#like a GROUP not judge a few good peas..

[aideshou]

Do you bloom for death or sad goodbyes?

[yourjughead]

Fighting Ex's pt 1

Sweet Pea X clumsy shy Reader

Synopsis: Sweet Pea wants to drag you out of your shell. When you take his side in an argument with your ex boyfriend, a trip to the Wyrm brings you outwards

Fluff

------------------------------

You drifted through the halls Friday morning, keeping your head down and pace quick, the usual, only this morning your tracks were interrupted by the gaggle of Serpents arriving. They flooded the hallways in true Southside style, loud and unapologetic. They had been here for some time now but their presence was still notable.

You crinkled your face as you struggled to get the locker door to give way. Its rusty hinges allowed access with your force, your hand slipping, sending your balance alongside it. Your hips met the ground square from behind as you felt every eye in the corridor land on you. As quick as you were on the ground you were up, sailing the top of your head right into the bottom of the locker. You cursed harshly in your mind, bringing a hand to the growing bump.

“Have you considered bubble wrapping yourself?” tension grew from your nerves at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. You glanced quickly to the side to meet the Serpents eyes, wide and smiling at you. Sweet Pea and you had few interactions in the classes you both shared but his interest in you was growing more and more by the day. You knew little about one another, with one of you desperate for that to change.

“I…umm…maybe” you breathed out, shoving your gear bag into the metal casing and almost slamming the door closed again. Your palm quickly landed on the door trying to quiet the sound.

“That'll show it” Sweet Pea smiled again.

“YN! There you are! come on I have to tell you the drama, I-” Kevin came rushing to your side, cut off by Sweet Peas presence.

“Keller's kid right? Go on then, I like to hear the drama too” his eyebrows raised, Kevin only side eyeing him before hooking an arm in yours and pulling you away. You hesitantly looked back at Sweet Pea who just gave a wave with his fingertips before laughing and rejoining his cohort.

-

“Marry, Fuck, Kill, Serpent addition” the group laughed at Veronicas idea of a game when lunch time came around.

“Don't be crass Veronica, they're like my siblings now” Jughead winced at the thought of the outcome of these answers.

“I don't care, don't play then. Kevin, which of those three over there are you marrying” Veronica pointed a long manicured finger to where Fangs, Sweet Pea and another Serpent talked just outside the common room.

“I hate those guys” Reggie cut off Kevin before he could talk, Jughead rolling his eyes and going to their defence.

“If I could marry and fuck one of them I'd be happy, you've a free house tonight, maybe I'll get my chance there” Kevin whispered to you as the group volume raised over the premise of the game. You smiled, gently bumping him with your shoulder. Kevin had become one of your only really good friends, his own friends adopting you then by proxy. They never got much out of you, instead you just listened and made your own internal judgments of them, and there was a lot to judge them for.

Sweet Pea strided over with Fangs, both sitting on an arm of the chair Jughead occupied, silence falling on the group. This peace lasted all of two minutes, abruptly ending as Reggie and other Bulldogs decided to ruffle some Serpent skin. You quickly made your exit after seeing your ex boyfriend take the first swing.

On your way back to your locker after a long day of painful classes, you walked past Sweet Pea sat on a chair outside the principal's office, the halls almost empty. You looked briefly at the darkening bruising under his eye as you ambled past.

“I should have bubbled wrapped myself” he gave you a small grin, hoping to pull you into conversation.

“Yeah maybe” said with a little shrug in return. The principal's abrupt exit with Reggie from his office silenced you both. Reggie gave Sweet Pea a blood curdling stare, only to have the Serpent look back unfazed.

“Now you both say it was the other that threw the first punch and I have no way of-”

“YNN was there” Reggie cut the Principal off before he could finish. The three pairs of eyes all landing on you. The hairs on your neck stood on their ends, Sweet Pea pulling his gaze away, accepting his fate of another bad reputation at another school. You and Reggie dated breifi, he clearly was testing what loyalty was left between you both. You glanced between the three and gulped before answering honestly.

“Reggie threw the first punch Sir.” You looked down to your feet, Sweet Peas head snapping back in your direction in disbelief.

“What the fuck YNN?!”

“Reginald! Language! You can go-” he gestured to Sweet Pea who instantly stood up without hesitation “-and you Reginald, back in here with me”.

Sweet Pea sighed a breath of relief as the two re-entered the Principal's office, he turned to thank you but you had taken off up the hallway, by passing your locker and out through the exit.

“Hey hey wait up YN” He easily met your side with his long stride, you nodded in reply to him, almost frantically turning your head to watch your bus drive off without you.

“Thanks for that”

“Don't mention it”

“Seriously that was really cool of you”

“Seriously don't mention it” you kept your voice low, looking for anyone around familiar to you and landing your eyes on Kevin. Kevin who was with Fangs and heading in your guys direction both looking very cosy.

“What a difference a day makes” Sweet Pea joked earning a small smile from you.

“Not much of a talker no?” Fangs voiced prevented your own from answering Sweet Peas question.

“Sweet Pea, Sweet Peas Girl, come on we're going to the Wyrm with Kevin….and some other people but mostly Kevin-” Fangs winked at Sweet Pea “-...gotta show him-i mean them our world" Fangs was clearly gushing over Kevin and you and Sweet Pea thought it was adorable.

“Sounds good, yn?” You bit your lip and it was driving Sweet Pea crazy.

“I-I don't know” Kevin's eyes looked at you pleadingly, he couldn't very well go to the Southside alone.

“Ah come on YN, I owe you a drink after you saved my ass”

“Oh you told them the ex hit first, nice revenge YN” Kevin nudged you. A new energy came from Sweet Pea at this information.

“I-I guess I could go for awhile” you spoke before Sweet Pea could ask questions. His delight at your agreement sent them out of his mind.

“-Great, I'll take you on my bike, Kevin can go with Fangs-” the two had already began making strides towards the motorbike lock up “-and I can bring you home whenever you want then” he beckoned you to follow him over to where he'd parked earlier. You nodded smally being reassured with the presence of Kevin at Fangs side.

~

It was later that night and after a few drinks you began to relax into the atmosphere. Kevin stayed close to you as did Sweet Pea. The buzz of the bar bouncing off the walls surrounding the booth. It was nice to hear the stories from growing up in the Serpents, not nearly as horrible as all the rumours made it seem. Sweet Pea was enjoying seeing you outside of school and you were, to your own surprise, feeling the same about him. Drinks were free flowing as a party at the bar kicked off, leaving your brain feeling a bit groggy with the increasing volume of music.

You came back from the bathroom to find Sweet Pea in an empty booth.

“Umm?”

“Well Fangs is showing Kevin...the inside of the coat closet” he gestured to the far away cabinet on the other side of the dance floor.

“Want to dance?”

“I didn't take you for the dancing type Sweet Pea”

“Plenty you don't know about me YN” he stood, taking you by the hand and leading you to the crowded dance floor. He wasn't the dancing type. He was really really not coordinated but you didn't care. You were having fun being silly with him, the alcohol and his energy taking away any self consciousness you felt, a new world of feeling. The lights flickered the colour of the rainbow as the music climbed and climbed with volume, Serpents dancing letting loose, being young dumb and free, all feelings you regularly denied yourself. Then darkness

[persephoneseye]

🖤🗝️Friendliness

Sal Fisher x fem reader PART ONE

Feel free to send requests (NO NSFW)

Your phone blared in your ear, informing you that it was time to wake up. You begrudgingly got up from your bed and dragged yourself to the bathroom to get ready. It had been a few months since you moved to Nockfell, and they weren’t anything special. You had spent most of your summer days locked in your room, mourning the loss of your childhood friends, school, and home. Today was the first day of your sophomore year at Nockfell High School, and you were definitely not excited. As you got ready, your chest filled with more and more dread of what was to come in the day ahead of you.

“Morning, sweet pea.” Your mother said with a bright smile. How was she always so chipper in the mornings? Must be all that coffee.

“Morning, Ma.” You replied sleepily, grabbing a cereal bar from the pantry. You didn’t exactly feel like talking, but you knew she’d figure something was wrong if you didn’t make conversation.

“Excited?” She asked curiously, taking a sip of her coffee.

You shook your head slowly, shoving the cereal bar into your mouth hungrily. Why should you be excited? It’s not like you’d make any friends on the first day.

“I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you think.” She said softly, trying to comfort your anxiety.

You shrugged, walking back to your room to then slip on your shoes and grab your backpack. You walked to the front door and waved goodbye to your mom. You opened the door to instantly feel the cold morning air of Nockfell. You sighed and shut the door and began your commute to your new prison. As you approached the large brick building, plenty of kids were already looking at you. “Great…” You thought to yourself. “I’m already being judged.” You took a deep breath and opened the front door to the school, fishing out the paper you got at orientation out of your pocket. Luckily, they gave you your class locations and locker number before school started. “78…” You mumbled to yourself, looking at the paper while making your way down the hallway to try and find Locker 78. As you got closer, counting down the lockers 76, 77… and finally 78, you noticed a strange group of kids your age near your locker. In fact, they were RIGHT next to your locker, almost blocking it. There was a boy with ginger hair and glasses, a girl with long brown hair, a boy who also had long brown hair, and then…there was another. You didn’t really register anything more about the group of kids, why should you? You didn’t get a good look at the last one, they were short and kind of in the middle surrounded by the others. You opened your locker and set down your backpack to bring out your books when you heard whispering from the group.

“Isn’t that the new girl?” Said one.

“She looks nice.” Said another.

You decided to stop eavesdropping, their opinions didn’t matter. You were just trying to get through the day. You pulled out a massive stack of books from your backpack, trying to haul it into your locker. You failed miserably though, dropping them immediately with a loud BANG of the hardcovers.

“Here, let me help you!” A girl said as you kneeled to clean up your mess. You looked up for your eyes to meet hers. They were bright green, shielded by dark eyelashes. She looked down at your books and began to stack them. You immediately panicked.

“No, really it’s fine! You don’t need to help!” You stammered, trying to get the stranger to stop assisting you.

“I know I don’t need to, but I want to.” She replied matter-of-factly, smiling brightly at you while handing you your books. “I’m Ash.”

“…Y/N…” You mumbled, blushing from embarrassment. You didn’t want some random girl to pity your clumsiness.

“Nice to meet you!” She said cheerily, standing up to introduce you to her friends. “This is Todd,” She said, motioning to the redhaired boy with glasses, “Larry,” she continued, referring to the boy with long brown hair, “and that’s Sal!” She concluded, pointing at a…strange (to say the least) looking…boy?

The individual had olive skin, from at least what you could see from their hands and neck. They wore a long sleeved black shirt that was far too large for them, black ripped jeans, and red converse that were littered in doodles. Their wrists were adorned in handmade bracelets, spelling out various words like “punk”, “Sally Face”, and “BFFS”. Their hair was tied back into two electric blue pigtails, with short bangs covering their forehead. But the strangest thing…was their face. Or, what seemed to be a face from what it looked like. They wore a stark-white mask that covered their whole face, with little holes for their eyes and nostrils. You couldn’t tell what material it was made out of, but it looked fairly…medical? You decided to go with the assumption that it was just a strange fashion choice when a voice came from the off-putting mask. It was raspy and deep, yet timid. Okay, so it is a guy!

“Hello.” The boy said, blue eyes glimmering behind the mask. His voice had a tinge of kindness to it. Your eyes roamed over his masked face, taking in little details like scratches and parts where the paint was peeling.

“Yo, earth to new girl. You good, bro?” The boy with long brown hair said while waving his hand in front of your eyes. “Shoot…was I staring?” you thought to yourself.

“Huh? Oh, yeah I’m fine.” You replied, blinking a few times at the masked boy.

“I’d love to stay and chat, but I gotta head to class. See you later guys!” Ash said as she bid farewell to the others, walking to a nearby classroom.

“Me too, I have robotics.” Todd added, leaving the three of you alone.

“What class do ya got, newbie?” Larry questioned, towering over you and looking down at the paper in your hands.

“Oh, I have Geometry. You?” You replied.

“Sick, us too!” He said excitedly, motioning to a door down the hall. “Follow me and Sal.”

You nodded, following them with a slight smile. They seemed…nice. Your anxieties slowly started to melt away with each step you took, feeling more confident in the day ahead of you. You were so wrapped up in these positive thoughts that you didn’t notice the blue-haired boy staring at you while you walked side-by-side.

“Y/N, right?” He asked.

“Huh?” You snapped back to reality, “Oh! Yeah, that’s me. Sal?”

“The one and only.”

You laughed, he seemed cute…and oddly intriguing.

He laughed himself, even if it was only a light chuckle.

You made your way to the classroom and stepped inside. The teacher was sitting at her desk, taking roll. On the whiteboard was written, “Welcome! Feel free to sit anywhere.”

“Wanna sit together?” Sal asked, looking at you and Larry.

You nodded.

“Duh.” Larry snorted.

You all found a group of seats where you sat next to Sal, and Larry sat behind you. You took out a notebook and began to doodle. Sal leaned over and watched you diligently.

“Ignoring us already?” Larry chuckled, looking over your shoulder.

“What? No! Sorry- I just-.”

“Don’t give her a hard time, man.” Sal said with a hint of frustration in his voice. He turned to you. “So, what do you like to do for fun, Miss Y/N?”

This was new. You hadn’t really introduced yourself to anyone in a long time. It took you a second to gather your thoughts. Who were you?

Okay PLEASE SEND REQUESTS!! I’m continuing this story with requests, so tell me who you’d like the reader to be and I’ll continue this!!!

[helliontherapscallion]

(Y/n) and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week: Tuesday

Monday     Wednesday     Thursday (Part 1)     Thursday (Part 2)     Friday     Saturday     Sunday

Spotify Playlist (collaborative)

Warnings: anxiety, doctor’s offices, taking pain pills (not sure if I need to tag that, but just in case), stalkers, blackmail, swearing, non-consensual taking pics of nudes, slight body dysmorphia, self-loathing, toxic friends

Word count: 5,326

(A/N): another long chapter, my little wlw heart loved writing this chapter! Also holy shit I was not expecting the first part to blow up, thank you to everyone that read it! Gosh, it’s enough to make a grown woman cry :’)

You cracked open your crusty eyes to Wilbur poking his head into your room. “(Y/n), Dad wants you.”

You groaned rubbing at your eyes in an attempt to get the sleep out of them. “I’ll be down in a sec.” Your voice was scratchy and thick with sleep.

He closed the door silently and you heard his socked feet thumping down the hallway. Your pain faded slightly into soreness, but your shoulders and upper back were slightly stiff. After you drug yourself out of bed, you shambled down the stairs to see your family at the table eating breakfast. Your stomach growled loudly, making you blush slightly in embarrassment. 

Your eldest brother snorted. “Hungry (y/n)?”

You slumped into your seat next to him slowly shoveling food into your mouth. “You have no idea.”

“You wouldn’t be that hungry if you ate dinner when you got home like I told you to do last night, young lady. You better eat every single thing on that plate.”

There was no arguing with a stern Dadza, so you reluctantly complied. Meanwhile, Tommy and Tubbo were telling Wilbur about your match animatedly. 

“And the ball was like fwoosh and she- the ball and-and-”

“And she hit it and Haley hit it to the other side! It was so cool!”

Wilbur merely smiled listening to them ramble about how badass you were last night. They made you feel genuinely happy that they admired your volleyball abilities; they were probably your biggest fans and that made your day most of the time. You remembered the first match they came to during your freshman year, they had run up to you right after the end-of-match whistle blew to spew about how good you were on the court. They met the team that day. Your team adored having them at your games, over the years they slowly replaced your school’s mascot. They played a huge part in morale boosts before and during matches. 

He looked over to you, “I didn’t know my little sister could be so badass.”

You felt your cheeks flare up. “It’s nothing I haven’t done before. It really wasn’t anything special.”

“(Y/n),” Philza pursed his lips, “you did all that with a bruised back, I’d consider that something special.”

“Wait (y/n), you’re hurt?” Tommy and Tubbo looked at you with wide concerned eyes.

“Yeah, but it’s not that bad. I can still move and stuff.”

Techno rolled his eyes, “it’s bad if you’re going to the doctor for it.”

“Eh, it doesn’t hurt as bad as it did yesterday, so I’m not worried.” 

“You’re deadass wincing everytime you move your arm,” WIlbur deadpanned, “it clearly still hurts.”

“Well yeah, I didn’t say the pain went away completely. Fuckin’ dumbass.”

“Language,” Philza glared at you two, gesturing to the two fifth graders watching the exchange with interest. 

You and Wilbur resumed eating and murmured out a defeated “sorry Dad.” You both glared at Techno when he huffed in amusement. 

“If you three keep bickering, you’re going to be late to school. Remember, you two have to drop off Tommy and Tubbo today cuz I’m taking your sister to her appointment. Now go get ready, I’ll take care of your dishes.”

Your brothers took off up the stairs, each competing to get to the bathroom first. Occasionally, you would hear shouts and slapping noises. You felt glad you didn’t have to deal with that today. Judging by Techno’s gruff voice laughing and an explosion of loud complaints from the rest, you assumed that he won today. “I swear, they’re gonna put me in an early grave.”

“You and me both Dad, you and me both.”

You went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of pain pills from the junk drawer. Various bottles of Motrin and Advil were scattered around the house because when you live with a rambunctious family like this one, people are bound to get hurt and headaches are common. Popping three into your mouth, you washed it down with a glass of water. The sound of the running water faucet and the slight splashing of water filled the silence of the room. 

“How’s your back? Does it feel any better?”

“Kinda, today it just feels more sore than throbbing, my headache went away mostly, and my shoulder doesn’t feel any worse, so that’s better I guess.”

He shut off the water and reached for a towel to dry off his wet hands. He moved over to the freezer and grabbed a frozen package of peas that your family never ate. You all used it whenever one of you would get a bruise. He moved behind you and held it against your back without warning. Flinching forward from the unexpected temperature change, you winced with the wave of pain moving brought you. 

“Shit, sorry.”

“You’re good. Just give me a little warning next time,” you chuckled. He gently placed it back on your back and you sighed from the slight relief that it brought you. You leaned into the peas and closed your eyes. “That feels amazing.”

“I bet. That bruise was pretty bad yesterday, can I look at it again?”

You reluctantly left the sanctuary that was the medical grade frozen peas and leaned forward, moving your hair out of the way for him. “Knock yourself out.”

He made a hissing noise as soon as he moved your shirt out of the way. “Dad, it probably looks worse than it feels.”

“...Have you seriously not looked at this yet? It looks pretty bad, hun.”

“Well, sorry I can’t move to look at my back without being in pain. I’ll try harder next time.” You snarked him.

“Hey, watch the attitude. Here, I’ll take a picture so you can see how bad it is.”

You heard the rustling of fabric as he fished his phone out of his pocket and the obnoxiously loud click of his camera app. You turned around to look at the damage. You squinted at his bright phone screen. Your entire back was swollen in some areas and was covered in ugly reds, blues, blacks, and purples. You made a disgusted noise in the back of your throat and cringed away from the screen. You always got nauseous seeing injuries.

“Yikes.”

“Yikes isn’t the only word I would use, it’s bad (y/n).”

“It looks worse than it feels, I promise. I’m gonna go get ready so we’re not late to my appointment. It sounds like the boys are finally done with the bathroom.”

You hobbled up the stairs slowly and made your way to the bathroom. The door was wide open ready for you to use. Turning on the light, you closed the door in a hurry so that your brothers wouldn’t try to get in again to hog the bathroom like they usually did. You frowned at your appearance. Your hair was sticking up in every direction and you had dark eye bags around your dull looking eyes. A few pimples dotted your skin like constellations in the night sky, but much uglier and more out of place. Turning your body, you scanned your figure. Your eyes watered as you realized that you had gained some weight. Adrian, Sammy, and Annie were right, you looked like garbage all the time.

You ripped your eyes away from yourself in the mirror with disgust etched deep into your features. You were disgusting through and through. Ripping your brush through your hair, you winced at the pain emanating from the back of your head. You deserve the pain for letting yourself go. Once you were slightly more satisfied with your appearance, you stepped out of the bathroom and quickly changed into the clothes you would wear today. You decided on a hoodie and a pair of tights. You didn’t feel like dressing yourself up. 

You once again walked down the stairs and slipped on your shoes to meet your dad in his car. You idly scrolled through your phone while you waited for him, looking at your notifications for the first time that day. You had ten texts from the group chat that you were in with Adrian, Annie, and Sammy.

Sammy <3

(Y/n) where the hell are you?

Adrian <3

Do you guys think she ditched us?

I knew she was ignoring us

Sammy <3

Who ignores their friends?

Annie <3

(Y/n) apparently. 

She has more important things to do ig

Oh my god

Do you guys think she skipped school?

Adrian <3

I wouldn’t put it past her

Maybe she finally gave up

(Y/n)

I’m sorry guys, I just have a doctor’s appointment today

I would never ignore you

Sammy <3

Yk, it’s hard to keep defending you when you keep ditching us..

(Y/n)

I’m not ditching you!

I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys about my appointment

I’ll make it up to you guys

Adrian <3

How?

You’ve already skipped out on us enough already

Annie <3

Oh ik!

She can write our final research paper for us Dri!

I haven’t started it yet lmao

Adrian <3

Saaaame lmaoooo

Sammy <3

Guys, what about me???

Adrian <3

Idk, figure it out yourself

Sammy <3

Rude!

Uhhh

Ur gonna put together my final presentation for us history

(Y/n)

Alright, I can do that for you guys

Sam can you pls send me the rubric? 

Annie <3

Thanks love ;)

(Y/n)

No problem, I like doing things for friends

My dad’s coming, I gotta go

Talk to you guys later

Adrian <3

Byeeee (y/n), ur the best!

(Y/n)

: ) <3

You put your phone down as your dad started up the car and pulled out of the driveway. The drive was quiet as you stared out the window and thought about how much work you now had to do. On top of your own classes, you had two more to write and a presentation to make in a class you hadn’t taken since the first semester in your sophomore year. The research papers had to be at least four full pages long with a minimum of ten sources each due on Friday and you had no idea how big Sammy’s US history presentation has to be or what it’s even about. But that was fine, you’d do anything for your friends. 

“So, who were you texting? Your boyfriend?” He asked jokingly.

“Oh, just Adrian, Sammy, and Annie. I don’t have a boyfriend Dad,” because you were a closeted lesbian, but you wouldn’t tell him that anytime soon. “You know that.”

“I know,” he chuckled, “it’s been a while since I’ve seen them. How have they been?”

“They’re good. Adrian got a job at the diner, he’s a host. Sammy and Annie have been focusing more on raising their grades.”

“Good for them! You should invite them over for dinner sometime.”

“I was actually thinking that I could maybe go hang out with them on Halloween...?”

“(Y/n), the family was going to take Tommy and Tubbo trick-or-treating.”

“I know, but there’s always next year. Plus, we haven’t been able to hang out in so long! We’re always free at different times.”

“I don’t know (y/n), what if they don’t want to trick-or-treat next year? What were you planning on doing with them?”

“We were just gonna hang out at Annie’s house and watch some horror movies,” you lied. He would never let you go if he knew you were going to a party. Especially one where alcohol would be involved and hormonal teenage boys ran rampant actively scouting for an easy lay.

“...I’ll think about it.” The car pulled into the doctor office’s parking lot.

“Thank you Dad! It’s been a while since we’ve all hung out together.”

He chuckled as you both walked into the lobby, checked in, and waited for your name to be called. About ten minutes later, you were summoned by a nurse so you went into the back leaving your dad to wait in the lobby. The nurse recorded your height and weight (much to your dismay, you gained four pounds) and asked you the standard questions about your injury and uncomfortable questions about your overall health. The clacking of her acrylic nails on the plastic keyboard filled the awkward silence.

Once that was done, she left and you had to wait a little bit for the doctor. After slipping into the backless gown the nurse left, you mindlessly scrolled on your phone. Jumping when someone knocked on the door, you looked up to see your family’s doctor smiling at you.

“Hello (y/n), how are we feeling today?”

“I’m alright.”

“I hear that you had quite the fall onto some concrete, is that true?”

“Yes, I landed on my back and the back of my head.”

She reached over and squirted hand sanitizer onto her hands, rubbing it in and looking back at you. “Can you please lay on your stomach so I can take a look at your back?”

You nodded, shifting on the uncomfortable paper covered cushioned table onto your stomach. You felt her cold hands gently graze your bruises before she pulled out her stethoscope. “Can you take a good deep breath in for me?”

You complied and she instructed you to let it out. Doing this multiple times along your back, she put her stethoscope away and continued prodding at your exposed back. 

“There’s definitely some swelling in multiple areas… It doesn’t feel or sound like you cracked or broke any ribs, which is excellent… Do you have any pain deep in your shoulder when you move it?”

“Yes, I landed on it wrong last night at my volleyball match.”

“How would you describe your pain? Stabbing, sore, throbbing…”

“More sore, but a little stabbing pain when I move my arm.”

She moved her fingers to examine your shoulder. “It doesn’t sound like a sprain or fracture, can you move it up and down for me?”

You moved your arm up and down, front and back, and side to side. “You still have a full range of movement, that’s good. Can I have you sit back up again?”

You sat back up and she started testing you for a concussion. After passing her tests, you were cleared of having a concussion. “Alright (y/n), it appears that you only strained your deltoid and teres muscles and you have severe bruising along your back. Make sure you ice your back and, if you have one, wear a shoulder compression sleeve. Anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen will help with the swelling. Other than that, you have a clean bill of health! You can still participate in volleyball practices, but you need to take it easy. Don’t do anything that will strain the muscles any further.”

“Thank you Dr. Samson,” you smiled at her. 

“You’re welcome. I’ll leave you to change back into your clothes and you’re free to go! You may leave the gown on the table.”

She left the room and you redressed yourself. Walking out to the lobby, Philza’s head perked up when he heard the door opening. He stood up and walked over to you with a slightly worried face. You both walked back out to the car.

“So?”

“Dr. Samson said that I don’t have a concussion, sprains or broken bones. She told me that I just strained my shoulder muscles and I need to keep ice on my back.”

He visibly slumped in relief. “Thank god. What’d she say about volleyball?”

“She said that I could keep playing, but I have to take it easy.”

“Good, wouldn’t want you missing finals on Thursday. Do you know if the team you’re playing is any good?”

“Dad, of course they’re good, we’re the top two teams in the area.”

“I bet their setter is nowhere near as good as you are and I bet the setter and spiker aren’t as synced as you and Haley are. You two make a good pair.” 

“Yeah we do, don’t we?” You looked out the window and smiled a little and felt your ears turn red. The very mention of Haley’s name was enough to make you feel like you were on cloud nine. The car fell silent again as you neared your high school. 

In your AP world history class, the class was looking at the test you had taken yesterday. Surprisingly, you got a 74% on the multiple choice part and a 50% on your essay portion, so that landed you with a just below passing grade. You thought you completely flunked that test yesterday, so that was a pleasant surprise. It took a good portion out of your overall grade in the class, lowering it from a comfortable A- to a slightly alarming B. You supposed it could’ve been a lot worse. Besides reviewing your tests, the class didn’t do much except starting the reading for the next chapter.

Your psychology online class went like it usually did, however your phone blew up with texts about midway through the block. Glancing down, you saw that it was Haley. Shouldn’t she be in class?

Hales : )

(Y/n) meet me in the locker room right after school

I need to talk to you before practice starts

It’s an emergency

(Y/n)

What’s going on?

Hales : )

I’ll explain after school.

Can’t talk about it over text

(Y/n)

Alright, see ya then ig

You felt your gut twinge. Something’s wrong, but you didn’t know what. You were worried about Haley, usually she was really bubbly. You’ve never seen the senior act so strange before. You could only wait the block out until the bell would release you from the confines of the library and into the locker room. After sending a quick text to your brothers that you were going to stay after school for your practice, you stared blankly at your laptop’s clock as you counted down the minutes left in the class period. Ten minutes. Eight minutes. Four minutes. Two minutes. Thirty seconds-

You shot up from your seat as the bell rang. Pushing past some groups of freshmen that congregated in the hallways, you made a beeline for the locker room. In the locker room, you found Haley sitting on the metal bench on the opposite end of the locker room with her back facing the last row of lockers and facing the brick wall. She was clenching her phone in her hand with an iron grip. You hurried to sit next to her.

“Hales, what’s going on? Talk to me.”

“It’s bad (y/n). Like, really bad.”

“What’s bad? You’re worrying me.”

Wordlessly, she unlocked her phone and handed it to you. On the screen was something that you weren’t expecting to see. You scrolled through the contents and felt your stomach drop with each scroll; someone took pictures of you and Haley throughout the match last night. Every picture was a violation to yours and Haley’s dignities, they had gotten zoomed in pictures of your boobs and asses. Deeper, there were even pictures taken of you changing into your volleyball uniform through your open window. You were only in your underwear. Haley had a similar picture that you scrolled past as fast as you could. Scrolling to the bottom of the text message thread, the person that sent Haley the pictures added a caption to the last picture. It was a picture of you and Haley together celebrating your match, her arm slung around your shoulder with your mouth open mid-laugh.

Unknown

I’m sending these out to the entire school unless you stop hanging around her.

If you tell anyone, the pics will be printed off and put in every single locker and bathroom the school has.

You’ll be the sluts of Klinkver High. 

Cut all ties now. You have two days. 

Do not try me.

“Jesus christ Haley. Who the fuck would do this? This is sick.”

She took her phone back and locked it without looking at the screen. “I don’t know (y/n). I wanted to tell you not to openly talk to me for a few days. We don’t know who took these, we don’t know what they’re capable of. I don’t wanna risk angering them.”

“We can find them! If we look close enough, we might find a few clues where they were sitting. Do you remember seeing anything suspicious last night?”

“(Y/n), our best option is to leave it. We just can’t talk in person anymore; we can still text each other.”

“Hales, how are we gonna not talk? I’m your setter.”

She ran a hand through her thick black hair. “I don’t know (y/n). Just-just don’t talk to me anymore, I don’t want your pictures leaked.”

“I don’t care about my pictures. My name’s been drug through so much shit this past year that it won’t affect me. I don’t want your stuff leaked.”

She gave a watery laugh, “you care too much, I love that about you…” Glistening eyes turned to look deep into your own. “I’m so scared (y/n), I don’t know what to do.”

You pulled her into a hug, wincing slightly when she squeezed her arms around your upper back. She buried her face into your shoulder and started shaking with muffled sobs. “Haley, I promise I’ll catch whatever sick bastard is doing this to you. You don’t deserve this.”

She said nothing as you rested your chin on the top of her head and started to rock her back and forth slowly. You two stayed like that even after her sobbing resided, finding comfort in each other’s presence. Glancing at the clock, you realized that you two have been in the locker room for an hour. Practice was set to start in fifteen minutes, people were going to start coming into the locker room soon. 

You reluctantly pulled away from the hug and looked Haley in her bloodshot eyes, “I’m not going to let those pictures of you get leaked. I swear on my-”

The door to the locker room swung open and loud laughter echoed throughout the room. Haley pushed you away and speed walked off to a bathroom stall, slamming the door shut behind her. 

“Damn (y/n), what’d you do? She’s pissed.” 

“It’s none of your business, Zara.” 

“Oh, so it’s a lover’s quarrel then~” She cackled, her hair bouncing slightly with each heave of her shoulders. 

“For the love of… Haley and I aren’t dating, we’re both straight.” She’s straight.

“Mmhm.” She brushed past you to go to her locker. You followed her, your locker was in the grouping next to hers. You shared the area with Haley. You changed as fast as you could so that Haley would have time to change before practice starts. Speed walking into the gym, Zara was hot on your trail wearing a shit eating grin.

“Why are you in such a rush? Giving your girlfriend the silent treatment?”

“Zara. We aren’t dating. For the last time, we’re both heterosexual, not homosexual!” You wildly gestured with your hands to emphasize your point, your voice being amplified by the vast gym. Coach Williams gave you a confused look from across the gym. 

“You just keep telling yourself that.”

“I’m serious.”

“Hi serious,” a soft voice replied from behind you, “I’m Jazzy.”

You groaned at the pun at the same time Zara started cackling, giving the short libero a high five. “Nice!”

“That was so bad, Jaz.” You couldn’t help the smile that found its way onto your face.

Zara poked your cheek with a wide grin. “C’mon, you’re smiling!”

“I am and I hate it.”

Your bickering continued with Jazzy watching you two with a content smile. The remaining members of the team (Haley, Marlene, and Zuri) filed into the gym right as Coach Williams blew her whistle. 

Practice went by slowly without Haley talking to you. Sure, you had the rest of the team, but it didn’t feel the same with you guys ignoring each other. If the team or Coach Williams noticed you two not talking to each other, they didn’t say anything. By time practice was over, you all went to the locker room to change. After slipping into your fuzzy pajama pants, you sat on the bench and texted Wilbur to come pick you up. He was supposed to pick you up after practice today because he and Techno took the car home after school. Five minutes passed and he still didn’t reply. He probably won’t see the text until you got home from walking.

You sighed, resting your chin in your palm as you leaned forward. One by one, the girls left the locker room until it was only you and Haley left. 

“Do you need a ride (y/n)?” She asked gently.

“But what if the person sees us together? I can just walk home, it’s not really a big deal.”

She rolled her eyes at you. “It is a big deal. It’s cold and dark out. You could get kidnapped or something. You don’t even have a coat with you. I’m giving you a ride whether you like it or not.”

You playfully rolled your eyes at her and stood up to walk next to her, “okay, mom.”

“Don’t give me that attitude young lady.”

“You can’t tell me what to do, you’re not my real mom!”

She gasped and lightly smacked the back of your shoulder, “I married your- are you alright? Shit, I didn’t hurt you did I?”

“No, you’re good. It’s just this damned bruise.”

She moved her hands and frantically turned you around to pull the neck of your shirt down. You two stood in front of the school’s main entrance with the nauseatingly bright fluorescent light bouncing off the reflective surface of the tiles. The orange tinted street lights lit up the sidewalk outside.

“(Y/n)-”

“I know what you’re gonna say.”

She scoffed, “oh really? What am I gonna say then, o wise one?”

You turned around to face her, “‘oh, this is bad, yadda yadda yadda.’ Everyone’s been saying that about it. Honestly it looks worse than it feels. Tis but a scratch, m’lady.”

She snorted and covered her mouth, “never call me ‘m’lady’ ever again.”

You started to walk to her car in the empty parking lot. “Or what? What’re ya gonna do?”

“I swear to god, (y/n), I’m gonna leave you here.”

“Do it, pussy. Bet you won’t.”

“You really wanna bet?”

You grinned at her, “hell yeah.”

She broke off into a mad dash to her car, laughing freely into the night sky. You chased after her trying not to move your arms much, your laugh mixing with hers like a perfect symphony composed of the world’s best musicians. The sound of your rubber soles slapping the pavement resonated throughout the parking lot as you quickly gained on her. Reaching out to grab her shirt, she smirked at you and sharply turned to the right into the grass.

You grinned as her pace slowed down slightly. You’d be able to catch her at this pace. You pushed your legs to move faster as she looked at you from over her shoulder and shrieked in surprise at how close you were to her. You cackled at her reaction, reaching out once again, you grabbed her hand. She was stopped dead in her tracks as your shoulder was yanked with the sudden momentum, making you hiss in slight pain. Despite that, you didn’t let go of her soft hand. 

You both stood there under the moonlight and the soft orange street lamps trying to  catch your breath. The slightly damp blades of grass tickled your ankle as you shifted to face her better. Through gasping breaths and a dopey grin, you said “you… lost, pussy.”

She let out a breathy laugh as she pulled you to her car. “Shuddup.”

“Make me~”

She opened the passenger side door for you and got into the driver's seat. Her car smelled like vanilla and citrus. “Oh, you will later when I make you do more sets in weight lifting tomorrow, hurt shoulder be damned.”

She turned on the ignition and the car revved to life, soft indie pop wafted from the speakers. She backed out of the parking space and sped off to the main road. “You wouldn’t…”

“I’m your captain, (y/n). I can make you do whatever I want.” You felt your cheeks heat up a tad. You were happy that she couldn’t see you.

“Naw, you’re too much of a softie for that. Admit it, I’ve got you wrapped around my little finger.”

She chuckled as she pulled into your driveway and put the car in park. “...Alright, maybe you do. Just a bit.”

She turned to look at you. She looked stunning with the shadows accentuating the contours of her face perfectly. You found yourself glancing at her lips and leaning slightly towards you. To your surprise, she started leaning into you as well. Before your lips could finally mesh together, she pulled back with a sigh and ran her hand through her hair. You felt a rush of disappointment and fear course through your veins. She didn’t like you like that, you should’ve known better. You were so stupid. So, so stu-

“I can’t (y/n). I want to kiss you so bad, but we can’t. Not yet at least. Not until we find the pervert that took those pictures of us.”

You sighed, “right.”

The car was filled with awkward silence. Not even the soft music streaming from the speakers could alleviate the awkwardness. God, you really screwed up your friendship, didn’t you? Sammy, Adrian, and Annie were right; you messed up everything you touched.

You coughed, “I think I’m gonna…”

“Yeah…”

You grabbed your bag and walked into your house, the smell of chicken slapping you in the face instantly. Without checking in with your dad, you hurried up the stairs, desperate for the warm comfort of your bed. That, and if you wanted to get Sammy’s presentation and Adrian’s, Annie’s, and your research papers done by Friday, you had to start as soon as you could. You were going to skip dinner for tonight, you’d just grab more breakfast tomorrow morning. 

You plopped on your bed and got started on your research paper. Luckily, you already had all of the sources you were planning on using and the rough outline of each body paragraph, so writing the actual paper wasn’t going to take long. You worked until you heard a knock at your door. 

“(Y/n),” Techno’s monotone voice called out, “dinner’s ready.”

“Tell Dad I’m not hungry. Practice’s got me beat, I’m going to bed soon.”

He grunted, “you know he’s not gonna like that right?”

You felt frustration start to swim circles around your chest, “Techno, just tell him that I’m not hungry right now. Please.”

“Damn, you don’t need to be like that. I’ll tell him.”

You heard his stomping footsteps thumping down the hall. Shit, you pissed him off. You were a terrible person, he was just trying to get you to eat something, Pushing back the tears that threatened to spill from your eyes, you forced the panic that was starting to swirl around your body in laps deep into your being. You didn’t have time to deal with your failures and stupid emotions, you had to get this done. You didn’t have time to think about Haley’s warm breath ghosting across your lips. You didn’t have time to think about how she probably regretted almost kissing you. You didn’t have time to fall into an anxiety spiral, you needed to focus if you wanted Adrian, Annie, and Sammy to forgive you. You ruined yours and Haley’s friendship and did the same to yours and Techno’s. They were the only ones you had left. You needed to be a better friend.

Taglist (comment if you want to be added or if I missed you, it won’t let me tag some tumblrs :((( ):

@immadatmostthings  @thaticecreambish  @hee-hee-haw  @dearnataliealoveletter  @wasteofspacze  @dcml04  @bbigbbrainn  @dirtydiavolo  @vanhakirja  @rinzyx05  @misselsbells06  @ialexabsuniverse  @im-a-depressed-gay  @energy-drinkk  @mothra-main  @i-need-hugs  @dragons-lurk-here  @katj733  @m4r-s  @vievi  @dykeragee  @waterstrawberry  @aplaintart  @kakamiissad  @myunfinishedsymphony  @nagitokinnieissad  @autumnpleaves  @justanothergirlwithdemons  @zachariethememerie  @moon-asia  @m0on-blue  @strawberrysodababy  @akikko-yataro  @haikkeiji  @shiningsunrises  @cinnamonmochi  @queen-turtle-boiii  @imanewsoul  @sparkling-gayyyy  @angelicaschuyler-church  @vixenfoxpup  @ella-ivanov  @shio-yuki  @mosstea-png  @ijustshatbricks

[avengerscompound]

The Tower: Happily Ever After - 29

The Tower: Happily Ever After An Avengers Fanfic

Series Masterlist | Character Reference PREVIOUS //

Pairing:  Avengers x OFC, Bruce Banner x Bucky Barnes x Clint Barton x Wanda Maximoff x Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff x Tony Stark x Thor x Sam Wilson x OFC (Elly Cooper)

Word Count: 1923

Warnings:  none 

Synopsis: Almost 40 years after Elise Cooper first crashed into Natasha Romanoff outside the library at Columbia University, she and the Avengers are adapting to a near-immortal life together with their large brood of children.  Yet things aren’t perfect.  Life is moving on without them and they’re starting to discover who isolating being immortal can be.When Angela comes and asks Thor to take the throne of Asgard once more, the group leaves Earth in the hopes that they will find their Happily Ever After there.

Chapter 29: The Fear

I was getting restless.

I had sat through my fair share of council meetings before being asked to join Thor for one of the weekly sessions where the public petitioned him for things.  That could be anything from asking for a road to be fixed or an extension on a home to mediation regarding property ownership disputes or sending out guards to investigate people’s concerns.

I still felt woefully underqualified for even offering my opinions on the running of the country, but where the council meetings when I said something I felt confident that the council would take into account I was still learning when I sat in front of people who saw me as some divine wisdom, I worried about fucking it up.

Not to mention the job involved sitting on a hard metal chair for the whole day dressed in formal Asgardian wear.  It was incredibly uncomfortable.

I was very glad I had opted for no marks when I had been with Natasha and Steve.

The babies were brought into me to feed about two hours into the first session of petitioners and I had to work out how to breastfeed in the uncomfortable metal chair while wearing a formal Asgardian dress, without flashing the people who had come to speak with us.  It wasn’t easy, and I ended up just feeding one at a time, something I only did if both weren’t hungry at the same time under normal circumstances.

So as I had Thour tucked into a sling made of gold fabric as she fed, Thor cradled a whiny Nova and let the infant chew on his knuckle.

“Your majesty.”  The Asgardian man who kneeled in front of us looked older than Thor, though I still had no idea how to judge the ages of Asgardians.  If he’d been human I would have said around fifty.  He was sun-weathered and had the hands of a man who used them regularly.  Yet despite that, he was dressed in fine, yet simple clothing in sea and pea green, and earth brown.

“Rise, citizen,” Thor said.  “I apologize for my son.  He’s a little hungry.”

The man stood and shook his head.  “It is an honor to get to see them.  I know they aren’t brought out in public very often yet.  My wife is not going to believe I was lucky enough to have them at our meeting.”

“I am happy that we can send you home with at least some good news,” Thor said.  “Let us see if there is any more I can grant.  What has brought you to me today?”

“The farmers outside the western city walls have all been reporting missing things.  From small items like clothing and food to livestock,” the man explained.  “I myself have lost a few animals and there was a large argument I had with my wife about who ate the last of the cake she baked.  To begin with, we all just thought it was one of those things.  Animals can go missing from time to time.  Clothes get lost in the wash.  A family member will eat the last of something without telling anyone.  But as the stories were passed around it became clear that this was happening a little too regularly to be normal.”

“Do you believe it is a thief or a beast?” Thor asked.

“Hard to say, your majesty,” the man said.  “I would say, thief or thieves.  But this is only part of the problem.  Dread has been building.  It started with nightmares, always of our biggest fears, but not happening regularly enough to warrant concern.  Now my wife and I are waking several times a night with them and we are not the only ones.  Everyone is complaining about lack of sleep due to these night terrors.  It’s beginning to seep into the day.  I go outside and feel such fear, it’s hard to work.  My animals seem to be affected by it too.  They are losing weight, abandoning their young, and bellowing constantly.  There is something dark out there and it is tormenting us.”

“Do you feel that fear here?” Thor asked.

The man shook his head.  “No, my lord.  It ended when I passed through the city gates.  Almost like a weight was lifted off me.  I believe we all let it get so bad because whatever this is has made us too scared to ask for help.”

Thor looked to the guard near him.  “Summon my daughters, Riley and Rebecca.”

“If there is magic involved it might be a good idea to have Wanda or Billy go too,” I suggested, speaking quietly.

Thor nodded.  “And my son William.”

“Yes, your majesty,” the guard said and strode off.

“I shall send my children to investigate, they will require you to show them where all this is taking place,” Thor said, addressing the man again.

“Of course, your majesty,” he said.  “I am honored that you would send your children.”

“How many farms are affected?”  Thor asked.

“So far there are ten of us,” the man replied.  “I do not know if it is spreading or whatever it is moving around.  Perhaps it is both, but it only started with three of us.”

Thor frowned.  “These are ill omens.  Perhaps you and the others should be moved to the city until this trouble passes.”

“But the livestock, my lord,” the man said.  “It cannot be left to fend for itself.”

“Indeed,” Thor pondered.  “My life, do you have any ideas?”

“Are there farms on the other side of the city away from whatever is happening that the animals can be moved to until we get to the bottom of this?” I asked.

Thor nodded.  “I shall send someone to request assistance,” he decided.  “Until then I  shall post guards at your farms and have them regularly rotate in the hopes that what is affecting you doesn’t have a chance to affect them too.  I would also suggest that anyone who is not essential to the day-to-day running of the farm leave.  I will house anyone who needs it here at the palace.”

“That is too kind, your majesty,” the man said.  “I shall tell the others of your offer.”

“Thor, I need to trade kids with you,” I whispered.

“Of course,” Thor said, getting up.  It took a little juggling but we managed to swap over Thour and Nova.  As we were switching them Riley, Rebecca, and Billy came into the throne room.”

“Father,” Riley said.  It was funny hearing her call him that.  Sometimes the kids would call us mother or father in an overly serious tone as a joke, but when they did it seriously it always made me want to laugh.  Riley held her hand over her breastplate and had bowed her head as she spoke with such reverence it nearly made me crack.  Rebecca and Billy looked at her like she’d lost her mind but then quickly mimicked her stance.

“I need you three to go and investigate the farms to the west of the city,” Thor said.  “There is something sinister happening and we need to get to the bottom of it.”

“You want me to go?” Billy asked.

“There may be magic involved.  The people who live out there are being plagued by nightmares,” Thor said.  “Perhaps you can use your abilities to glean something from the site.”

Billy nodded. “I’ll try.  I’m still learning.”

“That’s all I ask,” Thor said.  “And if you do not wish to do this kind of work…”

“No,” Billy said.  “I do.  I’ll try.”

“Thank you, son,” Thor said.

“If we’re going to be searching for some nightmare demon I’m gonna be taking this-” Rebecca said and held out her hand.

Mjolnir shot forward but it was still attached to Thor’s belt.  He yelped and grabbed the handle quickly.  “She is still attached to me.  Did you wish to pants your father while he sits on the throne?”

Riley and Billy both unsuccessfully smothered laughter but Rebecca broke, laughing loudly.  “It’s good to learn humility,” she teased.

That set off the farmer too, and he covered his mouth as he hid his laughter.

Thor unhooked the hammer and held it out.  “Here,” he said.  “Take care of her.”

Rebecca held out her hand and the hammer flew into it.  “We won’t let you down,” she said.

Riley bowed to the farmer.  “Sir, if you’ll lead the way.”

As they walked away and the next person made their way toward us Thor turned to me.  “I should have the dwarves of Nidavellir forge everyone their own divine weapons.  Perhaps then everyone will stop stealing mine.”

I laughed. “It’s not just that it’s a weapon, honey,” I said.  “The spell means we get your powers too.  Plus there’s the whole ego thing about being worthy.  Besides - what would mine do?  Let me see the threads that connect us even brighter?”

Thor chuckled.  “I suppose you’re right, my life.  Even still, I shall make the request.”

That night, we were halfway through our dinner in the banquet hall with the whole family before Riley, Rebecca, and Billy showed up.  Teddy was anxious about how long Billy had been away and no amount of me telling him he was fine would set his mind at ease.

“Teddy,” I said as he pushed his food around on his plate.  He looked up at me and I pointed to the doors just as they swung open and Rebecca, Riley, and Billy walked in.

Teddy jumped to his feet and rushed to Billy.  “Oh my god, I was so worried,” he said, pulling the other man into a deep kiss.

Piper jumped off her seat excitedly.  “Daddy!” she squealed and ran to them as Flynn wiggled in his highchair.

“That’s quite the welcome home,” Billy chuckled as he pulled back from Teddy.  “I’m fine, babe.  I’m fine.”  He scooped up Piper and carried her to the table, kissing Flynn on the head before he took a seat.

Thor held out his hand, calling Mjolnir to him, and hung the hammer back on his belt.  “How fared thee?”

“There is definitely something dark out there,” Riley said as she took a seat.  “We all felt it.  Whatever it is, it seems to be trying to build power.  And it appears to be working.  The field in which we could feel that fear was significant.”

Thor frowned.  “I do not like the sound of that.  Could you track it to its source?”

“I thought I was,” Billy said.  “I was definitely getting close.  But whatever this is, it’s strong.  The trail just stopped dead and I couldn’t pick it up again.”

Thor stood.  “I should go examine this myself.”

“What now?” Rose asked.

“Yes, daughter,” Thor said.  “It is threatening my people.  I need to be rid of it.”

Steve stood and so did Wanda and Sam.  “I’ll come with you,” they all practically said in unison.

Thor nodded.  “That is a good idea.  The rest of you stay put.  I will be back if we cannot find anything, but I do not want to leave the palace unguarded.”

“Be careful,” I said.

Tony laughed.  “You know he won’t be.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Wanda added and kissed the top of my head.

“Don’t wait up for us,” Steve said and as the three of them left the room I wondered if the dread that the farmers felt out there was anything like that which I was feeling right now.

// NEXT

[gravegroves]

ace nancy 👀?? from your wips?

I'm gonna preffice this by warning that Billy knows about Asexuality but isn't all that good at explaining it or the nuanced spectrum of being Ace. Also it's the 80's, so please read the following with that in mind. (Clarification comes later in the fic)

So this fic is about Billy being pressganged by Mr Clark into joining the debate team for the State Championships for extra credit. Nancy would rather have a Demodog chomp her left leg off than team up with Billy Hargrove, but things have a way of working out.

A few excerpts:

"Be honest Wheeler, did Harrington make you come even once?"

Nancy blushes.

"Oh, holy shit, he really didn't, did he?" 

"I didn't say that--" Nancy insists, loudly.

Billy laughs, "Oh, you didn't have to, Princess. Your face says it all."

"Shut up, Hargrove, just…" Nancy huffs in frustration and goes back to picking at the label a little more aggressively, "Just don't."

"Hey, I'm not judging you, that's all on Harrington. What a dick."

"He's not really. Not anymore. It's just," Her nail finally catches and she rips another strip of wet, sticky label off the bottle and flings it into the grass, "He was my first, you know? I didn't know what to do or how to - to move, and then it was over and I just remember thinking, is that all it is? And then I thought, maybe I'm just not good at it yet, maybe I just need to try again."

She sniffs, reaches up to wipe her face and Billy realises with a sickening lurch in his stomach that Wheeler is crying. He stares at her, frozen solid with uncertainty about what to do.

"And then I thought maybe there's something wrong with him, you know?" Her voice turns bitter. "Like, why couldn't he make it good for me? It's not like I hadn't heard about the other girls talking about Steve before we got together. None of them had any complaints." 

"But then I got together with Jonathan and I thought this feeling, this is what I was missing. But-- it didn't fix anything! It didn't fix me."

Billy flounders a little, but ultimately goes with the first thing that pops into his head. "There isn't anything wrong with you, Wheeler."

Nancy cackles a little, sways on the spot, the drink clearly loosening her tongue as well as her body. "Yeah? You gonna show me what I've been missing out on, huh? You wanna take me for a ride in your Camaro, Billy?"

Billy gags a little at the thought, luckily Nancy is too preoccupied by taking another swig from her bottle to notice.

"Oh yeah, that'd end really fucking well."

*****

"You literally did an hour long presentation on Nicola Tesla last semester and spent a quarter of it talking about why he never got married. Don't tell anyone I said this, but you're not exactly stupid. Don't fail me now, Wheeler."

Nancy blinks, looks likes she's thinking real fucking hard. Maybe Billy spoke too soon.

"You ever heard of the term asexual?"

"I think so?" She says, slowly, sounding out the words with deliberate care and turning it into a question. A valley grows between her brows in concentration. "The farmers at the spring festival talked about-- about culling a rooster because it wouldn't, like, mount the hens naturally. I'm sure that's the term he used. 

"Jesus Christ." Billy sucks deeply on his cigarette. "It means you don't wanna fuck." Billy frowns, waves his hand dismissively. "Like, you can like it just fine, but you don't think about it like most people do. Something like that."

Nancy straightens of her slouch to lean back and stare at him, jerking a little when she overbalances and steadies herself by grabbing the crook of Billy's elbow. "That doesn't sound normal."

He shrugs a little, takes one last pull from the cigarette before flicking the butt at the ground.  "What the fuck is normal, huh?" He grinds the butt into the gravel and turns to look at her, "Let's get you back on your pea, princess. I think you've had enough for one night."

He holds out a hand.

Nancy takes it.

*****

Billy jerks out of doze when someone drops into the seat next to him. He already knows who it's gonna be before he turns to look.

"Morning Wheeler, you get lost on the way to your seat?"

Billy looks around pointedly, his little nook in the back of the bus cut off from the rest of the group by a good five or six rows of empty seats. Far enough to get the point across that Billy isn't there by choice or planning to socialise with any of these nerds.

"No." She says simply.

"You sure? Seems like an awful lot of empty seats for you to be getting all friendly. How's the head?"

Nancy ignores him. Stares at the back of the seat in front of her like it gave her a less than a perfect grade. She purses her lips in that awful way that reminds Billy of a cat's asshole, but she doesn't run off in a huff like he expects.

"You're right." She says, still not looking at him. He watches a muscle tick in her jaw as she grinds her teeth.

He grins.

"You about to have a heart to heart with me, Wheeler? Gotta know whether or not to turn the volume up on these things." He gestures to the headphones pushed partially off his left ear.

She turns her head and regards him cooly for a beat, before a hand shoots out and bats the thing off his head with a quick swipe.

"Watch it!" Billy scrambles to catch them by the cord before they fall to the floor.

Nancy smiles sweetly, "Don't be a dick, Hargrove."

He rolls his eyes.

"Bitch."

"Slut."

"Whore."

She shoots him a pitying look. "Oh Billy, we both know Christie Otto paid you twenty bucks to let her suck your toes."

Billy guffaws, taken completely by surprise and loving it.

Nancy stares, disbelieving.

"You actually did it?"

Billy grins.

Her face does a complicated thing before settling on a confused expression. "But why?"

"Twenty bucks is a hell of a lot of dough for us mere peasants, Princess."

Billy screws his face up, tries not to squirm uncomfortably in his seat at the memory,  "Maybe I should have warned her that I'm ticklish. Almost kicked her face in, like, three times."

Nancy coughs. Covers her mouth as she laughs into her hands, like she doesn't want him to see that he made her laugh.

"Not that this isn't nice and all--"

"Oh, I'm sorry, you got somewhere to be, Hargrove?" She snaps, deadpan, but Billy can tell she's nervous from the way she wrings her hands and hides them up her sleeves.

"I just wanted to say thank you--"

"Don't mention it, Wheeler." He says, hastily. Actually he'd prefer it if they never spoke about it ever again.

She glares at the interruption, but presses on. "-- thank you and I wanted to know if I could talk to you. More. About it."

And now it's Billy's turn to stare. Nancy meets his eyes with a determined gaze. Whatever shit Tommy and the rest of the school likes to say about Nancy Wheeler, she's got stones, he'll give her that.

"Alright."

*****

The topic is announced.

Gay marriage.

Berkeley for. Hawkins against.

They win by a landslide.

Of course they do.

The team from Berkeley registers a formal complaint with the panel the second the win is announced. Mr Scott and his Berkeley counterpart are waved up to approach the judges table. Billy wants desperately to leave, but he's forced to sit and watch the Berkeley debate coach protest the unfair conditions his team had been placed under.

"No one in their right mind would chose to side with us on such a topic. No matter how well my kids argue their case."

"I'm afraid I disagree." Mr. Clarke argues. "We debate politically and morally charged topics all the time, Mr. Davenport. The judges judge how well you present your side, not their own personal beliefs.

Billy snorts. Feels unclean after having to stand on that stage and tell the world how unfit people like him are to love. To form families. To be allowed to simply be.

Even if it's all hypothetical, Billy knows those words came damn easily out of his team mates mouths, just as the words of support clearly left a sour after-taste in their opponents.

Nancy turns to look at him.

Fuck it.

Billy gets up and stalks out of the hall. Fuck it all to shit.

[svnflowervol666]

Crisp Trepidation (Harry Styles x fem!Reader)

Word Count: 5.2k

Warnings: angst, mentions of smut, pregnancy

Author’s Note: Here she is! The promised “Y/N is pregnant again before she’s ready” fic. I ended up liking this a lot more than I thought I would, so I hope you all do as well! Take care and TPWK. 

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my favorite tiny human,” the pediatrician chimed as she kicked the door to the small examination room shut with her sneaker.

“You must say that to all of the parents that you see,” Y/N blushed, unable to hide the smile that tugged on the corners of her lips.

“I don’t, actually. I’m being honest when I tell you she is the cutest baby I have ever seen in my life. Those curls! Are you kidding me?”

She padded over to the miniature exam table to get a better look at the infant that was lying contently on her back and chewing on her pudgy albeit still tiny fingers. 

“Let’s take a look at how you’re doing, sweet pea.”

The doctor, Lisa, lifted the stethoscope that was looped around her neck and placed it correctly into her ears. Listening to the baby’s heartbeat to check for any abnormalities, she couldn’t help but give a sympathetic frown when the tiny girl under her tensed up from the cool touch of the metal.

“Nurse’s notes say she’s put on quite a bit. She’s finally caught up to her age group in weight. I’m assuming breastfeeding is going better for you both now?”

She lovingly squeezed the extra chub around her thighs.

“Yeah. We don’t really use bottles anymore. Finally got her to latch on and now it seems like all she wants to do it eat,” Y/N chuckled.

“Good! That’s good. There’s nothing wrong with formula like we talked about, but it’s even better to breastfeed when you can. Is she hitting the milestones? Rolling over? Propping her head up? Babbling a bit?”

“Babbling, definitely. She keeps us up sometimes because we can hear her talking to herself through the monitor at night,” Y/N poked her tongue out at her daughter in an attempt to get her to smile.

“Having a bit of trouble propping herself up though. She can only do it for a little bit and then she’ll give up. She’s got Harry’s giant head, though, so I’m sure it’s a bit of a struggle.”

Lisa laughed loudly at the mention of her patient’s father, knowing good and well what Y/N meant. She scribbled notes onto the file attached to her clipboard, checking off the baby’s progress and coinciding what the nurse that came in before her documented about her length and weight.

“She’ll get to it eventually. All babies are different. She seems to be coming along quite nicely, though. Nothing abnormal or anything to fuss about. A perfectly healthy six-month-old in my book.”

Y/N sighed in relief, though she knew there was nothing to worry over to begin with.

“How’s mum doing? You taking care of yourself, too? You’re just as important as baby.”

“When I can. Harry’s really good with her. He’ll take over when he sees me struggling, but it seems like she only wants me these days. Think I might be coming down with something, though. I’ve been feeling awful for a few weeks. Like I got hit by a train. I keep reminding myself to go get checked out, but I always get distracted taking care of her,” Y/N gestured to her daughter that was now drooling onto the parchment liner and staring up at the ceiling as if there was something ornately interesting about the popcorn texture that had been stippled onto it.

“When you say, ‘hit by a train,’ what do you mean? I can examine you here if you’d like. As long as it’s nothing serious, I can send you something off to the pharmacy.”

Lisa re-fastened the snaps on the infant’s onesie, making sure not to pinch her chunky legs and placed her back into her mother’s lap.

“Ummm,” Y/N began, “Just extra drained, I guess? Kinda nauseous. I’ve been getting migraines a lot and even when I do get a good night’s rest, I still feel like I could go back to bed for the rest of the day. Maybe I’m just exhausted, I don’t really know. But it just feels a bit different than being worn out like I have been before.”

She could see the wheels in Lisa’s head turning, noting each of her symptoms and trying to align them in a path that would lead her to the root of the problem.

“Can I ask you something that might be a bit personal?”

Y/N nodded, rubbing her fingers absentmindedly along the bridge of her daughter’s socked foot.

“Have you and Harry been intimate since she was born?”

She was taken aback by the question, not understanding where Lisa was going with this or why it was relevant.

“Umm,” Y/N stuttered, feeling a static-y surge of embarrassment travel up her neck and onto the sides of her face, “Yeah. We have.”

A whole fucking lot ever since I’ve been cleared for it, she thought, but kept to herself.

“And can you tell me when your last menstrual cycle ended?”

Then it clicked. She genuinely couldn’t recall her most recent period and even the thought of what Lisa was alluding to made her stomach twist into thousands of tiny knots.

“I- I don’t know. I’ve been so busy with her I don’t even really think about what’s going on with me half of the time.”

Y/N tried to make excuses, anything to avoid the obvious, but judging from the quizzical look on her daughter’s pediatrician’s face, she knew exactly where this was going.

“There’s no way,” she whispered, “I can’t be.”

Lisa’s face dropped, now tender and apologetic when she realized that this was news Y/N was not ecstatic to hear.

“I know I’m a pediatrician, so that’s obviously the first thing my mind goes to, but can we at least get you to take a test? That way we’ll know for sure?”

//

Harry came home to a quiet house. It wasn’t unusual, but seeing as it was well after six o’clock in the evening and his wife wasn’t in the kitchen making the curry that she’d been oh-so so excited about earlier in the week and swaying along to the playlist they’d curated together as she stirred a pot filled with vegetables was. Their grocery store had been out of coconut milk for several weeks and she’d nearly tackled him to the ground out of excitement when he’d come home from the grocery store with it the night before, so he found it awfully strange that she’d yet to start cooking it. Had he not seen her car in the driveway, he probably wouldn’t have even suspected her to be home.

He checked the living room first, and it was desolate apart from the playmat on the floor that was littered with a few of his daughter’s favorite rattles and teethers. Her coat and purse were abandoned haphazardly on the couch, almost as if she tossed it aside in a hurry to get somewhere.

“Baby?”

Nothing.

His head peaked into the nursery, stealthily and quietly in preparation to walk in on his daughter taking her scheduled nap before her actual bedtime. He’d gotten good at hushing his footfalls to almost complete silence as to not wake her, having made that mistake more than a handful of times. 

And he was right. There she was, sprawled out in her crib with her arms outstretched over her head like a tiny starfish. Her chubby cheeks were smushed against her bicep, drawing her lips open the tiniest bit so that Harry could see the tops of her fleshy, pink gums and the barely-there nub of her first tooth peeking through. More than anything, he wanted to wake her up - lift her from the plush mattress and cuddle her close, shower her with kisses and tickle her with his scruff that was teetering on the line of becoming a full blown beard to hear those baby squeals he adored so much, but he needed to find Y/N first.

She had to be in their bedroom, he thought to himself. Maybe she was taking advantage of their baby girl napping to also get some rest. She had been rather exhausted lately. Maybe she’d had a rough day and was relaxing in the clawfoot, porcelain bathtub that had been the selling point of the home they now lived in. Or maybe she was keeping to herself peacefully somewhere else in the house and she was being so quiet that he just couldn’t hear her.

Turns out he was right again. Like he had done with the nursery, he held the wooden door tightly in his grip to keep the hinges from creeking and pressed it open gently. The room was completely dark, but he could make out the lump underneath the duvet on their king-sized bed as his wife. 

Good. She was sleeping. 

He padded across the hardwood floor, still being as quiet as he could until he crossed the threshold of the bathroom. There, he rid himself of the uncomfortable clothes he’d been wearing all day. Curse these professional business meetings about his tour schedule that forced him to dress nicely. 

All throughout the meetings, he wanted nothing more than to be home with his wife and baby, cuddling the afternoon away and watching shitty reality television while his daughter cooed and grunted and gurgled in her baby voice that he loved so much and could listen to all day. Maybe it was the fact that he’d been having to partake in these boring work meetings a lot more lately, which caused him to miss even the smallest aspects about his everyday life with his family like changing diapers or checking the baby monitor eight hundred times throughout the day to make sure his daughter was still breathing. Or maybe it was the understanding that by this time next year, he’d be halfway across the globe and physically unable to hold her in his arms. Perhaps he’d just been getting sentimental, but it was an unpleasant feeling nonetheless.

His thoughts were interrupted when he deposited his rings into the dish he kept on the counter and he heard a quite yet still prominent sniffle among the clattering of metal against the glass dish.

“Honey? ‘S that you?” Harry peaked his head out from beyond the bathroom door. 

He saw her body shift under the covers, but she gave no response. So he called out again.

“Ye’ sick? Can hear ye’ snifflin’.”

Nothing.

Pivoting back around to the inside of the bathroom, he quickly shut off the light and carried himself over to her side of the bed where he could see her properly. Her face was tucked into her chin and all that was visible to him was the top of her head.

“Hey,” Harry cooed, petting what he could reach of her hair and speaking even gentler than he had been, “What’s wrong?”

And that’s when he heard it - an almost inaudible choking sound of Y/N trying to catch her breath that immediately let him know she wasn’t sick. She had been crying.

“Whoa, baby,” he was already pulling the covers back with force, honestly not caring whether or not she minded the intrusion.

“Tell me what’s going on.”

She was emotionless when he saw her face, her puffy, bloodshot eyes and swollen lips the only indicator that she was upset. She didn’t even react to Harry tugging her head out from where it had been buried in the covers, simply rolling onto her back to stare idly at the ceiling.

“Y/N,” he called for her again, this time much more stern, “You’ve got to talk t’ me.”

She took several deep breaths through her nose, allowing her lungs to fill to their maximum capacity before exhaling with a sigh. Harry could have sworn she was sucking all of the oxygen out of the room along with his patience each time she did so. 

After what felt like ages, she parted her lips to speak.

“I went to the doctor today.” 

“Yeah? For the six-month check up, right?” Harry asked, not seeing why that was important but his mind quickly went to the worst scenario possible despite having just seen his daughter sleeping peacefully in her crib.

“‘S she alright?” his voice now demanding urgency in the delivery of her response.

“She’s fine,” she quickly dismissed him, internally kicking herself for making Harry worry.

“I was telling Lisa about how sick I’ve been lately and she -,” Y/N gulped and rubbed her knuckles against her tired eyes, bracing herself for whatever events unfolded after she said what she was about to say.

“She, umm. She made me take a pregnancy test.”

Now it was Harry’s turn to be speechless. He stared at her with furrowed brows and his mouth slightly agape. His palms suddenly felt clammy against the white sheets that they rested on and his stomach felt like it had turned in on itself from how badly it was churning. Of all of the things he had expected to be wrong with her, this was certainly the last on the list. 

“And?” he asked after a solid sixty seconds of staring at her and saying absolutely nothing, though he already knew the answer.

“Ten weeks.”

Silent tears now spilled over her eyes and down past her temples. She couldn’t even be bothered to wipe them, instead letting them dampen a small patch of hair on either side of her head. Pregnancies weren’t supposed to be sad, but somehow, she had barely been able to stop crying since she left the pediatrician’s office.

“How,” Harry whispered, moreso to himself than to her.

“I think you know how babies are made, H,” Y/N quipped.

“‘S not what I meant,” Harry fired back just as quickly, “It’s just...She’s still so little.”

He thought of his daughter asleep in the next room. She was the most perfect thing he’s ever seen and on the day that she was born, he knew he wanted nothing more than to fill his and Y/N’s house with as many curly-headed babies as he could fit beds in each room. He just hadn’t expected that his only child’s first birthday present was going to be the gift of being a big sister. 

It was all too sudden.

“I just don’t know how I didn’t see it sooner. I mean,” Y/N raised her arms above her head before huffing and letting them fall to her sides, “I guess I was just so caught up with the baby that I hadn’t even had a second to think about what’s going on with me. It’s like I don’t even matter anymore and I-”

“Hey, hey now. None of tha’,” Harry shushed her and curled up next to her frame as she began to sob.

He tucked her head into his neck, hugging her shoulders tightly as if he was trying to hold the pieces of her together before she shattered. His mind was running a mile per minute. It killed him to see her like this, killed him to be in this situation. The last time they had found out this news, there were happy tears - tears of joy and celebration and relief after having tried for what felt like years. Never had he imagined that the next time they were presented with the very same news, that there would be tears of sadness.

Her voice was muffled against his now wrinkled blouse, but he could still make out what she was saying beneath her blubbers.

“I can’t do this.”

“Wha’ do yeh mean, pretty? Of course yeh can. I’ll move some things around and we’ll make it work. We’ll be alright,” he ran his hand up and down her back in attempt to soothe her.

“That’s the problem, Harry.”

He lifted his chin from here it was resting on the top of her head to look down at her.

“What?”

“You have to move everything around. You’ve already been gone for almost two years. This sets you back at least another. You can’t keep pushing shit back.”

“Erm,” Harry paused to break away from her and sit up straight against the headboard, “Yes I can? I couldn’t care less about tour...Did yeh think I was gonna leave yeh here on your own with a fuckin’ newborn?”

“No. I didn’t think you were just going to leave,” she almost sounded annoyed, which didn’t sit quite right with Harry.

“But do you see what’s happening? Everything is fucked.”

His voice wasn’t so calm anymore.

“No, Y/N. I honestly don’t. I mean I know this is all happening much earlier than we expected, but what else is there t’ do? Tour can wait.”

“People are counting on you, Harry. Millions of them. We’re not the only ones that matter in this situation.”

“Will you please tell me what yeh gettin’ at, because I’m starting t’ get upset.” 

Harry’s lips were pressed in a thin, straight line and his nostrils flared with every breath. Why was she being like this? 

“I don’t know what I’m fucking getting at. I’m just overwhelmed."

“And yeh think I’m not? ‘M tryin’ my best to keep it together for your sake if yeh haven’t noticed,” it almost condescending how the words rolled off his tongue.

“Oh, excuse me,” Y/N laughed sarcastically.

“Didn’t realize you were the one carrying our fucking child. Didn’t realize you’re the one that has to grow all big and gross and swollen and be in pain every fucking day to the point where walking to the bathroom feels like a fucking marathon. Didn’t realize you’re the one that has to push a football-sized human out of your vagina and just lay there while a doctor you’ve never seen before stitches you up because it literally tore your insides. Didn’t realize you-”

“For fuck’s sake, I get it!” Harry was yelling now.

“It’s not the same and I’m sorry for suggesting tha’ it was. ‘M not sure what it is that yeh want me t’ say though. I’m sorry? ‘S that it? Sorry for gettin’ yeh pregnant? Sorry for havin’ a job that were well fuckin’ aware of when yeh met me? Sorry that I do everything I possibly can to keep you and the baby and everyone else on the fuckin’ planet happy?”

“You’re being an asshole, Harry,” she was just as angry as he was, scowl evident on her face even in their dimly lit bedroom.

“And you’re not makin’ any fuckin’ sense! Are yeh tellin’ me yeh don’t want t’ keep it? ‘Cos I never fuckin’ said that yeh have to.”

The thought had crossed her mind on the drive home from the doctor’s office, but the feeling left as quickly as it approached. She’d taken one look at her daughter in her car seat through the rear view mirror happily sucking on her teether and knew without a doubt that she couldn’t.

She felt a tidal wave of fresh, salty tears peaking and about to crash over her.

“I don’t want - fuck,” she put her head in her hands. 

“I just-,” and then she broke.

Sobs wracked her body, making her shoulders shake up and down. She wasn’t even sure how she had any more left to get out, but it just kept coming. Over and over and over again until it felt like she was being suffocated and that no one was going to save her. She felt Harry’s hands move to rest on her shoulder blades and heard gentle, cooing-like sounds coming out of his mouth, but she couldn’t make out what he had said over the sounds of her own wailing.

“Baby, it’s okay. Just breathe f’ me. It’s alri-”

His attempt at subduing her was cut short by shrill cries coming from the digital monitor that sat on their nightstand. Harry peeked over his shoulder at the screen, seeing that their daughter had woken from her nap and was now demanding the attention of her parents. He couldn’t help but wince as he watched her socked feet flail around in the crib; it was without a doubt that the screaming match they’d just encountered had stirred her from her sleep, and that hurt him just as much as it did to see his wife crying right in front of him.

Y/N heard it too, somehow. Perhaps it was because she’d been trained to react to every minute sound that she made and could recognize her cries from a mile away in the paralyzing fear that something was wrong with her or maybe it was because she looking for any and every excuse to get Harry’s hands off of her so she could get away from him and escape the argument they’d just had without making the situation any worse than it already was. Regardless, she turned her own neck to peer at the monitor and sighed heavily.

“I’ll go, Y/N. Just stay here.”

“No. I got it. It’s after seven. She’s probably hungry.”

She shrugged Harry’s hands away from her shoulders like his touch physically pained her and climbed over his body and off the bed without another word, not even giving Harry the chance to take her hand and help her over the edge of the mattress. He knew she wasn’t going anywhere but down the hall and into the nursery, but he couldn’t help but feel like she was walking away from everything.

//

Y/N stared her daughter while she nursed. She started from the top of her head that was riddled with chocolate brown curls and worked her way down to the tips of her toes that would occasionally flex themselves out of habit. Her hair? Undoubtedly Harry’s. Her nose? A perfect, narrow line down her face that led to a button-shaped tip akin to Harry’s. Her lips? The same almost inhuman shade of bubblegum pink as Harry’s. Surprisingly, the only physical trait she’d inherited from her mother were the color of her eyes, which was funny considering that was the one thing she’d wanted Harry to pass down to their daughter; Y/N had always hated hers.

She was content, suckling away at Y/N’s breast - her cries of hunger long forgotten. The infant hadn’t even flinched when a few more of Y/N’s silent, cold tears spilled over and left small wet spots where her onesie rested over her belly. She had no idea that her parents were upset with each other and she had no idea that in a little more than six months time, she’d be a big sister and there would be two babies fighting for their attention. Y/N was also clueless, but only as to how she was going to take care of a newborn and a one-year-old simultaneously. She’d always thought she’d have more time than this - more time to spend with just her daughter and Harry before they decided to have another, but just like her eyes, things always had a funny way of never working out in her favor.

Three soft knocks on the wall withdrew her from her thoughts and she was greeted by her husband idling in the doorway like he needed permission before entering a room in his own house. He had changed out of his dress clothes and was now clad in his favorite pair of joggers that were permanently stained with spit-up. Y/N had tried everything under the sun to get the spots out, but he’d been persistant on not throwing them out.

“Can I come in?”

His voice was barely above a whisper and much calmer than when he’d been yelling at her about twenty minutes ago. He still hesitated crossing the threshold even after Y/N had given him a skeptical nod, but allowed his bare feet to pad over the plush carpet as he joined her on the loveseat in the far corner of the nursery.

He watched their daughter just as Y/N had, taking in her tranquil state as her fingers brushed reflexively against the underside of Y/N’s breast. He’d never been able to pry his eyes away every time he watched her nurse. There were no ulterior motives behind it, nothing sexual or erotic whatsoever. It amazed him each and every time, how Y/N was able to provide their child with everything that they needed to grow with only her body. At first, Y/N hated that Harry loved sitting in on her feedings, feeling exposed and unattractive despite Harry’s continuous affirmations that it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever had the privilege of witnessing, but over time she’d grown fond of it.

“‘M sorry for yelling at yeh,” Harry started.

“It was uncalled for.”

Y/N sniffled, rubbing her swollen eyes with the back of her free hand that wasn’t supporting her daughter’s back as she held her.

“It’s okay. It was a lot to take in. I’m sorry for yelling at you too.”

She couldn’t quite look him in the eye just yet, but she was slowy but surely getting there.

“’S not okay, actually. You’re right. I’m not the one havin’ the baby. It’s you that’s got t’ do all the hard stuff. Should’ve listened to you more.”

He shifted towards her on the cushions, afraid to touch her just yet but still yearning to be closer to her.

The best Y/N could muster was a quiet, “Thank you,” before she busied herself by attempting to run her fingers through her baby’s hair and untangle the mess she’d created while she was sleeping.

“Can I hold you? Please?”

Now was when she turned to face him and she was met with eyes that were just as red-rimmed as hers. She had heard the bathroom sink running for an abnormally long amount of time and a hard, frustrated pounding against the wall shortly after she’d gone off in the nursery to feed the baby, which meant he must have been trying to muffle the sounds of his own crying when she left their bedroom.

Y/N didn’t say anything, only shifting her weight onto one side so Harry could easily lift her onto his lap in one swift movement without disturbing their daughter. He tucked her shoulder into his neck and softly kissed her skin and his hands moved to mimic hers so they were both holding the baby that was nodding off again in their arms. She found herself relaxing into his loose grip, her head tilting to the side to rest against his. 

“I love you so much. Yeh know that? I know it’s difficult always having t’ think about everyone else, but you’re what’s important t’ me. I’d drop everything for you if I had to. End it all today.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” she refuted, but there was no malice in her tone.

“I wouldn’t let you.”

“Well, just know that I would if yeh wanted me to. I’ve thought about it a thousand times. I want t’ be here f’ you. For her. Don’t want t’ miss anything. I finally got my shot at bein’ normal when I met you and I hate myself for even thinkin’ about going back on the road and leavin’ yeh.”

“Don’t,” Y/N paused to press a chaste kiss to Harry’s cheek.

“You’re a good person, Harry. A good dad. A good husband. Please don’t ever think that you’re not.”

She felt moisture pool in the dips of her collarbones where Harry’s chin lied, but she didn’t acknowledge it.

“I’ll be okay. Sorry if I freaked you out earlier. Think I just need some time to get used to it all. Just wasn’t expecting Lisa to drop the ball that I was pregnant when all I was expecting was for her to tell me that our kid is in the 99th percentile for weight and then send me on my way.”

This got a chuckle out of him, almost causing him to choke on his tears. He quickly rubbed the sleeves of his jumper against his eyes to dry up any remaining wet spots on his face. 

“She is pretty chunky, isn’t she?” Harry jested while thumbing over his daughter’s rounded tummy.

After a moment of admiring their little chunk of a baby, with her milk-drunk eyes and puckered lips, Harry spoke again.

“Two babies,” he huffed.

“Two babies,” she repeated.

His hands moved to caress Y/N’s stomach. She clearly wasn’t showing yet considering that neither of them had even known she was pregnant up until today, but he still held her like her belly was the size of a watermelon and he was waiting anxiously to feel a hand or a foot press up against his palm.

“Might be kinda nice. They can share everything and we’ll only have t’ have one birthday party ‘cos they’ll be born around the same time. They’ll go t’ the same school and probably have the same friends. Kinda like twins.”

“Based on the fact that you’ve already picked out the outfit this one is wearing on her first birthday that’s still six months away, I highly doubt you’ll stay keen on them sharing a party.”

Harry pursed his lips and blushed, recalling the garment he’d spotted during one his fittings with Gucci that he vowed to have for his daughter.

“Guess you’re right about tha’.”

Their banter was interrupted by a grueling rumbling sound coming from Y/N’s stomach that Harry could feel throughout his entire body.

“Jesus, Y/N. You hungry too? When’s the last time you ate?”

“Uhh...this morning I think?” Y/N sighed.

“Couldn’t stomach anything when I got home.”

Harry’s heart dropped when he thought of how distraught she’d been all day while he was gone and with everything in him, he’d wished he would have postponed his meetings to go to check up with her and they could have found out together, but it’s possible that the topic might not have even come up if he had been in the room with her and the pediatrician.

“Found coconut milk at the store the other day, remember? Want me t’ make that curry for yeh?”

“Ohh, yes please,” she immediately purked up at the thought of warm spices and rice.

“Starting to wonder if curry was a craving now that I think about it. Didn’t we have it, what? Three nights in a row a while back?”

Harry giggled as he reluctantly removed Y/N from his lap and stood up from the sofa.

“Thought tha’ was a bit weird that yeh wanted it so badly, but I didn’t dwell on it too much.”

“She’s going back down. If you give me a minute, I’ll come downstairs and help you,” Y/N said, pulling up the straps of her tank top after realizing her daughter had long since forgotten about her breast and was conked out in her arms.

“‘Ve got it, mama” Harry quickly refuted.

“Take a bath or somethin’ and I’ll bring it up t’ yeh when it’s done.”

“Okay.”

Y/N couldn’t fight the grin growing on her face at the nickname Harry used that she still hadn’t gotten used to.

When she placed their daughter soundly in her crib, Y/N’s fingers stayed put from where they sat on the railing as she caught herself staring at the sleeping infant once more. Though she’d felt like her world was caving in on her just a handful of hours ago, the pieces were all coming back together now. 

Of course, she wanted more children with Harry. And now she was getting what she wanted. Just like he’d told her back in the bedroom, it wasn’t ideal, but they’d make it work. They always did. 

With two babies.

[wonniesmile]

❥ i-land (theme song)

⤷ ellie and the 12 other applicants of i-land are introduced to their very first performance mission.

⤷ word count: 3.3k+

⤷ warning: this is all purely fictional, none of the arguments and conflicts within this series is a true reflection of the trainees. everything you read is made up from my pea-sized brain.

⤷ *italics = english / italics + bold = japanese*

ellie was somehow coping...she made new friends! there was this one trainee named sunghoon who she became close to after bonding over their love for skating and then there was nicholas, who she found really entertaining. she was relaxing on her bed talking to jake when the alarms started ringing, “in 10 minutes, we will reveal the first test.” she shoots up, “we just got here...” she sighs and rushes out the door, pulling jake along with her. the other i-landers were rushing to the main room.

jake and ellie reach the mission room, sitting in chairs right beside each other. as the i-landers fill up the space, the big monitor in front of them plays a video, “that’s sick.” ellie whispers. “from now on, you have a common destiny.” ellie raises her eyebrows in anticipation. “for the four tests to come, you’ll be collectively responsible for every result.” ellie runs a hand through her hair. “the average of individuals’ scores will be the team’s score, that result will determine the number of people to be eliminated from the i-land.” the screen shows a table and ellie's mouth gapes open in shock. so what she’s seeing is, if they get anything below a 96, it guarantees an elimination...the boys beside her all gasp. “it means, everybody should get a high score for many people to stay in the i-land.” she furrowed her eyebrows. “so we all have to do well.” a trainee by the name of geonu says, “if one person does bad, it impacts everyone else.” ellie adds, the trainees around her nod their heads in agreement. “...and for the elimination.” ellie’s breath hitched, “you’ll be decided by yourself.” she groans and buries her face in her hands. “now, for determining the destiny of the collective on i-land, the first test is going to be revealed.” ellie’s eyes go wide. part of herself feels excited at the thought of their very first performance, but the other part...mhm...not so much. the screen changes and on it read the words ‘signal song’. she cocks her head in confusion. immediately, a video starts playing and the first beats of the song are heard, “oh my, it’s a song just for us!” she yelps excitedly. one side of the screen read the lyrics and the other side played the choreography. “wah...” speechless, that’s how she felt. after witnessing the entirety of the first ever song, ellie claps her hands in amusement. “i love it!” she yells, throwing her hands up. the boys laugh at her reaction. seon takes the lead, yet again, after the trainees calm down. he explains which parts get the most lines and center time, as well as those that don’t get as much. “parts 8-13 only go once.” jay mentions. she bites her lip, feeling the sweat build up on the crook of her neck. she felt anxious. she could not get any part more than a 7, she just couldn’t. analyzing the lyrics more, ellie falls deep in thought. “hey.” jake snaps her out of her thoughts, “you ok?” she nods her head, “what do i do?” she gets anxious thinking about the choosing of parts, “you’ll be fine, don’t worry about it.” jake turns his body to face her, “whatever part you get, i know you’ll shine.” he smiles and she instantly relaxes, “thanks jake.” she smiles at him, the apples of her cheeks on full blast. “from now, decide the signal song’s part.” ellie sighs, “you can change the part at any time.” she darts her eyes around the room, analyzing others’ reactions, “this test will begin in 7 days.” she gasps, “7 days?!” she turns to jake, “that’s barely enough time, my god.” the countdown appears on the egg and her heart drops to her feet. the trainees around her all exclaim, “they weren’t kidding huh.” jake says and ellie laughs, she’s losing her mind. “then what should we do first?” asks daniel. seon answers him right away, once again taking the lead. jay follows up soon after, “i think first, we need to sing...because the center has to hit all those high notes.” the conversation flows on and ellie blanks out, only nodding her head every now and then. heeseung decides to speak up after noticing the state of the conversation, suggesting the idea of learning the main choreography, first, then coming back together as a whole to decide the parts. everyone nods their heads in agreement. jake and ellie decide to head back to their room, where they are met with a few trainees, one being ni-ki. “what part are you going for ellie?” he asks in japanese, “i don’t know...anything below a 7 would be fine, i guess.” she responds back, “i’ll just go with the flow.” ni-ki nods his head, “i want part 1.” he says, switching back into korean. “don’t we all...” ellie sighs and flings her body onto the soft mattress of the bed. it’s been a few hours since the first test was announced and both ellie and ni-ki had already learned 80% of the choreography, focusing on the chorus. the trainees watch in awe. “ni-ki! ellie!” k yells in surprise. “they’re so good.” sunghoon mentions soon after. ellie smiles as the applicants clap them on. finishing up, she turns to face ni-ki and they give each other a high five, feeling exhilarated by the sudden compliments. “why are you guys so good?” sunghoon asks the two. ellie thanks him and with sass, flips her hair over her shoulder, ending it with a wink. the trainees pretend to fall over at her cute action and she laughs. the trainees were gathered in the dance room, once again, all deciding on parts for the signal song. the discussion was led by heeseung, who she has been wanting to get close to after seeing his performance during the entrance test. ellie drowns the voices out, deciding to tune back in after she calms herself down. “so, let’s take audition voluntarily and get judged by us.” was the first sentence you heard as you bring yourself back into reality, “so we are voting again?” heeseung (half-jokingly) says, “no, not the voting!” sunghoon pleads and the rest laugh. ellie smiles and looks down. “i think we should decide everything today.” heeseung says. “i agree, i think it’s better if we get all the parts down today so that we’ll have more time to prepare for the actual performance.” ellie speaks for the first time in, what felt like, an eternity. the trainees hum in approval. heeseung helps plan out the rest of the week, deciding on learning everything for the first two days and then perfecting it after the two days were up. “hands up if you want to do part 1.” the audition process starts for the parts. the trainees all look at each other in anticipation, feeling out the air. “should i count to five?” daniel asks after realizing no one had raised their hands up. the young boy starts his countdown and by the end, still no hands up. ellie’s heart rate quickens, she wants it...she wants it so bad. she bites her bottom lip. “then, does anybody want to recommend someone?” ellie looks around as the trainees agree with heeseung’s idea. both sunghoon and youngbin gain the applicants’ attention as they raise their hands up. sunghoon shyly points his hand towards heeseung, “i recommend heeseung!” he says, shooting finger guns at him. ellie wasn’t going to lie, in her heart she knew heeseung had what it takes to completely own the stage...but she wanted to prove herself. she snaps out of her thoughts with the sound of laughter. “he said it, and he can’t control how he feels.” she overhears. ellie looks around the circle, her eyes landing on the boy next to her, ni-ki. “hey, you ok?” she whispers, nudging him a bit. “if you want part 1, go for it.” she encourages him with a wink and he musters up a smile, “heeseung gets part 1!” ellie snaps her head to look back into the circle, “oh.” she sighs in defeat. ‘stupid. you should’ve raised your hand up.’ she mentally slaps herself on the head. the whole ‘choosing parts’ process took way longer than what ellie had hoped. she ended up landing a spot on part 2a, part 2b going to geonu. she was more than satisfied with her parts, but part of her still wanted that stupid part 1. “ta ta ta.” heeseung keeps the beat for the other trainees as they practice their dance, ellie follows along smoothly, having already memorized the whole dance a few minutes prior to when heeseung decided to take the lead. looking to her left, she notices a struggling jake and youngbin, her eyes immediately softening. she taps the two on the shoulders, “need help?” she asks and they both exhale, “yes please.” jake says. she pulls the two away from the bigger group to help them get a one on one practice, adhering to their pace. “perfect!” ellie smiles and claps at the two, finally finishing the dance, “youngbin, for this move,” quickly demonstrating, “try extending your arms out more to make it look cleaner...and after that, i think you’re all set!” she smiles, the apples of her cheeks becoming very prominent. youngbin bows towards her, “thank you ellie. this means so much.” he says with a dramatic tone. ellie giggles and pats his back, “of course, kind sir.” jake laughs first, ellie and youngbin follow immediately after. “should we do freestyle?” ni-ki suggests, “daniel can beatbox!” nicholas points at the young boy as he starts a beat. the i-landers were in the practice room taking a short break after practicing for hours on end. “shall we start? whichever bpm.” ni-ki says. ellie looks around with a glint in her eyes. “you should go up.” jake nudges her, “absolutely not, i’m scared.” she yell-whispers. jay is the first one up, “hey jay! hey jay!” the trainees start chanting. he rides the beat slowly and immediately starts showing off his dance steps, “oh!” ellie exclaims, waving her arms around. ni-ki is next, stepping out with a few flashy moves. the i-landers all exclaim, “wah ni-ki!” ellie yells, clapping her hands. he finishes off with a pose and everyone falls to the ground in excitement. “ellie...” jay suddenly starts, “ellie! ellie!” the chanting grows stronger while ellie gets flustered, “uh...i shouldn’t” she scratches the back of her neck, “ellie! ellie!” next to her, jake smiles, “c’mon!” ellie sighs and smirks, “alrighty then.” daniel changes the beat and her demeanor changes. stepping out, riding the beat, she starts off with a bit of popping. showing off every dance style she knows, the i-landers all yell to hype her up. feeding off of the energy in the practice room, she finishes off with a pose, “oh my god!” they all yell and come closer to her. nicholas lifts her up and they all start chanting her name, “what is happening?!” she laughs. the boy puts her down, “you’re amazing!” nicholas pats her head and she thanks him. “you never said you could freestyle?” ni-ki says with a smile, “well, the topic never got brought up...so...” she shrugs. the mood was tense as the trainees sat down, waiting to show off what they’ve learned in the little time that they were given. earlier that day, someone was arguing about the choreography, she wasn’t there to completely witness everything because she was getting water, but when she came back, everyone had a gloomy look on their face. jungwon was up first, performing perfectly even after the little time they had to practice. she’s always admired the boy, he was very talented and they were the same age, but she’s been too scared to strike up a conversation with him. he finishes off and the trainees clap, “you did well!” k compliments him. like always, ellie blanks out, getting anxious at the thought of performing in front of everyone, especially when they’re all examining the smallest details. it’s not like she doesn’t know she’ll do well, she knows she can pull it off, but she was still nervous. “ellie, you’re up!” heeseung says. the girl slowly arises from her seat, jake cheering her on. she looks around and makes eye contact with ni-ki, who mouths a, “fighting!” she smiles and mouths a thank you back. she gets to her starting position and the music starts. her body flows with the music effortlessly, completely ridding her mind off of all the thoughts that run recklessly in her brain. “that was amazing!” heeseung exclaims. she bows and calms her breathing. ni-ki whispers something to heeseung and ellie’s heart race quickens, “just say it out loud.” heeseung encourages ni-ki, “that was the best performance yet.” he quickly says, looking down. ellie smiles and bows again, “thank you!” the trainees cheer her on as she sits down next to jungwon, “you’re really good.” he compliments her. she blushes, “you too!” the silence between the grows larger, “um...2004 right?” he suddenly asks. ellie nods her head, “september 3.” she adds on. jungwon nods, “february 9.” he says, smiling to himself. “im older!” he was quick about it. ellie rolls her eyes and the two have a hearty laugh. ellie learned a lot about the boy during the few minutes they had together. he used to do taekwondo and he really loves his grandma. oh! he also has this weird obsession with curry? anyways, ellie examined the boy while he was talking. he had doe like eyes, sparkling every time he’d talk about a topic he loved. he had deep, prominent dimples that would show up every time he spoke. he also does this (really cute) thing where he furrows his eyebrows every time he- “jake! you’re up!” ellie shakes her head to get rid of the thoughts, “go jakey!” she yells for support. clapping her hands she turns back to jungwon, “he’ll do great, i know he will.” jungwon nods and smiles... during jake’s performance, ellie notices ni-ki whispering something to heeseung. her anxiety shoots up and she bites her lips, “you ok?” jungwon asks from besides her, voice laced with worry as he notices her legs bounce up and down, “oh, it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” ellie reassures him, smiling slightly. jake has been doing amazing, maybe even better than some of the other trainees. he finishes off his dance and waits in anticipation for feedback. “ni-ki thinks that jake’s performance was one of the best by far.” jake smiles and bows, breathing out in relief. ellie’s eyes widen and she claps excitingly for her friend. standing up, she runs over to him, attacking him with a bear hug, “i knew you’d do great, mate!” she says. jake laughs and pulls her down to sit. there has been so much tension surrounding i-land during the past few days and ellie had no clue what was going on, resorting to keeping to herself and eating every once in a while. back in the dance practice room, seon whispers something to k and the next thing she knew, they were all gathered on the steps of the entrance. she looks down at her fingers, playing around with them. “i know that i’m not good and all,” youngbin musters up the courage to start, “i was ok with dancing in groups of two...” he stops to take a breath, “but heeseung made us dance one by one, i understand why you needed to see us one by one, i felt horrible and was really humiliated.” ellie’s breathing hitched, “if i’m being honest, i cried...i cried.” he sighs, finally expressing his feelings. an uneasy air filled the room, “we shouldn’t be worrying right now.” heeseung starts, ellie’s head turns towards him, “if we voted for someone to lead us, then we should trust and follow that person...we’re running out of time.” ellie felt for both sides. she knew how youngbin felt, the dreading feeling of having to perform in front of many people when he wasn’t ready to, but she also saw where heeseung was coming from. it was a bit unfair, you know? from ellie’s eyes, it seemed like they were blaming heeseung for everything...but she knew in her heart that he just wanted what was best for the team, it may have come off as a bit aggressive, but he was trying his best, giving up most of his own practice time to help the rest of the trainees. she witnessed him the other day, alone in the small corner room, looking distressed, but she decided to leave him be. “it’s fitting that heeseung is in the center, but you’re really good and you keep hanging out with those who are good, so the team’s balance is off...that’s what i personally.” daniel adds on. “i said this the first day, i predicted this...” heeseung nods his head and ellie’s eyebrows rise, “so on the first day, i said i didn’t want to be center. i knew it would result in this so that’s why i said that.” the boy starts biting his nails, a habit that ellie noticed he did every time he felt anxious, “it’s not about completing the choreography, but it has to look good...i wanted to lead you that way, but i didn’t tell you in advance, and planned on my own and got ahead of myself.” he admits, “i personally think that it’d be best if i’m not the center.” heeseung looks down at his lap, forfeiting his role as the center. everyone looks at him in shock, including ellie, “i really mean it.”  after a long meeting, ni-ki gets part 1 as the new center, while heeseung takes part 10. heeseung smiles at the young boy and slowly excuses himself from the room. ellie notices from afar and excuses herself as well.  carefully following the boy, her heart rate quickens. they both reach the corner room together, “hey ellie.” he says, turning around to smile at her, “wanna talk about it?” heeseung takes a seat, grabbing a cushion, “actually, could you just stay here with me?” ellie’s eyes widen and she quickly agrees, taking the empty seat next to him. “would you mind?” he says, gesturing to her shoulder, “oh, not at all!” he places his head on her shoulders and sighs. the silence was deafening. ellie wraps her arms around his head, ever so gently rubbing his beanie as a way to comfort the boy. that’s when the tears started. ellie’s eyes soften immediately and she looks up, trying not to let the tears spill, a tactic she learned from the last time, “it’s so hard, ellie.” heeseung says in between sobs, “i know, i know it is, but everything will work itself out, you did an amazing job.” hearing her words of encouragement made heeseung cry more, “shh, it’s alright, let it all out.” she rubs his shoulders. the two stayed in each other’s comforting presence for a good amount of time. the day had come, the countdown was getting closer and closer to 0, ellie was so anxious. “ellie! you look amazing!” jake compliments the girl, “same goes for you!” they laugh. “ellie and jake! let’s take a pic together!” heeseung calls the two over and ellie happily obliges.  they all had their mics on and ellie felt absolutely nauseous, but she held it down for the sake of the performance. she goes to the corner of the room to warm up her voice some more, “i-landers, please report to the stage.” ellie’s face drops. she grabs jakes hands and he squeezes it, “you’ll do great, mate.” ellie smiles at him, “the same goes for you, mate.” alright ellie, you got this.

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

yknow while this hellsite continues on the whole religion discussion thing, i’d like to jump in on it with my experience particularly with leaving catholic school.

like aside from my angsty pop-punk/emo etc teen phase (which’ll obvs be weaved into story later on) that led me to have different views from the church and aside from the whole sexism thing that i endured over my year 10 formal/junior prom in 2010 and 2011 from staff there….. i found it within myself incredibly hard to leave there… mostly because i’d known literally 1/3 of my year group at catholic school since kindy/kindergarten or some other point in primary school.

this affected my choice to leave and it was quite tumultuous inwardly. knowing the safety and predictably of the people i was with for all those years was a comfort to me. i knew their parents due to parent mixer bbqs that we’d have after mother’s day and father’s day liturgies- although i hated the mother’s day ones mostly, due to personal reasons. but to leave that comfortable place for overly loyal, kinda sorta shy (although everyone who knew me at that school wouldn’t’ve described me as shy bc i was a very loud show off because of drama class 😅) and by year 10, very lonely, highly socially anxious and depressed, teen me was terrifying. it meant losing her friends and stability and she obvs hated that thought. it meant leaving the one one place she ever felt good at something, drama class.

obviously, after she did leave for public school, she visited the catholic school on a few separate occasions, to try and keep the connection “alive” or whatever the fuck she wrote in a fake deep status on her fb (that i now get in my fb memories every year lmao). but it all ended pretty badly, when everyone from that school stopped talking to her once high school finished. no one invited her out. or if people did try to invite her out, like a couple of people did, it always fell through…. and it made her feel like she was just a bad luck charm or whatever other low self esteem talk she was telling herself. there was quite a few moody statuses around that too lmao.

but yeah. leaving catholic school was a massive thing for me back then, because even though i hadn’t gone to church on sunday for literal Y E A R S at that point; i still had a strong pull to that school because i’d known SO MANY kids at that school from primary/elementary/grade etc school, regardless of their year group level. because if there’s one thing catholic school was good at, it was networking 😂. you knew everyone, and everyone knew you. it was safe, it was sound, so i didn’t want to leave.

but once you leave, you lose your friends and what almost felt like an extended family (although they obvs weren’t). but at the same time, i’d grown to hate the safety and almost insularity of the school, because as i mentioned earlier, you felt like you could predict how people would react or behave in class/events etc.

i felt the above distinctly, because as i’ve mentioned plenty on here, from years 7-10 i was a very emotionally demonstrative kid. in some classes (mostly religion and PE when i was bothered to participate) i’d end up in shouting matches with the teacher or other students…. or y’know just have a casual meltdown in the middle of class, which many people saw as “attention seeking” behaviour. i felt watched, i felt ready to snap, and to quote the ever present All Time Low i felt like the bridge lyrics from “therapy” (which was/is quite obviously somewhat partially about the price of fame and hollywood imo- but that went over teen me’s head at the time lmao):

“arrogant boy, love yourself so no one has to, they’re better off without you (better off without you). arrogant boy, cause a scene like you’re supposed to, they’ll fall asleep without you; you’re lucky if your memory remains”

like yes. i’ll admit those bridge lyrics being applied to this time is rather overdramatic, in hindsight, but hey. that was teen me for ya lmao. and don’t even get me started on applying ATL’s song “sick little games” to this at the time as well 😂😅. anyway. from all the “lms and i’ll tell you what i like about you” trend statuses that people were doing back then on fb, i’d gained the tag of “cool/chill girl”, my crush rich boy, once called me “outrageous” because of how loud i was and how willing in years 7-9 to scream out stupid song lyrics like “i want to fuck dog in the ass” by blink 182, fight song by marilyn manson and then idek probably my humps by black eyed peas at the top my lungs through the very few halls that that school had 😂😅. i was being purposely and annoyingly offensive most of the time.

but eventually, once it came to things like one of the girls in my group wanting to run for vice school captain and the other girls in my group A L W A Y S being given leadership positions (LPs)….. while i always had to apparently “repent” my behaviour by being made (in theory from my teachers) to sit alone at lunch because of my “embarrassing” and “unseemly” behaviour at the so-called “training”/ “retreat” days we had for things like being peer support leaders for the new cohort of year 7s etc etc. i felt like everyone was just waiting for me to leave…. and that they couldn’t stand my “embarrassing” presence and that i’d ruin my friends chances of being selected as co-captain or whatever other bullshit LPs they wanted to run for. but still. i felt like i couldn’t leave. just. how do you leave a bunch of people that you’ve known for so long???

and even when my teachers were nice enough to give me a chance in a leadership position once; in that dastardly bullshit internet safety workshop thing that they should’ve literally just hired a professional workshop co. to do….. but to save money they used students in my year group instead. so, instead of being marked by my teachers on this program; i was marked by the catholic education office. they had a lady come in from the ceo to judge/mark us while presenting…… and this lady went off at teen me for “not being professional, responsible and respectful” or whatever the fuck the woman told 15/16yo me…. which teen me then fired back with “i don’t have to be fucking professional and responsible!!!! IM FUCKING 15!!!!”.. so from then on i was never given an LP or any other type of “peer support” role against my friends who were littered with offers for them. mind you, i did call a whole room of 14 year olds “a bunch of cunts” or the like and then stormed out thinking that i’d made a solid point, so the CEO woman had a good reason 😂😅….. again in hindsight.

of course there was also the bitterness of teen me being angry at the english dept for not giving her a spot in the top class of english in her half of the year. but as i’ve said previously on other posts, i’ve forgiven this because i did essentially fail one shakespeare in class assessment in year 8 or year 9 😂. but i strongly felt this during my time at catholic school bc my friends believed that i should’ve been in the top english class too lmao.

but aside from those troubles and foibles, i still found it incredibly hard to leave. to leave the perceived closeness of that group of girls, who would sometimes walk me down to the office and sit with me in “purple room” while i waited for the teacher that had to act as my therapist almost lmao. even though i always told my friends to leave me be and go back to class bc i felt bad about dragging them out of class for so long.

but yeah. with all the above behaviour, the song lyrics to me at the time made sense bc teen me just felt so pressured to fit into the whole “funny, cool, outrageous girl” bs box that people had put her in…. but at the same time she wanted to escape it bc she was just *flyleaf voice* SO SICK of being laughed at instead of laughed with (atl weightless reference here kids) just because… like she DESERVED to be taken seriously for fucks sake, and not a be a “monkey do funny dance” person… she obvs felt this the most in drama class. where in the shakespeare unit, she picked a medley of romeo and juliet and taming of the shrew monologues to do for her monologue. although she nearly did lady macbeth throwing herself off the tower, to be hella edgy…. but she opted not to do that in the end. but she picked serious pieces bc she was sick and tired of being classed as the one trick pony go-to funny person.

okay. this really went off topic. but y’all get the point??? the decision of leaving catholic school was a hell of a ride for little 14-16yo me. it was confusing, terrifying and tied up in years of being overly judged and feeling like people wanted me to leave bc they were sick of me. it was tied up in years of mid-class meltdowns that had become kind of routine for me to have, and that people were just brushing me off as “attention seeking”…. but also ironically waiting for me to snap at any second for another wild shouting match or walkout; which would then make me look like i was “unruly” or “untameable/unmanageable” or whatever the fuck….. but i couldn’t take that anymore, for the final senior years. i HAD to leave it.

again it was hard to leave for loyal little teen me, despite how lonely and isolated she felt. why leave your friends when you’re comfortable??? but also: why stay in this toxic environment where people are just waiting for you to either shut the fuck up and put up with it or just blow up and absolutely lose your shit??? that’s just unhealthy asf. and the only unruly thing that’s happening here is the complete lack of mental health help or management in the aussie education system; but most especially in religious schools.

[winterscaptain]

in harmony.

Aaron Hotchner x Gender Neutral Reader

a/n: i’ve cast the choirs (because i think i’m hilarious) and have a playlist to listen to as you read, if you want the ~full experience~. i’ve done my best to time it out with the music so it flows properly, depending on how fast you read. the beginning moves a little faster than the music, so i would recommend starting the playlist at the beginning of the fic. this one has been living in my head rent free for way too long and i’m so stoked to share it with you.

straight no chaser as the nsa mc6 a cappella as the atf pentatonix as the fbi

words: 4035 warnings: mild swearing, internal monologuing, and pining!hotch ft. supportive!jj, tw: a capella themes setlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7GQkhBUhUfdJI4m0vZbqbJ?si=46TMCTj9SkCRoHlnAxHfkg

masterlist | requests closed!

The Official Unofficial Los Angeles Inter-Agency Choral Competition was in its final stages of preparation, and you were at the center of it. CIA did the judging, as usual, and each agency had a team, a setlist, and a competitive streak a mile long. 

Because the bragging rights awarded by the CIA were so coveted, the agents involved in the choral groups got a half day off of work, waived by the Assistant Directors themselves. 

Thus, the NSA, ATF, and FBI choral teams were goofing around in the federal building auditorium with the abandon of a bunch of high schoolers. Sound check was always criminally fun, and most of it was spent giving each other a hard time and arranging music on the fly. 

The engineers were still working and would still need a few minutes to themselves before you all got onstage and ran your sets. 

“Hey, Bureau.” 

You turned, finding Ben behind you in his black button-up and tie. “Hey, dumbass.” 

Ben was the arranger for the NSA team and your closest friend in Los Angeles. You got along famously, and you joked that the friendship between you was the only reason there was interagency cooperation in your jurisdiction at all. 

He was looking particularly sharp this afternoon, as the NSA team prided themselves on their polished performance aesthetic. 

“Ready for tonight?” He asked. 

You laughed. “God, am I ever. I’ve been working CT down in the bunker for weeks.” 

“Oh, dude that’s brutal. When was the last time you saw daylight?”

You blew air through your lips. “Ah, fuck, I dunno, like a week?”

Ben laughed and slung an arm around your shoulders. “This is a helluva way to get back into civilization with the rest of us.” 

You scoffed. “It’s bold to imply anyone at the NSA is a part of any society.” 

“C’mon. Trash talking doesn’t start until we’ve rehearsed at least once.” He jostled you, and you let out another peal of laughter. 

“Try me, hot shot.” 

Meanwhile, upstairs, the BAU was finishing up their goodbyes and case reports for the Los Angeles field office. There was a spree killer wreaking havoc in the Mid-City neighborhood, and the BAU was of enormous help in apprehending the suspect. 

You’d been in the aforementioned CT bunker for at least a week and had no idea your (greatly missed) former unit was on your side of the country, let alone in the same building.  

“Oh!” Agent Fitzgerald said, suddenly. The BAU looked up all at once, and it was almost comical. “I completely forgot. There’s an event tonight that’s always really fun. If you all aren’t in any rush to get back to Quantico, we’d love for you to stay. If you’re eager to get back, they’re in the auditorium right now for a dress rehearsal and it shouldn’t take more than a half hour.” 

JJ’s head tilted. “What’s going on?”

“The Official Unofficial Los Angeles Inter-Agency Choral Competition.” Fitzgerald grinned. “It’s really fun, surprisingly good, and never not hilarious.” 

Emily laughed. “You’re kidding.” 

“Not even a little.” 

+++

Ben and his team were in the middle of their set, and you were bopping along with some of the ATF guys in the corner. 

You couldn’t deny the talent on the NSA team. They were clean-cut, crisp, and well-arranged (thanks to Ben), but you couldn’t help but think they were a little too polished. 

Ben had the lock on comedic mashups, and had a great on-stage persona - one of the very few NSA agents with a sense of humor. He sang directly to you, much of the time, in rehearsal because he knew it made you laugh. His sense of humor was infused through all the arrangements, and the lyrics alone were enough to have you on the floor.

Their movie medley opener was your favorite, full of silly references and even a sing-along section. You knew all the words simply because you’d sat with Ben as he spent three days arranging and adjusting it a couple of months ago. Obviously, you offered absolutely no help because all you wanted was to watch him crash and burn. 

Maybe some sabotage could come in handy next time…

They rounded out their set with a clean-cut cover of Smash Mouth’s All Star. Ben was always in it for the laugh, and you loved it. Both teams in the house were laughing as the NSA made increasingly bigger spectacles of themselves. 

It was easier to forget how much you missed your family in Virginia when you were with the other teams - rehearsing and bonding and spending time together. There was no unit in Los Angeles like the BAU insofar as the bond between team members, but this event always mimicked it better than anything else. 

Without Ben, you’d barely have anyone at all. He happened to be assigned to you as a liaison between agencies on one of your first cases, and you got on like a house on fire. His friends became your friends, and you found your footing in your new home. They showed you the best beaches (Manhattan and Malibu), the best sushi (Enya), and perhaps most importantly - the best route and attack strategy for navigating the hell that was LAX. 

You avoided calling your old unit as much as possible, as you were sure it would keep you from fully settling down. If half of your head was in Virginia, you’d always hate Los Angeles. That said, Aaron was still the first number on your speed dial, and your thumb spent a fair amount of time hovering over it before inevitably shoving it back in your pocket. You’d done it just today, walking from your office to the auditorium. 

You left the ATF to their ridiculous devices, and joined your team in the house. 

“Doin’ alright? I heard it was a rough week for y’all down in CT.” Michael, a Texas native and an insane talent, could have been an excellent profiler if he wasn’t so great at ferreting out tax fraud. You both spoke in hushed tones, as to not disrupt the rehearsal. 

You nodded, patting him on the arm. “I’m alright.” 

“Missin’ home?” 

You nodded again. “Just a bit. It’s weird coming out into the world after being in the bunker - it’s almost like I don't remember where I am, and I almost expect to be somewhere else.”

He didn’t say anything, but leaned against you. It was a small gesture, but a meaningful one.

When NSA was finished, with their levels set and lights programmed, it was ATF’s turn to get up on stage and flutter around until they were adjusted. 

Michael said something ridiculous, and it made you laugh out loud. You slapped a hand over your mouth, hearing it resonate through the house as one of the floor mics picked it up.  

At the back of the auditorium, only minutes prior, Agent Fitzgerald had slipped in with the BAU. They all stood along the back wall, and you only would have seen them if you knew where to look. The auditorium was massive, and the only lights up were the lights onstage - distinguishable features were nearly impossible to determine from the distance. 

Aaron’s breath caught for a moment. A microphone picked up someone’s laugh near the stage, and it sounded startlingly like yours.  

Must be mistaken. There’s no way. 

As ATF started up, Ben grabbed you by the hand and pulled you to your feet. He turned you under his arm and led - dancing you around on the floor at the front of the stage. You laughed your way into his arms, and fell into a relaxed Lindy Hop. You took turns leading, throwing him under your arm just as many times as you ducked under his. 

Aaron’s thoughts wandered, the laugh he heard triggering something in him. He missed you greatly, but that was no secret. You two had started seeing each other, unbeknownst to the team, a little more than three months before your transfer. 

The team were too polite to tell you, but they knew something was going on from the get-go. Hotch was happier, and you were more effusive in all situations. You balanced each other well, and could bounce ideas and fight and communicate like nobody else in the unit. It was an asset more than anything, but when the transfer assignment came through, there was no negotiating. 

For all involved, you decided it was best to end things - or at least pause them - while you were stationed at the LA field office. It would be too hard, and you’d hate to hate him by the time you got back to Virginia for one reason or another. So, you were alone at the LA field office, while he stayed right were he was. 

Wait. The LA field office. 

He was jarred from his thoughts by JJ, who smiled and asked, “What’s their deal?” Her eyes were trained on the dancing couple on the house floor, out in front of the apron of the stage. 

“Oh those two are the only reason the FBI and NSA play nicely in the sandbox together. They’re two peas in a pod. They work counter-terrorism for their respective agencies, and have a knack for solving inter-departmental disputes.” 

“Are they together?” JJ’s question was light, but Hotch knew there were ulterior motives. Maybe she’d heard your laugh too, and refused to doubt. 

She was good at that - not doubting. Hotch, on the other hand, sucked at the whole faith thing. He found his skepticism was only getting worse with age, and he (in that very moment) decided to have a little more hope. 

“Oh, no, not at all. Ben doesn’t swing that way, and my understanding is that Agent L/N left someone back on the east coast and hasn’t been seeing anyone out here.” It was clear Agent Fitzgerald, a new import to the LA field office herself, had no idea you worked with the BAU prior to your transfer. 

Maybe you hadn’t talked about them at all. 

That thought sent a little unpleasant spike through Hotch’s chest. 

Hope. Hope. 

Maybe Fitzgerald just missed something, or didn’t know you too well. 

Hotch could feel Emily’s eyes on him, but continued watching the ATF runthrough. It was your laugh he heard. Ben threw you around with ease, and you both cut clean, sharp lines silhouetted against the stage lights. 

Then, of course, it was Emily’s turn to ask questions. “So how did this...tradition start?”

Fitzgerald shrugged. “It’s my understanding that it’s been happening for years, brought on by some ridiculous bet between ATF and FBI. Never ones to be outdone, the NSA inserted themselves, the CIA wanted a piece of action, and the rest is history.”

“Only in California,” said Dave with a laugh. 

As the songs changed, Aaron watched you tap out of the dance, sitting down heavily in one of the house seats and taking a few huge sips of water. Ben grabbed his water bottle from the floor and came to the row behind you, wrapping his arms around you from behind and resting his chin on your shoulder. 

Though he was just told Ben would not ever be into you in that way, Hotch couldn’t help the prickle of jealousy that snuck up his belly. JJ, beside him, stepped close to him and hooked her hand around his forearm, her thumb brushing circles against his suit jacket. 

“I’m alright,” he whispered. 

She squeezed once. “I know.” It sounded like she knew more than that, but Hotch let it go. While sometimes irritating, it was nice to have people around him that knew him so well. 

JJ continued to cling to his sleeve as the ATF transitioned to the FBI. 

It nearly startled him out of his skin to hear your voice echo through the house on a hand-held microphone. You stood on the edge of the stage, squinting at the booth at the back of the house. “Can we run full tech? We have AV that needs to be sequenced correctly.” 

A click, then a disembodied voice. “We’re ready for full AV.”

You shot a two fingered salute. “Thanks, team. Let’s bring up the seal for now and go from there.” 

The FBI seal and motto floated into focus on the fabric behind them, and Aaron felt himself almost lean forward in anticipation. He chanced a look down the line, and the rest of his team was smiling, waiting, watching. Just like he was. 

JJ bumped his shoulder.  

The stage was rather dark, but he could see all five of you lined up almost against the fabric. The song started quickly, with strong base and an uptempo beat. 

Your team ran to the front of the stage one by one, following the phrases of the music - fun and high energy. 

“I didn’t know…” Emily whispered to Derek, at a loss. He shrugged, still totally floored. You’d never joined them in their horrible karaoke spectacles, claiming the sanctity of your dignity, but Hotch realized now it was just to spare their feelings. 

You were incredible. Your eyes shone in the light, your smile flashing behind your microphone. It was obvious you were having a helluva time, and were close to your teammates. You played off each other easily, keeping pace without conducting, feeling the music and harmony in every cell of your body. Hotch saw your work ethic even in this - collaborative, but still taking charge. 

It was clear your team looked to you for tone and energy, and you delivered. With a start, Aaron realized he’d never heard this song before. He leaned forward and asked, “Are some of these originals?”

Fitzgerald nodded. “The FBI team has a few strong writers on it this year, so they were able to pull together a medley, an original, and the closer in about three weeks.” 

Hotch raised his eyebrows. “Wow. That’s impressive.” 

She laughed lightly. “You’re tellin’ me. I was in here one day when they were workshopping after hours and was blown away.” 

When you were finished with your first piece, you looked back to check the cyc - satisfied to find Home, arranged by Y/N L/N in gold, in the FBI font. 

“I’m gonna practice my little spiel here or I won’t get it tonight. I’ll count you off at the end, go on three, yeah?” 

Click. “Copy. Go for it,” came the disembodied voice once more. 

“When we were deciding which medley we wanted to use, we figured out there was nothing in our library that really spoke to us at that moment where we were. So, we wrote a new one. This one is called Home, and includes a bunch of songs that not only include the word ‘home,’ but ones that mean something to us or someone we love. 

“Home, to us, is where our families are. We all chose a series of pictures that represent home for us, the people we love. I hope you enjoy listening to this medley as much as we enjoyed writing it.” You flashed a winning smile before raising your hand, waiting a moment, and then dropping it, immediately starting to sing. 

The rest of your team fell in right away, stepping up to the mics and sinking into the arrangement. A figure jogged up the steps toward Hotch, and he latently realized it could only be Ben, his agile stride giving him away. 

He settled right beside Hotch, leaning against the wall. Needless to say, Aaron was confused. That is, until - 

“You’re Hotchner, aren’t you?”

Aaron kept his gaze trained on the stage. “Who’s asking?”

“Ben Collins, NSA. I would be a really shitty friend if I couldn’t recognize someone I’d seen in a framed photo on Y/N’s desk like 20 times.” 

With that, he gave Hotch a mock-salute and trotted back down the stairs. 

JJ furrowed her brow. “What was that about?”

“I have no idea,” Hotch admitted. “He knew me, though, from photos.” 

He felt, rather than saw, JJ’s smile as she bumped him with her shoulder. “Focus - You’re missing it.” 

He huffed a laugh, and tuned back in. 

Home was an undeniably fun medley, and the photos were heartwarming and strategically chosen to hide all faces except the agents’ on stage. Aaron smiled when he heard a line from one of his favorite songs. 

Our house Is a very very very fine house...

Just a brush, but it felt like your touch, your smile, reaching him. You took the next section with renewed energy, never falling into stillness as you drove the music forward. 

JJ clutched at Hotch’s sleeve, and he lifted his gaze from you to the cyc. On it, there were photos of Dave’s backyard, mixed in with what he only assumed were the pictures from your teammates’ homes and families. They were piling on top of each other, as if someone was throwing them into a pile, one by one. 

A photo of JJ, Emily, and Penelope flashed by, their backs to the camera. 

There was one of you, Jack’s face hidden in your neck as you smiled fondly at the person just to the left of the camera. Aaron recognized that image, but from a different angle. You’d been smiling at him, just next to Emily. 

Emily’s eyes strayed to Hotch. There was a look on his face she’d never seen before. She almost looked away, feeling like she was intruding on an intimate moment. Instead, she lightly smacked Derek’s shoulder, and he looked over too. 

“The separation has been hard on them both,” he said, his voice low. “Look.” He tipped his chin toward you. 

Your posture didn’t look any different to anyone who knew better, but Emily could see the slight sag in your shoulders, hear the small catch in your breath. The music affected you more than you’d care to admit. 

A photo came into view on the screen - one where you stared out the jet window with your chin in your hand, Hotch’s face pressed into your torso as he slept with his head in your lap. Your fingers were tangled in his thick dark hair, twirling absent-minded curls into the locks behind his ear. JJ smiled. She’d taken that one. It was soon covered with another, then another, then another. 

Agent Fitzgerald bid the team a quiet farewell and slipped out to take a phone call. Hotch barely noticed. She’d been on her phone most of the time, and had missed the photos. She was blissfully unaware of your connection to the team, and for that Hotch was grateful. It almost felt wrong to disrupt the little world you’d built here. 

They were almost done, preparing for the closer. 

Maybe he was biased, but Hotch felt your team was the strongest. 

NSA had the polish and that classic choral look and looked like they were having just the right amount of fun, but there was still that competitive edge that took some of the luster out of the performance. 

ATF were the most traditional of the group, all of their music recognizable, tightly arranged, and reminiscent of barbershop quartets. While entertaining, it was clear you and Ben stole the show with your dancing, the music taking a ready backseat to your antics. 

Your team had fun. There was no bite in it. You weren’t there to win, but rather just there for the sheer fun of it. Your music was yours, it meant something, and was more creatively arranged than the rest of them by a long shot. 

Aaron felt a rush of pride as he watched you shine. While he couldn’t articulate it, he could sense the same thing Derek noticed. There was something pulling at you - the same thing pulling at his shoulders and the corners of his mouth whenever he had fun without you. 

“Alright,” you said, just a little out of breath. You took the mic off the stand. “We have one last number, and we all sing it together.” You held the mic out to your left, and Ben took it from you. 

“This is our favorite, because it’s a really good excuse to think of the people we love.” 

Some agent (whose name always escaped you) from the ATF took the mic next. “Thanks for coming out tonight to watch our ridiculous annual competition, for bragging rights and honorary ownership of the City of Los Angeles.” 

Ben took the mic from him and passed it back to you. 

“I hope we all have someone in our life that we love so much it's difficult to articulate. I know I do.” 

JJ inhaled sharply as Hotch let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. You missed him. He could feel it. He wasn’t alone. 

You replaced the mic, and stepped back. With the FBI in the center, ATF to the right, and NSA to the left, you began. 

There’s a calm surrender To the rush of day When the heat of a rolling wave Can be turned away

It was a beautiful picture, all of you standing together as one united front. The sound was incredible - filling the space with sound that spun right into the chests of everyone listening. You stepped up with Ben and an ATF agent, standing close to the mic. 

Ben reached for your hand, knowing this one was hard for you. You’d probably never get a chance to have Hotch in the same room, feeling what you felt, singing this song. It was silly - a Disney song. But it always cracked you wide open. It was only ever for him. 

You took Ben’s hand and gripped it tight. It wasn’t performance, so you could really do whatever you wanted as long as sound and projections were able to do their work. 

The breakdown of the song was your favorite, and you threw your hands in the air, releasing Ben - the final lighting cue of the show. It was designed to bridge the gap between the players and the audience, bringing everyone together.

The house lights came on about halfway, and the BAU was visible from the stage, as they’d all crept forward during the set. Hotch could only imagine what that lighting effect would do when the house was full of agents and their families later tonight. A true communion, with the music and the people. 

Your eyes scanned the house, rehearsing your engagement pathway through the audience. A small cluster of people caught your attention, and Ben squeezed your hand. You looked over at him, still singing, and he gave a tiny toss of his head back to the group. 

Looking more carefully now, you saw your team. More specifically, you saw Aaron. 

He was watching you with a fond smile, and you knew he saw you clock his presence. JJ was on his arm, likely anchoring in him place and comforting him in only the way she could. 

Against your will, a broad smile pulled at your face, a shot of adrenaline pushing you into the finale. Your eyes were locked on his, the music only a footnote to two simple words running on loop in your head. 

He’s here he’s here he’s here he’s here.

The world for once In perfect harmony With all its living things. 

You hit the final chord and let it hang in the air for a moment. It felt like forever - the BAU burst into applause, Derek and Emily whistling and shouting - while you and Hotch just stared at each other across the house.

The connection was only broken when Ben yanked you back to rehearse bows, which took all of thirty seconds. You squinted at your friend when you stood straight again. He had a smug little smile on his face. 

“You knew,” you accused with absolutely no heat. 

Ben shrugged. “I investigated.” He shot you a wink as he said, “It’s what I do.” 

You rolled your eyes and shoved past him, nearly leaping down the steps into the house. You ran up the aisle, and Hotch was there to catch you, holding you close. 

“You’re here.” 

He kissed the side of your head. “Of course I’m here. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” 

+++

tagging: @arganfics @quillvine @stxrryspencer @agenthotchner @wandaswitxh @hurricanejjareau @fics-ilike @ange-must-die @ughitsbaby @rousethemouse @criminalsmarts  @dr-reid-ismyspiritanimal @shrimpyblog @genevievedarcygranger @ssaic-jareau @saintd0lce @good-heavens-chris-evans @davidrossi-ismydad @angelsbabey @gublergirls @writefasttalkevenfaster @venusbarnes @vintagecaptainspidey @micaiahmoonheart @ogmilkis @thatreallyis-americas-ass @marvels-agents100 @newtslatte @risenfox @mrs-dr-reid @captain-christopher-pike @joemazzello-imagines @pinkdiamond1016 @sebbybaby0 @lilsiswinchester @pan-pride-12 @hotchlinebling @lee-rin-ah @sunshine-em @word-scribbless @jdougl-love @sageellsworth05 @emmice9 @nohalohoseok @giveusbackourbucky @writerxinthedark @mrshotchnerrossimulder21 @bauslut @yourlovelynewsbian @sparklingkeylimepie @aili28 @kingandrear @reader4027 @spnobsessedmemes @rogers-mouth @dreila03 @forgottenword @aaronhotchnerr @ssa-morgan @hotchnersgoddess @buckybau @phoenixfyre374 @sana-li @tegggeeee @abschaffer2 @ssacandi-ass-prentiss @songbird400 @dontkissthewriter @ellyhotchner @a-dorky-book-keeper @lotties-journey-abroad @mrs-joel-pimentel-23-25 @laneygthememequeen @ahopelessromantic @violentvulgarvolatile @andreasworlsboring101 @mooneylupinblack @ssareidbby @violet-amxthyst @bwbatta @roses-and-grasses 

[merakiaes]

Blueberry Kiss - Oscar “Spooky” Diaz

Pairing: Oscar “Spooky” Diaz x reader

Requested: No.

Prompts: None. 

Warnings/notes: This was just a small idea I had a while ago. It’s not very eventful, I barely even know what the hell it is, and it’s probably really OOC, but I hope you like it. Let me know what you think xx Not proofread so I apologize in advance for any possible mistakes!

Wordcount: 2693

Summary: Five years after last seeing your childhood sweetheart, you return to Freeridge to find that it’s like you never left. 

The infamous Spooky, leader of Los Santos, one of the most powerful and most feared gangs in all of Los Angeles, had two soft spots; two things, two people, who he would go against all of his morals and beliefs in order to keep safe.

One of them was known to all; his brother, Cesar. It was a given that after raising him like he was his own son since he had been a mere teenager, himself, that he was soft for him.

Everyone in Freeridge knew this and never dared to touch a single strand of hair on his head because of it. 

Those who, against all odds, felt brave enough to involve him in whatever scrap they had with Spooky, ended up learning the hard way why he wasn’t to be touched.

But he had another soft spot, one only his longtime companions knew about.

You.

You had grown up across the street from him, the daughter of a single mother. You had known him long before his mother bailed on him and Cesar, long before Ray got locked up and way before he joined the Santos.

You were as close as peas in a pod as kids, the two of you getting into trouble around the neighborhood before the thought of joining his father’s gang even struck his mind.

And even when you reached the point of Ray’s arrest and Oscar being jumped into the Santos in his place, Spooky being born, you stuck by his side through it all.

You never put a label on your relationship. However, the second you reached your teenage years, your friendship took a more romantic and sexual turn.

You were inseparable for thirteen years, through your childhood, through high school, and through his first years as a Santo. Through all of the struggles and all of the blessings.

And then when you were both eighteen, your mother met some snob from Washington DC and dragged you across the country in order to marry him and build a life with him; forcing you to say goodbye to all of your friends, your old life, the Santos, and Oscar.

The first months without him were insufferable, painful to the point where you didn’t think you were going to get through the heartbreak alive.

You tried texting him and calling him, but he never picked up, and to a start, you thought it was because he was angry at you for leaving, or because he had already moved on.

But then your mother told you that he had gotten locked up and you knew him well enough to, in that moment, be able to conclude that he cut off the ties in his own gallant attempt to not hold you back.

You knew he had always seen himself as dead weight, someone holding you back from going out into the world and making something of yourself. Now that you finally got an opportunity, he wanted you to be able to live your new life to the fullest.

You didn’t agree with his mindset; you never had. But you respected it, and moved on, although… not really.

Now twenty-three years of age, you hadn’t seen nor talked to him or anyone from Freeridge in five whole years.

The sound of Black Fortune could be heard all the way down the street as you stepped out of your car, now having parked right outside the house you had spent countless of days and nights in back when you had still been living in Freeridge.

This was the first time being back since leaving, and everything looked identical to the way it had when you left, almost making it feel like you never did.

But with the nervous feeling lodging itself deep in the pit of your stomach, you were quickly back to the reality in which you had, in fact, left. However, you didn’t let this discourage you, letting your feet move you toward the fence to the side of the Diaz residence.

Judging by the loud music booming from the backyard, you knew that no one would be inside, so it would be no use to knock on the door.

Even back when you had still been living in Freeridge, Oscar hadn’t liked having people in the house whenever he threw a barbeque or a party of any kind. You knew much had changed since then, but you also knew that his excessive need to be in control wouldn’t have.

So you made your way around the back slowly, a small smile tugging at your lips when you walked past the familiar red Impala standing in the driveway.

It was late and the dark had fallen over an hour ago, so as you reached the backyard and caught sight of all the people standing around and mingling, you struggled to make out any familiar faces.

You let your eyes scan the crowd, looking for Oscar or Cesar, even if you knew if the latter most likely wouldn’t be there. You realized pretty quickly that the man you were searching for was nowhere to be seen and gave up your search for him.

But after another good minute of looking around, your eyes finally stopped on another figure, his tall, lanky body and the familiar Santos cross inked into his neck looking as familiar as ever.

Your face instantly pulled into a wide smile and you wasted no time in heading over, your smile turning into a teasing smirk at the sight of the large number of empty alcohol bottles on the table next to them.

“Well, I see you Santos’ alcoholic tendencies haven’t changed.” You spoke once you knew you were close enough for them to hear you over the loud music and watched with amusement as their heads instantly turned in your direction at the sound of your familiar voice.

“No way.” Sad Eyes was the first to speak – the only familiar face you had been able to make out from the other side of the lawn. “(Y/N)? Is that you, chica?”

You held your arms out and chuckled, nodding your head. “In the flesh.”

Now that you were closer to the group Sad Eyes was standing with, you could easily recognize the familiar faces of the Santos, all of whom were looking at you with shock.

An older Santo, Hector, whistled at the sight of you, pulling a hand over his chin. “Damn, you looking fine, mami.” He complimented.

While everyone else made some kind of sound in agreement, Sad Eyes face turned into one of playfulness. “Yeah, what happened?” He asked, and you instantly rolled your eyes.

“Ever the comedian, Guzman.” You chuckled, and he snickered back, opening his arms for you.

“Come here, niña.”

You didn’t have to be told twice, your feet automatically moving you a step closer and thereby walking you straight into your old friend’s open embrace.

Your arms wrapped around each other, his cheek leaning against the top of your head and yours against his chest. He hugged you tightly, rocking your bodies from side to side a few times before letting go.

The two of you shared another smile, but before anyone could say anything else, all of their eyes caught sight of something behind you.

“Here comes Spooky.” One of the Santos spoke and your heart instantly skipped a beat in your chest at the sound of his name.

The Santo slapped Hector’s chest. “Better dip.” He said, and they did just that, along with all the other Santos, as Oscar walked up to you where you were now standing alone with Sad Eyes.

“Los Santos taking in strays now?” He asked his best friend, and just the mere sound of his voice caused your chest to tighten.

It was a lot deeper than it was five years ago, and much rougher, most likely because of the number of cigarettes he without a doubt had smoked throughout the years judging by the smell of tobacco following him around.

While you remained silent, Oscar not even having spared you a glance yet, Sad Eyes chuckled from beside you, the much taller man reaching a hand out to squeeze your shoulder. 

“I’ll go get you a beer.” He told you and you smiled up at him.

“Thanks.” You replied, even though you knew he’d most likely not be back.

Sad Eyes walked away, leaving you alone, and only then did Oscar look down at you.

“Never thought I’d see your face around here again.” He commented with little to no emotion on his face. “How you been, (Y/N)?”

You smiled softly. “Oh, you know.” You shrugged your shoulders. “Nothing like being dragged away from your life by your alcoholic, gold-digging mother to live on the other side of the continent for five years.”

Your words brought a chuckle from his lips. “I bet.” He nodded, his chuckling dying down into a simple smile, soft enough to match your own. “You’re looking good.”

Butterflies instantly filled your stomach. “So are you, Oscar.” You nodded, your expression turning a bit more serious. “How have you been? How are things at home?”

His smile faltered ever so slightly, his eyes turning harder. “Same as they were before you left.”

You nodded, biting on the inside of your lip lightly. “Your mom’s still gone?”

“Yeah.”

“Ray’s still in prison?”

“Yup.”

“So it’s just you and Cesar.”

“Mhm.” He nodded, raising the beer he was holding to his lips and taking a slow sip, his eyes leaving yours for the briefest of moments.

Your lips tugged upward with pity, but you quickly covered it up. “How is he?” You asked, turning the conversation away from the heavy stuff.

At the change of subject, he looked back down at you, giving you another shrug. “As good as you can be when you’re stuck in Freeridge. Good grades, friends, girlfriend.”

“No way.” You found yourself chuckling. “Lil’ Spooky getting action already. Who’s the poor girl falling victim to the Diaz charm this time around?”

He snickered, taking another sip of his beer. “Monse.”

Your eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Monty’s daughter?”

“Yeah.” He nodded and you let out a low whistle.

“Damn. Didn’t see that coming.” You hugged your arms around your body as a chilly breeze pulled at your jacket, looking to the side for a moment, thinking. “What about you?” You asked then, turning your gaze back to him just in time to see his eyebrow raise.

“What about me?” He asked, although judging by the small, teasing smile on his lips, he knew exactly what you were talking about.

But still, you played along, asking in a drawling, playful voice. “Someone special in Spooky’s life?”

He chuckled at your tone, but it died down almost immediately, his head shaking in response to your question. “Nah, haven’t got time for that shit no more.” He replied, his voice low. “Have more important things to deal with.”

You raised your head in a nod and forced yourself to smile a tightlipped smile, ignoring the jab his words sent straight to your heart. “Right.”

Silence fell over the two of you. It was awkward, but not enough to make it uncomfortable. You were looking everywhere except at each other, eyes scanning over the crowd gathered in his backyard.

“How does it feel to be back?” He asked then, causing you to return your attention to him, finding him now looking down at you with an unreadable expression. He wasn’t smiling, but it wasn’t emotionless either. It was just… sincere.

“Weird. Especially being here with you.” You answered before you could stop yourself and he instantly gave you the nod.  

“Yeah? How come?”

You snorted, getting slightly uncomfortable as you were put on the spot. “Please, we didn’t go a day without each other back then.” You answered, glancing to the side briefly before looking back up at him. “You were that one person I always wanted to talk to. No matter what. And now we’ve been apart for five years. We might as well be strangers.”

He listened to you as you spoke intently, his head shaking the second you were done. “We’re not strangers.” He protested softly. “Never was.”

You have him a sad look. “A lot has happened since we last saw each other.” You told him and he nodded.

“I know. But nothing’s changed.”

You stared deeply into each other’s eyes, everything seeming to slow down around you. Before you knew it, and almost as if your bodies were moving on autopilot, you had both taken a step closer to each other.

Oscar’s free hand came up to touch your upper arm gingerly, while one of yours moved up to rest on top of his. You remained like this for a good few seconds, just searching each other’s faces for any indication that the other was against what was about to happen.

But when neither of you could find any indication of the sort, you slowly brought your other hand up to his cheek, both of you moving your faces to close the remaining gap between you to connect your lips in the first kiss in five years.

The first time you fall in love, it changes you forever and no matter how hard you try, that feeling just never goes away. You realized this now when, even after all these years, the feeling of his lips on yours sent a hot jolt of sparkling electricity through your entire body.

You pressed your lips harder against his, both of you taking another step closer to the other and pulling at each other’s bodies desperately.

Your breathing became heavy in no time and your heart thumped against the inside of your chest violently.

While the hand he had on your arm remained there, rubbing slow circles over the fabric of your jacket with his thumb, the hand that was holding the beer came to rest on the curve of your hip.

Meanwhile, your hands moved up to the back of his head, pulling him even closer to you as you got completely lost in the kiss.

After what seemed like eternity but at the same time barely even a second, you pulled apart for air, both of your chests heaving up and down breathlessly and your foreheads pressed together.

Your eyes met again, and breathlessly, you confessed. “I thought you’d forgotten about me by now.”

Oscar instantly shook his head against yours, blinking slightly. “No man forgets a good woman like you.” He mumbled quietly, softly. “They just become haunted by the realization that you’re not replaceable. That there’s not anyone who can live up to the feelings you stirred up in me.”

Your chest and stomach fluttered with butterflies at his words, an intense wave of peacefulness and happiness coming over you.

“Well, I know for a fact that one thing hasn’t changed.” You whispered back, the corners of your lips tugging slightly.

“What’s that?” He asked, and only then did you fully smile.

“You’re just as smart now as you were when I left you.”

A smug smirk came across his features, his head nodding against yours. “And you still use the same lipgloss.” He pointed out and you raised an eyebrow.

“How can you tell?” You asked, slightly shocked but also amused.

He brushed his lips against yours, mumbling against them. “Still tastes the same.” He pressed his to yours fully in a second kiss, short but sweet. Once you came back apart, you watched as his tongue darted out from between his lips, tasting them.

“Blueberry.” He mused, smirking down at you. “Nothing that tastes better.”

You chuckled, caressing the nape of his neck with your fingers. “I guess things really haven’t changed, huh?” You asked and watched as his eyebrows rose in amusement.

“I told you, mami.”  He said.

You chuckled, nodding your head. “That you did.” You confirmed, and then pulled him back in for another, sweet, blueberry kiss.

All these years, you had convinced yourself that you were over him and yet now, in this very moment, you realized you probably never were, and that a part of you would always be waiting for him whenever you were apart.

[yandere-romanticaa]

Friends to...? ♡

Deuce and (y/n) were like two peas in a pod, they were always together and they did everything together. He, Ace, Grimm and (y/n) had unofficially formed a little friend group that Deuce couldn't help but to hold dear. They'd all walk to class together, they did their homework, ate all their meals with each other, they were just sticking to each other sides like glue. But no matter how much Deuce treasured the time spent with his new-found friends, it was (y/n) who he really couldn't help but to admire the most. Deuce often butted heads with Ace, and Grimm was just a downright pest at times. (y/n) on the other hand was not like that. Deuce always felt so at ease when he was with (y/n) and he felt like he could tell them whatever was on his mind without being judged. It was honestly refresing and Deuce couldn't help but to feel blessed by just being near them. (y/n) was also a pretty smart student too and Deuce would often ask for their help and with that bright and glorius smile on their face, (y/n) would always say yes.

Deep down Deuce liked to consider (y/n) his best friend. It made sense to him, they just spent a lot of time together and had each others back, that's what best friends do, right...? Deuce's mother was of course, well informed on who (y/n) is as the boy would send countless pitcures of him and (y/n) together, their goofiness always varied. In his letters and phone calls Deuce would always ramble on and on just how great of a friend (y/n) is and just how happy he is to have them.... He was still a bit embarrassed to say that out loud to anyone else though, (y/n) especially.

Before he knew it though, his feelings started to shift.

His view of (y/n) had started to shift subtly as Deuce no longer saw them as his best friend, but rather as someone.... cute. Incredibly cute. And smart! And funny. And awesome! And literally any good and positive word that existed in the whole gosh darn dictionary.

He started to become more nervous around (y/n) as he couldn't help but to blush whenever they were close to each other. Deuce would often help them with their books and bags, but whenever their fingers would ever so slightly brush off each other, a spark shot through Deuce's body which caused his heart to skip a beat. He wanted to spent more time with (y/n), but just the two of them, no Ace and Grimm tagging along to just ruin their peaceful day. Their peace would never last as said duo always tracked them down.

Deuce's feelings grew rapidly and uncontrollably which only caused him to go off track in class. Ace would always have to snap his fingers right in front of him in order to bring Deuce back to Earth. The thing is though, Deuce had no idea what he was feeling exactly. He always thought that it was simple, albeit, tense admiration with a hint of protectiveness sprinkled in there. Through one simple phone call though, Deuce had recieved clarity and from his mother none the less. Worry washed over him as he could tell from his mothers voice that she had been crying recently but just before he could ask her what's wrong she spoke up:

"I'm so happy to see that you're doing so well Deuce. Look at you, you've changed so much in these past few months... And you made so many wounderful friends! One especially caught my eye, (y/n) was it? (y/n) helped you out so much... I'm so happy to see that you surrounded yourself with such kindhearted people. I'm proud of you, Deuce."

Even long after the phone call had ended, Deuce was still in shock over his mothers words. She... She was proud of him. He had made her happy.

And he could not have done it without (y/n).

He was endlessly grateful and he thanked his lucky stars for having (y/n) by his side. A shy, goofy side of him even thought that he and (y/n) might even end up together... That wasn't completely out of the pitcure, right...?

Well it wasn't until (y/n) dropped the biggest bombshell on Deuce.

"You really are sweet Deuce, you know that? Thank you for being my friend... No, my best friend!"

Oh, those very words should have made Deuce the happiest person on the planet. He should be leaping from joy and he should be happy to know that (y/n) holds him so close to his heart.

But it wasn't close enough.

He... He was ashamed to admit but he wanted more. He wanted (y/n) to see him as not just a friend, but someone strong, someone who could protect them, keep them safe... Those fateful words rang through Deuce's head for days on end, he couldn't even sleep properly. So what did he do? He took out his frustration on others.

Every living thing just pissed him off and he wanted to fight everything. No student was safe from his wrath, especially the ones who were too close to (y/n). He hated this, he hated just how weak and useless he felt. He just wanted that love, (y/n)'s love...

He wanted to hold and cuddle (y/n) at any given time of the day without being called out, he wanted to be more alone with (y/n), he just wanted (y/n).

But he couldn't have them.

At least.... Not yet...

[gyllenhaalstories]

Can you write more of best friend Jake, like a third part?

CLICK THE SOURCE LINK BELOW TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE SECOND PART (which will also lead you to the first part) <3

how about some angst, anon? listen to no light, no light by florence + the machine for vibes!

(warnings: death of a parent, blood, injury, sexual content... this also got very long)

You and Jake have been friends for a few years already. Two peas in a pod. Telepathically connected. Soulmates. You get the whole picture.

But what if you lost all of it?

Jake was in talks for a big movie. Probably the biggest production of his whole life. The director, the producer, the rest of the cast... Let’s just say it was an express ticket to the Academy Awards. But filming happened at the same time as your mother died. So he turned down the role, offering it for someone much less fitting for the part (I  am the only human on Earth who doesn’t like Leonardo DiCaprio, so let’s give it to him for funsies).

You were so thankful. He did not even care about giving up the role of a lifetime, you were devastated and in shock and in need of support. He understood you better than anybody else. He knew what you needed, whether it was a hug or some distance and time alone. He helped you with the funerals. He was a member of the family, at this point. Your mother even wrote in her will to give her collection of vinyls to Jake, who always complimented her on her music taste. He was there during the ceremony, offering you tissues to dry your tears or his hand to hold.

He was there afterwards, for all of the weeks and months you spent feeling dead inside. He was there. He did silly stuff to make you smile, he brought you to fun travel spots like the Hamptons. Why the Hamptons? So you could judge the rich ass people and laugh.

Months went by, you truly believed your friendship was better and stronger than ever.

The Oscars ceremony was playing on television that night. You had forgotten about Jake’s role, but it all came back to you now. Jake attended the ceremony with his sister as his date. It was supposed to be you, but he did not want to pressure you. And you watched the whole thing on tv, waiting until the last categories which included best actor. Leonardo won, easily. He even made a joke, thanking Jake for giving him his second award.

Jake texted you from the after party. He sent you photos of Chris Evans being a total gentleman to literally everyone and everything (he even sent you a clip of Chris holding the door for one minute straight just in case someone walked in and needed help). He sent you photos of Jared Leto and his crazy Gucci suit. He sent you photos of Maggie drinking two flutes of champagne in your honour, followed by a video of her drunkenly singing I love youuuuuu.

And you were not even replying. You were crying. Throwing things around. You were so mad and felt so guilty.

Jake was worried, so he stopped at your place after the party (he had left early). He had a key, so he just walked in and called out your name. And he found you: crying on the floor, your hand had blood stains on it, just like the vase of glass picture frame that was not scattered on the floor, a photo of Jake and you was shredded to pieces.

He ran to grab bandaids and placed one on your wound. “It’s okay, I’m here” Jake tried to hold you tight but you kicked him away. “You’re always here! It should have been you winning this stupid award! It should have been you doing this movie! It should have been you...” Doing this, and that. You yelled that you were responsible for his career slowing down. You told him you were just a burden for him and that he deserved better of a friend than someone who stopped him from being happy.

You didn’t understand that all he needed to be happy was you.

Jake left, knowing you probably needed some time to think.

You never called him or texted him. He tried, but you never picked up the phone or you pretended to never be home when he stopped by. You had one of your friends ask him for your spare key, for your belongings you left at his place in exchange of the ones he left at yours. It was radio silence. You were miserable, and so was Jake.

Jake took on a new role, a much crappier one but it was an easy paycheck. And there was a rumour he was having a fling with his co star, whoever she was you did not even care. Actually you did, but you decided to never check the medias or read magazines that talked about Jake.

Your mutual friend group split up, some remained closer to Jake and others to you. They tried to talk some sense into you, to make you understand that if Jake wanted to focus on his work instead of you, he would have done it. Your friends slowly understood that this was more than a friendship ending. It was a breakup.

You broke up with Jake because you felt like you were holding him back. You broke up with Jake because you wanted him to bloom, to enjoy the remaining years of his career to get the recognition he always deserved. You broke up with Jake because you loved him so much it terrified you.

And deep down, you knew he loved you too and that was even worse.

Eventually, a whole year had passed without hearing Jake’s raspy morning voice during your sleepovers, without his hand holding yours tight, without stealing his beanies when it was cold, without listening to voicemails when he had to explain you a joke but he just laughed the whole time. Fuck, you missed him.

And he missed you too. This romance with his co star? It was bullshit. They had sex one and she just assumed they were a thing but he never cared about her. He only cared about you.

One time, you went to the grocery store. You were with a friend. You grabbed two different bottles of maple syrup. “Do you want the one from Vermont or from Canada?”

“Actually, I have some cool theory about Canada.”

You did not even need to turn around to recognize this voice. It was shy, it was trembling, just like your chin. It was the biggest déjà vu of your life.

You both paid for your groceries and you were magically parked right next to each other. Jake would spot your car in a full parking, you had a small stuffed animal squeezed under the windshield. He bought it for you years ago, knowing sometimes you got scared to drive when it was dark or icy or snowy. He was keeping you safe.

You stood in the parking lot like two idiots. It was cold. He invited you in his car, and you were now sitting in silence like two idiots.

He changed so much, but he was the exact same as when you left him. His hair was longer. He had a few more wrinkles at the corner of his eyes, you wanted to kiss them tenderly. He was wearing that emerald green hoodie that was just so soft you stole it from him just to sleep with it at night when he wasn’t there.

“I bought you something for the holidays, and for Valentine’s day, and for your birthday...” Jake shrugged.

You put on your seat belt. You could get a cab and drive your car back home another time. Jake did not lose time and headed to his place. Presents were piling up in the living room, with deflated balloons and tons of scrunched balls of paper. It was so sad that it was beautiful.

You two spent the evening catching up. You learned that his production company was doing better than ever. He learned that you quit your job recently because your stupid boss refused to give you the promotion you deserved. You learned that Leo, his dog, missed you. His sister too, his nieces too. You told him your dad brought him up in every conversation.

You told him you missed him. He told you he missed you too. It was an euphemism.

You straddled his waist, driven by an adrenaline rush. And you kissed. You made out, it was sloppy and hungry and sad. You both let out a few tears.

He guided you to the bedroom.

And you made love for the first time, the first time since you missed him.

You woke up the next morning, you felt different. His warm body was holding yours as he spooned you. His arm was so tight around you that you just knew it would leave a mark. He was scared you’d leave without him knowing.

You felt warm. You felt good. You felt happy. You felt home. 

Home is not a place. It’s not your parents’ house, it’s not your apartment, it’s not that park bench you always sat on to watch people run and walk their dogs. Home is not a place, it’s a person.

You were Jake’s person, he was yours.

~

You started working at Nine Stories Productions. You were not just Jake’s assistant, you were the head of the communication team. You promoted the company and the projects he supported. You worked with Jake, with Riva and with their other employees.

You moved in with him, finally.

He proposed in London, after he was done with playing Sunday in the park with George.

You got married, a very small and private ceremony. It was his family, it was your dad. You knew your mom was there too. She was looking over the two of you.

Or should I say the three?

[exhaustedfander]

One shot request intruality, Patton and Remus having a conversation about their insecurities. Mostly focusing on how they both have times of struggling to understand the other sides ex. Making some changes

This isn’t exactly what was requested, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. I had a lot of fun with this one! 

Word Count: 3,322

Summary: Recently, Patton and Remus's relationship has begun to change. When Patton lets a pet name slip by accident, a much-needed conversation takes place.

ao3 link

Sweet Pea

To say that Remus hadn’t been expecting any of this would be a gross understatement. He is by no means the kind of side to have too many expectations; when your whole thing is being unpredictable, you learn to stop expecting things and simply see what life chucks your way. Even so, having a relationship with Patton of any kind has thrown him for a loop like very few things can.

It isn’t as though Remus has a vendetta against Patton. Sure, the guy is a lot more clean-cut then his style, which is to say, not a rat-man, and he indulges in far fewer of life’s pleasures than Remus does, but he doesn’t hate him. For a while there, he’d been real fun to mess with, knowing Patton was so afraid of him. So much as walking into a room could set the fatherly side on edge, and wasn’t that just the best? He adored messing with any of the others, but Patton was by far the easiest.

The only problem is, it’s become a hell of a lot less fun with Patton since the massive shift that’s occurred between them. When Janus got accepted into the “good guys,” Remus was convinced that his role likely wouldn’t change – which he was totally fine with! He’s been the same old Duke for years, even if Thomas hadn’t known about him for almost the entirety of his life, and that was okey-doke. But… after Janus found himself a seat at the table, so it seemed, did Remus.

It isn’t as though he’s been given the green light to try and convince Thomas to do absolutely anything he wants to do, as fun as that would be. But the weird thing is, Patton had apologized to him. Morality, who’d been so wary of him for so long, had told him that he had been judging him too harshly and that surely, there was a lot of good in him. Remus isn’t one to have expectations, but that had struck him as odd. Why the fuck would Patton want him to be around, considering all he represented? Why would morality want anything to do with him?

As weird as everything is, Remus had been under the impression that Patton was merely tolerating him, maybe in an attempt to make the others believe he was making nice with everyone. At first, Remus kept up his usual behavior, obnoxious and crude, but it didn’t rattle Patton like it used to. Sure, he’d get a surprised shriek or two when he dangled from the ceiling from one of his tentacles or rose up unexpectedly, but then Patton would simply smile at him and say hello.

 Patton isn’t scared of him, not anymore, and Remus doesn’t quite know what to do with that.

He’s used to others being unnerved in his presence, considering who he is. But since Patton has been alright with him hanging around them more and more, he’s noticed them doing more to tolerate him as well. Roman is, well, he isn’t complaining about him quite as much as usual. He’s even stopped chastising him every time he comes into the imagination claiming he’ll “Ruin everything!”, even if it is their shared domain. Virgil still seems fairly irritated with him, but that’s nothing new and Remus doesn’t mind. Logan is being far more considerate of him then he’d think, considering he’d chucked throwing stars at his face before. Janus has always at the very least tolerated him, so that’s just peachy-keen. The other sides are being considerate enough not to complain every time he’s near, but Patton has gone above and beyond in welcoming him lately. And that… is decidedly very weird.

He's invited him to come to dinner, even encouraging that he can eat whatever he wants, no matter how seemingly inedible it is. It’s certainly amusing to see the looks on the other’s faces when he sits down at the dinner table as if he belongs there; he doesn’t think he belongs there, but that’s beside the point.

Patton does everything he can to keep things civil at the table, to a point where Remus is almost impressed if he weren’t such an agent of chaos himself. He nips blossoming spats between Virgil and Janus in the bud as quickly as they arise and he tells jokes and puns that Remus can’t help but find a little endearing, in a silly, dad way. Remus decides to tell some jokes of his own, and while they are on the harsher and more disgusting side, he elicits a few chuckles from Patton while the rest of them simply roll their eyes.

It doesn’t make any sense; Patton has just stopped being terrified of him, and now here he is, morality, giggling at Remus’s mention of cannibalism. Has the world gone mad? Has he gone mad? Quite possibly.

Things only grow stranger from that point on. Patton speaks often with Remus, encouraging him that they are getting to be “real good friends” and Remus is even invited to movie nights (“I’m afraid your birthday suit is not an acceptable outfit for movie night, kiddo).

It isn’t hard to tell that the others are at least somewhat displeased with him being there, for the most part. Sure, Janus doesn’t have any problems with him, and Logan doesn’t seem to hate him, but Roman is clearly very agitated and Virgil seems to be doing everything in his power to ignore him. And yet Patton, of all sides, continues to provide so much warmth and joy his way it almost made him want to puke.

Remus isn’t used to this kind of treatment. Even with Janus, someone he considers his closest friend, there is very little affection between them. Remus is used to being the gross one, the nuisance, the “problem child.” Being fawned over is a completely new experience and one he can’t decide how he feels about. Patton isn’t scared of him anymore, and that was kind of a bummer at first, but now? Well, now Remus isn’t quite sure what the hell is going on.

After movie night of a few Disney films, everyone else had decided to hit the hay, yet Patton and Remus remain. Remus is sure any moment now Patton will rise from his spot and declare that he is going to sleep, too. Except… that isn’t what happens.

Instead, Patton asks Remus if he has any movie recommendations, something they could watch, just the two of them.

“I don’t think my kind of movies are really your style, Pattycake,” Remus insists, thoroughly shocked that Patton would so much as ask. The fatherly side shakes his head.

“Well, that doesn’t mean we can’t give it a try. I’d like to watch something you enjoy for a change,” Patton says, smiling kindly, “If it’s really that bad, I’m sure I could just let you know.” That seems okay, Remus supposes.

“Yeah, alright. But don’t complain to me when you get sweet little nightmares,” Remus warns, though in actuality he doesn’t plan on showing Patton anything too intense. Before, the idea of giving Patton nightmares was positively delicious, but now – now it made him feel kinda sick, and not in a good way, either.

Remus decides to pop in The Cabin in the Woods, seeing as it is a comedy as well as horror and fairly silly, despite the gore. He’s sure Patton won’t be too much of a fan of it and bail out early on, and yet here he remains, sitting close to him on the couch and looking intently at the screen.

Remus realizes maybe he doesn’t know as much about Patton as he thought he did when he giggles a bit at a scene of people being mascaraed by a large group of monsters running amuck, laughing particularly hard when a character meets a gruesome fate at the hand of a less than conventionally attractive merman. All the while the movie has been going, Remus notices that Patton has been inching closer and closer until his head is resting on his shoulder. The thought of Patton willingly being so close to him sends a strange feeling of contentment through him. For most of their lives, Patton has been so wary of him, and now he’s almost as close as he can get. Why would something as silly as Patton laying his head on his shoulder make him feel so strange?

Remus is almost positive that he is going to burst into flames when Patton smiles at him once the film had ended and says: “I don’t know what you were worried about. That was a really fun movie, Sweet Pea.”

Remus jerks away, scooting to the edge of the couch while Patton shoots him a look of concern.

“Remus, are you okay?”

“What… what did you just call me?” Patton blinks.

“…Huh?”

“You called me Sweet Pea. Why – why the hell did you do that for?” Even in the fairly dark living room, Remus can see the blush that’s spread across Patton’s face, meaning his own flushed cheeks are visible as well. Patton wrings his hands, apprehension present in the action.

“W-well, I dunno, I guess it just kinda… slipped?” Patton offers weakly, praying Remus will accept the answer without fighting it any more than that. Of course, that’s not to be the case.

“It slipped?” Remus asks incredulously. “Why in the world would you use a word like that to describe me?” Patton doesn’t respond for a moment, his eyes settled on his lap, refusing to answer Remus’s burning question. After a minute or so, though, Patton speaks.

“Things have been different between us lately, haven’t they?”

The question hangs heavy in the air. Remus barely knows how to respond. Of course, things have been different; Patton’s actively professed he enjoys hanging-out, to say things hadn’t changed would be a blatant lie.

“I mean… yeah. You’ve been all sweet with me, I guess. Which you get is weird, right?”

“Why would it be weird?” Patton asks, so genuinely it hurts.

“Because,” Remus says as though Patton’s a lunatic for asking the question, gesturing vaguely to himself, “I’m me! Intrusive thoughts, remember? Everything nasty that’s been shut away for the last thirty-years; everything you hate.” Patton’s mouth creases into a frown.

“I don’t hate you, Remus. I… well, I never have. I was just scared of you, once, but I just didn’t understand you then.” Remus scoffs.

“And now you understand me completely?”

“I never said that. But…” Patton hesitates, biting his lip before extending Remus his hand, “I want to. I want to know you better. I was so lost in the belief that I knew best for so long… and I’ll always be sorry for that. I’m sorry for the way that I treated you and Janus; it wasn’t right of me. Not at all. But I’m trying. I want to know you guys. I want to know you, Remus.”

Remus retracts his hand, the warmth in his chest bursting into flames, a fire that’s sure to burn down everything that it touches.

“You don’t want that,” he insists, his eyes training on the wall, eager to avoid the heavy weight of Patton’s gaze.

“But I do!”

“No, you just think you do,” Remus grits through his teeth, the fire bathing him in a horrible warmth, “You – you just think you want that. But you don’t. You’re too sweet for that. Too sweet to know me that way. You’ll quit while you’re ahead if you know what’s good for you.” Remus rises to his feet, positive the fire is enveloping him now, positive to burn him to the ground. With each passing second, he burns a little brighter, skin melting and bones turning to ash. The feeling is something horrible, he realizes, more abhorrent than anything he could possibly conjure.

Remus is falling in love with Patton.

Remus shivers as Patton grabs a hold of his wrist, keeping him from feeling. Doesn’t he get it; Remus is trying to keep him from perishing in the fire as well. He’ll die alone, go up and smoke if it means Patton is safe.

“Patton – let go,” Remus says, the request a beg more than anything else. Patton shakes his head, determination brimming in his eyes.

“I won’t. I’m not letting you leave, Remus.”

Remus pulls harder, shocked by the sheer strength Patton is exhibiting. If it were anyone else, he’d do anything to escape, biting, scratching, and clawing his way out, if necessary. But Patton isn’t anyone else and he’s been stupid enough to develop dangerously strong feelings. Patton calling him something so soft and painfully domestic has awoken something fragile in him, and he intends to put an end to it.

“Why not? Why the fuck are you trying so hard to be nice to me? Why do you care?”

“Because…” Patton swallows the lump in his throat, squeezing his eyes shut as he lets go and admits it, “I like you!”

“Wh-what?”

“I said: I like you. I’ve been spending time with you because I want to. I want you to feel welcomed, I want you to know you have a place here. But also because I like you. A lot.” Finally, Patton’s released him, and yet Remus can’t find it in himself to run away.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“But I do!” Patton maintains, his eyes burning with a sincerity that’s scaring the hell out of Remus, “Lately, I’ve seen you light up and… I like that. I like seeing you so much happier, I like seeing you and Jan joking in the commons and at the dinner table. I like it when you greet me in silly ways when you hang from the ceiling with your tentacles or jump from behind the couch. I like the time we spend together; I like that I’m getting to know you more.

“I like you, Remus. And if you don’t feel the same… then I understand. If I’ve made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry… again. But I need you to understand that I want this, I want to hang out, I want to watch movies that you pick out. I want you to be real with me because you can! I’m not afraid of you anymore, and I never want to be ever again. Liking you is much better than that.”

Remus doesn’t know how to respond. The fire is incasing him now, but he’s not sure if he’s going to be reduced to a pile of ashes anymore. Patton is offering so much, more than he realizes. He’s offering the kindness he’s already shown him, offering understanding unlike he’s ever known, offering intimacy unlike he’s ever experienced. And he could turn away and forget this ever happened if he so desired. Patton’s giving him that option, too, no matter how much it’s clear that he doesn’t want to. All because of some sappy nickname being said accidentally, Remus is being extended an opportunity he never envisioned for himself.

Remus has the chance to get to know Patton for everything that he is, faults and all, a chance to see the moral side down to his very core. And, in turn, he’s being given the chance to be known himself, in a way he didn’t think anyone would ever truly be interested. It would be a major understatement to say he’s a little overwhelmed.

“Do you… do you mean it?” He hates the vulnerability in his wavering voice, threatening to break. He hasn’t felt so overrun by emotions of this caliber in years, used to being brushed aside and ignored. Patton smiles, so genuinely Remus is almost positive the heart he wasn’t aware of owning is about to burst.

“With all my heart,” Patton says, and that’s the straw that breaks the Camel’s back.

Remus launches himself forward, throwing his arms around the moral side and burying his face in his neck. Patton stiffens for a moment, caught off-guard before returning the embrace with nearly as much vigor.

“Me too,” Remus says, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he clings to Patton, the fire no less lively but dying down in terms of threat, “I like you too, Patton. A-a lot. More than bugs, or blood and guts, or all the deodorant in the world.” Patton laughs at that, the sound bright and so full of joy as he runs a hand through Remus’s frazzled hair.

“Well, what a lucky guy I am,” Patton says, though his tone is nothing but serious.

After a moment they part long enough to sit back down on the couch, though Remus is quick to place himself right in Patton’s lap, his legs wrapping around the moral side’s waist. Remus has never known much in the ways of personal space and Patton is almost always eager to hug the nearest person to him, combining to an unlikely but very cuddly pair.

“Hey, Remus, how many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?” Patton asks. The smile that’s crept onto Remus’s face and refused to leave grows.

“I dunno, Pattycake, how many?”

“Ten tickles!” Patton says before unleashing an onslaught of tickles onto Remus, earning a trail of giggles Patton is sure is one of the loveliest things he’s ever heard.

“Sta-stop it! knock it off, Pat or I’ll-I’ll claw your eyes out!” Remus warns jokingly, peeling off into another peel of laughter before Patton stops.

“Hey, Sweet Pea?” Patton asks after a moment. The nickname surprises Remus, but this time he’s a little more prepared for it.

“Yeah?”

“Can I kiss you?” He asks softly, his hands cupping Remus’s face gently. Remus nods quickly, smiling as Patton leans in and closes the gap. The embrace is gentle, perhaps gentler than would be expected of Remus, but it’s nothing short of incredible. Remus relishes in the feeling of Patton’s soft lips, his hands burying themselves in Patton’s curls.

“Hey,” Remus says as they break apart, already intent on kissing Patton senseless the next chance he gets. For now, though, he’s drowning in the warmth that’s surrounding him, in the softness he’s suddenly been allowed.

“Hi,” Patton responds, his smile just as wide as Remus’s.

“You’re a damn good kisser, Cookie.” Patton turns three shades redder in a matter of seconds. “Aww, you got all embarrassed! You like me calling you my cookie?”

“Stop it, Remus!” Patton says with a giggle.

“What? You’re so sweet, I can’t help it.” “Remus.”

“Oh, so you can call me sweet pea, but I can’t call you cookie. How’s about my buttercup? Honeybee? Cutie Pie?”

“Remus,” Patton says, before pressing his lips to the intrusive side’s again, effectively silencing him.

Not long ago, Patton was terrified of Remus. Terrified of what he represented and what that could mean for Thomas. But that isn’t the case anymore, not nearly. Affection has grown between them without either of them realizing. They still don’t entirely know each other, not yet. But they will. Patton’s grown so much, accepting the faults in his thinking, and with Remus’s help, he’s sure he’ll continue to change for the better.

Remus never counted on intimacy, not seeing how it could possibly be in the cards. And yet here he is, embracing someone he hasn’t always understood but is now so desperate to now. Remus doesn’t entirely know if he’s built for this kind of tenderness, knowing that it wouldn’t be impossible for things to shift back and for Patton’s fear to remerge. For now, though, Remus doesn’t focus on the nagging thoughts of what could go wrong, simply embracing what’s right in front of him.

They put on another movie, going to bed at a reasonable time out the window, though it takes very little time for them to fall asleep in each other’s arms, the TV still playing some long since forgotten horror movie.

=+=

Taglist:

@nadiestar 

@unoriginalgayboyalex 

[tortoisesshells]

For the ship meme - dealer's choice please, for whichever pairing's been on your mind lately, and I'm looking forward to reading and learning about them!:)

Thank you, kind friend, and many apologies for the delay! I’m currently mired in trying to get the actual plot moving in Customs and Duties, after an unstated number of chapters wherein the Main Idiot Duo has not achieved much beyond being Emotionally Shut Down and mired in their own problems and not thinking of each other romantically in the slightest, because James Norrington is too stuck on his past and trying not to let the rapidly deteriorating situation in Boston get out of hand & Nellie Treat is the furthest thing from over her late husband’s death and also trying to keep the good Commodore from finding out about her smuggling business. In the base continuity of the 1730s, some of these questions don't really apply, so I've tried to either answer for an analogous question, or drawn from my stable of AUs of the AU.

Who reaches out to new neighbors?

Nellie's generally a friendlier face, but more importantly, Nellie thinks about community and interdependence in a far more positive, concrete way than James, who, bless his heart, is far too used to bossing people around.

Who remembers to buy healthy food?

Nellie initially, since she's spent years being a Good Mom and after getting small children to eat their greens, how hard could it be to make sure another adult eats his peas? (actually, I have no solid idea what "good food" looks like to an early 18th century Anglo-American colonist. Does she even know what broccoli is? Certainly she doesn’t think of healthy food the same way I do.) Too, providing is her love language, but I'm pretty sure after spending more than a week with Jimothy, realized the man treats food as sort of an irritating necessity of life, probably starts in on spice cakes and drinking chocolate.

Actually, on rereading the last few chapters, every time Nellie has seen James she’s been thinking /someone/ has to give that man a cup of tea that’s more sugar and cream than tea and/or a slice of cake - and she’s still at a point in her relationship with him where she intermittently thinks her life would be much easier if she’d just let him drown several months before.

Who remembers to buy junk food?

Nellie, again.

Who fixes the oven when it breaks?

Neither of them. One of them arranges for someone else to fix something like a blown-in chimney or a damaged galley-stove. Even in the 20th or 21st c. continuities, I'm pretty sure one of them would call Sears or a handyman while the other read the manual and bemoaned that two otherwise capable and intelligent adults have no idea what's going wrong. They're deeply pragmatic people, but in this instance that means knowing that they've never had to learn this, and knowing when they're beat.

Who waters the plants and/or feed the pets?

If there's cat, I imagine Nellie is very much the hardass about not feeding them off the table - which means that James would just do it when she's not looking. 

In the modern AU, Nellie and her family do have a cat named Hotspurr, and I do imagine that Hotspurr very much becomes James’s responsibility. Pets just aren’t really Nellie’s cup of tea, in any continuity; James, on the other hand, I think appreciates the regimen and regularity of feeding animals or watering house plants. 

Who wakes up earlier?

Hard to say. Neither of them have good sleep schedules, and both tend not to sleep when under stress; when they’re not under pressure, I actually imagine Nellie tends to get up first - she’s had many years managing children and running a household, and lucky for James, being a commissioned officer who doesn’t have to stand watch means he gets to keep relatively normal hours.

Who makes the bed?

James. Nellie's just not that neat outside of public spaces in her home. If it can’t be seen, she can’t be judged for it; plus she’s just going to get into bed again eventually, and it’s going to get mussed again, so why bother? Pull the bed curtains if it’s going to be an irritant. James, on the other hand, like order and organization in all things - even and especially if no one else is going to see it.

Who makes the coffee?

Nellie, because even in the 18th century continuity she’s incredibly dependent on caffeine & it’s the luxury she lets herself indulge in consistently. It’s not that she doesn’t trust anyone else to make it to her liking ... but it is.

She may let James make the coffee, or talk her into letting someone else, like his steward, make it. After several years of close observation, and, possibly, locking her out of the kitchen.

Who burns breakfast?

I don't imagine Nellie in any era can do much more than very basic cookery, but what she can do, she does pretty well. I'm going to have to give this one to James, though I really can't imagine him cooking; I don’t think he’d be bad (though, if pressed, I assume James Norrington is a better baker than cook, if only because I associate baking with just following the damn recipe & cooking with arcane arts and hidden rituals  & just making shit up on the fly) so much as it’s not something he’d ever have had much reason to get good at in the main continuity, because yay gender roles (/s) and class expectations(/s).

How do they let each other know they're leaving the house?

This is Quite Difficult to answer in the base continuity without giving away parts of the ending that’s not  the obvious “the truth is revealed & some very Hard Talks happen before they get together” so, uh, have some Modern AU - They’re both practical to a fault, so they both tend to run down the phone-keys-wallet list and ask the other if they need anything while they’re out - Nellie’s job, however, is literally in the store-front downstairs, so she doesn’t tend to leave the house as much? (also, in every era, Nellie’s just ... kind of a homebody. She finds a home and sticks to it.)

How do they greet each other when one of them gets home?

 Announcing it to the house, kiss on the cheek, and probably immediately going into something that happened to them that reminded them of the other that day? Neither of them tends to say “I missed you” about day to day things, but being remembered because someone was talking about Samuel Eliot Morison in the shop or all that trivia about longitude finally came in handy at the law firm is the greatest kind of compliment?

Who brings home little gifts like flowers/chocolates more often?

Nellie - she’s very bad at saying “I love you” or even being openly affectionate, but she loves picking up books or shells or interesting curios as a means of saying “I was thinking about you” -

Who picks the movie for movie night?

No movies in the 18th century, alas - but as far as books or plays, neither of them is actually all that regularly educated, or even into their early 30s had enough free time to develop taste? Nellie went to a dame school for a few years, but irregularly; James got stuck at sea from the age of five and hard a largely practical education that didn’t include much other than seamanship & political maneuvering. Nellie’s the more openly curious of the two, so I suspect she’s the one picking up new books to read out loud. Maybe she’ll even get around to teaching herself (or hiring someone to teach her) the harpsichord one of these days?

Their favorite kind of movie to watch?

In modern continuities? I’m not wholly sure, but I feel strongly that James would have very strong feelings about Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. I think Nellie would like historical dramas, honestly?

Who first suggests a pillow fort?

Nellie, I think, as a coping thing? She tends to curl up or wedge herself into the corner of chairs when she’s exhausted or beyond upset; I think she’d like or benefit from small, enclosed spaces from time to time. Both of them like /doing/ things - certainly, sitting still is not something Nellie tends to do. Ever. Unless pretty much forced to do so.

Who builds the pillow fort?

It’s a group effort, but I suspect this is mostly James’s doing. Especially if the kids/ step-kids get involved.

Who tries to distract the other one during the movie?

Nellie, probably, because ruffling his feathers is just so easy, and of the two of them, Nellie is less likely to take anything not life-threatening seriously.

Who falls asleep first?

Nellie. When not stressed beyond her limits, she can and will fall asleep standing up.

Who is big spoon/little spoon?

Nellie’s little spoon, in part because she’s just shorter (though, not to keep bringing up her late husband - Nellie’s about a foot shorter than James, but she was over a foot and a half shorter than Samuel, so it’s not so dramatic as before) - and in part because she tends to sleep curled up on herself, which she can’t very well do as the big spoon.

[ayleecambell]

Strangers in the Night

Secret Santa Fic!

Completely AU

jeronicasecretsanta20 @ jeronicanation

This SS gift is for: @half-ok

I hope you enjoy your gift!! 

This has not been beta'd.

~~

Veronica gets the text as soon as Chad gets up to go to the bathroom. 

Cheryl: I'm sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news. Normally I'd tell you in person but I feel like you need to know now rather than later. Brace yourself, a picture is worth a thousand words:

[Picture of Chad and Jessica together, the two in the middle of having sex.]

Cheryl: This was from this morning while you were at yoga.

Veronica: That fucking bastard. 

Cheryl: Let me know if you need help hiding the body.

Veronica: Will do girl. 

When Chad gets back from the bathroom Veronica is sitting calmly at the table, tapping her nails along with the beat from the music playing overhead. 

“Hey Babe, I was thinking-” He starts, sliding back into the booth.

Veronica holds up a hand, cutting off his words. Her smile is sharp as she pulls her phone out and shows him the picture she received from Cheryl. 

“We’re done.” She says and stands up with her purse in her hand.

“Babe-” Chad starts and Veronica interrupts again.

“You fucked my roommate, in my apartment, this morning while I was at yoga. Luckily for me and unluckily for you Cheryl didn’t feel up to it this morning so she stayed home. How stupid are you that didn’t think I would eventually find out?” Veronica demands.

“It was only this once!” Chad tries to defend but she waves it away. 

“I don’t care. We are done and I want nothing to do with you.” Veronica says, stepping away from the table before turning and walking away. She’ll call an uber once she gets outside. 

Chad follows behind her. 

"Ronnie it was a mistake! If you'd just let me explain-" Chad whines behind her and Veronica spins around on her heels so she can look at him.

"Explain what? A mistake? A mistake is maybe a kiss. You don’t fuck someone by mistake. What do you think you can possibly say right now that will make me forgive you or forget what you did?" Veronica demands, looking him in the eyes.

Chad sputters, obviously trying to think of something to say but not able to come up with an argument he thinks will work. 

Veronica scoffs and rolls her eyes as she twirls around to strut angrily away. 

"Wait no, Veronica." Chad finally finds his voice and goes after her. When he's close enough he grabs her arm and tugs her back towards him. “Just listen to me!” He demands angrily.

She rips her arm out of his grasp. "Don't touch me!"

She’s about two seconds from punching him in the face for touching her when someone comes to her defense.

"Hey!" A male voice snaps from behind her and for a moment all Veronica can see is black and green leather. 

A stranger has just put himself in between her and Chad.

Since she's currently staring at his back all she knows about him is that he's part of a motorcycle gang called the Serpents, has raven black hair (that looks messy but good), he's taller than her even in her 4 inch heels, and he really seems to have a problem with Chad putting his hands on her.

All in all, so far she likes what she's seeing.

Still, she has never been a damsel in distress and she isn't starting now. 

Veronica takes a step to the side so she's no longer behind him but beside him instead. From there she watches the show, ready to step in if she needs to. 

"Didn't anyone ever teach you to never put your hands on a woman?" Jughead demands angrily, getting into Chad’s face.

He doesn’t know much about the situation, but he knows this guy looks like a douche and the woman had made it very clear she didn't want anything to do with him.

That's really all he needed to know to step in.

Chad sneers. “Stay out of this loser, it doesn’t concern you!” 

“I’m making it my concern. You want people to stay out of your business? Then don’t have your fights in public places where people can teach you some proper manners.” Jughead snaps.

“This is between Veronica and I, stay out of it.” Chad demands. 

Jughead turns to look at Veronica and green eyes meet black eyes. 

“Do you want to talk to him?” He asks her.

“No. I think I’ve made it clear I want nothing more to do with him. He seems to have a problem understanding basic reasoning.” Veronica tells him while smirking.

Jughead grins at her. “I can see why that might be a problem.”

Veronica can’t help but smile back at him.

“Hey!” Chad interrupts them. “Are you two flirting right now? Really? Right in front of me?” 

Veronica rolls her eyes and looks at him. “We just broke up because you fucked my roommate on my kitchen counter. I can do whatever the fuck I want and yes, that means I am flirting in front of you right now.”

“Shit.” Jughead mutters. “You really fucked up.” He says looking at Chad. 

“Shut up.” Chad tells Jughead, who shrugs and shakes his head, then Chad looks back at Veronica. “Ronnie-” He tries again.

Veronica snorts. “Just stop. There is literally nothing you can say to make this situation better. Just walk away.” 

Chad looks at Jughead. “I know what will make me feel better.” 

Jughead shakes his head. “Don’t be stupid.” He knows exactly what’s going to happen which makes dodging the punch Chad throws at him pretty easy. 

“Seriously?” Veronica asks no one as she backs up. She knows better than to get between two guys in a bar fight. 

Besides, Chad has never been a good fighter. She’d bet on the biker guy any day before she bet on Chad winning. 

It takes Jughead exactly 30 seconds to end the fight by punching Chad in the face. 

---

After the bar kicks Chad out, Veronica buys Jughead and his friends, Fangs, Sweet Pea, and Toni drinks to apologize for the drama. 

Jughead and Veronica are sitting next to each other in the curved booth, her thigh lined up against his, and she’s telling them the entire sordid tale of her relationship with Chad and taking their teasing with a shrug and a shot of rum. 

“His name was Chad! How did you not know he was a douche?” Sweet Pea teases. 

“Hey now! He was charming when we met! Besides, can any of you really be judging names? Jughead, Fangs, Sweet Pea? Are those your real names by the way?” 

“You’ll have to find out.” Toni teases. “We don’t just tell our secrets to strangers.” 

“Not even strangers that buy your drinks?” Veronica teases back. 

“Not even. You gotta earn it.” Fangs tells her with a smile.

“Right, well, we need more shots then.” Veronica says with a returning smile as she catches their server’s eye so she can order another round. 

---

Jughead isn’t sure how it happened exactly but when the group leaves the bar, Veronica is riding on the back of his bike. 

They’re all walking out of the bar a little tipsy but no one was drunk and they made sure to space out the drinking with food and water. They all knew better then to ride a motorcycle drunk. 

He’s holding Veronica’s hand as he leads her outside. He doesn’t know when they started holding hands or who reached for the other first, he just knows they’ve been doing it for hours now and neither one of them have wanted to let go. 

He’s been keeping an eye on her and other than the two shots of rum earlier she’s been drinking water. So he knows that she’s not holding his hand to help keep her balance. She hasn’t wavered a bit even in those heels. 

There’s a pang of disappointment that after they leave tonight he’ll most likely never see her again. 

"I can drop you off somewhere. Your apartment or at a friend's place?" Jughead offers Veronica as Sweet Pea, Fangs, and Toni split off to get on their bikes and head back to their campground for the night.

"I share an apartment with Jessica and Cheryl. The absolute last place I want to be right now is there until Cheryl kicks Jessica out and has a deep clean done on our apartment." Veronica tells him as she stands next to him and watches the others leave. 

He doesn’t know why he even suggests it, but when she turns to look at him and she steps closer to him, invading the little space he had left, it just pops out of his mouth.

"You can come with us?" He offers. "We're going to a rally a few states over. We'll be coming back through here in about two weeks. If you really want to get away for a bit." 

Veronica stares at him for a moment, completely silent and its enough to make his heart race and for him to feel stupid.

Why the hell is he offering for her to come with? They're strangers. She's probably wondering if he's crazy or a murderer or something. 

He’s cursing himself in his head and opens his his mouth to tell her to forget it but then she grins and he's struck speechless.

"Let's do it." Veronica says with a little laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck. 

“What?” He can’t help but question it. Is she really going to come with him?

“Let’s do it. I’m not ready for this to end yet.” She tells him.

It's crazy and impulsive and something inside her is telling her she's insane but a bigger part of her is telling her she'll regret it if she doesn't go.

He almost wants to question her or himself. They’re both acting crazy but he doesn’t want her to change her mind. So instead he smiles and leans down and kisses her on the forehead before he grabs her hand again and leads her over to his bike. 

“Get on Princess, and hold tight.” He tells her as he straddles his bike and hands her a helmet to put on. 

Veronica puts the helmet on and then she gets on after him, her front plastered to his back and her arms wrapped snugly around his waist.

“Let’s go Torombolo. Take me away.” Veronica says leaning closer against him so her lips graze his ear as she talks. 

Jughead breathes out a shuttering sigh at the feel of her against him and at her breath against his ear before gripping the handlebars and grinning. After a pause to collect himself, he starts the engine and pulls away from the curb.