#me still surprised when my 6 year old phone washes out the color of images.

[mourningcape]

morphine - a head with wings

[angelynrostrand]

Chapter 9

Summary:  To the outside world, nothing should connect shy girl Angel Monroe and popular boy Xavier Hazelwood. But that isn't entirely true. They both hold secrets. Behind both of them lie 2 separate wolf packs. Xavier is well on his way to Alpha status and running the pack. Angel is not a wolf but instead the last healer in the world. When the realization comes forward that they are connected by destiny, will they decide to fulfill it? Is their connection predetermined by fate or will they choose their hearts? Lives and packs cross and mingle while romance and conflict brews. The story of 2 opposite souls on a collision path. Will destiny win out? Even the most innocent face, has the darkest secrets.

Word Count: 3,139

http://photobotanic.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/A-Mix-of-Vegetables-Fruits-Herbs/G00003DBCCX_QjHM/I0000qKkwLaCdY14/C0000V0OqrzROPRQ

Both Trevor and Jesus were right. After a heavy meal and a normal 10 hours of sleep, I felt so much better but Xavier was still in the back of my mind. I shower thinking it would wash any thought of him. Nope. It didn’t work. I guess working at the infirmary caused me to forget about Xavier. I was too busy and occupied to cry over him. Now that I have the rest of the week off, I can only think about him. How I am a terrible person for lying to him. At school, I make sure I walk a different route so we don’t have to exchange any awkward glares. Brandon has been amazing. He calls or texts me making sure I amok. I think I really scared him when I almost passed out the other day. 

“You know he misses you,” Brandon says as he helps me with collecting fruit from my trees.

“I doubt it.” I carry my basket around. Lucky for me I can talk to Brandon and use him for muscle. After all the lies, I don’t even like me. I don’t like the person I have been lately. 

“Angel you are his mate. He misses your presence and he has just been grumpy for the past couple of days. So get back together so I can have my friend back to normal. I need this more than you do.” He says with his hand over his chest like if he was in pain. “Trust me.”

I rolled my eyes. “Can we please talk about something else?” I don’t feel right talking about Xavier with one of his friends. 

“Fine, but my question is what are you going to do with all this fruit?” He is holding 2 buckets and I have one cute basket. 

“I normally give it to my pack and their families. But since you helped so willingly,”

“You made come.” He cuts me off. We make our way to the back kitchen to clean them.

“Ya but you still came.” We laugh together. “I thought you and your family might want some.”

I place them in a recycle bag and handed them back to him. “Thank you. I know my mom and dad will love fresh fruit.” I walk him to his car and thank him once again for helping. “You know tomorrow is Friday?”

“Yes…?” What does he have in mind?

“Well, Jordan and I have a basketball tomorrow. Can you come?”

“Wait you guys play?” I believe Brandon but Jordan? Really?

“Yes I know I am amazing at every sport and Jordan may look uninterested in sports but he is good. Our father is a big basketball fan so he is pleased that both of his sons are on the team.”

“Do you guy use your wolf speed and strength during the game.?” I ask.

“Maybe. Sometimes. Yes, we do.” He gives up. I laugh from his effort. “Would you please come?”

“I will think about it.”

“I am going to accept that as a yes.” 

On Friday morning, I still have a lot of fruit leftover. I’ll just leave a basket for the front office ladies. I make my way through the front doors when the twins stop me.

“Hello. How are you? Still, have more to give out?” Brandon asked.

“Ya, I was going to leave some for the office ladies.”

“Also thank you, Angel, for the fruit. Our mom really appreciated it. So did I.” Jordan says as he holds up one of the oranges in his hands. 

“I am glad. Nice uniforms.” They are both dressed in blue and yellow basketball shirts. 

“Thank you.” They both said at the same time. “Are you coming. It starts at 6 in the main gym.” Jordan asks. I couldn’t answer do to another voice yelling at the twins.

“Hey, McGuire next time wait for me to park the car so we can…” Xavier stops talking when he sees me behind the twins. Their tall bodies were able to hide my figure. “Oh Angel, I didn’t see you there.”

I can do this. “It’s fine…” We all stay in an awkward silence. “I should get going. I need to hand these out.” I lift the basket. “I see you guys later,” I say to the twins.

“Wait are you coming tonight?” Brandon asked.

“Ya, I’ll see you there.” 

“Wait, Angel… Wait up.” Xavier speed walks towards me. “Can we please talk? I was an idiot. I know my temper can get the best of me, but let’s just talk.” 

“No, not here. Not today.” I had just started to feel better. “I am busy.” I walk to the front office lady. “Hello, I have fresh fruit. Is it ok if I leave it here?  It is for anyone who may want some.”

“Yes, of course, dear. Thank you.” She says. I nod and walk to my first class, now with Xavier by my side.

“Angel let’s just talk after school.” I look deep into his eyes. The last time I saw those beautiful brown eyes they were in pain and red from crying. 

“I can’t I’m going to the twin’s game. Plus I have  patients to worry about when I get home.” That was a lie. I know by now Jesus is healthy. I shake my head no. I need to stay strong. “I have class. Sorry.”

But before I could go to any outing I need my father’s agreement. I know it will be difficult to get.  I have to go. I already agreed to go and I don’t want to disappoint the twins. They seem to be excited, more Brandon than Jordan. But that’s because we spend more time together. It was surprising to see Jordan in color. He normally wears black on black. Xavier has the type of casual and simple style. But yet he could be a model, especially with his tall stature. He normally wears different shades of blue and green. I am more a sundress girl. I like loose and flowy outfits with floral design. I was interrupted in my fashion analysis by my classmate Sage. She is in my English and Art class. She is my new desk partner. 

“Angel I didn’t mean to overhear your conversation but are you also going to the game?” She asks. 

“Yes, I am. Are you?” Making friendly conversation for once.

“Ya. My gym teacher is one of the coaches. He said if we go we can get extra credit.” She says while wrapping her colored dyed hair around her pencil. This month her hair is red. We always have a class together because we both take a lot of AP and honors classes. I was able to experience her pink, blue, purple and now red hairstyle. “So do you want to go together? We don’t have to suffer too much.” She smiles.

“Ya, I would like that.” We exchange numbers by switching our phones to each other.  Now I don’t have to sit and watch the game by myself. Sage has always been nice to me and I never returned the favor. This could be a little thank you offer. 

At the end of class we both said “Bye.” and “I’ll see you later tonight.” “Text me.” Sage has the grunge style like Jordan but she is so much sweeter than how she looks. Now I really need to convince my father to let me go to the game.

I gather all my courage and knock heavily on his door. “Come in.” I open to find my brother and my father frustrated expression. 

“Hello father, can I talk to you. Do you have a minute?” He nods and I continue to talk. “Wait what is going on? Is everything alright?” 

“Father tell her…” Is it that bad enough my Alpha, my brother, isn’t brave enough to say it?

“We lost them. The men who attacked us. They are gone. No trace of scent or paw prints. Nothing. They are still out there.”

Whenever they are mentioned my brother seems to lose his ability to speak. It is a sensitive topic for him. He saw our mother murdered in front of him when he was 8 years old. Back then, mother told him to protect me. I was only an infant and he shielded me from watching the murder scene. He ran to my father with me in his arms. 

“But it is nothing for you to worry about. They don’t know about your abilities only our pack. And it must stay that way.” My father says, reassuring me to not tell anyone. Especially Xavier and his pack. “Is there anything you need?” He says, coming back to the reason why I am here.

“Ya. I was wondering if I can go to the basketball game?”

 Even though my father isn’t Mexican he must ask: “Who are you going with? Why? What times does it start? Where?” He must have gotten that from mom.

“I'm going with my friend Sage she is in my class. We are going for extra credit.” I use Sages same excuse. “It starts at 6 pm and it’s a home game.” 

“No. Sorry you cannot go.” 

“Father, please. I already told Sage I would go. Please.” 

“No. Sorry it is still dangerous with them out there.”

“Brother. Please. Help.” I redirect to Eric. 

“Sorry, father is right.” He is testing my patience. He notices my desperation and says, “But what if she goes with a bodyguard? Like one of the warriors?” 

“I will agree to that. You can go out if you have one of the warriors.” My father says crossing his arms.

I am not going to fight with my luck. I think this is going to be the best I can get. “Can I at least pick who it is?”

“Fine.” I hug him and thank him multiple times. I also hug Eric for not leaving me hanging. “Who do you have in mind?”

“Jesus Mendoza?” The same patient that I healed. He is kind and we are good friends.

“That is fine. I will call for him. I am going to talk to him. You need to finish your homework before you go to the game.” I voice my understanding and walk to my room.

I pulled out my phone to text Sage about the third wheel. I just tell her it is a friend. She replies a couple of seconds later saying “That’s fine! The more the merrier!” Sage is always easy going.

I don’t have homework. I don’t count my artwork homework, but I do need to finish it because it is due on Monday. We are practicing pencil shading. We have to pick an everyday object and draw it with a shadow behind it. I chose a simple sunflower. I started to get pencil markings on my hand. With each line I drew, I kept thinking about Xavier. Maybe the sappy love songs in the background are not helping. In the end, it’s unfair to him. I wish I was able to understand this connection bond Xavier and all wolves feel when they found their mates. But then again if I was able to feel it, it would make breaking away from him more painful. He must feel lonely. To be the only one to feel that pain. 

A knock wakes me up. Jesus walks in shortly after. “Hey, your father and Alpha Monroe want to talk to both of us. Over dinner.” I nod and clean my mess away. Jesus waits for me by my door so we can both go down together. 

“I hope you don’t mind coming with me to a high school game,” I ask as we walk through the hallway and down the stairs. 

“I don’t. I bet it will be fun but I know I am not duty. Plus it would better than walking around for 10 miles to make sure the area is safe.”

“Well, then I am glad. I do hope you have fun after the week you had.” Like a true gentleman he opens every door we pass through to get into the informal dining table.

“I must say I am more a football fan, but basketball is a good choice too.” He smiles. We walk in with my family sitting and waiting for our arrival. All the food is already on the table. Jesus pulled my chair out for me to sit.

“Thank you for getting Angel.” My brother says towards Jesus.

“Of course, Alpha.” We all hold hands to pray, then start to eat. 

During the meal, my father starts with “I just want this to be a reminder to the both of you. And Jesus I already talked about this with you. I want you guys to have fun but be safe. Angel, you must stay by Jesus. Don’t wander off without telling him where you are going.”

“Of course father.” I feel like a little kid all over again. With my father’s lecture complete, we are able to finish our dinner. 

Jesus and I hop in one of my father’s many cars. So unnecessary. Why must he do this? He can’t keep doing this. I won’t allow it when I go to college. Jesus was glad to be able to drive one of my father’s famous cars. I distract myself and text Sage saying we are on our way. She soon replies “Ok! I will be there soon” with a smiley face.

“I want to say thank you,” He says. I give him a confused look. “ When you asked for my request. It caught my commander’s attention. I think after this he will promote me. I am a first-year and I am escorting the Alpha’s sister.” He moves his eye off the road to me and says, “So thank you for the opportunity.” In his most sensitive voice, he says, “Thank you.”

“Jesus you are going to make me cry.” I give him a genuine smile. “Of course, you are the only I trust and feel comfortable to be around. So thank you for being a friend.” I smile. As we were driving the radio played “We Are Young” by Fun. Jesus and I looked at each other with increasing smiles. He turns the volume up and we both swayed or nod to the music. Minutes later we both start singing the chorus. We pull into my school laughing about our terrible singing voices. I laugh and laugh about how crazy we must look to other people passing by. Who are we? Who am I? I am normally the shy and small one. I don’t sing and get rallied up for a basketball game. Going to my first after school event in my senior year.  I feel good and free. Not worried about grades, family, the attack, or Xavier. The moment I think his name he notices my presence and I notice him. We catch him like a deer in the headlights. Jesus’s chest is still rising up and down. We are out of breath from both singing and laughing. My chest becomes still and steady, unlike Jesus. But the soon he realized my quiet state and also calms himself. Xavier is confused? Lost? Angry? He just walks away to the main gym.

“Who is that?” Jesus asks as we both unbuckle our seat belts and closed the doors.

“Xavier Hazelwood, my mate.” Jesus whips his head back to my direction as we walked side to side. 

“Hazelwood? As in Alpha Lucas Hazelwood’s son? From the Midnight Pack?” He asks. 

“Yup.” He must have studied their pack. It is well known by everyone that there are only two packs in one state. Very uncommon. I guess that’s why our packs are always arguing about whose territory it is. 

“That explains why you have been different.”

“Different?” I question.

“Lately you have been open and different. Maybe because your secret is out to the pack.”

“Yeah, it is a relief that I don’t have to hide or lie to my own pack. But Xavier doesn’t know so don’t say anything.” I warn him. He nods to agree aggressively and pretend to look intimidating. From me trying to be intimidating. We make it to the ticket booth and pay our way in. Before entering into the gym, I hear my name. 

“Angel Monroe?” An older woman asks as she waves for me and Jesus to walk over.

“Yes, that is me. I’m sorry. Who are you?” I have never seen this woman before.

“I’m sorry. I am Grace McGuire.”

McGuire..? “Are you Jordan and Brandon’s mother?” I ask. 

She quickly nods. “Yes. I just want to say thank you for all the fruit. It was delicious.” 

“It’s nothing. Brandon helped and I had too much to eat.” I smile. Her eyes drift towards my friends. “Oh, I am sorry. This is my friend Jesus,” I whisper, “from my pack. Jesus this is Grace McGuire from the Midnight pack. My friend’s mother.”  

“It is nice to meet you.”

“Ya, it is nice to meet you.” They both exchange a handshake. She must be apart of the basketball booster club. I assume so because of her over the top school spirit outfit. What a normal thing to do. Something I admire from the Midnight pack is they do their best to be apart of the community. They try to as normal as possible. They are more modern than my pack who like to be traditional and like to keep a low profile. “I am glad I was able to meet you, but go and get some good seats. I am on duty.” She points at the food table. 

“Thank you. Don’t work too hard.” Jesus and I turn around to find seats. We gaze over the crowd to find Sage. “Oh, there she is.” I point out and we walk over. 

“Hey Sage, this is my friend Jesus.” I give another introduction. “Jesus this is Sage. Now we are all friends.” I smile.

The loud buzzer made everyone in the gym jump. Including me, it was so foreign to me. This whole situation is foreign to me. I don’t know what to do, unlike Sage and Jesus who were cheering when both teams enter the court. I can see Brandon and Jordan. I waved at them and they look happy to see me. I finally get up and clap to support them. I smile and am ready to see their game. I can hear students on a higher level also yelling. I looked up and notice Xavier was a part of that group. We make eye contact and both of our smiles wipe away. I turn back around. The crowd calms down and we sit down. Let the game begin. 

[trash-the-tozier]

The Disappearance of Georgie Denbrough (6/10)

Title: The Disappearance of Georgie Denbrough

Length ~60.8k (~5.4k for this part)

Summary: The summer between junior and senior year of high school, Bill’s little brother Georgie goes missing.

Warnings: It’s relatively canon-typical in terms of content. For this part there’s explicit language, violence, and some kisssssssing and a lil cheesy villain dialogue

Pairings: eventual Richie/Eddie and Ben/Beverly

A/N: oh h*ck this is one of my fave chapters I hope you guys like it! also posted to my ao3 here (much more readable tbh) Previous Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

“Richie, why the hell are you here? It’s barely after eight. I didn’t know you woke up any later than ten-thirty.”

Stan had already been dressed for the day for a little while, so Richie didn't really get why his friend was so surprised to see him. Besides, the words weren’t true anyway; Richie had to be conscious at five forty-five to make it down the trellis in time for Sonia Kaspbrak’s Six O’clock Son Check-in Ceremony. He couldn’t be there for that.

“I'm here because I know you already went to the Jewish Church--”

“Synagogue.”

“--for all your religious fun time, but your parents are gonna be there for a couple more hours. So I figured we could hang. Chat. Plus!” He adjusted an invisible monocle. “I am absolutely smeckish, my old chap! You do have sustenance, I presume.”

“Peckish.” Stan corrected, standing back to let Richie inside. “I don't think 'smeckish’ is a word in any version of the English language.”

“My dear Stanley, didn't you know I was speaking French?”

Stan gave him a grin and let out a fast breath through his nose, which in Richie's book, was completely raucous laughter from his friend, turning to head to the kitchen.

“That’s been a French accent this whole time?”

Richie bounded up to walk next to him, turning up his palms and shrugging.

“Who's to say?”

Stan laughed properly at that. Richie helped himself to the half-full pot of coffee Stan's parents must have left behind, counting the number of teaspoons of sugar he put in, able to point at Stan without looking when his expression changed to one of vaguely disgusted disbelief.

“I can't just drink it plain.” He protested. “I refuse to drink plain bean water.” It was too bitter and acidic.

“Okay, but all that sugar can’t be any better.”

“Whatever, it’s manlier than the hot chocolate you drink all the time.”

“Debatable.” Stan ran a hand through his curls. “This is what Eddie has to deal with constantly? He must have been a saint in his past life.”

“That little firecracker? Nah. He was definitely a stripper.”

Stan’s eyebrows shot up his forehead.

“Nobody wants that but you.” He said, and while Richie hadn’t genuinely been thinking about it before, just saying something he thought would be funny, he was definitely thinking about it now. He pushed the mental image from his mind, willing his face to stay a neutral color and scoffed, keeping his mouth covered by his mug.

“What, would you prefer Bill?”

Stan promptly choked on what Richie could only assume was his tongue and Richie grinned in satisfaction. Stan hastened to change the subject.

“This is stupid. Didn’t you say you wanted to… Chat, or something? About what?”

Richie swallowed. This was as good a time as any, he supposed. Nerves sat heavily in his stomach, churning like molten lead, and he placed the coffee back on the kitchen counter without having drunk it. He suddenly felt as though he just might throw up on Stan, but he reminded himself that he wanted to do this.

“Stan. The. Man.” Richie sat down slowly next to him, his feet in cadence with his words. Right foot, left foot, then his butt touched the chair. “I have something I need to tell you. Or… I just wanted to tell you first, because if I don’t say something to someone soon I think I’m going to explode.”

“Then talk, because I don’t want Richie guts all over my kitchen.”

“Eh.” Richie made a show of looking around. “Might liven up the place.”

Stan simply looked at him, expectant, and Richie could tell Stan knew he was stalling. Richie was nervous to talk to Stan about as often as Bill managed to say a full sentence, so Stan must know something was up. The last time Richie remembered feeling this way was years ago, after meeting Stan’s parents for the first time and wanting desperately for them to like him. He’d asked Stan what they’d thought, and Stan had been honest--“loud and messy, but he seems okay”--and Richie realized he appreciated the honesty more than a lie that could perhaps have been kinder.

Stan would be genuine with him; that’s why Richie was here. His fingers twitched, and he wished he had something to busy his hands with.

“I’ve been… I dunno, thinking lately.” He began.

“Hurt yourself?” Stan asked him. “It’s usually hard to do things for the first time.”

“Fuck off.” Richie grinned back, but the expression dropped off his face almost at once. “A couple of days ago, I kinda… Well… I’m in love with Eddie.”

There, he said it. He’d repeated it over and over on his own the day before, until there was a stupid smile on his face, but this was different. This was a confession. He swallowed, waiting a beat, gathering the courage to look Stan in the face.

Stan had barely reacted, simply staring at him, the minor tilt of his eyebrows making him look slightly incredulous. Silence stretched between them--it probably didn't last for more than a couple seconds, but to Richie it felt like years--before he couldn’t take it anymore, nausea curling in his stomach, heat rising to his face in a splotchy flush as he sprang to his feet.

“Fuck Stan, if you’re so goddamn disgusted then I’ll just let myself out.”

He turned to the door, Stan’s hand closing in a vice-like grip around his wrist before he could take a step. He wheeled around to face his friend, wrenching his arm back.

“Don’t touch--”

“Shut up, Richie. I didn’t fucking say anything like that. I just… You really are an idiot, aren’t you?”

Richie kept his mouth closed, his lips pressed into a thin line, but his nostrils flared.

“I just thought you already knew.” Stan explained. “I mean… If I could tell, I thought it would be obvious to the person actually in the situation.”

“You could tell? Since when?”

“When was the first time you called him cute? That was like…” Stan pretended to think back, counting on his fingers to nothing in particular. “...what, the first day you saw him?”

“Fuck off.” Richie said again, the phrase holding about as much malice as it had the first time: none, with a side of embarrassment. “Is this going to be old news to everybody but me?”

Stan shrugged. That was a question he didn’t have an answer for.

“Either way, we all love you back, Richie. Even Eddie, I think. So don’t worry so much about it.”

Richie’s stomach flipped over itself and he sat back down for a moment, going over each of Stan’s words, letting them wash away all of the pent up anxiety in his chest. Stan gave him an amused, sympathetic sort of look and put an arm awkwardly around his shoulders, giving him a quick squeeze before walking towards the stove.

“You said you were hungry?”

“Always!” Richie called back, loud to an unnecessary degree, hopping to his feet to help. He couldn’t stop grinning, the aftershocks of his nerves making him shaky and jittery for a solid twenty minutes, despite Stan’s reassurances that really, he was stupid to be so concerned in the first place.

“What had you so freaked out?” Stan asked as Richie took a huge bite of toast, using his other hand to stab scrambled eggs onto his fork. “Have any of us ever given an indication that we would be less than completely okay with it? I mean, Eddie came out to us a couple years ago, and we were fine then.”

The toast suddenly felt like cardboard in Richie's mouth, Stan watching his expression critically. Richie watched his friend put his fork down in realization.

“You aren't okay with it.” He remarked.

“No, no, it's not that.” Richie said quickly, and for once Stan didn't criticize him for speaking with food in his mouth. “I just… Didn't think… It's just different, you know, than what I thought about myself. I talk about macking on girls all the time, and my parents have made it pretty clear how they feel, and…”

“Eddie's mom.” Stan added, and Richie swallowed.

“Yeah, Eddie's mom. D'you think this is why she hates me?”

“No.”  

The bluntness in Stan’s answer made Richie laugh a little, shrugging needlessly and leaning back in his chair. He kept his eyes on the table.

“But anyway, I dunno. I'm pretty sure I’m still into girls and stuff, but I just had this moment where I really wanted to kiss him the other day, and…” Richie was back in the moment, Eddie's body pressed against his in the darkness, Eddie’s head resting against his shoulder, Eddie’s lips light, just barely there against the side of his neck. “I don’t even know what to do. I’m a fucking smitten kitten.”

“Yeah.” To Richie’s surprise, there was a smile on Stan’s face. “You are.”

“Fuck off.” Richie told him for the third time that morning, Stan laughing a little bit. The house phone rang and Stan got to his feet to answer it, and Richie going back to finishing up his breakfast.

“Oh, hey Bill. What happened?”

Richie watched Stan’s expression, frowning as he watched Stan do the same.

“Nothing? Are you sure? But--” Stan’s eyes went wide. “Bill, if he was in your house--no!”

“What’s going on?” Richie asked, but Stan disregarded him.

“I know what I said, but… No, you aren’t going by yourself. No, you and Beverly aren’t going alone.”

“Whatever it is, I’ll come too!” Richie yelled, Stan turning to him with a look that clearly told him he wasn’t helping.

“...yes, Richie’s here. No, because this is stupid.”

Then Stan was silent for a long while, his face becoming increasingly unsettled.

“Bill… Fine. We’ll meet you there.”

“What’s up?” Richie asked. Stan looked a little too green to finish his last piece of toast so Richie ate it for him, talking around the buttered bread. “Where are we going?”

Stan looked as though even saying the name was a bad idea, but he did it anyway.

“The Neibolt house.”

Mike hadn’t ever been to the Neibolt house, but upon first glance he knew that he would be happy to never see it again. It was dark and scary, and he found himself wishing he’d brought something--anything--to defend himself with. He was second to last to arrive, standing in the front yard with the rest of his friends, Beverly approaching just as Bill finished his explanation of the previous day’s events.

“We really shouldn’t be here.” Eddie said quickly. “I mean… A guy died here, Bill. Yesterday. Doesn’t that freak you out?”

“Besides, the message told you to stay away. This is the exact opposite.” Ben pointed out. “Couldn’t that be bad?”

“If I-I-I don’t t-try to get G-Georgie out, no one e-e-else will.” Bill said. His fists were clenched. “I’m going inside, w-w-whether you’re with m-me or not. But…” He looked around at them. Richie, who was already standing by Bill’s left side, stepped closer and put an arm around his shoulders.

“Lead the way, chieftain!”

Bill gave Richie a hesitant smile. Beverly stepped up too, then Eddie, then Ben. Mike glanced over at Stan, who looked back. It was fairly evident that Stan didn’t want to do this, and didn’t want to be here, but he looked painfully conflicted. Mike felt the same way, but he knew they had to help.

“We’re all in.” He said, keeping eye contact with Stan until he nodded. Then he turned to Bill. “Let’s do this, I guess.”

Bill nodded, then led the way up the front steps. Ben and Beverly were stationed outside the front door, mostly to keep a lookout in case any cops showed up. Stan and Mike himself were in charge of looking around the first floor, while Bill, Richie, and Eddie were headed for the stairs.

“B-be careful.” Bill warned them all. “Watch y-your step, and stuff.”

The only inside light was the sun coming in through cracks in the boarded up windows. The floor creaked as they crossed the threshold, and Mike looked around. Aside from some blood on the floor that looked fairly new, it was apparent that everything else about the place was incredibly old. The house looked as though it had been abandoned for longer than Mike had been alive. The three exploring upstairs continued on, and Mike was left to pick through the dusty kitchen with Stan.

“Be careful.” Stan was murmuring to himself, his voice disbelieving. “Right. In this place.”

“I didn’t misread that, did I?” Mike had to ask. “You did want to come in, right?”

“Well, ideally, none of this would be happening. It would be a normal summer, and we'd be out at the quarry, or dragging Richie out of the arcade to see a movie, or…” His voice was increasing in pitch as he spoke, so he stopped to calm down, letting his shoulders fall. “But yeah. I want to help, this is just…”

“Just fucking insane.” Mike offered. “I know.”

Stan sighed, walking over to the fireplace and looking in.

“This place really does seem empty.” He remarked, just as a bang and muffled curse sounded from upstairs.

“Richie?” Stan asked loudly.

“Fuck. Shit! That hurt.” Richie continued loudly, the gaps between the old floorboards making it easy to hear. It was Bill that called down to them.

“Watch for t-t-tripwires!” He said, Stan closing his eyes.

“Fucking tripwires. Who set all this shit up? There’s a bear trap over here next to the couch.” He gestured, Mike walking over to look, frozen in place when another noise came from the second story of the Neibolt house. That one was an obvious door slam, a strangled scream being very quickly cut off.

“Eddie!” Richie’s voice, frantic, then more slamming sounds. Both Bill and Richie started yelling Eddie’s name, Mike turning towards the stairs to help when Stan grabbed his arm. He pointed up, directly above them, and when Mike fell silent he could hear it. Heavy, cadenced footsteps, with the steady sound of something being dragged across the floorboards. Eddie.

Then the spot where Eddie was became a mass of pounding noises, the sound of a struggle, so sudden and violent that Mike nearly jumped out of his skin. Wood splintered and the floor above them cracked, pieces of debris crashing onto the dining table next to them. Mike shoved Stan one way and ran the other as an entire chunk of ceiling collapsed, Eddie falling through on his back, a figure overtop of him. They completely flattened the table in a tumultuous amount of sound, dust exploding out in a blinding haze.

For a moment, as the air settled, everything was silent. Mike was able to see the scene in the kitchen as the dust cleared, a sickening jolt of fear lurching in his stomach. Stan was standing, wide-eyed and trembling, no less than a foot away from the collapsed dining table. Aside from a few stray cuts though, he seemed mostly unscathed. Eddie was on his back, looking dazed and barely conscious, his right arm unnaturally bent and held aloft by the person standing over him. It was a man, his feet planted solidly as though having landed that way, his outfit dirty grey and ruffly, with a flash of cartoonishly bright orange hair.

The clown turned to look at Stan in a slow, mechanical movement.

“Hello.” He said, grinning wildly.

Stan scrambled backwards in panic, the clown giggling loudly and turning back to Eddie. He shook Eddie’s broken arm, but only a faint sound came from Eddie’s lips as he kicked his feet, still fighting, trying to twist away.

“No more screaming? That’s just no fun.” The clown--Pennywise, it had to be Pennywise--let Eddie’s arm fall, the limb hitting Eddie’s chest uselessly. A crash came from the staircase and Bill and Richie were there, Richie vaulting over the banister with Bill fast on his heels.

“Eddie--!”

Pennywise turned on his heel, Mike taking advantage of the distraction to lunge forward and grab one of the disconnected table legs. Before he could talk himself out of it he swung, cracking the wood across the back of the clown’s head. It splintered on impact and Pennywise stumbled away, giving himself a few good shakes. When he turned to the five of them, there was a smile on his lips but his eyes looked murderous.

“Who thought that would be funny?” He asked. “That wasn’t funny.” He took a step towards them and Mike began backing away, tripping over Bill’s legs and grabbing at the wall for leverage. Pennywise set his eyes on Eddie, whose eyelids were fluttering, his grip tight on Richie’s shirt.

“At least let me finish what I started.” He said, almost as though the request was something reasonable, picking up an oversized serving fork from a pile of silverware that had been lying on the counter next to him. He bent, as though trying to lower himself to their level, then began to advance.

He didn’t get far. With a wild yell, Ben and Beverly jumped into the house, Bev holding a rusted metallic rod. It was pointed at one end like a picket for a fence, and she took the spiked end, plunging it in the clown’s direction. It pierced through his thigh and he roared in anger, swiping at her. Ben stepped in the way, the fork sharper than it looked, ripping through the fabric of his shirt and into his chest. Pennywise was bleeding badly, limping as he retreated backwards from the kitchen, and once he had left the room the air felt incredibly still.

“Don’t let him get away!” Bill shouted desperately, scrambling to his feet and running after the clown, ignoring Beverly’s call after him.

“We need to get the fuck out of here.” Richie’s voice was high in panic. He’d pulled Eddie into his lap as much as he could, the smaller teen now unconscious. “Bill’s the only one that drove here.”

Nodding in understanding, Mike rushed off the way Bill had gone. He found him in a dark back room, pounding at what looked like a manhole cover.

“H-h-h-h-he’s down here!” Bill protested when Mike grabbed at his shoulders to pull him away. “H-h-he--”

“We need to leave.” There were tear tracks through the storm of dust on Bill’s face, his eyes wide, and Mike held his gaze. “Listen. We need to go. Eddie needs help, and you’re the one that drove. We need to get him to a hospital, do you hear me?”

Bill was breathing rapidly, but after a few seconds he let out a shuddering breath and nodded. They returned to find everyone leaving, Eddie in Richie’s arms, Stan helping support Ben down the front steps. Bill offered up his keys, and he looked so unfit to drive that Mike took them. Mike didn’t know how to drive though, and eventually the keys made their way into Beverly’s hands, and they were speeding down the street.

Everyone at the hospital knew Eddie by name, and when Sonia Kaspbrak arrived none of them were allowed to stay. She cursed them all thoroughly in the parking lot, their feeble protests only infuriating her further before she stormed inside.

“O-o-okay.” Bill was taking breaths, looking as though he was processing and calming down, his chest still heaving slightly. Stan looked like the exact opposite was happening to him, his body stock still, his eyes a little too wide. Ben had stopped bleeding, and Richie was a desperately anxious, restless mess. “Okay.”

Everyone looked at him, and he looked back until he realized they were waiting for him to speak.

“I saw the w-well he went into.” He said. “So now w-w-w-we know where he is. When we g-g-go back--”

“Go back?” Richie echoed. He sounded stunned. “Go back? Are you fucking insane?!”

“Richie, n-next time--”

“No! No next time, Bill! You know that I would follow you blind into a minefield but this was a fucking shitshow! We are not doing this again.”

“Rich--”

“No!” Richie said again, even louder. “What part of this are you not getting, Bill? Ben's all ripped to shit again, that monster could've gotten any of us, almost killed Eddie… How could you possibly be thinking--”

“What about G-Georgie?”

“What about him?”

The question caught Bill off guard, simply staring at him for a few moments in disbelief. Tension hung dangerously in the air.

“H-h-he’s there, he's in that house--”

“No, Bill. You're fucking delusional. No one is there except that goddamn clown. It's been weeks, okay? Georgie's dead, and you will be too if you keep this shit up.”

The entire group was wide-eyed. Bill's lips twisted in anger and he shoved Richie in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards into Stan.

“You fucking t-t-t-take that back.”

Richie pushed him back, following up and getting in Bill's face. Mike felt his arms tense, readying himself to grab Richie if it looked like he needed to be held back.

“You couldn't save him Bill, but you could still save yourself.”

“Take it back!”

“Stop it!” Beverly shouted, but before any of them could react, Bill swung and punched Richie in the face. Richie stumbled backwards and fell, looking enraged, leaping to his feet like a bottle rocket and lunging in Bill's direction. Mike grabbed at him, Stan doing the same on the other side. Richie struggled, his elbow nearly hitting Mike in the nose.

“Fine! Hunt down a fucking clown! But stop trying to get us killed too, and if you care at all, about any of us, don't make us watch.”

Then he wrenched himself free and was gone. Stan followed after him, though Mike doubted he would be able to catch up. As much as Mike hated to admit it, he felt himself siding with Richie; there wasn't a logical way to look at this situation and think that going back to Neibolt was a good idea. He made to leave as well, Beverly calling after him in surprise.

“Mike?”

“This is bad, guys.” Mike shook his head. “I'm an outsider. Always have been. And it's pretty obvious that this town doesn't want me, either. I'm sorry.”

Knowing he wouldn't be able to stand the expression on Bill's face, Mike didn't look back as he walked away.

The first thing Eddie registered was pain. It started as a dull ache in his right arm, but the more his brain returned to consciousness, the more it hurt. His face twisted slightly into a wince but he didn’t want to wake up yet, remembering that his arm was broken. He thought back, remembering his mother stuffing him with pills and leading him up to his room to sleep. A little further back, he remembered leaving the hospital. He remembered opening his eyes in a hospital bed, his mother’s face looming over him. The longer into his memory he searched, the hazier the moments got, and he nearly gave up.

Then the clown was there, right behind his eyelids, grinning madly and closing a gloved hand around Eddie’s throat. He gasped, his eyes flying open, trying desperately to sit up. Pain shot up his arm when he attempted to use it and he fell back against his pillows, struggling breaths in through gritted teeth.

“Eddie! Eddie. You’re okay. You’re home. It’s fine.”

Richie’s voice, fingers tangling with his own in the darkness. Lips pressed gently to his knuckles and Eddie looked around, seeing Richie sitting next to his bed on the desk chair he’d pulled up. He was doused in the silver moonlight streaming through the open window blinds, reaching up with his free hand and brushing Eddie’s hair back from his forehead.

“You’re okay.” He murmured, his breath warm against Eddie’s knuckles, Eddie feeling the panic in his chest subsiding.

“Richie.” He said quietly, loosening his hold on Richie’s hand, hoping he hadn’t hurt him, and Richie gave him a small sort of smile.

“The one and only.”

Then he broke eye contact and sat up straighter, trying to pull away, but Eddie gripped his hand again, unwilling to let him go. Richie resigned himself to the contact and let their hands rest on Eddie’s bedspread, looking at him with concern.

“How are you feeling, Spaghetti Man?”

“I’m fine.” Eddie lied. Richie’s gaze flicked pointedly to his cast. “Okay, my arm hurts. But other than that I really am fine. Stop looking at me like I'm dying. I don't have cancer or something dumb like that.”

Richie chuckled a bit, his voice incredibly soft.

“What about everyone else?” Eddie assumed they were alright, thinking that otherwise Richie would have already told him, and Richie shrugged a little.

“Okay. Nothing too bad. Stan has a few splinters in his face from when you did that swan dive through the second story floor and scared the shit out of everyone.”

Richie’s mention of the moment drew Eddie back into it, the clown gripping his arm and knocking his feet out from under him, Eddie able to regain his wits just enough to kick and flail, not that it had helped much. Richie squeezed his fingers gently, bringing him back to the present.

“Ben kinda got cut up again, but not as much as the first time. Come to think of it, he’s probably going to have some pretty badass scars when everything heals over. Maybe I should get on that, see if I can get Bowers to try to kill me so I can look badass too.”

“It wouldn’t take much persuading.” Eddie remarked, and the little jab had Richie beaming at him. The motion caused his cheekbones to catch the light and Eddie noticed something, frowning.

“What happened to your face?”

“This handsome mug? It’s a blessing and a curse.”

“No, you have a bruise.” He pointed. Richie reached up and touched the injury, making himself wince. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah Eds, I’m fine.” Richie both looked and sounded slightly incredulous. “You aren’t in any state to worry about me.”

“What happened?”

“I…” Richie looked down at their entwined hands. “I had a fight with Bill. He punched me. Knocked me on my ass, to be honest.”

“Wait, what?” Eddie tried to sit up but couldn’t, Richie letting him go to help him upright. “When? Why?”

“It was after we’d dropped you off at the hospital.” Now that Richie's hands were free his fingers were searching for something to fiddle with, restless. “I was scared. We all trusted him, and he led us into that place. He let this happen to you.”

“He didn’t let this happen to me.” Eddie said sharply. “We all knew it wasn’t safe. And I’m fine, remember?”

“But he wants to go back!” Richie ran his fingers roughly through his hair, tugging at the curls that didn’t cooperate. “That fucking clown almost killed you, and he wants to go back.”

“His brother…” Eddie began, but Richie was biting hard on his lip, shaking his head.

“I want to help him, of course I do, but… I can’t lose you, Eds. I love you too much. I couldn't take it.”

“Richie…” Eddie wanted to comfort him, but didn’t know what to say. That was usually Richie’s job; they’d reached the point in any serious conversation of theirs where Richie would crack some stupid joke, break the tension, ruin the moment. But when Richie continued to stay silent, simply searching his eyes, Eddie felt the words crash over him again. “You’re serious.” He breathed.

Richie nodded, looking nervous, his eyes falling to Eddie’s blankets where he found a stray string, picking at it.

“I’m in love with you. I think I have been for a while, but I'm just a fucking idiot.” He laughed a little, looking beautiful and vulnerable all at once, and it was so surreal that Eddie felt tears stinging his eyes.

“I swear Tozier, if this is some fucking joke, or--” His voice was thick and choked up and he cut himself off, hating the way it sounded. Richie looked worried, his hands hovering around Eddie's face as though wanting to console him but not knowing how.

“Shit, am I not doing this right?” He asked. “I'm not just saying this because some chucklefuck bastard tried to kill you. I was going to tell you anyway. I talked to Mike, and Ben, and Stan about it, and… I'm in love with you, Eddie, and I wanted you to know.”

Eddie didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say, not trusting that his voice would work even if he tried. He'd never allowed himself to fantasize about “what if”s, thinking it was too unrealistic and that it would hurt too much, and now he was completely unprepared.

Richie, always bad with silences, was already backing away. He was retreating into himself, the beginnings of panic starting to show on his face. Eddie, still hopelessly stunned, did the only thing he could think of. He grabbed Richie by his shirt front and kissed him.

It was clumsy. Eddie pulled him in with too much force, their noses smushed together uncomfortably, and with Richie completely still against him, Eddie was suddenly terrified that he’d gone too fast. Pushed too hard. But he didn’t want to pull away, desperate not to ruin this moment, and a heartbeat later Richie completely melted against him.

First kisses weren’t perfect, but at the same time, this one was. Richie’s lips were slightly chapped, rough as they slid over Eddie’s, and it was all Eddie had not to sigh against his mouth. He reached up to thread his fingers softly through Richie’s hair, and at his touch Richie drew back, speechless.

“Wow, Eds.” He finally said, and Eddie had to blush at the coarseness in Richie’s voice. “You kiss almost as well as your mom.”

Eddie stared him in the face for a full ten seconds, Richie breaking down into giggles five seconds in.

“Fuck you, Trashmouth.”

“Is that an invitation?”

Eddie punched him in the arm and Richie jumped him, wrapping him completely in a hug. They collapsed on the bed together in a messy pile of limbs and Eddie heard himself laugh, Richie pressing a few kisses to the side of his head.

“Richie--”

“You need to sleep.” Richie interrupted. “I kinda woke you in the middle of the night. I’ll have to be gone in the morning--you know, your mom and all--but call me when you wake up, okay?”

“Richie--”

“And make sure you take your meds.” Richie was nervous, talking quickly, and Eddie really wasn’t sure why, but he could feel Richie tensing up next to him. “Especially painkillers for your arm.”

“Richie--”

“And--”

“Richie!” Eddie flicked Richie in the forehead to shut him up. When it worked, he pressed a chaste kiss to Richie’s cheek, situating himself comfortably by his side, under Richie’s arm. “Richie, I love you too.”

“...oh.”

Eddie enjoyed the starstruck expression on Richie’s face for a few seconds, realizing a moment later that his eyes were welling up, the tip of his nose turning red. Unable to give him a hug, Eddie just buried his face into Richie’s chest.

“That was supposed to make you happy.” He mumbled into Richie’s shirt, feeling Richie shake his head.

“I am happy.” He said, his voice rough and he swallowed thickly, Eddie looking back up at him. “I’m so damn happy Eddie, I--”

He cut himself off, tilting Eddie’s mouth to meet his own, kissing him. There was so much intensity behind the action, so much emotion behind the pressure of his lips as they slid across Eddie’s own that Eddie felt something in his chest ache. He pressed closer and Richie pulled him in, wrapping an arm around his waist, holding him even after the kiss had broken. Eddie felt completely breathless, Richie taking a deep breath of his own.

Then, to Eddie’s astonishment, he began murmuring out apologies, something about not asking if a kiss was okay, Eddie simply shaking his head and pulling Richie’s lips to his again.

“You are not actually trying to apologize for the best kiss I’ve ever had.”

Richie grinned a little, resituating the both of them on the bed, and Eddie somehow found himself on top of Richie, laying against his chest.

“But aren't I like… The only kiss you’ve ever had?”

“Hey, Richie?”

“What?”

“Shut the fuck up and just let me kiss you.”

Richie flushed, laughing at him.

“Anything for you, Eds.”

“And don’t call me that.” Eddie muttered, and he leaned in.

[bts-whore]

You’re Beautiful [2]

Authour’s Note: Okay! I wanna continue this, but every Sunday I will have the update up! Since I am an eighteen year old in her Junior year, I say this is a steady pace c; But anyway, in this chapter, this is just gonna deal with the hardships of college. You know, the typical stuff, classes, friends, bullies, the local druggies. Yeah! So enjoy! Please give feedback if you want or if you want to request something c:

“No matter who you are, no matter what you do, I believe that being there for the people you love… it’s one of the most blissful feelings you could ever have. The feeling of being a good person, the feeling of… being wanted for a reason. I believe… I found that from meeting you.”

Pairing: Hoseok (J-Hope) X Reader

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Smut

Warning: Mentions of Depression, Suicide, Body Image Issues, Smut, and lots of Fluff that could make you squeal

Word Count: 3.5K

Previous: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I awoke to the alarm clock I had installed in my room, groaning as it was a bit too early, but it was the college morning and there was no choice but to get up. Slowly sitting up, my hand lands on the switch to the clock, gently clicking it and turning the alarm off. Well, time to get ready! All I need to do is brush my teeth, shower, get breakfast, get dressed, pack up, and then head out. Simple enough! It reminded me of the year I spent in Dual Enrollment. It was simple days, but it was so exhausting, and now here I was again, but this time with more of these tests and… well, full time college now. Not like I can’t handle it this time, but it was exhausting back then… Being a Junior was when I was in it, but it was so much pressure. I recalled my parents telling me to do it, pushing me to go for it, but it just made me unhappy. I didn’t find enjoyment, and I had to constantly change my sleeping schedule to make sure I get to class on time. It was aggravating. I had to call it quits. Now here I am now.

Standing up and stretching my body, my hands pull down my pants and yanked them off my ankles, one by one. Taking a deep breath, I slid my shirt off from behind, my arms behind my head and extending them up and pushing the material over the back of my head and letting it slide off my arms and to my hands. It was 6 AM in the morning, class starts at 7:30 AM. I have an hour in a half till I go to the university, so it shouldn’t be bad. My feet padded to the bathroom, my arm extended and pushed the door knob, hopping inside and I took a deep breath, looking to the side and flipping the light switch off. Since it was a cheap apartment, the bathroom wasn’t all that big and it had some… plumbing issues, but I can live with it. When I get the right amount of money that is, I can get the plumbing fixed and hopefully move to a better apartment at some point.

The bathroom was clean, tidy because I made sure to give it a good wash through before it can start spreading mold all around the place. Mom always knew best though, she made sure to remind me to clean things up so that way no insects, diseases, germs, or mold were to form. Not like I paid attention back then, but I always did take her advice. The counter was small, only having a pedestal that had a rusty faucet with two handles to determine the right temperature you wish to have when you wash your hands. The mirror stood above it gently and I blinked at my reflection, seeing a bit of flab stick out, making me pout, hugging myself and just looking away. I can barely look at myself in the mirror due to this, and I know for a fact that it isn’t because I am ashamed of myself, I just hate how my body looks. Seeing the way my thighs jut out, the way my arms flab a bit, the way my stomach isn’t as flat as other girls. Sighing, I cast my eyes over to the bathtub.

When I first moved in and saw the tub, it was covered with mold and moss and disgusting shit that usually would make a weak women’s gag reflex puke up their early morning breakfast. I shook my head and was always shocked at how the tub was in need of urgent clean back then, but since I took the time to clean it up and release it from it’s disgusting natural spores, I was pleased it had a natural look to it. Like the pedestal, it was a clear, beige color and had a radiant glow. Why no one bothered cleaning the apartment to make it appealing? Who knows, but it was what I dealt with for a while.

My body silently walked to the tub, turning the temperature handles at the right degrees for a proper shower. I pulled the faucet on the bottom to release the shower and it sprayed evenly in the tub. I stripped off my undergarments, letting my breasts free from its confinements and soon tugging my panties down, letting it land on the floor and I sigh a bit. Putting a foot in the tub, I stood inside and closed the curtain and began to wash my hair.

After the shower, I had dressed up and ate my breakfast, which was my Myeon. I pulled my phone off the charger, looking at the time.

7:00 AM.

Thirty minutes left, I can do this! I moved close to the University anyway for this reason, it was a fifteen minute walk to the campus and it shouldn’t be that bad. Throwing on my fuzzy winter coat and some snow boots meant for the winter, I walked out the apartment and locked it tight, making me yawn. Today was my first day, what could go wrong? I pulled on my headphones, playing a song I listened to when I was kid, Silent Scream by Anna Blue. Her singing was soothing, but her lyrics were strong and I felt them in a personal level.

The song spoke of how certain teenagers have these parents who don’t love them for who they are and are always criticized for silly things. Dark clothes, drawings, sexuality, music taste, etc. All are judged and for me? I felt it in the sense because of who I was as a person and my interests never seem to please my parents. They had so many expectations for me and here I was, nothing but wanting to learn about culture, learn about art, and learn about music. They could never see what I see because they always wanted me to be a princess that grew up as someone with a legacy, someone like a lawyer, a doctor… something I didn’t see as an enjoyment. I hummed the song as I walked along to the stairs, sighing and as I passed Hoseok’s apartment, I flinch when it suddenly opened, almost hitting me in the face, making me shriek.

“Ah.” Hoseok said, standing there and peeking from behind the door. He wore his hair messily, it being tousled and not brushed… like bed hair! His beanie nowhere to be seen, his scarf lazily around his neck and not even wrapped up. He wore a black leather coat, the same one from last night and his shirt was a white turtleneck. It was cute to be honest, but what caught my attention more was his jeans. Holes on his knees, but they were blue in color and he had black combat boots that had belts and a zipper. God, not even I could pull off an outfit like that!

“H-Hi! Hoseok!” I said, smiling nervously and sighing in relief when he moved the door from my face.

“(Y/N)! Good morning! You look nice for a first day of class look~.” He smiled and chuckled.

“Oh, this!? Haha, I wasn’t really trying today, I just grabbed what I have.” I said, and that was the truth to be honest. I wore black leggings, my boots and thick jacket with a thin sweater. Not the typical clothing you would wear in the winter, but it was nothing.

“Isn’t that a bit cold though? You won’t catch a cold right?” He asked.

“Of course not, I am use to this weather anyway. Being from Florida and moving around a lot was nothing.” I said with a light chuckle, looking at Hoseok with a sweet smile. He seemed to believe me and he nodded.

“Alright, but if you need something warm, I don’t mind lending you my jacket (Y/N).” He offered with a sweet smile, making me chuckle a bit. My eyes look over when I saw people walking out the apartment Hoseok lived in. Six people came out, all men and I recognized one of them. Kim Taehyung, making me blink. Wait, why was… oh no. Was this what I thought it was?

“You… wouldn’t so happen to be um… apart of a group called BTS?” I asked and rubbed my head a bit, looking to the side cause the realization that a K-Pop group was right in front of me was just sinking in. I flinched when Hoseok spoke and I look to him with shocked eyes.

“Yes, indeed we are.” Hoseok said with a sweet smile, making me almost hurl myself out over the balcony because this was just… just a mere coincidence and a shock. I chuckle a bit and spoke, trying to mask how surprised and shocked I was.

“Really!? Wow, I would have never guessed, I only happen to notice when I saw Taehyung over, at least.. I think it is him.” I said, having a hard time to remember because it has been a while since I last watched or listened to their music. It has been three years and now that I am twenty, it would have been when I was seventeen when I last watched them.

“So you are familiar with V? He is pretty popular now. You didn’t seem to recognize us all but him. How long has it been for you or are you just getting into us?” A male with simples on his cheeks said, that had to be Namjoon. He wore a black sweater and a baggy trench coat, his jeans tight against his thighs and some combat boots as well, his hair purple in color and messy, but it suited him.

“It’s uh… been three years since I last listened to you guys, if you count Trump and all his um… you know?” I asked and chuckled nervously, making Namjoon nod in understanding what I had meant. I sigh a bit and look to the rest of the group.

Taehyung was wearing his hair in a shaggy style, brown in color with his choker around his neck, a black t-shirt on him and a thin coat. Is he ever cold? Probably not, but it didn’t matter because he wore comfy jeans that were white in color while his shoes were simply Converse from the old days. Do they even still sell those? Either way, he had a few rings on his fingers and some earrings in. Now, I could on and on about how the other’s dressed, but I don’t think it would help.

“Three years, huh?  You must have lost a lot of interest in listening to songs if the war was able to stop you from listening to it.” Seokjin said, making smile a bit, shaking my head.

“It’s not like that, I just had a lot going on. Besi- wait.” I pulled my phone out, seeing the time.

7:15 AM.

“Fuck! I gotta go! I would love to talk to you more but I am gonna be late! Class starts in fifteen minutes and I can’t miss it! I will text you when I finish Hoseok! Don’t worry, I didn’t forget to repay you!” I said and quickly ran past them, practically jumping down the stars and hitting it to the streets without saying a goodbye to everyone there. My legs helping me run, but a fifteen minute run wasn’t gonna cut my body as I was already hitting the brink of my body limit.

Once into the campus, I had three minutes left and I was practically breathless, panting like a mad dog and coughing. My lungs were burning, but I had to make it to class, if I didn’t, I would have a tardy or worse, an absence. That would leave me with two absences left and I can’t miss any. As I walked up the stairs, I ran through the hall to my first class, Korean History. The first part of learning the culture is learning the history and how they came to where they are now, and that was what I needed.

Opening the class door, I peeked inside and saw the professor arranging papers and students all over, seated where they were, so I decided to just go ahead and take my seat, sitting on the edge and pulling out my book for the class with my notebook. I sigh a bit and look down, rubbing my arm, and then the professor called role.

I waited for her to get to my name, antsy and a little nervous because this was my first year in a University, and since it was a University, it was rather nerve wracking due to grades and such. I hoped I can handle it, maybe even pass it without a problem. Glancing over to the side, my eyes saw a few girls snickering and commenting about something, and it dawned on me.

It was because of me.

Was there something on me? Was there something about me that seemed to peak their interests? I didn’t know, but if it had to do with anything, it would have to be my body fat. I quickly look away and pulled my jacket to my side, hiding what I could. Don’t let them get to you, that’s what I alway told myself and I sigh.

“(Y/N) (L/N)?” The professor called, and I responded with a, “Here.” And from there, the day dragged on.

Class ended soon after an hour and fifteen minutes, making me relieved as I quickly shot up, grabbing my books and placing them in the bag I use. My eyes look down and lock onto the girls who were scrunching their noses at me, like pigs, making me bite my lip in annoyance. I can’t believe these types of people still exist in this world… I yanked out my phone and text Hoseok, sighing a bit.

Hey, I finished class, it was the only class I had today. You still up for that coffee you asked for? - 8:40

I sent the text and hoist my bag up on my shoulder, walking down after the girls left, soon releasing a sigh. My phone vibrated in my hand and I glanced at it, my eyes wide as I read the text, it was from Hoseok.

Of course! I am always up for some coffee with ya! I am already outside the University, sorry, I had to ask my PD where the nearest college was from the dorms. - 8:45

What a dork. I chuckle and walked outside, seeing a black van and I tilt my head. I look to my phone as it buzzed like wildfire, meaning I was being called, so I answered it.

“Hello?” I asked.

“The black van in front of you. I am inside with the guys! Come on in. Gonna be tight squeeze but we will manage.” The voice said, it was Hoseok.

“You have to be kidding, right?” I ask.

“Nope! Come on little girl, I want some coffee!” He joked and I couldn’t help but smile.

This guy was the most fun I have had so far in Seoul, yet, I am so glad I moved here to meet them all. I hung up the call and walk toward the van, being greeted by all seven of them and I sigh, this was gonna be wild ride apparently. I hopped in, sitting on the floor, Namjoon closing the door and Jungkook’s foot was under my bum, him holding a shy smile that was nervous. I remembered something about him being scared of girls, and boy was that rumor right.

“Alright, ready?” Hoseok said, in the passenger side while Yoongi was on the driver’s seat. I only responded with a nod and Yoongi drove off, making me hold onto the leg that belonged to Jungkook as I almost hit my head against the center console. I apologize to Jungkook with a sheepish smile and look to Hoseok, his eyes focused on the road and talking with Yoongi.

The car ride was ended briefly when Yoongi pulled over to let me and Hoseok out of the vehicle. I spoke softly to tell Yoongi that I said thanks.

“Thank you, Suga, sorry for the trouble!” I said with a softly, apologetic smile.

“Not at all, go have fun. Hoseok, be home soon!” Yoongi said and began to pull out again, soon driving off.

“Ah, by what time? He never says… Jeez.” Hoseok said and rolled his eyes, and then looks to me, “Shall we?” He asked and I nodded, walking into the cafe with him.

Hoseok opened the cafe door for me and I thanked him politely, holding my bag on my shoulders as I looked him in the eyes and I sat down with him on a small booth. A waiter walked by, asking us what we had wanted.

“A small cappuccino coffee with marshmallow cream, please.” I asked, the waiter writing it down.

“I’ll have the same, but iced version, please.” Hoseok said with a smile, the waiter now walking off after writing them down. I looked down and fidget in my seat, my bag on the desk and I wondered what we should talk about, being a little nervous about talking to Hoseok right now.

“So, how old are you, by chance?” He said, breaking the ice.

“Ah, I am twenty. I uh, moved here five days ago.” I said with a small chuckle, making him smirk.

“Really? So you’re a virgin to the Koreans here?”

“Ah, well, yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“Well, I can give you a tour of Seoul if you want? I know a lot of good places you would like to see, but we can do that on a day when I am not busy and you don’t have classes.”

“Really? Jung Hoseok, are you asking me for a date?” I said, making him giggle a bit.

“No, not at all, but it could be if you want it to be one.” He said with a wink, making me blush.

“I would love it, but first, how about just starting off as friends, ‘kay?” I asked and he pouts.

“Okaaay~.” He said and we both chuckle. Hoseok was so nice to me and he seemed to not stray too far with questions like most of my friends do. Most of my friends would question me everyday and always ask things that aren’t their business, so I got fed up and ignored them… but that backfired. It wound up to them thinking they did something and I had to explain why I refused talking to them.

“So do you have any interests like dancing?” Hoseok asked, making me look. “Well, i do like history and culture, a bit of art and music too.” I said with a sweet smile, making him smile back in a way.

“How about dancing?” He asked.

“Dancing? I mean, I have been interested, but I don’t have the money to do it, and I don’t um.. You know, feel open about it either.” I said. Dancing was something I always wanted to do, but I could never do it because I was always afraid people will see me for something i wish not to be seen as.

“Hmm…? Then how about… I teach you to dance?” He said with a smirk. Making me sit there, shocked.

“W-Wait… what??”

[flabbergabst]

Captain Canary Series: Against the Wind (13/13)

@audiovizualna​​ has been providing amazing illustrations since the first chapter half a year ago. This epilogue’s illustration is hers too and it could be viewed HERE or click this > https://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/159672933839

Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!

Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below: 

Against The Wind Series

Epilogue

(Set a few years after. Warning: Extreme fluff.)

“I don’t like her, Len,” Sara said, chopping the vegetables she had just washed.

Leonard chuckled and wiped his hands on the kitchen rag. “You haven’t even met her yet. You already agreed to Luke going on a date with this girl, so let him.”

“She’s not good enough for him.”

“Honey, in your eyes, nobody is ever good enough for Luke. He’s 16. He’s bound to go to dates.”

Sara groaned, making Leonard laugh.

“Is Mom still against my date with Steph?” Luke popped into the kitchen, wearing long sleeves, the scent of cologne filling the air. 

Leonard looked towards his son and had a head-to-toe sweep of how he prepared for his date. He then turned to face Sara, wiggling his eyebrows to tease her.

“I’m not against it, Lucky. I’m just protective of you,” Sara replied, wiping her hands on her apron and walked close to her son. “Sweetie, you look handsome but why are you drowning in cologne? How long is this date going to last? Three weeks?”

“Too protective,” Leonard immediately supplied and winked at Sara. “You have your things ready, kid?”

Luke laughed, fully knowing that his mother could sometimes be irrationally protective of the three of them. Still very sweet of her. “Yup. Where will Uncle Mick pick me up again?”

“STAR Labs parking lot after your date,” Leonard replied, getting a slice of carrot from the chopping board. “Make sure he doesn’t see you with your date or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

Luke nodded and did the same--got a carrot from behind Sara’s back.

“And your Mom has eyes everywhere,” Leonard replied. “For all we know, Mick’s her spy.”

“Yes, he is,” Sara said from afar.

 “Moooooooooooom!”

“No yelling in this house, Lily,” Leonard said from down the staircase. “Come down if you need anything.”

They heard fast footsteps coming down from the second floor of their house and rushing to the kitchen where Sara, Leonard, and Luke are.

“Mom, I think I lost my Judo uniform,” Lily said as she tied her hair into a ponytail. “I looked all over my room but it wasn’t there. I’m already running late for practice.”

“Have you searched for it at Lucy’s room? Maybe I placed it there,” Sara replied, too busy to even look at Lily. “Please hurry up. Your Aunt Lisa texted saying she and your cousin are already on their way to the practice.”

Lily slumped on the stool near the kitchen island. “I don’t know why I still have to go to Judo practice, Mom. You could just teach me and Leona. I’ve seen you do more advanced moves than our instructor.”

“Yes but your Uncle Cisco wants his daughter to have a normal childhood and prefers a mediocre instructor over a real-life ninja,” Sara replied finally facing Lily and tucking in the stray hair that fell on the 14-year old’s angelic face. “And it doesn’t help that his daughter is named after your father. Now go, young lady!”

Lily giggled and hopped off the stool. She then dashed passed them and up to her sister’s room.

 Luke stalled to the living room, checking his phone for the time, and left Leonard and Sara in the kitchen.

“So,” Leonard drawled, leaning onto the kitchen island. “Mick is taking Luke to 1975 and Lisa is picking Lily up after Judo. We’re gonna drive Lucy to their house to join the girls’ sleepover and…where does that leave us?”

“We’re going to clean the house,” Sara jokingly replied.

Leonard raised an eyebrow. “In that case, I’m out. Maybe Mick needs help on the ship…”

“I’m kidding, you idiot. It’s our anniversary. We’ll…”

“Mommy?” 

The couple looked at the doorway and saw their youngest—nine-year old Lucy. Unlike the curious Luke and the fierce Lily, Lucy grew up shy. Being the youngest, the attention of the family all went to her but it never made her grow up spoiled. She’s the sweetest of them all, always giving hugs and kisses to everyone she meets. She speaks softly, always gracious. Born after a crazy moment in the couple’s life, Lucy never seemed to carry the chaos that led to her birth. She became a ray of sunshine for them—a symbol of hope, even.

“Yes, Lulu?”

Lucy walked closer to them slowly. Once at arm’s reach, Leonard lifter the little girl up and sat her on the counter.

The little girl is clutching a folded paper on one hand and handed it to Leonard.

“I made a drawing.”

It was a drawing of their house with the five of them outside, holding hands. Each of the five figures is labeled with their names below them. On the upper right is a disc-like image and underneath it was the name “Uncle Mick”—probably the Waverider.

“This is beautiful, baby. Do you want me to stick it on the fridge?” Sara asked, smoothing the creases on the paper.

Instead of speaking, Lucy just shook her head and pointed on the small brown figure she drew beside her figure. “Please, Mama?”

A dog.

Leonard smirked and looked at Sara. They’ve been asked by Luke and Lily if they can have a dog for the longest time but they haven’t gotten to decide about that. There were other things to take care of back then.

But this time, it was Lucy asking them. And Leonard chuckled at the thought of Luke and Lily manipulating their baby sister into asking him and his wife for a dog.

“You want a puppy, sweet-cheeks?”

The kid’s cheeks blushed and she brought her hands to her face. “Yes, Mama.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, sweet. Your dad has allergies…”

“But we’ll make it work,” Leonard finished Sara’s sentence. In return, Sara’s eyes brightened. “As long as my baby’s happy, right?”

Lucy immediately landed a wet kiss on her father’s cheek, and then to her mother. “Thank you, Daddy. Put me down now, please?”

And Leonard did. He ran his hand through Lucy’s chestnut-colored hair and kissed the top of her head, then asked her to go back to what she’s doing.

 The moment Lucy went out of the kitchen, Luke and Lily were waiting outside, side-by-side.

“Hey Lue, so what did they say?” Lily crouched down to meet Lucy’s eye.

Luke did the same and laid a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. “We’re getting a dog, right?”

To their surprise, Leonard and Sara were looking at them, laughing to themselves.

Lucy bit her lower lip and looked to the floor, making Lily frown.

“Daddy said yes,” Lucy said softly, grinning now.

Cheers from the two older kids erupted and only stopped when Leonard cleared his throat.

“I knew you two were the masterminds,” Len said, grabbing his car keys from his back pocket.

“Lily started it,” Luke said, pointing at his sister, and then grabbed his travel bag.

“And using your baby sister to get what you want? Classic,” Sara responded, removing her apron and placing it on the door handle. “Go on, you three. Take care and come back home safe, okay?”

“Yes, Mom!” Lily said, walking closer to Sara to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I still think you should convince Uncle Cisco that you’ll train us for free.”

“I’ll try. Kick ass, okay? Well, not literally. Please don’t hurt other kids like you did last week with Helen’s daughter.”

“She deserved it!” Lily shouted back as she ran outside to get in their car.

Luke approached Sara next, fidgeting. “Gotta go, Mom. Wish me luck. Don’t worry, I’ll introduce her to you if I get a second date. Steph’s not that bad.”

“I know, Lucky. You wouldn’t like her if she’s not a great girl,” Sara said, placing a kiss on her son’s forehead. “Just have fun, okay? Make her smile. See you in a few days.”

Luke, too, walked outside after kissing the top of Lucy’s head as a goodbye.

It was then Leonard’s turn to say goodbye to Sara before they go. Knowing that Lucy is near them, Leonard settled with a chaste kiss on her lips. Sara snaked an arm around Len’s waist with her free hand stroking his chin, her palm getting tickled by the beard he’s sporting. “Get home fast, alright?”

“Judo practice in the studio in 6th Street, Luke’s date in Jitters, then home. Promise,” Leonard replied and kissed her once more, then Lucy.

---

“Seatbelts,” Leonard said, starting the car.

“Seatbelts on!” both of the kids replied.

The radio is on, reporting how Kid Flash just stopped a robbery. In the middle of the newscast, Lily spoke up.

“Do you miss it, Dad? Going in on missions and kicking bad guys’ asses?”

Leonard looked at the rear-view mirror to see Lily’s bright blue eyes. “Not really,” he answered. “It’s not that much fun since your mom and I had Luke. There’s always the risk of getting hurt or of dying. When you have a family, all that you want is to return home safe and sound. Besides, there’s more thrill in playing Uno with you three and playing cards with your mother than hunting down criminals. The speedsters can take care of them.”

“And Dad seems to enjoy his job at STAR Labs,” Luke added, winking at Lily.

Lily laughed. “Of course he does. He works with his wife and it’s not like a job at all.”

“If your mother hears you two teasing us, you’ll both get grounded. Again.”

It took a few more minutes before they reached the Judo studio. The Snart men dropped Lily off and drove for a couple more minutes to reach Jitters.

 “You ready, bud?” Leonard asked Luke when he saw his son checking his phone again.

Luke smirked and ran his hand through his hair. “Kinda nervous, to be honest.”

“You? Nervous? That rarely happens,” Leonard said. They’re almost at Jitters with 20 more minutes before the time of Luke’s date. Of course they have to arrive early. Leonard parked the car at the roadside, giving time to speak to Luke before he goes in.

“I really like her, dad,” Luke finally spoke. “She’s smart and kind and funny and really, really beautiful. I don’t even know what I did for her to say yes to this date.”

“Look at you, Luke. You look exactly like me when I was younger. You’re as handsome as I am. Any girl would say yes to a date with you,” Leonard joked, the two of them laughing.

“But to be honest,” Len said on a serious note, “that’s exactly how I felt the first time I asked your mom out. She’s beautiful and badass and she can have any man or woman she wants, yet she took a chance on me.”

“Mom really loves you, Dad. That’s why she said yes to you.”

“I know, Lucky. But it took me so long to convince myself that we were bound to be together. Or that I deserve what I have with her. I used to wait for the worst things to happen in replacement for all the happiness she brings in my life. But you’re a good kid, Luke. You deserve happiness and if this girl makes you happy, don’t hesitate,” Leonard said, looking at Luke who just exhaled a heavy breath out of his chest.

“I will, Dad,” Luke said with a familiar smirk. “Any more advice?”

Leonard leaned on the headrest of his seat and lifted a finger to count off the things he wants to remind his son.

“Open doors for her. Help her get into her seat. Offer to pay for her order,” Leonard said as-a-matter-of-factly.

Luke scoffed. “I already know that, Dad. You’ve been telling me pretty much ever since my age became two digits.”

“Just don’t do to her what you don’t want your sisters’ dates to do to them,” Leonard replied. “You know what your mother does to men who make women suffer. We raised you right, although our lives are pretty crazy. I trust you’ll do what’s right. Just make her happy, Lucky.“

“I think I can do the last one,” Luke told his father. “I have seen you make Mom happy for sixteen years. I’ve got some tips.”

“Of course you did,” Leonard replied. “Don’t forget, Mick’s picking you up after. Don’t get in too much trouble, you two. I don’t want to form an elite group of heroes and villains to help me save your asses.”

Luke laughed, “I promise, Dad. And I’ll take good care of the Cold Gun. Promise.”

“If you break that, you’re grounded ‘till you’re 30.”

---

“The recipe says carrots first, then onions and garlic, Mommy,” Lucy said as she read from the recipe book while seated on the kitchen island. “Then oregano and salt and pepper.”

“Okay, I got that going, and the meat is in the pressure cooker,” Sara replied, taking off her apron and placing it on the counter. “And now, we wait.”

Lucy’s feet were dangling on the edge, swinging back and forth. “Question, Mommy. Lily looks like you. And Luke looks like Daddy. Who do I look like?”

Sara brought her hands to the girl’s cheek and caressed it. “You look like the both of us, with a hint of Aunt Lisa. Oh, how pretty my little girl is.”

“Another question!”

“What is it?”

“Why do we all start with ‘L’? Why do you start with ‘S’?” the kid asked curiously, a cute little wrinkle forming on her forehead.

Sara couldn’t help but laugh. Leonard insisted that they don’t need to give their kids names that start with ‘L’, but Sara was too pushy.

“Well, sweet, it started with your daddy and Aunt Lisa. I just thought it would be a start of a tradition to name you three with names starting in that letter. Even Leona starts with ‘L’,” Sara said, wrapping her arms around the little girl. “It is to remind your daddy that he is a very important part of all three of you and that you will always carry something in you that are of Leonard.”

“Is the dinner for Daddy?”

“Mhm. For our anniversary celebration,” Sara replied, finally standing to check on the meal being cooked. “That is why when Daddy gets home, he’ll drive you to Aunt Lisa’s. You’ll spend the night and have sleepover with your sister and cousin.”

Silently, Lucy asked, “Why can’t we join the celebration?”

Sara just wanted to have a night alone with Leonard. She’s wanted to have that for a long time, but of course she doesn’t have the heart to tell her daughter. Instead, she leaned over, kissed the little girl on the forehead and carried on with her cooking.

---

Leonard arrived home with the sight of little Lucy carrying her yellow backpack, all smiles and ready to leave. The kid kissed Sara goodbye and took Leonard’s hand, dragging him to the car.

“20 minutes,” Len mouthed to Sara as he opens the car door. Sara nodded in response.

Ninja skills being put to good use, she swiftly took a bath, put on a Persian blue dress she bought especially for this occasion, put on light make up, set the table, and put on old-school music.

Sara heard the door open and when she welcomed the person entering, she saw Leonard with the playful smirk on his face, holding calla lilies on a bouquet.

“How dashing,” Sara said, taking the flowers from him. “Come on, dinner’s ready.”

“First…” Leonard pulled her in for a kiss that lasted so long that they needed to break away from each other to breathe. “Dinner?”

 ---

The couple spent time talking about many different things over dinner:

“No, you said ‘I love you’ first!”

“You said it first. We were in Germany 1984 and you were drunk. That’s counted.”

 “You wanted to name our kid ‘Jar Jar’ just to annoy me.”

“Maybe we could name our dog that.”

“I totally forgot we agreed to get a dog.”

 “How do you think Luke’s date went?”

“Amazing, for sure. Anyone would be lucky to go on a date with my son.”

 “You remember when Luke was 3 and he saw you use the Cold Gun for the first time ever to make ice and then we just decided to tell him our other job?”

“I didn’t know if he was appalled or impressed.”

“Definitely impressed. He wouldn’t stop asking to borrow your gun for over a month.”

 “I bet you can still drink me under the table.”

“No, we’re not going to a pub this late.”

“Why the hell not?”

“We’re too damn old for hard liquors, Len.”

“Too old? Come on, you still look like thirty.”

 “Wanna dance, Leonard?”

“You go right ahead. I’ll clean the table.”

“Suit yourself.”

 --

Dinner was over and music continued to play. Len brought their plates to the kitchen while Sara swayed to the soft ballad filling their living room.

I met you in the dark, you lit me up You made me feel as though I was enough We danced the night away, we drank too much I held your hair back when You were throwing up

She closed her eyes as she felt his hands sliding on her hips. “Classic James Arthur, 2016. Nice choice,” the deep voice whispered on her ear.

“Am I getting my dance now?” Sara asked, turning around and placing her hands on his shoulders.

“Not letting this pass.”

Then you smiled over your shoulder For a minute, I was stone-cold sober I pulled you closer to my chest And you asked me to stay over I said, I already told ya I think that you should get some rest

Leonard pulled her closer by the waist and so did she with her arms around his neck. Sara could feel both the tickle his beard is giving, as well as his deep breaths.

“You’re not crying, are you?” Sara softly mocked.

I knew I loved you then But you'd never know 'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go

“I’m Captain Cold. I don’t cry,” Leonard replied, chuckling behind her ear.

“Oh really? Let’s see…” Sara stepped away slightly to look at his face. “There’s when you first saw me after we got you from the Legion. When you proposed. When we exchanged vows. When we found out I was pregnant the first time. And the second time. And the third time. During Luke’s first school recognition. Lily’s first injury. Lucy’s singing contest. I could go on forever, you know?”

I know I needed you But I never showed But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old Just say you won't let go Just say you won't let go

“Point taken,” Leonard replied, kissing the crook of her neck. “Happy anniversary.”

“Eighteen years,” Sara said. “Who would’ve thought?”

I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head

Leonard ran his left hand on Sara’s back, his right massaging the back of her neck.

“Now this is something my father could never take away from me,” he said, chin leaning on her shoulder as she ran circles on his back.

“You’ve lived a life different from the one he lived, Len. I’m proud of you for that. You should take pride in it too. Not everyone gets to be this happy.”

And I'll take the kids to school Wave them goodbye And I'll thank my lucky stars for that night

“You know, Lucky and Lil made a jab on us earlier,” Leonard said, suddenly reminded of the car ride earlier. “Kinda implied that I’m enjoying my job just because I have someone to flirt with at work.”

“It’s true though. You flirt with me so much that even Caitlyn threatened to kick us out of STAR Labs.”

“What’s new? I’ve been flirting with you for two decades now.”

When you looked over your shoulder For a minute, I forget that I'm older I wanna dance with you right now

Sara chuckled. “God, we’ve been together for two decades? I really am growing old with you, aren’t I?”

“Wasn’t that the plan from the very beginning?”

“You got a point there.”

“Of course I do.”

Oh, and you look as beautiful as ever And I swear that everyday you'll get better You make me feel this way somehow

“So now what’s the plan?” Sara asked, swaying with the music and taking him with her.

“Stay married longer. Beat other married couples. Establish dominance. Make other couples feel ashamed that they’re not as in love as we are,” Leonard said flatly, acting serious while Sara struggled to stand straight due to how much laughter she’s doing.

Leonard had to step back and pick her up from her crouching position. Sara then went to swat his arm. “Shut up, old man!”

He chuckled and placed their hands to where they were before Sara had to break away and go hysterical again.

I'm so in love with you And I hope you know Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold We've come so far my dear

“I’ve always loved your laugh,” Leonard said, lightly pinching Sara’s side.

“I’ve always loved your dark humor,” Sara replied.

Look how we've grown And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old Just say you won't let go Just say you won't let go

Sara pushed Len slightly, pressing her forehead to his. “I don’t have to tell you, right? You already know?”

“Of course. Just like how I don’t need to tell you that I feel the same. It’s never stopped,” Leonard softly said, his hand tracing Sara’s jaw. “I don’t think what I feel will ever stop. I could drop dead right now and my love for you will just go on.”

I wanna live with you Even when we're ghosts 'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most

Sara closed the space between their lips. As someone who has been kissing the same man for the last twenty years of her life and for some reason, his lips still feel like how they’ve been the first time. She knows in her heart that every kiss she gives him, she’s treating it like it’s their last. It’s been that way since the Oculus and through the years, it’s never changed amidst Leonard convincing her that he’s not going to vanish and leave her—not again.

Leonard stopped her hips from swaying. He removed his hands from her hips and brought both of them to frame her face as they move so perfectly throughout the kiss

I'm gonna love you till My lungs give out I promise till death we part like in our vows

He’s an old man and he knows this. But if this is how he’s going to live the rest of his life—with the woman he loved showing him what love is, his children that are loved and taken care of, and with so much good memories that could replace every single bad one he has throughout his life—then he can say he’s lived a good life.

So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows 'Cause now it's just you and me till we're grey and old Just say you won't let go Just say you won't let go

Just say you won't let go Oh, just say you won't let go

“Just for the record,” Leonard said when the two broke away from their sweet kiss, “I loved you first even before you did.”

“You just admitted it first.”

“Hey, I hit on you first.”

“I checked your butt out the moment you walked away from the rooftop the first night Rip recruited us. When you said, ‘Hero ain’t on my resumé’.”

“Okay, you win.”

“Don’t I always?”

 --end--

I just want to thank everybody who went with PandART and I on this journey. This story was my first multi-chapter fic and I couldn't have a better partner than her. We're both really happy for those who've read and patiently waited and supported this story.

It took us six months to finish this but from PandART and I--and from the Snarts--thank you so, so much.