#leaving the windows open so i could hear the fire alarms and cars honking outside

[mageofminge]

the day after i posted that wretched weezer fic i experience one of the worst days in my life.

perhaps this is a sign from god.

[honestlyfrance]

find me in san francisco

ship: sam/bucky

warning: violence, cursing, apocalypse

summary:

Bucky looked over to Sam for a moment before speaking, "Las Vegas may have currency but it doesn't have you."

OR

Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes stumble upon each other once more at the aftermath of war.

—■—■—

Run. That’s what you do best anyway, isn’t it?

The view of a beachside stretches, the sand a murky grey with glasses and scraps of metal lining the boardwalk as if washed up against the rough and harsh soil, leaning against the ugly and crumbling brick wall where the actual boardwalk started up above at a level, and at a low tide the pitch-black ocean water lapped against the side at an increasingly frightening pace, as if it was always unsteady, always unnatural. Here on this sand, he ran, clad in a black ensemble, a matching WWII remnant design gas mask on his face, tubes attached to an oxygen tank he had in a backpack. He almost left no boot prints on the shore due to the dense debris that littered there. It was frightening what the last decade had given the earth — so terrible.

The man was running as fast as he could, biting down his tongue as he breathed at an interval of every three minutes – he had managed to breathe every five or six minutes when he was idle, and he has yet to learn to save his breath as he runs. He reaches the staircase that led to the boardwalk, hopping up the marble steps that cracked at every step he made, turning and twisting until he made his way out of the abandoned boardwalk, and was it just him when the stores and barest frames of buildings moaned in agony as the only life that passed through its once lively soul had left as soon as it arrived, or was it just the hunger that nipped at his guts?

He ended up by the road, and it was abandoned by cars and people, buildings just as decayed and bare as the ones in the boardwalk. He looked around for a moment, frantically—he has perfected the art of saving his breath, he’s been breathing for an interval of four minutes now, based on his watch. He took a right and ran as fast as his legs could go, which was a fast jog that could carry him for three hours at most without wasting his breath. 

As the road ended up uphill, with him leaning forward against the heavy pull of gravity from below, there was a view of a clinic before the T-intersection. Our man didn’t falter in step and breath as he reached the clinic, breaking the glass door in one swing with his right elbow. The glass door cracked and shattered in a million diamonds, bouncing on the floor and sticking to his sleeves. He patted them off and entered through the door, invading the empty veterinarian’s clinic.

He went into a room, where the surgeries occur and found some more oxygen gas tanks. Out of all twenty of them only six had not been wasted. He took them all. His tank was still full, but he took them. No more for the strays who would try to salvage for oxygen, the only thing left for them is the decaying flesh and bones of animals in cages in the next room. He took them, placed them in his retractable wagon, and pulled north.

He hears the faintest sound, but he hasn't faltered. He walked slowly now, his breathing smooth as water as his ears tried to pick up the source of the sound. It rolled on the ground. Heavy. Faraway. It didn't change pace.

Our man, who used to go by Sam Wilson, had continued on his way, squaring his shoulders as his jaw clenched beneath the mask, and for once, he had let his guard down. He trusted his heart over his gut —  he let his eyes wander towards the ground because it felt right to do so. God, when was the last time Sam had relaxed? Swinging his arms as he hummed a tune— When was the last time he could touch the sky and feel free?

It was a car. Some Mercedes. A dark shade of green. It had a pop of silver on the hood, what used to be a logo now scratched off, but there was definitely a wing in there.

The passenger window rolled down when the car had matched Sam's pace. Sam didn't want to look, didn't want to disappoint himself and get shot again. He didn't want to let his hopes wander towards the heavens just so it can fall so fast like what happened to Lucifer. He didn't want to die, to have that sliver of mercy turn into a knife.

The man in the car was covered top to bottom in a black ensemble, what they used to call the Winter Soldier armor due to the uniqueness and durability. Sam didn't want his hopes to get too high, so he assumed that the stranger wanted to steal his wagon of oxygen tanks. The atmosphere is thinning so fast, it's incomprehensible; everybody would do anything to live.

Sam whiplashed, pulled out his knife from his thigh holster, twirling it in his fingers before pulling his elbow back — it all happened too fast, next thing Sam knew, the stranger had leaned back into the driver's seat as soon as the knife had lodged itself into the driver seat window, barely an inch away from the man.

The man laughed for a moment as if it was the most adorable thing he had witnessed. His breath hitched and his arms were crossed over his chest as if he actually believed that was where Sam was aiming for.

"Nice car." Sam spoke, his words deeply muffled by his mask, it almost sounded like another language, "I'm taking it."

The man had no time to react because, by the time he had regained his stature, Sam had reached in and unlocked the passenger door, swinging it open. Holding onto the side and door of the car, Sam lifted himself and swung both his feet towards the man's chest, successfully knocking the air out of him. 

As the man had choked, Sam swung himself inside and closed the door shut, leaving his wagon outside. He sat on the passenger's seat, looking over at the wheezing man. Grabbing the man's right arm and locking it under his arm, Sam elbowed the man to the chest, throat, and nose, feeling the satisfying ringing pain shooting through his skin. Sam had worn elbow pads, decorated it with silver spikes even — poor man.

Sam had twisted the man's right arm — the man grunted like a trapped animal — and forced him to duck, and with a spare hand, he grabbed the man by the collar, slamming his face into the wheel, earning several short honks, not loud and long enough for anyone in the radius to hear.

The man heaved as Sam pulled him back, even caressing the back of the man's neck, letting the stranger have a few breaths of air for a moment. What a saint Sam was. Sam abruptly squeezed the man's neck, earning a satisfying whine. As Sam was reaching over for the knife lodged in the window, the man had uppercut him in the stomach, earning an alarming wheeze from our man. With a final tug from Sam and a punch by the man, they found themselves overcome with adrenaline.

Sam pulled the knife out of the window with a grunt, pushing the knife through the man's thigh with a terrifying shringggg, eliciting a muffled scream from him.

Sam pushed the man away from him and slid against the passenger door, heaving heavily, already afraid of how much oxygen he lost in the fight. His head felt light, and there's a ringing pain in his abdomen, one that urged him to caress it with a gentleness which his gloves contrasted. 

The driver's seat door suddenly swung open and an arm had stuck in and dragged the stranger out of the car, rolling on the ground with a gurgled grunt. The stranger tried standing up despite his injured leg but the man had pulled the knife out of his shin, eliciting a garbled line of a shriek as he collapsed on the asphalt road.

Sam rolled his eyes as he opened up his own door, pulling in the oxygen tanks one by one as the new man continued to clean up the scene, wiping the knife and pocketed it in his holster. Sam had retracted back his wagon and pocketed it as he closed the door, the new man taking the last man's seat in the car, his eyes blanketed by his dark goggles.

The new driver shifted gear and removed the handbrake, stepping on the gas quite slowly to avoid the roar of the engine or the screeching of tires. This man spoke, his words muffled deeply, signing as he said, "Run over?"

Sam waved a hand, shaking his head, and there's a glint in his eyes as he glanced over to the man wearing a black ensemble just like his, but there's a filter mask instead, more sleek and functional, something the Winter Soldier armor couldn't have, the actual original one that belonged to Bucky Barnes.

Bucky's eyes had joy in them as he looked over to Sam. The car moved for a few feet away from the grunting stranger, then Bucky shifted the gear to reverse, looking over at the rearview mirror until he deeply injured the man's legs. Bucky took his time in shifting back to drive, the car jumping a bit as they continued on with stealing the car. 

"I didn't think you'd come," Sam signed with one hand, leaning his head against the closed window, his chest rising and falling heavily. "You were on the way to Las Vegas."

Bucky looked over to Sam for a moment before speaking, "Las Vegas may have currency but it doesn't have you." 

Sam had to take a moment before figuring out what the man was saying, and when he did, he smiled under his mask, closing his eyes as it reached them. Groaning, Sam shook his head at that, Bucky laughing at the side as he maneuvered the car through the throes of wrecked cars and metal of the San Francisco streets.

The wreckage of the road, of course, only stretched the more the car rolled down the disaster of a scene. The afternoon sky was dull and settling as the winds whistled a low tune, but even then it was merely a delusion, merely a fictitious ensemble, something more of a mirage, a ploy to the senses. Decorating the asphalt road were small fires that were either already burning or had suddenly combusted out of nowhere, and other than this, the afternoon harsh sun rays were bouncing off of the reflective surfaces of dismantled cars, almost disfiguring the two men’s sight from the windshield. 

It's almost like an ode to the old world, a painting dedicated to the world before downfall played into fate, something of a music piece played for the masses disguised as the Trojan horse. Our two men had sat in silence as this scenery passed by them, but all they felt was tension and war in their veins, their gazes as strong as liquor and they despised that — despised how much they could've gotten if nothing ever happened in the first place.

Bucky reached over to Sam quiet hesitantly, grabbing his attention with a slight tap. Sam's eyes glanced at Bucky's hand, watching the way Bucky signed, slowly, as if wanting Sam to take it all in, I'm sorry.

Sam spoke, but his words were chopped and deeply muffled, barely comprehensible, but Bucky knew what he was trying to say with the way Sam's eyebrows hardened, the quick tick of his jaw, and the softness in his ocher eyes. Sam's nervous, forgiving, I was okay without you.

Bucky's eyebrows relaxed, and he wanted so badly to remove his goggles but he knew he shouldn't, so he nodded, cleared his throat, and said: "You were always okay without me."

Sam nodded. They both knew. Sam was always fine on his own, but he felt that need for a companion and he adored Bucky's like Apollo's Icarus — like a scar down one's spine, one made out of love, ambition, and yearning. 

"I wanted to be human. I wanted someone," Sam spoke, only signing it when he had gathered himself. He had set his head against the window, his breath shuddering as he added one last bit, "I wanted it to be you."

There's heat rising in Bucky's chest and all he could think of was how much Sam was attracted to it, but he's afraid he'd burn the angel because people like Bucky only ever did was hurt the most beautiful things in the world, but damnit, Sam wasn't beautiful.

People like Sam were ugly to the bone because they don't truly believe in peace and beauty. They've fought tooth and nail to accept fate with stardust in their eyes and that journey alone was frightening, murderous intent for all.

It's scary to think someone like Sam wasn't able to love because he was just so full of it.

"I want to love you," Bucky speaks, and they were soon going down a steep road. He moves methodically to drive them quietly. "I want to be with you too."

Sam signs, furiously, his eyebrows knitted together as his eyes had a sadness in them Bucky couldn't pinpoint. "Then why did you leave?"

Bucky's hand flew to the clasps of his goggles, but then he stopped, realized what he was doing, and slowly set his hand back down on the steering wheel. Sam was watching the man with wide eyes, silent and nervous as if they were going to suddenly combust at any moment, and maybe they were with the way flames lick their skin as if hungry peasants — maybe they were those hungry peasants.

"To survive. Didn't realize that's an empty wish if I didn't find companionship — you, when I was already so far away." Bucky replied, and his voice was clear, a little murky, but Sam heard it all, even the man's heartbeat laced around the words. "I didn't want to live greedily, I wanted to live loved and to love."

Sam turned back to face the road, his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes caught sight of the hood of the car. There were a million thoughts that ran through his head at the speed of light, but he wasn't baffled when these thoughts turned to plans, survival plans, plans with Bucky Barnes. His lip squirmed under the mask and it hurts to even smirk, but Sam's heart is so full of emotions he never thought he could feel again and it's euphoric.

Sunlight dances on grass and Sam could feel himself breathe freely again as if he was alive before the war. He could feel Bucky's flesh hand in his and there are the softness and toughness of skin he craved after the war. There were too many feelings in Sam's chest that made him weep, but he stayed stoic, stared out the windshield, his jaw hurting as he tried his best to stop his smile.

They were on flat ground and Sam made a sound Bucky thinks was laughter. Bucky's chest fluttered just like the first time he heard that laugh — before the war.

Sam's gloved fingers find their way grazing Bucky's jaw, only a fleeting feeling none of them could feel, but there's warmth in their chests as Sam cupped another hand around the man's cheek, their hearts singing in octaves as Apollo fell instead of Icarus; all backward love, they'll make it worth it.

Sam leaned into Bucky's face and their masks made a clicking sound when they met. This was the closest they could get to kissing, but it's not truly a love story if lips had to prove it. Don't you hear the world still just for them? 

Sam stared at the goggles, thinking he could see Bucky's eyes flutter close, fighting to keep them open. Sighing, Sam closed his eyes to take at the moment, the new normal they can have.

Letting go, Sam leaned back into his seat, saying, signing, "We just stole S.H.I.E.L.D. property."

There's a trace of a grin on Bucky's words when he said, "What bastards. You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Sam turned to Bucky, and they share a sound similar to a laugh.

"As always." 

[boneswriteswords]

Just A Little Longer - Michelangelo

A/N: Here is my self indulgent Mikey goodtime lime. Let me live. (It isn’t a lime. Its a lemon. But lime rhymes with time.)

Unbeta’d because no one has the time for editing.

Also I have no idea if any of it makes sense so.....

~~~~~~

The bright neon LED lights of the alarm clock on your nightstand stood guard over you as you blinked awake. 2:04am. Awareness came slowly, your eyes dripping sleep even as the rest of you came online. You shifted, extending your body into a stretch, grinning when a muffled groan erupted from behind you.

A thick leg forced its way between yours. A heavy arm landed across your abdomen. A hard chest molded into your back.

Beyond your apartment walls, sounds of the city rage on. Waves of muted color trickle through the crack in your black-out curtains. Lines of yellow light bleed over the room. There are police sirens passing by as the house party three doors down blasts the newest Ariana Grande album. Someone honks their car horn in vicious repetition. If you strain, you can hear an muffled fighting and the shuffling of clothes as it turns physical.

All the noises harmonize and fade into nothing as you flip over, encouraging the limbs of your bed partner to stay entangled with yours. You’ve lived in the city long enough that the noises and the people and the lights don’t register much to you unless you focus on them. You know the sounds of danger from the sounds of the loud and that’s all you really need to know. Rainbow noise guided you, filtering through all the memories that you have access to you, and anything less has no space in your life.

Quiet nights are eerie after years of noise and you are more than happy having Mikey hold you in bed while the world keeps going around you.

REM does not return after closing your eyes again and you concede to being awake. It isn’t awful, not with the way Mikey clutches onto you as he shuffles - head nuzzling into whatever crevice he can reach. You can tell he is waking.

He can never remain asleep if he feels you are awake. He struggles to remain in a plan of existence where you aren’t. He fights himself awake and you never know if you need to be concerned or flattered by it.

You watch the lights as they bounce off objects in your room before looking back at him. Blurry lines. Soft shapes. Calming motions as they dance back and forth. They are beautiful but you’d much rather look at Mikey.

He has an arm curled loosely over your side while the other is resting under the pillow you both were using. You both liked long thick pillows that went from one side of the bed to the other. A small commonality made sweeter by your domesticity. His hand is curled limply and you remember that he had been stroking your head when you had fallen asleep earlier.

The muted light makes his green skin lighter. Shadows dip into the crevices of his skin and scars, revealing texture you usually only can feel. There is a darkness under his jaw and around his eyebrow ridge. You find yourself tracing the lines of shadow and light with your eyes, hurling the idea that anything could be more captivating out of the window. His breath is steady but his eyes are twitching behind his eyelids.

You see his eyes open. Three blinks and he is awake. You are jealous of how easy it is for him to go from one state of being to the next. He falls asleep quickly and he awakens even quicker. Deep blue eyes find yours and he smiles, moving his arm to drag you the tiniest bit closer. His lips twitch as he draws slow circles in the space between your shoulder blades.

There is an ache in your body, a reminder of the way he had rushed into your apartment as soon as the sun was down. The impact into the wall. Manic energy. Breathless laughter as pent-up passion bubbled over.

Your fingers trace down the side of his face, dipping down from the line of his throat to the pools of his collarbones below his plastron. He churrs the tiniest bit in response and it sounds a lot like the noise he makes when you tease the skin of his neck between your teeth.

You can’t leave marks on him. His skin just doesn’t color the ways a human’s might. Its thicker. Denser. Darker. Scalier. You can’t leave scratches either. It was a bit disappointing to find this out but knowing that he’d enjoy your marks if he was able to have them seizes you in ways you have never experienced. You imagine lining little rouge starbursts down his next and across the broadness of his shoulders and the way he would walk around with them proudly. Red lines connecting red flowers like vines.

His eyes scan over you. He is visual.

Its not always like this. You and him alone. Some nights its you and Mikey and the ghosts that follow you both. There are eyes in the shadows and they have many names and you never know who you are speaking to. They lurk while he cleans his weapons in the living room. They boldly take a seat next to you while you watch a movie tucked under his arm. Some nights, you pull up a seat at the table and serve them as Mikey makes a joke about something that happened during your day.

They exist and they try to make their home in your spaces and they take a toll on the nights when you are too weary to kick them out. A mix-match of traumas that spiral and float and smother and linger.

Mikey doesn’t just wear his heart on his sleeve. He rips open his chest and holds the organ up into the light directly. Makes you watch as it beats and pulses and moves his lifeblood through his body. There are no questions about what he does, how he feels. He is on display by choice, flitting about vulnerable as if there are no monsters in the world he lives in.

But there are days where he wraps himself up behind a glass wall to separate himself from the rest of the world. Deep-rooted hopelessness drains his light, his strength a house of cards edging towards collapse. His voice cracks and wavers. Its never his fault. No one asks for trauma. No one asks to be too late. No one asks for the life he’s lived.

Only recently has a door appeared in the glass. He always tells you where the key is so you can open it. You make sure to crack open the door and wait for him to invite you in further. If he does, you sit inside with him. If he doesn’t, you sit outside and wait for the wall to come down.

And then there are the days where you are translucent. You look down at your body and see through it, faintly incorporeal. A ghost. Light bleeds through you as you walk under the sun. Intangible and lost. You don’t feel real even as your ribs ache and the steady stream of your heartbeat remains. All that exists is quiet breathing.

All your worst nightmares are of you reaching out to hold Mikey’s hand but it goes through him. You can’t grip onto him and he walks away because he can’t see you.

Mikey tells you that he sees you. He grips your hand and squeezes and pulls you in close on the off chance that you feel like your floating away. He won’t let you but he doesn’t begrudge your fear. No one asks for the life you’ve lived.

Jeers erupt from outside but neither of you flinch. You just lean closer into each other. Mikey runs his hand up and down your spine, eyes wet, and you are astounded once more how stubbornly he loves you. How intensely he feels for you. How he believes so much that you both are it. The endgame.

You wish you could take the shadows that live behind his eyes and demand they leave. “You can’t have him,” you imagine you’d say, “He is mine. And I’m not scared of you. I love him too much.” If that meant pulling a seat up for them in the living room and offering them a whiskey laced with intention, you’d do it.

Mikey’s hand slips under your night shirt, his palm flat against the skin of your back and you melt against him. You have studied those hands and all the ways they make you feel things and you exhale harshly and slowly so as to not disturb the rays of muted light.

“You doing okay?” Mikey asks, voice dripping with drowsiness despite the awareness present in his baby blues. “Its late. Or early. Whatever. Was it a nightmare?”

“No baby,” you respond, pressing your mouth against his beak, “No nightmares tonight.”

“Good.”

You press another kiss to his beak before ducking down a little and pressing another one to the side of his mouth. The arm under the blanket shifts. His fingers stroke your head.

There is a lull.

“I love you.”

Its comes out unexpectedly but you aren’t ashamed of it. He already knows. That relationship milestone has long since passed. Even so, the words are splintered, cracked around the edges and easy to be drowned out by the sounds of screeching tires on the road and idiots on the street.

But the impact is till the same. The look he gives you is blue fire and he guides you closer for a kiss. It starts off light, gentle, a nudge against your mouth but his fingers cradled the back of your head as he deepens it. “Love you too. So much” is mumbled as he presses further into you.

Arousal simmers on the back-burner as an afterthought. You had fucked hard earlier - a frenzy, a reconnection after a week of only facetime calls and voice memos that left you worked up and over. You know you will fuck again when the sun is up because Mikey loves starting the days off right when you are both in the same place.

Right now is the time to relearn the shape of his mouth as he kisses you lazily. You pull back slowly. You stare at him and he stares at you, movements slow.  

A beat.

Two.

Three.

“You remember the talks we had?” you whisper before you could stop, brushing your nose over his, “when we had just met? The ones that lasted days at time?”

“Yeah,” he responds, his voice low, “That was a long time ago but I do. I don’t think I could ever forget.” There are flashes of light behind his eyes and you know he remembers each call. Each text thread that was either memes or philosophical questions that had you trying to unearth the truth of the universe. Each conversation that spanned days because real life creates lulls between responses.

“I fell in love with you there,” you whisper back, “Somewhere in those calls, I turned over to look into the phone and realized that you were mine and there would never be anyone else for me.”

“Yeah?” its a soft question that, from the look on his face, doesn’t require an answer, “You too?” You nod anyway. He deserves to see it.

He grins.

“I’m glad that we took our time,” you continue, wiggling as his hand scratches at your back the tiniest bit, “I like that we are friends. I like that I can say “Mikey is my best friend” when they ask me about my boyfriend. I’m glad that I got the chance to like you.”

“I like you too angel,” he whispers, his voice getting softer, warmth bleeding in the spaces between words. Heat singes around his eyes, “I like you so much.”

You hold him tighter, “no one knows my soul like you do.”

Mikey surges forward to kiss you again, his hand running down from your back to the side of your thigh. He rolls you both so he is half on top of you, maneuvering a thigh between your legs and pressing your chests touch as he slips his tongue between your waiting lips. You arms reach up to rest along the broadness of his shoulders, fingers dancing along the lip of his shell.

When he pulls back, his breathing is harsh, “you know mine angel.”

There is a sense of peace with knowing that all your exposed parts are being kept safe. The storms pass. Smoke is cleared. Petrichor sweetens the air. The dead are laid to rest so flowers can grow on their remains. The sun is bright.

Between you, pleasure kindles slowly. Hands roam and tug and cup. Kisses are scattered like constellations. There are murmurs of praise and whispers of awe. Time blurs as you sink down into it.

Mikey brushes his lips along the side of your face as he glances as the clock, the sun peeking its head above the skyline from the window, “Do you want me now?”

“Now.” You punctuate the word with a roll of your hips against his thigh. “I want to feel you.”

He sighs under his breath, hands shifting you until you are where he wants you. Your night clothes are removed and dropped by the side of your bed. His shorts follow, landing right on top of yours. He nestles firmly between your open thighs. “Okay angel. You can have me. You can have everything.”

The vulnerability in his voice shakes you. The slide of his cock into you has you gripping onto him. He draws it out, indulgent in the way you stutter and writhe against him. Its a seamless fit, despite his size. You are still prepped from earlier, wet and accommodating, and he drips like a faucet.

Mikey had never known sex could be like this. He always expected that sex would be purely physically, a thing that couples did to feel good and sate any hormonal urges. No one ever told him about how it feels when hands grip onto him, leaving trails of sparks and comets and tingles across his body that linger for days. No one ever told him that his lovers moans could vibrate along his vertebrate and resonate in the parts of his unknown. The void in his chest fills with liquid gold when he hears his named sobbed against his skin.

You hadn’t known either.

And even though you both do now, even though you crave each other more fiercely than you crave air, it always feels new when you collide. Every sensation has been redefined. Vulnerability has never felt so powerful.

You cry as you feel his cock pulse inside of you as he bottoms out and grinds forward. He grunts, his arms keeping your hips flush against his.

“How do you always feel so good?” Words emphasized with deep thrusts. Hard, slow, tapering into a grind before pulling back out. ”Always so good for me. Meant for me. Made for me to love. Made to take me.”

“Yes,” you hiss back, breath hot against his neck. Mikey adjusts, one of his hands remaining on your hip while the other slides to grip your arms behind your back. He presses you flush against his plastron, back arched off the bed and supported by the strength in his arms as he holds you. “Meant for you. And you found me.”

The casual, effortless show of strength spreads a warm haziness across your mind. You lean into it.

“Fuck - Mi...I-” There are tears in your eyes as you gasp and shudder as Mikey picks up the pace. Without warning, your mouth is covered by his and you can feel his smile against yours. A laugh bubbles up from somewhere and tapers off as the kiss turns hungry.

“Shh I have you,” he gasps between his own pleasured noises, “I have you. You are safe here. What do you need?” His hand strokes along your face as he rocks into you. His voice is breathless but full of intent. “Tell me what you want.”

“Everything,” you babble as he grind right up against your good spot, “I want everything with you.”

He groans, breathing deep as the colors blur into shapes. He tucks his arm back under you, grinding harder, your clit catching along the hardness of his plastron. Your legs tremble around his hips. Mikey kisses you again before he ducks down to your neck and shoulder, his mouth hungry and burning. Ravenous.

Something about romance ignites a wildfire inside of Mikey. You exploit it as often as you can and he lets you because you both know that nothing is said without intent, without meaning. Honesty burns under your skin and shines through your eyes every time you press words of love into his skin like galaxies in a telescope. He basks in the attention. He worships under it.

In return, Mikey spills filth into your ears. The kind that shouldn’t be as sexy as it is but god does he know what you need to hear.

(”You feel perfect, hot and tight.”/ “I’m yours.”/ “I can feel you. You are real.”/ “I know, angel, I know. You’ve been wanting me so much. You need me. I need you too.”/ “I’m going to show you I love you. You’ll never doubt it. You’ll never doubt that I love you.”/ “Angel I’m not scared of your ghosts. They are scared of me.”/)

Mikey’s voice is serrated in ways no one but you have heard. Raw and carnal and deeper than most would expect, flashing dark around the edges the more passionate he gets, the more he reaches down inside of you to pull out the parts of you only he sees. 

You fall apart from the inside and can do nothing as the bottom drops out. You aren’t scared, not with the way Mikey holds you and chases away anything that could ruin this. His “I loves yous” bleed into your skin and you take hold of his pain and strangle it. There is no room for the grief and emptiness as violent tremors rack your bodies and hands cradle exposed hearts. The lights flash and dance as the decrescendo halts everything around you.

Heavy breathing fill the room. Whispered praise is soft and there is shuffling. You wipe each other down as best you can with the wet wipes you keep by the bed before pulling each other closer. The morning light is higher, peeking between the blinds and under the edges of the curtains. 

Eventually you’ll get out of bed. Clean up properly. Make food and spend time together with your clothes on. Relax in the knowledge that the day is a good one with no dark figures hanging in the corners, waiting to come in. But, thats for later.

For now, you lay close, breathing each other in. Hands are still roaming. No one has faded and there is no cold glass protecting warm skin. Mikey murmurs something and you smile. Your smile meets his smile and laughter joins in, glimmering in the light. You peck at his mouth and his fingers dig into the skin of your flesh before he grabs the comforter and hides you both underneath it.

Everything can wait. Just for a little longer. 

~~~~~

[mor3tti]

Boy Wonder & The Young Goddess -Part Four-

Dick Grayson (titans) x Reader

(Dick Grayson GIF not mine)

Uhhhhh, surprise? I’m back, I think.

I owe each and every single one of you an explanation for my absence. When I finished and posted the third chapter I thought I was going to be able to keep caught up with the oncoming chapters but the problem was that they weren’t written yet. I kept coming back to try and write the next chapter and with each try I fell out of the motivation to write it. After how many months and FINALLY finishing my exams I am now back and ready to go. Love you all, I missed Dick Grayson.

This will be a series! So stay tuned for more chapters to come!

The plot: When Y/N gets a sign from the gods to go after a troubled girl, she stumbles upon and reconnects with a dear friend from her past.

Warnings: the use of the word ‘fuck”

Taglist: @nightshade7117 @yetitty @affection-rabbit @drabby-abby @caitsymichelle13 @caswinchester2000 @peterunderoos96 @sataninsatin @chewie-redbird @bad-bitch-khaleesi @peqchynero @bookish-and-shy @kokofri14 @bluexangels @multifandoms916 @blue-and-yellow-jjk-pjm

Some usernames didn’t work so I’m sorry! You might have changed your username without me realising!

Masterlist for Boy Wonder & The Young Goddess

Even as an Amazon you still somehow got migraines, and yeah if you’re wanting to know they’re still a mega pain in the ass. The tea session with Gar had sparked some suppressed emotions which is probably a positive thing but damn did they mess with your head, literally. The best option was to swallow yourself in the mattress that was very much calling your name. Your knees were close to your chest as you tried to wait out the pain. Surprisingly in an apartment full of vigilantes there were no painkillers, then again Dick is more of the ‘brooding and ignoring the pain’ type of guy. 

Another bolt of pain shot through your temple as your fist grabbed the sheet which followed with the rest of your body clenching in pain. A quiet “fuck” left your lips as you smacked the bed trying to get the frustration out without blasting out the windows with an energy tantrum. As the storm moved from where Dick was in town it settled over you and surrounded the tower with a hollow shower of rain, thankfully no lightning and thunder. The calming rhythm of the droplets gave you something to focus in on instead of the pressure that was clouding your mind.

You stretched your hand out from under the pillow and held it above where you and Dick once laid this morning, slowly lowering it onto the still crumpled bedding. It was an odd feeling. The bed felt uneven without him even though your whole life had been balanced this entire time. You couldn't start wanting him now, especially after the mini lecture you had given him this morning about Kory and putting her first. You sharply retracted your hand and slid it back to the pillow before anyone noticed, even if the apartment was just about empty. 

As you were settling in bed Gar was settling into the corner of the couch watching the rain fall. He thought that he might as well take this moment for granted. There was no one after him, no one currently fighting their way into the apartment and especially no one to interrupt him. It was just a silent conversation between his open thoughts that still danced around your prior conversation and the rain’s simple song of serenity. Unknown to him, that serenity wouldn’t last long. 

-

Kory and Rachel were ahead of Dick as he finished paying for the small lunch they had. His hand was struggling to fit in the tight pocket as he was desperately trying to push the coins away somewhere. As he looked up from the change dilemma he noticed how far ahead the others were and jogged to catch up. The concrete was still covered in a thin film of water as it released the remaining smell of rain and the city noise around him cut into his ears. You would be surprised at how deafening the city can be but as his phone bleeped a passing car honked. His phone rattled around in his jacket pocket as the screen lit up with a stoic message from Donna.

Donna-Received at 12:48pm

I’m coming to the apartment. Don’t be alarmed if you hear a knock at the door.

The screen slowly dimmed and got ignored as the notification got sucked away by the soundtrack of the city streets.

Sure, Dick hated how loud the city was but after this he would loathe it. Soon the cars and busy people would be replaced by your screaming and tears.

-

The screen close to the door lit up with a message of ‘intruder’ which caught Gar’s attention. The tiles were cool against his feet when he turned to go wake you, motivated by his state of panic. As he reached for the doorknob he pulled himself away biting his lip as he tossed up whether he should wake you or not. The alert rang through the apartment again but was interrupted as the elevator doors slid open. As Gar’s eyes made contact his stomach dropped. This wasn’t good. And it wasn’t bad. His calming afternoon quickly turned into a nightmare. A pair of leather boots stood in front of him with a very particular rope attached to their hip. 

“With that look on your face I’m betting you didn’t know I was coming?” Her smile pressed into her dimples as she flicked her dark hair from her eyes. Gar got caught back to the situation in front of him and coughed out a chuckle trying not to look at your bedroom door in hopes of keeping your presence a secret. 

-

Rachel had bounced into the passenger seat as she gulped down the remainder of her second coffee of the day. She went to jam it into the cup holder but it was occupied by Dick’s phone. He was too focused on trying to see the oncoming traffic as the car pulled out so she grabbed it and played with it. She missed having a phone, having some form of property other than her clothes. She tapped her boots together as she threw the thought around of trading her boots for a walkman but it was interrupted with an ear piercing siren coming out of the phone’s speaker. 

“I SWEAR IT WASN’T ME!” Rachel screamed as she tried shutting the noise off. Dick’s head whipped around to see a red flashing notification come across his screen. It was a security camera image with the word ‘intruder’ pasted along it. There stood Donna looking up at the camera with a disgruntled expression across her face. He slapped the steering wheel and pushed the gas pedal down as Kory and Rachel sat confused and alarmed. 

“You know it’s just Donna right? Not some psycho killer maniac.” Kory pitched in as she leant forward to see just how angry Dick was but she didn’t see a face of anger. She saw a face that was caught up in the many flashes of childhood memories between the two of you, a face laced with fear. She lowered herself into the back seats and knew it involved you.

Really? As soon as she steps into the city Donna has to show up. Here we go again, around the twist. Two Amazons in the same apartment, wonder if it’ll even be standing by the time I get there. “Fuck!” This launched out of Dick’s mouth without his intention. Two pairs of eyes met his but he knew he had to focus on getting back to you before Donna did something to ruin it all, again.

-

Plan of attack: keep Donna in the lounge room and keep it quiet. If one of you knows you’re here then I’m stuck dealing with two Amazons. TWO!!! 

Gar wanted to squeal and rip his hair out but he knew he had to try and keep a calm facade for the fate of this building. He had explained that they didn’t have phones so there was no way of Dick letting him know she would be coming, she just shrugged and agreed on how having no phones was probably their best bet at not being found and captured. That’s one topic off the checklist. Donna had taken the same position he had earlier on the couch as he offered her a tea which she gratefully accepted. His breathing had become shallow as he was silently praying for Dick to get his ass home now. 

As he turned from facing the kettle back to the rest of the apartment he scanned the area for any remnants of you being there. It was a bit of a saviour that your armour melted back into you even though it was entirely weird and kinda gross. No belongings means no clues. He crossed his arms up and smiled to himself at what could be a successful plan of attack but as he stared out the windows his smile wavered. Donna wasn’t exactly paying attention to him but that damn calm facade had to stay up. 

Looking back at him was your sword in all its glory lying along the outside coffee table. He heard you out there last night with Dick, talking and silencing the giggles you shared. You would definitely kick yourself later for leaving it out there. The kettle was reaching its boiling point and so were his ideas.

Click. 

As the water settled from its boiling point so did his momentary worries. If she can’t see it then she won’t know. New plan of attack. Distract. Gar rushed and made her tea as he smoothly asked if she would want to sit at the kitchen island bench, his excuse? It was right under the heater. Her face twisted and she hummed but came over to him anyways. Lucky for Gar his suspicious attitude was overrun by what she thought was a boyish charm. 

The elevator doors couldn’t open fast enough as the trio stumbled into the apartment with all the groceries immediately hitting the ground. The clambering footsteps alarmed them both as they were met with three other huffing faces. There was no fire. No damage and most importantly no you.

“Okay, what is going on around here? First the apartment doesn’t let me in and then you guys act as if you’ve seen a god damn ghost!” Donna’s voice was raising higher as the seconds passed by. Gar stared past Donna’s shoulder right into Dick’s eyes. I know. Dick’s eyes twitched as he read what Gar’s face was saying, but the reality was that he didn’t actually know the truth. 

-

You shifted beneath the covers as your senses came to, immediately hearing a full apartment. Hey, more food in the house makes me happy too. As you got up off the mattress you listened in and it wasn’t exactly joyful talk, you could feel the anxiety in the household. 

Danger. 

Dick.

You flew across the room and swung the door open, nearly ripping off the hinges. Your fists were glowing ready to fight but you were met with something much worse than a fight. You heard Dick sharply inhale a breath as Kory got in front of Rachel. She didn’t know your history but she knew two Amazons in the same apartment meant trouble.

“What the he-“ She turned from facing the elevator and her frame shuddered. Donna’s sentence got caught in her throat as she stared at you. Her chest was crumbling and you could feel it. She tried swallowing her breath but her dry throat wouldn’t allow it. Instead it came out as a single sob. 

Your stance hardened as her gaze turned cold, glazed over. You knew if you fought her that you would win either way. Each muscle slowly relaxed as you returned to a standing position. This isn’t a time to fight. 

“Donna just listen don’t start jumping to any of the ideas going through your head.” Dick was stepping towards her trying to settle anything, something to stop this. There was an eerie silence filled only with the sound of breathing. Her eyes didn’t stray from yours.

Dick looked as if he was trying to approach a wild animal with his hands up and a calm but shaking voice. His boots squeaked against the tiles and it all broke as if a pin had dropped. 

A gold stream of light ripped through the apartment. “Y/N!” There was immediate screaming as everything broke loose. It was as if the sun had entered the room, light was streaming everywhere as they had to shade their eyes. Dick shut his eyes, trying to get through to you with his thoughts knowing you’d be able to hear them, pleading for you to stop. He had the wrong impression. 

Inside the ball of light wasn’t a battle. Every strike Donna threw you blocked. This isn’t a time to fight. You would let her beat you to a pulp, pummel you into the ground but you wouldn’t lay a hand on her. Another blow came but it burnt. You back jolted as her heel came into contact with your chest. The fibres from the rope dug themselves into your neck as your knees dug into the floor. The light faded but the rope continued to glow. 

Rachel gasped and clung onto Kory as the air was withering it’s way out of your lungs. She had you trapped with the rope around your neck and everyone sat there watching you choke. Now the tables have turned and you look like the intruder.

This isn’t a time to fight. Your hands came up to tug the rope and pull her closer to you. Her boots skidded against the floor and as you looked up to her eyes, they were no longer cold. Instead they reflected you in the pool of tears. Another sob worked its way from her chest and her body struggled to hold it together. She was shaking her head not being able to process who was in front of her. Dick could feel her betrayal and confusion from the other side of the room.

As you tugged the rope again she came that one step closer. A hushed sentence came from her trembling lips. 

“You’re alive?”

As her breath left her body you left the building in a spark of light and her rope puddled on the floor. She couldn’t take her eyes off where you once were as everyone else kept still in the remaining silence.

It was as if she’d seen a ghost.

[greenninjagal-blog]

Even If It Kills Us (but it won’t hopefully) pt2

hey, Hey, HEy, HEY! Sander’s Sides Mafia AU Part Two! 

(Mostly for @kindly-falling @laragazzadellluna who surprised me with wanting more)

Part one is right here! Summary: Virgil is a normal college student, who’s never done anything illegal, much less something worth sending hit men after him for. Unfortunately, it looks like he’s going to die before he gets his answers.

“Do you think you can--perhaps--make time now?” the man says in the most pretentious voice Virgil has ever heard, “I assure you it’s quite important.”

Virgil thinks hes going to throw up.

Because this man is holding a gun--a gun and he just killed a man

(regardless that the other man has just been trying to kill Virgil)

He just killed a man like it was nothing. Like it was a simple chore.

 Virgil chest heaves and it feels a lot like trying to inhale his own tongue. There are alarms and screaming and people trying to kill him and Virgil doesn’t know why but he knows this isn’t the time to be here.

fuck he can’t breathe

Patton’s fingers wrap his arm holding him to this reality like an anchor but Virgil thinks that this can’t be real. It can’t be real.

There’s a dead body on the floor a few meters from them.

But it can’t be real.

“Virgil,” The man says, “You need to breathe. This is not the time nor the place for a panic attack.”

 Patton--Patton-- growls at him. It’s surprising because Pat is the nice one, the flowered crowns, the puns, the sweaters and the warm hugs. Virgil is the one who hisses at people who get too close. 

But this is Patton who just stood in front of Virgil to save him from being potentially shot and Virgil thinks that he came so fucking close to losing the best person in his life

And he can’t exhale. His lungs scream.

“Virge,” Patton says quietly, “breathe with me.”

“We don’t have time--”

“Shut up!” Patton snaps. It’s not like him. Virgil breathes in and it feels a lot like claws dragging through his chest. 

He does it again.

“I’m okay,” He rasps out as if saying it out loud would make it true in any sense.

“Excellent,” The man deadpans, “It’s time to go.”

“Where?!” Patton demands, “And who are you?!”

“The man who just saved you life.” He responds distastefully. “That’s all you need to know. It’s time for you to leave.”

“Excuse me?!” 

Virgil is certain he’s never seen Patton like this. If he wasn’t already scared beyond belief, this would definitely be the thing causing him a panic attack. He’s already shaking all over, his whole body. 

(If pat lets go hes sure he’d shake himself apart)

“This doesn’t concern you anymore.” The man says, “Its a family matter.”

Virgil has never seen the man before today.

“People got shot!” 

The man considers his gun for a second and Virgil was certain he was going to shoot Patton too. “Yes, that is because they are the enemy. And quite frankly its time for you to step out unless you want to be shot at again.”

“I’m not leaving Virgil!”

“I don’t have time to argue this with you.” The man says, “Your blood is on your own hands, not mine.”

It sounds like a threat. 

Patton squeezes Virgil’s shoulder.

Another form comes crashing around the corner behind them, but Virgil barely has time to register who they are before the man has fired two shots and they drop. It’s effortless. He fires again but the chamber is empty.

“Time to go,” He says.

He reaches out for Virgil’s arm and then stops himself-- “Can you run?”

Virgil nods.

They run.

Everything in Virgil screams that they were going to be shot, killed. But the man seems rather confident as he shoves open the exit door, eyes darting the outside.

They aren’t more than a foot outside before an expensive red sports car is plows over the curb and blocks their easy exit. 

(Virgil doesn’t know a lot about cars, but fuck is this one nice)

The window is already down and the driver is smirking something awful. “Get in!”

The man who had saved their lives, stops short, “Absolutely not!”

The driver laughs good-naturedly and pulls a gun from somewhere. “How about now?”

There’s several gunshots from behind them. The glass door to the theater shatters.

“Fuck This,” Virgil breathes and because these people aren’t the ones currently trying to shoot him, he grabs the door handle and throws himself into the car. Patton lands sideways in his lap.

The man looks absolutely scandalized, “You cannot--!” 

“Get in the damn car, Logan!” The driver shouts, “What’s the worse that can happen?”

“You’ll get us killed!”

The man--Logan-- gets in the car anyway.

Several bullets hit the door as it closes.

The driver laughs again, and Virgil is pretty sure he’s having fun. He presses the gas pedal to the actual floor and the car just explodes. Virgil hits the opposite door and Patton tumbles off the seat to the floor.

“I swEAR!” Logan yells as the driver spins out of the parking lot going at speeds that were illegal for a good reason. They nearly collide headfirst with three different cars but they were already gone by the time the other drivers even honked their horns.

“Ooh! Tails!” The driver called, checking his mirrors casually and running a red light. He tosses his gun in Logan’s lap, “Do you mind?”

“You are a terrible driver!” Logan snarls at him. 

Virgil digs his hands into the leather seats. His stomach is in his throat as Logan leans out the open window, and fires again and again. Virgil can see him through the other windows, and his cold and calculating look that tightens when their driver makes an unexpected jerk of his wheel. 

He can’t hear a thing.

Then Logan throws the gun, having emptied it, into the open air and climbs back in their car with curses tumbling off his lips.

“Who taught you how to drive?” He snarls.

“Did you get them?” The driver asks unbothered.

“no I left them--of fucking course i did. I’m not you!” 

Awesome. Virgil who’s never even jaywalked before, realizes that he is in a car with two strangers, both of who had guns and knew how to use them, not to mention their driver had already broken at least fifty driving laws. 

what the fucking hell

“Ouch harsh,” The driver laughs though, he reaches up and tilts the rearview mirror, “How’s it going back there, Sanders?”

“I’m going to throw up.” Virgil says. It’s not a lie.

“Hey, watch the leather, Jack Smellington, I just got her cleaned!”

Then for some ungodly reason Patton starts laughing too.

(Further proof, Virgil thinks, that Patton is crazy)

“Wow!” Pat reaches up and fixes his glasses, “I didn’t know the movie was in 4-D!”

“This is not a movie!” Logan hisses but his seriousness is in stark contrast with their drivers booming laugh. 

(it’s different now, Virgil can’t quite put his finger on why, but it just sounds different)

“Who’s the puffball?” The driver asks, “I like him.”

“Patton Pater!” Patton!! says!! brightly!! “I like you too! What’s your name?”

“Roman Prince!” He says, “Resident Knight in shining armor!”

“A reckless playboy, with far too many cars and not enough rules.” Logan corrects with a sneer, “This is not your business, Prince.”

“It is when the next heir is as cute as he is!”

Virgil’s heart stops, “what?”

“i said you’re cute! Do you swing my way?”

Logan turns around in his seat. “Ignore him,” He commands, but Virgil gets the feeling Roman is not going to let that stand. “Based on your reactions in these past few minutes, I’m going to assume that you have no clue what is going on.”

Virgil’s throat is so dry he can barely breathe again, “Are you taking me somewhere to kill me?”

Logan sighs and takes off his glasses to clean them which is not an answer.

Roman zooms onto a freeway, “Did you even introduce yourself, Specs?” 

(Virgil absently wonders why there are no Police cars chasing them down)

“My name is Logan. Sanders.” Logan says slowly, “We’re cousins.”

“That’s...” impossible is on the top of Virgil’s tongue, but he then remembers how cagey his mom always was when holidays came up. He knew he had relatives, somewhere but he had known better than to ask after the first time. “....alright.” 

(it’s not alright. Its very, very far from alright.)

((Patton takes his hand and its enough support for Virgil to remember to exhale))

“Excellent,” Logan replaces his glasses. If it weren’t for the blood on his tie he could have been a TA at their college. “Our family is a mafia.”

Roman jerks the wheel and Logan’s head slams into the head rest. Patton lets out a yelp. 

“Sorry Padre!” Roman shoots a sideways glare at Logan, “Really? Spock, there were a hundred other ways to break it to the kid. He looks like he’s going to faint. We’ve talked about this.”

“You talked, I did not listen because I do not want any misconceptions to arise.” Logan hisses, “I don’t want him to think anything other than the honest truth!”

Roman’s smile quirks viciously, “Oh that would be just awful wouldn’t it.”

Virgil doesn’t like the connotation of that.

He doesn’t like any of this.

(Part of him is horrified because he can understand it?? Why does it make sense to him?? His mom obviously never wanted anything to do with this part of his family, how she tried to keep him at home, how she always seemed to be looking over her shoulder, too paranoid to let him out of her sights. Part of him wonders if he always knew this, always knew something just wasn’t right.)

“What does that have to do with Virgil?” Patton asks innocently. 

(Virgil knows he does that on purpose: its a load question and Patton is the barrier between it and Virgil himself)

Logan clenches his jaw, “It has to do with Virgil, because Virgil is the only other viable heir.”

“....what?”

Virgil’s voice is dry and broken. He had to have heard wrong. This wasn’t, couldn’t be real.

“Three nights ago the head of the family, Thomas Sanders, was murdered.” Logan says and then pauses.

“Murdered?” Patton repeats.

“Most of the family thinks it was our rivals--”

“Rivals?” Virgil interrupts, “You mean that’s who trying to kill me?”

Roman laughs, “God, that would be ironic!”

Logan makes an annoyed noise, “No the Prince’s aren’t the ones attempting to kill you. Though they should keep to themselves as this does not include them.”

“I can drop you off right here if you want.”

Virgil makes a noise in the back of his throat.

Roman meets his eyes in the rear view mirror, “Chill out, Winter Sulker! None of my family’s going to touch you without my say so. I’m my families heir.”

“Then who is trying to hurt my kiddo?” Patton asks, “And why?”

Logan clicks his tongue. “Thomas well...

“He named you, Virgil, heir to the family, although it is not logical in any sense--” He stops himself again seeming to remember who he was speaking to. “You are Thomas’s heir and therefore are slotted to take over. And unfortunately, not everyone in the family is...agreeable to this course of action.”

Part Three

[im-whatchamccallit]

Chance Encounters//Jung Daehyun (B.A.P)

Pairing: Jung Daehyun x Reader

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: Unorganized and probably a lot of typos lol

Words: 2.5k

(A/N: E’Dawn and HyunA are dating and I’M FUCKING STOKED! But that’s for another post for another time. Anyways, here’s this.”

“We first saw each other at a concert a few years ago but didn’t speak. But, later, my friend’s car broke down so we had to hitchhike our way home, which was almost 15 miles away and, surprise, it was Seungjin and his friend in this huge truck. He sat in the back with me and we talked all night until they dropped us off at our apartment and I forgot to ask for his number. Turns out, he was hired at my dad’s car dealership and, from there, we began dating. Now, we’re a few months from our wedding. I guess it was fate.”

You rolled your eyes as your coworker told the cliché story for the millionth time today, everyone gathered around her desk to gaze at her engagement ring, congratulating her and asking if they’ll be invited to the wedding. Fate was such a ridiculous concept to you. The idea that some supernatural being made the impossible possible almost made you laugh, instead you scoffed. The group of heads turned to you as you focused on your desktop screen, typing away as they glared at you. You weren’t necessarily the office downer, just the person that saw reality and forced it into places that should be filled with some kind of fun.

“Problem, (Y/N)?” Your eyes shot up at the sudden call of your name, your fingers ceasing their movements as your hands found their way under your chin, holding you up as you stared at the crowd, a fake smile forming on your lips.

“No problem, just think you’re all a bit delusional.”

“You have no spirit, (Y/N). Maybe that’s why you’re still single.” The comment made your eyes twitch in annoyance before you returned your attention to the unfinished document, beginning to type as you tried to ignore her words but couldn’t help but respond.

“I’m single by choice. My job is my main priority right now, not a relationship and, if a relationship is your main focus, you need to rethink a lot of things in your life.” The words stunned everyone. They were filled with so much spite and bitterness, from a place only you know about and certainly weren’t willing to share with anyone.

“Okay, didn’t mean to offend you. But just wait, you’ll find a guy just like I did and then you’ll believe.”

“Doubt it but thanks.”

You gasped as the sound of the fire alarm rang throughout the large space, everyone standing cautiously while looking around for the source, a panicked intern rushing out and searching frantically for a fire extinguisher.

“What’s going on?” You could hear your boss’ voice as she moved from her office, staring down everyone before the obviously teenaged boy stepped forward, fire extinguisher in his arms.

“I went to make coffee and looked away for a few seconds and one of the filters caught fire. I don’t know how, I was just doing what you asked.”

“There’s smoke!”

The black clouds started rolling out and everyone began to panic, many screaming as they abandoned their items and rushed straight to the elevator, a few grabbing the extinguisher to fight the flames themselves, and some, like you, grabbing their belongings and heading straight for the stairs and right out of the building. It was obvious no one would stick around for work that day so why bother staying? You could finish your work from home anyways.

You sighed as you made it outside but suddenly jumped back at the sound of large raindrops hitting the pavement. The forecast didn’t call for rain today, besides, it was summer! You took the bus today but obviously couldn’t wait out in this weather, but standing by a burning building wouldn’t be smart either. You placed your messenger bag over your head before sprinting down the street, flinching at the random burst of thunder while trying to find somewhere to stay. This day was turning out to be the worse than you expected but you weren’t alone.

Was Daehyun a bad driver? That was debatable. But, today, his driving wasn’t the problem. He sat, wide-eyed, as his car suddenly stopped, the sound of his radio now gone and replaced with the rain hitting his car. He was in the middle of the street, a car honking behind him as he tried to start the car but to no avail. He jumped at the loud knock on his window, his eyes finding an angry man with his hand over his head. Daehyun rolled down his window, prepared for the anger this man obviously had.

“What are you doing? Can’t you see there’s almost 5 cars behind you?”

“I’m sorry but my car won’t start.”

The man nodded understandingly before motioning for him to step out of the car, moving back to his own and speaking to one of his three passengers. Daehyun stepped out and braced himself for the rain, upset he didn’t bring an umbrella. The man quickly came back as another exited the car and went into the driver’s seat.

“I’ll help you push it out of the way but I can’t help you start it.”

“Thank you.” Despite being drenched by the rain and having his car suddenly crash on him, Daehyun smiled, moving behind his car with the man and pushing it forward. It moved easily despite weighing much more than both of them.

As they found the closest spot in front of a small, family owned restaurant, pushing the car near the curb before Daehyun turned to thank they man once more, you rushed inside, letting out a deep sigh of relief and anger. Your bag was soaked, all of your work and laptop probably destroyed. You sadly began to dig through your bag, searching through each folder to make sure nothing was destroyed.

The chatter from the somehow overcrowded bakery drowned out the chime from the door, Daehyun stepping inside and pushing a hand through his hair to remove his wet bangs from his eyes. A young woman looked over and excitedly made her way towards him.

“Hi. How may I help you?”

“Table for one, please.” You and Daehyun spoke simultaneously as you quickly abandoned your search. You looked at one another as the woman nodded awkwardly, going off to find two tables for you both.

You two just stared at each other, taking in the fact you were both disasters but still flattering and attractive. You shifted slightly under his gaze, looking away as if nothing had just happened but he refused to. There was something so familiar about you, he just didn’t know what.

“Right this way.” The woman came back with a smile, your eyes widening as you waved her off.

“We’re not toge-“

“Thank you. Let’s go.” Daehyun interrupted you and guided you ahead of him, your face filled with confusion as to why he did that and why you were still going along with him.

You shyly thanked the woman as you slid into your seat, Daehyun sitting across from you as she placed two menus onto the table, stepping away to allow you decide what to order. You stared the stranger down, his eyes scanning the booklet as if you weren’t there before glancing up at you, a small smile forming on his face.

“Why’d you do that?”

“No one likes to eat alone.”

“Well, you obviously don’t know me.” You shot back but, instead of another witty comment, you found his hand in front of you, waiting expectantly.

“We have some time before anyone plans on leaving out of here so, why not get to know each other? I’m Daehyun.” You grimaced at his hand before looking back outside, the storm seeming to continue.

You were starving and he didn’t seem like too much of a weirdo so, hesitantly, placed your hand in his, shaking it slightly before pulling away and grabbing the stray menu.

“(Y/N).”

As much as you hated to admit it, the day went from bad to worse to actually decent. Daehyun wasn’t as weird as you thought. He had definitely had his quirks but, overall, he was an open and genuine guy, making you smile just because he did, impressing you by how much he ate, and even finding an interest in you. You learned that he was a singer and he learned that you were an accountant. He told you about his group members, even going as far as to try to fix your laptop because “one of them deals with electronics all the time and he might have learned something from watching him.”

By the time you glanced up, you noticed the restaurant start to clear out, the storm completely gone and replaced with sunshine. You and Daehyun were no longer eating but just talking, his head tilting as he stared at you a bit longer before gasping loudly, causing you to jump in confusion.

“I remember you. You went to one of my plays. I think the guy next to you was talking the entire time.” Your eyes widened at the sudden memory.

You had begged your ex to take you to the play after learning it was based on your favorite French novel. Although he took you, he talked the entire time, trying to make jokes about the plot and characters while annoying everyone in the process, leaving you embarrassed the entire night.

“So you’re an actor too? You’re just full of surprises.” The comment was simple but made his smile grow, yours following. It was contagious.

The same woman from before came, placing the check on the table but, before he could even move, Daehyun placed his card inside and handed it back to her.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to. Besides, now we have a little more time to talk before we have to leave.” The woman walked over once more and placed the card on the table, Daehyun freezing slightly which made you giggle.

“How about we just get going?” The words pained you when they left your mouth but there wasn’t much else to do and you didn’t have to wait inside forever.

You grabbed your bag and went to stand, Daehyun looking at you with a strange look, somewhat of guilt and embarrassment, causing you to raise an eyebrow at him.

“Actually, my car isn’t working. It just stopped so I guess I’m stuck here.”

You rolled your eyes and motioned for him to follow you, you both making your way outside the restaurant and to his car before you waved down an older male entering his car. He looked at you as if you were crazy before finally going towards you. He thought it was ridiculous that you were asking for rubber gloves and jumper cables but complied, digging them out of his trunk as you rolled up your sleeves.

“Okay, pay close attention, Daehyun.” And he did, watching in amazement as you went step by step in full detail about jumpstarting his car.

He did know what he enjoyed more, the way you looked genuinely excited as you taught him or the smile on your face when he went into his car and started it, everything turning on as if it wasn’t dead just an hour ago.

You detached the wires and handed the gloves back to the man, thanking him for lending his equipment and engine to help the stranger you now considered a friend. You reached down and grabbed your bag before going to the car window, your smile having yet to fall.

“Where are you going now?” Daehyun asked, your finger pointing down the street to the unsheltered bus stop.

“Home. It’s almost 5 and I have a ton of work to do.”

“I can take you. I think I owe you that much, right?” You bit your lower lip thoughtfully. He didn’t owe you anything, you just used some simple skills of yours to help him out; nothing more, nothing less. But, you have grown fond of his company, and the ride would be short anyways.

Without another word, you opened the door, sliding inside and placing your seatbelt on. You could feel his eyes on, your head snapping in his direction so that your eyes met but he looked away shyly.

“Cute.” You said plainly while reaching out to ruffle his hair as he pulled away from the restaurant.

The drive was quiet but in a comfortable way, both of you deep in thought as the voice of Daehyun’s GPS echoed in the background. There was no doubt in your mind that this would be the last time you saw each other, maybe by some chance you’d meet again but he was a singer and actor, he had so many more things to do than be trapped in this city. After just about an hour or so with him, were you really this attached? Already dreading the second you’ll be home?

Daehyun knew his career would lead him places, and he was prepared for that from the start, but now he didn’t want to leave. From the moment he met you to now, he learned that you were sarcastic, smart, funny, strict about your passions, and a lot more shy than you’d like to admit. He actually liked being around you, finding typical things about you enjoyable, almost endearing. He didn’t care if this would be his last time seeing you for weeks or months, just as long as it wasn’t forever.

“The destination is on your left.”Daehyun followed the GPS’ instructions, finding himself outside of a fairly large apartment complex.

You unbuckled your seatbelt and grabbed your bag turning to say goodbye to him before feeling his arms around you, your body stiff as he held you in a tight hug before slowly releasing you, realizing how sudden and awkward it must have been for you.

“Sorry, I just-“ He cleared his throat, buying some time as he thought about his next words.

“I go on tour in about a week and I was wondering if you wanted to hang out again before I go.”

The question came so fast but not as fast as your hand grabbing his phone, quickly sliding to his contacts and eagerly typing your name and number inside. You felt like a teenager finally asking their crush out and not being rejected, your heart racing as you texted yourself a simple ‘Hi’ to make sure you had his number before handing the device back to him, his eyes slightly wide at the action.

“I’m free tomorrow and can basically work from home any other day.”

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow?” You nodded before exiting the car, not wanting to show too much excitement before you both said your goodbyes, your eyes following his car as he drove off.

You couldn’t help but think about your coworkers. They’d call this fate but you thought of it more as a chance encounter, a coincidence, maybe even a phenomenon.

“(Y/N)!” You gasped as you saw Daehyun running down the street, his car behind him as he rushed towards you, your bag in his hands.

He slowed down before nearly crashing into you, smiling as you reached out to grab the damp parcel.

You refused to call this fate but it was definitely something.

[the-goddess-of-change]

Requested. The sound of thunder roars across the skies as i look out onto the pouring rain drinking my cup of coffee and thank myself i'm not out there I look up at the blue skies to see the skies light up as yet another lightning rides across the sky as the thunder roars It is already late at night and the storm shows no sign of stopping i walk back to my chair and sit down as i take a sip of the coffee and put it down on the table next to me The sound of thunder...the flash of lightning and the pouring rain, it makes it all feel quite...calming the rain is hitting my windows but i just feel at ease as i close my eyes and listen to it ...... ....... i wake up to the sound of two cars honking as i see its sunny outside i guess i must have fallen asleep i think to myself as i notice the cup of coffee is still next to me i stand up and pour out the coffee in the sink as i stretch my arms and start brewing another batch of coffee I yawn as i do as i spot the mail from my kitchen window i look at the coffee brewer which is still well bellow the middle as i step outside and pick up the mail as my feet hit something i look down as i spot a small ring i lean down and pick it up as i look at it some more it has a sorta dirty look to it, like its been lying under dirt for ages i put it in my pocket and walk back inside and turn of the coffee machine and pour myself a cup of coffee i take the ring out of my pocket and put it under the sink and start cleaning it i keep cleaning it but it still has a bit of a dirty look to it as i just put some warm water in a cup and drop the glass inside as i keep sipping my coffee I walk over the living room and sit down as i turn on the tv but it just shows static...probably thanks to the lightning storm last night i sigh to myself as i finish up my cup of coffee and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and do some laundry After i am done with the laundry i go back and look at the ring as it still look dirty i remove it from the glass of water and look at the ring as i try to put it on my finger and to my surprise it actually fits as well ''Huh...look at that'' i say to myself as i think to myself that maybe i should pawn it i nod but before that i have to take a shower i think as i walk back to the bathroom and turn on the shower and step inside the warm water hits my face and rolls down my back as i start scrubbing myself with some shampoo then washing it out as i turn of the shower and dry my hair quickly and put on a new change of clothes as i decide to head to the pawn shop i put on my shoes and walk outside as something shakes...or not really shakes but...it feels like...im moving but im standing still there is a small flash of light as i close my eyes once i slowly open my eyes back up i look outside and i cannot belive what i see...instead of the usual cars parked on the road...there is no cars...the houses looks...newer somewhat but still very...old the road is made of cobblestone instead of asphalt Several people are outside walking, one man wearing a suit with a woman wearing a yellow dress while the man is smoking a cigar and top hat the woman has short red hair that is curled up towards her head and she is wearing very...distinctive old timey clothing i rub my eyes a few times as i step forward out into the street to see the small shop nearby looks completely different as there is one of those barbershop poles by the door and its full of smoke inside ''What the hell?'' i say to myself as i look around and looks around as i hear a weird strange sounding noise as one of those old timey cars drive past me going reasonably slow... i look around as a gust of wind blows something onto my feet i look down and pick up the piece of paper that looks like a newspaper as i read it ''June...1942...hottest weather of the year...'' ''Wait...1942?!'' i yell as i read it again as a man wearing a suit walks over to me and blows some smoke out from his mouth from the cigar ''hello there good sir, thank you so so much for grabbing my newspaper, Damn thing blew out of my hand while i was reading it'' he laughs as i hand it to him ''Huh but my good sir, you look mighty strange wearing that Garb...say it is foreign perhaps ? say those people come up with new things all the time'' He laughs at me and walks away ''W-Wait!'' i yell at him as i walk over He looks at me with a confused look ''Ah...sir, is something the matter?'' ''Ah...kinda yeah...uh...what year is it ?'' ''You must be joking, its 1942 of course! you should really read a newspaper, it only costs 2 cents over by Timothy's generals'' i say nothing and just look at him with wide eyes as she turns and walks away ''What the hell...1942 ? how the fuck did that happen!'' i say to myself as i walk around the city which looks distinctively...older yet newer in some ways... Looking around i find myself where the pawn shop used to be where there is now a clothing store instead as a couple of women are standing outside smoking one with a stroller as they notice me ''huh...look at that Miranda...those young men are dressing worse and worse by the day'' ''Oh my yes...you are right Sally, it is absolutely dreadful'' they say as the look at me ''you know smoking causes cancer right ? and should you be doing that right next to your kid'' i say to her as she grabs her purse and hits me with it ''Mind your own business you rampant fool! dont meddle in or i will call the cops and have you sent to the Asylum!...smoking causes cancer....have you even heard such nonsense...'' they both scoff at me as i walk over to the park...which is thankfully still there and sit down on a bench as i spot a couple of guys drinking heavily and yelling at each other ''Holy shit...this really is the 1940's but what the hell am i doing here....'' i ask as the ring glows and i hear a voice in my head ''You are meant to be here'' i hear the voice say as i look around ''Hello ?'' i say and look around but there is no one around me ''Do not be alarmed i'm speaking to directly to your mind'' ''.....'' i say nothing ''You were sent back here to correct a mistake we are afraid....you were meant to grow up in this timeline instead of your own one...there was a small mistake and just thanks to the lightning storm we managed to correct it'' ''What the hell...meant to grow up in this timeline ? the 1940's ? for real what the hell kinda stoner talk is that'' ''Oh joke all you will but remember someone is talking to you in your head and you cannot deny this is the 1940's right ? so are you really in the position to demand?'' I shrug as i ponder the situation ''Well i don't care, send me back at once, this is fucking insane'' ''Sorry, we cannot do that, once you go back, going to the future might affect certain things so going forward is impossible i am afraid'' ''So what ? You're saying im stuck in this fucking place ?'' ''Well...stuck and stuck...you were meant to live in this time..so you are not stuck and look on the bright side, you are rich here, we brought back your money and exchanged it into this timelines currency so you are basically a millionaire now'' ''That is...that is kinda awesome...'' i say to myself ''A millionaire....that is awesome!'' ''Yes yes, it is the least we could do but we are afraid there is one more issue to take care of'' ''You see as you were...a mistake in some ways growing up in the wrong timeline that is not the whole story...'' ''Oh damn, what now then !?'' ''Well you see...it is you...or rather...''you'' since this whole thing was a mistake on our part well there is no easy way to say this to you but'' ''But'' i say feeling uneasy ''Well it is you see...it is...Nick right?'' ''Yes....it is'' ''Well it's supposed to be Nicole'' ''Wait what ? what ? say what ?'' i reply back to whatever it is talking to me ''Right then, you were meant to be a girl named Nicole, not a man named Nick So we have to rectify that predicament'' ''What ? no no, that is insane...'' ''Not as insane as going back in time though...right?'' ''Well...yeah...but still'' ''So to explain to you in one simple sentence, you were meant to grow up as a girl in this correct timeline, but due to some mistakes here and there you are not in the correct timeline'' ''So our job is to remedy that and to do that we have to start with your personally So if you would please do not react strongly or cause a scene we will correct that mistake right here and now'' it says as i stand up from the bench and try to remove the ring but its stuck on my finger The ring sends out some kinda electric shock trough my body as i go limp and fall down ''Dont try to remove it or that happens...you have to wear that ring to not mess up the timeline so its is permanently stuck to you now'' ''Now then where did we leave off...oh yes'' It says as my insides starts to feel like they are one fire as i can feel things moving around inside me cracking and fitting into place ''Augh...what the hell was that....'' ''Replacing your male organs just for now, the insides are easier to do since it just overrides and removes some stuff but we did replace it with its female counterparts'' ''it fucking hurt...'' i reply weakly back as i stand up on my legs and crack my fingers ''Ah yes let us start with the fingers'' it says as my fingernails grows longer and my fingers turns longer and more petite as the same happens to my arms as it turns smaller and slender my shoulders turns less broad and instead a bit sharper and smaller ''There...fingers and arms done....this will not take long Nicole so please just remain calm'' ''Remain calm ? what the hell kinda shit is this! who even are you!?'' ''You dont need to know that and you dont want to know that....'' it says in a more sinister tone ''Now then, the legs might be a good next step'' it says as i can feel my feet growing smaller and a loud crack can be heard as my legs grows wider as well as my hips then my ass grows decently larger and rounder ''Corrected'' it says as i look at the ring wanting to just throw it away ''Oh please, dont even try, you know i can read your mind so doing that would just give you yet another electrical shock and you dont really want that now do you?'' ''...I dont...'' i say lowly ''we thought so'' it says ''Now then where did we leave off ? oh yes'' it says as it starts to feel like someone tugging at my hair as it grows longer and longer and rolls down my back as it turns a gentle chestnut brown or blonde color and rolls up back as one side rolls down my shoulder ''Very classical and time precise Nicole'' The voice says ''Very...'' i say back as i sneeze I wipe my nose as the voice exclaims ''Ah yes, of course let us fix the face'' it says as i hear yet another loud crack as my face cracks and contorts as my eyes goes from blue to the same chestnut color as my hair, my lips gets fuller and my takes on a considerably feminine form as i walk over to the nearby lake and look up at my reflection and gasp ''Oh...damn...'' i say lowly to myself as i cover my mouth hearing my new voice ''oh damn...damn...'' i say yet again looking at the reflection in the water ''Yes yes, stop your complaining now'' ''Complaining ? i got every right, i have lived my whole life and now you are telling me that is just a joke ?'' ''Not a joke, a mistake we said'' ''Well whatever...but i look...'' ''You look what?'' ''I look good...that face...'' i say and run my finger across it as it feels gentle and smooth ''Okay okay so what now ?'' i say feeling a bit excited as i say it ''Oh ? that is a little turn around now, are you suddenly excited ?'' ''Well, no...not really but...the money drives me i guess...'' ''oh yes, the money keeps you going you say...'' it says ''Well...yes i mean...look...okay...what do you want me to say?'' ''if i cannot change reality...and this is just fate right ? what can i even do...walk around hating everything and myself and get thrown into jail for female hysteria ?'' ''Ah well, look here now, common sense, such a rarity and yes you probably would so it is smart to take the right choices'' it says as my chest starts to grow poking against my black Band shirt they grow larger and larger and fully develops into full functional breasts ''Now then we only have the last part of your ordeal left Nicole'' I look down as i cup my chest with my hands and looks around ''Mmm...these feels nice...'' i say to myself as i blush ''i do not think this is the right time to fondle yourself now Nicole, please be an upstanding woman of society now'' it says as i feel a weird sensation between my legs it feels like im being pushed up or something pressing against me penis as it just creeps back into my body as a pair of lips and a vagina starts to form down there instead as my hips once again grows a bit wider As it finishes it send a wave of pleasure up trough my body as i let out a gentle moan to myself ''there there Nicole'' ''Yes'' i say in a gentle soft tone ''Now you are who time meant for you to be but let me just fix your clothing as that is definitely going to break reality if someone spots you wearing that and besides as you might as well know, no women wore pants during this time'' ''Oh...yes yes, of course...my mistake'' i say cheerfully ''Please do not excuse yourself miss Nicole, you have nothing to be sorry for'' it says as my pants starts to widen up and creep up my legs as it slowly forms a grey skirt going down below my knees Then my band shirt slowly forms into a grey blazer with six buttons as it pushes against my body getting quite tight my converse shoes slowly start to form into a pair of black high heels with a strap around the ankels and lastly a pair of gloves wrap around my fingers and hands as a small purse forms out of thin air as i grab it ''Oh...this looks cute...and the outfit...its so fitting of the time...'' ''Well of course it is, you're a woman in the 1940's Now Nicole and you have to act like one, unfortunately your mind is something we cannot erase so you will have to learn along as it goes'' I nod as i open the purse and find a huge stack of cash ''Oh my! money! i should put these in a bank like right now...a woman with a wad of cash...this could be scary....'' i say to myself as i put the money back in the purse and hold it in my hand as i walk back into the city and look around as i spot the same women by the clothing store still standing there talking as they notice me i slowly walk over and smiles at me ''Hello...are you new in town?'' one of the women asks me as i nod ''Y-yes hello, my name is Nicole and i just moved here'' i smile ''Oh really ? Well my name is Sally and this is Miranda, it is a pleasure to meet you Nicole and i do have to say, your outfit looks very elegant'' ''Oh this thing...thank you'' i smile Miranda smiles as she looks into her purse and hands me a cigarette ''You must be smoking a lot to keep that lovely figure'' ''Oh...well i really dont...maybe once or twice'' i say as Miranda giggles and gives it to me and lights up as i take i inhale some ''it is truly a miracle cure, it makes you thinner and more beautiful and do excuse me for saying so but a woman without a cigarette in her hand is just not a classy woman'' ''Oh yes Miranda, you are definitely right but you know i just feel like good after taking one'' I just look at them as they keep talking so casually about this ''Ah..So Nicole, Do you have a husband ?'' ''Oh..no, not yet..im afraid'' i say kinda defending myself ''oh Sally, she just moved into town maybe she is just looking for one'' ''oh maybe i can ask Tom ? i think he has some single friends'' ''your husband ? oh yes maybe'' Miranda smiles I smile as i look down at the stroller ''And who is this little one?'' ''Oh that is Eric, he is my little bundle of joy barely a year old'' Sally smiles ''the little man is sleeping so i dont really want to disturb him so i hope you understand Nicole'' I nod at her as i finish up my smoke ''Ah...thank you for that'' i say as the women smile at me ''Oh dont mention it dear, we are happy to see a new face here, but i have to go on home now, my husband should be coming home from work now and i bet he is quite hungry now'' Sally smiles as she smiles at me and Miranda and walk home Miranda looks at me and smiles ''So Nicole let me invite you over to my home if you want to come for a cup of coffee and some cake ?'' ''Oh...really ? that would be quite lovely...thank you Miranda'' Miranda smiles as we walk over to her home and step inside once inside it looks typical 1940's...the old phone on the wall...the lack of...what i am used to but still it has quite the charm to it ''Oh please make yourself at home'' I smile as i sit down on a chair and cross my legs ''Oh my...just been a woman for 1 hour and already making friends and enjoying it....who knew the 1940's was such...different time'' i smile to myself as i am really getting into this Miranda out with a plate of some cake and a cup of coffee for me ''So do tell me about yourself Nicole....where do you come from ?'' ''Oh...i do not want to be rude Miranda but i left my past sort of behind...it was...quite...troubling and i do not really like to talk about it much...'' She looks at me sad and nods ''I see...that is truly horrible i am terribly sorry for asking you'' I just smile as i put my hand on hers ''it is not your fault, you couldn't have known is all...'' She smiles and nods as i remove my hand and take a sip of my coffee ''You have a very nice home...it is so cozy in here'' i say ''Oh, thank you thank you...i just love decorating and flowers so this is my little escape from the world outside'' Some things never change i say to myself ''So...what do you like Nicole ?'' ''Oh...i like...going to resturants...being with my friends...going to the mall...'' i say weakly hoping i dont mess something up ''Oh yes i just adore the mall, it is just so bustling with life and they have quite the nice selection of stores but i have to say, your fashion sense is distinctly...upper class...'' she says looking at me ''Oh yes...my father was a banker and made a lot of money...but as he died and had no other children he gave me all...my mother died when i was very young...'' i say quickly ''Oh..yes i see...so you were an only child?'' she asks me ''Oh well...like i said i dont really like to talk...about the past...'' ''Oh yes...of course of course...'' I look over at Miranda who sips her coffee wearing her red dress with sleeves going down to the ankles ''So then Nicole...have you had anything fun lately?'' ''Fun ? oh no but i did have a strange dream...'' ''Oh ? a strange dream...?'' ''Yes...i had a fever a couple of weeks ago and when i have it i get really tired...so i dream't i was a man...like...several years in the future...it was...very strange'' Miranda giggles and looks at me ''Oh ? my my, did they have flying cars?'' she giggles as i giggle back and shake my head ''oh...do you have someplace to live ?'' i slowly shake my head and sigh ''Well you want to stay here for the night then ?'' ''Well...that would be lovely but i cannot do so for free...let me at least pay for it...'' i say as Miranda lights up another cigarette and smiles at me ''oh please...i will not ask you but if you insist'' she smiles as i look into my purse and hands her a hundred dollar bill She looks at it in shock then over at me then back at the bill ''A-Are...Are you sure ? that is a lot of money...'' she says as i just smile and nod at her ''you are giving me a place to stay...it is the least i can do'' We sit down and chat for several more hours as i learn new things over and over again as Miranda yawns and looks at the clock ''Oh...miranda do not mind if i ask but...do you live here alone ?'' ''Oh..yes...my husband died in the war 4 years ago i am afraid...i have been alone since'' ''Oh...i didnt mean to bring that up...i am sorry'' Miranda smiles and shakes her head ''He died fighting for our country...in my eyes he is a hero Miranda smiles at me as she turns around and walks up the stairs as i look at her while sipping my last cup of coffee ''....oh my dear goddess....'' i say to myself as feel myself getting a bit warmer ''Oh dear heavens..no no...please...i am a woman...it is not right...'' ''But i mean...i used to be...'' ''No no...that is just absurd...i mean...its not but i cannot keep thinking like that...i have to fit in...'' i say as Miranda walks back downstairs and sits down on the sofa ''So then Miranda, you can use the guest bedroom okay ?'' I nod at her as i stand up and walk upstairs to the guest room which just has a single bed and some old drawers there it feels...quite cold I look in the drawers as i find an old nightgown as i remove my clothes and put on the gown as i lie down in bed just thinking about Miranda ''Oh...Fuck it'' i say as i stand back up and walk over to find Miranda in the bathroom i look at her as she looks at me and smiles ''that nightgown fits you very nice i am glad i saved that thing'' I just look at her into the eyes as she goes silent and just looks at me back ''N-Nicole...are you well ?'' she asks as i take a deep breath and looks at her ''I think i am about to do something...stupid'' i say as i move in closer and wrap my arms around her shoulders as i gently leans in and kisses her lips Miranda's eyes goes wide as she pushes me away ''Good heavens Nicole! what has gotten into you! Are you insane!?'' she yells at me as i look at her ''I am not insane Miranda...but...you have just been so kind to me and...look at you...you look so lovely and cute...and it just..felt right'' ''i close my eyes now and see you....and i just want to hold around you...you really...you are just...'' Miranda looks at me and pushes me away as she walks into her bedroom and locks the door i walk over and knock on it but get no reply ''I am...i am so sorry Miranda...'' i say as i walk back to my room and lie down on the cold bed as i close my eyes and just recap my day so far But as i start to recap it my thoughts flood over to Miranda...all i think about is her now...her lovely body...her cute and sweet face...her empathy and compassion...why does these things...turn me on and why do i...as a woman myself...i am killing myself... But i cannot fight these feelings anymore i remove my nightgown and lie down naked in the bed and covers myself with the blanket as i just think about Miranda all night and nothing else The next morning i wake up and look around and quickly get dressed as i find Miranda downstairs listening to the radio ''Good morning'' she says as i walk over and sit down next to her ''Good morning Miranda...'' She turns and looks at me ''i have heard of women like you Nicole...and cannot belive it just happened to me...i cannot get it out of my head what you did to me...i wanted to call the police but...i just couldn't...'' ''i am sorry Miranda...i didn't mean it...'' ''Look Nicole, you are a lovely woman but this...this...is just...absurd...'' i just keep looking at her as i stand up and walks over to her as i hold her hand against my blazer where my breasts are as she stands up and looks at me ''.....'' we say nothing and just look at each other as i yet hear the voice in my head again ''Miss Nicole...if you go down this path...you will live a secrecy...oppression and hate...'' it says to me ''Yes...but i cannot help myself...its not that she is just a woman...but i just cannot help myself...i just cannot...she...she just feel right for me...'' ''Then Miss Nicole...dont fight it...and enjoy this life that was meant to be yours from the start''it says as it fades away ''N-Nicole...'' she stammers but does not remove her hand as i smile at her ''Miranda...'' ''Nicole...'' ''Miranda...i cannot stop my feelings...when i saw you..i just knew...i fell in love...you are everything i have looked for in another person...and i cannot stop thinking about you no matter how hard i try...'' ''But...i am a woman....just like you...'' ''And so what...? does that make it less wrong ? these are my feelings...you dont have to feel the same back but...just be honest to me...'' Miranda sighs i let go of her hand as she looks at me ''....Who...who just are you...'' she says ''Just a woman like you'' i smile back I see a smile across Her face as she giggles and looks at me ''No one has to know...right?'' I nod at her ''We can move away and start a life for ourselves....'' ''Then...Y-yes...i will give this a chance but what would i even call you?'' I lean in and kiss her lips lovingly ''Wives at some point maybe ? or maybe just...girlfriends'' ''Wives...me being a wife to a woman...oh my....i would have never...but...you kiss...good'' i giggle and smile at her ''And so do you Miranda...my dear...'' ''Oh Nicole...i dont understand you but...i am sure i will soon'' she smiles at me as i kiss her lips again and giggle at her ''i know something i want to try with you...if you so desire to follow me upstairs...'' Miranda looks at me confused as we head upstairs and i show her a whole new word...just as she did to me...

[a-touch-of-tmnt-blog]

You Weren’t What I Expected | A TMNT Fanfiction

This is a fan-fiction about four friends, Nadine, Beth, Krista and Chloe, who meet the Turtles and befriend them. As they grow closer together in friendship, and love, secrets about the girls start to emerge. Can everyone be trusted? 

Chapter One

Nadine POV:

For the first time in a long time, it was a calm night here in New York City. There was the usual sound of cars passing by and honking every now and then but there weren’t that many people on the streets walking to and from places. How would I know though, I’m in my apartment watching TV shows again while doing my homework. Typical high school night for me as usual.

“Nadine,it’s time for bed are you finished with your work yet?”a voice yelled from across the hall. My mom was about to come into my room but stopped herself as she got to my door.

“Not yet, let me finish this real quick and I’ll go to bed.” I said as I turn the volume on the TV down a bit. I hear her start to leave as she as she says something to my younger brother. I finish my homework, put everything away and head for bed. Then my phone starts to buzz.

I pick it up and see that I got a text message from Beth, my best friend, who is wondering if I can sneak out for a bit to talk. I text her back that I can’t and put my phone on the charger next to my bed. As I go to turn off the lights, I turn around and see a figure in my window. Before doing anything else, the figure opens the window and sticks her head in.

“You can’t huh?” Beth says quietly as she looks at her phone.

“What is it you need now? Boy drama again?” I sarcastically say a trying not to alert my mom that she’s here. Beth points her finger upwards as if to signal me to go to the roof with her. I roll my eyes and reluctantly grab my slippers and a jacket and head up the fire escape after her. I close my window slightly and head upwards.

“It’s not boy drama but it’s something really cool.” Beth says as she practically runs up the escape. As I get to the top and onto the roof of the building, Beth pulls out her phone and puts it in my face. I focus on it and it’s a picture of a dimly lit alley way with a huge figure standing just near the light.

 “Whoa what is that?” I say as I take the phone from her hand and zoom in on the image. You can’t make out what or who it might be, but it is huge.

“No clue but it doesn’t look like a normal person does it?” Beth asked as she pulled the phone closer to her to look at it as well. “I can make out what looks like a shell colored backpack and from what I can tell, three fingers.”

“Yeah but anyone could have three fingers from birth or like an accident.” I say to her as she gives me a look. “Your still hell bent on finding weird creatures for that contest, aren’t you?” I asked her after a moments silence. At our school, there is a contest to find the most abnormal thing in your neighborhood and the winner would get a cash money prize of 1,000 dollars.

“Yeah but I’m going to need a better photo of this person or thing and I want you to come and help me.” Beth says with her smile that could win awards. Literally, her smile sends shivers down my spine sometimes.

“Like right now?” I say to her almost panicking a bit.

“Yes tonight,” Beth starts to say “No not tonight, silly. You can spend the night at my house tomorrow and then we can go ‘monster hunting’ “She say as she puts it in air quotes.

“I’ll have to ask tomorrow but yeah fine I’ll help you.” I say to her as she pulls me into a hug. We head down the fire escape and I quietly enter my room and shut the window. I see Beth make it to the ally below and she waves behind her head before disappearing into the streets nearby. I take off my jacket and shoes and crawl into bed and fall asleep.

-Next Day-

“Nadine, wake up, you’re going to be late for school!” my mother shouted from the hallway. I opened my eyes and bolted out of bed. I looked at my phone and realized that I had slept through my alarm clock. Crap. I quickly get dressed for school and put my hair in a pony tail and grab my backpack.

“Morning!” I said as I quickly head into the kitchen where my mom and my little brother are already sitting down for breakfast. I put my stuff down and grab a plate of breakfast my mom had just finished making, eggs and toast with bacon.

“Stay up late last night?” my mom said as she gave me a look. I could tell she already knew that Beth popped by for a visit last night and I couldn’t deny it to her. I couldn’t tell her that Beth wanted to find some weird, possibly not real, creature in new York on a Friday night.

“Um well, Beth wanted to know if it’s alright if I spent the night at her house so that we can work on a project for science. We’re partners, and she needs all the help she can get.” I fib a bit to her. My mom knows that Beth is my friend but doesn’t like her actions. I don’t know why though because we never get into trouble.

“Well I have no problem with it, but I want you to text me when you get there and when you’re coming home in the morning. We have things to do tomorrow.” My mom says as we both sit down and eat our breakfast. There’s a long silent moment before my brother chimes in with putting his bacon on his lips like a mustache. My mom starts to smile at him and laugh a little. I chuckle a bit as I finish my breakfast, kiss my mom and brother goodbye, and head out the door.

“Yay this is going to be so much fun! I’m defiantly going to give you guys some credit when I win this photo contest!” Beth explains as we walk through the halls to our class.

“Guys? I thought it was just me and you?” I asked a bit baffled by what she said. Beth looks at me and does her awkward pose where she intertwines her fingers together and bites her lower lip. She does this when she wants to surprise someone or she’s embarrassed.

“I had asked Chloe and Krista if they wanted to tag along and Chloe said yes, haven’t heard from Krista.” Beth said as she looked at me. Chloe is our other friend who’s normally not into night adventures, but I guess Beth convinced her in some way. Krista, on the other hand, is more of a school mate who we used to hang out with in middle school, but don’t anymore for no reason at all.

“What makes you think that Krista is going to want to come over tonight if everything else we’ve done hasn’t worked out before?” I asked Beth as we enter our class and take our seats.

“I thought I’d give it a shot.” Beth explained, putting her backpack down and sitting in her seat. As the class started for the day, all I could think of was about my mother and why we had to be somewhere tomorrow. She could have easily just said that it involved my father and not this beat-around-the-bush gig. Before I knew it, it was already the next class period. I spent the rest of the day focusing on the school work at hand.

It finally got to the end of the day. Beth had texted Chloe and Krista that we would either meet at the train station or at her apartment, and gave them the address. Me and Beth on the other hand were ready to head out to her apartment. We started gossiping on our way to the train station about all the people would be shocked to see her photo be the winner of this contest. 

“Hey, Beth, Nadine, wait up!” shouted a voice behind us as we were about to board a train. It was Chloe and she was running to catch up to us. When she did, the train doors had closed, and she had barely made it.

“You know you could have texted me but it’s fine you’re here now.” Beth says excited as Chloe finally caught her breath. It took us about 30 minutes, from the train to walking, to get to Beth’s apartment. When we got there, it had looked like she spent most of last night making a giant blanket fort for us to stay in.

“Wow how long did it take for you to do this?” Chloe asked as she put her stuff down and took off her shoes at the door.

“Almost all night. By the way, my parents aren’t going to be home for the weekend so if you want and your parents allow, you can stay for a couple nights.” Beth added in as she went to the kitchen to grab our snacks she kept mentioning on the train ride up here. I put my stuff down and took my shoes off as well and crawled into the fort, with Chloe right behind.

“Wow there are fairy lights in here too!” Chloe said as she was more amazed than I was about the whole thing. Beth comes in and puts all sorts of snacks down and we spend the next half an hour talking and eating, mostly gossip though.

“From what I heard Angie hates me just because I happened to be partners with her boyfriend for biology, but she’s lucking out cause he’s really stupid.” Chloe said as she was laying down sideways. Me and Beth both chuckled at that fact.

“Yeah but at least you’re not Angie’s partner.” Beth added in as she took a bite of a chip. “I heard he’s planning on skipping class on presentation day because she’s so uptight.” Chloe and me both laughed a bit and then Beth pulled out her camera. “Smile you two!” she said.

“Really, you’re going to take our picture now.” I say as a smile forms on the corner of my mouth. Beth motions for me and Chloe to get closer and to strike a pose. We do so as the camera flashes into our eyes. She shows us on the camera and it’s good with the sheets and lights in the background and the two of us posing the same pose.

“Now that the warm-up is done, it’s time we head out and find this thing.” Beth says as she pulls up the photo from her phone to remind us of why we were here in the first place.

“Wait you were serious about that?!” Chloe said as she was panicking a bit.

“Of course, I was, do you honestly even know me to not be serious about a good shot?” Beth asked rhetorically to Chloe, who was now a little terrified of the situation. Just as I was about to chime in, I heard a noise come from outside. I crawl out of the tent and head towards the window where the sound was, and I see a bunch of thugs down below, knocking over trash cans and being loud in the alleyway below. Beth and Chloe heard the noise finally and came to the window as well.

“Purple Dragons, they always cause problems down here.” Beth says as she leans on the window seal with her right arm.

“Yeah well at least your dad isn’t one of them so count your blessings.” I mutter under my breath. I could tell Chloe was about to ask what I meant by that, but then we were interrupted by a woman’s scream in the alley below. From the angle we looked down, the thugs had found someone to harass.

“What should we do?” Chloe said as she stepped away from the window. Beth slowly pulled the window up without making a sound and stuck her head and her camera out with her. I quietly tried to signal her to come back in, but it was too late. She had turned off the flash and took their picture of their activity and came back inside. We viewed the photo and saw that the girl that was being harassed was Krista.

“We have to get her up here!” Beth said as she bolted for the door to go confront the guys. Me and Chloe followed behind, yelling at Beth that it’s not a clever idea and to call the cops instead. By the time we got down to the alleyway, the thugs were either unconscious or ran away, with Krista on the ground as well.

“Hey Krista, are you ok?” Chloe said as Krista was trying to stand.

“Yeah, I’m fine, stupid thugs.” Krista said as she stood up with Chloe’s help. “Did you see the size of those guys though?”

“You mean the thugs, yeah average height and there were a lot of them.” Beth said as she was about to usher us all inside in case they woke up or came back for more.

“No, not those wimps, I mean they guys that took them out.” Krista said. All of us stood there in shock and disbelief at what she said. There weren’t any other people in alley but the Purple Dragons and Krista. She rolled her eyes held out her hand for Beth’s phone. She pulled the phone from her pocket and Krista snatched it and pulled up the photo of the creature. “They looked like this but there was more than what is shown here.”

“Krista are you 100 percent sure you saw this tonight.” Beth asked, walking up to Krista and looking her in the eyes. Me and Chloe both held our breaths and looked at each other. As much as I love Beth, she can become a bit obsessive over certain things. Krista nodded her head and I could tell that a huge smile came onto Beth’s face. Beth took her phone from Krista and turned to me and Chloe.

“Let’s go find them.” She said holding her camera that was strapped around her neck in the sweetest and most sinister voice I’ve heard from her.

Note: this is just the first chapter so i wanted to introduce everyone before they meet the turtles and vice versa. The turtles will be in the next chapter so don’t freak out. I hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter will be out soon.

Also here is a link to what they look like if you’re curious [x]

[imagine-knb]

Homecoming [Kagami Taiga]

Wrote this one last year I think. Honestly not one of my favorites ;;;;; Also, as a side note, the rest of the things that will be posted were before I switched to using “____” as the name placeholder, so sorry if it’s a little weird seeing “[Name]” instead, but there’s just too many for me to go and fix @_@

A shrill sound echoed through the small apartment, the mechanical noise repeating itself every few seconds with an incessant beep. It was loud enough to be heard throughout all the rooms, alerting anyone in the vicinity of the paper thin walls to hear it. A few decibels beneath that noise, the sound of a sizzling frying pan could be heard. Smoke and steam billowed from the searing metal, the former being the cause for the repetitive whine of the fire alarm. From another room, rushed footsteps followed by a heavy thud and loud cursing resounded.

“Damn it,” Kagami growled the curse, reciting it over and over again as he reached for the fire alarm. “Damn it. Damn it!” Fingers fumbled around with the tiny machine for only a few seconds before finally finding the button that would turn it off. Pressing down, the shrill beeping came to a halt and the tall red head could once again hear himself think.

Replacing the fire alarm back onto the wall, Kagami turned his attention to the frying pan on his stove where the onions he had placed inside were quickly becoming akin to charcoal. He quickly stepped over to it, removing it from the heat completely and turning off the stove to avoid any more incidents. Looking at the now ruined vegetables, Kagami clicked his tongue before muttering, “I was only gone for a minute.”

He set the unsalvageable pan of onions on an oven mitt where he would allow it to cool down before placing it in the sink. It sank into the mitt heavily, the metal bottom rounded and dented from a few moments of misuse. The sound of scorching metal meeting chilled water was still fresh in his memories, reminding him of every moment that caused the cookware to bend out of shape. Of course, it hadn’t been his fault; he knew better than to put hot metal under the flow of water.

Grabbing the plate with his still warm burger from off the kitchen counter, the tall man slowly sulked his way over to the place he deemed the living room. He would have to deal with eating his food without any grilled onions to accompany his meal.

He sat on the left side of the couch, one hand holding onto his plate of food while the other switched on his television with the remote that had been sitting nearby. After a few moments of channel surfing, Kagami started to feel a bit awkward with the empty space occupying the right half of his couch. He shifted in his seat, placing his legs on the other half of the couch so that he could lounge on it. Content with his efficient use of space, Kagami went back to changing television stations until he was finally satisfied with something to watch.

There was a movie on, Kagami noted as he took a large bite out of his burger. Chewing slowly, he watched the characters interact with each other. After five minutes, it had become apparent to him that the movie was a romance—though it took the main characters suddenly making out with each other for him to realize. Feeling a knot form in his stomach, Kagami reached for the remote and quickly shut off the television. Once again, the apartment was silent.

With nothing better to do, Kagami once again felt the need to look around at his surroundings. Taking more bites out of his burger, he observed the subtle differences that had come to his apartment over the past few years. Though the color of the walls had remained the same, they were more heavily decorated, framed pictures of special moments and posters pinned up in random places. An entire bookshelf took up part of the wall space, filled to the brim with books that Kagami neither heard of nor read.

Kagami had finished his burger while he was distracted by the room. Setting his plate on the floor and closing his eyes, he leaned back into the couch as he imagined the bedroom where he lay in bed every night. He had traded his single mattress in for a queen sized bed a year ago, finally able to afford the larger mattress, and the wooden frame took up quite a bit of floor space. The desk he had in his room had to be moved to the opposite wall, facing away from the window. There were two chairs resting near it and Kagami would often prop his feet up on the second chair, pretending he was in a hammock as he lazed some days away.

It was true that, within the years after graduating high school, the apartment had gotten fuller with the introduction of more furniture and decorations, but Kagami couldn’t help but feel as if it was still empty.

The red head had just started dozing off when a familiar sound started resonating throughout the apartment. At first, through the haze of sleep, Kagami thought it was the sound of his fire alarm going off again. Sitting up in a panic, he looked around for the source of the offending noise, but soon realized that his original thought had been false. The noise wasn’t from the fire alarm.

Feeling around his person, he searched for the only other thing that could be making the incessant ringing. He pulled a cellphone from his pocket, flipping it open and placing the speaker against his ear impatiently. “Hello?”

He was met with silence for a few seconds, though there was clearly another person on the line—he could hear them breathing. Feeling his patience waning, the brash young adult was just about to give his caller a piece of his mind when a quiet and formal, “Kagami-kun” was heard.

“Kuroko?” Kagami asked, confusion laden in his voice as he tried to understand his friend. “What the hell? Why are you calling?”

“Other than work, you haven’t gone out of your apartment for a while,” Kuroko stated calmly, almost as if he were speaking to one of his students. “Let’s go play some basketball. For old time’s sake.”

Kagami hesitated in answering. It was true that he hadn’t been out of his home for recreational purposes in a while and the apartment was started to feel a tad suffocating despite its emptiness. Drawing in a breath, Kagami said, “Sure. When should I meet you?”

“Right now,” Kuroko said hastily. “I’m already outside.” The soft-spoken male ended the call promptly, leaving Kagami no time to retort at Kuroko’s bad timing.

Growling out some offensive curses, Kagami stood from his seat on the couch, the sore muscles in his back protesting as he did so. He stretched a bit before heading for his front door, ignoring his dirty plate that he had left on the floor beside the couch. His socked feet dragged along the wooden floor, making no sound as he made his way to the entrance. If Kuroko wanted to play right at that moment, he would have to deal with Kagami being dressed in only a wife beater and sweatpants.

Grabbing his keys off the new veranda near his front door, the tall red head swiftly and expertly pulled on his sneakers before opening the door to his residence. He set his gaze to the outside world, a semi-bored expression creating a mask on his face. The sunlight danced through the sky, bouncing off cars that were driving on the road and causing some glare to hit his eyes. With a scowl, Kagami turned to close the door behind him, locking it so ensure no intruders would make house in his apartment.

“Where you going, Taiga?”

Despite being turned away from the voice—which had caught him completely off guard—Kagami instantly recognized its owner. Fearing that it was a dream, he stopped himself from turning fully around. Instead, he went for a retort to the voice, but soon found that his own voice box was unwilling to cooperate. A thick lump had lodged itself in his throat, making it hard for him to breathe let alone speak. He would have to turn and face the person.

Taking a tentative step, he shifted the one-hundred and eighty degrees to face the person of interest. The first thing he noticed was the dark black boots he had watched walk away from him only months ago. Accompanying them were different shades of green, the camouflage doing little to meld the person into the off white walls of the surrounding buildings. There were patches on the left breast of their uniform top, their last name neatly embroidered with gold stitches.

“Taiga.”

At the call of his name, he dared a look at the person’s face. Familiar eyes and a warm smile met his gaze and, blinking back the tears that threatened to form in his eyes, he rushed forward. Strong arms encircled his waste, returning the squeezing hug that Kagami was giving the person. Despite having not shed any tears, the red head could feel a rawness in his throat as he repeated their name like a mantra. He buried his nose into the crook of their neck, inhaling their scent with a shuddering breath. He could already feel the creeping blush forming on his cheeks and neck, embarrassed by his current public display of affection, but not caring in the least as he engulfed the one person he had been deprived of for so long.

“[Name],” he gasped, pushing them away at arm’s length for only a moment before instantly pulling them back in for a hug. “You’re home.”

[Name]’s body was shaking in his arms and soft sobs escaped their lips. Kagami could feel fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt, threatening to never let go. “Yes, I’m home,” [Name] answered through their crying. He could feel them nod against his chest, their laugh evident in their voice despite the tears that were surely running down their face.

The honk of a car’s horn caught both their attentions and, wiping the tears and fluids that had escaped their eyes and noses, they both looked out towards the street. Kagami noticed a familiar blue eyed former teammate in the driver’s seat of a car. Kuroko waved briefly, flashing the pair a small smile before driving away from the scene. Kagami twitched a bit, thinking about how that sneaky bastard had once again pulled the wool over his eyes.

But for good reason.

Returning his gaze back to his lover, Kagami gave them a gentle smile. He picked up the heavy suitcase they had carried with them, nodding his head towards their front door. Understanding his gesture, [Name] unlocked and opened the door, waltzing in before Kagami. Watching them prance through the rooms as if they hadn’t left at all, the former high school basketball player felt as if his home wasn’t so empty anymore.

In fact, it was perfect once again.

[latchingontoallofyou]

We Are Us - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

When Maks wakes up the next morning, Meryl is asleep with her head on his shoulder. His hand is resting on her lower back. He loves the feeling of having Meryl at his side as he comes out of sleep. He turns his head and stares at Meryl as she sleeps. She looks so peaceful and happy. She even as a small smile on her face as she sleeps. Maks can’t hold back any more and peppers Meryl’s head with kisses. As she wakes, she slides her arm across Maks’ bare chest.

“Good morning husband” Meryl sleepily says looking up at him with a smile.

“Good morning my wife. Ready for our honeymoon?”

“Yes! A week in Hawaii with my new husband, count me in and excited. I’m going to miss Kamri though.”

“I know. Me too. She’s going to have so much fun with Jenna. Don’t worry.”

“I know. The whole, we just became a family and now we are leaving you behind while we go on vacation thing is hard for me.”

“I know Meryl. I promise, she’s ok with it. I’ve talked it through with her many times and she understands.”

She takes a deep breath and cuddles up against him more. They both fall back asleep as they wait for their alarm to go off. They want to spend as much time together in bed as they can.

When the alarm goes off, Maks gets up and carries Meryl to the bathroom with her to shower. After their shower, they go downstairs to wait for Jenna and Kamri to arrive. They cuddle up on the couch. They hear a honk signaling they are here. Maks grabs their suitcases while Meryl runs outside. Kamri is out of the car and is running towards Meryl with a big smile and arms open.

“Hi Lovey! How was your night?”

“Good! I slept all night and then Jenna woke me and we made pancakes together for breakfast. We are going to have fun when you and Daddy go to… to… where are you going again?”

“Hawaii. Daddy and I are going to Hawaii Lovey. I think you are going to have fun with Jenna too. I’m going to miss you so much Kamri.”

“I’m going to miss you too Mommy. I really like saying that.”

“I love hearing it.”

“Lovey!” Maks says and takes her from Meryl, kissing her.

“Hi Daddy.”

“We’ve got to get going girls. Mommy, we’ve got a plain to catch” Maks says putting Kamri down so they can all get in the car.

~

“We love you Lovey. We’ll call you when we get to Hawaii” Maks says as he and Meryl make their way into the airport.

There had been a few tears from both Kamri and Meryl. Kamri now clings onto Jenna and Meryl is holding tightly to Maks arm as the head into the airport. Maks checks them in and then go through security and to their gate. Meryl and Maks sits down at their gate and Maks looks over at Meryl.

“Why do you still look worried?”

“She was upset. I wasn’t ready for that.”

“She’ll be fine Mer.”

“It’s her first time without both of us since we became us.”

“And it will be good for her. It’s not like we won’t talk to her.”

“You’re right. It’s still a little scary though.”

“I know love. I’ll be right at your side the whole time. I promise. Now relax” he says, leaning in and kissing her.

She lets out a breath and lays her head on Maks’ shoulder. He plays with her hair and just holds her. When they are finally able to board the plane, and find their seats, Meryl takes the window seat and Maks sits in the middle, wanting to protect Meryl from whoever might take the seat next to them. It’s not that he is thinking the person to finish their row will be bad and he doesn’t want Meryl next to them. He just would rather have that person be touching him in the close seats and would rather have Meryl have the option to lean on the window or him, not him or someone else.

Suddenly a family comes up the aisle together. Maks smiles noticing there is 5 of them and the row across from them is open plus the one seat in their row. The Dad is carrying a sleeping baby, looking to be about 6 months old. Behind them is a boy who looks about 3 or so years old, a girl who seems to about 5 years old and then the Mom.

“Here we are” the Dad says pointing at the empty row and then looks over at Maks.

The Dad ushers the middle child into the row and then the Mom after the little boy. He then looks at the oldest.

“Sit with Mommy. I’ll sit here with Lexie” he says pointing to the seat next to Maks.

“But Daddy, I want to sit there.”

“No Love. You sit with Mommy.”

She unhappily sits next to her Mom and buckles in. The man bends down and kisses her head and then the others before sitting down next to Maks.

“Hi. I’m Luke. This is Alexa, our youngest. She should sleep through take off. Hopefully she’ll be good during the flight but it’s her first flight so we don’t know.”

“Oh no problem. I’m Maks. This is my wife Meryl.”

“That’s the first time you called me your wife to someone else” Meryl says with a smile.

“Going on your honeymoon?”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you. You have a very cute family” Meryl says chiming in.

“Thank you. That’s my wife Sarah. Lilly is our oldest. She is 5. Gid, well Gideon is 3. Alexa is almost 7 months now.”

“So sweet. Our daughter Kamri is home with our best friend. She is 4.”

“Aw, how sweet. How long have you been together?”

“We met in September when Kamri started school in her class. Long story short, Kamri’s birth Mom left her with me, her then Uncle. I adopted her and Meryl will officially adopt her after we get back.”

“Aw, that awesome. God sure has blessed you two.”

“He sure has” Maks says putting his arm around Meryl and pulling her close so he can kiss her head. “What do you do Luke?”

“I’m a physical therapist.”

“Oh nice. When I broke my leg when I was a teen skiing I had to go through intensive physical therapy. I also use them a lot when I was a professional dancer.”

“You guys are dancers?” Sarah says leaning forward to look at Meryl and Maks.

“Oh he is. I’m not a dancer. I am a preschool teacher.”

“Not just a teacher. She is a gold medalist in Ice dancing.”

“Wow. That’s amazing!” Sarah says.

“Thank you” Meryl says with a blush, embarrassed.

They are now in the air. The older two kids have settled into their seats. Sarah is reading and Luke seems to be falling asleep. Little Lexie, however, seems to be waking up. Sarah passes Luke a bottle and he sleepily sits up and starts to feed Alexa. Luke was trying to stay awake enough to keep feeding her.

“Luke, want me to take her” Sarah says.

“No. I’ve got it.”

“Luke.”

“I’m fine Sarah. You’ve got the other two. I’d feel bad.”

“Would you be comfortable with me feeding her?” Meryl asks.

“Are you sure?” Luke asks almost happy.

“I am. I’d love to hold her.”

“Thank you” Luke says and passes a cranky Alexa to Meryl and then hands her the bottle. Meryl lays Alexa in her arms and feeds her like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “You’re a natural” Luke says before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

When Alexa is done eating, Meryl and Maks play games with her, and then Meryl cuddles her as they both fall asleep together.

~

“Thank you so much for letting me cuddle this precious girl” Meryl says passing Alexa back to Luke.

“No thank you! It was great to have arms free. Have a great honeymoon.”

“Thank you” Meryl say blushing and hanging onto Maks’ arm. They make their way off the airplane and through the airport. She won’t let go of his hand. When their bags come, Maks grabs them and calls for an uber. They wait outside for it to arrive. Maks lets go of her hand and pulls Meryl against his side.

“You are going to love where we are staying.”

“I bet I will but all I care about is that we are staying there together… in the same room… in the same bed.”

“Mhmm, I agree.”

“I love you husband.”

“I love you too wife.”

“What are we going to do first when we get to the…”

“Resort” Maks finishes for her with a smile.

“Maksim…”

“I’m thinking we break in the bed first. I mean seeing you with that baby today…” he says pulling her closer.

“Then we can get lunch?”

“If you’re still hungry after that yea” he says with a wink. She goes wide eyed and hits his chest. “Looks like our car is here” he says with a laugh and pulls her and his suitcases towards their waiting uber.

He thanks the driver after putting their luggage in the back before joining Meryl in the back seat. The driver asks about their trip and reason for their stay. He congratulates them on their engagement and then asks what they’d like to listen to. The rest of ride is quiet. When they pull up to the resort, Meryl looks around in amazement.

“Maks, this place is amazing!”

“I’m so glad you like it.”

“Whoa, look at pool! I want to swim!”

“I thought we were going to break in the bed?”

“Oh we are but we have to go swimming today.”

“I thought you wanted to eat…”

“Maksim” she says rolling her eyes as the uber parks in front of the resort lobby. Maks gets out and calls for Meryl to hurry up and get out. Maks get the luggage out and meets Meryl on the curb.

They go to check in and head to their suit that opens onto the beach. They explore the room, taking in the home for the week. Meryl opens the French doors and steps out onto the porch that has a fire pit and a private hot tub. She takes off her shoes and steps out of their gate and onto the sand.

“Maks, come join me!” He was still standing on the porch.

“But we…”

“Have to call Kamri first. We said we’d call. I want to be in the sand while we do.”

Maks sighs and joins Meryl on the beach. She settles in between his legs and calls Jenna. He wraps his arms around Meryl as they wait.

“Hi honeymooners!”

“Hi Jenna. We made it to Hawaii. You should see the suit Maks got for us. It’s right on the beach and has a hot tub and fire pit and that’s just the outside. The room is amazing and…”

“Whoa there Meryl. Take a breath. I’m so glad you are happy. Did you break in the bed yet?”

“See, ever she knows we could have done that first. Kamri would never have known” Maks says.

“I miss our girl and we’ve got plenty of time for that, thank you very much.”

“How’s Lovey been today?” Maks asks

“Excellent! We’ve cooked from her cook book. We’ve planned to pick a Disney hair style to do later.”

“You are awesome. Thank you again Jenna.”

“Don’t mention it. Let me go get Kamri. She is downstairs dancing. I had just come upstairs to get drinks.”

“She sure loves that dance room.”

“Lovey, guess who’s on the phone?”

“Mommy! Daddy!”

Maks squeezes Meryl tighter when Kamri says Mommy knowing she is smiling even bigger now.

“Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy!”

“Hi Lovey! We miss you” Meryl says.

“I miss you too. How is Hawaii?”

“Beautiful. We are sitting on the beach right now.”

“I want to go to the beach. Aunt Jenna, can we go to the beach?”

“Kamri, when did you start calling Jenna Aunt Jenna?”

“Today. I asked her if now that you and Daddy are married and I get to call you Mommy if now I get to call her by a different name too. She didn’t know what I’d call her but I said Aunt Jenna. She said she was ok with it.”

“That’s so sweet Lovey. You have a good heart.”

“What are you and Daddy going to day in Hawaii?”

Meryl looks wide eyed at Maks who laughs.

“Mommy and I are going to nap and eat and swim a lot.”

“I think we should get a pool.”

“Maybe someday Kamri” Maks says, happy she didn’t question anything he said.

“I was dancing Daddy. I was practicing my turns.”

“Good girl. Was Aunt Jenna helping you?”

“Yes. She gave me corrections like you. She says we are going to create a dance together for you when you come home.”

“Oh I can’t wait to see.”

“Mommy?”

“Yes Kamri?”

“If I miss you at night, can I sleep in one of your shirts like I do when I missed Daddy.”

“Oh course. I already laid one out for you. Aunt Jenna knows where it is.”

“Thank you!” she says happily.

“You’re welcome Lovey. Daddy and I have to go. We’ll talk to you real soon ok?”

“Ok I love you Mommy.”

“I love you too.”

“I love you Daddy.”

“I love you too Kamri. Bud'te blagoslovenny i byt' blagosloveniyem. Be good for Aunt Jenna. Bye Lovey.”

“I will. Bye!”

“Maks?” Meryl says after she hung up.

“Yes?”

“What did you say in Russian to Kamri?”

“Oh, it’s something I say to her a lot. It’s ‘Be blessed and be a blessing’.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“My mom used to say it to me when I would leave for school. Now…” he says with a smirking smile, standing up and holding his hand out to her. “Back to our schedule. Let’s see, first on the list, breaking in the bed” Maks says and lifts Meryl up so she is upside down over his shoulder, earning a squeal from Meryl.

~

“I’m so full!” Meryl says putting her napkin on the table and sitting back in her chair.

“Ugh, me too. I can’t believe I ate that much. I need to work this food off.”

“Let’s talk on the beach.”

“Not quite what I had in mind but ok.”

“I love this romper. I want to stay in it for a little longer Maks. Show me off in it Maksim.”

“Oh, I like the idea of that. Show my gorgeous wife off as we walk down the beach hand in hand. Let’s go!”

Maks stands and extends his hand to Meryl. They are in their room, having ordered room service. He grabs their room key and puts it in his pocket as they head out. As they head out their French doors, Maks admires his wife in her sexy romper. It is a navy and green geometric romper.

“So Maks, um, you want to have a baby right?”

“Of course I do!”

“Ok. Just making sure. I was never on the pill since I was saving myself for marriage and well, we didn’t use, um, protection so…”

“I know babe. You want this too right?”

“Yes! More than anything. Now that you’re my husband and Kamri is just days away from officially being my daughter, the next thing on my list is to add to our family.”

“I love you.”

“I love you. What do you want to have?”

“What do you mean? I thought you were stuffed.”

“I mean do you want a boy or a girl?”

“I don’t care. Whatever God blesses us with.”

“I kind of want another girl. I mean I’d love a boy but…”

“You want to dress up a baby girl along with Kamri.”

“Yea” she says shyly.

“How many?”

“Kids?”

“Yes.”

“Um, I don’t know. Not too many but…”

“I’ve always thought 4 kids.”

“That’s a good number.”

“I’m not stuck on that number though. I mean it’s not my body and…”

“Maks, God will bless us with what he sees fit.”

“I know.”

“You know, as Noelle gets closer to her due date, I get worried. How are things going to change when Rylan is here? How is she going to struggle?”

“Meryl…”

“What if she looks like him? What if it sends Noelle into a tail spin? I know she says she’s doing ok but…”

“Meryl, relax babe. No matter what, we’ll be there for her and will help her through.”

“You’re right. I can’t wait to meet little Rylan.”

“Me either. Let’s head back. I think I hear the hot tub calling our names.”

~

“Can you believe today is our last day Maks?”

“It’s crazy.”

“I love it here. I miss our girl though.”

“Me too!”

“Think she’ll like her dress?”

“Duh. You picked it. Anything you pick she likes. I can’t wait to just hold her and kiss her. I’m glad we have that three-day weekend before you two go back to school when we get back.”

“Me too! We might have to have a sleepover with the three of us when we get back. You know, like the whole family in one room.”

“I might be up for that” Maks says cuddling her closer in bed. “What should we do for our last day?”

“Call Kamri?”

“Mer…”

“Ok. How about a beach day and then nice dinner tonight?”

“Ok. I like that. Do we have to go right now though?”

“Weren’t you the one who asked what we are going to do?”

“Yes but… I was hoping you would say to stay in bed a bit longer and then go and do something.”

She rolls her eyes and sits up and kisses him. “I’m going to get ready. Get up and get ready. Oh, find the sunscreen.”

“Yes babe.”

Meryl grabs her orange floral strapless swimsuit. She wraps her hair up in a bun. She puts on her face sunscreen and then slips on her white cover-up dress. She takes one last look in the mirror and heads back out. Maks is already dressed in his Hawaiian flowered white swimsuit and white t-shirt. He has the sunscreen in his hand and a smile on his face.

“You know, I can’t put sunscreen on you with that dress on” Maks says with a smirk.

She smiles and shakes her head as she takes her cover-up off. She comes over to Maks but stops him from spraying the sunscreen on her when she reaches for his shirt.

“I can’t put it on you with this on either.”

She throws the shirt on the bed and stands in front of Maks with a wicked smile. He leans forwards, kisses her, and then starts to spray her with sunscreen. When he is done, she sprays him. She then grabs his shirt and puts it back over his head, kissing him when his head comes through the hole. She then slips back into her cover up and takes his hand.

“Let’s go husband.”

He kisses her hand as he gets up off the bed. They head off towards the beach hand in hand. The beach is surprisingly empty.

“Maks…”

“What?”

“We forgot something.”

“What?”

“Towels. And our phones. Really, the whole beach bag.”

“You stay here. I’ll go get them.”

“Ok. I’m going to put my feet in the water. Oh, grab the sunscreen for later too.”

“Anything else?”

“Drinks, snacks… Maybe I should just come back with you. We forgot a lot of things.”

“I think we were distracted.”

“Hmm, I think so.”

10 minutes later they are making their way back to the beach with arms full of all the things they forgot the first time. Maks sets up their umbrella and Meryl lays out their towels before they head to the water together.

“Maks, how come we live so close to the beach but we never go at home?”

“Because it’s been too cold and it is school time.”

“So you’re saying is when school ends, we can go more often?”

“Yes. You and Kamri can go whenever during the week if I’m at work but we’ll have lots of family day trips to the beach as well. I promise.”

“Good.”

“We’re going to dance more too. When Kamri has class, we’ll dance.”

“That’ll be fun.”

“I’m so glad you think so babe. You are a great dancer and my favorite partner I’ve ever had. I don’t want another partner ever.”

“Not even Kamri?”

“Ok her to.”

“I love watching you two dance together. Kamri lights up so bright. She loves you so much. She wants to please you so badly. It’s so sweet.”

“I love her. Every time I look at her, I think I’ve fallen even more in love with her. And I already thought I couldn’t love her more.”

“I totally get that feeling.”

“It’s the same with you too. I don’t think I’ll ever stop falling in love with you more and more. Sometimes I’m afraid I don’t have enough love for anyone else.”

“That’s the thing about love. It’s limitless. If God can love everyone and never run out of love, we’ll never run out of love either.”

“You’re too smart Mer” he says and kisses her.

~

“We’re back and one step closer to Lovey” Maks says when they land. They just flew back from Hawaii and have landed in LA. Meryl has been anxious all flight to get to Kamri and hold her. On their nightly call last night, Kamri was upset, not feeling great, and missing them. It had broken her heart. She had barely slept that night and didn’t sleep on the flight either.

“Thank goodness. I’m sorry. I had such a good week. It’s just, she sounds so sad and sick and I just want to cuddle her up and make her feel better.”

“I know Meryl. I understand. I feel the same way. She needs us.”

“I need to get off this plane Maksim” she says with her leg bouncing as the plane slowly makes its way to the gate.

As soon as they are allowed up, Meryl is up and making her way up the aisle. Maks grabs their bags and rushes after her. She is off the plane and making her way up the runway quickly.

“Meryl, slow down.”

“I can’t Maks!”

“Just wait for me please.”

“No. Hurry up.”

He quickens his pace and catches up to her, taking her hand and slowing them down. She lets out a sigh and tries to pull him along faster. He wouldn’t move any faster.

“Maks!” Meryl whines.

“Meryl, we are not running through the airport. We’ll get to her. I promise.”

“But…”

“Relax baby.”

“I can’t! Not until I have Kamri in my arms.”

“Soon Meryl.”

“Could be sooner” she says trying to pull him faster.

He gives in and lets her pull him faster. As they get to baggage claim, Meryl looks all around for Jenna and Kamri. She can’t see them.

“Our belt is down farther. They are waiting there so you can’t see them yet. Come on, this way Meryl” Maks says pulling Meryl towards their belt.

As they get closer, Meryl’s grip tightens on his hand. When she finally sees them, she lets go and runs to Jenna, Val and Kamri. Val, who they didn’t know was going to be at the airport, is holding Kamri.

“Lovey!”

“She’s asleep” Val says.

“Aw, she really must not be feeling good. Come here Lovey” Meryl says and takes Kamri from Val. Kamri stays asleep and cuddles into Meryl’s neck. Meryl kisses her head and Maks does the same.

“Hi Lovey. We missed you” Maks whispers and kisses her again. “How was she?”

“Great. We had some much fun this week. She was very cuddly yesterday. Around lunch time, she got a fever. She’s coughing and congested. She’s been so quiet and miserable.”

“Aw, Lovey. Let’s get you home.”

“Mer?” Maks says.

“What?” she says as she turns to walk away.

“Our luggage hasn’t come yet.”

“Ugh” she whines.

“Here they come Meryl. A few more minutes.”

~

“Our first night together in this house in our master bedroom and we are sharing with a sick Kamri. Not quite what I had in mind” Maks says as he climbs into bed, curling up next to Meryl. Kamri is on the other side of her.

“I know baby. I’m sorry but…”

“I know. I want to keep an eye on her too. It’s ok. We have plenty of nights in here to ourselves.”

“Mhmm” Meryl says quietly as he hides his face in her neck, kissing it.

“I love you.”

“I love you too. I love this. All three of us together as a family in one house, forever now. It’s the best feeling in the world.”

“Sure is.”

“Hopefully soon we’ll have a full bed.”

“Oh that’d be great” she says quietly. “Can she stop growing please?”

“I say the same thing every morning Meryl.”

“At least now I won’t miss anything. No more missing tough nights, silly at home moments, and random cuddle sessions. I’ll be here for them all.”

“I wouldn’t want anyone else to be” he says and kisses her before the snuggle up and fall asleep.