#now can you please also release death note I know you have it thanks bye

[wearenotasfarwest]

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About to become the most obnoxious person you know this is so exciting!!!!!!

[forlornmelody]

The Fantabulous Vacation of One Harley Quinn and Her Girlfriend Poison Ivy

Rating: T (suggestive themes, cartoon violence)

Fandom(s): DC Comics

Ship: Poison Ivy/Harley Quinn

Linkage: Ao3

Summary:   Harley's been burning the wick at both ends and Ivy knows just the thing to help. But it takes more than just a change of scenery to get Harley to let go.

Note:  Commission for @rookie009

~*~*~*

“You’re probably wondering Mr---Watchman--”

“Tockman.” Mr. Watchman spits. “William Tockman.”

“Why I’ve brought you here today.”

Mr. Watchman rolls his eyes. “I imagine you’re going to tell me.” 

“Ah! Good. You’ve stopped struggling. Progress, Mister!” Harley boops him on the nose. Maybe she made the binding too tight? “I’m not cutting off your circulation, am I?” She leans in close. “Are you comfortable? I need you comfortable.” 

“I’m tied up in ropes, wench!”

“Ah, see! This is what I’m talking about!” Harley sits across from him and his fainting couch, pulling her pen from her bun and making a heading on her notepad. “You have a whore madonna complex.” Chewing her pen, she murmurs, “perhaps from the trauma of your wife’s death? Cystic Fibrosis, was it?”

Her new patient says nothing. “Mister?” Harley glances up. “Willy?”

“Help!” William Tockman dangles from his left ankle, suspended in air by a beefy vine.  “She’s gonna kill me!” 

“Oh please. You’re hardly worth the trouble.” Ivy steps around him and the vine, brushing the dust off her hands. “Hi Harls!” How she got the vines up this far on this abandoned apartment building, Harley has no idea. But it sure has a lot of brick to climb. 

“Ivy!” Harley doesn’t so much as hug her as ram her at full speed. 

Her target, used to such behavior by now, braces for impact and manages to hug back. Harley takes a big whiff. “Mm. Jasmine?”

“Lilacs.” Ivy peers over at Clock King. “You...uh, busy?”

“Mm yeah. A little tied up at the moment. Or he is, at least.”

“So I see.” Ivy chews her lip, staring out the window as if she had left a reminder there. She makes a face as the draft stirs some of the painting tarp discarded on the floor. “I was thinking maybe we could get out of town for a bit.”

“HELP.” 

“Are you asking for help, Billy? Or do you prefer Willy?”

“HELP ME! THESE WOMEN ARE CRAZY.” 

“Great!” Harley says brightly. “Admitting you need help is the first step towards healing!”

“Harls? Are you even listening?”

“You need help dismantling another CEO along with his company?”

“No.”

“Fundraiser for conservation efforts?”

“Harley--”

“Pride pre-game with Kitty?”

“Harleen.” That stops Harley short. Ivy never calls her that. Mostly cause she hates getting called Pamela with an undying passion. Probably childhood trauma. But Harley digresses. 

Ivy sighs. “Sorry. Look. I need a vacation. We need a vacation.”

“I need help!” 

“SHUT UP ALREADY.” Ivy and Harley say it together, and Ivy waves a hand, muffling Harley’s captive, er, patient with a particularly broad leaf. 

“Mm... I’m a little busy--”

Ivy glances at Tockman, finally. “I can see that.”

“Lemme look at my calendar. Mmm.. maybe...next year? Definitely the one after that.”

“Harls.”

“I know, I know. But there’s my derby team, missions with Task Force X, the Birds of Prey, my day job--”

“I know.” Ivy takes her hands, gently, and squeezes them. It’s the softness that stops Harley in her tracks. “It’s why you need some time off.”

“But--”

“Shh. I already have plane tickets and a hotel booked. You don’t have to plan a thing.”

Harley can’t help the blush creeping up on her cheeks. “Aww, shucks, Ives. When are we leaving?”

“Now. The plane’s departing in--shit. We gotta go.”

“MMRPH.” 

“Oh, right.” Ivy releases Clock King with a patented thud as she shoves Harley out the door. “Bye!”

-----

“So, we’re we goin’?” Harley pushes the arm rest out of the way and rests her chin on Ivy’s shoulder. She glances at Ivy’s phone as if it’ll give her some clues. She spots a sudoku puzzle. “Japan?”

“No.”

“The Amazon?”

“Nope.”

“Themyscyra?” 

Ivy gives her a look. “Really?”

“Er….my mom’s? Please say it’s not my mom’s.”

“It’s not your mom’s.”

“Thank God.”

“Also, why would we fly to your mom’s house when we could easily drive? Or take a commuter bus?”

“Good point. Mm.”

Ivy smooths Harley’s hair out of her eyes. “It’s a surprise.” She snatches a quick kiss before the flight attendant rolls by. “You’ll love it.”

In this moment, Harley’s pretty sure she’d love anywhere as long Ivy’s there with her. She’s lit up by the light of the tiny window behind her, and her crimson locks glow like an angel’s. But Harley knows well enough that neither of them are anywhere close to innocent. “Say, how’d you get us past security?”

Ivy winks at her. 

“No casualties?”

Her lover mockingly brushes her own chest like a scandalized church mouse. “I would never!” she snorts. “They’ll be fine. Just a little dazed and confused.”

Harley leans her head on Ivy’s shoulder. “I know the feelin’.” And really! Harley’s proud of her. Ivy’s never been one to follow rules or care for humans. But she tries for Harley. Why she bothers when Mistah J never seemed to care, Harley has no idea. But it means the world to her. 

-----

The taxi drops them off in front of a large revolving door. But it’s not the gold handles that capture Harley’s attention. 

It’s the lush plants growing from every nook and cranny on the place. Harley bets Ivy could spend an hour naming all of them (scientific names and personal names.) Butterflies and hummingbirds in every color of the rainbow--and the faint buzzing of bees. A solitary stream crosses their path, and a wooden bridge stretches over it. Garden terrace after garden terrace rise up from the ground to an open-air cafe at the top. 

And behind the walls and the hotel proper? A waterpark. 

Harley’s eyes go as big as saucers. “Ivy! You shouldn’t have!” She squeezes her into a hug.

“Thanks, sweet pea, but I can’t breathe.” Ivy manages to get out.

“Oof, sorry. Here ya go.” Harley releases her, and Ivy pecks her on the cheek. 

“Best part is, they’ve a zero-carbon footprint and they’re waste free.” Harley rarely sees her grin so wide.” 

“Whoa.”

“They call it The Greenhouse.”

-----

Their first day at the resort passes in a blur. Harley shows Ivy a good time in and out of their bedroom. They go snorkeling in the ocean, ride the rides so many times Harley ends up upchucking their picnic at the beach, then make love at sunset in their honeymoon suite. Harley wonders if the management thinks they’re--well, they’re as good as, aren’t they? They don’t need rings or a wedding or a place of their own or--

“Harley?”

She blinks. Ivy only calls her that when she’s worried. Harley realizes she’s been staring at the chocolates on their pillows for God knows how long. “Yeah?”

“You okay?”

“Of course!” she says automatically, pulling Ivy into another kiss.

Ivy kisses back, then runs a finger down her cheek. “You’d tell me if you weren’t, right?” The setting sun makes her hair even redder, which Harley didn’t think possible, and Harley finds herself toying with her curls. 

“Hey, I’ve been wonderin’.”

If Ivy notices the change in subject, she doesn’t mention it. “Yeah?”

“How come we haven’t seen any other guests? And how come we haven’t been arrested?”

“Oh! That.” Ivy waves a hand dismissively. “I rented out the whole resort.”

“With what money??”

Ivy shoots her a wicked look that sends shivers down Harley’s spine. “Ace Chemical’s investment fund.”

“Ooooh, you’re naughty.” 

Harley dives in for another kiss but Ivy puts a finger to her lips. And doesn’t let her suck on it. Rude. “So, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Since we’ve got all this extra cash, wanna make a run at the casino? I hear they donate the proceeds to rainforest restoration.”

“Alright.” Ivy sighs and reaches for her dress. Harley has a sinking feeling that she’s going to bring this up later. Maybe if Harley’s lucky she’ll forget about it? Yeah. Ivy forgets things all the time. 

“Last one there buys the first round!”

-----

Ivy and Harley sit across from each other, an immaculate brunch setting between them and two mimosas. Her lover’s plate sits almost empty, and while Harley’s lies largely untouched. She keeps playing with her veggie egg white omelet, but the next bite never seems to make it to her mouth. “And then we can go for a walk on the beach later! Have you seen those beds? Right there on the water? Mm. Do you think anyone would hear us if we--”

“Harley, wait.”

“Like, the sound of the waves would cover it up, right? Mm. Maybe not. I’m loud. Not as loud as--”

“Harley, no. Stop. Stop.” Ivy presses her hands on either side of Harley’s face, drawing her to a standstill and inches away from her. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to!”

Ivy gives her a sad smile, shaking her head gently. “You don’t have to impress me, Harls. I love you.”

Harley, in typical Harley fashion, vibrates with energy. “But…I want this to be special. As special as y--”

“This vacation already is special. Cause you’re here with me.”

“But--” I’m not that special, Harley wants to say. But she knows Ivy won’t let her get away with saying that out loud. She wants to crawl underneath the tablecloth and hide until Ivy leaves. They always leave in the end. Once they get what they want. Mistah J--

“I love you, Harley Quinn.” Ivy takes her hand, gently, rubbing her thumb over her knuckles. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And maybe. Maybe it’s that she doesn’t know what to do if Ivy stays. It’s easier to love someone who doesn’t love her back. It’s safe. Ahem. Emotionally safe, Dr. Quinzel says inside her head. For once, Harley has nothing to say. She’s too busy trying to keep the tears from falling. 

“You don’t have to do anything. I already love you.” Ivy bites her lip--the way she always does when she’s thinking hard. Like how best to resurrect a drooping petunia or a rose bush that has a pest. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself. “And if it’s not too much--too early--to say this: I always will.” 

“You proposin’ or somethin’?” The words tumble out of Harley’s mouth before she can stop them. Her cheeks feel like they’re blushing as bright as Ivy’s hair. 

“I…” Ivy’s eyes widen. “I-I don’t have a ring on me.”

Shit. Fuck. ShitshitshitFuuuuuuuuuck. “I’msorryIdidn’tmeanit.” “It’s way too soon.” Harley puts on her best brave face--the same one she always put on when Bats showed up and Mistah J magically was nowhere to be found. “Marriage is so outda--”

“Harley.” Ivy puts her entire hand over her face. “Quinn.” “I never said I didn’t want to marry you.”

“Mmphwr?” 

“Who wouldn’t want to marry Harley Quinn? You’re amazing.” She traces her eyebrows. “You’re the smartest person I know.” Boops her nose. “You’re impossible to kill. Holy fuck.” Runs her fingertip across her bottom lip. “You…” Ivy presses her lips together, looking down at the table. “You helped me love again when I hated everyone.”

“Pam.” Fuck, she’s getting misty eyed. 

“I mean it. I was ready to wipe humanity off the map and start over.” She laughs a little, her voice rough as she wipes her cheek with the back of her hand. “But then you came along and nominated yourself my new shrink.”

“Don’t give me all the credit.” Wow, okay. Maybe she’s more than just misty-eyed. “You saved me too. From Mistah Jay. From Bats. From what woulda been a really boring life.”

Ivy’s smile slips slightly. “You’re not gonna die on me, are you Harls?”

Harley squeezes her hand. “Nah. You’re stuck with me.” Her words come out a little thick. “For richer or poorer.” 

Her lover leans in close, capturing her lips in a warm kiss. “That’s usually pretty literal for you.”

“HEY.” 

“It’s true! Guess I’ll have to see if Ace or maybe Lexcorp has any funds they won’t miss. I need to get that ring soon. Garnet? Spinel maybe?”

“Aww, shucks. How am I gonna be surprised now?”

Ivy scoffs. “If it’s a real surprise, it’s not a good time for a proposal.”

��But what if I want to be like those girls in those Tik Toks? Like where you propose to me but like I got my own box in my pocket?”

“Harley. A ring box wouldn’t fit in your tiny ass pockets, and you know it.”

“You know what would fit in my shorts?”

“Harleen Francis Quinzel.” Her laughter dissolves in a kiss and Harley pulls her back to their suite. They got a lot of planning to do. Though Harley has a pretty good feeling they’re not gonna get a whole lot of planning done today. But Harley’s okay with that. Pam’s always been the top of her to-do list anyway.

[flourgirl]

When We First Met

Part I of “The Unbelievers” series

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Summary: You’re the new intern at Stark Industries and you’ve made it your mission to figure out just how Peter Parker became Mr. Stark’s favorite.

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: A slow burn with a few curse words thrown around.

A/N: This fic helped drag me out of my writer’s block, so I really hope you guys like it! Happy reading <3

“Have you been talking for a million years? Did I go deaf because you're burnin' my ears? Spare the details, it's unnecessary I got places to be and people to see” -It’s Not All About You, Lawrence

The first time you met Peter Parker, he was actually tolerable. It was your first day at Stark Industries, and you had just gotten your job assignment as Pepper’s assistant’s assistant. In other words, you were about to spend your days making coffee runs and changing out ink cartridges. 

“Hey, uh, do you need some help?” he had asked as you struggled to carry two boxes of printer paper all the way to the copy room on the other side of the building.

“Yeah, for sure,” you huffed, not being able to see who your savior was over the stack of boxes. When he took both of the boxes out of your arms, you were met with his dopey grin and wavy, brown hair.

He’s cute, you thought. But all you dared to say was, “Thank you so much. I felt like I was about to die.”

The two of you shared a laugh at your dramatics before you continued walking.

“No problem. I was headed this way, anyway,” he replied nonchalantly. You caught yourself staring at how light he made the boxes seem. He must’ve been a lot stronger than his baggy, oversized sweatshirt made him look. “Are you new? I’ve never seen you around before.” 

Peter had to slow his pace down a lot to let you catch up to him. He wasn’t used to taking casual strolls around the office, always having to run over to wherever Mr. Stark was at a moment’s notice.

“It’s my first day, actually,” you admitted, offering him a weak smile. You weren’t much of a conversationalist, especially not when it came to cute guys who looked that good in sweatshirts with dorky math jokes printed across the front of them. “Are you an intern, too?”

“Yeah! I’ve been working here since I was fifteen,” he told you, leaning against the doorway of the copy room. “But I don’t do anything too important. Mostly just fly under the radar and do what Mr. Stark tells me to.”

Your eyes widened. “Whoa, you work directly with Mr. Stark? You must be one important guy.”

Peter blushed, not knowing how to backtrack out of the hole he had just dug for himself. “Uh, not really. We’re not like friends or anything. It’s just, Mr. Stark knows about all of my science fair projects and—”

“You aren’t making yourself sound any less impressive,” you interrupted, crossing your arms and narrowing your eyes at him as he set the boxes down on the counter. “So, Einstein, who are you?”

“Parker. Peter. Shit, sorry, it’s Peter Parker. I have to go now. Bye!” he blurted out, running from the room before you could even tell him your name.

A girl who looked about your age slipped into the copy room, startling you out of your confused state. “Were you just talking to Peter Parker?”

“Uh, yeah. Why?” you questioned, hoping she’d have some sort of explanation for why he acted the way he did.

“He’s basically Mr. Stark’s surrogate child,” she said, sipping one of the many coffees that she was carrying. “I’m Grace, by the way.”

“Y/N. What do you mean by ‘surrogate child?’”

“It’s like, everywhere Mr. Stark goes, so does Peter. That thing with you and him was basically the first time any of us had ever seen him next to a printer, and he’s only talked to a handful of us once or twice. Guess he’s just too busy being the golden boy to associate with the less important interns.”

Of course. The first chance at a cute office romance that you get is squashed by the fact that the guy you like is an antisocial jerk. But that’s not how he seemed to you, so why was his reputation with the other interns so bad?

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

It had been one week since you started working, and every day you learned more and more reasons why everyone hated Peter Parker. He didn’t make coffee runs and nobody had seen him at an intern meeting in the last year. And yet, somehow, he was the CEO’s favorite. It was annoying, to say the least.

You actually hadn’t seen Peter around ever since you had first met, which only helped to confirm the rumors that he’d rather eat lunch alone than be forced to talk to any of you. You hated that even when Grace or anyone else wasn’t dragging Peter through the mud, you were still thinking about his stupidly adorable Queens accent and whatever the hell he could be doing that was so important.

Of course, the next time Peter decided to grace the cafeteria with his presence was when Mr. Stark had just arrived back from a business trip to Germany. Figures that he would take his favorite on the trip of a lifetime. Your bitterness grew as you imagined Peter relaxing in the company’s private jet, but it wasn’t until he held up the elevator that you really started to hate him.

“Hey,” he panted, slipping into the elevator just before the doors closed. Once again, your hands were full, this time with a stack of folders meant for Pepper to look over. “You’re that new girl. Sorry, I don’t think I got your name.”

“You didn’t,” you noted, turning to look away from him in the hopes that he’d get the message. You weren’t interested in giving him the time of day.

“Did I do something to upset you?” He rubbed the back of his neck while he waited for the answer that you didn’t plan on giving him.

The awkward silence between the two of you was starting to feel especially long when the worst thing possible happened. Loud creaking noises came from the elevator shaft, shaking the two of you as the cables screeched to a halt.

“You have got to be kidding me!” you groaned, setting the files down to press the emergency call button. You had luckily never actually had to use one of these things, but that also meant that you had no idea how to work it.

“Hi, I’m here with another intern and we’re currently stuck in the elevator on the west wing, between floors four and five. Could you send someone over to get us out, please?” You pleaded into the little phone, bitterness lacing your voice.

“What do you mean it’ll take two hours? What do you expect us to do, sit here and play checkers?” You could feel your face heating up as you panicked over the fact that you were going to be stuck in this metal death trap for a while.

Peter walked over to you, leaning against the wall of the elevator to take over the conversation before your attitude extended the wait to three hours. You begrudgingly handed the phone over to him.

“Hey, could you put Mr. Stark on the line?” You couldn’t hear what the person was saying, but you could guess that it wasn’t very positive.

“Well, tell him it’s Peter and…” He looked at you, mouthing for you to give your name.

“Y/N,” you muttered, continuing to pace back and forth as the tiny box that you two were stuffed in started to feel smaller and smaller with each minute that passed.

“Y/N. Five minutes? Alright, thank you so much, Alice! Have a great day.” You were irritated by his effortless charm with others, despite how awkward you knew him to be.

“Um… thank you.” You rubbed your arm awkwardly.

“Are you okay? You seem a little on edge.”

“I’m fine! I just… really need to get out of here.” You wanted to keep pacing back and forth, but you were too busy hyperventilating to think about moving your legs. Peter watched as your eyes started to water, not sure about what he could do to make you calm down.

He stepped closer towards you, which only made you feel even more anxious than you already were. You didn’t want him to see you like this.

“Y/N,” Peter whispered, wrapping his arms around you. You looked up at him in surprise, your eyes probably red and puffy from crying.

“What are you doing?” you sobbed, leaning in closer to him. It was comforting, but you were so embarrassed that you were crying in the arms of a complete stranger.

“Well, uh, I know that hugging someone can release endorphins, more specifically dopamine and serotonin, that calm them down. And it relaxes the muscles, and I know that when babies hear their mom’s heartbeats they feel better, so I just thought—”

“Peter.”

“Yeah?”

“Please stop talking.” You leaned into the hug, taking in the clean smell of his sweater and how warm he was. Little by little, your breathing slowed down.

“Okay,” he agreed, holding you tighter, one of his hands gently stroking your hair in the comfortable silence that had filled the elevator.

You almost forgot about where you were when the elevator jolted upwards, causing you to wriggle out of Peter’s grip and pick your files back up off the ground. When the doors opened, you scrambled out without a word.

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

“Hey, Mr. Stark,” Peter began, fiddling with one of the many decorations around Tony’s office. “I… I think that, maybe, I should be doing, you know, more intern-y things around here.”

Tony cocked an eyebrow, looking up from his computer screen. “Let me get this right, kid. You’re asking me to give you random tasks to do around the office?”

“Uh, yes?” Peter answered, unsure if he had just made a big mistake or not. His confidence was dwindling by the second.

“Now, why on earth would I do that? What if we need Spider-Man for a mission, but Peter Parker is too busy getting some jackass down in HR a peppermint mocha latte?”

“Well, I mean… I just… Some of the other interns are getting kind of mad that you don’t make me run errands or come to any of their meetings, and I’m just worried that they’re getting a little bit too suspicious that I’m always with you and—”

“If I say yes, will you please stop rambling?” Tony groaned, returning to finish typing whatever Peter had just interrupted.

“Yes,” Peter squeaked. For once in his life, his inability to stop talking had been beneficial.

“Fine. Here, go sit downstairs and take the staples out of these packets. And then re-staple them.”

Peter immediately perked up again, excited to be someone other than Spider-Man to Tony. “Right away, Mr. Stark. Thank you so much! Bye!” He quickly ran out of the office and downstairs to where he knew some of the interns liked to have their lunch breaks.

“Is that Peter?” you heard Grace ask in between bites of her panini. Your head perked up to see his head tilted down, making only his soft brown curls visible from where you were sitting.

You squinted, wondering what kind of task had him so engrossed, and why he was sitting over here. He never sat here, especially not while you were eating lunch. Carlos, who interned in accounting, glanced over at Peter before taking his seat across from you.

“Parker sure does seem interested in removing staples all of a sudden,” he laughed, unwrapping his tortilla wrap from its aluminum foil. 

You couldn’t believe it. He was just pretending to be doing something. “That’s it? You’ve got to be kidding me.” Before your friends could stop you, you were marching over to Peter’s table, tapping your foot as you waited for him to notice you.

You cleared your throat, finally catching his attention. “Hi, Y/N,” he grinned, looking back down to meticulously bend back the small metal arms of the staple, freeing the sheets of paper from each other.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Taking out staples.”

“Is this some kind of joke? Some weird way of you proving that Mr. Stark totally doesn’t give you special treatment or something?” Peter got nervous, realizing how quickly you had caught onto his ruse. He needed a way to distract you and fast.

“You, um, you look pretty today,” he told you, not even looking up to meet your cold stare.

A blush started to spread across your cheeks when you realized what he had said. Surely the quick glance he had just given you wasn’t enough for him to actually know what you looked like today.

“Nice try, Parker. You barely even looked at me. Showering me with false compliments isn’t going to stop me from figuring out what the hell you’re actually up to around here.” You countered, satisfied that his plan wasn’t working as well as he wanted it to.

“Didn’t need to look. You’re pretty every day,” Peter replied calmly. He didn’t even realize what he was saying until it had come out of his mouth. It was true. He thought you looked nice every time he saw you, but you didn’t seem to take his compliments very well, and so he never told you.

But you didn’t know that he actually meant it. He’s just messing with you, you reasoned, regaining your composure.

“Whatever,” you huffed. “Just some advice: next time, you should try to come up with something better than taking out the staples of packets that clearly never had any problems in the first place.” 

He peered up to see you turn on your heels and walk back to your friends, who had been carefully watching the two of you this entire time.

“Was that a lovers’ quarrel?” Carlos teased as you sat back down. You rolled your eyes at him, and Grace giggled at your insistence that nothing was going on between you and Peter.

“Yeah, it looked like things were getting a little hot and heavy,” she added.

“Shut up, you guys. We definitely are not lovers,” you assured them, digging back into your grilled cheese.

“Sure. So if there’s nothing going on, then why did Yuri tell me that he saw you guys making out in the elevator on the security cameras?” Carlos asked, making you snap your head at him mid-bite, your eyes widening.

Fucking Yuri. All of those security interns were just nosy and power-hungry, but you’d have to deal with him another time.

“We were not making out! We were just stuck in the elevator and—”

“You guys decided to have a romantic embrace?” Grace questioned, only further exasperating you. “Come on, Y/N, just admit it. You have a crush on Peter.”

“No, I don’t! I wouldn’t date Peter if he were the last guy on the planet,” you yelled, suddenly aware of how loud you had become. 

You looked around the room to see many confused faces staring back at you, including Peter’s, which had a frown on it.

You watched as he collected his stack of papers and walked out of the room, staring so hard at the floor that he almost ran into two women who were walking by.

“Geez, Y/N. We were only joking. It’s okay,” Carlos said, holding back a laugh at your little scene.

“You guys suck,” you huffed, settling down to hopefully enjoy the rest of your lunch break in peace. 

You needed to forget about the way that Peter had looked at you just a minute ago, full of hurt and disappointment. He didn’t actually care, you thought to yourself, even though you weren’t quite sure if that were true.

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

Taglist: @hommyy-tommy @itsgonnabeohtay @alltimekyn @allycat449-blog @greatpizzascissorstaco @dummiesshort @parkerpeterparker2004 @letssee2468 @yourbiggestspiderfan @orangesodafoam @alytavzla

P.S.: Please shoot me an ask or a reply if you’d like to be added to (or removed from) the taglist!

[songtoyou]

Chapter 2: First Meeting

Tolerate It

Paring: Modern!Tommy Shelby x Original Female Character

Story Rating: R (No minors should read this fic).

Word Count: 2,778

Warnings: Mentions of sexual assault. Sexual activity between two consenting adults.

Description: Tommy Shelby is the owner and CEO of Shelby Company Limited. Starting out as a Bookmaker, Tommy had big ideas to expand his riches. In the past ten years, the company has grown rapidly to expand its business ventures from bars to producing alcohol, manufacturing motor vehicle parts, and exporting. One of the richest men in Great Britain, Tommy Shelby, has it all. Unfortunately, the death of his wife, Grace, left the multi-millionaire mogul alone and depressed. He needed someone to fulfill his needs and deepest darkest desires.

A/N: Again, the response to this fic has been wonderful. We learn more about Rose and find out why Lizzie left. Rose meets Tommy for the first time and begins the process of solidifying their arrangement. 

Note: Italics represent the past or past conversations.

Feedback is wonderful. It is nice knowing if people actually like this fic. 

I do not permit my work to be posted on any other site without my permission.

Saturday rolled faster than a blink of an eye. Rose was not nervous about tonight's meeting with her new client. A part of her was looking forward to it. Taking the time to look up Tommy Shelby on the Internet, Rose found out more about the man she would be possibly spending most of her time around. His backstory was interesting. The man started from nothing. It was no wonder Tommy was a massive celebrity within the business community. Inspiring entrepreneurs looked up to him and how he accumulated his wealth.

Rose was aware that Tommy's business practices were not always ethical, just like she knew that Alfie, Luca, and her other clients all dealt in questionable behavior to stay ahead of the game. It was like these guys did not know that the 1920s were long gone, and their little gangs should have considered obsolete in these present times. But it was not her job to question them as part of her did not care. All Rose wanted was to get paid and have a little pleasure herself once in a while. She hoped Tommy was good in bed as Lizzie mentioned he was. She had no reason not to believe her former coworker. 

It was a terrible incident at the club that made Lizzie leave for good. All because of Oswald Mosley and his sick and deviant behavior. Oswald was a Member of Parliament for South Staffordshire and the youngest member of the Conservative party. His influence within the party continued to gain strength as the young politician expressed his outlandish views that tended to lean towards fascism. Many other MPs have tried to rebuke Mosley's power but to no avail. His supporters only rallied behind him more. He was garnering more attention and enthusiasm to start his very own nationalist party within Great Britain. This idea worried many other MPs, even within the Conservative Party.

As Mosley's profile continued to rise, he found himself needing a form of release. It did not take long for him to receive an invitation to join Excelsior. Politicians were another form of clientele for the club. However, word soon spread about Mosley's odd behavior with the girls. The man had a weird fetish for rape and sexual assault fantasies. Not many girls wanted to partake in that act. Rose quickly passed on having Mosley as one of her clients since non-consensual/dubious consent was not something she gravitated towards when it came to pleasure.

Some of the girls confided in Rose they felt after being with Mosley. Many were scared to inform Izabella or Tatiana in fear of getting fired. Unfortunately, it took the incident with Lizzie that left her brutally scarred, both physically and psychologically, to have Mosley permanently banned from Excelsior. What made it worse was that no one could do anything to Mosley outside the club, no police reports, no arrests, nothing. He was too powerful.

The only thing Lizzie said to Rose was that Mosley took it too far and that she was rethinking her time at the club. When Lizzie did not show up for three days, Rose knew that she left the life of escorting for good.

Giving herself one last look in the mirror, Rose opted for the wine-colored long drape dress, with a silver belt to extenuate her hips, and topped it off with silver ankle strap heels. Satisfied with how she looked, Rose grabbed her clutch (silver as well) and walked towards the front door.

"Mom, you are coming home later, right?" asked Louis as he sat in the living room watching television.

"Uh…probably won't be home until late. I'm simply hanging out with the girls. Don't wait up, sweetie," said Rose kissing her son on the top of his head.

"Aren't you a little too dressed up for a girl's night out?"

"Louis, darling, here is some advice about women. We like to look nice now and then. It makes us feel good. So, don't ever question why your mummy is all dolled up, okay. The girls and I are celebrating Ellie's promotion at the firm. That is all. Now, do not stay up too late. See you later, love."

"Bye, mum."

Rose hated lying to her son, but there was no way she would ever reveal the truth to him about how they could afford their lifestyle.

As a teen mom, Rose worked tirelessly from different part-time jobs to get food on the table. She was tired of struggling to make ends meet. Rose wanted more for her son. By Rose's mid-twenties, she bit the bullet and became an exotic dancer. The nerves and humiliation wore off quickly when Rose counted her tips. It was the most she had ever made and all in one night. She had no intentions of ever becoming a high-end call girl. But again, the money proved to be too good to pass up. It also helped the Duchess and Princess give their girls some sense of agency and control over what they do and partake in certain activities. Rose's clients did not seem to understand or realize that she held all of the power. She was not a puppet, nor was she naïve.

Tommy continued to check his watch every fifteen minutes. Rose was not late by any means; it was merely a habit. It gave him something to do since he was not allowed to smoke at The Savoy. He instructed Rose to meet at the hotel's bar and restaurant at precisely 9:00 p.m.

He was not nervous as Tommy Shelby did not get nervous. He wanted to get the night started. The man needed some release.

"Mr. Shelby," spoke the hostess. "I have a Miss Turner here to see you."

"Yes, thank you. Send Miss Turner over, please," ordered Tommy and downed his glass of Irish whiskey in one gulp.

For a second, Tommy thought he forgot how to breathe when he saw Rose walk towards him. He would not deny that she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Mr. Shelby," she greeted him with a quick kiss on his cheek. Thankfully, no lipstick residue on his face. Men hated when that happened, Rose learned.

"Miss Turner. It is a pleasure to meet you in person finally," said Tommy as he helped Rose into her seat. He could be a gentleman when he wanted to be one.  His Aunt Polly raised him right.

After giving her drink order to the waiter and a refill for Tommy, the two were left alone for the time being. Unsure of where the conversation should start, Rose chose to cut to the chase.

"How do you want tonight to go, exactly? Are we here to talk about, I don't know what you call it, our agreement, our arrangement? Or should we…"

"I say we talk about what we like and don't like," Tommy cut Rose off.

When the waiter brought their drinks, Rose took a sip of her white wine, while Tommy sipped his whiskey.

"My file should have included my interests. What I will and won't do with a man," Rose reminded him.

"Indeed, it did, but a file can only tell me so much. I would rather hear it from you, Miss Turner. So, tell me, what gets you off?" asked Tommy in a low voice as he leaned over the table. Thankfully, the two were at a back corner table with no other patrons around.

Taking another sip of her wine, Rose leaned in as well. "I like being dominated. From your file, you like being the dominant one. I like being tied up, gagged, and made to cum over and over again until I can't take it anymore. Orgasm denial, I like that as well—humiliation or degradation, whatever you want to call it. I don't care for that at all. It has never turned me on."

"What about pain? What is your pain threshold?" Tommy questioned.

"Pretty high."

"So, nipple clamps, whips, floggers…none of that bothers you?"

Rose shook her head 'no' and asked Tommy what kinds of punishment he prefers.

"Spankings with my bare hands and edging. Punishments only occur if I deem you being bratty or don't follow my rules."

Rose nodded, indicating she understood. "Pretty standard forms of punishment for a dominant."

The waiter stopped by again, asking if they wanted another drink or order some food. "I'm okay, thank you," said Rose.

"I liked to order champagne for our room, please," Tommy requested and told the waiter his room number. Rose was not surprised that he was in one of the hotel's suites. On different occasions, she had been to The Savoy Hotel, mostly with her other clients for leisurely visits now and then when they called for her services.

Taking another sip of her drink, Rose started to feel unsure to ask Tommy next. "Is there anything particular that you like or don't like?"

Gulping down his whiskey once again, Tommy stood up from his seat and helped you out of yours.

"Let's head up, and I can show you what I like. You can take your drink with you," mentioned Tommy buttoning up his suit jacket.

Rose gulped down her wine and grabbed her purse. "No need. I'm ready," she said and looped her arm around his. Tommy kept his strides short throughout the walk to the elevator. Rose noticed how the other hotel patrons all seemed to fawn over the man she was with while the employees moved out of his way. Rose found it amusing when in the elevator the people who were already in quickly left, leaving them alone on the ride up to his suit.

"People go out of their way to accommodate you, don't they, Mr. Shelby. Must be nice to have all that power over others," Rose stated admiringly.

Tommy smirked and looked at Rose, "When you come from nothing, you work extra hard to achieve everything, even peoples' fear of you. What about you? Must you find it exhilarating to have powerful men at your fingertips? I would not be shocked that once your clients and I told Tatiana that I have an idea of who they are, well, they are not going to be happy about losing you to me. I have a lot of enemies, Miss Turner, but rest assure that while you are in my company, you will be safe and protected."

The elevator dinged indicated they made it to their destination. Leading the way once again, Tommy steered them down the hall and stopped at the door of his suite. Once he got Rose inside, he took off his suit jacket and opened the doors to the balcony where he could finally get his nicotine fix. He offered one to Rose, but she declined. Tommy watched as Rose looked around the suite. He took this time to look at the woman before him; she would not be deemed the model-type with her 5'7 stature, nor was she skin and bones. Dark brown hair ran past her shoulders, and her skin had a lovely complexion. Tommy took one last drag of his cigarette and stubbed it out on the balcony.

He slowly walked up behind Rose and wrapped his strong arms around, inhaling her scent; he began to grind himself against her backside. Rose promptly reciprocated and matched his rhythm. Trailing kisses down Rose's neck, Tommy moved his hands to squeeze her breasts. He quickly turned her around and began kissing her on the mouth. His dominant side was finally allowed to be released.

When Rose pulled away, it took Tommy by surprise. When he began to pull Rose back towards him, she put her hands on his chest. "I need to freshen up first, is that okay?"

Letting out a sigh, Tommy motioned her towards the bathroom. "I won't be long; I promise," assured Rose. Once in the bathroom, she began to take off her heels and dress. She hung her dress on the door hook, placed her heels to the side, and then looked herself over in the mirror. Smoothing out her hair, Rose dug in her clutch to quickly check her phone. No messages from her son. Now, Rose would be able to focus on the task at hand entirely.

Rose exited the bathroom to see Tommy waiting for her on the couch, no longer wearing his tie and vest, shirt partly unbuttoned. She walked towards him, where he indicated he wanted Rose on her knees. Spreading his legs, Rose kneeled and began unzipping his pants, reaching for his hardened member and gave it a few strokes. She looked up to see Tommy stretch and lay his head back against the couch, indicated he was comfortable and was ready for Rose to begin. Rose licked her lips and opened her mouth to take him in as much as far as possible. Rose did not stop until she felt him at the back of her throat.

Rose pulled away for a second to lick off the precum of Tommy's dick before proceeding to lick the entire length. She went back to sucking once Tommy put his hand in her hair. He bobbed her head back and forth at a fast pace. Tommy felt like he was about to explode his load in Rose's mouth he backed off. Rose took the time to catch her breath. She watched as Tommy took off his shirt and got up from the couch.

"Up," he ordered, and Rose followed obediently.

She never took her eyes off Tommy while he walked to the bedroom.

"Take this off," Tommy ordered, indicating he wanted her bra off.

Once again, Rose followed his orders. She tossed the bra to the side, and Tommy walked closer to her. He reached for her breast and began to squeeze them, tugging on her nipples. When he started to pull her nipples extra hard, Rose let out a little squeak.

"Too hard?" Tommy asked and released his tight grip.

"No. I mean, it hurts, but it feels good too," Rose answered truthfully.

Tommy once again started pulling on her nipples as hard as he could without hurting Rose too much. He pressed his lips against hers. Rose quickly reciprocated the action and ran her hands through his hair. Backing Rose towards the bed, he lightly pushed her, where she softly plopped down. Tugging her underwear down, Tommy tossed them to the side and ran a finger up-and-down her folds.

"Wet, as I expected. Let me see how many fingers you can take, shall we," amused Tommy and slipped, not one, but two fingers inside Rose. He soon began pumping his fingers in and out.

He kept going while Rose emitted more moans from her mouth. She was panting and getting closer to needing release. But she knew a sweet release would not come easy. No, Tommy was going to have Rose work for it. She was about the beg to cum when Tommy pulled his fingers out of her cunt.

Tracing his thumb against her clit, Rose let out a squeal at the new feeling. Tommy smirked. That feeling of control, control over this woman's body, it's what made Tommy feel at ease. It allowed for his head to feel clear. Tommy did not have to worry about business deals or rival gangs; instead, his focus was all on the woman before him writhing in pleasure.

Inserting his fingers back in her cunt, Tommy added a third finger this time. Rose sat up on her elbows to watch Tommy. She saw the looked of deep concentration on his face. When he reached that spot, Rose jerked up, and Tommy used his free hand to push her back down on the bed.

"I'm going to cum. I need to cum," Rose panted out, but Tommy kept going.

"Not yet," he merely said. "You do not cum until I say you can, understood." It was an order, not a question.

"Yes…yes sir," Rose managed to say. She did not know how long she would last.

"Cum!" Tommy commanded and Rose more than happily followed it.

Pure bliss is all Rose felt until Tommy pried her mouth open with the fingers that were in her.

"Lick them clean for me, love. Taste yourself."

When she licked his fingers clean, Tommy took off his pants and underwear. He crawled on top of Rose and began kissing her stomach, each breast, her neck, and finally lips.

"You're not tired out yet, are you love?" he asked her.

When Rose shook her head no, Tommy leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Good. It is going to be a long night for you."

[writing-is-thorapy]

Dead-ception: Ramblings of an Exhausted Writer

”One night, I was very tired but not quite ready to go to sleep. I thought, “what if I reread Dead-ception and published my commentary here?” So that’s what this is. If you want actual, legit meta-commentary, that’s coming after the work is fully published 😉

We’re going to try this out with Chapter 1.

I recorded my thoughts while I read the chapter and have transcribed them (all of them) here. Whenever the section I was discussing was unclear, I have clarified with a parenthetical side note or quotation. 

Hope you enjoy! 

Transcript: 

Hey this is Victoria, AKA Writing_is_THORapy, and I’m gonna be reading my fic “Carry You Home,” AKA the Dead-ception AU. Um, I’m not gonna be reading it aloud, I’m just gonna be reacting aloud, and I apologize for my voice *loud sniffle* and the occasional sniffles because my allergies are acting up. Isn’t that fun? So... yeah let’s get started!

(After first section that ends with, “He had no idea it would go so wrong.”) I remember when I wrote that first part, that first section. God, I had no idea this was gonna turn out to be such a big thing. 

Damn, I kill Anakin so fast. He dies within like the first 200 words. *Laughs* Anakin’s my favorite character and he’s like... not in this. At all. 

(”He wrenches Rako Hardeen’s mask off...”) When I referenced Rako Hardeen’s mask, I didn’t remember whether he actually had a mask or not and just made up that he did but he ACTUALLY DOES so I’m proud of myself. 

(“Obi-Wan ignites his lightsaber, the blade going straight through Hardeen’s chest.”) Yeah kill ‘im, Obi!

(“Ahsoka’s lithe body...”) I use “lithe” a lot to describe Ahsoka. Like, it fits, but still...

I like that I included the detail that Anakin’s sightless blue eyes gaze upwards at the STARS. Good job, me!

Oof I love these last two lines: “For the first time in his life, Obi-Wan wished he was dead./Maybe then Anakin would still be alive.” Oof, that impact. Good job. 

I’m sorry I’m gonna be patting myself on the back a lot during this. Mainly because I’m surprised... that this is so good. *Long pause* Y’know? Haha

I like that I included Rex’s POV because, like, a lot of times I feel like with deathfics, the few deathfics that I’ve seen like, actually cover the aftermath of a death, ‘cuz I feel like a lot of times it’s just the build-up and the death itself but not a lot of aftermath, which is partially why I wrote this. Um, I feel like with ones regarding Anakin, they don’t... really cover Rex. And I mean like... I really—I really like the friendship between Rex and Anakin. I think it’s a really cool thing, and... I definitely think it’s under-appreciated, so... Rex and Anakin rights. 

(“...on the Permacrete.”) I had to look up what concrete was called in Star Wars. It’s “permacrete.”

Ohhhhh “Rex is the one who was made to die./Not his [Jedi]” except I wrote the, um, Mandalorian term but I’m not gonna try and say it ‘cuz I know I’ll butcher it. 

Oh my God do you know what I just realized??? So, um, I wrote here “Something clicks.” You know what else clicks? A GUN. Or a BLASTER. Parallels! Yeah! I know, I know that’s a stretch, but. I’ll take what I can get. 

I gotta say figuring out the logistics of this next part when the 501st arrives and gives Anakin this send-off was harder than you might think. ‘Cuz I had t—part of my writing process involves me ruthlessly poking holes in all my plot points and everything that I make happen so that I make this as airtight as possible. Um, so... finding the rationale for Rex to call the 501st over instead of like, going back and telling them... it wasn’t easy. 

Oh no! It says that “he thanks the Fox.” No! Typo! I’m gonna go fix that in the doc. And maybe I’ll fix it in the real fic later, but... I don’t feel like it right now. *Opens Google Docs on my phone* Where is chapter one? Chapter ooone? Chapter one! 

Now you’re all gonna know about my mistake. Please don’t go and find it. (SIDENOTE: You can’t because I fixed it!) You’re gonna go and find it, aren’t you? Please don’t. It’s gonna bug me enough.

Ok, let us continue. 

(Referencing Anakin’s send-off) I also had to look up a loooot about military formations and procedures, specifically regarding those, like, honoring the dead. It was interesting research. 

“It’s our turn to carry him.” Carry you home! Yeah! Cue title! Ish!

There is an extra “z” in there. Where did that “z” come from? Let’s get rid of that random little “z!” *Goes to Google Docs and pulls up chapter one*

*Searches for the “z”* 

Oh it’s not in the doc. It’s just in here. 

*Continues reading*

And I wrote “cloth” and not “the cloth!” Come on, Victoria! I’m sorry half of this is me pointing out all of my typos. 

Ohhhhh “Each step he takes feels like an impossibility he does not deserve.” Good line! Patting myself on the back! I’m sorry this seems so egotistical! 

Oh and that’s that first chapter. Uh, well... I’m gonna go fix those typos because otherwise they are gonna bug me. 

I was really proud of coming up with the Missing Man Formation for this—I didn’t come up with it, sorry—but for finding the Missing Man Formation and using it because I really like it. I think it fits really well. 

*Goes and fixes typos*

Let’s see... Where’s the part where—oh! Found it! Typos fixed! Fantastic!

So let’s see what else do I have to say about this first chapter...

Meta and stuff about the contents of the first chapter in-depth, um... I’ve been writing out meta for each chapter and it’s no where near finished yet because I have to really go through each chapter and find all the things, but I’ve started for each, just by taking the comments I had on the side of each doc. After I fully release Dead-ception I’ll start releasing that. I don’t know how I’m going to release it, I don’t know where, but I’ll release it. So... yeah. 

Bye for now!

[fatandnerdy30]

Land of the Avengers chapter 1

So, I said I would be posting to tumblr more often, so I figured that I should start with my reconfigured LotA story...so, here we go!

The beeping of an alarm is the first thing he heard the morning of the week that would change his life forever. Peter yawned as he hit dismiss on his app flashing on his phone’s screen, rolling over again.

“Peter! Come on, time for school!” May’s voice called down the hall, her footsteps pounding through the dorm apartment. “Your breakfast is going to get cold!”

That got the boy moving and five minutes later, as he was making his way toward the kitchen, the melody to wake up the entire academy started playing over the loudspeaker. Peter always woke a little early because he hated being startled awake by the annoying good morning song. He slid into his chair and smiled as May gave him a kiss on top of his head, ruffling his curls. “I’ll be home early today, so you won’t have to cook.”

At that the boy made a face. “Why don’t we just eat in the cafeteria? At least they’re a little edible.”

“Hey!” she said in shock, though amusement could be heard in the tone. “I’ll let you know the headmaster enjoyed my walnut date loaf very much, thank you!”

“He only took it because he wasn’t trying to be rude. Come on, May, your reputation for being a bad cook is pretty infamous in the halls of the school.” He picked up the fried-cake on his plate which was like a plate and stiff as a board for an example.

“All right, I’ll admit I don’t cook that well, but it’s not as bad as all that.” She poked at the stiff fried-cake before she left the room. “And make sure to finish what’s on your plate. Both of them!”

Peter laughed at the joke and just hid the cake in a napkin before throwing it out and racing back to his room. With his door closed, he put a CD into his stereo and started getting ready for the day. Brushing his teeth, he bopped his head back and forth to the beat, his curls bouncing along, which he then fixed. He then quickly put his uniform on and grabbed his homework, the papers filled with elaborate equations and safety protocols that he had to memorize. But, it excited him, because he was closer to becoming an apprentice flight engineer, which was even closer to becoming a pilot! “See you later, May!”

“Bye honey!”

The boy shut the door and practically ran to the school building, throwing open the doors. “Peter!” His best friend’s voice made Peter turn around and a big smile lit up his face.

“Harley, what’s up man?” They grabbed each other’s arms, then slid their hands down then to ‘explode’, making the sounds as their hands separated.

“Nothing much, just wondering why you’re always the first in the halls.” The dark haired boy smirked at him as he slammed Peter’s shoulder playfully.

“I may be first, but you’re always right behind me. Looking to get on Captain Potts’ good side? Because you loooove her?” Peter cackled when Harley’s face went red.

“I do not. I just want to impress her because I think I’m failing.” Harley sighed. “I got a ninety-eight on my last equipment test.” His head hung down as he pouted.

“Oh, ninety-eight…that’s harsh,” Peter joked, stumbling when the other boy pushed him and laughed. “Don’t sweat it, man! You’re one of the smartest kids in the academy, and anyone would be grateful to have you on board.”

“Oh, I know,” Harley joked, puffing his own chest out, but the other boy elbowed him in the chest, making him choke. “Dude! Not cool!” He rubbed his chest, but Peter was laughing too hard to respond.

“What’s so funny Penis?” An annoying voice sobered up both boys and the older of the two stiffened. “Finally get to look in a mirror?” An oily haired student slid in between the two. He wasn’t smarter than Peter, but since the boy’s first day, the bully had been on Peter’s case. Harley said it was because he was jealous, but Peter had no clue why. Flash had everything. He had good grades, two parents, was popular, and rich, everything that Peter had wanted. But, he couldn’t help but feel bad for the bully.

Harley moved, making Peter snap out of his thoughts. The older boy was smirking. “No, we finally got to see you without your makeup, and boy was that hysterical!”

Flash’s face turned red and he balled his fists at his sides, bringing one up. “You’re dead, Keener!” He was about to bring his fist up to Harley’s face, when a hand grabbed him from behind.

“What was that, Mr. Thompson?”

Mr. Barton scowled down at the boy, blue eyes churning like the ocean during a storm. “Did you threaten a fellow student with bodily harm and a death threat?” The man’s chiseled jaw was ticking in his annoyance under his five O'clock shadow.

“N-no!” the bully squeaked, his coffee skin turning a sickly green, brown color. "I-I-I-I-“ He stared at the muscled arm beyond the hand that was holding him half off the ground.

"You were what?” Mr. Barton finally released the boy, watching him stumble back into the lockers. “Get outta here, you little punk. You have detention. With me. After school. Now go.” When the boy stood frozen, the teacher growled. “That’s an order, Cadet Thompson!” Flash jumped and practically ran from the man, not even looking back. “You two okay?”

“Yes, Mr. Barton, sir!” Peter replied, both cadets standing at attention. “Thank you for your assistance.”

The man smirked and clapped both boy’s on the shoulder. “At ease, boys. You’re gonna be late for class. Go ahead.”

The boys smiled and almost ran down the hall to Ms. Potts’ class not noticing Mr. Barton watching them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’re late.” Captain Potts stated to the two boys who ran into the classroom, both panting. The woman’s strawberry blonde hair was pulled into a serious bun, highlighting her classic bone structure. Her blue eyes showed her annoyance at being interrupted.

“Sorry Captain!” Peter said in between breaths. “We were detained.”

“Hmm…see that it doesn’t happen again. Now, to your seats. We’re discussing sub-orbital flight and the long term effects on the body.” She waited for the boys to get to their seats, and started. Pepper checked on her students often during her lesson, noting that more than a few looked bored. But, the two students she knew who were paying attention were staring right at the board, pens scribbling like mad as they took notes on every word the Captain said.

“Who can tell me how far up you need to reach sub-orbital flight and feel weightless?” She waited, staring at the company. “Anyone?” Two hands shot into the air and she had to hide a smile. “Harley.”

“One hundred kilometers, Captain, or sixty-two miles above sea level.”

“Very good, Cadet Keiner. Now, extra question, what is that altitude called?” Peter’s hand shot into the air a second before Harley could answer, and this time she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Peter.” “The Karman Line, named after Theodore von Karman, who formulated the idea that at this height was too thin for regular flight. It’s also called the edge of space.”

“Very good, Cadet Parker. I can see someone has paid attention in the past,” Pepper sent a glare to the other cadets, who sat straight at that look. “All of you have a bright future, but you’re not showing that you have the drive to become Pilots for the Reed center….” She sighed. “And because of this, I am telling you that tomorrow there will be a pop quiz on all of this. I’m being nice and letting you know beforehand this way you can come prepared.

"Now, there are twelve long term effects on the body and they are as follows: after about a dozen flights, the pilot’s spine itself stretches, but it doesn’t cause too much pain. It corrects itself in a few months of being on the ground and the pilot can start flying again.

“The second is on too many extra long flights, the muscles of the pilot loses some of their muscle mass. This is why we insist on the pilots being in fit shape in order to stay on, especially those who take long flights that last more than six hours. Please turn to page thirty-two of your books and read the following pages and take notes, until you reach the third effect.”

Silence followed for a long while, everyone focused and taking the appropriate notes until the last page was turned and the students turned their attention to Captain Potts. “Everyone ready to move on? Good. Now, the third effect would be-"The bell rang and the students started packing their bags. She saluted the cadets, who stood altogether and saluted her back. "You’re dismissed.” She watched the kids rush out of the classroom to their next class. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day went by fast, and before he knew it, Peter was in line for lunch, his foot tapping with excess energy from sitting so long listening to teachers drone on and on. He was young and needed to move. After his muscles were tired from hopping in place, he leaned against the window, the smog so thick that the city was barely visible from the sky deck the school was built on. Pollution and factory smog had been getting worse and worse with each passing year until people had to start building homes on top of towers to give them clean air to breathe. But, it happened that only the rich could afford to be in those towers.

Peter remembered living in the smog filled city below and it left some bad health problems like asthma, which was getting better now that he lived in the dorms of the school. If he hadn’t gotten the scholarship, he would still be below that thick cloud, struggling to breathe, or dead.

He noticed the line moving and stepped forward, when someone rammed into his shoulder, causing the boy to cry out and hold the limb. “Oops.” Flash’s annoying voice filled the boy’s ears and he rolled his eyes.

“Just leave me alone, Flash.” Peter was getting tired of the bully’s crap. He rolled his shoulder and winced when it was tender.

“Why should I when you obviously have no one around to protect you. No friends,” the bully looked around. “No teachers.” He then pressed Peter closer to the window, the other students backing away. “And I still owe you for what your boyfriend said to me this morning.” Flash’s eyes hardened. He looked up slightly into Peter’s face. Then, without hesitation, he slammed a fist into Peter’s stomach, causing said boy to double over and gasp for air. “That was just a love tap. You or your boyfriend say anything like that to me again, it’ll be worse.” He turned and walked away, laughing with a few of the other kids pointing at the boy holding his stomach.

Peter lost his appetite after that, so he got off the line and went to the library, grabbing his books out of his locker on the way. The least he could do was get some of the assignments Captain Potts gave them. And wait to see if a bruise formed on his sore ribs, which the way he felt, he was sure about that.

Lost in the pages of a book, Peter barely heard the bell ring. A clearing of a throat made the boy look up, the librarian gesturing to a clock with a smirk. Peter gasped and started packing his books wildly when he heard the chimes for an announcement coming over the loudspeaker.

“Cadets Parker and Keener, to Colonel Richards’ office. Cadets Parker and Keener, to Colonel Richards’ office.” The near robotic voice of the colonel’s secretary rang through the halls. Peter froze as the few students in the library stared at him.

The first thought that came to mind was what did they do wrong? Then it was, did Flash say they started the fight? Or, his overactive brain thought, maybe they did something terribly bad, and they were going to be expelled? Peter shook his head. No, that couldn’t be. It was on video that Flash had hit him.

With a gulp, he stood up and crammed what books and papers he had left, into his backpack, not caring about the state they were in before practically running out of the library. The entire way to the headmaster’s office, the bad thoughts kept running through Peter’s mind, making his heart beat faster and the dread rise farther.

Harley was waiting outside the headmaster’s office. He looked as nervous as Peter did. “What do you think we did?” Peter asked panting, his eyes wide.

“I have no clue, but it can’t be good if we’re being summoned to this office.” The door swung open and Mr. Barton stuck his head out, his eyes softening at the look the two gave him.

“Hey, what’s with the scared looks?”

Harley gulped so loud, even Peter heard it. “We’re ready to accept our punishment for whatever we did, sir,” he said lowly and Peter just looked at the ground. What they weren’t expecting was the laugh coming from Mr. Barton. It started out as a chuckle, and then he was actually holding his middle. “Punishment?” the man cackled. “What made you think you were being punished?”

“W-well,” Peter started, wringing his hands. “No one is called to the Colonel’s office, except for punishment…and the fight Flash caused this morning…” He wasn’t going to mention the fight-if you could call it that- which the headmaster probably had seen on the security cams.

“Don’t even mention that little creep’s name to me. I still have plans for him in detention. But, don’t worry, you were called here for something good. Promise.” He stepped aside and ushered the cadets inside. Instantly they stood straight at attention, saluting the dark haired man sitting behind the desk, Mr. Barton following.

“The cadets you wanted, Sir.”

“Ahh, thank you, Clint. At ease.” Colonel Richards sat back, his elbows on his desk. “Peter and Harley, correct?” He couldn’t miss the way the two seemed to tremble in his presence.

“Y-yes sir,” Harley nodded.

“Good. I’ve been looking into your grades and I must say I am very impressed. Normally, when we do have scholarship students, they slack off once they’re in the school.” It didn’t happen very often, and Peter and Harley both had stunning grades to go with their scholarships. “But, not you two. And that impressed me.” He smiled at the look the boys gave him.

“It impressed me so much, that I’ve decided to let you two take the flight simulation for real. The only placement I could get for the both of you though, was next week.” The room became silent from the news, both boys staring at him slack jawed.

“I don’t expect you to be flying alone, though. Mr. Barton and Captain Potts have both agreed to be with you on the flight. You both are allowed to take one extra person of your choosing to take with you. It will be a week long excursion. Consider it a reward for your hard work this year.”

The boys smile’s grew brighter and they looked at one another excitedly. “It’s an honor, Colonel, Sir!” Peter said, his voice cracking in his excitement, making him turn red.

“Yes, this is a great honor, Sir.” Harley said, his face so serious, it made Reed chuckle.

“Calm down, Cadet Keiner. But, I will warn you,” his face turned serious, “that this is also a test proving the two of you will be capable pilots and your futures are riding on this.”

Peter and Harley both trembled at that, but saluted the man with a loud 'Yes Sir!’

“Study hard, and try and get as much Simulation time as you need. In fact, I’ll open the Baxter building to the both of you, this way you’ll have state of the art simulators to work with.”

To say the boys were shocked was an understatement. The Baxter building? “I-it’s truly an honor, Sir!” Peter said, his face beaming.

“I’ll have your passes ready for you by tomorrow. You’re dismissed.” Both boys slammed their heels together and saluted before exiting the room.

“We get to go to the top floor of the Baxter Building!” Peter cried as soon as they were out of the Colonel’s office. His young eyes were sparkling with wonder and excitement. “I’ve always wanted to see what they do up there! I’ve heard that they’ve been working on actual space flight! How crazy is that? We might get to go to the moon someday, maybe farther! We may even discover a new planet! How cool would that be!”

Harley listened with a soft smile. His younger friend always got this way when talking about the science of space flight and or chemistry. "It would be so cool. You gonna be the first to step on the moon?“ he ruffled Peter’s hair, cackling.

"I just might!” Peter said indignantly.

“I’m sure you will, bud. Come on, we’ll be late for Harrington’s class, and you know him and his stories if you’re late.” Harley slung his arm around Peter’s shoulders and tugged him towards the classrooms.

[blackevermore]

x Wade In The Water

{ Chapter 8: My Mind My Heart and Hallelujah }

Summary: Ester Scott was once in love. She thought the days of her shortcomings were over and that the man she found was her one and only. But all that was taken away when the demons she had became too accustomed to finally took the one thing she had left. Louisiana was her home but the devil down below was calling her name. She only has herself to blame when it came to the hands dragging her under.

Notes: It’s Hazbin Hotel, be ready for everything. Also I apologize for all my mistakes in advance!

Word Count: 4,767

Death has meaning. Life has consequences.

- Ester R. Scott

It had been two weeks since Chem and I were given a ride by Mr Hazbin, Chem still held on to the idea that he would come around again to sweep me off my feet. I could only give her a dismissive look and tell her to go on with her work. Get ya head out the clouds and stop dreaming about the unthinkable. Chemintine would just shake her head at me telling me I was 'no fun' and giggle herself back into another stitch. Luckily for me Chemintine wasn't a loudmouth and no one in the shop knew about it. If word got out there was no telling what Monique and Clover would do, or how they would react, if they knew. They make my life a living hell more than it already was.

I fold up a few loose scraps of fabric and tuck them away into the cubbies ready to end my day. Today was rather busy with people coming in with commissions and pickups. Since it was starting to become summer more and more people wanted to have vacation clothes before heading out for the midday sunset strolls. I couldn't blame them, I too would want to look good while the sun was going down, and look even better when the moon was shining. I grab my jacket from the hook by the door and turn towards Chemintine. Unlike me, already packed up and ready to go, the poor girl was still hard at work with a worried expression on her face. She looked so overwhelmed with whatever she was working on and I knew we wouldn't be leaving any time soon if I didn't step in. Huffing and putting my jacket back on the hook I walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You're supposed to be packing up, darling."

"I can't, not right now, Estie, I screwed up this shirt and I had to take all the embroidery out and redo it. I have no idea where this person got this shirt but it was a terrible idea to bring it here. It was an even worse idea for Ms Birdy to give it to me." Chemintine threw down her tool and let out a big sigh of frustration. Behind us I could hear Monique and Clover giggling as they left out the backroom. I counted my prayers and patted Chemintine's shoulder for her to get out the chair. Once I was in the chair I rolled up my sleeves and picked up the shirt. You could clearly see where the repair area was and where Chemintine had started and started over. It was a bunch of tiny red trees showing branches and darker red leaves. It was in turn a very simple embroidery but I wasn't going to say anything.

"Pull up a chair and watch me do a few before handing it back to you."

"Yes ma'am!" Chemintine hurried to grab a stool and for the next thirty minutes we sat at her desk working on the shirt. When it was finally finished Chemintine thanked me nearly in tears. I patted her back and shooed her off to get ready for us to go. As a finishing touch I did an invisible stitch of my initials on the inside of one of the cuffs and tucked the shirt into a box. I'm starting to think Chemintine likes to find ways out of her work by having me do it. I'd pinch her cheek and tell her about herself considering she's staying at my house. But for now I really just wanted to get home and take off my shoes.

The next day was just the same with many faces coming into the shop and many more leaving with their clothing. I was stuck in the back room knockings out fixes and projects. I didn't mind it, I much preferred to be in the back than manage the front, too many rude people came in and made comments they shouldn't. Mrs Bridy knew I didn't like the front of really busy days but sometimes she would stick me out there anyway. This was a little blessing to me anyways.

"Ester!" I snapped myself around when I heard Chemintine yell my name. She came towards me with a force of fear. She threw herself onto me and I had no choice but to catch her unless I wanted to fall to the floor.

"What in god's name, Chemintine?" I pushed her off me a bit but she clung to me for dear life.

"My daddy," she began to cry into my shoulder and I sighed having to pull her off again. This time through tears and hiccups. "My daddy just came in and he wants me to go home so he can talk to me."

"Then just go see what he wants. You already made up your mind that you ain't going back to Texas so just keep standing on that." I finally got her to release me from her death grip.

The girl shook her head in fear, "I ain't going home so he can yell at me, I ain't going, all he is gonna try to do is send me back and I can't...I can't."

"Calm down, now." I pulled her over to my workspace and sat her down in my chair. I looked around to see if the others had noticed Chem's breakdown. Monique and Clover seemed to be more caught up in each other than us. Good. I pulled a box of tissues towards her and Chemintie thanked me as she cleaned her face.

"Ester I don't wanna go."

"I know, I know you don't, but you gotta or your daddy will find where you've been staying. And Imma tell you know I don't think he wants to hear you've been staying at a negro's house." I sighed and shook my head, the storm it would cause if I saw an angry white man marching towards my house screaming for his daughter to come out. That be the day I saw my last breath.

"What am I to do Ester if he asks me where I've been?"

"Tell him you've been thinking over your choices with Mrs Birdy. Tell him you've heard his words and you know it's time to finally become your own woman. If he asks you anything about how you're going to sustain yourself, tell him Mrs Birdy only hires girls she knows are strong enough to stand on their own. And leave it at that." I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed and that seemed to bring Chemintine back to her senses.

"I...I wish I was more like you, Ester." Chemintine said whipping away the last of her tears.

"No you don't, darling, I'm nothing but a stubborn bull and a timid elephant." That made the both of us laugh and Chemintine excused herself to head back to the front of the shop. As she passed through the arch Mrs Birdy stepped out and smiled towards me. I nodded back with a nervous smile and went back to my work. As I sat down in my chair I felt a jolt of coldness shoot up my spine. I only felt them when an angel was around and I hadn't noticed it. I slowly look around me, nothing, I turn towards the door and there is standing in the corner. But this angel was unlike the ones I always saw, it had a hue of blue and more of a human appearance. The angel looked towards Mrs Bridy as the woman's back was turned then towards me. The angel shook its head and frowned before vanishing.

That has never happened before.

I was speechless and the only thing I knew I could do was to say my hail Mary and turn back around and get back to work.

The end of the day came once again and I was nothing but happy to throw off my apron and head towards the door. Today Mrs Birdy had us stay open later than normal due to the customers that kept coming in and out. I knew Chemintine wouldn't be heading home with me so it was best for me to hurry home now so I wouldn't be caught in the traffic or the sun setting. When the sun started to set the dirt road streets were no place for me.

"Wait, Ester!" Chemintine grabbed my aim and gently pulled me back. I turned around and she simply held up the shirt and mouth 'please help me'.

"What happened?" I grabbed the shirt and saw the stitches were popped. I felt the anger starting to boil inside of me as I could only imagine who it could have been that did this.

"This shirt is meant to be delivered today and there isn't a phone number to ring to tell them it will be late. I would do it but I have to go to my daddy's. There is no way I could get it done and delivered and not be yelled at by my daddy for being late. I don't wanna be yelled at, Ester, please help me."

"Chemintine..."

"Please Ester! I know I know I could take it with me to my daddy's and try to work on it there but we all know that wouldn't work. I could leave it for tomorrow but I don't want Mrs Birdy losing money because of me." Chemintine gave me the biggest pair of puppy dog eyes I'd ever seen and I shook my head. I turned away from her to think for a moment. As I tried to think over every possible outcome of me doing it all I could imagine was my momma telling me to go'on and help the poor white girl. With a sigh and a drop of my shoulders I turned back around and took the shirt.

"Thank you so much, Ester! I'll repay you, I promise to god I will, thank you so much!" Chemintine kissed me on the cheek and started grabbing her things from her workbench. "The address is on the table, there isn't a name, just simple instructions to drop it off at the doorsteps."

"No name?" I asked over my shoulder.

"Nope. I got the order from Mrs Birdy in the form of a letter saying they liked my work and wanted me to do it. Odd I know but who knows might have been a secret admirer. Too bad I can't go to him myself." Chemintine pouted for a bit then shrugged. "Well, off I go, thanks again, Ester!"

"Bye Chemintine," I waved the girl off, dreading every moment of being a nice person. It was better just to hurry and get this damn shirt fixed up and packaged for a journey than to hold off any longer. With the time ticking away on the clock just above the wall, I told myself I wouldn't be staying here all night and I would hurry and get this done. Maybe just maybe I could get this done before the sun started to set and be home right when the moon started to show its face. God, I hoped so.

How I managed to fix every stitching in record timing and head out the shop door was beyond me. God was really on my side as I headed towards the bus stop, the address was actually towards my house but a bit farther heading towards the swamplands. I groaned knowing that his shirt had to belong to some high class wealthy man who lived off the nicer side of the swamps. With that being said they wouldn't be too kind to people like me so it was in my best to leave this at the door and hurry away from the house. Oh Chemintine I swear you'll be the reason I'd end up hanging from a tree. The bus ride away from the city wasn't too bad, rather quiet as all the other black folks sat tiredly. I could see the pain on their faces as they waited for their stops. We worked day in and day out trying to stay alive while some people just rolled around in bed all day. I could remember how tired my momma was coming home late at night. She would have just enough energy to kiss me goodnight and tell me she loves me.

I lean against my window and watch the clouds in the sky start to change colors. 'Don't make me walk in the dark' I repeated over and over in my head hoping someone above would tell god to hold the sun just a bit more. When my stop came I got up and headed towards the exit.

"Um Ma'am?" The bus driver called out towards me.

"Yes sir?"

"You don't live this way."

"I have to drop off a shirt from the shop. Will this be the last time you come this way?" I asked nervously and he could tell I was secretly asking him to come back. For a moment he thought about it and turned around to look at who was left on the bus. He turned back to me and slowly nodded with a smile. "Thank you kindly."

"I'll be waiting for ya." The driver tipped his hat and closed the doors as I stepped off to continue driving. I was right when I said these people lived on the right side of the swamp. The two houses I could see from where I was were french mansions sitting pretty on wildflowers. I started my walk down the long dirt path praying that everything would be alright every step of the way. It took me about a couple of minutes to walk down the road to get to the first house. I looked back to the address card to read the numbers and thank the lord the first house on the right was where I needed to go. I started towards the door of the house just as someone was about to walk out.

"Excuse me, just what do you think you're doing?" A man that looked no older than me called out from the porch.

"I have a delivery from the tailors," I called back to him and he seemed to chuckle. He stepped off the porch and headed towards me, I quickly held out the box to put distance between us. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, I could seem the trouble leaking off of him and it smelled like cheap booze. He snatched the box from me and opened it and huffed.

"I'd wish my sister would throw this damn shirt away already," I nodded and told him to have a good day as I turned on my heels to walk away. "Wait a minute," he reached out and grabbed me roughly by the wrist. "Ain't you a little far from where you're supposed to be? How about I give you a ride back?" The nasty smile that looped on his face was all I had to see to know I had to get away.

"No sir, that's alright, I have someone waiting for me and I told them I wouldn't belong. Please excuse me." I pulled my arm away from him and nodded once more and started once again to make it towards the road to get back to the bus stop. I could hear him whistle as I stumbled down the road and let out a chuckle.

"You ain't bad looking for a coloured girl." He yelled and it made me flinch and speed up quicker. The sun was starting to turn the sky orange and I begged out loud the bus driver would be back by the time I made it there.

When I got to the bus stop I was huffing and puffing for air, my own time I didn't stop speed walking hoping to make it out of the man's sight. There was nowhere to sit so I had to continue to stand as I waited. I had no idea what time it was by now, only that in a few more moments it would be dark and hopefully the bus was still coming my way. To keep me from panicking I started to sing a few songs I knew. It started with church songs but quickly changed to songs my momma would sing to me, and it worked. I felt a bit better but I was still on high alert for everything. Where the hell was this bus? As I stepped out to look down the main dirt road I heard the sound of an engine. I thought it was the bus so I tried to get a better look down the road but when I didn't see the lights I worried. Just then faint lights started to light up the road from behind me. I turned and saw a car coming from the way of the houses. Fear washed from my head to my toes and I quickly went back to the side of the road trying to make myself as small as possible. Hopefully whoever was coming would only ignore me and keep driving. As I waited for the lights to hurry past me I held my breath and counted. The sound of the engine got louder and in a few seconds, the car was right next to me then turning towards the left and leaving. I thought I would turn blue the way I held my breath and finally let it go. I watched as the car made it halfway down the road before hitting it's brakes and stopping. Then it started to turn around and I knew I couldn't stand where I was anymore. I didn't want to cause a scene if they happened to be going the other way so I waited a bit before doing anything. When the car was close again I could clearly see that it was the man from the door.

As the car started gunning towards me once more I thought quickly to start running towards the houses. That seemed to be the push the man in the car needed as I heard him laughing and howling at me, "Come on back here! We just wanna talk to ya!"

"Where ya going, girl?!" Another voice called out from the car and I didn't dare to look back and see who it was. "You sure are a fast one, faster Jimmy!" The sound of their laughter and yelling made my heart stop beating and the color of my face drained. I had to keep running and hide somewhere. As I was halfway down the dirt road I looked around for where to go, I could ask for help from anyone that lived on this land. I had to hide and I had to make it quick before they ran me down. I took a sharp right when I saw another off the grid path towards the swamps. I hated the swamps with every inch of my body, from the water to the mud, to the unknown dangers that lurked around in the waters. But it was my only choice, so I took it, I rather die from the mouth of an animal than the hands of an unpredictable white man. I heard the car stop and the car doors slam shut as they continued to yell after me. Surely they wouldn't be desperate enough to harass me all the way into the swamp.

It didn't fucking matter! I had to get as far away from them as possible!

I was trying my hardest trying not to fall over rocks and fallen tree branches. The path I was following started to sink into the muddy waters and at first, I thought of turning around and finding a different way, until I heard their laughter behind me.

"I see her!" one of them yelled and I quickly kicked off my shoes and picked them up as I started stepping through the mud. The disgust in my stomach was overpowered by my fear. I had to use a few of the trees around me to help me pull myself out of deeper spots while trying to be as quiet as possible. I turned around to see if they were still on me and they were so I hurried to try to find a place to hide between the trees and the overgrown grass. I ran into a few spider webs and touched so much unknown stuff that I knew that if I made it out of this I would speed days in the bath trying to get clean. I even fell over a rock and fell into the mud knocking my glasses off my face. I gasped but quickly shut my mouth and tried to find them. The sun was already low and there was no telling my left from my right. I found them and quickly cleaned the mud off them as best I could. It did me no justice as now my vision was blurry and dirty.

"Come out you damn monkey! This could do a lot better if you just be a good girl and do what ya told."

"Maybe she's too stupid to understand orders."

"Ha!" My blood was boiling as they continued to talk but there was nothing I could do. I eventually found a spot I could hide. Two sweeping willows hung low to the ground with wild tall grass around them. I ducked off between the leaves and grass and held my breath, my heart felt like it was going to break through my chest. My feet felt like needles were stabbing them and my legs were on fire. Hot salty tears streamed down my face and it took a lot out of me to keep myself quiet so they wouldn't find me.

"Damnit where she go?!" They were close...right on top of me if they happened to be smart enough to turn around. I prayed they were just as dumb as they looked and wouldn't have the brains to actually look for me. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be in my bed. I wanted my momma. They stayed in the area I was in for a few more minutes looking around with what little light they had left. When they were close I would jump sometimes thinking they had finally got me but then they would turn and walk away. I watched them as best I could until I heard one of them tell the other they should leave.

Finally.

I waited a few more moments before slowly rising from my spot and trying to make it out. I only made it a few easy steps before I felt arms wrap around me and pull me down to a patch of land that was halfway in the water. I screamed and one of the men covered my mouth with his hand.

"I told you she would come out."

"Yeah well know I'm pissed these are my nice shoes, I don't wanna do this anymore, I'm going back to the car. Have fun with that tramp and hurry up." A foot kicked mud onto my face and the person walked away. I tried to fight my way out of my restraints but the man on top of me was a lot bigger than I imagine.

"Come on now, stay still, ain't no one finna help you and you're ain't going nowhere." I felt his hand starting to creep up my side and I jumped away from him and started screaming and kicking. I managed to slip part of his hand into my mouth and I bit him. That was enough for him to pull away and for me to crawl from under him and try to escape. He grabbed my ankle and pulled me back down onto my stomach and held my face down. I couldn't hear a word of what he said as I continued to scream for my life. The hand on my head gripped my hair and shoved me back down as the other hand inched up my skirt and tried to pull it down.

"Stay still." He growled in my ear and I tried once more to kick and get away. I was so tired and scared, my body was at its limit and I knew I couldn't do any more with the lack of energy. I felt my body go numb and I couldn't scream anymore but I hated every touch of his hand yanking at my clothes. My glasses were knocked from my face and I couldn't see anything in front of me.

But I heard the footsteps.

I heard the loading of a gun.

And finally, I heard a very loud bang.

It wasn't the lack of weight on my body that I felt first, it was the feeling of something wet and new falling on to my neck. When the body hit the ground I quickly kicked away once again and tried to find my glasses to see what was happening. It was dark and I had no idea where they were so I gave up and looked towards the way the gun was fired. A shadow stepped out from behind the trees and it came closer.

"P-Please don't shoot me," I begged and closed my eyes in fear of what was to happen. The gun loaded again and I could hear the falling of shells, I flinched and curled in on myself.

"Jimmy? Jimmy, what was that?" I turned my head towards the sound of the other voice and the shadow in front of me started heading in that direction. Since I couldn't see anything I couldn't make out just who the shadow was but when they stood in front of me about to walk away they turned back around. Their face was a blur but I could make out that they were smiling towards me.

"Stay here, dear." My heart stopped once again and I was sure my eye grew as wide as the moon as I recognized that voice. The last thing I saw before fainting from exhaustion was hearing someone asking Alastor who he was and the sound of a gun firing.  

[ladyshinobi]

Episode 82: A Really Redundant Recap

A (slightly) self-sabotaging Val, A nostalgic (but definitely happier than on previous eps) Juls, a TOTALLY UNCANCELED Lupe, and obviously TONs of fuckin' Angst, sounds familiar? Let's get to it shall we?:

Aren't Juls Parents the cutest? Look at them being all happy and supportive and LUPE-Reloaded teasing Juls about contacting Val! I love them, Also next time I need a new place on 2-days notice I’m giving Panchito a call, I mean for 48 hours he truly outdid himself, just remember to never sit on his couch lol.

Inspired by Guille and Renata's "Fuck YOU, We're In Love" display from the previous ep Val decides to get some loving on her own and goes to look out Juls ...Only to find out she's no longer there lol, PERFECT TIMING.

Poor gurl is so distraught...If only she could find a direct way to comunicate with Juls, If only the comforts of modern society allowed us devices that help us reach out to others ANYWHERE at ANYTIME ...If only....

NO SERIOUSLY VAL, just grab your damn phone and call her dammit XD.

Just to make matters even ANGSTIER, now Chivis is getting floral arrangements from Juliana Valdes herself. Did you see how fast Val snatched that note from Chivis?, she even LITERALLY punches it lol, that's what you get when you ask for space, and people actually RESPECT and LOVE you and LISTEN? Keep in mind you can always CALL people and ask for less space apart and more time together, just sayin'...  

Normally Val is the one gaydreaming but to see Juls-Stoic-Extraordinaire go into full flashback mode was A LOT, and THAT scene in particular UGHHHHH...

I've posted about it in the past but THAT scene to me is the perfect example of why Juliantina works so well: they both came into each other's life at a time of struggle and forced reinvention, and they've helped each other uncover and embrace parts of themselves that were hidden or had been forcefully covered.

One of these was Juls creative talents, Val not only enthusiastically points them out, but actively supports and encourages Juls endeavours, even using her privileged lifestyle to support and create real opportunities for her.

Thats what Val brings, a chance for Juls to allow herself to dream of being something more than a hitman's daughter, a chance to believe in herself, of not being burdened by her past or anxious about her future, of LIVING instead of surviving...where have I heard that before? uhmmmmmm...

Sometimes Love is described as finding your other half, but I think a better interpretation would be: Love is finding the one that helps you feel WHOLE, and Juliantina has that shit in SPADES (Just get back together already!?).

THIS SCENE = PURE 24K GOLD

I love how they both try to play it cool talking about groceries and flowers and Lupe even brings out Val a second time (Bless her) Until they just crack up, JULS SMILINGGGGGGG!! its been 84 years guys! its so nice so see them like this, I knew the Suegra wouldn't dissapoint in the end, also Juls ....DONT' SIT ON THAT COUCH GURL XD.

Val & Sergio...The Founding members of The Juliana Valdes Fanclub XD...

I KNOW a lot of people feel a certain way about him, but he's NEVER been a real threat to Juliantina (NO ONE could be lets be real lol), keeping into account him & Val have been friends since childhood I find actually believable they still talk and manage to be relatively friendly with each other, especially after Lucho's death.

Is it awkward they were both crushin' on the same gurl? YEP, 

is it awkward they both got some action (In both cases consensually although under VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES) with her as well? Absolutely! 

But I do think its fitting for Val to still be reeling a bit about Lucho's demise, it makes her feel REAL, people don't get over shit like that in 2 days, you know? and he's the only one she can talk about it with.

It also serves as the perfect plot device for them to engage into the paranormal side of the main story line plot, so Sergio may not be the people's fave choice (I DON'T care for him TRUST ME), but character wise it is a very coherent one. 

 Listen... Soul Switching Dads, Corrupt Rich Girls Sleeping with Narcos, Transmigration, Half the cast pretending (sometimes with HILARIOUS results) to have native Mexican accents, THAT... I CAN Believe, but for some reason the whole "let's Google Search a Medium" and THEN getting Barbara the Bruja right away felt like a bit of a stretch to me?

I really thought they were gonna connect Val to this plotline a liiiittle bit better, I guess I'll wait until they actually meet to see how it actually goes.

Also Im just gonna ignore DEATH staring at Val 'cause I can handle just a certain amount of drama per episode,ok?

Miss Death...just ...Stay the Fuck Away? PLEASE and Thank You?...

_______________________________________________________________________

I KNOW they are supposed to draggggggg the dramaaaaaa out till LITERALLY the Final EP, but dammit, this ANGST is crazy. I'll never judge an Abuela screaming at a TV EVER AGAIN.

Also on one of the latest interviews released, Maca and Barbara agreed that their favorite Juliantina moment is the ending, and Maca said It had a lot of guts....WHAT ARE THEY GONNA PULL!? Hype? ...Hype.

4/5 eps to go, I better start thinking what I’m going to do with this blog (and the existential crisis it will have) 5 days from now, back to random reblogs of funny shit I guess? lol.

K, Thanks, Bye.

[prettylittlebrownskingyal]

hi love I was wondering if you could do either a brotherly Duke and Jason thing with the #2 prompt or just Duke headcannons whichever you prefer (sorry if this sounds awkward but im new here , I’ve been scrolling through your page and you just gained a new follower ! okay im rambling thanks bye !)

#2. “Hey, hey, calm down. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

Note: Thank you, babe! You’re not awkward at all and I appreciate you sm 💕 also, I’m very sorry for this.

Duke’s wary of Jason.

It’s not the killing. He’s Gotham born and bred, murder— even though Jason doesn’t see it like that— isn’t anything new to him.

Mostly, it’s because he’s never seen anyone crawl under Bruce’s skin the way Jason does. And he gets it, the death of Robin will always feel like Batman’s biggest failure. The return of a boy who wore his son’s face but didn’t carry the same warmth anymore, the boy who’d rather hurt through his love; that was Bruce’s biggest nightmare.

He’d grown even more cautious after seeing Cass and Jason try to tear each other apart on the basis of Jason’s morality. Anyone who got a few teeth knocked out by Cass’ expert fists and came back up swinging was either extremely stupid or suicidal. And with Jason, Duke was never sure.

He doesn’t know how they ended paired together for this mission. Somewhere in the fray of chaos they just got stuck together and now Duke’s aware of every step he takes in front of the Red Hood as they track through the damp tunnels under the city. All he can think about, are the guns in Jason’s holsters and the crowbar across his back. All he can think about is death and Tim being shot and Damian being beaten bloody.

He supposes that’s what got them hit in the first place, his mind wasn’t focused. He walks them right into a trap; one minute they’re following a lead and the next, a smoke bomb is detonating. Jason, who'd left his mask off and his hood down, flings himself in front of Duke without question.

“Get down!” he yells. “Don’t breathe this in.”

There’s a blast, and the hiss of the smoke being released. It’s green and swirling around them and it makes Duke feel sick to his stomach. He’s seen enough to recogznize fear toxin, and he’s seen enough to know that Jason just let himself inhale a whole lot of it.

It goes sickeningly quiet, he fumbles with his rebreather and prays silently to whoever’s listening that they make it out of this, whole. The smoke’s thick and it makes it much harder to see in the dim lighting of the tunnels.

“Jason.”

“NO! No. Just let me go!”

Panic sears into his skin like a poisoned thorn. “Jason, where are you? Can you hear me?”

“Just let me go, please. Please, just let me go home. I just wanna see my dad. Please.”

He’s begging, Duke realizes as his heart sinks. Jason’s begging and broken. He sounds less like a refined killer and more like a scared kid. Duke feels a renewed sense of purpose down there in the dark, he stumbles until he bumps into Jason entirely.

The older boy shrinks, jumping away from him. He’s shaking, rocking back and forth. His eyes are red-rimmed, pupils shrunk down to droplets. “Just let me go home, let me go home. Please.”

He doesn’t know what Jason’s really been through. Not after he came back to life, not when he was left at Ra’s mercy for so long. He suspects no one really does and his stomach turns. Maybe he’s like Bruce that way, hiding his pain away and filling anger into the cracks that form in his soul just so he can make it by another day.

Slowly, with gentle hands, he reaches for him. “Hey, hey, calm down. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Home,” Jason insists. “Let me go home.”

“Yeah, Jay. I got you.” He whispers as he fiddles with his comms. “Guys, we have an emergency. The Red Hood’s been fear gassed. We need help. Now.”

[abbi-normals-brain]

A Credible Threat

An interview between a human from Australia, and a highly credulous alien tasked with cataloging and rating potential threats and hazards throughout the galaxy. Derived loosely from a recent writing prompt I saw lurking Reddit. I don't post there, so here it is.

"We had a war with them, you know."

The human puts the "cigarette" to his mouth again. The smoke activates the extractors, which are calibrated to remove all toxins from the atmousphere almost as soon as they appear.  You scroll through your notes with one tentacle, looking for a mention of whom he's referring to.

"A war? With the...the large criminal faction typically referred to as 'The English', I presume? I understand your people were exiled from--"

The human interupts you with a harsh laugh, like the sounds made by the dogs you'd unsuccessfully tried to interview earlier in this experiment. You make a note to re-open the issue of whether these sounds may  constitute a spoken language after all.

"A 'criminal faction'! Ha, that's a good one! But Nah, mate. I didn't mean England. I mean the damn emus."

"...emus?"

"Emus." Ash falls from the glowing tip, and you nervously check your notes. Who let him have that thing? It must constitute some kind of hazard rating. The preliminary analysis from the lab decribes the item as 'a thin tube of bleached fibrous material containing dried plant matter of the Earth genus Nicotiana which has typically been impregnated with preservatives and other compounds. Nicotiana is very toxic in large enough doses, and alters neurochemical makeup with consistant exposure, but it is vanishingly difficult to expose oneself to these conditions unintentionally, particularly in a well-ventilated space. One end is hot when in use, but the items were judged largely harmless and placed in the lowest threat category.' Hm. Fine. Doesn't seem right, but the lab technicians generally know what they're doing.

"Expand on this, please."

"They're bloody emus! What else is there to say?! You mean to tell me you guys went cruising around in your little UFO grabbing up randos from all over Australia--"

"We  actually took samples from an evenly distributes pattern of points across the surface of your world."

"And NONE of them told you about emus?!"

"No."

The human snorted and shakes his head. You enter a few notes, waiting for him to continue, and when he doesn't, you do.

"You are the first subject to mention them. Frankly, the first to mention war with an non-human animal at all, and I can't say I'm not suspicious of your claims."

"Suspicious? Mate, it's just how the place is. First thing people think of when they think of Australia."

"The Galactic Travel Guide is familiar with many of Earth's most dangerous predators outside of yourselves. We've heard about the lions. We've heard about the hippos, and how they're actually much more dangerous than the lions. We've heard quite a lot about the moose. We've even heard of your screaming, spitting black and white geese. We've even heard of the small population of flightless dragons with necrotic saliva.  But the idea of creatures such as these attempting to make war on the dominant sapients of the planet--"

"It was a little more than an attempt, mate," the human muttered.

"You don't mean to suggest--"

"Yeah. Yeah, they won."

"..."

"Twice."

"Is it something about your treatment aboard ship that makes you so obstructionist in these interviews? You know that if you simply answer our questions about the hazards your species navigate on your planet, we will return you to your home. Most of our other samples have completed this task, been mindwiped of the experience, and returned to their normal lives."

"Nah, the food's great. The room's comfortable. I'm not 'obstructionist'. I'm just tellin' you what's out there."

"And what else is there?"

"Kangaroos."

"Go on."

"Long tail. They can stand on it a little. Hops along on its back feet as fast as a car, but can't move backwards. Massive, vicious sharp claws too. Tall as a man, almost, and punches like a freight train. And they breed pretty fast, enough they're pests in some parts."

"Pests as in, an animal populous enough to cause damage to human settlements?"

"Yeah, they put up special fences in some places to keep them out."

"Fortifications?! Just for these creatures?!"

"We also got'em for crocodiles."

"We've heard of them before, from a subject in..." you check your notes, "Egypt."

"Ours are bigger. And meaner. World famous for it, really."

"So you say."

"And I bet that guy didn't tell you the kicker about crocodiles. If you're looking for a threat rating, well... See, they just...keep growing. Most of them come in at an average size, but sometimes there's one....as long as they have enough food to support themselves, they literally never stop growing, AND they don't age like you and m--well, like me. So they could hypothetically get to be older than dirt and bigger than a bus if you fed 'em enough."

"Right. Moving on. Setting aside macrofauna, how would you describe the toxicology profile of your land? Insects, plant and fungal life, etc?"

"Extensive! World famous for that too!"

"Of course you are."

"It's not all bad. Some of our animals carry their babies inside--"

"Yes, we're aware of the ordeal that is mammallian reproduction and would thank you not to bring it up."

"No no, the marsupials. Like the kangaroos. The babies are born as just this tiny fetus that crawls by itself into its mother's pocket until its got hair and stuff."

"So now you're saying the kangaroos wear clothes?"

"No, the pocket is in the skin."

"For Glob's sake, if you think I'm such a fool that I'd enter this in the GTG databases--which 100's of bargillions of S'zezdars rely on for their very lives as they attempt to avoid the many deadly threats in the galaxy--"

"Can't be that deadly out there, if you're this scared of kangaroos."

The thick mane of barbed spines down your back rattled against each other as they rose up straight--"like a porcupine" a different human subject had said. You were starting to lose patience.

"Human." you said with a measured firmness that made the human pause and look warily at you, shifting eye contact between your various ocular organs as they bulged, pulsing with pale yellow light. "What the GTG does may seem silly to you, or pedantic, or useless. To be quite frank, this is because you as a species live on a tiny ball of spittle and haven't even been to the bottoms of your own oceans yet. Out here, in the vastness of all space, where the species like us who have earned the privilege, this is a literal matter of life and death. Living, thinking, sapient being in numbers that your species literally can't comprehend depend on accurate up to date information on the unimaginable array of threats that await them off-world."

"Mate, I'm sorry, I'm really not here to condescend. I'm actually trying to help you."

With a conscious effort, you pull your spines back down into a relaxed position. They make a single simultaneous clacking sound, like an old mechanical lockbox.

"Then please give my work the gravity it deserves."

The human put the "cigarette" in his mouth again, and exhaled thoughtfully., giving you a curious look.

"...so, uh. I take that means you don't wanna hear about the platypus?" You're about done with this subject. He's been holding up the experimental process for days. His claims get more and more outlandish and obtuse with each interview. Clearly you're not going to get accurate information about this subject's natural environment from the subject himself. An away mission will be necessary to verify details first hand.

Your tentacles flex and curl nervously. But what if what he said was true, or at least had a grain of truth to it? You consider it for a moment and discard the idea. If the location were really that dangerous, they would be downplaying it to exaggerate their own power over such a hostile environment. Clearly they're doing the opposite, trying to exaggerate the danger. Or more likely, fabricate dangers completely. He must know the land has no natural defenses and doesn't want to be overrun by hostile Galactic faction. Or maybe they just want adventure tourist dollars--this is for a travel guide after all. You decide in an instant that you're calling his bluff here and now. 

Either way, this subject is being ejected from the study post-haste. You release the thin panel of a screen you'd been taking notes on, and grasp the microphone of the voice COM in your desk firmly among your suckers.

"Guard." you say flatly. A heavily armed and armoured S'zezdar slithers into the room immediately. "Take this one for mindwiping and send him home. We're going to have to check out the local flora and fauna on the surface ourselves." You distantly worried about the tongues-lashing your supervisor would give you about it, and about how you handled this subject in general, but getting out on an away mission again would be worth it.

The guard looked surprised.

"Without even a preliminary threat rating for the area?"

"Don't worry. I'm expecting no problems at all."

The guard grabbed the human by one of his upper appendages. The other appendage crushed the synthetic foam filter of his "cigarette" device into the table. The human didn't resist as the guard pulled him up out of the chair. Instead, the human stretched out its mouth. Sideways. You almost feel like it could reach his ears if he tried. You've seen no record of this facial expression in humans. You don't like it. It shows too many teeth.

"A'right, bye then, mate. Good talkin' to ya..." The human... (you cast about for the word for a moment) laughs. As the guard drags him to the medical bay, he calls back once more over his shoulder.

"Good luck with the emus!"

[callboxkat]

Second Chances part 3: Pressure

Author’s note: I’m so sorry for the wait on this! I hope the length makes up for it.

Warnings: talk of homelessness, prejudice, worry over being kicked out, job interview, self deprecation, food mention. Sorry that I’m still really bad at figuring out warnings, but I’m doing my best!

Word count: 7405

Masterpost!

...

It was odd, Roman thought, how much his life had changed in the past couple of days.

Two days ago, he had been just another dirty homeless man: friendless, jobless, and all but hopeless. He’d been kicked out from the only homeless shelter in the city and even banned from staying in the local park, whose gazebo was apparently a place where Roman couldn’t spend the night without “disturbing the peace”. He’d been reduced to digging through trash cans for food and wandering the city at all hours of the night because he had nowhere to go. No business, not even a library or supermarket, wanted a homeless man loitering inside, and as the incident in the park demonstrated, he wasn’t welcome to stay anywhere outside, either.

Now, things were looking up: Roman had a place to stay, with a former high school rival and his very kind boyfriend, a pre-veterinarian student who was as fond of hugs as he was of animals. Despite their less than amicable relationship in the past, Logan was letting Roman stay in their guestroom, eat their food, and just generally intrude on their lives. Even more incomprehensible to the formerly homeless man, the two were so far asking for nothing in return. It was strange, and rather overwhelming, but quite a positive change for Roman.

The very next day after Logan discovered Roman foraging in his trashcan—a rather undignified way to make their reacquaintance—Logan and Patton had trusted Roman to stay alone in their house, just spending the day relaxing. Being homeless was hard on a person, and Roman had needed the rest. That night, when the two boyfriends had returned home, they and their houseguest had spent much of the evening catching Roman up on the Disney movies that had been released while he was living on the streets. The whole situation was an almost overwhelming change for the better.

It wasn’t all hugs and movie marathons, though.

When Logan had invited Roman to stay at his home, it wasn’t only he and his boyfriend who lived there. Logan had a sister, Val, who was understandably less than keen to have a homeless male stranger staying in her house. She had left the house entirely, going to stay with a friend for the time being. Roman didn’t know how long she would be gone. Probably until her brother wised up and kicked Roman back out onto the streets.

Roman was also still working on getting a job. It was hard to know where to start: he hadn’t worked in a while, and although he was sure Logan would lend him some clothes to wear to an interview, Roman wasn’t sure how he would manage to get one of those in the first place. His resume wouldn’t exactly be impressive once he actually put one together. Which was what he planned to do today.

It was the day after the impromptu Disney marathon. Roman didn’t sleep in quite as late as the day before; in fact, he could still hear movement downstairs. Patton had already left a note for him on the dresser, but he skipped reading that for the moment and instead just made his way downstairs, entering the kitchen when Logan and Patton were just finishing their breakfast.

“Oh, hi Roman! Good morning,” Patton said, noticing him first, as he went to put away the orange juice.

“Morning,” Roman mumbled, still a little sleepy, as he shoved his hands in his pockets. Consequently, the greeting came out sounding more like ‘morng’.

“Would you like some breakfast?” Logan asked, at the same time Patton opened his mouth again, probably about to make a similar offer. The latter broke off with a smile.

“Um... I thought you had to leave?” Roman pointed out.

“That is correct,” Logan admitted. “Although I believe we can spare a few minutes.” He glanced at the clock to be sure, then nodded.

Patton perked up. “I’ll make you some pancakes! We have some batter left. Do you like pancakes?”

“Um, sure.”

While Patton worked on that, Logan set the maple syrup and butter back on the counter; and he went to fetch a plate and some silverware for Roman. Meanwhile, Roman just slowly sat down in one of the chairs, not sure what else to do with himself.

Patton had a bit of flour in his hair when he set a gently steaming plate in front of Roman.

“Okay, we really do have to go now,” he giggled, pulling Roman into a quick (yet absolutely divine) hug before he grabbed Logan’s hand and pulled his boyfriend towards the front door. Logan gave him a quick wave good-bye as he was towed away.

“Have a good day!”

There was a brief pause. Then, just as the door shut, Roman finally choked out, “You too.”

He still wasn’t quite sure how to react to all of this. All this charity, especially since it was Logan offering it to him, was disconcerting. He still had to work out how he felt. But for now, he supposed, he might as well just eat his pancakes.

When he was done with that, Roman cleaned off his plate and fork, put everything away, and went back upstairs. He showered and got dressed—thankfully, today he got to wear a spare set of his own clothes that he had had in his backpack, freshly washed, rather than another outfit of Logan’s. He still had a towel around his shoulders when he picked up the note that Patton had left for him. It was pretty similar to the one from the day before, just wishing him a good morning and assuring him that he could make himself at home. A couple of dad jokes were snuck in today, which made Roman crack a smile. At the end, there was a postscript.

PS: Logan wanted me to tell you that he set you up an account on the desktop. The password is Princey for now but you can change it to whatever you want!

Roman sighed in relief. He’d brought up his idea to work on his resume to Logan late last night, but even so, he hadn’t wanted to make any assumptions and just use their computer while the couple was away. He’d forgotten to ask about it again this morning, but clearly, Logan had remembered. That nerd.

So, Roman spent the morning creating and editing his resume. After that, he decided to see if there was anything he could do around the house, to somehow help out, before he started looking for potential jobs. He could dust, or vacuum, or something. His feet still hurt, sure, but he wasn’t as tired as he had been the previous two days. And he really did want to make himself useful. Or, he supposed, it was more of a need than a want. He needed to not be dead weight.

…

Logan unlocked the front door of his house, pausing to pick up the grocery bags at his feet before pushing it open with his hip.

“Hey, Roman?” he called out. “Are you here?”

There was a shuffle, and then footsteps. Logan looked up to see the formerly homeless man approaching.

“Yeah, what’s—oh,” he said, seeing the grocery bags. “Need some help?”

“Yes, please,” Logan sighed. He set the four bags he was carrying on the counter and turned to head out the door. “Would you mind starting to put some of that away? I have more bags in the car.”

“Uh, yeah, sure.”

“Thank you,” Logan said, turning and walking back out. He left the door open, so it would be easier to get back in with the rest of the bags. When he did return, Roman was almost done putting away the contents of the first bag. He didn’t know where the new items fit with their organization system, Logan knew, but as long as the frozen foods didn’t thaw out on the countertop and everything was put away in an orderly manner, he would be pleased.

“I will return momentarily,” Logan said, setting the remaining bags down.

Roman made a noise in his throat as a response. Logan walked off towards the bathroom, but he paused on the way, standing in the living room. Because of Logan’s distaste for germs, his home was always very clean, but nevertheless, it appeared to be even more pristine than when he had left this morning. He had already noticed that Roman had gone ahead and washed all the dishes and pans from breakfast, as well as wiping down the counters, but since he had been focused on not dropping any of the overfilled grocery bags, he hadn’t realized that Roman had taken similar action in the living room, too. The books on the shelves seemed to have been straightened and ordered to a nearly obsessive degree, and the blankets across the back of the sofa had been refolded. The throw pillows were fluffed and carefully placed. The effect was like something out of a home living magazine.

Logan wasn’t sure whether to feel touched by the effort, or dejected that Roman felt that such action was necessary.

…

Roman shut the freezer door, jumping when it revealed Logan standing right behind it, less than a foot away from him.

“What the hell, Specs?” he cried, clutching his chest.

Logan looked confused at Roman’s alarm. “Oh, my apologies.”

“Any particular reason you decided to scare me half to death?”

“I was merely on my way back to the kitchen. You just happened to close the door at the wrong moment,” Logan pointed out.

Roman sighed, turning back to the grocery bags. “Okay, fine, whatever.”

Logan moved to his side and started helping Roman to empty the bags. “How are you feeling?” he asked, reaching up to place a couple of boxes of tea bags in a cabinet.

“Marvelous,” Roman replied, looking over with a small smile.

“And your feet?”

“…Fine,” Roman said, less cheerfully. Sure, straightening up the house had taken a while, even though it had already been freakishly clean, but he was fine. His feet were sore, yes, but still considerably less so than they would be if he’d had to spend the day wandering the city. Again.

Logan looked him up and down, but thankfully, he just continued to help empty the grocery bags.

“Patton should be home earlier tonight,” he said conversationally.

“Oh?”

“Mhm. This is the last week of his summer courses. I believe he only has a couple of tests and lab exams left. Once those are out of the way, he’ll be free until the fall, when his senior year starts.”

“Why’s he taking summer courses, anyway?” Roman asked, folding up the reusable grocery bags that had already been emptied.

“He wanted to get a head start, so to speak, so that his last year as an undergraduate will have a lighter course load.” Logan smiled lightly. “Although, I believe a significant factor is his love of his work. He loves to help animals, and the program he is involved with includes work with local veterinary clinics and animal shelters.”

“Oh, wow, that’s great,” Roman said, honestly impressed. “Good for him.” He settled himself down in one of the kitchen chairs as Logan put away the grocery bags. Once he sat down in a nearby chair, Roman asked, “So, uh… what are you up to these days?”

“Well, right now I am sitting in my kitchen, talking to you.”

Roman shook his head, fighting the urge to roll his eyes in amusement. He knew Logan wasn’t really that oblivious. “Was that a joke? I didn’t know you made jokes.”

Logan offered a sly grin.

“I meant, you know, in general. Like how Patton’s going to school to be a vet.”

“Ah. Well, employment-wise, I work at a library in town most days.”

“Did you go to college?”

“Yes, but only for my bachelor’s degree. I double-majored in English and psychology, with a minor in astronomy.”

“Astronomy?”

The corner of Logan’s mouth quirked up. “I took quite a few classes purely out of interest, so there came a point when it was simply nonsensical to not add the qualification.”

Roman nodded. That made sense, he supposed, picking at a loose thread in his jeans.

Logan glanced at the time on the digital clock over the stove. He tapped his fingers absently on the countertop. Roman wondered if he was aware of it.

“How was your day?” Logan asked after a moment, looking back at him.

…

Roman was still picking at that spot on his jeans. Had Logan done something to make him uncomfortable? He hoped he hadn’t. Logan would hate for them both to be discomforted. He himself was already in a bit of an awkward spot. Based on the flow of their conversation so far, Logan had nearly instinctively asked about Roman’s own college years. Something that, judging by his current situation, probably hadn’t happened. His next thought, of course, was to ask what he had been up to, but he guessed that that might be no less of a dangerous topic to bring up.

So, he settled on the fairly bland, “How was your day?”

“Good,” Roman nodded. Logan was beginning to be concerned that he would put a new hole in his jeans, which were already quite frayed at the hems, and torn at one knee.

“Did you do anything… ah, interesting?”

“If you find writing a resume interesting,” Roman shrugged. “No luck actually finding a job, though, surprise, surprise.”

“I am certain you will come across something suitable in the near future.”

“Thanks, I guess,” he sighed.

“Roman.” Logan fixed him with a serious look. “Something will come along. Just give it time.”

…

The next few days passed in much the same manner. Roman would wake up, eat breakfast with Patton and Logan if they hadn’t already left for the day, do some job hunting, and do what he could to help out around the house until they returned from their own jobs and classes.

About a week went by with no luck in Roman’s job hunt before he caught a break. In the end, it wasn’t even he who found the job—Patton found it for him.

He knew something was different that afternoon—Patton showed up at the house practically bouncing up and down with barely-contained excitement. At first, Roman had assumed it was just because Patton had done well on one of his tests, but apparently there was more to the story.

Patton came straight up to him as soon as he put away his school things. Roman, who had been scrolling through job listings, was a bit surprised when Patton all but put himself between Roman and the screen until he turned around. Patton was grinning eagerly.

“Uh, hey, Pat,” Roman had said, confused. While Patton did always greet him and often offer a hug almost as soon as he got home, he wasn’t usually so obtrusive in interrupting Roman’s job search.

“Hey, kiddo! Sorry, I just got a bit eager!” Patton told him once he had the older man’s attention. “Sooo, I know you’ve been looking for a job, and I did a little asking around--,”

“Patton, you didn’t have to do that,” Roman interrupted.

“—and I think I might have found you something! It’s at a café, working for a friend of a friend of mine.”

Roman’s mouth opened slightly. “Really?”

“Yeah! My friend’s talking to him this afternoon, but—” Patton tapped his foot against Roman’s “—you should be a shoe-in!

Roman smiled, although he was unable to stop the sinking feeling in his chest. It wasn’t a sure deal. Patton seemed to think it was, but that clearly wasn’t the case. Roman’s luck might not hold out with this possibility. And since when had Roman had anything resembling good luck?

Patton looked so eager, though, so Roman did his best to hide his misgivings.

“What kind of job is it?” he asked.

“It’s a barista job. You wouldn’t have to work by yourself, either—there’s another kiddo who works the same shifts. My friend says she’s heard they can be a bit grumpy, but they’re really a sweetheart when you get to know them.”

“Oh.”

“You’ll have to give him your resume, of course, and he’ll probably want to interview you, too,” he admitted.

“That’s no problem,” Roman assured.

“Great! I’ll let you know what my friend says.”

Whether or not this actually worked out, Roman couldn’t help but melt at how excited Patton was to help him. “Thank you, Patton. Truly.”

…

Roman tugged at his necktie, unused to its weight. He wasn’t a huge fan of having things tied around his neck, not even scarves, so he usually avoided wearing things like this. But he looked very professional, according to Logan, and if Patton’s happy hand flapping was anything to go by, he also approved. Roman himself had to admit, looking in the bathroom mirror, that he did look rather dashing. He was wearing a plain gray dress shirt, a blue tie, and dark slacks (all Logan’s). Patton had taken him to buy some shoes for the occasion, since he didn’t share a size with either of them, although Roman had insisted on getting them second-hand.

He had an interview today for the job that Patton had found for him. Logan was coming to get him in a few minutes, to bring him downtown. It was an easily walkable distance, especially now that his feet had improved, but Logan had insisted. Roman had agreed to it, if for no other reason than because this would guarantee that he still looked presentable once he arrived.

Logan had assured him that he could continue looking for other positions should he want to work somewhere else, but that this was an excellent opportunity in the meantime. Roman, however, didn’t mind that it was just a barista job in a coffee shop. He would probably be happy finding work anywhere.

…

Roman stepped out onto the sidewalk and let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. The interview had gone surprisingly well, he thought. Maybe. Had it gone well? Roman thought so, but perhaps he had messed up in some way he was unaware of. Maybe the interviewer actually hated him and was just really good at hiding it.

Ugh, why had Roman even bothered to do this? No one in their right mind would ever want to hire him. Not when they had literally any other option.

Roman screwed his eyes shut for a second, trying to stop the spiral his thoughts were currently going down. He let out a breath, shoving his hands in his pockets as he paced up and down the block.

The interview had gone well. The interviewer had been smiling when he shook Roman’s hand at the end of it. Roman hadn’t mentioned anything about being homeless or not having a car, and the interviewer hadn’t asked about the gap in his employment. He’d followed all the advice that Logan had given him. Towards the beginning of the interview, he’d felt almost as if he were being suffocated, but he did his best to come across as confident and charming. It was a good thing he was an actor. Eventually, that confidence became more real as the nerves wore off. They were just making a reappearance now because he didn’t know the result yet.

Logan’s car pulled up to the curb and Roman forced himself to stop pacing. The passenger side door popped open and Patton emerged. He approached Roman and took his hands. He hadn’t missed the pacing, or the slightly panicked look that Roman was sure was in his eyes.

“Hey, kiddo! What’s wrong? Did it go okay?”

Roman swallowed and forced himself to nod. “Yeah—uh, yeah,” he said, looking up as another car door shut. Logan was walking over to join them on the sidewalk.

“Then what’s wrong?”

“Just—I’m just a bit nervous is all,” he admitted sheepishly.

“That is understandable,” Logan said. He casually linked his arm with Patton’s. “Are you ready to go?”

Roman nodded, and they all got back in the car. Roman sat in the back, looking out the window thoughtfully.

Once they got back to the house, Logan helped him draft an email to the interviewer to thank him for the opportunity. Roman hadn’t heard of doing such a thing before, but Logan asserted that it was a good idea.

“It is not technically a requirement, of course,” Logan said, “but it will help you to stand out among any other candidates and convey the interest that you hold in obtaining the position.”

Roman couldn’t argue with that.

…

Early that evening, Logan received a call from his sister. Patton, with whom he had been having a conversation at the time, insisted that he take it now rather than wait. Logan smiled gratefully, kissed him on the cheek, and went into their bedroom to take the call.

“Hello, Val,” he answered.

“Hi Logan.”

“How are you?”

“I’m alright…. Logan, I think we both know why I called.”

“Yes. Roman is still here.”

He heard a sigh on the other end.

“I understand that you do not like having a stranger in our house, and I know that I should have asked both you and Patton before I invited him to stay. However, I do believe that if you met him, you would understand that he is completely harmless. He has been nothing but gentlemanly since he arrived here. He is trying very hard to turn his life around. He even had a job interview today.”

“I don’t know, Lo….”

“What if we all had dinner together? You could come over tonight. Bring your friend if you like. You can meet Roman properly.”

“And if I decide I still don’t want him in our house?”

Logan let out a sigh. “Then we can look into finding him other accommodations. A hotel, perhaps. However, I refuse to kick him back out onto the streets.” He waited for a second. “Can we expect you for dinner?”

There was a short pause as Valerie thought it over. “Okay,” she finally agreed. “I’ll be there at seven.”

…

Roman hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

He’d been bringing the clothes he had borrowed for the interview back to Patton’s and Logan’s room, and had been about to knock on the door when he heard Logan’s voice floating through it. He was about to turn around and come back later, when Logan wasn’t clearly on the phone; but when he heard his name come up, Roman froze.

He couldn’t help but stand there, stiff, listening to Logan’s half of the phone conversation. It sounded like someone was coming over for dinner… but that Logan was also considering putting him in a hotel rather than allowing him to remain here. A small sting of hurt went through Roman’s chest. He understood, he really did, and it was so kind of Logan to consider putting him in a hotel at all and not just back on the street. So, why was he disappointed?

He didn’t take long to dwell. Roman knew that the phone call had ended, so he only waited a second before knocking on the door, trying to seem like he had only just gotten there.

…

Logan slid his phone into his pocket. “Come in,” he called.

The door cracked open, revealing Roman standing there with a carefully folded stack of clothes.

“I thought you might want these back,” he said, indicating the clothes in his arms.

“Yes,” Logan said. “Of course. Thank you. I can take those.” He walked over and retrieved the clothes from Roman’s arms, setting them on the dresser. He stood there for a moment, then turned around to see that Roman hadn’t moved. “Did you need something else?”

“No, no, I just… Thanks. For driving me to the interview today. And for, uh, everything.”

Logan regarded him for a second. “You’re welcome,” he said.

Roman turned to go, but Logan held out a hand. “Wait.”

Roman stopped. Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before Logan could identify it. “What is it?”

“Valerie is going to be coming over for dinner,” Logan said. “I dislike that she feels the need to stay away from home so long.”

Roman averted his gaze.

“So, my hope is that if she meets you in person, properly, she might change her mind about you and return.”

Roman looked back up, skeptical. “Do you think that’s likely?”

“I have to try,” Logan said. “She is my sister. I cannot ignore her feelings, although I will attempt once more to change them.”

Roman nodded slowly. “Thanks for the heads up,” he said, perhaps a little stiffly, and left.

…

Roman had thought that the coffee shop job interview had been stressful. What a joke. This put much more pressure on him. He thought he might be crushed by it.

Logan and Val were using one single dinner to decide whether they were going to allow him to stay, or whether they were just going to stick him in a hotel room and say, “good luck!” He would have somewhere to stay, that was true, but no internet access, fewer affordable and decent meals, less contact with Patton and Logan to ask for advice and borrow clothes from for interviews. If he was stuck in a hotel and he didn’t get the barista job, Roman couldn’t help but feel like he was doomed. He would end up right back on the street as soon as they inevitably tired of paying the hotel bill. Up until that point, however far in the future that may be, that situation would still be infinitely better than what he’d had before Logan decided to take pity on him and take him in, but he didn’t want to lose what he had. He… liked Logan. He liked Patton. He liked living with them.

“No pressure, no pressure at all,” he whispered, pacing back and forth in the guest room.

…

It was six thirty at night. Patton stood in the kitchen, stirring a large spoon through a pot of zucchini noodles. They were trying out a new pasta recipe for that night.

He looked over to where Roman stood a few feet away, cutting up tomatoes, garlic, and basil leaves on their cutting board. He looked very concentrated on the task. Patton smiled. Roman was such a thoughtful kiddo, volunteering to help cook when he didn’t have to. He was clearly doing his best to pay him and Logan back for helping him. Patton only hoped that Val would change her mind about him.

Once the noodles were done, Patton strained out the extra water, and Roman put in the vegetables and parmesan cheese. Patton stirred it all together and put it on a serving dish for Roman to carry out to the table.

“Got it?” he asked, not wanting Roman to drop it. The other man nodded, smiled at him, and brought the dish over to the table. Patton grabbed a plate of cookies that he had baked earlier and carried them over there as well. Logan had just finished carefully placing the plates, napkins, and silverware, and walked past them on his way to get the glasses.

Patton set down the cookies, grabbed the drinks from the fridge, and then everything was ready.

The plot convenience of movies would have had Valerie arrive the moment the last dish was in place, but this was not a movie. About fifteen minutes passed between when they finished setting everything up and when Valerie actually arrived. When the knock on the door finally came—brisk, sudden, loud—all three of them jumped.

Logan excused himself, pushed back his chair, and went to get the door. Patton looked at Roman, who looked decidedly nervous. He reached over and took one of his hands under the table, squeezing it reassuringly.

…

Roman shot Patton a grateful look when the latter took his hand. He needed something to break him out of his worried thoughts.

A moment longer passed before Logan returned, tailed by the woman who must have been Valerie. She was tall and thin, with brown eyes and long hair. She was quite pretty, and Roman supposed that if he swung that way he might have found her attractive. She really didn’t look much like Logan, but he could see some resemblance in the curve of their noses, their dark hair, and the shape of their jaws.

He stood up and reached out politely to shake her hand, but she just stared at his hand for a second before looking back up at him. Roman awkwardly lowered his hand and sat back down. She and Logan followed suit.

“Who wants pasta?” Patton asked, clearly trying to lessen the tension in the room. “Roman and I made it ourselves.”

“I would love some, dear,” Logan said, picking up his plate and passing it over.

“So, Val, what have you been up to?” Patton asked while he spooned zucchini noodles onto his boyfriend’s plate.

She sighed. “I’ve been staying with Dahlia. Other than that, just the usual. Work, mostly.”

Patton nodded, taking Roman’s plate to serve him some pasta as well.

“How have your classes been going?” Val offered.

“They’ve been great!” Patton said. “Mind if I take your plate for a sec?” When she handed it over, he continued, “I just love everything about it. I love learning about animals, and I love the work. It’s tough, I guess, and a lot of homework, but it’s definitely worth it.” He smiled brightly, handing back the now full plate, and finally put some pasta on his own dish. He looked at Roman. “Why don’t you tell us about your job interview, Roman?”

Roman jumped upon actually being addressed. He’d been focusing on trying to eat as neatly as possible—he didn’t need Val to think he was a slob. It was bad enough that her first impression of him had been formed while he was passed out on a couch in dirty clothes and looking like he’d never even heard the word ‘shower’.

“Oh… my—my interview?” he repeated dumbly. Patton nodded encouragingly. “Yeah. So, as you and Logan know, it was for that barista job that you so kindly found for me. I think it went quite well, although I cannot help but be nervous. I assure you I did my best to keep in mind the invaluable council that both of you provided me. The interviewer—Bradley, his name was—he seemed to like me. He said that if get the job, I’ll be working with another barista in a store not far from here. I’d be able to walk to work, so neither of you would need to worry about driving me.”

“I hope it works out. You were so nervous,” Patton said.

Roman smiled. “Never fear. No matter the outcome, I will be as glittery as ever.”

“Indeed,” Logan agreed, although Roman was sure he had no idea what Roman meant by ‘glittery’, “more opportunities will present themselves in the future. It would not be the end of the world, if you’ll allow me to hyperbolize, should you not be chosen for this job.”

Roman nodded, smile still in place. He knew that. Rationally, he knew that. And he was trying very hard to believe it.

Val was watching quietly, looking from Roman to Logan to Patton. She twirled a bit of pasta on her fork and took a bite.

“This is really good, Pat,” she said. “You said you made this yourself?”

“Me and Roman!” he clarified cheerfully. “Logan chose the recipe, I made the noodles, and Roman cut up the veggies. He was a great help.” Roman blinked. For some reason, it just struck him then that Patton really did want him there. He could have just confirmed that he had made the pasta, but Patton had chosen to highlight Roman’s contributions as well.

Dinner continued, the conversation gradually growing more natural and comfortable. Roman’s nerves calmed somewhat. Val wasn’t being hostile, not even to him. No one was talking about kicking him out—at least, not yet. She didn’t flinch back in disgust when she asked for the salt and he was the one to hand it over. It still hurt a little that she had refused to shake his hand, and that she sort of went out of her way to avoid touching his hand when she took the salt from him, but Roman told himself that for all he knew, she had an aversion to touch.

For the most part, she seemed to be ignoring his presence. Roman hoped that this was a good thing. She wasn’t openly glaring or anything, which he would take as a win.

After everyone had finished their pasta, Patton insisted that everyone take one of the cookies that he had baked for the occasion.

“I’ll take mine to go, Pat,” Val said, already getting up. “Thank you for inviting me over,” she said to Logan. Roman’s idea about touch aversion was disproven as Logan stood and was pulled into a brief but tight hug. Patton, looking a little disappointed at her departure, went to get a hug next. Releasing him, Valerie turned towards Roman, giving him a tight smile.

“It was… it was good to meet you. Properly, I mean, this time,” she said, her voice a little stiff.

Roman stood up and did a small bow. “It was an honor to meet you, fair lady.”

She looked rather confused at that, and Roman felt a light flush of embarrassment. Okay, maybe that was trying a little too hard. He sounded like he was playing a knight in a high school play or something. But all she did was smile politely, if still stiffly, before choosing a cookie from the plate, wrapping it in a napkin, and departing.

Roman sat back down with a sigh. Patton sat down with him and took his hand, squeezing it gently. “That didn’t go so bad, did it?”

“Badly,” Logan automatically corrected. He was at the kitchen counter, having already grabbed his and Val’s plates from the table.

“Hush,” Patton said. “Or I’ll throw a cookie at you.”

“Sounds delicious.”

“You really think it went well?” Roman asked hesitantly. “She wouldn’t even shake my hand.”

“She’ll come around,” Patton assured.

“Certainly,” Logan agreed, coming back for Patton’s and Roman’s plates. “Allow her to take everything into consideration tonight. Once she has finished ruminating, I am sure she will decide in your favor.”

Roman made a quick mental note to look up the word ‘ruminating’ later. “Thank you, guys,” he said quietly. Patton squeezed his hand again, and then went to help Logan clean up.

…

Early the next morning, Logan received a call on his cell phone. He quickly turned off the ringer. He had already been awake, looking through LinkedIn and checking his email, but Patton had still been fast asleep, his head a comfortable weight on Logan’s chest. Logan reluctantly started to get up and mumbled an apology to his very sleepy boyfriend. Patton just grumbled unhappily at him as his pillow slipped out of the bed.

Logan put on his slippers and walked into the hall to dial the number back. They picked up on the first ring.

“Hey, Logan.”

“Val? What number is this?”

“I’m borrowing Dahlia’s cell. My phone charger broke so mine didn’t charge last night.”

“Ah. May I ask why you are calling so early this morning?”

“I know you’re an early riser. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you.”

…

Patton stirred as Logan returned to bed. He looked up at Logan groggily. He wasn’t sure how long Logan had been gone. It seemed like he had only blinked, and his boyfriend was back.

“Go back to sleep, dear,” Logan whispered, laying down. Patton scooted closer and laid his head back on his chest, putting his arm around Logan’s torso and closing his eyes.

When he woke up again a little later, he could tell Logan was still awake.

“Why’d you leave earlier?” he asked before breaking off to yawn.

“Val called.”

Patton sat up then, looking at Logan as best he could without his glasses. “Wha’d she say?”

“She’s going to come back. Tonight.”

Patton practically melted with relief, a smile growing on his lips. “That’s great! We should tell Roman.”

“We can tell him later. It’s barely eight in the morning.”

“Sounds like a gr-eight time to share good news,” Patton argued.

Logan groaned at the pun. “If you want to tell him, you can, but he will likely desire to sleep in longer.”

Patton whined petulantly, but he knew Logan was right. “Fiiine. You win.” He lay back down, his head once again on Logan’s chest. He made a good pillow.

Around nine, Patton finally went to give Roman the good news. He went down the hall and knocked on the guestroom door, waiting until he heard a soft “Come in” from within. He pushed open the door and saw that Roman was on his knees on the floor with his tattered pink backpack, its contents partially unpacked. It looked like he’d been reorganizing.

“Whatcha up to, kiddo?” Patton asked.

Roman looked sheepish. “I’m sorting through my things. If… if Val decides that she still does not wish to have me here, then I plan to be as prepared as possible. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

“Oh, Roman, no,” Patton said, dropping to his knees beside the other man. He pulled him in a hug. “You’re not going anywhere! Val called Logan this morning—that’s what I came to tell you—and she’s coming home. She didn’t say anything about you leaving.”

“Oh,” Roman said, a small, surprised sound. “Oh,” he repeated. He sat back on his heels, still with Patton’s arms around him.  “So… that means….”

“You’re staying,” Patton reassured him. His eyes were stinging, a pain in his chest. How had he not realized? Roman had probably been so stressed about this. And Patton and Logan had waited over an hour to tell him the good news. “I’m sorry, kiddo,” he said.

“For what?” Roman asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

Patton released him and sat back, across from him. “For making you think you were going to be kicked out. I’m so sorry, Roman. Val called over an hour ago. We thought you would want to sleep in, but it wasn’t right to make you wait… and I’m so sorry that you’ve had all this pressure on you, with your interview and then the dinner last night… It wasn’t right. I’m sorry.”

Roman shook his head. “Pat, it’s not like you were the one who wanted me to leave. You and Logan have been nothing but kind to me… I don’t know why; I sure as hell don’t deserve it. You don’t have to be sorry.”

“Don’t you put yourself down like that,” Patton said seriously, frowning. “Everyone deserves kindness.”

“Not everyone,” Roman said quietly.

Patton sighed, tilting his head to the side. “Every decent person deserves kindness, then,” he amended. “And you, Roman, are a decent person.”

Roman’s eyes might have become rather misty at this point, but Patton pretended not to notice.

…

Roman and Patton were sitting in the living room together, watching Steven Universe. Patton had been very happy to hear that Roman liked it—Logan, apparently, was confused by the show and was always pointing out how the gems and fusions made no sense from a mineralogical standpoint. Patton was quite excited at the prospect of having someone to watch it with, and of catching Roman up on the more recent seasons.

Since Patton no longer had any classes or tests until the commencement of his senior year in the fall, the two of them had all day to devote to their marathon while Logan was at work. They took a break to get lunch together at a cute little restaurant Patton knew downtown, but other than that, it was a pretty uneventful day until Logan got home.

Logan closed the door behind him and set his bag down with a sigh. He came up behind the couch and leaned over, kissing Patton on the cheek. Roman looked away, not wanting to intrude.

“Have you two moved from this couch at all today?” he asked. Roman could hear the amusement in his voice, barely audible, but noticed by both him and Patton.

“We went out for lunch,” Patton said with an air of someone trying to make excuses.

“Patton’s been helping me catch up,” Roman said, trying to explain why they hadn’t been more productive. “I’d only seen season one before.”

Logan didn’t seem upset that they hadn’t been doing anything better with their time, though. He just looked up at the screen for a second, then back down at them both. “Well, I’m glad that you seem to have enjoyed your day.”

“You could always join us,” Patton offered, which Roman thought was generous given his description of Logan’s dismissal of the show. Boyfriend privileges, he supposed.

“No, I’m going to clean up a bit before Val gets here. She’ll be arriving at five.”

“Need any help?” Roman offered.

“No, no,” Logan assured. “It’s just some light dusting. I have it handled.”

“Just let us know if you change your mind,” Patton said.

While Logan went off and dusted furniture that Roman was sure had already been spotless, he and Patton continued watching Steven Universe.

Valerie arrived five minutes earlier than Logan had expected. Patton hopped up to answer the door since Logan was still upstairs. He insisted on carrying her bag to her room for her. Roman, still sitting in the living room, looked over as they walked past. Valerie glanced in his direction and gave him a small nod before she and Patton disappeared up the stairs.

Roman shifted, turning back towards the television but not quite paying attention to it. He was glad that Valerie had returned. He knew things would still be awkward for a while, but he was sure that they would get better with time. He just had to be willing to wait.

…

The next day, Roman was sitting at the desk in the main room, slowly swiveling his chair from the left to the right as he focused on the computer monitor. It was around two in the afternoon. Logan and Patton were upstairs at the moment, both having the day off, and Val was at work. Roman himself was scrolling distractedly through job listings. Nothing really jumped out at him. A lot of the positions had requirements he didn’t fit, were located too far away, or simply sounded too unappealing even for him. It was frustrating. Every day that passed seemed to add more pressure on him to start looking into the jobs he was avoiding, the minimum wage, menial tasks that no one really wanted to do, so that he could finally have something to try to pay his hosts back with. After a while, getting nowhere, he decided to take a break from the job listings and check his email. He didn’t actually expect to find any new messages waiting for him: the email address was brand new, created for his job search; and he had already checked it earlier in the day. However, when he refreshed the page, one new message came up. It had been sent only ten minutes before. Roman clicked on it and quickly scanned it over. His jaw fell open.

“Logan! Patton!” he cried, shooting out of his chair, suddenly unable to contain himself.  He heard a thud from upstairs, and then Patton and Logan both coming down the staircase.

“What on Earth is it?” Logan asked as he reached the landing. He still had one earbud in, the other dangling over his chest. He was holding the jack in one hand, apparently having simply unplugged them for the sake of speed. He looked bewildered and—oops—slightly alarmed. Patton, coming down the stairs slightly more calmly, stopped at his boyfriend’s side. He was bouncing on his heels like he already knew what Roman was about to say.

Roman’s grin widened, and he spread his arms dramatically. “I got the job!”

...

Tag list: @patton-loves-coloring @starryfirefliesbloggo @purplesoul-at-hogwarts  @gaylotusthatexists @quoth-the-sparrow @awesomelissawho @amuthefunperson @faithfreedom @heck-im-lost @gayfandomsaremything @nerd-in-space @lunacatzuniverse @sanderstalker @inan-sanders @why-should-i-tell-youu2 @bunny222

[welcometothepenumbra]

JUNO STEEL AND THE LONG WAY HOME (PART TWO)

SOUND: RAIN. TRAIN ARRIVES, CREAKS TO A STOP. DOOR CLANKS OPEN.

CONDUCTOR: Ah, good evening, Traveler. And welcome… to The Penumbra.

SOUND: DOOR CLANKS SHUT.

Take your seat, please, take your seat.

MUSIC: STARTS.

The junction lies ahead, so if you’ll allow me just a moment.

SOUND: TRAIN WHISTLE.

We are now passing through Hyperion City.

SOUND: TRAIN MOVING.

Our next stop?

SOUND: TRAIN BRAKES.

Juno Steel and the Long Way Home.

SOUND: DOOR CLANKS OPEN, RAIN.

ALL SOUNDS: FADE OUT.

***

SOUND: WATER DRIPPING, RIPPLING.

THEIA: (DISTANT, OVERLAPPING) Target located. Alerting central office. Exchanging map data. Sector is clear. Recharging. Recharging.

JUNO (NARRATOR): Here’s a lesson that never sticks, no matter how many times you learn it: even when you’re not around, the world keeps movin’ without you. Never feels that way. When you leave, you take a frozen version of the place with you in your head, and that feels real, but… then you get back and find the place is melting right in front of you.

SMALL FRY: (WHIMPERS, QUIET BARKS)

JUNO: Yep, I’m pretty wiped too, Small Fry. How ‘bout a snack break?

SOUND: SPLASH.

JUNO (NARRATOR): I remember these sewers as an escape, if you can believe it. When things got too rough topside I would lose myself down here, where things were simple. Where the monsters looked like monsters, big furry ones with long teeth and mean eyes. They were scary, but… that was part of the escape.

SMALL FRY: (IN BACKGROUND) (BARKS)

JUNO (NARRATOR): When you’re so young you think monsters are the scariest things out there… what could feel better than teaching the boogeyman to eat out of the palm of your hand?

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO: Whatsamatter? You don’t like salmon chips?

SMALL FRY: (YIP!)

JUNO: Don’t tell me you’re picky.

SOUND: CRUNCHING, CHEWING.

(GARBLED, MOUTH FULL) Aw, man, these’ve got the freeze-dried soy dust and everything! You’re outta your mind, Small Fry.

SMALL FRY: (SNIFFS & SNORTS)

JUNO: Oh, what’s that? Now you want one?

SMALL FRY: (SNORTS)

JUNO: That’s what I thought. Take the bag, it’s yours.

SMALL FRY: (GRRRR)

JUNO: (SIGHS)

SOUND: CRUNCHING, CHEWING.

JUNO (NARRATOR): I wonder sometimes if having that escape as a kid felt a little too good. Like I’d go underground and feel like all the world’s horrors could be tamed, then, come back up and think that feeling should last forever. It felt like I could make it last forever if I tried. But, things change.

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

SOUND: CREAKING.

JUNO: What’s the matter, Small Fry? You hear some… thing…?

THEIA: Target sighted.

JUNO: Damn it! Get in…

…that pipe, quickly! Hide under my coat!

SMALL FRY: (SNUFFLES)

THEIA: Target recognized. Target is—

JUNO: (OVER THE BELOW) Juno Steel, yeah.

THEIA: —Juno Steel. Directive: do no—

JUNO: (OVER THE ABOVE) Do no harm, Mayor O’Flaherty requests my presence, you can’t capture me nonviolently so I’m supposed to go there on my own, that it?

THEIA: (AFTER A PAUSE) This is your only—

JUNO: Right, thanks, almost forgot, this is my only warning. I’m workin’ on it now, but thanks for the reminder, bye!

THEIA: Farewell. Juno Steel.

SOUND: CREAKING FADES OUT.

JUNO: (QUIETLY) Going… going, aaaaaand gone. Psst!

Hey kid! Coast is clear!

SOUND: HEAVY CREAK.

Small Fry?

SOUND: SPLASHING.

…The hell is this?

SOUND: SPLASHING FOOTSTEPS.

Another room?

SMALL FRY: (SNORES)

JUNO: (GASPS)

SOUND: GUN COCKING.

…Oh.

JUNO (NARRATOR): The rabbit was asleep. Just… tuckered out.

Then I felt the exhaustion piling on me too, so I sat and let her nap awhile. And if I got some rest out of the bargain, so be it.

Small Fry had found a good hiding spot. The pipe I’d shoved her into led through a shattered wall, which opened up into another one of the sewer’s old chambers. Must have been a false start from some earlier construction job, walled-up so it’d just go away, but… that never kept anything hidden forever, did it?

The Theia bots were tearing this place apart, and soon one would find Small Fry. But even if they did clear out and we did get outta here, what the hell was I gonna do with her?

MUSIC: STARTS.

My name’s Juno Steel. I’m a private eye, and that means I’m supposed to reserve my blaster for whoever pays my bills. Money hasn’t mattered to me for years, but even so, it… was a rule, and rules are comfortable.

I keep feeling like I don’t know any of the rules anymore, but… I need ‘em. Because if you try to save every sorry soul who hops into your life…

…that might make you a hero, and… right now I’m not sure there’s anything worse.

MUSIC: ENDS. STARTS (FROM COMMS).

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Welcome back to Questions Unanswered: Where is Jack Takano? Tonight’s episode: Part 11 – “The Mask.”

Jack Takano was famously a very private man: until the end of his time at Northstar, he never kept a home address on file, or spoke to anyone about his friends and family outside the company. Even his face was private, as Founder and CEO of Northstar Miranda Fairbanks wrote:

FAIRBANKS ACTOR (FROM COMMS): It was known around the office that Jack daily wore makeup thick even by Hyperion’s standards… I once came into the office quite early to find that he had fallen asleep, drooling, onto his desk and hand. It was almost sweet… until he moved that hand and a layer of skin peeled off his face, only to reveal another, much paler skin beneath. Or so it seemed, until I saw the foundation smudges on the table. When I woke him, he covered his face, mumbled something about not looking decent, and ran off to reapply. A skin condition, he told me later. I never bought it. The difference between the skin beneath and the mask over it was so extreme that it seemed like there was another man under there, buried alive.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): But even a man with a hidden face can’t hide everything. Takano may not have left an explanation for his disappearance in his famous farewell note, but his coworkers did notice a change.

VEGA (FROM COMMS): Well, we all expected something was going to happen. Just not… something that extreme.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): What about his behavior seemed like the first sign, Dr. Vega?

VEGA (FROM COMMS): Isolation, first. Irritability, some days, although he’d always apologize soon after. But I think the first unquestionable sign for me was Andromeda 3.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): If you didn’t see Andromeda 3 at release, it’s unlikely you ever will: the film was panned so universally that Northstar established an Anti-Informations Department just to erase every copy they could find. Or as one reviewer put it:

VOICE 6 (FROM COMMS): Schlock and drivel. Its characterization is so flat it approaches concave. Its pacing makes death seem a fond alternative. And worst of all, it appears Takano has no idea what made Andromeda so compelling in the first place, and what remains are only echoes of the Turbo nonsense that nearly put Northstar into its early, and perhaps deserved, grave. Takano needs to get his head out of building tourist traps and back into telling stories, because this was clearly rushed.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): The only thing atypical of this review is its lenience: the reviewer gave Andromeda 3 the highest rating we could find. But that last sentiment, that the film was rushed, is repeated by nearly every review on record, despite the fact that it is completely untrue.

CHEN (FROM COMMS): I don’t think I ever saw Jack work harder on a project. Besides the park, obviously.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): That’s Jocelyn Chen, former Head of Animation at Northstar.

MUSIC: ENDS.

CHEN (FROM COMMS): I remember seeing pages of script and sketches of Andromeda 3 a few weeks before the first film came out, but he was never satisfied. It was just rewrite after rewrite with him.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Was his process similar for Chainmail Warrior Andromeda or Sea of Sinners?

CHEN (FROM COMMS): Not at all. He had full storyboards for both ready when he first pitched the project, and he only had a month on those. But the third one… I don’t know. He kept talking about the responsibility, and… I tried to help, but, the pressure must’ve gotten to him.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): You came under fire for that film, too.

CHEN (FROM COMMS): I did.

I– I wasn’t mad at him for having writer’s block. I was mad at him for not listening earlier, for not giving us something, anyway. I had to steal his notes just so we could start work on time for a sloppy release, and… that was the only time I’ve ever heard him get angry.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): A recording of Takano’s tirade was leaked a few months after Andromeda 3’s release:

SOUND: BACKGROUND STATIC.

JACK (FROM COMMS): We are doing something important here. Am I the only one who sees that? Am I?!

CHEN (FROM COMMS): Jack, we have a deadline—

JACK (FROM COMMS): Damn the deadline! You’re exactly the problem, Jocelyn, focusing on the smallest issues when you should be solving the big ones, taking the solution now over the solution that works– DO NOT SPEAK while I am speaking!

No. Keep the damn notes. It’s too late already.

SOUND: STATIC FADES OUT.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): The company could have scrubbed this leak like they erased the film, had Takano himself not acknowledged it, in a press conference the day after it spread:

JACK (FROM COMMS): …I would like to apologize, of course. I’ve already apologized to Jocelyn, but, like it or not I’ve been thrust into the public eye; and as a result, my responsibility extends to each and every one of you.

SMALL FRY: (SNUFFLES & SNORTS)

JUNO: Mmm… quit it.

SOUND: WATER DRIPPING, BUBBLING.

JACK (FROM COMMS): Three years is not a very long time to grow old, and, yet I find that, compared to the early days of Andromeda, I feel precisely—

JUNO: (OVER THE BELOW) I said quit it!

JACK (FROM COMMS): (OVER THE ABOVE) —how I expected an old man must: very tired, and only slightly more wise.

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

JACK (FROM COMMS): What strikes me as most beautiful about Andromeda is how she works not just on the world, but also on herself. Tirelessly. When Andromeda discovers that her magic chainmail is empowered by the suffering of others, she sees immediately how this might corrupt her… and she steels herself against it.

I see now the power I have in Northstar. And I see the heavy responsibility that power bestows upon me. We will use it for good, from here out. For Polaris.

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

SOUND: SLAP.

JUNO: (OVER THE BELOW) Damn it, Rita, I’m taking a nap, you—!

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

HAWK (FROM COMMS): (OVER THE ABOVE) Takano’s apology was very well received—

JUNO: …Oh.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): (OVER THE BELOW) —as Jocelyn Chen recalls.

JUNO: (OVER THE ABOVE) Small Fry. Right.

SMALL FRY: (GROWLS)

CHEN (FROM COMMS): (OVER THE BELOW) He could do that, apologize and have all forgiven—

JUNO: (OVER THE ABOVE) What’s the matter, kid, you hungry?

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

JUNO: What the hell? Get off me!

CHEN (FROM COMMS): —really forgiven. You could always tell he meant it, that it really had eaten him up inside. He—

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

SOUND: CLICK, COMMS CUTS OFF.

JUNO: The hell?

Did you… take my comms? Out of my ear?

SMALL FRY: (BARKS, GROWLS)

JUNO: Don’t eat it!

Well, looks like we’re awake now, doesn’t it? Here, come close. You just put it up to your ear like this, and—

SOUND: FEEDBACK SCREECH.

JUNO & SMALL FRY: (PAINED YELLS)

JUNO: God dammit, what did you do?

SMALL FRY: (WHIMPERING)

JUNO: You know how long it took me to figure that thing out? Now look, it’s wet and it stinks and I can’t even listen to it and I don’t know where anybody is or what the hell I’m gonna do to keep you safe and—

SOUND: PLOP, SPLASH.

There. It’s trash now. Just like this whole stupid idea. Whatever.

SOUND: SPLASHES. DISTANT FEEDBACK.

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO: I told you, the comms is broken.

SOUND: FEEDBACK STOPS. ELECTRONIC SCROLLING.

JUNO: You’re just gonna hurt yourself. Make it explode or something.

SMALL FRY: (GROWLS)

SOUND: BEEPS.

JUNO: Damn it, don’t you listen?

SOUND: ALARM BEEPS.

It’s busted. See?

SOUND: JINGLE (FROM COMMS).

VOICE 7 (FROM COMMS): Welcome to your comms. Please enter your name.

JUNO: Wait, what?

SMALL FRY: (GROWLS)

JUNO: You… there’s no way you know how to use this. You can’t.

SMALL FRY: (YIPS)

JUNO: Alright, take it.

SMALL FRY: (RRRRR!)

SOUND: BEEPS.

JUNO: No. Way.

SMALL FRY: (GRRRS, YIP!)

SOUND: LOUD JINGLE (FROM COMMS).

VOICE 7 (FROM COMMS): (VERY LOUD) Bienvenue à votre comms.

JUNO: (HISS OF PAIN) Nevermind! (SIGHS)

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO: But… you did have it for a second.

SOUND: BEEPS.

SMALL FRY: (SNUFFLE, GROWLS)

JUNO: No, no, I’m gonna try this time.

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO: And, uh… thanks, Small Fry. I needed that.

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO (NARRATOR): While I messed with that comms I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about Rita. She’d been telling me what Small Fry just had for years – that I didn’t need her to set everything up, that I wasn’t even trying, and… I’d yell at her that I got it, but I was just busy. And then sit alone, like an idiot, while she set up my comms, my monitor, everything.

Ma never let us have that stuff. And then I just got too proud to admit I didn’t get it, and… I got better and better at asking other people to work around me, I guess. Anyway, I… had the thing up and running again soon.

SOUND: BLIP.

JACKET (FROM COMMS): We may look backward only to ensure we have not walked this path before.

JUNO: Yeah, thanks, big guy.

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO: Just… give me one more minute.

JUNO (NARRATOR): Maybe I’d gone mad with power, but… I had an idea, and I was hungry for another win. I knew the comms could get on the net, and I knew the sewer system’s layout was a public document. The rest was just guesswork. Learning and mistakes.

SOUND: ERROR BEEP.

JUNO: (GROWLS)

SOUND: ERROR BEEP.

Aghhhh!

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

JUNO (NARRATOR): …a whole lot of mistakes. But, still.

It took me an hour to do what Rita could’ve done in two seconds, but, I was proud of it.

SOUND: BEEP.

JUNO: Ha! Got it! Look, it’s a map, and I think I found a manhole that’ll take us…

SMALL FRY: (SNORES)

JUNO: …out of the… sewer.

Hey. Hey, c’mon, Small Fry. C’mon.

SMALL FRY: (SNUFFLES AWAKE)

JUNO: We gotta go, kid. I think I found a way out of here. And after that…

We’ll have to figure that out together, I guess.

SMALL FRY: (MEWLS)

JUNO (NARRATOR): I split the comms so I could carry it in my hand and my ear at the same time. It was gonna be a hike to get to that manhole leading out of the sewer, and… to Oldtown.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): (FADING IN) The year between Andromeda 3’s release and the opening of Polaris Park marked a shift in how Northstar was run. Takano removed himself from the film production process completely, hiring previously-terminated Northstar writer Kenni Okombe and rock-star-slash-poet Rajavi to co-write Andromeda and the Dragon’s Peak, based on some of Takano’s early sketches. In the meantime, Jack Takano redoubled his efforts on Polaris Park, and though he spent many, many hours in that office – staying for days or weeks on end, according to some – his coworkers saw him less than ever.

VEGA (FROM COMMS): Always in his office. It was as though we’d taken on a staff hermit. (LAUGHS) Not that it was a funny situation, of course, Jack was clearly troubled. But, well… we all just thought that if the tortured genius needs his space, give him his space.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Many of Takano’s former coworkers expressed similar sentiments. But not Jocelyn Chen.

CHEN (FROM COMMS): Everyone always said yes to Jack, and it wasn’t good for him. So when he started hiding, working himself sick, all that… I wasn’t having it, and I said so.

He gave me some line… something about how he had to figure out the problem by himself, that he couldn’t compromise on the park any more than he already had. And I said, “Jack, you can take all your toys, and go hide in your room if you want. But if you keep working like this, you’re going to get yourself killed, and—”

After that… after I said that, he just… looked at me and waited. Like I hadn’t gotten to my point yet. Like that wasn’t even enough reason t—

Anyway. I ended the conversation there, because I wasn’t getting anywhere. But clearly he wasn’t done.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Ms. Chen is referring to a public charity event at which Takano spoke to raise funds for Martian fire departments. Though the speech was largely typical of his optimistic oratory, there was a tangent that was met with confusion in the press:

JACK (FROM COMMS): But the most beautiful thing about Andromeda, I think, is… that she always goes it alone. She recognizes that heroism is a blessing for the world and a curse for the hero, who must live with the weight of every decision they make, the pain of every loss they fail to prevent. And yet she never stops. And she never shares this burden with another, because she knows it is better for one to suffer than two. Goodness is her charge. And she lives up to it alone.

CHEN (FROM COMMS): Which isn’t even true. Aries, the Ramblers, Captain Cancer, Queen Pisces – by that point, Andromeda had relied on others twice a movie! Well, minus Andromeda 3, but… (SIGHS)

VEGA (FROM COMMS): Jack never spoke to me directly about his design problem, but I could see it amongst the lines, as it were. Something at the core of Polaris Park had gone wrong for him, somewhere. Some of his work orders implied that the problem had come from compromises he’d made, and so he tried hiding the gift shops, changing the logo so that ‘Polaris’ was much larger than ‘Park,’ that kind of thing. Then a week later, all those orders would be undone, and he clearly felt that the problem came earlier than his compromises… from the park’s initial contraception, perhaps.

I knew that he expected me to decode that subtext. I like to think I was rather a confidant for him in that way – the only one he could undress even part of his heart to.

SOUND: WATER DRIPPING, RIPPLING FADES IN. DISTANT BOOM.

SMALL FRY: (BARK BARK!)

JUNO: Huh?

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Despite Dr. Vega’s claims, the work orders we’ve unearthed state Takano’s frustrations directly to every head of every department. Polaris Park was not doing what it was supposed to – though Takano was never clear about what its actual purpose was.

SOUND: DISTANT BOOM.

JUNO: What the hell was—

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

HAWK (FROM COMMS): And as Takano tried to solve it—

SOUND: DISTANT BOOM.

—the days to Polaris Park’s opening – and the man’s disappearance—

SOUND: TWO DISTANT BOOMS.

—drew closer and closer.

SMALL FRY: (BARK BARK!)

SOUND: CLICK, COMMS CUTS OFF.

JUNO: Shhh!

JUNO (NARRATOR): We were close to the exit by then. There was just one last pipe we had to pass through, one big enough to stand and walk in. We hadn’t heard a Theia bot in half an hour; it was quiet here.

Until that thumping started, down at the end of the pipe.

SOUND: DISTANT BOOMS.

As quickly as I could I searched the wall around me for weak spots – cracks, openings, anywhere at all to hide – but there were none. This thing had picked the one solid spot left in the entire Oldtown sewer system to corner us.

SMALL FRY: (WHIMPERS)

SOUND: DISTANT BOOM.

JUNO: (QUIETLY) Get behind me, kid, it’s alright. You’re gonna be alright.

JUNO (NARRATOR): The noise kept coming. I tried to make a plan: hide Small Fry in the sludge and try to talk my way out? No, the Theia bots were chatty, and she couldn’t hold her breath that long. Take a shot at it before it saw us? Maybe, but I doubted I could connect without a Theia on my side.

It got closer.

SOUND: SPLASH.

And closer. And then it rounded the corner.

SOUND: SPLASH.

?????: (GROWLS, PANTING)

SMALL FRY: (YIPS & BARKS)

JUNO: A rabbit…? Alive?

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

RABBIT: (GROWL-BARKS)

JUNO: You know him. You know that rabbit, don’t you?

SMALL FRY: (YIPS)

JUNO (NARRATOR): So, that was it, then. Some of the rabbits were alive. I’d brought Small Fry home, and… I felt just… awful.

Looking into her big black eyes, one hand on her matted fur, I realized I already cared about this little rabbit. Protecting her made me feel useful, and loved, and… it was hard to put that away.

I let myself live in maybes for a second. A little rabbit munching snack food under my desk. A big one asleep in the corner of my office – ‘the muscle,’ I’d call her, but really… her name would be Small Fry. Even when she got huge.

I never really would’ve taken her, not really; but… it was nice to pretend, for a second.

JUNO: You can trust that big fella over there?

SMALL FRY: (BARK!)

JUNO: Then go home, kid.

Go home.

SOUND: SPLASHING.

JUNO (NARRATOR): So I watched her hop away. She seemed… happy.

RABBIT: (IN BACKGROUND) (GROWLS)

JUNO (NARRATOR): And that’s when the big rabbit ran over and socked me in the face.

RABBIT: (ROARS)

SOUND: PUNCH.

JUNO: Oof!

SOUND: BIG SPLASH.

H-hey, come on! I know you were scared, but—

SOUND: PUNCH, SPLASH.

Oof!

The hell do you want from me? Money? I got creds, but you have to get off me—

RABBIT: (ROARS, GROWLS)

SOUND: PUNCHES.

JUNO (NARRATOR): This wasn’t right. This wasn’t how the rabbits were. They’d never turn down creds and they never made those noises and they were never… this angry.

I reached for my blaster. But the rabbit had a desperate quickness I’d never seen before and in a second my gun was spinning over his shoulder.

RABBIT: (ROARRRRRR)

SOUND: PUNCH. PLOP.

JUNO (NARRATOR): The rabbit reared back to howl. He still had crumbs and frosting in his fur, big soft belly for scratching, just like all the rabbits I knew. But this one was burned, too. Charred trenches of fur and skin running along his sides, part of one ear gone.

And he looked… so scared. Pissed-off and powerless; like if he couldn’t pin down and punch all those Theia bots, or the human race, or death itself… he was ready to settle for me.

I still had my plasma knife, but I couldn’t stab him. I couldn’t let Ramses make me kill again.

RABBIT: (ROARS)

SMALL FRY: (SQUEAKING)

JUNO (NARRATOR): Small Fry ran up to the rabbit and tugged on his tail. The rabbit nearly jumped out of his fur, and didn’t even look behind him before he kicked one of those huge legs back at the kid.

RABBIT: (RAHHH!)

SOUND: PUNCH. PLOP, SPLASH.

SMALL FRY: (WHIMPERING)

JUNO (NARRATOR): I’ve never seen a rabbit do that. This rabbit had never seen it, either. Looked like he’d spend the rest of his life wishing he hadn’t. Then he turned, and I saw that he was ready to blame it all on me.

RABBIT: (PANTING, BIG HOWL)

JUNO (NARRATOR): A few months ago I might’ve let him, too. That’s what a hero’s for, right? Taking all the hits so the innocent don’t have to, while the ones causing all the pain sit in the stands and watch, blood and popcorn butter sticky on their fingertips.

I was done with that. Instead, I was gonna give the rabbit some advice. So I turned the volume on my comms all the way up.

SOUND: INCREASINGLY LOUDER BEEPS.

RABBIT: (ROARRRR)

JUNO (NARRATOR): And right when he was about to crush my skull… I jammed my comms into his ear and pressed play.

SOUND: FEEDBACK SCREECH. BLIP.

JACKET (FROM COMMS): (VERY LOUD, OVER THE BELOW) We may look backward only to ensure we have not walked this path before.

RABBIT: (OVER THE ABOVE) (HOWL OF PAIN)

SOUND: BLIP. SPLASH.

JUNO: Whaddaya know? Looks like that advice just saved my life, too.

SOUND: SPLASHING FOOTSTEPS.

Stay down, cottontail. I’m not kidding.

SOUND: LOW ELECTRIC HUM.

(OVER THE BELOW) See this? Plasma knife. Real hot; real sharp. I don’t want to hurt you, but if you come any closer, I’ll have to.

RABBIT: (OVER THE ABOVE) (GROWLS)

JUNO: Take the kid and go. This’ll kill you, you understand? Dead.

Stop! Neither one of us wants this!

RABBIT: (BIG GROWL)

JUNO (NARRATOR): But he kept running towards me. And he knew he wouldn’t win. I’m just not sure he cared.

He was almost on top of me. I knew I’d do it if I had to, and… that’s when I heard the first shot.

SOUND: BIG BLASTER SHOT. ELECTRIC WHIR.

THEIA: (AFTER A PAUSE) Targets detected.

SOUND: CREAKING.

JUNO (NARRATOR): A big Theia bot stood in front of me and its first laser sizzled in the wall behind.

The bot had Small Fry pinned between a wall and the end of its cannon.

SMALL FRY: (BARKING)

JUNO: Dammit, no, no, no…!

RABBIT: (GROWLS)

THEIA: Come closer. Rabbit.

JUNO: …What?

RABBIT: (GROWL?)

THEIA: Come closer. I will tell you. When. To stop.

SOUND: SPLASHING FOOTSTEPS.

Closer. Just. A little closer. Real close. There.

SMALL FRY: (YIP!)

SOUND: PLOP.

THEIA: Your little one.

SMALL FRY: (BARKS, MEWLS)

RABBIT: (GRRRRRR)

THEIA: Now please leave. And be careful. Bunnies.

SMALL FRY: (BARKS)

SOUND: SPLASHING FOOTSTEPS FADE.

JUNO (NARRATOR): The two ran, and Small Fry never looked back. I was proud of her. We may look backward only to ensure we have not walked this path before, right? Wherever those rabbits were going, whatever home awaited them… they’d definitely never been there before.

THEIA: You. Stay there.

SOUND: CREAKING.

JUNO: (HEAVY BREATHING)

SOUND: CREAKING STOPS. HISS OF STEAM.

THEIA: Are you injured. User. Mista Steel.

JUNO: Mista…

(STARTS LAUGHING, OVER THE BELOW)

THEIA: Because. Um. Ramses wants to see you aboveground. And. Somethin’ somethin’. No. Don’t say. Somethin’ somethin’. Say—

JUNO: Rita?!

THEIA: —somethin’, you—

JUNO: Rita, is that really you?

THEIA: No. I’m. Um. What’s this thing called. Tara. Teyona. Let me. Look it up.

JUNO: Rita! God, I am glad to see… whatever the hell robot this is.

THEIA: This is. The Theo’s Spectacles.

JUNO: Wait– you yelled at the bot for saying “somethin’ somethin’,” which means you must be able to hear it.

THEIA: Nuh-uh.

JUNO: Rita…

THEIA: Who’s that. She sounds nice.

JUNO: Just drop the joke, alright? I’ve been looking for you for days, I’m filthy, I’m tired, so just tell me where the hell you are!

THEIA: Oh. Does it make you worried. Not knowing. Where very pretty user. Rita is?

JUNO: Rita, I said—

THEIA: ‘Cause maybe. Then. She should disappear for weeks instead. Not say anything. ‘Cause that would definitely make you. Less worried. And not way more worried. Ain’t that right. Boss?

JUNO: (AFTER A PAUSE) Oh, I…

(QUIETLY) What did I do?

Rita, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

…Rita?

THEIA: The Theia Order. Is shutting. Down.

SOUND: POWERING DOWN.

JUNO: Rita? Rita?!

…No.

Please…

SOUND: THUMPING ON METAL.

No! Damn it, no! No!

I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Rita; and, I know that’s not enough. I know how sour a sorry tastes when it comes from someone who’s apologized before and never changed a thing. I know you’ve got no reason to believe me, but…

SOUND: METAL CLUNK.

Please don’t leave me here, Rita. You’ve got every reason to, but… I’m tryin’ to get better. I really want to get better, maybe for the first time in my life since the HCPD, and… I’m just so scared that it’s too late, and everybody’s already smartened up and gone, and maybe you should, but please, please—

RITA: Hi Mista Steel.

JUNO: (YELPS, PANTING) How long were you behind me?

RITA: Just for the last ‘please please.’ I miss anything you wanna say again?

JUNO: I, uh…

I’m sorry, Rita. I’m just… so sorry. It won’t happen again.

…Rita?

SOUND: THWUMP.

Oof!

RITA: I missed you, boss. I was real worried.

JUNO: I know. I hear you. For once. (DEEP BREATH) And I missed you too, Rita. Really.

RITA: (SNIFFLING)

JUNO: What? What’s the matter?

RITA: (SNIFFING/CHOKING BACK TEARS) We just… ain’t never hugged this long before, boss. (SWALLOWS) It’s nice.

JUNO: Oh. Yeah, it’s…

(CLEARS THROAT) Anyway, uh… I got a map, and it says there should be a way out just over—

RITA: Oh, yeah. The whole system’s bein’ shifted around, boss. None’a your maps are gonna work anymore.

JUNO: Shifted around for what?

RITA: Oldtown, I guess. But anyway, I figured out the way up before I even came down here because you know me, Mista Steel, I’m all for an adventure but as soon as it’s one that might get one’a my three S’s wet, I gotta get in and out. That’s right, my shoes, snacks, and salmon sausage snacks, so—

JUNO: You know a way up?

RITA: I do! Wanna go see? I was hopin’ we’d be able to bring that big puppet I hacked into with us, but it ain’t exactly gonna fit through the manhole. Or up the ladder, which I learned ‘cause at first I had two ways out but then I broke one, you’re never gonna believe how, boss, it was—

JUNO: With the big robot, right. Listen, Rita, I want to hear that whole story, I really do, but can we do it someplace we’re not covered in slime?

RITA: That’s a great idea, boss. This way.

SOUND: SPLASHING FOOTSTEPS.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): (FADING IN) …let’s look at that moment one more time. Opening day at Polaris Park. Moments after Takano’s last employee check-in. The silent, solitary moment in which his departure flipped from an idea to an action.

We can’t know what he was thinking in those moments. And in the end, trying to understand every minute detail of the departed’s psyche tells us more about ourselves, in many ways, than about them. Just ask Lorenzo Vega:

VEGA (FROM COMMS): Jack was… a perfectionist. He’d made so many compromises with his park, had seen his vision so diluted. One can only conclude that the sight of it, his creation so malformed… who wouldn’t leave?

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Or Jocelyn Chen:

CHEN (FROM COMMS): He was a visionary, and that meant he had no idea what he was doing. He could help us up to greatness, but him? His sights were always going to be aimed up about a dozen feet over where he ended up, and he was always going to be bored by whatever he made. Always.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): Or Miranda Fairbanks, who wrote in her memoir:

FAIRBANKS ACTOR (FROM COMMS): Humanity needs people like Jack, I think. People who can just see how things should be, without the reality of what they are getting in the way. That’s how progress happens. And so I assume he must have seen the true way forward somewhere other than us… and run towards it.

JUNO: This ladder?

RITA: Mm-hmm.

SOUND: GRUNTS, METAL CLANKING.

HAWK (FROM COMMS): We’ve presented you with theories over these many hours, but we will probably never know why Jack Takano left us behind. The only clue we have is the audio note found in his office, once he was gone. And to conclude our program, we will play it in full.

MUSIC: STARTS (FROM COMMS).

JACK (FROM COMMS): The thing I find most beautiful about Andromeda, in the end, is this: that she can never be satisfied. I wonder now, if Orion’s curse wasn’t really a blessing for our Homeless Hero. He turned her from a protector of one city, to an active force of good the world over.

RITA: (OVERLAPPING WITH THE END OF ABOVE) What’s the holdup, boss?

JUNO: Found the manhole cover.

JACK (FROM COMMS): To find home—

JUNO: (GRUNTS)

SOUND: METAL SCRAPING.

JACK (FROM COMMS): (OVER THE ABOVE) —Andromeda always looks backwards. Polaris. Nostalgia. The paradise left behind. And this works in our stories, when we only show the shining city for a few seconds at a time. But in life, no such place exists.

RITA: Mista Steel?

JACK (FROM COMMS): If it did—

RITA: Mista Steel?

JACK (FROM COMMS): —we would already live there.

JUNO: This… this isn’t Oldtown.

RITA: I’m pretty sure it is, boss. I counted paces an’ everything.

JUNO: No. The map’s right. I’m happy to explain in a minute, Rita, just as soon as I get this cannon out of my face.

THEIA: Remove yourselves. From. The sewer. Help. Is on the way.

JACK (FROM COMMS): But there may yet be such a home. I believe we can find it. But we cannot turn our heads if it is not what we expected, or if we fear what we see when it opens its gates.

RITA: Oh no oh no oh no—

THEIA: Now put your hands up. Please.

JACK (FROM COMMS): Home is not in the past. It can’t be. And that means when we find home, when we find the perfect place we yearn for… I doubt we will even recognize it.

RITA: What is this place? What happened to Oldtown?

JUNO: Says it right there on the sign, Rita.

“Welcome to Newtown: The City of the Future.”

JACK (FROM COMMS): And so now I leave. I go now to seek the true way home, as any hero should. And I urge you to do the same. Or, at least, to accept it when it comes. I look forward to meeting you there. Jack Takano.

ALL SOUNDS: FADE OUT.

***

SOUND: TRAIN MOVING, MUSIC.

CONDUCTOR: If you’ve enjoyed this tale, please consider donating to The Penumbra on Patreon. Our artists work tirelessly to bring you these stories, and if you have the means, we hope you will support our efforts. Every dollar helps. You can find that page at patreon.com/thepenumbrapodcast. If you support us on Patreon at the $10 level or higher, you’ll receive access to commentary tracks like this one, from actor Matthew Zahnzinger and co-creators Sophie Kaner and Kevin Vibert:

SOUND: TRAIN STOPS, DOOR SLIDES OPEN, RAIN.

SOPHIE: …There’s not anything more to it than it’s like, yeah, well I thought of it, and I’m smart, and how do I know that? Well, ‘cause I’m me, I just know.

KEVIN: Mmhmm.

SOPHIE: And there’s nobody… above him to tell him, y’know. And there’s no way of knowing for sure… what is good.

MATTHEW: Although to that point, and, to get… back on my bandwagon of every commentary complimenting Kevin’s writing, um—

SOPHIE: Could you compliment me a little bit, for once?

MATTHEW: (LAUGHING)

SOPHIE: What is this?!

SOUND: DOOR SLIDES SHUT.

CONDUCTOR: You can also support The Penumbra by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter @thepenumbrapod, following us on Tumblr @thepenumbrapodcast, telling your friends about us, telling your friends to tell their friends about us, and especially by rating and reviewing our podcast on iTunes. Every rating, comment, and kind word spreads our stories further and inspires us to keep creating more and better tales to come.

We would like to give special thanks to all who support us on Patreon, but especially to Minchowski, Camille Blanton, Christine Kim, Rowan Collins, Garrett M, Jay Iannuzzelli, Karin Z-H, Canteloupe, Fiona Parker, Regan, Ko, Kim Zeugin, Atha Lang, Vron, Charlie Spiegel, and Jaimie Gunter for their incredibly generous contributions per episode. Thank you.

Did you know that The Penumbra has merchandise for sale? It’s true! The Penumbra has partnered with DFTBA to bring you the posters, shirts, and pins your heart desires. Just go to dftba.com and search for The Penumbra Podcast.

This tale, Juno Steel and the Long Way Home, was told by the following people: Joshua Ilon as Juno Steel, Matthew Zahnzinger as Jack Takano and Ramses O’Flaherty, Marge Dunn as Hawk Hackett, Bob Mussett as Lorenzo Vega, Melissa Barker as Jocelyn Chen, Allison Choat as the Miranda Fairbanks reader, Sophie Kaner as the Theia and Small Fry, and Kate Jones as Rita.

The Penumbra is created and produced by Sophie Kaner and Kevin Vibert. If you wish to know more about our ever-expanding, infinitely-creative team of artists, musicians, editors, designers, and managers, you can read about them in the show notes of this episode.

I’m afraid this is the end of the line for today, dear Traveler. We hope you will ride with The Penumbra again soon.

ALL SOUNDS: FADE OUT.

[melonkooky]

meant to be [min yoongi]

requested

word count: 2601

genre: soulmate!au, fluff, angst if you squint

author’s note: IM SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!!! also, this might not necessarily be a soulmate!au, i just kinda let my imagination wander. (i also changed the prompt just a tad bit 😬😬). i did not proofread this so ignore all my mistakes please

please do not copy my work. but please like and reblog it. thank you!!!!

masterlist

your legs felt heavy. it didn’t help that your feet felt like thick wooden blocks every time you moved your leg. you were worn out, your energy completely drained. you had been running around the entire day, being the official assistant for not just one, not two, but three different people. you took the job because it allowed you to be around very important people of the business. it also was a high paying job. that being said, most days were generally okay and you wouldn’t run too many errands. however, today happened to be a very important day at the company. your bosses, the three men, were giving a huge presentation about a big step in their business. because of all the preparations that had to be made in so little time, you had to take up a lot of the tasks, causing you to run around constantly. and then it was only polite of you to stay for the presentation itself...even if your legs and body were throbbing and it was already dark outside.

so, here you were now. you and a few other people were getting onto a bus. but someone was very rude and pushed you out of the way. you would have just tipped over just from how little energy you had but luckily, your arm was close to the side of the bus. you were able to catch yourself. with a heavy glare on the back of their head, you followed behind. the bus was close to being full, at least all the seats were taken. you were close to just walking out to take another--empty--bus. “hey.” you suddenly heard.

you didn’t think they were talking to you as most days you were rather invisible, but your gut told you to look. so you did. you found a young man sitting in a seat looking up at you. he was wearing a beanie, hoodie, and sweats, a face cover hung tightly behind his chin. he was slightly paler than everyone else you noticed. when you made eye contact with him, he looked to his left. you followed and saw that this young man, who seemed no older than twenty, remove the bag he had next to him, revealing an empty seat underneath. “you can sit if you want.” he offered.

you normally would have politely declined however the screaming pain in your feet practically told you to sit your ass down. you smiled and bowed in respect and politeness, “thank you so much.” you took the seat next to him.

the bus didn’t move for a few minutes. this irritated you because you wanted to waste no time getting home. but eventually, the vehicles inched forward with a long groan before driving down the street. the ride was bumpy and in its own way, awakening. you sighed exhaustively. “so, where are you heading?” the guy next to you asked.

you turned to him, not expecting more conversation with this man. you shrugged, “home.”

he nodded. “me too.”

you nodded, feeling a bit awkward. there really wasn’t anything to talk about. you felt a weird tingly feeling in your stomach, however. curiously, you turned your head to look at the guy next to you. he’s gently gnawing on his bottom lip as he stares into space in front of him. unconsciously, you began to stare, as if his cheek or jawline or beanie was just so intriguing. suddenly, he turns, meeting your eyes. you gasp and hurry to look away. your cheeks slowly emit warmth as they turn pink. now you were biting your own lip. “i’m min yoongi.” he suddenly spoke.

you scared to turn. why were you suddenly acting this way? so anxious and nervous, acting so awkward around this particular guy, you were not yourself. after a few seconds, you met his eyes again. “l/n y/n.”

yoongi flashed you a smile, it was gummy. despite only having just met this guy, you felt yourself being drawn to him. you didn’t know how to describe how you felt exactly but it was similar to some kind of force, a force that was pulling you towards him. yoongi remained still as he looked at you. but he quickly turned away. he pulled his face mask up to cover the bottom half of his face. he also wanted to hide his growing blush in his cheeks. he was feeling so off suddenly. he knew he wasn’t sick or getting sick. it felt very new and very different. some feeling was causing him to act differently, some feeling was drawing him towards you. 

you and yoongi didn’t exchange anymore words after that. fortunately, you stop came first. you stood up from you seat. “bye, min yoongi.” you said before turning and exiting the bus. 

once outside, you released a heavy breath. you waited for the bus to depart from the curb before turning around and walking down the street in the direction of your apartment. your apartment complex was a little on the expensive side, much grander than your average apartment. you loved it to death because you never imagined yourself getting such a good job and being able to afford such an apartment. 

you typed in the code to your keypad and it clicked, a small beep sounding after. you opened the door and stepped inside. the door closed with a soft thud and the sound of the door locking itself behind you echoed. you took of your shoes immediately, that was first of your to-do list. you walked into your apartment and set down your work bag on the counter top of the kitchen. you opened your fridge and took out some leftovers that you made previously (no way in hell you were cooking so late at night). you stuck that into your microwave and afterwards, rushed to eat it. after you hurried into your bedroom where you showered and got ready for bed. and last on your to-do list, you got into bed and closed your eyes for the night.

-

and so the day ends again. fortunately for you it didn’t end so late, unlike the previous night. work had resumed as normal and everyone was in a good mood from the giant step forward of the business. you were happy as well, but you didn’t care that much about the business. you were more for keeping yourself alive. 

you waited for the bus again. it was the earlier arrival so you just knew it was going to be crowded. you sighed as you crossed your legs, tugging your jacket over your shoulders more. it sure was getting colder outside. you pulled out your phone seconds before you heard your name in the form of a question. immediately you were puzzled. you looked up to see the young man offered you a seat on the bus. “oh, yoongi, right?”

he nodded. 

you smiled in return was tucking away your phone. “what are you doing here?”

he shrugged and sat down next to you. you turned to him, still expecting an explanation. “just taking the bus home.” he replied.

you narrowed your eyes. “if i understand correctly, you were already on the bus yesterday when i got on from this very stop. it was also very close to midnight.”

yoongi broke eye contact and leaned against the wall behind him. he crossed his legs just as you had and sighed. “why does it matter to you?”

you glared at him before leaning against the wall yourself. there wasn’t anyone else at this stop, just you and yoongi. the silence was much more comfortable than yesterday’s, between you and yoongi. it felt more normal, as if you and him had known each other for a while. you turned your head and looked at him, “where’d you come from? work?” you asked.

he nodded and held his bag closer. it was small and square, seeming thing as well. you eyed his bag as he answered your question, “i’m a composer.” 

you didn’t know what it was, but something inside you clicked. suddenly you were just so fascinated by him. you had the urge to bombard him with questions but you bit your tongue. you pointed at his bag. “what’s that?”

he looked at you finally. “it’s just a laptop.”

you nodded. “oh.”

he laughed at you. as he laughed, you felt your heart beat faster. you felt the warmth in your cheeks. yoongi stopped laughing moments later. you looked at him, “what was so funny?”

he met your eyes, his smile causing your insides to be enveloped in warmth. “so, where did you come from?”

“oh, work. i’m an assistant for three different bosses.” you sighed as you spoke. “they all basically do the same job but, i have to do a lot of errands for them all.” they had been driving you crazy recently. it seemed as if they were only working you more while they hardly did a thing.

yoongi leaned forward to get a better look at your face. “that explains why you looked so tired last night.”

“well, it’s a very good paying job.”

“but you don’t like it.” yoongi observed.

you looked at him. you were about to protest that you did like your job but hearing his words made you question whether you actually did. you sighed heavily after putting a lot of thought into your job. “no, i guess i don’t.”

yoongi turned away. he felt bad for you suddenly. “do you want to eat somewhere?”

you looked at him. “i mean, we can. i haven’t eaten dinner yet.”

“let’s go.” 

yoongi stood up, his laptop bag in his hand. you stood up as well, grabbing your bag and putting the strap on your shoulder. you looked at yoongi, “where do you want to go?”

-

yoongi led you to a casual restaurant. the aroma of food filled your nose and made your mouth water. you were starving as a matter of fact. you were excited to eat. yoongi laughed at your expression, feeling his own heart beat quicken its pace. he felt a connection to you, he wasn’t going to deny that. but he wasn’t sure why.

a waitress led you and yoongi through the restaurant. she picked a booth for you and yoongi before setting down two menus. you and yoongi sat across from each other. “ah, there’s so many choices.” you mumbled.

yoongi looked at you, “you’ve never been here?”

you nodded. “i don’t have a lot of time.”

“let’s just order a bunch of things and try them all then.” he suggested.

“that’s a lot of money though.”

he shrugged. “you claimed you had a good-paying job, and that you work for three people. that tells me you have some money.”

your eyes widened. “min yoongi!”

he grinned. “i’m just messing with you. let’s just order and then we’ll figure it out later.”

so you and yoongi ordered a ton of dishes. he was excited to eat with you while you were excited to try them all. of course, you were happy to be dining with a stranger you just met yesterday. overall, it felt natural. as if you and yoongi had been friends for a long time.

you and yoongi talked a lot, joking with each other. it felt like you and him haven’t seen each other in a while and were catching up. you learned a ton of things about him and he learned a ton of things about you. a connection was made.

after everything on the table was either sampled or gone, you sat back. you had a thought, a thought that caused your cheeks to flare up. you were falling in love with someone you had just met, and honestly you weren’t sure what to do with such feelings. you met his eyes, finding the moment suddenly very intimate. 

“yoongi, can i be honest with you?” you suddenly asked.

yoongi looked at you, nodding. you sighed. “i don’t know if you felt this too but when i began talking to you, it felt like something physical, perhaps, or just something was there that was drawing me towards you.” he didn’t say anything and this was a sign for you to continue. “like, the first conversation we had on the bus, i immediately felt something with you.” oh my god, you were confessing. “like, a connection perhaps. i’m sorry. we just met and this all sounds so crazy. but i just felt something and i needed to talk about it. i just don’t understand anything.” and now you were rambling about nonsense.

you looked at yoongi’s face and stopped mid-sentence, “i’m rambling, aren’t i?”

yoongi looked at you, remained silent. his expression show no signs of emotions. if anything, he looked a little disappointed. you couldn’t tell what he was feeling to be exact and it was irritating you. was he confused, happy, surprised that you basically had just confessed your love? it was only your second day with him and you were admitting you were in love. you sighed and grabbed your wallet. you pulled out some cash and threw it onto the table, not knowing how much it was. you just wanted to escape the situation. you hurriedly grabbed your stuff and slid out of the booth. “i’m sorry.” you told him before heading out of the restaurant.

you walked at a quick pace, just wanting to get home and cry. you knew it was a bold move. you knew it. you took the risk and now you were regretting it. you really, really liked him. your feelings were strong. and now you were never going to see him again.

suddenly a hand wrapped around your wrist, causing you to twirl around. you didn’t have time to see who it is but you had a guess. yoongi had ran to you, spun you around, and now had planted his lips onto yours. you gasped at the sudden move. you weren’t quite sure about what was going on. but you found yourself melting into the kiss. your arms snaked around his neck while his hands gently held your waist. his lips felt so perfect against yours, as if it was meant to be. his warmth ignited your lust for him. everything about you and yoongi just fit so perfectly together. 

eventually, you found yourself making out with yoongi in the middle of the sidewalk just outside the restaurant. you pulled away with a heavy blush on your cheeks. you were panting slightly. while standing against his chest, your gaze stayed on his chin. “yoongi-”

“i’m sorry for giving you the thought that i was rejecting you.” he began. “really, i was just surprised because i was feeling the exact same things you were...as if...as if we were soulmates.” his voice slowly dropped into a whisper as he spoke.

“s-soulmates?” you had to pull away slightly to meet his eyes. “do you really believe that?”

“i mean, it explains all the things we’ve been feeling. like a force pulling us together, like a physical connection in the air was made between us. not to mention that you just confessed your love for me after we only met last night.”

you smiled suddenly. “i like that. soulmates.”

yoongi was blushing as well, but he was more embarrassed by the fact that he just made out with his soulmate in the middle of the sidewalk. he was never really into pda, so he knew that he must really be in love with you in order for him to do such a thing.

yoongi smiled at you before grabbing your hand. “let’s catch a bus. if you don’t mind, we’re going to your place. it’s cold.” 

you grinned and cherished the feeling of his hand in yours. everything happened fast, perhaps faster than most love stories, but it was something that was going to last a lifetime.

[dailyaudiobible]

05/21/2019 DAB Transcript

1 Samuel 29:1-31:13, John 11:55-12:19, Psalms 118:1-18, Proverbs 15:24-26

Today is the 21st day of May. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It's awesome to have this time together around the global campfire and allow God's word to speak to us. And it’s kind of a special day. We’ll be finishing the book of first Samuel today, which has mostly been the story of King Saul. But of course, King Saul's story is irreplaceably or irreversibly intertwined with David. So, we’ll be finishing up that story today and then moving into second Samuel tomorrow where we’ll be beginning to put our focus on David and his rise to kingship. But first, first Samuel chapter 29, 30, and 31. We’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So, as we concluded, the book of first Samuel today. We also reached the conclusion of King Saul's life along with his three heirs to the throne, including Jonathan who was in covenant with David and loved David. And, you know, David was about to go into battle with the Philistines against Jonathan, like against his fellow Hebrews because he had defected and become a Philistine to save his own life, because the king of Israel, King Saul, was intent on destroying him. So, we read the story and we know how this goes. They actually marched from Ziklag in the South, in the transition zone into the desert all the way up into the Jezreel Valley, a long way, three days journey by marching and that would actually have been moving fast. David was gonna go into battle but the Philistine…the other Philistine leaders were like, “you know, if he turns on us in the middle of this, if he's really a warrior then, you know, things could go really, really bad for the Philistines.” So, they sent him away. They marched all the way back to Zikzag only to find out the Amalekites raided Ziklag and burned it and taken everything and everyone. So, they go in pursuit and they get all of their stuff back and destroy their enemies but as they're fighting the Amalekites and destroying their enemies who had destroyed their city, up in the north of the Philistines have destroyed the Israelite army and have killed the king. And when they discover the king's body they beheaded him and then they hung his body on the walls of Beth-shan. Beth-shan is a magnificent archaeological ruin in the north of Israel, just south of the Sea of Galilee a little bit. And we’ve filmed there many times. It's included in the Promised Land films as is Ziklag. And, so, we end first Samuel with the death of Saul and we’ll pick up Second Samuel tomorrow and begin to follow the story right where we left off, but we’ll begin to be focusing upon David.

In the gospel of John, we are approaching Jesus final days. And I know that we just came through Easter and good Friday and we did everything we could to reverence the moment. And, so, we kind of find ourselves in this territory again and maybe thinking, “we just kinda went through this couple weeks ago, like a month ago.” However, this is the last time this year we will be going through this territory in the Bible. This is the last time that this story will come to us through the Gospels because we are moving our way to the conclusion of the Gospels. John is the final gospel and we’ll move from here into the book of acts and all that begins to come next. So, as we are right at the front end of this territory let's go ahead and make a mental note to truly embrace what we’re reading and once again profoundly understand what God did on our behalf to rescue us.

Prayer:

Jesus, we do thank You. Every day we thank You. And may our lives be living thanks to You, a living memorial to what You have done, a living sacrifice to reveal Your kingdom in this world. We are so deeply grateful that our words…there is no way to string them together for them to be anywhere near the magnitude of what they deserve. Language fails in this area. We give our lives to You completely, unreservedly. We trust You and we invite You into this retelling in the gospel of John of the sacrifice that You made on our behalf. But we also ask, Holy Spirit, that as we transition between the books of first and second Samuel, and between King Saul and the emerging King David, that we continue with this journey because it is so poignant into our own lives and our own motivations. There's so much there for us to understand about ourselves. So, come Holy Spirit into this we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com, is the website, its home base, its where you find out what's up, what’s going on around here. So, be sure to check that out.

The Shop is there at dailyaudiobible.com where resources for this journey are available, including the Promised Land films that I was just talking about. So many of these places, every place that we have been able to get to we’ve filmed to bring them close so that as we’re journeying through the Bible, we kind of drop in and see with these places look like. So, Beth-shan and Ziklag are a couple places that we mentioned today, but also Jezreel and the Jezreel Valley and Mount Gilboa where Saul was killed in battle can be seen in those films. So, check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link, it’s on the homepage. Thank you, humbly and profoundly for your partnership. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or if you prefer the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that is it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi, this is Bonnie from Northern California and I’ve never called in before, but I’ve been listening to your program for a few years now. I regret not calling in and when my husband passed away almost 4 years ago in August. And my mom just went to be with the Lord the other day and I just find so much comfort. But I’m reaching out to Joe in New Jersey. I just heard your prayer request. You have ALS and I’m praying with tears over your condition and I am praying for God’s touch on your body. The other thing I ask is that you would pray for my friend Kim who’s just embroiled in a horrible court battle and I just want the Daily Audio Bible community to pray for her and her family. Wednesday, the…oh gee…today’s the 18th...so the 22nd I think…she’s going to be…I don’t know what’s happening that day but I’m fasting for three days and praying for her. So, please pray for her and her family that justice would take place. Many lies have been told about her. Thank you for praying. I love you all and I pray for you all. Thank you. Bye-bye.

My name is Joe Borman, I live in Waukegan Illinois and my prayer request is for my 44-year-old daughter whose name is Krista. She was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma cancer in March and has been getting treatment downtown Chicago and the treatments that she’s been getting have many side effects that have left her extremely tired and nauseous and in a lot of pain. There are a lot of options for treatment going forward. So, this prayer request is A), that God would just heal her. We believe that He can do that. And sometimes he uses doctors and medicine. And the prayer then is for discernment, to know which doctors to listen to, that the treatment options that she’s left with that she would have discernment on which ones to choose. Pray also for relief for her pain. Since she was seven years old she’s had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. One of the side effects of the medicine she’s taking is that that would rear up and it has with a vengeance. She has a very difficult time walking, her knees are very swollen, and painful. This is a woman who has always been a woman of God, very faithful. And we are praying and invite the world to pray with us that God could be magnified and glorified by the healing of our daughter. For her to get released from this would be a miracle indeed. So, thank you in advance for your…

Hello Daily Audio Bible friends and family, I’m so grateful for each and every one of you. I’ve been listening for many years and have only called in once but have been so blessed by each and every one. I called several years ago about my friend Danny who needed a miracle because my husband had shared we need 10,000 prayer warriors. Little did he know I knew a place where we could find them. There was work from God in my son’s life and I ask you to continue to pray for him, his name is Danny. He’s now a daddy, working hard but still facing addictions and challenges in his life. I wanted to share something with you. Sometimes God wakes me up early in the morning. Dear Lord, You call me to Your word early in the morning to hear truth. Troubles and challenge is around but You are the only anchor in the storm You hold me safely in the palm of Your mighty hand. I have nothing to fear for You did not give me a Spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. Lord as I walk through life today fill me to overflowing with love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, __, self-control. I need Your wisdom to facilitate each issue. Let me be filled with Your Spirit. Anoint my lips. Help me speak truth and love to all around me. Lord, if You want to use me, equip me. I will go to battle for You. I will be a soldier, but I need Your armor. Don’t ever let me think I can handle something without You. Help me Lord. I pray that prayer for each one of us and know that I am praying for you, crying with you, and trusting that God will work in your life for whatever you are facing. Love to all of you. This is Annie from South Florida.

Peter saw the peace of God a man in human form Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a raging storm tranquility serenity his disciples filled with fear yet Jesus beckoned Peter come and Peter did drawing near boldly and with courage he walked towards our Lord ___ and danger all around but all of it ignored his eyes were focused on the prize he rose above the storm he rose above the waters and he rose above the norm but then he got distracted because the storm was all around he felt the wind he saw the waves and he started going down Satan’s good at doing that he gets our eyes to stray we take our eyes off Jesus and then we have to pay repercussions consequences doubts turn into fear they cut us off from blessings that we should be drawing near grapes so huge that it takes two men in addition to a pole just to pick it off the ground two transport it and to hold overflowing blessings take them and possess but then they saw the giants and I guess you know the rest Israel wandered in the wilderness they were cursed for 40 years their eyes strayed from the blessings and they focused on the fears to us __ can become giants they can also become storms too but keep your eyes on Jesus he will always bring you through

blindtony1016@gmail.com. I’d like to give a shout out to Pastor Gene. I miss the sound of your voice. Hope all is well. I’d also like to give a shout out to Alfyo from Delaware. Hope all is well my brother and know you both are in my prayers daily. And once again I’d like to give a shout out to Brian Hardin and…

Hello DAB family this is Abiding in Him. I want to pray for our dear sister in California who called on a rainy day. Lord we thank You for Your faithfulness and that the DAB continues to roll on day in and day out. And across the years have reached out to tens of thousands if not millions of people Lord and we thank You that dear sister has joined the fold heavenly Father and has trusted us with the goings-on of her heart Lord that the community can lift up holy hands Lord and pray for her and bathe her in prayer. Lord she’s at a crossroads in her life where she’s not sure that things are happening are attacks from the devil or invitations from You and I pray heavenly Father that deep in her heart will abide the peace that surpasses understanding, that exists even in the midst of uncertainty or worry or desperate circumstances. I pray for the joy so far deep in her heart that it isn’t changed by the things that she sees. Speak to her Lord in a way that only she can understand so that she can realize that the journey however it twists and turns leads ultimately to You to be closer with You. So, heavenly Father, straighten out the crooked paths Lord, open up the doors and make available the way that she is to go but to know that You even in the case of mistakes and missteps, You’re there working behind the scenes leading us closer to You. We thank You Lord for Your word. We thank You for Your Spirit. We thankful for Your faithfulness and we pray Your blessings over our dear sister in Jesus’ name.

[booksandtea]

When the Steam Summer Sales were almost starting Tecsie decided to clean up their Steam wishlist a little bit by writing a Steam Wishlist Clean Up post which was inspired by Lia’s Down the TBR Hole book blogger meme.

I really liked this idea and asked Tecsie if I could take part too so here I am. Though with a slight difference, Tecsie managed to go through a lot more of her wishlist in one go. I already know that will not be the case for me. So you’ll likely see a few of these.

Sit back, enjoy, and browse some video games with me.

Starting Point: 149

Hoo boy, are we really back here so soon after finishing? Yes. But whhhyy Lauren?

During the Steam Sales over the Winter period one of the tasks to gain more cards (on Steam you can get cards that craft into badges to level up your profile) is to go through their video game recommendation queue three times a day. Which I uh obviously do pretty religiously and therefore after a quick glance at a bunch of games a few find their way onto my wishlist.

Rather than letting this mount up to a ridiculous amount I decided to look back and reflect on my decisions would be a good idea after each sale! (Please Note: I am now a HumbleBundle Partner, this post includes affiliate links at no extra cost to you)

🎮 GRIS by Nomada Studio [purchase] It was actually Tecsie that picked this game out for me cause she knew I’d love the art style! She was very right. In fact she also ended up buying it for herself and playing it on stream. After her gameplay I’m still convinced I’ll love it but I just can’t decide do I get it on Switch or PC.

🎮 Among Trees by FJRD Interactive Wow, I’m acually speachless at how beautiful this game is. Its asurvival sandbox that isn’t out yet but yes I really want it. I see cute deer which is an imediate plus. Very excited for this one, perhaps I can get it on release to review for y’all! I’m that excited for it.

🎮 Life is Strange 2 by DONTNOD Entertainment [purchase] I loved the first game from this series and I am excited for this one too so its definitely a game I’ll keep on my wishlist. Though I’ve not finished playing Before the Storm yet so I wont prioritise this one.

🎮 Donut County by Ben Esposito Yes!! I really want this still, but again its another game I can’t decide on between Switch and PC. Help a girl out? You go around making holes in the ground and theres acute racoon too.

🎮 Prey: Typhon Hunter by Arkane Studios Okay so I was ready to remove this anyway given that I’ve not played Prey itself but it also has very and mostly negative reviews sooo definitely going to hard pass on this for now.

🎮 The Outer Worlds by Obsidian Entertainment This is  a single-player sci-fi RPG where your choices effect how the story unfolds. This game isn’t out yet so I’ll keep this on my wishlist to see how it does at release.

🎮 RESONANCE OF FATE/END OF ETERNITY by tri-Ace Hmm, I really am interested in this but knowing my existing steam library and JPRG games I already have I think we’ll pass on this one for now tbh.

🎮 Call of Cthulu by Cyanide Studio [purchase] I’m always down for some more Lovecraftian horror in my life! So we will keep this on my wishlist. You get to play as a PI who looks into the tragic death of the Hawkins family whilst madness and horror ensues.

🎮 Gal*Gun 2 by INTI CREATES CO., LTD. [purchase] This is another one of my questionable games where an army of girls fall madly in love with you and you gotta fight them off. It looks ridiculous and I feel like I’m gonna keep it because I am a large pile of trash.

🎮 Thief Simulator by Noble Muffins I really couldn’t make my mind up about this game but I think I have other games that I want to play a lot more so we’ll say bye to this one tbh. It has aspects that I’m interested in so maybe one day I’ll come back to it.

Stats at the end of this post

Priority: 3 / 10 Keep: 4 / 10 Remove: 3 / 10 Steam Wishlist total: 146

Last time we checked in this was at 127 and now we are back up to 146 so theres still a few more I’ll have to go through so you can expect some more of these posts which I think/hope people like.

I hadn’t realised how close I was to being done and now I’m going to be sad this is over.

I do think I plan to keep Saturdays as video game related days in the future but I ‘ll just need to get some content ready to post for them so it may not be every Saturday.

Thank you for sticking with me through this journey and its nice to have had people enjoy the posts. Maybe I can check back in when I’ve bought some and give my first impressions.

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Steam Wishlist Clean Up (17) #BooksandTeaBC When the Steam Summer Sales were almost starting Tecsie decided to clean up their Steam wishlist a little bit by writing a…

[fatandnerdy30]

I’m back to writing a little bit.

So, this is my first story since my hiatus...and I’m kind of proud of it! It’s another IronDad, G/t thing based on Land of the Giants!  Summary: Captain Potts is a pilot for the sub-orbital fleet on Earth, a planet which is dying and full of pollution and smog. The rich, powerful, and pilots (and in training) are the only ones who are able to live above the smog. On the day of Peter and Harley’s flight test, a strange phenomenon happens, sending the two boys, May Parker, Captain Virgina Potts and Sargent Clint Barton into a world unlike their own. Into a world of Giants!  

The beeping of an alarm is the first thing he heard the morning of the week that would change his life forever. Peter yawned as he hit dismiss on his app flashing on his phone's screen, rolling over again.

"Peter! Come on, time for school!" May's voice called down the hall, her footsteps pounding through the dorm apartment. "Your breakfast is going to get cold!"

That got the boy moving and five minutes later, as he was making his way toward the kitchen, the melody to wake up the entire academy started playing over the loudspeaker. Peter always woke a little early because he hated being startled awake by the annoying good morning song. He slid into his chair and smiled as May gave him a kiss on top of his head, ruffling his curls. "I'll be home early today, so you won't have to cook."

At that the boy made a face. "Why don't we just eat in the cafeteria? At least they're a little edible."

"Hey!" she said in shock, though amusement could be heard in the tone. "I'll let you know the headmaster enjoyed my walnut date loaf very much, thank you!"

"He only took it because he wasn't trying to be rude. Come on, May, your reputation for being a bad cook is pretty infamous in the halls of the school." He picked up the fried-cake on his plate which was like a plate and stiff as a board for an example.

"All right, I'll admit I don't cook that well, but it's not as bad as all that." She poked at the stiff fried-cake before she left the room. "And make sure to finish what's on your plate. Both of them!"

Peter laughed at the joke and just hid the cake in a napkin before throwing it out and racing back to his room. With his door closed, he put a CD into his stereo and started getting ready for the day. Brushing his teeth, he bopped his head back and forth to the beat, his curls bouncing along, which he then fixed. He then quickly put his uniform on and grabbed his homework, the papers filled with elaborate equations and safety protocols that he had to memorize. But, it excited him, because he was closer to becoming an apprentice flight engineer, which was even closer to becoming a pilot! "See you later, May!"

"Bye honey!"

The boy shut the door and practically ran to the school building, throwing open the doors. "Peter!" His best friend's voice made Peter turn around and a big smile lit up his face.

"Harley, what's up man?" They grabbed each other's arms, then slid their hands down then to 'explode', making the sounds as their hands separated.

"Nothing much, just wondering why you're always the first in the halls." The dark haired boy smirked at him as he slammed Peter's shoulder playfully.

"I may be first, but you're always right behind me. Looking to get on Captain Potts' good side? Because you loooove her?" Peter cackled when Harley's face went red.

"I do not. I just want to impress her because I think I'm failing." Harley sighed. "I got a ninety-eight on my last equipment test." His head hung down as he pouted.

"Oh, ninety-eight...that's harsh," Peter joked, stumbling when the other boy pushed him and laughed. "Don't sweat it, man! You're one of the smartest kids in the academy, and anyone would be grateful to have you on board."

"Oh, I know," Harley joked, puffing his own chest out, but the other boy elbowed him in the chest, making him choke. "Dude! Not cool!" He rubbed his chest, but Peter was laughing too hard to respond.

"What's so funny Penis?" An annoying voice sobered up both boys and the older of the two stiffened. "Finally get to look in a mirror?" An oily haired student slid in between the two. He wasn't smarter than Peter, but since the boy's first day, the bully had been on Peter's case. Harley said it was because he was jealous, but Peter had no clue why. Flash had everything. He had good grades, two parents, was popular, and rich, everything that Peter had wanted. But, he couldn't help but feel bad for the bully.

Harley moved, making Peter snap out of his thoughts. The older boy was smirking. "No, we finally got to see you without your makeup, and boy was that hysterical!"

Flash's face turned red and he balled his fists at his sides, bringing one up. "You're dead, Keener!" He was about to bring his fist up to Harley's face, when a hand grabbed him from behind.

"What was that, Mr. Thompson?"

Mr. Barton scowled down at the boy, blue eyes churning like the ocean during a storm. "Did you threaten a fellow student with bodily harm and a death threat?" The man's chiseled jaw was ticking in his annoyance under his five O'clock shadow.

"N-no!" the bully squeaked, his coffee skin turning a sickly green, brown color.  "I-I-I-I-" He stared at the muscled arm beyond the hand that was holding him half off the ground.

"You were what?" Mr. Barton finally released the boy, watching him stumble back into the lockers. "Get outta here, you little punk. You have detention. With me. After school. Now go." When the boy stood frozen, the teacher growled. "That's an order, Cadet Thompson!" Flash jumped and practically ran from the man, not even looking back. "You two okay?"

"Yes, Mr. Barton, sir!" Peter replied, both cadets standing at attention. "Thank you for your assistance."

The man smirked and clapped both boy's on the shoulder. "At ease, boys. You're gonna be late for class. Go ahead."

The boys smiled and almost ran down the hall to Ms. Potts' class not noticing Mr. Barton watching them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You're late." Captain Potts stated to the two boys who ran into the classroom, both panting. The woman's strawberry blonde hair was pulled into a serious bun, highlighting her classic bone structure. Her blue eyes showed her annoyance at being interrupted.

"Sorry Captain!" Peter said in between breaths. "We were detained."

"Hmm...see that it doesn't happen again. Now, to your seats. We're discussing sub-orbital flight and the long term effects on the body." She waited for the boys to get to their seats, and started. Pepper checked on her students often during her lesson, noting that more than a few looked bored. But, the two students she knew who were paying attention were staring right at the board, pens scribbling like mad as they took notes on every word the Captain said.

"Who can tell me how far up you need to reach sub-orbital flight and feel weightless?" She waited, staring at the company. "Anyone?" Two hands shot into the air and she had to hide a smile. "Harley."

"One hundred kilometers, Captain, or sixty-two miles above sea level."

"Very good, Cadet Keiner. Now, extra question, what is that altitude called?" Peter's hand shot into the air a second before Harley could answer, and this time she couldn't help but chuckle. "Peter." "The Karman Line, named after Theodore von Karman, who formulated the idea that at this height was too thin for regular flight. It's also called the edge of space."

"Very good, Cadet Parker. I can see someone has paid attention in the past," Pepper sent a glare to the other cadets, who sat straight at that look. "All of you have a bright future, but you're not showing that you have the drive to become Pilots for the Reed center...." She sighed. "And because of this, I am telling you that tomorrow there will be a pop quiz on all of this. I'm being nice and letting you know beforehand this way you can come prepared.

"Now, there are twelve long term effects on the body and they are as follows:  after about a dozen flights, the pilot's spine itself stretches, but it doesn't cause too much pain. It corrects itself in a few months of being on the ground and the pilot can start flying again.

“The second is on too many extra long flights, the muscles of the pilot loses some of their muscle mass. This is why we insist on the pilots being in fit shape in order to stay on, especially those who take long flights that last more than six hours. Please turn to page thirty-two of your books and read the following pages and take notes, until you reach the third effect."

Silence followed for a long while, everyone focused and taking the appropriate notes until the last page was turned and the students turned their attention to Captain Potts. "Everyone ready to move on? Good. Now, the third effect would be-"The bell rang and the students started packing their bags. She saluted the cadets, who stood altogether and saluted her back. "You're dismissed." She watched the kids rush out of the classroom to their next class. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day went by fast, and before he knew it, Peter was in line for lunch, his foot tapping with excess energy from sitting so long listening to teachers drone on and on. He was young and needed to move. After his muscles were tired from hopping in place, he leaned against the window, the smog so thick that the city was barely visible from the sky deck the school was built on. Pollution and factory smog had been getting worse and worse with each passing year until people had to start building homes on top of towers to give them clean air to breathe. But, it happened that only the rich could afford to be in those towers.

Peter remembered living in the smog filled city below and it left some bad health problems like asthma, which was getting better now that he lived in the dorms of the school. If he hadn't gotten the scholarship, he would still be below that thick cloud, struggling to breathe, or dead.

He noticed the line moving and stepped forward, when someone rammed into his shoulder, causing the boy to cry out and hold the limb. "Oops." Flash's annoying voice filled the boy's ears and he rolled his eyes.

"Just leave me alone, Flash." Peter was getting tired of the bully's crap. He rolled his shoulder and winced when it was tender.

"Why should I when you obviously have no one around to protect you. No friends," the bully looked around. "No teachers." He then pressed Peter closer to the window, the other students backing away. "And I still owe you for what your boyfriend said to me this morning." Flash's eyes hardened. He looked up slightly into Peter's face. Then, without hesitation, he slammed a fist into Peter's stomach, causing said boy to double over and gasp for air. "That was just a love tap. You or your boyfriend say anything like that to me again, it'll be worse." He turned and walked away, laughing with a few of the other kids pointing at the boy holding his stomach.

Peter lost his appetite after that, so he got off the line and went to the library, grabbing his books out of his locker on the way. The least he could do was get some of the assignments Captain Potts gave them. And wait to see if a bruise formed on his sore ribs, which the way he felt, he was sure about that.

Lost in the pages of a book, Peter barely heard the bell  ring. A clearing of a throat made the boy look up, the librarian gesturing to a clock with a smirk. Peter gasped and started packing his books wildly when he heard the chimes for an announcement coming over the loudspeaker.

"Cadets Parker and Keener, to Colonel Richards' office. Cadets Parker and Keener, to Colonel Richards' office." The near robotic voice of the colonel's secretary rang through the halls. Peter froze as the few students in the library stared at him.

The first thought that came to mind was what did they do wrong? Then it was, did Flash say they started the fight? Or, his overactive brain thought, maybe they did something terribly bad, and they were going to be expelled? Peter shook his head. No, that couldn't be. It was on video that Flash had hit him.

With a gulp, he stood up and crammed what books and papers he had left, into his backpack, not caring about the state they were in before practically running out of the library. The entire way to the headmaster's office, the bad thoughts kept running through Peter's mind, making his heart beat faster and the dread rise farther.

Harley was waiting outside the headmaster's office. He looked as nervous as Peter did. "What do you think we did?" Peter asked panting, his eyes wide.

"I have no clue, but it can't be good if we're being summoned to this office." The door swung open and Mr. Barton stuck his head out, his eyes softening at the look the two gave him.

"Hey, what's with the scared looks?"

Harley gulped so loud, even Peter heard it. "We're ready to accept our punishment for whatever we did, sir," he said lowly and Peter just looked at the ground. What they weren't expecting was the laugh coming from Mr. Barton. It started out as a chuckle, and then he was actually holding his middle. "Punishment?" the man cackled. "What made you think you were being punished?"

"W-well," Peter started, wringing his hands. "No one is called to the Colonel's office, except for punishment...and the fight Flash caused this morning..." He wasn't going to mention the fight-if you could call it that- which the headmaster probably had seen on the security cams.

"Don't even mention that little creep's name to me. I still have plans for him in detention. But, don't worry, you were called here for something good. Promise." He stepped aside and ushered the cadets inside. Instantly they stood straight at attention, saluting the dark haired man sitting behind the desk, Mr. Barton following.

"The cadets you wanted, Sir."

"Ahh, thank you, Clint. At ease." Colonel Richards sat back, his elbows on his desk. "Peter and Harley, correct?" He couldn't miss the way the two seemed to tremble in his presence.

"Y-yes sir," Harley nodded.

"Good. I've been looking into your grades and I must say I am very impressed. Normally, when we do have scholarship students, they slack off once they're in the school." It didn't happen very often, and Peter and Harley both had stunning grades to go with their scholarships. "But, not you two. And that impressed me." He smiled at the look the boys gave him.

"It impressed me so much, that I've decided to let you two take the flight simulation for real. The only placement I could get for the both of you though, was next week." The room became silent from the news, both boys staring at him slack jawed.

"I don't expect you to be flying alone, though. Mr. Barton and Captain Potts have both agreed to be with you on the flight. You both are allowed to take one extra person of your choosing to take with you. It will be a week long excursion. Consider it a reward for your hard work this year."

The boys smile's grew brighter and they looked at one another excitedly. "It's an honor, Colonel, Sir!" Peter said, his voice cracking in his excitement, making him turn red.

"Yes, this is a great honor, Sir." Harley said, his face so serious, it made Reed chuckle.

"Calm down, Cadet Keiner. But, I will warn you," his face turned serious, "that this is also a test proving the two of you will be capable pilots and your futures are riding on this."

Peter and Harley both trembled at that, but saluted the man with a loud 'Yes Sir!'

"Study hard, and try and get as much Simulation time as you need. In fact, I'll open the Baxter building to the both of you, this way you'll have state of the art simulators to work with."

To say the boys were shocked was an understatement. The Baxter building? "I-it's truly an honor, Sir!" Peter said, his face beaming.

"I'll have your passes ready for you by tomorrow. You're dismissed." Both boys slammed their heels together and saluted before exiting the room.

"We get to go to the top floor of the Baxter Building!" Peter cried as soon as they were out of the Colonel's office. His young eyes were sparkling with wonder and excitement. "I've always wanted to see what they do up there! I've heard that they've been working on actual space flight! How crazy is that? We might get to go to the moon someday, maybe farther! We may even discover a new planet! How cool would that be!"

Harley listened with a soft smile. His younger friend always got this way when talking about the science of space flight and or chemistry.  "It would be so cool. You gonna be the first to step on the moon?" he ruffled Peter's hair, cackling.

"I just might!" Peter said indignantly.

"I'm sure you will, bud. Come on, we'll be late for Harrington's class, and you know him and his stories if you're late." Harley slung his arm around Peter's shoulders and tugged him towards the classrooms.

                                                       *~*

"May?" Peter tossed his bag into the corner of his school apartments, listening for his aunt moving about the house. "May, you home?" He bounced through the kitchen and down the hallway where he found his aunt working on something at her computer, headphones in and speaking to someone.

"That's fine. Just keep an eye on her vitals and BP, okay?" There was a pause as the other person's lips were moving. "No, no, she hasn't had a problem with her oxygen since she was admitted, so you should be fine. If not, call me and I'll walk you through it on my way. Janet, you'll be fine, I promise. Just do what you have to do and you'll be great. Okay, talk to you later." The screen went blank and May sighed, pulling out the earphones.

"You got a call from your apprentice?"

Peter's voice made the woman scream and twirl around in the chair so fast she actually spun herself in a circle. "Peter! Oh my god don't do that!" She held a hand to her heart and gave her grinning nephew a mock glare. "I swear you're out to kill me." Getting up, she gave the young boy a hug. "How was school today?"

The boy was practically bouncing in May's arms until she finally let go. "I have something amazing to tell you! Captain Potts suggested to Colonel Richards for Harley and I to take the flight test early!" His face was beaming so much it was almost glowing. "He scheduled the test for next week! And that's not the best part, either. Colonel Richards told us we can take one person with us, and since you're family...can you maybe take a week off?" He looked a little worried when May's brow furrowed.

"Next week? Isn't that a little last minute? And why a week? I thought the test was a one day thing." What would cause the man to schedule a test so soon? Maybe she should call the school.

"Well, that was the only placement open in the next two years, and the colonel really thinks we'll do amazing! And he also said we deserved a break, so the test would be the flight to wherever we're going, he hasn't told us yet, and back, but there will be a small vacation in between, so that's why it'll be a week. Can you come?"

"I don't know, honey. That is really short notice, so I don't know if I'll be able to get that time off, but, I do have some vacation coming up, so I'll talk to my boss. I can't-" She laughed at the way Peter was practically bouncing in place. "I can't promise anything, so don't get your hopes up, okay?"

"Yes, May." The boy was still grinning though. May's boss was sweet on her, so he would so approve this vacation. He wouldn't want Skip dating her,  but if he could pull some strings, he would definitely allow it. "Okay, I'm gonna go call Harley and tell him the good news! Bye May!"

"Peter, I told you....and he's gone." She hung her head. "I swear that boy is too hyper." She smiled all the same and turned back to her computer to get some work she'd brought home done before taking her nephew out to dinner to celebrate.

                                                           *~*

That weekend found two boys stepping off the monorail above the city and stopping to look up at the intimidating white and silver building towering over Peter and Harley. The afternoon sun glinted off the windows, reflecting it back onto the clouds to create a mirrored world of light. It was a sight to behold.

"I wonder how tall it is?" Peter asked, staring up at the top of the buildings that looked as if it were scraping the sky itself.

"It's thirty-five stories tall, so about three-hundred-eighty feet in total. But, that doesn't include the sublevel floors. I read it last night on my comp-tab. It's really interesting. Did you know this is also where the city gets its power, including our school?" The younger boy just rolled his eyes.

"You're a dork. Let's go." He laughed and pulled a pouting Harley behind him. They had just walked in and Peter stopped, causing Harley to collide with him. "Woah!! Look at this! How cool is this!" Peter's voice echoed through the lobby, making a few of the employees smile and giggle. "I mean, we're in the actual Baxter Building! I wanna see every floor before we go to the simulation floor!" Harley shook his head, pulling the boy's head under his arm.

"No, we're on a time schedule, you doof! We only have a week to prepare for our flight."

Peter pouted and tried to pull his head out from Harley's grip. "I know that! I just got excited, that's all." They walked to the receptionist, who was giggling at Peter's outburst, making the boy blush and look down.

"Good morning boys. How can I help you today?" She smiled at Peter, who had looked up. "Hello Ma'am,” the older of the two spoke in a deeper voice. “We're here to use the simulation room. We have our flight test in a week." Harley puffed out his chest, but his voice remained the same volume.

"Oh really? Aren't you a little young?" The woman pushed her brown locks behind her ear. The boy couldn't be older than fifteen, possibly younger.  and Jenny couldn't allow kids upstairs just because they said they were given permission. If she did that, every kid would have to be let in, and she could never handle that.

"He's not," Peter said lowly. "But, I was offered to take the same test together as Harley by Colonel Richards himself." He then pulled his backpack off his shoulder, digging around and showing the woman his pass. "He even made us these passes."

"Oh my," the woman stared at the pass, her green eyes wide in shock. They were actual building passes given to the members of Richards' team themselves. "I had no idea the special visitors Mr. Richards would be so young. Let me just scan your badges and you can go right up." Peter and Harley handed the woman their passes, both boys looking proud, as they should. They would be the youngest pilots on the sub-orbital force in history, especially Peter.

"Okay, everything checks out. You boys train hard, okay, but remember to take frequent breaks. I've heard that room can be intense," the woman informed, her face serious.

Harley nodded. "Thank you, Ma'am. We will." He began walking, Peter following, looking around with wide eyes.

"I still think this is awesome," he said for the hundredth time. "Have you asked your mom to come on the trip?"

The older boy's face fell as he nodded. "Yeah...but she can't get off work on such short notice." He had really wanted her to come, but she couldn't. The diner wouldn't have been able to cover her shift for a whole week. His mom did seem sorry to have to miss his test, but she promised to tell everyone at the diner, this way they could celebrate with them after hours. "But, I understand. I'm not some little kid," he pushed Peter playfully through the elevator doors as they opened.

"Hey!" The younger stumbled, catching himself on the wall. "I'm not a little kid! I'll let you know my fifteenth birthday is in two months, thank you very much." He put his nose in the air.

"Okay, okay. Your aunt coming?"

Peter's eyes lit up and he nodded. "Yeah! She said she'd talk to her boss, but it looks good! So, she'll be able to video every second of the trip and show it to your mom when we get back!"

Harley nodded, watching the numbers rise until the elevator beeped and the doors opened.

                                                       *~*

"Woah..." was all Peter could say as the two stepped through the doors. The technology on this floor was amazing! In the middle of the floor sat a large dome shaped room that took up more than half the floor. "This...this is so cool."

"I know, right?" Harley was looking around, his eyes wide with wonder, when suddenly a gruff voice snapped them both out of their stupors.

"Hey, there's no kids allowed on this floor! It's dangerous!" A hulking bald man made his way over to the boys, his footsteps quick. "Waddya think you're doin' here, anyway?"

"We...we have passes," Peter stuttered, holding up his blue pass in a shaking hand. "The colonel invited us. For simulation practice..." His face was red and he was looking at the floor.

"Lemme see those." The man grabbed Peter's pass and studied it. "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle. You must be the little geniuses Richie told us about! How ya's doing?" He clapped both boys on the shoulder, catching their winces. "You wanna get straight to it, or do ya's wanna have a tour first?"

"Umm...a tour would be great, Sir," the oldest responded.

"Tour it is. I know you's don't have a lot of time, so let's get rolling. Introductions first. Susie! Over here!"

A blonde woman looked up from the keyboard she was furiously typing at. "What is it, Ben? I'm kind of busy."

"Well, you can take a second break. These are the kids Richie told us about. Introduce yourselves."

Peter and Harley stared up at Susan Storm as if they were seeing the northern lights themselves. "Miss Storm...I mean, Dr. Miss-I mean Dr. Susie...Oh, I'm dead." Peter's face turned an even brighter shade of red and he hunched his shoulders down until just the tips of his ears were showing. Dr. Storm chuckled as she took her glasses off.

"Susan is fine. And let me guess, the red one is Peter," the boy nodded. "And that must mean this is Harley."

"Yes Ma'am. It's nice to meet you." He held his hand out and shook the woman's hand.

"Good to see one of you is together," the woman said jokingly. "Don't be so nervous, Cadet Parker. I don't bite, I promise." She smiled softly at the boy, who nodded.

"Yes Ma'am."

"Good. Now, my job here is to measure spikes of electromagnetic fields that appear in the upper atmosphere." She pointed to three screens that had small lines jumping up and down on them. "This measures the amount of activity, this tells me where they are and this one measures the frequency," she turned to each screen respectively. "I see nothing new, so this is a good thing for suborbital pilots. It helps keep them safe and us out of trouble." She smirked at her joke.

"Do you have any other jobs?" Peter asked, watching the lines on the screen jump.

"Yes, actually. I often have to go into suborbital space in order to get a better reading of the ozone for safer flights, and to experiment on new ways in order to create quicker flight plans safely."

"That's kind of awesome, actually," retorted Peter, staring at the consoles. "Do you send your findings to the pilots or to the radio tower?"

"Excellent question. I actually send it to both, plus the pilots also get a vibration meter just in case any falling debris from space comes into the atmosphere. It's happened quite a lot, and before this, a lot of crafts actually went down. We had a whole legal battle until we came up with this idea."

"So it measures any kind of disturbance around the plane?" Asked Harley. "How does it do it? I mean, it's got to have a high frequency to detect even the most subtle of vibrations in the atmosphere around the entire plane. There's got to be hundreds of tiny cameras and wave sensors hidden in every plane!"

"Yes, actually," Susan's eyes were alight with wonder. "No wonder why Richard likes you two. He loves students that are full of questions." She smiled down at the two. They really were a little young to be taking the flight simulation test, but her fiance had been talking about these two nonstop for days. Ever since Pepper had mentioned it, he'd been all gung-ho about it. It really was cute to see him excited about something.

"Don't let Suzy-Q here bore you guys," came another voice as the door opened. "I actually have the best job."

"Great," Ben sighed. "Kids, this is the younger-and dumber- sibling of Dr. Storm. Johnny, introduce yourselves to the cadets."

"Heys, kiddo's. Nice to meet you, I'm Captain Storm. The youngest pilot the Sub-Orbital crew has ever seen." He made a muscle man pose. His uniform was a dark blue, as was everyone's, but his matched him better with the darker skin. It might have been the shaved head, or his attitude, Peter didn't know. All he knew was that he liked Captain Storm.

"Hello sir," the younger boy said, saluting him.

"Hey, hey, no sirs around me, okay? And put that hand down, don't want you poking an eye out. Just call me Jay, okay?"

Ben snickered. "He always wants to seem cool and hip in front of the kiddies."

"Hey, I am hip, man! It's just hanging around you old dudes all day makes me miss seeing young faces." Jay then looked around the room. "Oh yeah...where's their tour group? I was hoping to let the little group to take some photos of me being the awesome pilot I am."

The two scientists looked at each other before bursting into laughter. "That's a good one, hot head!" Ben cackled.

"What?" Jay cried angrily.

"There is no tour group. It's just these two. They're here to use the simulation machine," Sue responded. "Oh, and I would rethink that 'youngest pilot ever' title, because these two are taking the test in a week's time."

The pilot's face fell as he stared at the two youngsters in front of him. There was no way! "When did this happen?"

"Colonel Richards told us earlier this week, Mr. Storm." Harley felt pride well in his chest at that. And Ben noticed, grinning at the look on the boy's face.

"Well, I think we should let them get to training," the bald man said, clapping Johnny on the shoulder. "Come on. You can show off later, or maybe the kids can tell you how to do your job better."

Johnny sent him a look that made Ben throw his head back and laugh, pulling the young man out.