#long hair alex turns into shithead

[lunior-art]

he was too embarrassed to attend class that day but chose to embrace it in the end

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Don’t Treat My Love Like A Habit Part Eight

Previous Part | Next Part | Masterlist Pairing: Santiago Garcia x Reader Rating: Mature (this may change) Warnings: Cursing; a pinch of fluff followed by a smidge of angst Notes: Set before the movie. Not beta-read. Reina is Spanish for Queen. Also there’s a song that comes up later and it doesn’t like come up but the song that I imagined for said scene is this one. Take it or leave it, I trust you. Summary: Pope had come back in such an odd mood - but then he always got a little like that when anyone tried to answer for you or tell you what to do. He didn’t take well to anyone else thinking or acting like they were your boss. 

He wasn’t usually here when you did this, is the thing. Typically, Pope sent you footage and went back to his place to crash while you combed through whatever it was, dug up anything valuable, if there was anything valuable. By the time all of that was done, Pope was usually conscious again, breezed into the office with coffee from the good place around the corner, and the two talked over the footage. But he was there this time, pacing behind your chair, leaning over you every few seconds, breath ruffling your hair. The first few times, it was kinda cute. You’d missed him, the scent of his cologne, his grumbling. But after the tenth time, you hadn’t been able to discern any pattern. It was like trying to predict a jump-scare in a horror film, and it was starting to wear on you. So before he could even lean over you again, you raised a hand to stop him. “Santi, seriously, you’re making me jumpy.”

“Sorry, sorry,” He mumbled. You felt him rest his hands on the back of your chair, steadying himself. Okay. Better. At least he wasn’t thudding behind you... And then his nail was tapping at the side of your chair, and you groaned, tipping your head back. It rested against his chest as you peered up at him. “Go home, get some rest,” You urged, “This is gonna take a while, okay?” Santiago’s mouth twisted in displeasure before he ducked down, dropping a kiss to the tip of your nose. “Be back later,” He mumbled, stepping away from your chair so fast that your head fell back the rest of the way. You blinked up at the ceiling a few times as you heard him call back, “Text me if something comes up!” And then the door closed. You lifted your head, glancing over at the door. You didn’t know why you were looking at it - he wasn’t going to come back, right? After waiting for a few beats, you shook your head. No, definitely not coming right back. You raised your finger to the tip of your nose, poking it. Where the hell had that come from? No matter where, you sure as hell weren’t telling Frankie. -- When the door opened again, you found yourself perking up. And then you found yourself leaning back when you saw Alex stroll in. “Well don’t everyone rush me at once,” He teased. You rolled your eyes, turning back to your screen. “Whaddaya want, ‘Brano?” “Diego says your boss has some intel,” He said, rounding to lean against your desk, “I’m trying to get in on that action.” “Yeah, well, get in line, because this thing is buffering like a motherfucker.” “Maybe it’s because you’re staring at it. A watched file...Always buffers.” “That sounded better in your head, didn’t it.” “Way better,” Alex conceded, turning and leaning over your shoulder like Pope had a few hours before. Unlike Pope, however, he was able to hold still for more than a few seconds. He even managed to keep quiet for a few minutes before he turned his head, murmuring in your ear, “What are you doing for dinner?” “Something else.” “Something else than what?” “Than whatever you were about to suggest,” You retorted, glancing back at him and finding his face very, very close to yours. He smiled. “Well, it just so happens that I was going to suggest that you stay here and eat alone, so it’s nice to hear that you’re planning on switching it up.” You laughed, unable to help it. “You were going to suggest that I eat alone?” You repeated. Alex didn’t answer; instead, he just let his gaze drift down. “... ‘Brano,” You warned quietly. “Mm?” “What are you doing?” Before he could answer, your attention was drawn by the sound of the door closing. Pope was lingering in the doorway, frowning. “Hey,” You greeted, turning back to the screen. “...Anything?” Pope asked, coming deeper into office. “Not a thing,” Alex answered. “Not sure I was asking you, Zambrano.” Your brows shot up at the tightness in Pope’s tone. Where the hell had that come from? You gave him a look, and he just arched a brow and asked, “Well?” “Just what Alex said. Not a thing.” “You know what?” Alex cleared his throat, “This one,” He lightly pushed at the back of your head, “Has probably been here all day-- That program gonna run without you?” “Yeah, but--” You started. Alex shook his head. “Let’s go get something to eat. All of us,” He added, smiling at Pope, “Come on, I’ve barely been out since I got down here. And if we play our cards right, Garcia, we might find another hitman for you to punch.” -- The meal had started off as the most awkward, stilted experience, but by its end, ‘Brano and Pope had fallen into a more steady rapport. You just leaned back and let it happen. It was preferable to whatever bickering had been going on back at the office. Pope had come back in such an odd mood - but then he always got a little like that when anyone tried to answer for you or tell you what to do. He didn’t take well to anyone else thinking or acting like they were your boss. “Tequila shot, Q?” Alex asked as he flagged the waiter down. “Nu-uh, she hates tequila,” Santiago shook the idea off. Alex turned back to you, surprised. “Really? You had tequila shots when we were back home.” You felt Santi’s eyes on you and you waved off the fact. “I took it ‘cause they were given to us for free. If you’re gonna order me anything, get me a vodka shot-- but also don’t, because one of us is going back to the office after this and it’s clearly not gonna be either one of you.” “Jesus,” Alex muttered as Santiago snorted a laugh. “So what do you think, would Reina have been as good in Fugitive Recovery as she is down here?” Pope asked, eyes fixed on you. “Well what you two are doing down here is kinda like fugitive recovery,” Alex pointed out, “Little more involved, though, my job is very tracking based, what you all do-- this one comparing lab reports and all.” He reached up, yanking a piece of your hair as he said ‘this one’, and your hand came up, smacking him in the shoulder on instinct. He chuckled. “She would’ve been fine,” He added, turning back to Pope. “I would’ve been fine?” You repeated, turning back to Alex, “Jeez, what a ringing endorsement-- Dear diary!” “I’m never paying you a compliment again--” “My ears are burning.” You and Alex stared each other down for a few seconds before Alex turned away to reach for his beer. You felt the weight of Santiago’s gaze on you and you turned to meet his eye to find that he had turned away. You frowned a little. You must’ve been mistaken. “I should be getting back,” You sighed, rolling your neck, “The footage has gotta be done by now.” “Come on, you promised me a dance,” Alex whined, nudging your arm with his. You glanced back at the small, semi-crowded dance floor in the restaurant. “I was kidding,” You shrugged. “Reina doesn’t dance,” Pope mumbled. “She has before.” “You’re a shithead, ‘Brano,” You said, pulling out your wallet. “I’ve got it,” Pope said, shaking his head. “Come on,” You groaned. “Nope. Besides, I pay you, so that’s technically my money anyway, put your wallet away.” “You know I hate that argument.” “Which is why I only use it when I absolutely have to. Put your wallet away, Reina.” “One dance,” Alex pressed. “‘Brano--” “We’ll flip a coin.” You looked at him for a long moment before sighing, “Fine.” Alex fished into his pocket, pulling out a coin. “Heads or tails?” “Heads.” He flipped; you watched the light glint off of the coin before he caught it and flipped it over onto the back of his other hand. He lifted his palm from it, then grinned. Tails. Motherfucker. “Come on-- Come on, deal’s a deal,” He added, standing. You rolled your eyes, taking Alex’s hand as it was offering you and mouthing, ‘Be right back,’ to Pope before Alex pulled you onto the dance floor. Alex wasn’t expecting any fancy footwork, which was smart - you didn’t do this often. The song that was playing was a slower tempo, too, and didn’t require anything more than for you to sway in Alex’s arms as he guided you among the other couples. “Why are you like this?” You asked as the two of you moved. He arched a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “We were having a good time, the three of us.” “We’re still having a good time.” “Alex.” “I wanted to kiss you, you know? If he hadn’t come in. I was thinking about it. I’m still thinking about it.” This maybe shouldn’t have been the shock it was; you’d seen the way Alex had been looking at your mouth, you knew how straightforward he could be. “I could kinda tell,” You said after a few moments. “What would happen if I did it now?” “I’d taste like vodka and cholula.” “Sexy.” “Jesus, ‘Brano,” You laughed, shaking your head and looking down at your feet. You felt him turn his head, nuzzling into your hair as he murmured,  “...Tell me what you want.” You considered. It had been a while. You knew Alex. You were comfortable with Alex, you liked him; you just weren’t sure you liked him the same way he liked you. So you lifted your head, met his eye, and said, “I want to go back to work.” He didn’t frown or push you away; he didn’t stomp off. Alex just nodded. “Can we at least wait for the song to finish?” You nodded before resting your head on his shoulder. You swayed on in silence. “I’m sorry,” You said as it ended. “Don’t be, Q,” He gave you a light squeeze before steering back to the table. The check had been paid, and Pope was gone. Tag list: @justanotherblonde23​ ; @revolution-starter​ ; @emurlemur​​ ; @badbitxhbuckybarnes​

[bug13underscore]

if you still want prompts, how about Flynn/Carrie with 71.“Are you really flirting with me right now?”

Sorry for this one taking so long but I finally figured out a plot to go with for this one and I absolutely love this.

Flynn, to put it in the bluntest way, was having the absolute worst fucking day. First, as soon as she got to school a car drove past her, flinging mud from the previous night's rain all over her brand new outfit. Second, she ended up being late to her first hour class while trying to clean the mud out of her hair and ended up getting lunch detention. Third, it turns out she left her essay at home that was due that day. (She got an extension on the essay, but still it was a frustrating event.)

The fourth and final straw is when during seventh hour, the last class of the day, Reggie admits that she missed Bobby asking him out during lunch. While she was in detention!!

So, fuck it, she decides. She’ll walk home.

Except the universe decides her day just needs to get worse, because as she’s walking home, a car pulls up beside her and Carrie is pulling her into the car with her, not allowing her to protest as the door shuts behind her and the driver continues their travel.

“What the fuck!” She yells, unable to contain her blossoming anger.

“You seem like you’ve had a bad day, so we’re hanging out.” Carrie shrugs, as if what she did was the most normal thing.

Flynn takes a few short breaths, attempting to calm herself the way her mama taught her.

“Carrie, I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s been a long day, I just want to go home.”

“I know, but if you go home you’ll just end up napping or not doing much and you’ll let your mood get to you. If you come with me, your day will get better.” Carrie’s statement makes it clear there’s no room for arguments and Flynn doesn’t even have the energy to put up a fight, so she goes with it.

She lets herself zone out as they drive, only half listening to Carrie talking at her. Her brain lags behind a few words, so when she finally processes something Carrie said, she’s quick to stop the other girls babbling.

“Are you really flirting with me right now?” Carrie stills at Flynn’s words, her eyes growing wide and the color draining from her face.

It takes the girl a few moments to collect herself, letting out a small breath.

“I have been for the past three months, but thanks for noticing.”

“Well obviously not well enough if I only caught it.” Flynn argued, unable to keep the sassy tone out of her voice.

“Not well enough?” Carrie snaps back, a bright blush overtaking her face. “Would you rather me do Luke’s goo-goo eyes, Alex’s stuttering or Reggie’s geek flirting?”

“Bobby flirts better than you do! At least Reggie caught onto him flirting through being snippy and judgy! You do the same thing but worse somehow!”

“You absolutely did not just tell me that my shithead brother flirts better than I do!”

“Well obviously he does! He has a boyfriend now, doesn’t he?”

Carrie stills once more and the tension disappears.

“He what?”

“Wait holy shit, did he not tell you?”

“He absolutely did not!”

“Oh my god. Reggie said it happened during lunch, I missed it because I was in detention.”

Carrie is just silent, staring blanking into the car. Flynn gently grabs her hand and laces their fingers, offering the little comfort she can think of.

“Wanna go get shit to pull a big fucking prank on him?”

“Oh, of course.” Carrie gives her a grin, a malicious glint in her eye and Flynn is desperately glad that she’s no longer on the receiving end of that look. They spend the rest of the car ride planning the prank and the next few hours in the mall gathering the supplies they’d need.

Bobby won’t even know what hit him.

[snakebites-22]

Castle

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A/N: This was a request submitted by @dreamerinthesun​. Thank you so much for this request and sorry for taking so long to write it. I also changed one slight detail of what you asked for because I kind of forgot about it until after I wrote it so...yeah. Sorry. I hope you still like it tho lol. 

Warnings: some swearing, Minho being a shithead, mostly fluffy and platonic friendship between Minho and Reader, bullying Gally

Word Count: 1261

Pairings: Newt x Reader, platonic Minho and Reader 

Summary: Reader is a very sweet and seemingly innocent person who is somehow best friends with the least innocent person in the Glade. At a Gathering discussing various things the Gladers need, Newt and the others discover that maybe Y/n isn’t as sweet and innocent as they think. 

Sidenote: There are a few details that may confuse people who haven’t read the books. Sorry not sorry. Go read them. 

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“Oh come on, Newt!” 

It was a pretty regular day in the glade. Newt, your boyfriend, had limped himself into the Med-Jack hut complaining of some headache or some klunk, just so that he could spend some time with you and distract you from the actually injured Gladers. 

The blond boy just chuckled as he kissed your cheek, an innocent grin plastered onto his face. He absolutely adored it whenever you got angry. He found it super cute considering your normal sweet demeanor. Everyone in the glade knew how much of a sweetheart you were. You were always kind to everyone and always made sure to take care of your patients with the gentleness of a mother, and you also never swore. It was a very big and innocent contrast compared to the rest of the glade. 

You huff at him as you untangle yourself from within his arms to try and go back to the task at hand: organizing the medical shelves. They definitely were more stocked than they usually were, but bandages and other supplies were needed. You sigh as you sort through all of the materials. 

“Oh hey, I brought these for you,” you heard a beautiful British accent say, clearly only just remembering whatever this was. 

You turn to look at Newt as he pulls out a bundle and hands it to you. As you unwrap the faded fabric, a wonderful smell floats up to your nose. Lavender, primrose, rosemary, poppy, sage, yarrow, goldenrod. Newt had brought you herbs from the Trackhoes medical garden. It was your idea to have that garden in the first place, and it warmed your heart seeing how well the plants were doing. 

“Thank you, angel,” you said happily as you started prepping the plants for drying. 

As you were tying up the stems by the window, Minho strolled in. You looked over at him and raised an eyebrow, expecting some mischief. Minho was your best friend in the glade. It was a surprise to everyone at how well you both got along considering you were seen as practically polar opposites. He was loud, mischievous, snarky. You were reserved, kind, polite. Yet, whenever you weren’t with Newt you were usually seen with Minho. And usually, that meant you were the common sense to his chaos.

“Minho you know my rule,” you stated as you turned back to tying up the plants. “No shenanigans when I’m doing my job.” The Keeper of the Runners rolled his eyes as he leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed. 

“Shenanigans? Me? Never.” 

Now it was your turn to roll your eyes as Newt snorted in disbelief. “Yeah, sure.” 

A low chuckle could be heard from the dark haired boy. “Whatever you say, shank. Alby’s calling a Gathering. All the Keepers need to be there.” 

You bite back a groan of annoyance as you dust off your hands on your pants. You had been made Keeper of the Med-Jacks a couple months ago, and while it certainly had its perks, all the new responsibilities were kind of overwhelming. 

Newt nodded and stood up. He wasn’t a Keeper, but he was the Second-In-Command, so he still needed to attend. You took Newt’s hand before walking out of the room, Minho following behind the both of you. 

————————

You hated the Gathering Room. It was always hot and dusty and smelled like sweat and boredom. You were sitting in your place between Zart, Keeper of the Trackhoes, and Billy, Keeper of the Baggers. Minho was sitting in front of you. Newt and Alby were at the front of the room taking requests one by one from each of the Keepers of things that were needed. More nails for the Builders, more seeds for the Trackhoes, so on and so on and so on. 

You had already put in your request for more bandages and twine, so now you were just biding your time until you all were dismissed. Normally you’d be patient and listen intently to everyone’s needs, but today you really just wanted to leave. 

The sound of snickering grabbed your attention and pulled at it until you were focused on the source: Minho. Of course. 

You leaned forward until your head was practically over top of his shoulder before whispering, “What’s so funny?” 

Minho glanced at you with a familiar glint in his eye. This Gathering was about to get a lot more amusing. With a playful wink, the boy turned back around in his seat. He was focused on the front of the room. When you glanced up, you noticed Gally was standing near Alby and he was reciting various things he and his builders needed. Apparently, it was a lot more than just nails. You barely stifled a giggle as you watched Newt yawn from behind his hand. 

“We also need more rope. Alex used the last of it two days ago. And another thing-”

“Don’t forget to get yourself some more tweezers for your eyebrows, Captain Gally.”

You gasped out a laugh before clapping a hand over your mouth. Gally turned around and shot a glare at a smirking Minho. You weren’t the only one who had laughed. Newt was barely suppressing his laughs as his shoulders shook, and the ever so stoic Alby had a hint of a grin on his face. 

“Slim it, Minho,” Alby stated calmly. “Or you’ll be spending some time in the Slammer.” Minho let out a dramatic whine as he slumped in his seat. 

“Oh, come on Alby. I’m just saying the man needs his tweezers. He’s gonna have a unibrow soon if we don’t do something.” There were many more sounds of the other Keepers holding back chuckles and sounds of laughter as Gally’s glare hardened. You were giggling behind your hand.

“Minho if you have nothing serious to ask for then you can spend the rest of this meeting out in the Slammer,” Alby said seriously, but the light in his eyes betrayed his amusement. 

“Fine fine fine,” Minho said with a loud sigh. “Let’s see, I need some more trainers, notepads, some of those Runner undies you know what I’m talking about, hair gel-”

“Why are you like this?” Alby interrupted with a tired look. Minho just grinned in response as the other Keepers laughed and elbowed one another. 

“You may want hair gel, but bitch I want a castle.”  

You have never heard a room go quiet so fast as all eyes turned to you. The grin slid from your face as quickly as it had arrived as you glanced over everyone’s shocked faces. 

“Since when did you swear?” Winston questioned as he turned to look at you with interest. 

“Shit, Y/n. You never swore around these slintheads?” Minho asked as he looked back at you with delight. You only shrugged in response. 

“Wait hold on. Wait a bloody moment,” Newt said as he held his hands up for attention. “What do you mean ‘never swore’ around us?”

Minho let out a loud barking laugh as he looked around at everyone. “Y/n has the damn mouth of a sailor, is what I mean.” All eyes turned to you as you grinned sheepishly. 

“Well...he isn’t wrong. You’re all just fucking oblivious.” 

The rest of the day was spent ignoring the need to put in requests as everyone questioned you, wondering why they had all believed the idea that you were all goody goody and innocent when you were really just as rough as the rest of them. Also, where the klunk did the castle thing come from??

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Thank you for reading!! As always, reach out to me if you would like to be added or taken out of my taglists! 

Tagging: @soft-petey @tommysparker @lekirra018 @stixnstripesworld @orowit @dreamerinthesun

[gayforheadphonesgirl]

Falling Back Into You (Chapter 4)

(A/N): I'M ALIVE EVERYBODY. Finally got some time and inspiration to continue working on this fic. Hopefully I'll be more active again within the next few weeks. Consider this my Christmas gift to the gays. Enjoy! (Apologies for the lack of the keep reading break, I'm on mobile lmao)

----

Alex woke up to an empty space beside her where she vaguely remembers (Y/N) sleeping there last night.

"(Y/N)..." she mumbled half asleep when the events of last night suddenly came back to her.

Alex flushed and sat up abruptly. She winced as a headache hit her after moving so fast.

"Shit" she said.

"Shit" a voice said at the door. Alex whipped her head to see Mia standing at her bedroom door, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"We don't say that Mia" Alex said, laughing at herself at being caught swearing by her daughter. She motions for the young girl to join her in bed and Mia grinned before crashing into her mother.

"Good morning, little miss" Alex said, peppering Mia's face with kisses. The young girl giggles.

"G'morning. You and Auntie (Y/N) sure say a lot of words and tell me I shouldn't say them" Mia said, looking at her mother curiously.

"Ah well..." Alex said nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. If only Mia had heard her and (Y/N) on the field when they would fight with officials.

The former Orlando forward remembered (Y/N) screaming at the referee after she was taken down during the 2019 World Cup Final against Sweden.

"What the fuck? That's a damn penalty! Don't you have eyes, shithead?" (Y/N) said. The referee wasn't having her hotheadedness but was looking at the VAR's direction.

"Careful, (Y/N). You don't want to get carded" Kelley said, putting her hand on her shoulder.

(Y/N) huffed and glared at her teammate. She was furious at the officials and looked ready to charge at the Dutch players if Kelley didn't hold her back.

"Easy, hotshot. Why don't you check on Alex instead?" Julie chimed in, joining the pair.

The mention of Alex seemed to calm her down. Instead of acting on her impulse, (Y/N) rushed to Alex's side after the referee had gone to VAR.

"Hey, you okay?" (Y/N) said, looking worriedly at Alex. The latter nodded but winced a little.

"I'm good. We got this" Alex said, giving (Y/N) a smile. The latter returned the smile brightly.

"Yeah we do" (Y/N) said, helping her up. The pair looked at each other and got lost in their own world for a while.

For a moment, Alex was sure (Y/N) wanted to kiss her right then and there. She almost forgot to breathe as (Y/N) glanced down at her lips.

But they were both taken out of their daze when the crowd roared after the referee signalled the penalty.

(Y/N) grinned and pulled their foreheads together, seemingly fired up again.

"Let's fucking go" (Y/N) said. Alex couldn't help the blush that creeped up to her face but she grins back nevertheless.

"Let's fucking go" Alex repeated.

"Mooooom" Mia's voice reeled Alex back in from her flashback. She had apparently zoned out for a while, flashing back to that memory of her and (Y/N).

"Hm? Sorry. I spaced out did I?" Alex said, looking at her daughter. Mia giggled.

"Yeah momma. Is it the hangover?" Mia said. Alex gaped at the young girl.

"Wh-where did you learn that?" Alex said, one of her eyebrows raised. Instead of answering, Mia pointed to the bedside table.

There was a note in (Y/N)'s messy scrawl, aspirin and a glass of water.

Thought you might need this for your hangover. Had to get back to my loft but I'll see you Wednesday for dinner?

Had fun last night. Xoxo (Y/N).

Alex's heart warmed as she reached for the note.

"Where's Auntie (Y/N)?" Mia asked, looking over at the note.

"She had to go back home, hon" Alex said. Her daughter pouted.

"I miss her already" Mia said. Alex couldn't help but agree silently.

"We'll see her on Wednesday" Alex said. Mia hummed in agreement.

Alex quickly took the Aspirin and proceeded to stand up. She held her hand out for Mia.

"Come on babe, we've got errands to do" Alex said, assisting her daughter off the bed.

----

Alex and Mia were just about wrapping up with their grocery shopping when they once again crossed paths with (Y/N).

Mia had spotted the retired soccer star reaching for some produce and had sprinted in her aunt's direction.

"Auntie (Y/N)!" Mia exclaimed while running down the aisle.

(Y/N) perked up at the sound of the familiar voice and abandoned the beats she had been reaching for to scoop up the dashing seven-year-old into her arms.

"Heya kiddo" (Y/N) said, chuckling while lifting Mia of the ground. Alex had followed after her daughter, heart racing a bit at the prospect of facing her crush after last night.

"I missed you Auntie" Mia said, jumping up and down after (Y/N) let go. The older woman ruffled Mia's hair and smiled heartily.

"I missed you too Mia" (Y/N) said.

"My my, it's only been a couple of hours and here you both are talking like old friends reuniting" Alex said jokingly as she finally reached the pair.

(Y/N) grinned at her.

"Don't worry Al, I missed you too" she said. Alex couldn't help the blush that came to her face as she pushed (Y/N) playfully.

"Shut up" Alex said, nervously pushing her hair back behind her ear.

Seriously? This feels so high school. Alex thought.

"How's that hangover feeling?" (Y/N) said. Alex rolled her eyes at that but smiled at the other woman.

"Better now that I've seen you" Alex said without thinking. Now it was (Y/N)'s turn to blush. She looked like she was about to say something back when another voice called out.

"(Y/N), there you are where are my beats?" A woman said, approaching them.

"Ah yes, Portia sorry. I just got caught with my friend Alex and her kid Mia" (Y/N) said, scratching at the back of her neck.

A woman with long blonde hair and crystal blue eyes walked up to them looking at (Y/N) expectantly. But at the mention of their names Portia whipped her head at the mother and daughter.

Portia took in the pair in front of her. There she was, Alex Morgan in the flesh, the woman that has been giving her bestfriend gay panic for as long as she can remember.

And if her memory serves her right, even more these past few days. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. Portia wanted to do a little experiment because (Y/N) had been insistent that Alex didn't feel the same way.

"Portia, this is Alex and Mia. Alex and Mia, this is Portia my longtime business partner" (Y/N) said gesturing between the three people now crowded in the produce aisle of the grocery store.

Portia clinged to (Y/N)'s arm and smiled at Alex.

"Nice to meet you" Portia said, smiling. But unbeknowest to (Y/N) and Alex, she was watching the latter's reaction to her actions very carefully.

"Nice to meet you too" Alex said curtly. She couldn't help the jealousy that was starting to bubble up in her belly as she watches the blonde woman get all touchy with (Y/N).

Portia caught the subtle twitch in Alex's eye and almost grinned at her discovery. She was right -- (Y/N)'s former teammate did reciprocate her feelings.

"What's a business partner?" Mia said looking curiously at the woman. Portia crouched down to Mia's level and smiled.

"It means your Auntie (Y/N) and I work together. I handle all her finances when it comes to her social work and business" Portia said.

Alex was tempted to pull Mia away from the other woman's reach. She really didn't like her aura... or maybe that was just the jealousy talking.

"Well, we must be going our way now" Alex said, with both Portia and (Y/N) noting the slight annoyance in the forward's voice.

(Y/N) frowned at Alex's sudden change and could only scratch her head.

"Uhm... well yeah okay. It was nice seeing you Al. Wednesday?" (Y/N) said. Alex simply nodded and headed to the other direction.

"Come on Mia. We've got a lot more on our list" Alex said. Mia looked at (Y/N) and shrugged.

"Okie dokie. Babye Auntie. Nice meeting you, Aunt Portia!" Mia said with a smile and wave befote skipping to her mother who was already a few paces away from (Y/N).

"What was that about?" (Y/N) asked, looking confused. Portia rolled her eyes.

"Oh my God. You lesbians are so helpless" she said, laughing before walking away to continue her shopping for the office grocery supplies.

"What the hell does that mean?" (Y/N) said, walking after her with their shopping cart in tow.

----

"I'm telling you Kelley, this woman was all over her!" Alex said exasparated. She was chugging down wine on her kitchen counter with Kelley.

The latter had dashed down to the Morgans after a lengthy text from Alex about (Y/N) and Portia.

"I mean, is she her girlfriend? Why didn't she mention it before? Is she playing with my feelings?" Alex continued to ramble, getting angrier and more hurt by the minute.

Luckily, Kelley was there as a voice of reason.

"Woah there Alex, slow down. That's a lot to unpack. Firstly, we don't even know if they're together and secondly, (Y/N) doesn't even know how you feel" Kelley said looking pointedly at Alex.

The soccer star grumbled but couldn't help agreeing with Kelley's words. Mia walked into the kitchen with her mother's phone in hand.

"Momma, Auntie (Y/N)'s been calling non stop" Mia said, waving the still ringing phone in the air.

Kelley looked at Alex and motioned to the phone.

"Your decision" Kelley said. Alex was still salty about what had happened and the wine was starting to get to her.

"Nope. Auntie (Y/N) is on timeout. I'll talk to her when I want to" Alex said. Kelley facepalmed at her friend's stubborness but let it be.

Mia shrugged and walked back to the living room -- the phone still ringing.

It had stopped ringing but went on again after a few minutes. Mia sighed and picked up the call.

"Alex?" Came (Y/N)'s voice on the other end.

"Hi Auntie (Y/N)" Mia said, fiddling with the TV remote while she held her mom's phone to her ear.

"Mia. Hey. Where's your mom?" (Y/N) asked.

"In the kitchen" Mia replied simply.

"Can I talk to her?" (Y/N) asked hopefully. She had been overthinking everything since Alex's weird behavior at the grocery. Had she done something wrong?

"Nope. Momma says you're in timeout" Mia said. (Y/N)'s confusion only grew.

"Timeout? What do you mean? Why?" (Y/N) said, worry overtaking her.

"I dunno. But I hope it ends soon. I wanna play soccer in the living room again with you Auntie. Bye!" Mia said. Before (Y/N) could protest, the seven-year-old hung up on her.

----

(Y/N) groaned in frustration. Portia chuckled at the sight of her friend pacing around the room in their office.

How could she be so blind at Alex's blatant feelings towards her? Has (Y/N) noticed the way her former teammate looked at her?

"I'm in timeout... why am I in timeout?" (Y/N) said, looking helplessly at Portia. The latter simply shrugged.

"Maybe it was because of the experiment I did earlier" she said nonchalantly. (Y/N) whipped her head at Portia and stared.

"Experiment? What experiment?" (Y/N) said, still confused as ever.

"Just try to charm your way back. Surprise her with flowers and chocolates or something" Portia said. She had to admit, it felt a bit bad to set her bestfriend up like this but if it was the only way to confirm Alex's feelings...

"You know what? You're right. I'll head on over there right now, if she'll have me" (Y/N) said, already texting Freda for another one of her beautiful bouquets for Alex.

---

Alex was busy preparing food for dinner for her, Kelley and Mia when a knock came at her door.

She opened it to reveal (Y/N) holding a bouquet of Asphodels and an apologetic look. Alex was stunned silent.

"Uhhh. I was told I was in timeout and wanted to apologize" (Y/N) said. Alex mentally facepalmed herself. Of course, Mia would tell (Y/N).

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Thank you" Alex said, retrieving the flowers from (Y/N)'s hands.

"Well if I did something wrong I'm sorry" (Y/N) said following Alex inside. The latter was feeling a bit embarassed at how she had acted.

"It's not a big deal. I promise" Alex said, unable to face the other woman. (Y/N) wasn't convinced and reached out to hold her hand.

"If it upset you, then it's a big deal, Al. I care about you a lot. Tell me what's wrong" (Y/N) said. Alex faced her and suddenly got lost in her eyes.

She was so tempted to just throw it out all the window and kiss (Y/N) right then and there.

Alex licked her lips cautiously and was about to bite the bullet when suddenly--

"Alex I have found a breakthrough! I-" Kelley stalked into the room but paused once she noticed (Y/N).

"Heyyyy, (Y/N)" Kelley said awkwardly. (Y/N) let Alex go and waved at the former Utah Royal.

"Hey, Kell" (Y/N) replied. Alex could only sigh and shake her head at the timing of her friend. In retrospect, maybe it was for the best she hadn't acted on her impulse and kissed (Y/N).

The latter couldn't help but feel sad at the loss of contact.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna check on Mia real quick" Kelley said, scrambling out and up the stairs.

"Look Alex, whatever it was... I'm really sorry" (Y/N) said, looking at Alex with pleading eyes.

She just couldn't resist those orbs looking at her like that and sighed.

"Don't worry about it. It was nothing, okay?" Alex said with a smile. (Y/N) was relieved at the sight of the other woman smiling back at her again.

"So, I'm not on timeout anymore?" (Y/N) said with a hopeful glint in her eye. Alex laughed.

"No you're not. Now go before Mia sees you and makes you stay for hours" Alex said. The other woman chuckled and nodded her head.

"That wouldn't be so bad, would it?" (Y/N) said as the pair walked out the door. She turned to Alex before heading out.

"No, it wouldn't" Alex said, smiling. (Y/N)'s heart soars that everything was back to normal again.

"So, Wednesday?" (Y/N) asked, leaning on the door frame.

"Wednesday"

To be continued.

[shortpirateking]

2,11

Ja(*reeees in confusion and how to come up with good qualities*)

2. What’s 3 things your f/o likes about you?

I have....literally no idea- especially on specific F/o’s... I guess for the general it’d be creativity, adventurous, and silly???

11. Free pass to gush about your f/o

Okay so!!! I have many many many *MANY* f/o’s- all from different fandoms and even to a few of my friend’s oc’s!! so it’s hard to list every single one but I am ABSOLUTELY going to list many of them with a little ramble(and the fandom because sO MANY CHARACTERS. (not counting transformers characters, book characters, or Oc’s/ readers for the sake of space)

Dark Crystal(first ofc)

SkekTek: oh do I LOVE this boy!!! His intelligence, his backstory!! I just wish to hold him close, protect him from the world and go on a vacation with him and Sidetic!!!

SkekVar: Originally I wasn’t so fond of him- but his dumb himbo self has grown on me- i remember having a dream a long time ago of the skeksis turning human after saving thra(long plotline) and becoming like teasing partners who playfought a lot. I wantthis still.

SkekGra and Urgoh: They’re just!!!! So sweet!!! I want to snuggle with them, make puppet shows together with them and just enjoy being hermits!!!!

UrVa: Husband material?? yes?? His voice is amazing and i just want to be wrapped in his arms in the forest, learn archery and!!! AAAHSUAIHSA

SkekMal: Scary forest man who shits in the woods with a dark and sexy voice??? sign me tf UP *So many things i’d do with this feral lad*

UrSol: I just....love him so much- I want to snuggle, spoil, tease, and sing with him. 

UrTih: I would do ANYTHING to make him blush, embarrass him then snuggle him as he hides his face. UrTih is mY LAD

UrSan: She’s literally a mermaid and she’s so!!! PRETTY I’M SO GAY FOR HER

SkekSa: EVEn GAYER FOR thIS  LASS HOLY SHIT SHE COULD STEP ON ME AND I’D THANK HER DUOIS

SkekLi: As a musical/history/folklore nerd. I’d kill to sit by a fire, sing folk songs and tell stories, make up our own plays, and just...enjoy being silly without the worry of being ridiculed.

SkekShod(Sorry shroom-): My??? My love?? I want to give this Skeksis my treasure chest of shiny rocks- I want to hold him close, love and kiss him- if he ever told me he loved me i’d *melt*

Assassin’s Creed

Ezio Auditore: he is *beyond* handsome- and good golly is he just!!! PERFECT. He has so much character development- i just want to learn Italian, follow his adventures and see all the things he has seen!!! (and befriend all of his friends)

Yusuf Tazim: Turkish lad??? Dorky, and just so silly??? yes??? I just....want to run through Istanbul with him---

Federico Auditore: HE WAS ONLY ALIVE FOR LIKE 5 MINUTES OF GAMEPLAY BUT I WANT TO MARRY HIM OK

Altair Ibn La-ahad: Oh boy have I had so mANY DAYDREAMS WITH THIS MAN. I’d kill to have the frenemies to lovers romance with him, aid him in his quests, become his right hand man and just....Share life with him and Maria- being the weird aunt of Darim and Sef

Malik Al-Sayf: SAME HERE WITH MALIK. I just...want to grow up with him and Kadar, learn to be an assassin with them and just- help him through his grief, change the course of time- or if not, be there for Tazim as he grows.

Charles Vane: I have literally no reason to like this man, but I do. 

Anne Bonney and Mary Reed: Amazing tough pirate gorls who kick ass and take names- what is there to NOT love?!?!?! (I just want to flirt and love on both of them- and many other NSFW things)

The Hobbit/Lotr

Aragorn: a king and warrior, strong and brave- and just!!! iosjdisada

Boromir: I really feel bad for this lad- he was merely a mortal, and sacrificed so much to regain his honor... I wish I could have saved him- or gave him comfort-

Bofur: He is the life of the party and I want nothing more than to dance on a table with him while singing at the top of our lungs. 10/10 best friends as lovers

Bifur: I want nothing more than to learn Khuzdul, speak with him and just...hold hands as I watch him make such intricate toys, see both that wild side and gentle side. 

Nori: I just like his stupid starfish hair and shenanigans okay??? he’s a little shithead thief

Kili: babbi boi....babi

Tauriel: Strong independent woman??? Red hair??? badass?? I don’t care that she wasn’t in the book, I WANT HER HAND IN MARRIAGE

Marble Hornets

Tim Wright: husband?? I would have loved to hold him- before all went to shit- i’d love to be in a poly/open relationship with him, Jay and Brian(brian we’d share, but Jay would be is(As he is CANON GAY AND I’VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY BEFORE MY HC WAS RIGHT)

Alex Kralie: Honestly was probably an adorable dork before the sickness got to him- I still love the bad ending @probably-rabid and I roleplayed before-

Arata Kangatari(manga is the best)

Kannagi I just- love his character arc so much!!! even afterwards he’s such a dORK AND I LOVE HIM

Yorunami: Okay look- we both went through so much from our parents- so much trauma. I wish to hold him and help him to let go, to forgive but understand that doesn’t mean he has to excuse behavior.

Isora: He went through so much...so much... he didn’t deserve anything that he got, like at all... the fact he turned evil is not a surprise at all- i would have too...I just wish I could love on him, allow him to know there is love.

Eto: He’s such a good big brother....I just...want to love him... so much

Kuroshitsuji: 

Hannah Anafeloz: She was my first gay crush I can remember(then again I can’t remember too much of my childhood at all so-) and I love her so much-

Claude Faustus: I fucking hate him- and yet I love him sso sosososo much(Legit he is more of a yandere f/o and I rEEEE)

Herman Greenhill: Idc what happened in the manga- Often daydreamed about getting into Weston high and just... having him question his sexuality(As I’d be presenting as male the entire time) and just--- !!!!

Wolfram Gelzer: Big bad guy who learned to love?? Like!!! He is so sweet!!! big scary Germany teddy bear. 10/10 would snuggle. Also I love sullivan so we’d team up to tease the crap out of him

Gregory Violet: emo boi...likes black and cloaks. He is my goth boi and just...I want to draw with him- save him from Bravat along with the others- and other things that are plot related

Lawrence Bluer: Same for him-and I love how he is! I feel like he’d be a blushing nerd sometimes- but also be calm and collected. gOD I JUST WANT TO HOLD HIS HAND AS WE SHARE A BOOK

The Triplets(thompson, timber, and canterbury): I have no reason to love them- yet i do.

Agni: *incoherent screaming and sobbing as I recall what happened* HE DESERVED SO MUCH AND I LOVE HIMMMMMMMMMMMM

Snake: Babbi boi...babbi pt 2- I love him so much- he was my first ever cosplay, tricked my uncle into naming his snake after one of his(Keats). I just want to snuggle this boi.

Joker: sweet boi put into bad situation- I wish I could have saved him and the rest of the circus act-

Jumbo: okay but he is literally like 10ft tall. I want his height. I WANT TO BE CARRIED BY THIS MAN. LET ME BE CARRIED BY MY SUPER TALL HUSBAND OKAY?!?!?!

(I have so so so so SO MANY MORE- but that’s the main ones. Thank you for my TedTalk)

[michaels-blackhat]

study buddies

day 12/32 of my massive holiday project

for @seeaddywrite, a wonderful writer, person, and my educational (study) buddy. Congrats on the end of your semester and the end of mine. Please enjoy study buddies Michael and Liz, with a little bit of bonus at high school romances

Liz sat her books down on the long library table and looked over at its sole occupant. Michael Guerin was bent over a notebook, pen moving quickly as he powered through whatever assignment he was working on. Liz watched his for a moment, waiting for his pen to lift.

“Hey Ortecho,” Michael said when he finally looked up from his paper. “You don’t normally study here.”

He was right, she didn’t. She normally took over a booth in the back corner of the Crashdown before her shift started.

“I know,” she said as she sat across from him. “I’m just having problems with the pre-calc assignment and Mrs. D is the worst at explaining things.”

Michael snorted, that was an understatement. “I don’t think she’s updated her notes since the 80s,” Michael complained as he set aside his physics homework and opened his pre-calc book. “Seriously, I have to go home and teach myself the concepts, or else I’d be failing her class like…” He trailed up and looked at Liz.

“Like almost everyone else,” Liz said with a grin. “I’m normally pretty good at picking these things up, but the textbook just doesn’t make any sense to me. I don’t understand how they go from…” Liz also trailed off as she pulled Michael’s textbook towards her and pointed at the example. “See here? It doesn’t even connect to the previous example and the chapter doesn’t even mention it!”

Michael scowled at the textbook. It was definitely directed at the textbook and not at Liz. “I know, it’s another thing Mrs. D didn’t actually teach us. Here, let me show you.”

He bookmarked the page and then turned to a page chapters earlier. Liz pulled out her notebook, ready to learn.

-

“I can’t do this,” Michael said as he threw his pen down, his head following slightly after, hitting his book with a slight thump.

“It’s an essay,” Liz started, but Michael cut her off.

“It’s an essay for a novel I could barely stay away through,” he said, voice still muffled. He turned his head so that Liz could hear him properly. “I know we’re meant to study chemistry together, but I’m seriously screwed if I don’t finish this.”

Liz looked up from her chemistry notes to look at Michael fully. His hair hid most of his face, but what she could see was exhausted. He had bags under his eyes, larger than were usually there, and his entire appearance was more unkempt than it usually was. Liz knew he took great care to look as put together as he could. She knew the rumors about him, knew what rumors in a town like theirs could do. Their town was big enough for rumors about everyone, but small enough that you knew which ones were true.

“Ok,” Liz said, still watching Michael’s tired face. “We still have a few days until the AP test. And honestly, I’m pretty sure we’re both going to ace it.” Michael nodded his head in agreement. They two of them were the top of their class, and they had been preparing for weeks. Both understood the importance of grades on scholarships. And how much those AP credits could help. “So, let’s see what this essay is about.”

-

“Hey Guerin, want the rest of my fries?” Liz asked when she was full. They had been sitting there all evening, trying to finish their group project for their sociology class. Liz still wasn’t sure why either of them took it, besides how a varied curriculum would look on their transcripts.

Michael barely looked up as he reached for a fry. It was the first time Liz had convinced him to eat with her when they worked together. Maybe it was because they were sharing. Or maybe because he was too tired and annoyed at their sociological experiment and how it had not gone the way their professor had thought it would.

Michael took another fry. “Thanks Liz,” he said, head still trying to make sense of their survey data. He quickly flashed her a grin before he looked back down. “So,” he said as he copied the data onto their worksheet. “You were getting all cozy with Max after prom.”

Liz stopped what she was doing to look at Michael.

“Are you trying to gossip with me Michael Guerin?” Liz asked in a shocked tone. It wasn’t feigned. She and Michael never really talked about anything beyond school. It was their main point of connection, for all that they at least had Max in common.

“No gossiping,” Michael mumbled into a fry. “Just asking a question.”

Liz gave him a suspicious glare.

“Is Max trying to get you to get me to tell you anything?”

This time Michael did raise his eyes and his eyebrows at her.

“Liz,” Michael said seriously, too seriously, “he’s had a crush on you forever and everyone knows it. If he was trying to get me to do anything, I’d laugh in his face because it would be so obvious. No, this is just me asking a question.” He ended his sentence with a shrug.

“He’s sweet,” Liz said after a few moments of silence. “And he’s caring. And he’s my friend and has been for years.” She shrugged and went back to her own data sheet. “He was just trying to make me feel better, you know? I mean, I knew Kyle and Alex weren’t exactly friends anymore, but I didn’t think it was that bad, you know?”

Michael breathed out of his nose loudly before he put his pencil down and looked directly at Liz.

“I think both of them tried really hard for you not to know. Kyle because he’s a dick who thought he could have you and still be a shithead, and Alex because he’s your friend and he didn’t want to make you choose.”

Liz smiled a little but her eyes were sad. “Way to be honest Guerin. God, how did I not notice?”

“Did you notice that Alex wasn’t the only person he was a dick to?”

Liz shook her head. “He was never like that around me. I didn’t like hanging around his friends though. I probably should have thought about why that was.”

“You liked him, and he was always sweet to you. He made sure you never saw him as anything else. You can’t beat yourself up about it, just gotta be a better friend.”

Liz smiled at him, this time without the lingering sadness. “How’d you get so wise Guerin?”

“I’m a genius Ortecho,” he said with a wink. “No, enough feelings. Let’s finish this shit.”

-

Michael looked down at the note left for him at the Crashdown counter.

Ditching the chemistry project. I have a date instead.

It was signed with a smiley face. Michael crushed it in his hand as he made his way toward the UFO museum. Hopefully he’d have his own date too.

[alexis-vaughn]

@frontierbound Cuba Drabble II

It was nearly over. The mission that occupied them for weeks now nearly reached its high end and Alex couldn’t wait to be finally done with this shithead Jesper. She had to spent way too much time with this monster of a man who killed not only good men, men of their own, but didn’t even stop when it involved killing children and women. And of course she was the one chosen to twirl him around her little finger. Of course she succeeded and finally earnt enough trust to plan a takeover by her team and it only needed five more minutes until they would storm in here and end this ridiculous shit show where nearly everyone of Jespers team would be together in this warehouse.

Five minutes. And still it felt like chewing gum which just wouldn’t leave your shoe. “We made it, babydoll.” Oh my god how much she hated his nickname for her. But still she smiled and linked into his arm, maybe because she was still too afraid that he would leave before the five minutes were over. “Of course we did. Didn’t expect anything else from you.” Besides him bleeding out under her hands, but of course killing wasn’t necessarily something included in her duty, since they needed him for interrogations. “We even got this one asshole who was spying on us.” Jesper said with a wide smirk and whoever he meant, Alexis knew they would get him out of here in the next minutes anyways. “Oh really? That’s great Jes. Who was it?”

Before he could even answer, two of his soldiers came in, carrying an unconscious... Sam? No that couldn’t be. He knew about their plan. He even was included in it even if her team didn’t want his support at first, but it was the only way to get sure that Sam wouldn’t try anything on his own and she needed to know he was safe. She fought so long for them to accept him in their rows for this and now he was here? Why? The urge to run to him and slap him across the face for starting another one man show was high, but of course she needed to stay calm in case Jesper just wanted to test her reaction. Four minutes. Just four more minutes.

“What are you gonna do to him?” she asked and tried to show him the excited grin she faked a few times before as if she was loving to watch fucking torture. “We get rid of him. But for now we will keep him, in case his men want him back.”

A big lump blocked her throat and probably her hands started shaking just by looking at Sams bloody face. They must have beaten him up and she couldn’t even do anything as they let him hit the ground. “If we need him alive, you should treat him better.” Yeah she should have swallowed that, but she couldn’t, especially as Sam started coughing while laying on his stomach. He was awake. Alex grabbed a bottle of water from the near by table and kneeled down in front of him to lift his face and filled his mouth with water. Not only that he would drink, but because she wanted him to listen. “You idiot. I’m gonna get you out of here, I promise.” she whispered as quietly as she could while Jesper only chuckled about her shown empathy. “You’re too nice for this world babydoll. That’s why you need someone like me to protect you.”

She looked over her shoulder, Sams chin still in her hand and smiled brightly. “Of course Jes. I’m a weak woman, I need a strong man like you are.” Three minutes. It would soon be over and she couldn’t wait to see the shock in Jespers face. But three minutes could be endless and right now they turnt into exactly that as suddenly Jesper pulled out a gun and aimed at Sams head. “He’s a friend of yours. I saw you.” Jesper snarled and made Alex get up to raise her hands. “No. No you got that wrong Jes. I just met him a few times to get...” “Bullshit!” Dammit she should have known that jealousy always comes in the way, even with an asshole like this.

Jesper stepped closer, right in front of her with the gun still aimed down to Sam on the floor. “I will kill him and let you watch so you understand there’s no one else than me in your life. You gotta understand.” “I... I understand.” she tried desperately to convince him, throwing herself at his chest to hold onto his shirt. “Please don’t, we need him.” The man shook his head and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her temple as he mumbled “you need no one besides me.” She didn’t know what exactly pulled the trigger in her head, but out of nowhere she bit in his throat and pushed his hand to the side so the following shot just met the ground next to Sam. While Jesper was stumbling from the bite, Alex slid out the small hidden knife from the side of her bra and rammed it in his throat to turn him around in front of her cause his soldiers now started shooting, but only hit his body instead of hers what made them stop cause their boss was screaming in pain and asking to stop. It was just what she needed as she ran into them to bury them under the weight of the hurt man and grabbed one of their guns to shoot their heads, with Jesper raising his hands as he laid on his back.

“Don’t.” he coughed and she knew it was just a minute left until her people would storm in and he would be still alive just as it was their goal. But as her head turnt to her side to Sam who tried to get up, something in her clicked and she sat down on top of Jesper to stab him. Over and over again until every last inch on her face and hands was covered in blood.

Suddenly the doors opened and her people stormed in. Williams voice echoed through the walls to make her stop, but she didn’t seem to hear it until he pulled her away from her bloody victim with her hands shaking. Like in trance she looked up into her bosses eyes who definitely wasn’t satisfied about her killing their biggest suspect. “He threatened Sam.” she just mumbled, tears silently leaving her eyes and William just sighed and hunkered down while medics took care of Samuel. “And that’s why I didn’t want to include him. Come on Vaughn.”

===

Still with shaking hands and covered in blood she sat on the back of the medical transport and waited for Sam to get out. He did and of course he was walking on his own, proud motherfucker. She loved it. Waiting for him at the car she smiled in happiness, again tears leaving her eyes but without a sob. As he finally stood in front of her with his cocky “hey”, she just reached out for his face to press their foreheads against each other and feel his skin. “I couldn’t let him hurt you... I just couldn’t.” Sam seemed to understand and wrapped his arm around her to pull her close, but still he wouldn’t hold back to exhort her, which she could give right back to him. “You should have sticked to the plan.” she mumbled against his chest while he was stroking over her hair lovingly.

“Couldn’t let him hurt you.” he repeated and made her laugh and cry at the same time. “Yeah you really were a great help, asshole.” she teased back and waited for him to join her on the car just to hold onto each other despite the looks they got from their colleagues. It didn’t matter. Nothing did matter besides him being well. And it probably was in this moment that she realized she loved him. More than a friend. More than family. And she realized her boss knew it way before her. Way before Sam probably knew. Or at least she hoped so.

“You’re all I have left Sam. You’re family. I would always protect you, always. You hear me?” And she would, against all odds. Same as she nowadays would for her daughter as well, but she couldn’t know that at that time.

Sam scoffed to that. “Family, hm?” was the only thing he said before getting up and taking her hands. “Let’s get you cleaned up. Come.”

Of course he didn’t say anything about his own reasons. Why he went after her and couldn’t let Jesper hurt her. But in this moment she could accept it cause she didn’t need to hear it. The only thing mattering was his arm wrapped around her to lead her back to her apartment and help her under the shower. Without words, without confessions or anything that could break her. The only thing she saw was the way he looked at her, the way his eyes locked on her until she was safe under the shower. He could have joined her easily that night, bathing in their enemies blood she tried to rub from her body. But he didn’t. Of course he didn’t. And it probably was the reason why she didn’t tell him about her feelings she noticed in that night. It was nothing. Just a distant dream she shouldn’t have. Even if she would kill for exactly that dream. Always again.

[captainillogical]

Devil’s Ballroom ch.3

A year after the events from the earth’s final attack, Little Homeworld is finally complete, and there’s a new jazz bar where gems and humans mingle and drink. - As you’re typing back a reply, someone pulls the stool out next to you and takes a seat. You see a sliver of pink out of the corner of your eye as you try not to actually Look. Oh god. It’s her. God can’t help us now.

Spinel/Reader

collab with my lovely wife @firstofficertightpants

    She sets her mostly empty drink down on the counter, and turns to look at you when Bismuth walks over again, stealing her gaze right back.

“That was nice, Spinel. I think that was my favorite song of yours yet.” She says to her. “You want another round?”

“Aw jeez, thanks I guess, Bis.” Spinel says sheepishly. “And yeah, I think I’ll need it tonight.”

    You pretend that nothing weird has ever happened to you at all in your life, and down the rest of your drink. You want like, 5 more of these and then you'll be able to deal with this.

Y/N: Yeah. I remember the night. She's also sitting right next to me. Uh.

Alex: for real

Y/N: I might be internally having a panic attack.

    Bismuth pours Spinel her drink, and she sighs. "It's just, today was kind of rough. Blue called and wanted to apologize for things that she doesn't need to be apologizing about, and I kind of wish they'd calm down a little and let me exist in peace."

    Bismuth nods. "Steven has talked a lot about them. They seem really difficult to be around, if I'm going to be honest. They don't quite get.. real people problems."

"You have no idea." She replies, and takes a long drink. “They don’t even understand privacy. I couldn’t do anything without them basically following me everywhere. It was stifling.”

“Seriously, I’m not sure what I expected from the Diamonds, but if you told me that 5000 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you at all.” Bismuth says, “I’m just glad you have some much needed breathing room.”

“It was long overdue. Several months in their presence was more than enough.”

    Bismuth gives Spinel a tired smile, and turns to you.

“How are you holdin up there, Y/N?” She hands you another drink. “You’ve only been here 25 minutes or so, and you’re on your 3rd already. That kinda night?”

“Err, just in the mood I guess.” You reply and laugh. You weren’t trying to eavesdrop. Bismuth turns away to a couple of other patrons and busies herself making a few mixed drinks for them.

        Alex: dude kick her for almost killing ur dad

    Y/N: What, and get myself killed? Fuck no.

    Alex: ur a pussy

    Harper: did she say anything about you taking a pic?

    Y/N: No! Please don’t curse me.

“You know, if you wanted a pic so bad of myself, you could’ve asked.”  Spinel says, turning to face you directly. You stare at your phone and can feel your face heating up for being called out. You can feel your mouth working way faster than your brain can even comprehend.

“My friends are shitheads and didn’t believe me when I said I saw someone cute on stage.” You say, and immediately shut your mouth. If you could sink into the floor right now and disappear forever, that would be great. God doesn’t grant you this though, and you curse him for it. “I mean.. I’m sorry. That was rude of me to do without your permission.” She grins. 

“Ya know, I didn’t actually see who did it, I just saw the general direction of the flash and walked towards it, and happened to find an empty seat next to someone looking fairly nervous.” She laughs. “Way to out yourself there.”

    You look at her. Fucking goddammit. “I seem to be doing a lot of that today. Ughhhhh.” You drag your hand down your face in dramatic fashion, and take a drink. You’re starting to feel the alcohol slowly take a small bit of effect. “Song was nice by the way.”

“Oh, thanks.” She looks a bit surprised, like she’s not used to compliments. Hm. 

“I’m not so musically talented myself, but uh. I can make some mean enchiladas. AND I can make a calculator spell the word “boobs”.” You say, like it’s somehow impressive.

“What’s an enchilada?” Spinel looks at you suspiciously. Oh right. Gem. 

“It’s.. food. Hold on.” You say and pull up an internet browser to google the definition of enchiladas so you can show her a pic. You see the group chat go off a couple times and keep swiping away your friend’s rapid texts, knowing that they’re asking you too many questions right now and you’re determined to show this alien one of your favorite foods. Tonight sure is a weird night. You find a good pic of enchiladas, and turn your phone towards her. “See? Tortilla, cheese, meat. Great stuff. You can even change some of the ingredients and make them a couple different ways. All pretty good if I do say so myself.” You say as she looks at it, and you can see your phone chime with another message notification. You pull your phone away quickly before she has any chance to see whatever the fuck your friends are talking about.

“Humans are strange.” She replies, a pondering look on her face. She takes another drink and sets the glass down gently, keeping her hand lightly on the glass. You notice her fingernails are short and clean. You wonder if they grow like human nails? You wonder how similar gems are to humans in general. “You guys have to eat to survive? And you all grow so much all the time, and you’re constantly changing. You can’t even grow limbs back, or shapeshift. What’s the point?”

“The point?” You laugh. “I mean, science IS advancing and we can grow organs from plants, in a lab. Can’t grow limbs back.. yet. I can’t exactly change being human. Besides, you gems as a race don’t exactly look like you have any fun at all. Being human is all about having new experiences.” You say.

“Well, maybe I’m having fun now.” She says, tapping the rim of her glass. You kind of look at her for a second. She seems to be tapping her left foot on the side of the stool, maybe kind of nervously? Her hair is up in a ponytail, and she's pushing some of the fringe behind her ear. She’s cute, you think to yourself. 

“Oh?” You say as you smile slyly into your drink. You think you see her blush a bit.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Last time wasn’t so nice. Some guy tried punching me, he was drunk and recognized me from the earth attack last year. Bismuth had to kick him out.” She says stiffly, and takes a drink. “I’m sorry about that, by the way.”

“My dad almost died.” You say. She winces.

“I am really sorry. I do regret how I dealt with my entire situation.. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it." She sighs. "I’m just glad no one actually died. And thanks for not cursing me out, for all of this."

"He's hard to kill, anyway." 

"What?" She says, staring at you incredulously. 

"My dad. He's done so many stupid, dangerous things that I remember from my childhood. He must have some kind of divine blessing, because even when he fought that gator off grandpa's porch, he came out without a scratch. And that was one really pissed off gator." You say. Spinel laughs heartily. She's actually really cute when she laughs, and you can't help staring for a second. “There was also that one time this guy attempted to rob us at a gas station, and he took the bastard down with the unopened energy drink from his cup holder. You wanna know what he had to complain about afterwards? That he had to now go buy another energy drink. That’s my fucking dad, I guess.”

“Your life sounds interesting.” She says in reply.  “I can tell that you love him though.”

“Yeah. He’s kind of my entire life. He’s all I have left of my family.” You say, smiling. “He’s a good dad. He tries his best.” You hear your phone chime a couple more times, and roll your eyes. They’re so fucking needy. “My friends are extremely obnoxious, and must know what I’m doing at all times. You have anyone like that in your life? Because I could pawn off Alex on you if you want.” You grab your phone and open up your group chat to see what they’re talking about. There’s quite a few missed messages.

    Harper: she hasn’t said shit in a while and i’m kinda worried.

    Harper: what if she got kidnapped. D:

    Alex: shes probs in the middle of a bar fight tbh

    Alex: im pretty sure that alien started it or something

    Alex: she was probs all like “im gonna kill ur planet now and finish u all off!!”

    Alex: and Y/N was like “not on my watch BITCH” and decks her

    Alex: the whole bar claps

    Harper: shut up it’s been like 10 mins and she hasn’t said anything and i’m nervous.

“I have a few people who I’d call friends here. Bismuth, Lapis, Amethyst.. Steven. I kind of feel like I’m bothering them when I’m around, in general..” She says, swirling the drink around in her glass. She regards it, lifts to her lips, and takes a drink. “Steven sometimes asks how I’m doing.. I know he cares. I have a hard time letting myself be honest with him. Cause.. you know. He’d try to solve all my problems. And I try to deal with them on my own.”

Y/N: I'm not dead. We're talking. She's nice.

Alex: wow are all genocidal maniacs nice i wonder

Harper: TALKING. YOU'RE TALKING TO HER

Y/N: YES WE'RE TALKING.

Y/N: She even apologized about my dad, and the entire shebang, really. 

Y/N: She's nice conversation, anyway.

Harper: whoa she apologised?

Alex: youve got to be kidding me rn

Alex: lemme just go revive gengis khan so we can have a nice chat over tea

Alex: this is absolutely nuts why am i the only sane one here

Alex: im gonna go fucking feral 

"It's such a Steven thing to do, too. You should've seen how he was when he found out about my mother." You laugh, and set your phone down on the counter. "He literally tried to go out and find her. He's such a sweet kid, but I had to break it to him that even if I knew where she was, I didn't want to see her."

    Off to your left side, you feel someone approach you at the bar. You turn your face to see who it is. It's a man who looks a decade older than you are, and you've never seen him before. He nods to regard you. 

"Can I get you a drink, beautiful? You look absolutely lovely." He says, leaning in slightly.

"Thank you, but I'm alright." You put in your best polite, but fuck off smile. 

"You're just going to say no without even considering it?" He smiles, and you hate it. He's giving you terrible vibes and it's making you uneasy.

"I said I'm good." 

"Yeah bu-" He starts, but Spinel cuts him off.

"She says she's good, pal. Leave the dame alone." She crossed her arms over her chest, and glares at him. 

"Damn fine, stuck up bitch. Didn't want to talk to you anyway." He spews, and leaves to the other side of the bar. Thank god, you think to yourself.

"Thank you for that." You say to her, seriously relieved. "Fucker needs to learn how to take no for an answer." 

“Yeah, well. No one harasses a girl on my watch.” She regards you carefully. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

“No?” You lift an eyebrow in response.

“What happened with your mother?” She says, grabbing for her drink and taking a sip.

“Oh. Um,” You’re a bit surprised that she seems to genuinely care. You’ve known her for all of like.. a half hour. “She left when I was 5. Just had enough of dad and I, I suppose. Dad says it just came out of nowhere, and he has no idea what happened. We were a happy family, and then one day after dinner, she went into their room, packed some things in a single bag, and left.” You pause to take kind of a long drink. “And no one knows where she went. It’s been 17 years. Not a single word. It actually really fucked me up for years. I felt abandoned and absolutely worthless. How could you raise a child for 5 years, and just fucking bounce? Like, did she read a manual on how to fuck up your kid and give them emotional problems for the rest of their life? God, what a fucking bitch. I can’t even IMAGINE doing that to a kid.”

    Spinel is staring at you with wide, shocked eyes.

“Eventually I ended up gaining some friends that helped me get over it, for the most part. They’re stupid and I love them. And if they ever found my mother, they would murder her in a heartbeat.” You say, chuckling. Spinel is still staring at you. “Are you okay? You ask. 

“I’m fine, it’s just.. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone like me.” You watch her fiddle with her fingers. She moves slightly, and you see her shirt open, heart gem glimmering in the low lighting. You don’t want to be caught staring at it, like a crow to a shiny object. (You want to touch it. You want to touch it bad. Is it warm? Is it cold? Is it smooth? You need to know.) “I also had a very important person abandon me. The MOST important person to me, actually. For uh.. 6000 years.” You look up and your eyes make contact with hers.

“What.” You say. “6000 years.”

“Yeah.. It’s kind of embarrassing now, though.” She shrugs. “But it was terrible, and now I’m here. I’ll never get closure the way I want from Pink Diamond, because she’s gone forever. Anyway,” You kind of want to hug her. “I’ve been surviving, and I think I’m doing okay.” She smiles slightly. Bismuth is suddenly in front of the two of you.

“I saw some commotion all the way from the other side. That guy bother you? Want me to deal with him?” She says, all while refilling Spinel’s drink without even asking.

“Nah, he fucked right out of here when Spinel told him off.” You say, and finish the rest of your cider. Blegh. Warm.

“Is that so?” Bismuth say, grinning. She’s pointedly looking at Spinel. Spinel is giving Bismuth a dirty look. Oh my, what is going on there? You feel your bladder cursing up a storm inside you.

“Bismuth, I’d like another beer please.” You slowly get up on sleepy, wobbly legs. “And I’ll be right back, gotta pee.” You turn and look at Spinel, who looks back. “Guard my purse.”

“Cannnn do.” She says while taking another drink.

    You make your way slowly over to the bathroom that was actually just 15ft away from you, and go over to one of the stalls and plop down onto the toilet, pulling out your phone to look at group chat. 

    Harper: so my brother got catfished again

    Alex: LMFAO

    Harper: how many times is this? 4? for fucks sake

    Harper: he’s 29. you’d think he’d have his shit together by now, but noooo.

    Alex: that is honestly the saddest thing ive heard

    Alex: wins most pathetic man of the month

    Y/N: oof.

    Y/N: Yeah that’s just sad.

    Alex: Y/NNNNNNNNNNNNN!!

    Alex: how are yoooouuuu

    Y/N: I’m fine. I’m having a nice time.

    Harper: you still hangin with the not-evil-now alien? :p

    You choose to reply later, and instead finish your business in the stall. You come out and wash your hands, making sure you wash them thoroughly. You never know what kind of germs are in bar bathrooms. You’re drying your hands when you hear the bathroom door open, and someone is walking in. You turn to look, and it’s a familiar figure. A man. 

The man from earlier.

[darksaiyangoku]

Bloodlines AU: Apex Cosplays

Joethefriendlyponybro: I've got another skit for y'all. And this time, it's a skit based off of DarkSaiyan's cosplay stories but set in my next gen RWBY AU. Let's see what I can share what strange stuff me and DarkSaiyan came up with, shall we?

[Vale City Comic-Con, the Belladonna-Wukong family's planned vacation spot for quite some time was just down the street. At a nearby bus stop stood Sun and his and Blake's daughter, Alexandria. Alex for short.

Sun wore a mustard-yellow jumpsuit along with brown gloves and tinted orange goggles. His hair was scruffier than usual to reflect his cosplay getup as Mirage from Apex Legends.

To his side sat Alex wearing a mostly black but also purple getup, her long and scruffy black hair wrapped up in a ponytail as Wraith from the same game.]

Sun: Whoo!!!! Haven’t been in cosplay gear in such a long time. I feel like I’m back at school again, hehe.

Alex: *removes eye contacts, revealing green eyes* Dad, when was the last time you dressed up?

Sun: Let’s see.......I think it was back when Team CFVY were visiting Vacuo. We all decided to cosplay as the MCU heroes. *chuckling* I called dibs on Star Lord. Neptune was piiiiiissed!

Alex: *jumps on top of bus stop* I think Elsa wanted to go as Sif this year. But, with tending to her folks' restaurant, I guess she had to work on filling out orders for con-goers.

Sun: Well, at least Ren and Nora are making some great cash with their kids this year. *muttering* Blake isn’t taking this as well as I thought she would...

Alex: Is mom taking it that bad? Sorry, cat ears. Couldn't help but pick it up.

Sun: Not really. She just hasn’t been in cosplay in long time. It’s kinda strange for her to be back in the den of the nerds. That.... and she’s getting looks from some thirsty boys.

Alex: You're both running Menagerie's own combat school. Not to mention ensuing Faunus relations across Remnant- -Wait. Who's ogling my mom? Who do I have to cast a hex on to remind them she's a married woman?

Sun: *points* That guy on the right at the bench on the end of the street.

[She turned to see a man thirsting over a photo of Blake on her Scroll. Alex immediately went into pack mode, shouting at the creep.]

Alex: *glares at creep, eyes glowing turquoise* HEY SHITHEAD! My mom is taken, so why don't you back off before I twist you into a pretzel, fondue you and feed you to an Ursa?! *bares teeth, resembling fangs*

Perv: *looks up* Oh my- -! *runs away*

Sun: *nods head* That’s my girl!

Alex: *grins at Sun, eyes no longer glowing* I aim to please! *looks around* Where is mom, anyway?

Sun: *smiling* Getting a smoothie. I might join her later. You're still meeting up with Rhiannon, right?

Alex: Yeah. Rhiannon and I are supposed to meet up at that smoothie joint. I wonder what's taking both of them so long?

Sun: Probably got sidetracked. You know what Remnant’s like.

[Before they continue, Alex gets ambushed from behind in a surprise embrace by a red-haired, ponytailed girl with green eyes and a blue tunic.]

Rhiannon: Sneak hug!

Alex: MREOW!

Sun: WOAH!!!! Rhiannon, hi!

Rhiannon: *sets Alex down, cackling* What's good, Mr. Wukong?

[Blake shortly followed. Dressed in black military-style gear as she noticed her daughter's friend being as sneaky as ever. She was panting as if she were out of breath and holding a drink.]

Alex: *stands down, blinking* Rhi? I thought you picked a costume.

Blake: *panting* Finally...got...that...smoothie.

Alex: *looks up* Uh, what was the hold up?

Blake: The thirsty boys, honey. They can be a handful.

Rhiannon: Mrs. B tried jogging in her Bangalore costume as well. Guess that thick padding got to her, first.

Blake: In my defense, I didn’t think it would be that heavy. I've definitely jogged in padding before.

Alex: Never said you didn't. So me and Rhi are headed to the park. Dad told me a bit about your cosplay funk. *lowers ears* Something wrong?

Blake: I haven’t done this in a while. I feel kinda rusty. But... *blushing* I needed a break from all the stress so we could be with you and Rhiannon. *looks down sadly*

Alex: *puts hand on Blake's shoulder* Mom, you look fine. That's why we dressed up for this con, right?

Rhiannon: *folds arms* She's got you there, Mrs. B. Not like I went for it. I just wanted to hang with you guys.

Blake: *smiles* True. You’re all right, I gotta loosen up.

Alex: *points up* I request as your daughter and aspiring Huntress to enjoy yourself since there's a lot on our plate once the school year starts back up again. Besides, *phases out torso, arms and lower legs* I can look the part as Wraith with my Semblance.

Blake: *laughs* Okay, I surrender!

Alex: *phases back in* Also, I'll be sure to smoke any thirsty boy who gives you bedroom eyes.

Rhiannon: I can tie 'em up with one of my rope bolts if it'll help.

Blake: I'll handle them myself, girls. But thank you.

Alex: Whatever you say, mom. *hugs Blake* And thanks for paying for this trip.

[Blake smiled, embracing her daughter back.]

Blake: Oh, honey. You deserve a treat for your hard work.

Sun: Did it have to come from my bank account though?

Alex: *releases Blake* Oh. Uh...Rhi?

Rhiannon: I 'unno. Some major bounty or escort mission he undertook? *checks Scroll* Come on, Alex. Let's get our photoshoot done.

Sun: Have fun, pumpkin. Try not to cloak in public.

Alex: Sure, dad. *walks off to the park with Rhiannon*

Sun: So, what mission was it last? The- -The one where I would split my paycheck with you to pay for this con trip?

Blake: I think it was the mission where I teamed up with the Red Flowers to stop a horde of Creeps.

Sun: *puts finger up to chin* Or, was it the trawler escort at Sockeye Junction? You know how pirates get around fishing villages.

Blake: Or maybe it was the one where Yang almost set a town on fire to kill some Arachnoids?

Sun: That's still a dumb name for spider Grimm. I don't know how Professort Port outvoted Oobleck on that but- -Nevermind. *half hugs Blake, wrapping tail around her waste and holding her like a dancer, barely spilling the smoothie* That's a good look for you, bee tee dubs. *grins*

Blake: *giggles* Sun, stop it! We’re in public.

Sun: 20 years of marriage. I think I've earned the chance to do stuff like this with you.

Blake: Gods. You’re so mischievous. *wraps her arms behind Sun’s neck* And that’s why I love you.

Sun: *picks up smoothie with tail* Love you too, babe. Shall I give you some sugar?

Blake: *pulls him in* Do it, honey.

[Sun pulled Blake in for a kiss. They practically glowed like bioluminescent mushrooms as their auras glowed with their embrace. They let go upon hearing a sloshy splat hit the pavement.]

Sun: *notices spilled smoothie* Uh, whoops.

Blake: Oh no! *teary-eyed* Damn you gravity!

Sun: Uh...I think there are milkshakes at the local Beetroot's we can get instead. Plus, their new salmon burger looks pretty good. *pulls out debit card* And I got membership there! Huah! *tosses debit card into smoothie pile* ...Man, how did the shopkeep do it back then?!

Blake: ...I like salmon.

Sun: See? Win-win! And I'll pay for the milkshakes.

Blake: *small smile* I’d like that.

Sun: Good husband powers no jutsu! *roundhouse kicks, tripping and landing ass-first into the smoothie pile, crushing cup* Ah, crap. These jeans were a rental.

Blake: *laughing* I guess now we’re even!

Sun: Yay. Anyway, onto the burgers! *wraps arm and tail around Blake* I'll let you wear my cosplay goggles for sex tonight~! *winks*

Blake: *purring* Mmm, I like sound of that.

BLATANT TRANSITION THING

Joethefriendlyponybro: Well, that was certainly something. Hopefully your viewers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed doing this skit with you. This was fun, thanks.

DarkSaiyanGoku: Don’t mention it bro, always happy to help out. I might do more of these RPs more often with anyone else, if they ask.

[haloud]

take a chance and don’t ever look back

ao3

Alex Manes is going to prom with Martin Ness.

The news spreads like a wildfire, the way only a rumor in a high school can. It hits the hallways first, where Alex cocks his hip and touches up his eyeliner in his locker mirror; it spreads through shouts and giggles in the cafeteria and the quad and the locker rooms and even trickles down to the  field where all the other Manes men had held court in their time.

Under the stairwell, squashed between a bank of lockers and a support beam, Michael bounces his knee and chews his thumbnail to the quick.

It was a stupid idea. It was always a—it’s not like they know each other, after all, not really, just kind of-sort of through Max by way of Liz and by way of this town isn’t big enough for everyone forced to spend most of their waking hours in proximity not to know each other. And they had biology together last year.

He made the old dubiously safe safety goggles look cute. How is that even possible?

But it’s not like they know each other. What was he going to do, just walk up and ask him and expect him to say yes? He’s an alien, but he’s not completely out of touch with fuckin’ reality. Michael might be able to afford tickets to the dance, but a tux? Out of the question. Even rentals don’t come cheap. Isobel would be all to happy to help him figure something out, but then she’d want to know why, and—

And that’s another thing. Alex is out, and Michael is—Michael doesn’t know what he is. He just knows that one day their fingers brushed on the pages of a textbook, and every single atom of his being sat up and took notice. Light flooded his soul, and his only thought was…oh. There you are.

He’s been trying to figure out what that moment meant and how to make it happen again ever since. He’d thought prom might be a good way…everyone goes, after all, everyone’s expected to have a date. For all that Isobel scoffs and says “only total wannabes go to junior prom. I mean, come on,” she’s had her dress picked out for two months. So prom could have been a good way to jump in with both feet. A way to spend some time together. He’d just needed some time to work out the logistics, to plan, and to work up his courage because every time he thinks about dancing with Alex Manes he feels like bursting into flames.

Turns out he waited a little too long.

It’s okay, though. It’ll be okay. Michael tips his head back to rest against the cold white cinder brick. Lunch is almost over, but he hasn’t been hungry all morning anyway. And if he crawled out of his hiding place and ran into Alex, he might say something stupid or burst into tears and then he’d have to go and die because Alex would never look at him again.

Michael isn’t Max, with his dorky charm and love of words and his brain-library full of swoon-worthy quotes. All Michael’s got is himself, and a lot of thoughts about the stars and how they move, and a truck old man Sanders says he can have if he can get it running again.

Alex makes music. Michael’s gotta find a way to be worthy of that.

Ness is in the orchestra too. That’s probably how they met.

Michael’s—Michael’s not going to think about that. Michael’s gonna get to pre-calc before the bell rings. Pity party over.

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

Isobel kidnaps her brothers to the dance. She’s got a date with a cute guy in her wood shop class, and she’s got to get ready, but she still wakes Max up with a tie and a ticket and meets Michael at the bus stop the same way. No is never a good enough answer for Hurricane Isobel, so Michael spends an hour poking at his unruly curls and trying not to panic.

It’ll be okay. He’ll dance with his sister and anyone who’s there alone. It’ll make Isobel happy, it’ll get him out of the house for a night, and hey, it might even be fun. If he sees Alex and Ness together, he’ll. He’ll deal. He won’t let his disappointment get in the way of someone else’s good time. It’ll even be nice to see Alex having a good time. At school he’s always hard-edged and sharp and Michael likes it, he does, he likes the wit and the pride and the strength. But Alex has a really nice mouth, and it’s even nicer when he smiles.

Michael takes a deep breath, puffing out his cheeks and releasing it on a huge sigh. The suit Isobel got him doesn’t really fit right, but it’s not hideous. His hair is the same as always. One curl refuses to lie flat and bounces rebelliously right over his left eye. But it’s not like there’s anyone he’s trying to impress tonight.

The current fosters barely ever comment on Michael’s existence, and they don’t break pattern to notice he’s dressed up as he slips downstairs and out the door. Isobel’s car idles across the street, and Michael jogs over and climbs into the backseat.

“I thought it’d just be Max. What happened to wood shop guy?” He asks, clinging on to the front seats to steady himself as she hits the gas.

“Turns out wood shop guy pre-agreed that they’d both go to Kate Long’s afterparty,” Max replies, wiggling his eyebrows at Michael as if to say the audacity of some people.

Isobel hunches her shoulders, and she does even that elegantly. Clenching her hands on the steering wheel, she snaps, “I told him weeks ago that I didn’t want to go to that bitch’s party. Everyone’s just going to get high, and her shithead brother will 100% be there. No thank you. Boys are stupid. That’s why I have you two.”

Michael laughs at that, and he and his brother chorus, “We love you too, Iz.”

Clearly an attempt was made to transform the gymnasium, but it only achieved mixed results. The walls are hung with fabric and colored lights; the effect is a little dreamy, but it’s not enough to overcome the sound of dress shoes on a linoleum gym floor. Isobel disperses immediately into a cluster of girls on the dance floor; Max hovers a little longer before patting Michael on the shoulder and disappearing as well. Liz Ortecho isn’t here tonight, so he’s probably going to find a quiet corner to compose some poetry in or something.

While Max may be ridiculous, quiet doesn’t sound so bad. They’ve only been here fifteen minutes and already the pulsingly loud music is rattling his nerves. He’s not the biggest fan of loud noise or crowds, and this venue proudly boasts both. The corners of the gym are dark, so he risks using a bit of his ability to boost himself up on top of the folded bleachers where he can survey the rest of the room. He’ll dance a little later, maybe, after he’s acclimated.

He’s just gotten settled when he finally lays eyes on him.

Michael can’t tell if Alex has just arrived or if he’s always been here, standing alone and looking beautiful and maybe looking for a dance partner too. Michael doesn’t know where Ness went, but he’s nowhere to be seen and that means Michael has a chance.

Okay. Okay. He missed one chance to be brave and make this happen. If he embarrasses himself, or, or Alex touches him and he doesn’t feel that frisson of rightness melting into every pore, no matter what happens, it’s not like they know each other. Tomorrow, they can pretend like none of this ever happened—or maybe this can be a start of something? Giddy on a hundred possibilities, Michael forgets how he got up to his perch, and also that he’s a telekinetic alien, and scrambles down the side of the bleachers like it’s a ladder. He misses the bottom step and goes stumbling.

Popping up and righting himself with a blush on his face, Michael shoulders his way through the crowd to where Alex was standing just a minute ago. No one’s there now; Michael spins on his heel to see if he can see Alex walking away. He spots spiky dark hair silhouetted against shifting green light and follows it, not caring how many feet he steps on as he goes. He loses sight of Alex again just past the refreshment table and, frustrated, he elbows his way off the dance floor.

There he is. Heart in his throat, Michael sees where Alex ended up. He’s seated, lounging on the dais at the foot of the DJ booth, eyes closed and head tipped back so Michael can see every inch of his graceful neck, dyed purple, then golden as the lights shift all around them.

Michael can’t do it. He can’t. Alex looks too peaceful, too perfect, over there surrounded by the music where he’s most at home and where Michael will have to shout to be heard as he stumbles over the words that will make Alex notice him.

Michael scrambles for the doors and for fresh air to calm his racing pulse.

Next year. He’ll be braver next year.

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

Later that night, Alex lays in bed with his arms behind his head and sighs, loud and dramatic and just a little bit laughing at himself. The dance was fine, but…is he too naïve for having hoped that some handsome guy would swoop in and sweep him off his feet? He didn’t even get one dance with Martin, who snuck off immediately to kiss his secret boyfriend behind the building. They’d only gone together to prove they could, as the only two guys out in their year, but still. Rude.

Funny thing is, Alex would swear he saw Michael Guerin a few times, watching him with this adorably nervous look on his face, his hair tumbling sweetly around his face. Alex wonders what that was all about and…maybe he should have gone up and asked. Maybe he missed out, just a little bit.

Guerin did look really cute, after all. And despite what everyone else seems to think, Alex knows that he can be weirdly shy, considering how much he went blushing and tongue tied when they were lab partners.

Alex rolls over onto his side, a slow grin spreading over his face.

Who cares about junior prom? Hey, maybe he’ll get his chance next year.

[katedoesfics]

Under Shadow: Chapter 19

“Sleep well?” Alex asked Najia over their morning’s coffee. The sand storm had dissipated over night and they had gathered around their little fire pit once more before heading out on the road again.

“Like a baby,” Shane said with a false sense of cheerfulness as he sat across from them with coffee in hand.

“Wasn’t asking you,” Alex said snidely.

“Rude.”

“I slept well, too,” Gil chimed in sarcastically. “Thanks to those two.”

“Sorry, Gil,” Shane said. “I guess we were a little too loud.” He shot a glance toward Alex and smiled.

“Seriously?” Najia muttered.

“It sounds like someone’s neediness kept you up, Najia,” Alex said, his gaze on Shane’s. He turned to her, his eyes softer. “Next time you can bunk with me.”

Najia stood abruptly and stormed away from the fire towards the car.

“Oh, good,” Shane said. “You pissed her off. Real good with the ladies, aren’t ya?”

“Some ego from a dirtbag like you,” Alex said.

Shane stood. “That ego of yours is so big, that giant fucking head of yours has its own orbit.”

“Well,” Alex started. “I’m Shane. I’m brighter than the sun. The fucking universe revolves around me.”

The engine to the car started and the head lights flicked on. The five men turned toward the car and watched as it sped down the high way.

Marlon stood, his hands in his pockets, and sighed. “Good job, you fuckin’ dweebs,” he hissed at them. “Neither of you know how to properly woo a lady.” He turned toward the road, pointing. “Look at that. There she goes. The last women left and you drove her away.” He nodded to himself approvingly. “Good for her. Wastin’ her time with the lot of you shitheads.”

“For the record,” Harvey spoke up. “I think she liked me.”

“Shut it, Harvey,” Alex spat.

“That’s enough,” Gil growled. “Both of you.”

Shane moved toward the Hummer, but Marlon’s hand was tight on his arm.

“I don’t think so, cowboy,” Marlon muttered.

“We can’t just let her leave,” Shane said. “She can’t be alone out there.”

“She was alone for a long time before she had the unfortunate luck of bumping into you. I think she’ll manage.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Shane pulled his arm out of Marlon’s grip.

“I’m the one with the keys, boy. What I say, goes.”

Shane smiled. “Fortunately you don’t need keys to start an engine.”

Gil’s rifle cocked from behind him. Marlon smiled at Shane.

“You better watch yourself, son. The world could use one less survivor.” Marlon stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles. “Now, how about we clean up here and get a move on?”

*****

Najia fumed to herself as she sped down the highway. How dare they treat her like some piece of meat? She knew Shane was an ass, but she never expected him to act that way. But then again, maybe she was being stupid for trusting a guy she had only known for a couple of weeks. She cursed under her breath. Stupid. Stupid, trusting, Najia. Always trying to find the best in people. Always trying to look at the bright side of the darkest situation. Shane was right; she was being stupid. She couldn’t trust any of them. She had no reason to. Any of them could have turned around and taken advantage of her. Hell, they had been alone for so long, it was a surprise no one had done that already. It was a good thing she left when she did. A good thing she had the courage to be on her own again. Alone. Out in the big, dark world, with enemies lurking in the shadows, alone.

Najia swallowed and looked back in the rear view mirror. Was it too late to turn around? What if they were gone? What if she lost them? What if they were the only survivors left, and she’d never see them again? Cursed to spend the rest of her life in this dark, cruel world, alone. Cursed to die, scared and alone.

She bit her lip and looked forward once more. No, she didn’t need them. She had gotten so far without them; without anyone. She could do it again.

But she had a taste. A taste of companionship. A being to talk to; to laugh with. Even if it was kind of an ass. She couldn’t imagine going on without that again.

But it was as if Yoba heard her fears and granted her one wish. Her headlights flashed over the body of a car on the side of the road, and there was a light flashing in her face, as if someone were trying to flag her down.

Her heart raced as she neared the car and pulled up beside it. She opened the window and peered into the darkness.

“Oh my Yoba,” a voice said. “Another person.”

Najia fumbled for her flashlight and shown it on the two women in the car. Their light swept over her face. She smiled to them.

“I can’t believe we found someone,” the other voice - a girl with purple hair - said.

“She doesn’t seem as excited to see us.”

“You’re not exactly the first people I’ve come across,” Najia said.

Their eyes widened. “There’s more?” the driver said.

Najia nodded.

“Where?”

She hesitated. “I kind of ditched them,” she said. “Quite a few miles back.”

The two women exchanged a glance.

“Why?” the girl with the purple hair asked.

“I don’t really know,” Najia said slowly. “They pissed me off.”

“Where are you heading?” the driver asked.

“The coast. You?”

They turned to each other once more.

“Don’t know,” the driver said. “We’ve just been driving aimlessly without much of a plan.”

“We had a plan,” the other girl pointed out. “It just kinda fell through.”

“What’s at the coast?”

Najia hesitated. “Hopefully my grandfather.”

“At least she has someone left,” the girl muttered.

“Do you think we could join you?” the driver asked carefully. “We actually kind of broke down and have been stuck here for a while.”

“Yes,” Najia said quickly, then hesitated once more. “I mean. Yeah. I don’t know. Sure.”

They didn’t wait for Naia to make up her mind. They hurried out of the car, grabbing their things, and piled in with Najia.

“I’m Leah, by the way,” the driver said, sliding into the passenger seat.

“Abigail,” the other girl said as she closed the back door.

“I’m Najia.”

“So,” Abigail started. “What happens when you get to the coast? If you’re grandfather’s there?”

“I’m not really sure,” Najia said as she stepped on the gas. “I guess he’s kind of crazy. He called me before this all happened. Told me to meet him there. He would be able to protect me. I’m starting to doubt him, though.”

“Well, that’s a chance I’d be willing to take,” Leah said. “You can always worry about it after you see for yourself.”

Najia pinched her lips. “Maybe.”

[hairringtonsteve]

i. under pressure [quixotic]

[steve harrington x reader (female)]

series summary: everyone that knew the truth about hawkins lab thought it was over, that it was all over. they thought that the fighting was over, the bad men were gone. the portal was closed. people were safe. you, however, you knew the truth. things were far from over. and they were coming fast.

word count: 6,046 words

a/n: hey folks! this is a repost of chapter one, which was posted a few months ago. tumblr messed up the post back then, so this is going to be posted in my new format -- which will have the links in the first reblog (which will be reblogged right after it’s posted) and the tag list as a separate post! also, be on the lookout for chapter two, being posted tomorrow! tw: language

“I promised that I’d keep you shitheads safe, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Could you try a little harder, then? Because you kind of suck at this.” Just a minute ago, she’d pried off the metal lid of a Spaghettios can and had somehow folded it in half so she could use it as a spoon. She dipped her makeshift spoon into the can, precariously balancing a pile of canned noodles onto it and shoving it into her mouth. She said something, but it was muffled behind the food.

Some sauce dribbled down her chin and onto her shirt. It seemed almost impossible to keep from rolling your eyes, but somehow you managed.

“What was that, Tee? I couldn’t understand you around the food.” Tee glanced over to Seb, who had his head shoved in the refrigerator. He was standing on the tips of his toes, trying his hardest to reach something that was on the top shelf. When she made sure that he wasn’t looking, she set the can down on the kitchen table and shot you the finger. “Seriously, though, can you watch him?”

“Watch who?” Seb asked, poking his head out of the fridge. He gave you a bright grin, hair falling in front of his eyes. “Can I have pudding for lunch?” He stuck his tongue through the the gap between his two missing teeth in the front, waggling his eyebrows as though it’d help change your mind.

“You, kid. You can’t be trusted on your own. You could burn the place down or something.” His arm was sneaking back inside the refrigerator. “Oh, no. No pudding. You need real food for lunch.” He slammed the door shut and scowled at you. It would’ve been almost intimidating if he wasn’t just over three and a half feet tall.

“I wouldn’t burn it down. Tee would. I’d put it out.”

Tee smirked as she swallowed her food. “He’s got a point. What’s that word you used to call me?”

“Asshole?” Seb supplied as he crawled onto the chair next to Tee. You let out a cry of ‘language!’ but he just ignored you. “What’re you eating?” He wrinkled his brow as he leaned his arms onto the table, as if trying to read what the label said —like he could actually read. “Pasghettios?”

“Spaghettios. You want some?” Tee handed the can over to the five year old. His eyes lit up when he saw what was passing for a spoon. “Be careful with the lid,” she warned. Glancing back to you, she raised a brow. “So what was the word?”

“Pyro. You’re a pyro.” Your lips pressed together as you pinched the bridge of your nose. All you had to do was keep hold of your patience for a few more days, and the three of you would be free. But then Tee was opening her mouth to say something, and you felt like you were going to snap. “Can you just watch him? It should only take me a few hours.”

“No need to get touchy, God. It’s fine.” Seb tapped Tee on the arm to hand her back the can. You watched as he gave her the lid-turned-spoon as well. There was sauce all over his fingers.

You walked over to the sink to grab a hand-towel to run it under the faucet. “You guys do know that there are more spoons, right? And also more than one can of Spaghettios?”

“You do know that you don’t have to be an ass-”

“Tee.” Your voice was ragged as you almost groaned, the frustration obvious to anyone that was listening. You turned to her, frowning.

“We just wanted to see if we could eat it like this!” Seb piped up, looking between the two of you. “Like an experiment.”

He looked over to Tee, who was still glaring at you, and slowly reached over for the can. A tense second passed, and he started to eat once more.

“I’m just saying,” Tee started up, her arms crossed over her chest. “You kind of really suck right now.”

“Are you serious?” You tilted your head back and groaned. “After all the shit that I’ve done to make sure that your ass is alive, and this is what you give me? You can’t even agree to watch him for a few hours because you’re the asshole!”

“It’s like an experiment,” Seb mumbled to himself. He was focused solely on the food in front of him, as though he tuning everything else out. “I’m an experiment,” he added, grinning.

“Jesus, Seb. You’re not an experiment,” you snapped. louder and harder than you’d meant to. Your sharp words, accompanied by a scowl, made his grin drop. His face twisted up and got red. His lower lip trembled as he stood up from the table.

“You’re no fun anymore!” With that declaration, he practically ran into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

“He’s right, you know. You’re no fun anymore.” You turned to Tee, who was still scowling. “What? I’m just saying, no pudding for lunch and yelling at him? You’re practically begging for a meltdown.”

“Trust me, I’m not begging for — “ You could hear a shriek from the bedroom, and the shattering of glass. “Well, that’s great.”

“Look,” Tee said, standing up from the table. She walked over to the couch, where your backpack and a decent sized cardboard box were sitting. “You take this stuff into town and see what you can get for it and I’ll deal with Mr. Drama, okay?”

Another thud came from the door. “You sure that you can handle the tantrum?”

“I’ll be fine. Go.” Her tone was final. You headed over to the couch and slung the backpack full of records over your shoulders. The weight made you frown. Peaking into the box, you made sure that that was filled to the top with records as well. “Just get some good money for them. I’d like to eat food that’s not ‘pasghettios’.”

You let out a snort. “You know that there’s other food in the freezer, right?”

Tee scoffed. “Yeah, but it’s just a ton of Eggos. You can’t live off of Eggos.”

“Says you. Eggos are magic.” She let out a huff of laughter as you picked up the box, wincing at the weight. It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. You headed towards the door, hesitating as Tee walked over to get it for you. It was hard to remember that she was only fifteen. Hell, you were only nineteen. Neither of you should have had to deal with any of this. Your frustration towards her weakened. “You’re sure you’re good?”

“I can handle this.”

“You shouldn’t have to, though.” The words were quiet, the closest that you’d get to an apology. Your expression softened as Tee opened the door. She was avoiding your gaze, focusing resolutely on a squirrel shuffling around for its acorns on the ground just beyond the porch.

“None of us should have to handle this.” Her words were quiet in the warm spring air. “But we’re stuck with it, so we might as well deal.” Finally she turned to face you. Her expression was blank, but her eyes were hard. She looked older than fifteen. Another yell could be heard from the bedroom. “You better head out before he burns the place to the ground.”

“Isn’t that your job?”

Your words did the trick. The corners of her mouth twitched into a small smile and she rolled her eyes.

“Just go so we can head out of here in the morning.” You gave a nod of your head before stepping outside, the air hitting you. It was humid, the dampness just hanging there. There was no wind, no break, just heat.

You stood on the porch, shifting the cardboard box in your arms until Tee closed and latched the door. A pang of anxiety shot through you. They’d be fine. It was only for a few hours. It took you a few moments, but you forced yourself down the steps. Town was a couple miles away, but there were a lot of woods that surrounded the cabin. They would be safe and hidden away — as long as they followed the rules. Stay inside, stay away from the windows, keep the curtains drawn, don’t answer the door unless the secret knock is given. You didn’t want to think about the last time that Tee had decided that she was above the rules.

The gunshots still rang in your ears.

That was the past, though. You shook your head as you traipsed through the brush. There was a dirt road that led to the cabin, so you followed along that, staying just beyond the treeline. It was around May, you figured. There shouldn’t be anyone out hunting.

It didn’t take long for you to feel the sweat starting to drip down your back. You swallowed, suddenly wishing that you’d thought to bring some water with you before you left. You'd even seen a water canteen hanging off a hook in the kitchen. At the very least, you’d have to nab that before you left. It’d come in handy even though the three of you were heading north.

Well, not just the three of you. All sixteen of you, really. Just because everyone was scattered, that didn’t mean that you weren’t all in it together. Everyone was just… On their own for awhile.

It had been the safest course of action, you knew that. Alex knew that too, even if he hadn’t wanted to admit it then. He'd wanted everyone to stick together, that was all. It felt safer when everyone was together. From the time that you'd been born, it was always safer when you all were in the same room. You’d understood where he was coming from.

It was just hard to really think when everyone was huddled in the lab while there was still blood smeared along the windows.

“We can’t split up, we’ve got to stick together,” he’d said, giving you that imploring look. It was making you feel antsy, like you were going to crawl out of your skin.

“We can’t all make it to — you know where — together. We’d stick out too much. You saw what it was like outside. People don’t travel in groups that big.” Alex had scowled and shook his head. “You know that I’m right.” Without thinking about it, you narrowed your eyes, drawing upon that fear and anger within your chest.

Alex gave your shoulder a sharp shove. “Don’t try that Jedi mind trick bullshit on me. You know it won’t work.”

“You know that I’m right, though. We’ll be found easier. You told me yourself that you heard Doctor Lepner call for that, that… what’s it called?”

“Department for Defense, I think?”

“Exactly!” You jabbed your finger into his chest and scowled. “Do you really think that those people are going to be on our side? Do you really think that?”

Alex went to respond when he heard a guttural growl come from outside the lab doors. Everyone fell silent. Slowly, you turned your head to the thick metal doors, trying to see through the frosted glass. The silhouette of something awful crossed it. You looked over to Vee, who was trying to comfort Seb. He took in a shuddery breath before Tee slapped her hand over his mouth and wrapped her free arm around him.

You felt a tap on your shoulder. Glancing back to Alex, you paused at the expression on his face. Despite him being the oldest at twenty-two, he looked younger than you did at that moment. “We’ve got to get out of here,” he breathed.

“We can’t go all together.” A louder growl emanated from just beyond the doors. “It’ll be like Thanksgiving dinner if we do that.”

Alex let out a snort. The familiar sound gave you a tiny ounce of comfort. “You don’t even know what Thanksgiving is.”

“I know it’s got to do with food, which is what we’ll be if we don’t figure out what to do.”

A car roaring down the main road jarred you from your memories. You blinked, having been so caught up in your thoughts that you hadn’t realized just how far you’d walked. It drove on down the road, showing no signs that it had noticed you or cared if it had. You breathed out a sigh of relief. It took another two minutes for you to muster up the courage to leave the safety of the trees and to start walking down the side of the road.

It was hard work. The sun was beating down on your back. The box was growing heavier and heavier with each step. Christ, you really should’ve thought this one through.

It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but it seemed like no matter how long you walked, the town was still out of sight. You started wishing for a miracle when a car slowed down beside you.

“Hey kid, you need a ride?”

You turned around, squinting in the sun to get a good look at the vehicle. Your eyes flickered across the lettering along the side, the words letting fear settle into your stomach. You moved your attention to the man at the wheel. He had a small smile on his face and a kind of scraggly beard thing going on. You focused a little, reaching out just enough to get a read on him. It was difficult to focus that much when the sweat was literally dripping off of your face and your arms were wrapped around the box. But it was enough.

“Where you headed?” You asked, taking a step forward. You were close enough that you could just feel the blessed air conditioning.

“Into town. I can drop you off if you’re headed in.” It took you a second, but you gave a sharp nod of your head to answer him. “Throw the box in the back, then climb up front.”

It took you a few seconds to maneuver the box onto your knee and then open the backdoor without dropping anything, but you managed. Your arms ached with the sweet relief. Slamming the door shut, you practically leaped into the front seat once that door was open. The air was frigid and perfect, cold enough that it felt like it froze the sweat right on your face. You shut the door fast, and rolled the window up almost the instant it was shut. The backpack shoved against your back, making it so you couldn't sit back the whole way. You kept it on, though, just in case.

“So what’s in the box?” He asked as the car started forward.

“My grandpa’s records. My mom wants me to see what we can get for them.” The lie fell off of your tongue easily. The man nodded his head.

“Your grandpa got good taste?”

You shrugged. “I think there’s some Sinatra in there, and some Ella Fitzgerald?” You spoke like you were trying to remember what the records had said, but really, you were just trying to remember what some of the doctors had said when it came to music. Lush, green trees were a blur outside of the window. It was pretty.

If you weren’t in a cop car, you might have even been able to relax.

“Ah, so your grandpa was into the older stuff, then.”

“Uh, yeah. The older stuff.” You tried to wrack your brain for the years. Was Sinatra in the fifties? Or seventies? Or forties?

“My old man was into that jazz stuff.” Jazz! That’s what it was. The thirties and forties, then. “Really big into Benny Goodman. You ever hear of him?” You shook your head. “Oh, I bet you’d like him. He was great.”

The conversation drifted off after that. The two of you were content to sit there in the air conditioning, watching as the car finally started to enter town.

“You’re headed to the record store, right?”

“Um, yeah.” You’d been planning on going to the first pawn shop you saw, but a record store was even better. They’d be able to give you even more money if they were good records. And you’d made sure that the ones you’d picked were in pristine condition.

He took a left from the main road onto some smaller side road. There were plenty of shops with people bustling around. You blinked and for a split second, you weren’t in the police car; instead, you were in the back of a van looking out at the world around you for the first time while you were ten years old and handcuffed to the door. Another blink, and everything came back into focus. You turned to the man and stared at him. His mouth was moving.

“Huh?”

“I said, you need help carrying those inside?”

You shook your head so hard your hair flew into your face. “Nope, I’m good.” He pulled up in front of a storefront that read rebel records in all lowercase letters.

“You sure about that? I could help you bring them in. That backpack of yours looks pretty heavy.” He held your gaze in a way that made you shrink a little, like he knew that you were lying about something.

You reached towards the handle and hesitated. He was nice. He seemed like the kind of nice where you could tell him everything that had happened. The kind of nice that meant that he’d actually try to help you.

The kind of nice that would eventually get him killed if he did try to help you.

“No, I’m good. Thank you, though” You opened up the door and stepped out. The air hit you like a humid brick wall. It was almost enough to make you climb back into the car. But you took in a deep breath and closed the door behind you. When you grabbed the handle for the backdoor, it was so hot that you winced. “Fuck,” you mumbled, jerking your head up to make sure that no one was close enough to you to hear. You pulled it open, stealing all of the cold air that was leaking out.

“Hey, kid?” He called as you had an arm around the box. You looked up, your eyes meeting his. “If you need anything, you call the police department and ask for the sheriff, all right?”

“Okay.” You were shooting for a breezy tone, but it came out more shaky than anything else. The two of you regarded each other for a long moment before you tugged the box out fully. “Thanks again for the ride.”

You shut the door before he could respond.

Your head was pounding against your chest as you walked up onto the sidewalk and towards the shop. You were waiting for the inevitable, for him to get a call on his radio or to realize that the records were stolen or a hundred other things that could go wrong. But nothing happened. A few seconds passed, and the police officer drove off while you heaved out a sigh of relief. Things were fine. Hell, they might have even been looking up in your favor. You stepped over to the door, tightening your grip on the box with one arm while the other loosened up enough for you to get the door open, sliding in just before it shut behind you.

The record shop was old and dusty. Notes drifted from out of a record player that was behind the counter. You scrunched up your nose a little as you tried to place it. It sounded just familiar enough, like you’d heard it a few times in the background while you were driving from one place or another.

Doctor Arayed had always liked listening to music while she worked. She’d always be humming softly as she looked over blood samples, or when she’d push back the hair from your eyes. You could remember her always telling you the artists. Your favorite was always —

“Bowie?”

You blinked. A blond-haired man was standing in front of you, eyebrows raised. He was behind the counter, his forearms leaning on it as he shot you a small smirk. He was cocky, the sheer confidence coming off of him almost like a stench.

“I’m sorry, what?” You asked as you walked towards him, frowning a little.

“Bowie, that’s who’s playing. You like him?”

“Uh, yeah. I like him. He’s alright.” You set the box of records on the counter, heaving out a sigh as the man continued on.

“He’s a legend. You looking to buy any albums of his?” He leaned forward, his smirk growing. You could feel it, the way he was almost pushing the charm out of himself. It was impressive. He must’ve made decent money.

“I’m selling, actually. If you couldn’t tell by the box of records.”

He raised a brow. “Really? What've you got, sweetheart?” Someone let out a snort to your left. Glancing over, you paused.

He was behind a rack of records. You could only see him from his waist up, but he looked like he owned the place. Perfectly messy hair, a dark gray t-shirt hanging off of his shoulders like it was made for him, and a small smirk that made your heart stutter. He glanced up from the record that was in his hands and locked eyes with you. His smirk shifted into a smile.

You looked away, back to mullet-man.

“I don't know, really. They were my grandpa’s.” You slung your backpack around and set it on the ground, your shoulders and back practically singing at the freedom. Crouching down, you braced yourself as you unzipped the bag. Just sell the records, and get back to the cabin. Easy-peasy.

It took you a few seconds of trying to tug them out before giving up and just setting the whole bag on the counter beside the box. “My mom wanted to see what I could get for them.”

He reached out for them, pausing just above the bag as he glanced to you. You nodded your head, effectively giving him permission to just shove his hands in there. The records didn't have any names that you recognized, but then again, you were bad at recognizing names when it came to music.

He pulled them out one by one, turning them around in his hands. “These all play?”

“Yeah, I tried them all out myself.” Your words came out too fast, and your heart gave a little jolt as he looked up at you. His brow furrowed, and he opened his mouth to say something when you narrowed your eyes. You concentrated, that familiar feeling swelling in your chest. “They’re fine.”

“They’re fine,” he parroted, shooting you a grin. He looked back down to the albums, thumbing through them a little faster. They were fine, after all. “So these look — your nose is bleeding.” You froze and wiped the back of your hand under your nose. When you pulled it away, dark liquid was smeared across. “Here.” You looked back across the counter and took the tissue from him.

“Thanks,” you said as you dabbed at the area. “The air’s pretty dry in here. It’s killing my nose.”

“Yeah, it’s a pain in the ass during the winter. Right now’s not too bad, though.”

“So, how much do you think that you can give me for the records?”

He shrugged. “Twenty bucks sound good to you?”

“Twenty dollars, are you kidding me? That’s less than a buck a record!” There were at least thirty-five or forty records there. That was ridiculous.

“They’re used, though. New ones are sold for nine bucks.I can go twenty-five, but that’s it.” You blinked.

“I need at least fifty.”

“Fifty dollars, are you shitting me? That’s insane. Look, I’ll go twenty-seven, but that’s as high as I can go.”

The boy with the perfect hair fumbled with some records, reminding you that he was there. You glanced over, noting that he was watching the exchange curiously. The tissue was still in your hand. You took care to lower your voice and said, “Please. I need fifty. I’m begging you.”

“No way, sweetheart. That’s too high. I’m gonna give you the best deal around, so take it or leave it.” What an asshole. You leaned forward a little, placing your left hand on his arm so it was behind the pile of records, just out of the other guy’s sight.

You focused, feeling the power rising up into your chest. “They’re in good condition,” you murmured, the force of your words coming out strong. “You’ll do fifty dollars.” A thought occurred to you. “And you’ll keep your voice low.” He blinked his head a few times, looking from your hand on his arm to the pile of records and then finally back to your face.

“You know what? They’re in pretty good condition,” he said. He was quiet, thank God. “I can do fifty.” You pulled away from him and he shook his head a little before shooting you a blinding smile. He’d be kind of cute without the rat’s nest of a mullet.

“Oh wow, thank you. Seriously. That’s a huge help.” Reaching up, you wiped the fresh blood away from your nose. Your head ached a little. Some food would be a good idea.

“No problem. I’m Billy, by the way. Billy Hargrove.” He shot you another smile, his gaze flickering over you in a way that made you duck your head.

“I’m Elise. Elise Peters.” In that instant, you were thankful that the three of you had decided on fake names before getting to Hawkins. Granted, no one would really believe that the three of you were siblings, but it was better than nothing. You grabbed the now empty backpack and slung it over your shoulders. Billy was rifling through the cash register, softly counting the bills out loud until he had the right amount.

“It was a pleasure doing business with you, Elise,” he said, shooting you a grin while holding out the money. When you took it from him, he made sure to brush his fingers against yours.

It took all you had in you to keep from rolling your eyes.

“You too, Billy.”

With that you were heading towards the door. You risked another glance over to the guy with the hair, feeling your heart stutter a little more when you locked eyes with him. It took you a beat to pull your gaze away and step out into the hot spring air.

Meanwhile, Steve turned to Billy, eyebrows raised while he waited for the girl to leave before speaking. “You ever seen her around before?” He asked. Billy just shrugged as he thumbed through the new acquisitions. “What’d you give her for those?”

Billy shrugged again. “Fifty.”

“Fifty dollars? Are you kidding me? That’s insane.” He walked over and started going through the pile that Billy had already made. The more he went through them, the more in shock he was. “Dude, you’re gonna get fired. There’s no way Jenkins is gonna keep you on after this.”

“Oh, that’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it, Stevie? I get fired and you can work here in peace.” Billy watched as Steve’s hands stilled as he stared down at a record. “What?”

“Holy shit, you are fucked.”

“... What?”

“You do know that she just sold you stolen records, right?” Steve asked, raising an eyebrow at Billy.

“I’m pretty sure that I would’ve noticed if she was selling me stolen records. Fuck off, Harrington.”

Steve flipped over the album that was on top of the pile and pointed to some scrawled letters in black marker. “J. Hopper. She look like the sheriff to you, dumbass?” Just to really drive it home, Steve turned the cardboard box around to show him the same lettering. Billy’s face paled as he stared at the box.

“Fuck, I’m fucked. I gave her a decent amount too. Shit, do you think that Hopper will be able to get the money back?” All Billy got was a stare instead of a response. “What? Do you think that he’ll be able to get it back?”

“Do you think that Hopper will be able to get the money that you gave to some girl from out of town that stole his records to you — even though they have his name on them?”

Billy let out a groan and clapped his hand over his face. “I’m screwed. I’m absolutely screwed.”

“Maybe if you would’ve actually learned how to read, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Bitch.”

“Jerk.”

Billy stared at Steve for a few moments before letting his forehead hit the counter. “Der urr thint thut yer culd-”

“You gotta lift your head up, man. I can't understand what you're saying.” Billy lifted his head up nice and slow, fixing Steve with a frown.

“Do you think that you could tell Hopper for me? It'll sound better coming from the golden boy.”

“Why would I do that for you? Give me one good reason for why the hell I would ever do that for you.”

“Because last summer I saved your ass from one of those demogorgon things.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “You can’t keep bringing that up. It’s not like you just get to reuse that excuse over and over again.”

“Oh, well then next time, I’ll let it eat you, nice and slow. How’s that sound, Harrington?” Billy shot him a smug smile, like he had him.

“Better than being near you, Hargrove.”

Billy’s smile dropped. He ran a hand over his face and let out a shuddered breath. “Steve, seriously, I need this job. I don’t know — I have no idea how I missed Hopper’s writing, or why the fuck I sold them to her for that much. I just… I’m screwed if I get fired. Can you help me get the money back?” He asked as the door opened up.

“What, you sold my records already, Mr. Hargrove?”

Hopper’s voice carried across the room, loud enough to make both boys jump. “You — they — you know?” Billy asked, almost like he was going to start babbling apologies.

“Of course I know. I saw her walking along the road with a box that had my name plastered along the side. I can read, I’m not an idiot.” Steve snickered. “I even gave her a ride here. Thought she might come clean.”

Billy was fidgeting behind the counter, enough that it caught Steve’s attention. “So what are you gonna do?” He asked, hoping it’d put Billy at ease.

“Head back up to the cabin and see if she’s staying out there. They’re all the ones I left behind, so I figured that that’s where she’s at.” Hopper walked over to the counter, looking over the records. “How much you give her for them?”

“... Fifty.”

“You don’t know shit about music, do you, kid?” Billy opened his mouth to argue with the sheriff, but his shoulders drooped. “Don’t worry about it, kid. We’ve all been duped by a girl with a pretty face.” He looked over to Steve and nodded to the door. “I thought I heard Dustin say that your shift ends at three?”

“Yeah, as long as it’s not busy.”

Hopper gave a pointed look around the empty store — save for the three of them — and turned to the clock. “It’s ten ‘til now. I think Hargrove here can handle things while you come with me.”

“Why do you need me, though?” Steve ran his fingers through his hair, his lips pressed together into a thin line.

“She looks to be about your age. I figure it might make her easier to talk to if someone her age is there.” Billy opened his mouth to ask the inevitable question, but Hopper beat him to the punch. “You’re not coming for a whole lot of reasons, but the biggest one is that you still have to work.”

“Look, I don’t care who goes. I just need that money back.”

Hopper took a long look at Billy, his gaze easing up just a little. “You’ll get it back, don’t worry about it.” He started for the door, Steve following after him. They remained quiet until they got into the car, with Steve breaking the silence.

“So did you ever look into what I said, about Max and Billy’s dad?”

Hopped nodded his head as he turned the key, the engine rumbling to life. “Yeah, but nothing panned out. Domestic abuse is hard to pin down. Joyce just makes sure that Max is somewhere other than home for the most of the time. That’s about all I can do for now.”

Steve let out a quiet hum. “So we’re heading to the cabin?”

“To the cabin.

Some nice older lady had given you a ride close to where the dirt road leading up to the cabin was. You’d had her drop you off about a half mile down the main road, at some random house just to make sure that she wouldn’t think anything of it.

She’d been nice. A little nosey, but nice all the same.

You did the same as before, keeping just beyond the treeline so you’d be out of sight if anyone drove up there. But the cabin had looked like it had been empty for months when you’d gotten there two nights ago. Dust had covered everything. The lights had taken a few seconds to come on. Most of it was empty anyway. There were some cardboard boxes filled with stuff, like someone had started to move but never fully finished. The pantry and freezer had been stocked, though. There was even some stuff in the refrigerator. Thinking back on it, it’s a good thing that Seb hadn’t eaten that pudding. Who knows how old it could have been?

Just like earlier, the roar of an engine pulled you from your thoughts. But this one made you freeze.

The same car that had given you a ride into town earlier was driving up the dirt road. It was going a little too fast for you to make out who was in it, but it wasn’t hard to figure out.

You started running straight through the bramble patches, the thorns tearing at the exposed skin on your arms, a few getting your face as well. The sting was sharp, but you kept going. Your breath was coming out in pants as you jumped over a fallen long. Your foot caught on the branch, making you trip and hit the ground hard.

“Fuck,” you muttered, changing tactics. You got up and ran to the left, towards the dirt road. The second you broke through the trees you turned to head up it. You pushed yourself through the ache in your legs, through the pain in your arms and face until you saw the car parked in front of the cabin.

You couldn’t breathe. You could hear a muffled yell, and then Tee’s voice. It was impossible to make out what she was saying, but the closer you got, the clearer it was. The curtains were drawn open, like they’d been looking out the window. You could make out two imposing figures near them, but neither of them were near the door.

Launching yourself onto the porch, you ran inside, skidding to a stop when you saw the scene that stretched out before you.

Seb and Tee were backed up against the wall, eyes wide. Seb had tears running down his cheeks while Tee had her arms around him, protective and ready to lash out the second anyone moved. The cop from earlier was there, his hands held out in front of him. The guy with the perfect hair was there too, just behind the cop. You were pretty sure that the cop was saying something, but it was hard to tell with the dull roar sounding in your ears.

You couldn’t think of what to do. You looked back over to Seb, whose whole body was trembling. But then you saw something even more concerning.

His nose was bleeding.

please reblog/like/comment/send me an ask with your thoughts! 

[madharringrove]

Part 3: (By Lys) (part B of part 3)

Amanda’s POV:

“I’m going to kill them,” I stated and all the kids looked at me while Steve put the car in drive and started to drive towards the arcade while I ran my fingers through my hair. “Why the fuck would she be there?”

“It’s Alex,” Steve started and glanced at me. “You shouldn’t that surprised that she’s with Hargrove.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I asked and felt how all the kids shifted in the backseat. We stopped at a red light and Steve took the time to look at me.

“I’m just saying,” he began and leaned against the seat. “I’m not as surprised to see her at Hargrove’s considering that he wouldn’t stop looking at her on Friday.” He shrugged, all the kids were now paying attention to the conversation while I let out another frustrated sigh. “I honestly thought he was looking at you because most of the time you were with Alex.”

“You were planning to get your ass kicked again, Steve?” Mike asked and both of us looked at him and he slumped back down to the seat. “Sorry.”

“He did get his ass kicked,” I laughed and looked back at Steve. “Look at his face! He got his ass handed to him!”

“I put up a good fight though!” He argued making all the kids take a good look at his healing face.

“Are you sure about that?” I asked and he glared at me while the kids laughed.

“Anyways, I don’t know what they were fighting about but it seemed pretty serious.” Max finally spoke and Steve looked at her and then at me.

“I’m definitely going to kill him,” I said and sighed. “And I’m using that bat, Harrington.”

“What bat?” He asked until he realized I was talking about the one in the trunk. “Oh no you’re not! You’re not using the bat!”

“Who are you to tell me how to live my life?” I asked with a glare, all the kids laughing and talking between themselves.

“I like her,” I heard Max say with the widest smile.

“Max, that’s Amanda.” Lucas said and I pulled my eyes away from Steve to her. “Amanda, this is Max.”

“Nice to meet you, kid.” I said with a smile and she smiled back.

“You too.”

“Back to the topic,” I said and leaned back against the seat and Steve stopped the car and I realized we were in front of the arcade.

“I want you shitheads here at eight sharp or you’re all walking home!” Steve said and all of them rolled their eyes and got out quickly running into the arcade. “You’re not using the bat, Amanda.”

“You’re no fun, Harrington.” I glared and he quickly pulled me by my cheeks and kissed me and my first response was to kiss back. He pulled away with a smirk while I sighed and rolled my eyes. “You have to stop doing that...”

“If you don’t like it, why do you kiss back?” He asked with a raised brow making me groan at him and myself.

“Good question,” I mumbled and looked at him. “That won’t distract me from using the bat to kill Hargrove.” I said and he once again grabbed my hand and started playing with it. “What’s your deal, Harrington?” I asked as I leaned against the seat as he still played with my hand.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t act stupid, Steve.” I said with a long sigh. He let go of my hand and looked at me, he was genuinely confused and didn’t know what I meant. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” I sighed and closed my eyes but I could still feel him looking at me. “Why the sudden interest in me? The kisses? The looks? What’s the deal with all of that?”

“What are you making it sound so bad?” He asked, my eyes still closed and my feet gently tapping the ground. “Is it bad that I’m falling for you?” He asked and I finally opened my eyes and turned my head to face him. He watched me closely as if trying to solve a riddle that no one else could possibly understand. “Well? Is it, Williams?”

“I don’t know, Harrington...” I sighed and shifted around in my seat leaning closer to him as he did the same. “I don’t know...” I whispered and he connected our lips. They began to move in sync as if this weren’t the first time that it happened and honestly, it wasn’t. My hand pulled the back of his neck closer to me making the kiss deeper and his hands pulled my cheeks towards him until we were out of breath and pulled away. Our panting was low and unsteady but slowly finding its way to be. He looked at me and gave me a small grin earning a laugh and gentle punch from my part. “Are you sure about what you want?”

“It’s you...” He whispered and grabbed my hand. “Of course I’m sure.” He once again whispered and played with my hand in his. The size difference was pretty noticeable while he played with them and glanced up at me to just see me watching him with a goofy smile. “Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent, Harrington.” I replied and looked over at the arcade where the kids were. They were inside so I obviously couldn’t see them but I knew they were safe and having fun. “So this makes us...”

“This makes you mine, Williams.”

“Alright, don’t get all possessive, Christ.” I laughed and looked back at him. “This is staying low and quiet, deal?”

“Deal.”

[honey-tea-and-lemon-trees]

I wanna hold your hand.

My bughead secret santa gift for @ryanalexandermadej I know it’s a few days late but I hope you enjoy! <3

Thank you to my darling Alex for being my beta <3 @daisy-chain-gardens

Fic continues under the cut or available on ao3.

AO3

–

“Jug, please!” Jellybean crooned, leaning up against the barrier, opposite Jughead. She was giving him that look, that pleading pout and the puppy-dog eyes accompanied with the mischievous glint in her iris - she knew she could twist him around her little finger with that look. Well, not this time.

“Absolutely not,” he said firmly, shaking his head and folding his arms across his chest just to make himself extra clear.

“You promised Dad that you’d do it with me,” she whined, her pout become a little more genuine as she realised he might not budge on this one.

“No,” Jughead said, raising an eyebrow at her, “I told Dad that I would take you. I said nothing about taking part.” He smirked as Jellybean huffed, slumping to rest her head against the top of the barrier - he wondered whether he might actually win this time. “Besides, I brought Toni to do it with you so I didn’t have to,” he added smugly, throwing Toni a charming smile as he noticed her roll her eyes.

“Am I not enough for you, kid?” Toni teased, nudging Jellybean’s shoulder playfully.

“Mhfmhf.” Her mumbles were impossible to understand from beneath the layers of tangled raven curls that had splayed around her head, as she had made no effort to move from her slumped position.

“Well, if you’re not even gonna talk to me, I might as well go home. Maybe I’ll watch some tv or something,” she said lightly. She chuckled fondly as Jellybean shot up, wide eyed and shouting her protests. Toni reached out and ruffled the messy curls on top of her head, laughing again when Jellybean swatted her away quickly. “Fine, I guess I’ll stay,” she said, a wide smile on breaking out on her face. “But how are we gonna get this dummy out on the ice?”

She briefly gave Toni a beaming smile before it melted into that classic Jones smirk, turning towards Jughead with an impish glint in her eye.

--

As soon as she’d found out that there would be an outdoor ice skating rink at the Christmas Festival some of Riverdale’s residents were hosting in the park, Jellybean had been beside herself with excitement.

“Please, please, please ask if we can go, Jug!” she’d squealed, grabbing onto Jughead’s arm and quite literally pulling his attention away from his laptop. “I’ve never been ice skating before and I really, really wanna go! Please, please, please!” she babbled.

Jughead had smiled fondly - seeing that childlike enthusiasm, so eager and excited, had become a much rarer sight nowadays, she tried so hard to be ‘cool’ and grown up (as does any pre-teen). But it was nice to catch a glimpse. He must have been watching her for too long, because she had stilled, looking back at him expectantly.

“Why don’t you just go with your friends?” he had asked, with nothing worse springing to mind than going ice skating at a whole festival dedicated to holiday merriment - not exactly his cup of tea.

“Because my friends think it’s lame and if I make it look like you dragged me then I’ll still be cool,” Jellybean had whined, while Jughead rolled his eyes. “Pleaseee, Jug!” she repeated, moving behind him and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tightly.

Nice move, JB, he had thought as he relaxed into her hold, placing a hand over the joined hands that rested against the top of his chest. Again, in her efforts to grow up, hanging out with her big brother had become something to be avoided - so moments like those had become few and far between, and Jughead couldn’t help but be softened by her affection. “I’ll talk to Dad,” he murmured with a small smile after a few moments, wanting to hold on for a while longer.

But she had tore away, pumping her fists in the air and shouting in excitement. Jughead had laughed softly, before she grabbed his hand and dragged him up from his chair, pulling him into their tiny trailer’s living room. Under any other circumstance, Jughead would not be caught dead dancing to Christmas music, but he didn’t mind it so much then.

--

“Never gonna happen,” Jughead said firmly.

“Come on, it’d be so funny!” Jellybean pleaded, clasping her hands together. “He’d fall over on the ice so much that he’d lose all his street cred like that,” she said to Toni, snapping her fingers for affect.

“That’s not persuading me at all, Jellybean,” Jughead muttered, but seemingly going unnoticed by the two chatting girls in front of him. He just scowled silently instead.

“First of all, Jughead doesn’t have any street cred,” Toni drawled playfully, leaning towards Jellybean as if she was whispering but making no effort to lower her voice. She didn’t glance in his direction, but Jughead was pretty sure Toni knew he was glaring at her.

“I knew it,” Jellybean gasped dramatically, but let out a soft giggle seconds later.

“Secondly, he would definitely fall over on the ice, like 100 times,” she teased, smirking with Jellybean as she placed a hand on the barrier for balance, hot pink fingernails peeking through her fingerless gloves. “That boy flails like a mad man in gym class… take away the friction and he is never gonna manage,” she said, sucking her teeth and shaking her head in mock disappointment.

“You’re probably right, he’d suck at it anyway,” Jellybean sighed, catching onto Toni’s reverse-psychology act. “Come on, Toni, let’s go,” she said, eagerly holding out a hand and grinning widely when Toni took it. If he was in a better mood, Jughead would have smiled at that - Jellybean’s unfaltering admiration for Toni was, for lack of a better (and less cringey) word, adorable.

“I know what you guys are trying,” Jughead muttered, still frowning, slumped against the bench he was sat on. “It’s not gonna work,” he said, gently shaking his head.

“We’re not trying anything,” Toni said, her brow creasing as if she were oblivious. “More fun without you anyway,” she shrugged nonchalantly, “right, JB?”

Jellybean smiled at the nickname, eagerly nodding at Toni and not even bothering to glance at Jughead. It seemed she had quickly forgotten her motives, too readily basking in Toni’s attention.

“Cool, see you in a bit, Jug,” Toni chirped sweetly, waggling her fingers at him and turning as if they were about to skate off.

“Wait,” Jughead groaned, standing up with a frown, disappointed in how easy he was to manipulate. “Three things.”

Toni swivelled smoothly and raised her eyebrows in a go ahead gesture.

“One, I have tonnes of ‘street cred’,” he scoffed, mostly joking but a little aware of the fact that the Serpent emblem on his back wasn’t born out of nothing. “Two, fuck the both of you but mostly Toni,” he added, ignoring the jubilant smiles that the two of them exchanged, probably guessing where he was headed.

“And three?” Jellybean prompted with a mischievous smirk.

Jughead huffed out a sigh, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Three, where do I rent the god damn fucking skates?” he huffed, repressing the urge the smile when the two of them cheered way too enthusiastically.

“It’s easy really,” Toni reassured him a few minutes later as Jughead was lacing up the ridiculous footwear. “You’ll get the hang of it in no time,” she said, patting his shoulder as she made her way back towards the rink. The amused smile that was already forming on her face made her words a lot less convincing.

“Thanks, Juggie,” Jellybean said, shooting him a genuine grin. “Come on, it’ll be fun. I promise,” she beamed, holding out her hand to him.

With a sigh, he took it and wondered why the hell he had agreed to do this.

--

“This is neither easy, nor fun, you pair of fucking liars!” Jughead half yelled, consciously aware that there were children in close proximity, but a little bitter that they were so much better at skating than he was. “Shit,” he cursed under his breath, his hand shooting out to grab the barrier as he felt himself begin to lose balance again.

It had barely been twenty minutes, and Jughead had fallen on his ass more times than he could count. Jellybean had been laughing so hard that she’d fallen over herself a few times, once even dragging Toni down with her - it was pretty funny, and it almost made it worth it. Almost.

“Quit your whining,” Toni scolded, doing some fancy twirly thing that Jughead could barely handle watching without feeling like he was going to fall. I bet she’s showing off on purpose, the little shit, he thought to himself, catching the barrier again as one of his feet slipped out from underneath him. He blew his hair out of his face with a frown, wondering how much longer he was going to be forced to endure this.

“It’s not that hard,” Jellybean said, clearly making an effort to stifle her giggles, but not doing a great job. “Here,” she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him slightly away from the side. “Just keep your knees bent and your weight forward,” she explained, demonstrating with a small encouraging smile. It wasn’t meant to be patronising, but having his 12 year old sister explain this to him wasn’t exactly the most flattering situation Jughead had found himself in.

Jughead frowned, indeed feeling any cool status he may have had disappearing further with every second - just as those shitheads predicted. Though when he actually tried it out, repeating knees bent, weight forward over and over in his head as he went, it was actually going a lot smoother. He couldn’t help but grin with pride. Okay, it’s much more fun when it actually goes well.

“Finally!” Toni huffed sarcastically, but a fond smile broke out on her face soon after.

“Yeah! Go, Jug!” Jellybean cheered enthusiastically, swinging their joined hands a little - causing Jughead’s eyes to widen in panic, terrified it would make him lose balance. Turns out his fear was misplaced, because a few moments later, she let go completely.

“Jellybean, what are you doing?” he said, his voice coming out far more panicked than he would have liked. “Get back here right now, young lady!” he yelled, noting the increasing distance between them and feeling furiously opposed to that development.

“You’re a pro now!” she teased. “Time to spread your wings and fly on your own, Jug,” she giggled, her pace quickening a little so she was skating slightly ahead of him.

“Keep practicing,” Toni said with a smirk, “and I’m sure you’ll catch up with us soon enough.” She let out a loud laugh as Jellybean grabbed her hand and began skating a lot faster, shooting further ahead than was possible for Jughead to reach, while he shouted after them and muttered expletives under his breath.

He was stranded, away from the barrier and without Jellybean to hold onto. He suddenly became aware that if he fell over now, there would be no way for him to get back up, nothing to grab onto for leverage. That added panic did not help his technique.

“Shit, okay,” he muttered, trying to psych himself up. He reached to adjust his beanie with one hand, holding the other out hoping it would provide him with balance. He began trying to move again, gently sliding one foot forward and repeating the mantra in his head: knees bent, weight forward. He could have moved back closer to the barrier, but maybe it was his stubbornness telling him to keep going without, determined to be just slightly shy of awful. He was moving along, if a little slowly, but he had yet to slip so he considered it a success.

Somehow, Toni and Jellybean had managed to circle back around to him, but they were clearly enjoying their own special kind of torture for him - instead of helping him, they just cheered and whooped patronisingly as they passed him, before speeding off again.

The determination to last for just a few more minutes had worn off, the novelty was gone, and Jughead didn’t want to be on that ice for another fucking second. He looked up, scanning the space for the nearest little gate leading to safe land. The rink hadn’t seemed so big from the sidelines, but now he was in the midst of it, Jughead wondered how the organisers had wrangled such a fucking massive one.

Before too long, his eyes landed on a gate to exit the rink not too far from where he was standing. He sighed in relief, not even caring where Toni and Jellybean had gotten to, only wanting to get away from all the ice and skates as soon as possible.

He straightened up unconsciously, just for a second - it probably wouldn’t have even mattered if a kid hadn’t accidentally brushed past him, barely even touching him… but it was enough to tip his balance. He fell onto the ice, hard.

“Shit,” Jughead groaned, scrunching his eyes shut as a dull pain spread through him and pushed himself up slightly. He spotted a boy standing a couple of feet from him, peering at him worriedly - probably the one who inadvertently caused his fall. With a somewhat forced smile, Jughead waved him off, knowing it wasn’t his fault really.

“Uh.. hi.”

Jughead looked up, squinting his eyes against the harsh sunlight. There was a girl swaddled in a large grey knit scarf and a pale pink pea coat standing over him, with her hand outstretched.

“Would you like help up?” she offered, a warm friendly smile painted on her lips.

Jughead hesitated for a second, before realising there was so other way he would be able to stand on his own, and placing his hand in hers.

“Thanks,” he said gratefully. He grimaced a little as he stood, being gently pulled up by the vaguely familiar looking blonde in front of him. She pulled them slightly further towards the centre of the rink, so they were just away from the stream of people passing. She dropped his hand, but stayed close, her hand hovering in the area below his elbow, poised to catch him if he slipped.

A look of genuine concern crossed her face as her wide green eyes ever so briefly skimmed over him. They seemed to linger briefly on the leather jacket before flicking back up to meet his own, but that was no different to what Jughead was used to by now. She was polite enough not to sneer at him like some Northside took great pleasure in doing.

“Are you okay? That looked like it hurt…” she said, seeming to be legitimately worried for a complete stranger. Stumbling across that kind of fierce compassion had become a rarity for Jughead. It spread a warm, unfamiliar feeling through his veins.

“I’m never going fucking skating again,” he muttered bitterly under his breath, carefully wiping his hands against his jeans, before looking up at her with an apologetic smile. “Can we just pretend it didn’t happen?” Jughead breathed a laugh, adjusting the beanie on his head. “You seeing me fall on my ass is a really shitty first impression,” he joked, wincing slightly in his embarrassment.

“It sort of isn’t,” she let out an awkward laugh, before spotting Jughead’s confused expression. “I mean, I know you… No, I don’t know you! Well sort of, I’ve seen you before,” she stammered nervously, her gaze fluttering around to avoid his own. “I work at Pop’s,” she sighed, collecting herself with a tight-lipped smile and a slow nod - her ponytail swaying softly behind her. “You always get a fries, a burger and black coffee,” she explained with a meek smile, still a twinge of nervousness lingering around the edges of her expression.

After a second of initial surprise, Jughead suddenly felt awful that he hadn’t immediately recognised her; now recalling vague images of her in the pink neon lights of Pop’s, pouring out his coffee with a friendly smile as he furiously typed away on his laptop, barely acknowledging her. God, I’m such an asshole.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry!” he said, kicking himself internally. “I’m Jughead.” He scoured his brain, wondering if he could recall the letters written on the name-badge but coming up blank.

“Nice to meet you properly,” she said, breathing a quiet laugh, “I’m Betty.” For a moment, she looked like she was debating something, her pale pink lips slightly pursed as if she was going to say something else. A few moments later, she cleared her throat and asked softly, “Would you like some help over to the side?”

For the sake of his pride, Jughead desperately wanted to say no - he probably already seemed ridiculously lame at this point, definitely not living up to the ‘hardened gang member’ stereotype (not that he ever had before). On the other hand, his dumb pride was what landed him in a pile on the floor in the first place; so he found himself nodding with a grateful smile.

Betty extended her hand again and Jughead slipped his palm against hers. When their hands met, Jughead smiled, feeling the warmth of Betty’s skin gradually trickling heat into his numbing fingers. She shivered slightly, the reverse effect happening on her end.

“Sorry,” Jughead chuckled, his thumb lightly stroking the back of her hand absentmindedly.

“That’s alright,” she said with a smile. She began to skate forward carefully, her gaze flitting back to Jughead nervously when he winced. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, I can just feel myself waking up tomorrow with a thousand bruises,” he said, groaning in a slightly over-dramatic manner, stirring a quiet laugh in Betty which made him grin.

“If you don’t mind me asking...” Betty said softly, pulling them forward again with a natural, graceful ease, “you don’t seem overly fond of skating…”

“So why the hell am I here?” he offered with a low chuckle, recognising that it was a reasonable question. “My little sister is floating around somewhere, she and my friend forced me onto the ice and then abandoned me. They think it’s funny that I suck,” he explained, as it occurred to him that he hadn’t spotted those rascals in the past few minutes, though he was aware that his attention had been focused elsewhere - a kind, beautiful blonde with cheeks flushed pink from the cold air.

“Snap,” Betty chuckled. “My sister asked me to come with her, but she’s off flirting with some guy she likes,” she shrugged, brushing it off, but it looked like it bothered her.

“But,” Jughead said in a light tone, “you don’t suck at skating.”

“I had lessons when I was a kid,” she explained with a fond smile. “You should have seen me when I first started, I was terrible,” she said, shaking her head softly as she let out a melodious laugh. “I was much worse than you… no offence,” she turned to him quickly, eyes wide as if she’d said something awful.

“I don’t believe that for a second,” Jughead scoffed, watching her glide across the ice beside him while he sort of clunked and shuffled. “Nope, I just don’t buy it.”

“It’s true!” she insisted enthusiastically. “My first few lessons, I could barely stand on the ice… One time, I almost gave my mom a heart attack because she thought I’d fell and knocked a tooth out… which I actually did, my last baby tooth,” she said, breathing a laugh.

“How long was it before you realised?” Jughead asked with a smile.

“During the emergency dentist appointment, thirty minutes after the accident. My mother called in a favour.”

“That’s insane,” Jughead said, placing his other hand on the barrier that they had drifted towards. The gate wasn’t far from them now, and as much as he wanted to sit down and rest his aching limbs, he didn’t really want to stop listening to Betty talk… she seemed interesting. He wanted to let go of her hand even less.

“Yeah, she can be a little intense sometimes,” Betty said, lifting her head and spotting the gate ahead of them “I guess the lessons paid off though,” she said, looking up at him with a bright smile.

“Yeah, how else would you have come to my rescue?” Jughead chuckled, squeezing her hand a little.

Suddenly, Betty let out a small squeal and crashed into his side; he instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist to make sure she didn’t fall as he awkwardly collided with the barrier, wondering what the hell had just happened.  

Jughead’s head snapped up just in time to see a hurricane of pink and raven locks, shouting “Oops, sorry!” over their shoulders as they sped away giggling.

He turned back to Betty, seeing that she had followed his gaze to the culprits. He became suddenly aware of their position: Jughead was sort of leaning with his back towards the barrier, his arm still wrapped so tightly around Betty’s waist that her body had been practically pulled flush against him. She must have realised around the same time she did, because a light blush was slowly creeping across her cheeks.

“Your sister?” she asked, a little breathless from the surprise of it all.

“Yep.”

She hadn’t pushed him away yet.

“Is the now the time when I’m supposed to make some cheesy joke about how you ‘fell for me’?” Jughead asked, a boyish grin spreading across his face. Betty giggled, pressing a hand over her mouth and shaking her head.

“Technically,” she said, her own charming smirk forming on her face, “you fell first.”

“I guess you’re right,” he said, nodding. “Hey, Betty?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I have your number?”

[mrgrant9559-blog]

Witch Way Is Right? Part 3

AN: So I’ve finally decided who I’m pairing the reader up with, but in order to do it, I’m gonna have to add a little something to change the character. Nothing big, don’t worry. Anyways, heres Part 3 and I hope you guys enjoy!

Summary: (Y/N) is a male witch and also comes from a family of witches. When (Y/N) is backed up in a corner by his brother, who chose the dark path, he is forced to choose his own fate, choosing the light path. This causes an Ecliptic War between Light and Dark Witches. During this war, an eclipse (both solar and lunar) is happening, and won’t end until one brother is left standing. With the help of the Avengers and other helpful heroes, will (Y/N) be able to defeat his brother, or will the world be forever secluded in darkness?

Characters: (Y/N), Peter Parker, Ned Leeds, Flash Thompson, Michelle (MJ), Brother OC

Subject: Avengers x Male!Reader

Tags: @uselessace @avengersohyeah @thegreatficmaster @lzzywinchester

Part 1

Part 2

Part 4

________________________________________________________

Reader’s POV:

As I’m walking towards school, I see the Avengers Tower and it looks so tall! I always wondered what it’d be like in there, the type of stuff they have in there. I mean, I want them to notice me but my mom always said “You’re young and have a long life ahead of you. So at some point, as long as you fight for whats right, the Avengers WILL acknowledge you for the type of person you really are. You just have to wait until it’s your time, and when it is, you show em what the (Y/L/N) Family are really made of!” She’s right and I will. It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow, but there will be a day where I’m needed and best believe I’m gonna show ‘em what I can do.

I walk into school and everything seems normal until there’s a high-pitched girly scream coming from... the BOY’S bathroom?! Everyone looks towards the bathroom as the door flies open to reveal Flash gagging and panting. Everyone looks confused and are wondering whats going on. Everyone except me cause I was too busy suppressing the laugh that was trying to creep it’s way out of my mouth. One of the teachers walk up to him to ask him whats wrong. “Flash?! What is it? Is everything ok?!” the teacher asks worriedly. Flash then replies with a muffled “LOOK!” as he sticks out his tongue to reveal his hairy tongue. Some students groan in disgust while others gasp in shock. Me on the other hand, I completely lost my shit! I couldn’t contain my laughter anymore and of course Flash notices. Hell, everybody noticed. Flash gives me a dirty look and rushes towards me, but I still display a cocky smile on my face.

“You think this is funny, shithead?!” He says angrily. “Oh no, Flash. Not at all... It’s HILARIOUS!” I say as I go into a fit of laughter causing the other students to do the same. “You know what, karma’s a bitch! Just you wait, (Y/L/N).” My expression then goes from cocky to dead serious as I whisper to him, “You’re right, Flash. Karma IS a bitch. So you should really watch how you treat people before he strikes again.” I pull away from him to see him mouth the word “He?” in confusion. I then casually tell him “Don’t forget to shave there, Fluffy!”

Everyone starts laughing again as he brushes pass my shoulder and walks away. Michelle gives me a pat on the back and says “I’ll admit, that was bold as hell!” I thank her and tell her that I’ll see her later. Everybody goes back to what they were doing at this point, while I head over to my first period class. As I’m headed there, two hands grab ahold of my arm and pull me into the empty science class. I turn around and spot Peter and Ned closing the door.

“What the hell is this about, you guys? You realize we’re gonna be late to first period, right?” I ask. Peter looks at me with a serious face. “So, you’re a witch?” SHIT. Busted. I knew Peter would figure it out, he’s smart as hell.

“What are you talking about? Are you seriously gonna make me late to class because you think I’m a witch?!” I asked, trying to sound convincing as possible.

“We don’t think you’re a witch, we know you are. Just admit it.” Peter said.

“Ok, what makes you think I’m a witch?” I asked.

“Oh just the fact that Flash had a hairy tongue the day after I heard you say something in Greek and you just so happened to mention Flash’s name.” Peter said.

“That was a coincidence. Everyone knows you grow hair on your tongue from smoking too many cigarettes.” I said.

This time, Ned spoke up. “Flash doesn’t smoke. I don’t think. Well, maybe he does, but that still doesn’t cause you to grow hair on your tongue.” I’m getting annoyed. “Even if I did do magic, which I don’t, why would I tell you guys anything? You’d just tell everyone in the school anyways.” I tell them. Peter looks as if he has something big to say but doesn’t really know how to come out with it. Finally he finds the courage and says, “What if I told something about me that I wouldn’t let anyone else know, not even my Aunt May? Even though she found out already.” he said. What the hell could it be? I mean I’ve seen how Peter is with his Aunt May and it doesn’t seem like they keep secrets from each other, so what could it be that he didn’t even want his Aunt to know? I make up my mind. “What is it?” I ask.

“If I tell you, you have to promise, no SWEAR to me that you won’t tell anyone.” He says and it gets me curious. If this secret is as big as he says, then maybe I can trust him with mine. “Alright, Pete. I swear I won’t tell anyone. You have my word.” Peter sighs as if he was holding his breath for a long time. He looks at me with almost teary eyes and says, “I’m Spi...” He gets interrupted by a huge crash sound coming from down the hall, something terrible is happening. I can feel it.

The three of us rush out of the class and see the hallway has been destroyed! Pieces of lockers are scattered everywhere and there dust and debris flowing in the wind coming from outside thanks to the big hole in the ceiling. Then we see someone slowly gliding down from the hole in the ceiling and as soon as I recognize who it is, I gritted my teeth in anger. How did he know I went to this school?! I turn to look at Peter but he was already gone and I only saw a worried Ned walking back into the classroom. I walk up to Ned to calm him down. “What the hell is going on?!” He asks. “I need you to listen for a sec, Ned. You and Pete were right. I’m a witch but a good one, and right now I need to take care of this guy so I want you to find Peter and get everyone to safety. GO!” He looks at me with wide eyes but snaps out of it when he hears another crash and runs away. I don’t know if telling Ned was such a good idea, but at this point I could care less.

“O, Brother. Where art thou?” Alex said in a playful manner. ‘Idiot! This isn’t a joking matter. He’s gonna get someone killed!’ I say in my head. “Well, if you’d just stop hiding, then no one would have to get killed, dumbass!” Ugh! I hate that he can read my mind, too. I walk out of the science room so tuat he can see me. “What do you want, Alex?!” I say angrily. I know he chose a dark path but that doesn’t give him the right to wreak havoc just for his own amusement. “Can I not just show up to my baby brother’s school to see how he’s doing?” He asks innocently. “Not after what you did to Mom and Dad. You studied dark magic behind our backs when you had just turned 18, and you almost got Dad killed fighting Baron Mordo to bring you back to the light. Now piss off before you get hurt!” I threaten him. I know I can’t beat him but he needs to know that what he did to us, his own flesh and blood, is unforgivable.

“Don’t make me laugh, (Y/N). Why can’t you just accept the darkness in your heart. You know its there don’t you?” He says persuasively. I scoffed, “You know what? I’m done with this. Mom and Dad should be here soon so you better fix this place up and leave or you’ll have to deal with them.” Alex laughed like he knew something I didn’t. “Don’t you think they’d be here by now? I’ve already dealt with them.” I was about to speak up in rage before Alex interrupted, “Don’t worry. I didn’t kill em, but I did knock em out long enough for us to have a little brother to brother talk. So what do you say, (Y/N)? You comin with me or am I dragging your unconsious body outta here?”