#my mom passed by and asked me what the hell kinda spice tired is

[gaemms-chamois]

squish

[chaoslordjoe]

Bloodlines AU - Dented Mithril

"Team Leader."

That was the last thing that Elsa Valkyrie ever had on her mind when she enrolled at Beacon earlier this year. As with any other teenager in her position, kinda had to learn leadership the hard way.

And around this time of year, she had to be thankful somehow. Or rather, had she not been so tense as of late.

Hell, with sharing a building with her brother and their parents. Who else was she going to be thankful with?

Elsa sighed, reading a cookbook to pass the time with mom and Charlie out shopping for spices. It was just her and her father holding the fort down until *something* made the day moderately interesting.

Ding-dong!

“That must be your mother,” said Ren. “I got it.” He walked over to the door and opened it.

Nora walked through the front door to the Fen Lotus restaurant, greeting Ren with a kiss. Followed by Cha Hua who was yawning, hands in his pockets. "Hey, dad." He said mid-yawn. "Elsa still hasn't said much?”

Ren shook his head. “No, she hasn’t. I’m starting to worry for her.”

Charlie frowned. "I gotta help mom unload the groceries. Maybe you should go talk to her?" He suggested.

Ren hesitated. He wasn’t very good talking to people. He still had trouble opening his feelings to Nora, how was he going to convince his own daughter to do the same?

"Me and Charlie will take care of unloading, Lie." Nora insisted. "She mentioned you earlier, so it's okay. Go ahead."

“Alright. I’ll go talk to her.”

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

Heading back inside, Ren walked over to Elsa in her bedroom. “Sweetheart, do you have a minute?”

She looked up, seeing his curious expression and setting the book down. "Um...Sure, dad." Elsa shuffled over on her bed to make room for Ren to sit down. "I swear I have Sigrun locked up just for the holidays." She tried to change the subject towards her prized sword.

“Not that. What’s going on?” He asked, soft but stern.

"Huh? N-Nothing." She fibbed. "I wasn't- -When did you notice?"

“I’ve noticed for a while, but I always thought you’d come and talk to me about when you were ready. However, sometimes you need a little push. Elsa, darling, please.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

"It’s nothing, dad! Why would you..." But her smile quickly turned to a frown. 

Followed by a quivering lip. "...I got into a fight with Alex and Nick just before the break started."

Ren’s face fell. “Oh no. What happened?”

"We were...We were arguing over- -Over what a crappy leader I've been." Elsa confessed, her voice breaking.

“Hey, hey, come here.” Ren pulled her in for a hug. The Viking finally broke down, too tired to hug her father back. 

"I've b-been a terrible leader." She admitted. "I boss them around when things don't go our way, I didn't think of anyone's pros and c-c-cons. I didn't- -Didn't- -"

Instead of hugging Ren, Elsa's arms slumped. She sobbed into his chest.

“It’s okay. Just let it all out.” He whispered.

Looking up, the girl sniffled. "Dad?" She whimpered. "What did you learn about leadership from Ruby and uncle Jaune?"

He chuckled slightly. “That being a leader is a tough job. Sometimes you have to make tough calls and even though you’re all teammates and friends, you won’t always see eye to eye.”

"Well yeah, but..." Elsa sniffled, catching her breath. "But the Headmistress never explained why I was made team leader. Did Ozpin ever explain it to either of them?"

“Actually he did.”

Wiping her eyes, she curiously looked up for her dad's answer.

“Because they had great potential inside of them. A spark that would light in the face of danger. He saw that they could become more than just Huntsmen.”

Elsa sniffled. "So who'd you expect to end up becoming leader of our Team?"

"I suppose.. I didn't think of it. You, your brother, Alex, Dominick, you all have great potential that could make you all fantastic leaders. Alex's tenacity, Nick's dedication, Cha Hua's thoughtfulness." He smiled towards her. "And your empathy beneath all that rage."

She wiped another tear from her eye, laying her head in his lap. "I guess I just wasn't open to criticism for my first few weeks as a leader."

Ren petted her hair. "It's important not to take biting words to heart but to still listen to their intentions. Your teammates may have been cold but you wouldn't be here hiding in your room if it wasn't important. Listen to your intuition but also to others. Your role as leader doesn't just extend to your team, of which I know Uncle Jaune would tell you that much. It's a leader’s duty to listen just as much as it is to give orders and to utilize your own strengths as much as theirs. Take some time to explore yourself, decide what leader you wish to be, and how you'll handle this responsibility on your shoulders. And don't be afraid to ask your teammates if you need it, chances are they see sides of you that you don't"

"You're right.” She squeaked. “Gods, I need to make things right with them. I actually just got off the video call with them before mom went grocery shopping."

"Why not call them back? It's important to open up communication and better not to let it sit." Ren promptly suggested.

They were both interrupted by Cha Hua opening the door. Before her brother could speak, she leaped into his thick body for a hug. "Did you hear any of the call?" She asked him.

Charlie returned the hug. "Enough." He plainly answered.

Elsa nuzzled his cheeks with her own. "I know you said you wouldn't question my leadership...But I need you to start calling me out if I act out of line. Can you do that?" She requested.

"It's not that I just didn't want to question you,” Charlie answered with a grim nod. “I didn't want to get in your way"

Elsa sighed. "Well, you're not." She pulled back, standing back down. "Not after I had this epiphany. I may be the youngest, but I do need to be more mature about this whole thing. And I'm counting on you as your sister. Everyone wants me to do better, so I need to do just that."

Nora peaked her head in next. "Is everything okay here?"

Ren nodded. "I think we're fine now"

"I'll be fine, mom. I just...Really need to connect better with my Team." Elsa reassured.

"Do you want me and your brother to fix you up some pancakes? Maybe grilled cheese?" Nora offered while ruffling her daughter’s hair.

Elsa chuckled with a sniffle. "I'm okay, mom. Really."

"You sure?"

"Yeah..."

Nora cooed. "Okay. Well if you ever need anything, just come get me and your dad." She helped Ren up, heading out of the room to go downstairs.

Charlie looked to his sister when they were alone. "Want me to leave you be? I mean I'm a part of this team to."

Elsa thought about it. "Actually...I kinda needed your help with this one. Just so you can moderate."

"Sure.” He answered. “But I don't want to seem I'm defending the whole time, this is all on you...Leader." He told her softly.

“You're not. I'm gonna stand up for myself like a Huntress should.” Elsa said with less emotion. “And...I'll be sure to polish Kira-San for a week after this if it helps." She joked about his own prized Kanabo.

"No need." He sat down next to her. "Better rip off the band-aid."

Elsa smirked. "You sure? I could buy turtle wax from Mr. Clay's pawn shop if it'll help."

Charlie thought. "Hmm. Alright I'll take that"

[they-callme-ami]

Double Dutch. (aka the drunk! Elijah, Aurora, black!MC and Tobias fic)

Note: This story uses lots of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and is mostly intended for a black audience--you can still read for funsies or whatever, but I better not hear some shit about it not being inclusive or using 'improper grammar'.

Tags: @what-do-you-mean-theyre-evil @tyrils-star @melaninnntae @indescribablybre @prism-goddess

It started innocently enough: you were helping Aurora wrap her hair, pinning it up and tying the scarf around it.  Elijah rolled into the living room in his pajamas. You three were the only ones at home since you three had worked later than Jackie, Bryce and Sienna and didn’t feel like going out that night.  But y’all weren’t opposed to chillin and talkin’ shit. 

It had been a long ass day. Ethan was getting on every damn nerve you had, either talking about his mom and their strained relationship or bugging you about your cases. The man just did not leave you alone, and normally it was cool--but today he needed to back the fuck up and stop talkin shit about Tobias. It was gettin old. Not only that, but you had your own intern to deal with--which is what you were going on about now.

“I’m telling you Elijah--I love Esme but that girl is too fuckin much!  She always stay talkin back to the other attendings, nearly started a fight with another intern, and even when she asks for my advice she don’t listen! Thinkin she know everything….fuckin stubborn headass..” You sigh while twisting your hair.  

“Uh-huh. Sounds like a familiar head-ass doctor I know.  You were on trial last year, stoopid!  I know your ass not talkin bout Esme.  She’s a breeze compared to Sothy… he barely knows how to do anythin--it's a damn miracle he graduated y’know.”

“And who’s fault is that Elijah--oh, excuse me, Oracle.”  Aurora smirked and laughed as Elijah could only sit there, ultimately taking the L.

As y’all were about to go in on each other, there was a knock at the door.

“Oh! Finally, must be the package I ordered.  I hope y’all are ready to see me strut the halls in my new---”  You open the door, only to see Tobias there in some sweats with some take out food and a paper bag.

“Not a package, but I’d love to see what you plan on struttin in.”  He teased and smirked.

“SHIT---Uh---why are you here so late---”  You had your bonnet on and a big ass t-shirt with some stains on it and some basketball shorts.  It was the first time he'd seen you so casual.

"Easy there firecracker, I didn't expect you to look--what are the kids saying--'beat and snatched' 24/7." He pecked your lips and walked in. 

“I invited him Y/N. Tobias, don't ever try and say that shit again and bring me my wings.”  Aurora smiled and laughed, seeming to not be phased by her boss seeing her in a scarf and acne cream dotting her face.  Was she just so tired from work she didn’t care?  Who were you kidding, this girl was a complete trip after a long day and was just sayin ‘fuck it’.

“Elijah, I got Tobias to grab you some of that shrimp scampi from that place downtown, and Y/N--he got you your favorite cause I told him and you his new boo thing.”  Aurora smirked with a wing in hand, and Elijah playfully gagged while Tobias handed out takeout containers and handed yours over. Yup, it was your favorite dish from your favorite place.  

“Now--I was invited for 3 reasons: A.) I have a car so I could do the food run and get y’all spoiled asses some good food.  B.)  I live 5 blocks away from the liquor store so--” He held up a bottle from the bag he had--Hennessy, cause of course he’d get the most stereotypical dr--”And C.) I had to pull a double shift so I’m tired and nice enough to share some college Ramsey stories with y’all.”

So there you were, sipping on your glass and laughing as Tobias was explaining how Ethan thought that ‘double dutch’ was some kind of dessert or innuendo for a threesome with exchange students.

“Wait wait---no no you gotta be kiddin me.  Fuckin 4.0 Med school GPA Ramsey--future head of Edenbrooks Diagnostics Team--thought double dutch was some kinda play on words?  I have to laugh…” Elinah snorts. You couldn’t help but burst into whoops and hollars, laughing and even Aurora couldn’t hide the smile on her face after she almost choked on her drink.

“Uh-huh.  Even after I told him what it was, he insisted that he had to see ‘it’.  I took him to my old neighborhood, and watched four 9 year old girls school him while he nearly fell flat on his face!”  Tobias laughed and smiled as he recalled the memory.  “For someone so fuckin smart--I swear to god he’s a dumbass.  Arrogant too, he never wanted to jump rope at the gym anymore.”

Something inside you flipped on.  You took a sip of Henny and smirked.  

“Well, I knew he had the fuckin long-ass neck of a giraffe, but clearly them legs ain’t doin him a favor either.”  Tobias nearly spat his drink and crumbled on the floor into laughter, Elijah slamming his hand on the table and laughing with him.  It was taking all of Aurora’s willpower to not laugh and act a fool.  “I mean, I know he ain’t got any rhythm either!  Mothafucka was clappin OFFBEAT during Donahue’s karaoke night, but I’m supposed to trust him to count how many heartbeats a patient has.”  You joke again, and Elijah was holding his sides.

“Fuck---he---Y/N shut the hell up!”  Tobias laughed and playfully pushed your shoulder.  “Pass me the damn bottle….y’all lemme tell you somethin worse than that--his cooking.  The man can’t stay on beat let alone beat a fuckin egg.  Y/N--tell ‘em bout the chicken.”

“He---He invited me home after work or somethin--and he wanted me to help him with this recipe he saw for chicken.  Y’all, it was the BLANDEST ass recipe I ever saw in my life.  I was terrified to eat whatever the fuck he was makin, it was so bad his dad even helped out and said how it needed some proper seasoning.  I had never seen an old man so disappointed in such an empty spice cabinet.  I had to leave.”  You snicker as you retell the story.  “Even worse?  He tried to bring me some leftovers afterwards and by god was that mothafucka dry as HELL---y’know what, lemme calm down cause I am not about to yell over some bland ass chicken.”  You chugged down the Henny and grabbed the bottle to pour another glass.

“Y’know….for someone who seemed real eager to stuff a chicken, he cannot seem to tell he got a stick stuffed far up his ass.  No wonder he walks around like an emotionally constipated man-baby.”  Aurora said with a straight face as she chugged her own drink.  You turned away, laughing and doing a spit take as Tobias slammed his fist on the table, snorting while Elijah simply was in awe at Aurora’s words. 

 “My first week there, I was assigned to Y/N and cause my auntie was makin me give her full on oral essays of every case I had, I missed out on one of ours and nearly let a patient die.  Now---his ass knows this.  He knows exactly who the fuck I am and who the fuck my aunt is.  And what did he do?  Chewed me out without a second thought.  I was *this* close to curb stomping his ass I swear--He even called Y/N amature after saving someone’s life because it ‘was sloppy’ and ‘wasn’t professional enough’.  And another thing--” 

You watched Aurora stand up, Henny in her hand, and just goin off on Ethan.  She was tearing into him, from him being able to get off the hook for punching Declan, verbally avicerating innocent interns, being all high and mighty--man, she hated his ass.  Elijah was just eating his scampi, vibing and Tobias was smiling like a proud parent, eating his burger. 

 “He gon have the nerve--the audacity--the CAUCASITY to assume that I’M trippin because I told him about Landry being all rude and dismissive of one of his black-female patients.  He nearly put ME on probation for helping deliver the baby properly when Landry prescribed her the wrong treatment for something cause neither of them will ever fuckin LISTEN and--”  You could not have been any more impressed.  You were just soaking it all in.  She finally sat back down and ate some of her wings.

Tobias sighs and grins.  “Damn. Elijah, you been real quiet...you wanna add your two cents?” he asks while Tobias took a big gulp and sat the glass back down.  He took a deep breath.

“No, no….I just want his long-neck-headass, mommy-didn’t-love-me-so-I’m-a-lil-bitch-headass, grudge-holding-grown-ass-man-headass, lemme-insult-my-interns-headass, pompous, privileged, irritating, high and oh so fuckin’ mighty ass to humble himself and learn to get his head and the stick he got outta his ass.  It ain’t cute to just bash everyone around you cause yo ass is feelin like Hamilton, ‘smartest in the room’ mofo.”  He said, all very calmly while finishing his drink.   You, Tobias and Aurora just exchanged a look….and broke out into a fit of laughs and smiling. 

A few drinks later and a hella amount of roasts later, you were cuddled up with Tobias while Elijah laid out on Aurora's lap. 

"Damn…..we really been up for hours now. Jackie and Sienna still out…" Elijah piped up and checked his phone. "They're at Bryce's place, having a 'girls night' with Keiki and sleepin over…..ooooo, Tobias should sleep over too!" He showed y'all a photo Sienna sent. 

"Uh-huh, you should! We can watch movies and... oh Elijah your hair is sooooo soft." Aurora smiled and was playfully twisting it. Seems like the drinks were finally hitting.  Tobias could tell too.

He managed to help Elijah back in his wheelchair and followed his directions to his room.  He came back out to you helping Aurora to her room.

"Byyyye boss. See ya at work! If you do stay over, y'all better be quiet while he rearrange them guts!" She poked you laughing as you rolled your eyes and got her in bed.  You walked back out, feeling tipsy yourself and plopped on the couch...with Tobias.

"Y'know….your friends definitely know how to go all in on a roast session. I found out shit about Ethan I didn't know till now."

"Mhmmmm….Henny is….is a miracle worker…" you slurred and laughed, laying up on him. "And yoooooouuu….are a fine-ass pillow." 

Before you succumbed to the exhaustion and hennessy, you felt Tobias's lips peck your cheek gently and his arms hold you tight against him.

The next day at work, you were taking your break and went outside to the courtyard...much to your surprise you found a few children--presumabley patients-- playing double dutch with some jump rope.

"Apples, peaches, pears, and plums

Tell me when your birthday comes! 1! 2! 3! 4!"

They were counting along as you hopped inside the rope, showing off a bit and laughing. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Ethan walking towards the building.

"Hey, Ethan, wanna join? It may not be a dessert or two dutch girls--but it'll be fun!" You called out and teased while working the ropes. You could see his face turn red from where you were, and him muttering softly about Tobias. You couldn't help but laugh as you kept skipping and hopping away.

[damn-daemon]

Healing and Heartache - Part 5 Nick Jakoby x Female Reader

See Part 1 here.       See Part 2 here. See Part 3 here.       See Part 4 here.

A/N: Hello my pretties! I am back! Oh gosh I hope you guys like this one. Feels of all varieties up in here!

Warnings - no smut, slight angst, nose abuse

Sometimes, affection is not so hard to believe in.

Dating an orc hadn’t been something you’d considered growing up. Like every other girl in town, your far-flung preteen fantasies had consisted of cute, human boys. There had been the occasional elf, but the stuck-up personalities most seemed to possess quickly killed that affixation. But there were never orcs. Apart from your father’s farmhands, who were more family than anything, you hadn’t known any growing up. The orcs in your town kept to themselves, and were homeschooled.

Maybe, you wonder, things might have been different if they went to school with you.

Then again, maybe not.

You don’t know why you’re thinking about this. It’s just another random thought in a series of thoughts that have been flooding your nerve-wracked brain since you woke up.

After a couple weeks of sorting, shifting, and bending over backwards, you and Nick finally found a decent amount of time off to allow your proper date to happen. Honestly, you can’t remember the last time a date caused you so much trouble or emotional response, albeit the last legitimate one was somewhere after college graduation. Since then, it had been a series of single serve meals and one night stands to get you through the real tough weeks. Which was fine. You never thought of yourself as lonely. Just tired as hell mostly.

Now Nick was making you question everything.

You kinda want to hate him for it, but you know you can’t.

“C’mon, (Y/N), you already bore your soul to him once,” you whisper to yourself, tilting your head. “More than once. Dinner should be nothing.”

And it might have been if your nose wasn’t completely bruised and bandaged.

Honestly, the fact that you had hoped nothing physically damaging was going to happen to you in the ER before a major personal event proved you were still, in some respects, utterly naïve.

You take a breath, through your mouth of course, and move to open the door of your truck. A broken body had never stopped you before, and it wasn’t going to stop you now.

Dinner is at Nick’s. He insisted. Obviously, he meant that he would be cooking a meal, but somehow you’re still surprised to see a clearly flustered orc with oven mitts on when the front door opens.

When his gaze immediately fixates on your new facial feature, you shrug. “Like I said before, relatively good condition.”

“You weren’t kidding,” he says.

“No, I was not,” you reply with a smile. You give Nick a once over. Oven mitts aside, he’s dressed rather stylishly in well pressed slacks and a light blue button up shirt. Oddly, it doesn’t clash with the markings on his skin. It compliments them, in fact.

The silence becomes a bit too drawn out for your taste. “May I come in?”

Nick snaps out of his reverie. “Oh, yes, yes, sorry, come right on in. Make yourself at home.”

He had been mesmerized by you; he couldn’t help himself. You’re absolutely stunning in your lacy red dress. It shows off your figure better than anything else he has seen you in, a lot better. Your hair is beautiful, framing your face perfectly. And even with your nose all wrapped up, which he has no problem with – it reminds him of the things you do and how far you’re willing to go for strangers, your face is still the loveliest thing he’s ever seen. Your eyes are bright, filled with joy despite whatever pain you might be in, and your smile is all for him.

It makes him feel horribly self-conscious. You’re an incredibly attractive human, and you’re here, with him, an unblooded, universally hated orc.

How fair is that to you?

His gaze trails after you as you enter his home, gazing around with great interest. He catches the way your hips sway and has to take a breath and look away.

“I know I was here once before,” you start, gazing over the furnishings in his home. Everything is incredibly well kept, neat, orderly, a far cry from the mess hiding in your apartment. The furniture is older, but sturdy, classy, family pieces perhaps. “But I, uh…I didn’t really get the chance to actually look. It’s a lovely place.”

Nick chuckles, standing beside you as you gaze up at a small painting on the wall. “Now, I can’t take credit for any of this, really. My mother hunted down everything in this house, wanted to make it feel just right. My dad and I never had the heart to change anything after she passed.”

The tug returns, and you turn to say something, but Nick has already ducked back into the kitchen. You hear pots and pans being shuffled, and him muttering under his breath. Suddenly you wish you could smell through your nose without feeling the urge to cry.

You move over to his bookcase, hand gently running along the spines of his books. He has quite the collection, most of it nonfiction. History, botany, and quite a bit on magic, theories, practices, how it’s influenced the modern age. And then your fingers come across a small collection of worn westerns.

You smile. Cops and robbers to the very end.

“I want to thank you…for earlier,” you call out, glancing over old photographs of a happy family. Nick could not have been very old, five or six maybe. His dad was dressed in classic workman’s clothes and his mom was nothing but style in a sundress. The next picture had an older Nick, preteens, but only his dad was there. The smiles were much less enthusiastic. “I know it couldn’t have been very easy.”

“There’s no need,” Nick starts, his gaze fixated on the boiling water in the pot before him. “There’s no need to thank me.”

He looks over all the food he’s prepared, wondering if everything is ready to go, and then he hears you approach, your heels clicking against the wood floor. That’s a sound he hasn’t heard in a long time. It almost saddens him.

You’re leaning on the doorway for the dining room and kitchen, watching him work. He’s made quite a bit, and it all looks incredibly good. Though you suppose anything is better than hospital food and lean cuisine.

“Of course there is,” you say, surprised he would say such a thing. Well, maybe not surprised, just saddened. “I have friends who wouldn’t do what you did, and I’ve known them a lot longer.”

“They don’t sound like very good friends,” he says, not turning your way.

You shrug. “Different friends for different circumstances. I wouldn’t take you lingerie shopping.”

His ears twitch, and he stumbles ever so slightly. You smile.

“The point is,” you continue, sitting at the table. It’s more of a breakfast nook, lit with two candles. You’d never had a dinner by candlelight. “You deserve to be thanked. Some days, it feels like there aren’t enough good people in this world. Let me recognize you for that.”

There is a strange look in his eyes when Nick looks at you. You can’t quite decipher it, but you know it’s something deep, personal.

It sends a chill up your spine.

An alarm goes off. Nick jumps, fingers fumbling to shut the oven off. He curses in orcish before remembering one very important fact about you.

Sheepishly, he glances over his shoulder. “Sorry.”

“Hey, you should hear me when I stub my toe at night,” you reply, watching him balance multiple tasks at once. “I’d offer to help, but I still have to cross my fingers and hope nothing gets set on fire when I preheat my oven.”

Nick chuckles, finishing a few things. “I don’t have much left anyway. Just a few spices to put in, nothing you could do much damage with.”

“Don’t challenge me. I’ll win.”

He laughs again and sits down to the meal.

Dinner is amazing. The company is even better.

The two of you talked for hours, even after the food was finished and the leftovers grew cold. Eventually, you helped Nick clean up the dishes before taking the conversation outside.

It’s a warm, clear night, and though the light pollution keeps you from seeing the stars, you still gaze up at the sky in wonder.

You’re on the porch steps, beer in hand, heels discarded somewhere behind you. Nick is right beside you. Despite how comfortable the evening had been, he still sat with a respectable amount of distance between the two of you. You almost instantly closed the gap. Your arms are pushed against one another now, knees brushing. He tensed at first but quickly relaxed into the closeness.

“What made you want to become a cop?” you ask during one of the lulls in conversation.

Nick blinks, and then thinks. He’d been asked some version of that question a thousand times before, but under far less agreeable conditions. He has to stop himself from saying the automatic response he has trained himself to say, monotone, without a hint of hesitation. He’s not out to prove himself anymore. This is only a curious question that deserves an honest answer.

But how does he go about it?

He shrugs. “I just always wanted to be one.”

You shake your head. “That’s not good enough. Everyone has a reason.”

“And what was yours?”

“Easy.” You take a drink from your beer. “When I was about eight, my friend wrecked her bike, split her chin clean open. There was blood everywhere and she was crying, and I couldn’t calm her down. I didn’t know what to do. I panicked. And ever since that day, I never wanted to feel so helpless or useless ever again. I wanted to be able to look at any injured person and say ‘I can do something about that.’”

“You practice that in the mirror?”

You smile, taking another drink. “Every night before I go to bed. Your turn.”

Nick turns to his own bottle, watching the beer slosh around inside. “I don’t know. I just…always had this idea in my head. The police are supposed to protect people, be what separates right from wrong, and that appealed to me. Always has.”

He pauses. “You, uh…see a lot of things growing up around here, things that might have turned out differently if someone had just done something. And for me, becoming a cop is the best way of doing just that.”

You watch the emotions play out across his face and wonder to yourself what it must have been like growing up for him. It was clear his parents had done the best they could to shelter him from the worst of it, but eventually reality hits everyone.

But you don’t want to focus on that.

“I saw those westerns of yours.”

He chuckles, slightly embarrassed but also touched that you noticed. “Yeah, that might be what started it. Bedtime stories weren’t kid’s books for me. It was about outlaws and bandits and that lone cowboy saving the helpless travelers. Dad always told me that if I was ever in a position to help something, then I best do something about it.”

“He sounds like a good man.”

Nick nods, remembering a strong, proud orc who didn’t need a clan to find his place in the world.

“My father worked construction. He did it all his life. It was in his blood, and he was good at it too. It was hard work, but it kept him busy and kept food on the table. Jirak didn’t need to be blooded, so neither did he.

“And the humans that worked there, they respected him too. They were all close. Some even had dinner in our home. And they made him foreman too.

“Then things changed. Someone bought out the company he worked at, and the first thing they did was fire him. Didn’t matter what anyone else said. No orc was going to be working for them. And no one else wanted him either. All of his skill and knowhow didn’t matter. All they saw was a freak with tusks. It broke him.”

Was there ever going to be a conversation where Nick didn’t completely break your heart?

You just stare at him, at a loss for words, and he turns to you, and you see this deep, unending sadness in his eyes. It’s the kind of pain that never goes away. It dulls, only to sharpen again when you least expect it.

“He’d be proud of you, Nick.”

He turns away, unable to handle the honesty in your eyes. “That’s…nice of you to say.”

And there he goes again. All the self-doubt and lack of confidence tearing apart everything encouraging you say. It’s not going to happen. Not tonight. Not ever again.

You place your hand on his cheek, turning him back toward you. He tenses under your touch, but you hold him firmly in place.

“They’ve got you all twisted up inside, don’t they? You can’t even see your own value.”

How do you know him so well? He can’t fathom it.

Nick can’t hold your gaze. It’s too much. The adoration and care, and dare he say something more than that? Can he even hope for such a thing? You long ago stopped being a human who happened to be nice, but what he’s thinking of is so much more. It almost scares him, the possibility alone.

You sigh softly, placing your free hand under his chin. Nick doesn’t fight the movement, as he meets your eyes again.

Your hands burn where you touch him, but it isn’t a painful sensation. It just leaves him wanting more, a consuming desire that blows through him like a wildfire. You’re so close to him. All he has to do is reach out ever so slightly…

You smile. “You think too much.”

Then your lips meet his, slowly, carefully, afraid you might scare him away with anything more. You’re almost convinced you have when he doesn’t initially respond, but then you feel it, the relaxing of his shoulders, the happy sigh that blows past his lips to yours.

One of his hands grabs your hip, holding you steady as the other gently grasps your cheek. It shakes at first, but calms as you deepen the kiss, dispelling that doubt that lingers in his mind so much.

He tastes like dinner and the beer, and honestly it’s the greatest thing that’s ever met your lips. Distantly, you wonder how this could have happened had his teeth not been filed, but you push the thought aside, preferring the comfort of a mind adrift in pure bliss.

At some point, you break apart. It could have been seconds or an hour; it didn’t matter. What did was that dazed look on Nick’s face as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings again. You bite your lip as you watch him, ego enjoying a small boost.

“That was…” Nick trails off. How could he describe it? There was no possible way to describe it. He’d kissed before. He had, but it wasn’t…that. It wasn’t tender or soft or intoxicating; it had been awkward and something he’d wanted to end as soon as it started. But this, this was something he could have done for all eternity and been completely content with. Yet he can’t bring himself to say those words. “That was good.”

You laugh, and for a brief moment Nick wonders if he hasn’t offended you, but the look on your face tells him otherwise. Then you touch your nose gently and he has to wonder. He must have bumped it several times.

“Did…did that hurt?”

You’re laughing harder now. You lay your head on his shoulder. The laughter shakes his body.

“So much.”

As you continue to laugh until tears form in your eyes, Nick wraps his arm around you. No hesitation, no tenseness. Just comfort, and the need to hold you closer.

“So, I take it that’s a yes for a second date?” he asks, and you can’t help but notice he sounds more confident as he says it.

“That is a definite yes, Officer Jakoby.”

A/N: Alright guys, just a couple parts left. And I think a special edition type one where we follow the reader through certain events during the movie. It’s been a fun ride!

Tags! @xxdarkdarlingxx @homra-the-red-clan @frankie2902 @littlemessyjessi @ivannesque @isisnicole @notaliteraltoad @the-great-irene @beenerdish @cheshagirl @kitsu-hime @annwoods91 @ever-hungry-aria @robotic-loser @sullybot @uknwwhttheysayboutthecrzy1s @fireflyloki28 @tentacles-and-coffee @j-watsonia Did I miss you? Do you want to be added? Do you hate my guts? Let me know!

[kerguelenn]

Can I Sleep Here? JustinxReader

So here it is. But I can’t make a JustinxReader romantic imagine since I ship JustinxAlex. sorry.

Y/N: Your Name

Y/L/N: Your Last Name

Words: 2,380

You(Reader)                                                                       Justin

It’s almost midnight. The sweet sound of your clock is the only things we can hear in your room. You sigh, trying to push the tiredness away. You’re not ready to get to bed. You have two big test Friday morning (English & Chemistry) and you really don’t want to lose point with your grades. You really need to pass this test. Even if English isn’t a problem Chemistry is, and since you’re incapable to fully understand a word of the chapter you’re reading, you’re not really sure you will find a moment to sleep this night.

You’ll have to take three cups of coffee tomorrow morning. Minimum. hopefully, it will be enough to make you walk to the school.

Your eyes almost close themself but your phone start ringing somewhere in your room and startle you. You push your Chemistry book on your floor and try to find your fucking mobile who can’t stop singing the Spice Girl’s song Wannabe.

Like usual you lost it. Somewhere.

The time you find it, the caller is at his third call and you don’t even check who’s calling you at midnight before answering.

“Hello?” You tried to not to think about all this horror movie your brother make you watch. You tried to repress the shiver who start to travel in your back.

“Y/N?”

“Justin?” You’re a little surprised by the identity of your caller. You met Justin a few month back when Mrs Reed, your English teacher, ask you to tutor him. You’re not going to lie, tutoring Justin Foley wasn’t the most appealing things on earth but you did it anyway. Of course, it takes you weeks before you finally manage to understand how he work. He avoid you for two weeks and he hide himself really well. You were tired of his little game that one day you wait till his basketball practice was over to drag him to the library and finally start the tutor session.

“I’m sorry I call Y/N. I don’t know why I did it. I’m sorry, just forget about it.”

“Foley, if you hang up this phone I am going to kill you. So start talking because I’m pretty sure you can control your hand. You’re too young to have Parkinson.”

“No, it’s nothing Y/N, don’t worry. You were probably sleeping so I will, just, leave you.”

“Actually, I was studying and your call give me the perfect excuse to take a break. So don’t make me repeat myself Foley and spit it out. now.”

 He doesn’t respond right away. You tried to remember the exact moment you became friend with Justin but you can’t remember. One day you had this relationship tutor/student and the day after that, he was sitting next to you in class, make you eat with him and his friends. One day he wasn’t there and the day after that you couldn’t imagine your life without him in it. But since a few weeks Justin start acting strangely, then Jess, Alex and Zach. Now Alex was in hospital and the school was being dragged into court after Hannah Baker’s suicide.

You never talk to the girl but you can’t imagine why people would be capable to just stop living. Capable of killing themself.

“I can’t go home tonight. And I need a place to crash.” You were so taken by your through that you forget you were on the phone. “I didn’t know who to call.” His voice sound so tired, broken. Full of despair that it makes your heart break.

“Hey, don’t worry. You can come to my house. My mom is working all night, I just have to text her to let her know. She will be okay with it. Do you know where I live?”

“Actually Y/N, I’m at your window.”

“You know, that’s exactly what a killer would say.”

“I didn’t kill anyone today. Not that I know.”

 You laugh at his joke, thinking that this is a joke. You don’t know he really meant it. You walk to your window and open it.

“Do you prefer to enter by the door like normal people do or do you prefer the window?”

“The window will do.”

He climb to your window without any effort. You offer him a smile who must become a funny face when he looks back at you.

With the light of your room you can see his complete face. He has injuries, nothing news really, it’s been weeks that is show up at school with them. But this one are new, and bigger than the last.

He has a black eyes too. He could make baby cry just by looking at them right now.

“Who did that to you? Justin? Who did that to you?”

“I don’t know”

“You don’t know? That impossible Justin. Look at me!” You grab his face, making sure your eyes meet his. “I’m not stupid Foley. I know something is happening. To you, to other. I don’t know what this is about. But I know you do. And I don’t ask you to tell me but if one day you need someone to listen, then know that I here.” you gently brush his cheeks.”Now, tell me who did this to you.” Your voice is just a whisper but Justin is close enough to heard it.

“I got into several fight.”

“What?” You almost scream and Justin has to move back.”Are you telling me that you are the one who initiate several fight. Really?” You look at Justin in disbelief “You must be crazy Foley.”

“You have no idea.”

He fall on you bed while you go get some ice to put on his left eye, and some disinfectant to clean his injuries. he repress a growl when the ice meets is skin.

“Who?”

“What?”

 “With who did you fight?”

“Bryce, Zach, a doctor. I think and then Seth.”

“Who’s Seth?” It must be a sensible subject since Justin jump from your bed making you fall on the floor.

“Foley! Damn it.” He help you get up.

“Take the ice and let it rest on your eye to make sure this” You make a movement around his eyes ”will not pump up during the night. I just have to finish to read my chemistry chapter and I will prepare your room for the night.” he nods and sit back on your bed, slowly putting back the ice on his eyes.

You go back to your desk and pick up your book. You only have a dozen line to read. You don’t want to force Justin to talk to you, even if you sense that this Seth is a touchy subject. He will talk when he wants to.

It takes him thirty seven minutes for him to open his mouth again and finally talk to you.

“Seth is my mother’s boyfriend. She is a junky, but he is so much worth. He like to hit. It’s him who did this to me.” He point his black eye.

“Does she knows?”

“Of course she knows. Sometimes she watch him beats me.Like it was some movie on the TV.”

You don’t even time to respond because Justin start talking again.

“I fight with Bryce this morning. He give me the cut on my lips. I don’t know who win the fight but I can assure you he’s not pretty to look at.”

“Bryce Walker was never pretty to look at. But please, continue.”

“Then I try to fight with Zach.”

“Zach Dempsey? Your best friend?”

“I know Y/N. it’s stupid. But I was mad because, I don’t know. Maybe because I feel all alone.”

“You’re not alone Justin. there is people who love you, you’re just too blind to see them.”

“I am not so sure about that. Zach doesn’t want to talk to me anymore.”

“I would too if you tried to attack me.”

“No, it happened before. That’s why I try to fight with him.”

“I doesn’t want to be mean Justin but do you notice how this sound crazy? You decide to fight with him because he didn’t want to talk to you? What are you? Five? Violence doesn’t solve anything.”

“I know.” he look up at you with his cocky smile “Mom.” You press the ice a bit stronger.

“Ouch Y/N. I was joking.” You smile at him ”I know it wa stupid to do that but I don’t know, I just wanted him to acknowledge me. I lost Jess, i didn’t want to lose my best friend too.”

“I don’t think you really lost him. Maybe he just need time. And if you want Jess back, then fight for her.”

“I don’t really know if I want her back. I mess up pretty bad.” You see his eyes get lost a second and you can’t prevent yourself to want to protect him. To learn why do he looks so hurt.

“I’m going to prepare your bed. You will sleep in my brother bedroom. Since he’s in college, he doesn’t really live here anymore.” You change the subject to give Justin a break. And because he really need a good night of sleep.

“Actually Y/N, can I sleep here tonight?”

“In my room?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to be alone. And I can sleep on the floor if you want. I doesn’t want to bother you.”

You sit next to him holding his hand.

“You’re not bothering me Justin. You can sleep here. And, you can sleep in the bed with me. You just have to promise me that you will not try anything with me.” You wink at him trying to make him smile.

“Promise.”

“Perfect, I’m going to my brother’s bedroom. maybe I can find an old pajama for you.”

You’re lying in bed for twenty minutes now, and you’re supposed to sleep. But you can’t. And you know Justin doesn’t sleep too, he breathing is irregular.  

“Justin?” your voice filled your room. You can see the moon outside.

“You’re not sleeping? It’s almost three in the morning Y/N! You’re going to be too tired tomorrow. i don’t want you to fell asleep during class.”

“Hey! You’re not sleeping either Foley. Don’t lecture me please.” You let a laugh get out. It’s kinda funny to imagine Justin Foley in your bed. Both of you incapable to sleep but keeping quiet to let the other sleep. “I just want to know something.”

 “Okay.”

“You said you fight with a doctor. Who? When?”

“I kinda fight a doctor. I try to attack him but I fell on the floor by myself. The funniest was that I was in a hospital. He had to treat me”

 “What were you doing in a hospital?”

 “I was trying to get news on Alex’s condition.”

You turn your head to him, seeing him thanks to the moon’s light.

“And?”

“No one give them to me because I’m not part of his family.”

 “Did you ask his dad? Or his mum?”

“They weren’t there. But I went to their home.”

“And?”

“His father said… his father said I’ve done enough and if I try to talk to his son or just look at him, he will make sure to make my life a living hell.”

He turn his head on this other side and that just leave you with a sigh of his neck.

“I messed up Y/N. I really messed up.” His voice break and you know he’s crying.

“Hey, Justin, look at me.” he do what you told. You push away his tears and offer him a smile. “Everything will be okay. Alex is strong, he will be okay. Both of you will be friends again.”

 “I don’t think so. i don’t think he will want to speak to me again. What do I always have to mess everything up? Specially things I love?”

You put an arm on his back and try to hold him the strongest than you can.

“I kiss him Y/N. One moment we were joking, the second after that I was kissing him. And it felt good. Really good you know, like everything finally make sense. It was good.And alex respond to my kiss. He kissed me back. But it was to perfect to last.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I’m not lying. I push him back and yell at him that I wasn’t a fag.”

“Oh, Justin…”

“I know alright. It was stupid. I did it anyway. And when I saw the hurt I’ve caused I run away. And I lost him. He could die Y/N. He tried to kill himself.”

You hold him so hard that you scared you could hurt him. But you want so much to erase all the pain he always knew.

“Justin, everything is going to be okay I promise you. We’re going to sleep and tomorrow morning I will ask mom if you could stay for a little more days. then we will go to school and we will not fall asleep during class because we would have drink a liter of coffee in the morning. And when your basketball practice will end, I will drive you to the hospital to see Alex.”

“We’re not part of Alex family.”

“Don’t worry, I know his parents. I just have to ask them to put me on the list with my brother. Then we go to the hospital and say you’re my brother. Everything will be okay. I will make sure of it.”

 Justin finally fall asleep in your arms, you follow him not long after.

And like you said, everything turn okay. Zach and Justin talk to each other and forget why they were mad at each other. Justin got the possibility to see Alex in the hospital. Of course, you both have to wait two weeks before he wakes up but you were there all along the way. Alex forgive Justin, and they’re one of the most cute couples of Liberty High.

They also (finally) tell you about Hannah Baker’s tape. The make you listen to them. When you finish them, you spit on Bryce’s face when the police was arresting him.

And even if things are still weird in Liberty High school, your friend are happy, and for the moment it’s all that matters. And also, maybe the little wink Zach send you every time you catch him looking at you.

Hope you like it. 

Votre humble servante, Kerguelenn.