#ri says the less serious things. the tag | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sleepymccoy · 4 years ago

Text

I call this one Monsieur and Difficult Topics

It's really very quiet at work and I have that writing bug

2000-ish words

The waiter droned on, chin up and eyes down, the perfect example of French snootiness. Aziraphale could detect the slight Birmingham twang that betrayed the posh man's un-Frenchness.

The waiter, whose name tag simply read Monsieur, brandished the drinks menu like he'd magicked flowers from a pen. "And if you and your friend would like to see-"

Crowley looked up, the movement of it a sudden change from his up-to-now exasperation. "We're not friends," he grunted.

A thread of panic ran up Aziraphale's spine, but he clamped down on it with a practiced technique before it squeezed his heart.

"Pardon me," Monsieur said, affecting his voice to make his lack of care almost tangible. "Your associ-"

"What?" Aziraphale breathed, staring at Crowley closely.

Crowley had been craning his neck slightly to try and read the wine list Monsieur was holding, but at Aziraphale's word he stopped and looked at him closely. He was smiling, unbothered, with his eyebrows raised in question.

Aziraphale's heart thudded. Were they not friends? Crowley seemed so comfortable with it.

Monsieur sighed. "The drinks menu," he snapped and dropped the menu on the table without even the slightest flourish.

Aziraphale ignored his departure, instead watching Crowley for clues. Crowley picked up the drinks menu and settled back, scanning over the list.

"Crowley," Aziraphale entreated.

Crowley's eyes snapped to him, eyebrows furrowing in. "What?"

Aziraphale ran his thumb over his pants leg, focusing on the texture in the hopes that the small distraction might calm him. "What do you mean we're not-"

Crowley made a noise, a disrespectful, vowel heavy sound. "Ach, nothing, just." He stopped and frowned, leaning his elbows on the table to catch Aziraphale's eyes over his glasses. He wielded those like a shield, tipping them open to make himself vulnerable or to deliver a stunning blow. Or, many times, both. "Well, you said, didn't you?"

It settled sickly in Aziraphale. "Oh, Lord, I did, didn't I?"

Crowley smiled and his glasses slid back up his nose with barely a shift from him. "All good." He sat back, waving a hand casually as he picked the drinks menu up again. "You go back and forth, we can be not-friends for a bit."

Aziraphale felt a certainty in him that there was no fixing this, no way he could undo his words without going too far the other way and putting them both at risk. He hated his confines sometimes, this inability to be kind how he wanted to.

He sat, slightly shocked at himself for thinking his hate so openly. Then he realised he likely had been quite open about his hate and it bore no real threat anymore. And who knows how blatant Crowley had been at his trial, Aziraphale had chosen a very holier-than-thou approach in Crowley's.

"I'm thinking Pepperjack," Crowley mused.

"Sounds ace," Aziraphale said absently, still lost in thought.

As he saw the freedom in his emotions, he also found a freedom in his words that logically followed. There was no reason left to be quiet. He could offend Crowley, of course, but that was more a reason to be honest and careful than it was to remain secretive.

He could start, at least. Begin a conversation with truth that may not be fully explored yet, but at least wasn't unreachable.

It was a very freeing decision, in the kind of way an untethered fall from a tall height was freeing.

"I want to be your friend, Crowley."

"Oh," Crowley said. Aziraphale was feeling very fond at the moment, but even so Crowley came across as quite dumb. "Well, that's, ah, quicker than I-"

"Your closest friend," Aziraphale interrupted, realising that Crowley wasn't going to say anything useful and could derail his whole train of thought if he was allowed to continue. "I want to be someone you trust, someone you come to when you need or want anything."

Crowley was staring now, still quite dumbly but at least taking him seriously.

"I don't say this and expect you to- to obey or anything," Aziraphale continued. He found now that Crowley was focusing on him that he couldn't look, and so instead watched his hands as they nervously fiddled without his effort. "But more that, well, I've said an awful lot of conflicting things and I hope you hear the truth in this confession."

Crowley drew in a sharp breath at that, but still Aziraphale didn't look up.

"And at least this may clear up any confusion," Aziraphale said all in a rush.

"Well," Crowley said after a few moments of silence. "That's new."

He'd gone too far, he'd meant to be gentler about it. Come around to more sincere truths later. "I can see many reasons for you not to trust me, though," Aziraphale said, not backtracking exactly, but giving Crowley an easy out.

Aziraphale chuckled, forcing the less serious sound and sighing as it sounded false even to him. He looked up at Crowley, whose glasses were wedged so tightly on his face his skin was going slightly white where they pressed.

"I realise I may be looking ahead a little," Aziraphale mumbled.

"I trust you," Crowley whispered. The words felt lost or unwilling. "I know you too well to mistrust you."

There was a meaning in that that Aziraphale caught. He was trusted on his past behaviour, trusted to be as he always was. His moments of cruelty and disregard would not be a shock, they were simply par for the course, another thing he could be relied upon to be. He may also be kind and happy and easy to tempt, but he would also be horrible.

Aziraphale didn't want to be trusted like that, although he knew it was fair. Crowley had no reason to assume a change, and he wouldn't demand a trust he hadn't earned. But still. A first step couldn't hurt.

"Do you know I won't hurt you again?" Aziraphale said softly.

"Oh," Crowley said, his tone betraying nothing.

But Aziraphale knew a rejection when he heard it. He'd been refused so few times by Crowley, the dynamic was so foreign to him as to be unmistakable. "That's okay," Aziraphale said quickly. He looked up and saw his suspicions confirmed. Crowley sat back in his chair, looking uncomfortably to the side, his hand flexed on the table in stress.

Crowley cleared his throat, still looking off at the window. He tilted his head and Aziraphale saw his eyes were wide. "I'm sorry I said we weren't friends-" Crowley said slowly.

Aziraphale stood.

Crowley skittered back reflexively, sitting straight in his chair. "Oh shit," he hissed.

"I'm sorry, Crowley," Aziraphale said forcibly. "We've been friends for thousands of years, and we will be for many more."

"I said the wrong thing, huh?" Crowley asked weakly.

"No, dear," Aziraphale sighed. He rested on his hands leaning across the small table. Crowley met his gaze, his eyes visible behind his shades from this nearness. His pupils were closer to round than slitted.

"I know- I know why I said it," Aziraphale continued with no real plan for what he was to say, "and I'd rather not give the moment any more time but be assured I was lying-"

The absurd waiter sidled into Aziraphale's vision, standing behind Crowley. He had a finger raised and was beginning to speak. Aziraphale felt an onslaught of offence at being so interrupted.

"We will need another moment, thank you," Aziraphale snapped. Monsieur withered, his finger curling in pitifully. He backed off.

"My dear," Aziraphale said. He stepped around the table, edging closer to Crowley, careful to not hem him in. There would be no trapping. Crowley's amused smile from watching the waiter scurry off faded as Aziraphale drew towards him.

"My friend," Aziraphale tried gently. Crowley didn't react, so it seemed friend was allowed, but not welcome. Aziraphale sighed and accepted. He ought to wrap this conversation up else it fall entirely out of his control. "I have been cruel to you because my honesty would have done us both too much harm, but now we're-" He opened his arms and smiled. "We're loose in the world, dear. Thanks to you."

Crowley crossed his legs, facing Aziraphale but somehow more closed off from him. "You did your fair share," he mumbled.

"I had it pretty easy."

Crowley's foot tapped in the air, his discomfort was palpable. "Sit down would you, you're spooking the staff," he admonished.

Aziraphale sat. Crowley's foot continued to jump around, shaking his whole body nervously.

"You like spooky," Aziraphale said, trying all too hard to break the mood.

Crowley flashed a smile at him, but it soon dropped. He returned to frowning at his empty plate and biting his lip.

The lip biting was new. Not new in terms of their lives together, Crowley had certainly bitten his lip before, often before saying something slightly risky, but new in terms of this conversation.

Things clearly weren't over yet, spooky jokes aside. Crowley was gearing up to speak.

So Aziraphale sat and waited.

"Ach, while it's all tense like this-" Crowley said suddenly, then stopped and swallowed.

"Yes?" Aziraphale asked

"I've been-" His legs went still, his hand flexed once, then he frowned like he was furious, glaring down at his lap as Aziraphale had earlier. "I've manipulated you and ignored your refusals these years, you should know I won't anymore."

Aziraphale was rather saddened by that. Crowley had attempted to manipulate him, yes, but Aziraphale’s refusals had always been lies. It was a complicated past, very little truth but a good deal of kindness behind the lies.

"You can doubt me-" Crowley snapped. Then he winced and shook his head tightly. "You should. You should."

"Oh, it is messy, isn't it?" Aziraphale sighed. For he did doubt Crowley, but he didn't want to.

"We've not been very good to each other," Crowley said through gritted teeth.

"We've not had the opportunity. Would you like to try?"

"Try how?"

"Well," Aziraphale said carefully. It occurred to him that it was important to have choice here. He must offer Crowley an escape, all too often Crowley did as he was asked and Aziraphale didn't want to risk that. "If you want to leave, I'll understand. But if not, then-"

"Back up, angel," Crowley interrupted,"why the fuck would I leave?"

Aziraphale's lip quivered, but he cut that out pretty fast. He could still control hi external appearance forcibly, if not his internal emotions. He thought of his point as he spoke it, unprepared to speak like this but doing so because Crowley wanted it.

"You've been aloof, and, yes, on occasion rude, Crowley. But I have been downright mean. I have taken your love and turned it against you so many times. I would understand if the thought of further effort exhausts you."

Crowley put his hands flat on the table, leaning forwards with bent elbows to glare up at Aziraphale from over his glasses. "I have done so much for you-"

"I know, and I'm grateful-"

"You think there's an end in sight for me? I'm here forever, angel, and I'm happy for it."

Aziraphale froze, the misery in him relaxing for just long enough for Crowley's words to make it through to him. And those words sounded a lot like a profession of love, a vow of some kind. A real thing.

Aziraphale's chest tightened, his face burned, and he felt dizzy. He smiled, hope filling him, completely sure he was blushing but not willing to spend a miracle stopping it. He put his face in his hands, half-heartedly hiding his doubtlessly red cheeks, and avoided meeting Crowley's eyes.

There was love between them. Beautiful and tentative. Unspoken but for Aziraphale's reference to it a minute ago.

"When I said love before I meant metaphorically," Aziraphale mumbled into his hands.

"No you didn't," Crowley said.

Aziraphale's insides lurched like he might be sick, but inside of writhing they fluttered. Butterflies, he thought ridiculously, that old adage withstands a test. "No, I didn't," he admitted.

"Good," Crowley said sharply. Aziraphale looked up and found Crowley resting on folded arms, plate pushed aside to allow him to lean close. They were still a good few feet apart, but it felt near. "I think I understand the trust thing you were banging on about."

Aziraphale lowered his hands. "Oh yes?"

Crowley knocked his head to the side casually. Aziraphale recognised the movement, it was one of his more practiced casual ticks. And on further inspection his keen posture was tense, his mouth set in a tight, uncomfortable line.

"Old trust out of date. New trust coming," Crowley said.

"That sounds right. Are you okay? You seem-"

"I can hear my fucking pulse," Crowley snarled.

Ah. Perhaps a bit too much. Aziraphale didn't feel entirely solid himself, it was all a bit overwhelming. And difficult.

"I think- yes, time for lunch," Aziraphale agreed, turning and waving Monsieur over.

#sleepy speaks #its a nice conversation #i like this #its a little bit exactly how aziraphale would expect it to ho really #but thats ok #sleepy writes #i really gotta get better about remembering that writes tag #good omens #good omens ficlet #ineffable husbands #crowley #aziraphale

680 notes · View notes

biaswreckingfics · 4 years ago

Text

No Limits: Bonus Chapter

Author: biaswreckingfics

Genre: Mafia AU - Warnings? Everything that goes on in a mafia au

Word Count: 1.5k

Previous Chapter

A few weeks had passed since EXO wiped the Baem off the face of the Earth, and things around the compound had definitely changed for the better. Everyone was less stressed out and less on edge, and it was a nice change from what you had grown used to. Ever since you came along, the men had been worried about the Baem. You've never known them in a world where the Baem weren't a problem, so it was fun to explore their more carefree personalities. That didn't mean, however, life had become all fun and games.

EXO's business nearly doubled when they eliminated the Baem. They picked up a lot of the Baem's old contacts since none of them wanted to risk working with a smaller, less experienced group. Of course, if EXO wasn't on everyone's radar before, which you were pretty sure they were, they definitely are now. They were one of the most powerful groups on this side of the hemisphere.

With the influx of business, Junmyeon had become buried in paperwork. He tried to say it was a nice change from blowing things up, but you knew he was two seconds away from throwing all of the paperwork in a pile and lighting it on fire. Minseok helped him with a lot of it, but he was often too busy helping Jongin train the new recruits.

Yes. New recruits.

After the success Jongdae and his old crew had in taking care of their districts the night the Baem were taken down, he threw out the idea of them possibly joining EXO. As it turns out, their old crew jumped at the opportunity to join. They were more than happy to help continue on Kyungsoo's legacy. They were a rowdy bunch, but they loved to share stories about Kyungsoo and Jongdae during their teenage years and embarrass the crap out of Jongdae. Plus, they got along with Jongin almost too well. Minseok often became exasperated by the bunch when the two were supposed to train them.

Everyone was beyond ecstatic that the Baem were no longer a threat. They felt like they were able to avenge their lost loved ones and come out on top in the end, but that didn't mean once everyone got home, everything was fine and dandy.

It took a couple of weeks for everyone to fall into a playful mood because there was one important member that was MIA at first, but once Sehun came home, everyone's spirits quickly lifted. You could see the change in him as soon as he came back, but whether that was due to his time with the Baem or losing Jaesuk, you weren't sure. You had very little doubts that both things played a significant role.

It took about a week before you could see Sehun becoming more and more relaxed and happy. Undoubtedly, it was partially due to Chanyeol and Yixing sticking by his side constantly and distracting him whenever his thoughts started to turn dark. The two men did everything in their power to help the youngest learn to cope and eventually accept the loss of not only Jaesuk but Kyungsoo as well since he had never had the chance to mourn him.

Sehun often came to you when he wanted a break from the two men or when he just wanted some peace and quiet. He knew he could come to you, and the two of you could talk about everything under the sun or nothing at all. It was comforting for him to be with someone he trusted and just exist, and you were grateful to be one of the people he could do that with.

While you did spend a lot of time with Sehun and the other men, the majority of your time was spent with Baekhyun. Your main source of comfort, calm, and happiness. Baekhyun no longer held himself back because of his fears. He made sure he told you he loved you every single day, especially if one of you were leaving the house and he did his absolute best to make you feel like the most special person on this planet. He had surprised you in the best possible way.

Admittedly, you had a more difficult time than you thought you would after killing one of the leaders. You had never taken someone's life before and while you didn't regret a single thing, it was still weird and unnerving to know you snuffed out someone's lifespan earlier than expected. You thought about their kids here and there, but the guys made sure to tell you that you shouldn't feel bad and often tried to get you to stop thinking about it.

Mostly, a small part of you was worried that you had caused future you problems by killing their fathers. What if you had created future monsters? Just like what was done to you and Junmyeon? You sought revenge for what was done to your parents, and you hoped with everything in you that they wouldn't continue the cycle.

This worry had caused you enough stress that Baekhyun had taken it into his own hands to actually plan the trip he had mentioned the day you attacked the Baem. Well, he semi-planned it and said, "the two of us will go wherever the wind takes us". He surprisingly got the okay from Junmyeon before you even knew it was happening and then, in the blink of an eye, you were getting ready to leave for a three-month-long trip to explore the world.

All that was left now was to say goodbye.

Of course, the was easier said than done, thanks to Sehun and Yixing literally refusing to let the two of you leave the house.

"You guys... we're coming back." Baekhyun sighs after five minutes of trying to get out the door. "It's not like we're going to stay away forever."

"No. You're leaving for too long. I won't allow it." Sehun stubbornly stands his ground.

Junmyeon walks over to the front door and shoos them away from it. "Come on. Come on. Let's let them go on their way."

"I want to go on a trip..." Jongin grumbles before shooting a glare at your brother. "I can't believe you're okay with this."

You smile at the oversized pouty babies in front of you. This was the infamous and widely feared EXO? Yixing literally looked like he was about to cry. "We'll be back in no time. Until then, how about you guys just don't blow up the city again."

When Jongin and Sehun looked away from you in the most suspicious way possible, your eyes immediately flashed over to Junmyeon, who had already narrowed his own at the two youngest. He opens his mouth to immediately scold them for whatever trouble they were about to get into before changing his mind.

"I'll deal with you two later. For now, you two," he points at you and Baekhyun, "have to get going, or you'll miss your flight."

After another round of hugs, you find yourself hugging your brother one last time. The moment was sweet, and you were happy until he ruined it when he pulled away from your embrace and pointed at you.

"Do not come back pregnant."

Your mouth falls open in shock, and you whack him in the arm while the men around you excitedly discuss what it would be like to have a little EXO baby running around the compound.

"I'm serious. I just barely got used to the idea of the two of you. We do not need a mini you running around here."

You feel Baekhyun's arm slide around your waist, and you look over to see him smiling mischievously at your brother.

"You're not ready to be an uncle yet?"

When Junmyeon looked like he was ready to knock Baekhyun out, Baekhyun laughs and relents. "Alright. Alright. We'll just make sure to get in a lot of practice for when you change your mind."

Before your brother could murder Baekhyun and ruin your trip, you push him towards the door. He fights you on it a little before finally letting you win the power struggle and opening the door, letting out a loud laugh thanks to Junmyeon's murderous expression.

When you hear Jongin lean over and ask Minseok, "He doesn't seriously think they haven't already been having sex right under his own roof, right?" You quickly wave goodbye to the guys and follow Baekhyun out the door.

As he stands on the porch waiting for you with a giant, happy smile lighting up his face, excitement floods you, and you can't wait to start your trip with Baekhyun and open this new chapter of your life. Who knows? Maybe someday you and Baekhyun will bring a mini you into this world but until then, you were going to live life to the fullest and start making some happy memories for once in your life.

Tagging: @knjkitten @kpopserene @multifandombxxch @tashaxvamp @kpop---scenarios @bhyunni @chanyeolismybaby @flaming-laboob @taetaeeyong @lilbitoflyssa @misstressporkchoppp @hoseok-wang @spiltkpop @ishas454 @depuis2mille @marovekian1 @ladylynae @abby8451 @lynniev @insta1010 @sawadabegum @avxngxrrogxrs @equesasprokishi @imstuckinafictionaluniverse @layisanangel @mongryong-the-corgi @overthelamebowz @lizbether01 @thatanonymousgirl-as14 @nothingbutadeadesceane @kim-ji-hyeons-world @suhappysuho @futuremrspcy @lovebuginlove @skylions-den @precious-seungwooya @softysuho @kuppyjiminie @blushinyouth @bat-shark-repellant @vickylamore @heartshapedenchiladas @cardtak @tanithrea @wooya1224 @multifanstuff @hyuniebaby @sehunnies-hunnie96 @endzii23 @kkpoptrashhh @mayzerofour @ries-universe @xcharlottemikaelsonx

140 notes · View notes

river-bottom-nightmare · 4 years ago

Text

Damijon Secret Santa

@woahjaybird happy holidays ris!!!!!!!!!! i admit, i was a bit confused, bc you signed up for a ship fic exchange and requested platonic bros, but whatever. i hope you like it!

To be honest, it was something Damian said a lot.

Jon heard those words practically every time Damian opened his mouth: in the middle of a mission, when they were baking pies with Ma Kent, during a stakeout, on a rooftop eating takeout.

They used to be annoying. God, sometimes Jon just wanted to drop his restraint and punch Damian in the face, full-force. Especially when he said those words, again and again and again. Over time, though, Jon grew used to them, and after a while, they just began to amused him.

You should be afraid of me.

Because Jon never understood those words. What was there to be scared of?

The two of them were sitting on a rooftop in Metropolis, Jon with his long legs dangling over the side of the building, Damian cross-legged next to him. Taking a long slurp of his smoothie, Jon glanced over at Damian, who was outlining their plan of attack for tomorrow-- a mission to take down an arms dealer who had been working out of Metropolis for months. With Dad stretched thin over League, international, and intergalactic affairs, criminals were becoming a little less hesitant to step foot into the city. Superboy and Robin would be taking care of that soon.

Jon was listening, he really was. The battle plans were definitely lodging themselves somewhere in Jon’s subconsciousness. But he had to admit, most of his attention was fixed firmly on Damian himself.

Jon remembered the days the prickly young boy would throw his nose up haughtily in the air, state he’d been intelligent enough to have a doctorate at seven years old, and miff at anyone who insinuated otherwise. It was a far sight from when Damian had curled himself up on Jon’s bed, and under the guise of watching a movie, told Jon about his acceptance into the most prestigious art schools in Gotham.

And that was the reason behind Jon’s inattention, wasn’t it? Damian was eighteen, now. Their age difference didn’t seem like much when they were ten and thirteen and going against the world with all the confidence of a couple boys playing pretend. Now, Damian had a weariness in his shoulders, but lips that quirked up into a smile far too often, skin layered in scars but hands gentler than Jon ever thought he was capable of. Jon himself was a fumbling, awkward fifteen year old with jeans that were always too short, hair that was always too messy. And Jon used to think he was over feeling inferior to his best friend.

He’d miss him. Jon would miss Damian so much. Sure, Damian would probably try and keep their visits somewhat consistent, but work would pile up, and a curator would probably see Damian’s talents and whisk him away to the world of the famous artists, and Damian would forget he ever had a friend named Jon and would go on to become a household name while Jon spent the rest of his life living in his parents’ house and updating his mediocre blog that he started because of a dare.

No, he wasn’t being dramatic, thank you very much.

Unfortunately, Damian seemed to catch onto his lack of attention and snapped his fingers underneath Jon’s nose, startling him back to focus.

Never one to sugarcoat, Damian said, “You look miserable.”

“What? No, I’m fine!” Jon didn’t know why he even tried to play it off, he’d never been able to lie to Damian.

“Right. My mistake. Someone who was fine would definitely spend the past hour drinking out of a smoothie cup that’s already empty.”

Huh. Jon hadn’t even realized he’d finished the drink. He put it to the side and shook his head. “Really, it’s not a pro-oblem.” Oh, goddamnit.

“Your voice cracks are ridiculous,” Damian informed him. Why had Jon ever thought he’d changed? That smug voice was as irritating as ever.

“Yeah, they’re hilarious, thanks.”

“I don’t understand why you’re upset.” Apparently, this matter was serious enough for Damian to put his map down. Wasn’t that comforting?

But Jon had never liked to keep things from his best friend. “That. That’s what’s bothering me.”

“Your voice cracks?” Now Damian just sounded confused.

“Yes! No, I don’t know. I just don’t like them.” Jon crossed his arms in frustration.

When he looked over at Damian, the other boy’s eyes were wide, and in that stupidly deep and non-cracking voice, he said, “This conversation has gone well past the point of understanding and I’m going to continue with the plan now.”

Jon sighed. “No, Damian, it’s not that.”

“Then?”

Searching for the right words, Jon drummed his fingers together. “You...you’re going off to that fancy art school soon. You’re all grown up. And here I am with my stupid video games and voice cracks.”

Jon wasn’t exactly sure what he was expecting. Damian could never be called a master of social interaction, and his basic settings were sarcastic, condescending, or incredulous. Still, Jon expected something a bit kinder than:

“You’re such a moron, Jonathan.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Jon stared at Damian for a moment, blinking stupidly. “So I tell you about the problem that’s been eating me up for weeks, and all you say is that I’m a moron? Thank you so much for that.”

“I’m telling you you’re a moron because you’re worrying about something so inconsequential.”

“Oh please, do elaborate.”

Damian paused, then let out a tired sigh, turning to face Jon. This was going to be a serious conversation, then.

“Jonathan. I have told you time and time again. You should be scared of me-”

“Oh my god,” Jon interrupted. “This stuff, again?” He was laughing now. “I know, I know. You should be horrified, cower in terror underneath my ruthlessness, blah blah blah. You say it all the time, I get it. I should be scared of you.”

Damian stared at him. “Are you done?” he said with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m tired of you bringing up the same thing over and over, Damian.”

“And in saying that, you just proved my point.”

Jon frowned in confusion. “What?”

“I’ve always said that you should be afraid of me. But you never have been, not since the moment we met.”

“Like there’s anything to be scared of.”

“Yes, Jonathan. There is.” Damian looked Jon in the eye, his gaze sharp and serious.

Damian’s honesty was strange, something Jon wasn’t used to, so he tried to play it off with a laugh. “Yeah, yeah, assassin training’s tough-”

“When I was six years old, I murdered a man in front of his daughter.”

Jon fell silent.

“I used to command an entire legion in my grandfather’s army. We completely destroyed and took down three different countries.”

“Damian, I-”

“Once, Grandfather put me in a straightjacket and wrapped me in chains, surrounded by trained guards, with no instruction other than to escape. And I did.”

Hesitantly, Jon said, “I never knew.”

“Because I never told you. That, and so much more, is why everybody I ever know has been scared of me.”

“Even Nightwing?”

“Nightwing grew out of it eventually,” Damian admitted. “But everyone else. The rest of the bats. Father. Even Mother. There’s fear in their eyes when they look at me.”

“Oh. Uh,” Jon shrugged. “That sucks.”

“That sucks?” Damian said, dry but amused.

“I didn’t know what else to say!” Jon defended.

“See? That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

Jon furrowed his eyebrows. “You’ve been trying to tell me it sucks? Because I already knew it sucks.”

“Jonathan…” Damian trailed off, then grabbed Jon’s wrists with his own hands.

“Hey!” Jon protested, though only out of surprise. Because Damain’s hands were warm and his thumb was pressing down on Jon’s pulse point and Jon could honestly say he had no objection to this.

Damian’s face showed nothing but piercing intensity: brows furred and eyes locked on Jon’s own. “Jon. Look me in the eyes, and tell me you’re scared of me.”

“But I’m not?”

“I just told you things that would have grown men running away from me in terror. Tell me at least some of that scares you.”

“No,” Jon shook his head and gripped the other’s boy’s wrists back. “No. I’m not scared of you.”

Letting out a breath, Damian moved away. For a moment, Jon found himself chasing that warmth.

“You are the only person who’s ever thought that.” Damian turned, shifting to mirror Jon’s position. Staring out over the city, a billboard washed colours over Damian’s face. He looked like a work of art, and Jon had no idea how anybody could ever fear him.

“You’re my best friend, Damian.” Jon shrugged, despite the fact that Damian couldn’t see him. “I’ve seen you scream at a machine for losing at Cheese Viking. I’ve seen you befriend a little squirrel you found on Ma’s farm. So how exactly am I supposed to be afraid of you?”

Damian nodded, as if that solidified something. “If you really think that I would leave the only person that isn’t scared of me, if you think that I would stop being friends with someone who has always thought of me as a human first and a weapon second just because I’m going to a university, then you are the biggest moron to ever walk the face of the earth.”

Stunned, Jon moved to sit next to Damian. “Oh.”

Jon had always been aware of their height difference, made plenty of jokes about it, but it really struck him how much smaller Damian was when the older boy turned to look up and smile at him. “So stop worrying, okay Kent? It’s unbecoming.”

“Whatever you say,” Jon acquiesced.

Damian wasn’t leaving for good. Damian, with his burning green eyes and molten beauty, still wanted to be friends with him.

With a smile on his face, Jon turned to look out at the city, letting the quiet wash over him. At his side, Damian did the same. A huge thank you to @iamwhelmed for organizing the secret santa this year!!

tag list: @woahjaybird @birdy-bat-writes @elles-shitposts-personified @subtleappreciation @screennamealreadyused @pricetagofficial @catxsnow @iconbicon

77 notes · View notes

randomoranges · 4 years ago

Text

the majority of the first part of this fic is based on a real thing that happened to me and my students yesterday

i applaud their ease at which all of this happened.

The Kids are All Right

“M Édouard, est-ce que tu veux jouer avec nous?”

It’s Friday afternoon and the first nice day of the week. The weather has been miserable, but luckily, he didn’t have to deal with indoor recess this time around. The group finishes in English class and he’s quite honestly killing time before he can leave them with their English teacher. He could have planned something exciting and fun, or ploughed on with another lesson, but he’s exhausted and doesn’t want to fight them. They’ve been – more rambunctious than usual these past two weeks and he’s been snappier with them than usual. He wonders if it’s the new seating arrangement or the coming of spring, but he’s counting down the days to the end of the school year and murmuring it like a mantra to himself on various occasions throughout the day.

Still. Moments like these bring the smallest of smiles to his face.

He likes to watch the kids play during recess, when he’s not aimlessly walking, and daydreaming about any other job he could have taken that wouldn’t be so taxing. This afternoon is one of those occasions. Most of the boys are on one end of the playground, playing a rather intense game of soccer, while the majority of the girls have been playing some invented game with a jump rope. The others are spread around; some are playing pear ball, others are sitting in clusters, but it’s nice to see that all the kids are hanging out with another kid and that no one is alone.

He figures he can play with the girls this time around.

Every now and again, he plays with the kids – when they ask him to, obviously and it’s a free bonding moment with them. He’s played some intense soccer and basket ball games, has played every version of tag and other such games, has learned to be decent at pear ball and he’s even been known to play hopscotch and jump rope. The kids love it. He also loves it.

He nods and his student excitedly yells out “M Édouard va jouer!” which is greeted by loud cheers by the other girls. He gets a quick run through of the game; the person in the middle makes the jump rope go round, the others are gathered in a circle around it and they need to jump when the rope gets close to them. If the rope touches them, they need to tell a truth about themselves. Easy enough, really. He’s encountered multiple versions of this same game over the years.

He offers to be the spinner, since the student who’d been doing it before had been struggling with the rope and the kids are delighted to let him have a go about it.

The girls show no mercy when one of them gets touched by the rope and the questions they ask are harmless in nature; do you have a crush on anyone, what’s the most embarrassing thing you ever did, which of your siblings is your favourite, and so on. He politely reminds them that they’re not obliged to answer a question if they feel uncomfortable, and overall, everyone seems to have fun.

On the fifth or sixth turn, the rope stops at a different student and the other girls flock around her chanting “Vé-ri-té! Vé-ri-té!” He joins them in, clapping his hands to the rhythm of the words and finally she gets them to stop as she thinks up of a truth to tell them, or be placed at the mercy of the counsel of questions.

Finally, she graces them all with her truth, as the others wait with baited breaths, “Chuis bi,” She says easy as all else and the rest of the girls roll their eyes, laugh, and groan, complaining about how they all already knew.

He’s – surprised by this. By the ease of the way she’s said her truth, but also by how not a big deal it seemed to be. He wonders, briefly, if it has anything to do with the talk he’s had with them earlier that week – about gender and sexual identities and such. Still, he marvels at the situation and it takes him a moment to recover, thinking of his own childhood and how long it had taken him to come to terms with his own sexuality. The fear he’d had. The anxiety it had produced. (And the relief, afterwards, when his parents hadn’t booted him out of their home.)

“Merci de nous avoir partager ça,” He says, because even if his fifth graders might not understand the full scope of it, he still wants them to feel that he accepts them as they are. He reminds them that they don’t have to share everything with him – or the others, but that if they do, he appreciates it and that he is someone they can come to and trust.

Then, within the same breath, before they can start the game again, another one of the girls admits to being bi as well. Again, the rest of the girls react much of the same way; they laugh, they say they already knew, and they move on and it flummoxes him. He thinks back to being eleven himself and never in his wildest dreams would he have felt such ease in admitting something.

Edward briefly wonders if maybe, just maybe, it has to do with the fact that they are girls and not boys. He knows it’s not the best way to think about it, but he feels that girls might have it just a little bit easier – with each other and their friend circle, whereas the boys – especially his boys this year, are still very much immature and very centered on the idea of being a Real Man (whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.)

Or maybe these students are just more open and more aware of themselves. It’s a better thought to have. He knows the discourse has changed, even if it isn’t perfect. There are now queer characters in media and literature that were very much absent in his day and age. Celebrities – young celebrities just a little older than his kids are using social media platforms to talk of their own experiences and doing their own coming outs and maybe that’s also helped make these terms less loaded.

There has to be some good out of it, after all. It can’t all be about cyber bullying and fraud.

Still, he makes it a point to remind them that they don’t have to “come out” to everyone just because and that it’s okay if they don’t want to tell people. They don’t own it to no one. They nod along and humour him and he wants to sit them down and tell them that no, he’s serious and that sometimes it’s not this easy. He should know. But – maybe it is this easy for them. Maybe it has become this easy for the new generation despite what he still hears on the news. Maybe, thanks to the new generation, different orientations will finally no longer be some big taboo and the world can be a better place.

Maybe he’s still dreaming, but – it’s a nice hope to have. If anything, he can hope and appreciate that these two students seem to be very comfortable with themselves and for that, he’s happy. If they can have an easy ride of it, why the hell not.

He leaves it at that and the game runs its course for a while longer, until recess comes to its end.

“M Édouard, dites-nous une vérité!” One of the girls asks as they line up to go back inside. He laughs and stalls for a moment. Some part of him wants to share as well – tell them through his truth that they are not alone and that he’s gay. It would be easy, really, and he’d be an ally to them, or something – he’s not sure, but he likes that it’s not some convoluted over-thought process like most of all the other times he’s come out in his life. Thinking back to how casual the others were with their friends telling them, he figures they wouldn’t turn on him. They’d be surprised, probably, but – it’d be fine – he hopes.

He opens his mouth to say it – to casually let them know that he’s gay, but then the words falter and die at the back of his throat; shrivel up as bile forms instead. He chokes over them and that same old fear creeps back in. He sighs, frustrated with himself. It’s not that the kids need to know, but part of him yearns to share and to show them that it’s okay to be like this – that they can lead successful lives while being themselves. Yet, even if these students would be okay with it, he fears they’d share the news and spread it – that it would then reach the ears of someone else, who would tell their parents, who would get upset, who would tell the school and ultimately, that he’d get fired and dragged through the mud.

He doesn’t have the energy for that. Not now. And the fear ices his veins and suddenly, the pleasant mood from before is gone.

The kids look at him, waiting for an answer.

“Quand j’étais jeune, j’voulais être un astronaute.”

It’s not a lie, but it feels like he’s just done them a great disservice. They don’t realise it and some other kid pipes up saying they too wanted to be an astronaut when they were seven, while another rattles off the name of a few astronauts they know. The moment passes, the kids move on to the next thing as they file back in and Edward breathes a little easier, even though the disappointment weighs him down. This could have been a great teaching moment and he’d let it slip through his fingers.

He trickles in after them and tries not to over think it too much. After all, hadn’t he just reminded his students that they don’t have to tell other people about their sexual orientation if they didn’t want to? The same should apply to him, even if...

Instead, he focuses on the fact that two of his students felt comfortable telling him, even if maybe they were only kidding and even if they went back on it at some later point. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they didn’t feel the need to keep this truth about themselves hidden. That they felt zero shame and malaise sharing. That their friends welcomed them. If anything, it was refreshing to see. Hopeful at its fullest. It’s good to know that maybe the discourse has changed, after all and maybe, with time, he’ll come to terms with his own fears as well. He’s got to keep hope, if not for himself, but for them and maybe, with time, he can learn something from them along the way.

(There will come a time, later, a few years down the road, during the last leg of his career. The context will be similar; recess, a Friday afternoon and the girls will be playing some other iteration of a truth game. They’ll ask him to play and he’ll agree, for a lack of something better to do and a never-ending need to bond with his kids in whichever way they want him to.

It’ll be great fun. The kids will share truths about themselves that’ll range from heartfelt to funny and he’ll appreciate every single one of them. Eventually, as the kids are often known to do, they’ll turn on him and ask for a truth in return. Eventually, he’ll abdicate and confess to his own.

“Je suis gai,” He’ll tell them, easy and simple as that, with a teasing grin to his face. They’ll roll his eyes at him, complaining all the while that they already know and that they want something new – a real truth. He’ll get them to settle and they’ll wait patiently, thirsting for a new truth about their teacher, “M Étienne et moi on est ensemble,” He’ll tell them next, laughing as they groan because it’s old news. They’ve known for ages – some since first grade. It’s the oldest news in the whole of the school. Hell, some have known since before since they had older siblings who brought the news home even before that.

But Edward will laugh, pick up the game from where it left off and resume it. He’ll share the truth because it is one of his favourites. He’ll share it because, finally, after so long, he feels comfortable doing so. But mostly, he’ll share it for the kids. To let them know. To remind them, really, that it is okay to be this way and that even when they have doubts and even if it sometimes feels as though they have no one cheering for them, they’ll always have him.)

FIN

#pc: edmonton #edward murphy #au #fic #teacher au

4 notes · View notes

captainmullin · 4 years ago

Note

The original mullin is so cute wawawawawaaaa!!! in my mind the resemblance carries over to captain mullin because of the purple hair... what a cute character to take your name from!

I’m so happy you’re curious in my danchou aaaaaaaa 😳😳😳 i would cry w happiness if i got to talk abt her T-T

I think i might call her Rina��the ‘ri’ is based on my previous internet alias, and the ‘na’ is the ending of my real name fgfhchvhv

I ended up basing her on the conqueror of the eternals skin, because i may have a... slight bias towards our adorable juutens... just a little... and as i also have a slight bias towards gran/djeeta i could not replace them ever so she exists alongside them! which i suppose makes her less of a danchou and more of a... uhm... not-danchou?

well... i am not 100% on all the details but somehow she ends up completely separated from her family and home island, and winds up at Siero’s, asking for Siero to help her find some skyfarers who can take her home. Her case turns out to be related to something very serious because ✨the eternals✨ (or rather, six) are actually headed towards that area to investigate. So, Rina hitches a ride, and when they reach her home... it’s totally destroyed, with no clue as to what happened. Six is forced to take her back with him to tell Siete what’s happened, and since Rina’s family is missing sends her off to stardust town since she’s technically an orphan until they find out if her family survived. Except when nothing is found for a while Rina wants to help and starts training to go out and discover answers for herself. So, she travels as a tag-on with whatever eternal will take her at any given time, and through her travels meets the grandcypher crew!!! she is very fond of gran/djeeta since they both have ‘cute little sibling’ vibes and after their first encounter, although she has other places to be and duties to attend to, looks out for them if they happen to cross paths!

I’m... still working on a lot of things lol tbh i am living vicariously through rina and forcing the eternals to spend more time together because they Love each other and i love them please song and siete are so lonely let them all meet up more...

As for the whole mystery of rina’s missing hometown? uhhhhhh idk it’s related to a powerful crime ring and her family are alive on an island far away after escaping and assuming her dead so maybe she gets to say hi to them again. as a treat. idk i really just wanted to draw the eternals outfit and This Was Born sfdgfgffcvvvvgvv

wahhh i would do anything for Rina!! she sounds amazing!! I esp love all the thought you put into her backstory - I really haven’t done much for Mullin although I really should - I would love to hear more about her if you want! also also, the eternals as a big family is Goals and I’m also in love with the Eternals MC outfit, it’s so good,,,

#and yes the purple hair thing definitely transferred to capt. mullin i couldn't help it #《 captain speaking! 》#《 anonymous 》

1 note · View note

autobot-scout-riella · 5 years ago

Text

CHARACTER BIO

(x)

BASICS.

FULL NAME: Riella (of Altihex, formerly) PRONUNCIATION: Ree-ell-uh NICKNAME: Ri, Riri (close friends only) GENDER: N/A, but extremely strong preference for she/her pronouns HEIGHT: 14′5″ AGE: In the four millions. Would be between 23-27 if human. ZODIAC: One of the fire ones, probably SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Iaconian, Altihexi, Tagonian, Cybertronian Standard, Chirolinguistics (from a certain definition of “spoken��), bits and pieces of Kaonite and Tarnish with an atrocious accent, a handful of Earth languages

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

HAIR COLOUR: Has a blond human holoform EYE COLOUR: Blue SKIN ARMOR TONE: Dark blue and black with turquoise biolights BODY TYPE: Small and wiry (some might say “scrawny”) ACCENT: Sounds American to most humans; astute Cybertronians might notice the clicks and trills characteristic of an Altihexi accent DOMINANT HAND: Ambidextrous POSTURE: Alert, upright, hyper-aware of her surroundings and poised for fight or flight at any given moment TATTOOS: None MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE: She’s teensy and blue.

CHILDHOOD.

PLACE OF BIRTH: The Altihex Hotspot HOMETOWN: Altihex BIRTH WEIGHT: Unknown (tiny) BIRTH HEIGHT: Unknown (very tiny) MANNER OF BIRTH: Forged, popped out of a hotspot as a tiny feral juvenile FIRST WORDS: God-awful velociraptor screeching that definitely meant something to the juveniles around her, but wouldn’t make much sense to an adult SIBLINGS: None (or about a dozen, depending how you interpret “crawled out of the well within the same week or so”) PARENTS: None PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: Raised by trained caretakers as part of a group

ADULT LIFE.

OCCUPATION: Soldier/scout CURRENT RESIDENCE: Alternates between two aeries on Earth CLOSE FRIENDS: Blackout, Barricade, Gamma Ray (despite protests to the contrary), Bumblebee (for a flexible value of “close”) RELATIONSHIP STATUS: In a serious long-term open relationship with Blackout FINANCIAL CLASS: Actively avoids the parts of society where she has to buy things DRIVER’S LICENSE: Has an excellent fake available as part of her default holoform. It’s from Florida. CRIMINAL RECORD: Accused of a whole roster of things during the war, only some of which she actually did

SEX AND ROMANCE.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Bisexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Biromantic PREFERRED EMOTIONAL ROLE: involved, preferably? PREFERRED SEXUAL ROLE: Technical switch leaning heavily toward bottom/sub/receiving TURN ONS: Fliers, preferably the less-conventional types (rotorfliers and Predator drones), physical/combat prowess, protectiveness, biolights TURN OFFS: Arrogance (especially faction- or class-based), telling her how she feels or should feel, failure to listen LOVE LANGUAGE: Physical affection RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES: (over)protective, passionate, attentive, highly affectionate, intimate, possessive

MISCELLANEOUS.

CHARACTER THEME SONG: Within Temptation - Paradise HOBBIES TO PASS THE TIME: Sparring/training, long drives, exploring places she’s never seen before MENTAL ILLNESS: Severe PTSD (possible undiagnosed robot Aspergers’, but the PTSD tends to mask anything that might have been preexisting) PHYSICAL ILLNESS: A slight limp when she’s particularly tired or sore, due to an old hip injury LEFT OR RIGHT BRAINED?: Left FEARS: Abandonment, betrayal, confinement, helplessness, losing the people she loves SELF CONFIDENCE LEVEL: Despite trying to project self-assurance to the point of arrogance, Riella’s self-confidence is remarkably low; she still finds it hard to believe that anyone would want her as a friend or lover, and half expects to be tossed aside for someone better at any moment VULNERABILITIES: Serious size disadvantage, paranoia, low self-confidence, a laundry list of triggers and phobias, nightmares

Tagged by: @viribus-et-honoris and @theredhellion (sort of)

Tagging: anyone who wants it and hasn’t already been tagged

#about riella

5 notes · View notes

ezm-imagines · 6 years ago

Text

A Business Deal: Part Three - Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Mafia Boss!Bucky

Word Count: 1.7k

Chapter: 3/10

Warnings: language

Masterlist :: Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four- Part Five - Part Six - Part Seven - Part Eight - Part Nine - Part Ten: Epilogue

A/N: What have yall done to me. An innocent one shot will now become a full 10 part series. Why.

——————————————

“Hey Alexa,” you called out to the amazon.com robot, staring Barnes down fiercely as he stepped into your office and leaned against the dark wood of the door, “How do I get rid of an unwanted visitor? Or, better yet, how do I get rid of myself?”

Barnes just shook his head, “Oh, you won’t be getting rid of me any time soon, sweetheart. I believe we have a lifetime’s worth of a deal in front of us.”

“End me now,” you rolled your eyes.

“No can do. Instead, I believe I will be taking you out for dinner tonight. Table for two at The Asgardian; it’s all prepared.”

“And you were planning to tell me... when? Before or after I scheduled all my meetings and appointments for the day?”

“Oh, come on, spontaneity is romantic.”

“Since when do you give two shits about romantic? You kidnapped me last week.”

“Eh, water under the bridge. But whaddaya say?”

“I say no thanks, I’m busy,” you looked back down to the spreadsheets before you.

“Would you be a little less busy if I tell you I talked to Rogers?” He revealed, raising one eyebrow.

“When you say talk, do you mean you went out for beers last night and acted like bros?”

“It’s besides the point what we did,” he brushed off, though maybe more because that wasn’t what they had actually been doing, “It’s what was said. I got an agreement from him.”

“For what, to get you a new brain?”

“Noo,” he set his jaw slightly with annoyance, “An eviction notice. He’s headed out of the US.”

“Bullshit,” you huffed, returning to your work.

“I’m serious. He’s gonna transfer everything to Europe.”

You put down your pen, “And how on earth would you have swung that?”

He shrugged a shoulder, “Don’t worry about it.”

“That only makes me more worried.”

“I just... cashed in an old favor,” his fingers toyed with the items on your desk.

You crossed your arms, “You’re a terrible liar.”

He frowned at you.

“Look, Barnes, if we’re gonna be married, you might as well just be honest with me.”

He inhaled for a long moment and turned his head away, sliding his hands into his pocket, “I may have... said a few... threats.”

“What kind of threats?” You asked cautiously.

He pressed his mouth into a line and turned back to you, “Just the kind that get people out of town. Just drop it, okay? I worked it out; there’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Barnes, I don’t need a vendetta over my head with the CEO of a fast growing company worth millions. You gotta do better than that.”

“Look, Y/N, it’s not a big deal. I threatened him a little, but I set him up real nice in Europe. I have some cousins over there, real high up, and they’ll find some great clients for him. He’ll do fine. I’ll make sure of it. But he’ll do fine just as long as he stays far away.”

“And what happens when he wants to branch out internationally? Or when we do? We already have a few buyers in Europe that you’re threatening, Barnes...”

“And there’s always gonna be another buyer that’s threatened! Come on, Y/N, I’ve freed up a whole fucking continent for you! Take it,” he leaned forward, urging you, “Sure, we might run into some problems in the future, but then I’ll figure it out when we get there. If I’m gonna be stuck with you for the rest of my life, then anything that happens to you will happen to me, too. Everything will work out fine. For now, just take this as it is.”

You sighed and looked down.

It was a little unbelievable that he was a permanent ally now. That you didn’t have to worry about sorting out every problem you had immediately while you still had something your client wanted. With him, you could take your time and work things out as they came.

You couldn’t quite wrap your head around it.

Or that Barnes was technically now... yours.

How was this the man you were going to spend the rest of your life with? How was this the man you’d wake up to everyday? How was this the man that might one day father your children?!

You didn’t even know anything about him! You didn’t know much about his work, or his friends, or his family, or hell, even himself! You didn’t know his hobbies or dislikes or interests or-

“I don’t even know your first name...” You whispered, the realization shocking you.

He blinked, “What?”

“God, how are we doing this? How are we getting married? I don’t even know your first name!” You cried out, covering your face in your hands. What had you done?!

He stepped forward and sat in the chair across from you, a little panicked with your emotion, “Hey. Look, I... I know I’m not great with this stuff. And I know I’m not the person you probably wanted. But like I said, we’re gonna figure it out.”

You nodded, though your distress didn’t lessen. Maybe you’d figure it out, but that didn’t mean you’d necessarily enjoy it, right? Just what had you tied yourself down to???

“And it’s James,” he admitted with a rueful half-smile after a few beats of silence.

You looked up at him, surprised, “What?”

“My first name. You wanted to know. It’s James.”

Amusement tugged at your lips and began washing some of your sadness away as you raised an eyebrow, “James?! The Winter Soldier who murders people in the blink of an eye without ever being caught is named James?!”

He bit the inside of his lip, fighting back a smirk, “Why do you think I never tell anyone?”

“Am I the only one who knows?”

“Eh, there’s a small handful of people who know me from childhood who do.”

You chuckled slightly, “James. James Barnes. That’s- wait,” you paused, “What’s your middle name?”

“Ooooh, no, you do not get to know that,” he answered firmly.

“I’m your fiancee!”

“And I will take that name with me to my grave!”

“Oh, no way, you have to tell me now! Does this mean it’s worse than James?!”

“Shut up.”

You thought for a moment, trying to think of a way to convince him to tell you. Your eyes widened and your face slipped into a grin, “I’ll kiss you if you tell me,” you bet, hoping it would work.

He scoffed, “You can’t just use kissing me to get what you want; not gonna work, doll. Besides, what makes you think I even want to kiss you?”

Oh really? Challenge accepted.

You leaned over your desk and grabbed his collar, pulling him into a searing kiss. You let out a little bit of a moan (obviously, to get the information out of him- not because you actually enjoyed it, duh) and let your tongue drag across his lips until slipping it into his mouth.

He growled lightly, though you couldn’t tell if it was because he was turned on by the kiss or if he was just pissed that you were trying to manipulate him like this. Probably both.

You pulled away, smiling smugly.

His face twitched with annoyance for a second before he exhaled and frowned, “Fine,” he grumbled, “It’s Buchanan.”

“Buchanan?!!!!!” You shrieked, “No fucking way, you were not seriously going to let me go my whole life without knowing that?! Are you serious?!!!”

He crossed his arms and sat back in his chair.

“No way, wait,” your eyes widened with an idea, “Can I call you Bucky?”

He sat up in his chair immediately, “Absolutely not!” He snapped.

“Pleeeaaseeee?”

He shook his head, “No, Y/N, it’s not gonna happen.”

You sighed, “Fine. But then what do you want me to call you?”

He frowned, never having thought about that. He was scanning his mind for an idea, before a small smirk cracked on his lips, “What about Your Highness?”

“Keep trying.”

“Worth a shot.”

He thought for a few moments more before giving up, “I don’t know.”

“Then Bucky is sounding like our only option here...”

His jaw set, but you pushed on.

“Aw, come on. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t wanna hear me shouting ‘Bucky’ on our honeymoon night,” you egged on, mischievously.

His eyes glinted and he chuckled, “Oh, sweetheart, that’s only assuming if you can last until honeymoon night. Trust me,” he lowered his voice, “You’ll want it to be sooner.”

You held back a grin at his confidence, but pressed on, “So, does that mean I get to use ‘Bucky’?”

He sighed, “You can do it once and only once. But you’re not allowed to use it in front of people. If we’re with company, you must call me Barnes. They don’t need to know my other names. Or, you could just call me a pet name, like ‘babe’ or ‘handsome’ or ‘Your Highness,’ ya know, the normal ones...” he bit back a smile at his own joke.

“You’re a piece of work, you know that?”

“No, you know what, I’ve never heard that one before,” he teased.

“Well, be prepared to hear it a lot from me, because you are.”

“Mhmm...” he smiled lazily at you, before tapping his hands on the arm rests and standing up, “So. Why don’t you elaborate on why I’m such a piece of work at The Asgardian over steak and wine at 7 tonight?”

You bit your lip, thinking. You had been planning to go dinner with Wanda tonight, but maybe- just maybe- this might be a little more important.

“I’ll see what I can do” is all you said.

“Great, then I’ll see ya there,” he concluded, walking backwards out of the room.

You rolled your eyes playfully as he winked, before slipping out the door.

Ah, fuck this, and fuck the stupid grin on your face that you couldn’t fight off.

Maybe Barnes was a lot more dangerous in more things than just his work...

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

A/N: Sorry Part 3 took a few days, I’ve been trying to draft the rest of the chapters before I came back and did a final draft of this one. However, that means that I have rough drafts all the way to the epilogue, so hopefully the rest of the chapters can come sooner!

I think I’ve tagged everyone who asked! Let me know if you want to be added! <3

Tagged: @gr8ness-sebstan @itzmegaaaaaaan @swtmckngbrd @kit-kat-katie99@cutie1365 @untoldshortsofthefandoms @chicthrill@crazybutconfidentaf@jessevans @laffers18 @kiwikriis @sebastixnstxn@failcdmothcr @holygaygal @bubbash125 @k-n-e @ria132love

596 notes · View notes

adhdtsukasa · 4 months ago

Text

i think it's crazy there are people who dislike nene because how can you dislike This Thing . she's the most awesome girl in the world the best kamioshi i could ever have (WHO is tsukasa tenma)

#ri says the less serious things. the tag

29 notes · View notes

dissimulxte · 6 years ago

Note

whatever. do the ship thing with mari and olivier just because.

chaotic? certainly. and goodness knows it’s going to be wild– but goddamn do they look good

ship meme | accepting

send me a pairing and I’ll tell you who:

1. falls asleep on the couch

Both. Either of them tend to trend on the snooze-prone side, and it’s easy to imagine them relaxing right off into a nap when they have the chance to settle in. If Ri happens upon Ollie in such a state, she’ll probably get real close to the other’s face and coo something adoring to wake her up, promptly dodging to avoid any violent response such an awakening earns, or she’ll make a whole drama about “awakening her princess with a kiss’– which she’ll deliver on if Olivier doesn’t jolt up and stop her.

If Ollie finds Mari like this? she just sits/lays on top of her and begets a wheezing ‘good morning to you, too, my lilac’

2. makes friends with the neighbors

Mari might be the first to reach out, but there’s something about her cool, older-sister energy that endears most of the people they meet to Olivier first, unless Ri’s out there really laying on the shmooze for one reason or another. They’re both pretty content for quiet and privacy around the abode, though, so bar the occasional exception, they’re not overly neighborly.

3. is the adventurous eater

I’ll say both, again, to some degree, but Mari might have a slight edge, just because she’s so ready to put anything deemed ‘safely edible’ into her mouth at least once. Ollie doesn’t seem like she’d be too reluctant to try anything, and has the tendency to indulge her little paramour if only to make the thief shut up about it, and is often pleasantly surprised by the result– but now and then there’s just something that is a hard no, and Mari won’t push the issue; she’ll just laugh and enjoy the venture herself.

4. hogs the covers at night

Did you think it would be any different here? Nope. It’s still Mari. That said, she’s an observant one, that Lovelace. It doesn’t take her long to catch on to Ollie’s not-so-fabulous immune system, and she makes a conscious effort to gather the jelly into her arms and under the blankets with her– or, at the very least, lend some her way if she’s not in a cuddly mood.

5. forgets to do the dishes

Olivier. Or maybe it’s less forgetting, and more of a vendetta after being trapped in a jar for a few weeks. In any case, it’s not so bad, and Mari takes care of it without complaint, or Ollie’ll notice after a time and they’ll tag team the chore to have it done quicker.

6. tries to surprise their partner more often

Mari is always trying to surprise Olivier– pleasant, or not. Pranks are fair game, though she avoids anything vicious, it’s all in good fun (she insists), but it is something sweet more often than not. At first, it’s just another way to try and win a bit more favor from the pirate, or to fluster her and savor the suspicion which comes with every sweet gesture, but it never stops. When they do reach the point of strange, confirmed courting, she keeps it up because… well, why else? she wants to make her happy.

Ollie can come off a little cold and serious, which isn’t bad, of course, and Mari learns to read her more subtle expressions, but it’s still a goal of hers to draw up real, warm smiles and genuine delight– as much for Olivier as to prove to herself that she can.

7. leaves dirty laundry on the floor

Neither. This is a pair of designers, crafters, artisans we’re talking about here. They do a lot of things, but they’re not prone to leaving anything that needs a wash just lying around. If anything, they both really enjoy the process of laundry; hand-washing what needs it, hanging, folding. It’s a quiet little routine they fall into, even if there’s some debate on the best way to fold certain things.

8. stays up til 2 AM reading

Not necessarily reading, but pouring over patterns and the like can keep Ollie up well past any decent hour-- she just gets lost in it sometimes, you know? A familiar trait, for sure. Mari’s happy to glance over her shoulder from time to time and offer her own two cents; compliments, ideas-- but if it gets to be too late, she’s laying her head against Olivier’s shoulder and rendering one of the jelly’s arms useless by tangling herself around it, “come to bed, dear, it won’t sprout legs and walk off before morning. you’ll make yourself sick at this rate.” It’s harder to just scoff and brush her aside when you can hear real concern on her voice.

9. sings in the shower

Mari. Quietly, to herself, unless she knows Ollie’s close enough to hear. Then, she’ll try her best to serenade the other, which may be sickeningly sweet and only good for rolling one’s eyes at, or it may earn some laughter and the exhausted shake of her head.

In any case, Ollie doesn’t stop her from doing it.

10. takes the selfies

Both. At first, Olivier merely indulged Mari’s habit by not pushing her off when the other would crane in to snap a shot, but as it became clear how much Mari liked taking pictures with her, she grows more willing, and eventually starts taking them herself. We all know it would be totally unfair for them to have a couple’s instagram page-- can you imagine? the theming, the sheer beauty. It should be illegal. For every stunning, model-like shot, though, there’s as many ridiculous poses and silly faces, or secret-snaps where one has caught the other in the background completely unaware.

11. plans date night

Olivier. Though Mari certainly drags the other along to plenty of fancy events around town or special evenings that pop up on her well-plugged-in radar, Ollie has the more quiet sensibility to find things that the two of them will enjoy and remember doing together; the more sentimental, dare I say, romantic things. The more removed, the better; group settings are plenty of fun, and the occasional double date with friends to indulge in drinking, games, and the sort definitely becomes a fixture, but a real date is something where they just get to enjoy each other’s company. Where Ri isn’t performing, she’s just her, with the woman who she’s come to love and who has, against her better judgement, come to return the same.

#jcllyfisn #♥'( wow I can't believe ollie and mari are officially dating )#♥'( Soft Purple Gays™ the aesthetic )

5 notes · View notes

echelonlab-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Bound By Ink -- Chapter 46

Disclaimer: Fiction.

Warnings: None

Tagging: @hazeleyedleto @msroxyblog @letojokerownsme @miss-shannanigans @snewsome756 @maliciousalishious @nikkitasevoli@meghan12151977@sanellv@ambolton@bradlea23@spillinginkwithlove@alexis7215@dezmarz@pezziecoyote@whoistheprettiest@avaj99@iridescxntsolitude@pheenixpeterson@guccilowell@blondiefrommars@rowen1976@phoebehalliwell1984@thathipstaninja@darthjokerisyourfather@letsbemybatman @prettymisc@lylabell2013@mandyglam@pandaliciouz@just-me-obsessing@echelon-1969@carolinapb-me@marilyndioncre

As if the situation hadn’t been bad enough with Jayce’s friends having seen the photo, it had already been copied and we were seeing it pop up on various websites. Some of Shannon’s fans were mercilessly criticizing me and straight up lying about my past, calling me a horrible parent. Shannon had actually taken my phone away from me so that I couldn’t obsess over the negativity anymore.

Shannon was on the phone with Jared and put him on speaker. He was being really supportive and even promised to get a message out to the fans, asking them not to share the photo anymore and to please not spread any more rumors.

I thanked him and told him how I valued the effort, but it wasn’t going to change. The damage had already been done. I had seen things like this happen in the past and knew that no matter who said what, it would just keep going.

Thankfully, Ryan’s parents were down to earth and even though they had seen the infamous photo, Marina called it classy. I laughed, believing there was nothing classy about it, but she was a lot like me, extremely laid back, but with less tattoos. She volunteered to keep Jayce for a few days and between the move and the chaos surrounding the anonymous asshole who posted the photos, aka Stephanie, I agreed. Shannon had a spacious house and he had it tastefully furnished, so I gave Nadia most of my furniture, since her small apartment was basically bare. She was thrilled to have a semi-new couch and coffee table.

It had taken so long to box everything up, but when it came to actually load and transfer it to Shannon’s house, it went really fast. He had lots of friends and Jared even sent some of his employees to help. By midday, my old apartment was completely empty.

Mark and I still weren’t talking and I was dreading going in to work the following day. It just seemed that time was going by so fast and I couldn’t possibly go through all of my things in a few hours. We shoved everything into one room at Shannon’s home and closed the door. The plan was to work through it slowly and decide what we wanted to keep and what we wanted to get rid of. Jayce’s bedroom furniture really needed to go to Mark’s place since my son had limited things there, but I held off because if Stephanie would be there, Jayce wouldn’t. I’d see to that.

Once everyone left, Shannon and I talked about ordering some take out and curling up on the couch for a flick. I hated to even go out in public with all of the shit talking lately. We hadn’t even made a decision on what to order when Nadia arrived. She was all smiles as she rushed past Shannon and excitedly plopped on the sofa next to me. “I love you Blue and I have something juicy for you.”

Shannon grinned, “Wait, let me get comfortable and just so you know, I don’t normally share my girlfriend, but since you’ve basically become family, I’ll make a sacrifice this time.” He sat across from us, slouching in the chair and folding his arms across his stomach. The most evil smirk he could manage lit up his face.

Both of us, at the exact same time shot him an irritated expression. “Bite me Shannon!” Nadia said, tossing her bag at him and he caught it, opening it and looking at the contents inside. She didn’t seem to care and turned her attention back to me. “So! I got to work and I could hear Mark closed up in his office, slamming things around. I decided to go into your area and put my shit away, because I knew you weren’t coming in and didn’t want to disturb him. Anyway! Fucking Stephanie shows up.. so, I go out back for a smoke, right? Well, all of a sudden, I hear little miss prim and proper yapping on her phone, so being the nosey bitch I am, I listened in.” She giggled and I was still trying to realize her point.

“Okay....”

“She was blabbing to her husband!” Her voice was all high pitched and she was beaming with excitement. “The whore is still married and guess what? She’s using Mark as a threat against her hubby! She’s blackmailing him for cash, saying that Mark will kick his ass if he doesn’t comply with what she wants!” She couldn’t sit still and even Shannon got serious, leaning forward to listen intently. “I looked him up and even went to see him. He’s the exact opposite of Mark, all nerdy like, but obviously fucking loaded! He’s no sexy stud like Mark..” She but her lip and glanced down at the floor. “Sorry, I still find that silver fox sexy as hell. Anyway! Charles is absolutely fucking terrified of Mark, she lied and told him that Mark is in a gang. Oh my God Blue, he’s supposed to call me, we are all supposed to meet for dinner. Come on you guys! This is exactly what we've been waiting for. He’s behind the audit at RI and can answer a bunch of your questions! Let’s go!”

“Oh my God!” I looked at Shannon.

“Interesting..” He said, standing up and giving the purse over to her. “Where are we going?”

Nadia stood and took her purse. “This sushi restaurant that he suggested.”

I grabbed my purse and took my phone from Shannon, looking downward at the missed calls from an unknown number that had called me twice. “Shit.” I followed them out and listened to the voice mail message. Nadia climbed into the back seat, giving Shannon directions. “Hello, I’m attempting to reach Scarlett McKinney. My name is Wanda Anderson and I’m calling on behalf of the Bureau of child protective services and I’d appreciate it if you could return my call at your earliest convenience.” She rattled off a phone number and I almost threw up, dropping my phone in my lap.

#shannon leto fanfiction #shannon leto fic #30 seconds to mars fanfiction #30STM #Bound By Ink

38 notes · View notes

echelonfiction · 7 years ago

Text

Bright Lights: Chapter 53 - I don’t think so!

Short chapter so I can lay out 54 and 55 the way I want too, I’m glad you guys enjoyed the enjoyed the return of Shanoebe, I’ve missed them too

Tagging: @fyeahproudglambert @meghan12151977 @msroxyblog @Teggles07

let me know if you’d like to be tagged

Chapter 53

A couple of hours later Shannon and I were in the kitchen at Jared’s getting another helping of the scrolls that Connie sent home with me, saying with how well I did them deserved to enjoy them with Shannon and Jared. I smiled again as I watched Shannon scoop the ice cream on top.

“You did well on these baby,”

“Thanks,”

“Did you enjoy your self?”

“I did, did you?”

“I did,” he smiled. “I love how you and my mom get along,” he said I smiled and looked down at what I was doing. “What?” he asked.

“What to what?”

“You looked away all thoughtful,” he said. “What’s in your head?”

“It was just nice, you know?” I smiled “I always heard stories about my grandmother cooking the most amazing things,” I shrugged. “It was just nice,”

“Did it make you miss your mom?” he asked, I looked up at him.

“I don’t know if I would say, miss,” I said honestly, “But kind of wonder, you know”

“Yeah,” he smiled. “I know mom enjoyed you being there tonight,”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he smiled turning to me wrapping his arms around me. “I love you, baby,”

“I love you too,” I said hugging him. He pulled back and looked me in the eyes.

“You know, I know I didn’t know you back then like I’ve really only known you like a couple of months, but I am so proud of the person you are,”

“Shan!” I said getting tears in my eyes.

“I mean it, Phoebe, you’re just an amazing person, inside and out, I can't believe I found someone like you,” I looked down to my hands. “I’m just really proud that you’re next to me,” he said tucking hair behind my ear.

“I’m in front of you,” I smirked looking up at him as he let out a nice soft laugh.

“Well. . . I’m proud to have you in my life,” he grinned. “Better?” he asked I nodded wrapping my arms around his neck.

“Guys,” Jared called, I looked over Shannon attempted too but I had my arms around his neck to tightly. “Do we want to go finish up?”

“Sure,” I smiled kissing Shannon for a couple of moments before pulling back and following Jared to the studio.

***

We sat there for a few hours going over certain things on the record, we listened to it through so many times one of us would pick up on something.

“I think that’s pretty much a wrap on the record,” Jared said.

“That’s crazy,” I laughed pulling them both into a group hug. “This whole thing has been insane.” I had no words, I was exhausted but I was so so happy, this feeling of happiness, I’d never felt it to this extent before...

“Yeah,” Jared nodded. “I want you at some point tonight or in the morning to give this one listen over like you did the single and just listen for anything we may have missed.”

“Okay, so we’re done?” I grinned. He nodded, I hugged him tightly. “thanks, buttercup,” I said kissing his head. “For everything.

“Anytime,” he smiled hugging me back “We do need to talk about a couple of things though,” Jared said motioning to the seat next to him. His face was less celebratory now, more serious, Shannon sat behind me taking a big sip of a drink.

“What?” I laughed.

“So um the lighter issue,” Jared said softly, “we need to do some promotional photos, then we need to get on to the artwork, and a name,”

“Okay” I nodded. “When do we need that by?”

“I’ll talk to them tomorrow and try and get a date, probably next week though, they probably wanted it all by tomorrow!” he told.

“Right,” I nodded feeling nervous. “So you’ll work that Jared Leto charm on my behalf,”

“I’ll do my best,” he grinned. “My brother is a great photographer so, you guys should try and get some test shots in,”

“Test shots,”

“Professionally,” Jared scoffed shaking his head. “He knows you, your movements when you look natural when you don't,”

“You don't?” I laughed.

“Not as good as he does,” Jared grinned.

“I know you best,” Shannon said soothing my back. I looked at him with a smile. He was nervous.

“Okay, that’s all great,” I nodded. “But what’s the other issue?”

“Other issue?” Jared questioned.

“Yeah, the one that has my boyfriend nervous as fuck,”

“Ah,” Jared said looking away for a moment then looking into my eyes. “You need to find a new drummer.”

“No, I don’t,” I laughed.

“Babe,” Shannon sighed.

“You do,” Jared said sternly. “And I think it should be your sister,”

“Jared shut the fuck up!” I snapped raising to my feet. “Shannon’s doing fine,”

“Phoebe,” Jared whined. “Tomorrow is the last time Shannon can drum for you,” I looked at Shannon.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“Your sister’s a drummer, what better solution?”

“Anything” I laughed looking at the desk. “Is that the disk for testing?” I asked pointing at a cd on the table, Jared nodded. “Good,”

“Phoebe,” Shannon called.

“Fuck off,” I yelled slamming the door behind me, fuck that, I was so done right now. I got my keys, wallet and got in my car. I drove until I got into the city where I got myself a coffee a really uber large iced coffee to be exact, fuck having a good body, my boyfriend was abandoning me anyway. Upon leaving Starbucks I put the CD in the slot and turned it up as loud as I could, driving around all my favorite spots in LA it was what I liked to do when I was bored or in a mood. My car was that one place where I wrote the rules. Eventually, after a few hours of driving, I stopped at one of the lookouts that overlooked the city.

The record was great, I couldn’t pick it for anything. I fucking hated how they couldn’t just let Shannon drum for me, he understood me. So much. My phone started ringing in expected it to be Shannon like it had been for the last three hours, but it wasn’t either of the Leto’s I looked at the clock, it was a weird time for Riley to be calling.

“Ri?”

“Hey, Did I wake you?”

“No, I’m out”

“At 4am?” she scolded.

“The air can get thick around the Leto’s after a while,”

“Hmm,”

“What’s wrong?” I asked. I could hear it in her voice.

“Just freaking out about tomorrow,”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “did you talk to the lawyers?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t look good,” she sniffled.

“why?”

“No job, no home.” She shrugged. “He can provide that for her.”

“Shit,”

“Yeah,”

“I’m sorry I can’t be there with you,” I said, and I really was, the issue with the drummer was a completely different thing. Realistically it had nothing to do with her other than the fact that her name was being thrown around.

“It’s fine, I understand.”

“I’ll come see you straight after, okay?” I offered

“Sure you won't be too busy celebrating?” she laughed, I almost bit, opened my mouth to snap back but took a deep breath instead.

“Maybe we both will,”

“Doubt it,” she sniffled.

“Hey, you’ve got mum, dad, Ry they’re all looking over us,” I told.

“Phoebe, I know you don’t believe in god,”

“No, but I believe in them,”

“Right” she groaned. “What happened with you and Shannon?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“You’re driving around at 4am, you’ve done this since you could drive, every time you were upset.” “Are you fighting?”

“Hmm,” I sighed “I disagreed with them both, it happens, I’ll go home soon and it will be fine.”

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I’ve never seen you as in as you are with Shannon”

“He asked me to let him in,” I said, “If it doesn’t work, I’m done,”

“It hasn’t failed, yet”

“Hmm,” Riley sighed. “I might go lay next my daughter for what could be the last time in who know’s how long,”

“Okay, Ri,” I said softly, a moment later the car was silent and a wave of guilt went over me.

My sister was homeless, jobless and about to be daughterless, and there was nothing I could do about it. Was there? Was I being selfish? I helped her get back here and helped her get the cops off her back, that was enough, surely.

Jared and Shannon were trying to help her I couldn’t be mad at them for that. Five years of anger was a lot, but they took so much away from me. I should be thankful that Jared and Shannon tried. They might not understand, but they wanted what was best, I did need to open my mind to a new drummer perhaps we could compromise on it not being Riley.

I started the drive home, I needed to at least attempt to sleep. I had no idea what was going to happen in the morning, the only thing I had in my head was performing then passing out for six days until we toured.

Pulling in to the drive the front light was on. I quietly unlocked it and walked through the house to the back door, I could hear Behind these hazel eyes repeating a certain section, hesitating for a moment, my heart wanted to tell Jared off for being up so late, but my brain didn’t care, he wouldn’t listen.

The light was on for the guest house and the kitchen light was on. Shannon always thought of me. It made me happy and sad at the same time, however impossible that was, it happened. Shan stirred when I dropped on the bed.

“Phoebe?” he questioned.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I didn’t mean to wake you, go back to sleep,”

“Are you okay?” he asked as I pulled my shirt and jeans off, I was sleeping in underwear tonight. “Where did you go,”

“I’m fine” I snapped cuddling into him. “I do not want to talk right now,” I said.

“Okay,” he sighed cuddling into me. I laid there and let him cuddle me and kiss my cheek every couple of minutes. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too,”

#Thirty Seconds to Mars #leto brothers #shanimal #shanoebe #shannoebe #shannon leto #30stm #30secondstomars #30 Seconds To Mars #fan fiction #fanfic #fan fic #fan fic writing #echelon fiction #echelon #music #Phoebe Flamez #Tomo Miličević #tomo milicevic

18 notes · View notes

seriestrash · 7 years ago

Text

You Me Her

1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 || 11 || 12 || 13 || 14 ||

Chapter Fifteen: Riley’s Play

Word Count: 8707

↠ ♥ ↞

Tuesday, the day after the drama club’s afternoon tea, Riley and Caitlin click publish on their final edition of the schools newspaper. A very bittersweet moment shared amongst friends.

The two girls embrace tightly. Once they part Riley wipes a stray tear from her cheek.

“Don’t cry you sap.” Caitlin chuckles nervously.

“Does this mean you go back to not liking me now?” Riley jokes but there’s still a sadness inside her over something ending.

“You know I couldn’t quit you if I tried.” Caitlin rolls her eyes and Riley laughs softly.

“Are you girls ready?” Harper, Caitlin’s girlfriend, pokes her head around the door. A smile present on her face.

“Yes.” Caitlin sends Harper a smile and turns back to Riley, “Are you ready to pretend like we don’t know they’re throwing us some sort of thing at the bakery?”

Riley can’t help but laugh. “Got to love Noah.”

The three girls make their way to the bakery. Riley over dramatises her humbled reaction to Noah and Kai organising a celebration for the end of their run in charge of the newspaper.

“He told you didn’t he?” Kai sighs.

“Yep.” Caitlin pats his shoulder and passes by to grab herself something to eat.

“Sorry.” Noah shrugs.

“I knew I shouldn’t have told you.” Kai shakes his head. The two aren't annoyed at each other as such but there is definitely something off between them.

“This is so special,” Riley interjects with some positivity, “Thank you.”

“You are most certainly welcome.” Kai gives her a sweet smile although Riley can feel some pain behind his eyes.

Roughly twenty minutes into the relaxed celebration Riley is sitting with her friends in one of the booths. With her back to the door Riley's unaware at a few new guests whom enter, that is until Caitlin throws her hand up and calls out across the room, “Eh, Smack! Over here.”

Riley’s head snaps around and she spots a sheepish looking Smackle standing with Farkle and Lucas. Riley turns her head back towards Caitlin with a quizzical look upon her face.

“She helped us get the paper up and running.” Caitlin whispers. “I didn’t think you’d mind.” Truth be told Caitlin did take quite the liking to the blunt genius but once Smackle pulled out of the paper they didn’t chat too much but part of that comes from Caitlin’s ‘in and out’ of your life nature.

“I don’t. You just didn’t tell me.” Riley shrugs it off.

The conversation hushes as Smackle approaches the table. The girl in glasses gives everyone an awkward greeting. Riley subtly turns her head back after noticing Smackle came to the table alone. She meets Lucas’ gaze, he’s sitting in their gangs old spot with Farkle by his side. The Texan gives her a small smile before returning to his conversation with Farkle.

“Aren’t you going to make some room?” Riley laughs looking over at Caitlin on the opposite side of the booth.

“Right.” She laughs too sliding in closer to Harper, freeing up space for Smackle in the process.

Kai didn’t have too many positive feelings towards Riley’s old friend group, even if he didn’t have specific reasons not to, he just relates a great deal of negativity with them because of how upset Riley has been over the years with how everything worked out. Although his annoyance has died down a little over the past month, Lucas is the only one that gets an outwardly irritated reaction from Kai. The drama enthusiast is quite polite when it comes to Smackle, truthfully she was actually Kai’s favourite amongst the other five, not that he rated many of them at all but Smackle seemed to be the one that tried the most with Riley which Kai respected a great deal.

“Farkle doesn’t have to wait over there.” Riley says awkwardly.

“I posit he’ll join us soon.” Smackle says but Riley and her both don't believe it to be true.

Conversation flows between them, Caitlin retells a few funny stories from when the paper first started. There’s a sweet nostalgia building in Riley’s chest and she feels saddened that it’s all over. The energy from both Noah and Kai seems less than usual. Instead of making a public spectacle Riley just quietly observes rather than draw anyone else's attention to it.

Caitlin leaves first, not out of character at all for her to leave a celebration in her honour before anyone else. Harper hangs around for a little while longer before she leaves and Noah tags along. Kai walks Noah out and then Riley is left with Smackle.

An awkward lull passes but then Smackle speaks up, shocking Riley in the process. “We all really miss you bubbles. I really miss you.”

Riley is unsure what to say at first but then she decides to go with the truth, “I really miss you all too.”

“Mind if we join?” Lucas’ voice drifts over. Riley turns to see him approaching with Farkle looking just as sheepish as Smackle did when she first came over.

“Of course not.” Riley smiles.

“We shouldn’t stay much longer.” Farkle says quietly and directly to Isadora.

Lucas sits beside Riley and Farkle joins Smackle on the other side. Kai enters again, his mood clearly off as he sits beside Lucas with no hint of irritation present. This even sparks Lucas as odd behaviour as he gives Riley a questioning look.

Quiet falls upon the group. Riley tries to make things less tense with casual conversation but her attempts fall short.

“It’s getting late, maybe we should get going?” Farkle says already standing up.

“It’s not that late.” Smackle states but still follows Farkle’s lead.

Farkle mumbles some sort of a response but the conversation clearly continues as it works Farkle up enough for Riley to catch the end of it when the couple are on the other side of the room.

“Smackle, she told us she didn’t want to be friends anymore.” Farkle raises his voice. “She didn’t even tell us, she told Maya and then ignored us.”

Riley find his eyes, another wounded puppy look is shared, this time on Riley’s face too and with that the geniuses exit.

“Whoa.” Kai frowns as he moves himself over to the opposite side of the table.

“Is that what they all think of me?” Riley wears a weak smile as she asks Lucas.

“No. Riley, no.” Lucas shakes his head but fails to give some sort of alternative.

“I guess it probably does feel like that for everyone.” Riley shrugs a shoulder.

“Yeah but does anyone stop to think what it felt like for you?” Kai scoffs.

“Kai, we don’t need to go into this.” Riley shakes her head.

Another silence.

“You didn’t tell me you were stepping down from the paper.” Lucas says trying to pick up the mood.

“I’m sorry I had no idea we told each other everything.” Riley jokes lightly but she's not really in much of a cheery mood anymore.

“You told me about the play you wrote.” Lucas coaxes his head victoriously.

“The what?” Kai’s interest peaks.

“Lucas.” Riley scolds. “I told you that as a secret.”

“Sorry.” Lucas frowns. It just slipped out in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“So you’re keeping secrets from me now?” Kai folds his arms.

“Kai, don’t be like that.” Riley frowns.

“It’s fine.” Kai shrugs, clearly upset.

"I think I should let you two talk.” Lucas says standing up. “I’m really sorry, Riley.” Lucas says genuinely before parting.

“Please don’t be mad at me, I only told him yesterday.” Riley says to Kai once they’re alone.

“Were you ever going to tell me?” Kai questions.

“Probably not.” Riley admits. “But only because it’s not a big deal!”

“Not a big deal?” Kai scoffs. “You wrote a play!”

“Shh.” Riley hushes him not wanting anyone else to overhear.

“Will you let me read it?” Kai asks.

“No.” Riley shakes her head quickly. “It’s too personal.”

“But I’m your best friend.” Kai pouts. “Please, please, please?”

“No. Never.” Riley shakes her head. “Enough about my stupid play. I want to know how you are?”

“What do you mean?” Kai plays dumb but his mood evidently drops as soon as Riley broaches the subject.

“You and Noah both seemed quiet this afternoon.” Riley says lightly. “Did he accept Notre Dame’s offer?”

“Yeah I went with him to mail his enrolment package on the way here.” Kai nods sadly.

“How long until he leaves?” Riley questions.

“Little over a month.” Kai answers.

“You wanted him to accept it, didn’t you?” Riley asks.

“Yes of course.” Kai says quickly. “It’s just that he’s probably not going to be able to make it back for prom or our grad ceremony.. Three months is a long time- What if Noah meets some cute math whizz and forgets about me.”

“Forget Kai Olsen?” Riley raises a brow. “Impossible.”

“I’m being serious.” Kai pouts.

“So am I!” Riley stresses. “So it’s three months- Then you have four years together and then the whole rest of your lives after that!”

“I haven’t heard back from Notre Dame or any of the surrounding schools yet.” Kai says.

“You’re going to get in!” Riley exclaims.

“How do you know?” Kai folds his arms like huffy child.

“Because you’re Kai.” Riley smirks.

“That’s only cute when Noah and I say it about you.” Kai breaks his sulking with a smile.

“Yeah well I’m not trying to be cute.” Riley smiles.

“Maybe I’d feel better if my best friend trusted me enough to read her play.” Kai sighs heavily.

“That’s not going to work.” Riley pokes her friend.

“Sorry for being interested in my best friends life.” Kai pretends to be offended.

“Fine, you can read it.” Riley rolls her eyes knowing he will never give up. Also, there was a small part of her longing to share it with him, despite how embarrassed and nervous it made her feel.

The very next morning Riley grows nervous as she approaches Kai in the hall at school. He's walking towards her with with a look of awe.

“Amazing.” Is the first thing Kai says once they meet by the hole. “Ah-mazing!” Kai waves the papers in his hand.

“Stop.” Riley looks around embarrassed.

“I actually cried.” Kai says. “Legitimate tears streamed down my face once I finished.”

“You’re just saying that.” Riley rejects the praise.

“Hear me when I say: pure genius.” Kai continues, “Ri, this is beautiful. Powerful!”

“Okay that’s a little much.” Riley giggles nervously.

“No. Not at all.” Kai says. “Is this how you felt-feel?”

“It comes from the heart.” Riley nods sheepishly admitting that the play is indeed personal to her. “Can I have it back now?”

“Sorry no.” Kai pulls it close to his chest. “I called Noah last night to talk about it and he wants to read through it before class.”

“Kai!” Riley pouts.

“Love you!” He’s already walking backwards steps back down the hall. As Kai spins around he knocks into Lucas. Uncharacteristically he laughs it off and pats the Texan on his shoulder. “Genius.” Is all he says before continuing on his way.

“Well that was weird.” Lucas laughs as he approaches Riley.

“You’re telling me.” Riley laughs too.

“Was that your play he was talking about?” Lucas pokes his thumb back.

“He’s exaggerating his reaction of course.” Riley swats the air dismissively.

“Can I read it next?” Lucas asks.

“No.” Riley laughs. “Kai has best friend rights, after he shows Noah I’m probably going to burn it.”

Lucas knows she’s only being dramatic but he still gives Riley a frowned expression. “I have something for you.”

“What?” Riley is nervous as she watched Lucas fiddle in his backpack.

“Here.” Lucas hands Riley two frames.

Subconsciously Riley looks around her feeling anxious about the situation. Riley looks at the first frames contents a small smile crosses her face once she realises what it is. Riley then inspects the second one and her grin grows.

“Lucas.” Riley coaxes her head and points her smile towards him.

“I just wanted to give you something to show how far you've come.” Lucas points at the frame. “You did this.”

Riley smiles at the gift once more. One frame contains a print of her very first front page of the newspaper and the second is a copy of the last cover she posted just the day before.

"You have to stop doing things like this.” Riley says but her smile doesn’t falter.

“Just being friendly.” Lucas shrugs with a grin of his own.

“Stop.” Riley says trying to control her smile.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Lucas shrugs again and he starts to walk backwards. He still smiles as he turns around to continue walking.

“Lucas!” Riley calls out and he stops and turns back around. “Thank you.” Riley adds as she taps the frame in her hand. Lucas gives her a simple nod and continues on his way.

Just before final bell Riley receives a notice that Ms. Mitchell wants to see her after class. Once she packs up her things Riley makes her way to the auditorium where her drama teachers office resides.

Unsure as to why she’s been called into her office, Riley has an anxious feeling bubbling in her chest. Riley knocks on the door and is invited in. She’s surprised to find Kai and CJ both standing in front of Ms. Mitchell’s desk.

“Please take a seat.” Ms. Mitchell waves her hand. Riley cautiously sits in the seat Kai hovers by. A bad feeling sitting in the pit of her stomach as she has a sneaking suspicion as to what’s about to transpire. She gives Kai a mild scold already anticipating his involvement in this all. He’s purposely avoiding eye contact. It’s just CJ’s presence that confuses Riley about this meeting.

“During my lunch period today I read over your stage play.” The teachers says and confirms Riley’s worrying suspicion. “And it was absolutely marvellous, having anxiety be a sentient form gives a very interesting depth to the protagonist.” Ms. Mitchell says.

“That’s exactly how I felt!” Kai cuts in with his own praise and CJ shares of soft chuckle.

“Now if you wanted to present this to the drama club for a vote on whether or not we bring it to life for the production in April-”

“What?” Riley cuts in shaking her head crazily. ”No. No, no. No!”

“Riley, just hear her out.” Kai pleas.

“I never meant for this to be read by anyone, let alone run it for the entire school to see!” Riley shifts awkwardly in her seat.

“Is this the first stage play you’ve ever written?” The eccentric woman questions. Riley gives her a slight nod but doesn’t speak. Ms. Mitchell continues, “Of course the choice is yours, Miss Matthews. No one is forcing you to present the play but in the same note I do think this would be a spectacular finishing note for your work here in the drama club. Not to mention the sheer talent you’ve shown in a piece written by a beginner. If you later choose to pursue this as career option I say bringing this play to life under the schools funding would be a wise move.”

“A career?” Riley laughs nervously.

Ms. Mitchell can see just how blindsided Riley is by this all and how overwhelmed the teen is so she tries to wrap it up for the sake of Riley. “Again I say the choice is yours, dear. Our next drama club meeting is at the end of this month [February] until then I’ve asked CJ if he’d assist you with preparing some musical queues, transition pieces etc. to help the play flow. Kai has already offered to work alongside you in preparing a short demonstration piece for the rest of the club so they can have a real image of your play when we put it to a vote.”

“Oh how generous of him.” Riley gives a mild side glare to her best friend whom shrugs innocently earning another light chuckle from an otherwise quiet CJ.

The meeting wraps up and the three teens all exit Ms. Mitchell’s office together.

“I look forward to reading your play if you choose to go through with this.” CJ says. “I’m happy to work during our lunch period or after school, whatever suits you really.”

“Thank you but I’m not sure I’ll be going through with this.” Riley half smiles.

“I know Ms. Mitchell can be a little nutty sometimes but she had a good point in there,” CJ pauses to laugh softly, “If you do decide that maybe this is something you could do as a career, having the school fund this play is a great opportunity.”

“I will keep that in mind.” Riley nods.

“You know where to find me if you decide.” CJ winks and parts ways with the other two.

Kai just giggles nervously once he’s alone with Riley. “Surprise...” He begins walking.

“It was a surprise all right.” Riley gives him a look and moves quickly to catch up to him. “Kai, I wrote this play to help myself understand what I went through and to further help me overcome the anxiety I was suffering with. This play was extremely personal and therapeutic for me.”

“I know.” Kai says genuinely. “But it’s a story of anxiety not your exact story. That’s why I thought it would be alright.... It’s just that this play is so real and relatable for teenagers - for adults even- You have the chance to help reach students going through similar things to you.”

“What if people find out about-”

“Mental health is nothing to be ashamed about.” Kai says matter of factly.

“I know that.” Riley is slightly offended that he’d even imply that she thought otherwise.

“I totally get that what you went through was private.” Kai softens noticing her offence. “And I know I can be pushy sometimes but I feel like it’s my job.”

“Sorry being my best friend is such a chore.” Riley scoffs.

“Ri,” Kai grabs her by the shoulders gently but firmly holds her gaze, “I push because I believe in you. One of these days you're going to wake up and see in yourself what everybody else around you does, but until then I will happily keep reminding you.”

Riley smiles at his sweet declaration but still has a great deal of anxiety towards agreeing. “I’m just not sure.”

“You have the whole month to think about it-” Kai says. “At least just think it over tonight?”

“Okay.” Riley wears a small smile as she nods.

The pair coincidentally are approaching Lucas’ locker as the Texan shoves books into his backpack. He sends Riley a small smile not planning on reaching out to her with Kai present.

Kai’s fiddling with his phone after receiving a text from Noah when he notices Riley give Lucas a small wave. Much to everyones surprise Kai is the one to stop.

“Maybe Captain America here will have better luck convincing you.” Kai jokes and it shocks Riley that there doesn’t even seem to be a hint of malice in his remark - other than the nickname of course.

“Convincing her of what?” Lucas asks taking any opportunity to try win over Kai, even a little bit would help him out.

“That she should present her play for the April production.” Kai says.

“Kai?” Riley is surprised he’s sharing this with Lucas.

Kai shrugs. “You already told Lucas about the play so I’m just keeping him in the loop.”

“Yeah thanks a lot.” Riley says sarcastically.

“I have to meet Noah but i’ll swing by the bakery, you’re working tonight?” Kai is already taking a few steps towards his exit point.

“Yeah, see you there?” Riley is still confused by his flipped mood but doesn’t question it aloud.

Riley turns her sheepish smile to Lucas unsure of what to say. He seems just as confused as Riley. “Uh, I’ll walk you out?” Lucas motions down the hall. Riley nods and the two begin their strides.

“Captain America, that’s a new one.” Lucas chuckles as they walk. “Kai has been… nicer… to me lately, hasn't he?” Lucas laughs. “I’m not imagining it?”

“Kai has been… distracted.” Riley sways her head from side to side.

“With Noah leaving an all?” Lucas questions.

“You heard about that?” Riley raises a brow.

“We may be on different teams but we share the same Varsity status.” Lucas playfully nudges Riley’s arm.

“I had no idea I was in the presence of royalty.” Riley joke curtseys.

“It sounds like I should be the impressed one. Shakespeare’s reincarnation walks amongst us.” Lucas chuckles.

“Over exaggeration of the year.” Riley scoffs.

“So they want to run your play?” Lucas questions.

“Ms. Mitchell thinks it has the potential,” Riley corrects him in a dismiss way, “It would still have to be voted on by the drama club.” Riley giggles nervously.

“They’re going to vote for it.” Lucas says confidently.

“You haven’t even read it, how could you possibly know?” Riley laughs.

“Because I believe in you.” Lucas states.

“Blind belief.” Riley purses her lips. “That can sometimes get you into trouble.”

“Hey, you believe in everyone and everything.” Lucas gives her a knowing look. “You have to save some of that belief for yourself sometimes.”

“You know if Kai didn’t dislike you so much I think you two would get along really well.”

“Oh yeah and why’s that?” Lucas asks.

“Because you both care about me.” Riley says bashfully.

Lucas can’t hide his growing smile but Riley has to set him straight before he gets his hopes up.

“This doesn’t change anything.” Riley waves her index finger. “I can acknowledge the fact that your care for me seems genuine. That doesn’t mean anything has changed about how I feel.”

“Nothing has changed?” Lucas asks still smiling. “You still don’t even consider us to be friends, not even a little?”

“Maybe a little-” Riley holds her hand up to stop him from interrupting. “But only a little. You still don’t get to read my play.”

“Well I look forward to seeing it open night.” Lucas grins.

“Bye, Lucas.” Riley says not entering into further conversation about her play.

“Bye, friend.” Lucas chuckles and Riley just shakes her head as she walks away.

The following morning Riley wakes to her alarm with sun spilling through her windows and a newfound positivity that set in overnight. The brunette rolls over and picks up her cell from the side table. A few notifications present but a text from Lucas received only a few minutes before she woke catches her eye.

From: Lucas Friar 6:42am Should Shakespeare be quaking in his boots?

His text is obviously asking if she’s going to put forth her play for the vote. Riley types her reply before they enter some light back and forth.

To: Lucas Friar 6:46am Do you know any playwrights that are actually alive.. Or at least from this century?

From: Lucas Friar 6:46am I know you, don’t I?

To: Lucas Friar 6:47am I don’t think it counts until the drama club votes…

From: Lucas Friar 6:48am You have my vote.

To: Lucas Friar 6:49am You’re not in the drama club so it doesn’t count

To: Lucas Friar 6:49am But thank you 😊

At school in the morning Lucas is just about to stop Riley but she sends him an apologetic smile before flagging down CJ as he passes.

“Does your offer still stand?” Riley asks sheepishly.

“Of course.” CJ grins. “Does this mean I get to read your play?”

Nervously, Riley hands CJ a copy of her play. The music man looks at the tittle page with a smile. “Cool.” He finds Riley’s gaze again but she lowers hers bashfully. The bell sounds and students begin to scurry off to their home rooms.

“Meet me in the music room after school?” CJ asks as a student cuts between them.

“Thanks, CJ.” Riley nods.

Once final bell rings for the day Riley makes her way to the music room. As Riley approaches the classroom she hears faint piano music playing. Quietly, Riley observes from the doorway as CJ fiddles with the black and white keys.

“That’s really pretty.” Riley says, startling the boy. “What is it?”

“That’s actually something I composed.” CJ admits sheepishly.

“You wrote that?” Riley asks in awe.

“Yeah. I read through your play during my English class this morning and I got inspired.” CJ says it as if it’s no big deal.

“You wrote that because of my play?” Riley asks touched.

“For the final scene actually.” CJ says, “It’s supposed to summarise the journey she’s gone through.”

“Really?” Riley asks genuinely interested.

“Yeah. Do you want to hear the full piece?” CJ pats the space beside him on the stool. Riley joins him on the seat and listens as he plays the sweet tune Riley overheard upon entering. In it’s entirety it was even more lovely to hear. CJ explains how each part represents a person or point in the story.

“I had no idea music could tell stories like that.” Riley says once he’s finished playing. “Without lyrics at least.”

“So do you like it?” CJ asks with a smile.

“I love it.” Riley giggles. “I knew you were a talented pianist but I had no idea you composed music too.”

“If I’m being honest I prefer writing the music to playing it.” CJ says.

“Is it your thing?” Riley asks.

“My thing?” CJ lets out a quiet laugh.

Riley shakes her head at herself for letting Lucas creep through into the moment. “I mean is composing what you want to do?”

“Yeah.” CJ smiles but he appears to be holding something back.

“What is it?” Riley lightly presses.

“I have an audition for Juilliard on Friday.” CJ says quietly.

“That’s amazing!” Riley beams.

“Yeah I haven’t really told anyone.” CJ admits.

“Why not, that’s such a huge accomplishment?” Riley questions.

“Yeah but if I don’t get in...”

“Ah, that I can relate to.” Riley nods in understanding.

“You can?” CJ pricks up a brow.

Riley backed herself into a corner so nervously she opens up. “I actually applied to three more colleges then any of my friends or family actually know about.”

“Which ones?” CJ asks.

“Harvard.. Yale.. Columbia..” Riley shrugs innocently.

“And suddenly I feel a lot stupider.” CJ jokes.

“You can’t tell anyone.” Riley says. “Especially Kai. He gets all huffy when he’s not the first to know these things about me.”

“I can’t say I don’t understand where he’s coming from.” CJ wears a crooked smile. “I like that you told me about about Harvard... and Yale and Columbia.” He laughs and Riley gets caught up in his gaze.

“Uhh-” Riley bows her head. “So any other ideas about the play?”

Directly after her session with CJ, Riley practically runs to the first person she can think of.

“Bad bad bad bad, very bad!” Riley bursts through Caitlin’s bedroom door.

“Gee, Matthews what can I do for you this fine afternoon?” Caitlin puts down the book she was reading.

“I think I might like a boy.” Riley huffs as she paces around the room.

“If you're asking for the birds and bees talk I have to tell ya it works differently for me.” Caitlin jokes.

“I’m being serious.” Riley stops to frown.

“And so am I... to an extent.” Caitlin sits up on her bed and crosses her legs. “This sounds like a Kai thing.”

“NoOoOo,” Riley chuckles through the extended word. “If I tell Kai about CJ-”

“Wait we’re talking about CJ?” Caitlin cuts in. “The piano boy with dimples?”

“Yes.” Riley resumes her pacing. “Who did you think I meant?”

“Lucas.” Caitlin says bluntly.

Another nervous giggle from Riley. “This is not about Lucas.”

“Okay. So CJ..” Caitlin waves her hand for Riley to continue.

“He was showing me a composition he prepared for my play-”

“Your what?” Caitlin crinkles her brows.

“Not important.” Riley shakes her head. “We were just talking and then he’s smiling and suddenly I’m panicking.”

“So you like him?” Caitlin smiles. “Ask him out.”

“I can’t ask him out.” Riley gasps at the suggestion.

“Oh-kay.” Caitlin laughs at her theatrics. “Do you think he may like you back?”

“That’s not what I’m worried about!” Riley exclaims.

“What’s the problem?” She presses.

“Nothing..” Riley shakes her head.

“I still don't understand why we’re not telling Kai?” Caitlin coaxes her head.

“I can’t tell Kai because some of my confusion also comes from Lucas.” Riley says all in one breath. Finally getting it off her chest.

“So this is about Lucas.” Caitlin says knowingly. “You still like him.”

“No. No, no, nOoO.” Riley laughs nervously. “I do not like Lucas.”

“Yeah cause that sounds totally believable.” Caitlin snorts.

“Lucas is Lucas, you know?” Riley asks but doesn’t wait for an answer. “All he has to do is flash me his stupid perfect smile and suddenly I’m twelve years old again.”

“Do we need to get you a blindfold?” Caitlin jokes. “If boys keep smiling at you I think you might explode.”

“Very funny.” Riley folds her arms. “Mock me in my time of need.”

“Riley,” Caitlin sighs and tries to approach things with less humour. “You come to me with these problems but you’re never really looking for an answer.”

“You’re supposed to tell me to ignore everything and hope it goes away.” Riley pouts.

“There’s four months left of school. Do you really want to graduate with regrets?” Cait sports a sympathetic smile. “Sounds to me like you’ve got some feelings to figure out. If you’re really not ready to entertain the idea of something romantic with Lucas I don’t know if this weird flirty friendship thing is good for you.”

“It is not flirty.” Riley says defensively.

“It’s time to figure this out, Riley.” Caitlin says softly.

“I know.” Riley lets out a heavy sigh. Things were complicating and she knew Caitlin was right, she wouldn’t be able to run away from it all forever.

↠

In just under a month things seemed to complicate even more for the stressed out brunette. With Noah busy preparing for his early departure Kai seemed to rely on Riley a great deal to fill his absence. Riley continued to work with CJ one afternoon and one lunchtime a week. His sweet nature made Riley melt more with every moment spent with him. Guilt also coursed through her as she noticed Lucas’ apparent jealousy when it came to CJ. Although the Texan did his best to keep a level head it was evident that it bothered him thinking Riley could be moving on.

With the time Riley spent with CJ and the more clingy Kai seemed to be this past month Lucas pulled back with his advances trying to respect Riley’s space and hectic schedule. Although she couldn't admit it aloud, Riley did miss having Lucas around. This is why she hasn't been able to finally sever all ties with him.

Now Riley sits in the classroom where the drama club meeting is being held. Ms. Mitchell opens the lines of communication for anyone wanting to suggest what production they’ll run next month. A few ideas fly around before she presents Riley’s play to the group, giving a rough synopsis before Kai performs a monologue from Anxiety’s character. Unanimously the group decides to go forward with Riley’s play.

After the meeting, Riley anxiously makes her way home to share the news with her parents. The whole play thing was kept from them this past month as Riley didn’t want to leave room for disappointment if things didn’t go the way she hoped.

Riley takes a deep breath before entering her apartment. Cory and Topanga sit on the sofa with goofy smiles and both turn their heads when their daughter enters the room.

“I have something I’ve been meaning to tell you...” Riley says nervously as she approaches.

“Honey, I think we know what this is about.” Cory says with a smile.

“You do?” Riley knits her brows together.

“A couple letters came in the mail for you today.” Topanga is bursting with excitement as she motions towards the coffee table. Riley follows her direction and spots four large envelopes lined perfectly along the table.

Riley holds her breath as her eyes notices the different college logos printed on the corners of each of the envelopes. The only four colleges she applied to other than back up schools.

“Why didn’t you tell us you applied to other colleges?” Cory asks.

“These other colleges.” Topanga stresses.

“I didn’t tell anyone- Well I told Mr. Feeny because I asked him to write me recommendation letters but that’s not the point-” Riley nervously rambles, her eyes still glued to the letters on the table. “I knew there’s no chance I would get in so I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

“Honey.” Topanga says firmly and Riley lifts her gaze. “They’re the big envelopes.”

“Maybe they're just really sorry I didn’t get in.” Riley laughs and all sorts of nerves pour through.

“You ready to find that out?” Cory asks softly.

Riley takes a deep breath and opens four letters that could potentially change the course of her future.

The next day at school Riley shares the secret results Noah and Kai.

“YOU GOT IN TO ALL FOUR?” Kai quite literally shouts.

“Shh.” Riley lowers her gaze anxiously.

“As if.” Kai hugs Riley tightly. “Literally everyone is going to know about this by lunch.”

“Congratulations, Sunshine.” Noah says very sweetly. “I knew you had it in you.”

“Thanks for the brochures.” Riley grins back.

News spread quite quickly, mainly because Kai told anyone who would listen and Riley nervously thanks people as they congratulate her. The brunette felt very awkward, like she was showing off but part of her liked the attention, it made her prouder of her efforts over the years.

Two particular congratulations stuck with Riley more than the others.

“Boy do I feel even stupider now.” CJ jokes with Riley at lunch.

“Any word from Juilliard yet?” Riley questions trying to pass off the attention.

“I won't hear until April.” CJ explains.

Then after final bell Lucas catches up with Riley.

“What was Princeton too good for you?” Lucas opens with a joke.

“I didn’t apply.” Riley shrugs. “I heard they’re lucky if they accept more than one student from the same school a year.”

“Funny, both Farkle and Isadora got their acceptance letters last week.” Lucas gives Riley a knowing look.

“I’m very happy for them.” Riley smiles back.

“I knew those brochures weren't for Kai.” Lucas says. “You deserve this, Riley.”

“Thanks, Lucas.” Riley smiles sweetly and finds herself lingering a little longer than needed. “My parents are having a little celebration thing at the bakery now... If you want to come?”

“I want to.” Lucas nods lightly. Riley knew that Kai had already invited CJ but still Riley couldnt help herself, she wanted him there.

A few days later Noah leaves for Notre Dame leaving a very upset Kai behind. Riley is on full time best friend duty from that moment onwards putting all boy confusion to the back of her mind.

Another month passes and Riley has gained a great deal of confidence about her play. With each and every rehearsal the brunette grows prouder of her efforts and watching it all come to life before her eyes is truly rewarding.

Riley takes a co-director roll with this production. It meant more to her to oversee it as a whole rather than be in the play itself. A decision Ms. Mitchell happily supported.

The Junior Sophie - whom played the cowardly lion in the last play - takes on one of the two main leads, she is the character Riley loosely based on herself and Kai plays the roll of sentient being that represents anxiety. after his short monologue presenting it to the drama club, Ms. Mitchell had already quietly made up her mind about him playing the part.

Riley was busy in this month, sure she saw CJ during rehearsals and Lucas was still there every now and then but she grew no closer to sorting out her feelings with everything else that was on her mind. Riley had a lot of her spare time taken up making sure Kai was okay. A few choice phone calls with Noah upset him deeply, especially the most recent when Noah confirmed he wouldn't be able to make it for prom.

Opening night arrives and Riley’s anxiety has flared up but there’s also an exhilarating excitement coursing through her. The crowd is beginning to fill the auditorium and Riley takes a few deep breaths backstage. CJ approaches with his beautiful smile and Riley takes a few more nervous breaths.

“I know this is your big night and all but I couldn’t wait to tell you.” CJ says with a growing smile.

“Tell me what?” Nerves building as Riley anticipates his response.

“I got the letter this afternoon, I got into Juilliard.” CJ says excitedly.

“That’s amazing!” Riley wraps her arms around him in a hug and CJ lifts her feet off the ground and spins her around.

“Oh, hey Lucas.” CJ says awkwardly as he puts Riley’s feet back down on the ground.

“Lucas!” Riley says guiltily like she’s been caught doing something wrong even though she knew she hadn't.

“I can come back.” Lucas shifts awkwardly.

“No it’s okay.” CJ says even though he knew Lucas was talking to Riley. “I have to double check the sheet music.”

“Hi.” Riley says once she’s alone with Lucas.

“Hey.” He smiles but there’s a sadness behind it. “I have something for you.”

“It’s not another rose is it?” Riley jokes lightly but the mood is off. Lucas hands Riley something and she inspects it.

“Is this a hat?” riley laughs.

“It’s supposed to be Shakespearean.” Lucas plays with the feather. “At least that’s what the costume shop owner said...”

“Thank you?” Riley narrows her brows.

“I got it because he’s the second best playwright I know, after you of course.” Lucas wears a weak smile.

Riley’s smile grows at his sweet statement. “You still haven't read my play.”

“Yeah but I still believe in you.” Lucas smiles.

“After this we’re all hanging out on my rooftop, If like if you came?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Kai has been missing Noah too much to be phased by anything else,” Riley lightly jokes, “You should take advantage of that.”

“Riley, there you are! It’s time to take a seat.” Ms. Mitchell interrupts the moment.

“You should go.” Lucas smiles. “This is your big night.”

“Please come tonight?” Riley smiles.

“Sure.” Lucas nods. “I’ll see you there.”

The play went off without a hitch. A completely well received success. A life changing event for the brunette. As Riley stood on stage for her final bow she knew that she might not know which college she was going to yet but she did know what she wanted to go to college for.

“And now in honour of our playwright, Riley, we’d like to present to you all a special encore performance.” Ms. Mitchell says over the microphone and makes her way back to her seat in the audience. She’s previously been on stage introducing all cast and crew members for the bows.

“A what?” Riley knits her brows and looks to Kai.

A smile widely plastered on her best friends face as he takes a few backwards steps. Confused, Riley’s head turns from left to right as she feels an arm link with each of hers, two drama club members are on either side of her. Both the students lead her backwards and Riley ends up being sat down in a swivel chair. Riley looks up and finds that all the students from the final bow had either scattered or disappeared, Kai now amongst the missing.

“What is going on?” Riley can’t help but nervously laugh. She turns to Sophie, one of the drama club members that sat her down. The junior is unresponsive other than a wide knowing smile like Kai had moments before. Tyler, the other theatre member that held onto Riley’s arm still stands on the other side of her, he and Sophie push Riley’s chair towards the edge of the stage.

Riley’s head snaps towards the orchestra section as an upbeat piano tune begins to play. CJ is already looking over to her and gives Riley a wink. Another nervous giggle leaves the senior as she turns her attention back towards the stage and she watches the curtains reopen, instantly noticing the set is different from the final scene of her play. The projector screen had been rolled down, a simple brick pattern was being displayed with bold text that reads, ‘Freshman Year’. In front sits a small table and bench like seat.

The words freshman year fades off the screen and just a plain brick wall picture is left behind. Suddenly Kai’s voice bellows through the auditorium. “Too soft to play Danny Zuko? Pfft.” The boy in glasses marches across the stage and stands in front of the projected brick wall. “I’ll show them!”

Riley slaps a hand over her gaping mouth knowing exactly what he’s acting out but still unsure as to why. Confused but in a good kind of shocked state, Riley watches on.

Kai proceeds to dramatically wave a pretend cigarette in the air and fumbles with it when someone else bursts onto the stage. Riley’s shocked to see it’s Caitlin in a brunette wig quite literally wearing Riley’s clothes. The free spirit is over dramatising a pouty ‘boo hoo’ face to the crowd.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think anyone would be out here.” Caitlin’s imitation voice of Riley isn’t new to the brunettes ears. Riley giggles at the very goofy dramatised version of how she met Kai.

“Me either.” Kai shrugs towards the crowd. “Are you alright?”

“Teenage problems, am I right?” Caitlin places two hands on her hips.

“Tell me about it.” Kai exaggerates a nod.

“Well. Bye.” Caitlin says after a dramatic pause. She turns to leave but Kai stops her.

“Wait, maybe we can help each other?” Kai’s eyes widen.

“What did you have in mind?” Caitlin scrunches up her face. Suddenly Sophie and Tyler are out on stage helping both Kai and Caitlin into jackets whilst a few other students are taking away the makeshift courtyard table.

The image on the projector screen changes to a still of Rydell High, the high school from Grease. Both the teens on stage turn around and poke their thumbs down towards the logos on their jackets. Kai the T-Bird and Caitlin the Pink Lady.

“We may not be Danny and Sandy…” Kai shakes his head. “… But at least we go together…” A familiar intro begins to play. A small clip of ‘We Go Together’ from Grease plays and the two do a small part of the freshman play choreography, jazz hands and all.

“I think this beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Kai says once the music fades out and he pulls Caitlin in for a hug. As they embrace a clip of a day calendar pops up on the screen with each day blowing by quickly. Once Riley and Kai separate they pull off their jackets and toss them to either side.

“Boys, boys, boys, boys, boys.” Kai says repetitively as he nods with a wide smile.

“Boys, boys, boys, boys, boys.” Caitlin mimics but with a crinkled expression and the shake of her head. This makes everyone in the crowd laugh, including Riley.

The projector screen continues to play the clip of the calendar days quickly going by as the two teens fake giggle and move around in front as if they were making a mini montage of their friendship and time gone by.

“Summer!” Kai exclaims. A picture of Cinderella's castle shows up on the screen. Both Caitlin and Kai pick up something off the floor that Riley didnt even notice was there. They each slip on two sets of ears, Caitlin has the trademark Minnie ears and Kai sports the Mickey pair. The boy in glasses pulls out his phone and the two dramatise a selfie in front of the iconic castle, thus giving Riley warm and fuzzie feels of their summer trip to Orlando all those years ago.

“Let me see!” Caitlin squeaks and the two huddle together with the phone. “Ah I blinked! Delete it!”

“No I’m saving it as my locksceen.” Kai laughs. Then the screen changes to the actual picture the two little actors were joking about. Riley cringes but still in a smiley way at her derpy Disney selfie.

Then Riley’s two friends disappear behind the big projector screen and a slide show of some of Rileys fondest memories play. Numerous silly sleepover selfies of Riley and Kai together, snap shots from adventures and outings, drama club shots, all posts in chronological order and each photo making Riley feel warmer than the last. Eventually faces like Noah, Caitlin and Harper all join the mix.

The screen then changes to a picture of the halls at AA High. A familiar school bell sound rings through the auditorium and Caitlin and Kai return from behind the screen, Caitlin wearing a different dress of Riley’s and Kai wearing a new shirt.

“Can you believe we’re seniors?” Kai sways on his feet excitedly. “This year is going to great- more than great!” Kai bounces on his toes.

The two then stand still and a ‘six months later’ sign flashes on the screen before the same picture of the halls pops back up.

“How has nothing gone to plan?” Kai whines once he unfreezes his position.

“Teenage problems, am I right?” Caitlin places her hands on her lips like the beginning of the ‘play’ and the crowd chuckles.

“But at least we have each other, right?” Kai coaxes his head with a sweet smile.

“Nah,” Caitlin says, “I’m bored of this. I don’t want to play Riley anymore.”

“Cait!” Kai pretends to be thrown off by her scripted declaration. Laugther ensues as people can’t completely tell if this was planned or not.

The free spirit pulls off her brunette wig and tosses it to the side. “Make Matthews play herself for the final scene.”

“Well okay!” Kai says positively and walks over to where Riley sits. Kai takes her by the hand and leads her towards the centre of the stage where the fake courtyard has now been reset. Kai helps Riley up and they both sit on the table top.

“You’re insane.” Riley whispers, she’s too overwhelmed to be embarrassed by the attention.

Kai gives Riley a wink before coaxing his head. “You’re the Jan to my Putzie, the Dorothy to my Tin Man, the Minnie to my Mickey- I thought this would rhyme better.” Kai points a purposeful shrieky face towards the crowd and laughter spreads. He turns back to Riley and holds both her hands in his. “Now I’m not saying our meeting was fate but I would love if that meeting lead to you being my prom date?”

Riley rolls her head forward with a laugh of sheer amazement. “That’s what this is?” Riley asks with a goofy smile plastered on her face.” Her voice isn't projected into a microphone so only Kai can hear her.

“What do you say, Ri?” He asks with a sweet smile.

“Of course I’ll go to prom with you.” Riley grins.

“She said yes!” Kai shoots up with hands extended in the air and the crowd erupts into cheers. The rest of the drama club and crew members who were in on this run back onto stage, Caitlin included, bowing before joining in on the applause. All sorts of confetti flies around as Riley’s best friend helps her to stand up too so she can get the attention she deserves.

Kai pulls off his headset microphone and gives Riley another hug.

“I was going to ask you to prom.” Riley says as they part. She had genuinely been planning on it only a day before, she wanted to make prom special for her best friend especially since he was so down about Noah not being able to make it.

“I thought you might so I made sure to give you the proposal you desvre first.”

“I guess it helps being super social, means you have lots of people willing to help you with over the top things such as this.” Riley has to shout a little to be heard over the commotion.

“Nah,” Kai shakes his head, “No one wanted to help until I told them it was for you.”

The look on her best friends face had Riley know he was sincere and the statement and this whole gesture itself had Riley on the brink of tears.

Afterwards all cast and crew wind up on Riley’s rooftop like she had planned. She’s making her rounds through the crowd, a gaze always wandering around other people.

“I can’t believe you agreed to do that on stage.” Riley laughs at Caitlin.

“I told Kai I wasn’t going to let anyone else make fun of you like that.” Caitlin smirks.

“And I told her that it wasn’t making fun of you!” Kai laughs.

Riley’s eyes wander again and a smile creeps on her face once she spots Lucas enter through the door. The brunette excuses herself from her current conversation and skips over to him.

“There you are.” Riley pulls him in for a hug, her excitement transferring into an extra warm welcoming.

“Your play was amazing.” Lucas praises genuinely. “I didn’t doubt it for a second but you still blew me away.”

“Thank you.” Riley coaxes her head with a smile.

“And that was some promposal, huh?”

“Very big commotion.” Riley laughs.

“You deserve the attention.” Lucas smiles. “Definitely beats anything I would have come up with.” Lucas says and Riley was unsure if that was him unwittingly admitting to planning on asking her not. She doesn’t bring it up instead she pokes at his seemingly off mood.

“What’s wrong?” Riley questions.

“Nothing.” Lucas shakes his head.

“Come on I know you better than that.” Riley says. “What’s up?”

“This is your night, Riley.” Lucas smiles.

“I’m not giong to be able to focus on anything else until you tell me what’s up.” Riley states. Lucas still looks reluctant but Riley tugs at his sleeve and leads him off the rooftop and inside into the quiet.

“What’s on your mind?” Riley asks again.

“I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything.” Lucas finally speaks.

“I know.” Riley laughs unsure of why this is being brought up. “In fact I believe I told you that very fact myself.”

“I know you like CJ.” Lucas holds Riley’s gaze.

“How could you possibly know that?” Riley shifts nervously.

“Because you look at him the way you used to look at me.” Lucas says solemnly.

“Lucas-”

“I’m not trying to guilt you, Riley and I’m not giving up either.” Lucas says. “But I will step back and give you time to work things out with CJ without the added pressure of my persistence, because I owe you that.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Riley is genuinely at a loss for words.

“You don’t have to say anything.” Lucas says. “I just want you to know that I’m still in this thing until you say otherwise.”

Riley knew in that moment she could have cut all ties, apologised and maybe one day some sort of friendship could be salvaged from the mess but she didn’t. She let him walk away as an option and hated herself for it. Lucas may of hurt her but she knew it wasn’t fair to continue going on like this.

Graduation is vast approaching and Riley was determined to graduate with no regrets. This all had to end.

End Notes: SO THIS IS LONG. I hope y'all are staying with me so far... Somethings are changing!! Riley is v confused and also feeling guilty for feeling!!

I hope none of this is received wrong. I don't want anyone to think that ANYONE in this story is emotionally manipulating anyone in anyway because its not my intent to portray them that way.

NEXT CHAPTER: P R O M !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! King? Queen? Riley? Lucas? Kai? CJ? No regrets?

soz for errors its too long for me to be bothered editing efficiently sdlghdfkjh

#rucas #rucas au #rucas fic #rucas fanfic

99 notes · View notes