#since the actual project head took their hands off the wheel basically AS SOON AS I JOINED

[urban-hart]

*looking through some sketches for that older collab project I mentioned once* I WANNA DRAW MORE PROJECT STUFF!! :D

*flashbacks to the frustrating team dynamics* Ohhhhhh right right, that's why I haven't touched it in over a year :c

[nadisabug]

Plus One

Pairing: Oikawa Tooru x reader

Genre: angst, hurt/comfort, fluff

Warnings: cursing

Word Count: 3.1 k

Summary: You would do anything for Tooru, but is he asking too much when he asks you to be his plus one to his sister’s wedding?

A/N: Thank you to my lovely betas @luvnami and @snoozless !!!!! This is for the HQ Hangout Net’s Spring Formal Event! Everyone check out the other amazing works everyone else did @hqhangout​ !!!

This was too much.

You felt like imploding. 

The pressure in your head was just too much to bear; tears welled at your eyes and a solid lump was forming in your throat. This was just too much. 

However, you kept up your facade. You were still smiling, eyes dry, looking up at Tooru. 

And he was smiling down at you. 

“Well?” He asked again.

There were a lot of things you could do. You were talented, not that you recognized it yourself. But you were strong, you could do anything you set your mind to. You could say ‘no’ and stand up for yourself. You have done it before. 

Like when that chump from your class asked you for your homework. Or like when he then asked you out on a date. Or like when he had asked to put his name on a project that he had done now work for. 

You could say no. 

You should say no. 

So why didn’t you?

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

“Hajime, I am going to die,” you groaned into the phone. Tooru had just dropped you off at your house.  You called your best friend as soon as you could, still reeling from the life-changing conversation.

“Well, I mean, what did you say?” His voice was level and calm like always, even though you were in hysterics.

“I don’t have a dress,” you sighed. 

“Y/n, that’s basically a yes.” 

“I am aware!” 

“What did he say?”

You fell silent. 

“Y/n, what did he say?”

You mumbled your response, pressing your mouth to the end of the phone. 

“Well I for one can’t fix that. You’re screwed,” he said matter-of-factly. 

“Don’t say that Hajime! You’re supposed to make me feel better!” 

“He wants to go dress shopping with you, on top of being his date to his sister’s wedding, you’re doomed. I'm sorry that’s just how it is.” 

“Hajime!” 

“What, what am I supposed to say? I want to be optimistic but this is kinda the worst it can get. Especially since you’ve been in love with him sin-”

“I am not in love with him!”

Hajime didn’t respond. You sighed. 

“Fine I am, but how does saying it help anything?” 

“I’m just trying to get a better sense of your situation.”

“Oh really? It sounds like you’re trying to rub it in.”

“You know I would never,” Hajime sighed. 

“Yeah, you’re a good friend,” you paused. “A really good friend, the best friend. How long have we been friends? Quite some time right, I was thinking-”

“I am not coming with you and that is final.”

“Please, Hajime, I’m begging you.”

“Well beg someone else, Y/n, because I am not third wheeling.”

“Hajime, it won’t be third wheeling!”

“Yes it will, it’s a no and that’s final!” He paused for a moment. “Sorry, Y/n, but I just can’t. It’s already too much having to play therapist to you both talking about each other.”

“Oh shove off,” you rolled your eyes. “He does not like me.”

“Whatever,” Hajime sighed. 

“He does not. If he did, why wouldn’t he just ask me to be his date like a normal person?”

“Really? This is Shittykawa we’re talking about.”

“Okay true, but still. He had plenty of chances to date me back in high school and he never did.”

“You never made a move either,” Hajime noted. 

You didn’t respond to that. 

“How long has it been since you last saw him?”

You had to think about that for a minute. It had been years since you graduated high school, back when you saw him on a daily basis. You guys still talked all the time, but you really didn’t see him that often. 

“The night that he came to my house to tell me goodbye. The night before he left.”

Hajime hummed. He knew all about that night, you had called him as soon as you had gone back inside. It felt like he had something else to say, but instead he changed the subject.

“When are you guys going?”

“About that…”

“Oh no…”

“He’s waiting outside for me right now.”

“Right now? What are you doing talking to me then?”

“I said I had to do a few things then I’d be out. It’s fine.”

“Well you better get going. We’ve been talking for a while.”

“Please come with me?”

“Ahaha, no. Bye.”

“Wait don’t hang-”

You were greeted by the click of the receiver. Great. You tossed your phone beside you and sighed. You were sprawled out on your bed, in the same position as you were when you first threw yourself onto it. 

You laid there for a second, cursing your luck. Well, it wasn’t really your luck, you were the one who said yes anyways. You felt tears beginning to form in your eyes, but you shook them away. You got up and changed out of your work uniform and into better clothes for dress shopping. 

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

“I am not wearing that,” you spat angrily. 

“Aww, why not,” Tooru purred, sliding up to you while holding the offending dress out in front of him. 

“Because I like my privates to be private, thank you very much,” you rolled your eyes and pushed him away. 

The piece was a strapless, v-neck dress with a slit up the side. It also had holes in the sides, like those vintage swimsuits you saw in old magazines. It was a pretty color, but you knew you could not wear that in front of Tooru. 

“Okay, fine.” Tooru put the dress away. You knew he only plucked it out to tease you; he didn’t actually think you were going to wear it. 

“Why do you need a date again?” You asked while perusing the dresses. 

“Because,” he sighed. “I begged my sister to allow me a plus one and she finally granted my wish so I can’t show up alone.”

“But she knows me. She won’t believe that we’re dating,” you sighed. 

“Well…”

“What?” You whirled on Tooru. 

“I already told her that I asked you out… and you said yes.”

Your jaw dropped. What were you supposed to say? Tooru had that look on his face, the one where he knew he had done something wrong but was trying to weasel out of it. It never worked on Hajime, but on you… you could never resist his honeyed eyes. 

“What did she say?”

“Finally.”

You laughed, genuinely. As if anyone would think that you two would get together. Tooru was just… out of your reach. 

“What? Is it that ridiculous that we could be dating? I’m hurt,” Tooru pouted. 

“Yes it is, as if you would ever date me,” you answered honestly, knowing in your heart he could never love you.

“And why is that?” He asked. You missed the look in his eyes as you pulled out another dress. 

“Because,” you shrugged. “You only see me as a friend, a little sister if I may be so bold. Now what about this dress?”

“But what if I didn’t,” Tooru smirked and leaned on the dress rack. 

You rolled your eyes. 

“Then I’d eat this dress. Simple. Now come on, what about this one?”

“Let’s try it on.” He smiled. “Then we’ll see.”

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

“I’m gonna throw up,” you groaned. Tooru just rolled his eyes at you. 

“No you’re not, you’ve seen my family a thousand times, this is no different.”

“Yes it is!” You hissed. “Back then I was a little sister, now I’m a fake girlfriend.”

“Well, they don’t know about the fake part, so can you keep quiet about that?”

“Whatever,” you sighed. You watched as he knocked on the familiar door, an unfamiliar sensation in your gut. 

You heard clamoring behind the door and suddenly you were swept up in Mrs. Oikawa’s arms. 

“Aw, Y/n, I am so, so, so happy you are here, and especially why!” She pulled back and you saw tears glistening in her eyes. “I always knew you and ‘ru would get together, I am just sad it took this long!” 

A sharp pain ripped through you. “Yeah, of course.” You forced a smile. 

“And ‘ru, how dare you take so long to confess!” She whirled on Tooru and hit him lightly on the shoulder. 

“Ah, sorry Mom.” He shrugged it off, scratching the back of his neck with his other hand. “I guess I am just slow to the uptake.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Oikawa nodded solemnly. “It was obvious you both liked each other way back in high school.”

“It was?” You stammered. 

“Yes, of course, the way you guys used to look at each other.” She smirked. “And still do.”

“Yeah,” Tooru said softly when you did not say anything. 

“Now let's get you two inside, we have a lot to do!” 

You were then rushed inside and whirled around as preparations fell into place. The rehearsal dinner flew by quickly. You didn’t have many responsibilities as a guest, so you spent your time talking to members of Tooru’s family. Which was… awkward, to say the least. You already knew all of them (you found out that this was supposed to be a very small family event) so it was awkward reintroducing yourself as Tooru’s girlfriend. It was harder because technically you weren’t supposed to be here. 

You found Tooru in a gap in his busy schedule and pulled him to the side. 

“Why didn’t you tell me this is a family affair?” You seethed. 

Tooru smiled shyly. “That’s why it was such a big deal that Sis allowed me a plus one, that’s why I just had to take you.”

“I hate you,” you spat angrily, but Tooru just smiled. “Do you know how many people asked me if we were engaged?” He leaned down and kissed your forehead. 

“Now is that anyway to talk to your fiance?”

Your jaw dropped. “You didn’t.”

“Just kidding, love. Don’t worry, we’re not engaged yet.”

“I hope your family gives you so much shit when we ‘break up.’”

Tooru frowned. “About that I-”

“Tooru? Where the actual fuck are you?” Tooru’s sister nearly screamed. 

“You better go,” you sighed. 

“Yeah.” Tooru frowned. 

He looked like he wanted to say more, but decided against it when his sister screamed for him again.

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

The wedding was beautiful. It was a small affair at a local meadow, with blooming wild flowers surrounding the guests. It was ethereal, overflowing with the spirit of spring. You sat alone next to family, as Tooru was a part of the wedding procession. After the ceremony, the reception took place at a nearby banquet hall. You were shuttled off into a separate car from  Tooru, but you didn’t mind. You had made friends with one of his cousins and you had been talking with him to pass the time. 

“So when did you and Tooru meet?”

“Back in high school,” you responded easily, recalling the memory fondly. “He came up to me randomly in class and demanded that I be the volleyball club’s manager. I had said no, of course, until his friend had asked me a bit nicer.” 

“Sounds just like him,” he scoffed. “Only concerned with himself.”

“Yeah,” you agreed absentmindedly. 

“So what made you date him? I mean, no offense, he’s my cousin and all, but why do you even like him?”

You paused for this question. What did you like about Tooru?

“I… well… everything. I didn’t like him at first, I actually hated him. He was so arrogant and cocky and rude, but after a while I realized that there was so much more to him.  He’s dedicated and strong. Tooru puts on this facade for other people so that he can be strong for them, too. He understands people and helps his teammates, he treats them like family. He’s so receptive and intuitive, you really can’t hide anything from him. He’s just… so perfect, yet so layered. He is so raw and human and I love that about him. I love that side of him, the one no one ever sees. So I guess I just love everything about him.”

“Wow,” he laughed. “Wasn't expecting that.”

“Sorry.” You shrunk in on yourself.

“No it’s fine, I was just gonna say I’ll shoot my shot if it doesn’t work out with him, but it turns out you really like him.”

“Oh,” was the only thing you could say.

“Can I have a pity dance?” He extended his arm towards you. 

You smiled. “Sure.” 

He led you out onto the dance floor and swept you up into his arms. You followed his lead, not really sure how to dance, but he assured you that you could just follow him. 

“You know, you look amazing in that dress.”

“Ah, thank you,” you smiled. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“Thank you, I can clean-”

A person behind you cleared their throat. You turned to see Tooru. If you were anyone else, you would have thought he looked pleasant, with the soft smile on his face. But you weren’t just anyone else. So you knew that there was a rage in Tooru’s eyes. 

“May I speak to Y/n?”

“Actually, we’re in the middle of a dance so-”

“That wasn’t a question,” Tooru smiled, closing his eyes and tilting his head. 

“Tooru,” you hissed. “Just let us finish the-”

Instead Tooru grabbed your arm and tugged you away from his cousin. The cousin scoffed and threw his arms up. 

“Calm the fuck down, Tooru. She’s all yours.”

The cousin walked off, and right after you whipped around to face Tooru. 

“What the actual fuck is your problem?” 

Tooru looked around him and then grabbed your arm again. “Let’s talk somewhere else,” he urged. You looked around to see a commotion beginning, with you guys at the center. You bottled your rage for a moment and allowed him to lead you outside. 

Once you were out of earshot of the guests, you let loose. 

“Oikawa Tooru, you explain yourself right now, because that just now was not okay.”

“He was hitting on you, I heard him,” Tooru responded, his face set into a scowl. 

“So? And if he was? What right have you to step in?”

“I-”

“No,” you cut him off. “You have no right. I’m not even your girlfriend!”

Something flashed in Tooru’s eyes, but you were too angry to analyze it. 

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Tooru hung his head. 

“You should be. You’re just so obsessed with your image that you don’t want a guy to hit on your supposed girl.”

“That’s not it,” Tooru bit out, looking up to meet your gaze. 

“Oh? Then what? Do you have such little faith in me that you think I would leave you for your cousin at your sister’s wedding?”

“No.”

“Then what? Then what Tooru? What in the world could drive you to do something so fucking stupid-”

“I was jealous, alright!” When you didn’t respond to him he took a deep breath. “I was jealous,” he said again, except much calmer.

“Why?” You breathed softly. The air was tight between you two, and you felt like if another person yelled it might shatter.

Tooru slumped. “Don’t make me say it.”

“No,” you shook your head. “No you don’t.”

“Yes, I-”

“No, Tooru, you don’t. You are just hurt over your girlfriend and you're reaching out for something, anything, and I will not be it so don’t you dare say it.” You felt tears welling up at your eyes but you willed them down. 

“Y/n, I’m not. I actually-”

“Don’t you dare,” you warned again.

Tooru sighed. “Y/n, do you know why she broke up with me?”

You didn’t respond. 

“Y/n… she broke up with me because she realized that I was in love with you.” 

You blinked once. Twice. You took a deep breath and tried to process what he just said to you. 

“How…” It was the only thing you could mutter, you were too taken aback. 

“I was just talking about you and she asked me. She asked me if I loved you. I couldn’t lie to her any longer.” 

Your heart raced in your chest and you looked into eyes, searching for any dishonesty. The sheer earnestness in his gaze made you swallow thickly around the lump in your throat.

“How long?”

Tooru sighed and reached up to scratch the back of his neck. “Dunno. Been a while though.”

It fell silent. 

“So what do we do now?” You asked. 

“Well, will you give me a chance?”

“Pull that shit with your cousin again and it is a no.”

“Okay, okay, I said I was sorry I just didn’t like the way he was looking at you and you technically weren’t mine yet and I-”

You reached up and kissed him. It was a passionate kiss, years of pent emotion behind it. Once Tooru reciprocated, it just felt like he was smashing his face into yours, desperate to be closer. You pulled away, Tooru chasing you with his lips. 

“Calm down, I’m not going anywhere,” you smiled at him, cupping his face. 

“I know I just-” Tooru stopped mid sentence, but he really didn’t need to say more. You understood. 

“Tooru, where the- oh.” 

You tried to look behind you to see who it was, but Tooru was holding you too tightly. The best you could do was crane your neck to catch a glimpse of white. Tooru’s sister.

“About time, bro,” she laughed. 

You looked up at Tooru. He had a sheepish smile on his face. The gears in your mind suddenly slotted together. 

“She knew it was fake? But… then… why…”

Tooru didn’t answer, instead his face grew red and he averted his eyes. 

“He wanted to take you the whole time, sweetheart. He’s just emotionally constipated so he can’t ask like a normal person.”

“I am not!” Tooru cried indignantly. 

“Whatever, I need you back in there so you got five minutes with your new girlfriend before I drag you back in there. Got it?”

Tooru nodded. You heard the door close behind her and looked back up at Tooru. 

“You’re lucky I like you,” you sighed, shaking your head. 

“I really am.” Tooru smiled brilliantly. 

Then he leaned down and stole your lips in another kiss.

Taglist: {OPEN}

@tanakas-hugs-and-kisses , @snoozless 

[lizacstuff]

EPISODE 34 - Sen Çal Kapımı/Edser Asks

(asks under the read more)

Anonymous said: Thoughts on the episode? I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel which is the end of this current storyline. Very much looking forward to Eda & Serkan being reunited at which point I will delete episodes 30-34 from my memories. This episode to me had the same vibe as 32 which overall had the feeling of actual progression for Eda & Serkan. It has been said before but the amnesia storyline and Serkan falling in love with Eda again could have been much more enjoyable with better writing and no Selin or Deniz but this is the plot we were given. So hoping for another Edser filled episode that includes Serkan professing his love to Eda in front of everyone.

YES, LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. Me too. I think we’re close to being rid of Selin and Deniz. 

As for the episode, it was a LOT better than the last one and was probably the easiest episode to watch since 28, but it’s still part of this unenjoyable arc. I agree that it had a similar vibe to 32, which was one of the best of this stretch. The writers seemed to have fixed the Edser screen time issue that plagued the last episode. I always want more, but there was enough in this episode to where at least I didn’t feel cheated. The episode was a lot lighter and had more of a romcom feel than any since Serkan lost his memory and I welcomed that as well. There were a number of very enjoyable Edser scenes AND the icing was very little Selin. 

That gave the episode room to breath, and room for Serkan and Eda to breath, which was much needed. 

Their bickering, starting at the station was fun to watch. And while I was pretty skeptical about an episode centered on Serkan trying to get Eda to admit her engagement is fake, it lead to some fun scenes. Him taunting her in the office about love gave us back some of that old romantic comedy sexual tension. Engin’s couple game gave us a few good moments, but, wow, it was really, really poorly constructed. Seriously, Serkan, you have to find someone savvier to do this sort of work for you. Leyla would have been better, even Erdem would have done better! Probably.  But the looks that Eda and Serkan were giving each other through that sequence gave me life. Squinting, peering one eye open, but always finding one another. Good stuff. 

As for the boxing, I’m glad they waited to do that sequence for a time when she had some anger at him to deal with! It just wouldn’t have been the same if they’d been playfully sparring. I equally enjoyed her beating the shit out of him and how hot her climbing all over him was. 

The catwalk was hot. Like really, super duper, 5 alarm fire, hot. I love that the editors made a 30 foot runway seem like it was 300 feet. And when they turned and she put her hand on his shoulder. I swooned. I don’t even care that it makes no sense to ask your architects to walk in a fashion show... though when one of your architects is as next level beautiful as Eda, you can see why they’d want her. (Sorry Selin, they probably saw you walk at the charity show too, but passed) Though why did they want Deniz? He’s not famous or attractive. It would have made more sense if they’d wanted the famous and handsome Serkan Bolat from the start. Though this way was more fun. GO MELO. BEST FRIEND EVER. Can we get her some sort of prize? She has her dada’s back, ALWAYS.  Serkan and Eda are going to owe her for life.

Having Eda fall off the boat was... extra. Especially since I’m sure she will be fished out no worse for the wear right off the top. Is it too much to ask that Serkan accuses Selin of pushing her? Please!?!?!?

Anonymous said: is it bad that deniz is now annoying me more as a villian than selin.. granted, last ep selin had very little screentime (thank god) and when she was there was usually playing third wheel to edser.. but deniz is slowly getting worse and worse.. manipulating eda into continuing their fake game and now basically pulling the puppet strings with selin. as much as i hated how ceren told serkan about the fake engagement, i WAS rooting her on when she yelled at him about him taking advantage of eda.

Deniz needs to take a long walk off a short pier. Good gawd he’s really turned into a psycho, hasn’t he? 

Look, I know Eda and Serkan are both awesome. They’re insanely good looking and charming and smart and successful, BUT, PEOPLE, even they are not worth losing your dignity and your sanity over. Balca, The Prince, Selin and Deniz... all gone crazy over them.

With Selin this episode, though, she sort of struck me as resigned to her fate. Like she’s still going through the motions of being a psycho stalker and playing the game, but deep down she knows she’s lost.  She’s seen this movie before, she knows what it looks like when Serkan is falling in love with Eda, and she knows it’s happening again and that she doesn’t stand a chance. She’ll keep trying on the off chance Eda gets hit by a bus (or falls off a boat) and because she is seriously not right in the brain, but she’s lost all her swagger. 

Think about all StalkerSelin has witnessed. In 30 she saw them having intense moments by the fire, in 31 she saw them having intense moments on the boat. She knows Serkan took off on her birthday to go help Eda with the project and they spent all day together. Then later that same day she was abandon by him before she could blow out her candles so that he could go save Eda, then she saw him sleep snuggling with Eda, all so they could come back and she could go spy on him planting terrariums with Eda and then he lies to her face and she watches him go to meet Eda for dinner. In this episode, Eda and Serkan were bickering about whether or not Serkan was staring at Eda and they didn’t stop when Selin entered the office and neither one even seemed to noticed her! Serkan is fixated on Eda and Selin knows it. 

She was acting defeated before she got the photos. Now that she has them... what will she do? Crawl in hole and die? One can hope!

Anonymous said: just general thoughts: i was able to enjoy this episode way more than the previous ones and not cause there was miracle occurrence in the episode.. but because there was minimal selin lol. the selin fatigue is real!!! it also helps that while yes, serkan was teasing and trying to rile eda up, he wasn't using selin to do it this episode. for some reason with how it's going (and with neslihan's emoji spoilers for next ep) i do believe he's gonna remember at the end of next ep.

The Selin fatigue is real.  They really ruined what could have been an interesting and good batch of episodes by inserting her unnecessarily into the plot. I really think amnesia was enough drama and enough of a stumbling block without this aggravating nonsense. Every second she is on screen is a chore to watch. 

As for him remembering at the end of next episode, it’s possible. A lot of people are out there selling spoilers (which almost every source of spoilers has been so wrong so many times, that I’m not sure why anyone pays attention to any of them anymore) that he remembers by the end of the next ep. 

Here’s the thing though, he has to tell Eda he loves her before he remembers.  That’s what all of this has been leading to, him falling in love with her again from scratch, so as long as that happens, it’s plausible. But any theory that involves him getting his memories back and then going after her... doesn’t ring true to me. I mean with this batch of writers anything could happen, (because they have some issues) but if they do that, then I have no idea what this entire arc has been about. 

Anonymous said: The mystery person has got to be Ferit, right? ever since that first episode back, they've been sure to throw in one scene each episode where he's delivering some sort of warning to Selin telling her to knock it off. Unless its a random new/returning character that we haven't seen as part of this arc yet.

I don’t know. He’s definitely a suspect, but here’s my thing with that theory, a) Ferit is not the sharpest tool in the shed b) Ferit is usually such a straight forward, honest character. I mean this is the guy that blurted out in episode 1 how happy he was that Serkan was engaged to such a beautiful woman because he considered him his rival for Selin. No filter. 

It’s hard for me to believe he’s become this diabolical and sneaky and savvy. I feel like if he had the photos he’d just hand them to Serkan. But we’ll see. 

He’s on my list of potentials, but I also wonder if someone hired a PI or someone to follow Selin, and on that list of suspects for me is Aydan, Babaanne, Alptekin and Serkan himself. 

Anonymous said: one of my fav scenes from last ep was weirdly the girl talk scene between melo, eda, and ayfer. them talking about eda's feelings and encouraging her was much needed. and for once in the entire show, ayfer actually spoke some sense.. guess her little stint with alex woke up her eyes to love or something lmao. we need more scenes like that where character motivations are laid out plainly.

Ayfer made up for a LOT with that one scene. Wow, she actually wasn’t thinking selfishly and put Eda’s heart first and didn’t immediately vilify Serkan. A miracle! 

It was a very good scene. And when I rank characters (in my head) from best to worst, she’s now above Piril and Ceren! Oh man, Ceren really out did herself with the way she framed Eda’s fake engagement to Serkan. I really don’t understand where her rage at Eda came from, but she better seek help soon if she wants any chance at redemption. 

Also I know it’s terrible, but when Piril was upset about Engin potentially cheating... I LAUGHED out loud. I think I might have also yelled, “SUFFER BITCH!” I really can’t stand her and I loved seeing her miserable. After enabling Selin she deserves the pain. 

Anonymous said: So I kind of felt bad for Serkan because of Eda’s strong reaction to him kissing her but at the same time, not. His out of the blue invitation to dinner and the kiss with no explanation was just never going to go over very well after his recent behavior. And of course she was going to think he got his memory back because in her mind it is the only explanation for him kissing her at this point. But at the same time it would have been really interesting to see how he reacted to her just pulling him in for another kiss. He clearly would have been totally into it and then who knows how the rest of the episode would have gone 🤷🏻‍♀️. They are stuck in a bad cycle, he overlooks her sensitivity to things due to not remembering their past and she is unable to overlook his insensitivity due to their past together. And the writers want to keep dragging this out so Eda & Serkan are constantly interrupted before they can talk stuff out.

They did a nice job of finally having Eda talk about what’s going on in her brain box. She wants her Serkan back just as he was before. Which is understandable, but she’s pinning all of her hopes on Serkan remembering and when he doesn’t she loses it. 

Thank goodness Melo and Ayfer were there to gently talk some sense to her. It isn’t his fault that he doesn’t remember and he’s not doing it on purpose. And as Melo said he’s falling in love with her again, him walking in and kissing her was a big sign of that. I think we all worried he was going to say something jerkish to her after the kiss, but he didn’t. He was just honest that he didn’t remember, and I think slapping him was a little harsh. I mean she’s definitely not in the wrong here, he’s been a whole jackass at times, but she’s putting all her effort into getting him to remember, and she’s not succeeding, but she should maybe recognize when she’s making other headway with him. You know, like him arranging a dinner and walking up and kissing her. Maybe ride that wave and see where it goes! 

As you said, if she’d kissed him again, things would have ended differently. Or if instead of getting angry she had said, “Okay, you kissed me but you still don’t remember, where do we go from here?” However, slapping him in that moment is very true to her character. We know she reacts emotionally, and her spontaneity and volatility are a part of her, and he loved all of her. 

Anonymous said: I guess the writers pay attention to some details - seems the project that got cancelled in 32 was the same Serkan said was going badly in 28. But not other details - Leyla puts down the papers to say the project was cancelled without telling Serkan, knowing that he'd see them on his desk right away, and he does. So wouldn't he have noticed the envelope the day of the surprise dinner? He had plenty of opportunity. I thought this ep it would be revealed he saw the pics but he didn't seem to know.

I find it hella hard to believe that those photos sat on his desk all day and he didn’t open them (in 33) or that they hit his desk this episode after Eda handed them to him and he didn’t open them. So, yeah, either he’s seen them or this was a big writing fail. (Right now I’m thinking it was a big writing fail).

Though personally, at this point, I don’t want them to be found until after Serkan declares his love for Eda. Let him make the decision and then lets have the evidence that makes everything guilt free and easier to humiliate and punish S/D.

Anonymous said: Is Deniz trying to trick Eda into a real legal marriage? is that what is about to happen here? I can't decide if he is worse than Selin now. I'm going to need Ayfer to bring back her threat to expose everything.

They can be equally psycho and bad. I’m not sure overall he’s worse, yet, but he was definitely way worse this episode. How has Eda not noticed that he has interrupted intense moments between her and Serkan too many times to be helpful? That’s one thing I hate about this storyline is that they have had to dumb down both Eda and Serkan to make it work. 

I have no idea what Deniz’s end game is. Is he going to trick her into marriage? But even so, what then?  If she thinks it’s a fake ceremony, but it’s real, what does he think Eda is going to do? Does he really think she’ll think his lies and tricks are charming, and stay married to him? 

Or does he think that if he gets Eda to the wedding day, and Serkan doesn’t make a move, Eda will just go “Okay, then I guess I might as well marry you for real.”  Good grief. The guy is delusional. 

I admit that I yelled, “FUCK YOU” multiple times during his scenes. This was a very vocal episode for me. I was so happy when Melo outmaneuvered him at the fashion show. Finally, someone was able to turn the tables on him. 

Anonymous said: I am so tired of hearing on Twitter that the Eda is entirely to blame for Edser not being reunited yet. Nope, that does not rest entirely on Eda or Serkan’s shoulders. The writers have created a never ending cycle of the two of them hurting each other directly & indirectly and also being manipulated by their so called childhood friend/fiancés. This Serkan does not even believe in true love and has been manipulated to think Eda is an awful person. Eda has been watching the love of her life getting cozy with Selin and he has repeatedly told her that they do not have a future together not to mention Deniz’s manipulations as well. Regardless of what they are each feeling, they do not think the other person feels the same way. The fake engagement with Deniz is awful just like Serkan’s real engagement with Selin is but again not solely Eda’s fault. And saying that Eda needs to be the bigger person because she has her memories is not fair. She does not know if he will ever get them back and again he has repeatedly said they have no future together & he is with Selin. Eda walks into that office everyday to be close to him and she puts up with his crap comments and the bs from Selin in the hope that things turnaround. And for the boxing scene, yes, it would have been great if Eda has poured out her true feelings but not 100% sure the writers would have let Serkan reciprocate in that moment not to mention Deniz showed up 3 seconds later. The real people to blame are the writers that came up with this plot where no one wins.

Someone said Eda is entirely to blame for Edser not being reunited yet? Where are you hanging out on twitter? You need to find better people to follow who understand that Serkan HAS AMNESIA and is being manipulated. No need to play the blame game on this one, it’s a horrible situation for both of them. 

Eda has been dealt a lousy hand, very lousy, she and Serkan are both victimes here trying to find their way out. That being say, she decided to go on the offensive and play a game, and in that game she’s made some tactical errors. Which is not laying blame it’s just saying she’s made some missteps. 

Where she’s going wrong, as I said above, is that she is doing everything to get Serkan to remember, and she isn’t focused in on the fact that he’s falling back in love with her regardless of his memory. That’s pretty extraordinary! 

I really think when she answered “Yes” to loving Deniz and wanting to marry him, that was one of those missteps. A big one. I’m not saying she should have bared her soul right then and there, but I think she probably would have been better off not answering the questions at all. Perhaps telling him that he can’t ask her that while he’s engaged to Selin. Turn it back on him, but saying she loves Deniz when they were having a very serious, raw moment... mistake. And that’s why the whole thing is going to go right up until the wedding day.  Let’s hope one of them puts their stubbornness aside before she’s shackled to a psycho. (Don’t worry, they will). 

[arc852]

Space Barista (2)

Formerly known as Not Your Average Coffee Shop AU, since the title no longer really fits.

Summary: Time to see how Virgil is doing in space!

Warnings: Fear, panic, injury, and kidnapping

_____________________________________________________________

 Virgil simply watched as the spaceship landed, it was all he could do after all. He was still wrapping his head around what had happened. That Logan, someone he had considered his friend, was actually a giant alien and had kidnapped him from earth to take him to his own planet. Virgil placed his head in his hands, trying to keep the tears back. He had always hated the unknown and now the unknown was suddenly his whole life.

 The ship jerked and Virgil flew to the side of the room, hitting the wall with a groan. He pushed himself away from the wall and looked out into the spaceship. Logan was still sitting but he was no longer pressing any buttons. Looking out the windows of the ship told Virgil that they had, in fact, landed.

 Ready or not, he was about to face a world made for giants.

 When Logan suddenly stood up and turned right toward him, Virgil flinched. Cowering into the corner, he was helpless as Logan moved towards him. “We have arrived.” Logan’s booming voice stated, getting another flinch out of Virgil. Logan simply sighed as he saw this before pushing a button off to the side of Virgil’s prison. 

 Virgil braced himself, knowing the last time Logan had done that he had been grabbed. But instead of the windows opening, he felt himself being jerked forward. Looking around, he realized the small room had come out of the wall. Turning into an all-glass prison. Which was great for being able to see when Logan’s hands took hold of the sides and picked it up. Virgil had no choice but to stay in the middle, ignoring the hands on either side of him and the very long fall below.

 Virgil watched as Logan began to walk towards the door in the back. A door that Virgil assumed led to the outside. And he was correct as the door opened for Logan automatically and they found themselves in a large room, light coming from a skylight above. People, giants, scattered around the room, all focused on different things. Including computers, each other, and...him.

 Virgil scooted back, despite that putting him closer to Logan. At least Logan was a known threat. Semi-known, actually, considering he apparently knew nothing of his ‘friend’. 

 ...Had they ever really been friends?

 “Logan! Glad to see you made it back in one piece.” A man said, coming up to them and smiling at Logan. His gaze soon turned to Virgil, however. “And it looks like you brought that little human with ya after all!”

 Virgil heard Logan sigh and he looked up to see the underside of a deadpan look. “Yes, Remy, you were there during the video call. You already know this.” Turning back to the other giant, apparently named Remy, he was giving Logan a shrug.

 “Anyway, boss man wants to see you. About your little human.” Virgil heard Logan sigh again.

 “Alright, I suppose that is where I am headed next then. Thank you, Remy.” Remy did a mini salute before leaving them. Logan walked through another pair of doors, coming into an empty room. Logan paused, biting his lip.

 Virgil then found himself being placed down on a crate, noticing that the room was full of them. He looked up at Logan with wariness in his eyes. Logan looked at him apologetically. “I am sorry about this Virgil but I don’t think it would be good to take you with me. I will be right back though, I promise.” And with that Logan exited the room, leaving Virgil all alone.

 Virgil pressed himself up against the back wall before sliding down and hugging his knees. Everything was moving too fast. And now he had to deal with the knowledge of multiple giants all in just the next room. It would be far too easy for them to come in and take him. 

 Virgil shifted positions and shoved his hands into his pockets before he froze. He grabbed something from his right pocket and brought it out, realizing quickly that it was his phone. Virgil simply stared at it for a moment before he felt a spark of hope. But he quickly pushed it back down. He was probably a thousand or so light-years away from earth, there was no way he had any signal here.

 He unlocked his phone and looked at the top right corner. His eyes widened.

 He had a signal. 

 He doesn’t know how but at the moment he didn’t care. This was his chance! He quickly went into his contacts, glancing up every few seconds in case Logan or someone else came back. He scrolled through his contacts.

 His work? No.

 His parents? ...Yeah, definitely not.

 Virgil tried to scroll down more before realizing that...that was basically it. All his other contacts were either of family he didn’t talk to or old numbers from high school he got when he did projects that he never deleted.

 There was no one that Virgil could actually call that would care that he was gone.

 And, Virgil deflated as he realized, even if there was someone who cared about him, they would never believe him. And in the off chance that they did...there was nothing they could do.

 Virgil turned his phone off and let the arm holding it fall limply to his side. That’s probably why Logan was so comfortable in taking him. Virgil himself had told him he didn’t have anyone. Logan probably saw him as the perfect target to take back with him. A human that no one would miss.

 He heard the door open, suddenly, and his head snapped up to meet eyes with Logan. He quickly looked back down, curling into himself. As Logan got closer, he could hear that he was muttering to himself. Something about ‘too much paperwork’ or something along those lines. Virgil watched, through his bangs, as Logan shook his head and stopped his muttering. He looked down at Virgil and Virgil looked down once again as well.

 “Alright, time for us to go home,” Logan spoke and Virgil braced himself as his prison was once again lifted up. He tried to keep his eyes pointed to his lap as he was moved, but couldn’t help but glance around him as they stepped outside.

 Surprisingly, the outside reminded him a lot of earth. The sky was blue, the grass was green. He might think he was still on earth if it wasn’t for the second sun in the sky. Virgil just barely glanced at it before he turned away. Too freaked out by it.

 Virgil looked straight ahead, eyes widening when he saw what they were headed towards. It was obviously supposed to be some sort of vehicle, but it was no car. For one thing, it was more rounded with windows surrounding the entire top half of it. The second thing, was that it was floating a few inches off the ground...so, yeah. Virgil decided not to think about any of this too much. He had enough to deal with, being captured by a giant and all.

 Logan opened the not car, which had a door in the back that lifted up, and got inside. He set Virgil down on the floor, because with a start, Virgil realized that there were no seats. Everything was floor. He also realized, looking around, that there was no steering wheel either. Just a bunch of buttons similar to what he saw in the spaceship.

 Logan seemed to know what he was doing though as he immediately started pressing said buttons. The not car came to life and before Virgil could comprehend what was happening, they were moving. 

 The ride was silent, only filled by the buttons that Logan pressed. The ride itself wasn’t that long though, as when what seemed like five minutes passed, the not car stopped. Virgil found his prison picked up once again as they exited the vehicle. Virgil looked up to see a fairly nice house. It looked like a lot of houses he had seen on earth but slightly off in a way that Virgil couldn’t pinpoint.

 He didn’t get a chance to figure it out though as they quickly moved inside. “Finally, home at last.” Virgil heard Logan speak as he shut the door behind him. Virgil glanced around what he assumed to be the living room, taking in how similar but hi-tech it was.

 He was placed on a table and that was when Logan started to speak. “Are you alright?” Logan started off with. But Virgil decided not to answer, instead pressing himself more into the corner and wrapping his arms around himself. Would he regret not answering?

 He heard Logan sigh. “Please Virgil, just talk to me.” Virgil wanted to laugh. Talk to him? How on eart-whatever planet they were on was he supposed to talk to him? He doubted Logan would even listen to a word he had to say.

 “Alright then, we’ll do things your way.” Virgil almost lifted his head at that but started to panic as he heard the door to his prison open. He braced himself for a hand to wrap around him, unable to do anything to stop it. But it never came. Instead, Logan spoke once more.

 “There. Now will you talk to me?” The voice was not booming like before though. That fact alone made Virgil lift his head, only to see Logan as he had originally known him. Human-sized.

 “It took some convincing, but they let me keep the watch. I figured it would come in handy in situations like this and it appears that I was right.” Logan continued to talk as Virgil slowly got himself up. He started towards him.

 “I know you were thrown into all of this but really, I mean you no-!” Virgil cut Logan off with a hard punch to the face.

 He watched as Logan stumbled back, hand covering the right side of his face, mostly near his eye. Virgil smirked in victory, the punch having felt great, but his smirk slowly dropped as he realized what he had just done. 

 Just because Logan was currently on level with a human, did not mean he was one. He was a giant and could turn back into one in under a minute. Virgil started to shake as he realized how much trouble he was probably in.

“I-I am so sorry, please, I wasn’t thinking, I-” Virgil pulled at the hairs on his head, panic slowly overtaking him. “Please, I’m sorry, I didn’t-” He was cut off.

 “No, it’s alright, I...I deserved it.” Virgil blinked, hands leaving his hair as he looked up at Logan. He was still human-sized, rubbing at the already forming bruise right underneath his eye.

 “W-What?” Virgil asked, keeping his distance. Though he did feel more comfortable with Logan when he was like this. He could almost imagine they were just hanging out at one of their lunch dates. Almost.

 “I have not been handling this situation as well as I would have liked.” Logan sighed, he took off and cleaned his glasses, which had just barely missed Virgil’s hit. “But I would like to make up for that now. Please, ask me anything you’d like. I’ll do my best to answer.”

 Virgil searched Logan’s eyes, gaze going down to the bruise he had left on Logan’s cheek. There were so many things Virgil wanted to ask, most having to do with why he had taken him of all people. But instead of asking that, Virgil found himself asking another kind of question. “Were we ever really friends?”

 Logan’s eyes softened. “Of course, Virgil. I...Virgil, I truly mean you no harm. And you aren’t a prisoner here either.” Logan answered, putting his glasses on with a slight wince. 

 “Not a prisoner? You kidnapped me! From earth! You took me away from my home, my life! I’ll admit it wasn’t the best life but it was mine. And now I’m stuck on an alien planet full of giants! Does that-does that not seem wrong to you?!” Virgil yelled, moving his arms in wild gestures. He couldn’t believe Logan. If they really had been friends then why had Logan kidnapped him?!

 He watched Logan carefully as Logan’s eyes widened before going sad. He looked down with another sigh. “I...I am sorry.” Virgil blinked, anger replaced by confusion.

 “What?”

 Logan looked back up at him. “I...have just now realized I may have rushed into all of this without thinking. Like I had stated before, my mission was not to bring anyone back with me but to simply observe. But when I met you I...well, you fascinated me in more ways than you may think. I never ‘clicked’ so well with anyone before, not even those of my own kind. I considered you my-my best friend not long after first conversing with you. I wouldn’t be on earth forever though and I slowly began to realize that I...I would not be able to leave you behind.” Logan explained before running a hand across his face, wincing as he forgot about his bruise. “...I should have at least spoken to you about it first. I am sorry.”

 Virgil just stared at Logan as he processed everything he had just said. He brought his hands to his face, rubbing at it. “Logan…” Could he say that he understood Logan’s actions? No. However, he could understand where Logan was coming from. “I was starting to consider you my best friend as well. My...only friend, really.” He watched as Logan smiled.

 “So you are saying you would have said yes if I would have asked?” Logan asked, eyes alight with hope. But they dimmed when Virgil shook his head.

 “Honestly? I don’t know. At this point I would have for sure said no but I don’t know what I would have said if all this went differently…” Virgil would have liked to say it would have been a for sure no but...given the choice, the prospect was intriguing. 

 “But Virgil, I can provide you with everything! I know how much you hated your job and now you no longer have to work. Your home was less than ideal and now you have as much space as you could hope for along with technology humans have yet to think about! You will be well taken care of here.” Logan took a step towards Virgil but Virgil followed with a step back. Logan frowned at that.

 “...You sound like I’m some pet.” Virgil muttered, glaring at Logan. Logan’s eyes once again grew wide.

 “No! That isn’t it at all!” Logan put his arms out in a form of surrender. “I see you as an equal-as  a friend, Virgil. And as my friend I want nothing but the best for you. Which I can give to you here.” He motioned to his home around him before taking another cautious step forward. This time, Virgil didn’t move back, which Logan seemed happy about.

 “Logan, I...I can’t. This world clearly wasn’t meant for me. I know my life was sucky but I want to go back to it. Please.” Please don’t keep me here.

 Logan looked at him, searching his eyes. Eventually, he sighed. “I understand.” And with that, Logan turned around and walked right off the table.

 “Logan?!” Virgil’s eyes went wide with a sudden panic and he started running towards the edge. But before he made it, a blurry shape rose up quickly. He stopped and looked up, seeing Logan as a giant once again. The human took several steps back as Logan looked down at him with sad eyes.

 “Patton, call work.” Logan called out to the room. Virgil was confused and even more so as a bubbly voice spoke up, seemingly from nowhere.

 “Sure thing, Lo!” The voice said. There was then a ringing all throughout the house before another voice spoke up.

 “Hey, you’ve got Remy on the line.”

 Logan groaned. “Remy, why did you answer Thomas’ phone?” 

 “He’s currently out but I am more than capable with helping you out with whatever you need.” Logan looked to be getting frustrated. 

 “Fine. I need to schedule another quick trip to earth as soon as possible.” Logan requested, causing hope to rise in Virgil. Logan was actually going to take him home. 

 Some typing echoed around the house. “Sure thing, let me just pull up your file here...huh.” Logan blinked.

 “What? What’s wrong?” Logan asked and they both heard Remy hum.

 “Sorry gurl but it looks like you’re no longer authorized to go down to Earth.” Both Logan and Virgil’s eyes widened.

 “What do you mean?” Logan pressed.

 “Well, according to the contract you signed for the mission, you were only authorized to go on this one trip to Earth. For liability or some crap, I don’t know. Either way, going back to Earth is a no go, sorry.” Remy said nonchalantly.  

 Panic welled up within Virgil, so much so that he felt dizzy. He sat down before his legs gave out beneath him. Logan noticed this and quickly went to go end the call. “Goodbye Remy.” 

 “Hey, wait-” The call cut out and Logan to kneel near the table.

 “Virgil, I am so sorry. I didn’t know I wasn’t able to go back to Earth, I-”

 “Remy is trying to call back.” The bubbly voice from before, Patton, said. Logan groaned.

 “Not know Patton.”

 “Alright, sending it to voicemail!” Logan turned back to Virgil, looking worried.

 “Virgil?” Virgil took in a shaky breath, before looking up at Logan.

 “Welp, looks like you got what you wanted. I’m stuck here.” Virgil stood up on shaky legs and turned around. He headed to the only other place he could go. Back into the glass prison.

 “Virgil, no I-” Virgil cut him off as he climbed inside and took a seat, back still facing Logan.

 “Just...leave me alone.” Virgil mumbled. Afraid that talking any louder would cause the tears to flow. Logan stared at Virgil before nodding and standing up.

 “Alright. I shall give you some time alone to...process, everything.” Logan walked towards his bedroom, sending one last glance to Virgil before disappearing from sight.

 Leaving Virgil alone to think once again.

[lambourngb]

Duty of Care and /or Gravedigger’s Union

I did Grave Dancer’s Union - a nod to my 90s love of Soul Asylum here.

Duty of Care was another torture Michael fic- I wrote it pre-season 2, when I thought the love triangle was going in a particular way. I don’t know if there’s still an appetite to season 1 au stories? There’s some season 1 characterization of Alex ahead, particularly in regards to Jesse.

Here’s what I had - some of which already appeared here before Last Year’s Wishes ate my brain.

****

“Can’t believe Maria is still wearing the pendant of alien poison around her neck while she dates your alien ass, Guerin..” Kyle commented watching the decay values multiply as Liz titrated pollen into the samples.  

The current theory on alien resurrection, and it said a lot about his life that he had competing theories on alien-involved resurrection, was that their ability to manipulate energy changed based on their needed life skills at the time of adolescence. Michael had been separated from his siblings young, and needed to develop defensive skills. The defiant and pained look on his face when he explained stopping an item being hurled at his head at the age of 7 was a needed survival tactic courtesy of foster homes he had passed through kept Kyle from questioning any further.

Isobel had through her mother Ann’s never-ending dinner parties and charity benefits, found comfort in seeing and knowing what was meant under the sugary sweet words of adults around her. Being a small child paraded around adults who were charmed by her blonde hair and blue eyes meant she had the most exposure to social events while Max hid in his books. 

Finally Max had anointed himself as a fixer early on in their life. He had taken responsibility for Michael being left behind, and had tasked himself to protect his sister afterward. The defensive use of healing fit with his offensive ability to kill in the service of keeping those he loved safe. 

At the most basic level, it was all energy from synaptic responses in brain waves to manipulating molecules to move or stop an object. How a pollen interrupted that energy use could theoretically solve the problem of how to jump start an ability.

“You think you might get around to telling her the big secret anytime soon?”

The mask over his mouth and face did little to block the glare Michael shot at him. “Shut up Valenti.” 

“I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s Maria. She is a card carrying member of the ACLU and the Nature Conservatory. I had to bail her out of jail last year during an ICE protest. She’s not going to turn you over to the government.” 

“Kyle!” Liz scolded, “We talked about this. Agency. It’s up to Isobel and Michael who knows. I already broke that with you.”

Michael ran a gloved figure over the counter absently. “I hate secrets, okay. This isn’t any fun for me, especially considering how many people already know. I went from having just Max and Isobel, to basically the whole graduating class of New Roswell High in on it. A lot of loose lips.”

The habit of 20 years of paranoid silence was probably a lot to try and break with a new relationship if that was the basis of it. There was a good amount of slack that Kyle could extend to Michael, including trying to be understanding when he started up with Alex’s best friend in the wake of Max’s death, but exclusion of Maria from the secret felt wrong to him.

He couldn’t fathom the reasoning behind lying to someone that he wanted to be in a relationship with, and he had a feeling that it wasn’t because of worries that she would tell someone about the aliens living in Roswell. While he couldn’t outright call Michael an asshole on Alex’s behalf, he could poke and prod him when the opportunity surfaced.

“You should look at this way Guerin, that larger circle means if something does happen, you’ve got more back up than just Isobel, with Max being out of commission.”

“Oh yeah, so if the government disappears me to a black site, you’re going to ride to my rescue?”

“Yes.” Kyle replied seriously. “I wouldn’t be alone either.” The name Alex Manes went unsaid, but from the brief wince on Michael’s face, he knew exactly who was being referred to obliquely. Scored hit again.

“Well as fun as this discussion is, I’m going to take off. Iz and I have practice plans.” Michael slipped his hat on, and tucked the stool away. “Liz, call me if you have a breakthrough on nullifying this stuff. For a rare flower, there sure was a lot of it stockpiled in Noah’s cave.”

“Sure thing, Mikey.” 

“Valenti, make sure she goes home to sleep and eat at some point. I don’t want to have to put her in a pod next.” He ducked out of reach of her hand, laughing at the offended look she sent his way. 

“Far be it for me to agree with him, but he’s right. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends and the middle between rebuilding your lab, researching Max’s healing power, studying this pollen, not to mention working at the diner. We should make time for something else, like a drink or a movie. Recharge.” The past month since Max’s ‘death’ brought back the manic energy burst from solving the issues with the depowering serum. From one catastrophe to another, it was barely time to recover before the next happened.

“I know, I just. I need to stay busy. It’s so quiet without him.” Liz stretched and started to tuck her last slide away into the cooler. “But I think I am done today, if I work anymore, I’ll just be making mistakes.”

Kyle slipped on his coat and held the door. “Not that I don’t believe you leaving on your own volition, but let me walk you out.”

“Lucky for you, I’m too tired to be offended.”

Kyle kept his hand on her back gently steering her through the hallways. The third shift was on at the hospital, and he winced to think about his own upcoming shift at noon tomorrow. Balancing football, his pre-med studies and his social life in Michigan taught him valuable life skills in working on short sleep, but even the hours of residency had no competition on his current life of alien lab work and tracking down government funding of a black ops prison project with Alex. When he mentioned a night off, he wasn’t only including Liz in that need.

Inhaling the cool night air, he calculated if he made it home, heated up a meal, and fell asleep promptly there was the opportunity for 6 good hours of sleep before meeting up at the bunker to check in on the data mining project Alex was running. 

“You know, you should go a little easier on Michael.”

“I thought everyone in this town was in love with Max Evans, but apparently it’s Guerin.” Kyle retorted sarcastically. 

Liz bit her lip at the mention of Max before sighing softly. “I’m serious, Kyle. He’s really messed up right now. I was actually shocked he was somewhat sober tonight.”

“I’m not going to be petty here Liz, and mention the obvious that we are all really messed up right now. I get where you’re coming from about their need for secrecy, but Maria really deserves better. I’m not her best friend like you are and Alex was, but I’ve been here in this town with her. She was there for me after my dad died, and she supported my mom’s election for sheriff. With Mimi getting worse, she deserves to have someone to count on, not someone who is lying to her, and by extension, making all of us lie to her as well.”

“Alex was? Past tense?”

He arched his eyebrow in disbelief, “I guess I am going to be petty tonight, but seriously Liz? Have you talked to Alex lately? Every time Maria comes up in conversation he puts his best ‘Baghdad was a little warm and I was just doing a job’ face on and repeats to anyone listening how happy he is for them. Guerin messed him up, and worse, took away from him one of the few people he lets himself drop that soldier bullshit front he has.”

Liz sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I know the history with Michael is a little complicated, but we don’t always get to choose who we fall for and who we don’t. Love is messy. It doesn’t color inside the lines and follow any of the rules.”

“Maybe you’re right about that, and maybe there’s no avoiding the heartache. I do believe though that you can choose whether or not to be a dick about things, and Guerin not telling Maria is a dick move and it’s got consequences.” Kyle unlocked his car, and opened the passenger side with a gesture. “Our sister doesn’t have many friends, and he’s robbing her of one right now. Rosa lost ten years because of aliens, don’t you think that’s enough loss for all of us?”

“Do you know how annoying you are when you’re right? I’ll talk to Michael, better yet, I’ll talk to Isobel about letting Maria in on the secret.”

He slid into the driver’s seat, smiling across to her. “Tomorrow. Tonight, what’s left of it, is for sleeping.” He turned the ignition, and stopped,  as the headlights came up illuminating the familiar green Chevy sitting across the lot from them. “That’s Guerin’s truck.”

“He left before we did, what’s it still doing here?” Liz ducked out of the passenger seat and ran toward the truck without waiting for an answer. Kyle swore softly, untangling his hand from the ignition to follow her. The truck looked undisturbed, no sign of the occupant. Liz reached for the driver’s side door, testing it, and gasped as the door swung open. The ever present black hat slipped off the dash into the floorboards.

There were three things Michael prized above all others, his truck, his cowboy hat, and his sister. To leave two out of three unprotected was highly out of character for him. Kyle turned around the parking lot, scanning for signs of him. 

“Kyle, look,” Liz grabbed his arm and pulled him down toward the wheel well of the truck. Gleaming silver in the light , tucked on top of the tire tread, was a syringe needle with a depressed plunger.

“That’s not good.”

She stuffed her hand into her pocket and withdrew a spare latex glove to wrap around her fingers as she lifted the syringe from the tire.  She peered closely at the vial, a sickly yellow liquid film thinly coated the inside. “I think someone took him, and without testing it, I’m guessing this is some sort of knock out drug based on the pollen.”

Kyle reached for his phone, mentally saying goodbye to the idea of sleep anytime soon. “I’ll call Alex, you call Isobel. And I don’t know, I guess call my mom? I mean, we usually call the police when someone gets abducted.”

Liz thinned her lips, holding the needle with one hand as she dug out her phone with the other. “I don’t think you can call the cops on the government, which I’m guessing that’s what we are dealing with since they knew how to knock out Michael.”

The government, or more specially it was probably someone related to Project Shepherd. Kyle sighed, holding his phone to his ear. It rang once, before he heard, “What’s wrong?”

He pulled the phone away from his ear to make sure he had called Alex and not the psychic alien sister, “How did you know something was wrong?”

“You’ve called me twice in the last three months, once to tell me you put my dad in a coma and once to tell me about Max. You’re a texter, even though I explained it’s easier to keep things secret if you call. So again, what’s wrong?”

Kyle slowly walked back toward the hospital. He should have volunteered to call Isobel, because this was not going to be easy. “It’s Guerin.”

“Is he okay?” 

“We don’t know. We think someone took him. Liz and I found his truck at the hospital, unlocked. It looks like he got jumped by someone who knows how to incapicitate him.”

“I’ll be there in 20 minutes.” 

Kyle wasn’t surprised to see the call disconnected. It was a forty minute drive from the cabin to the hospital if someone followed the speed limits. 

*** 

“It’s Guerin.”

Alex was somewhat aware that he must have replied. He was in his SUV and away from the bunker, before he’d registered that the call had ended. He could only be thankful that today had been a ‘pull day’, rather than a ‘push day.’

Alex could divide his days into two motivations, he either wanted to be as far from town and the chance of running into someone he knew (Michael) or he wanted to be close in case something happened that he could help fix (for Michael). The cabin was isolated enough that only Kyle made the trip from Roswell, but not in recent memory with the pace of lab work and hospital hours. Alex could comfortably avoid reality with his laptop until the second feeling took hold. The Project Shepherd bunker was an easier location to reach Isobel or Liz from when the inviatble call for assisting an intoxicated Michael came. 

Seeing Maria meant seeing Michael in the evening hours, and it was strange to resort to in his post-service life the habit of a decade before; lying and hiding himself in every interaction. His calendar had a weekly reminder to join Liz and Maria at the Wild Pony for a beer, usually scheduled early enough that Michael was still at Sanders working, but late enough that the automated work emergency text to his phone could reliably give him cover for an exit. 

Psychic as she was, Maria always let him go with a pained but relieved look. It wasn’t her fault that he was still in love with Michael. It wasn’t her fault that Michael wasn’t in love with him. Neither he nor Maria had so many friends that they could afford to lose one, but neither was fooling the other that the relationship hadn’t changed in the aftermath of her dating Michael. 

This wasn’t his first go around with unrequited love. 

He’d survived Brendon Urie, and he wasn’t ashamed to have been a sixteen year old pouring over fan meet and greets on livejournal before hitting the road with Rosa to see Panic at the Disco in Albuquerque just after school let for the summer. He might have mapped out Los Angeles coffee shops to busk at after he turned legal and could escape west to be a musician, coffee shops close to Silver Lakes and Encino neighborhoods to be organically discovered by his crush.

He had survived his fourteen year old obsession with Kyle, that lasted until it was safer to love unattainable rockstars versus the childhood friend now high school bully. He could laugh at himself for thinking that Kyle had turned on him because he felt the same way but just didn’t know how to articulate it outside of shoving him against the lockers and jeering at him in gym class. 

Unrequited love that had once been returned was a higher bar to clear than a fan fantasy or a childhood crush, but then the sins Alex carried were deeper and more lasting as well. More than a ruined but now healed hand and a discarded scholarship, he had the murder of Michael’s mother to carry.  He would survive Michael not loving him, he was reasonably sure of it. He wasn’t sure if he would survive something happening to Michael because of the Manes family legacy. 

Someone knowing how to subdue and take Michael pointed to his family’s involvement. 

He didn’t bother with the visitor’s desk at the hospital foyer this time, walking purposefully toward the elevator and wing where Liz’s new lab resided. The door opened to his touch, revealing Isobel hovering anxiously near Liz’s shoulder as she swabbed a syringe. 

“You made good time.” Isobel greeted.

“I hacked the traffic lights.” Alex informed, setting his laptop case on the lab table, and popping the case open. A few keystrokes and he was inside the hospital network and probably breaking a dozen federal laws of privacy. 

Kyle closed the door, and shook his head, “Seriously?”

“No. I was at the bunker.” He brought up the internal security logs, noting visitors and elevator access. “So what do we know?”

“Not a lot,” Liz replied, her gaze fixed on a spread of swabs and slides. “I’m trying to pull as many samples as I can from this syringe so I can analyze it. There looks to be a reservoir of 3 CCs. My original serum required a dose of at least 6 CCs to incapacitate, so whatever they used was more concentrated.”

“Hopefully less lethal,” Isobel observed. “Are you in the hospital network already?”

“Just what’s linked to the internal wifi signals. I’m going to need access to their security office since it appears the actual camera footage is on a closed circuit.”

Kyle pulled out his ID badge, “I can take you there, but how are you going to get the guards to let you look at the footage? I can still call my mom and make this an official police investigation.”

Alex dug into his pockets for a thumb drive, and then turned to Isobel, “I’m hoping you can influence the guard into letting me download the footage. If you can’t, then we will need to bring the sheriff into this.”

Isobel tapped her forehead knowingly, “If I can’t influence the guards to let you in, I can at least make one of them think he left his car unlocked or his coffee pot plugged in.”

“Let’s go then. Michael has been missing for at least an hour.”

Kyle tapped his badge at certain checkpoints, opening the electronic doors as they headed down to the security room. Alex made a mental note to scrub the ID tags once they were done, on the off chance someone was curious about the movements of a doctor who should have been long off duty.

The windowless room was covered in screens and held one guard boredly sipping his coffee while he watched a television show on his phone. There was a chance they didn’t need a psychic to gain access, but it was probably better safe than sorry.

Alex moved quickly after Isobel held the security guard’s mind in hers and slide behind the desk to call up the footage on the parking garage. Mindful of time, he plugged in his drive and started transferring all the raw data from the camera recordings. The antiquated hospital computing system did nothing to soothe the anxiety. 

Long experience working with poor computing power and broken infrastructure while deployed in Iraq was the only thing that kept his inner impatience off his face. Touching the mouse or tapping his fingers never moved data faster. 

Finally the file clicked over complete, he slid back from the bank of monitors, and nodded to Isobel. The security guard took a deep breath and look around briefly before picking up his phone and restarting the television show on his app.

The door clicked shut as the three of them hastened back to Liz’s lab. His hip barked at the hurried extension he placed on his body. With the clock ticking, the discomfort slipped into the box marked ‘to deal with later’. Once the drive was inserted, it was a matter of minutes to set up a scan for vehcile traffic entering and exiting the hospital parking lot. 

Liz dug out a bottle of acetone for Isobel, who accepted it with a small smile and then nodded over to the laptop. “I hope you are having more luck with the security footage, than I am having with this drug.”

“I grabbed everything from the last 72 hours, just in case. It’s possible someone followed Michael to the hospital,” Alex balanced carefully onto the stool, keeping the weight off his prostetic. “I would have found a less populated area for a snatch and grab, but maybe they were worried about Michael’s powers and if so, then likely they scouted the view points of the cameras before they made their move to minimize their exposure. At least that’s what I would have done, if I had discarded the open road or home as possible targets.”

“Well we all know what a paranoid and careful asshole you are, Alex.” Kyle observed, working on a second set of samples. 

“I try not to repeat my mistakes.”

“Like Caulfield?” Isobel asked pointed. 

A sharp stab of pain went through him at the reminder. As if the prison ever left his mind for a moment these days. “Yes, like Caulfield. I should have found a more covert way to gain information than assume it was abandoned. I should have realized my dad had more going on than surveillance on Roswell.”

Kyle touched Alex’s shoulder with a comforting clasp, “At least we know he’s not personally behind this. Master Sergeant's main nurse likes me, she would have called if something had changed.” 

Alex stayed silent, knowing that his next task would be gaining access to the long term rest home in Santa Fe where they had transferred his comatose father after he had attacked Kyle. There had been initial protests regarding the forged records until he had pointed out the other option had been to kill Jesse. 

The classic body Chevy truck flashed on the screen with the timecode marking it as Michael’s arrival at the hospital. Alex paused and marked the frame for reference, then eased through the later clips watching for his exit. There were two cameras concentrated on the parking lot, one at the entrance/exit, and one with a long panoramic view of the lot, primarily to ward off a car thief or would-be mugger. It was grainy in grey scale, but at least he could be thankful that Michael drove such a distinctive truck. The task of finding an unremarkable Honda Prisius would have been daunting.

His hand stilled as he paused the footage on the slow but unmistakable swagger of a figure striding away from the hospital entrance toward the parked Chevy. Michael’s black cowboy hat hid his face but even absent such an identifiable marker Alex was sure could have picked out his body in a sea of others without question. 

Michael reached his truck with no issue, unlocking the driver’s side door. His hand swept off his hat and casually tossed it into the front seat of the cab. Behind him, in the next parking aisle a nondescript panel van, a door opened slid open and a glint peeked out. Michael reached behind his neck, his body half in the truck and slapping at the skin there. 

Alex inhaled sharply, fear and dread rising. It was a terrible thing to watch knowing it had already happened. Two figures dressed in plain dark clothing emerged from the van, and started toward the truck. Michael’s body half fell from the cab, and curled around the front wheel. Alex watched as the two effortlessly brushed off the weak struggles to fight their grasp of Michael’s shoulders, tugging him backward to the waiting van. 

His body was tossed without care into the back, the door sliding shut blocking the last view of Michael. The two men split up from the van, circling around to the front doors. Alex numbly clicked on the frame, saving it, and switched over to the second camera focused on the entrance. 

Watching his brother Flint calmly pay the ticket machine was not much of a surprise at this point. 

“Kyle, I’m going to need you to call your nurse friend to check on my father.” He was proud that his voice was calm and even, despite the rising sickness within. “The good news is, this wasn’t a government issued black ops team that took Michael.”

“And the bad news?” Isobel prompted.

“It was personal, which means they aren’t as invested in keeping him alive.”

* * * * 

[Isobel details their mental bond. That it feels blank]

“I was always closer with Max. I don’t know if it was a twin thing or being raised together, but Michael was always harder to connect with until recently. We’ve been practicing so much together, he started to take up a bit of space here, “ she patted her chest. “Not enough to fill the void where Max was, but enough that I could tell if he was happy or if he was angry. Strong emotions only came through. Lately it was a lot of anger but he wouldn’t tell me what was going on… “

“And now? Do you feel him now?”

Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. “It’s empty. Blank. Like it was when we kids before he moved back to Roswell. I think he’s still alive, but he feels very far away, or very weak.”

[Alex waits patiently for the call. He thinks this is going to be an exchange of Michael for his dad, until he realizes his dad is not at the long-term care facility any more]

[Round table discussion at Max’s house to figure out what Jesse wants. Isobel finds out more about the shared past of Michael and Alex- and Maria shows up at the end looking for Michael]

“It’s been 2 days, why hasn’t your dad called with his demands? Is he not reading from the classic villain script this time?” Isobel wondered bitterly. “What is with your family, Alex?”

Kyle injected, “We don’t know that Sergant Manes is involved.”

“Don’t we? He disappeared from the nursing home just before Michael was taken. It seems pretty convenient timing to me.”

Alex pressed his fingers under his eyelids to relieve the building pressure. It had been a long two days of nothing after he received the call that the psuedonmyn he had checked his dad in unrder was no longer a patient in the long-term coma ward in Sante Fe. The staff was calling it a miracle that just after a devoted son had prayed at his bedside, he had woken up. Alex knew it was anything but divine intervention to have Jesse awake and free in the world. 

“Isobel is right, this has Dad written all over it. Somehow Flint found out what had happened and woke him up. It’s been two days because I’m guessing he is still weak from the inactivity.”

Liz stirred from her claimed spot on the couch, cracking an eyelid. “What makes you think there’s going to be a demand, Isobel? Manes has what he wants, a new alien to test and torture. If you look at the research side of things, the aliens in Caulfield were all weak and elderly, and Michael’s a healthy 28 year old. Whatever fucked up weapon he was developing might need a younger test subject.”

“Now there’s a comforting thought.” Kyle muttered. 

“I don’t think it’s research. This still feels personal to me. Michael still has an offensive power to defend himself with, the softer target would have been Isobel if he just wanted an alien to grab.”

“Gee, thanks Alex. Come closer and I’ll show you what I’ve been working on and see if you think I’m still a soft target after I turn your skull into crushed bone.”

***

Alex’s fingers were numb, as he pressed in his code to access his Whatsapp account. Waiting in his inbox was an unknown number and a video attachment. He abruptly dropped into the deck chair as the video opened to his worst fear made real.

Michael’s left eye was swollen shut, blood staining from the corner of his forehead, dripping down his cheek bone. His arms were stretched high above his head, disappearing out of frame. His shirt was missing, and there were sluggishly wounds striping over his shoulder and licking across his collar bone. 

The camera turned, Michael blurring out of view. The monster that starred in seventy percent of his nightmares filled the screen. “Hello, Alex. I was hoping to keep you out of this, son, but this creature is being very uncooperative.” 

Off screen, he heard a weak, “Go fuck yourself, Manes. I keep telling you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jesse nodded to someone out of frame, and Michael screamed in agonizing pain. Long hiccuping gasps for air puncuated another softer, “fuck you.”

“Like I said, uncooperative. When we last saw each other, you had something that belonged to me. Jim Valenti stole it from our base, and refused to tell me what he had done with it despite my best efforts at persuading him.” 

Michael cried out again, choking on a soft sob. Alex forced himself to watch, drinking in every detail for his later plans. 

“With N-38 gone, I can’t hurt this thing the same way I did dear old Jim so I’ve had to get creative. Electricity just makes some of them stronger, but good old heat and sharp still work on them. We both know you can break its bones with enough force.” Jesse turned, pointing the camera toward Michael again, focusing on the dangling bare feet. “There are more bones per square inch in the foot, than anywhere else in the body. I am telling you this so you don’t doubt my resolve. This thing is relatively harmless for its kind, and I’m willing to return it to you in more or less good condition, if you bring me what Valenti stole. Let me know what you decide to do.”

The video cut off. 

****

There was an expected role to play, like there always was when Jesse Manes was involved. Once it meant peppering his speech with ‘yes sir’ and ‘sorry sir’ and toning down his clothing in hopes of escaping his fists, and when that proved futile, it went in the opposite direction with makeup, nail polish, and piercings.

For all of his proud talk about the service, his father never served anywhere but stateside. His knowledge of tactical defense and enemy counter measures were likely twenty years of date, and Alex was counting on his father’s pride from keeping him unaware of the technology shift. The set up of the Project Shepherd bunker confirmed that.

He tucked his personal side arm into his thigh holster, securing to his left leg and reached for his secondary weapon to slip into his boot strapped to his prosthetic. The weight of the kevlar and vest registered briefly on his shoulders before it slipped into the blank shroud that had enveloped him as soon as he heard Michael’s cries. Knives and a pair of percussive grenades weighed down each side of his pockets.

A floorboard behind him creaked, his gun cleared the holster before his mind caught up on who would have followed him to his cabin. It was a little concerning that the sound of a vehicle hadn’t registered until now.

“Whoa, don’t shoot.” Kyle lifted his hands, halting abruptly.  He took in the dark clothing, combat hardware and the array of weapons spread on the cabin’s table. “I guess we are going full cliche today, good to know.”

Alex dropped his arm away, resecuring his gun. “Then you know what I’m going to say already.”

“Humor me, then. This is a trap, Alex.”

“I’m well aware.” Alex flipped open a black case and pulled out his phone and laptop. Carefully he pulled out three silver discs, and a pair of jeweler’s glasses. He sat down in the chair, slipping the glasses on to peer down at the discs. “I’m going anyway.”

Kyle sighed, aggrieved. “Well I did promise Guerin if he got his ass kidnapped by the government, I would come to his rescue.”

Alex didn’t look up from his work, pressing a small pin on each disc. “You’re not going with me, Kyle.”

“I know this face is distractingly handsome, but tell me you remember all the time we spent on the range together as kids. I can shoot a gun.” 

“Shooting a paper target is different from shooting at a human being.” Each disc beeped softly, then went silent. He pulled the glasses off with a satisfied smirk, “Besides, I need you to come with the cavalry. These are military grade GPS trackers that I’ve linked to my laptop and my phone. Once my father sees I’m there without the piece of the ship, he’ll take me to Michael so he can teach me a lesson.”

“What makes you think your dad won’t find these trackers?”

“I’m sure he will, but I’ve got a back up plan on that as well. My father has underestimated me my entire life. He thinks I am weak, that my emotions and desires cloud my judgment. He’s going to see he was wrong.”

“Alex.” Kyle hesitated, struggling for a moment before taking a seat at the table. He gently laid his hand on Alex’s wrist, stilling the other man. “We all want Guerin back safe but I want you to consider for a moment that your father is right, that your emotions are clouding your judgment. Because what I’m seeing right now is kind of freaking me out, dude. You’re dressed from head to toe in black ops murder gear with GPS trackers, which I didn’t even know you could buy, talking about going in alone, guns blazing, against your dad.”

“I got them on Ebay.”

“That’s what you’re choosing to focus on?”

“What are my other options, Kyle? He’s got Michael. He’s had him for two days, and there is exactly zero chance he doesn’t want both the UFO fragment and Michael.” Alex wrenched his hand away,. He inhaled deeply and pushed down the swell of thoughts of what had already happened to Michael in two days.

“I agree, but back when I laid him out with barbiturates in our bunker, you and I had a discussion about killing him. I seem to remember we decided against that.”

“No, Kyle, you decided against it and I went along with it. Which was clearly a mistake. This has been a long time coming, okay? He brought this on himself when he took Michael.”

“I knew there was no talking you out of this. I just don’t want you to do this alone.”

* * * 

The lights were all on at the formerly known as Evans-Bracken residence, now just Evans. 

“You look like you’re ready to storm the castle.” Isobel commented, before pushing the door open and turning back into the house. “I still haven’t felt anything from Michael. He could be dead, and all of this would be pointless.”

Alex winced and acknowledged the point before pushing the thought down. “He’s not dead.”

“How do you know? Your so-called cosmic connection?” She sipped from the glass in her hand, the scent of chemicals wafted to him. It was clearly not water.

Gently he wrapped his fingers around her hand, guiding the glass away before resting it on the table next to him. “Maybe, but in reality, if he was dead, my father would have taken someone else as leverage and he would have taunted me with my failure to protect Michael.”

****

[ So as you can see it needs a massive rewrite to fix my characterization- but I still like the plot of Jesse taking Michael for the ship piece- especially since the show fumbled on this so badly in 2x10-2x11. ]

[joshslater]

Grimsby pt. 6

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I think I surprised myself more than anyone else that I was early for work. Peter put me to work right away with ice and boxes. Not much different than yesterday, and quickly became a mindless routine. If I had started off the day as a zombie, I soon wished I was one. Or on drugs, still. It would be helpful to block all the muscle ache if nothing else. There was quite a lot of fish coming in compared with yesterday. Since it was a Friday restaurants stocked up for the weekend, and the ordinary shoppers came by for their Friday evening projects. But as I was in so early I kept up with work, and by lunch Jamie sent me home early with full pay.

“Real good work today. Rest up for Monday. You look like shit.”

I grabbed a mis-shapen fried cod on my way out and ate by the bus stop. I decided to do as suggested and get back home as fast as possible and take a nap. Then perhaps I could deal with cleaning out the kitchen, or even laundry if I woke up in time. I had just finished the fish when the bus arrived, and this time I actually paid the proper £1.80. Again I opted for a seat in the back, by the window, though there wasn’t many people on the bus.

Two stops later a teenager, probably younger than he tried to look, swaggered on and went straight to sit next to me. All blue and grey adidas joggers and sweatshirt, Nike shoes and a buzzed head. He sat down with one foot on the seat, legs wide. He effectively blocked me in my seat, but he didn’t do it in a threatening way. It was like someone getting comfortable next to someone they knew.

“Oi. Got fag?” 

My instinct was to not give any of my cigarettes to him, but then were they really mine? I was still working my way through the 200 pack Declan bought me. I suppose once it was gone I would have to buy a new one, but it didn’t feel like it was my money. As long as I’m pretending for Butcher Jones I don’t have to be too careful with money.

“Hey. Sure.”

I got one of the last ones out of the box and handed it to him. He lit it and started to smoke, in the bus.

“Thanks mate”

Almost instantly I was jealous of him. I so craved a smoke. Sure, it was on the bus, but I wasn’t the one who had lit it. I held out my hand towards him. He looked up and handed me the lit cigarette. I made a few deep drags and handed it back to him. Some stops later he got off the bus with a “cheers”. It felt like I had passed a test of some sort. That I was convincingly playing my part. It felt both reassuring and unsettling at the same time. I couldn’t see my reflection in the window, but I could kind of imagine what I looked like now. I touched my head, and it still felt alien to me, with the smooth skin on the sides and the island of stubble up top. I almost missed my stop, lost in thought. I was so tired, and walked on autopilot from the bus stop to my bed. I did greet someone from yesterday’s party, but instantly forgot who. I kicked off my shoes and lied down on the bed.

“I said yous ready to go?”

My wheels were spinning wildly with poor traction in my sleep drunk state. I didn’t understand what was happening. I wasn’t drunk or high, was I? No, I hadn’t had any all day? Big Jace was only inches from my face, one hand on each of my shoulders. Damn, how sore my entire body was.

“G...*cough* go where?” “The club. Imma beat you in boxing like FIFA.”

He reached out and grabbed me in that way where the thumbs interlock and your fingers grab the outside of the hand. Instinctively I grabbed his hand as well, and he pulled me out of bed. “There’s plenty of napping once we get the gloves on.” I was still too disoriented from having been waken up mid REM sleep to realize what he meant. As I stumbled down the stairs after Jace, I managed to grab a new pack, get a cigarette in and light it before we were out the door. Why did I agree to do this again? Right. I was high. Where was Declan?

Jace turned the other way down the street, not saying a word as usual, with me following him. He had a black Nike duffle bag over his shoulder. Despite his height it was hanging below his hip, swinging more than I would have had patience for. It was mesmerizing to look at, as I worked on my Richmond Blue King and tried to not wake up properly. By the time we reached the end of the street I felt like I was hypnotized, and was jolted back to sentience as he walked straight through a bush and across the lawn of however lived there. I followed him. Right, I remembered. Declan had left. I took a few faster steps to walk up beside Jace, and not behind him.

He led me over some public and private properties in the confident manner of someone who had long ago worked out the best shortcut to something they attended often. He wasn’t rushing, though, and despite my overall soreness and fatigue it felt refreshing. About 15 minutes later we entered the Grimbsy Adrenaline Club building, a large free standing brick building designed by someone without any aesthetic sense at all. I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone how we got there if I wanted. As soon as Jace opened the front door and I saw the locker room signs I realized I had nothing with me to change into. A home full of athletic clothes, in a sense, and nothing with me. Though I guess the adidas outfit I had on was as good as anything, and it was about time to throw that in the theoretical laundry basket.

Jace tossed the bag on a bench as soon as we entered the locker room. It landed with a loud thud that startled the only other guy in the room. Jace smiled a wry smile, like scaring the guy was the best thing that could have happened. Like the exterior, the room was well worn with furniture crafted in place. It smelled of sweat and mildew. Jace sauntered to the bag, unzipped it and pulled out a pair of old boxing gloves. They looked just as I imagined boxing gloves should look like, rounded, as inflated balloons, orange-red leather with yellow-white trim and long, white laces. They were really worn, and a bit frayed in the lining. The laces looked brand new, and just about long enough to lace them up. Someone had probably replaced the original string with laces from a pair of sneakers. He held one up, opening towards me.

“Hand.”

I put my hand in the glove, and he pushed it in place. He quickly tightened the lace, told me to push, and tied some sort of knot. He then grabbed a roll of duct tape from the bag and put a wide strip over the knot, and around the glove, almost two turns.

“Shit gloves innit. Should hold.”

We did the same with the other glove. He then picked a black piece of rubbery plastic, a bulky mouth guard, out of the bag and inserted it in his mouth. Finally he picked up a pair of much more modern gloves from the bag, red and black in some synthetic leather, put them on and velcroed them tight. He did two rapid fistbumps, making a bright thuds.

“Come. I’ll show you the basics.”

I could barely make out the words for the mouthguard. I followed Jace through the building. It was almost deserted, with a few people in the machine room doing their work out. I realized I had no idea what the time was, but early afternoon on a Friday was obviously not peak hour. We ended up in a large room with different punching bags along one wall. He stopped in a cleared area.

“Now hit me.”

I punched him softly in the chest.

“OK, that one’s free. Hit my head.”

I made an attempt and he easily danced away. He spurred me on to continue and to make better and faster attacks. He clearly enjoyed his superiority, dodging everything with ease. He was starting to mock punch me, missing on purpose. “Faster, or I’ll hit you for real” I was tired and sore, and I had no idea what I was doing. We were going faster and a faster, my heart was racing and I was sweating, but my arms moved sloppier and sloppier. Somehow I was getting angry that I didn’t hit him, and got more and more determined to actually hit something other than his blocking gloves.

Suddenly he stepped back, giving me a big, black rubber smile. How long had we been at it? Five minutes? Fifteen? He opened a glove, took it off, removed the mouth guard and held it out in front of him, offering it to me. “Bite this. I’ll show you the punches.” Without thinking I stepped forward, leaned down to where he held the mouth guard and bit into it. Exactly when I closed my mouth it hit my how off the cliff I was. I was exhausted on every level, sure, but I was just blindly doing whatever this younger, rude, drug dealing chav told me to do. How had he conditioned me so quickly? At the beginning of the week I wouldn’t even touch something dripping in someone else’s saliva. Now I put it in my mouth before I even realized anything wrong with that. I was desensitized.

“This is a jab.” Jace said with no emotion and punched me straight in the face. I was totally unprepared and fell back on the padded floor. I managed to break the fall a little with my gloved hands, and ended up on my ass. My nose hurt. I tried to feel it, and check if it was bleeding, and manged to punch myself in the face, if ever so softly. “Wa a uh!” was my rendering of “what the fuck”, but the mouth guard was clearly not fitted for me. If anything Jace was enjoying this more than sidestepping my blows, and spent seconds just observing me on the floor before he stepped in and lifted me with one glove in each armpit.

I felt light headed and steadied myself on Jace before regaining balance. “Hits can come from front, sides and below” he explained. “Jab is from the front.” I didn’t feel it mattered much what it was called when you beat someone up. “This is a hook” he said and hit my head from the side. This time I was more prepared and managed to lean away. It still connected, but wasn’t as bad. I avoided his other hook even better. The uppercut however connected with my chin properly and I lost consciousness for a few seconds and woke up looking up at Jace.

“You need to block”

He then appeared to hold back, and went through all the punches, telling me how I could attempt to block them. I got punched plenty more, but nothing that knocked me out. He then placed me in front of one of the punching bags and told me to repeat a motion, while he went on to do his exercises. Occasionally he would change my exercise or adjust me technique. All I could do was to grunt “ae!” with the mouth guard in.

“Fifteen more”

I was really emptying whatever energy reserves I had left, and I knew I was doing really shitty work, but I did as Jace told me and hit the punching bag with fifteen more left hooks. He had taken off his gloves, and was just watching me. As I did the last punch, he tapped my shoulder with one of his gloves.

“Solid work, mate. I’m chuffed.”

He walked towards the locker room. I trailed him, exhausted. My body must have glistened in sweat, had it not been for the adidas set, which clung to the body. I was breathing heavily through the nose. Well ahead of me I saw him toss his gloves into the bag, then turned and waited for me.

“Footwork next time. Tuesday.”

He wasn’t asking. He then ripped the tape off my gloves, and undid the knots. As soon as I got a hand free I removed the mouth guard. Jace looked at it as if surprised I still had it. “Toss in the bag”. I sat down on the bench to catch my breath.

Jace stood still and just looked at me for a moment, then he reach down inside his polo shirt neck, undid a brass looking chain necklace. He stepped forward and clutched it around my neck. I looked at him in surprise.

“There. You’re family.”

[ad1ostoreador]

>> View the mirthhive mirror...

(...or, a purposeful encounter between @fiduspawn-master and @ad1ostoreador, featuring several counts of awkwardness, an emotional shock, a missing moon, and at least one dragon.)

ad1ostoreador: It didn't take much preparation, for Tavros to be ready to go.  A poncho-like cloak, thrown over his folded wings, a small spare bladeleaf-woven basket hooked over one arm, filled with crumbly orange bits of bark chocolate, and an uncertain scratch of the back of his head, before he was inspecting his wrist transportalizer and keying in the right coordinates.

The transportalizer went vworp, with its usual disorienting stutter, and he lifted a hand in greeting, as he appeared on the other side and gave his head a tiny shake to rebalance himself.  "Uh.... hey?"

It was hard, sometimes, to know just how timelines would diverge, and what quirks would strike a passer-by as strange... but the amount of color he was wearing, between the poncho and his loose, patterned pants, would likely be quite odd on any Imperial Alternia, especially for a lowblood.  The fact that he was stubbornly shoeless, maybe, too, but after sweeps of feeling nothing, he was largely uninterested in having anything between his feet and any possible source of sensation, and running around on a beach and through woods all the time for the past months had done quite a lot to toughen them up, post-pupation.  Adult pupation itself had left him well over six feet tall, with hide darker than wiggler-gray, both from frequent sun (freckling included) and from chitin reinforcing it, and his eyes had long since filled in bronze. His hair was a bit shaggy on the sides of his mohawk, in the absence of a recent shave, and showed hints of lighter bronze in streaks through the black, there.

fiduspawn-master: Tavros spent the few minutes it would take for the other Tavros to arrive nervously tidying things around his hive. He was naturally a very fastidious troll, but it was a hard thing to keep up all the time in his condition. He was putting his dishes away when he heard the noise he now recognized as a visitor appearing just outside his hive.

The wind was still racing in from the sea, its constant whisper joined by the creaking of the windmill turning high above and the roar of the waves crashing against the cliffs. A few hop and cluckbeasts that had scattered in fear at the strange phenomenon were starting to wander back as Tavros opened the door to greet--

Oh man. He looked up at the familiar, unfamiliar figure standing in front of his hive. It was like looking in a mirthhive mirror. Seeing an adult was still somewhat alarming in and of itself, (even though he was basically an adult himself) And seeing one that was post molt was even more wild, not to mention one that was kind of him...

This might actually be weirder than meeting Bull...

He was staring- "Uhhhhh, H-hi!" He raised a hand in a stiff, awkward wave. "Do you, Want to come in?" that wasn't a great question.

ad1ostoreador: The location might have been starkly different from his own long-ago hive, but the creaking of the windmill was familiar, bone-deep, and left him awash in a curious mix of nostalgia and wrong-footedness, mixed as it was with the alien smell of the sea.  The scent was somehow very different from the ocean he lived beside, at present... some difference in the blend of minerals, or in the things living and growing in it, and it took Tavros a moment to remember how to answer, with his communing-sense flickering out automatically to touch and catalog beasts he hadn't encountered in sweeps on end.

"Um...." A slow blink, and then an awkward little grin, as he faced the other troll.  "Yeah, sorry... I just... forgot what Alternia felt like.... It's been a... long time."  He lifted the basket a little, and moved nearer, but none too quickly.  Better to give his alternate room to steer clear of the doorway, first.  It was strange, too, how much smaller his wigglerhood hive felt than it once had, to him. He'd visited occasional memories of it, back in the dreambubbles, but none since he'd grown to his present size, and this was real, with a sense of weight and solidity around his horns that the bubbles had never really managed to achieve.

fiduspawn-master: Possibly the biggest visual difference was the quality of light. The pink moon above was not overshadowed by a green neighbor, having only its moonlet for company. It cast the world in softer, warmer hues. 

There was an impressive variety of local beasts in the area, including at least a dozen fairy bulls and an assortment of unfamiliar, synthetic beasts, fiduspawn or fakespawn presumably.

"Oh, You're fine! Take your time!" Tavros reassured him, deftly rolling back and to the side as he pulled the door open more for him. The doorframe was accommodatingly wide and a couple of the antlered hopbeasts slipped inside before the new guest had reached the door. 

Inside was one large open room, with a nutrition area to one side and many windows and low tables against the opposite wall. Half of them had the curtains drawn already, and there were wide paths around everything, and not a lot of chairs. 

"Uhm, The pot's in the kitchen, and, I can go grab the thing I made for Gamzee, If you, Uhh, Give me a second,,," Tav said from behind him, shutting the door carefully, mindful of critters slipping in or out.

There were two fairy bulls perching around the nutrition area, though one was weird and shiny and definitely a robot. Both of them jingled in alarm at the stranger and darted towards their ward to hover protectively around him. "Oh, Uhm, Sorry, They're still not used to other trolls being here, And, That being okay..." Tav apologized as he reached out to bring the flesh and blood lusus out of the air and into his lap, petting it soothingly.

ad1ostoreador: Honestly, he hadn't even registered the green moon's absence, perhaps assuming it was still beyond the horizon.  Tavros moved forward, stepping on through the door, and froze as his gaze landed on the living fairy bull, breath hitching as if he'd just been surprise-punched in the gut.

Right.  Of course Tink was alive, here.  Of course he was prepared for that.  (He wasn't.)

"....Yeah, of course they, uh... wouldn't..." Tavros murmured, a little weakly, and tore his eyes off the lusus who didn't recognize him, looking down at the basket he held.  "...Where should I, um... put this?" He struggled for a casual tone, swallowing.

fiduspawn-master: Tav's fingers brushed his own brow as he sent brief reassurance to the small lusi, both calming down immediately. "Oh, you can leave it in the kitchen, I'll be right back!" He pivoted and rolled off towards the back of the room and down a hallway, disappearing for a minute and leaving the other Tavros alone in the space. A hopbeast sniffed his foot curiously as some other critters moved about the room, including one's he'd made himself. There was a tank on one of the low tables where the colorful newest project was swimming around contentedly. 

Tavros would return a couple of minutes later, flanked by the two fairybulls and holding a small parcel wrapped in a scrap of blue gingham fabric. "Uhm, Here it is!"

ad1ostoreador: Tavros gave a small nod, not looking up, and took a deep breath or two as his counterpart rolled down the hall.  The hive layout was... partially the same, and partially not.  Definitely less cluttered than his own, at six sweeps, and it looked more... purposeful, somehow.  Widened, maybe, with more convenient paths to wheel through.

He moved into the nutrition-block area, and set the little basket on a counter, within easy reach of the edge.  The borrowed pot, he saw, and held awkwardly for a moment before remembering his sylladex--it wouldn't work, back home, but here, it made a decent place to stash things out of his graspers.  Then, the curious hopbeast got a gentle head-scritching, between the antlers.

When his alternate returned, he turned around and straightened up to accept the offered parcel, still not quite daring to look at either the fairy bull or the robotic version.  "Thanks... I'll, um, pass it on to him, and let him know..."

fiduspawn-master: There were a few low ramps in the nutrition area, in front of the counters and prongtrap and the crisprange so that they were reachable. Everything was otherwise uncomfortably low for an upright troll as tables had been modified for the hivedweller's convenience.

Tav held the parcel up to his guest, rolling back a bit once he'd taken it so he wouldn't have to crane his neck to look up at him. The normal fairy bull had alighted on the counter near the familiar stranger's elbow and was leaning over to carefully sniff him, its breath tickling his skin. 

"Yes, Okay, Uhm, Tell him I hope he gets better soon I guess..." He smoothed his hands anxiously over the thick blanket wrapped around his legs. "Uhhhh... Is this, Weird for you too?"

ad1ostoreador: "He's... Gamzee's good.  It's just... he's got a thing, right now, where he's... not wanting to go off-planet."  A thing that Tavros wasn't entirely ready to think too hard about, just yet, for assorted reasons. "I'll tell him, though..."

His fingers twitched and curled a little more by his side in an almost-flinch, where the fairy bull was sniffing his arm, and he looked over at a tinted window instead, nodding a couple of times, rapidly.  "...Yeah.  It's... pretty weird.  I can't, uh... actually remember the last time I met another... living version of us, face to face."  A weak smile.

"It's good, though... I'm glad."  It was a rare enough occasion that he thought it was pretty special.  Someone else who'd managed to survive the worst Alternia could throw at them, instead of ending up just another blank-eyed ghost of a dead kid no one really bothered to consider.  Tavros shifted his stance slightly, folded wings rustling under the poncho and skimming the floor behind his feet at their tips as he weighed the option of sitting down on a ramp against the logistics of trying to arrange his wings somewhere without knocking over or breaking anything important behind him.  "How are you, uh... doing, though? With... alts, and timelines, and everything..."

fiduspawn-master: Tav's brow pinched a bit with worry. "Uhm, Yeah, I think he mentioned some stuff to me... Yeah..." He didn't elaborate, it wasn't his place. He reached up awkwardly to rub the back of his neck as his alternate self agreed about the weirdness, blanching a bit when he mentioned 'living versions' "Oh... Oh man... You've seen-?" That sounded terrible, seeing his own corpse... "Uhm, Yeah I guess." He tried to return the smile, giving Tink a glance as they flew up to hover around the other Tavros' head, jingling softly.

His ears twitched as he herd the rustling of wings and noticed his guest fidgeting "Oh! Uhm, Do you want to sit down? I have a loungeplank!" He said, quickly backing up and spinning around to the other side of the big, open block. There was indeed a mostly unused loungeplank shoved back against the wall across from a row of windows, a skylight letting in the moonlight from above through a heavy tint. There was a screen on the third wall and another low table with a half dozen stacks of fiduspawn cards he'd been organizing, along with his old, beat up husktop. He quickly cleared a stack of host plushes off of the couch, dumping them off to one side for now and turning back towards his guest. "Oh, uhm, well... Its- Uhhhh." He broke eyecontact, hands coming together to twist the ring around one of his thumbs. "its... different... from normal..."

ad1ostoreador: "...Ghosts, and stuff, mostly. A little different from, uh... the type Aradia used to call up, though... in a place where they all sort of, um.... hung around and didn't remember they were dead, usually."  Or that he'd visited before.  Or much of anything, outside of whatever set of memories or pan misfirings they'd gotten hung up on going through the motions of repeating, over and over and over.

The offer of a loungeplank made him shrug slightly, rubbing at the back of his neck one-handed.  "Is it okay if I, uhh... pull it away from the wall a bit? I'll put it back, after..."  The ring on Tavros's thumb caught his eye, unfamiliar as the accessory was to him, but he didn't pry.  "...Yeah... it's definitely different, for sure."  It was still hard to look at Tink, and he couldn't bear communing with the lusus, at all.  He'd have thought four sweeps would dull the edges there, some.

fiduspawn-master: "Oh, Right, Wow..." He'd always thought ghosts were pretty spooky, and he'd only seen Aradia conjure them up once. He didn't really want to think about himself being... like that.

"Yeah! Of course! Whatever you need!" He replied quickly "Here!" 

He rolled over to one side of the loungeplank, grabbing the corner and bracing his other hand against the wall, pushing it forward a few feet pretty easily, if unevenly. 

"Uhm, Yeah, It's been... A lot... I think maybe I'm not dealing with it that great..." he mumbled, looking into the dark space behind the loungeplank as a trio of sleepy eyes blinked back at him. He rolled backwards to let the soothcoon waddle out from its nap spot.

ad1ostoreador: Tavros moved to heft the other end of the loungeplank, scooting it easily forward to leave clearance for his wings, and pausing to chirp a quiet greeting-noise at the soothcoon, with a touch of apology for disturbing it.

"I... think, probably, it would be hard for anyone to, uh... deal with it wonderfully, all things considered.  Even for those of us who played the game, because it was dumb and awful...  ....So... it's okay to be kind of... rattled, about it all, yeah?"  He trailed off, then carefully took a crooked seat on the loungeplank, wings draped over the back and down to the floor behind it at an angle.

fiduspawn-master: Tavros turned to situate himself on the other side of the table, his hands smoothing distractedly over the blanket wrapped around his legs again as he looked around the floor. "I'm not really sure if 'rattled' is the word that I would use, Or that even all of the crazy other timeline versions of people I knew are, Uhh, the thing that I'm not handling well..." he admitted, his fangs digging at his lower lip a little. "I mean, I think that I can just kind of accept that that's a thing, since, I've known for a sweep by now..."

The robotic fairy bull was still perched on the back of his chair while the other had landed on the back of the couch, directing a tiny moo in their guest's directions, the naturally affectionate creature demanding attention.

ad1ostoreador: Tavros worried at his own lip a little, with a fang, sneaking a glance toward the living fairy bull and twisting his own fingers together in his lap, slowly, until his knuckles paled.  "...No?  What part is, uh... messing with you, then?"

fiduspawn-master: The small lusus fluttered its eyelashes at him and mooed again, fluttering its wings with a little jingle as well, practically begging for a pet. 

"Uhhh.... It's, Probably not important... And, Also kind of hard to articulate. And, Maybe kind of terrible?" He winced as he bit his lip a little too hard, starting to fidget with the ring around his thumb again. "Sorry, You probably don't want to talk about this..."

ad1ostoreador: Tavros took another deep, slightly shaky breath, and fought down any pathetic grub-noises before they could slip out, very carefully reaching up and giving the fairy bull a gentle pet.

"...I mean... it's not fair to you, if parts of all this are messing you up.  So... maybe if you can, uh, articulate at least some of it, you might feel kind of better?"

fiduspawn-master: They were ecstatic! Nuzzling his palm and licking his fingers as they jingled happily.

Tavros nearly mimicked his alter's shaky breath, his claws tapping against his ring "Uhm... I guess there are just, Some feelings I've been having, That, I'm not used to having..." he mumbles, shrugging slightly.

ad1ostoreador: Tavros stared into an indistinct spot somewhere near the middle of the floor while the lusus licked his fingers and nuzzled on his hand, his eyes gone a little bit glassy, but managed to keep his voice largely level, if somewhat quieter than usual.  "...I don't want to, um... assume things. About you, or feelings that happen to you... even if I kind of, uhh... suspect that maybe we had some of the same... problems, relating to that general, uh, area of experiences..."

fiduspawn-master: Well, maybe, if anyone could understand, without thinking he was just really terrible, it would be another version of himself, maybe... He finally looked up at him to respond before noticing his expression and stopping. "Uhm, Are you, Okay?" He asked, concerned. 

The lusus still looked pleased as punch to be pet, its little tail whipping back and forth.

ad1ostoreador: He bit his lip again, and looked up, almost guiltily jerking his hand back to his lap, with a quick rub of the other hand over his eyes.  "....yeah. I'm okay.  It's fine..."

fiduspawn-master: Tavros frowned, tilting his head slightly as the lusus mooed in disappointment "Uhm, Okay, But, No, I don't think that you are?"

ad1ostoreador: A few beats of silence passed, and then Tavros managed--"...I wasn't... expecting to see..." He jerked his head slightly in the direction of the lusus.  "...that's all.  It's dumb, and I should have... expected.  I'm okay."

fiduspawn-master: His brows furrowed in confusion. "To see a fairy bull? Uhm... Oh, Right, I guess there must not be any in the place that you live... Uhm, I can ask him to go in the other room, If you want" He offered.

ad1ostoreador: Tavros hesitated, then shook his head, though a tiny part of him wanted to nod, instead, and another part wanted to maybe just curl up in a hole.  "No.... no. It's okay... really.  It's just been a long time.  You were, uh.... you were saying?"

fiduspawn-master: He wasn't totally convinced, sending a brief thought to the fairy bull to not bother their guest. Reluctantly they fluttered down to the other side of the couch and sat down, pouting a little bit. "Oh, Uhm, I don't know. We don't really have to talk about it..." His alter looked upset and distracted, and he didn't want to make him more uncomfortable or bother him about his problems...

ad1ostoreador: Frankly, a distraction from the shitty ache behind his eyes and missing his own lusus would be welcome.  He rubbed at the ring in his own nose, briefly, and let out a tiny breath.  "....like I said, I don't want to, um... assume things, which could be wrong, if you don't... want to say anything.  But... you don't have to."

fiduspawn-master: He sighed faintly and fiddled with his ring again, looking off towards the windows. "Well... I guess I have just gotten pretty used to the only feeling I felt being loneliness? Which, Was really pretty terrible, But also, Familiar...?" He trailed off a moment, one hand squeezing into a fist. "Now, There are people to talk to and, Uhhh, Watch, Live their lives, Doing important things and, Uhm, Having friends that care about them a lot, And, It has just been making me have a lot of feelings about everything, And, It feels like it was easier, To just be lonely, But, Also, Somehow, I feel even more lonely than I did before?" He swallowed, looking down as his hair flopped forward into his face, his hands kneading together hard. "Uhm, Sorry, That probably sounds pretty dumb, And, Terrible..."

ad1ostoreador: "No, I... I get it."  Tavros cleared his throat a little, fingers back to being laced together in his lap.  "...Being in the Furthest Ring alone was... really lonely.  And in some ways it... felt even worse to go online, and see everyone just... busy and happy with all their own, uh, lives, and stuff, and people they actually cared about..."

fiduspawn-master: He finally looked up at his alter again as he spoke, nodding a little with a small sniff "Yeah, That is, Pretty much it exactly..." he huffed, reaching up to push his hair back into place again. "I, Don't really know what to do about it, Or, If it would be better to just... Not go online..."

ad1ostoreador: "...It's not easy.  And sometimes the bad times like that just keep happening over again, when it's extra, uh, hard, and lonely, and everything is awful. But... if you stay away from everyone, and you don't meet anyone, or talk to anyone.... you won't get any of the good times, then, when it doesn't feel that way, and when you can believe that people would notice, if you... weren't online."  It was possibly a cycle Tavros had been through multiple times, himself.

fiduspawn-master: His hand stayed in his hair, twisting it between his fingers some as he tried to get the lump out of his throat, making it hard to breathe. "You, Uhm, Really think that it could be like that for me?" he huffed, looking down a the blanket over his legs. "For me?"

ad1ostoreador: "I think, definitely so. And... I think that trolls aren't... meant to be all alone.  We... need other people, more than that... even with all the dumb Imperial stuff, trying to draw lines between everybody and keep them apart..."  Tavros echoed the faint 'huff', with a small shake of his head.

fiduspawn-master: Tav fidgeted a bit at the empire talk, shifting a little in his chair and shrugging "I mean, I wouldn't be alone if I wasnt-... I could- could have, Made other friends, And, Uhm,  known people... I could have tried..." Maybe he shouldn't be defending the empire here, but it was kind of his fault for being a cripple. "I wouldn't have gotten stuck in being lonely, I don't think..."

ad1ostoreador: "...It's not 'could have'... it's 'can'," Tavros pointed out, glancing up from his own fingers then.  "Only, without the part where V--she, uh, ruins everything, always.  There's... lots of options, you know? Even if you haven't always... had some of those options, before now."

fiduspawn-master: His fingers fisted tight in the blanket in his lap at the mere mention. "Yeah." he huffed with a scowl before sighing again "Yeah... I guess, It will only be too late if I stop trying... It's... Hard though. It still kind of feels like I'm too late, And, Not ready, At the same time..."

ad1ostoreador: "....Used to feel sometimes like everyone was... busy finding all their serendipity back before I even, uh, knew the site everyone uses now was a thing that existed.  Like I was... just too late to ever be anything important, to anyone, even as a friend..."  Tavros said, a little too off-handedly.  Sometimes it still felt that way, except for Gamzee, but he usually tried to remind himself that that was probably the horrible gray creep of depression talking, and not actual reality. "..But don't stop trying, is the point, mostly. Like you, uh, said, it's not too late unless you quit trying..."

fiduspawn-master: Tavros nodded slowly as he listened. Yes, that was pretty much exactly how he felt about it. Maybe though, if another version of himself could overcome it, (albeit, a way cooler more interesting and less broken version of himself, but, that wasn't a helpful thought to have) Then maybe he could too. 

"Yeah, Okay... Thank you. Uhm, I'm glad that you understand, Even though, I'm also sorry that you understand..."

ad1ostoreador: "It's... one of the good things, I think, about there being... so many versions of so many worlds, out there... the odds are probably, um, pretty good that somebody understands just about anything... yeah?" He tried for a small and crooked smile, shrugging.

fiduspawn-master: Tav mirrored the lopsided smile with another small nod. "Heh, Yeahhh... Uhm... Sorry, Things got kind of heavy. I hope this visit hasn't just been really terrible." he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck again awkwardly. "Maybe, If you ever wanted to come by again, We could do something actually fun?"

ad1ostoreador: "It's fine, really... and, that would be a thing that we could, uh, do... or... you could come visit our planet, sometime, if you wanted?"  Beach sand might not agree with wheels, so well, but the 'social' hive had smooth, solid floors and lots of open space to maneuver.  "I think you would like to meet the, uhh, oggos a lot..."

Tavros couldn't help one more furtive glance over at the small lusus at the other end of the couch, and swallowed.

fiduspawn-master: "Oh, Yes! Uhm, Gamzee mentioned there were new kinds of beasts there, And it sounded really beautiful also!" He brightened up a bit at the idea, his hands relaxing in his lap. "That would be fun."

The fairy bull had curled up once it became clear it was going to be ignored by the new troll, and was dozing off, shimmery wings folded down against its back. "Uhm... Do you want to take some with you?" Tav asked, seeing him eyeing the lusus again. "There's, Uhh, A good sized herd around right now, You could probably take enough to start breeding them, If you wanted." He was still working under the assumption that he simply missed the general presence of fairy bulls.

ad1ostoreador: For a moment, he froze, then slowly shook his head.  "...I think... it would just, um, make me think more about missing mine, probably... a lot."  He shut his eyes briefly.  "...How did you, uh, get a robot fairy bull, anyway?"

fiduspawn-master: He bit his lip and nodded a little "Yeah, Okay, Sorry. It is definitely always really hard when they die, I can't imagine there not being more to come and replace them..." he mumbled before glancing back at the shiny white fairybot. "Oh, Uhm, That was, Uhh, Bull. He kind of changed the one that was taking care of me, So that they could always be monitoring me, and, the thing that he did to make my legs not be hurting pretty much all of the time, Since, I didn't want any of the robot stuff to be in my sponge..." He patted the fairybot a little more tentatively "I guess that it's okay, Since, They still are happy.”

ad1ostoreador: Tavros was very quiet, for a few more beats, and then quirked a quarter-smile that mostly looked like it hurt. "There was just... the one, for me. When I was younger.  He... always acted like he missed other fairy bulls, but... there weren't any more wild ones nearby, not for leagues and leagues... and nobody rust was allowed more than one lusus.  Even if they were... really small."

The thought of anyone just being changed that way, even a lusus, still made something roll over unsettled in his stomach, but he let out a breath.  "...I'm glad he, uh... helped your legs not hurt."

fiduspawn-master: Tavros frowned as his alter spoke, his ears drooping. "Oh man... I'm so sorry, That must have been, Really hard..." he mumbled, his eyes wandering to Tinkerbull as he twisted the ring around his finger. "Uhm, Yeah, I'm glad too, And that, That is all that he did, Also..."

ad1ostoreador: Tavros couldn't help a small, wry, but real-er smile, at that. "Yeah... He really, um, likes the... robot stuff. But... he won't do it, if you remind him not to..." He shrugged slightly. "And if you don't want to, uh... be like that."

fiduspawn-master: "Yeahhhh... He was really sorry for, Uhm, Freaking me out afterwards. He just, Really wanted to help... I think, That I just don't want to not be me..." His jaw tightened slightly as his hands smoothed back over his blanket "Even if, Me, Isn't as cool or smart, Or, Really confident, As I guess he could have made me..." He trailed off, eyes downcast.

ad1ostoreador: "I think... for him, he didn't feel like himself until he went all... robot. So... he has a hard time, maybe, understanding people who don't feel like themselves because they've been made a robot...." Tavros added, quietly. 

"...He does try really hard to help, though. And... I think you are already pretty cool, and smart, what with being all, uh... an illegal rebel, hiding on-planet, and... building fakespawn, and stuff that I don't have any idea how to do, but you do it really well. And... the fact that you are still alive, when... most everything on Alternia is designed to, um, try to prevent that. And you're away from her..." Which was a big thing, all by itself.

fiduspawn-master: He huffed, reaching up to fiddle with his hair again. "Uhmmm, I don't know, About all of that stuff... But, I don't really need to be anything special..." He gave a half hearted shrug "I think that I will just probably always be the same, Until..." He trailed off again before shaking his head, finally looking up at his alt with a strained laugh "Hah, Wow, This is all pretty depressing to talk about! Uhm, We could definitely probably be talking about things that are not that!"

ad1ostoreador: From where Tavros was standing, it already looked like a few major changes, from the pupa they'd once been.  He didn't argue the point further, though, just giving his head a little shake.  "Sorry... you should definitely, um, come visit sometime soon, though."  He had the beginnings of the inklings of an idea, even.

fiduspawn-master: "It's okay! And, Yes! I think I would like that a lot, If you guys felt like it." he said as he kept up the smile a little more naturally. "I can't wait to try the chocolate you brought also, I can't remember the last time I got to have any!"

ad1ostoreador: "It's like... a tree-fungus, where we are. It grows on their stemrinds, on certain types... and it tastes just like chocolate. Not the, uh, over-sweet candy type hivestem stuff, but the real stuff."  Tavros might have been rambling a little, for the sake of a topic that didn't sting. "I use it in, um... hot cocoa, and spicy huskbean stew, and some other things..."

fiduspawn-master: "Oh wow! That sounds like an amazing thing to have grow where you live! Hah, Man, I don't have a lot of stuff to make spicy food with, I wish I was better at cooking fancy stuff..." he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

ad1ostoreador: "I don't know that anything I make is, uh, fancy... it's all just... country, um, warmblood type food, but..."  It was still a conscious effort, for Tavros, to remember to say 'warm' and not 'low', sometimes.  To avoid sliding back into old, Alternian habits, like they might inadvertently stain their new planet with the leavings of the old.  But he was trying. Gamzee was more of a stickler about it than he, even.  "We're not that far into the cool season, I think... but for now, there's lots of food to find, still."

fiduspawn-master: "I'm glad to hear that! I have been, Uhhh, Saving a lot of food. I dug out a whole nutrition cellar last sweep, After the drones managed to damage my windmill, And, I lost power for, Like, A perigee, And all my food went bad..." He shook his head again and shrugged "But, I have learned a lot about preserving food now, And, I have plenty of it stored up for the dim season!" he continued cheerily. "It was definetly worth all the work, Heh."

ad1ostoreador: Tavros nodded, brow furrowing at the tale.  "Oh... no.  Do you, um, have enough power back now, I hope...?"  He looked up.

"We, uh... had to kind of learn some things suddenly.  About preserving fish.  These... whartlebeasts came through our, uh, bay, and I think they were just migrating, but.... they feed by crowding everything up into the shallows, and just taking big gulps as they go by.  So... we had fish flopping up on the beach, fish all over the place... and the oggos were, uh... having a very... messy blast with it all. "  He snorted a half-laugh.  "...We started smoking excess fish, then. Or it would have just... stunk everything up terribly."

fiduspawn-master: He nodded "Oh, Yeah! The power cells are all full up after the storm last light! I, Uhh, Wish I could get more to store more power, For emergencies, But, That would be kind of hard." he admitted.

He smiled at the mental image of all the beasts, laughing with his alt and grinning "Hah, That sounds so fun! And a great way to get a lot of food, Heh,"

ad1ostoreador: "Definitely... I mean, raking the sand clean after it all wasn't fun, but... feeling the whartles was... sort of like with skywhales, only all heavy and rough-shelled, and staying in the water, and just, um, thinking deep cool thoughts, as they paddle along..."    He raked a hand through his shaggy hair.

"I'm sure there's people online who, um, would trade more power cells, for something you can make, or else find, around here..."

fiduspawn-master: His eyes sparkled as he smiled wide, imagining the unfamiliar beasts. "Wow!!! I hope I get to see them, If I come over, Heheh,"

He leaned back in his chair, looking to his husktop on the table "Uhm, Yeah, It's been kind of hard to trade for things that are that big and heavy, And, Also expensive...."

ad1ostoreador: "I don't... know much about that kind of thing, really, but there are definitely people who can find that stuff."  He shifted his wings a little, with a crickety, papery rustle.  "You, uh... said that drones broke the windmill, before? How did... that happen?  I mean... without them doing worse...."

fiduspawn-master: "Uhhh, I think that it was just really unlucky? Since, They came in the day, And, No beasts spotted them coming until it was too late. They managed to tear off two of the blades before I could organize enough beasts to fend them off. Usually, They will leave a hive alone if it seems to have become a, Uhm, Lusus den..." That had been a very difficult few perigees, with no power and not much food, having to work all night every night to rebuild the windmill, and then to dig a nutrition cellar after that. The beasts had helped of course, but there was only so much that they could do...

ad1ostoreador: Tavros grimaced slightly.  He might have been off Alternia for sweeps, but the prospect of fending off determined drones with stray lusii and wild beasts was none too appealing. "...It's good that you were able to, uh... drive them away, before they did more than that... and that you were able to fix it, and do all that work, after..."

fiduspawn-master: He nodded solemnly before smiling with a small chuckle "There have not been a lot of fly bys for the last couple of perigees though, I think I have managed to mostly, Uhhh, scare them off from this area!" His smile spread into a big, slightly smug grin. "I managed to find a beast that they will always steer clear of!!"

ad1ostoreador: "Good... good.  That's... definitely better than the alternative."  Tavros's ears flicked, cupping curiously towards him.  "Oh yeah? What kind of, um, beasts will they stay away from, around here?"

fiduspawn-master: He leaned forward a bit in his chair, coppery eyes sparkling with excitement "Do you want to see?? You have to promise not to look, Though, Or to feel for them either! It will be a really cool surprise that way!!"

ad1ostoreador: Tavros nodded slowly, a mixture of anticipation and puzzlement on his features.  It was hard to rein in his automatic level of communing and then deliberately try not to think about it, though.  Harder yet to not think about the thing he was supposed to not think about.  "Uhhh..." He tried shutting his eyes, and just focusing on the sleepy soothcoon and the flittering, too-familiar feel of the fairy bull in the vicinity, instead.  "...Okay..."

fiduspawn-master: Tavros giggled, giddy as he turned to the wall of windows, putting a hand to his temple briefly to focus and find the beast he was seeking. They were pretty far away, but that didn't matter, it would only take a couple of minutes for them to get here. In the meantime he tugged at the blackout curtains to reveal the open, rolling fields outside, the wind still making the grass ripple like waves. He could feel them approaching, and he turned to go back to his alt, grabbing one of his hands to guide him over to the window "Here! They're about to land!"

A shadow blocked out the rosy moonlight for a moment before with a heavy thud, a gleaming, white dragon, nearly the size of a galleon, landed in the grass just outside. "Tadh! Heh, This, Is my new friend, Who has scared away most of the drones!" Tavros announced, throwing out an arm towards the huge lusus. “Uhh, Here." Reaching out, he pulled open one of the windows which was actually a door. "You want to meet them?"

ad1ostoreador: Tavros kept his eyes shut, even when he was tugged closer to the window, until his counterpart called out.  Then.... Oh.  That was... that was an actual real live adult dragon, of a sort he'd never encountered on his own Alternia, Terezi's sleeping unhatched lusus notwithstanding.  For a moment, he could almost taste an echo of the smell of burning tissue, but it wasn't real and it wasn't here and nobody was creep-crawling through his pan.  And that was a dragon.

"....Yes... uhh, yes, can I?"  The question was half to his alternate, and half to the massive creature itself.  It was only proper to be polite, of course, when meeting someone new.

fiduspawn-master: On closer inspection, although large, the dragon was still technically an adolescent, its eyes still sealed shut though a dull red glow was visible through the lids. By way of answer Tavros simply wheeled out the door ahead of his alt and moved to the side.

The dragon turned its massive head towards both of them, nostrils flaring as it sniffed them out. It- she, was friendly, if a little aloof, showing a little more interest in the winged stranger than the one who'd called her.

ad1ostoreador: "...She's beautiful," he breathed, stepping out the door and shrugging his poncho off with a quick slip of a fastening that let him spread his wings and give them a flick or two to stretch.  He approached the dragon, fearlessly, to be sniffed to any degree she liked, and reached up to scritch gently along a seam of fine scales on her jaw.

"I bet even the drones definitely, uh, don't really want to pick a fight with her, do they...?"  Tavros paused, gazing up at the dragon's bulk.  "...Was she Terezi's? Or...?"

fiduspawn-master: "Heh, Yeah," he agreed with a smile that faltered when he looked to his alt and saw him shrugging off the poncho he'd been wearing, seeing the wings in person for the first time. Oh... That was a little worse than a mirthhive mirror. He wanted to look away but he also didn't.

The dragon lowered her head, longer than a troll was tall, giving Tavros a more thorough sniffing. An uncomfortable heat radiated from her closed eyes and she generally kept them angled away from both trolls so they wouldn't be seared by the proximity. Her scales were hot too, at least on her head, almost too hot to touch.

Tav was still staring at his alt, only snapping out of it when addressed "Oh! Uhmm, I kind of think that she probably was, Since, They are so rare, It is pretty likely, But, She is kind of, uhhh, Cagey, About information regarding herself..."

ad1ostoreador: He kept the touch light and careful, skimming shy of burning his fingers on the heat of the dragon's scales.  "I don't know how, uh, fast they grow, after hatching..."  It was hard to tell, with some of the megafauna.  Some would shoot up in a couple of seasons... others just inched larger incrementally from sweep to sweep.  "She feels... strong. How long ago did you meet her...?"

fiduspawn-master: "I'm not sure either, But, I don't think she's too old..." He stayed back a bit, letting his alter interact with the magnificent beast on his own. "Uhm, Maybe six perigees ago? She was just, Flying along the coast, And I brought her in to get to know her a little bit... She has been coming to help me with the drones every now and then since then..."

ad1ostoreador: Tavros looked from the dragon to his alternate, and back, not speaking for a moment.  Like any psi-active troll, if his powers were pushed hard enough, even his eyes would visibly glow... but for a mere touch of mental communication exchanged with the beast, in the form of a polite query, the flicker was so muted and brief that it would pass unseen.  Had she ever flown with a passenger? And more importantly, would the gracious lady be willing to?

fiduspawn-master: She returned an affirmative, followed by the mental equivalent of a nonchalant shrug. Not opposed. 

Tavros noticed his alt looking between him and the dragon, simply raising an eyebrow. "Uhhh..."

ad1ostoreador: He grinned then, fangy and bright.  "...Have you, uhh, gone flying with her, before?"

fiduspawn-master: His eyes widened "Oh, Uhm, Like, Riding her? No I, Definitely haven't done that..." He looked to the dragon's imposing bulk and, yeah, that would have been a bit of a climb to get up there, and those claws were maybe a bit too sharp to safely hold a troll...

ad1ostoreador: "Then... that is a thing we are going to do, because I can definitely help you get up there, and also back down again," Tavros announced, beaming... then hesitated.  "If... if you want to, I mean...?"

fiduspawn-master: His mouth hung open a moment as he looked at his alter, and then the dragon. "O-oh, I-... Yeah, I, I think that I would like that..." he said, a little quietly, giving him a nervous smile.

ad1ostoreador: Good.  It just wasn't right, somehow, for any of their bloodline to be entirely ground-bound.  He moved forward, coaxing and coordinating with the dragon to lower her stance, to position one foreleg just so, outstretched for potential support, and reached out to offer his alternate both hands, for a solid forearm-to-forearm-locked grip.  His wings spread wider and tilted against a gust of the sea wind, and a strange, faint, smaller set of rust-orange phantom wings shimmered into being with them, almost like a flapstraction's holographic overlay. There was a hint of blue shimmer at the edges of his clothes, too, but his actual, real clothing stayed firmly where it belonged.  (He really was emphatically not a fan of his godtier's default cut, or of having that much of his legs exposed, even sweeps and a pupation after the fact.)

"What I can do, is lift you up over her shoulder, and, uh, set you down between her neck-ridges.  Slowly.  Okay...?"

fiduspawn-master: He watched for a second as his guest conversed with the dragon before jolting slightly in realization, looking down at his lap. Oh, this probably wouldn't work, how could he keep them wrapped up? He didn't want him to have to see-- not after Bull's reaction had been so bad. Dang it, why did he have to prefer the comfort and convenience of shorts? He was so preoccupied he totally missed his alter's subtle transformation, rolling his chair backwards towards the door again. "Uhhhhh, Do you think, You could maybe, Uhm, Wait a couple of minutes? Uhh, Sorry, I just, Have to do something really quick!"

ad1ostoreador: "Okay, uh... no problem. No rush."  Tavros lowered his hands again, no longer braced to lift off, and instead rubbed the back of his own neck, then raked his hair out of his eyes, where the wind had blown it around wildly.

fiduspawn-master: Tavros retreated quickly inside, emerging after a few minutes, blanket discarded and long pants donned. There was still a hint of, visible mishapenness to them, but the pants were baggy enough to hide most of it.

He rolled back over to his alter, smiling awkwardly "Uhh, Hey, Sorry about that, I'm ready now I guess?"

ad1ostoreador: Well, it wasn't as though Tavros would judge his alternate for the shape his legs were in... he just had lingering sensitivities about his own.  This time, he sprang up off the ground to get his wings beating fast enough to hover, as he would have to back on his own planet, then furrowed his brow, dipped closer to Tavros's chair, and offered his hands again, as the weird holo-overlay wing effect remained perfectly, ornamentally still, and his flight steadied from a hover into something more like a gravity-free float. Godtier nonsense and physics were not always on the best of terms, and occasionally resulted in the latter presumably throwing its metaphorical hands up and wandering away for a stiff drink.

"Here..."

fiduspawn-master: No longer distracted, he watched his other self take to the air, making it look so, natural and effortless, then, maybe a little unnatural, but still effortless. 

Swallowing, he nodded and reached up to firmly grasp his arm, letting himself be pulled out of his chair. He still winced, even though he knew it wouldn't hurt, it was just a hard habit to break at this point.

ad1ostoreador: It was slow. Easier than it should have been, even as the muscles in Tavros's arms went taut and he lifted them, as smoothly as a balloon drifting up from the chair and angling upwards along the dragon's shoulder, dangling feet not skimming her scales, but barely above them.  He stopped, when his alternate was suspended neatly over the notch in her neckridges, then carefully, carefully hovered him lower, prepared to hold his weight up one-armed if need be until the other troll had gotten his legs arranged to his satisfaction.

"...All set?"  Given the affirmative, he would lower him the last few inches, to settle his weight there safely.

fiduspawn-master: He clung to his alter's arm, pulling his legs up a bit to keep them from just dangling as he was airlifted over to the dragon's back and gently lowered down. The scales were still hot but not burning like they were on her head, and he settled himself, reaching forward to hold on tightly to one of the neck ridges and looking up at Tavros with a nod. "Yeah, I'm good I think..."

ad1ostoreador: Tavros grinned, broad and pleased, and went from that odd drifting float to wing-buzzing flight again, lifting higher against a gust of wind and hovering near the dragon's head as he called her to take to the sky.  "Hang on, okay?"

fiduspawn-master: He didn't need to be told twice, bracing himself and connecting to the dragon in order to anticipate her movements and better keep balance. She sensed his readiness, standing and turning away from his hive to face the cliffs, starting at a trot to gain speed. The trot turned to a gallop as her wings spread, tilting to catch the wind as they launched themselves off of the high cliff and took to the air.

Tavros was hanging on for dear life, the ride quite bumpy while she was still on the ground. His stomach flipped as she jumped, his breath catching in his throat as the ride turned into a soaring sensation. He finally managed to gasp before letting out a whoop, laughing and hanging on as she tilted upwards to start gaining altitude with mighty wingbeats.

ad1ostoreador: Tavros angled for an updraft and soared higher, circling above the massive sweep of her wings to keep an eye on his alternate and a light thread of communing-sense on the dragon... nothing harsh enough to vie with her rider's.  "Isn't it great?" he called, hands cupped to his mouth to carry over the wind. There was nothing quite like flying, and doing it on the back of an actual dragon probably counted for like... nine thousand extra coolness points, all by itself.

fiduspawn-master: Tav couldn't stop smiling as he kept low to the dragon's back, hanging on as she climbed higher. He could barely hear over the rushing wind, but he glanced over at the flash of bronze, fluttering wings, laughing and letting go with one hand to pump his fist in the air in clear confirmation.

ad1ostoreador: A whoop that he might have learned from Gamzee, and Tavros made a dizzying swoop to plunge past the flying beast's outstretched neck, beneath her, then fight his way up again, grinning wildly and thoroughly windblown.  It wasn't often that he got to play midair with anyone but flapbeasts, especially someone who really appreciated the experience, and he was going to enjoy every minute of this while it lasted.

fiduspawn-master: He quickly grabbed on again, watching Tavros dive and swoop as the dragon evened out her angle of ascent. She let the currents catch in her wings like sails and slowly banked back towards the land again. Now she wasn't flying upwards, Tavros could finally sit up and look around, seeing the sea spread out and glittering below in the moonlight, and his hive, tiny in the distance, standing alone. He spread out his arms to feel the wind rushing past his whole body and took a deep breath of rarefied air. It tasted and smelled better than anything he could ever remember, and he let his eyes close briefly so he could just savor the moment.

ad1ostoreador: It was the kind of moment Tavros was content to let play out, for as long as his counterpart needed it. He kept pace with the dragon's flight, alternating diving glides with fluttering spirals higher, and maybe a brief game of something like tag, even, with subtle gusts of wind rising up to carry him along when he wasn't thinking too hard about it.

fiduspawn-master: The dragon flew in slow arcs, like a gentle roller coaster, nothing too fancy or fast in consideration for her rider. Tav laughed giddily, especially on the descents, relishing the weightless feeling as he clung to her back. Eventually she was flying over his hive and he let her start a slow, circular descent so that she could land, not wanting to push his luck with the magnificent beast. She wasn't his lusus or anything, and he already appreciated her helping with the drones. also he could feel his thighs and behind getting uncomfortably hot from her scales, probably should have thrown his blanket over her back or something.

ad1ostoreador: Tavros followed the dragon downward, there, grinning as they descended, and he would finally still into that physics-gone-slightly-flipped-sideways floaty hover, once she had come to a complete landing stop. "I can, uhh... lift you back down, the same way, if that's okay...?"

fiduspawn-master: Tha dragon hunkered down onto her belly once she'd gently landed, getting low to make dismounting easier. Tav squirmed a little in his seat, looking up to his alt and nodding quickly as he extended a hand "Uhhh, Yes please. Thanks."

ad1ostoreador: Once again, Tavros got a firm hold on his forearm--or both of them, if he offered the other, and then floated him up and off the dragon's neckridge, to carefully airlift him back to his chair, giving him time to get his legs situated before he set him completely down.  "All, um, good?"

fiduspawn-master: He held on with both hands, looking down as he was taken back to his wheeled device. He settled back in easily enough, shifting in his chair as he let go of his alt. He looked up at him with a smile, giving him a thumbs up "Yeah, Thanks!" The dragon was getting up again, sniffing around casually. 

"Heh, Man, That was... Wow, Heh"

ad1ostoreador: Tavros was still grinning, looking pleased and a bit relieved all at once, that his counterpart had both enjoyed the experience and not inadvertently injured himself in the process.  He dropped back to the ground, himself, landing on his feet and folding his wings back with a bit of a sigh to avoid being pushed about by the wind.  The phantom shimmer of a second set of wings evaporated, a moment later. "Yeah... I'm glad she didn't mind," he added, looking up at the dragon with a grateful wave.

fiduspawn-master: She sniffed in his direction before starting to wander off, preparing to lift off again and go back to whatever she'd been doing before.

"Heh, Yeahhh, Me too." He agreed, watching her start to take off, smiling wistfully.

ad1ostoreador: "I guess you do have a pretty, uh... thorough anti-drone defense system..."  He, also, watched the huge beast abscond, though not with quite the same note of wistfulness.

fiduspawn-master: "Heh, Well, It's definitely, Uhhh, Better than it used to be." he hummed, finally tearing his eyes away from the quickly shrinking white dot in the sky to smile at his guest. "Uhm, Thanks for helping me, That was really great..."

ad1ostoreador: "No problem... I'm glad it was fun," Tavros said, smiling back.  He'd had the inklings of the idea, and then the dragon had presented herself as an immediate opportunity.  It was certainly a welcome distraction from the faint, nagging itch of Gl'bgolyb's presence on this planet.  "Maybe we could, uh... do that again sometime..."

fiduspawn-master: "Yeah! Heh, But maybe, Uhh, Not too soon" She wasn't exactly a tame hoofbeast or anything. There was a faint redness along the horizon that hinted at the dawn that would come in the next few hours, and Tavros turned to head back inside now the dragon was out of sight.

(there was something a little different about that itch here too, less eldritch, more predatory, no less uncomfortable, especially this close to the sea.)

ad1ostoreador: Tavros nodded, glancing out toward that tint of color in the sky.  It was amazing how fast being back on Alternia, even for a visit, could remind him that the day was something to fear, not something to greet.  He moved to follow his alternate back inside the hive, picking up his poncho to re-secure it, on the way.  "I should, um, probably head back soon, I think..." He had one more stop off-planet to make, too.  Two if he braved an excess of crowding strangers to find Gamzee a better coat, while he was at it.

fiduspawn-master: Tavros spun around to face him, looking up at him with a slanted smile "Oh, Heh, Yeahhh, probably, It is getting pretty early." he acknowledged, glancing at the row of windows before rolling back over to start closing the curtains. "Uhh, Thank you for coming though! This was, Really nice... Oh, And I hope that Gamzee likes his present!" He added, looking back over his shoulder at him.

ad1ostoreador: "I'm sure he will," Tavros assured him, double-checking to make sure he'd put the fabric-wrapped little package in his sylladex.  It was there, as was the pot he'd come to collect, and he returned that smile crookedly.  "I'll, uh, see you around, yeah?  It was really nice to meet you in person..."

fiduspawn-master: He finished with the curtains and turned to face his alt as he was leaving, smiling more warmly and raising a hand in farewell. "Yes! See you around, Uhh, Tavros, Heh, It was nice to meet you too, And, Not as weird at the end."

ad1ostoreador: It was clearly necessary to offer a fist for a proper fist-bunp, there.  "Definitely not as weird at the end," he agreed, then gave a little wave of his own, and looked down to fiddle with the device on his wrist.  A moment later... fworp, and he was gone the same way he'd arrived.

fiduspawn-master: The fistbump was easily reciprocated and he watched his guest vanish into thin air.

[the--sad--hatter]

Name Calling (3)

FANDOM - MCU

PAIRING - BUCKY X READER (female reader, no physical descriptions)

WARNINGS - ALL OF THEM, SMUT, VIOLENCE ANGST

DESCRIPTION -  In which the ongoing and bloody war of words between you and Bucky turns in your favor when a disgruntled one night stand of his lets slip a secret when you run into her in the elevator… Now you have all the ammunition you need to destroy your enemy but you don’t plan on killing him quickly. Oh no, Bucky Barnes was going to suffer and you were going to enjoy every second. You just didn’t count on how much you would enjoy it.

Chapter Three - Vernichtung 

Bucky stormed away from the kitchen and from you as fast as his feet could carry him. His chest was heaving and his shoulders were shaking as he tried to contain the rage coursing through him. As soon as you had viciously cut him with your words he had almost lost control for a split second and had slammed his metal fist onto the counter before he could…

“Bucky.” Steve’s voice cut into his anger clouded mind before he could finish the thought.

Bucky paused but didn’t turn around, ragged breaths tearing themselves from his throat as he tried to calm down.

“What was that?” Steve’s voice was low and even and when Bucky ignored him he continued.

“I have never seen her act like that, I’ve never seen heard you say such cruel things either. What the hell happened between you two to cause that?”

Bucky pushed his hair out of his eyes and shrugged half heartedly

“I guess being called damaged goods pushed her buttons and she snapped. And people call me unstable.” Bucky snarked.

Steve glared at him and opened his mouth, probably to give a Captain America patented lecture before realization flickered across his face and he frowned.

“That’s not it Buck, I wouldn’t tell her you said that and besides we were together the whole time. She couldn’t have known what you said about her.” Steve’s tone made it clear he was still annoyed about what exactly Buck had said.

Bucky’s eyes narrowed and he half smirked

“Maybe little miss perfect needs to remember she’s not the only one with enhanced hearing.”

Steve’s mouth opened and closed several times before he clenched his jaw, the ramifications of what Bucky was saying sinking in.

“You heard her coming and knew she could hear you. That’s why you said those things. You wanted her to hear them.”

“She needed to hear it Steve, she prances about this place having everybody fawn over her. She’s nothing special, she’s just a failed experiment. She doesn’t deserve special treatment.” Bucky snarled.

“Are you jealous of her? Buck you have me, you have memories of a life before all that. She had nothing. She was born and raised in that damn facility. People fawn over her because its the first and only kindness she’s ever been shown!” Steve’s volume rose as he spoke

“Get your head together and stop treating her so awful. She deserves better, she’s a good person!” Steve pleaded with his oldest friend.

Bucky scoffed in response and walked away

“She’s not a person at all Steve.”

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

Sam raised his fist and knocked on the door as he mulled over the situation with Y/N and Barnes. A couple of seconds passed before the door swung open and he pushed the issues aside for a brief moment so he could spare a heartfelt smile for the red haired spy he had sought out. She responded with a smirk of her own and a raised brow.

“What can I do for you Wilson?” Natasha enquired curiously.

“Need you to help me diffuse a rapidly escalating situation.”

She swung the door open and invited him in with a tilt of her head. Sam made a beeline for the kitchenette and immediately busied himself making coffee. He glanced over to the couch where Natasha was subtly piling up paperwork and files. Noticing him watching she slipped them out of sight.

“Little side project I’m doing for Stark.” She said by way of explanation.

Sam knew that was all the explanation he was going to get.

“So I take it this is about Barnes and Y/N?” She asked

“Man I’m not even gonna ask how you know.”

“Not much outside of a mission could have you this wound up and the tension between them has been growing steadily. It was only a matter of time before it escalated.” She told him.

“Well she overheard him basically calling her unlovable and broken and she responded by reminding him he was a murderer and she… was not. Then Robocop broke the kitchen. You know Steve and I actually thought those two were going to be good for each other once upon a time. Similar backstory and all that.” Sam handed over her coffee as he sighed wistfully.

“There are elements of similarity there but a lot of differences as well. They were never going to get along because they each have the one thing the other wants more than anything.” Natasha told him.

“He has a normal human past and she has a clean rap sheet. It’s like somehow a genie mixed up their wishes.” Sam mused.

Natasha hummed in agreement as she sipped the latte contentedly. Nobody made coffee like Sam Wilson.

“So how do we stop this before somebody gets hurt?” Sam asked her.

Natasha smiled her super spy ‘I know something you don’t know’ smile

“Sometimes Wilson, the only way out is through”

“You’re not honestly suggesting we do nothing? They’ll kill each other.”

“There’s nothing we can do. We can’t make them like each other and any attempts to sway them will be seen as hostile. We just have to pick up the pieces and let them work it out of their systems.” She advised.

“Fine, but when they start Civil War 2 Caps gonna be pissed I’m not on his side. Barnes took my steering wheel, he’s not taking my Y/N.”

“Did you just compare Y/N to a steering wheel?”

“That came out wrong.”

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

You curled your body into the smallest ball you could as you soaked up the sense of warmth and safety your current location gave you. Someone’s legs passed your line of vision but you didn’t flinch, you knew who it was. You considered calling out to let him know you were there but decided against it. You were perfectly content where you were and knowing he was close by was enough. The decision was for nought as you yawned softly as the legs passed you by again, the end of your yawn tapering off into a squeak as you stretched. The legs paused in front of you and suddenly you were staring at the upside down amused face of Tony Stark.

“You napping under my desk again Kit Kat?”

“No.”

He raised his eyebrows at you, which from your current position looked comical.

“I’m relaxing, not napping.” You protested as you crawled out from under the desk.

When you had first been brought out of the facility where you were made the only person you felt safe around was Tony. Since Tony spent most of his time in the lab you’d been made to feel at home in the space. In the beginning open spaces still made you uneasy and you’d spent most of your time curled up under his desk. Tony never questioned your behaviour or made you feel weird about it, instead he just took to fondly calling you an abundance of cat related nicknames and made sure there were always blankets and pillows in your little safe space.

Tony tossed a screwdriver in your general direction and pointed you towards… well you weren’t sure what it was. A sci-fi looking contraption.

“Unscrew all the metal plates from the sides.” He instructed you.

“Am I average looking?” You asked him.

He paused from whatever he was doing on the other side of the lab and puzzled over your strange question. Or rather you assumed that was what he was doing. It had been part of Bucky’s original assessment to Steve of you and the only part of his insult you weren’t insulted by. More curious as to whether it was accurate.

“No. You’re beautiful.” Tony said matter of factly and went back to whatever he was doing.

Despite what other thought of him or how he acted with others Tony was actually incredibly patient with you. He never belittled or mocked you. He teased you relentlessly but had never come close to hurting your feelings with it. Whenever you didn’t understand something he just explained it. You had come out of the facility with very little knowledge of the world and the way it worked. Thanks to Tony you were a (mostly) fully functioning adult who could make pop culture references. Whenever you didn’t understand something, which happened less and less you had a system. If it involved science, technology or media you asked Tony. If it involved feelings, social interactions or societal regulations you asked Pepper. It was a good system and it served you well.

“This is the wrong screwdriver” You muttered

You grinned happily at the familiar whizzing sound as Dum-E came over to you excitedly waving the correct screwdriver. You crouched down to him and took it, patting him on the head affectionately. You didn’t see Tony watching you fondly but Natasha watching through the glass door caught it. With a smirk she entered the lab and tossed an envelope onto the desk next to Tony.

“As requested. And before you try and thank me, I was happy to do this one. It was my pleasure.” She quipped, throwing a glance back at you over her shoulder.

Tony looked somewhere between giddy and nervous as he looked down at the envelope. You were too busy babbling away to Dum-E as he tried to assist you with Tony’s contraption to pay attention to what was going on. You had heard Natasha come in but figured she’d come and see you after she spoke to Tony. You didn’t think whatever they were discussing was any of your business. You were wrong. The familiar sound of high heels clipping along the corridor reached your eyes and you stood up excitedly.

“Pepper!” You yelled excitedly

“Um… where?” Tony asked, looking around in confusion.

“That’s my cue to leave.” Natasha informed him and started to slip out of the lab.

She threw you a wink as you frowned at her, wordlessly letting you know she wasn’t ignoring you and everything was alright. She and Pepper passed each other in the doorway as Pepper rushed in.

“Did I miss it? Do you have them?” Pepper demanded of Tony, forgoing all hello’s.

Tony’s eyes barely hit the envelope before Pepper snatched it up and started methodically checking the contents. You and Dum-E shared a look of confusion before Pepper let out a loud exhale and nodded to Tony.

“Alright whiskers, we need to have a talk.” Tony informed you.

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

An hour later you were walking around the grounds in a daze. You wandered around aimlessly, your mind going a thousand miles a minute and your stomach churning. Anyone you came across ducked their head and gave you a wide berth, the dark emotions almost visibly rolling off you keeping them away. Until now. You hadn’t really registered the pounding sound of boots hitting the ground as someone jogged around the building. It was only when your blank stare into the void had lined up with the jogger that you crashed back into your own mind and you scowled. Around the same time Bucky slowed his jog down as he noticed you, his expression contorting to a scowl as well.

You almost swerved off the path to go walk across the grass and away from him but you refused to give him the satisfaction and instead jutted your chin up and glared at him.

“Soldat.” You hissed at him scathingly.

He nodded cooly at you as he casually jogged passed

“Vernichtung.” He tossed the greeting back at you with a smirk.

Your insides twisted painfully and bile rose up in the back of your throat when you heard the word. You screeched to a halt with a gasp as you tried to suck in enough oxygen. Bucky noted your reaction with a victorious grin.

“Don’t. Don’t call me that. Ever.” You growled out.

Bucky ceased jogging and turned back round to look at you and saw your wide eyed panicked expression. Your shoulders were raised and your hands clenched into fists as you hyperventilated. Bucky frowned, the beginnings of guilt stirring in him. You looked terrified, he could practically smell the fear on you. Yet… you had called him soldat first. A few hours ago you had called him a killer. In fact this was probably another act you were putting on, like your little performance with the waffles. His eyes narrowed at you.

“Why? That is your name isn’t it? That’s what they called you before Stark picked you up and gave you a new name. Like re homing a pet from the pound.”

Your eyes snapped up to his, fury beginning to push out the fear in your system.

“That’s all you are you know. An abused stray The Avengers picked up.”

The more he spoke the clearer your mind got. He thought he was getting to you but his words were having the opposite effect to what he intended. He was only reminding you what you weren’t.

“You’re not a teammate, or a friend to anyone here. You’re a pity project. Stop fooling yourself into thinking that you’re actually a real person. You’re nobody.”

His words made something inside of you click and you smiled softly to yourself as you reached into your pocket and pulled out the gift Tony had given you. Flipping it open you held it up for him to see.

“Actually Bucky, I’m a Stark.”

You turned on your heel and walked away from him, not caring how he reacted. You looked down at the passport in your hands with warmth blooming in your heart as you read your name. You were a Stark.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

         Vernichtung (German)

destruction (the act of destroying)

annihilation, extinction

I sure hope this tagging thing works! Here’s part three folks.

@dugan365 @memanda17 @fluffeh-kitty

[avengerscompound]

Positive - Chapter 6

Positive:  A Bruce Banner Fanfic

Series Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Bruce Banner x F!Reader

Word Count:  1533

Warnings:  Angst to the extreme, unplanned pregnancy, miscarriage, smut, past child abuse

Synopsis:  After a bad reaction to antibiotics makes you sicker than you should be, Bruce asks you to take a pregnancy test to set his mind at east.

When it comes back Positive you have to then weight the pros and cons of having a child when the pregnancy is so high risk.  It doesn’t help that while Bruce would rather you terminate, Hulk is adamant you don’t.

Chapter 6

You wondered how much pain Bruce could handle before the Hulk took over for him.  The almost vice-like grip you had on his hand had to be testing the boundaries of that pain threshold.  You’d open your eyes to look and see if he was showing any green the only problem was you were freaking out and you didn’t want to see anything.

They’d given you the local and that was just a prick.  No big deal.  You broke ribs regularly.  You could handle that.  Then they’d brought out the needle for the amnio and it was suddenly like you had forgotten that you were, in fact, a highly skilled field agent who kept up with both Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, and you were just a scared little girl who was afraid of needles.

So you sat, with your eyes squeezed closed, squeezing the hell out of Bruce’s hand as the doctor shoved a giant needle into your stomach to collect some of the amniotic fluid.  “Can you see them?”  You asked.

Bruce lifted your hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.  “Yeah, honey.  I can see them.  They’re looking more like a baby and less like a peanut now.  Would you like to try opening your eyes and looking?”

His voice was surprisingly gentle and calm considering how highly strung he had been about the whole pregnancy.  It did make sense in a way, he was at home with medical procedures and his happy place was science.  This probably put some order to the chaotic system that caused you to get pregnant in the first place.

Still, you shook your head.  You were scared of seeing the needle in the ultrasound.  What if it made you flinch and you ended up making the needle go off course?  You didn’t want to think about the list of horrible negative outcomes that could end in.

“They’re being careful?”  You asked.

He and the doctor chucked.  “Yes, she is being very careful.”

The procedure didn’t take very long.  Soon she was pulling the needle out and putting a bandage over the puncture.  “Okay.  We’re going to wheel you into one of the recovery rooms.”  She said.  “We need to monitor both of you for an hour or so.”

Bruce followed with you as they wheeled you out, still attached to the various monitors.  When they settled you in, he sat down beside you and took your hand again.

“It went okay?”  You asked.

“It went fine.  They’re the best of the best, honey.”   He said.  “Now we just have to take care of you two.  Make sure you heal and the baby is all safe and sound in there.  Hopefully, it won’t take long to get the results.”

You let out a breath.  The not getting your hopes up thing was rough.  This baby had half his DNA, you couldn’t see that there would be any way it was completely unaffected by the damage he caused it.  You just wished he didn’t care.  You knew why he did, but you loved him, Hulk and all.  It didn’t matter to you.

“I like getting to see the baby.  It’s funny to think right now it’s only three and a half inches long.  It did look much more like an actual baby.”  He said as he ran his thumb over the back of your hand.

“I wish I wasn’t such a chicken.  I wanted to see it too.”

He leaned over and pressed a kiss to your forehead.  “You’re not a chicken.  You’re my big brave agent girlfriend.  Everyone has their things.  Bucky doesn’t like medical procedures either.”

“Really?”  You asked trying to picture the Bucky Barnes you knew scared of anything.  “But… he’s the Winter Soldier.”

Bruce nodded.  “Well, exactly.  He was experimented on against his will.”  Bruce said.  “Things like that leave scars.”

“Right,”  You said as you worried your lip.  “But I don’t have anything like that to explain it.”

“Big needles are scary.  That’s enough.  You’ll get to see them next time.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”  You said with a frown.  The truth was, that if these tests came back and this baby’s genes were damaged by the gamma radiation, there might not be a ‘next time’.  You had chickened out on what could be the very last chance you had to see your baby.

“Hey, it’s okay,”  Bruce said, seeming to pick up on your distress.  “We’ll work this out.  I promise.”

You nodded and closed your eyes, listening to the sound of the heart rate monitor beeping to let you know everything was okay.

Your recovery had gone fine and after a couple of days, you were up and about again.  Because everything was working on a rush, it only really took that recovery period before you were upstairs with the medical team telling you what they had found out.

“So the tests were maybe not as conclusive as we had hoped,”  Bronwyn explained.

“What does that mean?”  Bruce said sitting up.  “Can I see them?  I know what this stuff looks like.”

“Of course you can, but perhaps we can get Brian to explain,”  Bronwyn said.

Doctor Sanders seemed to have expected Bruce’s request because he handed him a file and brought up some data that included what seemed to be DNA sequences and cell cultures on a holographic screen in front of Bruce.  Bruce pulled his glasses out of his pocket and slipped them on.  He opened the file and began rifling through it.  His eyes flicked from the paper to the projection and back and occasionally he’d move something on the projection.

“The fetus has definitely inherited the some of the traits you were worried about.  The damage you caused to your DNA is present in some places.”  Brian explained.  Bruce flinched and zoomed in on one of the cells.  “The reason why I’m saying it’s not all bad news is, the fetus is developing normally.  It hasn’t seemed to affect development at all.  More importantly Doctor Banner, the cells do not react the same as yours do.”

Bruce looked you at the doctor with his brow furrowed.  “What do you mean, they don’t react the same way?”

“As you know, your cells, when subjected to any kind of stressor, from loud noises to impact, expand and change their structure.  These cells are stable as far as we can tell.  Certainly, nothing we have done has caused them to change the way yours do.”

Bruce furrowed his brow and looked over the data more.  “So you're saying that either this baby is already a Hulk or won't be one at all?”

Brian gave a small shake of his head.  “I'm not saying either thing.   The baby is size and development wise right where it should be.  I would assume if it was a Hulk it would be much bigger.  I can't make any promises that it won't be able to Hulk out.  The cells do have some of the same damage as yours do.  But if it can, it's not triggered by the same thing as in you.  You won't be having a baby that is startled Hulking out on you.”

“I'd like to take a look at the cells.  Run my own tests.”  He said.

“Certainly.  We can have some sent to your lab.”  Brian agreed.

“I understand this isn't as conclusive as you would have liked, Doctor Banner,”  Bronwyn said.  “We are personally taking it as a good sign.  Go away.  Run your own tests.  Talk about it.  Then let us know what you want to do.”

Bruce took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes.  You felt that knot return to your stomach.  The one that had been slowly unraveling and Bruce has begun to relax.  You knew this news basically meant he was going to go back into his high anxiety mode and the two of you would talk endlessly about pros and cons.

He smiled softly and took your hand.  “Do you think we could take a look at the baby?”  He asked.

You relaxed a little and Bronwyn smiled getting up and bringing the ultrasound machine closer.  “Of course.”

She lifted your shirt and squeezed the cold gel on your stomach.  You had started to show, but only a little.  Your stomach was just that little bigger and firmer than it was before.

“I have one more question, Doctor Patrick,”  Bruce said.

Bronwyn looked up at him.  “Of course, what is it?”

“The amnio would have found out the baby’s gender, right?”

She looked back you and you nodded enthusiastically. “Yes.  I want to know.”  You agreed.

“It's a girl.”  She said and pressed the paddle against your stomach.  “There she is.”

Bruce had been right.  She did look like a baby.  You could see the hands and feet and even fingers and toes.  The profile has a nose and you could make out the mouth.  It wasn't just a vague mass anymore.  It looked like a baby.  Your baby.

“Our daughter,”  said Bruce.

You looked up and smiled at him, your eyes shimmering with tears.  For the first time since you told him you were pregnant, it felt like you might be on the same page.

// NEXT

[stories-mostly]

Starks Bug

Tony Stark x Son!reader

Not quite satisfied with this one but I rather concentrate on making the next few better than dwell on this one. I also almost gave myself a heart attack accidentally deleting the chapter. I want to personally thank all the gods that exist for the invention of the reverse option in writing programms.

Words: 1290

Chapter 9

The first week home was spent doing whatever you wanted to do. Clinging to your fathers side as much as you could. Literally only giving him privacy when he went to the toilet or to shower. And even then you asked where he was going. You had an urge to know where he was and what he was doing at all time. He also showed you the cool mini arc reactor in his chest. It made for a nice nightlight.

You went "Hiking" when he was in a bit of a better physical form. There you found several cool sticks to fight monsters with and some neat rocks you took home with you and put on your windowsill.

You went to the amusement park and rode a Rollercoaster for the first time in your life, it was NOT as much fun as you had imagined. It was terrifying.

The both of you visited so many places in a spawn of almost two weeks that you felt a bit overwhelmed.

Today was Friday and with that the last day you were excused from school.

"Where are we going?" You asked bouncing around your dad who was currently getting dressed all fancy.

"Lets visit your favorite uncle shall we?" he said and you cheered. You were going to visit Rhodey!

"Can I wear my uniform?" You asked already on your way to the dresser. Rhodey regularly provided you with uniforms for you to play dress up in. Some in the standard military camo style, some the same as his. Your dad agreed and let you change.

You walked into the hanger and spotted Rhodey immediately. He was wearing the same uniform you were.

You ran over only shouting a his name for a short warning and jumped into his arms.

Your dad was better with entrances than you.

"Uncle Rhodey! Look what I'm wearing!" You said as he sat you down.

"Whoa we're twins!" You giggled.

"We can't be twins! You're my uncle." you said as if Rhodey didn't know that already.

You were introduced to the cadets and your dad said something that they found funny. You didn't get it.

While your dad was talking you were looking around at the planes. Walking around and touching the exterior.

Immersed in them you didn't notice that Rhodey had left.

"Uncle Rhodey can I- Where'd he go?" you asked looking around. He wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"I think I made him a bit mad." Tony said truthfully.

"Did you make fun of him? Cause that's not nice." you said as you took his hand and wandered back out towards your car.

"No it's more complicated than that." He said not explaining any further.

"Because of the weapons?" you asked making him stop for a second before continuing.

"Yes, yes it's because of the weapons." you just nodded. You might be young and often times oblivious but you weren't stupid. That's what Tony realized today. He couldn't really shelter you of those topics.

And you never really didn't listen.

While you were dozing off on your own workbench your dad was in full work mode back home. You only stayed awake as far as to grasp the extend of what he was doing. An Armour of some sort which was cool in your opinion. But not cool enough to keep your tired mind awake.

You woke up early the next day in your bed. You made your way into the kitchen and ate the first tasty thing you saw in the fridge. Jarvis told you that your dad was still in the lab.

You finished eating, grabbed some leftovers and made your way down the stairs the door opening automatically for you without the need of a password.

"Good morning dad." you said and put the box of leftovers and a fork down beside him.

"Good morning Bug, thank you." he said putting his tools down and kissing the top of your head.

"Go change. You don't have any shoes on." he said and you left him to his food.

Your father didn't want you to help with the armor so you started your own project. A little robot. Your dad would help you with the hard stuff so you were starting with the easy one which was basically just sketching how you wanted it to look and putting the pre prepared pieces together.

You both worked in relative silence, there was music playing in the background. You disassembled one of your remote controlled cars for its wheels and motor, and worked from then on out.

"Hey, (y/n). Wanna see me fly?" Tony asked holding up his boots.

"I can make you fly without the boosters." you chuckled at the thought but came over to watch anyway.

"I'd rather not be force choked by my personal mini Darth Vader."

You took a seat beside Dum-E and watched intently.

"Alright. We'll start of easy with 10% thrust capacity."  he explained got into position and, threw himself right into the ceiling ledge. You couldn't hold in your giggles, especially when he got sprayed with the fire extinguisher. God Dum-E was the BEST.

Your dad glared at you once he had wiped his eyes free.

Quickly you used the force to pick up some of the fire extinguisher stuff and flung it back into his face like a snowball. Then you ran away knowing full well that he was about to do the same to you.

For lunch you dragged your dad upstairs to cook you some food. You didn't like living off leftovers.

He made you spaghetti with tomatosauce. You couldn't decide whether it tasted good or horrible. It was some weird mix inbetween.

Back downstairs your dad was working on a flight stabilizer. You got bored with your robot so keept yourself busy with multiple tasks. Like drawing, singing, dancing, playing with your dolls and action figures, and stuff like that. You didn't want to go upstairs since you'd be all alone up there and that's boring and lonely. You don't like being alone.

Pepper came, hours later when it was already dark outside. And she had a present! It was for your dad but it was still a very exciting moment for you.

"I thought you were done making weapons." She said and he explained that it wasn't a weapon but a flight stabilizer and after he said it was safe flung himself backwards with it, he fell over with a thud. You giggled. Your dad getting slightly hurt was really funny.

You followed your mom Pepper and your dad upstairs and started inhaling the pizza as soon as you saw it.

You stopped listening in on the conversation Obie and Tony were having, it seemed tense, and decided to look at the screen of the laptop Pepper was holding. She was writing emails which seemed to be a very boring task. You tried to read what she was writing but she turned the screen away as soon as you did. You held out a pizza piece for her but she refused. Shrugging you ate it yourself. Your dad went back into the lab. You would've followed but you like to eat some more pizza. And you weren't alone up here now.

"What is he doing down there (y/n)?" Obie asked leaning over you a bit. It made you feel really small so you looked away.

"Dad says it's a secret. I can't tell anyone not even you. But I can tell you what I'M doing there!" you said looking at everything but him. You weren't actually told to keep it secret but you didn't like your uncle-grampas tone. He was being, weird.

"What are you doing down there?"

"I made a drawing. And I play pretend and I'm making a robot from my toy car." you said willing to share your projects.

"Thats nice." he said in a monotone voice and ruffled your hair. It didn't feel like the Obie you know.

Tags: @shannonr2003 @art-estrange @nicholasbich @tater-thottie @tonystanktheirondad @gaylemonshark @emilaa2001

[7deadlycinderellas]

The First Warm Day

Ao3 link

Arya hadn’t been sure how she would like living as far south as Storm’s End. The North, with Winterfell and it’s heavy snows and deep dark forests was part of her blood. But after a few weeks in their new home, and Arya felt she could definitely get used to it.

Gendry wasn’t as fond of the heavy rains as she was, but he liked the ocean. That was probably why on that morning, he had elbowed her awake, with an

“Arya. The rain has finally stopped.”

Arya sits up in bed, blinking to rid her eyes of sleep. When she recognizes the sun shining past the oil cloth covering the small window on the other side of the room, she throws off the checked blanket and moves to get up.

“Can you put the kettle on? We’ll have porridge for breakfast, but I want to take my bath first.”

Gendry pokes the coals back to life, and pulls the kettle from it’s spot on the window before putting it over them. Arya fills a cup of oats and adds them to the water as it starts a rolling boil. She was no fine cook, but porridge was easy.

And, she thought smugly, this was one domestic art that Sansa had known little about too.

When she opens the door, the sunshine streams down in front of her. Everything in the Stormlands it seemed, was forever green from the rain. She unstakes the oil cloths from the two small windows, letting the sunshine through the whole place.  

She checks the large wooden tub to the right of the door, under the window. It was nearly full. Good. The little dwelling Renly had said they could make theirs was humble to be sure, stout and stone and only really a single room- though it did have a half wall separating their bed from the kitchen and table- and hardly any bigger than her own chambers back at Winterfell. Arya still loved it to bits. And it was surrounded by a multitude of useful things, that Renly had tried to apologize for as “junk”.

Like the tub and barrels that functioned wonderfully to collect rainwater so she didn’t have to haul herself down the hill to the well.

Arya strips halfway out the door, and grabbing the block of soap and a rag, climbs into the tub. The water was a bit chilly, but she could handle it. She was a northerner after all.

“Should I stand guard to make sure no one sneaks up on the fair maiden in the river?” Gendry asks her sardonically. Arya snorts and splashes him.

“Be my guest. Hell, bring your breakfast out here and sit if you must.”

He does that actually, dragging out a chair to sit beside the tub and eat his porridge.

Not that anyone could have snuck up on them. The house was on the very edge of the Storm’s End keep’s lands, outside the town and away from the castle. It seemed neglected to be true. The ground in front of the house sloped down rather sharply and was littered with broken wagon wheels, rusted tools and empty sacks half buried. And behind them was the edge of a damned cliff. Gendry had hung a bracket above their bed where Arya kept Needle shelved, and she felt this was a good arrangement.

Just another in the list of things Arya’s sister would have hated about her new life.

When Arya’s scrubbed off, she stands and shakes off before climbing out of the tub,

“You want a turn?”

Gendry shakes his head. “I come home dirtier than I am now. Plus, unlike you, I don’t think diving into ice water is a good way to start the day.”

Arya laughs at him. Southern born indeed, it was warmer here now than Winterfell often was even in the summer, despite the frequent storms. Arya dresses, and throws the thick black cloth she’d removed from their bed the first day, and throws it over the tub, to let the sun warm it.

She gets her porridge and sits beside Gendry in the front.

“What’s on your plate for today?” She asks.

He licks his spoon clean from his last bite.

“More horses probably. I’ve never shod so many horses in my life. “

The forge in town was quite large, as it had four smiths working there now and often took overflow projects from the castle blacksmith, but the town had no farrier.

“You’ll get something fun to make soon,” Arya promises him.

Gendry shrugs her concern off.

“Horses still put food on the table, and their owners are usually grateful.”

He stands to pull his boots on, and takes his pack.

“I’ll get a bowl in town for lunch. Please no more seagull for dinner.”

Arya rolls her eyes. To think he was the picky one. She hadn’t even known you could eat seagull before she’d snared one two nights before and roasted it. Sure, she wasn’t the greatest at making food tasty yet, but she could keep the two of them fed.

Gendry grabs her face and kisses her once, twice, before leaving. That leaves her with a silly grin. She watches him walk away. The towns and villages here are filled with fewer people, despite the fertility of the land. Gendry does better without the crowds, she thinks. He’s got some color to his cheeks now.

She does the breakfast dishes in a bucket she fills from one of the other rain barrels, all three of them. After she’s done, she ponders how to spend the rest of her day. She should sweep the floor, but that took all of five minutes for a place this size.

She could go down to the town. They already had flour and oats, and enough milk, cheese and eggs for a few days in the cool cellar. Mya had said she was setting off for the Red Mountains today, but maybe Arya could head to the shore and try and befriend some more of the wives in the fisherman’s cottages. They were often lonely with their husbands gone. One of them had told her she’d teach her to make a crab trap. It wasn’t good fishing season yet, but maybe she could net something for dinner out of the ocean. She should try the bread again, a slightly different mix of flour, salt and yeast, this time. The last time had been brittle, but she could get closer this time.

All the bulbs Maester Aaroc had given her she’d planted. The rusted shovel from back by the outhouse had turned the soft ground with ease, and she’d buried the potatoes, beets, yams and carrots, but none of them had sprouted as of yet.

She’d been so proud of it afterwards.

The blackberry vine creeping over the back of the house needed no maintenance. Aaroc had told her that as long as they liked blackberries, they would have them, as the vine was, as he put it, “practically a blight in terms of our ability to be rid of it”.

Maybe she would get lucky and some of the children from nearby would come to investigate again. So many of them had been intrigued by the holdfast’s new arrivals, some of them even moreso when they discovered Arya owned and could use a sword.

One of the fisherman’s daughters had told her that there was a Lady, an actual noble woman, in Renly’s rainbow guard. She told Arya this with a tone of longing in her voice that Arya had recognized deep down. And so she’d told her that if she could find her two sticks of fair heft, than she would teach any of them who wanted the basic forms and movements. The next day an even bigger group had shown up.

She had seen the Lady Brienne, with the rest of Renly’s guard, when he had come to greet them, and the envy that had swelled up in her throat had nearly been overwhelming. And the disparaging comments from some of the other men, even some ones who had been traveling with Edric and them, had enraged her. But Renly had treated her with casual respect, and so she quieted down.

Arya still wasn’t sure what she thought of Renly. The colors his guard, and himself too, wore struck her as a bit garish, and the man too, seemed to be all about show. But he’d greeted Gendry and Mya warmly, and had extended all courtesies while he had the maester and stewards get them settled.

Maester Aaroc had helped take them out of the courtyard, where the steward would show them to the house. He had expressed interest in Lyanna, as Storm’s End had only the more traditionally trained ravens. Arya had said she would go over with him how her and Luwin had trained her. But first, she had to ask,

“You’re supposed to be the wise one around here. Why do you think Renly wants all of his brother’s bastards in Storm’s End?”

The older man had laughed softly at her accusing tone.

“The young Lord is the youngest brother, and he is...unlikely to grow a family in the traditional manner...so I believe he wants all his options keep close to the chest.”

“And, what? He wants a bunch of spares handy so he can dump responsibility on them?”

The old man nods quietly, and Arya quietly fumes.

And since then, Renly hadn’t paid them any nevermind.

She toyed with Needle a bit, considering. Maybe she would train one of the Stormlands’ future knights, one of these days.

And then she giggles to herself. She’s never truly had the whole day in front of her for her choosing like this before.

Her decision ends up being made for her when she notices a small figure bounding up the side of the hill towards her.

As it gets closer, Arya realizes that the figure she had assumed was Dot (the knight watcher) or one of the other fisher children, was in fact Shireen Baratheon.

Arya had been surprised to be introduced to her, not having expected there to be any people younger than her in court. She had been fostered here, Renly spoke, since her father had become Hand of the King and her mother in Dragonstone fallen ill. Though marked by the reminder of the grayscale she’d been blighted by in early childhood, the girl’s boundless good will had endeared her to everyone. Mya had already promised to let her ride the mules when she returned to the keep, and she had already paid several visits to Arya and Gendry. The girl had no particular interest in swords or arrows, but she was eager to share her books and stories of great adventures with anyone who would listen.

“Shireen!” She calls out to her, “What’s the word today?”

Shireen reaches her, panting. She hands her a paper wrapped package. Arya unwraps it, revealing a flower cut to the root. Arya recognizes it as the herb the Maester had given her since she had explained that despite her marriage, she did not yet feel ready for children.

“Maester Aaroc says that should root easily in a jar in a window, and if you can’t get it to come back, just return to the castle and he can keep you in supply”.

“Thank you Shireen,” she tells the girl. “But why did you run up here just for that?”

Shireen shakes her head, and Arya finds herself more confused than before.

“There are two visitors here to see you”.

Arya sighs deeply outwardly, though inside she is pleased.

“Tall and handsome, and tall and head-in-the-clouds?”

Shireen nods.

Arya sighs again.

“You can bring them”.

Shireen takes off, and Arya rolls her eyes. There goes her day. She pulls out her and Gendry’s cups. She quickly brews her own tea cold and sucks it down, then fills two more cups with hot, and sits in the doorway waiting.

Dot shows up first, holding the wooden practice swords, looking excited. With blonde hair and blue eyes, she could grow up to be a great beauty, but she is the only of the children who has shown up every day since they’ve come here. Arya hates to disappoint her.

“Got guests coming today, Dot. You’ll have to practice by yourself. Do your forms like I taught you”

Dot looks at her disbelievingly, “You just got here, who’s already coming to see you?”

“Just my brothers.”

“We saw the horses at the gate of the castle earlier. They had the direwolf sigils on.”

Arya nods.

“So it’s true, you are a Lady.”

Arya laughs and glances around.

“Maybe, they might be coming to tell me I’m being disowned.”

Suddenly she remembers dinner. She steps inside the house, into the little bag holding the coins Gendry’s received for payment the last few weeks. It’s not a ton, but it’s enough. She fishes out a few coppers and gives them to Dot.

“Can you go down to the greengrocer and bring me back a few potatoes?”

Dot glances up and down at her.

“Will I at least get to meet them?”

“If you get back fast enough I’ll even let you spar with my younger brother.”

A smile erupts on Dot’s face and she takes off down the hill. Arya barely has long enough to find where she threw the bones from last night’s seagull and toss them into a pot to boil. She had nearly thrown them out before Gendry had told her that all good soup started with boiled bones. Who would have known?

By the time it’s on the coals, boiling, Shireen’s coming back up the hill with Robb and Bran. Though still dressed in their riding clothes, they both look somewhat worse for wear. The road has clearly taken a toll on them. They’ve both shed their cloaks, and look like their sweating in the ocean air. Arya admits head to toe leather and wool probably isn’t best for summer. When Arya makes eye contact with her, Shireen waves and skips off back towards the castle.

Arya sits in her chair in the doorway, expectantly. She wonders how she looks to them. She’s taken to not braiding her hair at home. She’s still in breeches that used to be Bran’s. A few days ago she’d traded her fur muff (realizing it wasn’t quite as necessary here) for a few men’s linen tunics, which she wore tied with a belt of rope. She’d sliced the arms off with Needle and her arms were beginning to brown. She is freshly bathed though, so that might be new.

“So am I being dragged back to Winterfell, or just disowned?” She doesn’t seriously believe either is a risk...well the latter has a small chance.

“Is that anyway to greet your brothers?” Robb replies. Arya ignores him. She hadn’t even called either of them stupid, so this greeting was a step up.

“So how long did it take for Sansa to crack?” Arya smirks.

“Most of a day,” Bran admits immediately. Arya raises an eyebrow. That’s actually better than she expected.

“Really shouldn’t count. We didn’t realize you were gone until dinner.”

That actually hurts a tiny bit, but Arya knows she kept strange hours and company, so not too much. She steps inside to grab the two mugs of tea to hand them. Bran takes the moment to peek inside the cottage, seemingly amazed.

“What’s been taking you two so long? We arrived here nearly a moon ago, and you only left a day and a half behind us.”

Robb cocks an eyebrow. Apparently they hadn’t been terribly well concealed.

“We got lost in the Neck” Bran admits.

Arya nods. That made sense. The rain had been so heavy then.

“How long did it take you to get back to the Kingsroad?”

“We didn’t,” That surprises her. It was the only known safe way through the swamps and bogs.

“We were found by the Lady of House Reed.” Robb explains, the tips of Bran’s ears and the back of his neck suddenly turning red. “They sheltered us until the rain started to let up, then she guided us out on one of the routes only the crannogmen know. We’re not even sure if the Kingsroad is safe again at all.”

“It should be,” Arya comments, “Renly said he sent scouts ahead, because there was a caravan of traders who needed past to start for the Vale.”

Robb’s glancing around the house. It really doesn’t look like much after having grown up in Winterfell.

“This is where he has you living?”

“I like it,” Arya insists. Robb doesn’t look quite like he believes her. Bran steps closer to her, looking over her neck, wrists, and waist.

“Well I don’t see any irons holding her,” he says wryly. “Nor does she sound like she’s bewitched. I think we can probably reassure Father and Mother.”

“I still want to talk to Gendry,” Robb says, his face turning harsh. Arya rolls her eyes and points.

“Forge is about five minutes down the hill and to the left, you can’t miss it. And if you pass a blonde child carrying potatoes, don’t scare her off- those potatoes are mine. And when you find Gendry, don’t do anything stupid, you’re both in public.”

When he’s out of sight, Arya and Bran sit down at the table near the fire.

“I don’t think he’ll do anything bad to him, “ Bran tells her, “When he read your letter he laughed. He’s just putting off that Father told us to check up on some things in King’s Landing.”

Arya wrinkles her nose. She still did wonder, after seeing Myrcella and Tommen leave. She had hoped it was really nothing.

“So how was it deep within the Neck?” She asks, changing the subject. The tips of Bran’s ears went red again.

“Somehow both beautiful and terrifying. The last night we camped alone I thought there were eyes staring at us through the forest. I’m still not quite sure if it was my imagination or Meera’s scouts keeping an eye on us.”

He calls her Meera, Arya notes. Eager to tease her younger brother, Arya interjects,

“Jealous of me being the first to wed and hoping to catch up? Father and Mother would probably approve of yours”

Bran turns even redder and starts stuttering. Arya decides to go easy on him.

“Is it true, the things they say about the crannogmen?”

Bran seems to be able to form full sentences now. “I saw no green teeth and no one breathing water. They are all rather short though, and Greywater Watch is really built on a floating island.”

He lets a long pause sit, as Arya imagines what he’s telling her.

“And frog isn’t bad, it sort of tastes like poultry. I saw nets and bronze knives, and shields made of leather. Meera carried one too, a lot of the women did. “

He nudges Arya’s shoulder.

“Maybe you should have been born in a swamp.”

She laughs. Sometimes she thinks about things like that, wonders if she would have been happier to be born somewhere else. But if she had, would she even still be the person she was?

“I was thinking,” Bran says, suddenly, “Before all of this happened, I actually thought about asking Mother and Father to send me to learn to be a Maester.”

Arya cocks an eyebrow at him, “Makes sense, you always were smart and liked all the old stories.”

“I do. But it was more than that. I just could never picture myself marrying.”

Arya laughs, full bellied.

“Bran, you know my entire life that I have made my feelings on the topic of marriage very clear. Things change, and sometimes you just have to go with it.”

She waits again before asking.

“Is she pretty?”

Bran smiles when he answers. He’s still very red, hasn’t in fact returned to his natural color yet.

“Sort of? She’s not pretty like a pretty woman. It’s more like- looking at her is like looking out the window on a sunny morning.”

Dear gods, he sounds like Sansa, is all Arya can think. Maybe she shouldn’t have left her alone with the rest of the family, she was going to rub off on them. Then again, maybe affection turns all men into poets. Gendry had once told her that looking at her made him feel like he was about to take a dive into very deep water.

Their conversation is interrupted by Dot galloping back up the hill, holding the potatoes in her apron.

Arya takes them from her.

“I met your other brother on the way up, he’s cute!” Dot babbles.

“Eyes to yourself, he’s twice your age.”

Arya gestures.

“This is Dot, her father’s a fishermen, and she’s on the journey to join me and Brienne of Tarth as part of the exclusive guild of women who wield swords.”

Dot practically shoves the practice swords at Bran, bouncing with excitement.

“Don’t go easy on her, I’ve been teaching her what Syrio taught me.”

While Dot and Bran go back and forth, Arya picks up Needle from its perch, and uses it to cut the potatoes. When she climbs down to the cellar to get the remaining milk and butter, she wonders what Jon would think of finding out what she was using his gift for.

The soup is hot and bubbly by the time Gendry and Robb appear at the bottom of the hill, apparently no worse for the wear.  Bran and Dot have finally yielded, and are both breathing hard on the grass. Dot only managed to get a single hit off on Bran, but to her credit, she keeps getting back up.

Arya greets Gendry with “All parts still attached?”

“I think we’ve come to an understanding,” is how Robb puts it. Gendry only looks a little pale, so Arya doesn’t prod.

Gendry hands over his day’s earnings. A small chunk of cheese, a string of sausages and a small group of copper coins. She stows them.  Arya is about to tell Dot to go on ahead home, when the girl lets out a huge squeal, and using the window as a stepping stone, climbs onto the cottages roof.

“There’s a ship coming! It might be my Papa’s!”

And she takes off without another word.

Arya picks up the practice swords from where they lay on the ground and places them by the window. Then she hoists herself up onto the roof.

She reaches a hand down to Bran,

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you pass up climbing something.”

The roof fits all four of them, though Gendry sticks to the edge, not a confident climber.

Arya shades her eyes. It does look like a fisherman’s ship.

“They say spring is one of the only times of year ships can safely port at Shipbreaker’s Bay, so they should be coming in for the next several weeks.”

“This is a really great view,” Robb admits.

“Renly said this building used to be as tall as the castle.” Arya muses, remembering back to what he’d told them that first day. “They used to light an oil fire in the top, to warn ships that there was shore, so they wouldn’t hit the rocks.”

“What happened to the rest of it,” Bran wants to know.

“Storm took it out. “ Gendry says. He had looked vaguely terrified to hear the tale. “A ship got pulled by the wind all the way over the shore and collided. Took out all but what’s left.”

“Not entirely true, they did cover up the hole in the roof”.

Robb looks suddenly uneasy. “Are they sure the rest of it’s safe?”

“That was near on forty years ago.” Arya says, “And ships don’t attempt to port here in bad weather anymore. Too many ships and lives lost.”

It is a wonderful view, even as the ship sails out of view, the late afternoon sun turns the water a million colors, all shifting and drifting with the nearly glassy sea.

Eventually Arya’s stomach growls, and she climbs down to pour the soup. They only have the two bowls, so her and Gendry eat theirs from the tea mugs. It’s not perfect, it needs something, bacon maybe, Arya thinks, trying to remember the potato soup the cooks at Winterfell had made when the winter was it’s coldest.

Bran and Robb eat theirs with trepidation. Arya rolls her eyes extra hard. She has to, she’s not going to be able to anymore.

“If I was going to poison you, I wouldn’t bother making it taste good.”

“Who says we’re assuming you meant to?” Robb japes.

She hits him with the back of the wooden spoon for that.

After they’ve finished the pot, Robb says they have to be getting on.

“Don’t the door hit you on the way out, and enjoy the rest of your night with the Lord of ugly capes,” is what Arya says, after hugging them both multiple times.

“And send me a raven if Mother and Father say yes,” she whispers to Bran.

She stands at the door, and watches as they walk down the hill. It’s nearly dark already.

She clears the dishes, and smothers the flames down to embers and Gendry takes his bath. Arya reaches in to touch the water, the cloth did it’s work, it’s very warm.

“Is there anyone else who might come and interrupt us again?” Gendry asks as he laces the breeches he wears in bed.

Arya’s laying back on top of the quilt in her shift, and she responds by grabbing his hand and pulling him atop her.

“Well if there is, they’re going to get an eyeful.”

Gendry grins, and presses a kiss to her throat, then lower. One of his hands pulls her shift up over her hips and lifts one of her thighs onto his shoulder.

Later, when they’re both sated and sweaty, Gendry asks,

“Is there anything you need to get done tomorrow?”

Arya shakes her head. Her face is pressed into the side of Gendry’s neck, one of her arms wrapped around her.

“We need milk and butter, but that’s easy. And if that was her father’s ship, Dot won’t show up. Why?”

“I want you to come to the forge with me.”

That gets Arya’s attention. She props herself up on one elbow to look at him.

“How come?”

“Renly takes his taxes in arrowheads. Liester was telling me it used to take up at least half of his time, just making them, no matter the rest of the orders he had to fill. We’re not at war now, so Renly doesn’t ask as many, but it’s still time consuming.”

Arya’s still confused, “So what did he do?”

“He taught his wife to make them. He says she’s as handy with a hammer as any boy.”

Arya’s now astonished. This is something that’s never even occurred to her. Women took up trades of course, but not highborns, and not usually young women. This isn’t something she would have ever even thought to imagine.

“Besides, it would be good for you to know how to do basic smithing, in case something ever happens to me.”

Arya reaches out and pins one of his wrists. “Don’t you go talking about dying. It’s spring now.”

“I won’t. I won’t die, just because you said so.”

Good, Arya thinks, settling her head back beside his.

She stares up at the ceiling. She imagines the stars beyond it, and wills Lyanna to fly faster.

She already has so much more to tell Sansa.

[agemarkus]

A second life

A short story about a sci-fi writer who gets trapped in an afterlife of her own design.

They took what was left of her body and reconstructed her digitally. A full simulation that simulated the chemical reactions of every cell and synapse in her body down to a molecular level. In theory, a perfect recreation. But the technology had flaws. And if anyone knew that, it was her.

She was a sci-fi writer, and in one of her novels (a critical success that failed to pay the bills) she had detailed a digital afterlife. She had done her research, and as a result there were certain excerpts from the book that turned heads in several offices and penthouses. In her will she had jokingly left an instruction to upload her to an Emulator, but the technology was catching up now and an interviewer would point out that soon she could actually get uploaded just like in her book. Wouldn’t that be something? This was all by design, of course. She, like many of her peers, was afraid to die. And when she shook hands with business partners and investors her first joke would always be about her will. She would encourage her rich friends to invest in the right tech companies. This was her contingency plan.

And one day her plan paid off. While the paramedics scraped her off the asphalt, her friends made phone calls. Then they wheeled her hospital bed to the only company that had the technology, signed the contracts, and then they never saw her again. Trade secrets, they would say, before hanging up. The blinds were always closed.

When she opened her eyes she saw darkness. Her eyes, having looked up at the California sun only moments before, took time to adjust. They were intact, but she had nothing to look at but herself. That’s how she knew. She always had the worst timing.

“...by the way, could you tell more about this machine I’m in?” “The emulator” the voice boomed. A forgettable voice, one of the researchers. The pitch wavered ever so slightly. Most likely a recording that was played back at simulation speed, failing to match the constantly changing framerate of the simulation. Something about the acoustics in the voice felt artificial, unlike her breath and the ruffles of her clothes. The fictional company in her book had transmitted system sounds like this by manipulating the eardrums directly. Did they lift that too? “Yes… please tell me more about the emulator” she sighed.

“The emulator simulates the entire human body down to the molecular level, creating a 99% accurate simulation of the human body, gut flora, and brain activity. This is the most accurate simulation model on the market, but due to the processing costs of such a large-scale simulation each step takes… several cycles to complete.” “How many cycles?” No response.

Whatever. She already knew. She knew everything they’d told her. She had practically invented it. Their description of the emulator sounded like a press release, and it irked her. She didn’t want her life to be in the hands of another wannabe start-up stuck cutting corners to impress investors with half-baked technology. She was supposed to be a pilot project, not a prototype! But then, she didn’t have much of a choice. The important thing was that she was alive. Again.

“I’m happy to be alive and all, but I’m in a completely empty room. And I do mean empty. It’s a void. Any chance you’ll set up some, uh, enrichment items for me?” “We’re working on it. But simulating the body takes enough processing power as is. We’ll let you know.” “All right, sure.” She ground her teeth. Enrichment items. God, what was she, a fucking hamster? That reminded her. “I get food, right? By the way?” No response. Yeah, she’d get food. Probably. Eventually. Just had to get hungry first.

So she paced around in the void again. No footsteps because there was nothing for her feet to step onto. Only hard air. She could smell her own sweat, and her thighs were chafing. Judging by her current state; sweaty, slight acid reflux, two bad emails away from a panic attack, she would estimate her image to be constructed from about 40 minutes before death, around the time she left the office to go home. Makes sense. You don’t win any awards for simulating a bucket of meat. If only they’d gone another 40 minutes back so she wouldn’t be itching for a smoke right now. But oh well. There are worse times to be. Worse hers. She’d had cramps just the day before.

But she shouldn’t worry. It was in their best interest that she was happy and stable. And therefore, it was in her interest too. She didn’t want them to consider this project a failure and pull the plug early. So she had to not worry. Not even think about not worrying, because her thoughts didn’t just belong to her now. She had to calm down.

She recalled the meditation techniques she’d learned at one of the workshops. The only reason she had gone to the workshop was to chase down a potential business partner, casually bump into her on her way out, grab a coffee, get her to sign a contract. She had paid just enough attention to remember the basics. She needed them now.

-

Breathing exercise, a single halfhearted yoga stretch, embarassment, more pacing. Suddenly, another voice. Nasal, hurried. A monotone. “Could you lift your right arm? Quick synchronization test.” “What? Sure. Is this goo-” “Thank you.” Silence.

Pacing pacing. Biting her nails. Taste: as to be expected, if a little clean. Stretch. Try not to think about her death. Pace back to the hairband she’d left to signal the spawn location. New voice, feminine. “We noticed you’re hungry, so we, uh, got you some food.” “Great! Where, though?” “It’s already being digested, actually.” “Oh.”

She patted her stomach. She hadn’t really noticed, but she wasn’t hungry anymore. Great. Pacing, standing still, digging through her clothes, lying down on the floor. The nasal voice was back. But it was no longer a monotone. “Hey. It… it’s John.” “Who?” “You don’t know me, sorry. I’m one of the researchers, I was assigned to monitoring your vitals. I just… I just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. I’m retiring, and keeping you alive has been… all this time I’ve been...“ he stammered while she just laid there. “This job is the best thing that has happened to me. I just had to tell you. I had to say goodbye. And, well, goodbye. Thank you.” Silence.

-

When she was 15 she had gone in for stomach surgery. A birth complication that they hadn’t caught until it nearly killed her, something wrong with her intestines. She did not remember what it was exactly. What she did remember was waking up early, the anaesthetics failing. Two masked surgeons looming over her, the light illuminating them just enough for her to see shadows of smiles behind their masks. One scalpel had perforated a piece of misshaped intestine. He was waving it back and forth, and then flicked one end with his finger. He cracked a joke, and they both laughed. They were laughing at it. She stared in horror at the guts splayed out of her stomach, and she tried to scream. Her mouth opened, but there was no sound. They looked over at her. The man with the scalpel frowned and rolled his eyes at her as he lobbed the wet chunk into the trash without even looking.

She had told the story at interviews a dozen times, and every time she looked into the cameras she would angle it a little differently. The body horror. The unprofessionalism. The humour. But what she had relived every time was the desperation. Not being able to move. Being heard, but not being listened to. Being trapped. She was a rat and this was her box and above her were scientists in lab coats scribbling notes into their clipboards while she sniffed around her cell. There was no maze, no levers to pull. She was an experiment. All this time they had monitored her every thought, ever bodily impulse, every anxiety. But when John had spoken to her, there was no sympathy in his voice. Only attachment. Like falling in love with a patient journal. Lovestruck enough to break protocol and unload his inner thoughts on her. But not enough to help her in any way.

She had to keep walking, keep herself distracted. Maybe they would upgrade the servers and grant her a more liveable space soon. Maybe the void fog would lift. She walks in silence for a couple minutes, waiting for something to happen. She attunes her mind to the rhythm of her footsteps, footsteps she can’t hear, only feel. As she does, funding runs out and the research complex surrounding her virtual body begins to bleed out. There are lay-offs. An administrator throws a pitcher of water at the wall in the middle of a meeting, frustrated that the investors want to pull the plug. They can’t just take a life. But the emulator has not seen any breakthroughs in years, it has long since been considered an outdated form of brain uploading. Researchers move on to better jobs and the power is cut. Her second life ends as abruptly as it began. She was still walking.

[winterwolf0916]

How the BatBoys met you.

There are many ways how they met you or even first words. I'll give a few places and dialogues here and there. So enjoy~ also a bit of a warning, my writing might seem horrible. Anywho, here ya go.

Dick

You both met while you were on the roof tops eating your cereal and gazing at the beautiful city lights since you felt bored and cramped in your apartment. Dick thought you were about to jump off considering the fact you were on the very edge of building and it was really dark so he couldn't see the utensil in your grasp or the bowl. He wrapped his arms around your shoulders and pulled you back. Your cereal fell in the depths of the city.

Y/n: WHAT THE HELL?!

Dick: what the hell? WHAT THE HELL?! You were about to jump to your death! A simple thank you would be nice for saving your skin!

Y/n: jumping off?...to my death?...

Dick:...wasn't that what you were going to do?

Y/n: Dropping my CEREAL TO DEATH IS WHAT YOU DID!

Dick:... Woooops...

Dick: I can make it up to you...

Y/n: that is?

Dick: I'll bring cereal and we'll talk.

Y/n:...fine... But bring f/c! If not cancel the meeting!

Dick: yes ma'am.

2. You were one of the new recruits in the GCPD. Once you walked in and you were introduced to the other officers. Dick's heart couldn't be calmed, it was beating rapidly, and his hands became sweaty once he first saw you.

Random officer: and this is officer Richard Grayson.

Y/n: hello~

Dick:....

Random officer: *whispers to Dick* Dick! Introduce yourself to the new recruit. She ain't gonna bite.

Dick: *secretly wipes hand on pants and extends a hand to you.* H-hi name's Richard Grayson.

Random officer: *facepalm*

Y/n: *giggles* I know that.

Dick: you do?! Oh right...You don't have to call me officer Grayson. My friends call me Dick-I-I mean you can call me Dick.

Y/n: *shakes Dick's hand* haha. Name’s Y/n L/n, Dick.

Let's just say you both were assigned for a steak out for petty crooks. You both enjoyed talking in the car and became friends right away. You both caught the crooks and he offered to buy you some donuts after. ;)

Jason

At the bar. Basically Jason just came to drink his problems away. And you came because Riddler's Henchmen we're doing a weapon trading in the building. His eyes caught your figure and his heart started to beat faster. You sat on the stools and he scooted next to you. You were looking through your phone boredly and he finally spoke.

Jason: Want a drink?

Y/n:*keeps looking through phone*

He thought you were one of those girls that are hard to get so he decides to flirt.

Jason: Hello there~ care for a drink?

Y/n:*keeps ignoring but actually heard him. Though he was just a drunk pervert.*

Jason: Hey, do you-*places hand on shoulder and shakes you a little*

You took alarm that someone was touching you. You flipped him on the table that sent splinters to fly. He groaned loudly then he opened his eyes. You held your breath of how gorgeous his eyes are. 

Y/n: Oh! Sorry sir-I didn't I thought you were- I thought you were drunk.

Jason: Its fine hehe. Nice reflexes. 

Y/n: Thank you.

Later on you both spent time together in the bar talking. You quickly excused yourself to the bathroom and you changed to your suit. Right when you were about to take down Riddler’s men guess who came to the party to stop him as well. Red Bucket-I mean Red Hood. You both teamed up and took them down. You both shared your identities and bought a drink for each other.

2. He was driving around in Gotham after a heated argument with Bruce. And surprisingly maneuvering his motorcycle calms him down. Along with small stunts. He stopped on a red light and a deep breath remembering the arguments and yelling. His eyes wandered to the buildings but stopped at a coffee shop. You were sitting on a chair in nicely and comfortable attire while typing on your computer. His eyes never left your figure and his mouth was slightly open. The way how your h/c locks is naturally resting on your head. Your face lighting up when your beverage arrived. And he’s not forgetting how gorgeous your eyes look. He’s been staring for quite a while that he forgot the light turned green and cars honked behind him to move. He shook his head and drove forward but stopped by another red light.

Should he go back? What kind of beautiful woman is doing in a dangerous city like Gotham? He wanted to know more about you. He took a turn and entered the parking lot trying to find you. His heart dropped that the seat you were sitting in, was empty. Was he hallucinating? Or did she actually left? He lost hope and drove full speed to the exit. But you came out of the coffee shop and strolled to the middle of the street where he was about to leave. Right when you heard the engine you gazed at the driver and Jason gazed back at you. He took alarm that you were there and turned sharply. The wheels of his bike squeaked on the pavement and his motorbike was turned to the side and rolled into a wall of the coffee shop along tumbling onto chairs and tables. 

You took alarm and ran to him to see if he was ok. Customers came out of the shop and helped by moving the chairs and tables off of Jason. His bike was crushing his leg. The customers lifted it up while you and another person dragged him away. He was heavy. As you took off his helmet, you couldn't stop staring at his jawline and raven hair that matted his head. As he caught your eyes you snap out of your trance and scanned his figre to see if he had any other injuries.

Y/N: Are you alright?!

Jason: *stares at your eyes with a dreamy look* I am now.

Tim

There was an attack in the city. And a car was flying right at your direction. You shut your eyes shut and braced yourself for the impact but instead of a hard and crushing moment, a strong arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you fast. The sound of the car crashing onto the pavement made your eyes flicker. As you gazed at the broken vehicle that was about to end your life, your eyes travels to your hero. Red Robin (yum!)

Tim: are you alright?

Y/n: *wraps arms around him tightly for an embrace and squeeze your eyes shut.*

Tim: o-oh...u-uh...

You can hear his heartbeat rising that might explode in his chest. You couldn't help but squeeze tighter. He saved you. An innocent citizen about to be killed. Even thought he saved others in the past, you felt amazed and relived that some people wanted you alive. He hugged you back even though he didn't know what else to do. And you smiled a little of how pleasing it is for the hero giving a your welcome gesture. Dick noticed about the mini scene but he knows that they need to get back to work by defeating the villain thrashing around in the city.

Dick: Red Robin this guy ain't gonna stop for your romanticism. Were gonna need help. You can get back to your girlfriend once we're done.

Tim: *runs after Dick* SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!

2. You were a new member to the Young Justice. You’re powers are telequinesis and your name goes by s/n (superhero name). When Tim first saw you, he couldn't stop staring and his expression soften and yet astonished of you.

Y/n: hi I'm-

Tim: y/n...

Y/n: you know me?

Tim: w-w-what...o-oh nono it's just I already k-know your name but we haven't met.

Y/n:...what?

Tim: OH! I didn't meant to make that sound creepy it's just I saw you on the computer- NOT that I was stalking-I would never stalk- it just says the files about you-I'll stop talking.

Y/n: no please. You seem very interesting.

Tim: I-I-I d-do? Sorry let me restart*clears throat* I'm Tim Drake AKA Red Robin *extends hand*

Y/n: *shakes it* nice to meet you*smiles*

Tim:*chokes on his own spit because your smile is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen*

Y/n: are you ok?!

Tim:...yep..

The whole team laughed at Tim of how he is dealing his first impression meet you. As you were introduced to Tim, you couldn't help but your powers acted by itself since you couldn't control it, Tim was lifted off of the ground.

Tim: what is HAPPENING?!

Y/n: oh my Lord! IM SO SORRY ITS MY POWERS I CANT CONTROL IT!

Tim: what are you talking about? This is awesome! I can fly!

Y/n: oh er um... Thank you :')

And that moment on you both became friends or should I say have a crush towards each other.

Damian

1.) You were captured at a age 5 to the League of shadows along with other children. Ra’s Al Ghul and Talia Al Ghul had a project of making you and the children great followers and guards of Damian Al Ghul as he gets older. At age 10, after a long day of training, Talia knew it was time for you and the other children to meet Damian, so the bonds would be stronger with him. The children surrounded Damian greeting themselves to him, but you didn't take much interest of meeting with him so you snuck at the roof. Another figure snuck there and notice your presence.

Damian: Tt. Are you thinking of taking my place here? Get off of this rooftop or I’ll say a word to my mother about you.

Y/n: *stands up to face him* Who are you? Unlike you I have been at this top longer.

Damian: Do you not know? Damian Al Ghul. Grandson of the Demon’s Head. And I order you to leave.

Y/n: Oooh I’m so scared. *waving hands in the air* Are you going to blast your demonic powers at me?

He snarled. He challenged you to a fight of who would get the rooftop. Surprisingly it ended up with you both laying on your backs taking deep breaths.

Damian: You...fought...well.

Y/n: Hehe learned it...from Talia...

Damian: What...is your name?

Y/n: you’re going to tell your...mommy aren't you?

Damian: No. We both lost and won, therefore we are going to have to share this.

Y/n: Y/n L/n

Damian: what a beautiful name-I mean- its sounds decent.

you laughed. That's when you both became best of friends.

2.) You were a villain. v/n (villain name) is what they called you. One night you were thieving for jewelry. Two large bag sacks filled with diamonds, gold, and silver. You were about to take your leave until-

Damian: leaving so soon?

Y/n: If it isn't the Boy Wonder I kept hearing in the streets. You look shorter than I thought.

Damian: I’m taller than you...v/n

Y/n: yeesh. They are right. You do talk faster than acting. *pulls out gun and shoots him but he keeps dodging*

You both fought for a while till Damian won and you were dangling upside-down from the ropes. 

Damian: My guess you’ll be staying. And you are fun to knock around.

Y/n: Grrr… until we meet again Boy Wonder!

Damian: Good to make a first impression, v/n.

That's when later on you both start to get...feelings toward each other.

BONUS: For Damian x reader. 

3.) You were a new student at Gotham Academy. So many classes and hallways to get used to. Until your final class you were call up to the front to talk to the entire class of who you are and where were you from.

Y/n: H-Hello... My name is Y/n L/n.

Damian was doodling on his notebook until he heard your sweet voice. His head lifted up and his beautiful emerald eyes caught your figure. His expression softened from looking at you. He looked at you that you seemed gentle and delicate. He blinked his eyes many times that he has never seen anyone like you in Gotham Academy.

Random Kid: Speak louder I cant hear you!

Some kids in the class laughed that caused you to feel down. Until Damian grabbed a book, from a classmate behind him, and threw it to the random kid that interrupted your speech. 

Damian: Then how about you shut it. 

He snarled. The teacher told them to calm down and sent the boy, who interrupted you, to the nurses office, because the kid had a bleeding nose from Damian. Damian sat properly on his chair and placed his elbows on the desk, waiting patiently for you to keep going. After class the children left the campus to go home. But you sat on the stairs waiting for your mom to arrive. It started to rain and the front doors behind you were locked from the outside. You cradled your knees close to your chest as the wind whirled to you. Some how you couldn't feel the rain but you could still hear it. You looked up to find the same emerald eyes that saved you in last period.

Damian: Tt. What are you doing in the rain?

Y/n: My mother isn't here yet. How about yourself?

Damian: *sat next to you* I was talking with the principle about the incident in the class. 

Y/n: I don't know you. Why did you stick up for me?

Damian: Tt. Because you looked lost. And needed help. I haven't introduced myself. Damian Wayne *outstretches hand to you*

Y/n: Y/n...Y/n L/n.

[seventeen-teen-teen-trash]

You Were Blue

Pairing: Lee Jihoon x female reader

Genre: Smut, fluff. College baseball au

Warnings: Dirty talk, masturbation

Word count: 7K

Summary: Lee Jihoon was a fascinating baseball player. Never having a strikeout or a bad play, he served as Konkuk University’s secret weapon. However, when he gets caught up with you, friendships began to falter and the truth comes out.

(the read more function is not working on tumblr mobile. I apologize in advance.)

pt 1

When you first heard about Lee Jihoon, you were intrigued. As human nature, your curiosity spiked like a cat and you couldn’t help but to wonder more. A rush of attraction came over you, not in a romantic sense, but a fascination.

The cool breeze ran past your ear, causing you to shiver. Spring was supposed to be warm, not freezing. You hugged your coat closer to your body and looked at the field. Next to you sat your best friend, Junhee. Her boyfriend was Joshua Hong, the pitcher for KU; she dragged you along to the games to support him while also having someone there to talk to.

You didn’t know much about baseball, only that Joshua was a pitcher and a few other players in the outfield were his friends. Frankly, you didn’t think Junhee knew much about baseball either. However, who were you to get in the way of love?

As the game carried on, you quietly munched on the sandwich you packed beforehand. Junhee talked mindlessly about the game, pointing out Joshua’s glances towards her and squealing about him giving her a smile. The game was quiet, with few people booing at the opposing team occasionally and cheering when KU scored.

But that was expected for a morning game.

When the hitter changed, the audience began to perk up. You furrowed your eyebrows and glanced over at Junhee, who had her eyebrows raised and arms crossed. Chewing the piece of sandwich in your mouth, you put down the sandwich.

“What’s happening?” You asked.

Junhee let out a sigh. “Konkuk’s secret weapon, Lee Jihoon.”

Furrowing your eyebrows, you looked at the man who walked up to the base. He had a short stature unlike his other team players. As he planted his feet on the field, the crowd began to get riled up.

You looked around at KU’s audience, seeing a frown set on each of their faces. “What’s so special about him?”

“He’s never had a strikeout or a bad play,” She scoffed. “He’s amazing and he knows it. Shua absolutely hates him.”

Nodding, you turned your head back at the field; Joshua had his eyes narrowed as he held the ball tightly in his hands. You could tell he was tense as his eyes darted back and forth from the catcher and the small man in front of him. The air grew thick as the man lined himself up, stretching his arms out.

Lee Jihoon.

He stood there, back slightly arched and ass slightly sticking out. His mop of brown hair poked out of the ends of the hat that somehow only he could pull off. You watched in awe as he brought the bat down, tapping the ground, and then bringing it up to his shoulder.

His stance was strong, yet his face was relaxed. A smirked played along his lips as he chewed, what seemed to be, bubblegum. He was intimidating; his face gave off no emotion, giving him an eerie vibe. When Joshua finally drew the ball back, Jihoon’s grip tightened around the bat and his feet planted in the ground.

It all happened in a second; the ball came flying towards him, yet Jihoon was already two steps ahead. As soon as the ball collided with his bat, Jihoon took off, running base to base before anyone could process what was happening. Everyone in the audience sat back in awe as they watched the ball fly out of the field.

Junhee let out a groan. “See? He’s incredible, Korea University doesn’t stand a chance with Lee Jihoon on Konkuk’s team.”

▽  ▽ ▽

Days after the game, you sat with Joshua and Junhee; it was normal for you to third wheel. Basically, you got a free meal while they complained about baseball. KU ended up losing the game, but that was expected with Konkuk’s secret weapon, Lee Jihoon. You eyed over the menu, looking at all the noodle options while listening to Junhee and Joshua discuss the game.

“You guys should have won,” she sighed. “That was so unfair of them, bringing Jihoon out at the last minute.”

“Ah, well. At the end of the day, it’s just a baseball game. Even if Lee Jihoon pisses me off.” Joshua laughed.

You looked up from the menu. “Guys, can we get Japchae? I haven’t had it in forever.”

“You know,” Junhee began. “You were staring at that shithead a lot, now that I mention it, Y/n. Normally, I’d be all for a crush, but right now, I want you to get over it.”

Joshua nodded. “Yeah, I don’t want you to get hurt. I’m not sure what his personality is actually like, but if it’s anything like it is on the field, he’s definitely not the one.”

You furrowed your eyebrows and looked back at the menu. It wasn’t that you had a crush on him, you were simply just curious that everyone knew him. You weren’t even sure why Junhee thought that maybe you had a crush on him. Lee Jihoon meant nothing to you, he was just a baseball player. Sighing, you set the menu down and took a sip of water.

“I don’t have a crush on him, I just want Japchae.”

▽  ▽ ▽

The second time you saw Jihoon was unexpected. You were scurrying around all of Seoul, trying to find the perfect birthday gift for Junhee. When you found yourself at an outside outlet, you thanked god and ran into the nearest sports store. Remembering that Junhee’s old baseball cap had ended up being stolen in the dorms, you browsed through all the caps the store had to offer.

“Seungcheol, no,” You heard a voice behind you. “I am not getting a new hat, I just need a new bag and that’s it.”

“Jihoon, your hat is literally ripping apart. How even old is that thing?” The other voice told him.

You snapped your head up and turned around to find the source of the voices. Jihoon? As in, Lee Jihoon? Biting the inside of your cheek, your eyes scanned around the shop. When your eyes caught a taller man walking near you, you turned back to the hats. That wasn’t the baseball player from weeks ago. You sighed in relief and picked up a white hat with roses in the center

“Ah, excuse me,” The man spoke. You jumped a little, giving him a slight bow and scooted away to let the man have a better view. “Jihoon, come here. Look at these, they’re nice.”

As you silently glanced over at the man, your heart began to race. That was the other man, not Jihoon. You didn’t understand why; the man could have been any Jihoon, there was definitely more than one in the entire city of Seoul. But you were definitely near Konkuk University. While your brain scattered thoughts and possibilities, you didn’t realize the man had came up to the selection of caps.

When your eyes laid upon the man, you felt your throat become dry. There he was, Lee Jihoon, the same one you saw on the field who captured everyone’s gaze. You felt yourself staring, so you snapped your head back to the hat in your hand. Get Junhee a hat, Y/n.

“Excuse me,” the first man spoke. “Are you from Konkuk?”

You looked up, meeting their gaze. He was talking to you. Hesitantly, you shook your head while your fingers nervously rubbed over the fabric of the hat. “I’m from Korea University.”

He grinned. “Are you into baseball or are you into baseball caps? We’re from Konkuk, the baseball team actually. I think we played KU a week ago, right Jihoon?”

“Yeah, close game. I think we’re playing them again when season actually starts.” His voice was like honey to your ears as it echoed throughout your entire body. Your heart beat quickly as he gave you a soft smile.

“My friend is into baseball,” you told them, holding up the hat. “I’m just buying her a gift.”

The first man nodded and gave you a smile. “I like the one you have in your hands, you should get her that one.”

Jihoon glanced at the hat and turned back to the selection, grabbing a blue and white striped hat. “This one is cuter for a girl, in my opinion.”

“That one is cute,” The sentence barely left your lips as you watched the man squint his eyes between the two hats. As your heart continued to beat, you looked down at the hat in your hands.

“Wait, actually,” Jihoon said again. You looked up at him, your eyes meeting his as he walked closer. Opening the hat, he handed it to you. “Try this one on, you can have this one and you can buy your friend that one.”

He flashed you a smile that send waves to your heart. That was when you knew that there was more than just curiosity around Lee Jihoon. Instead, it was complete attraction that made you question yourself. Silly, but it felt like Romeo and Juliet; you being from KU and him from Konkuk. Except, you two were most likely not star-crossed lovers.

▽  ▽ ▽

“Since when do you wear hats?”

You glanced over at Junhee, giving her a slight smile, before turning back to your computer. Both of you sat in the middle of your dorm as you attempted to finish your projects for the midterm. It had been a week since you met Jihoon, and to say you haven’t wore the hat everyday, would be a lie.

Shrugging, you took off the hat. “I bought it when I bought yours. I like it.”

Junhee picked up the hat and put it over her head. You didn’t tell her that Jihoon bought it for you, or let alone, you met him. She would honestly die if she heard you had an itsy bitsy crush on him. So, you’ll just act like you’re into baseball, for now.

“How’s baseball going for Joshua?” You asked.

“Pretty alright,” She took off your hat. “The season just started, so they’re getting ready to take on Konkuk again. I swear if Shua doesn’t stop practicing so much, he’s going to strain his arm.”

You nodded. “I should start going to their games more often, the last one I went to was pretty fun.”

She snorted and stood up, stretching out her arms before walking over to her bed and collapsing onto it. You laughed and continued to work on your project as she groaned.

“I don’t want to do this anymore, midterms suck ass.”

Raising an eyebrow, you laughed and leaned back against the wall. “Keep telling yourself that when you fail the class.”

▽  ▽ ▽

The dorm was quite without Junhee there. Usually, she’d chatter on about music or classes that day, but since she was with Joshua, it was quiet. She had left about two hours ago to a party with Joshua, saying she didn’t know when she’d probably be back. Most likely, you had the dorm to yourself until tomorrow morning.

You sighed as you scrolled through another post about relationships. It wasn’t like you didn’t want a boyfriend, you were simply just focused on yourself and your career that there really wasn’t much time for anything of the sort.

However, Lee Jihoon sent tingles down your spine as soon as he looked into your eyes. You couldn’t understand it, but it sent your stomach into knots as his toothy grin stepped unwelcomingly into your thoughts. There was something about him that was so alluring, so addictive, completely captivating.

You let out a shaky breath as you placed your phone down and closed your eyes. His powerful aura in the baseball field was absolutely breathtaking. Your hand began to snake down your abdomen, slipping underneath your pajama shorts. Licking your lips, you let your finger slip down into your heat, feeling the excitement coat your fingers.

Lee Jihoon

You imagined his lips attached to your neck, leaving wet kisses and nibbing beneath your ear as your middle finger began to press small circles into your nub. A breath escaped your throat when your finger left your nub and prodded at your hole. You imagined Jihoon kissing down your stomach, pulling down your shorts as his lips followed.

A moan slipped your lips as you imagined his lips kissing your clit. His touches were soft and gentle, caressing your velvety folds like it was a treasure. Your fingers found themselves back at your clit, moving quicker as your hips bucked forward.

Jihoon then began to lick at your clit, fingers teasing your hole. You whimpered, bringing your other hand down to push a finger inside, fucking yourself as your other hand took care of your clit. It wasn’t long until your breathing became erratic. Your stomach began to knot and heat began to build up.

“Jihoon, please ,” You whined.

You sucked in a breath and your back arched as the heat took over you. A whine left your mouth as your vision turned blue.

He was mesmerizing.

▽  ▽ ▽

The crowd roared as the ball struck out of the stadium; another home run by, none other than, Lee Jihoon. You sat quietly to yourself, gripping at the hat that hugged your head, slightly covering your eyes. The crowd was full of Konkuk students, cheering on the team and screaming Jihoon’s name. You felt like an outsider sitting near the top of the bleachers and your bag laying in your lap for a quick getaway. Honestly, you were a traitor.

But you needed to see him again.

A few other boys sat by you, talking amongst themselves about the game. You let your arms fall to your lap. In the corner of your eye, you inspected the boys next to you. Three of them sat close together, pointing at some of the members and whispering.

“Ah, they’ve got Jihoon playing already,” one of them said. “They’re absolutely relentless.”

Another one laughed. “Look how cute he is in his outfit.”

Your eyes darted back to the field, trying to find Jihoon. By the dugout stood the small, brown headed man. Standing in grass stained white pants and a blue jersey, he held a water bottle to his lips as the coach talked to him.

“How do we get his attention?” The first one sighed.

Immediately, your eyes widened at the question. You turned your head towards them as they began to wave their arms around. There was no doubt that Jihoon would recognize you; he bought the hat for god’s sake. Hurriedly, you began to scoot away from the boys in hopes of not getting caught.

But that did no good.

When you looked back at the field, Jihoon was making a face at his friends as they howled towards him. His gaze began to wander off; first landing on the striped blue hat laying on top of your head, then landing on the nervous expression plastered all over your face. A smug smile played on his lips as he raised his arm and gave you a wave. Immediately, you felt the heat rush from your neck and twirl around your ears.

“Wait, who is he waving to?” One of the boys asked.

After Jihoon’s gaze left yours, three pairs of eyes burned your skin. Your fingers began to nervously pinch at the seams of your jeans as the boys scooted over towards you. When one of them cleared their throat, you looked over at them, taking in their appearances. Three black haired men sat to the right of you, grinning at you.

“Sorry if this is weird, we’re just some of Jihoon’s friends and we couldn’t help but to wonder who actually got him to crack a smile?” The one closest to you asked. “I’m Jeonghan, what’s your name?”

You gave them a small smile. “My name is Y/n.”

As the game went on, the other boys next to Jeonghan introduced themselves as Soonyoung and Mingyu. You told them that you had met Jihoon in the sports store, where he had bought you the hat and you wanted to repay him by showing up to the next game to cheer him on. The boys were in awe as you told them everything.

“He’s whipped,” Soonyoung laughed.

“He barely knows me,” you giggled. “I’m the one who’s whipped.”

Mingyu hummed. “I think I might have an idea.”

You raised an eyebrow. “What’s your idea?”

“Come to our party next week.”

▽  ▽ ▽

Thud

Thud

Balls struck the mat as Joshua stretched his shoulder and reached blindly behind him for another one. Junhee sat beside you, legs crossed and face laying in her hands as she watched Joshua practice his pitch. She had invited you to come with the couple to give “Shua moral support,” but you knew well that she actually wanted you there in case she got lonely.

You looked around at the building in awe; it was an athlete’s dream. It was a rather large building full of other college students roaming about. With a gym, batting cages, and mats to practice pitches, the area felt like a baseball player’s territory. Looking behind you, the batting cages stood, a long row touching one side of the building to the other. Many of them were open, but quite a few were already taken.

It had been a few days after the Konkuk game, where Jihoon had spotted you in the crowd. You didn’t bother trying to catch him afterwards, since you were caught up with his friends. Instead, they had offered to drive you back to KU. You ended up getting their phone numbers on the way to your university and they have been keeping you updated on the party. It was supposed to be next Friday at eight in the evening in some fraternity house. Now, you just needed to make up an excuse to escape the dorm without Junhee growing suspicious.

You felt bad for practically lying to her. Jihoon was basically your first real crush and you couldn’t tell your best friend about it. If you did tell her, you know her reaction would be completely negative. For now, you’ll keep it a secret until the crush wears off.

“Does Joshua come here a lot?” You asked Junhee, breaking the silence.

She glanced toward you, giving you a look and nodding. “Even when it’s off season, he’s here. I love him, but,” she sighed. “I wish we could do more couple stuff without baseball in the mix.”

You snorted. “You’re saying this right in front of him?”

“He can’t hear anyways! He has his earbuds in, I don’t even know why he invites me, really.”

Giving her a soft smile, you placed your hand on hers and gave her a soft squeeze. Junhee exhaled and smiled back before turning towards her boyfriend, who was running out of baseballs at this point. You picked up your sweet blueberry smoothie, sipping on it as you watched the man.

Time passed quickly and the afternoon soon changed to the evening. Your stomach had began to growl from not eating anything the entire day except for the smoothie. Before you could turn and suggest grabbing something to eat, Joshua’s friend, Seokmin, had approached him.

“Hey Shua,” he placed his hand on Joshua’s shoulder and took out an earbud. “I think you may be boring these ladies to death.”

Joshua turned around and sheepishly smiled. “Ah, I’m sorry guys. Seokmin, are you finishing up?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna go eat with a few other friends soon,” Seokmin glanced at the cages. “Dude, you’ll never believe who was in the cage next to me.”

“Ugh, don’t tell me. I already know.”

Seokmin laughed and patted the man’s shoulder. “Better work on that pitch before the game. See you tomorrow, yeah?”

You perked your head up at the mention of the unknown person. The only person you’ve ever seen Joshua dislike was Jihoon. Was he in the same building? Furrowing your eyebrows, you turned back around at the cages.

“Jihoon’s here?” Junhee groaned. “Why? This place is closer to KU.”

Joshua shrugged and began to pick up the balls on the floor. “Konkuk isn’t too far, really. Plus, the batting cages over there are shitty.”

Hesitantly, you turned back towards Junhee and gave her a smile. Your curiosity was getting the best of you again; you had to find some way to go find him. Biting your lip, you looked down at your half drank smoothie.

“Hey Junhee, I’m gonna go find a bathroom. I shouldn’t have drank that too fast.” You lied through your teeth.

“Oh, sure. I’ll meet you there in a second. I’m gonna help Shua put these up.” She told you.

You nodded and stood up from the mat. Your eyes immediately darted back to the batting cages and your feet followed the sounds of the metal bats. As you approached the cages, your eyes darted in each one, trying to find the small brown headed man. Maybe he already left, or maybe he was on the other side?

“Well, well,” a voice smugly said. “At this rate, I’d think you were following me.”

Turning around, your eyes met the familiar man. Your cheeks began to turn bright red like you had been caught red handed. A laugh left your lips and you gave him a small smile.

“Aren’t you on KU territory this time?” You teased.

He shrugged and stretched out his arms. “Maybe I like to be around KU. I have a better chance to see you.”

You were completely awestruck, not being able to come up with a witty retort. Jihoon laughed as he could visibly see the blush on your cheeks. His eyes wandered over to the open cage right next to him. He gave you a grin before opening it.

“Why don’t you join me?”

“In the cage?” You spluttered on your words. He nodded and opened the door for you. “Isn’t that dangerous? I thought only one person could be in there?”

Jihoon snorted. “I’m not going to turn it on. I just want to talk.”

As you mustered enough courage to start walking in the cage, that’s when you heard Junhee yelling your name. Your eyes snapped back behind Jihoon at the small black haired girl, who stomped towards you and Jihoon.

“Y/n, I thought you were going to the bathroom,” She glared between you and Jihoon.

The man raised an eyebrow as he turned around to meet Junhee’s harsh gaze. He gave her a soft smile when she approached the two. “Are you Y/n’s friend? Sorry, I had her a bit preoccupied. My name’s-”

“I know what your name is,” she cut him off and glared at you. “Why are you talking to him? Joshua’s waiting for us.”

“I… I’m sorry,” You started.

Jihoon scoffed. “Joshua, huh? I didn’t know you were friends with him.”

“Y/n, come on, I don’t want Shua to catch us with him,” Junhee scowled at Jihoon.

She then took a hold of your hand and began to drag you away from Jihoon as you mouthed the word ‘sorry’. He only gave you a soft glance before retreating back into the gate while you were being pulled away.

▽  ▽ ▽

“Why are you dressed up so nice?”

You looked down at your outfit with a blush; a short blue floral skirt topped with a white top. Unsure of what to wear to a party, you found the nicest clothes in your closet. Junhee raised an eyebrow and glanced at your outfit from head to toe.

“I, um, have a date,” You told her.

Her eyes perked up. “Really? With who?”

Technically, Lee Jihoon.

“Some guy from my chemistry class,” You lied. “Do I look okay?”

Junhee grinned and sat up from her bed. “You look more than okay. Are you trying to get into his pants?”

You gave her a scowl and adjusted your skirt. Junhee chuckled and went back to her position on the bed. When you looked at yourself in the mirror, you were shocked. The person staring back at you in the mirror looked unfamiliar. Normally, you dressed casual. Never did you dress to impress anyone. However, you wanted to dress up for Jihoon. You wanted to show yourself off just for him.

Your phone buzzed, pulling you out of your thoughts. When you glanced at the screen, you saw a text from Jihoon’s friend, Mingyu. The text said Jeonghan was parked outside your dorm, waiting for you to come out and join the crew in the car. You texted back that you’d be there soon and placed your phone into a small purse.

“He’s here, so I should probably go,” You told Junhee. “I’ll see you later?”

She glanced over and you and nodded. “Tell me how it goes and if I need to pick you up or not.”

You nodded and made your way out of the dorm. Just like the text said, a black car sat parked outside of the building with the familiar men sitting in the front seat. You got into the backseat and smiled at the two.

“Hey, Y/n,” Jeonghan grinned. “You look nice.”

“Ah, thank you. I wasn’t sure what to wear.”

Mingyu snickered. “It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, Jihoon will probably wanna rip those clothes off no matter what.”

“Mingyu, that’s not how you talk to a lady.”

“It’s the truth and you know it.”

You grinned as they bickered on. Eventually, the car began to move and you were on your way to the party. The fact that it was at fraternity house made you slightly nervous; you didn’t even go to Konkuk, but here you were.

After what seemed like an hour, you finally arrived at the fraternity house. Jeonghan parked his car down the street and let out a sigh. He turned around and gave you a smile.

“If you need to go back for any reason, just send one of us a text. I don’t think we’ll be drinking much. Right, Mingyu? ”

Mingyu scoffed and crossed his arms. “It was literally one time, Hyung.”

“Come on, let’s go,” You laughed.

Minutes later you were standing inside of the house, eyes wide and feeling completely out of place. Everyone around you had a cup in their hands, talking to one another. The music was loud and you couldn’t hear much, only Mingyu, who was right behind you. He placed his hand on your shoulder, causing you to jump slightly.

“Scared?” He asked with a lopsided grin.

You shook your head. “Just feel out of place. I don’t even know these people.”

“I’m sure half these people don’t know each other either. They’re probably just trying to get in each other’s pants. Come on, I think Jihoon might be in the back.”

Mingyu had led you through the house, entering the kitchen first, then heading out the back door. It was dark outside, causing it to be harder to see and the music felt even louder outside. You wondered how long it took for the police to be called.

“Do you see him?” Mingyu asked.

You shook your head as you gave one last glance. “No, I-”

“Oh my god, Jihoon,” a familiar voice yelled. “You’re fucking stubborn as hell.”

“There he is,” Mingyu snickered. “Ready to approach your lover?”

Your legs began to feel like jelly when you caught a glimpse of Jihoon. He sat in a lawn chair with a plastic cup pressed to his lips. The man beside him was the same one that you had seen in the hat store. Seungcheol, wasn’t it?

Mingyu had his hand pressed to your back, pushing you to the brown headed boy. As you got closer, you heard the conversation more clearly.

“Just go say hi to at least one girl, or even a boy! I don’t even know why you come to these parties if you’re just going to sit here and drink yourself to death. I hope you remember we have practice early tomorrow.” Seungcheol griped.

Once you got close enough, Mingyu cleared his throat and both Seungcheol and Jihoon glanced over. Their gaze landed on the tall one first, their eyes slowly falling to you. Jihoon put his drink in the cup holder and grinned as his eyes stared you up and down.

“Hey,” Seungcheol raised up a finger. “Aren’t you that girl from the department store?”

You nodded. “Yes, Seungcheol, right?”

Mingyu hummed. “We’d love to talk more, Y/n, but I think Seungcheol and I should leave you and Jihoon alone, so you two can catch up.”

With that, Mingyu grabbed Seungcheol’s elbow and practically dragged him away from the two of you. Jihoon motioned for you to sit down in the chair next to him and so you walked over, grabbing your skirt and pulling it down as you sat.

Jihoon smiled. “You’re really following me, aren’t you? Coming here with Mingyu to a Konkuk party?”

“I came to see you,” You told him with a smile. “I met Mingyu at the baseball game last week and he told me I should meet you at this party.”

“You look nice.”

His words made you blush. You looked down and pulled your skirt down. It had began to rise up, showing more of your thighs than you would have liked. Jihoon had watched your every movement, causing your blush to turn darker.

You parted a piece of hair behind your ear. “You’re pretty famous on the baseball field, but I don’t see many people bugging you at this party.”

He shrugged. “Most people are scared of me. Seungcheol says I have some kind of bad vibe that makes me unapproachable, but that must be wrong since you’re here, right?”

“I don’t think you’re unapproachable at all,” You blurted. “I think you’re really handsome and any girl would be lucky to even talk to you.”

Jihoon grinned and sat up in his chair. He had his elbows propped up and his chin resting on his hands as he just stared at you.

“I think I’m very lucky to have such a beautiful girl like you, just talking to me. Although, I don’t think this is a great place for talking, since the music is loud and drunks are littering the place. Do you want to come to my dorm? It’s a short walk.”

Your heart began to pound in your chest. Lee Jihoon had invited you to his dorm. Hesitantly, you nodded and sat up from the chair. Jihoon followed and intertwined his fingers with yours and led you out of the house.

▽  ▽ ▽

Once you arrived at Jihoon’s dorm, you looked around in awe. He had a nice single bedroom dorm with a bathroom included. It was much nicer than yours back at KU. His hand still had a hold of yours as he closed the door and led you to the sofa. After you had sat down, his hand left yours, but his eyes stayed locked on you.

“Now that we’re in a quieter place, why don’t you expand on what you were saying? I’m handsome and any girl would be lucky to talk to me?” He grinned.

You bashfully smiled. “Stop, you’re embarrassing.”

“You’re cute when you blush.”

At this point, you brought your hands up to cover your blushing face. Jihoon laughed and grabbed your wrist to pull them away. His face was closer to yours than ever before. You took this moment to study his face.

“See anything you like?” He asked.

You shrugged. “Maybe.”

“If you keep staring at me, I might just kiss you. Although, I don’t think your friend would like that too much.” Jihoon winked.

You scrunched your nose at the Junhee remark. Honestly, you didn’t care what she thought of Jihoon. What you thought was the only thing that mattered and right now, your thoughts were focused on Jihoon’s lips.

“I don’t care what she thinks.”

He raised an eyebrow. “So, you want me to kiss you, then?”

You swallowed back and nodded. “Please.”

Jihoon chuckled. “Well, if you say so.”

Then his lips were on yours. Instantly, your senses went hazy and your body felt like a small little blue flame that grew in size with each movement of his lips against yours. You kissed him back with almost as much hunger; hands gripping his shirt while his hands were placed on either side of your hips. Eventually, you found yourself sitting in his lap, lips together.

You came up for air sometime after, panting as you cup his face. His lips were red and raw from the passionate kiss you had shared. You were sure yours looked the same. Jihoon began to grin at you, rubbing the sides of your hips in a soothing motion.

“Not so shy when it comes to kissing,” he laughed.

You shook your head. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“While you were in the stands last game, I couldn’t help but to imagine kissing you.”

“Really?” You asked in disbelief.  “I thought you were more focused in the game.”

He shrugged. “My time in the dugout was pretty interesting. I imagined a lot of thing, but I’m not sure if I can share all of them with you.”

“Tell me.”

Jihoon snorted and snuck his hand in the inside of your shirt. You sucked in a breath as his fingers ran over your skin, leaving goosebumps behind. You slumped in his lap, placing your hands on his shoulders as he worked his hands. He let out a sigh of content as his fingers traced up to the hem of your bra. All you could do was watch his eyes.

“Tell me when to stop,” he whispered. “I imagined kissing you up and down your neck with you withering beneath me.”

He placed a kiss to your neck.

“Then I ran my hands up your shirt, like I’m doing now, and I unclasped your bra.” He brought his fingers to the back of your bra, slowly unhooking each hook.

You gulped as your bra came loose, the straps starting to fall down your shoulders. He chuckled as he saw the white straps hanging out from your shirt. Quickly, you removed the bra off of you as his fingers ran across your bare back.

“What else did you do?” You breathed.

He smiled. “I took your bra from your shirt and pulled it away from your breasts.” His fingers wrapped around the material and slid it out from your shirt and threw it to the other side of the room. “My hands squeezed your breasts, thumbs running over your nipples.”

A whimper slid past your lips as his hands followed his imagination. You threw your head back as his fingers pinched around your nipples. Jihoon hummed in approval and began to move your top over your best.

“I couldn’t help but to think about sucking these beautiful nipples,” You could practically hear the hint of mischief in his voice.

You closed your eyes, waiting for his lips to wrap around your nipples. However, the sensation never came. When you opened your eyes, you saw Jihoon giving you a wicked grin.

“You look so beautiful with your eyes closed like that, I couldn’t help but to watch,” he laughed.

“Jihoon,” You whined. “That’s not fair.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is it? How about we stop with the imagination, because I think my knees are getting soaked.”

You looked down at your skirt and gasped. Both of your legs were on either side of him, skirt raised up and panties right on his knees. When you tried to raise up from him, Jihoon held you down and smirked.

“I didn’t mean for you to get up, I just meant we should quicken things up.”

In less than five minutes, your shirt had been ripped from your body as well as Jihoon’s. Your skirt was hiked up and panties thrown across the room, joining your bra. You had helped Jihoon unbuckle his belt, remove his jeans, and briefs until your crotches were centimeters apart.

He let out a breath. “I didn’t think we’d get this far today. I didn’t think we’d have sex at all.”

“Do you not want to?” You asked. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“No, no, I want to, trust me. It’s just that I pictured taking you on a date before fucking you, that’s all.” Jihoon laughed. “Yet, here you are with your breasts in my face and pussy sitting on me.”

Your cheeks turned red at his words. “We can still go on a date, I’d actually… really like that.”

Jihoon smiled and reached up to give you a kiss to your cheek, then whispered. “Now let me fuck the shit out of you like I’ve been wanting to.”

Without a second thought, Jihoon picks you up and leads you over to the bed, dropping you down and climbing over you. He takes his cock and pumps it a few times before reaching into his draw to pull out a foil packet.

“Are you gonna watch me put this condom on?” he purrs. “Wish it was your pussy?”

You nodded and watched as he rolled the condom on with ease. He gave you a lopsided grin and brought his fingers down to your clit, rolling it in fast circles. A moan erupted from your throat with each movements. He slid his fingers down your wet slit, fingertips prodding at your hole.

“I can’t wait to fuck you, baby. You’re so wet.”

“Fuck me, please,” You whined.

Jihoon placed his cock at your entrance, pushing in the head slightly. You threw your head back, gasping as the head stretched you out. Jihoon placed both of his hands on either side of your head and pushed in slowly. His cock began to fill you up, inch by inch stretching your walls.

He paused for a second to let you adjust to his length. After a few seconds, he began to move slowly. You were on fire; the blue flames you two had were suddenly combining to create a wildfire of emotion.

Jihoon’s pace quickened and your voice began to perk up, letting out whines that you were sure his neighbors could hear. He let his head drop to the nook of your neck, his pants fanning your skin. His breath against your neck was enough to send fireworks down your body.

“I’ve wanted to fuck you ever since I saw you in the department store,” he panted.

You whined. “You should have. Right there in the… dressing room.”

He chuckled and thrusted harder. “You would have liked that, wouldn’t you? Fucking you where everyone can hear you? Listening to you take my cock so well? God, you would have made a mess.”

You moaned even louder as his thrusts got harder. “Fuck… I even masturbated thinking about you after I saw you at the department store.”

“Did you, now? Think about how I’d touch you?”

“Thought about… how you’d eat me out. You did it so well,” You were shamelessly whining by now.

“Fuck,” He groaned. “Turn around.”

His thrusts stop and you let out a small whine. He slid his cock out, leaving you feeling empty. You turned around on your stomach and let your ass stick out. Jihoon placed his hands on your cheeks. His fingers gripped the skin and massaged the skin. Without any warning, he shoved his cock back inside of you and began to fuck you more furiously than before.

You were sobbing by this point. With his dick ramming you from behind, you were in euphoria. Slowly, you brought your fingers down to meet your clit. It was slick from all your juices running out of your pussy. Your fingers began to circle your clit with the speed of Jihoon’s thrust.

Before you knew it, you could feel yourself reaching climax.

“Jihoon,” You practically screamed. “I’m gonna cum.”

“Cum all around me baby, let it all out,” he growled.

With that, you finally reached your high. Your legs wobbled as a wave of warmth ran throughout your body. Jihoon kept thrusting into you, groaning as your walls began throbbing around him. In minutes, Jihoon followed your orgasm, stalling and letting his cock twitch as he filled the condom.

He collapsed on top of you, breathing heavy from the orgasm. Eventually, he pulled out of you, pulling off the condom and threw it away. He then laid beside you while gazing into your eyes.

“Thank you,” You mumbled.

“For fucking you?” He laughed. “It was my pleasure.”

A smile played along your lips. “Can I stay the night?”

“Of course you can, but I have practice early in the morning.”

You nodded and turned your body facing him. Reaching out, you placed your hands right along his jaw. “I can leave early, it’s no big deal.”

Jihoon gave you a soft smile and sat up from the bed. He ran a hand through his hair and glanced at you and himself. “We should probably get cleaned up.”

▽  ▽ ▽

The next morning, you were dropped off at your dorm way too early on a Saturday morning. Jeonghan was driving again with you and Jihoon sitting in the backseat, already dressed for practice. Thankfully, Jihoon had lent you old clothes to wear so you weren’t wearing the same outfit from yesterday. When you got out of the car, Jihoon gave you a chaste kiss to your lips and said he would text you after practice. You happily obliged and gave your goodbyes to him and Jeonghan.

Once you reached your room, you expected to find Junhee passed out on her bed, with soft snores leaving her lips. However, that was not the case. Junhee sat on the floor, a blow of cereal in her hands. She still had her hair tied on top of her head from the night before. When you entered the room, she gave you a glance and turned back to her bowl.

“Hey,” You said softly.

She didn’t say anything as you placed your things down and collapsed on your bed. You ran a hand through your hair and stared at the ceiling.

“So, I’m assuming you got lucky last night?” Junhee finally says.

“Yeah, it was nice.”

She hummed. “It’s just funny, because I didn’t know Lee Jihoon took classes at KU.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, your face immediately went pale. You gulped and sat up from your bed, watching as she continued to eat. Junhee shrugged and put the bowl down.

“How did you find out?” You asked.

“I saw you out the window. He was ready for practice and got out of the car to give you a kiss. Or am I just imagining things?”

The guilt rushed down you like a waterfall. You frowned and bit the side of your cheek before speaking. “Are you mad?”

Junhee sighed and got up from the floor. She walked over to your bed and sat down right next to you. “I’m mad that you couldn’t tell me the truth. When I saw you two together at the batting cages, it looked suspicious, but I didn’t think you’d fuck him or anything.”

“Junhee, I’m really sorry. Can I please explain everything?”

She nodded. “Please do, I’m your best friend. You can tell me anything, remember that.”

“Okay well,” You sighed. “It’s a long story.”

[eerythingisshaka]

Wakanda Got Y’all Pt. 6

[Black Panther x Insecure Mashup]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: Some smut pops off.  This a Molly chapter, btw!

Molly sits in her office typing up a deposition for a case she is working on.  She sits back rubbing her eyes out of exhaustion from all of the meetings and paperwork she has had to thumb through this week, her vacation could not come soon enough.  Molly reaches for her phone to check her messages for the umpteenth time.  Erik hadn’t hit her back since she followed Issa’s basic advice of texting him first to make plans.  Molly knew Issa had no clue what she was talking about.  The only message she got was from Issa asking about some girls night get-together with the crew, date tbd.  That was definitely a big mood for Molly at the moment:  bougie wine and apps for half price happy hours.  

When Molly headed home that evening, she stopped by the doggy babysitter to pick up Flavor Flav.

“Hey, man!  You have a good time with your homies and girlfriends today?”  Molly smiles, petting him lovingly.

The doggysitter looks at her wearily.  “Mr. Flav is definitely a casanova to say the least.”

Molly shrugs.  “Thankfully he is neutered cuz bitches be crazy, right?”  Molly cackles to herself as the doggysitter walks away stone faced.

Molly rolls her eyes as she walks out, talking to Flavor Flav.  “Snooty ass.  Your little self lucky I get a discount here, or you’d be in the hood where the real ones at.”

As Molly walks towards her car, a person catches her peripheral across the street.  She does a double take before recognizing the gentleman.  Erik in the plain daylight with a little Boxer puppy dog in his arm walking up the street, looking too good in his classic distressed jean jacket and shades.   Molly ducks on one side of her car to avoid being spotted.  She curses under her breath as she looks through windows to track his path.   Erik looks behind him for traffic before starting to cross the street, causing Molly to unlock her doors and fly in the backseat of her car to out Flavor Flav in his carrier.   Instead of going around the car to get into the passenger door, she tries climbing over the front seats to make for a smooth getaway.  Unfortunately, her elbow landed on the horn, causing a loud honk.

“Shit!”  Molly says with her eyes closed before peeking to see Erik peering at her in her car.

“Aye, Molly!”  Erik says, flipping his shades off, grinning like they were old friends seeing each other for the first time.

Molly straightens herself up in her seat and lets the window down.  “Hey, wassup?”  she asks.

Erik leans in with his puppy.  “Nothing much right now.  I didn’t know you had a dog.”  

Molly nods, bucking her eyes.  “Yup.  He’s pretty quiet, so I can see how you may have ignored him….”  Molly lets her statement linger, hoping the underlying message is louder.

Erik peers at Molly biting his lips to fight back a smile.  “I see.  Look, I got your text but I didn’t hit you back cuz I didn’t want to come off too...thirsty.  I mean, we had fun at the diner spot and your apartment, but I couldn’t gage your signals either.”

Molly thinks back on the vodka tonics she drank with the blunt she had via Erik’s stash and it may have messed with her judgment a little.  “No, it was fun...for me.  I didn’t want it to end but you pulled some psychology shit on me that had me second guessing.”

Erik’s puppy fights his hands to get to Molly, but Erik holds it close.  “Uh huh.  And I mean that shit.  I don’t wanna fuck you up with a good time cuz you timid acting all of a sudden.”

“That’s why I texted you soooo…I’m making an appointment...”  Molly says.

Erik looks at Molly a moment too long before looking away smiling.  “Aight.  That’s what I wanna hear.  For future reference ‘hey big head’ isn’t something I respond to so...”

Molly clutches her pearls looking fake hurt.  “J’accuse me of these things?  What is the meaning of this?”

Erik reaches for his pocket.  “I can give you physical evidence if that’s necessary.  Read receipt and all.”

Molly puts her hands up to block his phone.  “Nah, nah, nah.  It ain’t gotta be like that.  You good on any MLK boulevard out here.”

“Uh huh, that’s what I thought.  So, where to Moll?”  Erik puts his puppy down on the seat as it still bucks to fly towards Molly.

Molly shrugs, petting the dog a little as it licks her hand.  “I don’t know, you puttin me on the spot.  What’s his name by the way?”

“HER name is Missy, and she my main bitch, just so you know.  And there you go pussy-footin around.  You let me pick, it might be Waffle House with Kelli and Baku again if you playin.”

“No!  Hell no, anything but that!  Kelli is a damn mess, and with him they are walking porn flick waiting to happen.

“Oh, you know what, if you ain’t got no ideas, I actually just thought of something you might like.”  Erik says, picking Missy up.

Molly perks up in curiosity.  “Whatchu thinkin?”

Erik wags a finger.  “That ain’t the deal!  You wanna know where you goin, you pick.  Otherwise, I’ll tell you when we pullin up.”

Molly rolls her eyes.  “Now, you know you can’t pull that shit today.  I still don’t know you from shit else, so you gotta at least give me some hints.”

Erik thinks about it.  “I mean I promise I won’t kill you?  But if that ain’t enough, I’ll give you three guesses.  Use em wisely.”

Molly plays with her keys in thought.  “Is it a place of business?”

Erik half nods.  “Yeah, yeah it is.”

“Ok, is it a crowded place?”

Erik bites his lip, shaking his head.

“Oh my God, Erik, if you playing me with some innuendo shit-”

Now Erik was clutching his pearls, laughing.  “Come on!  I don’t always joke about sex with you!  Chill!  Now was that a question, cuz you got one left.”

“No, uh uh!  Ummm, should I eat before?  Oh, is it like casual or formal?”

Erik looks at her disapprovingly.  “Moll, that was like three questions, you better pick one with your indecisive ass.”

“Fine!  Should I eat before?”  Molly asks.

Erik chuckles.   “Hungry ass...you could, but not heavy I’d say, just in case.”

Molly squints at him before putting her keys in the ignition.  “Ok, Erik.  When you tryna do this?”

Erik backs up off the car.  “We doin this at 8pm tomorrow night.  Don’t need your heels either, dress comfy.”

“Ha!  You answered one of my other questions, bloop!  I’m working on this project for work though, so no overnight shit unfortunately.”

Erik and Missy start down the sidewalk.  “We’ll see.  You might enjoy it that much.”

--

Next day Molly gets dressed for another night with Erik.  She took a half day from work just because she could, and to get her entire body reupholstered for the evening.  As she put her face and wig together, Molly talks to Issa on speaker.

“Awww, so you and Flavor Flav and his dog could go on playdates!”  Issa squeals excitedly.

Molly clicks at Issa.  “You know Flavor Flav is like middle aged right?  He don’t wanna be associated with no high energy child.”

“Oh! Speaking of playdates, you down for the girls night right?”

Molly sets her face.  “Yes, it’s been a minute since we all been together for a tea time, and we all got little situations and shit.”  Molly cackles as she whips her wig on.

“We still whores in Tiffany’s eyes, just to keep up humble.  But I’m not ready to call T’Challa a situation.  We just made out and watched some shows until we started yawning.  Plus now his ex is dropping hints and I don’t want that smoke.”

Molly’s eyes widen.  “Oh shit, is she threatening you or something?”

“I mean, a little bit.  She said it in riddles, but it as pretty clear she want T’Challa to stay single.”  Issa mumbles.

Molly looks herself over in the mirror.  Some cute pastel pink cuffed short shorts, a breezy blouse with a nice mid-plunge back and a long necklace with a simple circle/triangle charm.  “Listen, I know they puttin money into We Got Y’all, but there is no reason for her to dig into your personal life.  She don’t even know you like that.”

Issa snaps her fingers.  “Yo, that’s right!  She don’t know me!  I should invite her to our girls night!”

Molly looks back at her phone in shock.  “Excuse me?”

“It would be perfect!  I haven’t gotten to know her yet, this way I could show her the real me and maybe even some more details on T’Challa.”

“You lookin to have a Real Housewives reunion is what you wanna do.  I don’t want alcohol soaked bundles bitch, quit playin.”  Molly says picking her phone up to make sure Issa heard it.

Issa shushes Molly.  “No!  We are co-workers, ain’t none of that goin down, we’ll be braiding each other hair by the end.  You just worry about where dude is taking you out.  I didn’t take you for the adventurous type.”

“Pssh, I’m not, trust me.  But that’s what I’m tryna do, live a little.  I keep my head in the books too much, I ain’t let loose in a minute.  He just better act right.”

“Watch him pull you up to McDonalds for the dollar menu, haha!”  Issa cackles.

“Tsk, bada ba ba BYE BITCH!”  Molly hangs up on Issa with love in her heart for her friend.  She was thinking the same thing, but she held faith this will at least be a good dick night if anything.

A few moments later, Erik texts her that he has arrived at her place.  Molly tries to hold back her approval of his wheels as she gets in.  “Hey, you’re on time.  I didn’t know if you were gonna test me again like ‘do you really want me to come over?’ type shit or not.”

Erik scratches behind his neck flexing.  “Hell nah, I got reservations girl!”

Pulling off, Molly looks over at Erik goofily.  “Ahh, reservations huh?  Good, I’m hungry as hell!”

Erik looks Molly down.  “Shit, where the hell it all go.  You always lookin for your next meal.”

Molly puts up a finger.  “I will suppress that shade you just thrown so we are clear!  My metabolism will not be shamed tonight, kind sir.  Continue your route, this will be considered in your review.”

“Oh, so now I’m Driving Miss Daisy?”  Erik smiles, light catching his gold fronts.

Molly stifles a laugh.  “If you wanna dig into old aunty references, yeah.  Let’s go Morgan!” she says with a handclap.

The drive out was so long that Molly almost fell asleep with the lull of the ride.  She stirs when she feels Erik’s hand on her leg.  “Aye, get up, we here.”

ERik undoes his seatbelt getting out.  Molly checks her mouth for drool real quick, smoothing her hair before he opens her door.  Taking his hand she looks around the airfield.

“Nigga, is this a airport?”  Molly asks confused.

Erik chuckles looking out in the distance.  “In a way.  It’s private, so you ain’t seeing no flights come through any time soon.”

Molly chokes back a gasp, pointing at something in the distance.  “Did you really set up a table over there?  With the candles and shit?”

Erik shrugs sneakily, as he walks her over to the spot.  Rose petals covered the tablecloth with shutes of champagne surround some chocolate covered strawberries.  “I told you I had a reservation.  The maintenance crew woulda lapped these up if I had been even a minute late.”

Erik takes a glass handing it over to Molly.  

Molly sips, picking up a strawberry.  “I mean, this just isn’t what I had in mind though.  You got me speechless with this.”

Erik bites his lip, gazing into Molly’s face.  “That’s fine, we ain’t gotta talk at all honestly.”

Molly almost chokes on her berry, sipping some more champagne.  “Slow down, I mean this is nice, but did you really bring me out here to just talk and eat fruit?”  Erik makes an O face, stepping back from Molly.  “It’s nice I said!  I’m just sayin though-”

“Ok, Ms. Annalise Keating!  You need somethin to shock your system, you ain’t said nothin but a word.  Let’s get high then.”  Erik takes Molly’s drink and sets it on the table.  

Molly shakes her head.  “Uh uh, I told you I got work, Erik!”  He wraps his arm around her waist as they walk, pointing ahead of them.  “You see that bird over there?”

Molly can’t help but notice the single engine plane in the middle of the tarmac.  “Oh shit…”

Erik starts laughing.  “You remember I told you I’m a pilot, right?  You bored and everything, let me show you the city from the sky, huh?”

Molly stutters feeling herself combust with sweat.  “Erik, I’m not too good with heights.”

Erik goes to open a door, unfolding a set of stairs.  “Once you get up in the sky, you won’t even be worried about it.  You been on a plane right?  Business meetings and alldat?”

“Yeah but-”

Erik reaches a hand out to Molly.  “I’m tryna bring a little more excitement in your damn life.  I don’t know what you been goin through, but I ain’t seen that air of confidence from when I first met you.  Trust me on this, I ain’t gonna let us down, I got you.”  Erik’s voice we barely above a whispers towards the end of his sentence, but Molly took a deep breath to hype herself up before walking towards him, placing her hand in his.

Getting into the second seat behind him, Erik helped to buckle her in properly, giving her knee a pat of reassurance as he closed the door.  Getting into the front, Molly watched Erik as he buckled himself in, flipping switches and pushing buttons.

Molly starts to get nervous again.  “How long have you been flying?”

“A little over ten years now.  Started when I was at the Academy, did a little in the Navy.”  Erik says, looking over his panel as the engine starts up.

Molly grips her seat, her voice quivering.  “Oh yeah, military, that’s great.  Land of the free, home of the brave.”

Erik looks over his shoulder.  “You gonna be alright, breathe for me.”

Molly breathes out roughly and erratically.  Looking at the tarmac illuminated by little lights gave her more anxiety as the plane began to move, circling the lanes.

“Ohhh my God, oh my God!”  Molly yells out.

“Yeah, we on our way, just a while longer, you can take it.”  Erik encourages her calmly.

“Wooo, no I canNOT!  It’s too tight in here, I need air!”  Molly exclaims.  

Erik pushes the acceleration, getting ready for lift off.  “You mess with any damn latches back there, I’m throwin your ass out myself.  Don’t fuck with my shit!”  Erik says authoritatively as they achieve lift off.  Molly still woots and hollers as her stomach dips between her legs.  Locking her thighs together, she sings praises to the Lord and Savior.

“See?  Ain’t so bad.  Look at the window, Moll.”  Erik says.

Molly exhales as her head stops spinning.  “We ain’t out the woods yet, nigga.  But damn…”  Molly’s voice is taken when she sees the city lights below her.  “Damn, it’s like the stars are under our feet….oh shit, my head spinning again.”  Molly takes a break closing her eyes.  

Erik laughs.  “We ain’t that high, you good.  It’s beautiful though, right?”

“Uh huh.  It really is.”  Molly says peaking cautiously.

“This my favorite place to be.  Up in the air, it’s the best view you can ever have.  And it’s peaceful and quiet….usually.”  Erik quips.

“Ok, you gotta give me credit for even getting in this thing.  I didn’t promise to be cute and silent about it.”

“No, you didn’t.  Got me there Ms. Keating, but I wouldn’t take it back for nothin.  I finally got some realness outta you, no primpin or posh actin shit.”

Molly chuckles, wiping her brow as the high of adrenaline courses through her, stimulating her senses.  “I ain’t never been a punk, remember that.  Now I am ready to get down.  Too much excitement and champagne.”

“Oh, you ready for the ground?”  Erik starts to descend too sharply, making Molly feel it in her stomach again.  

“Shit!  Easy!”  Molly screams out.  Erik had full control of the reactions of her body with the mess he kept trying to pull from the cockpit.

“Yeah, you felt that one, huh?”  Erik does an evil laugh as he descends properly onto the tarmac.  Once they land, Erik lets Molly out of the plane down the little set of steps, looking frazzled as expected.  

“Damn!  Look at you!  Lookin like you just went 12 rounds, girl!”  Erik takes his finger, swiping it across Molly’s collarbone to dramatically measure who sweat before wiping it on his pants.  Molly was so glad to finally be on the ground she practically lept into Erik’s arms, pulling him in for a tongue heavy kiss.  Erik groaned in surprise, but quickly went with the flow as his hands traveled her back, tripping back on the set of stairs behind him.  

Molly’s hands find his belt, unfastening it and his fly to gain access to his joystick.  “Damn, you that hard al-fuckin-ready?”  Molly has breathlessly as she undoes her shorts, pulling them down.  Erik looks at her entranced, pulling his pants down further, stroking himself as she gets undressed.  “Cuz I fuckin like you?  Damn, just bring yo ass.”

Molly straddles him on the stairs, stretching herself over him as she clutches his shoulder and one side of the plane for stability.  Erik grips Molly’s ass, willing her over him completely as he begins to work a rhythm with her.  Molly shrieks with pleasure.  “That’s it, gimme that big dick daddy long stroke!!”

Erik bites his lip as works his hips towards her, pummeling her walls in response.  “Don’t fuck up my tempo, ride this shit out til I’m done!”

Molly could barely take it but did her best as she began to slouch weakly from the pleasurable contractions breaking her down to squeeze around him.  Erik pulls Molly up by her neck to look him in his face as she came.  Molly finds some residual strength to work her hips with his, licking on his mouth pleading for him to cum.  Erik smacks her ass in retaliation, snarling and straining as his end drew near.  Erik popped out of Molly, pulling Molly up to him as he jacked himself off, spilling his seed over her ass cheeks, grunting viscerally as he finished.

Erik looks up at Molly, letting out a deep breath, looking very relaxed.  “Now that’s what the fuck I’m talkin bout Molly, shit!”

Molly felt all her walls coming down as her state of arousal hangs heavy like a fog.  In a haze of bliss, Molly plays in his locs.  “I know what you mean.  You fucked the brokeness out my pussy real quick.”

Erik screws his face up.  “The hell you talkin bout?  Pussy broke?”

Molly shakes her head, trying not to ruin the moment with her and Issa’s inside joke.  “I mean, you broke this pussy up, baby!  Damn!”

Erik laughs, stroking her face.  “You still hungry?”

Part 7

Masterlist

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[taexual]

GOT7 / Your best friend is another member

REQUEST: Got7 reaction to their s/o being best friends with another member if you haven’t done it already?

a/n: i’m not sure if this is exactly what you requested but i hope you enjoy!

Mark

Your best friend Jackson was actually the reason you met Mark in the first place. You were at Jackson’s birthday party when you saw Mark and, of course, you mentioned to Jackson that you thought his friend was cute.

“Which friend?” Jackson asked. He was even louder when he was intoxicated. “Mark? Because he’s single! Mark! Buddy, come here!”

By that point, you were already covering your face with your hands in embarrassment as Jackson pulled a very confused Mark towards you, basically forcing you two to participate in an awkward blind date right in the middle of Jackson’s birthday party. It worked out for the better, though, and you actually ended up finding out that you and Mark had a lot in common – you two mostly bonded over embarrassing stories about Jackson, which left you both laughing until you cried – and the two of you decided to stay in touch.

As soon as Jackson found out you and Mark had started to date, he changed the name of his contact on both of your phones to “LOVE GURU” and proceeded to remind you both that you and Mark were together thanks to him.

“I love you, Y/n,” Mark said after Jackson burst into his dorm room, interrupting the quiet night in you and Mark were planning to have. “But sometimes I truly regret the circumstances under which you and I met.”

You laughed. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

“I don’t,” Jackson, the loyal third-wheel, jumped on Mark’s bed, settling down between you two. “What are you lovebirds watching? I want to join.”

“You’re not invited, Jackson,” Mark said.

“And you’re no longer at the top of my best friends list,” Jackson shot back before turning to look at you. “It’s Y/n up there now. You wouldn’t kick me out, would you? Not after I made you and Mark happen.”

“You’re actually the worst,” you told him, sighing and then giving Mark an apologetic look. “I can’t kick him out.”

Mark groaned as Jackson happily cuddled into you both. “I swear sometimes it feels like we’re dating him, too.”

JB

Jaebum never had a problem with any of your friends, male or not. He soon realized that he only thought so because he’s never actually seen you interact with any of your male friends when Jaebum was in the room, too. But now, as he watched you and Jinyoung endlessly laugh about something, he couldn’t help but feel a little irritated.

“Hey,” Jaebum said, announcing his presence and giving you a kiss on the cheek. “What are you two talking about?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t get it,” Jinyoung answered instead of you. Much to Jaebum’s surprise, you nodded in agreement, starting to laugh as soon as your eyes met Jinyoung’s again.

Jaebum gritted his teeth. “Try me.”

“It’s a long story,” you told him with a small smile and Jaebum felt himself relax slightly as soon as you looked at him. “Jinyoung and I were just talking about the old days.”

“Old days, huh?” Jaebum asked, realizing how little he knew about your friendship. “So, uh, you two go way back?”

You and Jinyoung exchanged another glance, both trying to count how long you’ve known each other.

“Not really,” you finally said. “I’d say three or four years at most. We know each other longer but he totally started to ignore me after JJ Project started.”

“I did not!” Jinyoung gasped, almost offended. “I was just busy.”

“Right and when I ran into you backstage that one time, and you didn’t say hi to me was also because you were busy,” you said, smiling gently to make up for your aggressive tone.

“I-I was—I don’t remember that,” Jinyoung stuttered, glancing at Jaebum. “Let’s talk about something else. Jaebum! How are you, man?”

“I’m great,” Jaebum said dryly, his thoughts too busy trying to digest the fact that you and Jinyoung had lots of history. He couldn’t do anything about that. “I’m going to get a drink, okay? Do you want anything?”

“No, thank you,” you said, giving him another smile, and, once he stood up to walk towards the kitchen, calling out, “I love you!” just to remind him.

Jaebum softened immediately. Okay, so you and Jinyoung had history. So, you were friends. Your heart was still very much with Jaebum.

Jackson

Actually, Jackson didn’t even know you and Youngjae were friends until he asked you to meet him in the foyer of the JYP building so you could head to your date from there. He ended up running a little late and, when he finally came to find you, he saw you laughing with Youngjae on one of the leather settees in the waiting area.

“Hey,” he said to you, glad to see you getting along with his friends. “I see you’ve gotten acquainted.”

“Acquainted?” Youngjae asked, watching Jackson kiss you hello. “We’ve known each other for a while now.”

“What?” Jackson pulled away from you, surprised. “Really? You never told me.”

“I didn’t think I was supposed to,” you said simply. “And I figured you already knew anyway. You asked me who I was texting one night, and I told you that it was Youngjae.”

Jackson seemed to hear this for the first time. Both you and Youngjae laughed at this.

“You work too much, it screws with your memory,” Youngjae told him, patting him on the shoulder. “I’m going to head out now. Have a great night, you two. Be a gentleman, Jackson!”

You gave Youngjae a quick hug and watched him leave before turning to look at Jackson who still looked very confused.

“You okay?” you asked him. “Should we go or..?”

Jackson’s eyes moved to yours as he broke off from the trance. “No, no, yeah, let’s go.”

He kept his arm around your waist as you headed out of the building and towards the restaurant down the street. It was a nice day and both of you had already agreed to just walk there instead of taking the car.

“So, uh…” Jackson started, his mind still on your friendship with Youngjae. “Do you and Youngjae text a lot?”

“Well, not a lot,” you replied, shrugging your shoulders. “We text a normal amount.”

“Uh-huh. And that ‘normal’ amount… is that more than you and I text?”

This sounded weird, so you turned to look at him, only to find him watching the pavement instead of looking at you. He was also biting his lip nervously.

“You’re jealous,” you concluded.

Gasping as if you had just cursed his ancestors, Jackson grabbed his chest with his free hand. “I am not!”

“You are,” you told him, smiling at his dramatic reaction. “You have nothing to be jealous of, Jackson. Seriously.”

“I’m not—I just…” he sighed, bringing your body closer to his as the two of you continued to walk. “I like knowing that you love me most of all.”

Jinyoung

Jinyoung bothered Yugyeom for weeks after he saw you talk to him backstage at one of their events. The members had all brought friends and family members and yet, despite lots of people being there, Jinyoung’s eyes were still on you the whole time. Not knowing if you were just Yugyeom’s friend or if he was dating you, he didn’t dare to approach you, but as soon as he found out that Yugyeom and you were not in a relationship, Jinyoung needed to get to know you.

Yugyeom, however, already having seen you cry over a fair share of bad boyfriends, didn’t give in that easily and made Jinyoung really work for it before he finally introduced you to each other. And even when you and Jinyoung started to date – and both admitted to Yugyeom how promising this new relationship seemed – Yugyeom was still cautious.

“Jinyoung, have you called Y/n today?” he’d ask the older member every chance he got.

“I have, Yugyeom,” Jinyoung would always reply. “I was about to send a text, too.”

“Well… just don’t forget to take breaks from each other, too.”

Giving Yugyeom a look, Jinyoung didn’t say anything else but got up to leave the room and give you a call.

“Am I too much?” he asked as soon as the call connected, not even giving you a chance to properly answer the phone.

“I—what? Why are you asking that?” you said, confused.

Jinyoung tried to find how to explain it better but then ended up sighing. “It’s Yugyeom. He’s asking me all of these questions and I started to think that maybe you said something to him…”

“Yugyeom?” you repeated. “I did say something to him. I told him to stop being so over-the-top and just leave you alone. He said he would.”

Jinyoung snickered. “Yeah, well. Yugyeom’s a real friend. I understand that he’s looking out for you but it can really make me feel inadequate sometimes.”

“I’m sorry,” you said, somehow feeling guilty. “Yugyeom always insisted to watch out for me like a brother and I guess that’s what he’s doing. Please just endure him somehow and remember that I love you.”

Hearing a knock on the door of the room, Jinyoung took a deep breath. “I love you, too, Y/n. I have to go now, someone’s knocking on the door. It’s probably Yugyeom coming to warn me to give you space.”

“Jesus,” you groaned, shaking your head. “Tell him I’ll kick his ass if he won’t give you a break, that should do it.”

Youngjae

Youngjae was actually fine with the fact that Jaebum was your best friend. That just meant that he didn’t have to worry about his friends liking his girlfriend, especially Jaebum who could seem very intimidating if he wanted to. However, Youngjae was still slightly insecure. You were just starting your relationship and he didn’t want to feel overshadowed by Jaebum, since you knew him longer.

“How did you even befriend him?” Youngjae asked you once when the two of you were having a night in at your place, eating pizza and watching movies.

“Who? Jaebum?” you asked. Youngjae nodded. “I don’t remember. I’ve known about him for a while but I don’t really remember how we became friends. I’m pretty sure he scolded me about something one time and I really hated him for a while.”

Youngjae seemed surprised to hear this. “And now you’re friends?”

“Yeah, we got even. I yelled back at him after a while,” you shrugged your shoulders and then realized. “Oh, actually, that could be how we became friends. He told me he wasn’t really used to people yelling at him and I felt really special.”

“Huh,” he thought about it. “So, you two are very close?”

“Kind of, yeah,” you nodded.

“Do you tell him everything?”

“Well, not everything but—hey, why are you asking me all of this?” you asked suddenly. “Is something wrong?”

“No! No, not at all,” he shook his head immediately, waving his hand to dismiss your worries. “I was just… I don’t know, I wanted to know more about my competition.”

“Your—” you swallowed your piece of pizza before continuing. “Your competition? Jaebum is not your competition, Jae.”

“Okay, maybe that’s not the right word,” Youngjae tried to think of a better way to explain himself for a moment. “You’ve known Jaebum for a while. You’re close to him. And I’m… I’m new. In your life, I mean. You don’t know me that well yet.”

“But I’m trying to get to know you,” you said, softening. “I really like you, Youngjae. You’re so positive and laid-back, I couldn’t find a way to compare you to Jaebum if I tried. And, besides, I’ve never thought about Jaebum in the way I think about you.”

Youngjae chuckled, suddenly too flustered to keep looking at you.

“Okay,” he said, unable to stop smiling. Your words were all it took for him to calm down. “Thank you.”

BamBam

BamBam, always wanting to be your “one and only” actually struggled to accept the fact that you’ve known Mark for ages and had a special friendship with him. Even unconsciously, BamBam found himself making sure you spent more time with him than you did with Mark.

“Okay, so we’re going for dinner at that fancy place in Gangnam on the seventeenth and then we—”

“Wait,” you interrupted BamBam as he walked into the room, reading the schedule from his phone. “On the seventeenth? I thought I told you Mark and I had plans for that day, we were supposed to meet up with some of our old friends.”

“Oh, I probably forgot about that,” he said without missing a beat. “Well, I already made a reservation. Can you reschedule?”

You sighed. “It’ll probably be the tenth time I’m canceling my plans with Mark in the past few months.”

“Why do you want to spend so much time with him anyway?” BamBam asked, sitting down on the chair opposite you.

“What do you mean?” you gave him a weird look. “Mark is my best friend.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m your boyfriend.”

“Yes. And I’m with you almost 24/7,” you said. “Look, is there… do you not like it when I hang out with Mark?”

“No, not at all,” BamBam lied, too stubborn to admit that he was being irrationally jealous. “I just feel like you should be spending more time with your boyfriend than with your best friend.”

“But I am,” you replied. “I’m barely ever without you.”

“You want to be without me?”

“No, I didn’t say that,” you replied.

“But that’s what it sounded like,” BamBam pushed. “You don’t love me?”

“Bam—”

“Is your friendship with Mark replacing me?”

“Bam, seriously,” you said in a stern voice. “I love you but I really wonder why sometimes. You’re unbearable. Confirm that reservation for the seventeenth but make sure they add extra seats at our table. Mark is coming with us.”

“What?” BamBam frowned, clearly not supporting this decision. “Why?”

“Because he’s both of our friend,” you replied. “And I’d rather you hate my friendship with Mark in the presence of Mark so all three of us can talk about it. Like adults.”

“I am an adult,” BamBam huffed, rolling his eyes. “I just don’t like it when you hang out with other guys, whoever they are.”

Yugyeom

At first, you were just friends with BamBam, but ever since he met Yugyeom, your duo turned into a trio. You liked Yugyeom, he was a great friend, but you looked at him a little differently than you looked at BamBam. However, because the three of you became such good friends, you didn’t dare to risk confessing to Yugyeom in case it would lead to a falling-out. That was the last thing you wanted and yet, one night, you drunkenly admitted to BamBam that you never really saw Yugyeom as “just a friend.”

BamBam, almost equally as drunk, didn’t even understand what you meant at first, but after you repeated yourself another three times, he finally got the point and immediately proceeded to let Yugyeom know about this.

BamBam was not a great typer when he was drunk and his attempt to set you and Yugyeom up on a date via a text message, ended with a very disappointed Yugyeom arriving at the bar to take you both home.

“First of all, I’m deeply saddened that you two went drinking without me,” Yugyeom said as the three of you waited for a taxi in the parking lot because, apparently, Yugyeom couldn’t leave you unsupervised. “Second of all, Bam, please don’t ever text me cryptic stuff like that again.”

“What cryptic stuff?” BamBam asked, struggling to stand without losing his balance. “All I told you was that Y/n had a crush on you, that’s all.”

“BamBam!” you exclaimed, still too intoxicated to understand the seriousness of what he said, but not intoxicated enough to not realize that he just said something he shouldn’t have.

“S-she has a—um… that’s not what your text said,” Yugyeom stammered, unsure where to look. “I thought you two were dead in a ditch or something, I didn’t think—I thought—oh, the taxi!”

Sure enough, a taxi pulled up into the parking lot, stopping in front of you right away since you three were the only people outside of the bar.

“Get in,” Yugyeom said to BamBam. “You’re sleeping the whole day tomorrow, you hear me? You need to sleep this off.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” BamBam replied, trying to do the military salute as he got into the cab but then hitting his head on the roof of the car and squealing in pain.

“Y/n,” Yugyeom turned to look at you, completely ignoring BamBam’s whining. “You need to—”

“Sleep the whole day until I’m sober again, I know,” you cut him off, walking past him to enter the cab, too, but Yugyeom stopped you, grabbing your hand.

You turned to look at him surprised.

“Y-you can’t sleep the whole day,” he told you.

“W-what? Why not?” you asked, still confused as Yugyeom let go of your hand, finally allowing you to get into the cab.

He held a hand over the edge of the roof so you wouldn’t hit your head too and gave you a shy smile. “Because we’re going on a date tomorrow night.”

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