#just remembered i woke up before my alarm and immediately went a dozen thoughts deep

[floralpunkbarton]

.

[gottawriteanegoortwo]

Meeting Damien in a Dream

Many people in this fandom refer to Damien as a ‘man of their dreams’. A lucid dream that turns into a very strange encounter with Damien is probably not the reason for that. 

In early June, I had a dream that I had documented in detail (1.4k words). I've spent time working on it and fleshing it out into a proper narrative that can be shared. In it, the reader (as in you and not the DA or a Heist!sona) is pulled into Damien’s waking world, where he has been placed into a life that isn’t his. But will your arrival cause upset? Or will you be able to give a bit of hope?

Word Count: 5,319 (yes, you read that right, hence the immediate read-more)

Alternatively, I’ve just uploaded this to AO3 if that’s easier to read.

-

There had been a lot on your mind when you collapsed into bed. Too many problems bounced around your mind as you tried to settle in bed. You lay there, counting your breaths and listening to the outside world while trying to lure sleep to you. It seemed elusive, until you closed your eyes and your grip on the waking world finally slipped.

Nights like these were ones that were endless. A dreamless sleep, followed by waking at a time that shouldn't exist, and finishing with utter exhaustion when morning eventually arrived was the normal running order. But not this time.

You gained awareness standing on the side of a road. It was still night, which made you panic for an instant. Had your restless mind prompted your body to get up and move? A quick glance to realise you were in your day clothes instead of your pyjamas helped ease that fear. You had successfully fallen asleep! But now you were mentally awake in a pitch-dark dreamscape. You tugged your shirt down as you gathered your bearings.

As your eyes adjusted to the darker surroundings, you learned you were on a quiet, suburban road that didn't match anywhere in your locality. Streetlights dotted the path on both sides of the road. You could see the entrance to a housing estate opposite you, and the entrance to a sporting field to your right. Where there were no streetlights, it was absolute darkness with no way to tell where the sky started. With no knowledge of what this dream location could be hiding, you decided to stick to the path and keep in the light where possible. 

The decision to be cautious worked in your favour. A path of lights stretched out as far as the eye could see. Even if the gaps between them were growing wider, they were still spots of safety in the midst of the unknown. The next light revealed the road connected to a roundabout, but it was the furthest distance away. You took a slow breath, tapped the balls of your feet against the ground, and broke into a sprint. Something growled in the darkness. You could feel something cold close to the back of your neck. There was a strong presence of someone approaching, reaching out…

You skidded to a halt under the welcoming amber glow and threw an accusatory glare at whatever was behind you. Nothing was there. For now, you took the moment to catch your breath and decide where to go from here. If you wanted to know why you were here, you would need to cross one of the abandoned roads. Two options lay before you: go down the road on the left, or keep going straight. 

“Hello?” 

You jumped in fright and spun around. There was still nothing behind you. However, there was a man standing to your right, on the other side of the road. Glancing around, you realised no one else was in view, so you waved in reply. He seemed relieved and hurried over. As he steps into the radius of your streetlight, your eyes widen as a name slips out of your lips:

Damien.

The man froze, one hand lifting to his chest as though it would protect him. You could see him clearly. Though the hair was not combed back to perfection, nor was it long and unkempt like a man lost in the woods, there was no denying that you recognised him.

“How… How do you know me? Who are you?” He was wary, as though bracing himself for the worst. You gave him your name and explained that you knew he was a mayor that had been involved in a tragedy at a poker night. Though brief, it was enough of an answer to get a reaction. Damien’s hand trembled as he tried to decide how to take this. But just as you were about to question whether you made a mistake and said something that hadn’t happened, Damien smiled.

“You… You know.” The hand was lifted to brush through his hair as he let out a shaky laugh. “I thought I was going crazy. But y-you know those memories. I haven’t met anyone who knows what happened since -” You weren’t sure what cut him off, but he quickly reached out and grabbed your wrist. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to lose this opportunity just yet.” A wave of dizziness hit you, and everything went black.

-

The world around you slowly returned to focus like you had a sudden lightheaded spell. Damien was in front of you with worry on his face.

“I-I’m so sorry, I acted without thinking about what might happen to you… Are you alright?” You nodded, and he sighed in relief. “W-well… Don’t be alarmed, but you appear to be incorporeal right now. I think I’m the only one who can see you.” Ignoring the request to keep calm, you felt your heart rate spike when you raised your hands and discovered you could see the path below you. When you locked eyes with Damien, it was clear how guilty he was and you forced yourself to calm down. He pulled out his phone and placed it to his ear, gesturing for you to follow him.

“My sleep schedule has been strained,” you noticed Damien was using the phone as an excuse to talk out loud and avoid glances from people passing by, “which means that if I get stressed, my ‘sleep’ turns into a waking nightmare. I find myself in a place darker than night, wandering aimlessly through snow, or ruined buildings, all while watching the movements of every shadow. I’ve never met someone there before. I’m sorry again for pulling you back without thinking. I had no idea this would happen, but I needed to know. I needed to hear what you had to say. How much do you know about - about what happened to me?”

You noted it was in the past tense. The events that you had watched already happened. You nodded, took a deep breath, and began giving some points.

Damien was a mayor. He had been invited to a poker night hosted by an old friend of his. The party host was murdered, which set off a chain of events. Ultimately, Damien’s body was stolen during a seance.

All the while, Damien was silent. The phone was still pressed against his ear, though his grip tightened once he realised there was a possibility he might be dead. You trailed off when his pace slowed to a halt, flashing a look to see if he was okay.

“Y-yes, I… I’m alright. It’s a lot to take in, but I did ask for it. But it matches what I recall.” He collected himself enough to flash you a smile you could never have imagined seeing off a screen (which was absolutely perfect, for the record). “Here we are. This is where I’m living. It might be the best place to talk without anyone hearing us. It’s starting to lighten up” Beside the entrance to a store was a locked door painted pale green. He unlocked and opened the door, gesturing for you to go inside. You climbed up the entranceway stairs and, after prompting from Damien, opened the door opposite the stairway.

A spacious living area was spread out before you. It was a contemporary design, consisting of an open floor-plan and a lot of white. There was a small sitting area to your right, with armchairs and couches facing a TV and an electric fireplace. To your left, there was a white couch in front of a coffee table, with a kitchen chair pulled up beside it. The room continued around a corner to reveal a small kitchen tucked away with a dining table at the far wall. You guessed the apartment was spread over two stores with how expansive everything seemed. Even so, you couldn't help but feel it lacked 'life', like it was a home plucked out of a magazine rather than one someone spent time perfecting. It was in opposition to Damien himself and how lively he was in the short amount of time you spent with him.

As you reflected on the unusual contrast, he moved to the large windows showcasing the view of the streets below. You followed him, gasping when you saw a portion of the city sprawled out before you.

“It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it?” Damien tilted his head to the side to acknowledge your arrival. "It's not the city I called home. I've gotten lost at least a dozen times since I was allowed to explore on my own. Yet, apparently I've lived in the city for five years."

Five years? You thought that fact an unusual statement to make, and Damien agreed. He turned from the view and knelt down beside a coffee table.

"I'm not from this place. Yet, one day, I woke up in a hospital." He lifted out a notebook and placed it on the table. It was a generic hardback notebook with "Journal" printed on the front in cursive. "Everyone kept telling me that this was where I belonged, this is what I was supposed to do… but I knew it wasn’t right. I couldn’t believe them when I have memories of living somewhere else entirely and none of a life I’ve apparently lived here. I don't have anywhere else to go, so I've begun writing to 'gather' my 'lost' memories." The moment you realised you weren't see-through, you reached out for it, only lifting it when he gave permission. It reminded you of the Detective's cork boards, with pages dotted with Polaroid photos and notes in a meat handwriting. In order to fit in, Damien was putting in a lot of work.

A click caught your attention, and you lifted your gaze from the book in time to see Damien lift the false bottom of the drawer to reveal a second, identical notebook. This one he opened on the table for you both to see. 

"One morning, I woke up and I thought I was part of this place. It was only as I saw my reflection I remembered. Words can't explain how frightening that moment was. I thought it best to write my true memories down as well… I don't want to forget any more than I already have." His hand slowly brushed over a page as he gave a forlorn sigh. As much as you wanted to spring forward and offer to fill in the blanks, the two pages were dedicated to the "Dear Friend from University" - the only character without a set identity. "I've tried going to the library to find books on the matter or use their computers, but nothing comes up. I can't help but wonder if there is a deeper mystery to all of this. If what you say is true, then it further confirms my suspicions that something isn’t quite right. Could you pass me the pen attached to that book?" When you did so, he continued talking while writing, "Why only me? I cannot find any trace of what happened to anyone I knew. I checked an online article detailing the terms of mayors in my beloved city… My name wasn't there. Instead, it was as though one mayoral term was a 'blank', for lack of a better word." Your expression was grim as Damien wrote the question 'am I dead?' on the page. Though you decided against it at first, you asked if he knew the name 'Dark'. He shook his head, so you decided to try and describe him: a man around Damien's height, with black hair and grey skin. He wore a suit - either black or white depending on the source - and was surrounded by red and blue 'lights'. 

"Actually… that does sound familiar." Damien's eyes widened in realisation. "I remember reading several articles in the paper about incidents around the country with a mysterious figure. The targets were always rescued before anything happened but all of them mentioned something about it… glitching in red and blue." You nod, advising Damien to keep away from that figure. Wherever it went, another man went too, you explained, one that dressed in red that called himself ‘Mark’. You were sure trouble would haunt Damien if he were to get tangled up in that web. Though Damien never spent time chopping wood in an abandoned forest, it was better to warn him about the Actor, just in case he too was hunting Damien. You didn't know the full story now that a character was displaced.

The next half an hour was dedicated to going through the 'past life' notes (that you noted was simply labelled 'brainstorms' on the inside cover). Where you could, you helped Damien fill in some of the blanks, but a lot of it was spent listening. He was elated to be able to talk to someone about his true memories without worrying how others would react to these 'concerning ideas'. When he caught himself rambling and apologised, you refused to accept it and urged him to continue talking. He would only do so on the condition that you had something to drink - something about ‘making sure you didn’t vanish’.

With his back to you, an idea struck as you snatched the 'past life' notebook. There were a series of frustrated scribbles and notes spread across the top of the page, but there was a gap perfect for a doodle. You sprung to work to draw a cat, until -

"You better not be doodling in there."

- Damien's voice overhead made you jump in fright and drop the pen. He laughed as he handed you a glass of water, admitting it was good to know you weren't going to fade again.

“Before anything else happens… Thank you. I’ve bottled all of these memories in my heart for so long that I thought I was starting to go mad and I was creating a fictional story. But meeting you, hearing you confirm everything… It has lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders. Mayhaps I am in a position where I won’t be able to do anything further to resolve ‘why’ I am here, but at the very least I can take comfort in knowing the ‘what’ and ‘how’ are true.” The ‘past life’ notebook was closed and put aside so Damien could open the ‘journal’ again. “And if I know who I am is true, then I can work on perfecting the act of pretending I lived here. It is as though I am cast in a play that I never received the script from. If you are able to stay long enough, you might be able to see the absurdities for yourself.”

This explanation made you start in alarm, and you frantically asked if Damien knew anyone that dressed in a maroon suit and carried a black cane, or a grey suit with a white shirt and red tie.

“No… Neither of those outfits sound familiar,” Damien admitted as he shook his head. “Then again, there are a lot of people I don’t know. If there is a man fitting that description, I may not have met him yet. Nevertheless, I appreciate the warning and will try to avoid him.”  There was a short pause as he flipped through the notes. “It’s been a long time since I’ve made a friend of my own. Everyone here already knew me, or I met them through others. It’s been pleasant having the company without the expectations on me to fit in.” Your confusion was noticed, but Damien continued, “As wonderful as this new life is, and as nice as it is to not be working, I cannot shake the loneliness. Everyone knows too much about me, but I know nothing about them. Don’t get me wrong, they seem like pleasant people who have been so patient with me. Having a diagnosis of ‘amnesia’ is a good excuse to not remember things, but it’s been stressful. If I could leave, I would… But where else can I go if I cannot find anyone I once knew? I have no friends, no family here… It’s like I don’t exist at all beyond a small group of people.”

“Damien?”

The door to the stairs opened, and you both stared at the new entrant like deer caught in headlights. A woman in her early thirties entered the room, eyes wide at the unusual scene before her. Her blonde hair was tied in a messy bun that was starting to come loose. She wore off-white scrubs with an ID badge clipped on that helped you realise she was a nurse. Several seconds passed before she blinked and pulled on a smile.

“I didn’t realise we had company. I’ll be back in a moment.” She swiftly disappeared out the door. You looked at Damien in alarm, though all he offered in return at first was a light shrug as he got to his feet and helped you up. He waited until you both were making breakfast before providing context.

“Her name is Marianne, and she - supposedly - is my wife in this place.” He lifted his left hand to show a silver wedding band before resuming his slow stirring of batter. “When I woke up in the hospital, she was by my bedside, worried sick about me. Of course, this turned to sheer panic when she realised I didn’t recognise her. She ran out to find a doctor, and it was only then that I noticed a ring on my hand. It is… Troubling to find yourself in a position like this, much less with someone who clearly adores you. I am very fond of her, but I’m still undecided as to whether whatever sort of love I feel is genuine or simply platonic. I do not miss her when she is gone, for instance, but I enjoy her company when she is here. It’s another confusing layer to this mess I’m in.” His head tilted to the right at the faint sound of a click. “Though I will die on the hill that this little kitchen needs a little more colour to it.” Your eyebrows furrowed at the sudden topic switch, thinking that maybe your strange situation had finally started to turn into a normal dream.

“Damien, we’ve been over this. We had agreed on keeping the cupboards black because it is a contrast to the white of the sofas. Stop trying to persuade everyone otherwise.” Marianne had appeared behind you, a hand on her hip with an amused smile. She had changed into a summery pale blue shirt with dark skinny jeans and white sneakers. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, though a section each side was clipped back. “I only wish you told me we would be having a visitor before I left for work yesterday.”

“It wasn’t planned,” Damien countered, loosely waving his wooden spoon in self-defense. “I wasn’t going to leave my university friend without shelter for the night.”

“University friend? But I was at your reunion with your friends in your course last year.” You felt intimidated under Marianne’s suspicion, but you somehow steeled your nerves and shook your head. Improvising on the spot, you said that you were friends from university, but you met through one of the societies - the book club, you blurted when quizzed about it - and kept loosely in touch that way. You even had to fabricate a story that shared your woes of missing the one bus of the day home after travelling up specially to meet relatives. Only that you happened to meet Damien, you would have been stranded.

“Now, now. Let’s have breakfast so you can tell us how work went, Marianne.”

-

You had to keep your guard up during breakfast. You couldn’t taste a thing (a dream couldn’t be that perfect), which meant you were fully focused on Marianne’s questions once she finished talking about problems at work. What course you studied, why she never saw you and Damien meet before, what you were doing now. As you gave good answers, you could see her relax, which made your stomach knot in guilt. It must have been a terrifying thought to come home and see your husband talking amicably to a stranger first thing in the morning.

As you stood up, the room seemed to shudder a little. The kitchen table was cleared up, and Damien was being pushed out of the room by Marianne, who insisted that he needed to rest. With him out of the room, you were frightened you would find yourself in the middle of trouble. Instead, Marianne gestured for you to sit on the sofa while she sat on the armchair.

“I’m sorry for my behaviour earlier. I should never have asked such personal questions. I’ve been so worried about Damien, the last thing I’d want is someone taking advantage of his amnesia to hurt him. Instead, I should be thankful he met a friend on one of his late-night walks. I’ve been encouraging him to reach out to friends and family.” Ignoring the fact Damien admitted he didn’t have friends or family of his own here, you were quick to accept the apology, adding that Damien had mentioned something about ‘amnesia’ and a hospital. “Yes… Damien was involved in an accident a few months earlier that impacted his head more than anywhere else. Everyone said it was a miracle that he only had issues with recollection of long-term memories before the day he woke up, but there were so few resources available for us. We’ve had to resort to him writing everything down in the hopes something returns to him. I’m sure he showed it to you too?” You nodded and asked about the accident. Strangely, she didn’t answer, but instead rose to her feet and made her way to the photos on the wall.

“Damien is still the man I married three years ago. I still love him. Yet some days, it breaks my heart to remember he has forgotten me completely. Everything we have done together was brushed away effortlessly and we have to start over again. He never gave up on me when I changed careers to nursing, so I won’t give up on him - even if we have to restart our entire relationship.” You were tempted to repeat your question, only to decide against it. You got back up onto your feet to examine the photos as well. She was able to point out their honeymoon in Paris, a cute selfie of the couple on their first anniversary, and them in the middle of a group dressed in Victorian era clothing.

“Oh, this was the first production Damien and I were involved in - A Picture of Dorian Gray. We actually met through this theatre company.” You hummed in amusement at the sight of Damien dressed in plain, all-black clothes beside a lady in an elegant ball gown, before the words she spoke belatedly slapped you on the face.

They met through a theatre company.

You opened your mouth to ask the name of the theatre company when a loud series of knocks caught you both off-guard.

“Oh no, I completely forgot -” She cut herself off as she hurried to the door. You peered out behind her in time to see Damien trudging down the stairs.

“Is there another rehearsal happening here, Marianne?” he groaned.

“Yes… I’m so sorry. It slipped my mind!”

Damien opened the door, and you had to rub your eyes with your fists to make sure you weren’t seeing things. People dressed in what looked like dance costumes inspired by exotic birds began filing up the stairs to the living room. You scrambled out of the way, noticing Damien’s two notebooks were still on the table. Leaving them there could cause a lot of trouble for Damien, so you took it upon yourself to tidy them up. You hesitated as an idea crossed your mind. Grabbing Damien’s ‘past life’ notebook, you opened to the next blank page and wrote a quick message. In it, you made sure to mention you were proud of him for never doubting himself in these confusing times and that he was doing great. You signed your name, accompanied it with a doodled self-portrait and several affirming messages. The pen was returned to its proper place and you placed the notebooks in the same way Damien had them hidden in the drawer, just as he approached with relief on his face.

“Thank you. I don’t want anyone seeing those.” He knelt beside you and locked the drawer. The key was put into his shirt pocket. “These -” he gestured to the brightly coloured fiasco on the other side of the room, “- are my daytimes. There is always something happening, and it’s far too busy for my liking. On one hand, I'm encouraged to rest during the day, but I'm not able to when there's always something happening that I'm forced to help out with.” 

He led you toward the kitchen while the costumed visitors began rearranging the room to make space. Some of them were eager to see a new face and hurried over to chat. All you could see was the blurring of vivid colours until suddenly, they were waving goodbye and hurried off, leaving you standing beside Damien on the street as the sun was beginning to set. Your eyes darted around as you tried to gather your bearings. Marianne and another man were several paces ahead of you, absorbed in conversation.

“Are you alright?” Damien placed a hand on your shoulder and squeezed it gently. “You vanished. I thought you had woken up. We’re currently going to bring you to the bus that you told Marianne you missed. Interestingly, she had insisted this was what we were doing, despite the fact you weren’t there at all. No one had noticed you were absent except for me.” The mention of getting a bus was on your mind and you asked how you could get a bus that didn’t actually exist, and no one knew where you came from. Damien hummed in agreement, throwing a glance ahead to make sure neither of you would be heard by Marianne and her friend. “My thoughts exactly. It only proves that something isn’t quite right here. We need to wake you up, in case something like that happens again. I don’t want you trapped here because of my impulsive actions, especially if you think danger might be afoot.” You wondered how you could be woken up. Damien couldn't think of a practical solution.

You felt a hand drape over your shoulder and yank you back a step.

“And here I thought you were going to run onto the bus without saying hello first!” Looking up in fright, you found yourself staring at a man. No matter how hard you tried, his face was a blur. All you knew for sure was that he was average height and wore a dark red zip-up hoodie over a white t-shirt and black jeans. “I didn’t even know you were in town. Why didn’t you call me sooner? It would’ve been a much nicer surprise than arriving at Damien and Marianne’s place and seeing you there!”

“You two know each other?” Damien asked. You shook your head just as you lost your balance and tumbled into the man when he gave you a tight sideways hug.

“Oh, we go waaaay back. My grandparents lived next-door to their family home. I’d spend most school holidays in the area. The amount of adventures we got up to back in the day! I know Marianne remembers my tales about how I got some of my childhood scars, but this rascal here was my partner in crime on those splendid summer schemes! Oh! I was just thinking about sending you an email the other day -” You were guided down the street where a bus was parked while the man prattled on. There was a small queue as they waited to board.

“That really is such a small world! Who would have thought Damien’s university friend was your childhood friend?” Marianne gasped. Damien, however, looked unconvinced, but stayed silent. “Wait wait, was this the house that had Flopsy?”

“The one and the same!” the man laughed. “I’m sure Damien knows all about Flopsy, the orange tabby cat with the longest ears I’d ever seen. Why, that darned cat was fond of climbing onto my shoulder to try and eat my hair every time I sat on the couch!”

You knew your family home and the occupants of it. Yet, all of a sudden, you had a clear memory of a boy with a long-eared cat trying to perch on his shoulder. You also knew what your neighbours looked like, but something was trying to override that with visions of an elderly couple in a cute cottage with a picket fence. You needed to get the bus home so you could visit family, and make sure everything was okay, right? You had a job to get back to in another town, that sounded right.

“- And you know, you really must come visit me next time you’re in town. We have so much to catch up on. Send me an email when you get back. We’ll arrange -”

You felt a warm hand taking yours before you were yanked back toward Damien. “They’re going to miss the bus again,” he blurted as he put a hand on your shoulder and guided you to the bus, "so get going and get home safe!” He pushed you and you staggered onto the steps of the bus.

In an instant, the fog that had settled in your mind dispersed as the fake memories vanished. You turned back to Damien, Marianne and the man in red. But as the door closed, you could finally see his face to realise it was Mark.

The door slammed shut, and you woke up with a start.

You untangled yourself from your sheets as you frantically made sure this was your room. Slow breaths helped ground you, and you focused on your hands as proof that this moment was a waking one. That was when you realised one hand was clenched tight. You opened it, and a piece of paper tumbled out. It had been neatly folded before it had been bunched into your hand, and you treated it with care as you spread it out and straightened it out on your lap.

The writing wasn’t yours, but you recognised it.

“Thank you for the unexpected meeting. You’ve given me the confidence to hold firm and figure out the mess I’m in. I hope our paths cross again. Keep safe until that day comes. Damien.”

[haileygarciasunshine]

Another Night

Pairing: Kylo Ren x Reader

Warning: Drinking

Word Count: 2,146

Requested: Yes!☺️🖤

A mix of Harry Styles “Falling” and Prompt #2 “You’re so fun to touch.” @oh-mymendes

I fell in love with this song so I’m going to make this angsty and fluffy🖤

I'm in my bed

And you're not here

And there's no one to blame but the drink and my wandering hands

Forget what I said

It's not what I meant

And I can't take it back

I can't unpack the baggage you left

It was another night of drinking. Another night of falling into a pit of dispair. Another night of staring at the ceiling wondering what went wrong. Another night. If you could go back to that regretful night, you would. It had been three weeks post break up, and you had begun to turn into someone you didn’t recognize. Being in a relationship with Kylo Ren, required, a lot of effort, a lot of trust and communication, and most importantly, a lot of understanding. Kylo, didn’t want to make your relationship public, while at the beginning you were understanding, however you grew less and less understanding during the relationship, a year had gone by, and the man still didn’t want to make it known. 

He had practically, every female, throwing themselves at him, and yet he couldn’t understand why you wanted to go public. It began to feel like the relationship was a dirty little secret, and that’s not the type of relationship you wanted. The stress of being kept secret was enough to cause major turmoil in the relationship. Kylo, didn’t seem to be bothered by this at all. That is until the night of the break up, everything that was unsaid unraveled at an alarming rate.

“I just don’t understand!” You yelled in frustration, bringing your hand up to your face rubbing angerly.

“What are you not understanding!” 

“Why you don’t want anyone to know about us!”

“I am not having this argument again!” He huffed in anger, making his way to his bedroom.

Following him on his heels, you bellowed, “Is there someone else? I Just....” Your voice cracked before you could finish, as tears threatened to fall down your cheeks.

“You just what?” He spat in anger.

Sighing, you knew this fight wouldn’t end well, “I just need to know. We.... We can.... We can work through it?” It came out as more of a question than a statement. 

“What if I’ve decided I’ve had enough. That I don’t want to work through it?” He questioned while doing something in his closet. 

Kylo, knew what he was doing, he thought the best way to protect you, was to push you away. The truth is, that he loved you, more than anything in the entire galaxy. He even whisked away Megan, your girl friend, and Jake your best guy friend, to go look at rings with him. He wanted forever, and he wanted forever with you. 

There had been many, many threats against you. He wasn’t sure how they knew about you, which is why he wanted to keep the relationship “Secret,” he couldn’t be bothered to give a damn if anyone on the ship didn’t want you together. It was the looming threats on your life, from different sources, that bothered him. How could he expect to be a Husband if he couldn’t protect you?

Kylo, had busied himself in his closet, not being able to stand how much he was hurting you. Every word, he spat, he knew the damage that was done. He couldn’t bring himself, to witness the tears that were streaming down your face, or the hurt that was plastered on your face, all because of him. Kylo, knew you all too well, he knew the emotions that you would be feeling, using your greatest fear against you. Being hurt and alone were the only things you feared in the entire universe and here he was using them.

“What?” You gasped. The hurt in your voice taking over.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

“Do what anymore?”

“This..Us.”

“If you don’t end it, I will.”

Silence. For the first time in days, there was silence. The silence was mixed with something else. Defeat. It was the sound of two hearts breaking.

He knew how far he pushed you, when all he wanted to do was bury himself with you.

The sudden, sound of his chamber door closing, echoed through out. Now it was his turn to be truly afraid of being alone.

The sound of a gentle knock was heard throughout. Groaning, you slowly sat up. Now, only if the room would stop spinning you could get up. After, a few seconds you attempted to answer the door, stumbling and swaying in the process. Opening the door, you were greeted with two faces, that you weren’t expecting.

“Hey, Y/N.”

“We knew you’d be here... Uh, mind if we join you?”

Your best friends had shown up at your chambers, with alcohol in hand. You were surprised, to say the least, especially since you had kicked them out of your apartment, and barked at them how much you hated them a few nights prior.

“Please! I could use the company.” You offered with a soft smiled. Telling them all about, your broken heart.

What if I'm down?

What if I'm out?

What if I'm someone you won't talk about?

I'm fallin' again

I'm fallin' again

I'm fallin'

The alcohol, stopped numbing the pain forcing you to face the all too real heart break. You had tried to keep your life business as usual, but quickly found out just how much your life revolves around Kylo. It turned into a journey to self discovery again. Being able to step foot in the ship cafeteria was a new one. You and Megan would often stargaze and talk about life whenever you couldn’t sleep.

That didn’t stop you from missing him, no matter how hard you tried. Some nights, you laid awake staring at the ceiling, wondering if he ever talked about you, or if he was having just as hard of a time getting the thoughts of you out of his mind. You were exhausted. Just the smallest thought of Kylo, kept you up at night.

Practically every night, you found yourself wondering the halls as you were becoming an insomniac. However, tonight was a different story. Turning down one of the many, many hallways onboard the ship, you ran into a similar tall black figure.

“Kylo?” Disbelieve coursing through your body.

“Yes, baby?”

“Are you... Are you drunk?”

Suddenly, he found your question humorous, laughing before replying, “Just a smidge..”

‘Oh good,’ now I know how Megan and Jake felt you thought.

“Alright, let’s get you home big boy.”

“You’re coming home?”

“Well I’m just-“

Throwing his arms around you, he pulled you close to his body before continuing, “I’ve missed you baby.”

“Okay, Kylo. Come on.”

Kylo tripped and stumbled along the way to his chambers. As soon as you got him into bed, his enormous hand, clamped down on your wrist not letting you go.

“Stay... please.”

Turning to look at him, his eyes were filled with regret and sorrow. It seemed as if he was overwhelmed by them.

Breathing out in defeated you replied, “Okay.”

Once you were secure under the blankets, Kylo immediately, pulled you to his chest. Never in your whole relationship, have you seen the man drunk.

Giggling, he said, “You’re fun to touch! So soft.”

“Okay, Kylo. Time for bed,” you couldn’t help but laugh, at the drunk gentle giant.

“I’m sorry... the breakup was my fault.” He paused, but then continued with his confession, “There was too many threats on your life... I... I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”

“Kylo....”

“I thought I was protecting you, if we broke up,” he let out a frustrated sigh, “I thought the threats would stop... but they didn’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve understood..”

“I know...You’re so caring, and understanding... Always putting my needs before your own... I just wanted to return the favor.”

“Kyl-.”

“I miss you.. I... I can change if you want me to...”

Not giving him the chance to continue, his drunken rambling, you took his face in your hand and kissed him. He reacted quicker than you thought possible. His lips were moving feverishly against yours.

“Let’s go to sleep. We can talk in the morning.”

Fresh brewed coffee filled the air. Remembering where you were, you quickly sat up. It wasn’t until you made your way past a mirror, that you realized you had fallen asleep in one of Kylo’s sweaters, easily making it past your knees serving as a night sweater.

“Goodmorning.” Kylo said, as he kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other, “Y/N, uhm.. about last night I-“

You cut off his nervous ramblings again, with a kiss. The kiss deeped almost instantly, his hands wandering over your body, before landing at your hips. Your hands tangled themselves in his soft black hair. He pushed his hips into yours, trapping you against the lower kitchen cabinets. Before it could get anymore heated, he lifted you onto the counter so you were closer in height.

“You love me again?” His voice coming out wrecked.

“Baby, who says I stopped?”

Smiling at the nickname, he placed chaste kissing along your throat, with each kiss, came and “I love you.”

A month has gone by, since your reconciliation with Kylo. It was better than before, everyone knew you were together. If Kylo, could’ve climbed to the top of the space ship, and scream if for all the galaxy to hear, he would’ve. Little did you know, he was planning on asking you something very important.

Once you woke up, you made your way to the kitchen. There was a note, by the coffee pot. It read:

‘Be ready by 7pm. Everything you need, is already in our chambers.’

As soon as seven rolled around, you were bursting at the seams. Kylo, had picked a nude ball gown, with a white leaf tull to go over the top.

There was a rough knock at the door. Opening, the door you were met with five knights of Ren. Kylo, being the one that was missing.

“Miss Y/N, we are here to escort you, to meet Sir, Kylo.”

You followed them down, many twists and turns through the ship. It wasn’t until you reached a secluded hallway, that you were wondering what was happening.

Once you reached the designated hallway, the Knights of Ren, stepped away from you and stated, “From here, you proceed alone.”

After the tall man, stepped aside you saw the hallway lined, with dozens upon dozens, of pink peonies, your favorite flower. Below them, were white candles lighting the pathway for you walk.

Each flower, had a little note of a favorite memory, Kylo had with you. The closer you got to the end, more rose petals were spread along the floor. Your eyes falling on a familiar set of chocolate brown eyes. Once you got close enough, he got down on one knee and asked four simple words.

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

Kylo had taken the next step in your relationship, and wanted to make you his bride. Eternity was a long time, but not nearly as long, with you by his side.

Six months had passed, and it was your wedding day. You and Kylo, didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, so you invited Megan and Jacob, along with the Knights of Ren, to your elopement. Seeing Kylo, in a tux for the first time was breath taking.

“I love you, Wife.” He overcome with joy.

Replying with enthusiasm you said, “I love you too, Husband.”

It wasn’t often you got to spend more than one day together. You were able to keep him away from work for three days, before there was an absolute emergency that they needed to whisk him away.

Four months after saying, “I Do.” You we’re beginning to feel extremely nauseous. It wasn’t long, before you were running sick, to the bathroom.

‘Maybe I’m pregnant.’ You thought. Shaking the idea from your head, you made your way to the kitchen, once again being overwhelmed with a nauseous feeling. Kylo, walked in the door, with the sickening smell. It was lunch. Once again, you took off in the direction of the bathroom. Resting your, head on the toilet lid, kylo was situated on the floor by you, gently rubbing your back, after he was done holding your hair back.

“Are you okay my love?”

“Yeah,” you let out a sigh, “I guess I’m not feeling well today.”

Letting your conscience speak, you took a pregnancy test. The results seemed to take forever, even though it was only a matter of minutes. Once the results showed, all the color that was left in your face, had drained.

Deciding it was now or never, you opened the bathroom door and was met with your eager husband.

“I’m pregnant.”

[kristannafever-fics]

Unknown Fate - Part Four

Kristanna Canon Divergence

Kristanna Week 2019 - Prompt: The Unknown

Rated:  M (swear word)

WC: 4265

Previous Chapters

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It was utterly amazing how such a simple thing as a warm bath could feel so good.   Yet another thing that Anna had taken for granted as the princess of Arendelle.

It felt amazing to get some soap on her grimy skin.  Even better was washing her hair.  She used to hate it when her hair got too greasy, but that was before her hair got so grimy that it turned the bathwater a rather unpleasant shade of grey.  

Still, that did not bother Anna.  She soaped her whole body two more times until the bathwater was getting too cold to stand.  When she got out, she toweled herself dry while she stared at the beautiful dress hanging on the back of the door.  She could not wait to put it on.

She made sure her hair was fairly dry before she finally slipped the dress over her head.  She was thankful that the tie for the bodice was in the front, eliminating her need to have someone help her put it on.  How such a simple thing like that could make all the difference in the world, amazed Anna all over again.

With her hair combed and put back into her braids, she tossed all her old garments in the trash and exited the small room to find Kristoff.

She did not have to look for him long.  He was just outside of the bathhouse in the little alley between it and the inn with his back leaning against the wall.  He gave her a lopsided smirk when he noticed her coming his way.

“How do you feel…” The last word died on his lips as his eyes widened, his gaze focused on her hair.

Anna suddenly realized that he had never seen the light streak in her hair.  It had been covered by so much filth and she usually wore her braids under a handkerchief to hide the dirt.

He blinked and swallowed like his throat was dry.  There was surely no way he knew who she was, was there?   She had spent her entire life in the castle with the gates closed. Barely anyone knew what she looked like and he was most certainly not at the coronation ball.  Perhaps he just thought that the streak in her hair was odd looking.

Yet his eyes said something different.  They burned with recognition and Anna was suddenly very afraid.   She knew Hans’s men still searched for her.  She had seen them scouring through town every once in a while.   What if…

No.  There was no way in hell that Kristoff was one of those men.  Still, how could he know her?

He clamped his jaw shut tightly and reached out for her hand.  He began to drag her back towards the Inn.  Anna suddenly felt an urge to stop and run.  She didn’t know him after all.  Not really.  She couldn’t take her assumptions as the truth.  Every spike of adrenaline through her body was telling her to run, yet deep down, her instinct told her to go with him.

She followed without a word.

He all but shoved her into the room and turned to shut the door.  She watched as he braced his palms against it, arms straight and hanging his head between his shoulders.  She understood in an instant that he knew exactly who she was and her heart started to beat even quicker in her chest.

Anna waited, nerves shaking her body.  He finally pulled himself away from the door and turned around and spoke two words, his face an expression disbelief, disappointment, and something else Anna could not put her finger on.

“What happened?”

Anna broke down.  Her knees unhinged and she fell, but she didn’t not hit the ground.  Kristoff was there to grab her, like he had been since the day they met.

He picked her up gently and carried her over to the bed.  He placed her upon it then took a seat on the edge.  She needed more, however.  She needed to be held.  She needed comfort.   She held her arms out to him, not expecting him to comply.

But he did.  He laid beside her on the small bed and pulled her into his chest.  Anna wept against him until she fell into a fitful sleep.

*****

She drifted in and out of consciousness.  Never once did the warm comfort of Kristoff leave her.  It wasn’t until she woke for good that he finally stirred, adjusting himself to lay flat on his back.  Anna went with him, unable to let go of their closeness for the moment.

He was silent, waiting for her to talk.  The problem was she had no idea what to say.  She had no idea what was going to happen.   She had no way of knowing how far Kristoff’s generosity was going to stretch. There would be a point in time when he was done helping her, wouldn’t there?  It’s not like he was going to take her with him.

Anna sighed and got up, unable to meet him in the eyes just yet.  She wandered over to where the basket of food sat on the table and lifted the handkerchief to see what was left inside.  She took the first thing her eyes stumbled on.  She bit into the bright red apple as she wandered over to the little window in the room.

It was dusk.  She hadn’t been asleep all that long.  

“What happened?”

Anna paused, apple mid-way to her mouth.   She had planned to never tell another living soul what had happened for fear of what would become of her sister if she did.  But the fact that now King Hans was in charge, didn’t seem to bode well for Elsa. Perhaps her sister was already dead.

Anna fought back the tears at the thought.  No, she wasn’t dead.  Anna could feel it in her heart.  Forced to live a lie maybe, but not dead.  Anna had to wonder what Hans had in store for her to keep her alive after he had taken the throne.  There had to be a reason.

Anna thought back to the last time she had laid eyes on her sister when she had discovered just how much a treacherous snake Hans truly was.  She was led to the courtyard by Kai, bundled up in cold weather clothing but nothing else.  Despite how many times she pleaded with Kai to tell her what was going on, the broken looking man remained silent as he led her to what Anna could only assume was her demise.

She was surprised to find Elsa and Hans standing together in the courtyard with a group of a half a dozen scary looking men huddled in one corner, watching everything through the sides of their eyes.

“Elsa, what is going on? Wait, where are the guards?”

“Relieved of their duty,” Hans said coolly.  “My men are in charge of the security now, since I am soon to be King.”

“W-why are you doing this Elsa?  Why are you giving him everything he wants?”

“I have to keep the Kingdome safe,” Elsa pulled in a shuddering breath.  “And you.”

“What do you mean? Elsa, you have powers!  I saw them!  Please, do something!”

“I… I can’t,” Elsa looked utterly defeated.  

“What?  Elsa, come on!  Hurt him before he can hurt us!  Get these men to leave!  You are the Queen!”

“And if I hurt you in the process?” Elsa shouted.  The temperature in the air dropped immediately as tiny shards of Ice started to fall to the ground from Elsa’s clenched fists.  “I won’t risk it, Anna.  Not after what happened when we were kids.  I can barely hold on most of the time.  I fear for everyone if I should ever let go!”

Anna’s eyes widened as everything clicked into place.  The fragmented memories, the sudden closed doors, the silent treatment…  Everything that had changed after that one night that left Anna questioning everything, day after day.  Now she knew.  There had been an accident.  Strange that she did not remember it.  What had they done to her?

That was why Elsa wasn’t using her powers to protect them.  She couldn’t.  She didn’t know how to control it.  Why else would she always lock herself away in her room?  Why would she cut her own coronation ball early?  She was starting to crack and she didn’t want anything to show.

Then Anna suddenly realized it was her sounding the alarm that must have tipped Hans off that guards were on their way.  The balcony doors were open, she was sure now that he had heard her screaming for help. What did he threaten Elsa with to get her to take whatever control she had on her powers and clear the air of snow in her room?  Was it her life?  No, not only hers at least.  He must have threatened Anna’s life as well.  That was why Elsa said she had to keep her safe…

“Elsa,” Anna whispered, shoulders dropping in despair, wishing she would have simply tried to take Hans down herself instead if accidentally letting him know she had seen him.

Her sister looked at her with eyes that confirmed all of Anna’s suspicions.  She was bargaining herself for the entire kingdom and Anna’s life.

What a downright dirty trick.  What a despicable human being this Hans was.  Anna felt sick to her stomach that she had ever thought he was handsome. Truly naive she was.  No, never again.  She was going to make a stand and do what was right, regardless of what it meant for her.

She was about to charge him when he spoke, most likely seeing her intent.

“Think about your next move carefully, Princess.  I am getting tired of entertaining the both of you.  You either leave now in this period of grace I am feeling, or I will kill the both of you.”

The men that were huddled in the corner were now closing in on all of them, creating a circle around them. Anna had no choice.  She was going to have to go along with this then figure out what to do on her own.  She held her head high and started her lonely walk towards the outside world.

Anna was just about through the gates when she heard two words, a death sentence carried to her through the cold night air.

“Kill her.”

Elsa started to scream and Anna ran.  She didn’t know what else to do.  She could hear several men take off after her.  Her only chance was going to be in the forest.  She just wasn’t sure if she was going to make it there in time.

She ran with everything she had as she heard the shouts behind her.  She was suddenly thankful for the moonless night, even though she tripped and fell several times, cutting her knees and shins on the cold, hard ground. She made it to the treeline with enough space between them to gain an advantage.   She knew these woods.  She had played in them many times when she was young, the only place her parents would allow that was outside of the castle gates.  As long as she stayed out of the town, they always warned her.  She had obeyed, even though she thought often about sneaking away just once so that she could see anything other than what she knew.

She went to a small grove of wild roses and crawled through an opening she knew well.  She was a lot bigger than when she crawled in as a child however, and the thorns tore painfully at her skin and clothes.  She forced herself onward until she was tucked safely in the hollow middle, hoping that no animal had made this their den since she’d been here last.

She was in luck to have it all to herself and she tucked herself into a ball as she heard footsteps approaching.  She held her breath, almost impossible with her lungs still burning for air from the run, until the footfalls fell away into the night.  She let out a shuddering breath as quietly as she could, unable to hold it in any longer, hoping that none of the men lingered.

She sat in silence for what felt like an eternity.  It wasn’t until the sun was well in the sky the next day that Anna emerged, knowing she needed to get as far away from Arendelle as possible.  She was on her own now and she needed to survive until she found a way to get back to her sister to help her.

“What happened?” Kristoff repeated, his tone noticeably gentler.

Anna still had the apple a breath away from her lips.  She lowered it and slowly turned around.  He was sitting on the bed, looking at her expectantly.  

Despite what she promised herself she would never do, she told him everything.

*****

“You were too scared to tell anyone who you were for fear Hans’s men would find you.”

Anna nodded.  Kristoff had shifted to the head of the bed and sat with his back leaning against the wall, his long legs out in front of him crossed at the ankles.  Anna sat at his feet, legs crossed under her as she told Kristoff what happened.  He had put the distance between them and Anna had to wonder exactly what that meant.  Perhaps he had decided to be done with the trouble that she carried with her now that he knew.

Kristoff remained quiet for a long time, eyes looking at her but out of focus.  “You have to do something.”

“What?” Anna said, exasperated.  “What can I do?  If I go back to Arendelle I have no doubt they will kill me.  I can’t ask people to help me either.  Who would care?  We locked ourselves away for so long, what are we to them?  Nothing.”

“The people are unhappy, Anna.  I am sure they would revolt to find that the Queen had no choice when she married him.”

“We have no idea how strong Han’s protection is.  Not to mention that he has the advantage of being locked in the castle.  It would probably take a thousand men to infiltrate his defenses.  Tell me, do you know how we can get that many people on our side?  On my side?  The Princess who spent her entire life hidden behind closed castle gates…” Anna shook her head.  “What’s done is done.  I can’t change anything.”

Kristoff remained silent while Anna told him more reasons why she couldn’t go back, that she felt her sister was alive and feared that harm might come to her should she return, that even if they could garner some support, Anna would never forgive herself should harm come upon her people in trying to aid her, and last but not least, that had her sister had given up her entire future to keep Anna alive.  If she went back and was killed because of it, everything would have been for naught.  

When she finished talking, a silence stretched on between them while Kristoff ran his fingers up and down his jaw in silent contemplation, his eyes focused on the toes of his feet.

Anna just about didn’t think he was going to continue talking on the matter until he finally looked at her.

“What do you want to do then?”

Anna blinked at him. Was he not listening?  

“There’s nothing I can do. All I can do is try and survive and figure out a way to keep myself alive.”

“That’s not what I asked you,” he said quietly, shifting on the bed so that he was sitting with he legs off the sides, facing his body to the wall.  He turned his head to look at her as Anna followed his movements and sat beside him.  “I asked what you want to do, not what you thought you needed to do.”

“What I want?” Anna asked, looking forward in thought.  What did she want?  She wanted to go back to the castle and kick Hans’s ass, that’s what she wanted to do. She wanted him to suffer.  She wanted him to pay.  

But that was impossible. There was no way she could accomplish that.  Then what was there?  Surviving as a commoner.  That was the only thing she had left.

She shrugged, almost embarrassed to tell him.  “I want… I want to get a job.  I want to work.  I just don’t have any skills that would garner me employment.  But that’s what I want to do.  I want to earn a living and get myself somewhere to live. A simple room is all I need.  Work and have a place to sleep at night and to buy myself food.  That’s what I want.  That’s… that’s all I want.”

Anna dropped her gaze to her folded hands in her lap.  Funny, she used to want more.  She used to want it all.  She had wanted to find a husband who loved her and to have children to take care of. She used to want the life of a wife and a mother more than anything.  A faithful and caring woman to her man and a provider and teacher to her children.  They would be so happy… they would have a wonderful life in the castle.  Anna was even sure that given her having children, Elsa would eventually come around and be her sister again.  The gates would be open, they could spend warm days out in the gardens and the courtyard, they could stay in the library on cold and rainy days.  They could even travel the world if they wanted to…

Now all she could think about was want for the most basic things.  Work, food and shelter.  That was all. She had no idea how hard it was when everything in life wasn’t handed to you on a silver platter.  What must Kristoff think of her now, knowing where she came from, knowing that she had a title and a crown.  Or at least, she used to.  This wonderful man who had supported her when she was begging in the streets was probably coming to regret helping a spoiled brat whose only family left had been torn away from her by Royalty just like them.  

Anna sighed.  She wished Kristoff would say something. Anything.  But he remained silent and Anna couldn’t stand it anymore.  She got up and started to pace the small room, muttering that she was going to have to figure something out soon or she was going to end up dying on the streets.  Winter was fast approaching and she honestly didn’t know if she could survive another one.  The last one had been bad enough.  She truly didn’t think she was going to make it some nights, so cold she thought she was going to lose some toes and fingers.

“Work with me then.”

Anna stopped in her tracks, her back to him.  He didn’t just say that, did he?

“I mean it,” he continued in a quiet tone, perhaps understanding what was running through her mind.  “I could teach you the trade, kind of like an apprentice.  I would pay you accordingly and I have lots of tools.  There’s a harvester I know whose teenage son has just grown out of all last season’s clothing.  I’m sure I could get them for a decent price.  My tent is big enough to sleep two.  I sleep on the ground, but I can get you a bed roll so it’s not too uncomfortable.  I have a cabin, for the off days.  Whenever we’re between harvests.  It’s not much, at all, but there’s enough room for me to build another bed….”

His voice trailed off, like he felt his words were falling on deaf ears since Anna still had her back to him.  She couldn’t move a muscle.  Tear after tear coursed down her cheeks and face, gathering under her chin before they dripped to the floor.  She was too shocked to move, too scared that if she was to look him in the eyes that he might take it all back.  

All he had done for her and he was willing to do this as well.  He was opening up his entire life to help her, allowing her a way out of her predicament completely at his time and expense.  Anna didn’t think she would ever be able to understand his reasons. She had come to know that every one of his intentions were pure.  He didn’t ask her for anything and yet his was willing to give her everything. There was only one thing she could say to him.

“Why?” she said to the wall in front of her as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I told you why.”

“No,” Anna shook her head, turning around slowly and forcing gaze to meet his eyes.  “Tell me the real reason.”

His gaze flicked ever so quickly to her hair before he stared back at her blankly.  Anna suddenly understood why he was being so tight lipped.   He was simply being kind to her before, but now there was something else behind his intentions.  She could see it in his eyes.  At least, that’s what she thought she saw in his eyes.  Regardless, he was going to tell her and he was going to tell her now.

“I have told you everything,” she continued at his silence, “Now you will tell me how you know me.”

His tongue darted out and licked his dry lips.  “It’s not my story to tell,” he said carefully.

“Whose then?  The parents I had to bury?  The sister who no doubt remains a prisoner to an evil man? If not from you, then who?”

“Anna, it’s complicated-“

“No.   No, you listen to me,” Anna growled, striding towards where he sat on the bed and looking down at him.   “I am tired of people lying to me, of people keeping secrets from me!  I will not put up with it any longer!  I-“

“Okay,” he shouted. Anna looked down at him for a moment, breathing hard.  “Okay,” he said more softly as he looked up into her eyes.

Anna gave him a curt nod and waited.

He inhaled deeply and let out a slow breath as he looked to the floor.  “I saw you, when you were a young child, as I was.  You had a streak in your hair and your parents and sister were rushing you to see…” He swallowed quickly, “My family.”

“What does your family have to do with this?”  Anna asked, still angry but genuinely curious.  

“They are, how shall I put this… um, healers.”  He sighed, “Among other things,” he added under his breath.

“What?”

“Look, they healed you when your sister accidentally struck you with her powers.  Then you were made to… not remember what happened.”

“How is that possible?”

He finally looked up. “I can honestly say I don’t really know.”

“So, you’re not a healer like them.”

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean? Actually, you know what, never mind. What happened to me after that?”

Kristoff shrugged.  “I have no idea.  Your family took you home and I never saw you again.  Well, until a week ago.  But I didn’t know until today… until I saw your hair.”

Anna searched his eyes as he held her gaze.  He was telling the truth but it felt like he was holding something back.  Either way Anna was honestly too exhausted to get into it. She didn’t want to think about the past anymore.  She didn’t want to think about how fucked up her life had been.  She didn’t want to think about the pain and the hardship and the hard and lonely years.

In truth she wanted to think about Kristoff’s offer.  About working for a living.  About having a roof over her head even if it was a tent, and food in her belly and maybe living like an actual human being again, not having to beg and steal or worry about finding a place to sleep or how she was going to survive the winter.

She sighed and sat beside him on the bed, staring into the floor.  “I’m sorry.  When it comes to my past, I feel so…. Lost.”

“It’s okay, Anna.  I understand.”

Anna chuckled softly to herself.  There was no way he could understand, but his sentiment was nice.  She let out a long sigh.  She didn’t want to talk about the past anymore.  

“So, you are serious?   About teaching me the trade?”

He waited until she looked up and over at him.   “I am.”

“Well, okay then.  I would love to become your apprentice. And…. Thank you.”

Kristoff was still for a moment before he responded.  “Just do me a favour?”

“Sure.”

“Don’t keep thanking me. Please.”

Anna smiled at him and nodded.  She understood.   He had all his cards on the table �� he was going to help her get her life back and he was not doing it for any other reason than he was trying to pay forward the kindness that had once been paid to him.  Perhaps it was a way to ease his soul.  

“Well,” Kristoff said as he stood up when it seemed like he couldn’t stand the sudden silence between them. “Let’s go grab a meal in the tavern downstairs and get some sleep.  We’ll head up the mountain tomorrow and it’s going to be a long day.”

[charmingcentry]

Book Store

Entry for co-workers! Again, I suggest reading on AO3 

AO3

-

There are two things that Beca looks forward to about her poorly-paid bookstore job:

1. The free coffee and doughnuts 2. That annoyingly cute redhead who won’t stop talking to her

The brunette has to admit, she loves it - the annoyingly cute redhead to be specific. That cute smile that greets Beca every time she clocks in for her shift, the pre-made cup of coffee with no cream or milk mixed in whatsoever along with the chocolate twist doughnut left in her cubby, it makes Beca’s shift worth it. For two young adults, a shift-lead position at a bookstore wasn’t quite what the two expected but they make their time worthwhile.

-

Beca parks her silver car in the usual spot, the mall parking lot right next to the redhead’s vehicle. Oddly enough, the redhead shows up for her shift extremely early although the store doesn’t open until 9 AM, she arrives around 7 A.M. on the dot for all her shifts, taking in the serene peace and quiet as she strolls about in the outdoor mall. The brunette calls her crazy for that, considering that Beca can’t even wake up that early in the morning - she has dozens of alarms set to make her on time.

The brunette walks through the quiet mall, the sunlight already shining bright at 8:45 A.M… could be why Chloe enjoys these strolls. Beca walks towards the bookstore, expecting to find the redhead waiting outside on the nearby benches, but she was nowhere to be found. Instead, the lights inside were lit and she could see the redhead already doing her job. A smile washes over her face when she notices Chloe dancing, upon further examination, to the music from the earbuds she was wearing. Beca crosses her arms, the smile still remaining on her face. She knocks on the door and the redhead lets out an audible scream, turning towards the entrance of the store.

“You scared me! Thought you were a burglar or something…” Chloe states, unlocking the entrance of the store for the brunette. Beca rolled her eyes as she walked in, avoiding the staff room since she doesn’t have to clock in yet.

“Who would rob a book store? I mean yeah reading is cool and all but really? Who would rob…” Beca examines the tables full of books around her and selects one at random. “So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed… okay, actually this one is good.”

Chloe lets out a laugh as she unplugs her earbuds and walks back towards Beca, grabbing the book from her hands to examine. “I’ve been meaning to read this one… is it any good?”

“It’s really comedic and has dark humor, I enjoyed it,” Beca responds, examining other novels in the store, flipping through the pages in some. The redhead lets out what sounds like a “hm” sound and immediately turns on her heel. Chloe runs off to the back room and Beca slowly follows behind her, wondering what excited the redhead so much. The brunette is then greeted with her coworker, holding a container filled with a baked good of some sort and a cup of coffee. “I, well, I heard that there wasn’t going to be any today so I figured to get you some to like… keep you energized.” Beca tried to prevent her incoming smile, how thoughtful of the redhead. “Here you go…”

Chloe hands Beca her food and the two stand in the doorway of the staff room and store, looking at each other. “Thanks.” The brunette adds after a couple of beats. “Uh, you really didn’t have to do this for me y’know?”

The redhead only shrugs when notices the time and walks back in to clock herself in. “I don’t mind… I mean you seem really happy when you have your breakfast here so.” Chloe says, waiting for Beca to clock in herself as she takes the brunette’s coffee to hold. “That and usually you on a full stomach prevents you from snapping at customers so…”

The brunette rolls her eyes as she presses her thumb on the fingerprint scanner. “That was one time!” Chloe narrows her eyes at Beca as she hands her coffee back. “In my defense… well actually I don’t have any, but she was really dumb. I mean, who asks where our best selling books are? We have a table literally right there for those books when you first enter!”

“I guess… you really scared her.” Chloe says, noticing the entrance of the store opening up. She notices other employees walking in, the tacky nametags pinned on their regular shirt - there was an arts and crafts day amongst the employees, wasn’t quite the best and now everyone is stuck with glittery sparkly tags. “Well, see you ‘round Becs looks like all the schools are out for summer and you know what that means~”

“God don’t remind me… hope that one group of teenagers don’t come in… they ruined my beautiful stack of Stephen King books!” Beca groans, walking into the backroom to store her personal belongings in the cubby. She awkwardly waves at other employees and she slips her bag into the cubby when she notices a small navy blue piece of paper inside. The brunette furrows her eyebrows and frowns when she pulls it out, noticing there are words written on it.

“The way I feel about him [her] is like a heartbeat -- soft and persistent, underlying everything.” ― Becky Albertalli, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Beca glances left and right, trying to figure out who would write this to her. The brunette gulps loudly as she carefully folds the paper into quarters, slipping the navy blue paper carefully inside of her small backpack. She takes a deep breath before heading back out, her nerves almost relieved when she sees Chloe look back at her and wink as she organizes a stack of books somehow already disorganized. Beca smiles as she walks around the store, distracting herself from that note.

--- “I- I mean a note? From one of like my favorite books? Wh- who would write that to me!” Beca yells, waving her hands around in the air dramatically as she paces around her small condo shared with her best friend Emily Junk. “Like who would know that! I mean it’s been bothering me all day, like an itch I can’t friggin’ scratch! Or like when you get a hair in your mouth but you can’t seem to find it… ugh!” The brunette groans out, throwing herself against the couch that Emily is sitting on.

“W-well, have you thought of… thinking of who would know stuff like that? Maybe?” Emily asks hesitantly, worried that her friend’s frustrated outburst might affect her thoughts on the question asked. Beca only sits up to her belief and she just sits there, wrinkling her nose as she thinks through a list of people from her workplace.

“Nope.”

Emily quirks up an eyebrow, leaning back into the couch. “Really? Not even anyone you… I don’t know, close with?”

Beca scrunches her face up once again and lets out a sigh. “I mean there’s Chloe but what are the chances that she actually likes me back Em?”

The taller of the two only shakes her head and drops all her weight into the couch even more. “I mean… to me, you guys are like a couple kind of. She brings you food and stuff… you two always spend time with each other, you’re nicer to her than you are to me…” Beca gapes her mouth open.

“Hey! I’m nice.” Beca pouts, crossing her arms in front of her as she snatches an M&M from a bowl on their coffee table. “But… there’s no way it could be Chloe. Right?”

Emily only shrugs, taking an M&M for herself, she wasn’t sure if the candy on the table was available for her to take freely. Beca continues snacking on the chocolate candy, her face tense and jaw tightened. There’s no way it could be Chloe.

- Beca sprints into the bookstore, fastening the name tag on her purple-striped shirt as she speed-walks into the clock in area. The brunette had stayed up all night, thinking about the words Emily had said the previous night, looks like her 10 alarms weren’t enough to wake the employee up in time. She walks into the staff room, seeing Chloe adjusting her pin when she notices Beca. The redhead laughs at the frenzied mess that Beca is and walks over to her friend, grabbing a lock of her hair.

“Woke up late Becs?” Chloe chuckles as she notices how frizzy and knotted her friend’s hair is. Beca only nods, ignoring the sudden butterflies in her stomach when Chloe had touched her hair - the redhead was known for her lack of personal boundaries. Beca walks over to the time clock. “Oh you don’t have to, I already did it for you.”

Beca immediately whips her head around back towards Chloe. “How? It requires my fingerprint.”

“Remember before the whole fingerprint thing we had pins? I just used that.” Beca is still staring at Chloe with an expression of terror and amusement on her face. “I guessed… I mean, I expected your pin to be your birthday anyways…” The brunette opens her mouth but is cut off by Chloe again. “Don’t worry about the whole policy… you’re only 10 minutes late, I just told them you clocked in and went to the bathroom. It’s believable.”

“I- well, thank you so much dude that’s nice of you to do.” Chloe leans her head out of the room, noticing the fairly empty store with the exception of two other employees stocking the shelves with new arrivals.

“Wanna talk?” Chloe walks over to the refreshment table and grabs the doughnuts and coffee already made. “There’s food in it for you~”

Beca rolls her eyes and accepts the offer, sitting down at a small plastic table with Chloe on the other end. “For a Monday morning during the summer… I’d figure the mall would be busier y’know? With kids mainly since adults have work.” The brunette says, taking a bite of a chocolate doughnut

“I know right? I guess everyone is sleeping in or something… including you.” The redhead teases, poking out her tongue at the brunette.

“Hey! I’ll have you know this is my first time being late…”

Chloe rolls her eyes as she tears a piece from her sprinkle doughnut. “You’re lucky I saved your ass.”

“From who? Our manager isn’t even here… if he were he’d be yelling at us to go educate some kids to read or some crazy bullshit.”

The redhead lets out a small laugh, scoffing down the piece of doughnut. “Probably…”

Beca looks over to her cubby and grabs her backpack with one hand with the intention of placing her belongings away until she remembers. The brunette’s heart rate picked up, wondering if she should confront Chloe about the whole note thing. She tightens the grip on her backpack strap as she takes another piece of her doughnut. She didn’t even notice she’s been staring at it the entire time.

“Becs, you alright there?” Chloe questions, placing her hand on top of Beca’s. The brunette is startled and snaps her head to the redhead. “Yeah, I just…” She opens the zipper of her small bag and pulls out the little paper. “I got this yesterday, in my cubby.” Chloe takes the paper and examines it closely.

“ ‘The way I feel about her is like a heartbeat -- soft and persistent, underlying everything.’ “ The redhead repeats in a lively voice, a smile spreading across her face. “Does Beca Mitchell have a secret admirer?” Chloe asks, handing back the slip of paper, leaning in closer to the brunette.

“I- well, I don’t know… do you have any clue who it may be?” The brunette asks, standing up to throw her trash away, Chloe does the same.

“Nope. Whoever it is must be totally head over heels for you.” The redhead asks, standing nearby the cubbies when Beca begins to leave the break room.

“Yeah, maybe. Alright well, I better help them set up shop and stuff… talk to you later Beale!”

Beca walks out of the break room and Chloe pretends to follow, only stopping once she saw Beca walk into the main part of the store to help their fellow co-workers. The redhead walks back inside the break room to her own cubby which is coincidentally right next to Beca’s. Chloe slips out a purple-colored paper from her own bag and carefully slides the note to the side of Beca’s backpack. She smiles and leaves the break room, how could Beca be so oblivious?

“I wondered what that was like, to hold someone’s hand. I bet you could sometimes find all of the mysteries of the universe in someone’s hand.” ― Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

--

Beca examines at the now seven book quotes laid in front of her with Emily by her side. The papers are vibrant and colorful and the handwriting certainly matches every time. A significant detail that Emily noticed was the little carrot that would be drawn on the corner of the paper. It’s been a week since the brunette has been first receiving the quotes and each time, they get a bit more love-related.

Tuesday: “Your heart's desire is to be told some mystery. The mystery is that there is no mystery.” ― Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian

Beca had found the little note from Tuesday in her cubby as always, it was an orange slip of paper. This quote was from another one of her favorite novels, this person sure did know a lot about the brunette’s personal life.

Wednesday: “Just think you’re meant to meet some people. I think the universe nudges them into your path.” ― Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera What If It's Us

Beca had cried when the book first released, she stayed up until 3 A.M. just to finish reading the book and was extremely touched by the quote when she first read it. One of the first people she had discussed the book about was Chloe, they spent most of their break and time after their shift talking about the universe and the signals that it sends people.

Thursday: “Everything's uglier close up," she said. "Not you," I answered.” ― John Green, Paper Towns

Beca laughed at this one, the paper was the color pink and enjoyed the compliment that it came along with. Chloe saw Beca reading the paper and the brunette didn’t notice the immense amount of blushing that spread over the redhead’s face, Beca was too enamored over the witty quote.

Friday: “It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love.” – Professor Slughorn (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

Harry Potter has always been one of Beca’s favorite book series, still is. She remembers one of the first things she did when she met Chloe was discuss how the Harry Potter series inspired the brunette to become an author… that clearly didn’t turn out the way she wanted to but after working at a book store, maybe she’ll settle in her music producing dream.

Saturday: “I always wanted to stumble into someone like you.” ― Adam Silvera, They Both Die at the End

This book made Beca cry even though she knew the ending. Chloe was there when the brunette had read the book, every word, every sentence, every flip of a page, every part of the book experienced was shared with that redhead. The brunette fell asleep in Chloe’s arms the night of, the finished book laying on top of her steadily breathing chest.

When it was laid out in front of Beca, that’s when it hit her suddenly. Well, with the little help of Emily who actually smacked the brunette’s arm after she still was oblivious of who could be sending her friend these notes. The brunette never really realized… how blind could she have been? Maybe all those times where she could feel her stomach doing flips every time Chloe would smile at her, or maybe when Beca’s hands became extra clammy when she first interacted with the social butterfly, the brunette just couldn’t realize it. She shakes her head in denial.

“N-no, it can’t be Chloe. Sh-she’s just a friend Emily.” The taller of the two lets out a frustrated sigh.

“Are you kidding me Beca? I’m sorry but… you’re about as blind as a bat… sorry.” Beca tugs at her bottom lip and reads over the quotes once more, those flashbacks of her and Chloe flooding through her mind. “Beca c’mon the signs are so clear!” The brunette glances at the clock.

“I’ve got to go.”

Beca exits out of the condo in a flustered manner, not noticing Emily calling after the confused brunette. She rushes down to the parking garage and starts her car, immediately driving out of the parking lot. Her hands grip tightly on the steering wheel as she begins her drive to work, the time nearing 8:45 A.M. when she typically would show up. Yet right now, the brunette is distracted. She’s distracted and there’s no way in hell it could Chloe sending those notes… there’s just no way.

The brunette parks her car next to the redhead’s as always and makes her way downstairs, fastening the name tag on her t-shirt as she walks slowly down the escalators. Beca walks into her workplace, 9:00 A.M. on the dot and as she strolls into the back room where she finds Chloe slipping a piece of paper into her cubby. The minute she turns around, the two stand there, staring intensely at one another.

“Beca! Hey! I- uh, didn’t think you… I- hi.” The brunette gulps as she walks closer towards her cubby where Chloe is still standing. “I, uhm, I guess you’ve been getting my notes?” The redhead moves aside, allowing Beca to access her cubby. The brunette retrieves the piece of paper that Chloe had left her and doesn’t read it. Beca slips it into her back pocket and simply puts her backpack into the cubby, still not saying a word. “Beca are you okay?”

The brunette turns to Chloe, she can’t even look her in the eye. “Y-yeah… I just need to, get to work.” Beca turns on her heel, immediately rushing towards the cash registers. The redhead looks back at the doughnuts and coffee she had made for the brunette but rushes over to Beca.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Chloe reaches out to touch the brunette who pulls her arm away from the redhead. “Becs?”

“Just… I really need to work Chlo. Alright?”

The redhead bites her bottom lip and nods. “Oh… okay. Do you want me to bring you something to eat or drink?” Beca only shakes her head as she continues focusing on the cash register. “Okie… just don’t go snapping at customers again!” Chloe laughs nervously.

“Yeah, I won’t.” Beca deadpans, walking over to the bookshelves to a nearby customer. Chloe could feel the tears brimming to her eyes like she was about to explode. The redhead takes a shaky breath and she organizes the bookmark rack by the checkout area.

Beca and she didn’t talk for the rest of the day.

-

“Beca, you did what!” Emily screeches as she jumps up and down one time. Beca has her head in her hands and is staring at the unfolded orange slip of paper on the two’s coffee table.

“I- I panicked Emily! It was true. She was the one giving me the notes and once I knew that, I just… I just freaked out! What was I supposed to do?”

Emily shakes her head and sits next to her frustrated friend. “Look I know you can be stupid at some times… sorry. But are you kidding me? The person you’re basically in love with like, you just flee Beca? I thought you were done with running.”

The brunette clenches her jaw. “I- it’s not that simple Emily.”

“Open the note.”

“What?”

“Open the note Beca.”

The brunette looks at her friend with watery eyes, when Emily became bossy Beca knew she had to follow her instructions. Beca reluctantly reaches out for the orange slip of paper in front of her and unfolds it carefully. The brunette begins to cry.

“What does it say?” Beca clears her throat. “ ‘After all this time?’ ‘Always,’ said Snape. — J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows…” the brunette folds the paper once again and Emily slowly wraps her arms awkwardly around Beca’s crying body. “W-what do I do Em? I don’t wanna lose her like she's my best friend - no offense (“None taken”) - and it would just hurt to lose her.”

Emily sits on the couch with her crying best friend for a moment, thinking of what to say. She then has a light bulb moment. “Hey, Beca?” She hears a muffled response of what she assumes to be some form of an acknowledgment. “Go gather all the books you’ve read in the past few weeks… I think I know how to fix this.”

-

“Beca, wake up.” The brunette groans as she covers her face with a pillow, knowing well none of her alarms have been set off. “Becaaa, come on!” Emily grabs one of the brunette’s arms and drags her out of the pillow she attempted to conceal her self with. Beca looked at Emily then at the clock, it was only 6:30 A.M.

“Dude, what did you wake me up so early f- Oh shit!” Beca hops out of bed, rushing straight towards the bathroom, grabbing her work name tag on the way.

“Don’t you need your towel to shower Beca?”

Beca screams from the bathroom, hopping into a pants leg. “I showered last night!” The brunette buttons her pants and drapes on a green button-up, pinning her name tag on the shirt. She brushes her teeth frantically as she goes back into her room, finding Emily holding a baby pink paper - they spent a couple of hours going through school supply stores to find a specific shade. “Thanks, Em, I’ll tell you how it goes down!”

Before Emily could say goodbye, the door slams shut and she hears footsteps running down the hallway. “Heh, go get em Beca.”

The brunette starts her car, trying to keep herself awake although it is the ungodly hour when no one should even be awake, with the exception of one person, Chloe Beale. Beca pulls out of the garage and tries her best to not go over the speed limit that much, keeping her car at a steady pace. She eventually makes the right onto the street where her work is located and parks her car, lo and behold Chloe has just arrived as well.

The brunette exits and sees Chloe raising an eyebrow at Beca, her hand holding a sweater. “Why are you here so early? Got another person to run from?” The redhead snaps, walking past the brunette, straight towards the elevator.

“Hey, Chloe come on, let me explain, I’m so sorry about yesterday.” Beca pleads, trying to follow Chloe into the elevator. Before the doors close, the redhead looks the brunette straight in the eye.

“Fine. Only if you can beat me downstairs.” Chloe leans over to press the button that closes the doors of the elevators. “Good luck with that Becs.” The door closes and Beca’s heart rate quickens as she turns right on her heel, frantically moving her legs down the escalators, this definitely counts as today’s cardio. She keeps her eyes on the elevator, not letting that machine go past Beca even for one second - the redhead is known for her passive-aggressiveness.

The brunette is on the second floor when she realizes the elevator is about to hit the first floor. In a split second, Beca uses the last bit of her energy to sprint down the stairs, meeting Chloe at her elevator the minute the doors open, Beca putting her hands on her knees as she catches her breath.

“Becs you alright?” Chloe asks, letting a small laugh escape. “You know I didn’t really… mean it. I was just joking with you. I was going to open it then I saw you run so…”

Beca waves her hand in dismissal to Chloe’s comment. “All… is… good.” The brunette stands up and takes one final breath. “But Chloe what I did yesterday… that was really shitty of me to do.” The two begin a small stroll around the mall, Beca follows the path Chloe takes in the morning. “Look I, I run from things as you probably know by now and just… when I saw you put that note I sort of… panicked.”

Chloe looked over at Beca as they continued walking. “Why’s that?”

The brunette tugged at her bottom lip as she fumbled with the slip of paper in her pants pocket. “Just, I- … I like you too. Like a lot.” The two stop in their tracks and face one another. “And I guess I really never… settled with that? Because just, the minute I met you I knew that I felt a lot for you and I sort of, kind of, definitely panicked when I found out you like me too. And that’s why I overreacted and ignored you which I definitely shouldn’t have done and I’m sorry.”

“Bec-

“No- that’s not all.” Beca reached for the paper in her pocket. “I also made you this since like, notes are your thing and shit…” The brunette hands the paper to Chloe and the redhead takes it. She unfolds the paper and reads the words written in Beca’s sharp small handwriting, in the corner a pair of headphones are drawn in. Chloe smiles and looks back at Beca.

“I love it…”

The brunette. “Y-you do? Thank god because Emily and I stayed up all night trying to find a quote and I-

Beca’s rambling is cut off by a pair of lips on her own. The brunette melts into the kiss and places her hands around the redhead’s waist, holding her gently. Chloe hums in response and moves her hands to run through Beca’s hair. The two book store employees stand in the middle of a closed mall, kissing one another like there’s no one else in the world. They pull away for air and press their foreheads against each other’s, smiling at each other. Beca’s nudges her nose against Chloe’s and kisses her once more, taking into account how soft Chloe’s face feels. They pull away once again and Chloe slips her hand into Beca’s. Finally.

“How could I have ever been ashamed of loving Dante Quintana?” - Benjamin Alire Saenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

-- If there are two things that Beca looks forward when going into work it’s: 1. That annoyingly cute redhead of hers who loves to greet Beca with a kiss 2. The little notes left in her cubby along with her favorite, a chocolate doughnut, and coffee.

[fatandnerdy30]

The Itsy Bitsy Spider 30(final)

Well, this is it...I hope it's better than my last fic's ending, and not so rushed. But, 30 chapters..Nothing I've written has been this long before! It's been a wild ride, and with readers like you, I have had the most fun writing this! You've encouraged me so much to keep writing, no matter how bad I thought this was, and how crappy I felt a chapter was. I just want to say thank you! Now, onto other things. I have decided to take a little break with Irondad to plan out my next fic and...my next original! This original won't be G/t, but it will have a supernatural element to it! I won't say anything, but it has to do with wolves lol. So, be on the lookout, okay? I'll be working on My Tiny Pet, and a few other things. And as always, if you liked this chapter, please leave a comment down below! I love each and every one of you, reader, commenter, and favoriter!

"Eyes on the target," Maria said, her deep voice serious in tone. "Permission to fire, sir?" Fury sat at the console, watching the small aircraft. He didn't know if the boy was on that plane, but, he couldn't afford to let Bloom go for any reason. With a sigh, he nodded, turning his head. Maria nodded once. "Fire!" she said loudly into the comm-link in her ear. Seconds later, two missiles were set loose on the plane. One just grazed the side, while the second hit the wing dead on. "Confirmed hit, sir! Permission to fire again?" This time, Fury shook his head. "No, they won't be able to get very far like that." At the moment, the plane started loosing altitude alarmingly fast, and that's when he noticed they hadn't just struck the wing, but the engine as well. "Follow them," he said and sat back to watch. "But, keep a lock on the plane just in case Bloom as something up his sleeve." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tony had been chasing the target for about twenty minutes when Friday's voice broke in. "You have ten minutes of air left, and Nick Fury is on the line." "Well why didn't you tell me that first? Put him through." Fury's face came up on the HUD, serious as always. "Stark...why is your position two hundred feet below the ocean?" "Because I'm hunting Moby Dick, why else? I'm trying to get Bloom before he gets away with one of my kids!" At that Fury smiled, like he knew something Tony didn't, and that pissed him off even more. "What do you want, Fury? I'm kind of busy." "Oh, just to tell you I found Bloom trying to make an escape on a plane thirty miles away from where you are." Tony came to an almost screeching halt, staring at the trail of bubbles. It couldn't be...were they following a dud? The man cursed under his breath. "Rhodey!" he called and the silver suit stopped, looking back. "Tony! Why did  you stop? We're getting close, I can feel it!" "Have you noticed, we've been getting close for the past fifteen minutes....and there's always nothing there. It's like we're following a ghost. Or," he looked around. "Friday, do a scan of the area." "I am detecting multiple devices that are made to make bubbles, boss." "Shit...you were right, Fury. He had us following breadcrumbs. Where are you?" "We're just passed Anacapa...in fact, I think I see where your house used to be." "Very funny...just don't do anything until I get there, Fury...I mean it." He gave the man a glaring look. "Are you giving me orders now? It doesn't work like that, Tony. I do what I want when I want." That didn't sound good to Tony. "Just don't hurt my kid," he pleaded, already breaking the surface and heading up as fast as he could go. "I'll try....I can't promise anything." Then in the background he heard 'permission to fire?' "I have to go." And with that, the line went dead. "Fury!? Fury, if you hurt him, I swear I'll kill you!" He tried calling the man back, but it was like he shut his line down, because didn't ring at all. "Dammit! Rhodey, we have to hurry!" "On it!" Came the colonel's reply and they broke the sound barrier together as they shot towards Fury. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Octavion was about to put the empty needle into seventy-three's abdomen when he felt what he thought was turbulence. Waiting for it to pass, he lifted the needle again and just started drawing out the boy's blood when the explosion shook the aircraft. "What was that!?" he shouted, looking towards the window and seeing nothing but smoke. "What have we hit?" Ward was at the pilot's door, speaking in raised volumes with him. "Well loose them!" "I can't, sir! They have us on lock and we're losing altitude!" "What's wrong?" Bloom shouted, covering the subject with a plastic dome, a hose attached to the top that kept pumping oxygen mixed with anesthesia in to the boy. "Why are we losing altitude?!" "A missile hit the engine!" the pilot yelled over the screaming alarms. The ocean, which had been hundreds of feet below the plane, was now hurtling towards them. "We have to get out of here!" Bloom rushed for the boy, hastily taking off the done and pushing him into the glass cage. "Hurry! Help me get my equipment!" "We don't have time!" Ward rushed for the parachutes, throwing one at Octavion, who dropped the cage, letting it clatter to the floor. "You idiot!" He threw the parachute to the ground and picked up the cage, then the parachute again. "You could have killed him! Then where would my experiments have gone?" He put the pack on and went to the now open door, looking down nervously at the incoming ocean. "What do we do now?" "We jump," Ward said. "What? Me? Jump into the air? No!" He shook his head,  backing away from the door, eyes wide. Ward grabbed the man's arm in a harsh grip and pulled him forward. "Yes, you. Now. JUMP!" He pushed the man from the plane, waiting a few seconds before following. He wasn't sure if there was another parachute for the pilot, and right now he couldn't care less. He was out to save his own hide right now. He checked on Bloom, not surprised to see him clutching to the case like it was a teddy bear and not paying attention to his rip cord. Well, like he'd said. Not his problem. But, it would prove useful to him if he could get the experiment away from Octavion, Ward would be able to able to take it apart and study it. With a sinister look, he pulled his own cord and was pulled up, all the while watching Bloom struggling to find his cord, but it was too late for him. Even if he was able to pull his cord, he would still hit the water too hard and it would be like concrete, snapping any and all vital bones that would be able to power through the waves to keep the man afloat. The only problem was if it was that hard, it would shatter the box. Ward would have to find experiment seventy-three quick so it wouldn't be lost to the waves. As predicted, when the scientist found the cord, by the time he pulled it, there wasn't enough air under the parachute to lift him and he was going too fast. With a crack, Bloom hit the blue calmness of the ocean. He bobbed for a minute with the buoyancy of the cage, but the cracks were too much for the water and the outside shattered, sending the scientist's lifeless body below the serene waves. Too slowly Ward drifted through the air, finally hitting the water hard enough to bruise a few limbs. Looking around, he saw pieces of glass drifting away. Where was the experiment? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I want people in the water now!" Fury yelled as soon as the plane hit the water. "Search and rescue! And remember, your target is small. First to find it, call me immediately. NOW MOVE!" He never yelled, but now he raised his voice enough for the crew to know he meant business. Dozens of SHIELD agents ran past him through the battlecarrier and to the subnautical vehicles held below. "Sir? Is everything all right?" Maria asked, her brows furrowed in concern. "Yes....just something in that plane that I need. I just hope we're able to find it." He wasn't too sure how small Peter was when talking to Bruce, only that he was tiny. A great description on his part. On a second thought, he stood and he pulled out his phone and sent a picture  he'd found after a quick search of the boy's name, to all the underwater subversive agents as he made his way to a boat, Maria following him. He hoped the boy lived, because Fury knew Banner hadn't been fully truthful about the boy, and Fury wanted to meet him in person. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Something wet was touching him, that was how Peter woke. Blinking, he stared up at the blue sky, sun beating down on him. But, something about the sky seemed different. It was almost like he was staring at it without a barrier. Suddenly  he shot up with a start and almost fell off the piece of reinforced glass he was floating on. What happened? The last thing he remembered was being in the cage banging on the glass trying to get free. Now, it seemed like he was out of the clear cage....was he dead? Had Dr. Bloom actually killed him? No, because if he were dead, he'd be on a cloud, not in the ocean, surrounded by millions of miles of blue water. Looking around, he saw the shore wasn't that far...well, to normal sized people anyway. The boy knew he had paddle, he had to find a way to the the shore. He had to get away, and find his way back to safety, to Tony...to his dad. "Okay, Peter....you can do this....." Taking a deep breath and not looking at the clear bottom, the boy used his hands to start paddling. But, he didn't make it too far before a something massive hit the water, causing him and to capsize. In his current state, it was hard for him to tread water, his lung size not enough to keep him afloat. But that didn't matter, for a hand was wrapping wrapping around him. When Ward hit the water, he'd found where the boy was and aimed for the glass he was using as a body board. Hitting the water caused enough waves to flip the glass, and Ward had removed his parachute before it dragged him down. Reaching out a hand, he grabbed the experiment, but instead of bringing him above the waves, Ward held the small thing just under the water. He grinned at the struggles he felt, so insignificant. It made him feel like a god, holding a small baby bird in his palm. The boy's struggles lessened, and the bubbles coming from his mouth increased. He was almost gone! Finally, this tiny being would be his to take apart and discover what secrets he had hidden in its blood! Suddenly, he felt something blunt rest against his head and the man froze. "Raise your hands slowly," a deep voice said into Ward's ear. The man did as he was told, bringing his hands, and the tiny being, above the water. "You're too late," he laughed, the limp form in his hand speaking volumes, when suddenly he heard a gunshot and nothing else as his body slipped beneath the water. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Floating. That was what Peter was doing at the moment. But, there was something persistent hitting him in the chest. What was it? "Breathe kid!" It was a stranger's voice calling to him. Who's was it? Slowly Peter's body came into focus, and through the haze, he saw a man above him, one of his eyes covered by a black eye patch. Peter would have cheered, but he could only cough as air forced itself into his chest, expelling water like a fountain. "Glad you could make it back, Peter." "Who," he gasped. "Who are you?" Salt water did not taste good coming up. "Nick Fury." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tony's mind was was thinking about fifty thousand thoughts at the moment, most of them not good. He thought about what Peter was going through right now, where he was. Was he scared? Was he hurt? All these thoughts just kept repeating themselves over and over, driving the man crazy. "Tony, you need to calm down, man," Rhodey's voice was firm in the comms. "Friday's over here annoying me about your blood pressure." The billionaire smirked at that. "What do you know, I did program her right if she annoys you. Good job, Friday." "Tony, I'm serious. You have to calm down. We'll find Peter and he's going to be fine." He wasn't so sure about that, but he trusted what Rhodey had said in the past, and it turned out to be right. "You're right...I just need to take a few breaths and think about something else." He inhaled deeply, eyes still stuck on the red dot that was Fury's location. "Have you heard from Banner or anyone back at the farm?" "Not yet, but I'm sure that means good things. Hopefully they're just busy getting what they need from the quantum realm, or whatever." Tony could only hope. "Yeah, I'm sure that's it." He just wished they would hurry and call. "Incoming call from Nick Fury. Should I put it throught?" Friday's voice interrupted. "Yeah, or else he's gonna hack my systems and get all pissy." "Damn right I will." The director's face popped up on the HUD. "And after all the trouble I went through to get you a present." Present? "Aww, and I didn't get you anything." "I'll bill you later. We're on route to your location now. Keep heading for us and we'll meet halfway." Tony nodded. "Whatever you say, you're the boss. But, does this mean you-" "Meet first, presents later," Fury had a knowing smile, then ended the call. "Damnit," Tony cursed and sped up, going through the sound barrier like it was butter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter sat shivering on the control panel, curled up on himself as he watched the giant man with the eye patch hang up on Tony. It had been a harrowing adventure, but Peter wanted to just leap into his dad's hands and feel the warmth and safety the man provided. "Here," the man said and dropped something on top of the boy, cloaking him in a world of white. "Tony would kill me if you got sick." Finally he poked his head out and saw it was a white handkerchief. Shivering, he quickly wrapped himself in it, letting out a content noise. "Thank you." "Don't mention it. Now, explain again what happened to you?" The giant leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs and leaning his head on a hand to stare at Peter. Sure the boy had grown used to it by now, but there was something about this man's stare that was disconcerting. Slowly Peter went into the story of how he was turned tiny, putting emphasis on the parts of the story that even he thought were ridiculous, but true. Finally, he began to wind down to how one of Fury's men found him and the shivering finally stopped. "So now, I have to wait for Sean to come and fix me." He smiled at the thought of his friend. "Sean O'Cleary?" The giant then turned in his chair to see a screen, typing in the name. "I have heard of him...but it says here, he's deceased. Died a couple days ago...I'm  sorry." At first it was shock that made the boy go quiet. Sean was... "No," he whispered, head shaking. "No, they wouldn't kill him...he said it himself, he was too valuable...only he knew his research." If he was dead, then how was Dr. Pym going to fix him? "Does it...does it say how?" Fury shook his head and closed the file before Peter could see what was written. "No. The report said he was found in an abandoned laboratory." Big, brown eyes started filling with tears. Peter blinked away the burning sensation, looking away from the giant man. "Thank you," he said lowly. "For telling me." He had lost another friend. True he still had Ned and MJ, but he wouldn't actually have them until he was back to normal. He was going to be stuck as a freak for the rest of his life, destined to stay in a lab to be studied by Dr. Banner until he came up with a cure. Suppressing a sob, he threw the handkerchief over his head to block anyone from seeing him. "Sir, Stark is within radar." "Thank you, Ms. Hill. Keep on course, open the hangar." Peter could tell the giant glanced at him and huddled into his white cave, listening to the giant man chuckle. He wanted Mr. Stark even more now. He needed the man's comfort. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The nanobots weren't even done crawling into his reactor before Tony was storming onto the large heliship. He didn't acknowledge anyone, kept looking straight as he traversed the well known hallways of the airship. Suddenly, he saw something that got his curiosity. Hammer was being marched through the halls of the ship in handcuffs. He had a deep scowl on his face, but when he saw Tony, that's when he started fighting. "I had him in my clutches!" Justin screamed, his face red under the spray on tan. "I almost bested you, the great Tony Stark!" "Apparently he knows you," a guard said, stopping to hold the man still. "Were there any others?" Stark asked, bristling as he stared into Hammer's eyes. "No. The little guy with Fury told us this was the second man with Bloom, and he was also in the car with the one that hit the girl. He is the one who threw the girl into the car, though." Instantly Tony saw red. He stared at the man, moving towards him, fury written on his face. "So, you like taking little girls, huh? Especially my little girl?" He stared at the smirking man for a second before, faster than even he thought he could move, Tony brought his fist up and punched the other in the face. "That was for Morgan. And this," he brought his foot up and landed a kick between the man's legs. "Is for Peter." He wiped his nose and turned. "I'll let you get back to bringing this scum in. Thanks." He walked away, listening to the man's grunting and the guards snickering, until he reached the bridge. "Where is he?" Were the first words out of his mouth when he saw Fury. "Hello to you too, Tony. Nice to see you again." Nick stood. "Is that so simple?" "I am in no mood for this, Fury. I want my kid, now." The director's eyebrows went skyward. "Your kid? I thought you only had Morgan..." "No. Mood. Where is Peter?" Now Tony was starting to get annoyed, and the other man could sense it. He didn't want to play games right now. "Okay, okay, I get it. Don't poke the bear. He's right here." Fury stepped away from the console to reveal Peter, staring up at Tony with such adoration, it actually hurt to see the kid's face. "Pete." Tony lunged forward and grabbed the tiny teen in one hand, bringing him close, closing his eyes as he felt the slight weight in his hand. Every little heartbeat, every breath, Tony adored. "I thought I lost you, buddy." "I'm so sorry, Mr. Stark....I messed up. I was selfish and wanted to go outside for a bit, and I got Morgan hurt, and I hurt you and Pepper...I'm so sorry.." Every apology Peter made went straight to Tony's heart and tugged. How was this kid selfish? He was actually the most kind person he'd ever known. "No...none of it was your fault. It was nobody's fault." "How is Morgan? Is she alright? I know she probably blames me, and that's okay, because I-" "Peter, breathe. She's not angry. No one is. I'm just relieved to have you back..." He sighed and hugged the boy as close as he dared, bringing his other hand up, cupping the boy against his shirt. Peter breathed in the comforting scent of Tony Stark. Coffee, motor oil and cologne stuck to the man's skin and clothing and Peter thought it was the best smell in the world. He gripped as much of the man's shirt in his hands as he could, pressing his face into the cloth. "I...I thought I was dead," he whispered, not even sure if the man heard him. "I thought I was dead, and I didn't get to say goodbye, and that made me feel so sad." He pulled away and looked up to see Mr. Stark's billboard sized face staring down at  him. "I never want to leave you, Mr. Stark....I know I have aunt May, and it's going to sound selfish...but..you think maybe I can spend the summer's with you and Pepper? Maybe we could go to the beach or something...Dad?" Tony smiled down at the boy, his eyes misting over so much he had to blink back the moisture. "Of course, kid. I wouldn't have it any other way." He looked up at Fury, who was watching the reunion with  a slight smirk. "Thank you," was all he said and turned. "I owe you one." "You owe me more than one!" the man called with a chuckle. Peter didn't pay much attention, because Rhodey came out of the hallway, panting. "This place is huge! I got lost looking for you." "Well, good thing you found us, because we're leaving. There's a few people back at the farm who are waiting to see you." Peter's eyes lit up and he smiled, hugging Mr. Stark's thumb tightly. Suddenly the nanobots started crawling under the boy and he gasped at the feeling of them crawling past his skin, his body trapped in Mr. Stark's fist. "Um..." "Don't worry, kid. Remember that pocket I was making?" Mr. Stark's suit then opened a bit to reveal a space just big enough for Peter. "Finally finished it the other day. Hop in, let's take it for a spin." Peter nodded and slid out of the man's grip and into the chest pocket, the suit closing over him, wrapping him in a cocoon of warmth. It wasn't until a few seconds later he heard Mr. Stark's heartbeat, feeling it against his body and he felt safe. "You okay?" The man's voice rumbled through and around him. "Yes! This is perfect." It wasn't too hot, like the pockets on the man's suits, the metal kept him cool. "Okay. Let's go." Peter felt the suit take off. The rumbling from the thrusters and Mr. Stark's heartbeat soon lulled the boy into a deep sleep, his body craving it after the hectic few days he'd had. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pepper was pacing after Tony's call, a sleeping Morgan in her arms while they all waited for the three to come back. It was late, but she didn't care. She wanted to see Peter, make sure he was all right, hold him in her hands. May watched her and after a while, the woman knew she needed to be comforted. Though she was a little sore about Peter calling her mom, but she knew Pepper loved Peter just as much as she did. Getting up, she walked up to the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, why don't you put Morgan to bed, and I'll make some tea. Sound good?" The strawberry blonde stared at May for a minute before nodding. "Yeah, yeah, sure." Pepper smiled slightly. "Thank you." May simply nodded and watched the woman walk off before letting out a breath and putting a kettle of water on. "I think what you're doing is very brave." Laura had walked up to her, setting down the phone after calling her kids at their friends houses, letting them spend the night again. "I don't know how I would react if the kids I raised called someone else 'mom'." May frowned and shook her head. "I don't know how I'm supposed to handle this. I've raised Peter since he was six...I don't know if I can handle it." Mrs. Barton smiled and took the kettle from the woman, putting it on the stove. The others were on the couch, all talking among themselves. "It can be hard to let someone else in. But, you're doing a great job with it." May had to laugh at that one. "You should have seen me the other night...I was ready to tear Pepper's head off when Peter called her mom." She took a deep breath and look to where the woman had gone. "But, then I saw the love in her eyes, as well as Peter's....and I knew in order for him to be happy, he needed both Pepper and Tony in his life." That was the moment she knew she had to stop being selfish with hr nephew and let someone else into the little circle she called family. "And that's all I want...is Peter to be happy." Laura smiled. "That's any mother's wish for her children. And though you're not his mother, you've been a great resource for him and you've raised him so well. You should be proud." With that, Mrs. Barton walked to the couch, joining in on the conversation. A noise had May turning to see Pepper coming down the stairs and she looked so weary. The woman walked over to the counter and sat heavily on a stool. "Pepper?" Said woman turned her eyes to May. "You do know everything is going to be all right, right?" May smiled. "I've been around Peter his whole life, and he's always gotten into some kind of trouble, but always he was able to pull himself out. Now, I don't particularly care for the method that he did it, but now, he's got more support than he ever did...and for that, I'm sure he's grateful. I know I am." And she truly was. It suddenly came to her, that as much a family as these people were to Peter, they were to her as well. "Thank you....I just want our boys to come home," Pepper said, her voice betraying how tired she was. "I know you do, too." May nodded. "Isn't that a fact. I just want to hold Peter and never let him go....when he first disappeared, and the police said he was dead, I was beside myself....I almost ended it all. But, there was something telling me that he was alive, and that he was coming home." "Oh May..." Pepper felt so bad for everything that they had done. True that in the beginning they all thought they were doing what was best, even Peter, but now she realized her mistake. "I promise, I won't ever try and take your place in his life. I really can't, because of everything that you've done for him. All that I can ask is to maybe let us be a part of his life? Share some experiences." The brunette nodded, wiping her leaking eyes. "Yeah, I can do that." "Pep, you there?" Tony's voice broke through the moment, making the two women jump. "Tony? Is everything all right?" "Perfectly fine. I'll be coming home with a tiny package in my pocket..who, Friday told me is asleep at the moment. The poor kid was bushed." "I can imagine. Just be careful, okay?" "Yes dear. I can see the farm now. Tell Pym I want to wait until the morning, this way Peter can get a bath before he does anything. The poor kid reeks like fish." Pepper and May laughed at that as they hung up, both women smiling at one another. Their family was coming home. !~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The minute Tony touched down, he was grabbed by his wife in a strong hug. He felt her warmth through the metal as he hugged her back, his eyes closing as his cheek rested against her cheek, his beard tangling with her hair. "Hey Pep." "Hey yourself. Are you okay?" She pulled away to look into his eyes. "Yes, and I know of a little napping teen who wants to say hello." He tapped his reactor, Peter's sleeping form revealed against the man's chest. "I guess he's not up yet." May was there in an instant, her eyes glistening with tears. "Oh, my Peter..." she held her hands out, accepting the boy gratefully. "I'll put him to bed." Tony watched the woman retreat. "Does Pym have everything he needs?" "Yes. He actually finished getting the particles yesterday. Bruce was very interested." "Hm, I bet he was. Come on. I want to check on Morgan. How's her face?" Tony was still pissed at the man now in Fury's care. He was also mad he hadn't found out what happened to Bloom...but, if he was out there, Tony would find him. "She's doing better. Told me 'it looks worse than it feels'. She's so brave." Pepper reached her arm across his back, her hand sliding into his back pocket. "I know she is. Look who had a hand in raising her," he waggled his brows and she laughed as they walked inside. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You ready?" Hank was standing over Peter on the table, in his hand a needle. He'd unshrunk a lab from his pack for him and Banner to work in, promising Mrs. Barton that everything would be the way it was later that night....maybe. The boy nodded, thought his face was ghost white, staring at the long needle and shaking. "I-I-I'm ready..." Tony stepped forward, giving Pym a harsh glare as he put his thumb over the boy. "Just feel my heartbeat, Pete. Follow it." Morgan peered around her father's arm, giving her 'brother' a smile. "Okay..okay, you can do this....okay, just do it, Mr. Pym!" Peter squeezed his eyes shut and gripped onto Tony's finger with all his strength, making the man wince. Hank nodded and slowly inserted the thin needle into the boy's arm, watching what he was doing in the magnifying machine. Once blood started flowing, the man waited a few seconds before withdrawing and held a piece of a cotton ball to the injection sight. "You did great, Pete." He smiled at the teen and walked to Banner, putting the sample into the computer. "What's that? It have molecular specs?" Stark was peering over Hank's shoulder, watching every move he was making. "Oh, what's this?" He made to touch a scale and Pym slapped his hand. "Do I have to tell you to get out, Stark?" he growled. "Maybe." The man grinned, but backed away with his hands up. "Okay, okay, I break I bought it. I get it." He walked back towards Peter and Pepper, who was scowling at the man playfully. "What a grouch," he stage whispered. Hank simply rolled his eyes, continuing to study Peter's blood. "This could be tricky," he told Banner, who nodded. "I thought the same, even without knowledge of the makeup of Pym Particles. And like I said, Sean buried the makeup so well I couldn't even find out what the particles were made of." Pym studied the blood more and smiled. "Sean, you son of a bitch....you couldn't find the particles because he didn't use my particles....He developed a whole new serum...." He shook his head. Now it would be easy to find out what the late scientist had done. "I just need a molecular view of the boy's DNA." "Oh, I'm already on that," Stark said, phone in hand. "Aaaaannnnddd....I'm in. Friday?" "On it." The AI took the image of the blood sample and magnified it, making it a hologram in order for the whole team to see. "This is why I can't stand your entire family, Stark...you just do what you want. Just like your father." Stark glared and took a step forward. Bruce was in between the men in a second, a hand on each of their chests. "Guys, let's not do this here. Remember Peter here is key priority. You can duke it out after we fix him." Tony nodded. "Yeah, yeah." He backed up, sniffing indignantly. "The kid comes first." He turned and picked up Morgan, hugging her close. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hours passed and the two scientists worked the entire time in silence trying to reverse the work Sean had done. Finally, when they had just about lost hope, Hank clapped his hands. "I figured it out!" He ran to the white board. "Why didn't I think of this before? You remember when the Kosmosians were discovered? And they brought the bridge?" Banner nodded, and suddenly his eyes lit up. "That's it! Hank, you're a genius! All we have to do is inject Peter with a reverse serum, then attach the bridge to him in some way." "And I know the perfect way," Hank said, a glimmer in his eye. "Bill Foster had an adoptive daughter, who was a victim of the first Quantum tunnel explosion. She was affected by the quantum energy and almost died from her phase shifting. He had built her a sort of container...anyway, when we healed her, I opted to hang on to the cabin, just in case we needed it for her. But, the healing particles have been a success. And once we inject those particles into Peter, we can put him in the cabin and attach the brige." "Okay, I get that, but, how does that help Peter? The bridge, I mean." "The Kosmosians have been working on a way to send their realm's energy here to this realm for a project we're working on. And no, you can't know the name of it." "I wasn't gonna ask. But, you're saying, you have a way of transferring energy from realm to realm?" "Well, almost. It's really a finite amount at the moment, but it may just be enough to do what we need it to do." Hank went to his bag and pulled out a small container, placing it in the middle of the lab. "Stand back." He pressed the remote and instantly there was a huge glass-like chamber.   "I'll never get over that," Bruce said with a smile. "Now you sound like Scott," Pym complained and went back into his bag, taking out a tiny pin shaped object. "I need you to attach this to the tube in the cabin. I'll continue working on the serum." Banner nodded and took the little object from Pym, observing it. "And don't drop it." "Hey, I only sound like Scott," Bruce laughed and went to the cabin to begin his job. Bruce checked the bridge was attached inside the tubing leading from the cabin. May was behind him, holding Peter close to her chest watching every move Banner made. "Hey, Pete," the scientist said as he turned, smiling at the tiny teen. "Now, this isn't gonna hurt, okay? Just a little stick and an injection. It's gonna take time for the serum to work, so don't expect any miracles." Peter nodded and gulped, then looked for Dr. Pym. "Mr. Pym?" the boy called and the man walked over. "Is...is there any way for you to fix my DNA too?" Bruce had been waiting for this. He and Pym had talked about it while the team was searching for Peter and they exchanged sorrowful glances. "I'm sorry," Hank told him. "It would be impossible to change your DNA back. It's been too long and the spider venom they injected you with has had too much time to fully form with your genetic code." Peter just nodded, his lower jaw wobbling. "But, I did hear that Tony had asked you to come back to the compound to train, right? I bet that's exciting." The teen nodded, smiling, though his face gave his thoughts away. "Y-yeah...it'll be awesome...I just...I was just hoping to be normal." Hank crouched a bit to look the boy in the eyes, his finger going under the boy's chin. "Now, you listen to me Peter. There is nothing wrong with being different. If all of us were 'normal', we wouldn't have the Avengers, now would we?" Peter shook his head. "No sir...I-I guess you're right. Okay....I'm ready." "Good. Miss? I'll need you to give the boy to Dr. Banner." Hank stepped aside for Bruce to step forward. Since he had known Peter longer, it was obvious he would be more comfortable with the boy. May slid her nephew into the scientists cupped hands, giving him a water smile. "You're so brave," she whispered then covered her mouth. "He'll be okay, May. A couple of hours, possibly a day or two in the chamber, and you'll have your nephew back." He gave the woman a smile and turned towards the empty glass box. "Now, Peter, you have to understand a few points. While your body is absorbing the healing particles from the Quantum realm, there will be a little discomfort, but no full on pain, okay? And, you can not speak. Once we start the process, you can't use your vocal cords at all, do you understand? If you do, your throat will continue to grow, but your vocal chords will cease to grow and eventually be absorbed into your muscles, leaving you mute and do some major damage." The teen grew pale, but he nodded. "I understand. And Dr. Banner?" The man turned his eyes to the teen. "Thank you, for everything." "You're very welcome, Peter." He climbed into the glass chamber and set Peter on the floor, backing out. "All right. Here goes nothing. Dr. Pym?" The white haired man nodded and started the chamber. "I think it would be best for everyone to leave." He nodded to Pepper, who put a hand on May's shoulder. "Come on. You can see him once it's over." She smiled at the woman, who nodded shakily. "I love you Petey-pie," she called before the door closed, leaving the two scientists alone. "Okay. Chamber door, secured." Banner told Pym, who gave him a thumbs up, inputting code into the computer. "All right....Injection ready." The white haired man walked over to the chamber, grabbing a syringe from the table. "Peter, I need you to walk towards the tube to your right." Peter nodded and jogged to the spot, holding his arm out, not making a sound. "You're doing great." He slid the needle into the tube. "Hold still.......and done. Good job." He slid the needle out and closed the latch, securing it. "How's it going on your end, Banner?" "All good here. Ready whenever you are." Hank nodded and rushed to his console, opening the bridge protocol. "Bridge connection in three......two......one.....NOW!" He pushed enter and instantly the chamber was filled with a dull, almost black light with gold specks floating in it. "Wow....that's....it's beautiful." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The air around Peter had grown thick and the boy was finding it harder to breathe, but not by much. But, was it enough to affect his vision, because everything was starting to turn black. He felt his breathing increase as he panicked, looking around. "Peter," came Dr. Banner's voice. "Your breathing is getting a little heavy. Everything you're seeing is normal, and we can see the black smoke, too. We're almost done, bud. Just a little more and you can come out." The teen nodded, even though he was sure the giant adults couldn't see him. Peter took a few steadying breaths, remembering the breathing techniques Mr. Stark taught him. It worked like the other times and Peter's breathing came back to normal. When he opened his eyes, he was suddenly struck with the most beautiful sight. Gold specks seemed to dance in the black around him, almost looking like stars in the universe. He stared up at them, even reaching out to touch a few that danced by him, laughing silently when they broke apart and melted back together around his fingers. This was amazing. He only wished his aunt could see it.   He sat on the floor and crossed his legs and waited, imagining himself normal again, the image making him smile. The lights suddenly stopped and all seemed to congregate around Peter before all shooting towards the teen. He cried out as his body was pummeled from the inside out and finally passed out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hours passed and May was getting antsy. She checked her watch. Five hours! "How long is he going to be in there and why couldn't I be in there with him? What if he gets scared?" She had always been the one to comfort the boy when he came home, crying from being bullied and having his glasses broken or had gotten a black eye. Especially after Ben had died. Those were the days where they comforted each other. "I'm sure he's fine," Pepper smiled. "If he wasn't, Bruce or Hank would come get you. Have you eaten yet?" The brunette shook her head. "Well, you should. It would help with passing the time." May knew the woman was right as she made her way to the refrigerator, Laura smiling at her as she passed the woman. "I can't wait to see him," Clint wrapped an arm around his wife. "I mean, really see him. So far it's been like trying to read those little dolls...what are they? Polly something. Hate those things. They hurt worse than Lego's if you step on them." His wife elbowed him in the ribs at the face May made at him, her skin white as a sheet. "I promise I would never have stepped on Peter, though! He was pretty much always in one of our hands...except Natasha or Steve. They thought he was a spy for the longest time." Steve actually looked at the ground, his face turning red. "I do apologize about that...Once I met you, Mrs. Parker, I knew he couldn't have been a spy for Hydra." He paused and glanced at the woman. "He's actually a good kid." "Damn right he's a good kid," May retorted adamantly. "I raised him right." She finished making her sandwich and slammed the fridge shut. "I wouldn't doubt that, and the proof is in the boy." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Peter? Are you okay?" A voice screamed, banging against the glass. The air was still dense as Peter slowly opened his eyes. His body hurt like crazy, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He sat up and winced, a hand going to his head as a dizzy spell hit him. "Peter! You have to talk to me!" Dr. Banner was pressed against the glass, but Peter was able to see him. It was almost like a two way mirror. "Yeah," the boy finally answered.  He looked at the walls and noticed they were a lot closer than they had been. "I'm okay...is it smaller in here?" The scientist smiled. "It should be. Pym! Close the bridge!" Peter couldn't see the man, but he guessed this 'bridge' was finally closed as the lights and the black fog went away. Soon, the chamber was empty, leaving Peter alone....and naked inside. "Holy crap!!" the boy shuffled into a corner and curled up, staring at Dr. Banner with scared eyes. "It worked!" "I can see that," Dr. Pym came beside Dr. Banner with a large towel on his arm. "I'm guessing Clint can loan you some of his boy's clothes, if not his own." He opened the door and handed the boy the cover, both men turning away as Peter stood to wrap himself. "Whoa..not used to seeing the ground so far away." The teen raised his hand out and laughed a little, examining his own body like it was some wonder. Well, to him it was. He gingerly stepped out of the chamber, the two man turning to him. "Wow...I can see eye to eye with you." "Welcome back, Peter," Dr. Banner said, clasping his shoulder. "Let's go get you some clothes." The boy nodded and they walked from the lab and to the house. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter pushed open the door at Dr. Banner's insistence and stopped when several eyes landed on him. "Hello...everyone." Instantly May threw herself at her nephew, her tears soaking the boy's shoulder. "Oh Peter! My Peter!" She pulled away and grabbed his face, looking at him. "I missed seeing you like this." She pulled him to her again, squeezing him. "Well, kid. Looks like you're still short." Mr. Stark came over. "It's good to see you back to normal though. Just sorry it took so long." "No! Mr. Stark, I am so grateful for everything you've done! Thank you." The minute May let him go to find a tissue, Peter did what he wanted to do from the first week. Beckoning Pepper over with Morgan, he threw his arms around them in a strong hug, not noticing when Mr. Stark winced. "Peter," the man wheezed. "Let go, buddy..." Automatically the kid let them go, his face guilt stricken. "Maybe you shouldn't try hugs until the Capsicle can give you lessons on how to control your strength." "Sorry," Peter said lowly, playing with the hem of the towel. Clint came up behind the boy holding clothes. "Here. These might be a little big, but I'm sure you're used to that." He winked at the boy playfully and handed him the clothes. "Haha, so funny. But, thank you." Peter disappeared from the room to get changed. "Who knew Peter was such a cutie?" Natasha said with a glance at Bruce, who folded his arms in a pout at that. "But, I like green still." She winked at Banner, who smiled. Peter walked back into the room. "Everyone...I want to say thank you so much for everything...." He looked to Morgan, who was smiling, her black eye looking better, but still horrible. "You were all so brave...and I don't know what would have become of me if you hadn't come that day and rescued me. I'd probably be dead...." he wiped his nose. "So, thank you.." Steve walked up to the boy and offered a hand. "No thanks are necessary, Peter. We're just glad you're all right." The boy grinned at the captain and grabbed his hand tight, shaking it. "Now, what do you say about going out to eat? My treat," said Tony, who laughed when everyone agreed. "Moochers." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                 ---Three months later--- Peter sat in the back of the car, Happy driving him to the compound. Ever since he'd gotten fixed, Mr. Stark had invited him up for some training to control his new 'abilities'. He was a bit sad that Dr. Pym wasn't able to get rid of them, but they actually helped a lot in the long run. Even though the training hadn't allowed him to go back to his dance or gymnastics, he was learning a lot more, though it still freaked May out whenever he would walk on the ceilings. "You okay, kid?" Happy's voice entered his thoughts and Peter sat up. "Oh, yeah....I'm okay, Happy. Are we almost there?" The driver nodded. "Yep. You should see what Tony did to the compound, though," the man shook his head. "It looks like Christmas exploded all over the walls." Peter laughed. "I can't wait to see it!" He looked to the small pile of gifts on the seat next to him. With Mr. Stark helping May out with the food bills, there was a little extra money in the budget for him to do a little shopping for the holidays. It wasn't much, but he thought extremely hard what to get everyone. "Is dad there now?" "Yeah. He likes to come up every now and then. He asks about your training a lot." Peter blushed, pleased. "I'm doing good. I don't hurt May when I hug her anymore. I still break some things, like I broke a lamp the other day when I picked it up to move it." He chuckled at that. "May was angry...said it was her favorite lamp." The car fell into a comfortable silence until Happy pulled onto the road that lead to the compound. Instantly, Peter saw that the man wasn't kidding. There was still some snow on the ground from a storm that hit a few days ago, and that added to the winter wonderland scene that the compound was sporting. There was a giant inflatable Santa standing in front of the compound, waving in the wind. "Uncle Clint," he laughed and Happy nodded. "How'd you guess?" The man pulled up to the building and Peter jumped out, leaning to gather all the presents, Happy helping to grab some that fell. "Thanks! Two of those are yours, by the way. One from me and one from May." That made the man's face light up and he smiled as they walked. The minute Peter stepped in, he was surrounded by red and green everywhere. "Wow...you weren't kidding," he laughed, looking around. "Told you. If you want, Tony's up in his lab," the man said, handing Peter the presents except two. "Thank you, Happy." Instead of going up to the lab, Peter went to the elevator and went up to the common room to find a big tree sitting in the corner. Quickly, he placed the presents under it, but kept two of them in his hands. He turned and finally went to the lab, finding his kind of adoptive 'parents' standing side by side, the woman laughing at something her husband said. They turned when the door opened. "Hey Pete!" Mr. Stark said, joy in his voice. "Good to see you!" "Yeah, same." Peter hid the boxes behind his back, and leaned up on his toes. "So, how have you been?" "Kid, you act like we don't speak all the time on the phone. Get over here." The man held his arms open and Peter smiled, rushing over to give him a hug. "Hey, you're getting better at control. Hardly felt that one." "Yeah, Mr. Rogers is helping a lot, and so is Dr. Banner. He helped me develop a new webbing solvent that will work with the formula I created. It even fits in the new web shooters I designed. I was thinking of, you know....becoming a crime fighter?" He looked to Mr. Stark and Pepper for approval. "That's great, honey!" Pepper wrapped her arms around him. "I am so proud that you'll be using your abilities to do something good." "Yes, that is a good thing. Or else I would have built this for nothing." Mr. Stark stepped to the side to reveal a suit folded on the table. Peter stared at it for a minute before stepping towards it. He ran his hand over the mask, the web design around the eyes. Putting the boxes he held on the table, he picked it up and had to smile at the blue mixed in with the red. "It's perfect..." he whispered, tears gathering in his eyes. He bunched the material in his hands. "Thank you!" "Oh? What's this?" Mr. Stark had noticed the wrapped boxes and picked them up, shaking them. "For us?" Peter nodded, too emotional to speak. The man smiled and started unwrapping his, Pepper rolling her eyes, but doing the same. The minute Tony saw what was inside the box, he froze. It was an iron man plaque. He stared at the surface of it, reading the words "best dad ever" over and over, feeling his heart melt every time. He glanced at Pepper, who held hers up. It read "I love you Mom". The two put their presents down and went to their 'son'. "We love you, too, kid." Tony said and they enveloped him in a tight hug. This was the best Christmas they'd ever had.

@sparrowrider @midas-or-khaos @letsbeinspiredby @6inchicon @carttorchdeatth @ixlovexirondad

[ill-skillsgard]

Bad Decisions - Axel Cluney

Title: Bad Decisions

Description: It's hard to learn from your mistakes when the mistake is six foot four, covered in tattoos and tracks you down at your own party.

Warning: 18+ Mentions of sex/swearing/drug use/pregnancy & abortion

A/N: This is another short one-shot piece that was lost back in the purge of ‘18. I was going through my notes and saw it, figured you guys might want to give it a read. Especially all my new followers. Hope you enjoy and have a lovely day/night! Kisses forever!

"There are no feelings to be hurt."

After my procedure, I didn't feel different like I thought I might. I didn't feel different about myself or him. I didn't even feel all that bad either. Even after I was pushed out of the sliding hospital doors in a wheelchair, I felt like it was just a necessary part of it all. I had to humour the hospital staff by sitting down in the chair even though I didn't feel lethargic or dizzy. It was all just part of the experience. I had a couple of days off which I took to reflect upon my life choices but the harder I thought about it the more I realized that I really didn't care about getting myself into a less-than-desirable situation. I had it fixed and I was quickly back to my normal self. The only person I told about it was my mom and she had only a moment of reproach before she settled down and told me that I was making the right choice by ridding myself of a life-long problem. Sighing with relief, I thanked her for understanding and she even offered to take me to my appointment and bring me back home afterward to make sure I was comfortable and not alone. "Does he know?" She asked me, eyes trained to the road in front of her. "No." "Oh." "Why? You think I should tell him?" "That depends," She told me. "Are you planning on seeing him again?" "I don't know. Probably not." It had been two months since I hooked up with Axel. We had met at a mutual friend's party and hit it off and after a few too many drinks we went back to his place for a drunken hookup. It could have been the excess of vodka or just the right amount of cocaine but we went at it all night and once he passed out beside me, a sweaty, spent mess, I laid there in his bed with cum dripping out of me. The slick stickiness acted as a reminder that I was good at making bad decisions. The next morning I woke up feeling like I had slept outside in a dumpster and looked it too. I had clumps of eye makeup running down my cheeks and my hair was mussed from when Axel had twisted his hand through it and used the strands like a reign to pull me back into him while he pounded into me, growling abhorrent things like, "I'm going to fuck you until you love me." Axel was in the shower or so I assumed by the sound of running water coming from behind a closed door. I rummaged around for my cell phone so I could use the screen to get a better look at myself. I digressed that if he or anyone were to see me in that state it would be off-putting and not at all pleasant. So I gathered my things and left without saying a word to him. He never reached out to me at all so I suspected that me fleeing the scene came as a welcome surprise to him. I wasn't sure though because I didn't know him at all. All I knew was that he had bad tattoos, hung around with people like me and my friends and had a nasty mouth on him. I didn't know that he had gotten me pregnant until about a month after I fucked him. By the time I begged for and got my appointment, another few weeks passed and the more time I spent thinking about some guy's illegitimate child forming inside of my body the more I panicked. Not without relief, I couldn't really stop thinking about it even as days passed and I went back to normal. When I got my first regular period I stopped fretting about it so much and it started to become more of an unpleasant memory rather than a present reality. No, I didn't expect to see him ever again and I could live with that. However, the universe had this way of dredging up past bad decisions and shoving it in my face like a bully trying to force me to eat dirt. I had a party in my flat for my friend's birthday. There were going to be people coming that I didn't quite know but I had offered up my place as the venue anyway as I often did for my friends. My apartment was smack in the middle of downtown and was a convenient spot for people to flutter off to bars or restaurants for late-night snacks. It was a nice central haven to have casual drinks. Sometimes though, it became a madhouse. I was never in charge of parties nor was I the greatest host so if things ever got out of hand, I looked to the friend whose birthday it was to handle the mess. I couldn't be sure if people were doing drugs off my bathroom sink or fucking in my food pantry.  I also didn't really care as long as my belongings were respected. It was one of those nights and I stood in the middle of my flat sipping my fourth martini. People often came by to say hello or to tell me about their new rescue dog or the screenplay they were working on and I liked that. I was a hub for pleasant small talk and I didn't have to do much but stand there, existing. A friend of mine from college came in through the front door and brought somebody with her. Somebody I quickly recognized as Axel. They were holding hands and my chest contracted and released the chemicals of shock into my bloodstream, causing me to prickle, nerves excited but not in a good way. Axel saw me too and the only reason I could tell was that his eyes were the two most noticeable things in the room. The way they just shot daggers in any direction was alarming. Not only that but he towered over most with his square shoulders and intense Scandinavian facial structure. It was hard not to let the eyes follow him. I remained in my stance, thankful for when a friend came up to me to ask a question. I pushed all of my attention onto her and engaged in extended conversation quickly for an effective distraction from the awkward tension I was feeling. I knew it was impossible that he knew about what had happened but something in my head prodded my over-active imagination, implanting the thought that he did somehow know. As an overthinker, I naturally wondered if I should tell him what happened. He had made it happen. He was the other piece of the puzzle. Or was the whole situation so insignificant that even giving it additional thought was silly? I couldn't be sure. What I did become sure of immediately was that Axel forgot about my friend that he had come in with and found me standing in the kitchen area waiting on another martini not long after he had arrived. "Hi. Remember me?" "Of course." "It's good to see you again," he said. "Really?" "Uh, yeah?" "I'm sorry about that." "Sorry about what?" "Everything?" Axel smirked at me. "It's totally fine. No worries." For some reason all I could remember was him telling me that he was going to fuck me until I loved him. It was a funny thought and I had to wonder if he had used that line with every girl he slept with. I wondered if he had already used it on my friend. "Well, I'm going to go smoke." I attempted to excuse myself. "Yeah, let's do that," he agreed. "Okay. Yeah, all right." He followed me to the balcony. The platform was long enough for a dozen people to stand comfortably side-by-side smoking. We had a problem with people chucking the butts onto the street below even though there was a massive bucket of sand to put them out in. That night I didn't care if people were flicking their cigarette butts over the railing, I needed the sweet release of nicotine to calm my nerves first. My hand was shaking as I lit the end of my cigarette because Axel was mirroring practically everything I did down to how I leaned up against the guard rail. "Sorry for just showing up like this but when I heard you were having a party it made me think about you." "Oh... Is that why you came with Whatsername?" Axel chuckled and finally turned his body away from me, boots scraping the cement as he faced out toward the streets. The street lamps cast a sinister orange glow over his already intimidatingly sharp face. "I didn't want to come uninvited so I came as a plus one." "You could have asked to come." "Well, you didn't leave me your phone number or anything." "I'm on social media," I reminded him as though it was obvious. Smirking, he replied, "I'm not." "Oh. Are you sure you're not offended that I took off? Because it seems like you are and I just want to say that I'm really sorry and I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." "There are no feelings to be hurt. Like I said, I was just thinking about you." Nothing he said or did had given me any indication that he was actually indifferent about the situation. He never left my side even as I smoked three consecutive cigarettes in a row and then went back into the kitchen to replenish the drink that I didn't particularly need more of. When we stood in line and waited for the bathroom to free up he took a deep breath and turned to me with a look of smouldering concern knitting his eyebrows together. "Was it bad for you? Because I'm pretty damn sure I made you come. Like a lot." I scoffed in disbelief, "No! Axel... I didn't... It wasn't you at all. I promise. If you must know the truth it was because... Well... Fuck." "What is it?" "Come with me," I requested. Axel followed me to the door of my bedroom which I knocked on before entering. I didn't want to risk walking in on someone giving someone else head. It was just a force of habit. The coast was clear and I opened the door, allowing him to step through first before I entered and closed the door behind me. "All right, what is it?" He asked. "I left and didn't call because I just thought that's what you might want. Also... There's something else." "What? What is it?" "When you... Y'know... Came inside of me. It did something." I watched his eyes snap back and forth as he looked into mine and tried to decipher the message I had just given him. I watched as he quickly came to realize what I meant and I had never seen someone's blood drain from their face so instantaneously. "You don't mean?-" "Yes, I mean-" "I got you?-" "Yes, you got me-" "Fuck, I thought everybody was on the pill now," he pondered aloud like I wasn't standing right there in front of him. "N-Not me." "Shit. I'm sorry. Are you okay?" Axel opened his arms and welcomed me to walk into them which I did and the smell of his chest brought me back to the night we had hooked up. He smoothed his hand over my hair and sighed before kissing the top of my head comfortingly. "I'm fine. Totally fine." "You should have told me." "It was nothing. I mean, not nothing but... I wasn't upset." "That's good." "Are you upset?" I asked, stepping back from our embrace so I could better register his reactions since his words felt misleading. "No, it's just... So you... Did you get it? Fuck," Axel stammered. "Are you still?" "No, I had a... An abortion. It's done." "Well... Okay. That's fine. I know my place and I know that's a you decision and I don't have an opinion on the matter. But I am sorry. I would have helped you out." "How was I supposed to know you would want to help?" His huge green eyes rolled as he scoffed, "uh, you could have asked me." "Well, I... Didn't know how to get a hold of you." "Come on, you can't tell me that you and all of your hundreds of girlfriends don't have a network of amateur investigative shit. You could have tracked me down somehow if you really wanted to." "See..." I said quietly. "You are upset." "No!" He exclaimed but then dropped his tone, hovering above a whisper. "No... I'm not. I'm just sorry is all." "Don't be. I should have been more careful." "Me too." Axel closed the gap that I had put between us but this time I was the one who opened my arms for him to step into. It felt strange to be hugging someone I didn't know but at the same time, his scent brought back the memory I had of us having drunken, raunchy, coke-fueled sex. The feeling of his torso against mine was foreign yet I remembered so clearly what it felt like to have my arms around his body. I felt like a little girl against his frame. I breathed in his scent deeply and I knew that I was going to make the same bad decision again. He only pulled away so that he could duck down lower to kiss me and soon he had his hands through my hair, tilting my face for a better angle. His lips smothered mine and I could feel him breathing through his nose, inhaling as much of my face as he possibly could while I toyed with getting his belt undone. The next thing I knew after he had pulled off my top and threw up my skirt was laying on my bed, face down, ass up like a cat in heat. Axel stood back for a moment just to admire what he saw before shoving his pants down to his ankles. When he got up on the bed it moaned beneath his weight much like I did as he carefully slid his hard cock into me for the second time, unprotected even though we had just finished telling each other about how we should both be more careful. Axel leaned over me, throbbing and one hundred percent enveloped in my hot wetness and said, "I'm going to fucking put a baby right back inside you, little slut, hold still."

[you-get-to-exhale-now-cyrus]

It Only Takes A Taste

1 || 2 || 3 ||

Summary: A bunch of kids from Utah compete in the annual Kids Baking Championship. Between difficult challenges, silly moments of fun, and everything in between, they start to form bond between each other. Kids that would never have interacted form friendships so strong; it only takes a taste to know that someone will be a part of your life for a long time.

Chapter 3: Day Off

Word Count: 1963

Read on AO3

Cyrus woke up the next morning to his alarm going off. Blindly, he draped an arm atop the nightstand and winced, shutting off the noise. He squinted at the clock; 7:30. Too early to bother anybody, he supposed. He’d forgotten to turn off his alarm, considering they weren’t shooting today, and there was no way he was going to be able to fall back asleep. He rolled and grabbed his phone, scrolling mindlessly through his Instagram feed. He really missed seeing his friends, even if it was only for a little while. Suddenly he wished he had TJ’s number so he could text him.

He lay in bed for a little while longer, thinking of possible things to do that day. He had a deck of cards in his bag, which would probably be good for a little while. He figured people would meet him in the lobby when they were ready, so he didn’t bother waiting. Cyrus slowly got out of bed, and made his way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. He changed into a pair of sweatpants and a Queen shirt before he snatched the cards and his phone from his bag.

The hotel was silent, save for a few clinks downstairs, probably from the breakfast crew. He padded down the hallway, nearly missing the elevator on the way there. He was alone in the elevator, thankfully, tapping his fingers to the beat of the soft music that was playing. Once the doors opened on the lobby floor, he stepped out, and made a right towards the set of couches. He swore he almost choked on his own spit when he rounded the corner.

TJ was sitting there, hair styled in a way that could only be described as a rat’s nest, and thick-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

Cyrus didn’t think he’d ever seen something so pretty in a long time.

“Hey,” he said with a wave, snapping TJ out of whatever haze he was in.

“Oh, hey,” he mumbled, scooting over to one side of the couch, “why are you here so early?”

Cyrus laughed at that, taking a seat and sinking into the couch. “I could ask you the same thing,” he pointed out, his gaze flitting from TJ to the fading pattern of the couch.

“I couldn’t sleep,” TJ said lamely, picking at the skin by his thumb, “what about you?”

“I. . .forgot to turn off my alarm,” he admitted, to which TJ broke out into laughter. His laugh was interrupted by snorts, but he couldn’t help himself. Must be really sleep deprived, Cyrus thought.

“Sorry that’s-” he wiped away a tear, a grin still plastered on his face, “that’s hilarious,”

“Alright, laugh it up,” Cyrus teased, giving him a light shove, “at least I got some sleep,”

TJ yawned, as if to prove Cyrus’ point. “Yeah, okay,” he chuckled, shaking his head, “I don’t think the others are going to be awake for a while. You wanna do something? We can hang out in my room, if you want. My mom went out for coffee with some of the other parents,”

Cyrus felt his insides light up; TJ wanted to hang out with him? “Oh, uh, yeah, that sounds. . .good,” he stammered, attempting to put together a coherent sentence.

TJ smiled, standing up and nodding in the direction of the elevator. “Hope you’re ready for me to bore you to death,”

Cyrus rolled his eyes; what a false statement. He reached for the elevator button, but TJ has the same idea, their fingers brushing each other’s gently. Cyrus froze, hand still hovering by the button before he pressed it. It felt like he and TJ were standing outside the doors forever, but eventually they opened.

“So,” TJ broke the silence, clicking one of the buttons, “what do you wanna do?”

Cyrus shrugged, leaning back against the handle. “I have cards, if you wanna play,” he offered, and he was greeted with silence, “or. . .we could do something else,”

The doors opened at TJ’s floor, and the two of them stepped out. TJ fished the key card out of his pocket and swiped it to unlock the door. He leaned against the frame of the door. “You’re interesting,” he pointed out, opening the door, “I like that,”

Before Cyrus could even begin to form a reply to that, TJ was talking again.

“By which I mean, I want to get to know you better,” he clarified, taking a seat on the bed, and making room for his guest.

Cyrus raised a brow at that; nobody was ever that direct with trying to get to know him. He slowly walked towards him, taking a seat on the edge of the bed and bringing his knees into his chest. “Well, what do you wanna know?”

“That depends, what do you wanna tell me?”

Cyrus sighed, pulling out his phone. “If you’re going to be difficult,” he mumbled, tapping a few times before he let a small smile tug at his lips, “here,” he said, handing TJ his phone.

“A hundred and one things to ask to get to know someone,” he read, barking a laugh, “yeah, okay, let’s go with this,”

Cyrus smiled, feeling a little more at ease. He could do this for a little while.

“Alright, first question,” TJ started, using his announcer voice, and Cyrus couldn’t help but laugh, “let’s start with something light. If you didn’t need to sleep to survive, what would you do?”

“Hm,” he hummed. Not exactly what he was expecting. “I guess. . .probably just watch YouTube videos, or documentaries,” he supplied lamely, ending it with a shrug.

“What kind of documentaries?”

Cyrus was surprised TJ even cared. “Mostly one about dinosaurs,”

TJ smiled. “That’s cool,” he said, “I think I’d just, like, take walks. It sounds weird, but there’s nothing like a walk at two in the morning,”

What an ungodly hour, Cyrus thought to himself, offering a soft smile. “That’s not weird,” he corrected him, “I’d never thought about that. Probably because I end up falling asleep before midnight pretty much every single day,”

“Next question,” TJ continued, “When was the last time you climbed a tree?”

Cyrus bit down on his lip, trying to suppress a giggle. “I uh, I’ve never actually. . .climbed a tree,”

TJ nearly dropped the phone, his eyes bugging out of his head. “Are you serious?” he squawked, to which Cyrus nodded, “you’re missing out, dude. It’s so much fun! You can see so many things when you get up higher,”

Cyrus put his hand up awkwardly. “Afraid of heights,”

TJ laughed, slapping a hand on his forehead. Cyrus expected that; a lot of people laughed when he admitted his fears. “I didn’t mean like climb a forty foot tree, Cyrus. I meant, like, ten feet,”

“Right, that’s just so much better,” he teased, “when’s the last time you climbed a tree?”

TJ grinned, remembering the day. “I think I was in, like, middle school. My buddy Lester and I were hanging out and we tried to see who could climb the highest,” he said proudly.

“And let me guess,” Cyrus began, “like the athlete that you are, you won,”

“Actually. . .” he trailed, hesitating a little, “I got a little overconfident and tried to skip a branch, so I fell and broke my arm,”

“You fell out of a tree? What are you, like, an acorn?” Cyrus laughed at his own quote. He expected TJ to look at him with a confused face, but instead he lit up.

“You like Dear Evan Hansen?” he asked quietly, excitement brimming.

Cyrus stared at him for a second, blinking once. “I. . .you know it?”

“Of course I do, man! It’s one of my favorite musicals,” he exclaimed, shaking his head, “not many people in my day to day life know about it, so I’m glad you’re here,”

I’m glad you’re here. Cyrus must have repeated those words in his head a few dozen times before he said anything. “Next question,”

“What’s something that a lot of people are obsessed with, but you don’t get the hype?”

And at the same time, both boys cried out, “Duck faces!”

Cyrus laughed so hard he snorted, not even bothering to feel embarrassed. “We really are the same people,” he chuckled, carding a hand through his hair.

“Okay, okay, let’s find some less superficial questions,” he smiled, scrolling down the list, “what’s the dumbest thing you’ve done that actually turned out well?”

Cyrus froze. He knew the answer to the question; he didn’t even have to think about it. But. . .the thought of saying something now? TJ probably saw that he was visibly uncomfortable, so he put the phone down, placing a hand on the other boy’s knee.

“Are you okay? You don’t have to answer that, I can pick another-”

“-no it’s alright,” he said through gritted teeth, taking in a deep breath. He supposed it was now or never. “I, um, well at my Bubbe’s funeral, I was showing one of my friends all the different foods, because he didn’t know them, and then I just. . .” he paused, shutting his eyes, “and then I just blurted out that I was gay,”

He really wishes his life was movie that moment; he wanted some sort of music playing in the background, filling the silence. TJ didn’t move his hand from his knee, so at the very least, he wasn’t disgusted, which was nice. He was really starting to enjoy his company.

“Did he take it well?” he asked softly, and at that Cyrus looked up. TJ had the softest expression on his face, almost like he was too afraid to pry.

Cyrus’ lips twitched a little, almost into a smile. “Oh, yeah. He was like ‘okay, cool’ and then proceeded to continue to ask me about the food,”

TJ smiled, a pensive expression crossing his face. “I know we don’t know each other that well, and it feels like I just met you but. . .thanks. For trusting me enough to say that,”

Cyrus nodded, feeling the tension melt from his body. His shoulders visibly relaxed, and he felt like he could cry tears of joy.

“I, uh, this is probably the least creative time to say this but,” he paused, puffing out a breath, “I’m gay too,”

Cyrus swore he had the air knocked out of him right then and there. “What?”

TJ laughed, pushing his hair back. “Does that come as a surprise to you?”

Immediately, Cyrus felt his cheeks burn, embarrassed at his question. “No! I just. . .I don’t know I-”

“-didn’t expect me to be gay,” TJ finished with a tiny smile, “it’s okay. I mean, I don’t go around flaunting it. It’s more like ‘oh yeah by the way’, that kind of thing,”

Cyrus nodded, his head pounding. “. . .thanks for telling me,” he mumbled, meeting his gaze. TJ has really nice eyes, he thought, you could get lost in them if you aren’t careful.

TJ didn’t look away from him. Damn, he’d only been here for, what, a week? And he was already falling for one of the competitors. His gaze swept across Cyrus’ features; his cheeks were so red right now, and he wanted to just reach out and cup his face, but that would be weird.

Ding!

The noise of Cyrus’ phone caused both boys to jolt a little, the soft moment between them gone.

“It’s Andi,” Cyrus mumbled, swiping it unlocked, “she says people are waiting downstairs to hang out,”

TJ nodded, clearing his throat. As both of them got up and started to make their way downstairs, he couldn’t stop replaying the time they spent together. Maybe, just maybe, things might be different this time.

[vernonfielding]

Life Writes Its Own Stories

Chapter 8! (And on AO3, of course.)

I came back from my trip a day early, so here we go again. I should be back to posting a chapter every other day from now to the end.

Amy woke to a face full of sunshine.

She squinted her eyes closed and groaned, burying her face in her pillow. Several thoughts came to her, one right after another: Her pillow smelled weird, her pillow felt weird, and she had not once in the three years she’d lived in her apartment woken up with the sun in her face. Amy blinked her eyes open and rolled onto her back, and the night washed over her again, every lovely bit of it. She smiled up at the ceiling over Jake’s bed and then turned and smiled at the man himself.

He was asleep, curled up on his side facing her. His hair was a fluffy mess. One hand was tucked under his pillow, the other folded into a loose fist. Amy remembered falling asleep with his arm around her waist, holding her to him, but they must have separated in the night and now she was happy to indulge in watching over him.

She’d noticed from the moment they met that he was attractive, but over all of their shared meals and late-night outings, she’d never really taken stock of him: his full lips, his sharply defined cheekbones that were so often disguised by a smile or laugh, the dimple in his chin and the single, perfect curl that dipped over his forehead. His face, normally so expressive, was smooth in sleep and she thought about tracing the line of his brow, the ridge of his nose, the curve of his jaw. She thought about kissing his eyelids and waking him up.

When Jake had kissed her that first time a few days ago, she’d been momentarily overpowered by a physical attraction to him – and that was all she had thought it was, a gut-deep desire for a man who was undeniably hot. So she’d pushed him away, because kissing (that would likely to lead to much more than kissing) was absolutely not okay between reporters and their sources. Intimacy of any sort led to bias and poor decision making; it turned journalism into a trade industry.

Amy’s guilt and shame had been so profound that night that she swore she’d been marked in some way, as though even strangers would see her failure written on her face. It occurred to her that they had practically been dating for weeks -- that even before he kissed her, before she kissed him back, she had crossed a line. She felt awful for herself, for having betrayed her own moral code, and she felt awful for Jake, whom she had obviously misled.

So it was a gift that the next several days flew by in a crush of anxiety and exhilaration as she finally put her article to bed. She had no time to dwell on her personal mistakes when she was arguing over headlines with Terry and Charles and writing and rewriting every photo caption and fact-checking every detail, from the numbers in her bar charts to the hyperlinks and hashtags they would use on social media. On Saturday she convinced Charles to print out page proofs so she could do one last edit of the printed version of her story, and she suggested word choice and grammar revisions until finally, when they were on the verge of what was sure to be an embarrassing slap-fight over an Oxford comma, Charles shoved her out the front doors and told her she needed to relax and let someone wash her hair.

“I have just the person in mind,” he called after her, as Amy stomped down the block.

She’d slept fitfully that night, waking up just about every hour to check her phone. At daybreak, a post from the Bulletin Twitter account went out. Her favorite brother sent her a congratulatory email that Amy read over a breakfast of plain toast because she couldn’t stomach anything else. By noon, the story was viral (at least locally – it was never going to make The Daily Show, Amy kept reminding herself).

When the mayor announced on Twitter that he was personally looking into the jail situation and linked to Amy’s story, she was stunned and elated. And she was blindsided by a wave of sadness: She missed Jake.

She missed his smile and the way his eyes went soft when she was talking about something personal. She missed the way he tugged at his hair when he was looking over the documents she’d asked him to read for her. She missed his forearms when he rolled up his sleeves and the way his one eyebrow quirked when he laughed.

She even missed the gummy worms he consumed by the handful when they were meeting at a bar and he got snacky while translating penal codes, and she missed the ketchup and orange soda stains on her documents, and she missed having to rearrange all of her papers when she got home because he never paid attention to her tabs.

She just missed him. And she missed sharing this success with him.

Later in the day, when Gina had texted that the newsroom was getting drinks and it was definitely not because of her story but because they were all bored, Amy had been sitting at her laptop with a dozen tabs open on her browser for essays on journalism ethics and dating sources. She’d joined them for drinks because it seemed pathetic not to, and she’d been honestly touched by their support. But she’d also been miserable, because all she could think was that she’d messed up everything. Her life was amazing, and she’d screwed it all up.

Then Jake had texted. Just seeing his dumb code name appear on her screen had made her heart leap into her throat, and she’d known then that she couldn’t let him go. She had to at least see him, and try.

Now, she really did have it all. And lying in his bed, with the sun in her face and the smell of him in her (his) pillow, she felt content to just be. So she stared at him for a while, until the sun had shifted enough that it was blocked by the partly drawn curtains, and it dawned on her – so to speak – that she couldn’t remember if she’d set her alarm and she had no idea what time it was. She panicked for just a moment and quickly rolled over, hand slapping on the bedside table for her phone. She squinted at it – her contact lenses felt glued to her eyeballs – and sighed when she saw that she was only five minutes past her alarm.

Of course, she was going to need to go home and shower before going into work, and she’d wanted to go in early so she could check in with Terry and Holt before heading to Manhattan for the NPR interview, and she obviously hadn’t laid out her clothes the night before or set the timer on her coffeemaker.

Amy glanced at her phone again and did some quick math and decided that if she skipped coffee and didn’t wash her hair – it was just radio, it wasn’t like she had to look great – and planned her outfit on the way to her apartment then she could save six minutes, which still wasn’t ideal but she could make it work.

But then she glanced back at Jake, and the sudden pulse of affection for him pushed everything else aside. She could be a little late. She kissed his forehead, just beneath the curl, and each of his eyelids, and she covered his hand with her own as he blinked his eyes open and smiled back at her.

+++

Amy ended up texting Terry to tell him she was going straight into the city for her interview and he said that was fine. She didn’t get into the newsroom until noon, and by then she was famished and caffeine-deprived and still practically vibrating with joy. Her story had been a huge success and she had kissed the man she really, really liked and she’d had sex – three times! – the night before. The fact that they hadn’t fallen asleep until nearly 3 a.m. – because: three times – wasn’t a problem. Amy felt like she might never need to sleep again.

She spent the day working on a follow-up story around the mayor’s plan to investigate the jail recordings. She also fielded several unpleasant phone calls from the head of the corrections department and his deputies, until one of them demanded a full retraction and she finally had to pass them on to Terry and Holt to deal with, which was fine by her. They both had her back, and she’d never doubted they would, but it was still nice to be supported. So nice, actually, that by the end of the day, as Terry was editing her story, she started feeling guilty again.

“I have to tell you something,” Amy said, or rather blurted, when Terry had finished editing. It was 6 p.m. and it had been a pretty slow day so the newsroom was mostly cleared out; only Hitchcock was left, and he had his head pillowed on his arms at his desk and was snoring.

“Terry doesn’t love the sound of that,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “Oh man, are you quitting? You’re going to the Times already? I thought we’d get at least another year out of you.”

“No!” Amy said, then, “Wait, what? You think I’ll be at the Times in a year?”

“Uh-”

“Wow.” Amy tried to think of a more appropriate response. “That’s- wow.”

She sort of spaced out for a moment, until Terry cleared his throat and said, “You had something to tell me?”

“Oh, right. I did.” Amy shook herself out of her Times fantasy and reminded herself of the task at hand. Immediately, nerves made her stomach flutter and her palms sweat.

She’d considered waiting a while to tell her bosses about Jake, just long enough for them to actually start dating and see where things were headed. But that was her fear speaking, and she knew she had to do what was right. She swallowed hard, working up the courage to tell Terry. She really liked her job, and she was pretty sure they weren’t going to fire her but they were almost definitely going to make her change beats, which was going to be disappointing. But she had to be up front with them.

“Santiago-”

“I’m boinking my source!”

It came out as a sort of squeak-yell and Amy was glad no one else was around to hear her.

“Um, I mean, I’m dating him. Well, I guess not technically dating yet, but sleeping with him. You know, like-” She mashed her hands together in a movement that definitely didn’t connote sex, unless it was really bad sex.

“Yeah, I think I’ve got it,” Terry said, sounding both perplexed and slightly amused. “Well, this is...something that we need to talk to Holt about.”

Terry stood up and peered around her at Holt’s office.

“Now?” Amy felt suddenly like she might faint.

“It’s as good a time as any,” Terry said. He gently took Amy’s elbow and steered her across the newsroom. “He’s thrilled with your article and the response it’s gotten.”

“He is?” Amy said, pride pushing aside her nerves for a moment. “I mean, I knew he was pleased, but thrilled? Did he say that? Or are you just inferring? Because if he said that-”

“I can just tell,” Terry said. He paused outside Holt’s open office door. “Just be honest with him. And don’t say ‘boinking.’”

“Roger that.”

Terry tapped on the door before leading Amy inside. He asked if Holt was busy, and Holt said, “I’m always busy,” but he put down his pencil and invited them to sit.

Somehow, Amy pulled herself together. She explained, calmly, that she had developed feelings for someone who used to be a source, and that they had decided to start dating. She said that she had already informed him that she would no longer be able to use him as a source, and that if he told her anything newsworthy she would pass it on to one of her colleagues. She expressed that she wanted to keep covering the police beat, but she would understand if they didn’t trust her in that position anymore, and she would happily accept any new assignment they offered. When she was done, she folded her hands in her lap and squared her shoulders and forced herself not to think about what would happen if they fired her.

“I see,” Holt said, with no inflection that Amy could discern. “Well, it would seem as though you’ve taken the necessary precautions and insulated yourself from potential bias as well as possible. I see no reason you cannot remain on the police beat, for now. But note, I will be paying close attention, as will Terry, and if one of us believes you are compromised we will take action.”

Amy blinked, stunned that she was going to be allowed to keep covering cops. She smiled and nodded sharply, then stood up and stuck out her hand. Holt looked at her outstretched hand for a moment and then smiled a little and shook it. His grip was firm, and so was hers.

“I promise I won’t let you down, sir,” Amy said.

She turned and strode out of his office. She was just outside the door when she heard Holt say, “She knows she doesn’t have to call me ‘sir,’ right?”

“I don’t think so,” said Terry.

+++

Jake was pleased for Amy that her conversation about dating a cop had gone over so well with her bosses. It clearly helped ease her mind to have their blessing – or at least their not-firing – and that was great, he wanted her to be as relaxed and stress-free and not-guilty as possible when it came to being with him.

But there was no universe in which he was planning to similarly come out to the Vulture, or just about anyone else in the NYPD. He’d probably tell Rosa at some point – maybe, eventually; most likely after she figured it out on her own and forced it out of him – and it wasn’t like he expected to sneak around with Amy for the foreseeable future. He just would rather keep it between them (and Amy’s bosses) for the moment.

He was still in awe that there even was a them.

Jake knew he didn’t have much of a tolerance for wide-swinging emotions. In fact, his grasp on his own emotional health was at times staggeringly bad. He did a decent job keeping his feelings under control day to day – denial and compartmentalization were his go-to coping mechanisms and he excelled at both (thanks, Roger Peralta) – but when strong emotions hit, they hit hard.

Once, during a department-mandated therapy session after a lengthy undercover stint, a counselor had told Jake that he’d benefit from developing a toolbox of decompressing strategies for when things got rough. For some reason Jake had found the suggestion hilarious, imagining a literal toolbox filled with hammers and wrenches and pliers. When he’d mentioned it to Rosa, she’d said that bashing things with tools was exactly what she did when she was angry – that or glass-blowing – and Jake had actually bought a toolbox online that day. It was currently collecting dust in the back of his sneaker closet.

So yeah, he wasn’t great with emotions. And the past few days had involved a dizzying array of them. After the depressing lows that had followed their first kiss, the pure elation of their second kiss had been almost overwhelming. Jake had felt lighter and happier the next day than he could ever remember. He’d also felt exhausted, though it was a satisfied, dreamy, peaceful kind of fatigue.

They’d seen each other again that night, and every night after for the rest of the week, and though they’d had sex they hadn’t actually slept together again. They’d ordered takeout and turned on a movie and basically made out (and more) on his or her sofa until one of them yawned and they agreed it was late and they both had to get up early. It was kind of perfect.

Amy was kind of perfect.

But by Friday Jake had decided they needed a proper date, and so he chose a restaurant and made a reservation and texted Amy that he’d pick her up at 7. Then he and Rosa got called to a dead body, and a suspect in an unrelated robbery case they’d been working for two weeks had literally tripped over their crime scene, and by 6 Jake was covered in blood and subway muck and still had a report to finish. He texted Amy to tell her he’d meet her at the restaurant.

Which was how he arrived at their first official date almost half an hour late, hair still damp from the shower, fumbling the knot of his necktie as he pushed through the crowded foyer to the host station.

“What happened to your face?” Amy said, when he got to her side.

“What?”

Amy brushed her fingers over her own cheek and Jake did the same, wincing when he touched the small cut. “Oh, that.”

The host came then and glared a lot, but he took them to a table despite Jake’s tardiness. It was an intimate restaurant, quiet and dark with small tables clustered close together. The host handed them menus with a sneer that Jake had to believe was not in the employee handbook.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jake said, once they were seated.

Amy smiled back at him and shrugged. “I get the feeling it’s something I’m going to get used to.”

“You look nice,” he said. “I like the dress.”

“It’s not a dress, it’s a skirt and blouse,” Amy said, and then grimaced. “But, thank you. You look nice too. I’ve never seen you in a tie before.”

Jake ducked his head and ran a hand self-consciously over the wrinkled necktie. He’d only had time for about a two-minute shower at the precinct before coming straight to the restaurant. He was just lucky he always kept a spare tie and a semi-clean shirt shoved in the back of his desk for emergency court dates.

“So what happened today?” Amy gestured again to his face.

“It’s actually an insane story.”

“Wait!” Amy said, holding up a hand. “Like, the kind of insane I’d want to write an article about? Or insane like, your job is disgusting and/or hilarious but not fit for print?”

“Definitely the latter,” Jake said.

“Go on, then.” Amy leaned toward him, resting her chin in her hand.

“So Rosa and I got called to a dead body on the subway tracks near Bergen. But when we get there, the dead body’s actually a dog, and it’s been turned inside-out. Like, nose to tail. And the smell-”

Jake paused because Amy was shooting him a wide-eyed warning glare and darting her eyes back and forth. He looked to either side and saw that their dining neighbors were staring at him with looks of utter horror. The woman to his left set her utensils on the table and shoved her plate away.

“Uh, I’ll tell you the rest later,” Jake said.

“I think that would be best.”

They exchanged embarrassed smiles, and Jake said, “Well, what about you? How was your day?”

“Pretty good, actually,” Amy said. “It’s nice being back on the regular police beat after all that time on the jail story. Like today, I got to do this story on a severed head-”

“Oh! The one they found in the fish tank?”

“Yes!” Amy said. “You know about that case? It’s so crazy.”

“So crazy!” Jake said. “You should see the photos.”

Jake was reaching for his cell phone in his jacket pocket when he spotted the same lady on his left staring at him with murder in her eyes. He glanced back at Amy, who was getting the same death glare from a different diner.

“Maybe later,” Amy said weakly.

They turned to their menus then, each fairly mortified. After they’d ordered, Jake grasped for a more appropriate topic, and finally asked Amy to tell him more about some of her coworkers.

“I’m always going on about the Vulture,” he said. “What’s your boss like?”

“Oh god, nothing like Pembroke,” Amy said. “Terry, he’s my regular editor, he’s really gentle and supportive but he knows how to get the best out of you. And Holt is incredible. He’s so smart and ethical and detail-oriented, and he has impeccable news judgment. He’s the most impressive man I’ve ever met.”

“So, what you’re saying is I should be jealous of your editor.” Jake smirked at her.

Amy turned red and said, “No! He’s great but he’s not- I mean, I love Holt, but I’m not in love with him.”

Jake fully laughed, and it occurred to him that his maybe-girlfriend was not exactly suave and that he maybe found that adorable.

Amy waited out his laughter with only a mild look of annoyance, then asked Jake to tell her more about Rosa. “Police partnerships must be so intense. I bet you know everything about each other.”

“I know her first and last name and that she lives somewhere in Brooklyn,” Jake said. He hesitated and thought that over. “Probably.”

“Oh,” Amy said, face falling. The waiter arrived then with their dinner salads, and Amy leaned toward him and said, in a low voice, “Jake, are we bad at this?”

He didn’t respond right away. Things were undeniably weird. And he supposed some of that was to be expected, given that they’d always had a kind of invisible barrier between them when they’d met in public – a professional line they couldn’t cross. He snapped his fingers then, startling Amy into dropping her fork.

“I’ve got it,” he said. “I think things were easy before because we were always surrounded by all your notes and binders, and they were like, I don’t know, a fortress keeping out the weird.”

“Okay,” Amy said, slowly. “So you need me to bring binders next time? Because I can do that.”

“No,” Jake said, shaking his head. “Not binders – liquor.”

“What?”

“Conversation grease,” he said, lifting a hand to get their waiter’s attention. “Four shots of-” He glanced at Amy, who shrugged. “Your medium-est shelf whiskey.”

+++

They stumbled back to Amy’s place from the restaurant, both of them a pleasant sort of tipsy that was warm and giggly and affectionate, Jake’s arm slung around Amy’s shoulders, her fingers tucked into the back of his belt. When she let them inside, Jake backed her into the wall beside her front door and kissed her, clumsy and teasing. She fisted his tie in one hand to pull him closer and felt him smile against her lips.

“You,” she said, tipping her head back to speak, “are an amazing detective.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her. “I know,” he said, “but maybe be more specific?”

“The way you figured out why things were weird and then fixed it,” Amy said, and she cupped a hand over the back of his neck and pulled him toward her again, lips brushing against his. “That was brilliant.”

“Dear lord, you are good at this,” Jake said.

Then they stopped talking for a while. Jake took her hand and led them back to her bedroom, where he gently pushed her onto the bed and sprawled out beside her, and they undressed each other slowly and had sex on top of the bedspread, their bodies illuminated by the light coming from the hallway and the streetlamps outside her windows. After, Jake pulled the quilt she kept folded at the end of the bed up over them, and they laid facing each other, arms tucked under their heads.

“You never told me where you got this,” Amy said, brushing her fingertips against the shallow cut on his cheek.

He wrapped his hand around hers and kissed her fingers, one at a time, before answering.

“This robbery suspect Rosa and I had been looking for, he showed up at the dog-body crime scene, like out of nowhere. I think he was just going to get the train. He freaked out when he saw us and took off down the subway tracks, we pursued, and when I took him down we sort of scuffled and I guess he got in a hit or two.” Jake shrugged. “I didn’t even know he’d hit me until we got back on the platform and Rosa said something. I was way more focused on the fact that I was covered in subway slime.”

Amy shuddered at the thought. “I hope you’re up to date on your vaccines. I bet you can get diseases you’ve never even heard of from subway slime.”

“Or, if you want to look on the bright side, maybe I could become a slime monster. Oh! Like the Swamp Thing, only the Subway Thing.” Jake paused, a faraway look in his eyes. “That’d be so dope.”

“Didn’t you ever think it was lame that the Swamp Thing was just a ‘thing,’” Amy said. “Like, they couldn’t come up with a better description?”

“I had never thought that before, but I love the way your mind works,” Jake said. Amy smiled, and he smiled back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

They grew quiet, and Jake traced patterns across her shoulder and down her arm with his fingers, whorls and lines that made her shiver. Amy studied his face and marveled at the closeness they seemed to have developed, despite knowing not a lot about one another.

Amy had been in relationships, two or three serious ones, but they’d always just fizzled out, whatever small spark that got them started snuffed at the smallest huff of irritation. What Amy felt for Jake, after only knowing him for a few weeks, already seemed more vibrant, more durable.

“Did I ever tell you my dad was a cop?” Amy said, soft in the darkness.

Jake’s fingers paused on her skin, and he laid his palm flat on her shoulder instead. “No, you’ve never mentioned him.”

“He retired a few years ago. Victor Santiago.”

Jake’s eyes went wide, and his hand squeezed around her bicep. “Captain Victor Santiago? He’s your dad?”

Amy beamed and nodded. “You know him?”

“I know of him. He’s a legend, Amy,” Jake said. “Oh wait, wow, so Manny and Jesus are your brothers?”

“They’re cops too, yes,” Amy said. “And Tony.”

“Yeah, Tony. He’s kind of a dick.” Jake grimaced. “Sorry.”

“No, don’t be. He is a dick.”

Jake chuckled, and shook his head slowly. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re one of those Santiagos. It never even occurred to me.”

“I guess there’s a lot we don’t know about each other,” Amy said.

Jake caught her eye, and he moved his hand to the back of her head and pulled her toward him, his mouth close enough that she could feel his warm breath on her lips.

“Tell me everything,” he said.

Amy kissed him, hard enough to leave him breathless. “Later,” she said, and rolled on top of him.

CHAPTER 9

[asimpleclosetwriter]

Chapter I part II

She woke up in the middle of the night, her back and head soaking wet from a nightmare she couldn't remember. She assumed she'd been dreaming of the dark man, so she decided to light on her lamp, but the power seemed to have been cut. Damn it. She fumbled around in the dark to try and find her phone. When she finally reached it, she switched on the flash and using this make-do torch lamp, she got up and went out of her room. She got down to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. As she was looking for something to eat, she saw two small and bright circles in the corner of the room.

“No, not circles”, thought Melody as she studied them closer. Eyes. Wait, eyes? What could they belong to?

She heard a deep rumble and checked the window to see if a storm was breaking out outside but she saw nothing of the sort, it was a calm night. She felt a drop of water fall on her finger. Then another. Then another. It kept going until she was completely covered by a layer of raindrops. The rain followed her movements as she moved her arm and took a step. She knew she should've felt wet with so much water surrounding her, but as she touched her skin with her other hand, she felt dry skin with no water around it. She looked back up and it wasn't one pair of eyes that stared back at her, but dozens of them, one on top of the other. She heard howling, and suddenly the rain fell, dripping on every inch of Melody's skin. Terrified, she went back running into her room and crawled to her bed as she fell. She heard loud banging and howling through her door, and she closed her eyes trying to make it go away.

Then... She woke up. Soaking wet again, her heart beating so fast and so strongly she thought it was about to pierce through her chest. A she got up, her knees started shaking from her nightmare, she saw her legs were wet too, like in her dream. Confused and scared, she went into the bathroom and took a towel from the pile on the side of the shower. As she dried herself, the smell of morning dew invaded her senses and her mind bringing her to a world at peace with a beautiful sunrise. She shook her head and tried not to think about how the dew-smell fitted conveniently into her dream. She went back to bed to sleep a bit more, since she still had school in the morning, but she couldn’t forget all of the different feelings and emotions that had filled her: the peace as she was surrounded by the rain then the genuine terror that had overtaken her when the dew had fallen. She tossed and turned and fussed for half and hour but finally managed to get some sleep, undisturbed by nightmares or dreams until her alarm clock rang and she had to get up.

She yawned as she stretched her arms as she always did in the morning, and then cracked her fingers. She opened her eyes to meet with an odd vision: a blue tint covered the tips of her fingers, as if she had dipped them in paint then tried to wash some of it off. She sat up and blinked three times to check whether she was still asleep or not, then pinched herself to double check. He fingers didn’t change: they stubbornly kept their light blue shade. Melody couldn’t help but think this must’ve had something to do with her dream and the morning dew smell that still stuck to her skin this morning. She got up and walked to her mirror and saw that her hair tips had also faded to the same unusual color. She tried to arrange it in a way that could hide it, lifting it in all sorts of ways, but her tips always found a way to make themselves visible. In the end she gave up and got dressed in her usual grey outfit, but decided to change for a blue grey hoodie to try and blend her hair with her clothes and make it less noticeable.

She anxiously got down, a bit scared about how her parents were going to react. They seemed to notice the hair — good, she wasn’t going crazy then — but not the fingers — ok maybe she was going crazy —.

“What’d you do to your hair honey?” asked her mom.

“Oh, uh, I put a bit of color on it to celebrate a great grade I got on an essay. I got an A with more bonuses for later papers. Is that ok?”

“Well even if it wasn’t, it’s done now.” said her mother with a smile. “But of course it is, honey. Just as long as you don’t dye it all…” added her mother with a warning look.

“Yeah, no, I know the rule mom.” answered Melody.

“Good! Then I have nothing to add, except, why is there a puddle of water in front of the sink? I thought there might’ve been a leak…”

“Oh, uhm, yeah sorry I got up in the night and I dropped my glass but I was kind of asleep I think.”

“Right… Well, no worries, no damage done, just don’t forget to take a bottle next time ok? Less work for me.  Now, get to school you! Oh and don’t forget you paper!” said her mother as she pointed to Melody’s essay, sitting on the kitchen table.

“Thanks mom! Bye!” said Melody as she grabbed the essay and left the house.

                                                             ***

So, apparently Melody was cool now.

Having colored hair had lifted her social status and people were now asking to sit with her at lunch. Many asked her how she’d done it and if her parents knew about it or if they’d be mad when they learnt, and hundreds of other questions that Melody had to lie through. Every kid in school stared at her in the corridors or whispered to their friends, never taking their invading stares off her. Unused to this kind of attention, Melody sought refuge in the girls’ bathroom where she locked herself in one of the toilets and sat down.

She relaxed her tense shoulders and took a few deep breaths while closing her eyes. When she was feeling better she grabbed her bag, and searched for a specific item: a black beanie she always kept in he bag in case the weather changed drastically in the middle of the day. She shoved it on her head and tucked her hair in it, hoping this would at least attenuate the staring. She unlocked the door and closed her eyes again for a few seconds, standing in front of the door. As she opened it, the door almost hit three girls that were standing in front of it, obviously spying on Melody. They quickly moved away and let Melody pass. She sighed: it seemed the beanie wasn’t going to do the trick since everyone on campus already knew her. She bitterly took it off, walking towards the bathroom’s mirrors as the three girls silently watched her every movement. She gave them an exasperated look and they took off as fast as they possibly could. Here was a perk of being popular: authority. Maybe this whole thing wasn’t so bad after all. Then she remembered the feeling of the stares on her neck and shoulders and the whispers following her everywhere she went and decided that a bit of authority wasn’t enough to cancel those downsides. She stared at herself in the mirror and noticed another small change in her appearance. Her usually grey eyes were now lined with a small circle of blue around the edges of her irises. At least this wasn’t very visible, except if you studied her very closely. Which was what everyone was currently doing. Damn it. How was she supposed to explain that now? She thought about how weird people would think her fingers were if they could see them. Yeah that was fortunate, otherwise this whole situation would’ve been much, much worse.

She looked at her watch and saw that she was late. She snapped her finger as she shouted “DAMN IT”. A coat of raindrops instantly appeared around the hand she’d snapped as the smell of morning dew invaded her senses once more and peace overtook her as she watched the rain follow her fingers’ movements. Amazed, she snapped her other hand and watched the little raindrops appear around her second hand.

Captured in the quiet contemplation of her hands, she forgot time, school and her life. She snapped both her hands' fingers at the same time, and felt the atmosphere around her change as the rain crawled from her fingers to the tips of her hair to her shoulders, back, legs and toes. She felt her body fill with a new sensation: wholeness. She stayed in this position for an undetermined lapse of time, closing her eyes and crying dry tears, from an emotion she couldn’t quite place, that joined their sisters around Melody’s body. When she moved she felt like she was made of water, moving as a wave does in the sea. Every inch of her all the way to her core shifted with every move. She sensed the water pulsing around and inside her and her skin tingled with every breath.

A sharp ringing brought her back to reality, breaking her peace and just like that, the water evaporated, leaving her breathless. This time it didn’t pour on her, but only returned to its original place in the room. It took her several seconds to realize the ringing was from the school, notifying students and teachers alike that classes were about to start. She shook herself from top to bottom and checked her watch. She’d missed 2 classes already! Melody ran out of the bathroom to her next class, hoping they would let her in, even after missing 2 hours. Fortunately, her teacher had been late so she got in right before he closed the door. She felt the stares again, but didn’t care anymore.

As she sat down, she tapped her index against her table, trying to figure out what triggered the dew and immediately saw rain cover her finger, called to her skin. She hid it under the table and tapped her other fingers around it, which instantly extended the dew to those fingers. Caught up in her observations, she didn’t hear her teacher asking her to present her essay. He had to repeat it three times before she snapped (quite literally) out of her daze.

“MISS LAVISH! Do I need to threaten you with detention or would you rather kindly hand in your paper and come back to our world?” asked the irritated teacher.

“Oh uhm, sorry sir. I was… uh… daydreaming.” said Melody as she gave her teacher her paper.

“Yes, I saw that. Do you think dying your hair blue now allows you to not pay attention in class?” answered the teacher.

“No, no… I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” said Melody with her best contrite look.

“Good. If I catch you at it again, you will get detention this Friday.”

Melody shook her head as an answer and her teacher proceeded to collect the rest of the papers. She banged her head with her hand for being so careless, but noticed the blue tips of her fingers had grown to her first knuckle. She wondered if her hair had done the same thing. And her eyes. Were her eyes going to turn entirely blue some day? She stopped herself from continuing this line of thoughts as she felt herself drifting away again. She focused on all the small noises around her to anchor herself to reality, tuning in to the other students’ whispers, their pens clicking as they changed colors, or their legs shifting positions. All of these small sounds kept her grounded for the remainder of the day.

                                                           ***

Back home, Melody went straight to her room, excited to try her new “dew-powers” without interruption. She was about to snap her fingers when her mother knocked on her door. Melody sighed but got up to open her door.

“Hey honey, you principal called. He said you were late to three of your classes, and that you weren’t paying attention in any of them. He said he’s worried about you and asked us to check in on you to see if there wasn’t anything going on at school, maybe with the other kids… What happened today?” asked her mother, sitting on her Melody’s bed.

“I don’t know, I couldn’t focus today… I was pretty tired too.” Melody quickly invented.

“Does it have anything to do with you dyeing your hair? And wearing contacts?”

Damn it. She had noticed the eyes then. So much for going unnoticed. But Melody couldn’t tell her mom “yeah well basically, when I snap my fingers dew appears around them, I have been followed by a dark ghost and I saw dozens of glowing eyes last night”. So instead, she went with:

“I don’t know, mom. I’m not sure what’s happening to me…”

Well, that wasn’t exactly a lie.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” asked her mom, concerned.

“I don’t know what there would be to talk about, since I don’t know what’s going on.”

That wasn’t exactly a lie either. Melody hoped this would do the trick and that her mother would leave, but it didn’t.

“Is this about a boy?” asked her mom with a suspicious tone.

“A boy?” said Melody’s dad as he passed in front of his daughter’s room. “Now that’s a conversation I need to hear.” he added entering the room sitting opposite his wife on Melody’s bed.

Boy, how wrong they were. On SO many levels. But Melody went with it since it was an easy escape.

“Maybe…” she said, with a small voice, which seemed to convince her parents, who gave each other a knowing look.

“And he’s the reason you’ve been acting all strange these days?” asked her dad.

Was it really so obvious?

“I dunno, maybe…” answered Melody, giving them a performance her theater teacher would be proud of. “He’s in my English class.” True fact, there was a nice boy who had a crush on her in that class. There was also a really cute girl. But back to the boy. “He’s my age, and I think he likes me.”

Melody’s parents looked at each other as if trying to decide which one of them was going to handle the beginning of the conversation. In the end the mother was the one to speak.

“I was about your age when I met your dad, you know…” she said.

From that sentence erupted an everlasting description of how her parents had started dating, followed by an endless question time, then a long list of warnings and requirements. Finally, they said goodnight and left her alone with her own thoughts.

She played around with the dew for a few instants, or maybe longer, she still couldn’t tell as she had lost track of time at her second snap mesmerized by the raindrops. She started getting tired and checked her alarm clock to realize it was already midnight. She quickly got into her pajamas and switched off her lamp, drifting into deep and peaceful sleep.

[writing-contests]

Here is the winner of Writing Contest #3!

“Plenty of fish in the sea” by @the_erickson_labyrinthian

I don’t know why I went to the mall, to be honest. I was bored, I believe, and tired beyond belief, like always. I had so many notions in my head about what would happen if I went. I had it in my mind that if I went, maybe I would accidentally run into some boy and knock all of his bags down, and as I helped him pick them up I would look into his eyes and we would be bound for life. All the cheesy garbage, the fairy tales I deluded myself with, they were what I think dragged me to that mall most.   

I went inside in the afternoon. The mall was at its peak then, I remember. It was Friday, after all, the last day of a week full of sales before closing during a weekend for the upcoming holidays. I didn’t have any money though, especially for haphazardly made products. I felt like an outcast as each person walked into a store while I looked around. Everytime I passed by some boy near my age I tried to not stare, not shoot a look too aggressive, but I couldn’t help it, and each one pulled his head down and kept walking. After a dozen awkward failures I slapped myself on the head and flopped down onto a nearby bench. Suddenly a yawn fell out of my mouth.

    I hadn’t slept the night before. Term papers were Hell, homework was piling, I had three dungeons left of Zelda’s latest installment, there was just no time left in the day to ease myself into the wonders of my dreams, the ones where boys didn’t bother to look away. That night I reassured myself that I could handle the lack of sleep. I was a college student, this was just the way things worked, I could handle a little sleep deprivation. After all, I needed to work hard, and on times like this, relax.

On that bench, I started to ease my worries, my tensions, my fears of never being loved, the idiotic anxiety of my life, and yawned again. As I looked up, I swore there were less people. That the night was dimmer. My world started to blur, and I could barely even tell. That was what sleep deprivation, and it was consuming me as an ever-growing shadow that lurched onto my back and curled tightly around my head, looking with its hypnotic eyes onto mine and forcing me into a dance, a syncopation I bobbed to perfectly as my eyes dropped, lower and lower, into the black warmth of slumber. It wasn’t a bad sleep.

No, I had a nice sleep, but I only remember vague slivers of the dream. I know I wasn’t alone. I know I was at the mall for at least a brief second, and I could’ve possibly lived the fantasy that played in my head endlessly of the boy and the bags, but nothing was certain except I had a nice, long rest, and when I woke up, my whole world flipped on its head.

I woke up in the same darkness I fell into, and it was startling. I jumped up immediately and scanned the area. No life in sight. Dim lights were still on, enough for me to make out where I was, but that was it. The stores were all dark. I could tell I was alone. I realized I still had my phone in my pocket and checked it, but it was dead, like I was in a horror movie. I shoved it back into my pocket and ran straight to the entrance, my heart racing at the thought of being away from my apartment for so long, but once I reached it I collapsed. The entrance was sealed shut by a large steel garage-like door. I got angry, like, angry angry, and tried to ram into the door. No luck. I didn’t seem to trigger an alarm either. I was stuck, and I knew it, and I almost started crying.

What was I going to do? I had so much homework that I delayed to go on a stupid walk. I had so many things to do, work on my career, pay my monthly bills, help my mother with her house, and it was all going to sit and rot while I festered in a mall for two whole days. I started smacking my knee, how was I going to eat? To bathe? To live like this for two whole days? I decided I wasn’t going to. I decided I was going to search high and low for some way out. I knew that somewhere around the giant labyrinth of cheaply made products and uncanny mannequins, there had to be something.

For what I assumed was about two hours, I went across to each store of the mall to see if there was a way out, or some security guard to help me. Every store was sealed by the same gate. And, there was no one to be seen. The mall had such grand security, they probably thought they didn’t need extra muscle. After all, I couldn’t break through one gate. My shoulders would’ve bled if I kept trying. I slid to the ground in front of Le Chat Noir Jewelry and yawned. Then, I shoved my hands into my face. In my mind all I could think of were the things I knew wouldn’t get done. I was already behind. Behind on my education, my social life, my love life. I went to the mall to relax from all of this and I ended up sealed away from any chance of fixing it. How was I going to make it? Get a house? A car? College? My career?

What I hated was how slow my life went. No matter what I did, I felt like there were miles still to go, and this triggered something deep in me, making me think that instead of miles, I was light years away.

I remember screaming, “What am I going to do?” over and over as I knocked my head against the door. There was no way out, and I didn’t seem to have access to food. I lost hope, but just before I laid down on the ground and resigned in my fate, something out of the corner of my eye made me jump. I ran to it, tears in my eyes, it was an open door. Well, mostly open, it looked like something jammed the system before it finished. There was one open store, one light at the end of the tunnel, and that saving grace was… Alan’s Pet Supply Shop. I nearly ripped out all of my hair.

The store was dark. The lone green light in front of the register was the only one on. I crawled over the counter and looked under for any sort of light switch. Nothing. I rummaged through the drawers for something, and to my luck was a small pocket-sized flashlight. I turned it on and shouted, “Success!”

Once I had the light in my hands I looked around. The first good thing to note was that I had food in the form of all the small snacks they put in front of the register to trick stupid parents into getting something last second to shut their kids up. There was candy, a few small bags of crackers, but the thing that caught my eye the most was a long stick of jerky. I ripped one out of its package and dug into it like a wolf. The salt delighted my tongue, and for a brief moment I felt my problems wash away. I searched around the rest of the store.

Most of the store was filled with supplies for cats and dogs, food, treats, toys, and more. It was all useless. Every aisle was full of expensive garbage, and I didn’t like any of it. I never wanted a pet. I thought they were a waste of time, and useless. I hated them, and hated that they could do whatever they wanted while humans like me had to get jobs and pay rent. I thought it wasn’t fair.

In the back of the store was something out of the ordinary, a wall lined with rows of fish tanks that were about a foot above me. Filled with water, fully decorated, but with no light, and no fish. It looked like a hazard. I shook my head and was going to walk away, but a bit of movement from the top row caught my attention. I shined my light up and stood on my toes. It was a fish (obviously, given it was in a fish tank). The fish didn’t run when the light shined on it, instead it lost almost all movement, staring dead forward with a glazed look.

“Huh, like my light?” I asked, “Of course you do, you’re a stupid fish.”

The fish was light blue, with a yellow stripe along the top of its body, and a grey circle along all sides of it. The eyes were fully black now as it looked into the light, entranced by the overwhelming presence it couldn’t understand. I started to realize I was overanalyzing a stupid fish that liked a pretty light.

“Why are you the only one here? You didn’t kill your buddies, did’ja?”

The fish kept its expression, or lack thereof.

“Of course all the life I could find in this stupid mall is a brain-dead fish. I wanted a brain-dead person! How am I supposed to get out now?” I said as I took a bite from my jerky, “I mean, I knew they were stupid, they didn’t bother to look to make sure people weren’t sleeping on all of their benches, but so stupid as to not have a guard? As to only have one fish? Why are you the only frickin’ fish here?”

I started to look around for answers. I went to a door that wouldn’t open, it was the back room. On the door though was a checklist.

Clean up.

Find the missing mop.

Make our $4000 goal

Set up the fish for transfer to second location.

There was a new location, as if a pet store, no, a pet supply store, needed a second location, and all of the new fish were going there, apparently. I went back to the fish, “They missed you. How did they miss you?” I scanned the tank with my flashlight until I saw a small castle.

“You were hiding… and they missed you. You doomed yourself you idiot fish,” I sighed, “You must be new, otherwise you’d be dead by now, with that kind of brain.”

The fish did nothing but continue to gaze, because it was a fish, and it couldn’t hear me, as most fish couldn’t, but I kept talking, “You and me in this whole dark place, huh? Well at least I have food,” I yawned again, “Still tired. Of course. Listen fish, well, you can't… you know what? Listen anyways. I’m going to bed so I don’t have to think about everything after this, you have fun… goodnight, you idiot.”

I turned off the light and nestled into a corner, pulling a nearby doggy blanket to me and using it as a pillow as I fell back into slumber.

I don’t remember if I dreamed that night, but in the morning I woke up to unfulfillment as I realized where I was. I lifted myself up and looked around. Darkness, still. I turned on my flashlight and pointed it back to the tank, and the fish immediately raced back to its position. “Psh,”I dismissed as I walked out of the store. I was going to explore with the new flashlight and see if I could find a way out.

I found nothing, to be blunt, I went to every nook of every floor, but there was nothing. There were no windows in the mall other than on the roof. None of the other doors would open, with even the elevators not seeming to work. Even the cameras, on closer inspection, I found out were hollow. There was nothing. I went back to the pet store and grabbed more jerky.

I took a chair from behind the register and moved it to the tank, and then sat down and turned on my light, watching as the fish came towards it. “I hate you, ya’ know. You’re just looking at me, begging me to pay attention to you, just like every pet in the world. I don’t have time for this. I don’t have time for anything! Do you know how many papers I’ll miss? How much crap I’ll be in once I go home? Of course you don’t,” I pulled on my hair, “I mean, I just wanted to relax, maybe see someone who understands me, and what did I get? What is this? A waste of time, just like you.”

The fish bobbed up and down and held its gaze.

“You know… I just want someone to like me. I’m getting older every day. I lose a bit more youth. Lose a bit more energy. I was already an ugly loser, so I know if I don’t find someone soon I’ll… I’ll never enjoy life. And it’s the same with everything. Work, school, life. I.. I’m just so scared…” I looked back at the fish again, “You wouldn’t understand...”

As crazy at it sounded, when I looked back at that fish, I thought for a moment that it did understand. I looked at that fish, and everything seemed okay. No, right.

“Maybe you and I, aren’t so different after all? That sounds cheesy. I mean, we’re both tired… alone… hungry… have you been fed?”

I  searched around the store for a bottle of fish food. I found a nice small can and ripped open the three layers of plastic on it (which was a ridiculous amount) and went back to the tank. I stood on my chair and sprinkled a few flakes in.

“There you go. Have fun continuing to live. Now you’re stuck here with me, and you have to listen.”

I spent the weekend talking to a fish. I told it my boy problems, life problems, everything I had to deal with, and it responded with nothing, and yet, that was everything. I had everything. It felt nice for me to be able to let out all of my hate and spit onto something that couldn’t get mad at me for it, something without an opinion, that would stare intently at the light and do nothing else. By the end, I gave the fish a name, Eyeball.

Late into Sunday, I was getting more food when a loud alarm sound rang. I looked out the door to see the doors to the other stores opening, and to see the big front door completely open, with several people walking in. I turned around and hid behind the wall. They were here, but there was no way enough time had passed for it to be customers. I assumed it was the employees preparing for Monday. They were going to find me. I was going to be saved, but then I looked at the empty places on the counter where I had stolen food and realized if they caught me, I’d be in trouble, and they’d blame everything on me. I had to leave without being seen, but there was a problem. The problem was a little fish named Eyeball.

I ran to Eyeball and shined my flashlight, and like always, he came. “What am I going to do, buddy? I… I can’t just take you home… and, I can’t just waltz out with you. But I can’t leave you, like this…”

I started to hear the murmuring of others from across the mall. I couldn’t be seen. I looked back at Eyeball, and his eyes seemed to cut through me. I had to help him, and make sure the idiots of the store took care of him. I ran back to the drawers under the register and pulled out tape, a pen and paper. The noise started to grow. I finished my scribbles and posted a note on the door before I ran out of the store. I slid along the wall and hid by the bathrooms. When the employees of each store went away and there was an open spot, I ran out.

It was dead night. I walked back to my apartment and plugged my phone in. When I turned it on I had over a hundred  missed notifications. I sighed and set my phone down. I went and took a shower, sitting in that tub for a long time, thinking about Eyeball, and about the employees who never saw me, but would see evidence of me, along with a note…

“Take care of this fish. You idiots forgot to transport him. His name is Eyeball, and he liked that flashlight. You better make sure he brings it with him. And you better make sure he never goes hungry again. We all know what that feels like. Keep him safe.

-The guy you locked in your mall for two days.”

    I remember those few days for a reason. That fish who never said a word spoke to me. He told me to slow down, and stop trying to figure out the world today. I can enjoy my time, without worrying about my future. A few weeks after the ordeal, I bought another fish, and he became Eyeball II. He’s my best friend now, and just like the person he’s named after, he helps me when I need it, and he makes sure I never misjudge an animal again. He also makes sure that I stop worrying about silly things like love. After all, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.

[adamkadabra]

Me, Myself, and I || Self-Para

Tagging→  ADAM CRAWFORD, mentions of Rachel Berry, Tina Cohen-Chang, Sam Evans, Blaine Anderson, and Elliott Gilbert. Where→  Adam’s dorm. When→ 8/1/17, somewhere around 2am and 3am Warnings→ spoilers for recent chatzy, some minor violence..ish?

Adam opted to stay in his room last night. Alone. With Puck now gone and him without a roommate it made things...a little more eerie. He certainly did not miss Puck but maybe he missed the presence of another person. Typically, Adam would sleep with Elliott in his room and wake up beside him. After the events at the carnival though, he got the idea that perhaps Elliott needed some time to himself. He stayed the night immediately following the events, Adam was certain they both needed a little bit of comfort or reassurance that the other was still there, but the second night Adam went back to his room.

He left Fenn in his Grimoire, not in the mood to deal with any of the questions that his familiar might have in mind. It was a difficult to sleep alone at least with the memories of what had happened that night running around in his head. Adam hadn’t checked on his friends yet to see how they were fairing after the ordeal. He assumed not much better than he or Elliott. It wasn’t often that you came across the part of yourself that you either hated or feared, least wise in physical form staring back at you.

Adam closed his eyes and thought about each of his friends. He had been very distant lately with everything going on with his dad. Adam hadn’t wanted to involve anyone else in his family drama. The fear that Peter might use them against him at one point was too prevalent. It was bad enough he knew about and met Elliott.

Rachel. Aether if she encountered something similar he hoped she was alright. He couldn’t imagine what she or the others might have seen.

“Who cares about her?”

A voice rang out in the otherwise empty bedroom. Adam sat up and looked around. There was no one there.

“Hello?” Adam called out. He knew that voice.

It was his voice.

“Someone there?” It was a ridiculous question. Theroom was dark but Adam could see with the moonlight shining through the window. There was no physical person in the room aside from Adam himself. Adam frowned and scooted back down in his bed.

“She’s just an ambitious twit.” The voice said again.

Adam threw his covers off himself and kicked his feet over the bed. He switched on his light. “Alright, I know someone is there. Where are you? This isn’t funny.” Adam said. He dropped down to the floor and checked under the bed.

“Try the mirror you dolt.” 

Adam looked over to the mirror above his dresser. Even before he approached it square on he could see something or someone being reflected in it. As he approached Adam’s breath caught in his chest. It was his other self from the carnival. The one that had the facial features that resembled more of his dad instead of his mum, the shoulder broad like his dad and those eyes that sent a shiver down Adam’s spine.

“Wha...how are you..” Adam was at a loss for words.

His reflection crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. “She probably lost fighting herself, just like she lost fighting you. Pathetic can’t even defeat herself.”

Adam came out of his surprised state and glared at the reflection. “Shut up!” He said venomously. “Rachel isn’t like that! She’s one of the strongest witches I’ve ever met. She had a lot going on in her personal life during Midnight Madness and her head wasn’t in it. I didn’t win because my skill and...she probably would win against me if we fought again. And so what, being ambitious isn’t a terrible thing. She’s going to accomplish so much in her life, don’t you dare talk about her like that!”

“She’s not as bad as that other New Age girl you hang around with. What is it...Tina? What a sad excuse for a witch. Talk about wasted magic.”

Adam clenched his hands into fists. “Tina is brilliant! I could never learn her type of magic. She’s more powerful and skillful than I think she’d ever give herself credit for. And she’s the kindest person I’ve ever met but also the fiercest. Both of them are, she and Rachel!”

“Why are you defending them?”

“Because they’re my friends and you don’t know anything about that.” Adam was practically shaking now he was so angry.

“Who needs friends when you can have power?”

“Is that a serious question?” Adam asked arching a brow.

“I’m just saying. This lot is holding you back. Don’t even get me started on Sam. Talk about a poor excuse for a Bloodline.” His reflection whistled and made a face.

“SHUT UP!” Adam picked up his chair at the desk aside from his dresser and slammed it into the mirror. The mirror shattered and sent shards flying. Adam ducked and backed away, breathing heavily and looking at the damage he caused.

“That’ll be seven years bad luck mate.” The voice said again. Adam whipped around searching for it.  “And with your track record you need all the luck you can get.”

“Where are you?” Adam called out.

“Yoo-hoo over here Blondie.”

Adam turned and saw the face smiling from the reflective glass of his alarm clock. He bounded across the room and lifted the clock.

“Time you chose better mates, right? Ones that won’t slow you down.” His reflection laughed. “Like that other Bloodline, Blaine. What a loser! That monster should have finished him on Halloween.”

“They do NOT slow me down! They are everything I want to be!” Adam chucked the clock across the room and is broke into dozens of pieces as it hit the wall.

“You can’t actually tell me you want to be like them?”

Adam searched for the next reflective surface and found his reflection in his phone this time. He picked it up and held the phone tightly.

“Of course I do!” Adam said. “They’re everything I want to be. I don’t want to be like you.”

“Want to be like me or not I’m part of you. Don’t you remember accepting that?”

“I don’t care. I’m not going to become cruel and hateful like you.” Adam said. “And Blaine isn’t a loser. He’s one of my best mates.”

“A best mate who hasn’t spoken to you in months. Not since someone stuck a knife in him.”

“He’s...I’ve been...it’s been a rough time for both of us. I expect he had to heal and...he has a reason. I know he does. I didn’t make contact with him either, I’m probably more to blame..”

“Look at you making excuses for him and blaming yourself. Aether you’re exhausting. Face it. He doesn’t care about you, neither do the others. You care too much for them and they couldn’t give a shit about you in return. And why is that? Because you’re-too-weak.”

Adam’s anger started to fade and he felt that same hopelessness come back around from the other night at the carnival. He tried to remember what he said the first time to defeat himself. This was a part of him and he was stronger for having to deal with it. But it didn’t feel that way. Not now.

“He cares.” Adam said, his voice breaking. “They all care..I’ve been disconnected from them because of my own problems. I’ve been..I’ve been selfish and I don’t blame them for being angry with me..but it doesn’t mean they stop caring and it doesn’t mean I stopped..”

His reflection rolled his eyes. “All this self pity aether is it annoying. You are the literal worst. Just a big ball of sadness that no one seems to care about. That Lusus boyfriend of yours is probably sick to death of hearing it.”

Adam flinched at hearing his own voice say the word ‘Lusus’. He glared at his reflection in the phone. “Don’t call him that!”

“Oh? Have I hit another nerve? Fun.” His reflection laughed again. “Elliott just tolerates you. He feels sorry for you, actually and that’s the only reason he’s still with you.”

“Stop it.”

“That’s probably why any of them are still hanging around you. They feel sorry for the poor kitchen witch. Couldn’t even pick a decent form of magic. Just like your mum.”

“SHUT UP!” The scream ripped from the inside of Adam’s chest and burned his throat  as he tossed the phone at the window the window and listened at the maniacal laughter disappeared into the darkness of the night. And the room was silent once more.

He fell to his knees sobbing and holding his head trying to get rid of all of the things he just heard.

You can’t get rid of me Adam. I’m inside of you. I am you! The disembodied voice echoed in his ears and the laughter began again.

“NO!” Adam woke with a jolt, hair plastered to his forehead soaked in sweat.

His pajamas clung to him in spots where he had been sweating. He sat up and removed the covers welcoming the cool breeze from the open window. Adam looked around. Everything was silent and still. The mirror hung on the wall reflecting only the objects in its view and in one piece. Next to him on the table was his phone, the screen dark and the alarm clock ticking away and showing the time at six past three in the morning. Adam took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. That had been one of the most vivid and coherent dreams Adam had had in a long time. He stared at the ceiling almost afraid to go to sleep. Maybe being alone wasn’t the best idea for him right now..

[veronicaosoria]

mercy pt 2

Genre: Angst

Length: 3.9k words

Pairing: Yoongi/Reader/Jimin

Summary: You knew the relationship was falling apart, you just couldn’t accept it. 

Part One

“Answer me Y/N.” Yoongi growled stepping closer not taking his eyes off of Jimin. His face was a bright shade of red and his breathing was unsteady.

“It's not wha-” I choked out trying to make words come out as clear as they could.

“Then what the FUCK IS IT?” He shouted, “Huh Y/N? EXPLAIN.” He hissed grabbing my wrist pulling me closer to him. I grimaced at his touch and struggled to release myself from his grip sobbing.

Jimin quickly steps in taking my wrist in one hand and pushing Yoongi’s chest away in another. Yoongi falls back catching himself before he could fall and tries to regain his balance.

“Don't. fucking. touch. her.” Jimin raised his voice at him growling. I felt my heart inside my chest pounding louder than I thought was possible, I had tears streaming down my face and I probably looked like a mess but I didn't care. I was more scared of what was going to happen next and was trying to figure out why the hell Yoongi reacted the way he did.

“What the hell do you want from her man?” Jimin roared, “Haven't you done enough?”

“Jimin calm down” I cried trying to get his attention on me instead of Yoongi because God knows what else could happen.

“Fuck you. You don't fucking know anything!” Yoongi snarled running his hands through his hair, “Y/N let's go.” He turned to me, “Now.”

Jimin stepped in front of me blocking me from Yoongi, “You must be insane if you think I'm going to let that happen.”

Yoongi charged up to Jimin grabbing him by the collar and pushing him to the wall at full force. “Who the fuck are you to tell me that?” He screamed. “You're not her hero! You don't fucking know what she wants!” Suddenly I saw Yoongi’s fist flying in the air landing on Jimin’s face and before I could step in both of them were at each other's throats. Without thinking I threw myself in the middle and pushed Yoongi off screaming at them to both stop, both boys were out of breath grunting in pain and for what felt like hours no one said a word. It wasn’t until I got my sobbing under control that I noticed a bitter taste in my mouth. Blood. I brought my hand to my face and sure enough my lip was bleeding. I groaned in frustration and looked both of them dead in the eyes.

“What the fu-” They started to say realizing what happened.

“I don’t care who the fuck it was this is ridiculous,” I hissed, “Yoongi, what are you doing here?” I spat turning my attention to him.

“You weren’t answering your damn phone Y/N,” he responded softening his eyes once his eyes met mine. “So I came over wondering what was going on but I didn’t expect this shit.” He cursed shooting daggers at Jimin.

“You should go back to your girlfriend Yoongi,” I mumbled tearing my gaze away and looking at the floor.

“No. Not until you tell me who the hell this little shit is,” He barked moving closer to me, “Who is he Y/N?”

“You heard her Yoongi, get back to your girlfriend.” Jimin mockingly answered for me, “And by the way.. if you really want Y/N to be happy then leave her alone.”

I remained quiet knowing Yoongi was expecting an answer from me and when it didn't come he growled in anger hitting the wall behind him leaving us with three words, “This isn't over.” And with that.. he was gone.

I heard Jimin let out a deep breath and he brought his hand up to my busted lip with guilty eyes.

“I have a first aid kit inside my car, let me fix that up.” He hesitantly said. I didn't give him an answer and instead looked at the gym building. Crap. It's been at least an hour since he's been outside with me, I started to panic at the thought of him not going back to work because of my stupid problems.

“What about work Jimin?” I asked, “shit you're probably going to be in trouble because of me.” I began to feel bad and thought if I never came outside none of this would've happened.

“Don't worry, I'll just call them and tell them something came up.” He reassured me.

He grabbed my hand and I felt myself relax, “Let's go get you cleaned up Y/N.” I nodded and followed him to his car reminding myself I need to somehow repay him for everything he's done.

“Get in” He ordered opening the passenger door of his car, “I'll go get the first aid, it’s in my trunk.”

I got inside and ran my fingers through my hair with endless thoughts running through my head. I had so many questions, but no answers. What the hell just happened? I snapped back to reality when I heard Jimin get inside the car with the first aid kit in hand. Opening it he shakingly got the things he needed, “Let me see Y/N,” He said gently grabbing my face. I did as he told me and grimaced in pain once he touched the cut.

“Please make it fast,” I mumbled closing my eyes in hope that would ease the pain. He nodded and my mind once again went elsewhere and began to feel a huge dread of guilt once I remembered Yoongi’s face when I told him to leave, he looked hurt. It was like I disappointed him tonight, and that felt much worse than this stupid busted lip.

“Alright Y/N all set.” Jimin finally said, “again I'm really sorry.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, “For everything. For what you did tonight. You surely didn't have to step in for me. I'm sorry about Yoongi, he shouldn't have hit you.” I added looking down at my trembling hands.

“You don’t have to apologize. If I wasn’t there you would’ve went with him and he would’ve sweet talked you making you feel amazing until you were left hurt.” He replied a little too harshly.

Truth is.. Jimin was right. As much as it hurts to hear, he was absolutely correct. If I never left my house I would’ve picked up his calls and agreed to whatever he had to say. I would’ve thrown myself in this cycle all over again. But the worst part of this fucked up situation is that I regret not leaving with Yoongi. A part of me wishes I could go back in time and stayed in bed and just waited.

“I-I should go I have work in the morning and my head feels like it’s going to explode.” I said, “But thank you Jimin, I really am thankful for everything you did tonight.” I added covering my face in my hands.

“Let me atleast take you home.” He pleaded, “I know a lot happened tonight, and there is no way I’m letting you go alone” I looked up at him and smiled nodding at him.

“We can walk from here,” I began to say, “I don’t live far I promise.”

“Sounds good to me, that means more time with you.” He responded immediately. I felt my cheeks grow hot and I certainly didn’t need a mirror to see that I was blushing.

We got out of the car and I led him to the direction of my house. I noticed he started walking slower than me and I chuckled to myself and caught on to what he was doing.

“What’s so funny?” He asked pouting at me.

“I didn’t laugh!” I gasped pretending I didn’t know what he was talking about.

His eyes widened “YA! You just did!” He accused. This time I let out a laugh and slapped his arm out of habit.

“I just think it’s cute how you’re walking slower than I thought was possible.” I explained tucking my hair behind my ear to get it out of my face as we made it to the front of my door.  

“Well if you think it’s that cute then why don’t you give me your number?” He blurted out smirking at me. I shot my head up at him and smirked back, “A little too early for that don’t you think? We barely know eachother” I replied.

“I mean I did fight your asshole of an ex tonight, that is pretty big for barely knowing each other.” He noted with a grin on his face.

“Ahh you got me there” I said, “How bout this… hmm let's meet again, if you show up then I’ll think about it.”

He nodded at me and agreed “Same time tomorrow then?” He asked.

“Same time tomorrow.” I confirmed making my way to my door.

I woke up the next morning to my alarm and I quickly got ready for another at work. I grabbed my phone and to my surprise I had a dozen texts and calls from Yoongi the most recent text being at 4am.

“Please get back to me Y/N”

“I can't sleep”

“Please call me back.”

I sighed and the guilt started rushing in. Why was he acting like this? Ever since our breakup he never acted like he still cared about me. I should've never went to that gym, I should've stayed and answered Yoongi. I huffed and decided I would text him back later that day.

Work was surprisingly busy and before I knew it, my shift was over. I made it home and made myself some food for dinner. I ate my meal while scrolling through my phone and I noticed a follow request. Park_jimin. I smiled to myself debating on accepting him or not, guess he was too impatient on waiting for my number. I clicked on his profile and I found myself scrolling through his pictures and grinning like a child. I glanced at the time and realized it was almost 8pm, instantly I got up and proceeded to wash the dishes. Once I was finished I changed into decent clothes and plopped on my couch to watch some TV. I wasn’t supposed to meet Jimin for another two hours so I had some time before I had to go. Around twenty minutes later I felt my phone vibrate next to me. From Yoongi: I love you Y/N. My mind wandered over to the thought of Yoongi and I felt my heart sink. I couldn’t get the look of his face off my head, no matter how hard I tried. Should I even go with Jimin? Am I being stupid for this? Maybe I should just stay in tonight, who am I kidding thinking I’m actually ready to meet some other guy when I’m clearly not over my ex. I moved my fingers over the keyboard as I began to type out a reply.

“I love you too.” sent.

I woke up to a bang and I jolted up from the couch startled only to find the sound came from the TV I forgot to turn off. I grunted dragging myself across the floor trying to fully wake myself up. It was then I realized my apartment was dark and I ran to the window seeing it was still night. I grabbed my phone checking the time 9:43pm it read. In all honesty I was hoping I’d sleep through the night, more because I did want to avoid meeting Jimin. But at the same time, I was happy that I woke up. I walked over to my bathroom and splashed water on my face then looked at myself in the mirror. I took one last breath before I changed my mind and I found myself heading towards my front door. Well Y/N… it’s now or never.

I paced down the sidewalk moving slower than usual as I made my way to the one spot I knew a little too well. As I got closer I refused to see if he was there yet or not, I kept my eyes glued to the ground stepping on every leaf that I managed to find. Eventually I looked up and my stomach dropped when I saw the spot was empty. I sighed and sat down putting headphones in my ears to listen to music as I waited. It was around a fully playlist of songs later that I starting to grow impatient and checked the time.

10:54pm

“Is he really not coming?” I thought frowning to myself. Annoyed I stood up and began to make my way home. I reached the sidewalk and suddenly felt a hand on shoulder stopping me in my tracks.

I turned around and came face to face with Jimin. “I was just leaving” I mumbled under my breath.

I noticed he wasn’t in his usual work clothes and instead was wearing a simple black t-shirt with ripped jeans. As simple as the outfit seemed, he made it look.. good.

“What? Why?” He responded with a sad look on his face.

“What do you mean why? I got here almost an hour ago, I thought you weren’t going to show up.” I harshly replied. His face softened and he smiled. I raised my eyebrow at him confused.

“Actually Y/N you’re wrong,” He informed, “I was here before you actually and as creepy as it sounds I was watching you the whole time.” He finished with a grin on his face.

I widened my eyes, “What? Jimin you creep what’s the point of that?” I hissed wanting to wipe that smile off his face.

“I wanted to see how long you’d wait, and it seems like you’re not a patient person.” I rolled my eyes at him softly hitting him on the shoulder.

“It seems like you aren’t either considering you already sent me a follow request.” I replied smirking at him.

He chuckled, “I thought you weren’t going to show up, so I had to find you on my own just in case.” I blushed at his response. “I’m just really glad you came.” He added.

I saw him reach inside his pockets taking his keys out and waved them in the air looking at me, “Care for some ice cream?” He asked and I eagerly nodded following him to his car. We got in and put our seatbelts on and Jimin began driving. “So how have you been?” Jimin asked making me giggle, “It’s been a day Jimin,” I replied still laughing.

“Well… how was your day Y/N?” He confidently asked not taking his eyes off the road.

“It was good I guess,” I responded “It was busy at work and I didn’t do much when I got home, what about your day?”

“For the most part I stayed in bed the whole day, did usual adult responsibilities, and spent a good while trying to find anything that led to you.” He shamelessly said, “believe it or not it took me a long time to find your profile.” He huffed coming to a stop at a red light.

I shook my head at him, “Not even you just weren’t looking hard enough.” I lightly teased causing him to look at me.

He scoffed at me “I ended up finding it didn't I?”

I stuck my tongue out at him, “I want ice cream!” I whined throwing a small tantrum.

“Aish you child! We're almost there!”

I nodded satisfied as I saw him pulling into the parking lot and once he parked I immediately got out running towards the entrance.

“Hurry up you old man they're almost closing!” I impatiently yelled seeing him take his time walking. He chuckled jogging to the front door and opened the door for us.

It took me less than two minutes to pick what flavor I wanted while it took Jimin a whole fifteen minutes to decide on what he wanted. We got our ice cream and left the shop just as they switched the sign from open to closed.

“Who takes fifteen minutes to pick a flavor?” I asked in disbelief while eating a spoonful of my treat.

“Ahh Y/N you don't understand” he replied rolling his eyes at me, “I needed time to see what my body wanted tonight.”

I let out a laugh mumbling something about him being ridiculous and continued walking along the sidewalk.

“Thanks for the ice cream by the way.” I said eating another spoonful happily. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and I went to check it. I sighed seeing that it was more texts from Yoongi and decided to ignore them turning my attention back to Jimin. However he caught on to the frown on my face and raised his eyebrow.

“Is that him?” He curiously asked.

I nodded, “Can we not talk about Yoongi tonight?” I added looking at his face for an answer.

His face lit up “That sounds good to me.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and continued eating stealing a spoonful of Jimin’s ice cream. He pouted shooting me a look.

“I swear you're a child.” He mumbled.

“I know” I responded shrugging my shoulders.

“About your phone number..” he hesitantly asked looking at his feet.

“Give me your phone.” I bluntly said causing a puzzled look on his face, “so I can put my phone number on there.” I pointed out. He stuffed his hands in his pockets grabbing his phone and handed it to me with a beaming smile on his face.

Maybe things were looking up for me..

Two weeks quickly went by and I found myself spending all my time at work. A manager position opened up at work and for as long as I could remember I was throwing myself into long hours of overtime to earn the position. I constantly told myself not to give up hope and it eventually paid off when my boss called me telling me I got the position. Although it meant more hours, it also meant more money and skills. For the first time in a while, I didn’t feel useless and that made me more happy than I thought it would. I sent Namjoon a text informing him about the good news and he congratulated me promising me a night to celebrate later that week. I also sent Jimin a text and he insisted on taking me out to eat to celebrate, I texted back a yes and made my way to my bathroom to get ready for the night.

I got out of my car texting Jimin letting him know I was here and sat on a bench in front of the restaurant occupying myself with my phone. I heard a car door open and I looked up to see Jimin getting out walking towards me.

“Y/N! Congratulations!” Jimin exclaimed pulling me into a tight hug.

“Thank you Jiminie!” I squealed, “I’m so happy and thank you for taking me out.”

“We have to celebrate of course!” He replied leading me inside the restaurant. We then got seated and both of us immediately reached for the menu trying to find what to order.

“I'm buying you a drink.” Jimin stated looking at the alcohol menu.

I shot him a look, “ahh you know I don't really drink.” I whined.

“I'm not taking no for answer, it's just one drink”

Rolling my eyes I realized one drink wouldn't hurt and agreed. I started telling him all the new benefits I would get and the raise I earned and he eagerly listened. The drinks came out before the food and I hesitantly took a sip. I made a face at the strong taste and Jimin laughed at me taking it away keeping it for himself. By then the food got there and we started eating taking a bite of each other’s food here and there. As I was taking another bite of my burger I spotted Jimin’s expression darken and swallowed my food, “What’s up?” I curiously asked following his stare only for it to land on one person we both didn’t want to see. Yoongi. To make things worse it wasn’t just Yoongi, it was her too. She however didn’t seem to notice us and even if she did I certainly don’t think she knows anything about me. My heart sank and I felt my throat close seeing her. She was beautiful, it’s no wonder why he chose her. Both Jimin and Yoongi were glaring at each other and even from tables away I could feel how tense the room was. Yoongi looked pissed. We met eyes and I looked away as fast as I could averting my attention back to Jimin. His fists were clenched and I softly grabbed them making him relax.

“We should go.” I stuttered grabbing my things. Jimin nodded and asked for the check and we both hurried out of there as fast as we could. We both walked in silence to my car, “I’m sorry Y/N I didn’t think he’d be there.” Jimin spoke up grabbing my face making me look at him.

“Don’t apologize” I said with tears in my eyes, “It’s not your fault.”

He forced a smile and opened my car door, “Want to get dessert?”

I shook my head “I have to be up early tomorrow, I think I’m going to call it a night plus don’t you have a night shift soon mister?” I said giving him a stern look.

He gave me a pout, “You’re right, but I’m coming over tomorrow after you get off. I want to know all about your first day as manager.” He added grinning at me. I giggled at him throwing myself in his arms.

“Goodnight Jiminie, thank you for tonight” I said getting into my car.

“Goodnight Y/N.” He replied as he closed my door.

Jimin’s POV

“Have a good workout!” I said as I signed the usual customers in at the front desk. I went back to cleaning the machines and having my head wander over to the thought of Y/N. Although tonight could’ve gone way better, I’m glad I still got to be with her. I reached for my phone and saw a goodnight text from her and I smiled to myself. Just as I was about to text her back my manager interrupted me letting me know it was time for my break. I nodded and started walking towards the exit to go to the usual spot. I unlocked my phone and texted Y/N back and went to play some music. From the corner of my eye I saw someone coming closer to me and I turned to get a better look at them.

“Jimin right?” His deep voice said. As he got closer I realized who it was and my fists immediately clenched. He noticed this right away, “No no.. I’m not here to punch you in the face again.” He said smirking at me.

“What the fuck do you want Yoongi.” I snarled at him looking at him with pure disgust.

He let out a small chuckle, “Why are you so defensive? I’m only here to talk.” He calmly said.

I scoffed “Talk? Bullshit.”

“I saw the way you looked at her.” He began, “I know what you want.”

“Yeah?” I sarcastically asked, “then what do I want?”

He looked away and put his hands in his pockets, “You want her to be yours.”

I didn’t answer this time and instead glared at him.

“But guess what” Yoongi whispered stepping closer to me to the point where his face was inches away from mine. “Deep down inside you know she will never love you as much as she loves me.”

“And that kills you.”

author’s note: thank you guys for reading part one! i’m sorry for the wait but i hope you guys like it!! Also thank you to my lovely cousin for editing this @graciela-97 :)

[ill-skillsgard]

Bad Decisions - Axel Cluney

Title: Bad Decisions

Description: It's hard to learn from your mistakes when the mistake is six foot four, covered in tattoos and tracks you down at your own party

Warning: 18+ Mentions of sex/swearing/drugs/pregnancy & abortion

"There are no feelings to be hurt."

After my procedure, I didn't feel different like I thought I might. I didn't feel different about myself or him. I didn't even feel all that bad either. Even after I was pushed out of the sliding hospital doors in a wheelchair, I felt like it was just a necessary part of it all. I had to humor the hospital staff by sitting down in the chair even though I didn't feel lethargic or dizzy. It was all just part of the experience.

I had a couple of days off which I took to reflect upon my life choices but the harder I thought about it the more I realized that I really didn't care about getting myself into a less-than-desirable situation. I had it fixed and I was quickly back to my normal self.

The only person I told about it was my mom and she had only a moment of reproach before she settled down and told me that I was making the right choice by ridding myself of a life-long problem. Sighing with relief, I thanked her for understanding and she even offered to take me to my appointment and bring me back home afterward to make sure I was comfortable and not alone.

"Does he know?" She asked me, eyes trained to the road in front of her.

"No."

"Oh."

"Why? You think I should tell him?"

"That depends," She told me. "Are you planning on seeing him again?"

"I don't know. Probably not."

It had been two months since I hooked up with Axel. We had met at a mutual friend's party and hit it off and after a few too many drinks we went back to his place for a drunken hookup. It could have been the excess of vodka or just the right amount of cocaine but we went at it all night and once he passed out beside me, a sweaty, spent mess, I laid there in his bed with cum dripping out of me. The slick stickiness acted as a reminder that I was good at making bad decisions.

The next morning I woke up feeling like I had slept outside in a dumpster and looked it too. I had clumps of eye makeup running down my cheeks and my hair was mussed from when Axel had twisted his hand through it and used the strands like a reign to pull me back into him while he pounded into me, growling abhorrent things like, "I'm going to fuck you until you love me."

Axel was in the shower or so I assumed by the sound of running water coming from behind a closed door. I rummaged around for my cell phone so I could use the screen to get a better look at myself. I digressed that if he or anyone were to see me in that state it would be off-putting and not at all pleasant. So I gathered my things and left without saying a word to him.

He never reached out to me at all so I suspected that me fleeing the scene came as a welcome surprise to him. I wasn't sure though because I didn't know him at all. All I knew was that he had bad tattoos, hung around with people like me and my friends and had a nasty mouth on him.

I didn't know that he had gotten me pregnant until about a month after I fucked him. By the time I begged for and got my appointment, another few weeks passed and the more time I spent thinking about some guy's illegitimate child forming inside of my body the more I panicked.

Not without relief, I couldn't really stop thinking about it even as days passed and I went back to normal. When I got my first regular period I stopped fretting about it so much and it started to become more of an unpleasant memory rather than a present reality.

No, I didn't expect to see him ever again and I could live with that. However, the universe had this way of dredging up past bad decisions and shoving it in my face like a bully trying to force me to eat dirt.

I had a party in my flat for my friend's birthday. There were going to be people coming that I didn't quite know but I had offered up my place as the venue anyway as I often did for my friends. My apartment was smack in the middle of downtown and was a convenient spot for people to flutter off to bars or restaurants for late-night snacks. It was a nice central haven to have casual drinks.

Sometimes though, it became a madhouse. I was never in charge of parties nor was I the greatest host so if things ever got out of hand, I looked to the friend whose birthday it was to handle the mess. I couldn't be sure if people were doing drugs off my bathroom sink or fucking in my food pantry.  I also didn't really care as long as my belongings were respected.

It was one of those nights and I stood in the middle of my flat sipping my fourth martini. People often came by and said hello to me or stopped to tell me about their new rescue dog or the screenplay they were working on and I liked that. I was a hub for pleasant small talk and I didn't have to do much but stand there existing.

A friend of mine from college came in through the front door and brought somebody with her. Somebody I quickly recognized as Axel. They were holding hands and my chest contracted and released the chemicals of shock into my bloodstream, causing me to prickle, nerves excited but not in a good way.

Axel saw me too and the only reason I could tell was that his two eyes were the most noticeable things in the room. The way they just shot daggers in any direction was alarming. Not only that but he towered over most with his square shoulders and intense Scandinavian facial structure. It was hard not to let the eyes follow him.

I remained in my stance, thankful for when a friend came up to me to ask a question. I pushed all of my attention onto her and engaged in extended conversation quickly for an effective distraction from the awkward tension I was feeling.

I knew it was impossible that he knew about what had happened but something in my head prodded my over-active imagination, implanting the thought that he did somehow know. As an overthinker, I naturally wondered if I should tell him what happened. He had made it happen. He was the other piece of the puzzle. Or was the whole situation so insignificant that even giving it additional thought was silly? I couldn't be sure.

What I did become sure of immediately was that Axel forgot about my friend that he had come in with and found me standing in the kitchen area waiting on another martini not long after he had arrived.

"Hi. Remember me?"

"Of course."

"It's good to see you again," he said.

"Really?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"I'm sorry about that."

"Sorry about what?"

"Everything?"

Axel smirked at me. "It's totally fine. No worries."

For some reason all I could remember was him telling me that he was going to fuck me until I loved him. It was a funny thought and I had to wonder if he had used that line with every girl he slept with. I wondered if he had already used it on my friend.

"Well, I'm going to go smoke." I attempted to excuse myself.

"Yeah, let's do that," he agreed.

"Okay. Yeah, alright."

He followed me to the balcony. The platform was long enough for a dozen people to stand comfortably side-by-side smoking. We had a problem with people chucking the butts onto the street below even though there was a massive bucket of sand to put them out in. That night I didn't care if people were flicking their cigarette butts over the railing, I needed the sweet release of nicotine to calm my nerves first.

My hand was shaking as I lit the end of my cigarette because Axel was mirroring practically everything I did down to how I leaned up against the guardrail.

"Sorry for just showing up like this but when I heard you were having a party it made me think about you."

"Oh... Is that why you came with Whatsername?"

Axel chuckled and finally turned his body away from me, boots scraping the cement as he faced out toward the streets. The street lamps cast a sinister orange glow over his already intimidatingly sharp face.

"I didn't want to come uninvited so I came as a plus one."

"You could have asked to come."

"Well, you didn't leave me your phone number or anything."

"I'm on social media," I reminded him as though it was obvious.

Smirking, he replied, "I'm not."

"Oh. Are you sure you're not offended that I took off? Because it seems like you are and I just want to say that I'm really sorry and I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"There are no feelings to be hurt. Like I said, I was just thinking about you."

Nothing he said or did gave me any indication that he was actually indifferent about the situation. He never left my side even as I smoked three consecutive cigarettes in a row and then went back into the kitchen to replenish the drink that I didn't particularly need more of.

When we stood in line and waited for the bathroom to free up he took a deep breath and turned to me with a look of smoldering concern knitting his eyebrows together.

"Was it bad for you? Because I'm pretty damn sure I made you come. Like a lot."

I scoffed in disbelief, "No! Axel... I didn't... It wasn't you at all. I promise. If you must know the truth it was because... Well... Fuck."

"What is it?"

"Come with me," I requested.

Axel followed me to the door of my bedroom which I knocked on before entering. I didn't want to risk walking in on someone giving someone else head. It was just a force of habit. The coast was clear and I opened the door, allowing him to step through first before I entered and closed the door behind me.

"Alright, what is it?" He asked.

"I left and didn't call because I just thought that's what you might want. Also... There's something else."

"What? What is it?"

"When you... Y'know... Came inside of me. It did something."

I watched his eyes snap back and forth as he looked into mine and tried to decipher the message I had just given him. I watched as he quickly came to realize what I meant and I had never seen someone's blood drain from their face so instantaneously.

"You don't mean?-"

"Yes, I mean-"

"I got you?-"

"Yes, you got me-"

"Fuck, I thought everybody was on the pill now," he pondered aloud like I wasn't standing right there in front of him.

"N-Not me."

"Shit. I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

Axel opened his arms and welcomed me to walk into them which I did and the smell of his chest brought me back to the night we had hooked up. He smoothed his hand over my hair and sighed before kissing the top of my head comfortingly.

"I'm fine. Totally fine."

"You should have told me."

"It was nothing. I mean, not nothing but... I wasn't upset."

"That's good."

"Are you upset?" I asked, stepping back from our embrace so I could better register his reactions since his words felt misleading.

"No, it's just... So you... Did you get it? Fuck," Axel stammered. "Are you still?"

"No, I had a... An abortion. It's done."

"Well... Okay. That's fine. I know my place and I know that's a you decision and I don't have an opinion on the matter. But I am sorry. I would have helped you out."

"How was I supposed to know you would want to help?" His huge green eyes rolled as he scoffed, "uh, you could have asked me."

"Well, I... Didn't know how to get a hold of you."

"Come on, you can't tell me that you and all of your hundreds of girlfriends don't have a network of amateur investigative shit. You could have tracked me down somehow if you really wanted to."

"See..." I said quietly. "You are upset."

"No!" He exclaimed but then dropped his tone, hovering above a whisper. "No... I'm not. I'm just sorry is all."

"Don't be. I should have been more careful."

"Me too."

Axel closed the gap that I had put between us but this time I was the one who opened my arms for him to step into. It felt strange to be hugging someone I didn't know but at the same time, his scent brought back the memory I had of us having drunken, raunchy, coke-fueled sex. The feeling of his torso against mine was foreign yet I remembered so clearly what it felt like to have my arms around his body. I felt like a little girl against his frame. I breathed in his scent deeply and I knew that I was going to make the same bad decision again.

He only pulled away so that he could duck down lower to kiss me and soon he had his hands through my hair, tilting my face for a better angle. His lips smothered mine and I could feel him breathing through his nose, inhaling as much of my face as he possibly could while I toyed with getting his belt undone.

The next thing I knew after he had pulled off my top and threw up my skirt was laying on my bed, face down, ass up like a cat in heat. Axel stood back for a moment just to admire what he saw before shoving his pants down to his ankles. When he got up on the bed it moaned beneath his weight much like I did as he carefully slid his hard cock into me for the second time, unprotected even though we had just finished telling each other about how we should both be more careful.

Axel leaned over me, throbbing and one hundred percent enveloped in my hot wetness and said, "I'm going to fucking put a baby right back inside you, little slut, hold still."