#that boy starin into your SOUL

[hopelessbromantic3652]

sasuke givin you the criminal offensive side eye

snsmonth day 2: possessive

[cedar-sunshine]

fucked up space horror touched by divinity unholy creature dude x his punk trans boyfriend

[pathetichimbos]

He's truly so handsome and beautiful in his own way, he's so tall and strong and his hair is so messy yet so mesmerizing to look at and the way he just does anything is worth watching

Thomas is a very handsome man, and there's not a single doubt in my mind that he didn't have such a severe skin disease and clear neurodivergency in such a small, judgmental town, he would've easily found someone and settled down quickly.

He's tall, with thick, curly hair, strong arms and a wide build set, he's practically begging to be wifed up, but in classic southern culture, anything different is shamed and shunned.

To them, it didn't matter that he was just a kid born with a bit (well, a lot) of bad luck, he was diseased and contagious.

Parents warned their children not to get too close, people covered their faces if he breathed a little too hard, and no one ever treated him like a normal child.

There was more than one instance where young Tommy would go to the store with Luda Mae when she managed to scrape enough cash together to get something small, and everyone would drop what they were doing to give him odd glances and confused stares.

Thomas has never been confrontational, so he hides quietly behind his mother's dress, tiny hands pulling at the old, stained fabric to hide his face.

Of course, his mother is a lot more argumentative, noticing rather quickly how uncomfortable everyone was making her precious baby feel.

"You really think he can help you find your groceries or you just like starin' at little boys?" She asks loudly, staring down a younger gentleman with a warning glare in her eyes.

"What!? No-- I--" The man stumbles over his words, trying to back-track and explain himself.

"Come on, Tommy," Luda Mae grabs her sons hand, pulling him down the aisle, "Let's get away from this pervert."

"I'm not a pervert!" The young man calls back, letting out a sigh in defeat and going back to his shopping.

Thomas can't help but smile, stifling a chuckle as he follows behind quickly.

...That's how it always went when he was a kid. Of course, and unfortunately, things changed as he got older, and not for the better.

He shot up like a weed, his shoulders got wide, and he got big.

He was no longer a strange, deformed kid hiding behind his mother's dress, earning pitiful looks and sympathetic head shakes, he was dangerous, and a monster.

Suddenly the town he grew up in wasn't as kind (not that it was all that kind in the first place), and people that once spared him a rare, feel-sorry smile wouldn't give him a second look, quickly leaving the room in unjustified fear.

He was even more shunned than before, ridiculed by the men he worked with and fearfully avoided by any woman that might catch a glimpse of him.

He could hear people talk about him in rooms he walked past, laughing loudly as they verbally berated him behind his back, most of them too afraid to actually say anything to his face.

He didn't understand why they were so scared. He had never hurt anyone, not so much as raising a fist in anger, but he was treated as he was just some dangerous freak who could snap at anytime.

Years of abuse and mistreatment falls on his shoulders, but he never hurts a soul. He puts up and shuts up, keeping to himself and trying not to cry himself to sleep most nights.

Only when the factory shuts down and he has to face that his entire life as he knows it is over does he finally snap, and in my opinion, it was well deserved.

But, that's another topic for another post. I'll go ahead and end my drabble rant here. Thanks for sending in the ask love <3

[arithestrawberry]

Drunk, and in love.

A very small fluff!

Intro: your drunk at a bar and find a pretty masked man called ghost. You drunk both in love and intoxicated. Shoot your shot!

Afab!reader, intoxication, over all fluff of my boy Simon.😔

Holy shit this bar is empty.. and holy shit your drunk. A group of soldier, or that’s what it seems from their pretty uniforms, masks, and vests. One catches your eye. A masked man with a creepy skull on his mask. And the prettiest fuckin eyes you’ve ever seen on a man.. whiskey brown like the liquor in his glass. holy shit, do you want him now.

He talks to his lads barely laughing seemingly more serious than the rest. You stare, more like gawk.. but how can you not. You’re intoxicated in two different ways and love both. He walks off to the bathroom you’d assume and you follow after. He turns a corner and you lose him. Right at the bathroom doors. Shit! You look around and finally feel hand on your shoulder. Iron grip. You turn around surprised. Only to see that pretty mask you’ve been gawking at. He questions your motives.

“What were you planning. I noticed you starin’ did you think it’d be that easy t—”

You drunkenly cut him off.

“Oh my goosshhh Hii..! SSorrry for staring your like.. realllly pretty.. wait is that rude-? Well. Handssssome!”

Obviously drunk Simon looks at you baffled.. this is now to him. So upfront. So drunk. He can’t help but chuckle, as you stare at him so pround of your confidence, and confession. You go to take a kiss

You hurk at the alcohol in your system making you sick.. and .. you black out. Only to be found awakened with the task force around you.. laugh and talking lively as ever. And a certain some ones jacket on laid pretty on your sleeping shoulders..

“She awake?”

Comes a heavy accent, Scottish maybe..?

“Think so- she did move.”

Says the bearded one.. they all turn to Simon and laugh getting up and walking over to pay their tabs. Simon looks at you as you sleepily look at him ever so slightly blushing. Half remembering what you’d done. Still tipsy, he just stares at you but if you could see his face a small smile would be there. You lean up. Apologizing for what you’d done and handing him his coat.

“Where ya goin’? Think you can kiss and run love?”

He stares into what feels like you soul.. then you hop down from your bar stool and your legs weaker you almost fall. He catches you of course. Grabbing you and carrying you bridal style as any gentleman would.

“I’ll take you home love. Now will it me mine or yours?”

“Wha-.. mine your your what?”

“Home. Of course.”

——————————————————————————————

AHHH!! ty for reading! I don’t write very often but this is what I live to write for. Idk personally I think Simon is sweet under all that military. Ghost tho..- he can be mean

It’s okay! I can fix him. (Probably not.)

[duskykitkatbar84]

Restless

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

Be sure to follow @AnarchyCoreT0a5t3r on Wattpad to read the chapters right as they come out! Check out my other stories too, like "I'll be the glue to fix your shattered soul" and stay tuned for the ones that will soon hopefully be come out soon, such as "Silver" and "Gold"!

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Prologue

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

On November 5th, 1990, a black haired child with one blue eye, and one green eye was born in London, England....

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

Tokyo, Japan, 1997.

A boy with black hair stared blankly at his hands, his mismatched eyes filled with tears. His lightly freckled cheeks scrunched together as he started to cry.

"Shes... not coming back?" The 7 year old boy broke down and sobbed, at the feet of his father; who had a cold, hardened look on his face.

"Apparently so." His voice was so... cold... devoid of any emotion...

"Aiko Chatora was found dead in Shibuya Prefecture today.... Cause of death: unknown-"

The black haired man, Torao's father, threw the remote so hard at the television that the screen and the remote both shattered on impact.

Tokyo, Japan, 2001. 

4 years later... Torao was a boy who was much more cold and quiet that other kids his age. Perhaps it was the fact that his left eye is blue, and his right eye is green. Or maybe because of his freckles that made it obvious that he was a foreigner, along with his telltale accent.

Or maybe... was because he kept everyone further than arms reach, and anyone that approached him left with a black eye...

Either way, he wasn't alright. He acted cold and uncaring, but in reality, he was just an anxious child that had no form of protection from his own monsters, so he had to use his own methods of protecting himself.

He couldn't sleep at night. He often got up and wandered the park at late hours, his earbuds in his ears, a cup of ramen in his hand. He didn't like dealing with his fathers drunken tantrums.

Tonight, thats what he did. Wandering around at about 2 o'clock in the morning, quietly singing to himself. 

"Run away... from the river to the street, and find yourself with your face in the gutter..." Torao sat down on a park bench, his wallet chain rattling as he sat down; closing his eyes as he sang. He had quite a good voice; perfect pitch in fact. "You're a stray... for the salvation army... there is no place like home..."

Torao inhaled deeply to sing his favourite line.

"....when you got no place to go..."

He didn't realise that a boy with a dragon tattoo on his temple and blond hair was a approaching him, listening to him sing, since his eyes were closed.

He opened his eyes and nearly jumped out of his skin. The boy had almost scared him to death. He tried to pretend like he hadn't just been startled.

"Do you need something?" Torao asked in a monotone.

"I was jus' wonderin' why you're out here in the middle of the night." The tattooed boy chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"None of your business." Torao says quietly.

"Oh, sorry." The boy with the dragon tattoo sat down next to Torao, listening to him hum. "Your eyes are cool." He looks at Torao's mismatched eyes.

"Thanks." Torao says shortly.

Torao occasionally stole glances at the boy, trying not to get caught staring. He had a dragon tattoo on his temple, short blond hair, small silver hoop earrings, dark brown eyes; so dark they were almost black. 

He caught him staring, chuckling. "What are ya starin' for?" He smirks at him.

Torao looked away, his cheeks pinkening. He was embarrassed that he had been caught showing even remote interest in something.

"No reason." He mutters.

"What's your name?" The blond haired male asked, tilting his head. "I'm Ryuguji Ken. But you can call me Draken."

"Chatora." The freckled male says flatly. 

"Chatora? Surprising. You look and sound foreign, I'm surprised you don't have a foreign name."

"I'm half Japanese, half British." Torao explains, taking a bite of ramen.

"What's your first name?" Draken asks, looking at him.

"Torao."

Draken covers his mouth and snickers. "S-sorry- your name is-"

"Yeah yeah, I know, it's hilarious. Go ahead and laugh." Torao scowls, waving his hand dismissively. 

Draken stopped laughing immediately. "Sorry." 

Torao doesn't say anything. He finishes his ramen, lazily tossing the cup in the trash can. "Well. Later." He starts walking away.

"Bye." Draken said, thinking it was best not to bother him any further. 

The next day, around the same time, Draken found Torao sitting on the same park bench as the night before.

"Yo." He said, sitting down next to him.

Torao didn't talk much. He just ate his ramen and stared at the moon, listening to music.

Draken occasionally asked him what song he was listening to, but he'd never heard of any of the songs that Torao listens to.

Draken and Torao eventually started to meet up at the same place, same time, every morning at 2 AM to sit on the park bench, and occasionally chat. Torao started to enjoy himself a bit, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

A few months pass, and the two are now good friends.

Torao was still cold and quiet, but he wasn't as cold as he used to be. He was still as quiet as ever, not speaking much on his own. That's how he's always been.

Torao's hair got longer. He didn't seem keen on cutting it. It was now to the ends of his ears, and it flew around in the breeze. 

Draken eventually pointed out how long Torao's hair was getting. "Hey, Torao? You ever gonna cut your hair?" He chuckles.

"When I decide it's too long, I will." Torao says flatly, scrolling through songs on his phone.

Draken looks over his shoulder at his phone. "I don't recognise a single band on that playlist." 

"That's because they're either British or American." Torao's playlist consisted of bands like "Green Day" and "Franz Ferdinand" and "Nirvana".

"Oh." Draken says.

Draken and Torao eventually ended up exchanging numbers, which did not help Torao's insomnia, as he began rereading old text chains when he couldn't sleep, causing him to pull more all-nighters than he used to.

Draken invited Torao over a few times, and they usually played card games, or video games, or just sit quietly.

They spent new years together, watching fireworks shows on the TV with Draken's adoptive family, Torao as far back as he could get, watching from a distance with a bag of chips and his headphones in. 

One random day, Draken noticed that Torao's shoulder length hair was no longer black, but wine red. The freckled male was wearing his usual baggy black streetwear jacket and black harem pants, with a white t-shirt and silver chain around his neck. He looked like a delinquent.

"That's new," Draken smirks. "Trying to impress a girl?" 

"I just decided to do it." Torao says flatly. "I don't like girls. They're annoying. And loud."

"I've noticed you don't like loud noises." Draken rubs the back of his neck. 

"Have you now." Torao spoke in his usual monotone. "And before you pester me about my hair, I just like the shade. Nothing special, no special meaning."

"I'm inclined to believe you're lying, but okay." Draken shrugs. His blond hair had gotten long enough to tie in a small ponytail. 

"I do that sometimes." Torao says quietly.

To be continued...

[cutiepiemina]

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄ What you do to me ⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Neteyam x reader short fanfic ❤

༺ fluff ༻

༺ friends to lovers ༻

༺ confession scenario ༻

༺ Neteyam being a sweetie ༻

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

´´Neteyam´´

your voice called out.

´´Neteyaam´´ once again, this time finally snapping your friend out of the trance currently engulfing him. Slowly he looks away from the sweet little pond the two of you sat at and down over at you with half lidded eyes.

´´You okay? You kinda been just staring at the water. You got something on your mind?´´ you ask the older boy seated next to you.

´you´ is what he thinks, yet he doesn´t answer, instead he quietly stares at you with his yellow glowy eyes, making you ever the more curious.

His muted stare starts to unsettle you, so you give him an eyebrow raise along with a playful shove. ´´what r you starin at bro, snap out of it ´´. Saying ´´bro´´ at least a million times a day is something you had picked up from the sully boys from being around them so much. He looks away from you and with his large hand he picks up one of the pretty fluorescent rocks, that illuminate the nightly darkness and throws it into the pond, following it with his eyes. All the while you´re trying to understand what might be occupying his mind.

´´ Did Lo´ak do something? Ooor are you worried about the sky people? Either way you know you ca-

´´Just ... what is it about you ´´ your sentence is interrupted midway as he blurts his thoughts out to you, in a low voice.

´´The hell?´´ you laugh out, you couldnt make any sense of him. ´´What about me? Did I do something?´´

He shifts his gaze away from the pond and back to you again, his lingering stare reminding you of the close proximity to him. It was like he was looking inside your deepest soul thoughts. What the hell got this dude acting like this?

´´Y/N .. tell me what is it that you do to me. I cant understand this. ´´ his face suddenly closer than before, mustering yours. You could feel the atmosphere shift, afraid and unsure of the direction this would take.

´´ i cant explain it very well, but I can also not deny that you have an effect on me like nothing else, I feel it here´´ he motions toward his stomach.

Your heart starts beating faster. He was never like this before. His expression seemed undecipherable, so stern and focussed yet so relaxed.

´´Do you not feel it Y/n? Dont you see it?´´

´´Wha-´´

´´I cant think straight because of you, my mind is constantly consumed by you. I want to be around you at all times. I even dream of you. Do you really not see? Because I see you. I see only you.´´

´´Neteyam what are you saying´´ his face inches éven closer, your heart racing even faster and his eyes starting to light up.

´´I dont know my dear. This is the effect you have on me. It´s overwhelming honestly. You are perfection in my eyes.´´

And in your stomach there was this feeling again, this cribbling feeling you were never able to interpret that you would feel when he stood closely behind you when correcting your form with your bow, the feeling when you lock eyes for a second too long as you watch him skillfully hunt in all his glory, the feeling when you eavesdropped on him ranting to his brother about you.

The same exact feeling he got each time you would fix his hair, smile up at him as he towered over your smaller self, worriedly tend to his wounds or just sing with the other girls.

But of course neither of you knew that the feeling was mutual, neither of you even understood what to make of this feeling. Therefore all you knew to do was keeping one another close.

The moments went by and you remained silent, which made the boy that had spilled his heart out to you grow worried. Did he say something wrong. ´´Please.. I´´ he splurted out so vulnerable, almost panicked. ´´Being around you feels .. right, it feels like its supposed to be this way, me and you, please tell me, do you feel this connection too?

Still unsure what to say, you instinctively grab his hand to his reassurance. He calmed. He looks down at your intertwined hands and back at you again. The feeling was indeed mutual.

´´Oh Neteyam.´´

´´Yes ?´´ He responds eagerly, both of your hearts beating uncontrollably, as you inch closer and closer ...

[persepinas]

For day 25 of kinktober, I am sharing a second playlist. This one contains more r&b and slower, sensual songs plus my usual dark and religious blasphemy music. @vampirefest

I give to you:

Vampire fest kinktober, come again. 21 songs.

01) The Weeknd/The Hills

I only love it when you touch me, not feel me

When I'm fucked up, that's the real me

When I'm fucked up, that's the real me, babe

Hills have eyes, the hills have eyes

Who are you to judge?

02) Sabrina Claudio/Belong to You

It ain't strictly physical but I know that

I wanna lay where you lay

So I think you should fuck with me, yeah

You don't want to take me out the street, yeah

I can give you everything you need, yeah

Need you in my reach, yeah

03) Doja Cat/Casual

Take it off, follow me now

Let me in, don't shut me out

Don't tell me you love me if

That's not how it really is

04) Rihanna/Needed Me

Didn't they tell you that I was a savage

Fuck your white horse and a carriage

Bet you never could imagine

Never told you you could have it

You needed me

Oooh, you needed me

To feel a little more, and give a little less

Know you hate to confess

But baby oooh, you needed me

05) NBDY/Lights Out

When the lights out

I come alive when the nights out

I don't wanna see anymore

I only wanna hear the sounds of, uh

When we make love

Ain't no need to keep the lights on

I'ma fuck you with the lights out

I'ma love you 'til your lights out

06) Halsey/Not Afraid Anymore

I am not afraid anymore

Standing in the eye of the storm

Ready to face this, dying to taste this, sick sweet warmth

I am not afraid anymore

I want what you got in store

I'm ready to feed now, get in your seat now

And touch me like you never

And push me like you never

And touch me like you never

'Cause I am not afraid, I am not afraid anymore

No no no

07) Hozier/Eat Your Young

I'm starving, darling

Let me put my lips to something

Let me wrap my teeth around the world

Start carving, darling

I wanna smell the dinner cooking

I wanna feel the edges start to burn

Honey, I wanna race you to the table

If you hesitate, the getting is gone

I won't lie, if there's something to be gained

There's money to be made, whatever's still to come

08) Ari Abdul/You

Say your name like a ritual

Your body is something spiritual

Oh no

Don't you know you could save my soul

Feelin' your power head to toe

Feelin' your body head to toe

You're so divine

You're in your prime

It's love at first sight

Won't be satisfied

'Til I know you're mine

09) Isabel LaRosa/More Than Friends

My heart's racin' now, I just can't take a breath

I'm catchin' you starin' again

I swear all this shit isn't just in my head

I know that we're more than

Friends, friends, friends

I know that we're more than

Friends, friends, friends

I need

Need your hands on my waist, please

Save me

God, don't let me die waitin'

10) Tazzy/Fantasize (Ariana Grande cover)

I fantasize about it all the time

If you were mine

I'd give this pussy to you, nine-to-five

Five-to-nine

Tryin' to behave, but I'm feelin'

Some type of (Way) way

That just ain't me

11) Lilyisthatyou/FMRN

I got this aching and itching to be in submission

I got this burning desire to set you on fire

Oh, I hope my whole room goes down

You say swallow the fire, I'll choke it down

Say anything when you're around

Say anything and I'll make that sound like

(Make that sound like)

Can you come fuck me right now?

Parents are home, but my bed's too loud

I can take it on the ground

If I get too loud, you can shut my mouth

12) Aaliyah/Rock the Boat

Boy, you know you make me float

Boy, you really get me high

Ooh, I feel like I'm on dope

'Cause you, you serve me on a regular (you serve me on a regular)

Boy, you need to tie this rope

Oh, before we drift any deeper (before we drift any deeper)

Baby, now hold me close

Let's take this overboard now

13) Ashnikko/Slumber Party

My girl look like Wednesday Addams

Eyes go black when she orgasms

Hide your back, she likes to stab them

My butt cheeks, she likes to grab

Matching pajama birthday suits

Her spit tastes just like Juicy Fruit

She do that thing she usually do

Spell my name with her tongue, like (uh)

14) Dove Cameron/Boyfriend

The universe must have divined this

What am I gonna do? Not grab your wrist?

I could be a better boyfriend than him

I could do the shit that he never did

Up all night, I won't quit

Thinking I'm gonna steal you from him

I could be such a gentleman

Plus all my clothes would fit

15) Bad Omens/The Death of Peace of Mind

You're in the walls that I made with crosses and frames

Hanging upside down

For granted, in vain, I took everything

I ever cared about

I miss the way you say my name

The way you bend, the way you break

Your makeup running down your face

The way you fuck, the way you taste

16) CORPSE/E-girls are ruining my life

Choke me like you hate me, but you love me

Lowkey wanna date me when you fuck me (uwu)

Touch me with the lights off and my chains on

Baby, I'm not the right one you should wait on

17) Florence + the Machine/Bedroom Hymns

You had Jesus on your breath

And I caught Him in mine

Sweating out confessions

The undone and the divine

'Cause this is his body, this is his love

Such selfish prayers and I can't get enough

18) King Princess/Holy

Honey, on your knees when you look at me

I'm dressed like a fucking queen and you're begging, "please"

I rule with the velvet tongue

And my dress undone

And I'll get you lost but I'm having fun

Holy, holy, holy, yeah

Holy, holy, holy, holy

19) Imogen Heap/Come Here Boy

I know that my face

Is only too familiar to your sleep

I can see it in your eyes

And I can tell by your body heat

Why are you taking so long?

You need to come and find me, honey

To set your mind at rest

And let your dreams run free

20) BANKS/Godless

I'm into the darkness

That you feel a worse divine

'Cause I felt the power when I laid down by your side

I felt the rhythm, I felt the fever in your mind

I couldn't save you, but at least I say I tried

If your love was ever mine

It would stay with me tonight

I'm praying, praying

You can see it in my eyes

There's a raise that still reminds me

I'm waiting, waiting

21) Paris Paloma/The Fruits

My love, are you the devil?

I would worship you instead of him

I have no time for confession

For I'm too busy committing sins

My love, you're something special

I've never met someone like you

You'd make me fall from heaven

But I know just what I do

Come again? ❤️‍🔥 Spotify link here. 🔥

[classified-bluerose]

playlist for a potential dhawan! master x oc/reader story i've been plotting.

would anyone be interested in reading based just on this? lmao i know it's not a lot to go on.

saint bernard // lincoln there’s really just one thing that we have in common, neither of us will be missed

if i killed someone for you // alec benjamin you have to understand that, the one i killed is me, changing who i was for  what you wanted me to be

burning pile // mother mother all my troubles on a burning pile, all lit up, and i start to smile

oh ana // mother mother hop up on a cloud  and watch the world decay

saving a life // james blunt i wanted to help but there’s  an ocean between

she’s all i wanna be // tate mcrae  stupid boy, makin’ me so sad

many of horror // biffy clyro  our broken fairytale, so hard to hide

save a place // 1969 can you hear the rattle of words? that only takes a heart to be heard.

it’s called: freefall // rainbow kitten surprise called to the devil, and the devil said hey, why you been callin’ this late? 

something in the orange // zach bryan  something in the orange tells me we’re not done.

alien blues // vundabar  my teeth are yellow, hello word, would you like me a little  better if they were white like yours? 

devil’s backbone // the civil wars don’t care if he’s guilty, don’t care if he’s not.  he’s good, and he’s bad, and he’s all that i’ve got

poison & wine // the civil wars you only know what i want you to;  i know everything you don’t want me to.

work song // hozier my babe would never fret none, about what my hands and my body done. if the lord don’t forgive me,  i’d still have my baby and my babe would have me. 

walk away // the script she’s standing in the heart of darkness, saying i know you got a soul, even  though you’re heartless

down bad /// taylor swift  down bad, waking up in blood, starin’ at the sky, come back and pick me up,  fuck it, if i can’t have us, i might just not get up, i might stay, down bad

guilty as sin? // taylor swift what if i roll the stone away? they’re gonna crucify me anyway,  what if the way you hold me, is actually what’s holy? 

please please please // sabrina carpenter  heartbreak is one thing, my ego’s another i beg you don’t embarrass me, motherfucker

but daddy i love him // taylor swift thinkin’ it can change the beat  of my heart when he touches me, and counteract the chemistry

love him i don’t // maisie peters baby it’s sad, you’re bad in the bones so i just went home.  now it’s coming up roses, kicking up snow, what a long winter, what a bad joke. love him i don't, love him i won't, love him i did for a minute but i'm finished

want you back // maisie peters i am not allowed, to want you any longer, i must go out with a stranger, i must kiss him, to get stronger, so i don’t tell a soul, but i’d be yours again tomorrow- if you wanted. but you don’t wanna.

[lightofraye]

Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory

I wake up in the morning and I raise my weary head I've got an old coat for a pillow, and the earth was last night's bed I don't know where I'm goin', only God knows where I've been I'm a devil on the run, a six gun lover, a candle in the wind When you're brought into this world, they say you're born in sin Well, at least they gave me somethin', I didn't have to steal or have to win Well, they tell me that I'm wanted, yeah, I'm a wanted man I'm a colt in your stable, I'm what Cain was to Abel, Mr. Catch-Me-If-You-Can I'm goin' down in a blaze of glory Take me now but know the truth I'm goin' out in a blaze of glory And, Lord, I never drew first, but I drew first blood I'm no one's son, call me young gun You ask about my conscience and I offer you my soul You ask If I'll grow to be a wise man, well I ask if I'll grow old You ask me if I've known love and what it's like to sing songs in the rain Well, I've seen love come, I've seen it shot down, I've seen it die in vain Shot down in a blaze of glory Take me now but know the truth 'Cause I'm goin' out in a blaze of glory Lord, I never drew first but I drew first blood I'm the devil's son, call me young gun

Each night I go to bed, I pray the Lord my soul to keep No, I ain't lookin' for forgiveness, but before I'm six foot deep Lord, I gotta ask a favor, and I'll hope you'll understand 'Cause I've lived life to the fullest, let this boy die like a man Starin' down a bullet, let me make my final stand Shot down in a blaze of glory Take me now but know the truth I'm goin' out in a blaze of glory Lord, I never drew first but I drew first blood And I'm no one's son, call me young gun I'm a young gun Young gun Young gun

[t4tskkism]

I like big butts and I cannot lie

You other brothers can't deny

That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist

And a round thing in your face, you get sprung

Wanna pull up tough 'cause you notice that butt was stuffed

Deep in the jeans she's wearin'

I'm hooked and I can't stop starin'

Oh, baby, I wanna get wit'cha

And take your picture

My homeboys tried to warn me

But that butt you got makes (me so horny!)

Oh, Rump-o'-smooth-skin

You say you wanna get in my Benz?

Well, use me, use me

'Cause you ain't that average groupie

I've seen 'em dancin'

To hell with romancin'

She sweat, wet

Got it goin' like a turbo 'Vette

I'm tired of magazines

Sayin' flat butts are the thing

Take the average black man and ask him that

She gotta pack much back

So, fellas! (Yeah!)

Fellas! (Yeah!)

Has your girlfriend got the butt? (Hell yeah!)

Tell 'em to shake it! (Shake it!)

Shake it! (Shake it!)

Shake that healthy butt!

Baby got back!

(LA face with a Oakland booty)

Baby got back!

(LA face with a Oakland booty)

I like 'em round, and big

And when I'm throwin' a gig

I just can't help myself

I'm actin' like an animal

Now here's my scandal

I wanna get you home

And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh

I ain't talkin' 'bout Playboy

'Cause silicone parts are made for toys

I want 'em real thick and juicy

So find that juicy double

Mix-a-Lot's in trouble

Beggin' for a piece of that bubble

So I'm lookin' at rock videos

Knock-kneed bimbos walkin' like hoes

You can have them bimbos

I'll keep my women like Flo Jo

A word to the thick soul sistas

I wanna get wit'cha

I won't cuss or hit ya

But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna

Till the break of dawn

Baby got it goin' on

A lot of simps won't like this song

'Cause them punks like to hit it and quit it

And I'd rather stay and play

'Cause I'm long, and I'm strong

And I'm down to get the friction on

So, ladies! (Yeah!)

Ladies! (Yeah)

Do you wanna roll in my Mercedes? (Yeah!)

Then turn around, stick it out!

Even white boys got to shout

Baby got back!

Baby got back!

Yeah, baby, when it comes to females

Cosmo ain't got nothing to do with my selection

36-24-36? Only if she's 5'3

So your girlfriend rolls a Honda

Playin' workout tapes by Fonda

But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda

My anaconda don't want none

Unless you've got buns, hun

You can do side bends or sit-ups

But please don't lose that butt

Some brothers wanna play that hard role

And tell you that the butt ain't gold

So they toss it and leave it

And I pull up quick to retrieve it

So Cosmo says you're fat

Well I ain't down with that!

'Cause your waist is small and your curves are kickin'

And I'm thinkin' 'bout stickin'

To the beanpole dames in the magazines

You ain't it, Miss Thing!

Give me a sista, I can't resist her

Red beans and rice didn't miss her

Some knucklehead tried to diss

'Cause his girls are on my list

He had game but he chose to hit 'em

And I pull up quick to get wit 'em

So ladies, if the butt is round

And you want a triple X throwdown

Dial 1-900-MIX-A-LOT

And kick them nasty thoughts

Baby got back!

Baby got back!

Little in the middle but she got much back!

Little in the middle but she got much back!

[arachnosresources]

☕  * ― RANDOM SONG LYRICS PT.3 [ Feel free to change punctuation and pronouns, etc. ]

❝ I’m meaner than my demons. ❞ ❝ I’m over my head. ❞ ❝ Who am I to disagree? ❞ ❝ I’m really sorry, I had to do it. ❞ ❝ I’ve seen that look in your eyes… ❞ ❝ The room is so quiet. ❞ ❝ I’m young, but I’m not that bold. ❞ ❝ Do I look lonely? ❞ ❝ It’s time to get up and let go! ❞ ❝ I saw the darkest hearts of men and saw myself starin’ back again. ❞ ❝ Baby, sell that soul. ❞ ❝ Finders keepers, losers weepers. ❞ ❝ When they finally come, what’ll you do to them? ❞ ❝ So tell god and the devil they can try but today is not gonna be the day we die. ❞ ❝ We’ll take the highway. ❞ ❝ When I sleep, I can still see you. ❞ ❝ Hit me with your best shot! ❞ ❝ There’s a killer inside me ❞ ❝ You’re exactly where she wants you. ❞ ❝ I’m aware of this. ❞ ❝ We’re not that different, you and I. ❞ ❝ You’re nobody ‘till somebody wants you dead. ❞ ❝ So you wanna be immortal… ❞ ❝ Should I stay or should I go? ❞ ❝ I didn’t mean to scare you… ❞ ❝ You only act like a saint. ❞ ❝ Girl, you’ll be fine. ❞ ❝ Boy, I know you’ve heard it all before. ❞ ❝ No one can change the tide like I can change my mind. ❞ ❝ All the things we’ve seen, they just make us scream. ❞ ❝ Help me up. ❞ ❝ We’ll never be too old to move out skeletons. ❞ ❝ I keep praying like a saint believing it’ll change me. ❞ ❝ It hurts to be forgotten but it’s best to be alone. ❞ ❝ Did you really think I’d just forgive and forget? ❞ ❝ We do what we must to get by. ❞ ❝ I can’t tell if I’m real or fiction. ❞ ❝ It’s true evil. ❞ ❝ How can I fight it? ❞ ❝ Something wicked this way comes. ❞

[venisontransmission]

This nonnie would love to read your drabble on how Alastor killed his father a second time!

Tw for: Gore, implied abuse, death, brutal violence Hope you enjoy whatever demon time Alastor is on. I appreciate you wanting to read it!

He finds him pretty quickly. Not because Alastor is actively looking for his dear father, but fate seemed to align them to meet once again. Oh, how cruel fate was to Samuel - perhaps this truly is karmic retribution.

Alastor, freshly dead and burning with ferocity, finally granted power he never had. The poor boy from New Orleans was a powerful, capable demon. Never again would he be taken advantage of. Now, his claws were shaping the very structural society of Hell itself.

The deer demon hunts large game. Single-soul sinners are not worth his time. Sure, he makes deals here or there - it never hurts to pad out numbers if he spies someone particularly strong. But Alastor has an appetite for something far more dangerous - Overlords. The radio demon never found small animals to be that appealing to hunt. They never bared their fangs or stood to face a foe, scared though they may be. But predators - they put up a fight - and a delightfully entertaining one at that.

It just so happened that for the better part of a decade, his father had been attempting to slowly rise to the rank of Overlord. Even so, he was just a small deal-maker known for how terrible he was at holding up his end of the bargain. Maybe 100 souls or less, just a tiny blip on the radar if not for his name. Names are powerful things in Hell - contractually binding, even! But dear old Samuel was far too cocky to try and take on an alias, and it led his son straight to him.

Alastor swore that the fear his father held over him had faded with the gunshot that led him to his first death. There is nothing to fear from a dead man - and he was done being afraid. But when he finds the man whose blood he bore like a curse, he froze.

His features had changed rather drastically. His cheekbones and chin are far sharper than Alastor recalls. He, too, is an animal sinner - sideburns of dirty blonde and sharp ears. His snout protrudes with a flat black nose—scars litter his muzzle, showing hints of canine teeth underneath.

And all at once, Alastor fears him once again. He does not believe in fate, but the universe itself clearly has a sense of humor.

His father was a coyote.

The deer demon stands, frozen to the spot as sharp blue eyes meet his red. They used to be hazel - like hers.

"Th' fuck you starin' at?" The canine snaps, and Alastor's eyes are pinpricks, his ears flat on his head. His heart beats erratically despite being dead - those eyes are horrible to see alive again. He wants to… run? Run? Tear? Tear them out! Gouge them out! He clenches his teeth.

"Hey! Did you hear me - stupid little shit--!" Hand raised, claws, sharp as the bottle that struck his eye. He hates beer. Despises it with a passion. The hand comes down, and Alastor catches the thick wrist in his thin fingers.

And squeezes.

Samuel cries out as Alastor hears something snap. But he keeps squeezing - more, more, more pressure until his thumb meets his fucking index finger. He's not saying anything important, wobbling as he's held aloft by his shattered arm. Alastor lets go and watches him fall.

"Fucker! That fucking hurts!" He's gotten to his feet, his anger a boiling beast in his blood. It's unstable, and he's too thick to think through his rage. Alastor is caught by claws but doesn't care. His hands find their mark, fisting in his short hair - right between his ears.

"Quiet, kochon." It's said without a filter.

He dives forward with vicious strength, sending Samuel's skull through the pavement. Again. Again. Again. Again. He loses count and stops only when he knows the other Sinner is at risk of resurrecting.

Alastor is completely silent, dragging the body through the streets. He's given a massive breadth of space on both sides. Samuel's mangled skull streaks blood all the way to Alastor's home.

He's not done with him yet.

Four agonizing days locked in Alastor's basement is how long it takes his father to heal. The radio host only checks on him once per evening, finding him in various states of infection and pain. Not once is he granted the mercy of food or water, though Alastor had considered pouring vodka on his open wounds on day two.

"Do you remember me?" He asks on day five to the delirious, sad scrap huddled in the corner. Once so very terrifying - who took his most precious person from him. Who ruined his FUCKING LIFE-- Shadows sharpen. He feels himself starting to transform. He hears whimpering and has to physically pull back his shadows and tendrils. He'd been poised to lose control - can't have that.

Tear! Tear! Kill! Again! Again!

"It's considered rude not to answer your betters, you know?" He steps forward - a shadow falls on him. Another step forward, out of the shadow - he's changed now, form eerily resembling the one he had topside.

"Y-You… y-you can't be serious!" Samuel's ears fall back, and he bares his fangs like a wounded dog.

He's not afraid of this dog.

Alastor laughs, and he laughs so hard he thinks his house trembles. So much so that he thinks the entire city hears him howling in amusement. He laughs until mirth mists the corners of his eyes, and he's hiccupping.

"Fucking psycho! You and that bitch! Damn demons, the both of you!"

His skull is promptly smashed into the wall.

"Oh? You do remember me? And you remember her! Well, she's a bit too good to be here with us, dear kochon." His grip tightens, found around Samuel's throat.

His ice-blue eyes open again. And he sees his son on the left, holding his throat, and Béatrice to the right, holding a knife that gleams with angelic steel. They're one body, matching eyes and hair - an amalgamation of past mistakes as Alastor twirls the blade in dainty fingers - her fingers.

"But she deserves to be the one to put you down. Fair is fair, right Papa?"

The knife is plunged - it's brutal, the blade is purposefully worn to drag this out as much as possible. Alastor's hand - her hand - does it matter right now? The hand holding the knife drags down, intestines sloppily falling to the floor as Samuel wails and wails.

And Alastor and manman laugh and laugh.

[kaukopartiomiehet]

ryhmä 2 / twenty one pilots – twenty one pilots

implicit demand for proof / hellström vierrolle

I mean no disrespect I am simply very perplexed by your ways Why won’t you let us use your name? Reign down and destroy me

fall away / palomaa

I disguise and I will lie, and I will take my precious time As the days melt away, as I stand in line, and I die as I wait, as I wait on my crime And I’ll try to delay what you make of my life But I don’t want your way I want mine

Every time I feel selfish ambition is taking my vision My crime is my sentence, repentance is taking commission It’s taking a toll on my soul, I’m screaming submission, and I don’t know if I’m dying or living

the pantaloon / teerimäki

He’s seen too many stare-downs between the sun and the moon in the morning air How he used to hustle all the people walking through the fairgrounds He’s been around so long he’s changed his meaning of a chair, now, because a chair, now Is like a tiny island in the sea of all the people

+ bonus: a moth ate through your favourite shirt

addict with a pen / vierto

I try desperately to run through the sand As I hold the water in the palm of my hand 'Cause it's all that I have and it's all that I need and The waves of the water mean nothing to me But I try my best and all that I can To hold tightly onto what's left in my hand But no matter how, how tightly I will strain The sand will slow me down and the water will drain

+ bonus: but you specialize in dying

friend, please / ilves

And I have nothing else left to say But I will listen to you all day, yes I will

march to the sea / ryhmä 2

There's miles of land in front of us And we're dying with every step we take We're dying with every breath we make And I'll fall in line

johnny boy / teerimäki

Get up Johnny boy, get up Johnny boy Get up 'cause the world has left you lying on the ground You're my pride and joy, you're my pride and joy Get up Johnny boy because we all need you now

oh ms believer / heikinpalo

Your twisted thoughts are like snow on the rooftops Please, take my hand, we're in foreign land As we travel through snow

air catcher / heikinaro

I don't fall slow like I used to I fall straight down You've stolen my air catcher That kept me safe and sound My parachutes will guide me safely to ground But now, the cord's not workin' And I can see you starin' me down I won't fall in love with falling And I will try to avoid those eyes, oh

+ bonus: I was doing fine on my own, and there wasn't much I lacked

trapdoor / vierto

He wakes up early today Throws on a mask that will alter his face Nobody knows his real name But now he just uses one he saw on a grave And he pretends he's okay, but you should see, oh Him in bed late at night, he's petrified

a car, a torch, a death / heikinpalo

The air begins to feel a little thin As we're waiting for the morning to begin But for now you told me to hold this jar And when I looked inside I saw it held your heart For me to walk away with

taxi cab / viehe

I wanna fall inside your ghost And fill up every hole inside my mind And I want everyone to know That I am half a soul divided Sometimes we will die and sometimes we will fly away Either way you're by my side until my dying days

before you start your day / kuusela

Nowhere were they holy Open up your eyes and see The clouds above will hold you

isle of flightless birds / heikinpalo

Now is the climax to the story That gives the demons and angels purpose

How frustrating, and so degrading His time, we're wasting

While we repeat the same routine as we will please comfortability And please think about why you can't sleep in the evening And please don't be afraid of what your soul is really thinking

[laurastratfordmedia]

Songs I'm considering making a video for:

Take a Bite - Beabadobee

Sure, it's easy to talk But I take it and eat it with a cherry on top Indulging in situations that are fabricated imaginations Moments that cease to exist Only want to fix it with a kiss on the lips

But I think I might Take a bite

I wanted to see the world in colour Through your eyes and through your mind I think that I like to sit and wonder Through the night, I think I might Wanna do it all over again

It gets harder to breathe But I take it and I want it and I love when it bleeds 'Cause I'm craving expectations That are unattainable temptations I guess I'll just take the hit But what's the point of trying if it turns into this?

'Cause I think I might Take a bite

I wanted to see the world in colour Through your eyes and through your mind I think that I like to sit and wonder Through the night, I think I might Wanna do it all over again

Moving backwards (I wanna do it all over again) Stuck in reverse (I wanna do it all over again) Some things get in the way

I wanted to see the world in colour Through your eyes and through your mind I think that I like to sit and wonder Through the night, I think I might Wanna do it all over again

I am interested in this song because I think the concept of reliving a cycle over and over trying to get a different outcome could make for a unique storyline in a music video.

Obsessed - Olivia Rodrigo

La-da-da-da, da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da La-da-da-da, da-da-da

If I told you how much I think about her You'd think I was in love And if you knew how much I looked at her pictures You would think we're best friends

'Cause I know her star sign, I know her blood type I've seen every movie she's been in and, oh god, she's beautiful And I know you loved her, and I know I'm butthurt But I can't help it, no, I can't help it

I'm so obsessed with your ex (uh-huh) I know she's been asleep on my side of your bed And I can feel it I'm starin' at her like I wanna get hurt And I remember every detail you have ever told me So be careful, baby

I'm so obsessed with your ex (ah) Yeah, I'm so obsessed with your ex (ah) La-da-da-da, da-da-da

She's got those lips, she's got those hips The life of every ****** party She's talented, she's good with kids She even speaks kindly about me, ha-huh

And I know you love me, and I know it's crazy But every time you call my name, I think you mistake me for her You both have moved on, you don't even talk But I can't help it, I got issues, I can't help it, baby

I'm so obsessed with your ex I know she's been asleep on my side in your bed And I can feel it I'm starin' at her like I wanna get hurt And I remember every detail you have ever told me So be careful, baby

I'm so obsessed with your ex (ah) Yeah, I'm so obsessed with your ex (ah)

Is she friends with your friends? Is she good in bed? Do you think about her? No, I'm fine, it doesn't matter, tell me Is she easy-going? Never controlling? Well-traveled? Well-read? Oh god, she makes me so upset

I'm so obsessed with your ex (ah) She's been asleep on my side in your bed (ah, whoa) I'm so obsessed with your ex (god, she makes me so upset, ah) I'm so obsessed with your, with your ex

I think it would be interesting to explore the concept of an obsession because I feel like it could be interpreted in a variety of different ways.

Transparent Soul - Willow

One, two, three, four

I don't ******* know if it's a lie or it's a fact All your little fake friends will sell your secrets for some cash Smile in my face, then put your cig' out on my back If you ever see me, just get to runnin' like The Flash

I knew a boy just like you He's a snake, just like you Such a fake, just like you But I can see the truth

Transparent soul I can see right through, just so you know Transparent soul I can see right through, just so you know

I don't ******* know if it's paradise or it's a trap Yeah, they're treating me like royalty, but is it kissin' ***? No one's brave enough to take the fall right But it's all your fault Why you actin' like it's alright?

I knew a girl just like you She was vain, just like you Such a pain, just like you And everybody knows the truth

Transparent soul I can see right through, just so you know Transparent soul I can see right through, just so you know

It's clear to me now You're scared of me, wow It's clear to me now (transparent soul) It's clear to me now You're scared of me, wow It's clear to me now (transparent soul)

Transparent soul I can see right through, just so you know Transparent soul I can see right through, just so you know

I like the idea of being to see through somebody's lies and revealing their true self.

Step on me – The Cardigans

Oh, I think you're standing on my left foot It's hurting, but that's okay 'Cause I'm in your way You'll break that foot that you're standing on I'll walk with the other one

Do what you want to, do what you want to Be what you want to, be what you want to Go on and step on me

You're free to have everything you can see All that you want from me Free to be all that you want to be Do what you want with me

Oh, I think you're spinning inside my head I think of you all the day 'Cause you're in my way Oh, I think you're holding the heart of mine (my heart is yours) Squeeze it apart, that's fine

Do what you want to, do what you want to Be what you want to, be what you want to Go on and step on me

You're free to have everything you can see All that you want from me

Do what you want to, do what you want to Be what you want to, be what you want to Go on and step on me

You're free to have everything you can see All that you want from me You're free to be all that you want to be Do what you want with me

Go on and step on me Go on and step on me Go on and step on me

I feel like the lyrics of this song could be translated into a interesting visual concept.

[versipellesh]

Tags was not going to do my thoughts justice on this last and final chapter so here's my chunk of thoughts!!

But reality had to hit at some point. He woke not long after you, eyes fluttering open to find you staring at him. He hummed sleepily, hiding his face in the pillow. “You’re starin’.”

“Can’t help it. You’re beautiful when you sleep.”

His face was half concealed by the pillow, leaving one eye exposed. It popped open to look at you. “I ain’t beautiful.”

You beamed at him as you reached out to tuck a curl of hair behind his ear. “Oh, but you are.” Then you leaned down to kiss his cheek. He moved his head at the last second so you’d catch his lips instead. 

This absolutely ate my heart out because it's so desperate Rhett and the way you wrote it got me crying in the club. Like my good it's so sweet and domestic, her a pretty boy and needed to know it. The cheeky little head tilt so he can capture your lips is just 😩,, beautiful cowboy

When he pulled into the carpool line, he threw the truck into park and slid out of his seat, boots scraping against pavement. He reached out and took Amy’s small hand in his, guiding her out of the truck. You watched fondly as the girl wrapped her arms around his middle, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH AMY EATS ME. like had me writhing and foaming at the mouth. Rhett genuinely is such a a good uncle and very would take little Amy under his wing. I'm so sad in the show we don't see it much but God you do him justice. He'd a great uncle and would be a great father too,, man's just great with kids in general and I melt everytime

And then, as if the veil between heaven and earth had been torn asunder, an alarmingly large bolt of lightning struck the earth in the not so distant west pasture. The crash of thunder that followed was so violent it reverberated through the very marrow of your bones. 

This. God this. I'm such an fucking sucker for the way your describe things, especially as a write who primarily works with describing the world around more then dialogue, I lap this up. Like this is so good and man it just hits different, something that gets to the soul. It paints such a vivid picture of the storm in a way that those things hard to describe but you capture it so perfectly!!

“We’re okay, honeybee. We did it. You did it.” He, too, could not hold his tears back. They poured down his face, onto the top of your head, as the two of you stood there, holding one another, weeping openly.

HONEYBEE. HONEYBEE 😩😩. I GOTTA SAY ONE OF MY FAVORITE NICKNAMES TO SEE THROWN AROUND. The genuine joy in this scene and how like finally being able to make those you lost in past proud. It's so moving and like my little heart. There's so much joy and relief there.

With a confident nod, you replied, “As I’ll ever be. Let’s go own the sky, baby!”

FIC TITLE DROP LETS GO! This was genuinely such a good series to read and honestly was the one I stumbled on that brought me to your blog in the first and actually got me introduced to Rhett because I was going through the Tyler Owens phase but God this is so good and I loved it so much. I loved the way it was written, how you can just tell you put all your heart into this. That's what makes it so special and I think as much as it holds a place in your heart it holds one in mine too because it back me back into writing and I got to met you!! You are such a talented writer and I'm so glad to know you! Thank you so much for bringing this story, it was such a good one and I'm so glad I could be a part of its journey.

we own the sky | rhett abbott

part four: running towards a place

read the previous part here

series info: the fourth and final installment of the storm chaser rhett universe. want more? read the synopsis here. listen to the playlist here. see the series masterlist here.

description: in which you begin a new chapter

warnings: 18+ only, mentions of character death, grief, angst with a positive ending, mentions of sex, near-death experiences, blood and injury, inaccurate weather terms, please do not check my science lol, this story requires some suspension of disbelief. i usually try not to say anything about reader's family in fics but i do mention them having an unnamed great-aunt, as it was necessary to the plot

pairing: rhett abbott x f!reader

word count: 8,960

notes: i can't believe we've finally come to the end of this series. when i started it, i didn't know if i would even be able to finish it. i poured everything into this story, and i am so thankful for all the love y'all have shown to it. i cherish every single comment. thank you.

The next morning, you were the first one to wake. Although it was still early, it was late by Rhett’s usual standards. Royal was likely already finishing up the morning chores, and probably irritated that his son hadn’t come out to help. 

But Rhett deserved some extra rest. 

And how beautiful he looked while resting. His lashes fanned beneath his eyes, and his face was so relaxed. He looked so boyish when he slept, as if all the stressors of the world were gone, if only for a moment. 

But reality had to hit at some point. He woke not long after you, eyes fluttering open to find you staring at him. He hummed sleepily, hiding his face in the pillow. “You’re starin’.”

“Can’t help it. You’re beautiful when you sleep.”

His face was half concealed by the pillow, leaving one eye exposed. It popped open to look at you. “I ain’t beautiful.”

You beamed at him as you reached out to tuck a curl of hair behind his ear. “Oh, but you are.” Then you leaned down to kiss his cheek. He moved his head at the last second so you’d catch his lips instead. 

“I don’t even wanna know what time it is. Dad’s probably fit to be tied.”

“So what? You’ve earned the rest,” you told him.

His face scrunched adorably. “Doubt he’d agree with ya.”

Another kiss upon his lips. “Doesn’t matter what he thinks.”

You watched as Rhett stretched, much like a cat after a long nap. A beat passed before he spoke again. “Can’t believe I get to wake up next to ya. Feels like a dream.”

“I promise I’m real. Definitely no dream.”

“Mm.” He reluctantly sat upright, rolling his head from side to side. You watched the way his muscles rippled beneath his skin. “Guess we should go downstairs.”

“Guess so.” 

He looked at you, and his eyes flickered down to your lips. “I’m sorry, but I jus’ can’t stop kissin’ you,” he said as he brought his lips to yours, enacting a third kiss. 

“I don’t mind,” you assured him as you returned the favor, mouth soft against his own. 

For a few moments, you remained like that, kissing languidly. But both of you knew it would lead to something more, and while that sounded rather appealing, it was time to get the day started. There would be plenty of time for more escapades later. 

So you climbed out of bed and hurriedly got ready. When you made your way downstairs, you found Amy at the kitchen table, munching on a bowl of cereal. 

She lit up at the sight of the two of you. “You’re up!” She exclaimed. “Gramma was just about to ask you if you could drive me to school, Uncle Rhett.”

Rhett nodded as he stepped over to the cupboard to retrieve a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. “Sure. Somethin’ wrong?”

“The storm blew the barn door off the hinges and she’s helping Grampa with it.”

He winced slightly, knowing helping with that door was his responsibility, not his mother’s. “Go ‘head and get ready, Ames. I’ll be back in a minute, I’m gon’ go talk to Gramma.”

Quickly, he sauntered across the kitchen and went to shove his feet into his boots. However, as he did so, Cecilia came back into the house. 

“Ma, I’m sorry, I shoulda been the one helpin’ Dad,” he called to her. 

The woman shook her head as she pulled her work gloves off. “Don’t matter. We got it done. ‘sides, I didn’t want to disturb you two. Figured you needed your rest.”

Across the room, you shared a sheepish look with Rhett. Obviously, she would put two and two together when she saw that her son wasn’t asleep on the couch that morning. It was clear that he was in his room, with you. 

“Oh, uh, yeah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck as he ducked his head, slightly embarrassed. You didn’t miss the humorous glint in Cecilia’s eye. “Well, next time, just knock on the door. I’ll hear it.”

“Okay,” she said. “Can ya take Amy to school, by the way? I got a bit behind this mornin’, since the door took longer to fix than I thought it would.”

“Yep, she just mentioned it. We’ll take ‘er,” Rhett agreed. 

We. Those plans included you, apparently. Not that you minded, of course. You were more than happy to tag along. So, with Rhett’s cereal forgotten, the three of you made your way out the door, Amy bounding ahead so that she could climb into the middle of the bench seat between you and Rhett.

“Might as well just grab breakfast at the diner,” he told you as he fell into step beside you. “If ya don’t mind.”

Your face broke into a pleased smile. “I’d like that.”

Off to Amelia Elementary you went, with Amy talking up a storm, far too awake for the early morning hour. You simply listened to her, amused, as she asked Rhett question after question. He answered them all with patience, happy to entertain her curiosity. 

When he pulled into the carpool line, he threw the truck into park and slid out of his seat, boots scraping against pavement. He reached out and took Amy’s small hand in his, guiding her out of the truck. You watched fondly as the girl wrapped her arms around his middle, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

“Have a good day, Ames,” he told her. 

“I will. Bye! Love you!” She waved at you before she scurried off toward the entrance of the school. 

Quickly, Rhett climbed back into his seat and pulled out of the line so as not to hold up traffic. He made the fifteen-minute drive to the diner that was situated in downtown Wabang, and soon, you were both settled into one side of a booth, shoulders touching, cozy against one another. 

You shared a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, with extra whipped cream, and plenty of black coffee for Rhett. It all felt so domestic, and you were filled with contentment. 

As you walked back out to the truck after your intimate little breakfast, Rhett slipped his hand into yours, and you let him, fingers intertwining. He opened the truck door for you, and guided you inside, and you felt like royalty.

“We headin’ to your aunt’s house to finish cleanin’?” He asked, once he’d climbed into his own side of the cab.

You smiled softly and said, “Yes.”

And that was where you remained for the rest of the morning, sorting through things, packing up donation boxes, scrubbing each room down from top to bottom. And much to your amazement, by the time you called it quits for the day, everything was finished, for the most part. All that was left was to tote all the donation boxes to local thrift stores, and the homeless shelters that were in the bigger, surrounding cities. 

The entire reason you had come back to Wabang was now fulfilled.

“I can’t believe it’s done already. Thanks for your help,” you told Rhett, as you sat cross-legged on the porch swing of your aunt’s house, a box of pizza open between you both. It was well past dinner time, and you were ravenously hungry after a day of hard work.

“No trouble ‘t all,” came his response as he tore into the remaining crust of his pizza. 

“Feels so good to have that out of the way.”

“Y’gonna be the one to sell the house?” He asked.

You pinched the bridge of your nose and sighed. “Honestly, I have no idea. I have tons of paperwork to go through, trying to figure everything out. We’ll see what happens.”

“Maybe my mom can help y’out, she’s the one who took care of everythin’ with my great grandma’s house when she died,” came his suggestion.

“Maybe I’ll take her up on that,” you agreed before you downed the rest of your pizza.

You were sitting with your legs over his lap, and once again, you were filled with that comforting sense of contentment. It felt so right, being with him. There was no doubt in your mind that this was the way it was meant to be. 

For just a little while, you were able to gradually dip your toes into the waters of your new relationship, and get to know each other all over again. With the rest of the storm chasing team busy figuring things out, subsequently putting any future chases on hold, it gave you ample time to spend with each other. 

You were grateful for the brief, intimate moments you were able to share with Rhett. Moments spent getting to know him all over again. You allowed yourself to be soothed by the lull in time. A few days where you could simply just be. 

But that was just the calm before the storm. Little did you know what was coming your way in the not so distant future. 

A week had passed since the last chase you’d gone on. A few storms had passed through during that time, but any twisters produced were far away, and weak at best. 

During that slow storm period, you busied yourself with dropping off donations from your aunt’s house to thrift stores and shelters, as well as enjoying time with Rhett’s family. You’d missed them more than you realized after all these years. It was clear that his parents were thrilled that you were back in their son’s life. It made your heart sing. 

You’d called into work to take the rest of your vacation time. You wouldn’t have any left for the rest of the year, but you’d cross that bridge when you came to it. You weren’t quite ready to leave Rhett and face reality yet. And, besides, you’d begun questioning if you even wanted to return. 

Could you really move back to Wabang? A few weeks ago, you would have said no. But now, you were conflicted. Your life was in Maryland, but your heart was with Rhett. 

Soon, you would make your choice. 

Just when you thought the team had forgotten about you and Rhett, he received a call from Zara one Friday morning. She explained that the combined CO₂ and nitrogen tests had brought promising results, and that they were ready to take the experiment out on a chase to see how it fared. 

The team had been monitoring a potential storm that was building not far from Wabang. It looked promising, and they wanted you and Rhett to tag along. So that was how you found yourself preparing for yet another storm, anxiety roiling in your belly as you stood in the front yard of the Abbott property, watching everyone pull into the driveway. 

You closed your eyes and breathed in deep, the scent of rain blowing in with the wind, and you were transported back to the last time you ever got to go chasing with Perry, Rebecca, and Lydia. 

Oh, how far you’d come since then. If you focused hard enough, you could almost hear Lydia’s musical voice as she told you how proud she was of you for conquering your fear. 

“Y’alright?” Rhett asked as he sauntered up to stand beside you. His hand rested upon the small of your back, and immediately, your body relaxed. 

“I’m fine. Just thinking about…” You trailed off, suddenly overcome with emotion. 

He already knew who you were talking about. “Yeah, me too,” he replied. 

You looked at him, watching as his eyes glimmered with melancholy. “They’d be proud of us,” you said. 

“I know it.” His lips brushed against your temple and you leaned into him, allowing him to hold you. A moment of peace before you set off right toward the face of danger. 

“We’re gonna be okay,” you whispered. 

He nuzzled his nose against yours. “Yeah, honeybee. We are.”

Thunder rumbled overhead, and you looked to the heavens, eyeing the sky. Something shifted within you. A strange pull in your gut, as if an invisible force was tugging at you. The air felt different. Thick, as if the walls of nature were closing in around you. 

The hair at the back of your neck stood on end. The storm was much closer than you realized. 

The sound of Zara’s truck pulling in stole your attention away from the sky, but you were met with a wave of dread when she climbed out of the vehicle. Her face was bleak. So was Jeslyn’s. Something was wrong. 

Danny pulled the RV to a stop directly behind the truck, and as he and Finn climbed out, they were as eager as ever, clearly unaware of whatever had happened with Zara. But their jovial attitude soon quieted when they saw the grim expression on their friend’s face.

“What’s wrong?” You were the one to ask the question, stepping forward, uncertain.

Zara sighed softly, dark lashes fluttering. She looked to be on the verge of tears. “On the way here, I got a call that my mom’s in the hospital. I don’t know all the details but, uh, my dad wants me and Jes to go see her, so it’s gotta be serious.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, thick with emotion.

“I’m so sorry,” you told her, instinctively reaching out to hug her. As soon as your arms wrapped around her, a soft sob escaped her throat, and she hugged you back tightly. 

“Thank you,” she whispered after a moment, pulling away to wipe her tears away with the back of her hand. The rest of the group rallied around her, with all three boys stepping in to give her hugs. She leaned back against Jeslyn, who then wrapped her arm around her wife’s shoulders.

“What d’ya need us to do? We’ll take care of everythin’. You’d better get on the road quick so you don’t caught in the storm,” Rhett piped up, ready to help with whatever the two women needed.

Zara was too overcome with emotion to speak, so Jeslyn spoke for her. “Somebody’s gonna need to man the remote for opening the tanks, since Danny and Finn are gonna be busy with the radar.”

You stood there for a moment, realization washing over you. With Rhett busy driving, and Danny and Finn running the radar, the responsibility to open the tanks fell on you. A shock of anxiety ran through your chest. Did you have the courage to do this? You’d already guided Rhett on where to drop the tanks, but now, you would also be responsible for opening the tanks at the exact second. No sooner, no later. 

Suddenly, it felt so overwhelming. If you estimated right, you could potentially be the first person in history to stop a tornado. If you didn’t, everything Zara and the guys had worked so hard for could all be for naught. 

But you could feel everyone’s eyes on you, awaiting your answer with bated breath. Lightning cracked across the distant sky. Thunder rolled.

“I’ll do it,” you said.

“Thank you so much,” Jeslyn breathed, already turning to open the passenger side door of her truck. She rifled inside for a moment before she turned toward you again, thrusting the remote into your hand. “I know you won’t let us down.”

The pressure was on.

“Alright then, you two go on to the hospital, be with your mom. We can handle everything else,” Finn said, shooting a reassuring smile at the girls. 

“Thanks, guys,” Zara finally managed to say, deep brown eyes still swimming with tears. “Really.”

“We got you,” Danny said as he pulled her in for another hug. The rest of you followed suit. 

As she guided Zara into the truck, Jeslyn spoke over her shoulder, “Be safe, guys. Let us know how it goes.”

“We will. Drive careful, alright?” Rhett was the one to answer her. 

The four of you watched for a moment as the girls drove down the driveway, but you couldn’t afford to remain there for long. The clock was ticking, and it was time to spring into action. With hearts heavy for the sudden grief Zara and Jeslyn were dealing with, all of you set to work preparing for the chase.

The wind picked up as you headed to the barn, where Rhett’s truck was parked, to load all the cans onto the trailer. Danny pulled the RV up and Finn proceeded to open the storage hatch, revealing the cans of CO₂ and nitrogen.

As you scrambled like a bunch of worker ants, the atmosphere grew even darker around you. Eerily so, as if God Himself had turned off the sun. While the guys strapped the tanks down, you paused, stepping out into the open to look at the sky once again.

Goosebumps creeped along your arms, and a pit of dread formed in your belly, heavy like a rock. You took a few steadying breaths. The clouds looked angry. Black and foreboding, churning with unkempt energy. 

And then, as if the veil between heaven and earth had been torn asunder, an alarmingly large bolt of lightning struck the earth in the not so distant west pasture. The crash of thunder that followed was so violent it reverberated through the very marrow of your bones. 

You jumped back in fright, eyes wide as saucers. “Oh my god.”

“Damn, that was close,” Rhett called out, voice trembling slightly. 

You turned to him, and when he saw the look on your face, his brow furrowed in concern. You were speaking before you even realized you’d formed a thought. “It’s…it’s going to hit the farm. The twister, it’s–it’s gonna touch down here.”

The three men stared at you.

“How do you know that? Storm hasn’t even started yet,” Danny interjected, running a hand through his windswept salt and pepper hair. 

“I-I don’t…” You trailed off, your heart leaping in your throat as your phone began to vibrate wildly in your pocket. You slipped it from the confines of your jeans and stared at the screen. Tornado Warning. Seek Shelter Immediately.

There was no way of being absolutely certain that the twister would touch down on this exact property, but something in your gut was screaming at you. Danger, danger, danger. After what you had lost six years ago, you weren’t going to take any chances by dismissing the warning you’d just received. 

You locked eyes with Rhett. 

“Alright boys, let’s get movin’!” He shouted at Danny and Finn. 

Finn nodded. “Okay! We’ll fire up the radar and get out a little further from you guys so we can monitor it. We’ll be on the walkies with ya the whole time!”

The two were already scrambling to climb into the RV. As they sped off, you joined Rhett at the front of the Sierra. “‘Fore we go, I’m gon’ check on Mom and Dad, make sure they know to get in the shelter.” They were likely already aware, but Rhett wanted to make doubly sure they were okay.

It was late afternoon, and chores were mostly done for the day. Cecilia was likely starting on dinner preparations, while Amy did her homework at the kitchen table. A scene you had witnessed many times. 

But when Rhett came to a screeching halt just outside the house, his parents were already making their way outside, Cecilia clutching a bag of emergency supplies. Her face was full of fear, and your heart leapt in your chest, because somehow, you knew her fear wasn’t because of the approaching storm. 

“Oh, thank god!” The woman called out, rushing down the porch steps, her husband hot on her heels. “I thought you’d left already!”

“Wanted to make sure y’ got to the shelter safely!” Rhett responded over the rumble of the engine and the rush of the wind.

But his mother shook her head. “Amy went out for a walk an hour ago and she hasn’t made it back!” The terror in her voice sent a chill down your spine.

Rhett tensed beside you, but remained calm. “We’ll look for ‘er.”

“You be careful, y’hear?” Royal spoke up, “and you find our girl.”

“Please,” Cecilia echoed, reaching out to touch her son’s arm. She couldn’t utter another word, for her trepidation had rendered her speechless. 

“We’ll bring her home, Momma.” No more loss would be suffered in this family. Rhett would make sure of it. 

As his parents quickly made their way to the storm shelter, Rhett stepped on the accelerator, turning the wheel sharply. Your heart leapt into your throat, and you reached up, grasping the ceiling handle to hold yourself steady. 

“Where would she have gone?” You asked, shivering from the fright and mounting adrenaline you felt. Your chest went tight. 

“She usually takes the trail behind th’ house. She knows not to stay out there alone when it’s stormin’. She might’ve just gotten spooked and found a hiding spot. She’s smart, she knows to hunker down during a twister.” But it sounded as if Rhett was trying to convince himself. Truthfully, he was terrified, praying silently that Amy was okay.

As he sped toward the property at the back of the house, he said, “Get on the walkie and let the guys know what’s goin’ on.”

With trembling hands, you grasped the handheld device and quickly spoke into it, explaining the situation. 

“We’ll be in our place. If you can’t get in position soon enough, just let us know and we’ll scrap the chase altogether. Over.”

“Okay! Over and out!” You replied, tossing the walkie down onto the truck seat, swallowing down the bitter taste of dread that had risen in your throat as you settled back against your seat.

Obviously, finding Amy took precedence over trying to catch a twister. Nothing else mattered in the moment. Your mind was clouded with urgency and desperation. Both of you were quite literally stricken, unable to form words as Rhett frantically drove, his eyes searching, his mouth moving silently around the syllables of his niece’s name. 

For a terrifying second, he was transported back to that terrible, awful day six years ago. It was an image that was branded into the folds of his brain forever, like the Abbott brand that his father imprinted onto all their cattle. 

If he happened upon the very same scene with his niece, it would break him irreparably. 

But he wouldn’t let his mind go there. Not now. Not when she needed him to find her, to save her, to protect her. “You see anythin’?!” He called to you, knuckles white around the steering wheel, shoulders pulled toward his ears. 

“No!” You exclaimed, not daring to take your eyes off of the surrounding plains, looking for a flash of golden hair, or the bright purple shirt you’d seen the girl wearing earlier. C’mon, baby girl. Give us a sign that you’re out there.

Rain had begun to pelt against the windshield of the truck. Around you, the wind picked up. Trees swayed in a haunting fashion, their leaves shivering, undersides turned toward the sky. A warning. Danger is coming.

“Goddammit, where is she?!” Rhett growled, slamming his palm against the dash in frustration. 

Nausea roiled in your gut. Your extremities felt numb, your body vibrating with unease. When had it gotten so hard to breathe? It felt as if someone was squeezing your lungs, inhibiting you from taking in oxygen. You were suffocating. Choking. Strangled by your anxiety. 

And then you saw it. Just over the ridge, where the earth dipped into a valley. Purple.

“There!” You cried, jamming your finger against the window, pointing into the distance. 

“What?!” Rhett couldn’t see anything. Whatever it was, was now hidden from view. But you knew you’d seen it. 

“Just turn right! Head for the valley! I swear I saw her!”

He yanked the wheel to the right, and the truck veered sideways, jostling you both. His foot was heavy on the accelerator, picking up speed, the uneven earth sending your heart straight down to your stomach.

Your gaze was locked straight ahead, afraid that if you looked away, you would miss it. Miss her. 

Closer, closer, closer to the valley you got. Just up ahead, you could see that the earth gave way, sloping down into a dropoff. “Stop!”

Rhett slammed on the brakes, and the very second he threw the truck into park, you were leaping out, feet landing against grassy earth before you sprinted forward. He followed suit, running alongside you toward the drop.

Just as you came down into the edge of the valley, you saw her. Huddled down against the cleft of earth, arms over her head, frightened and alone. Rhett dashed ahead of you, calling out the girl’s name, dropping to his knees beside her.

She lifted her head, large eyes growing wider still. “Uncle Rhett!” She wept, instantly surging forward to throw her arms around his neck. 

“I’ve got ya, honey! Let’s get y’outta here!” He scooped her up with ease, cradling her close as he stood to his feet. He nodded toward you, and you both ran back up to the truck. 

You threw yourself into the passenger seat and turned, allowing him to guide Amy up into your lap. You hooked your arm around her waist and pulled her toward you so he could slam the door shut. 

“Are you okay?!” You asked her, searching her over for any injuries. 

“I am!” She answered, bottom lip quivering, eyes filled with tears. 

“You scared us so bad, darlin’!” Rhett exclaimed as he hurriedly climbed into his own seat, slamming the door shut. 

“I’m sorry!” She cried. “I was trying to get back but got really scared that I wouldn’t make it to the shelter in time, so I got into that ditch!”

“You did the right thing,” you assured her, tucking her windswept hair behind her ear. She nodded, throwing herself forward, face buried against your neck as she cried. 

But the moment of relief was soon stolen from you as the sound of hail began to strike the roof of the Sierra. Rhett grabbed the walkie-talkie and called into it, “We found ‘er! We’re on the move again, y’got a read on what we’re dealin’ with?! Over!”

There was no time to waste. Either you got moving, or you were sitting ducks. 

But Finn’s reply came through the receiver as an unintelligible, garbled mess. Rhett tried to raise him again, but once again, all he was met with was static. “Shit,” he cursed, tossing the walkie down onto the seat. He turned to you, and his eyes were alight with worry. “We’re goin’ in blind.” 

At that very moment, the hail stopped. With a trembling hand, you opened the window, holding your arm outside. The air felt thick and humid, but an odd sort of coolness came along the edge of the wind. 

And then you looked up. 

“Oh my god.”

There it was. Enormous and foreboding, a wicked twister breaking forth from the sky, touching down in the pasture adjacent to you.

“It’s going toward the house!” Came your despaired shout. 

Eyes wide, Rhett sprung into action, slamming the gearshift into drive and wedging his boot against the gas pedal. “Jesus!” He shouted. “Hold on, y’hear?!” The truck lurched forward, gradually picking up speed, faster and faster, staying parallel to the quickly developing tornado. 

You couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak. With Amy huddled against you, you blindly reached out, grabbing for the remote to open the tanks, knowing you needed to be ready, lest you miss your opportunity. 

It was close. Too close. Gaining traction by the minute, swallowing up the surrounding earth, kicking up debris along with it. If you didn’t get out of its path, you knew that the three of you likely would not survive. 

Rhett brought the truck to the highest possible speed, fighting to keep control, body rigid against the seat. “Tell me when to drop the tanks!” Came his desperate plea. 

But your voice wouldn’t come. Your throat felt as if it had closed up, forcing you to remain silent. It wasn’t time, not yet. You were too close. If he slowed down, it would steal precious time. Time that you didn’t have. 

You found yourself in a precarious position, trying to comfort the scared girl beside you, while also counting down the seconds in your head, hoping Rhett would find a safe distance. Part of you wondered if this was it, if you’d end up like your three friends once had.

Somehow, your voice returned, and you yelled, “Take a left!” 

He did, veering in the direction you told him to. Amy shrieked in fear as the truck shook violently. You tugged her closer, bringing her head to your chest, free hand covering her ear to muffle the sounds happening around her. 

Your eyes, wild and alert, stayed glued to the churning column of air, now behind you. The size of it made your blood run cold. Could you really stop one this big? Was this even possible? Were you simply speed-running your own demise? 

“Talk to me!” Came Rhett’s voice in your ears. 

“Not yet!”

He kept his speed, pushing the old Sierra as fast as it would go, faster than he’d ever driven in his life. His ears were ringing. His breathing was ragged. Everything in his body told him that he needed to get you and Amy out of this situation. 

But he pressed on, waiting for the exact moment you told him to drop the trailer.

And then, “Now!”

He brought the truck to a screeching halt, arm darting out to keep you and Amy from flying forward. As soon as he knew he was in position, he jammed his fingers into the button in the center console, securing the trailer into the ground.

Then, he flipped the switch to release the hitch. 

But nothing happened. 

“What the hell?” He flipped it again, but it simply wouldn’t work. 

“Rhett, what–” 

He was already unbuckling his belt. “Stay put! I’ve gotta unhitch it!”

He wrenched his door open and jumped out of the truck, to your utter horror. Amy sat up, frantically calling his name, fearful of her uncle’s fate. You watched him like a hawk, breath bated, hackles raised. 

And then, all at once, a large piece of flying debris sailed through the air, and before he could react, it clipped him right in the head, and he went down.

Your world tilted on its axis.

“No!” You shrieked. You threw your door open and told Amy to stay in the truck as you hurdled yourself into the storm, wind pulling at your clothes, a powerful, uncontrollable force that could very well rip you right out of existence if it chose to do so.

“Rhett!” His name came out as a broken wail. Your mind only allowed you to think one thing: oh my god, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead.

But then, hope.

“Here!” He was scrambling to his feet, knees almost buckling under his weight as he fought to pull himself uptight along the side of the truck. His head was bleeding, crimson flowing down the side of his face. But he was alive. 

“Baby!” You threw yourself at him, grasping his face, searching his eyes. “I thought–”

“I know! I’m fine! Get back in the truck!”

But you weren’t leaving him out here. You shook your head in refusal and, instead, aided him in unhitching the trailer from the truck. It took both of you giving it your full strength before it finally gave way.

Hair flying every which way, face bloodied, he locked eyes with you and said, “We got it! Let’s go!”

Fighting against the roaring, screaming, howling tempest, you ran like hell to the passenger side, hoisting yourself into the Sierra. Rhett made it into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut before he frantically threw the gear in drive and peeled off, leaving the trailer behind. 

With one hand holding Amy’s, and the other clutching the remote, you turned in your seat, waiting for the exact moment to press the release button. Closer and closer, the twister raged on, devouring space and time, threatening to consume Rhett’s childhood home. 

You’re not taking anything or anyone else away from me.

You jammed your thumb into the button as hard as you could, praying silently that the tanks would open without issue. Five, four, three, two, one…

The twister concealed the tanks, inhibiting your view. You had no idea if what you’d just done was even working. Even so, you called out, “I opened the tanks!”

Rhett’s knuckles were white as snow as he clutched the steering wheel, and in a split second decision, probably the most foolish one he’d ever made, he turned at the last possible moment, swinging the truck so that it was parallel to the twister. And then, he thrust his foot onto the brake pedal, and the vehicle came to a shuddering halt.

Both of you turned, eyes on the tornado. You reached out, grabbing for Rhett’s hand, fingers intertwining, holding on for dear life. He moved quickly, his body shielding yours and Amy’s. If things went south, he could not protect you, not from this, but he’d be damned if he didn’t try.

Together, you watched, not daring to breathe, move, or speak. 

Seconds passed, but they might as well have been hours. Then, all at once, the sky swallowed the twister whole, pulling it right back from whence it came, and the earth was silent.

You let out the breath you’d been holding. So did Rhett. Amy tentatively lifted her head from where it had been hidden against your chest. You turned your head, face full of disbelief, meeting Rhett’s gaze.

You saw that, right?

“Did we just…”

His mouth broke into a grin, though his lips were stained red from the blood that had been running down the side of his face. “Yeah, we fuckin’ did!”

You slapped your hand over your mouth, unable to hold in the laugh of utter disbelief that tore from your throat. Amy asked a question, but you barely heard her, for you were too overwhelmed. Once again, you opened the truck door, sliding from the seat, feet on stable ground.

You walked past the truck. Into the field. Toward the trailer that still remained in the place you had dropped it. And there were the tanks of CO₂ and nitrogen, valves open. It had really worked, hadn’t it?

You felt like a firework exploding in the sky, so full of color and light. Tears welled in your eyes, and you found yourself turning around, searching for Rhett. He was there, just like he always was, watching you in awe, his gaze as warm as the sun.

“We did it,” you whispered, legs already moving, body drawn to him by an invisible force, unable to be apart from him for a second longer. You were free-falling, trusting him to catch you. And he did, arms pulling you into him, holding you close, hand cradling the back of your head.  

It all came pouring out of you then. The elation at what you’d just accomplished. The realization that your fear had been well and truly conquered. The thought of just how proud Perry, Rebecca, and Lydia would be. If it was possible to feel joy, disbelief, and sorrow all at once, you felt every bit of it. 

It was raw and painful and beautiful. 

You sobbed into Rhett’s chest, body trembling, knees almost buckling. He gently rocked you back and forth, arms secured tightly around you, holding you as if you were the most precious thing in the entire world. 

“We’re okay, honeybee. We did it. You did it.” He, too, could not hold his tears back. They poured down his face, onto the top of your head, as the two of you stood there, holding one another, weeping openly.

Moments later, Amy’s voice could be heard, calling out to you. You parted from Rhett, turning to see the girl approaching, holding the walkie-talkie in her hand. “This keeps going off!” She exclaimed, waving the device around.

Rhett stepped forward, reaching for the walkie. As he tried to raise Danny and Finn on the channel, you opened your arms, and Amy surged forward into your embrace. 

“You okay, sweetheart?” You asked her.

“Y-yeah,” she said with a nod. “That was so scary! But you stopped it, didn’t you? It worked?”

You managed a smile, despite your tear-dampened cheeks. “Yes. It worked!”

She grinned widely, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, that’s so cool! You stopped a tornado! I bet you’re the first person in the world to do it!”

Though, you couldn’t entirely take credit for it. After all, you’d only pressed the button. It was Zara’s brainchild. However, you were elated that you had been given the opportunity to put it into action, and see the results up close and personal. 

“We did it, boys!” Rhett shouted into the walkie, his voice drawing your attention back to him. “We stopped our first twister!��

The sound of hooping and hollering could be heard on the other end, and you found yourself beaming, a sense of all-consuming joy washing over you. The look of pure, unadulterated glee on Rhett’s face made your heart sing, threatening to soar right out of your chest and into the clouds above.

“We’re comin’ to you, so stay put!” Finn shouted over the receiver.

“Over and out!” Rhett responded. Carelessly, he tossed the walkie-talkie aside, letting it thud against the soft earth. Then he was running at Amy, lifting her into his arms and spinning her around as she squealed with delight. “We did it, honey!”

“Yeah!” She laughed musically, throwing her head back, hair flying behind her. 

As he slowed to a stop, he gently put her down, but he swayed a little, unsteady on his feet. Instinctively, you reached out to steady him.

“Whoa there, cowboy.” You tilted his chin up, inspecting the gash on his head. It was right above his temple, and it looked rather deep. “You need stitches.”

“Naw, I’ll be fine,” he protested with the wave of his hand. 

“You’re bleeding from a gash in your head. You’re getting stitches.” Your tone left no room for discussion. 

Rhett simply shut his mouth and nodded. In the moment, hopped up on adrenaline, he couldn’t feel it. But now, it was beginning to throb, and he felt a little woozy on his feet. Even so, he simply couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

It felt as if he was living in a dream. He was afraid to pinch himself, for fear that he would actually wake up. However, the warmth of your body against his as you wrapped your arm around his waist was real. Your sweet voice, full of concern as you fussed over his bloodied face, was real. You were real. 

“Here they come!” Amy called out, motioning to the approaching RV. Danny was driving at full speed, clearly eager to reach the two of you. 

Still pressed against Rhett’s side, you turned your head, raising a hand in greeting. As soon as the vehicle came to a halt, both men jumped out, hooping and hollering. 

“We thought for sure you guys were goners!” Finn exclaimed as the two jogged toward you. “We lost your signal and couldn’t see you anywhere!”

“Honestly, we thought we were goners, too,” Rhett replied with honesty as he exchanged a knowing look with you. You placed your hand over his heart. You were both here. Alive and safe. The Fates had smiled down on you today.

“Damn, look at your head,” Danny spoke up, eyeing the wound. “Y’alright, man?”

“Yeah. The trailer jammed and I had to jump out and get it unhooked. Got clipped in the head while I was doin’ it.”

“Hey, what matters is you survived. And you stopped a fuckin’ twister, baby!” Finn shouted. Then, upon noticing Amy’s presence, he winced. “Whoops, sorry kiddo. Guess I should watch my potty mouth.”

Amy grinned as she came up beside you, lovingly taking hold of your arm. “It’s okay, just don’t let Gramma hear you talk that way,” she said with a giggle.

You smiled down at her, but very quickly sobered up when you thought of her grandparents. “We’d better go check on your parents,” you told Rhett. However, just as you spoked, the sound of an approaching truck grabbed your attention. 

All of you looked across the pasture to see Royal’s old truck approaching. As soon as he came to a stop, Cecilia was all but leaping out of the cab, Amy’s name on her lips as she rushed toward the group.

“Gramma! I’m okay!” Amy called out, rushing to her grandmother. 

You watched, verklempt, as the woman dropped to her knees in front of her granddaughter. Her entire world. “Oh! You had us scared half to death, you hear me?! Don’t you ever do that again!” She scolded, though there was no malice in her tone. She pulled the child to her bosom and hugged her tightly. Amy hugged her right back.

Moments later, Royal joined his wife, and Amy pulled away to hug her grandfather, arms wrapping around his middle. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, never one for dramatic shows of emotion. 

Cecilia rose to her feet again, and finally took in the sight of the four of you. Her eyes fell upon her son, and she stepped forward, concern clouding her face. “Goodness, Rhett. Your head!” She approached, gripping his chin and turning his face so she could get a closer look. “You need stitches!”

His mouth curved into a soft smile, though his eyes shone with tears. “I’ll get ‘em, Mom. Don’t worry ‘bout me.”

She patted his cheek, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m your mother. I’ll always worry about you.” Without a word, Rhett broke away from you so that he could embrace her, strong arms wrapping around the woman who had given him life.

He thought of all she’d lost. She had endured the worst loss that anyone could suffer, and yet, she was the picture of strength and grace. He was so grateful for the mother he had. He knew that he put her through a lot by choosing to chase, after that very same thing had been what took her oldest son from her. And yet, she never once told Rhett to give up what he loved, even if it scared her to no end. 

“I love you,” he heard himself whisper. 

As she pulled away, she patted his chest and nodded, unable to voice her reply. But he already knew what she’d say. I love you too. 

And then he lifted his head to see his father approaching. Royal eyed the gash on his son’s head, and proceeded to clasp his shoulder. “You did it, boy. You fin’lly did it.”

Rhett grinned. “Nah. She did it.” He pointed to you, pride evident on his face. 

You came up beside him, and he tucked you against his side once again. “We did it,” you corrected. There was no you without him.

“Well, because of you, the farm’s safe, and so’s Amy. And I just know that Perry and the girls would be so proud of what you two did today,” Cecilia spoke out, smiling tearfully. She pulled you in for a hug, which you gratefully accepted. 

You cherished the significance of the moment, body warm with pride and disbelief at the accomplishment you had just witnessed. 

“Can we get ice cream to celebrate?” Amy’s voice suddenly rang out over the low chatter of the group. Her eagerness pulled an amused laugh out of everyone.

“First, Uncle Rhett needs to get his head sewn shut. But yes, we can get ice cream,” Cecilia promised. The girl excitedly pumped her fist in satisfaction.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” you told Rhett, slipping out from beneath his arm.

“So that means I ain’t drivin’?” He asked.

“Are you kidding me? Absolutely not.” Then you turned to Danny and Finn. “You two want to get ice cream with us after I get this guy put back together again?”

“Yeah, sure,” Danny said, nodding his head. “First we’re gonna check on the tanks and see if Zara’s up for a talk so we can let her know what happened.”

“Just give us a call once you head to the ice cream place and we’ll meet you there,” Finn echoed. “We’ve got so much to do. We…we really stopped a twister. We’ve got phone calls to make. We need to get a grant from OU. We need to see if we can start testing this out on a wider scale. I mean, holy shit, this is, like, history making stuff here!”

Danny clapped him on the back. “Hey now, don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ll figure all that out.” He looked at you and Rhett and smiled. “You focus on gettin’ our cowboy stitched up. We’ll talk everything else over later.”

You hummed, shooting him a smile. “Sure thing. See you guys in a bit.”

As the two men ambled off toward the trailer to inspect the tanks, you turned to guide Rhett to the truck. Cecilia and Royal were already guiding Amy into their own vehicle to depart, which left the two of you alone.

“C’mon now, let’s get you fixed up.”

Rhett smiled as you led him toward the passenger side, and as you opened the door, he leaned toward you. “Can you believe it?” He asked. 

It was your turn to smile, and you shook your head. “No. I really can’t.” It was truly unfathomable, the thing that you had done that day. Stopping a weather phenomenon in its tracks. It was impossible. Improbable. And yet, with Zara’s genius invention, and the rest of the team’s help, you’d made it happen. 

“You’re fuckin’ amazing, you know that?”

You rolled your eyes as you nudged him to climb into the truck. “Far from it. I just pressed a button.”

Once the door was shut, he leaned out the open window, arms resting atop the door. “No. You did so much more than that. You go from bein’ fuckin’ terrified of twisters, to conquering one of ‘em. Pretty amazing if y’ask me.”

Ducking your head shyly, your lashes fluttered before you looked up at him again. When he lowered down to kiss you, you let him. “I’m proud of you, girl.”

His praise was all you needed to hear.

With a soft sigh, you rounded the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. You started the engine and then moved to buckle your seatbelt, making sure Rhett’s was also buckled, before you set off across the property, toward the main road.

For the entire ride to the hospital, his hand rested comfortingly upon your thigh. You let it stay there.

Once you arrived at the emergency room, it did not take long at all for them to call him back, his head wound making him a priority. Around you, people chatted about the storm, and how they’d seen a twister touch down nearby. Little did they know that the reason it stopped was because of what you had done. 

Rhett was given a total of four stitches in his head. Though he was entirely fine with needles, you still held his hand during the procedure. He didn’t push you away. In fact, he was grateful for your presence. It made him feel at ease. 

Afterward, once he was all stitched up and ready to go, you walked out of the hospital, with his arm around your shoulder, and yours around his waist. “Let’s get you some ice cream, cowboy,” you said.

“I like the sound of that.” He replied.

If only for a short time, you let go of everything. The stress and the fright that you had endured that day. The worry, the uncertainty, and everything else. You let yourselves celebrate an astonishing victory with the people you loved, enjoying ice cream cones, reliving happy memories, and telling stories of storm chases gone by.

And you realized, as you sat around the table at the very same ice cream parlor you had gone to after Rhett’s extraordinary ride at the rodeo, that you were entering into a brand-new chapter. Everything was going to change after this, and you welcomed that change with open arms.

It was time to start living your life.

Epilogue

One Year Later

“S’that the last box, honeybee?” Rhett’s voice rang out through the house, reaching your ears from where you stood in the hallway.

“Yeah, that’s everything!” You called back.

His footsteps were heavy on the rickety old staircase, taking the steps two at a time. He found you standing in the doorway of what was now your shared bedroom. He couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at his mouth at the sight of you, so effortlessly beautiful, and all his.

“Hey there,” he murmured, hooking an arm around your waist and pulling you close. You melted into him, body warm and familiar. 

“You’re sweaty,” you stated, and he hummed in amusement. 

“Yeah, well, draggin’ eight hundred boxes into the house will do that to a body,” he replied.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Me? Exaggerate? Never,” came his faux shocked reply.

You turned in his arms then, placing your hands against his solid chest. Sweat glimmered on his brow, which you reached up to wipe away, letting your fingers wander to the faint scar just above his temple. A reminder of the day you had made history. “Can you believe we’re finally here?”

He shook his head, ducking his head to kiss your nose. “Been waitin’ for this moment for so long. A place t’ call our own.”

What a journey it had been. After the success of stopping the twister the year prior, you had made the decision to leave your job in Silver Spring and move back to Wabang. You didn’t want to endure a long distance relationship with Rhett. If you were going to invite him back into your life, there would be no miles between you ever again.

You decided to buy your great-aunt’s house after you’d cleaned it out. But the place had been in need of many repairs. After many months of hard work, the house was finally ready for you to move in. And what a joyous occasion it was. You were filled with hope, and excitement for the future.

Things were looking very promising for you both. Your background in weather analyzation had landed you a job at the University of Oklahoma, overseeing the field-testing of various weather related devices. The university had bestowed a grant to Zara’s team, funding any further research into the use of CO₂ and nitrogen used to slow and stop tornadoes. 

Unfortunately, Zara had been unable to be as involved as she wanted to be with the project. After the initial health scare that had taken her and Jeslyn away from the chase you’d gone on a year ago, Zara’s mother had been diagnosed with cancer, leaving Zara and Jeslyn to move into her parents home to help her father care for the woman. 

In her absence, she asked you to supervise any and all chases involving her method of tornado taming, and you gladly accepted the responsibility, willing to help her in any way possible as she endured this difficult time.

As for Rhett, he was recruited by the university to test storm chasing vehicles that might be used in future weather projects. He was able to take each of them into the field to see how they performed under acute weather conditions. No vehicle passed inspection without his stamp of approval. 

Both of you had been through so much. Loss, grief, fear and uncertainty. There would always be a void in your hearts, a permanent ache whenever you remembered the three people that had been ripped from your lives so many years ago. You would never forget them, and you would honor the memory of Perry, Rebecca, and Lydia in everything you did. 

But now, it seemed that there was a light shining at the end of the long, dark tunnel. You were moving into your very first home together. You were truly, deeply content, and you were able to do what you loved, side by side. 

What more could you have ever asked for?

The vibration of Rhett’s phone in the pocket of his jeans cut through the air at that very moment, interrupting your peaceful exchange. Quickly, he slipped the phone out of his pocket, glancing at the screen.

As if on cue, thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Let me guess, it’s Danny,” you said.

Rhett grinned, turning the screen so you could read the text. Storm’s moving in! Y’all ready to wrangle some twisters?

“Well then, I guess we should get a move on, huh cowboy?”

He stole another kiss from your lips before he grasped your hand. “Guess so, cowgirl.” Then you were off, hand in hand, rushing down the steps. 

As you scrambled out the door, the feeling of heavy, humid air immediately engulfed you, and you breathed in deeply, relishing in the scent. A storm’s a brewin’.

But you weren’t afraid. Far from it. You were eager, heart pounding against your rib cage in anticipation. Oh, how far you’d come. What had once terrified you now exhilarated you. 

“Ready, honeybee?” Rhett asked you as you climbed into the truck. 

With a confident nod, you replied, “As I’ll ever be. Let’s go own the sky, baby!”

Fin.

[embodies]

URL  SONG  CHALLENGE .

make a playlist using the letters of your url ! 

E .    EARWORM     —    cottontail. a study of : elizabeth march.

look under the bed / it's all in your head / do not fear the dead / i'm inside your head (x5) / and you're never gonna get me out / get me out / get me out / keep thinking of me / keep licking your mouth / don't bother / 'cause you're never gonna get it / yea you're never gonna get it / baby enjoy the ride / up first is your brain / time for you to go insane / it's time for you to shut your mouth / unless you're gonna kiss me now / now / i'm gonna eat your heart

M .    MAD WORLD     —    tears for fears. a study of : jesse pinkman.

all around me are familiar faces / worn out places, worn out faces / bright and early for their daily races / going nowhere, going nowhere / their tears are filling up their glasses / no expression, no expression / hide my head I want to drown my sorrow / no tomorrow, no tomorrow / and i find it kind of funny / i find it kind of sad / the dreams in which i'm dying are the best I've ever had / i find it hard to tell you 'cause i find it hard to take / when people run in circles it's a very, very / mad world

B .    BEYOND THE STARS     —    evans blue. a study of : bellamy blake.

help me surrender my control / searching for the death of my own soul / i bleed from far beneath / my cover keeps, the rest from leaking / i'm bleeding on the inside / fear before the fall / six feet above the next time / i lose it all / keep your silence or reach for life beyond the stars / save your mercy, for someone who needs it more / i'm the guilty, all the feelings come crashing down on me / i'm taking you with me! / help me, i'm losing on my own / locked up in a cage and not alone / show me a way to keep / the hate from taking control of breaking

O .    ODE TO O-REN ISHII     —    vincent tempera & orchestra, rza a study of : beatrix kiddo.

revenge is the fire that burns inside your soul / ay yo, she been bustin' up knee caps son / since the age of 11 / but fuckin' her enemy to death / that was her favorite weapon / and a debt you paid in hell / boy it can't be paid in heaven / you better get down on your knees son / and start prayin' to the reverend / bon appetit / boy revenge is so sweet / especially when it's served on a cold dish / but she has no wish / 'bout to cut yo day short / like the winter solstice / and the chance to receive a slight bit of mercy from her was hopeless

D .    DEAD BODY     —    little simz. a study of : faith lehane.

do you wanna see a dead body? prolly not / real dark in the cemetery / where the souls lie, oh my / what've i become, man, i’m so high / quit killing my buzz / love drunk in the maze like: / "what have you done? / where the hell are you taking me? / what are we running from?" / demons in the back of my closet / don’t talk to them / you wouldn’t want to be me / 'cause i’ve walked with them / and it wasn’t a nice walk: traumatised / left me in a bad head space / lookin' to heaven’s door, i've been saved or have i? / asked for forgiveness, can i or will i? / negative at heart, am i? / or shall i explain what the world done to me? / you wouldn’t understand what i been through fully / and these dark thoughts never been new to me / and nobody lovin' me everybody through with me / everybody lookin' at me different / and nobody’ll listen / i can see you starin' at me: what do you envision? / no faith in me, should i resort to religion?

I .    I'LL BE GOOD     —    jaymes young. a study of : genji shimada.

i'll be good, i'll be good / and i'll love the world, like i should / yeah, i'll be good, i'll be good / for all of the times that i never could / my past has tasted bitter for years now / so i wield an iron fist / grace is just weakness / or so i've been told / i've been cold, i've been merciless / but the blood on my hands scares me to death / maybe i'm waking up today / i'll be good, i'll be good / and i'll love the world, like i should (oh-oh-oh) / i'll be good, i'll be good / (i'll be good, i'll be good) / for all of the light that i shut out / for all of the innocent things that i doubt / for all of the bruises i've caused in the tears / for all of the things that i've done all these years, no, yeah / for all the sparks that i stomped out / for all of the perfect things that i doubt

E .    EASY     —    lionel richie. a study of : lito rodriguez.

that's why i'm easy / i'm easy like sunday morning / why in the world would anybody put chains on me, yeah? / i've paid my dues to make it / everybody wants me to be / what they want me to be / i'm not happy when i try to fake it, no, ooh / that's why i'm easy (yeah) / i'm easy like sunday morning, yeah / that's why i'm easy / i'm easy like sunday morning / i wanna be high, so high / i wanna be free to know the things i do are right / i wanna be free / just me, oh babe

S .    SAME OLD WAR     —    our last night. a study of : dean winchester.

i've been fighting the same old war, / against a disease, without a cure / been holding on for so long / for so long / for so long / i've been wishing upon a star, if my universe falls apart / i feel so far from the sky, as my dreams, are going by / and they say, it's a battle that can't be won / we need our knives, we need our guns / should i run away, and change my name? / or should i, stay and fight through the night, and never close my eyes? / i'll never close my eyes! / i've come too far, to go back now, turn into a face in the crowd! / been on this road, for so long / for so long / for so long / convinced there is no way out, my world is turned upside down! / my sense of direction's been gone, for so long / for so long

tagged by. @fuselit ty!! <3

tagging. tag me and steal this!