#so it wasn't until the past year when i started digging in that i really became interested in him

[unacknowledgeable]

Yan!batfam x Reader x TMNT (can you tell what I’ve just watched?)

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I'm not really sure what this is i wanted a lil break from the overwhelming angst from my SK!Reader series, kinda just plot points for this idea that I wanna lay out and explore later more in depth, mostly based of 2018, loosely based off the 2012 Turts, the turtles aren't yandere in this, it’s just the general protectiveness of their family lol :p 

The typical neglected batsibling lol, shows up to the manor at age 5, after the disappearance of your mother, 2 years after Bruce adopted dick

Alfred had really put his foot down on you knowing about bruce's “nightly excursions”, citing the different backgrounds and skill sets as to why Dick was allowed and you weren't even told

So, there's already distance, such a huge secret and constant dangerous activities

Someone who didn't have that drive for justice, and two who needed it like air

That, and that bruce didn't really know how to deal with not just some kid, but his kid that wasn't really supposed to exist at all

You were a complete accident, bruce didn't even remember who your mother was without digging into decades old news articles of his past relationships, years after you had already left the manor

On a lighter note, you meet the turtles pretty early on, which definitely saved you in the long run, despite the rocky start

Three years after arriving at the manor, at the age of 8, you run into the turtles while playing (unsupervised, mind you) by gotham harbor

You heard them in one of the sewer drainage pipes, and after some talking, you asked them to play (you didn't actually expect them to say yes, no one ever did)

They were hesitant, they can't just show themselves willy nilly! They got so lucky with April, but that was April, who saw them first and had to ask questions later

But you had asked questions first, so you’ll get to see them later 

You saw their silent hesitation, and at the risk of looking desperate because you were  you offered to blindfold yourself, so you wouldn't see (don't ever do this, y/n’s dumb and 8)

And they agreed! They actually agreed! You’d been so excited! So excited you barely noticed just how many times you fallen, because the boys played a little rough but you were determined to keep up

So when the time came when you had to leave, you were covered in bruises and mud

Alfred wasn't exactly pleased, but you were smiling and happy, so he wouldn't look a gift horse on the mouth

After that you kept going back, day after day, to play by the waters edge, with people you couldn't see but saw you, instead of staying cooped up in the manor, where you saw everyone and were seen be none

Of course, being batman's kid, you were able to deduce that these kids where some type of mutants, you can only get get knocked over so many time before realizing what you're running into is a hard shell and the hands helping you up only having 3 fingers

So eventually, you find out just exactly what they look like, what kinds of turtles they are etc

This totally doesn't spark a near life long love of turtles, leading you to decorate your entire childhood room with the reptiles, nope no way

You meet April later, since she lives a lot further than the turtles do, and while you could get away with sneaking off to the harbor for 1-2 hours just fine, it was a bit difficult finding a time lapse of time long enough before Alfred grew wary of where you ran off too

The turtles think your dad is some kind of bat mutant or vampire, because you talked about overhearing Barbra and Dick talking about bruce being this “batman” once

No they don't realize they were talking about THE batman until they are way older lol

Otherwise they don't really think anything of it bc their dads a rat like, it’s normal for them

Reader definitely is like, super buff in this bc you've been roughhousing with 4 mutant superhuman turtles since childhood, OF COURSE your gonna be buff

Plus your older than them so losing is just a non option for you, your far too competitive for that

You bring Donnie whatever gadgets you can from the house for him to take apart and use

You’ll bring Mikey spray paints and tag the abandoned theme parks together

You get Raph high quality bedding to stop his spikes from ripping them

You taught Leo how to play chess, and you have a running score on whose won, going back yeaaars

You and April end up going to the same school, (you begged Alfred a lot) so you had a pretty active social life outside the manor and you help her with her job searches a lot

I can't decide if I want Gotham and New York to be sister cities, or just treating them as the same place, I'm still figuring that out lol. I just find the hijinxs of the turtles vs. the angst of the batfamily to be so funny and the worms agreed sooo.

~Masterlist~

[devotedlyandrogynousyouth]

I know this sounds so boring but what Bruce with a polite, wise gentle girlfriend? This is so boring 🥹🙂‍↕️ I’m sorry🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

No omg I actually love how like domestic this request is, in a way?? Literally in love with the amount of creative freedom that you guys let me have with reqs.

BF! Bruce Wayne w/ a Wise/Caring Girlfriend

BF! Bruce Wayne who you're convinced really doesn't have a chill button. There are only a handful of times over the past few years you've been together where he's been home, unoccupied, and not pacing around the Manor like a maniac.

BF! Bruce Wayne who's always just so sore, achy, and tired. This comes into play especially when his age finally starts catching up to him, depite how hard he pushes his body. The best thing, however, is that if you get him to sit down for more than five minutes, you'll get to rub his back.

"Sit."

"Hm?" He was pacing the lavish master bedroom again, his mind working overtime to plan ahead for a recent situation with his 'nightly extracurricular.' In all honesty, he wasn't paying attention as you watched him from the edge of the bed.

"Come sit with me, Bruce." You repeat softly, moving to lay back against the pillows and holding your loving arms out for the tired man beside you.

"I can't-"

"You're going to burn out if you keep going at this rate, Bruce." You don't even give him the chance to protest before you're leaning forward, grabbing his wrist, and pulling him to lay on top of you with his head burried into your chest. There's a few moments of domestic bliss as he tries to find the will to pull away and fails. "Sometimes..." You start softly, the heels of your palms gently digging into the knotted muscles of his back and shoulders, "Sometimes I think you forget to breathe."

A deep breath and a soft sigh can be heard, although its slightly muffled by your chest. "I know." He whispers after a few moments. "Im sorry."

"Don't be." You respond without hesitation as you continue your gentle ministrations. "You shouldn't apologize to me. Ever, Bruce." You pause for a moment as thoughts gather. "You should, however, apologize to yourself for what you keep putting yourself through.

BF! Bruce Wayne who doesn't realize it, but needs your help so much more than he'll ever need anything else. It doesn't matter if you know that he's Batman or not, you somehow just... Know what needs to happen. Bruce, of course, tries not to let you in on exactly what problems he's facing, but he swears you have a sixth sense for this kind of stuff.

BF! Bruce Wayne who absolutely melts every time you make him dinner, even though he likely won't be home to eat it. He often forgwts to eat between work meetings and beating the everloving shit out of criminals on the Gotham City Streets.

The feeling of a large, caloused set of hands resting on your waist was enough to pull you out of your own thoughts as you put down the spatula in your hand. "Somebody's home early." Your voice is almost a teasing jest to Bruce, but he knows just how much you've missed him over the past few days.

"I heard that a certain lovely woman was in need of attention." His voice is slightly muffled by the skin of your shoulder and fabric of your shirt as he practically buries himself into you, pressing a soft line of kisses up your neck.

"You can't just keep cancelling work meetings for me, handsome." You turn to face him for a moment, pulling him down slightly to press a kiss to the tip of his nose. "You need to start doing things for your own sake."

BF! Bruce Wayne who refuses to go on a vacation for years. Until you listen in on some banter between him and a few of the 'Elite Gothamites' at a Wayne Gala and find out where he's always wanted to go. And proceed to drop subtle hints that you want to go there until he finally gives in, because how could Bruce ever resist that begging tone? After all, it made him feel less guilty that it was for you (it totally wasn't) and less selfish for taking time away from the city forgotten by God.

"You have impeccable taste in locations, beautiful." He mutters before pressing a kiss to your warm cheek, broad arm already around your shoulders as you basked in the setting sun of the private beach he rented out for a few days.

"Maybe you should listen to your girlfriend a little more, Mr. Wayne." You tease softly before gently grasping his chin in one hand and pulling him in for a soft, sweet kiss. His lips mixed with the faint taste of liquor are as close as you feel you'll ever get to heaven.

BF! Bruce Wayne who, if you know about his identity as the Caped Crusader, goes to you for help as little as possible. You undertsand that he's doing it for your own protection, but you can't help but feel a little upset over him.hiding even more from you.

"No, there will be too many thugs waiting at that entrance." He mutters softly, eyes trained on the flashing and blinking lights displayed on the Batcomputer forming a map of a warehouse inhabited by the Joker.

"What if you went in through those vents?" You ask softly, moving the hand not on the back of his rolling chair to point out a hidden ventilation system. "Sure, I get that it's a tight fit, but you could probably take of the utility belt for a few minutes, right?"

Masterlist

[xxchumanixx]

tim bradford x reader

tim knows the reader has a crush on him and so he likes to play around with her about it (flirt, etc) maybe a confession at the end after the reader has finally had enough

Stop talking

Tim Bradford x reader

Warnings/Tags: hurt, angst, fluff Word count: 2.508 Authors note: Hello love, I hope you'll like how I wrote it! I'm not a hundred percent happy with it, but that could just be me being tired of studying. Anyways, let's get going!

Enjoy!

Tim and you had been best friends for years now.

You two had went through thick and thin.

He was there with you, whenever you needed him, being your shoulder to cry on or being your support.

You were there for him, when things with Isabel went downhill, her addiction breaking him apart piece by piece, until she had left him in the middle of the night, shattering him completely.

You remember him calling, frantically asking where she went. But you didn't know, being as clueless as him - even more so, not knowing that she was doing drugs in the first place.

When he then confessed her addiction, you nearly lost it. He had went through all of this suffering, carrying this burden for months, all alone.

He should have told you, even if you might would have ratted her out - she couldn't have been going on carrying a weapon whilst being high.

A responsibility she wasn't able to hold anymore.

You've been there for Tim, never letting him down. But as you were taking care of him, supporting him, something inside you slowly shifted.

Or maybe it had been there all along, but you never would have dared to dig further.

You fell in love with him, as wrong as it was. You couldn't love him, not like that, he was your best friend. But as time carried on, your feelings only grew stronger.

It didn't help that he dated a few women over time, breaking your heart again and again.

Somehow along the way of you being his heart mender, he became your heart breaker.

One night, when you were drunk as hell, having gone out to a party, you might have let it slip - or at least hinted at it. You didn't remember everything, but you were quite sure that he knew about your feelings.

Still you hoped for the contrary.

He occasionally would flirt with you - nothing he never did before, no matter with who. But it made your heart flutter, nonetheless.

Especially since he did it more frequently. You weren't able to tell a joke and an earnest flirt from him apart anymore.

It went from him brushing your hand, hugging you on a night out with a few friends to him kissing your cheek, whispering things into your ear.

Nothing seemed too serious, but it confused you, fueling your feelings for him even further. He wasn't like this before.

"Come on, don't be a party pooper!" Tim complained, pointing at the shot of tequila in front of you. Rolling your eyes, you downed it, before slamming it back on the table, after you had refused to drink it at first.

"Happy now?" you retorted, narrowing your eyes at him, even though you weren't really angry with him.

You were at the bar with a few friends, including Tim. He had brought a round of tequila shots to your table, causing you to grimace.

The last time you had tequila, you almost confessed your feelings to him.

He nodded proudly, grinning at you, the action making you swallow, as your heart beat a tad faster.

He would be the death of you.

"What do you say we dance a little?" he asked, already standing up, not giving you any chance to protest. Rolling your eyes playfully, you grabbed the hand he was offering you, following him onto the dance floor, to where most of your friends had already went off to.

Your fingers tingled as they came in contact with his, sending pleasant shivers up your bare arms.

He normally isn't one to dance, you noted. But he seemed a little different the past few weeks, anyway. Maybe it's nothing.

He chuckled, as you clumsily followed his movements.

Yeah, you really weren't one to dance, either.

He approached you, hands on your hips as he started to guide you. "I'm not that bad." you complained, causing one of his brows to rise. "Tell that to my feet." he retorted, grinning.

You blushed, looking away for a split second, as his hands sent a certain warmth through you.

"Are you okay?" he wanted to know, sounding worried. You nodded, sending him a smile that was meant to reassure him.

Even if he wasn't yours, he was at least for this moment.

His fingers dug into your waist, his thumbs brushing circles on your skin, were your shirt had cutouts.

Maybe you shouldn't have listened to Angela when she told you to buy it. It seemed a little flimsy, nothing you would have typically picked.

It just was too exposing.

Now, you were pretty sure every being on planet earth was able to see the goosebumps forming on your skin.

Tim tugged you a little closer, his breath fanning over your face. He did that often lately, you noted again. He more frequently would seek your proximity, even if it was just a brush of his hand against yours, or something as simple as a hug.

He did it on purpose, you were sure of it by now.

He had to bite his tongue, when you entered the bar earlier. Angela really had it coming for him, your shirt with the cutouts surely her doing.

She knew that it was complicated - at least for him it was. He had refrained from thinking about you in a different way more than once, knowing it would lead to no good.

At least not for him.

He wasn't blind, and he wasn't dumb either. When he had picked you up from a party a few weeks ago, you said something that wouldn't leave his mind.

"I'm never the one."

He had asked what you meant, his gaze briefly wandering towards you, as he drove on the still crowded streets of LA.

"I try so hard but I'm never the one." you had just mumbled, looking out of the window. "I'm so dumb. I'm in love with my -" your words were drowned out by someone honking, clearly unhappy with Tim stopping at a red light.

Dumbass.

He could only assume what you were talking about, or rather who, having to bite his lip as the possibilities of how your sentence would have ended pointed at him - your best friend - as well.

It wasn't like he didn't harbor some feelings for you, too. No, in fact they kept him up at night, plaguing his thoughts even when he was dating someone.

But they weren't you.

When you cared for him when Isabel left, he truly learned to value you. He got to know you in a different way, not the best friend one, but the passionate woman you were.

And he couldn't help but keep thinking about it. About you.

"You look good tonight." Tim noted, causing you to blush again, as you swayed to the rhythm of the music. A smile lightly graced your lips, as your eyes met his, the intensity of his stare stealing your breath.

"Thank you." you returned. "You look pretty good as well." He chuckled, smirking. "I know, baby." he agreed playfully, causing you to huff out a laugh, shaking your head at him.

The endearment made your heart flutter, the sound of it still ringing in your head.

Baby...

You liked it.

It added to the list of names he had called you during the past few weeks: darling, sunshine, sweetheart and now baby.

But, over the time he acted different towards you now, it came to bother you a little bit. Did he nowadays call everyone of his friends baby? Did his hands brush those of others like they did yours?

You knew it was silly - to even interpret something into it, was silly as hell.

But you couldn't help it.

Sometimes, like right now, as one of his hands slid a little more downwards, his face inches from yours, you were unsure, not knowing why he did it.

Did he even know himself?

His cologne clouded your senses, the room slightly spinning, and you finally had enough.

"Excuse me." you mumbled, slipping out of his grasp, before hastily making your way towards the front door, pushing it open.

You needed fresh air, otherwise you couldn't think straight.

Fighting against the tears in your eyes, you let out a silent, frustrated cry, hands balling into fists, after you stopped a few feet away.

Something you realized a while back, came to your mind again.

Either you had to quit your friendship, or you had to get rid of these feelings for him.

Both options were heartbreaking.

The door pushed open behind you, steps echoing through the night, before he stood before you. Of course his protective instinct had to kick in.

"What happened?" he wanted to know, confusion and worry etched into his features. "I'm good, just needed some fresh air." you lied, trying to reassure him, not looking at him though.

He shook his head, not believing you. "Y/N, you know you can tell me everything." he tried to get you to open up, but you just snorted.

You didn't mean to, really, it just slipped out.

He leaned down, his eyes searching yours. "Y/N." he pressed, even more worried by your reaction.

"Are you having fun?" you snapped at him, finally looking up. He leaned back a little, brows furrowing. "What do you mean?" he asked, knowing that you didn't mean hanging out at the bar.

You huffed, barely being able to contain a frustrated laugh.

"Do you like making a fool out of me?" you asked a bit louder, arms crossed over your chest. "Because I don't. Whatever it is you are currently going through, don't let it out on me."

His mouth was agape, as he tried to process what you said. "What do you mean?" he wanted to know, though it seemed to dawn on him. He really should have kept more to himself.

"I mean your-" you searched for the right words, getting frustrated again. "Your constant over the top flirtatious behavior, the touches! Maybe I'm just misinterpreting things, but something's been different for the last couple weeks!"

He huffed, brows raised. He was right with his assumption, he had to admit that he went overboard with it. But he wanted to test his theory - and he had desperately hoped he was right.

"Do you remember the night I picked you up, after that party you went to?´" he inquired, biting his cheek.

Of course you did - how could you not if you almost spilled the truth in your drunken state?

"What about it?" you gave back, not sure if you really wanted to hear it. "Do you remember what you said?" he asked, eyes fixed on yours. Inhaling shakily, you licked your lip.

"I don't know what you mean."

His eyes rolled, as he shook his head, getting worked up. His patience was running thin, you playing dumb not helping the case.

"You know exactly what I mean." he deadpanned, arms crossing over his chest. Trying to hold back the tears that welled up, you looked down at the ground. "And?"

He sighed, taking a small step closer.

"I know what you feel."

He risked it, he had to. He didn't have the patience to play around. He needed to know if he was right.

"I know that you have feelings for me."

Your heart stopped, before it doubled its speed, as your cheeks grew unbearably hot.

"You don't know what I feel." you tried to deflect, shaking your head as a tear managed to spill. "You don't know how it feels to love someone you can't have, to watch the person you have feelings for go out on dates. To watch said person delve into a relationship, breaking your heart over and over again."

He sucked in a breath, finally having his confirmation.

"But I-" he wanted to interject, but you didn't let him.

"You don't know, how hard it is to have to choose." you continued, briefly looking up at him. His face was contorted, like he was in pain, as he opened his mouth to speak - but you didn't let him, again.

"Either I get rid of these feelings as quick as possible or I distance myself. It both fucking hurts to think about."

He grew impatient, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, as he waited for you to shut up. But you were rambling on, eventually causing him to snap.

"You-" He didn't let you talk this time, as he grabbed your face, pulling you closer, not giving you any time to process, as his lips met yours. They moved demandingly against yours, his hands tilting your head to get better access.

When your mind finally processed what was happening, you returned the kiss, leaning towards him.

Why was he kissing you?

Not that you complained, though. It felt heavenly, his lips being soft and warm. They moved in synch with yours, his tongue licking into your mouth.

When he let go of you after a while, you gasped for air, eyes wide as you looked at him.

"Stop talking." he muttered, breathing heavily, his pupils blown wide. "I wasn't sure if I heard you right. But I had to try - I had to know it. Yes, I fooled around by flirting with you, but that was to find out how you'd react."

One of his hands brushed a few strands of hair out of your face, before it stilled on your cheek.

"I have feelings for you, Y/N." he admitted and the butterflies in your stomach exploded. "I know that it's wrong, but fuck it. After what happened with Isabel, I didn't want to fall in love with someone like you again - someone that knows me like the back of her hand, someone that knows all my weak spots. But I was wrong. I never should have dated someone just to get rid of these feelings for you - instead I should have asked you out on a date."

Mouth agape, you stared at him, pure happiness and warmth pulsing through you.

"And that's what I'm gonna do now." he continued, eyes locked onto yours. "Do you want to go out for dinner with me?"

A tear managed to escape your eye, but he was quick to wipe it away.

"Yes, Tim, I'd love to." you spoke shakily, smiling at him through the tears in your eyes. "And yes, you are right - I do have feelings for you. I just never thought you would even consider me."

He rolled his eyes, muttering a bullshit.

"Let's go out and we'll see if my flirting is appreciated now." he offered, smirking a little. Huffing, you swatted at his arm. "It was appreciated, thank you very much."

He laughed, one of his arms wrapping around your shoulders, as he guided you back to the bar.

"Let's go, or we'll be arrested for not paying our bills."

"Our first date being in a cell at the police station - how romantic!"

[witchygagirlwrites]

Lucky Bluejay

Jay Halstead x Reader

Since you were young Bluejays were your goodluck charms. Every time you were at your lowest one was there watching over you. It wasn't until you joined intelligence that you figured out life may have led you to your very own lucky bluejay or well a blue eyed Jay anyways..

It started when you were six. Bluejays. You were at your cousin's house for the summer, outside playing hide and seek. You almost hid in a bush but a bluejay got your attention and you followed it, the next second your uncle screamed because a rattlesnake crawled out from under the very bush you almost hid in.

The next time you remembered was when you were eleven. You weren't making friends in a new grade, they didn't like the new kid. You were sitting by yourself in the break area outside. A bluejay came and sat next to you while you read. You ended up making friends with one girl simply because she went bird watching with her aunt.

For years it seemed every time you needed a little bit of protection, even if it was just emotional one of those little blue birds would show up.

The one that really stuck with you was when you were seventeen. You got in a car wreck, it was pretty bad. They had to end up cutting you out of the wreckage. The only thing that helped you hold onto consciousness was focusing on a bluejay that was sitting atop the fire truck parked close to your car or what was left of your car. Every time your eyes would start to close the bird would flap its wings or make some noise so your eyes would refocus.

The doctors told you at the hospital if you would’ve lost consciousness at the scene you probably would’ve never woken up again.  The day you turned eighteen you got a tattoo of a bluejay on your right shoulder blade. Just a reminder to yourself that apparently somewhere out there someone wanted you to keep going.

The day you graduated from the academy you felt your heart skip when you spotted two bluejays sitting in a tree across the way as if they were watching the proceedings themselves.  Your little lucky charms giving you a tip of their wings on the next step of your life. 

You were approached by Sergeant Trudy Platt for an open spot in intelligence. When you questioned why she’d come instead of Sergeant Voight she’d smiled “Hank figured you’d be more likely to say yes if I asked”

You’d worked with everyone in the unit in passing. You knew they needed a new detective considering Voight was down a man but hadn’t expected yourself to be a draft pick. “Ok” you agreed because you couldn’t say no to that big of a step up in your career.

_____________

You stood next to Voight while he officially introduced you to everyone in the unit. “I remember you. Al used to say you were a damn good cop” Adam said and you smiled “I’ll take that compliment any day Ruzek”  Kim smiled “We rode together a few months. Good to have you here” 

One by one everyone welcomed you. Voight nodded to Jay Halstead who was coming up the stairs just as he’d gotten through with introductions “You know Halstead?” “Yes sir. I worked with him and Lindsay a time or two” he nodded “Good. He’s your partner”

Jay looked from Voight to you “Welcome to the unit” you smiled “Thanks”

You let your head fall back against the seat in Jay’s truck. Your neck was killing you, your back was cramping and this guy hadn’t moved in hours. The wire tap was getting nothing but snoring at this point. “What’s wrong?” he asked, cutting his eyes at you.

You groaned lightly “Old injury wanting to flare up, just happens if I sit too long” he nodded “From that wreck?” you raised an eyebrow at him “I was talking to Hailey about that, not you” he grinned “Sorry, I felt I had the right to know any past injuries my partner has had” you shook your head “Next thing you know you’re gonna be getting Will to pull my medical records or calling that buddy of yours to dig into me deeper”

He tilted his head as if he was considering it and you started laughing “Or here’s a thought Jay, if you wanna know anything about me, just ask” He nodded, turning his eyes back towards the house “Ok, how bad was that wreck?” “They had to cut me out. Doc at the er said if I hadn’t stayed awake they probably would’ve lost me”

“Damn and at seventeen?” you nodded “Some idiot blew through a red when I was on my way home after school” he shook his head “Ok, next question..why did you turn that guy down at Molly’s the other night?” “Woah! Foul play there Halstead! Not partner talk!” you laughed and he grinned “You said if I want to know to ask”

What were you supposed to tell him? You had slowly started to fall for him? That any guy that tried to get your attention didn’t have the right shade of blue to their eyes or the right grin when they spoke to you. You shrugged “Maybe he wasn’t my type. No more questions. The patrol should be here soon to relieve us”

He nodded and got quiet for a moment before saying “Got any tattoos?” “Halstead I swear!” you threatened and was rewarded with the sound of his laughter. “C’mon..I just wanna know. You don’t have to show me” you cut your eyes at him and smirked “One” then turned your eyes back to the house, listening to him mumble under his breath trying to figure out where your tattoo was.

“I’m fine Jay! The vest caught it!” you tried to convince your partner but the sharp intake of breath that came from you did little to convince him. He stepped closer, blue eyes holding you in place “Take your vest off. Now” you raised an eyebrow “We’re the same rank detective. Do not order me”

His eyes softened “Sweetheart please” you let him undo the straps on your vest and lift it over your head. His hands were warm, lightly tracing over your side to make sure he couldn’t feel anything broken. “Told ya the vest caught it” you argued and he glared at you “You’re still going to med. A quick X-Ray. Just to make sure” you knew you couldn’t argue, after Kevin’s collapsed lung that one time it was protocol. 

“Fine but you have to stay with me” he grinned “Deal”

____________

You were sitting on the bed with your arms crossed, glaring at Jay. Luckily you’d worn a sports bra to work that day so you’d only had to strip your shirt off to put the gown on but you were forced to sit and wait for the tests to come back. Will stood at the foot of your bed with them “Nothing’s broken or cracked. She’s fine”

“See? Worried for nothing” you told Jay then looked at Will “Can I leave?” he laughed “Yes you can” you didn’t even care they were in the room, your sports bra covered more than most tank tops. You reached for your shirt and slipped the gown off but mentally kicked yourself when you heard Jay say “Is that a bird?” followed by Will’s laughter “I believe that’s a bluejay” 

You felt your face warm as you slipped your shirt on and hopped off the bed “Let’s go younger Halstead” “Bye detective” Will spoke so you glanced over your shoulder at him “Bye Will”

______________

“Why a bluejay?” you were trying desperately to avoid answering Jay’s questions. You didn’t want him to tease you about why you loved the birds. You couldn’t take him making fun of you “No reason” you lied and he nodded “So we’re lying to each other now huh?”

You sighed “Ok, promise not to laugh?” he made a motion like he was crossing his heart “I swear” you went into telling him every time you’d had interactions with the bird. He listened intently, looking at you as the traffic allowed. Your stomach twisted waiting for teasing but instead he smiled “Hell if they kept you awake I like bluejays now” you felt your face warm slightly “Really? You don’t think it’s weird?”

He shook his head “Sweetheart you don’t know weird superstitions until you’re in the army” he went into telling you about a few guys he served with and you felt the knot loosen. He was the only person who’d never teased you about the birds.

“Stupid thing!” you growled kicking the side of your car. It wouldn’t crank, it looked like it was going to start raining, you were exhausted and hadn’t eaten anything all day because you’d dropped your lunch and had yet to make it home.

You dropped your head over onto your arm and was on the verge of tears when you heard someone call your name. You looked up to see Jay, he was wearing that damn blue henley you’d long since fallen in love with and that smile that twisted your heart a million different directions “What’s wrong sweetheart?” he asked once he was closer.

You hit your car again “It won’t start, I’m tired and hungry and it’s about to start raining” he laughed lightly “C’mon. I’ll buy you some dinner and get you home then if it’s not raining I’ll come back and see if I can get it going. If not I’ll pick you up in the morning and call my car guy to come see what’s wrong”

You laughed lightly and he raised both eyebrows “Are you laughing at me offering to help?” you shook your head and reached a hand out to run across his chest, pulling the shirt up to emphasis it “My luck with blue jays coming to my rescue holds out” he shook his head with a grin “You’re better be glad you’re so fucking cute or the weirdness may win out one of these days”

“You think I’m cute?” you asked and was rewarded with a blush gracing his face “Just get in the truck before it starts raining” you leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek “You’re pretty fucking cute yourself Halstead” then ran to get in his truck as the first raindrops started falling and he ran to catch up with you.

[ivyangels-blog]

Brother's Ex-Best Friend

Summary: After watching Hawk break your brother's arm, you have trouble trusting him again.

A/n: I've discovered I enjoy writing hawk angst, so now you all must suffer

Warnings: violence, angst, injury and a rushed ending

--

I only got into karate because of my brother. I agreed that it might be good to learn to defend ourselves. I had no idea that it would increase the odds of us needing to tenfold.

Now I'm hiding in the corner of the laster tag place downtown, watching the boy who used to be my best friend, who I used to believe I was in love with, beat my brother to a pulp.

He pins Demetri to the ground, grabbing his arm and tugging it back.

"Finish him!" the other Cobra Kai's shout.

"Demetri!" I jump up from my hiding spot, rushing towards them.

Demetri is trying to reason with him. "Eli, Eli, it's me," he cries.

The other Cobra Kai's are shouting over him.

"Stop!" I cry, running towards them.

Eli looks up at me, but I realize that it's no longer him. The Eli I knew was kind and loyal. The person staring over at me is the complete opposite. His stone cold face is filled with nothing but hatred.

I watch in horror, as Hawk jerks my brother's arm, bending it backwards.

The crack echoes in my ears, only drowned out by the sound of my brother's scream.

"Demetri!" I drop to the ground beside him.

The other Cobra Kai's are already turning and leaving.

"It's okay," I mumble. "It's gonna be okay."

I look up to see Hawk still staring down at us.

"Just go!" I shout at him, tears spilling past my cheeks at having to listen to Demetri's whimpers.

I reach into my pocket, digging out my phone and calling 911.

By the time I've finished explaining the situation to the operator, Hawk is gone.

--

Time Skip

I wasn't able to forgive Hawk as easily as my brother did. I guess guys have a different sort of resolution to their fights. One second they hated each other, the next it was like a switch was flipped and they were best friends again.

I wasn't won over so easily, but maybe it has to do with the fact that I've barely talked to Hawk since he left Cobra Kai. Every time he comes over to hang out with Demetri, I find something to do elsewhere.

It's not until I absolutely have to, that I talk to Hawk again.

I was at work at the library where I intern. I was in charge of closing and I guess my boss didn't care if it was a sixteen year old all alone at night.

I should've locked the door after my coworker left, but I forgot.

It's my fault really.

I was shelving my last stack of books when I heard the bell of the front door.

"We're closed," I say, slipping another book into its spot.

"You hear that boys?" Kyler's voice makes my heart drop. "We got the whole place to ourselves."

A group of Cobra Kais appears in the middle of the library, about five boys.

One of them catches sight of me from my spot beside the bookshelf.

I drop the books in my hands, sprinting towards the back of the building.

Their shouts cut through the air behind me and I hear the pounding of their feet in pursuit.

I sprint down the back hallway, locking myself into the librarian's office.

The boys must not have seen where I went, because I hear them opening and closing other doors in the hallway.

I reach into my back pocket for my phone, but it's not there.

I must have left it by the front desk.

Frantically looking around, I spot the landline sitting on the desk.

I rush over to it and dial my home phone number, but no one picks up.

"Shit," I whisper, dialing Demetri next.

He doesn't answer either. My hands are shaking and my heart is about to beat out of my chest.

I try the only other number I have memorized: Eli's.

I press the numbers as fast as I can, forcing myself to take deep breaths. The door knob starts to jiggle, as I place the phone to my ear.

"Hey guys, I think she's in here!"

I press a shaky hand to my mouth, to hold back my gasp.

The phone rings...

and rings...

and

Please leave a message after the tone.

"Dammit," I mumble.

The door crashes open and I scream, dropping the phone so it dangles beside the desk by its wire.

"Looks like we've got you cornered now," one of the boys says.

I turn around, grabbing one of the books off the side table and holding it in front of me.

Kyler laughs and the others join in. "What are you gonna do?" he asks. "Smack some knowledge into me? You're such a nerd, working at the library. That's just sad."

"What do you want?" I ask.

"We just want to have a little fun. Don't we?" Kyler turns to the guys he's with and they all smirk and nod in agreement.

One by one, they're stepping closer to me. A blonde on my left is getting especially too close and I decide it's time to make my move.

I crash the book down over his head, bolting past him and around the desk.

The boys all shout in response and grab me before I can make it past the exit.

Their hands wrap around my arms, holding me in place.

I jerk and pull against their grasp, but can't manage to break free.

"You want the first shot, Andrew?" The boys turn to the blonde guy I just attacked, who's rubbing the top of his head.

"Hell yeah." He comes over to me and I start to tug harder against the hands holding me back.

"Let me go!" I shout, just to be silenced with a punch across the face.

The boys all cheer, as the left side of my face throbs.

Before I can look back, another punch is being delivered to my stomach.

It goes on like that, them taking turns hitting me until I'm gasping for breath.

Another kick is delivered to my stomach and its like I can barely feel it anymore.

"That should teach them not to pick a fight with us and not see it through," Kyler spits.

The arms around me loosen and I stumble without them holding me up.

"Let's get out of here." The boys file past me out the door, as I drop down onto the ground.

I lean my back up against the wall, struggling to catch my breath, wincing with each gulp of air.

I tell myself that I'll just sit for a little while and then I'll grab my things and go home, but I doubt I'll be able to make the walk in my condition. My vision is starting to go spotty and I’m worried I might pass out.

"Y/n? Y/n? Are you here?" The voice echoing through the halls pulls me to attention.

"Hawk?" I respond.

Before I can even sit up, he comes rushing through the door, dropping to his knees beside me.

"Jesus," he murmurs, looking at me with wide eyes.

"You came?" I whisper, not believing it to be true.

"Of course I did, I got your call. Are you okay?"

I nod, sitting up. "Yeah, I'm good."

"Here." Hawk lifts my arm, pulling it over his shoulder and lifting me up. "I'll drive you home."

We stop to grab my stuff and he helps me all the way out to his car.

I finally relax once we're on our way back to my house, letting my head fall against the head rest.

"What time is it?" I ask.

"A little after 11:00."

I sigh. "My whole family's gonna be asleep by now. I really don’t want to wake them up to this."

"You still keep your window unlocked?" Hawk asks.

"You remember that?" I ask.

"How could I forget? I spent too many nights sneaking in to hang out when you were grounded."

"God, only we were lame enough to have to sneak around just to stay home all night."

Hawk chuckles.

We pull into my driveway and Hawk hops out of the car, coming over to my side to help me.

With his support, I walk around to the back of the house, pausing below my window.

Hawk steps forward and pushes it open, turning to me and offering his intertwined hands as a platform to boost me up.

I grasp onto the windowsill and, since my bedroom's on the first floor, slip in easily.

Hawk comes in behind me and goes straight to my bathroom.

I move to sit on my bed, assuming he might just have to go, but he comes back out with a washcloth in hand.

"Can I?" he asks, approaching me.

I’m surprised by how much he cares, but nod and he presses the cool cloth to my face.

"It looks like they didn't get you too bad," he says.

Without saying anything, I reach to lift up my shirt, revealing the bruises on my stomach.

I haven't looked at them, yet, and the mixture of purple and yellow painting my skin looks worse than I could have imagined.

I turn my gaze up to see Hawk's reaction. His face is in a scowl, his nostrils flaring, as his grip on the washcloth tightens.

I'm once again reminded of why I'm so afraid of him.

"I can't believe that they ambushed you five to one," Hawk says. "Those cowards can't even make it a fair fight."

"How'd you know there were five of them," I ask.

Hawk goes back to pressing the washcloth on my cheek. "I saw them leaving when I got there."

"And you didn't stop to fight them?" I ask, confused.

Hawk furrows his brows. "No, I had to make sure you were okay."

I feel myself start to smile, because that's exactly something Eli would do.

"Let me go grab an ice pack," he pops up from the bed and leaves the room.

I take the opportunity while he's gone to change out of my jeans and blouse into loose fitting shorts and a t-shirt.

Hawk comes back from his mission, ice pack in hand, as well as a bottle of ibuprofen.

I take both, gratefully.

Hawk sits beside me on the edge of my bed, while I try and situate the ice pack on my stomach.

I can’t help but wince at the contact.

“They’re gonna fucking pay,” Hawk says.

“I’ll be fine,” I say. “Please, just leave them be.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Hawk jumps up from the bed, waving his hands and turning toward me.

The action causes me to flinch backwards, closing my eyes and putting my head down.

It’s the briefest of movements but when I look back up Hawk is staring down at me with his mouth slightly agape.

“Are you scared of me?” he asks, his voice no louder than a whisper. Almost like he doesn’t want to speak it into existence, like he can’t believe it might be true.

I shake my head, not wanting to get into it right now. “I’m just jumpy cause of everything that happened tonight.”

Hawk rolls his eyes with a shake of his head. “You forget I can always tell when you’re lying. Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?”

“You broke Demetri’s arm. Demetri may be able to forget that, but I can’t. You were awful.”

Hawk’s face falls and he drops his head, avoiding eye contact.

“I know,” he murmurs. “I’m so sorry. If you’re okay, I’ll go.” He turns to head to the window. I should let him, but something about the way his head hangs low and how he refuses to meet my eye reminds me of Eli.

“Wait,” I find myself saying.

Hawk pauses and looks at me expectantly.

“You can stay,” I whisper.

“Are you sure?” he asks.

I nod. “Like old times.” I sit back on the bed, pulling my laptop up to find the Marvel movies we always watched together.

Hawk slowly sits down on the far side of my bed, putting plenty of space between us.

“You’re not going to be able to see it over there.” I slide next to him.

We sit in silence for awhile, eyes on my laptop screen. It’s not long before I start to feel tired, my head drops slightly, resting on his shoulder.

I feel Hawk tense a little at the contact and my head jerks back up with an apology.

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind,” Hawk says and I rest my head against him once more.

I fall asleep like that, my head on his shoulder and when I wake up in the morning my face is planted on his chest.

I rub my eyes, sitting up and the movement causes Hawk to stir beneath me.

“Sorry for falling asleep,” I whisper.

He shakes his head. “Don’t be. It was nice to hang out like we used to. I missed you.”

His words make me pause. “I missed you, too.”

We sit like that, me leaning over him staring into each others eyes until Hawk breaks the silence.

“Uh, how are you feeling?” he asks.

“Sore,” I reply, “But I’ll be okay.”

“Thank you,” I add. “For coming.”

“I’ll always come get you, y/n.” Hawk’s eyes meet mine again and I can’t help, but feel drawn toward him.

His hand reaches up to brush the side of my face.

My heartbeat is fluttering, my mind is on overdrive trying to process what’s happening.

And then he kisses me, and it’s like the whole world goes still.

When we finally pull away both of us are smiling.

“I love you,” Hawk says. “I’ve loved you since we were kids and I need you to know it.”

His confession leaves me stunned, but my answer is easy. “I love you, too.”

Even though I’ve had my reservations about him recently I know it’s true. I realized it last night. I love the boy sitting across from me, Hawk and Eli alike.

[nathaslosthershit]

Time Flies (slowly) [LN4]

(Read part 1 here) Summary: Years later, Lando hasn’t forgotten about the one that got away. A/N: here is a happy ending after all the angst in part 1

There was so much anger and resentment, so much hatred, after the breakup. Lando's now ex-girlfriend had graduated medical school. What was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life was overshadowed by the overwhelming feeling that the one person she wanted there with her, the man who had stayed by her side (even while across the world), wasn’t there. 

But she was too proud to reach out, as was he. As Lando stalked her private instagram on one of his spam accounts she forgot to remove from her following, he felt the urge to call, or even just text a simple “congratulations, I am still unequivocally in love with you by the way”. Maybe that was too much though.

With a career like hers, she wasn't out of the clear once she graduated, she still had what felt like millenia left of training to do. So she threw herself into her career. She didn’t want to think about her ex, so she didn’t give herself time to think. 

That worked for a while. Two years went by and she had been on top of her game. Training to work as an ER nurse had been difficult but rewarding. At first, only months after the breakup, she had a hard time but her philosophy of “working so hard you are too tired at the end of the day to think about how you lost the love of your life” had done her good for a while. 

But, she had started to slowly fray at the edges. Sleeping just enough to sustain her but not enough to make her feel rejuvenated. Eating small meals to get her through the day but not enough to feel full. She thought she could get through it.

It wasn’t until she had a 22 year old that had gotten into a racing accident that she really realized how bad she had been feeling. All of the feelings she had been pushing down immediately came charging back up when she saw a tanned boy with curly brown hair. As she helped give him the medical care he needed, she kept reminding herself of the same thing, it's not Lando, Lando is okay, it's not Lando, Lando is fine. It wasn’t until she had tipped a cart full of sterilized tools over that she realized how much she was shaking. One of her coworkers, another nurse on her floor, had to drag her away while she insisted she was fine. She continued on, or at least tried to, until she had made a few too many minor mistakes and was forced to go home. 

Walking into her flat, she made it just a few steps before she broke down. Exhaustion took over and she was unable to even get up after she cried herself to sleep right on the rug. Hours later she had finally gotten the energy to shower and then rot in bed. After what felt like eternity of  staring at the ceiling, she grabbed her phone, hovering over the call button on Lando’s contact that she had been so unable to block, much less delete, over the past two years. 

At what felt like rock bottom though, why not start digging some more?

Pressing the call button, she started to panic, wondering what she would say, till she finally heard his voice for the first time in years. “Hey, this is Lando, pretty busy at the moment, leave a message at the beep!” Voicemail. She had gained confidence for the first time in years and she was sent straight to voicemail. 

It was loud in the club Lando was in. He had started off the night with friends at a nice restaurant and after enough drinks had been passed around, drinks that he declined, they ended up at the club they currently were in. Most of his company was off with their significant others, or dancing with people he just met, while Lando was sitting and talking to a woman who had confidently approached him earlier.

He didn’t feel the phone vibrating in his back pocket when he had his arm around her as they made small conversation. It wasn’t until he started to get nauseous from the smell of alcohol everywhere that he went to the bathroom to check his phone, seeing he had missed a call from the person he thought about the most, even after years apart. 

Since the breakup, Lando had been a mess. It wasn’t his idea to break up. They had issues that they definitely needed to fix, issues they should have talked through instead of letting them snowball for so long, but it shouldn’t have ended the way it did. The minute they hung up those years ago he wanted to call her right back- no, he wanted to book a fight and see her immediately. 

Maybe it was the hope that had ignited in him for the first time in forever, maybe it was the second hand intoxication from being in a club full of drunk people, but Lando pressed call back, praying to hear her voice.

She had had enough time to realize that calling him years after she broke up with him was a stupid decision to make, so of course after it got declined she turned her phone off for the night. She didn’t have anyone else who would contact her anyway.

Because of this, she missed the first call Lando made, then the next seven. It was like an addiction he quickly picked up. After that sliver of hope came back, he couldn’t stop the thoughts that crept in. 

He thought it might have been a mistake on her end, she did ignore the rest of his calls- scratch that, the line was immediately cut the moment he tried to call back. 

But the little voice in his head kept saying ‘try again, maybe she will pick up, maybe there is hope’.

He didn’t sleep the rest of the night. He didn’t sleep the most of the next night either, not till he gave into the voice in his head and bought a plane ticket. 

As Lando sat on the flight, his mind ran through some of his favorite memories over their relationship, then, once those ran out, he imagined what it would be like when he showed up on her doorstep once more. He’d have a lot to explain, like why he was suddenly on her doorstep of her new apartment he had no actual reason to know the address to, something he was given by a good mutual friend who was very tired about hearing both sides moaning about how single they were.

It was all a blur as he landed and swiftly ran through the airport. He hadn’t packed more than an overnight backpack, deciding if this went horribly he would immediately go home to mop around, and if it went amazing he’d figure something out.

Standing in front of her doorstep now, he quickly knocked before he lost all remaining confidence. 

“Lando? What the fuck?” Was all she was able to get out. She would have felt insecure about how disheveled she looked if the man standing in front of her didn’t also look just as terrible. 

“I know, I know. This makes no sense, I have no reason to be here, and it's weird that I know your address.” He replied, correctly guessing every question she had but not giving a single answer to any of them. 

“At least you are self aware.”

“I had to see you, it was genuinely ruining my life. After you called and I missed it, I tried calling back for hours. I didn’t sleep, I couldn’t sleep because all I could think about was why you called. If you had needed help, if it was a buttdial, or if you finally wanted to speak to me as much as I needed to speak to you after these few years. It's so strange feeling so many feelings for someone you broke up with too long ago to still be in love with. That relationship- our relationship was so far from perfect, long distance was too hard for either of us so instead we just phoned it in and stopped trying. But I just really miss you and I really want to make this work.”

This was crazy, both of them realized. Crazy of him to travel to another country after missing one phone call, crazy to have hope after years of silence on both ends, crazy to think that they could mend a relationship they both had let fall apart without giving it a fighting chance. But this was that fighting chance, this was the moment that could make or break them.

But she didn’t have anything to say, she couldn’t think of anything to say. So, when she pulled him by the collar and kissed him harder than he had ever been kissed, she hoped that he got her message.

It would be a long road to recovery, but it would be worth it.

Tagging: @eviethetheatrefreak, @96jnie, @youreverydayfangirl, @jxnellat, @eringaitskill, @slytherinholland

[hedgiwithapen]

Leverage timetravel, pre pilot/child ot3 meet their redemption era selves

(I took some liberties re: /meeting/) In hindsight, visiting the US Patent office was probably not their smartest move.  Never return to the scene of the crime, and all, at least not if the job was finished. 

But they'd put a pin in going back for the time machine, and not even a really bad idea could deter Hardison from an actual time machine. Well. Portal, like Eliot had said. 

It hadn't come with an instruction manual, but the three of them, Hardison, Parker, Eliot were professionals at figuring things out on the fly . Even lost in the past. Even scattered. 

Hardison knew he just had to wait, though. They'd find each other. They'd lived through the past once, they could deal with it again, especially knowing everything they did. And it wasn't like they had to live through the whole span of years, either. They just had to find each other, put the pieces back together, scattered with them, and go home. Easier said than done--he was starting to think they might have ended up in different times--but still, the Estimated range was fifteen to twenty years, so that was only five max before they met up, right?

Hardison had gotten right to work. Ads in every major newspaper in the heartland cost plenty, but he had years of criminal practice on top of knowing what tech to invest in, so he really wasn't that worried. He guessed Eliot would be betting on sports games, like in Back to the Future. Parker... well, it was hard to guess where she was. Once he and Eliot met up, they'd have to wait for her to get to them. He did have a few things to do, first.

He knocked on Nana's door, feeling like maybe he ought to be wearing a bow tie. 

"What is it? You from the county?" she asked, when she opened the door. He could see behind her a few curious faces, including his own. Damn, he'd been so tiny. 

"Yes, Ma'am," he said brightly. He could remember this day, vaguely. The box he held was more familiar than his adult face. "I'm here to install your new computer."

"I didn't order any computer," Nana said. "Run your scam someplace else."

"It's not a scam!" he heard his own voice say. "I entered a contest at school."

He had. And he'd lost. Stupid Jake Puckett had won, a kid who could have easily afforded a computer. Alec hadn't known that though, until Hardison'd checked idly. And he wasn't about to just let all of history change. Well, all his own history. 

"You got some proof of that?" Nana asked, and Alec went  scampering off to his room to find his copy of the essay.

Satisfied with the expertly forged documents (wow! it was much easier to forge past documents when you were in the time they were from!) Nana let him in and pointed to a corner desk near an outlet. 

"You ever use your own one of these?" Hardison asked Alec, who shook his head. " just the one at school. I really won?"

"Sure did. Now, let me show you what this thing can do."

~

Eliot stood at the edge of the field, a newspaper crumpled in his hand. Hardison was in Boston, if the ad was right, and of course the ad was. No one else put that much effort into a coded message. 

He watched the football fly. In two weeks, the kid throwing it would be on a bus to boot camp. He closed his eyes. There were options.  Kid wouldn't believe him, of course. There were no secrets yet, to spill as proof. And he was too stubborn to buy the warning.  A good solid tackle, though. Break his arm bad enough...

He'd thought about it. And then about the what ifs. The blood would still be spilled, he knew that. Someone else would end up on Moreau's chain. Someone else would end up with a half dug grave for Flores, and maybe keep digging it.  Everything he'd done for money, the money'd go to someone else. Job might not get done, or it might. 

He'd be there for his mother's funeral. He'd miss Katherine Clive's. Rebecca Ibanez.  the way the drinking might have gone... he'd miss Nate Ford's.  He'd go to school, like his dad wanted, never play college ball. Study something-- art history, maybe -- but no, that was him now. Not him then. Him then would be angry and broken. Him then wouldn't have... his people.

He crumped the paper further. "Dammit, Hardison," he said quietly, and walked away. 

~

Parker had a code. Some things, you just didn't do. Some were big and flashy and obvious. Some were smaller, quieter. 

Hardison would say she shouldn't do this, she knew, and she usually listened to Hardison. He knew what he was talking about, most of the time. You can't change the past. That'd been part of the lecture before they'd gone to steal the time machine.  You can do things, sure, but you always did them. 

Well, Parker hadn't done this. No one had, back the first time she'd lived through this day. But she was doing it anyways, breaking his rule and her own. You don't steal from kids who don't have anything. 

Carefully, she picked the lock on the child's bicycle chain. 

[heeliopheelia]

"you ruined everything! i hope you're happy." (jay x fem!reader)

genre: smut word count: 0.8k requested by @jaylaxies ♡

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!!

warnings: unprotected sex, public sex, yn is a bit of a brat, spanking, swearing, hair pulling (if i missed anything lmk!!)

a/n: absolutely loved writing this one!! it's the first drabble for the 1k event, so i hope you guys enjoy it!! 💜

Your knuckles became white from how tightly you're gripping the sink, uncontrollable moans slipping past your lips as Jay muffles them with his rough hand on your mouth.

"So needy," he growls into your ear, hot air brushing over your earlobe. He holds your head up, fingers slightly digging into your cheeks as he makes you look at the both of you in the bathroom's mirror. The sound of skin slapping echoes through the tiled walls, completely distracting you from all the noise behind the night club's door.

Sneaking out from your friends wasn't too hard as all of them were way too busy absorbing ridiculous amounts of alcohol in your club's booth. And since it's Jay who's paying for all of their cravings, they can't let this opportunity go to waste now, can they? Well, Jay's paying for everything tonight, to be fair. It's your birthday after all and the party he's been planning with your friends for over a month.

"You ruined everything!" He scolds you, moving his hand to grip your hair and taking a good look at your pathetically fucked out face. Your body jerks forward with each of his thrusts, pelvic bone digging into the granite edge of the fixture. "I hope you're happy with yourself. All this planning - all for nothing just because my dirty girl couldn't keep her hands to herself."

He's right. You've been teasing him for the entire night, waiting for the moment when he couldn't take it any longer. Starting from subtly grazing his calf with your heel, moving all the way to boldly groping his semi-hard cock when no one was looking. The gloating smile never left your lips even for a second, up until now.

So what if you're wearing the prettiest dress you own - Jay's favorite actually, if he couldn't focus on anything else than the fact that you're not wearing anything underneath. Out of all 365 days in a year, you've decided to tease him this much on your birthday night. Shame on you, really.

"I didn't ruin nothing," you manage to breathe out through small gasps of air, clutching the porcelain sink as if your life depends on it. "If anything, I only made it better."

Jay scoffs at you, hips smacking against yours even more rapidly now. You feel all the air getting knocked out of your lungs yet you still push your ass further into him, hoping to get even more fraction from his sharp moves.

"You're lucky it's your birthday or you'd be in a big trouble right now."

"Oh, yeah? And what would you do?" You ask, voice shaky as he relentlessly ruts his cock into you. "You always only talk big but then do nothing about it."

"Really? That's not what you said last week when you couldn't walk for two days straight," he hums as he nibbles at your jaw playfully. His hand goes down to smack your ass sharply and you let out a loud moan. "But don't you worry, baby. You're gonna regret your words tomorrow, I promise."

With a happy purr, you let your eyelids fall close as you feel your climax approaching. You're becoming breathless, a string of moans leave your mouth and rings through the room along with the lewd sound the both of your bodies are creating. Neither of you cares for the impatient knocking on the door, way too captivated by the filthy reflection in the mirror that has you nearly mesmerised.

You whine shrilly. "Fuck, Jay, I'm so close!"

Your head drops down the second he lets go of your hair, moving his hand to grip your hip and pull your ass even closer as he pounds you. He presses his forearm against your back, pushing you down until you're almost folded in half and your chest is squashed against the sink. The sound of Jay's quiet grunts only rile you up even more and not even a minute later you're reaching your high, slightly shaking as loud whimpers leave your lips.

"Fuck," Jay hisses, knowing he's not gonna last much longer with you clenching around him this hard. His fingers grip the bottom of your dress and he rolls the fabric up, stopping it at your waist. He snaps his cock into you quickly, waiting until the last moment before pulling out and letting his hot cum spill on your ass.

You breathe out heavily, raising your head only slightly to look at Jay's teasing smile in the mirror. He starts fixing himself up, zipping his pants up before he notices you reaching for the toilet paper. He swats your hands away gently, grabbing you by your waist and pulling you straight on your wobbly legs. Biting back a smile, he tugs your dress down without cleaning you up and turning you around to kiss your lips hungrily.

"Jay, it's dripping down my ass," you whine out a complaint, feeling his cum slowly trickling down your thigh.

With a nibble to your bottom lip, he smacks your bum again with a grin. "Good, keep it like that. I'll give you more once we're back home," he says and pulls you into another kiss.

permanent taglist: @bambisgirl @arizejkt19 @luvmura @milisabunny @cathy-1997

[calamarispiderart]

wrote something.

^ ao3 link.

just for fun, out of impulse really. i havent written in a few years, so apologies if its a bit of a mess. cw for violence, strangulation and reference to self harm. will put the full thing under the cut.

-

Mind awoke with a start.

This alone wasn't atypical for him; When he slept, in times like these, it was fitful. Nightmares plagued him with specifics that frequently vanished in the morning, soaking him with a sense of dread that dampened his day all the way through 'til the next night, and even in the rare moments without that dread, one of his... roommates... would swiftly repair the lapse.

Mind, of course, was not one to play favourites. Of course. Soul and Heart alike held a keenness in their actions, along with their mutual antipathy. when one so chose to drag themselves out of the tombs of their rooms, it was rarely due to a good mood.

...Although, Mind would be remiss to not acknowledge the clear and blatant fact of the matter.

Heart was worse.

There exists many things to evidence this. Heart was cruel. Heart was unreasonable. Heart was unrepentant. Heart left barely a tablespoon of milk in the bottle and put it back in the fridge without just using it and throwing the bottle out, and despite whatever lies and excuses that pathetic man gave him, Mind knew it wasn't Soul. Soul barely left his room. Heart left his room often enough to start fights, and to set things where they would most inconvenience Mind, and to bloody the few good knives they had in the kitchen.

Mind was growing tired of washing purple and blue from blades. The dull reddish-brown that occasionally muddied the otherwise cool-toned water in the sink was, most likely, from the meals Mind occasionally prepared.

Heart was worse.

Many of these complaints flashed through Mind's thoughts, practically habitually, and then were quickly replaced with the sudden awareness that he wasn't actually breathing.

He wasn't... breathing?

Other sensations struggled their way past the panic to contextualize.

He couldn't breathe.

There was something around his neck - Something soft pulled taut, like fabric.

He couldn't breathe.

There was something on his stomach - A heavy warm weight, shifting slightly. It had his bedsheets trapped too, pinning his arms down painfully so he couldn't flail much of anything.

He couldn't- His eyes were clamped shut, another habit formed from poking fingers and a strange sense of guilt, and they flung open as soon as the slightest thread of air made its way down his lungs. His vision was black for a long, terrifying moment. Blood rushed past his ears with a pounding beat that matched the sharp pain of his head and all he could hear was his own frantic wheezing as vision resolved to form a staticky shadow leaning over him.

The shadow, which had thus far been silent, broke into a hysterical laugh that Mind's addled thoughts could barely process as laughter. It sounded like crying. It leant closer, a hand shifting to press down heavily on Mind's chest for balance, and it was only once that laughter resolved into words that Mind realised it was Heart.

"Are you awake?"

The something around Mind's throat loosened further as Heart lifted his other hand to pat at his face with an unsettling gentleness that matched the careful tone of voice.

"Mind?"

His blindfold - That's what was around Mind's neck. The delay in realising that would be embarrassing, and with Mind not all there enough to control himself, embarrassment was felt with no reprimand. Heart, as if sensing Mind's momentary failure and not wanting to distract, was silent until the panic reinstated itself.

"Mind. I know you aren't dead, I can feel you breathing."

Out of spite for that murmured statement, Mind coughed hard enough to jostle the man atop him. He continued coughing, harsh and painful. Unable to curl in on himself for the knees digging into his side, each spasm was met with a sharp spike of pain through his chest. Phlegm rose to line his tongue. It was swallowed down with the acid.

Heart's hand was still patting his face, as if trying to comfort him. Mind would push it away, but his hands were twisted strangely under the sheets, one starting to go numb from where it was trapped under his own hip. He wriggled slightly, to no gain. Finally, he managed to speak.

"Did you just try to kill me?"

It felt like gravel to say, and sounded it too.

Heart laughed again in response. "Like you haven't done the same?" The words lilted like a joke, but there was no smile. More silence. As if that at all constituted in answer.

Mind tried to keep the waver out of his voice with his next words. Tried to sound firm, commanding and confident. "Ge- get off me. My arm's going numb." There was a small squeak on the third syllable.

A huff from the man above him, petulant and sounding exactly like an irritated dog; Heart leant back, and Mind almost had the stupidity to believe that was him listening. Mind wasn't stupid. Instead, the hand that had been on his face slid down to his neck, still soft and so, so gentle as fingers and thumb curled gracefully around the fragile shell of cartilage. Like they belonged.

"Why should I care, Mind." Same tone as always, but this time with the coldness of a statement, not a question.

Mind took a breath in to answer anyways, and found himself unable to breathe out the moment he tried, Heart's fingers tightening like a vice.

It didn't hurt this time, not at all. The noose of fabric was far less forgiving, and so it had hurt, but this was controlled. Mind felt a bit light headed. He'd have grit his teeth, but his jaw was relaxed in the failing instinct to gasp and he instead let out a weak little croak.

"I bet you look like a fish right now." Heart leaned in close again, searching eyes squinting and wandering past their intention until they focused just enough for him to exclaim, "Hah! You do!" A pause, hand loosening as Heart thought, and tightening again for a short moment as he clearly came to a conclusion. "You'd probably be a sunfish. Bloody useless. What do you think?"

Mind was given his voice back to respond, Heart's fingers tapping patiently along the side of his neck as he caught his breath. "Sunfish? The..." Spoke before his lungs were full. Tap, tap, tap. "I- I hate those things. Can't I be a squid or... or something?"

As if Mind needed Heart's permission. Maybe the oxygen deprivation was causing some sort of brain damage. Maybe that's what Heart was wanting - The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, and he tightened his grip again, as if it was just for the fun of it. It probably was, for all Mind knew.

This time was held for even longer, the static filling Mind's head mixing badly with the static filling his arms. The pressure Heart was putting on his throat grew harder suddenly, as if Heart had had a particularly bad thought and was responding to it. It didn't let up until the roaring filled Mind's ears again and his vision went empty, long enough for Mind to squirm in fight and then start to fall limp. Only then did heart let go.

The blindfold burnt slightly as it was pulled away from around Mind's neck, a feeling he only vaguely registered while he wheezed in recovery. Heart moved away and off the bed. Finally Mind could curl up, turning onto his side with a hiss and a grimace at the pins and needles shooting their way up his arms.

"What- was the point in that?"

"...Don't tell soul."

Footsteps, and then Mind's bedroom door clicked shut with a quiet finality.

Heart was worse.

[nat-space-obsessed]

For @kinglazrus !! Super excited abt this one! I love corpse aus so I just had to do this one.

AO3 Link

"There's a shallow grave in the woods. The only marker is a stone with the name "Danny" scratched into it. Judging by the fresh-turned soil, it hasn't been empty for long."

The call came in from a hiker early in the morning.

She'd been going on her daily hike when she decided to go on a route that was different from her normal route.

When she tripped over the rock, she should have known that there was something wrong. At first, she started to walk past, and continue on her hike.

It was on her way back that she really noticed the issue.

The rock she had tripped over had writing that she didn't notice the first time.

It was a simple engraving, probably done with another rock or a different sharp tool, definitely not professionally done.

There was one word.

A name.

'DANNY'

It was at that point that she realized that the dirt path seemed to be disturbed near the edges, as if someone had gone digging.

Oh god, someone had been digging .

As she looked at the disturbed dirt, she saw something odd. It was an odd color, looking as if it had been burned or melted, blackened.

It was a bone.

A charred, dirty, old bone, covered in a material that had melted and fused to it.

It was like one of those horror stories, of certain toys made from plastic materials melting onto skin if exposed to too much heat.

She called the police station the second she was in range of a cell tower.

All the operator at the call center heard was, "God, the bones , they're black, they're burned. There's bones in the woods ."

The CSI left the station immediately.

.

..

...

"She wasn't kidding, these bones were definitely burned, but they're weird. It's more reminiscent of electrical burns. What could output enough power to burn a body so thoroughly by electrocution?" The lead CSI said. She was wearing gloves and slowly unburying the body.

The more they uncovered, the more horrified they were.

"This is a kid," A member of the team said, "Either a kid or a small person. The size of the bones indicate that the owner of this body was under 5 ft. Maybe a small kid? What name did the stone say?"

"Danny, I think, it's a little hard to read, but that looks like the right name."

"Wait, wasn't there a kid that went missing a year ago from Amity named Danny?"

"Yeah, but I thought the parents were under suspicion, with that weird lab in their basement."

"Didn't the sister call it in?" The one handling the bones said.

The case they were talking about was the case of Daniel Fenton. He had gone missing four weeks before his freshman year, except he was only reported missing when his sister came back from a college summer camp. Two weeks after he supposedly went missing.

Because of this, nobody actually figured out when he went missing. The police had searched the entire Fenton home, which had uncovered the lab in the basement of the home.

The Fentons had a portal. An interdimensional portal to some place they called the Ghost Zone, and it had corresponded with sightings of weird, translucent, flying people that had been sighted in the city.

They had been taken into custody, but then later released due to a lack of evidence. His sister was still advocating for missing children, especially kids who weren't reported until long after they vanished.

"But this body is too decomposed for only a few months. Maybe the burns accelerated it?"

"I mean, if this is the Fenton kid-"

"Don't start being a conspiracy theorist now, Sean." The lead investigator said, shaking her head.

"You never know!"

.

..

...

The coroner's office was cold. The autopsy room was colder.

The body on the table was small, a kid, wearing a plastic material that had seemed to fuse with the bones it was covering.

The bones, God the bones. They were blackened, covered in a dark material, flesh that had been burnt to a blackened crisp.

The coroner looked at the body in front of him and sighed.

The only thing he could easily use for identification that wasn't fingerprints or DNA were dental records. Luckily, while the corpse was completely desecrated, the bones were somehow intact.

He was able to take a scan of the teeth and send them off to be compared with all local dentist offices within a 50 mile radius.

It was a few minutes later when he got the ping.

There's a match.

"Shit."

.

..

...

The Fentons were in their lab when they got a phone call.

"Hello, this is Jack Fenton of Fentonworks, how can I help you?" The burly man said into the receiver.

"Hello, Mr. Fenton. This is the Briggersdale Police Department, calling you to inform you that a few days ago, we found a body in the woods. This body has been identified as the body of your son, Daniel." The voice on the other end said to him.

"What?" Jack stood with the phone in hand in shock. Maddie chose that moment to walk into the room.

"Are you okay, Jack?"

Jack thanked the officer and hung up. "They... found a body."

"A body? Why did they contact you? Where was this?"

"The next town over. The body was identified. It was Danny's."

A sharp intake of breath could be heard from Maddie. "We need to call Jazz."

"She isn't speaking to us, she'd just ignore anything we have to say to her."

"She'll listen, it's about Danny."

.

..

...

Jazz Fenton had been having a good day. She had only one class that morning, her favorite introduction to developmental psychology course, and she had just finished speaking with her roommate about their date next weekend with their longtime girlfriend. She was happy for them. She was having a good time, reading one of her favorite books at her desk.

It was a good day, until she got the phone call.

It was from her parents.

She refused the call at first. This was the third time that week her parents had tried to contact her, and the third time she refused their call.

Usually they stopped trying to call her, and just left her a few texts after she refused their call, but this time was different.

She should have known something was wrong.

"What is it? I thought I told you guys to never contact me again." Jazz spoke before either of her parents could even get one word out.

"Jazz... They found it."

"What, what did they find?" Jazz stood up. She was really getting annoyed now, with them being all cryptic towards her.

"His body. Jazz, they found Danny's body."

Jazz's phone slipped out of her hands.

What?

They found his body. They found his body.

Oh god, he was actually dead.

Jazz knew after the first few days she realized her brother was missing that the chances of finding him again were slim to none, and after the first two weeks, she knew that she would probably sooner see a body bag than see her brother alive again.

But this? This made it real.

He was dead.

He was gone .

She was never going to see him again.

Oh god, this was real .

She stared in front of her. She stared at the wall.

Her knees gave out and she slumped to the ground.

She could feel her eyes well up with tears.

She could hear her roommate shouting her name and kneeling in front of her as she sobbed, crying and trying to say anything, but no words would come out of her mouth.

Oh god, she had to tell Sam and Tucker.

No way would her parents even know that he had them as his friends, and they were always the first people that she gave updates to, even before her parents. They deserved to know he was... dead. That they had found his body.

.

..

...

Sam and Tucker were hanging out at Tucker's house when Sam's phone rang.

She picked it up, recognizing the number as Jazz's.

Tucker watched as emotions crossed her face, beginning with worry, and ending in dread.

"Oh my god. Tucker. They found it."

“Shit.” He said.

“Shit.” She nodded in agreement.

[silvermoon424]

Hi Katy! How are you? I hope you're having a good day.

I was wondering if you knew what's going with r/sailormoon?

I guess people have gotten fed up with the mods or something? I've posted on that subreddit in the past, so I know the mods can be rude (to say the least).

Most of the posts pertaining to this situation seem to have been removed.

Hey! I'm good, thank you! Hope you're doing well too.

Wow, okay, I had NO idea what was going on and had to do some digging. The information is very sparse but I think I was able to piece together what happened:

A few days ago, a popular artist posted a 3D artwork of Neo-Queen Serenity to r/sailormoon. The artwork was removed because it "reeks of AI." The artist very politely messaged the mods and asked them what happened, offering to send evidence that proves her authenticity. The mods muted- and later outright banned- her. One of the mods also blocked her on Bluesky when she tagged them asking what happened.

You can read the whole thread here:

People later started sending hate to the two mods (RockyCoon and lemonaid83), which the artist denounced. It got to the point where RockyCoon decided to shut down the subreddit and step down as mod. As of right now, the r/sailormoon subreddit is shut down and will remain that way until a new mod can take over.

Okay, so time to give my opinion on this whole thing.

Right off the bat, let me say that harassment is wrong; RockyCoon and lemonaid83 should not be sent death threats over a fucking fandom subreddit.

THAT BEING SAID- I'm glad people are acknowledging what a shitty place r/sailormoon is and how awful its mods are. It sucks that the mods were harassed into it, but I'm glad they're stepping down because they really do live up to the powertripping Reddit mod stereotype. You can see people in this thread (from a smaller Sailor Moon subreddit) talking about their negative experiences with the mods.

The mods' policies and strict adherence to an arbitrary set of rules really stifles the community. The biggest example of this is the whole "no self-promotion" rule. Artists get hit with the banhammer for daring to link to their socials where people can see more of their work or commission them (because fuck artists for trying to make a living I guess). Meanwhile apparently it's fine for people to post uncredited artwork.

Okay, I gotta rant about this because it still pisses me off so much. Just a few months ago an artist posted pictures of Sailor Moon props he'd made; he makes props and other replicas for a living and they're just gorgeous. Tons of people (myself included) asked him where we can buy his work or commission him. He had to DM us all individually due to fears of being banned for self-promotion. But then the mods caught on and deleted the post anyway.

The artist and I were DMing at the time and he told me how disheartening it was to get a lot of traction for his business only for the mods to derail it because of stupid, arbitrary rules. He wasn't really a Sailor Moon fan himself (he only made the props because his wife, a Moonie, encouraged him to) and I hate how this incident must have tainted his view of the fandom.

So yeah, ANYWAY, I hope this fiasco results in r/sailormoon getting better mods and not sucking anymore. Again, I don't condone harassment, but I can't say I feel too bad for the head mod. They've been super shitty for years and actively made the Sailor Moon fandom a worse place to be in.

[the-faceless-bride]

Just had an idea, lost boys with the Phantom reader.

Idea -> reader is a phantom, they've been dead for many many maaaaany years and live in the cave with the boys. The boys have never seen them because they are in a deeper part of the sunken hotel. The hotel was a high-end hotel that was used for opera showings and classical performances and the night the hotel sank reader was trapped and killed.

reader never comes out or plays their music when the boys are around, by now the reader has forgotten that they are dead, and they don't even know about the boys. They are so deep in the cave that the enchanting music they play is covered and muffled by all the rubble.

One day Laddie finds an opening that's just big enough for him to slip through. After a crawl, a long walk, and shimmying through a tight gap Laddie finds himself in what used to be the hotel's theatre....

elegant pained walls covered in dust and grime, the golden archways above the stands of the theatre now dull. The clack of his small shoes against the cracked dusty tiles, the grand chandelier in the middle of it all.

Laddie looks at the grand stage lights off, instruments thrown about some in alright condition and others completely destroyed. Old and very dry red stains paint around a part of the stage that had caved in and he couldn't see the bottom. But out of all things, it's the stunning grand piano with gold-encrusted keys.

He sat in the chair, too small to fully sit in it properly. He starts mindlessly pressing the keys, noting in his head what keys sounded best in his opinion. And he jumped when he heard a voice behind him. "would you like me to teach you?"

The boys weren't too worried about Labbies whereabouts, they knew Laddie memorized the boardwalk and all of its attractions. But gradually got more and more suspicious of the little boys' outings and they knew asking Star would be no use. But the boys kept silent, maybe the boy just found a new game to play. But eventually, Laddoe did something that spiked the boy's interest and they didn't feel so sure about the boy going out on his own anymore...

"uuhhh, classical little man? Really?" Paul raised his brow looking at the track Laddie asked he could get. In that moment all the boys were on edge, now noticing the changes Laddie had... His clothes though still in their rock style looked less dissolved, his hair looked brushed and he used one of stars' scrunchies to tie it back. That's how they knew something was definitely wrong. Laddie always wanted to be like them be like Dwayne and always had his hair down and messy.

Now the boys had started interrogating the little boy, and criticizing Star for allowing Laddie to be around "stuck-up classical mouth breathers?" and Star denise knowing any.

Laddie didn't want to tell his big brothers about his new friend and the lessons in piano he had been getting from the nice ghost that lives in the deepest part of the cave.

And it wasn't until much much later that the boys stayed up in the day to see where their halfling little brother was going. The next night, while Laddie and Star were out the boys started digging through the rocks and rubble careful not to bring the whole cave down.

The boys find the grand theatre and begin looking around, they always found classical boring however they could admit this place was quite the sight. Marko had loudly claimed this room as his "art room" and was already planning on paintings to go all over the walls and ceiling, Paul whined and said "its full of instruments! Let me have my guitar room!" and it was quickly becoming a bickering contest between the terror twins.

It wasn't until Dwayne found a note on the piano written in curved writing, "I decided to freshen up, just play the song we've practiced once you get here." next to the note was sheet music. Now Dwayne didn't like to open up about his past and never told his brothers that not only did he know how to play piano he also could read sheet music.

He knew he would never hear the end of it from his three brothers but he wanted to know. He began playing the somber piano tune, quickly getting the attention of the three boys and Paul was already teasing. That was until Reader appeared in front of the Piano...

"you're not Laddie."

So should I make this a full thing? Or is anyone feeling those inspiration juice? I hope so.

[mjanelupinblack]

starving creatures | chapter one 🖤

pairing: xu minghao x reader // jun x reader (mainly lol)

description: starving creatures have arrived at your homeland in forks. little do you know, they not only intend to drain the blood out of you... they'll also to break your heart in two.

genres: slowburn (please bare with me), fluff, angst, vampire!au

warnings: blood drinking, lot of blood related themes, repressed emotions, family issues, miscommunication, kinda toxic friendship with cheol? blood and smut will be mixed. emotionally and physically starved vampires oops. did i mentioned blood?

minors dni!!!

fic playlist 🖤

w/c: 3.2k

a/n: like i said, slowburn as f*ck. you'll have to wait to have fun with jun and hao but it'll be worth it if you bare with me. also i am having so much fun writing this omg ^_^ english isn't my first language and i don't have beta readers so kind feedback is welcome <3

CHAPTER 1

Joshua Hong had been the first for many things in his life: the firstborn, the first brother to complete his education, the first student among his classmates to perform a solo surgery, and one of the first doctors to try chloroform for his medical procedures, as anesthesia wasn't nearly as developed as it is now.

He was also the first one to be turned.

No other outcome could have been expected. People like him - young, enthusiastic, seemingly blessed by the gods - had to have some divine punishment waiting for them. Josh's penance would be to live forever with his luck... and to have it slowly fade into misfortune.

As a doctor, he never thought life could be eternal. He had witnessed all types of miracles at Paris Salpêtrière, but no soul had ever gotten to escape the sweet lullabies of death. At first, he felt terrible about it. Doctor Pierre had told him to get used to it, as God only gives special treatment to his friends. Little did he know, Pierre was a close friend of Him. He didn't notice it until he found himself digging a blade into his tutor's jugular vein.

No pulse could be found, but Pierre's breaths were still steady.

"Let's go, Josh! Everything's packed!" Vernon shouted as he got into the driver's seat.

"Do we really have to go through this again?" Jun complained, as if it would change anything. For the last time, he stared at the California house that had been their home for the past ten years.

He always got too attached.

"C'mon, man, you know it's better this way," Vernon replied.

From the passenger seat, Joshua looked at them. Minghao rubbed his brother's back and gently pushed him into the car despite his deep and frustrated sighs. This might be the worst part. But upon reflection, the worst part might also involve the one where locals started noticing their lack of aging, leading him to search for a new town.

"Jun, you can't be mad..." Vernon tried.

"Hum, yes, I can be mad," Jun countered. "And I can't believe you all think it's possible to move from California to this nowhere town."

"This 'nowhere town' is called Forks, alright? And it's your new home, so you better get used to it."

Nowhere Town. That's a good name, as it reflected all the peace Joshua had been praying for since Junhui and Minghao joined his and Vernon's odd nomadic, supernatural-like lifestyle.

"It's always cloudy there. You'll get to hang out more often with your friends."

"Sorry, what friends?" Jun asked sarcastically.

"You'll make friends eventually, Jun. Stop whining," Minghao said.

You didn't believe Forks was the best town in the world either. The landscape, always covered by mist and the ground sticky wet from the most recent storm, looked exactly as it did when you were born. You finished cleaning the house an hour before the awaited arrival. The large windows were all cleaned, not a single stain preventing passersby from catching a glimpse inside.

The house was empty for now, as it had been since the heartbreaking death of the previous inhabitants. You sat by the porch, trying to catch your breath and wondering what the new family looked like. Were they old? Were they nice? Certainly, they wouldn't want anyone to disturb them, otherwise, they would have chosen to live closer to the town center.

Surrounded by trees and animals, your aunt's house was known for attracting people who appreciated solitude.

That's the first thing you learned about Minghao.

There is a van approaching from a distance. The new renters arrived half an hour earlier than you planned. You stand up quickly, shaking the dirt off your pants when, for the first time, you see his face.

You won’t be able to forget that face.

"Y/N, right? We talked on the phone yesterday," one of the guys says. There are four of them now. By his introduction, you supposed you are talking to Mr. Chwe.

"Yes! It's so nice to meet you all, Mr. Chwe."

You shake his hand, surprised to find Mr. Chwe, a doctor, looks more like a student who just pulled an all-nighter.

He also has the temperature of an old man.

"Just Vernon, please," he said.

You had a speech planned, but right now you're having trouble remembering what you were going to say. There's a man behind Vernon who looks at you with tender and compassionate eyes. You assume he's Joshua, the one who responded to your emails.

"I'm so sorry my aunt couldn't make it today. As I told you, she's been sick. It would be difficult for her to climb all the way up here. I'll give you the tour, if you're comfortable with it."

Vernon shows his understanding. The same goes for Joshua, who breaks into a sincere smile and thanks you for being so attentive. It's almost as if they're acting like parents. And then, there are the kids...

"Actually, I'm tired. I'm sure we can figure out the house ourselves."

"I could really use some sleep."

"We've stayed in bigger houses anyway."

"Jun, Hao... Enough of that."

Jun and Hao; you're not sure which one takes your breath away more. With their silky, white, shoulder-length hair, they stand in the woods like fairies in a fairytale.

But you imagined fairies to be... more polite, perhaps.

"It's okay. It must have been a long ride for them. I'll leave you to rest." You tranquillize Mr. Chwe with a smile, but think, Morons, in your head.

Almost as if he heard what you said, Jun's face contorts in a gesture that appears both surprised and offended.

"Do you all see that little house right there?" you ask, pointing down into the distance past the trees. "That's where I live. Just call me if you need anything. We're the only neighbors you have around, besides the Boo Family. Oh, and I almost forgot. They asked me to leave you a present since they won't be able to come and say hello today. I left it inside."

"A present?" Minghao asks, his forehead furrowed and a fucked up temper. It's as if you'd just left a bomb or something in their kitchen.

You feel small under his gaze.

"Yes... it's just a beautiful mirror."

•••

Vernon was the second one to get turned.

He graduated from uni, having already killed a man. He tasted his blood, vomited to stop feeling sick, but then got the imperious need to drink from him again.

“Who the hell is this Boo Family?” Jun asks once they get to the house. The mirror is still covered in the living room. There’s no use in unwrapping it as they can’t use it anyways.

“Some old friends.” Vernon answers, face paler than usual.

He made a vow to never to steal a life again. No matter how hungry he was, no matter how weak he could get, he had a strong set of values he planned to spend the rest of his non-desired eternity with, even if people told him it wasn’t the natural thing to do.

“Explain yourself.”

“No explanation needed… Just go to your room, Jun.”

“Are you grounding me or something? I thought we were over with all this weird family shit.”

“I could be your grandfather, how is that weird to…”

“Boo Seungkwan is the man who brought Vernon into this life, okay?” Joshua explains.

Josh had been his mentor. Studying hard for his degree, Vernon was only seven years younger than him and had a mind full of dreams. One of them was to become a doctor as brilliant as Joshua, which, after a lot of sacrifice, he did. But he never thought his desire to be like Joshua would put him into a world so dark and twisted. When he said he wanted to be like Joshua, he never imagined… this.

“There’s your answer.” Vernon says.

He wouldn’t have endured sane this long without Joshua as a friend.

“Don’t worry, mate, we are leaving this place.”

The house is big. Of course, they lived in much larger houses than your auntie’s, as Jun said. But this house… There is wood covering the walls and enormous trees blocking the sunlight from the windows.

Vernon asks himself, is it always going to be like this?

Will Josh and he finally be able to take daytime shifts? Will they be able to walk around town without having to worry about deadly eruptions on their skins?

Sunglasses and long sleeves, then they are ready to go. The offer is tempting.

“There’s no need.”

“What do you mean?” Joshua asks in disbelief.

“I mean… We already paid the girl.”

“And she can keep the money. We’re leaving.”

Jun seems thrilled. What will their new location be? Bahamas? Maybe France? Oh, he loves pain au chocolat! Now it is gonna be great.

“I want to give it a try, Josh,” Vernon says, much to Jun’s disgrace. “Yejin is dead. And there’s no other reason for the Boo family to attack me again.”

“Yejin? Like your ex-friend Yejin?” Minghao asks.

“More like the maniac, out-of-her-mind-obsessed-with-Vernon, Yejin.” Joshua corrects.

“How did you know about her, Hao?”

“I might have stumbled upon your diaries once. But then we moved, and I don’t know where you hide them anymore. So I’m kinda stuck in the middle of the tale.

“Well, well, well… Looks like we know very little of each other to be part of the same family, Mr. Chew. Or should I call you Doctor?”

Jun disappears from the room, not caring for Joshua, who wants to say something to him. Even if he couldn’t move at this dazzling speed, he would’ve been able to escape the situation with equal grace.

That’s the way he is.

“Welcome to Forks, then.”

•••

“So… the new renters are a piece of shit.” your friend Cheol says. It's nice to catch up after a whole summer apart, not seeing or hearing anything from him.

Your ankles ache from the cold wind that bites as you walk the last stretch to school.

“That’s not what I said,” you explain. “The doctors were very nice to me. But the young ones… This guy Jun was in a terrible mood and treated everyone like shit. The other brother was…”

Threatening? But gut-wrenchingly beautiful? Eyes so deep like sinking ships after crashing with an iceberg?

“…a bit serious, I don’t know. When the doctors asked me if there was a highschool nearby, I thought I'd get to make some friends.”

“Are you saying I’m not enough of a friend?”

Okay, that was a low blow and you need to respond to it.

“The whole summer you went missing. So yes, at some point your friendship felt short for me.”

Many years of friendship taught you that you can open up with Cheol whenever you feel sad or lonely. You arrive at school and identify some of the friends he spent the whole summer with. A sight escapes your mouth. You love the guys, but you kinda wish your alone time with Cheol would have lasted longer.

And he notices.

“We can hang out later. Just you and me,” he promises, grabbing both of your hands. “We can sneak and spy on this jackasses’ house. Then you’ll watch them nose-picking and realize they’re not that big of a deal.”

“Voyeurism? That 's the date?”

Cheol pinches your nose in between his fingers and smiles playfully. Same old smile. Same old gesture that makes you feel safe. Even after a whole summer of not knowing what the hell is going on in his head.

“I know you. Don’t act like you don’t like to get into other people’s lives.”

Touché. You admit there’s a certain rush of adrenaline growing in your veins whenever you think about getting into your new renters’ intimacy. There's a certain power that comes with knowing about other people's secrets. Even when you don’t plan to use any of those against them.

“I’ll think about it.”

“I take it as a yes.”

“Take it as a maybe I'd rather go grab some coffee and not do such creepy things!”

You hit your friend in the arm playfully. When they see you coming, the gang welcomes you with a hug and some cheering. Hoshi tells you about how your best friend drank his blood’s weight in beer and none of the parties were near as entertaining as when you are there to join them.

You don’t believe him. You know he’s only saying this to make you feel better. But you have nothing against white lies when they serve their purpose.

“Maybe invite me next time?” you say, knowing that you are asking for the impossible.

Soonyoung looks at Dino, who answers without saying a word. Cheol pulls you closer to him. Silent and almost surrounding you with his arms.

“I really don’t think you’d like it,” Soonyoung says. “Plus you’ve been busy training, from what I heard.”

Of course. Training. You are not sure what Soonyoung must have heard about it, or who he must have heard it from. But this summer, you have been leaving your house at five in the morning everyday with the intention of running your sacred five miles before seven a.m—or whatever number of miles you could do before starting to feel like you’re about to pass out. It has been awesome; wind whipping your skin and not a single thought crossing your head. Just a pleasant sensation of hurt that would leave your legs shaking and your mind blank.

After that, you’d return home just in time to give your auntie her meds.

And then you’d like to run away again.

“Are you getting into a competition or something?” Dino asks.

“Nah. I was just doing it to clear my mind. But who knows… I’m fast.”

“Maybe I could help your train then”

Around the corners, or maybe even a couple of blocks away, there’s a soul with the extramundane ability of hearing your thoughts and sayings with just the gaze of your silhouette.

“Hum… who the hell are you?” Seungcheol asks him.

He wasn't there just minutes ago. You must have been too lost in your own thoughts as the sight of your neighbor makes your heart skip a beat.

Maybe he wants you to introduce him?

“Guys, this is Jun. My auntie rented the house to his family, so he and his brother are new here.”

“Great way to introduce yourself, mate. You’re an asshole, from what I heard?”

You step over your friend’s foot, hoping to subtly silent him. Damn, Seungcheol has a big mouth.

“Actually, I’m here to apologize,” Jun says, much to your surprise. And then he looks at you like no one else is there. “My manners weren’t the best. We had a long trip from California so I’m sure you’ll understand.”

“California? You’re a ghost, man.”

Ignoring Soonyoung’s comment, your neighbor continues trying to apologize.

“I just wanted to let you know that whatever neighborly thing you need, you can count on my family and me.”

Just by the way they’re silent, analyzing every bit of him but actually finding nothing, you can tell that the guys already hate Jun without even knowing him.

And for that, you feel relieved.

“Thank you, Jun. I really appreciate it.”

“My pleasure.”

•••

You live in a place so different than Mr. Chwe and Mr Hong’s new house. It only has a few rooms; none of them fancy and only spacious enough for you to sleep and change in there. The little wooden cabin remains hidden in between the trees, all of them prominent enough to prevent your house from being in plain sight. Rain has to make an effort to fall in between thick leaves. And if it wasn’t because of the oscillating movement of your auntie’s chair, Joshua would´t have found it.

He has always been a good neighbor. It’s a signature part of the made up story he tells about himself every time his life changes. So there he is, standing on the porch of your house with a basket of freshly baked cookies in hand. He expects to find you there and maybe ask you a couple of questions about the Boo family and your relationship with them.

“You didn’t have to” you say, receiving the basket in your hands with guilt wrinkling your eyebrows. “Really. I feel terrible. I don’t have anything to give you in return.”

“You’ve given more than enough. This is just a thank you. To you and your aunt.”

Some persistent raindrops have started to pierce through the trees.

“Come in, I insist” you say, opening the door fully even though it’s kinda messy inside. You haven’t found the time to clean up and embarrassment shows in the crimson red of your plumpy cheeks. “You won’t make it to the lodge before the rain. And I was about to make some coffee to warm up anyways.”

Joshua knows perfectly that he will be able to reach the lodge even before the next drop of rain. Despite that, he decides to enter your house and take a seat at your table, waiting for the cloudburst to stop, like any normal person. In front of him, there’s a cup of coffee. He asked for it without sugar or milk because he wouldn’t be able to enjoy those flavors if you put them in there anyways. Of course, the story he tells is different. It’s easier to explain he’s grown accustomed to preparing his coffee bitter in the rush of his night guards.

“So, California…”

Your friend Hoshi’s observation over Jun had been rude but sharp. California’s sun had rejected Joshua’s family in an inexplicable way.

“Yes, we stayed there for a short time,” he answers. For him, that is not a lie. Ten years really is a short time. “We have a condition. It makes us sensitive to the sun. So long term wasn’t an option.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry for that...”

“It's okay. We just have to be careful. Forks seems like the perfect place for that.”

“Trust me. Forks can give you a lot of trouble but sunny days won’t be one.”

Joshua takes a sip of his coffee. It doesn’t taste like anything, but it’s reassuring to see you enjoy the cookies he baked but can’t taste.

“A lot of trouble?” He asks, eyes full of curiosity. “What do you mean by that?”

Coming from California and —from what Vernon told you— previously New York, you imagine your neighbor has no idea of the consequences of living in a place like Forks.

“Well, a small town can be a vast hell if you don’t keep things to yourself,” you explain. “Forks is amazing. But there’s only a few habitants and they all get bored easily, so rumors fly.”

Joshua’s well aware of how deadly rumors can be. Especially when truth revolves around them.

“Do you have secrets to entertain us with, Mr. Hong?” you mock him, feeling a little more comfortable around your neighbor who’s not only a kind person but also a great baker.

His eyes get all wrinkly when he smiles.

“I’m afraid we’re gonna bore you all,” he answers “And please don’t call me Mr. Hong.”

“Fair enough.” You say, while cleaning leftover cookies from the corner of your mouth.

“What about you, do you have secrets?”

You laugh at the question. Maybe it’s because you know the answer damn well.

“Of course. We all do.”

masterlist | next chapter

[letsgoletsgetit08]

It's A Trip! Ch. 1

summary: It started off as a joke, the proposition to road trip from the east coast to the west coast for Hongjoong and Seonghwa's wedding, but then Mingi said yes. And Jongho wasn't about to pass up that opportunity.

warnings/tags: mdni!, mxm, smut, recreational drug use, tropes, fluff, light angst, wooyoung is a little shit, jongho is whipped, au non-famous, siri play maknae on top by stray kids

pairing: top!jongho x bottom!mingi

author's note: I couldn't resist the idea of a little stoner road trip situation with unspoken feelings and Wooyoung trying to play matchmaker behind the scenes. Loosely based on the song of the same title by Joywave that got stuck in my head recently and fits the vibes, I think. Anyway. Enjoy!

word count: 21k (around 3.5k per chapter, 6 chapters total)

ao3 link: It's A Trip!

It's A Trip!

Day One

Hongjoong and Seonghwa were getting married. A destination wedding in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park, where they had rented out luxury yurts for their friend group to stay in. Everyone else had chosen to fly, considering none of them lived close by. But Jongho had a different idea: why didn't some of them take a road trip instead? 

He was half joking when he originally suggested it, but then Mingi was immediately game - something he hadn't exactly been expecting - and Wooyoung and San agreed as well. The latter part was not as important to Jongho (no offense to them). But he missed Mingi dearly, though he would probably never admit that. They lived a few hours apart now and going from college roommates to just regular adult roommates, seeing each other daily to maybe seeing each other a few times a year was quite the adjustment. It was weird not having him around. Empty. Jongho himself was the one who was technically gone, if you wanted to split hairs. He had taken a job as a voice professor at Brown after he had finished his masters degree at Juilliard, leaving Mingi alone in New York, where he worked as a music producer. Jongho hadn't realized how attached he had grown to the man until he was gone.

By attached he meant… well. He didn't really know what he meant. He had never thought of it as attraction, per se, when they lived together. But when Mingi moved out and they both started dating around, Jongho found himself unable to really care about, concentrate on, or be interested in anyone he had tried to date. He found himself comparing every single one of them to Mingi, subconsciously at first, but then when he became cognizant of it, it was very obvious and almost became a compulsive habit.

He found himself trying to explain his breakups to his friends, but the real reasonings were always left unspoken:

“Hyunjin is nice but he is always cold.” Mingi was always warm. 

“Taehyun is great except he doesn't respond to my jokes the right way,” the way Mingi would get them. 

“Chaeryeong is so sweet but she doesn't like to be taken care of,” Mingi liked to be treated like a princess.

He had no clue how Mingi felt about him in return. They had always just been friends. Although, to be fair, he was significantly closer to Mingi than he was to the rest of the friend group. Mingi had the uncanny ability to see through whatever facade he was putting on and would dig deeper without even really trying. Just studied him in a way others didn't, seeing past the surface. 

He was doing it now, in fact, from the passenger seat. 

It was 7am and he had just picked Mingi up from his place in Brooklyn in the rental car, a spacious and brand new Toyota 4-Runner. Mingi's idea. 

“We'll kill each other if we're stuck in a tiny Camry together for six days.” He had reasoned. 

He was right. Plus, the 4-Runner was really cool, he couldn't lie. 

His 4am departure from Providence wasn't wearing on him quite yet, but he felt tired just looking at how bouncy and full of energy Mingi was. The man always had a hard time concealing his excitement. His heart had done backflips at the sight of him bounding down the front steps of his brownstone, duffel bag flung over his shoulder, suit bag in the other hand, sunglasses on, black and ivory headphones around his neck. He looked better than Jongho had remembered, but as he entered the car with an enthusiastic, “What's up!” Jongho noted that he still smelled the same.

He had missed him so much. 

Jongho didn't say that though, naturally. Instead, he said, “You're too enthusiastic for 7am, Mingi.” 

Mingi barked a laugh, “I'm just excited to see you, man!” 

Jongho probably blushed, but turned his head to look out the window, hoping Mingi had missed it. 

“I'm glad to see you, too.” He mumbled quietly, only loud enough for Mingi to barely make out.

It wasn't too long of a trip to Philadelphia from New York, and Jongho couldn't help but mourn the only time he had with Mingi alone in the car as it passed too fast for his liking. 

He tried to make the most of it, making Mingi keel over with laughter as he sang every part to Bohemian Rhapsody, listened to him talk about the new artist he was working with, how excited he was for the album he was producing to drop, and to Jongho's surprise (and well-contained joy), the story about Mingi's somewhat recent breakup. It hadn't been super serious, but he seemed similarly dissatisfied as Jongho had often found himself when it came to his ever passing relationships. 

He felt even more chuffed as Mingi remarked, “It's not that I didn't like her, dude, it's just like,” he thought about it for a second, “No one is as easy to be around as you, Jongho. It's kind of annoying.”

“I know what you mean.” Jongho admitted. 

“Well if we're both still single at 40, let's just say screw it.” Mingi joked. 

Of course he was joking. Jongho knew there was no way Mingi saw him as anything but a friend, likely closer to a brother. Yet he still stuck out his hand for Mingi to shake to seal the deal, “Deal.” And he was so serious. 

He figured a platonic marriage of convenience would still be better than one with someone else whom he didn't even like half as much as he liked Mingi. 

It was over before he knew it, the drive feeling closer to twenty minutes than it had two hours. 

Soon, they were pulling up in front of Wooyoung and San's townhouse. The two of them emerged glued together as they always were, Wooyoung empty handed aside from his pillow, San insistent upon carrying their luggage for them, a gentleman as always. 

They were a little nauseating. 

Maybe Jongho was just jealous. 

Wooyoung met Jongho's eye from the backseat via the rear view mirror, giving him a deviously knowing look. He was the only person on the planet who had an inkling about Jongho's feelings for Mingi. Jongho was sure that meant San knew, too, but he was much more inclined to stay out of it than was his fiance. 

Jongho rolled his eyes at Wooyoung, earning a wicked smile in return. 

Of the eight of them, he and Wooyoung acted the most like siblings. The fact that they were the closest in age probably contributed to that. Jongho hadn't even intentionally told Wooyoung about his feelings for Mingi - the man was just an annoying pest and happened to notice how much Jongho talked about him after he moved out. When Wooyoung had pointed it out, acting as if he had just stumbled upon Jongho's deepest darkest secret (which honestly, he basically had), Jongho hadn't even been able to think of any believable way to deny it and Wooyoung had taken that for what it was, an endorsement of the truth.

Wooyoung had insisted on being in charge of planning the road trip and had calculated that they could make it in plenty of time, an entire two days to spare (one for the bachelor party, the other for the rehearsal), with only three nights spent on the road, meaning each day entailed on average around ten hours of drive time. With four people to rotate through, it really wasn't that bad. Their destination that night was Knoxville, Tennessee, with the idea of stopping in Nashville and Memphis the next day before ultimately arriving in Fayetteville, Arkansas for their second night. Fayetteville was slightly off the path, but it was a college town and Wooyoung had found, “the cutest little Inn!” right on the street downtown where all the college kids partied. They themselves were all only five or so, give or take, years out of undergrad. The last night would be spent in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Also a little off the path, but “It’s Santa Fe, you guys. Come on. It's Santa Fe.” The sentiment meant nothing to the three of them but they trusted Wooyoung. Because he insisted upon them doing so. It would be fun. Trust Wooyoung! That could easily have been the theme of the road trip. Just trust Wooyoung, everything will be great. And really, he did. They all did. Wooyoung had almost a sixth sense for things like this. Everything he touched, planned, organized, whatever have you, turned to gold. It's a big reason Jongho felt comfortable with his friend knowing his secret. Part of him thought maybe, just maybe, if Wooyoung was involved somehow, that things with Mingi would just magically work out. 

By the time they reached middle-of-nowhere, Virginia, Jongho and Mingi had both had their turns driving and were switching off to the back seat so that San could take over, Wooyoung joining him up front. 

Wooyoung had cornered Jongho in the bathroom in the gas station at which they were refueling the car and themselves, “You need to tell him how you feel.” He said in a rush, quietly, just in case.

“Hell fucking no.” Jongho replied, “I will not be saying anything unless I have cold, hard, proof right in front of me that he has any sort of feelings towards me outside of friendship.”

Wooyoung shoved his arm, “That’s stupid! I can see how he looks at you!”

Jongho huffed, “Wooyoung, you think everyone wants to fuck each other all the time.”

“Everyone does want to fuck each other all the time! Look at Hongjoong and Seonghwa! I called that before literally anyone.” Wooyoung argued. 

It was true. Jongho couldn’t deny it. Well, he shouldn’t deny it, but he sure was going to, “I’m not convinced Seonghwa hadn’t tipped you off to that at some point before. You really can’t take credit for predicting that.”

Wooyoung sighed, “Believe me or don’t but I did call it. And I’m calling this, too. You and Mingi will have confessed by the end of the trip. And I would put money on Mingi not being the one to do something about it first. Actually, I have put money on it. I owe San $200 if Mingi confesses first.” He looked stupidly proud of himself.

“God, I knew you would tell San! You two might as well share a brain.” Jongho pushed past Wooyoung, ignoring his empty taunts and threats as he walked back out to the car. 

Back on the road, Mingi was trying to work some on his laptop, but had to put it away, saying he was going to get car sick if he kept at it. Jongho was getting sleepy, but was too jittery and nervous being in the back seat with Mingi only a foot or so away. 

Mingi’s head tipped back, leaning on the head rest of the seat, his eyes closed, a somewhat pained expression on his face. 

Jongho couldn’t resist it, he reached up and moved a strand of hair off of Mingi’s face where it looked like it would be uncomfortably tickling his nose had he left it. 

“You alright?” Jongho asked him softly. 

Mingi nodded but didn’t open his eyes, “Yeah. Just getting sleepy.”

“Work isn't too stressful?” Jongho inquired, a little worried about him. Mingi was a perfectionist and had a hard time not letting little things get to him. Jongho had been there for more than one panic attack due to stress from a project but mostly from pressure put upon himself. 

“It is stressful. But it's okay. I've got better coping mechanisms now. Had to, without you around to look after me.” Mingi smiled, though his eyes stayed closed. 

“Okay. Well good. Get some sleep then, yeah?” Jongho insisted.

“Mmh yeah good call.” Mingi said thickly, already half asleep.

San had been pretending not to listen, but suddenly they were listening to a very dry podcast on European history rather than the music that had been playing. Wooyoung protested for a second - he had been putting on an unsolicited concert for the whole car, but San insisted, “Driver gets aux!” and shot a quick glance to the backseat, then back to Wooyoung, trying to communicate with just his eyes. Wooyoung seemed to understand and just said, “Okay, fine.” 

San found Jongho’s eyes in the rearview mirror this time, giving him his tiniest, proudest little smile, dimples barely visible. Jongho stuck his tongue out in reply.

Mingi’s head kept tipping forward and waking him up. Jongho noticed this and reached over to put his hand on Mingi’s knee, shaking it lightly to get the man to wake up. When he did, Jongho simply looked at him and patted his lap. Mingi understood and leaned over sideways until his head was in Jongho’s lap, fingers carding softly through his long, pink hair, falling asleep immediately. 

Eastern Tennessee was surprisingly pretty, Jongho had to admit. A big reason Wooyoung had agreed to this trip was because it was late October and the fall foliage was stunning. Perfect for someone who had recently taken up photography and had a natural talent for it. It would be interesting to see how it all changed from east to west as they traveled. Wooyoung had made several frantic stops on their drive so far, asking to pull over to marked overlooks, snapping a few quick pictures, then moving on. 

At least he was fast about it. 

After far too long in the car together, the four of them nearly stumbled on their exit after pulling into the hotel parking lot. Legs stiff, glad to no longer be sharing the same oxygen, at least briefly. Wooyoung had thankfully (begrudgingly) booked two separate rooms, after quite the protest, arguing that it would be like old times! A sleepover! The only thing that convinced him was San pointing out that they wouldn't be able to have sex if all four of them shared a room. That changed his mind real quick.

You could technically call it a hotel, but the three of them who weren't Wooyoung were a little dumbfounded at what they had just pulled up to. 

“You booked us Hobbit huts?!” Was the question making its way in some form out of their mouths. 

They had been asleep when Wooyoung pulled the car up, missing the sign reading “Ancient Lore Village” on their way in. 

“I think what you meant to say was ‘Wooyoung, this is so cool, we're so happy you booked us the Hobbit huts, how will we ever thank you enough?’” Wooyoung said smugly. 

Jongho hid his excitement, never wanting to give Wooyoung the satisfaction. 

Mingi looked at him and smiled, reading straight through him as always, but didn't give it away. 

“So when you agreed to book separate rooms, you-” Mingi started. 

“Booked the two bedroom Hobbit hut, yeah!” Wooyoung finished for him. 

Upon entering, (Mingi having to duck through the entrance), the hut was pretty fucking cool. Not an exact replica to the franchise, likely for copyright reasons, but the ambience was effective. 

Mingi told Jongho he could shower first, which he was grateful for. He tried to let the hot water relax his muscles, but all he could think about was the fact that he would be sharing a bed with Mingi that night. Imagination running wild, he had to calm himself down and push away the images his brain was feeding him of Mingi in bed with him, cuddling, or kissing, or better yet- no. No. He had to stop or he'd end up needing to take care of himself in the shower and that felt a little too lewd. He cranked the shower handle over to cold in a valiant attempt to snap the fuck out of it. It worked well enough.

He stepped out of the shower and into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist at the exact time Mingi walked into the room. 

Jongho would gaslight himself about this moment later, but he swore Mingi checked him out as he announced, “Pizza is here!” 

Jongho was frozen to the spot, “Okay, thanks, I'll be there soon.”

Mingi tucked his bottom lip under his front teeth, a habit of his that didn't necessarily indicate attraction like it might on most people, but Jongho could see it on his face. He was definitely checking him out. 

“You been working out?” Mingi asked, voice low. 

Jongho couldn’t help himself, flexing a little as he walked over to his suitcase, “Yeah, actually, I have been.”

He heard Mingi swallow, “Nice. Um. Yeah. You're looking good, dude.” 

Jongho pulled a shirt on, facing away from Mingi, “Thanks, it's good to know the hard work wasn't really for naught.” 

“Definitely not.” Mingi was digging through his own bag across the room now, pulling some baggies out that Jongho had a hunch on what they were. 

Jongho finished getting dressed after Mingi left and headed into the living room where Wooyoung and San were sitting practically on top of each other on a loveseat, leaving room beside Mingi for Jongho to sit next to him on the couch. 

San remembered he had packed a cooler full of beer and seltzers and got up to heft it inside, asking if anyone wanted anything. 

They did, of course, and Mingi used the opportunity of San passing out their drinks of choice to survey the room on his offerings, “I have gummies!” He pulled out the two bags, “This one is a blend, but this one is all indica. I use it to sleep but anyone is welcome if you're not a sativa fan.” 

“I thought you were more of a flower guy?” Jongho observed.

Mingi shrugged, not meeting his eyes, “You don't smoke though. For your voice. Right?”

Huh. He hadn't expected Mingi to remember that. Or be so thoughtful. “Oh. Yeah. You're right. Thanks!” 

Mingi pulled one of the hybrid gummies out of its bag, looking at Jongho questioningly. Jongho nodded, reaching for it with his hand. Mingi pulled his hand back, “Magic words?” 

Jongho couldn’t help but chuckle, “Please get me high, Mingi.”

Mingi smiled, opening his mouth to demonstrate what he wanted from Jongho. 

Jongho obeyed. The trip Mingi's hand took from mid-air to Jongho's mouth seemed to last forever, the look in Mingi's eyes dark as he placed the gummy on Jongho's tongue, finger applying pressure to hinge his jaw shut and encourage chewing. 

Jongho felt heat building low in his gut. It was hot. Mingi was hot. Did he have any clue what he was doing to him? Jongho turned away, uncomfortable from being under the spotlight, turning towards the pizza in front of them instead. 

The room was weirdly silent for a second. Wooyoung and San looking at each other, trying to ignore what they had just witnessed. 

Mingi was either oblivious or didn't care, and passed the bag over to the others before also digging into his pizza. 

None of them made it further than halfway into The Fellowship of the Rings (when in Rome, right?) before they were drifting off to sleep. The first quarter of the movie was spent with them raucously high, quoting the movie they had seen a thousand times, making fun of the parts that were fun to laugh at. But then the weed, the beer, the full stomachs and the long day seemed to hit all at once and Mingi was once again nodding off beside Jongho. Wooyoung was snoring softly, tucked into San's chest. 

Jongho shook Mingi awake, “Come on, let's go to bed. You've gotta at least brush your teeth.”

Mingi groaned, not moving. Jongho sighed and grabbed his arm, heavy with sleep, draped it around his shoulder and worked his other hand around Mingi's waist, helping him stand up. “Guys, go to bed!” He called to Wooyoung and San. They stirred sleepily as Jongho reached down to turn off the TV. San ended up bridal carrying Wooyoung into their bedroom since the man was refusing to walk on his own, whining and grumbling, bratty as ever. 

Jongho limped Mingi into their room, propped him against the bathroom counter, and dug through his bathroom bag in search of his toothpaste. He found them under a small bottle of lube and some condoms. Huh. Interesting. He probably just carried that bag with him when he was hooking up with someone. He shook his head to rid his brain of the dirty thoughts that were creeping in and helped Mingi brush his teeth. 

He was awake enough after that and went to flop clumsily straight onto the middle of the bed after stripping down to his boxers. Jongho swallowed. So Mingi still slept like that. Surely Wooyoung had booked separate beds for the rest of their trip. Jongho didn't think he could bear being in such proximity to a nearly naked Mingi the whole trip. It would probably kill him. 

He finished up in the bathroom then joined Mingi in the bed, not meaning to wake him up, but it was hard not to seeing as he had to roll him over in order to have room to climb in. 

Mingi made a dissatisfied noise, then when he realized Jongho was in the bed with him, mumbled, “Jong. Cuddle me.”

Jongho wasn't sure he'd heard him right, “What's that?”

Mingi reached back and grabbed Jongho's arm, tossing it over his waist, saying more clearly this time, “Hold me. Please?” 

And who was Jongho to say no? 

He slept in a t-shirt, unlike his friend, but still, the feeling of Mingi’s skin through the thin fabric of his shirt was doing something to his brain. He pulled Mingi close, jumping on the opportunity that was being presented to him. They fit together remarkably well, he noted as Mingi melted into the embrace, sighing a raspy, “G'night.” 

Jongho smiled into his bare shoulder blade, and whispered, “Goodnight, Mingi,” his mind spinning happily as he drifted off.

continue reading, chapter two here

[ballinandcantgetup452]

The Last Will and Testament of Lex Luthor, Part 2

Throughout the oncoming weeks, Clark didn't stop thinking about Lex. Not to an obsessive degree, mind you, but he always occupied the back of his mind. The more that he thought about it, the more that he realized that there was a very strong potential that he even liked Lex. At first, he thought about what made Lex unique as an antagonist to him. Clark first started at his inherent greed. How Clark's very existence turned Lex more and more bitter by the day. He then decided to push past that initial disdain he had for Luthor. Upon further digging, Clark had realized that he admires Lex's inherent determination. While Clarks' very existence as Superman did make Lex more bitter, it also pushed him to become leagues more innovative. He even thought about how Lex even has pride in things beyond himself. He realized that the one thing they both have in common is a love of Metropolis. He really thought about how other criminals tend not to come to Metropolis. Clark realized that he hadn't seen a non-native Metropolis villain in about 5 years. Every villain that Clark had stopped in the past 5 years has either been alien, small gangs using alien tech to get big, or somebody under Lex's payroll. By the end of the week, Clark had gained a sudden admiration of Lex. That wasn't going to stop him from stopping Lex and anything else he had planned, mind you. But he hadn't really realized that admiration until now.

Upon fully finding this out, he would discuss rogues with anybody he was sharing monitor duty at the Watchtower with over the next few months, to varying results. There honestly wasn't really any common ground in regards to the league's rogues galleries and their opinions on their biggest rogues. There were people like Kyle, who didn't really have any rogues, but just kind of viewed taking in his reoccurring villains as part of the job. Arthur felt somewhat responsible for Black Manta. Then there were people like Wally, who had shared Clark's old views about Lex, but to an even more extreme degree. To be fair, having Zoom as your biggest rogue is bound to wear you down on your fondness of them. Clark became really fascinated with this and was oddly enamored as to how nobody really shared his opinion on their biggest rogue as he did with Lex. 

After a few weeks of asking random leaguers their opinions on their rogues gallery, Clark, Bruce, and Diana meet up on the same gargoyle in Gotham to have their monthly meal and meetup. 

Diana took a bite of her greasy burger on the rooftop, "Bruce, I know that Gotham is so bad that it's literally been described as cursed, but a burger like this is almost worth living here."

Bruce stood on a gargoyle, his cape flapping in the wind. It was almost intimidating until you noticed the chocolate milkshake he was drinking. Clark, sitting criss-cross in mid-air, just so happened to do so. 

"Bruce, I thought you were keto?"

Diana went to defend Bruce, saying, "Leave him alone, Clark. He literally jumps from rooftops every night and does more work than probably all of us combined. I don't think he needs a diet yet."

Clark shrugged, "I guess it's just odd to see The Batman sipping a milkshake."

Bruce quit sipping his milkshake, "Dick put me onto it. When he was a kid, we would go here on Friday nights after patrol and share a milkshake. Or to put it honestly, I watched him drink a milkshake and gave him constructive criticism on what he did wrong that night. I still come here every Friday night after patrol, sometimes Dick or Jason or any of my other kids are there, and we'll share a milkshake."

"I've been thinking about doing something like that with Jon. He's been getting into painting, which sounds like something Jason or Damian would be into. Any tips? Does that sound like a good idea?" Clark asked.

Diana interjected, "Look, I can sense where this conversation is going, but let's stop for a second before we get to a point where I can't ask my question. Clark, what's been up with you and asking everybody about their rogues?"

Clark finished his burger and came clean with his head down. "Lex has been gone for about 9 months now. I've been thinking about him a lot lately." Clark raised his head. "Honestly, I think I admire him. I genuinely think that we're a lot alike, and I kind of feel for the guy."

Bruce looked confused, "Why didn't you ask us?"

Clark put his head back down, "I was honestly a little embarrassed. I thought you guys might think I was crazy."

Bruce and Diana both laughed at the prospect. This raised Clark's spirits a lot.

Diana chimed up first, "Clark, the reason why I barely have a rogues gallery is because of that very same sentiment you have."

Bruce interjected, "Unlike Diana, I still have a rogues gallery. But, I feel the same way, too. It's helped a lot of people. Even Mr. Freeze is working at WayneTech." 

The conversation diverted from there to how Mr. Freeze got all of his charges dropped. But, when the dinner was over, and Diana flew away, Bruce stayed back to tell Clark one more thing. "Clark, I just wanted to tell you, it's a great thing you feel the way you do about Lex. Frankly, we're surprised you didn't already feel like that. When Lex re-emerges, and trust me, he will re-emerge, you'll turn him around. Because you're Superman."

Clark processed Bruce's kind words and hit him with an even harder question, "Do you think that you'll ever turn Joker around?"

Bruce paused, almost as if he never actually considered the question.

"Honestly Clark, I don't know. I speculate that one day one of us will kill the other. But every time I see him, I remind myself to keep on trying, just like you do.

Clark did one more patrol before going home. After beating a random rampaging kaiju in Angola, he went home to Lois. It was pretty late when he got there, so she was asleep in the chair in her bathrobe, already bathed, and waiting for him to come home so they could watch an episode of The Great British Bakeoff before bed. Clark picked up his wife and carried her to bed.

"Hey, I was watching that. I was just resting my eyes," Lois said, groggily, very clearly, in a half-sleeping state.

"Sure you were, hon," Clark said while chuckling. He put his wife in bed and joined her.

Lois tried fighting back the urge to sleep, "How was dinner with Bruce and Diana?"

Clark began to nod off, "Pretty good. I realized that I deeply admire Lex Luthor."

"You know, for a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, you're a really slow investigator of your own psyche," Lois responded, almost back asleep again.

Clark was almost asleep as well, "so you can crack the inner workings of my mind, but you couldn't picture me without glasses for the first 2 years we knew each other?"

As Clark fell completely asleep, Lois had one last response.

"Let's not fight, I'd clearly win. Go to sleep, Smallville."

[yuurivoice]

What’s your thought process on building a character, and how long does it typically take?

I’m a character designer (art wise, trying to get into writing again) and I find myself tying my character’s backstories and personality traits into song lyrics I hear from music I like to listen to. Sometimes months after I make a character, I’ll be listening to music and then just go, “frick it, this guy plays guitar and has mental problems now.” Cuz I like the song lol.

do you do anything weird like that?

There's no one way it really happens. A lot of the initial motivation is based on what the narrative needs or wants, then I shake my lil magic 8 ball that is my brain and say a prayer.

But as I start to dig in, I realize different pieces and layers that work their way in. Sometimes my own personal needs, traumas, and history make it in there without realizing it. An example of that is how I've realized that Alphonse is pretty grief driven, which is part of my own "oh that's why I behave that way" journey. Alphonse being so closely tied to myself personally, it makes a lot of sense that I would have written that without even realizing it.

Going back through Chapter 1 of BS made that super clear because there's a whole lot of spots where it's like...oh, he really wanted to say this but I didn't know it at the time.

I don't really do anything like that purposefully from the outset, but it's real special when I finally connect the dots.

There's a character in Echoes of Evalas that wasn't even a part of it until much later in my planning. The story lacked a "fish out of water" character to use as a convenient way to teach key lore and history to, and it was not going to be the listener character. So I pondered, and saw an opening. Within about 20 minutes I could see exactly how this character slotted into the story across decades if not more of history surrounding the narrative, and how he impacted the people he'll be interacting with. Their creation then unlocked things in later episodes that solved problems I hadn't even started trying to tackle because that one piece of the puzzle cleared up the "fog of war" that settles over a yet to be outlined narrative.

When it comes to retroactively being like "you know what, this character definitely does/has/likes this" look no further than Dark Mode Alphonse. That happened years after his debut and was a choice made in reference to my past as a lil baby goth, but served a few purposes narratively. It boiled down to me wanting to give a character so close to me personally another piece of myself, and let him be this idealized radical manifestation of two times in my life that were tied to my ideal aesthetics and style.

So, there are many ways it happens for me, and I like it that way! I'm very bad at following instructions or doing things by the book. 😂