#ooooh the balcony scene YES
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"I still can't decide if oc should be at ryujin's trial or not"
Ooooh I want to see shit go down in this trial. Make that circus burn Mort!
Beomgyu would definitely be against Oc being there. But after the distress of that last encounter between the two girls, I can see oc getting fussy about wanting to go see the trial with her own eyes and hear the verdict first hand. I wouldn't be surprised if oc went there and sat at the corner back wearing a more discreet unassuming outfit to go unnoticed (she rarely ever went outside the palace, so most people outside of the upper rankings wouldn't even know how she looks like) just to relish on Ryujins despair after hearing those "mean" things from her. However i highly doubt oc would be able to contain herself in that situation and would end up causing a scene.
And I pretty much assumed taehyun would be there because 1) trials used to be conducted almost like a spectacle back then, they were open to the public and the common people loooved to go see it, so it wouldn't be hard for him to infiltrate the crowd; 2) since it's a high ranking noble being judged I suppose it would be the norm to have other nobles present to validate it; 3) taehyun wouldn't waste such an easy open door to get so close to everyone involved and interfere in their shenanigans...he must have a plan to use that opportunity in his favor; 4) he is a man of strong morals, right? will he be able to just sit still back at his palace while a woman is publicly crucified as the scape goat for the consequences of other people's selfishness?
Also, since part of the accusation against Ryujin have a touch of matters of morality, it wouldn't be uncommon for the church to have a say in the verdict. If that was the case, and everyone (ryu, gyu, oc, tyun and soob) was there... that trial could get really interesting really fast.
~♡anon
Yeah I actually was considering having it be a public trial and oc being tucked away on a balcony or something overseeing the trial but not being among the masses but I felt like it would be dumb of gyu to make it a public trial because some of the citizens there are bound to believe ryujin and begin suspecting gyu. But then again it could also be an opportunity for him to vilify ryujin in front of his people.
Was a public trial the norm in such a high profile case back then? Like did anne boleyn get a public trial? How long did those trials last?
Normally tyun would definitely be there as his wife is part of the case but he is preparing his army for a war against the crown, if he steps foot into the city, he will be snatched up and jailed for his own trial lmao
But yes the "church" is involved with the trial and that is another important point lmao
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the ask was a bit too long, so the rest is under the cut;
(and Asylum is an AMAZING fic everyone should read it)
What about memory loss but less violent like with a holocron or a magic spell but in kinda regular SW universe but Ani doesn’t turn dark (because I love that baby)... imagine like one of them loses their memories of the other (and they weren’t together but they were gravitating toward each either and being in denial of course) ... so the other one instead of pushing for the memory to get back pulls away like if Anakin loses his memory Obi-Wan would be like : maybe it’s the continuity of things a chance to not have me on his back, he always said he wanted more autonomy, experiencing full knighthood without his old master to scold him (mabeyy plus Rako Hardeen guilt because I’m petty) and if it’s Obi-Wan, Anakin thinks that maybe this is good : Obi-Wan was forced to take care of him since he was a child, and he has been pulling always recently (catholic guilt for having feelings for his former padawan I guess) and doesn’t seems to want to be around him and maybe it’s his chance to finally have time for himself and be free of his former padawan for once ...
So they let the other one space (but still watching from afar because who are we kidding) until one night one of them find the one who lost his memory in one of the balcony of the temples and ask if he is okay and the other one said that it feels like something (someone)is missing but it’s not just the memories, something that made them feel whole and alive and without it life is colorless...
Annnnnd that’s how they realized that the other feels deeply for them ... if you didn’t realize I love for angst and fluff
I wonder how it would go for SSK au tho 🙄
Obi-Wan, still a Sith with no decorum or undercover filter and no recall of any Anakin but upon seeing him : you are mine !
Anakin : but the nurse said ... so you do remember me ?
Obi-Wan : no but I want you therefore I will have you and that’s final.
Anakin : ...yeah okay
.....................hum. You’re really making me want to write a snippet about it now. Choosing who to emotionally destroy is hard though, but Obi-Wan is usually the go-to guy for this kind of thing, so Anakin could lose his memories and Obi-Wan can have a “we were right on the verge of admitting that we wanted something more from our relationship but then we had a minor fight and didn’t talk for a few days, and when I tried to finally contact you you didn’t even know my name, so I guess this is a sign from the Force that it wasn’t meant to be” moment and resigned himself to his infinite sadness fate in silence 😌
But I mean, Obi-Wan losing his memory would be interesting too because Anakin would agonise in a very dramatic way while this new version of Obi-Wan would probably be so surprised to learn that he had a padawan, and tries to befriend him anyway (and Anakin could be the drama queen he wants to be, saying things like “no you don’t UNDERSTAND we can’t be FRIENDS you will NEVER be my Obi-Wan you can’t COMPARE” and Obi-Wan like “....I’m literally the same guy”)
So basically I want a ray of sunshine amnesiac, be it Anakin or Obi-Wan, and both options would have a happy ending, obviously!
#so sorry for replying so late#ooooh the balcony scene YES#(and yeah SSK would be like this)#('this one. this one must be mine. I know it. I FEEL it.')#clem's aus#asks#allthetimeclueless
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i am such a sucker for ancient egypt shit!! can’t you write something about the reader being queen and tom being a guard and their both have a secret relationship so they have to sneak around to do anything, you can add something smutty if you want 👀
A/N: ooooh my dear, i also am an ancient egypt freak!! 😤 (and i already wrote an au oneshot like that so you can read it >here<) one of my favorite time period with the greek/roman ones 🤤💞 so let’s say i looooooved writing your request, so i hope you will enjoy it as much! 🙏🏻 and as always stay safe, darling 💖💗
‘Stay safe, Cheer up’ blurb event
NSFW CONTENT BELOW, SO BEWARE! + slight references to Ancient Egypt’s fashion
Since your youngest age, you’ve been taught many times what your future would be like. Even if, at first, all those manners and protocols sounded absurd to you, you learnt them all to slowly make them yours. Having always been close to the population ever since you would walk, by learning more about them or by playing with children your age, you grew up to be loved by everyone in Egypt.
And now, you were one of the very few women Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, beautiful and powerful that all gods must have blessed you since day one. But still a well-grounded and independent woman who didn’t need arranged marriages to rule a country. And also in a secret relationship with Tom, the chief of your Royal Guard… and your childhood friend.
Was it against the rules? Totally unconventional. But both of you never really cared.
“The Pharaoh requests your presence, Chief!” one of the guards informed Tom who was about to head back to his quarters.
“Thank you. You can go back to your position” answered Tom while adjusting his breastplate.
Passing by the soldier and now walking through the court, Tom noticed in between each pillar surrounding the palace that the night finally settled down on the Egyptian Kingdom. The stars started to shine in the clear sky, dancing all around the full moon. The moonlight lighted up the royal garden as if showing Tom the right path for him to follow to finally reach you.
With a firm nod, Tom dismissed the two soldiers guarding the access to the private part of the palace. The royal quarters. Your quarters. After waiting for the two men to completely leave, the brunette pushed the golden doors open and closed them behind him, before climbing a few stairs, the sound of his strappy sandals slightly echoing in the open corridor he was passing through. Finally, he stopped under the entrance arcade.
And that was when Tom saw you.
On the other side of the big room, you were laying on a soft chaise lounge onto your right side, your back facing the man as his eyes slowly slid down the light linen robe you decided to wear despite the fresh air of the egyptian night. Tom could make out every curve of your body through your thin piece of expensive fabric, not letting too much work left to his wild imagination. Tom wished he could have captured that beautiful scene in front of him: the Pharaoh herself, casually dressed and laying down while looking at the city of Cairo by night from afar, through the open balcony of her bedroom.
You were the incarnation of grace and power, a delightful mix to Tom.
“You called me, my Pharaoh” Tom finally announced his presence, not moving an inch from his spot.
At the sound of the familiar voice, you slowly turned your head for him to only enjoy your profile for a bit. Your face was free from the usual makeup you used, such as the black kohl around your eyes which makes you look so serious all the time. But Tom’s favorite thing would always be seeing your head without the khepresh, so your long and beautiful hair you kept hidden under it could freely cascade along your shoulders and back.
“I did, yes” your clear and delicate voice resonated in his ears. “Please approach, Tom.”
Following your orders Tom walked towards you, not a word spoken between the both of us as you gracefully passed your legs on the other side of the chaise lounge, bare feet touching the stoned floor and now sitting to face the chief of your royal guard that was approaching. Then you stood up, the robe fully smoothing at the move and just waited there.
Once Tom stopped right in front of you, his height clearly towering over yours, he kneeled onto one knee to then bow his head low, like any people had to do before daring to talk to you, the Pharaoh. Your eyes never left his until his disconnected to look at the floor, waiting for your next words.
“Tom, please stand.”
Your voice was so hard to define sometimes but Tom was one of the only honored people, with your parents, to know that was how you had to be in front of your Kingdom, for anyone to respect and also fear you at the same time. So like he was asked for, the man slowly stood again as his brown orbs found yours once again. The silence between you was quite relaxing, the varied noises of the nocturnal creatures from outside creating such a nice ambiance around you.
After a minute or two of unspoken words, Tom’s hand brushed yours before his rough fingers gently intertwined with your immaculate one, the skin contact oh so needed bringing shivers in both your bodies.
“My love”, whispered Tom as he kissed each knuckle of your hand, “I missed you so much.”
A lovely giggle made it through your lips, soon followed by a warm smile only reserved to the one you loved.
“You see me all day long, my dear” you replied, lifting your free hand to caress his cheek.
“I missed our shared time, just the two of us” professed the chief guard, his words full of love and now lust as he wrapped his other hand around your hips to bring you closer to him. “I missed having you for myself only.”
And after having discarded all clothes from both your bodies, Tom was bottoming you out onto the same chaise lounge he saw you laying on when he arrived, tearing lewd moans out of you to his fullest and own pleasure.
“O-Oh! Tom!!”
His hands slid to your ass squeezing both cheeks, as his hips roughly thrusted back and forth against yours. His lips ran down to place hot open-mouthed kisses on your shoulder and neck, making feel his desperation with each new skin contact.
“You are mine” Tom growled into your ears, pushing and pulling your ass to meet his every single thrust. “All mine, (Y/N), my Queen, my love. Alaways.”
Your fingers digged into his back, his hips slapping against yours with aggressive friction. You could feel Tom’s skin becoming hot and sweaty from his passion. The man was squeezing your ass so tight it may just leave his hands’ prints on it the next day. Your head tossed back, moaning your lover’s name loudly while squeezing him as tightly against your body as you possibly can before you felt your arousal sliding down your thighs and coating his cock.
Tom continued to thrust, sloshing your juices with his movements before sliding away from your hot core. Seconds later, his milky seed slid against your inner thigh as he breathed heavily. Both of your hands slide away from him, falling on your sides as your chest kept raisins up and down in an attempt to relay air back into your tired and frayed lungs. Your handsome guard lover continued to hover above you, admiring how even more gorgeous you looked like that, all spent and out of breath for him, before basically dropping down completely on top of you.
“T-Tom, are you trying to suffocate me?” you squeaked before giggling, feeling his sweaty body against your own.
Tom actually chuckled before sliding to your side, carefully not to accidentally fall from the chaise lounge, wrapping his hands around your waist before turning you to face him. Your faces were inches apart and even though a blush blossomed onto your cheeks, like that always happened after these times, you raised a hand and trailed your soft fingers along his sharp jawline. You were thinking for a long time, and now was finally the time.
“What are you thinking about?” Tom whispered to you, rubbing circles onto your naked back and with an ounce of concern in his voice.
“... Marry me.”
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❤️ Let's get ready to ramble again...
Aw I do love that little smile of Silva's in that gif 🥺
Lol yep, it took me several re-watches to realise as well....I don't think he talks about them beyond vague references to "my family", which, when you think about it, is an interesting parallel vs how much we see of Escobar with his kids.
Ahhh I love that these are your first attempts at learning to draw, and that you've been looking at Madrid references (the clinking blinds and the balcony as well!! 👀 Not gonna lie, that scene had me floating whilst I was writing it...*sigh*) ❤️❤️ I haven't drawn anything since my high school days lol, but I also never used to think I was someone who could write fan fic, so you might surprise yourself as you practice! And as I said in my last reply, there's no rush or pressure whatsoever though...take your time and just have fun even if you never share anything 😘
Ooooh yes please do tag me in your playlist post!! I'm honestly blown away you've put together so many songs for this universe, so thank you so much for taking the time to do that, I can't wait to have a listen 💕
It's been hard fighting off the WIP gremlins the closer to the end of OHDH I've got lol, as my brain is already thinking of what I could write next, but one step at a time 😂
Thank you so much for all of your support (and the moodboard earlier as well, that made me smile) and enthusiasm for these messy idiots, it honestly means so much 🥺❤️
Narcos Fic: Old Habits Die Hard (Chap. 21)
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20
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Pairing: Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo
Words: 7,356
Summary: After arriving in Manizales, Horacio introduces Javier to his family, leading to a long overdue heart-to-heart and a drinking game with a twist.
Warnings: 18+ ONLY. Discussions of coming out, grief, parental loss, canon-typical violence, allusions to period-typical prejudices, drinking game, smoking, swearing.
Notes: Firstly, I will soften the blow of leaving it so long since my last update with the news that chapter 22 will be posted within the next week or so! I decided to split it in half to give more space to the conversations between the characters. So, hopefully that will make up for my elongated silence lol.
Secondly, I finished drafting the rest of the fic at the end of last year 👀 So, I just need to complete editing on chapter 23 and the epilogue. Then, and I can't believe I'm actually saying this, it will be time to leave these two messy idiots to it.
I think it will take me some time to get my head around it coming to an end, not least of all because it's been almost 3 years since I started working on this behemoth. And I can't believe how much has happened/changed since then, yet my love for this ship and this story has stayed strong and close to my heart. So, a bit of a premature thank you to anyone who has supported it at any point since March 2021, it's been quite the emotional rollercoaster ❤️ As always, I love hearing from my readers, so feel free to drop me a comment/message!
I’ve also added to my OHDH trivia post to cover this chapter if anyone is interested.
Whilst obviously I do not own Narcos or its characters, please do not copy, re-post, or plagiarize this fic in any capacity on this or other platforms. If you wish to create any fan works inspired by it, please provide a credit or send me a message if in doubt.
Chapter 21: For Old Times' Sake
A haze of mist hung low on the horizon, clinging to the rolling waves of verdant peaks that bled seamlessly together with worn asphalt until it was impossible to tell where the sky began and the earth ended.
Luckily, the tyres of the hire car were built for rougher terrain, and it wasn’t the first time Horacio had driven this route. Admittedly, it would have been easier to fly. But this had the added benefit of giving Javier a taste of undiscovered territory.
If truth be told, it gifted them more time to mentally prepare for what was getting closer with every hour that passed, each stop off to admire the view and refresh a stubborn way to prolong the status quo.
Progress had been slow for the last hour as the congested traffic crawled along the sharp angles of the road with its treacherous drops only a few inches away. They had come to a standstill behind a bus that allowed passengers off to take photos, and with little room to manoeuvre around the vehicle, a trail of cars had no choice but to wait.
Javier lounged back in the passenger seat, one foot resting on the opposite knee, his elbow leaning on the door, and the window half open.
He watched Horacio’s hands on the steering wheel alternate between clenching and tapping, a particular kind of rigidity returning to his jaw for the first time in months - if not years.
Javier made an executive decision by reaching into the glove box. He pulled out an emergency pack of cigarettes and a lighter they had stashed away before setting off from Medellín.
He lifted one out of the pack and sparked up. “So, did you say it’s a farm we’re heading to?” There was no point asking the obvious, so distraction it was.
“A coffee farm on the outskirts of the city, yeah. It belongs to Fabián’s family. He and his brother, Santiago, do the bulk of the work now their father’s winding down.”
“Sounds nice. And kinda familiar.”
Horacio’s eyes finally left the windshield and met Javier’s with a shadow of a smile. “Yeah, it does. A lot hillier than Texas, though.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be hard.” Javier held out his smoke across the car, their first one that wasn’t post-coital in a long time. But needs must.
Horacio apparently agreed as he accepted it with a huff of resignation. “Fine, one for the road.”
“I think it’s allowed on roads like this one.”
“I did warn you.”
“Hey, no, I like it. Keeps you on your toes.”
“It reminds me of when Papá drove us to visit Tia Salomé and Tio Jairo in Bogotá. He and Mamá let us have sweets for the long journey but warned us the Mareco would take them away if we didn’t behave.”
“The Mareco?”
“La Leyenda del Mareco. It was a story we were told as kids. The Mareco’s a red devil that looks like a lizard on two legs. He steals children’s candy and conjures up a whirlwind to blow them away if they don’t obey their parents.”
Javier nodded in recognition as Horacio passed their cigarette back. “La Llorona was the story used to scare me and my cousins.”
“Oh yeah, we got that one as well.”
“I gotta say, the Mareco explains a lot.”
“About what?”
“About how you developed a problem with authority.”
“What’s your excuse then?”
“What can I say? I was led astray.”
It was a blatant lie, but Javier didn’t care when it caused laughter lines to materialise in the corner of Horacio’s eyes.
“We both know you were drawn to it as much as you resented it.”
“Only where you were concerned. Anyway, you were just as bad even though you'd never admit it.”
“Maybe you were my exception too.”
A moment of silence fell as memory after memory collided, snapshots of how the push and pull between them had evolved with their relationship.
"Listen, I was thinking,” Javier started before taking a drag, “would it make things easier if you wore this? Just while we’re here, I mean.”
Horacio’s gaze drifted to Javier’s exposed skin, the taillights of the car in front catching on the crucifix at his chest. “No,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s yours now.”
By the time their cigarette was finished, the traffic edged forward, and the road ahead and Javier’s hand on Horacio’s leg soon replaced conversation.
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Two and a half hours and several bursts of heavy rain later, the muddied hire car pulled up by a complex of buildings nestled amongst a sea of lush green and vibrant flowers. The buildings sat atop steep slopes of vegetation that led to the coffee plantations below, the foggy skyline above etched with rugged ridges and the ominous outline of Nevado del Ruiz in the distance.
Any sounds from life on a working coffee farm were drowned out by birdsong and their feet crunching beneath them as Horacio and Javier walked up the gravel path towards the main finca. It was typical in its style with a rustic tiled roof, whitewashed bricks and wooden pillars around its perimeter painted in the same shade of terracotta red as the doors and window frames. At the back of the property was a large garden with a patio area, pool and a spectacular view for miles on a clear day.
As they lugged their suitcases onto the porch, Alejandra waited to greet them at the front door. Her dark hair was styled in a bob with waves bordering on curls, the kind Javier imagined Horacio could grow if he wasn’t so insistent on keeping his hair short. At least since leaving the CNP, he had been less strict about cutting it.
The family resemblance between the two siblings was evident in their facial features, particularly in the shape of their noses, charcoal eyes and Cupid’s bows. But Alejandra was a few inches shorter, and her frame was slimmer on account of not carrying the same muscle as Horacio.
“The wanderer finally returns,” Alejandra announced as she pulled Horacio in for a long hug, neither of them keen to be the first to let go. “At least you remembered how to use the phone before turning up on my doorstep.”
“Of course. It's good to see you. But I am sorry I left it so long. There’s, erm…a lot to catch up on.”
“I’ll say.” She peered curiously behind Horacio. “But first, let me say hello to this handsome new face.”
She all but pushed Horacio to one side, forgoing any formal introductions he might have had planned. All Horacio could do was stand and watch two parts of his life converge that, for a long time, he believed would never - and could never - meet.
Javier had hung back by several feet, his hands self-consciously stuffed into the pockets of his jeans as he kept his eyes on the ground until he was spoken to.
“Hi there, I’m Alejandra. You must be Javier?”
“Oh, er, yeah, hi.” For reasons unbeknownst to Javier, he raised his hand in a stiff wave rather than the relaxed handshake he had planned and felt the heat instantly rise in his cheeks. “Pleasure to finally meet you. Beautiful place you’ve got up here.”
“Likewise. And thanks.” Much to Javier's relief, she took the lead and held out a hand for him to shake with a reassuring smile. “Although you’ve got Fabián to thank for that. He’s down there giving a tour to one of our new buyers.” Alejandra turned back to face Horacio. “Mamá’s shopping for school supplies and tonight’s dessert with Juan José, Sofía and Mateo. Ana María’s out with friends. But they should all be back in the next few hours.”
Horacio nodded but remained taciturn, keeping to himself his strong suspicions that Alejandra had made sure she was the only one to greet them upon arrival.
“Come on, you can show Javier around whilst I make us something to eat and drink.”
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It had been a long time since Horacio’s last visit, but he could just about remember the layout of the place. He took Javier through the downstairs rooms, moving from the hall to the living areas and then the kitchen, which appeared tidier now than in his dreams.
The décor was all tiled or wooden floors and earthy tones, contrasting against large airy windows that made the landscape outside seem like a part of the finca. Evidence of three generations and two cats was scattered everywhere in the form of toys, games, videos, tapes, books, various coffee products and photographs from over the years. In one corner stood a home altar containing a large crucifix, prayer cards, rosary beads, candles, and a statue of Virgen de Chiquinquirá. In the opposite corner was a shelf full of old vinyl with Lucho Bermúdez taking pride of place, naturally.
Upstairs housed six bedrooms and three bathrooms, on account of the brood of four children, three adults and a spare room. The spare room was their last stop, where they dumped their luggage, sharing an amused glance at the double bed with a smaller fold-out one laid out in the corner with a pile of fresh sheets.
“As your guest, I take it I get the bigger one?” Javier asked with a spark of mischief in his eye.
“Well, technically, I’m also a guest here. And I did do all the driving.”
“Maybe I’ll, er, flip you for it later.”
Horacio merely raised a brow at the suggestion in Javier’s tone before they headed back downstairs.
They sat under cover of the terrace in the wildly growing garden, just in case the rain returned, which was always a distinct possibility in Manizales. An impressive platter of fruits was laid out on the table alongside freshly made coffee.
“So, how was the wedding?” Alejandra asked as she poured from a pot into three cups, the dark, rich aroma diffusing into the same crisp air the beans were grown and harvested.
Horacio accepted a cup with a thanks and passed the other to Javier. “It was nice. Good to see everyone again.”
“How’s Trujillo doing? It’s been strange seeing his face all over the news.”
Rather than his, Horacio thought with a strange lurch to the gut he wasn’t expecting. “He’s doing well; he’s a Major now. He deserves some happiness after everything.”
“He’s not the only one.”
Alejandra gave Horacio a pointed look, one he wasn’t ready to entirely meet, so he reached for a slice of guayaba instead.
“And Javier...I take it this is your first visit to Manizales?” she continued, offering him the fruit tray.
“Thanks. And yeah, it is. Never got the time to explore much beyond Bogotá and Medellín.” That wasn't exactly true, but Javier didn’t think talk of Cartagena or Tolú would be welcome right now.
“Well, I hope it won’t be your last.”
Horacio could feel another look directed his way but pretended not to notice it and sipped on his coffee.
Once they had eaten their weight in fruit, Alejandra had some business calls to make, leaving Javier and Horacio to unpack and freshen up before reconvening to make a start on dinner.
Of course, it had to be sudado de pollo. Horacio and Alejandra worked as a team, issuing sporadic instructions to Javier when necessary. But he was happy listening to them catch up and reminisce.
“That smells amazing already,” Javier said as he finely chopped onions across a wooden board, gesturing to the dishful of chicken thighs that Alejandra had just finished marinating.
“Mamá’s secret blend,” she replied as she set the dish aside to move on to dicing several tomatoes.
“Oh yeah? What would I have to do to get the recipe for that?” Javier reflexively caught Horacio’s eye across the kitchen.
“If we told you, we’d have to kill you.” Horacio shot Javier a warning look that indicated he was only half joking before focusing intently on cutting up a large batch of yuca and potatoes.
“Yeah, not even Fabián knows.”
“Papá never knew either. But he was happy for us or Mamá to make it for him.”
“My Mamá was the same with her Abuela’s morisqueta. Although, not long before she passed, she left me and my Pops the recipe.”
Alejandra paused her knife to look up at Javier, the surprise on her face soon transforming into recognition and sympathy. “I bet it’s delicious. You should make it for us some time.”
Now it was Horacio’s turn to stop, his eyes travelling from Alejandra to Javier and back again as the implication of his sister’s words hung as heavy in the kitchen as the aromatic spices of her marinade.
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Once the chicken and vegetables were all prepped and placed in a pot on the stove, the front door opened and closed, a loud chatter of voices soon filling the hallway.
Before Javier knew what was happening, he was being introduced to the children, shaking hands with Fabián, then kissing Elena’s cheek.
“Welcome, Javier. It’s good to put a face to a name at last,” Elena said, thoroughly taking in his appearance, apparently satisfied with what she saw.
At last. Javier wasn’t sure whether those words put him at ease or made him more nervous, but he managed to push such thoughts behind a smile. “Nice to meet you, and likewise.”
Javier had briefly seen pictures of Horacio’s family in the past. But he, too, spent time studying Elena now that he was close enough to smell the floral notes of her perfume. Neat oval glasses and a mix of dark and light grey hair cut short and choppy framed her sharp features, the shape of her nose and Cupid’s Bow matching those of her children.
“No thanks to this one here, mind you.” Despite her chastisement, Elena embraced her son tightly, reluctant to let go. “I think he’s been hiding from us.”
“You know it wasn’t like that, Mamá.” Although, over his Mamá’s head, Horacio gave Javier a sheepish look that said otherwise. “It is good to see you. And I’m sorry I left it so long.”
Upon greeting his nieces and nephews, Horacio was struck by how much they had all grown up since his last visit. Ana María was the spitting image of her mother. Juan José was several inches taller than Horacio and resembled his father more than ever. And Mateo and Sofía had presumably become resentful of all the matching outfits in their younger years of being twins, going out of their way to dress as differently from each other as possible. Once they had said their obligatory hellos, they scattered around the house and no doubt wouldn’t re-appear until dinner was ready.
Right on cue, when Alejandra brought out steaming and brimming plates full of sudado de pollo, everyone rapidly took their places around the table.
Silence fell as they tucked in, the warmth and comfort of childhood cocooning Horacio from what he knew was inevitable. A welcomed interruption from his thoughts came with a soft brush against his leg, his instincts telling him it was one of the cats issuing their own greeting. But he should have known better.
As they ate and endured the usual family small talk, Javier's foot became Horacio's anchor, subtle and soothing rubs against his ankle unseen under the table. Steady, grounding, home.
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Horacio carried the last few empty plates to the kitchen, where piles of dishes were already stacked high. He had left Javier with Juan José and Mateo, who were showing off the latest video games they had got for Christmas – and were comfortably beating Javier at them, too.
“I’ll wash; you dry. For old times’ sake,” Alejandra said without looking up from the sink where she was filling the basin with water and suds.
“Okay. On the condition we both tidy everything away afterwards.”
“Deal. You’ll just put it in the wrong place unsupervised anyway.”
Horacio swatted the tea towel he’d picked up in her direction, only for her to retaliate by flicking bubbles in his hair.
“We did okay with dinner, didn’t we? I haven’t made that in a long time,” Horacio said.
“You had a good teacher.”
“So did you.”
“Oh, I know. I think that’s why Papá always loved it. We were all in there somewhere.”
“Like our Christmas tamales.”
“Oh, yeah, he couldn’t get enough of those. Remember we always had to make an extra batch for him to take to work?”
“He said they were to share with his unit, but I’m not sure many made it that far.”
Now they were laughing as they worked in tandem, Alejandra changing the water as Horacio cleared the draining board, ready for the next load.
“Did you ever feel like you let him down?” Horacio asked after a long silence, both siblings seemingly waiting for the other to fill it.
“Of course. You know Papá didn’t approve of Fabián at first, right?”
“What?”
“You must’ve heard the arguments?”
“To be fair, there were plenty of arguments between you and Papá.”
“Yeah, and they were mostly about me daring to marry someone other than a cop.”
“That’s what it was about?”
“Mostly. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Fabián; I just think he had suitors picked out for me. People he knew he could trust.”
“But they got along in the end, didn’t they?”
“Once Papá had got over himself, yeah.” Alejandra let out a nostalgic laugh, which Horacio quickly joined in with. “He could be tough when he wanted to be, but…he meant well,” she settled on. “Once he saw how happy I was and how Fabián had taken after his father with the farm, he came around. It was never personal with Papá. It’s just the way he was.”
“So, you don’t think he’d be disappointed in me…” Horacio paused to swallow, his throat drier than a Texan summer. “For quitting?” he got out eventually.
Alejandra gave Horacio a look he’d seen countless times over the years. One only a big sister could give her little brother when she had to feign ignorance of something she had already discovered for herself. The perks of being the eldest.
“How did you know?”
“Horacio, are you really asking that of someone who has been surrounded by cops all her life?”
Horacio rolled his eyes but let Alejandra have that one unchallenged.
“I thought you might have been discharged on medical grounds, to be honest. I hoped you’d seen sense. Or maybe met someone.”
“I wasn’t discharged, but I negotiated a payout after my injury.”
Alejandra released a self-satisfied hum, a whisp of a smile threatening to break free from the corners of her mouth. “Two out of three’s not bad, I suppose.”
Horacio gulped hard enough for Alejandra to hear; he had no doubt about that. But no words followed, not even when he caught her eye.
“You love him, don’t you?” It wasn’t an accusation or an interrogation. In fact, it was barely even a question.
“Yes.” It caught Horacio off guard how fast he answered. How direct and concise he’d been.
“And he loves you.” There was no pretence of a question mark now, but rather a clarification of a well-established fact. A rite of passage both parties needed to hear.
“He does.”
“Enough to walk away from it all, too.”
Horacio nodded, scared the lump in his throat would give way to something else as his glassy gaze met Alejandra’s.
“His father – Chucho – owns a ranch in Laredo, Texas. That’s where I went after…” he trailed off, not wishing to dwell on the finer details of the ambush. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. I hated lying after everything we’ve been through. But I figured the less you and Mamá knew, the safer it was.”
“I had a feeling you’d left Colombia. But Texas?” Alejandra blew out a low whistle. “That’s the part we’ll need to prepare Mamá for.”
“They’re Mexican-American. And the ranch is right on the border by the river.”
“I’d lead with that part if I were you. Not sure you can avoid a lecture about fraternising with Spanish colonisers, though. Twice.”
“I got that the first time I moved over there. But she went quiet when I reminded her Madrid was good enough for Simón Bolívar.”
Alejandra’s shoulders shook in unison with Horacio’s until a comfortable silence fell between them.
“So, you were there a whole year?”
“Just over. I couldn’t do much to help for the first few months - whilst this healed.” Horacio flexed his right arm to prove to Alejandra that everything was back in working order. “But it was good to have a routine eventually.”
“Wait a minute…you worked on the ranch?”
“No need to sound so surprised when you live here. I was actually pretty good at it. And I liked it.” Although Horacio understood and returned his sister’s bemusement because even he had shocked himself.
“No, I’m not. It’s just…oh, Horacio...” Alejandra broke off to bring her hand to his cheek, her brow creased, but her eyes caught between being on the brink of a smile and tears. “Look at you.”
Horacio made a show of wiping away the suds from his cheekbone, hoping he wouldn’t still have an audience afterwards. But no such luck. “It’s not what I expected to happen - any of it. But it just....felt right. I know that probably doesn’t make sense.”
“Actually, it makes perfect sense.”
“Does it?”
“Well, for starters, I can see the appeal. Obviously. Can’t blame you for going for a younger man, either. And taller.”
Horacio rolled his eyes and hoped his face didn’t look as hot as it felt. “Not by that much. On either count.”
“Hey, no judgment from me. But seriously, of course, it makes sense. I know we all used to joke about you being married to your job, but…after Juliana, I did wonder if there was more to it than that.”
“I think burying myself in work killed two birds with one stone.”
“It was killing you.”
“I know.”
“And Papá would have told you the same.”
A hollow laugh escaped Horacio’s throat, Martínez’s words from the wedding still ringing intrusively in his ears. “I’d have been kicked out of the force. He’d have made sure of that. And I wouldn’t have blamed him.”
“Right, because you were the first officer on Colombian soil to commit violence or be used as a political weapon.”
“He was against it, Alejandra. La Violencia was enough for anyone to see in a lifetime.”
But that was just another in a long line of civil wars. Even if his father's life hadn’t been cut short, he would have seen yet another bloody outbreak in which the state did more to perpetuate the death toll than bring peace to the country. And Horacio had plenty of blood on his hands. At least his Papá was spared witnessing that.
“And you don’t think he was ever put in a compromising position back then? You don’t think La Violencia was why he didn’t want the same for you? You won’t remember much, and Mamá and Papá never spoke about it around us, but I got pretty good at listening through doors.”
“He never did talk about it. Even when I was older.”
Not that he really needed to, Horacio conceded. Even though they were kept relatively safe and away from the violence in Medellín compared to other regions of Antioquia – particularly the rural parts – he had heard enough over the years to fill in the blanks.
He remembered his Mamá’s stories of helping the displaced, those who sought refuge in the city. Thousands who had been forced to flee the violence and start over again, often in makeshift housing on the outskirts, the irony never lost on Horacio that one of those neighbourhoods became Comuna 13. But for all his Mamá’s tales and the work she continued to do until she left for Manizales, his Papá never spoke about those years.
“He was protecting you. Like Mamá was with us after he died. Sometimes silence is easier.”
“I know. I get it. Before he died, the cocaine trade hadn’t got going in Colombia yet. It was mostly marijuana. But with FARC around and the gringos spreading their anti-communist propaganda, he knew it was a question of when, not if, another war was coming. I think he hoped things would be different this time.”
“You did what you had to do, Horacio. Just like he did. Just like every generation of our family did to survive. What’s done is done.”
“I’m not sure you’d say that if you knew everything.”
“You think I never heard any of the rumours out here? Or picked up a newspaper once in a while?”
“You never said anything.”
Alejandra shot Horacio a cutting glare, the kind he was an expert at delivering, but only a select few could get away with throwing back at him. “I knew you wouldn’t talk about it even if I asked.”
Horacio scoffed. Touché. “Not all of it was true.”
It was Alejandra’s turn to laugh. “Well, I kinda figured you weren’t dead after you called.”
“I don’t just mean the ambush.”
“I know,” she said briskly.
But Horacio couldn’t ignore the relief in her body language. Even though he understood it, a wave of shame hit him for even planting a seed of doubt in her – his older sister, the mother of his nieces and nephews - mind in the first place.
“But that’s all in the past now,” he concluded, shutting down his own train of destructive thought. “And you’re right; Papá’s not here. But Javier is.”
“So your future’s in Laredo, then.”
“Are you mad?”
“Am I mad that my little brother is finally getting his shit together and is head over heels in love? Oh, yeah, I’m livid.”
An inferno had spread across Horacio’s cheeks, and he struggled to think of a response. But luckily for him, Alejandra wasn’t done yet.
“It’s…safe, though, right? For you both to live together?”
“As safe as anywhere else. Every country has its problems. I’m sure there’ll always be people with something to say. But we’ve been careful.”
“Just promise me you’ll keep being careful.”
“We will, I promise.”
“I can’t guarantee I’ll convince Mamá to visit in the summer, though.”
“That’s fair. But you do think she’ll want to visit?”
“She might be strong, but we know what she lost - what we all lost. So, if there’s a chance for you to share your life with someone as she did with Papá, to be safe - to be happy after everything - yeah, I think she'll want to visit.”
“Do you think Papá would if he could?” Horacio knew it was a loaded grenade of a question and unfair to ask. But he couldn’t help himself.
Alejandra hesitated, seemingly aware she was between a rock and a hard place. “Maybe in his old age. Or if he knew Javier saved your life.”
“How did –?”
She expelled a comedically dramatic sigh. “Keep up, manito. When you called, you told me the DEA came after you that night. I don’t need to hold a badge to guess who that was.”
Horacio was banged to rights once more as he tried to recall the exact information he had relayed to Alejandra in the hours after the ambush; evidently, it was more than he thought.
“He - and his partner, Steve - went against orders and got suspended for helping me and my men.”
“So, they took a leaf out of your book then?”
“Something like that.”
Before Horacio could overthink it, he took a deep breath and told Alejandra everything. From the blackmail to his and Javier’s resignations to their year in Madrid, it all came tumbling out whilst she kept washing and he kept drying. Just like old times. Just like their Papá was in the next room along with their Mamá. And in so many ways, he always would be, not as a ghost of their past, but forever a part of their present and future.
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Arriving during the week had its advantages, as it wasn’t necessary for Horacio to make excuses to get an early night. Work and school beckoned in the morning for most of the household, so the evening had ended in a low-key fashion.
That was more than fine by Horacio after a long drive and an overdue heart-to-heart. He lay on his side, his back nestled into Javier’s chest in the centre of the spare room’s double bed. They made up the fold-out bed for pretences, but it was purely extra space to store their luggage.
A bedside lamp and hints of moonlight peaking around the edges of the curtains cast the room in soft shadows, the low murmur of a telenovela in one of the nearby bedrooms the only sound to be heard at this hour.
“How old were you there?” Javier asked, his voice muffled against Horacio’s shoulder where he’d temporarily paused his trail of kisses after picking out one of several framed photos on the wall.
“The one from Alejandra’s wedding? I’d have been 24.”
“Cute curls.” Javier’s nose nuzzled against the back of Horacio’s head, which was sadly lacking the same unruliness as in the photo.
“Fuck you.”
Javier sniggered. “Hey, I was being serious! They suit you. Plus…more to grab hold of.” He slid a hand into Horacio’s hair as his mouth resumed its work along bare skin.
Horacio’s back arched with a sigh as he leaned into Javier’s touch. “You know we can’t get carried away. Not here.”
“I know.” Of course, Javier understood. It was one thing for him to have sneaked in and out of the guesthouse back in Laredo; it was quite another to be under the same roof as Horacio’s whole family. But that didn’t stop the almost petulant tone in Javier’s voice. He was still human, after all.
“I promise we’ll make up for it once we leave.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Despite their flirtation, exhaustion was thick in their throats and pressed heavily on their limbs, pushing them closer towards sleep as the butterflies in their stomachs finally settled.
“The wedding wasn’t that long after Papá died. Alejandra asked me to give her away instead. At first, I didn’t think I deserved to take Papá’s place. But I think she needed me there with her, so, I said yes.”
“Of course you did, and I bet she never forgot that.”
“No, and I’ll never forget tonight."
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It was still dark in the spare room when Javier stirred and untangled himself from Horacio as slowly as possible. He had woken up thirsty and threw on a precautionary pair of jeans before tiptoeing down the wooden staircase towards the kitchen.
The clock on the oven read 01:30am, so he wasn't expecting to find the spotlights above it switched on. He searched through the cupboards until he found a tumbler and filled it with water from the tap, taking large gulps until the glass was drained.
“So, you’re a night owl too, then?”
“Shit!” Javier hissed, spinning around with a sharp intake of breath, almost dropping the glass on the tiled floor.
“Sorry,” Alejandra whispered. “I was just reading before heading off to bed.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I just needed some water. Didn’t think anyone else would be up.” Javier was suddenly very aware of the fact he was standing half naked in the middle of the kitchen, Horacio’s necklace like a flashing beacon at his chest. “Obviously,” he added with an awkward huff, looking down at his state of semi-undress.
“Right,” Alejandra replied with a stifled laugh. “How about you avoid catching a chill whilst I find something a bit more…authentic than tap water?”
Once Javier came back downstairs with his chest now covered, Alejandra was sat at the kitchen table with two shot glasses and a bottle of aguardiente.
“Not sure my stomach can handle any more of that after the wedding.”
“Lightweight. And just think of it as an initiation.”
Javier sighed in defeat, accepting the challenge as he took a seat opposite Alejandra.
She unscrewed the bottle and tipped measures into each glass. “Wanna make this more interesting?”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Three shots, three questions each. But you can only ask a question after you’ve emptied your glass.”
Javier laughed for a second, unsure what he imagined Alejandra to be like, yet somehow, she surprised him anyway. “Okay. Already sounds better than every other icebreaker inflicted on me. Who goes first?”
“Guest’s choice.”
He stared down at his glass as though it was the barrel of a gun, remembering why he had eventually insisted whiskey was his and Horacio’s go-to drink. When he first arrived in Colombia, Horacio would offer him a shot, pouring liberally from the stash of aguardiente in his office drawer, and Javier accepted on multiple occasions. But it was over and done with like a spoonful of caustic medicine. At least whiskey could be drunk slower and delayed saying goodnight.
That wasn't the order of things now, though. So, Javier grabbed the bull by the horns and threw back his glass, wincing at the aniseed burn as it slid down his throat.
“New rule: you’ve got 30 seconds to come up with a question. Otherwise, you take another shot.”
“Alright, alright, I’m thinking.”
Alejandra’s gaze fell on the oven clock, ramping up the pressure. “10 seconds left…”
“Okay. I’ve got one. What was it like growing up with a younger brother?”
“Annoying, obviously. Especially after he got the highest grade in his English class. I don’t know where he picked them up, but he knew all the swear words. Of course. He drove me crazy testing them out.”
“He did that to my old partner, Steve - his Spanish isn’t great, and Horacio sure liked to remind him whenever he got the chance.”
“Sounds about right. No wonder he liked you - best of both worlds.”
“Maybe.” Javier knew what Alejandra meant, but it didn’t stop heat from spreading through his cheeks regardless.
“He was generally pretty quiet at school,” Alejandra continued, "but not afraid to take the lead…or break a few rules.”
“Again, I’m not surprised.”
“Nope.” They both laughed at that. “He always liked to be moving, though. Doing something with his hands. Or playing sports – he was a good runner. We used to race each other around Jardín Botánico, and he would always beat me. I think he already knew he was in training for the Academy. So, obviously, he was accepted. No doubt some thought he got a free pass, but he was determined to prove himself. Then he had to grow up.”
The joviality faded abruptly from Alejandra’s face, transforming into a wistful smile.
“We both did. But at least I’d had more time with Papá. Good job I did have those few years to myself ‘cos Horacio followed him around like a shadow. Until he couldn’t. Then he thought he had to be the man of the house. Even when there were two much more qualified women for the job.”
“He thought it was his duty."
“Yeah. He did.” There was something akin to awe in how Alejandra looked at Javier, as though she was simultaneously taken aback and impressed that someone summed up and understood her brother so accurately and succinctly.
“Isn’t it your turn, now?” Javier asked after a moment of silence.
Without further hesitation, Alejandra downed her shot. “Why Colombia?”
“Why not Colombia?” He tried a feeble laugh but knew that wouldn't cut it. “I studied Gabriel García Márquez in high school. Although, can’t say I really got him at the time. Took me another try when I was older.”
Now he thought about it, Javier wasn’t convinced he exactly got him the second time around either, considering García Márquez’s views on extradition aligned fiercely with Horacio’s. But that was the luxury of hindsight.
“By then, my Mamá had long since passed, my fiancée had just become my ex, and I had no fucking clue what I was doing with my life. Guess I needed to get lost in someone else’s problems for a while.”
“Tell me about it.” Alejandra held a book up in the air that had been abandoned on the table since Javier joined her.
“Smart move. My teacher loved telling us how García Márquez moved to Mexico and wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude over there. And with how things went down in Laredo, I could see the appeal of starting over in another country. Mexico was…too close to home. The drug war was getting out of hand. More and more agents were being transferred. And what’s the line?” Javier broke off, eyes cast towards the ceiling as he licked his lips in concentration. “‘We came’, they said, ‘because everyone is coming’.”
Alejandra let a pause of bewilderment pass between them as she studied Javier with intrigue. “You’re not at all like the other gringos he’s worked with in the past.”
“Did he bring any of them home to his family?”
“No. You’re the first. As I’m sure you're aware.”
“Maybe.”
“Drink up.”
Javier did as he was told, repressing a cough as the potent liquid worked its magic. “Why did you choose farm life over being a cop?”
Alejandra laughed a little too loudly, considering the time. “There are other career choices, you know.”
Javier gasped. “There are?”
“Hard to believe, isn’t it? But that’s not quite how it went for me. The farm came with Fabián. They’re sort of a package deal. I’m sure you can understand that.” She threw Javier a knowing smile. “But I ruled out being a cop years before I moved here or met Fabián. I knew from Papá that women in the force were few and far between back then. They’re still pretty scarce now. I wasn’t up for putting myself in the firing line being a General’s daughter. They never would have respected me or believed I got there on my own merit. I didn’t want to spend my life trying to gain anyone's approval.”
“Makes sense. It’s not easy in the force if you’re…different from the rest."
“Exactly. I’m not sure it’s what Papá even wanted for me anyway. Because he knew what it’d be like. Then there was Mamá with her social work. She was in her element. Always fighting someone’s corner, especially during the suffrage movement. I think I was the odd one out in the family, ‘cos everyone else seemed to have…a calling except for me. So, I studied, got a business degree, became a buyer for various companies and ended up in the coffee industry. And the rest is history.”
“Good for you. And I guess that explains Horacio’s, er, distaste for a badly made cup of coffee.”
“Yep. He’s got no excuse. And neither do you anymore.”
“I’ll bear that in mind. Your turn.” Javier took the bottle this time and filled Alejandra’s glass.
She downed it in one go. “¿Por qué no un llanero ahora que has descartado ser policía?” (Why not a llanero now you’ve ruled out being a police officer?)
“¿Por qué no un vaquero?” (Why not a vaquero?) Javier corrected with a glint in his eye that Alejandra returned with an eye roll. “Like you said…there are other jobs. That one was just never for me. I need more variety day-to-day. Like I’m making a bigger difference somehow. But preferably without the pretty fucking significant risk of death or blackmail.”
“A fair demand.”
“Right? It’s not like I’m asking for a raise.”
“When I moved here, I didn’t know where life was taking me, especially when the kids came along. I couldn’t keep my old job because of all the travelling…and being a mother was the priority until they started school. It took me a while to find my place on the buying and selling side of the business. So, all I’m saying is, things might get clearer once you’re settled back in Laredo.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Javier raised his glass and nodded his thanks to Alejandra, touched by her unprompted advice.
His third and final question had arrived, and the pressure to make it a good one pressed uncomfortably on his increasingly fuzzy head. “If your father was here now, what would you say to him?”
For a brief second, Javier feared he had overstepped some forbidden and invisible line and been overfamiliar with someone he only really knew by proxy at this stage.
But whilst Alejandra’s smile was permanently stained with traces of grief, warmth flickered then grew in her charcoal eyes. “I’d tell him we’re fine. That we miss him and wish he’d come back for good but that he needn’t worry. Because even though Mamá didn’t always get things right, she steered us through it as best she could. And we didn’t turn our backs on the world. That we found love in the dark.”
Alejandra sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her nose. “Sorry. I think it’s the alcohol.”
“No, don’t be sorry.” Javier paused to clear his throat, blinking his vision back into focus. “It was beautifully said.” His hand reached for hers across the table, hoping again that he hadn’t gone too far.
But she let his hand rest there until she shook her head like a wet dog and poured her final shot. “Same question to you about your mother, obviously,” she said before downing the aguardiente in one.
Javier scoffed. “Well, I guess I deserved that.” He took his time, collecting his thoughts as though he was preparing an important speech. As though he’d been trying to find the right words for most of his life - and how rarely he’d succeeded.
“I’d tell her I miss her morisqueta. I’d tell her Pops visits her every week. But then I think she already knows that. Same way I think she made sure he never re-married.”
Javier couldn’t help but laugh, seeing with perfect clarity where his own loyal streak came from when his Pops was still as devoted to Mariana as the day they married. Siempre tuyo was no exaggeration.
“I’d make sure she knew he wasn’t alone, though. That he was known as Don Chucho to most in Laredo. That she’d be proud of him for growing the community she helped start. I’d brag about all the tamales we’ve made and quote her favourite poems. I’d introduce her to Horacio.”
He envisaged showing her Horacio’s poetry book, knowing that all it would take was for her to read Javier’s message in the opening pages to understand everything about who they were to each other. He’d even dreamed of it, waking with a ridiculous hope that she had somehow intercepted it.
“She sounds as incredible as your father. I hope one day I can thank him for taking my little brother under his wing when he needed it the most.”
“I’m sure that could be arranged.”
“I can’t – and don’t want to - imagine where he would have ended up without either of you, to be honest. He told me about the ambush…and everything else. And even though it doesn’t feel nearly enough, I just want to say...thank you.”
At first, Javier could only nod and swallow the lump bobbing at the base of his throat. “He did the same for me. It wasn’t easy walking away from my job, don’t get me wrong, but it was different for him. He felt like he’d betrayed Colombia and his Papá. Yet he did it anyway.”
“When it’s the right person, the sacrifices are worth it. And I can’t think of anyone more worthy of wearing that.” Alejandra’s sightline had fallen to Javier’s neck. His chest may have now been covered, but the silver chain still poked out from beneath the seam of his shirt.
She poured them a bonus shot each and raised her glass. “Welcome to the family.”
#Comment reblog#Narcos fic#Narcos#Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo#Javier Peña#Horacio Carrillo#Fan Fiction#Fan Fic
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Lilanette Prompt: The class is doing Romeo and Juliet and it was a reading of the balcony scene. Leo was asked to read Romeo's part. He had a freudian slip and said Marinette instead of Juliet. A ship war may or may not happen.
Ooooh yes absolutely. If this is good!Leo absolutely.
Or if somewhat canon Leo who somewhat doesn't likr Mari but...
It's difficult to hate the baby blue eyed girl who doesn't stop herself from offering him a macaroon.
He absolutely does it when Mari isn't ij the classroom and everyone sees Leo blushing darkly after he says her name.
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HISTORY3 EP 12 summary - if you guys are still alive you’re not gonna be for long
we all knew what the fuck was gonna happen today - but nothing will prepare you for what you’re going to see although the music choice might kill the mood a little (sorry like pls be prepared today’s episodes’ lines ARE KILLING ME) - this was the literally the worst ep to jam at but i guess everyone was prepared for this ep and wow
also bearing in mind that it was so jammed today that i did miss out a few lines here and there, and also just to shake it up a bit, let me show you guys a bit of what is in store at the end of this episode (i’m happy to be of service, also nsfw warning?):
we start off with zhao zi and jack sitting side by side on the couch, zhao zi is happy with the food and they’re grinning at each other and having fun and sharing the cup - everyone went crazy and was like ‘indirect kiss!!!’ (ooooh boy, wait until you see the later scene)
shao fei comes in halfway without tang yi and lolol i love how zhao zi and jack break apart as if they were doing something naughty but they weren’t, and then zhao zi is like: “where’s tang yi?”
shao fei: “he said he’s going back first”
then jack leaves, and shao fei is just about ready to pack up and leave the damn hospital on his what, second day or third day after the gun shot? zhao zi is obviously stunned and mad - he’s like: “you can’t leave the hospital!”
shao fei: “i dont have time to waste in the hospital, i need to start chasing now”
zhao zi: “chase what? the bad guy (that shot shao fei) was delivered to the police station’s doorstep wrapped like a mummy!”
shao fei, rolling his eyes and exasperated: “why would i chase that bad guy? i’m talking about chasing-”
HE PAUSES, YES SHAO FEI, DID YOU FORGET WHAT UR DAY JOB WAS?!
anw zhao zi convinces him not to discharge himself and threatens him with police chief, and wow the pout on shao fei’s face
tang yi goes back home and sits at his desk where he sees the skeleton keychain and wow his face is like... gosh i love his emo, expressive face I LOVE IT and then he flashbacks to the scene of him and boss tang at the balcony (i think it was ep 4, 5?) - it’s almost the same scene where boss tang is telling him that one day he’ll find that person who’ll make life worth it for him right, and also throws in a couple of: “xiao tang, have you ever been in love? you’re still young, after you’ve been in love, everything changes” and “if it came down to choosing between yourself and xing tian meng, promise me you’ll always choose yourself” - you know, typical asian dad stuff
so we move to the scene back at the police station, and police chief and yu qi are standing side by side, and yu qi is on the phone with zhao zi - she tells chief that zhao zi says that shao fei has been whining about leaving the hospital for the past few days, so won’t police chief go see him? AND LOOK AT POLICE CHIEF’S LITTLE SMILE he adores shao fei to death, we all know it - then he frowns and scowls purposely and is like “why would i go see him? for what?”
and the rest of the team: “ehhhh... the captain actually cares about shao fei, he almost wanted to fight tang yi the other time at the hospital” - they all love each other, i love it and police chief is so embarrassed - and then the older police dude from the previous episodes? he looks shady as fuck and he picks up his bag and leaves, then he bikes somewhere, not sure where because THE STREAM JAMMED but he’s definitely a bad guy and is up to something so let’s all hope we get the plot soon
yu qi turns up at the hospital to help shao fei leave the hospital finally, and shao fei only has thoughts about tang yi - he passes his bag to zhao zi and asks him to bring his suitcase back first, and then zhao zi is like: “hold up, you’re not going to find tang yi again are you?”
and shao fei is anxious because tang yi, ever since that day, hadn’t been to see him or text him, and he’s like holding his phone and going like: “should i text, but what if i text and he leaves it as just read and doesn’t reply”
so yu qi gets real mad and we all have seen the scene before where she tells shao fei: “he’s a gangster and you’re a police, it’s black and white, we belong to different worlds”
also shao fei: “what black and white? my world is colourful” - I AM NOT JOKING GUYS AHAHAHA
and yu qi totally is mad and she’s going on about how she won’t allow him to ever meet tang yi again etc etc. (srsly, if police chief couldn’t make him stop the PAST 4 YEARS, yu qi i dont think you can make him stop either)
at this point WOOHOOO: TANG YI WALKS IN, AND WE GET THAT SCENE IN THE PREVIEW WHERE HE JUST WALKS THE FUCK IN AND KISSES SHAO FEI, obviously having made a decision as to answering shao fei’s feelings he’s totally into it they’re totally into it, except yu qi - she understandably is upset
and then we shift to a scene of yu qi crying at the balcony of the ward and shao fei goes and comforts her - i think he does somehow know that she likes him but he’s also trying his best to totally friendzone her, and okay now that i watched it a second time yes she did confess to him - but shao fei says: “i already have tang yi” (DO YOU? DO YOU REALLY? SHAO FEI?!!!)
shao fei jokes: “are you worried that i’ll be discriminated against? who am i? you know me”
yu qi jokes back: “i’m just afraid that you’ll end up with no friends”
shao fei, sincerely to her: “i have you guys.”
FRIENDZONED TO HELL AND BACK
then we get the jack and zhao zi scene - jack goes to zhao zi’s house and zhao zi doesn’t lock his gate LOL and somehow they manage to get upstairs - zhao zi is all muttering under his breath about how terrible a friend shao fei is because shao fei passed him his back for zhao zi to do laundry for him, and then they progress to zhao zi’s bedroom and GUYSSSSSSS I DID NOT SEE THIS COMING
so we get the scene where jack asks zhao zi why he didn’t seem surprised that tang yi and shao fei are together, and then zhao zi gets all angry: “if you look down on ah fei i won’t be friends with you” - you know, that scene we’ve gifed the hell out of since the 6 min trailer popped out in the beginning of this entire madness
and jack is totally attracted to angry zhao zi, and he just corners him to the wall and zhao zi is all: “what- what are you doing?”
AND HE JUST FUCKING KISSES ZHAO ZI - NO WARNING, HE JUST DOES IT GOOD GOING JACK
zhao zi is so stunned the smol bean and he’s blinking and he’s confused and panicking and jack is like: “didn’t you say that you support shao fei?”
zhao zi: “yeah, but i didn’t say i would support myself!!!!!”
jack: “no, but you must support me, me who’s attracted by you, you have to take responsibility”
zhao zi moves away, dodges from the SECOND KISS, with the lame excuse: “i’m going to cook instant noodles”
HAHAHAHA
and then we move onto shao fei and tang yi - tang yi followed shao fei home and they’re on the stairs as tang yi says: “just warning you first, i actually haven’t confirmed my feelings for you, but i’m willing to try it out with you.”
cue shao fei entering his house with the biggest pout on the fucking planet AND HAHAHAHA tang yi enters the house first so he totally ZEROES IN ON THE DRAWING and shao fei is too late to hide it from him and so he stands in front of the drawing, and tang yi moves him away
tang yi: (snorts) “am i this ugly?”
“shao fei: “yeah!”
and okay I LOVED THIS DIALOGUE he was all like; “what is this? you kissed me in front of the world, and then you regret it? are you trying to cheat my feelings?”
tang yi: “because i haven’t cared about anyone else like i do you, so i really, really want to try it out with you.”
and then shao fei says: “my feelings are my own problems, it makes sense that if i want you to like me i gotta work harder”
AND THE TEASE THAT IS TANG YI JUST SITS HIS HOLY ASS ON THE CHAIR and says: “alright, i’ll give you one chance to seduce me”
AND WOOOHOOOO THE REST IS HISTORY - shao fei totally climbs onto his laps and begins to undress him, button by button, all the while staring into tang yi’s eyes and kissing-not-kissing OH GOD THIS SCENE WAS HOT AND IT WOULD’VE BEEN HOTTER IF NOT FOR THE MUSIC
and then right before they kiss, shao fei stands up and goes: “okay, let’s shower together”
tang yi: “wait. that’s it?”
shao fei: “yeah, we should just do it”
and as he’s going off to the shower, tang yi stands up and he’s like: “you’re right, we should just do it”
AND GRABS SHAO FEI BY THE ARM, SPINS HIM, AND PINS HIM TO THE WALL and look at shao fei’s face, he’s so damn stunned and once again mr shao fei, if you start flirting with someone you gotta follow through otherwise dont be stunned when the other person follows through!!!!
and tang yi - LAST FUCKING BUTTON SCENE!!!!!!! omg for a moment i thought they were also like pantsless but it’s only upper torso, AND GUYS YOU WILL GET A GAZILLION MINUTES OF THEM TOUCHING EACH OTHER’S SKINS OMFGGGGGG AND KISSING EACH OTHERS’ NECKS WTF WTF THIS EPISODE CAME FOR MY LIFE THIS SCENE CAME FOR MY SOUL
and they’re totally in the mood until tang yi’s eyes go to the bandage on shao fei’s abdomen and the mood sombers immediately
shao fei: “hey, it’s nothing, it’s just-”
TANG YI KNEELS DOWN, TAKES THE BANDAGE OFF, AND KISSES IT!!!!
i am dead.
#history 3: 圈套#history3圈套#history 3: trapped#history3: trap#history3 spoiler#spoilers#COMBUSTION INTO FLAMES
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(Re this my brain’s kind of dead after a long day at work & am about to fall asleep but I know there won’t be any rest until some of it’s out of my system so definitely not the most coherent right now…or ever LOL)
Don’t worry Sammy’s already good at writing smut even when you don’t think you are. ;P There’s no doubt that you’d nail this if you decide to do so but let’s talk about the specific appeal of it yeah? What do you think? What do you like? There are so many different ways that it can go for example there’s the traditional scene which usually takes place in a BDSM gathering with Dominants and their submissives putting on a show, or it could be in like a semi-public situation? In a dimly lit corner of a pub, a secluded booth of a club, or even out on a balcony of a penthouse suite, OR let’s side track a bit Tear It Up anyone? “I wanna be a toy at your birthday party”? Ahem that’s pretty hot too.
So basically the possibilities are endless and whether what elements are involved like showing-off, D/s undertone or power play, reluctantly turned on and a hell lot more etc. as long as there’s good writing (essentially it’s just like any other tropes no?) then it’s gonna be great, and Sammy has great writing. <3 OH AND YOU PROMISED THIS APPARENTALY FOUND IT HAHA CAN’T WAIT yeah that’s the trope right? *wink*
🌠🌠 🌠
I was thinking about doing it in a BDSM club honestly
I had another dumb idea about one of those age swap AUs? Where like its modern boys and a younger version (e.g 70s Brian) and like the older versions are just unfairly turned on by it during a meeting.
Balcony sex would be fun, but a little uh, hazardous for more than two people
Ooooh that, yeah. That’s uhm. Surprisingly a plot point for the supernatural au, if curious, yes it’s important. And they deserve it after what I’m doing to them
#nonnie#WAIT#I FORGOT ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING TO JOHN#Oh witch AU pain has some competition#moving on#submission
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"ooh it's chilly out" - spiderbyte // "i got a rock" sombra/gabe // "want to trade candy?" team talon
AO3 | Prompts List
Comments/kudos/reblogs will make me love you!
It had not been overly difficult to hijack the cargo ship. The Shimadas were not the arms traffickers they once were, and there had just been a shoestring crew that Widowmaker easily dispensed with. And that same scant roster meant that the AI pilot was already running, and Sombra simply needed to change the coordinates and the Southern Europe Talon HQ was fully supplied with all the guns, ammunition, and biochemical weapons they needed.
Until, of course, they opened the cargo compartment.
“Are they decoys?” Akande asked, staring at the boxes of candy that filled up the space.
Widow, who was sitting on top of one of the stacks, looked up from her box of Nerds and shook her head. “It was a two hour trip. I checked all of them. Unless they’re hiding shells in Skittles packages, there’s nothing.”
“I don’t understand,” Akande whispered. Sombra walked past him and caught the Snickers that Widow tossed her way.
“Manifest said that they were going to unload in Texas. The war with Deadlock has cut off a lot of trade to the Southwest. My guess is the Shimadas were looking to make money smuggling candy in time for Halloween.”
“It could work,” Widow said. “We might be able to turn this around if we deliver this to whoever the Shimadas’ contact was.”
“We don’t need money, we need weapons.”
“Money can be used to buy weapons.”
“Thank you for that economics lesson, Sombra, but the Shimadas could still ambush us at the drop, and we have no intel on the contact–“ Akande heard the sounds of boots on the staircase behind him and drew a hand over his face. Reaper ducked through the doorway and stared at the scene– Sombra flicking through a map of shipping routes with one hand and rooting through a box of flavored Kit Kats with the other; Widow tipping a small cardboard box upside down into her mouth, a candy necklace around her neck.
“This is not shotguns,” he said. Akande sighed.
“We had bad intel on the contents of the ship.” Reaper said nothing, but Akande could still feel the waves of judgment coming off him, and he grit his teeth. “Alright. This was a low-cost mission. We’re going to chalk this up as a drill, dump the cargo, and start looking for a proper target.”
“Wait wait wait.” Sombra snapped the map shut and stared at him wide-eyed. “Why do we have to dump it? It’s perfectly good candy.”
Akande gestured around the fairly spacious room. “It’s a ridiculous amount, Sombra. I am not exposing Talon agents to transport M&Ms.”
“Okay first of all, they have Sour Patch Kids in here. Second of all, you’re buff–“
“No,” Reaper said flatly. Sombra made an inarticulate noise of frustration and Akande turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
“Usually you humor her more than this.” Reaper ignored Sombra’s second squawk, this one more indignant, and turned to him as well, lowering his voice.
“You do not want to let them do this.”
“What if we just took whatever we could carry?” Widow said from her perch. She shrugged when Akande looked up at her. “They have Kinder eggs here.”
“Ogundimu. Listen to me. This is a very bad idea.” Akande bit his lip, looked between his most valuable and sensible agent, and his vaguely untrustworthy and frequently passive aggressive fellow executive, and made up his mind.
“You can each take one box,” he announced. Sombra whooped, Widow smiled, and Reaper growled under his breath. “And if there are any Twix, let me know.”
-
“I told you this was a bad idea,” Reaper said the next day.
Akande leaned against the balcony railing and watched in dismay as Sombra yet again grappling hooked herself into a cafeteria wall. She broke her fall by translocating down to Widow who was, in a deeply uncharacteristic display, attempting to backflip across all the tables.
“We’re sure nothing was spiked? This is really just a sugar high?” Next to him, Reaper sighed.
“Every year at Overwatch,” he said. His tone of voice suggested that if he had normal eyeballs, he would be performing a thousand yard stare. “Every year, Lieutenant Wilhelm would give the Amari girl half a candy store for Halloween. Every year, the entire base would grind to a halt as we tried to contain the whirlwind of chaos he had unleashed.”
“Still. They’re grown women,” he said. Widow was now attempting to showcase her accuracy by throwing Swedish Fish into Sombra’s mouth. “You’d think they’d be able to self-regulate.” Absentmindedly, he fished a Twix bar out of his pocket and began to unwrap it.
Reaper looked sideways at him. “How many of those have you had?”
“Look, just make sure they don’t break anything,” Akande said. “And remind them that the acquisitions meeting is in two days.” Reaper shook his head as Akande pivoted and power walked back to his office.
-
Two days later, Akande walked into the conference room to see Reaper sitting with his hands folded, and Widow and Sombra sitting with their heads flopped down on the table. Akande rubbed at his temple, tried to ignore his buzzing headache, and cleared his throat.
“Right. Sombra. Have you had any luck identifying potential targets?” Without looking, Sombra raised her palm, projected a web browser, and typed “free guns” into Google. Akande sighed as he sat down.
“I expected better from you,” he said to Widow. She groaned apathetically in response.
“Really,” Reaper said, and Akande tried not to wince at the sound of his voice. “Did you finish your entire boxes?” Sombra and Widow both made grumbling noises. “I cannot believe you two. That should have lasted a month. You could have at least spread it out enough so that you would be awake for this meeting.”
“Hey, wait, yeah,” Sombra said. “Akande. Why don’t you give us some of your candy. Hair of the dog that bit you. That’ll work.”
“No,” Akande said. His brain felt very heavy.
“Come on. Don’t you want us to be productive?”
“I can’t,” he said slowly.
“Why not?”
Akande considered responding verbally but opted for dropping forward onto the table, onto his folded arms. Widow reached over and tapped at his shoulder. He laid his head on its side to face her. She shook her head as best she could without lifting it.
“I know,” he said quietly. “I know.” Reaper cleared his throat.
“Okay, if I’m the only one functional at this meeting…”
“Hang on. That’s true,” Sombra said. “Why didn’t you take any, Gabe? When I was going through old Overwatch stuff, I saw you send eight all staff emails in one day about someone stealing from your candy corn stash. Isn’t this your whole thing?”
The three of them turned to look at him. Reaper folded his arms. Sombra widened her eyes.
“Ooooh. Wait, can you not eat food any more? Like, I know you get your sustenance from death and decay and My Chemical Romance albums or whatever, but I thought you were still capable of it…”
“I am not,” Reaper said in a clipped voice. Widow raised her hand and he sighed. “Yes?”
“Does this mean you don’t poop?” Reaper pushed away from the table and stood up.
“Okay, this meeting is over.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Sombra grabbed at Reaper’s robe and he stopped. “I’m sorry, Gabe. We should have been more sensitive to your Halloween needs.”
“I’m leaving,” Reaper said, without moving.
“We’re not doing actual work now, right?” Akande shook his head. “So we can do whatever spooky stuff you want.”
“As long as it doesn’t involve moving or thinking,” Widow said. Sombra nodded in agreement.
“Other than that, it’s your day, boo.” He looked over at Akande, who shrugged.
“I mean, we aren’t going to be working…” Reaper hesitated, then sat back down.
“Sombra, can you torrent Hocus Pocus?”
#team talon#overwatch fic#olivia colomar#akande ogundimu#gabriel reyes#amélie lacroix#sombra#doomfist#reaper#widowmaker#overwatch#talon#fic#asks#spyderyder
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Chapter 35: Sometimes I Can’t See Myself
Rating: T Fandom: The 100 Pairing: Bellamy x Clarke Chapter: 35/? Word Count: 1917 Words
Chapter Summary: The one where everyone else falls asleep during movie night, so naturally, Bellamy and Clarke start playing a drinking game.
Also on AO3
Clarke glanced up at Bellamy the third time Miller grunted in his sleep. He rolled his eyes so hard it had to hurt and Clarke hid a laugh behind her hand. Everyone else had voted this stupid paranormal ghost movie and they all fell asleep. Monty was asleep in front of the armchair, Jasper was sprawled out in the armchair, but Miller was on the couch, and he was the one Clarke was the most surprised at. He had lobbied the hardest for the movie. Harper and Octavia had somehow both managed to lay with part of themselves on him; Harper on the floor with her head leaning on his knee, while Octavia was laying across both Miller and Bellamy. Bellamy motioned for her to follow him and gently extricated himself out from under O’s feet, then grabbed a couple things from the counter and led her outside onto the balcony.
“This is a horrible game.” Bellamy grinned as he poured equal parts rum and coke into two glasses.
Clarke took a sip and frowned. “Well, you’re a horrible bartender.”
“There needs to be some actual risk here, Clarke.”
About forty-five minutes later, they had managed to get mostly tipsy through cheap shots in a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’. The game ended up functioning as a way to get to know each other a little more deeply without it feeling like an intimate conversation. They talked everything from childhood pets to their first relationships to when they lost their virginity. She had to admit to her mild crush on a girl in her painting class, which led to a discussion about her parents’ reaction to her coming out as bi when she was fifteen.
She tried to get him with ‘Never have I ever slept with someone I had no intention of being in a relationship with.’ He had to drink, but it led into a conversation about how in love he was with the first girl he slept with. Clarke thought about asking him to elaborate, but his face was dark, so she kicked him before taking her own sip, exaggerating the motion to make him laugh.
He tried to get her with ‘Never have I ever been the valedictorian at my high school.’ Her grumble through her drink was cut off when he took a drink as well. She was pretty sure her eyes almost fell out of her head. He smirked and she decided she wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off his face.
“Never have I ever gotten turned on in our human sexuality class.” Bellamy choked on his drink and Clarke grinned when he glared at her. “Sometimes you get a little flushed around your ears when the professor is talking. That’s your tell.”
“Fine.” He took another drink. “Never have I ever been sure what I wanted to do with my life.”
“What would you say if I told you that I don’t know what I want?”
“Bullshit. I’d say you were lying to get out of drinking.”
Clarke glared at him. “But now I don’t hate pre-med and I actually really like working in the clinic.”
“But,” he pointed a finger at her, “it’s not making you doubt your desire to be an artist, is it?”
“Well, no, but—“
“Drink.”
“But—“
“I win. Drink.”
Clarke tried to shoot him her evilest look as she took a drink. That was when she noticed that they were both sitting with their legs dangling through the railings. It made her panic a little. She had been incredibly drunk the last time she assumed this position. It looked a lot more dangerous in the slightly-more-sober darkness of night. Bellamy smiled as though he could read her mind and let his forehead rest against the railing.
“This really is a comfortable position,” he said.
“And super dangerous. How are you not worried that we’re going to fall?”
“Are you calling me fat, Princess?” He brought a hand up to his chest with a look of mock offense. “I resent the implication. I work out four times a week.”
“Hush.”
Clarke bumped his shoulder with her own and he smiled, leaning back to grab more rum for her cup. “It just means that you haven’t had enough to drink.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk, Blake?”
“You know it, Griffin.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and took another sip. He was ridiculous. But something he said stuck with her. “So, you’re really not sure what you want to do?”
He shrugged. “I love history. I’m glad I picked it. But what am I supposed to do with it?”
Clarke scooted back a little before she pulled her phone out, unwilling to risk the drop, and immediately searched for ‘history degree uses’ on her phone. She scanned the list, mostly unimpressed, because she knew Bellamy could do so much better than most of this. She felt the grin light up on her face when she reached the bottom of the page though. “I found it! You’ll be a lawyer."
He made a face and she laughed. “No way.”
“Yes way. You’re great at arguing. It’s perfect.”
“Veto.”
“Ugh, fine.” She scrolled back up the list a bit. “What about looking at museums?”
“Are you asking me on a date?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she bumped him with her shoulder again.
“You wish. Have you thought about looking into working at a museum?”
He shrugged again. “I kind of thought about it. I’m worried it would end up being boring.”
“But you could research all your fun history facts and get paid for it! And no one would be pretending to be interested in the weird shit you say!”
“I don’t know. It might be interesting. Next suggestion?”
“Ooooh, what if you were like Indiana Jones?”
“He wasn’t a historian, Clarke.”
“What? Yes he was.”
“He was an archaeology professor.”
All of a sudden, a picture of Bellamy standing at the front of a classroom in a tweed jacket, bowtie, glasses, and khaki pants, and she started laughing hysterically. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get rid of the image. Bellamy nudged her with his foot and the frown on his face just made her laugh harder.
“What the hell is so funny?”
Clarke could hardly breathe, so speaking normally was just out of the question. “You…. Tweed… Glasses…. Oh my god, the bowtie….”
Bellamy laughed uncomfortably. “I don’t even know what you’re saying.”
“I just….” She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself down. It helped. A little. “I pictured you like Indiana Jones in the beginning when he’s dressed up in his professor clothes.”
“Because he is a professor.”
“Yeah,” she laughed again. “But it’s so funny.”
“To picture me as a teacher?”
“No!” He sounded offended, and embarrassment took over her. She didn’t want to offend him when they had been having so much fun. “That’s not that hard, actually. It was… it was the outfit.”
“But you can picture me as a teacher,” he said, face deadpan.
She shrugged. “Well, yeah. I mean, you’re always forcing some random history factoid of the day on all of us. Hell, Miller won’t even let us watch historical fiction with you anymore, because you’re so obnoxious about it.”
“You guys watch historical fiction without me?!”
“That’s hardly the point, Bellamy.” She pushed him and he pretended to fall back, clutching an empty cup to his chest. He stared up at nothing for a few moments and hardly glanced over when she laid down next to him.
“So, you don’t think it’d be weird if I was a teacher?”
Clarke smiled even though he couldn’t see her. When she forced herself not to think of him in argyle with tortoise-shell framed glasses, it actually wasn’t hard to picture. “Well, look at how much Jasper and Monty adore you. You’re smart and you’re driven and kids would probably love you, because you can be a dumbass, too. Even though you drive us crazy, everyone listens to you most of the time.”
“Except you.”
“Well, I’m a princess. I don’t have to.” He elbowed her and she let her head fall to the side to look at him. He was looking at her, too, something unreadable on his face. “What?”
“Thanks, Princess.”
“For what?”
“Immediately leaping into action? I don’t know.”
“You’re being weird.”
“You’re being weird.”
“Very mature, Bellamy.”
“I never said—“
“Stop. Stop it right now. Maybe you should be a teacher purely so that you’ll be around people on your level.”
“I thought you said I was smart!”
The door to the living room slid open and they both jumped. Miller leaned through the door, studying the scene in front of him. He frowned when he saw the open bottle of alcohol still resting by the railing. “I can’t believe you didn’t wake me up when you started drinking.”
Nathan Miller Jan 17 at 10:27pm I would like to take this moment to thank Clarke and Bellamy for not drawing on our faces while we were sleeping, and instead taking the opportunity to get shit-faced on the balcony…. You see what happens when you don’t show up, Wells? – with Harper McIntyre, Octavia Blake, Jasper Jordan, and Monty Green
Clarke Griffin: We weren’t drunk! Bellamy Blake: We were tipsy at most. Nathan Miller: Whatever. I know what I saw. Wells Jaha: Shit. I always miss drunk Clarke. My life sucks. Clarke Griffin: Well, don’t skip movie night FOR A DATE next time! Octavia Blake: Ooooooooooooooooooooooh Harper McIntyre: Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh Jasper Jordan: Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooh Wells Jaha:Stop. Bellamy Blake: Hey. One of us has to get laid around here. May as well be the senator. Wells Jaha: Damn right. Bellamy Blake: Get it. Clarke Griffin:I’m starting to think that you’re the one hooking up with Wells, Bellamy. Wells Jaha: You’re just jealous. Nathan Miller: Jealousy is not a pretty color on you, Clarke. Bellamy Blake: I can’t help it. He’s smooth. He’s the Denzel of our generation. Octavia Blake: Oh my god. Clarke Griffin: You’re not even in our generation, Bellamy. Monty Green: Get a room. Raven Reyes: Holy shit. What did I miss? Octavia Blake:Nathan , Bellamy, and Wells have this weird threesome going on and none of us know how to handle it. Nathan Miller: Hey. Don’t involve me in this. Harper McIntyre: Please. You’re just as involved as Bellamy. Raven Reyes: Well, I am officially excited to visit and meet him. Bellamy Blake:Nathan , you’re so involved it’s not even funny. Nathan Miller: Not as involved as you and Clarke on the balcony last night. AM I RIGHT OR AM I RIGHT Octavia Blake: WHAT?! Monty Green: WHAT?! Raven Reyes: WHAT?!?!?!?!?!!?! Jasper Jordan: WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HOLDING BACK FROM ME?! Harper McIntyre: WHAT?! Wells Jaha: WHAT?!?!?! Clarke, do we need to have a talk about safe sex? Octavia Blake:WELLS , DON’T SAY THAT WHEN IT’S REFERENCING MY BROTHER EVER AGAIN Bellamy Blake: Oh my god. Clarke Griffin: We were just drinking on the balcony. Wells Jaha: Right… I knew Bellamy was cheating on me.. Bellamy Blake: Seriously? Jasper Jordan: Uh-huh. I feel so betrayed right now. Monty Green: Stop it, Jasper. Bellamy Blake: We were talking about MY CAREER, you guys. Nathan Miller: While laying on the ground?? Raven Reyes: Suuuuuuuuuuuuure Bellamy Blake: Oh god. Clarke Griffin: I hate you, Nathan. Nathan Miller: You love me.
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Let us fill the gruvia tag with some positivity. What are your top 5 gruvia moments?
Ooooh yes, let’s fill the tag with the positivity we deserve!!
1) “I am here with you” - chapter 366
This is my favourite moment SO FAR. I love that Gray clearly wants to confort her so badly and cannot help but hold her hand and say: I AM HERE WITH YOU. Juvia is genuinely worried, her facial expressions say it all. I just love how natural this moment is, the setting, everything. It takes proudly the #1 spot.
2) “You are so warm” - chapter 416
This is like everyone’s fav moment hahah well it is perfect and also huge. Juvia wanted to give up but Gray didn’t let her… he showed her his raw emotions, his tears. They shared the loss of Silver together… a piece of history together. What I appreciate the most is that Gray was angry at first only to lose it at the end; you can totally see how much he does need Juvia- he reaches her, buries his face in her chest, and then PUT HIS ARMS around her waist. I love these moments, and also Juvia gently stroking his hair at the end. This moment is so symbolic… Gray’s ice is finally melting because Juvia is the warmth he needed the most! And the snow?! Everything about it was p e r f e c t.
3) “I wanted to protect you” - chapter 499
Honestly I’d say 499 overall xD but yup, having Gray say these words was… A+. This and what comes before, so that he didn’t want to hurt not a friend but HER, Juvia. Gray had secretly sworn to protect her since the beginning: Tartaros, GMG, Tenrou… and especially in Alvarez. He had been watching over her the whole time. We just had the confirmation of it and it was beautiful because Juvia as well swore to protect him when they met, and I wrote so many posts about Gruvia and the theme of protection!
4) “I am grateful to have you” - chapter 453
Well, the panels tell everything xD hahaha this was a nice parallel to the balcony scene in GMG, and Gray couldn’t have said it better: he likes to have Juvia by his side and the only thing stopping him from having the future he wants is END- and Zeref. This was a well snap to the haters faces who believe Gray despises Juvia. Flash news, he doesn’t. It’s so clear the answer will be positive, I have had no doubts about that. Just look at THEIR faces! I cannot wait for this moment, Gray is finally ready ♥
5) “We can work better than them” - chapter 321
I have a thing for Gruvia holding hands xD they did it sososo many times! Gray’s trust in their teamwork is the highlight of the chapter, it’s hella true they work perfectly together- they’re ice and water after all! This scene was both powerful and cute, last but not least in my chart :)
Thanks for the question!
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