#poor jim having to handle a whole family that likes to scare him

[littlefankingdom]

~ Batman: Knightfall

Tim is proud to take after Bruce in the "sneaking in the shadow and scaring Jim Gordon" department.

[troublesometrollhunters]

Imagine being pregnant in TrollMarket

~ You were one of Jims teachers. Recently pregnant and left alone to raise the baby you moved to Arcadia for a fresh start. However monsters and mayem were not on the pregnancy itinerary and now you've stumbled into a whole world of trouble that doesn't involve your pregnancy problems.

~ Jim swears to you as long as he's Trollhunter no harm will come to you or your baby and he's so sorry that you got caught up in this mess. However your quick to forgive and soon the Trollhunter team becomes your family, the kids becoming your own children in a way.

~ Jim is quick to cook you anything you want. If you have a weird pregnancy craving he'll make whatever you want. Pickled pears? Got it! Something super sweet? Of course. Something really spicy? Sure. Icecream? He'll get the machine and make you some! He loves cooking for you and is glad he can help outside of trollhunting.

~ Toby throughout the entire process becomes your hype man. Becoming pregnant can be hard on your body and how you see yourself. Especially since the hormones make everything seem like a big deal. Sometimes the weight is upsetting or you feel fat and like a slob other times your so tired but feel lazy for taking a nap. He's there to tell you your amazing and beautiful and you should always feel that way because it's true. Self care is key and he's determined to make sure your taken care of the whole pregnancy.

~ Claires an expert in pregnancies because of her baby brother. She helps you make a list of things you should get for the upcoming baby and enjoys maternity shopping with you. You may be a pregnant lady but that doesn't mean you should be forced to live in sweatpants for nine months. She also helps you pick out cute baby clothes and toys for the nursery.

~ Poor Blinky in his excitement mixes up troll customs with human ones and creates weird hybrid things that don't actually exist and defiently don't help the pregnancy.

~ The kids and trolls keep up on absolutely everything. You're very well taken care of the whole pregnancy. Jim makes sure your eating. Toby makes sure you take care of yourself. And Claire helps you with house stuff when you need it. Draal, Blinky, and Aarrrgh also get very involved. They want to hear about your doctor appointments and see all the sonograms and ultrasounds. (Good luck getting their hands off you when the baby begins kicking)

~ You never got a baby shower so the troll team surprises you. Claire organizes the party, Jim handles the cake and food, meanwhile Toby invites all your friends and decorates. You get gifts from trolls, people, and even changelings. Strickler didn't come but he sent an expensive gift and a nice card.

~ You don't think much of it as it's a busy fun day full of gifts, laughter, games, and love. When the parties over they have one last surprise for you. Taking you upstairs the kids are excited to show you a recently decorated nursey!

~ Blinky had painted the walls of the room to look like an enchanted forest. There was elegant trees with birds and critters and flowers full of bees and butterflies. Soft green carpet laid on the floor and you nearly cried as you looked around. Draal had built you a beautiful crib of wood with little pieces of heart stone hanging off of it. And Aarrrgh smiled as he'd put in some shelves and arranged toys. Stepping further into the room taking it in, the crib was full of fluffy pillows and soft blankets. All of them were fantasy themed with pixies or tales of fae. Hand made dolls of the trolls were in a toy bin and plushies of goblins and other creatures were placed around the room. There was a gorgoues rocking chair in the corner and next to it a shelf full of young troll books and childrens toys. There was also a wooden changing station with soft pillows for your baby that held all the supplies you needed to clean and change them. You cry telling them this is the best gift ever.

~ Bular found you by accident. About half way through your second term Goblins were chasing the trollhunting team and out of options they hid at your house since you were the closest. The U.V lights you installed made the goblins flee and you thought that was the end of that until a changeling tried to break into your home a couple days later.

~ The team decides Trollmarket was the safest place for you. Staying in Trollmarket until the baby comes and you can safely move everyone is excited. Trolls may not love humans but the fact that your carrying a life inside of you is seen as a glorious thing. Trollmarket would never turn a pregnant person away even if they are a human. You get an influx of gifts from trolls around the market and they all make a point to smile and wave whenever they see you, something they didn't do before.

~ If your feet ever become sore, don't worry about it. In human standards you may be big but in troll ones your small. Blinky, Aarrrgh, Draal they'll carry you if they see you struggling. It's also a troll instinct to want to feed anything that's tiny so be prepared for trolls constantly offering you strange things to eat because they think you should be bigger for the baby. Gifts are a common occurrence as you live with Blinky. Weapons. Troll toys. Books. You also receive a lot of interesting letters.

~ Blinky tells the babies stories every night before you got to bed. He reads human fairy tales but also tells troll lore excited. Aarrrgh snuggles next to you and wherever the baby kicks he laughs. You always go to bed warm and happy as your baby rests soundly in your stomach.

~ Draal gets very protective of you when you locate to Trollmarket. He was protective before but after the attack he's now a guard dog, constantly by your side unless the team really needs him. When the baby starts kicking he's nervous to touch your belly at first. He'd seen the others do it and he wanted to as well. Taking his hand you gently put it your stomach and his eyes widen as he feels a strong kick against it.

"They're a warrior!" He states excited and you chuckle. With who they'd be raised with you had no doubt they'd be a warrior.

~ Aarrrgh is very cuddly the entire pregnancy. He wants the baby to be warm and safe so he often curls up around you when you take naps. He's often nuzzling your baby bump and asking questions. Human pregnancies and troll ones are very different and sometimes he gets confused but he does his best.

~ Blinky reads way to many books that Claire brings over about babies. Now he thinks he's an expert on all things baby related. The entire pregnancy he gives ludicrous advice thinking it'll help the pregnancy and the baby. It's sweet but he becomes a bit overbearing and the kids sometimes have to intervene.

~ Vendel gets annoyed when the others have to leave and he's stuck with you. But as you waddle around the Heartstone complaining about sore feet and back pains he pauses. He leads you somewhere to sit down. He gives you a chunk of heartstone to hold and wraps you in blankets so your warm. Wandering away he comes back with tea for the both of you and starts a pleasant chat.

~ You've wandered into a dangerous world and your worried about your baby, about the kids. They shouldn't be alone... They shouldn't be taking care of you, your the adult! Vendel notices the sad way you say alone and care. He sees your lip tremble and it hits him your scared. He softly asks you if your afraid to be alone, if your afraid you won't get the care you need. Your hands instinctively touch the baby bump and your thoughts wander to the father who'd walked out on you. You nod feeling tears in your eyes and he gently puts his head to yours humming something soft and soothing.

"You are not alone here and you will be cared for here."

You begin sobbing relieved as he rubs your back. No you suppose you had nothing to worry about.

~ Vendel knows a lot about human pregnancies thanks to asking you and doing some light research. Blinky likes to challenge the old man about it and they often bicker about what's good and not good for you and the baby. It can be quit entertaining if not alarming.

~ Vendel gives you potions for morning sickness so you no longer puke when you wake up and he gives you tea to sooth your aching muscles. He gifts you a heartstone necklace so that peace may always be with you as you carry the baby.

~ Your in Blinkies library one day. The kids are out patrolling and your enjoying a nice night when suddenly your soaked. At first you assume you peed yourself and are a tad emabrassed but you know Blinky will understand. Calling him in for some assistance he pauses seeing you and that's when the contractions start. You didn't pee, your water just broke.

~ Going to a hospital may take too long and getting out of the canal was too dangerous at this point. You're very carefully picked up by Aarrrgh before your rushed to the heartstone. Someone had ran ahead so Vendel was getting ready as you were brought in.

~ There are soft blankets to lay on and your put on a Heartstone slab which eases the pain of labor. Trolls excitedly wait outside of the heartstone for the baby to come. Hours pass and although your sweaty and exhausted you can't help but smile as your baby is placed in your arms.

~ The kids run in along with Draal and they stare at you holding your newborn. You're covered in blankets and sweaty but you couldn't be happier as you stare at your baby. They're swaddled in a soft furry blanket holding a chunk of heartstone with wide eyes. They look around and you smile.

"Hi... Hi... I'm your mama..." You mumble holding them close. "This is your family..."

~ Vendel takes the baby to check on them and you sleep after the draining expeirnce when you wake you smile holding your child close. Vendel was the official grandpa and you'd named Aarrrgh and Blinky the godfathers of the child. You said the kids could be sisters and brothers if they wanted and you told Draal he was an uncle. They were all very excited.

~ You give your baby a human name and a Trollish one. One you'd use in the human one and one you'd use in TrollMarket. Holding them close and looking at your family you smile. You wouldn't have it any other way.

@arcadia-trash

[okaybutlikeimagine]

Come Inside, It’s Ok

Desc: Hop realizes that Billy is a lot like him when he was a teen- based on the song Thirteen by Big Star (bc that’s a Jopper AND a Harringrove anthem, tell me i’m wrong)

TW: referenced past child abuse, referenced homophobia, every dad in Hawkins sounds like an abusive asshole in this fic i didn’t mean it 😞

you can also read this on AO3 right here!! ♥

~*~

James Hopper hated his father more than anyone else hated the man. More than his uncle who had to grow up with the jerk. More than his mother who threatened to divorce the deadbeat seven times. More than anyone.

Hopper’s father was abrasive and loud. He joined the army because he wanted to. He gave up his individuality willingly. He shaved his head and licked the boot of The Man and acted superior for it. He looked down on a young Jimmy Hopper and barked in his face and ordered that he become a man. Quicker. Jim was only 7. He had just broken an arm at football practice. He needed reassurance and comfort. He got condescension and a mother threatening to leave. Loudly.

James Hopper was sure he was the only son in the world who hated his own father. He felt sure as hell about it when he stuck his jaw out and looked past his nose at his father who always seemed to tower over him. Even when the man only had an inch on him, he was larger- always looming. He felt sure as hell about it when he’d narrow his eyes and refuse to listen. He felt sure as hell about it when he talked back to him, and got into yelling matches with him, and slammed the door on him.

He felt even more sure the one night he got hit.

He was more than certain he was the only one. Standing there, staring this horrible bulk of a man down, Jimmy knew no one else had ever felt such a thing before. This wasn’t TV or the movies. This wasn’t a family love you cherish by the fire on a cold Christmas night. This wasn’t a father with kind eyes and a stern voice who comes into the house in the evening with his suit on and his briefcase in hand, kissing his kids and smiling brightly. This was different and he knew it.

And all of that anger and stress and feeling of certainty made him take too long to realize something crucial. Because he didn’t realize you can know something and yet still be so wrong.

That is, until Phil didn’t come to school one day.

Jimmy figured he was sick. A couple days later he figured it was that nasty stomach bug. A week later and he figured his family took a trip. A week and a few days had him itching with worry. He asked his best friend as calmly as he could. That friend looked at him like he was nuts.

“You didn’t hear?”

“Hear what?”

“He moved away. His mom took him out of the state last weekend. They just left.”

Jim couldn’t understand the words for a second.

“Why?”

“You didn’t know? His dad has been roughing him up for years now. He got the mom too, I think. Why do you think he was always wearing sweaters all year long?”

Jim’s heart stopped.

“His mom finally got him out. They left.”

“Why did no one say anything about it?”

“Because you don’t talk about that stuff.” Jim’s friend said, hushed and knowing, eyes turned solemn and hiding a world Jim didn’t know lived in there. In his most outspoken, lively friend. In his friend he’d known since they were toddlers.

You don’t talk about that stuff he said like he had a whole world of pain to tell. Jim knew his friends were like him- dads who were tough as nails and grunted more than spoke. It was why they all got along so well. But they never mentioned their fathers being… Jim was so sure he was the only one. Everyone else did things with their family. Everyone else seemed so perfect. At the very least they seemed better. Jim was sure.

Why did no one say anything about it? quickly morphed into Why did I never even ask?

Starting there, Jim kept a critical eye out. He watched his friends and what they were wearing. The way they moved and the changes in those movements. The words they spoke about their parents. He noticed differences and fluctuating emotions. But stil, he was only a young teenager- he never knew what to do. His mouth couldn’t form around the words he felt he should say. His brain could barely provide them. So he did for them what he would have liked- just took them out to empty fields and deep into the woods. He provided them beer and music. Sometimes, when they were splitting at the seams, he’d fight them a bit. He’d egg them on so they could fight it out. Get the anger out. Help, somehow. Inadvertently. Lord knew Jimmy sometimes just needed to punch shit. Turns out, his friends felt the same way, and often.

When his daughter Sarah came, he handled her gently and spoke to her even softer. He got into fights with his now ex-wife over his not being strict enough but Hop couldn’t find it in himself to have any kind of gruffness toward someone so soft and so innocent and so pure. She was the light of his life. She left so quickly. Even his softness and kindness couldn’t save her, and he couldn’t very well beat the shit out of her enemies like he had wished to.

And when he met Billy Hargrove on the side of the road that one dark night, having pulled him over for speeding drunkenly down the lonely streets on the outskirts of town, every red flag flew up. Every worry and fear he found within himself when he was a teen found its place once again inside of him for this boy. For his bruised face and exhausted eyes. For his lightly cut chin and short breath. Hop became young Jimmy yet again, analyzing and fearing for a world of pain he couldn’t see and couldn’t ask about. He searched hard for words this time and found all the wrong ones. He exhausted the poor boy with his inability to articulate his fears and was successful in taking him in only because he had worn him out so badly.

Still, since then, he’s been here. He’s family now. He’s out of there. In all his fumbling Hop did something right.

And yet, things still feel wrong. Billy still walks tentatively around him, like the cabin is going to crash down above him and any relationship they’ve built up is going to shatter.

Hop thinks about it so often. He thinks about Billy and sees his own friends from high school. He sees parts of himself, but sadder, angrier… more helpless. He thinks endlessly on what he can do to fix it.

~Won’t you let me walk you home from school~

A song starts playing through his record player and he’s lost again in the world of Jimmy vs. Billy. He thinks of how life used to feel simple.

This song always whisks him away to high school. The early days when life was confused and wandering and he was just coming into his own with football, not nearly a “star” yet and Joyce… Joyce was young and wide eyed and wandering just the same. By that point she hadn’t even met Lonnie yet. She was awkward and yet still so beautiful. So quiet and so stunning. Her laughter rang through the hallways and he swears he can still hear it.

This song feels like it’s for them. When he first heard it, he saw her face back when they were freshmen and then sophomores, when he used to walk her home. He always used to walk her home, before he got his car and before she got Lonnie. They’d walk so slow, wandering through the streets, lazily strolling past stores and getting slightly distracted by the people zooming past on their bikes.

He sits forward on the couch and he looks down at the tattered carpet and he hears himself as Jimmy.

”C’mon Joyce… we can hit the pool this weekend.”

“I’m busy.”

“Then… then maybe Friday I can get a couple tickets for that dance.”

“What?”

He gave her his biggest, brightest grin, knowing he caught her off guard. He smiles a little now at the thought.

”Yeah, c’mon, Joyce. I’ll take ya. I’ll get a monkey suit and you can wear a dress-”

She had laughed that bright, ringing laugh. It made him smile every time.

“Yeah, I think I’ll pass.”

“You’re gonna pass up a chance to dance with me?”

“Don’t tell me, you’re the best dancer in Hawkins?”

“You’ll never know if you don’t come find out.”

“You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you?”

Hop has a hard time thinking of himself back then. He felt so sure of everything. Of himself and what he was doing, even if he knew he didn’t know anything at all. Still, he chuckles now as he sits here, thinking about Joyce’s smile and her little nod. Thinking about him buying those tickets. Thinking about the night they had together, awkward and fumbling but bright still. His first real kiss that had real feelings to go along with it. The way Joyce walked so quickly as they headed to her home because she was so nervous. The way she never let him walk her up to her house because she was so scared her parents would ground her.

Lord does he remember the fights. The stress and the struggle of dealing with Joyce’s parents. When they came to an after-school event and Jimmy said hi to her and her dad gave her hell for it and her mom worried herself sick for a bit. She got grounded and started avoiding him. He got angry and figured fine because Gloria from his History class had been eyeing him up lately and helping him with a pretty friendly smile so it didn’t even matter.

It wasn’t more than a week that had passed before he cornered her after school and convinced her to let him walk her home again.

They wandered downtown and he guided her behind a store building, the store she now works for if he remembers correctly, and asked about that night. Asked about what he said wrong. Asked about what he did wrong.

She shook her head, said it was just her parents being “crazy, I don’t know”. He couldn’t find it in him to worry that much. When they kissed, it was still with so many feelings attached. Hop can’t remember when those feelings faded.

It wasn’t until a couple years later when a rumor started going around about Joyce’s dad being a grade A asshole like Phil’s was all those years ago that made Jim take her aside very seriously and ask her if she was okay- those couple of years ago and that day. By that point she was with Lonnie and he was getting serious about Diane. He and Joyce hadn’t talked for over a year. Still, he was worried. She insisted that her dad just liked to huff and puff and yell enough to shake her ears, but he never touched her. It wasn’t until years and years later that Hop realized that really isn’t any better. Nowadays she insists she was and is fine and he’s just found it in himself to believe her.

When Hop finally got a car, they would sit in it and listen to the radio and talk music. She was the only person who’d sit with him and actually think about lyrics and feelings and words. She was always so headstrong about… well everything but especially human rights. She wanted equal rights for everyone. She fought so hard it made Jim tired. Maybe it started with her father but it truly never seemed to end. They used to sit and theorize about meanings behind words and the messages of songs.

”Tell your old man what we say about Paint It, Black. That’ll mess him up.”

Joyce hit him with a chuckle. That was the last time in high school they really laughed together. He can still remember her laugh back then- light and free from any weight these years have brought to it.

But now Jimmy is Hopper, and life isn’t the same. It doesn’t wander and linger and hide behind stores for extra kisses that feel electric. He knows life just doesn’t work that way anymore. He feels like life has only continued with all of the bad parts and none of the good.

In the slow guitar interlude of the song, he hears voices where they shouldn’t be- distant and slightly muffled and outside the window that’s opened a bit to let some air in.

“Yeah, he’s home. The cruiser is there.”

“Then I should go-”

“No, wait-”

It’s Billy and another voice Hop thinks he can recognize. Sounds like the same cocky, lilted tone of Steve Harrington. He knows they’ve been fighting for months now. They always seem to be fighting. Hop used to get called into the school because Billy was always shoving him around that one year. Since then there’s been whispers of them causing a ruckus all over the place but Hop never gets called to check it out. He doesn’t like to ask too much about it. He’s still trying to handle Billy gently and there’s so many more things to worry about. He doesn’t have the words to ask about that.

He doesn’t have the words to explain why they’d be here, together and clearly not at each other’s throats. Why bring a fight all the way back home?

“You uh… got anything planned this weekend?”

“Nope, nothing planned.”

A pause.

“There’s uh… a stupid dance or something-”

“Billy-”

“Look I just… we can’t go, obviously but maybe… we can do something on our own?”

There’s another pause. Longer this time. Hop used to be so sure and suddenly he’s realizing yet again maybe things are the same as they were when he was young- because yet again, he doesn’t know anything.

~Won’t you tell me what you’re thinking of~

“C’mon Harrington….” there’s the confirmation Hop didn’t need. “Say something at least. Don’t just stand there thinking.”

“Billy we can’t keep running around and hiding.”

“Why not?”

~Would you be an outlaw for my love?~

“What if people find out, that’s why not! What if my dad-”

“Tell your dad to fuck off.”

“And Hop?”

Hop’s heart stops. Everything comes crashing to a halt because suddenly he’s being made to face the very harsh fact that he’s not Jimmy anymore. He hasn’t been for a long while. He’s Chief Hopper and Chief Hopper belongs to the “other” part of these young kids’ minds. Billy’s and Steve’s and El’s and Mike’s. He’s the man they’re meant to rebel against. He’s the one that doesn’t “get it” like they do.

And apparently he’s the one that Steve is worried about.

He doesn’t blame him. He doesn’t even know what to think. He knows people like that exist. He thinks he used to go to school with a few guys who were… well, into other things. He never had much to say or even think about it. Joyce was friends with them. She went out to a protest or something once in their senior year. He saw her in a car with them while he was taking Diane to the movies.

It’s not the fact that they like each other or that they want to spend time together. That’s better than them beating the snot out of each other and getting his guys called on them. It’s the fact that they’re worried about him and the fact that they have every reason to be. Hop is part of “The Man” now, and people around here don’t exactly like differences.

“I’ll figure it out.” Billy says, but Hop almost misses it, it’s so quiet.

“Billy-”

“Are you gonna fight for this, or what? Or is this just a one time thing for you to find yourself or some bullshit?”

Hop hears Jimmy in Billy’s words

”Are you not gonna fight for me?”

“Fight for you?!” Joyce had yelled. Oh, how she yelled. ”Are you serious? I… I pick and choose my fights Jim, okay? I have to.”

“That’s not very fair to me.”

“Not fair? No shit it’s not fair, it’s not fair for me either! And you… you’re not being fair to me, y’know!”

And that was it. They went separate ways. It’s so vivid in Jim’s mind- the way she stormed away and Jim drove himself home. He doesn’t remember how long it took until Lonnie joined Joyce’s picture, but it felt too soon in Hop’s ever bitter mind. He couldn’t look at her for weeks. He shoved Lonnie in the hallway any chance he got. The kid would snarl and sneer at him, but he was as scrappy as a dog and scrawnier than a toothpick- no way did he ever pick a fight. He spat words and Jimmy lunged and that was that. Hop doesn’t remember when the feelings faded, but he knows he never stopped hating Lonnie’s stupid face.

Then he started to date Diane and things were just… over.

“Alright Steve, I see-”

“It’s not that easy for me, Billy.”

“And you think this shit is easy for me?”

Hop feels bad for sitting here, still listening, but he can’t get his muscles or limbs to move him. He feels stuck, somewhere between here and the past, picturing all the ways he’s still the same and yet so wildly different.

“Well it is different for you.”

“Just because my shit’s different doesn’t mean my shit’s better. Shit is still shit, Steve.”

All the times Hop thought he had it the worst anyone could ever possibly have it.

“You don’t know what it’s like.”

“Try me, Harrington! Just try me.”

All the times Hop thought maybe his friends were exaggerating about Phil’s past. Maybe Joyce was being dramatic about things at home. There was no way a kid could feel so threatened. Not a kid as big as Phil. Not a kid as headstrong as Joyce.

There’s a longer pause from the two outside the window. The voice that comes is quieter now.

“It’s scary Billy.”

“I know it is! I… fuck I know it is.”

Not a kid as big and headstrong as Billy. It took years for Hop to believe it could happen and still, with an example living in his own house, it’s still hard to understand.

“Don’t you think it could be worth it?” That’s Billy’s voice. Hop feels his heart sink even deeper. They’re talking like they’re going to die if they’re caught. How many more times can he tell this boy he’s safe here? What does he have to do to convince him? To convince them both?

“Maybe… I think so.”

“Look, I can’t make you do anything, Steve. But if you wanna try… then let me know, alright?”

Billy sounds so tired. Hop wants to tell him to lay down and take a nap. There’s such a long pause that follows and fills the space between them.

And then suddenly there’s something blocking the sun from the window. Jim gets the wherewithal to turn and see that the two boys have got their hands tangled in the front of each other’s shirts, just like they would if they were gearing for a fight, but instead of fists flying it’s their lips locked- worlds of frustration still heavy on their brows.

Jim wants to protect these kids until the day he dies. They’re here and they’re wandering too, but their walk home is covered in speed bumps and potholes and hell maybe even spikes that he and Joyce never knew. Whatever he can do to give these kids the time and place to wander like the kids they are, he’ll do it.

Then they separate, their breathing clearly labored and mingling. Then they turn and see Jim in the window, caught like two deer in big bright headlights.

A split second later, Steve is running for the hills and Billy is left with his fists grasping at the air. Hop can’t help but laugh.

[thebestofallworlds]

Period Blues

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairing: Eleven Hopper x sister!reader, Jim Hopper x daughter!reader, Jonathan Byers x reader (slight, only a little bit)

Summary: reader is dating Jonathan and is Hopper’s eldest daughter. Hopper calls Joyce all distressed. Eleven gets her first period and reader goes home to help.

A/N: so I’m back, this is just a really short imagine that I conjured up but thought was a good idea. not my best work but enjoy 

You were hanging out at your boyfriend, Jonathan Byers, house. You guys were listening to music in his room, another mixtape that he had created. Just relaxing, finally. After the 2 years that you had all had, with Will disappearing and then him getting possessed the following year, and you all fighting inter-dimensional monsters, you deserved to relax and have some sort of down time where you didn’t have to worry about anything.

You cuddled into him as he put his arm around you, hand resting on your waist as he pulled you impossibly closer to him. You both sat there for what felt like ages, just enjoying each other’s company. You looked up at him and just smiled. He looked so calm, and after everything he’d been through, you were kind of surprised. He looked down at you and you both slowly leaned in together. Your lips connected in a sweet and loving kiss. Slowly leaning back you kept your lips connected as Jonathan’s back hit his bed. You climbed on top of him as your hands grasped at Jonathan’s hair. His hand rested on your waist as you continued to deepen the kiss.

Somewhere in the distance you could hear a phone ring but you paid no attention to that, too focused on what you we're currently doing. You loved moments like this, when it was just the two of you with not a care in the world. You didn’t know how he did, but he managed to make you feel like the only girl in the world and you loved every moment of it.

“You’re so beautiful Y/N,” he whispered whilst lovingly stroking the side of your cheek. You leant into the touch whilst smiling down at him. You leant back down to continue the make out session. Just before your lips reached his you heard a throat being cleared.

Both you and Jonathan slowly looked up to see his mum standing in his doorway, hands on hips and a slight smirk on her face. You quickly get off him and sit next to him on his bed looking at his mum. you could feel your face growing warm as blood rushed to your face. Oh dear, you were so embarrassed. You looked down and saw your hand were connected, at least that brought your heart rate down a little.

“Um Y/N, your Dad just called. There’s a bit of an emergency,” well that’s not what you want to hear. Your head lifts up to look at her and you almost leap up off the bed looking at her with wide eyes.

“What do you mean? What’s going on? Is El okay? Dad? Mrs Byers what’s the emergency?” You all but yelled. You were so scared. What if those people from the lab had come from El. What if there were more inter dimensional monsters. Your stomach began to twist as all different scenarios began to play out in your.

“Don’t worry, it’s not that kind of emergency. More like a family emergency. Uhhh, so, El got her first period, and her and your poor dad are freaking out,” Joyce laughed as she recalled the conversation she just had with Hopper. Ohhhhhh that all makes sense. That was going to happen eventually, you were just hoping you’d be there for it. The poor thing must be so scared and you couldn’t even begin to imagine what your dad was thinking.

“Ooh thank God. Could you ring them back and let them know that I’m on my way. I just have to do a quick stop. Tell dad to put her in the shower.” Joyce nods and leaves the room chuckling to go and ring your dad. You turn around to look at Jonathan. Now it was your turn to laugh. The look on the boy's face was a mix between relief and disgust. You just wrapped your arms around his middle and stand there for a little bit until he finally puts his arms around you. Looking up he gave you a small kiss of the forehead, knowing that it was time you left. You savoured moments like this, when you could just act normal, like nothing strange ever happened in your lives.

"I'll see you tomorrow, I love you," You whispered as you slowly untangled yourself from the warmth of Jonathan's embraced. He just nodded with a slight smile on his face, knowing that you would do anything from your family. And as much as he wanted to plead with you to stay with him a little longer, he also knew that if you didn't leave now things would be a lot more difficult at home.

You rushed to the supermarket to begin picking out a little care package for your adorable younger sister El. You remembered when you first got your period. Granted you were living with your mum at the time, so she was pretty good around the whole subject. And thankfully your dad didn't have any part of that chunk in your life. However, it's times like now that you wish he had so he knew how to handle the situation.

You walked into the shop and headed straight for the toiletry aisle. After picking out a whole heap of pad packets, you then went and grabbed a tub of cookies and cream ice cream, a bar of chocolate and a packet of Eggos, El's favourite. With all of that you also quickly grabbed a hot water bottle and a little teddy bear with a ribbon around it's neck. With this in tow you quickly paid for it all and sped (whilst also doing the speed limit, because your dad would kill you if your broke the law) to the cabin in order to offer some comfort to El and your Dad.

You opened the door to see your dad, beer in hand, sitting on the floor with his back against the bathroom door. You could also hear the shower running so that meant that they had listened to you and was in fact in the shower. At the sound of the door opening Your dad looked up and the look on his face showed much relief. He stood up and immediately raced over to you and hugged you.

"Oh thank god you're here. I don't know what to do and El is freaking out and it's all a little too much," he mumbled rather quickly and all you could do was giggle. You felt bad but the whole situation was funny to you.

"She's in the bathroom, go in there. She's scared, please help her." He whispered and let go of you, so you walked over to the bathroom door and knocked on the door.

"El, it's me, open up please," You yelled so she could hear you. You watched the door slowly open and El's head slowly came into view through the crack in the door.

"Hey sweetie, can you let me in please, I can help you." and with that the door swung open and what came into sight was El wrapped in a towel, hair wet, red faced and eyes swollen from what you assume is crying. As soon as you shut the door behind you she leapt onto you and began squeezing you in a hug and you could tell just how terrified she was. You just wrap your arms around her and hug her even tighter, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head, hopefully giving her a sense of comfort.

"Okay, let's get you dressed and then I'll help you with what's going on," You muttered, unwrapping your arms from her and letting her get dressed into more comfortable clothes. Once she'd done that you went into a big and long explanation into what was happening to her, how it would happen to her every month and that it's completely normal for girls, and no Mike doesn't get them, only us girls. Then you showed how to use a pad.

With all of that out of the way you led her to the couch and put the TV on for her whilst you went to heat up the hot water bottle. Your dad was nowhere to be found, so you assumed that he went out for a drink to get away from all the hormones. Once the hot water bottle was heated up, you grabbed two spoons and the ice-cream and chocolate and walked back over to the couch to cuddle up with your little sister. You placed the hot wattle bottle on her stomach and opened up the ice cream to begin eating it.

When your dad came home later that night, he opened the door to find a box of eggos thrown onto the floor and crumbs everywhere around the lounge. On the coffee table was an empty tub of ice cream and a chocolate wrapper. Looking at the couch he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. In front of him were his two girls cuddled into each other. El had a tight grip on a small brown teddy bear and you had a tight grip around your sister, holding her into your chest for comfort. He went and grabbed the blanket off of El's bed and pulled it over the two of you for some extra warmth. He bent down and placed a light kiss on both of your foreheads and crept over to his bedroom, but not before turning back and imprinting the image of his two daughters into his brain, knowing that his little Sarah was also looking down upon the two of you.

[dxrksong]

Shattered Glass chapter 4

Y/N meets some familiar faces and spends some time with some old friends

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

Morning came and you woke up with a yawn, honestly having a better night of sleep than last time. 

You sat up and paused once you saw the Jims passed out on your floor

Y/N: Jims? What are you doing here?

You got up, kneeling by them and proceeding to shake them awake

Y/M: Jiiiim!

CameraJim: noooo. I don't wanna get up!

Y/N: well too bad, you're in MY room on the floor so get up!

CameraJim moved to yawn before both of the Jims realized what was going on and hopped up onto their feet

MicJim: A-Apologizes MirrorJim!! We ran in here to hide from StaticJim and ended up falling asleep!

Well that explains SOME things

Y/N: wait running from Dark? What did you do?

The Jims looked at each other

CameraJim: Just told StaticJim where Jims found MirrorJim.

Y/N: oh geez…...did they corner you?

CameraJim nodded as MicJim lowered his head

MicJim: sorry MirrorJim, we couldn't stay quiet for long. 

You sighed and smiled slightly

Y/N: it's ok. I suppose they'd find out eventually. 

Doesn't make your life easier though. After your little episode yesterday, you wouldn't be surprised if everyone would start acting strangely around you now.

Y/N: don't suppose you two'd wanna-

A knock on the door interrupted you. The Jims froze as you turned to face the door. 

Y/N: who is it?

Wil: It's just me, can I come in?

Wil said, already opening the door and walking in

Y/N: well I can't say so since you knocke-

Wil: GREAT!!! WE'RE GOING ON AN ADVENTURE!!!

Wil said, grabbing you with one arm and the Jims on the other

CameraJim: Oooooo!! An adventure! 

MicJim: where to PinkJim? 

Wil: to the town!! I have some errands to run and I thought who else but my favorite partners in crime to come with?!

You shrugged 

Y/N: better than staying here!

Honestly you'd take any chance to avoid the others at the moment. 

Especially Mark. 

The twins cheered, CameraJim saying something about a real treat before the next thing you knew, Wil had warped you all in front of a diner

Wil: but first, breakfast! I know you three haven't eaten yet and that's a big no no when going on errands! 

You looked up at the place's sign. It looked to be a normal family run diner. The four of you entered the diner, some people giving you and your friends weird looks but no one seemed bothered as you all sat down. 

Wil and MicJim were sitting in front of you as you sat next to CameraJim, his camera still filming even though nothing was happening. 

You looked over the menu and when the waitress cane by you all gave your orders, Wil's of course going overboard. You watched the poor waitress leave before turning back to your friend's. 

Y/N: so what kind of errands are we running? 

Wil: hmm well.

Wilford brought out an old broken pocket watch

Wil: we still got a few hours after this! How about we go on a joy ride in the town?!

You stared a glance with the Jims before the three of you broke out in excited cheering. This answered nothing.

But Might as well right?

-----------

As you and your friends were leaving the diner, the Jims paying for the breakfast shockingly, you couldn't help but ask

Y/N: s-so. About last night…...i-is anyone-

Wil: oh yeah!! You completely missed the announcement!! We're supposed to be getting new ego's today! Oh Mark dropped the bomb on us this time, we almost panicked until Mark said they'd be coming in with their own rooms set up for them! 

You looked at Wil bewilderedly 

Y/N: wonder what that mean?

CameraJim: maybe they're bringing fully furnished rooms with them?

MicJim: or they're going to MAKE their own rooms?

Wil: well whatever it is, at least I'm not on decoration duty again! I was banned from doing so after the first time!! 

That honestly didn't surprise you as you laughed. 

Y/N: alright, since I'm planning on avoiding the manor for a while, why don't we go to the mall?!

CameraJim: THE MALL?!

MicJim: THE MALL?!

CameraJim: we've never been to the mall before!! 

Y/N: gee, I wonder why. 

That came out more sarcastic than you meant it to.

Wil: Dark told us to stay away?

Y/N: sounds about right! Let's go anyway!

CameraJim: won't we get in trouble? 

Y/N: well then, if you're too scared I'll just go by myself-

Wil: BLASPHEMY!! 

you had started walking away from the group when all of a sudden Wil was suddenly beside you, wrapping his arm around you.

Wil: No man gets left behind, even if said man WANTS to be left behind!! 

Jims: YEAH!!!

and that's how you managed to wonder into a mall with two reporters and a mentally unstable man at your side. 

You four actually ended up waiting time until around noon, you buying some things that caught your eye as the Jims distracted themselves with some of the jewelry stores and Wil with asking people random questions.

You were in the food court when things started to go down. You had grabbed a smoothie when you heard shouting down the shopping way and you looked to see Wil was being forced out of the mall by a couple of cops. 

At the same time more shouting broke out as the Jims were being more or less tossed out another store. 

You sighed, guess it's time to leave the mall. Smoothie in one hand, you grabbed both of the Jim's collars with the other before starting to drag them outside the mall as Wil was being forced out not too far behind you three. 

Once outside you spotted a black car waiting outside the doors with a familiar driver. 

Dark….of course. 

Not really questioning it, you and the Jims got in the car, Wil following suit, having warped into the car and leaving the cops confused and shocked before the car sped away. 

The silence along the way home was deafening and the longer you sat in it, the less you liked it. You could handle yelling, screaming even for breaking a rule like this. But the silence…..it was a thousand times worse than any shouting matches. Not even Dark's aura made any noise.

It was as if the silence ate you alive

Someone…..say something 

Someone

SOMEONE

LET ME OUT!!!

Y/N: ……….You're….mad at us...right? 

You're mad at ME right?

Dark looked into the rear view mirror and sighed.

Dark: originally. I would be. But after the disaster last night and the whole "new egos" situation going on right now. I can't say I was surprised to find you didn't show up for breakfast. 

CameraJim: so does that mean Jims are off the hook?

Dark: not entirely…..but yes. Just this once! 

You sighed. That was a small relief off your mind. Dark seemed stressed as hell and the others seemed tense. 

Well except for Wil, who seems to have busied himself with snooping through the things you had gotten while shopping. 

Wil suddenly lifted his head out of the bags, a pair of rose tinted, pink flamingo framed sunglasses in his hands. 

Wil: now where on earth did you find this?! 

He said, putting them on. You rolled your eyes playfully

Y/N: in one of those teenager stores, the one with pretty much everything.

CameraJim: you mean the one we were in?

Y/N: yeah, that one! 

To be truthfully honest you mostly got clothes for yourself, wanting to expand your wardrobe. But you also got some things for most of the ego's, the sunglasses being one of them. 

As you pulled up to the manor, you didn't see anything different like you expected. They just be too busy with decorating the inside. 

Dark: the new ego's will be here around dinner time. And as much as I'd hate asking, I'd like your help with setting things up.

All you did was nod and The first thing you did was head to your room to drop off your stuff before coming back downstairs to try and see what you could do to help. 

At first it seemed everyone was busy and needed no help. Until you spotted Mark. 

Oh of freaking course!

He seemed to be struggling with some of the streamers and you sighed internally as you went over and easily set them up. 

Mark: thanks! Oh! Y/N! I-I-I-

Y/N: before you start acting like nothing had happened I'd like to make a point across. 

You turned to face Mark who suddenly quieted down, nodding in a motion for you to continue. 

Y/N: I don't like you, like at all. In fact I can hardly trust you to do anything without making a disaster out of it. The same could be said for Dark. HOWEVER. 

You turned and looked to see Dark organizing the ego's and helping around the set up, Mark following your gaze

Y/N: unlike a certain somebody that has yet to do so, he had the decency to apologize to my face, weither he meant it or not. 

You looked back to Mark who seemed to catch on what you were saying. 

Mark: y-you're right. I'm so sorry Y/N! Please, believe me when I say I didn't mean to drag you down this rabbit hole along with the rest of us. 

Y/N: doesn't excuse what you did. But, I appreciate the apology. I still don't want to be left alone with you, but it's a start. 

Mark: I'm…….flattered?

Y/N: don't let your head get too big. 

You finished with the streamers and turned to walk away. It's a bit of a shame that you had to spell it out for him. 

-----------

Part 1

[captainkirkmccoy]

Continued from here.

From: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                                    To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwordacademy.fd>                    Subject: You’ll Never Guess What Happened

I just got to spend the weekend with my dad! And your dad!

So, your dad is totally amazing. I’m sure you already knew this but I need to tell you what happened yesterday afternoon.

And I guess I should also say sorry your mom didn’t let you come to family weekend. I know you would have had an amazing time!

But anyway, your dad totally saved my dad’s life!

So my dad’s pretttty much allergic to everything. My mom says she’s grateful I didn’t take after my dad even though I am kinda allergic to a few things. Bones (I get to call him this too!) says that he should write a medical paper on my dad because they discover like a new thing he’s allergic to every day.

So, we were all at the camp cookout. And this guy Gary--who is a total asshole like your mom’s fiance--was making the food and your dad told him to please make a separate meal after he cleaned off the grill because he was making skewers with peppers and my dad’s allergic to peppers. (I just pretend I am because I think they’re gross).

But Gary--who, your dad said is a few peaches short of a pie--didn’t do that and some of the pepper juices got on my dad’s burger and he had an episode!

He started choking and his face swelled up and it was soooo scary.

Your dad jumped into action so quickly! He apparently always carries an epi-pen on him and he stabbed my dad in the leg with it. And then the paramedics came and dad and Bones and I got to ride in a transport.

He’s still in the hospital because they have to keep him under observation and he had to breathe with a tube overnight.

I’m kinda freaking out but your dad has been really nice. He made me a milkshake when we got back to their apartment and this morning before we went to go visit my dad, he made the best pancakes. He said he used to make you pancakes all the time. I’m sorry you couldn’t be there.

George Kirk

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                               Subject: Re: You’ll never guess what happened

George,

Oh my god, is your dad okay? I’m so glad that my dad was there and that he acted quickly. My dad is amazing like that. He once gave the Heimlich to Mr. Gershwitz, who’s like a hundred years old, when he choked on a meatball at a town spaghetti dinner. He was so calm when everyone was freaking out. 

I hope this Gary guy gets reprimanded. He should have known better.

And yeah, I wish I was there too. I’m not talking to my mom right now. I’m so so mad at her. She’s impossible.

Sincerely,

Joanna Beth McCoy

Honor Society Vice President, Woodward Academy

First Chair Viola, Woodward Academy Orchestra

***

From: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                                   To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwordacademy.fd>                   Subject: Re: Re: You’ll never guess what happened

Oh, yeah. Your dad sent a bunch of angry comms to Captain Pike, who handles cadets, and a few other people. I think he’s getting whatever Starfleet’s version of a time out is.

And I hate to break it to you, but the way your dad was soooo worried about my dad? And the way he shoved Gary when he found out about the peppers? I think that means your dad really really likes my dad. A lot.

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: Doctor Leonard McCoy <leonard.mccoy@starfleetacademy.fd>       Subject: You’re the best

Dear Daddy,

I just wanted to write and tell you how proud I am of you. Thanks for being the best.

P.S. Did you really punch Gary Mitchell at the picnic? I hope you didn’t get in trouble even though he deserved it. I hope Jim’s okay too.

***

From: Doctor Leonard McCoy <leonard.mccoy@starfleetacademy.fd>            To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                   Subject: Re: You’re the best

Oh, darlin’ that’s the best thing a daddy could hear. Thank you. I’m so proud of you too, sweetheart. I’m sorry you didn’t get to come to family weekend but guess what? I get a little break in a few weeks and I’m planning on coming to Georgia to see you. Can’t wait to see you!

And yes, Jim’s okay. He’s got more lives than a cat. Thank you for checking in. Mitchell’s on probation. I have a feeling I won’t have to worry much about him anymore.

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: Doctor Leonard McCoy <leonard.mccoy@starfleetacademy.fd>       Subject: Re: Re: You’re the best

YOU’RE COMING HOME?! REALLY? FOR HOW LONG?

I’m so excited! I scared Juniper so bad that she fell off my bed, poor kitty. Will you be staying at Nan’s? Or maybe you can sleep in the guest room? Or if that’s too weird, can we get a fancy hotel room at the Forest? And we can have afternoon tea and shirley temples in the fancy room with the fireplaces?

Anyway, I CAN’T WAIT. Is Jim coming??

***

From: Doctor Leonard McCoy <leonard.mccoy@starfleetacademy.fd>            To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                 Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: You’re the best

Yes! I am! For a whole week. I’m so excited too! Can’t wait to see you, darlin’!

I think I’ll be staying at Nana’s for the time but I think we can definitely plan to go to Forest’s for afternoon tea.

Jim has a few mandatory seminars and tests to attend to over the break so he won’t be able to come visit. But you’ll get to meet him soon. I promise.

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                               Subject: Re: Re: Re: You’ll never guess what happened

Guess what?! My dad’s coming home for a whole week next week! I think your dad is doing some stuff at the academy so he can’t visit. That’s really unfortunate because I wanted to meet him. 

Are you going to be able to spend any time with your dad during the break?

I’m also still not so sure about our dads getting together, though. I think they’re just really really good friends. My dad’s the best. Everyone likes him, even when he’s grumpy and all doctor-y. It would be nice, though. He deserves to be in love. 

***

From: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                                   To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                             Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: You’ll never guess what happened

Ughhhh, lucky!

I won’t get to see my dad at all because I have to go back to Iowa with my mom. My grandparents still live there. But it’s really boring and they don’t even have a good vids system. I mostly just read A LOT. My grandma on my dad’s side doesn’t even live in Iowa anymore so it’s not like I get to see her either. She’s an engineer on a Starfleet base near the neutral zone. I talk to her a lot on comms. She’s funny and tells the best stories about dad as a kid. 

He worked a whole summer fixing everyone’s appliances--old Terran radios, replicators, air conditioners--but he always did something funny to them. Like the radio only played Romulan stations or the air conditioner talked or the replicator made everything a certain color (even if the food was still good). 

I wish I could do stuff like that. Dad’s good at everything, even if he won’t admit it and doesn’t like to show it. Mom said she was always trying to get dad to act smarter than he was. But that he was always such a doofus. I wonder if your dad thinks that?

What are you guys going to do next week??

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                               Subject: Sorry!

Hi George!

I’m sorry i didn’t write. Daddy got to come early! It was like the best surprise in the world. Even mom was impressed!

So, we went to this amazing inn in town called Forest. It’s super old like before World War Three old. And they make the yummiest sandwiches and chocolate covered strawberries at afternoon tea. Have you ever had a scone with clotted cream and raspberry jam? They’re my favorite. 

We also went to a baseball game in Atlanta, which is like an hour away from our town. And we went shopping and went to a movie marathon at the hover car drive in. It was THE BEST. 

Annnnd, my dad couldn’t stop talking about your dad. “Jim said this...” “Jim did this...” “One time, Jim...”

And his eyes kinda get that bright, lit up look like my eyes do on Christmas or when I get my Viola solo music for the first time. 

Well, I have a few more days with my dad and I’m really looking forward to not spending it with mom and Clay, ugh. 

Talk soon!

***

From: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                                   To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                             Subject: Re: Sorry

I comm’d with Dad yesterday. I think he misses your dad A LOT. He kinda looked sad and lonely. He said he was going to bed at TEN THIRTY. Kirks DO NOT go to bed early. It’s like against the law. 

He has a big test tomorrow. Some survival unit thing. Dad and I are kinda competitive so I know he’s going to do the best in his class. Kirks are the best at tests and games. Just so you know. 

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                               Subject: Is everything okay??

George! I heard what happened. Dad left immediately on a direct shuttle back. I hope your dad’s okay. Dad was really worried. 

***

From: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                                   To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                             Subject: Re: Is everything okay??

So I guess that thing about my dad having more lives than a cat is true?

And your dad saved my dad’s life AGAIN? I think we owe him big time. 

I’m in the hospital with dad. I fought two nurses before your dad told them to leave me alone and I can sleepover in the room. 

Your dad is now my best friend. 

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                               Subject: Re: Re: Is everything okay??

I guess my dad’s just real good at saving lives and punching people who bother your dad. 

Mom actually gave dad a name of a lawyer she went to school with in San Francisco so that my dad and your dad can protect themselves if that paparazzi sues them or something. But Starfleet apparently also stepped in? I guess they didn’t react well when one of their cadets was harassed. 

I’m glad to hear your dad’s out of the hospital. Let me know if you need anything. 

My dad’s pretty great. I’ll let you be his best friend for like a day. But we’ll have to share him with your dad I guess. :D

***

From: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                                   To: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                             Subject: Re: Re: Re:  Is everything okay??

Thanks for not asking about the obvious. Everyone else does. I’m sick of talking about it. People think I’m damaged because of it. But like...how could that have affected me? My dad was little when it happened. 

My mom’s letting me stay home for the week. I usually get to stay home around Remembrance Day too. I actually wish I was in school, though. I hate that everything can’t be normal. Stupid reporters. 

***

From: Joanna McCoy <joanna.mccoy@woodwardacademy.fd>                      To: George Kirk <georgiakirk@StarfleetPrepatory.fd>                               Subject: Re: Re: Re: Is everything okay??

I’ve never seen my mom so upset! She went into full lawyer mode when the news broke. She’s been on the phone with her attorney friends for hours. 

I don’t understand why people want to keep talking about the tragedy. It happened over twenty years ago and it was awful. I hate that we even have to learn about it in history class. 

How did they even find out your dad was on Tarsus IV?

[imagineleonkennedy]

Leon Kennedy: Nostalgia

A short story written by @thecarnalscientist-jt for Imagine Leon Kennedy.

Hope you all enjoy.

Nostalgia            

The Kilo Tavern sign stood out among the cobblestone brick walls of other local establishments. It was tattered, a little beaten from the wear of time but the signs green and orange blood neon lighting blinked like fireflies that hadn’t lost their spark. A juicy aroma of meat and salted fries weaved its way through the cool air outside seductively as if to say ‘come and see what I got for you’. Inside the tavern it was an outdoor nostalgic watering hole. Game mounts stared down at customers much like the hunters that took them down. Old Jim Beam collector whiskey bottles hung up above the bar. There were more buzzing neon blue and red lights promoting products such as Corona. Dollar bills were stuck to the ceiling with thumb tacks as some locals looked in awe at the spectacle, as if they were staring directly up at heaven itself. The clattering sound of the pool table balls colliding into each other echoed throughout the building, bouncing off the rustic walls in a pleasant hum. 70s memorabilia littered the walls like a flock of perched bats in a cave. The taps at the front of the bar stood like soldiers at attention waiting for the bartender to choose which liquid gold would caress a patrons lips and tongue with bitter sweet flavor. The tavern had an otherworldly primordial feel during night as if time stopped and characters from different universes could intermingle and chill away from their troubles.

Leon Kennedy felt nervous. He hadn’t been to this old place since he graduated the police academy. He sipped lightly on an amber colored beer, not sure what it was called but it tasted cheap. He vaguely remembered the night he had gotten drunk and ended up being late to his first day at the Raccoon City precinct. Time had flown fast, but as he glanced around at fellow patrons among other nostalgic items, Kilo still had an undying charm. The tavern had barely changed. Leon on the other hand, well, that was a long story.

The bell to the large wooden door clanged, and Leon’s gaze quickly went over to it. He saw her then: wavy brown hair and a big jacket gave Miranda away. She gave a wave, smiling at Leon as he returned the same gesture.

“It’s good to see you!” Miranda said as she approached him. The two exchanged pleasant smiles at each other as Leon got out from his seat and nodded.

“Likewise. You changed your hair. I remember you were blond once upon a time.” He said with a smirk, to which Miranda shook her head and puffed out a laugh.

“Well, between the two of us you still look like a Ken doll.”

“You’re never going to let that go, are you?” Leon sighed and laughed.

“You’re the one that drunkenly suggested the two of us go as Barbie and Ken to my college’s dance fundraiser. We were a laughing stock, but it was fun. I miss being adventurous like that.”

“That seems to be something we have in common now.” Leon said, and his playfulness somewhat dipped as he had to step back into reality. His life was completely different compared to when he was at the academy, and back when he was in his first serious relationship with none other than the woman sitting across from him after Leon had pulled out a chair for her and sat back down.

“So, how have you been?” Leon started, trying to keep his composure. Even to this day, Miranda made him nervous. He had fought the undead, and countless B.O.W’s, but she still had an air about her that said not to fuck around. He figured that’s how Miranda got accepted to one of the best medical schools in the country long after the Raccoon City incident.

“Oh pretty good. The hospital I’m working at is always full of sick people, sadly. Nothing new there. I have a couple of kiddos now, do you want to see them?”

“Yeah.” Leon smiled as Miranda beamed with pride as she took out her phone. It took a moment for her to comb through the gallery. Leon stole some quick glances at the kind of pictures Miranda loved to take. Mostly of patients and her, and a couple with the man whom Leon assumed was her husband.

“This one is Corey and the other is Val.” She handed her cell over to Leon and he got a good look at the kids. Both of them couldn’t have been more than six years old. Leon could tell they were definitely Miranda’s given their thick eyebrows and thin lips. Both their smiles were contagious. Leon could imagine they were the kind of kids that could light up a room with their presence. Easily goal driven. They had to be given who their mother was.

“They’re beautiful kids. You and your husband must be proud.”

“Actually, my wife and I are proud.” Miranda corrected to which Leon’s eyes widened subtly as he the realization dawned on him. He blinked a few times as he processed what transpired. Miranda gave a bellowing laugh and then shook her head as she gently took back the phone.

“Are you offended?” She asked jokingly.

“N-no. I just had no idea you were bisexual.” Leon said in his defense.

“Lesbian actually. I had no idea I was either until after me and you broke up. You did me a solid.” Miranda said, her smile somewhat glum at mentioning that. Leon nodded and cleared his throat.

“How did you two meet?” He asked curiously.

“We met through a volunteer group, countering bioterrorism through educating fellow doctors on how to spot patients that may be infected and how to best quarantine them. She actually is trying to pass a medical law right now to have all hospitals across the US have high tech facilities that can handle any infected persons that come through. Catherine, my wife, she’s a governor now. So far she’s gotten her initiative passed in five states, mostly northern ones. The south has been reluctant, but you know how the politicians are down there.”

“I wouldn’t know. Rednecks scare the crap out of me so you don’t see me in Georgia.” Leon said with a smirk to which Miranda chuckled.

“I thought nothing scared you given that you basically fight zombies.”

“The undead are like wild animals. It’s easy to predict when they’re going to attack you. Regular people, and rednecks for that matter, you can never tell if they’re your friend or your enemy.”

“Given your expertise in the subject, where do you think I stand?” Miranda smiled.

“Acquaintance, possible friend at this point. Frenemy?” Leon said and smiled in return. Miranda turned her attention towards the bartender and hollered that she wanted a beer from the tap. The drink was quick to come, and she downed half of it by the time the glass hit the table and the bartender went back to his post.

“You still drink as if your life depends on it.” Leon said jokingly, taking a jab as Miranda snorted and gestured at Leon’s own beverage.

“And you still tread lightly. You barely touched your own beer.”

“I can’t afford too, sadly. Been trying to kick the habit.”

“Oh, you have a drinking problem?”

“More or less. I get nightmares a lot,” Leon said with a sigh as he rubbed his forehead and his bangs from his eyes. Miranda eyed him then. It had been years, but she could recall when Leon was getting tense and when he was trying to hide it.

“Your shoulders are scrunching up. You don’t like talking about it.” She pointed out.

Leon smiled lightly. “I can’t ever hide anything from you, can I?”

“Nope.” Miranda said as a matter of fact. “Do you have a family or anything like that, Leon?”

Leon wasn’t sure how to answer right away, he furrowed his brows and glanced around the tavern while collecting his thoughts before settling his gaze back on Miranda. He shook his head. His eyes held a somber look in them.

“No. I don’t have time for that kind of thing. In between fighting off monsters, checking in with my superiors, and going through rigorous government training, I don’t get a lot of personal time. Much less I can’t go out on dates on a whim.”

“You must have pulled a lot of strings to get to be here tonight.”

“What can I say?” Leon gave a shrug. “I’ve been nostalgic lately.”

“And clearly given that look in your eye, you want something from me.” Miranda said and crossed her arms. She held a playful smirk, but Leon could tell from her earthy eyes that she was cautious about wherever the conversation was going.

“Again, I could never hide anything from you.” Leon gave a laugh and then took a drink, this time a bit more than what he was accustomed too. “I heard you were with the doctors without borders group that was outside Kijuju. Could you tell me about it?”

Miranda looked taken aback, something Leon noted right away. Was she really that shocked he would come to possess such information? He had never seen Miranda off guard before. He kept his expression neutral, watching her as she gathered herself.

“Yeah, I try not to think about it. My team and I were transported out of there by the BSAA right before the plagas hit hard, but I did see how it affected the animal life. Poor things. I still get queasy thinking about it. I may not have seen the full scale Kijuju, but I can only imagine what it was like for the people over there. I promised myself after that trip, I wasn’t going to go on anymore humanitarian missions for a while. Not in this kind of world where plagues and viruses seem to be sprouting like spring flowers. How did you know about me being there?”

“A friend of mine works in the BSAA. We both share a lot of reports with each other. He was another survivor, Raccoon City and all. I looked through some records and found out you and that medical team gave statements and recommendations. I also saw you bumped into someone I’m looking for.”

“Who?”

“Ada. Ada Wong. You might have known her as Clariece Fisher on your medical team.”

Miranda shook her head and sighed. “I only met her a few times. We didn’t talk much.”

Leon furrowed his brows. “According to your statement you gave the BSAA, you mentioned a whole lot more than just a mere chit chat.”

“Leon, please…not here.” Miranda sounded almost guilty as Leon shook his head firmly. He couldn’t afford to lose this lead, he couldn’t afford to have Miranda get the upper hand on this one and make him fall back. He had to know.

“Miranda, what did Ada tell you? Look, you’re not under arrest or anything. I’ve been chasing her for a while. I need to know if she might have played a hand in what happened. Please.”

Miranda swallowed thick, contemplating whether or not she should suck in her pride and spill the beans or bolt quick before Leon could stop her. Given his training, and the fact she was a mere doctor and not a government agent, she quickly ruled out the latter. He was going to find out no matter what. Per usual, he was stubborn like that.

“I thought she was originally there as part of back up the medical team was suppose to receive. She even assisted with collecting samples, so that we could possibly conjure up a vaccine for the locals and animals. I caught her one night smuggling out some of the plagas among other blood the team had collected. Ada gave me a choice, either kill me and make it seem like one of the locals did it, or help her out. I helped her slip away with everything. Then I got back to the states and was awarded a quarter million dollars by an unknown source. I’m assuming it was her doing, buying my silence.”

Leon furrowed his brows. “Did she mention why she was collecting the plagas samples?”

“It was for a client. She didn’t disclose much other than that. I mostly had to help her keep up the charade that she was a part of the team. I even helped her fake she was killed during a shoot out. I know what I did was stupid, I should have turned her in as soon as I got back over to the states–but the money came in, and my wife lost her job and–”

Leon held up a hand gently and peered up at Miranda’s eyes, seeing she was on the verge of tearing up. He had met many people in life thanks to his job, and he knew from experience that she was sincere in her guilt. He then calmly put his hand down and sighed, closing his eyes as he debated with himself. Technically, she helped harbor a terrorist and on the other hand, he could understand well enough why Miranda took the hush money and bailed on telling the BSAA anything further.

“How did you find out Clariece was Ada Wong?” Miranda asked curiously.

“Call it a sixth sense.” Leon mused. “Given your statements about Clairece, a lot of the mannerisms and characteristics stood out as Ada. Like my friend in the BSAA, me and her go way back.”

Miranda furrowed her brows, looking a little shocked and somber. “Is she a war criminal?”

“Bioterrorist and conspirator. Works for the black market. She’s really smart.”

That last bit right there, gave away Leon even though he had no intention of it. Miranda’s face seemed to light up almost like the neon colors in the tavern. She didn’t say anything, not wanting to put Leon on the spot, but it became clear as day given his expression that he had a soft spot for this terrorist. Miranda couldn’t help but take one jab.

“You always did have a weakness for the bad asses.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“Nevermind.” Miranda waved him off. Silence then filled the space between them as they both were unsure what to do next. They both took turns sipping from their own cups, letting the beer calm their nerves to a degree. Miranda’s face was a little plump and red from nervousness.

“What does this mean for me?” Miranda asked, caution in her tone as Leon sighed.

“Nothing. What’s done is done and I’m not about to break up a family on account you were blackmailed. As for the money, you got that from a rich family member that died right? Had no other heirs but you?” Leon said casually and gave a small smirk, letting Miranda take a breather. She let out a sigh of relief and wiped away at her eyes and murmured a hushed thank you to Leon for sparing her.

“Was this all you wanted from me?” Miranda asked, to which she was genuinely surprised when Leon shook his head.

“No. There’s something else I’ve been wanting to say to you for a long time,” He took in a breath, closed his eyes for a moment and allowed the memories of their time together to flow through him leading up to the fateful night. When he opened them, he had a clarity and a sense of purpose. He had been wanting to get this off his chest for a long time.

“Thank you, for breaking up with me.”

Miranda was taken aback. “Why would you thank me for that? It’s my fault you got drunk and ended up in that godforsaken city. You have no idea how many nights I had feeling like shit I never apologized or checked to see if you were okay after it. I was too scared. I was such a cunt for doing that, abandoning you. I should have checked in.”

Leon shook his head and instinctively, his hand reached out and clasped over hers as he held her gaze with a firm look. “No, you probably saved my life. See, I was late to work because I got drunk and worked up over the loss of us. Raccoon City was a nightmare, and yeah I walked right into the heart of it, but if I had left sooner, if I had been there earlier on with my team, I probably wouldn’t be here talking to you right now. My life changed drastically Miranda, and a lot of it I despise but I don’t regret it. I don’t resent you for what happened. I feel like you’ve been needing to hear that for a long time now.”

Miranda at this point was crying, not hard but it was telling that she had carried the guilt with her over the years. Leon’s forgiveness was breaking whatever shields she had that held up her trying to hide the fact. Miranda nodded, gently taking her hand away from Leon as she grabbed a napkin and wiped away at her eyes. Leon gave her a chance to compose herself, he too shedding a few tears before sniffling and wiping them away rather quick.

“Your phone is ringing.” Leon said and gestured to Miranda’s black cell. It was buzzing with a familiar tune that Leon couldn’t quite recall.

“It’s my wife. She’s probably wondering where I’m at. I didn’t tell her we were meeting up.”

Leon nodded. “I gotta get going anyway. I may have pulled strings to meet up, but not much sadly.”

Miranda smiled. “Do you like your job?”

“To be honest? Not really. It’s soul crushing a lot of the time, but I do save people. I’d rather be a cop, or maybe even a doctor.” Leon joked and Miranda shook her head.

“I think you’re better at disembolwing corpses than putting one back together. Perhaps a mortician instead?”

“After all the shit I’ve seen since Raccoon City, not on your life.”

They both laughed together, the first time in years. There was something about it that made both of their hearts swell. A lot had changed, and as people they had gone on different paths but deep down they were still those young adults that were unsure yet sure of everything. Even within Leon, his youth was still there underneath the layers of who he had to become.

“You should come meet my wife and kids sometime, if it wouldn’t be too awkward.”

“I’d love to.” Leon smiled and then got up. He took his wallet out and threw down enough cash to cover his drink and Miranda’s. He then paused and gave her one last look, taking in how much she was different now. He felt a small pain of envy within himself, wondering what it would have been like if they were still together. Wondering how it would have been if they had a family. Wondering how different life would have turned out altogether.

“It’s all in the past. I’ll see you around Miranda.” He said with a warm smile then took his leave.

“You too, Leon. Good luck catching her.” That would be the last time they would see each other.

[elcorhamletlive]

series: Dream Daddy characters: Mary Christiansen, Joseph Christiansen, Robert Small, Christie Christiansen ship: Joseph Christiansen/Robert Small tags: Character Study/Angst/Angst with a Happy Ending/Romance/Implied Alcoholism Part 2 of the Genesis series

I. my deep intuition tells me that I'm doing you wrong

She was a conformist. 

A friend told her at university once, and altough she rolled her eyes and replied sharply, she knew it was true. She really, really wished she wasn’t. She spend her life playing the amazing part of not giving a fuck about anything. Jim and Kim’s was the perfect place for that. She’d walk around for hours, throwing herself at men who stared at her in a stunned awe, way too scared to take up on her offers, afraid she was too wild and dangerous for them to handle, the poor things. They had no way of knowing the wildest thing on her life was changing Crish’s dirty diapers. And they wouldn’t know the guilt that panged her chest immediately after a thought like that – she loved her kids, she’d tell herself, she really did. And she loved her husband, their house, their family. But sometimes the idea that the rest of her life was already laid out in front of her – bake sales, Sunday services, crashing on their couch at night because she couldn’t stand the thought of touching Joseph even by accident, and then waking up and holding his hand at church for just enough time for the neighbors to see – sometimes, it was too much. Sometimes it made her want to scream and beat her head on the table. Sometimes even thinking about it made her want to die – and yep, that was the time for another shot; thanks, Neil, you’re the best, man.  

The shot always helped. It calmed her down, made her feel comfortable again. A couple more and she had already forgot what was bothering her.

-

(His hands shacked a little when he pulled out her shirt. She understood, really, because she was also shaking, feeling her heart beating fast. It wasn’t even her first time, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t his, either, but there was something solemn about that hotel room, with the lit candles and the rose petals spread on the bed. It felt strange – exciting, sure, but also heavy and important. He kissed her neck, her hands coming up to his shoulders, the new ring sinking onto his skin as she hugged him tighter. She felt nervous, and he was, too, so she slowed down the rhythm, kissing him softly. It felt scary, somehow, as if they were doing something impossible, something unthinkable. A honeymoon’s bed seemed so big for just the two of them, the sheets almost involving their bodies, swallowing them whole.

“You’re beautiful”, he said, his voice low but honest, and she smiled as he lowered her underwear. She was never going to do this with anyone else again, as long as she lived. Her stomach twisted in nervousness, but Joseph smiled back at her and Mary felt herself relaxing into his arms. Everything was going to be all right.)

-

She had forgotten her wallet.

Usually, at Jim and Kim’s, that wouldn’t bother her much. Guys bought most of her drinks. That night, though, most of the costumers were usual goers who always came after workhours for a beer or two. Those men wouldn’t pay her anything - they were already familiar with her system.

Still, it wasn’t a big problem. She had known Neil for years, he didn’t mind putting a few drinks on her tab sometimes. He had been hinting that it was time for her to go home, though. Pressing him could easily turn into a “you’ve had enough, Mary” situation.

She looked around the place again. It was mostly empty. Two tables away from the bar, there was an old man sleeping with his face on the table. Then, next to the TV, someone she hadn’t noticed before – some guy.

She realized she knew him from somewhere. Squinting her eyes at his face, she remembered: He had just moved to the house next to theirs, with the wife and a young girl. She had probably seen him in Joseph’s latest barbecue – between the beginning of the party and the three wine bottles she finished thorough the afternoon, her memory of that day was kind of hazy, but she definitely remembered the church ladies getting all agitated at the sight of the brooding guy with the leather jacket. It had sparked a huge wave of gossip about why his wife didn’t bother coming, and where was his daughter, but Mary didn’t care. She was used to Joseph making friends with anyone who stepped into his ray of vision. At least this one kept to himself, a quality she definitely could respect.

His eyes flickered towards her, noticing her look. She looked away, maybe too slowly – her reflexes weren’t what they used to be – but soon enough to not seem too interested, she hoped. That flirting game couldn’t be done with a guy who actually seemed like he wouldn’t be too scared to put her promises to the test. Plus, a married man who lived next door was definitely way too much trouble for a couple of drinks she could easily talk Neil into giving her for free.

“Neeeeil.” She called. It came out louder than she meant to, but whatever. “Come get your girl the last shot of the night!”

Neil chuckled. “It was your last shot five rounds ago.”

“Let me live, man.” She said, raising her glass to him expectantly. He looked at her for a moment, seeming hesitant. That was Neil’s only problem: She couldn’t trust him to get her wasted. He was way too nice for that.

“Come on, dude, just one more.” She pleaded, trying her best to sound sober. “Put it on my tab.”

Neil let out a nervous laugh. “Mary, I can’t just…”

“Put it on mine, then.”

It was the handsome guy’s voice. He raised up from his table, walking towards them and taking the seat next to hers. “Give us another bottle of this beauty.” He said, raising his own whiskey glass and taking the final sip. He wasn’t slurring words out like she was, but he did seem a little tipsy.

Neil stared at him confusedly for a few seconds, looking back at Mary with a clear question on his face. It took her a few seconds to process the whole thing, but she shrugged. She wasn’t one to refuse a free drink.

They spend a few moments in awkward silence before Neil came back with the bottle and filled their glasses. Mary felt tense and choose not to look the guy, fixating on their hands on the counter. He was wearing his wedding ring. That made her feel a bit better, before she gazed at her own hand. Shit. She had been forgetting to put it on way too often lately.

He picked the glass as soon as Neil finished filling it, taking a long sip.

“So, uh, not complaining or anything” She started, taking a sip of the her own glass. Damn, it was good stuff. “But… You’re not making a move on me, are you?”

His eyes widened, and he threw his head back, letting out a long laugh. She felt a blaze of relief in her chest.

“Man, how much have you had? You met my wife the other day.” He said, looking at her with a smirk.

Mary smiled, rolling her eyes at him. “I meet lots of husband and wives.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Don’t even bother to learn their names anymore. I just smile and offer a sip of my vodka to the wife later, so we can bond.”

He raised his eyebrows, leaning towards her, as if they were sharing a secret. “So… You offered my wife vodka?”

Mary also leaned forward, their faces almost touching now, her voice turning to a whisper.

“Dude, I have no idea.”

He laughed again, seeming almost surprised with himself. Soon, she was laughing too, and the noise of their laugher echoed around Jim and Kim’s, sounding nice at her ears. They walked back to the cul-de-sac as old friends, helping each other up when they stumbled in the middle of their own steps.

They never said their names, and, as she remembered later, they had definitely been introduced before. In her opinion, though, that was when they actually met.

-

II. how can we go back to the beginning?

She didn’t cry at her wedding day. She was just so nervous, trying to make sure everything was in the right place. Her mother cried, though, and a couple of her cousins too, and Mary felt a wave of affection for how much they cared.

During the ceremony, it didn’t occur to her it was her duty as a bride to cry. It wasn’t until years later, when the “wedding” topic came up at bake sales conversations, that she felt weird about it. She heard the other moms talk about how they managed to hold their tears back until the moment of the vows, or of how they fell into tears in the moment they put their dress on or whatever. It was your average cliché catholic suburban mom talk – so, naturally, it was the most boring thing in the universe. Mary would sip on her wine and listen to Janet’s heartfelt story about how she had pretty much ruined her eye makeup by the time she said “I do” and wish she had her vodka bottle nearby. Still, she nodded politely, holding back her impulse to ask Janet if she hadn’t cried more later on that night when she saw Gary with his pants off for the first time.

When her turn came up, she’d try to change the subject, maybe cracking that inappropriate joke about Janet’s husband after all. The other moms exchanged nervous looks every time she opened her mouth, smiling uncomfortably as if they were talking to a child who had managed to sneak her way into the adult’s table. It was just so condescending, and she pretended she didn’t notice, taking another sip of her wine, pretending not to see how they all watched as she took the glass to her lips, like a goddamn patrol. They were just so obvious, acting as if they were holy saints in front of her to make her look worse, as if they could see through her soul because they talked a few times a week. And what do you see, Janet?, she thought, her anger boiling inside of her. Do I smile too much at the bar? Joke about Robert’s ghosts too many times a night? Walked home alone more times than it was appropriate? Huh? I’m just doing my normal job here, nothing new on the rodeo, holding my husband’s hand during the father’s sermon, watching my four kids, ready to pop out a fifth one anytime he sees it fit. Forgive me if I’m a little more honest about it than the rest of you fake harpies, ok?

She knocked back the rest of her glass, excusing herself to go the bathroom. Her bottle was still half-full. Fuck you all.

Joseph didn’t cry either, but nobody asked him.

-

She saw it. She wasn’t an idiot. He thought he was so subtle about it, but he was the idiot, really, because how could he think she didn’t see? Sure, he tried to hide it, but still – the way he looked away at the sight of some men, almost avoiding them; the expression on his face when Hugo mentioned his husband; and now, this. She was willing to spend most of her time pretending to be shortsighted, but she wasn’t blind, and even a blind person would have noticed the rush his voice got when Robert was around, the way his laughter got more nervous and honest, the way he stuttered a couple words and passed him his burger plate so careful to not brush his hand on his. It angered her how obvious he was. She wanted to urge him to be subtler, for their own sake if not for hers. The last thing she needed were the church moms gossiping among themselves about her husband’s crush on their next-door neighbor.

It did made her feel a bit sad, though. Robert wears his wedding ring to the bar, she wanted to tell him, almost smug. He was my friend first, she’d think, seeing the way Joseph’s eyes followed his mouth when they were talking. You’re the third-wheel here, buddy. Sure, Robert never bought Marilyn along to any bake sale, but hey, she and Joseph hadn’t invented bad marriages. Robert never talked about it, and she never asked, because something they quickly got about each other was that Jim and Kim’s was a place for good alcohol and untouchable personal emotions. Instead, they talked about ghosts, or the funny stories she had about the mom network of the neighborhood, or anything remotely fun and silly that would get them cackling loudly after the first few shots. She liked him. He was smart, funny and completely uninterested in her personal life, which, in Mary’s opinion, made him the perfect friend. Sure, apparently, her husband liked him too, maybe a little too much, but it didn’t matter. Yeah, she saw Robert’s eyes following the way Joseph’s arms worked to flip the burgers on the grill, and she saw the way he blushed when he noticed she was looking, but that didn’t matter either. Robert wore his wedding ring to the bar. He was her friend first. She felt angry at how obvious Joseph was at first, but after thinking about it, she almost felt a little bit sorry for him.

-

(Joseph didn’t speak at the funeral. As the local minister, it was expected he would, but Robert didn’t ask him to. Father Adam spoke instead, and, honestly, Mary couldn’t focus on much of his sermon – the man wasn’t that great of a speaker to begin with, and she sneaked out in the beginning of the ceremony to empty up her vodka bottle with Robert, so during his speech, she spend most of the time focusing on seeming sober enough for a funeral. It probably worked, but only because Robert was distracting everyone else, almost falling at every step he took, randomly interrupting Father Adam with some slurred meaningless lines, and loudly demanding to go to Jim and Kim’s every couple of minutes. It was a fucking train wreck in every way, and Joseph attempted to keep the situation in control, trying to make Robert have some water and calm down a little. Besides them, Val was sitting in the ground, hugging her knees in complete silence. Mary wanted to go to comfort her, but she was afraid of stumbling all over the place.

So she just watched. She watched as Robert sobbed quietly into Joseph’s arms, shaking like a child. Joseph seemed to be doing the most important thing he ever did in his life for how careful he held Robert’s body to keep him from falling to the ground. Maybe he was happy, she thought, cruelly. Maybe he was glad to have an excuse to touch him like that, in front of everybody, without raising any eyebrows. She felt a little bad for thinking like that, but watching them hugging so tightly, seeing the gentle expression on Joseph’s face and the care with which he rubbed Robert’s shoulders made her angry – she felt jealous of both of them, in a way, and part of her wanted to push Joseph aside and help Robert on her own.

She couldn’t, though. She watched as Robert buried his face in her husband’s shoulder as if it had always meant to be there, and his sobs calmed down after a few moments as Joseph mumbled something into his ear. He threw up all over Joseph’s suit and he didn’t even blink, not letting go of Robert in any point, staying by his side during the entire ceremony. Mary’s heart ached as they touched, partly wanting to break them apart and the other part wanting to yell at Joseph to hold him tighter.)

-

III. i've been sick and tired of running

“Give it to me.”

Chris handed her the pen, seeming embarrassed. His hands were covered in ink, just like the wall behind him, where he decided to show off the new skills he had learned in art class. Or to piss me off, Mary thought, already dreading the conversation where she’d have to tell Joseph why she didn’t stop him. It was his fault, anyway – whose idea was to store their whiskey bottles in the garage? Hell, if she had her way, they’d be spread around the house just like his trashy novels. But they weren’t, so every time she wanted a shot during the day, she had to go to the garage to get some. She suspected that was exactly what Joseph wanted, and it made her furious.

“Good.” She knelt to get at her son’s eye level. “Now, you apologize…”

A loud bump interrupted her words. She turned around to see two chairs knocked over in the floor, with Christian and Christie on top of them. Christian, holding his knee, began to cry, which of course made Crish, in the couch, burst into tears as well.

“Shit!” Mary said, and Chris chuckled behind her, clearly glad to have her attention diverted from him. She ran towards Christian, sitting next to him only to see there wasn’t a scratch on his leg. He was probably just crying from the scare of falling, she realized, but any consolation she might have offered would have to be after she calmed Crish down. Man, that baby could scream. She picked him up, attempting to soothe him back to sleep, but he didn’t seem affected. Christian, back to his feet, was now looking at Chris’s drawings on the wall, asking him about it as if he was interested in continuing the work. Mary gave them a severe look, but soon had to go back to focusing on Crish.

Christie remained sat on the floor, ignoring her brothers. She looked at Mary and smiled. This is your future, Mary wanted to say, suddenly feeling very sad. Trying to juggle a bunch of kids with a husband you don’t care about, in the name of a God you don’t believe in.

She told herself she was being dramatic. Christie was such a clever girl, so sensible and mature for her age – she could achieve anything she ever wanted to, Mary knew. She had no way of knowing how her life would be or how she’d feel about it. And yet, conscious of her daughter watching her, she wanted to hold Christie by her shoulders, look into her eyes and tell her the truth about everything, about her falling asleep in the couch every night, about the vodka bottle in her purse, about Robert and Joseph exchanging looks at the lunch table when they thought nobody was watching. You deserve better than this, she wanted to say.

You deserve better than this.

She tried to ignore that thought, but it echoed in her mind, spreading like a cancer, laying roots of something too dangerous for her to even think about acknowledging. You deserve better than this.

-

She didn’t see Robert for another week, until she accidentally bumped into him at Mat’s place. She had just picked up Christian and Christie from their acting class and they were begging for some carrot cake, so she decided to stop by.

“Hey” she said, right after ordering, approaching him at the counter while the twins were busy talking to Mat and Carmensita.

To Robert’s credit, he didn’t ignore her. He didn’t say anything, though, just nodded politely before taking another sip of his coffee.

“Something wrong, buddy?” She asked, half-sad, and half wanting to laugh.

“No.” He answered immediately. But of course, everything was wrong, and maybe he’d just grown tired of ignoring it, Mary thought. He was probably over that fucking masochist act her and Joseph kept going on, and since she knew Robert well, she realized he was probably a bit mad at having been caught up in the middle of it.

He didn’t have the right to be mad, of course. But then again, he didn’t have the right to fuck her husband either.

“Good.” She said. There was an uncomfortable silence as she waited for the kids to finish their talk so she could get the hell out of there. She had never experienced an uncomfortable silence with Robert before. They could not talk for hours without any problem, and it wasn’t weird or tense – they could just stop talking by 3 a.m. at the bar when there was nobody else there anymore, and Robert would just help her get home, both of them stumbling drunkenly over each other without saying a word. It was nice. It felt like home.

Christian and Christie came back, with cake all over their faces. They fussed over Robert for a moment and Mary felt sad. It was easy to resent Joseph – she had gathered a lot of practice through the years, after all – but she wasn’t used to being upset at Robert.

“Here, here” she said, grabbing the twins by their hands. “Say goodbye to uncle Robert”.

“Bye, uncle Robert!”

“Bye” He answered, glancing at her face for a moment, seeming as lost as she felt. Mary wanted to say something, anything, but she couldn’t find the words.

He was my friend first, she thought, sadly, closing the door behind them.

-

(Fuck Joseph, she thought, almost dragging the twins as she walked fast through the street, shaking with anger, trying to hold back tears. And fuck Robert, too, because it takes two to tango and it definitely takes two to ruin a marriage and a friendship at once. But fuck that, too, because what marriage had they ruined anyway? For something to be ruined it had to work at some point –not seeming like it could or should work perfectly, but actually work. It had to have been right at some point. She remembered that nerve-wrecking heavy feeling at their honeymoon, how it felt like they were committing to something greater, bigger than both of them combined. And then Robert happened on the cracks of that greatness, because there were way too many cracks for them to be able to hold it up over their heads. In that hotel room it felt like it could crush them, and now she saw it had, little by little, over all those years. They were both suffocating under it.)

-

Christian seemed unaware of anything around him, still delighted from his cake. Christie, though, looked at her almost hesitantly. For an insane moment, Mary thought she had realized everything, that she was about to confront her with the tension she felt between her and Robert and how daddy and mommy weren’t talking and mommy was sleeping on the couch most nights and-

“She’s pretty”, she said.

Mary blinked.

“W-what?” She took a moment to collect herself, trying to process what she had just heard. “Who?”

“Carmensita” Christie answered, her cheeks flushing, almost swooning while saying her name. “She’s… Really, really pretty.”

Mary stopped walking for a moment, looking at her daughter’s bashful but dreamy expression, and she felt her heart sinking.

-

She knocked back the vodka.

It could very well be nothing, obviously. It was probably nothing.

But what if it wasn’t? What if it was something, and as she grew it turned it into everything? What if she didn’t get it? What if she said to herself it was nothing, again and again and again as she was saying “I do” in an altar in front of a man who she thought was all she needed to be happy? Shit, would Mary have to cry at her wedding? Would she cry? Would she hug her before walking up the aisle, stare at her soul with those blue eyes (Joseph’s eyes) and hope that Mary would have the right words to calm down that constant uneasy feeling on her chest?

And what the fuck would she say? When did she ever knew what to say to her children? She would hug her tight to avoid looking at her face, because she was that cowardly, and then she would just spend her life pretending not to see that plea of confusion in her eyes.

She knocked back another glass. Her hands were almost shaking too much to pour the next one.

It was probably nothing, she thought, finally giving up and reaching for the bottle instead, taking a long sip. It had to be. Christie would enjoy getting married and having kids, she told herself, under her breath, attracting a few odd looks from the table next to hers. Most people did.

But what if she didn’t? What if one day another girl made her smile like that and she felt the world as she knew was going to fall apart if she ever acknowledged it? Or worse, what if she didn’t even let herself smile in the first place? What if she buried it inside and forced herself to smile at guys for so long she didn’t even notice anymore? And then Mary would have to cry at her wedding, and she’d feel that nervousness without understanding, and years later she’d meet a neighbor with dark eyes and a leather jacket and-

I’m losing it, Mary told herself, shaking her head.

And yet she couldn’t take that image out of her mind, Christie saying Carmensita’s name with that smitten voice, with such a purity only an eight year old’s crush could have. She thought about Christie looking at her with that dreamy expression, talking about that girl, telling Mary something she definitely had not told any of her brothers, and maybe something she herself wasn’t even aware of. Her daughter was so fucking smart, and so fucking sensible and brave, and when she looked at her Mary still saw that unconditional trust in her eyes, that need for her opinion and approval dripping through her words when she said anything.

How long would that last? How long until she did the math and realized Mary wasn’t worth of that look? Worse, what if she never did? What if it lasted forever? What if Christie was never able to see the misery all over the way mommy and daddy held their hands during Sunday service? What if she thought it was normal? What if she thought this was how love was meant to be life, and whatever weird feeling she had for a pretty girl at the coffee shop was something else, something not worth fighting for?

Stop projecting, you sound like a shitty psychiatrist.

She finished the bottle, feeling sick to her stomach. She wanted to throw up, but she couldn’t – not in the middle of the kitchen, at least (not again). She stood up, struggling to make her way to the bathroom. She fell on the floor on her knees immediately after opening the door, unable to hold any longer, spilling her guts all over the closed toilet. It smelled like shit, and Mary felt her eyes welling up. She felt angry at everyone around her – at Joseph, Robert, hell, even Christie.

She had to get up and clean that mess, because they were having a fucking bake sale in the morning and she needed to change into something clean before everyone else woke up. Still, she felt unable to move. She just sat there, covered in vomit, sobbing like a child, wanting to be anywhere else but there. A fitting metaphor everything else in her life, she realized. Then, out of nowhere, she heard that whisper, that quiet mantra emerging strong in her mind all of a sudden: You deserve better than this.

She didn’t fight it this time. She didn’t have the strength to. She just let it sink all over her: You deserve better than this.

They all did, in the end.

-

IV. just say you forgive me and don't let me go

She didn’t even think about printing them, at first. She just googled it, almost distractedly, just to take a look, just to see how scary they’d seem. The answer was: A lot. It was all so complicated, a bunch of bureaucracy she had no idea how to even begin to handle. In her social circle, there weren’t many people who could help her with that, for obvious reasons. She supposed she could ask Hugo, but on her context, even saying the word “divorce” out loud would be enough to set every gossiper on the neighborhood on fire.

So she didn’t ask him or anyone. She just googled for a few minutes, stared at the results on the first page, and then closed the tab immediately, almost nervous that someone would catch her in the act. She didn’t think about doing it again.

-

(At first.)

-

She and Robert slowly started talking again. Not like before, obviously – it would never be like that again, to Mary’s sadness. But they didn’t ignore each other anymore, at least. Mostly because of practical reasons: Their cul-de-sac was way too small to ignore anyone for too long, and she and Robert spend too much time in the same places to forever avoid acknowledging each other’s presence. Plus, it was hard to ignore people when you had five shots of tequila in your head. Mary found herself walking towards Robert’s table at the bar way too many times, and then one night she just sat beside him, watching him finish a glass of whiskey. He stared at her nervously, but didn’t move away. The silence between them almost felt comfortable.

Then she noticed the hickey on his neck.

He didn’t understand what happened, clearly, because he only mumbled confusedly when she stood up suddenly and walked to the opposite end of Jim and Kim’s.

She wasn’t sure why she did it – she wasn’t surprised, obviously. There was no reason for them to stop all of a sudden, just because she knew. Hell, for the looks she saw each of them shoot at the other when they thought no one was watching, Mary wasn’t sure they could stop even if they tried. Even if they wanted to.

And they probably really wanted to, she realized, sitting at an isolated table with her back turned to Robert. They probably tried a lot. She remembered Joseph holding him at the funeral – Robert was coming apart in her husband’s arms, and yet, somehow, she felt for them there. She wanted Joseph to hold him tighter, to help him stand up. Now there, years later, sitting alone in a bar to avoid looking at her best friend’s face, she couldn’t help but wonder how long they had wanted to touch each other like that. How it must have hurt.

Robert was still staring at her, she knew. She didn’t look back, but in her head that same thought echoed, this time not directed at herself: You deserve better than this.

She had gotten used to repeating it, so she didn’t cringe, and instead mumbled again. And again. And again and again and again.

-

She googled the papers again. This time, she looked over them more carefully, trying her best to understand some of it. It turned out the basics weren’t that hard.

She googled some lawyers. It turned out some of them weren’t so expensive.

Next to her, Christian and Christie were drawing. Christie walked towards her chair and sat right next to it, resting her read in her lap while coloring. Mary couldn’t hold back a smile. She was so caring, her daughter. So sweet and thoughtful. She looked up at Mary and smiled back. Mary felt her heart beating faster, her head pounding with fear of her daughter’s childish look, of the idea of how it could change through the years.

(She had Joseph’s eyes. She didn’t have to carry his burden as well.)

Mary took a deep breath. She saved the lawyer’s contact.

-

(She did type “A.A.” in the search bar, but didn’t have the courage to press enter.)

-

There was a hotel downtown. It wasn’t too far, and it wasn’t too expensive. She could book almost a month in advance with her savings. Sure, it wouldn’t have the comfort of her parents’ house, but she wouldn’t have to explain anything to anyone either.

It still took her a few weeks to call, though. Every time she mustered the courage to dial the number, that crippling fear stormed over her, filling her head with buts and don’ts that she didn’t need anymore. She wasn’t even sure of what she was so scared of. She had spend so much time with those fears governing her life that by now it was almost a matter of habit. They were behind her ear every night, in every church sermon, in every bake sale, in all of her and Joseph’s late night fights after she returned from the bar. They kept her hostage. It was just so much easier to stay there, to not think about it, to push that misery inside and pretend it wasn’t there.

She looked at the phone and to the front yard, watching Joseph work on their plants, his head firmly turned anywhere that wasn’t Robert’ house so deliberately it was kind of sad. He turned his face to the window, noticing her gaze. His expression tensed up immediately, as usual. He gave her a polite nod and turned back to the plants.

He looked so tired, Mary thought. And she probably wasn’t much better. They had to try so hard each day, doing their best to make the hours pass, to pretend that life was happening to someone else.

She did consider talking to him. Sitting in front of him and having a conversation like the two adults they supposedly were. She supposed she owed him that, after all that time – a proper goodbye, at least. She wanted to do like they did in the movies, with that quiet and sad acceptance of what had changed and ended. Still, she knew her and Joseph would probably just end up screaming at each other. Mary didn’t want that. Most importantly, she was terrified of what would happened if they didn’t end up fighting. What if Joseph listened to everything she had to say and just asked her to stay? Worst of all, what if she mentioned Robert and he promised her to end everything with him? What if he begged? What if he got so afraid that he was able to pull that fear from inside of her, as well? What if she did end up staying?

Joseph’s hands seemed to shake a little when he risked a quick glance at Robert’s yard.

Mary typed the hotel’s number.

-

(She was tired.

And she was done with fear.)

-

She waited until everyone else in the house was asleep. She put some clothes in an old backpack. It was quick - there wasn’t much else she wanted to bring anyway.

Then, the note. She was tempted not to write anything, but there was a chance Joseph would just think she had gotten lost on the way back from Jim and Kim’s in that case. So she scribbled down the simplest goodbye possible, with the hotel’s number and a promise to call soon. She knew that it wasn’t really fair to be that abrupt, but to be honest, she wasn’t really sure of what she could say to him anyway.

They both knew what had to be said. They knew for a long time, now. They were saying it on the inside, screaming so loudly that it ended up coming out in some way, whether it was through emptying up bottles of wine or falling in love. It wasn’t the time to say anything else.

It was time to listen.

Her last stop was at the kids’ bedroom. She considered not even going there, still scared that the sight of them would be enough to make her give up her entire plan. It didn’t feel right not to, though. She didn’t approach any of their beds, worried that they could wake up. She just looked at them, staring at their sleeping faces, trying to memorize them in their head. They all looked so much like Joseph, but looking carefully, she could see a little bit of herself in them – the tip of Chris’s nose, the shape of Crish’s ears, the outline of Christian and Christie’s lips.

Mary smiled. In the future, maybe, they’d look in the mirror and notice that. When they did, she wanted them to feel good.

She wanted them to be proud.

Mary stepped out of the room, looking behind her one last time.

“We deserve better than this” she whispered to them in the dark. “And I’ll make sure we get it.”

To her own surprise, she believed it.

[hysterialevi]

In the Smoke pt. 20 (Cobblebats)

From Thomas’ POV

THE VALES RESIDENCE

Once we finished interrogating Gideon, Gordon and I went to the Vales’ house with a handful of other cops, only to find a gruesome crime scene in front of us. Both of the Vales had been brutally murdered by who we assumed was Lady Arkham--or after doing a little investigating--Vicki Vale, and their foster child was the only survivor. Apparently, the reporter created the horrid identity after her parents were assassinated, and had actually been Victoria Arkham this whole time, wanting to get revenge on her new, abusive family for torturing her as a child. Normally, I would’ve been shocked by the morbid discovery, but honestly, nothing was able to surprise me anymore.

“Goddamn it,” Gordon muttered, his eyes traveling from Mrs. Vale’s corpse to the child. “It just gets worse everyday, doesn’t it, Batman?”

I nodded. “And it’ll only continue to get worse unless we bring Lady Arkham behind bars.”

He took out a cigarette, sticking it between his lips and setting the tip aflame. “Well, at least we know who the head terrorist is. Now it’s just a matter of finding her. Any ideas?”

I paused in thought. “It would be foolish to try and take her down directly, especially when she has people like Penguin and The Unknown protecting her. We’ll have to get rid of them before we do anything else.”

“Good point,” Gordon agreed. “Who do you think we should tackle first?”

Answering that didn’t take much thought. 

“The Unknown. He’s managed to become one of the biggest threats in Gotham since this whole thing started, and he clearly carries a lot of weight with the Children of Arkham. Taking him down will cripple them badly. There’s also the fact that we have no clue who he is.”

Gordon sighed, shaking his head. “Give me a good ol’ honest bank robbery over...this any day. At least then, we’d actually know what they were after...or who they are.” He put out the cigarette. “All right. I’ll get to work on tracking down The Unknown--see if Gideon has any other useful information for us. Meanwhile, let me know what you find, or if you just need help.”

“Good luck, Jim. This isn’t going to be easy.”

He scoffed, walking out to join the other policemen. “You don’t have to tell me twice, but I know we can do it. You and I have handled some pretty bizarre stuff over the years, and there’s no reason we can’t succeed now.” Opening the door, Gordon gave me a concerned, but caring look. “Take care, Batman. This city needs you now more than ever.”

And with that said, the lieutenant was gone, leaving me alone in the Vales’ house as police sirens began to wail outside, muffling in the distance while they drove further, and further away. 

Without anyone else around, the house suddenly grew an intense, eerie vibe to it, and I wanted to get out of the murder scene as quickly as possible. Before I could however, I heard a soft whoosh emit from behind me, and I hurriedly whipped around in alarm, only to come face-to-face with a hologram of...Bruce?

The hologram was being displayed by one of my drones--one that he probably stole--and I immediately noticed that he had made some modifications to it, including a thick EMP shield to keep it resistant to my gadgets. Smart move.

Cautiously approaching Bruce, I realized that he wasn’t wearing his mask, and instead of his usual, psychotic expression, he actually appeared...sad. What was going on?

“...Bruce?” I called out. He casually gazed around the house.

“You met Gideon, I see. Interesting guy, isn’t he? I knew he’d be able to grab your attention easily.”

“Gideon...” The puzzle pieces clicked together in my head. “You used him to lure me here, didn’t you? I was right. This is a trap.”

Bruce shook his head. “No. Not a trap. Just a chance to talk with you.”

I crossed my arms. “You want to talk? Then why didn’t you just stop by the manor?”

He let out a soft chuckle, though not out of amusement. “I wouldn’t be able to even if I tried. I’m not exactly just ‘Bruce’ anymore, dad. I’m...” he exhaled, “...I’m The Unknown.”

“I’m well aware.”

He didn’t seem surprised. “I figured you were. The look you gave me back at Falcone’s manor, I knew you had recognized me instantly. Though, what I don’t understand is...why haven’t you exposed me?”

“Same reason you haven’t exposed me,” I replied. “Because it would no longer be our battle to fight if people figured out our identities.”

Bruce’s face scrunched up a little, almost like he was about to cry. “...I don’t want to fight anymore, dad. Not with you, not with him, or anyone else. I can’t.”

I quirked a brow. “What? What are you talking about?”

“He won’t leave me alone,” Bruce carried on. “I’ve tried...so hard...to get him out of my head, but he just keeps getting stronger. It’s like he feeds off of my weaknesses. There’s no way to beat him. He’s driving me insane.”

“Wait, just slow down, Bruce. Who’s ‘he?”

“The man you saw at the banquet...the man who murdered Hill, and Falcone...that wasn’t me, dad. That was...The Unknown.” He practically growled the last words, a certain rage sharpening his tone. 

“I used to be able to ignore him,” Bruce continued, “but now he’s always there. Always controlling me like a puppet. And Oz says there’s no way to get rid of him. There’s no cure.”

I frowned. “You mean...the drug.”

Bruce groaned, ranting through gritted teeth. “Even when he’s dead, Hill still manages to fuck me over. He was the one who pumped me with this damned chemical, you know. The one who took away my sanity. God, if that pig were still alive...I’d do more than just kill him. I’d rip him to shreds and--”

Halting mid-sentence, Bruce suddenly turned to me, frightened by his own words and scared to even continue speaking. His head lowered with guilt.

“I’m sorry, dad. I can’t...I can’t even imagine how disappointed you must be in me. How disappointed mom would be if she were alive. The whole reason I joined the Children of Arkham was to get revenge, but instead, I’ve only turned into what killed her.

I went to put a hand on Bruce’s shoulder, stopping myself when I remembered he was just a hologram. 

I sighed. “I hate what you’ve been doing, Bruce, but I’m not disappointed in you. Not at all. I know it isn’t your fault. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to help you sooner.”

His tone changed again, switching to annoyance. “I didn’t bring you here so that you could coddle me,” he snapped. “I’m not a little boy.” 

Bruce softened his voice, looking at the floor. “I brought you here because I need you to...to make a promise.”

“A promise?” I repeated, confused. “All right...shoot.”

He gestured to my armor. “You’re...Batman. The world’s greatest detective. You’re capable of anything, no matter how challenging.” He took a breath. “And that’s why...that’s why I need to know you’ll be there to stop me.”

I was taken aback. “Stop you? You’re asking me to arrest you?”

“No,” Bruce corrected. “I’m asking you to do whatever it takes to keep me from turning into a monster. I don’t care how you do it, whether you wanna throw me into Arkham, or Blackgate...or even...kill me. Just, please, promise me you’ll fight The Unknown...because I can’t.”

I slowly nodded, wanting more than anything to give my son a hug. 

“...okay.” I said. “I can do that. I can fight ‘him’ for you, and I will. I promise.”

A faint smile grew on Bruce’s face. “...thank you. The last thing I want is to become like Lady Arkham. I just want my old life back.”

Regaining composure, Bruce straightened his suit. “Anyway, I should get going. And so should you. Gotham isn’t going to save itself, and neither am I.”

Not even giving me the chance to respond, the hologram suddenly shut down as the drone flew off, hovering out of one of the windows. I stood there in shock, trying to process what just happened.

As heartbreaking as it was to see Bruce’s current state, a part of me couldn’t help but feel relieved that he hadn’t been completely lost yet. He still preserved some of his sanity, but we both knew it wasn’t going to stay that way forever. Eventually, the drug would swallow his mind whole, and he would just be another patient in Arkham Asylum, rotting away with everyone else. I intended to save him before that happened. Before I would be forced to witness it myself. As a father, not even Batman could go through something like that.

Exiting the Vales’ house, I began to think about what Bruce told me earlier, replaying our entire conversation in my head as I entered the Batmobile. 

He thought I was capable of anything, the poor boy, “no matter how challenging.”

And yet, little did he know, he was the very exception itself.