#like friends you sometimes still catch up with but who don't really know you anymore

[damnprecious]

love having a weird relationship with gender (read: what is gender) and people wishing "happy international women's day" in a group chat when they perceive you (and a couple of others in the group) as women and then sitting there going "so do I just respond something like a thanks bc I guess technically yes but also no or do I just ignore this and risk appearing rude or what do I do"

[vaguely-concerned]

I understand and agree with a lot of the frustrations about the shortcomings of Inquisition as a story. but sometimes when I hear people complain about the chosen one narrative in it I do want to just be like... you know it's a deconstruction of the concept more than anything, right. the inquisitor isn't actually chosen by anything except stumbling into the wrong (right?) room at the right (wrong?) time because they like, heard a noise or whatever. or if you think they are chosen, as many do in-universe, that's something you have to take on faith, the maker-or-whoever moves in mysterious ways indeed-style. the Inquisitor isn't actually a Destined Chosen One, they're a Just Some Guy in a fancy hat, self-delusions of grandeur to taste as you'd prefer.

a running thread that goes through all of the personal quests of the companions is the concept of a comforting lie vs. an uncomfortable truth, upholding old corrupt structures vs. disrupting them, and the role of faith in navigating that. (blackwall the warden vs. thom rainier the liar and murderer. hissrad vs. the iron bull, or is that the other way around? cassandra and the seekers -- do we tell the truth about what we find, even if it means dismantling the old order of the world? and so on.) and your inquisitor IS at the same time a comforting lie (a necessary one, in dark times? the game seems to ask) and an uncomfortable truth (we are the result of random fickle chance, no protective hand is held over the universe, it's on us to make a better world because the maker sure as hell won't lift a divine finger to help anyone, should he against all odds exist). faith wielded for political power... where's the point that it crosses the line into ugliness? is it before it even begins? what's the alternative? will anyone listen to the truth, if you tell it?

interesting how you also get a mix of companion agency in this -- you have characters like dorian who ALWAYS choose one side of the comforting lie vs. uncomfortable truth dichotomy. he will always make up his own mind to go back to tevinter and try to dismantle the corruption of the old system no matter what you say, or how you try to influence him. meanwhile iron bull is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum -- so psychologically trapped and mangled, caught in an impossible spiritual catch-22, that his sense of identity is left entirely to you and your mercy. you cannot change dorian in any way that matters; you can be his friend or not, support him or not, but he is whole no matter what. you are given incredible and potentially destructive-to-him power over bull's soul. it's really cool (and heartbreaking) to think about.

this is a game about how history will eat you even while you're still alive, and shape you into whatever image it pleases to serve it, and for all your incredible power right now you are powerless in the face of the gravitational force of time -- of more than time, of History. you won't recognize yourself in what History will make of you, because you belong to it now. you don't belong to yourself anymore and you never will again. the further you were from what it needs from you to begin with, the more you will find yourself distorted in its funhouse mirror. (why hello there inquisitor ameridan, same hat!)

and to me this is so much the core of what Dragon Age is about right from the Origins days -- how and by whom history gets written, the inherent unreliable narration of it all. I hope you like stories, Inquisitor. You are one now.

I do think it's probably still the weakest of the games narratively, and it's hampered by its structure and bloated systems. but I also find it disingenous to say that there's nothing deeper or actually interesting going on with it, thematically. if you're willing to engage with it there is Some Real Shit going on under the high fantasy-tinted surface.

[lexirosewrites]

What about omega prison guard Steve and alpha prisoner Eddie Munson.

Steve should sue that prison for workplace endangerment and I’m so sorry for how late this is. I have others still in my inbox too that I will get to eventually!

That being said... alpha prisoner Eddie flirting with nervous prison guard Steve!!! Steve who's been told to be wary of inmates trying to intimidate him with threats, but he was never warned that he'd fall in love with the charming weirdo in Block D who's always telling him how pretty he is.

At first, Steve assumes that inmate Munson is trying to get extra time in the yard or a better work assignment, but he never does. He greets Steve like a friend, asks how his dog is, and even makes sure that other prisoners don't mess with him despite being an omega working in an alpha prison.

It feels too good to be true, but five days a week, Steve clocks in and instantly finds himself drawn to Block D. Even if it's not his assignment for the day, he makes a point to say good morning to Eddie. Sometimes he does sneak him an extra granola bar from commissary if he's feeling generous, even though Eddie would never ask.

"Morning, officer beautiful."

Steve laughs at that, sticking his hand in his pocket to quickly find the pack of gum security had allowed him to bring inside. Not necessarily following protocol, but he figures that it's innocent enough.

"Good morning, Munson," he greets.

Eddie gets off his cot and comes over to the bars of his cell, his smile widening when he catches sight of the bright pink package of gum in Steve's outstretched hand.

He has to be subtle about the special treatment, but Eddie’s good about that, accepting the present and pocketing it quickly.

"Surely you can come up with a better petname than that, baby? You've had damn near a whole year to pick one for me,” Eddie teases in a whisper.

Steve brushes it off with a laugh, putting a little more space between them.

Having a soft spot for a handsome prisoner wouldn’t look good to the other inmates or his fellow correctional officers. Everyone already thinks he’s not fit for this job and he can’t afford to lose it. It’s the best paying job he’s ever had and the benefits are great.

“Alright, Munson. Mind your manners.. What’s on the agenda for Block D? Are you running your little club this morning?”

The alpha typically leads some weird club for the prisoners on good behavior. Steve has never understood their funny game, but he always volunteers to oversee it.

Eddie smirks, throwing him a wink as he returns to his bunk and picks up a full box to show Steve.

“Big plans for today, actually.”

He chuckles at that.

There are no big plans in prison. Every day is more or less the same. Eddie either has a work assignment or his club. Sometimes he attends a special workshop or class for some college credit, but it’s not exactly the Ritz-Carlton.

“Sure, Munson. Whatever you say,” Steve says, rolling his eyes.

Eddie pouts.

“Don’t you want to know why all my stuff is packed up? You aren’t the least bit curious?”

Huh?

He looks around the cell, suddenly noticing how bare the walls are— devoid of Eddie’s monstrous drawings and plans for his game. In fact, his bed has been completely stripped and none of his books are lying around the place anymore.

“Eddie? What— what’s happening here?” Steve questions frantically, his heart racing now at the idea of his favorite prisoner being transferred elsewhere.

He’s had good behavior lately, but maybe he got caught in a fight on Steve’s weekend off?

Eddie can’t leave. He’s unintentionally become Steve’s best friend here and honestly, he’ll really miss the guy. Even the extra attention and flirting too!

The alpha drops his box and comes all the way to the bars, close enough that he can reach a hand through and take Steve’s. He squeezes it gently, settling Steve’s panic a little with his calming scent now.

“Hey now, baby. I thought you’d be happy for me? Are you really that upset that I’m getting out finally?”

Getting… out? Holy shit. Eddie is leaving prison. For good.

“You— your time is up?”

Eddie leans down, glancing around to make sure nobody sees him press a kiss to the omega’s knuckles.

“Yeah, sweetheart. I told you I was gonna be on my best behavior for the parole board. How else was I gonna take you on that date I promised?”

Everything he says always sounds confident and a little cocky, but for once, Eddie seems vulnerable and sincere.

He actually wants to take Steve on a date.

Steve shakes his head, but doesn’t pull his hand away from Eddie.

“You didn’t really mean that,” he protests. “I know you were just messing around or whatever, Eddie.”

“Oh, so now you know my name?” the alpha teases.

Steve rolls his eyes, wanting a real answer.

“Munson…”

Eddie grins.

“Alright, alright. No need for all of that, honey. I just thought I’d give you a heads-up in case you wanted me to leave you alone when I get out. I didn’t really expect you to let an ex-con take you out, but it gave me something to aim for and I wanted to thank you nonetheless for being such a good friend, even if you don’t want to see me outside of here.”

Steve hesitates for a moment.

Of course he didn’t realize that Eddie was getting free any time soon when the alpha joked about taking him out and “showing him a good time.”

But does that really change anything?

If Eddie wasn’t an inmate, would Steve be interested in him? The answer seems clear, but he’d never had to think it through before now.

He clears his throat, giving Eddie a smile as he comes to a conclusion.

“I think… I think you could thank me with dinner, Munson. I’m assuming you have a place to stay already? Do you have a number I can call too?”

Eddie grins like a kid in a candy store and runs to grab a piece of paper out of the box, writing on it frantically before shoving it into Steve’s open hand.

“I’m staying with my Uncle Wayne. He got me a position at his garage since I got all my certs here. My first paycheck is all yours, Steve. You find the fanciest restaurant in town and I’ll book the table, sweetheart,” Eddie promises. “You won’t regret this.”

He blushes at the intense stare from the alpha, feeling surprisingly eager for him to follow through with this.

“I’m going to hold you to that, Eddie. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

Steve loses his favorite inmate that day, but ends up with a different kind of mate a few months later.

[chaussetteblanche]

I know it;s barely been posted yesterday, but I definitely need more Jason x biker!reader.

Wonder how it will go on :D

A/N : thanks for the request babes !! and thanks for you patience, this was a while ago !

Jason todd is a doberman boyfriend

he definitely loves going on rides with you

he thinks it's the peak of romance

he might slap your ass if he gets the chance

if you guys have your bluetooth connected, he's constantly telling you how good you look on your bike

"holy shit, your ass looks great from back here,"

"damn, you looked really good while passing that car, babe,"

"you know what you'd look even better riding?"

he'd drive in front of you if having him behind you made you nervous, but he would prefer to be behind, as to be able to have more control on any situation which might arise

he's a doberman boyfriend

and a mirror smashing king

when you're riding, he usually prefers to stay behind you so he can keep an eye on you

if you've seen those tiktoks of people defending their friends on bikes by chasing after cars, smashing mirrors or that kind of shit > 100% Jason

he might chase after a car if it cut you off, tried to merge into you, drove too close to you,... basically if it did anything to disrespect you or put you in unnecessary danger

sometimes that pisses you off though, you're a strong person and you can handle your shit, but he likes to handle it for you

let's say a car tries to merge into your lane and barely misses you because you swerve

and on top of being scared for your life, you're angry, so you start gesticulating around, telling the guy (because of course it's man) to roll down his window so you can yell at him

and he does, but only to flip you off

you decide it's not worth it and speed up to not have to deal with him anymore, telling Jason through your helmets

but Jason has other things in mind

bad, violent, illegal things

picture this huge pile of muscle of a man on an equally huge and scary bike slowly pull up next to you on the highway, murder on his mind

let's be real, the guy is most likely still going to therapy because of this encounter

but Jason sees red, this man put you in danger, and if you hadn't reacted and gotten out of the way- Jason doesn't want to think about that

and on top of that, he'd disrespected you

Jason can't let that slide, so he pulls up next to the car, glowers at the driver through his mirrored visor before tearing his side mirror off and smashing it into the car's window

the driver panics, starts screaming at Jason that he's totally crazy and that he's going to call the cops

Jason grins because both of you have your plates tucked, shaking his head

he finally catches up with you, tapping your ass lovingly as he passes by you

you didn't see what Jason did because you were busy filtering through trafic and trying to calm down

"did you see that guy?" you ask hotly, ranting about how dangerous it all was

"he's taken care of, sweets, don't worry your pretty head about it,"

"oh god, Jason, what did you do?"

he just smiles, feeling good about keeping you safe on and off the road

with him, you get scary dog privileges wherever you go, big doberman bf vibes

just imagine you, happily walking around shopping or whatever and this 6 foot something mountain behind you, glaring at everybody who dares to breathe in your direction

he definitely carries everything, especially your helmet if you guys go and have went somewhere together on your bikes, he’s got huge hands and has this special way of carrying both your helmets in one hand (it's so he can hold your hand with the other)

loves having you as a backpack

loves being your backpack too, although he’s definitely handsy, but only when you’re stopped though !!! he would never put you in any sort of danger !!!

but yeah, if you have boobs, he might grab them at a red light (if you don't, no worries, he'll find something else to grab)

he will come pick you up anywhere, anytime, just say the word and he is there (in record time too)(google maps hates him)

will carry your helmet around his arm for literal miles, even though it’s really heavy and uncomfortable, just so you can backpack

helmet kisses, all the time

he definitely goofs around at long red lights and will come up and hump your bike out of nowhere

of course, everybody is looking and you’re just 😑

if you ride a bike but know nothing about bikes (me) he will be your mechanician, garage guy, therapist and more

bike won't start ? call Jason

bike making weird noises ? show Jason

bike needs any kind of service of fixing ? Jason is already there, doing it for you

this is all I have for now, but feel free to request more stuff :)

[loveemagicpeace]

🍯Astrology Notes🍯

🪴Virgo rising- are very caring people. They take great care to ensure that you have everything you need, especially for your health. They will be able to tell you a lot about various medicines.

🌱Gemini rising- funny as fuck sometimes. They are people who talk and don't stop. You can discuss all possible topics with them if you want. They have a very open mind. But when it comes to being able to do something, sometimes they are not so open to new things. Let's say one difference between them and Sagittarius is that they are not traveling types and they don't like to travel that much.

💫You will feel most comfortable talking to people with whom you have the same compatible moon and mercury in your house. for example: mercury in the 9th house and the other person has mercury in the 1st house. With this you can see what topics you can discuss with others.

🪐People who has saturn in 1st house looks better when they are skinnier. Because their bones and body structure are more beautifully emphasized. Many times they can have weight problems(they can quickly lose weight from worry).

🍀Earth signs look very down to earth even when they are joking around. Even when they make a crazy joke, they still look down to earth.

🐚Scorpios quickly stop trusting you. You just have to do one thing and they are done trusting you. When they see that you are dishonest to them in any kind of way, they will not trust you anymore. Especially when they get to know someone from the beginning and notice that they didn't tell them something or hid something from them, and as I said, it could be just one small thing like say you're going to say you're eating pizza, but in reality you're eating hamburger. It is small lie. But this is sometimes also one of the reasons why pisces and scorpio don't go so well together. Because pisces tend not to say everything while scorpios are. Many times, pisces swim off into their fantasy world and sometimes get lost in it. Scorpios are always looking for the truth in everything. I have seen successful Scorpio/Capricorn couples many times.

🍁Fire signs are actually very active people. So you have to prove them love with actions. They want to see how much you are willing to do for them and how much you are willing to risk. When you go beyond your limits and do something really crazy for them, they will really appreciate it.

💷2nd house represents your money & 8th house where you invest money. The 2nd house reflects your underlying relationship to money and patterns around money are often deeply ingrained. With the Moon in Cancer here, your emotional wellbeing rises and falls with your bank balance, both of which may be subject to flux. You can be a rags-to-riches success, but with Saturn in the 2nd you might always feel poor, the millionaire who still buys the budget range at the supermarket. The 8th house is concerned with debt and our relationship to institutions which provide loans, mortgages, and overdrafts. Capricorn on the cusp of the 8th suggests paying your dues and insisting on a proper contract, Sagittarius here you can invest a lot in travel or even illegal things.

☀️The Sun is the central flame of our vitality. Acting according to your Sun sign and engaging in activities denoted by the house it occupies are important ways to increase your energy and vigour. For instance, with Sun in the 1st, you might need time alone in order to recoup your energies - the presence of others can drain you, Or with Sun in the 6th, maybe you like to spend spare time working in the garden or catching up on DIY. The Sun in Sagittarius might mean you like to explore far afield; if in Aquarius maybe you like to holiday with a group of friends. Sun in Scorpio- working in the shadows or researching something no one knows about is best for you. Sun in 7th house you like to devote a lot of your time to your partner.

🧸Some signs are naturally more work-oriented and some more suggestive of needing a slower pace. Capricorn (or its ruler Saturn) is often highlighted in the charts of anyone with a strong work ethic - by contrast, Leo, Libra, or Pisces might engender a bit more need for time off, to play, relax, or dream. Each Zodiac sign has its ideal gap year or holiday. The fire signs might favour adventure breaks, the air signs a chance to meet new faces, the earth signs maybe an eco-trip; and the water signs a sojourn by the sea or in quiet, restful places.

🩰The IC and the 4th house describe home, both as a physical place and as an inner sense of roots, safety, and foundation. If you have Jupiter in the 4th, it might feel natural to you to travel around or you might even choose to live abroad - or with Uranus here, you may experience many changes of home(many unexpected moves). With the Sun or Moon in the 4th, you might be so strongly connected to home and homeland that uprooting yourself will not be easy - your Sun here suggests your life revolves around home in some way, the Moon that your emotional wellbeing is closely tied to it. With Pluto you can feel that your home is intense and that you are always transforming through it (but it can also leave bad memories). With Mercury can mean that you change your home a lot. With Mars you may feel that your home is often chaotic or aggressive and you are looking for a home where you can become independent. With Neptune many times your home is confusing, strange. Many times you find your ideal place somewhere by the ocean. With Venus your home is loving, genuine and you have loving parents to whom you love to return. But it can involve a lot of money or love based on it. So you can feel that your parents never really appreciated you if you didn't have money.

🧚🏼‍♀️About Aquarius: I want to say one thing about them. I would say that if they really really want they will do it. But most likely they are independent people & lost souls sometimes. I think that they are scared of attachment. So that's why they are rather alone. They are looking for someone. Who will be goofy as they are.

💌I think Valentine's Day is for Libras. Libra is a sign of love, romance,beautiful things. And if any sign is inclined to & like to celebrate this day, it's definitely the Libra. But I find it a little strange that it is in Aquarius season.

💘Cupido is definitely a Sagittarius sign. Although people don't believe that Sagittarians are so loving and romantic, but they really are. Cupido shoots into the hearts of people who are meant to be together. If you hit a sagittarius deep in the heart with your love, then you can see the true side of them. Then you can see how loving they are.

🌅The people you attract into your life are usually connected to your North Node.For ex.: North node in Virgo in your 8th house- you will mostly be attracted to people who have a virgo placements, scoprpio placements, or pisces/ taurus placements.

🌊Pluto symbolizes power in whatever house it is. The power you feel in yourself and the people around you. Strong experience of feelings. For ex.: 5th house - privacy, romance, jealousy, strong emotions, strong happiness, attitude towards the things you do, you feel strong love, devotion. Obsession with changing partners maybe or affairs idk. 6th house - obsessed with perfection, control, work, high expectations. 7th house - you attract a lot of possessive partners, obsession with your partner, but at the same time you can be afraid to get into a relationship, mistrust. 8th house rulership- curious, constant control, secrets, power over your secrets, emotional transformations, many dark things, connection with birth and death, great interest in hidden things. 10th house - people can see you as a strong opponent, driven for a career, they can see you as a person who has a lot of secrets, you can present people with challenges. Big influence.

-Rebekah🧚🏼‍♀️🩰🌙

[hgfictionwriter]

Maybe This Time

Jessie Fleming x Reader

Summary: UCLA was a long time ago. Jessie couldn't bring herself to make a move back then and missed her chance. But now that you're back in her life, maybe things can be different.

Warning: None

A/N: A bit more fluff for y'all! And sorry for flooding the Jessie tags. I’ve got a bunch of fics just sitting around!

"Jessie?"

Jessie turned and couldn't believe her eyes. Y/N. Y/N L/N. The girl she'd pined over at UCLA; who her friends had relentlessly made fun of her for liking and never pursuing; the girl who still showed up in idle daydreams from time to time, even all these years later.

"I heard you were playing in town now. Oh my gosh - it's been so long. I was hoping I'd run into you at some point."

Here you were standing in front of her. Smiling at her. Instead of being the...relatively...confident person Jessie now was - she was national team captain, a gold medal athlete, for goodness sake - she wasn't a young girl anymore hiding behind textbooks and her friends, instead though, she felt her cheeks burn hot and her words got caught in her throat. She stood there staring speechless at you.

"Don't tell me you don't recognize me," you said, a hint of apprehension beginning to cast over you.

Finally, Jessie began to react. She closed her eyes briefly in hopes of resetting, shaking her head and allowing herself to smile.

"Of course I do," she finally managed, only stammering slightly. "I mean, I recognize you. Of course."

"Okay." You let out a small laugh of relief. "For a second I thought worldwide athletic stardom made you forget your favourite lab partner."

"Of course not," Jessie readily assured you. "I'd never forget you."

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She clenched her jaw as she reprimanded herself internally for imploding so quickly and after so much time. She cut herself some slack when you smiled again at her.

"That's comforting to hear. Well, I mean, I know you're just leaving," you gestured to the door of the coffee shop, "but, um, I don't know." You laughed nervously before settling on what to say. You offered her a resolute nod. "It was nice to see you again."

Jessie's mind whirled with ideas and options. Anything coming out of her mouth now was mere instinct.

"Nice to see you too. Um, I don't know, maybe we could chat sometime? Are you in Portland too?"

"Yeah, I work at a logistics firm in town." You cracked a smirk. "Not nearly as glamorous as being a national icon, but you know, I do my part."

Jessie chuckled and ran her fingers through her hair.

"If you call 4 am wake-up calls, jet lag, and bruises to high heaven glamourous, then sure, I guess it is."

"Sounds not too unfamiliar from your UCLA days," you teased. "I still remember when you showed up to class with a black eye. And I see you've healed fine from your recent one."

Jessie blushed. So you watched her games? And you remembered moments from uni.

You'd been friends in university, but that's all it ever was. Her friends had goaded her again and again to ask you out, but Jessie could never work up the courage. She'd doubted herself too much. And then before she knew it she'd lost her chance. You dated other girls and that was the end of it. She stepped back and time ticked on.

You remained close friends throughout uni, sharing deep conversations, hopes and fears, silly moments, too. There were moments where Jessie felt hope starting to blossom in her chest - that maybe you had feelings for her, but she'd stamp it out. She’d just be setting herself up for disappointment.

After you both graduated, that was it. She'd gone off to London and you fell out of touch. It was for the best really. Well, maybe.

"Anyway," you started again, drawing Jessie back from her thoughts. "Sure, I'd love to catch up. I'd say I'll message you on Instagram, but I know your social media is a black hole. I can give you my number if you like."

Jessie gave you a tight-lipped smile as she scratched the back of her head and let her gaze fall to the bulletin of flyers instead.

"Yeah, I'm not much for social media."

"I know," you chuckled. "You never were."

Jessie cleared her throat and looked back to you. "And sure, what's your number?"

She almost missed you telling her because her mind drifted back to class when you reached over and scribbled your number on the top corner of her paper and told her to text you about the reading. Jessie’s words had died in her throat and she had to settle for merely offering you a delayed nod as you gathered up your books and left. She’d felt light on her feet, nearly dizzy even, all day. Her hands had shaken when she texted you and her palms were clammy as she awaited your response.

That was a lifetime ago. But now here you were, and number newly confirmed. Jessie tucked her phone away in her pocket.

"Okay, I'll let you go," you told her. "And truly, if you aren't up to a chat of any kind - no pressure. You probably have so many people vying for your time. I won't be offended." You said with true earnest. "In case I don't see you again, I just want to say I'm really proud of you for everything you've achieved. And I'd say I'm impressed, but A) that goes without saying, and B) I always knew you were going to do great things. I told you time and time again. Anyway, it was so good to see you. Take care."

Before Jessie could respond, you'd turned and disappeared to the other side of the shop and into the line. She forced herself to turn and leave.

The door had barely closed behind her when she opened her phone and pulled up her messages with Teagan.

"You will NEVER guess who I just ran into."

-----

"Hi Y/N. It's Jessie. UCLA."

"Lol the one and only. How are you?"

"Well forgive me for not assuming that you would know who a random 'Jessie' is lol. I'm doing well, thanks. How are you?"

"You were always very humble. It was always very endearing, so I'm glad to see you haven't lost that. I'm doing well. Working late. Some of my vendors are shitting the bed, so I'm scrambling to find alternatives."

"Seriously? That sounds brutal. I'm sorry to hear that. Well, if it makes you feel better, the team had to run extra drills today because of how bad our last game was."

"It's the start of the season - lots of new players. Chemistry takes time. You guys will find your groove soon. I'm positive. How is Portland treating you, by the way? I'd love to hear more about your time in London too at some point."

"Well, if you still want to grab coffee, I can tell you all about it. And I want to hear about you too. Did you ever make it to the Ghibli museum?"

"Oh my gosh lolol. You remember that. And yes! I did. And it was amazing. And coffee would be amazing, too :)"

Jessie belatedly realized that she was smiling as you texted back and forth. It was an odd feeling - it was strange to be talking with you again, yet entirely natural.

To her surprise, you ended up texting every day until you met up Sunday afternoon. She'd mentioned to Teagan that you two had this scheduled and soon Jessie was hit with an onslaught of messages from all her Bruins mates stepping right back into form and teasing her.

On a scale from 1-10, how red did you blush? And why was it 20.

Can I finally tell her you mumbled her name in your sleep? Several times?

Please tell me you immediately pulled out a vision board with her face all over it.

LOL the universe said, “Think you’ve suffered enough pining for this girl? Think you’re over her? Guess again!”

She still hot? Send pics.

Jessie sat in her car down the street from the coffee shop and essentially gave herself a stern, mental talking to about your get together. She was not who she was 5 years ago, and neither were you. She didn't need to be so nervous. There were no stakes at all, she could just relax, be in the moment, and reconnect with an old friend.

When she stepped into the coffee shop, her pulse picked up just so when she saw you seated at a table, but thankfully by the time she sat she'd composed herself again.

"The good news is, the rain is nothing new to me after being in London," she joked as she swept some rain off her baseball cap.

You looked up from your phone and a large smile crossed your face.

"Yeah, I hear you. And what's going on - how did we both go from sunny LA to rain central?"

Not entirely surprising, conversation flowed easily between you two. And it wasn't all reminiscing and nostalgia, it was easy to talk about current things as well. Pretty soon, you were both at the ends of your second cups of coffee and yet neither of you made a move to leave.

"So, um, you've been in Portland for a while now," the ease Jessie had felt faltered some as she broached a topic she'd been highly curious about, "did [y/gf] come with you?"

You screwed up your face and laughed.

"No," you answered easily. "We broke up like a couple of months after convocation. Let's be real - that was never going to last."

"Oh," Jessie replied, surprise showing on her face at how readily you dismissed the notion. "I had no idea. I thought you two were solid."

"Well," you drained the last bit of your drink, "I guess I wasn't entirely forthcoming then. Sure, things were okay. But, I was lying to myself if I thought that was going to be a 'forever' kind of relationship." Jessie's look of surprise lingered and you rolled your eyes, leaning in. "Jessie. She'd get distracted every time she walked by a mirror. I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not. Come on, don't tell me you didn't notice. Her full on checking herself out anytime she caught her reflection?"

Jessie sat back and gave you a brief look of disbelief, shaking her head. "I tried not to notice."

"Smart," you retorted good naturedly. "She was nice, and we had fun, but beyond our values not exactly aligning, an equal partnership it was not."

"Well, okay, she's out of the picture. You must be with someone new, then," Jessie went on. She ignored the twinge in her chest when you shook your head 'no'. Just as quickly, she scolded herself. Why would it matter? She was getting way ahead of herself here. She supposed that old habits - and evidently dormant feelings - died hard.

"No. I mean, I dated a couple of girls since I've been here, but nothing's really stuck." You looked up from your drink to Jessie. "Now, superstar, you have to tell me your update."

Jessie mouth contracted into a tight smile and she felt her cheeks begin to burn under the scrutiny.

"That's confidential," she quipped.

You rolled your eyes dramatically and leaned forward. "That is so not fair." Jessie remained smugly silent and merely shrugged. You let out an exasperated sigh and slouched back in your chair. "Fine," you relented not wanting to push too much. "You were always tight-lipped in university, too. You could've had anyone and you - as far as I know," you said pointedly, "didn't date anyone."

"Oh come on." Jessie now rolled her eyes. "I was so shy and quiet. Even if I'd liked someone I would've never gotten up the courage to ask them out." She felt a buzzing in her head as she watched your reaction. You smiled sweetly.

"You were shy and quiet, yes. But you opened up once you were comfortable. I mean, look at us, look at you with your teammates. And you were so smart, incredibly sweet, and pretty, and you had that dry sense of humour. And, hello, captain of the football team!"

"Co-captain," Jessie interjected pointedly. You hung your head briefly with a laugh.

"I repeat - you could've had anyone."

Jessie subconsciously fidgeted with her hat and planted her feet further apart as she shifted down in her chair. "Well, didn't seem that way at the time."

"Wait - so who did you like?" You probed.

"No one," Jessie retorted, her features scrunching up as she played off the question dismissively. "I barely had time to breathe. There was no way I could date someone."

"You are so cagey sometimes," you said lightly, not being able to resist ribbing her once more. "Fine, so, what about now? Are you seeing someone?"

Jessie's composure was long gone and her face burned hot as your interrogation got her flustered. She took a subtle breath and worked to calm herself.

"No, no one's caught my eye just yet," she relayed.

You studied Jessie, discerning whether to drop the topic or not. You eventually relented as you crossed your arms and reclined in your chair.

"Well, I imagine that's not easy. There's a lot to live up to. And you're surrounded by impressive people every day, so the bar's gotta be high. Again, you can have your pick."

You grabbed your phone and looked it over quickly.

"I need to get going. I have a few errands to run still before the weekend's over," you said, a hint of regret in your voice before you offered a smile. "I had a great time though. It was so good to catch up with you."

Jessie removed her hat, running her fingers through her hair briefly before pulling the cap back down on her head.

"Yeah, I had a great time, too."

For the first time this conversation, a small lull formed and neither of you jumped to bridge it. Eventually, Jessie cleared her throat.

"Maybe we could get together again. Coffee. A drink. Whatever, really."

A mild look of surprise crossed your face, puzzling Jessie.

"Sure, I'd like that," you told her warmly as you shrugged on your jacket.

"Okay." Jessie gave you a small smile as she, too, rose from the table. "Will you be at the game next weekend?"

"I hadn't planned on it, but I could be." You smirked.

"No pressure," Jessie said as she felt that old nervousness begin to bubble up. "I could get you tickets if you ever want to go. That's all."

You smiled, looking at her in appreciation. "I'll have to take you up on that."

Jessie chuckled, but gave you a pointed look. "Honestly, you don't have to. I know you weren't a big soccer fan even in university."

"But," you started, drawing the word out and returning her pointed look, "I started going to games after becoming friends with a certain someone. I just haven't had a reason to go to a Thorns games yet."

Jessie resisted her impending blush and instead crossed her arms loosely in front of her, shifting her weight to one leg. "Okay, just let me know," Jessie said. She gave you a small nod. "And I promise these games are even better than Bruins ones."

You cocked your head, a hint of a smile on your face as you lifted a finger to your lips and narrowed your eyes in mock contemplation.

"What are they calling you these days? Midfield Maestro?"

Somehow, Jessie didn't even feel the urge to blush. Instead, she gave you a cocky smirk.

"So you really have been following my career."

She nearly grinned at how your cheeks flushed pink and you broke eye contact. You only took a moment to compose yourself and look back to Jessie with a half smirk.

"Hard not to," you simply said.

Jessie relented, feeling like she'd teased you enough. For now. She smiled and spoke earnestly.

"Offer stands - if you wants tickets, just let me know. Regardless, let's get together soon."

"Deal," you told her, your blush slowly fading.

There was a brief moment of stillness and uncertainty before you stepped forward and pulled Jessie into a hug. It only took her a moment to relax into it, her arms wrapping around you. Even though your body felt different now - so was hers - it felt natural to hold you close again.

You stayed like that for several moments, surprise and tampered excitement filling Jessie when you tightened your embrace before letting go. She noted the renewed colour on your cheeks when you stepped back.

"Text me?" You asked.

Jessie nodded. "Of course."

A\N: Part Two is available here.

[riskyraiker]

Hello!!! I hope you're doing alright! I was wondering if I can make a request for cybertronain! Prince reader? For transformer prime please!! Thank you❤️

Gosh I love this😍 I'm just not sure if Prince is a higher title than a Prime but now it is! Also readers father is alpha trion. I'm not catched up on the lore that well😭Sorry if this took so long I have other requests as well😔

TFP bots with Cybertronian! Prince Y/N

Alpha trion made you evacuate Iacon immediately the first big attack happened. Running with other bots, you saw some hurt and struggling. As a prince you should help them! Running back for the bots, the decepticons were coming closer. Hurrying with the bots they get shot right there and then, shocked and pained about the loss you still continued running. The last escape pod is still there! Jumping in you go into statis sleep, missing eons while you're at it. You didn't wake up when the pod opened, no no no! You woke up with a few bots surrounding you with a look like they've seen a ghost. Wait? Is that the one and only Optimus Prime?! You stood up without a word and all of them kneeled. "By the all spark, no need to kneel. I don't hold my title close to my spark. Please rise up!"

He has high respect for you since you're a prince!

Optimus Prime

Might call you "your highness", but will not if you don't want that.

Since you're a prince he would NEVER put you in danger.

In battles you two are unstoppable! A prime and a prince? The vehicons are running away (woop! There they go!)

He would be interested how Alpha Trion was your sire and what he was truly like (if that's a sensitive subject he respects that)

You might think he would be your new sire. Oh no no no. He's your brother now😋 you're the same age!

He would tell you anything you want to know what happened when you were asleep in statis.

Ratchet

He would actually be nicer to you since you're a prince!

You're hurt? Not anymore, Ratchet has it covered

He actually might show his concern for you and the team, but really rarely! He's a grumpy one☹️

Would call you "your highness", but if you don't like it he might struggle with remembering it.

He's surprised how much you know about technology as a prince. He also loves your help in experiments with synth-en or anything else.

He did expect you to be a strict royalty and make them kneel and all, but was relieved you were an innocent piece of pie😔

Bumblebee

He's now your nephew since Optimus is your bro😋

Will call you "your highness" when he's joking or messing with you.

Best driver buddy you could ask for!

If he's ever bored, there will be a story time demanded from you!

Is so interested how being a prince works on Cybertron or what it is like!

Arcee

He would melt if you compliment his bleeps and bloops. That you're proud of him after all what he went through and all 😔❤️

He's a hugger! He would give you random hugs sometimes, if you like them ofc

He's a bot who you can talk to about ANYTHING!!!

She would be confused that you don't want them kneeling or calling you "your highness"

Grows fond of you after a few days since she never trusts anyone until they're proven good.

You're a Prince so you pass pretty easily 😧

She would question you about tour tasks and missions on Cybertron and how easy it was.

Would talk about loss to you. You both understand the feeling.

Bulkhead & Wheeljack

Won't ever call you "your highness" she's pretty much the only one who never did in the start either.

If she's in a sassy mood she would bow to you and just joke around.

You're the calm friend duo :)

Wheeljack won't kneel! And you appreciate it, which confuses him. He though you would be like Ultra Magnus, strict and serious.

Bulkhead would be embarrassed about his skills around you until you comfort him.

You get along with the wreckers really well!

They both might use "your highness" as a joke sometimes, but only bulkhead would stop after your request.

All of you would rock on with Miko!!

You switch alot to act like a wrecker or a royalty. Depends on what mood you are or what mission is there to be done.

Have fun playing with them with the metal ball (i forgot if there was a name for the game they play😭)

Smokescreen

He would kneel, salute, call you "your highness" literally anything to show his respect for you.

Just give give him a talk and he'll stop being so goofy :)

You're drowning in questions from him when you have the time to talk.

He's your son! And Optimus will be his uncle from now on😋

The chaotic father and son! Well not always chaotic, but you get how he is xD

You might have to give him a peptalk sometimes since he's just a small itty bitty bot😔 im kidding he's just so stupid sometimes

If either of you got hurt, neither will leave until they can take care of themselves

Ultra Magnus

Would not stop calling you "your highness" even if you request him to stop.

He keeps his cold and strict act close to you. Maybe even stricter to show how professional he is.

Would be flabbergasped if you would let wheeljack get away with ease after exploding a whole energon mine.

"Your highness, with all respect, are you sure he gets to go already?"

After enough time and complaining from you he starts to call you by your real name! He earns a hug he doesn't know how to return 😔🫶

Would be interested in royal training and such!

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

AN: I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS😭😭😭 I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY MISTAKES IN WRITING OR CHARACTER PERSONALITIES!!! I'm so tired i'll go to sleep, have a good night, day, morning or evening<3

[shaunamilfman]

Being Jackie Taylor's controversially young gf

pairing: jackie taylor x reader note: let me be delusional lmaoo

definitely broke up a semi-serious relationship with a man she'd been dating for a year or so when she realized she would have to spend the rest of her life with that guy. In my mind she got really drunk one night at a sorority party and had an “oh, shit” moment and avoided him for two weeks before breaking up with him. 

i see Jackie as a news anchor. honestly, I think it would really fit her. always struck me as a morning person.

meets you at a coffee shop that she has to rush into at the crack of dawn before work. she's so fucking happy and in a good mood that it puts you off at first. like seriously, it's like 6 AM, why is she smiling??

Jackie immediately takes a liking to you. starts going out of her way to stop by whenever you're working, even though it's five minutes out of her way and she likes the coffee at the other shop better. 

she's so flirty, incessantly even. she derives so much pleasure from making you nervous. even with all the flirting she does, she doesn't seriously expect you to reciprocate her interest. she's immediately stunned and a little unsure when she realizes you wrote a flirty comment on her cup, because don't you realize how old she is? 

comes back in the next day and mentions it and is immediately flattered when you just shrug and hand her the usual before she can even order it. Jackie's so flustered by your attention that she leaves without paying. runs back ten minutes later and practically throws the money at you before sprinting back to work. 

Jackie really likes the fact that you don't know who she is. i mean, who watches the news anymore?? 

you finally catch a clip of her as the anchor and realize what she does. she gets so shy when you tease her about it. asking her for her autograph as a joke and she's tripping over herself and bright red

god, she's never like this but you just make her so nervous sometimes. makes her feel like a kid again and she never thought she'd like that. 

doesn't even cross her mind to be embarrassed or hesitant about dating someone half her age. starts talking about your college classes and one of her friends is like “oh, it's good they're going back to college at their age” and Jackie's just like “oh no, they went straight out of highschool 🥰.” doesn't even notice the way their jaw dropped as they're doing the math. 

worries constantly about how you perceive her. she seems so charismatic and confident that you wouldn't think she would be so insecure, but it's constantly on her mind. she's not embarrassed about you at all but she keeps waiting for the day that you realize she's too ‘old’ ever since someone pointed that out to her for the first time. 

tries way too hard to seem hip and cool. she spent hours researching how to use modern slang correctly even though she already mostly had it down. 

over the moon whenever you reference liking something from the 90s. she'll talk your fucking ear off about it if you let her. 

Jackie values your validation a lot less than she would've at 18, but she still really needs to be the center of your attention. one off comment from you can really have her off kilter for the rest of the day even if you didn't mean it. Jackie's more chill about it now, but she still has a desperate need to be liked. 

she gets so jealous when it comes to people your own age. there's so many spaces you’re in that she really just can't enter due to her age and it drives her crazy thinking about all the people who might be able to relate to you better or on a different level. 

such a reality TV fan. has you on the couch for days getting caught up on all 12 seasons of her favorite show before the new season airs. you just know she's got the best snacks though. 

ridiculously supportive of every little thing you do. if it has a competition attached, trust that she will be in the front row with your picture on a t-shirt. People definitely think she's your mom with how extra she is about it, but she doesn't even care. the crowd audibly gasps when she kisses you afterward, but she doesn't notice as she's too busy hyping you up about getting fifth place.

most considerate gift giver on the planet, I swear. she only gets better with age. it's so sweet and thoughtful that you almost tear up every time. 

won't lie about her age but also won't correct other people. your friends are like “what is she, thirty???” in disbelief when they meet for the first time and Jackie's ass is just like “... yes. that's it.” 

world’s most expensive makeup collection, i swear. it’s so expansive that you're almost in awe the first time you see it. entire shelves dedicated solely to it

sometimes when you get bored sitting outside the shower listening to Jackie yap you start googling the prices of things just to feel something. what do you mean that skin cream was $250???

Offers to give you a tour as an excuse to get you into her room. You’re looking around her one-story house like 🤔. You’re not sure there’s a single room in this house you can’t see from the living room, but you’re not stupid enough to give up that chance.

[satanlikesmyfics]

Lavender

pt 1

read pt 2 here, pt 3 here

an: sorry if this lacks build up or logic:( not proofread

words: 1415

contains: dealer!ellie x f!y/n, weed/alc mentions, intoxication, fingering, tit sucking, police busted party

dealer!ellie

while you wander around the dimly purple lit room, your mind is starting to blur. you went to this party with some of your friends, although you can't seem to find them anymore. you left to explore the place your at since it's at an abandoned place, and who wouldn't find that interesting? you sit down on a red, ripped sofa with the smell of weed and alcohol surrounding you.

ellie's been walking around bored for the past 30 mins. she's seen everyone leave home with someone or hook up in some creepy room. wondering why it was even a good idea to show up, she just thinks of the wads of cash she earned selling her overpriced weed. no one around really knows how much that shit costs, so it's easy to rip people off. she remembers that she still has a bunch of weed and rolls herself a joint, sitting down on some junky looking old sofa. in the corner of her eye she spots some stunning girl she's never seen around before. your black, tight dress catches her attention and she turns slightly to get a better look.

you notice ellie staring and blush slightly. you've heard a lot and seen her pictures, sometimes romantizising about her even... you've never even met, you're so fucking weird for thinking of her that way. she probably is straight or has atleast has a girlfriend, you think to yourself, making fun of the fact you think of her. ellie leans slightly towards your ear and asks your name. "me??" you give her your rather surprised answer. what the fuck would she want from me?? "yes you, bunny. you manage to stutter your name and look away, surprised by the name she called you so casually. "y/n? I thought I heard your name before." "shouldn't you be looking for your girlfriend or something?" you ask looking back up at her, attempting to figure out her exact status. maybe you'd even have a chance?

"girlfriend?" ellie responds in confusion. your eyes widen in hope. the sudden sirens catch you off guard though, almost everyone looking out the nearest window in unison. "oh fuck" ellie mutters and grabs your wrist. "someone called the damn police" she shouts over the panic and pulls you away from the crowd. you don't fully comprehend what's happening but don't want to do anything else but follow her. stumbling through doorways and rooms a wave of fresh air hits you suddenly and you gain control of your thoughts again. ellie, still having a firm hold of your wrist looks back at you in confirmation that you're still with her. obviously you still are, you'd never leave her, especially when these moments you've been thinking about are coming true.

"where are we ellie?" you utter. you're in some field full lavender. everything looks so blue and the pale moonlight slightly lights everything up. you look up the hill and see the police cars surround the place you just managed to leave. "did we escape them that fast?" you ask without expecting any answer. "come here sweetheart, you can use my jacket" ellie answers and lays her jacket down on the wet grass. you feel a tingle in the gesture and obey. her jacket feels rough on your bare thighs. your eyes wander to ellie, who's just settling down on the grass. while your eyes are on her lips hoping she can't see in the dim light, her eyes glance at your whole body, most of all your thighs. her pussy slightly clenches at the sight of your dress up so high, revealing so much. shit, she thinks, you can't just think of her the second you meet her in person. that's weird and creepy, and she doesn't want to be like that towards you, even though she can barely help it.

she holds the joint up again delicately, which she lights once again since it had died down after the escape. "can I have a hit?" you ask. you don't really care about the drug, more the indirect touching of your mouths and the way her fingers move. she holds it towards you and you inhale deeply, coughing it out again a bit. you feel so dizzy and hazy you practically fall onto her lips. "what the fuck?" ellie asks after pushing you away. "I- I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to do that-" you reply embarrassed. "no no, please y/n, I liked it, I promise" she reassures "I'd gladly like to continue you know.." she pats her lap, signaling you to take a seat.

her lips suddenly crash onto your again, and you melt into the hungry kiss. she kisses you again, and another time, you can't keep count because it just turns into a makeout session. her hand pushes up the back of your neck into your hair and the other rests on your torso. you push your body further against hers and she moans into your mouth. she spreads out her jacket on the field and lays you down, her getting on top. her hand squeezes your thigh firmly. "what are we even doing.." she mutters and kisses your neck passionately. "we don't have to.. it's okay..." you manage to answer. she looks at you and asks if you want to because she thinks your fucking hot. you giggle and kiss her again, continuing the session.

her hand starts to wander up your thigh and you shiver at the touch. she marks your neck giving you harsh kisses and slides up your dress. you'd probably be embarrassed of you weren't intoxicated, but rn, you just want to enjoy what's happening with ellie. it's literally a dream come true and you don't want to fuck that up in the slightest. her hand starts rubbing your pussy through your panties and you let out soft moans, wanting more. your hand moves beneath her loose sweatshirt and gropes her tit. she starts moaning at the feeling of your cold hand. you pull the sweatshirt over your head and teasingly kiss around her nipple. you love teasing her, hearing her frustrated moans through yours. after her hand moves your panties to the side, you lick and suck and bite her titties. it gets increasingly harder the harder and faster the goes, through the mess of moans and pleasure and shaking you feel. your head slips completely out of her shirt and she laughs and kisses you more, slipping her thick and strong fingers inside of you. you let out a loud moan, feeling her massage your walls. the pleasure she's making you feel is getting overwhelming.

you've never had a real partner before, definitely not one as good as she's been. you've had a girlfriend who was pretty decent with her strap, and a guy who could fulfill your kinks. but someone who knew each moment to touch you? ellie could tell which spots exactly made you moan and shake and shiver, without touching you before this encounter.

snapping out of your thoughts, you let out a loud moan, arching your back further. "you feeling good baby?" ellie asks leaning down to your ear. "mhm" you answer and she thrusts her fingers deeper inside of you, making your eyes roll back in fulfillment. you've never been so close, so far on the edge before. you arch your back further feeling her going faster and faster.. mmhhmm..

"y/n?? y/nnnn.." you hear one of your friends shout maybe 100? meter away. both you and ellie freeze. she quickly pulls her out of you and wipes them on her pants without thinking. you sit up and pull your dress back down, noticing how cold it still is outside. "yeah I'm over here, I'm coming" you shout back. ellie gives you a quick kiss before you give her the jacket you've been laying on throughout the whole session. "keep it baby it's cold." she says, urging you to put it on and helps you get through the sleeves. "you go ask your friend simon for my number, she has it. text me. I want to see you again." "yeah, I will." you answer, still flustered. "good girl.. now get back to your friends and get home safely." you smile back and run over to your friend who's shouting at you to get it the van. you sit down and relax, thinking about the.. interesting.. evening you spent with ellie. "god fucking damn.." you mutter under your breath, driving away.

[mins-fins]

ANGEL EYES. — [L.MH] [PREVIEW]

❝ sometimes, it feels as if mark lee is your guardian angel ❞

SYNOPSIS: innocent cherub eyes, gently soft hands, a heart of gold, mark lee is the golden boy whose experienced as much love as he gives back. his grades are high, his smile is wide, and his laughter is sweet. the only reason mark lee gets embroiled in a world of trouble is because of his pairing with the 'messed up foster kid' in a school project. it would be stupid to ever let himself get involved, but mark does anyway.

PAIRING: mark lee x male!reader

GENRE: mid–2000s au, high school au, strangers to lovers, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, humor(?), slow burn, one sided pining to mutual pining, sadness as a romantic segway, relationship study, reader is a foster kid, mark pov, happy ending.. (i suppose)

WARNINGS: swearing, explicit language, violence, drug abuse, child abuse & neglect, family issues, mentions of death, smoking, homophobia, reader simply has the worst time and mark sobs about his circumstances, an awful amount of love that isn't realized to be love

WORD COUNT: 2.7k (preview) | ..pending (full fic)

NOTES: hello everyone, this is my baby, the birth was very special, i love my baby so much 💗 listen! i started this in early august and i am STILL going, this going to be LONG.. longest mins-fins work ever long 😞 im estimating 30–40k, the power of mark lee yall 😇 it's going to go on forever, and it's definitely going to be sad in some ways, i am currently about to hit 20k words.. sooooiooooo 😊😊 i hope you like this preview bc i really dk when the real thing is coming out 😭😭 im in so much pain rn, let me nap now 😴

BEFORE IT WAS IN THE CRISP AUTUMN ATMOSPHERE, mark lee had met you at the local police station. it was only a few months prior, august of 2004 brought the prospect of donghyuck doing everything to try and get arrested, prospects that mark could only respond with under the breath swears. he loves donghyuck, he really does, but driving shouldn't have been his first choice. in all of the friendships mark has had with other people in his life, donghyuck has always brought a wave of chaos along with him, the exact opposite of who mark's mom would advise him to stay away from, but she'd always had a soft spot for him, mark can't exactly blame her.

fresh off turning seventeen and utterly clueless as to what the future would bring, mark only found himself at the police station for one reason. donghyuck had driven without a license. yep, sixteen years old and he assumed doing an illegal u-turn was the way to end his summer.

mark has always been a stand up kid. the kind who handed out his mom's cookies to the neighbors. the kind who called for stray cats in alleyways. the kind who was simply an innocent bystander to all the bullshit his friends would pull.

so when donghyuck called him from a jail phone, voice heightened in indignation as he begged for mark to come make a case for him, the older really had no choice but to do so. mark had never been to a police station before, afraid of catching sight of real criminals in the flesh by just walking past the building. he had heard too many scary stories, had terrible ideas of human beings planted in his head.

and even as a seventeen year old who had experienced life enough that such things shouldn't have terrified him anymore, there was still a small pit in his stomach as he rounded the corner in direction of the building.

"and how exactly am i supposed to bail you out?" an eyebrow raise accompanied mark's inquiry, and donghyuck scoffed as he shook his cuffed hands.

"you don't have to bail me out, my dad knows the sheriff, i'm just getting off with a warning" he whispered, sweat on his brow as he shared that familiar 'no shit' look with mark (an ironic expression really, he's the only one between the two of them that's been in cuffs).

mark snickered. "you talk so much when you're the one handcuffed".

"watch your mouth, you need me".

just as donghyuck was about to let out a swear in addition to his snappy response, said sheriff walked into the room, tight lipped smile painting his face. "don't try that again donghyuck, or next time you'll end up in a cell".

in a instant, donghyuck's blood ran cold, mark almost laughed at the sight, but he remained still, watching. the older man glanced up, catching mark's anxiety ridden eyes. "and you are?"

"this is mark, my best friend" donghyuck was quick to quip, a hand placed onto his shoulder.

mark's stomach dropped to his feet, it isn't as if he did anything wrong, it was simply on par for him to be severely anxious around law enforcement in general, he was just afraid he'd somehow get arrested for nothing at all.

"ohhh i remember you, i used to assume you two were brothers".

mark let out a breathy (and clearly faked) chuckle, trying to bury his anxiety. he could never explain it, even if you gave him all the words to, it's not like he's a bad kid, he just finds himself tensing often. "no, just friends.."

"it's good to have someone so close as support" he narrowed his eyes at donghyuck, who stifled his scoff at the clear sarcasm lacing his tone. he then scrunched his nose, watching as donghyuck placed a performative smile on his lips. "now you, sir, we need to have a talk".

donghyuck frowned, whining out complaints as he's dragged away by the sheriff. "can you wait, mark?"

mark blinked, shoving his hands into his pant pockets. he nodded, out of words. the two bantered back and forth like friends, something mark could only stare idly at. he made his way over to the seats beside the door, where, nestled in the corner of one of them, was you.

you were scribbling something into your notebook, unaware of the eyes on you. mark sat two chairs away from you, tapping his feet onto the floor as he heard the faint sounds of scoldings. safe driving, don't get into a car without a license, your future won't be any better if you continue this shit.

swearing at a child, mark found that rich. he glances beside him again, now watching you intently. you were engrossed in the manner your pen scratched against your paper, mark had figured out through endless staring that you hadn't been writing, but drawing.

you avoided his eyes for a while, ignorant to the eyes gazing you up and down. you then glanced in mark's direction, almost startling him out of his seat with the sudden stare. you blinked, puzzled out of your mind. "is there something on my face?"

mark tensed in his seat, feeling his stomach swirl, was he staring so much that you felt offended? he felt guilty immediately, his lips parting immediately and releasing a silent breath. "no.. no i'm sorry, i didn't mean to".

you shrugged your shoulders, one click to your pen. mark recognized you, but he simply couldn't conjure up an explanation as to why you were sitting in a police station at this time, drawing whatever into your notebook. "so why are you staring then?"

"i'm trying to figure out why you're here" mark muttered, fingers fiddling with his necklace as he tried to get his tone straight in fear of again offending you. "i'm sure you aren't committing crimes".

"i can say the same for you, mr golden boy".

mark's lips turned up slightly, his hands twitching from where they rested on his lips. "i got kicked out.. always come here to let dad and mom cool off for a few hours".

the words earned an eyebrow raise from mark, that was strange to hear, especially from another person in regards to their own parents. mark had never really experienced such a thing, the way you described it made his nose scrunch. "what?"

before you could respond to that one, a police officer entered the room, one you seemed to recognize by the way your eyes lit up. "come on l/n, time to go".

a frown settled onto your lips. "do i really have to go now? you know how my parents are.."

"i can't keep you here, it would technically be illegal".

"it's not like they'll care anyway.." you mumbled, slamming your notebook shut with yet another click to your pen. "just an hour longer, please?"

there was a sense of hope in your eyes, maybe he would actually take your words into account. mark simply stared, staggered by what he was witnessing. the officer watched the change of your expressions, your thumb playing at the button on your pen, continuously clicking over and over. as the clicks amplified, so did the sound of your labored breathing.

"you know i can't do that kid".

your frown deepened, teeth sinking into your bottom lip. worry, that's what mark remembered. your eyes widened, but not in the usual shock, simply in disappointment. you cursed under your breath, muttering something about your parents getting pissed at your reappearance. you stopped clicking your pen, letting the chagrin settle onto you. "yeah.."

you sucked your teeth, imitating the look of a sulky child. mark was consumed by his silence, completely confused by the situation. he didn't give a comment, simply watched the whole entire thing happen. "i'll give you a few minutes, don't worry".

you didn't respond to that one, your eyes following the police officer who strolled out the door towards his car. you bit into your lip again, hands grasping onto your notebook and thumb still pressing onto your pen. "what bullshit".

mark continued staring, his hands clutching at his thighs. you then glanced at him once more, causing for him to flinch back. you stayed silent, watching him as much as he did you a few minutes prior.

"are you alright?" he muttered, leaving his voice at a low volume. he didn't want to raise it, he wanted to keep it at a volume that kept you comfortable.

you snickered, clicking your tongue against the roof of your mouth. "fine, going home is just my worst nightmare".

mark's fingers found themselves sliding across his legs, teeth sliding against each other in back and forth motions. he blinked his big brown eyes, staring with an assured gaze he hoped would somehow make it's way to you. "i'm sorry".

he whispered those two words as if he was in physical pain, eyes watering for an inexplainable moment. he couldn't help it, and he had no idea why he couldn't help it. it was embarrassing how much he felt at the moment.

you stared back, lips pursuing. your expressions did at least seventy transformations, as if you were in disbelief at someone having empathy for you. you seemed distraught, why is he tearing up? that's so strange.

you chuckled, hoping it would quell his worries. "it's okay, not like it's your fault".

"still, you shouldn't have to feel that way about going home.. your parents shouldn't be kicking you out".

you grimaced, put off by the words. it isn't as if they were terrible, you just seemed.. astonished. why did he care? it was simply weird to you.

"well thank you for your concern but i'll be fine".

mark blinked away the tears threatening to escape his eyes, god what was wrong with him? why did he even tear up at that? he totally weirded you out.

"yeah um.. i'm sorry" mark bit into his inner cheek, letting out a heavy sigh. "just have a good day" a theatric smile placed itself on his lips, he was definitely trying to convince himself that it wasn't that bad of a situation.

you stared longer, seemingly itching to say something. there were words resting on the tip of your tongue, mark could practically sense it. "yeah, you too".

and when you stood up to walk out of the door, donghyuck coincidentally escaped the clutches of the sheriff, stumbling out of his office with his arms crossed over his chest. the door closed behind you, and mark watched the entire time.

"what took you so long?" mark uttered, eyes casting donghyuck's way.

the younger huffed in his usual donghyuck manner, hands on his hips. "he was giving me a big talk about safe driving" he placed heavy air quotes around the last two words, lips curled into a frown.

mark licked his teeth, his thoughts retracing back to you. "do you know him..?"

donghyuck blinked, his mouth opening to ask about who until he saw the way mark motioned his head. "y/n? oh yeah, he's around here all the time, the officers basically take him in whenever.."

"why?"

his voice scratched like sandpaper, donghyuck wincing at the tone. he then shrugged his shoulders, his attitude puzzled. "something about his parents not really caring, it's pretty shitty".

mark's lips parted in a freezing motion, his stomach pain only worsening. "that's scary.. feeling safer at the police station than your own home".

"i don't know much about his situation, just know his parents have a terrible temper".

mark swallowed the lump in his throat, his head beginning to pound at the information given. he tried to distract himself by thinking about school coming up soon, but he was snapped back into reality by donghyuck.

"why are you even asking me about y/n?"

mark glanced up at his childhood friend, a small whisper in his mind telling him to lie. "just curious that's all".

the lie laid bitter on his tongue, but he didn't allow for donghyuck to dwell on it, rising from the chair he's practically glued himself to. "promise me you'll never illegally drive again, the officers here look like they wanna kill me".

donghyuck rolled his eyes, tease evident in his attitude. "okay markie, promise".

mark pushed his shoulder in retaliation.

that? that was two months ago.

before the crisp autumn weather drifted through the atmosphere, before the leaves began falling to decorate the ground in orange and brown hues, mark lee had met you at the local police station. your legs crossed, pen clicking, and nose buried into your notebook.

september came and went rather quickly, the scorching heat of the summer air transforming into the russet autumn scenery which drifts into october. the temperature steadily dropping, sweaters becoming more and more common in his closet, mark can't exactly focus in class during the first few months of school.

when mark hears his name fall from his teacher's lips in pair with yours, he snaps out of an episode of disassociation, blinking up. "what?"

his teacher deadpanned, readjusting her glasses. she doesn't even seem surprised by his lack of focus anymore, his exhaustion is constantly evident. "project partners mark, you'll be paired with y/n".

mark only parts his lips in response, the words rendering him speechless. he glances around the classroom as he listens to the older woman's voice blurs into the background, catching sight of you in the far back, again scribbling into your notebook, your manner reminiscent of how you acted the first time you two met.

he stares for a while before again looking forward, his mouth going dry as he tries again to focus, but of course, he can't. his mind stays focused on you throughout the whole class, even after the endless words he lets blur away.

you spin your pen between your fingers, it's the same pen you had that day, maybe you have some sort of attachment to it or something, maybe it's your favorite pen, maybe someone special gifted that pen to you.

maybe mark's letting it all get to his head, why is he even making assumptions when he hasn't walked up to you yet?

while everyone else rushes to leave the class, mark rises from his seat and again glances over at you, slinging his back over his shoulder.

you're riveted by what you're doing in your notebook, so absorbed that you barely hear the shuffling footsteps making their way around the many desks towards yours. your lips turn down as you smudge the ink on the page, a small suck of the teeth adding to your frustration.

"um.. hi" mark whispers, watching as you glance up and pause, one click to your pen. you don't respond immediately, studying mark for a while, and mark tenses up under your gaze, sucking a breath between his teeth.

"hi".

"we uh— were partners for the project".

your smile is neutral. "i know".

mark began biting the skin off his lips, hands gripping at his backpack. "i don't know where you want to start, uh.. maybe we could go to the library?"

he's just saying what he's hoping will work. he doesn't exactly know you yet, he assumes your one off interaction at the police station left a sour taste in your mouth.

but unbeknownst to mark's anxious inner voice, you smile, not exactly a neutral one this time, a much better smile ('better' in terms of expression, your lips stretch into an aspect of satisfaction).

"that'd be nice".

mark nods, almost too enthusiastically he thinks. how embarrassing. you let out a silent yawn, oblivious to the battle mark is having in his head. "tomorrow maybe we can start?"

your smile again becomes neutral, but at least mark doesn't think you want to kill him. "yeah, tomorrow is fine".

tomorrow. tomorrow is fine.

"okay, have a good day y/n".

mark rushes out of the classroom much too fast, he feels a little terrified of you. maybe you don't exactly want to kill him, maybe you just look at everyone else in that way, maybe it won't be that bad to be paired with you.

still, mark isn't sure why his mind tells him he should stay away from you.

[ronearoundblindly]

Forgive me if I sent this ask before... I don't remember if I did 😅 but if not just know that I thought about sending it in since you started this series 🙈

For who would:

If you just hand them your baby niece or nephew or a baby you're watching for a friend (just any baby lol) who would hand it right back to you, silently hold it with a sheer look of panic till you come back and take it or be a natural and not give it back to you at all?

I love this bit of fluff and silliness for a Sunday; excellent question!

James Mace

He asks a lot of questions about what needs done or should be done. Is it changing time? How much head support should he provide? Is this a DND (do not disturb, D&D is for his own kiddos) baby ready for a nap? Is this play time? Should he be engaging the baby or keeping up conversation with the group?

Now, as to whether or not having the baby in his arms gives him any ideas: not any more than he's already had. You two have plans, you've talked about this and are on the same page, so his interactions right then have to do with that baby at that moment. He doesn't necessarily have stronger feelings when handling other people's children.

Curtis Everett

Curtis does not trust himself around babies especially. He goes extremely stiff and extremely quiet. He stares intensely. He will not do anything unless you tell him to do something with the baby. Even then he is not truly comfortable.

Babies bring up a lot of memories and emotions for him, and theoretically he knows he isn't in the same place/headspace as when he was younger, he knows babies aren't in as much danger as the old days, but he still gets so overwhelmed by it.

Yes, Curtis is even like this with his own children. He counts the days until his child is old enough to not be considered a 'baby' anymore. In fact, Curtis enjoys the memory of their infancy, pictures and videos, etc, more than he can enjoy being with them as infants.

Jimmy Dobyne

Honestly, a total natural. Small towns and rural areas mean closer-knit families, neighbors, and friends. They all help each other out. A bunch of kids shuffle around to spend afternoons here or Saturdays there. Babies get passed around to let parents get errands done or go on dates. It's not a big deal; it's just a way of life.

At this point, Jimmy has cleaned up after and fed a dozen different species of 'babies.' He's fine with it. He doesn't play much though, not with babies. Jimmy prefers when they're old enough to run around for catch or sports, etc. That's more his wheelhouse.

Johnny Storm

Fucking terrified to handle babies but LOVES entertaining them. Will do absolutely anything to make that baby laugh. To a fault sometimes because Johnny will get so animated he knocks shit over in the house or wherever you two are.

You give him credit for trying though.

Jake Jensen

Sits that baby up on his lap and continues to watch whatever screen he's focused on.

Jake isn't necessarily bad with babies, but he prefers to continue to enjoy the more adult entertainment/interactions around him. Like Jimmy, he will be more than hands-on excited once that baby can be active with their own interests (sports or otherwise) because he will participate and support 100%. Babies are just a bit too floppy and unreadable for him.

Lloyd Hansen

Thrilled to let those tiny baby fingers try to hold the grip of his switchblade. Adores how fucking angry the parents (or you) get when he plays with knives around them or has them play with the knives. Lloyd secretly finds baby facial reactions to be the funniest things on the planet--but, no, he doesn't actually like babies.

Ari Levinson

Ari is a playful papa through and through. Has more than once strapped that carrier to his chest and wondered around with someone's kiddo for whole parties. Endlessly entertained and entertaining when it comes to babies.

However, Ari really, really doesn't like when babies get grabby and pull at his hair. That shit hurts, and he hates it. Also he's oddly squeamish about spit-up and/or vomit. Technically, he is not a fan of diaper duty, like very, very, very not a fan.

Ransom Drysdale

The absolute fuck are you handing him a baby for??? Bitch, are you insane?! Be real. Seriously. Just don't.

There isn't even much improvement in this behavior when it's Ran's own child. Not a fan of the 'baby' stage, this one.

Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes

Lumping these two together because they do exactly the same things. Steve and Bucky physically treat female and male babies differently; they are sweet and cooing with girls, and then they talk about or mimic sports things with boys. They don't mean to be presumptive in this behavior, just do it be default.

Neither is afraid to roll their sleeves up and help with feeding or changing. They'll give equal attention to the baby and the group around you. They will both happily sit/stand/walk around with a napping baby in their arms--although they aren't thrilled to be unable to help with other stuff while they have no available hands.

Thank you for asking!

[Main Masterlist; Who Would...? Asks List; Ko-Fi]

@supraveng @1950schick @patzammit @whiskeytangofoxtrot555

@yiiiikesmish @ashesofblackroses

@brandycranby @buckysprettybaby @ellethespaceunicorn @late-to-the-party-81

@bigtreefest @mistressmkay @astheskycries 

@rogersbarber @blogbog710

[semperama]

maxiel, hurt/comfort, just a little something I threw together to comfort myself after today.

Somehow, Max ends up following Daniel back to his motorhome. His mouth is still going a mile a minute, but Daniel isn't hearing distinct words anymore, only a low and comforting hum. He's tried to remember to nod every now and then. To smile. Otherwise Max might stop.

"Don't you have a ton of shit to do?" Daniel says when he can find a gap. He digs his phone out of his pocket with his good hand, glances at the absurd number of notifications he has, then tosses it down on the table. He can deal with that later. Or never.

"Huh?" Max says, and when Daniel looks up at him, he seems legitimately perplexed, like he's completely forgotten where--and who--he is.

"It's your home race, mate," Daniel says. "Don't you have a fuckton of press or whatever?"

"Oh." Max looks at his watch, frowns, then shrugs. "I don't really care. They can survive without asking me the exact same questions for the hundredth time, I think."

Daniel snorts. Max is probably right. What are they going to do, fire him? "As long as you don't get me in trouble," he says. He turns and flops down onto the couch, then winces, hisses, when it jostles his hand. "Fuck."

"Careful," Max says, rushing closer, his hands hovering. His voice is so...it's like something he'd use with his nephews, admonishing and gentle, and Daniel feels his throat close up, his eyes burn.

"I'm fine," he says, flapping his free hand at Max. "They have me wrapped up so tight, you could whack me with a hammer and I'd be fine."

Max frowns at him. "Let's not test it, alright?" He sits down next to Daniel, gingerly. It's awkward, sort of. Daniel hates visiting with people in this cramped space--sitting on the miniature sofa, nothing to look at but the kitchenette, the tiny window filled entirely by a rectangle of the wall of the motorhome next door. And now, he's too exhausted and in too much pain to be entertaining.

Still, he doesn't want Max to leave.

"Did they give you good pain meds?" Max asks.

Daniel lets his head tip back, and he closes his eyes. "Yep," he says, "but I'm just on Tylenol right now. The other stuff makes me feel sick." He takes a deep breath in, blows it out slow, focuses on the way his chest rises and falls. He can feel Max next to him, the heat of him. He knows how much he'd have to lean sideways for their bodies to be touching. "I'll take something stronger before bed, maybe." Then, because it's Max and Max is safe, he adds, "I wish I could just go home."

Fingers--warm and gentle--on the side of his face, first, and then on his neck, then gripping his shoulder, squeezing carefully. "I can leave, if you want," Max says.

They aren't like this with each other. They touch each other, sure--fist bumps, shoulder pats, hugs if they haven't seen each other in a while, all carefully platonic--but they don't touch like this. Daniel can feel Max's thumb on the skin just above the collar of his shirt, and it's hard to breathe, suddenly. He keeps his eyes squeezed shut.

"You can stay," he says.

What is this? Pity? He wants to look at Max's face, but he's too fucking scared. Scared he'll burst into tears or--or something even worse than that. Things have been so good. He didn't even realize how much he missed Max until he was seeing him this much again, laughing with him all the time, catching his eyes from across a room or across a table or across Checo's oblivious head and feeling...at home. Feeling like someone understands him and wants him around and--and wants him. Just him. Just as he is.

But Max has his own shit going on. His own life. His own friends. A fame Daniel won't match in his wildest dreams. Sometimes it feels like their roles are reversed from when Max first came to Red Bull. They have a similar rhythm, but Max is slightly out in front.

And now Max is touching him, and Daniel's not sure he can catch up.

"Or you can go," Daniel adds, quieter. "Whatever you want. I might pass out soon anyway."

Max's thumb slides along his collar and dips underneath. Daniel sucks in a sharp breath, anticipating it when Max slides his hand back up to his jaw and tugs it carefully toward him. Daniel's eyes are still shut when Max's mouth presses against his.

It's weird how much it doesn't feel weird. Max's mouth is so familiar against his that, if it weren't for his heart trying to beat its way out of his chest, Daniel could swear they'd done this a hundred times already.

"I don't want to leave you," Max says, his lips soft against Daniel's cheek, then pressing again to the corner of his mouth, like he can't bring himself to put even an inch between them again. And yeah, Daniel gets it. He does.

"Fine by me," he says. If it weren't for his stupid fucking busted hand, he'd have pulled Max closer already. "Just be gentle with me."

It's a joke, kind of. He's not sure why he has to reach up and thumb a tear away from the corner of his own eye.

"Of course," Max says, and kisses him again. Again. "Of course."

[cam3lliaw]

Catching the eye of a prince

-crownprince!gojo x maid!reader

Who would’ve thought getting caught reading a book during work hours one random day would not only make you good friends with the right hand of the crown prince, but also end up making the said crown prince be interested in getting to know you.

contents/ warnings: might be ooc, insecurities( some implied), mentions of stealing, a bit of angst at times to eventual fluff, friends to lovers trope, the main characters are all in their early 20s, tba

word count: 0.7 k words

series masterlist

notes: I've read a lot of jjk royalty au recently and I was inspired to write one as well :) this is the prologue and I don't really know how long this will turn out to be but i hope you enjoy it !! (fic under the cut)

“Need any help with that?” a gruff voice could be heard from behind.

You didn’t need to turn around to know that the voice belonged to none other than Geto Suguru, the crown prince’s right hand, his one and only best friend, and last but not least, your occasional thorn in the side.

“You really like that joke a lot, don’t you, Lord Geto.” you said, still not turning to face him as you continued to hang the sheets on the clothesline.

“And you really like to call me that, even though I tell you all the time that Suguru is just fine. And besides, I wasn’t, and never will be, joking when I ask you that question, [name].” he chuckled.

“You know that my answer will always be no, Suguru. There are some lines that even I won’t cross, and to be honest, it’s absurd to even consider I’ll let you help me.”

“And why is that?” he asked, even though he fully knows the answer already.

“Well for starters, I’m not that stupid not to be aware of the difference in our status, friends or not, it still matters to me. And secondly-” you turn to face him as a smile stretches on your face “You don’t see me coming to your office and telling you how you should do your work.”

“I wouldn’t oppose to that, you know.” Suguru smiled back.

“Like I’m smart enough to even step into a place like that.” you huffed jokingly.

At that he grimaced slightly.

“Come on, [name]. We both know you are way smarter than a lot of the people that work in this palace.”

“Reading a few books here and there only get you so far, Suguru. You, out of everyone, should know that well.”

It never gets easier, admitting that you wish for more. In another universe, you would read all day, study literature properly with someone who actually knows what they’re doing, not only from damaged pages of stolen books from the royal library, books that are about to be disposed not only because the years have left them in a horrible shape but sometimes also because the concepts explained are so old that they aren’t even right anymore.

“You know I could always bring and lend you newer ones right? I told you that on multiple occasions already and I mean it every time.” Suguru said as he approached you and stood by your side.

You also know Suguru would never make fun of you, he really wants to help. But it’s hard enough to get and hide the books in the maids’ chambers before you finish reading them and returning them to the library's unofficial “trash” section. Imagine what trouble you would get in if you get caught with fancy new books. It hurts only to think about it.

“I know…I’ll let you know in case I need anything. I promise.”

Saying this is clearly better than admitting the truth. As much as you don’t want unnecessary problems for yourself, dragging Suguru into all of this mess is even worse.

“This doesn’t look very…straight.” Suguru changed the subject to lighten the mood, as he tried to lightly stretch one of the sheets.

“We both know that’s a bold-faced lie! Don’t mess the laundry! If it ends up falling down and I’ll have to wash it again, I won't talk to you anymore, Suguru.”

“We also know that’s not true.” he chuckled as he gently bumped his side into yours.

You returned the action.

And he did it once again but a bit more forceful.

And the cycle repeated itself for a few more times until you literally shoved him, but before he could fall on the grass, he grabbed your hands and dragged you down as well, falling down a step away from the dark haired man.

“You’re acting like a child!” you exclaimed as you started laughing.

“Says the one who shoved me!” he started to laugh too.

“You started it!”

“Oh that’s such a mature argument, [name]. Impressive, really.” the male continued to laugh as he got up and helped you up as well.

Unknown to the both of you, this whole exchange was watched from afar by none other than the crown prince, who was initially looking for his best friend, but it seems like he found something else instead.

end notes: i hope you liked it! :)

[magicalqueennightmare]

Nothing Will Change

(Again a Takeshi gif cause Rick ones are in short demand)

Rick Flag X Meta!Marine Reader

What starts off as a friends with benefits situation between you and Rick becomes so much more

Violence, cursing, sexual situations

"Insubordinate" "Overbearing" 

"You disobeyed a direct order!" "Yeah because it was a stupid fuckin order!"

You and Rick stood in the center of the plane, glaring at each other as you argued while the remaining members of the team watched in amusement. He crossed his arms over his chest and you purposely mimicked his posture, hearing Harley bite back a giggle. "I'm your superior officer and over this team!" "Well good for you! I'm the mother fucker that got us out of there and back on this damn plane!" "You took a stupid risk, corporal!" you bristled at him at pulling rank . "Fuck you Flag! What you call stupid I call worth it. It got done, didn't it?" 

Contrary to how it would seem to a bystander you and Rick were actually damn good friends off the clock. He was a fucking sweetheart under that tough exterior and you trusted him with your life. You really did work well together just sometimes you butted heads on missions and he wanted to treat you like he did the squad which meant he expected to bitch you out with little to no push back. You turned to head towards the back of the plane, planning to sit right near the drop doors so you'd be first off. "Easy marine" he muttered and you spun on your heel.

"You may outrank me Colonel but don't think for a minute I am your subordinate on this fucking team" you waved a hand around the plane where Blackguard, Harley, Mongal and about a half dozen other residents of Belle Reeve sat "They answer to me as much as they answer to you, most of them answer faster to me than to you" you covered the few steps between the two of you to be standing right in front of him, never mind that you had to look up to meet his eyes "I respect you Rick, I really do but sometimes you're simply a fuckin asshole"

A beat of silence fell before one by one the squad started hooping and hollering knowing Rick would never tac more time onto them for something so trivial despite the glare he shot their way as you raised an eyebrow and lifted your arms out "See Colonel? You may outrank me but it appears they prefer the corporal" 

"Fuck Rick" you gasped, clutching to his shoulders as his hips snapped up into yours, driving himself deeper inside of you with every roll of his hips. Your fingernails dug into his flesh, head dropping over onto his neck as light sobs of his name mixed with praises and curses fell from you.

Your thighs tightened around his waist, one hand moving to brace yourself on the headboard behind him as another orgasm slammed into you. He didn't slow down, didn't give you time to adjust before he was pulling you tight to him and turning the two of you so his weight was pining you to the mattress, he hiked your left leg up further around his waist to give him a new angle as his fingers found your clit, intent on wringing another orgasm out of your already spent form.

"I can't Rick. Fuck, I can't" you pratically sobbed. He slowed his thrusts slightly, hand stilling but fingers staying in place as he leaned down to catch your lips in a kiss that was so damn gentle compared to how hard he was fucking you it made your head spin. He licked into your mouth almost playfully then moved to kiss down your jaw and to your neck before biting the soft flesh there "You can't take anymore baby?" you shook your head weakly and he laughed "But where's my little smartmouthed marine?" "Rick please" you moaned when he rolled his hips deeper into yours. "Where is she, sweetheart? The one who couldn't listen to orders? The one who loves calling me an asshole?" 

When you didn't respond he slammed his hips roughly into yours, accentuating every word with a snap of his hips "Where's.that.marine?"  you felt your eyes roll back in your head as another orgasm started to build and Rick chuckled darkly "Well I'm be damned honey looks like you had another one in you after all" 

When his fingers curled against your clit again the orgasm slammed into you fully causing your legs to lock around his waist and your walls to squeeze down on his cock. "God damn darlin" he growled, forehead pressed to your chest as he chased his own release. You felt his lips connect to your skin, sucking dark marks on your flesh just below where your clothes would fall so no one would see. Your nails dug into his back as he moved up to kiss you "Feel so fuckin good baby. You've been so good for me" he praised and you felt your walls clench around him. His eyes fluttered shut, a smirk forming on his lips "You like that sweetheart? Like hearing you're my good girl?" 

You could feel his thrusts start to falter and knew he was so damn close. You hadn't even felt another orgasm building so it took you by surprise when his teeth grazed your earlobe right as you fell over that edge. "Fuck, squeezin the hell out of me baby" he growled before burying himself inside of you with one final thrust. You felt when he came, thick spurts of cum coating your walls and dripping out of your overworked cunt.

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

The only sound that filled the room was both of you working to get your breathing back to normal and the light kisses he was leaving across whatever patch of your skin he could reach. "Guess you were a little more pissed at me than you said?" you teased, running your fingers through his sweaty hair and down his broad back, tracing scars and the marks from your nails. 

He lifted his head to look at you and you could see the worry in his eyes "Did I hurt you?" you shook your head "No Rick but tell me the truth" he kissed the base of your throat and you knew he felt you swallow hard at the action "You could've gotten yourself killed" "We're called the suicide squad. Kind of our thing, isn't it?" you joked and was rewarded with those hazel eyes full of fire glaring up at you "Very fuckin funny. Next time just listen to me. I hate arguing with you and pulling rank" "Especially when you lose?" you joked and he dipped his head down to bite down on your breast just hard enough you gasped. "Dammit Flag!" He gave you a broad grin "You behave and I'll behave" 

You shook your head "I promise that as long as your orders doesn't mean I have to stand on the sidelines and see a mission go sideways for no good reason besides I may get killed I'll listen to them" he dropped his head back down to your chest "You're fuckin killing me. Your legs feel like showering yet?" you nudged at his chest "If a big asshole would get off me" he lifted his head and gave you a smile that made your heart flip "You weren't complaining a few minutes ago about me being on top of you"

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

This thing between you and Rick had started as a way to blow off steam. Neither of you had energy or time to date and definitely not to keep up pretenses of a relationship outside of work. He was someone you trusted to not hurt you plus the added benefit that you knew each other was clean of diseases and he couldn't get you pregnant from documented precautions you'd taken.

It was enjoyable, Rick was fucking amazing in bed. You'd never had anyone like him before who actually seemed to draw as much, if not more pleasure from giving than receiving. You spent most of your time together anyways so the friends with benefits idea was easy to wrap your head around after a conversation that set ground rules.

If either of you found someone you wanted to pursue it was over. If you stayed overnight whoever's house it wasn't slept on the couch. You didn't let it bleed into your work relationship or your friendship because you were too important to each other. You were honest with each other and most importantly and the one you were having a harder and harder time with looking in the eye was if you started to catch feelings you needed to tell the other person.

You couldn't tell Rick you were starting to feel more for him than the friend that you had mind blowing sex with for numerous reasons. Hell he didn't know the biggest secret you carried and you could only imagine the betrayal in those hazel eyes you loved so much when the day came that he found out. 

You'd hold your heart close at hand so when that day came the crush would maybe be a little cushioned or so you hoped. 

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

You were half asleep when you heard your bedroom door creak open and rolled over to see Rick leaning against the doorframe with a grin "Mornin" "Mornin" you repeated with a smile. He held up a coffee mug in his hand so you held your arm out which caused him to laugh "So damn independent until she just woke up and she wants coffee" he walked over to the bed and waited until you'd pushed yourself up into a seated position to hand you the mug. You took a tentative sip and damn near moaned, Rick always made the best coffee. 

He raised an eyebrow before a smirk slipped onto his face "I haven't even touched you this morning but I'll take the compliment" you rolled your eyes and stared at him over the brim of the mug "If you're waking me up, Waller called you and will be calling me.." before you could finish the sentence your phone started chiming. You cut your eyes at Rick and he nodded, mimicking locking his lips before sitting down on the edge of the bed while you answered the call.

You answered the phone on the second ring "There's a briefing at ten. I already spoke to Colonel Flag. I expect both of you to be in attendance, Corporal, understood?" "Yes ma'am" You replied then the phone went dead in your hand. You rolled your eyes "She's always such a fuckin peach" 

Rick laughed and leaned over to place a gentle kiss right over your pulse "I gotta get going. I don't wanna roll in with the same clothes I left in. I'll see you there?" You nodded "See you there. Thanks for the coffee" "Anytime sweetheart. Anytime" he replied before standing up and walking out of your bedroom. 

You sat there and listened to his footsteps as he grabbed his jacket and slipped his boots on then walked out your door, smiling to yourself when you heard him lock the handle lock before shutting it behind himself.  You let out a deep breath then kicked your blanket off. Best not to keep Waller waiting. She was a bitch on a good day, let alone when she'd gotten impatient.

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

When you pulled into your parking spot Rick stood with a shoulder leaned against his truck waiting on you to park your jeep. While the two of you made sure to never come into work together you always seemed to unconsciously wait on the other to actually walk into the building.

Once you'd shut your door and started walking towards him he pushed off his truck and took a step towards you "So, any idea on what we're walking into?" you asked and he shrugged "With Waller? You and me both know there's no telling" a laugh fell from your lips because there had never been a truer sentence spoken. 

You fell in step next to him as you headed towards the front entrance. Whatever it was, you could handle it, right?

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

You and Rick shared an office, it made sense considering you were at ARGUS very little and what time you were there it was either reporting to Waller or doing paperwork. Of course it was a little crowded with two desks shoved into it but it was better than either of you having to share space with anyone else or having to have a desk out in the bullpen with Waller's office flunkies.

The two of you managed to make it into the office, sit down your belongings and sign into your computers before Waller's secretary Christina knocked on the door "Colonel Flag? Corporal Y/L/N? Miss Waller wants to see the two of you in her office" you opened the door and smiled at her "Christina, We've both told you to just call us Rick and Y/N. You don't have to use ranks or our last names" she smiled "Yes ma'am." before scurrying away

You glanced over your shoulder at Rick "How the hell is she working here again?" he shrugged "No clue on that one sweetheart?" you narrowed your eyes and his own widened "Sorry Y/N" you shook your head but laughed "You southern men" he held the door open with one hand so you could walk open, a smirk slipping onto his face when you barely had to duck "Let's go see if we're in trouble"

Waller's office was at the far end of the building, away from everyone else's. Normally the door would be closed along with the blinds being drawn but Christina must have told her she was successful in summoning the two of you because the door stood open and you could hear Waller's voice along with another woman's. Rick must have clocked the other voice as well because he glanced down at you with a questioning look. You shrugged but continued walking, letting him take the lead since that's what Waller would expect.

When Rick knocked at the open door her voice drifted out "Come in" you followed Rick into the door, clocking another woman standing with Waller. She was probably around your age, long honey brown hair that was done up in a pretty updo with light makeup and the bluest eyes you'd ever seen.

Her pantsuit looked freshly freshed and more than likely tailored to her. She smiled broadly when she saw the two of you, even when you both unintentionally fell into standing at attention until Waller gave an almost imperceivable nod. Once you and Rick eased your posture Amanda introduced you both in turn before waving a hand towards the woman "This is Kristin Jameson. She's a leading scientist in meta and mutation studies"

You felt your heart stutter when Waller's eyes flickered towards you, only Rick's voice saying "Pleasure to meet you ma'am" keeping you grounded enough to manage "Nice to meet you ma'am" she smiled "Miss Waller has assured me Belle Reeve and ARGUS has a lot to offer to my studies and my upcoming lecture in DC"  You could see the amusement in Amanda's eyes when you swallowed hard as Rick asked "She studying prisoners?"

"Among others" Waller replied and you nodded sharply before she said "The two of you are to assist her in any way she needs as you have working relationships with a lot of Belle Reeve" "Yes ma'am" you spoke first, managing to keep your voice steady as you spoke, hoping like hell Rick wouldn't notice anything was off and quickly felt your heart fall when you realized his eyes were firmly on Kristin "You're dismissed for now. I'll let you know when she needs an escort or assistance"

You nodded and turned to walk out, hearing Kristin say it was nice to meet you both and Rick returning the sentiment. You couldn't be bothered to worry about it.You had to ignore the aching feeling in your chest at noticing how Rick's attention had been on her because of how Waller had been looking at you. Damn her. She'd do anything to prove she had the best tools at her disposal no matter who got hurt.

Rick caught up with you before you could get all the way back to your shared office which given how much longer his legs were there really wasn't a surprise there. "What do you think that's about?" he asked, watching you as you walked straight to your jacket and slipped it on despite having been warm just moments before. "Don't know" you spoke more to yourself than to him. 

He nodded towards your jacket "You good? I can turn the heat up?" you shook your head as you sat down in front of your computer. You had two stacks worth of paperwork to go through and your stacks were small compared to Rick's. "And heat you to death? No, I'll warm up in a few" you replied and he nodded slowly, a lazy smirk working its way onto his face "Unless you want body heat to warm you?" you cut your eyes up "I'll shoot you" and was rewarded with one of his laughs that made your entire body warm. You loved when he genuinely laughed, especially when considering most of the time only you were allowed to hear it. It felt like a part of him reserved only for you. "Just sayin" he shrugged.

So far Kristin had been around for a couple weeks and she'd yet to approach you about anything other than escorts to the prison. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad. Maybe you could get through this with your head and heart intact. You walked around a corner after delivering a stack of finished work to Christina and felt like you'd been dipped in ice water when you heard that same sound that normally warmed you to the core, Rick's laughter. This time it wasn't at your teasing or Boomer busting his ass falling off the ramp of a plane, no he was standing next to the coffee pot talking to Kristin. He was turned facing her and the way she was looking up at him made your stomach churn.

Why hadn't you seen it before? June. The one person Rick had let claim his heart. Genius, gorgeous and the exact same type of woman as Kristin Jameson. You'd been so concerned about her for other reasons you hadn't realized she was perfect for Rick but from looking at how they interacted there was a good chance they may have started to figure it out for themselves and that thought made you want to vomit. Fuck, you fucked up. If Rick got with Kristin, you'd have to be happy for him but you'd never be able to look him in the eyes again because he knew you too well. He'd know something was wrong and then you'd lose him for good.

You hadn't realized your attention had been so focused on them until you slammed into Anderson headed to the copy machine and papers went everywhere.

"Shit Anderson! I'm so sorry!" you muttered, crouching to help him collect the papers. He smiled at you "No problem but are you ok? I've never seen you so distracted besides that time Harley caught those squirrels and let em loose in Belle Reeve and you had to help catch em" you laughed at the memory of that chaos "Yeah, no I'm good. Maybe I'm going a little stir crazy? too much calm?" he shook his head "My dad always said marines were a different breed" you raised an eyebrow "Wasn't your dad a marine?" he nodded "Yeah" you laughed and handed him the papers you picked up "Sorry about that again. I'll watch where i'm going" 

You hadn't noticed your little debacle had earned Rick's attention because when you straightened up Kristin was gone and Rick was watching you. "You ok?" he mouthed and you nodded "Perfect" before turning on your heel, where you were going you weren't sure considering your office was a shared space but you needed to catch your breath without being within touching distance of Rick.

"You doing anything tonight?" Rick asked, perched on the edge of your desk. You barely glanced up from looking over the team list for the upcoming mission "Sleeping?" he reached for the file in your hand and took it before you could snatch it back. When you cut your eyes up at him the smile he gave you made your heart flip, god why had you ever thought you wouldn't fall for a man like Flag? The tact pants he wore hugged his thighs and legs beautifully and that damn black t shirt clung to his biceps and shoulders in a way that very well would've had any woman drooling and you were not exempt.  When he realized he had your attention on him he laughed "She does still have eyes! Been so long since I saw em I was startin to worry darlin" you rolled your eyes and held your hand out "Can I have that back Rick?"

He shook his head "Only when you tell me what I did to piss you off" you ran a hand across your face "Nothing Rick. It's just been a lot with babysittin the scientist, finding out we have an upcoming mission and oh yeah if we don't die on that mission we have to go play Waller's good little pets in D.C. nothing I love more than that" he nodded slowly "Then come over or let me come over. I miss spending time with you" 

You raised an eyebrow and saw a blush color his cheeks which considering the things the two of you had done, was short of comical "Not like that Y/N! Well I mean I wouldn't tell you no but I mean just spending time together, movie or dinner something like that. Catch our breath and talk without it being around files or team lists" oh boy this was it. Him telling you he wanted to pursue Kristin. Fuck, how were you gonna get out of this? "Maybe after the mission?" you offered and saw the way his shoulders dropped "The mission is still three days away" 

You nodded "We need to prep. Make sure we're as ready as we can be cause god knows Amanda isn't ever gonna tell us everything we need to know" he studied you for a second before finally saying "We promised to be honest with each other when we first became friends. I can tell when you're lying to me but I'm gonna pretend I can't and say ok sweetheart because that's what you want me to say. Whatever it is, you can tell me. You know I'm not gonna judge you and I'm always gonna have your back" "I know Rick and I will, I promise. This mission and everything just has my head a little crooked" he pushed himself up off your desk, standing to his full height before leaning over to place a kiss right under your right ear "I'll be here waiting to help you get it back straight whenever you'll let me" then passed you the file back before walking over to his own desk.

You looked up at him and he smiled before turning to his own work. You just had to get through this, right? 

Getting through it was easier said than done as it seemed. You were used to missions going a certain way or well what happened before missions. The suiting up, the debrief and the roll out to collect your team. 

You hadn't expected Kristin to still be at ARGUS. You hadn't known Waller had given her a desk or well maybe you had and buried the information but when you spotted her when you walked out of the debriefing you forced a smile onto your face. You were a lot of things but rude for no reason was not one of them.

You gave her a small nod and headed for transport telling Rick over your shoulder you'd meet him at the air strip. You looked back in just enough time to see her and him talking and felt your heart drop when he leaned down to say something in her ear. A mission was good. You could focus on something besides your heart breaking.

You slammed into the door leading outside and bit your cheek when the cold wind slammed into your face. Fuck, you'd forgot your jacket. No way were you going back inside. Maybe there would be an extra one in the squad's gear. You rubbed your hands across your arms and headed for the truck waiting to take you to pick up the team.

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

You stepped out of the transport truck and locked the door into place so everyone could file out. Luckily it was the usual suspects so no one needed to hear the rundown about the implants in their necks or how much time they'd get off their sentences. 

No one had an extra jacket and you hadn't wanted to take Boomers bomber jacket or Harley's cropped leather one that they'd offered off their own back so you stood with your arms tightly crossed while they one by one unloaded from the truck then headed for the plane where Rick stood talking to the pilot. 

You hadn't looked his way since you stepped out of the truck. You were being childish. You'd known this day was coming. Rick Flag was a good man, anyone could see that. You couldn't hold it against Kristin even if you wanted nothing more than to.

Once the last member of the squad was off the truck and walking up the ramp of the plane you closed the door and slapped it "We're good!" The truck rumbled away so you took a deep breath before following the team.

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

You tried to walk past Rick considering the pilot had even headed on-board to start the takeoff process but his hand shot out and wrapped around your right bicep.You cut your eyes at him and saw he was holding your jacket out with his other hand "You forgot this"

"Thanks" it was barely a mutter but you got it out. You took the jacket from him and he dropped your arm to allow you to slip it on. You could feel your arms start to thaw slightly as soon as the jacket was covering them. He nodded and looked up towards the plane then down towards his boots "Now's not the time. I know it but what is going on with us? We aren't ever this out of sync" 

You shrugged one shoulder "We're good Flag. Don't worry, please" you didn't want his focus to be split when you knew bullets would be flying in no time. He held your gaze and took a step closer, effectively eliminating what little distance had remained between the two of you and using his height over you to his advantage. His voice was deeper than usual when he spoke, his accent bleeding out "That right there is how I know we're not. Outside of joking you ain't called me Flag when we've been alone in years now"

You swallowed hard, ignoring how his voice made your entire body feel like a flame was licking across it. It was going to be hard to get over him. You raised your eyes to fully meet his and saw a bit of a smile threaten his face before it quickly fell when you asked "Did ya tell Kristin bye?" You saw the confusion spread across his face and used the opening to slip past him onto the plane. 

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

"WHEELS UP IN FIVE" You hollered to the pilot as you took your seat next to Harley. "Yes ma'am" the pilot replied as Rick finally walked up the ramp and sat down across the walkway from you, his eyes drilling into you but you refused to look at him. You had to focus on this mission. 

Harley bumped your boot with her own and you looked at her "Where'd ya find ya jacket?" You nodded towards Rick "Our fearless leader brought it to me" you could see the muscles in his jaw clench at your words. You never referred to him as team leader because you ran the squad together but Waller had introduced him as leader to Kristin. 

"Awe that was sweet of ya Flag" she laughed and he nodded, eyes never leaving you "I'm less of an asshole than given credit for"  You didn't want to be the first to break eye contact but knew you had to. The squad would get restless if you and Rick were arguing before takeoff. When you let your eyes drift to Harley she struck up a conversation about getting you a jacket to match her own. You half heartedly listened because while normally you actually did enjoy her company your attention was currently on the set of eyes you could still feel on you. Yeah this was going to be a long mission.

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

You were pinned down with Harley and two bodies of fallen squad members. This shitty mission had gone from bad to worse. "Corporal, report!" Waller's voice echoed through the com in your ear. You met Harley's eyes, both of your chests heaving with every breath "Sorry, kinda busy right now. Check on Colonel Flag and I'll report soon if I'm not dead" You clicked the button on your com so you could hear chatter but they couldn't hear you. A bullet whizzed right past Harley's ear causing you both to flinch. You eyed the doorway that was separating you from getting the hell out of this. The only problem? Someone had to get it open. Easier said than done when every time these assholes even thought they saw either of you they started shooting.

"Toots, you know I love ya but I think we may be screwed" you huffed out a breath, forming a plan that was really really bad but the only option you had. You dug the two computer drives out of the pocket of your pants and held them out to Harley "Keep these in one piece and when I say go, get that damn door open. That is your only focus, not me, not bullets. Understood?" She tucked the computer drives away but looked confused "How are you gonna block em?" You gave her a tight lipped smile "Just trust me Harls and if we get outta this I'll make sure this one is twenty off"

She nodded and slid to the edge of the half fallen wall you'd taken shelter behind. You checked the automatic rifle in your hands, along with the two 9mm you carried. All you had to do was buy her twenty seconds tops. "Now" you breathed, stepping out to draw their fire.

You heard Harley's boots hitting the floor as she ran and the sound of the chain on the door giving way but couldn't turn your attention from the hail of bullets. You thought you were clear and had gotten lucky. Three were down, two had been called back to pursue Rick's half of the team. You made the mistake of glancing back to ensure your footing was clear and felt a bullet tear through your right side, just above your hip. 

Harley screamed your name as you stumbled, hand clutching your side but you shook your head "Dammit move Quinn!" her eyes went wide when she saw how much blood was gushing from between your fingers. "Flag's gonna kill me" "Flag will be fine" you told her from between gritted teeth. You needed to get somewhere secure to dig into your med kit but with Harley here, there was no way she wouldn't want to help. "Just help me move, please" you begged and she moved to your left side, throwing your arm over her shoulder. 

The two of you ran sloppily through the halls, clearing the corners as best as you could until you came to what appeared to be a janitor's closet. "This'll work" "Work for what? You're gonna bleed to death!" she nearly squealed and you shook your head, feeling dizzy from the movement and blood you'd lost "No I wont. I just need you to trust me and to know I can trust you" "You can trust me" she helped you into the closet and down into a sitting position.

You fumbled twice for your med kit before her hands covered yours "Tell me what to do" you leaned back against the wall, closing your eyes against a rush of pain "We need bandages, forceps to dig out the bullet and a few of the pyro packs that are in there" "pyro packs?" she asked and your eyes flew open to glare at her "Ok ok" she dug out the metallic bags that read "Caution. Burn Risk" and looked them over "What now?" you swallowed twice "Open them up" she did as you asked, being careful to not let the material touch her skin before looking up at you. You smiled "Now's time to dig the bullet out" she shook her head "How about I go find Flag! Or we call him over the coms? That man would fight this whole place to get to you"

You shook your head "No time. You're who's here" she nodded and grabbed the forceps. You managed a smile "It's gonna hurt me but you're not. Dig in,find the bullet and snatch it out. The moment the bullet comes out, put the entire contents of both bags directly into the wound. Don't question it. Then bandage it up" She swallowed loudly then nodded "Fuck, I wish someone was here to hold your hand" you laughed "I got it Harley. Just do it" you leaned your head back and closed your eyes as you felt the cold forceps touch the edges of the wound followed by the excruciating pain of Harley trying to secure the bullet "You got it" you breathed and she pulled it out. 

You heard the metallic twang of it hitting the floor before she poured the heat pack into it. You let out a breath at the familiar warmth flooding your system. Your entire body relaxed into itself as that gene inherited from your grandmother kicked in. You could feel the muscles and flesh that had been shredded by the bullet begin to knit themselves back together as Harley taped a gauze over the wound that had already stopped bleeding. Her eyes widened at the lack of blood "Wanna tell me what that was?" you shook your head "And Rick doesn't find out I got shot" she held your gaze and a silent understanding passed. You smiled weakly "Give me a few breaths then I'll be able to get on my feet. Blood loss is a bitch" "Even to someone like you?" Harley guessed quietly and you nodded "Yeah, even to someone like me"

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

By the time you were able to get your feet under you Rick was screaming across the coms "GOD DAMMIT Y/N. WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?"  Harley winked at you and hit her com "Easy Flaggy. We got a little pinned down. We lost the two new kids" "Fuck. Are you two ok?" you hit your com "We're good Rick. Retrieved what we came for. See you at evac?" he took a deep breath after you spoke and his voice was a bit more gentle when he said "Yeah. See you at evac" 

When you and Harley burst out the building you made a run for the chopper where Flag stood outside of. He smiled slightly when he saw the two of you then his eyes trailed down to the blood soaking you and it quickly dropped. You stopped to let Harley get on board and he snatched you close enough you could hear him over the rotors "What happened to you not being hurt?" you glanced down and shrugged "Who said this is my blood? Now light this bitch up and let's go home" 

You squeezed into the chopper between Rick and the pilot, watching as the building beneath you all burnt to ash once you were high enough to detonate. You could feel sleep tugging at you, a side effect of healing a wound that would've killed any other human but you couldn't sleep yet. You still had to get to the plane home. You felt your eyelids flutter but shook your head to resist and knew Rick noticed when he moved close enough his shoulder was right in place with your head that all you had to do was barely lean over to be resting against it.

You wanted to resist but fuck you were tired and he was so warm, your body craved the extra heat to help replace the blood loss faster..before you knew it he was waking you up to move from the chopper to the plane and once again on the plane you let yourself fall asleep against him again...if he was ending the intimacy between the two of you once you made it home you could enjoy it now plus the added bonus that you would have replinished the lost blood and not be weak for the debrief with Waller.

Harley curled up to your back like a cat and for once you didn't try to stop her, whether she knew you needed to raise your core temp or she was just tired you didn't care. It was a cocoon of warmth that lulled your aching body to sleep.

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

You followed Rick through the halls toward Waller's office. While he'd been signing everyone back in at Belle Reeve you'd managed to change your shirt at least, fuck your dry cleaner got half your salary at this point. He kept eyeing the blood that stained your pants and you hoped he hadn't figured out from the spill pattern that it had indeed come from you. The bandage itched like crazy which meant the skin was mended or almost. You had luckily found a dark enough colored shirt no one could tell the bandage was there.

Once you walked through the bullpen you were glad to see Kristin at least wasn't there. You weren't sure if you could keep up being polite. You followed Rick into Waller's office and stood back while he went through the basics of the missions and handed over the computer drives and other files that had been recovered. She listened, stoic as always then dismissed the both of you. 

You walked slowly behind Rick, fighting the urge to scratch at your side. You knew he would probably hold you to the whole getting together after the mission like you promised, but you hoped he'd let you off the hook for the time being.  When the two of you hit the parking lot before you ever had a chance to shiver his jacket was draped across your shoulders. You looked back at him and he shrugged "Yours was soaked in blood Darlin" you felt your heart flip at how gentle his voice was. "Rick, I don't want to talk tonight, please"

You headed for your jeep but before you could get the door open he caught your arm and spun you around so your back was to the side of the jeep and he was as close as he could get without invading your personal space, one hand resting just over your head on the jeep and the other hovering above your hip "No, I think we need to talk. Your choice whether it's here or your place" you swallowed hard at the warmth radiating off of him. How the fuck did this man smell so damn good after a mission like that? You wanted to bury yourself in him. "My place" you finally said after a moment and he smiled before leaning down to let his lips brush against your neck "Good girl" you shivered lightly before shoving against his chest "Go get your truck! We both need a shower!" he groaned "Damn, I can't shower with you after missions. You try to fuckin cook me" "Cry baby" you teased before gently shoving him again "Now go, I'll meet you there"

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

You stood under the stream of the shower watching the pink tinged water spin down the drain. Damn, you'd had more blood on you than you'd thought. After washing your hair and body, your fingers found the new scar decorating your side. If it was on anyone else and you were asked how old the scar was you would say at least a couple weeks, old enough that the skin wasn't still soft and sensitive but still new enough it was a light pink color. Maybe it was better that Rick was ending things, at least you wouldn't have to explain weird scars anymore. If he touched you like this there's no way he wouldn't notice the scar and you weren't sure you could play it off as him just having never noticed it. 

You heard a knock at your door and knew it was Rick. You sighed and turned the water off before grabbing your robe. You'd let him in then get dressed. If he insisted on having this conversation tonight he could very damn well wait in your living room while you got dressed. 

When you unlocked the door and swung it open his eyes trailed down your body and a look passed over his face that made a different kind of heat roll through you. No, you weren't going there. "Well damn sweetheart, I'm overdressed" he teased and you rolled your eyes, running the towel in your hand over your hair "Very funny. I just got out of the shower. I was caked in blood" he nodded "Yeah, that's what took me so long to get here" he leaned down as if to kiss you but you side stepped. At his confused expression you pointed towards your bedroom "I'm gonna go get some clothes on. Want to pour some of that whiskey Simon sent me for my birthday?"  

If you were having your heart ripped out you needed something strong to keep up a front and god bless your sergeant he always sent you a bottle of the good shit every year. Rick nodded and headed for your kitchen while you made a beeline for your room. You could hear him opening cabinets but focused on finding comfortable clothes. After a while you decided on a tank and sleep shorts. The tank was tight enough no bra was required. After running a brush through your hair you took a final look in the mirror then took a step into the living room. Rick looked up from where he'd been leaning against your kitchen counter apparently watching your bedroom door. He'd kicked his shoes off and his jacket was across the back of your couch. The way he looked at you made your skin flush, you had to reel it in. He was too important to lose because he no longer wanted to sleep with you.

You walked across the floor to him and he held out a glass tumblr of the whiskey. "Thank you sir" you whispered before downing almost the entire thing in one gulp. His eyes widened slightly. "That kind of night?"  You scoffed "You could say that" he was still sipping on his glass and a part of you had an urge to grab his and down it just for the burn of it. You tapped your nails along your glass "What was so important Rick?" you asked looking up at him and he laughed "Always straight to the point with you"

You shrugged "Well I mean no point in beating around the bush here" you gulped down what was left in your glass then sat it down. He swallowed his then reached for your hip, pulling you closer to him "C'mere. I've missed being alone with you" you let him pull you against his chest but braced your palms against the hard muscles to keep some distance between you even as he tried yet again to kiss you and you turned your head "Did I do something wrong? I don't think I broke any of the rules" he asked, settling to kiss the top of your head as his hands settled on your hips.

You laughed lightly "You did nothing Rick but I know what you want to talk about" he pulled back to look down at you and he looked uncertain? "You do?" you nodded "You're my friend Rick, probably one of my closest friends if not closest anymore. You're important to me and I wouldn't want to lose you but I ain't really a fuck me goodbye type. You don't fuckin want me? cool. You want Kristin? I get it, she's your type but I don't have to like it nor do I have to see it flaunted in my face so if I'm distant for a while don't take it personal" He took a step back, untucking himself from around you. 

You watched as he shook his head, running a hand down his face before he looked at you and laughed. The noise still managing to wrap itself around you despite being at your expense "You've been jealous?" "No I haven't" you argued and he took a step closer, whispering your name. 

You shook your head "I knew what this was from the start" "Still not answering the question" he took another step and you unintentionally took a step backwards "She's a scientist and gorgeous" he nodded "Yeah" a flame of anger flickered through you at him admitting it that easily and to your face.  "I knew whatever this was wouldn't last from the moment we met her" you breathed and he took two steps towards you which caused you to take two steps backwards and you cursed when you felt your back hit the counter. He planted a hand on either side of you, palm flat down on the counter and leaned down to speak into the shell of your ear "Still avoiding the fact that you've been downright mean to me because you've been jealous"

You turned your head slightly to meet his eyes, trying to ignore how close your face was and how you'd barely have to lean in for your lips to find his "Yes! Ok? Fuck you Rick! I've been fucking jealous! For so long I've been at your side, leading the squad and dealing with Waller's bullshit, having your back and you having mine. I've been in your bed, you've been in mine and I fooled myself into thinking just because I wouldn't want anyone else that you wouldn't either and now I have to sit back and watch you be with her and pretend that it's not hurting me to not lose you completely so yes I am fucking jealous that she'll have you. Happy?"

His eyes studied your face for a heartbeat and you could feel your heart stutter. Normally you could read Rick's emotions fairly easily but this was once you had no clue what was going on in that head of his. After what felt like too long he laughed again, lighter this time before closing the distance between the two of you. The first brush of his lips against yours drove reason out of your mind. You knew it was a bad idea, a clean break healed easier but fuck you needed this man like you needed air.

His hands moved to your hips, easily picking you up and sitting you on the counter so he could step between your legs. His tongue slipped past your lips, teasing yours as he swallowed the moan that escaped you. Your hands tangled themselves in his hair, tugging gently. When the need for air forced the two of you apart he moved from your lips to kiss down your jaw then to your neck. One of his hands slipped between your thighs, cupping your clothed core as he bit down on your pulse point then sucked the skin into his mouth. a broken sob of a moan that was somewhere between a praise and a curse falling from your lips. 

When your brain caught up to the fact that he was marking you, visibly you shoved a hand against his chest "Rick, stop" he froze the moment the words left you,hands moving off your body and lips leaving your skin. His broad chest was heaving as he looked down at you through heavy lashes "What's wrong sweetheart?" it took you two times to manage to get enough air in your lungs to actually form coherent thoughts "What kind of fucking response is marking me?" he grinned "I thought a clear enough one" he leaned in again to brush a gentle kiss against your lips "I don't want Kristin. I haven't wanted to talk about her. I want you. I only agreed to these damn rules because you freaked after the first time we slept together and I couldn't stand the idea of you running away from me" 

You swallowed hard, this was Rick. The best man you'd ever met, the only man you'd ever truly could imagine something with. "You want me?" you asked in such a small voice you flinched. He pushed your hair back out of your face, hand cupping the back of your neck as he kissed your forehead then the tip of your nose then your cheek before his lips found yours, a lingering kiss full of every promise he couldn't put words to "Every part of you" you felt a twinge of guilt when you thought about the parts he didn't know about. "Rick, I.." he cut you off with another kiss before saying "Darlin, anything you want to tell me you can but please let me take you to bed. I've never got to go to sleep with you in my arms and wake up with you there" you nodded slowly and started to climb off the counter but instead he pulled you into his arms giving you no choice but to wrap your arms around his waist "I can walk Rick!" you squealed and he nipped at your throat "I prefer this" 

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

You were half asleep with Rick's head laid on your bare stomach. Even after so many times of the two of you sleeping together he'd treated you like this was the first time, exploring every inch of skin. You were spent from how many times he'd pushed you to that brink and over so you were currently just enjoying the feeling of him exploring the body.

He kissed passed your navel and you felt him still right before his fingers grazed the new scar on your right side "Baby where'd this come from?" you tried to control your heart rate because you knew he could hear it from where he was laying. You leaned up slightly to look and shrugged "I'm not sure honestly" his lips trailed across it "It wasn't there the last time we had sex" You laid back against the pillow, trailing your fingers through his hair "Are you sure?" when you cut your eyes back down at him he was giving you that "Cut the bullshit" look "Fairly certain I've kissed every inch of you multiple times" you shrugged "I honestly don't know Rick" he finally nodded before making his way up your body.

When he got to your lips he kissed you gently before pulling you over to lay across his chest. Your fingers traced the mark he'd insisted you give him to match the one he'd planted on your neck "What about Waller?" you asked and he scoffed "That bitch sees us as tools, weapons. As long as we're effective she doesn't give a shit. Hell she'd probably he thrilled to have more shit to hold over our heads" 

You shook your head "Yeah, I don't like the idea of her using me to make you jump through hoops" he smiled before brushing his lips against yours "She's had the power to do that for a lot longer than you think" "Oh" you said quietly and he nodded "Don't worry, we'll handle it as it comes. Now let me hold you since I've never been allowed to" you laughed and turned to tuck your back against his chest. He pulled you as close to him as he could before placing a kiss to your bare shoulder "Get some sleep. We can handle the crazy tomorrow" 

If Waller noticed a shift between you and Rick she didn't comment on it. Your work dynamic didn't change, hell it shocked you to realize a lot of your dynamic didn't change. Had you and Rick been a couple and you were the last to realize?

You were finishing up paperwork when a knock at the office door made you look up to see Kristin standing there "Hey" you spoke and she smiled "Hey" she cut her eyes at Rick who looked busy at work but you knew he was listening to every word then back at you "Can I buy you a coffee so we can talk?" you felt your stomach knot but nodded nonetheless. You stood up and grabbed your jacket off the back of your chair, walking around your desk. You tapped Rick's on the way by "Want me to bring your usual back?" he looked from you to Kristin, a silent ask of if you were ok in his eyes. You gave him a smile so he nodded "Yeah. Thanks" 

You turned to Kristin and smiled "Your car or my jeep" she shrugged "Your jeep is fine by me" you waved a hand towards the exit "Then let's go. Any excuse to leave that Waller wont blow a coronary about is fine by me" when she laughed a part of you felt bad about how much you'd disliked her when you thought there was something between her and Rick "Can't blame you there. I'd offer for you to bring Colonel Flag but I think you'll want this conversation to just be the two of us" ok that made you nervous but you both knew she couldn't say anything further in the building so you nodded "Rick's a big boy. He can amuse himself while I'm gone"

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

You sat across from Kristin, staring down into your coffee and trying to process what she'd just told you "So the military is doing what exactly? experiments with meta and mutation genes?" she nodded "They're trying to form better soldiers. Find better mutations to see if humans could develop them,from the medical records Amanda released on you, how your blood has healed the squad even without them knowing..they're going to want samples before the lectures in D.C" 

You nodded slowly "How much blood? Are they going to try to drain me here?" you could feel yourself start to panic, not for yourself as much as the fact that you knew if they came for you the three most important people to you would be willing to die to save you,Rick of course along with Sergeant Simon O'Reilly and Staff Sergeant Johnny Moore. Not to mention if they knew of your genes they may know of Johnny's.

"I've made a deal for one vial of bone marrow and that is it. That was the best I could do, I'm sorry. I never meant for my research to be bastardized like this" you could tell she meant every word so you reached across the table to gently take her hand in yours, squeezing it lightly "Thank you for fighting for me and for not exposing me to Rick before I'm ready" she nodded and in turn squeezed your hand "If it's any help, if it was me,no matter how bad of dealings I'd had in the past nothing could change my feelings for my wife. I've seen the way Rick looks at you. That man worships the ground you walk on. He won't be angry at you for who you are but he may be angry for you feeling like you had to hide who you are from him all this time" you knew she was right but you were so deep now how the hell were you supposed to get out of the hole?

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

JM: Fuck the government 

SO: Video call asap luv

The moment you rolled over and checked your phone you knew that Johnny had been cornered about his genes as well. While you had a healing mutation he carried a different type, he found at a young age he could manipulate time around him. Slow it down or speed it up. Made him hell on the battlefield. "Fuck" you cursed under your breath, forgetting Rick was in the bed with you until his arm encircled your waist and his lips brushed the base of your spine "Somethin wrong?" his accent was always heavier when he just woke up. You turned to place a quick kiss on his lips "No baby. Johnny and Simon just got into some shit and need me to call em" he chuckled "Always pulling the men in your life outta the fire" you winked over your shoulder at him "Someone has to" before slipping out of his bedroom and out into the living room.

You hit the buttons on your phone and within a few seconds both Simon and Johnny's faces were on your screen "There she is" Simon spoke first, his irish accent making your lips quirk up. Johnny leaned closer to his phone "Hold on now. That isn't your place" you felt your face warm when both of their eyebrows shot up. "Has our little spitfire got herself a boyfriend?" Simon chuckled and you rolled your eyes "Wasn't there a reason for this call?" Johnny nodded with a grin "Yeah but we can get to that in a minute" you shook your head "No, now" they both laughed then went into telling you how Johnny had gotten the call about a vial of bone marrow having to be given. "Yeah, I did too," you whispered. "Are we fucked?" Johnny asked and you shrugged "I hope not? I've got to escort Waller and the leading scientist to DC for the lectures behind the science so maybe I can dig more" 

Simon grinned "Good, we'll be there too" "Really?" you asked with a  matching grin because you hadn't seen both of them together in person in years. "Yeah, someone has to represent the corps considering someone got pulled over to the redacted sides of things" Johnny teased and you shook your head "Please Moore, once a marine always a marine" "You better remember that" he laughed then he whistled to get Simon's attention and you knew what they were thinking before Simon ever asked "So, who is this mystery fella that got our little lassie to settle down?" 

Before you could say anything the bedroom door opened behind where you stood in the center of the living room and Rick walked out behind you, shirtless. Johnny and Simon both spoke over each other "Good morning Colonel Flag!" the shit eating grins on their faces made you want to stab the both of them considering you could just give them blood and heal them afterwards. He looked from you to the phone before nodding "Simon, Johnny" 

Rick stopped to kiss your cheek "I'm making coffee" then headed for the kitchen. You finally looked back to your phone screen to see Simon had his arms crossed and Johnny was shaking his head "We need to discuss a dowry" "I want to know his intentions!" "Goodbye boys! See you in D.C!" you laughed before hanging up the call.

Rick leaned against the counter when you looked up and motioned towards your phone "They're gonna be in D.C?" you nodded and he smiled "Might not be that bad then if you get to catch up with them" you shook your head with a laugh "Or may be worse, with them there is no way to tell" 

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

The day you went to give the bone marrow you were grateful for the healing you possessed because that shit hurt. You were still limping slightly when you got back to the office but Rick was luckily at Belle Reeve handling something about someone trying to make an army of possums. When you walked into your office you realized it was warmer than normal and a coffee was sitting on your desk, still steaming. A box sat next to the cup of coffee and when you opened it there was a small thing of what looked like hand cream inside with a note from Kristin "This is a more diluted version of what's in your pyro packs. It'll help" you smiled and sat down gently in the chair, wishing like hell you could help Johnny because he'd be in pain for a few days from this shit at least.

By the time Rick got back your hip was a dull ache and you'd turned the heat down in the office. He closed the door behind him and shook his head "Twenty six" you laughed at how tired he looked from chasing giant rodents over how he normally looked after missions. He walked around your desk and leaned down to place a gentle kiss to your lips "Your physical go ok?" you nodded "All clear for another year" he smiled "Good to know" you hated lying to him but how the hell did you bring it up in conversation now?

D.C. was gorgeous as always. The lectures were being held in a nearby conference hall that was so far locked down you were surprised the guest list didn't require a dna scan to get in the front door. Day one was casual, meaning you and Rick were both in suits. The skirt you wore hit just above your knees and you'd caught Rick being distracted more than once and had to remind him that the two of you were supposed to be looking the part of guards for Waller, that was why she'd allowed your holsters to be worn in plain sight.

His hand skimmed your lower back and he whispered in your ear "Something about you in a skirt and armed is just beyond sexy" you shook your head with a laugh "Easy soldier. We have time for that later" you just hoped Waller had nothing else up her sleeve. Johnny and Simon had landed about an hour after your plane but you hadn't met up with them yet, you hoped to see them soon but Waller had to dismiss you and Rick for you to be able to socialize anyways.

The two of you walked in behind Waller, you on her left and Rick on her right. She headed for the front of the room so you trailed behind like good puppies. She greeted an older gentleman who eyed you "Amanda" she introduced both you and Rick by rank. the older gentleman nodded to you both "Colonel, Corporal" 

The next two hours went pretty much like that until the blessed time came that she disappeared into meetings that you nor Rick had clearance for so you were dismissed until summoned. Rick cut his eyes at you considering you were still in the conference hall "Well we got a couple hours" you felt a smirk pulling at your lips until you heard an accented voice say "Nope, if she's not busy you gotta share her" you turned to see Simon and Johnny walking towards you. 

"Simon!" you greeted, pulling him into a hug first then when Johnny pouted letting him go to pull the other man into one as well. You looked them over and couldn't help but laugh. Both were around Rick's height, Simon maybe had an inch on him. Johnny had dark black hair and bright blue eyes while Simon had honey brown hair and the darkest green eyes you'd ever seen. Both were decent looking men and despite the suits they were clearly being made for them they looked so damn uncomfortable it was pathetic.

Johnny held onto your waist and looked over your head at Rick "Flag. Treating our girl well?" he nodded "Of course" Simon winked at you before saying "I think we should all go to lunch while you two are free. Me and Johnny want to have a talk with Rick" you spun out of Johnny's arms to playfully glare at him and he laughed "C'mon lassie, think the colonel gonna scare off that easy?" Rick cleared his throat and when the three of you looked at him he waved towards the exit "Let's go get lunch" then reached for your hand. When you let him take it you heard Simon chuckle "oh he's gonna be fun"

They'd known Rick for a while now but knowing him as your partner versus knowing him as your boyfriend? That was two very different experiences. You shot a look over your shoulder at Simon "Behave Sergeant" he winked at you "Don't worry luv. If he can hold up under you me and Johnny wont phase him"  

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

"Oh I absolutey did fuckin not!" you laughed, tossing a mozzarella stick at Johnny across the table. He was currently embellishing a story about one night when your unit had gone for drinks in Germany and a bar fight had ensued. Rick cut his eyes at you, a grin pulling at his lips "I don't know baby, sounds like something you'd do" you mock gasped then looked at Simon for backup "A little help here Sergeant?" he shook his head "You're on your own luv" you tsk tsked "Three men like yourselves ganging up on a defenseless woman" that made all of them bust out laughing "You're a lot of things, defenseless ain't one of em"  Rick teased pulling you closer so he could place a kiss on your temple.

Simon gave you a look at the action and you felt yourself warm even before he reached for your hand "C'mon Corporal, let's go pay the tabs" Rick passed you his card before you could ever reach for your own and Johnny made an approving sound before you glared at him and he raised his hands in defense "I said nothing!"

You followed Simon across the little bar and grill the four of you had chosen, waiting for him to ask. He managed to wait until the waitress came back with your receipts "Have ya told him?" "Told him what?" you decided on the innocent route but knew that would fall flat "About your.." he paused when someone passed by before deciding on "diagnosis" you didn't meet his eyes and that was answer enough "How the hell have you kept it from him this long?" you shrugged "It hasn't been easy believe me and that was before I started sleeping with him" 

He shook his head with a laugh "How did that come about anyways?" you shrugged again "Shit happens?" this time he was the one to shrug "Foundation of some of the most solid relationships right there. I may be overstepping but can I ask, do ya love him?" you opened your mouth to deny it then closed it back when no sound would immediately come out. Did you love Rick? When a few seconds passed with you neither confirming nor denying he put a hand on your shoulder and squeezed gently "If he cares about you as much as I believe he does it won't matter to him. Didn't matter to me when I found out about you or Johnny"  you nodded slowly "Thanks Si" he smiled "Anytime luv" before the two of you headed back to the table.

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

For the next few days whenever you and Rick weren't at Waller's beck and call you ended up making sure to carve out time in your day for Simon and Johnny. You hadn't realized how much you'd missed them. You and Rick had just made it back to your room from a bar with them when you finally decided on having enough liquid courage to tell him the truth. 

You watched him close the door and lock it as you slipped your shoes off then walked over to where he stood, leaned back against the door, watching you with an unreadable expression "Rick?" he seemed to break out of whatever trance he'd been in and smiled before pulling you into his arms. "I'm glad to see you having fun catching up with your guys sweetheart. I can tell they missed you and you missed them: You nodded, letting your hand trail down the front of his shirt to begin working on the buttons of it "I want to talk to you about something important" His hands covered yours, stopping you from disrobing him any further "Are you transferring from ARGUS?" "What?" you froze at his question because even if you wanted to you couldn't for five more years and even then you'd want him to leave with you. 

He slipped his shirt off and tossed it onto the bed before crashing his lips against yours in a kiss that was hungry and rushed. You kissed him back, trying to pull him closer until he suddenly broke away from you "If you want to transfer I'll support you, it's just..:" he trailed off and leaned down to place a kiss on your neck before continuing "I love you and I want you to be happy but I can't pretend it won't hurt to be away from you"

You damn near stumbled back from him in shock and wanted to kick yourself for how defeated he looked "I'm sorry. It's too soon. I shouldn't have sprung that on you and I'm not wanting a response I just wanted to tell you" he ran a hand through his hand and moved to step around you "I'm gonna go shower" your hand moved to grab his before he could get too far past you "Rick, wait"

The moment he turned you pulled him into a kiss. He hesitated at first then gave in quickly, his hands moving down to grip your thighs and lift you into his arms. You wrapped your legs around his waist, breaking away from his lips to kiss across his jaw and down his neck before finally saying "I love you Rick and as much as I miss them I'm not leaving" the smile he gave you made your heart jump "Really?" you nodded and he leaned his head over on your neck "Thank god" then caught your lips in another kiss before walking you over to the bed and gently laying you down on it before climbing up your body, slipping your shirt off and leaving a trail of kisses as he did so.

When he got back to your lips he smiled "In that case can whatever you needed to tell me wait? Because the way these jeans fit has had my dick half hard all night" a laugh fell from you that quickly turned into a moan when he rutted his hips down into yours to prove a point "It can wait"

Unfortunately for you it seemed fate saw fit for Rick to find out one way or another.

You stood next to Rick, both of you studying the room around you. The highest value targets in the free world were currently in attendance so nerves were a bit high to say the least. Simon and Johnny were working the north exit while the two of you were covering the south. A few more teams were set up throughout but you didn't trust any of them the way you trusted your guys.

So far you'd heard three lecturers drone on and on along with a few people that were definitely on Waller's christmas card list. You would be glad for the next three hours to be over. You were just about to crack a joke to Rick about the man currently on stage when one of the other team's voices cut through your com "We've had a security breach. Level one evac" 

"Fuck" you and Rick both swore as you moved in unison. Each team of guards had been assigned four targets each to move. You had Waller, Kritstin and two more. Once they were secure you would come back and help as you were needed. You spotted Johnny and Simon herding their targets towards the stairwell leading up to the helipad as you grabbed Kristin and pushed her in front of you. "Move" Rick took point going up the stairwell with you guarding the rear.

Once your targets were loaded and gone you headed back down, meeting Simon and Johnny halfway. "What is this shit?" you asked and Johnny met your eyes "Extremists for humankind purity" Fuck. That was a hate group targeting anyone with mutant or meta genes and there were civilians here. "Fuckin assholes" Rick cursed and Simon smirked slighlty "Lets show em Flag" Rick nodded so Simon looked at you "You with Johnny, Flag with me"

Rick looked at you "Stay safe" you winked at him "Always" then bumped your shoulder to Johnny's "Like old times. Lets get it" 

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

You fell into a rhythm with Johnny so damn easy it was like no time at all had passed. You could feel the pull of his power simply because you knew what to look for but it helped the two of you to clear civilians out faster and take enemies down easier. The banquet hall looked like a fuckin war zone and that description was a little too accurate for your liking. 

You saw Simon and Rick take another group out and was about to call an all clear when you saw a barrel blast half a second before a bullet tore through the air towards you. Johnny was too far away to slow it so you were helpless but to feel the consuming burn which was so different from the one that healed you as it ripped through your abdomen and came out the other side. Johnny took out the shooter and was to your side in a heartbeat pulling you into his lap. You saw a few grazes on his arms and what looked like a knife slash on his face. Your hand shakingly moved to your stomach, a gasp of pain leaving you when you touched the wound "Fuck, it hurts Johnny" "I know baby. I know" he was already stripping his shirt off to hold pressure. "SIMON" he screamed as Rick and Simon came running in. Rick screamed your name and fell to his knees at your side "What the fuck happened?"

Your eyes moved to Rick's face and you saw tears threatening to fall "It's ok Rick. I'm ok" he shook his head "Sweetheart" Simon shouldered him out of the way "Move Flag" Rick's eyes turned hard "I'm not leaving her" Simon moved to pull you out of Johnny's lap and into his arms "Then you'll be what kills her and I'm not losing her either. We know how to save her. Now on your feet and lead us to her luggage or get the hell out of the way" Rick looked to you, tears working their way down his face and you nodded, grimacing from pain "Trust them" "Follow me" Rick told Simon before heading towards the stairwell leading up towards the rooms, all three men taking three steps at a time.

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

Rick argued you needed a hospital. Simon argued him and Johnny could help you just fine and you told him that they could so he was pacing the room, watching Johnny dig through your med kit and throw different things onto the bed next to where Simon had laid you. Simon ripped open four metallic bags and Rick watched as he poured them directly into your gunshot wound after ensuring there were no bullet fragments in, your screaming during that time had nearly made him kill both men. He could hear your teeth grit from where he stood, even when you whispered something to Johnny who whispered something back before finally sighing and leaned down to let you wipe your  blood soaked fingers across his face and the grazes on his arms. What the fuck was going on? 

You could imagine what was going through Rick's head but you were focusing on not dying at the moment, then arguing with Johnny to take enough blood for where he'd been grazed and sliced. Eventually Simon gingerly bandaged your stomach then looked over at Rick before looking back at you "We'll be nearby luv" You grabbed his hand "Thank you" he smiled "Always"

You tried to push yourself up into a sitting position and Rick moved to help you, being careful of your stomach. You noticed his hands shake slightly, "Y/N?" he was looking at your bandage. The bleeding had already stopped. You smiled slightly "I meant when I said I love you Rick, please know that" he sat down slowly on the side of the bed to not jostle you before taking your hand "And I meant it when I told you I love you but what's going on" You swallowed hard before saying "I have a meta mutation gene"

"Healing?" he asked and you nodded "The packs are called pyro packs, they force my core temperature to rise high enough to jumpstart the process. As long as it's not my heart or head and I get help fast enough I can heal from an injury" "The scar on your side" he spoke and you grimaced "I got shot on the last mission and talked Harley through the first aid"  

He nodded, running a hand over his head "So Harley knows?" you shrugged "Kind of?" "Who definitely knows?" he asked in a small voice so you took a breath before saying "Waller, Kristin, Johnny and Simon." he nodded slowly "Can I ask why you didn't trust me?" when you finally looked at him your heart crumpled "I didn't want you to look at me differently" 

He reached for your hand and when you let him take it his shoulder sagged slightly "You're still you. There's nothing that would change that to me. I just don't know why it took something like this for you to tell me" 

You felt tears start to slip free from your eyes and he quickly brushed them away "Don't cry darlin. Please don't cry" you leaned into his touch "Do you hate me Rick?" he shook his head "Never. You hear me? Nothing could ever make me hate me, especially not something like this" you smiled as he leaned closer and brushed a gentle kiss onto your lips before pausing "How many times have you healed me?" you grinned with your forehead against his "More times than you probably want to know" 

He laughed and pressed another kiss to your lips "You'll have to teach me how to take care of you" "I will" you promised and he smiled against your lips "Good, because you're not getting rid of me that easily Corporal" you laughed before saying "Nice to know because I kind of want to keep you Colonel" 

[discordiansamba]

Azula visits him in his cell.

He knows she's coming before she arrives. He can hear the guards at the door try and dissuade her. His sister snaps at them, angry. How dare they stand in her way, when she knows that they let Mai through. They relent, and Azula steps into his cell.

She crinkles her nose at the smell. He's less filthy than he was before thanks to Mai, but only just. She meets his eyes- and for just a moment, her breath catches. Zuko's tempted to start growling, just to see what would happen. The dragon goads him on, but he decides against it.

"What do you want?"

She obviously didn't expect him to speak. When he does, she exhales, and she's back to the normal Azula.

"I see you're back to your usual self," Azula observed, "-I suppose we have Mai to thank for that. I hear she's been visiting you."

"Upset you'll have a harder time executing us?" Zuko asked. "Or is father the one who plans to do the honors?"

Azula flinches- it's obvious that she didn't expect him to know about that. He doesn't blame her. She must have assumed he didn't have the presence of mind to understand anyone when he'd been paraded through the Caldera like a chained beast.

(He had been, he supposes.)

"Father, of course," Azula recovers, "-it's only fitting that the Fire Lord should slay the last of the dragons."

Zuko bares his fangs. "What makes you think we'll go down so easily?"

Azula huffs, and rolls her eyes. "You should just make it easy on yourself, Zuko. I would think you'd be grateful to be released from your miserable excuse for an existence."

Yeah. He can't deny that some small part of him still longs for that. But he thinks of Uncle, and of Mai- thinks of his friends. They'd all seen him at his worst, but they accepted him anyways. And she's right- if he dies, the dragons really will be gone. He's spent years chafing at the confines of the prison that is his body, but maybe it doesn't have to be one.

Azula never looks him in the eye anymore. He levels his gaze with hers, but she takes it as the challenge it is, and doesn't look away.

"And what would you do," Zuko said, "-if it comes for you next?"

His sister pales. He shouldn't be enjoying this. He's not stupid- he figured it out a long time ago. He knows Azula blames herself. She hadn't known the consequences when she'd shoved him into that cave- she'd only been six. She was just playing a petty, jealous prank. All she'd wanted was to go back to the villa and lap up mother's attention for a few hours.

He also won't lie to himself. He blames Azula- but only sometimes. She was just a child. They'd both been children. But he also can't pretend that he's not bitter, vengeful in a way that has nothing to do with the spirit that took up residence in his skin. She'd taken everything from him- just like her namesake had taken everything from the dragon.

"Don't worry," Zuko promises, "-when you're running a fever that high, you don't even notice your body twist out of shape."

"Shut up," Azula snaps, "-I would never let that happen."

"You wouldn't have a choice," Zuko says, "-did you think I did? You can't fight something like that. You'll be lucky if the dragon decides to ever give you your body back. It's not like Uncle's here to guide you."

(He's not quite himself right now, otherwise he would never be saying these things. But he doesn't stop. He holds the dragon at bay, but only just.)

"Be quiet," Azula hisses, "-I would never become like you."

"No, you won't," Zuko agrees, "-because I don't intend to die."

Azula stares at them for a long moment, then clicks her tongue. She leaves without another word, and Zuko exhales. He shakes off the dragon, its whispers falling back into silence. He feels like he's finally won, but it doesn't feel as good as he hoped it would.

He doesn't hate Azula. He can't.

(It was as much a warning as anything else. Killing him would only free the dragon- and leave it free to search for its next host

Who better than Azulon's very namesake?)

[remember-the-fanfics]

You Got Wings!

In which the wings won the poll so now Genz!Overlord!Reader with wings

• You have wings! Bird wings! Any color

• You can make them disappear when you want but you'll only do that if it inconvenients you or people around you like in a meeting.

• You had to find a book on how to take of birds to figure out how to take care of them

• Learning how to fly was a struggle before you were an Overlord because everyone thought you were an easy target when you fell from the sky.

• You finally got the hang of it after becoming an Overlord, now flying anywhere.

• Your wings will reflect your emotions,

• Happy? They are up and fluffier. You usually run around who or what making you happy for a minute.

• Sad? They are lowerer, you have to make sure the don't drag and catch on something sometimes.

• Anger? Flared out, ruffled. Makes you look bigger than you are.

• Have only offered flights to your close friends, most like to stay on the ground.

• Charlie is the only one who will aways go for a flight, reminds her of her dad.

• You only flown with Vaggie once, while still inside the hotel.

• She thanked you and said hights just weren't for her.

• You noticed she had a sad look in her eyes.

• No one let's you fly with Niffty anymore.

"I thought I left a note."

"You were gone for 3 days!"

• They'll never know what the two of you did and why you were gone for so long

• Alastor doesn't like being touch so he wouldn't let you have flights with him.

• But will watch you fly from the balcony while drinking his tea

• Will ask you about the weather when you come back

• Has tried to get you to eat bird seed

• Angel Dust is just to tall and lanky to hold while flying.

• You tried, about broke one of you wings.

"Sorry!"

" 'is fine but help me up, yeah?"

• Husk will never fly with you, always to busy being the bartender.

• You give him sad puppy eyes everytime he says no.

• Sir Pentious doesn't trust you enough not to drop him

• It's not your fault he's just so slippery

• But let's you carry the Egg Boys

• Banned from trying to carry all of them at once

• When Charlie wants to put up a banner or something up high, it's usually you with Razzle and Dazzle.

• When you get to busy, forgetting to take care of your wings

• Which makes it a hassle when you're not busy.

• Husk has helped you before when you are just completely struggling with it

"Stay still!"

"I'm trying!"

• You get really upset if you accidentally hit someone with you wings

• Getting a sad face instantly, apologising quickly.

• Everyone at the hotel forgives you quickly

• You hides your wings for the next few days so it wouldn't happen again

• Charlie quickly tells you that your wings are fine. That you don't mean to hit anyone when you do.

• Then Angel Dust sqared you that they popped out ruffled and ready to fly

"See you didn't hit me then when you had a reason to so stop hiddin' them."

• You've ended up napping in front of a window multiple times because the sun feels so nice on your wings

• Plus along with the sun, you don't even need a cover to nap with, your wings can do it.

• After fighting some dumbass sinners trying to harass your people, which they injured one of your wings.

• Needing to go to the only other person you knew with wings for help but you can't just be seen as an injured Overlord walking where others could try to fight you more.

• So you call Charlie, the only one you knew that had a car in hell.

• After the awkward conversation of telling you were injured, her panicking, telling her not to panic, and then hearing her tell Razzle and Dazzle to get the car and that she'll be right over.

• Half the hotel decided to come as well

• Charlie, Vaggie, and Husk, along with Razzle and Dazzle.

• They will get you in the car as quickly and comfortable as possible, trying not to get you more hurt.

• Husk will quickly try and bandage your wing the best he can while Vaggie and Charlie ask the who, what, why, and hoe.

• Charlie had to hold Vaggie back from finding the ones who injured you and hurting them more than you already had.

• Telling Vaggie that they were already taken care off then having to clarify that you didn't kill them.

"See I'm fine!"

"You really aren't."

"...I'm better than I was 5 minutes ago."

• The next week while being at the hotel everyone hovered over you, making sure you didn't try and overwork yourself.

• Which you would have tried if Charlie hadn't locked you out of your room/office.

• Husk would check on your wing and make sure it heals correctly.

• After it's healed, you had to get use to fly again.