#joe mazzello x female!oc

[borhapparker]

special victims unit | borhap cast x female!oc - chapter three

summary: The Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the NYPD, investigate sexually related crimes. Lead by Lieutenant Astrid Morrison, they solve New York’s most sensitive cases, as well as battle with their own demons from the past.

warnings: mentions of sexual assault, lots of talk of conditions, mentions of death, mentions of underage acts, lots of triggers mentioned above

word count: 4.3k

series masterlist  |   teaser |   chapter one | chapter two

It had been another long day, cases replaced by paperwork as Astrid sighed, putting her pen down and closing the folder. She had finally found the time to sit and sign casefiles given to her earlier in the day, and it was only 2 in the morning. The phone on the desk pinged, as she picked it up, smiling.

'You done, beautiful? Need a ride?'

Shaking her head, she smiled before texting back.

'I'm okay, I'll be home soon, promise'

Her office phone rang, as she turned and picked it up. "Morrison."

"Lieutenant, we have a victim. I'll send you the address, we're heading to the apartment right now."

"I'll be there in 10." hanging up the phone, she grabbed her bag, badge, gun, and phone in hand as she locked up the office and headed out.

Driving over to the address texted to her, she contemplated wether or not she should let her partner know that she wouldn't be home just yet. He knows already, he probably heard the call too.

Arriving at the residence, she was greeted with a couple squad cars, as Lucy walked out of the house.

"Lieutenant, she's inside."

"What do we have?" Astrid asked as she walked alongside Lucy, up the steps.

"Victim's name is Kristi, she was raped by her sister's boyfriend. She was asleep on the couch when she woke up to him on top of her. He was aggressive, she broke a glass over his head to get him off her and locked herself in the bathroom."

Astrid sighed, shaking her head. "What's his story?"

"Actually, we were waiting for you," Lucy said as she sighed, "Figured you might want to talk to him."

Heading inside, Lucy directed her to the closed-off room, where the other victim was, bandage on his forehead and dried blood on his face. Ben was there already, looking up and nodding at her, before turning his attention back to him. 

"So, Dan, do you want to tell us what happened?" Ben asked him as he sat hunched down, head in his hands.

He shook his head.

"It's quite a mess you've made here, Dan." Astrid spoke up, crossing her arms, "Where's Rachel?"

He spoke up, "I don't remember."

Ben sighed, "Conk on the head give you amnesia? There's no way you forgot raping your girlfriend's little sister."

He looked up quickly, confusion furrowed on his face. "What are you talking about?"

Astrid frowned, "Maybe the precinct will jog your memory."

Ben leaned down and grabbed Dan's arm, pulling him up from where he was sitting as he looked between the two. "Look, you're not gonna believe me if I tell you."

She tilted her head, "Why don't you try us?"

"I did it in my sleep."

Astrid's eyes widened, as she looked at Ben. His hand still on the suspect's arm, he gave him a t-shirt to wear, before taking him outside and into one of the cars. 

"That's a new one." he sighed as Astrid nodded, "You ever heard that one before?"

She nodded, "Heard of it, never experienced it before."

Calling Lucy down, she walked with the victim Kristi, guiding her into another car as they all headed down to the precinct. It was still early in the morning, the time now nearing 3am as Astrid grabbed her phone, placing a coffee order for everyone.

As they all pulled into the precinct, Joe met up with them, having called Kristi's father, who was now waiting in the conference room. Ben walked with Dan, escorting him into an interrogation room as Lucy walked Kristi in with her father, who awaited her with open arms.

Ben grabbed the folder Joe reached out to him as Rami walked in with him, both of them ready to question Dan. Ben dropped the folder on the table as Rami opened it, grabbing Rachel's picture and showing it to Dan.

"So, what'd you do with Rachel?" he stayed quiet as Rami continued, "You forget, or you sleepwalk her into a dumpster?"

Dan looked up, "I-I swear I don't remember a thin-"

"Maybe you got into a fight, huh?" Ben began, as he circled Dan, "Get in a fight, get out of hand. Kill her, dump her body."

Dan shook his head, "No, I didn't."

"Then you had to get rid of Kristi before she could-"

"No!" Dan exclaimed as he paused, "You don't understand. Okay, I have this condition."

Rami paused as he looked back, hearing the door open and noticing a woman standing at the entrance, "And I have a headache." he stood upright, as he turned to face her, "You his lawyer?"

She smiled, "Anna Bentley. My client suffers from Arousal Parasomnia." Ben cocked an eyebrow at her words as she frowned, "It's a real disorder. He had sexual intercourse with Kristi McGarrett while he was asleep."

Dan spoke up, "Look, Rachel knows about my condition, okay? She loves it, okay? She says when I'm asleep, it's the best sex she's ever had."

Astrid stood outside the interview rooms, watching as Rami and Ben led Anna, Dan's lawyer, over to the table, pulling up a chair for her to sit in. She turned and walked over to the other window, where Lucy and Joe were interviewing and getting Kristi's statement.

"He was so violent," she sighed, looking down at her water cup, "He was grunting and panting like an animal."

Joe frowned, "How long have you known him?"

"I met him for the first time yesterday at the train station when he and Rachel picked me up," Kristi sniffled as Lucy nudged the box of tissues closer to Krisi, her hand coming up to grab one. "Thanks."

"So you're visiting?" Lucy asked, nodding at her acknowledgement as Kristi only frowned.

"From Boston, I came here to look at colleges." Wiping tears from her eyes, she breathed in shakily, "She told me that she was in love with him. How could he do this to me?"

Astrid sighed, wringing her hands together as she walked over once more to listen to Dan, noticing the tension in the shoulders of her detectives.

"Now, if Rachel's so hot for you when you're, uh, sleep sexting, why'd you rape Kristi?" Rami frowned, looking at Dan as he turned away angrily.

"Rachel must've already been gone."

"Well, yeah because you got rid of her." Ben interjected as Dan looked at him. "That's where the blood in the bedroom came from."

"No!" Dan screamed, "Look, I woke up after Kristi cut me with the glass. When I went in the bedroom to tell Rachel, she wasn't there!"

His lawyer sighed, "You can't arrest my client for a rape he didn't know he was commiting."

She knocked on the glass, as her two detectives walked out, leaving Dan with his lawyer, as she began giving him encouraging statements.

Gwilym was standing outside next to her as Ben and Rami sighed. "Seems like this isn't good news."

He only shook his head. "She's right, we can't charge him with the rape."

Rami shook his head, "If it looks like a rape and acts like a rape-"

"It is a rape. Unless the accused isn't conscious of what his body's doing." Gwilym finished, as everyone groaned, "It's like a sleeping mother who rolls over on her baby. Her body did it, but her mind wasn't aware of it."

Lucy and Joe had joined them as she interjected, clear confusion and anger in her voice. "Well, it still doesn't explain what happened to Rachel."

Neither of them had noticed that Dr. Palmer had joined them, having heard about the case and knowing the rarity of it, she had wanted to know a little more about what they were working with. "Actually, I think it does. When a patient with sexomnia has an episode, he or she will seek sex with whoever's available. I think that he raped Kristi becuase Rachel was already gone."

Ben sighed, "I gotta tell you, it sounds like a cover up for killing Rachel and dumping her body."

"There's never been a case of sexomnia linked to a homicide." Gwilym crossed his arms.

Rami crossed his as well as he looked at everyone around, "So you're telling me there's no connection between Dan attacking Kirsti and Rachel's disappearance."

Dr. Palmer sighed and shook her head, "If she's in love with him, I doubt she'd leave in the middle of the night. I think Rachel was kidnapped."

-

Astrid walked alongside Kristi through the hallways to the main bullpen, as Kristi wrapped her arms around herself. "Did your sister ever mention anyone bothering her? Giving her the creeps?"

Kristi shook her head, as they rounded a corner, "No, Rachel would've told me."

As they reached the main bullpen, they came face to face with Ben and Dan, as he reached for her indistinctively. "Kristi, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you!" 

Ben reached for his arm as Astrid pulled her away and in another direction, "Shut up! Nothing you say will bring my sister home!"

In the heat of the moment, neither the Lieutentant nor the detective noticed Kristi and Rachel's father sitting on the plastic chairs, as he had waited for them to finish their statements. He approached quickly at the sound of his daughter's loud voice, his protectiveness kicking in.

"Kristi! Kristi, is this the guy?" she nodded and acknowledged her father's statement as he lunged at Dan, anger and hatred in his eyes.

His arm swung back and toward him as Dan fell to the ground, Kristi's father swinging once as Ben wrapped his arms aorund him, pulling him up and away from their suspect.

"Back off, back off!" he yelled as Kristi's father grunted and snarled, wanting to get close to Dan to hurt him more than he just got the chance to.

Astrid took his arms and made him look at her as she emphasized how he was feeling, "Mr. McGarett, I understand that you're upset-"

"What do you expect me to do? He took my daughter!"

"We don't think that he's involved."

"What do you mean?" he looked flabbergasted as she let go of his arms, "He raped Kristi, what are you going to do about that?"

She sighed, as Ben took Dan away from them, "There's nothing we can do. He has a medical condition that made him unaware of his actions. Because of that, the law says that we can't charge him."

He sighed, closing his eyes and placing a hand over his face, in an attempt to soothe the anger seething from his pores. "This is a nightmare."

"I promise you, we are working around the clock to find your daughter."

"Good!" he seethed at her, "Because all you've managed to do is hide behind the law! I don't want to hear excuses! Find my daughter!"

He walked off, grabbing Kristi as they headed out, leaving Astrid standing by the corridor, Ben now at her side as the rest of the detectives watched on, concern etched on their faces.

"You okay?" she nodded, letting go a sigh she didn't realize she had been holding.

Walking over to the bullpen where everyone else was waiting, she turned to Lucy, "Did you get anything from the crime lab?"

She tilted her head, and nodded, "They actually just called me. Want me to head over?"

Astrid nodded, as she instructed for Joe to accompany her. They needed to get this case cleared as soon as possible, she didn't want any more casualties.

Not again.

-

Walking into the crime lab, Joe and Lucy were greeted with the tech Lu, as she crossed her arms, "Ready?"

"What do you have for us?"

"I took a hair from a brush in Rachel's room, typed her DNA and then compared it to the blood on the scene." guiding them over to a light on the wall, she flicked the switch, the film showing the strands of DNA from the test. "DNA on the left is from Rachel's, the one on the right from the scene."

Joe sighed, "They don't match."

Lu nodded and reached behind Joe for another piece of film that had been laying on her desk, "But this does." she placed it up against the light, "It's DNA from a blood sample Dan gave when he participated in a parasomnia study at Hudson Med School."

Lucy crossed her arms, as confusion was etched across her features, nothing making sense. "So Dan told the truth then. He bled all over the bedroom when he went to look for Rachel. At least we know that Rachel wasn't hurt badly."

Joe's phone pinged as Lu continued, "Well, that's all we know for now. Whoever took her didn't leave a shred of forensic evidence." she walked over to her computer and began typing, as Joe opened up his phone to a notification from the Lieutenant.

"I'm getting a text from the Lieutenant, she wants me to turn on Channel 4. Do you mind?"

Lu nodded as she grabbed the remote control and turned on the television hooked to the wall, as all three walked over to watch. On the screen was Rachel and Kristi's father, as he adressed the media.

'Last night, one of my daughters was raped. The incompetent detectives at Manhattan's Special Victims Unit refused to charge her attacker. And if this tragedy isn't horrible enough, my daughter Rachel was abducted from her bed.'

On the screen, a picture of Rachel appeared, as the tagline underneath read 'Rachel McGarrett'

'We're reaching out to the public for help. My family is offering a 50 thousand dollar reward for any tip leading to Rachel's safe return. If you have information, please call Manhattan SVU's tip line.'

Joe and Lucy headed out, thanking Lu for her hard work and promising to follow up if she had anything else. Heading back to the precinct, they regrouped at the bullpen, where everyone was on any available phone, the lines ringing like crazy as everyone scrambled to answer tips.

"Lieutenant, woman claims she saw Rachel eating a chili dog in Times Square. Wants the fifty grand in twenties and tens." Rami sighed as he put the phone down, Astrid only shaking her head.

"Reward offer brings out all kinds of crazy," Astrid breathed out, as she turned to Lucy, who was on a phone and had finished a call.

"One bogus lead after the next." she handed some cards to a fellow detective perched on her desk, "Follow those two."

He nodded and walked off as Joe called everyone over. "Maybe not! I got something, friend of Rachel's. You still there, Ginger?"

The speaker on the phone crackled as the voice talked, "Yes."

"Tell the detectives what you just told me."

"I think Rachel is in another Youniverse."

All of them exchanged confused glances as Ginger gave them her address, inviting them over to show a preview of the game mentioned. Astrid gave Ben a nod as they both headed out, leaving the rest to scramble over more tips.

"Another Youniverse is a virtual reality game. Rachel and I play online all the time," she guided them over to her monitor, as the game was loaded on the screen. "We each have avatars, mine is Tawny Coppercuffs. They are basically alter egos, we each have our own homepages, video clips, game diary, anything you can do in the real world, you can do here too."

"Does Rachel have an avatar name?" Astrid leaned down to look at the monitor.

"Yes, Vixy Platinum."

"Why do your names sound like strippers?" Ben questioned her as she shrugged.

"That's because you're close. We own virtual sex clubs. We use AY to explore our fantasies."

Ben and Astrid shared a look, as she turned to Ginger. "How do avatars have sex?"

"Same way as humans do, only in A.Y. it's just animated." she sighed, "Look, it may look illegal and odd, but it's fantasy and not a crime. We weren't hurting anyone or doing anything illegal."

Astrid nodded, "You weren't hurting anyone, but Rachel may have gotten hurt."

Sighing, Ginger nodded and apologized, before bringing up Rachel's club on the monitor. "She's supposed to be performing today at 2pm, but because she never showed, everyone is worried. All these people standing outside are fans of Vixy, and they've been waiting for her."

"So, all these people outside her club are stand-ins for real people?"

"Yep," Ginger nodded, "Her avatar is 14, hence the pigtails and the name of her club."

The disbelief displayed on both their faces was clear as day, as Ginger shrugged, letting them know she would be looking in and call them if she found anything else. Thanking her, they headed out of her loft, they chatted, both comparing theories on what could have happened to Rachel, and why would such a person go to the lengths of tracking someone virtually. Coming up with no leads, they headed to the bullpen, where everyone was waiting, pictures displayed on the board and the computer loaded up.

"Rachel McGarrett leads a double life," Joe began, "Art student in the real world, fourteen year old hooker in the game."

Astrid and Joe bounced back ideas, Lucy stepping in every once in a while to give her two cents as Rami walked over with a piece of paper in hand, catching everyone's attention.

"The game has it's own sherriff. Erik Winton." he showed the paper to Astrid, who nodded, "He designed the game, which means he will have access to all the avatar's personal information."

"Both of you go, talk to Erik and find out if he can give you any information." Astrid pointed at Joe and Rami, both of them leaving to find and talk to Erik, someone who was more than happy to give them all the information they needed, without a search warrant.

"We have five million players in A.Y. We don't tend to follow all of them around, since we based the game on freedom and desires, so when this happens, we try to shut it down as quickly as possible." Erik's accent was thick, as he motioned with his hands while walking over to the big monitor in his office, cameras from the game displayed on the screen.

"We were thinking one of your player's desire got a little out of control," Ben said as they leaned down to his computer. "We'd appreciate it if you played Big Brother, tell us who Vixy's customers are."

He nodded, typing on his computer as he pulled up her profile, the same one Ben had seen earlier on Ginger's monitor. "This is the club, which is empty now but only because they've moved on. But I can pull a screencap of the time you're talking about."

The characters appeared on the screen as Joe pointed, "These guys are Vixy's regulars?"

Erik nodded, "They live around the world. Berlin, Denver, Tel Aviv, Long Beach."

"How do they communicate with her? Chat windows? Email?"

"No," Erik shook his head, before pulling up her blog, "She writes a blog and they read it. Every avatar keeps one, even though no one really uses theirs."

"Hey look," Ben pointed, noticing the latest entry was a couple hours before her abduction, "There's one there written before she disappeared. It's called Stalker."

"Let's listen." Erik pressed a key before Rachel's avatar came up on the full monitor, her voice echoing through the speakers.

I'm being stalked. Had to ban this scumbag from my club a few days ago. And that's when things got bad. I'm worried my A.Y. stalker has gone real world. Last night, I saw a shadow move, I heard footsteps behind me. To all you girls running clubs, watch out for this creep. His avatar's name is Wit Billions.

They sighed, all three sharing glances as Erik went back to his laptop, typing and looking at her profile. "I scanned her account data. Turns out there was only one regular customer not present at today's vigil."

"Let me guess," Ben and Joe sighed, "Wit Billions."

The screen pulled up the profile for the avatar, as they noticed it's unusual getup. "The Executioner, his real name is Tobin Williams, address right here in the city."

-

After an odd and confusing interrogation, which left them with more questions than answers, they redirected their attention at the creator of the game once more, wanting to check if he had any partners or had been talking to someone through the game.

"The avatar interaction grid allows me to scan for every meeting between avatars in A.Y." he motioned to the screen as they watched, "If I set the filter to the most interactions, we come down to only two avatars. Vixy Platnium and Smarty Culottes."

"Smarty's gotta be his partner." pulling up his profile, they noticed the interations were frequent, as they got the information from the creator as to who the person was.

Tracking him down, they found the location to be a quaint bookstore, with only two employees: the owner and the young receptionist. Talking to the younger boy, they determined that not only did he not know who was behind Vixy's account, but he was confused as to why one of his clients was in the game. Once again, their discovery led to more questions than answers as they began probing into the game, only to find out that the owner of the bookstore had also become an avid fan of the game, even going as far as to create and invest his own money into the game.

As they searched his apartment, they found obvious signs of him leaving, but also an interesting photo on the wall. On a beautiful oak frame, they found a picture of a young girl wearing a white button up shirt tied at her waist, and her hair in pigtails.

"Lieutenant, doesn't this look familiar?" Lucy motioned to the picture as Astrid grabbed the photo of Rachel out of her pocket.

"Yes," she turned the picture around as Lucy frowned and shook her head.

Lu, the lab technitian had accompanied them as she groaned in disgust, "It's too close not to be the same girl. If that's Rachel's avatar, then who's the girl in the picture?"

Lucy reached up to the frame, as she pulled it off the wall, turning it around to uncover a piece of paper taped to the back. "It's a list. Buy meds, transfer five thousand A.Y. funds."

Lu walked over alongside Astrid as the lieutenant pulled out her phone, "J.T. 718-555-0108." Dialing the number, she was met with an automated voice. "Jepsen-Taylor Realty, how may I direct your call?"

They both exchanged glances as she began to relay information to the woman on the other end of the line, hoping that maybe she could give them some information. After some back and forth, they were given an address, where they met her with a key to a storage facility. She mentioned that he had only done communication via mail and phone calls, never meeting in person. Yet, when she opened the locker and tilted her head, she remembered him relaying information about wanting  a secluded cabin in the woods, which she had found odd at the time.

Going inside, they found Rachel tied to a bed, medicine bottles next to her as she was gagged and blindfolded, her pulse thready and slow. As they untangled her from the mess of ties, they heard the rumble of a car engine, as the owner ran off, evading the detectives once more. Exaserpated and annoyed, they called an ambulance, as it picked up Rachel, before they followed behind, wanting to make sure the young girl was okay.

As they headed to the hospital, they got the chance to speak with her for a few minutes, as they wished her a speedy recovery and promised they would find the guy, before parting ways and heading back to the precinct.

"Lieutenant!" Rami called out as Astrid walked out of her office, phone in hand, "Doctor called, the rape kit was negative. Cooper must have used a condom."

"Were there any prints at the warehouse?" she asked as they walked over to where Lucy and Joe were, as they compared notes.

"No, but Joe did get Cooper's information from the DMV." Lucy said as she pulled up the information he got on the monitor, all of them scanning the document displayed on the screen. "He matched the prints from the DMV to the ones in his apartment and another alias showed up, which so happens to be Cooper's real name: Gregory Searle."

"What? So he just changes his whole name and identity?" Ben asked as he crossed his arms.

"Twenty-five years ago he did time at Green Haven in Duchess County."

"For rape?" Rami interjected as he shook his head.

"Kidnapping. Fifteen year old girl named Lauren Molby. Seen her before?" he held up a picture of the victim, as Lucy gasped.

"That's the girl from the picture in Cooper's apartment."

"So, Cooper decided to relive the glory of his old crime in virtual reality."

Astrid sighed and patted their backs, "Well let's find him before he decides to take another innocent girl."

-

After hours of searching and going back to Erik's apartment, they finally found Cooper, only to let him go minutes after stopping him. They were disappointed, but determined to find out the truth. As they remembered the cabin Rachel had mentioned, they went over to the hospital to ask her more questions, only to be approached by her doctor, with bad news.

"I'm so sorry, but Rachel passed away."

Joe and Ben looked surprised. "What? You told us she was going to make it."

"She suffered a heart attack. I'm sorry."

Joe turned back, and dialed Astrid, as he relayed the bad news.

Well, maybe Erik can help.

Lucy and Astrid drove over to the headquarters once more, as they managed to convince Erik to reveal the lake where Cooper had bought land in the game, that which resembled Twin Island Lakes outside Pine Planes. As Astrid phoned Joe and Rami, who were on the way, Ben meanwhile was following behind Cooper, who was now headed to the airport. Not knowing the exact location of the cabin, he urged Erik to reveal and change the time in the game to daytime, hoping the shadow will reveal the location of the cabin.

Soon enough, they received the information, relaying it to Rami who headed in that direction, a dozen other detectives behind them as they found themselves in front of the cabin. The door opened slowly, as a shotgun appeared between the gap, the officers behind Rami and Joe aiming their guns, ready to fight back.

"Stop right there!" the voice yelled out as Rami raised his hands. "This is private property!"

"This is Gregory Searle's cabin. Who are you?" Rami spoke up as she lowered the shotgun, opening the door and revealing her full figure.

"I'm Lauren," she looked around, eyes brimmed with tears, "Where's Gregory? Is he with you? I've been waiting," she breathed out, tears falling from her eyes, "For twenty five years."

"Lieutenant, we found the cabin."

Search it!

"No need. Lauren's alive."

-

tags:

@hollandroos @me-a-hopeless-romantic @shuri-owns-my-heart @im-grac3ful-but-fi3rc3 @thebohemianpenguin @misterf4renheit @sofarxitsalright @lolabean1998 @sailing-race @desperately-bisexual @desir-ae @cl0ve @orchideax @thesevenseasofnublar @owensgrxdy @imgonnabeyourslave

[borhap-au]

Joe Mazzello: the fluffy chronicles.

“You’d be better off with someone else”

Despite thinking long and hard, you weren’t able to answer the question “what you like the most about yourself,” because the truth was, there wasn’t such a thing. You hated your looks and your personality and your insecurity and… well, everything. The only good thing you found in your life was your relationship with Joe. He was a great boyfriend, very patient and understanding, but also loving and gentle. You loved spending your time with him – that is of course until the insecurity kicks in and ruin all the fun for you. You looked at him – a handsome, attractive man with a great sense of humor and amazing personality – and you couldn’t believe you dated him. But what you couldn’t believe even more, is why he dated you. In your opinion, he could’ve had any girl. He was charming, interesting and famous. There wasn’t a bad quality about him that you knew about. And yet he chose you, a “walking disaster,” as you liked to call yourself. And from that insecurity (and only from it, because Joe gave you no reason to think that) stem the idea that he will soon realize how bad you are, and how much better he can do, and he will leave you. So to save yourself some of the pain, you slowly started to distance yourself from him to make it easier later. It didn’t escape his attention.

You were sitting on a couch, watching a movie, but it wasn’t the usual scenario. Before, you would be snuggling to him and he would be petting your back. Right now, you were sitting at a distance, focusing on the movie instead of your boyfriend. He noticed.

“Y/N?” He looked at you concerned. “Did something happen?” He knew he had to be careful around you when you were feeling down. You were very fragile and he didn’t want to do anything to accidentally make it worse.

“No, why?” You looked at him for a short while and then came back to watching the movie. He moved closer to you and put his arm around you. You didn’t object, but your body was visibly tense.

“Are you sure? You seem a little different tonight,” he, on the other hand, paid no attention to the movie. He was completely focused on you.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you lied. It wasn’t a comfortable situation for you either. You missed his touch, but when you finally got it, you felt like you didn’t deserve it, like he should be with someone else right now, someone better than you. So you felt guilty for wasting his time.

“What’s with the distance then? And the sudden urge to watch the movie? We’ve seen it twice already, you never paid much attention to it,” he explained, but in truth, it wasn’t just about tonight. He felt your change of behavior much earlier than that, but for a while he thought it was just a phase that would soon pass.

“Third time’s a charm. I thought since we watched it so many times already, it would be nice to see the full movie at least once, to know what it is about,” he nodded at your answer. It sounded reasonable and you felt even worse about lying now that he believed in it.

He let it go for some time. Later that evening, you were making dinner and he came up to you, hug you from behind and started kissing your neck, as he usually did, to make your cooking a more pleasant experience. Usually you stopped, at least for some time, to enjoy his touch, but tonight you just continued making the meal ignoring his affection. You even moved away, trying to reach some ingredients, without minding his embrace. He stepped back.

“What is it this time?” he asked knowing very well it was never about the movie. He looked at you hurt and disappointed, but more in himself than in you. He hated the fact he couldn’t help you feel better.

“It’s nothing, really. I’m just really hungry, want to make the food quickly,” lies again. He didn’t fall for it twice, but he nodded his head, knowing you won’t tell him. You sighed seeing that. You didn’t want your last days together to be like that. You wanted him to have nice memories of you. “Don’t worry, Joey,” you muttered quietly while coming back to cooking. “The next girl will treat you better.”

“What?” he raised his brow, not believing what he just heard. “My next what?”

“Next girlfriend,” you repeated, not looking at him.

“Where did that come from? Why would I want another girlfriend?” he asked, visibly confused. He definitely didn’t expect to hear that.

“You know, someone who’s worthy of you. Someone… Who isn’t me,” it wasn’t easy to say, but it resonated in your mind for some time now. You believed wholeheartedly that you weren’t good enough for him.  

“If my future girlfriend isn’t you, then I don’t want her,” you smiled under your breath hearing that. It was very sweet of him to say that.

“Joey, we both know you deserve so much better than me. Prettier, skinnier, smarter and funnier,” you said, trying to smile, but it wasn’t easy. “You deserve someone who will make you happy, instead of constantly getting you down. You deserve someone around who you won’t have to mind your words. A relationship in which you can be yourself, unapologetically, without always doing something for the other person.”

“I am unapologetically myself around you. It doesn’t bother me that you feel down sometimes. I mean of course, it’s a problem in a sense I would immediately want to make you feel better and I don’t like when you’re sad, but it’s not a thing that would make me break up with you, ever,” he held your hand to show you he means it.

“Baby, you can have a girl that’s so much prettier than me. And sexier. What about your friend? Or my cousin, you know which one,” you said and he laughed softly.

“Really, girly? You’re going to advertise me other women?” he smiled and pet your cheek. “I don’t want any other type of figure or any other type of beauty. I want your beauty. Why do you think I’m not capable of making my own decisions? I’m pretty grown up actually. I know you and I love what I know. I fell in love with you and not anyone else. And I’m very content with my choice. So let me have what I want, okay?”

“You will soon realize how awful I am and change your mind. Just wait, I know you will. And I don’t want to be around to have my heart broken when that happens,” he sighed hearing that and took his hand away.

“Really? You think I’m so moody that I would break up the happiest relationship I’ve ever had because of a whim? We don’t fight, we have mutual goals and we love each other. Why would anything change if it’s all so good? I like it now, I want to see no changes apart from you being happier and more confident in this relationship, because we… Well, we love each other still, right? I mean, do you love me?”

“Of course I do. I would be a fool not to love you,” you answered.

“That’s exactly how I feel about you. I love you, and I want to be with you and you only. You’re perfect for me, no one else is,” he reassured you. You sighed.

“I’m not perfect,” you muttered, and he came to you and hugged you tightly.

“You’re perfect for me. There are girls who have other qualities, maybe they have something that you want, but for me, you’re all I need. You have all the qualities I want in a girlfriend. You say there are skinnier girls? Girls that feel happier more often? Maybe. But at the same time I’m sure they would be annoying, or bossy, or whatever else. They have other qualities, sure. Qualities I don’t need. I chose you with my sane mind. I knew who you are and I chose you. Now I got to know you even better and I would still choose you, every time,” you hugged him tightly and started crying quietly.

“Even if I’m so boring…?” you muttered quietly.

“You’re not boring,” he reassured you, petting your back. “Actually, you’re fascinating to me. I love listening to you, especially when you’re passionate about something. It’s just so entertaining to watch. And I love looking at you, because you’re just my type. You have such a unique type of beauty, it’s so hard to find someone like you. And I found everything I ever needed in you.”

“What if you find someone better?” you didn’t look up saying that.

“Better from perfect? I don’t think so. I don’t know how I can explain that to you in other words, but life is not about being skinny, having perfect hair and clothes. For me relationships aren’t about that. That actress that you like so much? If I were with her you would probably think “that’s what he deserves,” meanwhile I would be suffocating in that relationship. Because she wouldn’t want to spend time with me like we do together, she would have other priorities, she wouldn’t get my sense of humor or whatever else. Your personality is perfect for me. So is your body, but I assume you won’t believe in that yet. But it’s true. So please, don’t push me away. Having this distance between us is a torture, really. Please, let us both be happy. Just be with me, and I’ll try to do anything I can to appreciate you like you should be appreciated. Can you do that for me?” You slowly nodded your head and only then looked him in the eyes. He smiled at you and kissed your lips softly.

“You’re sure you don’t want anyone else?” you asked after the kiss.

“I’m sure. Can you please stop asking me this question? I want you and you only. Did I ever do anything to make you feel otherwise?”

“No…,” you muttered quietly.

“So, please, don’t overthink it. If I had anything new to say to you, I would just say it, I wouldn’t expect you to learn that from some signs I’d give you. Really, I love you, and I will continue to love you, even if you break up with me. But please, don’t. I’m crazy about you,” he smiled, petting your cheek. You stood on your toes and kissed him softly. He kissed you back.

“Thank you,” you smiled after the kiss.

“Don’t thank me for that. And come on, you were hungry. We got to finish the meal,” said and this time he actually helped you out, not just by kisses. Although he planted some on your head and shoulder, because without them, it just wouldn’t be the same.

[queensdivas]

Bubbles

This is for my boo boo @bonafiderocketqueen​ because she’s my best friend and I hope she enjoys it! 

Enjoy! 

@mexifangorl​ @leah-halliwell92​ @i-live-for-queen​ @its-funny-til-its-not​ @brianmydear​ @painkiller80​ @jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​ @mayplantstarrwaters​

Masterlist

It had been snowing in non stop since I arrived in England to spend a week with Ben. Dear God it has not stopped since my plane literally touched down on the runway! Yet it hasn’t bothered me except when Ben isn’t around because he’s off reading for another movie. Not that I’m not grateful he’s off getting into more movies for himself and making his career better. Hells yeah for him for wanting to further his career. But when you live across the pond and can only see each other every so often. It kind of bums you out. 

Tossing my book down onto the couch as I wrapped myself up in my blanket counting down the minutes till he came home from his read through. Dinner was already made since I wanted tonight to be just relaxing. Homemade chicken and noodles was exactly going to warm us up from all this stupid snow. 

His dog Frankie climbed up onto the couch with me as he curled up into the blanket then tucking himself into a large ball. My fingers began scratching the top of his head as I was beginning to fall asleep with his soft breathing and the sound of winter frost blowing outside. 

Before I completely passed out on his couch. Ben came bursting through the doorway with a large paper bag in his hand. It scared Frankie and I as we both almost fell off the couch. Frankie ran to him as he jumped all over him as Ben scooped him up in his arms. I shook my head a little so I would wake up and see what he was so excited about. 

“Anne you would not believe what just happened!” He was bouncing off the walls with excitement as he placed the paper bag down on the coffee table then sitting next to me. Frankie was still attacking him with kisses then bouncing over to me to give me all kinds of kisses to me! 

“I got the role!” He cheered as I put Frankie down on the ground so I wouldn’t hurt him on what was coming next. 

“AH BEN!” I jumped on top of him to pecking my lips all over him till we now fell off the couch. Frankie jumped all over us till Ben pulled him into our dog pile laughed as we sat up in front of the couch. 

“Told you they would absolutely love you!” 

“I knew they would.” He smirked as I scooted closer to him then wrapping myself around him. He had his hands on my hips as his soft lips pressed against mine. Stopping myself to get a hint of his..was he working out?

“Ben why do you smell like a gym?” Dear God he smells like a very sweaty old man! Phew! Dear God he really needs some sort of bath! 

“Part of the role was being able to crazy stunts and I ended up climbing up and down ropes. So I got a really great workout today because of it.” God he really stinks! 

“Ben dear God you stink! I love you but damn!” Climbing off to walk into the kitchen as he got a grumpy look on his face that quickly turned into a soft smile. Are we having bath time? Dear God his bath is one of the best since it’s got jets across the wall, a small tv that hangs on the wall so we can binge watch Letterkenny while we relax, and enough room for a cheese plate! 

“I’ll get the bath ready.” Well I’m hungry so I will be eating while were in the tub. Just not homemade chicken and noodles. For obvious reasons. Getting into the fridge to grab a bunch of cheese slices, grapes, and then the bottle of pink moscato for celebration! We still have two wine glasses from the other night so this is absolutely perfect! 

Before I carried the tray into the bathroom. Frankie stood directly under me with his tail wagging waiting for a piece of my cheese! It’s getting close to his dinner time anyhow so I think a little peanut butter will hold him over in the end. Placing the tray down on the counter to grab his small bone from the floor then the peanut butter from the cabinet. Scooping a little of his favorite peanut butter to stuff it in his bone as he began bouncing around in excitement around my feet. 

“Ah. Now you sit!” He immediately sat down for me to place his bone right in front of him. He grabbed it to wander off into the living room to start chowing down on his peanut butter bone. Now time for bubble bath! 

“SHIT!” Ben yelled as I grabbed the tray of goodies to walk into the bathroom. Oh no what did he do now!? Please tell me we don’t have to buy him another phone! He and Joe once thought it would be a really good fucking idea to go skinny dipping while they were drunk. Problem is that skinny dipping meant just jumping into the closest body of water. So his phone was destroyed.

“What happened?” Asking as I walked into the bathroom to see that the bubbles in the jacuzzi were really getting out of control. Oh my god it looks so beautiful! 

“No. I dropped the bubble maker and now the bathtub is going to be extra full. Damn it at this point it’s probably going to flood the entire bathroom.” And? Now our bathroom is going to smell like, what is it honey? Yes honey! 

“So? Now instead of nothing, the bathroom is going to be smelling like honey and soap. Is that such a bad thing?” Placing the tray down on top of the sink as I immediately threw off all my clothes on the floor. Ben watched me as I sunk into the bubble covered jacuzzi. The jets were on low as the water was a little hotter than how I usually like it. Ben stripped down until he grabbed the tray of goodies to put right on the large corner. 

He climbed down into the water as our feet entwined with each other as he turned up the jets to medium. One of them was hitting my back making me moan a little because god damn these are some wonderful jets. The bubbles kept rising as it hit the bottom of my chin, Jesus how much of the bubble liquid got out? I felt the plastic bottle floating around next to me, lifting it up to Ben as he nodded. 

“There it is!” I tossed the bottle out of the tub. Shit he put the tray on his side of the tub! Hope we won't mind if I sneak over to grab some grapes. Moving from my spot in the tub to start moving towards him to we were face to face with each other. Almost about to kiss him as I moved past him to grab a grape and a cheese wedge. 

“You’re a brat.” He giggled as he pulled me into his lap as the bubbles bounced around us. Jesus the stupid bubbles are still forming oh my god! Grabbing a bunch to place on the top of his head then snapping it to look like a Hershey’s kiss. 

“Wait wait!” I began molding a bubble beard on his face then styling it with a nice mustache. He looked absolutely stunning! 

“Ben! Picture perfect!” Looking over the edge to see my phone so I could take a picture of him and all his glory! 

“If you think you’re leaving this tub without a beard you’re wrong.” Ben told me before I could even grab my phone. Smirking as I stood still for him to grab a hand full of bubbles. He began placing them all over my face trying to avoid my eyes and lips to form a Santa Claus beard on my face. 

“Am I pretty yet?” He shook his head to grab more bubbles from the tub to place on top of my head. Except no Hershey kiss style hair, more like 70s Afro kind of hair. 

“Now you’re gorgeous. Wanna watch the office?” I just binged watched season four while he was gone so I’m kind of feeling something a little more stupid. Not saying that the office is stupid because Creed is my spirit animal for as little time he has on screen. 

“Letterkenny?” Asking as he grabbed the remote from the corner along with a cheese slice to turn on hulu. Dear God do I love Letterkenny. It’s one of the shows that’s so damn stupid that you have to love. Yes a few of the characters are a little wow but it’s so great. 

Turning myself so I could scoot back into him with my back pressing against him so we could cuddle. My hand reached back for a small vine of grapes to chow down on a little. Oh my god it’s the Canadian Goose episodes yes! My absolute favorite episode out of the entire show. 

“IF YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH CANADA GOOSES YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH ME AND I SUGGEST YOU LET THAT MARINATE!” I yelled along with Wayne because dear god I love this show! Ben squeezed me a little to then start kissing the back of my neck which made me giggle. 

“Does everyone in Canada feel the same about Canada gooses?” 

“Gooses! They’re beautiful majestic birds that must be protected at all cost! Born leaders and heroes!” I think I just watch this show way too much now at this point. Oh well. We went back to start watching the show as he began kissing my neck again then giving me another tight squeeze to make me giggle. 

“Anne. You know I love you right?” 

“No Ben. I’m naked in a bathtub with you because I consider us friends.” I have very bad sarcasm and I think it gets out of control sometimes. 

“Alright smartass. But seriously. I want to ask you something because I know if I don’t I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” I stopped eating my grape to turn around completely ignoring the show now. Please don’t tell me he’s going to propose because we haven’t discussed this part of our lives yet and I’m not sure if I’m ready!

“Anne you’re my world now and I hate the fact that we live so stupidly far apart. Move in with me. Or I can move over to America with you. I don’t like the fact that we only see each other for one of two weeks out of the month. Your the person I wanna wake up in the morning and go to bed with you at night. When you’re gone. Frankie and I are just an absolute mess without you! Ask Gwil because I do nothing but bug the living hell out of him whenever you go back home! Poor Frankie crawls under my bed until you walk into my apartment and you can’t imagine the sad look on his face when you’re not around!” No I’m not crying you’re crying! But sadly I can’t take him serious with the bubbles on top of his head and around his beard! I started laughing a little in this very serious moment. 

“Are you making fun of me?” His voice cracked as I placed my hands through his bubble beard to give him a kiss. My lips continuing to peck him till he stopped waiting for my answer. 

“Yes Ben. I’ll be your roommate for life. Only for Frankie because poor Frankie shouldn’t be suffering!” Frankie came running into the bathroom as he began trying to get into the tub with us. 

“No Frankie that’s weird!” Ben laughed till he jumped into the empty spot of the tub for water and bubbles to go all over the place! He began splashing around in the tub with the bubbles flying all over the place, in the food, and more on Ben and I! I grabbed Frankie to get him out of the tub so we could get back to our bath time. Once out he stayed right next to the tub staring us down. 

“Gonna be honest with you Ben, really don’t feel comfortable with Frankie watching us in the tub.” He turned off the jets as I pulled the plug from the drain. 

“Fair enough. Besides. We now have all the time in the world for those pleasantries since you’ll be here for now on. Or they. Where exactly are we going to live now?” Good question. 

“We’ll figure that out later. Homemade chicken and noodles tonight for dinner with some carrots?” 

“Sounds absolutely delicious.” 

[doing-all-write]

star light, star bright

Joe and Ben take a trip on a boat for a ice relaxing Guys Weekend. What Ben doesn’t expect is to fall in love with the owner of the boat. Or to drunkenly sing karaoke with her.

Pairings: Ben x O.C. 

Rating: E (18+, PLEASE do not interact if younger than 18)

Warnings: S M U T. Dom!Ben, but mainly Soft!Ben, bad karaoke and lots of boat and ocean puns (I’m a monster) 

Word Count: 14K

Inspired by this iconic photo: 

A/N: HELLO. IT’S ME. BACK FROM THE DEAD (Or I had three events in a row at work and wanted to D I E) but to make up for it, have a nice thiccc 14K, smutty fic!! This is my first time writing smut so PLEASE don’t judge me too harshly on it!

But as always, feedback, reblogs and comments are always appreciated! I hope you love it! 

ALSO!!! In my most favorite turn of events EVER, I have someone who wants me to tag them! So: @itsabenthing​, you’re a real one. (If anyone wants to be tagged in future fics let me know!!)

The sun beat down, scattering nets of diamonds across the water. The slow roll of Jimmy Buffet's guitar mingled with the waves slapping against the hull of the boat. The gulls screeching as they whirled through the air, diving down when they spotted dinner swimming underneath the surface. The wind fluttered the pages of the book held in her hand as she adjusted the sunglasses on her face. 

The pole she was leaning against warmed her back. She laid the book down and turned her face toward the sun. It warmed her bones and she took a deep breath in, letting the sea, salt and wind fill her lungs.

She checked her phone, made note of the time and stretched her legs and arms out, almost purring as she uncurled from her reading position. She tipped her head back, closing her eyes to soak up this moment as she patted the deck of her boat.  

She had grown up around boats. Her parents owned the Nereid marina and her earliest memories were of sitting on her mom's lap putting her small hands on top of her moms soft ones, feeling the wheel turn smoothly as she memorized the movements.  Pretty soon, she had been the one steering the boat and "learning the ropes" as she loved to tell people and thrived off of their pained groans.

She worked at the Nereid every day, learning from the people who came into the port. Incessantly asking questions. Asking about their boats, their lives, where they had come from, where they were going. Her parents had teased her for being so inquisitive but she was in awe of the people who came to the Nereid.

In her mind, they were great adventurers, living a free wheeling life on the sea that she wanted for herself. She would watch people leave and the pull in her stomach to follow them was so strong she could feel her legs tensing, as if getting ready to jump into the ocean to swim to their boat, desperate to join them in whatever adventure they had planned next. 

Her parents had expanded the Nereid so several of them littered the coast of California but the original one had passed into her care after she had graduated college. Her parents still helped out and offered guidance when she asked but overall, the original marina was hers to make the calls. It had a charming appeal to it, and between word of mouth and the incredibly Instagrammable mural she had added to one wall, people flocked to it.  

As she sat there, soaking up the warmth, she was grateful she had gotten out of bed before the sun had risen. She had woken up early, the last of the stars in the sky fading as the horizon turned from inky black to lilac as the sun began its ascent from the horizon.

Her dad had always told her that each sunrise was different. And that each one had details that would tell her how her day would go. It wasn't until she was much older and in the habit of waking up early that her father would confess he had made it up to coax her out of bed that early. 

Some people had their horoscopes, she had sunrises. Whenever she could, she would haul herself out of bed, and clutching a thermos of coffee, watch the sun rise and predict how her day would go. This morning she had a feeling in her gut that today, the sun rise would be incredible. So she slipped out of her apartment above the marina, jammed her feet into flip-flops, crammed a hat on her head and set out.

The sun rise this particular morning had been various shades of pink. The colors closest to the sun a deep red. She had thought to herself that those colors must be what it's like to be in love. She felt a tug in her heart as she contemplated how long it had been since she had been with, well, anyone since she had broken up with her last boyfriend. She quickly shook herself from her melancholy thought and cracked open her book as the sun's rays grew stronger. 

Now, the sun was beating down, making sure to fry away every last bit of the chill there had been that morning.  She decided she should head back to the Nereid and check in, see how things were going and if she needed to put out any fires. She chuckled as she murmured to herself and one gull that had landed next to her boat, bobbing with the waves, "Well if there WERE any fires to put out, thank god we're by a ocean."

The gull squaked and flew away. 

She shook her head ruefully as she stood up and raised her arms above her head, the crochet tank top she had put on over her bikini rising up above her denim shorts. 

The sea unfolded before her, reminding her constantly how wide the world was. How many people there were to meet, so many stories to hear and places to see. Her body shivered involuntarily as she contemplated the vastness of it all. 

~~~

Somewhere close by to where her boat had just been anchored, another boat was getting ready to pull into the Nereid marina. 

"BEN! HOIST THE BOOM AND GET 'ER READY TO COME STARBOARD." 

"Do you know anything about boats, mate?" Ben scratched his head as he contemplated Joe's Captain Morgan pose. 

"No, not a damn thing. But it sounded convincing right?" 

"Yeah, it's the confidence, ya know?"

"It's all about confidence Benny boy." Joe said, slapping Ben's shoulder as he joined Ben at the rail.  

Ben offered him a beer which Joe accepted with a quick thanks, the sharp crack of the tab opening piercing though the air.  

Ben held his can aloft in a silent cheers and Joe brought his over to gently tap the rim of Ben's. They nodded to each other and raised the drink to their lips as they took a sip.

The sun beat down on them, warming the tops of their heads as the ocean stretched out in front of them.

Joe took another sip as Ben asked, "So, are we getting to port soon? What's the plan?"

Joe considered it, "Well, we plunder first,"

"Obviously."

"Then we do some light pillaging,"

"Of course,"

"Then have a nice meal together because you're my friend"

"That's lovely buddy thank you." Ben leaned into Joe as he wrapped an arm around his shoulder, giving him an awkward side hug.

"Anything for you, Ben."

"Hate to interrupt this touching display of male friendship but we're almost to port" Rich, the  actual captain, called down to them as he deftly steered the craft towards land. 

Joe peered up at Rich from under the brim of his baseball cap, "Shouldn't I be the one making those announcements? I am the captain after all."

Ben snorted, "Correctly identifying the starboard and port side does not a captain make."

"You're just jealous my nautical knowledge is so much better than yours."

Rich barked out a laugh as he shook his head, "The amount of nautical knowledge you have wouldn't even fill a Post-It note."

Joe pointed a thumb back at Rich, "I'm not sure we should trust this guy with our safety out in the open sea."

"I feel much safer in his hands than yours." Ben chuckled.

Joe gasped and brought a hand up to his chest, "I'm being attacked! My character is being demolished by my best friend and Rich!" 

"What? We aren't best friends?" Rich deadpanned.

"Not with those insults you keep hurling my way, buddy." Joe wheeled around and pointed an accusing finger at Rich.  

Ben laughed and stared back out at the horizon. He obviously knew the world was round but he could almost understand why people thought the world was flat for so long. He felt like if he stared at the horizon long enough, he could fall right over the edge and into the swirls of a galaxy.

Joe sidled up to his friend, eyeing him as he watched Ben's shoulders loosen up.

"You enjoying being in the cold grasp of that fickle mistress, the ocean, Benny?" Joe broke the silence as he clapped a hand down onto Ben's shoulder. 

Ben snorted, "Absolutely. A pirate's life is a wonderful live and all that." 

"It sure is." There was a. pause as Joe contemplated how he wanted to best introduce the next topic.

Finally settling on, "Speaking of she's and fickle mistresses and all that, how have you been doing since the breakup?"

Ben shrugged his shoulders, "It comes and goes in waves, ha." Joe let out a snort at his friends unintentional ocean pun. 

"No, but, some days I think I'm okay and then something happens to remind me of her or our time together and I feel a twinge but," here Ben paused and cocked his head to the side, "I think that's just normal."

Joe nodded sagely, "Yeah. give yourself time, man. That was a long relationship. You're not going to get over it right away."

Ben nodded as he brought the beer can back up to his mouth to take a sip and surveyed the horizon. He could see the brightly painted mural getting larger by the second. 

Rich sighed as he deftly steered the boat toward the Nereid. He had worked with Az and her family since he was young. He and Az were basically siblings, which is why, when he saw her standing on the deck of her boat tying it up, he laid on the horn.

Az jumped a foot in the air, dropping the rope she had been holding and managing to hit her head on the boom all at once. 

"Fucking hell..." her voice drifted off as she turned around to see what asshole was responsible for taking ten years off of her life. 

When she saw Rich pulling into the port with their most expensive boat she extended both middle fingers in a salute, complete with huge grin. 

Rich laughed as he saw Az's two-fingered salute but the horn blaring had caused both Ben and Joe to jump and spill some of their beer.

"What the hell, man?" Ben shouted as he stared up at Rich.

"Yo, Rich, what was that about? Did someone cut us off?" Joe asked

Rich shook his head, "Sorry guys, I saw Az and wanted to fuck with her."

Ben and Joe looked at each. Joe cocked an eyebrow and Ben shrugged. They wandered over to the front of the boat to see what was going on. 

Ben's first glimpse was of the sun reflecting off of her hair, causing it to look like gold. Then the two middle fingers raised high. 

Joe noticed the shit-eating grin before he realized that she was directing her two prominent fingers at the man standing near the top of their boat. 

Az noticed the other two figures on the boat about a second too late and lowered her hands, feeling bad that they may have thought she was flipping them off. She raised one hand in a sheepish wave as they pulled closer. 

She laughed ruefully to herself as she turned back to securing her boat, Figures, she thought, the one time Rich actually has two cute guys in the boat I'm flipping them off.  She took one final sweep of the deck as she shoved her book into her backpack and swung it over her shoulder. 

She leapt from the deck of her boat onto the dock, landing with her arms raised triumphantly, waiting for Rich to cast judgement on her landing. 

"And Az sticks the landing! The crowd goes wild! The judges give her all 10's!!" Rich imitated the screams of an energetic crowd as she waved and gave an exaggerated bow to her audience of...three now.

She came out of her bow and saw the two guys she had accidentally flipped off standing behind Rich, clapping along with him.

"Thank you, thank you. Please, no, c'mon, it was nothing." She said with mock modesty as she laid a hand across her heart and pretended to wipe a tear from her eye.

"How's your head doing?" Rich asked as he engulfed her in a hug.

"Well, I DID hit it on a large piece of wood so...not great."

"Ahh, c'mon. We were just having a good time."

"Were we?" She shot back as she stepped back and looked over his shoulder, "Hi, I'm Az, I definitely wasn't flipping you two off. I felt bad when I realized he had you guys on board."

"Oh no, I'm used to pretty girls flipping me off, it's fine." Joe said as he stepped forward with a hand extended. 

Az let out a bark of laughter as she slipped her hand into his as they exchanged pleasantries. 

Az turned to the blonde standing next to Joe and was barely able to keep the "Jesus FUCK you're gorgeous" from falling out of her mouth. 

But he WAS. From a distance she could tell he was going to be cute but up close? Az was eternally grateful that someone as beautiful as this man could exist and be right in front of her.

He was checking all her boxes too; blond hair, dazzling smile, beautiful body (God she should ask who his trainer was and send them a fruit basket and a thank you note) the only thing that would really make him perfect was-

"You alrigh'?"

A fucking British accent. 

Her eyes widened and Rich smirked. They both knew that she was well and truly fucked. 

~~~

"Hey, Sal, how's it going?"

"Great, Az, the fish are biting and the sun is shining. Can't ask for more, eh?"

"Got that right. You stay out of trouble, alright?"

"Back at ya, sweetheart."

She waved at him as she continued down the marina. The sound of her flip-flops thwacking against the wood alerting her arrival to both regulars and newcomers at the Nereid alike.  

Joe, Ben and Rich were sitting on the edge of the dock, feet dangling over the clear blue, watching her make her way down the boardwalk. After introductions had been made, Az had parted apologetically, saying she needed to do a lap but she would love to properly show them around once she came back.

"Does she talk to everyone?" Joe asked as he saw her stop at the dock next to Sal's and start talking animatedly to the woman there.

"Pretty much. I mean, she does own this marina so it would be kind of shitty if she didn't." Rich shrugged and readjusted his sunglasses. 

Ben shoved his hands into the pocket of his jacket, "She OWNS this marina?" 

"Yeah, her parents opened it and she took it over when they started branching out to other locations. This one's the most popular though, mainly because of her," Rich inclined his head to her retreating back. "And it's because she talks to everyone. Everyone loves Az." 

"I've been meaning to ask, is her real name Az? Like, A Z?" Joe asked.

Rich snorted, "No, her real name is Azure which is a sick name but she thinks it's pretentious so she shortened it."

Joe nodded while Ben kept his gaze glued on Az as a little boy ran up and tugged on her shorts. She laid a hand over her heart as the child handed her a seashell with a huge grin on his face. Ben felt a smile growing on his face as she bent down to accept the gift, handling the shell with extreme delicacy, listening to the little boy as he told her everything he went through to get it.  

Ben was entranced by her. When they had pulled into the Nereid he could tell she was cute. But when he had seen her up close, felt the full effect of her smile, how her eyes sparkled in the sun, the freckles dusted across her cheeks, he felt his breath hitch.

He could vaguely tell that Joe and Rich were talking about other things but he kept his eyes trained on Az. On her hair falling down her back, the way her hips swayed as she walked, the way it caused her ass to move- 

"BEN. Come back to us buddy." 

Ben jolted as he almost lost his grip on the edge of the dock, catching himself before he landed in the water, "What?" 

"Rich said Az knows some good places for us to grab dinner and they'd love to take us out, does that sound good to you?" Joe asked as he furrowed his brow, reaching a hand out to steady Ben.  

Ben cleared his throat, "Uh, yeah, that sounds great, thanks man." He inclined his head at Rich who just stared back at him, eyes inscrutable behind black Ray-Bans. Ben's gut suddenly dropped to the bottom of the ocean as he had the horrifying thought that maybe Rich and Az were dating. 

Ben quickly dropped his gaze to the blue depths underneath his feet, wondering if it would be worth it to just jump in, start swimming and never look back. 

Suddenly, Rich sprang up from the dock, "I'm gonna go check on Az, see what her ETA is to be done. I'll be right back." And with that announcement, strode off. 

Joe's brow furrowed as he stared at Rich's back. "I don't know what just happened but I would say that we pissed off our captain." 

Ben grunted as he kept his gaze laser focused on the fish cutting swiftly through the waves. 

Joe tapped his foot against Ben's, "Hey, man, you know, you can communicate with me through more than monosyllabic sounds." 

Ben huffed as he ran a hand through his hair, "I know. Sorry. I got myself all turned 'round but I'm okay now."

Joe's eyes cut over to Ben and as casually as he could, asked, "Was it about Az?"

"Uh-I mean-Not, like, explicitly but-"

"Well the way you were checking out her ass was pretty explicit I gotta say, Benny boy."

Ben's cheeks immediately turned red as he raked his brain for something witty to say. He finally sighed and dropped his head into his hands, "It was pretty obvious wasn't it?"

"You looked like one of those cartoon characters when they see a pretty lady and their eyes bug out of their head."

Ben groaned into his hands, "Dammit! She's just so hot and I don't know, maybe it's the ocean air doing something to me but I couldn't stop staring at her and then I saw Rich staring at me staring at her and now I'm worried that she and Rich are dating and I fucked up."

Joe slowly nodded his head as he contemplated Ben's predicament, "Well, it's good that we're by the ocean. If that's true you can always just drown yourself."

~~~

"He was drooling over you."

Az made an indelicate "OOF" noise as Rich grabbed her arm, doing a do-si-do move so she was facing him.  

"Who? The Springer's dog? Because they just told me they tried some new medication to help with that-"

"No. What?" Rich furrowed his brow, "Is that really a thing you can do for dogs?"

Az shrugged, "I guess so. I'm not a vet, nor do I own a dog so my knowledge of cutting edge veterinary practices is sketchy to say the least."

Rich glanced over his shoulder to stare at the basset hound that was, indeed, sporting no less than three uninterrupted strands of drool which was three less than what he normally had.

He shook his head as he turned back to Az, "Okay, that's BESIDES the point. Though I do want to talk to them about that, I'm intrigued...ANYWAY. No. BEN was."

Az stared at Rich for three full seconds before bursting out laughing. Rich sighed and crossed his arms, waiting for the hysterics to die down. 

Az dabbed her finger under her eye, "God Rich, that's hysterical. But seriously, why did you come over here." 

"His eyes were so laser focused on your ass that I'm surprised there's not a hole in the back of your shorts."

Az's hands instinctively went to the back of her shorts, "Thank god I wore my cute bikini bottoms then."

"You fool. You absolute buffoon. One of the most attractive men I've ever seen in my LIFE was so absorbed by your ass that he almost fell off the dock when Joe yelled at him. I may be ace but that doesn't mean that I can't tell when someone is so thirsty for you that he would willingly drown for it." 

Az stood there, staring over Rich's shoulder taking all this information in. The horizon spread out before her, various shades of blue. 

"The title of my memoir should be called '50 Shades of Blue'" She finally muttered under her breath.

"AZ."

"Sorry, sorry! I heard you. I just-"

"It's always 'just' with you. You just can't because of the marina. You just can't because you're focusing on yourself. You just can't because of a million other reasons. You know what it JUST is with you?" 

Az winced with each accusation hurled at her, "Jesus, just tell me so this can be done."

Rich took a deep breath and gripped her shoulders as he leveled his gaze at her, "You just don't believe you deserve this. You just are scared that someone will leave and you'll be left hurting like you were when your ex left you. But you know something? Even if this perfect replica of Michelangelo's David doesn't work out, you'll a) have a great story and TWO-"

Az's lips quirked into a half smile at Rich's lame attempt at humor.

"Is that you'll at least have given it a try. And I'll always be here for you to sing-scream 'thank u, next' with if he turns out to be a dick."

A laugh bubbled its way out of Az's throat, "Okay but like, we've already done that so often they threatened to call the Coast Guard on us."  

A steely look settled over Rich's face, "And Barb from port five can still eat my entire ass. MY POINT though," at this, Rich ducked his head down to look right into Az's eyes, "just go for it, Az. Please."

Az's eyes flickered down at the water lapping underneath the boardwalk. The sun filtered through the cracks of the woodwork causing small sparks to light up as it hit the water flowing underneath. 

She heaved a sigh, "Alright, FINE. Besides, if he's truly as into me as you say he is, this should be easy."

Rich clapped his hands, "Oh sweetheart, it's going to be easier than getting the Springer's dog to stop drooling."

~~~

To lighten the mood, Joe had started throwing rocks and bits of wood into the water yelling, "she loves Ben, she loves him not" with each plop while Ben kept threatening to push Joe into the water. 

"You almost hit a fish with that one." Ben said, in a desperate attempt to distract Joe.

"He looked at me funny."

"They're fish. They look at everything funny."

"Fair point."

"Oh fuck, there's one swimming right at me."

"GET HIM, BEN. SHOW HIM WHO'S BOSS." Joe yelled. 

Ben squinted one eye and gently tossed the piece of wood into the water near the fish. 

"I'm going to call the cops." Came Az's voice in a sing song from behind them.

Ben turned around to find Rich and Az strolling back towards them. Az's arm hooked through Rich's which caused Ben's stomach to plummet.  

She slipped her arm out from Rich's and dug her phone out of her pocket, "Hello? 9-1-1? Yes, this man here is abusing fish." 

"Fuck, dude, we gotta get out of here. I can't go back to the slammer again." Joe laughed as he hauled himself up. 

Ben smiled as he swung his legs up onto the dock. His feet fell next to Az's, encased in flip-flops, toenails painted bright pink as he traced the line of her legs up to meet her eyes. 

Az's hand trembled a little as she offered it to Ben, "Need a hand?" A soft smile grew across her face as his blue eyes met her own. 

The blue of the ocean was nothing compared to how blue Ben's eyes were, Az decided. 

The green of Az's eyes were the most beautiful color he had ever seen, Ben decided. 

The silence stretching between Ben and Az had gone on long enough, Joe decided. 

"SO. Rich. What restaurant are we going to?" Joe loudly asked as he clapped his hands together, breaking the spell. 

Az blinked and giggled nervously as she helped haul Ben to his feet. He smiled down at her and thanked her. 

"No worries, you're lighter than expected." 

"These are fake muscles. A pain in the ass to inflate every morning but so worth it."

The burst of laughter that erupted from Az made Ben smile wider. 

She reached a hand out and wrapped it around his bicep, "So, if I squeeze too hard it'll pop?"

"Like a balloon."

She kept her eyes trained on Ben's face as she squeezed his arm and holy god she was not prepared for how solid it would feel. It took all of her will power not to get on her knees and beg him to choke her right there in front of God and everyone. 

She cleared her throat, "Haven't heard anything pop yet."

"Well, clearly, your hand strength needs to be built up." 

"I think there are some guys who would argue my hand strength is just fine." Az said without thinking. Her eyes widened as she realized the words that had fallen out of her mouth. Ben's breath caught in his throat as the image of Az's hand wrapped around his cock infiltrated his senses. 

Rich's mouth dropped open as Joe made a noise that sounded vaguely like a hamster getting strangled. 

Az ripped her hand from Ben's bicep "Well, I don't know what we're doing standing around here for, I promised you guys a tour so let's get started." She sped away down the pier, mentally chastising herself for coming on way too strong.  

Rich stared at Ben, standing stock still, then at Joe who looked like he'd been hit on the back of the head with a two by four, and muttered, "Well, this is going to be easier than I thought."

~~~

"And this is the mural I commissioned from a local street artist. I actually caught her tagging a wall and I loved her work so much I hired her on the spot."

Ben and Joe stepped closer to take a closer look at the mural that depicted the ocean in a psychedelic fashion. Brightly colored fish, seaweed, shells, sea nymphs ("mermaids are overrated, it's all about sea nymphs now." Az had declared when Joe made a Little Mermaid joke) dolphins, sharks, even an octopus, in neon colors adorned the side of the building. 

"It's really popular with Influencers and such. Tourists come to take pictures of it, it's been nothing but an incredible draw." Az said as she trailed her fingers over it as she walked down the wall. Her finger tips landed on the shark and she turned to look over her shoulder, "This guy is my favorite." 

Ben meandered closer to get a better look at it, "Why is that?"

Az shrugged as she moved to stand beside Ben, "I've always liked sharks. I think they're fascinating and get a bad rep. We're the ones infiltrating their home. If someone tried to come into my home and polluted it at the same time, I'd probably consider eating them too."

Ben nodded slowly as his gaze drifted over the mural. "I like the octopus."

"Yeah? Why's that."

"He has a chill vibe about him."

"I can respect that."

Watching Ben and Az joke about the killer weed the octopus had, Joe hesitantly asked the million dollar question,"So, Rich, how long have you and Az been together?"

Rich snorted, "Too long." Hearing the squeak that came from Joe, hastily realized what he meant, "Oh, like, romantically? You think Az and I are, like, together together?" 

"Um, yeah dude. You seem pretty comfortable around each other and I just assumed..." Joe's voice trailed off as a bemused grin melted over Rich's face. 

"Are Az and I close? Yes. Do I love her? Absolutely. Is she a giant pain in my ass? Since day one when she told me I give off too much of a 'Jimmy Buffet' vibe. Am I also ace so therefore have no desire to date her or anyone? Oh you bet your sweet ass." 

"So...Ben's clear to shoot his shot?"

"Ben's so clear to shoot his shot the whole fucking playing field is barren." 

"You don't know the first thing about sports do you?" 

"Not a thing my man." Rich confirmed cheerfully. 

~~~

The sun had begun to make it's descent and the first whispers of orange and pink began to crawl their way up into the sky. 

Seeing how small the gap between the sun and the horizon had gotten, Az clapped her hands together as she turned to the group, "So, if you guys are interested, there's a great bar nearby that I can get us either free or deeply discounted drinks. You in?"

Joe stared at Az for a beat then threw an arm around her shoulder, "I've never loved anyone more." 

Az laughed as she rested her head onto Joe's shoulder, "And I'm sure it was me flipping you off that won you over and not the promise of free drinks." 

"I've never been so into anything in my life." Ben muttered as he stared at Az. The words came out more intense than he intended. Az felt a warmth spreading through her stomach as she lifted her head from Joe's shoulder. 

Ben blinked at his own intensity but didn't break his gaze from Az's as he stepped closer to her. The movement of her throat as she swallowed was the only thing that broke his gaze. 

Rich's eyes were ping-ponging back and forth, relishing in the sexual tension. 

Joe slowly slid his arm off of Az's shoulders and hesitantly stepped back. 

Az could feel the heat building in her belly, a flush spread across her cheeks as she blinked up at Ben. The voice in her head finally snapped to attention and reminded her to say something, anything. 

Her tongue poked out to swipe across her bottom lip. Ben shifted as his eyes darted down to track its journey, using  his willpower not to capture her lips with his. 

"Good, because the night's just getting started." Az said thickly as she slide her hands into the pockets of her shorts.

Only Rich caught her trying to wipe off her palms in her shorts and rolled his eyes. 

He knew from personal experience that Az's palms always got extra sweaty whenever she flirted, clearly even a target as easy as Ben couldn't escape her clammy palms. 

He just prayed that he wouldn't try to hold her hand in the next 20 minutes. 

~~~

Az jiggled the worn handle on the innocuous wood door. She turned her head to glance back at Ben, "Don't worry, this is usually what happens." 

"Good, because sketchy unmarked door? In an alleyway? I figured you had just lured us back here to murder us and wear our skins." 

"Fucked up that you thought that. I would never wear your skins. I'd preserve them, stuff them and then use them as tasteful decor."

"JESUS Az." Rich declared as he stared at her, slack-jawed. Joe's face was caught in between amusement and horror.

Az winced as she finally got the doorknob to turn, "Too much?"

Ben waltzed through the open door, "Don't think there's ever 'too much' of you, love." 

Az's cheeks flushed and she squirmed as he aimed a wink in her direction before stopping in the doorway to let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting. 

There were Christmas lights strung all around the perimeter of the bar. Tables haphazardly littered the floor with chairs floating in between tables like so much debris. The back of the room was taken up by the actual bar. To the right, a small, hastily constructed stage with a karaoke machine looked to be the only thing that hadn't been there since the 70's. 

Vintage concert posters promoting The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Carol King, Fleetwood Mac, Queen and more were wallpapered in a collage. The jukebox standing guard to the side of the front door was playing Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. There was a low rumble as patrons and bartenders talked to each other.

When the door opened and Ben stepped in, most of them turned to peer curiously at who had just entered but didn't paid him, or Joe, any mind. A few hands went up and some greetings were called out in response to Rich's greeting as he waltzed into the establishment.

Then Az walked in.

"AZ!"

The bar exploded in a flurry of sound and movement as chairs were abandoned and tables shoved as a crowd foamed up around Az. Ben, Joe and Rich were forced to shuffle to the side as hands and bodies crowded around her. Most of them offering to buy her a drink or updating her on events that had transcribed since they had last seen her. Az took it all in stride. She smiled and laughed and nodded and let herself be carried by the crowd to the bar. 

When she reached the bar she turned her head and Ben saw her eyes flitting from corner to corner, trying to locate them after the crowd had bum rushed her. 

Ben raised a hand and her eyes locked onto the gesture at once. She smiled and he saw her shoulders relax. She turned back to the grizzled fisherman that was either greatly exaggerating the size of a personal body part or talking about a fish he had caught earlier in the day. 

He desperately hoped it was the latter. 

A sharp jab to his kidney brought him back to the present, "What are the odds she's getting drinks for all of us?" Joe asked as he surveyed the crowd that was three deep by the bar. Ben shrugged as Rich weaved his way to a table that was right in front of the karaoke stage. 

Ben and Joe followed Rich and sat down as if this was another normal Saturday night for him. Joe kept staring at the bar when he finally broke, "So, is that a normal occurrence? Or did you tell everyone to pull that stunt so we'd think she's cool?"

Rich snorted, "God, I wish we were that coordinated. No. This is Az's favorite bar. And again, she grew up here so a lot of those people have known Az since she was just a wee tot." 

He shrugged, "Everyone loves Az, I don't know what to tell you."

Ben felt his head nodding in agreement, then without thinking, asked, "Do you love Az?"

Rich's head snapped up so quickly he felt something pop in his neck and Joe's eyes widened a comical amount at Ben's boldness. 

Rich coughed as he tried to find the right words, "Yeah, but like a sister. I'm ace, so, romantic feelings? Not my thing." 

Ben felt like he was going to pass out. Joe could see the gears turning in his friends head and decided to help drive the point home and asked Rich point blank, "So, you and Az are not dating?"

"Nope." Rich popped the 'p' with extra verve, keeping his eyes trained on Ben.

Ben coughed into his hand, "So, uh, is she-uh-dating anyone, then?" He slouched down in his chair, hoping to offset how nervous he sounded with some laid back posturing. 

Rich watched the full grown man in front of him sink so low into his chair he almost fell off of it and thought, Jesus, they're both such idiots. I hope they bone all night.

"No. And there hasn't been anyone in a while." Then realizing how that sounded tried to make it better, "Not that there's anything wrong with her! She's amazing, she just puts all of her energy and focus into the marina. Not saying that she wouldn't do the same in a relationship, it's just-AZ! Thank GOD you're back!" Rich flung his arms into the air as Az approached their table with a tray full of drinks. 

Did you say something that didn't sound great then to make up for it you talked more which made it sound worse?"

"We've known each other too long haven't we?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll be right back." She turned and went back to the bar to return the tray Penelope had given her to transport the drinks. 

Penelope managed the bar and was always willing to let Az pick up some shifts bartending when she needed some extra cash. When summer time got to be particularly heady, Penelope would entice Az to work with promises of free shots and unlimited baskets of deep-fried mac and cheese. 

"So, Az. Your new friends are, how do I want to say this? Absolutely stunning."

Az kept her eyes down as she slipped the tray on top of the stack behind the bar, "Yeah, I guess. I don't know if I would describe Rich as stunning but-"

A sharp sting landed on her hip causing her to yelp, "What was that for?" 

Penelope stood with the towel already rewound and ready to strike again, "You know damn well I'm not talking about Rich and if you don't tell me why blondie can't keep his eyes off your ass I'm gonna smack you again."

She pulled her arm back to show she was serious and Az scampered to the other side of the bar with hands held up, "OKAY! Okay! I'll tell you, just-be cool man. Put the towel down."

Penelope stared at her. 

Az rolled her eyes, "If I sleep with 'blondie' tonight do you really want me to be covered with tiny red marks and he's so disgusted by my disfigurement he jumps into the ocean to get away from me?"

Penelope's eyes narrowed as she considered, "Alright, fine." The towel lowered as she tucked it into her back pocket, "But I still want answers. No one that beautiful has come into this bar since last time you came in."

"Lop, you flatter me."

"I know. It's a tactic to get more information from you."

"I should be mad but I'm just so honored you think I'm beautiful I'll tell you anything."

"Alright, what's your social security number?"

"Not that flattered."

"SPILL. NOW." Penelope ordered, slamming her hands on the bar.   

Az rolled her eyes, "ALRIGHT, GOD. I went out on my boat this morning and as I pulled back in so was Rich with-"

"I so wish you had said pulling out."

"Will you let me FINISH?"

"Bet you won't be saying that later tonight. Blondie looks like he knows how to eat pussy."

Az threw up her hands, "You know what? No. You don't get to know ANYTHING now because you can't behave yourself. Are you HAPPY?"

Penelope shrugged, "Not as happy as I would have been if you'd said you'd pulled out."

"You're impossible."

"So I'll see you in the morning for coffee and a recap of your sexual escapades?"

"Of course. Love you."

"Love you too," Penelope said to Az's retreating back. 

~~~

As she slid into her chair, Az lifted her glass in a toast, "Cheers, I'm glad Rich picked your guys' sorry asses up."

Her eyes met Ben's in the gloom and he saw the Christmas lights reflected in her eyes like so many stars. 

"I'm glad that he picked us up too." Ben smiled at Az and let his gaze linger with hers as he took a long pull from the glass. 

Az couldn't stop herself from staring at his lips. How full they were. How good they looked wrapped around that glass. How good they would look wrapped around certain parts of her anatomy. 

Rich and Joe exchanged glances as Ben and Az fell into a loaded silence. Rich took a gulp from his glass and slammed it onto the table, "WELL. I, for one, am not going to let this night go to waste. It's karaoke time."

Az's eyes lit up as she whipped her head, "You're so right. It absolutely is."

Joe was bouncing up and down in his seat, "Thank GOD someone else brought it up because I was about to ask if I could get dibs on first round."

Ben groaned, "Do we really have to do this? I'm not much of a karaoke guy."

Az turned to him, "You will be after you have about five more of those," indicating the half finished beer in front of him, "so drink up. Because I have a feeling Turn Around Bright Eyes is going to be our big duet." 

Ben's mouth fell open in shock as Joe cheered and Rich rolled his eyes, "God, Az. I fucking hate that song. Even when they covered it on Glee it was still a trash heap."

"Everyone hates that song but by god is it the perfect karaoke number."

Rich opened his mouth to argue, mulled over Az's statement and shrugged his shoulders in defeat, "I can't argue with that logic."

"Oh real help you are." Ben shot to Rich.

"Sorry Benny Boy. We all gotta pay the piper for free drinks somehow. In this case, it's total humiliation in front of an audience." . 

Ben rolled his eyes and downed the rest of his drink as Az, Joe and Rich cheered. "Let's get this fucking over with."

~~~

"CAUSE I'M MISTER BRIGHTSIIIIIDEEEEE! GUITAR SOLO!" Ben launched into an epic air guitar solo, complete with white man overbite, as Rich gawked. 

"Holy shit, he's such a dork, I can't believe you want to sleep with him, Az. Az?" Rich looked over to see Az flailing as she air drummed along, threatening to hit anyone within a five foot radius.  

Joe was blissfully jamming to the air bass guitar, eyes closed, not a care in the world. 

Rich shook his head in amazement as he finished the last of his drink. 

The table was littered with pint glasses, most empty, a couple filled with a sliver of amber liquid. They had worked their way through most of the karaoke classics. Joe's rendition of Livin' On a Prayer brought the bar down and Az's version of I Wanna Dance With Somebody definitely had Ben feeling some type of way. 

They were well into hour three of karaoke, with most of the patrons clearing out after hour one. Penelope had gotten several incriminating videos of Az that she could barely wait to show her in the morning. 

Lop was currently wiping down the counter, eyeing the plug of the karaoke machine as the final notes of Mr. Brightside died out as Ben looked up, surprised to find himself on his knees after his impassioned performance. 

Az, Rich and Joe were on their feet, whopping and clapping wildly as Penelope gave Ben a nod, the most encouragement she had given him all night. 

Ben stood up and gave a bow then stumbled as a whirlwind of laughter and cheering enveloped him in her arms, carrying the scent of coconut and salt with it. Az was laughing in his ear as she hugged him and pulled back to reveal her smile, making the whole room seem to glow. He stared at it, committing it to memory.

"C'mon Benny boy, it's last call." Az was saying as she wrapped an arm around his waist, "and Lop does not like it when we push our welcome." 

"Some of us have things to do Az!" Lop called from the bar where she was stacking glasses. 

Az rolled her eyes as Ben slung a heavy arm around her shoulders. Joe and Rich were by the door holding it open for the two of them as they sauntered through, the alcohol leaving them warm and loose but coherent. 

"So, have you seen the boat we arrived on?"

Az snorted, "You mean the one that belongs to my marina? Yeah, I may have seen it once or twice." She pinched his waist as he protested, "Alrigh'! It was a conversation starter. You know? One of those things were I say something, then you say something else?"

"I know how conversation works, Ben."

"Are ya sure? Because you've been pretty quite."

Az's mouth dropped open in shock as she stuttered a response and Ben chuckled warmly as he pulled her in closer to his side, "'M jokin' love. Don't worry." 

Az's head lolled into his chest, trying to hide her grin at being called love, as she groaned, "Have I told you you're a giant pain in my ass, Hardy?"

"A few times, maybe." Ben smirked as his hand slid down her back to rest on the curve of her back that sloped down to her ass. 

Az inhaled sharply as she felt his hand move lower. Ben tried to act like he hadn't heard her but his widening smirk gave him away. 

They rounded the corner and saw the marina rise up before them. The sound of the ocean softly lapping against the hull of the boats bobbing up and down momentarily bringing a sense of serenity to Az. 

Ben was transfixed by the change that came over her when she stared out at the ocean. The wind picked up her hair, like the wind was trying to pick her up and take her where she needed to go. Her eyes were fixed on a spot out on the horizon and Ben wanted to follow those eyes wherever they went. He inhaled the scent of the sea and knew that he would always think of Az whenever he smelled the ocean from now on. 

"Sing us a SONG on the PIANO man! Sing us a SONG TONIGHT!" Ben turned to see Rich and Joe stumbling up the dock, arms wrapped around each other and he couldn't figure out who was helping who continue to be upright more. 

"Are they both managing to hold themselves upright? On each other?" Az had turned in Ben's arms when she heard the singing. She had drapped her arms around his neck, peering over his shoulder and could feel his chest vibrate as he laughed. 

"We shouldn't judge too much, we're kind of doing the same thing." He murmured into her ear. 

"Yeah but, we're not THAT intoxicated. I can stand up perfectly fine on my own, see?" Az extricated herself from Ben's hold and he immediately shivered at the loss of contact. Az stood before him and over-exaggeratedly stamped her feet into the ground and put her fists on her hips as she beamed at Ben. 

Ben couldn't help the smile that broke over his face and Az's own smile grew wider as she contemplated the beautiful boy before her. His eyes reminded her so strongly of the ocean, always changing color but still feeling like home. He was charming, kind and funny. She was smitten. And she was fairly sure he was as well. 

But she didn't want to assume. It would rip her from the inside out if she made a move and he gently let her down with that accent and those eyes looking at her with pity. She couldn't handle that. 

Ben watched as a conflict raged behind Az's eyes, causing her posture to deflate. He tilted his head, trying to decipher what had happened but was jolted forward as Joe rammed the full force of his body mass into Ben's back.

Ben had a height and muscle advantage on Joe but when Joe had alcohol and the love he had for his friends coursing through his veins, no one stood a chance. 

"BENNY BOOOY THE PIPES THE PIPES" Joe belted into Ben's ear, causing him to flinch, 

"Hey buddy, you doing okay?"

"Ben, I am better than you have ever been or ever will be." Joe's eyes were going in two different directions as he tried to rest a hand on Ben's shoulder but missed by a mile. 

Az laughed at Joe as Rich tucked his head into the crook of her neck and started whining about how he just wanted some french fries. 

"I uh, seem to have done more damage than I anticipated doing." She sheepishly. 

Ben shook his head, "Nah, karaoke brings out the worst in others. It was inevitable."

"Or the best." She said softly and looked at Ben with wide eyes and bit her lip. Ben shifted as he tried to come up with a response but it was challenging with Az staring at him like that and Joe trying to climb Ben's body so he could get a piggy back ride back to their boat. 

"AAAAAZZZZZ. Please, I just want some fries!" 

Az rolled her eyes and the moment ended as she turned to face Rich and grabbed the sides of his face, "Then by GOD man we are going to get you some fries." 

Joe's face lit up, "FRIES? I also want those!" 

Az giggled as Rich planted a sloppy kiss to the side of her face, "You're worse than the Springer's dog but c'mon gang let's get some starch." 

Joe and Rich cheered as they stumbled down the pier towards fries and Az tried to herd them away from the sides so they wouldn't fall into the water. Ben watched them leave and shoved his hands into his pockets. He needed time to think. To be alone. So he made his way on board the boat they had come in on. 

He climbed the ladder all the way to the top deck and laid out on his back. His arms crossed behind his head to offer some cushion as he gazed up at the stars. 

He wondered what had made Az lose confidence in herself. He assumed he had made it clear he wanted her. Maybe she didn't want him? Maybe that glimmer in her eye was her way of realizing that she just wasn't as into him as he was into her? 

He didn't think he could stand watching those eyes fill with pity as they tried to let him down gently. 

He sighed, picked out the brightest star and sent up a desperate wish. 

star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...

~~~

"I love fries. Almost as much as I love you Az." 

"Thanks Richy that's very sweet. And after watching you eat a whole basket of cheese fries in under two minutes that really means something." 

Rich mumbled something about how potatoes were his one true love as he drifted off to sleep, curled up on the recliner in Az's living room while Joe had taken up more space on the couch than a man that size should have. Checking to make sure both were asleep and not in danger of choking on their own vomit, she exhaled and scanned her apartment for her phone. The soft glow of it alerted her to its presence on her kitchen counter. 

She crept over to pick it up only to be greeted by a text from Lop,

Can't wait to see all the hickies you have tomorrow at breakfast.

She rolled her eyes and wiggled her thumbs over the keyboard as she tried to formulate a proper response. Should she tell Lop the truth? That she was so terrified of being rejected by Ben that she wouldn't even take a chance? Or should she just ignore her text and go to bed? 

She groaned, letting the weight of her head fall forward until it. thunked against her phone as she contemplated what to do. 

She lifted her head, locked her phone and slide open the balcony door. The ocean air filled her with calm as she surveyed the boats bobbing in the waves. 

She looked up and found the brightest star she could. She closed her eyes and with her whole heart started to wish. 

star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...

~~~

30 minutes had crept by and her eyes refused to close. She did everything she could think of to relax and fall asleep. She had counted sheep. She had focused on her breathing. She had pulled up an ASMR YouTube channel.

(She quickly exited out once she realized she was only clicking on videos that had ocean sounds in them and realized how idiotic that was.)

In a moment of pure frustration she threw a temper tantrum, flinging her limbs, beating the mattress with her fists. She cursed her body and brain for failing her when she needed peace the most. 

She took three deep breaths and wondered where Ben was for the 500th time that night. After leading the Drunk Brigade to get cheesy fries and when she asked him if he wanted anything and didn't receive a response, that's when she realized he wasn't with them. 

When she tried to get Joe to give her Ben's number so she could check on him, he had pulled up Spotify and started blaring "Boss Ass Bitch" which meant Az had to wrestle it from him and put a stop to it before the other drunk individuals standing in line started a mosh pit. 

After making peace with the fact that she definitely wasn't going to sleep any time soon, or even at all, she got up and hoped a walk would clear her head. Walking along the dock always put her at ease.

As the wind whipped around her, she pulled the sweatshirt she had thrown on over her shorts closer to her to combat the chill. She had planned to walk to her boat but something pulled her towards the boat that Rich, Ben and Joe had sailed in on. She liked going to the very top of it, it gave her the best view of the stars. When she was younger she liked to spend nights up there, reaching her hand up and pretending she could pluck the stars out of the sky. 

She got to the top and froze as she saw a figure laying on the ground. Immediately her heart sped up and she thought through all the possibilities. 

It could be some homeless person. They wandered the boardwalk sometimes. Maybe I could just leave and deal with it in the morning? 

Oh god, what if it's a dead body? Was her next immediate thought, Then I'll somehow be blamed for the murder and go to jail and my whole life will be ruined.

When the body stirred, the relief she felt was short lived as she realized she would have to deal with a very LIVE body. 

Direct action is the best action. Catch them off guard, knock them out, then call the cops. She slowly slid her phone out of her pocket and dialed 9 1. She nodded to herself, took a deep breath in and raced onto the deck waving her phone over her head,

"YOU BETTER TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE RIGHT NOW BEFORE THE COPS GET HERE ASSHOLE"

Ben jolted awake, not even realizing he had fallen asleep, and tried to sit up only for his head to collide with something solid, causing him to fall down on his back groaning. 

Az rubbed the spot where her head had made contact with the mystery perp and wondered briefly if she was out of her depth if this person was willing to stoop so low as to headbutt her. 

Ben carefully opened his eyes as the voice said, "Okay, headbutting someone is low ESPECIALLY when you're the one who broke onto MY boat and besides, NO ONE wins in a headbutt."

He recognized that voice. 

He knew that voice. 

"Az! Az. Az, look at me. Look! It's me! It's Ben! And I didn't mean to headbutt you, but, christ, you have a dense skull."

Ben? Az lowered her arm as the words cut through her adrenaline fueled rampage. She looked down at the figure below her and fully understood what had happened when her eyes met the blue ones staring up at her. 

"Jesus, woman. You know how to give a wake up call."

Az breathed a sigh of relief, "Well you know how to scare someone! Why didn't you tell me you were up here?"

Ben looked down as he shuffled his feet and muttered, "Needed some time by myself." Az cocked an eyebrow in disbelief as she chewed over what he had just admitted to her. 

Why did he need time to think? Was he worrying about her? That unspoken moment on the pier that was ruined by Az's overthinking and Rich's need for potato products after a night of drinking? 

"Wait, why are you up here? Shouldn't you be holding Rich's hair back as he vomits into a toilet or something?" Ben shot back at her accusingly. 

It was Az's turn to become sheepish and she rubbed the back of her neck, "I, um, I couldn't sleep."

Ben looked at her for a loaded moment before scooting over and patting the spot next to him, "Well, you're welcome to join me. I don't think I'll be going back to sleep anytime soon. Too much adrenaline coursing through my body." 

Az whacked him on the shoulder as she settled next to him and the smirk on Ben's face grew as he turned his face up to the night sky.

"You come out here a lot when you can't sleep?" 

Az hummed, "It's peaceful. Helps me put things into perspective."

Ben nodded, "Wish I lived near water. But I've forests near me which helps. Something calming abou' trees ya know?

"Yeah. Forests. Oceans. Mountains. Anything in nature that's bigger than you that reminds you of how small you are and how big the universe is. And how lucky we are to even be here at all."

"Oh, we're jumping right into the Deep Thoughts, huh?"

Az smirked, "I'm quite quick Hardy, ya gotta keep up."

Ben knocked his elbow against hers, "Well if we're jumping into deep thought territory, every time I look at the night sky I find the brightest star and wish on it. Helps me realize what I want to focus on in my life."

Az's eyes grew wide, "Wait, for real?"

"Yeah. Been doin' it since I was a kid. Why?"

"I do the same thing."

"You're joking."

"I swear on my LIFE."

Ben chuckled, "Well, I don't think we have to go that extreme, I believe you but, wow. Huh. Guess the universe is trying to tell us something." 

"Guess so." Az smiled back at Ben and when he didn't drop his gaze, dropped hers first. 

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she drew her knees into her chest, still feeling the intensity of Ben's gaze on her. 

"What?"

"What do you mean, 'what'? Not allowed to look at you?"

"You are but it just, I don't know, makes me nervous?" She flinched at the uptick that ended her remark and mentally chided herself for not sounding more confident. 

"I make you nervous?" Ben could hear the smugness in his voice and knew he should tone it down but couldn't find it in himself to do so. 

"Oh my god, I'm going to regret telling you this, but, yeah. I mean, obviously."

Ben leaned back on his hands as he studied Az's profile, "Why do I make you nervous? Not like I'm intimidating."

"You kind of are though?" When Ben made a shocked noise Az straightened up to face him, "No! No, no. Not in like, a bad way? Just in like, a, ah, you're very attractive?" She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks and pulled her hands into the sleeves of her sweatshirt and balled them up, "And, uh, for someone like me, that's very intimidating."

"You're intimidated by me because I'm...attractive?"

"Yes, Ben! I think you're hot! Smoking! A total smoke show! You happy? And I know that you think I'm just some dorky girl who likes cheesy 80's ballads but," she flung her hands towards the heavens as if to illustrate how fruitless it would be for him to like her, "here we are." 

Ben could barely contain the smile that threatened to break his face in two. "Alrigh' well, first of all, thank you for sharing your real feelings." Az clambered up, muttering about how she had embarrassed herself enough when Ben hoisted himself up and grabbed her wrist, "but don't assume you know what I'm thinking." 

Az's body stilled and Ben knew she was listening despite her not meeting his gaze, "You just thought I felt one way abou' you? That's a little short sighted. You ever assume you know everything about the universe? I've got whole universes inside me too!"

Az peeked at Ben through her eyelashes, "You get that line from the last John Green novel you read?"

Ben gently grasped her chin with his thumb, angling her head up so she would fully look at him, "Maybe I did. There's a reason he's so popular. But don't interrupt me." Az pouted and Ben traced the outline of her lip with his thumb.

She shuddered at the contact and Ben stared into her eyes, "I've wanted to kiss you since the moment I saw your hair shining in the sun and your two middle fingers greeting us as we pulled into port. I couldn't believe someone as beautiful as you wanted to hang out with someone like me. I mean, fuck, Az," he wheezed out a laugh, "I've been losing my mind trying to find ways to be closer to you. Make you laugh. Make you smile. I sang fuckin' Turn Around Bright Eyes just because you asked." 

"And you were the best duet partner I've ever had for that song."

"While I take great pride in that, I'm on a role here."

"Sorry. Please continue."

Ben took a deep breath in, "Az, I've wanted you ever since I saw you. But then I got to know you and, fuck, that feeling has just increased. So please," his voice dropped to a whisper as he ducked his head and his lips brushed over Az's as he asked, "Can I kiss you?"

Az's breath came out in shaky bursts and she didn't trust herself to move. She nodded and Ben's lips melted against hers as he cradled the back of her head and wrapped an arm around her waist.  

It felt like everything in Az was aflame. The fire that had been building in her ever since she laid eyes on Ben had reached a fever pitch.

His lips moved against hers and he groaned. Her lips were just as soft as he expected them to be. 

She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. He grasped her waist with both of his hands, fingers digging into her sides to ground her to him. As if he needed to make sure that she was real and she wasn't going anywhere.

Az had no plans of leaving anytime soon. She stroked the short hairs that grew at the nape of his neck, causing Ben to grip her waist tighter and she let out a moan. 

Ben almost came as she moaned into his mouth. He could feel his cock growing harder and when Az pressed herself closer to him she could feel it as well. 

She pulled back from his mouth with reluctance and let out a shaky breath, "Someone's excited." Ben threw all delicacies to the wind, "My cock has been hard since we started hanging out." Az's eyes grew wide and Ben could clearly see how blown out her pupils were. 

The wind blew a few strands of hair across her flushed cheeks and with a glance down, Ben could see her chest rising and falling rapidly. With that thought, he traced his hands slowly up her sides as Az's breath hitched in her throat. 

"Is this okay?" Ben whispered as his hands crept up her sides, agonizingly slow, leaving a trail of fire in their wake as Az nodded. She could barely keep herself upright, there was no way she could form words. 

Ben smirked down at her as his thumbs grazed the sides of her breasts and Az jumped. "Easy, it's okay" he whispered as he leaned down to capture her lips with his once again. 

"I know but, fuck, Ben. I've wanted you all day." Az whined and Ben was certain in that moment there was nothing more attractive than the sound Az breathlessly telling him how badly she wanted him. 

"Well, you don't have to wait anymore." He whispered against her lips and Az pressed her lips to his as she gripped his shoulders.

Ben's hands continued their agonizingly slow pace to the front of Az's chest where he realized she wasn't wearing a bra and he let out a groan, "Fuck, Az, I need you." 

"Who's the impatient one now?" Az smirked as she nipped at his bottom lip and Ben whined. 

"Is there anywhere we can go? Preferably with a bed?"

"Inside, there's a room at the end of the hall."

Ben planted a deep kiss on Az and pulled her down the hall. Az's head was still reeling with how he had just kissed her and was only slightly aware of Ben leading her through the door and down the hall of the boat to one of the bedroom's that was located on board. 

Ben turned the knob and let the door swing open as he pressed another kiss to Az's lips. Her hands were clawing at his back and he registered distantly that he might have scratches on there that he would have to explain to Joe. 

Not that he cared. 

Az fumbled behind her as she kicked the door, briefly hoping it was closed enough. Ben had moved down to kissing her neck and she couldn't think about anything else. 

She bent her head back to allow him more access as he nipped at the column of her throat, causing her to release little moans every time that were sending Ben's head spinning.

Az yelped as Ben picked her up, causing her to wrap her legs around his waist instinctively, and he deposited her on the bed where he stared down at her as she pushed herself up to her elbows and stared back. She cocked an eyebrow at him, "What?" 

"Nothing, you're just...fuck. You're beautiful."

Az's smile was bashful and she suddenly found it extremely hard to look Ben right in the eye at that moment. 

Ben, sensing her shyness leaned down so he was hovering over her body and whispered, "Now's the time when you tell me I'm beautiful." 

Az laughed, and remembered this was Ben. Sweet, caring Ben who she had spent all day pining over. She wasn't going to waste another moment getting caught up in her own head. 

Ben went back to sucking and licking at Az's neck as one hand reached up underneath her sweatshirt and traced the outline of her breast, causing Az to arch her back. 

She whined, "Ben...please." 

Ben smirked against her neck, "Please, what?" 

"Touch me. Please. I've wanted this all day." 

"Hmm, I don't know..."

"Please, sir. I'll do anything." Az breathed out before she could stop herself.

Ben pulled back and stared with wide eyes. Her own eyes were half-lidded as she stared up at him, pupils blown out, cheeks flushed, chest heaving, hips bucking. 

Ben cleared his throat, "What-uh-what did you just say?"

A look of worry washed over Az, "Uhm, sir?"

"That's what I thought." he growled. 

He leaned down so his lips were right against her ear, "And since my good girl asked so nicely...I guess I'll give her what she wants."

He traced a circle that got smaller and smaller until he was tracing around her nipple as he swung his other leg around so he was straddling her and started to grind his clothed cock into her cunt. Az was only briefly embarrassed thinking about how she could cum from grinding against Ben fully clothed like some pre-pubescent 13-year old. 

She babbled. "Please, sir. Yes. Oh my god. Fuck. Ben. Please, I need more."

Ben chuckled, "I've barely touched you. If this is how you're reacting now I can't wait till I tease your little cunt with my fingers, tongue and cock."

"Oh my GOD Ben, please. I need more. Please, I'm begging you." 

Ben smirked as he started tweaking her nipple with deft fingers. He brought his other hand up to stroke her throat, testing the waters, "How do you feel about me touching your throat? Do you like that baby girl?"

Az whimpered and nodded as she desperately tried to grind her pussy against Ben's aching cock even more. He hadn't even registered how hard he was. He was so focused on Az and how needy she was, his own needs almost escaped him. 

He gently laid a hand over her throat and squeezed the smallest amount which caused Az to throw her head back and let out a moan so loud that Ben was sure every boat in the marina would hear it. 

It made his cock twitch. 

"That's my good girl." he cooed as he continued to tease her nipple. Az whimpered and reached her hands up in a grabbing motion, 

"What is it sweetheart? Use your words."

"Kiss me. Please."

Ben smiled and moved his hand from around her throat to cradle her cheek, "Of course sweetheart." The kiss he gave her was sweet, gentle and deep which caused Az's head to spin even more at the difference between this kiss and his filthy actions. Az wrapped her legs around his waist to bring him as close to her as possible. 

Ben chuckled, "You're already so needy."

Az rolled her eyes, "Shut up." and went back in for another kiss. 

Their lips moved together as Ben reached his hands down to the edge of Az's sweatshirt and gave it a little tug.

Az pulled away and ripped the sweatshirt off in record time. Ben sat up and stared down at Az's body, finally exposed to him. 

"Holy shit."

Az fidgeted under his gaze, "What? Not what you thought?" bracing herself for him to tell her he had changed his mind. 

"Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined you having a body as amazing as the one you have." 

He leaned down to wrap his lips around her nipple as his other hand came to play with the one his mouth wasn't currently occupying. Az groaned but couldn't keep the smile off of her face as she reached a hand up to tug at his hair. 

Ben switched from one nipple to the other as he glanced up at Az, "Couldn't let the other one feel left out."

"God forbid" Az breathed out as she arched her back after he gave a particularly hard nip. 

He chuckled as he came up to plant another kiss on her lips, "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

Her eyes snapped open as she felt his hands travel down her body, past her breast, where he gave her nipple one more tweak, down her waist, down to the top of her thigh as he danced his fingers up her inner thigh. Teasing her as he brought his fingers close to where she most wanted him. 

"Ben..."

His fingers stilled, "What did you call me?"

She whimpered, "Sir..."

"Better." His fingers danced closer to her cunt.

"Sir...please. I need you." Her hips were bucking desperately and Ben looked down at the beautiful woman underneath him and couldn't believe he had gotten so lucky. 

He fiddled with the edge of her shorts, as she whined. He smirked and moved to trace the outline of her pussy through her underwear, he took in a sharp intake of air, "Fuck, baby girl. You're soaking wet for me."

Az whined, "That's what you do to me. That's all for you, sir. Please." 

Ben groaned as he bent his head down to capture her lips with his as he dipped a finger into her panties and teased the lips of her pussy open. 

Her thighs fell open easily as she bucked her hips to get more of his finger inside her. Ben slowly dipped one finger inside of her, when he felt how wet she was, he added a second, and then a third. 

Then removed them entirely. 

"Baby girl, flip over onto your stomach for me."

Az looked at him curiously but did as she was told, "Like this?" she asked as she looked back at him and bit her lip. Ben groaned and palmed himself through his pants as she looked up at him with her big eyes.

She glanced down at his bulge, "Can I suck your cock?"

Ben almost choked. "Holy fuck sweetheart. You're gonna make me cum if you keep talking like that."

Az giggled and then moaned as Ben thrust his fingers back into her, "I would love for you to suck my cock but first, I really want you to cum for me." He said as he kept thrusting his fingers in and out of her dripping core.

The angle had his fingers hitting her sweet spot right away. He kept palming himself through his jeans. He pumped his fingers slowly into Az's cunt, feeling her walls clench around his fingers, her ass moving up and down as she fucked his fingers, trying to fill herself up more. She whined when Ben ripped his fingers out of her.

"Ben..." She looked behind her and saw that his shirt was off and was making equally quick work of his jeans and boxer briefs. "Take off your pants. Now." he growled as he stepped out of his own, letting his cock spring free. Az was transfixed by it. It was huge. She licked her lips as she saw the pink tip, leaking pre-cum. She groaned as she imagined wrapping her lips around it, making Ben cum down her throat. Swallowing every single drop of his cum as he moaned. 

"Baby girl?" Ben's voice broke Az out of her reprieve and she quickly reached her hands down and shimmied out of her panties and shorts and threw them into the room. 

She pushed herself up to her hands and knees and stared at Ben over her shoulder, "Well?"

Ben licked his palm and stroked his cock a few times as he admired the view of Az's ass in front of him, her pussy glistening with her wetness. 

He licked the fingers that had been in Az's cunt and tasted how sweet she was as he walked forward. He inserted his fingers back into her cunt making her hang her head and groan.

He pumped them in and out a few times and smacked Az's ass, "Lie down on your back."

She yelped but did as she was told. Ben looked into her eyes as she laid down, "I'm so sorry, I should have asked before I spanked you, I'm so sorry-"

Az cut him off with a kiss, "No! No. It was so hot. Sir." She added as she smirked up at him. Ben chuckled as he kissed her lips and moved to kiss down her body. 

Az's breath got shallower the closer he got to her pussy. He nipped at the inside of her thighs as he just barely brushed her clit with the tip of his tongue.

Az almost levitated off the bed, "FUCK. BEN. Please!"

Ben chuckled and inserted two fingers into her cunt and started making obscene sucking noises as he sucked on her clit. Az always used to say she didn't understand why people made so much noise during sex but now? With Ben working his magic on her with his fingers and tongue? She didn't know how she could be quiet. 

All too soon, she felt the familiar burning sensation in her stomach as she reached her edge, "Ben..Sir.."

He hummed against her clit which made her throw her head back and let loose a new wave of moans, "FUCK. If you do that again, I'm going to cum."

"Cum on my face then. Please." Ben said as he hummed against her clit and made a come hither motion with his fingers causing Az to completely unravel. The heat that had been building inside of her all day consumed her body as her vision went white.  

Ben kept lapping until she whimpered and tried to move away, even then he kept slowly pumping his fingers in and out of her. 

"Ben, please..." her voice came out as a whisper as she tugged on his hair to indict she wanted him to move up. Ben placed a final sweet kiss on her clit before slowly kissing his way back up her body. 

Az let out a deep sigh as she closed her eyes and let the few remaining pulses of pleasure wash over her, relishing in the attention he was bestowing upon her. 

Ben paused as he took in Az's body, stretched out below him and whined in the back of his throat. 

The green of Az's eyes were revealed as she smirked at the needy sounds that escaped Ben. 

She quickly pushed Ben off of her and before he could protest too much she straddled him and bent her head down to nip at the line of his throat which caused him to cry out.

Az giggled, "Does that feel good sir?"

Ben's eyes were rolling into the back of his head as Az's core ground against his exposed cock, he could feel the wetness as he bucked his hips up into her, "God, yes, sweetheart, please that feels amazing, don't stop..."

Ben's voice trailed off as Az started kissing his collarbone, then his chest, then his stomach, when he finally registered what her intentions were, he moaned as his eyes fluttered closed. 

Az peered up at him through her lashes and couldn't stop herself from admiring how beautiful he looked. Eyelashes resting on his cheeks, chest heaving, cheeks the color of an English rose and his eyes...were staring right at her as she placed a soft kiss onto his cock. 

He whined and Az's hips bucked involuntarily at the noise. She smiled up at him and he reached a hand down to caress her cheek. 

She hummed and pressed a kiss into his palm. She turned her head back to the more important, and pressing, task at hand. 

She kissed Ben's thighs as he threw his head back and sighed in ecstasy. 

In between kisses, Az teased "I've barely touched you and you're already this needy." 

Only a sliver of blue could be seen as she looked up at Ben, "If I wasn't so desperate for you to suck my cock, I would have a much better comeback" he breathed out in between moans. 

Az smirked and curled her fingers around his cock as she licked her lips in anticipation. 

Ben was huge. She shouldn't have been surprised, Lop had even said he carried himself with an energy that seemed to imply he was hung, but god.

She wrapped one hand loosely around his cock and licked a wide stripe from his balls to the tip where she placed a gentle kiss on it.

The groan Ben let out had her swinging a leg around so she could grind her core into Ben's thigh as she continued licking his cock.

She finally, agonizingly slowly, wrapped her lips around the head of Ben's cock and started to bob her head up and down. 

Ben reached his hands down to grasp her hair and move it out of her face.

Az spit on his cock and started working her hands up and down as she peered up at Ben, "Thanks for the hair tie." 

Ben bucked his hips up into her hands as he gasped, "Not so much for you, mainly wanted to see your lips wrapped around my cock. Been thinking about that all day."

Az laughed and kept one hand pumping the length that she couldn't fit into her mouth. She looked up at Ben through her eyelashes and heard him mutter, "Fuck. Having your lips around me is even hotter than I imagined."

Az hummed and Ben screamed, "FUCK" and pulled her off of his cock, mashing his lips against hers in a frenzy, "If I don't fuck you now I'm going to hate myself forever."

Az laughed gently against his lips, "Well, we can't have that now, can we?"

Ben nipped at her bottom lip as he brought a hand up to lightly smack her ass, "Someone seems to have forgotten their place, baby girl."

Az whimpered as she felt the sting, "I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again."

"Damn right," Ben said and stilled as his eyes met Az's with concern, "I don't have any condoms on me. Are there any on this boat?"

Az pressed a kiss to his cheek, "I have an IUD. It's fine. Just, please fuck me right now. Please? I'm begging you."

Ben exhaled and grabbed Az's hips with such strength that Az knew for certain there'd be bruises the next day. 

Az clambered on top of him and lined up her entrance to the tip of Ben's cock, she slowly lowered down and the feel of her walls being stretched by his girth had her letting loose a string of curses that were almost drowned out by Ben's. 

"Fuck, Ben, you're so big, god." Az squeezed her eyes shut as she bottomed out.

Ben squeezed her hips as he took every ounce of willpower not to buck up into her and fuck her until all she could say was his name, "Jesus, sweetheart, you feel incredible. This is so much more amazing than I ever could have imagined."

Az let out a shaky laugh as she started to roll her hips forward and back. Getting used to Ben's length, working it over. Ben couldn't take his eyes off her as Az's hips started rocking harder and harder against his cock. 

He reached his hands up and grasped her breasts, rolling her nipples in between his fingers as Az threw her head back and let out a moan. Ben didn't think there was a better view in the entire world than this one. 

Az reached a hand down to rub her clit as she rocked her hips back and forth and Ben's hips snapped up into her as his hands worked on her nipples. She felt her core tightening and that familiar warmth start building inside her for the second time.  

She gasped, "Ben...sir...Ben..I'm so close, fuck, please don't stop, please"

Ben growled, "I don't plan on stopping any time soon, sweetheart."

Az moaned as she rubbed her clit harder and finally with a tweak of her nipples, Az felt herself coming undone around Ben's cock.

As she came out of her haze she could hear Ben babbling about how good she was, how tight she was, how he wanted to cum so badly. Az slowly leaned down and pressed a kiss to Ben's lips, causing him to pause in his actions. 

She pulled back and smiled at him and he smiled at her. He gently stroked her sides, then grabbed on to her waist and flipped them over so Az's back hit the bed with a "OOF" and Ben ended up on top, hands on either side of her head. 

He grinned down at her as she rubbed her hands up and down his arms, "Think you're so special huh?" 

Ben's grin grew wider as he snapped his hips into her and Az broke down into moans and strained to get more of his cock inside of her. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Yeah, I like to think so."

"Please. Just fuck me."

Ben breathed out a laugh, "You don't have to ask twice." And started thrusting into Az as she grasped onto his shoulders, arching her back.

Ben could feel his thrusts getting sloppy and knew he was close. He reached a hand down and rubbed Az's clit, "Baby girl, think you got one more in you? I want you to cum with me."

Az nodded as her eyes rolled into the back of her head, "Uh-huh, yes sir, please, I want to cum again so badly, please please please please..." the last please fell on deaf ears as Az reached her climax for the third time. Her walls clenched around Ben's cock, pulling the best orgasm he'd ever had in his life out of him shooting thick, hot ropes of cum into her pussy as they both moaned and held onto each other as if they were life rafts keeping each other afloat.

Ben opened his eyes as he and Az caught their breath. They looked at each other and burst into laughter as they came down from their highs. 

"Wow, uh, that was-"

"Amazing?" Ben asked, shyly.

Az's eyes grew warm as she brought a hand up to caress his cheek, "Yeah. Definitely worth the wait."

"Well, sorry. I didn't want to assume you wanted this as badly as I did." Ben whispered as he gazed down at Az with a soft look in his eyes

"Hmm, yes. Because a man who looks like a Greek god and can also make me cum THREE TIMES is clearly someone I don't want anything to do with." Az joked as she pulled Ben's face down to give him a gentle kiss. 

Ben rolled his eyes as Az giggled. Which turned into a whimper as he pulled his cock out of her and he chuckled when he saw her pout, "Alright love. None of that. I'll be right back."

Az sighed and stretched out on the bed. She heard water running in the bathroom and Ben emerged with a warm washcloth. 

He sat on the bed next to her and gently pulled her knees apart as he cleaned her up. Az smiled her thanks as Ben returned to the bathroom to clean himself up.

He walked out and saw Az had gotten underneath the covers, as he pulled back the covers he smiled, "Is this spot taken?"

A slow grin split her her face as she shook her head and patted the spot next to her. 

Ben clambered into bed beside her and when he opened his arms wide, Az snuggled right into them. She sighed contentedly as Ben placed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. 

As they both drifted off to sleep, they both thanked the star they had wished on for making their dream come true. 

High above, the star they had both wished on, seemed to shine a little brighter as it hung right above the sleeping couple. 

~~~

Rich woke up the next morning with a headache, the feeling that he had fuzz all over his tongue and the need to never consumer alcohol ever again. He groaned as he sat up and saw Joe, who was snoring louder than a man that size should, was still sleeping. 

Rich stretched and slowly made his way to the bathroom. As he finished up and walked back out to the living room, he peered into Az's bedroom and saw her bed was empty. He shrugged, Az usually got up early so he figured she was already out on her boat. 

After making coffee and taking it out onto Az's porch, he saw her boat still in the port with no sign of activity. He cocked his head, mentally going through a list of places she could be at. 

His feet were heavy as he meandered down he dock. When he got closer to the large boat, he had arrived on the other day, he saw that the door on the uppermost floor wasn't closed all the way. Grumbling about how Joe would make a terrible captain, he lumbered aboard to take care of it.

After closing the first door, Rich did a quick sweep of the other areas to make sure everything was good to go to take Joe and Ben back out on the boat today. If Joe could stomach being on a boat after drinking so much. As he reached the floor by the uppermost deck he saw the bedroom door open at the end of the floor with light coming through it. 

He crept closer and peered through the crack. He saw Az and Ben, both sound asleep, Az curled up into Ben's chest, Ben's arms wrapped tightly around her waist. 

Rich slapped a hand over his mouth and sprinted back to Az's apartment, pumping his fist the whole way.

He quickly dug his phone out of the recliner cushions and texted Lop a million exclamation points, peach emojis and eggplant emojis.  

Almost immediately Lop texted back, "I fucking knew it." 

Rich laughed as he crept back downstairs, leaving the lovers to wake up in each others arms and to thank their lucky star.  

[80s-roger]

down & dirty: 80s!Rog x Latina!Reader

requested by @johndeaconlover:

“Hi! How are you? Can I order a Roger Taylor smut in the 80's? He coming back from the stadium show that Queen was performing in Sao Paulo - Brazil with a Brazilian groupie in her early twenties? Since I'm ascending in Leo, you could make a pretty hot smut. Ps: an atypical Brazilian, only with big breasts, chubby and no butt. Please thank you! Xxxx”

i tried my best for this! ps. i love leo’s with my entire heart and i’m a taurus lol

masterlist

warnings: oral (f,m receiving), hardcore, swearing, cumshot

portray: early 80s!Rog, female latina reader

words: 2,154

summary: let’s say your name’s Beatrice and you’re a young twenty-one-year-old hot, thick and confident Brazilian who loves queen with her entire boobs, because boobs are bigger than your heart. you would be a groupie and you’d follow the British band everywhere just to see your crush roger taylor, the also hot drummer of queen. as he has seen you following, him and his bandmates since they toured in south america, after tonight’s concert in Sao Paulo, he treats you a drink at the hotel he was staying.

Tonight's concert was awesome. You screamed your lungs out at every song they performed and your eyes couldn't be taken away from the blond drummer. You really fancied him, it wasn't just a celebrity crush. You weren't a groupie for nothing. You literally wanted to spend a night with Roger. A night with a mature man who shows his masculinity by the way he bangs those drums.

As the concert ended, the band went front to the crowd, taking a bow as a thank you gesture and at the end, Roger threw his drum sticks, on purpose, close to you and didn't forget winking after all these flirting glares you gave him threw the entire concert. Of course, you caught his sticks and you couldn't stop staring at his name written on them, "Roger Taylor". By then, you had to follow them to their hotel.

You knew the hotel they were staying after following them for two days straight at your country. You took a cab and then sat at the lobby, waiting for them to arrive, not giving a damn what time they'd come. You wished they didn't attend any party. Rog at least because you were determined about sleeping with him if the chance comes. But he's such a player, he would be into it anyway.

As time passed by, it was almost one hour after midnight and you finally saw his figure at the reception. He was alone. You supposed he came on his own just because he knew you'd follow him even at his hotel. He has seen you multiple times since the day they landed in SA. You stood up, pretending you saw nothing, going through the lift. He was distanced from the reception when he saw you and killed you with his hot gaze. He checked on you from head to toe and you were so flattered by it. Your confidence reached God level. As he comes next to you, you feel the entire world disappearing. It was just him and you. Thankfully, the lift's doors opened on time and you both made your way upstairs. It was up to him now. You provoked the first step, now it's his turn.

"Hey." he smiled at you, breaking the silence.

"Oi!" you greeted him and smiled back.

"Oh, Portuguese..." He laughed staring at the ground. "Um..." he itched his chest, as his hand surpassed his blue shirt. "Você fala inglês?" He seemed like it was the only thing he could say in Portuguese so you decided to play him a bit.

"De qualquer maneira." You laughed because he didn't understand a word. Your English were really good, you just wanted to be a good tease. You loosed your shirt, having your breasts kinda exposed to him. As he notices your move he swallows in excitement, like he can't wait to fuck you.

"Sorry?" He shakes his head confused.

"I know English, I'm just teasing you." You laughed and he felt released after you spoke in his native language.

"I waited for something english coming from you so you could understand me saying how beautiful you are." He bit his lip as his hand gently wrapped your waist and you already felt like dying.

"Ah, obrigada!" You smiled all flattered.. "Would you like us to grab a drink at the bar?" You offered before going immediately to the main menu. He was impatient getting into your pants but you wanted to tease him for real.

"Oh, of course umm..." He stops as he finds out he doesn't know your name.

"It's Beatrice." You introduced yourself and his smiles goes bigger as he hears a Latin name coming from a bombass Latina.

"You already know my name, so let's just go to the bar and get along." He made way for you as the elevator's doors opened again and you both sat at the bar and ordered a drink for each other.

"So, why did you come here on your own?" You asked, searching for fast answers. You wanted to be sure he came here just because he thought you'd be here waiting for him.

"I actually knew you'd follow me or at least wait for me at the hotel I stay so I said to myself, nah, I should eventually meet you. You were literally in front of me for so many days." He laughed after taking a drag of his cigarette.

"It sounds now like I am a stalker!" You laughed before drinking from your glass.

"Well in the rock n' roll music industry you call it a groupie so it doesn't sound like you have mental issues." He joked and you both got really close as the time passed. You could feel the heat among you and the desire of sleeping together growing fast. "You don't stay in this hotel don't you, Beatrice?" He asked as he placed his glass down, at the counter. It was coming.

"Of course not, but I would as long as you stay here." you winked and he got the message. You were both so turned on by the attitude you two served. His eyes were burning you alive.

"How about, coming with me?" He just offered you sex, oh my god, you thought, it's finally happening.

"Why not?" You raised an eyebrow and stood up as he grabbed your hand and led you to the lift again, an hour later.

As you got inside, he pressed the seventh floor and all this ecstasy, led you on jumping on his lap, kissing him passionately, revealing the lioness in you. It was a thirsty and deep kiss, all you wanted to get from him, before the rest, hmm.

"You're so ready for it, aren't you?" He asked interrupting the kiss and gently grabbed your small butt.

"I've never wanted anyone this badly before." You said as you took a breath and wrapped your fingers at Roger's blond messy hair.

"Just tell me how you like it." His voice was deeper than usual and kissed your lips again and pressed you against the lift's wall, with no space among you. You already felt his boner between your legs and you got so wet in seconds.

“You don’t have to be gentle with me, I don’t break easily.” You looked at his eyes and his pupils dilated.

He was just staring at you amazed and shocked before kissing you and without removing you from his lap, he went at his room's door, unlocked it, both got inside and locked again. You were finally at his big suite, ready to feel him inside you. Roger threw you on the bed the way you wanted him to. You wanted it rough so he's not playing and neither are you. He was so impatient taking his clothes off and so were you. With fast moves, he took off your denim shorts, revealing your already black wet panties. As he was shirtless you could watch his chest jumping up and out by anticipation. He was horny and so were you, the room was about to turn into hell. He laid on top of you, rubbing his bulge between your legs while his lips moved to your neck, biting and sucking you, you knew there'd be marks the next day but you didn't care because they're made by Rog. He then, unbuttoned your bra, revealing your big breasts he was impatient to fuck.

"Oh my fucking God..." He gasped at the sight of them and placed his head right there, squeezing them and sucking them. You wouldn't stop moaning at his touches on you.

The next thing he did after he was done with your tits, he took off your wet panties and he was straight in contact with your soaked pussy. He dominantly stared at you and with no warning, he placed his tongue at your clit eating you like he was starving. The way he was eating you, caused you to moan loudly and impulsively you placed your hand on your mouth. As he notices your hand on your mouth, he stops what he's doing and looks at you with a serious tone. “Just for that, I’m gonna suck your clit ‘til you go blind,” he said and then you were fucking turned on. You said rough, you're really getting it the way you wanted it. "Fuck, I'm sorry." You apologised and the next thing you felt, was your clit swollen by him as his three fingers inserted your vagina and he was moving them fastly, leading you on the edge of cumming so early.

"I don't want to cum yet..." You whimpered as you arched your back and he stopped what he was doing after giving you a long lick down there.

“I don’t care how good it feels you’d better not cum until I tell you to.” He said as he got close to you again, kissing you so deeply, you could receive a taste of what you taste like and hell that was addicting.

He made you stand up from the bed and he went to his suitcases, taking a condom. He wore it around his boner and kneeled you down, “You look so good on your knees like that.” he bit his lip and you could only be impatient sucking him. "Filthy cock-slut, choke on it," he said and grabbed your head onto his pelvis. You had his dick in your mouth and you were taking it so well, it gave you pleasure at every inch of your body. "Ah, that's it, baby..." He moaned as your blow-job made him lose it and his hands moved you even closer to his base, reaching his balls and your throat welcomed already his hard long dick. "Holy fuck..." He moaned as you took him out from your mouth.

"It would be rough for both of us.." You winked as you exhaled.

"Is that so? You wanna be competitive?" He raised his eyebrow and kissed you again. "Then, bend over, I am not joking." He ordered. His leadership on sex is so sexy, even you, as a confident and dominant woman gets lost on it. You did as he told you and you were legit ready to get his dick.

"Make it hard, I can take it." You prepared yourself as his hands wrapped your waist and his dick was shoved inside your wet cunt. His moves were fast from the start, imagine what's happening later.

"You feel so good all soaking wet, you take my cock like a whore..." He moaned as he was giving you multiple butt slaps when you were moving back and forward, begging for his dick to go even deeper in you.

"Oh my God, Roger, fuck me harder..." You loudly moaned and he fastly turned you over so now you have a clear view of his blushed face.

"I want to see these tits bouncing the way I fuck you hard." He bit his lip and grabbed your legs as his hips were moving fastly against you. You would explode in any minute if he wouldn't let you come.

"Fuck Rog, I wanna cum." You whimpered as you moaned his name.

"You do? You have to beg for it.." He said as his thrusts were continued against you. You wanted your clit rubbed but if you touched he'd punish you. You noticed a vein-popping at his temple, he was so close.

"Please Roger, let me cum! Please!" You whimpered as you were reaching your climax.

"Cum, little slut, cum..." He moaned as he pressed his thumb against your clit and rubbed it fastly after removing himself from your pussy. A second later, you squirted in front of his penis and you laid your head back, relaxing after the epic bonk you got from him. "Now come here and taste my cum..." he demanded and you came in front of him, tasting all his ejaculates. "You take it all so nice, like a whore... Fuck..." He whispered as he saw you swallowing everything he gave you.

"That was so hot Roger... It was the best thing ever..." you exhaled after standing up from his bed.

"Oh my God, it really was. What a sexy Latina you are..." He was watching you dressing up again and he did the same, at least he wore his underwear. He would sleep in a few. "So you're leaving now?" he asked confused.

"Yes, I don't want any commitment." You winked at him as you were standing close to his door.

"Can I at least have your number? Do you have a telephone?" He asked confused. Not all people had phone devices.

"Oh, sure." You raised your shoulder and gave him your number. "We had a wild night..." You smiled before opening the door.

"You could sleep here tonight..." he suggested.

"I could, but you fucking me was much more desirable... You feel?" you smiled at him and he did the same. "Boa noite e bons sonhos, Roger." You gave him a sweet kiss and left his hotel room.

[local-troubled-writer]

Untitled Sam Taylor Project Part 1 Social Media

@rain-must-fall , @silvver-rose , @borhap-socials , @yourealegendfred , @blushmis , @angrylizardjacket, @radioxtaylor, @pauline-a-l, @wint-er-voices

[angrylizardjacket]

angrylizardjacket’s imagine masterpost

Bohemian Rhapsody

Series

ask your destiny to dance (Masterpost)

Roger/OC (Ash) | long-running, follows BoRhap, NSFW

And All The Queen’s Men (Masterpost)

Roger/OC (Giselle) | famous singer, collaborates with Queen often

act your age (Masterpost)

Roger/OC (Ash) : John/OC (Giselle) : Freddie/OC (Oscar) | high school/college au; the school is putting on Heathers the Musical

‘cos i don’t believe in ghosts {Masterpost}

Joe Mazzello/Reader/Lucy Boynton | cryptid/supernatural AU

Brian May

any time

Words: 1343 | Unspecified!Reader | existential crisis hurt/comfort

like flying

Words Per Part: approx. 2000 | Unspecified!Fallen-Star!Reader | Stardust AU

sweet chaos

Words: 3640 | Female!Extrovert!Reader | just... chaotic, but sweet as well

what it’s worth

Words: 2957 | Unspecified!Photographer!Reader | Smile-Era, fluffy

Freddie Mercury

limited eternity

Words: 2649 | Male!Reader | time travel, fluffy but also sad

John Deacon

a process

Words: 3169 | Female!Reader | fluffy, set pre-A Night At The Opera

dinner plans

Words: 1041 | Unspecified!Reader | proposal fic, FLUFF

double shot. /SMUT\

Words: 3380 | Female!Reader | 1981 Montreal Deaky Smut

morning light

Words: 1877 | Unspecified!Reader | fluffy n soft

oblivious

Words: 2066 | Female!Extrovert!Reader | deaky-centric mutual pining

Roger Taylor

a kind of loneliness

Words: 4027 | Unspecified!Photographer!Reader | pining and trying to move on

a long time coming

Words: 2008 | Female!Pregnant!Reader | a lil bit of arguing with a happy ending 

a soft sunrise

Words: 1103 | Unspecified!Reader | morning fluffy w/ the boyfriend

always been close

Words: 2870 | Female!Reader | friends-to-lovers 

and then there was light

Words Per Part: approx. 5000 | Female!Roadie!Reader | on tour, gets real angsty

at ease / audio version

Words: 1181 | Female!Reader | fluff

convenient 

Words: 3228 | Male!Reader | fuckbuddies with feelings

just alright? /SMUT\

Words: 2216 | Female!Reader | daddy kink, post-pub gig, thigh riding

soup for the soul and also for eating

Words: 1105 | Unspecified!Sick!Reader | fluff af

time’s arrow / epilogue

Words: 2727 | Female!Reader | angst with a happy ending, a story through seasons 

tug.  /SMUT\

Words: 2605 | Female!Reader | smut, Rogerina outfit

what is and isn’t allowed

Words: 2253 | Unspecified!Bartender!Reader | smile-era pinning

Dominique Beyrand

only fools

Words: 4331 | Unspecified!Reader | angst with a happy ending

Mary Austin

sunshine smiles

Words: 2219 | Female!Reader | Smile-Era, friends to lovers

ease my mind. /SMUT\

Words: 1534 | Female!Reader | trying to be discrete during a recording session

Jim “Miami” Beach

you may not be blood, but you’ll always be family (Platonic)

Words: 1175 | Unspecified!Reader | sometimes you just need a hug

the sun always sets behind you (Platonic)

Words: 1880 | Female!Daughter!Reader | reader is roger’s new assistant, and his reputation precedes him

Ben Hardy

guessing games

Words: 2152 | Female!Actor!Reader | ben and reader are together and not subtle and yet joe still doesn’t realise 

heard your name in every love song

Words Per Part: < 2000 | Female!Actor!Reader | falling in love on set

it hurts because it has to

Words: 3107 | Male!Reader | FWB angst with feelings

lead up

Words: 1367 | Female!Reader | getting ready for the BoRhap premiere

lover boy

Words: 1514 | Unspecified!Reader | reader visits the set, Ben is a big softie for them

of comfort and joy

Words: 1562 | Unspecified!Reader | Christmas Dad!Ben fluff

when i said it i thought it was true

Words Per Part: approx. 3000 | Female!Actress!Reader | BoRhap Fake Dating AU

Gwilym Lee

all the world

Words: 4761 | Female!Actor!Reader | cast in a midsummer night’s dream production w/ gwil

integrity. /SMUT\

Words: 1865 | Female!Reader | one night stand

Joe Mazzello

don’t @ me

Words: 1781 | Unspecified!Reader | cardboard ben shenanigans

i’ll be in the front row

Words: 3269 | Unspecified!Reader | reader and joe get close while he’s working on undrafted

insufferable

Words: 2390 | Unspecified!Lighting Designer!Reader | College Theatre AU

sharp dressed

Words: 1498 words | NB/Male!Reader | golden globes + some anxiety re; callout culture

teenage fantasy. /SMUT\

Words: 2483 | Female!Reader | reader is worried joe’s outgrowing her, he looks to prove he’s not

Lucy Boynton

heaven in hiding. /SMUT\

Words: 2105 | Female!Reader | PWP + Dom-ish!Lucy

Rami Malek

our love was made for movie screens

Words: 2967 | Unspecified!Introvert!Reader | a few moments of PDA in an already uncomfortably public relationship

Roger Talylor / Reader / John Deacon

how long can you stand the heat? / SMUT \

Words: 2794 | Female!Sub!Reader | PWP + AOBTB

Ben Hardy / Reader / Joe Mazzello

nostalgia

Words: 1141 | Female!YouTuber!Reader | long distance comfort

the things we do for likes

Words: 1954 | Female!Reader | embarrassing the reader on instagram

prettiest things

Words: 3874 | Female!YouTuber!Reader | OSCARS 2019

Ben Hardy / Reader / Roger Taylor

eyes on the horizon

Words: 1447 | Female!Reader | the reader tells them she’s pregnant

holiday cheer. /SMUT\

Words: 3604 | Female!Reader | Filthy holiday threesome smut.

my baby’s a public menace

Words: 2670 | Female!Reader | Four iconic moments the press has a field day with. (Modern)

take comfort

Words: 1807 | Female!Reader | exhaustion & hurt/comfort, fluff (70s)

that fools should be so deep-contemplative

Words: 1810 | Female!Reader | BoRhap filming & premiere & daughter

the in between moments

Words: 2664 | Female!Reader | during/post pregnancy + light angst

the motley fool thus morals on the time

Words: 977 | Unspecified!Reader | 70s!Roger has met 2018!Roger. He doesn’t talk about it a lot

Tags

#thirst-hour - Thirst Hour tag (NSFW)

#ben-x-reader-x-roger - Ben/Reader/Roger tag (NSFW)

#joe-mazzello-can-get-it - Joe’s Other Characters tag

The Dirt

Series

Run to Paradise (Masterpost)

Nikki/OC (Lola) | long running, follows The Dirt, NSFW

Nikki Sixx

compound regret

Words: 2701 | Unspecified!Reader | mutual pining in the name of safety

Vince Neil

first aid

Words: 1481 | Unspecified!Reader | providing first aid after the first gig fight

people change

Words: 2065 | Female!Rockstar!Reader | article style, speculating about reader’s relationship

Daniel Webber

M1

Words: 1440 | Unspecified!Reader | driving home to see his family

the last house at the end of the street

Words: 2871 | Unspecified!Reader | Australian as Hell + Fluff

Douglas Booth

the band with no name

Words Per Part: approx. 3000 | Female!Punk-Musician!Reader | you’re in a cover band and he hasn’t told you he’s in the motley crue biopic

Machine Gun Kelly

fit by my side

Words: 3188 | Unspecified!Pastel!Reader | clashing aesthetics and real feelings

guardian as a title

Words: 2512 | Female!Reader | the lead-up to adopting Casie

i’ll leave early

Words: 1173 | Unspecified!Musician!Reader | exhausted, you’re missing each other

mouth full of white lies

Words Per Part: < 2000 | Female!YouTuber!Reader | fake dating on The Dirt set

sabotage

Words: 6477 | Female!Makeup-Artist!Reader | you’re an assistant on The Dirt

[sam-writes]

Queen/BoRhap Masterlist

Fics:

Sunshine and Tea / Ao3 link: 984 words || Ben!Roger x Unspecified!Reader:

Having nothing scheduled for the day, reader spends their time with their boyfriend, Roger Taylor, enjoying the more quiet moments in life.

Delighting Gods / Ao3 link: 1861 words || Ben!Roger Taylor x Unspecified!Reader:

Reader is a culinary student and old friend of Queen guitarist Brian May. They frequently cook and bake for the band. Despite the constant compliments from the band, it seems impossible to impress the drummer, Roger Taylor.

Nightmares and Love Songs / Ao3 link: 1073 words || Ben!Roger Taylor x Masculine Alligned!Reader:

Late at night reader finds a testy eyed, tired Roger Taylor playing a soft song in the back of the studio. It takes reassurance and comfort to calm his mind for the first time in months.

Wandering Eyes / Ao3 link: 1329 words || Ben Hardy x Unspecified!Reader:

Ben Hardy has asked you out on a first date to your local pub to watch a band.

Lover Boy: 1645 words || Warren Worthington iii x Unspecified!Reader:

Warren has become increasingly distant over time and you unintentionally find out why. This results in a painfully distant day, but once night sets, the mood changes entirely,

A Break In The Clouds: 1880 words || God!Ben Hardy AU:

Having found a strange man in the forest late one night, Jaime Miller takes it upon themself to help this man. Unbeknownst to them, this man is Benjamin, God of Spring.

A Big Day: 1272 words || Dad!Ben Hardy AU || Collaboration:

Ben Hardy is left alone with his kids for the day so they decided to spend the day baking and kicking around a ball in the backyard.

Tranquility: 879 words || Ben Hardy x Female!Reader:

Ben is anxious to receive the call about his audition for Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), so you decided to take it into your own hands and get him to relax.

“Speak up.” / Ao3 link: 1862 words || Ben Hardy x Gwilym Lee x Male!Reader || Smut:

Ben and Gwil plan a night out with you and the boys. Unknown to you, it entails more than you expected.

Series

Lipstick Stains:

Ben!Roger Taylor x Male!Reader

Ao3 link

Called into work for a very interesting job, filming for queens new music video ‘I Want To Break Free’, reader finds himself in an unpredicted situation.

Lipstick Stains: 1478 words

On Your End of the Line: 1565 words

Café Contemplations: 1436 words

Queen’s University:

Professor!Gwilym Lee x Teacher Assistant!Reader x Librarian!Ben (polyamorous relationship)

This series isn’t beinrg written in chronological order, it’s more just bits and pieces every now and again.

A Drunken Christmas: 1430 words

It’s a christmas party and the secretive love birds end up accidentally getting drunk when math professor Joe Mazzello spikes the punch.

Death on Two Legs: 1888 words (aka the sicfic)

Joe gets very sick and the QU trio go to investigate.

Cherry Smoke:

Roger Taylor x Male!OC

Ao3 link

Queen loses a gig to up-and-coming rock band, Cherry Smoke, and Roger Taylor is not happy about that.

Cherry Smoke: 2263 words

Unexpected, Not Unwanted: 1841 words

Regrets and Mistakes: 1547 words

A Lover's Note: 1683 words

Headcanons:

Ben Hardy x Reader: College relationship

Professor!Gwilym Lee: part 1 | part 2 | part 3

Benjamin and Jaime: Fluff

Joe Mazzello x Reader: Working on a Stephen King movie together

Joe Mazzello x Male!Reader: Preacher’s Son

Ben Hardy x Reader: Pizza diner

Roger Taylor x Reader: Family get together

Ben Hardy x Reader: Meeting the family

Ben Hardy x Male!Reader: Stealing His Clothes

BoRhap Boys: Hopeless Pining

Ben Hardy x Male!Reader: Secrets Revealed

Ben Hardy x Reader: Meeting Your Parents

Benjamin x Jaime Miller: Domestic Life

Queen’s University: Together On The Couch

Ben Hardy x Joe Mazzello x Male!Reader

Soft Benjamin x Jaime: headcanons

Russ/Jeff headcanons (for Siriuslymooned)

QU professor!Gwil angst

Grease!Borhap Boys

Drabbles

Self Indulgent Early 80’s!Roger Taylor x Male!Reader || 662 words

I’m Exhausted But I’m Emotional Over QU So Have A Thing // 1032 words

[borhapparker]

special victims unit  |  borhap x female!oc - chapter two

summary: The Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the NYPD, investigate sexually related crimes. Lead by Lieutenant Astrid Morrison, they solve New York's most sensitive cases, as well as battle with their own demons from the past.

warnings: mentions of sexual assault, mentions of alcohol and drugs, lots of triggers mentioned above

word count: 3.9k

series masterlist  |   teaser (read before this)  |   chapter one

Astrid's phone rang in the dark room, curtains pulled shut to prevent light form coming in, as she reached over, grabbing it and answering.

"Morrison." she answered, the figure next to her on the bed shifting at the sound of her voice.

"Lieutenant, we have a victim. Meet us at the hospital, we're on our way." Lucy's voice rang from the other end as Astrid rubbed her face with her other hand.

"Yeah, I'll be there. Give me twenty minutes."

Ending the call and placing her phone on the nightstand she got up, before an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into the covers.

"Five more minutes." the voice said as she smiled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling his body closer to hers.

"Just five more minutes." she said, closing her eyes.

"Who called?"

"Lucy. New case, she's on route to the hospital." she said, as he groaned.

"Why can't we stay here the whole day?"

"Well, you have work, and I do too." she paused, before letting go and getting out of his grasp. "Alright, let's go."

Groaning once more, he got out of bed and headed to her bathroom, as she checked her texts for updates on the victim.

Twenty minutes later, Astrid walked into the hospital with a coffee cup in hand, as Lucy approached her, frown on her face.

"What do we have?"

"Avery, transgender female, was injured in a fall from a bridge."

Astrid sighed, before nodding to the room. "I want to see her."

Lucy led her inside the room, where the victim was waiting, Detective Ben with her and the parents.

"Hi, I'm Lieutenant Astrid Morrison with the Special Victims Unit." she said, as the parents introduced themselves. "So, Avery, can you tell me what happened?"

"I was taking pictures on the bridge when they surrounded me."

Ben spoke up, notepad in hand as he took notes. "Avery, can you describe them?"

"Black, my age." she slowly breathed in, "They were giving me the look."

"What look is that?" Ben asked.

"The freak needs to learn a lesson look." the parents looked at Astrid, hurt spread across their features as one held her hand and the other placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner. "I tried to go but they started saying stuff."

"What were they saying?"

"Tranny. He-She. My personal fave." she paused, "I told them to leave me alone. One grabbed my skirt, another my camera. I was pushed and I tripped on my heels."

Astrid took a step forward, "Avery, can you remember anything else about the boys, anything they said or that they did?"

Tears pooled in Avery's eyes, "It was all a blur of shoving, people laughing," a tear streamed down her cheek, "Taking video."

The father spoke up, "This isn't the first time, and the local precinct never follows up."

"We will." Astrid reassured the family, "We take this very seriously. I give you my word, Mr. Parker."

Returning back to the station, all the detectives got to work on trying to find anything they could to ID the boys that had pushed Avery. Lucy finally found something, pulling Astrid out of her office.

"What do you have?"

"Well, we were checking social media, lensing the area where the crime occurred, and these finally popped up." she led her back to the big round table in front of a large screen tv, where the rest of the detectives were.

"These three separate cell phone videos so far. They all begin after it started, but you get the idea." Joe said, pressing play as they watched.

"Let's see slut. What's under there?" "Beat his ass!"

Someone smacked Avery across the face in one of the videos, "Oh, he's slapping him around."

"Darius, we're going to get in trouble!"

"All these people watching. Nobody helps."

"How long do they go on?" Astrid asked.

"Till the fall." Rami says.

"You're not getting that camera back, uh-huh." "Aw, she likes you, Darius." "They dancing."

"Just give it back." "Get off me you freak!"

A boy pushes Avery, as she topples over the edge of the bridge, the crowd in the videos gasping.

"Do we have any idea who posted these?"

"Well, according to Facebook, it's two sophomore kids  and one junior from Shirley Chisholm."

Astrid looked between her three detectives, "That's it, guys, let's go, full court."

They all drove to the school, heading inside and looking for the administration in charge, who directed them to where a bunch of students were, three that had posted the videos.

"I didn't do nothing. I just took a video." a girl said, holding a pencil between her fingers as she wrote down notes for an essay.

"You watched a person get assaulted and thrown over a bridge." Lucy said.

"I didn't touch that freak show, and why is he wearing a skit, acting all -- whatever."

"Who were the guys messing with Avery?" Joe asked.

"I don't know." she said, pointing the pencil at both Lucy and Joe, "That's your job."

They walked off, as Ben and Astrid were with a teacher, showing him the video of the incident.

"This is deeply disturbing."

"Yes, it is, and three different students from your school posted those videos."

"Well," he handed back the tablet, "Let me be clear. This behavior is in no way indicative of our community. We strive for inclusion."

"We understand." she changed the video to three pictures, showing the three suspects. "Who are these kids?"

Having now got the names of all three students, Astrid and Ben headed to another full classroom, where students were throwing around pieces of paper and chatting.

"Alright, quiet." the same teacher that had spoken to them spoke to the class, as the class lessened their chatter. "Keon Williams and Markus Green, come with me."

"Why?" one spoke up.

"We didn't do nothing." another said.

"Now."

Both of them stood, walking to the teacher and out the door with Astrid and Ben following behind.

Meanwhile, Joe and Lucy were talking to another teacher.

"Why are you looking for Darius?" she asked, arms crossed in front of her door.

"It's a police matter. Where is he?"

"He was here before school began, very upset about something. I told him we could talk after lunch."

"He live nearby?" Lucy asked as the teacher shook her head negatively.

"He won't be there. He hates the projects. There is one place he likes to go." she paused, "Book Culture."

"Let's go." Joe said to Lucy as they thanked the teacher and headed off to the bookstore. Walking through the various shelfs full of books, before they spotted him sitting against a shelf with a notebook on his lap and a pencil in his hand. "Darius McCrae?"

"Hey, NYPD." Lucy parted her coat, showing him her badge. "Darius," she motioned with her hand and walked to him, "Get up."

"Come on, I-I didn't do anything." he said.

"Come on, Darius, stand up. Let's make this easy." Joe said, as Darius frowned and got up, placing his notebook in his bag.

"Yes, sir."

-

In an interrogation room, Ben rolled up his sleeves of his shirt, before supporting his weight on his hands, leaning into the suspect. "So, you're saying it wasn't your fault?"

"That tranny started it, all up in our face with, you know, being weird."

The mom next to him spoke up, "That boy goes around dressed like a girl? You should be talking to his parents, not my son."

"Well, they're in the hospital, and you're here, so think about that." he walked towards the door, opening it and closing it behind him.

"Markus, did you beat up on a girl?" the grandmother asked her nephew, who was sitting with Rami.

"He's not a girl, grandma. He's one of them he-she's." he said as she smacked his hat off.

"Wow." Rami said, Ben walking over to him.

"Acts like one, wears makeup."

The grandmother looked up at Rami, "Why would he do that?"

"That's not the issue." Rami said, "The issue is your grandson pushed a kid off a bridge."

The grandmother gasped, "You did what?"

"I didn't push him off the bridge, grandma! I swear!"

"Then you better tell them who did."

He looked down, shaking his head slightly. "I don't know."

Ben glared, "Markus, look at me." he looked up, "I know that your grandmother did not raise you to lie."

Markus was silent for a few seconds before he spoke up, "It was Darius. He's a grade above me."

Right as he said that, Darius walked through the door, Joe and Lucy escorting him into another interrogation room.

"Am I going to jail?" Darius asked as Lucy crossed her arms.

"When your mom gets here we need to talk, but the best thing to do is to tell the truth."

"You want a soda, sandwich or something?" Joe asked Darius as he groaned, his arms cuffed behind his back.

"My stomach's not feeling good."

"Darius?" a voice was heard through the entrance as everyone turned to the sound of the voice.

"This way, ma'am." Ben said, escorting her to where Darius was sitting with Astrid, Lucy and Joe.

"I'm Lieutenant Morrison."

"Ms. McCrae, I'm Detective Joe Mazzello. This is Detective Lucy Boynton."

"I'm sorry, mom." Darius spoke up. "I didn't mean to do anything bad."

"What do they think you did?" the mother asked.

"A teenager was assaulted in Fort Tryon Park and is now in the hospital."

"I didn't mean to hurt him."

The mother looked at Joe and Lucy, "Darius is a good kid. He takes care of his little sister. He goes to -- to church."

"Okay, well, ma'am, we still just need to talk to him, okay." Lucy reassured her.

"But he's only fifteen." she said.

"Which is why we waited for you." Astrid spoke up, "We needed you to be here when we read him his rights."

-

"We were just talking to him." Darius said, now in an interrogation room with his mom next to him, "I asked what was up with the dress.

"So Markus and Keon were telling the truth? It was your idea?"

"Yes, but we were all messing with him, tried to lift up the skirt."

The mom frowned, "Darius, why would you do that?"

"I didn't want my friends to think I was gay."

"So you were being tough around your boys. Is that why you pushed Avery?" Lucy asked.

"No, he fell on me and I just pushed him away. I didn't mean for him to fall over the bridge."

"Then why'd you run?"

"Because it was the worst thing I ever did. I thought I killed someone."

Through the glass, Ben and Astrid were watching the interrogation. "This kid seems genuinely upset. The other two, they just think it's funny."

Astrid spoke up, hands on her hips, "Yeah, well the other two didn't push Avery off a bridge. I mean, she could've died."

"Bright side, all three confessed. We got the video evidence, we're done." Ben said, following Astrid to her desk.

"Look, the video is shaky. The kids are underage. I just don't want anyone claiming that those confessions were coerced." she sighed, rubbing two fingers on her temples. "Let's see if Avery can come in and make an ID."

"You got it." Ben said, leaving and heading to his desk, where he called the family and asked for a lineup ID. They agreed, driving over in less than twenty minutes.

They prepared the lineup, as Avery and her family arrived. Placing them in front of a glass window, Avery got up, as the boys walked in. Looking through the lineup, she pointed one out.

"Number four."

"Number one."

"Three."

Astrid knocked the correct amount of times on the glass for each suspect, before turning back to Avery. "You did great, Avery."

"They look smaller in there." she sat down on her wheelchair, groaning slightly. "Scared."

"Well, they should be, Avery." Ben said, "They're in trouble."

"Did they say why they did this to me? I'm not stupid, I wasn't being cheeky."

"It wasn't anything you did," the mom reassured her. "We need to get back to the hospital."

Darius' mom spotted the daughter and the parents, getting up from her chair. "Excuse me."

The family stopped at seeing her.

"Are you the Parkers? I'm Darius' mother." she said as Astrid approached her.

"Ms. McCrae, now may not be the best time."

Avery spoke up, slightly shifting in her wheelchair. "Hold on. I want to hear her out."

"My son is really sorry for hurting you."

"Did he tell you why he did this to me?" Avery asked.

"Avery, let's go," the mom said as her dad slightly pushed the wheelchair.

"Just wait a minute." Avery said, reaching out a hand for Darius' mother, who sadly smiled and gripped his with sympathy, "Ask him, please."

The mother and father separated both, anger coursing through them as the other detectives watched. "Okay, we need to leave. Now."

"Come on, this way folks." Joe started leading them to the doors, as Astrid watched them walk away.

Joe turned, getting Ms. McCrae's attention and escorting her to sit in a chair next to his desk.

"Wait, my son has to spend the night here?"

Joe reassured her, sitting across, "No, he's gonna be able to go home. The desk sergeant's gonna give you an appearance ticket for tomorrow in family court."

She furrowed her eyebrows, "I have work tomorrow. I'm a home care attendant."

"Well, you're gonna have to call in sick. You gotta be there."

She exhaled in frustration, looking around before nodding, waiting patiently for the sergeant to come back.

-

Lucy served herself a cup of coffee in the break room as she heard footsteps, before Ben appeared in the doorway.

"Those poor parents, right?" he asked as Lucy only nodded.

"You want one?" she gestured to the coffee as he smiled in confirmation, leaning against one of the counters opposite from her.

"Hey, Lucy, let me ask you something." he paused, collecting his thoughts, "What makes a boy decide to be a girl? I mean, is it that he likes boys? He just doesn't want to be gay?"

She thoughtfully came up with her answer as she stirred his coffee, "There's a difference between gender identity and sexuality, Ben."

"Yeah." he thanked her for the coffee, taking a sip and smiling, "You know, my parents, they think this is all about getting attention."

Lucy chuckled, "You were a 14-year-old boy once. And would you or any other boy you knew put on a skirt, if it didn't come from a real place?"

He chuckled, shaking his head, "No, not a chance."

-

Joe, Lucy and Ben were at the Office of Corporation Counsel, waiting with Marcus, Darius and Keon. The counselor approached, as she turned and looked at the sitting audience.

"Good afternoon, which one of you is Marcus Green?" he raised his hand as she nodded, "Come with me please."

Joe spoke up, "Counselor, you want us inside?"

"If I need anything, I'll let you know."

She headed inside a room, as everyone waited patiently outside. Forty-five minutes later, Marcus walked out with a smug look, as she called on Keon next, Ms. McCrae confused as to why her son wasn't called before.

She waited, as Keon walked in, and walked out forty-five minutes later, a smug look adorning his mother's features, as she shook hands with Ms. Cox, the counselor.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Cox. I promise you, Keon has learned his lesson."

They walked away as she turned to Darius, who stood up and walked over, his mom behind him. Walking inside, she closed the door behind them and motioned for them to sit, explaining the deals the other boys received as punishment.

"The other boys got probation?"

After that, they kept talking, trying to figure out a suitable deal for Darius, one that hopefully wouldn't jeopardize his future. They finished and walked out, Lucy heading straight for Ms. Cox and Ms. McCrae for Joe.

"This is not fair. The other boys get probation but she wants my Darius to do three months in juvie?"

"That's what she wants. A judge still has to rule." Joe said, trying to reassure her that it wasn't over.

"She also told me that if it goes to trial, Darius could get a year. I said I wanted to talk to a lawyer but she said no one was available today."

Lucy walked over, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, that's your right. They're gonna have to wait."

She listened, before turning to Joe, "Talk to that lady about Darius. He's no thug, and he's had a lot to deal with."

"I'll do what I can."

She turned to Darius, tugging on his shirt as he stood up and headed to Joe. "Detective Mazzello, can you make sure Avery gets this? Tell him to know I'm sorry."

He walked away as Lucy turned to Joe, who opened the drawings to inspect them. "What's that, drawings?"

"It's an apology."

"Well, and it's an admission of guilt. You know, if you were Avery, would you want to hear anything that Darius has to say right now?"

Joe sighed, "My brother got the crap kicked out of him when he was a boy for being friends with a gay classmate. No one ever apologized to him."

-

Back in the hospital, Ben was with Astrid, as Avery looked happier than she was. "Darius McCrae wrote something for me?"

Astrid smiled, "He did. He wanted to apologize."

Avery's dad looked at her, "You don't have to read it if you don't want to."

She looked up, "No, I do."

Astrid handed her the file with the drawings, as she opened them, a smile on her face.

'If I could get a do-over, I wouldn't do it.'

The smile dropped from her face as she examined the drawing, her parents sharing a look of concern.

'But I wish I could erase it. I hope one day you can forgive me.'

She looked up, "Did you tell him I was into graphic novels?"

"No, we didn't know." Ben answered, as Astrid smiled.

They walked out with Avery's parents, as questions began to spill from the dad's lips. "We heard the boys took a plea, does that mean Avery won't have to testify?"

"The third boy, Darius, is speaking with a lawyer, so we should know more tomorrow." Astrid answered as the parents nodded their heads in confirmation.

"What Avery's gone through, she's a tough kid. You must be proud."

The dad smiled, "We are."

Suddenly, the hospital lights flashed, "Code blue, code blue."

The doctors rushed in the direction of Avery's room as the parents turned to each other with a look of concern. "That's her room!"

They all ran over, as the doctors began to use a defibrillator, restoring a heart beat inside her body.

"Clear!"

"My baby!" the mother cried out, catching the nurse's attention.

"Please, you have to wait outside."

"No!"

Ben and Astrid began slowly motioning for them to head outside the room, the parents wanting to make sure their daughter was okay, as the doctors worked on her.

"Check the heart.." "No pulse." "Let's go again." "Nothing." "Come on, Avery honey, stay with me." "Clear!"

-

The doctor comes out, a frown on her face as the parents break, bursting into tears and sobbing over their daughter.

Ben's growing concern escalates, as he begins to interrogate the doctor in charge. "One minute Avery's fine and then she's gone just like that?"

"What happened?"

"A fatty embolism." the doctor answered.

"Oh no. From the fractured leg, right?" the doctor nodded, as Ben crossed his arms.

"When the femur fractured, fatty globules were released. They traveled to the lungs. Death is almost instantaneous."

"So this embolism was a direct result of Avery's fall?"

"No question," the doctor shook her head.

The doctor walked away as Astrid rubbed a hand over her forehead, Ben turning to her with a disappointed look on his face.

"What do we say to them, I'm sorry?"

"Never gets easier." Astrid answered as they both walked over to where the parents were grieving, as she sat next to them, "Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I'm so sorry."

They nodded, before the husband erupted into a sobbing mess, the wife cradling him in her arms as the detectives rubbed their backs in consolation, before excusing themselves and returning to the police station, where everyone else was.

"What happened?" Rami asked as Astrid frowned.

"Avery died."

-

A few days later, they were all waiting for the results from the M.E. as Ms. Cox walked in with a blue folder in hand, Astrid walking out of her office to meet her.

"The M.E. confirm cause of death?"

"Saddle embolism to the lungs, direct result of the broken femur from the fall. No intervening cause."

Astrid sighed, putting her hands on her hips.

"What does that mean for these boys?" Lucy spoke up as Ms. Cox turned around.

"Well, Markus and Keon didn't push her. They didn't cause the death."

Rami spoke up, crossing his arms, "But Darius McCrae did."

Another lawyer walked into the station, catching everyone's attention. "Lieutenant, we need to talk about the Avery Parker murder."

She turned, nodding, "Of coourse. Kenneth O'Dwyer, meet Pippa Cox."

"It's nice to see you again, Ms. Cox. You'll want to be in on this meeting too." he said, as Pippa nodded, following them to Astrid's office. "The D.A.'s office is taking over the prosecution."

Dumbfounded, Rami had joined them, as Astrid lightly tilted her head, "Now, you know Darius McCrae's only 15 years old?"

"Yes, and if he's tried in family court, he'll be charged with juvenile delinquency and be back out on the street again when he's 18."

"Wait, you're looking to charge him as an adult?" Astrid asked as O'Dwyer nodded.

"Second-degree manslaughter."

Pippa spoke up, "We can charge that in family court."

"We can, but we won't, and I want to attach a hate crime."

It was silent for a few minutes, as Astrid sighed, "Okay, wow."

O'Dwyer spoke up again, "There's an epidemic of attacks on trans persons. We have to take a stand."

Astrid interjected, "Yes, but I don't think that this is that case. Darius seems like a good kid."

"He went after Avery, he taunted her and he pushed her off a bridge."

"But you want to charge a 15-year-old as an adult?" Rami asked, furrowing his eyebrows, "He could get 20 years."

O'Dwyer sighed, "It's more like seven. And while I appreciate your sympathy for Darius McCrae, we can't wait for a more overtly evil perp. We have to draw a line."

Rami and Astrid exchanged a look, crossing their arms as they sighed in unison.

-

Lucy was visiting Ms. McCrae, informing her of the charges, as she paused her, concern etched on her features.

"Darius and I, we feel horrible that Avery died, but that was because of something that went wrong at the hospital."

"Well," Lucy began, wringing her hands together, "The autopsy showed that it was a complication resulting from the fall."

"So, what does -- what does that mean?"

"They're charging him with manslaughter," Rami spoke up, "He'll be tried as an adult."

The mom was dumbfounded, as she frowned, "My Darius? No no no.. He's -- he's just a kid."

"But the DA and the mayor want to send a message that hate crimes aren't acceptable in New York City."

"Hate crimes?" she breathed out, "The only person Darius hates right now is himself."

"I'm sorry," Rami apologized, "This is where we are."

Lucy got up from the chair, adjusting her blazer, "You said Darius was in his room?"

"You have to take him right now?"

"Yeah, he's got to be arraigned. Can you call him please?" Lucy asked, crossing her arms.

They escorted Darius out of his home and back to the police station, as they booked him in for the night, waiting to be arraigned in the morning.

-

tags:

@hollandroos  @me-a-hopeless-romantic @shuri-owns-my-heart @im-grac3ful-but-fi3rc3  @thebohemianpenguin  @misterf4hrenheit @sofarxitsalright @lolabean1998  @sailing-race @desperately-bisexual @desir-ae @cl0ve @theimpossiblehologramtree @peachllobotomy @rrrogah-tayluhh @allaroundaddict @orchideax @thesevenseasofnublar @owensgrxdy​

[borhapparker]

special victims unit  |  borhap cast x oc female character

a/n: this is a new series, based around the show “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”. the borhap cast are detectives in this series, and i do partly follow the timeline in the show. the backstories are not the same and there will be unexpected cliffhangers, and deaths. feel free to let me know if you’d like to be on the taglist for the series! reblog and like!

word count: 1029

series masterlist  |  full masterlist

Marrisa "Astrid" Morrison (born December 23, 1991) is the commanding officer of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. Prior to taking over SVU, Morrison worked as an SVU detective and was partnered with James Friar for 8 years. After James' resignation, she was partnered with Detective Joe Mazzello, before becoming a Sergeant and took over the unit. After that, she was promoted to Lieutenant and is now in charge of SVU. When she was a detective, her badge number was 4015. As a sergeant, her badge number was 01139 and as a Lieutenant, she no longer has a badge number.

Joshua "Josh" Gillian (born April 26, 1991) is the Sergeant of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. Prior to being second in command as Sergeant, Gillian worked as an SVU detective and was partnered with Michael Davis, Julia Mills and Robert Peters before becoming Sergeant. As a detective, his badge number was 7021 , and as a Sergeant his badge number is 0231.

Rami Malek (born May 12, 1981) is the Commanding Officer of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. Prior to being commanding officer, Malek worked as an SVU detective and was partnered with Terence Fields, Samuel Muggins, and Lucy Boynton before becoming Commanding Officer. He has a relationship with Detective Lucy Boynton, which caused for a change in partnership when it was revealed to the administration. As a detective, his badge was 4530 and as Commanding Officer his badge is now 0945.

Joseph "Joe" Mazzello (born September 21, 1983) is a former police detective who transferred to the Special Victims Unit  from narcotics and warrants in 2011. He is charismatic and charming and often used his charm to get difficult witnesses who do not cooperate to talk. His prior partnerships were Bryce Reels, Julia Vasquez, and Astrid Morrison. His badge number is 0840.

Ben Hardy (born January 2, 1991) is a detective assigned to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. He was transferred to the precinct after Lieutenant Astrid Morrison put in a request for an "experienced, empathetic Detective". He was in Staten Island SVU for two months, Brooklyn for almost a month and Queens for a week (before that, he was a patrol officer on Staten Island). He has a knack for interrogations, by pretending to empathize with suspects and getting them to open up to him. His badge number is 0458.

Lucy Boynton (born January 17, 1994) is a detective assigned to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, in September 2011, after moving to New York City from Atlanta, Georgia. She's tough towards her co-workers when it comes to bringing in personal opinions into cases. Her prior partnerships were Rami Malek, Jenny Raines and Phillip Wales. Her badge number is 3894.

Gwilym Lee (born November 24, 1983) is the former ADA assigned to the Sex Crimes Bureau. Lee is a by-the-book, no-nonsense ADA who requested a lateral transfer from Brooklyn to Manhattan shortly after a certain case compromised his department. Lee will put pressure on whomever he needs to win the case, wether it is the victim or the arresting officers. He obtained a scholarship to Harvard University, where he studied law.

-

"I've got eyes on both of them. Atlantic and 4th Avenue."

The suspects spotted them, one nudging the other as they took off running in the opposite direction.

"NYPD! Stop!"

They pushed through the crowds, onlookers getting thrown to the ground by the impact as the officers ran.

"Out of the way! Move!"

They ran into an alley, turning the corner and seeing the other detectives before quickly turning around towards a fence. Grabbing onto the chain, they started pulling themselves up before the detectives grabbed their jackets, pulling them down and against the wall.

"Arms behind your back. You're under arrest."

Two officers handcuffed them, as the other two pointed guns at the suspects, a taunt to ensure that they wouldn't run. Witnesses on the street watched, some with phones filming the arrest as the detectives groaned.

"Come on guys, move along."

The detective that caught a suspect shook his head at the crowd. "Thanks a lot people. No, thank you. Citizens of New York, I applaud you. Give yourselves a hand. Yeah, take a picture."

Walking away, the crowd dispersed, as the suspects were put into patrol cars, and taken to the station for processing.

Two escorted one of the suspects into an interrogation room, as the suspect groaned in frustration. "Come on. I'm staying out of trouble."

"Is that why you ran?" a detective asked as the suspect sat down.

"You people were chasing me."

One of the two leaned their hands on the table, eye level to the suspect. "Where were you Wednesday night Juan?"

"I'm not sure." he paused, looking down at his hands before back up to the detectives. "What did Ronnie say?"

In another interrogation room, Ronnie pushed a tablet away from him on the table.

"Man, we met that waste case at the cafe. All we did was try and help her get home."

One of the detectives jumped in. "You mean you dragged her home, beat her and raped her?"

"It wasn't us. As soon as we got right outside the cafe, she got all belligerent and took off."

"Then why do we have witnesses that put you at her building?"

"That's a bluff." Ronnie said, smirk on his face. "I saw the news. No one called 911."

The lieutenant watched her detectives interrogate the suspects as she pressed the mute button for the speaker, watching the ADA walk over to her.

He knocked at each of the glass windows, the detectives inside excusing themselves and leaving. They all reconvened outside, the ADA wanting to hear what they have to say.

"Where are we on these boys?"

"Nowhere." the ADA said, "Ronnie and Juan are lying as we speak."

The lieutenant shrugged, "Well, Will wasn't any help either."

One of the detective spoke up. "Ronnie had a second cell phone on him. The call log was deleted."

"Send it to TARU, see what they find?" the female detective asked, as the lieutenant nodded.

"In the meantime, get a photo array over to Libby's building."

The ADA looked over, raising san eyebrow. "Maybe one of our Good Samaritans can make an ID."

"Yeah." she sighed, as they both headed out of the squad room and to a cell, where Will had been waiting to be processed.

-

tags:

@hollandroos  @me-a-hopeless-romantic @shuri-owns-my-heart @im-grac3ful-but-fi3rc3  @thebohemianpenguin  @misterf4hrenheit @sofarxitsalright @lolabean1998  @sailing-race @desperately-bisexual @desir-ae @cl0ve @theimpossiblehologramtree @peachllobotomy @rrrogah-tayluhh @allaroundaddict @orchideax 

[borhapparker]

now you see me |  chapter one

summary: charismatic magician gwilym lee leads a team of talented illusionists called the four horsemen. gwilym and his comrades mesmerize audiences with a pair of amazing magic shows that drain the bank accounts of the corrupt and funnel the money to audience members. a federal agent, agent malek, and an interpol detective, agent boynton, intend to reign in the horsemen before their next caper, and they turn to Thaddeus, a famous debunker for help.

word count: 3.2k

fic masterlist  |  masterlist

Skye stopped at the corner, looking up at the tall building in front of her as she sighed, holding her cup of coffee in her hand and a bag slung over her elbow. She crossed the street, a smile on her face as she reached the building before hearing her name.

“Skye!”

She turned, seeing Gwilym stepping out of a taxi, confusing across his features.

“Gwilym? Hey!”

He closed the door to the taxi, furrowing his eyebrows. “Ah, you got a card, huh?” She nodded, holding it up for him to see. “No, no, no, it’s good for you. Congratulations.” he walked over to her, “Alright, so here’s what I’m going to do, I’m gonna go inside, scope the place out. You wait out here, I will come back and get you, okay? Do not come in.”

“Hey Gwilym,” she caught up to him, smile on her face as she patted his shoulder, “I’m not your assistant anymore.”

They both walked into the building, heading to the floor and door they were instructed to, as Gwilym continued to talk to her. They reached the floor, before they stopped.

“Oh,”

Joe looked up, furrowing his eyebrows as he looked between the two. “Okay.” he paused, “So apparently none of us was the only chosen. Let me be the first one to kick my ego to the curb.”

Gwilym and Skye walked over, as he motioned to the door.

“It’s locked.”

“Is it? I’ll check.” he said, walking over as Joe moved to the side.

Joe turned to Skye, smile on his face. “You, now, hold it, don’t tell me. Uh, Skyla? No, no.. Skye.”

Gwilym turned to them, noticing her coffee cup. “It’s on your coffee cup.”

Joe turned to him, “Thanks for keeping me honest,” before looking back at her as she furrowed his eyebrows at Gwilym. “That wasn't mentalism by the way. That was just an observation. Second observation, you are beautiful.”

She smiled, “Thank you.”

Gwilym walked back to them, holding his card and adjusting the bag over his shoulder. “That’s good. That’s very nice. Very well-polished. Nice bit. Uh, Gwilym Lee, nice to meet you.” he held out his hand as Joe pocketed his card, going for a handshake before flipping Gwilym his middle finger. “Very nice. I know who you are and I just want to say that I’m not interested in you doing your mentalism thing on us. Especially when we don’t know who brought us here or even if it’s real.”

Joe raised his hand, stopping him as he began to read him. “Shh, hold on, I’m sensing… I’m sending you are a control freak.”

“I’m sorry, have we met before?”

Skye spoke up, eyebrows raised, “It doesn’t take a mentalist to figure that out. You are a control freak.”

Gwilym smiled, “Well, I take that as a compliment.”

She scoffed, “Only he would take it as a compliment.”

“Okay, great. Good. Another compliment.”

Joe began, as he looked between both of them, “Okay. So that’s why you’re no longer a couple.”

Gwilym and Skye both shut up, as they parted their lips, turning to Joe.

“No, no, we were never a couple.”

“He used to saw me in half,” she said, as she began the motion with her hand.

“She was a very good assistant.”  Gwilym turned to her.

Skye groaned, before looking at Joe, “Yeah, but I was too fat for Gwilym.”

“Uh, no. I said that one time because of the trap door.”

They began to argue, as Joe watched, smirk on his features before Ben walked up the stairs, turning. His eyes widened, watching the three magicians.

“No, way. Gwilym Lee? Mate, I’ve seen everything that you have ever done. You’re like… I idolize you. Seriously.” Ben held out his hand, smile on his features.

Gwilym shook it, turning to Skye with his eyebrows raised in surprise, “From a true fan. It’s so nice to meet you.”

“I’m Ben, by the way.” he turned to Skye, shaking her hand as well. “Skye Barnes, a big fan as well.”

Skye smiled, “Thank you! Nice to meet you, Ben.”

Joe spoke up, pulling his card from his pocket. “Question. Did you get one of these?”

Ben reached into his satchel, pulling out an identical card. “Yeah. Death.”

All of them held up their cards.

Skye showed her card, “The High Priestess.”

Gwilym held up his, “The Lover.”

Skye coughed out, “Three minutes.”

“Hermit.”

Ben titled his head in confusion, motioning to the door. “So, what are we… Are we waiting for someone? Why are we just..”

The three spoke in inusion, “Door’s locked.”

Ben smirked, “Oh, no, nothing’s ever locked.”

Moving the three aside, he crouched to the door, holding two metal pins in his hand as he clicked the lock open, before turning the knob and opening the door. Gwilym and Skye held up flashlights, aiming them inside the apartment as they walked through. Looking into the various rooms, all empty, they exclaimed in horror as they saw the run-down and dirty bathroom. They continued to the living room, where a card had been propped up on the floor next to a white rose.

“What’s it say?” Skye asked as Gwilym crouched down, grabbing the note. “I don’t know.” he opened the card, reading out to the group. “Now you don’t.”

Skye picked up the rose on the floor, heading to the vase filled with water, “A rose by any other name.”

Dropping the flower into the vase, the water began to drain from the container.

“Woah.”

“Guys, what’s happening?” Ben asked, watching as the water drained into the figure created in the floor, before it triggered a mechanism, vapor coming from the floor. “It’s gas!”

Skye chuckled, “Relax, it’s just dry ice.”

Gwilym looked up, “Wait, what do you guys think this is?”

Joe stopped him, “Hang on, hang on.” He closed his eyes, wanting to read the room, before shaking his head. “I got nothing.”

Gwilym furrowed his eyebrows, “Okay. Thank you. Thank you for the delay.”

“I was just trying to create the space for wisdom.”

“Oh, okay, so you’re like Buddha, if he wasn’t so enlightened.”

Joe titled his head, looking at Gwilym as if he grew three heads, “And you’re like Jesus, if he was arrogant and all of his miracles were fake.”

Skye intervened, hands up, “Okay, get a room, lovebirds. Gwilym, be honest, did you do this?”

Gwilym shook his head, looking at Ben. “No, wait, did you?”

Ben scoffed, “I wish, mate.”

Gwilym tried flicking the switch on the wall, as Ben only frowned, “Electricity's out.”

Joe reached up to the lamp on the ceiling, fingers grabbing the light bulb. “Well, let’s check.” he turned the bulb as it lit up, triggering the cameras connected to the doors on, as they revealed holograms in front of the group. They walked to the holograms, smiles on their faces as Skye chuckled.

“Blueprints.”

“They’re incredible.”

Ben spoke up, “Who do you think did this?”

“I don’t know, but I really want to meet them.” Skye said, watching as the blueprints unfolded before their eyes, “It’s a show.”

Gwilym reached into the hologram, before tapping a symbol in the middle, one representing the same one on the floor. As he tapped it, three words unveiled before their eyes.

The Four Horsemen.

LAS VEGAS - ONE YEAR LATER

The magicians stood on the side of the stage, smiling at each other as they waited for the introductions to begin before walking to the stage.

“Joe Mazzello.” he smiled upon hearing his name.

“Gwilym Lee.” Fiddling with a deck of cards in his hand, he paused at hearing his name.

“Skye Barnes.” she grinned, nudging Gwilym who only nodded.

“Ben Hardy.” he smirked, shifting his weight from one foot to another.

“Arthur Tressler and the MGM Grand proudly presents The Four Horsemen.”

They walked upon the stage, as the crowd clapped and cheered. They each walked along different sides of the circular stage, addressing the crowd as each screen held their symbol.

“Thank you!” Gwilym waved, smiling. “So tonight, we’re going to be pulling a couple tricks out of our sleeves.” he paused, smiling, “Literally.”

All four of them pulled on their sleeve slightly, as a single dove came out from each of them. The crowd cheered.

“Okay, for my trick, I’ll need three volunteers.” Skye smiled, as people raised their hand in the air. She pointed at three different audience members, as they headed up to the stage. A curtain came down, obscuring her section form the rest as three large cards appeared behind her. “Now, each one of you walk behind a card. This is a game I love to play, called Find the Queen.”

They each took their places, as the cards turned. She headed up to two of the cards, tapping them as they switched. “Where’s the Queen?”

The audience pointed to her far left, as she headed there. “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you guys, but the Queen isn’t here.” she pulled down the card, as no one was behind. They pointed to the far right as she headed there too. “In fact, you’re all wrong.” pulling down both cards, the audience members that headed there for the trick, were now gone.

The audience gasped. She brought the cards up once more, as they played another time, the audience members back behind the cards. As they cheered when she finished, she waved. “Thank you!”

Pulling the deck of cards from her hand, she flicked the deck up, before being engulfed in the falling cards, the trap door underneath her opening as she fell through, disappearing before her section. They gasped, as the curtains came up.

The rest of the magicians finished their act, each disappearing before walking back out after the short intermission.

“Thank you,” Joe said, waving at the crowd, “Tonight, we would like to try something different that will, well, set us a bit apart.”

“For our final trick, we’re gonna do something never before seen on a Las Vegas stage.”

“Or any stage, for that matter.”

Gwilym stepped upon the middle stage, elevated from the rest, “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight..” he paused, smiling, “We are going to rob a bank.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, clapping and shouting as they realized the impossible feat. The magicians were excited at their reaction, smiling themselves.

“That’s a lot of excitement for a crime.” Gwilym said, chuckling.

Ben and Joe faced each other, as they ran towards each other, smiles on their faces, “One, two, three!” they reached each other and high-fived, now walking opposite of each other, as Gwilym and Skye laughed at their antics.

Gwilym smiled, clapping before waving his arms, “Okay, settle down.” he paused, the crowd lowering their volume, “Now, who here has a bank they would like us to rob?” The crowd waved their arms, wanting to be picked for the act, “That’s a lot of people with a vendetta. So we’ll choose one at random then. My associates will make sure it’s random, right?”

Each of them grabbed a fishbowl with ping pong balls, heading to a different corner in the crowd.

“Elvis, help me out bud.” Ben held out a fishbowl to an Elvis impersonator, as he grabbed a ball and gave it to Ben.

“In Ben’s bowl are section numbers. Ben, could you hand me a section number?” Ben threw the ball in Gwilym’s direction, as he caught it. “Thank you, we are looking at Section B. Where is Section B?” he turned, hearing the cheers coming from his left, as he pointed at them. “Okay, there. It’s gonna be one of you guys. Get ready.” he paused, laughing, “I don’t know why everybody’s happy. It’s only them.”

Joe bent down, handing the bowl to an audience member as they handed him a ping pong ball.

“Merrit, could I get a row please?” he threw the ball, as he caught it, reading the number out. “Thank you, we are looking at row number five. And Skye, could I please have a random seat number?” getting handed another ball, he read out the number once more. “Oh, lucky number 13. B-5-13. Where are you?” he looked at the section, as an older man got up from his seat, surprised expression on his face. “Sir, please stand up. Ah, there you are. Hi. Could you just confirm for me that this is in fact your seat? B-5-13?” Gwilym held up the numbers to the man, the screen projecting them as he nodded, before Gwilym threw the balls to the side. “Okay, wonderful. Now, could you please tell us your name and the name of your bank?”

The man held up the microphone to his lips, “Well, my name is Etienne Forcier. And my bank, it’s Credit Republicain de Paris.” he said, a thick accent coming with his lips as Gwilym tilted his head.

“French, okay. Uh. We were hoping for something a little more local, kind of mom-and-pop credit union with no security. But that’s fine. A promise is a promise. Will you please come up to the stage, and we’ll rob your bank.”

Etienne walked down the steps, heading to the stage as the rest of the Horsemen turned to another section of the audience, thanking their benefactor and the person who helped them. As soon as Etienne reached the stage, all of them turned back to him.

“Etienne, uh what Ben is bring to the stage now, is what we, in the magic world, call a teleportation helmet. You will need to wear this as it will allow you to literally fold through space and time to your bank in the…” he paused, “8th?” Etienne tilted his head as Joe went up a number, “9th.” he nodded, as Joe smiled, “9th arrondissement. Now, once you are there, we will be able to speak with you through this helmet. Now if.. Ah!” Ben placed the helmet over Etienne’s head, as they all smiled, “Oh my god, that’s beautiful. It has the added attraction of being very stylish. It’s about time the French learned from America on that subject.”

The crowd laughed at Joe’s comment, as they finished adjusting the helmet over his head.

Gwilym walked over, Skye close behind, “Now, before you go anywhere, could you please pick a card, any card.” he fanned the deck, Etienne going to grab a card before Gwilym laughed, “Nope, not this one. Ah, that’s an old English joke. You can take that one. Now, show it to your friends in Section B but not to us.” he showed everyone the card. Two of hearts. “Okay, great. Now, if you could just sign your name there. In English if possible.” he handed him a marker, as the rest of them looked away so they wouldn’t see the card. “Now, put it in your pocket.”

“And now, for one tiny detail.” Skye flung the piece of cloth she had in her hand, the air vents carrying the cloth as it spin in a circle, covering the centre of the stage where, as soon as the cloth disappeared, the contraption made for their trick had been revealed

The crowd clapped, everyone grinning in excitement for what was to happen.

Joe led Etienne to the contraption, “Now, Etienne, let’s step into this cockamamie contraption. And I’ll step off of it. Bonne chance.” Gwilym and Ben walked over, each standing in front and back of Etienne, off the device. “It’s 11:50pm here in Vegas, that’s 8:50am in Paris. Your bank opens in less than 10 minutes.” they pulled down the curtain that would protect Etienne from the outsides, before stepping off and next to Joe and Y/n.

“One.”

They each took a side, equally spread apart as the crowds watched.

“Two.”

Etienne waved, with a smile.

“Three.”

Skye pressed the button in her hand, as the contraption closed abruptly, Etienne disappearing from sight. Everyone flinched at the action, gasps spreading throughout the crowd as everyone looked around.

“Wow! Etienne?”

“Woah.”

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that, was it?” Joe asked, confusion spreading across his features as the audience watched. “I liked that little French guy.”

“Etienne?”

There was sound that came from the speakers, as the screens displayed a blurry Etienne. The audience screamed in delight and exploded into applause at seeing him.

Gwilym quieted them down, “No, no, no, no. Please, please, please.” He turned his attention back to Etienne on the screens. “This is Gwilym Lee. Can you hear me? Etienne? Are you okay?”

It took a second, but Etienne replied in a muffled voice, “Yes.”

“Perfect!” Gwilym clapped his hands, “What do you see in there?”

Etienne walked around the stacks of money, eyes widening and smile growing. “Money,” he said, before bending and picking a couple bills up. “Is this real?”

Gwilym nodded, as the rest of the magicians smiled, “Yes. Looks like three million or so euro’s worth. Okay, now here’s what we’re gonna need you to do. I want you to take the card that you signed out of your pocket. And I want you to take the ticket stub from tonight’s show and I want you to put it right there in the middle of the money.” Etienne did as he was told, pulling the card from his jacket pocket and the ticket stub from his slacks’ pocket, before letting them fall between the stacks of money. Gwilym continued, “Now, on the side of the helmet, you should feel a button.” Etienne felt around on the side of his head until his finger located the button. “Don’t press it just yet. That button activates an air duct that connects Paris to Las Vegas.”

Etienne did a thumbs up, smiling, as Gwilym grinned. “Okay, good. Now you can press it.”

He pressed the button, as Ben looked at the screen as well. “All right, now, Etienne, hold on tight. You might feel a bit of a vacuum.” As soon as you heard rumbling, the money began to fly upward into the air duct.

There was silent anticipation through the crowd, as the screens turned black. Suddenly, a low rumble was heard through the theatre. “Wait a second.” Gwilym said, holding up a finger.

Half a minute passed before the three million euros from the bank came raining down on the audience from the ceiling, fluttering onto the floor and into waiting hands. Everyone was on their feet, shouting and exclaiming from glee, or just laughing and marvelling at our brilliant trick. All four of them laughed, smiling, as Skye was embraced by Gwilym, who brought Ben and Joe over for a group hug. They had done it, one of their biggest tricks yet.

They let go, as Gwilym threw out his hands. “Thank you, Etienne!” he called over the noise. “Thank you, everyone!”

Everyone headed to the center stage, as the magicians called out in inusion, “We are the Four Horsemen!”

“And good night!” Skye finished.

“Good night!” Joe echoed her.

Joe and Ben fist bumped, congratulating one another as they headed off stage. Endorphins were coursing through their veins, as they heard the cheering from the audience from the side stage, arms around each other.

“We did it!” Ben said, as everyone laughed.

“Now, the fun’s just beginning.” Joe smirked, as they all nodded. “Let’s head out.”

tags: (add yourself here)

@thebohemianpenguin @will-ptx @itsametaphorbriansblog @misterf4hrenheit @sofarxitsalright @lolabean1998 @sailing-race @hollandroos @desperately-bisexual @desir-ae @cl0ve @theimpossiblehologramtree  @rrrogah-tayluhh @allaroundaddict

[borhapparker]

special victims unit  |  borhap x female!oc  -  chapter one

summary: The Special Victims Unit, a specially trained squad of detectives in the NYPD, investigate sexually related crimes. Lead by Lieutenant Astrid Morrison, they solve New York's most sensitive cases, as well as battle with their own demons from the past.

warnings: mentions of sexual assault, mentions of alcohol and drugs, lots of triggers mentioned above

word count: 3.2k

series masterlist  |  full masterlist  |  teaser (read before this)

Detective Lucy Boynton and Detective Joe Mazzello headed back to the victim's apartment, a tablet in hand as they knocked on the witnesses' doors. One opened, a little shocked at seeing the detectives waiting.

"How can I help you?" he asked as Lucy motioned to go inside.

The neighbor opened the door, letting both detectives inside. "We have possible suspects, and we'd like to confirm with you that you indeed saw the suspects the night they broke in." Lucy explained as the witness only nodded.

"Sure. Anything to help Libby." she handed him the tablet as he flicked through pictures of the suspects. Coming across one, he pointed, the suspect they had arrested's picture on the screen. "This one."

"Okay, good." Joe went to grab the tablet as the witness paused.

"Actually--actually wait." he flicked through the pictures again, coming across one that wasn't the actual suspect. "Maybe both of them?"

Joe rolled his eyes, as Lucy took the tablet. "Okay, um, why don't we try the others and come back to this group?"

On the other side of the building, Ben was going through the pictures with another witness. "Take your time, Mrs. Weissman."

She flicked through the photos, as she passed the suspect and pointed to a random picture. "I think he was there."

Ben looked at the tablet, confusion spread across his features. "Are you sure?" he turned the tablet back to her, as she looked up at him.

"Should I be? Am I wrong?"she paused, "Which one is it?"  she looked through, only coming back to the same picture once more.

Lucy and Joe had dispersed, now going though the pictures with witnesses in the courtyard. "I don't recognize any of them." one witness said, flicking through the photos."

The spouse of the witness anded the tablet back to Lucy, "We told you. We barely saw anything. C'mon, we're late."

Joe stopped them before they walked away. "We still need you to take a look."

"I don't want to be involved in a trial." the husband said.

Lucy butted in, a bit of anger coursing through her. "You're an eyewitness. You know the DA can subpoena you to testify."

The husband turned to Lucy, disgust and disbelief coated his words. "Do you have any idea what this has been like? It's all over the news. People are blaming us for what happened to Libby, claiming we don't care."

"Well, then, show you do care. Help us now."

The couple shared a look, before grabbing the tablet. The couple did as they were told, before handing the tablet back and leaving.

Lucy and Joe parted ways, heading to the station in their own cars as Lucy called Gwilym, the lawyer. As she walked to her car, she held the phone up to her ear, looking around at the other witnesses that watched her.

"So no one could ID all three?" Gwilym asked as she shook her head.

"Couple of them made one ID, but couldn't make the other two."

"Which does more harm than good. Try harder." he hung up the call as Lucy got into her car, heading to the station.

Back at the station, Rami picked up a piece of paper from the printer, inspecting the writing before looking up. "Lieutenant! I just heard back from TARU about Ronnie's second cell."

Astrid walked with him, "Okay, any texts or photos from that night?"

"No, but there was a 911 call made from the phone around the time of the rape. Only lasts for a few seconds." placing his hands on the table in front of him, he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at the paper.

"Well," she paused, "He wouldn't call the cops on himself."

Getting up, he smiled, "So it's not his phone." the paper in his hand was pulled from his grasp as she inspected the numbers. "Most of the contacts are Hispanic females," he pointed out the numbers, as she nodded along.

"So, call them all. Tell them that you're trying to return the phone." he nodded before walking back to his desk, and picking up the phone.

The first number answered, "Maria?"

He furrowed his eyebrows at the question, but answered back. "Uh, hola, soy un detective de la policía de Nueva York. Estoy tratando de devolver este teléfono, lo encontramos en la calle. ¿Sabes por casualidad quién es el propietario del teléfono?"

The person on the other line quickly answered, "Sí, es de Maria Ortiz. Vive en 595 West 162 Street."

He nodded, placing the phone between his shoulder and ear, while writing down the address. "Muchas gracias. Que tenga una buena tarde."

"Igualmente, adios."

Hanging up the phone, he looked up at his lieutenant's office, with a smile. "I've got an address and a name!"

She smiled, "Let's go then."

They headed out, following the directions on their GPS, before paking outside a building. The building indicated that Maria was on the third floor in apartment 595. They walked up, before knocking on the correct door as an older woman opened the door.

"Hi, is this Maria Ortiz?" Astrid asked as the woman nodded. "This is your phone, right Maria?" she pulled out the phone from her pocket, showing it to her as she took it.

"Yeah. Thank you, uh - I must've dropped it."

"Do you remember where?" Rami asked as she shook her head.

"No, I don't."

Rami took a couple steps towards the door frame, "We just have a few questions. You mind if we come in?"

Maria sadly shook her head, as the detectives walked inside her home, closing the door behind them.

"Was it in the building where that woman was assaulted a few nights ago?" Rami asked.

Astrid butted in, "We read your texts and we know that you nanny for a family that lives there."

Maria quickly turned around, "I didn't see anything."

Astrid furrowed her eyebrows, inspecting the woman's face. "Wow, what happened to your eye?"

She sighed, "I fell."

"On your eye?"

She sighed again, as Rami slipped his hands into his jacket pockets. "Maria, you did the right thing by calling 911."

Maria shook her head negatively, "I should not have."

Astrid grabbed Maria's hands with a small smile on her face, tilting her head slightly, "Now, you need to finish what you started by telling us what you saw."

Maria looked between both detectives, frown on her face as she turned around, taking slow steps to her kitchen. "That woman was passed out. There were three boys with her, I knew something was wrong so I called 911." looking down at her phone, she sighed, "It barely rang before the black boy hit me." she motioned to her eye, "I was on the ground, and he had my phone. He said he knew who I was and if I called the cops that he would kill me."

"Okay."

"So I ran." she finished, fright on her features as her hands shook.

"Did you get a good look at their faces?" Rami asked as she nodded.

"Could you come down to the station and make an ID for us?" Astrid asked, Maria already grabbing a jacket and nodding in reasurance.

They all walked down together to the squad car, getting inside and driving to the station, where the ID would be happening. Gwilym was called in as well as the supects' lawyer, as they stood behind a glass window.

"Take your time, Maria." Astrid said as the suspects were sent in, each standing behind a number.

She looked at all the suspects before turning to Rami, "Number three." she said, pointing out Will, the youngest suspect.

He knocked three times on the window, as the suspects were taken out of the room and replaced with the next group.

"Number six," she said, pointing out again another suspect, Juan.

Knocking six times on the window, the suspects were yet again replaced with another group, as Maria shakily breathed out.

"Number two." the suspect's ID was made, and Ronnie was picked.

Once again, the detective knocked twice on the window before they were escorted out.

"Thank you, Maria." Astrid said, looking back at Gwilym, who only nodded in reassurance. "Thank you."

She escorted her our of the squad room as Gwilym turned to Ronnie's lawyer, "Ready to talk, Mr. Guthrie?"

He looked back at him, frown on his face as he brought his witness into an interrogation room, Astrid with Gwilym sitting across from Mr. Guthrie and Ronnie. "You have one good witness and forty bad ones."

"Maria's believable and consistent." Gwilym backed her up, "She says Ronnie assaulted her and stole her phone. He was found in possession of that phone. Shall I go on?"

Ronnie scoffed, as his lawyer looked between the detective and the lawyer. "My client won't deny that he was there."

Astrid straightened up, "So, now you're changing your story?"

The lawyer spoke up, "Well, he was afraid if he told you what happened you would jump to conclusions."

"Really?" Gwilym asked, disbelief spread across his features.

The lawyer and Ronnie exchanged a glance as Ronnie tilted his head, "Look, we went back to her building, okay? She was high, horny. Said she wanted all of us at once."

"She said that?" Astrid asked, mouth agape, "Even though she had blacked out and could barely walk?"

Ronnie lightly shook his head, "Well, and that's exactly why we said no. She was.." he paused, "Messed up. Kept saying she wanted it rough. But we not like that, so we bounced."

The lawyer turned to Astrid, "Your victim must've gone back on the prowl." turning to Gwilym, he raised an eyebrow, "How about misdemeanor assault on the nanny?"

"How about no? We'll see you in court." Gwilym answered back, as Astrid pushed in the chair, before they both walked out of the interrogation room, leaving Ronnie with anger on his features as his lawyer remained quiet.

-

It had been a few days since the incident in the interrogation room, as Astrid, Joe, Rami, Ben and Lucy were in court, watching Gwilym interrogate Maria, as Ronnie and Juan watched.

"I saw the three of them dragging Libby Parker towards the building."

"Uh-huh, Ronnie Ellis, Juan Flores and William Reeves?" he asked as she nodded, "What happened next?"

"I called 911. But that one--" she motioned her head towards Ronnie, "Ronnie, he came back at me, punched me, and took my phone. Said he'd kill me if I told anyone."

"Thank you. No more questions." Gwilym said, as he took a seat and Mr. Guthrie stood up.

"Did you see them hurting Ms. Parker?" he asked.

"They were dragging her." she said, as he walked over to the jury stand.

"Or trying to help her up. Did you see them raping her?"

"No." she said, while shaking her head negatively.

He finished his questioning before the next witness took the stand, Gwilym beginning his interrogation.

"You saw them outside her apartment door?" he asked.

"Yeah, uh, those two," he pointed at Will and Juan, "were trying to get inside. They had her keys."

"What did you do?" Gwilym asked.

"I yelled at them and they ran."

Will's laywer stood up, beginning questioning as Gwilym ended his own.

"So you never actually saw any of the defendants with the victim?"

"No."

The lawyers continued their questioning with the rest of the witnesses they had, before Libby took the stand.

"I, uh, went to the cafe. A man offered me Special K and I took some. I'm not very proud of that."

Gwilym looked at her sympathetically, "What happened next?"

"I'm not sure. My memory of that night did not completely come back."

"Do you remember giving consent for a sexual encounter?" he asked her as tears welled up in her eyes, shaking her head negatively.

"No. And I never would have consented, ever, to three strangers outside in public. That is not me."

He looked at the jury and back at her, "Thank you."

Taking a seat, the other lawyer got up, walking over to Libby, "I'm sorry for what happened to you, Ms. Parker. It sounds like you struggle with drugs. Is this the first time you used ketamine?"

"No."

"So, you're familiar with one of it's main side effects: the loss of memory?"

"Objection." Gwilym spoke up, as the judge raised her eyebrows.

"I'll allow."

"Yes." Libby answered.

"And you don't remember anything after taking it? Meeting the defendants in the cafe, leaving with them."

"No, it was -- it was caught on video."

"But yo don't remember going back to your building with them, do you?"

"No."

"And you don't remember begging them to have rough sex?" the lawyer asked, bruttaly, as she blinked away tears.

"I didn't ask to be raped."

"I'm sorry about your injuries, Ms. Parker, but you can't even remember if those injuries were sustained during rough consensual sex, can you?"

"Objection -- badgering." Gwilym quickly said.

"Overruled," the judge turned to Libby, "Witness will answer."

Libby bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't... like rough sex. I never would've told them that I did."

"Yet, you don't remember leaving the cafe or arriving home? You don't remember if the sex was consensual or even if there was sex. You don't remember if it was even the defendants who were with you in the courtyard. You don't remember anything, do you, Ms. Parker?"

She sighed, looking down at her lap, "No. No, I -- I don't remember."

-

The detectives had found another witness after a tough day in court, approaching Doug, who went with Libby to AA meetings. He had witnessed what had happened in the courtyard but never spoke up.

"I'm not eve sure putting this guy on the stand is a great idea." Gwilym said, after hearing what Ben had to say about the witness.

"What, you got a better one?" Ben asked as Gwilym glared at him.

"He's worse than all the others. And that's no easy task."

"Hey, Gwilym," Astrid turned, putting her hand up and a frown on her face.

"Well at leas they admitted that they were there."

Ben sighed, "Okay, well, we're here now, all right? And he was there that night. He's the only person close enough to see their faces, to see what they did to her."

"And the jury believes him because--?" he asked, shaking his head at Ben.

"Because I went over his story, backwards and forwards, all right? This guy never varied. He gave a spot-on description of each suspect. Now, maybe he's a coward, yeah, but he's credible."

"So," Gwilym began, "Good memory, no morality. Fantastic."

"When you prepped him, did you tell him what time to show up, since he's an hour late?" Astrid asked, looking at her watch and back at Ben.

"He'll show."

"If you say so. If not, I'll just.." he paused, cocking an eyebrow at Ben, "Vamp."

The elevator doors opened, as the witness stepped out. "Ah, I'm here, I'm here."

"Mr. Nelson, I am ADA Gwilym Lee. You're prepared to testify?" he shook his head as the witness nodded his head, eyes bloodshot.

"Yes, I am." he paused, swallowing, "Prepared to testify."

Astrid and Ben shared a look, eyes widening.

"Doug," Ben turned to him, "Have you been drinking?"

"Yes I have," he paused again, "Been drinking."

Both the lieutenant and ADA sighed, "I'm drunk but I'm still eidietic."

Astrid pulled Gwilym aside, eyes widened at the witness. "All right, so can we get a postponement?"

"I have no one else to call."

Ben pulled Doug away from them, "I'm gonna get him some air."

"Just get him coffee," Gwilym said, turning, anger on his features, "Gallons of it!"

A half hour later, they placed him on the stand, Gwilym standing before him.

"I was walking my dog, when I saw them in the middle of the courtyard." he paused, Libby looked barely awake. I saw him and him," he pointed at two of the suspects, "Taking turns forcing themselves inside her mouth."

Gwilym spoke, "For the record, the witness has identified the defendants Ronnie Ellis and Juan Flores. Who else did you see?"

"The other defendant."

"William Reeves."

"He was holding her down."

"What did you do next?"

"I went home. I know I should've called the police but I didn't. I.. started drinking again until I forgot. I will never forgive myself for that." he said, slowly, his words becoming slurred.

"Thank you." Gwilym took a seat as the other lawyer stood.

"Before the night in question, when was the last time you'd had a drink, Mr. Nelson?"

"Almost five years."

"Is it possible a relapse like that could've affected your memory?" he crossed his arms.

"I know what I saw. I learned how to function while drunk a long time ago."

"Did you ever describe the suspects to the NYPD before they were arrested?"

"No, I waited too long to come forward."

"When you found out that your friend had been seriously injured, did you feel bad?"

"Yes."

"Bad enough to positively ID whichever suspects NYPD had in custody even though you were too drunk to remember what they actually looked like?"

"Objection." Gwilym said as the other lawyer raised his hand.

"Withdrawn. Mr. Nelson, are you intoxicated right now?"

He paused, swallowing, "Yes. Yes I am."

Gasps and whispers were heard throughout the courtroom as Libby looked down, wringing her hands together as Astrid placed a comforting pat on her shoulder.

"Thank you, nothing further."

It was silent for a couple minutes as the lawyer took his seat before Gwilym spoke up. "Redirect, Your Honor."

"I'll allow."

Gwilym took a drink of his glass of water, placing his hands on the table and getting up, "Why did you get drunk that night?"

"Because what I'd seen was horrible but I'd failed to help Libby. I was mad at myself for being a coward."

"And why did you get drunk this morning?"

He sighed again, "I was afraid to testify. I was afraid of what everyone would think of me."

"Fair enough." Gwilym responded, rounding the table, "Um, Mr. Nelson, can you remember the questions that Mr. Henderson just put to you?"

He stayed quiet for a second, "When was the last time I had a drink? Would a relapse have affected my memory? Did I give the police a description of the suspects before they were arrested? Shall I continue?"

"That's all right. Can you remember what the defendants were wearing that night?"

Mr. Nelson nodded, closing his eyes and breathing out. "Blue hoodie. Black vest. Black hoodie with leather sleeves."

"Thank you. Mr. Nelson, can you look away from the jury and close your eyes?"

Mr. Henderson spoke up, "Your Honor, are we gonna have him touch his finger to his nose?"

"Just bear with me." Gwilym said.

"This better be good, Mr. Lee."

"Mr. Nelson, can you describe the makeup of the jury to me?"

He raised his eyebrows, before furrowing them, keeping his eyes closed. "Six men, six women. Four African-Americans. Two female Hispanics. One Asian woman. Three Caucasian men, two Caucasian women. Do-do you want to know which ones are where?"

Everyone looked at the jury, the exact makeup of the jury the witness was describing, right before their eyes as they gasped and murmured.

"No." Gwilym looked away from the jury and back to the witness. "You can open your eyes now." he smiled as the witness opened his eyes, looking at the jury and back at him, "Nothing further."

The very next day, everyone came back to the courtroom. "Will the defendants please rise?" the judge asked as they did what they were told. "Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"

"We have your honor."

"What say you?"

"On the charge of criminal sexual acts in the first degree, we find the defendants Ronnie Ellis, Juan Flores and William Reeves, guilty."

Murmuring was heard across the courtroom as Will panicked, looking at his lawyer for help while Ronnie and Juan clenched their fists in anger.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the state of New York thanks you for your service. The defendants will be remanded until sentencing." she hit the gravel against wood as everyone piled out of the courtroom.

Astrid patted Gwilym on the back as he smiled at her, "Good job."

-

tags: 

@hollandroos  @me-a-hopeless-romantic @shuri-owns-my-heart @im-grac3ful-but-fi3rc3  @thebohemianpenguin  @misterf4hrenheit @sofarxitsalright @lolabean1998  @sailing-race @desperately-bisexual @desir-ae @cl0ve @theimpossiblehologramtree @peachllobotomy @rrrogah-tayluhh @allaroundaddict @orchideax @thesevenseasofnublar

[borhapparker]

now you see me  |  borhap cast x oc character

summary: charismatic magician gwilym lee leads a team of talented illusionists called the four horsemen. gwilym and his comrades mesmerize audiences with a pair of amazing magic shows that drain the bank accounts of the corrupt and funnel the money to audience members. a federal agent, agent malek, and an interpol detective, agent boynton, intend to reign in the horsemen before their next caper, and they turn to Thaddeus, a famous debunker for help.

word count: 1559

fic masterlist  |  masterlist

- gwilym’s act -

Gwilym stood in front of a crowd, deck of cards in his hand as he talked to one of the girls watching the act.

“I’m going to flip through this deck, and I want you to see one card,” he said, before pointing to the bottom, the deuce of hearts, “Not this one, that’s too obvious. Pay close attention.”

The woman nodded, finger on her lip as she bit her nail seductively. He ignored her antics, pausing before flipping through the deck before speaking again.

“That was too fast, I’ll do it again. Are you ready?” she nodded, as he flicked through again. “Now, did you see one?”

Seven of diamonds.

“Yes.”

“Do you have one in mind?”

“Yes.”

He fanned the deck to show every card, but the seven of diamonds was missing. “Now, do you see your card here?”

It took her a moment to answer as she looked them over. “No.” she said slowly, like she was stupid and didn’t know if it was the right answer.

Gwilym wore a smirk, on his face as he replied, “That’s because you’re looking too closely. And what have I been telling you all night? The closer you look..”

“The less you’ll see!” the entire crowd chorused. And with that, he threw the cards behind him into the air, turning around as he did so to smile at something in front of everyone.

Everyone followed his gaze to see the seven of diamonds on the nearby building. The crowd erupted into cheers, as it caught other people’s attention.

- joe’s act -

“Now, look into my eyes… and sleep!” Joe cradled the head of a sleeping woman into the crook of his neck before he continued, “Okay, and…” he snapped his fingers, as she awoke, looking at her husband with a smile and then back at Joe. “Now, if you can take this bill from me, you can have it.”

She reached up to grab the bill between his fingers, before realizing her hands were locked together as she was unable to move.

“Alright, if you can say your name, you can have it.” she slightly parted her lips, the tip of her tongue between her teeth, unable to speak as she chuckled. “Alright, just hang out there, wriggle a sec. I’m gonna take a peek under the hood of your hubby’s brain.”

Joe turned to the husband, as he shook his head.

“Alright, I’m picturing… don’t tell me… um, beach, cocktails.” he paused, furrowing his eyebrows, “Florida?”

The husband shook his head, “Look, it was a business trip.”

“I mean, it is kind of a business. Maybe the oldest business.”

The husband turned to his wife, as Joe cut him off. “You’re thinking of a woman’s name,” he began reciting the alphabet, watching his facial expressions, “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J..” he stopped, “J? Jean.. Jane.. Janet.” Joe paused, the husband’s eyes widening, “Who’s Janet?”

The husband cleared his throat, as Joe turned to the wife, “You know Janet?” she nodded, “It’s not your best friend, is it?” She shook her head, before mouthing, “Your sister? Her sister? Oh my god, you weren’t away on business, you were away on Janet. Your wife’s sister!”

The wife lunged at him, fists together and rooted in place as Joe led him away from her.

“Let’s move over here because it looks like she’s a little bit upset right now. You want this to go away?” the man nodded as Joe smiled, “Okay, pull out your waller. Cmon, get it out.”

“You shake down everyone like this?”

“No, only the special few. What is this? Uh, two hundred seem fair? You know what, this is a big deal. Let’s go two fifty.”

“You’re a stick-up artist.”

Joe smirked, pocketing the money as he turned back to the wife. “And… sleep!” she snapped his fingers, as she slacked, eyes closing. “Now, when I snap my fingers, you won’t remember any of this.” he turned back to the husband, “And you, Warren Beatty, every time you see or even think of Janet, you’re going to picture me,” he smacked his forehead, “Naked. And that’s not a pretty sight.”

Turning once again back to the wife, he snapped his fingers. “And.. wide awake!” he smiled as she stood upright again, smile on her features. “Well, we did the best we could but some people just aren’t to be hypnotized.” she walked away with her husband as Joe called out to him, “Look after her!”

- ben’s act -

Ben walked up the stairs to the top deck of a ferry, exclaiming to the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am the next great magician, and I will give one hundred dollars to anyone who can tell me how this trick is done.”

He held up a spoon, hitting it against a metal railing. “I have an ordinary spoon from Mel’s Deli right here in Brooklyn. Check it out. Now everyone please pay very, very close attention, because I’m about to bend this spoon with my mind.”

Ben held the sides of the spoon right at the middle, his other had over the spoon a good distance away. He opened his hand, slowly moving it down as the spoon bend with the movement. He stopped, right as his hand reached his forearm, before lifting up the spoon, showing the crowd the bent spoon. The crowd cheered as a man came up from the crowd, grabbing his wrist.

“What’s this?” he held up a spoon and a stem from Ben’s pocket. “Looks like a spoon and a stem.”

“I got other tricks.” Ben said, as the man narrowed his eyes.

“Or you could give me my hundred bucks.”

Someone in the crowd shouted, “You said you would!”

Ben took out his wallet, taking out the hundred dollar bill, “You have a very good eye, sir.”

Handing him the bill, Ben walked down the steps, heading to the edge of the ferry. Meanwhile on the top deck, the man reached behind him to secure his wallet, before patting his pockets, “my wallet..” he lifted his sleeve his watch gone. “My watch.” he ran to the edge, “Stop that guy! In the leather jacket, he’s got my wallet!”

Ben quickly ran, smile on his face as he disappeared from sight.

- skye’s act -

Skye walked to the top of a glass cage, addressing the crowd as she flung her jacket off.

“Alright, Los Angeles, are we ready to end this thing?” they cheered as she continued. “When that timer hits zero, a tank full of flesh eating piranhas will fall from above.” her assistants came over, strapping handcuffs and ankle cuffs on her. “A girl has got to have her handcuffs, right girls?”

The crowd cheered as she smiled, her assistants grabbing the edge of her clothing as she counted down. “One.. two.. Three!” they ripped the clothing off to reveal the sequined bodysuit underneath. She smiled, shaking her hips before taking position, silver wedges on her feet.

The timer counted down as she trap door under her feet opened, and she fell into the water. She made quick work of unbuckling the handcuffs, holding up her wrist to the crowd as she fiddled with her ankle cuffs, tugging on the chain leading to the bottom of the cage as she shook her head. Looking up, she began to pound loudly on the glass, screaming as water entered her airstream.

“Help!”

The crowd stopped cheering, a group of men trying to break the glass with a metal pipe as it was no use. She bent down once more, unlocking the chains as she pushed herself to the surface, gasping a breath of air as the tank opened above her, the piranhas landing inside the cage as she screamed. The tank suddenly filled with blood, as the crowd gasped in horror.

“C’mon! This is bullshit! Whoever thought of this is a sick sadist!” Skye’s voice rang through the crowd as everyone turned, seeing her soaking wet, no marks on her body as everyone cheered, high fiving her.

- third person -

Each of the magicians finished packing up, Skye grabbing a towel to dry her hair as she back to the auditorium, noticing something in the glass cage. As she walked closer, she recognized a card, floating inside the cage. As it turned with the water’s movement, it revealed an address, and an Eye. High Priestess.

Joe was putting down his display, the card out for display on the table, an Eye and an address on the back. Hermit.

Gwilym had walked into his apartment, a groupie connected to his lips as they dropped onto the couch, as she stripped down to her undergarments and connecting her lips to his neck. He paused her, nudging her body off of his and onto the floor. He grabbed the card between his fingers, an Eye and an address on the back as she quickly picked up her clothes and ran out. Lover.

Ben riffled through the wallet he snatched from the man, pocketing the money and throwing the now-empty wallet into the ocean. He slipped the watch onto his wrist before patting his other pockets and pulling out a card from the back. An Eye and an address on the back. Death.

March 29. 4:44pm. 45 East Evan St. NY, NY.

tags: (add yourself here)

@thebohemianpenguin @will-ptx @itsametaphorbriansblog @misterf4hrenheit @sofarxitsalright @lolabean1998 @sailing-race @hollandroos @desperately-bisexual @desir-ae @cl0ve @theimpossiblehologramtree  @rrrogah-tayluhh @allaroundaddict 

[borhapparker]

now you see me series masterlist

( last updated: may 18, 2019 )

d i s c l a i m e r : i do not own the rights to the movie “now you see me”, nor do i own the plot. all credits goes to the writers. the OC characters belong to me, and the ideas behind their backstory are mine.

p a i r i n g : no pairing yet !

w a r n i n g s : language, drinking, angst and some fluff

s u m m a r y : charismatic magician gwilym lee leads a team of talented illusionists called the four horsemen. gwilym and his comrades mesmerize audiences with a pair of amazing magic shows that drain the bank accounts of the corrupt and funnel the money to audience members. a federal agent, agent malek, and an interpol detective, agent boynton, intend to reign in the horsemen before their next caper, and they turn to Thaddeus, a famous debunker for help.

( add yourself to the taglist )

- Teaser - Chapter One - Chapter Three - Chapter Four - ??? - ???

[borhap-au]

Joe Mazzello: the fluffy chronicles.

Passed out. 

Joe looked up from his phone and smiled when he saw you. You definitely caught his attention while you were walking down the street. You looked at him, but didn’t smile back. You were feeling sick and dizzy, you leaned on the wall to support yourself. You were breathing heavily and closed your eyes, hoping it would just go away. But it didn’t. Joe looked at you a bit surprised, not knowing what’s happening, but he wasn’t the one to bother strangers and he just assumed you were sad, maybe after a heartbreak. But as he approached you, you only felt worse and worse and finally you slipped down the wall and fell on the ground. Joe immediately run up to you.

“Excuse me? Miss? Are you alright?” He kneeled next to you and gently squeezed your hand to see if you respond. When you didn’t, he leaned over you and put his ear close to your mouth in hopes to hear your breath while also observing your chest. It was moving up and down steadily and he could hear your breath, so he sighed relieved. He lied you on your back and put your legs on your bag and his backpack to aid blood flow to the brain. He loosen the belt you had on your dress and took his phone to immediately call 911.

He stayed with you until the help arrived. They took you to the ambulance and asked whether Joe knew you. He admitted he didn’t, but he felt weirdly responsible for you, so he asked whether he could go with you. They agreed.

After they run all the exams and made sure you’re going to be alright, they put you in a room until you regain consciousness. After some time, you finally did. You slowly opened your eyes, trying to adjust to the bright lights in the room. Joe smiled at you.

“Hey. How are you feeling?” He asked and you looked at him trying to remember when you saw him before. He was like a fainted memory. You tried to speak, but your throat was too dry.

“Water?” you grunted quietly. He nodded and walked out of the room to try and find some water. When he did, he came back and helped you sit up and take a few sips.

“Is it better?” you nodded your head and covered yourself with the quilt.

“Why am I here?” you asked and Joe explained you how you passed out and needed to be rushed to the hospital. “And why are you here?” He didn’t have a good answer to that, other than he just needed to make sure this absolute stranger is feeling better.

“Empathy, I guess,” he smiled a bit embarrassed. “I just needed to make sure you’re going to be alright. I found you, so…” he shrugged. You gave him a little smile.

“Thank you for that. And for everything,” you put your hand on his and squeezed it gently. “If there is anything I can do for you, tell me. I’d like to repay you somehow for taking care of me.”

“Nonsense. I did what anyone would do, you don’t need to thank me for anything. And you most definitely don’t have repay me,” he replayed and pet your hand with his thumb. “I’m just glad to see you’re okay.”

“I insist. Can I at least… Invite you for a cup of coffee?” you took your hand away and smiled at the beautiful stranger.

“I don’t think coffee would be good in your current situation…”

“Then dinner. Let me invite you to a dinner. Please,” you didn’t give up. “Tonight.”

“Well, I guess I need to make sure nothing bad will happen to you. My car is parked not far from here, I can take you home,” he suggested and you nodded your head. You weren’t from this part of the town, it would be a long walk home.

“Yes, and after that, I will invite you to a great Italian restaurant near my home. We’re settled,” you smiled proudly. He chuckled and nodded.

“Alright then. We can do that,” he finally agreed. “I’m Joe, by the way,” he smiled and reached out his hand.

“Y/N,” you introduced yourself and shook his hand. “So Joey, huh? That’s the name of my prince in shining armor?” He chuckled hearing that. “Joseph the Great,” you joked smiling at him.

“I’m hardly that. I’m just glad I could help.”

Soon after that a doctor joined you. When they made sure you’re going to be okay, they monitored your heartbeat and talked with you about potential causes of the fainting and how to avoid them, they let you go. You held Joe’s arm as you were walking to his car. Less of a necessity, more of a personal pleasure, but you didn’t let it be known. He opened the door for you and you thanked him as you got in.

“Can I change the station?” you asked during the trip.

“Sure,” he nodded his head and you immediately tried to find the radio station that played classic rock 24/7. When you did, the beginning of “Somebody to love” could be heard from the speakers.

“I love this song,” you smiled sitting more comfortably in your chair.

“Me too. It’s my favorite Queen song, if not my favorite song in general,” he smiled and you looked at him surprised.

“Really?” he nodded. “It’s my favorite too!” And it was just the beginning of things you had it common. You talked about movies, TV series, books, and you found out you had very similar taste. While in the restaurant, you both ordered the same meal without consulting each other beforehand.

“Of course I like that movie. Come on, it’s about dinosaurs, who doesn’t like them?” you smiled. “Like Jurassic Park. It’s a classic!”

“You like it?” he smiled and in that moment you confirmed what he already suspected to be true – you had no idea who he was.

“Oh, yeah, totally. I watched it for the first time when as a kid and totally loved it. All other action movies usually only had adults in it, this one was better, cause it had kids I could relate to,” you smiled and drank your water while he tried to hide his smirk.

“And what do you think about the ginger kid? I think he was quite lame…” he started, but you didn’t let him finish.

“Take that back!” you chuckled. “I won’t allow you to say a bad word about him. He’s my biggest childhood crush,” Joe couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle. The situation was just too funny for him. “What?”

“Nothing, nothing,” he moved his napkin on his lips pretending to wipe them, while in reality he was hiding his big smile.

“No, it’s not nothing. Tell me what’s so funny. Are you laughing at me?” He shook his head.

“No, no. I’m just happy you liked my performance, that’s all,” it took you a second to realize what he meant.

“No, come on. It’s not possible,” you muttered in disbelief.

“Joe Mazzello, nice to meet you,” he even took out his ID to prove you he’s not joking. You looked at it and immediately turned red.

“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry! I feel so stupid right now for not recognizing you. That’s why you looked so familiar… Oh, God. Once again, so so sorry. I must still be dizzy from earlier,” you tried to justify yourself.

“Don’t worry about it. It was actually nice not to be treated differently because of my work for once. Quite refreshing,” he reassured you.

“Well… One thing I have to admit, you know how to make a great impression on a girl even without your star status.”

“I’ll drink to that,” chuckled and lifted his glass with lemonade and you clinked your glasses then both of you drank your non-alcohol drinks. “So, you had a crush on me, huh?” he chuckled quietly.

“I feel so embarrassed right now!” you turned even more red.

“Come on, it was cute!” he chuckled quietly.

“No, it’s embarrassing and you know it. Go on, tell me who your crush was…”

The conversation didn’t stop there, neither did your relation. It soon turned into a boyfriend/girlfriend situation and let me tell you, Joe loved telling everyone the story of how he “saved your life” on your first meeting. You found it annoying at first, but with time you learned to love it. After all, that situation brought you two together.

[borhap-au]

Joe Mazzello: the fluffy chronicles.

Joe defending your relationship against his family. 

Joe was very excited about introducing you to his family. After all, you were his first serious relationship since that unfortunate incident a few years back, that ended in a heartbreak for Joe. You already knew his mom and his siblings, his nieces and nephews loved you.

Before it actually happened, you weren’t sure how Joe’s closest family members would react to you, after all, you were much younger than him. But Joe said they all thought you were a nice girl, and it was “really up to him” who he was dating, after all, it wasn’t their call. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what the rest of his family believed in.

You met them at a big family party. It was unfortunate for you, because you hated family parties, you hated being in a center of attention in a group of strangers, and you hated that Joe was all the time asked to go somewhere, so you were alone most of the time. You were obviously trying to be very nice and kind to whoever you were talking to, trying to show your best side, but also, you were always looking around, hoping to spot Joe and excuse yourself from the conversation. At the party you had the most fun around children, playing with them, because that was the only place you knew for sure you weren’t being judged. Unfortunately, that didn’t really help your case.

When you finally spotted Joe, he was going inside to the house, so you followed him. You thought he was going to be alone, but when you heard his voice in a mix of others, you stopped yourself from going there. You wanted to go back, but then you heard your name. At first you thought someone was calling for you, so you moved a little in the direction of the door, but then you realized, it wasn’t to you. It was about you.

“Come on, guys, just give her a chance. She’s really nice and smart. You will like her,” you heard Joe’s voice and sighed quietly. So all of your effort was for nothing.

“She’s out there playing with the kids, Joey. She’s a child herself. You should find yourself a real woman,” one of his cousins said.

“First of all, she looks younger than she really is. Second of all, she’s not a child. Sure, she’s younger than me, but she’s been an adult for a good few years now, so don’t worry, she is a woman,” Joe didn’t give up fighting for you and it was really sweet in your opinion. Although you didn’t really want him to fight with anyone, especially because of you.

“The age difference is too transparent. What you two even talk about? She’s probably into Justin Bieber and that Miley girl, while you listen to the old classics. Does she even know who Freddie Mercury was? Has she heard of Queen?” another of his cousins said.

“Excuse me, you don’t appreciate her enough. She actually loves old rock n’ roll. She listens to the classics more than I do. Her favorite movie is The Godfather. We have so much to talk about,” he took a breath, probably to drink something, while his female cousin gave her two cents.

“If she loves old things, that would explain why she wants you,” she joked, and the rest of them laughed. You were sure Joe rolled his eyes at that comment.

“Are you her sugar daddy or something, Joey? Is that what it is?” you heard another voice saying.

“No, I am not her sugar daddy. She has a job, she has her own money. She’s not even comfortable with me buying her expensive gifts. She’s not in this relationship for money, don’t insult her like that, Karen,” oh, Karen. Now the comment made sense to you.

“Okay, but what does she even know? Those young kids these days, they don’t appreciate anything. Only social media are on their minds. Facebook, selfies, no culture, no nothing,” you heard one of the older aunts.

“I’m about to prove you wrong. She actually loves literature, she knows a lot about cinema, her hobbies include sports and taking frequent breaks from social media to be around nature. We often go on small trips around the country, she is a great photographer. And she has unbelievable knowledge about history. We don’t only have million topics to talk about, it often is that she talks and I just listen, because she has so many important and fascinating things to say. And she also has very strong views and beliefs, and your old school view on women is definitely something she would disagree with. She’s smart, she’s independent and she’s with me because she loves me. I really do not understand, what is your problem, people,” Joe was actually starting to get mad, and you were mad as well, but even more so because of the fact that they made him mad. You didn’t want anyone putting Joe down because of something, or someone, he loves.

“Well, if she’s not in for the money, then probably for the fame,” you heard that voice before. Apparently Joe didn’t persuade them enough.

“No, none of that. She refuses to go on red carpets with me. She doesn’t even allow me to post anything about her on my social media. She doesn’t want the attention. She wants the relationship to be a private matter, and frankly, that’s what it should be. I shouldn’t even have to explain that to you,” despite all the nasty comments about your alleged motifs, Joe didn’t give up fighting for you, even if that meant going against his family.

“Let’s just all calm down. We spend too much energy on a topic that’s not even worth it. It’s just a whim, he will soon come to his senses,” you weren’t the one to really care about some old woman’s opinion, but that one hurt you. For anyone to assume you were just a quick thing for Joe, it was hurtful and unfair.

“Oh, no. I beg you pardon. I want none of those kind of insinuations. She’s not a doll to throw away when I’m done playing with her. She’s a real person, with a heart and soul and she’s so much more than you give her credit for. You guys are awful, you know? You didn’t even give her a chance! How is she supposed to prove you wrong, when you dismiss anything she says? Stop belittling her. She did nothing to deserve this. I really expected more of you,” he scoffed.

“Come on, she’s not a wife material for you, and most definitely not a mother material. She was a child herself not so long ago,” another person added.

“Once again, you are wrong. She’s most definitely a wife material and I would be more than happy to marry her someday. Don’t be surprised when you get an invitation to our wedding. Or if you don’t get one, if you’re going to continue to act like that,” you smiled hearing that. Becoming Mrs. Mazzello was a dream come true for you, but you had no idea Joe even took that under consideration.

“Before it comes to marriage, Joseph, you will change your mind five times,” another aunt, another wrong statement about Joe. You thought that they not only treated you like a child, but actually also him, not listening to a word he says.

“Maybe, or maybe I already looked for a ring. We’ve been together long enough. Some of you were married after shorter periods of knowing each other,” oh, you could feel that he smiled ironically. And wait, were you supposed to hear that? I mean, you weren’t really supposed to hear any of this… But maybe you just found out about a surprise engagement… One way or another, you were overjoyed.

“But she may change her mind. She may change a lot in the next few years. She’s still growing, discovering herself as a woman. You’re a grown up. That’s the difference. Where you want to settle down, she only starts her journey,” nice quote, but no. You were all about setting for a journey together, helping each other grow, give each other peace and love.

“Actually, I have no plans of holding her back. She can grow and discover herself as much as she wants, whether it’s in the relationship or in a marriage. I want her to find her path, pursue her dream career, become successful and do whatever she wants to do. She’s a woman with big dreams and plans,” Joe said, but was quickly interrupted.

“Yeah, I bet a girl in her 20s wants to stick with one dick for the rest of her life,” one of his cousins said, and you almost threw up in your mouth hearing that.

“First of all, don’t be disgusting, there are ladies in this room, and you’re talking about a lady as well. Second of all, despite of what you’re implying, not every young woman’s dream is to party and change partners all the time. Some actually want to settle down. And she’s one of those women. I know that, because contrary to you, I listen to what she says. She focuses on her career and her relationship, trust me, she’s not missing anything,” some of the guys laughed, but most of the girls acted more tasteful.

“Is it about your former girlfriend, Joe? You try to patch up a broken heart by having a fling with a much younger girl?” oh, wow. You didn’t expect that one.

“I’m long over that relation- whatever that was. I’m not trying to make up for anything here. I met her, I fell in love with her, and now we’re happy together. You really think I would bring a ‘fling’ to a family reunion? For what, to brag? Come on, you know me better than that. And if you really think I would do something like that, then maybe I’m wrong, maybe you don’t know me at all. But I’m not wrong about her. Now excuse me, I’m going to find my girlfriend and I plan to spend the rest of the evening with her. Have a nice party,” you realized you should probably escape quickly so that nobody finds out you were listening to all of the conversation. So you quickly run to the bathroom and then got out of it soon enough so that Joey saw you and knew where you are.

“Oh, hey,” he smiled, and moved his arm around you. “There you are, I was looking for you. How’s the party?” he had an empty whisky glass in his hand. Clearly, the conversation exhausted him. He quickly put the glass away when he saw you looking at it.

“Oh, the kids here are amazing. Your niece won’t let me have a break,” you chuckled quietly, and he smiled.

“That just proves how great of a mommy material you are,” he pointed out as you were walking out of the building together to get some fresh air and get away from people.

“Well, then I’m happy that I was able to find a perfect daddy to match my greatness,” you smiled at him.

“Honey, I told you not to call me that around people,” he joked, and you softly punched him in his chest.

“I’m never complimenting you, ever again,” you pretended to be mad, but soon rested your head on his shoulder, petting the side of his body, as you slowly walked around the garden in perfect harmony and peace.

“What if we stay together until the end of the world? Then you won’t compliment me either?” you smiled slightly hearing that, because you knew what he really was asking you about. He wanted to be reassured that he didn’t fight for you for nothing, that you really wished to be with him forever, or at least you hoped that it would all work out between you and you would still love each other after all those years.

“If you promise me we will be together forever, then maybe I’ll change my mind,” you teased, because even the most serious topics turned into a light-hearted conversations between you two.

“Want to get married someday?” he asked, petting your arm with his thumb and smiling at you with such love in his eyes, that you fell for him all over again.

“I’d love that,” he smiled in response.

And guess what? A year after that conversation you were actually married. And Joe made sure that everyone on the wedding reception knew he remembered about the conversation he had that day, when during a toast he mentioned how “nobody believed in you two, but for him it really could be the whole world against him, because he didn’t care as long as he has you by his side to support him through the roughest times,” and how “you were there for him even if nobody else was standing by him.” After that, you were always strong together, loving each other, and even produced a few newest members of the Mazzello clan.