#my dad nearly ran over a deer in the road the other day though!

[howlingday]

THE DRAGON-SLAYER

"Aaaaaaah~! Another boring mission complete!" Yang Xiao Long yawned as she walked down the road through the forest. It was still about a day's trip until she returned to the guild hall. She was hoping for some more action, but eh, what could you do? "Least I got to try out that new move I was working on."

Yang couldn't wait to get back and rub it in her sister's face that she completed an B Ranked mission by herself without any help, something Ruby had yet to accomplish. B Ranked or not, though, it was still boring.

She slung her bag forward and fished around until she pulled out the poster to look over it again. It featured a terrifying looking bear on the illustration, with the words "TERROR BEAR" emboldened on the bottom. Yang scoffed as she crumpled the poster and shoved it back into her bag.

"Terror wuss is more like it." She looked to the sky and noticed the sun was blazing overhead through the trees, and she was grateful for the protection it offered. Tanning was fine, but a sunburn was the last thing she wanted. Well, a sunburn and another awful mission.

A rustle in the bushes caught her attention, causing her to stop and step into a combative stance. After that last dud of a fight, she was itching for a real fight.

If she wanted to fight a bunny, that is. A small, brown bunny hopped out, sniffing the dirt in the road, hoping to find roots or whatever rabbits ate out here.

"Aw!" Yang cooed as she squatted. "Well, aren't you just the cutest? I wish I had a carrot for ya, but I'm all out. I hope you're not- HOPPING mad about that!" Yang fell on her back and rolled around laughing, kicking her feet at her own joke. The rabbit gave a deadpan expression and jumped back into the bush. "What? Was it not a good pun? C'mon, be honest! No need to- beat around the BUSH!" Yang fell into another fit of laughter.

She sighed, then poked her head into the bush to look for the rabbit. It must have ran through it because the bush was empty. Yang stood up to see where her furriest critic ran off to.

The forest was dense with trees, tall grass, and bushes. It was alive with deer, butterflies, and songbirds. Yang smiled at the view. She wished she could see something as beautiful as this every day.

Looking closer, she spotted a waterfall crashing in the distance. She reached for her flask and gave it a shake. Not empty, but also not full. No harm in a refill.

Another thought came as she lifted her arm higher and took a quick whiff of herself. "Urp! Yeah, a shower wouldn't hurt, either!"

Yang stepped over the bush and deeper into the treeline. She stepped carefully around the barbed vines growing in the tall grass, and waved away at the biting insects that also called this forest home. In a few moments, she reached her destination at the beautiful, glistening blue pond, complete with a crashing waterfall.

"Any perverts out there?" Yang dropped her bag and looked behind her; then to her left; then to the right. "Alright then. Either you're quiet, or you're not there. Either way," Yang took off her yellow jacket, "don't bother me."

"Aaaaaah! I'm so lost!" Jaune Arc was lost. Scratch that; lost implied he had no idea where he was, and he did know. He was in a forest. What he didn't know was where the nearest town was.

He had been wandering through this forest for days, but he always makes a wrong turn every time he reaches a split path. Right now, though, he was out of the treeline and following creekbed. He really wished his mom was here; she knew all about directions.

'No! Stop it! You're a big boy now, Jaune. Big boys don't need their moms!' Jaune's stomach growled. 'But what I wouldn't give for a hot meal right about now.'

Jaune looked to the sky. No clouds, which meant no rain, which meant only Sun for another few days, which meant more wandering around in the blistering heat. Jaune wasn't normally one for cursing things, but for the Sun, he was willing to make an exception.

The creekbed flowed with water, about ankle-deep, and Jaune was banking on this crystal-clear cascade flowed to a town water-wheel. Hopefully the water-wheel was attached to a house with food, like grilled fish, or a tasty pie. He could almost smell it now! He sniffed the air and it smelled like...

Coconut?

What were coconuts doing in the forest? Did coconuts grow in forests? No, that's not what his mom taught him. Coconuts grow on islands in the middle of the ocean. But weren't continents technically giant islands? He'd have to ask his mom later, but for now, he followed the scent.

Jaune almost walked off a cliff, and found the creek led to a glistening waterfall. At the bottom, where the waterfall pooled, Jaune saw a girl scrubbing her hair. Maybe she knew the way to town!

"Excuse me!" Jaune caught her attention. "Do you know the way to town?" Oh, neat! She was a wizard, too; and a pretty strong one at that, if the incantation circle told him anything.

"FIRE MAGIC: FIRECRACKER!" Yang blasted a set of five fireballs at her peeping tom. What was this guy's deal?! Didn't he know better than to sneak up on a girl in the shower?! Once her spell was cast, she bolted from the water, it's cool temptations dragging her in more than the actual water resistance. She toweled off and quickly put her clothes on. Once her jacket was on, however, the pervert was already halfway towards her! How does a creep like that move so fast?! And without so much as a scorch mark on him?!

He was clearly a powerful wizard, probably as strong as Uncle Qrow! She got into a combative stance as he stopped. He reached his hand out, probably in an attempt to grab her.

"Hi, I'm-"

"FIRE MAGIC: BOTTLE-ROCKET!" Yang launched herself away while simultaneously hurling three fireballs at her pursuer; much larger ones than her previous attack. Yet again, however, he shrugged it off like it was nothing! She might have to resort to punching the creep, but she wasn't going to rush in without thinking before doing that. "Okay; who are you, creep? You from a dark guild, or something?"

"A dark guild?" He gave her a confused look. Clearly, he was playing the ignorant and innocent card. It wasn't going to work on her. "No, I'm not from any guild. I'm Jaune Arc, from Argus."

"Argus? Across the water of the other side of the continent?"

"Yeah, have you heard of it?"

"Uh, only from what one of the other guild members told me. She said she grew up there."

"Oh, really? What's her name?" His smile did little to ease her fears. This guy was dangerous, and that was the only thing she knew about him besides his name and hometown.

"I'll answer you if you answer me, deal?"

"Oh, uh, yeah, sure."

"Okay, then, first question: why were you spying on me?"

"Uh, I wasn't spying on you."

"Then why were you on top of the waterfall?" Yang cracked her fingers, ready to launch another fire attack.

"I got lost, so I was just following the stream." He looked behind him towards the waterfall. "I was kind of hoping to find a water-wheel."

"A water-wheel? In the middle of the forest?"

"Yeah, I mean, it isn't the craziest thing I've heard of."

Yang looked him up and down. He definitely looked like an adventurer. He was wearing a plate mail cover on his chest and shoulder; a belt with a canteen and a pouch attached; and he was wearing a leather backpack over both shoulders. "Uh, can I ask you something?"

Yang blinked. "Uh, I guess."

"Am I in trouble?" Yang deadpanned. What was his first clue, the first attack, the follow-up, or that she was glaring daggers at him while in a combat stance? "Because if I am, I'd like to apologize for anything wrong I did."

"Yeah, no, pal. I don't let peeping toms get away scot-free, y'know?" Her muscles tensed like a coiled spring, ready to burst forward. Nothing was going to stop her from stomping this creep."

"Peeping tom? Were you naked?"

Yang suddenly felt the ground give beneath her, landing on her face. She stood up and nearly breathed fire on him. "Yes, you moron! How else would a girl be under a waterfall?!"

"I don't know. I thought you were doing some kind of monk training."

"Do I look like a monk to you?!" Yang growled, but then sighed. She gave up on this. There was no point. He's not a threat, not while being this stupid. "Look, I need to get back my guild. If I bring you to town, will that be enough for you to leave me alone?"

"Oh, uh, sure, but I didn't know I was bothering you. I'm sorry!"

Yang sighed. "This is going to be a long trip."

"So, you're from Argus?" Yang asked, trying to make small talk.

"Not originally, but I lived there for a while with my sister and her wife and son." Jaune was going to miss Adrien, but he could leech off his family for too long. He had to go out and make something of himself, like that girl who left before he showed up. What was her name Pina Nolada, or something? "I'm trying to find a guild to join."

"Where'd you live before that?"

"I was kind of wandering around for a little while."

"You didn't live anywhere?"

"Not since my mom left." Yang made a pained face. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just..." Yang sighed. "My mom left when I was young, too. My dad raised me and my sister all on his own."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Jaune felt a sympathetic sadness from hearing this; or maybe it was empathetic? In either case, Jaune made her feel sad, so he should cheer her up. "Hey, uh, check this out!"

Yang looked over to see Jaune pull the large sheath from his side. With the click of a button, the sheath expanded into a shield. Yang's eyes were wide with surprise.

"Wow," she said, "that's gotta be heavy!"

"Uh, yeah, it kind of is," Jaune groaned, "but it's a handy tool! I can block just about anything with it!"

"What about my fireballs?"

"Your what?"

"My fireballs. The magic I was shooting at you?"

Jaune's eyes went wide this time. "You were shooting magic at me?!"

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"Oh, um, don't take this the wrong way, but-" Luckily, Jaune's comment was cut off by a cry of terror. Yang must have heard it, too, since she sprinted towards the scream. Jaune returned to the shield to it's sheath form. "Yup, still just as heavy."

"Come on, sweetie; just one little kiss?" The petite girl was overshadowed by the taller, scruffy-faced man towering over her. The tanned skin of his arms were covered in scars, his long, greasy, black hair poured like thick oil from his white bandana on his head. The cackling demon image on the cloth seemed to sneer from it's perch above his brow.

"No! I already told I'm not interested!" The girl's rejection was met with a snapping finger, which signalled the three individuals behind him to continue their work.

The shortest of the trio had pale skin, and long white moustache. He stood no higher than the girl's knees, and seemed to delight in the fact as he passed by her to enter the back room. He began throwing supplies into the lobby, smashing containers and ripping bags while doing so.

The windows were worked over by a flat-nosed woman with round body. She took a deep breath and blew onto the window, melting the glass and the wood in the frame around it. She laughed, causing her belly to jiggle.

The third member, a tall man with dark skin and wearing black shades, placed his hands on the ceiling. He then grunted, flexing as he pushed on the ceiling, tearing it from the walls.

"So..." The scarred man said, grabbing the girl's chin and forcing her to look at him again. "About that kiss?"

The girl trembled. She wanted to look away, but her captor kept an iron grip on her head. She shut her eyes and clenched her jaw, wishing this nightmare would be over. That someone would save her!

"Hello?" Everyone in the room turned to see the blonde woman in the doorway. "Hi! Can I get some snacks for the road? Got a long trip ahead." The woman was followed a more blonde man, who seemed to actually take note of the carnage inside, if his shocked face was any indication. "Is the manager here?"

"Beeeeeeeeeat iiiiiiiiiit, blooooooondiiiiiiiie." the tall man said slowly, drawing the syllables out of every word as he spoke. As he turned to face her, the ceiling and roof over the store spun with him. "Stooooooorrrrrre's clooooooossssssssed."

"Really? Looks open to me." She cocked a smirked. "In fact, I'd say sales are "through the roof!" Eh? Eh?" She finger-gunned at her audience. No one was laughing. "Nothing? Eh, you must be more of a slapstick crowd, huh?"

The large, round woman waddled her way over to would-be comedienne, sneering at her. "Hmph! Such an ugly sense of humor befits a woman such as yourself."

"Huh?" The blonde woman looked up at her critic. "If you don't like it, that's fine, but there's no need to insult my looks."

"Hmph! With ratty locks, and a twig of a shape your form retains, you are hardly fit to be considered a full-figured maiden like moi!"

"Hang on," the blonde man stepped forward now, "Yang's right. You shouldn't be making fun of somebody's looks. Don't you know how rude that is, sir?"

The larger woman flinched, clenching her jaw in anger and grinding her teeth so intensely, you'd think sparks would start flying.

"Jaune," the blonde woman tapped his shoulder, "she's not a man." She whispered.

"Who isn't a man?"

"Hmph! Me!" The rotund madame barked. "I shall gift upon you such a mercy as to repent on your transgressions!"

"Huh?"

"She's telling you to say you're sorry."

"Oh! Uh, I'm sorry I mistook you for a man." Jaune apologized.

"Hmph! As you should be!"

"It's just, you don't look like any woman I've ever seen. To be honest, I thought you were some kind of weird, two-legged boar."

Everyone's jaw dropped. There was dense, and then there was stupid, but this was just downright brainless! Whoever told this guy that "honesty is the best policy" didn't bother to explain little white lies. And from the looks of it, he was going to live to regret it.

The portly woman ground her teeth violently and inhaled so deeply with her nose, she reeled her head back. She then swung forward as an incantation circle appeared behind. "MAIDEN'S KISS!"

A jet of white smoke escaped her mouth as she opened it. The blonde woman jumped out of the way, but the blonde man didn't, choosing instead to lift a white bar up and extend it into a shield. The attack was blocked by the shield, but the white smoke enveloped the man. As it dissipated, the round woman laughed.

"Hmph! Such is the tax of fools who dare question the virtues of a full-figured maiden such as myself!"

The gang of cronies laughed as well, with their leader grinning. These villains weren't going to stop at destroying property, and that suited them just fine. The girl trembled once again as she watched the cloud dissipate into nothing, leaving only a pool of brown sludge where the man stood.

"Phew! That was a close!" A voice said from above. Everyone looked up and saw the man hovering above them and slowly descending. "Good thing you lifted the ceiling, huh, big guy? A foot lower, and I could have been in some real trouble!"

"Hoooooooooooow aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrre yooooooooooou stiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllll aaaaaaaaaaaliiiiiiivvvvvvvvvve?"

"Well," the man said, finally touching ground in the goop, "I saw the melted window, but I didn't smell anything like wood burning, so your ability melts, but it doesn't burn. That requires a lot of heat, and heat rises. Decided to hitch a ride with my glide shield."

"Nice one, Jaune!"

"Thanks, Yang!"

"Yang?" The man in the bandana stepped away from the girl. "As in Yang Xiao Long, the Blonde Bombshell Brawler of Dryad's Tears?!"

Yang chuckled as she scratched an itch on her upper lip with her finger. "Oh, so you've heard of me? Well, glad to know I'm famous around here! Now, since you know who I am, why don't you tell me who you are?"

"Gladly." The man tightened the bandana on his head, making the demon image look more impressive. "The name is Zed, "Sin-Eater" Zed of Imp's Delight. And these are my Sons of Sin; "Luster-Loss" Asma; "Star-Grabber" Cin; and "Hoard-Stealer" Nom. We were just passing by when I decided to do some shopping here. Found me a pretty, little doll I like, so I tried to buy her. Unfortunately, the doll's owner didn't like the look of me, so I decided to take it for myself."

"What doll?" The blonde man asked.

"Excuse me?"

"What doll? This looks more like a farm supply store. I don't think they sell dolls here."

"Not normally, hehehehe, but this little peach right here is just ripe for the taking, hehehehe!" The short man said through giggling, grabbing for the girl with his prehensile moustache. She jumped away, only to end up in a corner. "Now, now, dear! No need to be fussy!"

"No! Stay away! No! No!" The girl cried as the hairs of his moustache wrapped around her legs. Nom cackled as he stepped closer.

"There's no point trying to break free, my dear! My hairs are so full, not even a charging rhino could break through! So just let me have some-"

SWISH!

Nom looked down from the girl's terrified face to her legs where his hairs fell limp. He continued down until he found a break in the line between his facial hairs and their end point.

"I don't know what you people think you're doing," Jaune spoke through gritted teeth, "but a person is a person, not some toy or a piece of fruit." He turned his head and faced Nom, his eyes burning with a blue flame. "Now get the hell out of this store!" Jaune kicked Nom in the face, knocking him out and sending him flying into the wall.

Jaune turned towards the girl and knelt down. "Are you okay, miss? Can you walk?" The girl shook her head to recover, then nodded. "Good. I need you to leave. Go find a friend and stay with them for a while. We'll take care of the guys here. Okay?" The girl nodded again, then ran for the exit. The ceiling shifted overhead.

"Whoooooooooo saaaaaaaaaid yoooooooou coooooould leeeeeeeeavvvvve?" Cin drawled as he shifted his weight to throw the ceiling down.

"I did, bub" Yang shouted as she leapt into his face, "because this party hasn't even started yet, so I need you to keep raising the roof for now!" Yang punched Cin so hard, he staggered, but never fell. "Heh, tough guy, huh?"

"Hmph!" Asma grabbed Yang in a bear hug. "Such a fragile harlot need not concern herself with the whims and wishes of much more fragile harlots! MAIDEN'S KI-!"

"Oh, no you don't! FIRE MAGIC: STRAWBERRY SUNRISE" Yang's entire body glowed in a brilliant golden light as her hair shone like the Sun and her eyes became a flawless ruby red. Not only bright, but hot, too! So hot that Asma stopped her initial attack to let go of Yang, who took advantage of this recoil and launched another attack. "FIRE MAGIC: EMBER BURST!" Yang used both hands to launch a massive fireball twice her size to engulf Asma, sending her flying across the road as the rescued girl escaped.

"Cin! Drop the damn roof on her already!" The giant responded by doing so, a rain of splinters and wood shavings fluttering down as it comes crashing down.

"Hey, Jaune!" Jaune looked to Yang. "Keep your eyes on me!" Yang took a deep breath. "FIRE MAGIC: I BURN!" Yang's entire body, once a shining light, erupted into a now veritable burning star. She stood her ground as she caught it, the wood between her fingers scorching into cinders as she lifted it high above her head, then slammed it back down onto the now crumbling tower. Yang smirked as her flames died, having only one thought as the dust slowly settled. 'I never could stop myself from showing off in front of the boys, huh, Rubes?'

Jaune coughed and blinked as the scent of burning wood and sawdust invaded his senses. It gave him mixed feelings; a combination of warmth and happiness from bonfires with his mother, and dread as it was a bonfire that led to her disappearance.

Jaune waved away the smoke and coughed when a cloud chose his mouth as a suitable home. The coughing led to hacking, and the sawdust decided to invite friends over for a housewarming party. "Water," he cried with a dry voice, "I need water!"

Suddenly a vortex formed a few yards away from him, drawing all the dust and small debris away. Jaune felt the vacuum draw on his clothes, but luckily he was too heavy to be swept away. As he looked closer, he saw a green magic incantation circle rotate at the point where the vortex drew everything in. The wind died, and sunlight returned to blind Jaune.

In front of him, stood Zed, a cocky grin on his face. "I don't know who you are, kid, but I suggest you run. Nobody's ever survived against "Sin-Eater" Zed and lived to tell the tale!"

"Probably because they died when you fought them, right?"

The thug tapped the side of his nose. "You know, I've heard of Dryad's Tears and Yang Xiao Long, but I've never heard of you before. What guild are you from?"

Jaune laxed at the conversation. "Oh, I'm not from a guild."

"That so? A shame you gotta waste it helping out the sleeping dragon there." He nodded his head towards Yang. "Why don't you join up with Imp's Delight? We could use a man like you in our guild. Raiding villages'll be a breeze!"

"And if I say no?" Jaune tightened his grip on his sword and widened his stance.

"Then you won't say anything ever again." Jaune held up his shield. Zed sighed. "Shame. You could have been a real pal." A green incantation circle manifested behind Zed. "WINDS OF OMEN!"

The vortex reappeared, but spun in reverse this time, launching small debris everywhere. Jaune kept his shield close to his face as the wall of wind, debris, and sawdust blinded him. He raised a foot to step forward.

"STARVING GIANT!" Zed cried over the howling wind, and the vortex spun once again in reverse, sucking the sawdust and debris in, as well as the now off-balance Jaune, forcing him to fall forward. Zed cancelled his vortex and rushed towards him. Jaune struggled to regain his balance, only to lose it once again as Zed unleashed an onslaught of punches into Jaune, his unbalanced flailing of his sword and shield to his sides left him wide open. Jaune fell to the ground in pain.

"That's all you going for you, huh? Brains and a blonde girlfriend? It takes more than that to beat me, kid." He crouched down next to his floored opponent. "Tell you what I'll do: you and your friend come back to the guild, you swear your allegiance, and I'll forgive you both for this little interruption we had. What do you say?"

"I say you can take that offer and shove it up your ass." Jaune and Zed looked in surprise as the panting Yang stood up from the rubble. She removed a bandana from her leg, revealing a tattoo of yellow tree with yellow teardrops falling from the canopy. "I don't care how tough you Imp cowards think you are. My guild is the strongest Wizard Guild this side of Fiore. Your little street gang clubhouse has got nothing on us!"

Zed stood up and walked over to Yang, who struggled to get into a fighter's stance. "STARVING GIANT." Yang was pulled into the vortex, her face caught by Zed's hand. He lifted her up, then slammed her into the ground. "WINDS OF OMEN."

Yang screamed as winds with the force of a hurricane blasted her into the ground, but Zed kept his grip on her face as his volley of winds continued, each gale more intense than the last. "This is what happens to those who fight against Imp's Delight! No one is greater than our guild; not while Guildmaster Amon Ripper, the Red Dragonslayer, still breathes! And now, I'm going to drag your sorry hide to his feet, and you'll be his toy for as long as he likes! Because we are-

"GAH!" Jaune crashed into Zed, forcing him to let go of Yang and sending him flying a few yards away. Yang looked up and saw Jaune standing over, his shield in front of him. Zed stood up, growling. "Cheap shot, kid, and the last one, too!" Zed placed both hands in front of him, incantation circles manifesting behind him. Jaune sheathed his sword and took a deep breath. "WINDS OF OMEN!"

A cylinder of wind charged towards Jaune, the young man stepping forward, over Yang. He widened his stance and squatted in place, bringing his fists up to his mouth, one in front of the other.

Yang and Zed both widened their eyes. "You're a-?!" was all Yang could get out before a yellow incantation circle with the head of a dragon in the center appeared.

"YELLOW DRAGON ROAR!" Jaune bellowed as a shining yellow vortex of his own crashed into Zed's, then enveloped and swallowed his gusts of wind, overpowering and launching Zed.

Zed crashed far away. Far from the village and his team of thugs. Said team gathered at the ruined shop, each gawking at the powerful wizard who literally blew their leader away. Jaune turned towards Yang and saw them. They flinched at his gaze. "Your boss flew that way." Jaune pointed in the direction of his blast. The team nodded, then ran off to collect their benefactor. Jaune looked down at Yang. "Do you need help?"

"Just a little." Jaune grabbed her arm by the bicep and helped her stand. "Thanks, but I should be fi- Shit!" Yang stumbled into Jaune's chest. She must have been tired. Jaune could tell by how red her face was getting. "So, uh, a dragonslayer, huh?"

"Yeah." Jaune answered simply.

"So your "mom" is-" Jaune answered the same as before. "Huh. Never would have guest, since you have that sword and shield. Figured you'd be a Requip wizard."

Jaune shook his head. "Nope."

Yang grabbed Jaune by the shoulders and steadied herself. Jaune gave her a worried look. "I'll be fine. I just need a nap."

"Maybe there's an inn nearby."

"Nah! What I really need is grub! Is there a tavern around here?"

Jaune and Yang sat down in the tavern that was only a few buildings away. Yang was scarfing down beef burgers and fries by the handful, while Jaune ate his chicken sandwich in silence. "Sho yur muh effed I yu ur yah?"

"Could you maybe say that again without an entire cow in your face?" Yang chewed and swallowed her sixth helping of burger, then washed it with her stein of cider, finishing with the most ladylike belch in the history of ever.

"BRAAAAAAAAP!!! Ah! So, like I was saying, your mom just up and left while you were young?" Jaune nodded, which Yang replied to with a scoff. "Your mom sounds just like mine, except somehow worse. I had my dad. You didn't have anybody."

"I'm sure she had a reason. That's why I'm looking for her."

"To learn why?" Jaune nodded again. "Be careful, Jaune. You might not like the answer. I sure as hell didn't like mine." Yang reached for her fries. "There's a lot people in this world, Jaune, and the worst ones are always the ones closest to you." Jaune frowned at that. She expected him to. "But enough about that. Let's get back to you joining me."

"What?"

"You and me hooking up! I need you by my side in case what happened back there happens again." Yang extended her hand. "What do you say?"

Jaune blushed and looked away. "My mother warned me about this!"

"Huh?"

"She said she wanted grandkids, but only when I met the right woman. But how will I know if you are the right woman for me? I mean, we've only just met, but maybe this is love at first sight?" Yang was blushing now. "You are strong, but strength isn't what's important in a relationship. What matters is that we love each other, and-"

Yang slammed her hands on the table. "HOLD ON A MINUTE!"

"Um, excuse me?" Yang and Jaune looked to their side, seeing the young girl they saved earlier. "Um, thank you again for saving me. I owe you both so much."

"We were just happy to help." Jaune said with a smile.

"Yeah, so how much are you willing to pay back?" Jaune snapped his head towards Yang, glaring at her. "Relax, shield boy! I'm just messing with her." Yang turned her attention back to the girl. "But really, if you need any help, don't be afraid to ask Dryad's Tears for help. We'll be here as fast as we can, and kick butt as hard as we can."

The poor girl seemed on the verge of tears. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Yang smiled at the girl's tears. Her smile of gratitude warmed her heart. It almost reminded her of Ruby. "Well, time we get going."

"Already?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah." Yang pulled out a piece of paper, and wrote something down. "My offer still stands, if you're interested. Just swing by the guild if you wanna join."

"Can't I go with you?" Yang gave him a curious look. "I mean, it's like you said earlier, you need me by your side. Besides, if it means I'm closer to finding my mom, then I should join, right?

Yang set her paper face-down on the table, and closed her eyes in thought. She couldn't guarantee that she'd be able to help him find his mom, or any dragons for that matter. Still, he saved her life, so she owed him at least that much. "Okay, you got yourself a deal!"

"Oh, my! It's so big" Yang opened her eyes to see the girl marvel at Jaune's sword, which he was showing off for her.

"Thanks! It was a gift from my mom."

"She must have been quite the craftsman!"

"No, she was a dragon."

"Oh, my! Really? Does that mean you're a dragonslayer?"

"Yup! I'm the son of Bellisa, the Yellow Dragon."

Yang quickly stood up. "All right, Jaune, time to go!" The last thing they needed right now was unwanted attention. "Time to head back to the guild!"

"Okay!" Jaune stood up, and stepped out. "It was nice meeting you-" Jaune tripped over himself and landed on his face. Not hard, though, which was odd when you considered the floor was made of wood. Jaune pushed himself off the floor, into the ruby red eyes of the blushing girl.

"Wow!" someone said.

Jaune immediately leapt up. "Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-!" He felt a tug on his arm. He looked in that direction and saw Yang red in the face and looking away.

"Come on, Lady Killer, we have to go!"

"What about the bill?"

"I left a check, don't worry about it!" As soon as they made it out, Jaune heard shouting behind him. He looked back and saw an elderly man chasing them with a broom, mumbling something loudly that he couldn't understand. He saw the girl following suit, stopping the man and talking to him. Whatever she said seemed to calm him down. As the man turned away, she looked in his direction. She was far away, but he could have sworn she was winking. "C'mon! Pick up the pace, Romeo! We gotta get there before nightfall!"

"To where?"

Yang smiled. "Where else? Beacon, the home of Dryad's Tears!"

The girl went back to her house, and collapsed into a chair. What a day! First some rookie thugs from some no name dark guild try to hustle her, then her cover gets blown, LITERALLY, by a dragonslayer.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a buzz in her dresser drawer. She opened it to find her communications Lacrima vibrating. With a touch, she was answered with the image of a woman with black hair and amber eyes watching her, taking into account her every move. She lifted the Lacrima to the dresser.

The woman spoke first. "Do you have anything to report?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Proceed." The girl took a deep breath and began explaining her encounter today. The slow, early morning, the annoying later morning, the interesting midday, and the unfortunate afternoon. "So your cover is compromised."

"Not completely. However, it doesn't seem there's anything left for me here. If you'd like, ma'am, I can continue my role-"

"That won't be necessary." The woman was silent for a moment. "Return to the guild. Our guildmaster will have another assignment for you ready by that time."

"Yes, Cinder."

"Good." Cinder Fall leaned forward, her bangs parting to show off her web tattoo over her eyes. "Besides, I also would like to hear more about this "dragonslayer" you told me about, Emerald."

[justjessame]

The Love of Two Hunters Chapter 1

I ran down the stairs of my dad’s house, yelling as I clamored down. “Daddy? Do you know where I put my-” I stopped at the bottom when I realized he had company. That would explain the loud motors I’d heard while packing, I thought. My gaze ran over a guy a little younger than me, another guy around my age, and then HIM. Shit. I took a breath and realized that my dad was glaring at the three of them and hadn’t even glanced my way. Thank God.

“Daddy?” I called again, noticing that none of them had heard or noticed me. Suddenly four pairs of eyes were on me and I felt a little bit uncomfortable with the attention. “Um, hey.” I gave a small wave, praying that John had the common sense to pretend we’d never fucking met before. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” I stood on the third stair from the bottom. “I just need to know if you’ve seen my flip flops?” It was lame, but the truth, and I could feel John’s smirk from where I stood even without glancing at his face.

“Daddy?” The older of the two younger men whispered at my dad. “Bobby, there something you haven’t told us?”

I bit my lip, my dad’s glare clearly not for me. “Shut up, you idjit.” He growled and smiled at me. “Sweetheart, I think you left them outback.” I nodded and smiled. “These guys just came to watch the football game with me, guess they forgot to CALL.” His glare returned to the source of his ire.

“Thanks,” I grinned, thinking that whatever John Winchester and the other two men were actually here for, they would definitely be getting an earful.

I jogged down the last three stairs and ran through the house to the back door. Letting it shut behind me, I looked around the back stoop, and sure enough there they were. Grabbing them, I considered waiting to let my dad give his visitors the tongue-lashing he wanted to. After all, I knew precisely how much he hated people just showing up on his doorstep without calling first. Not that he’d get pissed at me, but when other people turned up while I was visiting, he’d lose his shit. To put it politely.

Waiting until I felt that Dad had no doubt got most of it out of his system, I opened the back door and listened. I couldn’t hear anything, but I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt arms wrap around my waist and pull me tight against a hard chest. “Shh,” I felt his hot breath beside my ear, so I knew he was leaning over me. Jesus, John Winchester would be the fucking death of me. “Hey,” his voice, deep and smooth rolled over me as I relaxed for a moment in his arms. “Why didn’t you tell me who your dad is?”

I rolled my eyes. “One, I didn’t know you knew my dad, John. And two, you should probably let me go, before my dad kills you.” I felt his chuckle rush through me, and found myself smiling. “Seriously, he’ll chase your ass with a shotgun, I’ve seen it happen.”

He turned me to face him, forcing me to tilt my head up. Trust me to always fall for the tall ones. I bit my lip taking in his face. “I think I’ll risk it,” his head dipped and his lips brushed mine. I sighed and closed my eyes, letting myself enjoy it for a minute. I could hear Dad’s voice from the library, gruffly grumbling at the two other men. John pulled back, listening. “I think he’s hitting his stride with my boys.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Your boys?” I knew he had kids, he’d shared a great deal of his life story with me, but I had somehow always pictured children. “Those two are Dean and Sam?” I could hear the incredulous tone my voice took and he grinned down at me picking it up easily.

“That would be them.” His thumb brushed over my bottom lip and I had to fight the urge to flick my tongue against the calloused pad. “Why didn’t Bobby ever tell me about you?” I could tell it was a question he didn’t expect to be answered, which was good, because I really had no idea. “Why haven’t I ever seen you here before?”

Now that I could answer. “I told you, John, I live with my grandparents.” I shrugged, that was the simple answer, the rest was so complicated that I didn’t know or understand half of it. “You’re going to have to release me, before he catches you pawing at me.” I softened the blow with a smile. “I’m leaving to go back today.”

He sighed and unwrapped his arms. “Back to school?” As though he realized what season it was, he shook his head. “Back to your grandparents’?”

I nodded, and pulled away. “Yeah, my visits to Dad aren’t long, but they’re memorable.” I smiled up at him and whispered, “let me know when you’re back in my neck of the woods, ok?” I bit my lip and rushed to take the stairs back up to my room, so I could finish packing and get on the road before Dad deemed it too late to go.

I was still gathering my things when I heard a light knock on my door. “Come in.” I kept stopping to try to think about whether I was leaving anything behind, I was in the process of one such moment when Dad opened the door. “Hey, Daddy.” I offered absently as I tried to remember where I last saw my toiletry bag. The bathroom would have been a safe bet, but I knew it wasn’t there, I’d checked. I realized that Dad hadn’t said a word, and I stopped to look up at him. “Daddy?”

“Honey, I think it would be best if you stayed the night.” He looked conflicted at the mere thought, but I glanced out the window and realized he was right. Shit, I’d lost the light. “I know we talked about you going today, but-”

“I know, Daddy, the night holds terrors that I don’t even know about.” I’d heard this since I was old enough to remember the words, but I was certain he’d been saying it for far longer. I sighed, knowing that he was upset because the Winchesters were here, and he didn’t want me to meet them, or anyone from his life here. “I’m sorry.” I felt like I’d screwed up by fucking up and not being ready to go earlier. It was just that, I really truly loved being with him. My dad, this amazing guy that just freaking loved me so much and made every moment with him memorable.

“Oh, sweetheart, nothin’ for you to be sorry about.” He pulled me to him and I sighed into the feeling of his hug. My dad was so soft and sweet, that hugging him would be the easiest way to comfort me, even during my earliest childhood and I was still getting used to the visits. “Just hate that those idjits had to ruin our last day.” His voice was gruff, but I heard fondness even in the word idjits.

I grinned and pulled back. “Why haven’t you told them about me?” I had never asked the question, never thought I should, but now it was bothering me a bit. “Why don’t you want your friends to know about me, Dad?”

He sighed and sat on my bed. I took a seat next to him, pushing one of my bags out of the way. “Honey, some of the people I deal with, they deal with some bad things.” I squinted, trying to decide what he was telling me. “I don’t want you involved, it’s dangerous, so if they don’t know about you, then you can’t be targeted.” Jesus, he made it sound like the mafia.

“Daddy?” I took his hand and asked a question that I doubted he would have thought I’d even know to ask. “Are you a hunter?”

His eyes widened, and I knew. Confirmation, finally. I had wondered, after meeting John, and seeing some of the things he’d said or done. The things he used, the way he spoke, all of it sounded like my dad. “Of course I’m a hunter, honey.” He brushed it off, about to talk about deer or some other nonsense.

“You know what type of hunter I mean, Daddy.” I said, rolling my eyes. “You hunt the bad things in the darkness that you’ve been warning me about since I was a toddler.” His hand clenched in mine. “It’s ok, really.”

“No,” he stood up and began pacing. “Sweetie, you don’t understand. You can’t understand. Keeping you away from all this, from them,” I knew he meant other hunters, not just John, but I felt my heart clench. “Keeps you safe. We don’t just hunt them, honey, they hunt us too.”

I wanted to understand, but I also knew that NOT being a hunter could make you hunted too. That’s how I’d met John, after all. He’d been in the town I was going to college in, working on my Master’s degree, hunting for something stalking the coeds of my college. We’d met, after he’d finished it, he was covered in blood, some his own, and I’d offered him a place to clean up. Adrenaline was a great aphrodisiac. As was the fact that I could see the safety in his eyes, the clear proof that he was a good one. Of course I couldn’t tell Dad this, not even close to it.

“But, Dad,” I stood and took his hand again, forcing him to stop pacing. “I’m not a child anymore. You know that. I don’t want to have to hide or rush away so no one sees me when I visit. And I don’t want your friends to be shocked when I call you ‘daddy’ or ‘dad’ because they don’t know. I feel like some kind of dirty little secret.” It rushed out of me, and I realized that it had bothered me more than I admitted even to myself.

Dad’s eyes pinched at my words, I knew it hurt him to hear, but how did he think it felt to feel it? “Aww, sweetheart, you’re not a dirty secret.” He wrapped me in another hug, kissing the top of my head. “Why didn’t you tell me you felt like this?” I shrugged. “Damn it, I’ve done so much wrong, that even what I thought I was doin’ right was wrong.” I felt him sigh, but he didn’t pull away, just held me, giving and getting comfort. “Come downstairs, guess it’s time you met the idjits I deal with all the damn time.”

I giggled and pulled back. “Does that mean I don’t have to rush back tomorrow?” I asked, hoping that he knew that I’d stay forever if he let me. He gave a gruff snort and I called it a win. “Let me toss my things away, at least for now, and I’ll be right down.” He kissed my forehead and smiled.

“That’s fine, Parisa. Take your time.” I smiled, realizing that he’d used my name, usually it was terms of endearment, but this time he used the name my mother had picked. I’d once looked it up, and realized that she’d picked a name that meant ‘like an angel’. That was a hell of a lot to live up to, but I also realized, when I met John and he told me things about his life, that angels weren’t always so innocent. He walked out of my room, taking a long look at me before he closed my door.

I sat down on the bed. Taking a beat to get my thoughts in order. One harsh truth down, I thought, now how and when could I explain about John and I?

[diary-ofsorts]

There was a house about a half mile away from my dad’s that had a beautiful garden.

We lived about two miles from the beach, almost a straight shot from his house to the shore. The neighboring houses in this area were quietly huddled together, rarely showing signs of life except during the hottest peak of summer when the beaches were crowded. I spent most of my childhood wondering this quiet area, enjoying the hills, the hidden creeks, the winding roads, the mosquitos and fireflies, the solemn deer that would wonder so near to you, you’d have to hold you breath lest they hear the slightest sound and bolt. This was how I spent those long, muggy summers.

This was a house that I passed almost every day. It was along the main road, on a corner at a four-way stop, though the stop signs were mere ghosts of what they were, the color and words long ago sun bleached and the signs themselves bent and warped from the Midwest summer heat and frigid winters.

The house had a wide driveway, unpaved, and because it sat on a corner it had optimal real estate that wasn’t normally available in this area. What was so unique about this house was that it had a large garden, nearly circling the entire house, complete with a bubbling fountain, statues, and many flowers, trees, and bushes. An oasis. It was beautiful. Unlike anything I had ever seen. In my mind it was reminiscent of The Secret Garden - though it was no where near the size or mystery. While on these adventures I would often stop and marvel at the beauty of it, though I never dared to go further than the edge of the road.

When I was 9 years old, my best friend and I were spending a day out of our endless summer exploring, looking for adventure. We decided to go to the beach, even though my dad had said we were too young to go on our own, that the water was too dangerous and the walk was too long. We knew better than to go into the water, but we were so restless in our familiar surroundings and the temptation was too strong. We passed the house on our way.

We stopped to admire the garden, just as I had a hundred times before. We hadn’t realized someone was watching us. When an older man with visibly graying hair stepped out from the front porch, we shyly waved hello and complimented his garden. I explained that I lived nearby and passed it often. He told us it’s history - that it had been a years-long project, in which he had sunk a large amount of money into. He pointed out the different types of greenery, the large fountain, the serenity it created by encapsulating his home - all the things I had always admired most about it.

Then he mentioned that he had finally installed a hot tub, around the corner on the other side, just out of our line of sight. My friend and I anxiously rose to our tip-toes, trying to peer over the mass of bushes and flowers to where he was vaguely pointing to. He said that he was going to throw parties this summer in his hot tub, describing large crowds with music and food and dance. It was unheard of in this quiet area. It sounded exciting.

He stepped closer. “I sure hope I see you two around for these parties.” He looked us both up and down. Licking his lips, he smiled warmly. “You’re both such pretty little things. We could have a lot of fun together. Would you like to come take a look?”

My friend and I nervously glanced at each other. I felt frozen in place. The mood of our conversation had just dramatically shifted, though at the time we didn’t know how. He didn’t seem like a sweet old man with a pretty garden anymore. He stepped closer to us again, hand outstretched, inviting us in. I began to stutter a response, a short of sheepish explanation, and there was a momentary pause before my friend grabbed my hand and pulled me to her and we ran, as fast as we could, so fast it felt like we were flying. We ran that remaining mile all the way to the beach and collapsed into the sand, laughing to shed off the lingering fear. The waves crashed into the windswept shore. We were safe.

For years after that, every time I passed that house I would run as fast as my legs would carry me, just as I had that night. I was scared he would be outside, waiting for me, waiting to invite me back into his hot tub. Licking his lips, hands outstretched. To this day when I drive past that house to the beach, that sinking feeling is still there. That feeling that we very narrowly missed a horrible and tragic moment in that sacred garden, with that old man.

My friend and I were lucky. We were afraid, and we ran, and we never told a soul about it after. Perhaps it was out of fear of repercussion for walking to the beach when we were sternly told to avoid, perhaps because we hadn‘t understood the gravity of what we had encountered.

And for a long time after that I tried to reason and excuse why he may have acted that way. Maybe it was all innocent. Maybe I was reading the situation wrong. Maybe he thought that we were older, that we were.. what? 15? We were children. Flat chested, skinny legged, wild haired and freckled. We looked like children, wearing our cut-off jean shorts and walking barefoot in anticipation of the velvety sand we had been forbidden to touch.

Maybe I am mistaken, after all these years, and he wasn’t as threatening as I remember.

But then I wonder.. what reason would a grown man want two 9 year old girls to come see his hidden hot tub for?

[dyketectivecomics]

Little Miss Moonbeam

Ch 2 - Good Intentions

(Read on ao3 or below!)

Summary: Zatanna and Diana unpack some things together. Tensions continue to build with our main trio.

...

Diana’s hand gripped the door handle as the magician took a harsh turn. The desert air was dry, but considerably cooler now that the sun had vanished beyond the horizon. She was grateful she had the foresight to braid her hair back beforehand, the wind whipping around them with a fury she hadn’t seen in quite some time.

The porsche did not strike the amazon as the best option, but she soon learned, Zatanna wanted nothing more than the speed it provided. Though the flashiness of the vehicle didn’t seem to hurt, either.

“I swear, every cop is a moron,” the magician grumbled, pushing her shades on top of her head, “First that one idiot assuming the worst. Then all that damn time wasted trying to confirm statements. Not a single one taking initiative to check traffic cameras until I asked-”

“You know when to trust your instincts,” Diana interjected, “You’ve learned to listen to your intuition.”

Zatanna gave a derisive snort. “Helps when you’ve got some clairvoyance in your tool belt.”

“And you’re not worried... How it looks now that you’ve disappeared just as quickly-”

“Didn’t you know, Di?” the magician smiled knowingly, an ironic gesture rather than something that came from a place of genuine happiness, “Cops can’t do shit about missing persons cases.”

Diana side-eyed the mystic, noticing her clenched jaw, the stronger grip on the wheel.

“You speak from experience,” she ventured, “Because of your father.”

Her knuckles were nearly white from how hard she gripped the wheel. The magician seemed to catch herself, taking a deep breath and purposefully loosening that grip.

“It brought up a lot of bad memories,” she admitted carefully. “But I can’t worry about that now. Not when…” She shook her head, and wiped a hand at her face. “We need to focus on what we know. Their vehicle needed maintenance, and that gave us confirmation of what type of car they’re in-”

“The waitress at the diner was able to give us better descriptions of the women,” Diana reminded her, “They’re memorable, Zee. They won’t get far.”

Zatanna’s grip tightened again before she accelerated. “They better pray they don’t.”

Diana hummed, a thoughtful sound, turning her eyes away from the road and to the clear skies above them. It was like an inky sea of navy, freckled with an array of constellations. She could name every one without a second thought, but tried to enjoy their natural beauty alone. It had only been a few days ago, afterall, that she was out there among them.

The magician broke this introspection with another thought.

“There was something about their whole… demeanor, though,” she sighed, “In the security footage. They so familiar but- Oh god dammit!”

“What is it? What’s wrong?” 

“Raven ran away,” Zatanna laughed, “She doesn’t want to be found.”

The amazon smiled, the pieces clicking into place. “She doesn’t want us to know who she’s with. She messed with that footage with her magic.”

~*~*~*~*~

Harley fondly recalled the look on Pam’s face now to be all too similar to the one she made when the clown had first driven their rental car up to the hotel to pick her up. It was the same face that she’d seen a million times before. When she accidentally tripped an alarm during a heist. When she picked the wrong target to put under their feminine wiles for a night on the town. When she picked something positively ridiculous for disguises, or even for leisure.

It was a face that she decided to interpret as ’I’m a little disappointed, but I love you’.

It was all in that contrast of how her eyes seemed even more tired of Harley’s antics than usual, but that little quirk of her mouth into something that was trying so desperately to not be a smile or smirk. Something that outright melted as the botanist took a deep breath, and sighed.

This time, however, it had been brought on by a simple confession. Also regarding that same rental car.

“I, uhhhh, locked the keys in the car.”

Now, had this been one of their usual go-tos, a convertible of one kind or another, this kind of confession may not have been nearly so damning. This rental car, however, was one of the few times that the former psychologist had decided to go against their usual tastes. As soon as Ivy relented on road-tripping back to Gotham, all bets were off. Harley had her heart and her mind set on the perfect car for such a trip.

A Volkswagen Type 2 Bus, in nothing less than cherry red.

(‘To match you, Red!’)

Ivy had complained initially about there being too much room, and how they didn’t need all of the extra space. Right up until Harley gently reminded her of all the souvenirs they had planned on collecting along the way, as well as hitchhikers they needed to sucker into helping them keep up appearances.

That particular problem seemed to vanish, however, the moment that they serendipitously ran into Zatanna’s ward, and had decided to take her under their care.

Yet here they were, not even beginning their trip, and running into trouble!

“Harley-” Oh no, it was starting. The former psychiatrist immediately started shaking her head and waving her hands before herself. Ready to go on the defensive.

“Oh, please don’t start, Red. Can we berate me on the road? After we fix this? Please-”

“Hey, I can-” Raven failed to interrupt them as they continued on.

“We haven’t even been married an hour. I’m not going to fight you, Harls. And I’m not mad-”

“Just disappointed! An’ you know that’s always a million times worse!”

“Uh, I can-” the girl tried to interrupt once more, before Ivy cut her off.

“You know I love you, Harley-”

“Guys-”

“Pam-a-love, I can see that not-so-cute ’but’ coming from a mile away. An’ I don’t like the looksa’ it-”

“-But-”

“La-la-la!” Harley covered her ears with her hands immediately and sang until she felt a small finger jab into her side. “Ow!”

She looked down to see Raven holding the keys up, a small cartoon bear dangling angrily on the keychain.

“Can we go now?” she asked as she shoved the keys towards the rogues. “Mom and Dad made me work on small-scale portals by fetching keys just like this. Now can we please get this show on the road?”

Ivy snatched the keys from her hands as Harley snickered, “That phrase something you pick up from your mom, I take it?”

She smiled wider as the girl’s face went flush with embarrassment, and threw an arm over the kid’s shoulders. “It’s clever, though. The quip, and the trick. Keep this up, and we might make a sidekick outta you yet!”

“We don’t need sidekicks,” the botanist sighed as she started the car, “I am not adding child endangerment to my rap sheet any time soon.”

“What do you call fighting Batgirl and Robin, then?” Raven said.

“Oh-ho! She’s got us there, Red!” Harley laughed, “A little Ray-Ray of sunshine, we got here. Say, kid, you want the first pick of the radio? There’s one station here in Vegas…”

As she listed off a few suggestions and made enough small talk on her own to account for her companions’ near-silence, Harley had the sneaking suspicion that this would be a long start to a memorable trip.

~*~*~*~*~

“How is that even possible?” Diana asked. 

“Could be a glamour spell she’s placed over them. It’s always easier to make slight changes than to give someone an entirely new face. The effect is… like when you’re watching a show but can’t quite place where you’ve seen the actor before. But…”

“But?”

Zatanna sighed, her left hand lifting off the wheel as she rested her elbow against the door, head resting against her fist now.

“I never taught her those kinds of spells. And I thought John and I had an understanding. It’s why I didn’t want her to go back to him after the tour is over.”

“So your fight-”

“It wasn’t just about him,” she said, shaking her head. “There was… a lot that was brought up. But it wasn’t just about John. I’ve told her before that our relationship is complicated-”

Diana laughed, a scoffing sound, as she shook her own head this time. 

“But have you ever asked her about it before, Zatanna? How can you be sure she understands?”

The magician grew very quiet.

~*~*~*~*~

“Harleen Frances Isley-Quinzel, don’t you dare hit that tumbleweed.”

“But Red, it’s right in the middle of the road!”

The tween wondered for a moment if all adults who were in love were cursed to argue with one another, or if she was just unlucky enough to be surrounded, time and time again, by such couples.

“You wouldn’t hit a deer-”

Then again, perhaps that was just more evidence for this curse she believed she could be carrying. She was two for two, so far.

“Well duh, a deer would fuc- fudge up the car.”

Raven rolled her eyes at the Sirens’ antics. Barely self-censoring themselves had proved not nearly an impossible challenge, just one that they had to be careful to keep up.

“And I’ll fudge you up if-”

Though to the layperson it would appear that their voices held all of the venom and contempt one would expect from two peers forced to get along with one another, Raven could feel that undercurrent of concern they held for each other. Which, unlike Constantine and Zatanna on their best days, made for a relationship that stood a much better chance at standing the test of time. Considering their marriage less than 48 hours ago, she hoped that this would continue to be the case. She was growing rather fond of these rogues, after all.

She focused her powers on scooting the tumbleweed discreetly off the road long before Harley had the chance to hit it, or barely miss it by getting them into an accident.

“There. Crisis averted,” she huffed before reaching forward for the dial on the radio once more. Pam swatted at her hands before turning back to her wife to continue their argument. Raven gave the botanist her most scathing glare before sticking her tongue out at the rogue.

“I don’t care if there’s a whole damn line of tumbleweeds across the highway,” she growled lowly, “You will stop for them.”

“I can move them, Pam,” the empath groaned in the backseat, running her hands over her face in exasperation, “Besides, it’s not like we’re running into them every two miles. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

Harley let out a bark of a laugh as Ivy’s face went flush at the tween’s words. The chlorophyll running through her veins gave her face the lightest of green tinges underneath the spray of freckles on her face.

Raven could barely stop her smile as she felt a trace of anger from the rogue as well, satisfied that she was getting on every last one of the botanist’s nerves.

“Oh man, that was good, kid!” Harley took one hand off the wheel to give a high-five to the empath, before focusing attention back on the road. “She got ya, pumpkin, no ifs, ands, or buts about it!”

“Keep your eyes on the road, Harls,” she snapped out before crossing arms over chest and huffing indignantly as she pouted at the window. 

While occupied with her moping, Raven reached again for the dial, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach as she heard all-too-familiar opening chords and lines. She debated taking her seatbelt off completely in order to reach the dial, until she heard the clown let out a delighted squeal, beating her to the volume knob.

“Oh, I love this song!” she laughed before turning slightly back to address Raven, “Y’know, last time yer mom an’ I teamed up, this was her ringtone! Ain’t that nutty?”

“It is,” Raven grumbled, “Can we change the station, please?”

The botanist seemed to perk up in the front seat, sending Raven a knowing smirk as she reached for the volume herself, dialing it up impossibly louder.

“After this song, darling. I just adore it, too.”

~*~*~*~*~

“She knows-”

“Zatanna-”

“Where do you get off, Diana? Because if you have a point-”

“I am not blaming you, Zee,” the amazon clarified. “I say this, because I know your experience with motherhood is still so new-”

“And you’ve got a well to draw from-”

“I may not be a mother. But I was raised by many strong and courageous women. More than a few I would consider equal to the one I call my mother-” she claimed defensively.

She reached out to stop her momentum, as the car reached a screeching halt. 

“And what? That’s more than you can say for me? Is that it?”

“You know that is not what I mean.”

“But how do you know?” Zatanna yelled. And Diana frowned, recognizing that the magician was taking her words, and twisting them.

“I didn’t even get to know Sindella,” she hissed. “But I knew my father. And he did the best that he damn well could. And I… I am trying, Diana.”

The magician took a shuddering breath, and composed herself, dabbing at her eyes and taking a few more deep breaths. Eventually she gripped the wheel again, staring straight ahead at the open road before them.

“I never asked for this. But I’m doing my best, regardless. Because I know she needs me.”

She released her grip from the wheel again, falling back into the seat in defeat.

“If I could know, truly know, exactly everything that I’ve said to upset her… I’d take it all back in a heartbeat. And I need her to know that. I need to know what… What went wrong.”

Diana nodded after a moment of thought.

“I just pray you’ll be ready to listen, Zatanna. Don’t hear what she has to say,” she rested a hand on the magician’s shoulder, “Listen to her.”

[lpdwillwrite4coffee]

BLOODY SUNRISE CHAPTER FIVE

Caitlin awoke with a jerk, arms flailing up. “What?”

“Rise and shine, darlin’,” Booker’s voice called from outside the car.

Where was he? She couldn’t see him…

Twisting in her seat, Caitlin blearily peered through the windows and back windshield. Booker was standing at the trunk—him closing it must’ve been what woke her—unfolding a map.

Fumbling with her seatbelt, she opened the car door. “What’s going on?”

“Ran outta gas,” Booker said, still staring at his map. “We’re not far from a few places to syphon—neighborhoods, parking lots, that sorta thing. But we’ll have to hoof it.”

Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she squinted at him in the setting sun. “It’s almost dark.”

“Got a couple more hours of light.”

“Which we should use to set up camp.”

“Camp?” Booker chuckled. “Y’mean rolling a couple blankets out on the back seat?”

“You don’t have a tent?”

“Sure I do, but I’m not planning on settin’ that up on the side of the road for one night’s stay.”

Caitlin sighed. She should have stayed asleep. “Alright, fine.”

“Not gonna argue?” He glanced up at her. “Color me shocked.”

“I’m groggy. Give me a couple minutes and I’ll be back to my verbal sparring self.”

She stood up and stretched, glancing around. “Where are we?”

“About forty minutes outside of ‘If I lived here, I’d have a drinkin’ problem’.”

She laughed, his joke catching her off guard. She turned, still grinning, to look at him and spotted the delight in his eyes before he focused on the map again.

“Strip mall is closest. About a twenty-minute walk from here. If we hurry, we’ll be back with plenty of daylight left.”

“Think we can look for food too? My supply is low.”

Booker nodded, folding up the map and shoving it into his back pocket. “We’ll get ya sorted. C’mon.”

He grabbed up his pack, a couple gas cans, and his rifle from the back seat and started walking.

Caitlin gathered her stuff from the car, refusing to leave her meager belongings unguarded.

The first few minutes were quiet as Booker navigated them to a fork in the road and took the right branch. The area was pretty barren, save for a few patches of trees and occasional house or barn. Everything was deserted from what she could tell, houses boarded up and left in a hurry. They found a John Deere tractor in someone’s yard and Booker wasted no time syphoning the tank.

It was humid and sticky, sweat making her clothes cling to her uncomfortably. But she had to admit, the vastness, the open fields of crops gone unpicked, the lack of Geeks… It was enough to give her mind a reprieve from the horrible truth of the world, even for a moment or two.

“Were you with anyone before?” The question flew from her mouth as she stared at a light pole nearly covered in kudzu.

“With?”

“Like a group. People other than yourself?”

From a few paces ahead of her, she could see him shake his head. “Nope.”

“Not even family? Or friends?”

“Most of my family was gone long before groaners started walkin’ the earth. And my buddies all have families of their own to take care of. So, it’s just me.”

Caitlin nodded. “And you’re not married.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Y’don’t think I could be married?” Booker glanced over his shoulder at her, smirking.

“No ring, or tan line from where a ring used to be,” she said. “You’re not concerned about being somewhere soon, which means no one is waiting for you, and you decided to hitch up with me, so…”

“Observant,” he said, tone more impressed than his face would let on. “And you? Y’got someone waitin’ on you in New York?”

She shook her head. “I’m not married.” Then she remembered… “Well. There’s a guy.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. His name is Nathaniel.” She paused, brow furrowing. “Or… was Nathaniel. I don’t know.” She stared up at the side of Booker’s head. “Do we use past tense or present for people now? I don’t know if he’s alive or not… And it’s not like I can call him.”

He didn’t turn his head, but his eyes darted over as he said, “I guess you use whatever makes it easier to keep going.”

It was a surprisingly wise statement from a man with a Lynyrd Skynyrd patch on his backpack.

After a moment, she said, “Nathaniel’s nice. He’s sweet. He’s a fireman.”

“Dreamy,” Booker teased.

“I know, it’s almost cliché. And I’ve never been the type.”

“Type t’what?”

“Date a fireman. Date any stereotypically masculine guy. I usually go for nerds in comic tee shirts or software developers. Give me a guy with glasses and an obsession with PlayStation and I’m putty.”

“Please tell me you’re jokin’.”

“No, I’m serious,” she urged. “Something about a smart, kinda awkward guy… I dunno, they’re just dolls.”

“Nah, they’re still assholes, they’re just skinny assholes with carpal tunnel.”

“Excuse me—”

“Trust me, you get yourself an IT nerd, and they’re comin’ with a decade or two of baggage from bein’ bullied, never bein’ popular, always bein’ ‘just a friend’ and never gettin’ laid. And then if’n’when they manage to get themselves a girl—or guy—they don’t have any idea how to treat them ‘cause they’re flesh and blood and not some CGI wet dream.”

“You sound like you got dumped by an IT nerd.”

Booker chuckled. “Nah, just dealt with enough of ‘em. Served with a couple too.”

“IT Marines?”

“Made officer straight outta school and didn’t have any clue about service.”

“I think you’re making a lot of broad generalizations.”

“Just like you did about firemen?” He glanced at her, smirking.

Caitlin faltered. “Well… I have plenty of evidence to back up my theory.”

“’N I got a lotta evidence to back up mine.”

She huffed, disliking the stalemate she’d found herself in. Before she could come up with another statement, Booker spoke.

“So, this Nathaniel… Is it serious?”

She smiled at his use of present tense for her benefit. “Uh, well…”

“Take that as a no.”

“It’s not a no. It’s an ‘I don’t know’.”

“If ya know, ya know.”

“I can’t make a life altering decision like marriage after just six months of dating.”

Booker made a noise like sucking his tongue over his teeth. “I think if ya find the right person, you feel it. You know. Time ain’t got nothin’ to do with it.”

“That’s impractical. You have to know if they’re good with things like… Bills. How are they with money? Are they a Democrat or Republican? Do they put their dishes in the sink or directly into the dishwasher?”

“None of that matters,” he said, guiding them left, down a different yet still desolate road. “Bein’ with someone, really with ‘em, it’s all about how you work together. Ya gotta make a good team. It don’t matter if they’re the same religion or if they vote the same. Hell, it don’t even matter if they hog the blankets and kick ya in their sleep—”

“Clearly you’ve never slept with a blanket hog. It is absolutely a make or break thing.”

“All that matters is having each other’s backs. Bein’ on the same team. Even if you’re buttin’ heads all the damn time, as long as at the end of the day you want the best for each other, that’s what matters.”

Caitlin scoffed. “Says the guy who’s never been married.”

He laughed quietly, looking over at her. “Nah, but my parents were. Forty years. Never spent more than a night apart.”

“Wow,” she breathed. “That’s… Nice. Really.” She stared at the ground. “You’re lucky you grew up with that.”

Booker nodded. “They were good people. Honest. Loved me with everything they had.”

“And they’re… no longer with us?”

“Mama died of cancer a few years back. And Dad… I think he died of a broken heart. Found him in his Laz-y Boy two months later. Doc said it was a heart attack.”

Caitlin’s gaze lifted to his profile. “I’m… I’m sorry, Booker. That’s terrible.”

He nodded minutely. “They were meant to be. Real soulmates. Couldn’t live without the other. And now… I think they were lucky. Lucky in love, and lucky in death.”

He said it just as they spotted the strip mall in the distance, abandoned and surrounded by evidence that the world was no longer what it was.

Reality came crashing back down on Caitlin. Talking with Booker had helped her forget, alleviated the mental burden she’d carried on her own for the last month. But seeing broken down cars, buildings with smashed windows, blood splatter on concrete… It all was a brutal reminder life had changed forever.

“There she is,” Booker said. “Alright, here’s the plan. We go slowly, we stay alert, and we do not separate. If you see something to check out, tell me and we go together. Got it?”

“Sir, yes sir,” she teased, but his jaw was locked and gaze level.

“I mean it, Meadows. I don’t need you runnin’ off and gettin’ gnawed on. We’ll look for food first, then gasoline.” He looked over at her, waiting for her to nod in agreement before saying, “You got a weapon?”

“Uhh, just a knife I picked up. It’s not very sharp…”

Stopping to lower his pack, Booker dug around for a moment and pulled out a revolver. “Here. You’re not trained enough yet for hand to hand. This one’s trusty, not too much recoil, but she’s louder than a thunder clap, so don’t spook yourself. Y’know how to cock it?”

Caitlin took the gun from him gingerly. “Um, it’s this thing, right?” She pointed to the hammer and he nodded.

“Just make sure it’s pushed back like that—” he demonstrated for her “—and you’ll have a live weapon. While we’re walking, it needs to be like this, and tucked in your belt.”

“I’m not wearing a belt.”

“Then your back pocket.”

“What makes you think skinny jeans from Forever 21 are gonna have pockets big enough for that?”

Booker rolled his eyes and tugged her around by the shoulder. “Lemme see.”

“What are you—Hey!”

He flicked up the hem of her shirt to look. “Eh, it’ll fit. You’re fillin’ those out though, so don’t wiggle too much or the gun’ll fall out.”

Caitlin turned again, glaring up at him. “Did you just say I have a fat ass?”

He grinned down at her, brown eyes sparkling. “Not a bad thing.”

“Oh my God,” she muttered, walking away from him. “Careful jackass, I’m armed now.”

“Oh yeah, I’m shakin’ in my boots.”

The walk up to the strip mall was quiet as they kept their eyes and ears peeled for Geeks or threats of a more human variety. She spotted a couple Geeks shuffling around by the dumpsters of an abandoned KFC, seemingly oblivious to them. There wasn’t any wind to carry their scent and, given how sluggish they were, Booker jerked his head, signaling they’d leave them.

Making it to the parking lot, they stuck close together as they weaved between cars and silently jogged towards the SAV-MOR discount store. No Geeks yet, but Caitlin wasn’t optimistic about their odds of finding much. The store’s front windows had been smashed and trash littered the front. Still, Booker and she covered each other as they made their way inside.

One Geek in a store uniform shuffled and grunted down an aisle. Booker made quick work of dispatching it.

“Sweep first; then we’ll look for supplies,” he whispered to her, and she nodded.

The store wasn’t large and clearing it took less time than either of them expected. When Booker declared it safe, they started down each aisle, searching for anything edible or useful.

“I don’t know Booker, this place looks pretty wiped,” she said, inspecting a few cans without labels, trying to figure out if they were SPAM or peaches.

“Don’t lose hope yet, darlin’,” he told her, nodding to a door marked ‘Employees Only’. “Store room.”

“It’s either crawling with Geeks or empty too,” she muttered, following him. “You think people wouldn’t check back there?”

“Maybe. People tend to be idiots when they’re in a rush.”

Opening the door slowly, he searched for any undead, but the place was clear.

“And whaddya know…” he said, holding the door for her.

The stock room was full. Pallets of food, drinks, paper products… all untouched.

Caitlin gaped. “People are idiots.”

“God bless ‘em.”

She felt a little giddy staring at food she’d only dreamt of—Pop Tarts, Pringles, bottles of Coke, Lucky Charms.

“Damn,” Booker said, looking around. “None of this’ll do.”

“What are you talking about? This is as close to a cornucopia as we’re ever gonna get.”

“It’s all sugar,” he said. “Food is fuel. Eatin’ this trash’ll just spike your blood sugar and leave you starvin’ later.”

“Okay Doctor Atkin, you keep telling yourself that when you’re hungry tonight and I’m stuffing my face full of Doritos.”

She tore open the plastic wrapping, shoving mini bags of chips and pretzels in her bag. After a few moments she heard him make a noise of surprise.

“Ah, they’ve got jerky.”

“See? There’s your balanced diet right there.”

She moved on to the peanut butter, the Gatorade, and then Pop Tarts. She couldn’t pass those up even if she tried.

Booker came around holding plastic bags loaded down with bottles of water and jerky. Caitlin spotted the bright green of a Pringles can and had to bite her tongue to keep from mocking him.

“I think we’ve got enough to last us a while,” he said. “You get anything of nutritional value?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. Four jars of peanut butter and more pretzels than you could dream of. And Gatorade.”

“Well look at you,” he said, lips curving.

“Gasoline?”

“Yep. Need anything else from out there?”

She shook her head and he took the lead out to the parking lot. They both spotted the small group of Geeks across the road at the same time, and Booker motioned for her to stay low by the cars. They’d try to work without engaging if they could help it.

Most of the cars were dry but a fancy looking Prius was a surprising goldmine with almost a full tank. Booker was almost done syphoning the gas into the cans when he stopped, head tilting like he was listening for something.

“What is it?”

“Shh,” he murmured, squinting as if that would help him hear. “Down the road a ways…”

“What, Booker?”

Keeping an eye on the shambling Geeks that still had no idea they were there, she listened intently. All she heard were insects and… an engine?

“Humvees,” Booker said, motioning for her to duck behind an SUV. “Stay low.”

“Humvees… as in the military?” She crouched down, and Booker followed, pressing his shoulder into the side of the car. “I thought the military flopped, what with the whole Zombie virus outbreak and ensuing chaos.”

“Military’s about the size of a grade school now, but they’re still around. And they’re not what they once were.”

He said the last sentence with a conviction held only by someone who’d had firsthand knowledge. She didn’t doubt it for a second.

Booker looked over at her. “Listen to me. The guys rollin’ up in those Humvees any minute now are not men you can trust, do you understand?”

Caitlin held his gaze as she nodded. “Don’t trust the government. Got it.”

“Armed forces bastardized into goon squads with tanks.”

The roar of the Humvees grew closer and Booker ducked down, making sure to stay out of sight.

“You know you’re gonna have to tell me this story later, right?”

“Sure, I’ll tell ya over a Gatorade and Snickers.”

The ground beneath their feet vibrated as the convoy drove up, engine noise tearing through the quiet.

But instead of moving on, the Humvees stopped. Male voices called to each other, barely audible over the machines. Caitlin could hear one of them say something about ‘hostiles’ before a machine gun fired.

Yelping, she nearly fell back, but Booker steadied her, shielding her momentarily. The gun wasn’t aimed at them, but at the small group of Geeks on the other side of the road.

When the gunfire stopped, the men yelled something else and she thought they were driving off. Booker shifted to look, just as something flew across the parking lot towards the building.

“Shit, get down,” he ordered, lunging for her.

Arms, hands protected her head, pushing her down to the ground. She cried out, but it was muffled by his chest as his body covered hers. Before she could comprehend what was happening, a deafening explosion engulfed the strip mall.

Caitlin screamed into Booker’s shoulder, hands feebly covering her ears. She fought to push him off, her body reacting as it always had—Run.

But Booker kept her pinned, arms cradling her head to shield her from shrapnel. He leaned into her, silently explaining. No, don’t. Not yet. They’ll see you. Stay down. You’re safe. Don’t move.

Smoke billowed out from the burning shell of a mall. After a few moments, the convoy started up again, driving down the road and out of sight.

Booker continued to cover her until he knew they were safe, that the Humvees weren’t doubling back. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he peeled himself off her and lifted her to sit upright.

“Y’alright?” He asked, checking her over.

Caitlin nodded, ears ringing painfully. “What the fuck was that?”

“Gentrification,” he said, standing up slowly and offering her his hand. “Military’s way of clearing the grid.”

“But… There’s… There was food in there. Supplies. Stuff people could have used. Why…”

“C’mon, I’ll tell ya on the way back.” He stooped down to gather their bags and gas cans. “Groaners ain’t the only things we gotta worry about out here.”

As they trekked back the way they came, Booker told her what he knew. About how evacuation teams had cordoned off sections of the country, shipped people there. At first it was for relief shelters, meant to be where everyone went when they could find their way. But soon things got out of hand. Supplies dwindled, people got sick, and more were still coming… All terrified, and lost, and in need. It became a Noah’s Ark situation. Only the selected few could stay. No more could enter. Everyone else outside the gates were damned.

What was left of the military was given orders—Kill on sight, undead and stray humans. Someone up top thought population control would stem the virus, give the rest of the people a fighting chance, keep food sources from getting over-taxed as they tried to rebuild. Barbaric, no matter the logic.

Buildings in designated “hot zones” were to be demolished, burned; how it was done didn’t matter as long as Geeks and people alike couldn’t hide out in them.

Thankfully, Booker was right about the size of the military. They were spread thin and not nearly as ever present as the zombies. Still a threat, but one that was rarely an issue unless you were near bigger cities or coming up to one of those Ark camps.

They were just about to the car when Booker slowed, cursing under his breath.

“What? What is it?” Caitlin squinted, dusk making it harder to see.

“The car…” He said and that’s when she saw the thin stream of smoke.

“They… burnt the car?” She stared up at him, horrified. “But…”

“Exterminators. All of ‘em.” He trudged closer to be sure, but he was right. Someone had torched the car. It was still on fire in places.

Caitlin watched the upholstery melt, realization twisting in her gut. “They thought we were in that building, didn’t they?”

Booker nodded. “Anybody not inside an Ark camp is just as good as a groaner to them. They’ll use us for target practice and not think twice.”

Taking another moment to look over the blackened remains of their vehicle, Booker said, “Guess we’re walkin’.”

“To where?”

“That shed ten minutes back up the road looked alright. Might be cramped though.”

“I’ve been sleeping in trees for a week. I can deal.”

“Atta girl.”

                                                               ***

Caitlin wriggled on her makeshift bed, grunting. “Okay, see, when I said I could deal, I meant with an even division of space. Not this.” She bumped her shoulder against the side of the shed. “What the hell, Booker. I’m not claustrophobic but geez…”

“I told you, you’re better off with me between you and the door. And if something busts in, gotta have enough room to react. Therefore—”

“Therefore, you put baby in a corner.” She shifted again, trying to figure out a way to lay down that wouldn’t put her right up against the dirty shed wall or pressed against Booker.

“Stop that, you’re makin’ the whole place rattle.”

Exhaling roughly, she brushed a strand of hair off her damp forehead. “I’m not completely helpless you know. I can stand guard too.”

“Never said you were helpless.”

“Oh yes, you shoving me into a corner to sleep just screams confidence.”

Booker sighed, leaning his rifle on the wall next to him. “Just try to settle down, you’re gettin’ yourself all worked up.”

“I’m trying,” she said. “But if I lay this way, I’m uncomfortable. If I try the other way, I’m right up on you, so—”

Booker’s laugh cut her off. “You mean you’re throwin’ a hissy fit ‘cause you’re tryin’ to respect my personal bubble?”

She paused, looking up at him in the dim light. “Well. Yeah…”

He laughed again, and she pushed herself up. “We just met. I know the world’s gone to hell in a decorative handbasket but I’m still trying to keep some semblance of politeness—”

“This is you bein’ polite?”

“Shut up, you know what I mean.” She could just make out his profile in the darkness. “I don’t know your deal and I don’t… I don’t know, I don’t want to offend or…”

“Get caught in a nasty situation with a strange man.” He said it without any hint of being affronted by the insinuation. The world wasn’t picture perfect before there were zombies, they both knew that.

After a moment, he shifted over to give her more space. It wasn’t much, but it gave them a small area of neutral territory.

“Thank you,” she murmured, laying back down.

It was quiet, the only sounds coming from their breathing and the crickets outside. She was just starting to feel like sleep might not be far off when Booker cleared his throat gently.

“I, uh… I just need you to know,” he started, voice raspy. “I’d… I’d never.” He paused, and she wasn’t sure if he was searching for words or affected by something only he knew.

He started again. “Doing that to someone… It’s evil. Rips the soul outta person. I just… I need you to know I’d never…”

“I know,” she whispered, hand lifting to reach for him but pulled short. “Well, at least I do now.”

She heard more than saw him nod. “Alright then.”

“Thank you, Booker.” She said it slowly, so he’d catch everything she implied.

Thank you for reassuring me.

Thank you for looking out for me.

Thank you for being good.

“Night, Meadows.”

“Night, Booker.”

                                                               ***

Run, run, run, as fast as you can.

Caitlin bolted upright, gasping for air. That same dream… Like running and falling at the same time. The plane crash. Seeing Geeks eating someone. Running. Always running.

“Hey, hey,” Booker’s voice cut through the fog of panic. “Meadows, you’re alright… Hey…”

She heard him sit up, felt him tilt towards her.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice cracking. “I… It was a… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Y’didn’t.” He bent his knee to lean his arm on. “I only sleep for about two hours at a time anyway.”

She tried to take a deep breath, slow her heart rate. The shivering started, just like always. Too much adrenaline flooding her system with nowhere to go.

“Cold?”

She muttered a ‘no’, barely able to form words with trembling lips.

When she was alone, she’d gotten used to handling the nightmares herself. She’d wait until the worst of the shaking was over and then start humming to herself. Whatever song she could think of, anything to take her mind off the flickering horrors in her mind. She’d hum until her throat was sore and she was tired again. A self-soothing lullaby of sorts.

But now, with another person around… It seemed juvenile. A tough guy like Booker probably would think she was being ridiculous. Think she was too soft.

“Nightmares, right?” He asked, voice soothing. “You wanna talk about it?”

Caitlin shook her head, hoping he could see her. She didn’t trust her voice just yet.

“You… You need a distraction?”

She glanced over her shoulder, able to make out the line of his rugged nose and brow line in the dark.

“Buddy of mine used to turn the tv on when he’d get a nightmare. Play Nick-at-Night or somethin’ to help him fall back asleep.” He huffed out a laugh. “Not like we have a tv but… You want me to talk or somethin’? I can recite state capitols to bore you back to sleep.”

Caitlin laughed—a short burst of sound that surprised her. It was a kind offer, especially given that they’d barely gotten to know each other.

Jesus, had it really only been one day?

She paused, thinking it over.

“That… That song from earlier,” she started, voice weak. “The one you were humming in the car.”

“Willie Nelson?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Can… Would it be okay if…”

Booker leaned back against the shed wall. “Sure, darlin’. I’ll sing ya back to sleep.”

She expected a teasing tone, but he was sincere.

Shifting to give her more room to get comfortable, he started humming, just loud enough for her to hear.

After another moment, Caitlin laid back down, curling onto her side and drawing her knees up as far as she could. Booker continued to hum, and then sing a few verses. He wasn’t very good, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he sang, kept humming, gave her mind another soundtrack to focus on instead of the warped snarls and groans of Geeks playing over and over in her head.

“Booker, I—”

“Shh, it’s almost to the bridge,” he told her. But she knew what he wasn’t saying.

It’s alright.

You’re not alone.

Go back to sleep.

And she did. She slept through to sunrise.

[breg21]

Ladynoir Month: Identity Reveal

@ladynoirjuly2019

Ao3 FFN

*Sees the prompt for today* Well, if I must…..

Hang onto your hats, kids. We're going to have some fun with this one.

P.S SORRY THIS IS OUT LATE. WE HAD A STORM AND OUR POWER IS OUT (I'm on mobile, even though I really didn't wanna use my data) Ir's currently one in the morning and the heat is a pain.

"So, I had a thought."

Ladybug lifted her head just enough to rest her chin as she peered up at him through her lashes. "That's' a dangerous pastime."

He lifted his own head to look down from where she was cuddled into his side, looking back to the stars littered across the nighttime sky, he smirked. "I know."

She sighed, but went to put her head back on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Let's hear it. What have you been thinking about?"

He didn't beat around the bush. "I was thinking about what kind of house we're gonna have one day."

She giggled. "And what kind of house were you thinking about?"

He had been thinking about it a while now, actually. He knew his lady liked small, intricate things. Nothing big or flashy. But she needed enough room for her designing— he found out a while ago that she loved fashion— and he also knew she wanted a small family.

"A nice size house." He tapped on the tin roof beneath them as he answered easily enough. "Something similar like this one. Nothing too big or sophisticated. Just simple. But big enough for three kids." She hummed in agreement. "Maybe a connected designing studio for you to work in. Also, a close kit living room and dining room so we can have all our friends and family over for special occasions and all be close while we eat dinner."

His good mood must've been contagious, because she seemed to have caught it. "Don't forget a study of your own for when you go into whatever physics career that you do."

He smiled. They both found that whether it be a teacher, or something else, being in physics, something with it, was what he wanted to do. "Sounds good to me. What do you think, bugaboo."

"It sounds perfect. Absolutely perfect."

Just then he remembered something. "Oh, before I forget, I got us another ticket to see Jagged's next concert. Don't forget to raid the costume room."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. But nothing as ridiculous as before."

"Wouldn't dream of it, bugaboo."

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

For a time now, she and Chat had been running out of excuses as to why they couldn't be with the rest of the student's during the Akuma attacks and the easy answer was fear. Marinette had always been a timid person and her being, well a coward, fit her personality from an outside perspective.

While her friends didn't use that word, they did understand her certain quirks and the fact that they helped her devise ways of meeting up with her then crush, really drove the thought home that she wasn't one for standing up in the face of danger. The thing was she was starting to contradict that quirk a little bit thanks to one Lila.

She could not describe in words all that was wrong with that girl and while she knew there had to be some reason behind her actions, whether it was an untreated chemical imbalance, or the fact that she simply thought her actions didn't have any consequences, it made no difference to Marinette, she had to stand up to her.

And because of that, she couldn't use the excuse of cowardice anymore. She was stuck with having to come up with different ways to excuse herself from the class and while she knew some of those excuses were not perfect she never expected what came next.

Her best friend meeting her alone at her locker asking her the unthinkable. "Marinette, are you being blackmailed?"

She was shaken at the outlandish question. "What? What are you talking about?"

There was a hint of shame in Alya's eyes, yet she didn't back down trying her best to be understanding of whatever situation she thought her best friend was in. "Mari, the entire class has noticed you leaving during the Akuma attacks and while we used to just think you were afraid it's becoming more and more obvious that there is something different happening. While I don't like giving into rumors well…"

Rumors? There had been rumors going on about her? "What?" Her voice was meak seeing the pain on Alya's face.

"You are the only one besideds sunshine who has never been Akumatized and while I don't like the thought of it, things just don't add up."

She almost jumped back from what Alya was implying. "So what, do you think I'm being blackmailed by Hawkmoth so I don't get monsterfied! Alya where is this coming from, I mean what reason would I have to even be Akumatized?"

Alya simply shifted her head in the direction of Adrien's locker.

Marinette nearly shrieked. "I have a boyfriend!"

Alya looked away as Marinette's voice began to crack. "You know I have one, it's just-"

"Complicated," The blogger sighed. "Listen, girl. Me and all the other girls have been helping you for nearly a year to get Adrien and the moment he finds somebody else you just 'miraculously' gain a boyfriend. We spent so much time and effort in helping you, girl. The least you can do is open up to us because we get it. It has to be hard after all that time but no, you chose to lie to our faces."

It was like a slap to the face. A painful one. Without another word, she turned and ran to the only safe place she knew in the school. It was ironic really, where it was, seeing as who had given her the key.

Digging out the key to the costume room, she tried to get the key into the lock, but fumbled a few ties before it finally slid in and she heard the click of the doorknob. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open, quickly slamming the door behind her, and leaning her weight back against it.

It was then, and only then, did she take notice of the other person in the room when her heartbeat finally slowed and her breathing evened out.

Another person, as in, Adrien Agreste.

Well, okay then.

"Adrien." Her voice was still weak, and scratchy from crying, but she tried to put some volume behind it. "Hey, what're you doing here?"

He was the very definition of a deer caught in the headlights. "Oh, hey, Marinette." He moved away from the clothes rack of the costumes that were behind him. "I was just… looking for a pair of pants, I tore something with the ones I'm wearing, and I'm finding something to wear in the meantime." He leaned his elbow against the rack, as if he was trying to act cool, and innocent.

It was not working, whatsoever. He was definitely not a good liar.

Because his dad could easily send him a pair of pants, along with being able to fix the pair that was ripped in a blink of an eye. But he chose this as an excuse.

But, as much as she should, being in the mindset that she was, she just couldn't really bring herself to care at that second. There was too much piled on her head and she just wanted to be able to breathe at the moment. She just wanted to forget.

"Marinette, are you okay?"

And that was the question that broke her. No, no she wasn't okay. And she didn't quite know how to be okay after everything with Alya, because how did you get through something so tough with someone who was supposed to be your best friend. The one person you're supposed to trust the most.

She didn't know. She really didn't.

The sob came out in heavy hiccups as she fell to the floor, burying her head into her arms on her knees. No dam stood now, just the vulnerability and pain she had been dealing with because of Lila. It stung.

She didn't hear the approaching footsteps, but she felt the hand on her arm before Adrien tried to comfort her. "Mari. Shh. It's okay, I promise. It really is. You wanna tell me what's all going on?"

She choked back the sobs, but boy, did they want to come through. "T-they think." Another hiccup. "They think I'm lying, about where I am, about mu interge-dy." Hiccup. "And it all comes from becau-se they think I'm lying about having a boyfriend and being over you."

Through blurry eyes, she saw the outline of what resembled guilt. "I'm so sorry, Mari."

"Not your fault." She said, hardly any sound to her words. "They just don't get it. I've moved on, I needed to for me. I'm so happy with the guy I'm with. And they don't understand why I can't tell them about him, but they can't know. I want to tell them, I wish I could tell them bad. I need someone to talk to about him, and gush, and just get it all off my chest."

Her eyes began to clear as she wiped away the tears and could see him shift so that he now sat on his butt instead of his back hunches. "Some people just don't understand, and they never will. What's important is finding the people accept it. Even when it's hard."

A dry laugh clawed its way up her throat. "Yeah. I wish I could just confine in someone that would believe I could trust. Someone that doesn't doubt me when I say I have a boyfriend. It's hard to keep it bottled up."

"That's it, I'm gonna talk to Lila after school. It ends here." He continued to softly run her arm in what comfort he could give, and she really couldn't argue with that. "Well, if you want to, you could tell me who he is. No pressure, but if you need to let it out, I'm here. Always."

She shouldn't. It was dangerous, and could cause so many problems down the road. But she was hurting and tired. No one knew Ladybug and Chat were dating. It couldn't be tied to her at the moment with being Ladybug. And she just wanted to get it out. So, she did.

Inhaling a deep breath, she stood to full height. "You promise you won't tell anyone? Not a soul."

He zipped an imaginary line over his lips, showing that he would.

"Okay," she whispered, nodding. Bracing herself of what she was about to say, she pushed herself onto the tip of her toes, bring her mouth to his ears, as to make sure that there was no possibility that anyone else could hear. "It's Chat Noir."

Just as she dropped back to her feet, she was met with the gobsmacked expression, jaw nearly to the floor, eyes almost out of his head, probably at the fact that she was dating a superhero. Because she understood how shocking it was.

Just then, the bell decided to ring and she knew she had to get to class. "Thanks, Adrien. Remember, no one can know." She turned, feeling a million times better than before, and jetted off to her next class.

Only if she saw his still frozen form.

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

Chat knew Marinette wasn't a liar. He knew that. So, why did she claim that they were dating? Was she telling the truth?

I'm dating Chat Noir. She started dating a mysterious guy that she just couldn't talk about to anyone— even Alya.

Maybe he was dreaming. Maybe he had died in the last akuma, because no way could he be lucky enough for this to be his reality. Just no way.

Because he was only dating one girl— she wouldn't make up stories, she just wouldn't— and if she was telling the truth, that could only mean one thing and his heart picked up and his palms began to sweat at the mere thought.

I'm dating Chat Noir. That necklace in her bag. The one she just seemed to keen on keeping it from anyone's watchful eye.

And his breathing was becoming too hard, as the swelling in his heart was starting to get too big for the confines of his chest. It was just too impos-

Arms came out of nowhere, and slipped around his waist. A soft, caring voice came from behind him. "Hey, kitty. What's wrong?"

I'm dating Chat Noir. Cats didn't like her and when she gave her excuses, as if she knew the exact reason, it was ultimately related because of her scent. So soon after he marked Ladybug.

If this was a dream in the end, he didn't want to wake up.

He choked. "H-hey, bugaboo. Nothing." But he wouldn't turn in her hold, his eyes couldn't meet hers, not after hearing something that he just couldn't unhear. He kept his face out to the city.

She temporarily unclasped her arm around him and moved to his side, and dropped to the ground, pulling him along with her. "I don't buy that for a second, Chat."

Chat sighed, he'd been caught. He knew she wouldn't believe his lie. He leaned into her, needing her touch for what he needed to say. "I don't know what to say exactly without spilling identities."

Her demeanor didn't change. Still soft, tender, and caring as she was. "I'm not worried about identities anymore, kitty. Not as much as I was. I talked to Master Fu. If you need to talk about something, then please do."

Something in him just sparked. Because if she talked to Master Fu about identities, that meant something big, and the way they talked about it hinted, that just maybe she wanted to know. She wanted to reveal.

And as much as she always said— and he believed her one hundred percent— it was more of physical proof that she wanted him for a long long time.

Just maybe forever.

He didn't realize he was spacing out on her until she was waving her hand in front of his face. "Chat. C'mon. What's all going on?"

He didn't know how to even go about this. How did one even start a conversation about identities and of the such, because that was so different from the rest of all the other times? It was real, and here, and it wasn't going away.

He pulled away momentarily, climbing to his feet to look out onto the city so he could actually collect his thoughts before he spoke. "What if I told you, I overheard a couple people talking today in school?" His words weren't loud, he couldn't put the energy into them.

Even without looking at her, he could tell by her tone that she was confused. "Okay….and why does that have you down exactly?"

Everything that he had been denying up until this point was resurfacing and he couldn't deny at how utterly stupid he felt.

Should he? Shouldn't he. He wasn't sure, but he did anyway. "She said she was dating me. As in Chat."

He heard her breath hitch, and it made him brave enough to turn and face her, to face this. When his uncertain gaze meant her shaky one, it was an answer all in its self. "Sh-she did...well, um..who?" She asked in a meak whisper.

He wouldn't lie to her nor could he keep this from her if his thoughts were true. He owed her that much, and he hadn't done it on purpose, he didn't mean to find out her possible identity without her actually telling him.

But the guilt was still simmering in the pit of his gut. She had every right to know now that he did.

Air was dwindling to none. "Marinette. Marinette Dupain Cheng said we were dating." He stalked forward, shortening the distance between them, every inch by inch until finally, they were nose to nose. "I know she's not a liar. Nor would she make up something as serious as dating a superhero. That's not who she is. She's amazing and kind, and selfless."

She blinked. "Oh."

The air may have been thin, but he could still chuckle somewhat. "And I'm hoping to every kwami in existence that what she said was real." His tongue went to wet his dry lips. "So, please, bugaboo. Tell me what she said was real. Please tell me I'm dating Marinette."

A few beats. Longer seconds that they should've been. It was more of an eternity than anything he had ever experienced.

She was shell shocked, that much he could tell. But she answered his question. "Yeah, kitty." Her words breathless, but coherent. "You're dating Marinette."

In a flash of pink light, Marinette stood in Ladybug's stead. She was obviously trying to make herself look small, hiding in her own body with her nerves screaming at her, because this was still a scary and unknown situation, but she still held her want of the reveal on her shoulders.

It took only a fraction of a second for him to realize that he had been right, and proceeded to grab her by the waist, and spun her in tiny little dizzy circles. He could hear her laugh, that laugh that he so often heard every day and didn't know, and it was so amazing.

It was like hearing it all over again for the very first time.

She was telling him to put her down, but it was between laughter, and there was no firmness to her words, so he continued. He couldn't get enough of the smell of sweets, vanilla, and baked goods that he had for so long associated with Ladybug. How could he had not seen it before, it was so clear.

Her laugh, her personality, heck, her looks. Those ocean blue eyes that he loved more than anything in the world. Everything that made Ladybug, came from Marinette, and it made him giddy.

When he finally calmed down, he settled Marinette back on her feet, but refused to let her go from his hold. Her grin had to be as big as his, if not more so, and he loved her more in that moment than he ever had before.

"It's you." and before she could respond, his lips were on hers, hard, fierce, but brimming with love. He was scattered brain, that much he could connect in his head, but when she started to kiss back after the initial shock of him kissing her in the first place, he couldn't really care.

It was her, his brain chanted over an over until it hurt, but it was nice. Because he could smell him on her and it drove his heart absolutely mad with happiness. He wanted this, her, this moment, and the rest that they would create together later on.

When he finally pulled back from her lips— a challenging act all on its own— he was rewarded with the sight of bruised rosy lips, eyes half lidded, and definitely thoroughly kissed. By him.

Through her short little pants for breath, she said, "Well, that was an excited greeting." She giggled to show she held no menace in her words. "So," her finger tips gently touched the edge of his mask. "Do I get to see who you are under the mask?"

That was when the rest of the situation hit hard. He laughed, and laughed, and laughed some more to the point where he was crying. It was so ironic.

But, unfortunately, she took that as a bad sigh. "Unless, I mean, you don't want me to know…."

He stopped before he could make another sound so he corrected his mistake. "No. No, princess. I didn't mean it like that at all."

"Oh?" Her eyebrow arched, clearly still suspicious. "Then what did you mean?"

"We're a mess." He put simply. "A beautiful, chaotic mess. And I'm pretty proud of that if I'm being honest."

Without a seconds hesitation— his arms still wrapped around her with an iron grip— his own transformation drops, and he watched as her face went from curiosity, suspension, and eagerness, to shock, mind blown, and finally, ecstatic happiness.

And, boy, did that make him feel whole.

"So." She said. "That's how you knew."

He nodded before letting his forehead fall onto hers. "Yeah, that's how I knew. Kinda lied about the whole overheard part, sorry."

Eyes shining with unleashed tears, her hands went up to lightly trace his jaw in awe, as if she didn't believe what was before her. "It's fine, kitty."

Kitty. He was still her kitty.

He loved that. "Guess that means we're finally done dancing around each other, huh?"

"Yeah." She shrugged without much thought, but the smile was still very much real. "But I guess that just proves my point even further."

He could hear the challenge, and he took the bait like a catfish to a worm. "Oh?" His eyes narrowed. "And what point would that be."

She booped his nose. "I'll always find you, kitty." She pushed herself up, letting their lips connect in an almost slow meet, but before she did, whispered. "Always."

AND THERE WE GO.

I can't go to bed because I gotta watch over the animals until the powers back on, so that means I actually have time to catch up on comments.

Please enjoy my one am morning brain. It's gonna be fun. Lots of love!

[is-this-a-skam-account]

Shelter Chapter 4 (part 2) by Shawnie1718 ao3

Eliott took one hit and puffed out the smoke. Lucas didn’t even try to hide the fact that he watched it go up into the air. When their eyes met again Eliott offered him the cigarette.

Lucas took it graciously. He wasn’t any stranger to smoking, though he liked smoking weed more than just cigarettes. Lucas breathed in slowly, and pulled the cigarette away gently, letting the smoke settle in his mouth for just a second before breathing out. “So you smoke,” Eliott said with a dry laugh.

Lucas shrugged, “whenever it’s offered. Normally I won’t seek out a cigarette.”

Eliott nodded slowly, placing it between his lips once more. When he pulled it away he blew out a smoke ring that slowly rose into the air. Lucas felt his mouth go dry. That was the hottest thing he thinks he has ever seen. “So your parents aren’t together, huh?”

Lucas swallowed and looked down at the ground. Great, why don’t we talk about this again. “Yeah, my dad sort of...left my mom and I for some other Omega too young for him. My mom sort of went downhill from there.”

Lucas could see Eliott breathe smoke out his nose from his peripheral before saying, “fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that it was...like that. We don’t have to talk about it.”

Lucas shakes his head, eyes flitting up for a second to catch Eliott’s before looking immediately back down at the concrete. “It’s fine. My dad and I have some issues with one another but honestly at this point I don’t care about him. My mom and I had some rough patches when I was in high school, cause I was stupid and hated everyone,” Lucas paused. “Now I just miss her.”

Eliott cringed, “is she not...with us anymore?”

Lucas looked up in surprised, “oh, fuck, that’s not what I meant! I just meant that she, well she has a mental illness and she has to be kept in a hospital for it. I just don’t get to see her all the time and it hurts.” Lucas paused, scoffing at himself, “sorry, I don’t know why I’m saying all this.”

“No, no, I appreciate it, Lucas,” holy crap his name sounds so good in Eliott’s mouth. “I actually help run different organizations regarding mental illnesses. Well, I don’t necessarily run them. I more advocate for them. Like a...poster boy of some sort.” He takes another hit of the cigarette. It’s at the end of its life.

“That’s awesome! How’d you get involved in the topic of mental illnesses?”

“Well I’m bipolar,” Eliott said. He said it so nonchalantly that Lucas isn’t sure if he heard him right or not. The shock must register on Lucas’s face because suddenly Eliott paused, “oh I thought you knew. I’m pretty open about it on social media, because I hope to bring attention to the topic.”

Lucas is still trying to find the right words when Eliott’s says, “if it’s a problem, then I should probably just go.”

Lucas sees Eliott ground his cigarette into the ground, and before he could take a step backward Lucas grabbed onto his wrist, “no! No of course it’s not an issue, Eliott! Sorry, I was just sort of shocked. I’m not used to talking about these topics so openly. The only friend of mine who really knows about my moms situation is Yann. And I suppose Manon and Mika too, but only the basics.”

Eliott smiled at that, and Lucas could have sworn he saw relief flood over his face. “We have talked about this a lot, huh?”

Lucas shrugged.

“What do you say we go do something else? Maybe…go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.”

Lucas laughed, it was a good hearty laugh that made Eliott smile. “Wow, are you sure you’re French? You seem more like a tourist.”

“What? Is appreciating my country a crime?”

“No, no, not at all. Say, is this your first time ever witnessing something as grand as the Eiffel Tower, monsieur?” Lucas asked incredulously, poking fun at the Alpha.

“Haha very funny. Cmon, what French person hasn’t been to the Eiffel Tower and at least appreciated its beauty on some level?”

Lucas paused as they start walking back. The sun was setting in front of them, and it honestly looked like a view from a postcard. “I’ve never been to the Eiffel Tower.”

“What?! Are you even French?!”

Lucas gaped at him. “Am I even French?! I’m not the one acting like they want to marry the damn thing!”

Eliott laughed. There was some raspiness to his soft voice that made something inside Lucas want to intertwine their hands and never let go. “Well, I guess we're both just weird French people then, huh?”

Lucas smiled, “just a little weird.”

As they waited in line to get in the elevator up to the top of the Tower, Eliott demanded taking some pictures of the sunset from out the window.

“Just get in one!” Eliott pleases.

Lucas rolled his eyes, “never gonna happen. Especially if I know you are going to post about it on Instagram.”

Eliott smirked and took a step closer, hand bringing his camera to his side. “What’s so bad about the fact that I want to show off the awesome day I had with such a-“ he was interrupted by the workers ushering people into the elevator.

Pretty soon they were crammed into a steel death trap which was inching its way up this massive structure. The way in which they boarded made it so that Eliott stood behind Lucas. Since it was so crowded they were basically crushed together, and Lucas was so not prepared. He also wasn’t ready for the fact that it made their height difference so visible. Lucas feel Eliott’s breath against his neck. The fact that every time Eliott breathed out, a puff of air tickled his scent gland and briefly made his knees go weak was making him crazy. Lucas was pretty sure he was going to turn into putty on the floor if he weren’t careful. And Lucas wasn’t sure if Eliott was doing it on purpose, but everytime the elevator lurched he could feel the taller boy press just a tiny bit closer. Not to mention the fact that Eliott’s scent was driving him practically up the wall. The Alpha was filling all his senses and Lucas just needed out of here or else he wasn’t sure what would happen.

Lucas practically dashed out of the elevator into the open area. Allowing his sense of smell to be filled with something other than Eliott. Not that Eliott smelled bad. Actually, it was the opposite. It was because Eliott smelled so damn good that it made Lucas want to jump his bones right then and there.

“You okay?” Eliott asked and placed a tentative hand on Lucas’s shoulder.

Lucas nodded. He didn’t need to look in a mirror to know that his cheeks were flushed a bright crimson. Hopefully Eliott would just think he’s sick or something…

“Whoa!” Eliott exclaimed and ran to the nearest window, peering down. “This sight never gets old.” He practically whispered into the glass as Lucas got closer.

Lucas followed Eliott’s eyes, pushing his fear of heights to the side for just a few moments. “Oh! There’s my motorcycle! You can see it if you really squint…” Lucas commented and pointed to where he had parked his baby earlier.

“You ride a motorcycle?”

Lucas nodded, “just for a few years.”

“That’s so cool! I wish I could ride one.” Eliott said and leaned against the railing, facing Lucas.

“Well maybe I can give you a ride back to your apartment later,” Lucas offered.

“Oh you are definitely giving me a ride later,” Lucas knew that Eliott didn’t mean it the way it came across. But Lucas couldn’t stop his mind from filling with some obscene images involving a certain Omega and Alpha. In bed. Lucas bit his bottom lip to suppress a whimper from making its way out.

They stood in front of the window for what felt like hours. They were making small banter between them, though in Lucas’s opinion they didn’t even really need to talk. It could have been the most deadly silence anyone had ever come across, and it still would have been fine. Because they are fine. They’re Eliott and Lucas.

“What do you say we head out?” Eliott finally offered and nodded his head towards the exit. Lucas agreed and followed after him.

Lucas dreaded the entire walk from the Eiffel Tower to where he had parked his motorbike. Because it meant this day, this day that actually made Lucas feel like himself after months of feeling out of place, was coming to an end. They walked exceptionally close. Fireworks were going off inside Lucas every time he felt their knuckles brush or their shoulders touch. He practically gnawed a gash into his bottom lip with how he had been anxiously chewing at it.

“This is it here,” Lucas gestured towards his baby, which practically flowed in the dark.

Eliott whistled and ran a hand over the seat. “I don’t know anything about motorcycles, but this baby is sweet.” Lucas laughed. “Why don’t you get on and show me how it’s done?” Eliott practically challenged, eyebrows bouncing up.

Lucas rolled his eyes and mounted the motorcycle, hands curled around the handlebars. He let his eyes shut at the feeling. Yeah, there was nothing better than this.

Suddenly he heard a camera shutter go off and Lucas’s eyes shot open. There Eliott stood, camera in hand, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Lucas narrowed his eyes.

“Did you just take a photo of me?”

“No.”

“Eliott.”

“No!”

“Fine, show me your photos.”

Eliott frowned playfully. “Fine, okay! I did. But I couldn’t help it! You look so hot.”

Lucas felt his breath catch at the last sentence. He swallowed and urged himself to just brush it off. “Whatever, just get on?” He said and offered Eliott a helmet.

Eliott smirked, acting as if he’d won. He happily took the helmet and strapped it around his head safely. A few tufts of messy hair poked out from the front and sides, and made Lucas smile.

Lucas revved the engine a couple times before smiling over his shoulder. “You might want to hang on.” Lucas said over the humming of the motorcycle.

Eliott simply beamed at Lucas as his hands slid around the younger boys waist. Lucas nearly jumped when he felt Eliott bring himself flush to Lucas’s back and hands tighten. Eliott then placed his head on Lucas’s shoulder, peering out at the road. Without another warning Lucas took off. He heard Eliott let out a surprised “whoa!” from behind him, which made Lucas smile. Eliott was practically hollering with laughter and excitement as Lucas made sharp turns and swerved between cars. Lucas tried to take them a little out of the way of the city, and into an area where he knows there aren’t as many traffic lights or pedestrians out at night.

As the ride continued and the busy streets turned into more calm, less populated areas Eliott seemed to relax. He didn’t try to say anything to Lucas, which he appreciated. Not that he had to just concentrate on the road. Rather, Lucas was just happy to bask in the feeling of wind rushing past him and the hum of the bike. He especially couldn’t get enough of the shifting pressure of Eliott on his back. Or of Eliott’s gentle touch on his stomach. Or of how close Eliott was to his scent gland. Close enough that his nose accidentally brushed it a couple times.

Lucas had to turn around at some point though, they couldn’t just keep riding forever. Eliott had to get back to his apartment and Lucas also had to go to bed. Though, Lucas is sure neither of them would have complained if they just stayed like this until time ended.

Eliott was kind enough to direct Lucas to his apartment, since Lucas had literally no idea where he was going. When he pulled up to an old apartment building, Lucas wasn’t sure if Eliott had directed him to the right place. Did a supermodel really live here?

As soon as Eliott hopped off, Lucas immediately regretted ever taking him back to his apartment. Lucas just wanted to always have the soft pressure of Eliott on his back, and the playful twitches in Eliott’s hands pressed against his stomach. He wanted Eliott to just sweep him off his feet and carry him to their future, wherever that may be.

“Thanks for today,” Eliott said and pulled the helmet off his head, tucking it under his elbow.

Lucas smiled, he felt like he was going to cry. He didn’t want this to end, not yet. “Of course. Thank you, Eliott.”

Eliott looked like he was frozen in place. Like he was struggling to find the willpower to even move his feet. Lucas saw Eliott’s hand twitch upwards a couple times before falling limp again at his side. “Right. Well, next time then.” Eliott smiled and turned to walk away.

As Eliott was about halfway to his door Lucas called after him, “Eliott! My helmet!”

Eliott looked down at his own limbs, almost shocked that he still had it himself. He paused a second before sending a smirk over his shoulder, “you’ll get it back next time. It’ll give you a reason to come visit me.”

@lucallemant: day out with my baby.

@srodulv: come get your helmet. im missing you already

[ontheperiphery]

joke’s on you

kim seokjin x reader, college!au for the laughs word count:~ 800

cringe-worthy jokes just weren't your cup of tea

There's a special sort of ambiance when you sit on a bus for daily commute. The rumbling of the vehicle, overshadowed by whatever playlist you've plugged in to your earbuds, the listless wandering of your gaze out the window, it was all kind of comforting, in it's own way. Provided you didn't make the mistake of trying to rest your head on the window in case of abrupt bumps in the road, the predictable monopoly of transit gave you time to think and collect yourself before and after your classes of the day.

Sometimes people would talk on the phone or play something on their phone without the courtesy of earbuds, but other than a low and negligible sense of irritation, you paid other people no mind. Public transit was a public space after all. Which-

Raucous laughter interrupted your peaceful musings, only furthering your point. You upped the volume of your earbuds another level and hugged your backpack on your lap a smidge tighter and tried to let the mood of the music carry you away. To cloudscapes and mountains and ocean waves and despite your attempts you still couldn't help but listen in to the people conversing loud enough for you to hear from rows away.

“Alright,” one voice wheezes, like he's trying to catch his breath, “alright, so, what is a deer with good eyes called?”

You wrinkle your eyebrows in thought, unable to clearly hear his friends' respond to the question, if they made any guesses at all.

He chuckles a bit and waits for another beat of quiet before answering, “a good idea!” and bursting into less than quiet laughter.

Playlist and earbuds completely forgotten, you finally turn your head and stare incredulously at the direction of the voice, unable to believe the near uncontrollable laughter you heard him follow up the answer with. Could that even be considered a joke? Was that even funny? He was telling these jokes in public, you were allowed to judge.

The laughter reaching your ears had a strange window-wiper squeak to it and though you still reeled with disbelief over the “riddle” or “joke” or whatever the boy chose to call it, you couldn't get over how bad it was. Which you could've let pass but then he told another. Equally as bad.

“What color is a hamburger?”

“...”

“Burgandy!”

Dad joke level bad.

You may as well pause your playlist from how unfocused you were on it. From your seat you couldn't see the face of the boy who told laughed at his own dad jokes but you certainly sympathized with who looked like his friends next to him with varying expressions of amused exasperation and burying heads in hands.

You're glad that at least the stranger with the countless jokes seemed to be enjoying himself, if his laughter and clapping at his own jokes was any indication.

Smothering a giggle in your throat to avoid drawing attention to yourself, all you could do was put your chin in your hand and turn to look out the window, spacing out to the backdrop of soft music, pun jokes, and the rumbling of the bus.

As the bus drove on, you noticed that you only had a few more stops to wait through until yours, which you began to anticipate. For all the silly puns and jokes you overheard from the stranger hidden from view, exposure didn't quite give away to fondness. You could appreciate the tidbit of entertainment in the sheer uncommon nature of the situation, but how anyone had time at the end of the day following lectures and classes to come up with dozens of puns was beyond your ability to fathom.

The end of the day was the end of the day and ultimately, silly jokes weren't enough to give you energy to pretend to be anything other than asleep. Closing your eyes and leaning back in your bus seat you tried to count down the minutes until you'd be free.

“This one's a riddle, so, what can't you eat for breakfast?”

Almost there, you told yourself, opening your eyes to pull down the cable, signaling to the driver you wanted off at the next stop. Ding!

“You don't know right?”

Almost there, you told yourself as the bus waited at a red light, your stop just on the other side of the intersection.

“The answer is: you cannot each lunch or dinner for breakfast.”

Finally, you thought as the bus pulled up to your stop, exasperated, but also smiling an itty bit from the awful jokes.

“Oh! This is my stop, see you tomorrow!”

You nearly ran in to the broad shoulders of a tall boy who badly timed walking towards the narrow exit the same moment as you. But what shocked you more than that was his handsome face and pretty pink-ish brown hair.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, embarrassed.

“No it's okay, I'm sorry, go ahead,” he similarly fumbled with a smile, gesturing for you to exit first.

Nodding without looking back you stepped off the bus. It'd be inconvenient to prolong the situation, especially for the bus driver on a strict schedule, but also to yourself who was shocked to match such a pretty face with silly jokes. Not that good-looking people were exempt from making fools of themselves.

Whatever, none of your concern, you decided, with a small shake of your head and determined striding back to your apartment.

But what the fuck?

[deepwithinmybonesfic]

Deep Within My Bones Ch 7- Vitya

AU. Viktor wins another gold at the Olympics, and attends the Paralympics as another duty as the King of Ice Skating. Having lost his inspiration and heart, Viktor did not expect to find love in what he sees as the perfect man. Yuuri, after losing his legs, lost his chance to compete on the same ice as his idol. When the world seems to fall into place, what else can be taken away from them? Ch 1-6 is Setup, start at Ch. 6 for the cute romance-y and drama

“Yuu-chan, oide!” His mother called from downstairs.

Yuuri had to keep from sighing. He hated going up and down stairs, but he hadn’t had a choice.  Yutopia had been built like that before he was even in the picture.  He had moved home, after all, because Vicchan was having trouble with the stairs.  He just had to deal with the hand he was dealt.

He scooped Vicchan up, the toy poodle snuggling into his sweater and the crook of his arm, holding on. Foolishly, Yuuri had been worried about Vicchan’s reaction the most, back then.  They had changed the living room into his bedroom, at least until his legs healed. Before then,  Yuuri was the one who had went on daily runs with Vicchan, down the coast and onto the sandy beaches that surrounded his home-town.  They had kept at it, even when it felt like daggers were being pushed into  the center of calves, and the bruises spread.  They moved onto the sand, lessening the impact. He had trucked on, blaming it on his over-practicing  so he could make it the last step to the grand prix.

By the time competition came, he didn’t have the energy to walk from the kiss and cry to the ice.

Chemotherapy lasted three weeks before the doctor had brought up The Best Option.

He didn’t think about his mother,  sister, or his dad. But how Vicchan was smart enough to notice that  if there wasn’t any feet to lick awake, then there wasn’t any for a walk.

But Vicchan joined  him in the new room the first night back from the hospital, curling up against his stomach and sticking out his soft pink tongue.  He fell asleep in his new spot. He waited through the days the pain was unbearable, and the swelling kept Yuuri  from walking at all, prosthesis or no.

It was only fair to be there for him  when his legs failed him.  His furry paws squeezing his arms was a comfort. The sway that took over his walk ever since the surgery was a hundred times worse when he navigated stairs.  Secure pockets had become a necessity ever since Yuuri had decided he was strong enough to return to his old room (and the old posters).

Usually Vicchan was content to stay in his arms until he could make it to a couch or some other  escapable raised surface. Today, however, Vicchan perked up, letting out a breathy bark in his arms.

“What are you talking about, Vicchan?” Yuri breathed, still catching his breath from his journey down the stairs. He nearly made it to the genkan before he fell backward, something brown and fuzzy  knocking him down his feet. He felt Vicchan scramble to get a grip on his chest, distracting him from the bruise he felt  forming on his back. Vicchan yipped, his tail wagging excited and whipping Yuri in the face.  The two dogs licked each others faces, before going to lick Yuuri’s, pushing his askew glasses further up off his feet.

“Kaa-san?” Yuuri called out for his mother, confused.

“Yuuri!” She gasped, shuffling out from the genkan.  “He’s here.” She fake-whispered,  hunching over and waving behind her. “Are you okay?” She shooed  Vicchan and the large poodle off of Yuuri, and he was able to sit up before he felt the third prescence.

He looked up, his jaw dropping open just as the suitcase dropped onto the wood floor of the entrance to  Yutopia.

“Hansamu, ne?” She whispered, and Yuuri turned red. Not because his mother and her loose grasp on what words could maybe leap the language barrier… But because it was him.

“Yuuri!” He smiled wide, and his heart fluttered at the heart-shaped brightness in the room. “I remembered  your offer! Japan is beautiful~!”

He felt like he was having a heart attack. What offer?  His mother reached out, offering a hand as he scrambled to his feet. Had he showered last night? Did he sweep? He didn’t remember anything other than skyping with Phichit and watching some stupid videos on youtube. Now he cursed his past self for not looking out for  future Yuuri.

“Ohh, uh, W-welcome!” Yuuri stammered, staring at the perfect figure in front of him. The silver hair, the dark jeans and tan coat that fit him perfectly. He might as well had walked out of a  fashion magazine. Yuuri  shuffled past Viktor and his mother and dragged in the first of what looked like several suitcases further into  the room.

“Yuu-chan, he’s been on a long flight, why don’t you show him to the hot springs while we get him his room?”  Hiroko leaned in close to her son, even though there was no way Viktor spoke Japanese, forget  Kyushu dialect.

“O-okay,” Yuuri  didn’t have the mind to switch  languages, staring  up at  the idol standing in his home. “You must be very tired. I can show you to the hot springs.” Yuuri pulled at the suitcase, but a gloved hand pressed against his. He tried to take the suitcase back, but instead of insisting, he could only look up. Deer in the headlights.

“Actually, Yuuri. I slept the whole way over. I was hoping to see you skate.” Viktor said with that same bright smile.

His heart skipped a beat.

He looked toward his mother, who only gave a thumbs up.

His eyes darted back to the tall Russian in front of him. “O-okay! Sure! Let’s go!” He chattered, laughing nervously. Vicchan danced excitedly, ready for a walk, before Makkachin nuzzled back attention from her new, small friend.

“I-uh, don’t have a new routine or anything, I usually ask Celestino—“

“No worries.  I want to see your home rink.” The smile was back again, and for some reason,  Yuuri felt at ease.

He hiked  back up the stairs, grabbing his cellphone pack with his gloves,  socks and specialized socks.

He paused, stopping and sliding his thumb across his screen.

Best to give Yuko some warning.

He tapped out a quick text to her, before he paused and opened LINE.

土曜日

phichitchuu  12:32 am: sleep tight! see you on skype

今日

Icekatsuki1129 12:02 am:  hes here

“What’s with the guy downstairs?” Yuuri jolted, nearly dropping his phone. Mari had mastered the silent approach.  Even growing up with her, he still couldn’t get used to it.

“I might’ve accidentally drunkenly invited him when I was in Sochi…” Yuuri laughed nervously.

“What else did you invite him to?”

“N—nothing, God, Nee-chan!”

“What? You know how freaky you can get. You still haven’t thanked me for saving you when—“

“Thank you! Please never talk about it ever again!” His voice nearly broke.

“I had a point though. He has his dog here.”

“S-so?” Yuuri had to hurry.  He was waiting downstairs, and somehow, this wasn’t a dream.

“You know how hard it is to import a dog into Japan? It takes weeks for quarantine. Weird for him to come here if he’s moving to Japan.”

Yuuri’s ears burned bright red, but Mari was cool as ever. As if she was discussing the weather forecast.

“Anyway. Something to think about. “ She waggled her fingers before sidestepping Yuuri  to walk back to her bedroom.

Yuuri would explode if he thought about it anymore. He ran down the stairs as fast as he could, nearly falling over his own feet and colliding with the tall figure standing in the main room.

“A-are you sure you still want to go to the rink?” Yuuri tried to pick up the words, watching the silver-haired idol stare curiously at the scroll. Yuuri really hoped his mom wouldn’t bring up that Yuuri had painted it in middle school. It was embarrassing enough when the regular customers (who knew better) noticed it.

“Of course. What does it say?” He pointed to the scroll. Thank god he was asking now.

“Spring.”  Yuuri tried to say casually, slipping by and trying to edge toward the doorway.

“Beautiful.” Viktor glowed, touching his chin thoughtfully.

The vignette made Yuuri’s heart skip a beat.

“It’s not that good. I can show you better ones. How long are you staying?” Any other questions faded from his lip as Viktor turned to look at him. Did he flirt constantly, or was he just that beautiful naturally?

“Actually��� I’m not sure.”

“Oh…” A silent moment stretched too far.

“Well, I’ll have to show you more of Hasetsu. Ice castle is just down the road.” Yuuri bowed his head, moving toward the genkan. He stopped, pulling out the bench that was now part of the room, sitting down and stretching to pull  on a pair of sneakers onto his prosthetic feet.

Viktor easily stepped back into his. He had, after all, been to Tokyo (and all over asia) before in his career

Viktor tried to watch without staring. Not just to see the movements, how Yuuri’s shirt rode up in the back as he curled over to put on his shoes. To see how he was flexible on the ice, but here he had a limit. And how, that strip of skin, that muscle with a little bit of softness.

Maybe Viktor did need a shower.

Since when had he been this desperate? What was it about this man, who he only knew from a simple dinner,  and a kiss?

Okay… it hadn’t been a kiss.

Viktor felt his lips curl as he played the memory  over again in his head for the thousandth time.

How he had pressed his lips to his forehead, and two arms had snaked around his shoulders.

How arms, that could easily do lifts on ice pulled him down, and  the skaters warm body had pressed against him.

How he had guilty, oh so guiltily, indulged, and snuggled until Yuuri had fallen back asleep.

How he had left, like a jet-lagged Cinderella, at 8 am and left Sleeping Beauty alone.

Now it was time for the hero to wake up and fall in love with the prince. That’s how happy endings worked, right?

Viktor didn’t know.

Notes:

Thank you everyone for the kudos, reviews and faves. I haven't written in years, and fanfiction specifically for over ten years... It feels really good to write.

Oide--Japanese for 'come here', usually used by parents to kids. Hansamu=handsome The kanji in LINE stand for 'saturday' and 'today', just to get a sense of time.

[deepwithinmybonesfic]

Deep Within My Bones Ch.6- Spring

AU. Viktor wins another gold at the Olympics, and attends the Paralympics as another duty as the King of Ice Skating. Having lost his inspiration and heart, Viktor did not expect to find love in what he sees as the perfect man. Yuuri, after losing his legs, lost his chance to compete on the same ice as his idol. When the world seems to fall into place, what else can be taken away from them? Ch 1-6 is Setup, start at Ch. 6 for the cute romance-y and drama

“Yuu-chan, oide!” His mother called from downstairs.

Yuuri had to keep from sighing. He hated going up and down stairs, but he hadn’t had a choice.  Yutopia had been built like that before he was even in the picture.  He had moved home, after all, because Vicchan was having trouble with the stairs.  He just had to deal with the hand he was dealt.

He scooped Vicchan up, the toy poodle snuggling into his sweater and the crook of his arm, holding on. Foolishly, Yuuri had been worried about Vicchan’s reaction the most, back then.  They had changed the living room into his bedroom, at least until his legs healed. Before then,  Yuuri was the one who had went on daily runs with Vicchan, down the coast and onto the sandy beaches that surrounded his home-town.  They had kept at it, even when it felt like daggers were being pushed into  the center of calves, and the bruises spread.  They moved onto the sand, lessening the impact. He had trucked on, blaming it on his over-practicing  so he could make it the last step to the grand prix.

By the time competition came, he didn’t have the energy to walk from the kiss and cry to the ice.

Chemotherapy lasted three weeks before the doctor had brought up The Best Option.

He didn’t think about his mother,  sister, or his dad. But how Vicchan was smart enough to notice that  if there wasn’t any feet to lick awake, then there wasn’t any for a walk.

But Vicchan joined  him in the new room the first night back from the hospital, curling up against his stomach and sticking out his soft pink tongue.  He fell asleep in his new spot. He waited through the days the pain was unbearable, and the swelling kept Yuuri  from walking at all, prosthesis or no.

It was only fair to be there for him  when his legs failed him.  His furry paws squeezing his arms was a comfort. The sway that took over his walk ever since the surgery was a hundred times worse when he navigated stairs.  Secure pockets had become a necessity ever since Yuuri had decided he was strong enough to return to his old room (and the old posters).

Usually Vicchan was content to stay in his arms until he could make it to a couch or some other  escapable raised surface. Today, however, Vicchan perked up, letting out a breathy bark in his arms.

“What are you talking about, Vicchan?” Yuri breathed, still catching his breath from his journey down the stairs. He nearly made it to the genkan before he fell backward, something brown and fuzzy  knocking him down his feet. He felt Vicchan scramble to get a grip on his chest, distracting him from the bruise he felt  forming on his back. Vicchan yipped, his tail wagging excited and whipping Yuri in the face.  The two dogs licked each others faces, before going to lick Yuuri’s, pushing his askew glasses further up off his feet.

“Kaa-san?” Yuuri called out for his mother, confused.

“Yuuri!” She gasped, shuffling out from the genkan.  “He’s here.” She fake-whispered,  hunching over and waving behind her. “Are you okay?” She shooed  Vicchan and the large poodle off of Yuuri, and he was able to sit up before he felt the third prescence.

He looked up, his jaw dropping open just as the suitcase dropped onto the wood floor of the entrance to  Yutopia.

“Hansamu, ne?” She whispered, and Yuuri turned red. Not because his mother and her loose grasp on what words could maybe leap the language barrier… But because it was him.

“Yuuri!” He smiled wide, and his heart fluttered at the heart-shaped brightness in the room. “I remembered  your offer! Japan is beautiful~!”

He felt like he was having a heart attack. What offer?  His mother reached out, offering a hand as he scrambled to his feet. Had he showered last night? Did he sweep? He didn’t remember anything other than skyping with Phichit and watching some stupid videos on youtube. Now he cursed his past self for not looking out for  future Yuuri.

“Ohh, uh, W-welcome!” Yuuri stammered, staring at the perfect figure in front of him. The silver hair, the dark jeans and tan coat that fit him perfectly. He might as well had walked out of a  fashion magazine. Yuuri  shuffled past Viktor and his mother and dragged in the first of what looked like several suitcases further into  the room.

“Yuu-chan, he’s been on a long flight, why don’t you show him to the hot springs while we get him his room?”  Hiroko leaned in close to her son, even though there was no way Viktor spoke Japanese, forget  Kyushu dialect.

“O-okay,” Yuuri  didn’t have the mind to switch  languages, staring  up at  the idol standing in his home. “You must be very tired. I can show you to the hot springs.” Yuuri pulled at the suitcase, but a gloved hand pressed against his. He tried to take the suitcase back, but instead of insisting, he could only look up. Deer in the headlights.

“Actually, Yuuri. I slept the whole way over. I was hoping to see you skate.” Viktor said with that same bright smile.

His heart skipped a beat.

He looked toward his mother, who only gave a thumbs up.

His eyes darted back to the tall Russian in front of him. “O-okay! Sure! Let’s go!” He chattered, laughing nervously. Vicchan danced excitedly, ready for a walk, before Makkachin nuzzled back attention from her new, small friend.

“I-uh, don’t have a new routine or anything, I usually ask Celestino—“

“No worries.  I want to see your home rink.” The smile was back again, and for some reason,  Yuuri felt at ease.

He hiked  back up the stairs, grabbing his cellphone pack with his gloves,  socks and specialized socks.

He paused, stopping and sliding his thumb across his screen.

Best to give Yuko some warning.

He tapped out a quick text to her, before he paused and opened LINE.

土曜日

phichitchuu  12:32 am: sleep tight! see you on skype

今日

Icekatsuki1129 12:02 am:  hes here

“What’s with the guy downstairs?” Yuuri jolted, nearly dropping his phone. Mari had mastered the silent approach.  Even growing up with her, he still couldn’t get used to it.

“I might’ve accidentally drunkenly invited him when I was in Sochi…” Yuuri laughed nervously.

“What else did you invite him to?”

“N—nothing, God, Nee-chan!”

“What? You know how freaky you can get. You still haven’t thanked me for saving you when—“

“Thank you! Please never talk about it ever again!” His voice nearly broke.

“I had a point though. He has his dog here.”

“S-so?” Yuuri had to hurry.  He was waiting downstairs, and somehow, this wasn’t a dream.

“You know how hard it is to import a dog into Japan? It takes weeks for quarantine. Weird for him to come here if he’s moving to Japan.”

Yuuri’s ears burned bright red, but Mari was cool as ever. As if she was discussing the weather forecast.

“Anyway. Something to think about. “ She waggled her fingers before sidestepping Yuuri  to walk back to her bedroom.

Yuuri would explode if he thought about it anymore. He ran down the stairs as fast as he could, nearly falling over his own feet and colliding with the tall figure standing in the main room.

“A-are you sure you still want to go to the rink?” Yuuri tried to pick up the words, watching the silver-haired idol stare curiously at the scroll. Yuuri really hoped his mom wouldn’t bring up that Yuuri had painted it in middle school. It was embarrassing enough when the regular customers (who knew better) noticed it.

“Of course. What does it say?” He pointed to the scroll. Thank god he was asking now.

“Spring.”  Yuuri tried to say casually, slipping by and trying to edge toward the doorway.

“Beautiful.” Viktor glowed, touching his chin thoughtfully.

The vignette made Yuuri’s heart skip a beat.

“It’s not that good. I can show you better ones. How long are you staying?” Any other questions faded from his lip as Viktor turned to look at him. Did he flirt constantly, or was he just that beautiful naturally?

“Actually… I’m not sure.”

“Oh…” A silent moment stretched too far.

“Well, I’ll have to show you more of Hasetsu. Ice castle is just down the road.” Yuuri bowed his head, moving toward the genkan. He stopped, pulling out the bench that was now part of the room, sitting down and stretching to pull  on a pair of sneakers onto his prosthetic feet.

Viktor easily stepped back into his. He had, after all, been to Tokyo (and all over asia) before in his career

Viktor tried to watch without staring. Not just to see the movements, how Yuuri’s shirt rode up in the back as he curled over to put on his shoes. To see how he was flexible on the ice, but here he had a limit. And how, that strip of skin, that muscle with a little bit of softness.

Maybe Viktor did need a shower.

Since when had he been this desperate? What was it about this man, who he only knew from a simple dinner,  and a kiss?

Okay… it hadn’t been a kiss.

Viktor felt his lips curl as he played the memory  over again in his head for the thousandth time.

How he had pressed his lips to his forehead, and two arms had snaked around his shoulders.

How arms, that could easily do lifts on ice pulled him down, and  the skaters warm body had pressed against him.

How he had guilty, oh so guiltily, indulged, and snuggled until Yuuri had fallen back asleep.

How he had left, like a jet-lagged Cinderella, at 8 am and left Sleeping Beauty alone.

Now it was time for the hero to wake up and fall in love with the prince. That’s how happy endings worked, right?

Viktor didn’t know.

Notes:

Thank you everyone for the kudos, reviews and faves. I haven't written in years, and fanfiction specifically for over ten years... It feels really good to write.

Oide--Japanese for 'come here', usually used by parents to kids. Hansamu=handsome The kanji in LINE stand for 'saturday' and 'today', just to get a sense of time.