#oc: rhett brooks

[nevereverafter45]

Never Ever After|1| John Cena

masterlist

When The WWE rolls into the Windy City for Payback 2014, John Cena goes against his better judgment and goes sees Rhett Brooks, the one woman that he couldn't get off of his mind. And after seeing her and meeting their son, everything changes and his relationship with Nikki Bella suffers.

crossposted on FFnet and AO3

Rhett Brooks sighed pushing her long bangs behind her ears, today was a never-ending day of crap and it had gotten worse when she found that the WWE was in town, a company that she had a love-hate relationship with. And that was mostly due to the way they had treated her and her brother during her short tenure there, the emotions grew deeper when she ended her rocky relationship with now 15-time World Champion John Cena. A relationship she swore she would never get into, she had refused to date wrestlers from the get-go, and yet she found herself drawn into him like a moth to a flame.

A dangerous flame that she ended up getting burned by.

The flame that her brother and Colt had warned her about and warned her about time after time. But she didn't listen, she never did. She liked doing things on her own and a majority of the time she got burned but it was the best way she learned. 

"You know if you want something to do. You can always wipe down tables." Rhett's long-time friend Natalie said looking at her.

 Rhett turned her attention to her and gave her a tense smile, "If I have too."

 Natalie held out a towel for her, "Get to working.' 

"Yeah, yeah." She muttered putting the damp towel on the sticky table and started wiping the table down.

The little bell tolling over the door minutes later caused Rhett to pause and look up from what she was doing. 

"John." She breathed.

"Hey Rhett, got a minute?"

 Terror-filled green eyes went from her former flame to Natalie who nodded her head, she was one of the few people that supported Rhett being with John and trying to follow in her famous big brother's footsteps.

Rhett nodded her head and shakily sat down on the padded chair. 

"You look good." John complimented letting his blue eyes trail over her form before sinking down across from her.

 "So do you. Skank looks good on you." 

"Hey." John said, his demeanor changing quickly.

"Truth hurts doesn't it?" She asked folding her arms under her chest, "You were all serious with me then you cheated on me with Nikki Bella and your high school sweetheart. "

"I am sorry." He started holding his hands up. 

"Oh you are sorry that's really rich John! What's next you are going to tell me you are sorry that you missed our child's birth because you were too busy getting her a boob job.' Rhett said, her green eyes flashing.

John's frown deepened, this is not how he wanted this visit to go he wanted to see her and get her out of his head and then go back to his relationship with Nikki.

 But now that he saw her he wanted to stay with her and find out about his child and know what she was up to. 

"How is our child?"

 "Our son JP, is fine, he is with his uncle Punk and Aunt April they are taking him to the hockey game tonight."

"JP?"

 "Jonathan Philip. He loves his Uncle Punk." She pulled out her phone and pressed the button showing him the small boy with her piercing green eyes and his dimples and dark blonde hair sitting on his uncle's lap watching a movie.

"He is.'

"He is you." Rhett said, "With parts of his uncles sprinkled in. He is my whole world." 

"Does he know about me?" He asked. 

Rhett licked her lips and stole a glance at Natalie who nodded her head, "He does know who you are. But he doesn't know you are daddy. You made it clear that you didn't want to be a father and I am not going to force it on you. In fact, you say it all the time on Total Divas with Nikki. Tell me John why is it that you don't want those things with her and you were willing to do it all with me?' She asked folding her arms under her chest.

John lowered his eyes down to the table, he never really had the answer for it. He never did. Nikki asked him all the time about it.

 "Does she even know that we have a kid?" 

"No." He stared. 

"Really rich John. You want to sit there and like you are a good guy but you aren't."

 "Because Rhett at the time I could see myself settling down and having a family with you." 

Rhett laughed bitterly and raised her eyes to the ceiling. Starting to count the cracks in it. Anything to distract her from the pain that was surfacing again.

"I could. Liz was a mistake, she talked me into marrying her, she found the ring I bought for you and thought it was for her."

 Rhett lowered her eyes and looked at him. 

"What?' 

"Yeah, I was ready to have you move in with me and marry you. I even went as far as to ask your brother for permission.'

 A small laugh escaped Rhett's lips, "Oh Punk must have gotten a kick out of that." 

"He did, he was protective of his little sister."

"He still is. He was with me when JP was born, he and Colt traded off going with me to doctor's appointments and parenting classes."

 "She use to joke that it was their baby and not hers because they were so involved in it." Natalie piped up from behind the counter. 

John nodded his head with a slight laugh, "I want to meet him."

"I don't know John, I don't want to get his hopes up, you have Nikki in your life and you are gone 300-plus days a year.' 

"Please." He begged, and he tried not to beg often but he knew he had to, he needed to meet his son once and see what he was like. 

Rhett shook her head and looked at Natalie again for support but she shrugged her shoulders. 

"Please." He repeated looking at her. 

She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded her head, "Come by before you leave tomorrow, Punk is bringing him over after the hockey game."

 "Thank you, Rhett," he said covering her hand with his ignoring the familiar flip of his heart in his chest. 

She pulled her hand away and stood up from the table.  “Just don’t make me regret it, John. My son doesn’t need a broken heart and neither do I.” 

[alicewonderao3]

Marry Me

Title: Marry Me

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, reader, OC male character.

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader, fem!reader x oc male character.

Summary: When it's finally the day of her wedding, after months of planning, why does she feel like she's making the biggest mistake of her life? Isn't every bride second guessing herself, even on her wedding day?

Warnings: None, just a bit angsty and then fluffy.

Author's note: I had the idea for this earlier this week, while I've been recovering from my hospital trip last week. I was inspired by a song, as usual, Thomas Rhett's 'Marry Me'. My muses said to write this and here it is. I have no beta, so all spelling and grammar mistakes are mine, and I just finished it, so let me know what you think.

The day of the wedding was finally here, sunny and warm. Everything was as it was supposed to be. My grandfather was preaching the wedding service and there were plenty of magnoila's everywhere. It was a small wedding, not too many people. But something didn't feel right. It had been this niggling sensation in the back of my mind for months.

My bridesmaids all told me I was crazy, that I was marrying the perfect man. On paper, Steve was perfect. He was tall, and handsome, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was kind and sweet. Sure, you were supposed to feel sparks, but it didn't always happen, right? My friends told me I'd be crazy to say no to his proposal, so even though I had doubts, I said yes.

I said yes, even as I felt that same feeling in my stomach at my engagement party and my bridal shower. I'd sometimes look down at my ring and my stomach would turn as if I was repulsed by the large diamond ring. My mother told me I'd be crazy to not marry him. But that feeling was still there, and it was even more present this day, standing in my wedding dress, pacing back and forth.

I couldn't get Aaron out of my head. Aaron and I had been friends for forever. He was an FBI agent, tall, handsome, and funny, with brown eyes that sparkled when he teased me and when he laughed. He knew my favorite color and the way I drank my tea. He knew everything about me and I knew everything about him. I couldn't get that night he'd almost kissed me before I met Steve out of my head, that night we spent walking downtown, how he'd paused in the park under that big magnolia tree, and how he'd almost kissed me. I'd never felt such sparks before, never felt so strongly before.

The sparks had always been there, but it was always a case of wrong timing. I remember when he was dating Haley Brooks, and I'd been single, and then I'd be dating someone and he'd be single. All of my friends were dating people, and getting married.

I was pacing back and forth when my dad walked in, a box in his hands. I recognized the tie-dye shirt wrapped around it, a shirt I bought Aaron one summer as a joke gift, but one he loved. It had its place of pride amongst the suits he wore as an FBI agent. Seeing it, wrapped around whatever gift he'd got me, was like a death sentence. It was like the ending of what could be.

I bit back my tears and hesitantly let my dad walk me towards the aisle, but the closer we got the more my nerves increased, and the more I sensed I was doing the wrong thing. I kept panicking and as the opening notes started to play, I took a deep breath and held my flowers and I couldn't do it. I stood there, as everyone stared at me. My eyes met Steve's at the end of the aisle and I realized, I loved Aaron. He loved me.

I glanced down at the large and gaudy ring I wore and met my dad's eyes. He gave me a concerned look and watched as I slipped the ring off, sliding it into his hand. "Tell him I'm sorry?" I said, and he nodded. Then, as everyone gasped, I dropped the too-large bouquet I didn't even like and ran out. I knew right where he'd be, and Dad had pressed his car keys in my hands as I ran out.

I drove there, speeding and praying I wouldn't get pulled over. His car was there, in the parking lot and I ran, faster than I'd ever run before down the paths, in my wedding dress, past people who stared at me until I stopped short of the tree. There he was, standing under the tree, looking wrecked.

He turned around and his eyes met mine. He held his hands up, a shocked look on his face and I started crying, shrugging as my hands landed on my face before I ran to him, launching myself into his arms, and he held me without question. His arms were strong and warm around me as I sobbed into his chest.

"What are you doing? You should be getting married," He said, his voice warm but full of shock as he held me. "I can't, Aaron," I whispered, tears thick in my voice. He was silent for a moment, as he pulled back to look at me. "Why not?" He asked, as one of his thumbs reached up to wipe my tears away.

"Because it felt wrong from the start. Because I'm an idiot for not realizing that I wanted to get married, but that I didn't want to marry Steve. It's you, Aaron. I've been in love with you for years now, and I'm the biggest-" But then his lips descended on mine, and I whimpered as he kissed me, holding me tight as everything suddenly felt right.

Kissing Aaron was like the final puzzle piece being fit into place. Everything felt right again. My world, which had felt so off-center in the months since Steve proposed, now felt right again. I pressed close to him, my lips remaining on his, until we both pulled away to breathe heavily. "I know I'm a big dummy and I should have trusted my gut and said no to Steve, but I'm here. I ran away from my wedding and I'm here."

Aaron hadn't spoken yet, he'd just been listening to me ramble and he pressed his hand to my lips. "Hey, hey," he said, his voice soft. "You're here now. All that other stuff, we'll figure out later. You were always a little slow on the uptake, but you got it. I love you." He'd whispered and I nodded, as I cried again. "I love you too, Aaron Hotchner. I'm sorry it took us so long to get our timing right."

He didn't say anything else, he just leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, kissing me like his life depended on it. I knew I'd have a lot of people to talk to in the next few days, but right now, standing here under the shade of the magnolia tree where I'd had my almost first kiss with Aaron, his lips pressed to mine, everything was right. As long as I had him in my life, things would be okay. I can handle whatever the world throws at me as long as he's by my side.

[shes4twnksinatrnchct]

Hell of a Show {Excerpt}

Jake Kiszka x Fem. OC

***Table of Content**

The Beginning: Interlude iii

“…Gosh, it was a nightmare getting these kids ready and on stage on time!” Connie exclaims with a laugh, sharing some of the joys of being on the road with five stubborn young adults whose ammunition of barbaric pass-times was endless—all while Kayce, his wife, Rhett, Collins, and her boyfriend cling to each word.   

Connie brushes her strawberry blonde hair from her eyes before taking a sip of wine and carrying on about the very hectic chaos of sound check, clambering back to their rooms to shower, going back and forth on when to leave for the venue, scouring around for wardrobe and what to wear, trying to race the clock for hair and makeup, weighing how much to drink or not drink to avoid being drunk on-stage…not to mention the array of technical difficulties, illnesses, or vehicle break-downs along the way. 

It was a whirlwind more times than not, moving at what felt a million miles an hour. 

“Mmm, and then, of course, it was only that much worse when you three came along.” She continues, motioning to Coley’s niece and nephews. “God, being up with two toddlers in the middle of the night, making sure the seven year old didn’t wander off, trying to keep you entertained on the road, keeping up with shoes and diapers, and hairbows, and toys…” She drolls on before quickly turning her attention to Rhett, “What was that blanket you drug everywhere that had the embroidered rabbit on it?” 

Rhett snaps his fingers as he tries to remember what he called his beloved possession…

“You say that like it was you who was up with the two toddlers in the middle of the night, and you keeping up with Kayce, and you keeping them entertained on the road, and you keeping up with shoes and diapers, and hairbows…” Coley cuts in, eyeing Connie.

Josh and Jake glance between the two women as tension starts to tighten in the air, unbeknownst to the handful of twenty-somethings surrounding them.

“…And it wasn’t a blanket, it was a pillowcase, and it was called ‘Rabby’.” Coley informs her, lastly.

“Rabby, that’s it.” Connie says, blinking with a sarcastic smirk directed at Coley, then focusing her gaze back on Dominic and Brooke, “Gosh, we forgot that thing in Barcelona and didn’t realize it until we got to Madrid, and Rhett screamed and cried until Coley and Jake went back and got it. It was a complete nightmare.”

“Are we surprised?” Collins pokes fun at her little brother, and Josh and Jake laugh it off, hoping that it’ll ease the change of energy. 

It’s a lost cause when Connie pointedly adds, “Hey, now, Rhett never stopped any shows on account of pitching a fit.”

“Thank you.” Rhett says with a chuckle, too naive to understand the slight bitterness in Connie’s tone as she brings all this up. 

Of course she’s still bitter. 

It’s now that the decently convincing expression on Coley’s face falls, and her leg knocks into Jake’s under the table, signaling him to pipe, “I, uh, I wouldn’t necessarily call it her pitching a fit.”

“Yeah, she couldn’t really control her spells, you know?” Josh adds with a shrug while simultaneously mentally preparing for Connie and Coley’s inevitable rift. 

Dominic glances at his girlfriend and she offers an uncomfortable smile, growing embarrassed, her eyes shifting to her aunt who rolls her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip. 

“Oh, yeah, talk about a clusterfuck—oh, sorry,” Connie offers, looking at Addi who’s perched on Brooke’s lap before looking at Dominic and ripping the lid off of the can of worms that’s at the heart of the contention that began between her and the Rhythm Guitarist years ago. “Collins used to get so upset when Coley would have to go on stage, or go to meetings, or leave her at all, really, and she would cry, and cry, and cry. Well, one night they got on stage and Collins started up, and she couldn’t catch her breath, and then the next thing we know she’s turning blue, and passing out!”

Everyone else who had been present for the terrifying health scare don’t necessarily wish to relive the details of it, but Connie doesn't pay that fact any attention.

“Which the doctor said to just blow in her face and it’ll help her catch her breath, and that seemed to work. But it was a whole mess to try to get anything done without her being glued to Coley’s hip.” She quips.

Jake’s hand is a welcomed comfort when it lands on Coley’s thigh, free of any intention other than reassurance. 

She releases a deep breath and keeps her mouth shut, trying to maintain the peace while surrounded by people she loves and wants to spend time with…

“…In fact, I think tonight will be the first time we have a meeting since 2019 where she won’t have a baby in her lap.” Connie’s over-exaggerated laugh matches her over-exaggerated comment, and Jake feels Coley tense under his palm, predicting her response the way that an eery calm predicts a hurricane. 

.

.

.

.

.

Masterlist

*LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED*

Tag list: @fleetingjake @takenbythemadness @edgingthedarkness @zooweemama555 @lizzys-sunflower @hollyco

[zwei-the-penguin-with-a-pen]

‘Tapdance at Knuckle Junction’

Three members of Beacon Academy's Team CRRM found seats close to the arena floor. Their gargantuan teammate, Rhett Aquilon, had reached the Singles round of the tournament and could be squared up to fight any time. His partner Maize Demetra could hardly wait.

Seeing Rhett fight solo was always a treat. She wondered what poor soul would be cursing the day they were born. Her brown eyes were glued to the screen as the faces shuffled for the selection.

Her dude was up; the scrolling image on the left stopped on Rhett's face. The fox faunus cheered loudly, her sandy blonde hair bouncing as she hopped in place.

"Hey, little foxy!" Maize heard Yang say. "So who do you think your boy will be fighting?" Yang asked her as the image for Rhett's opposition began spinning.

"Whoever it is will regret ever signing up for this tournament! The biggest guy in Beacon is no one with whom to be trifled." Maize's teammate, the scruffy Rusty Holt, answered. He looked like he walked straight out of a Western movie: a dark brown vest over a white button-up, a gun belt over his denim pants, and a cowboy hat and boots, his two pistols holstered at his waist. He even sported a red bandana around his neck.

"You sure, Rusty? He's strong, but there are some contenders still in the game!" Crystal Brooke, the leader of Team CRRM, asked him. She had bright hair as blue as the sky and icy blue eyes to match. Her weapon, an axe-shaped guitar named Grimm Edge, rested on her back. "That huge dude from Haven with the axes, the musclebound chick from Vacuo. And Pyrrha, even though he probably won't be fighting a Beacon student."

"Oh please, the Frozen Bear Bullet will demolish anyone in his path!" Maize cheered again, her fox ears wiggling excitedly.

The spinning wheel of faces slowed, the crowd going quiet in anticipation. It stopped on the face of Haven Academy's Zwei Silverstein.

"You guys still sure of the Polar Bear Boy?" A reptilian faunus with bright green scales asked them. Ariah Mikari grinned at the sight of her boyfriend's face on the screen. "His team demolished mine, and Team ARTC is just as tough as CRRM."

"Most of the reason for that was Team MZKL got a forest and Indigo made all the plants do his bidding! The only ones Zwei fought were you and Ragnar!" Maize snapped. Her brother would smash this human's face to pieces.

"You might remember Bakudan defeating Indigo and rushing Zwei alongside Miss Oktober. He took them both down easily enough. Bianca took out Lorelei but then Katrina blew her out of the stadium. Then in their Doubles match, he eradicated Flik Jewell with no problem while Tree fought off her cousin." Ariah reminded them. The fox girl rolled her eyes.

"Will Zwei Silverstein of Haven's Team MZKL and Rhett Aquilon of Beacon's Team CRRM please report to the arena stage!" Dr. Oobleck called over the PA. A silver blur raced out of an entryway onto the stage, and Zwei was standing there in wait.

An icy chill fell over the stadium as Rhett Aquilon, Beacon's biggest and baddest boy, made the scene.

"Rhett! I finally get to square up with the strongest fight Beacon has to offer!" Zwei bowed respectfully before the walking freezer. Rhett nodded.

"I hear you've got the top marks at Haven, and it's not hard to see why. You pretty much carried your team in that first match!" Zwei's eyes narrowed at Rhett's remark.

"They held their own. Lorelei was tricked by Bianca Tenerife's spells, and Indigo was just plain careless. He thought his trees would defend him well enough, but Cambria Bakudan made the whole forest go 'BOOM!'" He replied.

The bear faunus that was Rhett Aquilon was positively gigantic. He wore short and spiny white hair, and two small white bear ears rested atop his head. He seemed to not be wearing his armor today, though he could deploy the suit at any time. He looked almost like a bear Mecha when he wore his full armor suit.

Cryo and Rime, his enormous gauntlets, rested on his ginormous hands. The intricate gauntlets had spiked knuckles and wrists but otherwise looked cybernetic. Zwei knew to steer clear of the monolithic bear boy's freezing punches, lest he should wind up a block of ice. He'd made sure to pack Hiei and Kurama with custom Dust cartridges in case he needed an extra boost.

Rhett deployed his armor, the blue, white and black plates appearing from nowhere. "DUDE! YOU HAVE THE COOLEST ARMOR!!! IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE ESCAFLOWNE!" Zwei spazzed at the sight of the fully armored Rhett.

"Like who?" Rhett replied. Zwei grinned.

"It's a mech from an anime."

"A mech? Like a Gundam?"

"The same idea, but vastly different. Escaflowne was like a knight's armor came to life or something. That show's technology was more retro-futuristic than most mecha shows."

"Hmm, I'll have to check it out. Is it as heart-wrenching as Evangelion?" Rhett could hardly believe he and his foe were nerding out in front of all of Remnant. "Nah, it's more of a romance than a nightmare..." Zwei grinned, Rhett laughing back.

"If the gentlemen on the battlefield are ready... although I would love to hear more about these mecha shows you're both talking about later... BEGIN!!" Dr. Oobleck announced. His inner nerd was showing proudly today, it seemed.

Rhett and Zwei came out swinging. Zwei was impressed that Rhett could move as fast as he did with such heavy armor. He was not as fast as Zwei, though. The silver-haired boy hopped around Rhett in circles, hacking away with his two throwing axes.

Rhett wasn't putting up with that. He activated his Semblance to freeze the air around him. Ice shards formed on Zwei's body, and he knew it was time to make some space between them. He yelled out, his Semblance amplifying the sound his voice and casting a barrier around him. He used the opportunity to hop away from Rhett.

All six feet and four inches of Zwei were now blistering cold. He used Hiei to conjure some fire to melt the ice on his uniform. He then thrust Hiei and Kurama together, the two axes taking the shape of what looked to be a rocket launcher. He shot a blast of fire Dust at the frozen bear man.

Rhett's icy Semblance sucked the heat out of the fire until it dissipated. It never even got close...

The blades of Zwei's axes came together and shot off at Rhett, surrounded by a ball of fire. This time when the fire fizzled out, the blades hit Rhett's armor. The suit disappeared. Zwei must have hit the switch.

"HEY! Don't show my body without my permission!" Rhett snapped. Zwei apologized.

"I feel like more people should see your body, though. It's pretty impressive. You're super jacked!" Zwei complimented. Rhett blushed.

"Not right now, though, I's got a fight to win!" The bear boy exclaimed as his armor returned. He charged at Zwei, seven feet and two inches of large and imposing bear man. Zwei rolled out of Rhett's way to avoid being crushed.

The two of them traded punches, Zwei shielding his fists with sound. It wasn't the best defense against Cryo and Rime and the onslaught of ice, but it kept him from being frozen solid. Zwei produced his yo-yo, a trick he normally wouldn't use, and thrust it forward. The yo-yo punched holes in Rhett's icy aura shield, and Zwei hacked his way through the opening he'd made with his axes.

Him getting that close to Rhett caught the bear boy off-guard, and Zwei's punch threw him off his balance. The enormous boy fell over, but he rolled and caught his footing.

"Did you get that from Ariah?" She uses yo-yos sometimes!"

"Her uncle gave me this, but he taught both of us the yo-yo fighting techniques! Little Rinku is a genius!" Zwei answered, winking at his girlfriend in the crowd. The reptile girl blushed brightly. "Alright, Rhett. Time for jams!"

"Like tunes or like noms?"

"The former. Why would I bring eats to a sanctioned tournament fight? I mean, I know a girl whose Semblance involves eating, but I don't think she even signed up for the tournament!"

"Do you see how large I am? I always pack eats with me. Speaking of which..." Rhett dug into a pocket on his armor and produced a sandwich, devouring it in a quick bite so the ice wouldn't freeze it. "MMM! MAIZE, THIS IS TASTY! THANK YOU! YOU'RE MY NEW FAVORITE!!"

"Oh hush, Rhett! You're making her blush! Besides, she's your favortie already, isn't she?" Crystal answered him, their foxy teammate too stunned to speak.

"I ought to shoot you for that, Brain Freeze! We all know I make the best sandwiches in Vale!" Rusty fired off, Crystal rolling her eyes.

A tune started playing, and Rhett noticed Zwei had produced his cello. This tune was a bop. It sounded almost like a shanty.

"Hey, that's pretty good!" Rhett told him, dancing to the tune.

"Thanks!" Zwei replied. He put Genkai away, but the music continued. He produced his guitar. "Genkai makes for a nice rhythm, but Ototo here really makes the tunes!" Zwei played his tune on his new instrument, layering the music with his Semblance. He even clapped and used mouth noises to make a percussive section.

"Dude, you're totally a music machine!" Rhett cheered, still dancing.

"Yep, Ariah's folks used to call me Jukebox! Also, you do know this is building up to an attack, right?" Zwei asked. He had never had someone dance to his music in the heat of battle before, so he wanted to make certain.

"Of course! I've already got a counterattack strategy! You've got a hot beat going, and I feel like dancing! I'll be ready, trust me!" Rhett answered with a grin. "HEY EVERYONE! YOU GUYS SHOULD DANCE, TOO!!" He yelled into the crowd, his thick baritone carrying over Zwei's music.

The audience caught the beat when the tune looped around. The rest of Team CRRM as well as Teams RWBY and CFVY danced around. Team SSSN joined in, even though Neptune looked ridiculous. Even Team JNPR paired off to dance.

"I think the song might be finished, my dude!" Zwei finally announced. Rhett nodded, finishing his dance and readying himself. His body surged with icy aura as Zwei increased his song's volume to painful levels. Rhett fired icicles at his foe as Zwei launched his decibels at Rhett. He fired all of his ice at once.

The blast knocked the two of them to the edge of the ring. They both tiredly hopped up. Rhett retracted his armor and gauntlets. The meters on the screen showed that their auras were low, but they had enough to keep fighting.

"So, shall we just have a fisticuff, then?" Zwei proposed. Rhett nodded, and the two ran at each other. They threw punches and kicks back and forth, evenly matched without their Semblances. Rhett caught one of Zwei's punches in his hand, uppercutting him in that brief opening.

Zwei took that hit hard, falling to the floor after being launched into the air by Rhett's monstrous mitt. He got up to one knee, breathing heavily. He shot at Rhett with an ax in hand, Rhett blocking with Cryo. It was Hiei and Kurama versus Cryo and Rime now.

The both of them swung ferociously, Zwei hacking with his axes and Rhett blocking and punching with his gauntlets. The side of Kurama slapped into Rhett's face, and Zwei tackled him with all his strength. Rhett fell back, but he rolled over and got back to his feet.

"These two just won't quit!" Professor Port mentioned over the PA.

"I knew this would be an incredible bout! These two are ruthlessly strong!" Dr. Oobleck returned. The two enormous boys continued trading blows, the battle finally culminating in a trade of face punches that knocked the both of them out.

"It looks like this match is a draw! Well met, gentlemen!" Professor Port announced. Rhett and Zwei shook hands when they finally stood back up.

"That was the best fight I've had in ages, Zwei!" Rhett complimented. Zwei grinned at the massive bear man.

"Without question, that was the best fight I've EVER had!" Zwei returned. "Hey, would you and your team be down to hang out later? I don't think Team MZKL will be up to anything."

"I'll ask everyone, but I'm pretty sure they'll be down with that," Rhett answered. He and Zwei departed the arena's stage and found their teammates. Zwei kissed his favorite reptile on the lips as she congratulated him.

\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/

Day 11: RWBY OC

Rhett Aquilon belongs to @shadowsoldier-rwby. The rest of Team CRRM (pronounced ‘Chrome’) belong to @kimiheartblade. All other OCs mentioned belong to me, ZweI the Penguin With a Pen.

I’ve wanted to write a tournament match between Rhett and Zwei for ages now, but I think I was saving it for part of a bigger story. Oh well.

Team MZKL (’Musical’) consists of Indigo Montoya, Zwei Silverstein, Katrina Windstorm and Lorelei Sienna. They are second year students at Haven at the time of the Vytal Festival tournament.

Team ATRC (Arctic) is made up of Ariah Mikari, Bianca Tenerife, Ragnar Oktober and Cambria Bakudan. They are first years at Beacon.

Team JSMN is Flik Jewell, Serianna Steele, Mangorita Windstorm, and Nekocase Viridian. I think I listed them as Beacon students, also first years.

Zwei and Lorelei are my favorite of my OCs, and Zwei has a bit of an affection for Rhett. Zwei has an interesting attraction formula, as his initial attraction to someone is directly proportional to how much he wants to fight them. I headcanon him being rendered completely catatonic at the first sight of Yang.

He is devoted to Ariah Mikari, though, and would never stray, as she could easily end his life. 

This might be the biggest one-shot I’ve ever written, and I’m proud of it. I hope Aiden and Crystal enjoy it as well. 

[less-intelligent-spencerreid]

Tag 8 People You Want to Get to Know Better

Thanks for tagging me @mayraki

Favorite Color: Purple

Last Song I Listened To: Lost by the Goo Goo Dolls

Favorite Musicians: GooGoo Dolls, Ed Sheeran, Sawyer Brown, George Strait, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Dan & Shay, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Hozier, Garth Brooks, Kenney Chesney, Cher

Last Film I Watched: The Shack (I didn’t really like it.)

Last Series I Watched: Night Shift

Favorite OC: I don’t have one

Sweet, Spicy, or Savory: Sweet or Savory depending on my mood

Bubbly Water, Coffee, or Tea: Bubbly Water

Tags (sorry if you’ve already been tagged): @flightsoffandom @agenthotchner @sammy-babes @kermitsaysgayrights @jpegjade @reidswords @veraiconcos @linguinereid

[auburnfamilynews]

https://twitter.com/Dematrius09/status/1214056199416688641

Could the Tigers be closing in on a big time pickup?

I’ll be honest, recruiting hasn’t been exactly fun to follow in the past couple of weeks for Auburn fans. It all started when 5* DE Dylan Brooks committed to Tennessee. An AU legacy who had been to almost every AU home game over the past 2 seasons at a position where the Tigers have a need and a proven track record of success choosing instead to go out of state to the hapless Vols is a gut punch.

But the hits kept coming.

4* RB Cody Brown also committed to the Vols while 4* QB Kaidon Salter looks set to do the same this weekend. Crystal Ball picks have come rolling in for the two prep blue chip OT prospects AU looked most likely to land in 4* Dylan Fairchild (to UGA) & 4* Caleb Johnson (to ND). Another QB AU really liked, 3* QB Kyron Drones, committed to Baylor. 4* WR Christian Leary is expected to commit next month and it’s doubtful he picks Auburn while 4* WR Jacorey Brooks could soon announce his pledge to Florida. Then there’s 5* LB Smael Mondon trending Dawgs and 4* LB Barrett Carter likely popping for Clemson in the very near future.

Fun stuff...

But you know what could really get things going in the positive direction again? Maybe flipping your top QB target from another program. Well, look out because that’s where things are trending.

4* QB Dematrius Davis, who is believed to be one of, if not the top QB target on Chad Morris’s board, decommitted from Virginia Tech earlier today.

no love lost❤️ pic.twitter.com/KSGUaRkERl

— Dee (@Dematrius09) May 6, 2020

Davis has been one of the most productive QBs in the state of Texas the last two years leading North Shore to two straight state titles while throwing for over 5,000 yards, rushing for over 1,500 and scoring 100 touchdowns. In terms of scheme fit, I am not sure you will find a better suited prospect for Auburn than Davis.

This isn’t a slam dunk just yet. Former Auburn OC turned Miami OC Rhett Lashlee is hard after Davis as well. There’s buzz that longtime Texas QB commit 4* Jalen Milroe could be decommitting at some point with Alabama being the likely landing spot. I would imagine the Longhorns would give Davis a close look if that were to happen. Plus with his recruitment officially reopened, other programs might turn up the heat knowing Davis is serious about evaluating his options.

However, things are trending the right direction. 247 Crystal Ball picks and Rivals FutureCasts are flying in for the Tigers to snag the nation’s 6th ranked dual threat QB. That would obviously be a huge boost for this 2021 Auburn recruiting class which is in need of some momentum right now. Getting Davis on board would give the Tigers the central piece to build around on offense the rest of the cycle. Let’s see if Chad can make it happen.

War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2020/5/6/21249442/2021-4-star-qb-dematrius-davis-decommits-virginia-tech

[nevereverafter45]

Never Ever After|2| John Cena

I am finally getting around to updating and posting again, school and work have been kicking my ass. But here we go. Jaycee who is mentioned in this chapter is from Live Fast Die Beautiful and the daughter of Triple H and one point she is also engaged to John's best friend Randy Orton.

Alicia Fox tapped her finger impatiently on the back of her phone, Rhett's phone number was lit up on the screen along with a smiling picture of the two of them 2 years prior. Ever since she landed in Chicago she wanted to reach out to her and find out how she was doing.

She felt like an awful friend for not staying in contact but things changed. Rhett had changed, she had gone from this open, happy loving girl to this guarded, sad person. Someone who almost reminded those closest to her of her older brother Punk. It was disheartening to see how quickly she changed. And then one day she was just gone.

The apartment that she lived in Tampa was emptied and cleaned out and her phone number was changed and the only reason why she got the new one was that AJ Lee her sister-in-law had given it to her.

Saying that she needed a friend especially after they found out she was pregnant and going through everything alone. And she did reach out and try to be there for Rhett and for the baby, but she was jealous because she wanted a baby and wanted to do what Rhett was doing.

The vibrating of her phone shook her out of her thoughts, 'I was just going to call you." she said as a way of greeting her friend. "I must have read your mind then. I heard you have a title match tonight."

"I do. Anyway, I can talk you into coming down and watching it backstage?" She wasn't too hopeful, it was always an automatic rejection. "Sure, PJ is with April and Punk for the night anyways, it will do me good to get out of the house."

"Wait! Really?"

"Yeah, why not?"

Alicia was surprised, this was the last thing she ever thought Rhett would agree to it especially after how things ended with the WWE and her older brother.

"You know Punk doesn't control what I do. I left on my own accord and I can come back on my own accord. Besides I miss my friends."

"And John?"

Rhett was silent. She didn't want to admit out loud that she missed John, and that the feeling had gotten worse after she had seen him at Nat's place. She couldn't do it. "Nikki is going to be here though."

"I don't care Foxy, I really don't. Me wanting to be there has nothing to do with John or Nikki. He made his choice and I made mine."

"And being a single mom was it?"

"In this case, yes, there is nothing I wouldn't do for that little boy."

Alicia laughed softly, "I get it. I just can't believe you are a mom." "I couldn't believe it either. Not until he was one."

"Who are you talking to Fox?" Nikki Bella asked coming into the women's locker room, her twin sister Brie following behind her.

"Rhett." Nikki pulled a face, that was the last person she would have expected the former champion to be talking to.

"I will be there in about half an hour."

"Okay, call me when you get here and I will come meet you." Alicia said before hanging up her phone.

"I can't believe you are still talking to her."

"She is my friend. And she had no one after she left."

"Well, she deserves it."

"Deserves it? She deserved to get her heartbroken?" Natalya asked from where she was sitting, she had heard most of the conversation and couldn't help but add her two cents to it, "You only saw what you wanted to see with it Nik, Rhett, she really and truly loved John. And no offense but you kind of ruined it for her."

Nikki rolled her eyes, she didn't think that Rhett and John were that serious when they first met, given that he ended up marrying another woman and then cheating on her with her. She didn't regret what happened.

Not in the slightest.

She got what she wanted and she was happy about that. **

John came out of his private locker room to do an interview with Jaycee Helmsley and froze seeing Rhett standing between Alicia Fox and Nattie smiling.

A sight he hadn't seen in a long time and it actually warmed his heart seeing it. He didn't realize how much he missed her until he saw her earlier. His feet started leading them to the trio against his will, "Rhett."

"John." She returned a smile playing on her lips, "I brought some pictures of JP for you."

"Girl, what are you doing?" Alicia asked lowly in her ear. She lifted one shoulder up and dropped it quickly, she honestly didn't know what she was doing or what she was thinking grabbing those pictures.

Deep down she knew it was the right thing to do. He deserved to see his son and possibly have a relationship with him. She wasn't going to let her feeling stand in the way of them having a relationship.

"Go to my locker room, I have to do an interview real quick and we can talk about our son afterwards." The former Diva nodded her head the smile that had been playing on her lips broke out fully.

"Rhett, be careful." Nattie hissed, she knew it was going to be ugly if Nikki found out one about Rhett being in John's locker room alone with him and two that they had a son. Something that he had refused to even talk about with her.

"Always am."

[shes4twnksinatrnchct]

Hell of a Show

Jake Kiszka x fem oc

Fifteen years after resigning from Greta Van Fleet, for reasons undisclosed to the public, Coley Payne is asked by her former band members to tell her side of the story.

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI, explicit language, angst, shameless flirting, sexual reference, mention of parental death

Words: 3.1k

Please keep in mind this is a work of fiction and enjoy!

***LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED***

***Table of Contents***

The Beginning: Interlude iii

2039

Josh hasn’t changed at all. 

Coley’s reminded of that as his laughter fills the house off and on whilst rambling about his family…

How his daughter’s starting first grade in the fall, his partner’s graduating with his doctorate in Literature in December, and what film projects he’s working on currently. 

They’re able to actually have a pretty in depth conversation, this time, as opposed to the party they were at the last time where carrying on a lengthy conversation was nearly impossible. 

Meanwhile, his twin brother quietly pouts at his poor timing whilst sipping his drink (that has shifted to something a little stronger than beer over the past hour), and eventually heads back to the kitchen to start on dinner officially. 

As more time passes, more people start showing up. 

Rhett, Collins, her boyfriend—Dominic, Kayce, his wife—Brooke, their daughter—Adrianna, all show up within ten minutes of each other, filling the house with all the more noise. 

Rhett and Kayce are able to make themselves at home immediately because they often find themselves here, anyway, having reconnected with Jake through the years.

That’s solidified when the first question out of Addi’s mouth to Jake is, “Where’s the kitty-cat?!

Collins, on the other hand, is having a more difficult time facing the house she hasn’t seen since she was seven years old. 

Like her aunt, she assumed he would’ve moved out after everything that happened, but  he appears to enjoy making himself miserable. 

Sitting on the couch, she glances around at how things seem so similar yet so different. 

Despite Jake’s more-than-welcoming persona and gracious skill of hosting, the home just isn’t as warm or inviting as it had been all those years ago.

It’s merely a skeleton of the love that once flooded it when they first moved here, but it feels exactly the same as it did the day they left it with Jake inside. 

The brunette glances at her aunt while she’s enveloped in conversation with Brooke, the maroon-haired woman explaining to her husband’s aunt that their new house has flooded twice now from the plumbing, and they’re not sure what to do. 

“We’ve had two people come out and look at it. We’re scared the air conditioning unit is screwed, now, from all that water.” Brooke adds. 

“Maybe aunt Coley can call her special H-VAC friend and get you guys a discount.” Collins voices suggestively to jest at her aunt.  

It’s as if a record has scratched silence into the home, everyone seemingly hearing her say it. 

Jake nearly chokes on his beer from where he hears it from the kitchen, while his twin brother jolts from running his mouth to Rhett, who’s taken up the mantle of helping Jake get the food ready to go in the oven.  

“What?!” Josh calls from the kitchen, poking his head around the corner. 

“Who?” Kayce presses. 

“‘Special friend’? Since when do we have ‘special friends’?” Josh adds, stepping toward them. 

“We don’t have special friends.” Coley assures him. “It’s not a thing—”

“—She wants it to be, though.” Collins teases. 

“Elizabeth Collins.” Coley scolds her. 

“Wait a minute, wait, wait, wait,” Rhett shakes his head. “Is this the dude that came and fixed the a/c when I was over there?”

“Yep. He left her his personal cell phone number to get back to him if it broke down again.” Collins explains. “Then she texted him—”

“—To ask a question about the new unit!” Coley defends herself. 

“What did he say back?” Josh asks the question they’re all wanting to know the answer to. 

“That she could call him anytime she needed and he’d be over.” Collins states. 

“Okay, you’re making it sound bad.” Coley tells her niece, rolling her eyes. 

“That’s what he said, Aunt Coley?” Kayce snaps, raising his brows. 

“He was talking about if I needed anything else H-VAC related.” She insists. 

“No, he wasn’t.” Josh thoughtlessly blurts, blinking at her in confusion that she could be so…oblivious. 

“You know, Josh, some men don’t want sex 24/7.” Coley states, crossing her arms. 

“You text him and tell him your unit needs an adjustment. See if he even shows up with tools—well, ones for the a/c, at least.” He mutters into his tequila soda before taking a swig. 

Her nephews and her niece erupt into laughter, which takes her into the pit of a bad mood, not wanting  Jake to get the wrong impression but she doesn’t understand how he can’t, now that everyone’s made it out to be much worse than it actually is. 

“Whatever.” She grumbles, standing up to step to the kitchen to finally get something more than water to drink. 

The food’s been in the oven for a few minutes now, while Jake’s been remaining in the kitchen—avoiding Coley the best that he can for the time being—absorbing the conversation and keeping his mouth shut.

Coley can practically feel the tension leaking from him when she steps into the kitchen and sees him leaning against the counter, downing the rest of his drink.

“Do you have wine?” She inquires quietly, hearing her niece, nephews, and Josh carrying on from the living room. 

Jake doesn’t answer her at first, only stepping to the fridge to grab a bottle and place it on the counter.

“Here.” He mutters, reaching into the cupboard and holding out a wine glass to her. 

Her fingertips brush along his hand when she accepts it from him, and he shut the cabinet and takes in a deep breath, looking at her from the corner of his eye to make sure she’s not looking at him before he outright stares at her. 

“I’m not screwing my a/c guy, by the way.” She assures him, flatly, opening the bottle and pouring herself some, feeling his eyes on her back. 

“I wouldn’t care if you were.” He lies, and she looks over her bare shoulder and blinks at him before taking a sip of the deep red liquid. “You’re single. You can sleep with your a/c guy. You can sleep with my a/c guy if you want.” He uses humor to try to distract from the fact he’s overthinking it entirely.  “Bet he wouldn’t fuck up the wood flooring—they wear sensible shoes.”

Coley turns to face him, leaning against the counter opposite of him, unable to resist the smile that creeps to her face from his words while a quiet giggle leaves her. 

“We’re in our forties. I think we all wear sensible shoes, now.” She points out. 

“You wear sensible shoes now? What, you went from six inches to five or something?” He sarcastically scoffs, recalling the heels she wore in here.

“Four inches.” She corrects him, raising her brows. 

“Four inches?” He asks, cooking up a smart comment that she doesn’t catch in time before he cuts his eyes at her and adds, “Since when is four inches enough for you?” 

Her face burns red, and she lets out a flustered breath. 

“I kinda walked into that one.” She admits with a sigh before bringing her glass to her lips, again.

Jake watches her do so, looking at the glass that she drains and places on the counter to refill. 

“Want some?” She offers, noticing his attention on her as she pours more for herself. 

The wine itself is the least of his desires compared to the woman holding the bottle.

It’s an invitation for trouble…and they can probably say “goodbye” to their meeting once they hide in the kitchen and get drunk before Connie even gets here…

The doorbell sounds, signaling the perfectly timed arrival of their former manager.

“Maybe later.” He tells Coley, ripping his eyes from her to get some relief—or at least try to, taking the opportunity to leave the kitchen and go to open the door. 

“Hey, kid!”  They hear her pipe to Jake as soon as he opens the door, not even giving him a moment to greet her before she’s adding, “Oh, my gosh, look at you!” her hands patting at his handsome face. “You need to shave.” 

Coley’s blue eyes nearly roll out of her skull at the sound of the woman entering the house when Jake ushers her inside and offers to get her something to drink.

“Water. Hi, dear,” She says to Josh when he welcomes her in a hug, adding, “Oh, new faces,” referring to the group in the living room as Jake moves back to the kitchen.

“Just two new ones.” Josh says to her. “You remember Kayce, Collins, and Rhett.”

“How could I forget?” She chuckles, and Coley bites into her tongue as Connie’s introduced to Brooke, Addi, and Dominic. 

When Jake fixes her water, his ex-girlfriend whispers, “Spit in it,” causing him to laugh quietly. 

“Be nice.” He tells her lowly after mustering up his ability to be serious, raising his brows as he looks down at her. 

“I am.” She insists, lying through her teeth. 

“I’m serious, Coley, be nice.” He repeats it, more sternly. “This needs to be as cordial as it can be. Just let bygones be bygones.”

“What am I gonna do, Jake? Fire her again?” She asks, making him get nearly nose to nose with her to drive his point home. 

“Bygones.” He repeats, his eyes staring into hers as he awaits her agreement to do so. 

“Don’t shave. I like this.” She avoids acknowledging his request for peace, the wine already loosening the filter connected to her mouth and brain, as she admires his face an the facial hair he's let grow out.

He marks yet another thing of hers that hasn’t changed in the last fifteen years. 

His eyes descend from the crinkles at the corners of her eyes from her smiling, to the curve of her lips that only grows when Coley plainly sees he's distracted.

“Here.” He snaps out of it, handing her the glass of water. “You need this more than she does.” 

Coley shoots him an unamused look and he gets Connie more water before walking to the living room to hand it to her. 

“Where’s Sammy and Daniel?” Connie asks as Jake hands the glass to her. 

“They’re coming.” Josh assures her. 

It’s as if now Connie’s realized that Josh isn’t the last one to arrive. 

“Has hell frozen over?” She asks him, raising her brows. 

“Coley got here early, too.” Josh shrugs. “For different reasons, I’m sure, but…” He adds with a subtle wink at Jake, who retorts with, “Shut up.”

“Oh.” Connie says upon the realization that Coley is here, after all, having not even paid attention to the amount of vehicles in the driveway. “Coley’s here?” 

Coley rolls her jaw and now feels obligated to go acknowledge Connie, coming to the living room to join everyone else. 

“Well, what do ya know, she is!” Connie adds sarcastically, beaming at the sight of the blonde woman before her. 

The last time the two women saw one another, Coley was taking matters into her own hands, and firing her. 

No consulting the band, no inquiring with other managers, or legal, or their publicist… 

It was a sporadic, angry, fed-up, “Get your shit and go back home,” that had been conjured up on a day and a half of no sleep, dealing with children who were growing more and more difficult from constant traveling, and last-minute shows being added to the schedule.

“Hey, Coley, how are you?” She asks, next, deliberately speaking it in a manner intended to irritate the other woman, and it does in all its sickly-sweetness. 

“As good as I can be.” Coley retorts, taking note of the way a select few people in the room seem to be holding their breath. 

They’re soon seated around the dinner table, talking and waiting for Danny and Sam to arrive at any moment while the food is finishing up in the oven…

“…Gosh, it was a nightmare getting these kids ready and on stage on time!” Connie exclaims with a laugh, sharing some of the joys of being on the road with five stubborn young adults whose ammunition of barbaric pass-times was endless—all while Kayce, his wife, Rhett, Collins, and her boyfriend cling to each word.   

Connie brushes her strawberry blonde hair from her eyes before taking a sip of wine and carrying on about the very hectic chaos of sound check, clambering back to their rooms to shower, going back and forth on when to leave for the venue, scouring around for wardrobe and what to wear, trying to race the clock for hair and makeup, weighing how much to drink or not drink to avoid being drunk on-stage…not to mention the array of technical difficulties, illnesses, or vehicle break-downs along the way. 

It was a whirlwind more times than not, moving at what felt a million miles an hour. 

“Mmm, and then, of course, it was only that much worse when you three came along.” She continues, motioning to Coley’s niece and nephews. “God, being up with two toddlers in the middle of the night, making sure the seven year old didn’t wander off, trying to keep you entertained on the road, keeping up with shoes and diapers, and hairbows, and toys…” She drolls on before quickly turning her attention to Rhett, “What was that blanket you drug everywhere that had the embroidered rabbit on it?” 

Rhett snaps his fingers as he tries to remember what he called his beloved possession…

“You say that like it was you who was up with the two toddlers in the middle of the night, and you keeping up with Kayce, and you keeping them entertained on the road, and you keeping up with shoes and diapers, and hairbows…” Coley cuts in, eyeing Connie.

Josh and Jake glance between the two women as tension starts to tighten in the air, unbeknownst to the handful of twenty-somethings surrounding them.

“…And it wasn’t a blanket, it was a pillowcase, and it was called ‘Rabby’.” Coley informs her, lastly.

“Rabby, that’s it.” Connie says, blinking with a sarcastic smirk directed at Coley, then focusing her gaze back on Dominic and Brooke, “Gosh, we forgot that thing in Barcelona and didn’t realize it until we got to Madrid, and Rhett screamed and cried until Coley and Jake went back and got it. It was a complete nightmare.”

“Are we surprised?” Collins pokes fun at her little brother, and Josh and Jake laugh it off, hoping that it’ll ease the change of energy. 

It’s a lost cause when Connie pointedly adds, “Hey, now, Rhett never stopped any shows on account of pitching a fit.”

“Thank you.” Rhett says with a chuckle, too naive to understand the slight bitterness in Connie’s tone as she brings all this up. 

Of course she’s still bitter. 

It’s now that the decently convincing expression on Coley’s face falls, and her leg knocks into Jake’s under the table, signaling him to pipe, “I, uh, I wouldn’t necessarily call it her pitching a fit.”

“Yeah, she couldn’t really control her spells, you know?” Josh adds with a shrug while simultaneously mentally preparing for Connie and Coley’s inevitable rift. 

Dominic glances at his girlfriend and she offers an uncomfortable smile, growing embarrassed, her eyes shifting to her aunt who rolls her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip. 

“Oh, yeah, talk about a clusterfuck—oh, sorry,” Connie offers, looking at Addi who’s perched on Brooke’s lap before looking at Dominic and ripping the lid off of the can of worms that’s at the heart of the contention that began between her and the Rhythm Guitarist years ago. “Collins used to get so upset when Coley would have to go on stage, or go to meetings, or leave her at all, really, and she would cry, and cry, and cry. Well, one night they got on stage and Collins started up, and she couldn’t catch her breath, and then the next thing we know she’s turning blue, and passing out!”

Everyone else who had been present for the terrifying health scare don’t necessarily wish to relive the details of it, but Connie doesn't pay that fact any attention.

“Which the doctor said to just blow in her face and it’ll help her catch her breath, and that seemed to work. But it was a whole mess to try to get anything done without her being glued to Coley’s hip.” She quips.

Jake’s hand is a welcomed comfort when it lands on Coley’s thigh, free of any intention other than reassurance. 

She releases a deep breath and keeps her mouth shut, trying to maintain the peace while surrounded by people she loves and wants to spend time with…

“…In fact, I think tonight will be the first time we have a meeting since 2019 where she won’t have a baby in her lap.” Connie’s over-exaggerated laugh matches her over-exaggerated comment, and Jake feels Coley tense under his palm, predicting her response the way that an eery calm predicts a hurricane. “It was overwhelming.” Connie finishes with a shake of her head before breathing out and adding, “I need more wine,” while standing up to go to the kitchen.

“I got it.” Jake offers but she waves him off.

Coley contemplates what she does next, weighing the option of either tearing into her right here in front of everybody, or doing so somewhat privately…

“I’m getting more, too.” Coley mumbles, grabbing her own wine glass.

“Coley,” Jake mumbles, subtly shaking his head while Josh distracts the other guests with a joke. 

“Do you want me to do it outside, or in here, in front of all these people?” Coley asks Jake in a mutter, raising her blonde brows. 

“I’d prefer you not do it at all.” He replies.

“I’d prefer her not do it at all, either, yet you guys invited her here, so.” She grumbles and rolls her eyes, moving away from the table and into the kitchen, glaring at Connie’s back.

“You know what was overwhelming?” Coley asks her as calmly as she can, and the older woman sighs out and replaces the cork in the bottle. “Sherri and Trace dying. Both of their parents. Dead. In the same moment. I think that constituted Collins ‘pitching fits’ when she felt like people she loved were leaving her, and Kayce needing to ‘wander off’ and be alone every now and then, and Rhett being so attached to that damn pillowcase of his mom’s that you always bitched about him dragging around.”

Constance turns to face her.

“You can be pissed at me for firing you. I understand that. But I don’t understand, nor will I ever want to understand, why you’ve always been so damn pissed off at the fact that I didn’t just let those kids go to the fucking State—because, again, it’s not like you were their caretaker having to endure and adapt to them.”

“Postponed shows, canceled shows—”

“Oh, Christ, of course, anything that messed with your money.” Coley scoffs.

“I comforted you and watched you have a meltdown because you thought you were knocked up and knew you couldn’t raise a kid. Only for you to turn around and voluntarily take on three of them, and not tell anybody until it was already a settled deal. Not even your own boyfriend—who was miserable, by the way, but never told you that because he supported you, and just wanted you to be happy. Even if it meant becoming Father Goose before he was even twenty-five—but, hey, anything Princess Coley wants, right?” There’s a bite of resentment in her voice, and Coley furrows her brows. “It was always your way or no way. Hell, you left Jake because he wouldn’t get off the road. You’ve always been like that, and nothing has changed because you still have your panties in a bunch over the fact that they re-hired me after you quit, and you have no say in whether I’m here or not.” Connie scoffs.

“Wanna bet?” Coley asks her, confident that she could go to Jake and have Connie out of the house within the next two minutes.

The strawberry-blonde steps to her, looking down at her before getting eye-level with her like a child.

“I do, actually, because they asked me—personally—to do this documentary with you guys. They want me here, regardless of whether you do or not.” Constance states, about to walk past her back to the dining room before stopping. “And my issue isn’t with those kids. It’s not their fault their aunt is a forty-year-old who still acts out when she doesn’t get her way.”

.

.

.

.

.

@takenbythemadness , @edgingthedarkness , @lizzys-sunflower , @zooweemama555 , @fleetingjake , @hollyco

[shes4twnksinatrnchct]

Hell of a Show {Excerpt}

Jake Kiszka x Fem. OC

***Table of Content***

TAG LIST: @takenbythemadness , @edgingthedarkness , @lizzys-sunflower , @hollyco , @zooweemama555 , @fleetingjake

*LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO BE TAGGED*

The Rise: Interlude i

2039

As he does that, the echo of Addi, Brooke, Kayce and Rhett laughing rattles from the living room, and mingles with the loud chattering of Connie toward Dominic and Collins.  

Coley decides to slip upstairs to retreat to a guest bathroom to catch her breath and garner some peace for a moment. 

It’s no surprise to her that upstairs is just as drastically different as downstairs…

The bathroom that once belonged to Collins is no longer a very, very, lightly pastel purple color that’s accented in butterflies and flowers—some of which having been hand-painted on the wall by Josh. 

It’s all been painted over in a neutral grey, now, with equally as bleak bath mats and a matching hand towel. 

The walls are bare of any decor. 

Jake rarely comes in here, anyway, so he doesn’t care as to what it looks like so long as it’s not messy and functions. 

She savors the quiet, sitting on the edge of the bathtub as memories overcome her. 

Like Collins sitting on the counter while Coley showed Jake how to do her hair in either braid it or pull it up in a ponytail—and how to get it to lay down right if Collins wanted it down. 

Or mopping up water after every bath the girl would take because it was nearly impossible for her to keep from splashing it everywhere. 

And of course the time she got ahold of Jake’s shaving cream and smeared it all over the mirror in an attempt to paint. 

She scoffs when she feels herself grow misty-eyed, knowing it’s not going to do any good to reminisce, but guilt and shame seem to be planted in her with no remorse since being here and she can’t help but look back at what she robbed him and the kids of. 

Slipping from the bathroom after making sure her makeup hasn’t smeared, she finds herself pulled further down the hallway instead of downstairs. 

Rhett and Kayce’s rooms are clearly dedicated to music—guitars and other string instruments lining the re-painted walls or resting in their cases on the floor. 

Collins’ room is a guest bedroom, and at the end of the hallway is Coley’s old bedroom—well, her old bedroom she shared with Jake. 

Like the other rooms, the door is wide open, and Coley carefully takes steps closer to peer inside to take note of how it’s changed, too. 

She gets distracted by the sight of the fluffy cat curled up on the bed with his head buried in its own legs, and a wide smile pulls across her face.

She doesn’t notice him ease down the hallway toward her, and he doesn’t bother to speak because he doesn’t want to disturb her just yet, seeing the smile on her face as she looks into his room. 

He realizes what she’s grinning about when he gets close enough to see the ball of fur curled up on what was once her side of the bed. 

Just as she’s about to turn around to go back downstairs, she’s caught off-guard by the sudden presence of her ex-boyfriend. 

“Sorry,” He says when she jolts, her hand resting over her chest as her heart hammers under her palm, “I’m not the only one with shitty hearing,” He teases in reference to her not hearing him approach her.

“I’m sorry,” Coley shakes her head, feeling embarrassed for even being up here, “I was just…um—I don’t know what I was doing, actually.”

“It’s okay,” Jake assures her, leaning against the doorway of his room, his close warmth radiating over her bare left shoulder, “I was nosy at your house, too,” He adds with a shrug, his eyes unable to keep from quickly dancing across her shoulder blades that are exposed from the thin straps of her dress before looking at her face before she can notice, asking, “You ready to go?” 

Coley blinks up at him, forcing herself to keep from spacing out as she looks into his brown eyes, and lets out a soft, “Mhmm.”

[zwei-the-penguin-with-a-pen]

‘Ice 9′

"This experiment is shaping up to be incredible! We should soon be experiencing a positively breathtaking... experience!" The Doc rambled on and on, speaking faster than anyone in his vicinity could listen. He was conducting a bit of a repeat experiment.

A few weeks ago, members of Teams RWBY and CRRM had constructed a Dust-propelled ride out of a chair and some Dust vials and had spent part of an afternoon convincing fellow students to ride in it.

Maize Demetra of CRRM had somehow talked her gargantuan teammate, Rhett Aquilon, to take a ride in the speedy contraption, leading only to misfortune for the polar bear Faunus. The restraints must have snapped off or something because instantly Rhett was launched into the air at excessive speeds.

The frozen bear bullet careened down a long corridor, students dodging him the best they could as he screamed. Velvet Scarlatina had snapped a photograph of Rhett in this state in hopes of using the ability in combat. Weiss Schnee had used her glyphs to avoid the freezing mass of bear man. Pyrrha had done an impressive shield roll off Rhett's back or shoulders, while Jaune Arc and been knocked thirty feet down the corridor.

Eventually, the massive young man shot out the side of the building. He finally collided with the gigantic statue in the courtyard, but not before passing Professors Opzin and Goodwitch. He was mere inches from Glynda's face as he shot by, leaving her to wonder what the Dust that thing had been.

When she went to investigate, she found Yang and Ruby, along with Maize and her teammate Rusty Holt, the four of them laughing their heads away.

"What is that contraption?" She demanded, whipping her crop in the machine's direction.

"We were doing a science experiment..." Yang mentioned.

"Okay, so what did you launch out of that thing that just nearly crashed into myself and Professor Ozpin??" Goodwitch continued. The four of them looked around at each other. Where was Crystal Brooke when they needed her? She always crafted the best stories to get them out of trouble, or could at least talk them toward a lighter sentence.

"A student, Professor..." Rusty grumbled. Glynda's eyes nearly came out of their sockets at that admission.

"WHO? WAS? IT??" She shrieked. The four perpetrators looked at one another again, knowing full well they'd been defeated.

"It was my partner, ma'am. Rhett Aquilon," Tiny Maize finally confessed.

"Well, that would explain the cold. But, that boy is enormous! How did you launch him so far?"

"We're really not sure. We might have used a lot more Dust than we thought..." Ruby suggested sheepishly. Suddenly, an imposing figure stumbled into the discussion. Rhett was alive and well, as he'd worn a helmet for this ridiculous endeavor, and his Aura was still intact. It had fallen red, but it had yet to run out. He must have conjured some ice around him shortly before the impact.

Glynda confiscated the teams' little science project and let the kids off with detentions. Rhett would give one of them a smashing if they really needed it, Glynda was certain.

Dr. Oobleck got wind of the whole situation, and he himself wondered how they launched such a monolithic man so far and so fast. Rhett had sailed through the air at Mach 2, at least. There were Dust rounds that could not travel that fast. So, the Doc decided he would try and recreate the scenario in a controlled environment.

Once he'd constructed the device and rigged the necessary Dust, he had needed a Rhett-sized dummy. At 7'2" and at least 400 pounds, such a dummy would be hard to come by, and the Oobleck certainly didn't want to put the boy through all that again.

Professor Port had happened to be on the scene when Oob had finished preparing, and he figured it would be a load of fun to be the crash test dummy. So Port loaded himself into the machine, and Oobleck launched him.

The mustached huntsmen fell a few feet and plummeted to the floor.

"Well, that isn't right at all, is it?" Dr. Oobleck observed. He slid over to his notes and began making different adjustments to the variables. The Dust concentration, the power of the initial blast, the traction of the floor against the wheels of the platform, everything had to be just perfect for that to go down properly.

"That was terrible, Doctor! I thought I'd be in for more of a ride!" Port complained, shaking off his disappointment quickly. "How long before we can go again?" He asked eagerly.

"Give me an hour or so to adjust a few... adjustments. We should be ready again by the end of today's classes."

"Sounds good. See you soon, Barty." Port told him as he made his leave, his mustache wiggling at each syllable.

"Certainly, Peter, and I do appreciate the assistance!" He waved his colleague off before taking a sip from his coffee thermos. "Criminy, that's gone warm!" He complained, pushing a button on his thermos. The fire inside it flared for a moment, heating the coffee to Oob's perfect temperature: scalding hot, face burning lava. Mmm, toasty.

The first few runs were not terribly successful, but the two kept at it over a few weeks. Having something to do with their free time was lovely, especially something ridiculous and hilarious. Eventually, Port was launched across the whole grounds of the school, much to his delight as well and Oobleck's. "Ahh, I love it when a plan comes together..." He sighed as he watched Peter Port soar through the air, sipping his coffee as Port cheered loudly.

\/\/\/\/\/

\/\/\/\/\/

\/\/\/\/\/

Day Ten: A Professor or Headmaster

Team CRRM are characters belonging to two wonderful fan-content creators. Crystal Brooke, Rusty Holt, and Maize Demetra belongs to @kimiheartblade, and big broski Rhett Aquilon belongs to @shadowsoldier-rwby. The former presented this story idea to me after I’d written a short sequel to a story she’d written about their OCs, in case i needed writing inspiration. I did, as I always do, but I never got around to writing anything until now.

I figured recounting the event of Crystal’s headcanon and presenting the Doc’s experiment would be the best way to render it. Anyway, I hope she and Aiden enjoy it! It was fun as hell to write.