#sit back and do nothing while his husband & step kid r fighting for their fucking lives
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kakyoin would probably be holding back tears meeting emporio because heâs the same age as jouta & considering he sends jouta to morioh so he doesnât have to be in the middle of all the chaos & u know . see jotaro like that . he would just have a lot of feelings
#/ tbd#p6 verse just makes me really fucking sad like even with my superior rewrite thereâs still so much heartbreak#like kak understands that he could very well die trying to save jotaro & help jolyne & the others & heâs willing to make that sacrifice#bc he knows jotaro would do it for him but also he just doesnât want their family to be even more torn apart like he could KNOT just#sit back and do nothing while his husband & step kid r fighting for their fucking lives#but he literally tells josuke & okuyasu before sending jouta to them like âhey btw . i have arranged for u to adopt my son#if smth happens & both my husband & i die â¤ď¸â#& obv he doesnât tell jouta that but heâs like 10 so he knows smth is going on & kak knows he knows bc heâs not his usual carefree self#like heâs just really serious & sad all of a sudden dawg it makes me UPSET to think about jouta should not be like that#heâs supposed to be chaotic & happy & full of energy đ
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Time for Change â Part One
Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader
Warning: None
Words: 1,193
Notes: Not based on Cillianâs life. This is fiction guys!Â

The spring weather had finally kicked in and you celebrated the warmth of the day with a floral dress. Though modest, the dress was more revealing than he'd see your wear before. Sitting mid-thigh, it had thin adjustable straps and a low cut and ruffled neckline. Your body was curvy, but strong; soft in the right places, and filled out that dress like no-one else could. The gentle breeze played at the dress' hem as you walked, showing glimpses of your smooth tanned upper leg. Your hair was long and fell is soft waves down your back and framed your face. Â
Cillian admired your body and the way the dress moved with you as you approached him even though he knew that he shouldnât have. He was married to your step-sister and he shouldnât be looking at you like this. It wasnât right.
âCillian, how are you?â you asked as he welcomed you in with a hug and kiss on the cheek as usual. But he let his hand linger on your lower back just a fraction longer than he probably should have and, as he pulled away he wondered if you noticed.
âHey, uhm, come in and thank you again for teaching the kidsâ Cillian said and your face gave nothing away and he moved towards the kitchen to make a coffee.
âIs Danielle not home?â you asked surprised, not seeing any sign of her. You werenât particularly close and didnât talk much but, usually, she was at home when you came around for the boysâ piano lessons. Being a music teacher had its advantages and you were always willing and eager to teach your friendsâ and familyâs children for free. Cillian and Danielleâs children were no different and, in your opinion, they were immensely talented and you adored spending time with them.
âShe is staying with her mother for a whileâ Cillian huffed out before offering you a cup of coffee which you gladly accepted. You never met Danielleâs mother, although you shared the same father.
You dropped your bag by the front door and followed him. He could feel your eyes on his back and he wondered what you were thinking when he told you that his wife had walked out on him for second time within the past four months.
âShe just left you, again, without the boys? Why would she?â you asked surprised, wanting to know how to handle their lessons. They were only 10 and 12 years old and you were somewhat concerned about the current circumstances.
âWell, as usual, she left without any sort of explanationâ Cillian said rather frustrated.
âFuck Cillian, I am sorryâ you said, looking around for a second to make sure that his boys didnât hear you.
Sitting in your usual seat at the counter you talked while he made your coffee, checking in and updating each other on your somewhat troubled lives.
As you sat on the stool chatting about your marriage troubles with your husband James, you leaned slightly forward offering him a perfect view of your ample cleavage, causing Cillian to blush.
âI suppose life has itâs challenges, huh?â you eventually chuckled and your soft laugh brought him back but the look in your slightly narrowed eyes was, for once, unreadable. He realised then that you had asked him a question, but he'd been so caught up in his musings that he hadn't noticed. But you'd definitely noticed him staring at your breasts.
âUhm yes, it doesâ Cillian eventually responded and you sat up straight and you both ignored his lapse. He gave your your cup, and without warning or invitation you took your coffee to the lounge room. He followed you. You sat on the large couch next to the piano, tucking your legs underneath yourself as you sat. Your dress falling a little to one side, he again caught just a glimpse of your upper thigh.
"So, this is my plan for the boys, what do you think?â you asked.
âPretty impressive. You should teach my how to play thisâ Cillian chuckled and you couldnât help but laugh.
âYour piano skills are much better than you lead on Cillian. Iâve heard you play at Danielleâs birthday last yearâ you said, which was shortly after you moved to Dublin after having spent the past ten years in America with your husband. Â
The reasons you sought to return to Ireland were your husbandâs numerous indiscretions when working at a large corporation in New York. He had one affair after another until you had enough and requested a transfer back to Dublin, forcing him to break it off with his secretary.
You knew you shouldnât have forgiven him, but you did it for your daughter who you had adopted six years ago, giving her the best life possible. An intact home, close to family.
But, what you hadnât told anyone was that, two days ago, the last straw had been drawn when your husband informed you that he had to return to New York for two weeks to attend a business conference, a conference which you found out didnât even exist. Â
Cillianâs situation wasnât much better than yours. Danielle and him had broken up on numerous occasions throughout the past two years and he thought that, by staying with her, he was doing the right thing. But this was no longer sustainable and he found himself conflicted about what he wants in life.
As your conversation about music and playing the piano flowed, you occasionally touched his arm. It was your innocent way of connecting with him, of showing him you were there. You meant nothing by it, but today your touch sent electricity through him, into his core and he had to use everything he had to resist reaching out for you.
Luckily for him, within less than five minutes, his sons arrived in the living room, ready for their lessons and Cillian got up and left you to it.
***
After about an hour, when you were ready to leave, Cillian thanked you for coming over and, again, you gently touched his arm.
âYou are welcomeâ you said with a warm smile, causing him to take in a deep breath.
âI hope Danielle is back soonâ you then said before continuing. âBut, in case that she isnât, do you want me to come over and cook you and the boys dinner tomorrow? James is in New York and I get a bit lonely at homeâ you asked politely.
âThe boys are going to camp for three nights with the local football clubâ Cillian then said and you nodded before, after a small pause, asking him whether he would like to come over to your house for dinner by himself then.
âUhm, I am not sure if that would be appropriateâ Cillian then said, already struggling being around you. The small touches and gestures were almost too much for him especially since, the last time him and Danielle were intimate, was six months ago and theyâve been doing nothing but fighting ever since.
âItâs just dinner Cillyâ you reassured him and he reluctantly agreed.
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Sacrifice you for nothing
Tubbo and Ranboo get a history lesson
title from Ainât No Crying by Derivakat
"Damn" Tubbo says, staring up at the ceiling. "That chandelier really is fighting you every step of the way, huh?"
"And it's winning" Ranboo adds.
Foolish, hanging from the ceiling as he fixes the corner piece, glares down at him. "It is not winning" he hisses "I won't let it win." That declaration would have been a lot more solid had he not squeaked as the chandelier rocked dangerously.
If that fell and broke he would actually lose it.
Tubbo has no mercy for him. "You must hate that chandelier right now" he mocks "must be your least favourite thing in the world."
 "Nah" Foolish grips a small chunk of gold carefully in his teeth to avoid breaking it "that would be cults" he mumbles. There's a brief bit of quiet below and then;
 "Oh yeah, I heard that the Eggpire wrecked your buildings or something."
 Chandelier finally fixed (for now) Foolish drops to the floor, a fall that would have shattered anyone elses ankles but just leaves him slightly winded. "Nah" he says "I've run into cults before; one's way worse than this one."
 "Worse?!" Ranboo exclaims "worse than the parasitic chicken embryo?!"
 "Far worse" Foolish confirms body language completely relaxed despite such a dark topic
 (but outside the seas begin to froth and bubbles, rapids forming and pushing and pulling, crashing against teeth sharp rocks and punching away at the cliffs surrounding it.)
 "they seem to keep popping up wherever I go. I-
 (hate them hates them with everything he is and everything he is supposed to be divine blood in his body but he can't save them can't protect everyone can't heal everything some things can't be reversed)
 "really don't like them. They suck."
(I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm so so sorry, I can take your broken pieces and stitch them back, back together and it won't be the same but it will be similar and that is all I can give you)
 (the totem in Ranboo's back pocket begins to burn)
 "I'll say" Tubbo agrees, then, with childlike curiosity and teenage macabre "which one would would you say is the worst?"
 Foolish falls still.
(the sea falls still. the totems stop burning.)
 (it is somehow worse)
 "Probably the one made for me" he says at last.
 The story goes like this; there's a village that prays to him daily. It's not that uncommon really; he's the God of the Ocean and the Undead. People pray to him for safe passage on the seas or to help them find a totem.
 But the people in this village are- to put it bluntly- really fucking annoying.
 It's not uncommon for people without totems to pray to him for hours on end, begging him to revive their loved ones, but these guys have turned it into an art form, any and all hours of the day, banging around in his head.
 And when words don't work, they turn to physical ways to show their devotion to their God.Â
 Silly little mortals, trying to gain his favour with dead animals and trinkets, trying to gain his favour. He already gave them a way to cheat death, all they have to do is grab a totem. Why do they want another?
 They have all they need to survive. He painstakingly carved those totems. He will not give too much of himself.
 (lord foolish please my mother is gone i want her back lord foolish you can bring my husband back lord foolish fix this fix her i know you can)
 So he ignores the animal sacrifices and the pretty trinkets offered to him in exchange for reviving a daughter, a son, a wife, a husband. He cannot revive the long dead, he learned that a long time ago.
 The only real bearable one in the village is the child, and he doesn't even think the child knows what he is the God of, really, which is odd considering the inordinate amount of statues in the town. Whenever the child prays to Foolish, it's never about a dead loved one or the sea, it's always about what the child did that day. Foolish feels more like a diary than a God in those moments.
 And at least that's interesting
 (mister foolish i learned how to spell flower the other day f-l-o-u-u-e-r mister foolish i saw a dead cat on the side of the road the other day)
 (mister foolish are you ever lonely)
 The humans grow more and more frustrated with his complete and utter radio silence, and while he's out their festivals to him grow more and more complex, the animals growing bigger, rarer, more impressive.
 (i offer you this ender dragon egg this elytra this nether star this emerald ore this music disc)
 He's not gonna lie; the person who built that beautiful cottage had him for a solid minute.
 But he's not really paying attention to any of that; he's not the only God to have festivals and sacrifices in his name. Definitely not gonna be the last.
 (what do we have to do to bring back our loved ones?)
 He's just happy to build.
 Bargaining is a stage of grief, but so is acceptance, and they must learn to accept this.
 (except their not accepting it, the town is just growing angrier, more desperate, going bigger and bigger, hunting animals around them to extinction.)
 The first time they kill a human, he's pretty sure it's an accident. An old man, long past his time, probably just died from shock or disease.
 They put his body on the altar and offer him up to him, not to revive but as a sacrifice. He arrives, cloaked in illusions as thick as the fog around the town. He still sees Death though, watching sedately from where she's sitting on the wall, her angel beside her.
 They're gone in the next moment.
 The town never buries the old man, keeps him on the altar, and, after three days, Foolish takes him, takes him far away to an old field and buries him there.
 (the leader of the town finds the missing body and smiles. their god has accepted their gift)
 He hopes it's a one time thing
 (because what did they do to that man how could they these humans these ants small and painfully easy to kill but flocking together working together how could they turn on one of their own)
 (because what would he do then?)
 (after the man disappears from the altar, the child prays to him again, telling him the man's name, and how he once stopped the child from getting a rash from poisonous flowers. he liked violets the child tells him)
 (maybe the child really does know what he's the god of. maybe the child's just lonely.)
 He doesn't know what exactly triggered it. Maybe they saw the child trying to make conversation with a God instead of praying to one. Maybe the child, in the way all children are, said something controversial, maybe about the man who was left on the altar to rot.
 Maybe, maybe, maybe.
 He isn't there when the child is dragged out onto the streets, and dumped at the feet of the altar in front of the whole town, trembling and shaking. And the child is a child but is no fool, has seen the sacrifices has seen what has happened, and does what any scared child will do-try to run.
 And at the same time the child tried to back away, the leader swung his sword, and the whole town watched as the child screamed, eyes bloodied and slashed from the blade.Â
 (he had been aiming for the neck)
 (not a fighter, that leader)
 "A life for a life!" The leader exclaimed and swung again.
 (the child collapsed on the floor and the crowd pressed in, eager to watch as they choked and gagged on the blood spilling out of their torn open throat, arms scrabbling into the ground like a beetle like a cockroach like an ant whose colony had turned on it)
 And- and then-
 And at the same time the child tried to back away and the leader swung his sword, the child had had one last panicked, desperate thought.
 (mister foolish, they're gonna kill me)
 And at the same time-
 And at the same time the leader slit the child's throat, a golden clawed hand grabbed him by his.
 "So yeah" Foolish says. "Cults are, like, the worst."
 Ranboo and Tubbo continue to stare at him. "Uh" Ranboo says, then promptly stops talking.
 "Did you . . kill them?"Â
 He nods, bouncing on his feet a little. "Yeah" he smiles "good times."
 The two teenagers both look like they don't know what to do with that.
 "Well, at least they deserved it" Tubbo offers up attentively, and Ranboo nods
 "Can't believe they executed a child. Nobody deserves to die like that" Ranboo mutters and Tubbo winces beside him.
 "Y-yeah" Tubbo agrees nervously, twining his hands together "that poor kid. Hope it was peaceful."
 Foolish blinks at them. "Wait, what?" Then he replays their entire conversation and laughs.
 "Laughing at a kid's death" Ranboo notes, before turning to Tubbo "why are we letting him near Michael again."
 "No, no" Foolish waves his hands "you misunderstood me; the child didn't die."
 "You guys do remember I'm the God of Undying, right?" He raises an eyebrow at them both. "I healed the kid's neck wound right up." Ranboo just blinks at him in that slightly unsettling way that only an enderman can do.
 "I thought you didn't revive people personally."
 Foolish glances outside, past the both of them. "This was different" he says "this was-"
 (my fault my fault i turned a blind eye i could have stopped this sooner you choked and gagged and cried out for anyone to save you but in the end the motivation for your murder had to step in.)
 "-an exception."
 "Good for you!" Tubbo cheers, shooting his hands in the air vehemently "the whole stinking town is gone and you and the child lived!"
 Foolish makes a noise in the back of his throat. "Except the other towns had heard about the towns rituals. And it began to spread."
 Tubbo's hands drop. "Oh."
 "Yeah" he agrees "oh. But the worst part was the damage done to the child."
 "Let me guess" Ranboo says, dry as Egypt. "Traumatised?"
 "To put it mildly."
 (the child had turned blind eyes towards him, and when he had reached out to grasp the pudgy hand it had recoiled, the small body curling up away from him and he had burned)
 (the child hadn't seen or felt the tsunami that destroyed the entire town. but the screams- they had ears)
 "But uh" he shifts awkwardly from foot to foot "not just that. I'm the God of Undying, so I can heal other's mortal injuries."
 A long pause.
 "Their mortal injuries" he repeats.
 "Oh!" Tubbo jerks back "oh God! The child's eyes-"
 "I healed them" he says, then winces "tried to heal them" he corrects. Better. "But uh, because they weren't fatal they weren't exactly, uh, restored."
 (the mirror is broken and the cracks will show even when it's put back together and you'll never see the same way again my fault my fault i'm sorry i'm so so so sorry)
(this is all i can give you i am so sorry only child lonely child i cant take all you pain away but i promise you here and now you will be lonely no more)
"Damn." The closest Ranboo will ever get to a swear.
 "It gets worse" Foolish chirps "the other towns found out that a child had been blessed by the Totem God himself. Were very interested in what exactly this child could do."
 A long pause.
 Then. "Cults" Ranboo says faintly.
 "Cults" Foolish agrees cheerfully, thinking of a child screaming in agony with bloodstained eyes and a gashed throat as others looked on, indifferent.
 Cults Foolish thinks grimly as that same child is dragged up to be executed by the Eggpire.
#dream smp#c!tubbo#tubbo#ranboo#c!ranboo#foolish gamers#c!foolish#mumza#philza#like#it's not explicitly said but it's implied#eggpire#eret#c!eret#dsmp fanfic#dsmp fic#dream smp fic
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the ultimate wandavision Ralph Bohner theory:
ok guys, one other thing i realized last night while rewatching the halloween ep, is about the part when âuncle Pâ is playing with the twins and wanda and vision were having a ânot fightingâ with eachother.
and iâm gonna explain with various supporting shit why he is, indeed, pietro âpeterâ maximoff.
so sit tight.
going back to the reason they were fighting: Vision had pulled an off-script move. he was doing something wanda had no idea about, âhe wasnât supposed toâ not be with them for the night.
i t w a s o f f - s c r i p t.Â
and many MANY people have pointed out how âuncle Pâ unlike anyone else, looked awkwardly at billy and into the camera, given how he shouldnât have, considering the type of sitcom that episode was.Â
but i havenât seen anyone say whyyyy he stepped up to take the kids OFF-SCRIPT!! wanda didnât want it. it wasnât wandaâs story, and even after he came up and suggested it and vision agreed with him, wanda still didnât want it.Â
it wasnât wandaâs decision or her story. it was off-script.
and that. wasnât. fucking. all!
nobody, NOBODY in the town eveeerrrrr did anything unless it was what wanda wanted them to do, or asking for âdirectionâ (like when herb, asked wanda if she wanted anything changed). EVER. (the only ones who did were, agatha, who is, well, agatha, vision, who is again, vision,the twins, that ONCE AGAIN, were the twins, monica, and dottie i guess, which were during the points of wanda being more vulnerable/caught off guard moments, and not just randomly and muuultiple times) and that was the whole fucking point. she was controlling them.Â
BUTÂ âUNCLE Pâ DROPPED THEÂ âITâS NOT LIKE YOUR DEAD HUSBAND CAN DIE TWICEâ LINE!!!!!!!!
what the fuck. he wasnât aaaaaaaaaaaaaat all supposed to say that. at all.
not a questioning and shocked shit like dottie, or an out-of-place question like monica, not being controlled and suddenly because of wanda being unstable coming to his senses for a moment, it was a witty and off-script comment, like he had been playing along for the whole episode. just playing along and being himself.
and that is fucking why wanda told the twins that âheâs not your uncleâ and the whole âdonât believe anything that man saysâ thing. because it was a wtf thing to her as well. she couldnât control him. and she felt like he was her brother. and that was an absolute off-script and wtf thing for the person that had been directing the perfect sitcom world of the century with nothing slipping her hand. she reorganized everything, everyday as she wanted, and then this happened.Â
thatâs why âdonât believe anything that man says â. she is supposed to be able to control anything that anyone says, right? UNLESS HE, TOO, ISNâT JUST A RANDOM PERSON, but is just as powerfull as agatha, vision, monica (after getting her powers) and the twins.Â
this is it. i am never, ever, believing anything on him being âralph BOHNERâ, he is obviously peter and those liars can go fuck themselves.
#peter maximoff#wandavision#wanda maximoff#agatha harkness#vision#quicksilver#pietro maximoff#evan peters#mcu#tell me i'm wrong and i will spray you with water#this is it. this is fucking it
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Never Gonna Be Alone- Chapter 19
Title: Control
Warnings: profanity
Tagging: @innerpaperexpertcloud, @tragiclyhip, @miss-smutty, @c-a-v-a-l-r-y, @alievans007â
âWhat the fuck is she doing here?â
They converse in harsh whispers as they seek refuge in the pantry. Using the excuse of wanting to prepare food and drink for their unwanted and unwelcome guests and then leaving them in the living room. Theyâve been bickering back and forth for half an hour; arguing about the Sargeâs appreciation and approval of chosen furniture and decor and Michelleâs distaste of the âmix mashâ of colours and themes on the Christmas tree. Her voice is enough to drive Tyler over the edge. The way it picks up in both pitch and volume when sheâs vehemently defending even the most pointless or ridiculous of things, the Midwestern twang that becomes stronger and more noticeable the more annoyed she becomes, the constant tinge of self righteousness and condescension. Sheâs the classic narcissistic; infamous for her staggering gift of gaslighting and her ability to make herself seem like the victim despite being the quintessential bully and walking definition of âmommy dearestâ. Through the five years theyâd spent in Colorado, heâd tried his best to âmend fencesâ; extending the olive branch a handful of times in hopes of helping to both repair the relationship between mother and daughter, and create a bond between Michelle and her grandchildren.
They HAD reached a somewhat peaceful agreement; sheâd attempt to tone down her hatred towards him and at least try and treat her daughter like a fully functioning adult instead of a hopeless, hapless child. But it had lasted all of three weeks; his involvement with Michael McMann and the subsequent threats against his family only caused the womanâs spite and hatred for him to grow. After that, sheâd vowed to never forgive him for putting her daughter and grandkids in danger, and double downed on her belief that he âstoleâ Esme away and somehow bullied and intimidated her into not only marrying him and giving him children, but returning to Australia. She refused to accept any responsibility for either her daughterâs struggles with mental illness or her horrible self esteem, and placed the blame solely on Esmeâs shoulders; calling her weak and pathetic and insisting that she had married a horrifically abusive man and was simply too scared to leave him. He WAS a mercenary after all; he brutalized and killed people for a living. He was an alcoholic and drug addict; his brain unstable and volatile. His involvement in the job immediately made him a threat; he was strong and big and capable of tremendous and painful bloodshed. What would stop him from inflicting damage -or even death- on her?
âHow the hell would I know? Iâm just as shocked as you are. Not to mention totally embarrassed. My mother and step father know what we were up to; before you answered the door. I didnât have any pants on! Just your shirt! They heard me talking about how you destroyed my underwear! Not to mention youâre not wearing a shirt and your back and ribs are clawed to shit and youâve got the whole âjust got fuckedâ messy hair going on. Do you know humiliating this is?â
âIâm pretty sure they know we have sex. We have seven kids. I donât think theyâre going to be surprised that we fuck. For fun. Not just for procreating.â
âItâs one thing for them to know we have it, but itâs another thing for them to know we JUST had it. How the hell am I supposed to keep a straight face around them? When they know I just got done getting railed?â
âImagine if they knew you got railed TWICE. And besides, us fucking? Them knowing it? Thatâs the least of our problems. Your mother...who I fucking hate more than I have ever hated anyone OTHER than my old man...just showed up on our goddamn doorstep. And sheâs planning on staying.â
âWell, Sarge did say theyâre staying at a hotel.â
Tylerâs eyes narrow. âThatâs not what I fucking meant and you know it. But you know what? Theyâre damn lucky they DID get one. Because there was no way in hell Iâd let them stay here. Iâd pay for the hotel myself. What the hell, Esme? Why are they here? Did you know they were going to do this?â
âI never would have invited them here. And even if they HAD mentioned they were coming, I would have told you. I donât want them here anymore than you do. Iâm not the one blame for this.â
âI told you to call her back. Or text her. When it became clear that she wasnât satisfied with your âthank youâ email and started messaging you and calling you, THAT was your chance. You should have got some fucking balls about you and talked to her. Did I not tell you? To get in contact with her? To avoid her escalating? Did I NOT say that?â
âYou did,â she admits. âYou DID say that. And I should have listened to you. I WAS going to call her.â
âAfter Christmas. When we got home. You should have done it days ago; when she started calling at all hours of the goddamn day. Did you really think sheâd stop? That she WOULDNâT escalate? You know her. You know how fucked up she is. What did you think was going to happen when you kept avoiding her?â
âNot this!â She wildly gestures with both arms in the direction of the living room. âI didnât know sheâd just show up! Thereâs no way I could have known that. She always has a big thing at Christmas. Itâs her chance to look perfect and come across as the most amazing mother and hostess ever. I didnât think sheâd ever give up the opportunity to do THAT. And why are you mad at me? This isnât my fault!â
âYou know what? It is. Because I told you to call her. So sheâd stop her shit and leave us alone. And now look! Sheâs sitting in our fucking living room. On Christmas Eve. And how the hell did she even know our address? How did she know where we live? You canât look it up on the internet; I made sure of that. So some asshole wanting a piece of me wouldnât come after my family.â
âI donât know how she found out. Someone must have given it to her.â
âWho would know? Riley? Riley would tell her to go fuck herself.â
âMaybe Riley told her dad and he let it slip somehow. I donât know, Tyler. I donât know HOW she found out. And yeah, maybe I should have grown a set and talked to her. My bad. But you being pissed at me is NOT helping. We need to be in this together. Not fighting and tearing each other apart.â
âIâm about five minutes away from totally losing my shit. You know what the last two days have been like. How Iâve been struggling. And now sheâs here? If she ever wanted to give me a psychotic break, this would be her perfect chance. Just watch the son in law completely snap; prove to everyone just how big of a fuck up he really is.â
âYou are NOT a fuck up. You never have been! And I know youâre struggling. Iâm the one going through it WITH you. Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I want her here? That is the last thing I want! But she IS here. And thereâs nothing we can do about it other than suck it up and get through this together! And you snapping on me is NOT helping! Iâm not the enemy, Tyler!â
âI never said you were. Iâm just saying thatâŚâ
His words trail off as his attempts at damage control are ignored. Her petite frame intentionally bumping into him as she steps away; frowning when he tries to grab hold of her wrist and she aggressively yanks her hand away. He chooses 'peace keeping' in favour of escalation; giving them both of a chance to cool down. And he leans against the back of the pantry door, arms crossed over his chest as he watches her furtive search for something to feed their surprise visitors. The shelves are packed; extremely well stocked and organized. And while they bear a wide assortment of goods, she hastily rummages through things as if thereâs nothing suitable; tears welling in her eyes and her entire body tense and her hands shaking. And suddenly he no longer sees a grown woman in front of him; the love of his life, his spouse, the mother of his children. Sheâs been replaced by a desperate and broken little girl so hell bent on trying to impress her mother; driving herself to the brink of panic and anxiety trying to prove herself worthy to a woman that would rather sheâd never been born. And itâs far more painful than any of his own issues; an ache that claws at his heart and forms a deep, empty pit in his stomach.
âIâm sorry." Stepping behind her, he lays his hands on her shoulders and presses a kiss to the back of her head. âI didnât mean to snap at you. I KNOW youâre not the enemy. And I sure as hell donât ever want you to feel like I see you that way.â
âI know youâre going through a hard time and I know her being here is going to put you even more on edge. But I also know what will happen if we even attempt to kick them out.â
âI mean, I wouldnât kick them out. Itâs not like Iâd say âget the fuck out and never come backâ. Iâd be a little more...tactful.â
âYou think THIS is her escalating? Do you know what will happen if we even try to explain our way through things? Why itâs not a good time for her to be here? Do you really want to get into that with her? Considering all the things sheâs already said about you? How she feels about you?â
âI donât give a fuck what she says about me. Or how she feels about me. I donâtâŚâ
âBut I do!â She slams a jar down with even force to shake the other items on the metal shelf. Both her body and her voice tremble, and her chin and her lower lip quiver as she tries to hold back a threatening flood of tears. âI care what she says about you! Iâve always cared! Because it hurts! Youâre my husband and the father of my children and you deserve so much better than that. And it fucking hurts when she says that shit about you!â
âAlright...easy now." Running his palms along her upper arms, he leans down to press a kiss to her temple; lips against the side of her head as both forearms come to rest along her collarbone. âJust breathe, Esme..." he draws her against him, squeezing as tight as her little body will allow. â...itâs okayâŚâ
âI care what she says because I love you. Because I know what kind of man you are. Because I know what kind of heart you have and how much you love me and our kids. Because youâve almost died for me. TWICE. Because she doesnât know you like I do and she won't even give you a chance. And THAT hurts. To hear those kinds of things about the person you love more than you love yourself. Who SAVED you.â
âI never savedâŚâ
âYou did!â she interjects. âYou saved me in every way a person can be saved. And youâve been willing to die for me. Right from the start. And all she can do is hate you and talk shit about you and you have no idea what it does to me. What it does to my heart.â
âIâm sorryâŚâ his lips brush her cheek, then settle against her ear. â...I never thought of it that way. I never thought about it hurting you like that.â
âI hate that she wonât even give you a chance. I hate that she looks at you like youâre some kind of horrible, evil person. That she treats our kids like garbage. I donât care what she says about me. Or how she treats me. But when she does that to you? Or our kids? That shit kills me inside.â
âYouâve got to let it just roll off you, Me. Stop letting her have this power over you. Stop giving her that kind of control. Itâs what she wants. Itâs probably why sheâs here. See how far she can push you. Try to break you. And I know you usually tell me not to react and keep the peace, but I donât think I can. I wonât let her disrespect you. I donât let ANYONE do that. So I canât promise you that I wonât snap on her. I wish I could, but I canât.â
She closes her eyes as she leans her head back against his chest; tips of her fingertips repeatedly gliding along his forearms. âIâm at the point where I honestly wish you would. I mean, maybe not go BATSHIT on her. I donât want her calling the cops or child protective services. But I would seriously enjoy you going off on her within reason.â
âBaby, I will protect you from anyone or anything. I will stand up for you no matter what. You want me to flip my shit on her? Iâll do it. Want me to toss her ass out into the street? Iâll do that too. Whatever you need me to do, Iâll do it. And I AM sorry,â he presses a kiss to the corner of her mouth, followed by her cheek and then her temple. âI didnât mean to snap on you. That wasnât fair. I shouldnât have done that. Iâm an asshole.â
âYou can be,â she admits, and he loosens his hold on her when she turns around to face him. Hands falling to her hips and then sliding around to the small of her back, fingers laced together. âBut itâs rare. That youâre like that with me. And I know youâre on edge. I know youâre going through some real bullshit. And believe me, I would give anything to take that away. To make everything better for you.â
âI know you would,â he presses his lips to her forehead. âAnd Iâm serious; Iâd do anything to protect you. Against anyone or anything.â
âI know. Iâve always known you would. Right from day one. Even then you were pretty intense. When it came to the whole watching over me thing.â
âWell technically it WAS my job.â
âYou were getting some good benefits on that job.â
âThey were pretty damn stellar, I gotta admit. Who needs dental or prescriptions covered? Iâll take the five days of hot sex.â
âYou were very well compensated for your hard work. Actually, I think you were pretty spoiled. I think you STILL are.â
âI am not going to deny that.â
âIâm sorry too. I SHOULD have got a hold of her. I shouldnât have waited. This is just a huge mess. But I honestly didnât think sheâd do something like this. I know sheâs crazy, but THIS crazy? What are we going to do? We have our things that we do. With the kids. We have our own traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We canât just forget about it all. Itâs what theyâre used to. It makes them happy. And to be honest? It makes ME happy.â
âAnd weâll keep everything the same. Iâm letting her fuck things up. For the kids or you. Weâll just go on with it. Do what weâre used to. If she doesnât like it, fuck her.â
âYou just know the kids arenât going to be happy. The boys and Millie are old enough to remember how awful she was to them. Millie still talks about the time grandma said she was a mistake because mommy and daddy werenât married when she was made. And Tanner? Tanner had nightmares for three years about you going to hell because you got me pregnant out of wedlock.â
âWell in all honesty, I was probably already going there because of other things.â
She stares up at him pointedly.
âIâm kidding. That was a joke. Not a very well timed one, butâŚâ
âAnd what if she gets on Nugget about being antisocial? About needing sensory breaks? About needing his safe place and his safe person? I can guarantee she doesnât give a shit about Autism and wonât bother learning about it. I bet sheâs even in denial about. That sheâll say something like âthereâs nothing wrong with him other than your parenting.â.â
âShe says something like that? I WILL toss her ass out onto the street. Literally. Talk shit about my kid AND my wife? Thatâs not happening in my house.â
âThen we have Declan. A bull in a china shop. You know sheâll get on his ass about being too loud and too hyper and too active.â
âHeâs a kid. Heâs eight. And heâs got red hair. Of course heâs wild.â
âWhat about Brooklyn? She looks cute, but she is all daddy and sheâs a savage. She will pick up on my motherâs bad vibes and sheâll open her mouth and all hell will break loose.â
âBabeâŚâ he unlocks his fingers and moves his hands to her hips; squeezing tightly and softly massaging. â...you are working yourself up even more and thatâs the last thing either of us need right now. Take a breath. Itâs going to be okay.â
âAnd then thereâs Takota. Who is crazy shy and super sensitive and I already know heâll hate her.â
âHeâs in good company then. We ALL hate her.â
âYou get her and all seven of them together? Itâs a recipe for disaster. Especially the Tanner thing. Because TJ will go the fuck off if she even steps out of line with Tanner.â
âSo what do you want me to do? Sneak the kids out of the house and replace them with imposters? Get the real ones back once your mom leaves?â
She sighs in exasperation. âYou are NOT helping.â
âI think you need to calm down and just let shit take its course. Whatever happens, happens. We canât predict whatâs going to go down and stop it before it does. And you know what else we canât do? Stay in here for the rest of the day. We went to look for food to make. Weâve been in here for half an hour. She probably thinks weâre in here having sex.â
âWe SHOULD have sex. Really piss her off.â
âWhile Iâd normally be right into it, I donât think even I can get it up under these kinds of conditions. Your mother is kind of a mood killer. Remember how we barely had sex when we lived at her place? And then totally made up for it when we moved into the farmhouse?â
âI always thought you were saying no for other reasons. You always told me you were worried about âhurting the babyâ.â
âYou actually believed that?â
âYou were very convincing. I thought maybe you were just super paranoid that something would happen to Millie. And that you suddenly got over it. You should have just told me.â
âThe whole âhoney, your motherâs voice makes me impotentâ wasnât a conversation I wanted to have. So while I love you and Iâd love to be able to bang the shit out of you right now and have you making the kinds of noises I know youâre capable of, itâs not going to happen. We need to get our shit together and deal with this.â
âYou know what I was thinking? Never mind getting the kids out of the house. WE can sneak out.â
âAnd leave the kids with your mother? I know I hate her, but I love my kids and I would not do that to them. NowâŚâ placing his hands on her cheeks, he gently turns his face up towards him. . â...we need to get out there before she comes and breaks the door down. You gonna be alright?â
âI donât know. I honestly donât know.â
âI got you, Me. I always do. Weâll get through this like we do with everything else,â he presses a kiss to her brow, then to her lips. âTogether.â
*****
They make awkward small talk; brief snippets of conversation in between sips coffee and tea and nibbles of the assortment of finger foods Esme had prepared and laid out on the coffee table. Thereâs a lot that SHOULD be said; grievances waiting to be aired, hurt feelings dying to be brought to the surface, demands for both forgiveness and apology. But for the time being itâs nothing more than comments on the weather; the differences between the dry Colorado chill and the dampness that plagues the Eastern Seaboard. Five years have passed and no attempts have been made to heal both old and fresh wounds; Esmeâs mother either in denial of her shortcomings and her responsibility in pushing her daughter out of her life, or simply refusing to accept blame or apologize for all the damage sheâd caused over the years. For the most part she stays silent. Leaving it up to her husband to ask about the kids and life in Australia while she ignores the conversation entirely; spending her time glancing around at their belongings with a look of pure disdain. He even sees the way her entire body stiffens whenever he so as much shows Esme even the slightest bit of attention or affection; eyes narrowing and lips tightly pursing together if he gives her a reassuring smile or wraps an arm around her shoulders or presses a kiss to the side of her head. He knows the mother in law canât stand it; any form of physical interaction between them or the way theyâre so in tune with each otherâs body language and facial expressions. Able to easily and effortlessly read each otherâs awkwardness or nervousness and then doing their best to provide comfort and support.
Heâs been hated since the very beginning. Viewed as the enemy whoâd âstolenâ Esme from her family and somehow convinced her to give up her old life in favour of a new one with him; keeping her trapped by repeatedly getting her pregnant and intimidating and terrorizing her into staying with him. And while they HAVE had their issues and stumbling blocks, heâs never been THAT bad; refusing to follow in his fatherâs legacy as a domestic abuser and all around asshole. Even at his worst heâs always adored her; respecting her as the love of his life and the mother of his children. Any logical and rational parent would want that for their kid; someone who worships them and busts their ass to provide for them, who has proven time and time again that theyâd willingly sacrifice their own life for theirs. But itâs never been enough. All the good going ignored yet all the bad being thrown in his face and used against him. And while heâs the first to admit heâs not perfect, he also knows that heâs not the monster even his own brain often makes him out to be.
âDo you still do what you do?â The mother in law addresses him, refusing to make even the smallest amount of eye contact.
âNot as much anymore. Now I have employees I send to kill people.â
Beside him, Esme clears her throat noisily and then reaches for a mug of tea that sits on edge of the coffee table. Sheâs been on edge since the moment sheâd finally sat down beside him; nervously bouncing her leg up and down or swinging it from side, or chewing on her bottom lip or thumbnail. Heâs done his best to step up and be her rock; tucking her into his side or taking her hand or running a palm over her hair. Little things that let her know that sheâs safe. That heâs more than ready, willing, and able to protect her. And it gives him something else to concentrate on other than his own issues; caring for her forcing the dark and dire thoughts plaguing his brain to take a back seat.
Michelle tucks her chin into her chest and stares at him pointedly. âYOU have employees?â
âI own my own business,â he says, then wraps an arm around Esmeâs shoulders and gives her arm a squeeze. âWE own our own business. We have for almost six years now.â
âA mercenary business?â
He nods. âA successful one too. Very successful, actually.â
âTylerâs good at what he does,â Esme says, as she lays a hand on his knee and lightly squeezes; the smile she gives him one of love and pride. âVERY good at what he does. He already had quite the reputation before starting his own company. Now that he has? Heâs extremely well known and extremely well respected and sought after. His guys are the best of the best. Second to no one. You wonât find people like that anywhere else.â
Her mother stares at her; a mixture of disbelief and disgust. âAnd youâre perfectly fine with that? Him having THAT kind of business? Making money by killing people? Or having others do it for him?â
âThereâs more to it than that, Michelle,â he husband grumbles. âWay more to it.â
âThatâs not all it entails,â Esme informs her. âItâs not just about killing. Itâs about helping people. Itâs about protecting them and defending them. Itâs about doing whatâs right. Just because you donât understand itâŚâ
âYouâre right. I donât. I donât understand it. I donât understand it now and I didnât understand it twelve and a half years ago when you willingly ran off with a man that kills people for a living. That has so much blood and God knows what else on his hands.â
âThatâs not all he did, mom. He didnât just kill people. Heâs saved a lot more than heâs hurt, believe me. But you canât seem to grasp that because youâre too busy hating him for stupid reasons. I didnât care that he was a mercenary. I was just as much as involved as he was. So stop making him out to be some kind of monster because you have some bullshit vendetta against him. StopâŚâ
âLetâs just try and calm down, okay?â Tyler suggests, his hand on the top of her arm as he pulls her into him; lips pressing against her temple, then her ear. âJust breathe, babe. No need to get worked up.â
âItâs typical of her, isnât it,â Michelle snorts. âSheâs always been over dramatic. Always blowing things way out proportion. How youâve managed to put up with her for this long, Iâll never know. Iâll give you credit for THAT; being strong enough to hang in there. Mark sure wasnât.â
âDonât,â Esme warns. âDonât you dare bring him up. Donât you come into my house and sit here across from my husband and bring that piece of shit up.â
âHe was a good man, Esme. You just couldnât see that. You were too busy finding faults. Itâs what you do. You get bored of people easily. Which is why it's extra shocking that youâve made it this far. Twelve and a half years, seven children. Normally you would have pushed him away by now. I donât understand the appeal, but you seem to. I guess whatever works for youâŚâ
âYou know what, it DOES work. WE work. And I know you hate that. I know you hate that Iâm happy. That I got away. That I found someone that loves me. Someone that wonât let you control me and manipulate me and abuse me. Thatâs what it is, isnât it. Thatâs why you donât like Tyler. He doesnât let you get away with your shit.â
Laying a hand on the side of her head, Tyler draws her even tighter into him, lips against her hair as he speaks. âI think you need to calm down, Me. Just try and relax, okay?â
âYou really ARE brainwashed,â Michelle says. âYou will defend him no matter what he does. No matter how much he drinks or how many pills he pops or how many times he puts you and those children on the back burner. You will always defend him.â
âI will. And you know why? Because heâs a good man, mom. Heâs a good man and heâs a great husband and heâs an even better father. Only you donât see that side of him. Youâve never been able to. You REFUSE to see it. You refuse to see how much he loves me and his kids. How heâd do anything to protect us. How heâs so willing to lay down his life for mine. You donât see any of that. Because you donât want to.â
âWhy donât you get some air?â Tyler suggests. âYouâre getting a little worked up, babe. Just go and take a few minutes andâŚâ
âI WILL defend him,â Esme continues. âI will ALWAYS defend him. I will defend him until my last breath. And you know why? Because he would do the same for me. He HAS done the same for me. No questions asked. So donât you care come into my house and disrespect my husband like this. I spent years letting you walk all over me. And I refuse to let you try that shit now.â
Wrapping his fingers around her upper arm, Tyler gets to his feet; pushing into the soft flesh as a silent request for her to follow. âWeâre going to go and step outside for a bit. Neither of us do very well when people just show up on the doorstep. And sheâs a little on edge; Christmas always stresses her out.â
âItâs not Christmas,â his wife argues. âItâs her! Itâs always her! And she just keeps pushing me and pushing meâŚâ
His hand moves to the back of her neck, effectively steering her towards the front hallway. âLetâs go and get some air. Youâll feel better if you do.â
âOnly thing thatâs going to make me feel better is that bitch out of my house,â Esme mutters, as she shoves her feet into her beloved -and hated, by him and the kids- Crocs as he opens the front door and gently pushes her outside. Smirking when he hears The Sarge laying into the mother in law; accusing her of being insensitive and intentionally âstirring the potâ and to stop acting like the victim when sheâs the one thatâs âdoling out the bullshitâ.
Stepping out onto the porch, he allows the door to shut behind him, then lays his hands on his wifeâs shoulders. âYou need to calm down.â
âI canât do this.â She shivers in the cold; arms folded across her body and her hands aggressively rubbing her biceps. âI thought I could. I thought I could keep my shit together; get through the next couple of days. I canât even last two hours! Here I was worried that youâd be the one to lose it! Yet Iâm ready to throw her out the front window!â
âI need you to take a breath and calm down. Donât let her do this. This is what she wants. She wants to get under your skin and she wants to ruin things for you. Donât give her that satisfaction, Me. You just give her power when you do that.â
âI canât help it. She just gets under my skin and she keeps digging away and digging away. Until I canât take it anymore. And she knows exactly what buttons to push! She knows the more she shit talks you, the angrier and more defensive I get. She knows thatâs my weakness. In the same way that shitty people know yours is me and the kids. Itâs why she does it; to see me squirm and get worked up and eventually snap.â
âWhich is why you need to settle the fuck down.â He runs his palms along her arms, vigorously rubbing against the chilled skin. âDonât let her do this. Donât let her screw things up for you. For US. That's what she wants. She spent five years trying to tear us apart. She tried ruining what we had every chance she got when we were in Colorado. And if you let her get under your skin like that? You let her do that? You give her all the power. Thatâs what she wants. That control. Donât fucking let her win.â
âI canât stand when she talks about you like that. I know you have thick skin. I know you can take it. You donât let it bother you. But think about what it feels like when someone talks shit about me. Or disrespects me. Think about how that makes YOU feel.â
âI hate it. It hurts. Makes me want to hurt them right back. Physically, usually.â
âYou know what it feels like to have your heart ripped out of your chest and stomped on. Well thatâs what it's like for me, too. When she starts in on you. It hurts. Because I know who you are and I know much you love me and our kids and the lengths youâll go to take care of us. To protect us. Iâve seen you on deathâs door. TWICE. Because of me. Because youâve always been so willing to sacrifice yourself for me. So when she starts on her bullshitâŚâ
âSheâs never going to see me the way you do. Hell, I donât even see myself the way you do. But sheâs another story altogether. You KNOW what sheâs like. You know the hate she has for me and why she has it. So why do you let it bother you THAT bad? Just let it go in one ear and out the other, Me. Take it from the source.â
âIâm not like you, Tyler. I canât just turn my feelings off like that. Iâve never been able to.â
âI donât turn my feelings off. If I could, do you really think I would have busted my ass twelve and half years to get you out of Dhaka? If I was able to turn them off, I would have left you and Ovi behind and I would have saved myself. And I sure as hell wouldnât have gone through what I did FIVE years ago. I donât turn my feelings off and you know that. I take it from the source, babe. And her? Sheâs not worth my time. I donât give a fuck what she says about me. Sheâs doing it to be petty. She wants power. She wants control. I wonât give it to her. And you shouldnât either.â
âI donât think I can do this. Just let her walk all over me. Say shit about my husband. About my kids! I canât just sit back and listen to that shit. I just canât.â
âSo stay your distance from her. As much as you can. Avoid being alone with her. Try not to get cornered into that kind of conversation with her. I will have your back no matter what. You know that. Tell me you know that.â
âI do. I DO know that. In the same way I have YOURS.â
âI donât need you to defend me. Or protect me. Not against her. I've gone up against bigger and better and Iâve lived to tell about it. But fuck with family? Disrespect my wife? Thatâs not going to happen. And you need to trust me to be the one to handle things IF they get out of control. Can you do that? Trust me?â
âI always trust you. I always HAVE. With my life. With our kidsâ lives.â
âItâs going to be alright.â He rubs his hands against her upper arms, then tucks her hair behind her ears and cradles her face in his palms. âI need to get your shit together, okay? I need you. To be my wingman. Or woman. I can NOT deal with your mother and eight kids all my own. There is no way I can survive that. So you think it can keep it together? For my sake?â
A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. âI think so.â
âBecause those kids are going to be home soon and your mom being here is going to throw them off and who knows what kind of shit show is going to go down. Donât bail on me, Esme. I need you. In more ways than one. In EVERY way, actually.â
âFinally admitting it, huh?â She chides. âOnly took you twelve and a half years.â
âI know youâre going to try and argue with me, but I need you a lot more than you need me.â
âI donât thinkâŚâ
âNope." He pecks her lips to silence her. "Not gonna listen. Not even going to give you the chance to finish that sentence. Because you know Iâm right. You always talk about how brave and strong I am? Me, youâre the bravest and strongest person I know. That Iâve EVER known. The things Iâve seen you go through? Willingly? The things I've seen you deal with in the past twelve and a half years? The things you've done? Especially for me? There is no one on this earth thatâs stronger than you, believe me. And you have no idea how much I really do love you. How much I actually do worship you and respect you."
âItâs only Christmas Eve and youâre already going to make me cry. Donât you usually hold off until Christmas Day? When you do something so incredibly sweet and romantic and amazing?â
âIâve still got a few tricks up my sleeve,â he grins, then tangles his fingers in her hair and gently tugs her head back; lips softly pressing against his forehead. âJust stick with me, kiddo. Youâll be alright.â
âI remember you saying those exact words to me. At Gasparâs house. In the guest room. After weâŚâ
âIt wasnât RIGHT after. And I was being an asshole. Because you made fun of me because you said I had gray hair in my beard.â
âI didnât make fun of you. I said it was sexy. That it would look distinguished if the whole thing went gray.â
âOld. You said Iâd look old.â
âWell I MEANT distinguished.â
âSure you did.â
âAnd look, twelve and a half years later, and you still have the same amount of gray in your beard. A little more in your hair, mind you.â
âAll those gray hairs? They all have your name on them.â
âYou can complain all you want. You can bitch and moan that Iâm stubborn and Iâm difficult and that Iâm a huge pain in your ass. But youâd miss me if I was gone.â
He hates the feeling of dread that creeps in at those last three words; so simple and said in a light and playful way, but sending a chill that seems to borrow through his bones and travel right to his very soul. Itâs his worst nightmare; facing a future without her and struggling to stay on the straight and narrow for the benefit of his kids. His old vices would return with a vengeance; the booze and the pain meds and suicidal tendencies. And then heâd lose any and all remaining links to her; his children torn from him because his demons and weaknesses would somehow overpower his love for them. But he manages a smile for her sake; never wanting her to realize just how much losing her WOULD actually destroy him.
âI donât even like thinking about that.â His hands slip from her hair; sliding down her spine and resting at the small of her back . âNever mind talking about it.â
The smile broadens, and she perches her on tiptoes in order to wrap her arms around his neck. âI knew it,â she says, eyes sparkling playfully up as her body leans into his. âI AM your favourite. You do love me, Tyler Rake.â
âI do,â he confirms, and he lightly slaps his palms against the cheeks of her ass; lightly squeezing before drawing her into him and pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. âAnd you have no idea how much.â
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Imagine
Raising children with Cevans.
Description: I wrote a super long imagine for @marmariavel at the beginning of the year and I thought Iâd put it into a thing you all could read. The only thing I didnât change was the bilingual aspect and some stuff I couldnât flesh out more. Beware: Tons of sentences that start with âYouâ & time jumps. Pairing: Chris x german!bilingual!Reader
M A S T E R L I S T
You'd been together for a little over 3 years and he had proposed to you very on the down low at home after a beautiful day planned by him a few months before. You had talked about kids but you didn't really plan them soon. Well...you didn't think that your birth control would've just stopped working because of some antibiotics for your gripal infect a few weeks back.
He was gone for a movie for two more weeks and you sat there in the middle of your shared house in the bathroom, staring at the two pink stripes after being late, panicking and wanting to ease your mind...well, that kinda backfired.
You'd call a friend and go crazy for a minute or ten before they would be like "Yo, relax and let a doctor confirm it. I can come with you." And that's what you'd do that week.
You would get the confirmation and be happy but also super fucking insecure about it even though you knew he wouldn't have a problem with it. It's still your body and you didn't know how to handle it mentally. Your friend would just stay with you that night, take your mind a bit off things, eat Ben & Jerry's with you, and the rest of that program. And the next day you'd start planning how to tell him since you had two weeks to prepare for it.
So you kinda had the opportunity to make it a bit bigger and exciting but also not super big but like cute big. You decided to get some books about pregnancy, baby clothes and shoes, baby food and probably something Baby Captain America themed. After getting it in the mail you would start putting together a big box, neatly decorated so he could see all the things at once. At the center, you stuck the test. The outside neatly sprayed in a gender-neutral color and a few stickers.
You would start emptying your office room carefully and put the stuff in his office. He was used to you rearranging his whole house all the time so he wouldn't be super surprised by that part at first. You would put the box in the middle of the room and be super excited for him to come home.
You'd write to him that you had a surprise for him and he'd be like "don't tease me" and you'd dance around excited until he gets in through the door. You would run towards him with a big grin and he'd just bear hug you.
You'd take all his stuff away from him excited and tell him to leave everything right in the hallway and that the surprise couldn't wait.
So you'd drag him towards your old office, open the door and he'd be like "You rearranged again?" with a smile at you before you almost ran to the box, picked it up and held it out to him. "Open it." He'd look at you a little bit '???' but happy. And then he would open it slowly and instantly stop in his movement as soon as he had a full view of the inside of the box and his jaw would just drop and he'd eye all the different things in there and would be looking up at you speechless.
"Welcome to your future child's nursery." you'd smile with happy tears in your eyes before he would set the box down and envelope you in the best hug ever and kiss you and cry and mumble "I'm finally gonna be a dad."
He'd pick you up in the air with the biggest smile ever and ask you how far you are and you'd say something like 2 months and he'd jump like a happy little boy before setting you down, kissing you again and saying "Let's go through the box, plan what you want in here and order pizza, baby." he'd say with just pure love in his eyes before going onto both knees in front of you and holding your hips "Because Baby Evans needs to get strong." and you'd just burst into tears right there.
You'd sit down on the floor and start looking through the books together, talking about marrying a little sooner, your fears, your ideas for the room, names, public announcements, milestone ideas. You'd start crying every time he'd say "Baby Evans" or "Little Bean" or something. Hormoooones.
Also: "Now nobody can judge me for my big appetite anymore." "Or your giant sweet tooth." "I feel called out!" "Blame it on the baby." "Believe me I will. It's gonna be just like me when it's here. Constantly eating." "Two of those in my house. Can't wait for those food fights in a few years." You: *starts crying again*
You'd take at least one mirror picture per week. You'd tell your parents the following week. You'd tell all of your friends after inviting them over for a get-together. You'd announce it at the beginning of the fourth month with something Captain America themed. You'd plan the best wedding ever and marry in your early sixth month. You'd find out it's a girl and he'd be so over the moon to have a little princess that he could take to Disneyland all the time and dress up with. You'd make the room peachy orange-pink themed on one wall and have like a photo tapestry of clouds in that color on the other one. You'd get all the cute baby stuff over the time. You would do some rad maternity pictures that the internet would probably go crazy over. He'd push you to go and get facials and shit to relax cause he's a good husband. You'd learn about all birth stuff together, go to a pregnancy sports class cause why not.
He'd be relatively chill about the whole birth experience probably. He'd just read up on a lot of things and stuff. He'd get you all the weird things you crave, massage you all the time. Hold you when your hormones would go crazy.
Baby Evans would probably come late and doctors would want you to try natural things to start contractions so you would just dance through a hospital room and film it for the world later on. He'd be so sweet all throughout the actual pain and shit and you'd literally almost break his finger to be honest.
And the moment he hears a baby cry you just see his face switch. Like an actual "I'm dad"-switch.
He would go with them while they do all the first stuff with the baby and then you'd get it onto your chest and big hug moment and exhaustion.
While you would be sleeping he'd hold her and sit with her in the chair beside your hospital bed. You'd wake up every now and then and see him staring at her with sparkly eyes and count her fingers.
*mini sneeze* "Bless you, my little Princess." *mini sneeze again* "Don't look at me like that with your big cute eyes, I didn't make it tickle, baby girl."
You'd name her Amelia Jillian Evans. He'd be super good at changing diapers while you were still laying in pain. You'd take her home two days later dressed in a Captain America body. Obviously posting the news online then.
The first weeks would be exhausting but his family would help where they could with making your life easier. He was on Baby Workout duty since the little bean needed to learn how to turn around by herself and he would be so proud every time she did it. When she started being able to recognize you and started laughing he was just constantly carrying her around when you didn't have a grasp on her. She was definitely going to be a daddy's girl
When she starts crawling he's the first one to see it since it happens while he's laying with her on the ground and you were in the kitchen making food. "She just crawled!" he'd yell. You'd come running with a proud smile. "Show Mama what an independent girl you are Amy." She'd laugh and crawl a little more and youâd melt so damn much.
You'd raise her bilingual, and he's walking in on you both a lot when you talk German and understands nothing. But he tries to learn it a bit at least. "Are you two gossiping about daddy?" he'd touch her nose before giving you a kiss.
She'd grab his beard all the time and giggle and that would be his favorite thing ever.
As soon as she starts drinking from bottles he just takes her to the gym with her sometimes on days he knows it's almost empty and he doesn't have big weights. He just has the crawling blanket, toys and her bottle with him and just working out.
One day she would just look at him while he's doing push-ups with her right under his face to make her laugh and for his own motivation and she'd just laugh up at him and say "Dada" and he just stop in the middle of the push up with a jaw-dropping smile and say "Am I your Dada?" And she'd just giggle more and grab his beard again and say "Dada" before making one of those happy âbaby moves all limbs at onceâ-dances on her back.
He'd drive home and burst in with her on his arm and you'd be confused and he'd be like totally in shook still "She said Dada." And right at that moment, she would say it again and you would melt. And he would point towards you "Mama." "Mmm...ma." You'd giggle, "Close enough."
You would start seeing her pulling herself up on your furniture and from her baby bed and one morning just be like "If you also get to see her walk before I see it I'm suing." and he'd chuckle and continue drinking his coffee while you made airplanes of applesauce into her mouth.
You'd hold her hands and helped her walk forwards slowly while he was the goal they wanted to reach. You did that for a couple of weeks now and you gave her less and less hold over time and today you let her go completely and she walked three steps before landing on her behind. A few weeks later you were holding her hands one each and went for a walk completely proud of your little bean. "Mama?" She looked up at you and let go of Chris' hand completely and held her arms up so you picked her up. "Amelia?" you'd answer. "MĂźde." she'd say. Her first German word outside of the basics and you'd be over the moon smiling over at your husband that had a questioning smile on his face and you mouthed 'tired' while she laid her head on your shoulder.
By the way: Dodger would be protective and super chill around her. From the moment she came home the first time. He never nudged her, always just smelled and let her grab him sometimes even if it was uncomfy for him.
He would always be up to play with her over the next two-three years until she had her first big detachment phase. "Do you wanna play, Amy?" "No." and his eyes would be proud but also ouch.
She'd walk around in a princess dress and with a toy car most of the time and went to kindergarten a few days per week.
"Honey?" He'd say one evening hugging you from behind while you were cooking. "Hmm?" you'd smile at him. "I want another one." he'd mumble. "Are you sure?" you answered, "We still don't have our sleeping pattern back to normal." "I want her to have a sibling," he said kissing your neck. "Let's talk about that after bedtime, okay?" You'd say squeezing his hand.
By now she spoke both languages with both of you and Chris really needed to get his German game up. "Daddy?" "Yes, princess?" "Liest du mir Buch?" and in that moment, he knew...his child was more intelligent than him lmao. "She wants you to read her a book." you'd say from the next room. "Which one?" She'd pull out an easy German one but damn was it hard for him to pronounce it right. You'd stand in the door frame proudly smiling at them.
The weeks after that you let her do a lot of sleepovers at friends. Was it a cover-up to get pregnant again? Yup.
And like three months later you both sat there together on the living room table waiting for the test. 5 minutes could be so fucking long. When you turned the test around and the second pink line was there he jumped up and almost threw you into the air. "You better pray to my vajayjay from now on," you'd joke. "Believe me. Already been doing that every day." he'd be like serious but also chuckling and you'd just hug so tight and squeak.
After going to the doc you would just send the ultrasound picture around with DJ Khaled's "Another One" over it. Cause you both are dorks like that. "Please stay Amy's rock, okay? I don't want her to feel left out when her sibling comes."
You'd both tell her that she'll get a sibling and she was jumping around and holding her hand on your Belly all the time. Â You'd find out it's another girl. "Oh lord, three of them?" Would be Chris' reaction after the doc says it and a chuckle goes through the room. "A lot of food we need to have at all times." you'd laugh.
She would find it so fascinating how the belly moved. "When does my sister come?" she'd ask almost every day.
You'd have a trip to Disneyland together with her in a Cinderella dress and a Captain America Helmet. She was proud to have a superhero daddy. And it was good for paparazzi to not see her completely on pictures. She still couldn't hold the Shield tho. It was still like two thirds of her size.
You'd all eat so much in all the places there and he'd get her anything princess-like. "What do heroes eat, daddy?" "Whatever they want. Just like princesses." "But princesses only eat special food." "A princess can also eat a burger if she wants one, right honey?" he'd look at you. "Yes. Princesses and heroes both can eat whatever they want. It's super important to listen to what your belly wants, Amy." "What does your belly want, Mama?" "Two cheeseburgers, a salad, and ice cream." you deadpan and Chris would giggle.
He'd probably put a dress on himself just for her to see, that gender roles are shit. And school will shake that for her but he will make sure she knows that she can love 'masculine' things like cars, tech & science.
She'd probably be super good at math but also start drawing and writing early. You both would probably put her into a dance class but also let her try a sport that's a bit more like Taekwondo.
If she would feel in any way threatened she would use what she learned and say "You better stop. My dad is a superhero and he will kick your behind if you don't stop."
Your 6/7 yo daughter would kick ass so hard. Promise.
Then the little sister would come and she would be old enough to hold her and all that. You both had asked her for a name she liked and took that as a second name for the little sister. This one was more of a mommy's child.
Her name would be Chloe Jordan Evans and after the birth, you would be "You won't get more," to Chris completely exhausted.
You had already talked about not wanting more children after that but the steps of growing up were so much cooler now that a bigger sister could watch all of them happen.
You decided to raise this one on bottles mainly which made sleep a bit easier for you both since you didn't need to be awake for it every time.
Amelia & Chloe would not be revenge siblings as soon as Chloe could walk and talk. They were close and Amelia was very thoughtful and definitely into sports and science while also loving pink and stuff.
Chloe would be more of a singer and would love makeup and dressing up. She wanted to learn more about her daddy's job pretty early on and loved coming to little events of Chris' management. She was super extroverted and loved being around people.
But she still was super focussed on you with everything else. A mom's child.
She'd cook with you, play video games with you and loved going on walks when Chris was gone filming and Amy at elementary school.
She also was obsessed with Daddy dressing up. The shield was her goal. He always told her she is too small for it so her big goal was growing faster. The first time he let her wear it was with his friends being over and Seb or someone just being like "Just let her. I'm sure she is responsible enough to keep it safe, right Chloe?" And a heavy nod would come back. The shield went from her shoulders to under her knees and was clipped to her back. All the men in the room were just smiling at her. She definitely had the attention of the room as soon as she came in. She'd run around with the Shield on her back and a Nerf Gun and shoot all the men with the soft little things and they played dead. When you walked in you looked around confused but then she jumped out of her corner and pointed the Nerf Gun at you which made you put your hands up. "Miss? I need to arrest you." And you'd play into it and internally smile at 1. The shield on her back. 2. How good she was at this.
#chris evans#chris evans imagine#chris evans x you#chris evans x reader#chris evans x y/n#chris#cevans#chris evans fanfiction#christopher evans#captain america#the human torch#steve rogers#johnny storm#marvel actors#chris evans edit#cevansedit#steven grant rogers#steve rogers x you#steve rogers x reader#steve rogers x y/n#mcu#marvel#marvel cinematic universe#parent au#dad!chris#captain america the winter soldier#captain america civil war#the first avenger#avengers
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Blur

Title: Blur
Square Filled: I1 - Did they or didnât they?
Warnings: drunkenness and terrible mental gymnastics
Word Count: 2,881
Summary: Sam thinks he needs an aspirin, better yet, he needs to get up outta here.
Link to AO3
Blur
Sam groans as he swims back into consciousness. Â Both his brain and his tongue are unpleasantly fuzzy and he wants nothing more than a cool washcloth, a cold glass of water and complete darkness and silence for the next decade. Â He is too old to be drinking himself into terrible hangovers. Â He knows the importance of staying hydrated and yet, here he is again, wishing for death to claim him. Sam can certainly say that he has never been the best at making good decisions.
As Sam debates the pros and cons of moving from his comfortable cocoon, he becomes aware of the sounds of soft snores uncomfortably close to him. Â He feels the body heat of someone else underneath the sheets of his (is it his?) bed. He also realizes very suddenly that he doesnât have a single stitch of clothing on.
Shit.
Sam tries to think of who could possibly be behind him snuffling softly in slumber. Â The fact that heâs naked probably means that they are too and Sam could slap himself for the second time in as many minutes. Â The pounding in his head doesnât help at all with his mood and Sam may have finally found the reason to quit drinking altogether. Â Waking up with strangers in bed is definitely something that is part of his twenties, not to be done when heâs staring at the front steps of forty.
Sam curses the fact that he is the first one to wake up and debates whether or not moving will wake his bedmate. Â His memories of the night before are patchy at best and the more he tries to piece together his time at the hotel, the more alarmed he becomes.
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It was the one year anniversary of the battle against Thanos and Sam would rather have been anywhere else. Â The country was not as accepting of Sam as they had been of Steve. Sam didnât want to think too closely about why exactly that was (because it was way too easy to get angry and what would that solve?), but there were days that he just wished his detractors would say what they really meant, and not use their carefully-coded acrimonious checklists on why Sam would never be Steven Grant Rogers. Â Every single decision Sam made was examined under a microscope in the media. /r/notmycap canât go a week without some viral thread castigating him and slightly less often, Bucky (Itâs always the âWinter Soldierâ or âThe Assetâ though, they seem determined to remind the world that Bucky had a violent and unsavoury past).
If the bad press wasnât enough, the list of full time Avengers was embarrassingly short. Â The Defenders did their own thing, as did Reedâs little group. It almost wasnât worth anyoneâs time trying to talk to Charles Xavier unless the subject was mutant rights (not that there was a problem with that, Sam definitely knew how stupid people could be around anything they perceived as 'different'). Â No one wanted to work with the reformed psychopathic (his words, Sam wasnât convinced) mercenary, well, Peter was trying to tell everyone that he wasnât so bad but Sam wasnât touching that with a ten foot pole. Â Sam, Bucky, Rhodes, and Wanda were all that was left of the Avengers Initiative. Â Sure they had emergency and consulting members, but the fact was, Sam was barely captain of anyone.
Samâs cheerless thoughts had him spending his time at the bar, after quickly making the initial rounds to greet everyone. Â He had to admit, Pepper knew how to throw a party. Â While there werenât a lot of full-time Avengers, Thanos had united the entire world against him, and so the rented ballroom (in the most fashionable of hotels) was full-to-bursting. Â He scanned his eyes across the room taking in the small groups that didnât quite mesh together. Thor and his new traveling companions, the Guardians of the Galaxy stood in a loose circle laughing entirely too loudly. Â Thor finally found a group who also lacked inside voices, Sam was happy for him. He looked better than he did that day. Â That too-long day that Sam went to battle in the fields Wakanda and ended the fight on the remains of their battered home in New York five years and mere seconds later. Â
Sam was glad he wasnât around to see Thor's slow slide into misery. Â He had heard Steve (over the phone, Sam still can't quite look at his wrinkled face) tell him the stories of Thorâs grief at losing his father, brother, best friend, and planet within a week only to lose half of existence the very next day. Â Sam couldnât imagine that pain.
Sam dealt with a different sort of grief. Â He had missed five years. Five years of his mother's life, five years of his nieceâs life. Â Unfortunately so had her mother, his sister. Â Sam would never understand how his mother dealt with losing both of her children for five years, believing them gone for good. Â His house and belongings were all long gone, leaving him and Bucky to scramble to find an apartment together in the aftermath on the âUnsnappeningâ (fucking twitter called it that and unfortunately it seemed to be stuck). Â He refused to put any more stress on his mom by moving back in when Kayla had to get used to her mother being back. Â Besides, it was just easier to live with Barnes. He didnât have any memories of those five years, as far as he could tell no one did, but he couldnât help but feel it in his bones that he had spent the time with Bucky.
Shaking his head to dispel that line of thought, Sam looked for his best friend. Â They had arrived together, as usual, but Bucky was quickly called over by Yo-Yo and Shaw, both of them eager to hang out with the soldier (heâd taken to being a SHIELD operative surprisingly well, all things considered, he even had work friends, Sam was proud of him).
Turning back to the bartender, Sam ordered an old fashioned. Â He had recently discovered that between the two of them somehow Sam was the hipster, even though Bucky had refused to give up his ridiculous (fucking beautiful, if Sam was being honest) man bun. Â Sam refused to listen to modern music (unless it was Beyonce, but really, itâs Beyonce it goes without saying) and read his paper at the table instead of staring at his phone all the time. Â Sam couldnât help it, he was an old soul and he had endured Buckyâs teasing goodnaturedly. Â He absolutely drew the line at handlebar moustaches and penny-farthings though.
âBirdman number two!â Â Clint said in what he probably thought was an acceptable volume, clapping Sam on the back.
Sam startled and grinned as he saw his fellow bird-themed hero. Â âBarton! How is life treating you?â
âCanât complain.â Â He said with a cheeky smile as he leaned toward Sam and said in a conspiratorial whisper, âIf I do, Laura will give me the old boot. Â But Iâd deserve it because she is the worldâs greatest wife.â
âDamn right I am.â Â Said Laura as she appeared next to her husband.
Sam sipped his drink and watched them bicker gently. Â He loved that in a couple. Sure the schmoopy ones were cute and all, but life is always better with laughter and it was clear the Bartonâs were full of laughter. Â They excused themselves after two rounds, Laura saying that she was tired and Sam was once again left to his thoughts.
Before he could sink into them too deeply, his eyes landed on Bucky standing next to a scowling Valkyrie and taking a swig out of Thorâs comically enormous flask (Just because he was doing better didnât mean that he wasnât still struggling). Â Sam smiled slowly at the blush that spread across Buckyâs face after his second long pull. Seems like Thor brought the good stuff.
Sam, armed with his bourbon and a liquid loss of inhibitions, (after the second old-fashioned, Sam wondered why he was even pretending to do anything other than get hammered and stopped bothering with anything more complicated) pushed away from the bar and headed in Buckyâs direction. Â
âHey there my good people.â Â Sam smiled lightly as he reached Bucky, Thor, and Valkyrie. Â âIs this the 5000 proof section?â
Bucky rolled his eyes fondly after his last pull and passed the flask to Val, Thor letting out a brief sad noise in his throat, knowing he wasnât going to get another swig any time soon. Â âSure is, pigeon. This is the cool kids table and you canât sit with us!â
âTen points to Hufflepuff for correct use of Gretchen Wieners.â Â Sam said as Bucky looked confused. Belatedly, Sam realized that they hadnât gotten to the Harry Potter series yet, Bucky picking both Star Wars and Star Trek (every single iteration, Bucky was obsessed) instead.
âFriend Falcon-Captain! Â It feels good to have a night of revelry with all of my shield-broth-â Â Thor stopped, his smile faltering slightly. âMy shield-mates! Let us toast!â
Sam tossed back the last few drops of his bourbon while Thor waited for Valkyrie to pass him the flask. Â Bucky just snorted at Thorâs naivete and headed towards the bar to grab a less alien drink. He reappeared a minute later with three glasses and handed two to Sam and Thor respectively. Â They clinked their glasses and drained half of their short tumblers as Valkyrie finally drained the flask.
Bucky and Valkyrie let out loud (and surprisingly deep) twin belches sending Thor and Sam into a fit of giggles. Â Bucky joined in their laughter while Val just rolled her eyes and walked off in the direction of the bar, no doubt in search of a bottle or two to occupy her hands.
âWhatâs so funny?â Â Shaw asked, coming up behind Sam and throwing his arm around Samâs shoulder and resting his chin on the other one. Â Yo-Yo circled around to bump robotic shoulders with Bucky causing Sam an immediate sharp flare of jealousy in his gut. Yo-Yo and Bucky shared too many similarities for Sam to not see her as a potential threat for Buckyâs time and affection. Â
âBucky was just showing us how to play the tummy pipes.â Â Sam said, his words slightly slurred. Â His laughter stopped abruptly.
Samâs smile fell away and Bucky noticed immediately. Â He glanced briefly to Shaw draped over Sam before he was somber as well, leaving Thor confused as to what exactly was happening.
âOh-kaaaay.â Shaw drawled as he picked his head off of Samâs shoulder, leaving his arm curled around Sam's neck. Â Sam was confused, Shaw was Buckyâs friend, theyâd met maybe 4 times total, but if Sam were to guess, heâd bet he was less intimidating to use as a prop than the once-king of Asgard or a super soldier.
Yo-Yo raised an eyebrow. Â âIt seems like we need to catch up with you guys. Â I could smell you from a foot away.â
Shaw hummed in agreement even though he was clearly ahead of Yo-Yo too if his inability to stand up straight was any indication. Â âValkyrie went off for more, but I fear that she does not intend to share anything she finds.â Thor said, sounding vaguely disappointed. Â âSo I must go and fetch us another round!â He looked very proud of himself for thinking of that as he turned and strode away.
âHe is amazing.â Â Shaw sighed, âWhatâs his deal anyway? Â Why doesnât he stay here full-time?â
Bucky glared at Shaw and Sam watched on in confusion. Â So now itâs not just Yo-Yo he has to worry about, now Bucky has a thing for Thor? Â Sam (not for the first time) thinks sadly, that heâs just a man. Â Heâs no Inhuman, he has no enhancements, heâs from plain old Harlem, not some mythical planet, and he canât call lightning with a thought. Â Heâs just Sam and maybe all he would do is slow Bucky down. So zoned out, Sam jerked when Shaw and Bucky laughed, making the room wobble unpleasantly. His obvious distraction just caused them to laugh harder while Yo-Yoâs lips curled into a small smile.
Sam, who realized he was the butt of some joke, flipped them off, making Shaw start all over again, finally taking his arm off Samâs shoulder to cradle his midsection as he bent forward, cackling madly.
Thor returned with a tray full of shot glasses. Â âLet us drink!â
âDamn big guy, you do not mess around, do you?â Â Shaw sounded awestruck as he straightened up and Sam was not at all bitter about everyoneâs obsessions with Thor.
Yo-Yo and Bucky grabbed two apiece, taking them in rapid succession just a hint of redness on their cheeks indicating that they were drinking anything other than water.
Shaw grabbed two shots, holding one out to Sam smiling wide, âUs normies gotta stick to our singles. Â I canât believe weâre more meat and no tech and still manage to be the lightweights.â
Sam laughed at Shawâs dig, even as he seethed inside at Bucky leaning down to murmur something to Yo-Yo, eyes on Sam the whole time. Â Thor ignored all of them in favor of knocking two shots back one-handed, looking disappointed at their flavor.
Sam, now unable to remember exactly how much he had already had, felt that being upright was overrated and sat down, hard. Â Bucky glanced at him in concern, opening his mouth to ask if Sam was alright, but Sam glared back insolently and Buckyâs jaw snapped shut and he turned back to Yo-Yo who had been watching them in amusement.
Shaw grabbed two of the last four shots and again passed one down to Sam, shrugging. Â âTo bad choices!â Â
Sam quickly echoed the toast and gulped the offered drink before clumsily getting off the floor, not finding it comfortable craning his neck up at everyone. Â Yo-Yo ambled away, tray in hand, clearly off to refill it. Sam saw Bucky moving out of his peripheral vision, but by the time he turned his head to get a proper look, Bucky was nowhere to be seen.
---------------------------------------
Sam squeezes his eyes shut as he realizes that the last person he can remember talking to was that irksome weirdo, Deke Shaw. Â Bucky had left him at the party alone with Shaw, clearly chasing after Yo-Yo. Sam is gripped by a combination of self-loathing and envy that almost chokes the air from him. He will never forgive himself if he has tumbled into bed with that asshole. Â This whole situation is entirely backwards. Heâs pining after a grumpy, nerdy, absolutely gorgeous white boy from the past, not a strange, trouble-magnet from god-knows-when in the weird-ass future. Â
Sam knows who he wishes it was behind him. Â Every day he tries his hardest to be the best friend (who is he kidding, heâs doing a great boyfriend audition and has been for months) to Bucky. Â After living together for almost a year, they have a certain bond, but not quite the type Sam wants. Â He thinks Bucky wants it too, most of the time, but Sam knows better than to try and rush something before itsâ time. Â Samâs father always told him that anything worth having was worth waiting for if necessary and James Barnes was definitely worth having.
The person behind him snores loudly once, before Sam feels a hand reach around his middle, drawing him back into a firm torso. Â Sam freezes immediately, afraid to look down and finally solve the mystery. The body he's trapped against is mostly warm. Mostly, because Sam can definitely feel the not-quite-cool smoothness of what Sam will bet everything he owns is vibranium against his shoulder blade.
Sam relaxes and very slowly, smiles. Â All of the hatred at himself for possibly ending up with anyone else leaves him as almost quickly as it came. Â He can't wait for Bucky to tell him everything. Â Or Thor. Â Or even Yo-Yo, even though Sam will make Bucky do all the talking if that's the route they have to go. Â Sam is willing to bet he has some interesting message on his phone if he bothered to check it (If it was even still on at this point, who knows how late in the day it is). Â Knowing that heâs lying here with Bucky surrounding him makes the not remembering much easier. He has no regrets other than not committing every single detail of the previous night to memory to constantly replay over and over and over again.
Satisfied that it is indeed Bucky heâs woken up with (Sam breathes in deep and could slap himself, how did he not smell the traces of his own body wash? Â Bucky is always stealing it instead of using his boring bar of soap and smelling himself on Bucky drives Sam crazy) makes it easy to let his eyes fall shut and let the hangover pass. His best friend (and maybe, hopefully, probably, finally more) is curled around him keeping out the noise and light of the world and Sam needs to sleep this hangover off. Â He smiles to himself as he focuses on the soft snores and drifts into a peaceful sleep. Sam knows that everything is going to be just dandy.
#sambucky#sbbingo1#winterfalcon#k's sambucky playlist#did they or didn't they?#I'm still unclear#fanfic#Sam is way too hard on himself#Bucky and sam are shits#Thor needs all the hugs#I'm only on season 1 of AOS so sorry about yo-yo and deke I have no real frame of reference yet
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Rick In The Water; Ch4: Pornostartrek
Summary:Â W H E R E A R E Y O U ?
A/N:Â Awwww, shit, who wants some Rick POV? Is it you? Cuz that's what you're getting! What's that? You also want Rick to fight against feelings? GUESS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU THEN. ehehehehehehe. CW:Â Discussions of death, suicide and all manner of death Pairing: Rick Sanchez/Reader Word Count: 5329
My ao3
Masterlist
|Ch3: Neon Moon|
I woke up one morning, two weeks after being dosed with truth serum, to Ryan sitting with his back to me, rocking back and forth slowly. I desperately wanted to just roll back over, to just ignore him and go back to sleep but he caught me before I had the chance.
â(Y/N), we need to talk,â he said sadly, and my stomach dropped. My mind raced with whatever I couldâve possibly done to upset him. Sure Iâd been spending most of my time hanging out in Rickâs garage, but with my entire day open ever since my salon had to let me go, what else was I supposed to do with my time? Nevermind the fact that I was becoming just as addicted to his presence as he had admitted being about mine, as though his admission made it okay.
âUh, okay. Whatâs up?â I asked as casually as I could. I sat up, pulling the blanket up to cover my naked form to give him my full attention as he stood up and started pacing the room.
âAre, are you happy being married to me?â His voice was raw as he spoke. âYouâre just never home, and when you are, youâre so distant. Iâm starting to think you donât love me anymore.â
I went into panic mode, prepping myself with my finger on the metaphorical trigger of Rickâs panic button. Was this finally the time? Was this going to be when he snaps? âOf course I love you, Ryan,â I murmured, but as soon as the words left my lips, I knew they werenât true. I hadnât loved him for a long time and no amount of mental dampening would ever change that. Unfortunately, judging by the look on his face, he was coming to a similar conclusion.
He never got the chance to try to confirm his fears as a portal opened up in our bedroom, Rick stepping through, looking at me frantically.
âNova! Nova, I need you to come with me!â he pleaded, grabbing me by my wrist and pulling me up from my bed and toward the glowing green orb.
âW-wait Rick! Where are we going?â I demanded, yanking my arm out of his grasp to cover my now exposed nude form. He gave a frustrated groan, averting his gaze.
âL-look, somethingâs not right with Morty! I just need your help.â he explained, annoyance seeping into his panic.
âAnd you were going to drag me off to help him in the fucking nude?â I asked hysterically as I started digging into my closet, looking for something to return my dignity.
âIs Morty okay Rick?â Ryan asked, his voice dripping with concern. I pulled on a pair of sweats and a tee-shirt, slipping on my trusty running shoes,
âHeâs not going to be if Nova doesnât hurry the hell up,â Rick said, panic taking over his voice again as he watched the window nervously.
âIâm here,â I announced. âIâm ready, letâs go.â
I followed him to the portal, sparing a glance to Ryan who watched sadly as I disappeared through it. I knew that conversation wouldnât stay unfinished, but at least for now, I wouldnât have to deal with it.
The portal dropped us into a small apartment, with Morty nowhere to be seen. I scanned the room, quickly realizing this was a den of a man who had all but given up. Old take-out tins littered the floor, mixed in with crushed beer cans and trashed gadgets. The room was dimly lit, making it hard to decipher much of the filth spread across the room, but I could make out a picture resting on a filthy pillow on an even filthier couch. I squinted, attempting to make it out but try as I may I couldnât see anything other than a feminine figure.
âW-whereâs Morty?â I asked nervously, but Rickâs face no longer wore a look of panic. Instead, a watery smile was spreading across his face as he gazed lovingly down at me before pressing his mouth to mine, kissing me desperately. I pulled away, shocked at the brazen assault.
âI missed you so much Nova; I thought I would never see you again,â he murmured, resting his forehead against mine.
âM-Missed me?â I sputtered, pulling away from the desperate man in front of me. âRick I just saw you yesterday. Circling back, what the fuck was that kiss?â
He looked at me with sadness in his eyes as he started pacing. âGoddammit,â he swore in frustration. âI just, I was hoping you and your Rick wouldâve crossed that bridge by now,â he rambled, wringing his hands together.
â My Rick?â I demanded, âWhat the fuck are you talking about?â
âNova, Iâm sorry,â he raised his hand to my face, his wrist opening up to expose a small aerosol can. It sprayed mere inches away from my face, making my head spin. âIâll explain, I promise. Just not right now.â
And everything went dark.
+Rick+
Where in the hell was Nova? Usually, when I saw Dipshitâs car pulling out of the driveway, she popped up like clockwork. I wracked my mind, thinking of something I couldâve done to upset her, and while there was more of a list than Iâd like to admit none of it wasnât recent or offensive enough to earn me her version of the silent treatment.
Maybe she had laundry to do or something. Sheâll be here eventually. Â
I turned back to my workbench, going back to the atomic speaker I had been working on, but I couldnât quite focus. I had felt the alarm from rubbing her panic button, but it had been one of the many comfort alerts, nothing that would signify something was wrong.
If she wasnât here in an hour, I was going to go check on her.
*+*
Ok. where the fuck is she?
I stormed up to the house, preparing to give her a piece of my mind for making me worry about her. Sure, I had only waited forty-five minutes, but my brain decided to take me down the dangerous path of immediately jumping to the conclusion that Ryan had done something to her. I rapped on the door, peeking into the windows as I tapped my foot impatiently. Her car was still in the driveway, she had to be home.
Thirty seconds.
A minute.
My mind raced with images of her being knocked out, hurt or god forbid dead. I pulled out my portal gun, opening one to her room and stepping into it. There didnât seem to be any signs of a struggle, but her phone was still on her bedside table. That was⌠weird. I sat down on her bed, turning the screen on to find a text from Ryan.
âI hope everythingâs okay with Morty, weâll have to pick up where we left off when you get back. I love you.â My nose wrinkled in disgust at the message as I tossed it back onto her bed, but its importance wasnât lost on me.
âI hope everythingâs okay with Morty.â
The fuck did that mean?
I opened another portal, this time into Mortyâs bedroom. Summer meant the kid was still sleeping, so I grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him violently. He awoke with a horrified gasp as I glared down at him.
âWh-where in the fuck is Nova?â I asked him urgently. Shit man, dial it back. She was probably fine.
Right?
âI-I-I donât know?â he exclaimed, confused. âI havenât seen her since last night.â
âSo you didnât talk to her or anything? Telling her something was wrong?â I grilled him.
âN-No!â
Well, fuck me running.
âWell sheâs not home, and there was a message on her phone, hoping you were okay.â I spat at him, panic starting to consume me. I pulled out my flask, taking a soothing swig from it. If I wanted to figure out what the fuck was going on, I needed to keep a steady head.
âWhy were you going through Aunt Novaâs phone?â Morty asked angrily.
âEveryday, Morty, every fucking day Nova shows up after her idiot leaves for work.â I shouldnât have to explain this. Morty knows sheâs at the house almost every goddamn day. âShe didnât show up today.â
âO-okay and? She has a life, Rick,â Morty reminded me viciously, âMaybe she had other shit to do?â
âOkay, that could be true Mo-uuurp-ty.â Pausing to take another swig, I considered his response. âThen whatâs up with the text message. What- how are you logicing that one out genius?â
âI donât know, Rick! Maybe she lied to Ryan, it wouldnât be the first time.â
âExcept with how docile he is, she doesnât have to,â I shot back at him. Even though Mortyâs explanations made logical sense, something just didnât feel right.
âI-I-I donât know Rick, maybe itâs just habit at this point,â the boy grumbled, climbing out of bed and pulling on his jeans. âIâm sure sheâll be over later, th-then maybe you can act like a clingy bitch to her and not me.â
âI-I-Wha-Fuck you, Morty,â I stammered, âI was worried about her, her fucking husband happens to beat her from time to time. Or are you going to keep ignoring that like everyone else in this fucking house does? Th-th-that makes me a clingy bitch? Paying fucking attention?â
âUh, a little bit Rick?â He glanced over at his clock. âRyanâs only been gone for an hour. Youâre in full-tilt panic mode a-a-after an hour? Plus, if your mental dampener is working so well, why are you freaking the fuck out?â
âI said it wouldnât work forever Morty,â I spat at him. âI-if his internalized, repressed rage becomes too much for it to handle, i-itâll short out and itâs all going to come out at once.â
He didnât respond, so I followed the boy out into the kitchen, letting my mind go wild with potential scenarios. Beth entered after us, an annoyed look on her face as she read a message on her phone.
âDad, could you not be portalling into Novaâs bedroom?â she sighed, âRyan just texted me to ask, he said you scared the shit out of them.â She rolled her eyes as she tossed her phone on the counter. âWhat were you doing over there anyway?â
âI-I wasnât there? At least, not when Ryan was,â I assured her. âI went over there looking for her, but she wasnât there.â Her phone buzzed again and she sighed as she picked it up to read the new message.
âWell, yeah, he said you showed up, freaking out about Morty and disappeared with Nova,â Beth quickly looked her son over. âWhatâs wrong with Morty?â
Oh, fuck me.
*+*
âI fucking told you, Morty!â I shouted, dragging him behind me into the garage after assuring Beth her son was just fine, for now anyway. âHow many times are you going to doubt my judgment?â
âWhen you stop being completely erratic,â he mumbled. âL-look, clearly one of the other Rickâs kidnapped Nova. Do- do you think itâs because they want something from you?â
âYeah, and theyâve already got it,â I growled as I opened the small metal cabinet I kept all of my anti-Rick technology. Fuck, I didnât want to have to explain this to Morty. Jesus Christ this was going to be awkward.
âTh-There are some Rickâs- on the citadel Morty- that developed a romantic relationship with Nova. Those Rickâs lo- care about their Novaâs like theyâre the physical embodiment of a Blips and Chitz or something.â Attaboy Rick, compare her to an overpriced fucking arcade, thatâs what she deserves. âSo either youâre right, and theyâre holding her for ransom, which would probably be an easy fix or some heartbroken stupid ass Rick lost his Nova and came for ours. And that asshole is no-uuurp-ot gonna wanna let her go.â
Morty processed a moment, before a look of confusion passed over his face. âI-I didnât see any Novaâs at the citadel when we were there.â
âWell Morty, if you werenât so n-narcissistically focused on yourself and all the other versions of yourself, you wouldâve seen her. Sh-she was there, you just-- just had to pay attention,â I insisted. I could feel my throat tighten, her absence felt like a glaring hole in my side. I slammed the metal cabinet shut, tossing Morty an anti-Rick pistol of his own and downing the remnants of my flask before pulling out my portal gun, punching in coordinates for the citadel.
God fucking dammit.
I opened the portal to the citadel, stepping through and immediately groaning. How fucking narcissistic was I to have so fucking many statues of myself in one city? Morty hopped through the portal behind me, eyes wide with wonder as he looked around, still utterly fascinated by this hellhole.
âC-come on Morty,â I ushered him past a Batman Rick and Robin Morty as we cut down a small alley, headed to the one place I did not want to go.
The Council.
I gave the Rick at the front desk a brief rundown of the situation, as he typed into the computer in front of him and gave me a number. Seventy-seven of⌠thirty. Fucking bureaucratic nonsense. This was going to take forever. I refilled my flask at a complimentary cooler, taking a swig. Ah, the space equivalent to vodka. It had been awhile. I paced back and forth as we waited⌠and waited⌠and waited.
What was happening to Nova? Was she okay? What the fuck was the fuckwad doing to her? Jesus Christ, when did I become such a fucking baby?
Thirty-one.
Thirty-two.
It had been half an hour and only two Ricks had gone in front of the council. Why wasnât this a higher priority? Didnât those assholes have a Nova of their own? They didnât deserve her if they did.
Thirty-three.
Thirty-four.
Another thirty minutes. At this rate, if the Rick that took her was going to do anything to her, heâd already wouldâve had time to wine and dine her. Would she know it wasnât me? I mean, there was no way for her to tell if he didnât tell her himself.
Thirty-five.
Thirty-si-
Fuck this.
I barged in front of Number Thirty-Six Rick, dragging my Morty behind me as forced my way into the Council Hall. âThe fuck are you doing?â Thirty-Six Rick shouted at me.
âWh-whatever parking ticket you got will have to wait,â I told him angrily. He followed me into the hall, the five Ricks sneering down at us.
âRick N-682, to what do we owe the honor?â Riq IV asked smugly. âRick J-384, weâll be with you in just a moment. return to the waiting room.â Rick J-384 started to argue, earning him a one-way ticket out of the hall, courtesy of the Soldier Rick stationed by the door.
âYou assholes owe me after that Evil Rick shit,â I started viciously.
âYou got your one free Morty coupon N-682,â Rick Prime shot down at us. âWhat more do you want?!â
âSomeRick came to my dimension and kidnapped the Nova from it.â My heart raced as the Ricks started murmuring back and forth, some wearing actual looks of distress.
âWhen did your Nova go missing? What is your relationship status with her?â Riq IV asked finally, his tone significantly less venomous than before.
âSh-Sheâs my neighbor. Spends a lot of time around m-my house.â I did fucking not want to get all in my confusing fucking feelings about her with this asshole. âSheâs one of the Novaâs that married Dipshit, whatâs his name, Morty?â
âRyan.â Morty sighed.
âShe married Ryan.â I spat his name out. âU-usually she shows up every morning after he leaves for work but when she didnât show up I went to check on her and she wasnât there.â My heart raced as I rambled. âBeth got a text from Dipshit saying I portalled into their bed-bedroom and took her because something happened to my Morty, but I was never there.â
âY-You let your Nova marry that fuckwad?â Quantum Rick asked furiously.
âI-I didnât have much choice. I wasnât around when that happened,â I admitted. âA-anyway, thatâs not important. Whatâs important is someRick took her for Rick knows what reason and I have no idea where she could be.â
âAlright N-682,â Riq IV mediated, âComputer! Bring up reported Nova d-deaths in the past six months.â The huge screen to the right lit up with images of beaten Novas, apparently taken out by their Ryans, a Nova that was smashed in a car accident and countless other heart-wrenching scenarios.
âWh-what the fuck are you Ricks doing to your Novaâs?â I blurted out, horrified at the images I was presented with. Morty covered his eyes next to me, unwilling to see his beloved Aunts in such horrendous situations.
âWhat is the likelihood of your Nova not knowing the Rick sheâs with is not you?â Riq IV asked, pointedly not looking at the screen himself.
âH-How am I supposed to know? I donât know what the asshole is doing with her!â
âComputer! What Ricks did the d-deceased Novaâs belong to?â A list of Ricks appeared on the screen, along with the cause of death associated. âComputer, run a filter for Ricks whoâs Novas were killed unexpectedly but also romantically attached.â The list shortened considerably, only four Rickâs remaining on the screen. The computer printed out the list for Riq IV who looked it over before passing it down to me. âHereâs a start N-682. Two of these Rickâs live here on the citadel, the other two in their own dimensions. Keep us updated on your findings. Good luck.â I grabbed the list out of his hand, opening a portal to head to the first Rick.
*+*
âY-Ya know Rick, seeing Au-Aunt Nova like thatâŚâ Morty trailed off as stepped through the portal to the first Rick on the listâs home on the citadel.
âIt fucking sucks doesnât it.â I hissed at him, unwilling to sort out how that might be traumatizing the kid,
âM-maybe it is good you did make that dampener,â he murmured. Ah, he was starting to see sense. Itâs about fucking time.
âW-Well yeah. Like I said, Iâm not the biggest fan of domestic abuse,â I relented.
âOh give it up Rick, I saw your face too when those d-dead Novas came up on the screen,â Morty chided. âY-Y-You looked fucked up too.â
âWh-what do you want from me, Morty?â I asked venomously, stopping at the stoop of the small house.
âYou care about Nova. M-m-more than youâre willing to admit,â he probed viciously,
âWh-Whate-*uuurp*ver you say, Morty,â I dismissed, ending the conversation with an urgent knock on the door. Morty conceded but still eyed me smugly.
What in the hell did he want from me? Nova mattered to me, sure, but he was making it out to be way more than it was. Sure, I liked having her around, but if worst comes to worst I could just go get another Nova, they were just as replaceable as Mortys. Or Jerrys. Or hell, Beths.
Goddamn, youâre full of shit old man.
The door opened and a solemn-looking Rick greeted us disdainfully. I resisted the urge to blow past him and scream Novaâs name, hoping she would reply. Emotional thinking like that would only get us killed. Instead, I had to lie. But, hey, I was good at that, I lie to myself every goddamn day.
âHi, weâre here on behalf of the council, may we come in?â I asked, putting on a very professional front.
âWh-what do you assholes want?â he grunted in response.
âJust a moment of your time Rick,â I glanced down to the paper Riq IV gave us, âT-394. Just some routine questioning. In and out.â He relented us, leading us through his dingy home. My eyes scanned every room we passed, falling on a picture of this Rick and his Nova. It was obvious she had been the one to take the picture, judging by the irritated look on his face. T-394 noticed my pause and turned to look at me.
âShe died a couple of months ago. Car accident on the citadel,â he explained thickly. âWhat did you want?â
âM-My Nova just went missing,â I admitted softly, before shaking my head and clearing my throat. âWe were wondering if you had heard anything about anyone kidnapping Novas.â
âWhy in the hell didnât I think of that?â T-394 said, irritated. âLook, no. My Nova was the only person Iâve met that was even remotely irreplaceable. Besides, Ricks donât let them go willingly. And for the Novas that never met their Rick, those are few and far between at this point.â
âThe Novas that didnât meet their Rick?â Morty asked.
âMost of the time, Nova ends up hanging around with Beth but there are a scarce few whose parents moved them across the country or Beth and Nova just werenât friends. Rickâs that lost their Novas used to go after them, trying to rekindle the relationship but it doesnât always work,â I explained, exasperated.
âHowâd you lose her anyway? Are you sure she didnât just run away? Some Novas do that you know,â T-394 scoffed.
âShe didnât- Nova didnât fucking run away you dick,â I bit back, âSome fucking Rick appeared acting like he was me and said something was wrong with Morty so she went with him.â T-394 nodded but didnât speak. âIf I come back here, after going through all these other Ricks and sheâs here, Iâm going to kill you, you know that right?â
âYouâd kill me if she was here right now anyway,â he retorted, unfazed. âIâve dealt with my Nova dying. I moved on.â The look on his face, however, completely refuted his claims.
âYeah, whatever you say. You better hope I donât have to come back here,â I threatened darkly, pulling out my portal gun, pressing in the coordinates to the next Rick.
âOh, fuck me, buddy.â
âYeah, fuck you.â
*+*
The next Rick lived in a high rise in the city. Morty and I took the elevator to the top floor, ignoring all of the Rick bums sitting outside on the street.
âH-How are there Rick Bums? Arenât they smart enough to just leave and go back to their dimension?â Morty asked.
âLife on the citadel is preferable for most Ricks, but some have a hard time making a life here. L-look, Iâm not here to teach you ethics, Morty. Figure it out on your own,â I told him harshly.
âJeez Rick, if this Rick that has Aunt Nova is in love with her or whatever, isnât she gonna be okay?â Morty shot back.
âYeah, thatâs if Nova doesnât fight back or do anything that could possibly be construed as an escape attempt.â My heart was racing again, and I quickened my step at the thought. âWe donât know anything about this Rick, Morty. He could be a fucking psychopath.â We approached the door, knocking urgently. The Rick that answered had long blue hair, and instead of the usual Rick attire, wore a long Hugh Hefner-esque cigarette jacket and lounge pants. Ugh, the upper-class Ricks were the fucking worst.
âThe fuck do you want middle-class Rick?â he barked from the doorway.
I took a deep breath, trying to control my temper as I went with the same line from before. âWeâre with the council of Ricks, may we have a moment of your time?â
âFuck off. The council knows not to bother me,â he dismissed, moving to slam the door in my face. âYouâre not from the council.â
I caught the door with my hand before pushing my way in. âNo, Iâm fucking not but someone fucking took my Nova and I am going to find out who one way or another.â Hugh Hefner Rick stepped back in shock, clearly not used to people standing up to him. He sighed, allowing Morty to follow us into his disgustingly decadent apartment. Long mirrors hung from the walls in a horrendous display of vanity, along with an advertising standee for Jerryboree. âWa-Wait, youâre the Rick that came up with Jerryboree? I-I donât give praise often, but that was ingenious.â
Hefner Rick shrugged, glancing over at the standee with irritation. âY-yeah, bigger headache than I anticipated.â He walked over to a small stand with crystal bottles of various sizes and poured himself a drink. âNow whatâs this about your Nova being kidnapped? How the fuck did you let that happen?â
âI-I didnât let anything happen,â I roared. I was really getting tired of having to explain this over and over. âSomeRick came into her house, pretending to be me, told her something about Morty being sick, or hurt or fucked up or something and she went with him.â
âA-And you think I had something to do with that? My Nova died from an overdose,â he said flatly. A horrified look formed on my face and he continued, âThis life ainât for everyone. I canât have someone that canât hang holding me back,â he shrugged again, lighting a fury within me.
âOh, so youâre one of those Ricks,â I challenged him, completely disgusted. Morty looked between the two of us, looking confused so I elaborated. âMost Ricks lo- care about their Novas, but then you have these assholes who use them and throw them away like garbage.â Venomous hatred was coursing through me as the Rick in front of me made no attempts to defend himself. He knew what he was.
âIt is what it is,â Hefner Rick confirmed nonchalantly.
âLetâs get out of here Morty,â I spat at the other Rick one last time before opening a portal back downstairs on the street. I paced angrily once it was closed behind me. Morty watched me cautiously, trying to think of the right thing to say.
âR-Rick, we should probably get to the next one,â he said in what I assumed was an attempt at a comforting tone.
âFucking dick. H-How do you just let someone like her just fucking die like that?â I shouted, drawing attention from the other Ricks and Mortys passing us on the street. âShe deserves better than that. There are Ricks that would kill, o-or kidnap to have a Nova in their life. And he just- he fucking let her die? I should go back up there and kill him myself.â Ricks and Mortys were stopped in their tracks, as Morty pulled the paper out of my pocket, looking at the next destination. I let him pull the portal gun out of my pocket as he fumbled to punch in the coordinates.
*+*
As we appeared in this dimension, we were immediately greeted with its resident Rick and Morty. They eyed us suspiciously as I glared down at Morty.
âYouâre not supposed to portal directly into a Rickâs garage,â I chastised him before looking back up to the Rick. âRick U-679, Iâm Rick N-682, I just had a couple of questions for you,â I told him, dropping all pretenses of the council. I was running out of time.
âI donât have anything to say to you fucks,â he growled back at me.
âYour Nova died not too long ago,â I posited, ignoring his slight.
âYeah, what of it?â he asked defensively.
âMy Nova was just kidnapped and I wanted to know if that would be something you knew anything about,â I accused. It was either him, or the last Rick and my patience was running thin.
âI havenât left the house in weeks. My Morty can tell you,â Rick dismissed, turning around with a wave of his hand. This dimensionâs Morty nodded, rolling his eyes.
âHe really hasnât. Ever since Nova died heâs been hyper-focused on trying to figure out how to resurrect her,â this Morty explained,âWeâve even got her corpse downsta-â
âShut the fuck up Morty,â U-679 shouted, delivering a blow to the back of his Mortyâs head. âLook, I want my Nova back, I donât want some fucking hand me down that doesnât know me from the Rick she knew. Now, get the fuck out of my dimension,â he snapped.
I opened my mouth to continue, but Morty U-679 shook his head fervently. I rolled my eyes, portalling back to the citadel.
âThis last guy, W-358 must be the guy Morty. Are you ready to fuck this asshole up?â I asked, pulling out my laser pistol, checking to make sure it was working properly.
âD-Do we have to kill him?â Morty asked hesitantly.
âFor all the headache Iâve had to go through, yeah, Iâd say we have to kill him,â I assured him darkly.
âItâs just- aw jeez Rick seeing those two Rickâs who lost their Novas, it seems like they were just hurting,â he reasoned, rubbing his hands together nervously.
âI fail to see how thatâs my problem, Morty. Itâs simple. You donât steal from another Rick.â
âI-Is that all Aunt Nova is to you? A possession?â Morty accused me. I stopped my inspection to look at him, narrowing my eyes at him as I spoke with as evenly as possible.
âOf course not Morty,â I fumed, âY-You just donât get it, Morty.â
âNo, you donât get it, Rick,â Morty argued back. âYou c-care about Aunt Nova. Why canât you just admit to it?â
âI-I already did?â I shook my head at him, going back to my pistol.
âY-Yeah, you try to make everyone think sheâs just something of yours with your âmy Novaâ this and âmy Novaâ that, but you are going insane not having her here. I can see it on your face and in your rage about how that rich Rick, as you said, threw her away like garbage,â he ranted.
âL-Letâs just get your Aunt back okay?â I said dismissively, stowing my pistol back into its holster. âYou can get all worked over feelings and shit when sheâs safe.â I opened a portal in front of us, preparing myself for a fight as I stepped through.
Holy shit, was I unprepared for what I walked into.
Rick W-358 was perched at his workbench, slumped over the table. Oh, and his entire fucking head was disintegrated from the laser contraption secured with a metal clip to the side of the desk. Something awfully similar to the one I had at home. Jesus.
âH-Hey Rick!â This dimensionâs Morty was calling from elsewhere in the house. I grabbed my Morty, pulling him out of view from the garage just as he entered the grisly scene. âHey, Ric- HOLY SHIT,â he shouted. My Morty and I shared a glance as W-358 Morty screamed for his mom. I opened a portal, disappearing on the other side.
âH-Holy shit Rick,â Morty gasped, bending over a trash can to vomit. âH-Holy shit. Donât you have one of those at home?â he asked me with a horrified look. âW-Were you gon- A-a-are you gonna-â
âN-No Morty!â I sputtered. âI mean, itâs there if I e-ever needed it, but I have no immediate p-plans to.â
âJesus Christ, that poor Morty,â he lamented.
âY-Youâre missing the point, Morty. That Rick obviously didnât take Nova,â I changed the subject, lest I end up losing my breakfast too. âSo that means either one of the Ricks from before, or someRick completely different.â I sat down on a nearby bench, resting my head in my hands as feelings of hopelessness finally crashed over me.
âS-So we go back to the Council. O-Or, m-maybe you could create a device to g-go through each dimension to find her. Thereâs gotta be something we can do,â Morty reasoned desperately.
There was nothing Morty could say that would make me see sense, nothing. It was the gentle alarm going off in my cybernetic arm that finally washed those helpless feelings away.
Novaâs panic button was going off.
+Ch5: I Wanna Be Yours+
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F R E E Z E
âOutta the way, bitch!â Damon pushed Timmy into the pile of snow the plow had created earlier. Timmy fell backwards into the snow and tried to push himself upright. He felt and looked much like a turtle stranded on its shell. He was unable to get his feet on the ground for the needed leverage which left him stuck flailing his arms wildly. All the other kids at the bus stop laughed at Timmy and when they no longer found enjoyment from his struggle they turned inwards at each other and made inappropriate jokes to keep entertained.
Timmy wiggled around in the hole, pushing himself deeper into the snow pile until he was able to put one foot on the ground, then the other. When he stood up the kids stopped talking and looked over at him, eager to see what would happen next. Timmy made no move at retaliation. He knew if he did it would end ten time worse for him. Damon walked over to where Timmy stood.
âAw, look, the little bitch made it out of the hole!â He laughed and the rest of the kids joined him.
âPut him back in the hole!â Some kid yelled above the laughter.
âYeah! Put him back!â A chorus of agreeing voices rang out. Damon took a step closer to Timmy which hushed everyone quickly. Timmy stared at his shoes and didnât dare look Damon in the face.
âYou want to go back in the hole?â Damon asked.
âN-no.â Timmy answered.
âN-no.â Damon mocked. âHow about we do it like this?â Damon walked over to the hole Timmy had just removed himself from and unzipped his jeans. He freed his prepubescent cock and pissed into the Timmy shaped hole. The other kids watched him with awe. Damon shook his penis twice to remove any residual drops and tucked himself back into his pants. He walked over to Timmy and grabbed him by his hair. âYou seem a little cold, Timmy. Letâs warm you up.â Damon threw Timmy backwards and he fell into the hole once more. Immediately the urine soaked into Timmyâs pants and underwear.
âEw!â A girl yelled from the crowd. âPiss puddle!â She laughed and pretty soon after the rest of the kids laughed with her. Damon felt pride swell in his chest. He loved being the center of attention, though he did feel bad for Timmy. Timmy hadnât really done anything to Damon. He was just the easiest target and Damon took advantage of that. A chant had broken out among the kids at the bus stop about Timmy sitting in a puddle, âP-I-S-S-I-N-Gâ which was quite unimaginative on their end and Timmy did not find it to be amusing. As he pulled himself out of the hole for the second time that morning, the bus pulled around the corner. Â It slowly came to a stop in front of the children and everyone piled on making sure to cut in front of Timmy so he was the last one on the bus.
Most of students on the bus were also in Timmyâs homeroom. The kids all rushed past Timmy to get into the classroom and when he finally made it himself, he noticed one of the girls from his bus talking to Ms. Sain. Timmy found his way to this seat and sat down. His pants and underwear were still soaked from the snow and piss but he didnât have any other options. The girl who had been talking to Ms. Sain walked towards her seat, giving Timmy a smirk as she passed.
âTimmy?â Ms. Sain called to him. He looked up. âCan you come here for a second?â Timmy got out of his chair. He left a wet mark on his seat and walked up to Ms. Sain. She talked to him in a low whisper. âI heard you had an accident this morning at the bus stop?â She asked him. He nodded his head. Finally Damon would get in trouble for the bull shit heâd been putting Timmy through. âIt can be quite embarrassing to-â She cleared her throat, âTo, um, not make it to the bathroom on time.â Timmy was confused. Did she think he peed himself? âBut itâs okay, accidents happen. Why donât you go see the nurse and ask if she has some clean clothes for you to borrow?â Ms. Sain smiled sweetly at him.
âI-I didnât pee myself.â Timmy finally stammered.
âItâs nothing to be ashamed about, Timmy, it happens all the time.â Ms. Sain told him. âGo see the nurse and when youâre all cleaned up you can come back.â Her attention had already moved from Timmy down to her attendance sheet. Timmy hung his head and walked to the nurseâs office, dragging his feet the whole time.
The nurse gave Timmy new underwear and pants to put on. He slipped out of his urine soaked jeans and pulled on the dark grey sweatpants. Everyone would know that something happened now that he had change his pants but he imagined the rumor had already gotten around that he peed his pants. Timmy was exhausted from Damonâs antics. He didnât know how much longer he could put up with it. Every time he tried to talk to his parents they were too busy fighting with one another to listen to anything he said. The teachers also didnât listen because one of Damonâs goons got there first and spun the story in a different way. Timmy was running out of options. He knew he was going to have to take matters into his own hands he just didnât know what that meant yet.
The whole day people laughed at Timmy as he walked through the hallways. He tried to make his locker trips as brief as he could to limit the amount of people who saw him. He ran into Damon at one point after lunch and he cursed whatever God had been in charge of that encounter.
âHey Timmy.â Damon said in an overly friendly tone. âCool pants.â He snickered. Timmy kept his head down and walked away as fast as he could. Damon didnât like that. He ran to catch up with Timmy and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around to face him. âI said cool pants.â
âThanks.â Timmy said under his breath. Damon smirked.
âWhereâd you get them?â Damon asked. Kids had stopped to watch the interaction. Timmy remained silent. âWhere. Did. You. Get. Them?â Damon punctuated each word.
âTh-the nurse.â Timmy replied. His head hung low and eyes began to water.
âThe nurse!?â Damon exclaimed. âShe dresses you now? What is she your mommy?â He mocked. The tears in Timmyâs eyes spilled over and fell to the floor. âAre you crying?â Damon laughed. âDo you need your mommy?â
Timmy sprinted away from Damon and headed for the front doors of the school. He didnât care if he got in trouble for skipping the rest of the day. He refused to go back inside. Itâs not like his parents would care if he got in trouble anyway. It took Timmy about two hours to walk home from school. Neither of his parents were home and he relished the silence of his house. He walked up the stairs to his room and closed the door behind him. He leaned his back against the closed door and slowly slid down to the floor. Timmy released his tears.
After Timmy had let go of everything he had inside him, he started thinking about his plan of revenge against Damon. He knew itâd have to be big, or he would never leave Timmy alone. As he contemplated his options he heard his parents start to fight downstairs. They had come home when Timmy was still crying and neither of them checked on him. It was as if Timmy didnât exist in their lives anymore.
âI could just fucking KILL you.â He heard his mom scream at his dad.
âOh yeah? Could you?â His dad yelled back. Timmy heard a glass shatter and the screams continued. He tried to tune it out as best as he could but the screaming went well into the night. Timmy got into bed and covered his head with his pillow and prayed it would be over soon.
The next morning Timmy woke up to his mom shaking him gently.
âTimmy? Sweetie?â She looked down at him. The first thing Timmy noticed was her black eye. The second thing Timmy noticed was the snow falling outside the window.
âHm?â He asked as he pulled himself out of his slumber.
âSchoolâs canceled today but your father and I still have work. Are you going to be okay to be home alone all day?â She asked him. Why was she even asking? Timmy thought. He was home alone almost every day.
âSâokay.â He answered and closed his eyes again. Timmy wasnât awake long enough to hear his mother tell him she loved him and she was sorry for everything. She left his room and headed to work followed closely by her husband. Timmy slept for another couple hours and when he woke up again the snow was still falling. He got out of bed and walked over to the window. There were already a few inches that had accumulated on the ground. The sky was gray and didnât look like it was going to stop snowing any time soon. Timmy decided today would be a perfect day to build his first snowman of the season.
Timmy dressed himself in his snow clothes and went outside. Timmy made snowmen every year. It was one of his favorite things to do in the winter. He even had a special scarf and top hat that his mom had bought him years ago to decorate his creations. Timmy began his process by making a small ball of snow in his hand. He dropped it in the snow on the ground and started to pack more snow on top of the small ball. He continued until a ball about the size of Timmyâs arm span was created. He rounded it out with his gloved hands, ensuring a smooth base. He repeated his method and stopped when the next layer was just slightly smaller than the first one. Timmy added it to the base and rounded out this one as well. He started working on the head and when Timmy got it to a size he was happy with he put it on top of the other two. Timmy sculpted each section of the snowman to be exactly how he wanted it to be. Satisfied with the snowman, he took a couple steps back and admired his work. The snowman stood slightly taller than Timmy did so heâd have to get on his tippy toes to put the top hat on its head.
Timmy looked at his snowman for a minute or two longer. He went back inside to get the finishing touches. He grabbed the scarf and top hat, he had a bag of coal he used for the buttons and the face and a carrot for its nose. He would have to cut two branches off a tree for its arms so he grabbed a kitchen knife and carried everything outside. Timmy balanced all of the things in his arms while he slowly closed his front door. He successfully closed the door and brought his items over to the snowman.
Damon jumped out just as Timmy reached the snowman. Timmy screamed and dropped everything in his hands. His heart pounded from the sudden shock.
âGot cha!â Damon yelled. âYou should have seen your face.â He laughed. âWhat are you doing, little bitch?â
âIâm making a snowman.â Timmy answered. He looked at Damon directly this time, knowing he needed to finally stand up for himself.
âYouâre making a snowman, huh?â Damon repeated. âHey, it looks pretty good!â
Timmyâs eyebrows rose at the compliment. âThank you.â
âSure would be a shame if it fell, huh?â Damon smiled mischievously. Before Timmy could answer Damon kicked the snowman through its middle section and the whole thing collapsed.
Timmy was frozen at first. His brain took a second to process what had happened. When he understood what Damon had done, Timmy narrowed his eyes. The blood rushed to his ears as the anger began to rise inside of him. He was sick and tired of Damon bullying him.
The words his mom had spoken last night came forward from the depths of his mind. âI could just fucking kill youâ she had said. He heard Damon laughing but it was muffled in his brain, almost like it was underwater. Timmy caught sight of the knife lying in the snow. The sun glinted off of it almost like it had winked at him and said, âPick me up! Heâll never stop if you donât kill him!â He picked it up and walked over to where Damon was bent over laughing. Without hesitation Timmy thrusted the knife into Damonâs neck. Damonâs laughter stopped promptly. It was replaced by a half cough half choking sound. Timmy pulled the knife out of Damonâs neck. Each time Damon coughed, blood squirted out of the hole. Timmy thought it looked like that one time when his mom and him were outside on a hot summer day and his mom grabbed their hose and covered half of the opening and sprayed him with the cold water. He watched as Damon clutched at the wound in his neck getting his hands covered with his own warm and sticky blood.
Damon struggled with his neck for another minute or two before he passed out from the blood loss. The blood still pumped from his neck but at a slower rate now that he wasnât coughing. Timmy dropped the knife on the ground and picked up some snow to wash his hands of the warm blood. He looked at his snowman mournfully. Well, why waste the rest of the day? He thought to himself. Timmy walked over to the base of the snowman and broke it apart. He wanted to start from scratch. Â Timmy started to form another ball of snow. When he made it as big as he wanted it to be, he carved out a hole in the middle. He made the second part almost as big as the first and carved out a hole in the middle of that one, too. Timmy formed the head last and hallowed out the inside.
He dragged Damonâs now lifeless body over to the base of his new snowman. He picked Damon up and coaxed his legs into the hole he had made. Damonâs body slumped over the edge when Timmy let go. Timmy filled the hole with snow, tightly packing in Damonâs legs. He grabbed the middle part of the snowman and pulled it over Damonâs head and shoulders. Again he packed in snow so Damon stood upright and not slumped over. Finally, Timmy grabbed the head and slipped it over Damonâs like a helmet. He grabbed the scarf and top hat from where he had dropped it earlier. Timmy dug the coal and the carrot out of the snow and carried them over to his new snowman. He decorated his snowman while he hummed Christmas carols. He picked up the bloody knife once more. He walked over to the tree line and cut down two branches of equal size. Timmy stuck them into the middle section of the snowman. Timmy took a couple steps back and smiled. This was the best and biggest snowman Timmy had ever made. After admiring his work he decided to go inside and make a cup of hot cocoa. Timmy opened his front door and walked inside as the snowman slowly turned red.
Colleen Burke
10.4.2019
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Gross
This is a late birthday present for @selenba / @f-r-f-t! I hope Gray taking care of a drunk Natsu counts as domestic in your books, Fran :)
[Ao3]
Gray peeks an eye open to check the message on his phone. You should have come! Lucy texts for the second time. Gray almost agrees. The house is too quiet without Natsu in it. He pulls Natsuâs muffler over his mouth and shrugs. He was just too tired to do anything other than send Natsu off with a have fun, be safe. Hell, he's still too tired to do anything but lay here.
Grayâs phone beeps again and he opens the snap Lucyâs sent him. His eyes go wide at the sight of Natsu on a table, shaking his ass and sensually pulling his vest off while Cana and Loke cheer in the background. He barely gets a glimpse at the black bar before the video is gone. Heâs imitating you.
Gray snorts. He strips to music once and Natsu never lets it go. Tossing his phone aside, he decides to nap before Natsu calls him to be picked up.
His phone rings an hour later, and after a minute of blindly fumbling he manages to answer. âStripper Boy,â Gajeel greets before Gray gets a word in. âSalamanderâs pretty drunk, you better come get him.â
âFuckâd you say, Gaj?!â Natsu barks somewhere on the other end.
âMind yer own business, Pinkie!â Gajeel says. Gray can practically hear him rolling his eyes. âAnd hurry up, would ya? He hasn't shut up about you for the last two hours.â
âYou know what, Gajeel-â Natsu roars.
Gray chuckles. âYeah, I'll be there soon. Don't strangle him before I get there.â
Gajeel barely gets in a, âNo promises,â before Gray hangs up and rolls out of bed.
Gray parks the magic-mobile outside Canaâs house and unhooks the SE plug. Natsu is easy to hear, even as he walks up the driveway.
That bright pink hair is the first thing he sees when he walks in the door. Itâs heartwarming, even sends a giddy swoop through his stomach. Gray has missed the sight of this ridiculous dragon the last several hours. The moment is short lived as Natsu jabs an accusing finger in Gajeelâs face. âAnd itâs not as if you haven't been foaming at the mouth talking about Levyâs legs all night!â
They're still going on about that?
âYou little-â Gajeel huffs. Levy throws him a stern, albeit amused look and he rolls his eyes. He spots Gray over Natsu's shoulder and tuts. âWhatever.â
Natsu lets out a triumphant ha! as he walks away.
With nothing to focus on, Natsu sways. He looks from one side to another in a way Gray recognizes. He's trying to find something to lean on so he doesn't let on how drunk he truly is. âShit,â Natsu says quietly.
Gray snorts and takes a few steps forward. He puts his hands on Natsu's hips to offer him some semblance of balance. Natsu stiffens and his hands clench. âHey, jack ass,â he growls, âI told you Iâm taken!â
Grayâs brow pinches. âEh?â
âHands off!â Natsu turns, fist swinging at Grayâs face.
Gray doesn't flinch, just watches the exact moment Natsu's nose catches up with the scents around him and his eyes widen enough to actually be open. His sneer vanishes, replaced with a brilliant smile and his fist opens to grab at the back of Grayâs shoulder as he launches from an attack straight into a hug.
âGray!â Natsu squeezes him hard and nuzzles his face into the crook of Grayâs neck the best he can.
âWhatâs the big idea, Ashes, swinging at me like that?â Gray teases.
âShut up,â Natsu says. âOne of Lucyâs friends keeps hittinâ on me.â He looks around, glaring at someone he can't find. âThink he mightâve finally left.â
Gray blinks at him, suppressing a smile at the innocence in Natsu's face despite the fact that he was completely ready to pop someone out of loyalty. âMaybe donât get so violent next time, hmm?â
Natsuâs lip juts out. âMaybe come with me next time so the creeps donât bother in the first place.â Gray opens his mouth to snark out a retort but Natsuâs got his face shoved against him again, nose softly dragging along his neck. âMy scarf smells like you.â Gray looks down in time to see Natsuâs cheeks perk up as he smiles.
Gray runs his fingers through Natsuâs hair. âLetâs get you home, Natsu.â
Natsu sighs and pushes into the touch before Grayâs hand is gone. âYes, love.â
âGross,â Laxus says, pulling Freed into his lap.
The bliss on Natsuâs face disappears. âWanna go, Lax?â Natsu asks.
Gray drags him towards the door before Laxus can respond.
âCan you believe him?â Natsu asks. He shakes his head when Gray tries to steer him towards the magic-mobile. Gray doesnât fight him. They only live a few blocks away. âCalling us gross when him and Freed are so- so-â Natsu laughs. âGross. Theyâre gross.â
âAre you saying heâs wrong?â Gray slips his fingers through Natsuâs. âWeâre rarely ever apart anymore. Tonight was the first night in, what, two months?â Natsu turns bright, shiny eyes on him and Gray rolls his own in turn. âItâs a miracle I havenât murdered you.â
Natsu sticks his tongue out at him. âYouâd miss me too much, Snowflake.â He mulls it over for a moment. âAside from that though, I donât think weâre that bad.â
Gray laughs. âNatsu. You cling to me koala-style every morning I have to get out of bed before you do.â
Natsu huffs. âSo?â
âSo sometimes I have to pee!â
Natsu chortles and bites into his lip. âWhy donât you roll me off then?â
ââCause you give me those damn puppy eyes and I end up staying twice as long as I normally would even if Iâm ready to piss myself.â
Natsu tilts his head. âDoes that⌠bother you?â
Gray shrugs. âNo one likes having to pee that badly. Especially with a grown manâs leg pushing down on your bladder.â
âNo, I...â Natsu grips his hand tighter. âI mean when I cling. I know I do it a lot and I donât mean to, I just-â He sighs. âI know you like your space. And I donât wanna drive you crazy.â
Grayâs brows furrow. âAre you kidding? You made me crazy before we got together.â Natsu flinches and Gray could kick himself. Shit. So humour isnât going to cut it here. âAll right, listen. Yeah, sometimes you make me crazy. Sometimes I just wanna sit in quiet and read a book and you crawl into my lap and poke me until I pay attention to you. Sometimes you sniff out the food I was hiding and scarf it down when you think Iâm not looking. Hell, sometimes you sing in the fucking shower at the top of your lungs when you know Iâm trying to take a nap.â
Natsu sighs. âIâm sorr-â
âNo, shut up.â Gray stops in front of their porch and sits down, tugging on Natsuâs hand until he sits beside him. As surprising as it is that Natsu still worries about this after 5 years together, Gray canât fault him for it. Everyone's always thought that Natsu is more invested in their relationship, maybe Gray needs to work on letting him know that isnât the case. âEven when you poke me to the point of me wanting to roll you off the couch, I want you there.â Natsu nods slowly and pulls their hands into his lap. âAnd I donât care when you eat my food âcause half the time I expect you to and knowing you enjoy it so much... I donât know. Makes it bearable. Besides, you end up buying me more out of guilt anyways so itâs not that big of a deal.â
Natsu laughs and leans his head on Grayâs shoulder. âAnd the singing?â
Gray groans. âAre you gonna make me say it?â Natsu nods again. âI like your singing. Itâs nice. Never woulda thought someone who needs their mouth taped shut half the time could sound like⌠like that.â
Natsu knocks their hands against Grayâs thigh. âAss.â
Gray knocks them back against Natsuâs. âSo, yeah. I guess sometimes you do drive me crazy. But it doesnât ever bother me. If it did, we wouldnât be here now, would we?â
Natsu hums. âYou got some annoying quirks too, ya know.â
âCharming,â Gray deadpans.
âNo, but-â Natsu pulls back up to look at him. âBut I feel the same. Not just ânot bothered.â Like⌠like Iâd rather it be you bugging the hell outta me than anyone else, ya know?â
Gray smiles, just a little, and nods. âYeah. I think I get what you mean.â
Natsu sits up straight, determination flashing in his eyes. âGray, I wanna ask you something. Can I?â
Gray laughs. âWhen has me telling you no ever stopped you before?â
Natsuâs fingers tighten around Grayâs. âIâm serious, itâs important!â
Gray starts at his burst in volume. âYeah, Ashes, of course.â
Natsu takes a deep breath and nods. Gray can pinpoint the moment where he realizes he hasn't thought of how he's going to ask but Natsu shakes it off quickly. Natsu looks at him a second, smiles and asks, âWill you marry me?â
Gray gapes at him and when Natsu doesn't get an immediate response he wilts, bravado seeping out with the breath that gets knocked from his lungs.
âNatsu-â
âIf you don't wanna-â
âNatsu-â
âI probably shoulda asked when I was sober.â
âNatsu-â
âMan, this sucks.â
âNatsu!â Gray grabs his chin and tilts it up. A grin spreads over his face. âWeâve been married a year and a half, you big dummy.â
Natsu looks mildly embarrassed, but it's gone as soon as it came when he remembers. Natsu leans forward and kisses his mate. His husband. âWell, lucky me.â
Grayâs cheeks burn and he shoves Natsu's face away from his. âTch! Laxus is right, we are gross and it's all on you.â
âIâm your favourite.â
âDebatable.â
âFact that weâre married says otherwi-â Natsu cuts off with a gasp. âWhereâs my ring, you cheap bastard?!â
Gray stands, walks up the steps and unlocks the front door. âBy the sink, where you left it when you did half the dishes.â
âOh, right.â
Gray laughs. âI canât believe you forgot weâre married.â
Natsu goes off on some rant about how it's Canaâs fault for feeding him shot after shot but Gray isn't quite listening. He's watching Natsu reverently slide his ring back on.
Natsu's still explaining himself, or repeating himself rather, when they walk into their room. He trips over one of Grayâs discarded shirts and faceplants on the carpet, swearing and laughing and Gray finds himself falling a little more in love.
Maybe they are gross. But Gray thinks that maybe he doesn't care.
#gratsu#natray#life ruining jerks#sorry it's late but i hope you liked it!#my writing#selenba#breatalesthefairys
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Practically Impractical
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Part 2
âDonât get me wrong,â Seven starts cautiously once theyâve packed her gear in the car, âthat was like, really cool. But what was it, I mean what happened there.â
âNothing,â she says coolly and buckles her seatbelt. âIt wasnât anything.â
Seven tries to drop it, he really does, but he canât help it. âI mean, no it was nothing, but I mean, you definitely rap battled that guy.â
He catches her look reflected in the window and for a minute he wishes he was anyone else, someone who could keep their mouth shut, maybe Jumin, but then her mouth twitches and he can see her suppress a smile.
âIt wasnât a rap battle, I didnât rap and I didnât challenge him.â
âNo you definitely challenged him, my girlfriend, palms sweaty, Yoosungâs spaghettiââ
âLuciel, Iâm concerned that you donât know what rap is,â she laughs.
He smiles, sheâs relaxed laughing, job done. It bothers him though, whoever that man had been he had known her and done something to her. Something she didnât want to talk about, and he was the king of not talking about things.
âOkay, okay. So you didnât rap battle, but you sang at that guy. I mean donât get me wrong, I donât mind filling my baby with your gear and playing roadie, and I really dig being your sound guy but if youâre gonna start assaulting strangers with acoustic alt rock can you give me some warning, do you know how many hits I could have gotten on a video like that?â
She smirks but itâs fake and Seven is quiet. Alright Saeyoung, he thinks, let it go for now. He watches her in his peripheral. She takes her phone out and he sees the colours of the RFA app reflect off her glasses, she switches between a chat and FB for a while and he thinks maybe he sees a picture of the guy from the sidewalk. By the time Seven pulls into his garage sheâs stuffed the phone back in her pocket and is staring out the window.
He can see her mouthing the words to the song that plays on the radio and a lump forms in his throat. Normally sheâd be pumped from rehearsal. The last time theyâd drove home sheâd pulled out her Ukelele and played the strangest rendition of Enter Sandman heâd ever heard. But here she was withdrawn, not even singing out loud to the ridiculous sad song playlist sheâd started.
They sit in the car for a few minutes before the radio turns itself off. She doesnât make a move when Seven gets out of the car. He stops for a minute, it wouldnât be the first time she came out to the garage to clear her thoughts. He moves on, heâll give her some time, make them a snack and find something really terrible to watch before she has to pick Max up from school; but he doesnât make is more than 3 feet before he hears her.
âHey,â she says softly. Her big orange eyes are watery on the other side of the window.
âHey,â he smiles, 3 big steps and heâs kneeling on the other side of the door forehead pressed against the glass. âI didnât mean to pry you know? You donât have to tell me anything you donât want to.â
âI know,â she says, still quiet.
âI donât even care who that guy was, you know. He looked like a douchebag. I hate his face and his shoes were really stupid.â
âYou know how I have a kid,â she starts.
âWHAT?!â He gasps. âSheâs a Kid? I thought she was just like Santaâs least helpful helper. Kid? Wow, I guess that makes sense.â
âSaeyoung,â she taps the glass. âThat was her Dad.â
Heâs quiet for a moment, it felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs. âI thought he was overseas.â
âMe too.â
âHe didnât tell you he was here?â
âIt might be R&R, I donât know, he doesnât tell me anything. He just pays support and I pretend he doesnât exist until he likes a couple pictures on facebook or owes me money.â
Heâd known the situation with her Ex was complicated. He suspected there was more to it than she wanted to talk about, the kid didnât ask for or about her Dad and in the month Callie and her girl had lived with him theyâd barely mentioned him. Until today heâd been such a non issue that Seven hadnât even been concerned enough to look him up.
Which was exactly what Seven was going to do now. He pressed his lips against the window in an exaggerated kiss that made her laugh and stood up. He heard the door open and Callie still laughing.
âHey,â she called.
He waved her off.
âLuciel, what are you doing we have to unload.â
âImportant defender of justice business!â
âNo, Seven, youâre not hacking my ex-husband.â
And there it was.
âSaeyoung,â her hands wrapped around his middle and he felt her cheek against his back.
âOh no!â he gasps. âAn unknown assailant! How will I escape.â
âSaeyoung,â she says, firmer this time but he can feel her cheek tense with a smile. âYou canât hack my ex-husband ok?â
âNo one will know,â he reasons.
âSeven heâs in the military.â
âIâm a pretty ok at hacking.â
âNo, itâs not. Itâs not that I think youâll get caught or, that I donât want you to hack him.â
âWAIT!â Seven spins in place and bends over until theyâre nose to nose. âDid my Queen just ask me to hack someone? Did an Angel just says that I Seven Zero Seven, Defender of Justice, am the single best hacker, capable of infiltrating Militaries?â
âThatâs not, Seven, this isnât a silly challenge, this is my life, our life.â
Shit.
âSaeyoung, donât look up his schedule, or what heâs doing. I donât want to know. I mean, I do butââ
âWouldnât it be easier? No one will know if I just find out how long heâs here.â
âYou donât understand. Iâd know. And on the off chance he does ask to see her Iâd have to worry about if I let on that I know his schedule... Saeyoung, if I ask too many questions about where he is he thinks Iâm obsessed with him. He thought when I didnât date I was obsessed him. When heâs lonely and bored he wants me to hang out. Itâs hard enough not to think about him every day when I donât know if he has time he could be spending with his kid.â
âOh.â
âFuck, no. Not like that.â
âNo, itâs ok. I mean you were married. Itâs, you know. Itâs fine.â
âGod no, Saeyoung, not like that. Shit. No. I mean I fucking hate him ok? And I have this awesome fucking kid and I hate that he doesnât want to hang out with her. He hangs up on her if her mind wonders on the phone, or sheâs out of view on skype for more than a few seconds. And when sheâs telling me about things that excite her itâs hard not to think about how hurt she must be that he doesnât want to share that.
And itâs hard not to think about him when you tell me I should replace my worn out patched up hoodie because for 10 years I couldnât even buy myself clothing without worrying it would start a fight. So sure, Iâd love for you to fuck his shit up. Iâd love even more to ghost him. Just forget he exists but I canât and as nice it would be to anticipate his bullshit Iâd rather not have to think about him that much.â
Seven is quiet, his expressive eyes are considerate and he kisses her on the nose. They unload his car in comfortable silence and he does make her a snack. Strange to have fridge full of real food; he contemplates whether to go healthy or convenient and settles on Honey Buddha chips with cheese and grapes. She eats it sitting on the floor, her head resting against his knee while he plays video games. She listens to the audio he took during the rehearsal and makes notes, which songs worked, where she was flat, sharp, where her time was off. She fires off texts and picks up her daughter from school.
He decides to work at the kitchen table while the girls make dinner. Max is smiling at him whenever he looks up. He closes out his work without finishing and watches them.
âHey,â he says. âCan I help you?â
âI donât know,â Max says sceptically. âCan you cook?â
Callie laughs. Seven shrugs.
âWhy donât you teach me.â
âThere isnât really much left. Mom just has to turn the oven on.â
âOh.â
âWhy does everyone call you Seven.â
âDo they?â
âMr. Han calls you Luciel but your name is Saeyoung, because thatâs what Mom calls you.â
âYour name is Maxine, why does everyone call you Max.â
âMax is a name, Seven is a number,â she makes a face at him.
âI didnât say it was a very good nickname,â he laughs.
âWere you coding before?â She asks.
âI was.â
âReally?â And before he knows it sheâs run off and returned with a bunch of little toys and a small computer he recognizes as some form of raspberry pi. She chatters excitedly to him about the toys sheâs coded. She shows him how she built the case herself and what sheâs made thatâs worked and what sheâs having trouble with. Callie smiles at him from behind Max.
Supper is cooling on the stove when Callie finally makes them clear the table and he canât stop smiling even if he is eating pretty much cold food. Itâs real food and thereâs these awesome girls who care enough to make it for him. And despite Saerenâs complaints about it being cold every time he looks up Callie is practically beaming at him. After supper he packs Maxâs lunch and adds a riddle in binary while Callie coaxes the 8 year old into the bath tub. He laughs listening to them argue about brushing her hair, and how long she can read before lights out.
Heâd worried, at first, about having a kid in his life. Itâs been six months and it got easier every day. On days like today he wondered how he could be so lucky to not only find Callie, but a whole family that he fit so completely into.
âI get it,â he says when Callie falls into the couch next to him.
âGet what?â
âWhat you said earlier. Every minute I spend with Max I learn this new awesome thing about her, sheâs smart and passionate and it must be frustrating to know how awesome she is and be faced with him.â
âYou do a pretty good job of making up for it though.â
âDo I?â
âOh god yes, coding is so far beyond me, she almost never tells me what sheâs working on until sheâs finished. Iâm excited she can share that with you.â
They fall into the usual quiet of the evening, with Callie testing out a game for her show and him coding something or other. Saeren was coming out of his room more and more, and Max opened up a little more every day.
âSaeyoung,â Saeren asks sitting in the chair opposite them. They both glance up. As much progress as theyâd made Saeren was still mostly quite when Seven was home.
âYeah?â She could see the way he tried not to seem too eager, the way he didnât quite look up from his laptop screen.
âArenât you afraid?â
Callie doesnât realize sheâs holding her breath until she lets it out. âOf what?â
Saeren doesnât take his eyes off of his brother and he doesnât clarify.
âTerrified,â he admits. âBut a little less everyday.â
âOf what?â she asks again.
âBeing like her,â they say in unison.
âOh god,â she says under her breath. âI never thought, I didnât know.â
Seven shrugs and smiles. Saeren watches him.
âYou know,â Callie says finally, âshe doesnât define you. Either of you. Not who you are, and not your ability to be Maxâs family. Maxâs Dad has good parents, kind people who care and try despite what a complete bag of soggy horse dicks he turned out to be, and he is a terrible father. If anything I think you guys might be better with her than I am. Maybe you check yourselves more than I ever think to but Iâve never worried about leaving her alone with either of you. Leaving the two of you alone together maybe but not her with you.â
âThatâs stupid,â Saeren snorts.
âWhich part?â She asks. Genuinely curious.
âYou donât worry when you leave her with us? You should at least worry a little bit.â
âI worry when I leave her with Zen, because he might fill her full of candy or take her on his motorcycle. I worry when I leave her with Yoosung that she might convince him she can use the stove or accidentally delete his LOLOL inventory or make him cry. I worry that maybe sheâll irritate you when you need quiet or she might trip over a powercord and end up messing up a day of work for one of you. But I donât worry about her safety. Should I?â
Saeren shrugs, and Saeyoung squeezes her arm.
âYou guys are our family now. We trust you. So get used to it.â
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Text
Best Part of Me -Chapter 63
Warnings: none
Tagging: @c-a-v-a-l-r-yâ, @alievans007â, @innerpaperexpertcloudâ, @ocfairygodmotherâ

 With a late afternoon rain came a break in the oppressive humidity; a much cooler breeze appearing as the sun began to set.  The four oldest are already tucked into bed;  satisfied and content after daddy obliged every request for âjust one more storyâ and they were spoiled with seemingly endless cuddles, hugs, and kisses.  So relaxed and secure knowing that heâs under the same room that sleep came easily to all of them; worn out from not only the excitement of him showing up unexpectedly, but then spending every waking moment of the rest of the day vying for his attention. Constantly talking over one another, fighting over who go to sit on his shoulders when they showed him the animals, squabbling over who got to be beside him at dinner. Itâs only been four days since theyâd seen him at the airport, but it may as well have been a lifetime to them; ten minutes not nearly enough to erase the ache in their little hearts or the feeling of loneliness inside of them.
While not exactly a constant fixture in their lives at times because of the job and its unpredictability, heâd always been a hands-on father; starting right from the moment they found out there was a baby -or babies, in this twinsâ case- on the way. Attentive and loving and even more protective than usual; determined to keep both her and the life inside of her as safe, secure, and healthy as possible. Feeling pride and wonder that heâd even been given the chance to be a father again; able to create life and nurture it when in all aspects, he should have died that day on the Sultana Kamal Bridge.  Every one of the pregnancies...everyone of the kids...serving as reminders of not only  just how lucky heâd gotten that  day, but that someone whoâd made the mistakes and the bad decisions heâd had could still be worthy enough to be a dad once more.  And heâs always been determined to be the best one he can possibly be; wanting to not only right all previous wrongs, but to prove that he could be a better man -and husband and father- than his old man had tried to teach him to be.  Loving his children with every shred of his being and devoting himself to every aspect of their care and upbringing; even things as simple and mundane as  changing diapers or giving them bottles or at the very least bringing to her for a feed.
As the first three got older, he took on new challenges and changes to guide them and help shape them for their futures.  Whether it be something as profound as encouraging them to be compassionate and accepting and loving, or something as ânormalâ as teaching them to surf and play soccer or even learning how to braid his little girlâs hair. No task too big or too small. Never complaining about being woken up in the middle of the night or hesitating when it comes to both showing affection and receiving it. And as corny and as sappy as it sounds, Esme realizes just how fortunate she really is; having someone that is willing to do it all without having to even be asked. Sheâs heard plenty of horror stories from the moms at school; tales of lazy and useless husbands that complain about even a half an hour spent for their children. Always able to brag about him and then able to go  home knowing how she âlucked outâ. Somehow, even during the craziest and possibly scariest time of her, managing to find the best possible person -and partner- to have a family with.
She stands by the open door of the balcony that leads off the bedroom sheâd been âassigned toâ. Both watching and listening to him as he lays flat on his back on  a two person lounge chair with Addie on his chest; her tiny fists curled tightly around his index fingers as she alternates between raising her head and resting her chin against him.  Those  enormous dark eyes never leaving his face and  a happy -and completely genuine- smile taking over her face every time he talks to her; the corners of her eyes and the bridge of her nose crinkling. He changes when heâs with her. In the same way he had with all the others when they were babies.  This big, tough, strong man suddenly so gentle; his voice softer and calmer. Deeper, even. Enamored with her in the same way she is with him; his own eyes sparkling and crinkling and his own smile both testament to the fact that he finds her a complete wonder. Not quite believing that she really exists; questioning what he could have possibly done to deserve her.
Heâs a wonder himself. So brave and fearless and capable of inflicting so much pain and suffering, yet possessing so much tenderness and love.  It would be so easy for him to be jaded and broken; to fall back into old habits and to become dependent on old, dangerous vices. But no matter how bad things get, no matter how difficult or impossible they seem, he puts all his time and effort into being a  good man. Into loving his wife and children with everything he has.
âWhat are you guys doing?â she asks, as she steps out onto the balcony, drawing her hoodie tight across her body.
Tyler tilts his head back and smiles up at her. âNothing. Just hanging out. Talking.â
âI hope youâre not telling her gruesome stories.â
âI would never do that to my little peanut,â he declares, and runs a palm over Addieâs hair, hand settling on the back of her head. âDaddy would never do that to you. He saves that stuff for mommy.â
âBecause mommy so wants to hear  your tales of killing people with garden tools. Look at the way she looks at youâŚâ Esme leans over the back of the lounger and presses a kiss to his lips. â...like youâre got rainbows and glitter coming out of your ass or something. Already a daddyâs girl.â
âNothing wrong with that. She knows who loves her the most. Who used to bring mommy tacos and ice cream and pop tarts at three in the morning when she was still in mommyâs tummy.â
âShe definitely likes your voice. Not that I blame her; itâs a very nice voice.â
âSheâs strong as hell already. Already holding her up on her own. None of the other ones did it that early. And sheâs got a grip on her. Small and mighty. Like her momma. And you look just like your mom.â Â he addresses Addie now, as he removes his fingers from her grip and lifts her higher onto his chest; lips resting briefly against her forehead. âBeautiful just like her. Daddyâs not going to complain that you didnât get his genes.â
âHow do you think I feel? The first four look just like you. Itâs about time one of them took after me. Â She does have your smile, though. Even her eyes and her nose wrinkle like yours do.â
âYeah, but sheâs all you. And thatâs good,â he smiles up at her once more, as her hands slide over his shoulder and down his chest and she pecks the corner of his mouth. âItâs very good. Sheâs incredible. Just like you.â
âAre you hopped up on pain meds?â She teases.
âNot yet. Â Why? Iâm not allowed to be all sappy and shit with my wife?â
âYouâre allowed,â she says, then sinks down beside him, accepting a short, sweet kiss before stretching out on her side. Chin resting on his good shoulder, one hand on his stomach and the other just above his head; fingers  gently combing through his hair. âSheâs putting on weight. Sheâs going to graduate out of preemie clothes and diapers. Only took two and a half months.â
âSheâs tiny. Like you.â
âI donât understand how something that small can come from someone the size of you. None of the other kids were that small. Not even Tanner and he was sick. And Declan? Donât even get me started on that kid. That was like giving birth to a toddler.â
âSheâs always going to be tiny. I mean, you hit twelve and never grew again.â
âYou know what, Tyler? Fuck you and your short jokes.â
âDonât be bitter because you canât get on the rides at the amusement park or reach things at the bottom of the washer.â
âYouâre not very funny,â she grumbles, and presses a kiss to his chin. âJust because youâre absurdly tall and absurdly good looking. What a burden you have to live with every day. How do you manage? How do you carry such a heavy load all the time?â
âHeavy load? Weâre talking about my dick?â
âYouâre a pig,â she declares. âDonât talk like that in front of my child. She doesnât need to hear these things. Look at the way she smiles at you. Youâre her favourite already. Not that I blame her; youâre my favourite too.â
âYeah?â
âYeah. No one else comes close.â
He smiles, then turns his face into hers and kisses her. âWe did good, yeah? With her?â
âWe did. With all five of them. And at the risk of sounding conceited, we make some pretty damn good looking kids.â
âSome pretty amazing kids.â
âWell, they have an amazing dad, soâŚâ she raises her head from his shoulder, regarding him intensely as she runs her fingers through his hair. âAre you okay?â
âI donât know,â Tyler admits. âI really donât.â
âAre you going to tell me about it, orâŚâ
âI donât really want to.â
âI think you should. I think you NEED to talk about it. And I think deep down, you want to. You donât have to shelter me, Tyler. Â I married a mercenary; I went into things understanding the life and knowing the risks. You donât have to hide stuff from me. You think youâd realize that by now.â
âI do. But YOU should realize that I do it to protect you.â
âProtect me from what? You? Because thatâs bullshit and you know it. Iâve never once been afraid of you. Not in the slightest. And despite what you think, youâre not a burden. We went into this...marriage, having a family...expecting to help shoulder each otherâs problems. Â So stop trying to do it all on your own. Youâre strong, but youâre not THAT strong.â
He sighs heavily, then drops a kiss on the top of Addieâs head
âWhat happened, Tyler? Because I know this goes way beyond someone just jumping you. What the hell went wrong?â
âI donât know. It was fucked up right from the beginning. As soon as I got there. It was this old factory turned into student housing or some shit. I had these four guys to take out; four shots, thatâs all I needed. They were across the street at some bar or restaurant or whatever. I was waiting for them to come out. It should have been so fucking simple.â
Esme rolls over onto her stomach, chin resting on his chest as she regards him; patiently waiting for him to continue. She doesnât push; that will only cause him to shut down completely. Instead she bides her time. Watching his face as her fingers fidget with the chain around his neck.
âThings started going to shit. The street lights kept going on and off; just the two right in front of us. Then they went out completely. So I went to get the scope out of my bag, so I could see what the fuck I was doing.â Â His eyes narrow and his brow furrows as he attempts to recall the details. Â âAnd I donât know I saw him or heard him but all of a sudden he was just there?â
âWho?â
âI donât know. Just some guy. Big bastard. Wearing a black ski mask. It happened so fucking fast. I didnât even get a chance to react. Nailed me right in the shoulder; like he knew where to get me. Where one of my weak spots is.â
âHow would he know that?â
Tyler shrugs. âNik thereâs a mole. She said sheâs looking into it, but I donât know. She hasnât said anything since.â
âWhat do you thinkâ
âI think somethingâs fucked. He knew where to get me; knee, back, shoulder. He knew it and he took advantage of it. Â I stand a fucking chance. Thatâs how quick he was. He was so fast, babe. He wasnât fucking around.â
âAnd where did these come from?â She runs a hand along the enormous, painful to the touch bruises on his biceps; arm now out of the sling. At least for the evening. âBoth arms? And thatâs NOT from someone grabbing you.â
âIt was his knees. He wanted to keep me still; so I couldnât get to my holster or the rifle. Fucking kept grabbing me by the throat; trying to choke me out.  Kept asking me if I give up. I basically told him to go fuck himself. I wasnât giving up. No way in hell. All I kept thinking about was youâŚâ his voice cracks with emotion and tears well in his eyes. â...all I kept thinking about was you. About me getting a second chance and that I wasnât done with it; I wasnât ready to let that end. That I didnât want to leave you or my kids. That I needed to survive. That YOU needed me to survive.â
âTylerâŚâ she presses a kiss to his cheek, then nestles her nose against his temple; eyes closed and her forehead against him, fingers still moving through his hair. â...itâs okay. Just breathe. Thatâs all you have to do. Just breathe.â
âI wasnât going out like that. I wasnât letting it end like that. I wasnât letting US end. So I fought back. But I couldnât get away. No matter what I did, it wasnât good enough. He was so fucking strong, babe. Tall and big and heavy as fuck.â
âHow did you get away?â
âI donât know. Thereâs A LOT I donât know. That I donât remember. Itâs all a big blur. Itâs all there there and I know itâs all there but I canât piece it together and none of it makes sense.â
âWell tell me what you do remember,â Esme encourages. âIt doesnât have to make sense. Just tell me whatever comes to you.â
âI know he drugged me. I remember that part.â
âDrugged you? WhatâŚ?â
âHe had a needle. I remember seeing it. I remember feeling it. Right thereâŚâ he lays a finger against the right side of his neck.  â...just jammed it in. It was cold; whatever was in it. It was cold and it burned.â
She heaves a long, shaky sigh; her own tears threatening. âIf he wanted to kill you, why would he do that? WhyâŚ?â
âHe didnât want to kill me. He wanted to knock my ass out. He probably had a few buddies waiting to help get me out of there. I know that sounds crazy. It sounds fucked up even to me. But I know thatâs what was going to happen; what Mahajan told them to do. And I don't know where they were going to take me. Somewhere in the city, out of it, I donât know. But it wouldnât have been good once they got me there.â
âI donât even want what to think about it,â her voice trembles.
âThey wouldâve let you know. That I was still alive. And they would have made you sure you knew what they were doing to me. They would have sent you pictures or made me call you or mailed you pieces of me.â
âI donât want to think about it,â she repeats, then promptly bursts into tears; one hand clutching the front of his shirt and the  other at his hair, face buried in his neck. âPlease donât. Donât talk about it. Just stop.â
****
His shoulder throbs just with the simple act of laying his hand on Addieâs back to keep her secure. And he wraps his left arm around his wifeâs trembling body, drawing her tightly into his side. Eyes closed and his chin resting on the top of her head; hand sliding up the back of her simple cotton t-shirt, knuckles repeatedly brushing up and down her spine. Not even attempting to hold his own tears back; feeling the moisture from hers settling on the side of his throat and his shoulder.
âI canât think about it,â she whimpers. âI canât. I canât think about what they would have done to you.â
âItâs okay, baby. It doesnât matter now. Iâm here. It didnât work. Whatever they had planned, I fucked it up. And Iâm here and Iâm not going anywhere.â
âTheyâre sick and twisted fucks!â she cries. âAnd they would have made sure I knew what they were doing to do you and I wouldnât have been able to do a goddamn thing about it. I wouldnât have been to help or get you out of there. I wouldnât have been able to do a fucking thing for you.â
âItâs alright, Esme. You donât have to worry about it. It didnât work. I fucked up everything for them  and now Iâm here with you and the kids. Where I should have been all along.â
âI donât understand,â she raises her head to look at him. âHow did they know where you were?â
Tyler shrugs.
âHow did they get that close to you? Close enough to do all of this? HowâŚ?â
âI must have slipped up somehow. Maybe my brain is worse than we thought. Maybe Iâm slowing down. Making mistakes MaybeâŚâ
âYou donât make mistakes,â she argues. âI know you. I know how you work. Iâve SEEN you work, You donât slip. You donât fuck up. And you are as hell arenât slowing down. Youâre even better now than you were back in Dhaka. And thatâs saying a lot because you were pretty fucking amazing even then.â
âSomething happened. I made a mistake somewhere.â
âYOU didnât do shit. This isnât on you, Tyler. This is not your fault. Someone fucked up, but it wasnât you. Who was watching you? Where were they?â
âAcross the street. Keeping an eye on shit.â
âAcross the street?! How the hell were they keeping an eye on you from across the goddamn street?! Whose idea was that? Yours?â
âI didnât want anyone breathing down my neck. I canât work like that. Iâve NEVER been able to work like that. And itâs not like I knew was going to happen. I didnât want in there expecting some fuck not come in and choke me out and stab me with a fucking needle.â
âOkay...okay...calm downâŚâ Her tone is gentle, his face in her hands. â...itâs alright. Iâm not attacking you. Just take a break; everythingâs fine. Addieâs asleep. And so sheâs tiny and sheâs so warm and I know you donât want to scare her. Calm down, okay?â  She presses a kiss to his lips. âJust stay calm.â
âI didnât mean it. I didnât mean to snap at you. Iâm sorry, I didnâtâŚâ
âWho was supposed to be watching you?â
âNathan. He had to take the four guys out when that fucking asshole came after me,â
âCalmâŚâ she encourages, thumbs brushing over his lips. â...just stay calm. Itâs okay. It's just you and me talking. No one else. No oneâs judging you, Tyler.â
His eyes close, and he inhales deeply and exhales slowly. âNathan,â he says, eyes opening and focusing on her. âNathan was there; across the street. He took care of things. I donât know what happened after that. Cops showed up, he took off. No one has seen or heard from him since.â
She frowns. âNathanâs missing?â
âMissing. AWOL. I donât fucking know. Heâs gone. Cell and his SAT just go right to voicemail.â
âCould someone have gotten a hold of him? Could there have been someone else?â
âWhy would they want him? What does holding him do? Heâs a nobody to them. He means nothing to Mahajan. Itâs me he wants. Taking Nathan does shit.â
âWell where could he be? Why would he just take off? That makes no sense.â
âWho the fuck knows. Maybe heâs dead. I have no idea. I just know heâs gone and no one knows where he is.â
âThis is fucked up. Way more than we thought it was. We knew it wasnât going to be easy. That Mahajan plays dirty and that heâd  just step it up as time went on. Now people are going missing? YOU almost went missing. What the hell is going on?â
âI donât know, babe. I really donât know.â
âYou need to walk away. This ends here. Your part is this. It ends right here, right now. Walk away, Tyler.â
âI canât. The job isnât even close to being finished.â
âFuck the job. Itâs finished for you. Look at you! Look what they did to you! They knew where you were, they knew what spots to target. They fucking drugged you! Â That alone could have killed you. Do you even know what he gave you?â
âKetamine. I guess itâs a sedative of some kind.â
âYeah, for horses! What the fuck? Whatâs next? If they get that close again, what happens?â
âThey wonât get another chance.â
âYou donât know that. Theyâre not going to stop, Tyler. Do you really think theyâre just going to walk away? Theyâre not going to give up. Not until they get you. He knows youâre here. Mahajan. He knows youâre in Mumbai. And soon your name and your picture are going to be everywhere and every goddamn gun in this city is going to be pointed at you. Is that what you want? You WANT there to be?â
âNo,â he scowls. âThatâs NOT what I want.â
âThen why are you doing this? Why wonât you just walk away? Why canât you just let Anil and his people and Nik and hers handle this? Why are you doing this?â
âBecause itâs MY family. Not theirs. Mine.â
âAnd your family wants you alive!â Esme retorts. âWe donât want you out there dying for us. We need you here. With us. So just tell Anil youâre walking away . That you HAVE to walk away. That you need to be with your family. Tell him.â
Tyler shakes his head. âI canât, baby. I canât do that.â
âYou donât need to do this. Thereâs other people who are more than capable of handling things. Walk away, Tyler. Before you canât. Before itâs too late. Because if they go that close to you once, theyâll do it again. And this time it wonât be just one guy. Itâll be two. Or three. Or four. Or half a fucking dozen. Why arenât you listening to me?â
âI am listening. Youâre not listening to me.â
âThis is a suicide mission. This is the kind shit you used to pull before we met. Donât go back to that. Donât go back to being him. He died a long time ago. You said it yourself; that he was long gone. Youâre not the same person you were back then. Â You have me and you have five little beings you helped make. That love you and need you in their lives.â
âIâm doing this for them. For he,â he nods down at Addie as she sleeps peacefully. âSo she can grow up. So she can have a life.â
âA life without you. Thatâs what youâre saying, right? That youâre going to sacrifice yourself for her. For us.â
âWe knew that going into this. That it would happen.â
âNo. We thought it MIGHT happen. Thereâs a difference. And Iâm asking you...NO...Iâm telling you...walk away so you donât have to make that choice. So it doesnât come to that.â
âIâm sorry, baby. I am so sorry.â
âSo whatâs it? Youâve just decided that this is whatâs going to happen? You just decided for yourself that youâre going to give up. Youâre telling me that youâre okay with that. Dying for us.â
âIâve already taken bullets for you. Trying to get you the fuck out of Dhaka. And I would take all of those bullets again. And then some. I would die for you in a heartbeat. For you, for my kids. No hesitation.â
âBut you shouldnât have to!â Esme argues. âAnd you donât have to. Just walk away. Let other people handle this. Please. You have two choices and youâre making the wrong one. Why canât you see that?â
âIf I give myself up, heâll leave you alone.â
âYou donât really believe that, do you? That thatâs going to solve everything? Because it wonât. You offering yourself up like some kid of sacrificial fucking lamb is not the answer.â
âHey...calmâŚâ He reaches up and pushes a hand through her hair, tightly gripping the back of her head. â...you told me to stay calm for Addie. Now I need you to stay calm for her. She doesnât need this. She's a baby. Just a baby.â
âYeah, she is. Sheâs OUR baby. As in me and you. And she needs you. She needs her dad. They all do. And youâre sitting here telling me that youâre willing to offer yourself up. Itâs bullshit and itâs insane and I want you to knock it the fuck off.â
âI said calm down!â He orders, then aggressively pulls her into him. Pressing a kiss to her forehead. â...just calm down. Please. Take it easy.â
âYou are NOT doing this. I wonât let you. This is not what we talked about, This is not what we agreed on.â
âThereâs no other choice.â
She shoves him away. âThereâs always another choice! It doesnât have to come down to this. You for us. It doesnât need to be this way and you know it.â
âI donât know what you want me to do. I canât just walk away. I canât.â
âPromise me when you walk out that door two days from now that wonât just go and offer yourself up. You donât need to do that. Thereâs other ways. Thereâs still fight left in you. I know right now you feel like there isnât. I know you're doubting yourself. But I have faith in you and I know you can handle this. WITHOUT giving yourself up. Promise me youâll fight back. That youâre not just quitting. That THAT will be the last resort.â
âIf I have no other choice, Iâll do it.â
âBut right now you HAVE other choices. You know that, right? You see that?â
Tyler nods.
âBecause you donât give up. You NEVER give up. Youâre alive today because you didnât. So donât fucking start now. I mean weâre supposed to be having another baby. And I donât know if you realize how these things work, but I kind of need you for that.â
âI could always just jerk off into a cup and you save it.â
âOkay, you know what? No. Iâd rather the old fashion way, thank you. I kind of like having sex with you. Itâs kinda fun.â
He smirks. âKinda?â
âOkay, itâs a lot of fun, actually. I didnât think  I had to say that. I thought the results spoke for themselves. We donât have kids for nothing. And Iâd say go for the sixth one right now, but you jumped the gun and you decided we were done and go the oldâŚâ she holds her hand up, mimicking a pair of scissors with her index and middle finger.
âNot my best decision, I admit.â
âYou have this uncanny ability of changing your mind about this whole having another baby thing. How many times have we decided that weâre stopping only for you to turn around and want another one the second the baby came home?â
âItâs never been THAT soon.â
âExcuse me? How old were the twins when you decided that three wasnât enough after all?â
âYeahâŚâ he gives  a small, almost sad smile. â...but that one didnât work out, did it.â
âNo.â She presses a kiss to his temple. âIt didnât. And I know it was hard on you. That you didnât really get to grieve like I did. Iâm sorry for that. That I wasnât there for you in the way you were for me. Iâm pretty fucking selfish, arenât I.â
âNo, youâre not. You needed me a lot more than I needed you. Just hard sometimes still. Thinking about it. It was a shitty fucking time. I didnât think anything could hurt THAT bad.â
âDo you ever wonder? What it would have been?â
âSometimes,â he admits, running a palm over Addieâs hair and then laying it gently on the top of her head; thumb repeatedly brushing against her ear. âSometimes Iâll think about it; if it would have been a boy or a girl and what they would have looked like. Then I think maybe things really do happen to reason, no matter how bad they are. If we had had that baby. Declan wouldnât be here. And maybe we would have stopped after and Addie wouldnât be here. And I wouldnât trade either of them for anything.â
âYouâre beautiful,â she says, feeling him grin when she kisses the corner of his mouth. âYou have the most beautiful mind and this most beautiful heart. And I know you hate me using that word when it comes to describing you. But itâs true; I canât help it.â
âIâll let it slide. Iâll let you have it.â
âI have to say, despite my initial reservations about having another one, you do do the whole âbig, strong man with a tiny babyâ thing very well.â
âYou find it sexy donât you.â
âVery. I find you very sexy. But thisâŚâ she trails her fingertips over the myriad of bruises that take up nearly every inch of his neck. â...this is scary. Iâve seen you with a lot of injuries. Iâve even seen you in the worst possible shape. But this? This bothers me the most for some reason. And whatâs going on hereâŚâ she turns his face away from her and tender fingers investigate the scar left behind from Farhad. â...what were they trying to do? Thatâs the worst spot. I donât think it would take much to fuck things up in there.â
âThey knew exactly what to target.â
âAny idea who it was?â
âOne of the guys off the list. Number 18. Weird part about it? He worked for Asif during the whole Dhaka thing. Guess he was his  right hand man. Moved on to Mahajan when Nik put a couple bullets into Asif.â
âNow thatâs fucked, Go from drug lord to the other? So much for loyalty. Howâd you kill him?â
âShot him. Under the chin. I donât know how I managed. Last thing I remember was that fucking needle. Thatâs it. Everything else is a blur. Came to and there was a dead body on top of me. I donât even know how long I was out for.â
âYou called me. Some time before you passed you. You donât remember that, either?â
Tyler shakes his head.
âIt freaked me out. I could hear you breathing and it sounded like you were trying to say something. That wasn't a random pocket dial, was it.â
âNo. It wasnât. I donât even know why I called. I donât know if I was calling you for help or if I thought I was dying and I wanted to tell you that I loved youâŚâ his voice wavers once again and tears return to his eyes. â...if I wanted your voice to be the last thing I heard. And I wish I did remember it. That I called.â
âItâs okay.â She places a series of kisses across his forehead, then down the bridge of his nose. â...itâs okay now. Youâre here and thatâs what matters. You made it out of there. You found a way. Â You always do.â
âWhat if I donât next time? What if it is two guys? Or three or four? Half a dozen? A dozen?â
âI shouldnât have put that in your head. Iâm sorry.â She brushes the tip of her nose against his temple. âThat is the last thing you needed to hear. I should have kept my mouth shut.â
âI was thinking it long before you said it.â
âI know you want to stay on this. And I get it. I doâŚâ  she runs her knuckles along his jaw, beard scraping her skin. â...I know you want to protect us. And I love you so much for that and I love that part of you so fiercely. You ALWAYS protect us. Everything you do, every decision you make, itâs always for us. But you can protect us without being out there. You know you can. I know you can.â
âHow? If I donât stop them, theyâll get to you. And the kids.â
âBut if youâre here, you can stop them. And look at all the people that are here to help. Nik, all of Anilâs people. Thatâs a lot of fire power. And before you hand me that bullshit about how itâs up to you and only you to protect us, donât even go there. Because youâre good, but not even you can stop them by yourself. You need help. So swallow your fucking pride and admit that. That you canât do it alone.â
âIâm not alone. Iâbe some my guys and Nikâs people andâŚâ
âYou were alone the other night,â Esme points out. âWhat was Nathan going to do from across the street? That is not helping. Thatâs YOUR version of helping. If youâre here, under the same room as all these people, Mahajan and his cronies wonât stand a chance. Weâre safer if youâre here. And I think you realize that.â
âItâs putting a bigger target on you and the kids,â he argues. âIf they figure out Iâm here, theyâll show up.â
âIsnât that what we want? Them out in the open? Let them come here. With all these people? With you? They wonât get very far, will they At least tell me youâre listening and not blocking me out. Usually I can read your face, but right now Iâm not so sure.â
âIâm not blocking you, babe. Iâm listening.â
âIt makes more sense for you to be here than it does for you to be out on the street where every goddamn gun will be pointed at you. If youâre here, thereâs more control over the situation, right? Youâd have the upper hand because youâd be familiar with the place and they wouldnât. And you canât tell me you wouldnât feel better being with us. That you donât WANT to be here.â
âI do,â Tyler assures her. âItâs the only place I do want to be.â
âThen just do it. Just tell Anil thatâs how itâs going to be. Explain to him why it makes the most sense. Deep down, you know this is the right thing to do. You know itâs better for us...especially the kids...if youâre here. Â And I know you canâ deny that it would be better for you, too. Mentally speaking.â
âYeah,â he admits with a nod. âYouâre right.â
âStop being so stubborn,â Esme implores. âThis is not the time for that. You know this is the best way to handle things. I know you do. But I also know you hate taking advice from other people and that everything you do has to be your idea.â
He smirks. âYou really DO know me well.â
âI so do. I also know Iâm the only one who can talk like this to you and not have you get defensive. Itâs too dangerous, Tyler. Especially now that Mahajan knows youâre in Mumbai and heâs stepping things up. You canât be out on the street and you know it. I know that makes you feel useless. And weak. That youâre second guessing and doubting yourself. And you need to knock that shit off. Because you are the stronger, bravest person I know. And youâre the only one I trust with my life. With our kidsâ lives. And I need you here. And you need to be here.â
He sighs, then pushes her fingers through her hair, moving it away from her face and off her shoulder. âWhy are you like this?â
âLike what? Insanely beautiful and phenomenally intelligent?â
âI was going to say a huge pain in my ass, but okay, Iâll give you those.â
âWhat are you so worried about? Mahajanâs people showing up?â
âI donât exactly what them on the doorstep. I donât want them where you are. Where the kids are.â
âHow far could they get with all these people here? I practically canât take a pee without someone with an AK following me to the bathroom. What do you think can happen when thereâs that much firepower here?â
âThatâs exactly it. Firepower. With my kids here.â
âIâm not worried about that. Half of Anilâs basement is a panic room. The kids and I will be fine.â
Tyler frowns.
âWhat?â
âWhy the hell didnât you mention that right off the hop? Why didnât you tell me that an hour ago when we started talking about this?â
âI didnât think it was important.â
He stares at her pointedly.
âI forgot,â Esme admits. âIâm sorry. I should have told  you about the panic basement.â
âI swear to God, for the last seven years, this is how our conversations have gone. We talk about something for an hour when it could have been solved in five minutes. You always leave out that one piece of information that could have saved us a lot fucking time.â
âIâm sorryâŚâ she pouts dramatically, then places a line of kisses along his jaw, over his ear, and up onto his head. â...I know that annoys you. Do you still love me?â
âI do. But fuck, youâre a pain in my ass. No wonder I have gray hair and an ulcer.â
âYou donât have an ulcer.â
âNot yet. But when I get one, itâll have your name on it.â
âI have a confession.â
He sighs. âOf course you do. What is it?â
âI annoy you on purpose. Because youâre so cute when youâre annoyed. You get the cutest look on your face. Itâs adorable. I canât help myself. Iâm sorry. I like your face and all your expressions. You have a really nice face.â
He grins. âIâm starting to really question your taste in men.â
âPlease! You know youâre ridiculously good looking. Itâs okay to be a bit conceited. I can forgive you for that if you can forgive me for being annoying.â
âI donât know. Youâre pretty fucking annoying.â
She scowls, then bites down on his earlobe.
âOw! Fuck sakes! What is wrong with you? Iâm not hurt enough for you? Why you do me like that?â
âBecause I know you like it. MY particular brand of pain. What are you going to do? Spank me?â
âYouâd like that too much.â
âI would actually,â she says, and then shivers against him when his fingertips graze down her spine. Giggling and squirming against him when he grabs her ass and roughly squeezes  âThat hurts!  Whatâs your issue?â
âYou really want to know?â
Esme nods.
He removes his hand from her ass, then takes one of hers and places it on his crotch.
âOhâŚâ her eyes widen. â...thatâs the only part of you thatâs not hurt and IS working properly.â
âYou sound disappointed.â
âI am definitely not. Because I missed you. And Iâm not talking the sappy and corny shit about missing you and your quirks and all the stupid shit you do. Â Right now, I really miss having sex with you.â
âIf you had just admitted that an hour ago, we could have skipped over a whole lot of drama.â
âWe said things that needed to be said  and talked about things we needed to talk about. And now, I think you need to use your mouth for something else. IF youâre up to it.â
âOh, Iâm up to it. THAT anyways. Anything else, you might have to do the work. Or the majority of it anyway.â
âYou mean I get to be in charge?â
He frowns. âI never said that.â
âYouâre such a control freak,â she says, then pecks his lips before sling off the lounge chair and carefully removing a sleeping Addie from his chest. âIâm going to go and put her in her bed. And when I get back, you better be in mind. Naked. Ready to go. Iâm not fucking around. Well, I AM. Fucking that is, You know what I mean.â
Heâs grinning as he watches her ass move as she walks away. âHow much DID you miss me?â
âNot THAT much, Tyler. Forget about it. Itâs not our anniversary yet.â
âEarly anniversary present?â He suggests hopefully.
âYou wish!â She scoffs, then disappears into the house.
#tyler rake#tyler rake fan fic#tyler rake fan fiction#extraction#extraction 2020#best part of me#chris hemsworth character
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Sanctuary -Chapter 44
Warnings: slight mention of drug use
Tagging: @c-a-v-a-l-r-yâ, @alievans007â, @thunderintheshadowsâ, @innerpaperexpertcloudâ, @valkyrie-of-the-lightâ

He arrives fifteen minutes before the arranged meeting with McMann; knocking twice on the backdoor of the Slainte pub.  His eyes methodically observe every inch of the cluttered and dirty alley; slowly travelling back and forth between both ends, checking for any movement within the alcoves of the rear entrances of other establishments, skirting under the bottoms of dumpsters (a perfect hiding spot for someone lying in wait),  glancing up at the various fire escapes and windows.  When Billy Flynn had offered up the use of his bar, Tyler had been skeptical; would McMann really be willing to meet in a place that was widely known to be owned by a member of the IRA? After all, he'd burned many a bridge within the organization and he knew they were out to get him. You didn't fuck with the IRA; once you were branded a trouble maker, you remained forever on their shit list. Their resources are fast and stretch all over the globe; money, weapons, hired gun. Far more powerful and influential than most realize. McMann had every right not to agree with meeting  him there. As far as he knew, there could be dozens of guys just waiting for the chance to take a shot at him.  But Tyler had reassured him that the last thing he'd wanted was to stir up trouble; it was safer for both of them if they met somewhere public. Where neither of them could get the drop on each other.
âYou're fucking late!â Â Flynn admonishes, shoving open the heavy metal door. âWhat the hell, man?â
âSomething came up. I had to take care of it. Were my guys here? Setting up the tech?â
âLeft about half an hour ago. That one lad is quite the trip. The one who thinks he's the boss but is just a right old shit head. Bossing everyone around, thinking he can talk to me like one of his sheep. Fuck that. He's got the wrong man if he thinks I'm putting up with that shit.â
Tyler smirks. âThat's my wife's ex husband.â
âGet the fuck out, for real? What did she ever see in him? He's  a right wanker.  And I'd like say she traded up when she went from him to you, but you're not exactly a prize yourself with that weird hair thing you've got going on for ya.â
Flynn leads the way through the kitchen, and Tyler gives a small smile and a polite nod to the only two staff members Flynn had called in; a short order cook and a waitress. Â He'd promised they were loyal and reliable; no loose lips that would run to the authorities or even spread stories out in the community. Their silence was expected, and if it wasn't received, there would be harsh consequences.
âDid you tell him?â Flynn asks, as he pushes his way through the swinging door that leads out into the main area of the bar. Â âTo go to the backdoor? The last thing I need is some of the other boys seeing him on his way in here and ending things before they start.â
âI told him it was for his own safety. Less eyes out back. You talk to your people yet?â
âTomorrow morning. Nine am. You're welcome to come along if you like. They'd probably like a face to put to the name. Your life isn't in jeopardy with us. We don't want to kill you, Rake. We would have done it the second you stepped off the plane if we really wanted to. What?â he smirks when he sees Tyler raise one of his eyebrows. â You think we haven't had people watching you? Â You're a smart man. You know how these things work. It's just business. What I don't know how is how you managed to keep the wife a secret. Not one of the boys saw her until she stepped foot in here that first night.â
âWe protect what we love, yeah? I wasn't taking any chances. Not with her.â
âThat's a kick in the nuts, you know. The fact she was able to get one over on me like that. Never in a million years did I dream she wasn't who she said she was. She's good. Too good. There's room for both of you if you want, within the family. You both have skill sets we sorely need. We'd make it worth your while. Money wise. Your kids will grow up wanting for nothing.â
âIt's a tempting offer, but it's not for us. This is it for me. The last job. Then I'm on to bigger and better things. Running the job behind the scenes.â
âTalk about pissing away your talents. You're far too strong and far too good to be stuck behind the scenes. We need you out there on the streets, getting your hands dirty. But, if you feel that's what you have to do...â
âIt's what's best for my family. I haven't been the best man or husband over the past few years. I have a lot  to make up for. If this is what will keep my marriage going and my family together, it's something I have to do. I'm not losing my wife or my kids because of the job.â
âWell if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. You've got our respect, Rake. You walked in here like you owned the fucking place. Not scared of shit. You can't be pushed around. That's what we look for in our people. Â It's why you should tag along tomorrow. Meet the boys for yourself. I know they're wanting to meet you. The man, the myth, the legend. You've always just been a ghost. No one ever knew for sure if you even existed. And now, here you are.â
âYeah...â Tyler smirks. â...here I am.â
Flynn pours both of them a beer from the best that he has on tap, then offers a toast. âSo this is really it for you? The last job?â
âThat's what I promised my wife.â
âIt's what broke me and the ex missus. The kind of life I lead. She didn't think it was safe enough to raise my boy around. I told her there's probably no safer place than being surrounded by the people I have around me. But she saw it a different way. She didn't see it as protection. She saw it as putting targets on their targets. Â Same thing for you?â
âIt's a lot of things,â Tyler says, and sips his beer. âA lot of little things that all roll up into one big thing.â
âYou gotta be happy doing what you do, I figure. Because if you're not happy, no one is happy. Say you do give this up...this life you lead...and you get settled into this new job and you find you absolutely fucking hate it. What happens then? You're the type that can sit still for long. I can tell just by looking at you. A guy doesn't do what you've be doing for as long as you have, by just sitting on your ass. You're going to be bored as fuck and you're going to just be itching to back out there. And you'll be able to fight it at first. But you're going to cave. Eventually.â
âNaw, mate. I have too much to lose. The man I was before I took on a wife and kids? That man had nothing to lose. He would have stayed on the job until he was too fucking old to do it, or someone managed to finally take him out. Â I'm not that man anymore. Â I've got people relying on me. I've got mouths to feed. I want to see my kids grow up. I want to see my grand kids, even. And that won't happen if I stay in this life. Because she's either going to leave me, or I'm going to die. Those are the only two options.â
âAnd when you get bored and go back to it? What then? You're still going to end up losing her. And your kids. Better to just stick out and see if you can make it work, don't you think?â
âThis is the right decision,â he insists. âThe only decision.â
âFair enough. It's your life. You know what you gotta do. I'm just saying, keep your options open. Don't jump the gun. Â Think both sides through. I mean, if she stuck with you this long, chances are she's not going anywhere regardless of what you decide to do.â
âShe deserves better than this. Better than this life. And so do my kids. So I appreciate what you're saying and what you're trying to do, but you don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Just how bad things actually are. And I kind of don't want to talk about. That's not what I'm here for. So if you don't mind...â
âAlright...alright...â Billy holds up his hands is surrender. âSo, I've got the front door all locked up. Note on it says there's a private event going on and to basically fuck off and come back later. Â I got two of your boys upstairs, another one across the street, and I got the missus' ex back in my office. All listening in. Â A buddy of mine is going to leave a van out in the alley way that you can use to get McMann to wherever you're going to take him. I don't know what you've got planned for him, and I don't even think I want to know. Judging by that look in your eyes, the old boy is in for a world of hurt.â
âI just want payback. And I want it to be as drawn out and painful as possible.â
âI don't care what you to do him, but if we agree to your terms, we need McMann alive. If he isn't alive, you don't get our help, understand? If we come to get him and he's not breathing, our people bail and then your kids will be left to fend for themselves. We don't do favours for just anyone. You want our help, you better hold up your end of the bargain. Don't fuck us.â
âMcMann will be alive. He might be missing some parts, but he'll be very much alive. Your people have to hold up to their end of things too. They have to kill him when they're done doing whatever they're going to do to him. Because I don't want this bloke suddenly showing up on my doorstep a year from now, looking for revenge. His life ends. That's the deal.â
âOh his life will end,â Flynn assures him. Â âJust maybe not as soon as he would hope. Here...â he reaches into the front pocket of his jeans and produces a small glass vial of white powder. â...this is the stuff I was telling you about. This isn't your average roofie. This will knock a horse onto its own ass. Don't put the whole thing in his drink. He'll drop dead. Â Couple sprinkles should do it. That'll have him out cold for a few hours at least. You sure you're alright with this part? Don't fuck it up. And whatever you do, don't accidentally roofie yourself, okay?â
âI'm good with it,â Tyler assures him, and pockets the vial of drugs.
âKeep what's left. You can use it to really fuck with his head when you get him to wherever he's going. Make it real fun for the old boy. Just for me. I won't be too upset if he gets to us missing an ear or a couple of fingers, I'm just saying.â
Tyler's SAT phone vibrates in his jeans, and he pulls it out to check it.
âI take it that fucker has arrived,â Flynn observes.
âJust getting out of his car now. My guy across the street has an eye on him. Says he's alone.â
âHe's not dumb enough to bring people in here. He'd never get out alive. Now remember what I said; only a little bit of that shit. Don't OD him, for fuck sakes. That's too quick and too painless for the likes of that bastard. Third booth on the left. Your boy put a listening device under it. Said you just have to turn it on and you're good to go. You good? You got this?â
Tyler nods, takes a swig of his beer. Â âI got this.â
****
âYou got a lot of fucking nerve, Rake,â Â McMann hisses, as he slips into the seat across from Tyler. âCalling me up, demanding I meet you. I'd rather put a bullet between your eyes.â
He smirks. âThat's not mates, Michael. I thought we were mates. What ever happened to you practically crying on my shoulder, needing my help? Giving me some fucking sob story about your wife and your kids? You're good. I'll give you that. But I'm better.â
âWe'll see about that, won't we. Â And here...â McMann gestures towards the bar. â...of all places, you sneaky fucker. You knew all along who owns this place. You knew I could be killed just walking into here.â
âIf you're so scared of that, why'd you even show up? Why didn't you tell me to just go and fuck myself? I mean, you want me dead, yeah? It's the whole reason you showed up in Guatemala isn't? It was never about your family. You never really wanted my help. You just wanted to kill me.â
McMann stares at him, nostrils flaring, lips set in a grim line.
âI know all your dirty secrets, mate. Every single last one. I know that Jason Andrews' brother hired you. That's who contacted you, yeah? Don't look so surprised. I'm not just a pretty face, you know. Â I know he hired you to avenge his brother. Who was a psychotic dick bag that deserved the two I put into him. Â Did he even tell you what his brother did? Did you tell you that he was going to kill my wife? My pregnant wife. Jason was a fucking coward. And he got what he deserved. In the same way you will.â
âI have to hand it to you, Aussie,â McMann smirks. âYou're smarter than I give you credit for.â
âAnd when you didn't get the job done....when you killed the kid that caught onto you...you followed me back to Colorado. You watched every move I made. You watched my wife. You watched my kids. That's some sick shit. And that's a line you never should have crossed. Why'd you kill the girl? Erin? Did you do that yourself or...?â
âI was the one who ordered it. I didn't do it myself.â
âTypical for blokes like you. You don't have the stones to do it yourself. You just delegate, yeah? You don't get your hands dirty? I bet you had some fun with her first though, didn't you. I bet your boys weren't the only ones that raped her. You left some real sick shit for me to find. Did you do it? Did you violate her too? Or did you just stand back and watch?â
The corner of McMann's twitches.
âThat was a message, right? That you were sending me. You wanted me to know what your boys were capable of. That they'd hurt me where it hurts the most. Â That they wouldn't stop at hurting my wife. You knew she'd be with me. You knew she'd figure you out before I would. That's why you left that girl there for me to find. It was a message. How'd you know? That we'd be there?â
âYou think the brother is the only person I have handing me things, Rake. This goes way deeper than you could even possibly begin to imagine. There's a lot of rats in your ship. And it's always the ones you least expect. Â I'm not the only threat out there. Â There's other people watching you. There's other people just waiting to take their shot at you. If you think I'm the only one that wants your head, you're one naive motherfucker.â
âMate, I've had a target on my back for years. Â If I worried about shit like that, I'd never leave the house. Who was it? That told you we'd be at your house.â
âYou know....â Â McMann waves Billy over as he stands behind the bar, arms crossed over his chest as he pretends to be interested in the soccer match on the television. â..you should really watch who your trust. There's someone getting a little too close to that pretty little wife of yours. Â I'd really hate to see anything happen to her. You're the one we want. Not her. But if that's the route we have to take...â
âIt's on the house,â Billy says, as he slams the mug of beer down onto the table top with enough force to send some of the amber ale splashing over onto the sides, onto the wood, and down onto McMann's lap. Â âAnd some on you, apparently. I won't charge a clean up fee for the mess you just made.â
âStupid fuck,â McMann mutters, furiously ripping napkins from the holder on the window ledge, sopping up the mess on the table top as Billy saunters off, returning to the soccer match. âI'm not finished with you, Aussie,â he says, as he slides out of the booth. âNot by a long shot.â
Tyler shrugs, lifts his own drink to his mouth. âI got all day and all night, mate.â
He mutters profanities and thinly veiled death threats as he stomps off in the direction of the restrooms. Â Tyler waits; calmly sipping his drink, counting the seconds in his head, until he hears the tell tale creak of rusted metal hinges on the lavatory's old wooden door, then glances over his shoulder at the younger man behind the bar.
Billy doesn't even look in his direction; offering a curt nod.
He pulls the vial out of his pocket and pops off the cap; Â carefully shaking some of the white powdery substances into the beer, using the handle of a fork to vigorously stir the liquid;, watching as the drug quickly dissolves, leaving no tell tale sign that the drink had ever been tampered with. Â Then uses a napkin to clear any wayward drops of beer of the table top and try the handle of the fork, replacing it among the other unused utensils arranged in front of him.
From across the room, Billy clears his throat noisily; signalling McMann's return. And Tyler hurriedly puts the cap back onto the vial and slips it back into his pocket.
âSo what were you saying, mate?â he calmly asks as the other man returns to his seat. âSomething about my pretty little wife? Sounded like you were about to make a threat of some sort. You sure you want to do that? Bring her into this? Because there's some things that send me into a blind rage. And someone threatening her is at the top of that list. But if you think it's a smart thing to do...â
âYou talk a big game, Aussie. I've always wondered if you can play it as big as you talk.â
âI fucked up four of your men. That you sent to kill me. I put them in the morgue. So yeah, I can play it as big as I can talk it. This is twice you fucked up. Two times now you haven't been able to kill me. That must be a real kick in the nuts, huh? If a bullet to the throat in Dhaka couldn't kill me, what makes you think you can?â
âThere's ways. Ways to get to you. Catch you with your guard down. Hurt you where it will hurt the most. You're right, Erin was a message. We wanted you to find her. See what we did to her. Is that what you want happening to your wife? Is that the last memory of her that you want? Watching what we do to her? We'd make sure you were wide awake for the whole thing. So you could see it. So you could hear her. So you could hear her screaming at us to stop, screaming for you to help her. And you not being able to do a damn thing about it. And then we'd kill both of you.â
It takes everything Tyler has not to reach across the table and choke the life out of the man, or to slam his head off the table and then give him an ass kicking off a lifetime. Stopping just before death reaches him so that McMann can catch his breath, then beating him until there is no life left inside of him. Â But he holds it together; diverting his eyes so McMann can't see the fury brewing in them, taking a long, slow sip of his beer. Trying not to smirk when the other man does the same.
âThat doesn't bother you?â McMann asks. âHearing that? Hearing what we'd do to her?â
âNothing bothers me after so many years on the job. I've heard it all. Seen it all. Nothing surprises me anymore. You're the first that's ever used his own kids though. Now that is some sick shit. Why? Why do that to your own kids? How fucked in the head do you have to be? Where are they? The kids?â
âYou'll never find them. No one ever will.â
âWhy keep doing this to them? I've already figured out what you're up to. What's the point of keeping up with this game? Why keep torturing them like that? Those are your kids. You're blood. Why do this? What kind of sick fuck are you?â
âI have reasons. For doing the things I do.â
âI'll find them, you know. I'll find those kids. Whether you tell me where they are or not.â
McMann smirks. âGood luck.â
âOf course, it would be a lot easier on you if you'd just tell me. If you'd just tell me where you've got them so I can just go and get them. I'm not going to leave them there. You knew I wouldn't. You knew once you brought me into this, that I wouldn't give up on finding them.â
âI was counting on it.â
âWhere are they? Where's the kids?â
âI'm not handing you all the answers. Aussie. There's some things you need to find out for yourself.â
âThey're not in Ireland, are they. You've moved them. That's why we haven't gotten proof of life in four days. You were having those pictures hand delivered. Now there's no one left here to bring them to me. Where are they?â
McMann opens his mouth to speak; quickly clamping it shut. Â He's sweating profusely; beads of perspiration glistening across his forehead, trickling down his temples, Â dripping from the tip of his nose. Eyes wide and wild; a mixture of the effects of the drugs and the pure, unadulterated fear. Â
âNot feeling so good, are you, mate,â Tyler smirks, casually slipping his beer. Â âI bet your heart's just about ready to jump out of your chest isn't it. I bet you're not seeing right either; you're probably seeing three of me, seeing shit that's not even there.â
âWhat...did...you...do....â
âI told you. I told you not to fuck with my family. I told you that if I found out that this was all a big game, I'd come after you. That I'd make you pay. Well guess what, mate. That time has come. You're going to pay. And you're going to regret the day you ever came to Colorado. You're going to regret that you ever walked into that ice cream place and laid eyes on my kids.â
McMann stumbles to his feet, as if in an attempt to lunge at Tyler, but then crumples, already unconscious when his forehead slams off the table.
âWell fuck...â Billy's grinning as he rushes over. â...that was quicker than I thought it would happen. You didn't kill him, did you? You didn't give him the whole vial, I hope.â
âI gave exactly what you said to give him,â Tyler stands and leans across the table, pressing his index and middle finger to McMann's throat. Â âHe's breathing. Fucked up. But breathing. You weren't joking about that stuff, mate. It packs a punch.â
âVan's out back. Let's get this asshole out of here. Your guys are already outside. You got him? You take his feet. He's a heavy fucker.â
The job takes minimal effort with the two of them; one holding the unconscious man under the arms, the other taking him by the legs. And Mark is already at the back door, holding it open, allowing them to pass through and into the alley.
âYou fucked him up pretty good!â Nathan excitedly exclaims from where he sits in the front passenger seat, watching everything unfold over his shoulder. âHe alive?â
âYou thought I'd let him off that easily?â Tyler asks, as he and Billy load McMann into the back. âHe has to pay, yeah? For what he did to your buddy? For threatening my family? Death would be too easy for this asshole.â
âDrop the van back off here,â Billy says. Â âI'll clean out any sign that he was in it. That any of you were in it. Just in case.â
âThanks for watching my back, mate,â Tyler offers a hand, and the younger man firmly shakes it. âHear from you in a couple days, yeah?â
âOne way or the other. In the meantime, have fun with the old boy. Get some shots in just for me. Make the fucker pay. For ever going near your kids.â
âI plan on it,â Tyler says, and then pulls the sliding door shut.
Billy bangs his hand against the side of the vehicle, signally for the driver to pull away.
*****
He calls her from the storage facility; the signal mediocre at best as he stands in the hallway just mere feet from where an unconscious Michael McMann, Â hood over his eyes, is now restrained to a metal chair. Â Hands behind his back, wrists and ankles secured with plastic zip ties, a heavy metal chain wrapped around his torso in order to keep him upright. Â And he watches as Yaz wraps the tracking bracelet around McMann's ankle and adjusts the signal.
âDid I wake you up?â he asks, hearing the grogginess in her voice.
âYeah...â she yawns noisily. Â â...I must have dozed off. I've just been so tired. Â Is it done?â
âIt's done,â Tyler confirms.
âYou're okay?â Â
âNot a scratch on me. Well, none that weren't there before.â
She breathes a sigh of relief. Â âSo they have him now? Mark and his buddies?â
âYep. It's in their hands now. Until the IRA decides what they want to do. If they don't want him...well I guess it's up to me to do something with him. Â Did you eat?â
âNo. I was going to wait for you to get back. Now that we don't have to worry about McMann and we know the IRA is on our side, I figured it would be safe for us to leave the hotel. That way we can actually go somewhere together. You can take me out on another date.â
He grins. âI could do that.â
âSo it's a date?â
âYeah, it's a date.â
âThe baby wants tacos. Just so you know.â
âSomehow I doubt she's making food demands this early in the game, but if that's what you want to eat....â
âYou're really convinced that it's a girl, aren't you.â
âI am. And not just because of that dream. Something's just telling me that it is.â
âWell, you make an amazing dad. But you make an epic girl dad.â
He smiles.
âI love you, Tyler.â
âI love you, too Esme. I'll see you soon.â
âBet your ass you will,â she says, and disconnects the call.
He slips his phone into the pocket of his jeans and steps into the locker that has become McMann's temporary home. Â Zak's taken first watch; already sitting in the corner on a plastic lawn chair, a bag of take out food on the table next to him.
âHe's going to be out for a while,â Yaz says, as he steps beside Tyler. âHow much did you give him?â
âA little more than I was supposed to. But not enough to kill him. Here,â he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the vial. âIn case he wakes up and starts causing trouble. There's enough left to fuck him up pretty good.â
âYou'll be back tomorrow?â
Tyler nods. âFirst thing in the morning. What do you want me to bring you for breakfast?â
âSomething hot and greasy. I'll text you.â
âYou know, he said something that I can't get out of my head. About there being more rats in the ship. He said that someone was getting too close to Esme. That I shouldn't trust them.â
âThat could be anybody,â Yaz concludes. Â âAnyone that we've just started working with anyway. Maybe that Tanis chick?â
âNaw. I don't think it's her. That would be too obvious. Your sister have any other new people working for her now?â
âNone. Just Jason Andrews' brother. And he's being 'taken care of'. I heard the things he said, Tyler. About Esme. About the things they would have done to her. You okay? With hearing that?â
âNo really,â he admits. âThat was hard to hear.â
âShe's safe now. With him off the street. And she's safe with you. Just stick close to her side. Nothing will happen to her. See you tomorrow?â
âSee you tomorrow,â Tyler confirms, then claps him on the shoulder and heads for the door. âHow's the nose?â he asks with a smirk, as Mark steps in before he can exit.
âYou're a real arrogant prick, Rake,â he retorts. Â
âI've been called worse by better.â
âWhere the hell you think you're going?â Mark calls after him, as he heads down the hall.
âI'm going to spend time with my girl,â he replies. Â âWith my wife. You had one of those once, remember? Oh that's right. The same one I have now. Take care of that nose.â
And with that he steps out into the brilliant Belfast sunshine.
#tyler rake#tyler rake fan fic#tyler rake fan fiction#extraction#chris hemsworth character#sanctuary
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Best Part of Me -Chapter 12
Warnings: none
Tagging: @alievans007â, @thunderintheshadowsâ, @innerpaperexpertcloudâ, @c-a-v-a-l-r-yâ

Preparing to leave the house with five kids in tow is a full-time job all in itself. Bathing them after a long and active day at school, getting them dressed âwhich includes incessant bitching and moaning about the textures of clothes and how the tags are âtoo itchyâ, having to actually put on socks and shoes-, Â and giving them the usual list of warnings before even stepping out the front door. No arguing, no fighting, and no bad language. And by the time you manage to get to the front door, at least two have to go to the bathroom and another wants to change what theyâre wearing. Â This time itâs Millie; her self-described princess dress suddenly not âprincessy enoughâ. Opting for one with more frills and more sparkles and way too much pink, then insisting on topping the look off with her well-worn light up Spiderman sandals. Â Tyler had long ago learned to pick his battles, especially as a girl dad. Was suggesting nicer shoes really worth the epic diva style meltdown heâd have to endure? Especially when heâd rather be in flip flops or even bare foot himself?
âI honestly do not care,â he says, when she holds aloft the sandals with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Other parents would force their kids to comply; embarrassed by the mismatched lock. But heâs gotten so used to carting around boys dressed in superhero costumes âmasks and all- that the stares and whispers of strangers donât both him anymore. And fighting over shoes with a soon to be six-year-old is not the hill he wants to die on. âDo what you want.â Â
For a brief moment âas he buckles the three oldest into the their car seats in the very back of their second, and much larger, vehicle, he muses about just how different his was now is compared to the one that he used to live. When he was drunk off of his practically twenty-four seven, numbing the pain, guilt, and grief with a potent combination of booze and pain meds. Â Back in that little shack of his in the Outback, with nothing but a dog and a chicken to keep him company. When he was totally committed to the job and spending his days fighting to keep himself âand quite often someone else- alive in dangerous situations. When he was battered and bloody and sometimes on the brink of death. Now heâs proficient in changing diapers, fixing bottles, and making and packing school lunches. Â A far cry from the old days. Â And for a brief moment, the thought makes him feels sad; that his existence is nothing more than a mere shadow of what it used to be. That heâs gone from one extreme to the other. Â And it shouldnât; heâd made the conscious decision to give it all up. For his family. So heâd be able to hold his marriage together. Â
And the sadness is replaced with guilt; that heâd miss the job while getting the opportunity to even have kids and watch them grow. A lot of guys in the job werenât so lucky; they either never turned alive to their wives and kids, or their marriages completely disintegrated, and they never saw their children again. Thatâs his worst nightmare; things falling apart and either rarely getting to spend time with them, or not being able to see them at all. Â Being a dad has given him something to take pride in; raising tiny humans that will hopefully one day grow up to be amazing big humans. Â Decent adults with compassion and humility. Fiercely independent. Alarmingly intelligent. And itâs given him a chance to finally do it right. Â Heâd been an epic failure as a father with Austin; heâd been cowardly and selfish and would never truly forgive himself for it. Â But heâd been given another chance; entrusted with helping bring five beautiful lives into the world. Â And heâs determined not to fuck that up.
âI donât wanna wear shoes!â TJ laments, and proceeds to use his toes to push his sneakers off one heel, then the other, letting the offending items fall to the floor of the SUV.
âListen, mate. Weâre not going to fight about this. If your mum says you wear shoes, you wear the shoes.â
âThis is crap!â Tanner chimes in. âMy feet are so hot! Like theyâre gonna catch on fire!â
âNo oneâs feet are going to catch on fire,â Tyler assures him. âYouâre wearing the thinnest socks possible. We get there, the shoes go back on. And how come you guys donât have to wear normal pants?â Â Theyâre clad in matching tan cargo shorts; one in a green and white stripped golf shirt, the other in blue and white. Â Always insisting on matching in some way, despite the fact their parents have purposely dressing them differently from day one. Â
ââCause weâre only five!â Tanner huffs, as if heâs just been subjected to the dumbest question thatâs ever been asked in the history of mankind.
âBy the way,â Tyler says, as he finishes buckling Tanner into his seat. âI want my fifteen bucks back that you scammed me out of the other night.â
âI got that money fair and square,â his son argues. âI got you the info just like you asked.â
âYour mom gave me the info. Which technically means half of the money should go to her.â
âItâs not my fault that you fell for it, daddy. You should be smarter than that. You got totally played by a five-year-old.â
âHeâs not wrong,â Esme says as she appears alongside of him, clutching Declan by the hand, the baby resting along her forearm. âYou did fall for it.â
âYouâre in on this together, arenât you? You probably put him up to it. Youâve been teaching him some of the tricks of the trade. Getting him ready to follow in your footsteps. I bet he even split the money with you.â
âPlease just put the kids in the car before weâre really late,â she implores, then stands on her tip toes to brush her lips against his. Which in turns prompts loud and dramatic gagging from all three of the older kids.
âDonât do that!â TJ cries. âWe donât need any more babies in the house! Why canât we have a puppy for a change? I donât want any more sisters!â
âWell I donât want any more brothers either,â Millie retorts, and sticks her tongue at him.
âOkay, donât start.â Esme warns. âAt least wait until weâre out of the driveway. And besides, it takes a lot more than that to get a baby brother or sister.â
âLike what?â Millie inquires.â
âLike none of your business,â Tyler replies as he tends to Declan, scooping him of the ground and settling him into his car seat. âBesides, there wonât be any more brothers or sisters. Itâs not possible.â
âCan we get a dog then?â Tanner asks
âWe already have a dog,â his mother reminds him.
âLetâs get another one!â Millie enthuses. âA puppy!â
âI have enough mouths to feed and barely any sanity left.â Â Esme says, and passes the baby to her husband, who arches a brow and stares at her pointedly over the dog comment. âNot you too!â
âItâs not a bad idea. Weâve got the room. Inside and outside.â
âPlease donât encourage them. They wonât stop talking about it now. Theyâre going to ask a million times a day about getting a puppy and I donât think my mental well-being can take it.â
âWeâll talk about it,â he says, then kisses her and shit the SUV door. Â
âOh, you think so do you,â she grins, then runs her hands across his shoulders and down his chest; smoothing out the wrinkles in his simple white dress shirt., the first three buttons undone and no tie; paired with dark washed jeans that fit âjust rightâ. Beard still full but neatly trimmed, the product in his hair giving it that unruly âbed headâ look. âYou clean up nice.â
âYou donât look half bad yourself.â he chides, and then places a hand on her hip and leans into her, pressing a kiss to her ear. âYou look beautiful,â he praises, as his hand slides up the middle of her back. The dress is simple and modest; emerald green and off the shoulder, flaring out at the waist and just skimming the bottom of her knees. Â
Sheâs still self-conscious about her post-baby body; sheâd on twenty-five pounds and had damaged to drop fifteen of them seemingly overnight after Addie was born. She hates the extra weight that clings to her hips and gathers at her waist; despises the stretch marks that mar her skin. Yet to him they just make her even more beautiful; the signs left behind that sheâs given him children. Â Thereâs no woman in the world that could ever hold a candle to her. It stretches far beyond physical appearance. Itâs her strength and her tenacity and the loyalty that that sheâs always shown towards him and their kids. And itâs the way she looks at him; as if heâs the most incredible man on the planet even though thereâs times heâs shown heâs anything but.
A slight blush creeps into her cheeks. Even after six and a half years of marriage sheâs still not used to his random compliments. Mark had all but destroyed every ounce of self-esteem sheâd ever had, so Tyler had taken it upon himself to help rebuilt it every chance he got. Whether itâs when sheâd dressed up with her done and make up on, or when sheâs worn down from lack sleep and her hair is messy and sheâs still in her pajamas with baby puke stains on them.
âIâm serious,â he says, as his hand slides down to the small of her back and his lips find hers; soft, slow, simple kiss. âYou look incredible.â
She smiles. A genuine, glowing smile that lights up her entire face and makes her eyes sparkle and dance. And with her hands on his chest, she stands on her tip toes once again and places a kiss on the corner of his mouth, then lays her hand against the side of his face and runs the end of pad of her thumb over his lips, her eyes never leaving his.
Itâs the sincerest âthank youâ heâs ever received.
****
Nik and Kyle have a room at Sovreign Resort Hotel, and theyâve arranged to meet on the outdoor patio belonging to the in-house restaurant. Itâs better for the kids; no cooping them up in a crowded, busy room and expecting them to sit still and keep quiet. Being outside gives them a chance to breathe; away from the hustle and bustle and all the judgmental stares and comments if they dare step out of line. Â There are gardens and fishponds to investigate when they get bored or agitated and need some time to decompress, and room for a high chair for Declan and Addieâs stroller, giving her a comfortable and safe place to retreat to while the others eat and converse.
âNow I know why we donât go out more often,â Esme comments, as she notices the curious looks and hears the comments tossed their way. A fairly young couple with so many kids, all close together in age. Â Most find it cute; drawn to the twins in their complimenting outfits and Millie in her princess dress, but thereâs the bitchy people as well. The âchildren should be seen and not heardâ crowd that find it ridiculous âand maybe even disgusting- that people are willingly having such large families in this day and age. âPeople are staring at us,â she frets. âAnd whispering.â
Tyler moves Declan from one hip to the other, than lays a hand on the back of her neck and gives it a comforting squeeze. âWant me to tell them that I have weak pull out game? Lighten the mood?â
âIâd laugh but I wouldnât but it past you do actually do something like that. Â Seriously, what is everyoneâs issue?â
âWho gives a shit. Â Just ignore it. Maybe it bothers them because itâs obvious by all the kids that weâve had more sex in five years than theyâve had in fifty.â
Normally it would aggravate him, that kind of attention and all the talk. But heâd taken half a dozen Ativan before getting out of the car and the effects are already starting to take hold. Â Heâs relaxed. The calmest heâs been in the past four days. Although heâs pretty sure having to be in Nikâs presence and enduring her version of âsmall talkâ will change that.
Nik and Kyle have already arrived; sitting side by side at a large table near the edge of the patio, leaning into one another, foreheads nearly touching as they talk, their hands joined on top of the table.
âIâm going to be sick,â Esme mutters. âUghhhh. The way sheâs looking at him. Heâs way too good for her. Letâs just leave. I donât think theyâve seen us yet. If we just sneak out now...â
Kyle has spotted them and is already on his feet and making his way towards them; the kids so focused on their surroundings that theyâre completely unsuspecting until heâs within five feet, noisily clearing his throat to grab their attention.
âUncle Kyle!â Millie cries, and is the first to break away, the soles of those old sandals flapping against the concreate patio as she rushes to where heâs already crouched down, arms outstretched, gathering her into them and pulling her tight against him. Â Â
The twins follow suit; shrieking his name as they run towards him, finding themselves enveloped by his strong arms and gathered into a bear hug along with their sister. Â Tears sparkling in Kyleâs eyes as he showers them with kisses and tousles their hair and listens to their excited ramblings; all three talking at the same time, filling him in on all the excitement and adventures theyâve experienced in the past six months. Â And Tyler notices that Nik doesnât budge from the table, sipping at a glass of wine and never acknowledging the scene playing out in front of her.
âWish me luck,â Esme sighs, and he gives a reassuring before taken Declan from him, carrying him on her hip and pushing the baby in the stroller as she herds the other three towards the table to get them settled. Â
He watches as the two women exchange tight lipped smiles; Esmeâs one of lingering bitterness and anger, Nikâs filled with a hint of remorse and maybe even regret. Â And how his wife holds it together despite wanting to completely unleash on her old friend; instead patiently getting the kids settled and Declan strapped into a highchair. He knows itâs difficult for her; his âhistoryâ with Nik still the elephant that lingers in the room, the other issues that sheâs caused over the past six and a half years adding insult to injury.
âGood to see you, man,â Kyle gives him an awkward one-armed hug and then claps him on the shoulder. âWhat the has she been feeding you? Youâre a fucking tank.â
âJust a lot of hours in the gym. Gotta keep myself busy somehow. Things are good with you?â Â
Their relationship has been strained; not just because of the thousands of miles between them and Kyle holding him responsible for yet again âstealingâ his sister, but the ongoing hostility with Nik. Â The last time theyâd talked, Tyler hadnât been kind; letting her know to stay the hell away from him, to never contact him again. Heâd been harsh. Heâs the first one to admit that. Â But it had worked. At least until now.
âThings are good,â Kyle says, and then glances over his shoulder at Nik, a smile curving his lips. âThings are really good. What about here? You guys are doing alright? The kids seem happier.â
âWeâre all happier. It was the right thing to do. Coming back here.â
âSheâs struggling though,â Kyle nods in the direction of his sister. âDonât even try and tell me sheâs not.â
âSheâd be struggling a lot less if you have just listened and kept Nik away. It wasnât enough youâre marrying her considering everything in the past? You had to make things worse by bringing her here?â
âWe hadnât heard from you guys yet. About the wedding.â
âAnd that means you come all the way here and fuck things up? You have a phone. You've got the internet. Send an email. Donât just show up. Weâre still trying to get past all of this. Nik and her shit, the job.â
"It was her idea. Nikâs. To come here and try and make things. Patch things up. I told her that I didnât know if either you or Esme were ready for that that yet, but....â
He frowns. âIt was her idea?â
Kyle nods. âShe wanted to make amends. In person.â
âShe told you that? That thatâs why we wanted to come here?â
You poor delusional bastard, Tyler thinks. Kyleâs being played and manipulated in the say way sheâd messed with him. Â Nik always has an ulterior motive. And Kyle is either blind to it, doesnât give a shit, or genuinely doesnât realize what sheâs capable of. Â
He decides itâs the latter.
âWe want you guys at the wedding,â Kyle says. âI mean, if it wasnât for you and Esme, we never would have met.â
He feels as if he should apologize in advance. Â Because six months from now, Kyleâs going to realize just what kind of shit show heâs gotten himself into. â
âAnd we want the kids there,â Kyle continues. âMillie could be the flower girl, the twins could be junior ushers, Declan could carry the ring up. We want it to be a family affair.
The last thing Tyler wants it to be stuck anywhere with Esmeâs family. He doesnât give a shit about their feelings towards him. If they want to spend the rest of their lives hating him and viewing him as the enemy, so be it. But the way theyâve treated her.... his wife...is unacceptable. And the worst place to air those grievances is at the wedding of the only member of that clan he can actually stand.
âWonât be the same without all of you,â Kyle says. âI mean, weâre family.â
Tyler wouldnât go that far. You usually donât become family with someone you used to casually fuck,
âThis is a big deal for her,â his brother in law continues. âWanting to come here. Wanting to make things right.â
âAnd you really think thatâs why she wanted to come here?â
âWhy wouldnât I? She hasnât given me a reason not to believe her. Why?â Â his eyes narrow. âYou know something I donât know.â
âI donât think you know Nik as well as you think you do,â Tyler says, then gives him a sympathetic pat on shoulder before heading for the table.
****
âYouâre here to take daddy away, arenât you.â Millie voice is accusatory and full of venom; eyes narrowed as she regards Nik from across the table. Â
Dinner is long finished; all dirty dishes and cutlery cleared away in favor of tea and coffee for the adults and ice cream for the kids. His daughter has been glued to his side all night, Nik bringing out the clingy and protective side of her. Nearly causing a fight with Tanner when he initially wouldnât give up the seat to Tylerâs right. Then climbing up into his lap as soon as the meal was finished; sitting sideways on his thighs, an arm curled tightly around his neck.
Esme shifts uncomfortably beside him, then noisily clears her throat and reaches for a glass of ice water. Â He takes her hand, squeezing it tightly before placing their joined hands on her thigh. Â
âNo one is taking anyone away,â he assures his daughter.
âThat's what you said last time,â Millie reminds him. âAnd then you were gone forever.â
âWell this time is different. Â Iâm not going anywhere. Uncle Kyle just came to see you guys. So she tagged along. Nothing more than that.â
âShe is your Aunt,â Kyle speaks up. âItâs okay if you guys call her that even if certain people donât want to acknowledge it or accept it.â
Esme clears her throat once more, hand tightening around Tylerâs.
Millie isnât convinced. âIf I wake up tomorrow and my daddy's gone, Iâm going to be really pissed!â
âOkay, calm down,â Tyler presses a kiss to the top of her head. âIâm not going anywhere. Iâm still going to be here when you wake up tomorrow. So just relax, okay? Take it easy.â
Millie turns to face him, then kneels on his laps as she leans in close and whispers. âI donât trust her, daddy.â
âItâs a long way to come,â Esme pipes up. âJust because you missed the kids. Web cam chats do exist, you know.â
âItâs not the same,â Kyle says. âAnd things are slow right now for Nik and I had some vacation time owe to me, so...well...here we are.â
âYeah,â Esme gives a tense smile. âHere you guys are.â
Tyler moves Mille over to his other thigh, then letâs go his wifeâs hand in favor of laying his arm across the back of her chair, thumb repeatedly brushing against her shoulder.
âWe thought it was time to smooth things out,â Kyle explains. âBefore the wedding. So things arenât tense that day like they are now. I mean, itâs been six months. Time to let it go, donât you think.â
âI think youâre underestimating what the nearly six years before were like,â his sister calmly responds. âOr am I just supposed to pretend they never happened? Â That she...sorry.... you...â she looks over at Nik. â...never pulled all the bullshit you did?â
âMommy.â Tanner looks up from his ice cream. âThatâs a bad word. Daddy said no bad words tonight.â
âYouâre right,â she says, and then gives her son a smile and wraps an arm around him, drawing him tight against her. âBad mommy,â she scolds herself, and then runs her fingers through his hair and places a kiss to his cheek.
âNo one is saying that you have to forget about all of that or pretend it never happened.â Kyle informs her. âBut wouldnât you rather iron things out so youâre carrying around so much animosity?â
âOh, thatâs rich, K. Maybe you should be addressing your future wifeâs animosity. And how she was so pissed at Tyler and I that she was willing to leave us both on a bridge in Dhaka to die.â
âOkay...no one needs to hear about this,â Tyler says, and rubs her shoulder. âEspecially little ears.â
âIâve already apologized for that,â Nik finally speaks. âCountless times. But things didnât exactly happen the way you think they did.â
Esme snorts. âSpare me, Nik. Yaz told me all I needed to know. So donât waste your breath lying to me. Dhaka was a total crap show and you just went ahead and made it even worse.â
âAlright, settle down,â Tyler implores, and then leans sideways to press a kiss to her temple, lips settling against her ear. âThe kids do not need to hear this. Any of this. Okay? Can you stop? For me? Please?â
She reluctantly nods.
âIt was Nikâs idea to come here,â Kyle says. âShe wanted to patch things up. With both of you. So we could be part of the kidsâ lives. They deserve to have family. Are you going to let your ego get in the way of whatâs best for them?â
âWhoa...whoa...â Tyler comes to his wifeâs defense. â...thatâs way out of line, mate. Don't use her kids against her. Donât ever accuse of not doing whatâs for her kids. Our kids. Donât stoop that low or you are I are going to have problems.â
âIâm just saying that...â
âI know what youâre saying. But find another way to say. Because I wonât let you disrespect the mother of my children like that.â
Nik gives a dramatic sigh. âObviously the two of you are still holding onto a lot of bitterness and anger and this was a total waste of our time.â
âWeâre holding onto a lot of bitterness and anger?â Esme retorts, then laughs. âSays the woman who couldnât handle that her with friend with benefits met someone and decided to move on with his life. The same woman who was so mad about it that she spent six years trying to get my husband to cheat on me? Or are you going to pretend none of that ever happened?â
âAnd Iâve apologized for that, Esme. But youâre just so childish and petty that you can't let it go.â
âWell Iâm sorry, Nik. Maybe Iâm not comfortable with my husbandâs old side piece becoming my sister in law.â
âThereâs kids here,â Tyler reminds them both. âThey donât need to hear this. Either settle down or just drop it.â
Esme glares at him. âAnd suddenly youâre on her side?â
âIâm on your side. Iâm always on your side. But Iâm also on the side of my kids not having to hear this stuff.â
âOh, Iâm sure theyâve heard a lot worse,â Nik snidely remarks. âWith you as their father.â
Esmeâs eyes narrow. âAnd what the hell is that supposed to mean?â
âYou know what heâs like. The mouth on him. Iâm just saying that Iâm sure the kids have heard a lot worse than what weâre talking about.â
âHow about you just leave my kids out of this,â Esme suggests. âOr is that the real issue? That theyâre my kids...with him...and not yours.â
âJesus Christ,â Kyle moans. âNot this again.â
âThatâs what really pissed off six and a half years ago, wasnât it, Nik. The fact that you wanted more than just the dick and he wouldnât give it to you. It just pissed you off when he met me and all of sudden he was getting married, having kids, enjoying a normal life. Thatâs what really bugged you. What still bugs you.â
âCan we not talk about that?â Tyler asks. âDo you really think the kids need to know this kind of shit?â
Esme ignores him. âWhy donât you tell Kyle the real reason youâre here, Nik. And donât lie and say it was to repair things between us. Tell the truth for once. Tell him youâre here to screw things up all over again.â
âI donât think we need to talk about this now,â Nik says. âThis was supposed to be about coming together and sitting down and ironing things out. To patch things up and see the kids and...â
âI think we should call it a night,â Tyler suggests. âItâs getting late and the kids are tired and have school tomorrow.â
âNo,â Esme responds. âWeâre not leaving. Sheâs going to come clear to my brother about what sheâs really here for. How she used our kids as an excuse to come here. Tell him, Nik. Tell him exactly what you came all this way for.â
âEsme,â Tyler warns. â...not here...please.â
âOh, donât worry, Kyle. It isnât for my husbandâs dick. For once. Itâs all business, isnât it, Nik. Itâs all about the job. And you trying to manipulate Tyler into helping you.â
âWould you stop,â Tyler tightly squeezes her shoulder. âEnough. Stop Not here. Not now. And not in front of the kids.â
âNik wants to hire Ovi to be a mercenary,â Esme announces. âOvi. Of all goddamn people.â
âOkay, thatâs enough!â Tyler orders. âIf you two wants to hash it out or kick the crap out of each other, go do it somewhere else. Just not in front of my kids.â
âYouâd think sheâd have more comment sense than that because of everything Ovi went through in Dhaka,â Esme continues. âBut I guess I shouldnât be surprised considering we wanted us to leave him in the street like a piece of trash. She probably wanted Tyler to leave me there too. Because I was the obstacle in the way or getting what she really wanted.â
âIs this true?â Â Kyle address Nik. âThatâs why you really wanted to come here? To hire Ovi?â
âOh, not just that,â Esme informs him. âShe wants Tylerâs help. She wants him to train Ovi before she sends him off to be killed. She probably wants more than that. She always has.â
âOkay, weâre going.â Tyler tightens his hold on Millie and stands up. âEnough. Iâve had enough. I said not to do this, and you did it anyway. Letâs go.â
âI want to know if any of this is true,â Kyle says. âIf thatâs the real reason we ended up here. Is it?â he looks back at Nik. âIT had nothing do with fixing things, did it. It was all bullshit. Just to get something you want.â
âThatâs Nikâs M.O,â Esme smirks. âThatâs all she ever cares about. Getting what she wants. And trying to destroy anyone that stands in her way.â
âWhy would you do this?â Nik hisses. âStoop this low?â
âNow you know how it feels,â Esme give a victorious smile as she stands up. âDoesnât feel good, does it? Having some bitch trying to fuck your life up.â
âJesus Christ,â Tyler snarls. âLetâs just go. Enough. Youâve said enough.â
âOh, I have more tons more I could say.â
âWell another time, another place. Weâre leaving. Now.â Â His tone is demanding. Authoritative. But his face remains calm as he gathers up all the kids; Declan on one hip, Millie on the other. âLetâs go guys,â he says to the twins. âHome time.â
âThank God,â Tanner huffs. âAdult stuff is so boring.â
Kyle hurries after them as they leave, catching Tyler by the arm before he can get out the side entrance of the patio. âI am so fucking sorry. I had no idea what she was up to,â he says, as Esme and the twins âwith TJ pushing the baby stroller- continue the walk to the car. Â âShe told me that she wanted to come here and fix things. And so I could see the kids. I had no clue she had an ulterior motive.â
âThatâs one thing about Nik. She always has an ulterior motive. Iâm sorry, too. That you had to find out that way. Esme should have just kept her mouth shut. For tonight at least. I tried, but...â Tyler shrugs. â...she doesnât always listen to me.â
âShe doesnât listen to anyone,â Kyle gives a dry laugh. You guys going to be okay?â
âWeâll be fine. Sheâll get home and go off on me for a bit and then sheâll calm down. Nothing I havenât dealt with before. Iâm used to it after six and a half years. Good luck with Nik, though. Youâre going to need it.â
Kyle frowns and runs a hand over the back of his head. âThat bad, huh?â
âMate, you have idea. If she boots you out and you need a place to crash, you know where to find us.â
âYeah, donât be surprised if you come out in the morning and find me drunk and passed out on the beach.â
Tyler smirks. âThereâs been times I wished I was loaded and passed out on the beach, believe me. I am sorry. That your sister went off like that. Â But you were going to find out sooner or later.â
âBetter sooner if you ask me.â Kyle says. âTell her Iâm sorry. That youâre dragged back into this shit. Into that life. Esme deserves better than that.â
âYeah,â Tyler agrees. âShe does.â
#tyler rake#tyler rake fan fic#tyler rake fan fiction#best part of me#extraction#chris hemsworth character
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Best Part of Me -Chapter 25
Warnings: mentions of PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, alcoholism, drug addiction (pain medication)
Tagging: @innerpaperexpertcloudâ, @c-a-v-a-l-r-yâ, @alievans007â

Kyle arrives shortly before eleven; shirt untucked and wrinkled, carrying his shoes in his hands as he takes the beach back instead of the street. Â
From where he stands at the kitchen table braiding Millieâs hair, Tyler can see him as he stands by the side of the pool; cheerfully greeting the twins and Ovi âwith Declan in his arms- as they splash around. Itâs trouble waiting to happen; whatever is going on between Kyle and the neighbor. As angry and annoyed as he is at Nik for years of drama and issues sheâs tried to cause in his own relationship, she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. No woman does. Why cheat when you can just cut ties and do things the right way? There are no kids involved, no worrying about visitation schedules or child support or the long-lasting effects of a broken home. Whatever is going on, it wonât help well for anyone involved. Nik will be hurt and jilted, and sheâll end up on his doorstep. And thatâs the last damn thing he wants OR needs.
âWhere have you been?â Millie inquires, as Kyle wanders into the house. âAnd why do you look like shit?â
âAmelia...â Tyler frowns. â...what was the one rule for today?â
She sighs dramatically. âNo bad words. But itâs true. He does look like shit.â
âBusy night?â Tyler asks his brother in law; hands working at twining and twisting his daughterâs thick hair together.
Itâs a far cry from what his hands used to do, when they were primarily used for inflicting pain and punishment on others. When his knuckles would be torn apart; broken, bleeding, swollen. And as he gently drags the brush through Millieâs hair, he finds himself horrified that heâs even thinking about the job. Â That his brain is playing the âthen versus nowâ game while his own flesh and blood sits in front of him; his ârainbow babyâ as Esme calls her. The very life that heâd help created while on the job. That had kept him going on the darkest and most trying of days.
He tries to fight it. That urge to get back into things. That powerful craving for something more. The intensity and the exhilaration. Â Even the danger.
âOw!â Millie cries, and tilts her head back to look up at him, fixing him with a furious glare. âThat hurt! Whyâd you pull my hair so hard?!
Fuck. Heâs losing it. Or at least he feels like he is. First Ovi with his âwanting to try his hand at the jobâ bullshit and then the reappearance of Nik in his life and the fucking nightmares and the incessant and desperate cravings for the Oxy and the booze. Now THIS. The reminiscing and the longing for his former life. This is not what he wanted. This is FAR from what heâd wanted. When heâd had his mental breakdown and walked away from New Zealand, heâd been determined to leave it all behind, the blood, the violence, the danger, the death. Content to be ânormalâ. More than happy to finally settle down and enjoy his role as a husband and a father. He wants to be the man they need. The man they want him to be. The man they deserve to have.
Now heâs slipping. All of his control, all of his willpower, all of his strength and his confidence. All abandoning him. Threatening to turn him back int the old Tyler; the one that couldnât function without the booze and the pills. The one that willingly put his life on the line and took on whatever suicide mission he could; praying one day heâd catch a bullet and his miserable existence would be over. Â
And he knows if he goes there...if he follows that path...this one will be lost to him forever.
âThat hurt!â Millie pouts. âWhyâd you do that?!â
âI didnât mean to,â he attempts a lame apology. âI didnât realize I was holding it that hard. Iâm sorry,â he presses a kiss to the top of her head; right on the spot that sheâs been gently rubbing. Â He turns his attention back to the task at home, but finds his hands are now trembling; shaking with an intensity that both surprises and terrifies him, and he lets the brush fall to the table with a loud clatter. âWhy donât you go and get your mom to finish up,â he suggests, nervously wringing his hands together, tightly squeezing one, then the other; anxious for the tremors to stop. âShe does a better job than I do.â
âNo, she doesnât,â Millie scoffs. âAnd sheâs busy. With Addie.â
âIâm sure sheâs got some time to finish your hair.â Â Tyler sees the way Kyle is watching him; the way his head is cocked to the side and his are both curious and concerned. And he quickly shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. âGo ask.â
âI donât want to,â his daughter argues. âI want you to do it. I want...â
âAmelia!â he snaps, harsher than heâd intended. âI said go and ask your mom!â
She blinks, then her mouth settles into a firm, grim line and tears glisten in her eyes. The guilt hits him immediately. She shouldnât be the one paying the price for his issues; she doesnât deserve to face the consequences of his burdens and his demons. Sheâs just a kid. A baby still. Innocent and pure. And none of this bullshit is her fault.
âMillie...Iâm sorry...â he attempts to make amends as she shoves her chair backwards and springs to her feet. Â âI didnât mean to yell at you. I didnât mean to...â
âLeave me alone!â she bellows, then stomps out of the room, both her angry, pounding footsteps and her sobs seeming to thunder through the house.
âFuck me...â Tyler mutters, and rakes his hands through his hair and runs a palm down his face. The cravings are back; that crippling need for alcohol. Or the meds. Maybe even both.
âWhat the hell, man?â Kyle scowls. âThatâs your fucking kid. Why talk to her like that?â
Tyler fixes him with a cold, harsh stare. âYou need to mind your own fucking business.â
âThatâs my niece. My sister is her mother. That makes Millie my business.â
âYou donât even have kids. Until you do, keep your mouth shut about mine. You donât know what itâs like. This life. Being a dad.â
âI know that wasnât you. That youâre not that kind of dad. The one that snaps on his kids. Youâre usually the calm one. Patience of a saint. So what the fuck?â
Tyler sighs, hands on his hips as he briefly closes his eyes. Thereâs going to be hell to pay: a pissed off wife and a hurt, angry little girl. Kyleâs right. He IS usually the calm and patient one; he can count on one hand the amount of times heâs lost it on the kids. But his nerves are shot; the last remaining shred of sanity feeling as if itâs barely hanging on.
âYou okay?â Kyle asks. âWhat was that with your hands? The shaking.â
âItâs the meds,â Tyler lies. âOne of the side effects.â Â
His hands used to twitch and move in his sleep; to the point it would wake Esme up. Â Sheâd said it was like he was back on the battlefields in the Middle East or still on the job; hands and fingers going through the motions of handling a handgun or a rifle, loading magazines, pulling the trigger. Â There are times it STILL happens. He can be completely relaxed while lying in bed or sitting on the couch or lounging on the beach and his right index finger moves on its own accord. Â And he actually has to focus and concentrate on making it stop. Â
âHavenât you been on those for years?â his brother in law inquires. âIf youâre still having side effects after this long, Iâd get your ass to a doctor."
Tylerâs annoyed. On edge. And it causes him to immediately lash out. âShouldnât you still be out fucking the neighbor?â
Kyle smirks. âSo now youâre going take your shit out on me? I may not be able to take you, but it wonât stop me from trying to kick your ass.â
âIâd like to see you try,â Tyler retorts. âWhy are you even here?â
âEsme called me. Asked if Iâd help Ovi with the kids while you guys went out for a while.â
âI donât mean that. I mean why are you HERE? In Australia.â
âIâm here to see my sister. And my nieces and nephews. I donât get to do that very much since you decided to just pack them up and move them to the other side of the goddamn world.â
Tyler scoffs. âDonât start that shit with me. I didnât force your sister to come here. I didnât put a gun to her head or give her some kind of ultimatum. We decided this together. She was the one who suggested it.â
âSame way she suggested it the first time?â
He frowns. âWhat the hell is that supposed to mean?â
âIâm talking about when she decided to give up her entire life to stay here. For some guy sheâd just met.â
âShe gave up a life?â Tyler gives a dry laugh. âWhat life? A mother thatâs treated her like shit for nearly her entire life? Who stayed friends with an ex-husband that that used to beat her and force himself on her? You mean THAT life? She had no fucking life.â
âAnd you gave her one?â Kyle challenges. âSome guy that saw her as nothing more than an easy fuck and spent five days taking advantage of that in some shit hole motel in Bangladesh. Who probably wasnât even going to bother with her once he got out of there?â
âYou have no fucking clue what youâre talking about. You have no idea what went down between me and Esme. Just what you want to believe. Or what mommy dearest put into your goddamn head. Â I had every intention of continuing things with her. We had all kinds of plans; for what we were going to do after Dhaka. But we never got that chance, did we.â
âYeah, how convenient,â Kyle snorts. âThings go completely to hell, she ends up staying here to play nursemaid to some guy she barely knew, finds out sheâs knocked up...â
âDonât talk about my wife or my kid like that,â Tyler interjects. âDonât EVER talk about them like that.â
âAnd then you decide to do the right thing,â his brother in law continues. âThe honorable thing. Iâll give you that much; you stepped up at least. You didnât leave her alone and pregnant and make her a single mom.â
âIs that what you think I did? That I âstepped upâ and married her because of Millie? I married her because I loved her. And I stick around because I still love her. Because Iâll always love her.â
âOr because youâre too far in it now. Five kids make it pretty damn hard to walk away. Or is it your way of keeping HER from walking away? I mean, what better way to keep her around? Keep putting kids in her, keep her barefoot and pregnant...â
Tyler takes a step towards him; nostrils flaring, fists clenched at his sides. âYouâre way out of fucking line, mate. Neither of us are stuck here. Either of us could walk away if we wanted to.â
âWhat mother is going to leave her kids? Tell me on mother who would do that. Iâll wait.â
âYou think she sticks around because she feels like she has no other choice? Are you listening to yourself right now? You have no fucking clue what things are like between me and Esme. I stay because I love her. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with her. And I know...beyond the shadow of a fucking doubt...that she stays for the same reason. So fuck off with your bullshit. This is my house. Youâre a guest here. So donât walk in here like you own the place and start shit talking me. Or my wife. Or my kids. Because I will put you on your ass.â
âYou threaten her like that, too? Is that how you keep her here? Scare her into being a perfect little submissive housewife? Does it make you feel like a big man picking on a little thing like her?â
Tylerâs nostrils flare once more; fists tightening so hard that the wounds on his knuckles -that heâs gained while working the heavy bag in the gym so hard- actually crack and begin to bleed. He feels how tense his shoulders are, how tight his jaw is clenched. And he knows Kyle is one more word...one more breath...away from getting himself into a situation he canât possibly handle.
****
âThatâs enough!â Â Esme snaps from the doorway; holding a despondent Millie on her hip. The soon to be six-year-old is long and lanky; legs dangling well past her motherâs knees, toes almost touching her shins. âKyle...what the hell...?â
âWe were just having a discussion,â her brother says. âNothing to worry about.â
âBullshit. I was in the hallway. I heard almost all of your little discussion. How fucking dare you.â
âMommy...â Millie mutters into her neck. Â â...bad language.â
âYouâre right, Iâm sorry,â Esme lays a hand on her daughterâs head and presses a kiss to her brow. âDo you think you could go outside for a little bit? Just for a few minutes. Mommy has some things to say and she doesnât think you should hear them. Can you do that for me? Please?â
Millie nods. Â
âJust for a few minutes,â her mother assures her, as she places her on the ground and then holds her face in her hands, pecking her lips. âAnd say out of the sand. You donât want mess your dress up before grandpa gets to see it, okay?â
âOkay,â Millie agrees, and then sidestep her fatherâs hand when he reaches out for her. âNo daddy. Iâm still mad. I love you, but I donât like you very much right now.â
âWow...â Kyle comments, as his niece stomps from the room and throws the patio door open âand slams it closed- with enough force to rattle the glass pane. âSix-ish going on sixteen-ish. Wonder where she gets THAT attitude from.â
âFirst off, fuck you Kyle,â Esme snaps. âFuck you and your self-righteous, mom like bullshit. Coming here and thinking you can say the shit I heard come out of your mouth.â
âWhat I said? You know what he said?â he gestures towards Tyler. âTo his own kid?! How he made her cry?â
âOh, she told me all about that. And believe me, Tyler is going to catch shit for it, and he knows it. When weâre alone and we donât have nosey, judgmental assholes all up in our shit. Itâs none of your goddamn business what goes on around here.â
âYouâre my sister,â Kyle argue. âThat makes it my business.â
âLike hell it does! Iâm a grown ass woman. With children. So treat me like one. And second of all, fuck you again. For talking about me like you were. Never mind that, for talking to my husband like you were. Who the hell do you think you are?â
âDid you hear anything he said? Or just me?â
âHe was defending me. Defending US. Donât try throwing Tyler under the bus when I heard nearly every goddamn word. Â An easy fuck? That's how you see your own sister?â
He sighs. âI didnât mean it like that. I meant that...â
âTyler didnât take advantage of me. Not in the slightest. We were two consenting adult and we wanted to fuck each other so we did. What we did during those five days has no bearing on you. None whatsoever. You have no clue what went on. The things we talked about. The plans we made. And we had them. Plans. To get to know one another the right way. To travel and to spend time learning about one another. But we never got that chance.â
âEsme...I....â
âYou werenât in Dhaka,â she continues, and wanders over to the sink; dampening the dish cloth and offering it to Tyler; so he can clean the open wounds on his knuckles. Â And he accepts it with a small, grateful smile and leans back against the island. âWe were. You werenât on that bridge You have no idea how bad things were and how bad things got and how worse they could have been. So keep your goddamn mouth shut about Dhaka.â
âAll I was trying to say was...â
âIâm talking now, Kyle. Itâs my turn. Youâre in my house. And you will not disrespect me and you sure as hell will not disrespect the father of my kids. I stayed here after Dhaka because I wanted to. Because I wanted to be with Tyler. Because he needed someone to be there for him. Because busted his ass to get me out that god awful shitty mess and the least I could do was stick around and make sure he didnât die alone. Because he almost did. Not just on that bridge, either. I stayed because I wanted to. Simple as that.â
âFine,â Kyle throws his hands up in exasperation, and moves towards the patio door. âYou did what YOU wanted. You didnât care about the people you left behind. You were immature and selfish and...â
âYou donât get to walk away from me,â Esme steps in front of him. âYou got yourself into this mess, youâre going stick with it until the bitter end. You come in here and talk shit? Well now youâre going to get it right back. I had a shitty ex-husband who liked to rape and beat on women and a narcissistic bitch of a mother and older brothers with their heads so far up her ass....â
âBaby...â Â Tyler steps forward, using his shoulder to shove Kyle out of the way so he can stand in front of her; hand settling on her hip. â...settle down, okay? Just stay calm. I know youâre pissed...â
She ignores him. âI made a life for myself in Australia,â she informs her brother. âI became a wife and a mother and Iâm sorry if you think thatâs selfish of me for choosing that over my shitty existence in Colorado. And selfish? Because I did what I wanted for a change instead of what everyone else expected of me? Thatâs bullshit and you know it. Youâre just upset Iâm not under your thumb anymore. Thatâs all youâre pissed about. You and mom.â
âYouâre going to resort to shit talking her? Sheâs practically on her death bed and youâre going to stoop that low?â
âI donât give a shit about her. The second she wished death on my husband...the father of her grandchildren...it was over between us. Sheâs not my mother, Kyle. She hasnât been my mother in years. Maybe she never was. And I donât care that sheâs dying. Maybe itâs karma. Maybe she finally is getting what she deserves.â
âOkay...thatâs enough...â Tyler gently orders. â...letâs not say shit you know youâre going to regret.â
âItâs too late for that,â she says. âThe second my brother opened his goddamn mouth when it comes to things he has no clue about. Iâm not trapped here, Kyle. He's not some fucking predator like Mark was. What do you think Tylerâs doing? Hiding my birth control or poking holes in condoms just so he can get me pregnant? That is the dumbest shit Iâve ever heard, and Iâve heard a lot of dumb shit in the past thirty-five years.â
âBaby....stop...this has gone too far...â Tylerâs hands are on the side of her face, thumbs brushing away the tears she hadnât even realized she was shedding. â...stop, okay? Youâve said enough.â
âHe has no clue! Absolutely no clue!â
âI know. And you getting this upset is not going to change that. Just let it go. Itâs not worth it; getting this riled up.â
âHe has no idea. What weâve been through. What went down in Dhaka and on that bridge.â
âWe donât need to talk about that. He wasnât there. He doesnât know what happened. And he doesnât need to know. It was almost seven years ago. Letâs not talk about Dhaka.â
âYou almost died,â her words manage to come out through choked, angry sobs. âOn a dirty fucking sidewalk with my fingers shoved in your neck trying to stop you from bleeding out. You almost died right in front of me.â Â
âBut I didnât,â he firmly reminds her. âIâm here. Iâm right here.â
âAnd you almost died in the hospital. During surgery. Twice. And he has the goddamn nerve to act like it was no big deal? That is so fucking disrespectful to you and what you went through and what you still go through.â
âEsme....â Kyle attempts to step around his brother in law but meets resistance. âIâm sorry. Â I....â
âDonât touch her,â Tyler calmly orders. âDonât even talk to her. You have no clue whatâs going on right now. Â Stay out of it. Iâve got it under control.â
âYou do? Because it doesnât fucking look like it.â
âWould you just shut the fuck up and go and do something else while I deal with this? You have no clue what sheâs talking about or why sheâs talking about it. Â So back off.â
âSheâs my sister! If thereâs something I can do for her...â
âLeave her alone. Thatâs the best thing you can do for her. Leave her alone and let me deal with it. Itâs PTSD, you fucking idiot. You canât just jump in and fix shit. Fuck. Just let me deal with it.â
 This hasnât happened in months; where the mere mention of Dhaka triggers such a powerful reaction. The last time had been at the therapistâs office, when Esme was asked about her most painful memory of the last ten years. That had led to a full out meltdown complete with hyperventilating and vomiting. After that the therapist had helped them come up with âplan of attackâ; highlighting the warning signs and how he could either help talk her down before things escalated, or calm things once they got out of control.
âI just want him to leave,â she struggles to draw breath. âMake him leave. Please.â
âHeâs just worried about you,â Tyler attempts to reason. âHeâs your brother and he loves you and heâs worried about you. Donât even pay attention to him. Pretend heâs not even here. Pretend itâs just us in the room and no one else.â
âI can see him though,â panic is starting to set in. âI know heâs here.â
âClose your eyes, then,â Tyler cradles her face in his hands and tilts her head up towards him. âJust close your eyes and listen to my voice, okay?â
She nods, her hands coming up to tightly grip his forearms as she allows her eyes to flutter closed. And he presses a kiss to the bridge of her nose and rests his forehead against hers.
âItâs okay, baby...â his voice is quiet, keeping the volume low and the tone steady and soothing. âWeâre not in Dhaka anymore. Itâs over. Itâs all behind us now. We donât ever have to go back there. We made it out. Both of us. Weâre both here. And thatâs all that matters. We both made it.â
*****
Within minutes sheâs settling; her body ceasing to tremble, her tears stopping, her breathing returning to normal. Â And when the crisis has passed, sweat is glistening on her forehead and her skin is a pale, deathly gray. Â
He kisses her forehead once more, followed by her lips. Â âYou okay now? You gonna be alright?â
Nodding, she manages a small smile.
âGo outside and get some air. Youâll feel better. Iâll get you some water and your meds, okay?â
âOkay,â she feebly agrees, and he places his lips against cheek and runs a hand over her hair. Â
âLeave her,â he snarls at Kyle, when he attempts to step into her path. âFor fuck sake, just leave her alone.â
Kyle backs off, holding his hands up in surrender. Then waits for his sister to step and is out of earshot before speaking again. âWhat the hell was that?â he asks, as he follows Tyler into further into the kitchen. âLike what the fuck?â
âIt happens every so often when sheâs stressed about something. Usually it has to do with Dhaka. When some fucking shit for brains brings it up.â
âJesus Christ,â Kyle mutters. âWas it really that bad?â
Tyler scoffs. âOh, I donât know, mate. She had to stick her fingers in my neck so she could pinch a vein off to stop me from bleeding out all over her. What do you think?â
âI guess I didnât. Think.â
âYeah no shit. You have no idea what went down over there. Everything she went through. Everything she saw. Especially on that bridge. So do me a favor and donât bring it up. Ever.â
âI never realized it was THAT bad, I guess.â
âHow could you not have realized it? You know I almost fucking died. That she was the one that saved me. Sheâs your sister. How could you not realize that would have fucked her right up?â Â He yanks the fridge open, snagging a bottle of water before shutting the door with his hip, then grabs a prescription bottle from a cupboard near the stove. Â âShe was dealing with it just fine until all this shit with Ovi started. And letâs not even get into what happened when Nik decided to pop back up.â
âYou know she says you guys were fucking, right? Within the last six and a half years. Since you and Esme got married. She told me. That you her and have been hooking up. Â Least a dozen times. If not more.â
âSheâs full of shit. I havenât fucking touched her since I met your sister. I wouldnât cheat on my wife. Iâm a lot of things, but Iâm not a cheater.â
âIâm not saying I believe her. Not in the slightest. I donât think you would. Fuck around on Esme. I mean youâve done some shitty things, but I donât think youâd do THAT.â
âI wouldnât. Ever. Not even in the six months when we were separated did I even think about cheating on her, let alone actually do it. Iâm not crazy. I know what I have. Iâm not losing it.â
Kyle nods slowly as he considers Tylerâs words. âI just thought you should know. In case she calls her or shows up trying to cause shit.â
Tylerâs eyes narrow. âWhat the fuck have you done?â
âWhat I should have done that night after Esme called Nik out at dinner. I told her it was over That it just wasnât going to work. That weâre just too different and her career doesnât exactly leave room for a marriage, let alone a successful one.â
âSo itâs done? Totally? You and her?â
âIt never should have started in the first place. It was a bitch move. Getting mixed up with someone who tried to ruin my sisterâs life.â
Tyler smirks. âYou think?â
âFor what itâs worth, Iâm glad she didnât. Screw things up with you and Esme. I mean, you can be a real dick, but I know you love her. And I know sheâs happy here. That sheâs happy with her life. As a wife and a mother.â
âI like to think she is. Happy. And sheâs amazing at both. Iâm lucky. Even if thatâs something I donât say often enough.â
âItâs all I want for her, you know. To be happy. Especially after all that shit with Mark.â
âWe try not to talk about that around here either. And look, no offence, but when I tell you Iâm dealing with something...when I say Iâve got things under control...fucking listen to me the next time. Because I live with her. Iâve been living with her for almost seven years now. Iâve been the one with her through all the bullshit and all the hard times. All the nightmares and the panic attacks and the freak outs. Iâve been the one dealing with all of that. You just made shit worse. I would have had her talked down a lot sooner but you just kept escalating shit. When I tell you to back off, just do it.â
âFair enough,â Kyle agrees.
âYou and the neighbor, huh? Is that the real reason you broke things off with Nik?â
Kyle follows him through the kitchen, out into the living room and towards the patio door. âThereâs nothing between Salena and I. Nothing serious, anyway. Weâre just having a good time.â
Tyler smirks. âYou mean your dickâs having a good time.â
Kyle gives a sly grin.
âMine had a good time last time last night too, so...â
âJesus Christ,â his brother in law scowls. âThatâs my sister.â
âIâve made five kids with your sister. I think itâs obvious we have sex.â
âDoesnât mean I want to hear about it. Or think about it.â
âLook...â Tyler pauses, fingers curling around the handle of patio door. Â âI donât know whatâs going on with you and the neighbor and I honestly donât give a shit, but Iâm going to be pissed if Nik shows up to cause problems. I donât need that crap. Esme especially doesnât need it. Weâve got enough going on without having to put up with her.â
âI told her not to bother you guys. To leave you both out of it.â
âYeah? And when does Nik ever do what sheâs told? You trying to tell her what to do probably just pissed her off even more. I just donât want that shit here. Around my wife and my kids.â
âThink sheâll call Esme? Tell her the same thing you told me? That you guys were hooking up.â
âShe better hope she doesnât. And you better not say anything to your sister, either. Because itâs not true. Iâve never cheated on her. I never will. So if you donât keep your mouth shut....â
âWonât say a word,â Kyle promises. âI donât understand how it even got this far. Nik wanting on your dick for this long.â
âWell if you saw my dick, youâd understand. I mean, itâs kept your sister around, right?â
Kyle smirks. âSo did she catch the feels or something? Nik?â
âGuess so.â
âBut you never did.â
âI never saw her as anything more than a boss or a friend. We used to fuck. Thatâs it. Nothing serious. I never wanted it to be. She never got like this until after Esme and I got together. It pissed her off that we were fucking on the job. And then it pissed her off even more when things went further than that. Guess she thought Iâd never settle down.â
âOr if you did, youâd settle down with her.â
âWho knows. Doesnât matter anyway. I never saw her that way. I never saw anyone that way until your sister came along. Iâd already done the marriage thing. Once was enough. I pretty much avoid forming any kind of connection with someone. No one needed to get mixed up in that kind of mess. Â Never met a woman that could put with it; the job and everything that came with it. It needed to be someone pretty fucking strong. No one I ever met fit that bill.â
âWeak women need not apply, huh?â
âPretty much. Then your sister came along and...â Â he shrugs. â...I donât know...here we are.â
âAlmost seven years and five kids later,â Kyle concludes. âThink there might be a six?â
âWhy are you so hung up on us having another kid? Addie's only three weeks. Still new.â
âMake it a nice even number,â Kyle reasons. âHalf a dozen. You havenât thought about it?â
âA couple times, maybe.â
Thatâs a lie; over the past three days heâs thought about it at least a few dozen times. But heâs not sure if he actually wants a sixth one, or that the idea of getting dragged back into the unpredictability and the danger of the job makes him feel as if he NEEDS to have another. A way of âcementing his legacyâ.
âI donât think Iâll be able to talk your sister into it,â Tyler says. âShe already gave in the last two times I changed my mind.â
âThis thing that happened...â Kyle gazes out the window, nodding towards where his sister sits at the top of the patio stairs, arms wrapped around her slender form. â...the PTSD or whatever. Sheâll be okay, right?â
âShe usually is. Takes about a half hour, hour, before sheâs back to normal.â
âWill it ever go away? Or is just something sheâll have to learn to live with?â
âItâs pretty damn permanent,â Tyler reluctantly admits.
And he both blames and hates himself for it.
#tyler rake#tyler rake fan fiction#tyler rake fan fic#extraction#best part of me#chris hemsworth character
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Sanctuary -Chapter 51
Warnings: none
Tagging: @innerpaperexpertcloudâ, @alievans007â, @c-a-v-a-l-r-yâ, @thunderintheshadowsâ, @valkyrie-of-the-lightâ

âI do not need a goddamn wheelchair.â Esme grumbles, five hours later, as Kyle pushes her out of the front entrance of their local hospital. âI can walk on my own.â
âWell considering you fainted once at mom's, and twice while you were here, I think it's safe to say you shouldn't be walking anywhere on your own right now.â
âPeople faint,â she shrugs.
âPregnant women shouldn't faint. And they especially shouldn't faint three times. You heard what the doctor said. You're severely dehydrated, your blood pressure is sky high, and when you fainted, you managed to hit your head, give yourself a concussion, and receive seven stitches for your trouble.â Â
She frowns at the last part; gingerly touching the bandage that covers the injury in question that runs down some of her forehead and into her right eyebrow.
âSo now you have a prescription he wants you to get, and you've got this handy dandy portable IV...â he nods down at the small back like device resting in her lap, the needle of the IV having been inserted into the top of her left hand and secured with clear tape. âA nurse will come every day to check on it. To change the bag and see if the line is still good. Just be thankful that you get to go home. If I had my way, I would have had you admitted for a couple of days at least.â
âWell good thing firefighters have no pull when it comes to those things. Because I do not need to be in the hospital. Â All I need, is to be as far away from mom as possible. Can you believe the things she said? Who says shit like that? Who wishes death on their own son in law? Or basically suggests her married daughter gets an abortion because mommy dearest doesn't like said son in law?â
âLook, what mom said was completely out of line and I think she's a huge bitch for saying any of it. But stop thinking about it. Because what she said and how you reacted is how you ended up here in the first place. So let's not talk about mom at all, okay? I'll take you home and keep an eye on you. You'll be more comfortable there than at my place. In your own bed, surrounded by all your stuff.â
Nik had assured them that it would be perfectly safe to return to the house; she and the security team would be there around the clock, and they were more than capable of both spotting and diffusing threats.
âNot everything,â she sighs. âMy kids aren't there. My husband isn't there.â
âWell, he will be, Because he's on his way back.â
âWait...wait...â she clamps her hands down on the wheels of the chair, preventing them from turning. â...what do you mean he's on his way back? You called him? Â You actually called him? Why the hell would you do that?â
âI didn't call him. Nik did.â
âWhy? She didn't need to do that. Why the hell...?â
âOh I don't know why she would do that, Esme. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you're his wife and you're pregnant with his baby and you nearly just got admitted to the damn hospital!â
âI just fainted. When did it become such a serious issue for someone to faint? It's not life or death.â
âOkay, first of all, it's never normal for someone to just faint unless there's an underlying issue. Second, you're having a baby. So there isn't just a concern with your health, but with the baby's health too. You're not the type that gets sick easily and you don't normally have health problems. But, you have to admit, with the twins and Declan, there were problems. A lot of problems. Especially with the twins. So don't you think it's better to get you looked at and see if there's something else going on? With either of you?â
âIt's just stress. The doctor asked if I've been under a lot of stress and I have. Huge stress. And then mom started with her shit and...â
âListen, it's just better if things are taken seriously. They did some tests and some blood work and if anything is wrong, they'll let you know. Better to be safe than sorry, right?â
She nods.
âIf nothing is wrong, then great. If something is wrong, then at least they found it and at least they can do something about it. Why do you have to be like this? So damn stubborn? Of all the things you had to inherit from dad, it had to be one of the worst possible things.â
âWell you inherited his looks so the joke's on you,â she teases.
âAre you trying to say I'm ugly?â he grins.
âI'm trying to say when you were born, mom said 'what a treasure' and dad said 'yeah, let's bury it'.â
Kyle chuckles. âI should dump you out of this wheelchair for saying that.â
âYou'd never. You love me too much. Since we were kids and you used to beat up the bullies that used to teased me because I liked to climb trees and play with Transformers and GI Joe's instead of dolls.â
âI tell you, you could throw a left hook better than any of the guys I knew. They were just jealous. Because you were cooler than they were and I liked to hang out with you more than them. I'll stay with you okay? Keep an eye on you. Make sure you're eating and drinking and taking it easy. I already called my boss and he said to take a couple days and call him if I need more time. I'll hang around until Tyler gets here.â
âI still can't believe Nik called him,â Esme huffs. âThis is the last thing he needs on his plate. He's already got enough  stress with having to go New Zealand and find those kids. He doesn't need to be worrying about me too. You should have just left it alone and not told him.â
âKid, he's your husband. There was never an option of not telling him. I think he cares more about you and this baby than he does about some fucking job. I get its kids that are involved. I get how bad that sucks and how horrible it is. I really do. But someone else can finish the job. He's not the only mercenary out there.â
âHe feels he needs to finish it. That he started it and it's up to him to get them.â
âWell he's obviously changed his mind because he's on his way home.â
âFor good?â
âI don't know. I didn't talk to him. Like I said, Nik called him. And apparently he flipped his shit and told her to get him on the first flight home and that's what she did. So despite what mom thinks about him, he obviously cares more about you and the baby than he does about the job. If he didn't, he wouldn't have insisted that he was coming home even after Nik assured him that things weren't that serious.â
âAnd you call me stubborn? Tyler is way worse than I am.â
âHe's not stubborn. He loves you. There's never been a doubt of that, that's for sure. I mean, if he can put up with your shit for this long, he must love you.â
âOr he's just a glutton for punishment.â
âHey, you said it, not me,â he pushes the wheelchair as close as he can to the front passenger side door of his truck, and then sits the brakes and squeezes between his vehicle and the one parked beside to open the door. âHey!â he scolds, when she attempts to stand. âI don't think so, kid. Sit your ass down. You don't do anything unless I tell you to, understand?â
âAs much as I'm sure Nik will find your assertiveness insanely hot, you're my brother and you don't get to boss me around.â
âThe hell I don't. Sit.â
âFine,â she huffs, and plops back down. âYou know, you are more like dad than I realized. He was bossy too,â
âAre you like this at home?â Kyle inquires, as he pops open the door and then helps her out of the chair, hands under her arms for support. âDo you get like this when Tyler tries to help? You get all obstinate and bitchy with him too?â
âYep. And then he gets mad and we fight and then we have angry sex and things go back to normal.â
âYou know what, some things I do not need to know. And that's one of them. Can you get up in there or do you need me to put you over my shoulder and drop you in to your seat?â
âI'm not an invalid, thank you very much. I only fainted.â
âThree times. And stop lying to yourself that there's just that wrong, okay? There's something going on with either you or the baby and it needs to get sorted out. Just let people take care of you, okay? You've spent five and half years either taking care of Tyler or taking care of kids. It's your turn now.â
âOh just what I want. Sitting on my ass while someone caters to every whim and need...wait a second...â she frowns and cocks her head to the side. â...that actually sounds kind of nice.â
âYou deserve someone to wait on you hand and foot, kid. Like the princess you are.â
âPrincess? I'm the motherfucking queen, K.â
He just shakes his head and shuts her door.
****
While it's good to be home, it feels strange at the same time. It's empty. Lonely. Way too quiet. Nothing more than furniture and other belongings in empty rooms. Â No kids running around; no shrieking, no squealing, no giggling, no near constant demands for snacks and juice. No dog barking or following her from room to room, desperate for the attention he isn't receiving (yet definitely is) from the others. No husband out working in the back yard or the garage. Â While all of their things are there...in the exact places they'd been left...the house and its surroundings seem foreign. As if it belongs to someone else.
âNik said the guys checked the place,â Kyle says, as he steps out onto the back deck, carrying a bottle of beer for himself, a steaming mug of tea -decaf, as the ER doctor had suggested-, where she sits in one of the oversized Adriondack chairs, a flannel blanket pulled up to her chin, legs stretched out and feet on the wooden railing in front of her. Â âNo sign of any trouble. Maybe those Irish guys already came to town and scared the bad guys away.â
âOr at least chased them somewhere else,â she says, and gives her brother an appreciative smile as he places her drink in the chair's cup holder.
âIt's getting pretty late. You should be getting some rest.â
âIt's nine thirty.â
âAt night.â
âIt's nine thirty,â she stresses. âI haven't gone to bed this early since before I had Millie. Before I got too huge and too uncomfortable and I couldn't sleep properly anyway. Â You're getting a little too naggy.â
âI'm not naggy,â he argues, as he takes a seat in the chair beside her. âI'm worried about my kid sister. And my niece or nephew. Maybe both. Maybe there's two in there again.â
âOh God, bite your tongue. Do not wish that on me for a second time. I love my boys to the end of the earth and beyond, that was the most brutal seven and a half months of my entire life. I do not want to go through that again. I'd rather have another nine plus pounder than two at the same time. Besides...â she reaches under her blanket and pulls out the ultrasound photo she's been keeping safe in her possession. â...looks like there's one baby Rake.â
Kyle takes the picture from her, squinting his eyes in an attempt to make out any distinguishing features. âWhat the hell am I looking at?â
She leans sideways in her seat and begins pointing out various things that the tech had circled. Heart, spine, kidneys, both eyes, nose, and mouth. Â The radiologist on call had said that everything looked 'perfectly fine' and 'extremely healthy'. All parts existent and working properly, from what he could tell. âI'm a lot further than I thought,â she says to her brother. âI thought maybe two months. Three at the most.â
âAnd?â he asks.
âThree months, three weeks and two days.â
âDo you know the exact hours and minutes too?â
She rolls her eyes. Â âI don't know that's the exact time. That's what the tech said based on all the measurements and everything. That's almost four months, K. I don't understand how it can be that far ahead. Nearly four months and I never showed any signs whatsoever? I mean, I missed a period and a half of one but that's nothing. Things have always been screwed up in that respect. That's never been normal.â
âOkay, you're my sister and I do not need to know certain things. Your...cycle...or whatever...is not something I need to know. Â So it's a bad thing you're this far ahead, or...?â
âIt's not that it's bad. It's just weird. Look, when you get married and your wife starts having babies, she will know everything that goes on in her body. And I mean everything. I thought I did know everything that my body is telling me. I mean, I've only been through this three other times, right? Oh no. This time is totally different. I thought I was just run down and stressed and worried and all that crap that comes with Tyler doing what he does. And you know what? He was the one the one who thought I was pregnant. Way before I did. You know what that means?â
Kyle frowns. Â âWhat?â
âIt means he was right. And when I tell him just how far along I am and that he was right, he will hold that over my head for years. Decades. Because that's what Tyler does. Because Tyler isn't used to being right and when I have to admit he is, he makes my life hell. Well maybe not hell. But he makes it very annoying. And I am not in the mood for that kind of shit. I'm cranky and I'm hormonal and it pains me inside to know I have to admit he was right.â
Her brother laughs. âYou two are perfect for each other, I swear. He practically says the same stuff about you.â
âExcuse me? He does what? Have you been talking about me?â she gives an excited gasp and sits up, then asks â Do you have a bromance going on?â
âWe talk,â Kyle admits.
���When?â
âWhen you don't realize it's happening. What? You need to know everything?â
âI think it's a big deal when my husband...the black sheep of this family, through no doing of his own...is having a bromance with my favourite brother. It makes my heart happy. What's wrong with that? And what do you guys talk about?â
He shrugs. âGuy stuff.â
She stares at him pointedly.
âWhat? Guy stuff. You know, going to the gym, cars, trucks, work shit, girl shit.â
âGirl shit? He's talking about girls with my brother?â
âHe doesn't talk about girls. I talk about girls. He talks about you.â
âOh really...â her eyes narrow. â...and what does he say? Don't hold back. You can tell me. Don't protect him.â
âNothing bad, I swear. He has never once said anything bad about you. The total opposite, actually. Trust me when I say that after five and a half years, that guy is still wildly and crazily in love with you.â
She smiles and sips her tea. Â âHe's lucky.â
âIt's just random guy shit we talk about. I mean, every so often we'll talk about how big of a bitch mom is and how ridiculous the shit she says is. Â Sometimes we talk about sports. Â He really hates hockey by the way but I won't hold that against him. And every so often he'll talk about shit that's bothering him.â
âReally?â she's genuinely surprised. âHe talks to you about that stuff?â
Kyle nods and sips his beer.
âWhat has he told you?â
âEsme, it's kind of personal, don't you think? If he's telling me and not you...â
âI'm not asking to be nosy and I don't expect you to betray his confidence. I'm asking because I'm worried about him. He's been having some really hard times, K. Mentally. And not just the depression and the anxiety. But with the PTSD and the brain fog and the memory issues. Have you noticed any of those things?â
âI've noticed a couple things, I guess. Nothing major. I just figured that whatever he'd been through had done a real number on him, you know? I mean, now that I know exactly what he went through, it's no wonder the guy has issues. That would fuck anyone up.â
âHas he told you about any issues? Anything specific?â
âEsme....â
âHe's my husband. Kyle. And I'm worried about him. I don't know what to do for him. I don't know if he needs more therapy or if he needs different medication or if he needs both. I just want to help him.â
âI know. But right now, you're the one that needs help. I know you're used to being the mother hen and the one that babies everyone, but you've got your own shit going on, kid. You do not need to be stressing out over this. If you want me to, I can talk to him. See if he'll tell me anything else other than what he already has. But you can't be worried about this. Especially now. Not with your own stuff going on.â
âI fainted, K. That's it. I fainted.â
âThere's way more than that going on and you know it. You need to take it easy and let people take care of you for a change. Stop trying to solve everyone's problems and just worry about yourself. That's why you're having issues in the first place. Because you stress yourself trying to fix everybody. Just...stop...â he reaches out and gently squeezes the back of her neck. Â â...stop trying to save everyone.â
âThat is not what I'm trying to do. I'm worried about him, Kyle. Legitimately worried. He isn't himself and he...â
âYou just said he was stressed and had a lot on his plate.â
âIt goes way beyond that.â
âIs he drinking again? Back on the Oxy?â
âHe was drinking but he says he's sober and staying sober. And no. Â He's not on Oxy again. He doesn't even like taking Tylenol. Which is a problem all in itself because he's in all this pain and he doesn't want to take anything for it.â
âAnd I said I would talk to him and see if he'll tell me anything else. Look, he's not coming home so you can take care of him. He's coming home to take care of you. Would you let him do that? You always have this need to take care of him, maybe he feels like he needs to do the same thing for you. Â So give him that, okay?â
âYou promise you'll talk to him?â
âIf you're that worried about him...â
âI am. And this isn't my usual worrying about stupid shit. This is serious. There is something going on up in his brain and I don't know how to help him. And I know he hates telling me things because he hates me worrying. So maybe he'll tell you instead.â
âI will talk to him,â Kyle promises her. âYou've had a long day. Lots of time on a plane, the excitement at mom's, all the poking and prodding at the hospital. You need sleep. That baby's counting on you, kid. You're the only one that can keep him or her safe and sound in there. So go. Go inside and lie down and sleep. Â I'll be on the couch if you need me.â okay?â
âWhere's Nik going to be?â she teases, as she pushes the blanket off of her and stands up, immediately feeling light headed and having to place a hand on her brother's shoulder to steady herself.
âI knew you should have been admitted,â he huffs.
âI'm fine. I just got up too quickly. Relax, dad. Jesus.â
âDon't get lippy with me. Because I will fireman carry you upstairs.â
âIs that how you're going to get Nik into bed? Seduce her with your fireman abilities?â she tousles his hair, presses a kiss to his cheek.
âHow do you know she's not going to seduce me?â he counters.
âIf you're going to have sex, I just ask that it's not in any of my children's beds. And stay out of Ovi's apartment. Â Go and do it somewhere else if you have to. I don't want to be hearing the two of you bumping uglies, okay?â
âIt's only fair. I've had to hear you and Tyler before.â
âThat's because Tyler was trying to teach you how to do things properly,â she teases.
âYou're a smart ass, you know that.â
âI do,â she says, and then disappears into the house.
***
The traffic is terrible; hampered by a steady rain and strong winds. Â And he sits in the passenger seat as Yaz drives, Â elbow on the door, hand rubbing his chin and mouth repeatedly, both legs shaking nervously. Â The call from home has him on edge; brain running through all worst possible case scenarios, nerves completely shot, desperately yearning for something to take the edge of. Â To at least calm him enough to stop fearing the worst. The assurances from Nik that there wasn't something seriously wrong hadn't worked; she'd insisted that he didn't need to return home and that things were 'under control' and he needed to just stay where he was and concentrate on the job at hand. He'd snapped on her. Telling her to shove the job up her ass and get him a way home. Sooner. Not later. That she'd set this bullshit in motion the moment she decided that ratting him out was a good idea. Had she not done that, Esme would still be in Ireland. Not half way around the goddamn world, dealing with issues with the baby all by herself.
âYou need to calm down,â Yaz says.
âYou need to fuck off,â Tyler retorts.
Yaz sighs. âYou won't miss the flight. The guy's waiting for you. So...â
âI fucking hate traffic.â
âOkay, I get that. But like I said, they're waiting for you...â
âI don't give a shit. I need to get home. But instead I'm stuck in this fucking bullshit,â he angrily gestures out the windshield.
ââYou heard what Nik said. Everything is fine. They didn't even admit her. If there was something wrong, she would have been admitted. â
Tyler sighs, and closes his eyes; trying his best to block out his friend's voice. The last thing he fucking needs is someone trying to tell him just where his concerns should lie and where his priorities should be. There'd been no hesitation when Nik had called; he'd already been throwing clothes and other personal belongings into one of the suitcases before she even got to the part where things 'weren't that bad'. It didn't matter how goddamn bad things were; he was going home and no one was going to stop him.
âIt isn't that bad,â Yaz says. âCan you stop shaking like that? It's annoying me.â
âJust fucking drive,â he responds, and shakes his legs even harder, just to be spiteful.
âWould you just calm down? What are you so freaked out about?â
âIf you tell me to calm down one more time...â
âBeing this worked up isn't solving anything. I'm getting you to the airport, they're not going to take off without you, Nik said that things are that bad and....â
âI don't give a fuck what Nik said. Â I need to get home. To my wife. I don't care if things are 'that bad' or not. She shouldn't be going through this alone.â
âIsn't her brother with her?â
âWhat the hell does that matter? I should be with her. And I would be if I never took this goddamn job. If that fucking asshole never showed up in Colorado.â
âWell technically, he's been after you since Guatemala, so...â
âYaz, we don't need to get fucking technical. If we really want to get into it, none of this would be happening if your sister didnt' fuck up and hire Jason Andrews' brother. Which is who hired McMann to take me out. And if I really want to be a petty asshole, I'd say we also wouldn't be in this situation if your sister hadn't have ratted me out to my wife in the first place.â
âI get you're pissed about that, but...â
âI am more than pissed. I am so far past pissed. She should have just kept her fucking mouth shut. There was no reason she had to go to Esme. What good did it do?â
âOther than get you to knock your shit off and start getting your head on straight? She did the right thing, and if you'd calm down long enough, you'd realize that.â
âStop fucking telling me to calm down!â he snaps. Â âI will knock you the fuck out, Yaz, I don't care if you're driving. I am on my last shred of sanity and my last nerve is hanging on by a thread. Â This all could have been avoided if your sister kept her mouth shut. If she'd minded her own business, Esme would still be here. With me. And that way if things went wrong with the baby, I'd be with her. Not thousands of miles away.â
âIf you hadn't have decided to take matters into your own hands and drug and kidnap someone, it wouldn't be happening either.â
âDo I need to fucking remind you that you were on my side? That you agreed McMann deserved to suffer? That you agreed to help me? And then as soon as your sister showed up, you fucking bailed on me and threw me under the bus. That was a bitch move, Yaz. You fucking coward.â
âIt was getting out of control. You were getting out of control. We've been friends a long time, Tyler. Even longer than you and Nik. I'm the one that got you into the job in the first place. And believe me, every day I want to kick myself in the ass for that. Because if I'd never done that, this wouldn't all be happening. And Dhaka never would have happened.â
âA lot of good things came out of Dhaka,â Tyler says, and can't even believe the words came out of his own mouth.
For years he's been dwelling on all of the bad things that happened in Bangladesh; Mahajan Senior screwing them over, G being killed, Gaspar betraying him, everything that took place on the Sultana Kamal Bridge, the fact that Esme had to see and hear the things she did. Even those long months in the hospital and the lingering, life altering after effects. Maybe it's the meds in his system; allowing him to think clearly and rationally instead of turning him into a zombie.
âYeah? Like what?â
âMy wife, for one. My kids. My chance at a normal life. Which I keep fucking up in the most epic ways possible.â
âIt's hard. You've been doing the job for a long time. It's hard to just let it go,â Yaz reasons. âEven though you've got half a dozen reasons to walk away, you just can't. Somewhere along the long, the job stopped being something you do and you became the job.â
Tyler snorts. âAin't that some shit.â
âYou never meant for it to happen. It's not like you intentionally became that way. And it's not like you wanted to put it before your wife and your kids. You didn't even realize it was happening. It just did. Â No one is going to fault you for that, Tyler.â
âThey don't need to. I already hate myself enough for it.â
âEsme doesn't. She's still around.â
âUntil she's not one day. And I don't want that happening. Â I can't let that happen. You ask why I'm going home when things aren't that bad? Because that's where I fucking belong. It's where I've always belonged and I never let it happen. Home was never enough until I realized how close I was to losing it. So maybe you're not a coward, Yaz. But I am. I was a coward when I left when Austin was dying and I've been a coward for the last five and a half years.â
His head hurts. Even worse than his knee and his shoulder, for  once. And he reaches into one of the pockets of his flack jacket and pulls out a bottle of prescription meds; twisting off the cap and dumping three small pills into his palm.
âThought you took your meds today,â Yaz comments.
âYou keeping tabs on me now?â
âThought you were only supposed to take one Valium a day? What the fuck...?â
âIt's ativan, dumb ass. For anxiety. Â I'm a little fucking anxious right now.â
âA little?â
âDon't make me hurt you, Yaz.â
He places the pills under his tongue, waiting for them to fully dissolve before reaching for a bottle of water sitting in one of the cup holders.
âAre you coming back?â Yaz asks.
âI don't know.â
âWhen will you know?â
âWhen I get home and see how bad things are. Can I get home first? Can I get to see my wife and talk to her before you start asking me these things? Fuck the job. She has to come first.â
âI get that. I do. But we're supposed to leave for New Zealand in two days.â
âSo leave for New Zealand in two days. Mark and his boys will be with you. What? You need me there to hold your hand? You need me to spoon feed you and wipe your ass after you take a shit?â
Yaz smirks. âYou can be a real dick.â
âIf...and that's a big if right now...I come back, I'll meet up with you guys there. You don't need me there to gather up intel and find where the kids are. You just need me to get them out.â
âExactly. We need you. You. Not some random fucking Marine that's never done shit like this before. And definitely not Mark. If anyone would fuck things right up, it's that guy. You're the one with the experience. We need you.â
âNik can find someone else.â
âThere is no one else. And you've been on this since day one. You know the history. Â I don't want some newbie just walking in and screwing things up. You're the only one that can do this. Properly. Don't fucking bail on me, Tyler.â
âIt's what I do, Yaz. I bail on people. You don't realize that by now?â
âYou didn't bail on Ovi,â he points out. âEven when you were told to.â
Tyler sighs.
âSo? Are you?â Yaz presses. âComing back?â
âI don't know,â he admits. âI honestly don't know.â
#tyler rake#tyler rake fan fic#tyler rake fan fiction#extraction#sanctuary#chris hemsworth character
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