#jeremavinwood

[shadeofazmeinya]

Fluff? Consider supernatural Witch Michael experiments with making a love/desire potion. Feed it to a person you want to spill their beans and watch them confess their soul to the object of their desire. There’s a mixup and Michael, to his horror, thinks the other Lads plus Ryan accidentally took big sips. He spends all day convinced they took a love potion, but no... they just love him. And he never noticed how out of the way they went to show their love to him in tiny ways. ❤️

u sent this forever ago but i figured i should answer haha. But yes this is the cutest thing. Poor Michael, secretly so insecure and not thinking the others would love such an Angry and Destructive soul but then of course doesn’t want to make them love him either. Runs around everywhere trying to fix it without them realizing.

But it would be cute too because Michael would start noticing the little signs that they love him. Like how Gav will part from whatever he’s working on to listen to a story/joke from Michael. How Jeremy will always pat his shoulder when he’s passing by, or nudge him in some way. How Ryan will always be smiling when Michael catches him staring. Just these little things that at first Michael thinks is because of the potion until he has the dawning realization these are things they’ve been doing this whole time. And he’s just been so blind to it before

[vagrantblvrd]

I’m just.

Well this is some FAHC nonsense, right?

Bunch of asshole like them with no common decency to speak of?

(Also criminals, so like a locked door isn’t the deterrent you’d think it is?)

Makes taking a nap on your own goddamn couch with the idiot you hate least is just asking for something like that to happen? More so when said idiot is sick or injured - all his own damn fault for some stupid shit he pulled.

(Jumped into the water to avoid the cops and yeah, alright, smart move? But everyone knows the water around Los Santos is vile as hell. OR pulled some stupid Vagabond nonsense when things were looking grim, and look, Michael knows, okay, he knows, doesn’t mean he has to like it and fucking stop laughing at him, asshole. >:((((((((((((((((()

Like.

Fucking seriously, asshole, invite yourself in, why don’t you.

And Jeremy, or Gavin, or whoever the hell just waltzed right on in like it’s nothing is like “What?” and then “Oh, yeah, sorry,” and also maybe a bit, “...Am I interrupting?”

While Michael is >:(((((((((((((( at them and Ryan is staring up at the ceiling like any answers are to be had there and reluctantly amused and letting Michael yell/rant at the asshole sprawled on their floor waxing poetic about, idk, their Glorious Plans for a new Rim Job on the sweet new car they’re going to get their hands on or wondering does rocks float on lava???

And maybe, okay, maybe first it’s one or the other of those two choices? But not long after the second one comes along all, “Oh, hey, did you know your front door was open?” and “I was looking for so-and-so, and oh - there he is. Weird.” and “Sorry I’m lat, I stopped for coffee,” followed by an obnoxious slurp of said coffee and :)

Just.

All that.

And of course Michael is like.

>:(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( at these assholes for ruining the Nice Moment he and Ryan were sharing after a long/harrowing day?

But then the assholes invading their privacy also brought along take out and a movie or game the four of them were all kind of interested in checking out and idk, idiots being soft and having Nice Things because yes, good.

...and then puppy pile cuddling/bickering/idiots being idiots while they watch movie/play game and, uh. Yes???

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(Also, also, if maybe this is a Myan thing leading towards a Jeremavinwood thing I would not mind because wow, idiots? Also yes, because words not working great for me today and I’m like. Yesssss.)

[writerofshit]

May I offer you the thought of Ryan getting tasked with getting the lads home from their bar crawl, they're all a little rowdy and Jeremy refuses to go. Ryan asks what it would take to get him out and Jeremy stares for a long moment and is just like "can I have your jacket?" so he gets to go home and fall asleep in the vagabond jacket (because Ryan's not about to take it off him). The sight of Jeremy the next morning still in it with big sweater paws and all sleepy just about melts Ryan's heart

This is so fucking adorable as is, but I also have such a goddamn soft spot for Ryan playing Grown Up with the lads??

I imagine Ryan gets tasked with being their chaperone because he always protests, but in a way you know he doesn't actually mind. Like "hey Ryan, can you get the lads home?"

"Do I have to?" While immediately pulling his jacket on.

"I mean, we can send someone else-"

"No no, I'm up now, practically on my way, if I absolutely have to go round them up after hanging out for an hour, then I guess I must!"

Sort of like how a cat will lay across your lap and act like there's nowhere else for them to go, its not at all because they adore you or anything.

So anyhow, he gets to the bar and that's kind of their signal to start wrapping up, order their last drinks and such. Despite his role of Adult here, they pull him into assorted bar-bets and he'll end up playing darts or pool with strangers and earning a few bucks. The whole time the lads are cheering him on in their own ways.

Michael keeps yelling encouragements laced with profanity, "Ryan you beautiful bastard, that's a fucking bullseye! I would blow you in the bathroom if there weren't so many fuckin people here!" As well as continuing to 'escalate' via shots with Jeremy, despite the fact that they aren't playing. He swipes Ryans sunglasses from the front of his shirt and sticks them on his head.

Gavin hangs all over him in between turns, excitedly repeating his name over and over, telling him how good he's doing, how excellent he is, etc. It's incredibly distracting, of course, but only serves to make him focus even more on doing well. Totally not so he can hear more of that praise, no. At some point Gavin pickpockets his keys and wears them on his own belt loop.

Jeremy convinces him to shrug off his jacket by his second turn, "for mobility!" he claims. Except he immediately slips the jacket on himself, and it reads a little like he's claiming his connection to Ryan, "look he's kicking everyone's ads and I have his jacket, don't fuck with me either." Jeremy also is the one to keep Ryan's diet coke nearby, offering it to him at every opportunity.

Eventually the chaos will die down, or the bar will close, and he has to get them home. He untangles the glasses from Michael's curls, stares Gavin down for the keys. Jeremy is the only one he lets hang on to the jacket, mostly because he cant being himself to ask for it back. It's so goddamn late when they get back, the rest of the house is asleep. They sit in the living room for awhile, all still hopped up on the adrenaline of their winning streak. They nod off, one by one, half laying in each other on the couch.

The next morning, Jack comes down to find them still there. Michael is for some reason wearing the sunglasses again, but properly this time. Gavin has procured Ryan's mask from somewhere and is using it as a cuddle pillow. Jeremy looks ridiculously small in Ryan's jacket, hands tucked up in the sleeves. And Ryan is the middle of all of them, dead asleep but somehow looking extremely content with himself.

Jack doesn't wake them, just snaps a picture and heads back upstairs. What a weird life they have.

[sorcererinthestars]

“Forget it, you’re a fucking asshole.” for myan since it seems to fit them. any au of your choosing

Going to take me a bit to get back into writing...it’s been a bit since I’ve done a prompt, but it’s nice to shake my hands out and try to share a bit! Not as angsty as you may have wanted, but I wanted to stay a bit light right now. <3

Word Count: 542 Ship: Myan / Loose OT4 jeremavinwood AU: Astroneer

--

"So did you get it then?” Michael asks almost as soon as he had unloaded, set his helmet aside and depressurized, the lovely taste of sweeter, not-recycled oxygen racing into his gasping lungs. It had been a week trip up onto a Federation ship, a regulation check into the doings at their base down here on Sorola-6. A standard check-up on a science group like this - the Federation tended to invite the leader of all expeditions like theirs up onto their ship for some more ... civil quarters for a brief while. Ryan knew better than to turn a greeting like that down - it wasn’t often ships flew over their part of the galaxy and if he ever wanted a chance to be promoted to Commander, he had to make nice with all his current superiors. But he hated these journeys, especially since he couldn’t bring his boys. Michael was staring at him. The weight of his expectation was drilling him into the floor. For almost two weeks since Jeremy had flagged the signal of the Fed ship approaching their airspace, Michael had been begging for something really, really simple. He needed extra batteries, supplies that that every ship engine room had, in order to make them moon buggies. He had begged Ryan to get him this damn part for days and days. Ryan had said he would. And now he wanted it. Badly. Ryan could see him shifting, could see the words brimming on his lips. He wanted to beg, to yell, to shake Ryan. In a simple world like theirs, this was Michael’s passion. He needed these batteries to make the buggies go and they didn’t have the lithium to make them here. Smirking to himself, Ryan realizes he really, really wants to see Michael squirm. “What did I get?” he asks innocently. Honestly he didn’t think Michael’s face could get so red. Jeremy had the wise sense to back off, eyes widening. “You know, the --” But Michael doesn’t explode. Instead, he seemingly deflates and Ryan instantly, instantly knows he’s fucked up. “Forget it,” he says coldly. “You’re a fucking asshole.” “Micoo...,” Gavin starts, as if to dissuade him, but Michael’s shaking his head. “No. Seriously. I understand this is a fucking thing you gotta do if you want to make Commander, but I didn’t think you’d fucking forget about us all down here when you’ve only been gone a goddamn week, you’d think...” “Michael.” Ryan’s voice was soft and he took a step forward to gently grasp the shoulders of the angry man. Michael tries to shove them off, step out of his grip, but Ryan just forces a gentle kiss on his forehead. “I don’t forget promises I make to those I love.” Breaking apart, he pulls out six state-of-the-art, giant lithium batteries. Great, silver things waiting to be filled with power. Michael’s eyes widen and he takes one with shaking hands. “I -” Ryan arches an eyebrow and Michael laughs, a bit sheepish. “Sorry, I just thought...” “A thank you would be nice,” he says teasingly, and Michael just pounces over to him, anger vanishing with a sunny smile. He places a gentle kiss on Ryan’s lips. “Thanks.”  Ryan just grins. “You’re welcome, firecracker.”

[miss-ingno]

Anniversary Prompt: The Comfort

Fandom: ragehappy Ship: pre-Jeremavinwood, established Jeremavin & Mavinwood Words: 500 Tags: college au, vampire!Ryan, werewolf!Jeremy, emotional h/c

Summary: Jeremy knows they aren't pack and Ryan isn't his alpha. His instincts keep insisting otherwise.

For Caliope, who asked for some h/c Jeremwood in my Misfits series <3

Read it here on Ao3 or read stories early on my patreon!

“Jeremy?”

The voice cracked like a whip through the silence. Jeremy flinched, hunching his shoulders. He could feel the presence of his alpha hovering above him, dark and watchful. He licked his lips and forced a smile, glancing up without meeting the alpha’s eyes.

“Hi Ryan.”

Jeremy swallowed down a whine, ducking under the vampire’s steady gaze. Too flippant, damn it, he knew better than that. Respect the alpha was the first rule he learned, and the one he found hardest to shake. Ryan wasn’t Preston, wasn’t alpha, but-

He felt much more like alpha than Preston ever had.

“Is everything… alright?” Ryan asked delicately, the suspicion in his tone hitting Jeremy hard. Disappointment echoed through Jeremy’s head, and he curled himself into a tighter ball.

“Fine,” he lied. The disbelief came off Ryan in waves, and Jeremy bit his cheek to stop the whine the feeling provoked. Nothing was fine because Alpha was disappointed, Alpha hated him, didn’t trust him. Barely tolerated him in his pack, still looking for a different pack to foist him off to-

A whine escaped Jeremy at the thought.

He was being unfair, he knew. It was more complicated than that, Michael, Gavin, and Ryan weren’t pack, weren’t even wolves… Yet he couldn’t help but look at Ryan and think alpha, feel safe where it smelled of him, of them. Didn’t help that Ryan was fucking hot. If he were still human, Jeremy would offer his blood in a heartbeat in exchange for a night of fun.

And maybe, if Ryan were actually his alpha, maybe then he would find the courage-

A hand landed on his head and Jeremy tensed. Fingers drew small circles, gently massaging his scalp. His eyes drooped, and without conscious thought Jeremy leaned into the touch. Ryan hummed, a sound Jeremy couldn’t sort right away. Content? Thoughtful? Jeremy tried to scramble his wits together, but the touch remained, light and distracting.

A weight settled down next to him, and Jeremy tipped over, melted into the warmth. Ryan didn’t object, running his fingers through his short hair.

“Ryan?” Jeremy whined, confused. This… This wasn’t something Jeremy got, this affection, it was something reserved for Gavin and Michael-

“Shush,” Alpha murmured, nails scratching gently behind his ears. “You’re okay, Jeremy.” A moment of hesitation, then, “Good boy.”

Jeremy closed his eyes and coasted on the warm feeling the praise called forth. It was heady, and he wasn’t sure how much time passed, must have nodded off because he woke to a heavy weight settling on top of him. Ryan’s rhythmic strokes kept going, his chest still under Jeremy’s cheek, a stark contrast to Michael’s loud breathing.

With an oof from Michael the couch dipped under another weight as Gavin joined the pile. Jeremy let their soft voices lull him back to sleep, under Alpha’s careful watch. He knew eventually he would need a real pack soon, but until then… Until then he could at least pretend this makeshift family was his, too.

[bostonchungschwa]

It really is

it’s so great like everybody always assumes they know who the Responsible One is, always assume it’s ryan because of his age, but nope it’s michael. michael’s the one who forces the others to help him clean the house and makes sure they’re eating semi decently and drink enough water because diet coke and red bull don’t fucking count your dumbasses. but he loves them even though they’re a bunch of man-children

[ryan-the-pc-guy]

listen. lisgn. mavinwood.

[mybelovedghost]

LISTEN i made sure i put gavin and ryan on the same one i couldn't have lived with myself if i wouldn't have (about the jeremavinwood aesthetic)

N i c e ! ! Also amazing aesthetic my dude I love it so much!!

[shadeofazmeinya]

I saw you were in a soft mood so here goes... it’s jeremavinwood I hope that’s okay? Ryan having a night where stress is too high and he can’t really talk. The lads get it and come in bringing blankets. They curl up around him playing games (not really violent ones) on low and don’t expect him to talk. They do sign with him and pay attention to his hands and communicates with him well that way. Them making sure he has plenty to drink & is warm helps. Later he sleeps safe surrounded by his Lads.

i adore jeremavinwood so you’re all good!! and yesss this is the softest and sweetest thing. I love the Lads taking care of their Vagabond, who is so protective of them in turn. But if Ryan needs a chill time, the fear buzzing too loud in his head, the Lads are right there. Ready with calm distraction, suprisingly soft despite their normal chaotic natures.

Ryan needs cuddles but not overbearingly so. The couch makes this perfect, they rest against his side but don’t cover him completely. They chat amongst themselves but don’t pressure Ryan to join in. Almost a white noise, comforting as they chuckle softly. Michael will help clean Ryan off if he needs it, softly and quietly wiping the face paint off, remove the blood and horrer to bring Ryan back out. Gavin brews his favorite tea, grabs some warm snack for him to pick at if he wants it. Jeremy adds pillows to keep Ryan from sitting uncomfortablely and getting a crink in his neck when he ultimately falls asleep.

And Ryan just nearly bursts into tears every time. Just feeling so loved by each small gesutre, earning do much more than he ever thought he would get. Just lets the Lads help him, always stubborn at first against it but the boys are more stubborn when it comes to taking care of him so he always ends up giving in. And I adore them signing with him. So he doesn’t have to speak at all. They’ve all learned at least some simple signs, enough to communicate basic needs.

The Lads just relax as Ryan does. All glad to help him in any way they can. To pay back to Ryan how much he’s helped each of them, from keeping their chaos focused on target, to just keeping them all safe. They love him and will be sure to show it

[vagrantblvrd]

jeremavinwood wtih battle buddies?

Hmmm.

Okay, so.

I’m going to do this with FAHC AU because look, okay, look.

That one FAHC AU where Michael’s just starting out with this whole life of crime business. Hired muscle for whoever wants to hire him and not much else. (No one wants anything else, and he’s fine with that.)

Somewhere along the way he meets Gavin, you know. Little bastard working for a crew that hires Michael on.

Some kind of hacker or tech guy and completely ignored by the other hired muscle and most of the regular crew because he’s this scrawny little British fuck.

Michael’s just there for whatever job he’s been hired for, so he doesn’t plan on getting to know Gavin or the others, which is his own mistake because Gavin?

God knows why Gavin is !!! about Michael almost from the start, zeroes in on him whenever he’s around and pestering the fuck out of him. Will make a beeline for him when Michael’s around and it turns into this odd little friendship after a while because once that job’s over they have these moments where they’re working for the same crew or just run into one another at random times.

And, okay. Gavin’s not the worst person to talk to with the odd way his brain works of his bizarre/ridiculous questions. The way he just plonks himself down next to Michael when he’s eating and starts rambling on about something or other for the longest time, but they’re not friends okay?

They’re not.

(...but maybe???)

Anyhow, Michael works crews and gangs whoever will hire him. Gavin’s this annoying thorn in his side and life is somehow not completely terrible.

Michael’s just starting to think he can have something good here if he’s lucky, careful, so of course that’s when things go wrong.

He’s working for some asshole and he’s got a bad feeling about it the whole damn time but it’s not like he’s got a lot of options open to him if he wants to pay his bills and the whatnot.

He’s definitely not surprised when shit goes wrong in the worst way and he has to make a run for it. Too much too fast and just enough time to warn Gavin to keep an eye out, maybe leave the city. (Just in case, because people know they know one another and it’d be a shitty thing for him not to warn Gavin.)

Michael ends up running all the way to Los Santos, loses whoever was chasing him in the city. (Loses part of himself too, but that’s not important because hey, he’s still alive, so yeah.)

And then, okay.

And then.

While he’s busy making a life for himself there he keeps running into this one asshole – wonders if it’s something wrong with him that this shit keeps happening, but whatever – who has the worst fashion sense Michael’s ever had the misfortune to witness with his own two eyes.

Moron who calls himself Rimmy Tim like that’s a real name and talks real big for someone so short. (Good thing he’s got the muscles to back that mouth of his up, though.)

This Rimmy Tim, guy, though.

He’s not like all the other goons and thugs in the city. Doesn’t really move like them although Michael can tell he’s trying to.

Yeah, no.

The guy’s got real training, right. Maybe former military or some law enforcement behind him, but whatever it was he’s not talking. Would rather wax poetic about some sweet new car he’s got Plans for one day, and all the way he’s going to ruin it with his hideous color scheme.

Drag Michael out to a bar and buy him drinks until they’re both too drunk not to get into a bar fight (or two, or more) and have to run from the cops that get called in to deal with the drunk assholes fighting over the stupidest shit ever.

Maybe, kind of falls into bed with him every so often, all these bad decisions and a life that probably won’t let them grow old and hey, why the fuck not you know?

Michael’s got his regrets and Jeremy’s (yeah, no, he’s shit at keeping the Rimmy Tim thing straight even when he hasn’t had a few) got his and anyway, anyway,  this thing between them isn’t serious. Just a friends with benefits thing, even if they really aren’t friends, you know?

Like, sure. Eventually they get a place together because they’re tired of living in shitty little apartments and if they put their money together they can afford someplace halfway decent because Los Santos can be stupid expensive.

It’s just a smart move on their part, really. Cuts down on expenses and other shit and if it means sometimes they just sprawl out on the couch watching some shitty movie together instead of hitting a bar and getting into fights all the damn time for no real reason, that’s a price they have to pay.

(And, like. If  “falling into bed together” sometimes means they don’t do the do and just sleep, that’s their own problem, isn’t it.)

But then because reasons shit happens.

They get hired by this asshole that neither of them can afford to say no to – offers they can’t refuse and by this point they’ve kind of gained a reputation for themselves. The kind that assholes can take advantage of because Michael and Jeremy are idiots and not as subtle as they think they are, and anyway, anyway.

This asshole has a problem and they’re just muscle hired on to help him with said problem.

This creepy, spooky bastard that’s just starting to make a reputation of his own here in Los Santos. Vicious bastard who wears s fucking skull mask (who does that?) and has taken to picking off their new bosses people/allies/etc.

Real vendetta kind of bullshit, and it’s gotten to be a Problem for the guy.

Enough that he’s hiring the best people he can get his hands on (threaten) and somehow Michael and Jeremy are grouped in there.

And then, okay.

Shit gets weird.

Because there are all these rumors and stories floating around this Vagabond character that just don’t add up? Things he’s done (said to have done) that one person, no matter how skilled, could have pulled off.

Michael and Jeremy are positive he has to have at least one partner working with him, if not more.

No other way to explain how he’s supposed to have dealt with a weapons deal up in Blaine County the same time he sniped a fucker in La Mesa. (Hell of a shot and while no one’s saying he’s not up to it, it’s   impossible for anyone to be in two places at once.)

More and more stories like that come rolling in as Michael and Jeremy work for this asshole, see the way the other hired muscle is getting picked off. The way their boss keeps losing allies and whatever else to the Vagabond. (And his partner, even if everyone else is so damn certain this guy’s a lone wolf or whatever.)

They’re pretty sure it’s a matter of time until they get picked off, because of course, and are making half-assed plans to run for it before that happens.

No loyalty to their current boss, and anyway, neither of them plan to die for someone like him – so of course, of course, that’s when they have their first run-in with this Vagabond asshole, you know?Checking on an operation their boss is getting antsy about and oh, hey, there’s that fucker with the skull mask.

Flesh and blood and not this bogeyman the stories insist he is because Michael clips him with a shot when the guy gets the drop on Jeremy.

Lucky shot, really, because the bastard’s too busy staring at Jeremy to notice Michael until the last moment and it’s a clusterfuck, really.

Jeremy with his own little flesh-wound from one of the Vagabond’s knives and Michael freaked out at the close call. (At Jeremy going all quiet and locked down from it, and Michael was too worried to push because he’s never seen Jeremy like that in all the time he’s known him.)

Their boss is not pleased when they tell him what happened, because by the time they got there everyone else was dead or managed to escape and it was just the Vagabond waiting for them, and the clusterfuck that followed.

They get yelled at, because of course, and go home to lick their wounds in private and wait for their boss to call them for the next job.

Michael’s worried because Jeremy’s acting weird okay, even for him. Doesn’t say a damn thing until Michael’s patching him up and then it’s.

Fuck, it’s Jeremy’s Tragic Backstory, isn’t it.

This whole mess of a story of a government agency Michael's never heard of and a partner (that whole bit about Jeremy and his regrets) Michael’s pretty sure Jeremy was involved with or wanted to be, and this suicide mission they were sent on to cover up their agency’s dirty little secrets.

One that got Jeremy’s partner killed and damn near killed Jeremy, had him faking his death and hiding out in Los Santos and eventually meeting up with Michael and the whole downhill ride from there. (Because really, okay, really.)

Jeremy just. Telling Michael everything about his past this this weirdo partner of his he definitely loved even if they never Talked About It and Michael having the worst feeling why -

“And, uh,” Jeremy says, worst kind of smile on his face as he stares down at the floor, drops of his own blood while Michael was patching him up, “I’m pretty sure he just tried to kill me.”

Awkward laugh as he looks up at Michael. “Us, I mean,” because the Vagabond took a swipe at Michael before he ran, tossed a throwing knife his way although thankfully it missed.

And Michael, okay.

Just.

“Great,” Michael says, because what else can he say? “That’s awesome.”

Anyway, anyway.

They try to carry on best they can after that, go through the motions when it comes to their boss although now they’re less worried about what he might do and more interested in why the Vagabond’s going after him so fucking hard.

Do a little digging – Jeremy knows a hacker in Matt, and Michael knows a guy who knows almost everything there is to know in the city in Alfredo – and then they make the worst goddamned choices ever.

Go looking for the Vagabond and whoever he’s working for and it ends up with them having these altercations where the bastard thinks they’re trying to kill him.

Clearly working for the bastard he’s going after for whatever reason, and the fact they’re looking for him means they want him dead and it’s just. Worst Scooby Doo shenanigans ever.

Results in more close calls and flesh-wounds and Jeremy getting all worked up because okay, yeah, that is definitely that asshole Ryan and goddammit, he just wants to talk, so fucking stop shooting at him!!! (Also, quiet mopey Jeremy with Michael off to the side wondering why the hell his life is the way it is.)

One night Jeremy takes off to find Ryan without telling Michael, so of course it goes horribly wrong, you know?

Michael and Jeremy’s boss being suspicious of the two of them not putting their hearts into working for him and putting a tail on them, and anyway.

Jeremy finds Ryan and actually gets to talk to him without the two of them shooting at one another or getting involved in another stupidly awesome knife fight. (Like, hardcore awesome because Ryan helped train Jeremy in knife fighting back in their agency days so it’s all that training Ryan gave him plus whatever Jeremy’s picked up on his own since and the two of them being almost evenly matched, but I digress.)

And, okay. Some of that did happen, but Jeremy managed to talk to Ryan, get him to listen and just when he was making some headway into getting Ryan to believe that Jeremy and Michael don’t want to kill him their boss and his flunkies show up and drag the two of them off to “have a discussion”.

Michael is like, goddammit, when he realizes Jeremy ran off because he knows where he has to have gone, even if he doesn’t know where. Is about to call Alfredo or even Matt for help when he gets a text.

Unknown number and suspicious as hell. Just an address and something about knowing where Jeremy and Ryan are, but he doesn’t have a lot of choices.

Goes to the address and it’s definitely a trap. Shitty apartment in a rundown building and the kind of place people disappear all the time, and that’s when he hears footsteps behind him and a gun being cocked and turns to see that little bastard Gavin, of all people.

Looks a hell of lot different from the last time they saw one another. Older, thinner (not in a good way) and exhausted as hell.

Holds the gun in his hands like he knows how to use it, and this edge to his smile Michael doesn’t remember seeing before.

It sucks, it does, because what's happened since they last saw one another can’t have been good to have Gavin looking at him the way he is. Like he’s not sure he can trust Michael, even though there was a time Michael knew he did. (The way he trusted Gavin.)

Still.

Jeremy and Ryan and all that.

(And that’s a hell of a shock, realizing Gavin was Ryan’s partner in all this...whatever the two of them have been doing. The sniper who killed that asshole in La Mesa while the Vagabond dealt with a weapons deal in Blaine County and so many other things. Shit Michael never thought about Gavin doing, even though some part of him knew with the shit Gavin used to say.)

This uneasy truce until they get Jeremy and Ryan back (and not wanting to think about what happens then, because talk about confusing and mess as hell) and just.

Work together to figure out what happened. Go to Alfredo and Matt and piece shit together and then cobble together some incredibly risky, half-assed plan to get their idiots back.

(Because Gavin talks about Ryan the way Michael does about Jeremy and oh, man, that’s another kick to the chest because way back when there was a part of Michael that wanted to have Plans involving Gavin, if they ever got lucky enough to be in a position they could have plans, you know? But anyway, focus on the now and Jeremy and Ryan and deal with everything else later.)

Shenanigans and terrible plans that almost get them killed, so it’s a relief when Jeremy and Ryan meet them halfway through them after escaping from whatever locked room they were being held in. More shenanigans in all of them escaping and leaving the building to burn to the ground behind them and then, like.

Talking.

But also patching one another up, and Ryan watching the way Michael’s careful with Jeremy and vice versa. Michael watching Gavin fussing over Ryan and seeing the look on Jeremy’s face and oh, Jesus Christ, this is definitely nothing Michael ever expected in his life because fucking Christ, what even is this?

Ryan and Gavin telling him and Jeremy how they happened to meet up in Los Santos a few years back. Gavin having wandered over after a series of events he glosses over in the most infuriating way (and Michael being weirdly, exasperatedly fond about it) and oh, hey, that’s a creepy bastard in a cheap mask,  is it?

Ryan thinking Jeremy was killed on the suicide mission their agency sent them on and faking his own death and just. A lot of shit involving conspiracy theories and the whatnot that resulted in the Vagabond coming about because mission of vengeance and the like.

Ryan coming to Los Santos because the last people behind the conspiracy were here, and meeting Gavin and the two of them teaming up because why not. (Mostly Gavin not leaving Ryan the fuck alone, and maybe needing something to focus on himself, and he liked Ryan, didn’t he.)

And then, just.

Shenanigans.

The two of them working together, no one knowing about Gavin because Ryan was the focus, wasn’t he? Wanted people paying attention to him – especially the ones he was hunting – and it was better (safer) for Gavin to stay in the shadows.

And then the whole clusterfuck with Michael and Jeremy and everything that happened afterward until this most recent bullshit and just.

Where to go now that Jeremy and Ryan know the other’s alive (And wow, that’s going to be a lot of Talking and Conversations in the future for them, assuming they survive to have them.)

Also Michael and Gavin and their whatever is going on there. (More of this Talking and Conversations, one assumes.)

Ryan trying to get Jeremy and Michael to leave town, leave everything to him and Gavin, as if that would actually happen and Michael watching Jeremy tear the Vagabond a new one. (Gavin trying and failing not to laugh, because Ryan really is an idiot.)

Michael shrugging when Ryan asks him what he thinks because fuck if he knows, you know? But it’s obvious to him Jeremy’s not going to let Ryan and Gavin tackle this mess on their own anymore, and he’s kind of invested in Jeremy not being dead, so.

Yeah.

The four of them working together to bring this asshole (and the others Ryan and Gavin have been targeting) down, and all these Feelings springing up as they do.

Those quiet nights spent staring at whatever plans they’re working on. Other sleepless nights where Michael finds Ryan brooding or Gavin working on something on his computer. Jeremy working the heavy bag – because of course there’s one set up wherever Ryan and Gavin are working out of – and Ryan wandering down to watch him.

Wistful glances and all that good stuff. Lingering touches and so on. Patching one another up after a fight or going after another target.

Michael picking up on Ryan’s restlessness and goading him into a fight – sorry, sparring match – even though he knows he’s outmatched.

(Jeremy got hurt earlier and Gavin took him to a discreet doctor they know and it’s the two of them in whatever base Ryan and Gavin are using and it’s a mercy, what Michael’s doing even though he knows he’s going to get his ass handed to him.

And, sure. It looks that way at first, but eventually Ryan gets his head out of his ass and realizes what Michael’s doing/did, and it goes from being this potentially dangerously idiotic thing Michael instigated to. Like. Something almost fun?

Ryan teaching him some hand-to-hand moves he learned in his agency days, and Michael managing to throw/pin him just as Jeremy and Gavin get back and it’s awkward as hell because wow, compromising position they’re in?

But it just gets a thoughtful look from Jeremy and Gavin – the two of them sharing a look before smirking and laughing at Michael and Ryan and just what the fuck is that about, huh? - and other such things.

Final battle/whatever with the baddies and close calls and all that and the four of them being all ??? about what to do now that things have been settled?Because look.

Feelings and emotionally constipated assholes, right?

Someone proposes that it wouldn’t hurt if they continued working together – the Vagabond’s reputation and ones Michael and Jeremy have earned for themselves. Gavin working from the shadows, watching their backs and looking out for them and they really do make a hell of a team.

Picking up jobs/heists that Alfredo and Matt toss their way, and the slow realization that oh shit, they’re hot they face on a near daily basis because Feelings and lack of jealousy and general appreciation for the other three being unfairly attractive assholes until they get their shit together.

Because reasons.

ALSO.

ALL the cats, because Gavin and Jeremy and the stray population in Los Santos. (Also a pupper or two,  because Michael and Ryan and the stray population in Los Santos.)

At some point Geoff and Jack happen along, and when the Fake AH Crew becomes a thing they need a hacker and some asshole who knows almost everything that happens in Los Santos and just.

It turns into a mess, is the thing, a horrible, horrible mess. (The worst.)

[writerofshit]

Came across the beginnings of a Stephen the Bunny origin fic I was gonna do a couple weeks ago, completely forgot about the MDB way it started.

“Ryan,” Gavin’s voice crackles through his earpiece. “Million dollars, but everytime you cum your dick whistles.”

They're supposed to be on a stakeout.

“I don’t- what does that even mean?” Ryan asks, pausing for a moment. He has his back pressed against the wall of the warehouse, trying his best to be stealthy. Gavin, however, isn’t.

“It means your dick whistles when you cum. Why’s that complicated?” he asks, like it’s that simple. Ryan hears him shift in his seat.

“Like a tune? Or with the flow?”

Gavin giggles. “I was thinking like a tea kettle, but yours is worse!”

“To be fair, you weren’t specific.” Ryan continues on his mission, silently moving around the corner of the building. In his head, he curses Geoff for sending them on this godforsaken trip. Didn’t they hire people to do this shit for them? “I was hoping I could choose the song.” he says quietly.

Gavin is really laughing now, and Ryan would worry about someone hearing him if they weren’t in the middle of fucking nowhere. “Alright, I gotta know- what’s your dick-whistle song?” he asks in between giggles.

“I don’t know?” He rounds the next corner, toward the back, and there’s still nothing to see. “Something fun and upbeat? Call Me Maybe.” It’s the first pop song he thinks of. Above him, a light turns on in the upstairs office. Shit. He ducks into a bush below the window. “We may have a problem.”

[sorcererinthestars]

Lads+Ryan stuff: Michael said "I love you" first bc he feels emotions in waves and extremes and their line of work is too dangerous to not spend the seconds in between loving each other (1/?) (@lilred-fighting-hood)

Lads+Ryan stuff: Jeremy likes putting his cold ass feet on his lovers' backs just to make them jump. Thus far, only Gavin has fallen off the bed from his antics. Jeremy kissed the bruise better and Gavin laughed bc it tickled. (2/?) Lads+Ryan stuff: Sometimes Gavin pockets something he thinks his boyfriends would like. He's stolen a platinum watch and several succulent leaves for Ryan. Michael has gotten this sick ass knuckle duster and a studded collar. Jeremy's gift takes the cake though bc Gavin stole a set of car keys and the four of them made it a game to find the car it belonged to first (Michael won that one). (3/?) Lads+Ryan stuff: They can never shower together bc no shower in the world will fit all four of them. They take shifts and usually it's Ryan and Jeremy who shower together in the mornings (early birds) and Michael and Gavin shower together at night (night owls). Ryan insists on blow drying their hair before bed and M+G love being taken care of but it's really bc Ryan doesn't like wet pillows. (4/4) --You, my friend, are the stuff dreams are made of. Comments on each of them.1) Absolutely. Their resident firecracker lives life in red hot waves. He blurts out “I love you” as they’re shooting grenade launchers off of Mount Chilliad and watching the fire catch and rage on the sides of the mountain that is their home. He lives and breathes fire. He gets how bright something can burn before it’s inevitably snuffed out. He wants their love to be the biggest and brightest thing Los Santos has ever seen before it’s snuffed and gone forever. He’s practical about these things.2) Hahahhaa. Ryan once threatened to break Jeremy’s ankle in six places if he didn’t remove the foot from the back of his neck. It’s not an empty threat and Jeremy doesn’t do it much anymore -- until his foot creeps against warm bodies at night. He normally gets a howl and a swear and a swipe in return. Michael just bitches and moans but ultimately lets it happen. Sometimes rubs the warmth back in, too, if he’s feeling generous. Gavin will squawk and thrash and fight until he ends up on the ground. Jeremy gives good kisses in apology.3) This is amazing. I love the idea that Gav is a sneaky little thief. The biggest triumph is when - through careful nurturing - Ryan is able to plant one of the succulent clippings and nurse a whole plant back. Gavin is floored and awed and absolutely smitten. He names the plant George. Ryan still has it. Michael’s knuckle dusters are his favorite. The collar in the bedroom is a very special time and only comes out for very special occasions. The others appreciate it almost as much as Michael does. The hunt for Jeremy’s car takes almost all night and prowling through all of Los Santos before they find a Mercedes shrieking it’s car alarm in a side garage. It’s not hard to steal it. Shame the owner tried to defend it, though.4) Who does like wet pillows? I’m on Ryan’s side. But all the boys like the ministrations of Ryan’s hand through their hair. He’s gentle and it’s sweet and sometimes they’ll do it while watching TV or just relaxing before bed. Jeremy lays in front of them and steals kisses or just dozes by their feet. It’s always a soft way to unwind.Thanks for sharing, dear.

[miss-ingno]

Misfits: The Canine

Fandom: ragehappy Ship: Jeremavinwood, past Raywood, Ray & Jeremy Words: 3.8k Tags: college au, vampires au, werewolves au, pack dynamics, past abuse, non-consensual biting (past), vampire!Ryan, vampire!Ray, werewolf!Jeremy, getting to know each other

Summary: In an attempt to force Ray and Jeremy to spend time together, Ryan sends them on an errand. Unfortunately, bonding is put on hold as they have a run-in with Jeremy's old pack.

Read here on Ao3. Part of the Misfits series.

A/N: set several stories after The Change. Presumes Ray’s return to the manor, the revelation that Ray is Ryan’s ex, and that Jeremy got together with Michael, Gavin and Ryan in the meantime.

Ray found Ryan in his lab already, the sun barely set. He hesitated in the door, glancing around. Aside from the kitchen, this place had changed the most. Gone were the bubbling vials of colourful liquids, the big glass apparatuses were replaced with tiny chrome machines. No smoke clung to the air despite the small windows being closed. Instead a terrible stench hit his nose, artificial and penetrating. Ray wrinkled his nose and considered leaving, but just then Ryan looked up and noticed him in the door.

“Ray.” Ryan waved him inside. “Good. I was going to find you later.”

“Ryan,” Ray drawled, crossing his arms as he leaned against Ryan’s worktable. Somehow he knew Ryan didn’t mean to talk, but they had time. Between them, Ray had always been the patient one. “What’s up?”

“I need to ask you a favour,” Ryan said distractedly, frowning down at a display and scribbling notes in his book. Ray tilted his head, watching him idly.

“What kind of favour?”

“Could you escort Jeremy to the seven eleven?” Ryan pressed his face to something that looked vaguely like binoculars attached to a stand, missing the incredulous look Ray shot him. “He mentioned he needed some stuff earlier.”

“You want me to walk your puppy.” Ray didn’t even try to hide the disgust from his voice. Ryan looked up sharply, but Ray met his gaze evenly.

“He’s not a pet,” Ryan bit out sharply, frowning at him. Ray arched a brow in disbelief.

“Then why doesn’t he run his errands without a big bad vampire holding his leash?” Ray let his mouth pull into a smirk, fangs poking over his lower lip. “Afraid the puppy’s gonna run away?”

Ryan’s eyes flashed red in warning, holding himself still like a predator about to pounce.

“No,” he ground out, visibly fighting his temper down. Ray dropped the smirk and lounged against the table, watching as Ryan took a deep breath. Interesting. He wasn’t sure if Ryan mellowed out in the last century or if his control was getting better.

Good to know that he could still provoke a response, though.

“Jeremy’s… pack.” Ryan spat out the word as if it was filth. Ray blinked slowly, filing the information away. “They’re- well, they’re a bunch of assholes but they still have claim to him, technically. They won’t start shit with witnesses there, though.” Ryan clenched and unclenched his jaw, looking away. “Normally Michael and Gavin would go with him during the day, but with exams coming up…”

Ryan trailed off, flipping the off switch on the nearest machine. The whirring noise came to a slow stop, leaving absolute silence between them. They’d both given up the pretense of breathing long ago, at least when it was just them. It startled Ray, how easily they fell back into the habit.

“So why don’t you go?” Ray asked finally, breaking the silence. Ryan shook his head, waving at his equipment.

“I’m busy,” he said vaguely, not looking at Ray. “I have deadlines to meet.”

Ray cocked his head, eyes sweeping over the lab equipment. This, then, was familiar. The evasive way Ryan busied himself, paging through his book randomly. It screamed louder than pacing ever did: Ryan didn’t know what to say, his mind far away. It stung, but with years of distance between then and now, he could see something else: Ryan didn’t want to talk because he was hiding something. And he hid it behind a farce of busyness.

Ray tipped his head the other way and eyed him intently.

“Do they know?” Ray asked neutrally, so painfully neutral. Ryan froze, confirming his suspicions.

“I have enough money,” Ryan returned tightly, glancing quickly at Ray. “They have enough on their plates already. They shouldn’t have to worry about working through college.”

“So you’re paying their tuition.” Ryan nodded slowly, warily. Ray frowned. “And it costs enough to make a dent in your savings?”

“Putting kids through college has gotten ludicrously expensive.” Ryan shrugged, joining Ray at his table. He stood close enough for his aura to seep into Ray’s, a lack of warmth and tantalizing power. “And Gavin’s parents aren’t paying. Michael’s try to help, but they got several other kids to take care of. And Jeremy-”

Ryan broke off, shrugging. Their shoulders brushed together, and Ray felt himself lean into the touch almost against his will. Habit, he told himself, mind honing in on the last fact Ryan accidentally revealed.

“The puppy’s in college?” he asked, trying to tone down his incredulity. Going by Ryan’s sharp look, he didn’t quite manage. Ray shrugged unapologetically. “What’s a werewolf doing chasing a degree? Don’t the packs usually keep to themselves, teach their own and all that?”

“He was in college when he was bitten,” Ryan explained, voice cold. For once, his ire didn’t seem directed at Ray. Still, as far as explanations go, that was unhelpfully vague. Ray squinted at him.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Why would he want to go back of all things? It made even less sense if the puppy already had a degree. Unless he dropped out when he was bitten? Was the mutt sad he never finished his degree what, twenty, thirty years ago or something? Why else would he want to go ba-

Ray froze as the penny dropped. He stared at Ryan, searching his face. No. No way.

“When?” He grabbed Ryan’s shirt, pulled him close. His eyes bored into icy blue. “When did he-”

“Six months ago,” Ryan stated quietly. It felt like ice sliding down Ray’s back. “He just started college when…”

Ray pushed him away and turned to pace the length of the lab, aware of Ryan’s eyes on him. Fuck. Fuck.

“So the puppy is literally that. A damn puppy?”

“Ray,” Ryan said warily, eyes narrowed in warning.

“Don’t Ray me, asshole.” Ray snapped his mouth shut, grinding his teeth. His jaw worked furiously as he glared at Ryan. What was he thinking!? “He should be with his pack, learning whatever passes for manners amongst wolves, not screwing around with a couple vamp tramps in your fucking house!”

“Ray.”

“Really, Ryan?” Ray threw up his hands and stalked away from the other vampire. Of all the infuriating, harebrained- “You think you know how to housetrain a wolf pup? You’re a vampire, for God’s sake!”

“Then who!?” Ryan made a frustrated noise, crossing his arms. “I’m not fucking sending him back.”

“Pack laws exist for a reason, you realize.” Ray pushed up his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. “A wolf without a pack… You know how loners turn out. If you actually care for him-”

“They’ll kill him!” Ryan shouted, and Ray stopped in his track. Silence rang between them, unnaturally still. Ryan grit his teeth. “He can’t go back, Ray. It’s not an option.”

Ray blinked, slowly, intentionally. Ryan took a deep breath, air hissing through his teeth as he exhaled sharply.

“Michael found him in the woods, a bleeding mess. His packmates were harassing him, biting and clawing and he just… laid there and took it.” Ryan closed his eyes and shook his head, turning his back to Ray. “Do I think I’m qualified to teach him? Hell no. I have no clue what I’m doing. But what else can we do?”

Ray watched him silently as Ryan clenched and unclenched his fists.

“He’s not going back,” Ryan stated firmly.

“So, what. You’re just gonna wait until something happens? Until he attacks one of your humans?” Ray asked, tilting his head. Ryan swallowed, his adam’s apple bobbing.

“We’re looking for a suitable pack for him,” he answered quietly, pressing his palms flat onto the surface of the cabinet. “Michael has some contacts. We put the word out, so now we just need to… wait.”

“And hope for the best in the meantime,” Ray snarked, his shoulders slumping. Way to take the wind out of his sail, huh. “Jesus Christ. Alright.”

“Alright?” Ryan asked, looking up at him from under his long lashes suspiciously. Ray sighed, shaking his head.

“Alright, yeah, fine, you win, whatever. I’ll take your puppy on his walk.”

Ryan hesitated, giving him a sideways look. Ray rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“What?”

“I was… hoping you’d spend some time with him,” Ryan offered sheepishly, scratching his head. Ray shot him a look. “Get to know him better.”

“Oh God,” Ray groaned, hanging his head in realisation. Jesus, Ryan. Really? Really? It wasn’t like he cared if Ryan hooked up with others, but… He didn’t expect him to be serious about two humans and a wolf.

“I think you’d get along well,” Ryan defended himself, pursing his lips and giving him a look with wide, soft eyes. Ray’s eyebrows shot up, staring back in disbelief. Puppy dog eyes. Puppy dog eyes over a puppy, how perfect. Christ.

“Yes, yes, I’ll give your werewolf boyfriend a chance.” Ray rubbed at his forehead and then dropped his arms. “You know, like any good ex does. Fucking hell, Ryan.”

“He needs more allies,” Ryan insisted stubbornly, because of course he did.

“Uh huh.” Ray arched his brow and bumped Ryan’s shoulder as he stepped past. Because that clearly was the only motivation here. “Sure.”

“It’s gonna be fun?” Ryan called after him, not even having the decency to sound certain.

“Sure is,” Ray muttered to himself, knowing the vampire’s ears would pick up the words over the short distance. “Gonna be a party. Next thing you know we'll be braiding each other’s hair and painting each other’s nails.”

Ray pretended not to hear Ryan’s short burst of laughter and ignored the thrill it sent down his spine.

***

“Sorry for this,” Jeremy told him on the bus they were taking into the city. Running would’ve probably been quicker, but Ray wasn’t sure how fast and long the pup could go in human form. Was it something wolves learned with age or practice? He didn’t quite dare to ask, so the bus it was.

“I could’ve gone on my own,” Jeremy pressed on when Ray remained silent, staring at the passing trees through the window. “Ryan’s just been…”

“Overbearing?” Ray suggested bemusedly, glancing at the pup from the corner of his eyes. Jeremy grimaced.

“Worried,” he settled on diplomatically, looking down at his lap. Ray snorted.

“Yeah, he gets like that.” He turned his head slightly to watch the pup, who was tugging on the strings of his hoodie. “Here’s the secret of dealing with Ryan: tell him no.”

“What?” Jeremy’s head snapped up, frowning at Ray. Ray shrugged one shoulder.

“Establish boundaries. Draw the line and then enforce it.” Ray glanced away. Ryan meant well, but he could also get stuck in the mindset that he knew best. He was so fucking clever, it was easy to just… let him. Until it escalated and turned him into a controlling bastard. “You give him an inch, he’s gonna take a mile,” Ray warned the pup.

Jeremy frowned, gaze dropping to his hands. He fiddled with the strings, looking troubled. Ray left him to his thoughts, having said his piece.

“Is that what happened?” Jeremy asked two stops later, not looking at him. “Between the two of you?”

Perceptive, Ray thought and ground his teeth. It was more than just that, of course. A hundred small things accumulating over the centuries, until he needed a break from his infuriating lover.

“Something like that,” he replied vaguely. Complicated, he wanted to say, but in the end it was much more simple. “Living that long, you grow tired of people,” he offered, staring at the fields turning into houses as they entered the city. “Annoying little habits start to rub you wrong.”

Jeremy was silent as the bus stopped and more people boarded. Ray eyed them idly.

“How long were you together?” Jeremy finally asked, once they moved back into traffic.

“Oh, couple years here and there.” Ray waved him off. “Once we made it to a full century. That was a fun anniversary.”

And also ended with their biggest fight, but the pup didn’t need to know that. Ray stood up, gesturing for Jeremy to do the same.

“We’re here.”

The seven-eleven was a square little building with red neon letters spelling the name out front. Ray followed Jeremy around idly, watching curiously as he stuffed bags of chips and salted peanuts into a purple and orange tote bag. He teetered in front of cheap cans of beer before veering off towards the Monster energy drinks. Ray snorted a laugh in surprise, earning himself an uncertain look from the pup. How ironic.

And kinda cute, in a weird way. Ray shook his head, pushing the thought away.

It happened as they headed to the cashier. Three young men walked into the shop, slouched and with their hands stuffed into their pockets. Ray glanced them over quickly before dismissing them, they looked like nothing more than college students in desperate need of basic hygiene. Their greasy hair framed their faces in lanky strands, clothes unkempt and rumpled and clearly slept in. Ray wouldn’t have given them a second thought if it weren’t for the way Jeremy tensed at his side.

“Dooley!” one of the newcomers called. The others’ heads snapped up and turned towards them, like hounds catching a trail. They smirked, bumping into each other as they sauntered over. Jeremy froze, like a deer caught in the headlights.

Ray came to a stop next to him, casually brushing their shoulders together.

“You know these people?” he asked quietly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jeremy nod sharply.

“Know us?” The leader barked out a laugh, a rough and abrasive sound in the mostly empty shop. “Why, we’re practically family!”

“Are you now,” Ray returned dryly, giving them a pointed once-over. “I don’t see the resemblance.”

The three howled with laughter, as if Ray had just told them the greatest joke. His eyebrow rose a tick and he gave Jeremy a deadpan look. Jeremy sighed and rolled his shoulders, clearly uncomfortable.

“What do you want, Duncan?”

The leader spread his arms with an affected Who, me? expression.

“I couldn’t help but notice you were out and about without, ahh, supervision, if you catch my drift.” Duncan smirked, dropping his arms. “Finally old enough to leave the nest alone? Or-” Here his eyes narrowed in dark pleasure. “-could it be? Have you been replaced?”

“I’m not alone,” Jeremy snapped back, crossing his arms. Duncan glanced at Ray before clearly dismissing him. Ray’s other eyebrow rose to join the first.

“Him? Pfft.” Duncan waved him off. “I’ve never seen him around before. Have you, boys?”

“Not once,” one of the others chimed in, flexing his arms with a grin.

“Can’t be anyone important, I don’t think,” the third added with a flash of teeth.

“Wow. Rude,” Ray drawled. Duncan didn’t even look his way, stepping up into Jeremy’s space.

“Tell me, Dooley, does your new friend know? How you kneel and beg for scraps at your master’s feet?”

Jeremy growled, pushing Duncan back, taking a step to insert himself casually between the three wolves and Ray. Curious. Did he consider Ray one of his, or was it his connection to Ryan that brought out the protective instincts? Ray cocked his head, willing to let the puppy take the lead on this one. To watch and see where it went.

“You must confuse me with you, Duncan. Tell me, does Preston allow you to lap up his leftovers from his plate if you suck up to him enough?” Jeremy bared his teeth in a mocking grin. “You jockeying for beta, is that what it is? Aww, look at you. All grown up and ready to settle for second best.”

Ah. The puppy got teeth, after all.

Duncan flinched back, eyes wide. Then he snarled, glaring at Jeremy.

“You got guts, Dooley. You think you’re so tough after playing lapdog for your bloodsucker?” Duncan sneered, shoving Jeremy. “But he’s not here this time, isn’t he? Just the three of us - and you.”

“I don’t need help to take you down,” Jeremy growled, his hackles rising.

“But you can’t be everywhere at once, can you?” Duncan took a step back and looked at his companions. “What do you think, boys? Time to teach the bitch a lesson, isn’t it?”

“Needs to be taken down a peg for sure!” the first yipped, stepping up next to Duncan. “Needs to relearn his place in the pecking order.”

“He’s been salivating after those humans. Like a bitch in heat,” the other commented with a lecherous grin. “Not that I can blame him. The blond one looks delicious, I just want to take a bite outta him, y’know?”

They laughed as Jeremy tensed and Ray straightened, narrowing his eyes. They were talking about biting humans against their will. That was against pack laws, especially in a neutral zone like this city. The Council would not take such threats lightly.

“We told you, didn’t we, Dooley? What happens to your friends if you don’t play nice and obey the alpha?” Duncan leered at Ray. “Shame your little friends aren’t here right now. But your new one should be as good a start as any, shouldn’t he, boys?”

The wolves laughed in agreement, jostling each other. Ray narrowed his eyes and stepped up next to Jeremy, brushing a hand over his back. To calm him down or support him, Ray wasn’t quite sure. Jeremy shot him quick look, worry and something deeper, darker reflected in his amber eyes.

“Careful,” Ray spoke up, letting his fangs poke over his lower lip. “You don’t want to say the wrong thing now.”

The wolves fell into startled silence as Ray let a sliver of his aura slip. Power bled into his eyes, his senses sharpening. Ray let his gaze wander over the three lazily before catching Jeremy’s eyes. The glowed golden in this heightened state, as much of a giveaway as a vampire’s red eyes. Dangerous, his instincts told him. Jeremy snarled, crouching lower. For a split second, Ray tensed, expecting a blow- but Jeremy’s attention returned to what by all rights should be his pack.

“Leave,” he growled, hunching in preparation of a fight.

“Unless you still want a bite,” Ray drawled, letting his power swell. The wolves cowered, flinching back. Young, he mused. Not unlike Jeremy. “I haven’t had werewolf blood in over a century. It’s quite heady.”

The leader scowled at that, inching back.

“This isn’t over, Dooley,” he warned, eyes darting towards Ray before he scurried off, tail tucked between his legs. The other two followed suit, stumbling over their own feet in their haste.

Ray pulled his aura back in and watched as Jeremy slowly relaxed.

“Sorry about that,” the pup offered with a grimace, carding a hand through his hair. Ray shrugged, bumping their shoulders together.

“No problem, dude.” He gently nudged Jeremy forward, grabbing the six pack of energy drinks from the floor where the pup had dropped it. “Not your fault they decided to be douchebags. Though I’m honestly questioning your choice in packs. First Ryan, now this.”

Jeremy chuckled dryly. “Not really my choice.”

Ray remained quiet as they checked out and payed, turning everything he knew about the situation over in his head. The picture it painted wasn’t pretty. There was a pact loosely upheld by both vampires and werewolves, in an attempt to keep further bloodshed between the two factions in check. Human cities were neutral zones, the denser the population the worse the retaliation if either faction tried to claim territory there.

And no human could be turned against their will.

An old relic of a law, from the times of the vampire-werewolf wars. Both sides had turned too many humans for cannon fodder, forcing the other supernatural races to intervene. Consent was the compromise they agreed to, if somewhat reluctant. If the pack here was violating that law, the Council had to be informed.

Ray glanced at Jeremy. The pup was checking their surroundings alertly, but his shoulders had relaxed.

“When they turned you…” Ray trailed off, trying to phrase the question inoffensively. “Did they… ask if you wanted to be turned?”

Jeremy shook his head, looking grim, and Ray’s heart sunk.

“I kinda had no idea what was going on. Only figured it out later, after a week of transformations.”

So. That confirmed it. The question was, what to do next? The Council had to be informed, for one. The pact had been broken, and now the werewolf in question lived with one of their own. Speaking of which-

“Does Ryan know?” Ray asked, keeping a careful eye on the pup. Jeremy shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

“Yeah, I guess.” He sighed. “Didn’t really make an effort to hide it. I was just happy to get out of that situation, and Ryan… well, he wasn’t all that happy with me at first. Tolerated me for Michael and Gavin’s sake, you know?”

Ray blinked slowly, tilting his head. That was new. Somehow he’d imagined Ryan welcoming the pup with open arms, the way he acted now. All protective and adoring and stupidly in love. He couldn’t really see it, but he supposed… it’s how he would’ve expected Ryan to react, if he hadn’t seen him be all lovey-dovey and concerned.

“I don’t really know when that changed, but… I talked about some of it. He’s… a good listener.”

“Sometimes, yeah,” Ray agreed, shaking his head. He was pretty damn sure Ryan hadn’t informed the Council, or Ray would’ve heard of it and came back to shake some sense into him much sooner. But why? “You’ve lived with them some months now, right?”

“Yeah.” Jeremy shot him a furtive look from under his lashes before ducking his head. “Do you… do you mind? About Ryan and me?”

“Nah,” Ray returned easily as he led the way back to the bus stop. “Ryan and I have a very… casual agreement. As long as we live, it really doesn’t make sense to hold us back like that. It’s a very human sentiment anyway.”

“So… you’re not jealous?” Jeremy asked cautiously. If he had ears, Ray mused, they’d be perking up. It was a bemusing image. The question on the other hand… that was complicated and not something he really cared to get into with what was barely a stranger. Though the pup did step between him and danger, unnecessary as that was.

And… he was kinda cute. In that bulldog puppy way.

“Sometimes,” he admitted lightly, “but no, I don’t mind you nearly as much as I should.”

Jeremy blinked rapidly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Vampires and werewolves don’t get along, kiddo.” Ray rolled his eyes. “I honestly have no idea what’s going on in Ryan’s head, but it’s just not done.”

“Oh.” Jeremy frowned, looking down. “I… didn’t realize that.”

Ray hummed noncommittally.

“Don’t worry about it, pup,” he sighed, jostling Jeremy playfully. “Let’s go home.”

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[queenvsbarton]

im thinking about the cute flirty part of the jeremavinwood horror au i came up with and i can tell that the more tired i get staring at my ceiling the more my mind will wander to the bloody gory death parts

[ryan-the-pc-guy]

its 3am but jeremavinwood zombie au

[shadeofazmeinya]

hello, i'm late to this but i'm growing more fond of Ryan+the lads everyDAY, it's just such a cute dynamic!!!

ladswood is just pure gold. honestly criminal masterminds is what made me fall in lovs with it because the dynamic between all of them is so good!!! Also its always cute having ryan deal with the lads until he gives into their chaos haha