#probably had a chat with lonnie

[palmanatomy]

Addressing the debate about if tim takes up a new identity, what should it be. So far, we know in canon that tim has been Robin, Red Robin, Robin again, Drake (blame bart), and Robin again. He's never actually taken a name for himself, Red Robin was just what the newspapers seemed to call him and it was also Jasons identity. Even Drake was Barts idea after they went to alternate timeline and fought evil versions of themselves (again) and bart thought it was a great name.

So, my argue is that even though names like cardinal, rook, jackdaw, red hawk are all interesting, I think that Tim wouldn't really make up an identity for himself and would just kinda roll with whatever the news calls him. HOWEVER. Tim also values his loved ones with a high regard and he incorporates a piece of them when hes lost them with himself. For example, Kons death made him change the iconic Robin colours to red and black to honour him. I know that the red robin suit was already existing but he wore it after Bruces death and I like to believe that the cowl was a nod to Bruce. When he was in the unternet and we see how he perceives himself as (probably my favourite tim costume), his costume kinda looks like nightwings with the red depiction and this is when tim and dicks relationship is strained (a bit of a reach, i know, but like. Look at it.).

And what does Tim love more than anything in the world? His car, redbird. DC has not included redbird in ANY comics since he had to sell it to alfred for like a million bucks when his dads company went bankrupt and I have been scouring, searching through the wilderness that is modern dc for this fucking car. I do not know where it is and its killing me. Tim loved that car. He is a car guy to his core and the lack of rebird in modern dc has lead me to believe that redbird has died.

Therefore! Tim should be Redbird, honouring the loss of his beloved car and incorporating it into his own identity. it still incorporates the red part of his identity but it leaves robin entirely. Also, on a more serious note, in his chats with Lonnie Machin he uses the alias Redbird and other villains have called him redbird before so like. its not impossible. And i miss redbird like actually him being a car guy was so important to me and like tims relationship with cars is literally so important. like secretly shipping a batmobile to san francisco, being the only one that the supercycle would let drive it, being so proud of his car and remote controlling it and i just love redbird and i miss it.

thanks for coming to my tedtalk.

[smurphyse]

Wildflower Honey | Spencer Reid

Smurph's Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Part 10 of Routine Maintenance

Warnings: makeouts, first times, fingering, soft dom!Spencer, hickies, bruises, water sex, beach sex, subdrop, aftercare, crying after sex.

Summary: You decide to take Spencer to a secluded spot to rock his world. He turns the tables on you.

It neared two in the morning before Holly and Michelle emerged from Tucci's, hand in hand and grinning like madmen. Spencer couldn't help the smile that peeled open across his face at the sight. Good for them, they both deserved it. 

Honey stood a bit away from him, keeping her distance in front of her friends. Spencer didn't mind. It wasn't the first time a woman wanted to keep it from her friend that she was sleeping with him. It probably wouldn't be the last. 

Michelle made a beeline for Honey, scooping her up in a big hug. Honey set her chin on her shoulder and squeezed her back as Holly sidled up next to him. 

"Thank you for coming," he murmured with a sheepish grin. "I didn't think this was your scene, but I wasn't ready to do this alone."

Spencer shrugged, "Anytime, man."

Holly reached out a hand for Spencer to shake, and when he took it pulled him in for a bear hug. Spencer chuckled to himself and hugged him back as the girls whispered between themselves. 

"You guys wanna hit up Tooky's?" Holly asked as he pulled away. 

Spencer glanced over at Honey, who gave him a subtle shake of her head. He didn't really want to go back there anyway after what went down with Lonnie and Lloyd, or have a reminder of that horrible night. 

"I'm ready to head back," he said instead. All he really wanted to do was pound Honey into the mattress anyways. 

"I know it's not my business," Holly began, keeping his voice down while the girls chatted. He cleared his throat and adjusted as he stood in his uncomfortableness. "And I don't know what's going on, if anything is going on, but-."

"Hurt her and I'll get my ass kicked?"

Holly chuckled, "That… and just keep something in mind for me, man. She's rough around the edges, but she deserves the world. Even if it's just sex, which I don't want to hear about, respect her."

He kicked lightly at the ground and avoided Spencer's gaze. "You'll have friends here even when you leave, Honey included. We like you, so don't screw up your chance to come visit if you ever find yourself back this way."

"I won't," Spencer promised. He meant it, and he valued Holly's words. "Maybe I'll come back some day."

He didn't even know if he meant that last part, but it was nice to know the option was there. 

Holly nodded, and they said their goodbyes. Spencer made sure to open the door to the van for Honey before going around to his side, then they set off for Thunderbird. 

The dark highway spread out for miles, lonesome and scattered with a few errant off roads. The sky lay above them in a deep greenish blue, the redwoods and pines along the road shadowed in darkness. Spencer thought something was missing, and it took a bit to realize it was the fireflies. 

They didn't occur naturally in California. The Midwest was full of them in the summer, blinking lazily in the night air. The closest thing out here were the stars shining brightly above them. They glimmered across the horizon, disappearing into the far-off ocean. 

Music played softly through the speakers of Honey's beat up van. Spencer kept his hand on her thigh, just under the hem of her dress as he leaned against the door. It comforted him, as it had been years since he’d spent more than one night with a woman, let alone worked up to the point of touching her like this without having slept with her. He was looking forward to that, and three more weeks of easy sex and physical comfort. Maybe she’d even sleep next to him after.

He glanced over to check on her. It was late, nearing four in the morning. The wind from the cracked window blew her hair back, the light from the dash washing her in a teal glow. She was truly a beautiful woman, looking ethereal in the dim lighting. 

"Where are we going?" he asked after a while. Thunderbird had only been about forty minutes from the restaurant, and they'd been driving for over an hour. 

Honey smiled to herself, but she didn't look his way, instead focusing on the road ahead. "I want to show you something."

She didn't say anything else. He didn't press it. If she was going to murder him in the woods he was pretty sure he could over power her. If she wasn't, he'd been through enough with her to know he'd probably enjoy it. She'd been right about the camping trip with the guys, so he dropped it. 

Another hour later, and she turned onto an off road. The van jumped and protested with each bump, but Honey just pressed on. They drove for a good twenty minutes before she turned again, stopping just inside an enclave of trees. As she put it in park, Spencer looked over at her again. She just popped open her door and hopped out. Spencer followed, meeting her around the front of the van. 

She reached out a hand for him, and he took it. Her warm fingers clasped his loosely, and she took off further into the ocean of foliage. The sun began peeking through the trees, and she was heading straight toward it. He could still see the van behind him, glad it was still in his line of sight. 

Birdsong blossomed as she led him down a winding dirt road. Her sundress flowed behind her like a river, billowing in the breeze. They hit another curve in the direction of the sun, and she was lost in its shine as they stepped out of the trees. 

It took a minute for Spencer's eyes to adjust to the light, but when they did his breath caught in his chest. A riverbed lay before them, clear blue water trickling along lazily. Mountains of trees surrounded the lake, spread out as far as the eye could see. The sun made its way up the opposite side, blanketing the water in shadow and Spencer and Honey in shade. 

"Why did you bring me here?" Spencer asked quietly. It was so serene and perfect, he almost wanted to cry at this place's natural beauty. It was such an intimately hidden place, surely as secluded as parts of Honey, as parts of himself.

Honey squeezed his fingers, "I don't know. I just wanted to."

She turned to him with a soft smile and adventure gleaming in her eye, "How do you feel about a day away from Thunderbird?"

"Sounds like a dream."

Honey went back to the van and moved it closer to the riverbed, backing it up through the little winding road. She angled the back to face the bank, then opened up the trunk. She had everything one would need for an impromptu camping trip inside. A blanket was spread just outside of the van, a few camping chairs and a little meal kit. She even had a traveling trash can and some food in a cooler. She went quickly to work setting up a fire for the cool morning chill and made some coffee over the flames. 

Spencer lounged on a chair on the blue patterned blanket as she handed him one of those metal cups campers liked to use. Honey eased herself next to him and sighed happily. Steam rose from her mug as she held it delicately, her knees pulled up to her chest. She’d long since taken off her shoes, opting to walk around barefoot, her wild hair bouncing down around her shoulders.

This was exactly the place a woman like her belonged. A stunning creature sitting in one of the most beautiful places Spencer had ever been. 

“I love this place.” She spoke quietly, her voice far away as she lived through an old memory. She pointed off toward one of the ridges. “When I first found it, I thought for a moment I’d fallen off that cliff and died. I thought it was heaven.”

"How'd you find it?" he asked lightly, sipping from his mug. Everything out here was still, moving only in the way that was natural to it. It was the sort of peace Spencer had been searching for all this time. He was honored to be there. 

"When Ernie died, I was still too scared to go back in the ocean. I still don't like it, but I'm good with the rivers," she began, but it wasn't sad. That bright spirit glinted in her eye as she watched the scene before them. "I just started driving out to the middle of nowhere and hiking. I found this place a few years ago and I like to come here when I need a break."

"Found yourself needing a break?" he asked lightly. She nodded slowly, then looked over at him. 

"I don't know if you know this, but I shot two guys last week." Her tone was playful, but her eyes raged with the memory. "Plus, it's good to get away sometimes."

Spencer reached out a hand, and she clasped it without hesitation. He squeezed her fingers tight before threading them together. "I'm sorry you had to do that."

Honey looked at him sadly, "I'm sorry you took a bat to the face."

He chuckled and shrugged. "I've had worse."

The sun warmed them as it rose, blanketing them in the steady rise in temperature. Honey's skin lay awash in orange and pink as it broke through the clouds, her eyes gleaming in the light. She let go of his hand and set the coffee cup on the ground. 

Spencer watched curiously as she stood and stretched, letting out a sweet groan as her arms came down. Honey turned to him with a devilish grin. 

"I don't know about you, but I'm gonna cool down before it gets too hot."

Spencer was about to ask what she meant when her fingers laced underneath the hem of her dress. His jaw dropped as she pulled down a pair of pink satin panties. They dropped to the blanket and she stepped out of them, then pulled the sundress over her head. 

Her hair swung down, landing over her shoulders and back. Her naked body glimmered in the light, curvy in all the right places and made of perfect places to grab a handful. His heart nearly stopped beating in his chest at the sight. 

She leaned on one hip and smirked at him. 

"Care to join me?"

I was feeling pretty good about myself as I walked into the river. The water was warm from the summer, welcoming and safe as I stepped further in. Waiting until I was deep enough, I ducked below the surface to wet my hair. 

When I popped back up, pushing my locks back from my face, I spotted Spencer hurrying to undo his belt. He'd already stepped out of his shoes, fingers fumbling to unlatch the leather and pull his pants down. 

Feeling a bit sorry for him, and rather excited, I made my way back to him. The rocky shoreline was smooth and warm under my feet, his jaw agape as he watched me approach. Water dripped from my body as I reached him, my hands pushing his away gently. 

I leaned in and pressed my lips to his, reveling in the hungry groan that escaped from him. Smoothly, I undid his belt as his tongue slid against mine, unzipping his pants and pulling his shirt from his waistline. Spencer's fingers deftly unbuttoned it as I slid my hand inside his pants, palming his growing length. 

He moaned into me as he tugged off his shirt and tossed it onto the blanket behind him, revealing his fuzzy chest and soft belly. I let my hands wander up his stomach, loving the slight twitches of his muscles as he pushed down his pants. 

I couldn't help myself, and I had to pull away just to get a good look at his cock. He was already hard and standing straight up, a slight curve at the end that I'd personally always enjoyed in a man. My hand wrapped around his thick length, hardly able to meet my fingertips together. When I gave him an experimental pump, he bucked forward in my hand.

Biting my lip, I looked up at him through my lashes and smiled. In a flash, Spencer scooped me up and pulled my hips flush against his. He kissed me furiously, pulling me by my leg to grind against my damp folds. 

I couldn't help but cling to him tightly, moaning against his lips as he stalked off toward the water. He pulled away to watch where he was stepping, so I moved onto his neck, nipping and sucking little bruises into his skin. 

The river welcomed us, enveloping our bodies in the warm water. Spencer’s strong hands held me close, safely keeping me in place as we went deeper. The birds sang through the trees, squirrels running up trunks and over logs. The trickling sound of the water drowned out our kissing like horny teenagers, but I didn't mind. 

I leaned back and sighed, my legs wrapped around his waist. Spencer held my hips as I lay back into the water, my hair following the flow of the current as I closed my eyes. I floated like that, just enjoying the feeling of someone else's hands on me. 

Without warning, Spencer went under the water, pulling me with him. I held my breath at the last moment, opening my eyes underneath to see him with puffy cheeks and trying not to smile. Our hands reached out in unison, tugging one another close and meeting in the middle. 

Bubbles popped their way to the surface as Spencer kissed me underneath the serene stream of water. His lips were warm, both of us holding our breaths until he pulled me back above to the fresh air. 

"You are fucking incredible," he panted, holding me close. Our naked bodies slid along one another, his dick pressing against my belly. I smiled and set my forehead against his, trying to catch my breath. His eyes were intense, glinting with mischief. Spencer's hand smoothed down my back and over my thigh, reaching between us. My jaw went a bit slack as his fingers brushed against my pussy, easing his way between my folds. 

"Just look at you," he murmured, his gaze unyielding as he watched me for a reaction. I sucked in a wavering breath as the pads of two thick fingers pushed against my entrance, swirling just enough to make me twitch in anticipation. He cocked his head, "Are you sure you want this?"

I nodded emphatically, "Spencer, please…"

That seemed to be all the permission he needed. In one swift movement, Spencer kissed me roughly, his free hand tangling into my damp hair, the other breeching my cunt under the surface. I moaned sharply, the sudden intrusion stretching my walls as two fingers pressed inside. 

My body tensed around him. Spencer eased his way in, curling and dragging the pads of his fingers as he pulled them out, only to push them back in. My chest heaved with each pump, my hips rocking back down to meet them. The water sloshed around us, but he was focused solely on me. 

He leaned his forehead against mine to watch me, his cheeks red and blotchy. I could feel his cock against my thigh, bobbing up and down with the water. His hair started to curl as it dried, his strong hands holding me exactly where he wanted. 

"Mmm, Spencer," I whined desperately, bucking my hips for my release. It had been so long, and my eyes fluttered shut in anticipation when he gripped my jaw suddenly and stopped his hand between my legs. 

Spencer angled me to look at him, his eyes blazing. I clenched around his fingers at the fire that lay there, and he leaned in to nip at my bottom lip before pulling away. 

"You're too tense," he growled in a low voice. His fingers could have bruised my cheeks by the way he held me, and all it did was make me want to fuck his hand until it cramped. "Let go. I'm gonna take care of you, but you have to let me. Stop trying to be in control all the time."

My eyes turned glassy at his words, his promise to get me where I wanted to go. I found myself nodding dumbly, and only then did he begin moving his fingers again, pumping me slowly and steadily picking up speed. 

"Keep your eyes on me," Spencer whispered. My thighs twitched around his hips. "I wanna watch you cum for me."

He kissed me then, his curling digits driving me closer and closer to the brink of insanity. I was floating on air, my face heating up and my body relaxing into his wants and wishes. He kept a firm grip on my jaw, watching intently in a way that with anyone else might have made me feel too seen, but it was deliciously dominating. 

I let my body take over, letting Spencer guide me instead of barreling toward a release. We had all the time in the world, and my hips rocked in motion with what he wanted. My breathing picked up, my chest heaving.

"There you go," Spencer murmured. The coil started to tighten in that panicking way, excitement coursing through my veins as my walls tightened around him. I watched him through hazy eyes with my mouth hung open as he cracked a cocky grin, his eyes swimming with desire. "Just take it, good girl. Let me watch."

The moan that burst from my chest was pathetic, my fingers tightening in his hair. My hips rolled, grinding down on his beautiful hand as that tension in my lower belly finally snapped. 

"Spencer!" I cried out into the wilderness, the mountains swallowing my ecstasy. My eyes rolled back as I pressed my forehead against his, my body shuddering and clamping down on him. 

Spencer slowed as it waned, and when he pulled himself from me I let out a whine. His arms encircled me, pulling me in for a bear hug. I went limp in his grasp, letting my head loll on his shoulder as I caught my breath. 

"Oh, that was perfect, perfect," he cooed sweetly in my ear. Spencer pressed a gentle kiss to the side of my head as he held me close. "Good girl…"

I closed my eyes, reveling in the comfort and his praise. Spencer rocked me back and forth under the water, lightly rubbing a hand up my spine. I felt him pull back a little to look at me. 

"Don't fall asleep on me now," he warned, and the next thing I knew he was carrying me out of the water. I clung limply to him, ready to doze even as the cool air hit my naked skin. 

Spencer set me gently on the blanket and smoothed back my hair. I grinned weakly up at him, and he cocked his head at me. "I'm not done with you, Honey."

My skin buzzed with electricity as Spencer smoothed his palms up my thighs. He squeezed now and then as he made his way up further, taking time to fondle my breasts. His hard cock stood at attention between his thighs, making me more excited than I could ever explain. I couldn't help but sigh as his broad hand feathered lightly over my throat, my eyes fluttering shut. 

"God, look at you," he breathed, looming over me. I reached out for him, and he complied without hesitation. Spencer leaned down and kissed me gently, his hand moving to cup my jaw. 

I moaned into his mouth as Spencer lowered himself on top of me. My head swam with the want I had for him, with the release I wanted to feel again. My arms encircled his neck, my legs tangling around his waist, but Spencer shook his head and pulled back. 

He tapped my nose, and I'm sure I looked ridiculous going cross eyed trying to follow it. "Just lie back and take it, okay?"

I made a face, "Why don't you want me to take control?"

Spencer chuckled and gave me a quick kiss. I tried to chase him for more, but he shoved me down into the blanket with a hand on my chest. He gave me a serious look, "I'm tired of watching you take care of everyone. I don't care what you do away from me over the next few weeks, but when we're together, I'm going to take care of you."

"Why?" I asked quietly. I enjoyed it, sure, but it had been so long since anyone had wanted to do so. At least in this way. I was everyone's rock, everyone else's safe place. 

His eyes were dark and delicious as he watched me in the morning light. "Because I said so. I don't have any control in this town, and you have too much of it. I think it's time we both have a change in scenery."

I nodded in acceptance. In truth, I wanted that. I wanted to let go, to have even the small opportunity to do so. Spencer reached out and grabbed my jaw again, looming darkly above. 

"Yes or no," he growled darkly. "I wanna hear you say it."

My back arched at the dominance in his voice. I shivered even in the morning heat, wriggling a bit to alleviate the pulsing between my legs. 

"Yes," I whispered shakily. 

"Good girl," he praised softly. Spencer moved himself onto his knees and grabbed his pants from our pile of clothing. I watched through hooded lids as he pulled his wallet out of his pocket, flipping it open until he slipped a condom wrapper from the old leather. 

I got up on my elbows, slowly making my way up to him as he put everything back into the pile. I was getting to my knees in front of him when he caught me, cocking a brow my way. 

"What did I just say?"

I shivered in delight at his commanding voice, but I just fluttered my lashes at him. I put one hand on his belly and smiled, the other reaching between us to stroke his cock. Spencer's jaw clenched, but he just watched me with a squint. 

"Can I put it on?" I asked sweetly. I twisted my wrist and gave him a light squeeze, delighting in the way his length pulsed under my palm. "Pretty please?"

This was new for me. I was used to sex being a fight for dominance, a quick battle for release. Sure, with Ernie, it had always been special and loving. We enjoyed trying new things and experimenting, but being completely submissive was something I hadn't tried. 

Spencer nodded, handing me the wrapper. I was glad he brought it. I was still on birth control and Rico and I hardly used them besides as an afterthought, but Spencer was new to me and I was new to him. Who knew who he'd slept around with or the last time he'd been tested. 

I kept my eyes trained on his as I opened it and pulled out the condom. Spencer's chest patched red, his lips kiss bitten and swollen as he watched me back. Shuffling closer, I licked my palm and wrapped my hand around his length, giving him a few twisting squeezes. 

His breathing picked up, his hips twitching in anticipation. Pinching the top of the latex lightly so it didn't bubble at the tip, I held him firm as I slid it down his dick. When it was secure, I smoothed my palms up his chest and leaned in for a kiss. 

His lips were warm as they pressed against mine, one hand going for the hair at the nape of my neck as the other slid down my body. I moaned into him, melting into his strong presence and falling into Spencer Reid. 

He gripped my ass harshly, grunting as he pulled me flush against him. In a swift move, his hand went down to the back of my thigh and tugged it up, and the next thing I knew I was on my back on the blanket again. 

Spencer made quick work of mounting me, grinding his length into my folds. I tangled my hands in his hair as he latched onto my neck, nipping and swiping his tongue to soothe. His hands wandered, squeezing and pinching only to smooth a hard palm over it after. I wriggled beneath him and whined for more friction, and soon enough he gave me what I wanted. 

His hand slipped between us, lining his thick head against my entrance. My thighs splayed open, wanting and ready for him. I struggled to relax as he breached me, he was so thick, but after a deep breath and a pause he pushed forward. He was so much larger than me, and my body struggled to accommodate his member as he pumped himself with my cunt. 

"Oh, god," I whispered shakily, my limbs trembling with each smooth roll of his hips. Spencer kept a firm hand in my hair as he did so. He had himself braced on his elbow, his body keeping me so in place I couldn't even rock back into him. 

My cheeks flushed with heat. My vision blurred as he filled my emptiness. The stretch burned, but it was worth it, so worth it. The deeper he went, the deeper I fell into his eyes. Spencer watched me with an intensity I'd never seen before, as though he were trying to read my mind and succeeding. 

My jaw wobbled as his hips rolled in a slow swirling motion. Spencer rocked me into the blanket, the packed sand shifting beneath me with each gentle thrust. His own face was patched red, but he was taking in my expression, watching for any sign. I knew instinctively that whatever one he found, he'd follow the road it led until he reached the end, then go find a new one. 

"So fucking tight," he groaned, his eyes fluttering back for a moment as he enjoyed himself. I clung to him limply, my mind running further away each time his cock pressed further inside me. "So wet and warm… this perfect pussy…"

I needed more. I needed to be beaten into submission by him, but it seemed Spencer had something else in mind to drive me crazy other than brutally fast and hard sex. 

His forehead pressed against mine as he picked up his pace. Spencer's breath fanned across my lips as he bottomed out, both of us sucking in deep as my body adjusted to him. Each roll of his hips was focused, poised to hit me deep and elicit a moan with every firm push of his head against my cervix. 

His eyes entranced me, my mind and problems drifting further away. I couldn't even remember my name. It didn't matter anyways. All I existed in at that moment was Spencer, in what he was giving me and what I took without hesitation. 

He kissed me with purpose, using each press of his lips to accentuate a thrust, a moan, an animalistic grunt from him. Even the rushing river faded into the void of my mind. Our breathing became the only sound I heard, the sharp slap of his hips hitting mine echoing around us.

"Spencer…" I whined, nuzzling close, desperately. Forceful huffs burst from my throat with each thrust, as though he were more than happy to fuck the breath out of me completely. 

My body took everything he gave. My mind fell into a fog, a hazy gray space of our breathing and the sweat on our skin. We slid together with ease, both of us moving in time and falling further into the sensation. 

He destroyed me in an instant with this. My ecstasy stood up tall in the flowers, all bright yellow blooms at the tip. He set me on fire, put out but left to smolder in the mid morning sun. That ember stayed lit, and as my orgasm crested, my trembling jaw fell open once more to call his name up to the skies and disappear in the clouds. 

"Cum for me," Spencer murmured against my lips as I chased him subconsciously. His entire being swallowed mine, absorbing me into his chest as we became one in that moment. "Crumble to pieces, Honey. Honey…"

I shattered, my gaze locked to his. Spencer never let up, never stumbled. He was this steady presence to cling to as a part of my mind burst into pebbles, the walls I'd kept up all these years exploding into rubble. I fell apart. I crumbled. 

The fire refused to dissipate, the smoldering flames lingering to be risen again. Spencer thrust hard one last time, capturing my lips with his. We slotted together perfectly, and I pulled him tightly to me as he moaned desperately into me. I felt him cum, the thick rush of heat that filled me even though he was protected. His groans turned to trembling grunts as he finished, nearly collapsing when he was done. 

Spencer pulled away just enough to press a trail of kisses down my jaw and neck, soft whispers fanning across my skin, "Perfect, perfect girl… good girl…"

His praises echoed through my bones, bouncing between my rib cage until they hit my heart. I reveled in them, his gentle hands brushing back my hair and his sweet words piercing me like a knife. 

"You're fucking amazing, Honey," he said one last time. We both sighed as he pulled out, then got to his knees. 

I found myself pulling up to sit. My arms wrapped around my knees, holding them close to my chest as he went about taking off the condom and cleaning himself up. I heard the crinkle of the wrapper, the sounds of it hitting the trash can, but my eyes were focused on the scenery around us. 

Emotions I couldn't place swirled in my chest. The broad expanse of forestry laid out before me like an endless haven. I was safe. I was satisfied. Still, my body shuddered as hot tears came suddenly. My jaw clenched tightly to keep them in check, but I couldn't stop the swell of vulnerability that surfaced. 

"Hey," Spencer said softly, his gentle hand landing on my shoulder. I couldn't look at him. His arms encircled me instead. I wished it felt like a vice, something to break free from, but again Spencer Reid was something solid and warm to lean against, to be consumed by. 

"I don't…I don't know what's wrong with me," I muttered. My skin melted into him, my arms leaving my knees to clutch his and keep them around me. "I need to be touched. I don't know why."

Spencer's legs spread to pull me between them, his thighs encasing my own. I molded to fit his bigger frame, letting him hold me and in the same moment holding him so tightly around me I might be crushed. 

"You're not doing anything wrong," he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear. I was so ashamed of being seen. I wanted to disappear to nothing with the weight of his eyes looking right through me. "You let go. You didn't lose control, you gave it up, and it was glorious. Just take a minute to get it back."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The scent of sweat and sex swirled around us, the faint plume of coffee beans just on the edge from the nearby fire. Its soft crackles grounded me, the steady rise and fall of his chest against my ribcage calming my fast beating heart. 

"Thank you for giving that to me," Spencer whispered after a while. 

I turned enough to look up at him, but he never let me go. My brows furrowed together as I swallowed a lump in my throat, not sure how to phrase what I wanted to ask. “Why did you want that?”

Spencer’s eyes widened a bit, but then they softened for me. One hand came up to cup my jaw and rub a light circle into my cheek. He sighed, “Let’s just say it’s been a long time since I’ve had any real intimacy with anyone. Sex is one thing, but this?”

His palm smoothed down my arm, lightly squeezing my bicep. He hugged me tighter and gave a little grunt with the effort. “I’m not in the place to ask anyone to trust me enough for this. I’m a fucking mess, a loner, and I’ve been running from my problems for years instead of just facing them. I can’t keep a girlfriend long enough for real intimacy to happen.” “Then why did you ask me for it?” I asked quietly, my voice shaking just enough to denote a bit of fear. Not of him. Of myself, of how much I enjoyed it.

“After what happened at Tooky’s…” Spencer trailed off, taking in a deep breath. He needed a moment to gather up his courage, opting to press his lips to my forehead to gather his thoughts. I leaned into it, sucking up any bit of comfort I could get in that instant. Spencer sighed against me, “I find myself trusting you. It’s been a long time and selfishly, I’d like to let myself do that more before I leave.”

He pulled back to look down at me, “Is that okay?”

His eyes were filled to the brim with a hesitant uncertainty I’d never really seen from him. He was so guarded, so angry and lonely, but as I watched him it seemed to strip away delicately to show a deep part of him. Spencer was vulnerable, and dreadfully alone. I was too.

“Yes,” I replied softly. “I want that too.”

The sweet smile that cracked open on his tired face made my heart swell. He seemed so relieved. Spencer kissed my forehead again before pulling me in close. We sat like that for a while, the slow trickling of the river taking away some of the emotions with it, flowing out to sea. 

"Wildflower Honey," Spencer murmured quietly as we dozed later, tangled up under a blanket found in the back of my van and holding one another tightly as the day lazily passed us by. We didn't talk much, or about anything but some of the things we were interested in sexually. 

He said it again, Wildflower Honey, in a soft whispering exhale as he fell asleep. He started to snore quietly, and I smiled against his fuzzy naked chest. We drifted to sleep in the evening heat. 

Wildflower Honey. 

Smurph's Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Notes: Oh, my heart o.O I love them so freaking MUCH. What do you think of softdom!Spencer and his need for intimacy?

Also, have you guy listened to any of the songs that these chapters are inspired by? Which one is your favorite?

@thedancingcostumeyoungadult @muffin-cup @simplyparker @spencerreidsmommy @hotchandspencearedilfs @gspenc @kbakery @nomajdetective @givemeth @hoshihiime @halloween-is-my-nationality @reidselle @thisiscalmanditsdoctorreid @dreatine @thebloomingeagle @fortheloveofwonderland @theforgottenwinter @parkerreidnorth @reidselle @randomhoex @scargarcia-magshotchner @stitchwrites @pygmygoat-bicyclehelmet @cle13 @aysixdy @elhotchner @directioner5life @elhotchner @loveeee2134 @preciousbabypeter @la-stuffs @stories-you-wont-hear @hotchlover @fortheloveofwonderland @lokiandhisdagger @bellanutellababyyy @dark-night-sky-99 @straightforbuckybutgayfornatasha @maltamurdock @charelletjee @kansas-reid @zephyrmonkey @spencer-reid-wonderland @spencersprettyslut @im-sure-its-fine @tvdstelenaforever @teddylupintonks  @lilibet261 @kneelforloki @dirtytissuebox @almostgenerallyalways @whovian378 @cl0udyqu33n @thegettingbyp2 @averagestudent03 @the-sun-died-out @squishycalumxo @sebastiansstanswhore 

@louderfortheback @pandabiiissh @calebye

@dottirose @lfaewrites @padsfirewhisky @wheels-upin-thirty @f-me-reid @justanothercmblog @academiareid @moyo5653 @comfybabie @trxshwriting 

[devilsmenu]

Here I'm doing a starter/plotting call for my muses for the mini event, currently capping at 5 per muse, also if you want a specific plotting hit me on Discord and we can discuss some plots!

Muses that probably won't be attending: Ally Liddell, Astoria Greengrass, Abby Sciuto, Alison Blaire, Buttercup Utonium, Francis Barton, Harriet Hook, Heiya Akane, Irene Adler, Jamie, Kono Kalakaua, Li Lonnie, Lorna Dane, Noah Foster, Peni Parker, Jeon Pildo, Romeo Montague, Sally, Satana Hellstrom, Kim Sun and Tony Wyzek.

Chad Charming | Aware | Date with Blossom Utonium (1/5) Blossom

Chad decided to be there with Blossom and have fun with her. Open to small chat and drinking buddies.

Outfit for the gala.

Chris Hartley | Aware | Blind date with Annie James (2/5) - Emily Davis, Jess, Annie

He would be the type to walk the museums just to see the dinos and the technology exhibition. Would love to dance, chat with friends or new friends and having fun in general.

Outfit for the gala.

Choi Junwoong | Aware | Blind date with Clara Oswald (2/5) - Clara Oswald, Sakura

He'll probably be strolling around the museum, taking some walk and drink and eating.

Outfit for the gala.

Daken | Aware | Blind date with Minako Aiko (4/5) - Logan, King, Adrien, Dawn

He'll be at the bar, not wanting to be too much social and maybe walking around the museum.

Outfit for the gala.

Felicia Hardy | Aware | Blind date with Jem Carstairs (4/5) - Peter Parker, Tadashi, Alani, Kagome

Probably would be drinking, eating and taking a look at the jewelry exhibition to see what fits her oops.

Outfit for the gala.

Jihyo Kim | Aware | Blind date with Scarlett Thomas (3/5) - Cho Chang, Robin Buckley, Wei Wuxian

Jihyo loves a good party so she'll be doing everything at once lol. Just having fun in general.

Outfit for the gala.

Lee Hongjo | Unaware | Blind date with Andrew Deluca (1/5) Ellie

Hongjo will definitely have fun, walking around the museum, dancing, drinking, eating, trying to make new friends.

Outfit for the gala.

Rafael Lightwood-Bane | Aware | Blind date with Adeline Witherdale (2/5) - Max Lightwood Bane, Victoria

Rafe is there to get some booze, free food and maybe dancing. He'll also take a look at the exhibitions.

Outfit for the gala.

Romeo Montague | Aware | Date with Juliet Capulet (1/5) Jester

Romeo would probably wander around Smithsonian because he loves everything related to history, he's a big fan of museums and want to have a nice ball with the love of his life. Open to a conversation, bar talk and dancing.

Outfit for the gala.

Sally Ragdoll | Aware | Date with Jack Skeleton (2/5) Parker, Jane

Sally would probably be tired, especially because she had a lotof work doing the dresses for the ball but she can't say no to Jack. She'll be on her own, probably just drinking, eating and resting outside or wandering around.

Outfit for the gala.

Urumi Akamaki | Aware | Blind date with Princess Aurora (1/5) Xiao Chiye

Urumi don't mind the exhibitions though so she would probably be filming some content at the event and also enjoying some booze and making small talk.

Outfit for the gala.

[jon-astronaut]

Stranger Things Social Media AU - But I Knew You - (Ronance & Stonathan) - Chapter 14

Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Steve’s POV

Steve’s POV (continued)

All Steve wanted to do right now was to hit the showers and get a good nights sleep. After cramming for midterms for the past few days, and having a really tiring practice today he just wanted to rest. He looked at the photos Robin sent through their group chat of her, Nancy and Jonathan at dinner and tried not to zoom in on Jonathan’s face. He was just about to walk through the door of their dorm when somebody stopped him.

“Hey, kid, are you staying here?” A man asked and under the dimly lit streets of New York and with his tired foggy brain it took him a while to focus on the man’s face.

Shit, was his first thought. It had been a couple of years since he saw Lonnie Byers. Years ago he saw Lonnie when he was waiting pulled up on the other side of the road of the Byers house, after Jonathan texted him to not come in. Steve had seen the man shut the door with an extreme force and drive his car away breaking several traffic rules. After a few minutes Steve had knocked on the door, only to be met with the bruised face of Jonathan. So, even if he saw Lonnie Byers one time there was no way Steve could forget him.

“Yeah.” He said firmly, trying to keep his cool. “Why?” He then asked almost challengingly. 

“My son also stays here but they are not letting me in. Something about him not leaving my name.” Lonnie explained, trying to seem sympathetic and all Steve wanted to do was punch him. “His name is Jonathan Byers.”

“I don’t think I know your son.” Steve lied. “You should try the other dorms.” He added trying to shoo the man away because Steve knew they were done with the dinner and Jonathan could show up any time.

“No, no. I know he is here.” Lonnie replied. 

But of course his shit luck struck again because he saw Robin, Nancy and Jonathan walking down the street, their arms locked to each other. When Robin saw Steve, she broke apart and started skipping towards him.

“Hey, dingus! You were waiting for us?” Robin asked happily. 

Steve gulped and pinched his nose, trying to come up with something to send the man away, to make sure Jonathan wouldn’t have to face him but things happened faster than he could react. Lonnie Byers turned around at Robin’s voice, Jonathan saw the man’s face and stopped dead in his track, Nancy stood frozen next to him and Robin, who was now next to Steve, looked between them confusedly.

“This is my son.” Lonnie announced first looking at Steve then, walked closer to Jonathan. 

Jonathan took a step back, and Nancy stepped half in front of him in a sort of protective way. 

“What do you want?” Jonathan asked angrily but Steve could sense the fear in his voice so clearly. 

Steve dropped his duffel bag from his shoulder and walked fast to stand between Lonnie and, Nancy and Jonathan. He tried to position himself so that Jonathan’s view was blocked by Steve’s back, so that he didn’t have to stare at Lonnie. 

“I wanted to see my son.” Lonnie said once again trying to use that sympathetic tone. 

Then, Lonnie tried taking a step to the side probably to catch Jonathan’s eye but Steve moved with him, effectively blocking the view again. 

“I thought you didn’t know him kid.” Lonnie said, no longer faking a tone and instead sounding annoyed. 

“I do, I lied before, and you need to leave.” Steve stated firmly. 

Robin walked up from where she was standing to go around and stand next to Jonathan too. 

“This is family business, you should stay out of it.” Lonnie shot back threateningly. 

“Family?” Jonathan almost shouted and Steve half turned to him to see that he had taken a step forward. 

It might have looked like Jonathan was ready to jump at Lonnie but Steve noticed the way Jonathan’s hands were shaking, the way his voice broke. Steve wanted to kill Lonnie right then and there not caring about the consequences. 

“Yes, your real one not the one your mother made up.” Lonnie shouted back taking a step towards Jonathan too.

Steve stepped so close to the man, making sure he wouldn’t take even the slightest step against Jonathan again. As long as Steve was there this man wasn’t going to touch to Jonathan.

“Real one?” Nancy replied instead of Jonathan. “You haven’t called in years and the last time you saw him he ended up with a split lip.” She added fully standing in front of Jonathan.

Lonnie opened his mouth to probably shout something again but Steve beat him up to it.

“So, here’s what’s going to happen…” Steve said with an authoritative voice. “…you’re gonna walk away and never cross this street again.” He continued basically threatening the man.

“Why would I do that?” Lonnie asked laughing mockingly and bitterly.

“The surname Harrington rings any bells?” Steve asked and the smugness disappeared from Lonnie’s face. “Yeah, it does. I know people that could make your life hell so if I were you I would listen to me.” He added ready to punch the man if he didn’t walk.

Lonnie tried looking at Jonathan again, and then spit on the street towards Jonathan. He shot one more look at Steve, rubbed his chin and turned around and walked away angrily. The second Lonnie was far away enough Nancy pulled Jonathan into a hug, getting on her tiptoes. Robin didn’t waste a second as she wrapped her arms around both of them, looking at Steve in the process. It took Jonathan a long time to hug them back. Steve stood motionless, not really knowing what his boundaries with Jonathan was. He didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, especially right now. Over the shoulder of the both girls, Jonathan looked at Steve and Steve realized what he needed to do. It was to hold Jonathan’s gaze and telling him everything was okay by his eyes. 

It was decided by the group that Jonathan shouldn’t spend the night alone and even if Jonathan tried to tell them he was fine the other three refused. Robin suggested staying up all night together, or sneaking Jonathan into her room but Steve replied saying Jonathan needed some rest. Finally, with some push they all agreed that since Steve’s roommate went back to his hometown after the midterms, Jonathan should spend the night at his room. Steve secretly daydreamed for years that he would have this moment with Jonathan again, both of them in the same bedroom, but not under these circumstances, not when Jonathan was hurting and breaking. 

“Do you want to talk?” Steve asked sitting on his roommate’s bed, as Jonathan lied down on Steve’s.

“Not really.” Jonathan replied quietly. 

“If you ever want to talk, like the old times, I can listen.” Steve said hesitantly staring at his lap and holding a pillow over his chest tightly. 

“I know.” Jonathan replied and then, turned his face so that he was looking at Steve. “I know.” He said one more time his voice breaking.

Fuck, how Steve regretted not beating Lonnie up right now. Steve hated that he pulled Jonathan back to years ago, reminded him about what he moved on from; hated that he was the reason behind Jonathan’s teary eyes and trembling voice. 

“I tried to send him away before you came.” Steve said with a sigh. 

“It’s okay.” Jonathan replied, staring up at the ceiling again. “You did send him away in the end.” He added. 

Steve wanted to go there and hug Jonathan, pull him into his chest and caress his arm like he used to do years ago so that he would fall asleep peacefully. But he couldn’t. Things were different now, Steve had to sleep in another bed and choose his words carefully. 

“Can you lie next to me?” Jonathan asked so quietly that Steve wondered if he made it up. 

He looked up to see Jonathan watching him expectedly, so he threw himself out of the bed as Jonathan scooted to the corner. Steve tried to control his breathing because today was not the day to get excited because he was lying next to Jonathan. He also tried to control himself to fight the urge to put a protective arm over him, to comfort him. Their arms were touching and Steve had to stop himself from grabbing his hand in his. A few minutes later Jonathan’s breaths evened out and he fell asleep so Steve took in a breath of relief that maybe he made Jonathan feel safe enough that he was able to fall asleep.

Steve’s POV (continued)

Jonathan’s POV

Jonathan’s POV (continued)

*i will post another chapter today!!! this was very stonathan heavy and the next will be ronance heavy. i’m like trying to keep a balance between them.

[ominousmotion]

Trinity of Terror time! Fair warning i only proof read this very lightly so i apologize for bad spelling and grammar also i dont know how to make a long post shorter so sorry for that too!

Alrighty here is the report from Trinity of Terror I have yet to fully go through my pictures and videos bc I apparently took over 400 of them. I basically woke up anxious yesterday bc I had 2 classes before I could leave and I have to leave my last class early to drive 2 hours and then wait for another hour in the freezing cold to pick up my vip stuff. As soong as i pulled in to park i saw Justin Morrow just hanging out on the loading dock and i went oh yeah a roadie is just hanging out then did a double take and went is that Justin?! When I got in the venue I was one of the first people in line for merch so I was able to get everything I wanted without waiting and was able to get a good spot in the pit right behind barricade people but right on the incline of the barricade which fucked my back. First in the line up was Atreyu they were super fun one of the guitarists got his shirt ripped off by the lead singer like 4 times which was funny and the dude was a dilf but he just kept getting new shirts. Black Veil Brides was next and ooo boy Andy Biersack is an interesting guy for sure every song on the set list had overt religious overtones which just persists my theory that he's a scientoligist but there sound settings the whole set I don't know what it was like reverb or bass but Andy could have not sung and I wouldn't have been able to tell but because I was right under the speaker I was suffering and had to fight to not have a panic attack bc of the sound and by that time im just getting more pushed to the front and I really didn't want to have to get pulled over the barricade before miw. But Motionless in White was next and as soon as Chris started singing I was having the time of my life and fell in love with Chris a little after singing and making eye contact for what felt like a minute but was probably 3 seconds I did completely melt seeing Chris do the Blegh in person as well MIW gets a 10/10 gold star 🌟 whatever the whole set was incredible. Ice Nine Kills closed the show bc it was their hometown show but in between sets the guy in front of me on barricade left so I snagged his spot and had myself a fruit snack from my bag and the security guy in front of me gave me the look of wtf where did you just get fruit snacks from so I reached back into my bag and offered him one and in exchange he brought me some water cuz it was almost 1030 and I had not had water or food since I got there at 4pm but there set was super cool tho a lot of the movie references went right over my head it was still pretty fun. So because I was parked right by the loading dock there were a bunch of people waiting for band members to come out so I did that till 1 am and a roadie gave us BVB picks from Jinx? I think and then i met Lonny from BVB and talked to him for a min and got a picture and also me Joe from Ice Nine Kills and chatted with him as well and got a picture. All in all it was a great night despite the anxiety and yeah next time I get pit tickets there won't be any anxiety I hope! I will be posting pictures later i got a bunch of good ones

[vickysaurus]

What if season 5 was two seasons?

So watching through season 5, I kept noticing how fast the pacing had to be with the amount plot threads there were and how often I went ‘I wish we saw more of X’. So as I’ve mentioned a couple of times, I’ve started wondering if it might’ve been better if its story had been spread over two seasons rather than one. Now, obviously I understand that kind of change would not have been in the crew’s hands and no matter what they wanted would likely have been impossible. This is not intended as a ‘they should’ve just done this’ but as a thought experiment. Would a sixth season even have worked? So I’m gonna try and figure out how season 5′s content might’ve been done over two seasons in an alternate universe. In order to keep straight how far in the seasons we are, I’m gonna number the episodes 5-1 to 5-13 and 6-1 to 6-13 for clarity.

-5-1: We’re gonna start off immediately inserting an extra episode: The Fall of Bright Moon. Rather than a time skip, we get to see the first days of the invasion and the evacuation of Bright Moon in the face of overwhelming force. Micah has to switch back into being king, Adora has to deal with losing She-Ra, Bow has to deal with losing Glimmer. There’s a major subplot about Scorpia working up the courage to apologise to Entrapta and the two of them reconnecting. Perfuma probably helps her with that. That sounds like a pretty busy episode, but I think the first two Velvet Glove scenes from Horde Prime should probably be moved to it to not just leave Catra and Glimmer hanging completely.

-5-2 to 5-4: Horde Prime, Launch, and Corridors stay mostly the same. Since I moved the first Velvet Glove scenes to 5-1 and we can probably cut a bit of exposition from Horde Prime with the addition of that episode, these episodes get a couple minutes extra, which is split between an extra Glimmer and Catra in jail scene and some more of Scorpia and Entrapta’s friendship in Launch.

-5-5 and 5-6: An extra season gives us time for worldbuilding and more of the new characters, and since I like the Star siblings I’m gonna selfishly give them a bunch more screen time. The plan to save Catra takes more preparation in this version, leading Best Friend Squad and the Star siblings to go on an adventure on another planet after Stranded, one that is under Horde occupation but hasn’t been destroyed by them. They’re there for either information or some kind of device they’ll need to get on the Velvet Glove, but end up sowing the seeds for a local rebellion on the planet. We’ll see more of that plot later on.

-5-7: Save the Cat. It’s perfect as is.

-5-8: Taking Control’s A plot, enhanced with some scenes from Don’t Go into a full episode.

-5-9: This is where Taking Control’s B plot with the chipped Etherians goes. To go with it, Best Friend Squad is going on another space adventure after a rendez-vous with the Star siblings while they try and escape the Horde. I’m thinking maybe Hordak could be one of the clones searching for them, and while he doesn’t come face-to-face with Entrapta we could see some more of his conflicting feelings building in the course of this. Just a moment’s hesitation on his part allows Best Friend Squad to escape. Catra befriending Glimmer and Bow is a major part of this episode, and it basically bridges the gap between the little overtures between them in Taking Control and Catra as a part of Best Friend Squad in Shot in the Dark.

-5-10: Kyle, Lonnie, and Rogelio only get a cameo in season 5, and that’s something I really want to change. I want to give them a ‘Lower Decks’ episode where they’re basically just trying to go about their lives post-Horde but rapidly discovering the war is impossible to ignore. I feel like we don’t see enough of the normal Etherians in general, and I think these three are a great way to show how they’re doing.

-5-11: Perils of Peekablue. However, the scene at the end where it turns out Micah is already chipped and so are enormous amounts of Etherians doesn’t happen yet.

-5-12 and 5-13: So now I need to have a big season finale happen, and unfortunately Shot In The Dark, while a great episode, is also a little too low-energy to fit the bill. So what I’m gonna do is make it the B-plot of a finale two-parter. The A-plot is set on Etheria, and is basically some big climactic business where the Princesses, General Juliet, (remember her?) and many common Etherians take the fight back to the chipped princesses, and things go well until disaster strikes and Micah gets chipped. Pretty vague, I know. The ‘Lower Decks’ episode we did sets up a lot of the plot here; Lonnie, Rogelio, and Kyle are probably involved in it. The two-parter ends with the big ‘Oh fuck everyone’s chipped’ moment at the end of Perils of Peekablueas the big season-ending cliffhanger. After that scene, we switch to Best Friend Squad landing on Etheria, and that’s how season 5 ends.

-6-1: I think An Ill Wind would be a solid season opener as is.

-6-2 to 6-10: Yeah, I’m gonna take this whole block of episodes in one go, because this is where it gets complicated. Return to the Fright Zone and Failsafe take place in this block, but it’s beyond my ability to figure out the full plot developments of this entire season. While for season 5 I can keep to the structure of Best Friend Squad’s space adventure, season 6 is gonna be a lot more freeform, and would presumably have major plot elements added. Here’s my thoughts on these nine episodes:

-The chipped princesses get unchipped earlier. They provide good heartwrenching moments, cool bossfights, and allow for major villains ranking below Prime without having to introduce new characters, but I think ultimately it does the chipped princesses a disservice since they just don’t get to show character in the second half of the season. Just compare how well we know Netossa as a character with how well we know Spinnerella. So they get unchipped over the course of these episodes and get to be with the Rebellion again afterwards. Mermista and Spinnerella get unchipped the same way as in canon. Scorpia actually gets to talk while chipped and has a heartwrenching confrontation with Catra in which she basically responds in the worst possible ways to Catra’s regrets (the same way we saw chipped Catra basically being am expression of her worst traits) and they have a fight that’s super rough for Catra, but Catra manages to damage her chip and save her. They have a better chat afterwards, and that’s when they make up and hug it out. I think Micah is the last one to be unchipped, and I might actually keep him chipped until Heart, Part 1 so Glimmer still gets that climactic confrontation with him. Now, a possible concern is that this means there’s just not gonna be enough ‘bosses’ around to fight in Heart. Solutions to this could include for example advanced robots, chipped minor characters like Huntara, Dumbface Octavia, and alien monsters. Maybe Hordak? Though I definitely want him back on the Velvet Glove’s bridge in time to give Prime his date with gravity.

-So that’s sort of the major arc, but there are several characters and plot threads that I feel could easily be an episode’s A- or B-plot in this bunch:

*Catra is mortified when she realises she caused Angella’s death and has a big freak-out over it and tries to run away, Glimmer confronts her and they deal with their feelings on the matter

*Another Kyle, Lonnie, and Rogelio episode

*A Wrong Hordak episode where he discovers his own identity and picks a name, also feat. Entrapta’s attempts to reach out to Hordak

*Madame Razz episode where Adora tries to get her help, possibly involving the Crystal Castle and George and Lance

*Sea Hawk and Double Trouble drama kids adventure where they try to save Mermista (I think Mermista vs. Sea Hawk and Mermista being unchipped gets moved to the end of this episode). These two were delightful for the little time we saw them together in Perils of Peekablue and I want Sea Hawk to somehow rope Double Trouble into an adventure.

*All the space adventures and world building I put in season 5 coming to a head when some form of space reinforcements led by the Star siblings come to help.

*And of course Return to the Fright Zone and Failsafe.

-6-11 to 6-13: Heart is now a three-parter, deal with it. Horde Prime is beaten at the end of part 2, or more likely the start of part 3, and the rest of part 3 is that sweet dénouement I crave.

So with all that laid out, let’s return to the question: would this work? I think if it had originally been written to be two seasons, the story could have easily worked for two. As is, I’m retrofitting a single season to be two, so some of the stuff I’ve added sounds rather redundant or vague. There are certainly enough plotlines and characters to make a split work, but of course those would’ve had to have been written into the plot from the start to not feel tacked on. Of course, brevity is the soul of wit, so even if two seasons had been an option, it’s quite possible a single that has too little time is still better than two that have too much.

[descendantofthesparrow]

Bad End rewrite - Harry concept

-

Harry flipped through a thick old leather bound book, labeled ‘curses and gods’ since he was young he had wondered why his eyes turned red when got angry or his emotions ran high. he wondered why when his eyes turned red an urge to spill blood pushed through his mind. and after confronting his father about it, he finally knew why.

a blood curse, cast on James when he angered one of the fairies on neverland however many years ago, and cursed him. it would be passed down from James to whoever he created, meaning Harriet, Harry, and Cj were all born with the curse.

his father didn't bother telling him the name of the curse, only where he had gotten it from and the type of curse. and after confiding in FG she had told Harry where he might find that type of curse.

in the very book he was flipping through.

“blood curse, blood curse, blood curse-ah” he stopped at a very old and worn down page that had the words ‘Blood curses’ “there we go” he muttered trailing his finger down the pages until he landed on the words ‘red eyes’

he started at the beginning of the paragraph, sighing to himself as he settled in for a few minutes of reading from how much this one curse took up the page.

‘the victim under the curse will suffer from intense feelings of rage and insanity and their eyes will flash red, becoming completely red if they let the rage or madness overcome them. during these bouts the victim will get the urge to hurt and possibly kill depending on the severity, the victim may possibly hear voices, telling the victim to kill among many other things, those who have been under this curse say the voices tell them to spill blood. they say sometimes the voices are angry, sometimes sad, sometimes chaotic, sometimes helpful, but they always want one thing; Blood.’

Harry took a deep breath, well, the only thing that matched him was the red eyes, and the slight madness, even back on the isle since he was a kid he was a little mad, i mean....he did try to get tick tock to bit his hand off then when the croc didn't he tried to cut it off when Uma stopped him. but he did NOT have constant voices in his head telling him to kill...well...other than when he got way to into a fight. he continued to read, pausing as he read the small note at the bottom of the paragraph

‘victims also reported heightened strength, speed, agility, sight, and increased fighting ability's, even if the victim had no know-how of combat prior to fighting’

Harrys mind flashed back to when he fought Davy on the isle, how once Davy had mentioned Uma, Harry felt something snap and red incased his vision, he had done things he didn't know he could do even after he started sparring with (y/n) and Lonnie. he remembered lifting Davy off his feet by just pressing his arm to Davy’s throat, something that he had never really been able to to. 

he trailed his eyes back up, heart stopping as he reached the title of the curse he had found that matched his “symptoms”

-THE CURSE OF THE BLOOD GOD-

his eyes flashed back down to right below the title, swallowing down the pit in his throat as he read the description of the curse.

‘the curse of the blood god, also known as the madness curse. it is unknown if this curse holds a god behind its name and magic, but according to its victims, the blood god is a very real being that demands blood and death for unknown reasons. studies revealed that this curse can be passed through bloodlines’

Harry felt his leg start to bounce with anxiety as he re-read the symptoms paragraph, clenching his jaw as at the bottom right corner of the page was a small note ‘known victims of the blood god curse’

Harry took a deep breath to prepare himself, quickly flipping the page to just get it over with. his blood froze.

-known victims of the blood god curse-

the Queen of Hearts

Shan Yu

Red Skull

Wade Wilson

Harry stared at the name below ‘Wade Wilson’, feeling as if his whole world had shattered

 Captain James Hook

there were a good handful of names but Harry ignored them, he just sat in his chair, staring down at the words that he had hoped weren't true. the blood god curse...he was cursed, actually fucking cursed with something that would probably drive him fucking crazy! voices, bouts of rage and insanity, the almost constant urge to kill.

what-what if he hurt- 

Harry fumbled through the blood god curse page, relief washing over him as he found one of the final notes of the curse.

-studies reveal that victims of the curse, instead of the theory that they would hurt or possibly kill their loved ones, would instead would be pushed to protect and care for them. the victims seem to only attack those who hurt them or their loved ones, or people of whom they don't know that well. the victims revealed that around their loved ones the voices, instead of asking for blood, seemed to either quiet down, become silent, or yell praise and love at the loved one. and when the loved one was threatened, the voices yelled to protect and scream for the blood of the one threatening. it should be noted that it has been very rare for victims to become insane from this curse, as long as its taken care of properly, the victim can live an almost normal life-

Harry let out the biggest sigh of relief he had ever let out, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his face, that meant he wouldn't hurt (y/n) or anyone else he cared about, instead it seemed this curse would only help him protect them if anything happened.

‘blood’

Harry froze, quickly sitting up and looking around the seemingly empty library “whose there!?” Harry called out, panic filling his voice

‘kill’ ‘blood’ ‘we want blood’ ‘do it do it’ ‘kill’ ‘blood for the blood god’ ‘stab something’

Harry covered his ears and snapped his eyes shut, tears burning in his eyes as he realized what was happening, the voices, just like the book said, asking for blood. why, why now?! why him?! after 19 years of nothing but his eyes flashing and bouts of mania all of a sudden, NOW, he hears the voices?! 

‘blood’ ‘blood’ ‘blood’ ‘blood for the blood god’ ‘do it do it’ ‘kill’ ‘stab’ ‘*crying*’ ‘*laughter*’

Harry stood abruptly and grabbed the curse book, slamming it shut and running to FGs office, she had to have an answer for this she just had to!

‘kill’ ‘blood’ ‘destroy’ ‘blood’ ‘we want blood’ ‘burn everything to the ground’ ‘destroy’ ‘blood’ ‘we demand blood’ ‘blood for the blood god’

-

*art i did a while back*

yep...the boi is cursed...along with Harriet and CJ but ill explain them in a sec. so Harrys curse was inspired by technoblades “voices” in the dream smp aka his chat that were made canon and canonically speak to him during the “story” and he is the only one able to “hear” them. it was also inspired by the madness curse he has in a “sea three go Auradon instead of C4 au fic”  

the song i linked at the top also helped inspire me to write this concept fic clip

okay so for a bit of “what happens after this fic clip” Harry goes to FG and confirms what curse he has and tells her about the voices, and asks her why they just suddenly decided to appear. and that's when FG tells Harry that the curse doesn't have its full effect until the victim knows they are cursed, and they also have to know exactly what curse they have. “its an odd rule i know but it only happens with this particular curse” she says. then she tells Harry that he can tell Harriet and CJ about the curse but there's a chance he'll risk the voices coming for them as well. 

but yeah i just wanted to...sprinkle a bit more angst in this au hehe.

anyways once again inspired by the dream smp and @disneyfan50​ “true defender” fic~!!!

[heartofsnark]

This Is Love (Chapter Twelve): Evil Comes In Disguise

Notes: This one is shorter than others but it felt like it took me so much longer, I blame Cyberpunk 2077 for stealing my one braincell for a while. Also, I have a tendency that the longer it takes me to write something, the more insecure I feel about it, so I ended up cutting this chapter a bit shorter than I originally intended. But I think it works and I hope you enjoy!~

Word Count: 8686

Chapter Warnings: Talk of physical assault, hospitals, POV switches, Joseph visions, me trying to write police investigations/interrogations to minimal success and struggling to write Jerome for the first time properly. 

For chapter one and the warnings about this fic’s overarching themes, please click here!

For the previous chapter; click here!

And the clock ticks and ticks and ticks and ticks. Every second feels like an eternity. Every moment of silence seeming to stretch on for hours. Her nerves fray with each one, worry blooming like a flower in her chest. The tension palpable as the three deputies and Sheriff wait to hear what will become of the town pastor. Dahlia’s mouth starts running before she can stop it; to distract herself or her distraught friends, she doesn’t know. 

“How long have you all known Pastor Jerome?” 

“Oh, Jerome’s been in Hope for…fifteen years or so,” Whitehorse tells her, thinking a minute over the exact timeline. 

“He took over the Falls End church when I was thirteen,” Hudson adds, “so yeah, fifteen years.” 

“Wow,” Dahlia can’t help but exclaim, astounded by just how long they’ve all known the pastor, he’s been with the county for more than half of Hudson and Pratt’s lives. 

“St-,” Pratt swallows his words then starts again, stuttering, “still remember my mom making me give my first confession to him…I was terrified I was gonna go to hell, get kicked out of church, break my mom’s heart.” 

“What did you do?” 

“His mom caught him looking at porno mags,” Hudson rats him out, laughing. Whitehorse cracking a smile and Dahlia snickering. 

“I was eleven, shut up,” he tries to defend himself through his own laughter, “yeah, Jerome thought it was funny too, told me everything was okay and then it was.” 

Rook can just imagine it, Pratt as a kid, terrified that god’s going to smote him for looking at a tit. There’s a bittersweet quality to the four smiling and laughing at the memory; the anxiety and fear still looming but it’s a little easier to breathe. The weight crushing down on them is a little lighter than it was before. 

“If he makes it out of this, we need to go back to church,” Hudson tells Pratt after a beat of silence. 

“We do, don’t we?” 

“Officers?” A man in a doctor’s coat calls out to them, the same one who stitched her head back together before. 

“Is he okay?” 

“We stabilized him; we got the bleeding under control and it looks like we won’t have to transfer him after all, he should be fine to recover here. We’re still monitoring him, but things are looking up.” 

There’s a sigh of relief; maybe just from Whitehorse, maybe from all of them. She can’t even tell. Things are looking up, Jerome is likely to live and none of them will lose someone who clearly means so much to them. 

“What exactly is it that happened, doctor?” 

“Someone out in the valley called 911; the heard scratching at the door and when they looked he was collapsed on their front step. That’s all we know at this point, but as I told you, this was clearly an assault. The bruises, the bleeding, it all matches with brute force assault and with the severity we do believe it was multiple people who attacked him.” 

“Who the fuck would wanna hurt Jerome?” Hudson asks, more to herself than anyone else. 

“You’re all free to stay in his room, so you can question him when he wakes up, but I don’t know how reliable his memory will be with what he’s been through.” 

“Thank you, doctor.” 

 The four go into the hospital room and Dahlia clenches her jaw when she sees him. Bruises mottle and color the friendly face she’s seen around the county; a myriad of red and purples across him. One eye swollen, stitches and bandages in places where the skin broke. They were trying to kill him; that’s all Dahlia can think. This was an attempted murder, his body is hidden under a hospital gown and blankets, but she can see from his arms that the damage extends over his body. A IV gives him a steady drip of fluids to keep him stable, a heart and oxygen monitor letting the staff know he’s staying that way. 

“Jesus fuck…” Pratt whispers under his breath. 

Hospital coffee and more stories of the pastor pass the time as the four settle in; the time Jerome comforted an emotional fourteen year old Hudson when she spilled communion grape juice on her white dress. Whitehorse talks about how often he’s visited the church to talk with Jerome. 

Hours pass of the four talking, Dahlia downing five or more paper cups of coffee across the time. And then a cough sound rings out, a shift of fabric, the pastor slowly waking up. Whitehorse calls out for the nurses; the deputies shifting in their seats as he comes to. 

The nurses flood in, checking on Jerome’s vitals, ensuring he can comfortably sit up in his bed. He’s an older man, not as old as Whitehorse, but probably as old as Jacob or Joseph. Mid to late forties. With short dark textured hair and a dark beard.

“What the hell happened?” Whitehorse asks when the nurses are done checking on the Pastor. 

“John Seed,” The pastor begins, and Dahlia clenches her jaw, “he and members of Eden’s Gate kidnapped me, he tried to force a confession from me and when I didn’t comply; they beat me and left me in the woods. I tried to get help the best way I knew how, but I passed out before I could speak to anyone.” 

Dahlia doesn’t have time to think, to ruminate on what this means, what might be going on; Whitehorse telling her to grab the evidence collection kit he brought in. There’s not much to be collected, but their best bet of getting any conclusive evidence is swabbing Jerome’s fingernails. There’s nothing to get fingerprints off of, no weapon, no duct tape, no bindings. No bodily fluids exchanged, thankfully for Jerome’s sake. But, if he fought back, grabbed at his attackers, there’s a chance the blood under his fingernails could belong to them. That he managed to gouge their skin deep enough to leave a trace. 

“Sorry, this might hurt a bit,” Dahlia gives a gentle warning when she sees the broken and bloodied state of his nails, gently swabbing blood from under them, making sure to collect from each finger before dropping it into a vile. 

“I think I’ll make it,” he manages to say, a slightly dry laugh, his voice deep and resonant.

“I know you will, but still don’t wanna add to it.” 

“Jerome, you said John Seed, did you recognize anyone else?” 

“Lonny, Theodore, and Patrick were the only ones I know I saw…The way John talked he was doing it because of Joseph, that he ordered it… Eden’s Gate is getting worse every day.” 

“Don’t worry, Jerome, we’re gonna do everything we can, Hudson, take the sample back to the station to see if we can match it to anything already in our database.  Pratt, Rook, want you to start pulling the peggies in for questioning and getting DNA. Start with Lonny Stevenson, Theodore Rossi, and Patrick Michaelson. No arrests, not yet, just questioning. We’ll handle the Seeds later, alright?” 

“Understood.” 

There’s a heavy tension in the cruiser as Pratt and Dahlia climb into it. Jerome is alive,  there’s a weight to what he’s told them and to their duty to get justice for him. Pratt’s knuckles are white as he grips the steering wheel, jaw clenched, and shoulders wrought with tension. Pastor Jerome has been an important figure in his life. She can’t imagine how hard this must be for him. She thinks of how much worse she might feel if it were Lloyd or Whitehorse in that hospital bed, someone she were close to. Dahlia squeezes Pratt’s shoulder as they drive, hoping her empathy shows through the touch. Even as strangers, her stomach is in knots, though it may be because of her…connection to the accused. 

Despite their constant encroachment on boundaries, stepping on the line but never quite over it, Dahlia had maintained her hope that the Seeds and their flock were good at their core. That’s why she turned Cassie into their hands, but everyday there’s something new. And this is the worst yet. If they’ve truly done this, if they’re ordering full out assaults on people, that does a lot more than just cross the line. 

One of their three main suspects, outside of the two youngest Seed brothers, works at the Green-Busch Fertilizer Plant, an Eden’s Gate owned business. And for possibly the first time since she began working in Hope County, Dahlia is the one leading the charge as they get out of the cruiser, Pratt not trusting his own voice. 

“Patrick Michaelson,” she calls out and a man steps out, “we need to have a word with you down at the station.” 

He’s generic by Eden’s Gate standards, too long hair and a scraggly beard. His arms are covered, so she can’t check for scratches or bruises along them. 

“I in any trouble, deputies?” 

“Just need to ask some questions; Theodore Rossi or Lonny Stevenson here? We need a word with them as well.” 

“No, but I could ring ‘em for you?” 

“We’ll chat first, then you can call them from the station, alright?” 

“Whatever you say, officers.” 

The last thing she wants is for them to have a chance to put together a story and alibi before they start questioning them. They allow Patrick into the back of the cruiser, he seems to be maintaining his cool. And the tension in the car only strengthens as they take him back to the station. Dahlia watches him in the mirror along the way, waiting for some sign of anything to peek through, for a sleeve to ride up and to see scratches from Jerome’s nails, something. But nothing of the sort happens. 

Dahlia has never actually had to interrogate or question anyone, she realizes once they’re at the station and having Patrick take a seat. She doubts he’ll give them much information. If he’s innocent, he won’t have anything of interest to tell. If he’s guilty, he won’t want to tell them much of anything. Getting a DNA sample is what’s going to be the most important thing, if they get some conclusive evidence, something that links one of the Eden’s Gate members to Jerome’s assault the rest will come much easier. 

“Coffee?” She offers, as she pours black coffee into three paper cups.

Patrick murmurs a small thanks before he drinks from the cup before they start asking him questions. Hours pass of trying to ask the same questions in slightly different ways or tones. Dahlia trying to stay friendlier in her tone while Pratt is terser, due to his personal connection. But getting more than a ‘I was at home, last night,’ is like trying to get blood from a turnip. He refuses to give a DNA sample as well. 

“We about done here?” Patrick asks with a hint of annoyance in his voice. 

“Fine,” Pratt grumbles, “I’ll walk you out and you can ring Lonny and Theodore for us.” 

Dahlia taps her fingers against the table as the two men walk out, breathing a sigh of relief when Patrick leaves his coffee cup. It takes a few minutes and then Pratt comes back, he collapses into his chair and groans, she can feel the stress radiating off of him. 

“Well, that was a waste of fucking time,” he grumbles. 

“How you figure?” 

“How you figure anything else?’ He looks at her incredulously, like she’s grown a second head and breathed fire. 

“Left his cup,” Dahlia pokes at the little Styrofoam cup, “our property, we wanna swab it for DNA, our business and don’t need anyone’s consent for it.” 

“I’ll run it down to evidence, you brew another pot for the next two.” 

“On it.” 

Pratt runs that down, the cup bagged and labeled with Patrick’s name, she’s sure. Lonny and Theodore aren’t far behind. And their questioning goes much the same. They don’t give particularly direct answers and refuse to give DNA samples. Theodore avoids talking as much as he can, mostly opting to glare at the deputies after his first insistence that he has no idea why he’s here and has no obligation or desire to talk. But, he does at some point break his sourpuss expression to take a drink of coffee. Lonny is cockier, more aggressive, making snide comments but he drinks coffee at some point too; so that’s all that matters.

By the end of it all, three cups are sent down to evidence to be swabbed for DNA to be tested against the DNA found under Jerome’s fingernails. If it’s from any of them, they’ll know by hopefully the end of the day. Evidence based cases are rare around here, so the forensic team stated they can fast track it, hopefully

Pratt and Dahlia rest in the bullpen office, Hudson joining them. There’s a somber air to the entire office. Hudson’s leg bounces with nervous or angry energy, Dahlia isn’t sure which. Meanwhile, Pratt is wringing his hands until the skin rubs raw. Their worry is palpable as they wait for either more information or direction. The oppressive silence has started to weigh on Dahlia’s shoulders, she’s tapping her fingers against a table. 

“You know,” Dahlia says after too long, “you guys can go see Jerome if you want, I’ll call if any info comes in.” 

She knows they’re worried about him and want to be there to check on him. There’s no reason for them to sit here and suffer when she can just let them know when the analysis comes in. 

“We’re not gonna leave you to man the station by yourself,” Pratt dismisses her out of hand, as if the idea that she can be left alone is ridiculous. 

“I think I can manage for an evening, anything happens, I know how to reach you all.” 

“I’m going,” Hudson declares, “I trust Rook and I’m driving myself crazy here.” 

“Thank you, Hudson…” Dahlia says with soft smile, Hudson actually trusts her and isn’t acting like she’s a child. 

“You coming?” Hudson asks Pratt, looking at him expectantly. 

“I’m not leaving Rook here alone.” 

“I’m an adult, you know that, right?” 

“If Eden’s Gate was willing to attack Jerome, who knows what else they’ll do. And you’re already on their radar, were before this.” 

“What, you think they’re gonna storm the station?” 

“Who knows anymore.” 

“I don’t have time to listen to you two bicker, I’m leaving,” Hudson tells them before walking out of the station. 

Dahlia chews her lip once she’s left with Pratt. This is already a stressful day and not the time to let her wounded ego guide her behavior. But it is wounded. She’s not a child, young sure, but not a child and by no means incapable. Pratt has been coddling her and trying to limit what she does since the beginning of her job, she thought it was lessening, but… Does Pratt seriously not think she’s competent enough to be left alone for a few hours? Is she that unreliable? Incapable? Does he think that little of her? 

She doesn’t lend a voice to these insecurities or anger; not the time or place. 

“Don’t pout,” Pratt says after a few minutes.

“I’m not.” 

“You are, I can physically see you pouting.” 

“Even if I was, it’s not important.” 

“Seriously, Rook? You wanna be a brat right now?” 

“Seriously, Pratt? You wanna be a patronizing dick right now!?” Her voice is harsher than she intended. 

“Deputies?” A voice calls out, one of the workers in their piddly little forensic department poking their head into the open office. 

“Yeah?” 

“We got a match for the DNA found under Jerome’s fingernails.” 

“Who’s our guy?” 

“Patrick’s matched, we couldn’t find any traces of Lonny or Theodore’s.”

“I’ll call Whitehorse,” Pratt says before getting out his cellphone, “figure out what we’re doing next.” 

Dahlia only nods, not trusting herself after her outburst. Her fingers still tap tapping against a desk as Pratt speaks to the sheriff. She can only hear Pratt’s side of the conversation as he explains what they were just told and agrees to whatever Whitehorse is telling him, before he hangs up. 

“So, what’s our next move?” Dahlia asks, voice cracking more than she’d like. 

“Arresting Patrick and questioning the Seeds. He wants a lighter touch with John and Joseph, his words, not mine.” 

“Lighter touch meaning…?” 

“They can be questioned together if they want, given a day and the chance to come in on their own terms. Whitehorse doesn’t want us ruffling their feathers unless we get something conclusive on them.’ 

“I’ll never get why he wants to walk on eggshells around them.” 

“Because they’re nuts and got a good hundred or more people who’ll fight for them.” 

Dahlia shrugs, she gets that, she guesses. But its still hard for her to wrap her head around that the men she’s met could order an assault on someone else. A part of her is still holding onto the hope that Patrick just acted on his own, that John and Joseph had no idea. But, Jerome says John was there. And John’s not exactly a face he could confuse with someone else… 

“C’mon, let's go get Patrick.” 

He’s at his house at this late hour, knocking in the door of his little farmhouse. Patrick answers the door, face souring the moment he sees the officer. His lips are sealed, not speaking a word to the deputies as they read him his rights and bring him into the station. He refuses to speak for a long while, even as they book him and try to ask him a few more questions. 

“I wanna call my lawyer.” Is all he says after an entirely too long drag of silence. 

“John, your lawyer?” Pratt asks. 

“What of it?’ 

“We need to have a chat with him too,” Dahlia informs him, “so we’ll be happy to call him for you.” 

“Fine.” 

Dahlia stretches out her back as her and Pratt leave the interrogation room, this day has been her longest yet, but they seem to be getting somewhere. She looks over to Pratt. 

“Want me to call up John or you wanna do the honor?” 

“I will, they like you too much.” 

“Have zero idea what you mean by that, but alright.” 

Pratt grabs the station phone and rings up John’s number. Dahlia chews her fingernails as she waits, biting away at them and chipping her nail polish in the process. When she runs out of nail that goes past her fingertips, she chews at the skin. Mind racing as Pratt talks to John, she feels like her thoughts and feelings are tearing into two directions. What she wants to be true and what evidence supports. The older deputy hangs up the phone and Dahlia looks up at Pratt expectantly. 

“John says him and Joseph can be here in a few hours, chances are Jacob will be with them.” 

“What makes you say that?” 

“Anytime either of them have been questioned, Jacob’s there, just to look mean I guess.” 

She nods, thinking of what she read so far in the Book of Joseph, of the abuse in the Seed family. It doesn’t shock her at all that Jacob has a protective streak, that he wouldn’t want his younger brother’s far out of sight. She does find herself wondering why Faith isn’t following alongside her siblings as well. Her fellow deputies didn’t seem to know much of her at all, Hudson not even knowing what she looks like. Hell, the youngest sister hasn’t even been mentioned yet in the Book of Joseph. Though given the hefty age difference, perhaps she wasn’t born yet during the memory Joseph chose to open it with? 

Dahlia takes a seat while they wait for the Seed brothers, graciously accepting the cup of coffee that Pratt offers her. Her leg taps as she drinks at it, listening to the clock tick away as she waits for the Seeds. Her fellow deputy sits next to her and she can tell the day has been wearing on him. She doesn’t know why, what it is that pushes the impulse forward, but she thumps her head onto his shoulder. A soft form of contact, comfort, whether it’s an offering to him or a selfish desire of her own, she isn’t sure. 

But Pratt responds by leaning his head towards her, over top of her own. His hair tickling at her skin and his scruff scratching at her skin. She can’t help but smile and press in a little closer, just appreciating his presence in this quiet moment after such a drawn-out day. 

“Shit!” 

Pratt’s sudden yell jolts Dahlia awake, her skull knocking against his. She blinks sleep from her eyes, when did she even drift off? How long was she sleeping against his shoulder? Her hands and the bottom of her jeans are wet; the cup of coffee and it’s contents now on the floor as well as her shoes. 

“Fuck,” she curses under her breath, she must have dropped it when she fell asleep, “sorry.” 

Dahlia goes and gathers up paper towels, cleaning up the mess. She didn’t even realize she was that tired. 

“Don’t sweat it, shit has been crazy around here lately, I nearly dozed off myself.” 

“You telling me this ain’t typical.” 

“God, no, county’s usually more boring than watching paint dry. Lately, feels like county’s gone nuts.” 

“Eh,  I prefer the crazy, keeps things interesting at least.”

“Deputies,” the on shift desk worker pops their head into the room, “the Seed brothers are here.” 

“We’ll be there in a second.” 

Dahlia finishes cleaning up the mess and sighs, that weight back on her shoulders. It’s way past their usual shift hours and the day as a whole has been a lot. But they may finally be getting to the root of what happened. They’re getting some justice for Jerome, Patrick is a damn near guaranteed arrest. They just need to get to the bottom of John and Joseph’s involvement. She took this job to help people and that’s what she’s doing, Jerome has a right to feel safe in this county and as much as she hopes the Seeds are good, if they’re hurting others, it needs to be shut down and now. 

Mess cleaned; Dahlia and Pratt go out to the waiting room to greet the Seeds. John and Joseph look relatively cleaned up. Though John always looks some version of prim and proper. She’s positive she’s never seen the youngest sibling in a shirt that wasn’t a collard button up and she’s certainly never seen his hair in any state other than slicked back. His shirt of choice today is purple, no vest or trench coat, just the buttons left undone to show the sin marked across his chest and the sleeves rolled up to show the tattoos across his forearms. 

Joseph is wearing a shirt which is an accomplishment for him, a stiff white button up done up to his throat and a black blazer over it, nearly overkill in the heat of August. Perhaps he only wears clothing in extremes, either half naked or completely covered. His greasy dark hair is pulled back as usual and despite the late hour, his yellow aviators are on. 

And then there’s Jacob, black tee and jeans with his typical camo shirt tied around his waist. Dog tags, key, and rabbit’s foot hanging from a chain around his neck as they always do. 

They’re superficial observations, what the brothers wear, but she can’t help but take in the stark contrasts of the brothers. Joseph trying to look more put together and less crazy, John in that same state but every day, and Jacob genuinely not seeming to give any sort of a fuck. 

“Deputies,” John is the one to greet them, grinning and Dahlia folds her hands behind her back, trying to still her body and straighten her back to present a confident front. 

“John,” Pratt returns the acknowledgement with a nod, “I-“

“It seems you have one of our flock members contained on the bas-“  John cuts off Pratt. 

“We actually would rather speak with you and Joseph before we discuss that case,” Dahlia cuts the youngest brother off in turn, not letting him dominate the conversation or set the tone for this. 

“Is that so?” 

“Yes, I assume, you’re both comfortable with answering some questions for us?” She cocks her head to the side, trying to stay nonthreatening, not that her five feet of being could ever be threatening. 

“Of course, that would be no problem at all,” Joseph is the one to speak next, giving her a smile, eyes soft despite the circumstances. 

“Actually,” Pratt cuts in, a twitch in his jaw, “I’ll be asking those questions alone.” 

“You’ll what?” Dahlia levels a glare at her partner, ready to throw him through a window, but unable to do so. He’s pushing it, he keeps pushing it. 

“I think it’ll be best if I conduct the interrogation alone.” 

“Oh, do you?” 

“You girls need a minute, or can we get this shitshow on the road,” Jacob says, the deep rasp of his voice cutting through the spat. And she doesn’t miss the clench in Pratt’s jaw at the emasculating choice of words. 

“Come on back; sorry for the trouble,” Dahlia says, a tight lipped smile as she leads the Seed brothers to the interrogation room. She’ll deal with Pratt and his overprotective bullshit later. It’s a quick walk down the hall and she politely opens the doors for them, she thinks she sees Jacob rolling his eyes. 

“Go ahead and take a seat, we’ll be just a moment,” Dahlia tells them, giving a small nod when Joseph thanks her. She lets the door shut behind the Seeds and turns her gaze back on Pratt. 

“Rook-”

“What the actual fuck, Pratt?” She keeps her voice low, but her tone is terse, how could he try to strong arm her out of the interrogation. 

“Look, you’ve spent a lot of time with them, regardless of if you’ve wanted too or not. They’re fixated on you and you’re just too close to them to be interrogating them.” 

“You’ve known them longer than me! You’ve known them for years! This is a rural county, it’d take me longer to meet all the cows here than it would the people!” 

She wants to wring his neck, he’s entirely too protective of her and for no real reason. More now than ever she realizes she made the right call not telling anyone about the mute “angel” Eden’s Gate member who swung on her or the vandalism of her trailer. Pratt already barely wants to let her handle ticketing people and now he doesn’t want her interrogating suspects. It’s ridiculous. She’s a grown adult woman, she needs to be allowed to do her fucking job. 

Dahlia is done listening to this nonsense, she decides, and makes a beeline back to the interrogation room. Pratt isn’t going to stop her from doing her damn job. She opens the door, her coworker trailing behind her, as she steps into the interrogation room.

The Seed brothers are sat at the table. Jacob’s legs open wide, sat relaxed in his chair, completely disinterested by most appearances but he still watches the deputies from the corner of his eye. She’s reminded of a predator lulling prey into a false sense of security before it strikes. 

Joseph sits between his elder and younger sibling. His elbows on the table, hands politely folded, not a hint of anxiety in him either. Seemingly calm, but his gaze is intense on the young deputy as she enters, never straying away from her.  He never looks over at Pratt, the other deputy’s warning that they’re fixated on her ring through her mind. 

John is sitting back in his chair and his gaze is just as intense, but there’s more manic energy behind it. In him in general. Perhaps he’d look calmer, more serene like his brothers, if not for the constant bouncing of his leg, the movement starting to  shake the rickety table. 

“Sorry about that,” Dahlia starts before Pratt can find a way to force her out of the room, “would either of you like any coffee or anything before we chat?” 

“No, thank you. We’ve done this song and dance before, deputy, you can’t sneak dna off of us,” John dismisses her off with a sneer. 

“Okay then, no coffee, understood,” she rescinds her off  as she sits down at the table across from them, Pratt sitting next to her. 

“Look, let's cut the bullshit,” Pratt speaks up, “a person was attacked, beaten badly. We got evidence, won’t say what, that connects one of your church members to the attack. And its being alleged that he did so on Joseph’s order with John supervising the whole thing, and...you’re just hear for window dressing I guess.”  He gives a dismissive look to Jacob at that last part, no doubt his attempt to give a little revenge jab for his comment earlier. 

“Why I’m here ain’t any of your concern, princess.” Jacob says, voice low and the threat within it not subtle. 

“Okay…” Dahlia cuts in with a clap of her hands when she sees the way Jacob and Pratt are glaring at each other, this is an interrogation not a pissing contest, the last thing they need is Pratt trying to fight Jacob and getting his ass kicked, “this is already going off the rails, good job everyone. Now, while his wording was...abrupt, uh that is the reality of the situation. There are some heavy accusations being levied at you two, so we were hoping to ask you a few questions.” 

“This is absolutely ridiculous,” John responds, rolling his eyes, “these are completely baseless accusations.”

“We do have evidence linking one of the men, a member of your church, to the assault. Our witness and survivor is credible. At this point we have no reason to believe they’d lie about what occurred.” 

“They persecute us the same as they did the prophets before us, the faithful handed over to courts and councils, sheep sent out amongst wolves,” Joseph speaks sudden, voice intense as he stares into Dahlia’s eyes, a chill rolls up her spine, a tension pulling in her shoulders that she can’t quite shake. 

“Seriously,” Pratt scoffs and for the first time Joseph’s eyes leave Dahlia, harsher and colder at the older officer, “you really think this is about your church, that someone would make this shit up just to get at you, think they beat the shit out of themselves too just to spite you?” 

“Of course not,” John speaks next and she can’t help but notice the jolt in his body language, “I’ve yet to speak to our flock member you’ve find evidence of. But even if he’s done what he’s accused of, surely, you can’t expect us to be held responsible for the actions of every member of our church. We have hundreds of followers, you cannot reasonably expect us to be accountable for any of them who may stray from our ways.” 

“The witness specified you were there, John. Not just accountable, but physically present for assault.” 

“And there’s no evidence of that, you said so yourself, and as I’ve told you before, there are many in this county who aren’t above taking any chance to sully mine and my family’s name. Who’s to say, they didn’t see their assault as an opportunity to bring down our entire church.” 

“May I ask where you were last night?” 

“Had dinner with my family, as I always do, and stayed in for the night. Rather boring, I’m afraid.” 

“Anyone who can confirm this story?” Pratt asks and Dahlia tries not to roll her eyes; his family would be the ones who can confirm it and ...they’re mostly here and biased. 

“My brothers who are sitting right here, my sister if you feel the need to ruin her night as well.” 

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” 

“Then are we done here?” 

“This isn’t a formal arrest or detainment,” they don’t have anywhere near the evidence or that, “so,  you’re free to leave if you so please. Though, there’s still the issue of Patrick who requested counsel with you.” 

The brothers have made it clear they want to leave and that the deputies won’t be prying any more information from them. So, Dahlia escorts them out. 

“You two can go on home,” John tells his brothers, “I’ll call someone to get me once I’ve sorted this out.” 

“We couldn’t possibly leave you behind, we’ll wait,” Joseph squeezes John’s shoulder than looks to Dahlia, “assuming that would be okay.” 

“Of course, don’t expect you to ditch your brother.” 

“It is tempting sometimes,” Jacob mumbles under his breath, a smirk pulling at his lips when John glares at him. Rook has to press her hand to her mouth to avoid laughing at the brotherly teasing. 

“Jacob…” Joseph gently chides. 

“Regardless, you two are welcome to sit out in the waiting room, there's a vending machine if you need anything or if you’re not interested in that I’m sure Nancy can get you set up with coffee or food from our break room.” 

“Thank you, deputy.” 

“I’ll be out, shortly,” John says the final word pointedly as his brothers go to the waiting room, then turns to the deputies, “which room is my client in?” 

“Room 103, I’ll be right in, go on and get settled,” Pratt tells him and John leaves down to the room where Patrick is being held. Dahlia holds her tongue until the youngest Seed brother is out of hearing range. 

“Think we can get anything else out of them?” 

“Fuck no, he’s going to tell Patrick to keep his mouth shut, insist that there’s another explanation. Like getting blood from a turnip, we’re just going to have to deal with what we have. DNA should be enough to convict Patrick, as for the rest, we’ll have to see if Whitehorse feels we got enough to do a full investigation. But, we don’t have much.” 

“The evidence against Patrick might be enough to subpoena Joseph’s sermons, get warrants to search the church and houses?” 

“Maybe,fuck,” Pratt rubs a hand down his face, he looks exhausted and she’s sure she’s not much better, “what time is it?” 

“Nearly four in the morning.” 

“Fucks sake, okay, their foul mood makes a bit more sense.” 

“Yeah, I can take care of the talk with John and Patrick, like you said won’t be getting much from them, so you can head home or check on Jerome.” 

“No, no, absolutely not. I’ll take care of this, you go home and get some sleep.” 

“Pratt-” 

“Rook, you were the one passing out on top of me. Go home and sleep.” 

“I-” 

“Please, for once in your life, just listen to me.” 

“Okay, just this once,” she bows her head, feeling like a scolded child, “but we do need to have a serious conversation about you babying me, you know that right?” 

“I don’t baby you.” 

She blinks and widens her eyes, has he heard a single word he’s said to her all day. Refusing to let her stay at the station alone, not wanting her to call John, and not even wanting her to be involved in the interrogation. And that today alone, she can’t count the amount of times he’s told her not to be the one to issue tickets, to stay in the car during calls. She knows they’ve lost an officer in the line of duty. And she knows she’s a lot younger than Pratt or Hudson. But this is her job as much as it is theirs. 

“Okay,” Pratt scratches at the back of his neck at the incredulous look, then gently puts his hands on Dahlia’s shoulders, “serious conversations can wait until we’ve both slept, alright?” 

“Fine, I’ll go home and crash, get yourself some sleep when you finish up here, okay?” 

“Okay, will do.” 

He drops his hands from her shoulders and gives a small pat to her arm as she turns to leave. As much as she’d rather Pratt be the one going home to get some much needed sleep, she can’t say she won’t be thankful for a chance to crash. 

“And Rook,” Pratt calls out before she can get through to the waiting room, she turns to look at him, “stay away from the Seeds, please.” 

“Don’t push it.” She rolls her eyes, overprotective ass, she pushes through the doors to the waiting room. 

Dahlia gives a friendly nod of acknowledgement to Joseph and Jacob as she moves past them, looking towards Nancy. 

“I’m gonna go home and crash for the night, any news comes in, don’t hesitate to call me, alright?”  She explains to dispatch, not fully trusting Pratt to let her know if it’s up to him, throwing on her leather jacket and already searching for her pack of cigarettes. She’ll catch a smoke break before she rides home, her nerves needing the nicotine fix. 

“Alright, dear. Drive safe.” 

Dahlia waves a quick bye to both Nancy and the Seed brothers before she leaves the building. The air is cold, temperatures drop quick at night out here,  a start contrast to the hot muggy days. A dark sky hangs above her except where stars breach the abyss. Goosebumps prickle up along her neck where the air hits, she put a cigarette between her lips and lights it, breathing nicotine deep into her lungs. She tilts her head back, blowing smoke from her mouth, white billowing around her. 

“Deputy,” Joseph’s voice calls out and chills run along her spine, “you know, smoking is really a terrible habit.” 

“We all got our vices,” she says, shrugging her shoulders, making sure to blow the smoke away from Joseph. 

“That is true, I know that better than most…” 

She nods when he trails off a bit, his church seems to focus a lot on sins and vices, overcoming them she assumes. Sins marked across the skin of so many of its members. Silence falls across the two, for once Joseph breaking eye contact, a rare moment for him. 

“Is there something you wanted…? Can’t imagine you’d rather wait out here in the cold.”

“Yes, actually, I think there’s a lot we need to discuss. Faith told me you have concerns about your friend, Cassandra.” 

“Cassie, yeah,” she corrects, not sure why it bugs her so much to hear them using Cassie’s full name. 

“Yes, John always was wishing to speak with you regarding the orchard and… I’d hate for this… incident to color your opinion of me and my family.”

“I understand and I’d love to talk all this out with you, but-” 

“It’s four in the morning.” 

“Yeah, sorry,” she frowns, feeling bad about it, “its been a rough day and I just am ready to crash, I’m sure you must be exhausted too.” 

“Of course, I understand, which is why I’d like to invite you to have dinner with me and my family.” 

“Uh, what?” 

Dahlia blinks and coughs on cigarette smoke, taken aback by the sudden invitation. He’s here for an investigation, she just interrogated him, and he’s concerned with inviting her to dinner to… preserve some sort of good image? While a formal investigation isn’t opened on him or John yet, needing warrants and authority to do anything more, but one is right around the corner. 

“We try to have dinner as a family, my brothers, sister, and I, as often as possible. A luxury we couldn’t indulge in for so much of our lives, I think it’d be a wonderful opportunity for us all to speak and for you to know my family separate from church or police interrogations. So, would you like to join us for dinner tomorrow night?” 

“Uh…” 

This could be her only chance to talk to him about Cassie before a formal investigation is launched and it becomes a conflict. 

But it could already be a conflict, since they are hopefully not far away from launching that investigating. 

But, she could use it as a chance to probe around, see if she can unearth anymore evidence in the Jerome case. 

But, anything procured without a warrant wouldn’t be admittable, so the most she could do is see it and then know what to go back for once they secure a warrant. 

But, even just getting a chance to ask questions without the environment of an interrogation room, might get some truths out. As well a chance to ask about some of the other strange things going on in the county. From roadblocks to the issue of the weird “angel” that assaulted her. 

But, they could be dangerous, if they do have anything to do with Jerome’s injuries… 

But, she’s not weak and it’s not like she's looking to antagonize them. She can ask her questions and be polite. 

But, Pratt would kill her. He literally warned her to stay away from the Seed family five fucking seconds ago. 

“Sure, I’d love to,” she tells him, ultimately unable to say no to his earnest little smile. 

“That’s wonderful, our dinners are at John’s ranch house, I’m not sure I have anything to write the number down on…” 

“I can use the memo app on my phone, what is it?” 

“Oh.” He seems taken aback for a moment when she gets out her phone, but recovers to prattle off the address, Dahlia typing it in. 

“Did I get it right?” She asks, moving to stand closer to Joseph’s side, so he can see the phone screen.

“Uh, yes, that’s,” he reaches out to touch her phone and accidentally closes the memo app, pulling his hand away like it burned him, “oh.” 

Dahlia can’t help but laugh, watching the older man fumble to deal with tech. He’s older, sure, but he’s not pushing his sixties or anything. He ducks his head and she can see a very subtle flush of red flare up his cheekbones. Its the most human he’s ever seemed to her, just an older man who hates phones, embarrassed that he has no idea how to use one. 

“Don’t worry,  it saved,” she explains, pulling it back up. 

“Yes, that’s correct.” 

“Alright, see you and your family tomorrow.” 

She tucks her phone back in her pocket and waves bye again, getting on her motorcycle. Dahlia slides her helmet on and starts the journey back home, mind racing and heart heavy with the events of the day. 

Joseph sits in the passenger side of the truck, Jacob driving and John sitting in the back, as they leave the police station. It's late, nearly early enough for him to be waking up. John made a grave mistake, trying to punish Pastor Jerome for leading people astray, away from Eden. A noble intention, but he did it out of wrath and anger, letting someone else’s sin fuel his own. His impulses placed them back in the sight line of the police. They can recover from this easily enough, as frustrating as it is. The bigger issue is once again working to reign John in and working to change the junior deputy’s view of them. 

The Lamb plays a vital role in the collapse, she was chosen to be the one who brings about the end, how exactly she will do so remains to be seen. But, he’d rather she do it alongside them stepping into New Eden by their side after she helped cleanse the world, rather than doing so in spite of them with no understanding of the gift she was given. 

“What the hell were you thinking?”  Jacob scolds their younger brother, always protective of the project and them being found out by law enforcement, he’s more than a little irate about John’s mistake. 

“Jacob…” Joseph still chides him for cursing, a nasty habit his eldest brother struggles most to break. If Joseph’s being completely honest, he’s not certain Jacob is trying to break it all. 

“Pastor Jerome is a fraud, he is leading people astray and spreading lies about The Project, he had to be taught a lesson.” 

“Who cares? His people abandoned him for us, John. He can talk all he wants, no ones fuckin’ listening.” 

“Oh, so suddenly you’re above corporal punishment, are you going soft on me, Jacob? Do you allow your soldiers to say whatever they please, reward them for their insolence?” 

“Jerome’s not a soldier and unlike you, when I teach outsiders a lesson, I’m not dumb enough to let them walk away from it.” 

“Brothers, stop,” Joseph speaks over them, not yelling, but his tone stern enough to end their incessant arguing, he makes eye contact with his youngest brother through the rearview mirror “Jacob is right, John.” 

“But Joseph-” 

“You endangered The Project, our mission, our family; for the sake of satisfying your own wrath. You put all of us at risk and for what? So, you could indulge in your sins?” 

“He was spreading lies, telling people you were dangerous-” 

“And that made you angry, it made you wrathful. And so you lashed out to make yourself feel better, instead of speaking to me, instead of seeking out the word and confronting the sin inside of yourself, you sought to quell your anger through violence.” 

“I’m sorry, Joseph.” 

“I know. Righteous anger and swift justice has its place. There will be times to cut off the hands that wrong us, but this was not one of them.” 

“I understand… I already spoke with our flock members in the station, they’ll dispose of the evidence and secure Patrick’s freedom. Without it, the investigation will end and he won’t be punished for my mistakes.” 

“I knew you’d take care of it in the end,” he tells him, watching the relief flood John with the smallest amount of praise after being scolded, “I invited the junior deputy to dinner.” 

Jacob slams on the brakes on a thankfully deserted back road, causing Joseph to jerk against the seatbelt and John to slam his face against the seat in front of him. John yells out from the sudden impact and Joseph turns to look at his eldest brother in confusion. 

“God damn it, Jacob!” 

“John!” Joseph scolds when his baby brother takes the lords name in vain, he can see a bruise forming on John’s forehead already. 

“He tried to kill me!” 

“Am I the only one who understands that we’re criminals?!” 

“In the eyes of man, perhaps, but in the eye of -” 

“Eyes of man are the ones that matter, right now, Joseph! You’re inviting a fuckin’ cop into our lives, into John’s house. A cop who just interrogated us less than a fucking hour ago and you want to feed her for her trouble.” 

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were scared, brother. Jacob Seed, scared of a little girl.” 

“Well, its a damn good thing you know better, or that shiner would be the least of your problems, brother,” Jacob nearly spits the word brother, glaring daggers at John. 

“Jacob,” Joseph gets his older brother’s attention, Jacob has always been the strongest willed, has always asserted his opinions even if he’d do anything for the family, “are you doubting me?” 

“No, of course not, I just don’t understand why you’re doing this?” 

“We have cops within our flock, Jacob.”

“Yes, converted cops who benefit us. This deputy can’t walk into a church without puking her guts up, she’s a problem waiting to happen.” 

“She has been making a problem out of herself, trying to keep me from purchasing the orchard, enabling the greed of this county.” 

“Look, I know it can be difficult to understand, you’ve not heard what I’ve heard. The Voice hasn’t spoken to you, as it has to me, my decisions are not without reason. Reasons that will be revealed in time, the junior deputy is important, bringing her into our flock is a priority. Understood?” 

“Of course, understood, Father,” John concedes, using Joseph’s formal title. Joseph looks to his eldest brother, who’s scarred jaw is still clenched tight. 

“Understood?” He repeats himself, he knows Jacob wouldn’t go against him, but his willful nature… something Joseph was envious of in childhood now leads to the occasional butting of heads. 

“Understood.” 

Jacob starts the car back up, driving Joseph and John back to their homes. John to his ranch house and Joseph up to his church, where he has a cot in the back of it. The sun is starting to come up when Jacob drops him off at the church compound, before driving back to Saint Francis. 

Eyelids heavy with exhaustion, Joseph is quick to return to his quarters, a headache starting to creep up along his temples. He changes for bed, then kneels before his bed, bowing his head for prayer and folding his hands together. Hands pressed together tightly, his rosary pressing into his skin. 

And he prays. 

He prays for John to find his way, to battle his sin and win the fight. 

He prays for Jacob to one day fully let go and accept the word. 

He prays for Faith not to stray from the path. 

He prays for his flock and family, he prays for their faith not to wane, he prays for them to be strong enough to weather the collapse, he prays for the persecution of his family to end, and he prays that he can save more souls; specifically the junior deputy. That he can find a way to reach her heart, help her see her gift, and learn the importance of her role before it’s too late. 

Then a sharp pain shoots from his temple across the rest of his head, like lightning shooting through his skull. The darkness of his closed eyes fades away into a new world, a vision of New Eden, a paradise he’s been shown and promised so many times he knows the sight of it by heart. The bright blooming pink flowers and modest homemade homes of a commune, a return to nature, to innocence. 

His family and flock there, older versions of themselves, dressed in more rustic handmade clothes. Less clear and less certain than last time. But he sees John, Jacob, and Faith with children clinging and playing around them. And he can’t explain the feeling, that they’re all his children but his siblings as well. 

The five year old boy with a head of dark curls and blue eyes that looks so much like Joseph as a child, the boy who called him papa. 

A girl around three with bright ginger hair, a face covered in freckles. She grins and blinks, sun in her eyes. She reminds him so much of Jacob, head held high with a crown of red. 

Maybe a year younger, another girl has straight dark brown hair and big wide blue eyes. Eyes that remind him so entirely of the young baby brother he cooed at as a child. 

The oldest of them, clings to an older Faith’s skirt. A young boy of ten maybe tweleve, so much older than the smaller children. Hair dark as pitch, olive skin, and green eyes setting him apart. He looks different from the others, perhaps his family tie not one forged by blood. 

His family, those he has now and those he will gain, the family he will be gifted. But, there’s something missing…. Pieces of the puzzle not yet in place. 

Weak clumsy fingers grab onto his bed as his vision subsides, the reality of the world he’s still in returning to him. His head pounds and throbs, agony radiating throughout it, as the collapse draws closer his visions are getting more and more frequent. He can only hope as he falls into bed that he’s keeping himself and his family on the right path to find paradise.

[fizzyxcustard]

The Right Thing

Masterlist of all fanfics/headcanons/prompts here

Fandom: seaQuest 2032

Pairings: Lucas Wolenczak x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Anxiety, insecurity, age difference (but legal), language (mild)

Word count: 6505 (a longer one)

Summary: You are a Lieutenant aboard the seaQuest DSV vessel, under Captain Oliver Hudson. You have been aboard for two years and in that time have grown very close to Lucas Wolenczak. But not only are you of higher rank, you are ten years his senior (he’s 20). As your feelings deepen and Lucas opens up to you about how he feels, your anxiety rises. Will everyone be judgemental of you for loving a younger man? Others aboard the boat, and shore leave, help you to see how right you and Lucas are for each other.

Comments: If you have any questions regarding this fic and the fandom, by all means message me. I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. I will probably try and make graphics for my fics in future if people are interested in reading more of this as I have a full length fic in the works and a prequel one-shot as well. If you would like to be added to my tag list for anything seaQuest related, please leave me a message or comment. The above image shows Captain Oliver Hudson (left) and Ensign Lucas Wolenczak (right) from the show. 

Never before had you felt this awkward, torn and utterly disgusted with yourself. Whenever you sat beside Lucas on the bridge, you could feel his stare now and again as he turned his mesmerising blue eyes from the helm monitor. True, you had always had a very deep friendship with Lucas, who was now an Ensign and seemed to be on duty with you more than any other officer, but the tension was becoming too much. He was two months past twenty and you were the wrong side of thirty. However, most people assumed you to be younger than Lonnie, at twenty-one, but no, the years were against you. In fact, you were the same age as Tim O’Neill.

That day was rather uneventful. Your shift passed by without incident. You laughed with Lucas, Jim Brody and Lonnie in the mess hall. But again, you could sense Lucas’ eyes on you.

Captain Hudson was at a UEO summit meeting, leaving Commander Ford in charge. It was always more laid back and chilled when Jonathan Ford took the helm. No complaints, no shouting, no frustration. Ford had been on seaQuest now since her first tour, along with Lucas and Tim. The rest of the crew, including you, came later. All of you missed Captain Bridger, who had been more than just a Captain, but a friend and a fatherly figure.

“Have you got any plans for shore leave?” Lucas asked you suddenly.

You swallowed hard and turned to face him, pulling your headset from off your head. “Not at the moment, no,” you replied. “You?”

This was all your conversations had become now. Idle chit chat. Whereas when Captain Bridger was still your skipper, you and Lucas would spend time together, laughing at stupid movies, listening to music, taunting Tony Piccolo and simply basking in the things of youth.

Lucas knew there was something very wrong between you both; he could sense it. He didn’t have to be like Wendy Smith, psychic; he could see the cold shoulder that you gave him often. He watched you concentrate on your monitor, staring through the glasses that you always wore when on any computer or when writing. The atmosphere had changed aboard the boat when Captain Bridger left, but surely that wasn’t enough to make you grow cold.

When it was time for shift change, you walked off the bridge with Lucas. Both of you strolled slowly, side by side. “Hey, ummm,” Lucas began, stopping in the corridor. “Can we talk?”

“What about?” you asked.

Lucas sighed at the cold, abrupt edge to your tone. “Us….”

“What do you mean us?”

“No…no. It sounded weird, I know. I’m sorry,” Lucas said, silently grilling himself for sounding stupid. “Things just seem weird. We don’t spend time together like we used to, and I guess I…”

“We’ll talk later. In private,” you told him. Officers were speeding past you, starting and ending the shift rotation. It was too open for such a chat. There was a lot that needed to be said. “I’ll come to your quarters about seven. How’s that?”

“Perfect,” Lucas replied with a smile.

As you parted ways, you felt breath catch in your throat. Your hands shook and tears threatened to spill down your cheeks. You felt something for Lucas and you despised yourself, at just over ten years his senior. You were ashamed of it.

It wasn’t until you ventured from your quarters and down the corridors to Lucas’ shared quarters that you realised just how deep his feelings for you ran. You could distinctly hear his voice as you stopped outside the door, which was slightly ajar. The other person, you assumed, was Tony Piccolo.

“You need to tell her, Lucas,” the second voice came. Sure enough, it was Tony.

You waited outside the door, listening.

“I can’t stop thinking about her, Tony.”

“You’ve said that before with girls.”

“This is different. I barely knew Juliana and Sandra. I’ve spent months with her, and when I am with her, it’s like she’s my age. And she cares. I mean truly cares. Probably because she’s just as alone as I am. But lately she’s grown cold towards me. She won’t speak to me sometimes for almost an entire day. There’s no laughing anymore.”

“It’s pretty hard to laugh around here with Hudson in charge,” Tony replied.

You straightened your back and swallowed hard, bracing yourself and tapped on the door.

A few seconds later and Tony appeared. “I’ll leave you two to it. Don’t mind me,” he said, grinning at you. “Go easy on him.” Tony winked at you. All you could do was grimace and then descend the steps down into the main sleeping area which Lucas and Tony shared.

Lucas looked at you, dressed in jeans, Converse and blouse. How could you be the age you were? You looked twenty-two at most. Everything about you enthralled him; your small and discreet tattoos scattered about your body, your quirky sense of humour, the way you cared for everyone and put them before yourself, the odd looking ornaments you kept on your desk and your taste in rock music. Jim Brody had teased many times how your attitude would be suited with Tony Piccolo. But you needed people who were steady and mature.

Things were silent for a short while as you both stood a couple of feet apart, your hands shoved in pockets. Then you broke the silence and looked at Lucas. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. It’s just…Maybe I’m being arrogant, I don’t know. But I sense that you like me…”

“And does that bother you?” Lucas asked, his hands growing more and more sweaty.

“I’m a lot older than you, Lucas,” you reminded him. “You’ve only just become an adult, and I know you forget my age when we spend time together. I’m still young in my appearance and ways. Maybe I haven’t grown up myself yet.”

“I think you’re amazing,” Lucas said softly. “Why does age have to be an issue? We’re good together; I know that you know that.”

His words made something pour in your stomach and you closed your eyes, trying to shake the feelings away. “Lucas, no. Stop it, please,” you whispered.

“You have feelings for me, too. I know you do. I can see it,” he said, approaching you.

You felt his arm wind around your waist, edging you closer towards him.

“Stop it!” you cried out, pushing him away. “No means no!”

You left his quarters only moments later, leaving Lucas behind to slam his hands down onto his desk. Leaving seaQuest was the only way this would end. Lucas would move on and meet a girl his own age. And you would transfer to another boat, hopefully to ace your officer exams and get promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

That evening was long as you drowned in your own thoughts. How could Lucas be what you needed? Would he be prepared to look towards marriage and children within the next two to five years? You would be rushing him, forcing him to put aside all the years of adventure and experience to build a family. Because that was what you wanted. If you met the right man, then you would gladly take time away from your career. And Lucas seemed to think that man was him.

Around nine, a knock came to your door. Your heart leapt and you gasped, expecting it to be Lucas. But it was Tony. You knew why he was here; it didn’t take a lot for anyone to put two and two together to see the reason for his visit.

You let Tony in and sat back down in your seat. “I know why you’ve come to see me, Tony. Lucas doesn’t see the shame I feel every time I look at him.”

“I wanted to see how you’re doing, too. I know Lucas isn’t always the easiest person to say no to. In that way, he’s still a kid.”

You sighed. “We’re both still kids in a lot of ways. I’m going to put in a request for transfer. It’s the only way to solve this.”

“But you can’t,” Tony exclaimed. “Everyone loves you, you know that. It wouldn’t be the same without you. You bring a bit of life to this place.”

Tony’s words brought a smile to your face. “Thanks. This place feels more like a family than I’ve ever had anywhere else outside of my actual family.”

“Look, if you two really do like each other then nothing should stop you. Some people might think the age gap is weird, but who cares? You’re both single adults.”

You sighed again and reached for your mug of coffee which had started growing cold. “I want to think about marriage and settling down. Does Lucas want that? It’s something that needs to be thought about. I can’t be responsible for slowing him down. He’s still young.”

“And so are you. Man, you’re talkin’ as though you’re fifty. Come on!” Tony said.

You barely slept that night, constantly tossing and turning, thinking of Lucas, whom you doubted was asleep either. The air was warm and stale, and your heart raced, reminding you of the anxiety which you kept hidden. Being a Lieutenant in the Navy meant that you had been aboard vessels under attack, had nearly drowned and been shot in the leg. But it was your indecision and shame that caused you to panic uncontrollably.

Tears poured down your cheeks as you flung your legs out from the covers. You flicked on the table lamp and staggered sleepily to your chair. Writing always calmed you. In a world of discipline, uncertainty and instability, you felt so alone. Friendships were strong between you and the main crew, but you had become the glue holding them together. You listened often to Lonnie deny her budding feelings for Jonathan Ford; Tony Piccolo opened his heart to you about his unconventional family; Lucas relied on you for stability and companionship. Now was the time that you needed someone.

After finishing your journal entry, you ventured out into the corridors, finding the gentle hum of seaQuest to be soothing. In the mess hall, you poured yourself a mug of coffee from the vending machine and took a seat in the back corner of the room.

“I thought I was the only one who had insomnia,” a voice came.

“What? Oh, sorry,” you apologised, raising your head out of your hands to see Jim Brody.

“You okay?” Brody asked, approaching you. He was dressed in his uniform, obviously in the middle of night shift.

“I’ll survive,” you chuckled wryly.

“You don’t sound very convincing, you know?”

There was a sincerity in Brody’s eyes that you had always been drawn to. He never minced his words or failed in keeping his promises.

You sighed deeply and looked at your untouched coffee. “How do you handle it when you like someone but have your reservations?”

“What kind of reservations?”

“If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell another soul? I’m so ashamed.”

Brody began to look puzzled and slightly nervous. “Umm, okay.”

“Lucas admitted that he has feelings for me, and I know I feel something for him. But the age gap terrifies me, Jim. And you know how sulky he can be when you say no to him.”

Brody smiled and then sighed. “I know you two have always been close, but maybe if you’re feeling uncomfortable, it’s something you need to deal with yourself. You’re both adults and it’s down to you both. Don’t try and seek everyone else’s approval.”

“That’s what makes me ashamed: everyone else’s judgement.”

The shame and embarrassment of your admission made you look away and run your shaking hands through your short hair. It made you think back to the day you had your long locks cut off, which was the day before your first tour on seaQuest. It was an almost boyish cut, but there was no mistaking your femininity.”

“It’ll work out, I’m sure. Thanks for listening, Jim,” you said, forcing a smile.

You remained in the mess hall for a short while longer, sipping your coffee. The tall, broad figure of Dagwood drifted past the door as he cleaned. He never noticed you, but you watched him for a couple of seconds; his attention to his duty was unbroken and unwavering.

Sleep finally took you away a couple of hours later. In the dark of your quarters, you began counting. Gradually your heart rate slowed.

Suddenly your alarm was blaring! Pain rested behind your eyes and in your temples. No doubt it would remain with you for the rest of the day.

After a shower, you got dressed into your uniform and headed for the mess hall for breakfast. The bright overhead lights assaulted your eyes, making you wince.

Lucas, Tony and Lonnie were all sat together to the left hand side of the room. You suddenly felt sick, insanely sick. Tony looked at you, his eyes widening. Thankfully Lucas had his back to you. It was impossible for you to avoid him now; once you were up for duty, you couldn’t go back to quarters until the next shift rotation. On an almost mile-long submarine, and you couldn’t hide.

You grabbed fruit and a mug of herbal tea. With a huge sigh, you approached the table where your friends were, a spare seat having been left between Tony and Lucas.

Lucas swallowed hard and shifted in his seat as your perfume wafted up his nose, mixed with the smell of your sweet-scented hand cream.  

“Morning,” you said softly. Your eyes met Lucas’ and you could see the sadness swimming in them.

“You look awful,” Lonnie said. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t sleep much last night,” you said, forcing another smile. “And it’s caught up with me this morning.”

By now and you could feel your pulse racing, thumping in your head and chest. Your hands were shaking, and you knew the day wouldn’t get any easier. Tony kept watching you as the atmosphere remained tense. Lonnie left a few minutes later, uncomfortable by the silence.

Lucas was looking down most of the time and once Tony had also left, he spoke, but didn’t look at you. “Are you okay?”

“Not really,” you admitted, swallowing hard.

Lucas heard the quiver in your voice and finally looked at you. “I’m sorry,” he said simply.

Almost on instinct, you placed your hand on his. “We’ll be okay. Whatever happens, we’ll be okay. Shore leave in two days. We can talk more then.”

That morning seemed to ease some of the tension between Lucas and you. On the bridge, you began to ease back into your laughter. You temporarily forgot your fatigue and the events of the evening previous. Until Lucas held your gaze for a few seconds longer than usual. Normally you looked away, trying to avert his attention elsewhere, but this time you maintained eye contact and smiled.

Tony smirked to himself, recognising that look anywhere.

**

The next two days passed without incident. You felt more at ease now and found yourself making jokes out of mundane things. As it always had, it entertained Tony greatly. The two of you played off each other in the mess hall. A lot of your jokes were at Captain Hudson’s expense. To most people, you outwardly seemed more suited to Tony Piccolo, but those closest to you knew better. The bond you shared with Lucas was unlike any other relationship on the boat. Even though you paled into insignificance when it came to Lucas’ IQ, you could both normally tell what the other was thinking with just one smile.

On the evening before shore leave officially started, Lucas remained in his quarters after shift rotation. There was still a deep pain when he saw you. When you turned your head and smiled, your eyes shining bright, he knew that he would love no other smile. Your attention to detail was unparalleled; that was obvious from the drawings of yours which littered your bedside wall. Your mind didn’t store facts, theories and calculations like Lucas’; it was curious, deep, questioning. You observed deeply. Your genius was in colours, shape, emotion, behaviour. Not cold fact like Lucas.

The Navy had taught you to be disciplined, orderly. No more piles of clothes left at the end of your bed or un-pressed clothing that hoped no one would notice. Why had you even enlisted? Was it your wanderlust? Perhaps. Or maybe it was a way to get away from the ordinary world and embrace your difference.

A sudden knock came to your door, a metallic tap.

“Come in,” you called, placing your copy of The Lord of the Ringsback on your shelf.

Lucas entered, not quite sure why he was even visiting.

“Sorry. I was tidying. You okay?” you asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” he replied.

“You think so?”

Lucas sat down on the edge of your bed and looked up at you as you placed your hands on your hips.

“Please don’t do that. You remind me of my mom,” he chuckled.

Somehow, that comment didn’t amuse you quite as much as it did Lucas. It hit a rather raw nerve that you had hoped you had figured out how to manage.

Lucas got up from his spot and stood before you, being slightly taller. “What?” he asked. You turned your head, shame surging through you again. But just then, the gentlest touch came to your cheek. Lucas’ large blue eyes were full of concern and adoration for you. His hand cupped your face and seconds later, you felt his lips against yours. Soft, unsure, but above all, kind. The kiss of a young man, some ten years your junior, was enough to remind you that there was still kindness in the world, especially amongst the male of the species.

Realisation hit you hard in the stomach and you turned from the kiss. You heard Lucas sigh and stepped back. “Have you thought about this properly? We’re at different stages in our lives. You’re just starting out in your adult years to find out what you’d like…”

Lucas cut you off. “You talk as though I have no idea what I want.”

You looked at him sadly, seeing the frustration in his face. “What experience have you had? Do you know if you want to get married? Have children? These are probably things you haven’t even considered yet. I’ve been forced to push it aside because I’m too different.”

Lucas remained quiet, not quite sure what to say.

“Please think on this more,” you said.

“I have,” he said in desperation, his hands cupping your face again. “I want to be with you, and whatever you want, you can have it.” His voice became a whisper and you kissed again.

You woke a few hours later at just after one in the morning. There was a solid warmth against your back and an arm draped over you. The two of you had fallen asleep after an evening of chatter and cuddles under the blanket.

In all the time that you had known Lucas, which was two years, you had never seen him smile so much as he had done that evening. True, since enlisting in the Navy, Lucas had had to grow up somewhat and that change in him had been amazing, going from a boy to a man. A seriousness had settled in him, overriding the boyishness.

You slid out of bed and positioned the blanket back over Lucas. He rolled over and mumbled in his sleep. Something about this still felt wrong. It made you concerned that everyone would see it as predatory. Everything that felt wrong was pushing you to begin writing up that transfer request. Crew from the infamous seaQuest were always welcomed aboard other UEO vessels. The sub still remained the pinnacle of the fleet, highly sought after by new officers for their first tour. A reserve list with thousands of names on had been written up, and if you left, then you’d open a door to someone more deserving of their placement. Allowing Lucas to get close to you had been an abuse of your authority.

“You’re making a habit of this, ain’t you?” Brody laughed, finding you in the mess hall again at an ungodly hour for the second time that week.

“Maybe I am,” you chuckled. “My sleep routine is shot to shit.”

“Did you get things sorted with Lucas?”

“I don’t know,” you groaned. “It still feels wrong. I’m seriously considering putting in a transfer. But I know that Hudson will only take a valid reason before signing off my request.”

“Are you absolutely sure about this?” Brody leaned closer to you across the table.

“I can’t stay, Jim. Things are getting too deep between me and Lucas, and I know that he’s always going to expect something that I can’t give him.”

“I can’t force you to go against what you think is right, but you know we’d all miss you. None of us would want to see you go.”

“I know that, and I thank you so much. You’ve all supported me and I absolutely love working on this boat.”

“Yeah, it is a great place.”

Suddenly, you stopped rigid, eyes wide as Lucas wondered into the room. Brody turned after seeing your expression, and then wished you both a goodnight.

“You okay?” Lucas asked, replacing Brody in the seat opposite you.

“Got a lot on my mind,” you told him.

Lucas reached out and curled his hand around yours. “What’s up? Talk to me.”

Tears filled your eyes and fell down your cheeks. “I can’t do this…I’m sorry…”

“What have I done?” he whispered.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing,” you sobbed. Your gripped his hand tighter until he came and sat at your side. “You need someone your own age. I’m taking advantage of you with my authority and rank.”

“How are you taking advantage of me?”

“I’m ten years older than you and I’m a Lieutenant.”

“And why should that matter?”

“I…” words were lost.

“We’re both legal age and consenting adults. So does it really matter?” You remained quiet. Then you heard the gentle whisper of your name. “Does it really matter?” he asked again.

“I was considering putting in a transfer,” you said, the words tumbling from your mouth like an avalanche.

“No….no,” Lucas begged, drawing his hand up your face. “Don’t leave me.”

You couldn’t help but kiss his hand and lean into his touch.

“Captain Bridger left. I don’t know if I could handle you leaving, too.” Lucas’ eyes were wide and full to the brim of tears. Everyone in Lucas’ life had left him or cared little, never putting him as their priority.

And you knew then that no matter the outcome of your relationship status, you couldn’t leave. Lucas needed an open ear, heart and mind to express himself to. He’d found that in you.

As everyone prepared their belongings in order to enjoy three days of shore leave, you sat in your quarters with music playing away on your com-link. There was a positive buzz outside your door and foot traffic was loud. It was always the same whenever shore leave was approaching.

A knock came to your door.

Tony appeared. “Mornin’!” he chirped happily. “All ready to go?”

“Yes, I think so,” you replied.

“Lucas told me about your conversation over the transfer. I’m glad you told him you’d thought about it. Are you still considering it?”

You sighed and looked towards Tony. “No, I’ve decided not to leave. Whatever happens, I know my place is here. Lucas has had enough people walk out on him. He needs at least one person to stay.”

“Make sure you’re stayin’ for the right reasons.”

“I thought you wanted me to stay,” you replied with a smile.

“I do. We all do. But you’ve got to want to stay for yourself.”

“Everyone here feels like the friends I never had and the family I lost touch with. Of course I don’t want to leave.”

As everyone began gathering in the corridors to head to the docking bays, you stood between Lucas and Brody, dressed in your shore uniform. As usual, Tony was telling jokes to keep everyone amused.

“Do you ever pause for breath?” you asked, laughing.

“Only when I’m sleepin’, and even then I still talk,” Tony countered.

“He’s right there,” Lucas mumbled.

Shore leave began with all of you checking into a local hotel in downtown just from the seaQuest berth. As usual, the UEO paid for all expenses incurred on shore leave.

Lucas looked on a little suspiciously when you announced that you were next door to Brody and Lonnie, but he was on the floor below. He merely smiled at you, swept a glance to Brody and Lonnie, then disappeared to his own room.

In your room, you placed your bag down on the bed and began inspecting the cleanliness of the place.

You made sure you had a bath before doing anything else. The heat relaxed you and the sweet scent of lavender and jasmine wrapped around you. For a short while and you forgot all the trials in life, all the things that kept you up at night and made you over think. Suddenly, your phone began to chime. With a groan of irritation, you lifted yourself out of the tub, wound a thick towel around yourself and picked up the ringing nuisance from your bed.

“Are you alright? You took a while to answer,” Lucas’ questioning voice came.

“I’m fine. I was taking a bath.”

“Oh, okay. Do you mind if I come and see you?”

“Give me ten minutes to get dressed. I’m in room 712.”

“Okay. Bye.”

He seemed put out somehow. You sensed disappointment in his voice. Did he think you were avoiding him purely because you took time to answer his call? There was definitely a lot that needed to be ironed out between you both.

Lucas came to your room shortly afterwards, holding two paper cups of coffee, probably from the vending machine on his floor.

You thanked him for the coffee and then sat opposite him on your bed. You pulled your leg under yourself and watched him lower his head in that way he always did when he was unsure. “If this is how things are going to be between us now, then I wish they would just go back to how they were,” he said. His voice as pained by the realisation of all the tension he’d placed on your once deep friendship. For a young man who was so intelligent, far beyond that of most people, he held a lot of insecurity and uncertainty. He wore his heart on his sleeve and had never been able to hide his true emotions. There was an honesty and innocence that drew you in. A purity of heart. But also a sadness. If everyone else had abandoned him, how could you be so selfish and do the same thing?

“What’s wrong?” you asked.

Lucas was staring blankly into his coffee. “This. All of it.” He then looked up at you. “The last few days have been hell. I haven’t known what to say or do. And even if you don’t feel anything for me, can we just go back to the way things were?”

“I’m sorry,” you whispered. “I’ve driven a gap between us out of my own fear. Maybe I felt that backing away would help. Being around each other constantly only makes the feelings deepen. I’ve missed you and I do have feelings for you. A lot of them. I was scared of everyone judging me because I’m older and abusing my authority. I have to be careful, Lucas. Especially now that Captain Bridger is gone. He didn’t push Naval code like Hudson does.”

“I know that,” Lucas said, edging in a little closer towards you. That beautiful scent. It made his deeper instinct ride; butterflies were flapping with ferocity in his gut. “You worry too much about what other people think of you.”

“We’re not civilians, Lucas,” you reminded him.

“What would you have done with your life if you never enlisted?”

You took a sip of your coffee and smiled. “As a kid, I always wanted to be a vet, so I’d have worked with animals more than likely.”

“What made you enlist? You’ve never had that typical Navy way about you.”

“I finished university with a useless degree in English and I saw advertisements at a job fayre. I wanted something new and interesting. I almost failed my initial medical though.”

“Why?”

“I was taking medication for panic attacks. I stopped taking it a week before my examination and never declared it. Who wants a Naval officer who’s always anxious?”

“I don’t believe that at all. You’re probably the most chilled of anyone when we have an emergency.”

You chuckled. “I’ve learned to control it. And I find when I’m leading others, I’m more at ease. I can be calm for other people but not myself.”

That evening, a large group of you decided to head for a sit down meal at a local restaurant. Piano music was playing overhead and the lighting was dimmed, adding to a relaxing atmosphere. The waiter, a hook-nosed Italian man in overly tightly trousers, guided you over to a large, round table in the back corner.

You nudged Brody and pointed to the waiter. “It’s a wonder he doesn’t pop a nut.”

Lonnie and Tony immediately smiled, enjoying the fact that your usual self was coming back to the surface.

The whole meal was laid back, fun and light-hearted. You couldn’t help but notice the subtle glances that were exchanged between Lonnie and Jonathan Ford. Tim O’Neill seemed a little irritated by it, rolling his eyes a couple of times. When you saw Tim be so quiet, it reminded you of Miguel Ortiz, whom you had had a slight crush on when you first came aboard seaQuest. He and Tim had been good friends, and since Miguel’s passing in combat, Tim seemed a little lost at times.

By the time that the meal was over, most of the group had disappeared into the bar. There was only you, Lonnie and Jonathan Ford left at the table, which made you feel like a spare part. You excused yourself and walked out the front door of the restaurant. Chatter and laughter filled the air outside on the veranda. Dozens of people were drinking, eating and enjoying the night time air.

You began to walk, crossing the street and heading onto the empty beach. The chill in the air, the bright, full moon and the sound of crashing waves soothed you. In a hectic world where you were constantly fighting for control, you were now centred. Everything was simple. No worry. No orders. Just the stars, sand and sea.

Lucas looked for you, only to spot you standing on the beach. He could tell you from across the street. Proud shoulders, hands in pockets, bright coloured blouse, bandana in hair. That could only be you.

“You okay?” he asked.

You turned and smiled, then stepped back towards him. You curled your arm through his and put your head on his shoulder. The two of you remained quiet for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s company. To Lucas’ surprise, you took his hand and held it tight.

Tony and Brody looked on from the front of the restaurant.

“If the age gap is their only concern then they’ve got more going for them than most couples,” Brody said.

“He’s definitely lucky to have her.”

By the time you made it back to the bar in the restaurant, you and Lucas were hand in hand. Tony grinned at you both and then cheered, drawing attention from the rest of the crew who were all sat in a booth together.

Laughter ensued almost immediately as all the men, apart from Lucas, began competing in a drinking game.

“One, two, three,” Tony counted, banging his free hand on the table top. All of the participants of the game tossed shots down their throats, then proceeded to continue on with a further two, downing them as quickly as possibly without vomiting. Tim O’Neill gagged, almost propelling his meal from his gut. Jim Brody fell into a coughing fit. Jonathan Ford blinked hard, pushing vodka-induced tears away. Tony merely laughed, playing a drum beat on the table.

You could sense Lucas’ eyes on you as you sat beside each other. His arm was stretched across the back of the seat behind you. His nerves were finally beginning to settle a little, reminding himself again and again that it was still you. You were the same person he had known now for almost two years and had had a bad crush on the whole time. There were so many times that he had imagined how you would feel under his fingertips, the way your lips would taste against his, the sound of your hitched breath as you kissed with passion. And you did not disappoint. All of his fantasies had fallen short of the beauty of reality.

Around midnight and the men of the group were considerably less sober than when they’d arrived for dinner just over four hours earlier. Tony was now daring Brody to go swimming in the sea naked, which the Lieutenant was actually considering to do. Ford and O’Neill were arm wrestling, leaving you to chat with Lucas and Lonnie. A bottle of expensive red wine was on the table. Lonnie sipped from her glass now and again, encouraging you to have a drink, but you never drank alcohol as it only made your anxiety worse.

“I’m going to retire to bed, I think,” you announced.

“I’ll walk you back,” Lucas proposed.

Together, you and Lucas began your short walk back to the hotel. You strolled along comfortably hand in hand. People walked past you, glancing at you for only a brief second before continuing on. No one stared like you thought they would. They were all unawares of the age gap between you both that you always thought was noticeable.

**

You woke the next morning to bright sunlight shining through the open curtains. Lucas was lying with his back to you. You slipped out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

Lucas heard the toilet flush and looked up at the ceiling, smiling. Would you regret the night previously? He hoped so much that you wouldn’t.

“Good morning,” you said with a smile, exiting the bathroom in your pyjamas.

“Morning,” Lucas replied, groggy with sleep and happiness.

You slipped back into bed and rolled over to him, kissing his lips. He seemed to gain more confidence the more that you kissed. The tension was seeping out of your actions the more that you acted on your feelings. Fear was losing its grip on you.

Both of you remained in bed for a short while, until you announced that you were getting dressed to head downstairs for breakfast.

“I’m tired,” Lucas groaned.

“Get up, Ensign. That’s an order,” you chuckled.

“Now who’s abusing their authority, Lieutenant?”

“Well if you’re expecting any kind of repeat of last night then you’re going to have to be well-behaved now, aren’t you?”

“You never seemed the type to subject me to blackmail.”

“I’m going to head down,” you said, putting the conversation back on a serious note. “Do you want me to bring you anything back up?”

Lucas just smiled. “I’ll come down with you.”

When you got downstairs, Lonnie and Commander Ford were already sat at a table for two. You and Lucas made yourself comfortable just across from them.

“How’s the head, Commander?” you chuckled.

“Strangely it’s okay. For now. No quick and sudden movements and I should be fine,” he replied with a smile.

You poured yourself a mug of English tea and began to eat your breakfast which had been served.

Tim O’Neill came half staggering into the large dining area and plopped down on a seat next to Lucas. “Remind me to never drink again,” he groaned.

Lucas looked up at you ever now and again, his blue eyes twinkling with something you hadn’t seen before. Contentment maybe? Or perhaps happiness? Whatever it was, you knew he needed both, and you hoped that you had given that to him.

The rest of that day was fairly eventful, with a visit to the local art museum with Lucas, Lonnie and Commander Ford.

Jonathan Ford couldn’t deny that he was shocked by the sudden and dramatic change in yours and Lucas’ relationship dynamic. His Navy instinct told him that something needed to be said, a warning to you both of potential consequences. But the kind side of him won out. Why try and damage that haze of happiness that was suspended around you both? Once Captain Hudson returned to the seaQuest, a relationship was something that you and Lucas would have to either end or keep secret. No way would Hudson advocate romance on his boat.

At the beach during the afternoon, Tony sat beside Lucas whilst you remained with Lonnie, enjoying an ice cream cone.

“So? What happened last night? Brody told me that you stayed in her room,” Tony enquired.

“Yeah, I stayed with her. What happened is none of your business,” Lucas replied.

“Lucas, come on! You gotta tell me. I didn’t arm you with rubber for nothin’!”

Lucas merely smirked. “Lets just say that it was put to good use.”

“Way to go, my boy!” Tony exclaimed.

“Tony, shut up. She’s only over there,” Lucas growled.

“So, I need details. How was it? Was she good?”

“None of your business,” Lucas hissed and moved away. He approached you and Lonnie, and as he looked at you, he knew there was only one word that could have described the night previously: incredible. No way was he about to disrespect you and discuss your private life with others.

“Can I borrow you for a few minutes?” he asked you.

“Yeah, sure,” you replied, and got up from the warm sand. “Everything okay?”

You both moved away from the rest of the group. “Yeah. I just wanted to be alone with you for a while.”

The two of you took a slow walk down to the water’s edge, the tide returning from its long descent out towards the horizon. Hand in hand, you were silent for a few minutes. The sun’s rays were warm against your back, but a gentle breeze refreshed the air, biting through the humidity. You felt that inner calm come flooding to the surface again. Lucas’ arm wound around your waist and you prayed in silence that this was the right thing for both of you.

[when-to-sit-in-silence]

Can you also make an adult jopper pregnancy scare?

Well, anon, you fully unearthed a headcanon I didn’t know I had. 

Content Warning for references to sex, cheating, drunken behavior.

Joyce desperately hoped her anxiety wasn’t bleeding through the mask of composure she slapped on as she got the boys out the door that morning. At 13, Jonathan was just the right height to look straight into her eyes and see what she was trying to keep hidden: something very wrong, eating at her from the inside out, and like the good son he was he’d need to ask if she was alright. 

Luckily, they were running just late enough that there wasn’t time to linger on things that seemed out of place. Jonathan grabbed his bike out of the front yard and was off to Hawkins Middle, and not long after that, Karen Wheeler pulled up beside the mailbox to pick up Will. Joyce had called her with the vague excuse that something had come up and she wouldn’t be able to drive her younger son to school, offering plenty of profuse apologies for getting ahold of her so last minute. As she saw Will out the door, Joyce caught a glimpse through the window of Karen’s station wagon of the carseat carrying the Wheeler newborn - Holly was her name - and her stomach flipped. 

Forcing a smile, Joyce waved them goodbye, and then she darted back into the house. She looked at her watch. Seven more minutes. Seven more minutes and then, fuck, who knew? Maybe would life would get that much more complicated. Maybe it would stay the same. On a normal day, the same was hardly appealing to Joyce, but she might give anything for it now. 

She was just glad Lonnie was off doing God knows what, because she didn’t know how she’d be able to hold herself together with him breathing down her neck the same way he always did whenever he stuck around for very long. If what Joyce feared was happening was really happening, she would need a lot of time to process, to work out her next move, her next lie, if lying was even something she’d have the strength to do. 

Lonnie, I’m pregnant. It’s yours.

“It’s yours?” Joyce said aloud, dragging her hands down her face as she paced the living room. “Pull it together, Joyce, who else’s would it be?” 

She, of course, knew the answer to that question, and it made her heart sharply lurch. An old friend of hers by the name of Jim Hopper, who just about five weeks ago walked into Melvald’s to buy some cigarettes not expecting to find Joyce Byers there at the counter to greet him. He’d been back in Hawkins nearly half a year already, but it was the first time he and Joyce had a chance to actually talk. Joyce had had a feeling he’d been trying to avoid her since his return, but on his way out the store, he invited her out for beer that night to chat and catch up on each other’s lives and Joyce took him up on it. And then some. Then some, indeed. 

It was a shitty, stupid, drunken mistake. Joyce had simply forgotten how much she missed him, how deeply she’d buried that wish that they’d become something more. But when it was over, and her head started to clear, she realized that it was far too late for that. She had a family and a marriage and she needed to make it work as much as it felt like it was breaking her some days. And Hop…Hop knew all of this. But she didn’t try to blame him. He’d told her earlier that night what had happened to him in the year before he came back to Hawkins. He was lonely and hurting, and Joyce didn’t want him to think she was trying to take advantage of that to escape her own less-than-desirable circumstances. 

But now…this. This question blaring in her mind, unsteadying her every movement. Joyce tried to stop her hands from shaking, but it was no use. She was terrified. She felt sick.

What would she say to Hopper? Would she say anything? They hadn’t spoken at all since that night. Part of her wished they’d never see each other again, but in a town like Hawkins, that was sure not to go to plan. 

Even if she said nothing, wouldn’t he wonder? Wouldn’t he notice Joyce Byers have a baby nine months after their mistake of an encounter, and wouldn’t he think, “That baby is probably her husband’s, but it could be mine”? 

Maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe that thought, mercifully, wouldn’t cross his mind. Maybe he’d been too drunk to remember. She almost was. She wished she was. Not that that would change a thing in the long run. 

When Joyce checked her watch again, those seven minutes had passed, and her heart nearly stopped. Wasting not a second longer in the dark, she went to the bathroom and retrieved the test. 

Okay, Joyce. The moment of truth. 

Chest tight, Joyce held her breath as she squinted at the result. A second passed. Two. 

And then she dropped the test and crumpled onto the floor, the air bursting out her lungs like she’d come up from beneath the ocean. 

Negative. 

Oh my God. Joyce buried her face in her hands, relief flooding through her body. Her heart hammered, and then, as she regained control of her breath, it softened. She started laughing, wiping tears from her eyes, brushing the hair out of her face. 

That was one thing about Hopper - she thought a few minutes later, finally picking herself off the floor to dispose of the test and pretend she didn’t just have one of the most nerve-wracking mornings of her life - all these years, and he never did stop giving her trouble. 

But maybe now she’d actually have the chance to be happy he was back in town. 

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Winner’s Curse: Epilogue

Note: Wooo boy, it’s over. Now I know not many people may have read this, it may not have the best editing and some parts are a bit vague and not the best. In fact I’ll probably revise some parts at a later date or if I ever decide to post on A03, but I am still super proud of it. I think I did some great character parts and there are some sections that I’m just super proud of. I’m also happy that I actually finished it. It’s my longest fic to date and I actually completed it! 30 chapters. Well 32 if you include the prologue and epilogue. So cool! Plus I wrote what I really wanted, which I’ll admit was not the plot. The plot was a bit wonky and maybe I had too many characters that I didn’t juggle well and didn’t give them all equal exploration. Also action scenes were hard for me to write so those were not the best. But still- getting to explore these characters and their relationships and include several of my favorite Disney characters. Very fun. Also thanks to @edream93 for encouraging me when this was just a little idea, looking over some sections and offering advice and for overall being an amazing person. Check out her WLTF and other descendants fics like London Fog Nightcaps. And for the final time, hope y’all enjoy reading.

Flash forward to summer break in Agrabah

Jordan stretched, cracking her back after sitting hunched at her desk for the past hour editing her latest video How to Date a Djinn Episode 3. She had finally convinced the tech-averse Calix to join her in making satire videos of all the most terrible dates she had been on. Initially, she had planned for it to be a serious thing where she reminded her viewers of genie autonomy and the idea they had feelings behind their wishing powers, but Calix was never good at playing emotional PSAs.

Besides it was more fun that way to spoof how terrible, and sometimes ridiculous her romantic suitors were. Plus the hilarity kept her from thinking too much about the bitterness of the memories.

She cracked her neck and poofed outside to Aziz’s room where her lamp laid on its usual perch. Outside she could hear the thump of running feet and the screech of confused peacocks.

“Malik! No riding the peacocks!” A servant shouted

“Yes, riding peacocks!”

“No, Noor, Fahran, that’s not allowed. Get off of them!”

Jordan shook her head in amusement at the kids' antics.

Noor and Fahran were having a blast hanging out with their new “little” brother as they called the 5 year old. Though they were family in a way. Jade was the half sister to Aladdin’s half brother, Mozonroth. And Malik was their nephew. Even though the family tree was a bit tangled and confusing to visualize in your head.

And where Jade and Malik were concerned, Jay was also included as Aladdin had originally planned in inviting the former thief to Agrabah so they could get to know each other, and Jay, to get in touch with the more savory side of his heritage. Jay and Aladdin had especially hit off as they compared lives on the streets and bragged about some of their more daring heists so any concern of whether the Jafar connection would sour things was gone. All together, Jay, Jade and Malik were new, though unofficial members of the family. Aladdin, and Jasmine decided to hold off any official adoption in respect to Jay and Jade’s feelings.

Though, having three new members meant triple the chaos, the running in the halls and inevitable breaking of antique objects. It was still triple the fun.

Razoul, predictably, despised the decision. But hey, he wasn’t the sultan.

Jordan peeked out to the hall, no sign of peacock racing or frazzled servants anywhere. Since she’d been inside so long she decided to go outside to the backyard.

Passing the living room, she saw Jay playing some sort of Wii-fit game against Carlos, Lonnie and Gil whose scores were also reflected on the screen even as they played millions of miles away in their own living rooms. Jordan checked the time, ah it was 2’o clock on the doubt. Jay always called his friends at this time since it was when the time zones converged suitably for all of them to chat.

Jade was lounging on the couch, facetiming her girlfriend, Yzla. Jordan waved, and Jade waved in return, focusing mainly on their conversation which involved some llama prank with Empress Malina. Yzla was staying with Emperor Kuzco and his family. A arrangement Kuzco had initially been against but his wife and son overruled him. Which was for the best because apparently Yzla and him were hitting it off like two peas in a pod, scaring Malina, by tricking her into thinking Kuzco had changed into a llama again.

Huh, that reminded her, she hadn’t checked social media in a few hours. So she scrolled through, looking at Ben’s new post that there was to be a new class in the fall. Magic 101 with Flora, Fauna and Merrywhether and many surprise guest lecturers.

The Magic 101 class had been one of Uma’s many ideas for the new and improved Auradon. She told Ben of Alexandria’s reasoning for the revolt, explaining that the pressure for magic creatures to deny their magic was a strong reason for resentment, and most importantly, unfair. And Ben, who had been present at several meetings where mermaids, fairies and others stated their petitions of complaints, agreed. King Ben had removed the magic ban and decided to institute the Magic 101 class. Contrary to the name, the class wasn’t for magical beings, they already knew how to deal with their powers and not use them to affect others or supposedly cheat at life. The class was a requirement for Auradonians to learn about their fellow beings, how it was a vital part of them and the greater natural world.

Ben had actually suggested that she’d be the magical liaison and teacher assistant for the new Magic 101 classes but she had politely declined. She did accept going as a demonstrator whenever it was time for her Dad’s guest lecture.

But a fulltime TA? It sounded like too much work, her powers were not applicable to the greater magical population, and most importantly, she really wanted to get back to doing her auratube show. Especially now that she was bound to have so many new subscribers thanks to her newfound fame for helping to defeat the Coven.

Jordan had considered doing a series about the Isle mission against the Coven in order to get the story straight and not create too wild legends regarding their month and a half there. And okay, there was also the fact that she wanted to renew her hits after losing subscribers after not posting for a month.

But she ultimately decided not to. It was their mission, only they’d get what happened in that wild untamed place of evil and poverty. Besides, it was very personal and she didn’t want to have to go into her fights with Aziz and Jay on Auratube. Or her encounter with Antiquam.

No she’d rather not think about the latter for a very long time.

Dismissing those thoughts she scrolled through several more posted announcements like the newly formed Minority Kingdom Council made up of representatives from Atlantis, Atlantica, Arrendelle, Kuzcoropia, and Pydrian, who were overrun by environmental and tourism concerns as Alexandria brought up. There was also a new class of Vks that were coming in. Basically the teen population of the Isle.

The orphans and kids from the Isle were sent to boarding elementary schools around Auradon as well as foster care with professional trained therapists for the abused youngsters.

Ben’s decision to bring the whole teen population in had been a controversial one. But he had stood by it, stating that he was taking the advice of his people, the ones from his generation who were to make up the future generation and a schoolwide vote had agreed that the Vks should be let in.

Granted it had taken a two month lobbying campaign led by Mal and Evie with Lonnie, Carlos, Jane and Jay’s help. But they did, they persuaded lots of royal kids that it was better to bring Vks over. It also helped that Mal, Jay, Evie, Carlos and Uma had been pronounced Auradon’s saviors thrice in a row so…

Though it wouldn’t be until August that all the Vks, with a few exceptions like the resolutely bad CJ Hook and Prince Lars, and Antiquam, would be able to get to Auradon. But they would, Uma was making sure of it. Even Zevon and Ginny were coming despite their actions in proudly helping the Coven, Ben believed they just needed to be removed from the negative influences of their mothers.

Some Vks had already come over like Carlos’ cousin. Diego had refused to enter the VK program through school, but through the work progrm. Now he and his band, Rotten Apples, could introduce Isle grunge rock to Auradon’s farmer populations and inspire them to use music to express themselves. Carlos informed them that Diego wasn’t too into that inspiration and empowerment stuff, but he was loving the popularity. And he often crashed to the Radcliff house to catch up with Carlos and get a break from his adoring fans.

Harriet Hook, also in the work program, was working in Neverland, serving as guard for docks and a pretty mean one too, Jordan heard. Any tourist that tried to sneak

Not that everyone was residing in the homes of their parents’ enemies. Celia Facilier was living with her sister Freddie, and Freddie’s girlfriend, Ally at the Mad for Tea Shop. Also as a student by day and helping her sister as the evening entertainment at night. Singing only. FG was still wary of introducing such sketchy magic as card readings. Celia did choose to be a TA to her sister’s class, Goodness 101. Freddie was taking over for FG to make it a revamped, less patronizing seminar of how to act in Auradon with Ally popping in for politeness lessons and Carlos with therapy dogs. Though FG still stayed in the room to supervise and make sure the class stayed on track and not turn into “Everything that’s wrong about sappy sweet Auradon.”

Dizzy was reunited with her mother, her aunt Anastasia, her uncle, the Baker and Anthony Tremine and they lived in the faculty building of Auradon Prep. Easy for Anthony and Dizzy to get to school and for the Baker to go to his new job as school cook.

His baguettes were to die for, so flaky and crispy. Even Chad reluctantly agreed to their goodness when she interviewed him for student reactions to the new cook. Anastasia and Drizella were the new cosmeticians in training at the school’s day spa even though the two still argued over what was a better color and such.

Also working in Auradon’s kitchen were Gil, and Cosette’s mothers who had taken in their other’s sister’s sons, Gaston Jr, Gaston the Third and Gaston (IV) the Great. Their mother had been deemed just as abusive as Gaston and was to stay on the Isle with him. Gil had been nervous about living with his brothers again but he had Cosette by his side and Harry and Uma just a street away. Harry was just as fiercely loyal as ever to his crew and to Uma, who he’d wait for outside of Ben’s office, waiting for their meetings to end.

Gil also had Jay on his side. And though Jordan had absolutely no proof, she just felt something between them, and she was planning to use this summer to sniff out just what it was.

It had been more controversial to bring back some adult villains like Anastasia and Circe, but Ben had explained that he was not in the business of tearing families apart and adults were able to change too. Smee, for instance, wanted to retire from swabbing desks and wanted his second act in life to follow his lifelong dream. Be a clockmaker, ironically enough considering his boss’ fear of the ticking. Same with other low level henchmen like Jace and Harry, and Hun soldiers that had been following the battle orders and propaganda Shan Yu had fed them.

Ben had promised not all adults would come over, especially not ones that had abused their children, and that he, Mal and Uma were designing a careful vetting process for this program.

As for the Auradonian bred villains. Morgana and Morgaine hadn’t stayed in the dungeon for long. One day the guards had come down to give their food and they were just gone. No one knew where they went and no magic had been able to locate them. Merlin said it was no use trying. The Le Feys were tricky and wouldn’t reappear again unless they wanted to.

Kyro, Victoria and Alexandria were in therapy now in a new building away from the dorms and those who would shun them for their actions like the media that had reviled them when the news leaked out. It was a bit of a depressing building Jordan thought since one could see it if they leaned far out their windows. The outside of it looked like an insane asylum but Evie enthused about how open- aired and peaceful it was inside. The point of it was to clear the outside world, and focus on healing. What’s more, since Uma learned of FG’s somewhat oblivious and condescending advice from Alexandria, they hired a new counselor. A Dr. Mickey Mouse.

So yeah, things seemed to wrapping out into a happily ever after for all.

Jordan walked into a door, rubbing her head of the bruise and cursing herself for not looking up. Tucking the phone in her pocket, she was about to open the door when Aziz opened it for her, heading inside from hanging out on the hammock.

He didn’t even look at her as he entered, he was busy chatting on the phone with who else, his new girlfriend.

Aziz had stayed true to his word that he and Lala were just friends, and remained just friends for three months. It had irritated Jordan to no end to watch them sneak discreet looks, study together since Lala only knew the Atlantean alphabet and not the English, and dance around their feelings as if the obvious wasn’t there. And it took all her self control to honor her vow to not meddle and send a flying carpet in to speed things up.

At least Aziz did not shut her out completely and still went to her advice for what to do when he asked her to be his girlfriend.

“What if she says no? Or doesn’t know what that is. Jay did say it was only gang activity. Or maybe she’ll just say no because she thinks she’ll go crazy like her mom. But I really want her to say yes. Oh Allah, what if I mess it up instead by acting like an idiot. Or she already thinks that. I walked into a wall yesterday.”

“Aziz, she likes you,” Jordan reassured him, “I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Like a leopard with dinner, she totally wants to eat you. In a sexy, hungry with desire way. Not cannibal way. And really, walking into a wall? That’s not a dealbreaker or even embarrassing. If you want to talk about embarrassing, nothing can top the time you popped in front of that yoga instructor you were trying to impress.” “I had food poisoning from the oysters!” Aziz yelled indiginantly.

“Doesn’t change the fact that you shitted during downward dog,” Jordan smirked at Aziz’s flustered angry face, “Nor was it like that time when you tried to impress Anxlin with a butterfly knife and ended up-”

“Will you stop bringing up the past?” Jordan decided to change tactics and be the serious, comforting big sister that he wanted, “Just speak from the heart. You’re on the same page with so many things, and you talk so much. Sooo much, it’s kinda annoying. Especially when you’re yapping in my room when I’m trying to watch a movie. But anyway, I think when the time comes your heart will guide you to say the right thing. And if not… your lips can speak for you.”

So with that fabulous advice if Jordan said so herself, on the last day of school, before they went their separate ways for vacation. Aziz went to her room and asked her.

And while she said she wouldn’t meddle, Jordan totally turned into a bee to go through the keyhole and eavesdrop on their conversation. For moral support. Just Aziz didn’t know about it.

It was endearingly awkward as Aziz stammered through some rambling monologue of how he liked her a lot, and only if she was okay with it, but he really thought they had something so woud she maybe consider being his girlfriend.

Aziz should probably have gotten some lessons from Jay on the art of smooth, but Lala seemed to get it. “So if we’re in a relationship we do what we do now… but with kissing?” she clarified.

“Yes!” Aziz agreed eagerly, then tried to dial down his excitement, “I mean sure, if you want.”

“I would really like that,” Lala bit her lip nervously but her expression was hopefully as Aziz leaned in.

Their kiss was short, two seconds at the most. Jordan would have given it a three out of five. It was unsure and the two seemed to be surprised they even did it. But it was clear from the look in their eyes, that they only saw each other and the rest of the world was already fading away for them, that that small kiss was perfect to them.

So they kissed again. Much more purposefully this time. Oh Allah, Jordan was so proud when Aziz added some passion and slipped tongue first. He was really growing up.

And they kissed again, and again and soon they were making out on Lala’s bed, which was starting to get kinda gross and Jordan was feeling weird about watching them. So she took that as her cue to leave.

But now she had plenty of new things to annoy Aziz about so she took it as a plus.

Grabbing him by the arm to stop, Jordan grabbed his camera.

“Hi, Lala, how are you?” Jordan waved, mugging for the camera as Aziz grabbed it back, and tried to push her out of the frame. The white-haired girl was dressed up in Evie’s new line of summer clothes with her hair up in a bun, and most startingly, her brown eyes were human.

It was silly that Jordan was surprised by Lala’s human eyes, she had been the one to change them when in a burst of good will offered all their allies on the adventure a wish. Lala hadn’t used the offered three wishes, just one, which was to remove the leopard spell Queen La had put on her. She lost her cat eyes and the habit of walking on all fours, but she still had her cat-like grace which Jordan chalked up to natural ability. It had been three months since that wish, but she had been so used to Lala’s cat-like slits with the dilated pupils. It had been a unique marker like the scar that everyone could see on Lala’s leg when she wore shorts.

“I’m well. Aziz sent me your new vlog about Odiferous, it was very interesting.” Lala nodded curtly. Jordan knew Lala was usually guarded against everyone so the coldness didn’t bother her as much as it used to. Thanks to hanging out with Aziz and Jade, she was starting to slowly warm up to people she wasn’t close to even though her tone didn’t reflect it.

“How are the Porters?” Jordan asked, cutting off whatever Aziz was about to say next. He glared at her, but she ignored. Hey, she said she’d stop mothering him. So now it was back to  annoying big sister privileges.

“They’re well. Kerchak and I are going tree surfing tomorrow.” Lala answered. When Ben put up the invitation of Vks in need of foster homes or adoptive families, the Porters offered to take in Clay Clayton, and Lala. Clay refused and went with his Aunt, Lady Waltham who was thrilled to meet her surly nephew for the first time. Lala joined the Porters where she was helping their gorilla reserve, connecting with animals instead of hunting them for food and survival.

It was bound to be awkward considering their daughter’s actions, but Auradon seemed to consider it part of their penance even though they hadn’t known what Victoria had planned to wrought. But according to Lala, they did their best to skirt around that sensitive issue and treat her like a guest, and she was starting to befriend Kerchak. He even gave her a leopard of her own which she named Euware II though the pet made Tarzan a bit wary. Still, Lala had to stay in her room on weekends when Victoria visited from therapy.

“That’s great. When are you coming to visit? I know Jade is just dying for you to visit. It’d be fun. We can go sand surfing, oh and explore some of the caves under the citadel. Oh, oh and I just know Aziz wants to show you some of the secret alcoves in the palace. They’re great for making out and-” “Go away!” Aziz waved her off

“You want me to leave? But who will chaperon you two? Who will tell Lala all the embarrassing stories from your childhood? I’ve been holding onto blackmail for a reason, Aziz. I must tell her,” Jordan turned to the screen, “But seriously, come visit. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Thank you!” Aziz sighed in exasperation, “Give me 5 minutes, I’ll join you to go to the bazaar later, Jord.”

“See ya!” Jordan called over the shoulder as she headed to the palace kitchen, still hearing some snippets of Aziz’s conversation about his summer psychology classes. His new passion since Jordan had suggested that since he liked overanalyzing and counselling other people's problems, he could research into being a psychologist.

Upon reaching the outside, Jordan took a big breath of the sweet summer air with a hint of jasmine and the coconut and sighed.

Life was good.

Of course, life was always good when it was summer vacation but it was more than that. She had really committed to what she had learned on the Isle. She lived in the present now, and tried not to wallow in the anger and resentment that extended to almost every human she met.

Did that kind of positive mindset always work? Hell no, sometimes, someone would grab her arm, requesting for a wish, rubbing her jacket as if that was the lamp and not her. Yeah, that stupid event would irritate her all morning but she didn’t go into her spiral of how all humans were greedy monsters, her life sucked that she had to walk among them and so on and so forth. She learned to vent to Aziz and let it go.

She would always meet bad people in her life, when that happened, if the situation was appropriate, she would blow a mini sandstorm in their face and move on.

She’d also gotten more sensitive about complaining about humanity in front of Aziz. She tried to complain of an individual person and not make broad generalizations about the mortal race, and repeat that Aziz and his family were the exception.

Well Aladdin’s family, and Uma, and Jay, and Lonnie, and Calix and Ben, and she was starting to realize her circle of those she trusted was expanding.

It felt good to have that knowledge.

Even if Aziz might not always be there, though she’d kill him if he wasn’t, she still had others who cared about her.

Then again, she, Calix, Aziz, Jay and Uma had been through a harrowing adventure that nearly destroyed the world they knew, and had to face their greatest fears and insecurities to do so. If that didn’t make you trust a person, what would?

There were also her parents. Her parents always had her back.

That was another thing she’d been committed to doing since she got back from the Isle and saved Auradon.

Her parents had been the first ones to get there, magical teleportation after all and were laying out the blue carpet and making plans for the greatest party in all of Agrabah for their daughter, the hero. Instead of getting annoyed by their zany antics as usual, and annoyed at how they ignored the fact she faced possibly life-ending danger against their enemies, she just hugged them.

The act had clearly surprised them because both of their jaws broke off and fell to the floor before snapping back up like a ball. But they loved the change in her nonetheless.

Ever since then, she’d been going out with them every other weekend, be it ice skating on Saturn’s rings or clubbing or going out to drink in celebration of the banning of the Magic Ban.

She had thought for so long that if she let herself act even a little bit like them, she’d be signing herself to a fate of servitude, never being taken seriously, and becoming a negligent oblivious person who only wanted to focus on fun.

She had worried that if these things didn’t come naturally to her, she’d have to fake it in order to fit in and be palatable to her own parents. So they wouldn’t become bored with her. She hadn’t liked thinking about it, but she always felt that was the underlying reason they left her.

But she lived in the present now and shoved all those thoughts away. She did what she wanted without thinking of the implications. And she found that actively listening to what they were saying, how they constantly suggested ideas for their next adventure, how it was too bad she had school and couldn’t come with them to their trip. They didn’t think she was a damper on their party style, they wanted her to be with them. And she usually said to each invitation.

YOLO, right. Well more like YOLFSMAWEI.

(You Only Live Forever So Might As Well Enjoy It. Not as catchy but infinitely more accurate)

Family time was a lot more enjoyable that way instead of brooding that once it was over, they were going to forget about her and go about their lives as if they didn’t have a daughter.

Although, Jordan still did crave for a meaningful talk where she got to tell them about some of her issues with their lack of parenting oversight, and maybe delve into how abandoned she felt when they wouldn’t discuss such issues like her rape, they still weren’t ready for that.

Though Aladdin was talking to her dad on her behalf, and it seemed he was starting to soften to it.

Until then, she had two sets of parents. Aladdin and Jasmine, probably the first humans who she trusted, and respected. The first ones who saw her as a child and not a being for wishes. They gave her the love and attention she had craved when she needed it. They stood by treating her like everyone else, as she wished, even when it meant disregarding her excuses that her genie-ness exempted her from getting in trouble. They were always present her lives and were the ones that reminded her that her supposed fate was not a fate, that no one could shackle her, not unless they went through them. They encouraged that there other sides to her besides being a genie. That she should work hard, be kind, be honest and be independent.

Her mom and dad, who loved her with all their hearts and thought of her as their best friend. It wasn’t the most parental relationship but she had started to accept that it would never be. They were genie parents, not human ones, and it was finally sinking in that the rules would always be different from them. No matter that Jordan looked human and was raised by them. But that’s what made them special. No one else in the world would get her quite like her mom and dad.

Aziz opened the door, knocking her in the back and she moved over so he could wait beside her.

She checked her phone. Her parents were supposed to come here five minutes ago so they culd go to the bazaar together.

They probably weren’t going to come for another twenty minutes.

Ah genies, Jordan sighed, they were never going to be punctual. She wondered how many years it would be before she started viewing time as an unimportant mortal construct.

She was about to pose that question to Aziz, whether it would occur in his lifetime or in her 5,000s when a green and blue poof popped up in front of them.

“We’re here!” The two blew the smoke away to reveal the pair in matching red and white striped tuxedos with a blinking “Genie and Eden” sign hanging behind them.

“It’s Genie and Eden!” Eden announced

“Eden and Genie!” Genie intoned.

Then with a snap of a finger, the props and costumes disappeared, and Genie sat thoughtfully in the air, “We can’t quite choose which sounds better.”

Eden went back to a form-fitting black leotard with a black bowler hat, smoking a cigar in her best Liza Minelli voice, “Whaddya think, daughter dear, whaddya think?”

“I think we should go to the bazaar and have the people decide which is better.” Jordan suggested, knowing that if they did it here, they wouldn’t leave.

“By george, she’s right!” Genie exclaimed transforming into a nerdy account, “Statistically, it is always better to test things with a test audience, and according to my calculations that the Agrabah bazaar has the best cross-pool of audience with 10% bearded, 40% kids..” He transformed into his usually big blue self, “Aaand let’s get outta here!”

“Wait up!” Jay yelled, nearly running into the four of them with Jade at his side, “I wanna go to the bazaar too, there was that awesome scimir I wanted to buy.” “Yeah me too, I want to steal things too… I-I mean buy. Buy with money. That I did not steal from the mean guard.” “His name is Razoul, and you really shouldn’t. He already doesn’t like you.” Aziz shook his head.

“I don’t like him, and that’s what makes it so tempting.” Jade defended.

“Yeah, he kinda has it coming,” Jay agreed.

“Now, now, we won’t say anything about it. But you must stop,” Eden warned in a prim British accent, poofing into a blue serge suit like a certain famous nanny, “Now spit spot, hurry up, we don’t want to be late to the bazaar.”

Genie transformed into a Bert to his wife’s Mary Poppins, adding, “Come ‘ere ye kiddos and ‘urry it ‘up.”

Jay and Jade stared at each in the classic “What the hell?” expression that bystanders always had whereas her parents were concerned. Aziz and Jordan just shrugged and smiled.

And so they went off to the bazaar and as the sun beated down on them, and Jordan whipped up a hijab from air to keep off the heat, she hummed a familiar tune which Aziz and her dad easily picked up.

“As you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars with the cardamom-cluttered stalls. You can smell every spice while you haggle the price of the silks and the satin shawls. Oh, the music that plays as you move through a maze in the haze of your pure delight. You are caught in a dance. You are lost in the trance of another Arabian night…”

[blackrosesfanfic]

Chapter 236

Trey

Last thing I want to do is end my marriage. That's never what you think about when making a stupid choice. Following up with a thought instead of thinking it through. That's where impulse gets you. To the point of a failed marriage.

"Jayla?" I say rubbing her leg.

"Where did my mother go?"

I shrug a bit. "She is about as..."

Chris comes walking into the room. "The hell wrong with you Cammies?"

"Ain't nothing wrong with me. There's only one Cammie." Cammie snaps.

"Oh yeah?" Chris says leaving back out. "Mama Cammie."

"Christopher." She snaps rolling her neck.

Chris shrugs once he is behind her back. I chuckle. Cammie and her mother do act similar to one another. Especially when mad or upset. They really look alike then. Gwen sits on the bed. She plays with her phone then she sighs heavily.

"I don't know what to say." Mama Cammie sighs.

"There's nothing to say. It was years ago."

Mama Cammie shakes her head. "Imagine someone hurting your son. You gonna feel like it's nothing? Someone needs some scars. I will be upset until I feel like I did something."

"It's too late."

"No it is not. You went to the hospital. I'm sure they did an assessment on you. I just got to find out what it said and who I need to press some charges against."

Cammie narrows her eyes at her. "You can't do that. Everyone knows… Everyone will know. No."

"Well your father... Lonnie is coming to California."

"Why did you tell him?" Cammie yells scaring Caden.

I move to her to get Caden. She swats at me holding him closer to her. Shit. I don't know what to do. I know she doesn't want me to walk out. I'm not even going to attempt to walk out.

"Better to tell Lonnie than me." Mama Cammie snaps. "I can't handle this."

"That's the problem."

Mama Cammie stands up. "I'm just so angry with you."

"Cause it's my fault?" Cammie cries.

"No. Of course not." Mama Cammie puts her hands on her hips. "You never had to go through any of this alone. I know we were close. You told me everything. I never wanted nothing but you to be the best Cammie you could. Dancing on some stage doesn't tell your whole story. All I saw was you not wanting to talk about that boy because I told you what would happen loving him. I just thought you couldn't take me saying I told you so. So I didn't say it."

"Good." Cammie snaps.

I try once again to take Caden. He wasn't liking Cammie being upset. He was ignoring every attempt she made of calming him down.

"I've dealt with... I don't know Jayla. If you never wanted me there then how could I be there?" Mama Cammie shrugs. "What do you want?"

"Nothing." Cammie says letting me take Caden.

He screams loudly. Shit. I walk around the room. Mama Cammie takes him from me. He cries loud again but calms down as she dramatically rocks him. Cammie's ass is fucking spoiled. You mad at your Mama cause she wasn't there but now you mad at her for trying to fight for you. My Jayla.

"Mama, you are a counselor. How would you help your client connect with her daughter?"

"Son, I just say some horse, you know what. They just like hearing someone neutral. They like being able to speak and someone listens."

I chuckle. "Jayla not listening to nobody."

"Jayla is Jayla." Her mother says. "I'm just mad at her for not thinking we were close to share stories. We just yell at each other. She should have been diagnosed years ago."

Cammie sucks her teeth. "With what?"

"Best baby making genes." Gwen says in a baby voice to Caden. "You so sweet."

"But I made that though."

Gwen smiles. "With Trey's help."

I chuckle. "Yeah that was me. Sweetness."

"Sugar flowing through your veins. Just freaking sweet." Cammie says cutting me an evil angry look.

"Jayla text your father and tell him not to come. He might feel unwanted and not come."

I chuckle. "I'm sure he already on the way."

Cammie randomly looks down her shirt. She grabs Lane's cup from the table and puts it in her shirt then sigh. Someone clears their throat. I don't know if it was Cammie or her mother. They were both looking at me. I chuckle to myself. A part of me was thinking damn I like Mommy titties. Leaking milk. I turn around and walk out the room. Bout to get hard in front of the wrong mama. Still tryna make her like me. That family is tough at getting close to. I walk into my mama's bedroom.

"Gwen taking your place with the boys." I say.

"I kicked that Chuckie Doll out of here." She snaps. "Bad ass little boy. Opened the gift I had for Forrest. Talking about it's for his brother."

I laugh. "That's where he got those pacifiers?"

She rolls her eyes. "Your wife is right majority of the time when it comes to her kids. Remember that. She knows what she doing. I should've learned how to beat his cute face when he was less mischievous. Not so smart."

"Cammie and her Mama had a talk."

"Good." Ma nods. "Gwen knows her daughter as well. She controls that crazy side."

I nod thinking about the conversation. "Damn were you there?"

"I already know, Tremaine. I didn't have to be there. Best thing you can do for your marriage is get those two back together. I was wrong about Cammie's mother. Just like I was wrong about Cammie. They rub you the wrong way at first."

I nod in agreement. Nothing needed. That's so true.

Rollie

"You trying to piss me off on purpose."

I turn around looking at Leah. "Who?"

She looks me up and down. "You."

"What the fuck you talking about?" I ask calmly.

"Don't worry about it."

I shrug. "Fine."

All I did was walk in the bedroom and open my suitcase. I didn't do anything else. She didn't say anything else. So what am I supposed to say to what? I'm making her mad on purpose. By walking in the room? I check my phone to be sure she didn't send me anything. I don't even know.

"Aye, come here."

"No. You can't erase stuff with your fucking charm."

I sit down facing. "Is it cause you pregnant? What is it?"

"Just leave it alone."

"Yo, come here." I say again. Still trying not to be overly aggressive which I do a lot.

She sucks her teeth then walk over to me but not close enough to touch. "What's the difference between me here and there?"

I stand up going to her. Good question. I walk into her belly on purpose. She like 7 months and it really shows how close she is to having the baby.

"What did I do?"

"Same shit you always do." She snaps. I rub her hips. She battles with herself then gives in. "I tell Jordan no or I take something from her then you come and undo me completely. Take my opinion away like I'm not her mother."

I shrug. "Oh."

"Oh?"

"I thought I did something else." I say then chuckle. "What I did today that I need to fix?"

She folds her arm. "Did you ask why her phone was in here?"

"She just said it was in here. Leah." I pause. "I don't know what she said. I told her to go get her phone."

"She was texting in some group chat with older boys and girls. I don't remember all the shit they were talking about but nobody was filtering anything."

I frown. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She shrugs. "When did I have time, Rollie?"

"I know you did." I nod. "We have a child coming. If you doing all the parent shit alone what you need me for? Talk to me while the shit happening. You should have called me into the room before you took her phone. Now she has to be punished again when we could have done it together the first time."

"Blame it on me."

I slap her thigh then walk away. "Stop whining. I'll be back."

"Rollie?" My mom says stopping in the hallway. "While I'm already being the worst mother on the planet, I minus well talk to you. You probably feel like I did you wrong as well. Well I didn't. But I do want to say that you are being selfish by holding something against me that's your fault. I mean... what I'm saying is I won't take back what I said about you running the streets trying to get yourself killed. You made the decision to continue running the streets instead of getting your life together."

She pauses, maybe for a response. I'm not sure why cause ain't shit to say.

"You could have been anything more than a convicted felon. I never wanted you to limit yourself to that. Your father wouldn't have it. But anyway. I really want to be in your life. You are still my baby boy. My only son. My first child. The first person I knew I would have and love forever. Nobody was there for you more than me your whole life. So yeah... I'm a bitch I know. But you aren't too far from the block in a male sense. You just stubborn."

I shrug. "Okay."

"Okay, nothing Rollie." She snaps.

"So what do you want?" I shrug. These fucking women.

She giggles. "A hug."

I frown my face. A fucking hug? "Okay, Cheesy."

I hug her short ass. I don't know who this lady is that wants to work on her fucking attitude. Never has she wanted to work with people to correct the shit her ass has done. But she saying let's forget the shit in the past. I'm okay with that. I do want her to be in my child's life. She was a great mother. Like she said she was always there for me when I was doing right. I'm just getting my damn life together.

"I can make you feel better and be a man about mine. I should have listened to you. Finished high school and went to college."

"You aren't even 40. You can be everything you could have been at 20." She smiles patting my back. "I'm sorry we had to go through so much to undo a broken heart. I should have just... I don't know. Don't know what I should have done."

I hug her tighter. My mother was probably 5'5 with 6' heels. I look down at her teeth. Top of her head came to my shoulders and she had on shoes. I never thought about what I would do if my mother came to me apologetic or whatever the hell she calls this. Didn't expect it. But she my mama at the end of the day and I would go broke paying someone else to wipe her ass if she needed it. I guess we all growing up.

"Are we done here? You soft."

She walks away abruptly. I don't know about this suddenly redemption shit. It's all good though. Like I said I want her in my child's life. She fucking spoils Lane and he adores her like his other grandma. So I can try.

"Why are you standing in the hallway, Rollie? I just knew you weren't doing what you should have been." Leah whines. "Can you get my food from the front door?"

"Yeah." I say walking away. "Then do what?"

She sucks her teeth. "Get your daughter."

"Oh." I say walking away then cutting my eyes back towards her.

When she became my daughter? Before we was mad about her being my daughter. Now she calling her that. Jordan sees me coming and hides.

"I heard what mommy said. Don't come get me."

"Go to your mother." I say walking to the front.

She whines. "She won't listen. She just yells."

"I'm coming in there. Give me that phone then go stand near the door. Wait for me."

"You said I could get it." She whines.

"Don't make this hard on us."

She stomps out the room leaving her phone on the couch. I sigh.

"Get back in here. I said give it to me."

"Not fair." She whispers.

I take the phone from her. "Stop acting."

Know she doesn't get in trouble. Might get this piece of shit taken for a night. She has a damn tablet anyway. I walk to the front door and take the food. She could have told me it wasn't paid for. I go dig through Cammie's purse and take a 50 dollar bill from a stack. Look at this shit. Fucking rich ass. I'll tell her. Maybe.

[welcometophu]

Not Your Guardian Angel: Chapter 2

Marked Book 3: Not Your Guardian Angel

Chapter 2

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There are a lot of cars in the parking lot when Pels drops Cheyenne off at her gym. She sees parents walking in with much younger kids, and moms dropping off teenagers the same age as Cheyenne. The older moms are bundled up in long coats and thick scarves, huddled in knots outside of the building in groups that seem to be loosely organized according to whether they’re smoking or not.

Pels doesn’t want anything to do with any of them.

Cheyenne leans back in the car after she climbs out. “There’s a coffee shop like five minutes further down the road.” She makes a face. “Well. It’s not a shop. More of a drive through coffee stand. There’s no place to sit. But you could go and get something and waste some time before you’re stuck coming back here. There really isn’t much of anything else.”

“I’ll find some way to keep myself entertained.” If all else fails, she could have a scintillating conversation with Dad. He’s always good for pithy observations about her life.

“Just be back by twelve to pick me up.” Cheyenne yanks open the back door and grabs her bag, slipping her water bottle from the side pocket so she can take a long, deep pull before she slams both doors shut. “Bye! See you later!” Her voice is muffled and distant as she turns away, already waving to another teen as she runs to the building.

“Guess I’m getting coffee.” Pels starts the car up again, carefully backing out to avoid the line of cars still pulling in. She managed to arrive five minutes early, and she wonders if there will be any spots left at all if she leaves.

She takes another look at the clusters of moms. Yeah, no, she’s not staying here for the entirety of the next two hours.

The Coffee Shack is exactly five minutes further down the road, and looks like it’s just that: a small shack with a half circle driveway past a drive-up window. Pels would wonder if it’s open this early in the spring, but there’s a line of cars leading up to the shack, so she figures it has to be doing decent business.

“I miss coffee,” Dad says quietly as she pulls into the drive behind a beat-up minivan.

“I’m aware. You made me learn to love coffee because you kept insisting I go to coffee places.”

“You heard a lot of good music, and ate a lot of good food. And there was that one when you were fifteen.”

Right, that one. The one almost crush that Pels had before she realized that there was no point in crushing on anyone, since two days later Peter’s ministry took them to another state. “Oh yes, coffee shops hold such great memories,” she says dryly. “I can admit that they were a great way to get away from Peter, though. I think I might’ve enjoyed working in one, if I’d ever been anywhere long enough to hold down a job.”

“You’d probably like working in a library, too,” Dad points out. “You’ve always had an affinity for books.”

“You threw an entire shelf at a girl who was bullying me when I was six,” Pels reminds him. “I don’t think I’d want to be around an entire library of them on a regular basis.”

“We’ve both grown since then. Besides, at that age, it was better if it looked like I was a poltergeist. I didn’t hit her. I never would have hurt her.”

Pels pulls up the emergency brake since the line is moving slowly enough. It lets her turn around, putting one arm on the seat so she can look back at where Dad is watching her. “Your parenting technique and persuasive methods are both dubious at best. But you did mimic toddler tantrums pretty well. On the other hand, you could’ve made the attempt to be subtle.”

“She was six,” Dad says plainly. “She wouldn’t have understood subtle. Neither would you. I haven’t thrown anything or ruined anything that doesn’t belong to you in a while. And if you’d listen to what I say and suggest, I wouldn’t have to try so hard to get your attention.”

Pels disengages from the seat so she can turn back around and pull up when the other cars move. She’s only one back from the window, and she really hopes it’s worth it. “There are days when I envy people who can’t talk to ghosts. And who don’t have one following them around everywhere. Like. Every day.”

“You love me.” Dad’s voice is soft and low, and Pels looks up in the mirror to see him leaning on the back of the seat, his hand just barely touching her cheek. She feels the feather soft touch and sighs.

“Yes, Dad, I love you. Just sometimes I don’t always like you,” Pels says quietly. “Why can’t you just… let me live my life?”

“Because it’s my job to make sure you get to where you need to be, when you need to be there.” Dad sits back, his arms crossed. “And I’ve been doing it for almost nineteen years at this point. That’s not going to change.”

Pels would ask why, but he’s never answered before, and she doubts he’ll start now. Instead she grips the steering wheel tightly and when the car ahead of her finally moves off, she pulls up to the shack window and pushes the button so her own window slides down.

“Welcome to the Coffee Shack!” Lonnie—according to his name tag—is far too cheerful. His cheeks are bright red from the chill, and his blue eyes are bright. “What can I get you? Today’s special blend is a medium roast with vanilla cream and dark caramel flavors, and I can give that to you in coffee, latte, or iced form.” He leans on the edge of the window, getting just a tiny bit closer as his voice lowers. “You’d be surprised how popular the iced ones are, even in the winter.”

“Just hot coffee, but the special sounds good. As big as you’ve got.” Pels spreads her hands as if she’s holding an entire thermos. “I’m going to be sitting outside for a couple hours.”

Lonnie turns away, grabbing a paper cup that looks almost suitably large enough. “You look too young to be a mom,” he says. “Sister? Stuck driving?” He presses the top of a large carafe, filling the cup before he fits a top onto it and turns back to Pels. “Three dollars even,” he says as he hands it to her.

She digs out three bills to hand to him, then empties her mother’s coin supply from the cup holder into his tip jar. She can be both generous and practical; she needs a place to put the coffee.

“Thanks.” Lonnie flashes a bright grin. “So, there’s a park down that way. It’s really the trail-head to a hike, but the trails aren’t ready for that yet. But the park equipment stays out year round, and it’s probably not too busy. If you want a place to hang out while waiting for your sibling.” He reaches off to the side, out of view, and comes back with a paper baggie. “Cookie. On the house.”

“He’s flirting,” Dad murmurs.

“I get that,” Pels hisses under her breath, even though no, she didn’t. Lonnie must have heard her, because his brows are already furrowing in confusion, so she hastily reaches for the cookie. “Thanks. For the cookie and the tip. How did you even—”

“Monday through Friday is for business commuters, but Saturday’s for gymnastics. Always has been here,” Lonnie says easily. There’s a honk from somewhere behind Pels, and Lonnie motions for her to move on. “Go enjoy the park.”

It doesn’t sound like a bad idea, and it’s better than hanging around with a bunch of people the same age as her mom. Pels pulls out of the spot, hearing a squeal behind her as someone pulls into it as fast as she leaves.

“Someone’s impatient,” Dad observes.

Pels’s phone buzzes, but she can’t pick it up to look at it while she’s driving. It doesn’t keep buzzing, so it has to be a text, not a call. The only people who ever text her are her mother and her sister, and she figures they’d call if it were an emergency, so she ignores it.

The fact that it buzzes twice more, at random moments, is a little concerning. When she glances over, Dad is in the front seat, with her phone in his hands.

“I’m pretty sure heat activated or fingerprint unlocking is beyond even your capability,” Pels says.

“I can pick it up, but you’re right, I can’t unlock it. But the notifications show on your screen when the phone moves. It’s Jess.”

Pels pushes down on the gas in surprise, accelerating more than she means to. She relaxes, letting the car adjust back to the right speed. “Jess?” She’d forgotten that she’d given her her number, when they’d had lunch that one time. But now she remembers unlocking her phone and letting Jess program in her number and Shane’s.

She holds out her hand, but the phone moves out of reach as Dad holds it near the window. “When we get to the park,” he says. “No texting and driving.”

Pels drives just a little faster, and thankfully Dad says nothing. When she pulls into the dirt parking lot, parking as far as she can from the few other cars, he just holds out the phone, exchanging it for the paper bag she’s held on her lap since leaving the Coffee Shack.

Pels unlocks her phone, and three texts pop up immediately.

Ángel’s boyfriend is visiting. He is like the personification of grumpy cat. In very large cat form.

The next text is a picture of a boy Pels sort of recognizes and assumes is Ángel, with a large cat draped across his lap. The cat has his eyes closed, lying on his side and tilted slightly onto his back as Ángel rubs his belly.

It’s really adorable.

It’s a brand new text stream, and from the top of the screen Pels can see that it’s a group chat between her and Shane and Jess. While she’s looking at it, another text pops in from Shane.

I’ve been sexiled. I’m staying in Jess’s room for the week.

There’s a light touch to her shoulder, and when Pels glances up, Dad is walking across the parking lot toward the park. He left the paper bag on the front seat, so Pels grabs that to peer in. Double chocolate is never a bad choice. “Thanks, Lonnie,” she murmurs, then breaks off a bite to pop into her mouth. It’s still warm, the chocolate chips gooey and melting, sweet across her tongue. She chases it with a gulp of coffee, and yeah, she now understands why there was such a long line. The Coffee Shack is a nice treat for the day.

She continues to pick at the cookie while staring at her phone as if it’s going to continue doing something to entertain her. The cookie is almost done before it starts buzzing again as a series of pictures comes in.

She recognizes Hayley, bundled up against the cool weather. There are two more cats, and Jess captures images of them as they pounce on the one on Ángel’s lap, knocking him over and rolling the cat off. Another image shows Hayley bent over, laughing, with bright sparks shimmering around her. And the final one is a selfie of Shane and Jess, tilted close together, Jess’s nose bright red in the cold.

Pels knows she should answer, but this isn’t one of her skills. People in general aren’t one of her skills. She used to try when she was younger, but between being bullied, and strange things happening that no one but her understood, and Peter’s ministry keeping them on the road constantly… she just stopped connecting. It wasn’t worth it.

This feels dangerously like an attempt to connect.

“One text isn’t going to hurt you.”

She presses a hand to her heart, glaring at Dad where he’s back in the passenger seat. “I swear to God, if I could put a bell on you I would,” she grumbles. “Try not to scare me to death. If I die, you’ve done a shit job as a guardian angel.”

Her gaze drops back to the phone in her hand. She touches her thumb to the little line to respond, and a keyboard pops up. She sets the phone down on her lap like it’s hot.

It’s not that she’s not going to text. Just… it can wait. Right?

“I should drink my coffee before it gets cold,” she says, lifting the cup.

“Mm.” Dad makes that sound when he’s being judgmental and trying to pretend he’s not. Pels is very familiar with it.

She takes a long gulp of the coffee, studiously ignoring him.

The car clicks unlocked. She doesn’t look at him.

A rush of cold air hits her when her door opens, and Dad stands on the outside, holding on to the door, waiting.

Pels scowls. “Jesus Christ, I haven’t even taken off my seat belt.”

“You can glare at your phone in the park. It’s not busy, and there’s sun. It’s actually warmer there than here,” Dad points out.

She could close the door, but she knows from experience that if Dad wants her to do a thing, she’ll do the thing, even if she doesn’t understand why. If she doesn’t, Dad will just insist. “Fine,” she grumbles, grabbing her coffee and the remains of her cookie. She locks the car behind her, trailing as Dad leads the way to a bench that sits in the sun, but is still far enough from the playground and the few kids running around together.

Her phone buzzes one more time, vibrating in her pocket before she sits on the bench. She ignores it while she finishes the cookie and pitches the crumpled bag into the nearby trash.

“Just text back,” Dad encourages. “You’re going to be there for four years. You have a chance to build relationships.”

Pels glances at the ink on her wrist. “Yeah, no thanks. I don’t want any magically encouraged love affairs, thanks.”

“Magic can’t make you do something you don’t want to do.”

Pels snorts, because Dad, of all people, saying that is too funny. She covers it by drinking her coffee and pulling out her phone. “Dad. I don’t know if you remember this, but my entire Talent is built around magic telling me what to do, and what not to do, on a regular basis. Whether I want to do it or not.” She looks at him. “Magic is pushy. Literally. You pushed me into Shane.”

“But I can’t make you fall in love with him,” Dad says plainly. “Just answer the text. Make friends for once in your life. You’ve already made a couple of them and it hasn’t killed you.”

Fine.

I’m sorry, we’re probably bugging you when you’re busy with family, Jess wrote.

Pels worries at her lip, carefully typing out her answer. No, it’s okay. Dad’s bugging me, but he does that all the time. Mom actually made me drive my sister to gymnastics, and I’m stuck waiting around for her. I’m in a park, and it’s cold, but I’ve got really good coffee.

She holds up the cup in one hand, snapping a picture of it with the park in the background, then sends it before she can rethink it.

Oh it’s so pretty there! You must love getting to go home. We’re just hanging out in the Quad. Tony and Tanner and Luca aren’t used to the snow, so even though there’s only a little, it’s fun to watch them.

Jess’s text has a picture attached of three people Pels doesn’t recognize at all. One is one his back making a snow angel out of a dusting of snow. The other has his arm wrapped around Ángel and is glowering, while the third is on his knees, packing a tiny snowball.

Tony is Ángel’s soulmate. I think he’s a little possessive. Tanner is Hayley’s soulmate, and I think Luca is one of his best friends. Tanner is also Ángel’s best friend. And I think the soulmate thing for Tanner and Hayley is complicated but I’m not really asking questions. Tanner and Luca are staying with Hayley for spring break.

Tony is why I’m sexiled, Shane adds after Jess’s long text.

He says that like he doesn’t crash in my room half the time anyway, Jess adds, with a laughter emoji.

Shane sends several middle finger emojis.

Aren’t you guys together right now? Pels asks. Can’t you give her the finger in person?

Jess sends a series of different laughter emojis, almost filling Pels’s screen. That sounds so wrong out of context.

What?

Oh.

I didn’t mean that, Pels types slowly, thinking twice before she finally sends it.

I’m not her type anyway, Shane sends.

I like girls, Jess sends. I’ve never really had a crush on a guy.

Neither have I, Shane adds.

Pels giggles, surprising herself. I’ve never really had a crush on anyone, she admits. I almost did, once, then I moved. We move a lot. This place isn’t really home. It’s just where the current house is.

Oh wow, that’s really sad.

Pels stares at Jess’s text, her phone cradled in her hands. She’s always been angry about moving. Frustrated. She’s not sure she remembers how to feel sad about it. It’s just life, she replies. There isn’t really time to cry about it.

It looks like Jess is typing and deleting something several times. Shane sends a picture of Jess sitting cross-legged on the ground in the Quad, frosted leaves still scattered across the grass around her. Pels can see the puff of air lingering in the air after Jess exhaled, her nose and fingers red in the cold.

You should get a place off campus, Jess finally says. So you can have a place that’s yours for three years while you finish at PHU. Because you’ll be here for a while.

Just being in the same city for that long is new to me, Pels says.

Well, you get to keep us at least until we graduate, Shane says. So we can be friends.

You make it sound so easy.

It is that easy, Jess assures her. How long until you have to pick up your sister?

Pels checks her watch, not sure how long she’s already wasted. Somehow it’s already eleven, and that surprises her that time has passed so quickly. She looks around for Dad, but he seems to have disappeared for the moment, leaving her to her texting and coffee. I should probably hit the road in about a half hour. I have to drive back to where I left her.

I think we can keep up the distractions for a half hour, Jess assures her. So, let me tell you this story about orientation during our freshman year….

It’s weird, but not a bad kind of weird. What’s odd is how easy they make it, how simple it is to just listen to them talk, and sometimes say something back, and how they never make her feel truly awkward. It’s okay. And Pels can deal with that.

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[eleventhdoctorsangel]

You should be scared of me

Summary: Dad always seem to be adopting boys who reminds him of himself when he was a kid. The first boy he adopted was Dick Grayson. He became my best friend. We were attached at the hip even though he was older than me. After he left I became lonely again. I was alone for a year then dad adopted another boy. Jason Todd.

A/n: so here is the sneak peek to see if people want to read this. If so it would have to wait till season 2 comes out to dvd since that is where I wanted to start. Season 2 comes out March 3 so not that long of a wait besides I don't think it will take long for me to watch the season. 

I rushed out of Titans tower. I just walked in on Jason and Rose kissing. Neither of the two saw me. I was stupid enough to think that he actually cared about me but I guess I was wrong. No one saw me running out. I guess that is had to be a good thing no one stopping me from going back home to dad. I left my phone in the tower and I didn’t want to go back in there to get it so I would have to call dad later. I walked out of the building and started to walked down the street when I noticed that this van driving slowly behind me. The windows were darken out so I couldn’t see who was driving the van. But whoever was driving seem to be driving to slowly. Then it dawn upon that they were probably following me. I knew that it would be smart if I went back to the tower to make sure nothing happened. I turn around but that’s when the van stopped and the side door swung opened. A guy around my age jumped out. He had burns covering part of his face. He had some sort of weapon in his hand. I felt my eyes widen. I made a run for it but that’s when I felt electricity run though my body and then it all went black.

No one’s POV

Lonnie smirked to himself as he caught the daughter of Bruce Wayne before she hit the ground with one arm. He dragged her back to the van quickly before anyone would noticed. More importantly those stupid titans. Lonnie tossed his weapon in the van. Lonnie pick up the Wayne girl and gently put her in the van. He put zip ties on her wrists and ankles to keep her from moving around too much. Where were those titans. They never seem to leave her side more importantly that new robin. He always thought that those two were attached at the hip but here she was alone. “If those titans think I’ll give you back they are mistaken.” Lonnie said as he climbed in the van closing the door sitting by her. Lonnie moved some hair that had fallen in y/n face. They drove out of the city and got as far away as they could. Once they got to their hide out Lonnie looked at y/n to make sure she was still out cold. She still was. Lonnie got out then grabbed her by the ankles dragging her to the edge of the van to make it easier to grab her. He picked her up carrying her inside. He walked over to two columns where he planned to tie her up. He gently sat her on the ground as he started to set everything up. He got the restraints on the columns and went to cut to zip ties around y/n wrist and put them in the restraints. Then he cut the zip ties from around her ankles. It was around this time when she started to stir.

End of no one’s POV

My head was pounding. I felt like I was hit by a bus but I was shocked. “Well look who decided to wake up.” I heard a voice say. I look and saw the guy from earlier. He looked familiar but I couldn’t remember where I’ve seen him. “Who are you?” I asked. “Well I’m hurt that you don’t remember me y/n.” He said as he walked towards me. “I’ve never seen you before in my life.” I said. He put his hand on my cheek I tried to pull back but he grabbed my head. “I wonder if those friends of yours have noticed that you’re gone yet.” He said. “Why me? Let me guess because I’m Bruce Wayne’s daughter or because I’m close with robin.” I said. “What if the reason I took you is because I like you.” He said. “Well I would say that I don’t believe you.” I said. He let out a laugh. “Smart and beautiful now what did I do to deserve you.” He said as he got closer to me. “Um you shocked and kidnapped me.” I said. “Why don’t we video chat with those friends of yours.” He said. He walked away to possibly get a camera. That when it finally dawned upon me on who this was Lonnie Machin also known as Anarky. I just hope anyone has noticed that I was gone and started to look for me. Because I have no idea what was going to happen to me if they didn’t.

[hopewritcs]

the prodigal sister. seven.

pairing: familial byers fam x reader, romantic paring tbd

word count: 3.3k

summary: y/n is the middle sibling of the byers brothers. she’s just ten months younger than jonathan, making the pair “irish twins”. except when her father and mother got divorced, lonnie got custody of y/n and took her away from the rest of the family.

notes: chapter SEVEN YES HELLO ! so this fic is probably going to follow a somewhat au of season three as i get closer to that point, cause in the timeline for tps we’re in february right now.  i haven’t decided how much of the canon events of s3 i’m going to keep, or how long this fic will wind up being because though i have it plotted out roughly, i started this before we had a season 3 to work with.  so i’m doing the ideas i had and attempting to bring it back to canon someways too.  

other chapters: masterlist

tps tag list: @irreleventmoonchild, @rockyrocket15, @the-fae-child, @bucky4cap45, @pinklyrium,@girlycakepops, @qtmeryr, @noodlebread303,@virtualsheepeat,@acidrain707, @trashblackrainbow, @sadhwstudent, @unprofessional-inhumanbeing, @laneygthememequeen, @wanna-be-idle, @smh-writings,  @httpakasha, @jdogjdyke, @potter-thinking, @svelby-g, @a-dorky-book-keeper,  @and-drew-101 ( if you wanna be added to the tag list just let me know ! )

The following school day was going by slowly for everyone, or at least that’s how it seemed.  Y/N felt like that one Monday morning in particular had gone on for at least a whole day, and she was only halfway through her history class.  There was still a lot of time to kill before the lunch bell would ring and she was lazily taking notes and not even really paying much attention to what was going on in the classroom.  

Tapping her foot against the floor in the classroom, her hand holding the pencil was much more interested in making small doodles over the notebook paper than actually taking any notes.  Y/N would have to ask someone for their notes another time.  

She should have been sleeping better, but the adjustment from the couch to her new bed had proven difficult to get used to.  Maybe it was because she was used to the dormitory beds and having a roommate, and while being in a room of her own brought a sense of security and calm it also took away all the background noises of the house in general.  When she’d been sleeping on the couch Y/N could hear doors opening and closing in the middle of the night and she was grounded in the small reminder from those noise that she was home.  

But sleeping in her own room, with the door closed, the sounds of everything else around the house ceased to lull her to sleep and Y/N was struggling to adapt to the silence her own room proved to have.  

If she didn’t get out of the classroom and walk around or something she was surely going to fall asleep on her desk, mid-doodle of a flower on the page and no notes.  And that wasn’t the impression she wanted to leave on the class, especially when she’d not been at the school for too long.  

Excusing herself from the class had been an easy one, she’d feigned a headache and left the room for the nurse’s office.  Her backpack was slung over one shoulder as she made her way past the front office unnoticed.  Thankfully, the secretary had been too busy on the phone and had her head turned toward the ashtray on the counter, lighting up a cigarette with her free hand.  Y/N was grateful and quickly walked past, going outside.  

She took in a deep breath once she was outside, looking around at the cars parked in the lot.  Unfortunately even if Y/N was outside, she didn’t have a way to leave the school.  Joyce had taken the car to work after dropping the kids off at the school that morning, leaving Y/N with no way to escape the school grounds.  Not that Hawkins was a big town and she couldn’t walk somewhere she would want to go from the high school, but it was a little too cold for her to actually do that.  

“Skipping class Byers?”  

She turned her head towards the voice and found Billy leaning against the side of the school building with a lit cigarette dangling out of his mouth.  For the winter morning, Billy wasn’t wearing anything more than a denim jacket, left open and his button up shirt underneath had the top four buttons undone.  

“Aren’t you cold Hargrove?”  Y/N replied, shaking her head as she descended the staircase and walked over to where he stood.  Unfortunately, she didn’t have her sweater with her since she’d put it in her locker that morning when she got to school, not foreseeing leaving her class early.  She leaned up against the wall, dropping her backpack to the patch of grass that wasn’t covered in the melting snow and turned to look at Billy.  

“Aren’t you?”  he asked, waving a hand at Y/N and looking her up and down.  

She shook her head, “Nah, you forget that I’m from here and used to the cold.”  Sure, her sweater would have made her a bit warmer, but the short sleeved shirt didn’t really bother her in this weather.  If it were actually cold enough to snow, then maybe.  Or if she’d grown up someplace warmer, maybe it would have bothered her to stand outside without “appropriate” winter clothes.  But the chill, the slight kick in the wind causing moving her hair around and the fabric of her shirt to bellow slightly, did nothing but remind Y/N that she was home.  

“Right.”  Billy said, taking a long drag of his cigarette and letting the air blow out afterwards.  His head rested comfortably against the school building and his eyes lulled half closed as he looked out into the parking lot.  

This was how most of their interactions went back in California.  A couple lines of chatter bookended long stretches of silence.  But it was comfortable, Y/N had never felt pressure to fill the silence when she was with Billy--neither of them did.  With other people there could be a bit of anxiety if there wasn’t a constant conversation, but Y/N understood that she didn’t need to fill the air with unnecessary chatter.   Though there had been a couple of times when they had longer conversations, which had been late night chats during secret parties at the boarding school or after game parties, but they were few and far between.  

“What class are you skipping?”  they both asked after a long stretch, and it made Y/N laugh softly and she could see the tug of a smile pulling at Billy’s lips.  

“History.”  she replied.  

“Math, I think,” was Billy’s reply which made Y/N raise her eyebrows at him.  He shrugged his shoulders lightly as he answered the silent question, “I’ve been out here for a while.”  

“Do you even go to class?”  

“I go to athletics.”  

“That doesn’t count as a class, it’s an elective.”  Y/N scoffed out an airy laugh as she pushed herself off of the school building and stood in front of Billy.  “Aren’t you supposed to graduate this year?”  

“Supposed to do a lot of things.”  Billy said, tossing his finished cigarette down on the ground and stomping it out. 

With that motion Billy effectively ended that part of the conversation, huffing out a breath of air as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.  He didn’t say anything else for a while and Y/N didn’t push the conversation even if she had a couple of questions that she wanted to ask.  

The next couple of days Y/N had been looking out for Billy.  The conversation stuck in her head and she wanted to know what he meant by it.  But every time she saw Billy over the school days he was either with the idiot she’d punched the first day she’d been at school ( who always looked at her like she was a bad stink he couldn’t escape ) or he was flocked by girls who clearly wanted to get in his pants.  She could tell that he wasn’t particularly interested in the conversations she could catch between him and some of the girls--most of them either talked about the upcoming Valentine’s Dance the school was throwing, Tina’s After Valentine’s Party, or something like going shopping.  Y/N caught him rolling his eyes a couple of times when she’d overhear the conversations and it almost made her laugh.  

She did however spend her study hall period with Steve every day.  Whoever got to the library first would pick out a table for the two of them and they would speak quietly while they worked.  They mostly kept up the conversation because Steve couldn’t keep his mouth shut even if he was studying.  At first, especially given their first study hall period together, Y/N was annoyed and found herself almost leaving the table and finding some place new to sit.  

But she never did.  

It was while they both did homework or studied for tests that Y/N got to know Steve.  She learned about his home life ( “My parents are gone a lot.  Dad’s office is in the city and Mom visits him most weekends.” ) and his old habits ( “Used to be on the basketball team until everything.  I kinda forgot about college applications with all the bullshit, so I’m looking for a summer job now.” )  and the fact that Dustin had gotten him interested in Star Wars ( “That shithead wouldn’t stop talking about it so I roped myself into a marathon with him and I have to say I don’t hate it.  But don’t tell him that.” ).  

She had to admit, Steve Harrington was quickly becoming one of her favorite people in Hawkins.  

She looked forward to their study hall period about as much as she looked forward to drama with Robin.  Robin, who had no idea about the supernatural element Hawkins had, was definitely becoming Y/N’s best friend.  Robin may have been in the same grade as Billy and Steve, so the pair didn’t have any other classes together except for their drama elective and their lunch period, but Robin had come to join the lunch table with Y/N, Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve.  Robin seemed to have a resentment for Steve that Y/N didn’t understand and quietly noted how Robin wouldn’t speak when Steve spoke and focused more on Y/N or even Jonathan and sometimes Nancy.  

Y/N made a quiet note to ask Robin about that the next time they were hanging out outside of the school walls where no one would interrupt them.  Or overhear it, if it was something bad.  

“So is anyone going to the Valentine’s Day parties?”  Robin asked at the lunch table, looking up from the school bought lunch tray and shrugging her shoulders.  She was trying to include everyone in the conversation, which Y/N appreciated.  She still hadn’t had the chance to ask Robin why she seemed to dislike Steve.  

“Oh, Jonathan’s taking me to the drive in!”  Nancy said with a giddy smile, giving Jonathan’s arm a light squeeze when she looked at him.  “And then we’re having that party for Y/N this weekend.”  

Nancy had said it so casually that Y/N could have brushed it off.  But she watched as both her brother and Steve hung their heads and sighed at Nancy’s comment and how the brunette was looking between the two of them with a confused what did i do expression on her face.  

“Party for Y/N?”  Robin asked before Y/N got the chance to do so.  

Jonathan muttered something quietly to Nancy that, if Y/N heard it correctly, sounded a lot like “Good going Nance.”  Then he turned to face the rest of the group.  “I was going to invite you later today, Robin.”  Y/N caught Steve shooting a glare at Nancy, who had finally realized her misstep as she gasped and muttered a soft apology under her breath.  “It’s Y/N’s birthday the day after Valentine’s, so we’re having a party at the house for her.  It was supposed to be a surprise.”  

“I’m so sorry, Y/N!”  Nancy said with widened eyes, shaking her head.  

“It’s okay, Nance.”  Y/N replied with a shrug of her shoulders, taking a sip from her can of new coke.  “I mean, I love how everyone thinks it was a surprise.  Mom can’t hold a surprise party to save her life.  You think I didn’t notice the decorations she’d picked up from Melvald’s after her last shift?”  She laughed at the comment, rolling her eyes.  She loved her family, for the first time in a lot of years she was genuinely excited to celebrate her birthday ( for the first time she was actually having a party, other than the year prior where Natasha had thrown a quick dorm party with some store bought cake the girls had all chipped in for ).  

She watched as Jonathan deflated, he hadn’t realized she’d seen the decorations before he’d been able to help their mother hide them in the back closet.  After a couple of moments he nodded his head.  “We thought it was a good idea.”  

Y/N put her hand on her brother’s shoulder as she grinned, “It’s such a good idea.  I’m gonna love whatever the surprise party is, even if it’s not exactly a surprise!”  

And with that comment the conversation was dropped, but Robin did happily agree that she would be there.  

It was Wednesday, the day before Valentine’s Day, and Y/N found herself leaving her first class of the morning halfway through.  It was a big class and the teacher rarely paid attention when he was there ( there was a substitute today, who seemed more interested in primping her hair than the class ) so it was an easy one for her to sneak out the back door of.  

She went outside and sunk down on the front steps, taking a breath.  Everyone in the class with the sub had been talking about their Valentine’s plans and Y/N just didn’t want to listen to it all.  Maybe if the class had been doing some actual work she would have stayed, but it didn’t matter.  Which is what she told herself when she looked up into the parking lot.  

“Y’know, all that time I knew you, I really thought you were a class going goody goody.”  

Y/N turned her head to look at Billy when he announced himself as he walked over to her and took a step beside her on the school’s steps.  

“Apparently I was wrong.”  

She ignored his comment and looked at him, “Did you just get here?  The school bell rang like fifteen minutes ago?  Oh, that’s right.  You only go to athletics.”  Y/N laughed.  

Billy chuckled at her comment, pulling his pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket and tapping it to get one out.  “I don’t only go there.  But if i did, it’s ’cause it’s the only one that ain’t boring.”  

“It’s an elective, it’s not supposed to be boring.”  

“And what elective are you taking?”

“Drama.”  Which caused Billy to laugh quickly as he eyed her.  She knew they’d talked about this before--how she loved theater but hated acting in it.  Y/N always called herself a behind the scenes personality.  “Don’t laugh at me, jock,” she nudged his arm with her own as she let out a small chuckle, “I’m not on stage, there’s like twenty other people in the room.”  

“Sounds like Hawkins is changing you.”  Billy commented.  

“I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”  

The conversation lulled between them into a competitive silence for a couple of moments as Y/N’s comment hung in the air between the pair.  Billy’s gaze almost dared her to look away and her’s was screaming prove me wrong.  

Neither of them budged or spoke again for a couple of moments.  The competitive air soon dissipated and became the same comfortable air they’d both grown to know in conversation.  They looked away from each other, Y/N opening up her backpack and Billy leaning back against the stairs and looking up at the sky.  After a while the pair started talking again.  

“Did you see the banner they put up for the Valentine’s Dance?”  Y/N asked, talking about the bright pink and heard filled banner that hung right in the entry way for the school.  It even had a countdown until the dance and a dangling heart that reminded everyone don’t forget to buy a rose for your Valentine! secret admirers welcomed!  

Billy snorted, turning his head to look at her.  “It’s hard to miss.”  

Y/N nodded.  “You going?”  

Billy puffed out some air and shook his head, “Valentine’s Day isn’t my thing.”

“I’d say I’m shocked but.”  And Y/N trailed off with a chuckle, rolling her eyes at his comment.  Even if she didn’t know him well, she could tell it wasn’t his “thing”--he didn’t seem like the celebrating holidays or romance type.  “Does that mean you didn’t say yes to any of those girls I saw you talking with about the parties?”  

“Why, do you wanna be my special valentine, Y/N?”  Billy asked, looking up at her from under his eyelashes that he batted at her.  He was egging her on and she could tell, but she couldn’t help the flush of heat pricking her cheeks at his words.  

“Uh, no thank you.  I’ve got plans of my own.”  

“What?  Babysitting?”  

“No.”  Y/N grumbled, crossing her arms as she looked out at the parking lot before turning her gaze back on her friend sitting beside her.  She could tell he didn’t really believe her.  “Seriously, no.  It’s my birthday so my family and everyone’s throwing me a surprise party this weekend.”  

“Is it a surprise if you know about it?”  

“I’m going to pretend to be shocked for my mom, she worked hard for the party since it’s the first one I’ve been home for in years.”  Y/N nodded her head and looked over at Billy.  She couldn’t tell if he said anything else or if he was just moving the dimming cigarette around ( he had in fact muttered something under his breath along the lines of “must be nice” and he appreciated that she didn’t comment on it ) so she continued anyway with a light tap on his shoulder.  “You should come by.  It’s Saturday at like five or something.”  

“Don’t think they’d appreciate it if I showed up.”  

“It’s my party and I can invite whoever I want.”

The conversation lulled once more as Billy tossed the cigarette down on the ground and lit up another.  She didn’t get an answer from him, and she almost wanted to ask again.  Which Y/N would have, if she didn’t think that Billy would make a sarcastic comment about her inviting him to the party.  

So she let it slide and they fell back into a nice silence with a couple of comments every couple of minutes.  The pair could hear the bell ring in the background, but neither of them moved to go back inside the building at any point.  

Which was something that Billy did comment on, “Aren’t you missing class?”

“Aren’t you?”  Y/N hummed her response, tapping the book in her lap that she was reading for her English class.  

It had gotten cold sometime in the point they’d been outside, and she was sure the lunch bell was going to ring soon even if she wasn’t sure how long they’d been outside.  It was definitely more than the first period, since she’d seen a couple of classes going outside to run the track.  Y/N had been rubbing her hands against her arms for a short while now, the cold air getting to her after being outside this whole time.  

“I thought you midwesterners had immunity to the cold.  Ain’t that what you told me?”  Billy laughed at her motion.  Y/N turned her head to look at Billy, and she was about to come back with a witty response ( she’d had one on the tip of her tongue ) when he shrugged off his denim jacket and put it on her shoulders.  

The bell rang.  

“Don’t say I never gave you nothin’.”  

And with that, Y/N watched Billy get up and walk down toward the school’s fields where she assumed he would be meeting his friends for lunch.  He didn’t look back at her, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his retreating figure, his curly hair moving in the breeze as she pulled her arms through the jacket he’d left her with.  

Y/N ignored whatever she thought, and wondered ( dared to hope, even ) if she’d be seeing Billy at her party that weekend.  

[basileafpitch]

Literally Every She Ra Season Five Spoiler aka Things I’ll never shut up about -

Adora and her mighty staff

“For the Honour of— ooooohhhhh”

Prime serving jello

Prime instantly calling Catra out on her gay yearning

Everyone overdramatically entering Adora’s tent while she is trying to rest

Mermista leading a princess mission

Glimmer and Catra laughing about Adora’s sleep fighting

More Baby Catra and Adora flashbacks aka me crying

Entrapta’s surprise space walk

“Is this a good laugh or a bad laugh? Well the longer it goes on the more I think it’s a bad laugh…”

Adora’s pony tail hole in her space suit

Bow’s ab window in his space suit

God (Catra) save the Queen

The iconic Star siblings

Bow needing time to come to terms with his feelings about Glimmers actions

Scorpia “I’m great at keeping secrets!”

Then proceeds to drop the bomb “Like one time Kyle told me he had a crush on Rogeli— uhh, nevermind. I didn’t say anything. What? Anyways-”

Swift Wind still holding out hope for She Ra because he’s the smartest member of the rebellion obviously

Bow and Glimmer make up

“Ready to do something that probably won’t work?” “Always”

Purified Catra reveal

Will I get over the short hair look? Never. Never ever.

Wrong Hordak aka the love of my life

Micah and Frosta <3

The entirety of Perils of Peekablue

Like there’s no bad part

First off Catra’s entrance with the new ‘fit

And the sitting on Adora’s lap

Secondly

The undercover outfits? Fuckin smashing. Smexy. Just *chefs kiss*

Mermista admitting she set a boat on fire because she just wanted to see how it felt

Perfuma and Scoria ;-;

Scorpia’s performance like heLLO????

My wife

Double Trouble I would kill for you

Double Trouble calling Sea Hawk “hot stuff”

Again my wife Scorpia

Catra’s space suit with the ears

Bow loving how cute she is

Her baby sneeze

Melog imprinting on mommy Catra

Wrong Hordak’s existential crisis

Spinerella and Netossa. That’s it thats the post

Oh shit I forgot ice ball earlier

Netossa outing everyone’s weaknesses

Mostly fire

Bow’s dads leaving a note with a hidden message that is a dad joke

And then Bow’s dads literally save the universe by discovering the failsafe

“We don’t throw tanks at our friends!”

Scorpia purposefully missing Perfuma and Adora :,)

Catra “why did I get the water princess”

Perfuma talkin to Catra about friendship and love and it not being a weakness and then the looks at Adora

Perfuma been knew

Swift Wind helping Entrapta find data even though it’s literally a horribly dangerous plan

Catra running into fire for adora

The Eyebrows Adora wtf

Ok getting to the grande finale here

First of all

Everything made me cry in these last two episodes

First off Melog trying to get Catra to go back to Adora bc They Know

Bow serenading everyone with his music and making swifty sleepy

Adora’s Catra flashes on their way to the heart

Bow and Glimmers ilys and the forehead kiss had me floored and sobbing what the fuck

Mara and Adora She Ras having the deep convos

Sea Hawk distracting Mermista was so adorable and soft

Glimmer my strong baby fighting Micah and realizing her strength

Bow saving everyone chipped

Bow and Scorpia’s hug (+ Melog)

Bow’s message to the universe

And now

Finally

We see Kyle and Lonnie and Rogelio

Only for a second which broke my heart but at least we know they’re okay :,,,,)

aND ROGELIO HOLDING GARGOYLE SON IN A BABY CARRIER

ARE WE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS

LIKE THE THREE OF THESE GUYS WERE LEAVING WHEN THEY SAW SCORPIA IN SEASON FOUR BUT ONE OF THEM HAD TO BE LIKE “hold up we Have to go back for Gargoyle Son he is all alone”

Give me a spin-off series or give me death

Bow’s dads must be so proud

Of him not of Rogelio and Gargoyle Son

Though I’m sure they’d be proud of them too

Catra fight the worm octopus

No SHADOW WEAVER fight the worm octopus

Finally giving Catra the recognition she deserves with the “I’m proud of you”

That closure

Not so sad for Shadow Weaver but sad for the girls

Hordak taking that jump and trying to save the day!!

He tried his best and that’s what matters

“He a little confused but he got the spirit”

Catra will not leave Adora even if they both die

“Pls don’t both die” said me

The final fight!

We get to see our fave Huntara make an appearance yes queen

Also baby Double Trouble again slaying the game

Everyone kicking ass taking names

Ok

Sigh

The future dream

I can’t deny I sobbed

FIRST OF ALL

Catra look

Glimmer look esp the hair

Bow my boy lookin hot af like damn son

They’re all adorable together I can’t

And finally

The I love yous

Let’s recap shall we

Dramatic lights

Reaching hands

Crying a lot

“Don’t you get it? I love you! I always have. So please, just this once, stay!”

I’m crying right now while typing not gonna lie

“You love me?”

“You’re such an idiot”

“I love you too”

Bet you didn’t see that coming Catra

But seriously!!! For years, for ever, Catra has thought this was one sided. She thought the feelings were just from her because she thought Adora hated her. But then she admitted she never hated her. And then they worked together. And then the admitted love. It’s always been there, always been mutual

And finally

The slow burn is over

We cry

They kiss

The universe changes

Literally lesbians kiss rainbow lights universe saved

Coincidence? No

The gays really do be winning guys

She Ra the pretty flower maker

Big Space Tree

Everyone is happy!

Except for our boy Prime

F in the chat

Entrapta and Hordak :,)

Mermista “so are we all just, like, okay with this?”

Yes yes we are hun

Catra and Scorpia reunited and happy cant help but to stan

Raz! So happy :,,,,,)

The Forehead Touch

And Glimmer and Bow in the background giggling because they are the biggest Catradora stans

The best friend squad ;—;

Everyone is adorable and happy and kissy and huggy and I sob forever

One last road trip? Hell yeah

Fin