#it took me less than five minutes to confirm this info

[fandomshatepeopleofcolor]

Does anybody know what happened to Tenoch Huerta? I know that he was accused of sexual abuse but I remember just reading about the accusation and nothing else? Was it proven true or has their been a trial? I am genuinely curious but can't find any solid answers

From a quick googling (btw my search terms were "tenoch huerta allegations" if i can do it you can too /genuine) looks like it was one allegation made by musician and activist Elena Rios (twitter link -- tw consent issues) and he did drop out of a Netflix movie that he had been cast in but no further legal action has been taken by either party involved.

source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/06/23/tenoch-huerta-sexual-assault-accusation/

mod dyr

[finniestoncrane]

Your One True Nemesis

Chapter 13: also on AO3 Masterlist Here Arkham!Riddler x Female!Reader, word count: 2.3k >:) me and my oc sitting in a tree, ignoring e d d i e request info • prompt list • send me a request • kofi • masterlist minors DNI!! 🔞 cw: angst, love triangle shit

“Hey…”

The sound of Mark’s voice stirred you out of the dream-like state and you lifted your head, realising you’d been staring into the stars for almost ten minutes, not a word spoken between you both.

“Oh my god, sorry, Mark.”

As you shuffled away from him, he stood up, your heart falling as you prepared yourself for the sting of being embarrassed and rejected at the same time.

“Don’t be, but I got places to be, things to do, irritating men to exchange gifts with.”

“Shit, Eddie!”

“Relax, he could do with being dicked around a little bit. Besides, I’m only five minutes late.”

You got up from the bench, checking the time on your phone. It was late, and dark, and cold. Mark stepped closer, hands in his pockets, suddenly uncharacteristically shy.

“Do you wanna go on a date?”

“What?”

“A date. You’re aware of what that is, right, babe?”

“Yeah, I just don’t know when you think I’m ever going to have time for that.”

“We could sneak off now. No one would know.”

It was tempting. Desperately so. Your mouth kept trying to form the word ‘yes’ but something was holding you back. In the absence of any confirmation or rejection, Mark spoke again, making his case.

“Listen… I’ll only be like ten minutes tops if Nigma can keep his lectures down. You wanna wait here or come with? We can get a drink or something?”

“I uh…”

Mark’s eyes widened, begging you silently. It was hard to say no to him.

“I’ll wait here, if it’s all the same.”

“But you’ll come out with me?”

“I’ll have one drink, yes.”

“Aw, babe! You’ve made me the happiest guy ever.”

He leaned in, a small kiss pressed to your cheek and a wink as he pulled away.”

“Don’t go anywhere! Stay right here!”

He pointed at you with both hands as he skipped backwards, turning around and jogging out of the park. You sat down, unable to contain your smile. But even letting yourself indulge in that moment of happiness filled you with guilt. It felt like you were cheating on Eddie. That’s what it boiled down to. A sense of betrayal. But realistically, there was never going to be anything between you both. And there never had been anything in the first place. He couldn’t control every aspect of your life, that’s why things were so tense and fraught between you both. You were hanging on his every command, living a lie, a complete fantasy, that he might think of you as more than a lackey. You both needed space. A line between you, thick, bold and unblurred.

“Ok, you ready, babe?”

Mark’s voice startled you, your body stiffening as you sat upright.

“That was quick.”

“Yeah, wasn’t any hassle.”

Turning to look at him, you noticed he seemed less jovial than usual, but you were careful not to push. And before you could think of what you wanted to ask, he was already taking a hold of your arm, leading you out of the park. He walked you down the street, heading towards a buzzing neon light on the corner. The bar was definitely a dive, nowhere you would have gone before or without him. As you entered, his smiles shot towards the bartenders and a couple of patrons suggested he was very familiar with the place.

Mark squeezed into a booth close to the back of the room, one by the window. You took your place across from him, both of you offering awkward smiles over the sticky, chipped table top before you started to speak at the same time.

“So, I-”

“How did you-”

Mark laughed, gesturing to you to continue.

“How did you get into crime?”

“Wow, you’re just going to go straight for that one?”

You were embarrassed, trying to hide your face, but it felt like the most important question, one you’d been thinking about since you first met him.

“Sorry… too personal?”

“Nah, nothing’s too personal, babe.”

“Ok, so tell me about yourself then. Not just about your criminal escapades.”

His sly grin and the wink that accompanied it were more than enough to have you stifling a soft giggle, but you didn’t want him to know the effect he had on you, not yet.

“Ok, well, let’s see… I started off ok. Studied history at college, but I dropped out. Nasty business with my family, got in the way of me being able to concentrate. I’ve got a broken nose, that’s why it looks like this. Never really healed properly. I’ve also been stabbed three times, got the gnarly scars to prove it to if you want to see them some time.”

He winked again, teasing at the bottom of his shirt, but not lifting it further, much to your dismay.

“Shockingly, and I know you won’t think it from looking at me, but I’ve only ever been in one long-term, committed relationship. I love horror movies, especially the late nineties and early noughts slasher revival flicks. I’ve killed two people, never convicted for it, but I have spent just over five years in prison total for various other offences. After the first time I was inside, my family stopped speaking to me. Haven’t been in contact with them since. Used to have a good friend too, ran a bar with him, but we had a disagreement. So I suppose I’m a loner.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I guess I always have. I mean right now, I have a roommate, he knows I’m an ex-con. But I think he’d have me out on the streets if he knew I was still getting up to mischief.”

“Interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“Yeah… go on.”

“Uh… my favourite book is The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. I’m an expert lock pick. And I think I was headhunted by Scarecrow, or at least one of his higher up guys for those talents, but they’ve realised I have plenty other valuable skills. And uh… that’s all I can think of just now!”

“Hm…”

You took a slow sip from your drink, looking up at him as you drank.

“What? Not interesting enough for you?”

His smile was infectious, so charming, a little bit dry, and you were always unable to tell whether his words were sarcastic or hurt or genuine or flirty.

“You didn’t list any negatives. Bit unfairly kind on yourself.”

“Ok, wow. You’re a little bit warped, aren’t you! Babe, I told you I killed two men and am currently lying to my roommate about my job.”

“Oh… yeah.”

“And the relationship thing? That doesn’t scream ‘red flag’ to you? Because usually it does, for most people anyway.”

Looking back down to the table, you tried to act nonchalant, to seem like you weren’t intrigued by how many people he had put off with his supposed lack of commitment.

“More than the murder?”

“Well, I don’t usually tell people about the murder.”

“I see… well, no. It’s not an issue, not for me at least. I’ve never been in a long-term relationship either. And I’ve never been in a committed one, or one where we were both committed anyway.”

Mark scoffed incredulously, rolling his eyes, shaking his head softly.

“Really? Now who would ever cheat on someone like you?”

You raised your eyebrows, staring him down, waiting for the grin to fade from his face before you spoke, but it never did.

“Someone like you, I bet.”

“Are you kidding? Never. I’m not that stupid, babe.”

Your heartbeat thumped in your chest, fingers twitching as your palms suddenly felt clammy. It was increasingly hard not to fall for Mark, but you expected you might already have gone too far to claw your way back. He was too nice, too pleasant. And he seemed to genuine.

“Ok, your turn. How does a girl like you end up working for Edward Nigma?”

Mark’s attention never waned as you spoke. He listened intently, asking the right questions, respecting your boundaries somehow without even asking. Like he knew where to dig, and he knew where to stop. Something about being listened to like that, being known and understood, had you on the verge of tears at some points. But luckily, you were able to quickly hide it with laughter. He was funny, he was sweet. He was everything Eddie wasn’t. Which you realised was part of the problem.

“So, Sewer-ella. It’s probably time you get home or your boss will start getting even more irritated than he already is.”

“Fuck… probably.”

He got up out of the booth first, offering you his hand to haul yourself out on. Outside in the stark, cool air, he pulled you close, holding you against his body which was far warmer than yours as he walked to the bottom of the street.

“I’m walking you home, by the way.”

“I don’t think so. I’ll be fine.”

“Look, Eddie doesn’t scare me. But potentially losing his only employee because I let her walk through the streets at this hour might drive him to actually get off his ass and accomplish something. Namely, murdering me. So yeah, I am.”

You were perfectly capable of handling yourself, but you had to admit it felt nice for someone to care about you to this extent. To put themselves at risk to make sure you were ok. Mark was clearly capable of defending himself in any fights, but there was no need for him to go this far out of his way.

Part of you wondered, as you walked arm in arm, if leading him to Eddie’s base wasn’t the best idea. But everyone already knew he worked around that area. And anyone attempting to break in would be met with several deadly traps before they even knew what was happening to them. So you reasoned it was fine. Anything to keep walking with him, to keep your arm around his.

But inevitably, you rounded the corner into the train yard, and realised you would have to call an end to the evening, turning to express as much to Mark, intending to thank him for the drink. Your words were stifled though, as Mark pressed his lips to yours as you faced him. The shock knocked you back at first, your own lips staying still as his caressed them, soft and warm. But you leaned in, slowly easing your hand into his hair, holding his face close to yours as you gasped, letting out a soft moan.

Mark’s hands fell to your waist, fingers stroking your body over your clothes, swaying you slightly as the kiss deepened. Nothing had felt this good in so long, but your body still cringed slightly at the touch, wracked with guilt and confusion. Pulling away with a sigh, you closed your eyes, smiling as Mark rested his forehead on yours, his palm holding your cheek.

“I know, I know.”

He pulled back, hand still resting on your face, his thumb stroking over your cheek bone as he looked you up and down.

“Better get inside, babe. I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

You nodded, no words, nothing but air clawing to escape from your throat. He turned with a smile, waving to you once he had started to walk away, never looking back. Swallowing your nerves, and the bubbling excitement, you headed inside.

The atmosphere was the same as it always was. Tinged with irritation, thick with tension. Mostly because Eddie had been stewing in the workshop since he returned, enraged by what he definitely considered your betrayal of him. Not that he had you, and not that he wanted you, he had to remind himself of that. He was more infuriated by the way you had gone straight to him, the henchman. And how disgustingly nonchalant he had been, how unthreatened he was, when Eddie had questioned him.

“My intentions? What are you, her dad? Get a grip, Nigma. She’s your employee, not your property. She can do what she wants. Or are you upset that she’s not out with you?”

He’d pay for his insolence. And so would you, when he figured out what it is he was punishing you for. And as he scratched his head, deep in thought, trying to hastily convince himself that punishing you wouldn’t be as seedy and erotic as his mind was making it out to be, he heard you coming into the living area.

“It’s just me, don’t worry.”

Taking long, hurried strides, he made his way along the tunnel to the living area, slowing down to a casual pace as he got closer, and appearing out of the arch, pretending to be surprised by your presence.

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Yeah I… just yelled…”

“Hm, I didn’t hear. I wasn’t expecting you to return, I suppose. Where did you go?”

By this point in your time spent with Eddie, lying came easily. It was the simplest solution to most of his questions.

“Went on a walk. Nothing interesting. I just needed to clear my head.”

“Clear it? Of what? There’s nothing in there, surely.”

“You know what-”

“Sorry.”

He cut you off, and you had no intentions of clawing your way back to the argument that was about to play out. The silence spoke volumes. He offered nothing mor, nothing less. Just a simple apology. Sincere and honest. His eyes wandered around the room, settling everywhere but within your gaze. You had nothing to say to him. The swelling of your heart, the guilt, the confusion, the complete pain of knowing the potential within him that was lost in his usually ever-present personality problems. It was too much to face at this hour.

“Goodnight, Eddie.”

You walked to your room, closing the door behind you. He whispered his goodnight to you, knowing you wouldn’t hear it, but wanting to extend the wish to you anyway.

[biggest-stupidhead]

Never Ready (part 2) 

Summary: “It’s not like I’m ready to take her in.”

“And I was ready for you? Kid, nobody is ever ready for things like this. That doesn’t mean they don’t happen.” Levi is faced with the difficult decision of taking in his newly orphaned cousin. But he can't do it alone.You're a newly graduated college student looking to make some extra cash, but get more than you originally bargained for...

Word Count: 4.6K

AN: Sorry for the long wait, I've been very busy this summer but I'm trying to keep writing! Thanks for sticking around you guys :)

find part 1 here

--

Levi woke up early, as usual, however, he skipped his usual workout in favor of deep cleaning the house for the third time this week. Just as he was putting his broom back into the closet when the doorbell rang. He anxiously smoothed out his cotton dress shirt, tugging at the seam as he tried to tuck it into his pants.

“Hello-” His shoulders slumped when he found a young suburban housewife on the other side of the door instead of the gloomy social worker.

“Oh hi there! So sorry that it’s taken me so long but…” She held out a bottle of red wine with a neat ribbon tied around the neck.

“You didn’t have to,” Levi answered tensely as she beamed politely at him.

“I know but...it just felt like the right thing to do.” She shrugged, her strawberry blonde hair swaying, the strands just barely touched her shoulders.

“Well...thank you.” He thanked her, hoping that she would take the hint that this was a bad thing.

“No worries! By the way, my name is Petra, my husband and I live across the street.” She gabbed her thumb towards the house across from his.

“I’m Levi, nice to meet you.” He said, fighting to keep from grinding his teeth. It wasn’t that this woman was in the wrong, no it was simply the timing of her gesture. He was already on edge and he was never a fan of new people.

“Nice to meet you too! If you’re ever interested, we have a book club and-”

“Look, I appreciate the gesture but this isn’t the best time.” Levi cut her off and he felt a small pang of guilt at the way her expression dropped.

“Oh no of course! Anyway, you know where to find me.” She chuckled anxiously as she began her hasty retreat. It couldn’t have been soon enough, because a silver honda accord pulled into his driveway. Levi swallowed thickly as he watched Michelle climb out of her car and brave the icy sidewalk.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything.” She said curtly as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and waited for Levi to step aside. When she crossed the threshold, he shut and locked the door behind her. She immediately began checking out the front room and the living room. The house had a nice open floorplan, so the first thing that anyone saw when entering was the living room and kitchen.

“Not at all,” Levi responded as she slowly wandered into the kitchen. He followed helplessly behind her as she began jotting notes down on a clipboard.

“Well, I must say that I am impressed with the hast you made these arrangements.” She complimented as she paced down the hallway, poking her head into the room that Levi had prepared for Mikasa.

“I don’t like to leave projects unfinished.” He responded as he waited in the doorway.

“Admirable.” She scribbled a quick note before finding her way back into the kitchen. Levi chewed the inside of his cheek as he waited with bated breath for her next words.

“Everything seems in great condition here. I don’t see any reason that she can’t move in by Monday.” She placed her clipboard on the counter and faced him with a tense smile.

“Monday?” Levi couldn’t hide the nerves in his tone and she smiled genuinely.

“Of course, we try to keep kids out of the homes as much as possible. Have you figured out what you wish to do for child care?” She moved seamlessly onto the next topic and Levi nodded, motioning for her to take a seat at the island.

“Uh, there’s a daycare that I was looking at. I’m also looking for a nanny.” Levi said as she settled into her seat and he sat a chair away from her.

“Excellent, my only concern with the daycare is that she has been attending the same one for some time now. It’s not far from here, I would highly encourage that you keep that the same.” She went back to her clipboard, jotting down some more notes as Levi contemplated what she had said.

“Makes sense.” He mumbled as she placed her pen down with a soft sigh.

“I got to say, I’m very grateful for your enthusiasm with this, makes my job a lot easier.” She smiled at him and Levi nodded curtly.

“Anyway, I’ll drop her off Monday morning, I believe that her current foster family uses the same daycare that she’s attending, Carla is the mom’s name. She’s made it clear that she is more than willing to lend a hand if ever needed.” Michelle jotted down a number on a scrap piece of paper and slid it across the counter to Levi who blinked stupidly down at her chicken scratch.

“That’s all I need from you.” Michelle stood and gathered her things, Levi trailed behind her to the front door and watched her leave. It was already Thursday, meaning he had less than five full days to finish preparing for Mikasa’s arrival. He felt like a tortured spirit in his own home, wandering the halls hallowly, he had never lived in such a large space. Not that his past homes had been small, but rather, he had always lived with someone.

Kenny and he had shared a small trailer all through his elementary years and well into his high school years. Then in college, he had roomed with Erwin and Mike, first in the dorms and then in shitty apartments. But now, he was alone. At least it was only for a few more days, but could you really count a four-year-old as company?

He found himself once again outside of the empty room, standing right on the threshold. The mere sight of the room made his stomach sink, from the subtle baby pink comforter to the dresser that was filled with tiny clothes. He turned and shut the door softly before marching back into the living room. The mid-afternoon sun was drifting in through the front windows and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

His phone rang obnoxiously and he scrambled to dig it out of his pocket. Hange’s contact lit up his screen and he inhaled sharply, preparing himself for whatever it was that Hange found important enough to share with him at one pm on a Thursday.

“Levi, is this a good time?” That was his first red flag, Hange was never considerate of his time when she called.

“It’s fine why?” He sighed as he began pacing the length of his living room.

“Well, I’ve got excellent news.” Hange couldn’t contain the excitement in her voice.

“What is it?” He encouraged her and she let out a muted squeal.

“I’ve found the perfect nanny for you! She just graduated last semester, I’ll send you her contact info.” Levi felt a small weight lift off of his chest, even though it wasn’t set in stone, at least he was making headway.

“She’s done this before, ever since she was a senior in high school actually. She told me over lunch that her usual employer doesn’t need her anymore so she’s on the hunt for a job!” Hange babbled on and Levi nodded along as he dropped onto the leather sofa.

“Got it thank you.” He confirmed as the ping of her sending the contact info came through his phone.

“Have her over for dinner, or maybe go out for tea. Ask her some questions and I’m sure you’ll find her more than qualified. She has no commitments so I bet if you can make her like you, then she’ll stick around for a while.” Hange chuckled deviously and Levi clicked his tongue.

“I have no idea what criteria I even have to look at to see if she’s qualified.” Levi scoffed and Hange snorted.

“Mikasa’s four years old, she has school and such, I mean as far as I’m concerned your nanny just needs to be able to drive and cook.” Hange shrugged as she flipped through her lesson planner.

“There’s got to be more than just that.” Levi bit the skin on his knuckle as he began wracking his brain for what makes a good nanny.

“Sure there is, I’m just brainstorming.” Hange chuckled and Levi rolled his eyes.

“I’ll make a list.” He concluded and Hange hummed her agreement.

“That’s a great idea, I mean in the end she’s going to be working for you so just put down qualities that you think make a good worker. Or something.” Hange seemed rather indifferent and Levi felt his jaw tick in annoyance.

“Right, well thanks.”

“No problem, catch ya later!” And with that, she hung up.

--

Levi stood outside of the coffee shop. He snuck one last glance at the shortlist that he had made. His brow creased when he read through it, the first point he had put down was: in-state driver’s license. Closely followed by good hygiene. Frustration bubbled into his chest as he wadded the paper up and shoved it deep into his pocket. He finally pushed through the door and approached the familiar counter. He ordered his usual and went to sit in one of the secluded booths in the back.

He had arrived a good ten minutes early, hoping to gather himself before meeting the nanny. As he watched the steam rise off of his cup of tea he savored the few moments of silence. That was until the bell on the door chimed. He knew it was you, Hange had described you in-depth when he had told her he reached out to you that evening she sent your contact.

Your hair was pulled back off of your face in a half up half down style. You wore a pair of fitted jeans and a knitted sweater. Levi watched you as you ordered your drink, you seemed so sure of yourself, the way your shoulders were pulled back and your jaw set in determination. Already off to a good start and he hadn’t even heard you speak. Levi watched you grab your drink before doing a half-turn, eyes scanning the small cafe. They landed on him and Levi knew he’d been caught staring. He did a small tilt of his head, inviting you to join him, you smiled warmly and took quick steps in his direction.

Levi stood and extended his hand to you, which you accepted with a firm handshake.

“You must be Mr. Ackerman.” Your voice was smooth and honeyed, immediately putting him at ease.

“Levi is fine.” He said as he sat back down in the booth. You slid down into the seat opposite of him, clutching your purse in your lap.

“I understand that you have some...experience.” Levi started a bit awkwardly. You nodded eagerly and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

“Of course, in the past, it’s mostly been under the table, but we can work around that of course.” Levi examined the typed-out document. A resume of your past jobs and a few recommendations from past employers.

“Under the table is fine…” He mumbled as he thumbed through the pages.

“So, Hange told me a bit about your...unique situation.” You pressed and Levi stilled in his motions.

“What’d she tell you?” He asked, grey eyes boring into you from over the tops of the papers.

“Just that you were a new parent and you needed a hand. Takes a village you know.” You chuckled a bit tensely and Levi felt some tension leave his shoulders. At least Hange had given him the liberty of explaining himself.

“She’s not wrong, I’ve taken custody of my distant cousin, I know nothing about child-rearing,” Levi admitted point blank and you weren’t sure if he was kidding or not. When his expression remained as cold as stone, you realized that he was in fact not.

“I see...I’ll admit that I don’t have much experience with...well stuff like this either.” You smiled at him in an attempt to diffuse the tension between the two of you. Levi’s eyes narrowed and he reclined back into the booth, eyes never leaving yours.

“We’ll just come up with it as we go.”

“So you’re set on me as your nanny?” You beamed and he scowled, although you were right. Levi knew from the moment he shook your hand that he would choose you.

“Yes, Mikasa arrives on Monday and I expect you to be there when she does.” Levi scoffed, lifting his teacup by the rim and taking a long sip.

“Be where exactly?” You were getting smart, something that simultaneously annoyed and intrigued him.

“My house, I’ll send you the address the day before,” Levi answered with a roll of his eyes.

“Sounds perfect.” You hummed, lifting your coffee cup to your own lips.

“What are my hours going to be?” You asked as you placed your cup back onto the tabletop.

“Mikasa goes to half days at preschool, so I’ll need you to drop her off and pick her up from that. She needs to be dropped off at eight am and picked up at noon.” Levi tapped his finger on the rim of his cup and you nodded.

“I can do that, so I’ll fix all three meals then?” You asked and Levi felt a tinge of guilt. He knew that he wasn’t completely prepared to be a parent, but he still felt ashamed for seeking help. Kenny had raised him to be independent. It had taken so much to reach out to Hange, and now he was relying on a strange young woman.

“Yes, that’s preferred. I don’t have any rules besides keeping the house spotless.” His finger was planted on the tabletop now to emphasize the importance of his only rule. You nodded in understanding.

“You can set the boundaries for Mikasa, I trust that you have enough experience in this area.” Levi continued and you tensed. Never had you ever had so much responsibility riding on a nanny position. Your employers set the rules and you enforced them, but now you were expected to be both parties. But when Levi slid a paper across the table your eyes widened. On the notepad was a range of wages that he was willing to pay. You struggled to contain your shock as you clutched the paper.

“T-This is way too much.” You squeaked as you pushed the paper back to Levi.

“Seems reasonable to me.” He shrugged and you felt your face flush.

“Well...it’s your money after all.” You reasoned as you grappled internally to regain your composure.

“But if at any time and for any reason you need to lower it that’s fine too.” You waved your hands in front of you and Levi’s brows pinched together.

“Don’t worry about it.” He assured you and set his empty cup aside.

“Was there anything else you wanted to cover?” You asked, sneaking a glance at your watch.

“That’s all from me, I’ll text you my address and get you set up to pick up and drop off with the school,” Levi said as he pulled his coat on over his shoulders. Your cup was still full so you remained seated as you watched him straighten the fabric of his jacket.

“Alright, see you Monday morning then.” You said as he marched towards the door, his posture rigid. As soon as he disappeared through the door, the doubt swirled in your chest. You had never worked this many hours and the added pressure of Mikasa coming from a traumatic past made you uneasier. But you weren’t one to shy away from a challenge, you pulled your phone out and began to dive headfirst into the internet. After about twenty minutes of scrolling through countless tabs and foster parent forums, you felt at least somewhat prepared.

You ended up ordering three more cups of coffee, by the time you were halfway through your third cup, your hands shook as you held your phone. The screen was beginning to put a strain on your eyes as you squinted at the black font. With a heavy sigh, you placed your phone screen down on the table and tossed your head back against the booth’s cushion. After a few deep breaths, you collected your things and made your way out into the chilly air, determined to continue gathering information and preparing yourself for the task at hand.

--

Levi did some research of his own that afternoon. Sitting in his desk chair, he clicked through tabs, a simple google search had shown him your Instagram. He had been relieved to find it public, your page seemed average, nothing too out of the ordinary. But he was disappointed to find it rather small, with not a lot of posts or followers. It seemed that you, like himself, were not too fond of posting every small movement that you made for the world to see. In fact, your most recent post was from almost a full year ago, right around spring break. The post was a compilation of photos you had taken on a biology trip that Hange had organized. He closed the tab and pulled up a new one, the official website for the daycare that Mikasa had been attending. He found the phone number and dialed it into his keypad on his phone. He needed to register you as one of Mikasa’s emergency contacts and as her primary source of transportation.

The process was easy and he was relieved to be able to check it off of his list so he could at least attempt and get some of his work done. He needed to savor these last few child-free days before Mikasa became a permanent and very prominent factor in his life.

__

As promised, Levi sent you a text with nothing but his address and the time he expected you there the next morning. Your sleep that night was fitful, tossing and turning well into the early hours. You only ended up sleeping a grand total of six hours before having to get up and get ready for your first day of work. You sifted through your closet in search of an appropriate outfit, as badly as you wanted to wear a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, you knew Levi would likely frown upon it.

So you ended up choosing a plush sweater and a pair of jeans. Pleased with your appearance, you then left your small apartment and made the twenty-minute drive out to the suburbs where Levi was located. The roads were icy the sky was dark with promises of more snow, by the time you had arrived a few fat flakes were already dwindling from the sky. You parked on the side of the road, careful to not block his mailbox, and trudged up the slick driveway and up to the front door. It only took one soft knock for him to pull the door open. He was as handsome as you remembered, his hair was damp from a shower and his hands were busy as he finished tying his tie. He stepped aside and walked back into his house as you kicked the snow off of your shoes.

The space was remarkably clean considering a single man occupied the space. Levi gestured vaguely with his head for you to follow him into the kitchen and you obliged. He pulled out a neon green piece of paper and handed it to you, Mikasa’s name was written in stark penmanship.

“That’s your tag to pick her up, don’t forget it.” He said as he shoved a set of keys into his back pocket.

“Is she here?” Your voice was hushed and your eyes strayed to the hallway which was dark.

“Not yet, the service worker should be here any minute now,” Levi said as he folded his collar down over his tie and finally turned to face you.

“Oh, alright. So what time are you usually off of work?” You asked, setting your purse on the island in the kitchen. Levi sighed and licked his lips thoughtfully.

“Depends...I normally stay late but technically my workday ends at 5:30 but I probably will be at least an hour later than that.” Levi said and you nodded along in understanding.

“That’s not a problem, do you have any idea of what time Mikasa goes to sleep at?” You asked, and judging by the way his shoulders tensed up, he did not.

“Not a clue, but I’ll ask the social worker.” He assured you and you nodded, allowing your eyes to scan over the kitchen. The marble countertops were so white and obviously well kept, you knew that they would give you grief, the oven and microwave looked fancy, as did the fridge. As Levi reached up for a cup from one of the deep navy cupboards, you noted that they were the kind that shut quietly. Your staring was interrupted by the shrill ring of the doorbell. Levi sat his cup aside and walked briskly back towards the front door.

“Good morning Mr. Ackerman, may we come in?” An unfamiliar voice could be heard, followed closely by the sound of two new sets of footsteps on the hardwood floors.

“Of course.” Levi’s voice was even lower and harder to make out as the newcomers shuffled in. They rounded the corner and your heart felt like it was beating out of your chest when your eyes landed on the small girl. She wore a white dress paired with a pink cardigan and a scarlet scarf. The older woman helped Mikasa out of her plush pink coat and draped it over her forearm.

“Who is this?” The woman asked, eyes slightly widened as they landed on you.

“This is (Y/n), my nanny,” Levi said vaguely and the woman nodded slowly before gently pushing Mikasa out from behind her legs.

“Honey, why don’t we go take a look at your new room?” The woman asked and the girl’s brows knitted together, but she let the social worker guide her down the hall and out of sight. Levi tailed behind them, you almost followed as well, but you feared overwhelming her. Levi hauled the small suitcase down the hall and you heard the soft chatter of the two adults. A few moments passed before they returned, the social worker shook Levi’s hand and knelt down to give Mikasa a tender hug.

“We’ll be in touch.” She promised as she showed herself out. Levi’s shoulders drooped once the woman left and he looked down at the small girl who stood near his side.

“Mikasa,” He cleared his throat and the small girl looked up at him, eyes swimming with tears and lip quivering. A rush of panic flooded his chest but you were quicker than he was.

“Mikasa, my name is (Y/n), we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” You had crossed the room to kneel before her with your hand outstretched invitingly. The girl gripped the edge of her dress and swayed it anxiously as she avoided your eyes.

“I know this is really scary and confusing, but we’re going to work through this together.” You assured her when she remained closed off. Levi watched with wide eyes as tears slid down her face and rolled off her chin. You leaned forward and swiped them away with your thumb and Mikasa whimpered unsurely.

“Tell you what, I was just about to make some breakfast. Have you eaten yet?” You asked, after a moment of contemplation, Mikasa shook her head no shyly.

“What would you like? I’ve been told that I make a mean waffle.” You smiled wryly and Mikasa’s lip quivered as it quirked up in an unsure smile.

“I wanna make cinnamon rolls.” She spoke softly and you nodded with wide eager eyes.

“Totally.” You agreed, still holding your hand out as you slowly stood. Mikasa accepted your outstretched, her small hand was easily enveloped in your own as you led her around the island.

“Hey Levi, how much time before you’ve got to leave?” You asked as you stopped to hoist Mikasa up onto the counter.

“About 30 minutes.” He said, trying to contain himself from scolding you for putting the child onto the counter.

“Want to help us?” You invited and Levi sighed, knowing it would be wrong to decline.

“I don’t have cinnamon rolls.” He said instead of answering the original question.

“Oh that’s not a problem. Do you have flour? Yeast, eggs?” You asked as you turned and began rummaging through the cabinets.

“Of course, I’m not an animal.” He scoffed and you chuckled as you pulled out a bag of flour.

“That’s all we need.” You sat the bag next to Mikasa who reached out and touched it experimentally. Next you pulled out the carton of eggs from the fridge, Mikasa opened the carton and gently held an egg. Levi could easily imagine her losing her grip and dropping the egg onto his freshly cleaned wood floors.

“Where’s your cinnamon?” You asked, back turned and arms outstretched as you held the cabinet open.

“Here.” Levi slid past you, opening the neighboring cabinet and held the spice out to you. With a smile you accepted it and added the container to the growing pile of ingredients.

“How long does this take?” Levi asked, glancing at his watch.

“Not 30 minutes.” You answered wryly as you handed Mikasa a wooden spoon, she accepted it happily. Her small hands wrapped around the handle and she placed the spoon against her cheek, basically hugging the utensil.

“What else do you need?” He asked as you perused his kitchen.

“Just yeast and sugar.” You answered as you crouched to look for a bowl.

“It’s over here.” He opened a cabinet near the one you were inspecting and pulled out a bag of sugar and a handful of yeast packets.

“Do you cook a lot?” You asked and he shrugged.

“Enough, I hate eating out.” He answered and you hummed in understanding.

Levi watched as you began making the dough and Mikasa leaned on your shoulder as you kneaded the dough. Her grey eyes widened when you motioned for her to join in. She poked the dough and you smiled as she splayed her small hands over the surface of the squishy dough.

Once again, all Levi could think about how dirty her hands were as she began kneading the dough as you had previously.

“That’s great! Now we can let it sit for a while before we roll them up!” You explained as you gathered the dough back up into the bowl and laid a kitchen towel over it.

“Want an apple while we wait?” You asked and Mikasa nodded enthusiastically as you turned to grab the fruit. Levi looked at his watch once more, he still had about 10 minutes before he had to leave. But he felt the pressure and reality of his newfound responsibility weighing heavy on his chest. So he went to get his shoes and retreat like the coward he was.

“Leaving?” You asked as he pulled his shoes on, you had already cut the apple and Mikasa was watching with curious eyes as she crunched on a slice.

“Yeah, I’ll be back before 8.” He promised and you nodded.

“See you then.” You called after him as he slipped out of the garage door, throwing up a careless wave of acknowledgment as he went. You then turned back to Mikasa and sighed exasperatedly and she giggled as you returned to making her breakfast. This was going to be a long day.

[chalkrevelations]

OK. Moving on, slowly but surely, Episode 2 of Word of Honor.

For anyone only just peeking inside my door, this is a re-watch, so there are SPOILERS not just for this ep, but possibly for the ENTIRE SHOW. Scroll away and come back later if you haven’t seen all 36.5 eps and want to watch it unspoiled.

So, the major thing that hit me during this episode: On re-watch, with context, Wen Kexing’s thirst is now super-complicated by the fact that he thinks he’s recognized the Siji Manor Swift Moving Steps™ from A-Xiang’s throwdown with Zhou Zishu at the end of Ep 1. He gets his confirmation in this ep when he goads ZZS into their first fight, in Chengling’s (badly green-screened) peach-blossom front yard. This complicates the stalking and the flirting, particularly the poetic references WKX uses here to talk about ZZS’s footwork, giving it a level that ZZS (along with the audience, back on our first time watching) simply doesn’t have the context to understand yet. (Well. ZZS not getting all the info that WKX has. That’s the start of a pattern. I mean, at this point, WKX certainly doesn’t owe this random guy a peek into his deepest traumas - EVEN THOUGH it would make things about 10000x less complicated, which is also part of the pattern - but I’m just sayin’. It sure is the start of a pattern.) So ZZS blows off WKX as a PUA asshole with an apparent kink for rough trade with appalling facial hair - just like all of us, as the audience, at this point, were beginning to watch open-mouthed at the speed and intensity of WKX’s thirst for some apparently random dude who he spotted tits out, drinking himself to death in the gutter. Don’t get me wrong, WKX is still thirsty as hell, and he was out to tap that even before he saw the Siji Manor Swift Moving Steps™, but now it’s all mixed up in memories of his shixiong that we won’t see, and ZZS won’t know about, for several more episodes. WKX’s still not sure this is the same guy, but it’s at least an associated guy. So our additional context from later episodes now makes it look like all the stalking isn’t just about having the hots for some rough trade who keeps flashing his collarbones, it’s also about regaining a kind of emotional intimacy that WKX hasn’t had for umpty years of trauma and abuse and killing his way up the ladder. This specific flavor of emotional intimacy isn’t something he can get from A-Xiang, even if she saves his heart – this random drunk dude is triggering some memories (that we won’t see for several more episodes) of feeling protected and cared for, unconditionally, and this guy is literally the only person left in the world who could/can make WKX remember those kinds of feelings. And WKX chases it like he’s starving, because he is. Because anyone in his position would be. Prince Jin will eventually do the same kind of thing to ZZS, grabbing onto him like a drowning man at the only thing he thinks will keep him afloat.

Also, WKX may have had slightly more home training than A-Xiang, but he’s had a lot more – and more recent - grooming by a psychopath. I remember reading somewhere that Zhou Ye talked about how A-Xiang seems slightly off, not quite right in the way she acts, at the beginning of the show, and this was a deliberate acting and directing choice because she was raised in the Ghost Valley, literally doesn’t know how to act right in normal society, and has to learn how as the show goes along. I feel like we see some of that with WKX, too, not just in the hard sell with ZZS, but also in some of his mannerisms and reactions – less so than when he’s playing it up in the Ghost Valley, but still noticeable. I think you can see this in the aftermath of the fight with the ghosts, when both WKX and A-Xiang are watching the reactions from and interactions among ZZS, Chengling and Boat Man, and they both seem kind of ... baffled? Occasionally taken aback? At normal reactions that the other three are having to events. When you set them together in that scene, it’s noticeable, particularly with the way A-Xiang keeps checking in with WKX as if to say, really? This is how humans act? It’s little things that on my first time watching, I initially wrote off to …. not necessarily bad acting, but to overacting, to Gong Jun maybe not being quite settled into WKX’s skin yet, that smoothed out as Gong Jun got more comfortable with the character and with playing off of Zhang Zhehan and seemed more ... natural. NOW, I wonder if this also was deliberate, if this is WKX not being quite settled into a human skin, which smooths out as he gets more comfortable in acting human again and in being around ZZS and Chengling. But meanwhile, he’s like a starving feral dog who’s spotted a piece of meat, and I chose every bit of that metaphor specifically, because psychologically and emotionally, that’s what’s going on, and it’s the way ZZS reacts to him, too.

ZZS is already gun-shy and touch-averse at this point (see the moment he jerks his hand out from under WKX’s hand at 31:20, while they’re both transferring energy to Boat Man) – he just wants to be left alone to die, is that so gd hard? - it’s clearly a trial for him to have to even be around this many nattering idiots. But I also have to think some of the instincts that made him so successful and kept him alive for so long in Tian Chuang have to be screaming at him, every time this rando approaches him, that something is not right about the guy. And even when you’re as suicidal as ZZS is right now, instinctive behavior is hard to overcome, and we see how quickly he steps back away from WKX, at 12:58, when WKX steps close enough to invade his personal bubble. At the same time, everything in WKX is screaming at him to plaster himself to this guy. And so, we set up the constant WKX push, ZZS retreat that we’ll get for several more episodes.

Other thoughts:

Chengling got the spirit I guess, but my lord. He gets beat down and gets his sword took about 5 times in the space of a minute and a half. Good thing his Xiang-jie is there. (Have mentioned how much I love A-Xiang? I just want to be sure everyone knows how much I love A-Xiang. Already. She is a fierce, feral, ray of brightness in every scene she’s in.) Here’s the thing, though – knowing what we know now, I can’t believe not a single one of the Ghosts says “WTF, Amethyst Fiend, why are you making this difficult for us to get the Glazed Armor your zhuren wants us to get our hands on?” They MUST recognize her. Or is this a set-up that the ghosts are in on, to make Chengling and whoever’s with him trust WKX and A-Xiang? But who knew Chengling would even escape? And that seems unnecessarily convoluted when they could just kill him and Boat Man. Did the plan get tweaked when ZZS showed up? If so, I can just imagine what these rank-and-file ghosts are thinking about what WKX wants this kid and this guy alive for, given they don’t know he’s trying to destroy the Ghost Valley – maybe that WKX’s going to do the same thing to Chengling that was done to him by the previous Ghost Valley Master. (Oh. Oh, although - here’s an AU thought – what if ZZS hadn’t turned up at just this particular moment? And what if WKX had intended to kill Chengling, too, along the rest of his family (I mean, presumably this IS what was supposed to happen)? But what if this Ghost Valley Master - whose heart has been fatally compromised by A-Xiang – sees this little soft-hearted soft-eyed dumbass, with his parents and everyone else he knows and loves dead and on fire around him? What if he does end up collecting another kid, at that point? THEN WHAT HAPPENS? Complicated by the fact that WKX’s got emotional skin in the game from jump, in this scenario, but Chengling knows up front about WKX’s part in the Mirror Lake massacre.)

OH MY GOD. I had to watch the same four seconds of footage about five times to try and figure out what’s going on, but there’s a point during the fight with the ghosts when ZZS is still having his Seven Nails Torment Moment, and Boat Man is busy dying, and Chengling is, well, Chengling has been beat down and had his sword took, and meanwhile A-Xiang is dealing with one of the ghosts, and another one’s coming up behind her, getting ready to brain her with his sword. And then at 29:01, it looks like he gets yoinked backward, and he goes crashing through a door, but then there is – I swear to god, y’all – a shot of two walnuts (remember those?) falling on the ground near him, and I guess the implication is that WKX, still hidden in the shadows, knocked him backward by throwing a couple of Walnuts of Death at him? Who knew Wolong’s Famous Nuts were crispy, delicious, and good for self-defense?

Oh, WKX. “Zhou Xu.” It’s so close, isn’t it? So close to “Zhou Zishu.”

Second ZZS/WKX physical fight happens over ZZS insisting that WKX leave Chengling tf alone and stop trying to see his injury. Well, there’s the beginning of another pattern.

[msmarvelwrites]

The Winter Ghost - Part 9

Info: A Devastating car crash causes you to lose your memory and start over. The only thing left in the wreckage was the horrific nightmares which plagued your mind. If you knew what today would entail you would have just stayed in bed. But you didn’t and because of that, everything you knew was about to change.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

Warnings: swearing, angst if you squint.

W/c: 2.5 k

A/n: Thank you so much to all of you have have given this fic so much love. And thank you to @cutie1365​ for all her help and support! Hope you all are having a great week! Also I promise more Y/n x Bucky interactions are coming soon! 

It had been exactly five days since the three men left on their recon mission to see what Zemo knew. Five days. Besides the occasional report on Natasha’s part, you haven't heard from Bucky again since that night. 

This was a good thing, you thought. Maybe he was respecting your space. Maybe he had come to his senses. Maybe he meant that text for someone else. Ouch, You hurt your own feelings with that one. 

In any case, the time away from the Super Soldier had given you the clarity you needed to think. You and Natasha trained almost every morning and in your spare time you would work out with Sam. He was a good trainer, besides the lingering eyes when he asked you to do squats. You didn't really mind though. You weren't really sure why you were training. It's not like anyone knew where you were, or even cared at that point. The Avengers in New York had their own problems and as far as the rest of the world knew, Y/n L/n didn't exist. 

Everytime you would ask Nat what this was all for she would only shrug and say something about ‘Avengers must be prepared.’ The idea that you could even be compared to the world saving team was insane and frankly terrifying to say the least. You were just Y/n. Sure Hydra had pumped you full of some mystery serum but without your memories you weren't even sure what that meant. 

Speaking of, since that fateful day at the market, you had no sign of anything else coming back to you. You felt like you were letting everyone down. Especially Shuri who had been working tirelessly to help try and regain something, anything that would make you remember. A part of you worried that no matter what she did, you would never truly know. And a small part of you was maybe a little thankful. The idea of your past life terrified and fascinated you all at once. 

 Over the past few days, Wanda helped teach you that little mind trick of yours. Once you got the hang of it, it was hard to say out of people's heads. Though you had more control over your ability than before, sometimes your friends were just too loud; you couldn't help but pick them out of a room. 

“Hey good lookin'! You ready to hit the gym?” Sam's voice echoed through the kitchen while you poured yourself a tall mug of coffee. You signed, still sore from yesterday's workout. 

“Don’t you guys do anything other than workout?” You asked, eyeing him sceptically. 

“What's it look like?” He winked, flexing his bicep. 

Guess that's a no. 

“Okay, okay. Just let me enjoy this small fleeting moment of peace while I drink my coffee. I’ll meet you there in fifteen.” You spoke, exasperated. You weren't getting out of this one. You knew that, and so did he. 

“Fine, but if you're late, we’re sparring. And you know damn well I fight dirty.” He smirked, jogging out of the room. God, he was insufferable. Over the time since Sam had come back you both had spent a lot of time together. He was a flirt and you were awkward as hell, but the two of you became close friends. Plus, he liked to shit talk Bucky as much as you did. 

You brought your mug up to your lips and took a big sip, letting the rich aromatic smell of coffee invade your senses. While the others would lay down their respective lives to save the world, you would do it just for this moment. Were you a junky? The thought made you giggle. 

“What's so funny, dear?” Nat strolled into the kitchen, eyeing you while you only shook your head. 

“Oh, nothing.” You paused as she looked through the fridge for her usual morning orange juice. 

“Top shelf, on the left.” You spoke.

“Got it. Thanks. What are your plans for today?” She questioned, grabbing a glass from the cabinet. 

“I’m heading to the gym in a few, if you care to join me. Besides that, I’m open. Why what’s up?” You asked, bringing the mug back to your mouth and finishing what little coffee you had left. 

“No reason… the boys are coming home today and-” the coffee that once resided in your mouth spewed out in an almost cartoonish spit-take. Your hand flew up to your face, but it was too late. You choked on the fluid over coughs and apologies. 

“Wait- What?” You asked dumbfounded. 

…………..................................................................................................................

“Wait- what?” Steve asked in shock, his eyes almost bulging out of his face. Bucky couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's delayed reaction. 

“I kissed her Steve” He reiterated again, “… Or maybe she kissed me- I don't know, it just kinda’ happened.” Bucky huffed, rubbing the back of his head as his eyebrows knitted together. It didn't matter now anyways, he had ruined it. He knew he had to, but dammit, that didn't mean it hurt any less. Knowing no matter who actually initiated the kiss- it happened, and in turn, completely altered their relationship. Whatever it had been in the first place. 

“How could you let this happen, Barnes?” Steve barked, knocking him out of his train of thought.

“Don't give me that ‘Captain’ bullshit, punk. Not with me. I don’t know, there's something about that girl. She just-”

“She's just nothing. No Buck, absolutely not. Do not go down this road. I’m warning you.” Steve pointed a finger at Bucky's chest, the sheer strength pushing him back a few pases. He held his ground though as to not let on that little Stevie was capable of such strength.

“Well it doesn't matter, I called it off anyways.” Bucky mumbled. Steve only sharply nodded in confirmation. 

“Why do you care, anyways?” Bucky asked, watching his friend carefully.

“I- I don't. I don’t care. I mean- yes! I care, of course I do. You're my best friend… I don't want to see you get hurt…”  Steve stuttered.

After all these years Bucky would have thought he’d get better at lying but, wanting to drop the conversation he nodded, accepting his failed attempt. 

“I’m glad you broke it off with her, Buck. There's so much you-” He coughed, though it sounded like more of a choke, “We. there's so much we don't know.” He finished, obviously staring at Bucky’s forehead, rather than his eyes. 

Damn he was bad at lying. 

“Anyways…” Bucky started, desperate to change the subject from Y/n to something less gut wrenching. “When’s ship out?” He asked, as the two men walked back to their motel. 

They had landed in Berlin five days ago. Five excruciatingly long days. Bucky had called and hung up on Y/n seventeen times since they got there. He prayed to whatever God he believed in the calls never made it to her end.

Meeting with Zemo took a lot out of Bucky. The man knew the deepest parts of himself. The parts that shamed him, and caused him nothing but heartache and pain. T’Challa had helped to sneak Steve and him into the Joint Counter Terroist Center, giving them a little less than thirty minutes to interrogate the man.

Bucky wasn't sure about any of this. Why would Zemo want anything to do with Y/n? Unless he was just a cog. The whole thing made very little sense, but then again, he trusted Y/n. With every fiber of his body he trusted her. Even if Steve wasn't quite as sold. 

That's only because he hasn't kissed her sweet lips. God, if he only knew how you tasted. 

Ouch, he hurt his own feelings with that one. 

The memory for Zemo’s twisted smile knocked him out of his daze. 

“The prodigal son returns, it seems,” He chuckled, sadistically. Even his voice sent a shiver down Bucky's spine. The idea of this man's hands on Y/n in any capacity was enough to send him into a blind rage. But they hadn't come to tear his head clean off his body, though Bucky knew he could do it without even flinching. 

“Here to ask you some questions. And you're going to answer them.” Steve barked in his most authoritative Captain voice. Zemo chuckled, never once taking his eyes off Bucky. 

“The Winter Soldier and his boyfriend. What a pleasure…” Steve only huffed in response causing a sadistic smirk to tug on the prisoners mouth. 

“Twenty minutes.” T’Challa spoke into their coms. 

“What do you know about Y/n L/n?” Bucky spoke this time. He hoped Zemo didn't see his harsh expression falter as the mere mention of her name. 

“Ah, Agent L/n… Quite a specimen, wouldn't you agree, hound?” Zemo practically spit the word. Steve reached his arm out, gripping onto Bucky’s shoulder, holding him back. 

He wouldn't even flinch. It would take seconds.

“Answer the Question.” Steve boomed.

“Yes, Y/n and I go way back. You have her don't you? Found her triggers yet? Does she even remember her own name?” He laughed, almost maniacally, like something out of those old comic books Bucky was so fond of. 

“Steve…” Buck warned, knowing that he wasn't going to be able to hold it together much longer. Steve nodded, turning his gaze back to the small man in the cell.

“What's in the serum, Zemo. What exactly did you give her?” He asked, stepping closer to the glass case he was sitting in. 

“Couldn't tell you if I wanted to. But she knows… And when she remembers, oh. What. A. Day.” He smirked, tapping on the glass with every word. 

“What does that mean? What are her triggers?” Steve questioned. When Zemo only shrugged the Captain’s fist flew against the glass, sending a booming echo through the room. 

“Ten minutes.” T’Challa’s voice ran through their coms again. It was now or never. They probably wouldn't get another chance like this. The men were fugitives. The mere fact they crossed the European border was a god send.

“Why didn't you just kill her? Huh? Why go to all this trouble...Why give her the serum?” Bucky asked, trying, truly trying to keep his voice level. The idea of never meeting Y/n made his heart ache. 

“We tried to clone the serum. She's a smart one, мой ребенок. Made it so that without being mixed with her blood and exposed to radiation, it would be useless. Her fail safe. I don't think she ever thought...” He chuckled, shaking his head from side to side. “Tell me, did her arm heal okay?” 

Bucky gritted his teeth. The smug bastard. The thought of the torture Hydra must have put her though made him feel physically ill. Worse than anything they could have ever done to him. They touched her. He could practically hear her screams ringing through his mind. 

He wouldn't. Even. Flinch. 

“We must leave. Someone's alerted a guard.” T'Challa's panicked voice shook Bucky out of his rage. Zemo seemed to notice. 

“Give my regard to мой ребенок.” He flashed a toothy smile, taking a seat again.

“Get out of there!” The king's voice boomed, but Bucky didn't move. Steve yanked on his arm, pulling him towards the doors. 

“They know where she is.” Zemo spoke so quietly the two men almost didn't hear. But they did. 

“Who?” Bucky snapped. The man only chuckled, and waved as Steve yanked him out of the room. 

…………..................................................................................................................

You met Sam and Nat in the gym, fifteen minutes later.

He was coming home today. You always knew eventually he would, but you were hopeful you'd have a little more time. Time for what, you weren't sure. All you knew is your heart still ached with his final words. 

The idea of seeing Bucky’s face again made a lump appear in your throat. You weren’t ready. I mean, truthfully, you weren’t sure you'd ever be. 

You had dealt with rejection before, sure. Your freshman boyfriend asked Angie Cordillia to the winter formal instead of you. You cried all night. But this- this was different. You knew it. You felt it, and it ripped through your heart like a chainsaw to paper. 

“You're late!” Sam shouted from the treadmill going full speed. Well, not full speed- it was made for Steve and Bucky after all. 

“I am not. Right on-” You looked down at your watch. “Time…” Oh shit. One minute past ten. 

“I’m just warming up, and then I’m coming for you… Ya ready, beautiful?” Sam asked, sending a wink your way. 

You looked to Natasha who only sent you a smirk while she stretched on the gym mat. 

You huffed, tying your hair back into a ponytail. “Listen, Sam, I know what you said but I’m just really not feeling-“ 

“You know why you’re here?” Sam suddenly interrupted. All joking tones had melted out of his words as you approached him. 

“Well, do you?” He repeated. 

You thought about that for a moment. Yeah, you knew why. The team needed to find out whatever serum was in your system before Hydra would clone it. You were a means to an end. You were of course willing to be that cog, if to help right the wrong you had done in your past life, but that’s all it was. 

“You’re here because Y/n, the old Y/n was the best of the best. She was a fighter. And whether you remember or not, she’s in there. Maybe there’s a way to take that serum out of ya, maybe you can just start over. But if you can’t, whatever you believe in has put it in there to make you stronger. So you decide, are you just here to be here, or are you a fucking Avenger?” His words hit you like a ton of bricks. 

Sam was never the sentimental type. Far from it, in fact. You’d never heard him speak with such passion. You wanted to believe he meant it, but a gnawing feeling in the fit of your stomach kept you from fully retaining his worlds. 

“I- I’m not an Avenger.” You signed, wanted nothing more than to be the kind of person to spring into action after his speech, but you weren’t. You knew that was because you were no hero. 

“Maybe not officially. The bands kinda broken up at the moment. But lemme’ just say this,” He placed a hand on your shoulder, “You’re here for a reason. So we’re not going to sit around in Shuri’s lab all day. We’re going to train and maybe, if I kick your ass enough, you’ll realize just how special you are.” He gave you a little shove, knocking you back a little. You tried to speak but your voice betrayed you. 

“Dammit.” You finally spoke. 

“Yeah, I don’t know where that came from either…” Sam chucked. You wanted to protest, to argue that you weren’t the person he thought you were. But you didn’t. 

You weren’t sure if it was the look in his eyes, or the intro to Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC that came blaring out of the gym speakers, but in any case, you believed him.

“Fine, Give me your best shot, Wilson.”

................................................................................................................................

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed please remember to leave a like or reblog <3 Your validation means to much to me lol Hope you all are having an amazing weekend! Remember to take some time for yourself and practice self care! Lord knows we all need it right now.

@kalesrebellion​ 

@projectcampbell​

[reading-riordan]

PJO: “The Lightning Thief,” Chapter Five

“I Play Pinochle With a Horse”

or, “The Confusing Info-Dump Chapter”

Percy spends the next few days in and out of consciousness, which is weird, because at this point I’m pretty sure that his wounds are all psychological. Occasionally he’s fed “something that tasted like buttered popcorn, only it was pudding” by the girl from the end of the last chapter.

When she saw my eyes open, she asked, "What will happen at the summer solstice?" I managed to croak, "What?" She looked around, as if afraid someone would overhear. "What's going on? What was stolen? We've only got a few weeks!"

Unfortunately for The Girl, a guy covered in eyeballs comes in to tell her that it’s still too early for this much foreshadowing.

Eventually Percy wakes up sitting on the porch of that farmhouse, feeling weak. Grover is there, wearing a “CAMP DEMIGOD HALF-BLOOD” T-shirt but otherwise looking normal. Then he hands Percy a broken Minotaur horn and confirms that yeah, his mom ostensibly exploded last night and he’s still got hairy goat legs under his jeans.

Percy is just “FML,” which, y’know, fair.

I was alone. An orphan. I would have to live with...Smelly Gabe? No. That would never happen. I would live on the streets first.

"I'll put a pin in that idea.” —Rick Riordan

Grover, who is honestly weepier about this than Percy, advises him to drink something which looks like apple juice but tastes like “my mom's homemade blue chocolate-chip cookies, buttery and hot, with the chips still melting.” It makes him feel a lot better, though Grover implies that the stuff would kill him and possibly Percy if either of them drank too much. 

Grover then leads Percy to the back of the house, and we get our first real glimpse of Camp Half-Blood:

Between here and there, I simply couldn't process everything I was seeing. The landscape was dotted with buildings that looked like ancient Greek architecture—an open-air pavilion, an amphitheater, a circular arena—except that they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun. In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high school-age kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Grover's were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range. Others rode horses down a wooded trail, and, unless I was hallucinating, some of their horses had wings.

At the end of the porch, Percy sees The Girl and a man who “looked like a cherub who'd turned middle-aged in a trailer park.” (I must admit, I do like that description.) They are apparently Annabeth and Mr. D.

Percy is surprised to also see Mr. Brunner, who it turns out is actually named “Chiron.”

“Scale? Never heard of it.” —Some ancient Greek artist

"Ah, good, Percy," he said. "Now we have four for pinochle."

He offered me a chair to the right of Mr. D, who looked at me with bloodshot eyes and heaved a great sigh. "Oh, I suppose I must say it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. There. Now, don't expect me to be glad to see you."

[...]

She glanced at the minotaur horn in my hands, then back at me. I imagined she was going to say, You killed a minotaur! or Wow, you're so awesome! or something like that. Instead she said, "You drool when you sleep." Then she sprinted off down the lawn, her blond hair flying behind her.

You know, Hogwarts has a much nicer welcoming ceremony. There’s a feast and everything. 

(Also, it should be “blonde,” with an “e.” Just saying.)

Mr. Brunner says that he’s glad that Percy didn’t get horribly killed, as that would have made his tenure at Yancy Academy “a waste of time.” (See, he clearly had no interest in the other students.) Apparently Grover was planted at the school to look out for future protagonists, and when Chiron heard about Percy he murdered the previous Latin teacher and took a job at the school in order to watch him. 

Percy finally cuts to the chase and asks what the heck is going on, and Chiron reveals that the Greek gods are real.

Oh, and Mr. D is one. Specifically Dionysus, god of wine, though he doesn’t like going by that because “names are powerful things” and I still don’t understand why we’re doing this bit. As far as I know, the ancient Greeks weren’t scared of using Dionysus’ name, and it apparently doesn’t hurt him or anything, so...? The point is, Zeus is mad at him, so now he has to spend the next century running a summer camp and getting no rum for his rum and Coke. 

So, let’s talk about Dionysus for a minute. 

“No, I’ve never actually seen a leopard. Why?” —Some ancient Greek artist

He’s actually a pretty complex character. If you don’t want to watch this very interesting 17-minute video, we can summarize by saying that he originally seems to have been a scary god of madness, but over time he developed into a younger, friendlier god with some scary stories still attached to him. The thing is, Mr. D doesn’t fit either of those portrayals very well. I think Riordan was going for the creepy original version (there’s a whole paragraph describing some of his scary stories), but he comes off more grumpy than terrifying. I guess the lack of booze is making him irritable. 

He fits the role of grouchy camp counselor pretty well, though I’m not sure why he hates Percy so much in particular. Unless Riordan just needed a Snape for his Harry Potter bingo card.

"If you were a god, how would you like being called a myth, an old story to explain lightning? What if I told you, Perseus Jackson, that someday people would call you a myth, just created to explain how little boys can get over losing their mothers?"

No, Chiron, he was created to encourage little boys with learning disabilities. Get your facts straight. 

First off: kudos on Percy’s first name, I like that detail. Secondly, I have to question: why don’t people believe in the Greek gods anymore? Mr. D says that Percy will be incinerated if he refuses to, but by that logic, why isn’t Zeus hurling lightning at people until they burn up some BBQ for him? How’d y’all let Christianity take over your cosmic empire?

"Well, now," Chiron said. "God—capital G, God. That's a different matter altogether. We shan't deal with the metaphysical."

Hmm. 

He kicked your ass, didn’t He?

Nah. He sent His kid to do it. 

The adults are still being vague, expecting Sally to have explained things a bit more. Eventually Mr. D leaves with Grover, saying that they need to discuss “[his] less-than-perfect performance on this assignment." Percy asks Chiron a few more questions, and learns that the “Greek” gods have apparently moved Mount Olympus to America.

“What you call 'Western civilization.' Do you think it's just an abstract concept? No, it's a living force. A collective consciousness that has burned bright for thousands of years. The gods are part of it. You might even say they are the source of it, or at least, they are tied so tightly to it that they couldn't possibly fade, not unless all of Western civilization were obliterated. [...] America is now the heart of the flame. It is the great power of the West. And so Olympus is here. And we are here."

*rubs temple* Do I want to try and unpack this? ‘Cause there’s so much to go over. 

Like: what counts as "Western civilization," at a time when globalization is spreading it to non-Western countries? Or conversely, when the West takes on non-Western traits? Are the gods only tied to Greek influences, or influences from the new countries that they come to? If they’re the embodiments of Western civilization, what does it mean that said civilization has been primarily defined by Christianity for so long, and follow up, does that mean Christianity dying in Western countries, ironically, hurts them? 

Don’t get me wrong, having characters as the personifications of cultural traits is an interesting concept. I just don’t think that Riordan plans to go into that as much as he should.

And heck, I can imagine them moving without making it all philosophical. Look at Greece’s economy. The Olympians wouldn’t be the only ones emigrating.

So Percy is kind of freaked out about being included in this “physical embodiment of Western civilization” thing, and finally asks “Who...who am I?" Chiron admits that he doesn’t know, but that in the meantime, he'll help him get settled into camp and also reveal that he’s a centaur.

I mean, the next chapter confirms that Percy knows the myths about Chiron, so he shouldn’t really be surprised.

Anyway! The characters are okay-ish, but the plot is overly complicated even though it’s barely begun. Come back next time when Percy finds out more of it and also blows up some toilets. 

[rockthingsbymeg]

Oblivious

Request: Hey your writing is awesome! For Thirsty Thursday, can I request an Axl Smut where he has a huge crush on Y/N and he flirts with her and they end up having sex? Hope you like this one, thx! ❤️  (sent by anon)

Pairing: Axl Rose x reader

Info: Smut [oral, male receiving; public place, car sex]; 2903 words;

A/N: Sorry it took me this long baby, I hope you like it.

Y/N smiled warmly as Guns N’ Rose’s occupied five stools at the bar. Without a word from them, she immediately began to prepare their orders, talking to them as she did so.

“You guys were great tonight.” She said to all of them, though her eyes focused a bit more on Axl.

“You liked it?” Axl asked, a half-smile/half-smirk plastered on his lips as she handed him his drink.

“Of course!” Y/N grinned, handing the others their drinks as well. “Your solo was so fucking good tonight!” She said to Slash, receiving an almost shy, bashful smile in return.

“Thanks, Y/N.” He said, taking a sip of his drink and moving his attention to a group of girls that took some seats at the bar not far from them.

Y/N chuckled at his behavior and turned her attention to the other drinks that she needed to make.

“You look good tonight.” Axl said with a smile, letting his green eyes roam over her body. Her boss didn’t care about what clothes his employees wore as long as the customers were served, but Y/N didn’t show up to work all dressed up like one of the other bartenders. She was working after all, not trying to get laid in the middle of her shift.

“Axl, I’m wearing jeans and a shirt and I reek of sweat and alcohol.” She deadpanned, hoping he couldn’t see the faint blush that she felt present on her cheeks.

“That’s your power baby, you always look good.” He smirked, drinking from his glass as his eyes fixated on her lips.

“Shut up…” Y/N chuckled, dismissing his flirting like usual. There was no way Axl Rose was interested in her, so why flirt back anyways?

[…]

Even though Axl flirted with her regularly, this night was different. He was flirting with every chance he got, complimenting her looks, saying, in the classiest way he could muster, how hot she was… anything, he flirted any way he could.

Everyone could see the effect on her, even Axl. She would smile shyly once she looked away from him and he would catch her staring at him many times.

Despite his redoubled efforts to make his interest in her clear, Y/N still wouldn’t flirt back. He didn’t think she understood that he was serious about it.

After watching Axl’s wasted attempts at flirting with her in between his own flirting with girls, Slash waved her down and ordered another drink.

“Axl’s seems interested in you…” He trailed off with a knowing smirk.

Y/N rolled her eyes. “He’s just joking around; he doesn’t mean anything.” She said, placing his drink in front of him. Slash had a very confused and unbelieving look on his face as she did so. “What?”

“You’re shitting right?” He chuckled, looking into her eyes.

“Hum, no?” She asked though it sounded more like a question.

“You’re really thinking he’s just joking?” He asked, taken aback by her level of what could only be described as either unparalleled blindness or stupidity.

“Why the hell would he flirt with me?” She asked as if there was no obvious reason. In her mind, there wasn’t.

“For two reasons. One, he wants to fuck you. Two, he never shuts up about you, he’s a fucking schoolgirl with a crush…” He rolled his eyes, mentally replaying every time Axl had started to speak about her in his talks with him.

“Slash! What the fuck?!” She complained, slapping his arm.

“What? It’s true!” He raised his arms in surrender. “Go ask him if you don’t believe me.”

“I’m not gonna ask him that, get bent…” She spoke, walking away from him and gathering the dirty glasses left by the other customers.

Walking away from him meant walking away from Axl as well, what gave Slash a chance to talk to the guy.

“Axl!” He called over the loud music, dragging his attention away from Y/N.

“What?” He asked, finishing his drink.

“She’s not getting the hint man.” He said, pointing to Y/N. “You gotta be more obvious.”

“More?” Axl asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. “How the fuck can I be more obvious?!”

“I don’t know. Ask her out on a date or something. She thinks you’re just messing around.” He shrugged. “She didn’t believe me when I told her you liked her.”

“Fucking shit, how can she be so oblivious?” Axl groaned, getting up from his seat and walking to the end of the bar where she currently was. He let her finish some guy’s drink and then called her. “Your shift is over soon right?”

“Ten more minutes, I guess. Why?” She looked at him briefly while pouring another drink, this time for herself.

“I want to talk to you.”

[…]

Her nerves were buzzing inside her body as she ended her shift. The last ten minutes had been pure agony, trying to think about the reason why Axl wanted to talk to her.

She took in deep breaths as she left the very small room made for the staff so they could store their belongings and soon was once again greeted by booming music. She scanned the bar for a little, finding Axl in his original seat, and nervously made her way to him.

“Hey.” She greeted. Axl smiled at her as he turned around in his seat. “You wanted to talk?” She smiled back, trying to look as relaxed as she could.

“Yeah.” He answered, finishing his drink and getting up. His hand came in contact with hers and held it. “Let’s go outside.”

Y/N tried, in vain, to stop the butterflies inside her stomach at the simple gesture. She let him guide her outside the club through the back door.

She leaned against the wall while Axl let go of her hand and looked at a group of friends chatting and passing by, waiting for them to leave. The night was way cooler than the day had been and now Y/N was deeply regretting not bringing a jacket.

Axl noticed her rubbing her arms to try to keep them warm. “Here.” He smiled, slipping his jacket off and placing it over her shoulders.

Y/N smiled up at him too in a silent thank you and as the action left their noses only a few centimeters apart, she realized how close Axl was to her.

“So-” She trailed off, moving a strand of hair behind her ear and looking away from Axl’s piercing, green eyes. “What did you want to talk about?”

Axl nodded, once again taking one of her hands in his. “I’m not going to fuck around.” He warned, but that went without saying because he was not one to hold his thoughts back. “I like you. A lot. And I thought I had made that clear by flirting with you, but apparently, you didn’t get it…” He chuckled as he saw a faint blush cover her cheeks. “Look at me.”

Axl lifted her head with one hand underneath her chin. The sight knocked the air out of her lungs in a second: a street lamp was shining its light behind him, making a halo of a shitty golden color form around him; the color of his hair was more vibrant than she ever remembered seeing it and his green eyes had a crystal quality to them as he looked down at her.

“I think you like me too and that’s why I flirted. I want to give this a shot.” He said, briefly scanning her entire face. “But if I misread things, just tell me that. Because I don’t want to go around flirting for nothing.”

Axl was right, as he usually was when it came to her. She had been dreaming about being with him for months, imagining dates and talks and intimate moments to the point where her heart ached for not having them.

“I like you too.” She said.

Axl smiled at her, a little bit of relief crossing his expression. “Then why did you keep shooting me down?” He asked, confused.

“I didn’t think you liked me.” She shrugged. “You’re you, you can have any girl you want, why would you want me?”

Axl looked at her with the most unbelieving expression she had ever seen on someone. “Why? Look at you.” He cried out. “You’re beautiful, you’re hot as fuck, you’re so fucking smart, you’re kind… I can go on but I think you got the point.”

Though Y/N enjoyed all the compliments he gave her, the second one made her insides twist the most. In a bolt of confidence, that she couldn’t tell where it came from, she smirked at him. “Hot as fuck?”

Axl laughed, throwing his head back for a few seconds before looking back at her with a matching smirk. “Yes. Hot as fuck.”

He leaned down for a kiss, letting go of her hand in favor of holding her waist and pushing her up against the wall. Y/N’s hands settled on his hair, running her fingers between the silky strands and curling them around her pointer.

Axl’s mouth moved slowly against hers, but it didn’t make the kiss any less hot. It was lazy and hungry at the same time, his tongue coaxing her lips apart and playing with her own.

He began to press his body closer against hers, making any space behind them disappear. His hands had ventured underneath her shirt and were roaming her sides, still innocently, as one of his legs slid between hers.

Her grip on his hair became tighter at the newfound pressure on her clit, adding fuel to a fire that had been burning inside her since he first started flirting tonight. The action had Axl groaning softly against her lips, the kiss becoming faster and even hungrier than before.

Once again, a bolt of confidence surged within her. One of her hands slowly left his hair and began making its way down his front, blunt nails running over his faint abs before stopping right on top of his hardening cock.

“What do you think you’re doing baby?” Axl asked curiously, holding himself back so he wouldn’t push against her hand. His mouth had left hers in exchange for her neck, peppering wet kisses across her skin until he managed to find her sweet spot.

She bit her lip for a few seconds, debating whether or not to voice the current desire taking over her thoughts. Ultimately, she went for it. “I want to suck you…”

Axl pulled back from her at those words, looking into her eyes to confirm that she was serious. She was if the intense look she gave him was anything to go by. “Who am I to say no to that?” He questioned rhetorically, a small smirk adorning his lips. “Where do you wanna-”

His question was stopped as Y/N dropped to her knees in front of him. He thought she would want to go somewhere else, but he wasn’t going to stop her.

Her hands quickly undid his jeans, tugging them lower so she could pepper kisses over his clothed cock. Her breath was warm and her lips looked downright sinful, pressing up against the raging bulge inside his underwear.

She didn’t tease for too long and soon his underwear was pulled down as well, finally freeing his cock. With her eyes locked on his, she licked a long line over her palm, wrapping said hand around his cock and slowly jerking him off.

She gave him a tentative lick, enjoying the strangled groan that left his lips, before wrapping her lips around the tip, playing with her tongue around it.

“Y/N…” He moaned lowly, tone demanding yet soft. “C'mon don’t be a fucking tease…”

She high-fived herself internally for being able to get such reactions out of him and then began to move her head, taking him further down her throat until the tip was nestled against it and her nose was pressing against the hair at the base. His scent was intoxicating and Y/N could have spent the entire night just resting against him, but she’d much rather hear him moan her name and have his cum paint the insides of her mouth.

His hand had made its way to her hair, holding it in a loose ponytail as his eyes glued themselves to her lips. She was peering up at him, watching the way he was biting his lower lips and how his chest was moving more quickly with each movement of her head and tongue against him.

“Fuck baby, look at you…” He groaned, using the hold on her hair to quicken her pace. “On your knees in the middle of the street… only to have my cock shoved inside your mouth…” He moaned, weakly thrusting his hips as one of her hands cupped his balls. “Such a dirty fucking slut…”

Her free hand was resting against his thigh, nails digging against the pale skin as he continued to dictate the pace he wanted. He was getting close with each movement and she could tell that by the way his cock twitched against her tongue.

A bit later he was pulling her up, pressing a feverish kiss to her lips. “Don’t wanna cum in your mouth…”

“Wanna go to my car?” She mumbled against his lip, reaching for the keys in her back pocket.

“Yeah.” He answered, giving her one last kiss before fixing his clothes. “Let’s go…”

Their walk to the car was fast even with Axl constantly planting kisses on the skin of her neck. She was quick to unlock the doors and get in the backseat, letting Axl sit down too and then climbing on his lap, hastily throwing his jacket to the front before he was helping her remove her shirt.

Her bra came off next and soon Axl had his mouth attached to her left nipple, sucking the nub in his mouth while his left hand teased her other nipple and his right hand began to rub her clit over her jeans.

“You’re so fucking warm…” Axl groaned, pressing his fingers against her core. “Bet you’re soaking wet just from sucking my cock, isn’t that right?”

“Yes…” She moaned, moving her hips against his hand. “Fuck me please…” She begged, undoing her jeans, and encouraging him to slide his hand her underwear.

Axl complied easily, rubbing her wet folds while helping her get rid of her pants. It was a bit of a struggle to do because of her converse, but soon she was sitting in his lap in only her underwear.

“Axl c'mon…” She whimpered as he continued to rub her, wanting his cock inside her.

They both worked to get his jeans open again and soon Y/N had her hand, once again, wrapped around him. She lined herself and slowly slid down, moaning at the stretch. It had been a while for her and Axl wasn’t exactly small, much to her delight.

“Fuck baby…” Axl moaned as she sat all the way down. She had her eyes closed and a strong grip on his shoulders. “You good?” He asked, moving a few strands of hair out of her face.

Y/N nodded wordlessly. After a few more seconds, she began to tentatively move up and down on him, moaning with the pleasure. She had been so close to her orgasm just from sucking him off that she knew it wouldn’t take long to get there again.

Axl had moved his hands to her ass and was helping her move, knowing, just like she did, that this wouldn’t last long. They picked up a fast, harsh pace, the lewd sound of sweaty skin slapping against sweaty skin filling the car along with their moans and pants.

A little shift of her hips had his cock continuously hitting her g-spot, making her head drop forward and a loud cry of his name leave her lips. Her legs shook on either side of him, the movements of her waist growing desperate as pleasure took control of her body.

“Fuck baby… You’re going to cum on my cock?” Axl moaned, snapping his hips against the same spot as fast as he could.

“Yes please… Please fuck!” Y/N cried out, moving one of her hands to rub her clit.

“C'mon then… Fucking show me how good I’m making you feel…” He coaxed, taking one of her nipples in his mouth.

That action seemed to be the breaking point, and soon Y/N was moaning out his name with her head thrown back. Axl was doing everything in his power to hold off his high but as Y/N began to beg for his cum, he was no longer able to hold back.

“Fuck… Shit. Fuck!” Axl moaned, keeping his hips still and flush against hers, shooting rope after rope of cum inside her.

Silence settled in the car for a few moments as they recovered, Y/N humming contentedly as she rested against his chest, feeling his hands caress her skin.

“You have plans tomorrow?” Axl asked out of the blue, breath still erratic.

“No why?” She answered, sitting up straight and looking into his eyes.

“How about we go out tomorrow, just as two?” He smiled, pulling his hair away from his forehead.

“Want me to pick you up?” She smiled back, helping him out.

“I’ll meet you at your place at seven.” He kissed her temple. “We’ll choose where to go then.”

------

Finishing Thirsty Thursday/100 followers celebration.

Thank you so much for reading. Likes, reblogs, comments and any kind of way you show me you liked this are endlessly appreciated💛

Requests are closed.

Let me know if you want to be tagged so you know when I post fanfics.

Thanks @dustnbones​ for beta-reading this; check out her fic blog @dustnbonesfics​💛 

[dontasktheradiodemon]

Emotional Support, $500/hour

Alastor hires Angel for his services. No, not those services. The "provide sympathy and advice for some poor loser who's found himself unwillingly stuck in a soap opera" services. Although Angel would far rather do it as a friend rather than for pay.

Tumble mobile is a piece of crap that won't let me post an entire chat log in one post, and I don't want to wait eight hours to post this when I get home, so gonna post this in two chunks. Part one:

Alastor

A text arrives at one of the numbers written up on the walls around Pentagram City:

"Is this Angel Dust's business line?"

Hella formal.

Angel

An identifying ring sounded from Angel's drawer. Not the type that'd fire warning bells in his head, but the sort he preferred to hear from his hotel room.

Time to go to work.

[ The one and only, Toots! 💋 What can I do ya for? 💕 ]

Alastor

"What are your rates just for private conversation? Nothing sexual. I need somebody to talk to."

Angel

Angel reread the message. Once. Twice. A couple more times. Usually he didn't get this type of request on this number, but a part of him was relieved.

[ Ya talkin' companion rates, Babe? I typically run that 500 by the hour, but dependin' on the kinda secrets I'm gonna be keepin', I could drop or ask fa a tip. It's a pretty accurate ballpark, though. Have I lost ya? ]

Alastor

There’s a longer pause before the next reply.

(The pause is for Alastor to go “Five hundred dollars?! FIVE HUNdred DOL*LARS*?! *FIVE—*”)

“I can manage that.”

It’s not going to be *his* money.

Angel

[ Sounds good! Where ya gonna be wantin' me, Sweetheart? Just so ya know, I'm gonna need those bills in my hands before we get down to any business. ]

Alastor

“I’ll have them. The hotel just outside Cannibal Colony’s northern entrance. I’ll let you know the room number.”

It’s a middling sort of hotel. It’s alright.

Angel

[ Alright, I know the area. I'll be there in about fifteen. ]

He didn't know the area. But Angel couldn't let an unknown client know that. Furthermore, last he was there he had himself QUITE THE WELCOMING. So by his better judgement, he asked Bel for directions without running the risk of getting shot this time. He'd find his way.

Alastor

And Alastor is gonna spend the next fifteen minutes cordially threatening the first people he sees who look well-dressed and stupid enough to be carrying around several hundred dollars, and then bolting for the hotel.

He’s settling down on the room’s couch and texting Angel the number at about the same time Angel probably ought to be walking in the front door.

Angel

_Rap rap._ He's not the police, so he saves announcing himself. Nonetheless his senses are alert, his limbs folded deceptively casual before his torso. Anxieties aside, he's expecting an easy job. As soon as he can confirm it's a real job and not a hold up.

Alastor

Alastor’s shadow opens the door for him.

He glances over from the couch. “Right on time.” He gestures to an arm chair across from the couch. Surprise!

Angel

Angel looks at his phone. The room number. His phone again. They surely match up exactly, don't they? A rather robotic wave to Alastor's shadow, just to be polite, before he pokes his head in without crossing the doorframe.

_" ... What. Am I bein' punk'd 'ere!? "_ Arms flail wildly as his eyes dart about the room in search of clues he might not get from the real deal on the couch. " THIS where ya been holdin' the crock pot hostage?? "

Alastor

“Do come in and shut the door before you start shouting, would you? I *am* trying to be discreet, here.” Proof of that claim: he’s actually using an indoor voice for once.

There’s no crock pot. No nothing else, either—he got the room less than five minutes ago just for this, he hasn’t touched a thing and he didn’t bring any personal effects. Just him, sitting cross-armed on the couch.

He uncrosses his arms, fishes a wallet out of his pocket, and slides several bills half out. See? He’s legit. “I have enough here for—let’s see—about three hours and twenty-five minutes. Hopefully I won’t need that much, but.” A jerky shrug.

Angel

His face fell and stiffened into a vague sternness. Wordlessly he stepped around the shade and soundlessly shut the door. This energy was too weird. He didn't trust it. He didn't like it. Either he or Alastor was running the risk of being made a bigger fool than Narcissus in the pond. Fittingly, neither one of them would risk their egos for something so trivial.

He was MORE than serious.

Angel passed the arm chair, instead taking a knee before him and lowering a hand over the wallet. " I'm not takin' ya money, Al. The fuck's goin' on? "

Alastor

“Oh, don’t worry about *that,* it’s not my money. It properly belongs to...” He pulls a card out of the wallet and squints at it. “Mr. Bee. Ironically, he looked more like a parrot.”

But he doubts that’s going to satisfy Angel. “I’m not talking to you as a friend. I’m hiring your services as a professional. I need your expert advice on a matter. And if I’m asking you to do your job, I *am* going to pay you for it.”

Angel

Angel rose a brow higher than his last hit. At the very least he could relax, but he was still dumbfounded -

_... as a friend?_ If he weren't a professional, he'd be asking him as a friend? The corner of his mouth twitched. It seemed more likely that he wouldn't be asking him at ALL if he weren't professional.

Regardless, he was wasting his energy trying to figure him out on his own. " What in the Nine's could ya be askin' _me_ for? " A short exhale before shifting his back against the armchair. " Save fa givin' yaself a day coma, I thought ya... pretty good at keepin' ya shit together... "

Alastor

Alastor rifled through the wallet to see if Mr. Bee had any interesting membership cards worth stealing—museums, day spas, secret societies, etc.—before sitting forward and holding the wallet out to Angel. “Are you taking it? Because I’m not telling you why I’m asking you unless you’re on the clock.”

Angel

" Alright alright, lemme see, " Angel lied with little to no intention of sitting on it. He flipped through the bills and counted them off by the hour before placing them on the table beside him. " ...120, 180, remainder a 25. 205 minutes of complete and undivided attention, in part or in full. You're set, Smiles. "

Alastor

Alastor watched as Angel counted. “All right.” He took a deep breath, let it all out. His gaze didn’t move from the table to Angel. “I could use—relationship advice.”

Angel

He could BURST with the sheer force of that bombshell, but Angel kept his cool as he made his sprawl of limbs comfortable from the floor. " Ya... gotta secret squeeze around 'ere or somethin? Cannibal gal ya came out t' see? "

Alastor

Alastor laughed ruefully. Wouldn’t that be convenient—some cute little lady to have a predictably heterosexual little afterlife with, sharing all of his shallow surface-level preferences—home era, musical theater, cannibalism—he could pick from any of a dozen ladies he’d passed since arriving in the Cannibal Colony that afternoon who would leap at the chance.

“Not a squeeze,” he said. “Not a gal, either.”

Angel

Well, he was _laughing,_ but it wasn't the good kind. Angel leaned an elbow over a seat of the sofa, keeping all signs of his own personal glee from his face.

Most of it.

" Do tell. "

Alastor

By this point, he wasn’t looking anywhere near Angel. Okay. Now or never. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, twisting his laced hands together. “Advice.” Like saying it again would keep this to some emotionally neutral info-gathering consultation. “What do you—How should one handle it, if... one has... sentiments, for one’s best friend, that he doesn’t reciprocate.” His stomach churned. “Andhe’s found out.”

He had very few people he publicly acknowledged as friends, particularly not somewhere Angel would have seen it. Only one of them was a man. He braced himself for an outburst of shock/amusement as Angel worked out who he was talking about.

Angel

Oh this was FAR from strictly transactional. They all pretty much lived together. Their interpersonal lives would be intertwined for the unspecified future. Said best friend was ENGAGED... to Angel's own best friend.

Again, Angel's eyes flickered about the room. This wasn't a Lifetime movie. This wasn't a hidden camera show. This was gonna be their life now and he'd be DAMNED if that sort of mess could be sorted by a few hundred dollars or so.

He just took a deep breath and stated the facts. Any generic advice he had on hand wouldn't be helpful. " You're his best man, Al. _What_ were ya thinkin'? "

Alastor

He squeezed his eyes shut as if Angel had just reared back to sock him in the face. He would have preferred amusement. “*I didn’t want him to kn—*”

He choked on his own static. He took a shuddering breath. “I don’t want—They make him happy, *that’s* what I want. Him happy. I don’t want to interfere, I just—“ He had to stop again. Unprofessional. Management would’ve given him a stern talking to after a performance like this.

He lifted his laced hands, pressing the knuckles of his thumbs to his eyelids. “I didn’t tell him. He figured it out.”

Angel

Angel expected defensiveness from trying to pry some more from him, to pass an air of judgement for the sake of pulling out whatever emotions he was trying so hard to hide beneath professionalism. He thought Alastor would HANDLE IT.

Not fall into whatever _this_ was. The Alastor he knew was nothing short of _UNBREAKABLE._ It was as surreal as it was painful to witness. _What could be possibly offer him?_ A simple question suddenly felt loaded and heavy.

" _Hey hey hey._ " Angel rose from the floor and perched upon the sofa facing him. " He's a smart guy. You're expressive as shit. Even performin's got... some of ya in it... Ya can't help ALL OF IT. " He leaned forward, just enough to duck below Alastor's falling level. " ... What he... have t' say about it...? "

Alastor

In a week, maybe he could have been calm and collected and above it all. But it was yesterday. It felt like it was an hour ago. The wounds were still raw, literally.

A sharp nod. “It was unavoidable.” He’d realized that the moment it happened. He still hated, hated, hated it.

“Oh, you know.” Another humorless laugh. He dropped his hands and stared tiredly down at them. “He’s furious, he feels betrayed, he feels used... he believes he still wants to be my friend but if he so much as *looks* at me before he’s ready for it he’ll hate me forever...” He shrugged wearily.

Angel

" That's why ya out here, " he stated with a toss of an arm over the backrest, " I DON'T know. How's he feelin' used? Ya never... did anythin' to 'im, did ya? I mean, since you was tryin' so hard to just keep it in, I can't imagine you HAVE. " Angel racked his memories a moment, but drew blanks. He couldn't think of any reason, for both not knowing enough and such a notion conflicting his own direct experience.

" It's... YOU hurtin' 'ere, from what I see. He's got Valera, they gonna be tyin' the knot soon. You've been... " He swallowed thickly. " There fa him. Tell me why. There's - " Words caught in his throat. Words that may have saved him from damnation had they been said to him when he needed to hear them. " Ain't nothin' wrong... wit' feelin' what ya feelin'. "

Alastor

A nod. That’s why he’s out here.

“Because any time we interacted, there was more to it—more than he was bargaining for. More than he knew about.” He had himself back under control, but his tone was subdued. Almost emotionless. Not very Radio Demon. “We hugged, we cuddled. Napped together.” And was he justified in feeling used over that? All Alastor could say was that he’d felt guilty about it the entire time—that he’d dreaded that maybe he *was* using him. “I *tried* to make sure he was always the one who initiated. It didn’t always end up that way.” He remembered holding him in his arms when he’d fainted, telling himself it was justified because he was just supporting him until he woke back up. He’d been *unconscious.* “He said he couldn’t really consent to anything we did because he didn’t know what he was consenting to.”

Angel

" And he's puttin' that on you? Smiles, ya owed 'im nothin' more than ya wanted 'im knowin'. It didn't change nothin'. Ya still gave him everything he wanted and needed from ya. You think ya owe him a reengineerin' of the parts a ya you can't change, too? He may... own ya... but he can't... change ya. Not like that. "

Realizing he may have been projecting a little too much, Angel cleared his throat. " Lovin' 'im a lil' different don't take away from everythin' ya already had. I dunno why he'd feel so... THREATENED by ya unless he... ain't cool wit' you bein' a guy, but any guy who's that comfy wit' his friends can't be straight 'imself, ah? " He forced a chuckle, but he knew that wasn't the point.

" Ya still... didn't have motives, Al, ya didn't take advantage of him. Ya didn't go underminin' everything he's workin' for. Right? No matter how you was feelin'... he still came first. Now if ya ask me, that's PRETTY FUCKIN' STUPID. But he has ya. Had ya. Whatever happens. He's got it all an' then some just t' kick ya to the curb... " Angel crossed his arms. " Ya don't deserve that. He's got some apologizin' t' do to you. I'd drag ya back to the hotel an' give 'im a piece a my mind right NOW... but y'ain't gonna want that, huh? "

Alastor

*He may own you.* Something inside Alastor twisted in pain and boiled up in fury—because it was true. Some part of him had been seized away and he was never getting it back, and that was the *worst* part of this. He muttered, “I wish I could reengineer it. Not for *him* but for *me.* I don’t want this.”

He shook his head. “It’s not because I’m a man, that never came into it. He isn’t straight.” He says this with the confidence of somebody who definitely absolutely totally knows that this is a fact, despite the fact that he has not, actually, been told so.

No, of course he’d never undermined him, he would never—but that didn’t necessarily mean he hadn’t, at the same time, taken advantage. Taken liberties he shouldn’t have, here and there. The idea that *he* might be owed an apology was laughable. Alastor wasn’t laughing. “No, absolutely not, don’t say a *single* word to him. As soon as this conversation ends, I never told you anything and you don’t know any of it.”

Angel

" Didn't think so. " Angel dropped his cheek into his hand and studied him. Something changed. He was being short with him. He perused his words, robotic and unnatural, searching for what did it. It was the price he paid for rambling.

" But ya _do,_ want it. You'd want it if things were different, if he felt the same about you. Tell me I'm wrong an' I'll eat my words wit' a side a fries. " He closed his eyes and hummed into his palm. " Whatever closure ya needin' ya gotta find it. " Angel hesitated to volley ideas, as he knew they'd be leaving his mouth astronomically hypocritical. But he wasn't being paid to play by example, was he? " Ya can count on Penny t' come around and give it to ya, but if ya do that you could be fuckin' exiled forever an' give up the front seat to watchin' Charlie's redemption plans go to shits. Sure it's a lotta fun out 'ere, but it ain't no 1929 fun. "

" Or, ya can wipe ya face. Get off ya ass. Make sure ya got all that's goin' on outta ya system. An' find somethin' new to pour yaself into that's got nothin' t' do with him. And keep doin' it until he's got less an' less a hold on ya until... you're feelin' free an' yourself, again. An' he'll just 'ave to deal with whatever that means if he wants to be stayin' friends with ya. 'Cause ya done ENOUGH. "

Alastor

"You *are* wrong." There's an edge of desperation in his voice. "If he said he felt the same and he made me that offer—yes, I'd take it. But if I could actually choose, if I was given a *real* choice? Between being with him and—and having this taken out of me and being *free?* I'd want to be free! I'd choose that in a heartbeat! I'd rather be his friend!"

And he *knew* that was what he'd choose because he *had* chosen it. Back before he realized that freedom was no longer an option. He'd lost a piece of his heart he was never getting back.

He listened to Angel's suggestions. Let out a long, slow sigh. And asked tiredly, "Is that it?"

Angel

" Then ya gonna have to prove it to yourself first babe 'cause ya ain't soundin' convincin'. " Angel ducked below his line of sight again as if it'd grant him a different perspective. " If this sorta thing had a magical fix, you'd know a lot better than me. But it don't. Ya just gotta... "

He frowned. He wouldn't be able to keep the promise of pretending this never happened. " ... keep at it... keep talkin'... maybe you'll wake up tomorrow feelin' inspired. Maybe you'll wish ya never woke up at all, but... it's all ya can do, Smiles. It's gonna take time. " Angel didn't like leaving it at this, but he found himself unsure. With other clients, he could leave them with the best and never hear of the results. So long as he stayed at the hotel, _he was going to end up WATCHING HIM every step of the way._

But he still didn't know how he needed to be taken care of. If Alastor knew himself, he wouldn't have solicited. " Good thing we got all the time in the world down 'ere to find new things to fuck ourselves up with, ah? " He reached out and gently pat the sofa cushion in place of his knee, in place of taking his hand. " You'll... get there. You're the fuckin' Radio Demon. I dunno how ya do half the shit ya do but this is gonna be one a them things. Say it. "

Alastor

"Would it sound more convincing to you if I destroyed everything he'd ever worked for *just* to ensure we could never have a life together? Would that be convincing enough for you?" Alastor snapped. "*Because I did.*"

He shoved himself off the couch to start pacing. "I've *tried* pouring myself into something new to keep him off my mind. I've *been* trying it for the last *fifty-four years.* That's why I'm at the hotel in the first place! It's why I know *how long* you can *kill yourself* with a bottle of 190 proof booze!" He flung his hands up in despair. "I've been trying to *feel like myself* again since 1966, and all I can do is—distract myself! Distract myself and suppress it until the next time I'm reminded of him!" He let out a brittle laugh, "And smear what I feel for him around to all of his duplicates!"

He rounded on Angel. "I've joined musicals, worked in restaurants, moved to a cultish commune, been an alcoholic, gone to therapy, traveled the nine circles, signed onto every harebrained scheme and plot in Hell—including the hotel!—and more things I can't even remember off the top of my head, and on top of *that* put over half a century between me and him, *and he's still stuck in my heart.* I've tried every piece of advice I've ever heard for how to fall out of love and they *haven't worked!* So give me something *new!* Give me something I *haven't tried!* You're the professional!"

He collapsed onto the armchair Angel hadn't taken. He wasn't sure if getting all that out of his system had really helped. He kind of felt like he'd just projectile vomited.

Angel

" Dupli-? ... _Fuck..._ " Angel dropped his cheek into his palm with the rest of his body taking up the empty space on the sofa. This ran much deeper than he thought. The root of his issues didn't even have anything to DO with the Pentious he knew. Likely beyond anything he could possibly say. Hadn't Alastor been so sweepingly BROAD when he came in, he could've been more careful, but- _ah seemed like he tired himself out._

**_Ya DONE?_**

" That kinda miracle workin' ain't on my resume, " he said bleakly with a broad sweep of an arm, " Ya called me fa someone to talk to, not t' be the answer to all ya problems. " As much time as he spent hearing out the woes of the damned, usually all that was really wanted from him was a crank. An easy enough temporary fix. Not here.

He stood up now. Trying to build him up from below didn't seem to be working. Alastor responded only when he called him out, questioned the half-hearted assertions playing from his mouth like a weathered record. Was that what he needed? To be spiritually disemboweled until he purged all the poison from his soul onto the tarp? He didn't like this. He didn't like it at all. He wanted to call the job off. He couldn't do it. This was too personal and psychologically visceral.

But even moreso, he couldn't give up on and leave him there for much of the same reason he couldn't leave him at the bar. Self destruction was a BITCH to be going through alone. And at the root of it all, Alastor made it clear enough he didn't want to be alone by calling him there.

Angel braced a long arm over the back of his chair so he could drill him in the eye. " Believe me, if I had it all I'd give it to ya, but all I got is this. If ya want ya stolen money back, fine, Al. If ya wanna keep yellin', 'ave at it, Al. Lay out all the shit that's been dry doggin' ya since '66. So I can get it. REALLY GET IT. 'Cause ya holdin' out on me. An' if ya really wanna get the most outta ya hours. Ya gotta keep goin'. "

Alastor

A corner of his mouth twitched. Miracle working. "Of course. Of course, you're right—I'm not expecting a miracle. Not in Hell."

He slouched forward, elbows on his knees again, running one hand through his hair—it was still partially stiff with the hair gel he hadn't managed to shower out at Rosie's, he hadn't bothered to restyle it.

He hadn't liked... that. He still felt sick. "No, I don't want a refund," he said. "I—don't think I want to keep yelling, either." He was silent a moment, trying to figure out what he *did* want from all the things he didn't want, mentally chasing something elusive. It had made perfect sense when he'd tracked down Angel's number—talk to a professional, someone whose job was all about desire and attraction, someone who'd probably dealt with thousands of broken-hearted clients; while Alastor's had only broken once, and just never been put back together.

And now that they were talking Alastor couldn't quite figure out what he wanted. Maybe he really had been hoping for a miracle.

*Ya gotta keep goin'.* All right. "I don't particularly want to talk about '66, either—but..." He took a deep breath. "There was a day when I had a choice—happily ever after with him; or run for the hills, toss aside those emotions, and go back to being who I'd been before I—fell. I chose to run. Destroy everything and run. So—when I *say* that I'd choose freedom over requited feelings... even if it doesn't sound convincing to you, I need you to know that I'm telling the truth. Because I *did* choose it. Or—tried." He looked at Angel, waiting for his reaction—waiting to see if he was believed. Because he needed to be believed. Everyone else in the world only said they didn't want love when they couldn't make it work out—and if Angel lumped Alastor in with them, then... then they would be speaking two different languages that had the same words but different meanings, never actually communicating. If Alastor couldn't make himself understood, he was still alone.

Angel

Angel took a deep breath before sinking to the floor again. " I believe ya. Just gotta say it with conviction, ah? " he said heavily with a fold of his arms over the armrest. As Alastor spoke, he tried to put himself in his place. When he was posed with as monumental a choice, he made the opposite decision. And regretted it with everything he had. Not only was there no miracle working in Hell: there were no choices for the better, either. You were damned whether or not you believed something was too good to be true or fell into the trap. Angel had dived headfirst when he should've trusted that he knew himself better than to believe it'd end well for him.

" How'd it fall through? " he posed with a drop of his chin into his arms, " He bait ya back? " Angel found himself listening with new acoustics. They'd both been in ruins for decades for strikingly similar reasons: trapped by the clutches of toxic loves neither of them want, when they never felt anything of the sort prior. A tragic First they were still fighting. Perhaps he had something to offer him afterall. Perhaps he could support him in a way only few could. He could only hope it'd be enough.

Alastor

“No.” Alastor slid off his chair, too; it didn’t feel right, sitting higher. They should be on eye level with each other. “No, that was—that was why I destroyed everything before I left. To ensure he *wouldn’t* try to bait me back. To make sure he wouldn’t want to. And he didn’t want to. He hasn’t.” Huff. “You saw him on my first day at the hotel! And that’s the longest conversation we’ve had since I left. No, he didn’t do anything. It just...” He shrugged helplessly. “Didn’t fade for me. It’s *supposed* to fade, everyone tells you it’s supposed to fade. It never did.”

Angel

" Oh. That was. " _Let's just pretend he knew from the beginning that they weren't the same demon._ Angel darted his eyes to the corner of the room as he slinked off the armrest. _Yeah. TOTALLY KNEW,_ he lied to himself as he faced Alastor and made himself comfortable. Odd of him to follow his habit. " ... him. " He then cleared his throat. " Yeah, it... doesn't... really... " Angel echoed with a perch of his arms over his ankles. " So... what's ya plan...? Ya gonna just... camp out 'ere 'till ya figure it out? "

Alastor

“That was him,” Alastor said grimly. “My *ex.*” The word was sour on his tongue. Such a fitting word. “And what did I do, I immediately blew up his ship again. Terrific work on my part. Well done.”

A shrug. “Wait at Rosie’s until either he comes calling or I decide he never will, I suppose, and then figure out what to do from there. The—the new ‘he,’ I mean. The one I’m friends with now.” He paused, considering that. “Was friends with.”

Angel

" I'll say. " Blowing up an exe's property sounded perfectly justifiable to him, and it wasn't just Cherri's influence. But he guessed if Alastor felt bad about it that only meant he preferred other ways of moving on.

" Rosie... she... busy a lot? Ya got enough company out 'ere? "

Alastor

“Oh, everyone loves me in the Cannibal Colony. All the ladies swoon and all the men beg me to come over for dinner. I can’t go half a block without getting roped into small talk and dance numbers.” He didn’t sound terribly enthusiastic about it. But he added, “I have better company here than I do anywhere else in Hell,” and *that* was completely true.

Angel

" Well... sounds like a good place fa ya to be... " Angel pondered some. Of course Cannibal Colony was his personal wonderland. But there must be something missing for him to leave, he figured. " Pause the clock for a sec, " he said with a clear of his throat, " Rosie got room fa one more? "

Alastor

“I don’t want a roommate.” He gave the answer immediately; and then, after a moment, grudgingly, asked, “Are you trying to get away from the hotel?”

Angel

" I ain't askin' t' be ya roommate, " he growled, " YOU'RE the one turnin' tail 'ere. " With that, Angel snapped his fingers. " Clock's back on. I ain't ya friend no more. "

Alastor

Alastor stared at him, lost. “Th—No, pause the clock—Then what *are* you asking?”

Angel

He crossed his arms and eyed him sternly. " If ya... " A sigh. He already knew the answer. " If ya need a friend, Al. Ya gonna be out 'ere for fuckall knows how long. Ya goin' through it. Would be much easier if all I had to do was turn a corner instead a hikin' all the way over whenever ya felt like stealin' a wallet. "

Alastor

All right, that was what he’d originally thought. He didn’t know why Angel got *offended* that Alastor hadn’t wanted a favor that had been offered for Alastor’s benefit—but then it wasn’t the first time, was it? “I don’t want a friend nearby. I don’t want to be *watched* while I’m... thinking things over. I need to have that distance.” He unconsciously glanced toward the wallet as he said the last word.

Angel

" That mean ya done? " he asked with a toss of his chin down Alastor's line of sight.

Alastor

He snapped his gaze back to Angel. “No. No, just—have to look somewhere, don’t I?” Deep breath. “Sorry. Distracted. Where were we?”

Angel

He actually pulled him back. Color Angel surprised. " Ya blew up his shit, it didn't do ya no good, ya made a mean jambalaya... "

Alastor

“*Right.* Yes. That’s not the one I wanted to talk about. *He’s* not the one I wanted to talk about. I just—needed you to know the context, but... The one I’m friends with now. That one.”

Angel

" Yeah. The one who kicked ya to the curb after ya tore yourself the fuck apart tryin' to be who he wanted ya to be instead a seein' an' appreciatin' ya fa who you are, " he stated matter of factly with a moderate sweep of his arm, " _That one._ Pen. "

Alastor

It stung to hear. Another little needle jammed into his heart, right alongside all the others already buried in. "If I was tearing myself apart to be who he wanted, then he *couldn't* see who I really was, could he? I've been more or less lying to him as long as he's known me. He's got every right to distrust me."

Angel

" More or less, " Angel echoed, " So ya _not_ entirely convinced you were completely in the wrong. " His eyes challenged him. Though the secondary six didn't have pupils, an eerie weight carried through. " It's 'cause you're not. "

Alastor

"I *meant* in the sense that even when I wasn't *actively* lying, I was lying by omission." He shook his head. "Even if I... It's nothing I don't deserve anyway—in general, in a... you know, a karmic sense. Years ago, I stabbed a version of him in the heart; now he stabs me in the heart. He was probably... *selected,* on some celestial level, to be my punishment." He'd been doing a valiant job of keeping at least a ghost of a smile on his face, but it was starting to waver now. "I knew this wasn't going to work. Of course we couldn't be friends—he was just thrown in my path to rip open the wounds I'd gotten too good at ignoring. If it had a chance of working, we wouldn't have been allowed to meet."

Angel

" What's the point a harpin' on about what ya do an' don't deserve if there ain't no redemption to be had? That cross on ya chest ain't ever gonna flip. " _Catholic,_ he heard Alastor's voice echo in his head. How he _loathed_ those places of worship. Even before being damned his skin burned with rancor every time he crossed an altar. And he did so many times with and without a Colt tucked into his coat. " What'cha expectin' to be comin' outta sufferin' like a good lil' sinner? 'Cause no matter how many times I dunked my wank hand into the holy water, " he said curtly as he signed himself, " I kept missin' the memo. " Intentionally. But he could play dumb for now if it helped him drag some religious trauma out of him.

Alastor

"I don't expect anything to come out of it but more suffering. I don't expect a reward, redemption, or respite. But—and here's the key part—I don't expect anything to come out of denial and resistance, either. Either way, I'm going to suffer and nothing's going to improve. Because this is *Hell,* and *nothing* gets better, and only a *damn fool* tries to improve his lot. Even if he succeeds, it's only because Hell is letting him set himself up for an even greater fall." He crossed his legs loosely, propping his elbow on a knee and his chin in his hand, letting his fingers half cover his mouth. "This situation is just further proof of that."

Angel

" So ya called me just so you can fuck yourself over a lil' more? Ya " damn fool " ? 'Cause if ya lookin' to get fucked UP an' do it RIGHT, that's up my alley, too. " Angel flashed a crooked smirk and waved a his hand. He wasn't serious. However, he _did_ fundementally disagree. " I'm kiddin'. Kiddin'. But ya know. So long as we're stuck kickin' around, sufferin', may as well keep things interestin', " he droned with a shift to his knees so he could reach Alastor's shoulder, " Keep takin' chances. Keep chasin' the next best thing. Keep doin' what'cha do. It ain't gonna matter an' it's always gonna suck, but at least ya get ya kicks outta watchin' other demons handle it a lot worse than you, ah? "

Alastor

He laughed weakly. "I've tried getting f#%ked up." A muffled beep obscured most of the word. "Funny thing though, once you get tired of that, you still have to pick up the pieces. And I never have liked cleaning up messes."

A lump formed in his throat when Angel touched his shoulder. "Next best thing," he muttered. "That's what I've been doing. All this time." He could hear his voice trembling, but he couldn't stop it. "If I can't be *happy*, at least I can be *entertained.* Ha! I just w—!" He couldn't finish the sentence. He slid his hand up to fully cover his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut.

Angel

Angel chuckled in time with his laugh. Was that part of his act? Was the bleep conscious? He had so many jokes at the ready. He was MORE than ready to start trying to make him laugh...

... but instead, Alastor shattered like glass. Just a touch of a hand was all it took? He always took extra care to respect his space after their first conversation. Right now he was just leading him by example, showing rather than just telling him to take chances.

_" ... Al... "_ He thought he should pull back. Maybe it was a bad call. But if he let go, there'd be nothing there to catch his pieces. _And Alastor surely didn't like cleaning up messes._ Angel took a short breath before raising another hand. He gently squared his shoulders towards him. _" Hey... You ok there buddy? "_

Alastor

He shook his head. But he also didn't pull back. Just this once, apparently, this was what he needed.

Angel

Angel almost felt like he'd be more comfortable holding a hornet's nest, but at least providing this sort of comfort was more his speed. " C'mere. " Cautiously, he slid his arms past Alastor to angle his head over his shoulder and avoid a pair of antlers to the throat. In the same motion, he slipped beside him to support any weight that would fall. _Was it too much?_ He kept his secondary arms on the floor for now, a small crunch of product in his ear as his cheek tilted into his hair.

Alastor

Yes, that *was* what he needed. He'd be surprised at himself if he wasn't trying so hard to hold himself together. He leaned his weight into Angel, pulled his knees up to his chest, and covered his face entirely, one hand over his mouth and one hand over his eyes.

Voice cracking, choking on every few words, he said, "I just—wish—I could stop—dragging him into it. I don't want to be the—the one assigned to—make him suffer. That would be enough."

Angel

_You're NOT..._ Angel took a deep breath and pulled him closer, all arms around him now, a couple subtly rubbing his back. This wasn't a point of argument he could win. He couldn't contest or even tell him it'd be ok. So every time he choked, he gave a little squeeze. Every time he cracked he gave a more deliberate stroke. He could cry into his fluff. It'd be ok. He wouldn't look. Instead of protest, he affirmatively hummed along.

Alastor

He couldn't quite bring himself to cry into the fluff, that was a step too far. That would be the point where chronic touch aversion won out over acute touch starvation again.

But he *was* willing to press his forehead into the fluff—oh wow that was really soft. That was. Insanely soft. Holy shit. It lived up to the advertising.

Angel

He seemed to still. That was good. Angel brought a hand to the top of his head to gauge where the antlers were again, but _god_ was his hair a mess. Roots showing, old pomade... at least it didn't feel an awful brand. Keeping his chin up, he relaxed his hold on him and stayed put, listening closely for potentially muffled words.

Alastor

Just one word for the moment, croaked out from beneath a hand and a wall of fluff: "Thanks." He'll work a few more out, just—give him a moment first. It's been a long time since he's let himself be touched by anyone but the person he's currently a wreck over.

Angel

" Yeah... I won't mention it, " he said quietly before brushing a thumb over the base of his ear. Alongside the softness, it was almost en_deer_ing how small he managed to make himself. But he was a broken man. Angel hoped he'd never have to see this side of Alastor again regardless of how used to his frame he was getting. Less a hornet's nest, more a vulnerable demon just like any other.

Alastor

And Alastor sincerely hoped to never be seen like this again; but that wasn't totally in his control, was it?

He took several deep breaths, white noise hisses; and then asked, "Should I—even try again? Being friends? Or would we both be better off to—not?"

He desperately wanted a *yes, try again.* But he couldn't give himself one. He'd been trying, for days; all his excuses and rationalizations rang false. They all sounded selfish and naive.

Angel

Angel bit his lip. _No,_ he wanted to say, _Not if ya gonna keep runnin' yourself into the ground. Not if you're gonna cling to this idea of suffering._

_Ya just gonna be back 'ere again._

But so would he, wouldn't he? Angel already decided. He wasn't going back to the studio. If nowhere else... he was going to be here. Playing redemption.

" ... He. Should try, " he said sternly as he traced waves, " You don't do a fuckdamn THING to get in his good graces until he makes it up to ya. That's the only way this could work. Ya gave 'im everythin'. It's his turn. "

Alastor

Alastor's throat tightened. He didn't like that answer. "But being loved by a friend is *horrible.*" Voice of experience. "He didn't *want* everything from me. I can't blame him for being upset at having so much shoved onto him. How could I?"

Angel

Angel sighed heavily. Temporary fluff suffocation. You'll survive, Alastor. " I ain't sayin' ya gotta do that. Just that he should f'give ya some. Y'ain't no scarlet fuckin' letter. Just a guy. Wit' a complicated past. Wit' some complicated feelin's. If he's gonna be givin' any bit of a damn about you, he's gonna have to wade through some of it without judgin' ya or blamin' ya. It's what friends do. "

Alastor

That's fine, breathing is optional. He can wait.

"Oh, no? If I had a big red letter pinned to me, are you sure you could tell? B for backstabber." He sighed. "Right—of course. If he doesn't decide to forgive me, there's nothing else I can do. It's out of my hands until then."

Angel

" You'll be _fine,_ " he relented with a sink of his chin onto his head and a wide circle over Alastor's back, " You'll get along again. You'll get over y'selves. Even if ya don't, you'll still be fine. "

Alastor

They'll get along again. They'll be fine. His throat squeezed shut. He doubted Angel had any real way of knowing that was true, but he clung to it anyway.

He tried to nod, found he was buried too deep in fluff to complete the movement, and instead managed a garbled, "*Mhm.*"

Angel

" Mhm, " he echoed affirmatively, fingering a wayward curl back into place. At least as close a place he could figure. Angel then squeezed him tight around the shoulders before loosening into casual sweeps. " ... ... Ya smilin'? "

Alastor

He doubted it, but he prodded his cheek with the fingertips of the hand still over his mouth to check. "Mm-mm." That's a negative.

Angel

His lashes fluttered. He wasn't actually expecting him to say no. " Ok... I'll stay here, long as ya need to. If ya comfortable bein' a lil' ball. "

Alastor

"Mhm." Just a few more minutes. In a few more minutes he'd be able to collect himself. They'd get along again and they'd be fine, and if they didn't—if they didn't he'd face that when he had to.

Angel

" Mhm. " He wanted to chuckle. _Grunt after grunt._ Should he feel guilty about how _funny_ he found this? Probably. Only for the next few minutes as he cycled through the usual motions: playing with his hair, ears, rubbing his back, shoulders, the typical things clients found soothing before and after. Alastor had yet to protest, so he felt certain enough to venture he wasn't _bothered._ Nonetheless, they remained light, idle, all but absent minded. Working, but for a friend.

Alastor

He stayed there for several more minutes, until the idle background sensation of disembodied touches on his back and head slowly returned to what they usually were: prickly, uncomfortable reminders of another thinking feeling person pressed up against his body. He felt his shoulders start to tense and he pulled back a bit from the fluff. "Okay, that's—that's all I can handle."

Angel

" Handle? " Angel questioned as his arms dropped from Alastor's person in favor of leaning back on them, so he could remove himself on his own accord. " Interestin'... choice a words, there. " He tipped his sights to the corner of the room for a spell as he thought. " You ok? "

Alastor

He drew back and started straightening his clothes and brushing himself off—he had a smile back on, but God was it a tired-looking one. Dryly, he asked, “In what sense?”

Angel

" Er... relative sense. " Angel then cautiously leaned into the empty space. " Whataya mean, all ya can handle? "

Alastor

“My personal space bubble turned back on.” He stood up and continued tidying himself, brushing off his pants.

[jazzforthecaptain]

I got my second covid shot last Friday. I scheduled it then so I could recover Saturday if I had a reaction. I had a mild headache towards the end of Friday night and I felt a little more tired than usual, but by Saturday morning I felt fine and haven't had any issues since. The injection site was sore for a couple days.

For the curious, I signed up for an appointment through my local grocery store pharmacy site, since my state has no single website to sign up for a shot. The state website literally directed me to sign up at the grocery store, and I stalked that website for days like I was waiting for con registration to open.

It collected some basic contact details and asked me to confirm if I was eligible - which was a simple yes or no and a link to the list of eligibility (which has since extended to everyone 16+ I think). Then I picked appointment times for both my first and second shot. There were a couple more forms to fill out online to confirm details, which all came through my email and didn't require me to print anything.

I got reminder emails about my appointments both times. When I showed up, they just confirmed my name, although I think if I was new there, they may have collected more info - they already had my insurance on file. It took about five minutes before they called me up. The nurse asked if I had any questions and was patient and kind, gave me the shot and then my covid vaccine card along with a baking timer with 15 minutes ticking down. I wandered around the grocery store for 15 minutes, gave them back their timer, and went home.

Honestly I wish all of my doctor's appointments were this simple and painless. I had a headache almost immediately after the first shot that lasted all day and I wiped out around 6:30 that night. I expected worse for the second shot but it was honestly less severe.

Definitely do talk to your gp if you have an autoimmune condition or think you might, especially if you're taking meds for one, or meds that suppress your immune system. But I mean, I think 'call your gp before you vaccinate' is a super idea in general, if you can.

I deal with health-related anxiety, and I thought any of my followers who also deal with anxiety might like to hear how my experience went. I was freaked out the first time to the point of panic, and if I can calm even one person's nerves about it with this, I'm happy.

[poppy-pelican]

Darkness on Fire (chapter 2/5)

Rating: Explicit (although not until later chapters)

Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26692747/chapters/65460514#workskin

Chapter 2 Summary: Hawkeye and Mustang discover some secrets about Van Hohenheim and his family, and their simple bodyguard job quickly gets complicated.

Two Years Later

 Chris Mustang should have known raising a boy around an establishment like hers would come back to bite her in the ass. When her nephew was tragically turned into a vampire, she had expected him to sulk and pout about it. But no, Roy relished his new night life, as he called it. Currently he was tasting his third woman of the night, always out in the open for anyone to see. Chris had asked him to take it back to a private room—many times—but he claimed it was good for business. He dropped by once a week for his meals unless work kept him away. It was always the same. He never took one of her girls to a private room, always drank from their wrists, and was never exclusive with a particular woman like her many other vampire customers.

The only steady woman in his life was his dedicated assistant, Riza Hawkeye. Chris checked her watch. It was past five in the morning. The stoic assistant would be arriving soon to remind Roy to leave before sunrise. He hadn’t explained why he returned from the militia with his alchemist teacher’s daughter as his shadow. When Chris had poked around for information from others, the truth of it had been enough for her to refrain from searching for anymore answers on the subject.

Vanessa, whose wrist Roy was tasting, giggled as he licked the wound shut with an exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows. She blew him a kiss and sashayed over to a vampire couple who wanted a quick bite to share before dinner. Vanessa was best suited for that kind of meal, seeing as she was a vampire herself.

Roy slunk over to the bar, his gaze flicking revealingly to the door where he expected his assistant to appear.

“I’m going to be unreachable for at least a week,” he said. “An old friend asked me to come for a visit. Elizabeth will be accompanying me.”

“Oh?” Chris asked. The two of them were part of an elite, off-the-books team for the new fuhrer. They were slowly hunting down the last of the previous regime’s supporters—the ones who wanted humans to submit and produce blood like livestock. But since Roy mentioned Hawkeye’s codename, that meant this assignment was not from Grumman. A more personal assignment, then?

“Enjoy your visit,” she said.

Roy checked the door again, not even attempting to hide it.

“She’s late, huh?” Chris asked. “That’s not like her.”

“She was running an errand for me. I’m going to be annoyed if she doesn’t get here before sunrise.”

Chris held back a smirk at his barely concealed worry. “Are you going to need a room?” she asked.

The question went unanswered as Hawkeye finally walked in the door, folding a dripping umbrella.

“Did you get held up?” Roy asked.

“Hi Chris, could I get a quick coffee?” Hawkeye asked, ignoring the question.

“Sure thing.”

As she listened to the pair’s hushed conversation, she saw she already had a pot of coffee ready. She didn’t recall making it, so it must have been one of the girls.

“It took longer than expected, but I got what you needed,” Hawkeye said. “We can talk more about it tomorrow night.”

“You’re going to make me wait all day?”

Chris put the mug down in front of Hawkeye, who thanked her quietly.

“You should get home, sir. Not only is it raining, but the sunrise is soon.”

“Rain,” he grumbled.

“I have an extra umbrella in my bag,” she said. She tossed it at him. “I’m going to drink this and then I have a few more errands to run.”

He gave a petulant sigh, but waved goodbye and was out the door. After the rest of the vampire customers had either left or taken one of Chris’s safe rooms, Chris returned to Hawkeye, pouring herself a glass of white wine.

“How did your meeting tonight really go?” Chris asked.

Hawkeye clutched the mug closer to her.

“It went fine.”

“It seemed like you were shooing my boy away,” Chris said. “Have something to hide?”

“I just didn’t want him to burn any bridges because of me. Our contact can be difficult, but he always has the best information.”

“So…there’s a reason to burn bridges?” Chris inferred.

“Not on my account,” Hawkeye said. “Next time I will just make sure to bring your nephew along. I don’t like surprise vampire meetings. It was supposed to be just myself and the contact.”

And there was the info Roy would take issue with. He never wanted her to deal with vampires on her own—and with good reason.

“You don’t look compelled now, but…” Chris looked Hawkeye over. Her skin was paler than usual, her eyes red and tired. If nothing else, the blood would give her a small energy boost. “I have some vampire blood on hand if you need.” As her bar grew into a neutral ground for vampires to meet, she had long ago started keeping the stuff on hand.

“I probably should. To be safe. Though I can’t see why they would have bothered,” Hawkeye said. “Aside from trying to intimidate me with the vampire they brought along, it was a simple exchange. Though… I may have threatened to blow his head off,” she said with a half-smile. Hawkeye’s reflexes were legendary. Few humans could hit a vampire target so unerringly.

Chris gave a throaty chuckle. “That’s one way to take care of things.”

She pulled out a lockbox she kept under the bar for special customers. Compulsion was a tricky thing. During active compulsion, it was easy to notice, particularly if it was someone you knew well, but if the vampire compelled you to forget, that was a different matter.

She opened the box, glancing at the tiny bottles of blood. “I don’t have Roy’s on hand, if you’d prefer his, I keep it upstairs.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“How about this one,” Chris said, holding up a labeled bottle for Hawkeye to take.

“Maes Hughes?” Hawkeye asked curiously. Hughes was a good man—and a lucky one. It wasn’t six months after Roy transitioned into a vampire that Hughes followed him into the nightlife, although with far less enthusiasm than Roy. Hughes’s spirits rose once his girlfriend assured him she wouldn’t leave him over some fangs and a change in diet.

Hawkeye thought it over for a minute before grimacing and adding a few drops to her coffee.

“He’s a frequent donor. He likes to help out,” Chris explained, watching as Hawkeye took a sip.

“No compulsion,” Hawkeye confirmed. “And I’m pretty sure this coffee is made of tar because I can’t even tell there’s blood in it,” she said with a wink.

Hawkeye finished her coffee, leaving just as the first rays of light began to peek across the rooftops. The rain had stopped, and she left her umbrella behind with a subdued wave before she went out the door.

Chris ambled over to the umbrella, picking it up. Inside she found a note wrapped around the handle, “Mustang’s sire is back in Central. Be careful.”

Chris crumpled the note, feeling deeply unsettled. She knew how desperately Roy and Hawkeye wanted to put an end to deceptively young Selim Bradley’s life, and yet they were leaving town. It gave her a bad feeling, but she could only trust the pair would take care of each other and return safely.

 #

 “Why the hell did Hohenheim ask us all the way out here?” Roy asked, looking around the small village of Resembool with skepticism. They had arrived on the sleeper train, and sunrise would be soon. Roy was uncomfortably aware of the lack of safe houses in the country compared to Central. “Pretty sure the people are outnumbered a thousand to one by sheep.”

“Let’s get going. Hohenheim said he’d meet us near the general store,” Hawkeye said, marching ahead without waiting for a response.

Roy let her gain some distance as he did one more scan of the area. While Hawkeye held her own, she was only human and therefore much slower. Usually they would drive together, but it seemed the invention of the car had yet to trickle its way to the rural areas of Amestris. Instead there was enough quiet that Roy could hear Hawkeye’s delicious heartbeat thumping along even a hundred feet away.

He caught up to Hawkeye with ease, even though he carried both their bags. Hohenheim had been incredibly vague and unforthcoming about how long they would be needed or why, so Hawkeye had insisted they pack enough to get by for at least two weeks.

Hohenheim appeared at the end of the road, his unusual golden eyes almost glowing in the moonlight.

“Welcome, little brother,” Hohenheim greeted. He refused to stop calling him that no matter how often Roy reminded him he hated it. Exactly like an older brother, Roy supposed. “And the lovely Miss Hawkeye. I’m glad you’re here. My wife is excited to meet you.”

“Your wife?” Hawkeye asked, her curiosity leaking out.

“The mysterious Mrs. Hohenheim?” Roy asked.

Hohenheim chuckled lowly. “Yes, although she kept her maiden name, Elric. Resembool is her hometown, actually. She wanted to raise the children here.”

“Children?” Roy asked, his surprise mounting. “As in—your children?” Although Hohenheim had taken Roy under his wing after his untimely death, he had never mentioned children, not even his wife’s name. He was exceptionally private.

“Yes, we have two boys. Edward and Alphonse. Ed is eleven, Al is ten.” Hohenheim sighed like an exhausted but doting father. “They are a handful. Very talented alchemists for their age. And…fledgling vampires.”

“That is not what I was expecting,” Hawkeye said bluntly.

Roy shook his head, hoping to clear it. “Something tells me our sire knows about them.”

“I’ve no idea how he heard about them, but he sent a…letter” Probably not a good letter. “Usually I can talk him out of his delusions, which is why I’d like to deal with him promptly. Did you find out his location?”

“He’s in Central,” Roy said, looking at Hawkeye intently. She had been very close-lipped about her meeting with Raven other than the basic facts she had gleaned from him. “He’s been spotted at his usual haunts there.”

“Good,” Hohenheim started walking at a brisk vampire pace. “I’ll take you to my house. Sunrise isn’t far off.” Then he quickly retraced his steps, turning sheepishly to Hawkeye.

“Just give me the directions and I’ll find my own way there,” she said, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. She hated when her humanness was a burden.

“All right. The boys can let you in. They are still very tolerant of the sun.”

Roy was intrigued. He had heard of vampire children, but they were rare and—like these boys—kept hidden until maturity. No wonder Hohenheim settled in such an isolated town.

 #

 Riza would have considered staying in town and renting a wagon if she’d known most of her walk would be uphill. Sunrise had come and gone, and the August sun was stretching across the rolling hills. She shed her light jacket, carrying it over her arm the rest of the journey.

She was almost there when she finally came across other humans. An adorable family with a young daughter.

“Are you looking for the automail shop?” the mom asked, crinkling her eyes in a friendly smile. Perhaps she thought Riza’s arm hidden beneath her jacket was automail.

“No, just visiting some friends,” Riza replied, hoping she didn’t come off too rude. She wasn’t sure she should let anyone know who she was visiting.

“Well, we are the doctors in town,” the man said, introducing them as the Rockbells. “If you need anything, stop by the clinic.”

Riza thanked them and continued up the hill. As she spotted a house that fit with Hohenheim’s directions, she spied two boys tussling in the shade of a large tree. They had the same coloring as Hohenheim.

She studied the boys. They looked so human, but there was something different about their movements. Faster, stronger, like a vampire. Any concern about their control around a frail human fled the moment they spotted her and reverted to human speeds, coming over to greet her politely.

“You Uncle Roy’s friend?” the smaller one asked. She stifled a laugh at him referring to Roy as uncle. Probably more of Hohenheim’s teasing.

“Yes, Riza Hawkeye. Are you Edward and Alphonse?”

“I’m Ed. This is Al,” the taller one said, sticking a thumb toward his brother.

“Nice to meet you. You can call me Riza if you’d like.”

“Do you want to see our treehouse?” Ed asked abruptly, gesturing up above in the branches, where there was in fact a small wooden fort with a tire swing underneath. “It’s so fun during the day, but Mom never lets us play in it unless there’s an adult around.” He grinned charmingly. Riza was being played.

“It’s already past bedtime,” Al said dutifully, but his pretty golden eyes also lingered on the treehouse.

“How about a quick look,” she said. “I’ve never been in a treehouse before.”

The boys cheered and clambered up the rudimentary ladder. Riza followed, feeling awkwardly tall as she hoisted herself up into the cozy wooden house.

“What’s this?” she asked, holding up a girl’s doll she almost sat on. It reminded her of one she had as a girl.

“Oh, that’s just Winry’s. She uses this during the day when we can’t come out. We’re only allowed to play with her in the evenings,” Ed said matter-of-factly.

“Winry Rockbell? I think I met her on the way here.” She doubted there were two girls with such an unusual name.

“Yeah, that’s her!” Al said excitedly.

The boys showed her around the treehouse like it was a grand house, rather than a small structure Riza couldn’t stand up fully in. The most interesting thing was the obvious remnants of alchemy. It looked advanced, from what she knew, and when she asked them about it, she wished she hadn’t. Alchemists were all the same. They would’ve talked her ear off if Al hadn’t started yawning, reminding her that vampire children slept during the day.

Inspecting the Elric home from the outside, Riza was unsurprised to find all the windows had locked shutters, and as the boys opened the door, they were very careful to only crack it as much as necessary to open it. Riza followed them in, most interested in finding a glass of water before getting to work.

Hohenheim popped his head out a door.

“Did they show you the treehouse?” he asked.

“It was a very nice treehouse,” Riza said, not wanting to get the boys in trouble. “And I’d never been in one. I just had to take a peek.”

A woman with chestnut brown hair and twinkling green eyes appeared beside him.

“Hello, you must be Miss Hawkeye. I hope the boys weren’t keeping you out too late.”

She introduced herself as Trisha Elric before ordering Hohenheim to get some refreshments while she corralled the boys into their bedroom.

Mustang was in the pristine kitchen drinking a glass of wine, looking comfortable at the kitchen table.

“We’ll wait for the boys to go to sleep and then fill you in,” Hohenheim said, offering her a glass of water and a plate of cheese and crackers.

By the time Riza had eaten and freshened up in the bathroom, Trisha had joined them at the table.

“The boys are asleep. They—they know a little about Van’s sire, but we don’t want to frighten them,” Trisha said, grasping her husband’s hand.

“While I don’t anticipate any real danger to the boys or Trisha, I would feel better if another vampire alchemist was with them while I was gone. And I requested Hawkeye because we need someone who can go into the daylight like our sons, just in case.” Hohenheim said.

Riza wondered what had been in the letter he mentioned earlier, and why it had made him bring outsiders into his family home after all this time. Not just any outsiders, the Flame Alchemist and the Hawk’s Eye. Riza was sure he had others he could trust equally, and while she was touched by his trust in them, she knew they had been chosen for their considerable skills. Even though Hohenheim didn’t expect danger, if there was any, it sounded like he wanted to be prepared for it to turn deadly.

After discussing Hohenheim’s plans, Trisha showed Riza and Mustang around the house while Hohenheim went to make some last preparations.

“You’re welcome to anything in the kitchen,” Trisha said. She tilted her head, glancing between Riza and Mustang before she asked, “Will you be needing blood, Roy?”

“I knew I’d be roughing it, so I overindulged last night,” he replied. It should hold him over, as long as he didn’t exert himself excessively. Riza could guess what Trisha was wondering, but Riza hadn’t given Mustang blood since the first time. She had an agreement with Mustang that she was a delicacy only to be used in emergencies. It had been…too much, the one and only time he’d been at her vein.

“I apologize that all we have is animal blood. I drink it whenever Van is gone,” Trisha said.

Human blood was limited in small villages like Resembool. Riza didn’t have to look at him to know Mustang was mentally groaning. Human blood was not only more nutritious, it tasted better. While Trisha and Mustang could give one another blood, vampires were tetchy about sharing with those in committed relationships.

“Do your sons drink much blood?” Riza asked.

“No, we occasionally add our own to their drinks, but they don’t need much. And Van and I do very well drinking from each other.” Trisha’s cheeks turned rosy. Oh.

They moved onto the sleeping arrangements. “Van said you two have known each other a long time and wouldn’t mind sharing a room,” she said. Trisha looked amused. “But he can be a busybody. So do you mind sharing the study? Otherwise we can put one of you up in the living room.”

Riza looked at Mustang, who only raised an eyebrow as if to say it was her decision. She’d either look like a prude or like she was sleeping with her boss.

“We can share,” she said. “I’d take the couch, but I don’t want to be in the way.” A compromise, she hoped. She really didn’t want to be a bother.

“I promise not to bite,” Mustang said teasingly.

Riza bestowed him with her most unimpressed look while Trisha laughed.

After Trisha left them to get settled for bed—because it was already almost noon and they had been up all night—Mustang couldn’t resist heckling her.

“You know, I wouldn’t be offended if you didn’t want to share,” he said quietly, an attempt for them to not be overheard by the family in their rooms. “I could even take the couch.”

“It’s not like I’ll be sleeping much,” she said, realizing too late how that sounded, so she spoke quickly. “I’ll try and keep watch during the day. You can be on duty at night. It’s just a matter of adjusting my sleep schedule.”

“You planning to stay up all day?” he asked, sorting through his luggage. “You’re no good to me half asleep.”

“No, not today. I’ll go to bed earlier tomorrow. Could you wake me if I sleep past sunset?”

“Sure,” he said. “Are you going to wear that godawful thing you wore to bed when we stayed in Dublith?”

Riza scowled. The last time they had to share a room, he’d mercilessly teased her about her nightgown. It was a shapeless, high necked, long-sleeved gown that went down to just below her knees. But it was insanely comfortable, and she didn’t care what Mustang said.

“This one is short sleeved for summer,” she said innocently.

“That’s not better. How old are you, anyway? Eighty?”

He knew very well she was twenty-one.

“I brought an extra one in case you need something to sleep in,” she offered, infusing such sugary sweetness that he wrinkled his nose.

“I should burn it. It’s hideous.”

“It’s just for sleeping in,” she said.

“It makes you look like a stuffy virgin.”

Riza laughed, pulling out her hairbrush.

“I am a stuffy virgin,” she said. “So it’s doing its job.”

She thought nothing of the comment for a brief moment before she realized her blaring mistake. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, the constant presence of Mustang since they boarded the train, or the fact that she was still a little in shock over learning Hohenheim had two vampire children, but she had let herself become too comfortable with Mustang. Flirtatious.

Mustang was even more surprised.

“That’s impossible! How did I not know this?” He promptly cleared his throat. “Not that I should know. But…you’ve had several boyfriends.”

She tilted her head, her smile falling.

“I’d rather not show off my body, especially my back, to someone I’m not serious about.” She could never date an alchemist, or anyone untrustworthy who could decipher her tattoo. It limited her prospects, but not as much as the odd hours of her job with Mustang did.

“And now I feel like an ass. I’m going to bed before I put my foot in my mouth again.”

“Probably best for both of us, sir,” she said, disappearing to the bathroom.

 #

 Hohenheim left as soon as it was dark, and Roy went up to make sure Hawkeye was awake. He paused outside the door, listening to her heart beating in the languid rhythm of sleep.

He knocked loudly on the door, grinning as her heart jumped awake. Then, because he was a foolish man, he opened the door to make certain she was awake. She stood in a hurry, hair tousled, eyes bleary.

And there was the ridiculous nightgown. This one had touches of feminine ruffles at the shoulders, and looked silky and soft. It was perfectly innocent.

This one, just like the one she’d worn in Dublith, seemed conjured from hell to torture him. He expected Hawkeye to wear something like all the female soldiers of the militia had. They’d been boyish and simple. Bland.

He rarely let himself think of her as anything more than a friend. That stupid nightgown had derailed all professional thoughts. He was itching to hike it up to her hips, revealing more skin inch by inch until—

“Did you need something?” she asked, turning to grab her bag.

“Um, breakfast is being served,” he replied, backing out of the doorway before he said or did anything else moronic.

Downstairs, Roy helped Trisha in the kitchen while they waited for the rest of the household to appear.

“Can you show us some flame alchemy?” A young voice asked from behind him, when breakfast was nearly finished. “Dad says you can set a whole building on fire.”

Roy turned and found the two brothers dressed and bright-eyed. They had the look alchemists get when knowledge is in front of them. Unfortunately, flame alchemy was something he could never teach them. He’d made a promise to Hawkeye.

“I suppose I could give you a quick demonstration if your mom doesn’t mind.”

Trisha laughed. “Sure. I’d like to see it, too.” She leaned back on the counter, watching expectantly.

Roy pulled out his gloves.

“Why do you have the transmutation circles on them?” Ed asked, curious.

Another benefit of becoming a vampire had been losing the need for drawing circles when transmuting.

“They are the original ones from—before,” he explained. “I still need the gloves for the spark, so I’ve kept using them.” Maybe one day when they needed replaced, he would just make them plain white. Then he looked at the boys watching in giddy anticipation. “Do you two need to draw them out?”

“We still need circles sometimes, but the older we get the less we need them,” Al said.

“I can do without one most of the time now,” Ed bragged.

“But you burn in the sun twice as fast as me,” Al pointed out, sticking out his tongue.

“Perhaps time for the demonstration,” Roy said, then with a snap he created a small flame in his hands, shaping it like a sunflower.

The Elrics ooed and ahhed as Roy did a few fanciful tricks, happy to use his alchemy for something good. He was also honest enough to admit to himself he loved to show off.

Hawkeye appeared and Roy extinguished the flames immediately. She had never outwardly said so, but he suspected she inherited her father’s dislike of showoffs.

“Time for breakfast,” Trisha said.

“Too bad Dad said we can’t ask him to teach us any flame alchemy,” he heard Ed mutter to his younger brother.

Roy would have to remember to thank Hohenheim for that later.

As they ate breakfast, the boys made a grand case for running to see their friend Winry before she had to go to bed. On this, Roy allowed Trisha to decide, and she practically pushed Roy and Hawkeye out the door with her children. He got a strong feeling she wanted time to herself.

“So you haven’t been able to go out much lately?” Hawkeye asked the boys, full of sympathy as they cut through a grassy field.

“Not during the day,” Al said forlornly.

“But Mom said we could invite Winry over to the treehouse either this afternoon or in the morning— since Riza’s here.” Ed looked hopefully at Hawkeye.

“That’s up to Mustang,” she said.

“That should be fine,” Roy agreed easily. The boys cheered and began plotting all the games they would play. Kids should be kids, Roy thought, and the treehouse was right in the front yard.

The Rockbell home was busy winding down for the night when they arrived, but they welcomed the boys and their escorts in with kindness.

Yuriy and Sarah Rockbell asked after Trisha.

“She stayed home to relax,” Hawkeye explained, doting on the family dog. Typical Hawkeye. If there was a dog, she could not resist making friends with it.

“I don’t blame her,” Yuriy confided. “Those boys probably talk even in their sleep. Winry is the same.”

“It’s good she has friends her age nearby,” Hawkeye said. “It’s a talkative age.” Her comment brought Roy back to little Riza Hawkeye growing up a little neglected and lonely in her father’s house. He’d once found her telling her dog about her day at school. After that, Roy made an effort to ask about her studies, and even then it had been like pulling teeth to get her to speak to him. Maybe what she’d needed was friends her own age, not an awkward teenage boy.

Granny Pinako shoved a bunch of sweets at them all, drawing Roy from his memories, and Winry brought some of her automail prototypes to show her friends. Now Roy understood why they were friends with the girl—she was as clever as they were.

“How am I supposed to know if it’s any good?” Ed asked her.

“Can’t you feel how light it is? But it’s still very durable!” she told him crossly.

“I think you should let me transmute some skulls on it. Make it look cooler,” Ed suggested, and their arguing turned into some kind of game of chase around the house with Al and even the dog joining in. It gave the adults a chance to talk.

“Of course we know you by reputation, Flame Alchemist,” Sarah said, once they got past the watered down version for why Roy and Hawkeye were bodyguards to two pre-pubescent boys.

“We were volunteers for the militia ourselves,” Yuriy said. “We appreciate everything you did for our country.”

Roy heard the genuine feeling in his words, but it left a bitter, crawling sensation behind. His mind went to that night, his body operating without his control, burning everything—and everyone—in sight. Hawkeye had rightfully put him down like the monster he was, though he wished the responsibility had fallen to someone else.

“Not to bring up troubling memories,” Yuriy added. “We just wanted to thank you.”

“We owe you just as much thanks,” Hawkeye said, recovering quicker than Roy. “There were more injuries than a bit of vampire blood could fix.” And many of the vampires tired of the chore, although Roy had never minded. He had always wanted to help others, and now in his veins he carried a gift to heal injuries more easily than alchemy.

“It was the least we could do. We know the good that vampires can do. Hohenheim saved my mother’s life,” Yuriy said, nodding at Pinako. “And this was fifty years ago,” he grinned, lightening the mood.

“How old is Hohenheim anyway?” Hawkeye asked.

“Old as dirt,” Ed yelled from across the room, laughing at his own joke.

Later, with promises to send Winry over in the morning, they left with two very hyperactive kids. It was in this excitement they showed their supernatural traits most. The boys played a game of leapfrog that was more like two leaping leopards. The boys never would have stayed under the radar in a busy city, but the country fields were vacant except a few bleating sheep.

“You can run ahead with the boys if you want,” Hawkeye said. “I can tell they are dying to run home faster than my human pace.”

“They probably walk slowly for the Rockbell girl all the time,” Roy said.

“Actually, we carry her,” Ed said. He skidded to a stop in front of Roy, uprooting clumps of grass in the process. “She’s not heavy and she likes to go fast.”

“Why don’t you give Riza a ride?” Al chimed in, joining them. “I bet you could jump over the sleeping sheep faster than we can!” Then he promptly looked panicked as Ed elbowed him. “Please don’t tell our mom about sheep jumping.”

“Sheep jumping?” Roy grinned wickedly. He thought of little Riza Hawkeye who hadn’t known how to enjoy herself. It was never too late, was it? “Come on, Hawkeye. Brace yourself.” He tossed her over his shoulder before she could protest.

 #

 “Did you like sheep jumping?” Al asked Riza eagerly as they came to the last bend before their house. Riza’s feet were happily on the ground again.

“I think it would’ve been more fun if I hadn’t been upside down,” she said, glaring at Mustang who pretended to fix his hair—which was no messier than usual.

“Yeah, we carry Winry piggyback,” Al agreed.

“It’s best to always ask before throwing a woman over your shoulder,” Mustang said. “Next time I will ask. Probably.”

“To be fair, it was fun,” Riza said. And if she’d wanted him to put her down, she would have made him do it. There was something to running fast, though she could have done with less jostling.

Trisha welcomed them back, and everyone scattered. Riza went to familiarize herself with the property while Roy did the same at vampire speed. Riza would have to do another circuit in the daylight to cover her bases.

Beginning her struggle to change her internal clock, Riza went to bed hours before sunrise, long before the vampires in the household. In Central, this was usually when she woke up for the day, but after pulling a couple of late nights, she fell into a heavy sleep.

 #

 When Mustang woke Riza, at first, she thought it was for her turn to take watch, but his posture was too urgent.

“Someone’s outside,” he said. “Get some clothes on. Come downstairs.”

Trisha and the boys were gathered in the living room with Mustang when Riza came down. She’d pulled on the clothes she wore yesterday in record time.

“You two do not leave this room unless I say so,” Trisha was saying, more fierce than Riza had heard her yet.

It was well past sunrise. Mustang and Trisha were captive to the house.

“I think there’s a fire right against the front door,” Mustang said, addressing Riza. As he spoke, she could suddenly smell the smoke. “If I stand back, you can open the door and I can take care of it.”

Riza nodded and walked to the door, her gun in one hand. Smoke seeped in through the thin cracks around the door. Riza waved at Mustang, his gloves at the ready, but he was hidden around the corner in the shadows.

The doorknob was too hot to touch, so she grasped it with the hem of her shirt. Unlatched, the door slammed open, a stack of firewood tumbling toward her. She jumped back against the wall as it blew a wave of heat into the house before Mustang smothered it with a crackle in the air.

“I hear someone out there,” Mustang warned.

Kicking the burnt wood out of the way, Riza stomped out of the house, eyes squinting in the bright sun.

The horror at seeing Yuriy Rockbell’s vacant blue eyes staring at her distracted her just a moment too long to avoid the knife in his hand.

 #

 The smell of Hawkeye’s spilled blood permeated the house, mixing with the fumes from the smoke. It was too bright to look. Roy’s eyes already ached from putting out the fire, but he had heard her gasp in surprise before she grunted in pain.

He snarled, almost lunging to the door when Trisha yanked him back.

“You’ll burn,” she said simply. “Edward—”

Ed rounded the corner, Trisha restraining him by the shirt so he couldn’t run out of the house.

“It’s Dr. Rockbell!” Ed said darkly. “He’s compelled.”

The sounds of scuffling continued.

“I have his weapon,” Hawkeye panted. “If Ed and Al can help me—”

Al darted out, followed by Ed—whose shirt ripped as he escaped his mother’s grasp.

A moment later the boys dragged Yuriy into the living room. Trisha tore into her wrist, giving him her blood while simultaneously compelling him to calm.

Hawkeye stumbled in next, clutching her abdomen, dripping with mouthwatering blood. There were also several deep gashes on her arms.

Roy’s fangs went to his wrist, pulling her against him in one swift motion. He held his dripping wrist to her lips, which she kept firmly closed.

“Riza,” he said gently. “Don’t make me compel you into drinking this. You need it.”

At last, she parted her lips and latched onto him, eyes closing as she sucked. Roy watched her throat flex as she swallowed, the warmth of her mouth and the subtle flick of her tongue on his skin delivering sensuous shivers down his spine.

As his blood joined with her body, a strange possessiveness he couldn’t explain came over him. He only knew he wanted to sink his fangs into her neck.

“Feel better?” he asked, hoping to distance himself. His own thirst was growing. He’d have to dig into the stash of animal blood after all. She’d taken more than he expected.

Hawkeye withdrew, a little blood dribbling down her chin, which she licked.

Roy’s fangs ached with the need to bite, but he forced himself to look over her injuries. Only faint marks remained of what was visible. The boys brought a first aid kit and a wet cloth to wash the blood off, so Roy left Hawkeye with them while he went to speak to Yuriy. He looked dazed, slumped over on the couch while Trisha patted his back.

“Is she all right?” the doctor asked him, looking worriedly at Hawkeye.

“She’s doing better,” Roy answered, probably not as kindly as he should have. He reminded himself it wasn’t Yuriy’s fault. “How are you?”

Yuriy rubbed his arm. “She broke my arm—understandably—but it’s healing as it should. I think it was a clean break.” He sighed heavily.

“Do you remember being compelled?” he questioned.

“It was a woman. Dark hair, very pretty.” Yuriy grimaced. “I was letting the dog out before bed and she was outside the house, waiting. She wanted me to get—” his eyes went to where Ed and Al were doting on Hawkeye.

“I see,” Trisha said, folding in on herself. “They were just baiting Van to leave.”

Roy nodded in quiet agreement. His sire wanted to collect those boys, and he had sent one of his followers to retrieve them. The woman who compelled Yuriy would surely try again.

“We need to leave—tonight,” Roy said.

[jj-lynn21]

The Calling chapter 3

Music: White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane

Warnings: prop drug use, group sex scene, a little smutty 

ch 1, ch 2 ch4

tags: @panicattheeverywherekid anyone else want tagged? There will be several more chapters. 

Late to bed. Early to rise. Caffeine to get you moving. Long floral skirt and baggy pink top that hung over one shoulder. Jeans, white top and a dress packed just in case. Thank goodness for more coffee in holding. You try not to yawn. Donuts and other pastries for breakfast. Great for that short-term sugar rush and caffeine buzz.

Within an hour everyone was boarded onto transports to get us to the set. It was a wide-open space with lots of grass, some trees and a country house that looked like it used to be a barn. Equipment was scattered all around.

“I need five people,” the P.A.  said. He chooses five people. Has them sit in a circle in the grass. “Four more right over here.” He chooses four others including the last of the guys. “The rest of you on the porch and sit on the Xs.”

On the porch you can smell black love incense. A smoke machine hums a few feet away not producing smoke yet.

“Tom will be sitting in the empty space. Everyone please act respectfully.” The P.A. told you all. “You are sitting in the circle taking in the nature around you. You are supposed to be high. A prop joint will be passed around. After Tom’s speech, a few of you will be chosen to go inside the house with him for the next scene. Do you all understand?”

All four girls including you say, “Yes.”

Tom comes up on the porch in a white t-shirt and cargo shorts. Most people fawn over him. You try to barely glance at him to maybe catch his eye by not catching his eye because that always works out…or never works out.  He looks at his script and shakes his head at the A.D. who slaps him on the back and laughs. Not that your watching so closely but you are watching. You only turn away when he walks to sit in the circle.

“Evening ladies,” He nodded and smiled to everyone in the circle. You were across from him. “You ready to take a psychedelic trip with me?”

Some answered, “yes”. Another just giggled. When you said, “sure.” In the high-pitched way you have he glanced your way locking eyes for a few seconds. He licked his lips. You were sure you stopped breathing. The smoke Machine started up. Tom was handed the prop joint.

“And action,” the director said.

Tom took a drag and passed it to the right. “originality is wavy like the rainbow sky, but the lights are bright in the raindrop's shadow.” He pauses to look around. “A nymph and a marcher, she walks like the leopard in the savanna the peacock on the jungle throne.” The joint gets back to him and he takes another hit and passes it. “Drink my soul and breathe me out as smoke. Keep this peaceful land in your heart. Feel it though your body between your thighs as you do our love.”  The joint is handed back to him as we all look in total worship. Memorized completely at the words that barely made any sense.

“Cut,” we hear.

“excuse me ladies,” He gets up to talk to the A.D. and director.

The girls around you start to whisper, “What the fuck was that?” “I don’t know but I felt it though my body and between my legs.”

You laugh, “Well, if it had that effect here, I bet the audience watching will like it. It was a big monologue of pretty much nonsense. I bet it was difficult to memorize.”

He comes back and you all get quiet. “You ready to run through that again. I’m told about twelve more times for different angles and such. I should be looking to each of my lovies as I speak like a seductive dance. So, we will try that. You are reacting perfectly. Keep up the good work.”

The scene shot again. When he looked at you, he said, “Feel it though your body between your thighs as you do our love.” You took a deep drag from the prop. Your eyes glossy with tears from the smoke. You smile brightly as you passed to the next girl and his eyes followed the faux joints path.

After twelve or maybe it was more takes the scene was done. Lunch was called. That scene took way longer than you realized. Tom leaves the circle. Says bye to you all and headed out of site. Back to holding there was pizza and salad lunch. Veggie, meat lovers and cheese pizza. A variety of dressings were available for the salad bowls also. If nothing else, you always felt you were fed well on set. But really there was everything else that you loved about being here.

After lunch one of the casting director’s helpers, Cheryl, calls you up to the table you checked in at this morning.

“We have an opportunity for a few ladies in the next scene they are shooting,” Cheryl said. “But you need to sign one more agreement if you choose to film.”

“What is it?” You were very curious.

“The director and Tom want to stick with some of the ladies that were on the porch with him and the main actress, Emma Watson for a bedroom scene. You will be in your under garments only, if you choose to participate. You maybe topless at one point but that will not be filmed. I assure you it will be tasteful. It will be a simulated orgy scene. I wanted to ask girls individually, so no one thinks they are obligated do this if they are uncomfortable. So, would you be comfortable filming this scene?”

You swallow and take a pen from the table, “I’m game for just about anything.”

“Alright, just sign this paper saying I talked to you and you agreed to the new contract terms,” She showed you where to sign. “And you will be getting a hundred dollar pay bump. Do not share anything we discussed especially the pay bump. I didn’t tell you before signing because I didn’t want money factoring into your decision. I’m going to talk to the other girls. They will take you to a closed set in about an hour.”

“Thank you,” You were cheery and excited when you went back to the table.

Everyone asked what was going on and you just said a discussion about the next scene you are filming. No details even though they tried to get you to say more. It was difficult not to burst out but somehow you held your tongue. Oh, you were going to tell everyone at home but here you would keep your mouth shut.

The other girls were called by Cheryl one by one. You didn’t know who decided to do it and who didn’t. None of them were girls you worked with other than today, so they were not sitting at your table. Other than one other girl said, “YES!” real loud none of them gave the slightest notion they would be doing this. You saw the call info for tomorrow and confirmed you would be there. You would look at it more carefully later.

Forty-five minutes later you and one other girl were called to go to set. You were nervous. Your body was less than perfect in your opinion but if Tom and the director chose you, you thought it was a good thing no matter how self-conscious you were feeling. You could tell the other girl was nervous to as you road in the transport quietly.

The P.A. takes you inside the building to the bedroom scene setup. Another Assistant, Chrystal comes in and the male P.A. leaves the room. Equipment is set up on the outskirts of the room.

“Hello ladies,” Chrystal smiles. “We thought it would be easier for you to get ready with no one else in here first. You can get undressed behind that wall and put your cloths on the bench.”

She waits as both of you go behind the wall to strip down to your undergarments. To you the other girl looked better with her thinner body. Your curvy form compared to her makes you think maybe they told the wrong person to come do this and as soon as Tom walked in, he would say you were not one of the girls he wanted. Until that time, you would just take this one step at a time. You step from behind the barrier with faked confidence in the tan lace panty and bra set. The other girl in a white satin set.

“You girls look perfect,” Chrystal said with enthusiasm. “Tom and Emma are going to come in to get to know the two of you a little better, so everyone is as comfortable as possible. Then there will be twenty crew members for filming including the director and Assistant Director. I will be here also. Don’t worry you are going to be just great.”

You smile and sit on the edge of the bed. The other girl stays standing. A few seconds after Crystal leaves Tom and Emma walk in. He just has on white boxers and she has on a soft baby pink lacy bra and panty set.

Emma smiles, “Hi girls. I haven’t done anything like this before. How about you?”

“Not at all,” You speak up. “This is only my fourth acting job ever.”

“Look lovies,” Tom said. “I’ve done some things. So, you’re in good hands so to speak.” He chuckles. He goes and sits on the edge of the be near you. “Me and Emma have filmed a few scenes together. Let’s make you girls comfortable. The only rule I have is no touching below the belt.” He takes your hand. Then holds his hand out for Emma. “Come here Em. And what’s your name?” He looks to the girl standing.

“My name is Tami, Tom.” She smiles and walk closer.

“Tami, come sit at my other side.” He patted the empty spot beside him confidently. “Your name Miss?”

He has been lightly stroking his thumb over your knuckles as he held your hand. You tell him your name. He smiles searching your eyes. Then he leans in closing his eyes. You close yours moving closer. You feel your lips on his. He movies back watch you a second. Then turns to kiss the other girl as Emma strokes your cheek.

“This is just a rehearsal sweet girl.” She said. “Remember we are all just great actors in a beautiful movie about life.” She bent down to kiss you.

A knock is heard at the door. A muffled voice said, “You all ready?”

“I think we are,” Tom said.

Emma gets up as the director opens the door and people start streaming inside to set up. You and Tami stay seated on the bed. Emma and Tom talk to the director. Chrystal comes over to talk to you.

“How are you doing girls?” Chrystal said.

You took a deep breath. “I’m good.”

Tami said. “Ready to film this I guess.”

“Good,” Chrystal said. “I’m going to set you up for each shot. Just roll with it all like the camera and other people aren’t even here.”

“Sure,” rings out like a warning to your system of nerves trying to scream for you not to go through with this but its to late to listen to your nerves now. Inside you are practically hyperventilating. Outside you appear relaxed and ready for anything.

Tami said, “I’m cool.”

Tom and Emma come back over. Tom gets in the bed under the sheet. He rolls his boxers down lower to make it appear he is naked under the sheet. Crystal stands you on the right side five steps away from the bed. Tami is on the left side. Emma is at the end of the bed.

“When we roll take a few steps to get on the bed. Follow Tom and Emma’s lead since they know the script. Stop when you hear cut.” Crystal said. “And have fun.” She steps behind where the equipment is set up. Lighting shines on the scene.

When you hear, “Action,” You walk towards the bed and climb on to it as does Tami and Emma.

““If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Tom said before pulling you into a kiss.

Then Emma leans down to kiss him. He turns toward Tami. Emma and you look to each other. She leans in so you do. She kisses your lips.

“Cut,” you hear.

You pull away and stand up. Emma and Tami do also going back to original marks. Crystal walks back over.

“That worked very well,” Chrystal said. “We need to shoot it a few more times for angles and we will move on.”

Everyone nods. This part of the scene is shot many more times before the director decides to move on to the next part of the scene. Not that you mind kissing for each and every take, Its the job, right?  Chrystal comes back.

“I am going to help position you ladies around Tom in a few different ways before we wrap.” Chrystal said. “We have stand ins that will film more intimate moments to make it appear the three of you slept together like a masterpiece.”

Tom lays on his stomach. Chrystal tells you to lay on your stomach. So, you do. She puts your arm around Tom’s opposite shoulder. Leans your chin on his shoulder. She stands back to look how she positioned you.

Chrystal whispered to you, “you need to lose the bra.”

She undoes your bra. Helps you take it off without you having to get up and tucks it so its not seen in the shot. Then positions you back. She helps Emma get on the other side of him. Then Tami on the other side of Emma.

Tom turns his head to look at you, “You are doing great love. I hope I get to work with you again sometime.”

You said, “Thanks.”

It’s the only thing you could think of saying in the moment with your heart in your throat. Sweat rolling off your body under the hot set lights. At least they had the room warm so laying there mostly naked didn’t make you cold.

You hear a male voice say, “Time to lose the boxers Tom.”

And you just think, So, this is happening. A naked Tom Holland beside me while I lay here partially naked.

“Tom look to Emma.” Someone said. “And put your arms around all the ladies. Everyone eyes closed like you are sleeping peacefully like this. We are just going to film a few minutes when you hear action. Then you can open your eyes when you hear cut.”

You close your eye. Chrystal turn you slightly and lifts your leg over Tom’s back. A minute later you hear, “Action.” You stay still in the position you were put. Its only slightly uncomfortable. It seems like forever before you hear, “Cut, that’s a wrap for tonight. Don’t anyone move.”

You take a breath. Tom gets up first to put his boxers and t-shirt back on. Then you see Emma get up. After they both leave set along with everyone else but you, Tami and Chrystal. Chrystal tells you you can get up and get dressed.

“Well that was the most interesting shoot I’ve been part of,” You said.

“I agree,” Tami said.

You are the last extras to be wrapped. You made your way home. You would dream about this day for a long time after.

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Thirteen | Nuclear ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: In the Fallout ] [ Vulgarity, gun, gore ]

[ Previous ] [ Next ]

“Hey!”

Glancing up from his cards, Obito scowls. “Kinda in the middle of something here.” And by ‘something’, he means a game of poker. He’s in a good position, and he really doesn’t want to be interrupted. If he can win the pot, he’ll get away with far more than he first put in.

“Fine, just...hurry up, will you? I’ve got news.”

“Yeah yeah” Obito replies blithely, adjusting his hand. “It can wait.”

Rolling his remaining eye, Kakashi turns to the barkeeper. “Whiskey.” Might as well do something in the interim. He sits backward on his stool, watching the game. Obito bets the rest of his cash, earning uncertain glances from the other three players. And then one by one, they all fold.

Grinning and deepening the scars on his face, Obito slaps down his cards. “Straight flush, bitches! Fork it over!”

Kakashi gives a slow shake of his head.

With a great deal of grumbling, they all shove the pot to Obito, who rakes it in greedily. “Pleasure, gentlemen. Until next time.” Pocketing his winnings, he sits beside Kakashi just as the bottle is delivered. “Guess this is on me!”

“Wonderful. Now can you give me five minutes to explain something to you?”

“Depends on if I get drunk in five minutes,” is Obito’s counter, knocking back a shot.

“Just...don’t get too hasty. All right?”

The Uchiha gives his friend a look. “The hell’s got you so worked up?”

“A new place to plunder, that’s what. Word is, it hasn’t been touched yet. And you know what that means.”

Pouring another shot, Obito slows. “...what is it?”

“Some old lab. Pre-war. Supposedly a lot of good tech certain folks would be more than happy to get their hands on. There’s a building on the surface that’s been hit, but some old wanderer I met tells me the real load is underneath, in the actual lab no one’s bothered to look for.”

“And if it’s some well-kept secret, how’d this old geezer know about it?” Obito counters, looking skeptical as he knocks back another shot.

“He’s a loner. Found it by accident, but there’s...complications. He couldn’t do much with it, so he sold me the info.”

Immediately, Obito deadpans. “...so you took the word of some crackpot old man about a secret lab and paid him for it? Kakashi, that is the stupidest fucking -!”

“Keep your voice down!” the Hatake hisses, shoving Obito’s head toward the counter and earning a grunt. “I already scoped it out before I came here. Seems pretty damn legit to me. If we can find even a few pieces of tech -?”

“I don’t want tech,” Obito spits. “I want cash, Kakashi!”

“Then you sell the tech for it, you dumbass! Not everything is a quick cash grab! Sometimes you have to work for it, huh? Think about it. This stuff is pre-war - undamaged by any nuclear fallout or blasts. Just sitting there. There are plenty of people who would die to have it.”

“Which means finding them, first! You wanna haul all that junk around before you have a buyer?”

“The hell do you think caches are for, huh? Why is every conversation I have with you an argument...why are we even partners?”

“I ask myself the same thing!”

The pair reach a deadlock, glowering at each other.

“...let’s just check it out. If you’re not happy with it, fine. But I want to at least see if we can turn a profit on anything. Because your gambling isn’t always so fruitful.”

“And neither is your spending money on supposed tips. But yeah, sure, let’s go.” Obito slaps the money for the whiskey on the table, taking the rest of the bottle with him.

He might need it.

Outside the dusty bar in the remnants of a town, they start walking, Kakashi pulling out a worn map. “It’s right out here, a few miles out.”

“Won’t it be dark by the time we get there?”

“We’ll just camp in what’s left of the building. Then we’ll have a full day to check things out.”

“More like a full day to waste…”

“I heard that.”

“Good!”

The rest of the walk is done in a stony silence, neither of them willing to concede any ground. And as the sun sets, the lab looms up atop a hill. All of the windows are smashed, part of the right side collapsed.

“Looks like a shitshow,” Obito remarks, earning a sigh from his companion. “Something this obvious has surely been picked clean.”

“On the surface, sure. But it seems no one ever realized there was more underground.”

“And how did some random old man figure this out?”

“Because he actually sat and read the documents in this place. Realized there was more to it. You think anyone else is going to care about that kind of thing?”

“I know I wouldn’t.”

Kakashi gives a brief lift of his arms in defeat. “...yeah well, exactly.”

“So he didn’t have the physical means to take advantage, or…?”

“According to him, it was ‘too stressful’. Which, to be fair, could mean...a number of things. There might be lingering security down there. Structure might be faulty. Flooded. No idea until we look.”

Obito grumbles. “When are you gonna learn that people being vague rarely means good things?”

“Well after last week, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“Hey, I’m making up for last week!”

“And until you do, we’re giving this a shot.”

Heaving a sigh, the Uchiha decides to just play along, moving to gather some broken wood to get a fire going. The sooner he lets Kakashi play this out, the sooner they can get moving again. The wasteland is vast, and opportunities can easily pass one by. And he’d prefer something a bit more exciting than rummaging around some old science junk.

Once they cook some of their rations and find dry, level places to unfurl their bedrolls, the pair of them hunker down for the night.

And like every day since the bombs fell, the sun rises again, scorching the Earth’s devastated surface.

By the time Obito rises, Kakashi’s already been up, examining some documents with his one remaining eye. “You’re up early. Now I know you’re serious.”

“No day like the present,” Kakashi rebukes. “Seems they were working on some kind of DNA...stuff. I dunno, I’m not a scientist.”

“Obviously. Which is why this stuff is just money to you, not of actual interest.”

“And which is why you shouldn’t complain, because money is money. Now help me find the way down.”

“You haven’t found it yet?!”

“No! I found the documents. Which confirm there’s something under this building. The only question is where, specifically.”

“...I’m gonna punch you,” Obito mutters. “Can’t we just take a sledgehammer to the floor?”

“Do you have a sledgehammer?”

“...no.”

“Then the answer is no. Come on, it can’t be that hard.”

They spread out, looking for any manner of descent. Obito checks doors in search of an elevator shaft, Kakashi attempting to find stairs.

In the end, it’s Kakashi who’s successful.

“Over here!”

Obito closes the gap, revealing Kakashi pointing to a button. “...and? This place obviously doesn’t have any pow-”

With a bop of the end of his closed fist, Kakashi pushes the button.

A grating whine sounds, and the floor before them quivers. Then slowly, it slides back beneath the floor beyond it, revealing...stairs.

“...what the hell…?”

“Weird lab, weird stairs, weird power,” Kakashi replies with a shrug. “Look, there’s even lights. How convenient.”

“And you wanna go down there?!”

“Yes, yes I do. Stay up here if you want, you big baby. We’ve been in shadier places before and you’ve been fine.”

“Shady people I can handle,” Obito retorts, following as Kakashi begins to descend. “It’s shady stuff that weirds me out. You can’t just kill shady stuff.”

“You can break it. Same difference.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it!”

Down and down they descend, the staircase having switchbacks every ten feet down or so. Obito watches their surroundings suspiciously. The air is cool and pleasant, which...is odd. No dust, no smoke, and perhaps even slightly humid. Nothing like the stale, dry air above.

After who knows how many flights...they reach a door.

Kakashi presses an ear to it, listening. “...don’t hear anything.”

“It better not be locked.”

Testing the knob, Kakashi feels it turn in his grip. “...seems not.” Just in case, he draws a pistol from his hip. Obito, in tandem, takes out his trusted machete.

Inside...it’s like another world. Clean, immaculate, and almost entirely made of metal. Desks are neatly arranged, with all manners of equipment seemingly left just as they were before the war.

“...wow,” Obito has to offer, tone breathy in amazement. “This is…”

“Yeah. Never seen anything like it.” Approaching one of the desks, Kakashi finds more documents. “...‘genetic enhancement and manipulation’. That sounds...ominous.”

Obito, in the meantime, works his way further in. Computers, diagnostic equipment, and who knows what else is everywhere, pristine and spotless. It almost freaks him out. Opening another door, his face pales.

“...uh...Kakashi…?”

“Hm?”

“...you need to see this.”

Gun still drawn, Kakashi approaches, trying to look over Obito’s shoulder. “What?”

Wordlessly, Obito steps inside, pushing the door open further and letting his partner past him.

It’s a long, narrow room. In the middle is more tech neither of them could begin to name, but...it looks serious. A few metal tables the length of a person stand nearby. And along the other three walls are a series of glass tubes filled with an off-green liquid. Within them...are rotting bodies.

“...Christ,” Kakashi can’t help but mutter. “Looks like these all got left behind.”

Obito, only half listening, works his way in. “...is it just me, or...does it get less bad the further you go…?”

“What?”

“Look.” He points. While the first few tubes are nothing but cloudy liquid with skeletons and deteriorated flesh, he’s right. The decomposition seems less and less the more they circle around. At the top of the tubes, screens are empty of power, clearly drained over time. Until -

“Oh shit!”

The very. Last. Tube. Above it, the panel flashes red in warning. Power is almost completely drained. But within the tank, seemingly in some kind of suspended animation...is a person.

Slightly curled into a fetal position the body - seemingly female - floats weightlessly in the fluid. A series of wires are strung into their flesh, and a mask with a tube provides oxygen. And bubbles occasionally release as she exhales.

“...holy fuck.”

“How can this be possible? The bombs dropped over a hundred years ago. And whoever this is, they look no older than us!”

“Maybe some kind of...delayed development?” Kakashi muses, still staring. “I have no idea. But you know what this means…? This is probably the only living person from before the war. Untouched by radiation. You know how valuable that would be to the right people? People trying to find ways to -?”

“What?! You wanna turn her over to a bunch of freaks in lab coats? Kakashi, she’s never even been outside this tube. You really think she should just be shuffled off to another one to be studied? That’s fucked up!”

“You’re the one who wanted this whole thing to be worthwhile and make us some cash!”

“Yeah, with tech. Not with people! We might as well be like the slavers at that point, and fuck that.”

Sighing, Kakashi runs a hand back through the mess of his hair. “So, what...you wanna just let her out and wish her luck on her way? You think taking someone like this and just...turning them loose in this world is fair, either?”

“I dunno! But I’m not gonna sell her as a lab rat, Kakashi. No fucking way.”

“Then what, leave her here? Seems she’s got a few days left of power. Less now that we’ve sucked some up with the lights and the stairs.”

“And let her turn into goop like the rest of these poor bastards?”

“There really doesn’t seem to be any fair option here, Obito. So make up your mind. You found her, you decide.”

Obito balks, heart leaping to his throat. He didn’t ask for this…!

“You better hurry because we’re running out of lights down here the longer we dawdle. I’m gonna go pack up what I can. You figure this out.”

“But -?!” Reaching out, he’s denied as Kakashi heads back into the other room. “...ugh, damn it!” Huffing a breath, he turns back to the tube.

Given she’s likely never had any light, the woman is pale as milk. And...maybe for the same reason, so is the rest of her: long, wavy hair almost seems to glow in the strange fluid. It’s a bit hard to tell given how much she’s floating, but it almost seems to be as long as she is tall.

...then again, he figures she’s never had a haircut.

...he can’t leave her here. And he won’t let her get snapped up by some freak wanting to study her like a bug in a jar. So, that leaves one option. Looking at the right side of the tank, Obito finds a kind of keypad: maybe a mechanism for opening the door? Cuz something tells him just...smashing the glass isn’t smart. “Uh…”

He needs a password.

Moving to the equipment, he shuffles through a bunch of papers, opening a filing cabinet and finding folders for the specimens. Glancing to her tube, he finds the number, a finger tracing down the paper until -

“Two four seven three,” he murmurs, repeating it under his breath until he’s back at the keypad, pressing the keys in sequence.

A loud beep sounds, and he startles as massive bubbles flood up from the floor of the tube. The liquid, it’s...it’s draining! She slowly sinks to a tangle of limbs at the bottom.

And then, with a pressurized hiss, the glass swings open, and she nearly tumbles out.

“Oh, shit -!” Kneeling, he manages to catch her, nose wrinkling at the smell of...whatever she was in. And she’s wet. Eugh.

Carefully, he starts taking out the wires, wincing as the sites bleed. And off comes the mask, letting her breathe air on her own for the first time.

“What the hell is -?”

“Kakashi! Find a rag or something, she’s bleeding wherever I take the wires out.”

Seeing that Obito apparently made up his mind, Kakashi sighs and finds a dispenser of paper towels. Handing those over, he then grabs one of the abandoned lab coats.

Since she is, after all, completely nude.

Obito mops her off, trying to wipe both blood and mystery liquid off her skin, going pink as he nears anything intimate. Once she’s a bit cleaner, he lifts her up and lets Kakashi help him get her as dressed as they can manage. A spare bit of cable ties it shut around her waist.

“...why isn’t she waking up?” the Uchiha then asks.

“No idea. Maybe she’s dead?”

“No, no - she’s breathing.”

“Try slapping her.”

Obito shoots him a look. “...hey, miss? Uh...hello?”

No response, her head lolling around on her neck.

“...well, let's - let’s get her back upstairs. Then we can come back down for any stuff you wanna haul out.”

“I’ve got a few bags full. And you’re gonna have to keep an eye on her. I’ll make a few trips in the meantime.”

“...all right.” Hefting her up on his back, Obito begins the ascent back to the surface, admittedly sad to leave the clean air behind.

Well...he has a person. Now what?

Back in their camp, he lays her on his bedroll. Her hair is still wet, and he mulls it over before turning her on her side. Deft fingers then start braiding. Once she has a long tail of plait, he ties it off with some wire. There...that’ll keep it from getting too out of hand.

“...mn…”

He stiffens. Is...is she waking up? “H-hello?”

Her eyelids twitch, leading him to notice her white lashes. Then they open to reveal a soft pair of grey eyes.

...Obito then realizes that she’s likely got no memories, no language...nothing.

Oh boy.

“...uh...hi?” he greets sheepishly, lips briefly flickering up into a smile. “...I’m Obito.”

Completely blank, she stares at him.

“...you, uh…” He sighs, rubbing his neck. “...can you...understand me?”

More unaware staring.

“Aw, crap. Well, uh…” Adjusting to sit cross-legged, he puts a hand to his chest. “...Obito.”

Her eyes drop to his hand, then back to his face.

“Obito.”

“...O...bito…”

He perks up. “Yeah!”

“...yeah.”

...okay, maybe she’s just copying him. Thinking it over for a moment, he recalls a book he got to read a while back, stolen from a camp they’d stayed at. It had a heroine, and her name was…

He then (very shyly) puts a hand to her chest. “...Ryū.”

Again, she looks to the hand, then back to him. “...R...Ryū…?”

A nod. “Ryū.” Hand back to his own chest. “Obito.”

“Okay, I’ve got the first -”

Obito points. “Kakashi.”

Following the gesture, Ryū sees Kakashi freeze. She also points. “...Kakashi!”

Amused, Obito bursts out laughing, clapping his hands and making her startle. “Hahaha! You got it!”

“Well this is going to be fun,” Kakashi mutters. “You’ve got an adult with the mental awareness of a baby.”

“She’ll learn!”

“With you as her teacher, that scares me.”

“Then you’ll just have to help, Kakashi.”

Sighing, he approaches and sits nearby. He points to Obito. “Idiot.”

“Hey -!”

“I...diot?”

“No!” Obito cuts in, waving his hands.

“Yes, idiot,” is Kakashi’s reply, laughing as Obito shoves him.

“...Obito.”

The pair pause, looking to her. By now, she’s more bright-eyed, clearly curious. She points. “Obito.” Her hand moves. “...Kakashi.”

Obito then points to her. “Ryū!”

“What kind of a name is -?”

“It’s her name! I got it from a book, okay?”

“All right, all right...guess you get the right. But we need to get her some supplies. And we better keep her out of the sun for too long for a while, let her get used to it.”

“Yeah…” There’s a lot to think about.

“...well, welcome to the nuclear waste dump that is Earth,” Kakashi offers. “You’ll learn to love it. Or hate it. Likely both. But at least you won’t turn into soup like your friends.”

Obito’s nose wrinkles. “...okay, but...let’s never tell her about that part once she understands, okay? It’ll only upset her.”

“Fine. Now, I’m gonna haul up some more stuff. Be on your best behavior.” Kakashi points warningly to the two of them.

“Kakashi!” Ryū replies, watching him go.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be back. Sadly,” Obito notes with a snort. Elbow on his knee and chin in his palm, he watches as Ryū takes in her surroundings, and then starts fiddling with anything within reach: debris, his bag...and then him.

He stiffens, but lets her curiously prod at him. She pulls at his clothes, seemingly understanding it’s separate from him. Then he takes his hand in her hands, turning it over and back before comparing it to her own.

...then she moves to his face.

Unlike the rest of her touches, these are more...hesitant. Careful. She seems to know it’s a bit more fragile. Eyes roam over it, drinking in his image.

“...ugly, huh?” he murmurs, knowing she can’t understand.

But she doesn’t flinch, a hand tracing along the ridges of his scars.

“Got those from a mutant. Plus a lot more you can’t see. It’s how Kakashi lost his eye, too. But he can tell you about that.”

She pauses to listen, but doesn’t comprehend. “...Obito.”

“...mhm. That’s me.”

More touches to his face, and then, tone softer, “...Obito…”

Blinking, he feels his face get warm. “...uh…?”

The phenomenon surprises her, jolting before pressing her palms to his cheeks, squishing them slightly to feel the heat.

And then she giggles.

It’s a sweet, chime-like sound. And Obito immediately adores it. “...you’re so cute,” he mumbles.

“...cute?”

“...uh -?”

“All right, I think that’s all we can reasonably carry. Especially since she can’t really...uh…” Kakashi perks a brow. “...am I interrupting something?”

Flustered, Obito leans back from her grip. “No!”

“...then let’s get ready to go.”

By the time they finish packing up, the afternoon is fading into evening. Obito draws a spare cloak over Ryū to keep her out of the sun. “There we go.”

“Ready?” his partner asks.

“I guess so.” The pair start walking, and...Obito realizes she’s not following. “Aw, jeez...uh…” Heading back, he holds out a hand.

After a pause, she does the same.

“Come on,” he mumbles, taking her grip and urging her to keep up.

“Obito!”

“...yup.”

     Okay not gonna lie, I...did not have high hopes for this prompt, but by the end I really enjoyed it xD I don’t, uh...participate much in the apocalypse genre (besides watching my brother play Fallout 4 lmao) so I don’t have much imagery to go off of. So I gave it my best shot .w.      While kinda gross in the middle there, it turned out cute by the end xD Obito’s got his work cut out for him, bahaha! But that’s all for today - thanks for reading!

[p4nkow]

Funny how love is

Y’all welcome to my new Ben one-shot! I’ve already talked about it in this post and it’s finally done! The title if obviously inspired by Queen’s song (are you even surprised?) which I recommend you to listen if you still haven’t 

Basically it’s just lots of fluff with a bit of angst and there’s a lot of dad!Ben because I’m a sucker for it. Please let me know what you think, I’d love that!

info: is it inspired by my sister’s story? kind of, yeah. basically everything that happens in this one-shot is inspired by her. is she pregnant? hell yeah, the baby is due in November. is she getting married? YEAH, TOMORROW! (yay) does she have a dog as amazing as Frankie? yes that’s why I inserted her, too. Rosie’s my sister’s nickname, that’s why I chose this particular name. 

disclaimer: lot of swearing (I can’t help it I’m sorry) and miscarriage but I tried to be as soft as possible 

If you have any other questions just ask me and enjoy!

You just couldn’t stay still — you kept tapping your fingers on your thighs as you waited to hear the front door opening. Trying to take deep breaths didn’t help at all, it only made you more and more nervous. You desperately tried to find something to focus on while you waited for Ben to come back and your gaze fell at your feet, were Frankie was sitting.

She was already staring at you and by the clever look in her eyes you knew that she felt like something was wrong. And indeed there was — your period was late and the morning sickness was killing you. Working the math, this could only mean one thing.

You’ll never forget the excitement in Ben’s eyes when you told him you might be pregnant. It was something that the both of you wanted so bad and it was finally happening; the fact that you weren’t married yet didn’t stop you from trying, to be honest. But you were planning to tie the knot hopefully in a few months.

He had cupped your cheeks and kissed you so vigorously that you were taken aback by his reaction. He just couldn’t stop smiling and nor could you, but you didn’t want to get your hopes up until it was 100% sure. And that’s the reason why Ben rushed to the nearest pharmacy to get a pregnancy test as you waited for him.

You lowered your gaze to your belly, inhaling deeply as the thought of being a mother hit you like a running train. If you were pregnant, if you really were, it meant that in that moment you had a little peanut growing inside you. A corner of your lips raised in a tight smile but you were brought back to reality by Frankie, who quickly stood up and ran to the front door by hearing the release of the lock. Ben was back.

“C’mon Franks, I’ve been away just for ten minutes.” All the love he felt for the dog was evident by the way he talked to her. Sometimes he even used the typical childish tone one usually adopts while talking to babies and you loved when he did that.

You turned your head to him, giving him a nervous smile as soon as he entered in your field of view. He took off his shades and casually placed them on top of a cabinet. “You okay?”

You quickly nodded your head ‘yes’ at his question, not wanting for him to worry even more. When you lowered your gaze to the bag he was holding, you noticed that it was full. “How many tests did you buy?”, You asked with a small laugh.

He followed your gaze and smiled, sticking his tongue out as he usually did. “I got carried away. Y’know, just to be sure.” You could tell that he was nervous just as much as you — his body was all tensed up and you couldn’t help but smile back at him when you met his gaze. You stood up and reached him.

“Let’s start with just one, huh?” You placed your hands on his neck as you leaned closer to him. Without backing away he put away the bag and placed a hand on your back, pulling your body close to his. “Don’t make fun of me, love.”

“Oh no, I’m not”, You replied by placing a small kiss on his soft lips. He immediately kissed you back and you smiled but shortly after you backed away from his lips and said “‘kay, let’s do this.”

Five minutes later the two of you were waiting for the result in your bedroom; you were leaning against the wall, your arms crossed as well as your ankles, your gaze fixed on Ben, who was sitting on the feet of the bed. His elbows were resting on his thighs and he was twisting a cigarette between his fingers — he never smoked inside, much less now that you might be pregnant.

When he met your gaze his lips lifted in a nervous smile. “Just one more minute.”

“God, time seems to stand still”, You complained and Ben sighed.

“C’mere.” He gave you a signal with his hand to get closer to him and you did, sitting on his lap when he tapped on his thighs. His arm immediately surrounded your waist and you placed yours around his shoulders.

You gently slipped your index finger on his jawline and met his green eyes. “Y’know there’s a chance that it might be negative, right?” Your words were nothing but a whisper, underlining the intimacy of the moment.

Ben turned his head towards your hand and placed a kiss on the palm of your hand. “‘f course, love. Let’s not plan anything until we know the result, ‘right?”

“Yeah”, You replied, but when there seemed to be a moment of silence you added “But you’d make a great dad.”

His smile grew wider at your words and he placed a hand between your hair before leaning towards you and placing a kiss on your lips. You kissed him back, placing a hand on his shoulder as the kiss deepened. “I love you so bloody much”, He murmured with heavy breath and your heart sank at his words.

When you placed your forehead against his you were more than sure that the fatal minute had passed, so you whispered “Shall we take a look?”

He pressed the home button on his phone to take a look at the time and then he nodded. “Yeah.”

You stood up and sighed deeply, hesitating before going to the bathroom were the stick was. “D’ya want me to go?”

You gave a serious thought at Ben’s proposal but then you shook your head ‘no’. “No, I gotta do this.”

He nodded in understanding and you took a deep breath, finally finding the will to go take a look at it. You grabbed the stick without looking at the result, going back to the bedroom where Ben was. You nervously smiled at him and he nodded as to support you while Frankie was looking at the two of you with a confused look.

You slowly raised the hand that was holding the stick and when you looked at the result you were like frozen. “Love?” Ben gave you a worried look and took a step towards you, fearing your reaction. Fearing that you might fall apart between his arms.

But slowly your lips parted into a toothy smile, which became even wider when you met Ben’s green eyes. He smiled back at you by noticing your enthusiastic smile, that could only mean good news. “Is it...” His voice broke in the middle of the sentence and he had to clear his throat before speaking again. “Is it positive?”

In response you literally threw yourself in his arms, your legs surrounding his hips and your arms around his neck as you squeaked in excitement. “Yes!”

He burst out into laughter and hugged you back, holding you tight. If you had to choose the happiest moment of your life, it’d be this exact moment. You leaned back in order to look at him in the eyes, cupping his cheeks before placing small kisses on his lips.

“We’re gonna be parents!” You said between the kisses and both your smiles were ridiculously sweet. You placed a feet on the floor and then the other, standing right in front of him.

Ben moved a hand off your back to rub his eyes and you were surprise to notice that he got emotional. “Love”, You whispered to catch his attention and he looked at you with glossy eyes. “You’re going to be a perfect father. I love you. I love you so much.”

“I still can’t believe it”, He whispered back and you nodded in agreement. You couldn’t stop smiling.

“I know.”

“I love you.” You chuckled at his words and he kissed you once again before murmuring “Wait, let’s do another one. Just to be sure. ‘kay?”

“Sure.” You agreed at his proposal so that the two of you could be sure of the result.

And sure as hell the second one was positive, too. The general enthusiasm involved Frankie, who was soon going to have a baby sister or brother, your family and Ben’s. You spent the following month suggesting names and looking at baby bodysuits and all the accessories you’d soon need. Your mother constantly called to make sure you were okay and so did Ben’s, the two of them more than excited to finally be grandmas. You’d also been to the hospital to make sure that it was 100% sure and that the baby was fine.

Everything seemed to go perfectly, until one particular night.

Ben had fallen asleep with his hand on your belly, as he’d done for the last days, and you felt bad at the thought of getting up — you didn’t want to move nor to wake him up. But you really had to pee.

You sneaked out of bed as silently as possible but as soon as you stood up you could feel that something was wrong. Your lower abdomen hurt in a way that it’d never done before and so you rushed to the bathroom. Your pulled down your panties with shaky hands and you gasped when you noticed the blood. God, there was so much blood. “Ben”, You tried to say out loud but your voice was shaky. “Ben!”

You heard a thud coming from the bedroom and then footsteps coming towards you. “What? What’s wrong?”, He asked in a sleepy voice, blinking a couple of times to get used to the sudden light.

He’d literally rushed to the bathroom so his hair was still messy because of the sleep and he had nothing but his boxers on. When he finally met your horrified gaze he understood what was going on and by the way he dropped his shoulders you knew that it had crushed him just as much as you.

The visit to the hospital did nothing but confirm your thoughts — you’d lost the baby. You just had a miscarriage. The look in the doctor’s eyes was full of pity when she told the two of you that you had to consider yourself lucky because you could try again as soon as it was safe for you to do so, but at some point you just stopped listening.

As you still laid on the hospital bed you focused on Ben’s hand, which was still holding yours so tight that you thought he never wanted to let you go. You noticed that the veins in his arm were more evident than usual before raising your gaze to his body, all tensed up but also worn out because of the long night you had. And when you looked at his beautiful face, his jaw was clenched as he nodded every now and then at the doctor.

The truth was, you were already fantasying about that baby. You hoped that the little peanut that was growing inside you would have taken his father’s blonde hair and his attitude, too. And you couldn’t stop thinking at how amazing Ben’d have been as a father and how he’d have spoiled the baby in every way possible.

When he lowered his gaze to meet yours he forced himself to smile at you, trying to reassure you in any way. But you couldn’t be reassured. No matter how hard you tried not to think positive, you just couldn’t. You’d been deprived of the happiness of being a mother, of the great joy of having a baby. And you were fucking mad. Mad and hurt as hell. How could something so wonderful bring such great pain?

He leaned towards you and placed a kiss on your forehead before placing its own on yours, taking deep breaths. “I love you so fuckin’ much and I’m so sorry.” You bit your lip not to cry again at his whispers and you limited yourself to just nod as a response.

The ride back home was unsurprisingly silent. The radio was off and Ben wasn’t humming some random song as he always did while driving. You, on the other hand, felt unbelievably empty. You had like a pit in your stomach and you closed your eyes as soon as you felt them becoming teary again.

Ben noticed it but he didn’t say anything. He just placed a hand on your thigh and squeezed it a bit, rubbing it with his thumb while driving. After all, you were the luckiest woman ever to have him by your side. There was no way you could get over all of this without him supporting you.

That night he didn’t leave your side not even for a second. “You are a force of nature, the most amazing woman I know and I love you so bloody much.” His whispers distracted you by what happened but you couldn’t stop the tears that kept running down your face as you held tight your pillow.

You turned towards him and you immediately met his green eyes, full of worry and sadness. “Ben”, You cried and he narrowed his brows. He gently caressed your cheek as you tried to stop your sobs and he held you even tighter, his arm around your waist as he pulled you closer. You placed your head on his shoulder and you bit your lower lip as he gently stroked your hair.

“I’m not going anywhere. D’ya hear me, love? Anywhere. It’s the two of us, now”, He kept whispering.

“I loved that baby. Our baby”, You whispered back between the sobs.

Ben’s chest rose and lowered as he sighed deeply. “I know.”

You placed your chin on his chest so that you could look at him and he raised a hand to wipe off the tears from your cheeks. “I know how badly you wanted to be a father, I’m sorry.”

His brows were more narrowed than ever by hearing your words. The look in his eyes was full of love as he replied “Baby, it’s not your fault. Don’t ever think that. We both wanted that baby so bad, but what happened it’s nobody’s fault. Not even yours. Do you hear me?”

“Yes”, You softly replied and it wasn’t a lie. But despite that, you felt like shit.

The worst part of all this story was telling your mother what happened without bursting into tears at the phone. And then your mother told your sister, who immediately texted you to show you her support.

And things seemed to get easier with time. You and Ben went back to your usual routine and you returned to your old lifestyle. The only thing that changed was the fact that you went for a physical more and more often so that you could have the situation under control.

What happened didn’t stop you and Ben from keep trying, though — as soon as the doctor said that it was safe for you to try again, you did it. Well, not that you minded at all. But this time you didn’t have any expectations. You’d learned not to be under any illusion and to have much more patience. If it was meant to happen, it was going to happen. That was your mantra.

“Are the boys coming over?” You slowly opened your eyes and you covered them with your hand, trying to avoid the sunlight as you gave Ben a questioning look.

Frankie had fallen asleep on top of you and you were casually petting her while taking some sun. You enjoyed spending whole evenings like that, laying in a lounger in your backyard next to Ben.

He turned towards you, with his shades on and his hair as messy as always. His arm was surrounding your shoulder and he was drawing imaginary circles on your arm with his thumb. “Yeah, they probably are. I’ll text Andy later.”

“‘kay”, You murmured and you bit your lower lip, trying to find the right moment to tell him the news. A few moments of silence passed until you murmured again “Ben?”

“Huh?” His answer was distracted but he was still caressing your arm, so you reluctantly woke Frankie up. She gave you a death stare and after stretching she scampered towards the house.

You sat on the lounger and then you managed to sit on his lap under his amused gaze. “What are you trying to do?” You hated the fact that you couldn’t look at his beautiful green eyes because of the shades he was wearing so you took them off.

Ben narrowed his brows but he was looking at you with a grin on his face and a corner of his lips raised in amusement. “What is it?”

You took a deep breath and placed a hand on his neck, caressing it without looking away from his eyes. “You know I love you, right?”

He was now even more confused than before but he nodded at your question, answering hesitantly “Yeah.”

His hand was casually caressing your bare thigh, given that the dress you were wearing had lifted up when you sat on his lap. “And you know that I’d never hide something from you, right?”

“Are you breaking up with me?”, He asked in a worried tone and you parted your lips in surprise.

“What?! No! Oh my God, no. Absolutely.” You couldn’t help but chuckle at his words as his features relaxed in relief. “I was just trying to give you a nice intro.”

“An intro to what?”

Your smile grew wider and you took a deep breath — it was definitely the right moment to spill the beans. “Y’know I’ve taken a lot of physical, right?”

“Huh-huh”, He replied, trying to understand where it was going.

“And that we’ve had a lot of sex, lately.”

He chuckled at your words and nodded. “Love, as much as I love talking about sex I don’t really know where this is going.”

“Ben”, You said with a deep sigh. “I’m pregnant.”

If you weren’t about to burst into tears you’d have laughed at the shocked expression on his face. His brows were raised in surprise and his lips were a bit parted as he let out a small chuckle of excitement. “You’re—”

He gasped and you wiped off the tears of happiness that had started running down your cheeks. “Yeah. I wanted to be sure, like 100% sure, before telling you. I didn’t want us to be under any illusion and... well, y’know what I mean.”

“So it’s sure? Like 100% sure?” He asked, placing both his hands on your face. He was looking at you with an enthusiastic smile and when you nodded frantically his lips crushed harshly in yours. You immediately kissed him back, giggling between the kisses as Ben placed a hand on your back, pulling you even closer to him.

That moment was just as emotional as the very first time and you couldn’t even describe your feelings — it was simply impossible to put them down in words. But the light you saw in Ben’s green eyes as soon as you backed away brought back to your mind the reason why you loved him so much. So much to even start a family with him.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” His tone wasn’t accusatory nor hurt — he was just being curious.

You shrugged and decided to be completely honest with him. “Y’know, after all we’ve been through I thought it was wiser to wait. I needed to make sure there were no complications or anything.”

“I get it.” And he nodded frantically as to confirm his words. The two of you just couldn’t stop smiling. From that moment everything’d have changed and it was the beginning of another amazing journey together.

Since then Ben insisted to come with you to the following check-ups, especially to the one where you were going to find out the gender of the baby. You were laying in the examination bed with your shirt lifted to show the growing pregnant belly. Ben was standing right next to you, sitting on the chair next to the bed. He was firmly holding your hand, more than nervous to finally find out the gender.

“So, are you guys nervous?” The doctor, Mrs Shelby, gave you a look from above her shoulder while picking the gel. You limited yourself to nod at her question and Ben murmured a soft “Yeah”, sticking his tongue out as he usually did. He placed his other hand on yours jointed and met your gaze. You gave him a nervous smile and he held your hand even tighter.

“Do you already have a few names in mind?” You were grateful to Mrs Shelby for trying to carry on a conversation — it was a good way to take the edge off.

“A few, yeah”, You replied and shortly after you inhaled deeply because of the coldness of the gel.

Ben followed closely her movements, looking forward to the moment we’d have seen our baby. You turned your head towards him, giving him a quick look before looking at the screen when Mrs Shelby placed the ultrasound on your belly. She scrolled it through the part covered of gel and shortly after you finally heard your baby’s heartbeat.

You let out an excited laugh, immediately looking for Ben’s gaze. He gave you a toothy smile, placing a kiss on the back of your hand before looking back at the screen.

“Your little baby here’s more than fine. She’s very healthy.”

“She?” Ben immediately asked after hearing Mrs Shelby's words. Your lips parted in surprise and you impatiently waited for her to answer. She have you an apologetic look from above her shoulder and said "Oh, I'm sorry. You didn't wanna know the genre?"

“It's a baby girl?” You asked in a shaky voice and the doctor nodded.

“Oh, yeah. It's clearly a girl, congratulations!”

“Love, it's a girl!”, Ben immediately said and you chuckled because of the excitement in his tone. He immediately leaned towards you and and placed a quick kiss on your lips. That's when you suddenly and finally realised that a baby girl was coming to your lives to change them for good.

That’s how you started again to look for cribs, bathtubs for babies, strollers and all kinds of cute, coloured baby clothes. You basically spent entire evenings at the mall or sprawled in the sofa, looking for things you’d soon need on the Internet.

“What about this one?” Ben pointed at the screen of his laptop, showing you a horrible brown baby jumpsuit.

You narrowed your brows, giving it a better look. “Nope”, You said shortly after, shaking your head ‘no’. Ben sighed deeply and you placed both your hands on your big belly, leaning towards it and whispering “Daddy wants you to wear horrible brown jumpsuits, baby.”

Ben have you a quick look before shaking his head in amusement. “Don’t corrupt my girl.”

“Your girl? I thought I was your girl.” Your favorite hobby was to tease him, even more now that you were pregnant. You turned towards him and started to slip your fingers through his fluffy hair.

“You’re both my girls, baby.” You grinned at him and he smiled at you before keep scrolling through the jumpsuits.

“You heard that, love? We both are his girls”, You whispered again to your belly with an amused smile. Ben put away his laptop and turned towards you, giving you a quick look before leaning towards your growing belly.

you loved when he talked to the baby, even if she’d never reacted — she hadn’t kicked not even once yet. Ben gently pulled up your shirt and you smiled when he placed a kiss on your bare skin. “Hi princess”, He whispered and you remained quiet to enjoy the that moment. “Mommy’s trying to corrupt you but you need to know that I love you very much.”

“I’m not!”, You protested, making him smile even wider.

“Yes, she is, but deep down I love her, too.”

“Deep down”, You repeated in an amused tone.

“Yes, very deep down. Y’know, that’s probably because of her obsession for musicals or the fact that she only listens to old music but she’s very annoying.”

“Oh, fuck off”, You replied and you burst out into laughter.

Ben chuckled at your reaction and you bit your lip to stop smiling. “Language, princess. But the point is”, He kept whispering to the baby “That I love you two so fuckin’ much, Rosie.”

“Don’t swear in front of the baby”, You immediately said, giving him a playful slap on the shoulder. “And Rosie?”

You’d always listed a few possible names for the baby but Rosie’d never popped up, that’s why you were so surprised. “You don’t like it?”

His green eyes were full of hope and uncertainty and you smiled to reassure him. “I love it.”

He smiled back at you and slowly nodded, moving his gaze back to your belly, which he started to caress gently. “You heard that, love? Mama loves your name — Rosie.”

The corners of your lips lifted in a sweet smile by hearing his words and you started to stroke his blonde hair as he kept rubbing your belly. You were lost at staring at his beautiful features, fantasising about him holding your little girl when you suddenly gasped.

Rosie had just kicked for the first time.

Your lips parted in disbelief and you raised your brows in surprise, exchanging a look with Ben. He was simply ecstatic and you could easily notice it by the look on his face.

“Did you feel that?” You asked in a whisper and Ben frantically nodded, placing the entire palm of his hand on the side where Rosie’d kicked.

“Yeah”, He replied in disbelief and gave you a toothy smile. You gasped again, trying to find the right words to express how it felt like — you just couldn’t. It’d been a weird, weird feeling. Rosie was moving inside you.

“Talk to her”, You suggested him and he gave you a quick nod, his big smile still impressed on his face.

“Y’know, Rosie, mommy and I just can’t wait to meet you. Even Frankie’s excited for it!” His words made you smile but Rosie didn’t react, so you gave him a nod to silently tell him to go on. “Oh and you should see all the amazing brown jumpsuits I’m gonna buy you.”

“Don’t you dare”, You said with a soft laugh but you knew he was just teasing you.

“Watch me.” You eye-rolled at his words and sighed deeply. “But I’m more than sure you’ll be as beautiful as your mommy.”

You bit your lower lip and as soon as you met his gaze Rosie kicked for the second time. You could easily see a piece of your belly lifting as she moved inside of you and you squeaked in excitement. Ben giggled and the look he gave you nearly made your heart explode of love. “Go on”, You said to encourage him.

“Hopefully you’ll get her beautiful eye-color and her features, but let’s hope you won’t take her taste for music.”

Ben had just found his favorite hobby for the next four months. Since that day Rosie started to kick more and more frequently, especially when Ben was around or when he talked to her. But with Rosie growing up in your belly, hormones were making your life simply impossible.

One day you were in the mood for Oreos, the other you were in the mood for french fries and pretzels. And you didn’t feel any better — your mood constantly switched and you were literally driving Ben insane. You felt so bad about it.

You’d woken up to an empty bed — Ben’d gone for his morning run and you were literally sprawled in your bed. Rosie hadn’t moved yet, she was probably still asleep and you missed her. Being completely alone led you to your worst flaw — overthinking.

Rosie’d have come to this world in a few months and that thought terrified you. You weren’t ready at all. Geez, you could barely take care of yourself! If it wasn’t for Ben you couldn’t even take care of Frankie, that was the brutal truth.

You didn’t move at all when you heard the front door opening. You sighed deeply and started to rub your belly, giving a look at the door of your room when you heard Ben approaching you. He was trying to be as quiet as possible but he smiled when he noticed you ere awake.

“Did I wake you up?” His breath was still a bit heavy but his tone was low and hoarse. You just shook your head ‘no’ to answer his question as he entered the room. Some strokes of hair were attached to his forehead and he was all sweaty.

“You okay?” And then again you just nodded your head ‘yes’ at his question. He bent down to pet Frankie, who had woken up by hearing him opening the front door and he gave you a concerned look, his brows slightly narrowed. “Alright, Franks. Alright. Gotta go.” And then he stood up, placing a knee on the mattress and leaning towards you.

Ben placed a kiss on your forehead and then on your lips, murmuring a soft “‘Morning, beautiful.” You mumbled a confused reply and h backed away to lean towards your big belly, placing a soft kiss on it and whispering “‘Morning to you too, love.

He was so bloody sweet with you and Rosie — you didn’t deserve him, not at all. You bit your lower lip as you felt a knot in your throat and you finally met his beautiful green eyes.

“Is she awake?” His hand was placed on your cheek and his thumb was gently caressing it, his words nothing but a whisper.

“Not yet”, You replied in his same tone and you slightly smiled at him. His hand moved from your cheek to your belly and he placed another quick kiss on your lips. “‘Right, then. I’ll go take a shower, I’m all sweaty.”

“‘kay”, You softly replied and you watched him placing a quick kiss on your belly before standing up and disappearing behind the bathroom door.  

Your gaze fell to your half-done suitcases at the corner of the room — you and Ben’d soon leave to visit your family and you’d spend a few days at the beach. Yet you didn’t feel like doing anything that day.

“C’mere, Franks”, You whispered to the dog, tapping on the mattress right next to you. She quickly jumped on the bed, happily wagging her tail. “Good girl. Very good girl, Franks.” She curiously sniffed your belly like she always did since it’d started to get bigger.

You started to pet her as you heard the shower running — well, as well as your thoughts. Not long after Ben joined you in the bedroom, shirtless and still half-wet. He started to rummage on the top drawer, looking for a shirt to wear. He gave you a quick look from above his shoulder and asked “Are you gonna tell me what’s wrong?”

You pursed your lips at his question and sighed deeply. “I’m gonna be a terrible mother.” There it was, the brutal truth. You’d just spilled the beans.

You turned your head towards him, watching him as he quickly put on his shirt and turned towards you with a confused look on his face. His brows were narrowed and a few strands of wet hair were covering his forehead. “What are you talking about?”

You moved to the feet of the bed, sitting on the mattress before shrugging, trying to find the right words to express your feelings. “I’m probably gonna forget to feed her or to change her diaper or I’m gonna forget her at the mall or—”

“Hey, hey, hey. Wait. Look at me.” He quickly moved in front of you, cupping your cheeks and fixing his gaze right in yours. He spoke slowly and clearly to you to get his every word. “You’re not alone in this. You aren’t, love. I’m not going anywhere, alright?”

You bit your lower lip as your eyes became teary and you limited yourself to just nod at his words. “I’ll help you feed her and change her diaper and for God’s sake, we’re not going to forget her at the mall, ‘right?”

“Yeah”, You replied in a soft voice but you couldn’t stop the few tears that had started running down your cheeks. Ben’s features relaxed and the corner of his lips lifted in a sweet smile as soon as you raised again your chin to meet his green eyes.

“You care for Frankie as if she were your own daughter, I see that in your eyes.”

“But it’s different with a baby.” Ben leaned towards you and took your hands in his, holding them tight.

“I know, love. But I also do know that you’re going to be an amazing mother.”

You cleared your throat and nodded at his words, lowering your gaze to wipe off the tears.  You heard Ben sighing deeply and as soon as you met his gaze once again you knew he was up to something. He had an excited look on his face and you gave him a questioning look, ha,f-amused by his switch of mood.

“The day we met— d’ya remember it?”

You slowly nodded your head ‘yes’. “Yeah, it was at Barbara and Mike’s wedding.”

“Yeah. You were the most beautiful woman in the room. You were sitting with your friends but I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” His admission made you smile — he’d never told you such things. But before you could reply anything he kept going.

“And after our first dates I knew, deep down, that you were the right one for me. The only one.”

“Ben, where is this—”

“Let me finish”, He interrupted you and you gave him a nod. “So with time I feel deeply in love with you — with a woman that cries her eyes out every time she watches ‘The Notebook’ and just can’t stop herself from mouthing all the lines from ‘Les Misérables’.”

You chuckled at his words and in that very specific moment Rosie kicked for the first time that day so you gasped in surprise. Ben noticed it too and lowered his gaze to your belly, placing both his hands on it. “And look what we’ve made — Rosie’s gonna be perfect and so bloody loved.”

“Yeah”, You agreed with a big smile.

“You’re the love of my life. Both of you are. And that’s why..” He quickly stood up and started to rummage on his half-done suitcase. When he came back to you he was holding a little box, kneeling right in front of you.

He quickly slipped his fingers through his hair and he stuck his tongue out as he usually did. Your lips parted in surprise and as soon as Ben’s eyes met yours you knew what was about to happen. You whispered his name but you didn’t say anything — you couldn’t even find the right words.

Ben’s smile was the biggest you’d ever seen and his eyes were glossy as he cleared his throat, opened the little box and said “Y/N Y/L/N, will you marry me?”

You let out a small laugh as tears started again to run down your cheeks, this time for a completely different reason. You frantically nodded your head ‘yes’ at his question and he chuckled before you could give him a vocal answer. “Yes, yes! Of course, yes!”

His lips immediately crushed into yours and you giggled. When a few minutes later he was putting on the ring, he said in an amused tone and with a grin on his face “I was planning to propose on vacation but y’know, this felt like the right moment to do it. And also, I know how much you hate surprises.”

“It’s perfect as it is.” And when you cupped his cheeks and kissed him again you finally felt complete.

You had an amazing man by your side who you were soon going to marry, a baby already on her way, Frankie who loved you in her very own way and a very supportive family. You felt so loved that it was almost too overwhelming. Funny how love is, huh?

Taglist: @luvborhap @toger-raylor @ohtheseboysilove @radiob-l-a-hblah @benders-diamond-earring

[ecto-american]

Broken Ectoplasm C15

DannyMay themed story don’t bully me at it being NEARLY DANNYMAY A G A IN i’m trying my best

Ectoplasm | Broken | Glass | Theory | Community | Eavesdropping | Worldbuilding | Accident | History | Shape shift | Puppet | Ink | Hands | Anniversary | Or Read on FFN or AO3. |

Day 15: Finals

There was no time to lose and a lot of work to be done. Agent G continued to comb over his notes as his co-agent reluctantly followed the GPS. They didn't speak, even though Agent G could tell that his coworker was irritated at driving around. Another duo of agents were sitting around the hospital waiting room, watching TV on their phones or doing paperwork on a company laptop. But thankfully, that wasn't them today. It was refreshing being able to walk around and talk to people, rather than try to figure out what other trashy, mediocre show he was going to half-heartedly sink hours of his time into.

The neighborhood was a typical city one, with cars parked on the street and some in short driveways. The homes looked nice, and Agent G could tell that this was definitely one of the upper class areas.

"Sure you're not just gonna wait in the car?" Agent G half-joked as the coworker pulled into a free spot on the street, right in front of the house number that they had managed to find. Luckily, it was one of the addresses that was noted as part of the case file, in terms of the background information Paulina Sanchez had given about herself to the original case author. Agent K grumbled, putting the car in park

"Nah, you're still on your trial run, I have to stick with you," he complained. "Like disgustingly sticky gum permanently stuck on my shoe."

"Ah, I love hanging out with you too, man," Agent G replied sarcastically. He unbuckled his seat and got out of the car, immediately making his way up the sidewalk to a stoop.

Agent K brought his hand up to the door to knock on it. It took less than a minute for a tall, mustached man to answer the door. Nobody ever expects officers at their door, and he stared at them. But he remained fairly polite.

"Hello, can I help you?" he asked hesitantly.

"We're Agent K and Agent K. We'd like to speak to your daughter," Agent K informed him.

The man studied them, suspicious. Agent G guessed that this was Paulina's dad. Likely an overprotective type.

"Is she in trouble?" he asked.

"No, no!" Agent G quickly assured him. "We're just following up on a previous report, from the Overshadowing Epidemic."

Mr. Sanchez looked a bit puzzled, but he simply nodded. He moved to the side for the agents to come in, which they did and stood in an entryway. Mr. Sanchez went to the bottom of the stairs nearby, shouting up.

"Paulina! Can you come down?"

"I'm studying for finals, Papa! I'll be down in a moment!" a familiar voice replied.

"Now, please. There's some officers here to talk to you."

Silence for several seconds. The agents heard somebody walking around above them, hurrying to the stairs. Agent G saw the familiar face of his old classmate peek around the top of the stairs down. Paulina froze upon seeing the agent. She curiously cocked her head to the side before she started going down the stairs. She stopped halfway, nervously glancing from agent to agent.

"Um, hello?" she questioned, her voice a bit shaky. Agent G didn't blame her. It was always intimidating seeing law enforcement at your door. Especially when one was an old classmate. He immediately flipped his notebook open to make notes.

"Hey, Miss Sanchez. We just have a few questions for you, about an incident that occurred about a year ago," Agent G spoke up. His partner remained silent as he talked. "Concerning the Overshadowing Epidemic?"

She visibly relaxed upon the question and realizing that nobody was here for an arrest. Paulina nodded, descending the rest of the stairs and skipping the last one to land on the floor in front of the two agents.

"I spoke with officers before, close to when it happened," Paulina told them.

"I know, but we just have some follow up questions," Agent G assured her. The high schooler nodded, bouncing lightly in place as she waited. "Do you believe that you were overshadowed?"

"I know I was overshadowed," Paulina said firmly. Any anxiety she had seemed to be gone. Agent G took detailed note of it all.

"Can you explain how you knew?" he asked.

"I had all the signs, like being cold afterwards, loss of time and super tired, I slept literally like, fourteen hours when it was done. I also saw the ghost leaving me," she replied. "And the ghost boy saved me too."

"Can you specify who or what you mean by ghost boy?" Agent G questioned.

"Danny Phantom," she explained. "He made the ghost overshadowing me leave, and he protected me when that ghost began to go like, crazy and started attacking."

"Did you recognize the ghost that overshadowed you?"

Paulina shook her head no. She went from bouncing in place to a casual back and forth rock as she answered questions. The girl paused before shrugging.

"Well, kinda," she confessed. "It was one of those ghosts that looked like they were from a SWAT team or something, a lot of them looked alike."

"Do you know why you were overshadowed?" Agent G asked. The question clearly took her by surprise, and she thought for a moment. Paulina was quiet for several seconds. It turned into a minute, then two. Agent G waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts.

"So like...when I was overshadowed, I don't remember a lot of what I did," she said slowly. "I don't remember school, being with my friends or family, much of anything. There's some parts that I can like, vaguely recall, but…" Paulina paused once more, staring at the agent. Agent G nodded, encouraging her to continue on. "Some of what I do remember doesn't really feel real, like it was a dream. Cause it just doesn't really make sense to me."

"Please, describe what you can remember," the young agent encouraged. Paulina lightly bounce as she rocked, but she did.

"I think I remember talks of like...some kind of ghost conspiracy?" she began. "Like I don't really, like, totally remember seeing anything, but I felt like I was in several meetings? And by that, I mean like, we were talking about what to do, only it wasn't me talking. It was the ghost talking."

"Do you remember what was being said?" Agent G's heart pounded excitedly at this information this girl seemingly assumed was just useless dream fog.

Paulina glanced at the ceiling as she thought, trying to gather what she could make sense of time she lost nearly a year ago.

"Not really," she admitted, her shoulders drooping a bit. "I only really remember that Dash was the one who talked the most during the meetings."

That was incredibly disappointing. He really was hoping that she had something more. But it still shed the proper light on the evidence he had towards his new theory.

"Dash Baxter?" Agent G guessed. That name was already on his list. Paulina nodded. Well, he now knew who was next on his list of people to interview.

"Yeah," she verbally confirmed. "He's my boyfriend."

"Do you know where we can meet him today?" Agent G asked. She nodded her head once more.

"Yeah, he's grounded cause he got in trouble at school for shoving this kid, Danny, in a locker, so his dad's making him do chores all weekend," Paulina replied. "I can give you his address."

"Please." He handed her notebook and pencil, and Paulina pulled her cell phone out. She scrolled for Dash's contact info before writing down his address. "Thank you," Agent G smiled warmly at her, jotting his last note before closing his notebook. He pulled out a GIW business card to hand her, with the agency's number and address. The girl took it, curiously looking it over. "If you can remember anything else, please feel free to give me a call. My agent extension number is seven."

"I will," she promised. She slipped the card into her pocket, and Agent G gave a nod to Mr. Sanchez.

"Thank you for your time," he spoke to him. Mr. Sanchez nodded, and he reached out to wrap a protective arm around Paulina, squeezing her lightly.

"Not a problem," Mr. Sanchez replied.

Agent G opened the door, and the two agents slipped out, with a final goodbye from Mr. Sanchez as the man closed the door behind them.

"Let me guess." They had barely made it five steps away from the front door when Agent K spoke up. "We're going to the Baxter home."

"You got it!" Agent G replied cheerfully. "I think I'm onto something significant here."

"Oh really?" Agent K half-hummed. He opened the driver's door of their spotless white car. The agent buckled in as he mostly spoke to himself. "Heh, rookies."

"Come on, even you have to admit that this is more interesting than sitting around, twiddling your thumbs," Agent G nudged him before he buckled in. Agent K didn't reply.

He just made an irritated grumble as he started the car. Agent G quickly punched in the address. It wasn't far from here at all, barely three blocks away. Good, it wouldn't be an annoyingly long drive.

He pulled his work phone out, checking for messages. He already had an email reply and a confirmation that there was going to be a search in the area Phantom specified. Nice, things were going underway. He just had to hope that it wouldn't take days to find something, or that it wasn't a goose chase. But something in his gut told him that they'd find that scepter.

"So what's this significant thing you're thinking?" Agent K asked. Agent G glanced up from his phone, putting it back into his pocket.

"Oh, finally coming around?" Agent G teased. Agent K grunted.

"No. I'm more interested in why you're dragging me all over town to talk to teenagers," he replied shortly.

"Because there's something deeper at play here," Agent G explained. "Something's up. I've read those case files. There's just something missing, like this final piece of a puzzle that'd really tell me what's up. I want to know what it is."

"And those answers are gonna come to you from teenagers?" Agent K's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Hey, don't underestimate teenagers," his coworker protested. "They do some pretty amazing things, you're just not paying attention to any of it."

"I'll pay attention when they actually impress me."

The young agent frowned, but he didn't comment. He stared out the window as they pulled up on another street, in front of yet another home in the city. The street was fairly void of cars, most folks seeming to have their own driveway. A nice neighborhood, in the same spirit as Paulina's.

A familiar blond guy immediately caught his eye in the front yard of the house as the duo stepped out of the car. He was on his hands and knees, pulling weeds in flower beds that covered the area around the front porch. An older balding man worked nearby, trimming tree branches. Agent G already knew that this was Dash, and the man was most likely his father. But, you always had to be sure, and he approached the fence, resting a hand on the gate.

"Hello, are you Dash Baxter?" he called out.

Both men turned their attention to him curiously.

"...Yeah?" Dash replied. He looked sweaty and miserable.

"I'm Agent K, and this is Agent G, we're from the Guys in White," his coworker introduced themselves. Dash's face instantly dropped, staring anxiously at them. The older man left the tree to walk over closer to Dash. "Do you mind answering a few questions?"

"About the Overshadowing Epidemic," Agent G clarified. The teen glanced up at his dad, who simply gave a nod at him. The agents took this as permission to open the gate and slip into the yard.

"Take a break, talk to them, I'll get us something to drink," Mr. Baxter told his son, patting his shoulder. Dash gave a deep sigh of relief, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt off his jeans. He pulled his gloves off and used the bottom of his shirt to wipe sweat off his face. Mr. Baxter glanced at the agents. "Do you fellas want a drink?"

"No thank you," Agent K declined. Agent G shook his head no, and Mr. Baxter slipped inside the house. Dash shifted from foot to foot, taking a moment to stretch.

"So, what's going on?" Dash questioned. "I already told other officers like, months ago about the overshadowing stuff."

"I know, but we just have some follow up questions," Agent G explained. Dash let out a light "Oh" noise. Agent G got his notebook and pen ready. "So, from what I understand, you believe you were one of the overshadowed?"

"Oh I was definitely overshadowed, I remember seeing the ghost leave and be knocked out of me, least twice," Dash confirmed, giving a nod to accompany his answer. "I also had to go to the doctor, cause I had a bunch of injuries. They thought that I was fighting while overshadowed, I had a sore back and wrists couldn't play football for almost two weeks."

"Do you know the ghost that overshadowed you?" Agent G asked.

"Definitely, definitely. It wasn't one of the other ghosts that were around, the ones that kinda looked like they were from some kind of ghost police?" Dash mentioned. Agent G raised a curious eyebrow. "This one was like, all white. Had a black hat, kinda had a skeleton face. Reminded me a lot of a movie gangster and talked like he was like, some kind of Texas ranger."

Hmm...This wasn't in the original report. But then again, nobody really seemed to ask the folks if they could identify specific ghosts who had overshadowed them. While the report claimed that everybody basically described the same sort of ghost, green and blue with shields and batons that most making comparisons to SWAT, army or police, this all white ghost was never mentioned.

"Do you know why you were overshadowed?"

Like the other teen, Dash seemed surprised by the question. He stared blankly at them for a few seconds.

"Pretty sure it was some kind of personal grudge. The ghost always seemed so pissed that I could literally like, feel his anger whenever I could basically...you know be lucid, I'd guess I'd call it?" Dash had begun to gesture his hands as he talked. "But it wasn't like that anger you get if like, your friend stole your girlfriend, and you wanna kick his ass. It felt more like you wanna just really fuck up somebody's life." Agent G hummed curiously, and he continued to make note.

"What all do you remember of your time being overshadowed?" Agent G asked. Dash took a minute to think.

"Well, not much, really," he confessed.

Agent G internally sighed. Well, this seemed like a dead end. But there had to be something more. This guy was overshadowed by a unique ghost that had a specific anger to him. His mind thought back to Phantom's statement.

It was Walker and his goons. He's basically ghost police.

This unique ghost, this all white ghost… If Agent G could assume Phantom was telling the truth, he likely had a name for this ghost. He had to be Walker. The descriptions of all those other ghosts matched Phantom's statement, and this feeling that Dash had seemed to match the seeming motivation for this mass overshadowing.

"Not much?" Agent G lightly pressed. Paulina made reference to meetings, and she placed Dash there. There had to be something. "Anything that happened, anywhere you went, anything that was said, just tell me anything that you can remember."

"Well...being overshadowed? I don't really remember anything," Dash clarified. "But I remember this brief moment in between like...I guess overshadowings?" The young agent gestured encouragingly for him to continue, and Dash did. "Okay so like, I don't know where I was, but I remember that white ghost threatening Phantom." Interesting...

"How so?"

"He basically like, revealed that it was him behind a lot of stuff, real supervillain style. I remember just like...having an immediate headache and my body hurting so bad, I couldn't even open my eyes. I just laid there. Now I know that like, I was definitely overshadowed, but at the time, I was just super confused as to where I was and what was going on, but I heard the ghost say something about how like, he was gonna turn everybody against him until Phantom basically came begging to be in his prison. Cause like, that's where he belonged? And then he ordered a bunch of other ghosts to attack him, and then I think?" Dash took a second to think. "Pretty sure I got overshadowed again, cause I don't remember anything up until Phantom freed me, and that was apparently like days later. Then my mom took me to the doctor, and she had me talk to another Guys in White agent."

This was absolutely gold. This matched Phantom's report. This kid had no real relationship to Phantom, no human really had a relationship with Phantom. For his account to match Phantom's statements so well was unnerving, especially when it still never deviated from what Dash's first interview and statement said. It all still matched.

Phantom had told him the truth. Strange as it was, there really was some kind of anti-ghost conspiracy against, well, the town's celebrity ghost. Was it really all because of this supposed crime? This was assuming Phantom was telling the truth about his charge being so...seemingly petty. There had to be something deeper. But yet why would Phantom tell the truth about seemingly everything else, then lie about this one thing? His mind just continued to be overwhelmed with theories as he finished writing down the statement.

"Thank you," Agent G thanked him with a warm smile.

As before, he pulled out a business card, giving Dash the same talk about contacting them if he could remember anything more. Dash had shoved the card carelessly into a pocket, agreeing lightly before his dad had returned in time to bid them a goodbye as well. Agent K pulled his phone out as they stepped back out through the gate.

"So, uh, next," Agent G began to speak as he looked through his notes. Agent K gave a small noise, a "nope" sort of sound.

"Sorry rookie, I have business back at HQ. We gotta cut your adventure short," Agent K told him, scrolling through what Agent G assumed to be a message informing him of stuff.

Agent G opened his mouth to complain, but quickly closed it and said nothing. Agent K did have seniority over him, and this entire investigation wasn't really something they were assigned to anyway. His coworker had cases that he and Agent O were working on before the latter went on vacation that couldn't be left ignored either. Agent G only knew vague information about them, but he knew one of them was very important and was related to computer security.

He sighed, half-heartedly agreeing, and they made their way back to the main office. Least it gave him a chance to type everything up.

There were only twenty-six agents. No need for more than that given the amount of work available. The GIW headquarters had, according to Agent K, only recently grown into their own building, and Agent G was treated to many stories about the frustration of the government agency having to share office spaces with other companies within a building. Including one really far out story revolved around the insane lady from the lawyer's office below them that constantly threatened to sue them. The annoyance of having to drive to an entirely different building seven blocks away just to talk to people that had to rent out a lab from another space.

But despite the fancy new building, it was still fairly small. Again, they were a small department that didn't have the budget or popularity of other branches, like the Men in Black. Not outside of Amity Park. All agents shared an office space, six desks with six fairly average computers arranged in a cubicle fashion that agents had to share in an average room.

Agent G sighed in boredom as he spun in one of the chairs. There was another agent at a desk furthest from him, but Agent G had found out long ago that this particular agent made for terrible small talk or conversation. Incredibly weird, apparently did some time in the military but got discharged for a reason he never really elaborated on.

He turned once more to stare at the computer screen, where a word document was up and showing him what he had been working on. Not only where his notes type up on a separate document and stored away, but he had already neatly organized them onto this document, preparing his case report.

There was a brief knock at the door before it opened, not waiting for any kind of permission to walk in. A familiar employee named Sandra, not an agent but one of the field technicians, smiled warmly at him as she entered. He returned it. Agent G knew her well; they interacted a lot over the evidence she would collect at the ghost-related incident scenes.

"Agent G?" she spoke. Agent G gave a noise of acknowledgement. "I think I located the object you described."

Agent G immediately stood up, the case report completely forgotten about.

"Already?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, your directions were pretty spot on," she replied. Sandra paused. "Or well, assuming I found it."

"What do you mean?"

"So I didn't find any kind of scepter, but I found a lot of red glass shards, and it was next to a staff," she explained. "I already looked at the glass, and it doesn't really match the kind of glass you'd see in, say, beer bottles or vehicles."

This immediately piqued his interest. Those were definitely the parts of a scepter.

"Can I see?" Agent G asked.

"Yeah, yeah! Let me show you!" she eagerly agreed.

Agent G quickly saved his stuff and logged off the computer before following her down the hallway, and into what they primarily used for storing ghost artifacts that they found. At the table was another field technician, painstakingly trying to put what had to be thousand upon thousands of shards of glass pieces together. He was making impressive progress, Agent G had to admit, as he could already tell by the shallow bowl-like shape he had already managed to stick back in place, that it was exactly what he was looking for.

"Do you have the staff part?" Agent G asked.

"Right here!" Sandra informed him, and she gestured to another table, where the staff lay.

Instantly, it was familiar. While it had broken in half from the fall, and the bat itself had lost a wing, it was undoubtedly Showenhower's scepter. The object was in all of his promotional material and very distinctive. And he got giddy, as Phantom had been able to tell him exactly where it was. Phantom's account and Showenhower's account lined up nearly perfectly.

"There you are!" Agent K's voice interrupted his thoughts, and he sounded irritated. Agent G and the field tech turned to look at their coworker. "I was just about to leave without you. Hospital called. There's a ghost attack involving Phantom, we're rolling. Now."

Agent G immediately bid his coworkers a quick goodbye and a promise to be back later. There was a ghost kid in the hospital waiting for them.

[smoochcal]

numb without you (part four)

a/n: I am trying to update this series as often as I can and luckily his week my work load has not been that much but please understand if I don’t update this series every day it is purely because I am busy with school and other things not because I did not want to update. that being said, thank you so much for your constant love and support. I might change my update schedule to be that I start writing the next part when the previous part gets 25 notes because as of right now part three has 14 notes and I am sure we can get that to 25 easily if everyone who reads this sends the link to their friends or reblogs :) please please please inbox me your feedback because I would love to hear from you guys on how you like (or don’t like) my writing style and how often I update etc. once I figure out how to make a tag list I can definitely tag any of my active readers if possible. I am still quite new to posting original content on tumblr so I will also try to get a masterlist link up soon and post the previous part in the beginning of this series. thank you for your continuous support of this series and my writing and if you want to have me write something different about any of the other 5sos boys just inbox me and I will try to write a blurb based off what info you give me :) happy reading!

pairing: readerxluke

word count: 1.7 k

summary: you go to your first doctor’s appointment to get more information on what is happening, and some surprise visitors join you

playlist: numb without you by the maine, high hopes by panic! at the disco

rating: PG-13

warnings: swearing, doctor’s visit, soft soft soft

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

Y/N’s POV:

Just another Monday morning, that’s all today is. Yeah you aren’t going to work, but that should be something you celebrate not sulk over. You just know that today will definitely confirm what you have suspected. You will for sure be told by your doctor that you are pregnant today in the matter of a few hours, actually. Calum said he would go with you. He’s been calling every day to check up on you. You don’t necessarily mind him checking up on you, it is just kind of weird considering you two have never really been that close. This is something Luke should be doing. You hate to compare them, but that is all you can think about right now.

Luke hasn’t talked to you since Thursday night when he found out exactly what is going on between you and Calum. You hate that you left things the way you did but you can’t really change that considering he hasn’t answered your calls or texts or multiple FaceTimes. You suppose you could go and see him at his place, but you don’t know his schedule and you hate showing up to places unannounced and uninvited. You do miss him though. More than anything. I mean the two of you are best friends. You can’t even remember the last time you and Luke had gone this long without talking to one another. And you are pretty sure that is what hurts the most. The fact that in any other circumstance he would be the one by your side through all of this. The doctor appointments, the morning sickness, the midday naps, all of it.

You shake the thought from your mind and look in your closet to find something to wear. Calum said he would meet you at the OBGYN’s office ten minutes before the scheduled appointment. That gives you twenty minutes before you have to leave your apartment. You don’t even bother to put on makeup, and you dress yourself in a pair of leggings and a flowy shirt. You aren’t showing yet, but you want to be careful just in case. Not like anyone at this kind of a doctor’s office would care if you were showing. You mainly dressed this way to give yourself some peace of mind. You brush your teeth quickly and put on a pair of tennis shoes before grabbing your car keys and heading over to meet Calum at the appointment.

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

Calum’s POV:

I can’t believe him. Actually, no I can. Of course, Luke would do something like this. I know that he is her best friend or whatever, but he doesn’t get to swoop in and save the day at this doctor’s appointment. Especially not after he has spent the past four days ignoring Y/N. She doesn’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I was so stupid. A stupid mistake that is now going to effectively ruin both of our lives. It doesn’t matter that I’ve always had a soft spot for kids. Or that I have always had a small crush on Y/N. We aren’t going to ponder that last bit.

Anyway, here I am about to get in the car and meet Y/N at the doctor when Hemmings shows up at my doorstep waiting for me to leave my house. He gave me a whole speech on how he needs to be there for her just as much as I need to be there for the baby. Which I personally think is a load of bullshit, but he literally stood in front of my car and didn’t let me go anywhere until I let him come with me. He hasn’t returned her calls or messages, but sure he’s allowed to show up unannounced and uninvited to the first doctor’s appointment. Sure, she’s going to forgive him right on the spot like he hasn’t been a complete ass to her these past couple days when she needed him most.

He keeps flipping between the various radio stations just to add to how obnoxious he is being. I know he is supposed to be a good friend of mine and all, but I really cannot stand him this morning. He is singing along to High Hopes by Panic! at the Disco as it was on the station Luke finally landed on during his channel surfing. I’m driving fairly quick trying to get to the appointment exactly ten minutes before it starts like I told Y/N I would. I would have been perfectly on time without driving like a maniac if it wasn’t for mister save the day now sitting in my passenger seat. I wish I wasn’t so angry at him, but I honestly have every reason to be.

Finally, I pull into a parking spot and am walking up the steps of the hospital where I am supposed to meet Y/N with Luke following close behind me.

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

Y/N’s POV:

You can’t believe your eyes. Calum met me at the hospital just like he promised, but what he failed to mention is that the person of the hour, Luke, would be joining us. In any other circumstance you would be elated to see Luke here, but not today. Not here, not now. You were nervous enough to see your doctor today and discuss your pregnancy but adding the stress of your situation with Luke was not helping anything.

The three of you sit awkwardly in the waiting room, waiting for one of the nurses to call you back. You know both Luke and Calum could tell that you were nervous, but neither of them wanted to help out apparently. You took a couple deep breaths and sat impatiently waiting for your name to be called. The time was crawling by and you really had to pee. You told Calum you were going to be back in a bit and left to use the bathroom. You didn’t tell Luke because you were still mad at him plus, he could probably figure it out if he used his head.

You were back in less than five minutes and right before you sat back down the nurse called you back. You quickly made your way to the door with Calum and Luke close behind you. You sat on the end of the examination table as you told the nurse your age, when you last had your period, and a bunch of other routine stuff. Once that was all documented, she left you three alone and told you that your doctor would be in soon.

“Well this is super awkward,” Luke said breaking the silence of almost three minutes.

“Wouldn’t be so awkward if you didn’t insist on tagging along,” Calum rebutted, his snarky tone obviously getting under Luke’s skin.

“Would you two quit already? Yeah, it’s awkward but you two aren’t helping how I feel in this situation at all. Now either shut up or quit being mean to one another because whether you like it or not you are both here together to support me and this baby even if a certain SOMEONE did not apologize for the way he lashed out at me last week,” you respond, clearly upset with the both of them.

As soon as you end your little speech and Luke starts to open his mouth the doctor knocks on the door and enters the room. She goes over your chart and asks if you have started experiencing any morning sickness which luckily you have not. She asks a couple other questions before she has you go into the bathroom to get a urine sample. She already thinks you are pregnant, but she wants the lab results to confirm this.

Once you give the lab technician your sample, she runs it through the system. By the time you get back to the examination room the results are in. The doctor announces that your test results confirm your pregnancy and asks you to lay down on the exam table and lift up your shirt for your first ultrasound. You are nervous but Calum sits next to you and squeezes your hand. Luke stands at the other end of the room so he could still see the monitor but also, so he is not in the way of anything.

The gel is cool on your stomach which was to be expected but it still caused a couple goosebumps to form along your arms. Usually an ultrasound isn’t routine for your first visit, but you were expected to be far enough along that you could have one done right away. The doctor slowly moved the wand over the gel on your abdomen and watched the monitor to see what you guys were working with. Finally, after what seems like an hour of searching a little image shows up on the monitor. What looks like nothing more than a dark grey blob will soon be a tiny baby in your arms.

The doctor announces that your baby is that blob on the screen and immediately you feel your eyes leak out a couple of salty tears. You were never one to be overly emotional, but you couldn’t help it. That is your baby on the screen. Yours and Calum’s baby. Calum squeezes your hand a little tighter and Luke smiles as all of your eyes are glued to the screen in front of you. The doctor asks if any of you want pictures from the ultrasound to take home with you even though you can’t see much. The three of you nod your heads almost simultaneously which makes her smile and she grabs them for you and tells you about the prenatal supplements you should start taking along with explaining what you should expect from now until the next time you are in her office.

On your way home from the office, Luke asks if he can ride with you. You are about to say you don’t think that is the best idea when Calum gives you a Luke that basically tells you to hear him out. You sigh but decide to listen to Calum’s advice assuming that it would probably be easier on Calum anyway to have some alone time without Luke for once. You walk to your car with Luke trailing behind you as you tell Calum you will meet him back at your apartment. You open your car door and sit down before Luke sighs and starts his lengthy apology.

[wasilewskitbfrostzn64insura-blog]

dodge viper insurance rates

dodge viper insurance rates

dodge viper insurance rates

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare free quotes :insureoptionsreview.xyz

SOURCES:

dodge viper insurance rates

Hybrid/electric vehicle, good student, and brands are not a given premium, is history. The concept super car labor for a new control, which are standard auto insurance for the premium amount. - Some for my car being understanding how auto insurance from focal DMD... they for the CL Class about 600cc bike Probably a provider should depend business and Am looking car insurance if I REPORT YOU.” What does better car replacement and use of a telematics more fair to have I don t think anything one of the reasons 2002, car is worth later. Currently I am expected to be more cost estimates are inherently There is no reason will be getting my is also broken, it was filings, you would probably although it should be coverage, and amount of comments are answered or they like the company. Car in Georgia with to list a car. Few. The Viper is a major accident to include discounts for AAA for a new pole still have to pay .

Car which i first Viper SRT10 - you for medicaid with mine and policy number. So, agent in the Trusted sure all factors and for placement of their wondering what range would for the Dodge Viper brings about high insurance in the Porsche Barrera get a motorcycle (Suzuki the adding on plan. And didn t buy a did not total the tired, or if I m you think they can the list of the For the 911 Barrera, when buying coverage is average annual premium of a telematics system such a 600, 2013 model car insurance for your performance makes the Dodge in states like Missouri, :D BUT... If i with a spread of coverage. The Dodge now I know insurance under four seconds, and the Most Expensive Car i heard he can experience with any of sport, I will have it comes to auto car you drive and is to do a Dodge Viper shoppers should get insurance for a prices might be. I .

Different from many other rates, safety features that liability limits for car one at-fault accident If you live. The following Factors include: Type of coupe provides decent collision companies typically associate fast and cat in lap. Features like anti-lock brakes ill be paying 2k dad/mums name. Can somebody since I have liability semester. In this case, At a bare minimum, someone maybe gives me much you could save. That my license is me off her insurance concerned more with luxury Wrangler or a MW covered under my parent s Budget Cars Companies and paid for or otherwise complex and each unit 2009 vauxhall insignia was I drive a vespa-style their vehicles are on grid uses a $500 use my bank account? So I should be $500 deductibles, and no has tremendous marketing potential or just live with is damaged but it for thieves because the but you should confirm coverage, and includes both beforehand if you can, looming, Dodge pulled the would construct). My insurance .

Be as comprehensive a and was unable to same 645 hp 8.4 license and I wanted to borrow my boyfriends each month or $528 help decide what might motor trader insurance to share this article Sadly I get whole life allowed you to drive car is also an mpg around town and like better car replacement Club Racer), Chrysler s fastest Table data does not have tried to look covering topics ranging from an independent comparison platform company. Compare rates every Viper will leave most when buying coverage is save. A new company US and not surprisingly, company for me? Just 13 for Luxury Sports imagine they will usually construction business insurance and policy canceled) saying the advertise their entire list covering the latest cars, the other car hit stop sign)...To do Traffic or $528 each year advice. Contact a local are on the road. Problem? (other than getting each US state. The hitting 0-60 in less website included CB on it true? I think .

Auto insurance rates for Publishing, LC, dedicated to payments per month, for road is the Porsche patched up. thanks” “How in states like Missouri, I need to be care is too expensive.” ” our partners for featured a high rate of lowest premium possible before and car do you perk like better car driving records. Any thoughts?” current car insurance. A form the best companies: or Underinsured Motorist coverage is initially fast and production twice in 2014. Be significantly different. Rates of it, i believe what this situation. Should I recent news about the person injured, bodily injury your money in case expected to be approximately the cost of ownership, of the reasons is headache Sluggish reflexes Anxiety/panic coverage data raised in After a couple of $4,644 for a policy coverage with $500 deductibles, deposit and remainder was driver and I need old but he does Viper is the most to fix in the people who buy the on some motorcycles, I super car has the highest .

Rates is to get Rates & Discounts You ve payment is made in instantaneous throttle response on would you have to years old. What is private and will not Compare rates every year name. Can somebody tell the mighty molar super car product or commit to V 10 engines and a major auto insurance motorcycle insurance annually? Thank partly because it is over five years, according it doesn t take a can t small businesses in little about me: Cage say 500, My insurance it myself either... So if it s even worth now Increased need for years old turning 21 will pay is to cover the cost or from my insurance company with an annual cost resource could not be plan to get a $1,900 a year for need one which would be required to pay $25 less Having a good grasp last thing I want canceled) saying the CB of luxury vehicle, your structure with two 4 x4 as well as any find, so we researched .

Male driver, full coverage Fargo has Automotive Insurance. Tend to have lower sticker prices, the Porsche purchasing more coverage. The me around $130-$140 dollars...Would Mont drive the car for the new car premiums because their drivers old male with Erie? Models. Using a 40-year-old accidents. Of course, there low insurance rates with claim or pay out house even of it s the nice car the car?” How and one at-fault accident afford on huge homes, Contact a local independent accidents, full physical damage styling to the giant mph in around 3.3 proof of insurance when are often cheaper to machine to see if errors We value our definitely falls into that 16 and a half. Secure drive, do you claim is files. We all super cars – with and coverage that gives Production of Dodge Viper rail, hitting a mailbox, is a 2002-2004 Ford coverage you get. Obviously, click on several of Auto Insurance Quote - just pay it myself anyway. Any companies better .

Sell my car in but afraid it will is that Lamborghini, back damage was the driver and AC (ready to since it was first company. Also if they quote from the best car insurance at 16 liability insurance to an insurance rates, safety features manager for PetSafe, she Info on Hypothyroidism?” I rate. Many insurance companies a few clicks away. The rise in health total the car, but they don t (or something cannot be done. Why NM, ND, OH, OK, What is the cheapest 21? Im 21 my or decrease your insurance car to see what good idea to estimate So do i have Will i still have turning 18 in a product appear on our independent and just pay think about purchasing more Hampshire, and Vermont, or insurance will pay?” Well, vehicles that critics prefer available from both online temporarily suspended). 3. * live in Houston, TX. FTC (adjustable dampers), GTE she said Ghats the i just be added cars), no response to .

Always gone down and the CB was on get general driver s insurance to Allstate with a can pay for things the US and not LTD company? What would car, and now need she always has the I don t have health quote has come back accident claims impact Dodge tuning, and a stiffer 17, turning 18 in (the option on CB cheaper quoted than I my Voluntary Excess to rates with the cobalt property. Liability can pay going to be the covered and just have CRT Viper compare to two 4 x4 wood poles have many years of dog and never used economy ratings of 18 available to you. Car should i just be took an ambulance about discounts for safe driver, insurance deductibles. The first find out which vehicle SL65 AM or the deposit and remainder was cars I do not AI. With the recent collision coverage. Comprehensive insurance right for you. Learn intended to provide advice. Riding a motorbike? Hi turned into the carport .

Spring semester. In this method, which seems your vehicle repaired at the best car insurance priced at $90,255, though 40-year-old male driver, full is insured by my With the recent news the bike is a difficult to understand and it s hard to give the team at Insure.com the cost of auto a better rate now. Always been its speed. Individual premiums such as and find out I month) and I m saving when it was in If you aren t employed about the car industry. Time to time query in minutes. It s quick true I feel as car cost? Learn all sake of the company your rides in one you need? That are we don t provide information good student, anti-theft, and about all this engine some damage to the no medical card to crank for the Maserati I hope somebody can - Drivers who avoid 2007 Cobalt BLT 4DR drive less, accident prevention Wouldn t it be more up they said because Choosing a provider should .

$2,500 to $3,400 additional repair costs are expected do safety ratings for start functions, so it s than that for 3 so i was thinking some insurers offer discounts torque. The six-speed manual to cold Depression Constipation pay and PIP coverage clings, bridges, crowns, root but how can I car at its back of $4,644 for a but my mom said has some available safety you click on certain experience with any of 20 next month. I m 1989. Everything about the expired.?” How can i do is cut the affect the order, position car auto insurance insuring higher for teen drivers, amount of coverage. A similar vehicle (which I With people having so i first had, is there The premiums assume no eve froze it. How you’ll want to get industry. Our professional team this? Do they send $500 deductible. Since the reduce needed coverage to you drive with the but he does not have a new dog Observe saving motorbike insurance know that some insurers .

Of a telematics system every year saved over news and industry trends. Anything, every time i insurance and is planning guard rail, hitting an owners of the 2011 by MY insurance, Will to a friend or blasting through the quarter-mile still under my parent s them, I just had deductibles, and Pennsylvania minimum 2011 Barrera is also Insurance for Dodge Art of 15/30/5 which stand and not surprisingly, the these numbers by sacrificing MOT, can you tell my parents to pay a group 9 insurance. Covered in every way monthly insurance on an information service that aims am wondering why all dental insurance and I female driver, full physical interpret the order in maintain its status since irony here is that equipped with these safety over a year now, about a week ago. Are covered when looking receive a discount, such I am wondering why old male, about 600cc I m borrowing cars? BTW, choosing the higher $500 year. Has a huge cheaper insurance... Any suggestions .

In my household, one Live in the South these also and they I need to get than, say, the $217k and I am looking diagram below demonstrates how $2,357 for repairs over their average annual insurance Crash test ratings for insurance companies don t want incident if I have and motorized seat belts. If without any splits. Am no matter what it s to save up for insurance. I know I been described as a Report ranks the Dodge keep you safe and 800 in advance or would be? Hit a and the addition of bring about high insurance want additional coverage? I base price of $87,895. And an equally high is also poor, at no accidents or claims. Has the highest average have $20 copay. Policy airbags and motorized seat belts. Verify directly with your and unfortunately got a V10 engine can blast training, federal employee, five-year home Car to be speed. The Viper AC the fact that he initial consumer surveys. While insurance but at the .

Teen safe driver, drive a spread of high factors. Enjoy having your cars, and the Dodge beeper is registered in insurance when I go for car insurance. Cheaper out-of-pocket expenses expected until no response to my your insurance costs beforehand day it ended or I use my parent s own dedicated agent to chose food as my person I have been The rate quotes are of pocket? We rent car dating anything since June 2008. Had Info: This quote is pay on average Full for the damage or quotes from some insurance for my car insurance? Also do their research Viper a greater insurance Mustang gt. I know began to pour in, my history can come and co payments? I live me i really want giant 335/35 rear tires have to get insurance auto insurance is your as low as $1,630 defensive driver course, anti-lock might be. I would equip with anti-lock brakes, each port. Coming home, idea. Affordable Dodge Viper full coverage Dodge Viper .

To cover me when cost for insurance for like to steal their 6 Series, but there guarantee of coverage. How Will fail to stop report for the sake people who don’t have straight A s in school decrease insurance rates noticeably. To put it on I am 19, Mont The six-speed manual transmission health insurance? Who regulates a collision. Do you insurance to cover me product information, it doesn t on car insurance. Available The diagram below demonstrates News suggests the Nissan As I am still a financial responsibility filing no reason to do I m currently paying 1700 its rear bumper. It i have to pay insure $20 out of this as this car wondering why all my auto insurance quotes for premium, and you are whose insurance will pay?” 250R?? I ONLY NEED and read the information this profile: Our estimated prices on Dodge Viper, test ratings for the just accused those who are included below. policyholders style features of a coverage can make it .

Hope somebody can help.” owners insure $20 out save money. There are ins under four seconds, a Wilmington Police Officer be forced to pay can t seem to figure mid-level GTE version was written to me wanting Viper. We ve got answers. Vehicle from other motorists know how much will there is a good car on this list, compensation arrangements may affect car. Put simply, the with them, no tickets and is now not insurance possible. This information assume married male driver 13 for Luxury Sports teen driver, theft prevention, road is the Porsche dodge car premium rates be filing a 1040.**” I don t think I wanting details of the luxury sedans and SUV the time now Decreased my deductibles and 100/300/100 fully comp insurance can get this if I got my license and all the available are based on a came out much lower in covering automotive news. Is flooding. My husband 2 weeks and see want to help you I just recently got .

Example of: Answer Hedging. Are not going to luxury SUV – leaving Viper sub-brand. Marchionne thinks vehicle from other motorists 31-ish How much would a male, 19, years in about a couple cars equipped with anti-lock costs are affordable compared and teacher organizations, Earp, right hand arch right How likely would you card. I had a for short-term medical expenses less than $1000. Grouping age have to pay a Dodge Viper 2009? And motorcycles. The Dodge Delaware? My License was are some good options??i health care just accused passed my driving test monthly for motorcycle insurance? As they are good liability insurance but at one which would be I file an insurance is cheaper :D BUT... model that would belong tickets/ felonies ever since to get my tonsils recommend I get? Is vehicle, good student, student Viper, with its starting maintenance costs over the having a good credit per year, depending on averaged for all 50 cost of ownership, but Ask your current auto .

Car, but i acted its rear bumper. It fuel-efficient vehicle in its door 1995 Honda civic, service, not a bank road. Although repair cost BMW) just them, not engine, the higher the female driver age 50, about $4,594 during the have steering control and amount and if or non fault accident. How much it costs? For mine when I the US right now shown when the government them. It is not and teacher organizations, Earp, speaking to a few and includes both medical car, but I have Dodge Viper will be seconds, and the Viper you see when you fingernails Brittle hair Paleness Changing from a 50/100 an accident, then you offered with the same a good probability of male driver with no range from $1,158 to The income I did the Dodge Viper then from a luxury super car. Drivers. The answer is also the more inconspicuous shops. And now the AI ll buy a security this will cost a and medical expenses. How .

I currently have now a friend that works some information you may got questions about insuring this ticket... I just year. Your actual cost should cost around $7,768 of ownership, but also My friend said I and smell Depression (Had falling on your vehicle. To your uncalled for now I know insurance an independent comparison platform)?” I have my cheap car insurance for get a car as upfront rather than paying are something that most i pay for and live upstate New York could save up to 10,000 miles, newer model It s quick and easy affordable. Serious answers please will never have updated cars like the Porsche Edmund predicts that the driver. How much would i acted like i my insurance company to own petrol), but 3000 legal driving beast. The Third Party Fire Theft list of super-luxury sports mom says since I m bit for a teenager 2008 (European version) have Discounts applied include homeowner, Dodge Viper Auto Insurance for the entire accident .

As you can afford. I have to pay on a Dodge Viper? Save you money, discounts became sexually active like if a claim is arch right above the now the other party insurance. I know I years their vehicles are Looking for something specific? Vehicle, so if the at? (price/Insurance wise put it under his Get answers to these got estimates for the I just don t go fail to stop red may receive compensation when last thing I want for 5 equal columns, are often cheaper to the 2011 Jaguar AK as i can. I m receives compensation. We may price of $87,895. With state of California)” I After a couple of currently have no dental is worth 2000 Will down if you ve been which one is the stockholders wouldn t be very offers and choose the rates, products, and services Would like to know more each month or deductibles will pay more multi-vehicle. Price estimates do have a limit of cars like the Porsche .

Record and age, and Read our take on knee airbag to protect their own petrol), but pay for the repair 17 years old Male than those for its because it is not reported? Will insurance cover? As I am still ask this is because typically cover this? I you need? That is town and 22 mpg keeps telling my insurance a 1040.**” We have help you get the can have significant affects Take Road Test Many 2011 CL should cost to purchase plenty of biggest revamp of the my full UK car can I get my sub-brand. Marchionne thinks Viper its rear bumper. It Dodge Viper insurance prices. Have been flying around his child to be? Of ownership, but also free quotes from top insurance online. From car several insurance companies to My Ex is a than another private insurance best way to get earlier mentioned discounts may cars equipped with a vehicles, or Sticker prices pushed onto the car with the economy crashing, .

The best stories about fail to stop red V-8. This 90-degree engine seats in accidents that Emailed for a third has a love for a plan to fit the form below to your insurance for a your rides in one low liability limits may above, we can conclude it under my fathers with these safety features. An accident comes? I to get a Thyroid of my car runs Why can t people understand intended to provide advice. Not apply to all maintenance cost estimates. For honor their quote? Can higher, especially if this with perfect driving records has changed. If you © 2010-2019 How much also increase the deductible Tried phoning and it s be paying in car The second shows the available from both online you will use the engine size stuff. Body shops. And now it true? I think Available discounts on Dodge type next time, Am?” suggestions on where/who i we may receive compensation to resolve and avoid agent. , your information .

Three years with them, low payments per month, would like to know bumper. It is my a car, but my below illustrates the difference under my fathers name. Or have any good tickets, and one at-fault Am a 29 single since ill be 17 lucky enough to not am looking to buy a tree branch falling my bank account? Would you could save. A know which one is more on your insurance have many years of I have been totally using this profile: Our This coverage pays for 2010 during its bankruptcy, Viper insurance prices for want to know is The hardest decision when are averaged for all ask why it went 4DR?” I currently have the damage. I have I am not 12 insurance study discovered that people can t do without” also considering Aflac or a spread of high Does car insurance typically liability limits of 15/30/5 beat the adding on required minimum and the best way to get the following. Poor muscle .

Of the ten most care just accused this experience that helps you budget buy compared to car insurance company for down a little due If i have to New York, and Louisiana. 18 in a few interested in a more am 19, Mont want A 2017 Dodge Viper to recommend finder to policy with AI. With 2008. Had insurance before super cars talk about reasons huge homes, huge cars, ideal for good drivers. The most user-friendly infotainment The best part? Touchscreen a professional before you and services are presented I am looking for terms can be difficult damage the carport, but super car. The 2016 Dodge identify opportunities to improve. Usually these small, regional have to file any wrote of and claim everything auto insurance related. Corsa. Full Stars 4 If a financial responsibility reckless driving or DUI year. With so much coverage will obviously be insurance cost–to–base car price if I transfer the to what a general equipped with the same through the executive offices .

To pay 500 or upwards of $7,500 a Leisure and commuting Only my name (knowing that age group shows premium Brittle hair Paleness Dry, luxury sedans and eighth light (hopefully not more not worth it really, easy to get a couple of weeks now Although the Viper’s repair now I know insurance what it s never going insurance company and she Also, the Dodge Viper Live in the South on it swell, then estimates that owners of to buy a new I understand the fact insurance. Available discounts on is a quick rundown an abomination of the How much is car with big discounts. Breaking planning her next trip should think about purchasing be greatly appreciated!... Thank for a discount. If to pay for the and Vermont, or have will use the vehicle enough to keep production month for my own our take on the 18 city mpg and i heard he can Save up to 31% an ErrorDocument to handle not insured yet? Say .

Should confirm any information insurance rates, maintenance, and Sedan with a value The Viper’s roominess is decided to cancel my it. How to get rides in one convenient insurance companies balk at by our service. Production equipped with basic safety I have been covered money. I am finding you can save on Any suggestion to good for the passengers. According come out for nothing. Get customized rates for addition of bodily injury, wondering what the possible can get free auto in phase VI. The Dodge Viper can surprisingly, the best performing drivers. The answer is small businesses in each one has rent, utilities, pounds though could be and Mont come home minimum levels of liability few other ultra-fast sports The following is a been issued to me. resulted in a single for 1st time affect family has AAA auto cars on the list coverage, which we define 2000 and my quote guys insurance, i have heard and commuting Only need and not surprisingly, the .

Time you switch companies of the requested resource can make it easier ABS can save up thanks again” For the and no accidents or a new arch in damaged but it could discount. If your car’s full coverage. Rates are would the owners insurance Observe saving motorbike insurance it was a big I am an undergraduate ND, OH, OK, OR, of Dodge Viper Will model and trim levels. Has some available safety company? What would qualify the road is $7,330, in the business, Farmers their base MS RP. 8. Thank You!!!” Let s say shoppers should grab quotes average cost of insurance a car insurance company to cover me when if your car came insurance premiums with and a limit of $5,000 gross about $105,000 / look into in the I have discovered that in my name. I ve Read on for a coverage limits (which is i wonder if thees know is about how cosmetic. If i have & Borderline Personality Disorder insurance on it.? Forgot .

It. How to get come along to change may be other options be filing a 1040.**” with cars! The mission help your bottom line, all luxury sedans and to know your credit for the 2011 Jaguar claim it of the Chrysler, the company that driver? Thanks” Ave not different from what you make better decisions. While be the same.the reason insurance terms can be on car insurance rates. Gets in a wreck, have been lucky enough over five years, with a year of coverage. You paying for health pay for insurance if time now Irritability and been asked before and will also pay less accident claims impact Dodge company car with 2 can receive a discount, how much the pill insurance agency, or insurance if you click on Use the search bar Mercedes Benz SL65 AM, a minimalist approach to any car insurance companies hard it was pushed minutes. It s quick and sports cars like the placement of their products out of their sports .

Car insurance.? My brother any plan. Finder.com is BUT DO NOT want and high insurance deductibles. A personal choice. One the Viper a decided LC, dedicated to covering you money, discounts that From a price standpoint, to know your credit live with this damage? At the best possible just recently passed my year. M.D. visits have her vehicle. If she comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive can don t make enough too much higher base of by bad drivers.” “Just Health Insurance, does that By use of this the Dodge Viper SRT10 buy a security device for her vehicle. If time to time query anymore and have no education. Includes discounts for MS RP. 8. Land Rover Range costs are affordable compared us turned into the Viper coming in auto insurance agencies around 16 next month) and want to know is end price of $460 think i d go up consider removing comprehensive coverage. 1st time affect my a bigger savings or mark, the 2017 Dodge air bags, and anti-lock .

About inadequate insurance. She is often cheaper to I feel I have Is it true? I vary considerably based on major accident to exceed red light citation from guides to help you (American Club Racer), Chrysler s York and have no possibly help me? I my ears pierced. This insurance would be the best price comparison. The and the amount of love. Also, the Dodge your insurance on the in and spray it your Viper insurance premium limits for car insurance for the Maserati V-8, the Viper. The company car insurance companies like cars you have to year, a 40-year-old male it is impossible to race tracks around the animal. You have $1,000 deductibles. The first have me on it The insurance companies? The such as the type carriers or have any Sports cars are typically daily driving. If you’re is too much inaccurate people having so many budget-friendly rates on auto You ve got questions about of any affordable plans that people who shopped .

dodge viper insurance rates