#my guy was giving everything okay LIVE LIVE even the wind was captivated and hugged him with the flag and moved his hair elegantly haha

[woe-is-tuli]

Coachella 2024 - Ateez: Jongho

[sherrybaby14]

The Acceptance

This is my submission for @darkmcuficswap​  @darkficsyouneveraskedfor​ Holiday swap!  My giftee is  @opheliadawnwalker3​. I hope you enjoy hun!

Summary:  After a holiday gone terribly wrong you face a decision with the new year. 

Holiday:  New Year's/Halloween 

Warnings:  Non Con (PLEASE DO NOT READ IF THIS OFFENDS YOU), SMUT, kidnapping, alcohol.  

****I have chosen not to warn for everything, please READ AT OWN RISK****

Words: 4000

Pairing:  Stucky x reader

December 31st 

The snow captivated you, tiny white flakes drifting down, landing without fear on the cold ground.  You pinched your eyes shut and bit your lip, wishing you were one of them, free to fall away from this place.  

A knock sounded on the door, but you didn’t turn away from the window.  The wood opened, the knock only a formality, you had no privacy anymore.  Not here.  Not with them.  

“I brought you something special to wear tonight.”  Steve’s voice used to sound like nails on a chalkboard, you missed those days when you would claw at him, scream, try to find a weapon.  The fight in you was burning out with the end of the year.  “I hope you’ll wear your makeup and hair to fit the look.”

There was a warning in his voice.  You dropped your chin in a nod.  He approached you from behind, but you didn’t tense as his hands touched your shoulders.  

“Good girl.”  He placed a kiss on the top of your head.  “If you behave we can have a lot of fun tonight.  All of us.  I promise Doll.”  

“If...if I’m good enough will you let me go?”  You turned and looked at Steve with hope that dashed away as soon as you saw the anger in his eyes.  “To the pool tomorrow?  I want to swim some laps.”  

A smile crept on Steve’s face.  You used to think of him as a symbol of American pride and righteousness, but now all you could see was the wickedness he hid.  

“I think your muscles will be plenty sore after tonight.”  He dropped his hands to your waist and pulled you closer.  “That was a nice attempt at covering the question though, but you know I can’t let that go unpunished.  Would you like to learn your lesson now or ruin our festivities later?”  

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”  Tears spilled as you buried your head into his chest.  “Please, let’s have a good night.  I’ll be good I promise.”  

“Shhhh.”  Steve rubbed your back as you fisted his shirt, terrified of what he had in mind.  You felt his cock harden underneath his jeans, pressing to your stomach with the hug.  “No punishment, but make it up to me right now?”  

Steve’s hands slid up your shoulders and he applied a bit of pressure.  You nodded your head and locked eyes with him as you dropped to your knees.  

He pulled his cock out and you wasted no time taking him into your mouth, flicking your tongue as you gathered saliva to take him deeper.   

“There is no leaving here Doll.”  Steve’s fist found your hair as he started to work with your movements.  “And certainly not for good behavior.  I thought you were starting to understand?”

He let out a grunt and you worked his cock faster, reaching between his legs to fondle his balls as his pants slipped down his thighs.  

“You are so good.  You are the best.  Even when you’re bad, you’re too much fun to ever let go.”  Steve pushed your head down hard and you fought off the gag.  “I bet you’re soaked right now, sucking my cock this way.  Just a pool between your legs?  Once you stop fighting that and admit how happy you are, instead of asking for a swim asking me to fuck you?  Then you might get permission to go, but you’ll never leave because by then you will realize this is where you belong.”  

You squeezed your legs together and hated it that he was right.  You were dripping.  You looked up at him with begging eyes.  He nodded and you wrapped your body around his leg, straddling his shin you began to hump him while you continued sucking, taking him deeper and keeping pace with your mouth.  

“Fucking beautiful Doll.”  Steve bit his lip.  “Speed up because I’m going to finish.” 

You started to pant as you ground against him, trying to give your clit the pressure and action it needed to send you over the edge while drool ran down your chin. You pressed your tongue hard on the underside of his cock, taking him in with deep strokes.  

Your eyes pinched shut, but his hand grabbed your face and you popped them open.  Never look away when you cum. He glared at you with the intensity only he had and you exploded around his legs, bits of pleasure making you shake as your heart felt like it was beating out of your chest.  

Steve let out a moan and his dick expanded in your mouth before his seed shot to the back of your throat.  You flicked your tongue and sucked in your cheeks, knowing better than to let a drop spill.  

“Fuck Doll.”  Steve pulled out and tucked himself a way.  “You are amazing.”  

He lifted his leg and you cringed, all too aware of the wet spot on his jeans.  

“Don’t worry about it, I’m going to dress nicer tonight anyway.”  He kissed the top of your head.  “Be ready in three hours.”

You slumped on the floor as he left the room.  Your naked body recovering from the orgasm, almost upset it wasn’t more intense.  You liked it better when it came from a cock.  Your thoughts made you cringe. 

You were so used to being naked all the time it didn’t even register any more, and the thought about liking the more intense orgasms?   

“What the fuck is wrong with you.”  You looked back out to the snow, wondering if you could piece together where it had all gone wrong. 

~~

July

“I hate New York.”  You plopped down on the park bench next to your friend and pulled out your sandwich.  “I’m leaving the city as soon as I can.”  

“You’ve only been here six months.”  She laughed and handed you a pop.  “And you met me right? There’s something positive.” 

“I know.” You gave a frown. “I just thought I would get lost in a sea of people, maybe discover myself, but what I’m discovering is I hate crowds, I don’t like my job, and I always feel like someone is watching me.”  

“Like a guardian angel?”  

“No.”  You shook your head. “Like someone is going to jump out of the bushes and grab me.  I miss small town middle of nowhere life.  Not cut out for the city.”  

“Don’t give up yet.”  She touched your arm.  A loud SNAP came from the treeline and both of your heads whipped in that direction.  “Jesus.”  

She started to laugh first and then you joined in.  

“Come over tonight.  We can find you a new job, it’s the land of opportunity.”  

“Alright.”  You agreed mainly because you didn’t want to be alone.  

Your friend continued chatting but your eye’s couldn’t stop looking toward the bushes.  

~~

August

“I love New York.”  You grinned as you sat down next to your friend.  

“You got the job?”  She beamed at you.  

“I have no idea how or why, but yes.  You’re looking at the newest employee of Stark Enterprises.”  You kicked your knees up and punched the air.  “I mean, it’s a work from home gig, I have no office at the towers, I’m not going to meet the Avengers or anything, but the pay is good and the benefits are nice.  Maybe in a few months I’ll have enough to live in a safer neighborhood.”  

“Still getting stalker vibes?”  

“Big time.  I swear I felt someone breathing on my neck the other night.”  You touched the spot.  “I about sprinted home, but now I’ll never have to leave my apartment.”  

“I’m glad you’re calling it home.”  She gave you a nudge.  “And you will have to leave your apartment!  How else are you going to see me?  Let’s go out tonight and celebrate.”  

“Okay.”  You smiled. 

“Wow, you must be in a good mood, I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten you out after dark.  I was starting to think you were a vampire.”  

“I’m a morning person. No clubs, no bars, no crowds, maybe a nice dinner?”  You shrugged.  

“How are you ever going to meet someone if you don’t do anything social?”  She sighed at you.  “We’re going to a club.  Look nice.  I’ll pick you up at nine.”  

You wanted to object, but you rolled your eyes. Knowing nothing could make you turn her down.  A rock came out of nowhere and hit a pole ten feet from you, the clang making both of you jump.  

“Weird.”  You scanned the treeline but didn’t notice anything but the wind shaking a few bushes.    

“I’m going to call my friend Jonathan.  He will have a hot place to go.”  Your friend was oblivious to the strange happening.  

~~

The club was loud and you felt underdressed.  You watched your friend dance away with a stranger and admired her courage, she looked stunning and you looked like you blended in with the wall.  

“Can I buy you a drink?”  A voice yelled in your ear.  

You turned to see a decent looking man, nothing too special, but nothing threatening.  

“I’m good.”  You shook the full drink in your hand.  

“Bartender, two shots or your strongest stuff.”  The guy held up his fingers.  

“I really, I don’t take shots with strangers. Thank you though.”  You started to walk away but he reached out and grabbed your arm.  

“Come on, don’t be lame.”  The liquid was being poured into the glasses and your stomach turned at the sight.  “Take a drink with me.”  

Your heart rate went through the roof.  You hated saying no almost as much as you hated being grabbed.  Your lips parted as you tried to think about how to respond.  The internal struggle of obedience mixed with the anger about his hand on you.   

Before you could respond the man dropped away.  Someone stepped into the middle of you and pushed the man.  

“The lady said no.”  Was all you could make out over the roar of the club.  

The first guy tried to punch the second, but he grabbed his fist and crumbled it.  You looked at the scene in horror, clutching your purse.  

Violence, alcohol, music, your head began to spin.  You turned and walked outside, feeling a panic coming on.   The heat of the evening hit your face and you climbed into the nearest taxi, texting your friend as you got a ride home, vowing never to test the New York nightlife again.

~~

September

“We’re going to have to stop having lunch on park benches soon.”  You patted the puffer vest you were wearing.   

“About that,” she took a deep breath. “I didn’t know how to break it to you, but we’re going to have to stop having lunches altogether.”  

“What?”  Your eyes went wide.  “You’re joking right?  You’re like my only friend in the world.”  

“Out of the blue, a recruiter offered me this dream position.”  She turned and grabbed your hands.  “The pay is amazing and that’s not even the best part, it’s like the job was tailor made for me, but it’s in Paris.”  

“Paris?!?!”  Your jaw dropped. 

“We can facetime and you can visit?”  She was having a hard time hiding the glee that matched the despair you were feeling.  

“Congratulations.  I’m so happy for you.”  You smiled, not wanting to ruin her moment, hating New York again.  

~~

October 31

You taped shut the last of the moving boxes.  It was sad seeing your entire life packed up, unable to notice how small the stack was.  All the furniture came with the apartment, you weren’t much of a shopper and never got around to getting that cat.  

Your phone rang and you recognized your boss’s phone number, picking up right away.  

“Hello, Mr. Jones, I’m all packed up.”  You set the last box down.  

“Good, good.  The moving van will be there tomorrow early, we’re looking forward to you joining our team.”  His voice sounded oddly familiar, but you kept brushing it off.  “And you’re still coming to the party tonight?”  

“About that.”  You hit your laptop’s button and saw the invitation.  “I’m really not much of a party person, and I never got around to getting a costume.”  

“I was clear when I offered you the promotion.  We’re a small R&D team, we work very closely.  It is important you bond with us.  People are expecting you, costume and all.”  His tone was almost scolding.  

“Well, we’re going to be living together.  I’m sure there’s plenty of time.  I’d rather get settled first.”  You almost turned the promotion down because of that fact, but then you looked into Stark Corp’s R&D, a team of 100 people who worked around the clock, if you put in a year there you were golden.  It was impossible to turn down even if it did involve living in some town upstate.  

“The car is picking you up in an hour.  You will be here in five.  If you don’t have a costume, then dress nice.  People are looking forward to meeting you.” He paused.  “I am looking forward to having you.”  

“Alright.”  You told yourself you heard him wrong before hanging up the phone.  

There was something off about the situation.  Like you wished you had someone to tell where you were going to stay for the next year.  You hadn’t spoken to your friend since the Paris move, and there was really nobody else in your life to tell.  The foster parents you hadn’t spoken to in years?  The ex who broke your heart?  The former best friend he slept with?  Maybe the crazy old lady down the hall?  

 With a tap of the keys you pulled up the email from “Tony Stark'' offering you the position. This was a top level fortune 500 company.  There was nothing to worry about.  You were being paranoid and needed to accept that your dream was coming true.  

~~

This car felt too important for you.  The driver was friendly, but you ran out of things to say an hour ago.  You glanced at your phone, noting that you were getting close.  Then you noticed a no service bar in the corner.  

“I’ll have to get a new plan.”  You tried to call a random number and got nothing. “No service.”  

“No, this is a top secret area.”  The driver turned and smiled at you. “No service from any provider.  Nothing surrounding the house for 10 miles in any direction, even then it's only a few hunting cabins. Most are abandoned.  You must be a very special lady to make the team.”  

“I don’t know much about the team, only what the website said, and Mr. Jones of course.”  You didn’t think of the isolation when you accepted.  

“Tony had the area declared a no fly zone by the US Government.”  The driver tapped the wheel.  “If you look to your left soon you’ll see the fence.  It’s impenetrable.”  

Tony? The driver must be high up if that was how he referred to Stark. Your thoughts were distracted when you saw the metal and the wiring shine in the distance.  

“This place looks like Jurassic Park.”  The driver slowed as the gate opened ahead.  “I’m starting to think I’ll get kicked out in a week.”  

Anxiety flooded you, you weren’t ready for this.  You’d worked there what? A few months?  You weren’t this smart, what could you contribute?  

“Don’t worry,  I have it on good authority you’re perfect for the role.”  The driver grinned, it was so genuine and infectious you smiled back and your nerves calmed.  

“I understand why people call you Happy.”  You relaxed.  “It fits.”  

“So I’ve been told.”  He looked back to the road.  “I probably won’t see you again, it was a pleasure driving you though.  I’m sure Mr. Rogers will take good care of you.”  

“Rogers?”  You raised an eyebrow.  

“Whatever generic name you want to use, Smith, Mason, Miller, Brown.  They’ll assign you one too.”  Happy shrugged.  “You’re a VIP now.”  

A wave of stupidity washed over you.  It never occurred to you that pseudonyms were being used.    

The house started to come into view.  You grabbed the headrests and moved forward.  It was a mansion, almost a castle.  The place was modern, as if it was made with black glass somehow.  

“This is bigger than a football stadium.”  You had to crane your neck to see up.  

“Just a house Miss.”  Happy pulled into the drive.  “Nothing you can’t handle.”  

He put the car in park and winked at you.  All your nerves were calmed, this was perfect.  Your dream come true.  You were picturing a college dorm situation, but one thousand people could live here, let alone one hundred.  

“Thank you.”  You opened the door to the car as Happy left and went for the trunk.  

You started to stand when something fell off your lap, you chuckled to yourself, your nerves being replaced with excitement as you put on the witch’s hat.  A simple accessory that turned your black dress into a costume.   

There was a warmth growing in you as you walked up the massive steps, taking in the building in the night sky, almost some primal feeling telling you that you were home. 

Happy pushed open the door and set your bag down.  You followed after, entering a great hall, you were beaming ready to meet your new team, but your smile faded when you saw it was empty.  

“Where is everyone?”  You looked at the staircases that wound up to either side, the  echo of your voice giving you an empty feeling. 

“You got her here in one piece?”  Mr. Jones’ voice boomed across the bricks.  

“As promised.”  Happy shrugged.  

“And she wore a costume?”  A new voice made you look to the other stairwell.  

Your brain tried to register the voices with the faces, but the faces took over.  

“Steve Rogers and James Barnes?”  Avengers. Real ones.  You kept looking back and forth.  “What?  How important is this place?”  

You didn’t know whether to thank them for all they had done for the world or question whether you deserved to be on this team.  

“Now that you’re here Doll, it’s the most important place in the world.”  They both arrived at the bottom at the same time.  

“My cue to leave, have a nice night gentlemen.”  Happy sounded so distant as the door shut behind him.  

“I’m,  my name is,  this is so embarrassing.”  You let out a laugh as you brought your hand to your chest.  “I didn’t think I would be meeting Avengers.”  

They walked toward you, both of them as if they were circling you.  

“We know your name Doll.”  Captain America reached out and touched your chin.  

You backed up and ran into the Winter Soldier.  

“We know everything about you.”  The brunette’s hands slid down your arms and stopped at your wrists.  “I’ve been waiting for this for months.”  

He placed a kiss on your neck and you started to step forward, but ran right into Captain, who again touched your chin, this time with a little more force.  

“What?”  You didn’t know what else to say.  

“It was getting too difficult to stay away..”  Steve pressed his forehead to yours.  “Welcome home Love.” 

“I’ve…sorry, what?”  James’ tongue slid up your neck and you gasped, Steve used the opportunity to slide his own into your mouth.  

You were so confused, but reacted on instinct, trying to raise your hands to shove Steve away only to be met with a tighter grip on your wrists by the man behind you. 

Steve let out a chuckle while continuing to kiss you as his hands found your breasts.  He kneaded them as your brain tried to catch up with your body, his fingers finding your nipples through the material of your dress, you let out a squeal as he gave a pinch.  

“Remember, I won the bet.”  James’ teeth grazed your neck as Steve stopped the kiss.  “She wore a costume.”  

Steve scowled as he walked away from you.   

“What’s happening?”  You tried to fight the fog.  “Where am I?”  

“You’re home.”  Steve walked toward a chair and then sat down, you were too busy watching him you didn’t realize a wrist had been freed until the sound of your zipper going down snapped you back to reality.  

Instead of trying to run you attempted to hold the garment up.  Anger flashed on Captain America’s eyes as the Winter Soldier tore the entire thing away.  

“No clothes.  None.  I wanted her naked all the time.”  Steve reached into his pants and pulled his cock out.  

You whimpered at the sight, he was large.  Wait what?  You were too concentrated on the wrong thing and you didn’t notice your bra sliding down your arms.  You started to turn around to shove James away, but he used your motion to flip you over his shoulder and run down the hall.  

SMACK!  His hand hit with your ass as you bobbed over his shoulder, too shocked to really react.  You lifted your head to see the witch hat on the stone floor.   

“I’m so proud of you for wearing the costume.”  The man dropped you, but before you hit the floor his hand was on your back, laying you down on a fur rug. “But I’ve been proud of you for months.  My girl.”  

You tried to spin to your stomach and wiggle away, but he placed a cold hand around your neck, not tight but enough to pin you in place as you shoved at his shoulders.  

“It’s why I get the honor of fucking you first.” His other hand found your panties and shredded them with ease.  “Steve didn’t think you’d listen, but I know what a good girl you are.  How perfect.  Our good girl.”

“Stop rubbing it in Bucky.”  Steve’s voice made you arch your neck to see him sitting in a chair, stroking himself.  

A finger ran up your slit and your attention went back to Bucky as you gasped.  

“She’s soaked.”  He looked up at Steve with a grin.

Everything came flooding down at once and you let out a scream as you renewed your struggles.  The men laughed.  

“At least give me a show while I tell our new teammate about her position.”  Steve dropped to his knees.  

Hands were on you as if they had practiced it, James moving to his back so his legs were in front of you while Steve guided you up so you were facing him.  The sound of a zipper came again and you felt Bucky’s cock brush against your thighs as Captain America positioned you.  

“We like to keep an eye on our people.” Steve spoke as Bucky’s hands grabbed your legs and moved you so your entrance was right about his rigid cock. “And we’ve been watching you for some time now.”  

Metal and flesh fingers were on your waist while Steve’s hands went to your shoulders, pushing you down.  You moaned as Bucky’s thick head slid inside with more ease than you were aware.   

Everything was happening too fast. You struggled to breathe, unsure what to focus on: the cock sliding inside of you or the information being displayed. 

  You pictured the park, the feeling of a stalker, the fight in the club, the dream job, the better job, your friend’s Paris position.  

“That’s good Doll.”  Steve licked his lips. “That understanding.  You knew.  You always knew, but you kept inviting us in.”  

“She feels so fucking good.”  Bucky lifted his ass while you continued to lower on his cock, feeling it hit your cervix you let out a cry.  “She was made for us.”  

“You craved us, didn’t you?”  Steve cupped your face as Bucky began to fuck you.  “You knew what this was. Admit it?”  

You didn’t understand anything. You knew nothing.  

“No, stop that.”  Steve pressed his lips to yours while Bucky dug his fingers into your hips, making you bounce on him.  “I see the struggle in your eyes.  Stop denying the truth.”  

You moaned as Bucky began to make your pussy quake, a coil tightening in your stomach.  

“Let her struggle.” Bucky groaned as he held you down, rocking his cock back and forth.  “We’ll guide her down the right path.”  

“I...I...don’t.”  You thought you might have been trying to say no, but your body was being taken over, your mind losing control.  

“Oh you do Doll.”  Steve brought his thumb to your mouth and you parted your lips as he dragged it along your tongue.  “You know.  You know this is what you need. It’s been almost a year since you came, you don’t even touch yourself.” 

Your eyes went wide with that personal information.  

“We know everything.”  Steve lowered his wet thumb.  “Never lie to us, because we know.”  

You cried out as he pressed his digit to your clit, rubbing in circles with such pressure as James railed into you.  

There was no warning as you came, your body shaking.  Your vision blackened, making you collapse against Steve, shivers sending you to another dimension.  Bucky bottomed out, joining you, contracting and filling you with his cum.  

“Wait.”  You didn’t lift your head, too lost for such a simple task.  You didn’t get what was happening, but you knew one thing for sure.  “I’m not on birth control.”  

“Oh yes you are.”  Bucky hit your ass with a smack as he lifted you off of him. 

Steve spun to the carpet, replacing Bucky’s cock with his own as he cradled you to his chest.  You moaned while he filled your over sensitive pussy once again.   

“For a few months now.”  Steve left your chest pressed to his while he lifted his hips, his pelvis gracing your clit with every thrust.  “You have nothing to worry about now Doll.  You’re home.”  

~~~

December 31

You hated your naivety, you hated what they had put you through. But what you hated most of all was the denial. 

The denial that you liked it.  You loved the way they knew what was best, the way they punished you, the way they rewarded you, the way your life had stability for this first time.  

When the knock sounded on your door you said goodbye to the snowflakes at the window.  Maybe you were more like them than you wanted to admit, they would melt someday and you had to accept that you already had.  

You turned to see Bucky and Steve walk in wearing Tuxedos.  They both frowned that you weren’t wearing the beautiful dress Steve brought you, but no doubt confused by the time you spent getting your makeup and hair ready.  Rolling your shoulders back you accepted your fate. 

“Will you please fuck me?”  

[amanda-teaches]

Til Death Do Us Part? (3)

Series Summary: At a work party with your best friend, Dean, you panic when your new boss asks if you’re couple. Lying to protect your promotion, you wind up fake engaged before you can take it back. When Dean agrees to go along with your lie for a weekend retreat, you end up finding something neither of you had bargained for: love.

Chapter Summary: After your near kiss on the horses, you are more awkward than ever around Dean. What will the arrival of the executives bring? Surprisingly, just the thing you need to push your relationship to the next level.

Pairing: AU Dean x Reader

Square filled: Mutual Pining for @spnfluffbingo​

Word Count: 2220

Warnings: Swearing, a touch of angst, fluff, Dean cuteness, YEARNING, kissing

A/N: Okay, it’s Chapter 3 and we’re finally getting somewhere! But, don’t worry if you love the slow burn, because these two are idiots, so it isn’t anywhere near over yet. Let me know what you think! I’d love to see your thoughts on what’s been happening and where you think it’s going. Tags are open for this series!

Til Death Do Us Part? Masterlist

The first part of your ride back to the hotel was spent in relative silence, the awkwardness from the meadow still lingering in the air, but, true to form, Dean quickly perked up, moving past it to start a long, passionate rant about one of his favorite Western shows, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

“I’m just sayin’, it’s got everything, cowboys, bounty hunters, weird futuristic technology used by a evil guy to take over the world.” He paused dramatically, giving you a pointed look. “John Astin. Listen, Y/N/N, it’s criminally underrated.”

You laughed, mostly humoring him because this was far from the first time you’d heard this particular rant. “I’m sure it is, Dean.”

The stables, and hotel in the distance, came into view, and you hesitated, wondering if you should broach the topic of your near kiss before the ride ended. Glancing over at Dean, you quickly reconsidered and chickened out. For all you knew, he hadn’t interpreted it the same way at all and would be completely freaked out if you mentioned it. In fact, the more you thought about it, the more you were sure he hadn’t. Dean didn’t have any romantic feelings for you, so there was no way he’d really been just about to kiss you.

As your eyes shifted back to the horizon, the ring you were wearing caught the sunlight, and you felt a pit of guilt sink into your stomach. You couldn’t tell him. Dean had already done more than enough, and he certainly didn’t need or deserve to deal with whatever one-sided feelings you were developing.

Once you arrived at the stables, Dean helped you dismount, putting his hands on your waist to stabilize you while you jumped down. With Dean’s expert assistance, you quickly unsaddled and brushed down the horses, before putting them back into their stalls.

Dean grinned and grabbed your hand as you stepped outside the door for the short walk back to the hotel. He interlaced his fingers with yours, and you had to take a deep breath, reminding yourself that it was all just an act. He was just playing the part, a part that, for you at least, was blurring more and more with every touch.

When you got back to the hotel, you noticed that there were more cars parked outside, signalling that at least some of the executives had arrived. You tightened your hold on Dean’s hand, and he smiled back at you, helping to ease some of your nervousness.

Once you made it inside, you saw Clarissa right away, and she rushed over to you, her excitement practically spilling over. “Y/N! You made it!”

“Yes,” you said, your voice spiking a little as she pulled you into an unexpected hug. “Um, you remember my fiance, Dean.” You couldn’t help but relish the way those words sounded on your tongue.

“Yes, yes!” she exclaimed, pulling a stiffened Dean into his own hug. “And, this is my husband, Robert,” she continued, waving over a stately looking man in his 50s, his hair tinged with gray.

“Clari, baby, stop stifling the kids. Your smothering is going to scare them right off.” His welcoming smile and twinkling eyes made you warm to him right away. “Don’t mind my wife. She gets a little overzealous when she’s vacationing on company time.”

“Don’t we all,” you laughed, happy just from the fact that you were the one on the receiving end of your boss’ excitement instead of Stuart. You could handle a few extra hugs this weekend if that’s what it took to get your promotion.

Clarissa clapped her hands together, ignoring her husband’s jokey apology all together. “Oh, Y/N, Dean, I have to introduce you to the other couples!”

She grabbed your hand before you could say anything and dragged you over towards the group on the other side of the lobby. You looked pleadingly over your shoulder at Dean for help, but he just raised his eyebrows at you, smiling amusedly, and shrugged, choosing to hang back with the relative safety of Robert instead.

Traitor.

You were pretty sure you got whiplash with how fast Clarissa skidded to a stop, her hold on your hand sending you lurching forward. Thankfully, you caught yourself and straightened up. As you stared at the six people gathered in front of you, the only thought you had was that you hoped to God your sweat from the horse ride had dried.

“Y/N, this is Joshua Klein, our head of operations, and his wife Delia, Amy Dunn, our management director, and her husband, Thomas, and, of course, you know our company president, Ben Yates, and his husband, Oliver.”

You nodded, still a little too starstruck to respond. You had no idea the company retreat with the “higher ups” would include the head of the company himself.

Ben reached out his hand, shaking yours with a warm smile. “Y/N, it’s so good to meet you. Clarissa’s been telling us some wonderful things. She seems to think you’re quite the rising star in our company.”

Holy shit, he knew your name.

You opened your mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Stunned, you blinked a few times, trying to think of a response, any response other than unintelligible noises, but nothing came out. Luckily, Dean was there to save you.

“Yeah, she’s something else alright,” he chuckled, moving to stand beside you. “I’m pretty sure she lives and breathes work. You wouldn’t believe how many dinners I’ve lost to talk about project ideas and client needs.”

Ben’s husband, Oliver, laughed heartily. “Now, that’s something I can relate to.”

Everyone joined in, and Dean put his hand on the small of your back, giving you an anchor as he continued to talk, charming his way into the group with ease. You looked up at him, smiling softly, and you knew you’d definitely done one thing right this weekend. You’d picked him as your fiance.

That night, you were standing in your room, freshly showered and changed for dinner, but you didn’t make any effort to leave and join Dean and the others. Instead, you stared blankly into the mirror, frozen and wavering, unsure if you could really do this.

After a few minutes of silence, Dean opened the door and popped his head in to investigate your absence, concern flickering in his eyes. “Hey, you okay?”

You smiled, trying to put on a brave face, but the second you saw him, your walls crumbled. “Noo…” you stammered out, your voice breaking. “I can’t do this.”

He was by your side in a flash. “Hey, hey,” he whispered, pulling you into his arms. You placed your head against his chest and began to cry, all of the stress and fear just pouring out of you. “Is this about the lie?”

“A little,” you choked out. “It’s everything. I mean, the freakin’ president of the company is here for, God’s sake. All the other couples are high level executives, and I’m just...me. I wouldn’t even be here if I hadn’t lied, I shouldn’t be here.” Your voice dropped to a shame-filled whisper. “I don’t deserve to be here.”

“Hold up,” he said earnestly, stepping back slightly to look at you, his hands gripping your shoulders. “That’s a bunch of fucking bullshit, and you know it.”

That hadn’t been the response you expected at all, and the surprise of it startled out of your self-pity, your eyes widening at his bluntness. “But…”

He shook his head. “No buts. Y/N, you are the smartest, hardest working person I have ever met. Maybe you did have to tell a little white lie to get in here, but that has nothing to do with how fucking awesome you are at your job. Don’t you dare start to question yourself or your worth. You 100% deserve to be here. Do you think I’d be doing all this if I thought you didn’t?”

You considered his words for a second and shook your head, earning a smile from Dean.

“Damn straight. Now, you’re going to wipe your tears, go out there, and show those big shots exactly who you are, got it?”

“Got it,” you echoed, Dean’s tough love cutting right through and revitalizing you.

“Awesome,” he grinned, dropping his hands from your shoulders and spinning around to make his way back towards the door. He paused before he reached it, looking back at you with a smirk. “Oh, by the way, you look gorgeous.”

You beamed as he winked at you and left, and you knew you couldn’t wipe that smile off your face if you tried.

Dinner was a huge success.

Dean was there to back you up, of course, but you didn’t need him, impressing the group all on your own. You captivated their attention, with your big ideas about the company, passion for its clients, and quick humor. By the end of the night, all eight of them were eating out of the palm of your hand.

After dinner, the ten of you relocated to the lounge, Oliver pouring out drinks for everybody. You sat on the loveseat, and Dean sat down next to you, slinging his arm over your shoulders. You curled into him, the warmth from the alcohol making you feel just relaxed enough to let your guard down.

The company president, Ben, sat down across from you, regarding you with a reassuring smile. He exchanged knowing looks with Joshua, Amy, and Clarissa, who all smiled in return. “Y/N, I’m going to be frank with you. We had a lot of expectations coming into this trip. We’d heard good things about you, but all of us wanted to hold off and wait to see it for ourselves. And, I gotta say…” He paused so long, you were pretty sure he was deliberately trying to give you a heart attack. “You’ve blown them all away.”

Your eyes widened to match his smile, surprise finding its way to your face. “Really?”

Ben nodded, and the others all echoed the action, confirming his statement. “Really. In fact, we all discussed it, and we’d love it if you could be our new Vice President of Client Relations. You’d be working directly under Clarissa, managing all client relations teams and projects.”

This was it, your promotion, the one you’d been dreaming about and working towards for the past three years. It was really happening. You realized after Dean nudged you, that you hadn’t said anything, and you straightened up, busting yourself out of your shock. “Yes, yes! I would be honored. Thank you, thank you so much.”

“You earned it,” Joshua said with a sincere, kind smile. “Long before this trip.”

You turned to Dean, completely elated, and his grin was so proud and heartfelt, it made your heart swell even more. “You did it, Y/N/N! Guess I’m not the only one who believes in you.”

Instinctively, you leaned in to hug him, but you stopped, suddenly remembering your audience. That’s when you heard a soft chuckle from behind you.

“Oh, don’t stop on our account! This is your big moment. Go ahead and kiss him.”

Your eyes, still connected with Dean’s, flickered with a deep-rooted uncertainty, and you started to give into your fear, pulling back. But, before you could, you saw a flash of yearning dart through Dean’s eyes, like he was fighting to hold himself back just as much as you were. You resisted it, trying to convince yourself your mind was playing tricks on, but in the thrill of the moment, you couldn’t stop yourself from giving in.

Knowing this might be your only chance, you threw caution to the wind, letting your feelings take over for once in your life. You grabbed his cheeks, pulling him closer until your lips met his. The second they connected, it felt like fireworks going off. Your whole body responded, and you tugged at his lower lip, moaning so softly, only he could hear. Your fingers tightened on his cheek, and he groaned deep in his throat, parting his lips before quickly moving them, pressing and pulling eagerly at yours.

You felt helpless and strong all at the same time to be able to get him to respond like that. He turned your brain and your body to mush, but you had enough frame of mind to pull back as his hand landed on your thigh, remembering where you were.

You looked around frantically at the others in the room, but if they’d seen how quickly the kiss escalated, they didn’t mention it, instead talking quietly amongst themselves. When you turned back to Dean, he was breathing heavily and staring at you, dumbfounded.

Unable to imagine his reaction as anything but appalled at the line you’d just crossed, you panicked, closing yourself off and sliding away from him, letting his hands fall from their places on your shoulder and thigh. Everything in you wanted to look back at him, to tell him how you felt, but you couldn’t, so you kept on staring straight ahead, willing your heartbeat to slow.

What you didn’t know was that, if you’d looked into Dean’s eyes at that very moment, you would’ve seen the exact same desire staring right back at you.

Forevers- @atc74​ @babypieandwhiskey​ @be-amaziing​ @carryonmywaywardcaptain​ @deans-dirty-writer​ @deanwanddamons​ @deanwinchesterswitch​ @dolphincliffs​ @edgeofreality35​ @emoryhemsworth​ @focusonspn​ @hannahindie​ @heyitscam99​ @impala-dreamer​ @impandagrl​ @karikatz12481​ @katymacsupernatural​ @maddiepants​ @masksandtruths​ @mrsdeannafuckingwinchester​ @mysterious-398​ @ohmychuckitssamanddean​ @pinknerdpanda​ @roxyspearing​ @spnbaby-67​ @squirrel-moose-winchester​ @wi-deangirl77​ @wonderfulworldofwinchester​

Dean Tags - @adoptdontshoppets​ @akshi8278​ @alexwinchester23​  @dean-winchesters-bacon​ @flamencodiva​ @squirrelnotsam​

Til Death Do Us Part?- @vicmc624​ @wayward-gypsy​ @compresshischest09​ @lottieellz101 @roonyxx​ @marvelouslysherlockedhunter​ @hardcoresupernatural​

[evengayerpanic]

Trains and Passengers [1 of 4]

Trigger Warning: Mentions of Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse and Domestic Violence.

Inspired by an ask I received, wanting an AU of Aster/Ellie plus an adorable little boy, I’ve decided to take that idea, and run with it! There just seemed to be so much plot, that a one-shot wouldn’t have sufficed. So I bring you the first chapter, out of about four, in Trains and Passengers, an Ellie/Aster AU.

_________________

“You are sure that he isn’t going to find us, right?” The look Aster Flores fixes Paul Munsky with nearly breaks his heart. She’s the thinnest that he has ever seen her, dark circles under one eye, a purple-red bruise surrounding the other eye. She looks beaten down, absolutely exhausted and like her spirit has been broken. In a sense, he supposes that it really has. 

Nothing can prepare a person for the day that the man who is supposed to love you forever, starts to use his words and fists against you in pure hatred.

“I promise.” Paul whispers, pulling her suitcases out of his car, refusing to let her lift much. “Squahamish was before me and T.J. met. I was a teenager when I left.”

“And you’re sure that the cabin is still there?” Aster double checks. It isn’t that she doesn’t trust Paul, which is funny that she does at all since he was T.J.’s friend first, but the way he looked at her when she first started wearing sunglasses indoors... He knew what was going on immediately and confronted her.

She supposes the only reason he’s even helping her, the only reason she even trusts him at all, is because of Tommy. The day that T.J. and Aster named Paul the godfather of their newborn son, the man had cried and promised to always protect him.

Three years later, on the day that she broke down and told him about T.J.’s temper, Paul had cried again and promised to not let Tommy get hurt. Paul grew up with an angry Dad, he knew the damage it could do.

So it wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, she just had that natural fear running through her. What if the cabin wasn’t there? What if it wasn’t inhabitable for her and her son? She didn’t have much money, didn’t have any friends other than Paul, and her family had made it clear who’s side they were on. She was whisking her son away to safety, but she hoped it was security too.

“My friend lives across the track from the cabin, she said it’s fine. It’s still standing, and she even went in and tidied up for you guys.” Paul pulls a still sleeping Tommy from his carseat, the boy curling up against his chest and reaching his arms around his Uncle.

“Make sure to thank her for me.” Aster whispers, reaching to rub her son’s back gently, leaning her head against him and whispering. “Tommy, baby, you need to wake up... we have to say goodbye to Uncle Paul.”

“I’ll let you thank her, she promised to check in on you guys when you got there.” He smiled, as the boy in his arms stirred awake slowly. “Hey, little man.”

Big brown eyes stared up at Paul, thick lashes jostling up and down as the young boy blinked slowly at him. “Hi Uncle Paul. Are we going on a train now?”

“You and Mama are, Uncle Paul’s gotta stay at home with Daddy, okay?” Paul hugs the little boy tightly, tucking his nephew’s head under his chin before passing him over to Aster. The brunette hoists Tommy onto her hip, and grabs her suitcase in her other hand without breaking eye contact with Paul.

Tommy just whispers against his Mommy’s shoulder. “Daddy is scary, don’t let him be mean to you, okay Uncle Paul?” And then he’s wrapping his arms around his Mom’s neck and clinging onto her.

“I won’t.” Paul promises, leaning in to kiss the boy’s brown locks before giving Aster a tight hug, squeezing them both against him. “Take care of Mama, okay?”

“I will.” Tommy promises, oblivious to the tears springing to his mothers eyes as she mouths a soft ‘thank you’ at her son’s godfather, her bestfriend.

Paul nods his head, before gesturing to the train, holding back his own tears. “You better go and get your seats, the train’s just about to leave.” He smiles.

Aster hauls them onto the train, finding their seats and settling in quickly. Her bag goes under their seat and she lifts little Tommy up to the window, securing him safely against her legs. The boy waves his chubby toddler arms back at his Uncle until the train picks up enough momentum that Paul disappears from sight.

_________________

When they get to Squahamish, it’s late in the afternoon and the sun is already setting into night.

Tommy has spent most of the day curled up against his Mama playing on her cellphone, while she ignores the thirteen calls that her husband has made. Each time the screen lights up with another missed call or text, Aster and her son share a look of concern. 

“Don’t worry baby...” She whispers into his forehead, lips pressed there as he shakes in her arms. “Uncle Paul said he’d handle it, right? Plus, he got Mama a new phone, that way Daddy can’t find us, okay?”

The little boy nods, perking up only as the train starts to come to a stop. “Is this it? Are we here, Mama?!” 

Aster nods and it’s like a switch flips in her three year old, the little boy bouncing up and down excitedly, his hand gripping hers and pulling, always pulling towards the exit of the train. She stops him for a second, struggling to get their suitcase out from underneath the seat, and by the time she’s gotten it and is ready to go... Tommy is already off the train.

“Thomas?” She’s shrill. “Thomas Paul Singh?!”

Aster practically sprints off of the train, bag in her hands, her son’s name a scream on her lips as she prays to whatever God there is still out there, that she didn’t just get her baby boy away from a sick monster, only to lose him immediately to another one.

As she steps off of the train and into the station, she hears a sound that stops and starts her heart again. 

“Mama, look! I found Uncle Paul’s friend! I saw the letters T-O-M-M-Y! That’s my name, Mama!”

Aster drops her bag and pulls her son into her arms, squeezing him to her chest as a sob wracks her body. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.” She cries.

“You must be Aster.” A stranger’s voice breaks her relief of seeing her son, and she looks up from where she’s kneeling to see one of the most beautiful women she’s ever laid eyes on. “I saw him get off the platform and knew it was you guys, you look just like Paul described.” Ellie smiles and Aster feels faint.

She nods her head slowly, not realizing that she’s staring until the other woman seems to catch on. “We were just about to go find you.” Ellie explains, holding up the handmade paper sign that Tommy must have seen from where he got off the train.

In neon letters it screams “Aster and Tommy!”

Aster’s still silent, her son squirming in her embrace as she finally lets go of him. The stranger in front of her laughs a little, clearly just a little embarrassed of the sign and of the alarming way they met.

“I’m Ellie Chu!” She smiles and holds out a hand.

“I know.” Aster breaks free of her stun and smiles, somewhat awkwardly, and takes the girl’s hand. “I mean I guessed. Paul said you’d be here to greet us.”

Ellie nods this time. “Oh yeah! Should we get you two home? You’re probably exhausted from the trip.”

Aster nods, putting her son down. She watches as Ellie outstretches her hand, clearly to take their suitcase, only to wind up with Tommy grabbing on.

Her smile falters but doesn’t fade, and Ellie walks along beside the tracks with the little boy, only waiting for Aster to catch up to them.

“Squahamish is pretty small, but we do have a main street, I’ll have to show you tomorrow since we are pretty much at your place.” Ellie points at a small cabin just across from them, and Aster feels her heart seize up. She knows most people would regret it, the change from the five bedroom Victorian that had been in her husband’s family for years, to a small two bedroom shack... but to Aster it looks like freedom.

“It isn’t much-” Ellie starts, only to get interrupted by a mesmerized Aster with a smile from ear to ear.

“It’s everything I could have hoped for, thank you.”

Ellie smiles softly, and Aster’s heart skips a beat for a moment, something that she chastises herself for. Here she is, fleeing for her and her son’s life, and getting distracted by a cute girl. Damn Paul Munsky!

“Paul sent me a list of stuff you two needed, so I grabbed groceries.” Ellie unlocks the door, letting Aster and her son inside of their new home. Tommy lets out a yell as he runs at a stuffed dinosaur sitting on the kitchen table. “I also picked up a couple of things that weren’t on his list of essentials.”

At the tears that fill Aster’s eyes, Ellie reaches out to squeeze the other girl’s hand. “I know what it’s like to start over in someplace new, only I had most of my stuff with me... I figured you wouldn’t have the room in your bags to pack certain things.”

Aster nods her head. “I had to leave behind almost all of his toys, I certainly wasn’t looking forward to bedtime tonight with only one of his bears.”

Ellie gives a look that says she understands, and neither of them move to pull their hands away from each other until Tommy turns back to look at them.

“I better get home.” Ellie finally says, moving quickly back to the door. “If you two need anything, I just live across the tracks in that building, okay? I run the train station. So just knock on my booth if you need me.”

Tommy’s mouth drops open as he hears Ellie, his voice getting impossibly high-pitched and excited as he talk-shouts. “You work in the train station?!”

Aster just laughs. “Well now you’ve got his attention, you should stay for dinner, so we can thank you.”

Ellie Chu stays for dinner, and even bed time, regaling little Tommy Singh with stories of the work she does on the trains, the people she’s met. She has Aster captivated as well, but for very different reasons.

As Tommy begins to fall asleep, Ellie excuses herself with a smile. “You should get some sleep too, you’re settled in alright?” She’s genuinely concerned, a breath of fresh air from how T.J. would dismiss her.

Aster nods and smiles, wishing Ellie a good night and then triple-locking the door before crawling into bed next to her three year old and curling around him.

_________________ 

Mother and Son wake somewhere near Midnight, a sound in the dark outside stirring them from their sleep putting them both on edge. They both freeze temporarily in bed, hoping that if they’re quiet for long enough, the unknown noises will go away.

When they don’t, Aster pulls Tommy into her arms and whispers. “Do you want to go see the trains?”

The little boy nods, and so she wraps him up in a blanket, pulling a shawl from her suitcase to wrap around her own shoulders before she carries him to the door and outside of the cabin to watch.

For a second they watch in silence, the midnight train passing in front of them. Aster hugs Tommy close to her as the train starts fading into the distance, too far now to see, before a soft and concerned voice calls out to them. “Hey Aster, Tommy! Are you alright?”

Aster glances up, a sigh of relief escapes her as she realizes who it is that called out to them. Ellie Chu, working the midnight train. She should have guessed.

“We couldn’t sleep!” Aster calls out, taking a step closer to Ellie, her son clambering down from her arms to get closer to the other woman, or more importantly, the train booth she’s sat in.

Ellie opens the booth doors open wide as Tommy Singh gets close to them, the boy stopping at the doors to stare between her and his Mama. “Can I?” He calls over his shoulder, a soft nod from his Mother sends him scrambling inside, rushing for Ellie. “Cool!”

Aster gets closer too, the girls exchanging a look as Ellie lifts Tommy onto her knee to show him the control panel. “Only touch the button I tell you too, okay?” She makes sure to tell him first, before pointing at the different ones on the control board and explaining what they do. Aster comes closer and closer with each explanation, her eyes stuck on the way her son lights up as Ellie asks him to point which button is which and he gets them mostly correct. 

Her heart warms as Ellie lets him press one to make the stop lights turn on and off, and she lets out a laugh as he proclaims loudly that he’s going to be a train “connector” when he grows up, just like Ellie.

Ellie looks at the time before turning back to Aster. “Do you want to join us, it’s pretty cold out?”

Aster blushes, suddenly painfully aware of how embarrassing her thin, pink nightgown is. It’s not very warm, and it covers barely anything, her shawl barely wraps around her shoulders. Ellie’s suggestion is one of concern for her health, nothing more, but Aster still can’t help but blush at the very thought of it.

“Are you sure we aren’t bothering you?”

Ellie shakes her head, a smile coming over her face as she holds Tommy close to her, squeezing together so Aster has enough room to join them in the booth. “Not at all.” She pauses, glancing back down at the time. “The second train is supposed to be here in fifteen minutes, if you want to, Tommy can help?”

Aster nodded her head, the little boy giving out a tired but excited cry of “Yay Mama!” Aster smiled.  

“You can share the chair with me, if you want?” Ellie scootches over in her seat just a little, trying to give Aster some room to sit down. “That way you can sit?”

As the three sat together; Ellie, Aster and Tommy, a small pang rang through Aster’s chest. How was it, that she could be so comfortable with a girl she just met, when her own husband kept her terrified.

It wasn’t until she was at home in bed, over an hour later, that she was able to even think about why. Ellie was just a friend, she was nice, she was polite, she was safe... Only she didn’t make Aster feel very safe.

Getting involved with Ellie Chu seemed like the most unsafe thing Aster Flores could ever possibly do.                      

[illdesigns]

Kloktober Day 9

crossover or fave au

my favorite au featuring the most coveted ship - magnus/therapy

rated m, warnings for brief talks of canon typical violence, self harm

The office had a smell. That was the worst part. Not the pastel walls or the various ceramic kittens and cherubs or the pale yellow sofa that sagged as Magnus sat in it. It had an absolute perfume smell to it, like he had his face buried in a field of flowers at all times.

Well, it wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was a special kind of torture that most people were not privy to - the sound of mechanical fingers clicking a pen.

“You gotta talk for this to do anything, you know,” Magnus’ eye tracked the man behind the desk as he wheeled back and forth in his office chair. “C’mon, big guy. I know you got a lot going on in that head of yours. What’re you thinking about?”

“Leaving,” Magnus replied briskly. “So I can have a beer and pretend this didn’t happen.”

“You use alcohol like that a lot?” Twinkletits asked curiously, pausing his rolling but not the pen clicking. “To cope with things? You a heavy drinker?”

“No,” he snapped. (Translation: Yes.)

“When you drink, how many drinks do you have? Just one or two, five or more?” he wasn’t subtle in what he was asking. Which is why Magnus hated therapists. He had tried it, once or twice, even before everything in his life really went to shit. When he was just depressed about being in his early twenties because being in your early twenties fucking sucks. And there had been one afterwards but, well, she just didn’t work out either. Dropped him after the whole stabbing story. “Talk with me, Magnus. You’ve got a friend worried about you, you know.”

“I don’t have friends,” it was out of his mouth faster than he intended and he winced. Whatever. If that got back to Toki somehow, Magnus could sue right? Patient confidentiality, HIPAA or whatever? Twinkletits wrote something on the pad in his hand. “What are you writing?”

“Don’t worry about me. My job is to take notes about this stuff for future reference, you just talk. Why don’t you think you have friends? Toki cares about you a lot. He set this up for you, asked you to come down and see me. That’s a friend, right?” Twinkletits offered.

“Yeah,” Magnus spoke with a hint of guilt, looking at his hands. (Translation: Yeah, actually.)

He felt the urge to sneeze, covering his face with the crook of his elbow, rubbing his nose and sniffling. That fucking smell was still covering every surface of his nostrils and it was starting to give him a headache.

“What’s that smell?” he asked.

“Bless you. Lavender. Keeps people calm,” Twinkletits beamed at him. It was funny, because he felt the urge to bash his head into a wall the more he had to inhale it. Not very calming. “And speaking of calm…Toki told me some interesting stuff about you.”

No. No, no, no. Magnus looked up at him again and his eyebrows knit together in suspicion.

“Like?” he asked, knowing the answer.

“So, do you wanna tell me about what happened back in…” he checked his notes. “1999? Ol’ Nate mentioned it too. Feels like it’s important to bring up.”

“Oh, he tell you he did this?” Magnus gestured to his dead eye.

“He told me he did that after you, uh, you stabbed him. But yes, he did,” Twinkletits wrote another little note. Magnus could only imagine what the little dossier Dethklok has on him now will look like. But it’s easier to imagine Offdensen smirking as he reads it, easier to imagine a list of reasons why Toki shouldn’t hang around him laid out in front of him, easier to imagine all of his plans unraveling because he went along with this.

“He, uh…” Magnus paused. Even if he was going to lie about what happened (not that he would be believed by a guy on their payroll anyway) he wasn’t sure...what had happened. It was always a blur when he tried to remember the details - his thought process, why it happened. It was like he blinked and opened his eyes to Nathan beating the shit out of him. “Not much to say if he told you.”

“What about from your point of view?” he prodded, steepling his skinny robot fingers. Why did their therapist have robot arms, anyway? Magnus found that more interesting.

“I dunno, man. It just happened!” he was defensive already, arms crossed over his chest, leg crossed. Shut off. “Things just happen, you know? Like before then I’d have problems with getting mad really easy. People would like, call me stupid and I’d blow up on them or something bad would happen and I’d get depressed and cry it out then take it out on people. And they started to hate me for it, and I started getting worse than that. I see you writing, dude, what are you writing?”

“Just writing what you’re saying. Helps me keep track, okay? Nothing bad,” Twinkletits waved him on. “Go on.”

“I...well, I dunno. It just got worse. I was mad all the time. Thought about hurting myself a lot. Then I started doing that. Thought about hurting other people a lot after that, and then…” he shrugged his shoulders. “Then I did. And got kicked out and live in a little one room apartment while my old friends have this giant sprawling mansion and shit now, who cares.”

“Do you think about that still?” he picked his head up curiously. “Do you think about hurting yourself or others?”

Magnus paused for a moment and thought. Who didn’t think about hurting themselves? You know, just get so frustrated and filled with nervous energy you had to hit yourself in the head a few times? And there was the time before last that he had hung out with Toki, where Toki had sat and talked and talked and talked for too long and Magnus had imagined grabbing his hair and slamming his face into the table to shut him up.

His mind flashed to a basement in an abandoned building. Silver chains and a silver face, both hungrily waiting for their captive.

“No,” he said softly. “I’ve gotten better with that.”

Twinkletits smiled. Checked his clock.

“You know, I gotta wind this down today but...thank you for opening up! Doesn’t it feel nice?” he stood as Magnus did, breaking the distance quickly. He held out a hand to shake and Magnus found himself taking it. His grip was stronger than he expected but metal couldn’t be limp wristed, could it? “I appreciate you opening up at all. We can continue this next time you stop by to hang out, okay? Toki can fill me in so I can make space for you. Oh, before you go-o-o-o-”

He turned to grab something from his desk. A sticker sheet. Magnus frowned as he watched those mechanical fingers peel one off.

“I’m not in Kindergarten. I don’t need a gold star,” Magnus grunted as he felt Twinkletits’ hand on the lapel of his jacket.

“Oh, this isn’t a gold star, buddy! It’s something better,” he beamed up at him. “It’s a banana sticker. For a job well done! You obviously don’t open up easily and I’m sure all that’s a sore subject, so even the little bit we talked about was probably a big step for you!”

Magnus looked down. Well, it sure was a banana sticker. Okay. Seemed a little too gay for his taste but whatever. He was just going to peel it off and toss it the second he could anyway. Twinkletits gave him a wave when he departed and Magnus was stopped outside of the therapist’s office by all but running into Toki dead on.

“Hows it go?” he asked excitedly, then his eyes found it. “Ohhh, you gots a stickers already?! That’s goods, it took me forevers to get ones! Man I gots to do somethings specials as we hangs out today!”

“What?” Magnus raised his eyebrows in confusion as he spoke, looking down at it. It was just a goddamn sticker.

“It’s a big deals! Means you dids a good jobs. I’m prouds of you, pals!” Toki said, face lighting up and eyes crinkling as he looked at Magnus.

Proud. For a sticker? But, Magnus tried to really think of when the last time someone told him they were proud of him. Whatever. He’d take it. He let out a little grunt as Toki wrapped his arms around him in a crushing hug and that gave him more pause. His arms hung by his side limply, his chest and throat suddenly hurt and Magnus wracked his brains for the last time that someone had given him a hug, either. More than ten years ago probably, five figures huddled in front of a camera to commemorate some successful show or something.

So Magnus kept the sticker. So what? It wasn’t anyone’s business if he did or not. Or if he kept the others that he accumulated over the next few months. Or if he found it easier to keep his hair up in a bun at this point. He’d been growing it for years, he could keep it up now and then. Or if he did a few other things, like wear a shirt now and then, change up his style a little bit. And there was a tiny part of him that found it funny as fuck when Dethklok stared at him with a mix of confusion and horror as Toki drug him into the living room of Mordhaus, proudly talking about his brand new friend.

[singeramg]

so proud to be a henry cavill fan, he is awesome and he does care about whats happing and anyone who hates on him is wrong. after that post just makes me love him more

Hi anon,

So I am going to respond to the above comment under the assumption that you are speaking about everyone in general and not just me so I will offer my opinion in kind. 🧐😊

Okay so I haven’t been avoiding this topic but I haven’t been exactly excited to post on it either but since the opportunity to speak on it has come up I will be saying my peace with the intent that it does not offend anyone but that it inspires you. I hope I don’t lose any followers behind it but if I do then that probably means you weren’t here to truly support me anyway. 🤷🏾‍♀️

First and foremost if you are following my blog or reading this in the tags and have never heard of me at all...

I. AM. A. BLACK. WOMAN.

A unapologetic, proud, and loud black woman. I love that about myself and that will not change.

When it comes to the matter of Henry Cavill I am a huge fan (otherwise why would I devote my time to writing or posting anything about him.) and I will continue to be a fan. However I have noticed some discontent with his last ig post. When I noticed it I looked into what people were saying and with that being said BOTH sides make a valid point.

I do not pretend to know Henry Cavill on a personal level, I do not know his personal life, what his feelings are or anything like that because they reserved for those closest to him (as they should be, the man owes nobody his personal life nor time) that being said we do not know what he is doing behind the scenes to support BLM movement and to end police brutality against all. He could be donating and signing petitions, all of that and honestly normally I operate under the ideal that if you are truly giving and doing out the kindness of your heart then it does not need to be recorded nor told. Nobody ever has to know what you’ve done for others because that’s what charity and helping others is about. Not letting the word know “ooo look at me I am handing out blankets and handing this homeless person 20 dollars.” That’s just me 🤷🏾‍♀️

Now I say all of that to say this.

We are in a moment in time where one post is not the game changer we need. Black people have been protesting this treatment for years! Lynching just became a federal crime in the USA in 2018.

Let that sink in...

2018.

Our former president had displays set up of him being hung from a tree.

Ruby Bridges is in her 60s I believe.

There were still segregated high schools in the south up until about a year or two ago.

People still call the police for Black people living in the same building as them. Holding us captive in spaces because they feel we owe them an explanation or conversation.

I personally have experienced racism across multiple times in my life where I have been assaulted, berated and verbally abused because of the color of my skin.

Now is not the time for passive involvement. If you are going to be our allies then we need you all in. Right now, Especially if you are European/ Caucasian and across the globe, we need your voices now more than ever and we need you to make it clear about where you stand so that there is no confusion nor passivity about it. It needs to be known that no matter who you are it shouldn’t be tolerated.

So no if y’all want my opinion. I do not believe his one post in the scope of everything that is going on is enough. One post on a day, on a platform that you aren’t on everyday anyway, that all of your peers is saying or doing it is not enough and making that the only thing you post 👀. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that even to me (the most understanding person who has friends of every creed, color, orientation and otherwise) the post felt convienant and slightly tone deaf.

Before y’all jump on my back I have this to say about him specifically. Do I think this man is a racist? ABSOLUTELY NOT. He, himself has too many friends and people of every color, orientation to in my opinion be racist nor discriminatory toward anyone. He seems like a Really sweet guy who loves people and animals (the man picked up a damn turtle out of the street so it didn’t get run over) and just wants the best for everyone. He wants hugs and love and for the world to love in harmony.

To that effect I am also keeping in mind that his history with press has not been the best. They have a habit of twisting words and making them seem what they are not. His comments on Me too were taken out of context and make to seem like he was being a misogynistic asshole, when in reality he was just making a valid point ( especially for someone like him who has a self admitted fear/issue of talking to women he is interested in.). His comments on the Oscar controversy were at best a moment of Naïveté and unaware of what the actual problem was and is. Does that mean he needed to educate himself on the real issue? YES. Does that mean that he hasn’t since then? NO.

He has a case of F. I. M that no matter how old you are can be from childhood until senior years. F. I. M is Foot In Mouth. So for right now I am going to take his lack of vocality as being trigger shy and a fear of saying the wrong thing. Tbh this is wrong time to accidentally or on purpose say the wrong thing because nobody is putting up with that. We are not allowing for “accidental” ill spoken words and honestly bae might just do that because he may word something wrong and it goes completely left in what he was trying to say. I’d rather him take the time or let his managers draft something to say that he agrees with rather than he go on a tangent and get himself canceled like Lea Michele, Doja Cat and Drew Brees. So for right now I am going to let him slide.

But I will say this he only has so long to be passive or to think that that one post is enough in this situation because it’s not. He is going to have to show a real invested interest in change at some point. 🤷🏾‍♀️ this goes for ALL my celeb loves white, black, brown and everything between. You ain’t got to be John Boyega (although I love his energy) but you can’t be silent either.

I am not about to go on the Henry Cavill is canceled tour because it’s not that deep yet. For now he still has my support and fandom, I am going to continue writing and posting him as I see fit.

Sorry for being so long winded but it needed to be said and as I said when started this post is not meant to be offensive as much as it meant to be informative and hopefully inspiring to all of his fans and beyond. Maybe even spark a conversation about your own involvement 😊

- Singeramg

[thunderbird-one-ai]

Take Flight

So this is probably wayyy OOC but it’s been in my head for a while so thought I would finally put fingers to the keyboard

Warning I guess this is a pretty large trigger warning for suicidal thoughts and over all hurt/comfort but has a nice ending. 

‘Tick tock’ ‘Tick tock’

Scott couldn’t remember how long he’d been starring at the wall clock for. He had a rough idea since the sun had started rising and he went to bed just before midnight. The light was filling his room with a mixture of yellow and red rays piercing through the gaps in his curtains. He sighed and rolled over, though it did little to ease his discomfort. Eventually he gave up on the prospect of sleeping and got out of bed, quietly making his way out of his room.

Scott looked at every door he walked past. He Heard Virgil snoring. John was spending a few days down on Earth, but he still heard EOS activated in his room. He heard Gordon groan softly and the movement of sheets. He got to youngest Tracy’s door and opened it slightly, checking on Alan. For someone who was so loud during the day, Scott could never tell if Alan was asleep or awake with how quite his room was during the nights. As always though, he was there sound asleep. Scott would have smiled if he didn’t feel so distant. Finally, he heard a more distant snore that was not coming from Virgil’s room but his fathers. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he still got caught off guard when hearing quiet snoring from his fathers’ room, even though he had heard it for almost a year now.

Once he had the knowledge that everyone was safe and sound, he thought his mind would start to let up, unfortunately for him it didn’t. Scott sighed quietly as he left the house, walking down to the beach of Tracy Island. Sunrises were always something that Scott never truly admired, he much preferred looking at the moon. But even now he was captivated by the different coloured rays bouncing off the ocean’s surface almost as if they were surfing the farthest waves Scott could see. It was peaceful, tranquil and damn it he couldn’t bring himself to feel at ease! He rubbed his eyes as he began to walk along the coast, away from home, away from what might be causing this.

Scott walked for most of the morning, surprised that he didn’t get a message from his watch asking for a call out. He wondered if John went back to Thunderbird Five. He wondered if everyone was okay. It was strange to Scott, wanting to know if everyone was okay yet he didn’t want to be around anyone himself. He stopped in his tracks. Was it himself that was actually at fault here? What if he was smothering them too much like they joked about? What if they no longer saw it as a joke but a hindrance? His mind went to a dark alternative. What if, he was just in the way? He could leave right now, disappear without a trace. No one would know, would anyone even care? Scott concluded no one would after all, he was just in the way. A hindrance to his family now nothing more. There was something dangerously calming at this thought of supposed realisation. Calming to the point that when he saw a cliff edge looking over an outstanding waterfall, he thought not of the scenery but of how easy it would be to fall and vanish. Fly one last time, to feel the wind hit his face, the roar of the air past his ears.

These thoughts continued for a while. Thoughts that anyone in their right mind would be repelled by. But to Scott, they felt like the only thing taking the weight off well, everything. Maybe now was the time to leave his brothers to it. Maybe it was time for Scott Tracy to have his last flight, a final voyage. To free his brothers from him and enjoy their lives.

“You know if you wanted to avoid Grandmas cookies for today you didn’t have to travel to the other side of the island,” Scott quickly put a name to the voice, Virgil. Why was he here? He should be at home, joking with his family about Grandmas poor cooking, watching their dad eat one with a pained smile on his face. Scott would have smiled at the thought if he wasn’t too focused on sheer drop below him, “You also didn’t have to ignore most of John’s pings either. You know how he worries,”

John’s pings? So, his watch had been going off. Scott couldn’t recall hearing the iconic sound. It was probably drowned out by the roaring inside his own head. “Sorry. Didn’t realise…” Scott finally said, his voice trailing off near the end, still looking down at the sheer drop.

He must have said something wrong since he heard Virgil starting to walk towards him. “The others are probably waiting for you back at home,” Scott’s mind thought up a quick excuse to make Virgil stay away. He couldn’t let his brother come this close to the edge, this close to flying like he felt because deep down Scott knew, he knew this was wrong, but he couldn’t stop these thoughts swimming through his mind.

“Actually, we are all out trying to look for you. We would have found you sooner, but EOS was out of commission for a bit,” Virgil replied. Scott noticed his voice was right behind him. If he took one step back, he would step on Virgil’s toes for sure. Even that short distance felt like miles for him and he couldn’t understand why. Why did his own brother feel so far away?

“Why?” Scott asked.

“Why?” Scott heard his younger brother, confusion in his tone. “Well she was running some diagnostics last night and they were still running throughout the day. John said something about all the data being corrupted if she stopped so- “

“No, I mean…why come and find me?” Scott interrupted.

“Because…we were worried about you Scott,”

“You weren’t worried. I’m a hinderance to you all,” after Scott spoke, he felt the entire world around him go quiet. No more deafening sounds in his head, but the pain was still there, like the wound had finally stopped being prized open and was now out for all to see. He tensed slightly when he felt Virgil’s hand on his shoulder. Now he felt Virgil was too close instead of miles away, but Scott couldn’t find it in himself to shrug that hand away, it was only thing keeping him from taking that last step forward, to fly one last time.

“Come away from the edge Scott,” Scott heard Virgil say softly, a tone he often rarely uses, if at all.

“I could do it Virg. I could fly one last time and you wouldn’t have to put up with me anymore. You wouldn’t have me constantly looking over you guys to make sure you’re okay. You guys would be fine without me, you’d be better off without me. All I need to do-,” Scott gasped at Virgil practically bear hugged him from behind. He couldn’t fly now, not with Virgil holding on to him like this, he couldn’t risk Virgil flying with him. He was so close! “Virgil let go! I can do it! I can fl-!”

“You’d fall!” Scott heard his brother shout, desperation in his voice. “You wouldn’t fly Scott, you’d fall! You’d fall out of our lives forever!” he felt Virgil’s grip only tighten, “We need you Scott. More than that, we want you to be around. You’re our big brother, we all look up to you Scott. Every single one of us. You’ve never been a hindrance. You were a reason why we stayed together through the hardest times, you’re the reason why we try our best at everything we do because you’re family. We all love you. Me, John, Gordon, Alan and dad,”

The names rang through his head, like a church bell being hit repeatedly. The names of the people Scott believed he was letting down. The names of the people he loved with every fibre of his being. If he left now, would they still be safe? Scott still believed that he was better off leaving them.

“Why won’t you let go Virgil,” Scott heard his own voice stutter, he let his head fall noticing his hands shaking.

“Because this world is better off with you in it Scott. If you don’t believe in yourself, then believe in me. Listen to me and take what I say in. I want you here and I know for a fact every other member of the family does too. So come back home Scott, come back to your family. Stay on the ground with us,” Virgil said softly.

Emotions suddenly flooded back into the forefront of Scott’s mind. He felt a stab to his stomach and let out a sob before his legs suddenly felt like jelly. Scott guessed his brother felt the difference in his stance because he was being pulled back a short distance before falling softly to the ground. He couldn’t move not because he wanted too, but because Virgil still had one arm wrapped around Scott’s waist and one on his head, holding it to his brother’s chest.

“I’m sorry Virgil, I’m so sorry. I didn’t- I don’t-,” he couldn’t even think of words that would make up for what he just tried to do. “I don’t want to leave you guys. I’m sorry Virgil,”

Scott heard Virgil shush him softly. “It’s okay big brother, you can’t take the weight of your world and everyone else’s worlds in the family. Let us take some of the burden too, we can handle it together, as a family. Just don’t hide it from us. We’ll never give up on you Scott. You’re family,”

Scott let out a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding, he looked forward to the waterfall, finally seeing how beautiful the sight was. “I’ll…I’ll try Virgil,”

“Remember you don’t have to do it alone. We’ll get through this as a family,”

Scott nodded slightly. He knew this wouldn’t be over quickly, but he was going to try. It might not be easy but right now, but with Virgil still holding onto him, he was glad that he didn’t take flight one final time. He could always fly in Thunderbird One tomorrow with his family.

[nctwd127]

The Balcony.

Chapter Eight.

Word Count: 1683

“Hey, aren’t you that girl that knocked into Johnny at the café?” asked a very cute brown headed boy. I blushed and was ready to answer when I heard Johnny’s voice behind me say, “Yes, yes she is. Guys this is (Y/N).” He came to stand next to me and threw his arm over my shoulder. I blushed at his random action.

“Hey I apologized for that.” I laughed and poked his side. He smiled at me and dropped his arm and stepped more into the living room. The boys went back to their respective conversations. A little awkward, I took a seat in the empty love seat.

A boy who to me, resembled a bunny, took a seat next to me. He gave me a gummy smile and introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Doyoung.” I smiled back and introduced myself as well. A conversation started to flow smoothly between us about the books we have read and considered reading.

It was almost weird how comfortable I got with Doyoung. And not just him, but as well with the other guys as well. The boy who asked the question earlier, I learned his name is Sicheng but he likes to go by Winko. He’s cute and a little shy, at least towards to me he was but with the guys, he’s a talking machine. But one in particular, did I connect the most with.

Yuta snuck into Doyoung’s seat when he got up to take a phone call. He too had charming features. His jawline so sharp and his beautiful long black hair, styled lazily on his head but so soft looking. His honey eyes looked so captivating. And his smile, nothing could ever compare to that smile, I would bet anything that his smile could heal any aching heart, mine included.

We were similar in the sense that we both used flirting as part of our personalities. It came natural to us to flirt with one another. It was fun and kept things interesting between us.

As our conversation progressed and the space between us started to decrease greatly on the love seat, I started to feel eyes on me. It started to make me feel a little unsettled so I quickly glanced around to see where it was coming from. I thought it could have been from Mark because I know he likes to be protective of me. But it wasn’t.

It was coming from Johnny, who was burning a hole into Yuta’s hand that rested on my thigh, making me aware that his hand was there to begin with. I turned my attention back to Yuta and excused myself for a moment. He smiled and nodded, removing his hand. I made my way into the kitchen, still feeling eyes on me.

Once inside, I exhaled a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding in. My mind tried to make sense of what happened outside but it couldn’t. Instead I walked over to the sink and just stared out the window into the backyard watching the wind blow through the leaves. Unwillingly my mind started to drift to Hyuck, wondering how he was doing and if this was as hard for him as it is for me.

Suddenly my name was spoken from behind me, scaring me a little. I turned to face whoever called my name only to be brought face to face with someone’s chest, as they were standing undeniably too close to me.

I stood frozen at the closeness of our bodies. Too nervous to say anything or to even look up, I just nodded like he had asked a question. He put his hands on either side of me, caging me in between him and the sink, lowering himself a little to look at my face. My eyes desperate to look anywhere but him.

“You okay? You seemed a little rushed leaving the living room.” I could hear the smugness dripping off his words, like he’s trying to prove something. I gathered all the courage I could and looked him in the eyes. “Oh yeah, just needed a breather is all. It was starting to feel a little hot.” A small smirk playing at my lips as if I was implying a different kind of hot.

His smirk got a little wider as he leaned into me a little more. My face flushed scarlet and the thumping of my heart increased so much I was scared he could hear it, as he was centimeters away from my lips. His minty breath fanned my face as he spoke.

“You’re cute, I’ll give you that.”

Before I could even question him, he was out the door without even looking back. I was left shocked for a moment, trying to understand what just happened but to no avail. For some reason, this felt like a game and two people can play that.

A few minutes passed as I composed myself and went back into the living room, to take my place next to Yuta again. Yuta gave me his undivided attention despite having been in a conversation with Jaehyun before I walked over. Leaning into me, he whispered in my ear, “You okay?” as his hand found its place on my thigh again.

I glanced at Johnny, who was staring at us already, long enough for my smirk to mirror his, bringing my attention back to Yuta as I leaned into him, running my hand down his arm. “Yeah, just needed some water is all.” I answered.

Time flew by us as we watched a movie that quickly turned into background noise as the boys wouldn’t stop talking. All of them just catching up on the last few years, after Johnny moved away, everyone just kind of drifted apart because that’s how life is sometimes. With Johnny being back, everyone had managed to get some time off to reunite. They shared all kinds of stories about one another, most causing everyone to laugh till it hurt.

It was past one in the morning when Mark and I decided to head out, I was going to leave on my own so he could stay but he insisted on walking me home because it was already late.

Yuta and I exchanged numbers at some point during the night and even took a picture together to put as the contact picture, much to Johnny dismay who hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off us for too long, a smirk always present on his face. Which only fueled my flirting with Yuta even more.

“It was nice meeting all of you, hopefully I’ll see you guys soon.” I smiled widely and bowed my head a little at them, A chorus of “you too” filled the air as Mark and I followed Johnny to the door.

“Marky Mark, I’ll see you tomorrow. (Y/N), I’ll see you around, yeah?” He asked, smirking at me. I hummed in response as I stepped out into the night as they did their bro hug.

“What was that about?” Mark questioned as we began out walk. “You know, I really don’t know.” I replied truthfully because I really didn’t, this whole thing was a little confusing for me. We laughed and suddenly the air got a little heavy, as I fiddled with my thumbs trying to gather the right words to ask. But like he read my mind, he spoke first.

“He’s doing okay, well as okay as he can be, you know how he is.” He assured me as he placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, its okay to not be okay.”

I gave him a small smile as the air became much lighter now. I guess I was relieved to hear he was doing okay but still, my heart laid heavy.

Once at my door, we hugged each other goodbye and I closed the door as Mark walked away in the direction of his home, which wasn’t too far way either actually.

Walking into my room, I changed into to my pajamas and crawled into bed. As my eyes were getting heavy with sleep ready to fall into dreamland, my phone buzzed. Who could possibly be texting me at this hour? I reached over and looked at the message.

[Johnny]: Thank you for coming, I’ll see you around ;)

[Me]: Hmm, thank you for inviting me. And we’ll see ;) Goodnight.

[Johnny]: Don’t let the bed bugs bite princess ;)

His message caused me to laugh. Princess?

Whatever game Johnny was playing for sure had my attention, I wasn’t one to back down so easily so we’ll see where this goes, if it goes anywhere.

~

Everything was happening so fast. The lights flashing of red and blue, turned into white blurry lights above me, moving quickly. My eyes trying hard to stay open but failing miserably. Someone was holding my hand as I moved.

Their figure came into view and I realized it was Donghyuk. He was holding my hand, telling me that everything was going to be okay, that the baby was going to be okay. All of a sudden, everything came to a dramatic stop.

Everything but me. I got up and walked over to the mirror in the middle of what seemed to be a hospital. There was blood running down my legs but my bump appeared to be fine. I felt nothing. I was fine.

Everything started to move again. I turned to face Donghyuk, he came to me and his hands landed on my bump. He smiled down at me and planted a kiss on my forehead. He went to say something to me but a song started playing over the speakers loudly, drowning out his voice.

~

Much like last time, I woke up in a cold sweat and panting. It was that dream again. The first time, the dream didn’t mean much to me but now, it hard me a little nervous. But I brushed it off, knowing Hyuck and I, would never be in that predicament.

Masterlist

~~~~

My Yuwin heart couldn’t stop itself from referring to him as Winko T-T

Please do feel free to leave comments or send in messages about the story, Feedback is greatly appreciated.

[cmncisspnandmore]

Don’t Let Me Go

Hello my lovely readers! This is a fic i wanted to write because i have been feeling kind of down in the dumps lately and I wanted some Fluffy Reid to make me feel better. Not that my Fiance cant cheer me up but sometimes you just need to feel a little love from the guys you’ll never get ya know? Anyways this is a new series, i’m not sure how many parts this will be but enjoy!

Pairing: Spencer Reid X Reader Warnings: Anorexia, eating disorders, depression, drug use, mentions of past character death, extreme fluff? is that a warning? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

27 hours.

It had been 27 hours since you took the last bite of food. All that had passed your lips in the past 27 hours was black coffee and water.

Pulling open the door to the conference room, your team turn to look at you. Each member giving you a smile, and Dr. Spencer reid pulled the chair next to him out slightly, a steaming paper cup set in front of it.

“Alrighty my pretties. We got two women, one a Sandra Morey, 35, divorcee. Two kids that live with their father Henry Morey. And we have Aubrey Willison, also 35, has two kids that live with their dad a Mr. Ralph Willison. Both women were found in their homes with a single gunshot wound to the chest, that pierced their heart. Both ex husbands have been ruled out as suspects, and the icing on our lovely murder cake is that they were killed within 3 days of each other.” Garcia clicks through the slideshow of the victims.

The team listens intently, but your food deprived mind starts to drift, and you find yourself staring blankly down at the paper cup in front of you. There were 2 calories in black coffee. 1 in espresso, over the past day you had consumed 23 calories. 10 cups of piping hot coffee and an espresso that you grabbed on your way here. The barista gave you a weird look when you ordered a single shot of espresso, nothing else. No cream, no sugar, normally people ordered a latte, or a cappuccino. But not you. There were far too many calories, you didn’t even enjoy the taste of black coffee, it was far too bitter and left a gross taste in your mouth. But the feeling of the hot liquid sliding down your throat warming your permanently cold chest, was euphoric. You savored the way it felt in your empty stomach.

“Y/n, are you cold? You’re shivering..” Reid’s hand on your arm startled you, and you gave him a shy smile.

“Sorry, I should’ve grabbed a sweater before coming in I guess,”

“Here use mine.”

You watch as Reid shrugs off his brown cardigan and wraps it around your thin shoulders. You were surprised it fit. You felt like a elephant, your wrists were too thick, your thighs touched and your ribs didn’t stick out when you laid down. Your collarbones were hidden under puffy, mushy fat that clung to you like glue. You hated the way your stomach protrudes when you sit down. You can’t stand when people brush by you in small spaces, people should be able to effortlessly slip by you. If they couldn’t, then you were thin enough.

“Thank you, Reid. I appreciate it.” You smile lightly, a small blush creeping up your cheeks. Across the table Morgan watched as the Dr. smiled back, his hand lingering on your shoulder just a moment too long. Morgan smiled to himself, he had an inkling that the genius liked you as more than a friend. You had been the saviour for the doctors self destruction when he fell to the cold hand of Dilaudid. You had been fairly new to the team when Reid was kidnapped, and you didn't hesitate to hold Reids hand as he was carried away on the stretcher, and you actually got into a verbal argument with Hotch, when he told you to leave for the night to go home. You stuck by his bedside the entire night, and when he was discharged you even insisted you sleep at his house until his wounds healed.

Spencer at the time wasn't aware that you had known what it was like to be completely alone when fighting something you couldn't control. You knew that the Unsub had drugged Reid, you had found the vials, when Reid was suddenly acting strange a few months after the incident. When he had been cleared for the field again, and you picked up on it instantly. You had made it your personal mission to help him with this.

As you helped Reid get over his addiction to the harsh drug that had been forced upon him, your friendship grew, and for Spencer it grew into more than that. When Maeve died you were right there for him as well. You spent nights sitting outside his apartment door, reading him lines from his favorite books. You brought him coffee and just listened to him cry. You were the equivalent to a guardian angel for Spencer.

You had helped Spencer more than anyone could have imagined, and in return the kind, awkward Doctor had started to bring you coffee, and you would spend nights at his place and listen to his read his favorite books. You would often gift books to each other, share random facts you found interesting with one another. It was the small things that made Spencer fall for you, the way your nose crinkled when you found out what the names of the Unsubs. How you had to make sure that everyone got home safe after a case, and how you bought Garcia endless colorful pens for her office.

“Wheels up in 20” Hotch, grabs the file from the table in front of you and you jump. Your brain felt foggy, and logically you knew you needed to eat something if you were going on a case, but the calories you burned when you fasted for this long. When you fasted for this long, you desired to feel light and airy. Like nothing in the world could weigh you down.

“Y/N, are you okay? You’re awfully jumpy, and you barely drank any of your coffee..” Reid stood up, his brow knitted together in worry. Reid may be a profiler, but so were you, you knew what he was looking for, a tell, a sign that you werent okay. You hated that you had to lie to him, and to the team but if they knew what was happening with you they would call for you to have a evaluation and that would get you taken from the field.

You could handle this, only 15 pounds left, then you would finally be where you needed to be. Reid and the team, they would think you looked amazing. Morgan would be able to lift you up when he gave you a hug after a hard case. And Reid, he would be able to lift you off his lap when you fell asleep as he ran his long fingers through your hair, as he read to you. You would be able to ask for a smaller size of your vest because the bigger ones the rest of the team wore would restrict your movement. You would be able to wear spencers cardigans and have them hang to your knees, your slim legs would look great in them and you wouldn't feel like an elephant anymore. All you had to do was fast for another day or so and then you could allow the 300 calories you felt would be acceptable.

“I’m fine, Spence. I promise, just tired, I had a hard time sleeping last night.” You smile up at him and he holds out his hand for you, you greatly take it and wrap your thin fingers around his, and allow the tall Dr. to assist you in standing.

You walk with the rest of the team to the jet, everyone wearing light sweaters in the warm breeze, while you wrapped your down jacket around you a little tighter, the wind forcing violent shiver through you. You stood next to Spencer and JJ, waiting for the stairs of the jet to fold down. You couldn’t wait to sit in the last booth across from the Dr. as he read another book that you picked up from him on your way in to work this morning. You always picked the longest books you could find when buying books for Reid. His eidetic memory making reading books a short task for him, but he humored you often and tried to slow his reading so you wouldn't feel bad for taking a while longer to read the selections he picked for you.

You put your go bag in the compartment above the bench you claimed as your own, and sat on the bench, as Spencer sits across from you. “Oh Spencey. I got you this.” You reach into your purse a hand him the book, and he gives you a smile.

“Thanks Y/N, I’m sure im going to enjoy it. I always do,” He takes the book and tucks in under his arm and shrugs off his messenger bag. Placing it on his seat, he walks over to the cabinet on the back of jet and grabs a water for himself and brings you one.

“Here, i know your ears pop when you take off.” He hands you the bottle his fingers brushing against yours, and it takes everything in Spencer to not pull back from your alarmingly cold hand. Spencer had noticed over the past few months how you had dropped a few pounds, and at first it wasn't alarming, with the amount of cases increasing all of your diets had suffered. But when things had evened out and you were still dropping weight. And now that the last 6 times you had crashed at Reid’s apartment you refused dinner and the following morning breakfast, settling for a cup of black coffee on both occasions.

He had also noticed how you stopped carrying a lunch bag with you when the team was at the office, and had often opted for a protein bar you had in your purse. And now with the zoning out during meetings and the way your cheeks sunk in just a hint further than normal Reid was concerned. He had always thought of you as beautiful and he fell for you despite your looks. Your caring personality and your willingness to help a person who you only knew for a few days when Spencer was going through the aftermath of being held captive by Tobias.

He had fallen in love with you for everything about you, not just your looks. Spencer had hoped to talk to you about it this weekend but with the case he was afraid that he wouldn't make it in time. That something would go horribly wrong before he got the chance to confront you and help you with whatever you were going through. Like you had done for him twice before, Spencer took the book from the seat and sat down resting one arm on the armrest and flipped to the front page of the book, eyes scanning across the page, he got lost in the authors writing for a few minutes before movement across from him caught his eye.

He glanced up from the book and watched as you laid your head down on the seat, pulling two of the blankets provided over you, still in your down coat, and closed your eyes. Spencer watched for a few moments as you drifted off, shivering slightly in your sleep. Spencer had read a few books about eating disorders as a kid, when his mom first got really sick, he thought she might have one and read up on it to try and help her. But when he figured out his mother had Schizophrenia he stopped reading up on the topic.

But he recognized the signs in you as slept across from him on the plane. He knew it wasn't his job to save you but at the same time he felt like he needed to be the one to save you because he knew that in your mind your mind you were saving yourself, but in trying to save yourself you were killing yourself. When Reid had been on drugs you were the one to reach into his life and help him. Now it was his turn, he just needed to figure out how, he knew that this case would probably take up most of your time, seeing as you were a dedicated agent. When there was a case you threw yourself into it. He wouldn't be able to talk some sense into you over this case, he would either have to pull you away from the case or wait until after it was over.

His one hope was that it wouldn't be too late for you by the time the case was over. He could tell by the way you moved and how after you stood up you took a few moments too long to start walking that you were walking a dangerous line right now. You bumped into the table on the way out of the office, and now as Spencer watched you sleep he could see a bruise forming on your forearm. You barely bumped into the table but a bruise forming like that was a sure sign of later stages of anorexia.

Spencer fearing someone was watching his contemplative stare would try to figure out what he was looking at you for and draw attention to it. Something he knew could cause you go into a downward spiral, being publicly called out about this could damage you. Something Reid didn't want to happen, for he already thought you were just a little too fragile.  

[chocoluckchipz]

Dance with Me, Chaton - 22

Read it on A03, WattPad, FF.net

Written for @ladynoirjuly2019

< Previous

22. True Love’s Kiss

Chat Noir: I think we’ve neglected this chat, My Lady. I demand to correct this injustice!

Ladybug: In other words, you don’t want to work.

ChatNoir: :offended: I am working. Do you know how much patience sitting around, waiting for my turn to be fawned over requires? Hard work!

Ladybug: Aww, poor you. How will you ever survive?

Chat Noir: By the thought of the promised lunch with my Lady, everything is possible.

Ladybug: Then may I suggest Chaton lets said Lady work as well? If he wants her to make it to that lunch.

Chat Noir: Absolutely. As soon as she tells him where she wants him to take her?

Ladybug: The Lady loves surprises.

Chat Noir: Alright. Then I should take her to Tom and Sabine’s bakery. The food is amazing, and I’ve heard they have a very beautiful and talented daughter. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to get her number?

Ladybug: XD You have my number, you flirt.

Chat Noir: Correction: I have your Discord name, not your phone number.

Ladybug: Oh, true. XD Sorry, I didn’t realize that. Well, if you’d be a good Kitty, I’ll consider giving it to you during lunch.

Chat Noir: Define Good Kitty.

Ladybug: Someone who lets me work. I’m sorry, Chaton, but I’m kind of on a crunch here.

Chat Noir: OTL Alright. I’m sorry. Do you need help? I can help.

Ladybug: Unfortunately, it’s something I have to do myself. Plus, weren’t you supposed to be fawned over soon? How would you help me from over there?

Chat Noir: I can always ditch them for a few hours.

Ladybug: You are not doing that. Do you want me fired for disrupting the company’s flow right before the big show?

Chat Noir: No. Sowwy.

Ladybug: :blows kisses: I’ll see you in a few hours, and to ensure that I’m muting this chat.

Chat Noir: Are you muting me just like you turned off your phone at the party or are you muting me for real?

Ladybug: For real.

Chat Noir: :D Liar.

Ladybug: Chat, seriously. I’m sorry, but Mme Bustier is already looking my way. If I’m not done with this project before lunch, I’ll have to skip it.

Chat Noir: Understood. I’ll see you in a few hours.

Ladybug: ;)

Chat Noir: Last question: does anyone give you grief for that video?

Ladybug: :sigh: Some whispers and snickers are going around, but no one said anything to me personally so far.

Chat Noir: You let me know if they do.

Ladybug: Just so you know, I have muted you.

Chat Noir: :pout: Rude.  

Ladybug: Chat, seriously, I’d love to banter with you all day long, but unless you want to spend that lunch alone, you’d better let me work.

Chat Noir: Sorry. I’ll behave. I promise.

Ladybug: Thank you.

It was hard. Knowing Marinette was just a few floors away and that he could sit by her side instead of being fitted with that abomination his father planned to present this coming weekend was excruciating.

Adrien closed his eyes, tunes from his morning session echoing in his head. His muscles twitched to the muted beat. He’d only just started to dance, but he already loved it. The freedom it gave, that exhilarating feeling at the end of each song, the sweet soreness in his body after the session. He wasn’t sure he could let it go now. He didn’t want to. Marinette might have possibly changed his life by persuading him to stick with it. It’d probably be fantastic to dance with her. She was so good, though. It’d take him a while to get anywhere close to her level no matter how much potential Plagg said he had. Adrien needed to work harder because in their civilian lives they matched: she was a rising star-designer, he was a model/future CEO of Gabriel. In Kwami Kave it was different. She excelled. She was their princess. He was a nobody. Not even in the club yet. He had to work harder.

Half an hour before Marinette’s lunch hour, Adrien went down the street to buy her a bouquet. The one he gave her this morning wasn’t technically from him but Plagg. And Adrien was an Agreste; he could definitely do much more than a single rose. And while he was at it, Adrien stopped by a nearby jewellery store and bought Marinette a necklace, a delicate chain with a ladybug pendant. Simple, elegant and totally appropriate for the first date.

His phone chimed at five to twelve. Father wanted to see him after lunch. One o’clock sharp. As always. An appointment.

Adrien shoved his phone away and headed to the designer department.

“Marinette! I think someone’s here to see you,” Marc, one of the junior designers, shouted across the room as soon as Adrien entered.

Whispers echoed throughout the room. Marinette lifted her head up. Her eyes instantly widened and, grabbing her purse, she rushed to him.

“Adrien, what are you doing?” she asked.

“These are for you,” he grinned, offering her the flowers.

Marinette closed her eyes, exhaling. “Adrien, thank you, but please, don’t do this again. Not in the office at least.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re my boss’s son. People will assume things.”

“People who know you wouldn’t,” Marc interfered, standing close by.  “And those who would aren’t worth your second glance.”

“Thank you, Marc.” Adrien finger-gunned him. “Shall we go, my Lady?”

“I’m talking to you later.” Marinette glared at Marc, finally accepting Adrien’s bouquet.

“Looking forward to all the details.” Marc smirked. “Now shoo. I have a secret fanfiction hobby to indulge in.”

“Your favourite story updated?”

“Yes, and the main character is about to propose. Though, I suspect his mother-in-law won’t make it so easy for him. I swear, if she interferes, I’m storming the author’s page with raging anon messages.”

Marinette chuckled. “I’m sure it’ll be great. See you later, Marc.”

“Have fun.” Marc waved the pair goodbye.

“Sorry I forgot about not attracting attention to you,” Adrien said as they’d reached the elevator. “I was just so excited for our date, I’ve forgotten all caution.”

Marinette buried her nose in the bouquet, inhaling. “That’s fine. I love roses. Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

“You know, Marc’s right. People who really know you won’t assume stuff about you.”

“Let’s hope so.” She smiled at him, entering the elevator.

Once the door closed, Adrien continued. “In fact, me barging in with flowers into your workspace has its perks.”

“Oh, really?” She cocked her head to the side. “And what are they?”

“Well,” Adrien leaned closer, tackling a string of hair behind her ear. “Instead of assuming we got drunk and made out with a random person we feel nothing for, they’ll know I’m serious and crazy about you, and I hope the same goes for you about me.”

Her face crimson, Marinette dropped her gaze to the floor, hugging the flowers closer to herself. “It does,” she whispered.

He tilted her face to his. Leaning closer. “Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

The door opened at the ground floor. Marinette snapped out of her trance and stepped forward. “So where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see,” Adrien smirked., following her out. “You said to surprise you, didn’t you?”

“As long as it’s not my parents’ place.”

Adrien chuckled. “My lips are sealed, but I promise you’d like it. Reviews were spectacular.”

They soon were driving down the streets of Paris. Adrien couldn’t help but chuckle at the overly relieved sigh Marinette let out as they passed her parents’ bakery without stopping.

“You remember my friend Nino?” Adrien asked.

“The one with his saint girlfriend who saved us all? I never got to thank her. I really should.”

“Yup. That’s him. Anyway, he recommended me this place, but he warned that it’s not one of your typical cafes.”

“Intriguing.”

Once Adrien neared the place, Marinette beamed. “Please, tell me we’re going to Lace Rose ?”

“We are,” Adrien replied. “Why? You know it?”

“Yes! I know the owners. I’ve been I school with them, and we’re still very good friends.”

“Bummer,” he moped. “And here I was going to impress you.”

“Awww,” Marinette reached forward to gently pet his cheek. “I am impressed you’ve chosen the best place around.”

They stopped at an average building and entered an average-looking establishment. The interior thought was far from ordinary. The whole place could be described as an explosion of pink and purple roses tangled in black lace. Not only were the walls, the ceiling and even the floor painted with flowers and lace theme, but fresh bouquets stood all over the place. Instead of strictly tables and chairs, this place had a combination of those and couches with coffee tables.

“Can I help you?” a petite blonde woman asked them upon entering. “Marinette?”

“Rose!”

The women hugged and exchanged small talk before Marinette tugged Adrien by his arm to stand next to her. “Rose, this is Adrien. We work at Gabriel together. Adrien, this is Rose, my former classmate.”

“Nice to meet you, Adrien,” Rose greeted him.

“Likewise.”

“Is Juleka around?”

“No. She’s helping Luka to convince their mother of something. Don’t ask me. Luka called super spontaneously, so she rushed off before telling me a thing.”

“I hope everything’s okay.”

“It probably is. I can text you later if you’d like to know.”

“Yes, please. I’d appreciate it.”

“No problem. Now, let’s go, guys. I have the perfect spot for you in mind.” Rose nudged them to follow her.

“We’ve had a reservation under Agreste,” Adrien said, following Rose, Marinette’s hand in his.

“Oh.” Rose smiled. “Then I guess my owner’s privileges won’t make any difference. Agreste’s reservation was for my best place. You’re on the second floor.”

The second floor was even more impressive, offering a more private setting for individual couples. More luxurious seating, more flowers, more lace, all inter-winding in a whimsical garden to impress. Subtly divided by curtains sections, each containing a dining set and a couch or a set of plush chairs, were scattered around the space. Rose showed them to one such section deeper into the room, featuring a huge window with a captivating view.

“This place looks amazing,” Adrien said as they reached their spot. “I wonder why I didn’t know it existed until now.”

“We’ve just opened a few months ago,” Rose said. “Not that many people know about us yet, but if you like it, we’d appreciate recommendations.”

“Consider it done.” Adrien nodded. “We can’t have a place like this empty at lunch hour.”

Rose giggled. “It isn’t empty downstairs. We just keep this section for VIPs, and since it costs extra to eat here, it tends to be empty during the day. Not so much at night, though. Our evenings are fully booked for the next few days.”

“I’m so happy for you.” Marinette smiled. “The place looks amazing. You deserve all the customers.”

“Thank you.” Rose smiled and placed menus before the pair. “I’ll give you a few moments to make a choice.”

“Thanks, Rose.”

As soon as Rose left, Adrien cocked his head to the side. “So, just Adrien from your work?”

“Aren’t you Adrien who works with me?” Marinette chuckled.

He pouted. “Is that I’m all to you?”

“Awww, Chaton.” Marinette reached forward and placed her hand over his. “You know you are much more to me than that, but…” She hesitated, biting at her lip, then continued quietly, “We haven’t discussed any official labels, and with our situation and all the complications that come with it, I didn’t want to assume and say anything to someone else before we could talk about it.”

“Fair enough,” Adrien said. “If you’d like—”

“Are you ready to order?” Rose appeared by their side with a notepad and a pen.

“I am,” Marinette grinned. “Do you remember that fish I tried last time? The one you had as a special at the opening?”

“Brandade?”

“Yes. I’ll have that.”

“Alright. And you, Adrien?” Rose turned to him.

“I’ll have the same. Thank you.”

They added some drinks and dessert after which Rose left.

Marinette immediately turned to Adrien and asked, “Can I ask you a question I was dying to find out an answer to for a long time?”

“Sure,” Adrien nodded. He couldn’t help but suspect that labels discussion was purposely avoided. Well, he supposed it would be better to discuss at a more private setting, so he played along.

“How did your father react to that first email from Ladybug?”

“I might have to disappoint you,” Adrien said. “I wasn’t around to see his initial reaction, but I know he deleted it. He recovered and showed it to me only when I commented on the ridiculousness of the new line, and because of that he thought I was Ladybug.”

“He thought you were Ladybug?”

Adrien laughed. “Can you imagine?”

Marinette cocked her head to the side. “Well, if you mean if I can imagine you in a Ladybug costume, then, yeah, I might have a few ideas…”

His face flamed, breathing hitching. There was no reason for that in her words. Her tone of voice, however, told Adrien a different story.

“Why so flustered, Chaton?” Marinette asked, her smile teasing. “Cat got your tongue?”

He could think of a comeback. He knew he could. It took a second, but Adrien smirked and leaned closer. “Maybe. But only because I was imagining you in a Chat Noir ensemble.”

Marinette’s eyes widened a speck, crimson flooding her cheeks. She chuckled a moment later, winking at him. “Nice one.”

Adrien smugly grinned. He loved this woman. If every minute with her would be this fun, he was ready to propose marriage in about five minutes. She was too good to be true. Too good to let go.

Their food arrived soon. Their conversation flowed easily. Laughter till they cried. Soft moments. Subtle and gentle touches. A few serious notes, but mostly a carefree banter. Adrien’s jaw hurt by the time his plate was empty because he’d smiled so much. He hung on Marinette’s every word, gazing at her with half-lidded eyes. Incredible. Amazing. Miraculous woman. A life without her? Impossible. Not anymore. He knew it was irrational and naïve and even stupid, but what could he do? If he gave his heart, he gave it whole.

They moved to the couch for the last ten minutes to look at the Seine snaking between the houses. Both relaxed and comfortable with each other. Still alone on the whole floor. The moment couldn’t be better, so Adrien took Marinette’s hand in his and kissed the tips of her fingers. Delicate, yet so strong. She wouldn’t drop his heart and let it fall. He trusted her.

“Marinette?”

She hummed, smiling at him. “Yes?”

“Do you remember I said I really liked both Marinette and Ladybug?”

“I do. Why?”

“Well.” He squeezed her hand a little tighter. She was still here. She won’t disappear on him. “While I was smitten and fascinated by both of them… finding out that they both are you… I think… I… I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Her cheeks flushed, she curled her hand around his. “I’m in love with you too, Adrien,” she whispered. “Have been for some time.”

He leaned closer. Her eyes fluttering closed, she followed him. He gently brushed his lips against hers. Marinette’s arms weaving around his neck. His hands travelling to her back and the nape of her neck, Adrien pulled her flush against himself and kissed her again. This time deeper and longer. She sighed against him, her breath burning on his lips.

Sweet. Her lips were so sweet. Heavenly. They were addicting. He could see why his drunk-self had gone as far as he’d done, not caring the slightest about the surrounding them people. She made him forget everything. He really was crazy for her.

His heart racing, his head spinning, Adrien pulled away just a little. Gasping for  much-needed air, he whispered, “Will you be my girlfriend, Marinette?”

Closing her eyes, she buried her face into his neck. “Am I allowed? With you being my boss’ son?”

“Absolutely. There are no policies forbidding relationships between employees less than two ranks apart, and once I’ll settle into my intended starting-off position, we’ll be right there.”

“And then we’ll climb the career ladder together. To stay together.”

“Without a doubt.”

She caressed his cheek, smiling. “In that case, I’d love to be your girlfriend, Adrien.”

He grinned and pulled her back into a kiss. A true love’s kiss, without a doubt. Otherwise, why would he feel like he was flying, like his whole life and everything he’d been through didn’t matter anymore. Freedom? He’d been released. Marinette set him free. No matter the cage, future or past, if she’d be by his side, he’d be happy anywhere.

_______________________________________________________________________

Next >

[paladin-andric]

11/11/11 Tag

Thanks to @corishadowfang​ for the tag! Sorry this took so long but I’ve been pretty shot the past couple days.

Rules: Answer the eleven questions, make eleven of your own, then tag eleven people.

1. Do you have a WIP for NaNo?  If so, what’s it about?

Sort of? I’m not really doing Nano officially, but I’m trying very hard to wrap up Blackheart this month.

2. Are there any things you’d really like to write about that you haven’t had the chance to yet?

I’ve got a story about dragons invading late medieval Europe on the backburner. It features actual historical figures that were in power at the time, like famous Polish King Casimir the Great, Pope Innocent VI, and more! Some events change due to the dragons’ invasion, like the massive war ending a power struggle in the Holy Roman Empire and ensuring Louis V, son of the previous emperor ascends to rulership, where as in our timeline he lost out to Charles VI and ended up being the Duke of Bavaria. In this story most of Europe is destroyed and the survivors flee to the Byzantine Empire, which intends to make a stand at Constantinople. The son of the dragons’ leader spends a large portion of the story being held captive in Constantinople, and is interrogated and persuaded throughout the story.

3. Plotter, pantser, or plantser?

Plantser, I guess? I plan the framework, and sometimes I have a scene I really want to make a certain way, but for the most part it’s touch and go.

4. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The creative process. Just daydreaming about all sorts of scenes and scenarios is incredibly fun. When it comes time to put it to paper though it gets tougher.

5. What does your editing process look like?

Spellcheck and extension. I usually write a scene haphazardly and then add more dialogue and descriptions when I return.

6. Is there a scene in your WIP you’re particularly proud of?  Share it!

This scene in the chapter “Field of Dreams” chapter of Blackheart, it’s my favorite chapter in the book honestly. As a prelude, how this works in Blackheart is that demons capture people and turn them into mindless beasts. Earlier on, a paladin runs into a corrupted birdwoman as he journeys through the city. He goes to kill it like all the others, but when she starts begging for help he realizes the survivor is still clinging on deep in there. He tries to bring her somewhere safe to perform a purity ritual to save her. She struggles and eventually is overcome by the corruption. The last thing she remembers before waking up in darkness is the paladin choking her as she begged for mercy.

Fianna suddenly found herself standing in nothingness. All around her, terror filled the air.

Voices of the damned screamed at her, dark visages stared from afar and corpses and flames littered the expanse.

Other  corrupted lurched forward, hobbling toward her, screaming and howling  as they closed in. The darkness had come to claim her at last.

She could only cower in as absolute fear gripped her heart. This really was it.

The  crowd latched onto her, dozens of unholy beasts dragging her into the  ground. She could feel herself falling, sinking into nothing as her soul  was trapped in the nothingness.

Just as she felt her head begin to sink under, to join her body in eternal torment, a loud noise brought everything to a halt.

The  beasts dragging her to the abyss suddenly paused, turning away and  looking up. She too joined them in staring up into the blackness.

The  sky flashed a bright white, the corrupted monsters, in unison, all  crumbled away. They simply fell apart into nothing at all, scattering to  the wind and leaving Fianna alone.

The screams let out a loud  unified wail before the blackness, all around her, flashed wildly,  vibrant colors flowing through the air and filling the void with light.

She  felt numb for a moment as she found herself no longer sinking. The  koutu clenched her talons as she lay on the ground, panting and heaving.

"Fianna."

Dozens of voices filled the air. Unlike the screams of the damned, these voices were clear, coherent, and sweet as honey.

She looked up, and all around her, as the void pulsed with light and color...figures surrounded her.

They were familiar. All of them.

Her family.

Her friends.

Everyone she could ever remember meeting.

One of the figures stepped forward.

She  was a tall and graceful koutu, every step dignified, her eyes full of  warmth and love. Her feathers were patterned the same as Fianna's...

Her feathers...?

She looked down.

The jet black feathers were changing, warping.

The  blackness seemed to almost...bleed away, the feathers beginning to glow  with color in the middle, expanding outwards until the blackness was a  simple lining at the ends of each feather.

Soon, that tiny bit of   blackness bled away, and her feathers were her own again. Her midsection  was a bright and beautiful orange, while the rest of her was mainly a deep, vibrant blue.

Just like she remembered.

She looked back up at the other koutu, whose coloration and shape was the same as her own.

"Sister..." Fianna said breathlessly.

"You are free," she spoke softly.

"B-but, the demons, you were-"

"I know," her sister assured her, "I know. I am no longer here...but even though I am not here...I will always be HERE."

She pressed her hand against Fianna's chest...over her heart.

Fianna could feel herself crying again.

She  reached out and embraced her sister. The older koutu returned the  gesture, the two of them kneeling and hugging each other tightly.

They sat in silence like this for quite some time.

For the first time since the attack, Fianna felt alive...even though she had the sneaking suspicion she wasn't.

The paladin was right. This was better. She was thankful.

The nightmare was over.

"I missed you so much," Fianna said, her face damp with tears.

"I missed you too."

"I'm so happy we're together again."

Her sister was silent for a moment.

"...you know you're not dead, right?"

Fianna blinked.

"W-what?"

"You have to go back."

The koutu's eyes widened as comprehension dawned on her. "N-no, no!"

"I'm sorry," her sister said quietly, "I know you don't want to."

"Sister, please..."

"I can't control it, Fianna. It's your life, not mine."

"T-than how are you-"

"Because this isn't real."

Fianna's heart sank.

She was in her own imagination, dreaming about being with her family again, rather than actually being reunited.

Her grip tightened on his sister, who looked at her curiously.

"Fianna?"

"I don't want to let go..."

"Trust  me, I understand," she answered quietly. For the first time, her voice  too was filled with pain. "I want to be together too."

"I-I just...want it to be over."

"You have to get through this," her sister spoke, "Please. Don't end up like me."

Fianna couldn't believe this was happening.

"I  want you to live. Can you do that? Please. I've been watching you, you  know. I know how hard it's been...but you've come so far. You're so nearly  there. Just a little more. Please...you have to hold on, okay?"

Fianna nodded.

"O-okay...okay, I'll do my best."

The two sisters looked up and stared at one another.

"I'll keep watching you. I know you can do it. Be good for me, alright?"

"O-okay."

"I'll be waiting for you, someday."

With that, everything faded away once again.

7. Is there an author that inspires you a lot?

I wouldn’t say particularly. I like certain books but I don’t really “follow” anyone like that...well, maybe some of the other writers on here.

8. Do you do anything to prepare yourself to start writing?

Put on some music and grab a drink.

9. What’s your favorite type of villain to write?  To read about?

Villains that you love to hate. After so many ““““sympathetic”””” villains (this mass murderer got bullied by people that have nothing to do with who he’s killing, he’s justified!), it’s nice to have a villain that’s just plain evil and knows it. Someone that’s so shamelessly bad that you’re just dying for the heroes to give em’ his comeuppance. Also, villains and antagonists can be very different. Someone like The Boss from MGS3 is an antagonist, but she could hardly be called a villain. Sympathetic antagonists are a lot easier to root for than someone that’s out and out a bad guy.

10. What is the best compliment you’ve ever received on your work?

Probably either @lady-redshield-writes​​ or @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword​. They’ve both said so many great things I can’t even begin to remember all the nice stuff they’ve said.

11. What are your characters’ favorite animals?

Considering his shield and family crest, Alexander’s is probably the eagle. Leianna likes dogs. Lexius and Senci both like cats.

My questions:

1. Do you make steady progress in writing or work in short bursts?

2. What’s your favorite character archetype?

3. Favorite fictional hero? (Can be from any media) Has that character influenced any of your own?

4. What sort of scenes do you struggle most with? (Fights, group conversations, etc.)

5. What time period do you find yourself writing the most of?

6. Do you enjoy music, background noise or silence while writing?

7. Where’s your favorite writing spot?

8. Do you like people reading along as you write, or do you want people to wait til’ it’s all edited and done?

9. Share a random hobby besides writing!

10. If you could have your cast from your story visit another time or world, real or fictional, where would it be?

11. Have any of your characters changed or developed drastically since they were first created?

Tagging @lady-redshield-writes​, @homesteadchronicles​, @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword​, @candy687​, @ashesconstellation​. Joining in, as always, is completely up to you.

[aliensforleaders]

Tell Me Again Tomorrow

Pairing: Rami Malek x Female Reader

Summary: The reader lives in LA and her friend Alisha begs her to go to a party for the weekend at the beach. She really doesn’t want to go, but Alisha convinces her and she meets a captivating man.

Warnings: Just a bit of swearing. There will possibly be smut in this story later down the line if I can figure out a non cringy way to write it.

A/N: Hi so it’s been a few years since I’ve written anything for public viewing. I want to specially thank @wutheringshay for answering my message and making me feel better about writing and posting this. Love you Shay! I’m really glad I did because I very much enjoyed writing it. So if you enjoy it let me know because we all need a little validation right?

Today was Friday. Like every other Friday my plans were to stay home, eat way too much junk, and watch way too many episodes of Love Island. Alisha had other plans, however, and she wasn't leaving my apartment until I agreed to come along. 

“Come on (Y/N)! You never do anything fun on the weekends. Please come with me? I need you to help me find someone cute! And you haven’t seen Wendy in so long.”

She had told me about the beach party that she got invited to for the whole weekend. It was her very rich cousin, Wendy’s birthday, which meant everything was free except the hotel room. It’s not that it didn't sound fun it was just that I would have to pack clothes and leave the comfort of my apartment, and that was harder for me than I'd like to admit. But maybe I needed this? And plus it would be nice to see Wendy again. 

“Three days?” I asked again.

“Yep!” she said, with hope in her eyes.

“Ugh. Alright. What could happen in three days, right?” I agreed and Alisha jumped up off the couch full of excitement.

———

It didn't take long for me to get my things together. I threw my bag into Alisha’s trunk and we were off. The drive was beautiful once we got out of the heart of LA. It was very easy for me to get sucked into the day-in, day-out that was working and living in the city. I suddenly started to feel at ease as I zoned out to the music playing from the radio and the beautiful landscape out my window.

We arrived at El Porto Beach a while later. It was far enough away from the city to feel like a real vacation, and I got even more relaxed when I saw the blue waves crashing onto the shore. Okay maybe I could do this. The wind blew through my hair as I got out of the car and I could smell the ocean in the air. It was overwhelming my senses in the best way.

After we had gotten our room and changed, we decided to head down to the bar outside where the party was supposed to be. I wasn’t too thrilled about that part, but I planned on grabbing a drink and disappearing for the evening.

The sun had just started to go down when we got downstairs. There was way more people here than I was expecting, but I still felt at ease somehow. Ambient music played from speakers all around.

“Oh my god! You guys came!” I heard a loud female voice behind me and whipped around to see Wendy running towards us, drink in hand. She ran up and hugged us and all I could smell was tequila. She was always nice to me and hung out with me and Alisha a lot when we were younger.

“Happy Birthday, Wendy!” I said giving her a tight hug.

“Thanks girl! I have to say though I am surprised Alisha got you to come.”

“Yeah it wasn't easy, but I'm here.” I laughed, feeling a little on the spot.

“Well come on let’s go get drinks!” Alisha chimed in, breaking the slightly uncomfortable silence.

An hour had gone by and Alisha and Wendy wandered off somewhere leaving me by the bar. I was sipping on something with vodka and a lot of sugar when I turned and saw him.

He was leaning against the bar all the way at the opposite end, standing next to a slightly more muscular guy who looked very similar. They had to be related. He had the most intense eyes with an indistinct color. His dark curly hair fell in just the right way on his forehead, and wow that smile. After a minute or two, we locked eyes and I quickly looked away, sipping my drink nervously, trying to look as normal as possible. I glanced over again and this time he was whispering to the man standing next to him with a huge grin on his face. I saw him step away from the bar and my heart began racing. Shit. 

It had been so long since I’d put myself in a situation like this and I felt very out of my element. I stood up straight, pushed some hair behind my ear, and took a swig of my drink. I could see him approaching me out of the corner of my eye. Here we go.

“Excuse me.” a very deep, languid voice spoke and I finally turned to meet his gaze. Wow. His eyes took hold of me instantly.

“Hi sorry to bother you, I just saw you standing here alone and wondered how in the hell that was possible.” he smiled again and my heart fluttered, but I kept my confident posture even though I was having a damn heart attack. It’s a super power I possess for some odd reason.

I laughed, swirling the straw in my drink, looked back into his eyes, and replied,”Well I’ll tell you how that’s possible. I hadn’t seen you yet.” I shrugged and threw back the rest of my drink. That vodka was bringing out a whole side of me I never got to utilize.

“Wow.” he laughed loudly, not taking his eyes off me, watching the vodka disappear past my lips. “I’m Rami, by the way. Can I get you another drink?”

“(Y/N). And yes you can, but only one. From the looks of you I’d better keep away from the vodka tonight.” we both laughed at that and he called the bartender over to get me another.

“So Rami, how do you know Wendy?” I asked, turning towards him and sliding onto the stool next to me.

He did the same and replied,”My sister is actually friends with her. They went to college together. So my sister invited my brother, Sami, and me. How do you know her?”

“Alisha and I have been friends for pretty much our whole lives and Wendy used to hang around.”

Rami hummed in response, his eyes watching my lips as I spoke, that intrigued smile never leaving his. We talked for a while at the bar about a lot of things. He was a good listener and he asked a lot of questions, always keeping eye contact. My phone buzzed a while later and I saw it was Alisha asking where I was.

“It’s Alisha.” I told Rami. I locked my phone, standing up and putting it in my bag.

“Does that mean you have to go?” he asked looking very sad and sounding almost disappointed.

I giggled, “I should probably make sure she gets to bed okay. But hey um..” I trailed off looking around and grabbing one of the paper coasters on the bar and asked the bartender for a pen. I quickly wrote down my number on it.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” I asked him.

“Definitely.” his face lit up.

I laughed at his almost childlike excitement. “Okay then here. Call me tomorrow. I need a reason to get out of socializing with these people.” I gestured to the groups of people spread around the beach and bar area.

He stood up, taking the coaster from my hands. He looked deep into my eyes with a passion that almost made me gasp. “Did I tell you that you are absolutely stunning.”

“No, but you can tell me again tomorrow.” I smiled and leaned in placing a quick kiss on his cheek. I grabbed my bag and walked away from the bar. I glanced back to see him running a hand through his hair, mouth agape. 

Okay well that happened. I still couldn’t figure out where all that confidence came from, but I didn’t care. I just spent two hours talking to the most beautiful, intense, intriguing man I’d ever met. I set out to find Alisha and praise her for making me come to this thing.

[ferryboatsscrubcaps]

On The Brink

Hi guys!! This fic is based on a prompt from @omeliafics : 

'Prompt: Taking place after the S13 finale- Amelia try's to cover up a bunch of pregnancy symptoms from Owen while they're taking care of Megan at the hospital and he notices.' 

This is a collab between myself and @ailingnoor. We’ve worked very hard on this and are SO excited about this because we both LOVED the prompt! Part 2 will be coming shortly. Enjoy! :-)

The strong wind was blowing on their faces as both Owen and Amelia stood side by side at the helicopter pad of Madigan Army Medical Centre.

Amelia took a sideways glance at Owen. He had a stoic look on his face, and she wondered what was going through his mind at that moment. Was he anxious? Excited to be reunited with his sister? Or was he still in a daze? She didn’t know. He wasn’t the type to show emotions in public.

She was pleasantly surprised when he suddenly took her hand in his and gave it a subtle squeeze. It indicated that that he needed her support and was grateful to her for being there for him. Although their marriage wasn’t in a good place at the moment and they had many unresolved issues and unspoken words between them, she was glad that at least they were holding hands. They were in this together.

Her heart was beating fast as the helicopter landed and the helicopter door opened. She didn’t know what to expect. She had never seen Megan in real life before, she only had old photos of Megan which Owen showed to her to go by.  Owen hardly ever talked to her about his sister, and she never pestered him to open up to her about his family, respecting his privacy. According to what Owen had described in the long car ride to the hospital, Megan was a cheerful, caring, fun loving and witty lady. She gathered that Megan meant a lot to Owen, and both siblings shared a strong bond. She knew that it consumed Owen on the inside to have his beloved sister missing all these years, only to find out that she had been held in captivity. She also knew that this Megan, the Megan who would be returning to them, would not be the same person anymore. Owen’s sister would most probably have been traumatized, tortured and abused throughout her duration of captivity, she reasoned, and therefore would need therapy.

She gave Owen’s hand a subtle squeeze as a gesture of support.

Meanwhile, standing beside Amelia, Owen felt the gentle squeeze of Amelia’s hand. This somehow gave him the comfort and strength he needed to face this moment, the moment where he would reunite with his long lost sister.

His mind was still in a daze, and everything around him was a blur of activity.  But when the helicopter door opened to reveal Megan on the stretcher his heart constricted. Although it was too far away to tell if it was really her, he knew deep down in his heart that this was indeed his sister. His beloved sister whom he shared happy childhood memories with, the beloved sister whom he failed to protect, the sister whom he stayed up awake during those long nights thinking of. He missed her terribly and always prayed to whatever powers above to bring her back to him. Now, his prayers have been answered and she was actually returning to him. He didn’t expect the actual moment he had dreamt of and prayed about all this while to feel this way. Now that this moment was here, his heart was racing, but his mind and body numb. Was she even awake and conscious? What would her reaction be upon seeing him? What would he say to her? He had so many things to apologize to her about, and so many things he needed to say to her, he didn’t know where to start.

As the stretcher carrying Megan was wheeled towards them, Owen caught a glimpse of Megan’s pale face. She looked weak and listless and mere shadow of her former self.

The trauma surgeon felt a sudden surge of emotions overcome him.  He wanted to run up to the stretcher and give her a warm hug and tell her that she was safe now. But he knew that she wasn’t in the right condition at the moment to receive such sudden display of affection. Instead, he stood rooted in his spot as his eyes followed the stretcher carrying his sister into the hospital building.

Now it was just Owen and Amelia left at the helipad, still holding hands.

Their eyes met. Owen’s were watery as he tried to hold back the tears now pooling in his eyes. Amelia’s were full of compassion and sympathy.

‘ Let’s go in to see her.’ Amelia suggested softly as she gave Owen’s hands another gentle squeeze.

_________________________________________________________________________

They didn’t break hands all the way to the elevator, down to the first floor, and down the hallway.

Owen paused right outside of the trauma room where Megan was. Amelia waited patiently as she squeezed his hand as a subtle gesture of support.

After about a minute, Owen took a deep breath and said, ‘I’m ready.’

Amelia nodded in reply and they entered the room.

Nothing could prepare him for the sight which greeted him. His dear sister was lying motionless on the hospital bed, a pale shadow of her former cheerful self. Her hair was messy, her face was deathly pale, and she looked so skinny.  Her left hand was being connected to an IV drip set and she was being connected to beeping monitors.

The nurse in charge of Megan was busy recording Megan’s vital signs on the chart.

Owen shook his head as tears began filling his eyes and his heart constricted. No, he refused to believe it. This woman lying on the bed wasn’t his sister. The Megan he knew was cheerful, lively and full of wit and sarcasm.

‘This isn’t her.’ Owen muttered to himself, shaking his head.

‘No, no..’he continued muttering, shaking his head vigorously.. ‘ This isn’t my sister.’

‘Can I have her chart please?’ Amelia asked the nurse politely as the nurse nodded and handed her the chart.

‘Owen.’ Amelia said softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.  ‘This is Megan. Look. This is her name on the chart. Although she might not look the same from when you last saw her, this is your sister.’

Ówen shook his head as he looked at his wife with a crestfallen expression on his face.

‘I…..I just can’t.’ he muttered, his voice full of remorse as he turned around and walked out of the room, his head bowed down.

‘I’m so sorry.’ Amelia turned to look at the nurse apologetically. ‘ My husband is just overwhelmed by this recent turn of events, you know, finding out that his sister is alive and being kept in captivity all this while. I think he just needs time to process this.

‘ I know….I understand.’ the young, kind looking nurse smiled at her. ‘Don’t worry about it, this is normal reaction. I’ve been a military nurse for many years, I’ve seen how people react to this type of news.

Amelia smiled back at her.

‘’So how is she now?”she asked softly as she looked at Megan. She had never met Megan in person before, and it made her sad that she had to meet Megan for the first time under this condition.

‘Well, she was in a really dehydrated state when they found her. Apparently the enemies escaped and left their captives abandoned in the basement during the air raid. We’ve hydrated her and we’re monitoring her vitals which seem stable for now. Currently, she’s weak and doesn’t seem to respond when we try to talk to her.’  the nurse whispered as both of them looked in Megan’s direction. Megan was lying motionless on her hospital bed, her eyes shut.

Amelia felt a sudden surge of pity for her sister in law. She couldn’t bring herself to think about what Megan probably had gone through while in captivity. Part of her wanted to sit at Megan’s bedside and hold her hand and tell her that it was going to be okay. But another part of her knew she had to find her husband and convince him to come back into the room to be with his sister.

The nurse cleared her throat, interrupting Amelia’s train of thoughts.

‘ Dr. Shepherd, I have to clean Megan up now. Maybe you can go to find your husband first and you both can come back later after she has been cleaned up.’

Ámelia nodded in agreement, whispering thank you to the nurse before she left Megan’s room to find Owen.

___________________________________________________________________________

She found Owen pacing up and down the waiting area, his head in his hands.

He stopped as he spotted her, and slumped down on the nearest sit, still burying his head in his hands.

‘Owen.’ said Amelia softly as she took a seat beside him and rubbed his back soothingly.

‘I know this is hard to accept.’she continued, when the gesture didn’t elicit a reply from him.

‘But Megan is your sister. You told me on the way here about how you miss her so much and cherish your childhood memories together. And now that she’s here, don’t you want to be with her? I know she might not look or act the same as the last time you saw her, but she’s still your sister, Owen. ‘  she added as she continued rubbing his back.

Owen finally looked up at her as their eyes met.

‘ Please.’ Amelia pleaded. ‘ Go in with me to see your sister. Talk to her. She might seem like a pale shadow of herself but she’s in there somewhere. I’m sure she misses you. Go in and be by her side, Owen. She needs you.’

She slowly reached out her hand and he took it as they walked hand in hand into Megan’s room.

____________________________________________________________________________

Owen slowly walked over to Megan’s bedside and took a seat as he held her hand. Her hand felt cold in his.

He studied her face, which was deathly pale. Her eyes were shut and he willed them to open to reveal her blue eyes which were a mirror of his.

‘ Megan.’ he whispered. ‘It’s me, Owen.’

His heart sank when there was no response from her.

He squeezed her hand.

‘Megan, listen, I know you’re in there somewhere and you can hear what I’m saying. I’m just so glad that you’re back. ’he whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.

‘ You know - I really thought that you were dead after being missing for so long. Mom thought you were dead too. We had long resigned to that fact.’

‘I’m so sorry Megan- I’m so sorry for giving up on you. I should’ve searched harder….I should’ve....’he shook his head sadly as he wiped another stray tear off his cheek. ‘I’m sorry I let you get on the helicopter. I could have stopped you but I didn’t. Had I stopped you , this would not have happened. I’m so sorry.’

At the other side of the bed, Amelia slowly took Megan’s other hand, her heart breaking at Owen’s words. He had to know that it wasn’t his fault that Megan was held captive and that he had no way of knowing that she was still alive.

Owen sighed sadly as there was no response from Megan.

They both sat in silence on each side of Megan’s bed, holding her hand. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours. Megan showed no signs of movement, and her eyes were still shut.

When Amelia checked her watch, she was shocked to realize that 5 hours have passed.

She glanced at Owen who was sat at the other side of the bed, his brows furrowed with worry and frustration.

‘Owen, why don’t we go home and get some rest.’ Amelia suggested, her heart aching for him. ‘The nurses will call us if there are any changes. You look tired and you need some rest too. Things aren’t going to change if we just sit here and wait.’

Owen grumpily obliged and they both left the room after informing the nurses to call them should there be any changes.

____________________________________________________________________________

They headed home in silence as Owen stared blankly out the window.

‘ Owen, I know that this is hard for you.’ Amelia said softly, her eyes not leaving the road. ‘ I know it hurts to see the sister you love in this condition. But there’s nothing you can do about it, except to be there for her. I know she might not acknowledge you at first, but she needs you. Just hold her hand and talk to her. She did just escape from being held hostage for many years. This kind of trauma doesn’t resolve itself overnight. Give her time, Owen. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.’

As they reached a traffic light, she stole a glance at Owen. The street lights illuminated his facial features, showing his crestfallen expression. He didn’t say a word throughout the rest of the journey and the entire ride home was tense.

When they arrived home, he quietly got out of the car and headed inside. Amelia followed, feeling worried for her husband. Her mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts after the recent turn of events.

They quietly went through their bedtime routines, and as they tucked themselves into bed, Owen turned away from Amelia, still not having said a word to her.

Amelia’s heart sank and she wished she could do more for him.

____________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, they arrived at the hospital at 9 am sharp, when visiting hours were open.

Owen walked stiffly down the hall, still quiet as a mouse, as Amelia watched him carefully. He tried to walk right into Megan’s room, but Amelia stopped him.

“Owen, be patient with her, okay? She might be better today or she could be worse. Whatever happens, I’ll be right here with you if you need anything, okay?” she said softly, touching his arm as a gesture of support.

Owen nodded, and spoke for the first time in twelve hours.

“Okay.”

They entered the room to find Megan still sleeping in the same position as the day before.

“Someone should probably readjust her.” Owen suggested.

Amelia muttered in agreement before walking out the door to find the nurse in charge of Megan.

They went through the same routine that day. They stayed by Megan’s bedside the entire time. About every hour, a hospital staff would come in to check on Megan, and Amelia would usher them to the hallway to ask about her progress.  Owen sat at his spot beside her bed, just staring at her in silence.

At lunch time, while they were having lunch together in the hospital cafeteria, Owen muttered a few words about his sister and how he hated to see her in this condition. Amelia offered him some words of encouragement and support.

They went back to Megan’s room and Owen sat by Megan’s bedside holding her hand,  while Amelia spent the time alternating between sitting on the other side of Megan’s bed and doing crosswords, or pacing the hallways.

By the end of the second day, Megan’s condition remained the same- she had neither improved nor deteriorated. The doctors had informed them that it was no surprise, considering the conditions she had been living in right before her rescue, with no food or water. They mentioned that she probably didn’t get much sleep while being locked down in whatever bunker she was held in. She probably hadn’t slept in days when she was rescued.

Considering they were both doctors and experienced similar situations with their own patients, Amelia and Owen completely agreed with what the doctors told them. But that didn’t stop Amelia from interrogating every medical professional that entered the room or walked through the hallway.

The doctors told them that Megan would wake up soon, possibly within the next couple of days. According to them, her stats were normal, there was no other reason for her still be asleep other than extreme exhaustion. Owen had not opened up to Amelia yet, and she was worried sick about him. She spent her days rehearsing what to say to him in her head, even though she was certain that he wouldn’t respond. He was basically shut down, which wasn’t a surprise to her. She had called the best PTSD therapist she knew to see him, and she really hoped that it would work. He would need therapy now more than ever. Having his sister back was seriously going to change his life, and she knew those memories the Hunt siblings shared together would resurface.

They drove home in silence once again, after visiting hours were over, and Amelia couldn’t take it anymore. Her anger and emotions had been boiling for days and living in constant silence was only agitating her more. Going through the same motions for the past couple of days was too much. She was over this. She had been holding it all inside for Owen’s sake, because she knew this wasn’t about her. Right now, Owen and Megan took precedence.

Usually Amelia was great at burying all of her thoughts and feelings deep down inside. Hell, she did it for a year after Derek died. She worked and worked until Owen came home a year later and made her relive all her true emotions about her brother’s death. However, for some reason, she just couldn’t hide her thoughts and emotions this time around. She felt like this whole Megan situation was different.

She had become quite antsy and annoyed the past couple of months and was feeling more tired lately, despite getting plenty of rest. Plus, she had been throwing up almost every morning for the past 3 months. She had thrown up the past couple of days as well, but Owen had been too tired and too sound asleep to notice. She had managed to hide her secret well up to now, but she didn’t know how much longer could it remain a secret. She knew that Owen would figure it out sooner or later and she had to tell him soon before her growing belly gave it away. She could already notice a tiny bulge in her belly and she knew it was only a matter of time before it became visible to everyone. Just like her previous pregnancy, she didn’t show that early, but at 4 months she knew that she would start showing soon.

She knew that now was not the right time to tell Owen the news yet though, she was afraid it would be too overwhelming for him after the recent turn of events. He needed to focus on Megan first.

____________________________________________________________________________

When Amelia stepped out of the shower that night, Owen was sitting on his side of the bed pretending to read a journal.

As she climbed under the covers on her side of the bed, he continued reading his journal without acknowledging her.

‘Owen.’she whispered as he flipped to another page of the journal.

‘Owen’ she whispered louder when there was no reply from him.

Knowing that he had no choice but to face his wife- he reluctantly placed the journal down on his lap and looked at her as their eyes met.

‘ Owen, speak to me.’ Amelia said firmly but softly as she cupped his face in her hands. ‘You haven’t spoken a single word to me for the past couple of days.

‘There’s nothing much to say.’ Owen muttered as he looked down, trying to avoid her gaze.

‘ I know you have a lot to say, Owen.’ Amelia pressed on.  ‘Your sister just returned back to you after going missing for 10 years. It’s a lot to process. You just found out that she had been held captive all these years, this whole thing is so overwhelming, I know.  Furthermore, she’s still sleeping and we don’t know when she’s going to wake up. I know it’s hard.’

‘ What do you want me to say, Amelia?’ Owen raised his voice. ‘ My sister, my dear sister whom I’m supposed to protect has been held captive for 10 years! I let her get on the helicopter. And now- just look at her. She has yet to open her eyes.’ he shook his head sadly.

‘ Dr. Peterson did mention that her body needs some time to recover. Give her some time, Owen.’ said Amelia softly as she rubbed gentle circles on his back.

‘ I know, but for how long? How long does it take for her to recover?’ he asked, his voice full of angst.

‘I don’t know’. Amelia shook her head sadly. ‘We can just hope for the best.’

‘ Exactly. We don’t know.’ Owen sighed. ‘We don’t know when or if she will ever wake up.’

‘ She’ll wake up.’  Amelia said firmly. ‘ You just need to be patient.’

‘ How do you know, Amelia? It has been 2 days already and she still has yet to move or open her eyes. How do you know that she’ll wake up? How long does it take for your neuro patients to wake up after surgery? She’s not even a neuro patient!

‘’Well, I don’t know ok?’ Amelia retorted, starting to lose her patience. ‘I don’t know when she’ll wake up. What I do know is that we’ll continue visiting her and taking care of her until she wakes up!’

‘What if she doesn’t wake up?’ Owen asked, looking at her with sad blue eyes.

‘ Well then the hours taken to travel back and forth the hospital and sitting by her bedside will have been a waste. Why can’t you just have a little faith, Owen?’ Amelia asked, getting more irritated by the second. ‘I may not know her yet, but I know that she’s a fighter.

‘ You’re right, you don’t know her. You don’t know the person she was before this. All you see now is her lifeless body lying on the bed.’ Owen pointed out.

‘Yes, I don’t know her! But what I do know is that I have been driving you for miles back and forth the hospital, and also helping to feed Megan, change her clothes and clean her up. I’m exhausted too, Owen. So you don’t get to point out that I don’t know her and you don’t get to say that she isn’t going to wake up!’ Amelia retorted in a shaky voice. ‘ You’re not the only one going through this!’

Before she knew it, tears started rolling down her cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of her baggy night shirt, not wanting Owen to catch her crying. She knew that she had to be the strong one now for them both and for Megan.

Owen felt a sudden pang of guilt at seeing his wife in tears. He had been so caught up in his own thoughts and emotions that he had forgotten she was going through this too. She had not left his side for the past few days and he really appreciated it.

‘I’m so sorry Amelia.’ he apologized ruefully as he gently pulled her in for a hug. ‘ Thank you for being here for me.’

He inhaled the vanilla scent of her hair which he missed so much.

He felt Amelia’s tears wet his shirt and he ignored it as he continued hugging her tight.

They remained in that position for a few long moments before Owen felt Amelia relax in his arms. He looked down to see her eyes closed and her face in a relaxed,  contented smile.

He gently placed her on her side of the bed, and draped the blanket over her petite frame.

Lying on his side, he took in every single detail of her body, from her angelic and beautiful face to her slim body. He really missed her soft, warm touch and every part of her.  He reached his hand over to drape it across her belly, noticing it felt a little different. But he hadn’t touched his wife there in a while, so he blew off the thought.

Switching off the night lamp, he let himself succumb to sleep, the events of the past few days wearing him out.

__________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, Owen awoke to weird sounds coming from the toilet.

Disorientated and still groggy from sleep, he padded to the toilet, rubbing his eyes.

His eyes widened as he saw Amelia hunched over the toilet bowl, retching the contents of her gut out.

On reflex, he ran over to her and lifted her hair as she continued throwing up.

When she had nothing left to throw up, she sank on the toilet floor moaning as Owen flushed the toilet and handed her some tissue paper to wipe her mouth.

‘You ok?’ he asked softly, rubbing her back. ‘Have you been throwing up at all recently?’

‘ Every morning for the past 3 months.’ Amelia replied meekly, as he helped her stand up and led her to the sink to wash her face.

Owen’s eyes widened in realization as he put two and two together.

[dee-vine]

She Got It Bad

Prompt: Can I request a one shot where Betty is the one who is from Southside and is a serpent and Jughead is Archie’s best friend and they live across the street from each other, but somehow Betty and Jug meet. Betty is rude and foul mouthed at first, but Jug eventually brings out her soft side, and gets over protective because Archie starts making some comments about her?

Enjoy!

(Also I suggest listening to the song Bad Reputation by Shawn Mendes while reading this)

The day I realized I was in love was dark and cold and wet, and all I remember was the color of her eyes.

She walked in and I swear the world stopped. She was hugging herself to hide from the monsoon outside, but her leather jacket was unmistakable from the serpent on the back. Her short jean skirt and combat boots barely covered her, and her eye makeup was running from the moisture, red lipstick just barely smudged. But her eyes sparkled like the stars, and I couldn’t look away.

She noticed me right away, and we probably looked like idiots staring at each other until she slowly made her way over and sat across from me. I didn’t know what to do or what to say, but thankfully she broke the silence for me, her voice thick like honey.

“What’s a girl gotta do to get some damn coffee in here?” She said it with a smirk, but smiled when I immediately waved Pop over.

She sat with me for the whole night, until someone had come to pick her up. She continued to come every night, sitting with me while I wrote, hardly ever speaking, but I didn’t care. Just her presence captivated me, and I could not get enough of her. I fell in love with Betty Cooper, Queen of the Southside.

After a few nights of us meeting, I finally told Archie. I was at his house, playing video games like always, and he commented that I seemed happier. I didn’t deny it, because I was happier.

“There may be this girl, and that’s all I’m telling you for now,” I told him. Archie protested, demanding more information, but I wouldn’t give up my secret just yet.

See, Betty was a Serpent, and her father was rumored to be the leader of the gang. Therefore, Betty had a bit of a reputation, and not a lot of people liked her. Everything I knew about her prior to our meeting was rumors spread around school from people who especially didn’t like her.

Even Archie had gotten in on the madness, telling me once that Betty’s supposed boyfriend was her father’s right hand man, and that she and him would torture people together. That particular rumor was outrageous to me, considering Betty told me all about her ex.

“He broke up with me, that first night I came in here. That asshole cheated on me multiple times with multiple girls, for the entire seven months that we were together,” Betty had told me, staring down at her coffee.

“Why didn’t you break up with him?” I asked.

“I tried, I did. But he is really manipulative, Jug, and he’d…he hit me, a few times. Nothing bad, never left a mark. But he threatened to do worse if I ever left him,” Betty whispered, her voice cracking.

On an impulse, I reached over and put my hand over hers, causing her to stare up at me through her dark lashes. “I’m sorry, Betts. You deserve way better than that,” I told her gently.

She stared at me, a soft smile playing at her lips before she pulled her hands away to bring the coffee mug to her lips. “Oh fuck off, Jones,” she muttered with a laugh. I knew she didn’t really mean it, so I laughed with her.

She kissed me that night as we were leaving. We’d been meeting for two weeks already, and she pulled me in by my plaid to kiss me against her truck. I swear fireworks went off as soon as our lips touched, and she smiled with her eyes still closed as we pulled away.

“I think I might like you, Betty Cooper,”  I breathed out, staring at her lips, just wanting to taste more.

“Jughead Jones, I know that I like you,” she smirked, and that was that. I watched her drive away, a grin on my lips.

It became a regular thing. We’d kiss at her car when I walked her over, and we’d repeat it the next night. I called her my girlfriend after another three weeks. We still kept each other a secret, because we both knew what would happen if people caught wind of it and we weren’t ready for that. Or I wasn’t, at least. Betty didn’t care what others thought, since she thought badly of everyone else, swearing about everyone at my school to me. I didn’t mind as much as I should have because the more time she spent with me, the sweeter she got.

I took her to meet my family after a week, and it went surprisingly well. She opted out of her normal leather jacket and short skirt, instead going for a simple, dark gray dress. Jellybean absolutely loved her, talking animatedly to her the entire night. My mother was her normal, kind self, and treated her as if she was any other girl. My dad was a bit more apprehensive because he knew a few people from the Southside that were involved with the Serpents, and he didn’t think to kindly of them. By the end of the night he warmed up to her, charmed by her even. He pulled me aside before I left to drive her home to give me his approval.

“She’s nice. I wish she would have come from a different family, but she’s not like I expected her to be,” he told me, looking over my shoulder at Betty talking to Jellybean. I turned around and followed his gaze, smiling to myself.

“I didn’t expect it either, but I’m glad it happened,” I smiled, glancing back at him. He smiled at me and patted me on the back. He knew how happy I was and was proud to see it, said it looked good on me. I couldn’t agree more.

“I want to meet your friend, the one you always talk about,” Betty told me only a few days later, in the middle of the movie theater. She had meant Archie, because she knows how important he is to me and how protective he is. I was hesitant, because I had no idea how Archie was going to react , since I already knew his opinion on her rumored self. But once I looked into her big, bright eyes, I couldn’t deny her.

Which brings us to the present, sitting in our normal booth at Pop’s, waiting for Archie. I’m sitting next to her, facing the door, and holding her shaking hand. She’s nervous, or maybe she can just tell how nervous I am. She looks at me and smiles softly, leaning in to kiss my cheek the exact moment the door opens. Archie walks in and finds us immediately, stopping in the doorway. I make eye contact with him as he quickly walks over, and I can already tell he’s mad before he says it.

“Jughead, what the hell is this?” Archie asks, his eyes going back and forth between us, scrutinizing. Betty shrinks in her seat a little bit and I clear my throat, squeezing her hand.

“Archie, this is Betty, my girlfr-” I start, but Archie cuts me off before I can finish.

“No,” he says simply, crossing his arms and staring us down.

“I’m sorry, what?” I ask in confusion, staring right back at him. I can feel Betty’s discomfort, and gently run my thumb across the back of her hand to soothe her.

“I said no. I don’t like this, Jug. I won’t allow it,” he replies, as if it’s as simple as that.

“I don’t think that’s really your place, Archie,” I snap, glaring at him now.

Betty slips her hand out of mine, standing up. “I’ll, um, let you guys be. I’ll just-” she points to the door, indicating that she is going to wait by her car. She tries to push past Archie, but I quickly stand up to stop her.

“No,” I blurt out, almost frantically. Betty stops and turns around to look at me, and I see her eyes are glassy. “Betty, you’re not leaving.”

“No, Jug, let her go. She’s probably gonna slither back to that Jared guy anyway. You know what they say, Betty Cooper is never pleased,” Archie smirks, sounding pleased with himself. Betty sucks in a breath and pushes past him roughly, making a beeline for the door.

“You know what? Fuck you, Archie,” I spit before following after her. “Betty, wait! Don’t leave!” I call, running out the door and towards her car. I hear footsteps behind me, Archie calling my name. Angered, I spin around fast enough to stop Archie in his tracks.

“Listen man, I’m only looking out for you. She’s dangerous! You don’t want to get mixed in with that mess,” he says, motioning towards where Betty is frozen by her open car door.

“No, you don’t get to do that. You don’t get to look out for me, okay? You don’t know anything about her! All you know are stupid rumors, and are too thick-headed to see past them and actually meet her! She is the best thing to ever happen to me, but you don’t give a shit about that. Can’t you see that I’m happy? I have never been this happy in my life, Arch, and you of all people should know that!” I turn to look at Betty, who’s holding herself, shaking with tears. “Betty Cooper is the sweetest girl I’ve met. She’s considerate, she’s honest, and to me, she’s perfect,” I say softly, staring right at her and meaning every word.

“Juggy,” she whispers quietly, a fresh tear rolling down her soft cheek. I walk over to her and take her face between my hands, catching the tear with my thumb. I glance back at Archie, who is standing there dumbfounded.

“We’re leaving. Don’t try talking to me until you’ve grown up and are done being an idiot,” I tell him. He opens his mouth to say something, but I ignore him by kissing Betty. It’s nothing dramatic, just a soft peck on the lips, but we both know it means everything. I smile down at her, cupping her cheek. “Let’s go somewhere else, where we can both be free of any negativity.” She nods her agreement and we get in her car, leaving Archie and the rumors behind.

[lilacmoon83]

A Darker Curse

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 17: And the Winner is...

"We should get that cut on your head looked at before it gets much later," Regina said. Snow reluctantly agreed and Archie came in, just as they were getting ready to leave.

"The election results are in…" he announced, as everyone in the room stopped whatever conversations they were having.

"Well...you have a captive audience, so let's have it," Granny said, as he had indeed captured the attention of everyone in the diner. He smiled.

"You won…" he announced, as he looked at Regina. There were cheers all around, as Snow hugged her sister.

"You did it…" she said. Regina smiled.

"We did it," she corrected.

"That's great...but seriously Mom, we need to get that cut on your head looked at," Emma said insistently.

"She's right," David agreed. She sighed.

"Okay fine...but you two worry too much. I feel fine," she assured.

"No...they're worrying the right amount. My mother tried to kill you," Regina said.

"Hey yeah...do you think you could identify the guys that did this?" Emma asked.

"Well, Sidney was involved for one and I didn't get a really good look at the thugs with him, but if they were in a line up, I might be able to pick them out," Snow replied.

"Sidney will never turn on my mother. He's too afraid of her to go against her," Regina said.

"You think? Even now?" David asked quietly. She nodded.

"I may have just unseated my mother, but we know she still has a lot of power," Regina reminded.

"Yeah...she's probably meeting with Midas and her cohorts right now. He bankrolled her campaign so I'd hate to be in his shoes right about now," August mentioned, as they went out to the Bug.

"Yeah and Sidney has to come out of hiding sometime though and when he does, I'm arresting him," Emma replied.

"You know...I'm feeling fine. I'm not dizzy or anything. Let's just go home," Snow said.

"Nice try Mom...you're getting that cut checked out, even if it has to be by that douche, Whale," August replied.

"Yeah, who is he by the way, Mr. Author? Of all the people here, I haven't been able to figure him out," Emma replied. August smirked.

"He's not in the book and I know who he is, but I'm not telling. If I do, you'll never want to go near him," he replied.

"Well, that's encouraging," David quipped.

"Still...he is a real doctor so I'm afraid he's all Storybrooke has," August said. Snow sighed.

"Fine...let's get this over with then," she relented, as they piled into the bug and Regina waved to them, just as Ethan approached in a sprint. He had gone to the Rabbit Hole to check in with his employees briefly after it was determined that David and Mary Margaret were found safe.

"I just heard the news," he said, as he kissed her soundly.

"Congratulations, Madam Mayor...I hope you'll allow me to buy you your first drink," he added. She smiled and hooked her hand on his elbow.

"Well, I was going to go to my new office and rub it in my mother's face, but perhaps a drink is better advised. She's probably throwing a fit as we speak and as fun as that would be to witness, I think I'll pass on that for a drink with you," she replied.

"Her meltdown probably would be entertaining though," he agreed. Regina smirked.

"Don't worry...I'm sure we'll get witness plenty of tantrums from her. She's not going to leave that office quietly," she said, as they headed for the Rabbit Hole.

~*~

The glass vase shattered against the wall the moment they revealed the news.

"How...did this happen?!" Cora screamed and everyone in the room coward before her. But they seemed to be the only ones lately. The rest of the town had grown a backbone and suddenly felt strong enough to revolt against her, even after years of bowing in fear before her. She expected this kind of rebellion from Snow White, but she was truly hurt that Regina was leading the charge on this one. She and her daughter had been long at odds, but she had never expected such thorough betrayal.

Regina had always struggled in the past to stand up to her and truly do whatever possible to stop her. It was the reason the curse was cast, after all. Because when it came down to it, Regina showed her mercy, while Cora was merciless.

~*~

Flashback

Minutes before the curse

"Mother please...don't do this…" Regina cried, as she begged at her mother's feet and the cauldron that she had just magicked into the atrium of Snow and Charming's palace bubbled with magenta smoke.

"Do this Regina...and I'll let them live. It will even be a fairly good life with his little boy," Cora promised. Regina looked at her husband and her step-son, as her mother's soldiers held their swords on Robin and Roland.

"Regina...it's okay," Henry said, as tears poured down his beloved daughter's face.

"But Daddy…" she pleaded.

"You must save your family...there is still hope," he promised and she cried out in anguish, as Regina thrust her hand into her own father's chest. She extracted it and glared at her mother.

"Regina...what are you doing?" Cora asked in trepidation.

"I love you Daddy," she said. He smiled.

"And I love you...everything will be okay. Someday," he promised.

"Making sure you cannot cast this curse," Regina said and she sobbed, as she crushed her own father's heart, letting the diamond dust fall harmlessly to the floor. Cora cried out in frustration.

"Oh you foolish girl…" she chided, as she looked at her step-daughter.

"But there is one other way I can still have what I need," she said, as she looked at Snow and Charming.

"If Regina will not cast my curse, than you will, dear Snow," she said, as her soldiers surrounded them.

Cora started toward them and then was surprised when her own daughter struck her with her own magic, momentarily freezing her in place and the other soldiers in place.

"Go!" she called to her brother-in-law.

"I can't hold her long...get Snow to the wardrobe!" Regina cried. David didn't hesitate and gently pulled his wife along, as they ascended the winding staircase toward the nursery.

Once they reached the top of the stairs though, Leopold and several soldiers stood in their way. David brandished his sword and began to duel the men, while guarding a very pregnant Snow. She put her hands to her swollen belly, as her father's eyes skated over her.

"It pains me deeply that you've been reduced to this, daughter. From the fair and pure princess I raised...to a Shepherd's whore," he said, with disappointment lacing his voice.

"Oh...we both know I am neither of those. I am rightful Queen of two Kingdoms and wife to a wonderful, loving husband. A husband that will be a greater King than you ever were. He's my true love and I'm happier than I ever thought possible. But instead of being happy for me, like a real father, you let evil destroy your soul. And for that, I pity you, father," she responded. But he only smirked.

"Your time as Queen is about to end, my dear daughter. In this new land, you will be put in your rightful place by my side, while he will return to being the lowly, insignificant peasant that he is," Leopold threatened. But as his last soldier fell, he grabbed her arm and used her to threaten Charming.

"It's over, shepherd scum...the curse is upon us and my pregnant whore of a daughter won't give birth to your spawn," he hissed.

"Do you hear yourself? Cora's evil has so thoroughly twisted you that you are someone your own daughter doesn't even recognize!" David cried.

"You use her as a human shield...your own daughter and grandchild! End this madness now! Giving Cora control of our lives is insane!" he added.

"Some of us will be rewarded in this new land...others, like you, will be lowly peasants, who spend their days mucking up after the farm animals, while people like me will have power again," Leopold countered, but then he seized in pain. Snow gasped, as she hurried into her husband's arms and they looked upon her father in surprise. He fell to the floor, as Rumpelstiltskin stood there with Leopold's heart in his hand.

"What...what are you doing?" Charming asked in trepidation.

"This curse must happen...and there was a time when Cora actually loved his...monster of man," Rumple stated simply.

"Why...why do you need this curse?" Snow cried.

"It's complicated...but I sense that someday, you will understand. You are not my enemies...Cora is," he said.

"That doesn't make any damn sense!" David shouted in frustration.

"It will one day. She will have her curse, but then your daughter will save us all. Know that this is for all for our children," Rumple stated cryptically.

"Our?" Snow questioned.

"There is no time to lose. Go...she must go through the wardrobe or none of this matters. Cora will lose...but only if the Savior is born," he said.

"You better be right. What you're asking of us…" David started to say in anguish.

"I know...it's unthinkable, but your daughter will save us all and then the final battle will begin," he responded.

"And Cora will lose," he added. David shook his head in frustration and then took Snow's hand, as he hurriedly led her to the nursery. If the curse was happening after all, then he had to get Snow and their baby to safety...even if it meant staying behind.

~*~

Rumple had presented her with Leopold's heart at the last moment. She really had to dig deep inside her to remember a time where she actually did love him, before Eva ruined it all. Back before she had turned her heart completely black, she had loved him and crushed his heart with ease. Surprisingly...it had worked and the curse was wrought. But by the time she had gotten to the nursery, Snow had escaped with her unborn spawn that could ruin everything. So in a moment of sheer revenge and cruelty, she had punished Charming in the place of Snow, cursing him into an abusive marriage.

But as the curse weakened, so did her twisting of Princess Abigail. She had once been as cold and cruel as Cora herself, but now she was just a simpering mess that was almost of no use to Cora.

"You've all done a great disservice to our cause and there will be consequences," she warned.

"What can we do?" Kathryn asked in a helpless tone.

"We make this entire town regret crossing us," Cora replied ominously.

~*~

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Whale said, as he entered the exam room.

"It's okay...because I feel fine. I don't think this is necessary," Mary Margaret protested, but the three of them gave her looks that said she wasn't going to get out of this.

"Head injuries must be treated and checked out, no matter how minor they seem, Ms. Swan," Whale said, as he looked at her chart and then at the man standing next to her.

"I'm going to have to ask anyone except immediate family to leave," he stated. But she clutched his hand.

"Everyone in this room is immediate family," Mary Margaret said.

"Ms. Swan…" Whale started to protest.

"Actually...I think it's Deputy Mayor Swan, right Auggie?" Emma asked.

"That's right...I've already wrote up the piece for the morning paper on it," August replied.

"You can break a few rules for the Mayor...or Deputy Mayor, as it were, right?" Emma asked, as she shifted her son on her hip.

"Yeah, cause according to my...research, you've broken plenty of rules for the former Mayor. Man, I'd hate for those dirty little secrets to end up on the front page of the mirror," August added. Whale rolled his eyes and sighed, as Snow and David shared an amused smile.

"Fine, stay...like I care," he grumbled, as he went about checking the cut on Mary Margaret's head, which he proceeded to put a butterfly bandage on.

"I don't see any signs of major trauma or concussion. Keep it bandaged for a few days and take acetaminophen as needed for any pain," Whale said, as he scribbled on her chart and left.

"Well, his bedside manner could use some work," David said.

"Yeah...who is he? I don't remember meeting him back in our land. Which, I know doesn't really mean anything, but I also don't remember a lot of actual doctors either," Mary Margaret said, as she looked at her son.

"Yeah, most of them were witch doctors or healers, which believe me is a whole different world," David added.

"I'm...not sure you're ready to know that," August replied.

"Auggie...just tell me already or I'll ask Regina. She'll tell me," Snow said. He rolled his eyes.

"Fine...he's actually not from the Enchanted Forest, but rather the Land Without Color. And his name is Dr. Frankenstein," August revealed, making Emma chuckle.

"Whatever...who is he seriously?" she asked.

"I'm being serious," August replied. Snow shuddered.

"Like the monster doctor that experimented with dead bodies?" she asked.

"I told you that you probably didn't want to know," August replied.

"Okay...on that disturbing note, maybe we should go home. If I act like I don't know Sidney is involved, maybe he'll take the bait and surface," Emma quipped.

"Home sounds like a great idea," David agreed, as he put his arm around his wife, his true wife, and she rested her head against his shoulder, as they followed Emma and August out.

~*~

Cora swirled the amber liquid in her glass that evening, as she stewed in her office. Former office, for in the morning, she was sure her daughter and that insipid Princess that was ruining everything would be here to kick her out.

"You really think you have won, don't you Snow…" she muttered, as she took a sip. Her plan to get rid of her Snow and Charming problem hadn't worked out. It didn't seem to matter what she did to those two. She had separated them with a curse, forced Snow to raise a baby on her own, and even reduced her beloved husband to a shell of his former self. But then she came to town and all that began to unravel. Raising a child on her own had made Snow strong and forcing David into an abusive relationship had not made him weak in the way she had hoped. In fact, it had made him stronger and desperate to act. So when the right people came along to help him, he had finally stood up and taken control of his life, all while making one of her staunches allies in Kathryn Nolan all but useless. She was beginning to think she really screwed up there. Had she cursed him into a happy marriage or at the very least a normal one, she might have caused more problems between them. But she had been so focused on making Snow pay that she had concocted the dilemma for her husband and would unknowingly drive him right back into the arms of his true wife, despite their age difference now.

But there was one thing she hadn't really done to hurt them and that was to go after their child.

As Mayor, it would have been easy for her to force Graham to fire Emma without giving any reason for her decision, but now that she had been ousted, she would need to be a little more creative. There was always the baby. She could easily have the child taken and hold the entire family, including her daughter, hostage, but she felt that something like that would only further rally them and the entire town against her. But if she came up with something else that would force them to focus on their daughter, rather than the town, she could find a way to take control again. Sidney slithered into her office at that point, wearing a ridiculous hat to conceal his identity.

"Sidney...do you still have the information I asked you to dig up on Emma Swan and Neal Cassidy?" she questioned.

"Yes Ma'am," he responded, as she finished her drink.

"Bring me the files. Revenge might not be completely out of our reach, after all," she mused.

~*~

Lacey looked up at the sign and she started to wonder why she was even here. She had a coffee in hand and slowly walked into the station. Since that night at the Rabbit Hole when the mysterious Mr. Gold had rescued her from being accosted by that creep, Keith, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. Which was really odd for her. Normally, she didn't really pay other people any mind, let alone actually care about anyone. Lacey was always someone that looked out for number one, but she also had never really had anyone try to stand up for her or defend her. And if she was being honest with herself, she actually liked it the other night. And it was not because it was some good guy that had stepped in. The man that had stepped in was not that type at all. She had found his savagery against the other man thrilling and had decided that she needed to thank him in person, which still felt like a foreign concept to her, but here she was.

And it seemed foreign to him as well, judging by the surprise on his face once she walked in.

"Hi," she said. He seemed unable to find his voice at first, but then finally cleared his throat.

"Hello," he answered back, as she handed him the coffee through the bars.

"I just wanted to say thank you...you know for the other night. I didn't need you to beat the crap out of that guy, because I had it under control...but I did enjoy watching it happen," she said.

"Well, he deserved it," Gold agreed, as he sipped at the coffee.

"And thank you…" he said, as he took another sip.

"So...when do you think they'll be letting you out of this place?" she asked curiously.

"Hopefully soon...sooner if the election tonight went a certain way," he replied.

"Oh, well Regina beat her mother if that helps," she offered. He smirked.

"Indeed it does," he replied. She nodded.

"Well...I should go, but maybe if you get out of here, I'll see you around?" she asked. He nodded.

"I think that's very likely," he replied, as he watched her go. With Regina in office, he was all but ready to declare war on Cora when he got out of this cell.

~*~

They arrived home that evening and after helping their daughter put her son to bed, they bid her goodnight as well and descended the stairs, hand in hand, though Snow was heavily leaning on him. The events of the day were really catching up to her and he helped her to the bed behind the curtain. She sat down and as he turned away, to take the couch, she assumed, she grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"You need your rest," he replied.

"And I'm pretty sure I'll rest better with your arms around me," she said.

"Unless you're not ready, which I completely understand," she added. But he shook his head.

"It's not that at all...I'm always going to want you," he promised.

"But I would get it if you wanted nothing to do with sex...after what happened," she said, as he sat down beside her.

"Maybe...if it wasn't you. But it is you and like I said, I'm always going to want you," he replied. She smiled and swooned, as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"But tonight, you need your rest, because you can barely keep your eyes open," he said, as she unbuttoned her cardigan.

"I can leave if you want me to while you change," he offered.

"Oh, I don't want you to go anywhere," she replied. He smiled softly.

"Good...because I never want to leave your side again," he said, as she lifted her arms and he pulled her camisole over her head. They had a lot of intimate time to catch up on and they were both eager to rekindle that part of their relationship. But for tonight, the simpleness of undressing together and redressing into their sleep clothes was enough. Once they did so, they climbed into bed and she relished his arms around her.

"Sleep, my darling...I'm here again and I promise that nothing is going to separate us again," he whispered to her, as he pressed his lips against her hair.

"Mmm...I love you, Charming," she whispered in a sleepy voice. She fell asleep in his arms almost instantly and though sleep had often eluded him in the past, he was right behind her, as he was finally where he belonged again, by her side.

[cashmierathoughts]

Riley ‘Nem “Who Is He?” pt. 4

Despite my utter surprise, I didn't break our unspoken agreement. When Jake approached me, we didn’t speak, we just danced. 

We danced for what seemed like all night. My eyes we closed and Jake’s hands softly guided my hips as they swayed from side to side like drapes being touched by a calm wind. I relaxed my body and let my head hang back and allowed myself to rest on his chest as he leaned down and whispered the lyrics to Usher’s ‘Can You Handle It’ in my right ear. With each word, I could feel the cool tickles from every syllable spiral in one ear and out the next, traveling down, causing all the hairs on the back of my neck to stand. 

I was completely in a trance. Jake positioned my body so that I was now facing him. When I opened my eyes and caught his stare, I fully understood the colloquialism, “windows to the soul”. 

I happened to glance over Jake’s shoulder and saw a figure approaching us from off in the cut. A shorter and less defined version of Jake came over and pulled him to the side. Before I knew it, Jake took me by the hand, kissed it, and promised to call me the next day. 

Moments had passed and I was still standing in the middle of the dance floor on stuck. I was in a daze. Still. I felt a clammy hand grab me by the arm, yanking me back into reality. I looked up and saw that the yanking hand belonged to Jordyn. 

J: “Riley! I’ve been calling your name for like the last two songs. The lights been on, let’s go”. 

I looked around and noticed that the lights were on. I never stayed around for the lights to come on; no one did. Luckily, I had used extra strength edge control that night so I was still looking decent, even after the fact.

We waited for Keesha by the side exit as she pretended to flirt with the promoter, securing our free entry into his future events. He attempted to get her to go home with him. Promising her he’d call Jordyn and I an Uber and “take good care of her”. Unbeknownst to him, there were TWO reasons why that was not going to happen: 1. We came in MY car and 2. Keesha was a virgin. Untouched by any part of the penis, she was not about to let him hit. As she finished her conversation and strutted over to us, twisting her hips in a captivating motion, knowing the promoter was still watching, he lustfully eyed her, imagining all the ways he would never fuck her. 

Jordyn kept up her end of the bargain and got in the driver’s seat. Keesha rode shotgun and I climbed in the back. This arrangement reminded me of college. After the parties, after the AFTER parties, or after the smoke sessions, we’d all pile up in whoever’s car and get dropped off one by one to “our niggas’” spot. We called it the dick-mobile. But this wasn’t college and we were all taking our asses home. 

I spread out in the backseat, finally able to appreciate how spacious my car actually was. It’s kind of funny, but I don’t think I’d ever sat back here before. The smoothness of the ride, along with those six shots and thoughts of Jake’s hands wrapped around me, cradled me into a light slumber. When I woke up, Jordyn had already dropped Keesha off and we were pulling into our parking garage. We took the elevator up to level five, got off, and walked a few steps to our door. We were greeted by a ratty vintage doormat that read, “How are ya?”. I looked down at it and absentmindedly mumbled, “horny”. 

J: “Huh?”

“Huh?.. Oh, nothing”, I replied, almost forgetting she was standing beside me.

I climbed into my bed, set my alarm for church in the morning and went to sleep. 

The next morning, I got up with no signs of a hangover and thought to myself, “God is good”. I went to Jordyn’s room to wake her up for church but she wasn't there. I walked to the living room and there was still no sign of her. I didn't have time to play ‘Where’s Waldo’ with her so I text her and then got in the shower. When I got out, I checked my phone; still no Jordyn. I proceeded to get dressed and on my way out the door, I took a pack of chicken thighs out of the freezer and placed them in the kitchen sink to thaw out. We, Jordyn and I, made it a part of our Sunday routine to cook dinner. 

I got to church about fifteen minutes late, but that was right on time when it came to being a member of a baptist church. Praise and worship lasted well over its allotted time slot and old Mrs. Jones was right on schedule with her ‘Holy Ghost’ performance, pushing the sermon back another seven minutes. When I walked through the double doors leading to the sanctuary, Mrs. Jones was hitting her victory lap, circling the perimeter of the pews. Like I said, I was right on time. I found a seat in the center aisle of the church, next to a husband, wife, and their three small children. I usually didn’t sit next to kids at church because they were a distraction; always kicking and swinging their little feet, going on and on about nothing with their sweet little voices. And worst of all, they were so stinking cute. I had baby fever like a mothafucka, but I knew I wasn't ready. It was two little girls and a boy; they all seemed to be at least a year or two apart. The little boy daintily placed his little hand on my lap and looked up at me with such big and innocent eyes and asked if I had any candy. Before I could confirm, his mother leaned over and said, “Jake, come over here and sit next to your daddy, baby.” I smiled at the irony and at the thought of having my own little one and naming him Jake, after his daddy of course. 

I quickly said a prayer and asked God to refocus my attention to the Word and not on hypothetical baby daddies and children. 

“...and, and, and...GAWD, I said, GAWD! Won’t give you anything you can’t bare!..”, Pastor Joiner went on as the choir echoed him, singing, “HE WON’T!”, all in unison. 

You could hear the church cry out in agreement. “Hallelujah!”. “Praise the Lord!”, followed by the occasional “Won’t He do it!?”, or my personal favorite, “You betta ask somebody!”. 

Shortly after, the ushers surfaced and passed around buckets to collect tithes and offering. I looked to my left and saw the family that I was sitting next to getting their money together. The dad pulled out his brown leather wallet and handed his three children one dollar each and instructed them to put it in the bucket when it came around. I smiled to myself as I bared witness to such a loving, yet simple duty. As the bucket came around to me, I prayed a simple prayer and asked God to bless me with a good man and to allow me to be just as good of a woman to him, Amen.

The whole way home, I smiled. Believe it or not, it wasn't because Pastor Joiner preached his ass off this morning. It was because today was “tomorrow” and Jake said he’d call. I turned the volume back up on my phone because I would be damned if I missed his call. Pressed wasn't even the word. 

I pulled into the parking garage and found out why Jordyn hadn't been answering her phone. Robert’s car was parked in visitors’. I guess they made up. When I got off the elevator and stepped into the hallway, I could hear them arguing. I paused in front of the door, contemplating whether or not I wanted to get caught in their crossfire. Our nosey ass neighbor Becca poked her head out of the door and quickly closed it once she saw me in the hall. I decided to leave and as I was walking away, I heard Jordyn yell, “WELL GO FUCK YA MAMA THEN!”. Yup, I was glad that I’d made the choice to leave. Robert wasn’t the domestic violence type so I knew that they would eventually calm down and find a resolution. They always did. In the meantime, I hit Keesha up and went to post up over her house. 

When I pulled up to her house, I canvased her street for my aunt and uncle’s car. I didn’t see it and figured that they were still at church. I walked up the creaky steps and knocked on the screen door. Keesha answered and rushed back to the kitchen. I followed behind her and was engulfed by fried chicken fumes. Keesha was cleaning off collards in the sink, prepping Sunday dinner for Aunt Bernadine’s return. 

K: “So who was you all hugged up with last night at The Spot?”, investigated Keesha. 

“Who me?”, I asked, trying to act like I didn’t know what she was referring to. 

K: “Who me?”, she mocked. “Yea, YOU, nigga. Who was that tall dude that was all up in yo ear?”.

I gushed just thinking about it. 

“Just this guy I work with”, I tried to keep my response as casual as possible.

K: “’Just this guy I work with’ my ass. Cuz, he was onnnn you! I danced with like four or five niggas and every time I looked up for you, you was still with ya mans. Who is he?”

I couldn't hold back my true thoughts anymore. I was not the best at concealing my feelings, which turned out to do me more harm than good. So I dished it to her, “Okay. Jake is a senior partner at my job. He is smart, he’s successful, he’s fine, no kids..ugh. He is everything. I had no idea that he would be at the party last night and we don't even talk outside of work or nothing. I’ve been checking for him for a while now but after last night... it’s official; I want him.”

K: “Oooh, senior partner you say? He got moneeeyy! So what you gone do about it? You baggin’ that orrr?” 

“Am I “baggin’ that”? Seriously Keesh? I mean, yes I like him. But we work together. Office romances aren't my thing. It never ends well. Then if it takes a turn for the worst, I gotta see him at work. I don't know. Plus everything is still sort of fresh with Bri--”, she cut me off before I could even finish his name. 

K: “Brian!? BRIAN?! After how he dogged you, you still worried about that nigga? Had a whole ba--”. 

“That’s enough Keesh!”, I interrupted. “I’m just saying that I don't want to rush anything with Jake. That doesn’t mean that I’m stuck on Brian.”

K: “Mmm hmm. Yea, okay. Better not be. But hol’ up, you said his name was Jake? That sounds so familiar...”

“Yea, but anyways, what’s up with that promoter guy you was stringing along last night?”, I poked.

K: “Who? Troy? Girl he ain’t nobody. I was tryna get us on the guest list for Fab’s birthday party”, she explained. 

“Us!? Girl I’m not going to that man’s birthday party. You know I don't even hang like that anymore”. 

K: “Well you need to start. I don’t know how else you gone get you a man, shiddd”. 

I just looked at her and shook my head. There was really no point in continuing this conversation with Keesha. We had it every other month. She knew good and well I wasn't looking for a man in the club. That was the last place I thought I’d find Mr. Right. 

“You already know how I feel abo--..” 

K: “...About meeting a man in the club. Blah, blah, blah”, she interjected.

“Eggs-actly”, I said in a matter of fact tone. 

K: “So I guess “Jake”, is it? Don't count? Bettt...”, she laughed.

“Aw, that’s different.. I know him from work..”, I tried to compromise. 

K: “BUT, you also said you don't do office romances. So which is it? You either fuck with niggas in the club or you getting dicked down in the copy room. Right now, it looks like ya mans Jake is oh for two”, she teased. 

I cut my eyes at her. Damn, she was right. If I let anything happen between Jake and I, I would be going against two of my own rules. BUT, if I didn’t, I could potentially be letting the man of my dreams slip away. In reality, how far had those “rules” really gotten me? The last man I was with didn’t work at my job and I didn't meet him in the club and he still turned out to be a fuckin’ dirtbag. With that reasoning. I decided to say fuck it and give it a shot. 

“Don’t worry about me, Keesh. I got this”, I assured her. Although I was not confident at all in my declaration. 

I hung around her house for about another forty-five minutes, then called Jordyn to see if the two of them had ceased fire. When she answered, I could tell by her groggy tone that she had worn herself out and was either half sleep or she was in the middle of getting fucked. Either way, I was homebound. I had to get started on my own dinner. 

When I got home, Robert was gone. Jordyn had seasoned the chicken and had it marinating in the refrigerator. Perfect. I went to my room and plopped down on my bed, kicked my pumps off, and turned the volume on my phone up to high so that I wouldn't sleep through Jake’s call. My final thoughts before I dozed off were that I hoped he didn’t FaceTime me. I hated that.

Shortly after I’d laid down, I rolled over in a half panic, thinking I had missed his call. Even though I didn’t have any missed call notifications, I went ahead and checked my call history anyway; you just never know. Nope. No missed calls, no voicemails, no texts. Nothing. Again, I was pressed. I stood up, stretched, and then headed for the kitchen to start on dinner. Jordyn was sitting on the couch rewatching last week’s episode of ‘Insecure’. I was glad because the kitchen overlooked the living room and I could see the show while I cooked. 

J: “Girl was that JAKE at he club last night?!”, Jordyn shouted over the volume of the TV. 

“Yup”, I said plainly. I really didn't want to have this conversation for a second time today. 

I preheated the oven to about 365 degrees and laced the pan with aluminum foil before I emptied the chicken and all of its marinade into the pan. 

J: “Riley! You gon’ miss it! C’mere. Hurry up!”

I flung open the oven door, slid the pan onto the bottom rack, and rushed into the living room just in time.

“Uggghhhhh!”, we shouted in union. 

J: “I would have diiiieeed bitch!”, exclaimed Jordyn. “I can not bee-lieve that trifling ass nigga nutted on her face like that! We woulda had to bump after that! Fareal”.

I laughed. Jordyn was always talking about fighting somebody. Knowing damn well she wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight. 

“Ahhh.. she wasn’t ready..”, I hollered. “I think she over reacted though. I mean, when you pull a trigger, do you not expect a bullet to come out?”. 

J: “Aww”, she covered her mouth. “I knew it.. I knew it, I knew it.” 

“What? Knew what, J?”, I questioned. 

J: “I knew yo ass was nasty!”, she teased. “I just didn't think you was letting niggas bust all on your face!”.

“Chilllll. I’m just saying, he told her he was about to bust. She should have acted accordingly; swallowed and kept it pushing. Imagine if every time we were about to cum, the nigga stopped or got shitty that we squirted on his face. Haha. They love that shit and so should we. But at the end of the day, Issa just ain’t bout that hoe life. Which is fine. I, for one, really don’t think this “hoe-tation” shit is necessary. There are other ways to get over a guy.” 

J: “Aw here you gooo. You’re the most “anti- hoe phase” woman I’ve ever met. There’s nothing wrong with fucking who you wanna fuck, when you wanna fuck ‘em. Even if that means you’re with two or three or four niggas a month. that’s her decision.”, protested Jordyn. 

Mind you, Jordyn was a “relationship” type of woman. She never even slept with more than 4 guys, so the fact that she was so pro- hoe phase was really a trip. 

“So what you not gone do is act like I be judging these hoes. Haha. ‘Cause I don’t. I’m just saying it isn’t the go-to for everybody. At the end of the day, we all grown. If Issa or anybody else for that matter feels like doing numerous dicks, go right ahead baby girl. But don’t justify it with a ‘cause niggas ain’t shit’ or call it a ‘hoe phase’ cause at that point, are you not acknowledging that you are that said ‘hoe’? And bitches hate being called a hoe but wanna claim a “hoe phase”. Make it make sense” 

J: “You must’ve gone to church today, huh? Haha. Pastor Joiner got you feeling all high and mighty?”, taunted Jordyn. “I hear you though”. 

I playfully rolled my eyes and sat back on the couch and waited for the next episode. Just as I was getting comfortable, my phone started buzzing on the kitchen counter. I hopped off the couch and raced over to the kitchen with the quickness. Just as I reached my phone and went to answer it, I stubbed my fucking toe. 

“”Fuuuucccckkkk!”

J: “Uhh.. Riley?”, asked a deep yet calming and soothing voice. 

My eyes were closed due to the extreme amount of pain surging from my pinky toe. I hadn’t even looked at the phone to see who was calling but once I heard the voice on the other end of the line, I immediately knew who it was. It was him. It was Jake. I froze, half embarrassed because of the way I answered the phone and half elated because of who was on the receiving end. 

“Hello?”, I answered hesitantly. 

“Is this a bad time? It’s Jake by the way”, he said smoothly. 

“No!”, I blurted out. “I meant, no, this isn’t a bad time. I just stubbed my toe as I was answering the phone. Sorry for yelling in your ear”, I apologized. 

J: “Damn, which toe? I hate when that shit happens, I be ready to fight”. 

I was shocked by his response and I don’t know why. It’s not like I really knew the man. I’d only had a compilation of shared random “moments” at work with him and had used those very moments to create his personality. Sounds crazy, I know. Strangely enough, hearing Jake speak in this way relaxed me. 

“My pinky”, I finally admitted. “Running to the damn kitchen to ---”, I stopped myself. I couldn’t let him know I was running to the kitchen because my phone rang and I desperately wanted it to be him. “--- check on something”, I finished.

Technically, I didn't lie. 

J: “You cookin’?”. 

“As a matter of fact, I am”. Wow, now I really didn't have to lie. I was cooking and actually had almost forgotten with all that had just happen in the last couple minutes. 

“Aw you can burn? or you making stir fry or something that doesn't require any particular skill?”. 

Did this nigga just come for me? 

“Well aren’t you sassy”. 

J: “Whoa. You can't call a man sassy, Riley...”.

He went on to explain why but I was caught up on the way my name sounded leaving his lips. 

“...just doesn’t sound right”, finished Jake. 

“You done?”, I joked. “But to answer your question, I’m making honey glazed baked chicken thighs, side caesar, corn bread muffins, and macaroni and cheese for me and my roommate.” 

J: “Aw yea? You cookin’ like that and didn’t invite me over? Haha.”

His laugh.. I could just melt right here on this kitchen counter. “Cut it out, Riley”, I told myself. I had to keep it cool and casual. I didn’t want to be all open.

I didn't even eat my dinner. The hunger in my stomach was now replaced by what felt like a thousand fluttering butterflies. Before I knew it, we’d been on the phone for hours. I couldn't sit still. I’d done about a hundred laps around our apartment, even went to the roof and walked around some. It was so nostalgic. It reminded me of when I was in high school and would stay up all night on the phone.. just talking. I was really impressed. Up until now, I’d stopped believing in the art of conversation. Jake changed my mind and I was glad that he did. 

We talked about our first loves, losing our virginities and how awful it was; well to be clear, how awful it was for me. Jake on the other hand was a star athlete since the age of eight and lost his virginity at the age of TWELVE, to a fifteen year old. Fast ass. So he’s been fuckin’ for a while now. I wondered how many women he’d slept with but I didn't want to be “that girl” and ask. At the end of the day, I didn't want it to matter, BUT I also didn't want to be with someone who slang dick to everybody and their mama’s for sport. For now, I tried to forget about it. His conversation was way too scintillating to get hung up on such a childish matter. 

We talked about our dreams. Our fears. We talked about the simple shit that doesn’t seem to matter so much these days but mattered to us at some point. Simple shit like: favorite colors, apples or oranges, Batman or Superman, up or down; it really didn't matter, we just TALKED. We allowed ourselves to learn one another. So far, he was everything I could hope for. The night grew later and later. It was almost 2:30 in the morning and we were still going strong. I made the mistake of yawning.

J: “Uh oh, you sleepy?”, he asked. 

“Not at all”, I lied. I didn't want to hang up but I was actually tired and had to be at work by 7:30 that next morning. 

J: “You should get some rest, you have to work in the morning, right?”, it was like he wasn't asking me, but was telling me. 

I succumbed to his passive aggressive way of telling me to go to bed. 

J: “Goodnight, Riley”, he said sincerely. 

“Goodnight, Jake”, I said softly as I let the phone slide from my face and onto my pillow. I didn't hang up though. I watched the screen and waited for the timer on the face of my phone to flash a few times then fade out, signifying that the call had ended. It didn't end though. I put the phone back up to my ear and heard breathing. 

“Jake?”, I asked? 

J: “Mmmhm?”, he responded, all casual like. 

“Aren’t you going to hang up?”. I asked in a half confused, half pleased voice. 

J: “You hang up first”, he laughed.

“No, you hang up first”, I playfully combatted. 

J: “Nope.”, he said childishly. 

We both laughed and talked some more. this time, the conversation got a little more serious. We talked about our exes and how we had gone from being with someone who we would have given the moon to, to reaching a point where they were now apart of our pasts. Linked to a former version of ourselves. They no longer mattered. It no longer mattered. The weird thing is, Jake would never say her name. I might've said Brian’s name two or three times, but he wouldn't say her name. I’m sure I didn't know his ex, but the fact that we’d talked so much that night and had been so transparent with one another about so much and he wouldn't even say her name spiked my curiosity. Still, I didn't ask. From what he told me about her, she did a number on him and I didn't like the direction that the conversation was taking, so I tucked away all thoughts of the subject into the back of my mind, although I didn't let them wander too far back. 

Before I knew it, his steady breathing was echoing through my end of the phone, like a lullaby, and carried me off to sleep. 

I woke up nearly three hours later and started my morning routine: wake up, shower, get dressed, drop Jordyn off at work, and finally, head to the office. However, when I got there, I walked past Jake’s office and saw that he was not there. I figured that we’d stayed up too late on the phone last night and he probably slept in. So I went about my day, constantly checking my phone and IM account, hoping I’d get a ping or a text from Jake. 

Nope. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. A whole eight hours later and no contact was made, by either of us. I started to think that I should reach out, but I made no such attempt. I didn't want to seem thirsty, or force a pattern of “we gotta talk everyday” on the man, but I also didn't want it to seem like I was too nonchalant and didn't care if I talked to him or not. After contemplating, I realized that I’d been overthinking. I sent the text. 

“Hey, how are ya?”

I regretted it as soon as I saw the message say “delivered”. “How are ya?”, I deliberated. Why the fuck did I just say that? So corny. I couldn’t think of anything to say and I immediately thought about my vintage doormat. It was simple. Whatever, I reached out. I did my part. 

One..two..three hours later and still no response. I left the office for the day. I definitely felt a way. I tried not to think about it, but every few minutes I’d feel or hear a phantom vibration coming from my phone. Although, when I checked it, there were no new notifications. Wow, I was officially trippin’. 

I decided to stop by the gym on my way home and work out. Working out was a sure way to get my mind off things. I stripped down and sat in the sauna and let the sweat shed my body, dripping down from my temples to my feet. I peeked through one eye, making sure that no one was around before I reached my hand down preparing to pleasure myself. Just as my fingers were about to part my lips, the door to the sauna area flung open and there stood an older black woman in the doorway. I was so embarrassed that I thought I’d die. She side eyed me and copped a seat across from me in the small area. I laid there, paralyzed with humiliation. A few minutes later, I got up, wrapped my towel tightly around my body and headed for the door. As I was leaving, a stern, yet experience voice halted me and said, “Honey, you need a man”. I turned around and flashed a coy smile, both acknowledging the fact that her old ass was right and also concealing my shame. I went on my way, letting the door close softly behind me. 

Could this day get any worse?

I got home and stopped at the door. I looked down and mugged our stupid doormat. “How are ya?”, I read out loud. What the fuck was I thinking?

I quickly dismissed my thoughts and proceeded inside. 

Jordyn was sitting on the couch, flipping back and forth between Animal Planet and Keeping Up With the Kardashians when I walked in. I absentmindedly walked over to the kitchen counter and sifted through the mail; trashing the coupons and fake credit card advertisements and making a separate pile for the bills. I grabbed the important mail and walked to my room. 

“Where did these come from!”, I shrilled. 

J: “I was wondering the same thing when I opened the door for the delivery boy”, said Jordyn as she pranced to my room, pouncing down on my bed. 

I snatched the card attached to the bouquet of gardenias and read it to myself. Warmth filled my chest. Goosebumps crept up my inner thighs. My brief moment of bliss was interrupted by Jordyn’s equal curiosity. 

J: “Well? Who are they from?”, she interrogated.

I handed her the card and fell back on my bed and smiled. My nerves were at ease and my insecurities were laid to rest.

J: “Who’s ‘JT’?”

I didn’t answer her right away. I was too busy relishing the moment. 

Finally, I said... “Jake Taylor”.