfectly, and Alaska couldn’t help but stare a little.

“Oh,” Alaska said and sat up with the thin blanket wrapped around her.

She had slept in only the tank top she had worn under her black long sleeve, and her underwear, since it would have been too hot to sleep with all her clothes on, but she wasn’t really comfortable with sleeping in just her bra when she had only just met Sharon.

Her knee was still somewhat aching, but it was far from as bad as it had been the day before. She stretched out her leg in front of her, on top of the blanket and rubbed it gently.

“Is it better?” Asked Sharon, who had been watching her every move.

“Yeah, I think so,” Alaska replied and reached for her clothes, that were in a pile next to the bed.

“Good.”

Alaska pulled on her denim jeans and put on her black long sleeved shirt, and Sharon left to go feed Cerrone.

Alaska was sitting on the edge of the mattress, resting her head in her hands, thinking about everything, when someone spoke to her.

“Hello,” they said, and Alaska looked up. It was the short haired blonde girl from yesterday.

Alaska wanted to say hi back, but all that came out of her was a tiny squeak.

“I’m Katya, nice to meet you,” she said, with a foreign accent Alaska couldn’t really pinpoint

“Oh, I’m Alaska.”

Katya smiled, and reached out her hand to help Alaska up on her feet. “I know,” she said, and now Alaska was almost sure Katya’s accent was Russian. Alaska gave her a questioning look.

“Chad told me,” Katya explained and flashed a toothy smile. Her positive vibe had started to rub off on Alaska, who smiled back at her.

“How are you anyway?” Katya asked and put her hand on Alaska’s shoulder, putting them in an awkward position because of the height difference.

“I’m a lot better today, thanks,” Alaska said genuinely, as Sharon walked back over to them.

“Don’t freak her out, Katya,” Sharon said jokingly, and Katya burst out a loud wheezing laughter. Alaska couldn’t help but laugh with her, as she got eye contact with Sharon. She was holding Cerrone - who was purring delightfully – in her arms. Sharon had just fed him his usual cat dry food, and some canned stuff she wasn’t exactly sure what was. She had found everything at the gas station; food for the cat, food for herself and the group, water, one time she had even been lucky to find some blankets stuffed behind the store counter. You could pretty much find everything at gas stations, which the girls were extremely grateful for. A lot of food wouldn’t last long without being refrigerated, so their meals usually consisted of bread, cereal, canned foods or uncooked Ramen. It wasn’t exactly a culinary masterpiece, but at least they had something.

“I’m gonna have a smoke,” the Russian said, leaving Alaska and Sharon alone once again. Sharon signaled for Alaska to come over to her, and Alaska did.

“You have to eat something today. You can’t go that long without eating, that can’t be healthy,” Sharon said with a motherly tone to her voice. Alaska thought for a second before she nodded slowly, no expression on her face. Alaska guessed she was right. The last time she had eaten was the breakfast she had the morning before, at home in her kitchen.

Alaska’s bare feet hit the dark hardwood floor, as she stretched her arms above her head. She stood up and walked to the tall mirror seated on her white wooden desk. She quickly brushed her long blonde hair, and put it in a high ponytail. She then put on her dark denim jeans and a long sleeved high neck black shirt.

The floor creaked underneath her feet, as she made her way downstairs. She could hear her brothers and her sister talking and laughing in the kitchen. Her mother was cooking something at the stove with her back turned, as Alaska entered to room.

“Good morning,” Alaska said, and forced a smile. She loved her family unconditionally, but being in this time, it was hard to stay positive.

“Good morning, love!” Her mother beamed and smiled over her shoulder.

Alaska sat down at the table next to her sister, Brooke, and rested her head in her hands with her elbows on the table. Her brothers, Cory and Ryan, were sitting across from them, talking about a subject Alaska probably wouldn’t understand.

“Here you go,” their mother said and placed a plate in front of Alaska.

“Thank you,” Alaska said and smiled.

Her siblings had already eaten, since Alaska had gotten up a lot later than usual. She had stayed up late the night prior, reading and thinking about all kinds of things. Mostly about the world, and when this madness would stop. Was no one gonna do anything? In the moment it seemed stupid to think that people were just letting this happen, but deep down, Alaska knew, it wasn’t gonna be that easy to fix at all. With no government people could pretty much get away with anything.

After Alaska finished eating, she went back into her room and sat in front of her mirror. She opened one of the drawers in her desk, and pulled out a black liquid eyeliner, a mascara and a red lipstick. She usually only wore mascara and eyeliner, but she had wanted to wear that lipstick forever.

She did her usual bold wing on each eye and coated her lashes, and then popped the lid off of the lipstick. In a few swipes, her lips were fully coated in the cherry red pigment.

Alaska leaned away from the mirror a bit, and admired her work. She was happy with it. She smiled weakly at her reflection in the mirror, almost as if she had forgotten how to do so.

She stood up from her chair and smoothed out her shirt.

That’s when the first gunshot sounded in the distance.

“Alaska?” Sharon said, and Alaska blinked herself out her thoughts.

“Sorry,” Alaska said, and Sharon tilted her head slightly and furrowed her brows.

“Here,” she then said, and tossed a can of what appeared to be baked beans, to Alaska, who barely caught it.

“Thanks,” Alaska said smiled vaguely.

“Are the other girls not gonna have breakfast?” Alaska asked, seeing as the others weren’t there.

“They already did, but I wanted to wait for you to wake up,” Sharon explained, mushing her spoon around in her can.

“Oh,” Alaska said, and copied Sharon’s moves.

“You could’ve just woke me up you know,” Alaska said with a slightly mirthful tone to her voice.

“Yeah, I could, but you just looked so peaceful and pretty, so I didn’t.” Sharon said, and watched as a blush scattered across the blonde’s face. She chuckled as Alaska’s eyes immediately shot down.

“Sorry, that sounded creepy, like I was watching you sleep or something.” Sharon laughed, and Alaska joined it. The blonde shot Sharon a genuine smile, and they ate in silence.

“Shar?” Chad asked and placed a hand firmly on Sharon’s shoulder.

“Yeah?”

“Come talk to me for a second?”

Sharon just nodded, no expression on her face, and put down her gun. Alaska was somewhere with Cerrone, and Sharon had just been sitting on the table, fiddling with the deadly steel object.

Sharon followed Chad, all the way outside through the large metal door. The younger woman crossed her arms across her chest, as her shoulders shot to her ears, trying to hide the fact that she was freezing. Chad looked her in the eye for a few seconds, before speaking up.

“Sharon,” she began, sounding almost disappointed. “What were you thinking?” She continued, as Sharon’s brows knitted together.

“She was just fucking lying there, Chad! What was I supposed to do!?” Sharon snapped, cringing at how weak she sounded.

“Sharon please calm down,” Chad said, remaining collected, and put her hand on Sharon’s upper arm. The younger woman quickly receded from her touch, and took a deep breath. She knew she was acting up, and she knew Chad was right.

“Sorry,” Sharon breathed, and Chad smiled at her reassuringly.

“I couldn’t just leave her, she looked so… so fragile, so, so” Sharon stumbled over her words, not making much sense whatsoever.

“She was shaking and crying, and she was so scared, Chad, and it all just felt too familiar,” the younger woman choked out, holding back the tears, that suddenly had decided to join the party.

“Oh, honey” Chad said and pulled Sharon into her safe embrace, inviting to let go. She sobbed quietly into Chad’s shoulder, and clutched her closely. Sharon wasn’t exactly sure why she was crying. She had only just met Alaska, and she was leaving soon anyway. Right?

Sharon cursed under her breath, and pulled herself together. She looked Chad in the eye and held her shoulders, as she said; “Thank you so much Chad. For everything you’ve done for me. It means more than you know.” She said, and pulled the older woman into one last hug.

“Shar, you know I love you more than anything, and you mean everything to me. If I had never bumped into you that night, I probably wouldn’t be alive right now. Taking care of you kept me sane and busy, and I can’t thank you enough for that.” Chad said, which made Sharon’s mind travel back to ‘that night’

It was a simple story; Sharon had been kicked out of her home by her parents, for being gay. She had gone out and gotten way too drunk, got in a fight, and had been left alone in an alley, blacked out and beat up. A couple of hours later, Chad had found her and brought her with her home, much like Sharon had done with Alaska.

Sharon chewed on her bottom lip, looking down at her feet. Chad’s eyes were trying to catch Sharon’s, without much success.

“Sharon,”

Sharon glanced up and caught Chad’s soft blue eyes.

“She can stay. Please tell her she’s more than welcome here. But please Sharon, please don’t make this end like with Phi Phi. I wouldn’t be able to see you broken like that again.” Chad pleaded, and Sharon nodded, and squeaked a tiny “thank you”

Chad was the best thing that had ever happened to Sharon, and Sharon wanted to be Alaska’s Chad.

“You want to come back inside?” Chad asked, and Sharon shook her head lightly.

“Uh, I think I’m just gonna stay out her for a bit. Just, you know, get my thoughts straight,” She said, and Chad accepted and went inside, closing the door carefully behind her.

Sharon’s back hit the cold brick wall, and she slit down to sit on the ground. Her fingers started tracing random patterns in the light coat of sand on the ground, as her other hand reached for the pack of cigarettes on the inner pocket of her leather jacket. Her hands were shaking from the cold, as she flicked on the half empty lighter, and lit the cigarette.

She stared off into the distance as she blew out a thick white cloud of smoke, and the door cracked open. Sharon turned her head, and looked up, to meet a familiar pair of hazel eyes.

“Hey,” the blonde spoke, and sat down next to Sharon. “Chad told me you were out here,” she continued, when the other woman didn’t reply.

“Stay. Please.” Sharon said and looked at Alaska.

“What?” Alaska said, completely knowing what Sharon meant.

“I want you to stay. Chad does too,” the older woman alleged, and Alaska’s eyes widened.

“Really?” Alaska asked, and Sharon nodded. “What about the others?”

“I think Katya is fine with it, she seems to like you. And Phi Phi? Don’t worry about her.” Sharon responded, and took another drag of her cigarette.

“I-I… Thank you,” Alaska stammered as she observed another cloud of smoke leaving Sharon’s lips.

She wondered what smoking was like. She had always kindly rejected when her friends would ask her if she wanted to try. She was simply afraid she would throw up, or that her parents would eventually find out, but now she was curious. The younger woman tilted her head slightly as she watched the orange-glowing embers fall to the ground, when Sharon tapped on the cigarette. As if she was reading her mind, Sharon asked her; “Want a drag?”

Alaska hesitated, but then nodded, and Sharon passed her the cig.

The blonde held the cigarette between her index finger and her thumb, her other fingers sticking out, as if she was scared of getting burned. She considered just giving Sharon back the cigarette, but resisted. Alaska wasn’t a wuss.

She put the cigarette between her lips, and breathed in. Soon the bitter taste of tobacco, that kind of reminded Alaska of a way too strongly brewed coffee, filled her mouth, and she couldn’t help but cough. She widened her eyes and put her free hand on her chest, as she leaned forward, coughing loudly. Without looking, she gave Sharon the cigarette back, and she took it, cackling.

“It’s not funny!” Alaska exclaimed with a mixture of laughs and coughs.

“Sorry, it kind of is,” Sharon cackled and stubbed her cigarette on the concrete. She then stood up, and brushed off her pants.

“Come on, I wanna show you something,” Sharon asked, and reached out her hand for Alaska to take.

The blonde took Sharon’s had, and she pulled her up. “Okay,” She blurted and they began walking.

The sound of the crunching gravel beneath their feet was addicting. Alaska had always had a thing for white noise. It calmed her down, and cleared her mind. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the sound, the wind and the last few chirping birds, sitting in the trees before flying south for the winter.

“Where are we going?” Alaska spoke. She had never been at their location before. They were on a graveled path, surrounded by forest, and there was a sound of running water somewhere in the distance.

“You’ll see in a second,” Sharon replied, and gestured for Alaska to follow her through a small opening in the outskirt of the woods. The forest floor was moist, and riddled with insects and fungi. Alaska unintentionally grabbed Sharon by the arm, as it was hurting her knee a bit to walk on the uneven surface. She was still really sore, and was limping.

“You okay?” Sharon questioned, concerned, and Alaska nodded and winced at the limp pain going through her body. “Yeah, it’s all good.”

“Good. We’re here,” Sharon said as they left the forest into a small grass covered area. A perfect half circle of trees decorated the view, and on the other half there was a big rock, going a bit over the edge, and below a growling river was licking at the shores.

“Oh my God Sharon, it’s so beautiful!” Alaska beamed, and Sharon chuckled.

“Not God, but it sure is,” Sharon said, which made Alaska laugh. The black-haired woman took Alaska’s hand, and led her to the large rock. For some reason, whenever Sharon touched her, it felt like electricity and fireworks shooting through her body.

“Come sit with me,” Sharon said, and Alaska did so. The rock felt cold and rough against Alaska’s hands. Both her legs were dangling over the edge, only a few feet away from the cold river below. The sound of the streaming water was calming, yet loud in a threatening way. Alaska loved it. Other than that, and the sound of Sharon’s breathing, it was quiet. Alaska felt safe in Sharon’s presence, the older girl sitting only a few inches away from her, their thighs almost touching.

Alaska stole a glance at the girl beside her, a smile dancing around the edges of her lips.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay with this beautiful stranger anyways?

[danandphilsecretsanta]

Just A Scratch

To: @danieljameshowell1224

Playing horror games was never my favorite thing to do, some of them were badly made or just not scary. Those were some of my favorites, and the ones that were actually scary were my least favorite.

For those ones though I always had Phil right next to me, so I wasn’t afraid. We would shriek and almost break coffee mugs but it was all fun. So I now question myself, just why am I sitting here alone in the pitch black clicking desperately as I watch a virtual character move on screen?

Because Phil isn’t here right now, but I am. Because it’s nearing Halloween and I said I could do this. Nevermind my terrified state right now, I remember the half smile as he clicked his tongue at me.

“Dan, just wait for me to come back. We both know you’ll probably just break the chair again. Or soil your pants”

The last part was said with a sparkle in his damned blue green eyes. A challenge sitting on his words. Of course he probably didn’t mean for it to be one, but as usual I couldn’t back out. Perhaps this is why I have so many hilarious stories to tell the internet.

Maybe this will be one of them. I had simply laughed and said I could do it, I wouldn’t want us to miss a day on our upload schedule. Not when they’re scarce as it is,

“This I’d spooky week Phil, trust me I’m okay with this. It’s just a stupid horror game that probably shouldn’t even be categorized as such.”

He had nodded and smiled again with a shake of his head. We had spent the rest of the day in the sofa crease watch animes with a bag of takeout sitting before us. I smile at the camera with that memory and make a mental note to perhaps cut that bit out.

On screen the character was walking along through the darkened halls of an abandoned house. Noises would sound and distract my frenzied speech to the camera but overall, nothing had happened. I had this, I’ll get to rub it in Phil’s face when I say did it alone.

Alone.

Now naturally I would say the creepiness level was gradually climbing, my mind was running haywire as my monolog went on for the camera.

Would there possibly be a person in the hallways? A killer?

I shook off the thoughts as I continued through. Finally at the end of the hall a door slammed open, my heart immediately came bursting into action as I shrieked and ran the opposite direction on screen.

Here’s the content everyone would come for, Dan nearly shitting his pants on camera. The dramatic music in game increased its tempo and I wildly guided my unknown character into a darkened room.

Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea, a dead end. Nowhere to hide. Maybe the creature will leave? To my surprise the music actually slowed down, signaling the end of the chase. I stood my character up and looked around.

“Huh. Gone guys, I guess my screaming told him off” I say with a laugh.

At this moment I hear creaking in the house. Except this time, not in the game. No, that was definitely coming from the hall.

Phil’s the only other person with a key, and he’s not supposed to be home till tomorrow. My eyes widen at that thought.

Phil’s not here.

Phil with his blue green eyes, crooked smile and his…..safety. I’m alone in an apartment with creaking sounds. Maybe I’m overacting, creaking doesn’t mean burglars or murderers. No, I’m fine. I sigh and go back to the game. I’m wandering the halls again trying to avoid the holes and blackness when I hear a crash. My heart stops and I turn wildly in my chair.

What do I do?

My eyes scan the room wildly as I contemplate my choices. I can see what it is, or hide away and hope it leaves. Of course my system is already going crazy from the video game jumpscare. Another sound reaches my ears sounding like footsteps, coming right for my door.

I don’t have many options anymore, my body freezes as I see the door knob twist slowly. My breath becomes erratic as I stand slowly to hide away somewhere. There isn’t anywhere so I don’t know why I bothered. Suddenly the door slams open and I scream falling backwards as a dark figure stands in the darkness.

My body tumbles clumsily to the floor, hitting the desk on my fall down. Finally I slam into the hardwood floor and groan I. Pain.  I can hear a smash as the coffee cup I had makes its way to the floor alongside me.

“Dan?”

I hear his voice in the dark and open my scrunched eyes, an action caused by my fall. The lights flick on and of course, who else could it have been but Phil.

He stands tall in his black skinny jeans and galaxy shirt as I lay slouched on the ground covered in shame.

“Dan are you alright? I didn’t mean to scare you that badly”

I’m still shocked over the whole ordeal that it hasn’t really clicked that it was Phil the whole time. I sit up a bit and glance around at the shards of coffee mug scattered around me. Naturally it had been my favorite, a gift from Phil when we had our first Christmas together. I look back up at Phil, who seems to realize that as well.

“I’m sorry Dan, here let me help you up and we can clean that mess up”

He smiled slightly to show no harm done and I can’t help but smile back. It’s Phil, how could I stay mad? I may kill him later but that’s for later. His hand grips mine and I stand shakily, seeing the ‘You’re Dead’ on screen.

“Don’t touch any of that, I’ll be right back”

Phil say and smiles running out of the room, likely to grab a bag or something. I look back down and see a piece mostly intact with the picture of us printed on its surface. Ignoring my own better judgment I bend down and pick it up. Gasping as it cuts into my finger, I drop it back down and stand looking at my finger.

I hear Phil come in behind me and the swish of a trash bag.

“Here I’ve got us some paper towels and a bag for the glass. What’re you looking at?”

I drop my hand immediately and turn around, not wanting to admit to my shame of not listening to not only myself but him as well.

“Oh nothing”

He gives me a look and I know instantly that he doesn’t believe me.

“Dan. Why is there blood on you hand? Wait there’s blood?!”

Phil had a tendency to overact over my injuries and right now was no different. He ran at me dropping the bag to the floor and drags me into the bathroom.

“We need to clean this up and bandage it and-” Phil sputters on nonsense as I just stare at his face.

“Phi-” I’m interrupted by a blast of water from the sink and a frantic Phil dabbing at my finger. His brows are furrowed in concentration as he puts some random cream onto the cut.

“Phil, it’s just a small scratch. Just a tad bigger than a paper cut. I’m fine”

Finally the frantic first aid stops as Phil looks into my eyes, he sighs heavily and gives me a hug catching me off guard.

“You’re an idiot sometimes, I don’t know why I leave you here alone sometimes”

I blush as I hear the mumbled words coming from none other than Phil. Hesitantly I put my arms around him in response, sighing as I breath in the scent of pure Phil.

He pulls back and smiles at me, a question in his eyes. Our eyes meet and I feel that blush coming back.

“Dan…Can I- can I try something?”

I look at him unsure as those words leave his mouth, try what? What does he mean?

“I guess?”

It came out as more of a question, my confusion evident. I only gain more confusion as I watch him come closer. I feel a warmth tug my hand and realize he’s holding my hand.

My face heats and I see him come even closer, if I didn’t know any better I would think he was going to-

My thoughts are cut off by a warmth encasing my chapped lips, a soft warmth, a sweet warmth. My eyes flutter shut and I kiss back, forgetting we’re standing in a bathroom, forgetting our situation. Just enjoying that moment. Our moment. He pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t like it, I’ve always been afraid of that. But you aren’t are you?”

I shake my head, afraid of words that would come tumbling out like a waterfall. He smiles at me in response and tugs me forward, it was then I realized our hands are still connected.

“Come on, let’s go order some takeout and watch the rest of that anime. I’ve been saving it” he smiles warmly and I feel a warmth at the thought that he wanted to finish  watching it with me.

Back at the sofa crease, a takeout bag sits in front of us and an anime plays, but I’m not really focusing on that. I’m watching the man next to me, my best friend, my boyfriend, my family.

I smile and cuddle back up into his side and feel his fingers comb through my fringe. We fall asleep bundled up together, the flashing of the credits illuminating our bodies fused together.

I really hope you enjoyed that, Merry Christmas and I hope you have an awesome year :)

[wtfalexx]

tagging → hayden kennedy & alexander james

location →  los angeles, alex’s parent’s house

timeframe → saturday evening, july 8th

Alex: Mid-afternoon. The boy and Hayden were finally arriving at his childhood home. He had been quiet the entire ride as to the mini conversation he had with Hayden when his stepfather was bringing them home. He helped the girl out the car and went to the back to grab both their bags. "Hey." He let out before he was pulling Hayden by the hand back to him as his stepfather walked inside. "You okay? You gonna be okay?" He asked her as he his hand moved up and moved a piece of hair that flew out her ponytail. "I don't want you to feel nervous." Big talk from the guy who was entirely nervous right now.

Hayden: The flight had been long, thanks to both her flying jitters and the anticipation that she would not only be meeting but staying with Alex's family. It only made her stomach drop more when they had, somewhat unexpectedly, been picked up by Preston at the airport. One can only imagine her dismay as she tried to pull the cardigan closed to cover her legging and crop top plane attire. The ride back to the house was dead silent, except for the radio that was just loud enough to drown out her thoughts. Alex grabbed their bags from the car and then grabbed her, the touch settling her nerves slightly. "I'm okay." She assured him, though the nerves were clear on her face. "I think there would be something wrong with me if I wasn't nervous right now." She sighed, reaching out to adjust the backwards snapback on his head, anything to distract herself. "Your house is really..." she glanced over at the mansion. "big."

Alex: He let out a small chuckle as he nodded and one of his fingers were playing with the zip on his leather jacket. Wearing a leather jacket in the middle of summer was always a bad idea. Especially in the Californian heat. "You're not wrong, but I think you'll do fine." He tried to assure her. He was more worried about her well-being than her actually meeting his parents. "Hmm, not really. Come on." He nodded his head toward the big house and held out his hand for her. He never really thought his childhood home was big. Though, maybe it was just him because he lived there his entire life. "I'll show you what room you'll be sleeping in."

Hayden: "Well, there's no turning back now, is there?" She hummed out the very, very real truth of the situation. No matter how nervous she was, she was already across the country. Her eyebrow ticked up as he dismissed the size of the house, leaving the subject because it didn't really matter and taking his hand instead so he could lead her inside. The mention of her sleeping in a separate room than him shouldn't have surprised her, maybe it was house rules, but it did though she worked not to show it. They were just friends after all. She would've been silly to expect anything. "After you, sir." She teased lightly, dark eyes shining in the bright sunlight as she began to walk towards the house, squeezing his hand once.

Alex: "Nope." He let out making a pop noise with his mouth. Maybe she could sleep in the same room as him, but he didn't want to push anything. They were moving slowly. Despite her meeting his parents, he didn't want to make any fast movements in anything. He chuckled and squeezed her hand lightly back as he lead her into the house. A big foyer being the first thing they see as he was greeted by his puppies first, despite seeing him not even a few seconds ago. "Come on before anyone else sees us." He said as he pulled her upstairs and into the guest room. It was small, but it was cozy.

Hayden: She followed him inside, eyes going wide as she took in the even more beautiful interior of the home- and it was only the foyer. "Jesus, Alex." She whispered more to herself than to him, the hand not holding his reaching down to gently pet one of the dogs' heads. Clearly, they had settled right into the house. She hoped she could too but, somehow she doubted it. With a sly half-smile, she followed him upstairs to the guest room, thankful she hadn't had to meet any other members of the family just yet. She wasn't looking to rush the introductions. "It's cute." She hummed, dropping his hand to step into the room and look around, fingers idly running across the fluffy duvet covering the bed. "Really cute." Hayden turned to face him again, "Is your room close?" She wondered, crossing the room back to him to take her bag.

Alex: He didn't want to rush into hs mom meeting her just yet. He had told his mother about the girl he was bringing not even two days prior to flying out home. Though his mom was excited, he wasn't. He's never brought a girl home since Astrid. Then again, that still wasn't as real as this meeting was. His mother had to like Hayden. He watched the long legged girl walk around the room as a small smile stayed on his lips. "Yeah, it's actually across the hall." He said as he pointed to the closed door before handing her bag and he was dropping his for a good second. "Is it really that big?"

Hayden: "Oh, so maybe I can visit you sometime." She teased as her eyes followed his finger to the door that belonged to him, really not seeming to mind that they weren't staying in the same room. The more she thought about it, the sweeter it was that he wasn't assuming anything. Hayden took her bag, setting it down next to his before she was reaching out to fidget with the collar of his leather jacket. "Is what really that big?" her eyebrows wiggled suggestively, though she knew he was speaking about the house.

Alex: "I mean if you want, my love." He teased right back as he chuckled a little. Maybe it was good they were staying in different rooms considering just how sexual the two can actually get in the same bed with each other. His hands went to rest on the skin of her waist as her hands went to his jacket. The house was always freezing so it worked now to have the jacket on. "You know what I mean." He flashed her a charming smile as his arms went to wrap more around her, holding her body to him.

Hayden: Without much thought, Hayden was stepping into him so her hips could comfortable rest against his as her hands slipped over his shoulders to clasp together behind his neck. Thanks to the intense air conditioning in the home her skin was littered with goosebumps but, she knew the freezing air wasn't the only thing causing them. "The house is big," She nodded lightly, absentmindedly pressing a kiss to his cheek to calm both of their nerves. "but it's beautiful. From the two rooms, I've seen it's kind of what I pictured, actually."

Alex: His thumb rubbing lightly on the skin on her back as one hand played with the strands of hair that was hanging from her high ponytail. Her skin felt cold, but he didn't mind it at all. He actually liked it better. "Really now? Wait until you see the rest of it." He teased as his eyes closed a little when she pressed her lips to his face. "But we can save that for later." He was quick to say as he was moving her head a little to press a small kiss to her lips for now.

Hayden: "Can't wait." She mumbled, the smile clear in her voice. Truthfully, if they could just spend the entire week one on one she would have been satisfied but she knew the house wasn't unoccupied and it was only a matter of time before reality hit. So she decided to enjoy the quiet moment they had alone. Her fingers moved into the back of his hair as their lips met, a quiet sigh coming through her nose. "We can save it for later." she mused softly, teeth gently tugging at his bottom lip as she stepped impossibly closer to him.

Alex: He could have been perfectly fine having this big house to just themselves, but everyone was home for the summer and his mom was soon going to give birth to a screaming baby. But for not, he could enjoy the company of her before he was hearing everything wrong about his life or about her from anyone who didn't like it. He let out a soft hum against her lips as his tongue moved on her bottom lip slightly. He walked her two steps backwards to the bed as he slowly laid her on the bed. Five minutes passing and he was just enjoying the feeling of her body weight under him before he was hearing a soft. "Alexander." and he was jumping up from Hayden. "Mom! Hi."

Hayden: She didn't even think to protest as he laid her back to hover over her on the bed, the fluffy duvet even more comfortable than it looked as she sunk into it. Hayden was letting out the quietest moan in the back of her throat as her lips moved with his, tongue dipping against his and one knee bending up against his side. She was completely lost in the moment, his weight on top of her always a welcomed addition and always calming any nerves she had bubbling in her stomach, her hands had just slipped beneath the back of his jacket and shirt to press into his skin when his full name was filling the room. "Oh my god." She whispered under her breath, hopping off the bed as fast as she could and pulling the cardigan closed. The pink blush tinting her cheeks was visible from a mile away as she stayed quiet, eyes unable to meet the woman's standing in the doorway. To say she was embarrassed would have been an understatement.

Alex: The older woman had both her eyebrows raised as her hands were rested on her very pregnant stomach looking between her son and the girl who he just had under him. "This must be Hayden." She let out as one of her fingers pointed to the very skinny leggy girl. Alex let out an awkward chuckle as there was his own very hint of red to his cheeks. He was never really embarrassed to being caught with a girl but for some reason, he was this time. "Yes." He cleared his throat and nodded. "Mom. Hayden. Hayden. Mary." He pointed between them. "Honestly, I'm offended you didn't come see me when you first came in now." She let out, extending her hand to the other girl.

Hayden: This must be Hayden had the brunette wanting to sink into the floor and completely disappear. She was mortified, that was not how she had expected to meet his mother for the first time. With one arm still around her stomach to keep her cardigan close, her right hand reached out to take the woman's extended one. "It's nice to meet you, Mary." A sheepish smile on her lips as she finally made eye contact with her. Hayden knew she was pregnant but she looked just about ready to pop, which made sense for why they were there. "Alex was just giving me the tour-" Her cheeks immediately flushed because clearly he hadn't been doing that at all. "Your home is beautiful."

Alex: She shook her hand and she was well aware of the attire she had on due to hearing it from her husband a few minutes ago. The male hugged his arms to his body as he looked anywhere but the two girls. "You as well. I've heard a lot about you." She let out, completely throwing her son under a bus as he was shaking his head to not say anything more. His mother raised her eyebrows again at the younger girl's words. "Of his tongue?" She questioned, though she was never shocked of her sons doing. "Thank you. You should really see all of it, though."

Hayden: Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the way Alex was shaking his head back and forth but didn't realize why until his mother was informing her that she'd heard of her. "Have you?" A quiet smile formed on her lips, "I've heard a lot about you, too." Her eyes stayed away from Alex, both because she was embarrassed and because she was trying not to think about the fact that he'd spoken of her to his mother. Mary's next question had her eyes going wide and her silently wishing Alex would do anything to break the tension that was making her feel physically ill. If she wasn't nervous before, she definitely was now. "Oh- um, I would- I would love to see the rest of it." She managed to force out, clasping both hands in front of her to keep them from shaking and to keep her cardigan closed.

Alex: "I heard you were one of the sweet reasons he stayed in NYC this summer, I'm happy." At that Alex as choking on nothing but air as he leaned down and grabbed his bag. Mary let out a small chuckle, doing what she wanted to do. Embarrass her son in front of someone she knew he claimed to be just friends with her and with what she walked in on was nothing but that. "I'm teasing. You can do what you want, honey. Really and the outfit is fine. My husband is a prude." Alex was quick to step and look at Hayden. "Yeah, I'm gonna show you the house, just let me put this bag away." He said as he walked past his mom and walked into his room. "Dinner in ten, Alexander." Was the last thing his mom said as she walked off.

Hayden: Hayden's lips curled into her mouth, the new piece of information that Alex's mom outed taking her back and making her blush all over again. When the summer had started, Alex and Hayden were nowhere near where they were now- wherever they were- and yet he had still stayed partially for her? That alone made her heart squeeze in her chest. Though, the way he was now spluttering and choking on air had her letting out a quiet laugh, nose crinkling slightly. "I promise to change before dinner." She was quick to add regarding her outfit, hands staying firmly together in front of her. Her dark eyes shifted briefly to Alex, nodding at him as he spoke and then offering his mom a warm smile before they were both exiting the room. Ten minutes to dinner meant she had just enough time to put on something that everyone could appreciate. Six minutes later her bag was open on the bed, she was in a deep burgundy sundress and applying a coat of mascara to her lashes in the mirror hanging on the wall above the dresser. With her dark hair down and finger-combed, she looked much more like she had originally wanted to. "Deeps breaths, Hayden." She mumbled to herself.

Alex: Alex earned his way into his room and dropped the bag on his bed. He really didn't need to bring a bag of clothes considering he had massive amounts of clothes at the house he was at right now. He opened the bag and looked through it as he did bring along some things he knew he was going to need and a few music things he needed to do while he was there. He had to meet with his record label after all for a day. His head turned as he saw the door was still open and Hayden was now changing. She was putting on the dress and his head turned back to his bag, feeling like the moment was for him to stare even he liked looking at her. He only took off his jacket and changed his shirt to a normal one. Tanks and dinner never masked well for his stepfather considering the male's left arm was covered in tattoos. "You ready, baby?" He called out from his room.

Hayden: After one last look in the mirror, Hayden heard Alex calling out to her and she was quick to go to him making sure to shut the bedroom door she was occupying. "Are bare feet okay?" she wondered, eyes downcast to her bare legs and feet. The dress was a respectable length, of course, falling just a few inches above her knees. She wanted to at least make a good second impression. Finally, she was looking up at him, and his room, "You look nice." She hummed, noticing the way his tattoos seemed unusually covered. She wondered if that was a conscious decision but decided to leave that conversation for a later time. Her gaze drifted around his royal blue room, every bit the rich teenage vibe she had imagined. Though, the Frank Sinatra album hanging on his wall drew her in, followed closely by the small broken guitar sitting in the corner. Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip, the memory of what he had told her flooding back to her. Turning on her heel, she made her way over to him to rub her hands down his arms. "You okay?" She asked softly, not even bothering to poke fun yet about the idea of him staying in New York because of her.

Alex: The male let out a soft chuckle as he nodded. "Yes, bare feet is fine. It's not that fancy here now." He assured her as he set his bag down next to his closet before pushing it with his foot and shutting the door. His hands fidgeted with the sleeve of the shirt he was wearing as he heard her comment about his looks. He felt weird, covering up his tattoos. They were always something that made him always louder in the room and he liked that. His hands stayed on his back as he let her look around his room. It was something he should really make look nicer, but considering he wasn't moving back in after college he didn't bother. "Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?" He asked, raising his right scarred eyebrow.

Hayden: "I'm fine, too. I'd like the ground to swallow me up but other than that-" She winked to lighten the mood, squeezing his arms gently before she was stepping back and turning her gaze to the posters covering the walls again. "I like your room." Hayden offered, unable to help the way her eyes shifted to the broken guitar once more before turning back to him. "Should we head downstairs?"

Alex: He let out another laugh before both his hands were moving up to her face to press a small kiss to the corner of her lips. "Stop, you're gonna be just fine." He assured her as he looked around too. "It's a teenage boy's room. I'm not a teenage boy anymore." He noticed how her eyes kept shifting to the broken memory he didn't want to think about anymore, but he just shook it off and nodded. "Yes, before someone gets mad." He let out before he was taking her hand and leading her downstairs. Upon walking into the kitchen he was seeing a blonde from the back which would be his sister and a guy who was helping. "You must be Justin." Alex was quick to let out and walked quickly over to the teenage boy who jumped from being scared a little by the guy.

Hayden: "We don't want anyone getting mad." turning her head, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips as he took her hand and lead her downstairs. Naturally, the nerves came flooding back as they padded towards the full kitchen, the conversation audible even from the hallway. Thankfully, there was another new face in the house- at least to Alex. "Hello." Hayden offered as she walked closer to the other boy and the blonde. "I'm Hayden." She introduced herself to the girl who she assumed was Alex's sister. Her shy side was coming out in full but the pretty smile on her face worked to mask that, though she was sure Alex could probably tell.

Alex: His sister only smiled at the girl who introduced herself and shook her hand. She would say something more but she was worried about the older male and her boyfriend who were talking and Alex looked like he was really asking him questions as he was sitting down next to him. "Don't do that. You're gonna scare him." The sixteen-year-old let out as she threw a rag her brother and Alex was throwing it even harder back. "Children." Preston let out as he was sitting at the table next to Mary and the food was already on the table.

Hayden: Hayden simply smiled back, well aware that the girl's attention was elsewhere as Alex seemingly grilled her apparent boyfriend. She stifled a laugh as the two siblings bickered only to be cut off by Preston. She wasted no time taking her seat next to Alex, pulling her chair into the table and crossing her legs at the knee, just happy to be somewhere rather than standing awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen. The food looked and smelled delicious, Hayden made a point of catching Mary's eye across the table. "This looks great." She offered softly, still feeling a bit shy.

Alex: Alex rolled up his right sleeve a bit only to leave his left one down to reach for his fork with his right hand. His left hand reached out to take ahold of Hayden's hand quickly in a case to calm any nerves she had. "Thank you, but all the work for to the sixteen over there. She helped a lot with it tonight. A pregnant lady can only do so much." She let out with a small smile and Alex was picking at his food lightly and squeezing Hayden's hand softly.

Hayden: Out of the corner of her eyes, Hayden noticed how Alex only rolled up one sleeve instead of both. His tattoos were still successfully covered and now she was sure it was a purposeful decision. Her right hand easily slipped into his, fingers linking through to hold his hand with hers on her leg. She wondered if it was just for her nerves or his too, thanks to the man at the head of the table. With a quiet smile, she glanced at Natalie, "Sounds like you're a good sidekick." Her free hand picked up her fork, hoping her appetite would come soon.

Alex: "She's an annoying sidekick, honestly." Alex let out quick as he was trying to eat, but the flight just wore him out slightly. "Alexander stop picking at it and just eat." The man at the head of the table let out as he was drinking his own cup of water and the younger male was setting his fork down. "Am I five?" He was quick to let out, not really in the mood for any tellings. "Alexander." Alex only huffed and stuck some food in his mouth and shook his hair out his face. "Hayden, right?"

Hayden: Alex's dig at his sister had Hayden smiling to herself, his childish side very alive and well. She had just taken a bite of her food, chewing slowly to both savour each bite and also keep her mouth full for limited talking. Preston's admonishment towards Alex seemed unnecessary to her but so was Alex's retort and she was just focusing on keep her head down, thumb rubbing the back of his hand to ease some of the tension in his body. Though her dark eyes couldn't help but snap up as the grown man fumbled her name. Really? "Um," She swallowed quickly, "Yes?"

Alex: "What's your major? I want to know what your plans are after college." The older male let out and the younger male was shooting his head up slightly as he eyed his mom a little, a way to get someone to stop him from talking. He took a sip of the water he had in front of him and had to keep eating a little to keep his mouth shut.

Hayden: The man's question caught her off guard somewhat, causing Hayden to set her fork down and shift that hand into her lap too so both hands were clutching Alex's. She didn't even realize she was doing it, a subconscious way of steadying herself maybe. She knew Preston's views on Alex's career path and could only imagine the opinion he would have of hers. "I'm a photography major." She spoke softly but her tone was even, not showing the nerves at all, as she looked Preston directly. "I still have two more years until I graduate but, afterwards I'm kind of..." She trailed off for a moment, glancing at Alex before turning her attention back to the older man. "I think I'd like to travel a bit, expand my portfolio that way." Truthfully she didn't have a concrete plan and up until now she didn't really need to.

Alex: He noticed how both her hands were both now on his one left one as he leaned back in his chair, picking at his food again. His hand squeezed softly on hers to let her know he was still there as she said her major and the older male was raising his eyebrow a little. "Huh, shame. I was hoping you could talk that one into something that is a solid career other than the arts." He let out and Alex was dropping his fork on the plate, but not saying anything as he huffed softly into his cup of water.

Hayden: Her entire body felt tense, the man's words seemed so biting and though they were spoken to her they seemed to be a direct hit towards Alex. The fork hitting the plate made her jump, eyes flicking to him briefly as she squeezed his hand back as he huffed. "Why would I want to talk him into something other than what he loves?" She asked before she could even process what she was saying. The question was obviously forward and though her tone was only innocent, her chocolate eyes seemed to darken slightly.

Alex: Alex turned his head to look at her as did his sister's. Natalie thought it was funny as to where Alex was just sitting there and talking everything his stepfather would stab at him. The older male laughed a little, appreciating the slight fire back. "It's anything but a solid career. The arts are what.. hippies do. I don't care to see him as Steven Tyler or who to say the one-armed guy from that one band. It's not clean and it's honestly stupid. He should be in a major that can offer him more." He was using his hands to talk and Alex was now bouncing his leg a little as he looked anywhere but is stepfather, looking for an escape. "So is photography."

Hayden: She didn't want to argue, in fact that was the exact opposite of what she wanted, but she couldn't help but feel protective over Alex and herself. She was an art major, too. One hand moved off of Alex's to rest on his bouncing leg, stilling the movement without even looking at him. "With all due respect, you don't consider Steven Tyler or Rick Allen," she purposefully corrects the name of the one-armed man he was referring to. "successful with solid careers?" She kept her tone even as if she were discussing the weather but inside she was ready to pounce. "Personally, I can't imagine a better major for someone who has such raw talent and a passion for it. Besides," She let out nonchalantly, sitting back in her chair looking comfortable though she wasn't at all. "The arts open a lot of doors that other majors can't. For example, there's a very prestigious photography internship coming up the second semester in London. I can't remember the last time I heard of a business, pre-med, or pre-law student having that kind of opportunity."

Alex: Her hand moved to his leg and his leg stopped for the moments it was on there. Honestly the more she argued with Preston about it, the more he was getting turned on about it. Sure, he had things to say about it, but he was letting the girl do it all. But- it was when he heard of something she hadn't told him about at all. An internship in London. He stopped all movements and nodding. "I suddenly don't want to eat anymore. Can I be excused?" He asked, looking at his mother and she nodded. The young male stood up and took the cup with him, walking to the kitchen.

Hayden: It took her by surprise when Alex was excusing himself from the table, leaving her and her nerves to fend for herself as he left for the kitchen. Her brows furrowed slightly, dark gaze following his every move until he was out of sight. She hadn't even realized the information that she'd let slip, a secret that nobody was meant to know about until she had actually applied for the position. A few minutes of silence seemed to pass before she was pulling her chair out, too. "Excuse me." She offered, softly again, as she stood from her chair to walk out of the room. She'd be lying if she didn't admit that she was thankful to be away from Preston's line of questioning as well. "Hey." She tried, moving to stand next to him. "Everything alright?"

Alex: He didn't know why the piece of information had him jittery. They were just friends after all. She could do whatever she wanted to do in her college life. It shouldn't matter to him. They weren't even moving an inch into anything. He shook his head and just fed the rest of his food to his dogs before he was leaning back up and he heard footsteps to the kitchen, not looking as he washed his plate and set it down hearing her voice. Jumping slightly at it he shut his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm fine. Just tired and jet-lagged." He let out, rolling down his sleeve as he shrugged. "You okay?"

Hayden: The way he jumped took him by surprise though she figured she had just startled him, the hand in his hair was a lot more telling. The gesture was something she'd done multiple times to calm him down. But she couldn't blame him for being on edge after what had happened between her and Preston. She set her plate down on the counter before turning to face him completely. "Jet-lagged." She repeated, agreeing to that since it was only 8:12pm in California but 11:12pm in New York. Her body definitely wasn't used to that. "Do you want to go lay down?" She asked, not meaning together and completely ignoring his question about her well-being. Of course she wasn't okay, her nerves were shot and the feeling of not belonging here had only increased but that wasn't his burden to bear. Once again she was reaching out to gently rub his back, taking one innocent step closer to him. "Maybe you just need a good night's rest."

Alex: He was fine. Well, as fine as one person could be. He was slightly annoyed but not at Hayden. He was annoyed he just got home and it was already starting. The questions. The judging. He needed this trip to be a smooth one for the sake of him and Hayden. He took her plate that she sat down on the counter to clean it and put it up. It wasn't even late, but she was asking if he wanted to lay down. He shook his head and shrugged. "I'll be fine." He then turned his body to her so he could rest his cold fingertips on her chin. "I'm sorry."

Hayden: "You have nothing to be sorry for." She promised under her breath as his fingers met her chin. She let out a quiet sigh, wanting nothing more than for him to enjoy being at home with his family- Preston included. Hayden's own fingertips reached out to slide beneath the left sleeve of his dress shirt, running over the edge of where his tattoos began. "How can I make it better?" It was clear to her that he was feeling off about everything and she didn't know if she was partial to blame or not but that didn't matter, she wanted him to feel okay.

Alex: His hand moved up to rest on her cheek as his thumb moved softly on the skin as he looked at her. "It's one thing to bust up on my major. He shouldn't do it to you." He tried to assure her. He didn't want her to feel like she wouldn't belong in this. In whatever they were going to be in a couple weeks or even months from now. His mom seemed to like her and he knew his sister did so that was clear. He sighed a little as he felt her hand up his sleeve. Her touch calming him more than she actually knew in that moment. He softly chuckled and shrugged. "Kiss me?" Maybe it would help.

Hayden: Leaning her head into his touch she kept her eyes on him, a frown tugging at her lips. "It's fine, honestly. I should've kept my mouth shut." She reasoned, keeping her voice low. Things would've been easier if she hadn't been so defensive and she was well aware. She only wanted his family to approve of her, after all. And more importantly, she wanted this trip to be positive for him. Risking a glance over his shoulder to make sure nobody else was coming just yet, she wrapped her hand around his tattoo covered arm and closed the distance to press her lips to his.

Alex: He let out a soft chuckle as he shrugged lightly. "Honestly? It was kinda hot." He mused, flashing her that charming smile he knew she loved. He didn't want her to stress in making any impressions. He wanted her to be herself. Don't make it seem like she had to try hard for him. He liked her the way she was. His tongue ran over his bottom lip as she looked back and he was assuming she was making sure no one was walking in to see them. "You liking that arm a little bit too much." He was quick to let out before he was moving his lips against hers softly.

Hayden: "Shush." Her nose crinkled as he smiled that stupid smile that made her stomach flutter. It didn't use to, but now everything seemed different. Her grip on his arm only tightened at his words, enough to tell him that she did like it. she didn't think he should ever feel the need to hide it but could only imagine the reasons he did. She knew Preston would have something to say about it. Playfully, Hayden nipped gently at his bottom lip before she was pulling away enough to nudge her nose against his. "Should we go back in there?"

Alex: "Make me." He teased with a small laugh following. His hand stayed on her face as his thumb moved softly on the skin still. A small gesture he felt to let her know he was there if she needed anything on this trip. He honestly wanted to get this shirt off on account that he felt naked without showing his tattoos. His eyes closed as she pulled away a little and he was breathing in a little. "Honestly. I could stay here all night, but only if you want."

Hayden: She couldn't help the way she leaned into him, her whole body gravitating towards him by the simplest kiss. "I could too." She confessed, brushing her lips against his once more as her hand slid from his forearm down to his hand. "Let's go play nice." She suggests as she slowly pulled away to lead him by the hand back towards the dining room. She figured at least maybe tonight could end on a somewhat positive note.

Alex: He made a small face when she was leading him back to the dinning room. He could honestly just give her the house tour now and be done with her. Though he was sure his mom had stuff to say as he walked back into the room and was seeing the others. "Alexander. You two are just friends, right?" His mother let out as he looked at Hayden and then nodded. "Yes. Just friends." He let out, though his hand was still attached to hers. "Um, Hayden. You wanna see the house?"

Hayden: She was nervous again, though his hand attached to hers helped to keep her under control. Her gaze stayed away from Preston as she instinctively gripped Alex's hand a little bit tighter. "Just friends," Hayden repeated with a quiet smile, not really bothered by the label but also knowing it wasn't completely true. "I'd love to see the house." She enthused as her eyes turned to him and she nodded lightly.

Alex: His mother only lightly smiled as she nodded her head to the foyer for Alex to start showing the house. "Okay, so dining room and you just saw the kitchen." He said as he pulled her to the foyer. "Foyer." He said as he looked around and his dogs pattering with them along. "Living room. This is where pre-teen Alex spent many years trying to beat Crash Bandicoot." He joked and tried his best to hide the baby picture of him that sat on one of the tables.

Hayden: Hayden followed along as Alex pointed out a couple of rooms she'd already seen. Though, her dark eyes still couldn't believe how big or how beautiful the home was. "Crash Bandicoot, hm?" She teased as she scanned the room, eyes settling on the framed photos sitting on the table. "And what's this?" She hummed, letting go of his hand to pick up the baby photo of Alex- the quiet awww that left her lips was completely unintentional. He looked like a complete dork and to melted her heart.

Alex: "Shush it." He chuckled as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked around the room. She went to the one thing he didn't want her too and he only made a small face. "That's the devil." He let out as he took it from her slowly and set it down. "Wanna see upstairs? Last stop can be the bedroom." He teased as he pointed up the stairs.

Hayden: "A cute little devil." She teased, eyebrows wiggling as he took the photo from her. She liked it, seeing childhood photos of him. It was like she was catching a glimpse of a completely new side of him. "But I've already seen the bedroom." Hayden let out a quiet chuckle before she was taking his hand again and leading him, and the following dogs, back upstairs.

Alex: He flashed her yet another charming smile and laughed a little as he ran a hand through his hair. He winked at her as he walked up the stairs with her and they were both greeted with a bigger dog. "Jasmine." He laughed and kneeled down to pet the husky dog. "This is actually the family dogs. She's very old and very sweet." He looked at Hayden.

Hayden: She was taken by surprise when the larger dog appeared in front of them, she had grown used to the smaller pups at their feet. Hayden slowly sunk to her knees next to him before she was reaching out to let Jasmine sniff her hand. "You're not old, you're just wise aren't you baby?" She softly cooed as she moved her hand to pet the dog's head. "And you're beautiful." Her weakness for huskies showing by the smile on her face.

Alex: He set his hand down to let Hayden pet the dog as he set his hand on his smaller dog who was looking for attention from the two. A small smile stayed on his lips as he watched the girl's interaction with the big dog. "You're adorable." He teased as he placed a small kiss to her temple as he stood up. He was completely heart eyes looking at her. "You can have her in your room tonight if you want."

Hayden: "Just like dogs." She smiled up at him, taking a moment longer to pet Jasmine before she was standing up next to him. Without thinking she leaned over to press a gentle kiss to his cheek, "yeah? Jasmine, wanna have a slumber party?" She chuckled looking down at the dog whose tail was wagging back and forth. "I think that's a yes." Her elbow nudged alex before she was turning to face him. "Next stop?"

Alex: He crossed his arms to his body as he looked around the hallway. "Really, honestly. We have the study. Which is a room we don't go in. Parents room. Nat's room. I'll show you the pool tomorrow if you want." He let out as he pointed to everything.

time skip.

Alex: It was now almost three in the morning and Alex was just not finding the sleep he so desperately wanted. He was laying down with one dog by his head and one dog between his legs as he scrolled down his phone. The only light in his room was the light from the device. He huffed and watched a few videos on Instagram and viewed some stories on snapchat as he had slight music coming from his speakers from the phone. He wasn't sure what he had planned for a few hours, he could just hope it would be sleeping.

Hayden: After spending far too long in the shower, letting the expensive rainhead wash all the stress out of her muscles she had finally gotten ready for bed. In her light pink, so light it almost looked white, satin short and tank top sleep set that she never got to wear enough in New York, she had melted into the bed in the guest room. It was comfortable and Jasmine was curled up on the end to keep her company but she just couldn't sleep. Maybe she was homesick for the sound of New York traffic. After a while of laying in the dark wishing for sleep, she finally sat up. "Sorry, Jasmine." She mumbled, petting the dogs head before climbing out of bed. Hayden practically tiptoed into the hallway once she made sure that nobody else was around. For a moment she stood at Alex's door, the short nail on her right index finger between her teeth as she bit at it nervously. What if he was asleep? What if he wanted her to stay in the other room for a reason? Sucking in a breath, she finally knocked softly twice before opening the door just enough to stick her head through. Immediately the light illuminating Alex's face told her he was awake. "Hi." She whispered from the doorway, pushing the door open so she could stand in full view. "Can't sleep either?" Her weight shifted from foot to foot as one hand rested on the doorknob and the other hung loosely by her side, fingers fidgeting with her shorts.

Alex: Soon enough as the male was laying down in nothing but his pajama pants and a shirtless torso, Charlie had gotten up from his head hearing something from outside the door before it opened. As the door finally did open he turned the music down assuming it was his mother or his sister, but then he saw the long legged girl in the pink set of clothes. Furrowing his eyebrows a little as he looked at her and he lightly chuckled. "Nah, sleep won't come just yet." He said as he set his phone down on the nightstand next to his bed as he patted the open spot next to him. "Come here." He said lightly.

Hayden: Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip for a moment before she was quietly shutting the door behind her and padding over to the bed, crawling from the end up to the empty spot he'd tapped his hand on. "Not disturbing you am I?" She asked quietly, eyes wider than normal while they adjusted to the dark room. "I can go back to my room." And she would've had no problem doing that if he asked her, she wanted him to know he had an out at all times.

Alex: Both dogs moved to the end of the bed and laid there as soon as the male moved over a bit to make the spot more comfy for Hayden. "I'm fine, trust me." He lightly chuckled as he semi moved closer to her and turned his body to her. "No, I feel like we'd both sleep better if we were together, you know?" He let out softly as he looked at her in the dark room. "That outfit is cute, by the way." He teased a little as his left tatted arm went around her. He didn't want her going back to that room. He always wanted her in his room with him, but he assumed she wanted a room to herself.

Hayden: "I always sleep better with you." She mumbled out the confession as she slipped beneath the covers, the satin of her pajamas making a soft rustling sound as she got comfortable and his arm moved around her. It was true, even though there had only been a couple of times when they had spent the night in the same bed she always noticed how much more rested she felt the next morning. Hayden tucked her hands together under her head on the pillow as she gazed at him, inching just a little bit closer beneath his arm. She was half-aware of the two pups curling up at the end of the bed now. "Bet you never thought you'd see me in pink." She whispered, speaking of her favourite pajamas. There was an instant feeling of relaxation as she settled next to him, the warmth of him and his scent helping to calm her down.

Alex: "That so?" He let out softly as he moved a piece of hair out her face behind her ear as he moved, even more, closer to her. The warmth of helping his nerves. He breathed a little through his nose as he leaned his face in close to her, his nose nudging her softly. Luckily he had brushed his teeth. "I like seeing you in colors. You shine more." He chuckled softly of how cheesy it sounded. His left arm moved and his hand went slightly in her shorts, nothing sexual. It just rested right on her hip, his thumb rubbing the skin softly.

Hayden: She let out a sigh, letting her eyes close for just a moment as he tucked the piece of hair behind her ear. "That's so." She murmured, her body seeming to melt into the mattress just from having him close. Pulling her right arm from beneath her head she let her fingertips trace the shape of his jaw, touching him helped her to see him better in the dark. The minty scent of his breath that matched hers made her smile as she brushed the tip of her nose against his. "I shine more? I've never thought of myself as the type to shine." She admitted though still smiling. His hand resting in her shorts had her shifting impossibly closer. It wasn't meant to lead anywhere and she knew that but she simply liked when he touched her in any way. "Can I ask you a question?"

Alex: His own eyes closed a little as he felt her fingertips on his jaw as he smiled and he was sure she could tell he was curving his lips up. Her touch always had him thinking everything and nothing at all at the same time. He let out a small chuckle as he shrugged in the dark. "I think you should shine some more. You're a great girl." He tried to assure her. She moved closer and now they were completely wrapped into each other. He wouldn't have any other way lately. "Anything, love."

Hayden: As she felt his lips tug into a smile her fingers were brushing against his bottom lip before her arm was moving down to wrap around him, hand pressed to his back where she could draw lazy shapes. "I'm okay." She said under her breath. She wasn't looking for reassurance or compliments, that was simply how she felt about herself. It was one of the main reasons her next question for him was so the top of mind. "Why did you want me to come here with you?" Her leg moved over top of both of his as they tangled together, barely any space between their bodies at all and that was exactly how she wanted it. For some reason, she felt like if she could hold onto him then he would stay with her.

Alex: After her hand went to wrap around him, his smile turned into a slight frown at her words and he only shrugged a little. She didn't know just much he thought of her even if he's stubborn and too terrified to take anything further. At her words, he furrowed his eyebrows a little at her question. Why did he bring her here? He didn't have a solid answer. He could tell her he just wanted her to see the city, but that was the biggest lie and he was sure she would be able to see through that. He decided on the truth. After all, they had to be honest with each other and if he wanted her to open up to him, he had to give her the same. He huffed a little as he sighed through his nose a little. "I don't know. I just-" He paused for a second. "You calm me down and with this new kid, I need someone here to press down my thoughts, you know? I know I'm being a child about having a new sibling and so is Natalie, but I'm still more of an adult, I know, but this just gives all the more reason for another kid to be raised badly by Preston. I don't know- it's stupid. I just like being around you, Hayden."

Hayden: She listened, practically holding her breath as he spoke. Talking about the new baby and Preston. It completely broke her heart to think that the way Alex felt, the anxiety, the nerves, the bitterness, were caused by Preston. Someone that was supposed to love him and care for him. He deserved better and she was never going to stop believing that. Her hand slipped up his back, smoothing over his skin until her fingers were in the back of his hair. "I like being around you, too, baby," she whispered before she was gently pressing one slow kiss to his lips, pulling away enough to rest her forehead against his. She was going to be there for him however he would let her. "Wanna know a secret?"

Alex: He had expected her to run out and go back in the room. He knew how she was and she knew how he was. He let out a soft chuckle at her words, finding them hard to believe at the moment before the hand in the back of his hair was more soothing than he wanted to admit. His lips pressed another soft kiss to her for a second before he was raising his eyebrow a little. "What is it?"

Hayden: It was strange to her the way she was comfortable around him now, the way the idea of him opening up and being honest didn't scare her off or make her want to run away the way it used to. That was far more telling than anything else but she pushed the thought away, not needing to overanalyze at three in the morning. A quiet chuckle passed through her lips as she shut her eyes, even though it was dark the story she was about to tell was sure to embarrass her. "When I was four I had a hamster named Peach-" Another chuckle escaped from the back of her throat as her fingers moved through the back of his hair, rubbing against his scalp gently. "And I really, really liked The Lion King. So... I wanted Peach to feel like she could trust me. Like I was Mufasa and Peach was Simba." Hayden curled her lips into her mouth for a moment before continuing, knowing he could hear the smile in her voice. "So I tried to pick it up by the scruff of the neck, you know the way mother cats carry around their kittens? But I did it with my teeth... and then Peach bit me, of course, and hung from my chin. I still have a scar." It was one of the most embarrassing stories she had but it was her way of opening up, showing him a different side of her too.

Alex: The male listened to her story about the hamster. Slightly confused as to why she was telling such a random story, but then he was holding one of his hands against his mouth to stop the loud laugh from coming out his lips. "Oh my god. You fuckin' goof." He said and failed, the laugh coming out his lips which made both his dogs jump slightly. "I've noticed the scar and always wondered where it came from honestly." He admitted to her as his hand left his mouth and ran over her chin in the dark. "Is it my turn now to tell an embarrassing story?"

Hayden: Her nose crinkled and her eyes squeezed shut as he laughed at her story and she turned to press her face into the pillow. Of course, she had expected him to laugh, that was kind of the point- to lighten the mood, his mood specifically. Besides, she could listen to his laugh forever if she were honest with himself. Her head tilted back up as he touched the scar, it was so small that it never really bothered her. "Well, now you know the whole story." She teased softly before turning to catch his finger between her teeth playfully before letting it go. "Only if you want to."

Alex: He thought for a good second. He was trying to look for a story to tell. He hadn't really had a lot of embarrassing experiences in his life. But he could think of one and it was when he was going through changes in his body. "Okay, so. I was in sixth or seventh grade right? Well, that's around the time I also hit puberty. I was right in the middle of talking to my teacher. She was like old and married. Well, all of a sudden for no reason. I got this raging boner. It was so bad. She saw it. The whole class saw it. I was so embarrassed about it because the teacher wasn't even hot and I got a random boner. Being a boy is hard."

Hayden: Hayden's bottom lip caught between her teeth as tried not to laugh but was failing, it started as a quiet giggle in her throat and then turned into a full blown laugh as she pressed her face in the pillow again to stifle it so she didn't wake anyone else up. "Is being a boy hard? Is it really hard?" She chuckled, shoulders shaking as she pulled her face from the pillow to look at him through the dark, fingertips swiping beneath her eye in case a tear had welled up there. "That is so funny. Oh my god."

Alex: "Oh my god. Shut up." He said and accidentally laughed a little too loud. The random pulls at it, he appreciated after all. He just liked hearing her laugh and seeing her smile even if it was through the dark. He pulled her closer as he hummed. "You're welcome now." He chuckled slightly as he pressed a small kiss to the corner of her lips. "I'm happy to make you laugh all the time, just tell me when."

Hayden: "It's really hard to shut up sometimes." She giggled again, a quiet, tired sound in the back of her throat. It was nice that after the tense dinner and everything back in New York that they could just lay in bed laughing at each other, it was everything she needed. Hayden shifted against him, lifting her thigh up on his hip as her right hand trailed up his bare chest. "Thank you." She mumbled, the smile still on her lips before she was pressing them properly to his for a moment. "Don't make me blush."

Alex: "I hate you so much right now." He teased, joking to the end. He was now a little sleepy. The hand attached to the back of his head was making it all too hard for him to stay awake. He hummed against her lips as he shrugged. "You should sleep, my love." He told her as he closed his eyes.

Hayden: "Liar, liar, pants on fire." She hummed before she was pulling the hand from his hair to cover her mouth as she yawned. Before she thought sleep would never find her but a few minutes wrapped up in Alex and it felt like her body could rest forever. She felt comfortable with him, safe with him. Her hand moved back into his hair, running through it before settling on the back of his neck. "Sweet dreams, Alex." She whispered as her eyes fell closed and dipped her head down to press it into his neck, knowing sleep was taking her over.