#the camera shot cuts too between her looking up and him sitting with his hands and then the big reveal

[astarlightmonbebe]

"don't think i don't know who you are" i'm SCREAMING

[novemberheart]

{overview} You bond with both your alphas— the topic of your heat comes up again

{warnings} fem reader, poly141, a/b/o dynamics, cursing, backstories, things get a bit heated between you and John

Chapter 20 <- Chapter 21 -> Chapter 22

“You went out for what?” John huffed, sitting across from Kyle.

“A walk, sir,” Kyle replied, his eyes straight ahead. He had already mentally prepared for this.

“And you come back with”- he trailed off.

“A puppy, sir,” Kyle was trying to bite back a smile. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid of the captain- he was. It was the image of your happy face in his brain that was causing the battle in his mind. The truth was he wasn't sorry, he would get yelled at every day if it meant you being happy. John groaned, recognizing the dazed look in his beta eyes. He must still have happy omega clouding his brain.

“Dismissed,” he groaned again, leaning back in his seat.

“Love you, Cap,” Kyle shouted over his shoulder bolting down the hall towards the small backyard.

Your puppy- Vernie (for Inverness) as she had been renamed, wasn't blind. She did appear to be deaf, though.

Simon insisted she was just stubborn like you.

“You two kind of look alike,” Johnny smirked, waving his finger in front of the puppy’s snapping mouth. You giggled, scooping the excited pup off the floor. She licked your chin, nuzzling her way against your neck.

“It's the eyes,” Simon commented. Johnny and Kyle nodded in agreement, and each of their camera rolls filled with enough pictures of your puppy dog eyes to prove it.

“Well I take that as a compliment,” you grinned, setting her back down. “Go to Daddy Kyle,” you urged.

“How come he's daddy?” Johnny shot.

“I was with her when we got her,” Kyle reminded, picking the golden retriever puppy up. “When we see Uncle Johnny we what?” Kyle whispered to her. “We growl, that's right! Good dog,” he praised.

You giggled making your way back inside for a bowl of water. You bit your lip as you noticed John sitting at the dining table, deep in thought. You crept over, your hand resting on his shoulder.

“Hey sweetheart,” he greeted, grabbing a hold of your hand and kissing your palm.

“You're not too mad, are you?” you pressed. He pulled you over so you were sitting in front of him, guiding you so you were sitting on his leg.

“You happy?” he hummed. You quickly nodded your head, your hands resting on his broad shoulders. “Then no,” he smiled just enough to where his dimples poked through. You grinned, resting yourself against his chest. “Wish it was more of a group decision, but”- he cut himself off.

“The next time I get a pet I'll make sure to run it by everyone,” you smirked. You jumped when a hand collided with your bottom. It wasn't hard, but it definitely caught you off guard. He chuckled at you.

“Only goldfish from now on, yes?”

“Yes, sir,”

“Come on pup,” you jumped at Simon’s voice. He had the tendency to just appear out of nowhere. Years are training you suppose.

“Where are we going?” you questioned pulling your shoes on.

“Errands,” he responded coldly.

“Could you be any more vague, Simon?” you questioned.

“Maybe.” he replied, causing you to chuckle. As the two of you walked down the street a sudden craving formed in your head. An urge to test the waters. Your hand reached up, gripping onto his forearm as you walked. He made no move to brush you off, actually his body shifted closer, so your arm didn't have to extend so far.

It was weird seeing him outside without his mask. He blended in with the crowd even with his hulking frame.

He led you into a shoe store.

“Simon you don't need to do this,” you began, your chest growing warm.

“I want to,” he pressed.

“Thank you,” you beamed. He rolled his eyes at you, patting you on the hip.

“I'll stay here,” he groaned, sitting down on one of the try on benches. “You stay where I can see you. You're still on parole,” he grumbled. You giggled, heading towards an aisle.

You ended up with four pairs. A pair of dress shoes, a pair of workout shoes, a pair of casual shoes, and rain boots because Simon was tired of the entryway smelling like “wet feet” every time it rained. “Thank you, Simon,” it was around the tenth time you had thanked him, but it was important for him to know how much you appreciated it. He carried the large bag for you and you were surprised when he began walking even further away from the house. “I need lunch after that,” he sighed. Your stomach growled in response. You two ended up in a Chinese restaurant, the smell drawing you in from a few streets over.

“Do you ever miss Manchester?” you asked between bites.

“You ever miss the toilet when you leave?” he shot back. You rolled your eyes at him.

“Was it really that bad?”

“No.” he agreed. “Reminds me of my father though,” he conversed. You suddenly felt favored to be a part of this conversation. Simon Riley was opening up.

“I take it that's a bad thing,” you urged. He nodded his head.

“Piece of shite that one. He was a beta, my mom was an alpha. Spent the rest of his days trying to prove he was the strongest,” Simon shared.

“Did they both pass away?”

“He died from cancer. She lived just fine for another five years. Passed away from untreated pneumonia.”

“That's terrible Simon,” you breathed. “She sounds like a strong woman. I mean she has to be, her son is strong,” you affirmed. You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at him but your words had hit him, deep. It's all he wanted. To be half as good of an alpha as she was. She was strong, loyal, protective, and loving to those who were hers. John reminded him of her in a lot of ways.

“She was, pup,” Simon finally responded. “She’d like you,” he added softly. You blinked back some tears, shifting in your seat. “What about your father?” he asked suddenly.

“He and my mother were both betas, both of them coming from a long line of alpha-omega pairings. We were kind of the odd ones out of the family. It didn't matter much to us though. We were all close, especially with me being the only child,” you paused, your lunch suddenly looking unappealing.

“It was a shock when your mom left?”

You swallowed, nodding your head.

“She came into my bedroom that night and just held me. I'm not sure when she left. My dad was so angry. I didn't know what to do, so I just curled up in her closet with the clothes she had left behind. My dad moved on quickly- I feel like it was just out of spite,” you sneered.

“What was she like?”

“She wasn't horrible. She just wasn't my mom. I never really talked to her honestly. I just couldn't wrap my head around seeing her stuff where my mom's stuff used to be. Her curling iron on the bathroom counter, her silverware in the drawer, her couch in the living room- her pictures on the wall. The worst part was she had five kids from a previous relationship. I had to share a room with three of them. I started having a hard time breathing. I even passed out a few times. My grandparents decided to step in and suggested I get put into an omega-holding house. By then, I was so desperate to get away I begged my father to let me go. I think that hurt him more than he ever let on. I lived in that omega house for a year until I was transferred across the country to a different one. I haven't seen any of them since,” you finished. You looked away from your plate. Simon had his arms crossed over the table, his eyes intently on you.

He hated it. Hated the way you had been left in the dirt. You didn't deserve that.

“That's not fair, sweetheart,” he said softly. The tears finally escaped, his thumb reaching out to brush them away before you could.

“It's alright,” you tried to smile, sniffling into your sleeve. He understood you more. He realized the parts of you that drove him crazy were the parts that so deeply resembled himself. You were still in fight or flight mode. Still waiting for the moment you would have to take off into the wind. Still waiting for the moment you would be peeled away from this pack like your old one. He wished he understood it sooner, but he's not sure it would've had such an impact on him.

He was no longer in fight or flight mode, his mind dead set on one: fight. Fight for you to feel safe within this pack- within your pack.

You were a bit nervous to sleep in the same room as both the alphas. At first, you tried to sneak your way into the beta’s room, but John quickly hoisted you over his shoulder, tossing you on the bed. The scent was slightly overwhelming, turning your bones to mush. Simon was still in the shower, and you were curled up on John’s chest, his hands running up and down your thighs.

The conversation you had with Simon was still weighing on your mind. It must've spread into your scent.

“What's eatin’ at you, love?” John hummed, his hands giving your thighs a squeeze.

“Me and Simon were talking about our old packs. It just brought up some feelings,” you mumbled, taking a large inhale of his scent. It settled at the base of your neck, causing a warm buzz throughout your body. “What was your pack like?” you questioned, resting your chin against his chest.

“It was big,” he sighed, his tired blue eyes dancing over your face. “Too big. Lots of power struggles between alphas.”

“That why you left?”

“Partly. My family was pushed around a lot, my father is a good man, but he isn’t strong. I hoped joining the military would make it so that when I went back I could prove our family was strong,” he sighed. You knew what John was talking about.

“Communal pack?”

He nodded his head. Communal packs were very traditional and rarely worked. There could be up to thirty different families living together under the jurisdiction of one alpha.

“What was your alpha like?”

“I never met him,” John chuckled. “He seemed decent enough, though. It was hard for the other alphas of the pack, you know how they are, have to be the toughest in the room. My family still lives there, two of my sisters have bonded and have pups of their own. My brother is still causin’ trouble,” he chuckled fondly and your heart ached for him.

“Do you ever miss it?”

“I miss them. We still see each other a few times a year. My eldest sister and I see each other the most. Her work brings her near base. And I have to call my mother at least once a week or she’ll march up here and give me what for,” he smirked, making you giggle. “I'd like you to meet them someday.”

“I would love to!” you cheered beaming up at him.

“They’ll love you. Probably want us to move back up there.”

“Are any of them omegas?” you pondered.

“My brother is. My eldest sister is an alpha and my two others are betas,” he explained.

“That's a nice spread,” you smiled, stretching out on top of him. You wondered what John was like as a child. Was he always so headstrong? Protective? Determined? Troublemaker? The thought made you chuckle.

“Would you? Move back there?”

“Never. It's just like base, except there are fewer rules and regulations. Not the place for you or the rest of us,” he explained. “Where would you want to live?” he hummed, rolling onto his side, keeping a firm grip on you.

“Somewhere with trees and rain. I want to be near the mountains. I also want to live near a big city so there's always something to do. Oh, and I want a big backyard with chickens and a pool,” you smiled, your fingers smoothing over his beard. His cheeks lifted in a smile.

“Sounds doable,” he whispered, pressing a kiss against your cheek. He let your noses brush, smiling at the way you're crinkled. He closed the gap, his strong arms holding you in place as your lips moved together.

They all kissed so differently. Johnny was all-consuming, his ability to make the thoughts in your head vanish never fails. Even his short ones were eager and overwhelming. Kyle was playful. Lots of teeth and tongue, but never enough to fully satiate you until you yank him as close as you can. Maybe that's why he does it. He wants you to want him. Lucky for him you fall into that trap regularly. John’s were melting. Slow and passionate. He isn’t playful or eager. All of his attention is on you and the rest of the world just fades away.

You wondered how Simon kisses.

John’s hands were messing with the bottom of your sleep shorts. They crept up slowly, giving your bottom a gentle squeeze causing you to gasp. He chuckled against you, his tongue taking advantage.

Maybe he was a little playful.

You had to get him back. You thought back to the little trick Kyle showed you. Your hands bunched around his lower back, and you rolled your hips against his. He cursed against you, pressing you deeper into the mattress.

“Careful what you wish for, honey” he warned, biting at your neck. You whined, tilting your head back even further. The subtle act of submission making his head reel. He kissed and bit his way around your neck until he made it near your collarbone. You became breathless at the knowledge of what he was doing. He was trying to find the best place to mark you. He could tell he found it when you nearly moaned. Just above your collarbone right in the junction of your neck. “That where you want it, pretty girl?” he murmured. You nodded your head rapidly.

“Now, please Alpha,” you begged. If he was a weaker man he would've given in. Your shaky voice, heated skin and needy scent in the air were all suffocating his senses. You're lucky he's had so much training or else you would be howling in pain right now.

“No, pretty,” he soothed, placing another kiss against the spot- a promise that he would be back. “Can't do it now, it'll hurt,” he reminded

“You marked Kyle and Johnny,” you reminded. Betas couldn't have heats or ruts, so when they were marked it was searing.

“They were under anesthetics,” he shot back. Even you couldn't argue with that. The bathroom door opened.

“Fuckin’ hell,” Simon grunted waving the air in front of his face. You giggled, cuddling your way into John’s chest again.

“Simon took me on a date today,” you whispered to John. He raised his eyebrows, playing along.

“Must've been a different one,” he smirked, looking up at the brooding alpha.

“No, it was this one. He was a perfect gentleman. He opened the door for me, he let me hold his arm, he paid for my lunch and he even bought me new shoes,” you grinned, looking back at the flushed Simon.

“Sounds like a great bloke. Should call him back,” Simon replied, getting under the covers. You and John chuckled, as he shut the lamp on the bedside table off.

“He is great,” you whispered absentmindedly, a yawn escaping you. “I do appreciate the two of you, you know. There aren't a lot of alphas that would be as patient and forgiving as the two of you,” you thanked. John’s chest rumbled at the sentiment.

“Of course, honey,” John rumbled. Simon stayed silent. He didn't quite feel he deserved such praise. He had made too many mistakes. He jumped as a cold hand rested against his bicep. You could be sneaky when you wanted to. You made no move to pull him closer or grab another part of him. He sighed grabbing your hand in his, clamping your hand within his own, resting it against the bed.

The sound of your purrs lulled him to sleep.

You woke up to the sound of groggy groans and chuckles. You could feel yourself moving until your face was pressed against a bare chest. Cinnamon.

“Mac,” you groaned. You felt someone else’s smile against your shoulder and the tickle of Johnny’s scruff against your cheek. You opened your eyes, pulling away from Johnny.

“Good morning, peaches,” he purred all too happy for this early in the morning. Your face pulled into a frown making him and John chuckle from their spot. He pressed a kiss against your lips as you sat up, your legs on either side of his hip. He groaned, his hand instantly finding your hips. You were in the middle, Johnny resting against John. Kyle was back to back with Simon, who looked to still be asleep. You yawned rubbing at your eyes.

“We were thinking we could all go to breakfast,” Kyle spoke, nudging the alpha next to him awake. One thing you learned about the boys is that none of them were into cooking. John seemed to be decent at it- well at least he was good at cooking steaks. Kyle survived off of cereal and Johnny could kill a box of granola bars in a day.

“French toast,” you sighed happily, flopping back down onto the Scot. While the plans had been made no one made an effort to move. It was all too comfortable. Too warm. You purred, causing almost all of them to follow suit. Simon clenched his jaw, swallowing back the rumble in his chest.

You giggled, Johnny's chest vibrating against your skin.

“I'll fall back asleep if I stay here,” Kyle yawned, maneuvering his way out the bed. Simon tumbled out of it too, his arms stretching above his head. His tank top did nothing to hide his flexing muscles. Johnny pulled away, regretfully, heading back down the hall to his room. The chill in the air nipped at you, causing you to cuddle your way back against John.

“We’re going to get in trouble if we don't start getting ready,” he hummed gently, his hand running down your back.

“I’m getting up,” you assured, making no move to do so. He patted your bottom, sitting up with you still in his arms.

“French toast,” he reminded, pulling you to your feet. You perked up.

“John?”

“Yes, love.”

“When we get back can I talk to you about something?” you questioned. You regretted it as soon as you watched his face turn. You hated it when people did that. Just say what you are thinking.

“Tell me now, love. I’ll go with you to the backyard,” he said, watching as you grabbed the half-asleep puppy out of the bed Johnny had made her.

“Alright,” you agreed, treading down the hallway. He grabbed a cigar on the way, making sure to sit downwind from you so you would breathe it in.

“It's about my heat,” you started. “I want you to help me through it,” you flushed heavily, your face burning so hot the nip in the air couldn't cool it. “I don't know if I'm ready for everyone to help though,” you drew out. He chuckled next to you causing your head to shoot up. God, you have embarrassed yourself haven't you?

“Sorry, honey,” he apologized quickly. “That would be like throwin’ a lamb to the wolves. Wouldn't expect you to do all that,” he assured, making your shoulders relax. His hand reached out his fingers brushing against your cheek. “It would be my honor to help you, sweetheart,” he whispered, making you burn brighter.

“That’s a stretch,” you chuckled. Honor? Surely he had done much more honorable things than take your virginity.

“It's not. It means you trust me. That's all I want, love,” he smiled reassuringly in a way that made your heart beat a bit faster.

“Thanks, John,” you pressed a kiss against his cheek, collecting the curious pup off the grass.

Hello everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Chapter 22 will be in two days and I’m going to warn you now it WILL have heavy smut……hopefully none of you are against that! See you then 🧡

[wcbblife]

You & Me

a/n: finally finished my pazzi draft yall... hope you enjoy

Warnings: kinda nsfw at the end so read at your own risk.

Summary: Paige can't help but get a little a jealous when she sees Azzi with another man. So, she decides to talk to her.

_

Paige knew it wasn’t her place. It really wasn’t.

But she couldn't suppress the ugly feeling tugging at her heart as she watched Azzi double over in laughter while talking to someone—a freshman—from the men’s team. The way Azzi's fingers lightly caressed his bicep to stop the flow of jokes spilling from his lips. The way he smiled at her, letting his other hand land on top of hers.

It was only when Aubrey nudged her shoulder and whispered, "You’re staring too hard, bro," that Paige finally broke out of her trance.

She knew she shouldn’t storm up to them and separate them with a nasty shove to the guy. She knew she should just sit tight and look pretty while the cameras were likely pointed toward her or the dancers in front of her. The nails on her hands were digging into her arm, no doubt leaving marks. She just couldn't tear her eyes away, no matter how hard she tried.

“What?” Paige cleared her throat, suddenly feeling shy. Her tough exterior would only get her so far with her best friend, who knew her too well.

“I said the three-point contest is about to start.” Aubrey snickered, walking away to join the blue team.

“Shut up,” Paige murmured, following closely behind. By the time she got together with her team, Azzi was lost in the sea of white and dark blue, and Paige had no way of knowing if the man was still close to her. She didn’t get any time to sit and think about it, being whisked around to get ready for the contest.

Almost immediately, she hears the sounds of the net swishing and the basketballs hitting the rims. After a bit, her eyes land on none other than Azzi. She watches closely as Azzi makes shot after shot with little to no problem, much to the amusement of the crowd. The smile on Azzi’s face after releasing the last ball makes Paige swoon, and she glances around, hoping that it would help the blood pooling in her cheeks to dissipate.

The only problem is that she sees Azzi moving back to let the next participant go, the man steps up to her, nudging her shoulder, and leaning down due to their significant height difference to whisper something. Paige knows it's a compliment or something along the lines of “I could never do that,” as she watches Azzi’s dimples just barely show.

The feeling gnaws even harder at Paige, causing her to drum her fingers impatiently against her thighs and her jaw to tighten. She can't help but notice how Azzi never moves away, and how they seem to brush against each other every time they sway side to side while waiting for the contest to finish.

Caroline walks up to them and starts a conversation, which—much to Paige’s relief—causes him to move away a bit. Azzi’s eyes move between the two before finally locking onto Paige, who is still staring. Azzi smiles at something Caroline says, licking her lips and fixing her pants, still zeroed in on Paige. This causes Paige’s heart to thrum uncontrollably in her ribcage, even when Azzi’s eyes go back to Caroline and the guy.

It knocks what little patience and focus Paige had straight out of her body.

“Dude! Seriously, how many times do I have to call you to stop gawking?” Aubrey stands in front of her with an incredulous smile. “Make it at least a bit less obvious, will ya?”

Paige lets out a breathy laugh, scratching her head. “I need to get outta here, bro.”

“Tell me about it,” Aubrey jokes back. “Might just walk right on out.”

“Yeah, right. And let Geno scream at us next practice? No thanks.”

Aubrey chuckles. “Hey, I’m not the one desperate to get outta here for their girl—” Paige cuts her off with a light nudge, causing Aubrey to burst into laughter.

“Stop it, dude.” Paige sulks, looking around for Azzi again, feeling her stomach drop at seeing her absent from her last spot.

“Relax. We’ll be done in a bit.”

Paige knew better. She knew it was in her best interest to heed Azzi’s warning of “don’t be so obvious in public.” She knew she should be on her best behavior with so many eyes on them, acting like they were nothing more than friends.

She also knew she shouldn’t feel so stupidly useless and jealous when Azzi talked to someone else because they weren’t officially a thing. They hadn’t slapped a title on it yet.

Ugh, she thought, as she smiled prettily for the group picture, wrapping a friendly arm around her teammates. Paige made a mental note to bring it up at a better time.

“Alrighty everybody,” a woman in the middle of the court chirped, “We’ve officially ended the first night! Make sure you exit in an orderly manner and we hope to see you next year.” The crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and applause as the athletes started making their way out of the court and into the tunnels.

Paige made a beeline to her locker room, hoping to catch Azzi alone, but once she arrived, she found herself alone. One by one, her teammates trickled into the room—courtesy of Nika texting in their chat to meet there—and it wasn’t until Paige actually got up to search for Azzi that she found herself face-to-face with her.

Azzi was giggling when she entered, and Paige let out a breath of relief. Her hands fidgeted, muscles twitching under her skin to reach forward toward Azzi once she met her big brown eyes, but like she had done all night, she held herself back.

Instead, she walked wordlessly into the team huddle, her breath catching a bit as Azzi slotted herself right next to her, wrapping her hands around Paige’s waist. She tuned out the remainder of Geno’s speech as Azzi found the audacity to toy with the stretch band of her shorts, pulling on it. She slipped a finger into the edge of them, and when Paige looked over at her, she was smiling cheekily.

“Alright, now get out of here. I'm tired,” Geno ended his speech, and the girls screamed. Azzi dragged Paige into the team where they all did a short chant before finally walking out of the room.

Finally, they reached a quieter part of the complex. Azzi pulled Paige into an empty room, away from prying eyes.

As they made their way through the tunnels, Paige’s heart raced. The crowded hallways buzzed, and she tried to keep her cool.

Azzi stayed close, their fingers brushing every now and then, sending shivers down Paige’s spine.

She couldn’t wait to get a moment alone with her.

“Azzi,” Paige muttered.

“Yeah?” Azzi's eyes fluttered, looking up at Paige.

“We gotta talk.”

Azzi smirked, “We do?” she teased, stepping closer, her hand grazing Paige's arm. “What about?”

Paige's breath hitched. “You know what about.”

Azzi chuckled softly, leaning in until her lips were mere inches from Paige’s. “You always get so serious,” she whispered, her breath warm against Paige's skin. “Maybe I like seeing you like this.”

Paige's heart pounded, her resolve weakening by the second. “Azzi, please…”

“Please, what?” Azzi’s voice was low, almost a purr. She backed Paige against the wall, her hands sliding up Paige’s sides, sending shivers down her spine. “Please stop? Or please don’t stop?”

Paige swallowed hard, her mind racing. “We need to figure this out,” she managed to say, though her voice wavered.

Azzi’s eyes softened for a moment before the teasing glint returned. “Okay, let’s figure it out,” she said, her tone playful. “But maybe we start with this.”

Azzi pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against Paige’s. “We’ll talk,” she promised, her voice a soft murmur. “But right now, let’s just enjoy this.”

Before Paige could respond, Azzi closed the distance, capturing Paige’s lips in a slow, tantalizing kiss. Paige's world tilted, the kiss overwhelming her senses completely as she melted into Azzi, her hands finally finding their way to Azzi’s waist, pulling her closer.

Paige nodded, her heart racing almost painfully in her chest. “Yeah,” she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips. “Let’s enjoy this.”

Azzi grinned, her fingers trailing lightly up and down Paige’s arms, knowing the blonde liked it a little too much. “You’re so cute when you’re trying to be serious,” she teased. “I can’t help but want to mess with you a little.”

Paige felt a blush creep up her neck. “Azzi, come on…”

Azzi’s smile widened. “What? I’m just having a bit of fun. You like it, don’t you?” She leaned in, her lips brushing against Paige’s ear. “Admit it.” Her fingers slip under the hem of Paige’s shirt, tracing patterns on her skin.

Paige’s eyes fluttered shut, her head tilting back. “Maybe,” she admitted reluctantly.

Azzi’s laughter was soft and warm. “Thought so.” She moved even closer, her body pressing against Paige’s.

Paige tried to steady her breath. “I didn’t like seeing you with that freshman,” She confessed softly, looking away.

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is that what this is about? You were jealous?”

Paige's blush deepened. “Maybe.”

Azzi chuckled, her breath warm against Paige’s neck. “You don’t have to worry about him. He’s just a kid.” Her lips brushed Paige’s ear again. “Besides, I only have eyes for you.”

Paige's heart skipped a beat. “Really?”

“Really,” Azzi whispered, her lips trailing down to Paige’s collarbone. “You’re the one I want, Paige. Always have been.”

Paige’s breath got caught as Azzi’s lips met hers again, more passionately this time. The jealousy, the confusion, it all melted away. This was what she wanted, what she needed. And finally, they were on the same page.

Azzi, feeling the effect she had over Paige, decided to push a little further. “You know,” she murmured against Paige’s lips, “seeing you all worked up was kind of a turn-on.”

Paige’s eyes widened. “Azzi…”

“What?” Azzi’s grin was wicked at this point. “I like knowing no one else can have this kind of effect on you but me.”

Paige’s breath came faster, her pulse pounding in her ears. “You’re unbelievable.”

Azzi’s hand slid lower, making Paige gasp. “Admit it. You love it when I tease you.”

She could barely form words, her thoughts were a mush of everything. “I… I do,” she finally managed, her voice barely a whisper.

"Good girl.”

Paige was helpless to resist, surrendering completely to Azzi. 

[moongreenlight]

Like 800 words of a Ghoap x Reader fic I've been sitting on for way too long. School is hard. Life is busy. I love you and miss you.

Premise: Ghost is a porn director, Soap is an actor, you're Ghost's girlfriend.

mdni. nsfw below the cut.

Ghost abusing his authority over Soap and getting him to come in early/late to shoots so he can get a few ‘warm-up’ shots in (bending Soap over the chaise in his dressing room) or randomly calling for ‘emergency shoots’ (he wants to take a shitty iPhone video of Soap on his hands and knees gagging on his cock).

It started out as a means to end Johnny’s bitching. He refused to take performance boosters, citing some bullshit argument about how “if athletes cannae use them, neither can I.” A non-argument, Ghost thought. But still, he found himself bullying the man into a tech room and letting him grind on the toe of his boot until he spilled his mess on the floor. It didn’t solve the problem. Like giving a begging dog table scraps. 

Johnny apparently needed his cock milked before any shoot where he was expected to come on camera. Howled like a bitch in heat until Ghost appeased him, and even after that it was touch and go. 

But then there was his dove. Dutifully waiting for him every night. Sweeter, more soft than Soap. Less whining, similar resistance, but took easier to his guiding hand. Never had any issue with his work. Never a flare of jealousy when he spent most of his day staring at writhing naked bodies. 

Simon figured out somewhere in his balancing act that he was able to work out some of his aggression on Johnny. Brat takes it better. He doesn’t get a feeling like stones are being slowly added to the pressure on his ribs when he sees Soap’s big blue eyes get teary. He’s gentler with his dove. Takes his time because he can. 

He’s fantastic at keeping his work and private lives completely separate. Fucking exemplary. You’d think they were entirely different planets the way he seemed to turn completely off to them. 

Ghost finds himself net neutral on the situation. It’s like picking between his left and right hand to fist over his cock. More an issue of convenience. Not like he’s got a standout sex drive, it mostly just happens as appeasement. Get Johnny to quit sodding griping, keep the dove happy in her cage. 

But of course, worlds collide. They always do when they revolve so close to one another. There’s bound to be a rotation in the axis that sends them smashing into one another.

And of course it happens on a day where Johnny is entirely out of control. Whining in scenes, ruining takes, wasting film and time; time he’s paid- fucking handsomely- to be pleasant for. 

Ghost hears her before he sees her. Standing next to one of the cameras with a cigarette clamped between his teeth, glowering down the barrel at Soap who was making a sour face and rubbing oil onto the back of some actress with a thin towel covering her modesty. His ears are tuned to the frequency of her voice, picking it out with ease amongst the dull chatter that had flared since the cameras stopped rolling even from all the way down the hall. 

She was chatting with the receptionist who no doubt chose to walk her where she needed to be to bask in the warmth that was her company. His bird had that effect on people. Always sweet and sunshine. Saved the sharp wit and snark for home or to be whispered in his ear. Trained perfectly by his expert hand. 

He didn’t bother looking away from Johnny when she walked in the door. Now engaged in some sort of silent staring contest. Ghost glaring down the crook of his nose at the smaller man. He couldn’t quite pick out if the look in Johnny’s eyes was disdain or desire. They were synonymous at this point. Shame he couldn’t sort out that attitude of his properly now. Save everyone the fucking tantrum.

He calls for a cut. Gruffs out a tight 5 and reset. Tosses his cigarette to the ground and crushes it under the heel of his boot. He doesn’t have the time to turn around before he hears two planets collide. 

“- you lookin’ for a role, bonnie? Ye know, I’ve got connections ‘round here. Make ye a star in fifteen minutes.”

Her laugh is honest and amused. It cuts straight through the sound of the studio and rings like church bells. 

“Oh, I dunno. I’m a terrible read.”

He looks over his shoulder and sees Johnny tying the belt of his robe in a lazy knot over his hip. More decorative than anything seeing as the plush thing is cast open all the way down his torso. Exposing, with painfully obvious intention, the gloss of oil on skin and the whorls of dark hair that decorate his chest. 

“Dinnae believe that for a minute. ‘Sides, pretty girl like you hardly needs to talk. Bet we could work out a scene where you only have to open your mouth for-”

He’s cut off when the receptionist knocks her shoulder into his and throws him a warning look on her way out. It doesn’t strike the chord it should, but it fulfills the end goal all the same.

[riahollywood]

missing you | christian pulisic

──────────────────────

notes: this has been in my drafts ever since we were blessed with the white compression shirt pics. basically just some filthy phone sex smut 🤭 enjoy ✨

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

the ache between her legs only became more prominent as her boyfriend shot a cheeky wink to his teammate, the compression shirt clinging deliciously to his defined abs as he walked over to envelope a couple of his teammates in a hug, celebrating their win.

a smile etched on y/n’s face as she rested her head back against the soft headboard, sitting up slightly on her and christian’s shared bed.

her lips dropped into a pout as the tv footage cut away from christian and his team, the opposing team manager appearing on screen as the man behind the camera begun to ask his questions.

she was feeling majorly sorry for herself. already seething that her holiday request had been denied by her boss, now she couldn’t even look at his pretty face and sweaty body on her tv.

she decided to try and distract herself for a little while till christian called her. she knew he would be straight on the other end of the phone as soon as he got back to his hotel room. it was their usual routine, whenever y/n couldn’t join him, he’d always call her after a game. win or lose, he loved hearing her voice when she couldn't be there with him.

y/n decided to kill some time by indulging in a little pamper session, using the time to relax herself in a hot bath with her favourite salts before coating her body in her butters and lotions.

as she dried herself off, she was feeling mischievous and still riled up from seeing her boyfriend looking so handsome and not being able to have him. with that on her mind, she decided to tease him.

it wasn’t the first time she had done it and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. sending risky pictures, she knew it was a sure fire way to have christian in the palm of her hand when he called later on.

she picked out a black lacey lingerie set, discarding of her bath towel and slipping it onto her fresh body.

she exited the bathroom, heading back to their bedroom where she got comfy on their shared bed once more.

y/n pulled out her phone and opened up the camera app. she admired the way the thin bits of lace looked on her body. the tiny thong covered just about all it needed to whilst the thin material of the bra brushed against her hardened nipples and had her breasts spilling over the cups in a way she was certain christian would love.

she moved her body about, angling it in different positions till she was happy, capturing her body so perfectly she was certain it would have christian weak at his knees.

< 1 image attached

missing you x

send.

she smirked to herself as she locked her phone, putting it back down on the bed next to her and keeping herself busy by scrolling through netflix till christian replied.

not even 10 minutes had passed when her phone begun to ring, her heart bubbling as the sweet picture of the two of them flashed up onto the screen.

deciding she wasn’t done with teasing him just yet, she ignored the call, letting it go through to her answer phone.

ping.

call me. now. x

she smirked to herself as she saw the message flash up onto the screen, retrieving her phone from the mattress. she ran her hand through her hair, smoothing it out a little before pressing call back.

one ring was all it took for her boyfriend to pick up.

“hey, baby.” she answered sweetly, voice laced with fake innocence, doing her best to come off as ingenuous as she could before she caved, which she knew wouldn’t be too long.

“why didn’t you answer?” his voice was husky and stern and y/n pressed her thighs together at the sound of it. she had missed it so much.

“i- i didn’t hear it, im sorry.”

“mhm, too busy touching yourself?”

“no.” y/n answered quickly and honestly before taking a breath, “needed to wait to hear your voice to do that.”

christian groaned down the phone. he loved how needy she was for him. even when he was away, she needed him to be able to pleasure herself.

“what do you think you’re doing, sweetheart?” his voice was low. “sending me pictures like that, what if someone saw, mhm? wouldn’t want people finding out what a dirty little slut you are, would we?” she squeezed her legs together at his filthy words. there was a momentary silence that followed, clouded only by the noise of christian’s belt being unbuckled and his zipper being pulled down.

the thought of him pulling his cock from its confinded constraints was all too much for her, she finally had to finally do something about the ache between her legs. ghosting her hands down her body, she lightly traced her nipples through the lace as her other hand begun to trace gentle circles over her clit through her underwear.

a breathy groan left christian’s mouth as he thumbed at the precum on the tip of his dick before giving it a few measly tugs.

“i’m sorry, i just…” her fingers continued their delicate movements as she awaited further instructions from her boyfriend, but she couldn’t help a whimper from spilling from her lips as she felt just how damp the lace had become from her arousal of just watching him all sweaty on her screen. “i told you, i miss you, chris.”

a throaty groan left his lips and she knew he was looking at the picture she had sent him.

he begun stroking up and down, closing his eyes as he pictured his girlfriend’s soft hand doing the work instead of his. “i miss you more, baby, but i’ll be home tomorrow and all yours for a whole week.”

y/n giggled softly. “i can’t wait to have you back with me- oh.” she cut herself off with a moan as she slid a finger underneath her underwear, collecting some of the wetness to easily glide soft circles on her clit. “‘s not fair, you looked so hot tonight, baby. got me all worked up when you’re not here to fuck me so good.”

“you think so, sweetheart?” christian spoke, his first increasing it’s speed as he kept it wrapped tightly around himself. he wasn't too sure how he had ended up here so soon after the game, but he loved how easily he had her putty in his hands.

christian had frantically thrown his phone back into his jacket pocket when he had opened up the message, praying to God that his teammates behind him on the coach had not seen it. luckily they weren’t too far from the team hotel when he opened it and after making some excuse about wanting to unwind on his own, he made his way up to his room, locking the door and slouching back onto the king size bed as he frantically reached for his phone to call his girl back.

“so hot, baby. wish you could feel how wet you’ve made me.” y/n’s silky voice and desperate words went straight to his dick, his heart beginning to pound in his chest as he thought about his girl back at home in his bed touching herself to the thought of him.

“are you touching yourself, baby?” christian asked, his voice curious with want for her words even though he already knew the answer.

she continued rubbing slow circles around her clit, the wetness allowing for perfecly smooth strokes. her other hand lightly grazed over her hardened nipple through her bra before dipping in and gently pinching between two fingers, just how christian would do. “i’m sorry, i couldn’t wait till tomorrow.”

“tease yourself, baby. imagine it’s me, my big cock running up and down you, feeling how wet you are.” she did as she was told, christian feeling himself get harder and harder as quiet moans travelled through the phone that was now propped up against her ear.

she did as she was told, using two fingers to run up and down her slit before slipping them inside. “fuck, feels so good, christian, so good,” she moaned and christian let out a soft chuckle at how worked up she was already.

“yeah? you like that baby? you imagining your fingers are my cock?”

she whined, nodding her head. "yes. oh fuck yes."

christian’s hand came to a still as he used his other to grab his phone and snap a quick picture l, capturing his fist wrapped firmly around his shaft, the sensitive head red and dripping in precum.

he quickly sent the image and it wasn’t long till it was evident y/n had seen it, christian smirking to himself when a high pitched moan hits his ears.

she moved her fingers to mimic the movements christian would make to the best of her ability.

“my good fucking girl, aren’t you?”

a lewd moan fell from her lips, her fingers curling to graze deliciously against her sweet spot, the same way christian’s dick would press against it as he would bury himself deep inside her. god, she missed him so much.

“answer me, princess.” his voice was desperate, “need to hear you.”

“yes,” she managed to wrangle out, almost losing herself completely to the pleasure. “your good girl, only yours, christian.”

christian chuckled lowly as she continued to whimper. the sweet sounds passing through the phone line had christian aching for her touch, silently cursing the distance between them as he worked his first fast and hard.

“fuck, tell me how good it feels. are you thinking about me fucking you, sweetheart? wish i was the one fucking that pretty pussy of yours?”

“mhm, wish it was your cock instead, nothing feels as good as you do, baby.”

his head fell back as his fist continued to work himself, his other hand reaching round to cup his balls as he squeezed ever so slightly. christian imagined the warmth of her tight walls snuggly around him as she would clench tightly, approaching her high.

the wet sounds of his fist working himself had y/n even more frustrated she hadn’t been able to get the time off work, knowing how well christian would’ve fucked her after such a good game.

“can you hear how much i miss you, sweetheart?” christian husky spoke down the phone. a half moan mixed with a murmur of ‘yeah’ left her lips as she brought her other hand down to play with her clit, rubbing fast circles on the now swollen nub as her other hand continued to pump in and out, curving her fingers every so often.

“wish it was you, wish it was your big cock making me feel so good. want to feel you fill me up with your come, baby.” a high pitched noise left her mouth as her digits hit her sweet spot hard, her thighs tensing as her orgasm approached.

“gonna fuck you so good when i’m home, sweetheart. gonna bend you over our bed and you’re gonna let me pound you into that mattress till you’re screaming my name.”

“yes, fuck, i- i’m so close, chris, baby, i-oh.” she parted her lips, letting out a moan and throwing back her head as she let the blissful feeling completely consume her body.

christian groaned, his eyes falling shut as he felt his high approaching. “fuck, y/n, ‘m gonna come, princess.” her moans were enough to send him over the edge, his eyes falling closed as she moaned his name, riding out her high till she was so sensitive and had to remove her fingers.

christian opened him eyes, his fist still wrapped around his now softening cock as white ropes of his come covered his hand and thigh.

“naughty girl. got me in such a mess, baby.”

y/n giggled as she took in some breaths, trying to calm herself from her intense orgasm. “you know if i was there i’d help clean your mess up.”

christian groaned, his sensitive dick twitching at the thought of her tongue on his skin, cleaning up his come from his body.

“i’ll have you know it’s your mess, not mine sweetheart. i was ready for an early night till i got your promiscuous text.”

she giggled down the phone. “i’m sure i can make it up to you when you’re home.”

a groggy ‘mhm’ left christian. “oh, i’ll make sure you do, baby.”

[keelt9]

Chapter 2

Masterlist

Mom keeps talking about how happy she is that we finally spend time together after so many years, just like the old times.

She grabs my face. “Now the 9 years of difference are almost imperceptible.” 

“Mom! I don't look that old!” Lewis choked with his fruit.

“You wish you looked like this at my age.” He sat straight. I was about to speak but mom interrupted us. 

“Keep eating, keep eating.”

This week I'll be at our parents house, so Lewis can have a few days off from me.

A Wednesday night mom entered the kitchen where Jewel keeps at my side.

“How is the project going?” I'm buried in papers, madeleines and tea.

I scoff and take my glasses. “Good? I don't know, I never imagined this amount of responsibility.” 

Mom serves a cup of tea, and sits next to me.  “He said you're doing pretty well.” I scoff and watch the papers and empty pens, picking up all the things so we can talk calmly. 

“Next is?” I pat Jewel and gave her a piece of carrot which reject at the second bite. Lewis and his idea about trying to become her vegetarian, it's useless.

“Miami.”

I’m melting like ice, if I thought the first day we arrived was hot I was clearly short about how hot the day of the race is.

“How much weight will he lose?” I asked the doctor who weighs Lewis and George.

“Between 4 or 5 kilos.” I opened my eyes. “Maybe 6.”

“SIX?! Oh my word!” Lewis laughed and set properly his race suit one more time. “Drive safe, all right?” He nods and kisses my cheek.

I walk to the hospitality area, 50 minutes until the race begins although I see Checo chatting with Yuki, a casual talk in the way both are laughing. This time Red Bull is in front of Mclaren and Mercedes next to them. 

Checo saw me and waved his hand, so I walked closer to greet him properly.

“Hi. Yuki have you met Y/N?” Yuki made a small bow and I did the same. “She is Lewis sister.” 

Yuki opened his eyes, like he just knew a big secret.

“How are you?” Checo asks me, I move my hand trying to have a fresh breeze of air.

“Melting, but I'm fine.” Both giggle.  

Yuki is the first young driver I officially met, beside George of course. “It's your first time in the paddock?”

Checo saw me with pressed lips. “Kind of.” It’s a half honest answer. “I'm dying to be in Japan, that definitely will be my first time.”

Yuki smiles as we get involved in a deep talk about food and places I should visit in the few days we'll be there.

“It’s hot, definitely hot.” We turn around and see Max walking right to us. “Morning Yuki, Y/N.” 

I don't want to be rude with Yuki so I cut the conversation as friendly as I can. “I count on you for that, all right?” 

Yuki nodded and I said goodbye to them bumping fists with Checo.

“What did I say this time?” Max says it almost right to my face. Checo laughs and pat his teammate back.

“You’re on the darkside, mate.” Max bluffs but raises his voice as I walk away.

“FINE! IT DOESN'T MATTER!” I roll my eyes when I enter the hospitality building. 

A tricky race, Lewis fought until the last lap but just reached the sixth position. It hasn't been his weeks and he knows it by the way he goes down this car and walks slowly to the garage.

This time I took a risk and waited for him at the back of the garage, even here I could hear the noise of camera shots, reporters and all the talks from the mechanics.

Lewis was surprised I was there. “Hey.” I smile and give him a small push, making just the faith of a smile appear on his face. 

“You get back, don’t pressure yourself too much.” He just nods and keeps walking to change his clothes, definitely mad about his performance.

By the time we arrived at the hotel Lewis put on his best facade during the day and tried to fool us but the one who knew him, saw something was going on.

“What do you want for dinner?” He asked me as we left the paddock.

“Actually, I prefer rest, tomorrow I have an early flight and I still have things to work on.” I’m hungry but I know he always chooses to make me company when actually he's dying from a proper rest.

Lewis is about to complain but I grab his hand on the SUV. “It’s ok, I eat a lot in the hospitality and I always can order room service.” He laid back in the seat. “Just rest, all right?”

I don't lie, I kept working on some drawings until my stomach started to growl, but I needed fresh air, so I took my purse and phone and went out for dinner.

After a quick research online I found myself waiting on a food truck for a burrito and a lemonade, with the ocean at my back and a humid ambient.

“Here you have. Enjoy your food.” A young woman gave me my order, I thanked her sitting in one of the benches they have.

It’s a peaceful night of course with a Grand Prix this morning, you can hear from time to time chattings about the drivers, the race and the results.

“I'm telling you, it was insane!” A man is walking hand in hand with a girl, who is thrilled as him, for the way she makes little jumps and talks with her hands.

“It will be out of this world, be this close to a car.” She narrows the distance of her fingers.

I scoff as I clean my fingers after finishing my dinner, even in the most random place people agree with Max.

I go back walking to the hotel, just a 20 minute walk; I need to do the last adjustment before I leave. I was talking with the receptionist when loud laughs and mumblings distract me.

Carlos, Charles, Lando, George and Max enter the hotel making the few people still up late at night and staff members look at them.

“Miss?” The receptions remind me of what we were talking about. 

I asked her to please wake me up at 4 am, and disobey Lewis' order, they don’t wake him up. I take full responsibility for him not getting upset leaving a handwritten note. 

“Sorry.” I ended up writing the note and gave it to her. “Thank you so much.” The girl smiles at me before I take my phone and walk, seeing the photos of Nicola with the kids and Roscoe.

Until I almost hit my face with the floor of the lobby.

“Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen to you tonight.” I didn’t even notice the fast reaction of Max grabbing my left arm. 

The half twisted smile and the fact he's holding too to a chair, make me take my arm from his hand.

“I'm fine, thanks.” Max stares at Charles who has a red face almost like a tomato, sitting in the chair.

“Long legs, you almost make a girl fall, that's rude.” I refuse to get involved in this so I start to walk to the elevator.

“Wait, I'll take you to your room.” Max panicked and corrected himself. “To the door of your room, not inside of your room, at the frame of your door.”

I bluff, he's definitely drunk and the only one staying alone there; Charles, is talking with a girl who is coming for him. 

I want to leave him there, I truly want to, but the half closed eyes and the fact he believes he is the savior when I easily could get in trouble, makes me doubt.

I clicked the bottom for the elevator but he sits on the chair.

“Goodness gracious.” I whisper to myself before walking back and pull him to the elevator. 

He looks at me with his eyes as open as possible, still I didn't even say a word. 

The 10 floors seem eternal as the elevator goes up, I keep tipping the floor with my feet as it could make it go faster, getting distracted when I feel Max is sliding.

I complain internally about dad always teaching us help every time you can. I grabbed his arm and put it around me, at least he could lean on me. 

“Which one is your floor?” The smell of whisky is perceptible. 

“What? No, no, I'll take you. You're the one who almost got hurt.” I clicked my tongue; discussing with him is harder, now, being drunk could be a pain.

“Ok, at least you should tell me, just in case I need more help.” My words are pure irony.

He sighs and a rumble laugh comes out of him along with a. “Smart girl.” 

My giggle is an honest one. “Yes, I know.” 

When we reach the 12th floor Max keeps mumbling things about the race, the night and why he “thinks” he’s probably drunk. 

“Ok, which one is yours?” I practically dragged him out of the elevator begging no one else where in the hallway. 

He splits and leans on the wall. “No, no, no. You first.” He highcough, still I know I have to be patient.

“Why don’t we go to your room, calm and then you could leave on mine? If you throw up, at least I prefer to be in your room.” He scoffs but nods.

“Omg, Max?” I feel my blood turn cold when I hear another voice. “I thought you would say any drinks tonight.” A man runs to him and holding him avoids him crashing on the floor.

“It was the plan, just…” He plays with his fingers before grabbing the man shirt. “A few.” 

“Let’s go, I’ll take you to your room.” But Max splits and points to me.

“No, we almost made this young girl fall, I must leave her in her room safe.” Finally the man noticed my existence and smiled in an apologetic way.

“I’m sorry, but one of the girls called to the reception about Max making a scene in the lobby but when I arrived he was already gone.” The man extended his hand. “I’m Harry, teammate of Max.”

I take his hand. “Y/N Hamilton.” He blinked rapidly.

“Y/N Ham… Hamilton. Lewis sister?” He mumbled, still Max answered for me.

“His little sister, to be more clear.” Harry threw lethal eyes to him.

“You made Lewis little sister carry you up here in these conditions?” Max nods slowly and makes me smile. “Oh, right, I almost forgot, almost made her fall.”

“Fuck yeah.” Max answers and walks where I still was standing.

“No, no, let’s go Max, you need to lay down.” Harry tries to grab him but he already has his arm around my shoulders holding me tight. 

It’s obvious he won’t let go of his nonsense of leaving in my room. 

“Hey Max, let’s do what I propose, all right? Then you could leave in my room.” In his condition, as soon as he touches his bed he falls asleep. Harry watches us unsure however follows us until his room.

Inside I walked with him to his bed as Harry closed the door and ordered a strong coffee to his room. When we reached the border of his bed I carefully made him sit but he fell backwards and closed his eyes, like I predicted.

I was about to leave him when he spoke, turning to his left side. “Y/N, you’re pretty strong you know that?” 

His words left me surprised with a strange sensation of pride. Harry enters and apologizes one more time, saying he takes care of him.

“Thanks Y/N. Most of the people will leave him, making sure they win a good post on their feeds.” I nod before walking out of the room, this time after 20 minutes I arrive at my room.

By the time I was about to get in the plane, I received a text from Lewis complaining that I must wait for him to at least he take me to the airport but I calmed him down saying I take one of his boys to do that.

“Try to have fun, ok?” I keep reading his text before entering the house.

After my no-wedding I barely see my friends, I feel so ashamed and embarrassed even though there were just a few ones who used it all the “momentum” against me. This is the first time I came to a birthday party fully convinced.

“It's nice you came Y/N, thanks.” Thomas hugs me after I finally get the chance to talk to him, he’s the birthday boy.

“Oh my, look who’s here!” The voice of Hanna or I must say the scream makes Thomas sigh and I tense my whole body.

“I’m sorry but even if I tried, she always is in the wrong moment.” 

I take a deep breath before facing one more time my “best friend” who tactfully reminded me after and during 5 months of my broken heart.

“Go, I can deal with her.” Thomas is about to speak but it's his birthday, the last thing he needs is stress on his day. “I’m fine.” 

Thomas nods and walks away as Hanna comes closer, a drink in her hand and poison accumulation in her mouth.

“My girl, it’s been what? 9 or 10 months since we saw you?” Both of us know the last time she saw me it’s the day after my wedding. “And you barely reply to my texts.” 

“Yes, I've been kind of bussy.” I play with the ice of my drink to avoid making eye contact.

Hanna fake a compressive smile, predicting something she will say. “I can imagine after a failure like an almost wedding, there are a thousand things to do.” 

Even now she gets under my skin so easily.

“I sent you the invitation for my party but you didn't reply or anything like that.” She takes a sip of her drink.

“You know, it's the 21st century, when something is unwanted, hateful or something like that the mail goes right to the spam.” I turn around to see Mika challenge her.

Mika is a friend from the college who Hanna always told me it’s a witch, I guess it was her reflection in the mirror. 

“Mika, nice to see you.” Hanna said, trying to kill her with her eyes.

“I love to say the same but…” Mika eats his olive and smiles. “It’s stressful to see you.”

Hanna scoffs but I learn something about Mika all the months she helps me pack and making sure I barely see people who were enjoying seeing me that hurt, she doesn’t leave a prayer alive.

“But hey! Don’t worry, I’m not the only one who thinks the same here.” Hanna takes a deep breath before leaving us.

I take out all the air I’ve counted and smile at Mika. “Thanks.”

She smiles. “She’s been hunting you since she arrived, I was at the backyard with the food but Thomas gives heads up.” She takes the last sip of his martini. “Nevermind her, let’s party all night.”

I spent the night talking with friends, drinking and enjoying the night dancing, until the clock marked 2:37 am, and my legs screamed for rest. 

I say goodbye to everyone leaving Thomas and Mika at the end. “Thank you for inviting me.” I hug Thomas at his door. 

“Thanks for coming, hey, when you’re in town give us a call, any plan could come out.” He smiles at me.

“And if you need something for the refuge, we love to help.” Mika said, almost dragging her words.

I was about to get in the cap when unlucky Hanna realized I was about to leave. 

“Y/N make sure at least just pass another 4 months until we see you again.” The bloody wink makes my blood boil. 

The next morning I was received in the kitchen with an aspirin, and a black coffee.

“Long, funny night?” Dad smiles at me with a newspaper in his hands.

I cover my eyes with a napkin. “How can people do this every weekend?” 

Dad chuckles and I hear the slow but heavy steps in the wood floor along the gasp, Roscoe is coming.

“Hi, baby.” I carness his head as he closes his eyes. “Wait a little bit more and you’ll be with me.” 

After the race in Italy, I already talked with Lewis about taking Roscoe a week earlier before the race in Monaco, a little help and a needed backup for the team. 

“Me?” Dad asks standing to prepare the breakfast, I roll my eyes and clarify.

“Us, you’ll be with us.” I sat on the floor and gave a kiss to him. “Let’s keep a secret, I'm your favorite.” 

I arrived the night before the race, I had two visit schedules for seeing apartments and made it impossible for me to leave until the night; that’s why I don’t see my brother until early morning, indeed early morning.

“Morning.” I appeared at the restaurant of the hotel where he and Bottas were having breakfast before getting ready to go to the paddock.

“Oh, hi, I thought I’ll see you in the paddock.” I kiss his cheek before giving a hug to Bottas. 

“I’m hungry.” I joke as I sit with them, Bottas giggles and calls for the waitress.

“Something doesn't change.” We looked at him with curious eyes. “For winning something with his young lady, food is a shortcut.” 

Lewis laughs nodding incessantly. “I couldn't agree more.”

Arriving at the paddock when the drivers are doing the same, is total chaos, people, reporters and cameras all over the place, it’s like an obstacle race.

I walked to the Mercedes hospital next to Red Bull and in front of Ferrari, my eyes were stuck on my phone, when I felt someone soft touch.

I lift my eyes and I recognize the girl in front of me, the same that picked up Chalres. “Hi.”

“Hi, I’m Alexandra, Charles' girlfriend.” I nod, but don’t say another word. “I want to apologize for leaving you alone the other night.”

Oh I got it. “Oh, no worries, it’s ok.” I smile honestly as I put my hand on her arm.

“I hope someone went fast to help you, I tried to go back but Charles was a little bit of a troublemaker that night.” Well, at least I wasn’t the only one with that situation. 

I laughed and shook my head. “You’re the one who called to pick him?” Alexandra nods. “Thank you, and yeah, someone help me.”

“Great! I think I'm seeing you around right?” I realized I didn't introduce myself. 

“We could say that, I’m Lewis sister, Y/N.” She smiles but we were interrupted by Charles, who has an embarrassed expression.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” He giggles and covers his face with his hands. “I’m so embarrassed with you.” 

Alexandra giggles, it's obvious the love in her eyes. “When Alex told me what happened…” He sighs. “I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, containing the laugh. “It’s ok, don’t worry, I understand, great race.” 

“Max wasn't that drunk.” Alexandra plays with him, making him raise his eyebrow. “She’s in fact Lewis sister.” 

“Oh, he's definitely going to throw up this time.” Charles noticed the confusion on my face. “When Aelx told us what happened, Max said he had blurry memories of you helping him but we thought it’s the hangover, clearly it’s not.”

“Talking about the king of Rome.” Alexndra points to Max who’s coming out of Red Bull hospitality. 

When I turn around I see a red Max walking… dragging his feets to us, the blue t-shirt just makes the redness intensify.

“Am, Y/N?” Rosa calls me to appear at the door. “Your brother is looking for you.” I nod but the fact I don’t move makes her say one more thing. “Like, now.”

I open my eyes and before Max reaches us I apologize to them and wish Charles a good race, running inside as she holds the door for me.

“Making friends?” She smiles at me as I walk inside and put an arm around me.

[newtonsheffield]

Now I am streesssssed! Is Anthony totally going to think Kate’s weird vibes are to do with him, with their relationship?? 🫣 I beg of you a happy snippet of these two to calm my nerves 🎾

Yeah look, this is all sort of coming to a head next week so… buckle up for a bit of heart ache tbh.

But one day Anthony is sitting in the player’s box with that same hat on that she’d signed years before now. He’s sat between his mother in law and his sister in law and Ben is even sat behind him. But most importantly there’s a tiny boy running up and down with his smile and Kate’s curly hair and there’s another in Anthony’s arms with his hair starting to curl as it grows in.

“Anthony!”

He turned his head to see someone leaning over the divider with a cap and pen in his hand.

“Can I get an autograph?”

Anthony stood, balancing Miles, chuckling as Neddy grabbed onto the pocket of his shorts, following him.

“Thanks, I was a huge fan.”

“Amma usually does this.” Neddy said as Anthony scribbled his signature before he ruffled his son’s hair.

“Well a million years ago Papa was a tennis player too.”

“Like Amma?”

Benedict scoffed, “Not quite little Guy.”

Anthony shot his brother a look and opened his mouth to retort but was cut off by the roar of the crowd as the players were announced and Kate walked out onto the court.

“Amma!”Neddy squeaked, bouncing on the balls of his feet, his shoes lighting up. He turned back to the man who’d asked for Anthony’s autograph. “That’s my Amma!”

Anthony grinned, ruffling his hair again. “Yeah, that’s Amma.”

He waved to the man as Neddy scrambled forward, waiting for Anthony to sit before he scrambled onto his father’s lap watching attentively.

“Amma!” Neddy called out as Kate took out her racquet and Anthony felt his heart stutter as a slow smile made its way onto Kate’s lips.

She turned towards them and blew a kiss to Neddy who gasped excitedly and the crowd cheered as the moment was caught on camera.

“Okay boys, remember we need to cheer really loud so Amma can hear us.”

“I’ll cheer so loud.”

Mary chuckled, kissing the top of her grandson’s head. “Of course you will, sweet boy.”

“It really makes you wonder if he’s Kate’s.” Edwina mused poking her nephew in the stomach so he giggled. “Look at that sweet face.”

“Mmm she was such a sweetheart.” Mary hummed as they tossed the coin.

“It might surprise you to know I was once a very cute boy also.” Anthony said dryly. “You should see my baby photos.”

“Are they in colour or black and white?” Edwina asked with a sarcastic expression.

“Hilarious.”

“Amma’s going to win.” Neddy said under his breath. “She always wins.”

Kate did win. And she climbed the edge of the box just like always to kiss Anthony first and then the boys before she lifted Neddy down to stand beside her on the court and Anthony truly can’t believe that this is his life now when he sees Kate holding hands with their tiny son who’s giving Simon a high five.

Kate and his boys. It had felt impossible when he’d stood in the doorway of her hotel room all those years ago and he’d never take that for granted.

[dont-offend-the-bees]

The Kind of Light That Means Just Love (When My Baby Smiles at Me)

Had a prompt in writing group today and felt moved to write a sweet little Charles/Edwin fic! 1.4k, no warnings ^_^

Also readable on Ao3 (for registered users only - sorry, it's a last-ditch flimsy anti-AI scraping measure!)

~

Click!

Edwin blinked, partly in surprise – partly to dislodge the blots in his vision left behind by the sudden, rapid flash of white light that had danced across the pages of his book. He looked up to find the culprit grinning at him from across the room.

“Charles,” Edwin admonished, gently closing his book with a finger tucked between the pages to hold his place. “I have asked you to stop fooling around with that contraption and get some work done.”

“I have been!” Charles defended, gesturing broadly at the higgledy-piggledy array of items around him. Evidently, taking stock of the contents of his bag of tricks was an expansive task. “Taking a break.” He snatched the small square of paper from the Polaroid camera and began to shake it with abandon.

Edwin rolled his eyes. Ever since they’d acquired that camera as payment for a job ‘well jobbed’, Charles had scarcely put it down. Edwin, admittedly, had been intrigued by it at the start – it was certainly a testament to how far photographic technology had advanced since his own life and subsequent death. It was quite fascinating; seeing the slow, hulking monstrosities he’d been forced to sit rigidly still in front of for aeons in his youth, compressed into such a portable and efficient form. But after a few days of study, digging around in its component parts, comparing its output to that of sepia-tinted newspaper clippings from his day – as well as the baffling digital displays on Niko’s portable telephone – the novelty had worn off, and he’d turned his attention to more pressing matters.

But Charles remained enamoured. He’d had the thing slung round his neck for at least a week, and showed no signs of taking it off anytime soon.

The amateur photographer in question grinned infectiously, as the chemicals on the paper settled. “Ah, yeah. That’s a good one, that.”

He held it up proudly, and Edwin was treated to a lovingly framed image of the chair in which he sat, with an open book floating above it.

“I hardly see why you bother,” said Edwin, crossing his legs the other way and letting the book fall open on his knee. “Neither of us show up in photographs. I highly doubt that’s going to change with repeated exposures.” And a good thing, too, as Edwin hadn’t consented to be photographed in just his rolled-up shirtsleeves. His states of improper dress were quite strictly reserved for quiet, studious evenings in the privacy of their rooms; unlike Charles, he had standards with regard to flashing every dip and plane God gave him in mixed company.

“Well. Thought that counts, innit?” Charles bounced to his feet and over to the secondary cork board that had recently been added to the office. Unlike the first, which was full of case notes and theories, this one was exclusively populated by Charles’ photographic whims. The only faces that appeared were those of their living friends – Crystal, Niko, even one snap of Jenny wearing stiff shoulders and a reluctant grimace while Niko hugged her from the side.

Charles and Edwin featured only in the notable absences. Empty chairs, floating objects, the spaces between their friends in the group shots. The only one in which they were ‘visible’, by a loose definition of the word, was the one where Charles had insisted they cut eye holes out of white sheets and drape them over their heads. “Like Beetlejuice!” He’d said; and he’d sounded so excited that Edwin hadn’t even asked him why on earth one would juice a beetle, or what it had to do with playing dress-up.

The new photo found its home amongst a cluster of similar absent Edwins – a floating magnifying glass, an empty desk, a hand of Cluedo cards with no holder. “Brills,” Charles grinned, stepping back and crossing his arms to admire his collection.

“I really don’t see the point of this exercise,” said Edwin. “Who’d even know that’s a picture of someone?”

“I know, don’t I? I can look at these and be like –“ he pointed at the floating magnifying glass image – “That’s the time Edwin got all fussy about Niko’s rent contract ‘cause he thought her landlord was pulling a fast one. And this –“ his finger moved to the Cluedo cards – “This is the time Edwin knew what the answer was for forty bloody minutes, but he held off on making his accusation because he wanted to watch me go round and round in circles, like a knob. See what I mean?”

“Is your point that you keep these as evidence for blackmail?” Edwin asked.

“No, point is, I remember.” Charles tapped his forehead. “Got it all in here. Don’t need a bloody photo to remind me what you look like, do I? Seen you every day for the last thirty years.” He cast Edwin a flippant smile, soft round the edges like the warm browns of his hooded eyes. “Know your face better than I know my own.”

Edwin ducked his head, tamping down on the peculiar feeling in his face and stomach. Like an abrupt upset of the humours – an anomaly of the ectoplasm. At least, that’s how he would’ve characterised it some months or years ago. Now, he was more than painfully aware that it was probably more akin to the spectral equivalent of… blushing. Lord help him.

“Then why take the photographs at all?” Edwin pressed, setting his book aside and giving Charles his full attention. He winced at the sharp tone of his own voice. It was quite unintentional – he had no desire to judge, only to understand.

Fortunately, Charles knew his voice as well as his face. He shrugged, unoffended, eyes roving over his collection. “We’re still here, ain’t we? Not alive, but… we should have memories too, yeah?” He reached out, twitching the corner of a photo. One of Edwin – or the absence of him. Him and Niko, that is. Edwin remembered it well; remembered Niko perching birdlike on the arm of his chair, hugging his arm, nudging her head against his and beaming for the camera. She’d insisted he pose his fingers alongside hers, although in the end result of course only hers were visible. One half of a broken heart.

“Shouldn’t just be for the living, should it?” said Charles, smiling that strange, sad little smile of his at the picture. The one he was so careful not to let people see. “Making new memories to keep.”

Edwin rose, stepping carefully over Charles’ assorted chaos to join him at the board; and Charles watched his advance with that easy, open curiosity on his face. When Edwin’s hands clasped around the camera strap, Charles bowed his head and let him take the device without a fight.

Sometimes, his trust felt as real and visceral in Edwin’s hands as a living, beating heart. But now wasn’t the time for poetics.

Quickly reacquainting himself with the various switches, Edwin held the viewfinder to his eye, framed his shot, and took the snap. Charles did a remarkably good job at not flinching with the flash – but Edwin supposed this style of photography had been more commonplace in his lifetime. He just stood and watched, bemused, as Edwin retrieved the photograph and gave it three short, sharp shakes.

When the image of their photo board revealed itself, not a Charles to be seen despite the fact the camera had been pointed squarely at him, Edwin cocked his head and contemplated it. He had to concede that Charles had a point; though there was no Charles in the photo, Edwin could easily fill in the gaps himself. How could he not? He’d watched the white light paint Charles’ familiar, beloved features; highlighting the amused twitch of his lip, the fond warmth in his eyes. The glint of his gold chain against his white vest, cutting stark across the warm tones of his skin. The confused acceptance with which he’d stood perfectly calmly, waiting for Edwin’s motives to reveal themselves.

Edwin stepped up to the board and held out his hand. Wordlessly, Charles dropped a drawing pin into his palm.

“This,” said Edwin, glancing sidelong at Charles as he carefully pinned the photo up beside the silly shot of the two of them in their butchered bedsheets. “Is the time Charles made a surprising amount of sense; whilst talking utter nonsense.”

Charles smiled, brighter than a camera flash; the after-image of which Edwin would be carrying on the backs of his eyes for days to come.

~

Hope you liked it! Comments and reblogs are super duper appreciated! ^_^ 💛

I have no idea if I'm gonna write/post more fic for these guys, tbh my interest is relatively casual atm and my time/concentration is limited, plus at any given moment I may be lured in by the siren call of horror movie fic on my alt account. But they're very sweet and I have the odd plot bunny so we'll see!

[beansprean]

Why is Stu working at a Sunoco in Staten Island, you say? Why don't u mind ya business! God forbid werewolves do anything.

My Familiar's Ghost part 8

Masterpost

(ID in alt and under cut)

ID: 1. Wide shot of a Sunoco gas station at night, the pumps empty, an open sign glowing red at the door. In the foreground, Nandor and Colin are walking toward it, backs to the viewer. Colin, now wearing a wool coat, pipes up "Nandor, did you know if your hand is bigger than your face, you have cancer?" Nandor replies shortly, "I am a vampire, Colin Robinson, I cannot get the cancer." Colin responds, "Right. Can't be too careful, though."

2a. Close up of Colin doing a talking head. With a wry smile, he explains, "Yeah, I've been experimenting with early 2000s-based humor." 2b. His voiceover continues over the next panel: "My housemates seem mostly immune, but reminding millennials how old they are provides a remarkably quick drain." Overlayed in sepia, we see Colin in another scene, sitting next to a young woman on a bus. He looks at his phone and remarks, "Huh. Shrek was released 21 years ago today." The woman next to him immediately slumps over and slams her head against the bus window, fully asleep and drooling.

3a. Back at the Sunoco, Nandor and Colin have reached the door. Nandor grins triumphantly, pointing toward a sign that reads "Please come in!" Colin smiles and gives him a thumbs up. 3b. Shot from inside the Sunoco from behind the counter, showing a close up of an employee stocking cigarettes. The employee is a white man in his 40s with lank dark blonde hair and three large pink scars on his forehead and cheek. His name tag says "Stu". He glances over to the side as there is a loud rattling at the door, and offscreen we hear Nandor griping "I thought that would work! Fucking door!" Colin snaps back, "It says push!" Nandor just responds with an "Oh," and the door opens with a ding.

4a. Stu turns around to face the new customers, starting to say "Welcome to-" before Nandor leans in on the counter and cuts him off, wiggling his hand in front of Stu's face. Nandor uses his best hypnosis voice, speech bubble glowing green, to command "Smelly shop worker, you will tell me the whereabouts of the one called Eric-" "Derek," Colin corrects, sidling up to him with a patient smile. "Derek," Nandor finishes. 4b. Reverse shot, extreme closeup of Nandor and Colin in the foreground facing each other, Stu framed between their profiles in the background. Stu looks mildly perturbed but unhypnotized as he replies, "Oh, uh. I'm not allowed to give out employee information." Nandor hisses to Colin, "It's no use! He doesn't want to tell us!" Colin drawls back, "You're really crap at this hypnosis thing, huh?"

5a. Reverse shot, Colin says "Step aside for the pro," and plants a hand on Nandor's chest to move him back, stepping confidently in front to face Stu. Nandor looks ruffled but allows the switch. Colin points upwards and asks, "Say, is that a Panasonic WV-S3131L security camera? I prefer the Argo system myself. You really can't beat the 4K resolution..." 5b. Shot from behind Nandor's head as he waits, Colin and Stu conversing quietly with blank speech bubbles. 5c. Colin turns and rushes back over to Nandor, looking a little panicked as he explains, "Well, that didn't work. He was actually interested in what I was saying!" Nandor puts a hand to his chin thoughtfully and narrows his eyes at Stu, who is standing behind the counter staring at him with a question mark over his head. Nandor declares, "This guy is crafty...we need a new plan." /end ID

[flamingpudding]

DPxDC Family Week June 21 (Day 4)

Prompt: Friends | Surprise

A/N: I hope this is not a hit and miss on the prompts but this came out when I thought about Danny and his friends. Also... I really wanted to get the Joker souped :D

AO3 Link: DPxDC Family Week Contributions

Bruce found himself with a rather particular problem as he faced the newest addition to the Wayne Family in the bat cave. Daniel James Fenton-Wayne, stood before him sandwiched between his more than obvious to best friends. The boy wasn't looking up but staring at the ground, shoulders hunched and drawn into himself, hair ash white, dressed in a hazmat suit and glowing green eyes that reminded him too much of his second eldest certain issue. His two friends on the other hand were standing protectively next to him clearly openly glaring at him well at Batman but that wasn't important.

He was pretty sure that Danny was supposed to be at the Manor the entire time getting used to his new room with the addition of his two friends that had accompanied him to Gotham to help him getting settled. Not come flying at the joker out of a vertical Lazarus Pit with his friends in tow. Behind him he knew that at least one of his other sons were fretting. They had yet to tell Danny about the family secret and this development was definitely a surprise to everyone as the three teenagers before him had mentioned that they know his identity at least.

A little earlier that day.

"Come on Danny let's explore the Manor a little. There is bound to be something hidden. Every big shot has their secret."

"Think we will find proof that Batman and Bruce Wayne have a thing for each other?"

"Sam! No!" The halfa groaned into the pillow of his oversized bed, Sam sitting at the edge while Tucker was curiously going along the walls, knocking against it every couple of meters to see if there was something hidden.

"Well what do you want us to do? The lab blew up and you got adopted by a rich guy, while Jazz got spared but she can't take you in at the moment."

"Yeah man, we are lucky it wasn't Vlad but I am not sure if Wayne is better given his public image."

"You know that could be a front right?" Danny muttered his chin resting on the pillow as he stared at his friends.

"Like Vald, he acts like a nice Mayor but is a total fruitloop."

"So you're saying Bruce's image is like that and he is in reality completely different?" Sam concluded crossing her arms as she mulled over that thought. "So the secret is he bangs Batman?"

"SAM!"

"Aha! Secret wiring!" Tucker cut in before, removing a piece of the wall to get to a wire, his PDA in hand and checking if he could connect the wire to it.

Danny's eye twitched. He loves his friends he really does but their conspiracies were not something he could get behind on right now. "Tuck you probably got the power cable of the lights there. Drop it."

"That, my friend, is a cable to a heat sensor."

"So what? Floor heating, we established already that Amity was way's behind in technology."

"Danny, if there is one thing I know about being rich, it's that nothing is as simple as it seems in old manors. Bruce Wayne is suspicious and we should-"

"No."

"But-"

"No."

"Danny-"

"No."

"Look what we have here, camera wiring! Let's see what video feats I can get into…"

"No-Wait what?!"

"Told you that man is suspicious."

Danny glared at Sam's smug face while Tucker was completely engrossed in getting into the Manors network system. In the end he let out a sigh and let him get dragged along by his friends' antics with a fond smile. Ancients couldn't they just live with him here too? They wouldn't need to go back to Amity right? Better maybe he could just go back with them, but he knew he couldn't.

There was no longer a home to return to.

"Danny, hey Danny."

Blinking out of his thoughts he found both his friends by his room door urging him to come along. In a fluid motion he jumped off the bed and followed them. Tucker was the one leading them, having apparently gotten into the video feat and was now trying to find something specifically. Whatever his best friend had found, it had him convinced that there was a secret cave below the manor.

"I found a blind spot!" He suddenly declared making them stop by a corner of the hallway.

"Your turn, Danny. Phase us through the floor." Sam more told him than asked, eyes gleaming with mischievousness. With a sigh, followed by a head shake and a fond smile, he placed a hand on each shoulder. Taking them with him through the floor, still not believing his friends.

Only for them to really end up in a cave, a bat themed cave. They were standing in the goddamn bat cave!

Both Sam and Tucker started cheering about how they were right and how it was so badass to have a cave like that under your home and also that Bruce had to be Batman now. Completely forgetting that Danny used to have a lab below his previous home.

"Okay I give it to you guys. You were right but wha-" A breath of cold air left his lips and Danny whipped his head around. How had he not noticed a pool of corrupted ectoplasm? Ancients now that he was so close to it he could feel the stinking icky feeling power it radiated. Fuck did he end up trading a destroyed portal to the Ghost Zone for ectoplasmic waste dump of said realm?

"Guys!" Before he could say anything more a fucking hand, that was very familiar to him, reached out of the green pool of yuck and Danny of course being the closest got grabbed by it. His friends, ever so loyal, heard his yell grab him by the arms to pull him back only to get dragged with him through it.

"DANNY!"

-------

The Joker was on the loose again and Batman was in pursuit. Nightwing, Red Hood and Red Robin were attempting to cut off the escape route while Robin was with him.

Signal, Orphan and Spoiler were taking out some goons before they could join up with the rest of them.

The situation was getting dangerous. Whatever that mad man had planned it involved something that looked like a Lazarus Pit but it was in a Vertical position.

It was definitely grading on Red Hood's nerves.

They needed to do something and that fast. He couldn't let that mad man run loose any longer.

If everyone was additionally a little bitter and aggressive with the Joker because the rouge was preventing the entire family from spending time with their newest addition then that was not his problem to deal with.

-------

"FLY FASTER DANNY!"

"I AM TRYING TOO"

"HOW DID WALKER MANAGE TO DRAG US INTO THE GHOST ZONE! THERE WAS NO PORTAL!"

"WE GOT DRAGGED THROUGH A LEAKING GARBAGE DISPOSAL!"

"EW!"

Dodging the beams as best as he could while holding on to his friends Danny, in his ghost form, did everything he could to lose Walker while also trying but currently failing at not getting lost in the GZ. Maneuvering this place like this was definitely not easy. He recognised a way to Far Frozen but he couldn't take his friends there like this, so he took another sharp turn. Maybe if they could come across someone like Wulf, they could find an easy way to get back to earth.

"WATCH OUT!"

Making another turn he barely avoided a floating rumble as well as another blast from behind them.

"Guys we need a way out!" He all but screamed in desperation holding onto his two friends for dear life. All they did was explore the manor to find Bruce's secrets, they hadn't signed up for getting dragged into the Ghost Zone let alone get stuck without a clear way back.

"Over there is a natural portal!" Tucker suddenly pointed out and Danny took another sharp turn rounding more floating rock.

"Nu-hu! I am not taking my chances with that! What if we end up in Acients Egypt or Medieval Europe?"

"It's a natural portal, not a clockwork portal." Danny argued back, taking another turn. The portal was getting smaller.

"Sam! Come once we are out we can figure out the rest like always!"

"Okay, fine!" With a U-turn like stunt Danny course corrected and with an iron grip on his friends, rushing towards the natural portal that was closing.

Luckily they made it through before it could close on them, successfully losing Walker on the other side. But with the speed they had been going as well as the sudden return of normal gravity to his friends the three were not able to stop in time and once through the portal they ended up slamming into the body of someone, knocking them to the ground with them.

-------

The Lazarus pit thing was closing but right before it closed three teenagers flew right through it tackling the Joker to the ground.

"Are those teenagers?!"

"More importantly, aren't those Danny's friends?!"

One of his children screamed into the coms. This was not good at all. How did Danny's friends even end up here, what about Danny? If his friends were here, where was he?

Just as he was going to give the signal to move in to remove the three teenagers, the white haired one slowly got up and looked at who he had landed on and screamed bloody murder, alerting the other two teenagers.

"FREAKSHOW!"

"Danny!"

"Thermos!"

"TUCKER, YOU HAD THAT ENTIRE TIME?!"

"Not now, soup the clown!"

Stunned, the bat clan watched how the three teenagers stumbled off the Joker and pointed a thermos at the dazed clown. A light beam later and the clown disappeared from sight. The three teenagers slumped down leaning against each other.

"That's it, we are never going exploring in a billionaire's manor ever again." The white haired teen grumbled tiredly leaning against his two friends.

"Danny, you know we will do that again anyway." The boy countered, who Bruce recognised as Tucker. "Also you need serious therapy with that clown problem of yours."

"You can't scream 'Freakshow' everytime you see one." Looking at the girl between the three once again he recognised Sam. These were definitely his newest son's friends. And considering they called the white haired between them Danny, it could only mean that he was said, newest family addition.

-------

Back to the current situation…

Danny's two friends were still glaring at him.

"What are you planning to do with Danny now?"

"Nothing."

"Bull, we know you don't like Metas!"

It was good that Danny had such protective friends but Bruce was definitely out of his depths in this situation. He suppressed a sigh and held up a hand to placidate them for the moment. It already had been difficult enough to get the three back to the bat cave. When the three had realized their audience, Danny had looked ready to run while his friends and become very visibly protective. Overhearing the two friends whispering that a billionaire could never be trusted after all. It left him no choice but to drag them to the cave and get a somewhat unbelievable but apparently real, considering he saw the Joker get 'souped', statement from the three.

They had figured out his identity, Danny was a Meta with 'ghost' powers and apparently the Joker had died and gotten dipped into a Lazarus Pit often enough to be 'souped' in a specially made thermos.

"Since when?"

"Since when what?" Sam, apparently a very stubborn young girl, huffed back her arms crossed and holding herself like she was ready to throw a punch if needed.

"Since we know your Bruce? Dude, you left as alone in the Manor. We were bound to find some secrets." The boy, Tucker added now more relaxed and focusing on something on his PDA, Bruce wanted to confiscate just to make sure the teenager wasn't giving out his secret but was refraining from doing so.

Nightwing snickered behind him and he refused to look over his shoulder to glare at his oldest instead he let out a heavy sigh.

"Daniel James Fentom-Wayne." He felt a little bad at how the white haired boy flinched. "You and your friends got dragged by a ghost through the Lazarus Pit-" He ignored the boy muttering something about a garbage disposal leak. "-into what you called the 'Ghost Zone' also known as the Infinit Realms."

The three nodded, two still glaring at him. "The three of you then got stranded and hunted by the same ghost in the ghost zone. Only to finally escape through a natural portal to slam into the Joker."

Again they nodded. "You then proceeded to 'soup' him." He eyed the thermos Danny was still holding and had not yet handed over to him. "And it worked because he died as well as got thrown often enough into a Pit to count as 'ghost'."

"Well actually it's part ecto-entity -ow- Sam!"

"Ghost, yes he means ghost." The girl had just elbowed his son while the other boy took over talking. He could hear Sam hissing something along the lines of 'you don't do the talking we do'.

Bruce cleared his throat. "So the Joker is in this thermos now." It was a statement rather than a question. His second oldest whistled and he chose to ignore that.

"We can let him out, but I kinda want to give him over to Walk-ow-"

"He can be let out anytime." Once again one of his son's friends elbowed him while the other answered in his stead. They were very trying to protect something here and for now Bruce would let them.

"Since when were you a Meta, Danny?" He let out a sigh as he decided to change the topic. Clearly Danny's friends were stopping him from sharing certain information. He would have to try again later.

"Since-" Once again Danny was stopped from talking by his friends but this time he was giving them a light glare and whined. A second later two rings of light appeared around his middle and he changed back to the boy he knew.

"Magical girl transformation." One of his other kids snickered and once again Bruce choose to ignore.

"Since his accident." Tucker answered and as if reading his mind the boy continued. "Also the start of Danny's hero stick. Feel free to look up Phantom but I doubt you will get much without having ecto-infused equipment."

"If you plan on hurting Danny, Batman or not we will find a way to destroy you." Sam added glaring at him.

"Want me to lend you my tire bar?" This time he did look over his shoulder staring disapprovingly at his second oldest.

Turning back to the teenagers, he let out a suffering sigh, mentally noting down that he will have to look up what they mentioned later as well as probably contact Constantine. The three apparently took that as the sign that his questioning was over and started to talk among themselves again.

"So Danny, how does it feel knowing Batman is your new Dad?"

"Tucker."

"At least we know now that he doesn't bang billionaires. So Superman?"

"SAM!"

"Superman."

"TUCK!"

Bruce's eye twitched as he cleared his throat, gaining their attention again.

"Daniel, you're grounded." And after a moment of consideration in regards to the information he got from them and the conclusion he could draw from that. "You are also benched from any form of vigilante work you do until we had a talk about that."

[icequeenlila]

Avatar Human AU- Christmas (slight Locorro)

It's Christmas Day

Spider comes over to the Sully household

the holidays turn Neytiri soft enough to let him stay the night

Neteyam and Neytiri are in the kitchen, preparing for dinner

Jake and the rest of the kids are in the living room, decorating the tree

there are christmas songs playing through the house and Jake, Lo'ak and Spider are singing along, horribly out of tune

they think they are hilarious, but Kiri is actually considering violence

also, she is annoyed bc the boys and Tuk have no sense of aesthetic

she has her own vision for the christmas tree, but dosen't stand a chance against her family's chaos

but she's having fun ofc

Lo'ak and Spider are goofing around as always

Spider almost lands in the tree at one point, Tuk screaming at the top of her lungs

when they are done, Neteyam comes from the kitchen to lift Tuk up, so she can put the star onto the top of the tree

Lo'ak and Spider are badly pining, and painfully oblivious

Kiri is SO done with them, and Neteyam is laughing at her misery

uncle Norm is chillin on the couch, tipsy from one eggnog too many

tipsy enough to laugh at Jake's dad jokes

later that day, Tuk freaks out bc Jake forgott to set a timer for her christmas cookies

they turn out slightly on the burnt side

what is she supposed to leave for Santa now? He won't leave her any presents! Dad, you had one job!

everyone helps trying to save her cookies with a hideous amount of frosting

Tuk: "But they won't taste good!"

Jake: "Don't worry, Santa eats so many cookies in one night. Most of them, he only takes with him, so the children won't be sad. I heard we are pretty much the last house on his list, so he'll just save them for his elves. He'll never know."

Tuk is impressed with her father's knowledge

Neytiri is torn between smiling and frowning

she never was too big of a fan, telling their kids the lie of an old man climbing down their chimney, bringing them gifts

her parents never made her and Sylwanin believe in Santa

but still, she loves the way her daughter's eyes light up, and how fond the smile on Jake's face is when talking about it

so she says nothing

Lo'ak actually believed in Santa until he was fourteen

Jake was already starting to sweat when he realized his youngest son wasn't taking the hint

how do you explain to your child that you basically lied to them their whole life?

Easy. You let your daughter handle it.

Kiri did the job

Lo'ak was surprisingly chill when she finally opened his eyes

Lo'ak: "Actually, that makes a lot more sense."

Spider is super happy to spend christmas with his friends, since the relationship with his dad isn't the best

the Sully kids have a present prepared for him

they have worked on it collectively

it's a collage with pictures of all of them:

the freak trio (Kiri, Lo'ak, Spider) on the ice rink, Spider and Lo'ak to each of Kiri's sides, holding her hands so she won't lose her balance

Neteyam holding Spider in a headlock, grinning widely at the camera (Spider bet he could beat him in a fight)

Spider sitting on the ground, bows all over his hair, eyes closed shut as Tuk sprays glitter all over his head

Spider in Jake's wheel chair, screaming, Lo'ak behind him, laughing his ass off as he drives both of them down an empty steep road (it's actually a screen shot from the video they had took to send Kiri)

(they had stolen some weed from Norm before doing this, hence their stupidity)

(Lo'ak got grounded for a month after this, and Spider wasn't allowed to come over during that time)

Neteyam was the one to go to the copy shop to print out the pictures

Tuk had colored the frame herself (very colourful, with a heavy use of glitter)

Lo'ak was the one to work strictly under Kiri's command, cutting out the pictures neatly as she arranged them to look good (Kiri could get a tiny bit scary when it came to her aesthetic, Lo'ak didn't argue once)

Spider smiles and laughs over the pics they had chosen, but everyone can see that he's barely holding back tears

they don't make it a big deal, the present says it all (they care!)

Kiri secretly gifts him another framed picture, one of the time the trio had a movie nigh

the boys both fell asleep on the couch, and somehow Lo'ak ended up on Spider's chest

Kiri had taken several pictures (as blackmail)

Spider blushes madly when he sees it, and immediately stuffs it into his bag

+

This is vague, but it's just supposed to be something short and cute, sooo....

I came up with all of this while decorating our tree. I have a vague part 2. The Locorro part to be more clear. If I get the impression you like this, I'll give it more thought.

A happy Christmas to all of you! I hope you are well and healthy and I wish you all the best!!!✨

[imanormalkstan]

Seoul drift (a Zico Oneshot)

Idol!Zico X Idol!Reader (Female)

Third person POV

The night wrapped Seoul in an embrace of shadows and mysteries. Y/N and Zico, two stars of music, walked together, hiding their love from the world. It was a sweet and heavy secret, a melody played in a half-voice.

Y/N: “Zico, every note I sing I wish was for you, but silence is the only melody we can share. I dream of the day when we can be ourselves, without masks.”

Zico: “Y/N, our love song deserves to be heard. Tonight, I promise you will feel the free heartbeat of Seoul, and it will be our symphony.”

Avoiding the curious glances, Zico led Y/N towards his motorcycle. It was a dark steed that promised adventures and whispers of freedom. With a shiver of excitement, Y/N clung to him, and together they launched themselves into the streets pulsating with life.

Y/N: “Zico, it’s like the world opens up before us, without judgment, without fear.”

Zico: “This is our night, Y/N. Let the wind take us where destiny can’t follow.”

Hidden in the embrace of an alley forgotten by time, far from the chaos and bright lights of Seoul, Zico and Y/N stopped, their breathing labored from the race. Zico’s motorbike, still warm from the journey, whispered softly in the silence of the night.

Zico: “Y/N, this is our moment, far from everything and everyone.”

Their hands intertwined, fingers that sought each other with the shyness of first meetings, but with the certainty of those who have known each other for a lifetime. Zico, with a delicate gesture, lifted Y/N’s helmet, revealing his face illuminated by the moon. His eyes shone like two stars fallen from the firmament, reflecting the immensity of their secret love.

Y/N: “Zico, every time you look at me like that, the world around you disappears. It’s just you and me, and nothing else matters.”

Zico moved closer, his breath hot against Y/N’s cold skin. Their foreheads touched, a contact as light as the flutter of a butterfly’s wings. Time seemed to have stopped, granting them an eternity in an instant.

Zico: “Y/N, every kiss I didn’t give you in public, every hug I held back, now I claim them all.”

Their lips met, a kiss that had been dreamed, imagined and desired in a thousand songs never written. It was sweet and desperate, a kiss that spoke of promises and dreams, fears and hopes. A kiss that was a bridge between two worlds, the one they showed and the one they lived. As they lost themselves in that kiss, the rustle of a footstep, the click of a camera tore them abruptly from their refuge of love. It was a shot that would change everything, but in that moment, nothing could dent the purity of their feeling. It was a stolen shot, a private moment transformed into a public scandal.

Waking up was a riot of emotions. The images of their kiss were everywhere, and the nasty comments followed one another endlessly. Y/N felt lost, a ship at the mercy of the waves.

Y/N: “Zico, this is too much. The whole world is judging us. Maybe it’s better if…”

Zico: “Y/N, don’t let this storm break what we’ve built. Our love is stronger than any photo, than any word.”

Zico’s words were a beacon in the storm, but Y/N’s pain was deep. Sitting in the dark, tears flowed silently as she read the poisonous comments. Every word was a knife that cut her soul, every judgment a weight that crushed her heart.

Y/N: “I don’t know if I can bear this pain, Zico. It’s like every word is tearing a piece of me away.”

Zico: “Y/N, the pain you feel is proof that what we have is real. Don’t let the darkness extinguish our light. Together, we can overcome this too.”

With a hug, Zico gathered Y/N’s pain, and together they found the strength to rise again.

With a gesture of defiance, Y/N and Zico decided to show the world their truth. They posted a series of photos: a kiss in the rain, a hug in a field of flowers, a shared smile in a moment of joy. Each image was a declaration of love, a hymn to their union.

Fan: “You are the voice of those who are not afraid to love! Your story is our story!”

Zico: “Y/N, our love has created a bridge between us and the world. Now we can walk with our heads held high, hand in hand, without hiding anymore.” From that day on, Y/N and Zico no longer hid. Their relationship became a beacon for anyone who believed in true love. Their music rang with new notes, notes of hope and freedom, and their story became a legend.

The sun rose over Seoul, painting the sky pink and gold. Y/N and Zico, hand in hand, walked along the Han River, the beating heart of the city. It was a new beginning, a fresh chapter in their love story.

Y/N: “Zico, looking at this sunrise, I feel like we can face anything. Your strength is my strength.”

Zico: “And your voice, Y/N, is the melody that guides my path. Together, we can sing a song that no one will ever forget.”

Their decision to live love out in the open had unleashed an outpouring of support. Fans rallied around them, forming a chorus of voices celebrating love in all its forms.

Fan: “Your story has taught us that love is the courage to be vulnerable. You are an example to all of us!”

Zico: “Every step we take, every note we play, is for you, for us, for the love that unites us.”

And so, Y/N and Zico continued to live their love story, a hymn to true love that resonated in the streets of Seoul and beyond, a song of hope for all those who had the courage to love.

A/N: Hi guys, I hope you enjoyed this story! Don't forget to comment and follow me! Bye bye❤

©freakzico all rights reserved (don't copy/repost my work, you can only re-blog, tagging me, or like if you like it)

[chadwickbosemanfanfic]

Synopsis: Nicole Beharie and Chadwick Boseman have trouble turning off their attraction when the cameras are no longer rolling. But this is business, and neither of them would ever cross that boundary. However, during the press tour, with time to finally be alone, the two confront the lingering tension since the first day on set. Most Recent Fanfic Publication: 2024

Cast Masts to Secret Lovers

* Mature Audiences Only *

By far the best movie husband, but this is strictly business. Obviously. He was so attentive. So present. Such a gentleman who looked out for her on set. Made certain she was comfortable. Established a level of intimacy she had never experienced with a cast mate. She had to remind herself that it was completely normal for the body to respond to heated scenes, no matter how professional.

Though, she did not intend to let things go this far. They were directed to consider chemistry and the nature of the relationship. The familiarity between the two characters, based on a real union that was publicized.

He’s just acting. We’re just acting.

Reminding herself of the convincing, method-acting of her co-star was the only way she could manage not to overanalyze the first scene they ever shot together. The first on-screen kiss they shared. They agreed that a married couple would certainly share a passionate kiss. The both of them also decided that passionate meant a gradual open-mouthed kiss. But when she felt his tongue, there was an immediate charge between them that made her instinctively deepen the kiss. The warmth of his hands lowered on her body. Shoulders, arms, torso and above her waist. Strong fingers drew her closer. When the cameras stopped rolling, his scent lingered. So did the taste of his fresh breath and the yearning she tried to ignore.

To her luck, this seemed to be the first question people asked during the press tour with him sitting by her side.

“What was your first scene like?”

She kept her cool, smiling. “We actually shot scenes out of order, of course. Which, is typical with movies as shooting them in order can prolong the process or cost more,” she was rambling. She glanced over at Chadwick. “The first screen certainly thrusted me into the role,”

He nodded, smiling and finishing her point. He added, “Our first scene was on the sidewalk,” he laughed, eyeing the interviewer mischievously. “I would describe it as an intense scene that definitely broke the ice. But we have worked together before on—.”

“Wait, the kissing scene? That sidewalk scene?”

Chadwick cut eyes at Nicole, both simultaneously nodding. “One of the best movie wives,” his hand found hers, intertwining fingers. He squeezed, flashing her a smile before gently releasing her hand.

“Whoa, are you two dating? Are we breaking exclusive news?”

Nicole and Chadwick quickly responded with polite nos.

“How do actors handle a scene like that and still keep it professional? Do we have the clip? You too were using tongue!”

Chadwick grew serious. “We made sure to discuss and coordinate a plan of action before ever getting in front of the camera. It was important to me that she was comfortable. I also preferred if she initiated and guided the kiss. I intended to follow her lead,”

“In some cases on films, there’s an intimacy coach. But, we have worked together in a previous film—,”

“The Express,” the interviewer did his homework, smiling proud when Chadwick and Nicole both nodded.

“Yes, so, we had some familiarity and besides, this guys a pretty dynamic method actor,” she leaned to nudge Chadwick’s arm. When she looked up at him, she appreciated his smile but was uncertain about the look in his eyes. She quickly looked away and put her eyes on the interviewer, hoping he didn’t notice her concealing the electricity in the pit of her stomach.

What the hell was happening? Why was she being so unprofessional? She was relieved when the interview concluded. It was time for them to slip in their limo and head to the airport. He’s a gentleman, so it came as no surprise that he was holding her hand heading to the car. He walked through the crowd with the help of security, pausing to sign autographs wherever he could given the person provided a writing utensil. Then, searching for her hand again to continue their walk. When she felt a slight tug, she drew closer.

“Are you exhausted,” his voice was low.

She frowned, wondering if she was giving raccoon eyes. “No, why do you ask?”

“Would you mind going to dinner with me once we land,” he gazed down on her, still strolling. “We’ve never officially had the chance to celebrate alone,” flashes from cameras occurred on occasion on either side of them but he didn’t seem to care. His smile was warm, inviting.

“I’d love that,”

His hand squeezed hers as they approached the limo. He insisted that he open her door while playfully greeting the driver. She slid inside, watching him enter after her. His cologne complemented the fresh aroma around them.

The interior of the limo was like peanut butter. It was spacious with a wine cooler and what she believed was a mini-fridge. When he slid inside, he provided some distance between them. Maybe for her comfort but she was a little disappointed.

The driver closed the door behind them.

“What’s wrong, mind if I get a little closer?”

She smiled. “Don’t mind,”

He slid closer, “How are you feeling?”

She eyed him for a moment. Considered her words. “Chadwick, this tour is taking a toll on me,”

“If you’re tired, we have about 45 minutes or so until we arrive at the airport. I could resist the urge to talk with you and let you get some rest,” he smiled down on her, leaning in to bump her side.

“That’s not what I mean,” her hand hit his firm thigh. She realized she enjoyed taking any opportunity to touch him.

She noticed him frown slightly, but then his eyebrows relaxed. “It’s taking a toll on me as well,”

She laughed. “You don’t have to try making me feel better about this,” she playfully hit his chest. “Besides, I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing. Playing your wife has been the most confusing experience in my career. As brief as it feels now.”

He found her hand. “Do you mind if we get closer?”

She didn’t think before adjusting with him. She gave her body permission to get closer. Besides, they were finally alone again. This time, with a different charge between them. Somewhere between the morning interviews to the evening, the chemistry between them found it’s way to the pit of her stomach and between her thighs every moment he gazed down at her with those intense eyes and slight smile. A smile she knew all too well. A smile she often missed whenever they had to go their separate ways.

“Chad,”

His left arm was around her. Their right and left leg warm against each other. He caught her eye in response.

“Tell me I’m not crazy or being unprofessional whenever I share this,” she assessed his calm expression. “Are we… do you…”

His smile widened and his eyes lowered.

“What? Don’t tease me,”

“Not at all,” he grinned. “Just glad to know it’s not just me.”

“Not just you? You mean,” she paused, sitting up straight and eyeing him suspiciously. “Spit it out,”

He laughed. “I asked you to dinner because I don’t want the day to end when we return,”

She was surprised. Shocked and relieved. “The third interview in New York was tough for me,”

“Separate cars,” he agreed. “I missed you after,”

She eyed him. “You put up such a great front, Mr. Boseman,” she laughed. “I would have never known,” she playful pushed at his chest. His hand caught hers.

“Every time you touch me, you made it difficult,”

She laughed, playfully going for his nose. Then ears. He leaned in the opposite direction, taking her with him. She adjusted with him, slipping through the nook his legs made when he tossed his left one over her head and behind her. Still smiling, she watched him closely. Lying on his side propped up with a leather cushion. She stretched a little to bring her face inches from his.

“This feels more normal now than I expected,”

His playful demeanor broke slightly. “Can I kiss you?”

She watched his eyes lower on her lips. She admired his features, tracing his long lashes that she remembered first noticing on set. She felt his chest rise against hers. Cool air exhaled slowly from his nostrils. She drew closer, her lips brushing against his. A firm hand came to the small of her back as she felt him adjust his lower half. She sank further between his legs just as he closed the gaps between their mouths. She whimpered against the warmth of his body and full lips guiding hers.

It was the first time they ever kissed off set.

When he pulled back, she stretched to capture his lips again, wanting to savor the moment. “No,” her body squirmed as if it could get any closer.

He laughed internally, flicking his tongue to tease her. She whimpered, feeling his hand massage the curve of her ass. “Nicole,” he shifted so that she was lying on his left side with their legs intertwined and faces inches from one another.

She heard her name but she was more focused on the movement of his lips. She pecked. Pecked again. Then, lingered. His groan was the sound of release, just as she felt him grip her thigh.

She found his long fingers and guided his hand between her legs, relieved that she decided to wear a dress.

“Shit,” her gasp accompanied his touch. Strong fingers slid over the fabric of her silk panties, adding pressure when making it to her sensitive clit. “Do you think we have time,” her question was strained.

His eyes were hooded but his smile was gentle. The tips of his fingers caressed the skin beside her panties, finding their way inside of the thin fabric. First, his middle finger gently slid inside of her. When she whimpered, he brought his mouth to her ear, kissing her neck and earlobe. “We have time,” it was a breathy assurance as his mind processed the feeling of her. She was turned on longer than he thought. Her body wrapped around his finger, warm and wet. He wanted to lick her from his finger but he decided to put her needs first. His finger pulled out of her to run across her clit.

“Chad,”

He brought his mouth to her ear. Kissed. Licked. “Do you want me to stop?”

“Of course not,”

He applied pressure. Her left leg widened and he propped himself on his left elbow, watching her. He smiled at the pleasure in her frown. Her closed eyes as if she was concentrating on all of the sensations. His finger lowered, dipping back inside of her, warranting a squeaky, wet sound as he played. Her hips lifted from the seat to guide him deeper. He added another finger, making sure to also press against her clit.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” her eyes opened, desperately clinging on to her composure.

“Relax,” he kissed her forehead. Her cheek. Lips. Side of her neck. Lowered himself and brought hands on either side of her to work his way down her body. Over the fabric of her dress, he licked and kissed her right nipple. Bit. She frowned but it was from more pleasure than pain. His hands gripped the dress that pulled at her waist, hiking it up so that he could plant kisses on her stomach. His tongue dipped in her belly button, circled a heart around it, making her laugh.

He cut eyes up at her, happy to see she was watching. And relaxed. “Comfortable?”

She lifted herself on her elbows. “Very, are you?”

“Mmhmm,” his hum was intentional. He stayed close to her skin, planting kisses beneath her navel.

She anticipated for him to go lower, but he paused. Smirking, he eyed her.

To be continued.

[sequinsmile-x]

family photo, everyone is wearing matching sweaters knit by penelope and the youngest is so uncomfortable at how itchy it is that they just can’t get a good shot in

Hiiiiii bestie!! <3

I combined this with another prompt that I got from anon, which was:

can you write something about emily is pregnant and scared to tell hotch but he figures is out by himself and makes hints that he knows?

I hope you like it <3

-x-

Tapestry

It was just a picture, but she wanted it to be perfect.

Words: 3.1k

Warnings: Pregnancy. So fluffy you might need to floss afterwards

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

“I still don’t understand why we are doing this.” 

Aaron covers a chuckle at his son’s question, ruffling Jack’s hair in a way that never failed to make the 11-year-old groan, “Because Aunt Penelope went to the effort of making us these sweaters, and Grandma Elizabeth insisted we did a holiday card this year.” 

Jack turns to look at his father, his eyes flitting between him and Emily as she sets the timer on the camera he’d put on the tripod earlier, her eyebrows furrowed as she looks at the tiny screen. She has Oscar on her hip, the 18-month-old pulling at the neck of his sweater, the material itching him in a way that had clearly been irritating him since Aaron all but wrestled it over his head just an hour ago. 

“I thought last year Mom said we ‘aren’t holiday card people,’” Jack says, using his hands to do air quotes, an expression on his face that was entirely Emily, one of the many mannerisms he’d picked up from her when she first moved in years ago. 

Aaron yet again suppresses a smile, remembering the conversation between his eldest and his wife the year before as they placed the card JJ and Will had sent them on the fridge. He knew Jack was right; they had never done this before, but Emily had been insistent this year. An idea planted in her head by her mother that Penelope had curated by presenting them with matching sweaters for the whole family just the week before. 

“She did,” he says, smiling as he hears the familiar thundering sound of feet on the hardwood floor, a sure sign the twins were on their way, “But I think it’s best for everyone if you don’t bring it up,” he turns just in time to see his daughters rush into the room, their eyes wide as he simply raises an eyebrow at them, “Girls, what do I always say?” 

“Not to run in the house,” Elinor says, a look in her eyes that, even at the age of four, she knew worked on him. 

“Sorry, Daddy,” Harper says, finishing for her sister. 

He shakes his head, unable to fight his smile as they make a point of walking over to stand by him and Jack. When they first found out Emily was pregnant with twins they’d been worried. Her age, her medical history and a slew of other concerns had meant her pregnancy had been stressful from the start. Dave had slapped him on the back, laughing as he commented he was in trouble when they found out both the babies were girls, but now neither Aaron nor Emily could imagine their lives any other way. Whilst Elinor and Harper weren’t identical, anyone who didn’t know them well often got them confused. They were both Emily through and through in looks and personality, fiercely independent from the first moment they could crawl. 

Oscar looked exactly like Aaron, to the point where Penelope and JJ often referred to him as ‘Mini Hotch.’ He was more reserved than his sisters, his sweet laughter only brought out by his parents or his siblings, and his favourite place to be was wherever Emily was. 

Aaron couldn’t blame his son for that. Wherever she was just so happened to be his favourite place too. 

“Ok, is everyone ready?” 

He looks at his wife and nods, his hands gentle on his daughter’s shoulders as he guides them to the couch. Jack walks over and joins them, sitting next to Harper, and Emily walks over and places Oscar down next to Elinor. 

“Momma!” Oscar grumbles, reaching up for Emily as he’s placed next to his sister.

“Just for a couple of minutes ok, sweetie?” Emily says, straightening her sweater, pulling the wool down a little to change how it settled around her hips. She sits on the couch, a tension in her shoulders he knows isn’t caused by how scratchy the wool Penelope had chosen was, and he files it away for later. He stands behind the camera and meets her eyes, and she nods at him, and he presses the button. 

“Everyone look at the camera,” he says walking quickly to the couch and sitting next to his wife, mentally counting down the ten seconds he knew they had, making sure he’s smiling when the flash goes off. He stands up to head over and check the camera, smiling when he turns back to look at his family just in time to see Harper leaning against Emily, pulling back as her cheek rests against the wool. 

“The sweaters are itchy,” Harper complains, and Emily chuckles, leaning down to kiss the top of her daughter’s head, smoothing down her dark hair. 

“I know, honey,” Emily says, “As soon as the picture is done we’ll take them off.” 

“We might have to tell Aunt Pen we wore them longer than we did, Mom,” Jack quips, and Emily meets his eyes before smiling and winking at him.  

Even though it had been years since it first happened, since he’d first nonchalantly called her mom like he had done it his whole life, she still felt her stomach flip every time Jack said it. It was special when any of her children said it, when any of them asked for her, but with Jack, it felt different. Like she had earned it along with his love and trust. 

“Sadly your Aunt Pen is almost impossible to lie to,” she replies, looking over to Elinor and Oscar, the latter clearly irritating his sister if the look on her face was anything to go by. She looks up at her husband and smiles as she sees the grin on his face, “Are we done?” 

“Definitely not,” he replies, disconnecting the camera from the tripod and bringing it over to her. 

She sighs as she looks at the picture on the tiny screen. She, Aaron and Jack are all looking at the camera with wide smiles on their faces, the reindeer that Penelope had sewn onto their sweaters on full display. 

Sadly, that was where the picture when downhill. 

Harper’s eyes were closed, the little girl prone to blinking in just about every photo they’d ever taken of her. On the other end of the couch, Oscar had his sweater up over his face, and Elinor was clearly trying to pull it back down, her eyebrows furrowed together in a way that even Emily couldn’t deny made her look exactly like herself. 

She sighs and shakes her head, passing the camera back to her husband, a wry smile spreading over her face. She stands and walks the short distance to kneel in front of her youngest son, pushing past the way her stomach lurches slightly at the moment. 

“Ozzie,” she says, pushing her hair through his short hair, neatening it back up before she adjusts his sweater, “You have to keep this on, ok?”

“Hurts,” he says, frowning at her, and she smiles at him.

“It doesn’t hurt, sweet boy. It itches,” she explains gently, pulling the wool from his neck in an attempt to give him a little relief, “But if you just stay really still for the picture we can take it off.” He sighs, something that makes her suppress a laugh, and then he nods. She leans forward and kisses his forehead, “Thank you, baby,” she says, sitting back to look at Elinor, reaching out to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, “And you, little miss,” she says, “Maybe try to not openly glare at your brother the next time?” 

“He was trying to take off his sweater!” 

“I know he was sweet girl,” she says, kissing her cheek before she stands up, her stomach swooping again, “But he’s just little, remember, he doesn’t understand as much as you do.” 

It was something they had to explain to the twins a lot, that Oscar was still very young and wasn’t doing anything out of spite or to purposely annoy them. He was slowly getting more independent, well and truly entering the toddler stage in full force, and she found herself thinking that she’d miss the stage when they were small. She shakes her head at herself as she turns to look at her husband. 

Well, up until that morning, she thought she’d miss it. 

She’d taken the test that morning as nothing more than an attempt to rule it out. Pregnancy the very last thing she’d actually attributed the recent changes to her body to, sure it was actually the start of the menopause. She’d taken the test and laid it on the side, her eyes almost bugging out of her head when she looked down partway through brushing her teeth. Two very bright lines staring back at her as she dribbled toothpaste down herself, her mouth hanging open. She’d hidden the test away, wanting to get used to the idea herself before she shared the news with her husband. They’d decided during her pregnancy with Oscar that it would be their last baby, and neither of them had ever expressed a desire to have any more children. 

She was worried he wouldn’t want this. That he’d express disappointment over something that, now she was a bit more used to the idea, she already knew she wanted. 

“Ready to try again?” Aaron asks, and it pulls her out of her stupor, and she looks up at him, her eyebrows creased. He smiles at her, “The picture?” 

“Yeah,” she says, clearing her throat as she sits back down on her spot on the couch, “Let’s try again.” 

None of the pictures are perfect. 

Harper’s eyes are either closed, or she’s not looking at the camera. Elinor is distracted by Oscar, who despite Emily’s words was still consistently pulling up his sweater, revealing the ‘FBI in training’ t-shirt he had on underneath, another gift from Penelope. Emily feels herself getting more and more frustrated, irritation she knows her family doesn’t deserve rising up her throat. 

Aaron spots it. Sees how his wife seems on edge, her nerves fried by trying to organise their children. The chaos she usually seemed to thrive on, their life hectic and achingly normal in a way neither of them had grown up with but always craved, seemingly getting to her. 

“Ok,” he says, placing the camera back on the tripod, “Why don’t we take a break,” he suggests, and he smiles at the relief that spreads across all of their faces, “Mom and I will go make hot chocolates for everyone,” he looks over at Jack and tilts his head towards Oscar and the twins, “Can you keep an eye on them?”

Jack nods enthusiastically, a love for his younger siblings that Aaron hoped didn’t fade as they edged towards his teenage years. 

Especially, Aaron thought, if his hunch about what was causing his wife’s irritation was correct. 

He walks just behind her into the kitchen, his eyes fixed on her expression as she grimaces at the vague smell of coffee lingering in the air from that morning.

“The kids I understand,” Aaron says, pulling at the neck of his sweater, the wool itching at his skin, “But how did Garcia get our sizes.” 

Emily chuckles, turning to look at him as she rests her hip against the kitchen counter, “That, my love, is one of the many things I think we simply don’t want to know the answer to.” 

She turns to the cabinet and gets out four mugs. Harper and Elinor would share, and Oscar would have some of Emily’s hot chocolate, a little family tradition that she loved on cold winter nights. 

“Are you ok, Em?” 

She freezes momentarily, before she carries on, looking at her husband as he puts the tub of Swiss Miss on the counter, “I’m fine, why?” 

“You seem stressed,” he says, putting his hands on her hips, turning her so she was facing him and holding her in place, “It’s just a picture.” 

She sighs, “I know but…” she shakes her head, taking a moment to gather herself, “It’s a nice thing to do, and you know as well as I do that my mother likes to make comments about how we cope with the kids. I don’t want to give her another excuse to try and make us get a nanny again.” 

He squeezes her hip before his hands slip to her waist, her mother’s opinions always enough to rattle her. 

“Are you sure it’s that?” He asks, raising an eyebrow at her, “Because you turned down coffee this morning,” he says carefully, having to suppress a smile as she tenses, “And you looked like you were going to throw up when you got back up off the floor earlier.” 

“You saw that?” She asks, scrunching her nose up. Not for the first time, she finds herself cursing her husband for how much he saw. For how well he knew her. He stares at her expectantly, waiting her out like he always did, and she sighs, rolling her eyes at him, “Ok, yes…I’m pregnant.” 

“Em-”

“And I only found out this morning and I took the test to just…rule it out,” she says, the confession spilling out of her now she’d said it, cutting over any attempts he made to interject, “I thought maybe I was starting the menopause and I was going to make a doctors appointment and the first thing they do is test for it and…it came back positive,” she says, chuckling as she shakes her head, “Really fucking positive. And I know we said-”

“Sweetheart,” he says, successfully gaining her attention this time. He cups her cheek and encourages her to look at him. She feels relief when she sees nothing but adoration and excitement in his eyes, “This is a good thing, isn’t it?” 

“Yes,” she replies, biting her lower lip as she tries to contain her smile. Her chest is still tight with fear, concern about all sorts of things she’d been thinking about all morning, “But we already have four children, Aaron. Four. And we can’t even get them all to sit still long enough to take a fucking photo, how are we going to manage five…oh my god.” 

“What?” He asks, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. 

“What if it’s twins again? Then there will be six of them and-”

“Emily,” he says, more firmly this time, a hand on each of her cheeks as he makes her look directly at him, “We’ll make an appointment with your doctor and confirm everything,” he smiles, one of his hands drifting to her stomach, laying over her sweater, “Including how many babies there are in there and we’ll go from there.” 

She sighs and leans forward, her forehead resting against his chest, “You’re sure we can do this?” 

He wraps his arms tightly around her, pressing a kiss into the top of her head, “We can do anything, sweetheart,” he assures her, encouraging her to turn just enough so he can lead her out of the kitchen so the living room is in view again. 

Jack is sitting there with Oscar in his lap, his tiny sweater nowhere to be seen, and Harper and Elinor on either side of them. He’s reading to them all, doing the voices for the characters that Emily remembers doing for him when he was younger, and she feels tears pressing at the back of her eyes. 

“Our kids are pretty great,” she says, linking her fingers through his. She turns to look at him and kisses him, smiling as she pulls back, “Thank you.” 

He shrugs nonchalantly as if he wasn’t the only person who could talk her down when she was worried. As if he wasn’t the only person she’d let see her like that. 

“You’re the one I should be thanking,” he says, his hand resting on her belly again, “You’re giving me another mini you.” 

She rolls her eyes at him, her laugh escaping her nose in a half snort, “You’re ridiculous, but I love you for it.” 

“I love you too,” he replies, stamping a kiss against her lips before he turns her to head back out towards the living room, “I’ll make the drinks, you go sit with the kids.” 

She doesn’t need telling twice, and for a moment he stands there alone, smiling as he hears his children exclaim her name, thrilled to see her like they’d been separated for hours, not mere minutes. He shakes his head as he walks back into the kitchen ready to make his family their hot chocolates, and imagining how different things would look this time next year. 

___

One Month Later

“Peaches!”

Emily turns, schooling her features as her eyes meet Penelope’s, “Pen, hi, how was your weekend?” 

“Good,” she replies, smiling widely, “It’s unlike you and Bossman to be here before the rest of us.” 

Emily successfully stops herself from smiling. They’d purposely got in early that morning, wrangling the kids a little more successfully than they had in the past. The holiday cards had arrived, and she’d wanted to sneak one onto Penelope’s desk before she got in for the day. 

“The Hotchkin’s all behaved this morning?” Penelope asks, and Emily shakes her head whilst laughing at her friend’s nickname for her children.

“Behaved might be a stretch,” Emily says, “But we got them out of the house in record time,” she explains, and Penelope nods, turning to walk towards your office, “Oh, and Pen, I left your holiday card on your desk.” 

She’s grateful for years of training, from her mother and Interpol, for the way she is able to act nonchalantly, her voice giving nothing away. 

“Oh, I’m so excited to see you all in your sweaters!” Penelope exclaims, walking quickly towards her office. 

Emily watches her go, her smile spreading over her face as her husband approaches her from behind, his footsteps so familiar to her she didn’t have to look to know it was him. 

“This is mean.” 

Emily turns to look at him, a wicked smile on her face, “Oh come on, she’ll be delighted.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then a squeal, loud enough to reverberate around the office, the few agents who were already at their desks jumping in shock. 

“Emily Prentiss!” 

___

In the end, the photo they chose is full of the chaos they lived in. Harper and Elinor each with a hand on the same mug of hot chocolate, the former wiping whipped cream on her sister's cheek. Jack and Aaron are looking at the camera, wide matching smiles on their faces. Oscar is in Emily’s lap, without his sweater on, and she’s holding the mug so he can take a sip, smiling down at her son. 

The picture is paired with a simple caption across the bottom of the card.

Happy Holiday from the Hotchners, ready and waiting for our new addition in the New Year. 

-x-

Tag list:

@ssa-sparks, @lukeclvez, @lyds102, @glockleveledatyourcrotch, @hotchnissenthusiast, @danadeservesadrink, @ssamorganhotchner, @emilyprentissisgod, @notagentprentiss, @freesiasandfics, @emilyshotchniss, @thecharmingart, @paulitalblond, @hancydrewfan, @camille093, @whitecrossgirl, @moonlight-2-6, @rawr-jess, @florenceremingtonthethird, @jareauswife, @ms-black-a, @beebeelank, @aubreyprc, @zipzapboingg, @psychopath-at-heart, @criminalmindsgonewrong, @fionaloover, @kinqslcys, @prentissinred, @ccmattis, @denvivale317, @thrindis, @hotchsguccitie, @cmfouatslota77, @alexblakegf, @aliensaurusrex, @prentissxhotch, @emobabeyy, @victoiregranger, @stormyweatherth, @wanderingdreamer009, @ssablackbird, @luhwithah, @lex13cm, @prentiss-theorem, @lavenderhoney94, @mrs-ssa-hotch

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[sparkymalone]

What does the future foundation (the people who watch the cameras) think of Fuyuhiko's night activities?

(⁠ ͡⁠°⁠ ͜⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠°⁠)

(Full disclosure, I didn't want to try to figure out who would actually be doing this, so I just used some of my all-purpose OCs. Hopefully it's not too weird, lol)

"Oh God, they're at it again."

It was late at night. Most of the staff had gone home. Since the night shift was typically pretty quiet, the Future Foundation usually only assigned one person to monitor the simulation.

On this particular evening, two staff members were watching the monitors. Izumi wasn't assigned to this particular post, but she had been awake anyway, and decided she might as well do something productive.

Besides, these stupid kids were growing on her.

She was in the process of lighting up a cigarette (there was no smoking in the control room, but she knew Finch wouldn't rat her out) when the man beside her groaned.

Izumi looked up at the monitors, brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Finch grimaced and pointed at the screen displaying the inside of the Remnants' cottages. Most of them were still, since the occupants were asleep. A few of the Remnants seemed to still be awake, but minding their own business. One of the screens, however...

Izumi's eyebrows shot up. "Oh."

Her partner scratched under his chin, trying not to look too closely at the feed. "Yeah... They've been doing that... a lot lately."

Casually taking a drag from her cigarette, Izumi leaned closer. Kuzuryu was in his bed, as he should be, but he wasn't alone. Hinata (the higher-ups insisted on referring to him as "Kamukura" but Izumi refused) was there, too, and the two of them were... well.

"Huh. I never would've guessed," she commented, sitting back in her chair.

Finch raised an eyebrow at her. "Really? They don't do shit like this on your shift?"

Izumi shook her head. Hinata and Kuzuryu spent a lot of time together, sure, and she had definitely gotten some ~vibes~ from them, but she just assumed it was all in her head. Seeing the two of them tangled together in Kuzuryu's bed was oddly vindicating.

"So this happens a lot?" she asked, trying not to stare. Watching two teenagers have sex would be weird, Izumi, don't fucking look.

Finch nodded, grabbing the carton of cigarettes off the desk and pulling one out for himself. "Most nights, yeah. It's wild to me that you didn't know about it." He paused with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Shit, do I need to report this?"

The woman beside him hummed thoughtfully. On the one hand, they were supposed to record any fraternization between the Remnants. On the other hand, she had been rooting for these two for so long, and she wasn't sure what the higher-ups would do if they knew two of the Remnants were sleeping together.

"...I think it's fine," Izumi finally replied.

Nodding, Finch looked back at the monitor. "That's what I thought, too. They're just teenagers in the sim, right? Horny teenagers are normal." He fiddled with the cheap lighter Izumi had brought, swearing in English as he burnt his fingers. "It's not like they hooked up in real life."

Izumi gasped. "Do you think they ever hooked up in real life?! That would be-" She cut herself off, realizing she was getting carried away shipping real people.

"I think someone would've noticed, right?" Finch asked.

"I don't know, we lost track of Kamukura for a long time, right? He could've been doing anything during that time. Or anyone."

Finch shook his head. "Yeah, but the Foundation had eyes on Kuzuryu the whole time. They definitely would've noticed if he hooked up with Kamukura, don't you think?" He grinned at the woman next to him. "Sounds like wishful thinking on your end."

Izumi scowled at him. "Shut up. I just think they make a really cute couple." Maybe it was a weird way to think about literal war criminals, but for some reason, she just wanted them to be happy.

"The sim is supposed to reprogram them or whatever, right? Maybe when they get out, they'll hook up for real." Finch took a drag from his cigarette, glancing at the monitor for a moment before looking awkwardly away.

Averting her eyes as well, Izumi nodded. "Yeah... Maybe."

Silence fell over the control room as the two of them tried not to notice the boys finishing up. Once it seemed like the two Remnants were asleep, Finch glanced at his partner.

"You seem weirdly invested in those two."

Izumi shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "Their whole situation is just so sad, you know? They deserve some happiness, right?"

Finch snorted. "They literally destroyed the world."

The woman glared back at him. "I know that," she snapped. Honestly, she wasn't sure why she cared. The Remnants were, in fact, dangerous criminals, and this whole simulation plan just felt like wishful thinking on Naegi's part.

Still, for some reason, seeing Hinata and Kuzuryu sleeping peacefully together gave her an odd sense of... hope.

Izumi grimaced, not ready to admit that to her partner. Finch would almost certainly make fun of her for it. Instead, she stubbed out her cigarette and climbed to her feet. "Whatever, I'm going to try and get some sleep."

Finch gave her a nod. "Thanks for keeping me company. Sorry it got weird," he added with a grin.

She couldn't help but smile back. "Next time, warn me that something like that could happen, you perv."

The foreigner balked. "What?! I'm not... I wasn't watching it on purpose!"

Laughing, Izumi took her leave, ignoring Finch's protests.

.

To answer your question, opinions are varied lmao

[voidoftetris]

alright, here's the cigarette scene then. sorry about the formatting, i've written it up from my dad's copy since the version he's got is photocopied and kind of hard to read in places (so sorry if this isn't 100% accurate to the original script! the copy quality is. not great.)

also, shout out to my dad, who was very excited to learn that the internet has discovered his favourite film of all time and immediately asked what people thought of this scene (he claims it’s andrey escorting goncharov to the afterlife, i think it’s goncharov imagining what could’ve been in his last moments)

image id under readmore

[Image ID:

Several screenshots of the screenplay for the cigarette scene in Goncharov. They read:

"Ext. Unknown Park - Night

We fade to a park bench, under a street lamp. Goncharov, sat on the bench flicking the lid of a lighter up and down, looks up to see Andrey approaching. The fade never ends - all shots in this scene are blurry at the edges.

As Andrey nears, Goncharov puts the lighter away, his own cigarette lit.

Andrey: Cold night, isn't it?

Goncharov: (smiling, unnaturally calm) Certainly is. Who are you today?

Andrey rolls his eyes, but opens his arms as Goncharov stands to hug him. They hug, then step apart for a handshake.

Andrey: (playful, they've done this before) Felix Strauss. And who might you be, stranger?

Goncharov: Rasmus Lofvgren. I don't suppose you have anywhere to be?

Andrey: Oh, a million places. But this is one of them.

The two of them sit down, camera facing the streetlamp. Their faces are not visible.

Goncharov: (leisurely, like he has all the time in the world) Tell me all about them, then.

Andrey: Them?

Goncharov: The places you need to be.

Andrey: (dismissive) Ah, those. None of them good. None of them kind. You would not like the places I have to be. They are not places for the soft-hearted.

Goncharov: (amused) You think I am soft-hearted?

Andrey: Never, Rasmus. But you rarely go to places your wife could not follow.

Goncharov: (more amused) You think she is soft-hearted?

Andrey: (genuine, he does not seem to know her) Is she not?

We pull closer to their faces, lit by the lamp above them. It seems slightly harsher now. Goncharov takes a deep drag of his cigarette before continuing.

Goncharov: (adoringly) Far from it. She is passionate, and she cares deeply, but I could never describe her as soft.

Goncharov shakes a smile from his face.

Goncharov: No, I would follow you to any of these places, and further.

Andrey: (hesitant) And would Katya follow?

Goncharov: (confident) As far as I'd follow you. And Sofia would follow her as far as Katya would follow me. All of us, following you in one long line. It could be fun.

Andrey hesitates. He knows, as Goncharov knows, where their story ends. He does not want to give false hope, even in this in-between.

Andrey: It would take too much time.

Goncharov: More time than we have?

Andrey: (sadly, already defeated) Far more time, my friend.

Andrey pulls a watch from his pocket. It ticks, but the hands only shake. The time does not change.

Andrey: We're already out. Can't you feel the cold?

Goncharov: (defiant) Not at all. My cigarette burns enough to keep the cold at bay.

Andrey: I have no cigarette.

Goncharov frowns and produces one from his own pocket. Andrey takes it, puts it to his mouth. We pull out to the shot framing them against the lamp, harsher again, obscuring their faces once more.

Andrey: I have no lighter.

Andrey leans away. He shifts his weight as if to leave, suddenly appearing nervous.

Goncharov: Use mine.

We briefly cut to a shot of the pocket in which Goncharov placed his lighter, but his hand leaves the pocket empty.

We push back to a shot of their faces. This close, their heads block out the harsh glare of the lamp, their faces only lit by the gentle glow of the cigarette.

Goncharov leans forward, places his hand on Andrey's cheek and presses the end of his cigarette to Andrey's. Andrey freezes for a moment, then relaxes.

Andrey: (quiet) Thank you.

Goncharov does not respond. They remain facing each other for a few more seconds, the camera remaining close to their faces.

Eventually, Goncharov turns away, looking just above the camera. He is shivering for the first time. Andrey looks down, still facing him. They remain like this for the following dialogue.

Goncharov: It is cold tonight.

Andrey: (he knows how little it's worth) For what it's worth, I'm sorry.

Goncharov: (bitter, but resigned) You should've given me more time.

Andrey: (matter of fact) I wish I had more to give.

There is nothing more to say. We violate the 180 degree rule, rotating slowly around the bench until we are behind it. The lamplight is harsher still.

The two of them finally look up, turning to face the same direction as the camera: looking out towards the city at night.

Goncharov begins to lean in sideways toward Andrey, but the scene blurs quickly, and it fades again before they make contact."

End ID.]