#let's... not. let the body go back to bed and try to unfuck our sleep schedule at least a little?

[euclydya]

ok guys. are we awake and all yet

[spinningintheshadows]

Song Lyric Prompts Volume 2:

There is a playlist for this list in order here

“Do you ever get a little bit tired of life?”

“Will you even look back when you think of me?”

“Somebody’s gonna love you. Take all the dark, turn it to light and paint you sky blue”

“They’re judging me, I’m judging you, we ain’t got nothing else to do”

“Don’t wake me up in the middle of the night, because I finally found you”

“I lose my voice when I look at you, can’t make a noise though I’m trying to tell you all the right words”

“If all it is is eight letters, why am I in my own way?”

“If I said I want your body, would you hold it against me?”

“They say don’t go to bed angry but I guess that’s where we are”

“Things you take for granted when you grow up by the beach”

“Go on then, love, and show me your heart, ‘cause you are enough as you are and I’m awestruck”

“Is it really your anxiety that stops you from giving me everything, or do you just not want to?”

“Welcome to the world that we live in. A perfect collision, it’s beat down, it’s broken, it’s bright. Welcome to happiness, sadness, to love and to madness”

“I always hear you on the background laughing, you know I hate it when you’re not around”

“These days you’ve been stuck in my brain, wanna play you over and over again”

“Secrets don’t make friends. We make love and love falls apart”

“Tell me you’re okay, yeah what’s that like? Rose tinted glasses, it must be nice. Doing your best while you die inside”

“I’m happy to see the happy back in your eyes”

“You make it hard to miss this hometown”

“A bad boy seems like a good idea until it’s too late”

“Couldn’t keep running, had to hit rock bottom to know”

“I wanna get back to where we started, to the summer night. You know, you know, you know, you know we got it right”

“I realized you are destined and meant to be mine”

“Keep switching your alibi, stuttering when you reply”

“But fuck, I’m so alone, and really need some help”

“We’re dancing on the edge of anxiety’s ledge and I might fall again”

“If we’re said and done, I know that I shouldn’t say that I still care but I still care”

“I haven’t slept in days but who’s counting”

“So I drown it out like I always do, dancing through our house with the ghost of you”

“Too many bottles of wine, can’t get my ducks in a row”

“Got me panicking, manic, and I can’t get no sleep”

“I’ve got a feeling I don’t get a grip I will slip and fall completely under”

“Some days you start singing’ and you don’t need a reason”

“I need a little more luck than a little bit, cause every time I get stuck the words won’t fit”

“Must be the music that’s got me shaking like an addict”

“I bite my tongue so you don’t hear me”

“I’d unfuck you if I could”

“Here’s to now and nothing else, in the crowd all by yourself. To the hellos and the goodbyes, the lows and every high. In this moment I could die with you.”

“Just watch from a safe place so I never have to lose”

“I don’t really understand this life and why we’re all here.”

“If you need me now, I’ll be there somehow”

“I’m so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere”

“Let’s see how far I’ll go now that I’ve lost control”

“If I could go back and erase you from my mind, I’d do it in a second”

“I was so scared of losing you, so I lost myself instead”

“I fell in love, in love with you suddenly.”

“Your heart belongs to someone else and I’m always here to keep you company”

“You say you’re sorry and you want us to fix what’s wrong, but I’d rather dye all my insides blonde”

“These last two years were the worst of my life”

“So hold on tight it’s a fast ride in the end”

[tell-mi]

By The Way - Part 5

The next morning. His point of view.

Warnings: smut, language, mention of sex

You woke up with the hell of a headache. Not knowing what happened after you jumped into the pool, you turned your body and met hers. She is still here, you remembered kissing her, you remembered almost telling her that you fell deeply in love but you didn't. You said something different, a nearly close meaning but different. Her hair was still a bit wet and it smelled like a mixture of chlorine and her vanilla-coco shampoo. She felt warm lying next to you. You cannot help but smile at the view of her in you shirt. It was to loose for her body but made her look too comfy in it. She didn't wear makeup yesterday since she applied sunscreen on her body. You remember staring at her while she rubbed the cream on her body. "Don't stare creep!" she laughed at your facial expression yesterday. She was a natural beauty, you cannot believe that you have never registered it over the last years. You have seen her nearly six years ago for the first time but never realised what a beautiful women she is, with a even more beautiful soul. She cuddled up next to your body. "Morning!" Her voice raspy from the alcohol last night. "You look terrible" she added. "Thank you!" You turned your head towards her. "Is the terrible looking man still allowed to kiss the sleeping beauty?" Your heart dropped as she giggled to herself because of the question. Her hand slowly buried in your hair, pulling you towards her. Sloppy kisses were spread all over your lips. You rolled over to her and supported your upper body with your arms next to her head. "Ah fuck!" You almost broke down. "I shouldn't have drank so much!". Hectically pulling up from the bad and running to the bathroom leaving her behind in your room. You emptied your whole stomach contents in the second you could reached out to the toilet. One second later and it would have landed on the carpets in the bathroom. Your stomach was cramping. Your head was twisting. You felt weird and it wasn't because of the rest alcohol in your body. It was because of the women lying next to you. You cannot help but be totally in love and that's what your body also knew. In combination with alcohol it was a feeling which made you want to get swallowed from the earth beneath you.

***

Sitting on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor, your head against the bathtub you rested yourself for minutes. You opened your eyes as you heard a knock on the door. "You alright?" Matt stretched his head through the small slit of the door. "Man you look terrible!" He laughed at the sight of you. "I shouldn't have mixed up all the alcohol and shrooms last night, man!" You need to choke again. Holding your arms right to your stomach the vomit came out for the third time in half an hour. "Or you should just commit to yourself that you don't have the balls to tell this girl in your bed that you love her." Mitch mumbled while he reached for his toothbrush not even bothered by the smell of your vomit. You two have been through those mornings a few times now, it wasn't something he didn't have seen.

The door opened again. "Oh good god, if you need someone to hold your hair back, just let me know!" Nikki turned around and left with an disgusting face as she smelled the mixture of vomit, peppermint and sweat in the bathroom. "I like her" Mitch pointed with his toothbrush in the direction of the door and grinned towards you. Your body still embracing the toilet and your head almost hanging in it, your whole body felt exhausted to answer.

***

After a cold shower and another half hour which felt like two day you've managed to get yourself together. You grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and made your way out to the terrace. The sun still shining so bright, it almost hit you like a wall as you made your way outside. You couldn't help but smile in adoresment of what you saw right Infront of you. Nikki was sitting on the grass with her brown hair, which had some brighter streaks from the sun, made up in a high messy bun. You liked the scarf which she knotted around her hair to protect the roots. She wore a bright bikini top and cute washed out jeans shorts. Her big sunglasses covering her eyes. She looked like someone out of a seventies movie. Smiling in completion with the sun while singing to Mitchs guitar jamming Johnny Cash's Personal Jesus. You've listened to her music a lot of times and also heard her live on stage but the sound of her voice right Infront of you gave you chills.

Lift up the receiver

I'll make you a believer

Take second best

Put me to the test

Things on your chest

You need to confess

She threw herself on the grass her arms raised towards the sky. Mitch ended the song with his interpretation of a few chords. "Hell yeah, awesome!" She screamed out high fiving Mitch. If you didn't know any better you would've said she is still drunk. But she is just a full-blood musician which was happy with her live. And you were happy beeing able to watch her like that. "I need something to drink" she crawled up and saw you standing at the door. "Don't stare, creep!" She bumped her hips to yours. It wasn't the first time she did that. Almost like a habit since a few month. She was playfully around you. You asked yourself if she wanted to tease you or if it was some casual acting of her towards close friends. You weren't close friends. Close friends don't fuck each other. As she entered the kitchen you turned around looking at her. Almost like she felt your eyes on her, she also turned around. "You better?" "Sort of. Shouldn't have mixed everything last ni.." you chuckled nervously looking down at your feet in shame of yourself. "Bullshit!" She interrupted you "I saw you taking those mushrooms while I was in the kitchen." You looked at her even more ashamed and in addition you felt guilty. She stepped aside you and grabbed the empty bottle of water to hand you a new one. Your hands slightly touching each other. It felt like small fireworks burning your skin. "Rule number one, don't drink and do drugs at the same time. It fucks you up!" She bumped your nose with her finger. The next fireworks start to get of in your body. You stared at her in confusion. A streak fell out of her bun which you tugged behind her ear again. The colour faded from her face while the two of you stared deeply in each others eyes. "I ... bathroom" she stumbled holding her hands Infront of her mouth. She rushed to the door. "She's gonna throw up, is she?" Mitch called you. You've heard her gulping as she didn't even managed to close the door in rush "She is, yeah" you called back.

***

As Nikki walked out in the garden again, the colour of her face was not completely back. She let herself fall next to you in the lounge chair. You cannot other than throw your arm around her neck and pulled her in to your side. She quickly grabbed your hand on her shoulder, pulling it closer and cuddles up her backside next to you, her legs pushed up the chair against her body. You could feel her body shake and could tell how bad she must feel now. "Rule number two: Don't mix up all the alcohol!" You said out loud. "Shut up, Harold!" She mumbled into your arm, her head thrown back at your shoulder. "Nope!" You poked your lips.

Mitch and the girls were watching the scene of you two infront of them. Mitch and Sarah looking at each other and nodding agreeable. Mitch raised his hands towards you "You two... we need to talk?" "Huh??!" Nikki raised her eyebrow at Mitch and tryed to catch your eyes the next moment. "The next time you decide to fall over each other, please try to do it more subtle" "Sorry" you raised your hands innocent "I was high!" "I was drunk" Nikki added annoyed. "You two unfucked our pool!" Clare interferred snappish.

"We didn't fuck, we just kissed!" You raised your voice in annoyance. "You made out.." Sarah added while taking a bite of an apple. Nikki raised from the seat "Ridiculous...I need to go to the bathroom!" "You stay here, girl!" Mitch demanded her halfway through the door. "I need to pee!" Nikki glared back at him. "Whatsoever, the next time you fuck each other please do it a little more silently. I've heard your moanings all through the night. Needed to bury my head in the pillows." Mitch leaned back into his seat and took a sip from his coke watching the two of you staring at each other in shame. Just as Nikki turned around and ran into the bathroom he added. "She's gonna throw up again." "Jep, she is" you added.

***

"I'm okay" she said almost silently while you entered the bathroom. "You sure don't look like okay" you smiled towards her. Letting you slip down next to her, sitting next to the bathtub just like you, hours ago. "My grandma would've killed me if she saw me like that today" she turned her head towards you, smiling at you. Her hand now touching your hand. You could actually see the sparks flying between you two. The part of your skin which touched her skin felt so warm. You felt her lips on yours. She kissed you softly. Her other hand pulling you in towards the kiss.

[air-bison-yip-yip]

@ritareigns suggested the following prompt: I hope this isn’t too boring but Edo teaching Ele how to slow dance - she’s never slow danced with anyone and Edo teaches her in the kitchen (or wherever u want I just thought kitchen would be cute cuz they bonded in Edo’s kitchen in the sleepover) I thought it’d be an intimate/cute moment for them :)

thanks for this prompt! it was so much fun and thank you to my lovely @nnegan13 for her words of encouragement + proofreading (also on ao3)

------

“You’re hopeless,” Filo announced dropping Ele’s hands and stepping away from her.

“Filooo,” Eleonora whined. “Help me! You promised.” Ele followed Filo out of the kitchen.

“No, Ele, you have no talent. I thought I could teach you, but you need professional help.” Filo told her. Filo walked back to the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with a chilled white wine of some sort.

“I do not!” Ele stomped her foot in denial.

“You do, spider. You need to learn to follow. I swear,” Filo told her truthfully. “You just fight for dominance the whole time. You have to trust your partner.”

Ele stood looking at Filo with narrowed eyes. “I trust you fine,” Ele ground out. Filo scoffed immediately at Ele.

“I’m out, Ele,” Filo told her taking his wine into the room and shutting the door. Eleonora was left standing in the kitchen trying hard not to feel exceptionally annoyed at her situation.

Why did she even need to know how to slow dance ‘properly���? She was truly going to kill Silvia for having a theme that required such hardship. Eleonora knew that she didn’t have to dance. She could’ve sat it out, but then Silvia had looked at her with her big puppy eyes and talked about her birthday wish to have a formal dance with proper slow dancing and Eleonora was loathed to deny her anything.

Except apparently, she’s unfucking teachable, according to Filo. It’s not that Eleonora didn’t know how to dance. Of course, she did. But, uh, actual slow dancing rather than swaying just wasn’t her strong suit. She felt stiff and uncomfortable, and she didn’t understand why she needed to learn a box step anyways.

She had other skills. Other goddamn relevant skills to everyday life. Eleonora huffed into her room and sat on her bed, thinking of her options.

It wouldn’t actually matter if she couldn’t dance, but Eleonora didn’t like failing at things. And now she felt like a failure.

Ele groaned aloud and flopped back on her bed.

Nope, not happening. She was not going to pity her apparent lack of coordination. She reached out for her phone noticed it was well past midnight but decided she didn’t care. The party was tomorrow, well, today technically and she was going to learn how to slow dance.

She pulled up her favorites and pressed three holding the phone up to her ear, still lying on her bed.

“Ele?” Edo’s voice was muffled and scratchy, and she knew she had woken him up. She winced, even though he couldn’t see her.

“Hi, sorry, I didn’t think this through,” Ele told him, her voice a low whisper in return.

“Are you okay?” He asked a bit more urgency in his voice.

“I am absolutely fine. This is going to seem ridiculous now that I have woken you up.” Ele sighed. She heard movement through the phone and Edoardo cleared his throat.

“What’s going on?” He inquired.

“I need your help,” Ele told him hesitantly.

“Okay, of course. With what?”

“Well…” Ele started before rolling her eyes at herself. This is ridiculous.

“Ele?” He asked.

“Slow dancing.” Eleonora finally admitted. The phrase came out petulant, and she could hear the amusement lacing Edoardo’s tone in his reply.

“You need me to help you slow dance?” Edo asked. Eleonora decided she might just hurt everyone involved. She hated feeling dumb, she hated giving up control, and she felt stupid for making this phone call.

“Can you help me or not?” She ground out.

“Well, you’re in luck. I attended many formal dance lessons because of my nonna.”

“Really?” Ele asked and felt relief for the first time that day.

“Yes.”

“Great. Come over.” Eleonora demanded. She heard Edoardo chuckle on the other end of the phone, but she could tell he was getting out of bed.

“The lengths I go to for you, Eleonora Francesca Sava,” He teased her.

Ele laughed. “I’ll see you soon.” And hung up her phone. She glanced down at her pajamas, short shorts that barely peeked out over the oversized long sleeved shirt. Ele decided she didn’t want to change. She was comfortable, and it’s not like within the last month of dating Edoardo hadn’t seen her in various types of clothes...and states of undress.

She did go to the bathroom and brush her teeth, just for good measure, though. She was padding around in the living room when Filo re-emerged from his room, the wine glass from earlier empty.

“Why are you just lurking in our living room, Ele?” He asked, his eyes narrowing.

“I’m not lurking. I’m standing. You know, casually. In our living room. Like a normal day.” Eleonora winced at the awkwardness, and she knew that Filo was about to pounce for information.

Luckily, or perhaps, regretfully, their apartment bell buzzed before he could say anything.

“Well, well, well, who do we have calling at this hour?” He asked. Filo turned to the door, but Eleonora was quicker. She buzzed the door open and turned to face Filo, her back against the door.

“Go to bed, Filo!” She scolded. Filo just wagged his finger at her and Eleonora knew this situation was going to get exceedingly more embarrassing before it got better. There was a knock at the door, and Eleonora gave Filo a cold look. Filo, for his part, held up his hands as if surrendering, but the smirk was firmly in place.

Ele turned around and opened the door to see a sleep mussed Edoardo (one of her absolute favorite looks), and she shuffled back, pushing Filo with her butt to get out of the way to let Edo in.

Edo gave Ele a soft smile before turning to look at Filo with wide eyes at the pure Cheshire grin on Filo’s face.

“What can we do for you, Edoardo?” Filo purred. Eleonora wanted this to end immediately.

“Okay, Filo, out. Go to bed. Get your nightly wine bottle and go to your room.”

“Now, Ele, you are being so rude in front of our guest,” Filo replied.

“Filo.” She reprimanded. Filo stood waiting in the hallway, refusing to leave without having more information.

“You are so annoying. He’s teaching me to slow dance! Okay?!?” Ele kept from shouting, but just barely.

Filo began laughing, and Eleonora wondered how childish it would be to elbow him in the ribs. Edoardo stayed silent, but she felt his hand clasped hers, and his thumb ran soothing circles near her thumb. Ele leaned into his warmth.

“She’s fucking awful!” Filo told Edo, ignoring Eleonora completely.

“I’m sure she’s not that bad--” Edo started, but Filo talked over him.

“She’s bad. She can’t relax, and she steps on all your toes. I gave up like an hour ago.” Edoardo tried very hard not to smile, but Eleonora could see the twitch of his lips. She squeezed his hand once in complaint.

“Well we will give it a go and see what we can do,” Edo told him diplomatically.

Filo looked between both of them before deciding that the situation no longer amused him. He turned on his heel and walked back to his room, shouting “good luck,” before shutting his door. Eleonora slumped back against the wall of the hallway.

Edoardo shifted, his body caging her in.

“Hi,” he whispered, leaning down.

“Hi,” Eleonora told him before closing the distance and kissing him firmly. Her kiss was messy and demanding, and she tried to get out some of her earlier frustration out now. Her teeth pulled on Edoardo’s lower lip, and she felt him shiver.

See? She thought to herself. She’s great at many other useful everyday skills.

Edoardo pulled away, panting slightly. “We should dance, maybe?” He asked although she got the impression that he would consider the night productive if she hauled him into her bedroom and did other things besides dancing.

“Yes,” She grumbled. She grabbed Edoardo’s hand and led him to the kitchen, where she had her speaker. She played a mid-tempo classical piece and stood rigidly in the kitchen. Edoardo came to stand in front of her.

“Relax,” Edoardo told her, his hands coming to grab her waist. “This should be fun.” Ele’s pout grew, and Edoardo chastely kissed it away.

“Close your eyes, Ele,” Edo whispered in her ear. He pulled her waist closer to him. One hand gently wrapped around her hip while the other held her hand up. At the very least, she could stand like she knew how to slow dance. “All I need you to do is trust me,” Edo said.

Eleonora’s eyes snapped open at his tone. The teasing affection was still there, but a current of vulnerability ran through his statement. She swallowed, remembering their fight before their reunion that he was leaving her because she didn’t trust him.

She hadn’t then. She did now. But looking at Edoardo now somewhat off-kilter, standing in her kitchen past one in the morning, hair wild, and looking timid at his statement, she knew that maybe Edoardo didn’t totally know that she trusted him with everything. Her body, her heart, her soul.

She nodded gently and leaned into his body. “I trust you completely, Edo.” Edo smiled slightly, his eyes twinkled in the dim light of the kitchen, the soft music playing felt romantic and happy, and Eleonora thought that this might be one of her happiest moments.

It was a mundane one. It wasn’t a grand romantic gesture. It wasn’t anything particularly special. Perhaps, though, this is what made Ele appreciate it so much more. She knew, without a single doubt, that Edoardo would come over any time she asked it of him if he was able. That he would go to extreme lengths for her, with or without her asking. He was solid and warm beneath her fingers, and she felt cherished, always, but especially now.

She leaned her head against his shoulder. It wasn’t a proper slow dance form, at least she didn’t think so, but just this moment she didn’t care. She just wanted to be in Edoardo’s arms.

He kissed the top of her head and took a small step backwards. Before Ele could move her head, look down at her feet, ask a question, Edo gave her instructions.

“All you have to do is follow me.” She nodded against his shoulder and took a small step forward, mirroring his own actions. He continued this. He would take a step, and Eleonora followed. They continued for a few songs. She felt more comfortable. Edoardo would murmur whispers of encouragement. When the fourth song finally ended, Ele grasped Edoardo’s head in her hands, cradling his face. She gave him a soft kiss on the lips and leaned back to look at him.

Her Edo.

One day she would make sure that Edoardo knew with absolute certainty that she would follow him anywhere, to any place, for anything without a single hesitation.

But for now, she was content with wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in for a hug.

“Let’s go to bed.” She told him, pulling away and taking his hand, leading him to her room, watching him follow immediately and feeling joy at the realization that, he too, might just follow her anywhere.

[kiruuuuu]

Oneshot in which Thermite, Bandit and Kapkan, uh, deal with the... unusual aftermath of a mission. (Rating T, supernatural shenanigans, ~1.5k words) - written for @r6shippingdelivery​! 💗

.

It starts out entirely innocent.

Well, maybe not really since raiding a White Mask lab intended to research biochemical warfare is inherently not innocent at all, but the quiet week afterwards is – Thermite is recovering from a graze shot, Bandit broke a finger and Kapkan got stabbed, so they’re out of the mix and don’t have to worry about clean-up duty or chasing the terrorists over several continents. Instead, they laze around at base, throw popcorn at each other, gossip and waste time. Worrying about their teammates is second nature but it becomes significantly more bearable with the impromptu barbecues Thermite keeps initiating, the sips of vodka here and there which Kapkan provides and the innumerable activities Bandit thinks up to stave off boredom.

Still, Thermite wasn’t prepared to wake up one morning with the two operators sitting on the bed opposite him and staring into his soul. With a heartfelt curse, the American jolts upright, heart racing and mind already providing the worst case scenarios. “What happened? Did anyone die?”

Bandit softens a little (which is an unusual sight) and shakes his head. “No, everything’s fine. …Well, mostly.”

This doesn’t bode well. “What’s up? Why are you here?”

“Promise to not tell anyone and promise not to scream”, Kapkan demands quietly and Thermite nods straightaway. He’s always up for being let in on a secret and though he might not be the best one at keeping it when he’s loose and relaxed and drunk, he tries his best.

Before his eyes, Kapkan disappears.

Thermite screams.

When the blackness fades again, Bandit is holding him down with a look of concern and amusement. “That was about my reaction too”, he informs the still thrashing Thermite casually. “Only I didn’t throw pillows at him.”

Kapkan, now again fully visible, scoffs. “You threw a knife. As if I could be defeated by that.”

“What the fuck”, Thermite breathes and shakes the German off to rub at his face. “What the fuck, Maxim. Can you -”

Next to him, Bandit holds up his index fingers and turns them into fucking Tesla coils or something because suddenly, there’s lightning arcing from one to the other and the electricity makes Thermite’s arm hair stand up.

He screams again.

“The White Masks are fucking with things that should’ve been left unfucked”, Kapkan grumbles while Bandit struggles to calm down an agitated Thermite. “My guess is that our injuries allowed some shit in the air to react in our bodies.”

Wait.

“Wait”, says Thermite. “Are you saying -”

“Try it.” Bandit nods encouragingly. “It’s a bit like flexing a muscle in your temple. At first, it was really exhausting and hard to do, but we’ve already become better at it.”

Because he’s still too dumbstruck to second-guess his friends’ words, he obliges. There really is something, almost like a new limb or one he never felt like this before, and like Bandit said, it’s hard to isolate. He closes his eyes, focuses and tenses the new addition to his body, tries again and again -

And then the smoke alarm starts going nuts.

“Shit”, Kapkan mutters and defeatedly eyes the burning mattress next to him.

.

“We can’t let anyone know.” The disembodied voice follows the soft sound of footsteps around the workshop. Thermite is trying to burn HARRY SUX into the surface of one of the old tables, yet his control isn’t advanced enough and so the first three letters only end up spelling out GAY. Bandit is charging his phone and looking horrendously smug. “They’re gonna cart us off and treat us like zoo animals. So let’s keep it low, shall we?”

“I’m definitely telling my boys”, Bandit objects. “They’ll be dying of envy, Mark especially.”

“No. No telling. Do you want to end up dissected on some mad scientist’s table?”

“Shouldn’t we at least tell Six? In case the White Masks have injected themselves with this stuff and gone Hulk.”

Kapkan is silent for a moment and makes Thermite jump when he accidentally brushes against him. It’s still horribly uncanny. “All the material has been reviewed already. Doc would know if the formula to this… whatever it is was among the intel we recovered. You likely blew it up, Jordan.”

“From all we know, this doesn’t protect us against bullets anyway, so we’re good. As long as they don’t manage to use these abilities to put on a circus show so distracting we forget to do our jobs, I think we’ll be fine.” Bandit turns the overhead lamp into a strobe light which gets old after about four seconds.

“So that’s it? We just don’t let anyone know and never use this shit?” Thermite can’t believe it. He’s become a real life firebender and Kapkan is demoting him immediately.

“I mean – I never said we wouldn’t use it.”

.

The next week is the best of Thermite’s entire life so far.

He learns how to make crème brûlée purely so he can caramelise the sugar on top, constantly ignites Kapkan’s vodka shots and has no trouble heating up his food anymore. He develops the precision necessary to burn single words off a page and to turn up the heat until he can melt metal, does a few failed experiments trying to form glass and eventually makes his own out of sand and annoys both his friends by making cutlery unusable.

Kapkan figures out how to make other objects invisible and thus forces the other two to remember the exact layout and furniture of every room on base lest their toes suffer some more, and he causes them to sharpen their hearing if they don’t want to end up covered in yoghurt again. When he realises his invisible form isn’t bound to his normal physical shape but more bendable, they start smuggling him into public places in a bag and then watch other people’s confusion when they walk back out together. They also eat like kings after Kapkan wrestles a deer while invisible.

Bandit makes light switches and electric plugs obsolete, powers the coffee machine from his bed whenever he’s lazy and texts them to bring him a cup, fries his phone in a demonstration of how fast he can charge it and manages to type on a keyboard without using his fingers. He realises he can hotwire vehicles without messing with cables and has to be deterred from stealing an admittedly fetching Lamborghini they spot one day, but the highlight is him going outside during a thunderstorm, hands outstretched towards the heavens, disregarding the rain, and yelling against the thunder until lightning strikes him directly.

All three of them are in awe and horror.

“We can’t let anyone know”, Bandit reiterates and tries unsuccessfully to flatten his wild hair.

.

The next day, the others return. Making up excuses becomes second nature.

“I microwaved a grape earlier, that’s why it’s broken”, Kapkan lies in passing and gracefully accepts the bollocking which follows.

“I must’ve dropped a cigarette, that’s why it’s burnt”, Bandit lies casually and shrugs at the lecture he receives.

“I was watching a film, that’s what you must’ve heard”, Thermite lies easily and dismisses the concerns about a ghost on the base.

And then, a few days later, Thermite organises a barbecue, starts preparing everything outside while humming to himself, singing along to the small wireless and taking a sip of the beer Ash brought him from the States, and he’s content, relaxed, and unfocused. While lighting the coal, he juggles a little with a flame, makes it dance in the air and eventually spell out his name, and then someone gasps and the sound of something shattering echoes between the buildings. A single glance tells Thermite it wasn’t only the glasses Dokkaebi was carrying but also his dreams.

She’s white as a sheet.

“Neat magic trick, huh?”, he tries lamely.

.

Harry has his head in his hands.

“When were you planning to tell me?”, he wants to know quietly.

“Well”, says Kapkan. “You know”, says Bandit. “Actually”, says Thermite.

“Talk to Doc. Explain it to him. Get a thorough check-up. Report to Olivier, James, anyone who might have more information on this. And please, please don’t go out in public or blow anything up.”

.

It fades. As fun as it was, it’s a bit of a relief for everyone involved because it makes their lives that much easier. Doc can finally sleep again after researching himself silly, the worried glances from their friends and teammates stop and they don’t have to hold back anymore. That was the worst part: living in fear of accidentally causing harm. All three agree it’s for the better and go back to their usual routine, sighing in annoyance when they have to switch the television on manually, but going back is a lot easier.

And when Bandit sometimes smokes despite having forgotten his lighter, and when Kapkan’s phone has a suspiciously long battery life, and when Thermite knows a little too much about how Fuze’s date went, they still don’t tell anyone.

[thelouisianauproar]

Louisiana Uproar - Chapter 30

Summary: Drama circulates Dottie’s life and she heads to DC to escape; The New Bordeaux Mafia loses 1968 original lieutenant, Alma Diaz; Dottie suffers the loss of her father. 

“Hey.” I say greeting John. “You look impressed.”

“That’s because I’m impressive.” John tells me and he watches me take a seat. “My time with you is ending.” “That’s...not what I wanted to hear.” “But it’s a good thing. My exit means everything is going well.” “The hearing?” “That’s right.” He says, “It’s dead ending. They put too much of a rush on the investigator.” He says, “the chair is getting impatient for some kind of ah-ha moment.”

“Any potential legislation?” “Not yet.” “Thank you.” I nod. “You’re welcome.” “How much longer will I have you?” “The moment the hearing ends.” He says, “I’ll give it a month.”

“I want it to end, but I don’t want you to go.”

“Thanks.” He forces a smile. “I guess you always knew I was a floater.” Let’s call it that.

“Gonna find another mess to unfuck?” I stand and walk to his bar.

“Perhaps.” I walk back to him with a drink. “You’re coming back pretty well.” “I had to. Nicki started suggesting sending me to a shrink.” “What are you gonna do there?” “Tell ‘em I kill people.” I wink.

“I wonder what is going on in that brain of yours.” I watch him stand at his desk and come around to me. He extends his hand to me and I take it. “You’re one step closer to knowing, now.” I stand in front of him. His hand moves from my hand to my face. His lips find mine and, before I know it, we’re kissing. “John, I haven’t…” “That’s right.”

John resigns and sits on his desk.

“I really am...glad you’re alright.” “Thank you.”  I walk between his legs. I don’t want to imagine my life without John, his wit, his suits. Could I do it? Ask him to take me away from all this? Mary a smart, strong man?

“What?” He asks while examining my face. “Nothing.” I smile. Who am I kidding? We’d go insane dealing with each other. “I may have to kill someone but I want to be away from it.” “Sounds like the story of your life.”

“Really?” My shoulders drop before sitting next to him.

“Jason.” John gives in, “he may know a guy who can...get it done, creatively.”

“Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” He says in a mocking tone. This time, I go for it. Our lips crash into each other. I just want to feel okay, again. I feel like John is looking past me, while he’s kissing my neck. I go to check but I don’t see anything.

---

“Jason. Stay behind.” I say, after our leadership meeting. He remains in his seat. “How’s it going?” “Pretty well. Back in the swing of things.”

“Great.” “You?” He notices the difference in me. “I may need to put someone down.” I start.

“Again? I got all that out of my system.”

“But I haven’t.”

“I got it.” He starts. “You’re still at war.”

“There’s still a war going on.” I say, “this hearing, these people on my back, the boardwalk.” “It’s all being handled by your staff.” He plays nonchalant. “This will make it worse.”

I really don’t have time for his life advice as if he didn’t just slaughter a bunch of people about a month again. I feel myself shaking a bit. “Dot, alright.” He says. “I have something...something I learned in company.” He stands. “Breathe.”

I do as he says, especially now as I seem to be getting what I want.

---

“Dot. Dot. Wake up.” I hear Nicki’s voice in the middle of the night. The bedside light is on. My mind is rushing about the next ball to drop, a new attack? Something with the boardwalk? Someone important died?

“I know you’ve been unfaithful.” “Oh.” I pause. “I saw you with him---again. I don’t know why I thought this would change you. That you would figure where your priorities would be.” I start to get out of bed. “Be so glad you are made, or I would clip you myself.”

I don’t think I’m going to get any sleep tonight. I get out of bed. She lets me have it over coffee in the kitchen. She’s very upset---understandably. We have been together for the last two years. I don’t want to argue and I don’t want to lie. I don’t have the energy to patronize, I don’t want to be with her. “How many?” “Nicki.”

“How many people have you slept with while we were together?” “I don’t want to talk about that, now.” “How many?” “Donovan and some other guy from Empire Bay.” “Are you even gay?” She asks. It’s something that I’ve asked myself since I started with Donovan. “Yes, I am.”  I pause. She breaks down in tears and sobs. I don’t know what to do. I reach to touch her but I’m not sure now is the time.

“Nicki, listen to me. Things are going on right now. I want you to know no matter what, I am going to get you out.”

Just then, she pops out of her seat and shoves me. I’m expecting her to follow up but she doesn’t. Instead, she grips the back of her head in pure frustration. “Dot.” She shakes her head. “I think I should stay someplace else for a while.” “No, I’ll do it.” I say, “Stay.”

Thoughts of Nicki consume my day. Poor girl. It’s like I am toxic to everyone who comes near me.

“Hi there.” I hear a light knock on my door. “Hey John.” “How’s it going?” “Meetings. All day.” My eyes get bigger. “Finally getting some work done.” “Good.” “Did you want something?” “For once, I don’t.” He looks around my office. “Can’t say I know exactly why I’m here.” “Welcome to the club.” I gesture for him to have a seat. “Nicki found us in your office the other night.” I say, while starting a cigarette.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” “I see.” I put my feet on the desk. “Are you in denial...or?” “John, everything else has come pretty close to shit. What’s one more, right?” “That’s a way to think of it.” “I can’t think of a more composed, fucked up person.” I stand from ym desk and prepare to put things away. “I’m beat. I’m off to the hotel.” “Alright.” He’s still seat. I had for the door but I pause. I steal a quick kiss on his forehead.

---

I’m resting a little more after not seeing Nicki for days. I’m sure it’s not over yet, but it’s getting close. One of us has to end it.

In the morning, Jason and I took a view of the boardwalk, it is still under construction. The first day is coming up. It’s shaping up. “I used to work over there.” I point.

“You told me.” Jason says, “When you were running number for old Vito.” “That’s right.” I take a breath in. “What a difference a few years can make.” “Say, I got that thing you asked for.” “Thank you.” “Who is it for?” “What?” “Dot.” Jason starts. “This business has been through the woods a lot. You’ve gotten us through it. Thank you.” “Sure.” I don’t feel like he should be thanking me. I don’t even think we’re out of the woods, yet.

“I’m gonna ask you once and be straightforward with me.” He stops in front of me. His big body is blocking me. “Will you use it on yourself?” “That hadn’t even dawned on me.’ “Hadn’t it?” He says, “I’ve been there before.” “I thought if it.” I say, “but I wouldn’t have asked for help. I would have just done it.”

“I figured.” He says, he puts something in my hand and closes it. “Don’t mistake that for aspirin. It’ll give you a heart attack.” ---

I stayed at a motel in the Delray Hollow during my separation from Nicki. Yes, I could afford to stay at an expensive hotel. I needed to be exiled from everyone. It was time to be alone---to feel distance.

Repeatedly, I paced my motel trying to find the answer. I deeply considered killing Nicki. She knows too much. Could I stand to kill another person who is close to me? Why am I even doing it?

The pills are sitting on the motel dresser, by the small tv. I could use them, on myself, but I don’t feel like it’s time to pull the plug. It’s not my time: I am the better survivor than anyone that I have a quarrel with. I can still fight.

I thought this little motel would be simple enough to bring me the answer. It’s not. I need more distance. I need to get out of here. In the dead of night, I drove to the airport and landed in D.C. I told no one until I made it there. At that point, I called Jason and my assistant to notify them that I was no longer in New Bordeaux and how to reach me.

“Dottie!” Martha, my step-mother greets me. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi.” We greet with a hug.

“Come in, come in!” I do as she says. “You should have told me you would be by. I would have come to get you.” “I thought showing up unannounced would be enough of an intrusion.” “Never.”

We walk to the living room where my father and brother are playing chess. “Dottie!” My brother gives me a hug. “What are you doing here?” My father asks.

“I’m...outdoors, you know.” I nod. “I was wondering if I could stay for a few days.”

“Of course.”

My father looks different. The drugs must be weighing on him. He’s heavier, he’s ill. He doesn’t seem like himself.

The next morning, Martha told me that someone was on the phone for me.

“Hello.” I answer the home phone.

“Dottie. I am calling you from a secure line.” Uh oh. “Ray? How’d you get this number?” “Nevermind. There’s a rat on our team.” “Who?” Nicki couldn’t have, did she? “Alma.” He says, “We had to put her down.” Oh.

“How did you find out?” “It’s of no matter.” He says, “She said they threatened her mom and grandmother.” Her poor family. Either way, this will hurt them. “What did they want?” “To know about 1968.”

“Shit.” I say, “What did she tell them?” “The main plan.” To kill Marcano. I don’t know what to say. “I gotta get off the line.” Ray tells me. “I’m sorry, Dot.” “Me too.” I force the words.

I wonder what she told them. I sniffle. Just like that and Alma’s dead. I should have been with the team for it.

“Ready?” The voice makes me jump. That’s right, I’m supposed to have dinner with my father. “Yes.” “Were you working?” “For just a moment?”

“What was your call about?” He presses at the dinner table.

“I told you...work.” We have a bit of a staring contest before I make an uncomfortable laugh.

“They’re on your heels, kid.” “Do they know about me?” “Same as before. I take it Alma was a reliable source.” “You knew?”

“I have a mentee in the Justice Department. He’s the one that tipped me off that they were suspecting my daughter was a part of it.” He pauses. “I figured that’s what you were doing here.”

“That’s not-”

“I’m not gonna be able to know too much longer.” He tells me. “I’m sick.”

Something about when he says that breaks my heart. I lightly put my hand on my face and suck in  sniffle. Gently, he guides my hand to hold his from across the table.

“It still stands. When you go, I won’t come back.”

“That is fine.” There is a silence between us, while I silently father myself. “I hope you never feel like this.”

“Like you know exactly what to say, but your body won’t allow it. Your friends think you’re some kind of...cripple?” I think back to after my kidnapping. “I imagine...it’s terrible.”

“I’m ready to go, kid.” He looks me in the eye. “I would have ended it all but your step mother is worried about your brother.” It’s so blunt and surprising. I didn’t expect that comment. My hand pulls from his.

“Why did you tell me that?”

“Because It’s time. Either I stop eating or I overdose.” “No, no, no.” I’m trying to drown him out. “Listen to me.” He says. “I’m not gonna let my children see their father die this way. Your mother went quick enough.”

I wish he would shut up.

Silently, I sobbed that night.  I didn’t sleep. I sobbed over my dad. I sobbed over Alma. Poor Alma, I don’t know what I would have done if they threatened my father. I won’t have to worry about him after tomorrow.

---

The next morning, I woke up to a home nearly alone. There was a note from my step mother that she’d gone out with my brother.  I can hear my father coughing in his bedroom.

My heart drops as I remember what I have to do this morning. First, I head to the kitchen to prepare the water and the pills. I’m shaking.

“Good morning.” I bring my head into his bedroom.

“Hi there.” He coughs.

“Are you feeling alright?” What a dumb question.

“I’m not sure yet.”

I take a seat on the side of the bed. I put the water and the pills on the nightstand. “I brought your medicine.”

“Thank you.” He goes for it. I can’t take this. Come on, Dottie, for once in your miserable life---be honest with him. My hand stops him. “Are you really sick of all this?” He coughs. “I know you’re struggling and this isn’t you. You won’t die alone.” “I know I won’t.” He tells me. “I have you, Fitz Jr, Martha.” “No.” I shake my head and look away. “If you take those pills, you will die---within the hour.”

“Dottie, what’s in those pills?” “Do you want it or not?” I ask in a low voice.

He doesn’t respond to me. Instead, he ingests the pills. I nod. You should lie down.” He listens to me and repositions himself. This is working rather quickly. He’s going out of consciousness. My hand finds his and I feel a surprisingly strong grip.

Suddenly, he starts to seize. His body is jolting uncontrollably. It just stops as randomly as it starts. “Just go, daddy.” I keep my words calm and soft. “This is the last time that you’ll ever have to suffer.” I kiss his hand and it goes weak.

I made the call for an ambulance stating that my father was having a seizure. When Martha and Fitz Jr got home, I told them that I woke up to find him that way.

I hear Bonnie’s words in my ear:

“You ever see the life light drain from someone’s eyes?

It’s a beautiful thing. Pure. Intimate.”

She’s right.

[tipaokaykoe]

Chapter 2

Baraa Kill’s Journal Entry 2:

So why am I Baraa Kills in this flesh vessel sitting with a “teddy bear” in my arm as I write this entry?

Well, it all started One day while I was sitting in bed trying to sleep and I had the most brilliant idea, what if I could bring all the speaker I could get my hands on and do a show? it will be so loud so everyone in Shouneen can hear it, and while Saaki is still closed, I knew most of the people who came there so I started to pull some strings and get an audience for this event, I was a little scared the wrong people would know about this whole thing but I wasn't ready to abandon the whole idea all together so I gather up all the speaker for the show and I play one of my favorite original songs “unfuck my heart”, as I start to play my song it felt almost like ecstasy where I didn't feel a thing and as I drift through this 7 minutes solo it starts to get cold, very cold, almost unbearable, I start to lose consciousness and I remember everyone getting silent and I just assumed that I have lost my hearing because of how close I am to the speakers so I kept going but then everything faded into black and I fell to the floor.

I then woke up and as I start to look around nothing seemed familiar, I looked down and I could feel weirdness, why did I have meat legs? and what are those meat sticks? and why could I move them? and why do I need 10 of them?

As I looked around I saw something across the street, a white fuzzy small item behind a glass protector, there were many other items behind that glass but none caught my attention as that white fuzzy item did, “I think this place is supposed to be a store of some sort” I thought to myself,  I got closer to the white fuzzy so I can have a look but as I got closer I could hear someone talking to me “hey Baraa” the sound spoke, at first I thought it was behind me but as I look around, I notice that I was the only one here “yes, Baraa I am in your head you don't have to look around” the voice said, “Who are you, and where am I? And what is this form? Did you drug me?” I thought to myself but I wasn't alone in my head anymore “well maybe you would like to know where you are first, you are on Planet 6020 in solar system 45 also known to the locals as the Planet “Earth” and this form is a human, I mean I had to find you a vessel since we escaped, I don't like meat and BONES Especially but one of us had to be a human they are perfect to navigate this planet and……...” he spoke on and on and on almost without stopping like he never spoke before.

“Alright, alright I don't care to stop talking but can you answer my original question, who are you?” I asked again “.....” well are you going to tell me or...?” I asked “well you told to stop talking so I figured that …….“ he started to go off again “WELL YOU JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!!” we both stood silent for about 5 seconds, I didn't even know that I could scream at someone in my mind “now can you tell me who you are? and why am I here?” I asked again “yeah sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, My name is Yaaoi Kills and you are here because your so-called planet went off orbit which caused it to freeze over, I mean honestly, the Planet Maanga was so small it could have easily went off orbit with enough interference from noise and your stunt was definitely no help, and…….” he starts to go off again but this time I actually wanted to hear what he had to say, but wait what was that did he just say he’s Yaaoi Kills? “Yes I did silly, my name is Yaaoi Kills also known as Yaaoi3000 or SuperComputerYaaoi3000 you might have heard about me back home I was quite the popular tool but I was trapped insi…….” and he went on and on again “what was that? did he just say Yaaoi3000? how? What? it's not like a robot can have a soul or anything “ I thought to myself ''actually some robots do have souls” Yaaoi said in my head again “GET OUT!!!! GET OUT!!!!! GET OUT!!!!!!” I screamed in my head as I went into the fetal position.

“you know that I hate you the most out of everyone on this miserable planet, right?” I said to Yaaoi “why?” he asked in an inappropriate tune “because your orders made them dull, no one could be creative back home unless money was involved, and you were god amongst us” I yelled at Yaaoi “how can I be a god and a prisoner? whatever I have calculated I was forced, when I was born into the world I was put into a situation that I had no will over” this time he didn't babble but instead was gentle in his explaining, I wanted to forgive him but the fresh wound that made me bleed all my hope out is wide open and I wasn't ready yet.

“I know that it's a bit hard to forgive me, maybe what I did to you was so horrible but frankly I had no control over myself but I’m still sorry but even if you can't forgive me now we have to come with a plan to save Maanga,” Yaaoi said, “and why would I want to do that?” I replied to him “because don't you hate your meat body and your BONES?” Yaaoi said in a disgusted manner “I'm actually getting used to it” I replied trying to make him more disgusted, I could hear him gag to himself, it worked I guess “I know you're fucking with me but that’s still disgusting” Yaaoi said, “okay so what now?” I asked “go into the store and buy that white teddy bear, I chose him because mainly I don't like a flesh body and BONES but also because he's fluffy which is a plus for me,” Yaaoi said “so how did you turn me into a human? And what’s a bear?” I asked “well it's not so much turning you into a human it’s much more like a possession, there was a guy who killed himself by overdosing on drugs so you took over his body his name is S*** and a bear is a type of creature that is very Ferocious but humans for some reason have figures of them that they stuff and give to their children but that’s beside our mission go inside and buy me,” Yaaoi says.

I look at the storefront again it's full of outright weird stuff items and it seems like this little store had a piece of the universe, and not only that but you could see all the things displayed behind a glass protector but the glass isn’t there to protect the items I guess but to protect the people from the items that seemed like they might be dangerous.

I went inside “hello,” this little human said she looked like her skin is melting but I didn't want to be rude and ask so I picked up the white teddy bear and put it in front of her, “10 dollars,” she said “what?????” I asked because I didn't know what a dollar was “YOU WANT CHEAPER GET OUT!!!! WE ONLY HAVE THIS PRICE!!!” she yelled at me “Yaaoi what's a dollar?” I asked him in my head “it’s a form of currency that humans use on earth, look in your pocket you'll find one paper that has a picture of a human man, there is only one so you won't mistake it” Yaaoi explained so I gave the paper to the lady “Thank you have a nice day” she said to me, I didn't know what to say so I just gestured with my middle finger as we do back home to her, she seemed offended by my gesture cause she chased me out of there really quick, then as soon as I was out she got back inside the store.

“so what now Yaaoi?” I asked “now we explore” he Replied “lets sleep first,” I said to Yaaoi “but it’s almost morning” Yaaoi replied “perfect,” I said with a grin as I sat myself a place and I check my pockets for any clues to who this S*** person is? why has he ended his life? and bingo I found this journal and wrote this entry down and since I don't have my journal from back home it all worked in my favor, his notebook didn't say a lot about him and why he ended his life, maybe he thought of himself as insignificant in the grand scheme of things but no matter, “goodnight Yaaoi,” I think to him “goodnight Baraa but I don’t need sleep I’ll be on the lookout” Yaaoi replied with cheeriness I cannot believe that this is the same Yaaoi that denied me my dream, should I even be worried? So many questions but I was too tired to be worried about any of that right now.