#the secret spots id like to have some indication of there being Something There

[lumalalu]

why on earth do you even want a fe4 remake if you dont want anything to change just go play the original game.

[pufflyhallows]

Getaway

Gif not mine

Pairing: Fred Weasley x reader

Summary: Business is going bad after the war and Fred is not feeling so great, so you decide to cheer him up with a special trip.

Warnings: NSFW, 18+, smut, language, tiny tiny bit of angst, still fluffy tho

a/n: this is my FIRST smut EVER so... be nice? also, Fred fucking LIVES bc I’m in denial forever lol

Word count: 4,3k

********

You wanted to surprise Fred.

He had been feeling down lately. Ever since he and George reopened the shop after the war, things had been a little tough. The movement was still quite slow, given the fact that people were still recovering from the war, mourning their lost ones and starting new lives. It was a difficult time for everyone, and of course it affected Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes as well.

What ached your heart the most was the fact that there wasn’t much you could do to help him. Every day you watched as he took longer to get out of bed in the morning, how he sounded slower and quieter when talking to you and, the worst part, how he acted quite mechanic when doing his chores around the shop, the same ones he enjoyed so much in the past and had always gotten done with a bright smile on his face. And although he never stopped caring for you or being loving to you, the bedroom had become… inactive. And you missed it. You missed being intimate with your boyfriend, but every time you tried to initiate it, he would softly decline, claiming to be too tired. You believed it. You could see he was indeed exhausted. And not only physically, but mentally too. Perhaps the latter was actually the one weighing more.

George, however, was quite the opposite. He kept his optimism high and was always the first to wake up every morning, excited with the new day and new possibilities. He would often go out and promote the shop, talk to people and sometimes even manage to bring a customer in.

This big difference between them worried you. No, you did not expect the twins to act the same, but you hoped in secret that Fred would follow his brother’s steps and cheer up a bit.

Cheer up. Yeah. That was exactly what he needed. And what better way to cheer up someone than a surprise trip? That’s how you were going to take his mind off of work. With Hermione’s help, you planned a very romantic weekend trip out of town. You talked to George beforehand, of course, but he assured you he could take care of the shop by himself for two days. He agreed Fred needed this.

“It’s not like we’re getting many customers anyway,” he had said.

So, as Friday approached, you felt the excitement building up. You managed to act completely nonchalant around him, making sure he didn’t suspect a thing. It wasn’t a big, expensive hotel because you knew he would worry about money and that was the opposite of what you wanted for this trip. Hermione had helped you pick a small, comfy hotel that was quite charming and fit your pocket perfectly. You wanted to make sure Fred felt loved, cared for and relaxed. There was also a little extra surprise inside your suitcase that you really hoped he would like…

What you didn’t know was that Fred felt guilty. He reckoned he hadn’t been the boyfriend you deserved lately, but he couldn’t help it. The stress was almost eating him alive and his mind was always wandering back to the shop, worrying about its future. You had been so kind and patient with him, he knew you deserved better than that. The whole thing was snowballing and sometimes he couldn’t see it ending.

That Friday, when you got home from work, the shop was still open and there was actually a customer inside, talking with George. You felt relief wash over you, because you knew what that meant: Fred was probably in a good mood.

You walked straight to the flat, not daring to interrupt George, but you stopped in the middle of the stairs to watch. He was speaking with such enthusiasm, showing and explaining his products to the young boy, that it filled you with pride. You caught his eyes for a brief moment and noticed the smallest of smirks appear on his lips. Smiling back, you nodded at him. Fred was nowhere to be seen, though, so you went upstairs.

There was a delicious scent coming from the kitchen. The older twin was there, cooking. You smiled to yourself at the sight. His favorite The Weird Sisters record was playing somewhere in the flat, adding a familiar, comfortable feel to the whole scene. Fred’s back was facing you while he chopped… carrots? on the counter. He didn’t seem to notice your presence just yet, so you took advantage of that. Placing your bag on the nearest chair, you walked in quiet steps towards your boyfriend. The fresh mint aroma coming from him meant he had probably just showered. Oh, and how you missed showering with him.

You couldn’t refrain your smile from growing even bigger once you noticed Fred’s body was swinging from side to side, so imperceptibly that you almost missed it. Carefully, you wrapped your arms around him from behind, resting your cheek on his back. You felt him tense up for a mere second before realizing who it was. He soon relaxed, letting go of the knife and placing his clean hand on yours.

“Didn’t hear you coming in,” he stated, voice low and raspy.

You hummed in response and placed a soft kiss on the nape of his neck. Fred turned around and briefly met your lips with his.

“It’s gonna take a while. Why don’t you go take a bath?”

“I will,” you nodded, running your hand from his chest to his shoulder and squeezing it gently. “How was your day?”

He shrugged. “Okay.”

“Okay”, you repeated. “Well, I hope I can make it better. I have a surprise for you after dinner.”

“A surprise?”

“Yes. I have an idea of how we can spend your days off.”

“Hm… Making plans already, are we?”

“Very good plans, yes. But you’ll have to wait until dinner.”

“Or you could tell me right now so I won’t have to.”

“But where’s the fun in that?”

You smirked and gave him another peck on the lips before rushing off the kitchen and leaving your boyfriend to his curiosity and imagination.

The warm bath made you think about a lot of things and you came to realize you were very lucky. The war was over and there you were, taking a bath in your boyfriend’s flat, the person you loved the most in the world. So many people lost their loved ones, their homes, their entire lives in that war. You knew you had many reasons to feel happy and should not take them for granted. Life was good for you right now, and you acknowledged it, promising to yourself that you were going to enjoy it the best you could, with Fred by your side.

George joined the two of you for dinner, which turned out to be the best you had in months. Not because of the food, although it was perfect, but because it felt like everything was back to normal, like all the meals you had shared before the war. Maybe it was the idea of a day off and the mention of a surprise from you, but you could see that Fred was already less gloomy or aloof.

After the meal, as if sensing you wanted to reveal your plans to Fred, George excused himself to his bedroom, claiming he still had to finish some work. You wished him goodnight, not missing the discrete wink he gave you.

“So…” you started, watching as Fred emptied his glass of pumpkin juice. “Remember when I said I had an idea on how to spend your days off?”

“Oh, yes. The surprise.”

“Well… I figured you could use a little rest from everything, so I made a reservation at a very nice hotel for the two of us to spend the weekend at.”

“You what?” Fred asked, a small smile starting to grace his lips.

“The portkey is set for our departure at 10 a.m. tomorrow.”

“But-”

“Nope. No buts,” you shook your head. “I have already packed our bags.”

“Y/N, doll, I don’t know what to say.”

“Tell me I’m amazing, the best thing that ever happened to you, an angel sent from heaven…  Something humble like that.”

Fred chuckled, that contagious sound you missed hearing so much. “You’re amazing. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, a true angel sent from heaven.”

“I know! We’re gonna have so much fun,” you smiled excitedly, clasping your hands together.

“What exactly are your plans for us, though?” your boyfriend questioned, curiosity dripping from his lips.

“Oh, you’ll find out once we’re there.”

“The surprise doesn’t end here, I see.”

“Exactly. I have everything planned, baby.”

The look in Fred’s eyes seemed to indicate he had an idea of what you had planned, but he did not say a word about it. He would like to see the surprise reveal itself in the right moment. He wasn’t going to spoil your plans in any way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You always had your doubts when it came to ads, but this time you had to admit this was spot on. The hotel looked exactly like its pictures and descriptions.

“Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?” the receptionist asked as soon as you stepped in the lobby.

It was something so small, so simple, but it made your heart flutter and stomach fill with those restless butterflies. Mrs. Weasley. Were you ever going to become that? You wondered if Fred even noticed the little misunderstanding.

“Um,” you cleared your throat. “Actually, it’s just one Weasley. Fred Weasley. I’m Y/N Y/L/N.”

Your slight flustered manner didn’t go unnoticed by Fred. Despite the obvious nervousness, he thought it was rather cute. In fact, he liked to hear you be called that. Perhaps he should do something about it…

“Oh, I apologize. Mr. Weasley and Miss Y/L/N,” the receptionist corrected herself as she checked the reservation’s book. “You’re right on time, your room is ready for you. I just need your wands for ID confirmation before I give you your key.”

Both of you handed your wands to the young woman behind the desk and she did as she was supposed to. Sooner than you had anticipated, you were in the lovely suite you had reserved.

Fred placed the small handbag on the bed – blessed be the extension charm, that’s all you had to carry for that trip – and walked around the room curiously. You went straight for the big window and opened the curtains. There it was. The view you had seen on the ad and that had made you instantly choose this hotel.

“Fred,” you called softly, looking behind you. “Come see.”

Your boyfriend let go of the catalog on the nightstand and approached you, eyeing the outside in awe.

“Wow,” he breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t it?”

When making the reservation, you were met with the question: would you like a room with view to the street/village or to the beach? And you chose the beach, although the village was a lovely sight. Now, seeing Fred’s reaction, you were absolutely sure you had made the right choice.

The hotel was in a small village where both wizards and muggles lived. With a little help from magic, the wizards could go unnoticed and the muggles lived everyday life without a single clue of the existence of such peculiar neighbors. The beach was right behind the village, and your room being in the back of the hotel, you had a wonderful privileged view of nature’s beauty.

“Wanna go down there?” you asked.

“What’s in your plans?” he asked back, switching his gaze from the window to you.

“Beach,” you replied with a small smile. “Basically the entire day at the beach, lunch at a muggle restaurant down there too. But dinner here.”

“I’ll follow your script, doll.”

Fred placed his hand on your waist and pulled you closer, pressing his lips ever so gently on yours. You instantly let go of the curtains so you could run your fingers through his soft hair. The light fabric fell back to its place, covering the windows again and leaving the room a little darker than before. Fred’s gentle kiss wasn’t so gentle anymore.

No, not yet.

You broke the kiss and pulled back, biting your lip as you started to feel that you might not be able to wait until the right time for your surprise.

“I’m starving,” you whispered against his lips.

“Me too,” he pulled you closer again.

“Let’s go, then.” You managed to get out of his embrace and grab the handbag before heading to the bathroom to change into your bathing suit.

A hungry Fred was left standing by the big window.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been hard.

It had been hard seeing you in so little clothing, dripping wet, skin glistening as droplets of water reflected the sunlight. But Fred managed.

All he had in his mind every time he saw you leaving the water was how he wanted to take you then and there. He had to distract himself from those thoughts, paying attention to what you were saying but not too much to your moving lips. He knew you had something planned and he was appreciative of how much effort you had put in this weekend for him. That was the only reason he wasn’t indulging to his not-so-pure thoughts.

Lunch was a good distraction too, specially since you had to convince a muggle child she had imagined it when she saw Fred stop his falling fork mid-air.

Now, as the two of you walked hand in hand back to the hotel, he wondered if he was going to be rewarded for the self-control test he had just passed. You were humming a song as you observed the houses, trying to guess which ones were muggles and which ones were wizards.

“What’s next?” he asked.

“Dinner!” you answered excitedly. “But, if I were you, I wouldn’t go overboard.”

“Why, if I may ask?” but Fred already suspected why.

“Well… there might be plans for after dinner as well.”

Fred held your hand tighter and pulled you towards the hotel in a faster pace. You chuckled, feeling the excitement grow bigger and bigger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dessert?” the waiter asked as he took the empty plates from your table.

“No, thank you,” Fred replied before you had the chance. “We’re calling it a night, aren’t we, sweetheart?”

“Actually,” you smirked at your boyfriend before looking at the waiter. “I’d like chocolate pudding, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As soon as the waiter left, Fred gave you a look.

“What?” you asked nonchalantly.

“I thought you said we wouldn’t go overboard.”

“I’m not going overboard. I had a small plate,” you shrugged.

“Right,” Fred sighed, bouncing his leg under the table.

When your chocolate pudding came, you grabbed the spoon and took a small amount to your mouth. Fred watched your every move, arms crossed and brows slightly furrowed as he saw you slowly lick the spoon. You pretended you didn’t know he was watching, eyes on the tiny bowl in front of you, and you mouthed another spoon, unintentionally getting pudding all over your lips.

Your boyfriend gulped as he watched you run your thumb over your lower lip, getting rid of the chocolate there, and gently suck on it.

“For fuck’s sake, Y/N,” he mumbled.

“Hm?” you looked at him innocently.

“Just eat the damn thing.”

“You want some?” you raised the spoon at him.

“Yes, I want some.”

You felt your cheeks burn just a little bit with his remark, heart begin to race as the ideas for what you wanted to do to him tonight started to flood your mind.

“If you wait patiently, you might get what you want,” you teased, looking back at the bowl and already serving another spoon, which you quickly brought to your lips, licking all the content off of it.

Fred shook his head, one corner of his lips going upwards ever so slightly, eyes glued on you.

“You sure you don’t want to taste it?” you offered again, lips glistening as you cleaned them with your tongue.

“I will taste it,” his eyes pierced through your body and suddenly the hotel was too hot.

You had barely served the last spoon of pudding when Fred stood up and let the waiter know you were headed to the room.

“I haven’t finished yet,” you protested and he immediately took the last spoon from your hand and into his mouth.

“Now you have,” he said as he pulled you from the chair.

The way back to the suite felt much longer than it actually was, but as soon as you reached the door, Fred’s lips were on yours. You had trouble to get the key with your boyfriend’s hands all over you, pulling your body hard against his.

“Fred,” you breathed, stepping back. “There’s another surprise.”

Before he could say anything, you unlocked the door and went inside.

“Sit down,” you slowly pushed him to the bed. “And close your eyes.”

Fred complied with no protests, but you could see he was getting flustered, probably guessing what was coming.

You blew out most of the candles illuminating the room and left only a few to create the romantic atmosphere you wanted. You went to the bathroom and changed into the expensive lacy lingerie you had bought for this exact occasion. It was red, a color you had learned Fred was very fond of when it came to this kind of clothing, and had one small, delicate bow right between your breasts.

“Are your eyes closed?” you asked from the bathroom, hand on the doorknob.

“Yeah,” you heard in response.

“No peeking ‘til I tell you to,” you warned.

“…‘kay.”

You opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom. Fred was still sitting on the bed, one leg bouncing impatiently, and a slight frown between his eyebrows.

Slowly, you approached the bed and stood right in front of him.

“Open your eyes,” you whispered.

As soon as he did, Fred sucked in a shaky, quiet breath. He eyed you from head to toe, not hiding his astonishment.

“Baby,” he mumbled in a deep voice, already feeling his pants get a little too tight as his eyes still traveled through your entire figure.

“Do you like it?” you asked.

“Mm-hmm,” he nodded, biting his bottom lip.

“Good,” you smiled, placing your hands on each of his shoulders. “Now let me show you how proud I am to be your girlfriend.”

Your lips met Fred’s in a slow, deep kiss as you climbed the bed and straddled him, your arms thrown around his neck. Fred let out a soft moan when he felt your weight against his lap, his hands going up your back, fingertips sending shivers down your spine as they searched for the bra clasp. However, you stopped them and placed them back on your hips.

“Not so fast,” you whispered against his lips.

Before he could protest, you kissed him again, now pushing him all the way back to lay down on the bed. Hovering above him, you started pulling up his shirt, which he quickly got rid of for you. You chuckled. Maybe you weren’t the only one who had missed this.

Now that you had free access to his torso, you began to place soft, wet kisses on his neck, slowly moving down to his chest and stomach, painfully taking your time.

You could feel Fred’s breathing get deeper and deeper as you kissed his abs, working your way down to his pants. Once there, you stopped the kisses for a brief moment, so you could focus on getting rid of that piece of fabric. Again, Fred quickly helped you out until you were both just in your underwear.

The sight sent goosebumps through your body and you inevitably bit your lower lip. He was already so hard, you felt the anticipation building up inside you.

You decided to torture him for a little bit – just a little bit – and carried on with the kisses, not taking off his underwear quite yet. However, Fred’s impatience was growing and he didn’t think he would manage to wait for too long. His hand found your hair and he started stroking it, running his fingers through it, a disguised way to guide your head to where he needed you the most. You realized his intentions, but you did not stop him. You let him take you where he wanted and soon your lips found his still covered length.

“Shit, Y/N.”

You smirked.

Slowly, you started pulling down the last piece of clothing until you completely freed him. He was so beautiful. You still had a silly smile on your face as you ran your tongue all the way up from the base to the tip, where you placed a gentle kiss. Fred’s soft moan reached your ears, a beautiful sound that made you even more wet.

You took him in your mouth and started sucking the tip in a slow, teasing pace, while your hand loosely stroked him. You didn’t want him to cum yet. You wanted him to last. And you were going to make him last.

Fred’s hand never left your hair, and he began to slightly pull it, asking for more. He needed more.

“Y/N,” he moaned. “Y/N, please.”

You ignored him and kept going in that insanely slow pace, taking your time. What was the hurry?

You heard a low groan, and felt him move his hips against you. You stopped.

“Behave yourself, Weasley.”

“Baby… Please.”

You smirked again, giving him one last stroke, and you let go of him.

Fred looked at you in a way you hadn’t seen in a while. His eyes were dark, full of pure lust. But also desperation and discontent with the sudden lack of touch.

You crawled on the bed until your face was right above his, and you kissed him. It was a deep, passionate, hurried kiss between two people who were eager for each other. This time, you didn’t stop Fred’s hands from going up your back and unclasping your bra. He took it off and you quickly felt his left hand on your right breast, squeezing it. His right hand, however, was going up and down your side, sending shivers through your bare skin. He rested it on your waist for a little bit before going down to your ass and squeezing it tightly. You moaned against his lips, your own impatience growing.

You only stopped the kiss to get rid of your panties, the last piece of fabric separating you from him.

Fred watched as you got off of him and started to pull it down your smooth legs. He could feel his cock throbbing at the sight of your completely naked body. You were breathtakingly, heart-racingly beautiful. He loved the lingerie, he really did, but he loved your body a thousand times more. And he would never get tired of looking at it.

When you straddled him again, skin to skin now, he thought he would cum right then and there. You smiled at him, that beautiful smile that never changed, and kissed him one more time. Fred placed his hands on your waist, squeezing it gently, as if to encourage you. Not wasting another second, you guided his tip to your entrance and slowly sank down on him, allowing him to get all the way inside you, quite easily given how wet you were.

“Oh fuck, baby,” he moaned.

Letting out your own whimpers, you placed your hands on his chest and started riding him, still slowly, still teasingly. Fred’s moans soon turned into groans, complaints. He was getting tired of the teasing, he was already on edge. He couldn’t take it anymore. With a swift move, Fred shifted the both of you so now he was on top. He started thrusting into you, quite roughly, earning a loud approving moan from you.

“Fred,” you gasped, digging your nails into his shoulders.

He kept going, pounding harder and harder, moaning as he did so.

You started kissing his neck, biting, sucking, anything that would leave a mark.

“Yes, baby,” you cried out as he thrusted even deeper.

The bed was making a discreet creaking sound that you weren’t sure if the people in the other rooms could hear. You hoped not, but honestly? Right now you didn’t care. The sound of Fred’s heavy breaths, moans, groans and whimpers were all you were paying attention to. Beautiful sounds that had the power to shut down anything else in your mind.

The rhythm he had created was sending you to heaven with every motion. His lips soon found your own again and he kissed you as if he hadn’t done it just minutes before.

“Fuck, Y/N. I’m close.”

“Me too.”

As you felt your body tense, Fred came inside you with a low groan, slowing down just a tad bit. He kept thrusting, however, knowing you were about to reach your climax too. And not long after him, you felt a wave of pleasure wash over you, and your body relaxed completely.

Both of you were panting against each other’s neck, your arms still loosely around his shoulders as he slowly pulled out and collapsed on top of you.

Hugging him more tightly, you felt Fred leave small kisses on your neck, and you closed your eyes, enjoying the extra-tingly sensation. You started to run your fingernails up and down his back, the other hand caressing his hair.

If you concentrated hard enough, you could hear the waves crashing on the beach, the giggling of children playing down there, and the muffled music coming from the muggle restaurant. You felt so at ease.

After a long moment of peaceful, comforting silence, Fred looked up and smiled. “I love you so much.”

You smiled back. “I love you too.”

Not bad for round one.

********

[miraculous-trinity-leo]

Whacky Gotham, Goofy New York, and Chaotic Paris.

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7) (Part 8)

Chapter 6: Evade The Bats, and Beat The Crows

•—–—–·†·–—–—•

The girls are in the old living room setting up clues (that are absolutely... useless) around Gotham. One being a picture Harley and Multimouse took earlier that day.

"They might think to look here after they realize the clues are fake." - Steph

"Then where else would they not think to look?" - Maria

"W.E, I can get you and Harley in without them knowing easily." - Barbara said with a confident smile.

"But they'll have to go incognito... especially you Harley, no offense, but your outfit stands out just a tad." - Steph

"Ehhh, none taken, I'm sure I can tink of somthin' else tuh wear." - Harley

"I can help with that, but I'll need some clothes and some sewing supplies." - Maria said already thinking of what she could make.

Cass gave a nod and headed out of the room, after a few minutes she came back with t-shirts, jackets, sweaters, shorts, jeans, etc. and droped the pile of clothes infront of the group. She then handed Maria a sewing set she got from Alfred.

"Thanks Cass. I'll get to work on making our costumes." - Maria

"Let me help yuh wit' dat hun." - Harley said as she picked up most of the clothes for Maria

"Thanks." Maria

•—–·Let's see the Chaos shall we·–—•

"You never told us she could use magic!" - Red Hood looking under the table

"I wonder if she can infuse magic with coffee..." - Red Robin said looking in the cabinets for the third time.

"Stop looking for coffee!" - Red Hood

"She could've hidden in here." - Red Robin said while crabbing a mug

"I haven't had enough sleep to deal with this." - Selina then walked over and flopped herself on the couch and proceeded to fall asleep on impact.

"Maria get your tiny self back here right now or else!" - Tony

"Or else what? She Knows MAGIC! What else does she know that you haven't told us?!" - Red Hood

"... I never told you becuase it's meant to be a secret!" - Tony

"Oh, so now you agree with keeping things a secret?" - Red Robin grabbing the coffee

"What else can she do Tony." - Batman

"Well... she's great with tech, can kick butt in a LOT of different ways, has magic, and if she wants to, she can find and know where everyone or anyone is, but I think she gets massive headaches from a wide search like that." - Tony

"Anything else?" - Batman

(Tony thinkng of all the tiny gods she has in jewelery, and that she keeps Paris/friends and family safe on a daily basis, and that she is the well known designer MDC...)"No..." - Tony

As ivy was listening to them talk, she continued to search her garden, until one of her plants had a message fo her.

"Hello Ms. Ivy, please don't help Batman and Iron Man find us, we promise we'll be careful." - Maria

"Where are you?" - Ivy asked whispering into the plant.

After a few minutes Ivy got a detailed plan that Maria, Harley and the girls came up with to evade The IronBat group (Maria thought that would be better than ManMan group 'But it's Bat MAN and Iron MAN, so it has tuh be The ManMan group.' was Harleys defence, but Maria won that one.) and Ivy agreed to help as best she could.

•—–· Over to the Miraculous gang ·–—•

Plagg is cackling like there's no tomorrow.

"Guys something must be wrong, Plagg won't stop cackling, he won't even touch the cheese I gave him!!!" - Adrien

"There's no time for that, we need to find out where the hell Maria is!!" - Chloé

"Hahahaha, Ti- heheh Tikk- pffhaaaaaaahaha!!!" - Plagg

"He's trying to form words!" Adrien cradling Plagg in his hands "What is it my friend? Don't do this, you're to young...*sniff * you're to beautiful!"

"Hehehehe Shhhh- hahaha, she- she- haha...heheh- I'm so p-hehe-Proud wahahaha " - Plagg

"Proud?! She?! Where?! Who, is it Maria?!" - Chloé

"Hhhhhhhhahhaaaaaaaaaa" - Plagg

"Oh God he's wheezing!" - Adrien

"Hey guys, Peter and I got the snacks, found out where Maria might- oh kwami." - Alix walking into the room to a zombie looking Chloé, a panicked Adrien and the Kwami of death/bad luck/chaos laughing himself to death.

"Has he finally lost it?" - Peter

"She has become a true cat! hahahahahaaaaa heheheheeeeeee." - Plagg

Everyone in the room but Plagg "Oh fu-"

•—–· Over to the Batfam ·–—•

So everyone is panicking because for the past hour none of them could find Multimouse. Robin is sitting on the couch next to a now fully awake Selina, Red Hood and Nightwing are once again feeding each other the worst possible situation she could be in, Tony may or may not be hyperventilating, Red Robin is drinking coffee, and Batman is as stoic as ever... well on the outside anyway, on the inside, it's a warzone. Ivy is drinking her tea, slightly worried, but also hiding a small smile.

"What if we ask Oracle to try and help us find her?" - Red Robin

"... Right... Yes, ok let's do that... Bats you do it, I need to sit down." - Tony

•—–· Back to the girls ·–—•

The girls moved everything to the Bat-cave so they could set the route they would take, then the Bat-Computer started ringing.

"Hide!" - Steph

"Where, dere's nuttin' tuh hide behind!" - Harley

"Quick under the Bat-Computer." - Barbara

As soon as Harley and Maria hid under the Bat-Computer, Batman and the rest of the Batfam was on video call.

"Hey guys, what do you need?" - Barbara acting like nothing happened

"We need you to search for Maria, she's in a dark gray suit with pink accents, and she's with Harley." - Batman

"Ok, no prob, I'll contact you when I've found something." - and with that Barbara exited the call.

"Should we start heading out?" - Maria

"Yup, and here are your ID badges, don't lose them. I'll give our Batfam fake sightings, and lead them far away, then once you reach W.E I'll slowly start leading them closer to you." - Barbara

"Thanks, keep in touch if they decide to split up." - Maria

"Roger that." - Steph said giving a solute

•—–·–—•

Soon Multimouse and Harley are running over roof tops again, doing tricks, and stopping petty crimes, Barbara is leading the Batfam all over Gotham, and then they got to W.E, after Maria transformed back, they entered the building. Thanks to Babs, they entered without any problems and had free roam for the entire building, with some exceptions like new weapons designs, or the roof. They were hiding in the building for about an hour on the 7th floor when Barbara called in.

"Hey girls, you might want to be careful, I spotted some of Scarecrows goons a few blocks away, they seem to be heading in your direction, I'd say about 6mins tops until they reach W.E. Best to find a good room to stay in, or get out of there." - Barbara

"Thanks fawh de heads up Babs." - Harley

"Ok, we'll try to get out, let us know if we should turn back or not." - Maria

"Got it, and be careful." - Barbara

Maria and Harley then made their way back down, they were taking the stairs, because they figured it would be quicker, once they were on the second floor, they started to calmly make their way through the doors of the stairwell. That's when Scarecrows goons busted in, shouting for everyone to get down, Harley made sure to stay as close to Maria as possible as the goons gathered everyone to a wall. They were told to not move, talk, or do anything to anger them, once everyone was up against the wall, that's when Scarecrow came in. As he entered the room some of the employees started to look very scared, when Maria looked over to Harley, she saw her mouth 'it's ok', afterwards the goons had them all tied up and on the floor sitting down. Scarecrow scanned them before speaking.

"One of you will be testing my newest and most potent fear toxin as of yet. We can do this one out of two ways." He said lifting up two of his needle syringed fingers. "1. You can be a hero, and let yourself be my newest test subject, aka the boring way or 2. I pick whoever I want, aka the slightly less boring way. Now, who wants to go first?"

•—–· Over to Batman ·–—•

The Batfam was running around the other side of Gotham, now without Tony, because someone ( ehem Thor, ehem) was making a giant mess at Avengers Tower, and was fighting Loki... again. It was when they decided to call Oracle that things took another turn.

"Oracle have you foun- " - Batman

"They're at W.E. and Scarecrows there, I can't get in contact with them, and I can't get into the cameras at the moment, I need you to get your butts over there now!" - Oracle

"Wait you were in contact with them?!" - Red Hood

"Not the time! Just get over there before someone gets hurt!" - Oracle

"We're on our way." - Batman

They all then kicked it into high gear and were running to W.E, and out of everyone, Damian seemed to be the most visibly panicked, if him running twice as fast as everyone was any indication. At the speed they were going, they would be there in 20mins or less... hopefully.

•—–· Back to Maria and Harley ·–—•

So while Scarecrow was giving his little speech, Maria whispered into a plant to let Ivy know their situation, she wasn't able to get an answer before she and Harley were pulled away from the crowd.

"And what do we have here? Harley Quinn and a child. How interesting, well then, which one of you would like to test my new fear toxin?" - Scarecrow

"Eh, do me, I bet I got a lot o' trauma and fears from my time wit' Mistuh J. dat yuh would just love tuh see." - Harley

"... As tempting as that sounds I think I'll test it on your little friend here, after all, I know better than to mess with one of the Sirens." - As Scarecrow said that, one of the goons dragged Maria over to him. She didn't panic, she was actually really calm, which worried Harley even more because, remember all that emotional trauma she saw Maria had? Yeah, not the best match for the fear toxin.

As Scarecrow grabbed Maria, she locked eyes with Harley, and gave a brief smile before she felt a sharp jabbing pain in the side of her neck. Her vision went hazy, and from Harleys' point of view, she went a little limp from it.

As Maria started to see again she could hear screams, car alarms going off, and explosion in the distance, when she looked up, she saw them, her friends, her team... her family, they were all there lying infront of her... none of them moving, all of them were lifeless, looking as though turned into a gray husk of what they once were, and beside them were all the Kwamis, and their respective Jewelery, broken and shattered. She felt the tears fall as she looked around. Paris, the once beautiful city of lights, was now a wasteland, everything had a gray tone to it, people, animals, everything that had life... was dead.

And then she heard laughing, a sick disturbing laugh that was all to familiar... Lila. When she turned and saw Vulpina, she felt sick just looking at her.

"You have failed Maria, everyone you knew and loved is gone, all because you weren't here." - Lila

All she felt in that moment... was pure anger, she began to struggle, but somthing was holding her. She kept hearing that stupid laugh, and kept struggling harder and harder.

"You were never good enough, you were meant to always be our everyday Ladybug, but you never were, you never cared for us, and that's why, they're all gone, because you weren't good enough." - Lila

The last four words kept playing over and over in her head, until something clicked, she wasn't in Paris, so how did she get there? The last place she was at... was with Harley, she was in the W.E. building, and had fear toxin injected into her. As she came to that realization, she could hear the laughing fade just a bit, she closed her eyes and focused on finding everyone's souls, when she did, she saw that Scarecrow was right infront of her, a goon next to Harley, and a goon behind her, the other goons had left and were on the first floor. She snapped back when she heard Lilas' voice again.

"You always were stubborn and never accepted the real truth, as class president aren't you supposed to just roll over and do as you're told." - Lila

Maria was done listening to her, and decided to kick Lila in the face (since someone didn't think to tie up her ankles.)

"Just go rott in hell already you lieing fox!" - Maria

Maria didn't get any answer, all she knew was that she hit whatever was really infront of her hard. Maria then heard Lilas' voice morph into a heavier, more distorted voice.

"That's a first, guess I'll have to increase the dosage." - Scarecrow

She then felt another jabbing pain in her neck, all she could do was scream from the pain, her head was spinning, and all she could hear was laughing, sickening laughter that came from both Lila, and now Hawkmoth. One thing Scarecrow didn't account for, was the deep hatred Maria held for both individuals he made her see. Because soon after he gave her more fear toxin she got her footing, pushing back into the goon behind her before using the goons' grib on her to do a half backflip into kicking the guys face in, quickly knocking the goon out, when she stood back up she only saw Hawkmoth, surrounded by her lifeless team and family, she only saw red, and charge right at him. She kept punching and roundhouse kicking him, giving one final charge, ramming into Hawkmoth before she felt weightless. She never heard the panicked scream Harley let out, she never heard the shouts that came from the Batfam just reaching the second floor, before she hit something... something rapped around her holding her from falling any further, causing her to start thrashing around thinking it was Hawkmoth, before seeing he was also grabbed by something. She struggled ignoring the slight pain that went through her harms and legs. She slowly calmed down as she felt her feet touch the ground again, she then saw another Hawkmoth that was now mixed with Lila hug her, she tried to break free, but realized that it wasn't Lila or Hawkmoth... It was calming, and her voice was gentle, it was Ivy. She only heard a few words, that's when she felt something blow on her face, and after a few seconds, she lost conscientiousness.

Harley came sprinting down and was by Ivys' side in less than a minute. Ivy could tell Harley was worried and joined her in hugging a now sleeping Maria.

"I'm sawhry Ives, It all just happened so fast, and she was so awesome at kickin' Cranes @ss, I din't get her out of dere quick enough." - Harley said as she looked Ivy in the eyes, with tears threatening to escape.

"It's alright Harley, none of this is your fault." - Ivy replied comfortingly to Harley

As the two hugged Maria Batman came over.

"We'll take it from here." - Batman

"Hell no. We ain't leavin' her side." - Harley

Batman just let out a sigh, after he dealt with Scarecrow and his goons, Batman, along with his sons, Ivy and Harley, all headed back to the Bat-cave where the other girls and Alfred were waiting.

If anyone noticed Robin looking over to Maria with a concerned look, they just ignored it, and continued their way back home.

•—–·†·–—•

Chapter 6 complete! Hope you'll liked it, and are havin' a fantabulous day, stay safe and rock all those positive vibes. !BUG-OUT! 🐞💮🐞

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜 Tag List 〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

1st Place★: @animegirlweeb☕ , 2nd Place★: @jumpingjoy82, 3rd Place★: @zalladane, 4th Place★: @jayjayspixiepop, 5th Place★: @arty-shadow-morningstar, 6th Place★: @smol-book-nerd, 7th Place★: @irontimetravelflower, 8th Place★: @fandom-trapped-03, 9th Place★: @meme991001, 10th Place★: @buginetye, 11th Place★: @blackroserelina, 12th Place★: @jessigurl-design, 13th Place★: @adrestar , 14th Place★: @moon5608, 15th Place★: @little-bluestar, 17th Place★: @myazael, 18th Place★: @our-preciousss, 19th Place★: @wolf2118, 20th Place★: @nyx-in-line, 21st Place★: @kking13, 22nd Place★: @lunerlover2024, 23rd Place★: @moonlightstar64, 24th Place★: @corporeal-terrestrial, 25th Place★: @kashlyn, 26th Place★: @tbehartoo, 27th Place★: @heart-charming, 28th Place★: @solangelo252, 29th Place★: @t1dwarrior-of-earth, 30th Place★: @lady-phoenix-of-tardis, @lupagrimm

[thebashfulbotanist]

Mushroom Rules and Taboos

Mushroom season is in full swing! There are a few topics one should always avoid when talking with mushroom hunters. I’m a moderator on a mushroom identification group of about 30,000 people, and if you start talking about one of these topics, your post or comment will be deleted! Here are a few rules one should follow when talking with fellow mushroom hunters (and yes, I know these sound like a cross between Karen complaints and fae rules). 

1. Never ask for someone’s mushrooms spot. Asking for someone’s mushroom spot is tantamount to declaring you’re going to steal all of their mushrooms and leave them with nothing but severed stipes! This is very rude and hurtful. If you really need a hint as to where to find certain species, instead ask something like, “at what elevation in what mountain range did you find these?” That will allow the forager to give you a general answer, and won’t force them to give up their secrets. A kind forager will respond to, “Where is your mushroom spot?” with something like, “400m, Cascade foothills.” A less forgiving forager might stuff a wad of moss down your throat.

2. Do not argue about or even mention “cut versus pluck.” Whether you cut a mushroom from the ground with a knife or pluck it with your fingers has no significant effect whatsoever on the health of the mushroom population or how many mushrooms will come up the next year. There is a common misconception that cutting mushrooms with a knife is less damaging, but this is untrue. Cutting and plucking both don’t cause any harm! You’re just removing a fruiting body, and the real body of the mushroom is formed by mycelia underground. People feel really strongly about cut versus pluck, even if they know the different methods have no real effect on the fungi. Some people prefer to cut so others know they were there, or to keep their baskets clean, while others prefer to pluck to leave less visible debris in the forest, or to take more edible fungus. Either way: it should never be brought up. It’s a bannable offense in some groups - think, “We! Do not! Talk! About! The! Orangutan!”

3. Do not scold people for picking mushrooms they do not know the species of. This is called “pick shaming” in mushroom hunter communities. Sometimes, well-meaning folks will scold people for picking mushrooms they don’t know because they think it’s “wasteful” to pick a mushroom if they do not intend to eat it. This comes from a good place, since they’re obviously environmentally-conscious, but it also shows that they don’t know much about fungi. They are not plants! Revisit point 2: picking or cutting mushrooms has no effect whatsoever on the health of the fungus. More importantly, a lot of mushrooms need spore prints and a view of the entire specimen, from the base to the top of the pileus, to properly identify. In fact, to identify many toxic Amanita species, you must look at the volva at the base of the stipe, which requires pulling out the entire specimen. New foragers should indeed pick mushrooms to identify them - this is how they should learn. 

4. This is more of a pet peeve, but: do not ask “is this edible?”  or  “is this magic?” before you know what mushroom species you’re working with. Few things irritate me and other mushroom experts as much as seeing a picture of a toxic mushroom with the question, “Edible?” but no request for id. There are three reasons for this: First, I don’t want to be responsible for whether you eat a mushroom and get sick from it. I can tell you what I think it is, and there’s a 99.99% chance I’m correct, but if I’m either wrong or you have a particular sensitivity to that species (and many people do to common species like Laetiporus conifericola), I don’t want to get the blame for “telling you it was fine to eat.” Many mushroom hunters make a point of giving only the identification and letting the requester research edibility on their own for this reason. Second, me telling you if something is edible is not helping you learn to identify or hunt mushrooms, it’s just giving you a cheap way to repeatedly stick Agaricus foundinmyyardicus  on the forum and have someone else id it for you. Third, and more importantly, why are you putting things in your mouth if you don’t know what they are?  WHY?! What is wrong with you?! Mushroom maggots are also edible, but you would not eat them! 

5. Do not make unverified claims of mushroom medicinal use or, worse, offer medical advice unless you’re a trained and licensed professional. You can say, “There are some studies I found in this peer reviewed journal that indicate Trametes versicolor might be promising for such-and-such use,” but do not say stuff like, “Turkey tails cure cancer!” or, “Susan, I hear you had the flu. You should drink Ganoderma oregonense tea to boost your immune system!” Don’t risk poisoning someone, messing with their medication, or spreading pseudoscience by suggesting they use a mushroom for medicinal purposes unless you’re a trained medical professional. A forager who has casually read some journal articles is not a trained medical professional!  

6. Don’t mock folks for asking for confirmation of an “easy to identify” mushroom species. You’d be surprised by how many people misidentify species that are as “easy” to identify as Cantharellus formosus. I would much rather forty people post chanterelles and one accidentally post Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca while asking for confirmation than forty one people blindly eat their mushroom haul, thinking they’re chanterelles, only for one to get sick on Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca. Be responsible, and remember you were a beginner once, too. 

7. In identification groups, don’t give a definite identification unless you’re 100% sure of the mushroom someone is asking for an id of. If you’re unsure, say something like, “Looks like Laccaria bicolor,” or, “Compare to Amanita augusta.” Don’t say, “That’s Xerocomellus zelleri” with certainty unless you’re willing to bet on your mother’s life it’s Xerocomellus zelleri. This usually isn’t a big deal, but there was a bit of a kerfuffle on one of the mushroom forums a few years back when someone said, “That’s a matsutake!” about a deadly Amanita smithiana, and then proceeded to argue with David Arora, a legend among mycologists and the author of identification books like Mushrooms Demystified and All that the Rain Promises and More, upon being corrected. 

8. When identifying mushrooms, always use scientific names. Common names are colorful and easy to remember, but different species might have the same common name, or other people might be unfamiliar with the common name you’re using. Some species don’t even have common names! It’s totally okay to give both a scientific name and a common name, though, if the common name exists. 

[lexiepiper]

Unread

Dani visits the human world and notices some things that have changed since the last time she was there.

Phic Phight Prompt by @idiot-cheesehead-archenemy

Summary: What is there to say?

Dani slipped through the Fenton portal into the world of the living, and was immediately greeted by the feeling of cool air on her skin. She took a deep breath, hovering invisibly in the middle of the lab and slowly cherishing the sensation of fresh, living air filling her lungs.

The lab was… quiet. She frowned and spun on the spot, confirming that she was the only person there. The monitors lining the benches were dull, and there were no typical flashing lights or whirring electronics. The only illumination came from the portal. Dani didn’t know a lot about other people’s labs, but Vlad’s had always been full of soft noise, as machines hummed and blipped little tunes that had always soothed her back to sleep.

She pushed the memory away. Maybe the Fentons’ lab was just quiet when nobody was there? After all, it wasn’t like there were growing life forms that needed constant support and monitoring.

Still. It didn’t quite seem to fit the glimpses of this place that she’d had in the past, no matter how fleeting they’d been.

She phased through the ceiling, and the darkness was replaced by soft natural light that streamed through open windows. The glimpse of sunlight struck her with unexpected surprise, and Dani hissed in a sharp breath as her core hummed deep within her centre. She suddenly wanted nothing more than to fly out into the open sky, feeling the wind in her hair and the sun soaking into her skin for the first time in… wait, how long had it actually been?

She frowned, scrunching her face as she tried to track how long she’d been in the Ghost Zone. Surely it hadn’t been more than a few months, right?

Shaking her head to clear it, she glanced around the living room. Unease prickled down her spine, dampening her good mood, but Dani couldn’t quite place what was wrong. There was that same old couch and rug, a TV against one wall, and framed photos lining the mantelpiece. 

She was surprised that Danny hadn’t appeared yet. Shouldn’t she have set off his ghost sense by now?

Dani’s heart pounded against her ribcage as she floated up again, phasing through the floor of Danny’s bedroom…

This was Danny’s room, right? No, she must have misjudged the layout of the home. It appeared to be a guest room, with a plain mattress devoid of blankets or sheets on the bed frame, and empty shelves lining the walls with a clear desk tucked in the corner. The curtains were drawn, but they were so threadbare that there was no problem seeing in the bright daylight that shone right through.

She phased through the wall, and ended up in a room with a decidedly teal colour scheme. The curtains were closed in here too but enough light filtered through to make out the details anyway. It was as neat as one of those pictures of perfect homes in magazines, and the framed high school diploma above the study alcove suggested that the room belonged to Jazz. Or… it had? The air felt stale and dusty, like nobody had been in here in a while. Dani drifted over to the dresser and ran her finger across the top, coming away with a fine layer of dust.

She pinched her lower lip between her teeth. Jazz had been pretty close to graduation when Dani had gone into the Ghost Zone, so maybe she was at university now?

Yeah. That made sense.

Unease settled more densely over her, and Dani phased through the wall again. She passed through the linen cupboard and a bathroom in desperate need of a good clean, and then found herself in what was obviously Danny’s parents’ room. This one finally appeared to be lived in, with the duvet crumpled and left unmade, and glasses of water on bedside tables. The curtains were open in here, and the air felt fresher and less dead.

Dani didn’t really want to poke around through Maddie and Jack’s stuff, so she phased back out into the hallway. She tilted her head, scowling as she counted the doors in the hallway.

There were exactly five — one for each bedroom, and one for the bathroom and the linen cupboard.

Dread dropped into her gut, like she’d suddenly swallowed a bowling ball, and Dani crept back into the first room. She pulled back the curtains, and dust motes swirled in the beams of sunlight as the room was fully illuminated. She stood in the middle of the carpet, turning in a slow circle and reaching out tentatively with her core.

There were slightly darker rectangles on the wall where there used to be posters of star charts and band tours, and when she tilted her head back, Dani could just make out the tiny silhouettes where glow in the dark stars had once been stuck to the ceiling and the white paint had faded around them.

She couldn’t sense any other ghosts beside herself. There wasn’t so much as a glimmer of residual spectral activity aside from the steady hum of the portal two floors beneath her.

“Where are you?” she whispered into the still emptiness.

Maybe… maybe she’d been gone longer than she’d thought. Maybe Danny had graduated and gone to college too. She didn’t think he’d have abandoned Amity Park, but maybe he’d moved out with Tucker, or finally gotten together with Sam or Valerie and was living with them? She didn’t really know much about his friends, but that seemed like the kind of thing they’d do, especially if Danny’s parents didn’t know his secret yet. He was probably just too far across town for her to sense.

Dani shot up through the ceiling and broke into the open air. The sunlight enveloped her with sudden life, and despite everything she smiled and gave a deep sigh. The Ghost Zone had been interesting, and it certainly helped to keep her core stable, but her human half delighted in the chance to soak in the energy of the mortal world once more.

Making sure that she stayed invisible, Dani floated above the town in a huge, lazy loop, feeling for any sign of Danny. There was a gentle breeze, and she revelled in the way it stirred her hair and brushed against her exposed skin.

By the time she’d returned to Fentonworks, the contentment of being in the human world had once again been overrun by anxiety.

Dani debated dropping by Valerie’s house, before realising that she didn’t actually know where it was. She scowled, but after a moment of thought began to fly across the town again, this time with a clear destination in mind.

She touched down in the parking lot behind the library, using invisibility to mask herself as she changed into her human form before walking through the front doors just like any normal kid. Nobody even glanced her way, and Dani sidled over to the row of thick computer screens that buzzed almost imperceptibly and played screensavers of what looked like photos of community events. She picked the screen furthest from the library desk, as far away from prying eyes as possible but when she nudged the mouse the screensaver was replaced with a screen prompting her to log in.

Dani frowned and looked toward the desk. She didn’t have a card, but she didn’t really want to sign up for one either. Didn’t you need ID for that kind of thing?

An older man sat down at a vacant computer close to hers, and Dani slid out of her seat and casually strolled to the bookshelf behind him. She pretended to be scanning the titles while he slowly used pointed index fingers to tap out his login details, and Dani carefully repeated the details in her mind as she grabbed a random book and headed back to her seat. Her screen had jumped back to the screensaver, and she doubted that she could log in while the man was already suing his account, so she surreptitiously turned to the back of her book and used a glowing fingertip to etch the man’s username and password into the bottom corner of the final page. She flipped back to the front cover again and raised an eyebrow at the yellow smiley face and the large self-help title in raised gold block letters.

Oh, well. Whatever.

Dani thumbed through her book, skimming through some of the tips in the organisational section while surreptitiously stealing glances at the man on the nearby computer. Her fingers almost itched with anticipation but she held herself steady.

It didn’t take him long to leave, and Dani could only hope that he hadn’t used up all of the allotted time on his account for the day. She flipped back to the details and typed them in, relief pulling a sigh from deep within her as the computer opened up to its main desktop page. The little timer in the top corner indicated that the account still had twenty minutes, so she pushed the book aside and opened the web browser straight away.

It only took a few seconds to log into Facebook, and Dani felt a twinge of guilt at the sheer amount of notifications. She was tempted to check them now, but the steady timer in the corner reminded her to focus and she clicked into the messenger webpage instead.

There were only two conversations — one from Danny, and the other from Valerie. Val’s were bolded and unread, but Danny’s… 

Dani chewed her lip and brushed overlong bangs out of her face, trying to fight through the sudden heart-wrenching betrayal of abandonment.

Danny’s last message to her had been over a year ago, the day she left for the Ghost Zone.

She quickly opened the conversation, double checking that yes, he hadn’t messaged her since she’d left. It didn’t make sense. This was their only form of communication when she wasn’t in town! Did he really think so little of her, that he wouldn’t message her so that she’d have something to come back to? Was she really just a clone to him after all?

That last thought stopped her anger in its tracks. Danny would never think that.

She took a deep, grounding breath, and opened the unread messages from Valerie.

There wasn’t much there, but what Danielle did see turned her blood to ice.

How could I have known when neither of you ever told me?!

I’m sorry

Please, Danielle, I’m sorry!

I didn’t mean it

You have to know I didn’t mean it

I never would have done it if I’d just KNOWN!

I’m sorry

Dani swallowed, hard. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard but for a long moment she just stared at the screen.

She clicked back into her conversation with Danny. The last time he’d messaged her was only a few days before that frantic barrage from Valerie.

Just make sure you stay away from Skulker!

Frostbite will help you if you need it

Or Pandora

At the time, she was amused by his overprotectiveness. Yeah I know. See you later!

He’d responded cheerfully, but then had never messaged her again.

Okay

Stay safe!

I hope you have a blast

She read it again, and panic crept into her core. “No,” she breathed, and clicked back to Facebook’s main page, searching up Danny’s account.

The latest posts were birthday wishes from two months ago.

Dani scrolled down, numb horror cocooning her thoughts. The posts made by his friends and family all blurred together into a collage of soft wishes of peace and somber murmurs of sadness. Below his birthday wishes were a collection of posts from four months ago, and Dani’s hands trembled as she read every single one.

Sixteen months.

The ambient sounds of the library faded into static as she realised that Danny Fenton had been dead and buried for sixteen months.

She swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat, and it was like fighting past hands that were clenched around her neck. Dani’s eyes burned and she dragged in a shallow breath, sharp with the strain of fighting back tears.

They slipped down her cheeks anyway, and she sniffed and took another strained breath, clicking into her messages once more.

She didn’t know what to say, but Dani knew she had to say something. It wasn’t right, to just leave him hanging like that.

Her hands clenched in her lap, and Dani rubbed the water off her face only to have more tears fall straight away. A sob clawed its way out of her throat and she pressed her fist over her mouth, muffling it as much as she could.

People were looking at her now, and she ducked her head and tried to hold everything in.

This wasn’t fair. How could she have let this happen? How could she have left him?

How could he have left her?

She clenched her teeth together. As tempting as it was to post on his page, she didn’t want to be public about it. What right did she have anyway, to freshly grieve him when he’d already been gone for so long? What right did she have to message his friends, who she barely knew, or his family, who she had never even met?! How could she drag them into her existence when it’d just dredge up the rawness all over again?!

Dani realised that she’d tensed her body so much that she was trembling with the effort and had forgotten to breathe. She took a shaky breath, and her tight muscles snapped into a loud, hiccupping cry.

Gritting her teeth again, tears streaming down her cheeks and dripping into her mouth and off her chin, Dani typed three words into the private message chat box.

I’m so sorry.

She closed the browser, and the screen went black and flicked back to the login screen as the timer hit zero.

Grief crashed into her with the force of a tsunami and Dani pressed her palms over her eyes and wept. Huge, gasping sobs tore from her chest, making her gut ache as her pulse roared in her ears.

“Miss? Are you okay?”

It was probably the stupidest question she’d ever heard, and Dani shook her head mutely, keeping her hands over her eyes as the tears continued to flood through her fingers and snot began to drip from her nose.

Someone nudged her shoulder. “Here,” the same voice offered, and Dani peeked through her fingers to see a tissue box. She squinted up at the librarian, and the tears kept flowing like a tap that had been left running.

Dani pressed her lips together and nodded once, grabbing a handful of tissues and immediately burying her face in them as she was hit by a fresh wave of grief. She knew that eventually she’d have to move, she’d have to stop crying and take the next step, but for now all that mattered was the way her head throbbed with every sob and how her eyes burned hotter and hotter the more she cried. She couldn’t breathe deeper than short, shallow gasps, and every time she tried to think, all she could picture was Danny’s face and her world came crashing down again.

It took her a long time to stop crying, but when she did she was left staring at the pile of soaking tissues next to the keyboard as the bright halogen lights made her eyes sting.

She had no clue what to do now.

He was dead, and she didn’t even get to say goodbye.

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Omg yay could you do a beckendorf percy fic where they run into each other years later and have a cutesy lol coffee catch up and I dont just something like that pleas I love your work💖💖

Ahhhh Anon you know how to make my dreams come true! Here as you requested is a Charles x Percy coffee shop au and I hope you love because they're🥺

masterlist; my links

It's a Monday morning. It's a Monday morning and he has to get up. It's a Monday morning and he has to get up and go to work. He has to go to work.

At this point Percy would rather face the fire wall at camp. Hell he'd settle for a sword fight against a minotaur. But instead it's Monday and he has to do his job and he will get coffee because he'll likely die if he doesn't. He practically rolls out of his bed, his knees hitting the floor in prayer position. He snorts at the thought.

His phone chimes as the morning messages start flooding through. He has no doubt there's several "emergency" texts from Leo and Rachel. And several more texts from Piper and Jason that have nothing to do with emergencies but somehow always sound more urgent— likely because Jason is a worrier. And the email chime, loud and grating in his ears, indicates the reality of another busy work day. The calendar notification also goes off and he frowns as he tries to remember what was so important about the date. After a minute of standing in the same spot, his face screwed into concentration, he gives up. He's not awake enough for this.

He stumbles to the shower, grabbing his toothbrush on the way because he can't be bothered to stand in the shower and then again by the basin. The shower takes longer to warm up than usual, probably because the pipes are frozen. Winter in this city is nothing short of brutal. He wonders if the Apollo cabin suffers during this time. It's an absurd enough thought that he chokes on some of the toothpaste. That's his cue to hurry it up and get on with the day. The faster he starts the quicker it ends and he can be back in his warm apartment watching weird nature documentaries and shoveling fries into his mouth at an alarming rate, at least according to Annabeth.

By the time he leaves the house, clad in all black, he is about ready to keel over from lack of caffeine. It really is terrible for his adhd but his insomnia forces his hand, and maybe the slight addiction to the drink that he's managed to garter over the years, but he can stop if he wants to! Can't he?

The apartment door locks with a soft click and he pockets the key card before jogging down the stairs. Elevators still make him... uncomfortable. There's so little room, and so much that can go wrong.

His thoughts are all over the place as he steps into the frosty air of New York city. There's a hundred coffee shops on his short walk to work but his favourite one is in the little building next to their offices. As he pushes open the door, hit with a rush of warm air and gentle conversation, he remembers what's happening at work today. The new boss starts. Oh gods he hopes they're nice, or if not nice, at least calm. He cannot handle another Mr D. Someone clears their throat and he startles up, blushing as he realises the line has moved up.

"Morning, Mr Jackson." The familiar bartender smiles, "Your usual sir?"

"Hello Kayla," He scans the menu, knowing he'll get the same thing he always does. "Yea I guess, and maybe a blueberry muffin."

"Sure, is that everything?"

With a nod he's paying and moving to sit at a little high-table to wait.

He pulls his phone out and answers the first few emails of the day and then he opens his messages, sighing at the notifications. Sometimes he wants to switch off the world. Sometimes he wants to switch off his own brain. If he responds it means he has to keep responding. The very idea churns at his stomach like yellowing butter. However, if he leaves the messages he never has to keep responding, but people will be hurt. The dilemma is enough to deepen the crease between his brows like valleys. And that is the first thing a friend long since lost to his childhood comments on.

"What has the world done to you Percy Jackson?" A warm voice made from cozy fires and toasted marshmallows envelops him, "That you are frowning in a coffee shop?"

He looks up. He becomes the wind.

It is a Monday. It is a Monday and he is in a cafe. It is Monday and he is in a cafe and he is seeing a man made from the richest parts of the earth. He sees Charles Beckendorf.

"Charlie?" He gapes, the name sounds foreign on his tongue after all these years. He scrambles up pulling the large body in for a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around Charles’ waist.

"Hello Percy," A soft voice caresses his ear. He can feel their ribs expand in time with each other, as in tune as their first embrace when he was twelve and needing a friend.

He pulls back only slightly, looking into those molten eyes, years of life flashing behind them. "What are you doing here?"

Charlie laughs, and it is the same gentle, encompassing sound as he'd always remembered, albeit deeper now. "Life has pulled me a thousand different directions but my heart has pinned me to here. I guess whatever I'm meant to find has always been in this great noisy city."

Their eyes clash like waves against rock, a love story that always falls away. A flash of something dangerous scorches through Percy and he wonders if this will be the story where the wave doesn't leave.

He pulls them together again, finding comfort between their beating chests and then he steps apart completely, already gesturing to the spare chair across from him. Just as he's about to start talking a coffee cup and a wrapped muffin is put down in front of him. With a smile at the barista he takes up the coffee, realizing as it warms his throat that he doesn't actually need it. Something else, someone else, woke him up.

"Would you like anything?" He waves to his own breakfast.

Charlie shakes an empty cup in the air, before discarding it in the waste bin near their table.

"How are you? What have you been doing?" The questions bubble out of him. He wants to know everything like his very happiness depends on it.

Another laugh tumbles out of the man and it warms the whole room. "Id love to chat but I have work to get to. Don't want to make a bad impression on my first day," He winks.

Percy can't stop the disappointment from flooding his system, and it reflects in his expression like fracturing glass.

"But—" A smile takes over Charlie’s face and it lights up the world. "I'd love to catch up tonight, if you're free?"

He matches the grin like stars in the same constellation. "Like a date?" It is teasing and full of fun and the promise of something more.

He doesn't expect it when the man raises a brow, and says in a voice made of silk and sweetness, "Yes, like a date Jackson. If you're okay with that?"

"More than." He breathes.

They share another secret smile.

"Well I best be going before I'm late. See you tonight?"

"Where?" Percy grabs his arm, tugging them together in a parting hug.

"Let’s meet here."

And then Charlie is gone, and he watches as his friend walks outside, bright winter sun lighting up that glorious dark brown skin as he disappears from view.

He collapses back into his chair, his lips dancing in memory, draining his coffee and shoving down the blueberry muffin.

When he leaves, his office building looming before him, he remembers the arrival of the new boss, but even that isn't enough to damper his happiness. He steps into the air conditioned space, much warmer than the crisp outside air; he takes a deep breath and so the work day begins.

He greets everyone he passes, a genuine smile gracing his features. The world around him is ablaze with possibility, with hope. Stepping off the elevator and onto his floor brings him to the bustling area of the graphics design department. No matter how much he complains about work, being there brought him a level of familiarity and joy that he cannot bear to part with.

He slings his coat over his chair and boots up his computer, but just as he spots Hazel and Leo a throat clears on the other end of their space.

He looks up, and the sound that leaves his mouth is not entirely human.

Charles Beckendorf sees him across the room and as their eyes meet Percy Jackson knows this love story will have a happy ending. The wave caresses the rock.

It is a Monday. It is a Monday and he is in the office being introduced to his new boss. It is a Monday and he is in the office being introduced to his new boss who also happens to be his date tonight. He's going on a date with his new boss.

It's a damn good Monday.

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

[image id: a poem over a plain white background that reads “how beautiful it feels// when they want to know// all about the worlds you hold// inside of you// -butterflies rising”. end id]

[saiilorstars]

Rise Up

Ch.7: At Odds

Previous Story: It Had To Be You || Current Masterlist

Pairings: Barry Allen x OFC

Chapter Summary: Belén and Barry come to odds with their plans to fight against Zoom for the first time.

Pronunciation of OC: Bell-en. The last syllable has an emphasis so it’s not pronounced like ‘Helen’ would be.

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog​ @maaaaarveeeeel​

[If you’d like to be part of this OC’s taglist, let me know!]

"Just let me go. Let me disappear," Dr. Light pleaded from her prison pod. She probably sounded like a broken record but it didn't matter to her. Ever since the team decided to try to reason with her, all she kept saying was to be freed so she could hide from Zoom. Unfortunately for her, they weren't having it.

"You would spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, never knowing when Zoom is coming," Barry meant to serve as a reminder but all Dr. Light did was shrug. "Okay, how were you supposed to contact him after you killed me?"

"I was supposed to get something... something I could only get if you were dead... and then throw it through the breach as proof," Light explained.

"And then what?"

"Then he'd come for me. Confirm the kill and bring me home," Light exasperatedly sighed. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I want to find him."

"You really don't," Light said with widened, alarmed eyes.

"He's gonna keep coming for me. He's gonna keep kidnapping people like you, forcing them to do what he wants," Barry shook his head. "I have to stop him before more people die."

"You can't stop Zoom. Okay, everyone on my Earth knows that Zoom wants the Flash from another world," Light shook her head fiercely. "You're not getting away. He has plans."

"Among those is the Siphoner?" Belén walked into the pipeline, throwing Barry a look for his secret meeting with the metahuman.

"It's only a matter of time until she comes," Light warned quietly, her voice indicating she was as much afraid of Datura as she was of Zoom.

"Well too late," Belén crossed her arms, "She's already here." Her revelation seemed to freeze Light in her spot. Fear accumulated in her eyes, making the other two metas almost feel sorry for her.

"You have to let me go!" Light pounded a fist against the pod. "If Datura is here it means Zoom knows I failed. She's going to siphon me or kill me!"

"Then help us take them down before they do any more harm," Barry still tried to reason with her, hoping that her fear would somehow help her see they were her only option now.

But Light refused. "Whatever you're planning, it's not going to work. Because if you somehow manage to escape Zoom's speed, you won't escape Datura's touch. A lot of us have tried and they're dead."

"We'll see," Barry meant it as a challenge.

~ 0 ~

"Zoom wants Doctor Light to send him your new emblem…" Caitlin repeated after hearing the story. It actually made sense in the villain's perspective, but since none of them were villains it just sounded plain crazy.

"Yes. We need it for bait," Barry glanced momentarily at his suit sitting on the display. "If we can get Doctor Light to take my emblem, throw it through the breach, then Zoom will come to collect my body, and we can trap him."

Cisco wasn't happy with that idea. "You know it took a lot of work to make that emblem, right?"

"Am I the only one who remembers that she tried to kill Linda just to escape Zoom?" Caitlin decided to input in case they truly had forgotten that crucial detail.

"Linda sure hasn't," Belén snorted.

"Look, I know we can get her to help us," Barry could almost promise it was the case. "She's rational, she'll see it's the only way."

"Before I left Earth-2, I worked on a serum to dampen Zoom's speed. All we would need is for Ramon to develop a weapon to deliver it," Harry shared.

"Oh, great, that could be this year's cold gun," Belén shot Cisco a warning look that he shouldn't even try it. "Maybe another criminal can get it, and then we'd have Sergeant Slow."

"I would never let that happen. Sergeant Slow is a terrible name," Cisco flatly responded with.

"Are we forgetting how much more powerful than Barry Zoom seems to be?" Caitlin looked at them incredulously. "I mean, if Barry can catch bullets, what's to say Zoom can't catch whatever you shoot at him?"

"Surprise... the element of surprise," Harry laid it out for them. "All we would do is rig a projectile to fire as Zoom crosses into the breach. He can't stop what he can't see coming."

"That's great," Barry was relieved to see that someone was at least following through with the idea.

"Thanks."

Caitlin shook her head. "Joe, voice of reason here?"

"We need a plan," Joe agreed on some level. "That's as good as any. As long as he can deliver."

"Don't underestimate me, Detective," Harry pointed and walked out of the cortex to get started on the task ahead.

Barry's phone went off and when he checked it he saw Patty's name on the ID. "Oh, Patty needs us back at the station," he told Joe.

Joe nodded. "I'll meet you there, all right?"

Barry agreed and took a head start with Belén.

~0~

"Hey," Iris stopped by Belén's desk at work. She put down a coffee for Belén and then took a seat at the edge of Belén's desk. "I didn't know you'd be coming in today."

"Yeah well, since my endeavors to get stronger, I've been neglecting my work," Belén reached for the cup of coffee. "I can't afford to get fired."

Linda came by rather nervously, and Belén knew once again what the reason was for her detour. "Hey. Have you had any word from The Flash about the meta-human that attacked us? Or the other one that got to me? Look at me, I have to keep count on who kidnaps me."

"Linda, I promise you that you'll be safe," Belén sighed. She knew it would take Linda a good amount of time before she could feel normal again, what with Dr. Light and Datura kidnapping her...

"Still...I'd just feel better if I could talk to, um...the Azalea? Or the Flash?"

"Linda, I don't think that's a good idea…"

"It's not that I don't believe you!" Linda exclaimed. "I just...I want answers, Belén. Why does that woman look like me? Knowing there's a metahuman with my face on who likes to nearly kill people makes it really hard for me to concentrate on field goals and doping scandals. And then I've got that new plant meta to think about? I don't want to sit around being told not to worry my pretty little head about it."

Belén acknowledged Linda's feelings and sighed. "I get that. Believe me, I do."

"Then tell the Azalea and Flash that I want to talk to them. I bet you can get the message across to the Flash. Please," Linda said, then added, "Iris says he'll listen to you no matter what because of that crush."

Had it not been because they were in public, Belén would have smacked Iris again for that. It definitely didn't help that Iris was smirking.

"I will...try my best," Belén forced herself to say in one go. Soon as Linda was gone though, she hit Iris on the arm. "I'm going to kill you for ever telling that to Linda."

"Sorry," Iris honestly apologized. "When I did that, I didn't know it was Barry. So really, this is your fault."

"Oh, yeah, my bad!" Belén playfully rolled her eyes.

~0~

After getting word of Dr. Light making a run for it, the group gathered at STAR Labs to figure out what exactly enabled her to do it.

"Doctor Light managed to hack into the lights of her cell. The whole building runs on fiber optics that operate on pulses of light, so she turned off the dampeners and used her powers," Cisco reviewed what he learned from the mechanics.

"And made herself invisible?" Belén glanced at the full costume Light had left behind for them. "That's possible?"

"Apparently," Cisco mumbled.

"I told you how dangerous she was," Harry was beyond mad with them. It wasn't like he had warned them about Light - oh wait, he had. "You should have listened to me and sedated her."

"I thought we would be able to convince her that helping us was the only way she'd free herself from Zoom," Barry argued.

"Well, you thought wrong!"

"Yeah. Okay, look, Doctor Light is gone, so instead of assigning blame, let's try to figure out what we're gonna do next," Joe cut in before they went any further.

"Do you think she's gonna try and take Linda again?" Belén worried over her friend who, at the moment, probably didn't know much.

"I had Iris bring Linda to the house, just in case, to keep an eye on her," Barry informed her to ease her concerns. "How are we doing with the speed-dampener?" he asked the others.

"I think we isolated the composite…" Caitlin began, still sounding unsure with this plan.

"And we're modifying the dart the Arrow used to take down Wells," Cisco added.

Harry was growing close to hitting something if they kept using that line. "He's not Wells. I'm Wells!"

"Whatever, Harry," Cisco sarcastically retorted in a louder voice.

"Okay, but we don't even really know if this thing works?" Joe asked just to be sure he was hearing all this craziness.

"Until we try it, no. This will be a field test, so can we end this scintillating staff meeting and get back to work?" Harry motioned he would at least continue with work while everyone else continued to talk.

"Or how about I say what everybody's thinking?" Joe challenged. "Maybe it's a good thing that Doctor Light is gone. Maybe it's the universe stopping us from doing something really stupid."

Caitlin made an agreeing gesture, and honestly Belén was close to doing the same. They had learned the hard way they couldn't just come up with any old, fast plan against Zoom.

"No. No," Barry said loudly. "Keep going. I'm gonna figure out another way to get Zoom."

"A-are you sure?" Belén had to ask, stopping him before he could leave. "Couldn't we come up with something we could all agree with?"

"We don't have the time," Barry sounded rhetorical. Did no one understand they couldn't have the luxury to sit down like a group and discuss their options? Options that were already little to begin with?

When Barry actually left the room, Belén released a sigh. "We can't just go through without calculating. I'm not the cop, I shouldn't have to tell him this."

"I've got you," Joe promised and went after Barry.

~0~

Later that day, Belén stopped by her childhood home to pick up one of the last boxes she meant to take to her new apartment. As she walked in, she found her mother working at the living room, unbeknownst to Belén it was with the papers Veronica had taken from the precinct earlier in the day.

"Mom, hey," Belén greeted and shut the door.

"Hi," Veronica seemed entranced with whatever she was reading at the moment.

"Where's Axel?" Belén searched for her nephew in the quiet room.

"Oh, out in the garden. What did you need?"

"Just coming to make another trip," Belén left her bag at the side table and walked up behind the couch. "What's all that?" she pointed to the mess of papers on the coffee table.

"Information on some old metahuman cases."

Belén raised an eyebrow at her mother, now noticing there were several manila folders spread around the coffee table. "Why are you looking at old meta cases?"

"Because there's some things not adding up, that's why," Veronica said so matter-of-factly one could believe it was just a casual thing she was doing.

"What?" frowned Belén. "What do you mean?"

Veronica sighed as she raised her gaze from her work. "There are several metas that the cops never found but the Flash and the Azalea did yet there are no arrest papers anywhere. Am I to assume the precinct just let it go?"

"Well, what does it matter? The metas were caught-"

"-what matters is that they were not brought to justice in the correct way," Veronica closed the file on her lap. "Does the CCPD let these super heroes take justice into their own hands? We are the cops. These metahumans should be in Iron Heights. And do you know the most significant thing I've discovered in all these cases?"

"Humor me," sighed Belén, figuring she wouldn't win this argument.

"Every single case has been handled by Joe West, with your boyfriend's signature right along the papers."

"Well...I would deem that normal since Barry is the only CSI at that precinct," Belén tried to be casual, and perhaps a tad sarcastic just to make it sound like she wasn't nervous. "I'd be surprised if he hadn't signed anything."

"These cases all have odd details, Belén. If it's not the fact there's no arrests, it's the fact that Joe's overseeing is everywhere on these cases. Does he only do meta cases that involve the Flash and the Azalea?"

"What?" Belén nervously laughed. "I don't know how case selection works. Do you choose your own case or-"

Veronica raised a hand to stop Belén from going further. "I'm beginning to think there's some secrets at this precinct. I'll have to keep digging."

"But Mom-"

Veronica got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen. "Are you staying for dinner? I'll get Axel and we cant try this new recipe I found online..."

Belén didn't listen to her mother in the end. She just kept wondering how complicated this would all get if her mother didn't stay away from meta cases. It could land Veronica into dangerous trouble with the newest metas in the city...as well as causing more conflicts between her and Barry and the Wests.

~0~

When Barry returned home the last thing he was expecting was to have the entire house smelling of a mixture of meals. He spotted Iris standing by the dining room that was filled with said mixture of meals.

"Are you guys having a dinner party?" for a moment he thought maybe he'd missed one of Iris' planned sleepovers.

"You would think," Iris crossed her arms and waited for Linda to return from the kitchen. Seconds later, Linda came by holding yet another pot of food.

"I know, I know. It's just, sometimes cooking helps me to relax," she profusely apologized to them both. She knew she was running them dangerously close to nothing in the pantries. "Have you heard anything about Doctor Light? Or that Datura? Am I still in danger?"

"We're not really sure…" Barry felt bad lying to her but they couldn't tell her much.

"Come on. I'm going crazy here, Barry."

"Yeah, she is," Iris nodded to the table full of meals.

Linda gasped when the oven timer went off. "That's the cake! Hope you're hungry."

"She's not kidding," Iris leaned off the table and started making way for the couch. "There's enough food in there to feed an army."

"She must be terrified," Barry misread the situation.

"Uh, more like furious. Someone nearly died because of this metahuman who so happens to look like her. And then she was used as bait in front of the entire city? I mean, trust me. If Linda had Doctor Light's powers right now…"

Barry suddenly raised his head with an incoming idea.

"What?" Iris recognized that as his thinking face.

"I just, uh, Linda and Light...they're identical. So identical that Light even thought she could fool Zoom. Now we have Light's suit." Barry stopped when Iris said nothing. "You don't even have to say anything, I know. It's a terrible idea."

"Well…" Iris tilted her head. "No, not really. We make Zoom think that Linda is Doctor Light and use her to draw him out."

"It's too dangerous, right?"

Iris would have said yes, but this was something neither could decide. "Let Linda decide. I mean, she's desperate to catch the person with her face who's terrorizing people, and she deserves the chance to help us."

"Okay," Barry smiled and started to tell her how it would work for Linda to help them.

~ 0 ~

Deciding to show up to Linda as the Flash, Linda was given the chance to try and help them set a trap for Zoom. Linda didn't think twice before agreeing to help. The idea was for her to pretend to be Dr. Light and have a fake fight with Barry where she would 'win' and hand over his suit's emblem as proof of his defeat.

"Where are they?" Belén walked into the training room where Linda would shortly be out to practice. She wasn't happy and that was evident as soon as someone saw her face. "I cannot believe - oh hell no." She had stopped beside a couple of cardboard cut outs near Cisco who was on top of a small scaffold. "Cisco, why is there a cut out of me?"

Cisco looked over the rail and grinned. "They're practice targets. Don't worry though, yours aren't the target."

"I was a bit more creeped out on the part where my friend keeps cardboard cut outs of me," Belén crossed her arms.

"It's important to have hobbies," Cisco turned over another cut out he was in the process of hanging. It turned out to be himself holding a camera while striking an odd pose of him sticking his tongue out.

Belén blinked emotionlessly for a second. "I fear for your future wife," she shared and walked away. She spotted Barry with Iris from a distance, the former donning his red suit, and so Belén made a direct beeline for them. "What is going on here!?" she asked them soon as they could hear. "Linda is doing what now!?"

"It's okay-" Iris began when Belén cut her off with a sarcastic 'really'.

"Having our friend who has no powers put herself on the line is not okay in my book!" Belén then glanced at Barry. "And was it really smart of you to show up like that?" she gestured to his appearance. "You outed yourself...ish."

"We don't have time to think of something else," he shrugged. "Besides, it can work, Bells."

"That's my friend," Belén said quietly. "I have known her for years. I can't even think about it if something happened to her because she got caught up in this."

"Hey," Barry took her into a hug, "I won't let that happen. I promise." Belén relaxed a bit but she still wasn't entirely on board with this idea. She felt like Barry was rushing into this without all the connections being made.

"This is ridiculous," they heard Linda coming in. Caitlin walked beside her in the costume that gave her the image of Dr. Light.

"Linda," Belén pulled away from Barry, blinking as she studied the new appearance of their friend.

"Belén, hey," Linda was relieved to see she'd been contacted. While she was comfortable with Iris, she had known Belén far longer and truly trusted her.

"You look...just like Doctor Light," Belén looked Linda over.

"I feel ridiculous," Linda admitted and hugged herself.

"You're fine," Caitlin assured and held out a pair of black gloves. Linda took them rather confused and looked at them for some explanation. "And with these gloves that Cisco rigged up, you'll be able to do what Light does."

"Oh...great," Linda said nervously as she began to put the gloves on.

"I'm gonna go make sure everything's been set up," Caitlin said and headed for the elevated platform where they would be monitoring Linda's practice session. Iris followed behind her, and soon enough went Barry as well.

"Linda, I'm sorry," Belén felt the need to apologize to her friend. However, Linda didn't understand only took a double-take at her in response. "I didn't know that...Flash, was going to pull this. Rest assured I would not have let him."

"What? No!" Linda exclaimed. "I'm glad Iris took me to him. Though I'm a bit surprised that Iris knows him too?" Belén's eyes widened for a moment but Linda, thankfully, went ahead and made her own assumption. "I guess that comes as a perk when you're the daughter's cop, hm?"

"Yes!" Belén didn't think twice in confirming. "Exactly."

Linda smiled and started walking with her towards the platform. She fixed the gloves on her hands and thought to ask whether or not these were pretty safe.

"They should be," Belén glanced at Cisco on the platform. "Right?"

"Totally," Cisco said without thinking.

"Ish," Harry said instead, freezing both women below.

"What?" Belén raised both her eyebrows.

"Well, come on, it's gotta be believable," Cisco tried to reason with them, "so they really do fire and explode things."

"Hm…"

"And you-" Cisco then pointed at Barry, "-are going to have to let her hit you with those blasts when she gets the hang of it."

"Please don't kill him," Belén then mumbled to Linda.

"Okay, the suit can absorb the blasts," Cisco said for her comfort, and probably Barry who wasn't looking so excited either.

"For real or 'ish'?" Belén crossed her arms. "Because let me tell you the difference between those two."

"Okay, you know what? I like to think I can see the bright side of things, okay?" Cisco got snappish with her as well. "Positivity, people," he clapped his hands and went back to work.

Barry gestured to Linda to follow him down the room where Cisco and Joe had set up several cardboard cut outs of themselves. "So just hit the ones of me. Okay?"

Linda nodded. "Got it. Great." She took several steps towards the cutouts, mumbling to herself to get prepared. "Doctor Light…" she took a deep breath and thrust a hand forwards to shoot. Soon as she did, however, she felt the gloves sort of take control and shot relentlessly. "Oh! Oh!" she stumbled back on her feet while the gloves continued shooting. Barry caught her from behind and thankfully put an end to the glove fiasco.

"Uh, you know what? I'm just gonna adjust those a little!" Cisco snatched a nearby screwdriver from the platform and rushed towards Linda who more than terrified now.

"Just...okay, so, um, do the opposite of that, and we'll have it," Barry gave a light pat on Linda's arm, figuring she was probably a little discouraged now.

Later, when Cisco promised that the gloves would not malfunction, they gave it another try. Linda led the way slowly searching for the right cut outs to shoot at. She nearly shot a couple of the 'civilians' but she did manage to shoot some of the right ones.

"Yes!" Linda cheered excitedly after shooting the first right cut out of the Flash. "I did it!" she turned back to her friends. "Did you see that?"

"Yeah!" Barry was equally happy to see her beginning to get the hang of it. The two went to do a high-five but Linda's glove accidentally went off and fired straight at the platform. Poor Cisco was blasted backwards to the floor.

"Oh my God!" Linda gasped. Cisco rolled to his side then sat right up, looking pretty annoyed. "Sorry?"

"She's gonna kill you," Belén quietly said to Barry, meaning all kindness for her friend. "And when she does...I'm going to kill you."

"C'mon…" Barry tried to be optimistic, but everyone else seemed to agree with Belén's perspectives.

After dispatching Linda with Iris, the group met back in the cortex to discuss the day.

"Okay, no offense to Linda, but there is no way she can pull this off," Caitlin honestly didn't mean to sound rude.

"Well, maybe if she didn't scream every time she fired," Cisco shook his head.

"Okay, Linda had a rocky start, but she can pull this off," Barry continued firm, apparently, despite everyone going against it. "I know she can. All right, did you find someplace near breach where we don't have to worry about civilians getting in the way?"

Against his better judgement, Cisco answered him. "Yeah, there's a place by the docks that's usually deserted at night."

"Awesome. Cait, how are we doing with the speed-dampener?"

"My tests indicate that it should work," Caitlin answered rather doubtfully as well.

"It will work," Harry was the only one who seemed to share Barry's persistence in the plan. "I'll tune up Ramon's gloves, make sure they work better."

"Okay great," Barry nodded as the other man started to leave.

"Wait, so we're actually going through with this?" Belén's eyes flickered from one person to the next.

"Yeah, we're doing this," Barry said, confused.

"Uuum…" Belén trailed off waiting to see if he would make the connection but apparently she hadn't been too clear. "We can't! Linda is not ready for this - hell, I don't even think we're ready for whatever plan you have in that big head of yours!"

"Bells, we don't have the time-"

"We need to have the time," Belén snapped. "I went up against Datura on a whim and I got my ass handed to me! Now my friend is going to be out there, risking her life to help us. The least you can do is be truly calculating and have a right plan."

Barry was giving her an incredulous stare for her sudden outburst. He couldn't believe she actually was doing that. Yes, she did make some sense but he made sense too. They didn't have the luxury of time. "We have this-"

"No, we don't," Belén shook her head frantically. "And I'm a little worried, honestly, that you're so hellbent on getting Zoom against everything. I...I can't go through with it." She decided that upon seeing that Barry wasn't exactly going to back down anytime soon. Waving her hands, she signaled she was sticking to her decision and leaving the place.

One would think that would be enough to put Barry straight, but he proved to be severely persistent. Now Joe thought enough was enough, and decided to add onto Belén's thoughts. However he would do it privately.

"I can't believe we're still on this, Barry," Joe gave a deep sigh and crossed his arms once Caitlin and Cisco had left them the cortex.

"Belén will get over it, but this is our only chance to get Zoom," Barry said truthfully. He thought that perhaps Belén was a bit too close to Linda and that's why she wasn't seeing what he was: the perfect chance to get Zoom.

"You saw what happened in there. Linda's not ready," Joe hoped to open his eyes.

"She is," Barry argued. "She's ready enough."

"Why are you pushing this!?"

Barry couldn't believe he was actually going to have this conversation. "What... why do you think? I want to get him!"

"Get who, exactly?"

"Is that a real question?"

"You tell me. I'm... I'm not sure this is even about Zoom, honestly," Joe admitted. "I'm starting to feel like you're still chasing the Reverse Flash."

"Reverse Flash is dead," Barry flatly said, finding no relevance in this.

"Yeah, but after all he did to you, you weren't the one that stopped him."

"We all worked together-"

"Yeah, and Eddie got him in the end," Joe reminded. "I mean, did that make you feel cheated, like you didn't get your revenge, and stopping Zoom is the next best thing?" Barry remained silent and for a moment couldn't look Joe in the eyes. "Belén is right. If you're gonna ask people like Linda to risk their lives, you better be sure of exactly why they're doing it. Otherwise, call it off."

With those words, he left Barry to think.

~ 0 ~

Belén thought nothing would help her distract herself than by working. So, she had thought to continue with her unpacking . And she did that...until she felt her arms would fall off for trying to put together a side table. Thanking the heavens that she had brought along one of her couches already, she plopped down and grabbed her laptop to hopefully continue an article she was meant to turn in by the end of the week. Trying to write proved difficult after spending a good thirty minutes coming up with about three sentences. Her attention, however, was drawn to the jiggling of her door's knob.

Thinking it was perhaps a burglar, Belén stopped her writing and began preparing for a fight.

"Auntie Belén!" Axel, instead, came running in after Veronica opened the door.

For a moment, Belén just stared at her incoming mother, ignoring Axel clutching her waist.

"Hey there, sweetie," Veronica closed the door like nothing and walked in.

"H-how did you get in?" Belén gave a pat to Axel's back. Seeing he was acknowledged, the boy rushed to his grandmother to retrieve his tablet so he could watch his shows.

"Oh, yes, well, Mark stopped by to give me his set," Veronica held up a different key in her hand. "I thought I'd bring it back for you."

"Okay…" Belén still wasn't very comfortable with her mother's presence.

"What's wrong?" Veronica noticed her daughter's odd behavior, despite their earlier disagreement she was pretty sure it wasn't related to her this time.

"Nothing…" Belén answered slowly and took the key from Veronica's hand. "Did...did you need anything?" she took a seat on the couch and grabbed her laptop again.

"I thought we should talk...about earlier…" Veronica took a seat across her daughter, setting her purse beside. Axel silently sat across on the same couch, delving into his tablet.

"Oh, you mean where you went ballistic on me?" Belén stared hard at her screen. "Yeah, no, I totally forgot about that."

Veronica may have thought it was sarcasm but in truth Belén had forgotten about it due to Barry and the Dr. Light situation. "Well I haven't, and I really don't want this to cause another problem between us."

"Well it's a little difficult when you're investigating my boyfriend's adoptive father."

"Not going to argue there," Veronica admitted. "But...Belén I'm a cop. I can't let things go where I don't see logic."

"Mom," Belén sighed. She pursed her lips together, struggling to keep it together all of a sudden. "I accept your apology, I do...but can we not do this right now? I just...I had a day...and I don't want to do anything tonight."

"Belén, what's wrong?" Veronica asked again, this time hoping she would get an answer.

Belén closed her laptop once she realized she would not be writing that night. "Barry and I may have had a disagreement."

"About…?"

"Stuff," Belén left it at that.

"Well that 'stuff' seems to be making your eyes, uh…" Veronica gestured to her own, "...kind of reddish…"

"It's normal stuff," Belén shrugged. "I don't like arguing with him but I had to say something."

"Good for you," Veronica said instantly, showing right approval. "Never swallow down your words for a man, sweetie."

There, Belén found amusement. "Yeah," she gave a slight nod of her head. "Well, I spoke my big mouth...and now I'm here."

Veronica took a moment to look at her daughter, and try to feel the pain Belén felt. With a sigh, she got up from her couch and moved to sit with Belén. "I told you my thoughts and on that man-"

"Yeah, believe me, we both got the idea," Belén sniffled a bit.

"But, if there was one thing that was left clear to me, was that this was something mutual. It's not everyday that a mother is shouted at that her daughter is loved by someone-"

Belén chuckled. "Yeah, believe it or not...he's sort of done that before with our old neighbor Mrs. Andrews."

"Really?" Veronica laughed for a moment. "Maybe you two share big mouths after all."

"Mom," Belén playfully rolled her eyes.

"Anyways, I can't seem to understand what you would argue about so suddenly," Veronica admitted. "You don't want to explain?"

It was then that Belén gave her mother a look that Veronica had never seen before. It entailed a mixture of guilt and concern to such a level that for a moment Veronica wondered what this argument was really about.

"It's private," Belén finally said, looking away from her mother.

"Really?" Veronica began to show her doubt and suspicions.

"Yes, um, it's just things between us, you know? Sometimes it's too intimate to tell someone…"

"Mm…" Veronica hummed and raised her head momentarily, apparently thinking, "...so, there isn't anything you want to tell me, then?"

"Mom, I'd really rather not," Belén meant that honestly. She didn't want to think what her mother would say if she discovered that her daughter had been moonlighting as the Azalea, and that her boyfriend was doing the same thing.

"Is 'secrets' something that Barry showed you how to keep?" Veronica got up, confusing Belén as she went on. "Because if he did, then I'm pretty sure he learned that from his pseudo-father Joe West."

"Mom…"

Veronica had crossed to the other couch to retrieve her purse. "If that's the matter then I'll have to take back everything I said about him."

"Mom, what are you-"

"I insist that Joe is covering something up with these meta cases," Veronica said, not raising her voice since Axel was still on the other couch. He was so in-tuned to his tablet he didn't notice their growing disagreements. "No one in this precinct bothered to check where these metahumans were initially being kept in prior to the metahuman compartment being built at Iron Heights. Every metahuman case that was handled was done so by Joe West and Barry Allen and that-"

"Mom-"

"I like knowing where I work, and who I work with. Now you and I can both see that there is something going on in that precinct that no one else has figured out. So I'm going to ask you, Belén, do you know something that I should know? Could this argument you and Barry had possibly be linked to these metahumans?"

Belén looked down for a moment. She knew that lying to her mother about this should have been easy considering this was something important. It was something that could put her mother in danger. But, Belén found it difficult to lie straight to her mother's face. Because right now, all Belén wanted was to tell her mother all her problems she was having. She wanted to tell her mother that someone was targeting her for something dangerous; someone wanted to hurt her. That the same someone had already sent her to get shot, had already fought her and won. Belén wanted to share that her boyfriend was also being targeted for a clear death and she was just scared he might get hurt, or killed.

I need my Mom, she came to the conclusion. That'd been the first time she thought about her mother like that...perhaps because it was the first time Veronica had been available as a mother to Belén...

But Belén couldn't do anything. Because telling Veronica everything would put her in the cross-fires of Zoom and Datura.

"There is nothing I have to say," Belén forced herself to say in one go. She surprisingly held her tears together as she then requested that Veronica leave.

Extremely upset with her daughter lying, Veronica took Axel and hurried out the door. Belén was right behind them and was there to quickly close the door.

"I'm sorry," Belén whispered, closing her eyes as they began to spill tears.

~0~

Heeding some of Joe's words, Barry decided to reveal himself to Linda in order to help both of them out. Linda was already discouraged of her villainous abilities, and seeing the Flash was an actual friend did make her a little more comfortable. It also did help explain some of the oddities surrounding STAR Labs and the Flash. So, she agreed to help him out once more. Dressed as Dr. Light, she took on the role as the Flash's current enemy.

"I'm here to kill you, Flash," she stood tall and mighty across the Flash. "I am loyal to Zoom, so get ready to fry."

Soon as she said those words she knew it was a bad pun.

She shot a ray of light towards Barry but hit a couple of a stockage from the docks instead. Barry whipped a head back and decided to just go with it.

"Ow!" he let himself fall to the ground.

"Gotcha," Linda smirked, although she struggled to stay with a serious face.

"Yeah, you did, real good," Barry pushed himself up.

"Bring it," Linda motioned with a gloved hand.

Barry sped towards her and when Linda shot, she actually managed to get him. Struggling, Barry got past her only to be shot yet again on the back. This time, his fall to the ground was not fake. Linda turned around putting on her best evil smirk.

"Told you, Zoom always wins." She walked towards Barry who had kept himself down. She bent down to take his emblem and found time to whisper to him. "You're okay, right?"

Barry cracked open an eye and whispered back. "Yeah, yeah. I had to make it look good."

Linda straightened up with the emblem in her hand. "Here it is, Zoom, I did what you wanted." She headed to where the open breech was in midair. "Now bring me home." She chucked the emblem into the breech and nervously waited for Zoom to appear.

Wells and Joe waited as well, but hidden in place with weapons hoping to deter Zoom's speed. Barry had to remain 'dead' on the ground but he was more than ready to jump at the chance when Zoom appeared. Everything was in place. Everything.

However, nothing happened. Minutes passed and everything remained silent. It added onto the fear already placed over several of the group.

"Hey, stop fidgeting," Linda hissed when she caught Barry slowly attempting to move his leg.

"Sorry, it's been an hour. I landed in a ridiculous position, and my foot fell asleep," the speedster argued quietly and returned to being 'dead'.

From STAR Labs, Caitlin and Cisco were carefully checking over any security feed from the docks they could find in case Zoom appeared from another unknown breech. "He's probably just waiting to see if you're really dead. Any minute now, he's gonna strike," Cisco said as a means of encouragement.

"No," Barry decided it was just not happening tonight. He sat up with a deep sigh.

"Sorry, I probably screwed up somehow," Linda hung her head, feeling like she had failed them all.

Barry got on his feet and moved over to give her an honest thank you. "No, Linda, you did great. Thank you for helping me."

Linda knew he was disappointed and smiled sadly. She wished there was more that she could do for him. Her thoughts were interrupted by Joe and Harry coming out of hiding and the latter loudly kicking anything in his way.

"So Wells ain't taking this well," Joe sarcastically remarked as he met with Barry.

"Mm-hmm…" Barry watched Harry turn in a different direction of the docks, storming and kicking things still.

"How about you?" Joe noticed how unusually quiet Barry was despite the loss of the night.

"Yeah, it just sucks, you know," Barry shrugged, thinking of the entire day's course. "You were right a little bit about this not being just about Zoom... about it being about the Reverse Flash. But not for the reason that you think, not because I didn't beat him." With a sigh, he explained the bit of an old video Joe had yet to know about, that everyone save Belén knew. "It's... Wells... he said something to me on that video before he confessed to my mom's murder. He said that even if he was dead, that he still won because I wasn't happy, that I'd never really be happy."

Joe frowned. It was truly unbelievable how Wells could still manage to screw with them even from beyond the grave. "How the hell would he know?"

Barry shrugged again, thinking logically. "He knew me. He knows future me."

Joe rolled his eyes. "Fine. But that's future you. This is the you here and now."

"I still think that Wells is right. Ever since I went back to that night and I didn't save her... I didn't save my mom, I just... there's just been this void in me. You know, I just feel like that is always gonna be there. For better or worse, Wells...he knew me."

"Better than I know you?" Joe would have laughed had it not been a serious matter. "He may have stalked you for 15 years, but I raised you. Look, Wells said what he said to you to mess with you... to get in your head one last time. If you listen to him, you let him win."

"I know," Barry sighed. And he thought that Wells was already beginning to win. Because of his rushed persistence with this plan, he had gotten into a big argument with Belén. God knows how he would be paying for that one.

"I don't want that. You're responsible for your own happiness, Barry," Joe sincerely hoped Barry would finally begin to listen again. "Forget about Wells. Think hard about what you want and what makes you happy. Go out and get it. Simple as that. All right?"

Barry smiled a bit, giving a small nod of his head. "Yeah."

~ 0 ~

Belén had just finished setting up a small rectangular pot holder for her new Azaleas up on the kitchen window when someone knocked on her door. She dumped the trash then hurried to go open. Her heart skipped a beat when she found Barry standing on the other side. Her first thought was his lack of knowledge of today's events, and for now it seemed like the best.

"You were right," Barry decided to open with that. Perhaps hearing he was admitting she had had a point would soften her up into talking with him.

"Please tell me Linda is okay?" Belén asked in fear. Her first assumption was that his plan went wrong and it got Linda into some serious pain.

"She's fine," Barry promised her. "Zoom...didn't show."

"Oh…" Belén knew that despite her feelings on the matter she didn't like to see Barry so upset either. It was important to him, for good intentions after all. She opened the door more and gestured for Barry to come in. "I'm sorry about that," she honestly said. A good part of her was happy that Zoom didn't show up to terrorize them all, because she knew they were not prepared to fight him yet.

"Thanks," Barry watched her close the door. Sheepishly, Belén crossed the living room, or at least intended to. Barry reached out for her arm and stopped her. "Bells, I'm really sorry. You were right about it all. I knew you were right from the start but I just...I wanted to catch Zoom already."

"Yeah, I think we all saw that," Belén said, mildly playful. "And I get it, believe me I do. I want nothing more than to get Datura...but I just don't like the fact you were willing to go into it all rushed and...fast. This time, we need to be slow and calculating. If Datura was difficult to manage, just imagine what Zoom is like."

"I know," Barry accepted it. "But I have to admit that...it wasn't entirely all about Zoom."

"Then…?" Belén smiled a little as she tried to understand what he meant. "...what was it about?"

"You remember the video Wells left behind as part of his will? Our Wells, I mean."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"He said that I wouldn't ever be happy no matter what. And...and it got to me more than it should have…" Barry ran a hand through his hair, still frustrated it did get to him so much, to this point actually.

"I can't believe you're still giving this dead man the time of the day," Belén said first and sighed. "His words are nothing. They should have gone through one ear-" she pointed to one of his ears, "-and out the other." She then pointed to his other ear. "Ever heard of selective attention? I use it all the time."

Barry smiled knowing this was her playfulness coming out to get them back on track. "Yeah," he nodded.

"You should have said something," Belén touched his arm. "Instead of making a scene in front of our friends, I would have had a very different conversation with you somewhere else."

"Believe me if I'd realized earlier I would have." Barry reached an arm around her waist and brought her closer to him and rested his forehead against hers. "I hate arguing with you, Bells, so much."

"Me too," Belén whispered. "I don't like it. It just feels wrong, you know? If that makes sense?"

"Yeah, it does. I don't like knowing that I upset the person that makes me the happiest." Barry gave her a moment to smile before kissing her. And this time, he meant to kiss her in a way that would show her he was truly happy with her despite everything that surrounded them. He walked her up against the nearest wall and kissed her.

Belén let herself be encased in his arms and kissed back until she had to breath, but even then she barely wanted to let go. Barry dragged his lips from hers and set a one kiss on her cheek, then another lower on her jawline, and last on the side of her neck. Afterwards, he nuzzled his nose against her neck, relishing from their moment. This is what made him happy - she made him happy.

"Can we just rest for a while?" his soft tone made it hard for Belén to understand the first time.

She turned her head to the side and met his eyes. "What?"

"The Zoom problem, the Datura problem...I just need one moment of peace...with you," Barry repeated, hoping he made sense without sounding...weird.

Belén brought a hand to rest on his cheek, and just a few seconds after Barry placed his hand over it. "Okay. Let's do that."

She gently pulled him into the hallway and brought him into her bedroom. She wished she could have finished fixing it earlier, but what was done was done. At least she'd gotten the bed. It was an odd thought to just lay down together without doing anything. Usually, they had some movie times or at the very lest were joking with each other about something. Tonight, there was no television. There was no movie. There were no jokes.

And yet, things seemed more...intimate.

Barry was the one to rest his head next to Belén's neck. He eventually scooted closer to her and nuzzled his nose against her neck. Belén moved her arm so that it would rest over his back and she could run her fingers up and down.

It was peaceful.

"We should do this more often," Belén's voice was soft and quiet, perfect for the moment.

"Mhm," Barry had nestled his head closer to the crook of Belén's neck. He didn't want to move anytime soon.

So they continued to lay together, doing nothing except be together. But, like all good things, it had to come to an end. Half an hour later, both of their phones started vibrating. At first, neither of them wanted to move. Neither wanted to break the nice, peaceful bubble.

But the phones kept vibrating.

"I'm sorry," Belén kissed Barry's hair and sat up so she could answer her phone. Iris was on the other end of the line, and once she was able to speak she said it all in one fast ramble.

Zoom had Linda.

~ 0 ~

STAR Labs' computers were all simultaneously ringing in alarms, indicating there was a new visitor in the area.

"He's on the roof!" Harry shouted soon as he got word from the computer.

"He has Linda," Belén rushed to the desk to see through the security cameras where oh where was Linda. "Is Datura with him!?"

While the question couldn't be answered at once, they had a clear view of Zoom. He had chosen to dangle poor Linda over the roof's edge just as Barry got there. Proving to be the ultimate villain, Zoom dropped Linda like she was a pair of socks. Barry sped down to the ground and, using his whirlwind trick, softened Linda's fall into his arms.

"You need to get out of here, okay?" Barry set her down on her feet.

Linda was beyond terrified. "No, you can't fight that thing. It's a monster! I don't know who's worse, him or that crazy lady!"

"Just go!"

Linda looked up at the roof and thinking that Zoom would come for her again as bait, she ran off as fast as she could.

"What is that thing?" Belén was disgusted by Zoom's appearance despite it being only through a computer screen. She had yet to see the full figure of the speedster but now wished she hadn't. "He cannot be human."

Zoom was pitch black, from head to toe. There was an eerie spark around his figure. One could even say his suit didn't have gloves for hands but instead for claws.

"He is human," Harry was also staring in disgust but in a different tone. "Or was, at least."

"How the hell is Barry supposed to defeat that?" Cisco was thinking of the odds in their favor and they were not looking good.

"Why is he running away?" Harry scowled after they all saw Barry speeding away from Zoom. It looked like even Zoom was a bit confused on it too.

"He's not," Belén shook her head. "He wouldn't. I think we can all agree he's not scared."

A delirious laugh came from Cisco, prompting everyone to look at him. "Ooh, he's gonna thunderbolt him!"

"What?" Harry was left thinking.

"Jay taught him how to throw lightning," Caitlin explained.

Barry returned with a thunder bolt that he threw directly at Zoom. They were all stunned, and horrified, to see Zoom literally grab said thunderbolt and throw it right back at Barry, causing the red speedster to crash against a wall.

"Did he just…?" Belén gaped and glanced at the others just to make sure she hadn't seen things. Even Barry was in disbelief.

"Did you guys see that?" he asked through the comms.

"Uh, see him catch a bolt of lightning with his demonic claws?" Cisco met everyone's looks. "Yeah, saw that."

"Jay was right. He cannot do this alone," Caitlin shook her head.

In their shock, they hadn't even seen Harry go into the side room and come back with his trusty, big gun. "He's not alone," he was busy inputting the syringe into it.

"Barry, maybe this a strategical point where you just run," Belén spoke into the comm. hoping he would listen to her.

"No," Barry, unsurprisingly responded. He had gotten back on his feet and pulled out another syringe carrying the speed-dampener liquid. "I'm gonna see if Wells' speed-dampening serum works."

"Yes, but maybe this is the 'rushed, uncalculating' thing we were talking about earlier?"

Although Barry didn't turn off the communication system, it was almost like he did. He ignored the worries of his girlfriend in an attempt to finally put Zoom down.

"How is Barry gonna match Zoom's speed?" Belén sighed, looking to one of her smarter friends for some reassurance this wouldn't end so bad.

"He's not," Cisco smirked once he had made the realization. "He's gonna take it out of the equation altogether."

Caitlin exchanged a look with Belén, neither one of them in the know. "What are you talking about?" Caitlin then asked.

"Terminal velocity. The highest velocity attainable by a falling object."

"You mean...falling through...the air…?" Belén waved her finger above her head.

"Yeah, freefall fight. Their drag force equals the downward force of gravity, making the net force zero, making…"

"Equal velocities," Caitlin joined Cisco in the end.

"That is genius!" Cisco repeated.

"Is it really?" Belén bit her lip nervously and stared at the computer screen like a hawk.

Following through with Cisco's theory, the two speedsters had made it into the air and as they fell, they tried attacking one another. However, Zoom was the one to put Barry to the ground. Zoom picked him right up and delivered a series of punches that disoriented Barry. The last blow, the strongest of all, was given through the back - through the spine. Barry wasn't sure what he was hearing anymore, nor what he was seeing (it was all mostly blurry) but he was sure he had felt that cracking of bones.

"Never forget, I am the fastest man alive," Zoom declared without a scratch on him to show evidence he'd been in a fight.

"He's killing him!" Belén shouted frantically and turned around, making a run to go and help.

"Woah!" Cisco quickly jumped from his chair to block her way. "You can't go out there! He'll kill you too!"

"Someone has to help him!" Belén tried pushing her way but Cisco kept her there despite her fight. "Cisco!"

"Guys!" Caitlin's loud call made them both stop. They rapidly returned to the desk to see what Caitlin wanted them for. Zoom had injected the speed-dampener into Barry's bloodstream and hadn't stopped there.

"Where did he go!?" Belén slammed a hand on the desk once they lost sight of Zoom and Barry. Even Harry, who'd gone out to help Barry, was struck with confusion.

"I-I don't know," Cisco seemed unable to think of something to help them.

"FIND HIM!" Belén cried. She would've done it herself but she didn't know how the system worked.

Zoom had gone to CC Picture News to make a show of his 'triumph'. In one hand he held an unconscious Barry and addressed the entire staff. "Look at your hero."

Iris nearly had a heart attack. Behind her, cameras started going up and active.

"This man is no god. He is nothing!" Zoom left them with that knowledge and next made a stop at the precinct. "The days of The Flash protecting this city are over."

All of the cops in the area formed a line with aimed guns at the speedster.

"Put him down!" Joe was the one to shout at Zoom.

"Now what will you do without your precious hero?"

"Shoot that thing, now!" Singh gave the order.

All the cops fired until their guns finished their ammo but in the end, Zoom merely dropped all of the bullets to the ground from his palm. "Nice try."

He then sped off again.

~ 0 ~

"I should have gone out there," Belén repeated for the tenth time since Zoom had gone off their radar.

"And then what? Get yourself killed? I don't think so," Cisco remained adamant that he had done the right thing in keeping her inside the place. He was sure that Barry would agree with him.

"But then we wouldn't be in this-" Belén gasped when Zoom sped right into the cortex. "Barry!"

"Harrison Wells, you thought you could defeat me with this?" Zoom lifted Barry's body like it was some rag doll in his possession.

"I made a mistake," Harry admitted truthfully.

"Yes, a costly one."

"Let him go! Let him go right now!" Belén yelled frantically and threw a hand forwards, releasing a vine.

Zoom dropped Barry and sped up to her. Belén gasped with the ugly sight in front of her face, though a good part of it stemmed from fear.

"You are not my fight," he said just a second before Cisco shot a third syringe of the speed-dampener.

Belén stumbled backwards, yelping when Zoom dropped to his knees. Still, he managed to speed out of the place before they could capture him. Soon as he did, Belén ran for Barry's body on the floor.

~ 0 ~

As soon as Joe arrived at STAR Labs after the Zoom fiasco, he went directly for blame. If he thought Harry was suspicious before, now he firmly believed that Harry was at fault for all of it.

"This is all you! If Barry dies, you die!" Joe jabbed a finger on Harry every time he said a word.

"Enough!" Belén walked into the cortex in a hurry with Cisco. Their shouts had carried over down the hallway and, fearing a fight, Belén and Cisco left the workroom to come and stop the two men. "Joe, I get you're angry, believe me I am too, but Harry's got nothing to do with it. Barry wanted to go through with the plan in the end. No one forced him."

Still, Joe cast a menacing glare at Harry who looked more or less unaffected.

Cisco debated whether or not to bring in the mysterious topic he'd learned from Harry, but seeing that Joe was inches away from punching Harry, he decided to go with it. "Who's Jesse?"

It was easy to see that Harry was shocked to know that Cisco had knowledge of the name. "How do... Jesse's my daughter. Zoom has her." Cisco seemed to then be making the connections from his earlier vibe. Harry rushed up to him. "You've...you did vibe me-"

"Yes-"

"What did you see?"

"I saw your daughter. She was with Zoom," as Cisco explained, the others shared mutual surprise - and a bit of understanding - looks.

"But she's alive?" Harry needed to hear proper confirmation that his daughter was still breathing.

"Yes," Cisco said, and he admitted that he did feel a bit of sympathy for Harry. If he was grumpy all the time and had short patience it had to be because he was constantly worrying over his daughter being kidnapped by Zoom.

"Zoom sent you here like the others? You kill The Flash, and you get your daughter back?" demanded Joe, still un-inclined to see Harry in any other light.

"I don't...think he did…" Belén barely got the chance to say when Harry answered and explained his reasons.

"The only way I get my daughter back is I capture Zoom. Do you understand?" Harry tapped the side of his head sarcastically. "You love Barry. I love my daughter. And none of these children are safe as long as Zoom is here. I tried on my Earth to capture him. I failed. I thought I could bring him down here with Barry's help. I was wrong."

"Where are you-" Joe didn't finish on account of Harry storming out of the cortex.

~ 0 ~

When Barry finally came to, he felt his entire body aching in pain. He felt something tight around his neck and took a couple of seconds to realize it was a neckbrace.

"Can you hear me, Barry?" he heard a familiar voice beside him. He found Belén sitting beside his bed, looking so concerned over him. "I've been calling you for a couple of minutes now. Can you hear me?"

"Sorry…" Barry looked around as much as he could and saw it was broad daylight through the windows.

Belén followed his gaze and sighed. "You were out-cold for the entire night. Cait said it was normal, for you anyways…"

"How bad is it?" Barry could see a couple of bruises on his arms and he was sure there were more to discover once he could get rid of the neck brace. But even now, his body still hurt to the point he'd rather not move.

"Well, Caitlin said if you didn't heal fast it would be truly bad," Belén felt relief knowing this situation wouldn't last long for him.

"And...Linda?"

"She's fine. She told Iris and me that she was going to stay with some friends out in Coast City," Belén sighed. "I think after everything that's happened to her it's the best thing she can do."

"...Zoom?"

Belén's eyes lowered. "Um...let's...let's give that some time." When she looked at him again she had plastered a fake, cheery expression for him. "Caitlin says that in a couple of days you'll be able to try and walk and run again." She touched one of his legs with a small smile. "But you're gonna have to be patient. And don't worry, I have a lot of movies we can watch. Maybe we can try to just rest together again?"

Barry smiled, though tired, because the way in which she had asked made her look adorable. He needed that right now. "I'd like that."

Belén's smile widened. She ran her hand up and down his leg. "But you'll be patient, okay?"

Before Barry could answer, he thought of something. He realized that in all this time he hadn't felt her touch. Her fingers running down his leg...he didn't feel it. Thinking perhaps it was just the medication that was affecting his mind, he tried sitting up to check for himself.

"N-n-n-n-n-n-no, you have to stay put!" Belén assumed he would try to get back in the running game before he could.

"No, Bells, I...I didn't feel your hand…"

"What-"

"I can't feel my legs!" Barry frantically yelled, leading Belén to call for their friends.

~ 0 ~

"It's about time you showed up," Wells heard soon as he put one foot into the alleyway he'd been appointed to.

Datura's heels clicked against the cement underneath but she still walked in a graceful manner to meet with Wells. "I was doing my errands." Her sarcasm was met with rolling eyes. "C'mon, you can at least say you like where we're meeting," she gestured to the alley, "It's where I made my first Earth 1 kill a few days ago. What was her name?"

Harry dismissed her smugness and went straight to business. "The hell did you want me for? Can I expect Zoom to make another appearance?"

Datura smirked, almost laughing since she knew exactly what happened. "He really knows how to make an entrance, doesn't he? But that's not why I'm here now. I need you to retrieve something for me," Datura said, losing her sarcasm when it came to her brewing idea.

Of course that idea, whilst unknown to Harry, was one that would require him to further betray the STAR Labs team. "What do you need?" he finally asked.

"It's simple. I need Belén's suit tracker." Datura raised her head the moment Harry's eyes widened. She was already tall, but this was one of her ways to feel in control. And unfortunately for Harry, she was in control.

"Why do you need that!?"

Datura's red lips curled into an evil smirk. "That's for you and the others to find out later - soon, if all my errands go well."

"I...I can't do that-" Harry attempted to argue but Datura raised a finger to stop him.

"Don't say no to me. No one says no to me," she said darkly, bringing one gloved hand to the air. Electricity crackled around it for a few seconds before it was fired at the dumpster just behind Harry. The man jumped to the side to avoid getting hit then wildly blinked at her. She, however, remained completely at ease. "It's not a difficult mission, Wells. All you have to do is take the damn device and bring it to me. I'd let you keep it but I don't trust you not to hand it back to the others."

"What do you need it for!?" Harry still demanded some type of answer from her.

"For an idea, I've said this already," she playfully rolled her eyes.

"I can't take that from her suit!"

"Well, I'd ask you to take it from Barry's suit but he's on another level. I'll take care of him when the time comes." Her resurfaced evil smile gave Harry the chills.

"I thought he was all Zoom's..."

"He is, but it doesn't mean I can't have my own fun. Besides," Datura put her hands behind her back as she took a couple steps forwards, "He's not my target. He's really just a bonus for me - to get to Belén, I need him on the side. And to do that, I need Belén's suit tracker. It's really a whole-" she made hand gestures in the air, "-cycle thing that only I understand, but..." she drew in a deep breath and put on a sweet smile, "...it's all good. I get it. So-" she came to stand right in front of Harry, her sweet smile gone and replaced with seriousness, "-get me the suit tracker by tonight or I'll get it myself and I won't care who gets in my way."

Harry honestly felt like shooting her right there and then...but he was out of weapons...and he was short one daughter. "Fine."

[frgt-me-not]

Teenage Dirtbag ~ The Metro

Previous part // Part 5 // Next part

Word count: 1.1k

A/N: I know everything about this “mystery” performer is going to be obvious, so bare with me pls,, thx for reading btw, means a lot more than you thing — Roommate!Yoongi x reader, Social media/written au — Summary: Being an impulsive teenager was never really your kind of thing. At least, not until you stumble upon a craigslist ad for a cheap apartment in Seoul that seems almost too good to be true. Despite your family’s desperate pleads for you to stay away from the big city, you pack your bags and move across the country to find a roommate who isn’t everything you’d hoped for…

Instinctively, my hand curls around Namjoon’s upper arm, my nails digging into his skin. He shoots me a look and I loosen my grip slightly, but not enough for him to easily slip away from me. He guides me to the end of a short, black and rather creepy hallway where I spot a large steel door. The hallway has a vague smell of cigarette smoke and mold. I press my sleeve against my nose, blocking my nostrils from the unwelcome smell while I try not to imagine what is on the other side of the door. 

I turn my head slightly, as if that would make me hear better, but except for the wind outside and Joon’s breathing, I can’t hear anything. 

“You’re not trying to lure me into an abandoned place to murder me, are you?” I say, laughing at myself, even though I know a part of me is actually scared that somebody is waiting in the other room to kill me. 

He laughs, “Don’t worry, the door is just very sound proof.”

He reaches his hand out and touches a red button beside the door which I hadn’t previously noticed. Instantly, a slot in the door slides open, making my eyebrows furrow together - what the hell is this place? A secret Soviet organisation?

A set of eyes peer out at us before a deep voice utters: “Identification?” 

Joon lifts up his ID and the man nods. His eyes flash to me, and I quickly begin to rummage in my pockets for my wallet. With numb fingers I pull out my driver’s license and he stares at it long enough for me to become nervous, “I had a bad hair day that day,” I mutter and try to smile casually - it wouldn’t even surprise me if he denies me access because I’m about as nervous as a sixteen year old boy trying to buy beer. 

“Five bucks each,” the man says, and a breath of relief whistles through my teeth. 

“I got it,” Joon says and hands the man a ten dollar bill. The heavy-looking door opens with ease, and Joon has to drag me into another much smaller room. I can hear the distant sound of music and my eyes glance in that direction. Another door with a neon light above it which says “The Metro” makes all the hair on my body stand up. 

“No drugs, no violence and no sex, save that shit for when you’re home,” the man announces, a mantra he has clearly said over a hundred times. 

Namjoon nods sternly, and indicates for me to follow him, “Ready?” He whispers when I’m beside him, “No?” I reply grimly. 

He grabs my hand and squeezes it, “I’ve got you.”

My eardrums almost explode from the sudden loud music on the other end of the door, I shadow my eyes from the bright flashing lights and glance back at the now closing door to the entrance. And then there is no entrance because we’ve been swallowed up by the crowd. I slide behind Joon, hoping that he will guide us forward. 

Instead of focussing on where we’re going, I try to make sure I don’t fall over anything, but as I look down, I notice that a thick purple smoke makes it harder for me to see my feet - smoke machines, really? 

A voice booms out from the speakers and I redirect my attention to a woman in her mid-forties on the stage. I can barely make out her words because of all the sounds around me, so I don’t even bother. 

I move closer to Namjoon, and hope that tonight won’t be the night I die. 

I slam into his back as he suddenly stops, “You came!” Someone yells enthusiastically. I peer around him and spot a familiar face, Hoseok, I believe. Every once in a while he would join Namjoon during our skype sessions last year, I smile at him warmly. 

“y/n!” he calls at me, as if he’s known me for years and then his arms wrap around me in a warm hug, making me jump. 

Joon just chuckles and directs his attention to the stage where the lady has disappeared and in her place is a young girl with neon green and pink Joan of Arc style hair, singing in some language that sounds like a mix between Japanese and Russian. 

“She’s new,” Namjoon tells me, his mouth right next to my ear, and I nod - technically they’re all new to me. 

An idea pops into my head and I stare at Joon for a couple of seconds before opening my mouth, “Are you going to perform? Is that why you brought me here?”  

He has answered my question before he even opens his mouth, his lips vibrate before he cracks up, holding his stomach tight while he laughs. “It was a serious question, Joon,” I say sourly. 

“I’m just here to enjoy the show,” he nods at the stage, staring at the girl for about five seconds, seeming utterly disinterested.

“How long now?” He asks Hoseok, who’s in the middle of doing the sprinkler in front of some other guy, who I don’t know. 

Hoseok glances at his watch, “Not that long.”

And as if on queue the lady from before appears as the girl finishes her last song. “Are you ready?” She yells into the microphone, making everyone around scream incoherently back at her.

“Ready for what? A space invasion?” I murmur to myself, which neither I nor anyone around me can hear.

“Give it up for Gloss!” She practically screams into the microphone and I have to press my hands against my ears from the outbursts of screams and whistles around me. 

A sudden darkness settles over the large room, and the room grows silent. The sound of footsteps echos from the speakers as a dark figure in a black hoodie, denim jacket and a yankees cap walks to the center of the stage. The performers face is hidden behind a mask that looks like something straight out of the Purge; neon purple crosses over his eyes and a skull like mouth.  

The crowd draws in a collective breath as he lifts the neon green microphone to his lips. he breathes three times, causing the tension in the room to thicken until even I can’t deny that I’m intrigued. And then he explodes and the crowd becomes alive again; moving and breathing along with him. 

 Previous part // Part 5 // Next part

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[minsyal]

Stan83, [Sam x Reader]

Word Count: 6k

Summary: The life of a hunters assistant wasn’t easy, especially when two of them come knocking on your door posing as Agents investigating the recent deaths in the area.

Warnings: General SPN stuff, nothing crazy

This was the third time you had woken in the middle of the night. This was the third time you had jolted upward in bed only to find an empty room and unsettling feeling falling to the pit of your stomach. This was the third time you had searched your home in the dark of night with an old metal baseball bat that you kept beneath your bed. This was the third time you had found countless open windows with no recollection of leaving them so. This was the third time you had come to the conclusion that nobody was here. It was just you.

It was later than usual, or perhaps simply earlier in the morning. The clock on your bedside table blinked on and off in big red numbers “4:45 AM.” Your job wasn’t exactly a nine to five with a set lunch break and mandatory stopping points throughout the day. You were an on-call, entirely electronic, assistant to the vast grapevine of hunters that so chose to reach out. Who they were didn’t matter to you. For all you knew, you were telling vampires how to kill one another and witches where to find the ingredients they needed for an unsuspecting ghoul.

The tradition passed through generations of your family, from grandfather to father and now to you. Your father had decided he wanted more thrill in his life; he didn’t want to be tied down to his computer desk for the rest of eternity. That decision led to hunting, and within months he had passed. Your mother, on the other hand, was a runaway. She abandoned the family as soon as she learned of your father’s secret life.

Ice crept from the old, cracked tiles of your kitchen. Fall’s spiny fingers had wretched themselves from the ground and were now climbing your legs, sending chills up your spine. The tiles weren’t helping much. They hadn’t seen white in years and were now permanently stained what you preferred to call cream. Going bad to bed, while the best outcome of the night, was no use as your phone and computer lit up with five new notifications all from “Stan83.”

Hey, crazy story. Need your help.

Hunting – little to no details – marks on victims

You there?

It can wait if you’re busy.

Sorry if this wakes you up.

Stan83 had quickly become one of your favorite hunters to converse with. He, you assumed, was in his late twenties to early thirties based on the “83” in his name. He had told you little to no information about himself other than the fact that he hunted with his brother and moved all over the country. Your conversations were more casual: what did you have for lunch, what are you hunting today, what type of music do you like, what’s up. The simple things. A few conversations spiraled. It was rare for them to happen. Only when big things happened and Stan83 had no one else to talk to would he pick up the phone and send a text.

Picking your mug up from the counter, you flicked the kitchen light off and started for your room where you’d likely spend the rest of the day. Your desk was a mess. Books littered the surface opened to all sorts of weird information that anyone would have you locked in an institution for. Scribbled notes were pinned up on your wall that detailed the whereabouts of those you spoke with. If they didn’t contact you for about a month, you’d contact them.

You didn’t wake me up. You responded, waiting for only a moment before a small text bubble popped up indicating that the person on the other side was typing.

You sure? It’s 5:00am. Stan83 answered. It was easy to imagine the tone he used, a little sarcastic, a little smug.

That wasn’t you. It was the nightmares. It’s 5 for you too? Finally taking a spin in the BEST time zone, huh?

The best time zone that spans about 600 miles?

Ok, sass me then. What’s up?

Weird hunt. Women in this town are dying at a pretty fast rate. Their children are acting strange. Weird marks on their necks are making fathers think they’re cheating.

I’ll take a look through what I have and get back to you.

Thank you Sav!

Sav, your own nick. It was the easiest to think of on the spot when your old system had gone kaput and you needed to as quickly as possible set up a new database and communication network. It’s short for saver, or savior, or whatever the hell these hunters wanted to believe. Maybe it meant savvy but given the state of your home and wardrobe you wouldn’t put money on that.

The rest of the morning consisted of research. Each lore book and journal your father left behind was thoroughly scanned through with big yellow sticky notes marking the pages that held possible leads. With your luck, you’d be able to message Stan83 back by noon with possibilities. That is, you would have been able to message Stan83 back if your doorbell hadn’t rung 13 times in a row at an alarming rate.

You passed by the entry hall warily. Nobody in this town really knew you, and you didn’t care to know them either. The only people who dared step foot on your property were usually city officials complaining of the broken window on your small garage or political campaigners who were being paid to pester and harp on people for votes.

The figures beyond were large, looming even. Two dark shadows were cast over your frosted-glass door and you watched as the shorter of the two raised his hand once more to ring the bell another five times. “I’m coming!” You finally yelled back, turning quickly to the mirror in your hall that held no particular purpose, but it was supposedly your mothers. You looked awful. If the garage hadn’t scared off whoever stood beyond your home’s threshold, your physical appearance definitely would.

Loose hairs fell from the messy, slept-in ponytail that hung lazily and lopsided at the back of your head. Your skin was flushed from the lack of breakfast, and now lunch as you had lost track of time attempting to help one of your favorite hunters. The shirt you wore was luckily clean, but the sweatpants had small holes from where they had caught on the kitchen counter and torn.

“What can I do for you?” You asked without bothering to look at the two men standing on your front porch. Nobody knew of your “hunting” life, so there was a slim to no possibility of any real threat coming to your door. Unless, of course, these were tax collectors coming to repossess something for another unpaid credit card.

The shorter of the two men spoke “Agent Stark,” he quickly flashed an ID, “Banner,” he motioned to the taller man beside him, “we’re here to investigate the deaths of a few of your neighbors. Do you mind if we come in?”

You took a moment, Stark and Banner, really? “Let me get a look at that ID.” You nodded your head in the direction of his coat pocket where he had neatly tucked the leather protected card. Agent Banner acted faster. “Here.”

Banner, or whoever this was, was far taller than the man who self-identified himself as Tony Stark. He had the classic triangle shape to his body, broad shoulders, slim waist. His hair was formally tucked back from his face, but strands kept falling from his ears as he shifted from foot to foot waiting for your determination. Mr. Stark was shorter, but still a giant none-the-less. He had a finely set jaw, green eyes, and a short business-cut style to his hair.

“Mr. Banner.” You pressed your lips together. The ID was awful. The leather was fake, scratched and worn from what you guessed to be a few uses. “Where’d you get this ID?” Twisting it in your hand, you offered it back to him.

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation, ma’m.” He replied smoothly, not showing how his heart rate picked up at your questioning of their identities.

“In some back alley?” You shrugged. “At least choose realistic names next time.”

“Look.” Agent Stark stiffened as he crossed his arms over his chest. Agent Banner immediately went wide-eyed and motioned for him to stop whatever he was about to do. “We’re here to investigate your neighbor’s deaths. Do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?”  

Waiting a moment, you held your grip on the door, willing it to close any second. “You got guns on you?” An eyebrow raise from Agent Stark confirmed your suspicions.

“Leave them in your little muscle car over there.” You peered between them at the black Impala parked on the road. It was pristine, well taken care of, clearly waxed recently. “Then come back and we can talk.”

Hunters, while difficult to talk to online, are insufferable in person. These big meat heads always want to get their way. They never relent and admit they’re wrong or they’ve been caught. So, when the two nodded and began off your doorstep toward the car, you were taken aback.

Both unloaded two guns from their waistbands. “Other weapons too!” You yelled from the step. Agent Stark grumbled something inaudible as Agent Banner seemed to soothe him.

Why are all you hunters so horrible? You typed into your phone, smiling as you pressed send and immediately saw Stan83 typing back.

What happened this time?

Real hunters interrupting my work! I think I got you guys some leads though. Will tell you later. Gotta deal with these bozos.

Bozos? Really?

Guess I inherited my father’s vocabulary too.

“Alright, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk.” You were perched upon the arm of one of your recliners, arms crossed over your chest as you eyed the two men looking out of place in your small living room. “You’re hunters, I know. Real names?”

“I’m Sam.” The taller of the two said, being stopped with an arm over his chest from the shorter one. “What?” He shook his head. “She obviously knows…”

“Too much.” The shorter one said. “Who are you?”

“Nobody important.”

“Important enough to know what hunting is.”

“[Y/N.]” You replied, shifting in your seat. “Ok, your turn.”

“Dean.”

“Last names?”

“Confidential.”

“Mhm.” You hummed, really uncaring of their last names but trying to pry anyway. Sam tilted his head, looking around the house. “What do you think you’re hunting?”

“Aren’t sure yet.” Sam piped up, snapping his attention back to you. “Have you been keeping up with the news here lately?”

“I rarely leave this place. I don’t even know my neighbors.”

“We can tell.” Dean chimed in earning himself a heavy elbow to the gut. Sam shot him a dirty look before turning back to you. “A couple of women have died. Their husbands think they’re cheating on them, but after they pass their children disappear too.”

“Sounds like a changeling.”

“Told you.” Dean commented, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back on the couch.

“Grab some matches and go crazy.” You pushed yourself up from your chair. “Wait here a second.” Escaping to the back hall, you returned to your desk and began to gather a few things about changelings that you had read this morning.

I think we figured it out. A message stopped you from returning to Sam and Dean. It was Stan83.

No, wait I figured it out first.

Why didn’t you tell me, then?

Because I like keeping secrets from you.

“Hurry up back there, will you?” Dean’s voice called from the living room.

“Hold your horses.”

“My what?” You heard Dean whisper to Sam who either didn’t respond or responded quietly. “Dude would you get off your phone?”

“Here. A couple pages in this should help. I’d loan them to you, but I’m not sure I’d get them back.” The books landed on the coffee table in front of the two. Dean began palming through the contents while Sam sat glued to his phone, typing something quickly.

“Did you not listen to me a second ago?” Dean bickered. “Phone, off. Hunt, now.”

Sam pressed something speedily, closing his phone before pocketing it out of sight. Your phone in your own pocket buzzed, causing you and Sam to stop. Dean hadn’t noticed, he was enthralled in the journal you had presented to him. “Where’d you get this?” He asked, not looking away from the page.

“Grandfather had it.” You began to pull your phone out of your pocket. “He passed it down from one of his hunting buddies to my father and now to me.”

Secrets are supposed to be for crushes and broken plates, not things that are killing people.

Oops! You typed back slowly, eyeing Sam who was doing the same. When you hit send a notification rang from his pocket causing Dean to groan.

“Stan83?” The words scrambled from your lips before your tongue had time to catch them. Dean snorted as he shook his head and flipped the journal’s page.

“Sav?” Sam replied as Dean gave yet another snort, this time accompanied by a head shake. “Are we still bozos?”

“You called us bozos?” Dean chuckled.

~~*~~

Sam is Stan83. You’re Sav. That much you can say for sure. After the initial shock of it all, you quickly mellowed out and fled to the back room to gather the materials you were saving to message Stan83 with. Turns out, you had just saved yourself an hour of typing.

Stan83 was far different from Sam. Stan83 presented himself as a somewhat sarcastic, confident, flirtatious man while Sam sat much smaller despite his frame. He was clumsy and nervous, stumbling over a few of his words before catching himself as he went full speed down a hill. When he had attempted to describe what he looked like, he was being modest. He said he was tall, had an average build, brown hair, and liked to run. You had assumed he was skinnier and less muscle.

Sam blushed at each comment you made concerning your conversations online; you could never imagine Stan83 to be a blusher. He was so different, yet so similar. In a way, it was endearing.

“So, it’s targeting women on this block?” You frowned; your hand outstretched to Dean as he accepted the coffee you had just made. “Good thing I’ve got no kids.” You joked.

“That’s the thing, though.” Sam had long since discarded his blazer and was now sitting in the armchair you had initially been sitting on. “It’s targeting all women. We think there may be more than one.”

“Well, yeah. Changelings have kids.”

“No, he means more than one adult changeling.” Dean added.

“They don’t typically work together like that, though.”

“Which is why we think it’s weird.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

The two brothers waited a moment before seemingly conversing without a single audible word. Dean raised his eyebrows, eyes moving back and forth between you and Sam. Sam immediately went on the defense. “Dean, no.”

“Come on! You don’t even know what I’m thinking.” Dean pouted. He brought his now-chilled coffee up to his lips, a frown laced upon his lips as the cold bitter liquid spilled over his tongue. “Gah.” He crinkled his face up and bit his lip. “It’s a good plan.”

“What is he talking about?”

“[Y/N],” Dean began, “me and Sam, big dudes. We aren’t exactly this things cup-of-tea. It’s going after women… and you happen to be a woman…”

“You guys want to use me as bait?”

“Correction. He wants to use you as bait.” Sam added.

“I’m not really a hunter though.” You shifted in your seat. “I can’t even shoot a gun.”

“Just think about it.” Dean said. He leant over and grabbed his blazer. Throwing it over his shoulder, he motioned for Sam to do the same. “We’re staying at the motel on highway 62. If you’re up for it, feel free to uh…” he pulled a slip of paper from his pocket – a fake business card, “call us.”

“I have Sam’s number, you know?”

“Right.” Dean withdrew the card and returned it to its rightful home, tucked away in his pocket.

~~*~~

The next day came and went with no contact to either Sam or Dean. You had relented and finally turned on the local news channel. Four women in your neighborhood had passed away with their children all going missing afterward. The fathers were sending out heartfelt pleas for their children’s safe returns. One woman was considered missing and immediately seen as a suspect in the eyes of the law.

You, along with two other women, were the only ones left on the block. One was a daughter living with her single father as she finished up her college degree. The other, a widowed elderly woman living alone with her two dogs.

~~*~~

“She’s not a hunter, Dean. We can’t just expect her to drop everything she knows and jump straight into action.” Sam groaned, throwing his blazer down on the old worn couch. The motel room was as they left it. The desk’s chair was pushed out slightly, an open laptop sitting upon the cracked oak wood. Each bed was still neatly made, the two brothers hadn’t had the chance to sleep yet as they only arrived in the morning.

“All she has to do is wait around at her home while we keep an eye on the other two. Something bad happens and we run 50 feet.”

“What if 50 feet is too much? She could get hurt.”

Dean pulled his shirt over his head, adjusting the neck before accessorizing with a blue button-up. He ran his fingers through his hair, wiping the excess gel on his jeans. Sam sat on the edge of one of the beds, already changed and working away on his computer.

“Fine. Then we have to figure out something else.”

~~*~~

Changelings are awful creatures. Not just awful looking, but awful in general. They act so quietly that it’s hard to detect them before they get their first few kills. Your eyes scanned the screen before you, days since you’d spoken to the brothers. It had been two days of waiting, watching, and hoping they’d finish this hunt.

4:45AM. The clock blinked. On and off, on and off, the red numbers illuminated the room. Your routine stood, wake, check the home, and return to assisting hunters. The window was open. It had been rather nice outside lately. Fall was setting in after a grueling humid summer and you were excited to have a good excuse to stay indoors.

Sorry about the other day. The message popped up around 6, and it took you til 7 to answer.

It’s okay. Typical hunter jazz. No big deal. You responded.

Do you mind if I stop by?

With your brother? This early in the morning?

Just me. Dean’s still sleeping.

You pondered for a moment. Sure, you had been talking to Sam for years at this point, but the Sam you had come to know was so vastly different from the Sam that knocked on your door impersonating the Incredible Hulk. It had been years since you actively attempted to converse with others in person. Your social life had mostly been contained to the world of technology.

Sure, give me 30. You regretted it the moment you hit send. What were you supposed to talk to him about? “No, I don’t want to be bait, but I also don’t want to come across as an asshole who doesn’t care?”

~~*~~

Sam sat, looking comically large, in the small armchair he had taken to the last time he visited. A fresh cup of coffee was warming the palms of his hands, fighting off the cold that spilled in from the windows. You sat on the couch, across from him, mirroring his position.

“So,” you started, breaking the strained silence that fell between you, “have you guys found anything on the changelings?”

“Nothing more than what you told us, and we already knew.” Sam sipped the coffee. “Hey, I uh, do you remember what we talked about a few years ago? That promise?”

Promises were touchy subjects in hunting. Often, they were meaningless. “You mean when I promised I’d quit drinking?”

He laughed, “Close, but no.”

“When I promised I’d never get into hunting?” He nodded. “Don’t worry, Sam. Not planning on…” You closed your eyes and began to speak, but upon opening them found him with a rather pensive look. He almost looked guilty. “You want me to bait the damn thing out, huh?”

“We’re out of leads. Dean and I have been watching the block for the past few days and we have nothing.”

“You’re asking me to break my promise?”

“Just for a night.”

“What happens when I die?”

“You’ll go to heaven.” He said as if there was no question to it. “But that’s not going to happen anytime soon. When it’s over, you’re going to be okay.”

“You promise?”

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I promise.” He brought the mug to his mouth, “and I won’t break mine like you break yours.”

“Hey!”

~~*~~

That’s how you ended up with all your doors unlocked, most of your windows parked, and a Black Impala parked a few doors down in front of an empty lot. You paced in the living room, nervous for whatever this night would hold. Sam promised you’d be okay, and you’d be damned if you didn’t hold him to that. Sam said if anything went haywire, he’d be on your doorstep in no time flat. Dean was happy to hear you had “come around” and briefed you on what you needed to do which was mostly “stay put, act normal.”

It was 12:00am when you finally moved to ready yourself for bed. Flicking off the lights, your eyes flitted from the curtains blowing slightly in the night to the computer screen that had long since gone dark. Sam and Dean were just outside, there was nothing to be nervous about. At least, that’s what you told yourself.

Settling into bed, you felt the exhaustion of the day rush through your body. Everything felt heavy. Your eyelids attempted to will themselves closed, but you pushed yourself to remain awake. Just as darkness seeped into the corners of your vision, an incessant knocking pulled you back to reality.

“[Y/N]!” It was Sam. He continued knocking incessantly, with each collision of his knuckles to the door the knock got harder. A cold wave rushed over your body as you ran to the door, a sense of dread caused your arms and legs to go limp. Had something gone wrong already? “Come on!” He called. “Change of plan. We need to get out of here.”

The door opened loudly, the handle knocking against the wall shook the thin walls of the home. Sam’s eyes were wild, he looked scared. “Sam? What the hell is going on? Did you guys catch it?”

“It got away, come on. We have to get you somewhere safe.”

You followed him through the house to the back door but stopped dead in your tracks as you passed the hall. The mirror, the one you dreaded keeping around, caught your eye. Sam gripped tightly to your hand, tugging you forward. “Come on, [Y/N]. We need to go.” He insisted, pulling you harder now.

It was like nothing you could put to words. His eyes were hollowed, where hazel once looked back at you were now pools of black. His mouth had become round with hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny pointed teeth layering downward. Its skin was tanned and discolored. It looked dry but was slimy to the touch. The face that looked back at you was not Sam’s.

Tearing your hand from its, you cringed at the tiny lacerations left from its grip. “Sam” turned to you; his face was still human. He looked confused, slowly approaching you as you moved backward.

“Sam?” You yelled, hoping the real Sam was just outside.

“[Y/N]? Are you crazy? It’s me.” The changeling said, holding its hands up in a non-threatening way.

“Like hell! Sam!” You screamed now, continually taking steps backward. “Dean?”

“Hey!” The front door, which had been closed by the changeling, burst open with more force than before. It was Dean, but like Sam something was off. He wasn’t wearing the same red button-up that he had briefed you in. His hair looked longer, his posture was different, and his eyes were hollow.

There was no time to react as the world fell dark.

~~*~~

The crack of a door closing is what finally shook you awake. The room around you was your own, an unexpected sight. What happened last night was beyond you and whether this was real or not was as well.

“[Y/N]?” Footsteps echoed down the hallway, falling closer and closer with each step. “You awake?” It was Sam’s voice. He sounded more sound, solid even. There was a slight hesitation lacing his tone, something delicate, as if he was walking around broken glass. “Hey.” He let out a breathy huff of air, hazel eyes meeting yours.

Retracting in your bed, you moved against the wall to put as much space between the two of you as possible. Your hand quickly found the base of your neck where a rim of scabbed-over skin protruded in a circular shape. Your chest constricted; your heart felt as if it was crumpling up attempting to make itself as small as possible. Sam watched as your eyes widened and he felt a pang in his chest as you retreated away from him.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he kept his body low, attempting to make himself as small as he could, “it’s me.” He mentally scolded himself for not taking precautions. “Hold on.” His held-out hand did nothing to ease your nerves. Sam returned a moment later with the mirror from the hall. It was cracked now, two large fractures split it down the middle. He positioned it against the wall opposite you and sat in front of it.

You expected the face from the night before. You expected those haunted hollow eyes, the dry scaly skin, the rounded-out mouth of razor-sharp teeth. Instead, you only saw Sam. His gaze was soft, brows drawn together. His lips parted slightly as he debated whether he should say something or not. He decided against it; you needed to be the first to act.

“It’s you.” You said, more to yourself as opposed to him. “What happened last night?”

His eyes flitted from your returning gaze in the mirror to the mark that now scarred your neck. “There were two. One was dragging you back in the woods while the other was fighting Dean. It’s dead. Dean knocked it out, took it out back, and burnt it.” Hesitantly, he moved from his position on the floor to a kneeling one in front of your bed.

“What about the other one?”

A crooked smile moved across his features. “You may need a new living room floor.”

“Is it bad?”

“If you’ve ever wanted new hard-woods, now’s the time.” He chuckled. “We’re going to stay in town another day, just to make sure everything is gone.”

~~*~~

You didn’t wake that night. The rising sun woke you along with the ding of a phone notification. It was one of your other hunters, requesting assistance on a hunt in Nevada. You stretched, feeling a dull ache in your muscles and a pop where one shouldn’t be. Slipping your phone from your nightstand, you promptly sent out a message to the other hunters in that area and discarded the technology in favor of the idea of finally sleeping in.

It was 11:00AM when you woke again. The bed was warm, a strong arm was slung over your side resting snugly against your stomach. Sounds of steady breathing filled the room; a heavy heartbeat played a calming melody in your ears.

It had been a long time since you shared a bed with anyone, but after the antics of the night before it was well-deserved. Sam didn’t offer, rather you did. You didn’t want to be alone.

“Morning.” His sleep-filled voice was smoother than his typical one. Groggily, Sam tugged you backward into his chest as he buried his face in your neck.

“Morning.” You replied, relishing in the moment you wished could last forever.

The day passed with ease. Dean had taken to the couch, insisting that the hole in the floor didn’t bother him and that he’d go out and purchase some planks to at least patch it up. Sam spent the day at your side. Most of it was spent lazily dozing, the rest was doing mundane tasks that seemed so little in comparison to what you experienced the day prior.

Sam had insisted that the effect would wear off soon. It was just some shock and trauma, he told you. It would all get better as time passed.

When the night returned along with Dean who had gone out to pick up dinner, you expected them to tell you they were heading out. But they didn’t. They chatted about nothing and everything at the same time, acting as if you had been part of the team for years. You had a lot in common with Dean, and just as much if not more with Sam. He was an intellectual, smart, kind, caring, and the softer-around-the-edges of the two.

“Hey,” Sam popped his head into your room as you readied yourself for bed, “Dean will be out on the couch. I’m going to set up on the floor out there. We’ll be here if you need anything.”

You felt something. Something sad. Your heart ached at his proclamation of staying down the hall from you. Nodding, you decided it was best. There was no reason to get attached to the boys, it’s not like they’d be coming back any time soon. You and Sam would eventually fall back into your routine of texting at all hours of the day and night and you’d become a distant memory of one of the hundreds of hunts they went on.

“Good night.”

With darkness came distortion. The pile of unlaundered clothing cast shadows across your room where shadows weren’t supposed to be. Despite the curtains being pulled taught over your window, red glowing eyes permeated the fabric and watched you for hours. It wasn’t real, you continually told yourself. It was just your mind playing tricks on you. But the tricks were cruel and holding you back from sleep.

You weren’t sure when you did finally slip into unconsciousness, but you were sure it didn’t last long. Strong hands shook you awake along with the soft coos of someone telling you it’s okay and that it’s all over now. You felt something, someone, in your bed. You laid in someone’s lap as they held your body close, rocking slowly back and forth.

“It’s just a dream.” It was Sam.

“Sam?” You felt meek, your voice mimicking that sentiment. “What happened?”

“You were screaming in your sleep.”

Feeling your face flush red, you wanted nothing more than to bury it along with the changeling in the forest beyond your yard. “I’m sorry.”

“No,” Sam felt his heart drop at the sound you made before the tears fell. “You’re okay. You’ve been through a lot.”

“A lot?” The gates held no match to the tears that shook and clambered their rusted metal bars. Your vision blurred as you closed your eyes, willing away the oncoming storm. “I hardly saw anything!”

Sam didn’t respond, only held you tighter as he pressed wordless kisses to the top of your head. “Sam, how can I even call myself a hunter if I can’t even face something as weak as a changeling?” A heavy breath fell upon your lips as you inhaled deeply. “Useless.”

“You’re not useless.”

Hushed voices woke you, arguing about something incoherent as one voice raised over the other. Sam was no longer with you, but the bed was still warm where he had spent the night.

“We’re leaving today, Sam. Nothing’s around anymore.” A muted whisper danced down the hall.

“We can’t just leave her alone now.”

“She’s safe. Changelings gone, wiped out the entire family tree. I’ll be out in the car; we’ve got another case. Bobby called this morning.”

The front door shut, and footsteps fell down the hall toward your room. Sam peeked his head in, a smile immediately spreading across his face. “Hey.”

“You’re leaving?”

He sighed, wiping a hand down his face, dragging slightly at his chin. “Dean wants to get to the next case.”

“Oh.” You shifted in bed, propping yourself up on your arm. “Well, thank you.”

“I wish we could stay longer.” Sam moved to the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped as he sat on the corner, the weight willed you forward. He laid a hand on your shoulder. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Seeing Sam out was one of the first times you had taken a hard look at the hole in your floor. Dean had done a make-shift job in patching it up. Thin sheets of plywood were nailed together haphazardly with different sized nails hammered in here and there. The wood wobbled as you walked over it. Maybe it was time to skip town.

Dean stood on the curb with a disposable cup, with what you presumed to be filled with coffee, sipping away as he relished in the morning sun. Perking up, he waved a big hand to you. “Stay safe, kiddo!”

“Will do, Mr. Stark!” You hollered back, eliciting a laugh from Sam.

“You sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yeah.” You turned back to the living room. “I’ll probably have to move. I don’t need the cops on my tail for the missing people burnt in my backyard.”

Sam waited a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. He bit the inside of his mouth and glanced back to Dean who was now climbing into the driver’s side front seat. “You could come with us.”

“Sam.”

“I’m serious. We have a friend you could stay with. He does the same stuff you do. Lots of land, if you hate him you would never have to see him. He’s an older guy, a little rough-around-the-edges but has a good heart. It’s our home-base.” He grasped at your hand. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’ll consider it.”

~~*~~

“We’re home!” The front door slammed shut as two sets of footsteps fell down the front hall into the kitchen.

“Hunt go well?” You wiped your hands and moved to greet the hunter. Sam smiled, slipping his arm around you as he planted a kiss on your cheek. “Mhm.” He replied.

“What?” Bobby had hardly looked up from his desk as he tapped away on his phone. “No kiss for me?”

“Good to see you too, Bobby.”

Dean slid into the kitchen, making a disgusted face as he took in the scene before him. “Couples.” He grumbled, tugging the fridge door open and grabbing a beer. “No kiss for me either?” He grinned smugly, making quick time as he found a bottle opener and lost himself in the cold liquid.

It hadn’t taken long for you to accept Sam’s offer. After an entire five minutes of deliberation, you agreed. The important things fit perfectly into the back seat of the Impala, mostly books and electronics. Dean grumbled at the slight delay in events as he directed himself back home as opposed to the case. Your relationship with Sam had blossomed from there.

A ding rung out from the study. “That’s me!” You slipped out of Sam’s grasp. “Got work to do.”

[bangtansflower]

Opium Chapter 2

A/N: Here is the second chapter! Hopefully you guys do enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it! Please like and reblog as it gives me motivation to carry on writing! Also Soobin and you are really close, just like Yeonjun is. The actions done in this chapter don’t mean anything it just shows how comfortable you are with him!

Warnings: Drug abuse. Underage drinking. Suicide. Angst. Tons of it! Heart break. Lying BTS. Light smut! And I mean light! Just want to point out there that this is entirely fictional and that BTS and other characters in this fic are not based on real life at all!

Summary: You couldn’t believe it. He was back. Now that Min Yoongi is back in your life, it takes a turn for the worse. How could he just up and leave then waltz back in? And how could the guys you trusted with all your heart betray you like that. Struggling to cope with it all you turn to drugs and the comfort of Yeonjun and his older brother Sejin. Falling into a deep pit of despair is there any hope of you managing to climb out of the hole that just gets deeper each day?

Wordcount: 1,703

Tag List: @babyjaebumie

If you want to be added just let me know!

Masterlist / Previous / Next

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Warm arms slowly creep over you waist making a shiver shoot up your spine, eyes fluttering open slightly before closing once again you lean back into the warmth. Back colliding with a firm chest you sighed contently, tilting your head lightly allowing the soft touches of lips ghost over your neck. Wandering hands glide gracefully further down your body, slipping past the bands of your shorts, only to stop there. Letting out a small throaty groan you whisper “Yoongi…” your back rumbles as he gives a deep chuckle, hands moving once again a long finger enters without warning, gasping you reach back gently threading your fingers through his hair, legs spreading open allowing him more access. Yoongi nibbles on your neck occasionally pressing soft butterfly kisses, removing his finger he moves it to your clit, slowly rubbing circles. It was agonising slow. “Yoongi” you whimper.

Bolting up you wake in a cold sweat, with shaking hands you wipe your face taking deep slow breaths. Hearing a draw close and the kettle being turned you look towards the kitchen. Throat suddenly parched you swing your legs off the couch you somehow fell asleep on, feet colliding in the face of Yeonjun who happened to pass out next to you on the floor. He let out a loud groan turning away from you rubbing his face “Noona, watch where you’re going”, he turned back slightly to give you a glare. To which you just stick your tongue out “Your fault for sleeping on the floor”. Standing up you stretch and wander at a slow pace towards a figure who emerged out of the kitchen who happened to hold two glasses of water. Moaning at the thought of having that good wet stuff down your throat you reach out taking one and downing it all in one go. “God you are a lifesaver Sejin I thought I would die of thirst”, rolling his eyes the tall man shook his head at the sight of you and Yeonjin, who was still lying on the floor. “Nice to see you too y/n. I see Yeonjun helped himself to my secret stash and shared it with you” His eyes looking at the nearly empty tin to Yeonjun who managed to sit himself up, sheepish look on his face “It was needed hyung! I’ll help pay for some more” he nodded pouting. Shaking his head once again, a resigned look on his face, Sejin turned back into the kitchen “Come one you children, i’ll make you both a tea, it will help clear your head. You go forward to follow him but not before turning around to assist Yeonjun in standing up, holding a hand out he smiles thankfully at you grabbing it using it as leverage to get up. Once he managed to gather his bearings, with you laughing at his state, the two of you make way for the kitchen. Sitting down at the table, Yeonjun slumping next to you head hitting the table, Sejin places a mug each in front of you, taking a seat across from you he looks you in the eye with worried eyes, eyebrows furrowed he speaks in a gentle tone “I don’t know what happened but I am here for you.” Looking back at him you give him a small upset smile “He’s back”.

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Jungkook woke with a pounding headache, groaning he rolled out of the bed he was in and ran in the direction of the bathroom, emptying his stomach contents in the toilet. Wiping his mouth he swore he was never going to get that drunk again. He also knew that he was lying to himself and he would. Looking in the mirror Jungkook saw how much of a mess he was, why did he do this to himself. Quickly brushing his teeth with the spare toothbrush he followed the smell of freshly cooked bacon to the kitchen. “Suran noona! You don’t have too” the smaller girl giggled and gave a beaming smile “Oh Jungkookie I do! After last night you all need it!” Giving a bunny smile Jungkook sheepishly rubs the back of his neck before laughing aloud at the sight that entered the kitchen. Taehyung and Jimin leaning on each other for support looking like they have been dragged through hell and back “Never again.” Taehyung said throat scratchy from lack of water, Jimin nodded agreeing “Never again”. Grabbing one of the bacon sandwiches he made his way to the living room seeing a sprawled out Jin and Namjoon on the couches, with Hoseok on the floor in what looked liked a position that will give him back pain for the rest of the day. Making his way back to the spare room Jungkook went straight to his mobile checking to see if you replied. When he sees that you have not responded to any of not only the group chat messages but his private messages he starts to get worried, you always managed to reply within the hour, and you would surely be awake by now as it was nearly midday. Deciding to test his luck he decided to call you, putting the phone to his ear he allowed it to ring for a minute before hanging up. He did this twice more, worry that something has happened to you eating him alive. Sighing he looks at the mobile in his hand, all kinds of thoughts going through his head overtaking the pounding of his headache from the hangover. Ringing one last time he allowed it to ring all the way to voicemail “Y/n are you okay? Get back to me okay? I stayed at Hoseoks last night i’ll be on my way home soon. Take care and see you soon” he hung up lips tightening in a line he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“Is she not picking up?” Spinning in shock he comes face to face with a freshly showered Yoongi “H-hyung” he stammered “I didn’t know you were there” Guilt flashed across his face, one that Yoongi noticed and Yoongi knew it was the guilt from hiding from y/n, he has always seen it in the youngsters face. “I’m sure she will get back to you soon. Besides.” he looked seriously at Jungkook “we all do need to arrange when we are going to tell her. Tell her that I am back.” Jungkook stayed silent, looking away from Yoongi he looked at the floor before looking back up “Hyung you hurt her.” Sadness engulfed Yoongi’s face, his hands turning into fists “I know.”

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Watching Sejin roll the opium into cigarettes you lick your lips in anticipation, heart rate increasing excitement coursing through your veins. A familiar ringtone drew your attention to your discarded mobile that somehow fell down the side of the couch you are sitting on, reaching down the side you grab it and look who is calling. Rolling your eyes you flip it face down ignoring it, Yeonjun catches your eye face twisted in confusion, shrugging your shoulders you mouth ‘Jungkook’ in which the younger boys face turns dark and scoffs. After two more calls from Jungkook you opt to putting your mobile on silent, you intend to ignore them all for the rest of the weekend, especially him who was meant to be your everlasting guy best friend. Putting the phone on the table you don’t see the voicemail a very worried Jungkook sends you. “When is Soobin getting here? It’s all going to be gone by the time he arrives” You joke a smile on your face, least you still had these guys you thought. As Yeonjun opened his mouth to speak the doorbell rang, grunting Yeonjun stood up and made his way towards the from door “Just in time” he states as he opens the door revealing a tall, dark haired boy with a boyish grin to match his mischievous eyes. Clasping hands the boys do a bro hug “Good to see you man, I can’t believe you had a party without me yesterday!” he playfully glared at Yeonjun as the blue haired boy ignored him taking back his spot on the couch. “Y/n noona! My favourite noona of all time” He leaned down and kissed the top of your head before plopping down next to you arm slung over your shoulder, you leaned into him with a giggle as he squeezed whilst Yeonjun faked gagged finger in his mouth “Hey Soobin, it’s lovely to see you”. “Hey Sejin hyung nice to see you, oh hey soobin nice to have you over” A sarcastic voice piped up, Sejin tossed a cigarette at you both making all three of you laugh “Sejin hyung of course id never forget you, you were the one who thought of inviting me after all” a rumble of laughter erupted again. Smiling Sejin lit his roll “Well I knew you’d come with what has happened” Indicating the story of Yoongi and the guys “And you would never say no to this”. Taking another drag he leans back a smile on his face. Yeonjun who has already nearly finished his roll of opium is in a world of his own, engulfing him as if it were a blanket. You and Soobin look at Yeonjun and then at each other bursting into a fit of giggles, these guys sure did make you feel better. Lighting his own roll Soobin inhales a big drag, holding it for a few seconds a thought of contemplation on his face before turning to you, lips close to yours, if he leaned any further they would touch, his eyes tell you to open up in which you do. He exhales, the smoke leaving his mouth just to enter yours as you inhale, eyes fluttering shut your body relaxes more into Soobin. When you open your eyes Soobin is already taking another drag his head dropping back against the couch, leaning forward you take it out of his hand and take a drag for yourself revelling in the feelings it gives you.

Mobile on silent, you get more messages from the guys, especially Jungkook who has arrived home to not seeing you there. Amongst the messages an unknown message appears.

Unknown: Y/n. We need to talk.

[cloudyyoonji]

Secret Panels and Paperwork

Detective! Hwang Hyunjin x Detective! Reader.

REQUESTED BY ANON

Summary: Seoul Police Headquaters is much more interesting then your old job, particularly the detective you’re now shadowing.

Genre; Fluff! Murder mystery case! (Mentions of a hostage situation)

_________________

Seoul Police Headquaters was way more relaxed then what you were used to.

Even though you’d been a crime detective for some 5 years now, you couldn’t help but feel a little anxious coming into a new job, one that was definitely on a smaller scale then what you were used to.

A quick scan of your ID and your past the gates, heading into a newer and exciting job; a new beginning.

You’ve barely stepped foot into the office when you’re greeted. The male beems at you, eyes flicking from your ID that is now clipped to your uniform to you.

“You must be Y/N! I’m Hwang Hyunjin.”

Woah. He’s hot.

Masking your thoughts with a polite smile you nod to confirm your identity, following suit as the attractive male beckons you to walk with him.

“So for the next few week, you’re going to shadow me. They said you’d had a few years of experience, but you’ll shadow me just until you get used to how things tend to run here.”

You’re nodding along to every word he says, wondering just how you’d gotten so lucky to work with such a charming man.

A few years of experience? Would that explain how you were used to things running? Perhaps the boy doesn’t know...

Showing you to a cubicle right beside his, he explains that this is your work station, also adding that there isn’t too many cases at the moment so you’ll just be filling out simple complaints.

“Did you have any questions? Did you want me to go through a few forms with you?”

You shake your head, smiling up at the black haired boy.

“I think I’ve got it all covered. I’m no stranger to rent disagreements.”

He nods. “Okay just give me a tap if there’s anything I can do!”

However, you know for a fact that you won’t be needing his help.

After a week, it becomes adherent to everyone just how experienced you are. You’ve filled out 167 forms, more then most of the detectives you work with combined.

“You know, you’re really good at doing these.”

You look up at Hyunjin, who now stands on the other side of your desk, watching as your hand flicks through the paperwork in quick strokes.

“Thank you. I’ve had plenty experience.”

“So it seems. You learn fast.”

You put the pen down, curiosity eating at you.

“Do we have any cases?”

The boy watches you for a moment, nodding with a sigh as he seats himself on his chair, pulling it towards you.

“Yeah. This murder case about this girl. We just can’t figure it out. There’s something missing, you know? It’s hard to piece together.”

You hum, twirling your pen and taking out a stack of sticky notes, cogs in your brain already turning.

“Tell me about it.”

After looking at you for a second longer, the boy reaches for a file from his desk, handing it to you to flick through as he explains.

“So the victim; Sarah Evans, was found dead in her apartment on Thursday night. There was no sign of any forced entries or exits, and no sign of self inflicted wounds. The autopsy suggested that it was highly likely she’d been smothered in her sleep. However, there’s only a few people that have access to her apartment; this being her mum, brother and her boyfriend.”

“And you’ve interviewed them?” You ask, eyes narrowed as you flick to the autopsy report.

“Yes. Mum and the brother were out of town; she has an alibi witness. And her boyfriend was at home playing his PlayStation. More specifically ‘Skyrim’.”

You hum, flicking to the photos of the body, desperate for sometime of mark.

“A sock is missing?”

“Yeah. It’s not in her house. It’s the only sign that she struggled at all.”

Nodding, your scanning over the body, eyes narrowed.

“Can you send this to me?”

“Yeah definitely. Do you think we’ve missed something?”

Shaking your head, you finally look up at the boy, whose eyes are glued to you.

“I really don’t know, but a fresh pair of eyes might see something.”

The case eats at you into the morning hours. You’re absolutely positive you’d seen a case like this before.

Your old case files are scattered on the floor, clock reading now 5:04am even though it was just midnight a few minutes ago.

Illuminated by the light of your iPad, you’re zoomed into the tiny details of the body.

Missing fingernails? No.

Fresh bruises? No.

Cuts? No.

When you spot it, you can’t look away, zooming in even closer to see the coloured pixels in her dark hairline.

Blue and purple pixels.

A mark.

A love mark on her neck. In her hairline.

Quickly you’re scrolling to the witness statements, flicking to her boyfriends.

“I was playing Skyrim from the hours 5:00pm, till 8:00pm. I was then in bed from 8:00pm till 7:00am.”

The tracking app on his phone seemed to prove that, but perhaps he hadn’t taken the phone.

The boy explains himself to be a worried boyfriend. He was weary about her male friends, and how they treated her.

A motive; worried about her cheating.

Its like all the dots in your head connect at once.

It was him. The boyfriend.

iPad now abandoned on the floor with the countless papers of past cases, your standing, phone pressed against your ear.

“Hello?”

Hyunjin’s voice is rough, indicating that you’d most definitely woken him from his slumber. But this just couldn’t wait.

“Hyunjin. I’ve got it. I know who it was. There’s a mark we’ve missed. One that gives away a motive.”

You’re barely stopping to breathe as you try to explain, the boys brain so tired he cannot comprehend a thing.

“Woah, woah, woah. Slow down. I’ll meet you at the office okay? I need to see this mark for myself.”

And with that you’re running to your car, iPad in hand.

Speeding to the office, you basically run in, barely getting through the barricades with a scan of your ID.

“Hyunjin!” You yell, waving the iPad in your arms.

The boy looks at you rather concerned, taking in your wrinkled uniform and your bun that has miscellaneous pens and pencils sticking through it.

“Have you even slept?”

“Thats not the point. I’ve found a mark.” You tell him, zooming in on the love bite.

He takes the iPad from you, looking close.

“Holy shit, you’re right.”

“It was the boyfriend. Like I said on the phone. He was jealous. He admitted that. But he threw the focus off him to say he was worried her male friends would try something. But it’s him Hyunjin, it’s him.”

He nods, eyes leaving the iPad and flicking to your own.

“Let’s call it in.”

And so, at 5:48am, it is finalized that the murder of Sarah Evans was committed by her boyfriend; Marcus Roberts.

By 3:20pm, you’re suited up in a bulletproof vest; “Seoul Police Department” written in white bold letters across your back.

Armed and ready to go, you’re journeying to the murderers house.

Were you nervous? Definitely a little. Why? You had no idea.

But as the door is flung open, and the swarm of police enter, detectives following, your instincts kick in, adrenaline high.

Pulling open various draws, your on the search for the girls missing sock. His screams of protest seem almost non existent, heart beating so loud in your ears.

“We haven’t found the sock. Maybe he’s disposed of it. Burnt it even.”

You ignore Hyunjins words, walking to the bedside table. You’re sure it’s here somewhere. It has to be somewhere.

Fingers tapping along the white wood, Hyunjin only watches with confusion as you reach behind the table, pulling it forwards.

You look up at him, fingers finding a tiny hole in the wood, something soft stuffed inside.

And there it is. The white sock bright against your blue glove.

Putting it into the plastic sleeve that gets shoved towards you, you manage a small smile, your adrenaline finally wearing off into a tiredness.

Walking back through the house, it’s buzzing with the energy only a solved case could produce.

“Buddy, you’re going to be in jail for a long time.”

An officer tells the guilty male, pushing him out of the threshold as you and Hyunjin trail behind him.

“Please! I never meant no harm! She wanted to leave me. I couldn’t do it! I love her! I love her!”

Hyunjin side eyes the male, looking up at the officer.

“There’s our confession. Take him away.”

Climbing into Hyunjins car, you’re on your way back to the office, accomplishment on both your chests.

“You know, you did really well today. You’re extremely smart Y/N.”

Glancing up at Hyunjin as your working at taking off your bulletproof vest, a light smile gracing your features at his compliment.

“Thank you Hyunjin. That means a lot.”

As the car slows to stop at the red light, he is quick to glance over at you, spotting you struggling with the vest, and quickly unclipping the side for you, one you hadn’t seen. Flicking him a quick smile, you pull the vest off, holster still tight around your waist.

“How did you come to apply at Seoul Police Department? If you don’t mind me asking that is.”

“Oh I actually transferred!” You explain, looking up as the car starts moving again. “It’s a nicer environment trust me.”

“Nicer? Where did you work before? A battle ground?” The boy jokes, eyes turning into crescents.

You can see the mole under his eye a little more clearly now.

“Basically.” You laugh, shaking your head as you reminisce over the countless cases. “I worked for the FBI actually.”

“The FBI!” The boy basically yells, eyes off the road and on to you. “I am so sorry I made you do paperwork for like a week. I had no idea!”

Shaking your head, you explain that you actually like to do paperwork and that it’s like stress reliever for you.

Stopping at another light, he looks over at you again.

“So why did you leave may I ask? It must have been such an amazing line of work!”

Your smile fades as you remember, bitterness replacing the euphoric victory.

“It was amazing. But there was a reason why I left. It was one of those things you know? One you can’t really ever forget.”

You feel his gaze grow concerned, questioning and waiting for more.

“It was a hostage situation,” You begin, images of that day fresh in your mind as you recount the easy version of the story.

“It was a small group; 9 of us. He took my gun, used on it two in the group when things got too hectic for him to handle. I just felt so responsible you know? I couldn’t do anything. He would kill me or someone else the instance I lifted a finger. I’d already lost two, I just couldn’t risk the rest-.”

Your voice cuts off on its own, fingers trembling as you fiddle with the vest. Hyunjin takes your hand in his, his action making you look up at the concerned boy.

“That’s never going to happen again. I’ll make sure of it Y/N. And if it does, you’ve got me. I’ll come find you, I can promise you that.”

Hand tight on his, you can’t but help let a smile onto your features.

“Thank you Hyunjin.”

He smiles, looking back at the road as the light goes green and the car starts moving, one hand on the steering wheel, but the other wrapped tightly around your own.

“Let’s go find another case for you to solve Detective Y/N.”

[the-writing-dump-bin]

Hello, i just found your page and was up til 5am reading all your jjba nsfw and omggg i fell in love with characters i never thought twice about, your work is to WRITHE for! im not sure if you take prompt requests so im sorry if im over stepping, but id love some gentle, but firm Bruno nsfw where he slowly woos you and then spends a very "eventful" night with you 🖤

Sorry for the wait, I had a ton of distractions while trying to write. Hope this is okay for you!

NSFW 18+

[[MORE]]

Going to small, lesser known cafes wasn't really Bruno Buccellati's style, being the leader of a gang and all, but he came here for you.

Three months ago, he was on a small stake-out mission and wound up at the cafe you worked at. He had gotten a table a few booths down from the person he was following; you were his waitress. "Evening, my name is Y/N, could I get you a drink to start?" Bruno didn't look at you right away, his eyes still on the man a few feet away, but when he realized you were standing and talking next to him, he looked up at you; completely taken by your looks. After idle chit chat, he almost forgot about the man he was following. He paid his tab and gave you a quick thank you and goodbye and left.

Since then, Bruno had been coming to you whenever he could; even if it was just for a cup of coffee, he couldn't sit unless he ordered something.

"Bruno!" You greeted when he came through the door; he sat at the counter. "I'm glad to see you're back. Can I get you the usual?"

"Of course." A couple weeks ago, Bruno had told you that he was going on a "little vacation" and wouldn't be around for a while. He kept his profession a secret from you, for now anyways. Someday he would tell you what he really did. He smiled his sweet little smile to you when you handed him his cup. "So, you're glad to see me?"

You couldn't help but smirk, guess you walked into that one. Bruno always flirted with you whenever he came in, giving you compliments with flirtatious tones, resting his chin on his palm as he looked at you with half-lidded eyes. Sometimes he ordered food just for it to sit there untouched while he talked to you. "How was your trip?"

"It was... Interesting." Was all he said, not wanting to elaborate about his previous mission. He took a sip of the coffee you made him, god you knew just how to make it for him. "Listen, Y/N, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner-

"Hey, waitress!" Shouted a man from a corner booth. He was a semi-regular at the cafe, but he was an incredibly rude man. "We're ready to order!"

Sighing, you excused yourself to tend to the loud man. Bruno turned to stare at his coffee cup.

"Forget it, Buccellati."

Bruno's head shot up and turned to the direction of the sound from where he heard his name. Just in the corner, was the cook, Geno, leaning against the wall next to the door to the kitchen. His eyes narrowed at him. "How do you-"

"Know your name? Ive got people on the inside too. You've been sniffing around here for months after Y/N and each time you've asked her out, she's always swerved you. Isn't it about time you gave up?"

Bruno stared back at the man. Yeah, he had asked you out a few times already, and each time you said you had something else planned. But that never stopped him. He was determined to get at least one date from you. He would have said something in retaliation, but you came back with the order you just took, handing it to the cook and looking very irritated.

"Geno, here is their order. They're the picky guys who come in every so often, can you just make sure they are satisfied with their food?"

"Of course." Geno gave one last look to Bruno before disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Sorry about that, Bruno." You sighed, topping off his coffee, "You were saying something earlier?"

"Um... Yeah, a little bit. I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me."

You smiled bashfully. This was the fourth time Bruno had asked you if you wanted to do something with him, and each time, you said you had other plans. But you didn't. It's not like you didn't like Bruno, because you did, its was that you were too shy to say 'yes'. He had been charming you ever since that night he first showed up. Those deep, blue eyes entrapped you every time they locked with yours, making your heart thump so hard that you thought it would leap straight out of your chest. "Oh, Bruno..."

Bruno bowed his head, knowing that familiar tone you used. "You have plans. Right." His eyes went soft, glosing over with tears he refused to let fall. Maybe Geno was right. Maybe he should give up. He brought up his head slowly and saw Geno staring at him from the little opening where he would pass the servers their orders to carry out. Shoving his hand in his pocket, he placed the money for his coffee on the counter and got up. "Thank you, Y/N. I'll see you around." He made his way out the door.

Each time you did this, you felt bad. Bruno was obviously into you and you were into him. So why couldn't you say 'yes'?

"Y/N," Geno hollered. "Your order is up."

You didn't move; eyes still fixed on the door where Bruno left.

"Y/N! Your order is up! They're going to get rowdy soon if you don't-"

You ran around the counter and out the door, trying to catch up with Bruno. "Bruno!" You huffed when you finally caught up to him.

"Y/N? Whats the matter?"

"Y-Yes."

"Huh?"

"Dinner... I go to dinner with you."

The grin couldn't be contained. He didn't want to ask if you were sure, afraid you would changed your mind after you said it. "Wonderful!" He pulled out a small piece of paper and wrote on it. When he handed it to you, he let his fingers linger on yours. "See you then."

---

Is this really the spot? You asked yourself. Sitting in your car, you looked at the piece of paper with the address Bruno had written down for you yesterday. You expected to meet him at a resturaunt, but here you are, parked in front of a house.

You had already been nervous about the date; almost deciding not to show up at all. But you steeled your nerves, dressing up in a cute skirt- not too short, but not too long either. Your shirt fit you just right. Your hair did up the way you wanted. You looked good. Standing at the door, you weren't sure if you should knock or ring the doorbell. Mentally slapping yourself, you rang the doorbell, sighing with relief when Bruno answered the door- you had the right place.

Bruno smiled widely when he saw you. "You made it. Come in." He moved out of the way so you could enter.

Shyly, you walked inside. His house was gorgeous and very well decorated. Your wandering eyes fell to the dining room table. It was set very romantically with a white table cloth, lit candles with wine and wine glasses in the middle. Bruno had went out of his way to set everything just perfect for you, you felt a little guilty for even thinking about skipping the date. "Bruno, this looks amazing."

Bruno was happy to hear that you liked it. "I thought it would be nice to have a quiet dinner together." He brushed your cheek with the back of his hand. "You look wonderful." You blushed hard. His touch was so gentle. He guided you to the table and sat you down in a chair. A moment later, he brought you back a plate full of the food he prepared. "Thank you, Bruno. It looks delicious."

The evening was very pleasant. The two of you had a lovely time catching up from the last two weeks while he was gone. The food was great, he really knew how to cook.

You were having a really good time, then you noticed that Bruno was sitting next to you a little bit closer than he was earlier. His hand rested atop of yours, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. You could tell what he was feeling; you knew he had a crush on you for awhile. And you had one on him too, but you were just too shy to be as bold as him. "Bruno..."

"I'm sorry, cara," He started to pull his hand back. "I'm being too forward."

At the last second, you grabbed his hand before it left yours, lacing your fingers with his. "No, I'm sorry. I know how strongly you feel about me, and I feel the same way, I just don't know how to-"

Very softly, Bruno cut you off with a tender kiss; his breath hitting your lips, sending shivers through your body. Once you processed what was happening, you quickly melted into the kiss, giving your own back. Bruno's free hand slid onto your thigh, rubbing the hem of your skirt between his fingers. That caused you to form a knot in your waist.

Your mind started to cloud. Was it the wine or Bruno's intoxicating kisses that was causing this feeling? Probably a mixture of both. His hand dared to slide up farther, brushing against your panties, making your breath hitch. Soon, he moved them to the side and shoved a single finger between your increasingly wet folds.

Bruno started with a slow rub over your clit, making you grab the seat of your chair, moaning at the pleasure you were being given. "O-Oh..." His hand pulled away, making you whimper with disappointment. "No, Bruno... Dont stop."

His kisses moved to your neck; his tongue running over your skin in small licks. "I don't plan on stopping, amore." He stood, pulling you up with him and cleared a part of the table, laying you on top of it. He leaned over you, running his hands up and down your sides as he kissed you deeply. Your hips arched into him, grinding against his thigh that he placed between your legs.

Unbuttoning his shirt, you discarded it but left the lace he wore underneath it-he was pretty hot in that thing. He removed your shirt as well, unhooking your bra and throwing it across the room. He took a moment to look at you before he latched onto a nipple, softly running his tongue around it.

Next was the pants. Your hands reached down, unzipping them and freeing his ridiculously hard cock. Bruno straighten up and pulled your hips closer to the edge of the table, pulling down your skirt and panties and wrapped your legs around his waist, lining up with your entrance. He scanned your face, looking for any indication to halt his actions, but found none.

Slowly, and gently, he slid inside; your walls adjusting to his member. You could feel the care he had for you with each inch you took; he didn't want to hurt you in anyway. Once all of him was in, he gave you a moment before starting a rhythm, pulling out slowly and then back inside. "Are you alright, my love?"

"Y-Yes..." You huffed, wanting more as the knot in your waist grew tighter. "B-Bruno... Faster..."

His hands gripped your bottom, lifting you up to penetrate you at a better angle. He started thrusting faster...faster...faster...

The table shook with your movements as he pounded into you harder. The plates and glasses eventually made their way off of the surface, smashing into the floor. Bruno didn't care, he could always get more. Right now, all he wanted was you.

Leaning back down over you, he breathed into your ear as he continued to fuck you. "I'm so close, tesoro."

"Me too. Ah... Ah...keep...go-ing...!"

You couldn't help but let out a pleasurable scream as your orgasm waved over you. Bruno pushed into your pussy and chased your orgasm with his, filling you right up with his seed.

Coming down from your highs, Bruno's face hovered over yours, pushing sweat soaked hair from your face with his hand. He didn't really have any words, but smiled when you smiled at him. Cute little kisses where shared as he pulled out of you, using a napkin to help clean you up.

Standing in the middle of his dining room, naked, he pulled you into him and embraced you. "I'm so happy when I'm around you, Y/N. And what we just did..." He was in heaven.

Playing with the lace sticking to his skin, you felt the same as him. "I-It doesn't have to end here, does it?"

Bruno looked down at you, eyes softly staring into yours. "If you don't want it to. We can keep going for as long as you wish."

Another shot of excitement ran through your veins. You were definitely interested in spending the night with Bruno. He took your hand and brought you to his room.

This was where the night would really take off...

[fernwehbookworm]

Woke The F*ck Up- Chapter 18

March 12, 2018

Kara punches the man in front of her, she feels his jaw give way before sweeping his leg so that he falls and hits his head on the ground. He loses conscious instantly. In a rush, she makes for the computer, attempting to plug in the drive so Winn can recover anything to lead to Lillian Luthor. She hoped to catch her before Lex’s trial but the window was closing fast with Lillian being like dust in the wind. Lights were flashing as the screen showed the growing percentage of deleted content. After flipping the drive twice it finally goes in. Winn chimes in her earpiece.

“I’m connected. But I don’t think I’m going to get much, most of the files are corrupted.” Kara groans. It was too hard to find this base and get in for them to walk away with nothing.

“I got all I could. The police are on the way, someone called in the gunshots. Get out of there.”

Kara grabs the flash drive and runs through the empty back hallways, stepping over a few unconscious men. She makes it to her bike and out of the warehouse compound as she hears sirens in the distance. She calls the detectives number and waits for her to pick up.

“So I take it the gunshots are Cadmus related?” Maggie asks.

“Detective, no greeting? I thought we were friends.”

“Can’t be friends if I don’t know your actual name.”

“Touche. There are Cadmus thugs in that warehouse and a weapons stache. But all the computer systems have been wiped. I’ll let you know if we recover anything.”

“Thanks Power Girl.”

Kara weaves her way through the city before zipping into the underground garage just as the sun was beginning to rise and turning the bike off. She takes off her helmet and shakes out her hair, scratching her scalp in an effort to get rid of the helmet hair. She unzips the riding jacket and freezes when she feels eyes on her.

“Well, I’m glad I saw that,” Lena says from Winn’s spinning chair. Kara laughs and goes to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

“Hey Lee, what are you doing here?”

“Winn let me in your super secret side door.”

“Well I hoped Winn let you in, otherwise I really have to look at my security. But what are you doing here? No offense but the last time we had one-on-one time here it did not end so well.”

“I needed to talk to you.”

“Okay…” Kara leans against the center console and sets her water down.

“Look, Kara, I’ve been thinking, and I am glad to have you in my life again. I am so glad we have been building something together again.”

“I hear a really big but coming.”

“But I am going back home next week.”

“Oh.” Kara walks towards her corner of the base to hang up her jacket on the back of her dining chair. Lena watches her walk away and gives her space before following a few moments later. She stands silently, unsure of what to do with her hands.

“Kara?” Lena watches her take a deep breath. She turns to face her with the biggest fake smile Lena has ever seen.

“It’s fine Lena. I mean of course, you have to go. It’s fine.”

“I appreciate you trying to make this better, but it’s not fine. I know we have a lot to work through still but I also need to be with my family, and I have been itching to get back in the studio. I need to be in that supportive environment and I can’t be alone here in National City. But I don’t want whatever we have going to end.” Lena takes a step closer to Kara. Kara sits on her dining table chair and motions for Lena to join her. Lena sits next to her, shoulders slightly hunched.

“Okay. We made it work before, before it didn’t. But now everything that was wrong is out in the open, and by that I mean my lying, we can get through this.”

“So what? We fly back and forth again? It seems a bit extreme for friendship. I mean it made sense when we were sleeping together and everything but now? People don’t fly half the world to see friends.”

“Look I don’t know about ‘people’ but I would. Especially now that the gym is doing so well I can afford to do it now.”

“Oh, Kara, I can take care of that, it’s really no big deal.”

“No Lena, I can’t let you. This time it will be all on me to get there because this time… this time is different.” Kara reaches out and puts a hand on Lena’s. Lena looks at her.

“Right. Different. But still a good different.”

“Good Different,” Kara confirms.

“So what do we do for now, while I'm still here?”

“Now, I have to actually go work in my gym. Care to join me?”

“What? Like, work out?”

“Yeah come on. It will be fun!”

Lena laughs at Kara’s enthusiasm but relents at the twinkle in her eye. Kara manages to find an older shirt that fits Lena’s larger chest and some leggings that managed to fit her curvery figure. Kara tried (and semi-succeeded) not to stare.  

“Come on, we have to go in the front because I haven't been in yet today. Hop on.” Kara hands Lena a helmet and pulls on her own. Lena only hesitates a moment before climbing on behind Kara. With a push of a button, the motorcycle changes from red and blue to a very sleek black. Lena gasps. Kara zips out and circles a couple of blocks before coming in from a completely different direction. She pulls into a spot marked ‘Owner’ right out front. Kara offers Lena a hand to get off before dismounting herself. She takes the helmet from Lena.

“Careful on your feet, I know it was a long trip,” Kara says with a smirk. Lena laughs and pushes her shoulder playfully. Kara even holds the door for her as they enter. Even though it was six in the morning the place was still pretty full with people getting in pre-work workouts.

“Hey, Taylor. This is a friend of mine. She’s working out with me today so check her in as my guest. And get her a water bottle and towel too. Lee, I’m just going to drop these in my office, meet me there.” Kara lifts the helmets to indicate what she means.

“Hi! Welcome to the Power House. Can I have your first name for the check in? We just like to keep of log of who all comes in.” Taylor asks in a very peppy customer service voice. She reaches under the counter for the towel and water bottle. The towel is blue and the water bottle is a clear red with the logo stamped on the side. Lena laughs at the blatancy of Kara making everything the colors of her alter-ego.

“Its Lena.”

“All right Lena, you are all ready to go. Good luck if you are training with Coach K. She’s intense.”

“I figured as much. Thank you, Taylor.”

Lena meets Kara outside her office and they move to the stretching station. It is actually not weird. Workout music plays over the speakers and Kara guides her through different stretches and counts as Lena follows her lead. Kara is focused on teaching and it leaves little room for small talk. Then they are doing a jogging warm up in ‘The Box,’ going around the outside of the large room filled with mats and free weights and different gym equipment that Lena couldn’t even begin to name. Lena is drinking water when other people start to file in. She almost swallows it wrong in her rush to ask Kara what’s happening.

“Sorry, yeah, this is the Crossfit class. It’s my turn to teach. You can join or just watch if you want.”

“Isn’t Crossfit like really intense?” Lena asks.

“Sometimes. But it’s really as intense as you make it. There are scaled down versions of all the exercises. This is usually a mixed group so do what you are comfortable with.”

Sure enough, Lena really looked at the people stretching and talking, they were all different shapes and sizes and ages. She agrees to give it a shot. By the time the twenty-minute workout is over, Lena is sweating and sucking down air like her lungs were suddenly too small. Kara is chatting with some of her gym members as they get ready to leave again. Lena lays back on the floor when her bottle is empty and just stares past the fluorescent lights to the ceiling. Suddenly blonde hair is covering the light and Kara is smiling down at her with her hand out to pull Lena to her feet. Lena takes it and Kara effortlessly pulls her up.

“You are a sadist,” Lena says and Kara laughs.

“Oh come on. The work out is really only like fifteen minutes. That’s almost nothing.”

“Still… you are crazy. But also I feel good. Like I really accomplished something and it's only seven.” They start walking back to Kara’s office. Lena pulls up the app on her phone to call a ride.

“Well good. You can come back anytime when you are in National City.”

“I should probably actually buy a membership then.”

“Are you joking? No way. I will not accept payment from you. After everything we have been through, no way. None of my friends pay and that includes you.”

“All right, all right.”

They linger outside Kara’s office door, neither sure how to continue, neither wanting to end it either. Kara starts telling Lena about her plans for the day. Before Lena knows it, another fifteen minutes has passed of them just standing in the gym talking. The interruption comes in the form of Lena’s phone, she glances and sees Sam’s caller ID.

“Sorry, it’s Sam,” Lena says, Kara gestures for her to take it.

“Hey, Sam.”

“Hey! Where are you? We have to leave by ten for the airport. I thought you were going to take us?”

“I’m coming. I just met up with Kara for a morning workout.”

“A workout? Or a Workout? ”

“A not fun, very intense and life draining work out. I’ll be home in half an hour. I just have to shower and I’ll be good to go.”

“Okay, see you soon then.”

“Bye Sam.” Lena’s phone dings, saying her car is two minutes away, Lena turns to Kara. “I’ve got to get going.”

“Walk you to the door?” Kara asks. Lena nods and turns to leave, Kara close behind. Kara steps around Lena to push the door open ahead of her. Lena smiles at her and turns to say goodbye. And she’s right there. She’s so close. This is the best she has felt around Kara in awhile.   Friends. Lena shakes her head.

“Bye Kara. I’ll text you later. I’d like to do this again.”

“Really? Yeah, of course. Just let me know, I practically live here.” Kara even throws in a wink at the end. Lena tries to fight the swooping feeling in her gut at the familiarity. Instead she laughs.

“I will. Bye Kara.”

Lena walks towards the car matching her phone and climbs in, looking back as the woman pulls away from the curb to see Kara still waving from the door. Lena blushes and smiles before relaxing back into her seat.

**

“So, you went to see Kara this morning?” Sam asks from the passenger seat. Traffic is crawling on their way to the airport but the still had plenty of time.

“Mmm-hmm.” Lena keeps her lips pressed together, not sure where Sam is going with this. Lena only arrived home for the end of breakfast and enough time for a quick shower and rush Ruby through the rest of her packing. It left little room for Sam to question her but now Ruby had her headphones on in the backseat so now was Sam’s chance.

“And?”

“And what?”

“Oh, don’t make me pull it out like teeth.”

“And, I told her I was going home next week. But I think she took it well. She says she wants to visit me and that maybe I could come back to continue being friends.”

“So you will be paying for the flights again?” Sam asks, a little icily.

“Actually no, Kara says the gym is doing very well and she will pay for it herself. Actually, she refused when I offered.”

“Good. I am glad you are happy Lena. Kara does seem very nice, but as your best friend I feel like I need to make sure you don’t get hurt again.” Sam settles back in her seat, content to let the matter rest. Lena reaches over to take Sam’s hand.

“I know Sam. And I really appreciate it. But I am coming home next week to be with my family. That is you and Ruby.”

“And Kara is just a friend?”

“Kara is… I don’t know what Kara is. I know we both have our guard up and are hiding behind that word, but I look in her eyes, and I fall for her all over again. But then I remember all the heartache we have been through so I am back to putting her in that safe little friend's box.”

“From what I have seen, Kara will be completely happy in either box. But that is something for you guys to decide, together this time.”

“Right, together.” Lena parks the car in the temporary parking lot and helps get the suitcases out of the trunk. Lena walks them as far as she can, but soon she has to say goodbye and head back to her hotel. But not until she receives a rib-crushing hug from Ruby and a comforting one from Sam. She squeezes tightly, in a way only friends know how to do. Lena knows its enough to carry her through another week in National City.

When Lena gets back to her room,  it feels cold and empty. But it’s just one more week. She did that to give Kara a chance to adjust to the idea of her leaving. And honestly so Lena could be a little selfish and spend more time with her. This was going to be a long week.

[sariasprincy-writes]

Hollow Point 16

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten // Eleven // Twelve // Thirteen // Fourteen // Fifteen // Sixteen (here) 

Chapter Sixteen “If I asked you to jump, would you?”

‘You’re a pretty girl,’ Tsunade used to say. Not that she meant it as a compliment. It was simply a fact.

Because there was something about pretty girls that tended to draw people in. Trust them more. As if being attractive meant all the world’s secrets were safe behind those easy smiles. Maybe that was how Sakura had managed to dismantle Gaara’s empire singlehandedly. Or maybe she really was as good at what she did as everyone thought. Or perhaps it was all luck.

In any case, it was a wonder sometimes that she was still alive. Like a cat with nine lives, she tiptoed around Death, taunting him. Daring him. One misstep away. Always teetering on the edge. Swaying back and forth.

Sakura stood at the window, phone pressed to her ear. The other line rang once, twice. Five times before going to voicemail. She didn't bother leaving a message.

Behind her, footsteps echoed in the empty condo. Ino crossed the large room, her heels clicking against the wood floors before silencing in the middle of the room.

“You bought this?” Ino asked, glancing around the wide living space.

Sakura hummed her reply as she tucked her phone into her back pocket. Her gaze returned out the window, to the ocean and the distant horizon. 

“This is like your fifth purchase in the last week,” Ino told her needlessly. “Why are you buying so many places?”

Actually, it was Sakura's eighth but she didn't correct her. Instead she turned her back on the stunning view to look at the blonde. “Because it would be stupid of me to hide my entire stock in one spot. I need more safehouses to store my product.”

And more places to hide. The end of her strange relationship with Tobirama had left her a little paranoid. Perhaps she had been arrogant, reckless to think that sharing a bed with Tobirama would protect her from Hashirama or the Uchiha brothers. She had unintentionally lowered her guard. Having Tobirama show up in the dead of the night had woken her like a bucket of ice water. Or a gun to the head.

“Naruto told me you had another shipment coming in later this week,” Ino said. “Though, he’s not sure yet where they’re going.”

Sakura heard the unspoken question. “I’ll give him the locations later today. There’re a few clients looking to restock their store. I do need him to set a container aside for me though. I need to send one back overseas.”

“Back to the Med?”

Sakura shook her head, her gaze returning out the window. “China. The Hyuugas need some backup. They’re having issues with a few triads in Hong Kong. And I owe them a favor.”

The blonde peered at her curiously, as if awaiting a further explanation. When Sakura didn’t offer one, she let it go with a half-shrug. “Do we need to prepare another container for the Senju?”

A brief silence passed as Sakura weighed her answer. Eventually she shook her head. “No, they should be good with what they have now and I’m not in the mood to be generous. I got Kabuto’s payment last week so I’ll have Naruto arrange a store for him and whatever is leftover can go to Hashirama.”

Even without looking, Sakura could feel Ino’s eyes burning into the side of her head. Could feel the wheels in her head turning as she pieced her next words together. “Is this because of Tobirama?”

“What?” Sakura asked. She turned sharply to look at her.

Ino just met her stare unwavering. “Oh, come on. You’re really not going to tell me anything? I know you’re sleeping with someone. It’s obviously not Hashirama, and Madara and Izuna are too...well themselves for you to ever get into bed with them. So, it’s either Tobirama or…Did you and Kakashi…?”

“I’m not sleeping with Kakashi,” Sakura said flatly. When Ino continued to stare, she glared, “I’ve never slept with Kakashi.”

“So, it is Tobirama.”

Sakura shot the blonde a look that was clearly a warning. When Ino didn’t back down, Sakura sighed. “Yes, I fucked Tobirama,” she admitted impatiently. “But that’s not the reason I’m pissed off.”

“Okay, so what is it?” Ino asked, the amusement fading from her expression.

Sakura simply stared at her longtime friend. Trying to find the words to explain that she wasn’t really mad at Tobirama. Annoyed he had held a gun to her head maybe, but not honestly mad. He had been right to suspect her as a mole.

As it turned out, one of Hashirama’s men had hidden deep undercover, spying on the Senju brothers and passing along information to Akatsuki. Sakura had heard of the man’s death over the news. Left in pieces throughout an Akatsuki port. Like a bloody jigsaw puzzle. Curtesy of Tobirama.

Rather, she had pinpointed her restlessness back to Hashirama directly. Her life would have never been like this if he hadn’t taken her from that orphanage. And she didn’t know if she was grateful or if she hated him for it. It was a very thin line she paced. Every move seemed one step away from swaying her one way or the other.

Sakura considered telling Ino all of this. There was no judgement in her eyes, only patience and quiet curiosity. But Sakura couldn’t find the words to say any of it. She never could.

Instead, she shook her head. “It’s too long to go into the details now. Tell Naruto the plan. I’ll reach out to Kabuto and get you his current location for shipment.”

Ino looked like she had more to say but fortunately kept her mouth shut.

They were spared the tense silence by Sakura’s phone suddenly buzzing in her back pocket. She laughed ironically when she read the caller ID.

“Hashirama,” she answered less than welcomingly. “What can I do for you this time?”

If he heard the curt tone in her voice, he gave no indication. Merely replied levelly, “I need another shipment.”

“Oh?” Sakura asked, holding up her hand towards Ino to halt her retreat. Ino eyed her curiously but remained silent. “Your boys in the South in need of new gear already? I figured you would have some leftovers with your ranks as thin as they currently are.”

“Not mine,” Hashirama told her, ignoring her ruthless jab. On the other end, the faint background noise suddenly faded as though he had slipped into another room. “There was a problem with another supplier. Izuna-”

“No,” Sakura cut him off.

He paused, either surprised by her blatant refusal or because he was choosing his next words carefully. When he spoke again, his voice was pleasant and calm. Deadly calm. “You do not even know what I am asking.”

“Well unless you are asking me to off Izuna, which I seriously doubt, my answer is no. I am not doing that man any favors.”

“Consider it a favor to me then.” When she didn’t reply, Hashirama sighed. “I will pay you double.”

Sakura laughed. “No.”

“Triple.”

This time she was the one to pause. Weighing the pros and cons. Really, giving the guns to Izuna didn’t affect her business and with triple the normal rate...well it was almost like taking candy from a baby. It really wasn’t fair to Izuna. Good.

“Fine,” Sakura relented. “Send me the address where he wants them.”

“I will have Izuna call you.”

“What? Don’t-!”

But Hashirama had already hung up.

Sakura growled as she lowered her phone. Hashirama could be so petty when he wanted to be.

A minute lapsed with the room in silence before Ino slowly prodded, “So, don’t tell Naruto to bring the shipment to Kabuto?”

Raking a hand through her hair, Sakura thought. She sorted through the clients that had orders pending, those that were paying the most and those had been waiting the longest. A deep sigh passed between Sakura’s lips.

“No, tell Naruto Kabuto’s shipment is being rerouted,” she told Ino. “He’ll have to wait until the next one. As soon as Izuna gives me an address, I’ll let him know where it’s going-”

As if she had summoned the devil himself, Sakura’s phone rang a second time. The number was unsaved, but she was confident enough to take a wild stab. “Hello, bastard,” she said pleasantly.

There was a pause on the other end. Only the sound of a very patient breath being drawn. “I hate you,” Izuna said.

Sakura couldn't resist her smile. “The feeling is mutual. So, let’s get this over as quickly as possible, shall we. Where do you want the delivery?”

“The Grand Lotus hotel. They have their food deliveries arrive at 11pm. You can disguise the shipment in a truck and exchange it with my contact tomorrow night,” Izuna told her.

She stared out the window as he spoke. Listening while she watched the large cargo ships move about the bay. Some heading into port, others out to sea while some remained anchored in the harbor, waiting for their shipments to arrive.

“Fine,” she agreed. “Book a room. We’ll exchange the keys there. And Izuna,” she said before he hung up, “tell Hashirama the money better be in my account beforehand. No payment, no deal.”

Through the phone, she heard him take another measured breath. “I will uphold my end of the deal. Just make sure you do the same. I swear, if you fuck this up-”

Sakura didn’t hear the rest of his threat as she ended the call. She smirked, a little too pleased with herself. Ino actively resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Sakura’s antics. “You know that doesn’t help.”

“Does me,” Sakura shrugged. “Anyway, we better get going. If we’re going to be ready for tomorrow night, we need to move.”

That disapproving look was still on Ino’s face but she followed Sakura out of the condo nonetheless. The door echoing in the utter emptiness as it shut behind them.

xx

Just as planned, Naruto drove the shipment to The Grand Lotus hotel, dressed in one of those ugly, brown delivery outfits. Hat and all. For some reason the look at fit him well, which amused Sakura to no end. Much to the annoyance of the blond.

Across the street, Kakashi sat perched on a roof, overlooking the five-story building.

Sakura waited for confirmation they were both in position before she had a cab drop her four blocks from the hotel. She walked the rest of the way, hands deep in her pockets as her breath fanned out before her in pale, white wisps.

The heat inside the lobby immediately chased the chill from Sakura’s skin. She popped the top button of her jacket off and pulled her blonde hair out from inside the collar as she made her way towards the front desk. It wasn’t her favorite wig by any means, but it concealed her natural hair flawlessly.

“Good evening, Miss. Checking in?” the woman asked politely. She probably wasn’t much older than Sakura herself.

Sakura smiled in return. “Yes. Senju Tsunade for one night.”

The hotel employee turned to her computer and punched in a few numbers. “I have you in Room 308 on the third floor. Single queen-sized bed.”

“Perfect.”

“It looks like we have your credit card on file so all I need is a signature and I can send you right up. Can we help you with your bags?”

Sakura shook her head as she accepted the usual nondisclosure and hotel rules contract. She signed the agreement, printing Tsunade’s name in perfect cursive with a well-practiced hand. As the woman filed away her paperwork and registered her door key, Sakura gazed around, briefly reading the flyers on the desk: free Wi-Fi, pool hours. The hotel’s apologies that the workout room was currently undergoing construction and would not available for guest use.

“Your door will be the second to last on the right,” the woman said, handing over Sakura’s paperwork. “Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make your stay more enjoyable.”

Sakura smiled her thanks. Once she was sure she had everything, she headed towards the elevator. The lift chimed pleasantly before the doors opened. She waited for an elderly couple to exit before she stepped in.

Just before the doors closed, Sakura glanced back at the receptionist. Only to find her still watching Sakura, phone pressed to her ear.

A sinking feeling settled deep in Sakura’s stomach. It was probably nothing but she hit the button for the fourth floor, one level above her own. The hallway was empty, except for two bellmen. They were heading towards her, pushing an empty luggage cart.

Sakura smiled at them as they drew closer, taking in their pristine, red hotel uniforms. Her first clue something was wrong were the nearly invisible earpieces in their ears. Her eyes dropped to her hotel card, feigning confusion as she looked at it and then the room number around her.

“Excuse me,” she said as they crossed paths. “I’m afraid I’m a little turned around. Can you tell me where Room 408 is?”

The closest man glanced at her hotel card, her thumb conveniently covering the ‘3’ written on her card, before he glanced at the door numbers. “408 is at the end of the hall,” he pointed. “Take a right at the corner and it’ll be the second to last on your right.”

“Perfect,” Sakura said gratefully. She took a step down the hall, only to turn around again. “Oh, and can you tell me, is the workout room twenty-fours or does it open in the morning?”

He half-turned back to her. “It’s twenty-four hours.”

Only it was closed for construction. And Sakura had been around guns long enough to recognize that strange bulge on his hip beneath his clean, tight suit. The butt of a weapon. He was armed. And if she had to guess, a federal agent.

She smiled again even as adrenaline began to spread through her veins. “Thank you.”

Staying calm, Sakura continued down the hall, even as she felt the men’s eyes follow her. She scanned the hallway carefully, searching for any cameras hidden in the ceiling or in the corners of the walls. Her mounting alarm cooled somewhat when she found none.

Ducking around the corner, Sakura pressed her back to the wall and waited with baited breath. Sure enough, a few seconds later she heard their footsteps, muffled by the carpet.

The gun was the first thing Sakura saw. She grabbed the first man’s wrist and swung him around until he hit the wall. His face struck first, knocking him unconscious. She let him drop as she turned to his partner. His gun was trained on her, but she was close enough to slip under his guard and hit a painful pressure point until he dropped his weapon.

Sakura dodged his first swing, using Kakashi’s close combat training to kick the side of his knee. He dropped to the ground and turned to grab her in the same motion, but she was faster. Using a supported elbow, she knocked him in the back of the head. He collapsed to the floor, boneless.

It was all over in less than thirty seconds. Still, Sakura remained motionless, listening for any voices or more approaching footsteps. When all was quiet, her eyes returned to the unconscious men at her feet. She searched them quickly, her heart jumping in her chest when she found both had badges: FBI.

Pulling her phone out, Sakura called Kakashi. “We’re aborting this. Now.”

“What’s wrong?”

Through the phone she heard the scrap of his equipment as he hastily dismantled his scope. “FBI are here. I don’t know why and I don’t have time to explain how I know. Get Naruto. Make sure you both get out.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

After ending the call, she pocketed her phone before she returned to one of the unconscious agents. On his hip, she found a radio. She grabbed it before she headed towards the stairwell, only pausing to rip the hotel floor plan required by law posted on the wall.

“Front desk confirmed 308 checked in. Second floor is secured,” the radio crackled. “Moving in on the third now.”

Listening, Sakura studied the map, her only focus on getting out. There were only two stairwells, one on either side of the building. With the FBI focused on the hotel room she had intended to meet Izuna’s contact, it was likely they were covering the stairs on the north side.

She would have to try the south side.

With only a second look to ensure the two agents were still unconscious, Sakura headed towards the opposite stairwell. She held the radio towards her ear to listen for updates as she moved, only lowering it when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

Sakura gave pause when she recognized Itachi’s number. She had sent him a text message last night, updating him on Izuna and Madara’s plans. Because even though she hated working with the CIA, she hated Izuna more.

Now, however, she felt her temper rise. She had kept all the details regarding her delivery tonight secret, but it wouldn’t surprise her if Itachi had put a tail on her. This was exactly why she didn’t strike deals.

“Did you do this-?”

“Please tell me you are not at the Grand Lotus hotel right now,” Itachi interrupted, surprising her.

There was something about his tone that cooled her building anger. He sounded almost worried. Anxious perhaps? Still, she held onto her misgivings. “Why is the FBI here? Did you call them?”

“Of course not,” he snapped, almost offended that she would suggest such a thing. “You didn’t tell me anything, other than you were meeting one of Izuna’s men tonight. And if it is who I think it is, it was supposed to be Izuna’s primary link to Hong Kong, one of the biggest arms dealers in China. He’s been on the FBI’s watchlist for years.”

“So why did they choose to move in today?”

“I don’t know,” he said quickly, his words a little breathless like he was running. “You need to get out.”

“Yeah, I’m working on it,” Sakura replied curtly.

She paused when she reached the other end of the hall to peer through the glass. She didn’t see anyone but she pushed the door open silently and gazed down at the lower landing. Sure enough, there were a dozen uniformed police armed to the teeth, ready to move on command.

Sakura slipped back onto the floor, closing the door soundlessly behind her. “They have the floor secured,” she said as the radio crackled to life in her hand. The agents were about to move up.

On the other end, Itachi was silent. Then he said, “Go to the roof.”

Confused, she wondered how that would help her. The surrounding buildings were much taller than the hotel. There was no chance she could jump to the neighboring buildings.

But they were right on the water.

Sakura ground her teeth together. “It’s forty-five degrees out,” she hissed.

“And so is the water temperature,” Itachi stated almost matter-of-fact. “You can survive fifteen minutes.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

“If you don’t, you’re caught. And I cannot help you,” he told her.

Her grip around her phone tightened. Processing, weighing, deciding. Her lack of answer was all Itachi needed.

“There is a park less than a quarter mile south,” he said. “The current will help you. I will meet you there.”

Then he hung up and she was alone again.

Sakura stood there for a long moment. But then the radio crackled to life again in her hand and she was moving. She pushed her phone back into her jacket pocket before she slipped out into the stairwell once more. The agents were still only a level down, their quiet shuffling the only sound echoing against the steel and cement. With breath held, she began her climb up.

Up on the roof, the wind was even more biting. The building to the north blocked the worst of it, but it still chilled her skin. Sakura went to the edge and peered down. Below, the water was black and encompassing. Like it was just waiting to swallow her whole.

Out of all the crazy things Sakura had done in her life, this definitely ranked near the top. But at least she had a story. If she survived.

Taking a step away from the edge, Sakura bent down to tuck her pant legs into her boots. She pulled on her winter gloves next and folded the sleeves of her shirt and jacket into them as much as possible, doing everything she could to lessen the flow of water through her clothes.

She would definitely get wet. That was a fact she couldn’t change. But maybe she could use her clothes to work as a sort of crappy wetsuit. At least she had brought her winter jacket with her. Though she still wasn’t sure if that would help or hinder her.

“Secondary suspect is still in the building. Two officers down. Fourth floor, east wing,” the radio suddenly said.

“Securing the fifth floor now,” another replied.

Sakura couldn’t wait any longer. Stepping forward again, she climbed the three-foot-high, solid railing. The wind whipped around her as she perched precariously, like hands nudging her forward, tempting her to just jump. Her adrenaline rushed through her veins sharply. Painfully. Her body’s last attempt to beg her to stop.

That’s when the door to the roof banged open.

And that’s when Sakura stepped forward and plunged into darkness.

to be continued...

[willel]

The first chapter of the novel following Terry Ives pre-Stranger Things is available to read!

PROLOGUE

July 1969

Hawkins National Laboratory

Hawkins, Indiana

The man drove an immaculate black car along a flat Indiana road, slowing when he came to a chain link gate with a Restricted Area sign. The guard stationed there peered in the window for the briefest moment, then checked his license plate and waved him through.

The lab clearly anticipated his arrival. Maybe they’d even followed the directions and specifications he sent ahead about preparing his new domain.

When he reached the next guard booth, he cranked down the window to present his identification to the soldier serving as security officer. The soldier studied his license and avoided looking him in the eye. People often did.

He had nothing but attention for new people, at least at first—an assessment quick as a thought, cataloguing them: sex, height, weight, ethnicity, and from there a guess at intelligence, and then, most important, a guess at potential. Almost everyone was less interesting after the last. But he never gave up. Looking, assessing, was second nature, a crucial element of his work. Most people had nothing to interest him, but those who did… They were why he was here.

This soldier was easy to size up: male, 5’8”, 180 pounds, white, average intelligence, potential…fulfilled by sitting in a guard booth checking IDs with a sidearm he probably never used at his hip.

“Welcome, Mr. Martin Brenner,” the soldier said finally, squinting between the man and the plastic card.

Funny that his ID contained some of the information Brenner would have wanted if he were looking at himself: male, 6’1”, 195 pounds, white. The rest: genius IQ, potential…limitless.

“We were told to expect you,” the soldier added.

“Dr. Brenner,” he corrected the man, but gently.

The narrowing of a gaze that still didn’t quite look at Brenner but darted into the backseat where five-year-old subject Eight slept curled against the door. Her hands were balled into fists under her small chin. He’d preferred to oversee her transport to the new facility himself.

“Yes, Dr. Brenner,” the guard said. “Who’s the girl? Your daughter?”

The skepticism came through. Eight’s skin was a rich shade of brown in contrast to his own milky pale hue, which Brenner could have told the man meant nothing. But it was none of the man’s business, and besides he wasn’t wrong. Brenner was no one’s father. Father figure, yes.

That was as far as it went.

“I’m sure they’re waiting for me inside.” Brenner studied the man again. A soldier back home from a past war, a war they’d already won. Unlike Vietnam. Unlike the quiet escalation with the Soviets. They were already engaged in a war for the future, but this man didn’t know that. Brenner kept his tone friendly. “I wouldn’t ask questions when the other subjects arrive. Confidentiality.”

The guard’s jaw tightened, but he let it go. His eyes flicked to the sprawling multi-story complex beyond them. “Yes, they’re waiting for you inside. Park anywhere you like.”

Another thing that hadn’t needed saying. He drove on.

A boring part of the federal bureaucracy had paid for the construction and general maintenance of this facility, but more secretive arms of the government had paid for its outfitting to Brenner’s specifications. To be top secret, after all, the research couldn’t be advertised. The Agency understood greatness couldn’t always follow standard operating procedure. The Russians might be able to have their labs acknowledged by their government, but they were willing to suppress all the voices who would speak out in opposition. Somewhere right now the communists’ scientists were doing the same type of experiments this five-story brown complex and its basement levels had been created for. Brenner’s employers would be reminded of this whenever they forgot or had too many questions. So his work remained a top priority.

Eight continued to sleep as he got out and walked around to her door. He slowly opened it, pressing her back so she wouldn’t tumble out into the parking lot. He’d sedated her for safety while traveling. She was too important an asset to leave to other people. Thus far the other subjects’ abilities had proven…disappointing.

“Eight.” He crouched by the seat and gave her shoulder a gentle shake.

The girl shook her head, keeping her eyes shut. “Kali,” she mumbled.

Her real name. She insisted on it. Usually he didn’t humor her, but today was special.

“Kali, wake up,” he said. “You’re home.”

She blinked, a spark lighting in her eyes. She had misunderstood.

“Your new home,” he added.

The spark dimmed.

“You’ll like it here.” He helped her sit upright and coaxed her forward. He extended his hand. “Now Papa needs you to walk in like a big girl and then you can go back to sleep.”

At last, she reached out and slid her small hand into his.

As they approached the front doors, he put the most pleasant smile in his arsenal on his lips. He expected the current acting administrator to greet him, but instead found a long line of lab-coated men and one woman waiting. The professional staff of his group, he supposed, and all of them radiating a queasy case of nerves.

A tanned man with a lined face—too much time out of doors—stepped forward and offered his hand. He looked at Eight, then back at Dr. Brenner. His rimmed glasses were smudged. “Dr. Brenner, I’m Dr. Richard Moses, acting principal investigator. We’re so excited to have you here, someone of your caliber… We wanted you to meet the entire team right away. And this must be—”

“I’m Kali,” the girl said with drowsy effort.

“A very sleepy young lady who would like to see her new room.” Dr. Brenner sidestepped the man’s hand. “I believe I asked for one set apart? And then I’d like to meet the subjects you’ve brought on board.”

Brenner spotted the doors off the lobby that looked the most secure and headed in their direction with Eight. Silence trailed him for a long moment. His smile became almost real before disappearing.

Dr. Moses of the smudged glasses scrambled and caught up with him, the others a clattering rush right behind. Moses lunged ahead to buzz an intercom and gave his name.

There was an unsettled hum of conversation among the other doctors and lab associates who followed them.

“Of course, the subjects haven’t been prepared,” Dr. Moses said as the double doors swung open. He kept glancing at Kali, who was getting more alert by the second, taking in their surroundings. No time to waste getting her settled in.

Two armed soldiers stood matchstick straight just inside the doors, an optimistic sign that at least the security wasn’t subpar. They checked Dr. Moses’ badge and he waved them away from a similar check of Dr. Brenner. “He hasn’t gotten his ID yet,” he said.

The men moved as if they might challenge Dr. Moses, and Brenner’s approval raised another notch. “I’ll have it next time I come through,” he said. “And we’ll get you copies of the subjects’ paperwork.” He nodded discreetly to indicate Eight.

The soldier inclined his head and the entire group passed.

“I specified I wanted to meet the new subjects when I arrived,” Dr. Brenner said. “So it shouldn’t come as a surprise.”

“We thought you’d just be observing,” Dr. Moses said. “Should we set some parameters? Prepare them for your visit? It might disrupt the work we’ve been doing. The psychedelics make some of them paranoid.”

Dr. Brenner held up his free hand. “No, I don’t think that or I’d have said it. Now where are we going?”

Light fixtures dangled above the long hallway, emitting the ghastly glow that so often illuminated scientific discovery in this shadow world. For the first time that morning, Dr. Brenner felt like he could make this a home.

“This way,” Dr. Moses said. He found the lone woman on the professional staff in the herd and addressed her. “Dr. Parks, can you arrange for one of the orderlies to bring the girl some food?”

Her lips tightened at being sent to do the equivalent of woman’s work, but she nodded.

To his relief, Eight stayed quiet and they soon came to a small room with a child-sized bunk bed and drawing table. He’d asked for the bed to reassure Eight he wassearching for appropriate companions for her.

She spotted it immediately. “For a friend?”

“Sooner or later, yes,” he said. “Now, someone’s going to bring you some food. Can you wait here alone?”

She nodded. Whatever perkiness she’d gained from the excitement of arriving was fading—the sedative had been a strong dose—and she sank onto the edge of the bed.

Dr. Brenner turned to leave and ran into an orderly and the one female staffer. Dr. Moses raised his eyebrows. “She’ll be okay on her own?” he asked.

“For now,” Dr. Brenner said. And to the orderly, “I know she looks like a child, but follow your security protocols. She might surprise you.”

The orderly shifted uncertainly, but kept quiet.

“Take me to the first room,” Dr. Brenner said. “Everyone else can go wait with your subjects, but there’s no need to prep any of them.”

The rest of the assembled team waited for Dr. Moses to concur and he gave a pained shrug. “As Dr. Brenner says.”

They dispersed. They were learning.

The first room housed a subject ineligible for the draft due to a club foot. He had the permanently fried look of someone whose disengagement tool of choice was marijuana. Average in every way.

“Do you want us to dose the next patient?” Dr. Moses asked. He plainly didn’t understand Dr. Brenner’s methods.

“I will tell you when I need something.”

Dr. Moses nodded and they proceeded through five more rooms. It was as he expected. Two women, neither exceptional in any way, three more men, completely unexceptional. Except perhaps in their lackluster quality.

“Gather everyone in a room so we can talk,” Dr. Brenner said.

He was left to wait in a conference room, with a last nervous glance from Dr. Moses. Soon enough, the group from before entered and arranged themselves around the table. A couple of men tried to make conversation in order to pretend none of the morning’s events were unusual. Dr. Moses shushed them.

“That’s all of us,” he said.

Dr. Brenner gave his staff a closer look. They would need work, but there was potential in their quiet attention. Fear and authority went hand in hand.

“All the test subjects I met this morning can be dismissed.” He waved a hand. “Pay them whatever they were promised and ensure they remember their nondisclosure agreements.”

The room absorbed this. One of the conversationalists from before raised his hand. “Doctor?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Chad and I’m new to this, but… why? How will we do our experiments?”

“Why is always a question that moves science forward,” Dr. Brenner said. Chad the newbie nodded, and Brenner added, “Although one should be careful about asking it of your superiors. But I will tell you why. It’s important we all understand what we’re here to do. Does anyone have a guess?”

His treatment of Chad kept them quiet. He thought for a moment the woman might speak up, but she simply folded her hands in front of her.

“Good,” he said. “I don’t like guesswork. We’re here to advance the frontiers of human capability. I don’t want the common Mus musculus of humans. They are not going to give us extraordinary results.” He swept a gaze around the room. Everyone was intent. “I’m sure you’ve heard of some of the foibles elsewhere and your own lack of results are why I’m here. There have been embarrassments, and a great many of them can be sourced to inadequate subjects. Whoever thought prisoners and the asylum-bound would tell us anything we need to know were fooling themselves. Draft dodgers and potheads aren’t any better. I have a few more young patients transferring here for a related program, but I’d like a range of ages. There is every reason to believe that a combination of chemical psychedelics, people with high potential, and the right inducements can unlock the secrets we need. Think of the intelligence advantages alone if we can persuade our enemies to talk, if we can make them suggestible and exert control… But we can’t get the results we want without the right people, period. We need those with potential.”

“But…where will we get them?” Chad again.

Brenner made a mental note to have him dismissed at the end of the day. He leaned forward.

“I will set forth a new screening protocol for identification of better candidates from our feeder universities, and then select the subjects we use going forward myself. Soon, your real work here begins.”

No one objected. Yes, they were learning.

[insanely-creative-things]

Big Hero 7: The Series

Aunt Cass goes out

(Long post)

www.fanfiction.net

*Hiro and Cora are flying through the air faster than usual, determination in their faces.*

Baymax: Would you like to know the odds?

Hiro: Not right now!

Cora: Just keep going Baymax and don't stop til we get there!

*They zoom past the floating turbines just as a building appears in front of them.*

Hiro: Baymax! Building!

*Baymax uses his thrusters to make a sharp turn.*

Hiro: We're not gonna make it!

Cora: Oh yes we will!

Baymax: I will take a more efficient route.

*Baymax takes a head dive to the streets below. As of while the microwave beeps signaling that the popcorn is ready. Cass tentatively grabs the popcorn bag before opening it and across the living room, Mizuchi and Kaguya are setting their own chairs in front of the TV. Cass fills the bowl with popcorn and goes upstairs to check on Hiro and Cora.*

Cass: It's movie night kids! I rented us 'Kentucky Kaiju Vs. Zombie-sauras'!

Hiro: *Peeking his head out from behind the screen* Yeah uh...be right down! Just..putting on my..uh movie clothes!

Cass: Okay... where's Cora and Baymax?

Hiro: *As he pulls out Baymax's rocket fist so that the robot can greet Cass without exposing himself while Cora stay hidden and silent until the coast is clear.* Uhh.. C-cora is in the bathroom at the moment and should be out in just a few minutes. And as for Baymax, he's right here.

Baymax: *Waving from behind the screen* Hello.

Cass: Well okay, but you guys better hurry before Mizuchi and I eat all the popcorn.

*Hiro gives out a sigh of relief. They barely had time for them to get inside just in time. Cora gives a quick but comforting pat to Hiro's shoulder and than runs straight to the bathroom so she can change in private while Hiro and Baymax rushed to their room. This was a close call with Cass, especially since Cora's father and Grandmother are joining them for movie night too.*

Baymax: What are movie clothes?

*The next morning Hiro, Cora, Gogo, and Baymax are in line with Fred as they enter in line into Krei Tech.*

Fred: Thanks for coming guys! Dad's stuck at Chateau Fredrickson so I'm representing the family.

Hiro: Any idea what this thing's about?

Fred: No idea, the invitation just said 'Prepare to have your worries disappear!'

*While he was talking however his hand hit the head of the person in front of them.*

Baymax: That would be an impressive, therapeutic, break through.

Gogo: Looks like Krei invited every rich jerk in town... as I was saying...

*Just then Binky Mole, the woman Fred had feared at his Bro-Tillion, came walking past the line with her son... Richardson Mole, Fred's arch nemesis and the one who proclaims Gogo as his 'dream girl'.

Fred: Ugh, Richardson Mole.

*Mole spots Gogo and flips up his collar.*

Cora: *Whispers to Fred* So that's the 'creepy comic geek' you and Gogo mentioned before Fred...

Mole: Hey Gogo, were you just talking about me with your friend 'dream girl'? My ears were burning.

Cora: Uh...Not sure if you want Gogo to be your girl...*Quietly* Creep.

*Mole turns to Cora who looks at her briefly before speaking.*

Mole: Mmm. I have to admit, you're pretty cute too. But since I already have my dream girl in Gogo, might I recommend my cousin to you?

*Cora looks incredulous while Hiro frowns unamused as he puts his arm around his girlfriend as he addresses Mo.*

Hiro: *Annoyed* Uh, I believe she already has a boyfriend. And you're looking at him!

Mole: Hmmm...well your loss.

Baymax: Burning often indicates infection. There is no infection, however your ceruminous glands are overproducing earwax.

Mole: *Covers his ears in embarrassment at this revelation* Ah gross! Shut it about my glands.

*Mole runs away to catch up with his mother as Cora lets out a breath of relief while Hiro, who was now slightly amused at what Baymax did, was still slightly glaring in the direction Mole ran of in.*

Gogo: Nice save Baymax.

*Gogo lifts her hand to give Baymax a high five. Baymax lifts his hand and gives Gogo a high five, wondering what is the importance of it.*

Cora: Ugh! You and Gogo were right Fred, he is a total creep!

Fred: I know right?

Hiro: Hey, at least he's not interested in you babe.

*Cora smiles at Hiro as she wraps her own arm around him, while giving him a small kiss of thanks on his cheek.*

Cora: Yeah, thanks Hiro.

*Finally they got inside the building where a woman is handing out ID cards to the invited guests. Once the gang pin on their own IDs, it's Baymax's turn.*

Baymax: I am not wearing clothing.

*Baymax uses his scanner to scan the ID so that it will show up on his vinyl body instead. Baymax catches up with the gang as the door opens to let the guests inside, with two body guards on each side. But one guard happens to be someone they know.*

Cora: *Surprised* Papa?

Mizuchi: *Also surprised* Cora! I didn't know you were invited!

*Even though it's a surprise to see each other, Cora gives her father a big hug.*

Cora: I didn't know you work at Krei Tech! Is everything alright here?

Mizuchi: Long hours and the occasional files here and there, but the pay is decent.

*Then he turns to Hiro, who is giving a very nervous smile and small wave to the goliath-sized man. When he first met him, he almost wet himself seeing him. Mizuchi's gigantic stature with his well-developed muscles are defiantly intimidating, and his eyes could become dangerous if something were to upset him. But Cora only saw him as a gentle and caring father that reminded her of a teddy bear. His dark grey hair with his beard mustache combo added the intimidation factor to a whole new level though, even when he's smiling like any other father at his child.*

Mizuchi: I can see you brought Hiro along, *Sigh* Well at least you're not alone with him.

Cora: It's okay papa, we're fine.

Mizuchi: Well either way, I hope you enjoy the show.

*And so the gang enter the theater where they find seats while Hiro explains what happened last night. Mizuchi waves at Cora happily before focusing on his job when his face turns to surprise when he sees the next person enter, and that someone winks at him with a flirtatious smile.*

Hiro: Aunt Cass almost busted us again, it's becoming a problem!

Cora: Not to mention Papa and Grandmama we're there this time too. They asked me why I was in the bathroom for so long... But we're fine...for now anyways.

*Hiro recalls the other time where he and Cora was fixing up Baymax's armor and barely avoided getting caught when Cass passed by to work out.*

Gogo: Why don't you just tell them?

Fred: What?! No! You never reveal your secret identity! Other than to your manservant or your sidekick...obviously.

Hiro: And definitely not to your aunt! Who would never let you out of the house if she found out. And you most definitely do not tell your girlfriend's father! Who would very most like kill you, hide your body and any evidence of said killing if he ever found out of that his daughter's boyfriend, who he doesn't like anyway, recruited said daughter in a superhero team that fights highly dangerous criminals on a daily basis!

*Hiro was practically freaking out now and was trying to come himself down before he made a scene, but that wasn't an easy task as he dreaded the very concept of what Mizuchi would do to him should he ever find out what he got Cora involved with with BH7. Luckily for him though, Baymax could sense Hiro's slight anxiety attack and immediately pulled him into his arm and started comforting him and calming him down. The other three, who were watching as this scene unfolded, shared a quick but concerned glance at each other before look back to their young friend/boyfriend in some worry as they watched him still be comforted by Baymax. Fortunately, Cora decided to try adding in her two cents to their current conversation about revealing their superhero identities.

Cora:...Ahem... While I..do agree somewhat with your suggestion Gogo, since it would better to prepare them if they are ever targeted by a villain, you don't know my dad! And no, he woundn't kill Hiro if he found out...but he probably would forbid us from ever being together again... The point is, he's still just learning to let me go to school on my own, if he ever does finds out what I'm doing with you guys, he'll make me drop out of school, most likely forbid me and Hiro from being together or even seeing eachother again as I mentioned before and lock me in my room for the rest of my life with little to no chance of parole! *Sighs* But at least he and Grandmama are busy so often that they're barely home, but still...they'll find out if I'm not careful. And if I'm not careful... Then it's bye-bye BH7 and bye-bye Hiro and Cora...

*Now starting to calm down a little from his slight anxiety attack from before, lets Baymax know that he's all right now as he listens to Cora but slightly freezes at the idea of being forbidden from being with her or ever seeing her again. He looks at her as she says those last few words and meekly says to her.*

Hiro: *Now scared of losing her* I don't want us to be bye-bye...

Cora: *Turns to Hiro and smile a small comforting smile at him as she gently places a hand on his cheek.* Don't worry babe. Nothing like that is gonna happen to us alright? We've gone through tougher things than this and we will handle it together "if' it ever does happen. Okay?

Hiro: *Takes comfort from his girlfriend's words as he take a breath while he places his own hand on top of her that was still on his cheek and than smiles back at her.* Okay babe, whatever you say.

*Just then, they all look up to see Mole turning his head to make the phone hand gesture as to say 'call me' to Gogo.*

Cora: *Grossed out* Blegh.

Gogo: Give it up junior, I'm never gonna date you! Like ever.

*This springs an idea in Hiro's head.*

Hiro: Wait a minute! Maybe that's the answer for Aunt Cass!

Fred: Hmmm eh.. I don't think Richardson is right for Aunt Cass. He's clearly into Gogo, then there's that whole age issue thing, you know...even if the age of consent is 13... *Muttering* Still think that's a bit kinky and a little disturbing...

Cora: *Rubs her eyes in annoyance as she cuts Fred off* Fred, could you stop and just listen to Hiro before you make assumptions please.

Hiro: Thank you Cora. And as I was about to say, I'm not talking about Richardson! I'm talking about an actual man.

Gogo: You should stay out of her personal life.

Hiro: Come on Gogo, dating might be good for her.

Gogo: Or you.

Cora: *Deadpanned* Did you already forget about the time Aunt Cass and my Grandmama were in an underground cooking competition...And how that turned out for us?

*Hiro smiles at Gogo and Cora awkwardly before the lights turn off. The guest clap as the screen show pictures of Alistair Krei as his voice is heard through the speakers.*

Krei: What does it mean to..be rich? Having things? Lots of things? Expensive things?

*Just then Krei himself appears on stage.*

Krei: Things that other people want? It could all disappear in an instant, all of your precious things.

*Just then the gang see a group of ninjas climb down and surround Krei. The gang stand up as they prepare to suit up and off those sword wielding ninjas.*

Cora: Ugh! Not again...

Krei: If only I had someone looking out for me! If only I had...a buddy.

*Just then some unknown force knocks out one of the ninjas to the ground. Then nets came flying through the air and entangle the remaining ninjas, trapping them.*

Krei: Ladies and gentlemen it is my distinct honor to introduce Buddy Guard!

*Just then Krei pressed a button to reveal a pill shaped robot with electro mag arms and a green orb to act as an eye.*

Krei: It's more than protection it's the friend you can depend...on. The slogan's not final.

*The gang stand down as they realized that those ninjas were just actors for his demonstration, but they are defiantly confused.*

Hiro: *Whispers* Fred what are you doing?

Fred: *whispers *There's still one ninja!

Gogo: *Whispers* It's just an act.

Cora: *Whispers* They're paid for this!

Fred: Oh... Okay-okay... So we shouldn't save Krei?

Hiro, Cora, and Gogo: *Whispers* No!

Krei: Buddy Guard is a military-grade drone. Capable of countering any attack.

*The buddy drone spots the lone ninja and traps him in the net.*

Krei: But who wants that eyesore hovering over them while taking a stroll on your private island. So we gave ugly here the ability to turn invisible...But how?

*Krei pushes the button again to make the drone go invisible while Krei's assistance, Lois Carter, joins him onstage holding something resembling cloth.*

Krei: Great question! Flexible display technology!

*The drone returns to normal to display the coding.*

Krei: A high resolution miracle it can look like anything!

*Krei uses the cloth to wrap his head and activated it to change into Lois Carter. He looks at Lois before he unwraps the cloth and blocks out her face.*

Krei: Or nothing at all.

*The real Lois' face disappears as it only shows the background. The cloth then returns to normal as it displays the buddy guard and flashes like an advertisement.*

Krei: So be smart, buy your self a buddy! Pre-order's in the lobby! Get them before they disappear!

*The rest of the clapping crowd left as Hiro, Gogo, and Cora merely blinked over this marketing ploy while Fred is amazed.*

Krei: That seemed to go well.

*The gang arrive on stage once the whole stadium is empty.*

Hiro: Impressive tech.

Krei: Thank you Hiro, that means a lot coming from you.

Hiro: How are your uh...programming safeguards?

Krei: Safe guards?

Gogo: You know, so your 'Buddy' doesn't turn into your enemy?

Cora: Yeah, and is it strong enough to prevent someone from hacking it?

Krei: Oh that kind of programming safeguards well yeah! There are so many awesome, really safe...safe...guards.

*Krei rubs his hand on Hiro's head, messing up his already messy hair.*

Krei: Anyway thanks for coming.

*And with that Krei and Lois leave the stage to return to work. But Hiro is quick to grab Lois' attention.*

Hiro: Umm excuse me! Question uh.. Are there really any safeguards?

*Lois takes a moment before she turns to answer.*

Lois: Officially, there are many and they are awesome!

*She does the same thing to Hiro like Krei did before. Cora just pouts, disbelief in her eyes as Lois leaves. The gang think over this as Cora finally says it.*

Cora: *Deadpanned* Yeah...I'm thinking...they don't...

*Krei finally arrives at his office when his door opens to...nobody. Krei sits back at his desk when the thing reveals itself to be a person.*

Scientist pawn: Surprise!

Krei: *Startled* Ah!

*Krei covers himself before he realizes who the intruder is.*

Krei: Doctor Myer?

Myer: When I sold you my flexible display technology, you gave me your word my invention will be used for fun things! Like hiding people at surprise parties!

Krei: The Buddy Guard is fun! What's more fun than a buddy?

Myer: You're using it to hurt people!

Krei: Hurt people no, I'm using it to defend people. Thanks for stopping by Mel, may I call you Mel? We should go for muffins sometime.

Mel: Going for muffins isn't a thing, you're just trying to get rid of me! I demand you give me my plans back!

*Mel spots his blue prints and is about to grab it but Krei got to it first.*

Krei: Sorry Mel, the Buddy Guard's going to be huge.

*Krei uses his ID card to lock the plans into a private file cabinet.*

Krei: Oh look, here's a few.

*Krei presses a button to reveal three buddy guards just behind Mel.*

Krei: See Dr. Myer out.

Mel: You haven't seen the last of me!

*Krei then throws the cloth on Mel to cover his face and become invisible as the buddy guards drag him out of his office.*

Krei: Pretty sure I have.

Mel: This is unacceptable and unpleasant and-

*The buddy guards take Mel out the door, leaving Krei in peace.*

*Meanwhile at SFIT, the entire gang are doing their usual business, but currently Hiro along with Fred, Wasabi, and Cora are looking over a dating website to look for someone to date Cass.*

Hiro: No.

*Herman Wexler is too nutty for Cass.*

Hiro: No.

*DJ 6ix Sk1llz Br0 is the definition of 'nice guy'.*

Hiro: No.

*Theo ''Healingtree'' Schwartz is too natural for Cass.*

Hiro: A big big no! No!

*This is of Felony Carl. Cora sees this and smiles warmly*

Cora: Aw, he's looking for someone special. Good luck Carl!

Wasabi: Really?

Cora: He's good friends with my Grandmama! Believe me, that alone says a lot.

Hiro: None of these guys seem good enough for Aunt Cass!

*Cora clicks the next page to scroll for more bachelors.*

Fred: Wait wait wait wait! That guy has a mustache! It's a proven fact that the coolest guys have mustaches!

Cora: What about guys with the beard and mustache combo?

Wasabi: Fred, Cora, be serious the mustache or beard doesn't make the man. Its what's inside...the mouth. I cannot stress enough the importance of dental hygiene.

Cora: I agree with you Wasabi...sort of...I mean look at my Dad! He may look like a giant wrestler, but he's the sweetest guy you've ever known. My Mom certainly saw it.

*Cora pulls out her phone and pulls up a picture of her deceased mother. The woman's warm smile matches with the sparkling sea blue eyes. Cora gives a sad smile at the picture, wondering how her mom and dad had fallen in love. She looks up and sees the guys staring at the photo, eyes wide in surprise.*

Fred: *Awestruck* Wow...um...she's..very… good looking...

Wasabi: *Also awestruck* I've never seen teeth sparkle like that!

Cora: Hehe...yeah...Dad says he wonders what Mom ever saw in him to love and eventually marry him... he still loves her...even after all these years after she died...

*The guys snap back into reality as the guys, sans Hiro, are surprised that Cora's mother is dead.*

Wasabi: *Now solemn at this new information* Oh...you have my condolences..

Fred: *Also solemn now* Woah... Sorry about that little dudette..didn't know...

Cora: *Still looking at her mother's picture with a sad smile* It's okay...as I mentioned before, it's been...years since then...

*Across the room, Honey Lemon and Gogo are working together on a chemical project.*

Honey Lemon: Hiro maybe your aunt should pick for herself.

Hiro: She needs a little push, I need a little space. Everybody wins!

Krei: Hey great work space!

*Hiro turns his chair around to see Krei and Lois arriving at their lab workspace.*

Krei: Is that a vending machine? Fun.

Cora: Mr. Krei, what are you doing here?

Krei: I've came to talk to you-

*Krei then spots the photo of Cora's mother on her phone.*

Krei: Say~...Cora, who is that woman on your phone? A friend of yours?

*Krei flashes his smile to which Cora caught on immediately. She deadpans as she locks her phone back up.*

Cora: That's my mom, and she's dead.

*Krei's eyes widened before he clears his throat.*

Krei: Oh! I..I'm sorry for your loss... As I was saying, I had my team check out those safeguards you were talking about and it turns out there was a slight...glitch.

*Lois pulls out a small video showing the scientists running for their lives while one of them informs Krei via camera.*

Lois: *Sigh* Krei Tech has a pretty spotty record of bringing products to launch too soon...

*Krei frowns at Lois.*

Lois: You know it's true.

*Krei grabs the buddy guard from Lois' hands and hands it to Hiro.*

Krei: I just want you to make sure it's safe...more or less.

Hiro: What's in it for us?

Krei: I won't tell the world that you're Big Hero 7.

Honey Lemon: *Gasp*!

Wasabi: Huh?

Hiro: *Gasp*

Fred: *Gasp*

Gogo: What's wrong with you?!

Cora: You gave us your word that you wouldt tell anyone after we saved you from Callaghan! The same one who wanted you DEAD!

*Wasabi checks around the lab to make sure they are completely alone.*

Wasabi: Yeah, be cool man!

Krei: Oh I can be cool... if you do what I want. Or I can be ice cold.

Hiro: This sounds like you're blackmailing us!

Krei: My attorney advises against using the word 'blackmail'.

*As Krei is about to exit through the door, Cass happens to be heading towards the lab holding papers. This causes the two adults to bump into each other, resulting in Krei falling and Cass catching him. Papers are sprawled on the ground but they are currently in the moment.*

Krei: Nice catch...

Cass: Thanks...Nice fall...

*Cora blinks incredulously as Hiro immediately steps in to save his aunt after he gives the buddy guard to Gogo.*

Hiro: Aunt Cass, hey wha-what-what are you doing here?

*Hiro separates Krei from Cass. The two adults seem lost in a haze before Cass remembers why she was here.*

Cass: Oh uh, you forgot your chemistry... homework.

Krei: I think I'm feeling a little chemistry right now.

Cass: *Giggling a little* Are you flirting with me? Wow this feels like flirting.

*There is moments of silence until Hiro sees Cora making gestures to signal him to break the silence. Just then Cora's phone beeps so she opens it.*

Hiro: OK! Thanks hehe.

*Hiro grabs his Aunt's arm to guide her to the exit.*

Hiro: You can go now Aunt Cass!

Krei: Aunt Cass...You wouldn't happen to be the same Aunt Cass from the Bro-tillion would you? And also...what an enchanting name.

Cass: Yeah I am! That was...hehe..quite a wild party. And thanks but, people who aren't my nephew or his girlfriend just call me Cass.

Hiro: Or! Maybe don't call her anything! At all!

Krei: How about dinner tonight, Cass? Say around seven?

Hiro: Uh she's busy! Forever!

Cass: Well, I am busy. I own my own business, I mean! Of course, you own your own business too! A bigger business!

Hiro: That's a good point! I bet he's even busier!

Cass: Oh heck if you can make time so can I! I'd be delighted Mr. Krei.

Krei: People who aren't your nephew or his girlfriend call me Alistair.

*Hiro opens his mouth to speak but finds no words to object.*

Gogo: Looks like you got what you wanted. Congratulations.

*After the two adults leave the room, the gang hear the sound of a phone dropping to the floor. Hiro turns around to see Cora in a state of shock, her hands still in place as if she's still holding her phone. She also appears to be sweating.*

Hiro: *Suddenly worried* Cora? What's wrong?

*Wasabi picks up Cora's phone to see if it's damaged.*

Wasabi: Oh!...um...

*Hiro grabs Cora's phone and sees a text from her father which read the following.*

'So Cora...as a heads up...I'm going out with an internet date tonight! I'll be home late so don't worry about Dinner. Wish me luck! Love, Papa.'

*His eyes widen as he hears Cora fall to the ground, fainting from the text. Being the good boyfriend that he is, he is instantly at his fallen girlfriend's side trying to bring her around.*

Honey Lemon: *Confused and concerned* Hiro, what happened?

*Hiro turns to the gang with a look a dread on his face.*

Hiro: *Really worried* Well, let's just say it looks like I'm not the only one who's family member is going out tonight.

*Later on that evening, Hiro is pacing around the cafe while Baymax watches him. Cora is sitting on a chair absently stroking Mochi as he purrs contently, her eyes still wide with shock.*

Baymax: I am detecting an abnormal walk pattern.

Hiro: It's not abnormal, its pacing! Something people do when they're not happy about their aunt dating!

Baymax: You said you wanted Aunt Cass to date.

Hiro: Yeah but not-

*Knocking is heard in front of the cafe door, signaling them that Cass' date is here. Hiro opens the to find none other than Krei himself, holding a bouquet of tulips.*

Hiro: Krei...

*Mochi yowled from Cora's lap when he sees Krei. Cora doesn't even move and can only blink.*

Krei: Hiro! Third time I've seen you today!

Hiro: Yeah! Third time, but it's not the charm.

Krei: HA! Funny, I think. Jokes aren't really my thing.

*Krei enters the cafe.*

Krei: Is your aunt ready?

Cass: She is!

*Cass appears by the doorway, dressed in a purpler sheath dress with black high heels. In other words, Cass looks stunning tonight.*

Baymax: Mr. Krei. Your heart rate is elevated. Are you feeling well?

Krei: Better than well. You look incredible.

*Krei walks over to Cass to hand her the tulips he brought.*

Krei: These are for you.

Cass: Oh these are beautiful.

Krei: They're the rarest tulips in the world, they bloom only once every 20 years they're very expensive. Shall we?

*The couple are heading out the door as Cass hands Hiro the flowers.*

Cass: Could you put these in water Hiro?

*Hiro takes one look at the bouquet and as soon as they left, he marches upstairs and places the flowers in the toilet. He goes back downstairs where he sees that his girlfriend is still in her frozen state.*

Hiro: *Approaching his frozen girlfriend carefully* Uh Cora? You feeling okay?

*Finally Cora looks up and speaks.*

Cora: *Somewhat monotoned* Yeah...just give me a moment. I gotta let out these feelings.

Baymax: It is important to not hold back your emotions to maintain emotional health.

Cora: *Still somewhat monotoned* What he said... now excuse me please.

*They are currently in the living room where Hiro is quietly sitting down on the hanging chair and Baymax sits on the floor chair next to him as they hear Cora letting out, or more like raging out, her thoughts in the bathroom.*

Cora: *Raging out* WHAT THE HECK IS PAPA THINKING?! HE JUST GOES ON WITH A TEXT SAYING 'HEY CORA DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME I'M JUST HEADING TO A HOT DATE WITH A STRANGER!' WHY IS HE DOING THIS?! HE'S NEVER GONE A DATE SINCE...FOREVER! WHY IS HE DOING THIS TO ME?! HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO MAMA?! AAAAAHHHHHH!

*A few moments of silence stay as Hiro and Baymax silently and awkwardly glance at the bathroom door and than at each other until Cora opens the bathroom door, taking deep breathes as she steps out. She then goes over to Hiro and sits on the hanging chair with him and sighs.*

Hiro: *Still concerned as he gently puts his arm around her.* Hey... You doing okay now?...

Cora: *Leans into Hiro's comfort as he puts his arm around her and replies in a quiet and somewhat exhausted voice.* Not completely okay, but I feel a little better than I did before I guess...

*Baymax turns his head to scan Cora.*

Baymax: You are upset because your Papa is going on a date.

Cora: *Looks up to him* What?

Baymax: Your scan indicates that you are feeling angry, betrayed, distressed, worried, and guilty over this date.

*Cora shakes her head before she turns her attention back to Hiro, who had now gotten up and resumed to pacing again.*

Cora: *Quiet and confused* Hiro?

Baymax: *Petting Mochi* More pacing.

Hiro: *Starting to freak out now* W-w-what if this date goes great? What if they really like each other?! They couldn't get married!? Could they?!

Baymax: *Still petting Mochi* They are of legal age for marriage. Mr. Krei would then be your uncle.

Cora: *Absolute denial while also freaking out at the concept that the same thing could happen to her Dad.* No! Nada! Na-ah! Nope! Can't happen! A thousand times no! And I'm saying this for my Papa's date too!

Hiro: Uncle Krei?! Not happening!

Cora: *Got up to follow Hiro as he started to walk away* But what are we gonna do Hiro? We don't even know where they're going!

Hiro: Aunt Cass told me they're heading uptown. If we can hurry we can catch up!

Cora: *Now becoming more determined* Okay! But first I gotta run back to my house. I may have something for this...

*While that was happening, the rest of the gang is at the lab reviewing over the buddy guard Krei blackmailed them to fix.*

Honey Lemon: It's actually kind of cute!

Gogo: Sure...for a lethal weapon.

Wasabi: You, Hiro and Cora were right! It wouldn't take much of a glitch to scramble this things programming, let alone someone to hack it.

Gogo: Where are Hiro and Cora anyway?

Honey Lemon: Oh Hiro texted me! He and Cora are busy following Krei and Cass on their date.

Gogo: Yeah, that's normal.

*The moment Fred comes in with take out bags of Noodle burger*

Fred: Who needs a Noodle Burger break?

Honey Lemon: Yes!

Gogo: Starving.

Wasabi: Did you bring napkins?

*Fred places the sodas nearby the buddy guard.*

Wasabi: Not a good place to do that!

*But it's too late as Fred reaches for some fries and his elbow hits the sodas, spilling them over the buddy guard. Just as Wasabi is about to scold Fred, the buddy guard floats up with its eye turning red, identifying the group as enemies.*

Gogo: That's why.

*The buddy guard turns invisible to avoid being tracked by the enemies before it.*

Fred: well cool. It want to play Hide and Seek ah-!

*A laser blast proves him other wise.*

Gogo: Yeah, not playing Hide and Seek.

*The buddy guard scans the enemies until it strikes again. The laser hits Gogo and then Honey Lemon. Fred pulls out his straw to use as a sword.*

Fred: Show yourself coward!

*The next laser zaps Fred again, knocking him to the floor. And then it hits Wasabi.*

Wasabi: How can we fight what we can't see?!

Fred: With Ketchup!

*Fred pulls out ketchup packets and sprays them all over the lab until it coats the invisible drone.*

Honey Lemon: Fred it worked!

*With that, Honey Lemon hits the drone with a book, which flies to Gogo who slams it with a fire extinguisher and it finally hits the wall. The cloaking technology wears off as the drone powers down from the damage. The gang walk hesitantly with their weapons at hand.*

Wasabi: Yeah! How'd you like us now Buddy!

*The drone zaps Wasabi one more time before it shuts down.*

*A Limousine stops by a rather popular and high class restaurant uptown. Krei and Cass step out of the car to which she notices the long line.*

Cass: Wow look at this line! I hope you have a reservation.

Krei: Reservation? I don't need one.

Server: It looks like we have an opening for two in... Six hours.

*Krei and Cass merely cut in line which concerns Cass.*

Server: Right this way Mr. Krei.

Cass: Sorry! You all have amazing shoes!

*Krei holds Cass' hand before he bumps into someone.*

Krei: Excuse me I-

*But Krei's words fail to come out as he sees a very tall and muscular man turn his head, his eyes focused on him. The tall man turns around to face Krei, to which the entrepreneur felt like he is going to die any minute for bumping into a man that could snap his body in half. Cass looks up and smiles up at him.*

Cass: Oh hi Mizuchi! I didn't expect to see you here!

Mizuchi: Hello Miss Cass. It's very nice to see you too.

*Krei looks back and forth at his date and the muscular man, wondering how and why do they know each other. Cass notices and clears her throat.*

Cass: Oh Alistair, this is my friend Mizuchi Mizichio. he's the father of my nephew's girlfriend Cora. He's really nice once you get to know him. *To Mizuchi* By the way, why are you here Mizuchi?

*Mizuchi rubs his head as he gives a small blush and his eyes look away.*

Mizuchi: I...I also have date..

*A slender woman with orange hair in a Qi Pao dark blue dress appears beside him, wearing gold and pearls as she gives a slender smile.*

Moira: Greetings, I am Moira Lacroix. I think I saw you Mr. Krei at the Buddy Guard demonstration? Impressive by the way.

Krei: *Pleased* Oh! Yes, I'm glad to hear it from you Madame Lacroix.

Moira: And your security guard here is also very impressive.

*She holds Mizuchi's arm close, which causes the tall man to blush even deeper.*

Moira: *Seductive* His muscle fibers are exceptional for his age...and well proportioned.

Krei: *A tad nervous* Yeah... I've noticed.

Cass: Me too.

*Cass' face gives a small blush until two separate servers come to escort them to their tables. Though Mizuchi is straining his smile as sweat forms on his forehead. While that is going on, Hiro is behind the building with Baymax.*

Hiro: Where's Cora? She said she'd be here already!

Cora: I'm here!

*Hiro turns his head to see Cora wearing a strapless red dress with black flats and a black hooded jacket. The hood is covering her hair and the upper part of her face at the moment. Hiro blinks before he shakes out of it.*

Hiro: What took you so long?

Cora: I thought if we are going to sneak inside we have to blend in! It's already enough that we're 14, the least we can do is be dressed up for the part!

Hiro: Yet you're wearing a jacket with your hood on?

Cora: Well what about you?

Hiro:...Touche. Either way, we have to go in the back!

*The three head into the alley where they see a door connected to the kitchen and garbage bags nearby. Hiro and Cora immediately whisper their plan to Baymax and head for action. Baymax presses a button next to the door where a chef answers.*

Baymax: *Holding a garbage bag* Hello. I am Baymax.

Chef: So what? Is that bag for me?

*While the chef is distracted Hiro and Cora slowly walk to the door behind them.*

Baymax: You may have the bag.

Chef: What's in it?

*Baymax scans for a moment before he answers the chef.*

Baymax: Garbage.

Chef: Why would I want garbage?

Baymax: *Blinks* I do not know.

Chef: Is this some kind of joke?!

Baymax: I do not understand jokes.

Chef: Yeah I'm gonna close the door now!

*The chef slams the door in front of Baymax's face.*

Baymax: Goodbye.

*Thankfully Hiro and Cora have successfully sneak inside the restaurant and are now treading through. Meanwhile Cass and Krei are looking over their menu.*

Cass: Hel~lo! Look at these prices!

Krei: I was hoping you noticed.

Cass: I serve chicken fingers at the Lucky Cat, that is not how much chicken cost.

Krei: Chicken have fingers? Do you mean like- the toes?

Cass: ...I'm gonna get the fish.

*Across from them is Mizuchi and Moira who are also ordering food. Mizuchi squints his eye to figure out the names of the food listed inside. He looks up to see Moira leaning forward, punctuating her bust which causes Mizuchi to nervously chuckle and wave an awkward hi.*

*Just outside the restaurant, Mel comes in disguised in his invisibility cloak.*

Mel: Well is he gonna be surprised.

*Back at the lab, Wasabi is observing the now broken buddy guard.*

Wasabi: When Fred spilled his drink, it shorted out the drone's threat assessment program.

Gogo: So it thought we were all bad guys.

*Fred picks up the drone.*

Fred: We are super heroes! We are the definition of good guys! Come on!

Honey Lemon: These Buddies are dangerous, Krei cannot sell them to the public.

*Back at the restaurant, Hiro and Cora are hiding underneath an ice sculpture of a bear dressed in dapper clothing. Hiro and Cora then spot Cass and Krei at their table.*

Cass: I never would have guessed that you're a fan of Origami too.

*Krei is indeed a fan of Origami, as he uses a 20 dollar bill to fold.*

Krei: Ah yes, we always had plenty laying around. Papa never let me fold anything bigger than a 50, but I made do.

*Krei then presented her a dollar paper crane.*

Cass: A crane! Amazing!

*Krei hands her the crane.*

Cass: Check this out!

*Cass uses the same dollar bill to turn the crane into a miniature version of Krei himself.*

Krei: It's me! And I'm literally made of money! Just like in my dreams. I'll treasure it always.

*Hiro goes out to sabotage the date and Cora is about to follow suit until she sees across Krei and Cass her father and his date. Cora's eyes widen before she stands up, her eyes frowning as she steps forward to confront her father, forgetting about their mission at hand. Hiro turns his head to see Cora heading to her father's table and immediately he whisper shouts in hopes she would listen to him.*

Hiro: *Whisper shouts* Cora wait! Not now!

*But Cora isn't even listening to Hiro anymore as her eyes slowly turn red. She is about to reach the table when a server gets in front of her.*

Server 2: What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be on stage in 30 seconds!

Cora: *Startled and confused* Wha-? Umm I-

Server: No time just go!

*The server pushes Cora to the small stage where a band is waiting and in the process removes her black jacket. Cora is put on stage where the lights blacked out, causing Hiro to loose sight of Krei and Cass, and the spotlight on her. Soon Cora is facing a crowd of people now looking at her, waiting for her to sing.*

Cora: *Starts getting nervous* Uh oh...

*The crowd is silent as Cora is holding onto the microphone as if her life depended on it. She looks at the band who are gesturing her to start singing, but she is frozen. She never sang in public before and now her mind is completely blank. But she knew if she doesn't sing soon the workers will realize she snuck inside. So Cora takes a very deep breath before she lets out the first song that pops into her head.*

Cora: You're in my arms...and all the world is calm~

*The pianist recognizes the song she's singing and so begins to play. The rest of the band catches on and starts to join in with the pianist.*

Cora: The music playing on for only two... So close together, and when I'm with you... So close to feeling alive~

*The crowd at this point is becoming mesmerized by the young girl's singing, a love song being sung by a voice so pure and beautiful. Hiro searches frantically for Cora until he notices the crowd is currently silent and all looking in the same direction. Hiro turns his head in the direction the crowd is looking in and finally see why everyone is so quiet, up on the stage is a young girl with short golden hair as she beautifully sings a song with her eyes closed. And for a moment his world stops as he couldn't help but listen to the girl's enchanting voice.*

Cora: A life goes by, romantic dreams will die... so I bid mine goodbye and never knew... So close was waiting, waiting here with you... And now forever I know... All that I wanted to hold you so close... So close to reaching that famous happy end~

*The mood throughout the restaurant becomes more slow and warm. Krei and Cass are finding themselves lost in each other's eyes, a new feeling creeping inside them that they invited. Mizuchi's heart is beating like crazy as he recalls the memories of Akemi, he's beloved wife and Mother to Cora. He sighs with happiness as he recalls the soft words of love they spoke long ago. Moira finds herself staring deep into his eyes, admiring the deep rich brown color that showed strength and gentleness at the same time.*

Cora: Almost believing this was not pretend... Now you're beside me and look how far we've come...So far...we are...so close~

*Cora opens her ocean-blue eyes eyes to which Hiro finally recognizes the girl with the angelic voice. As she looks just like her mother in the photos she showed him.*

Hiro: *Shocked and whisper shouts* Cora?!

*He then notices the rest of the patrons are either sighing blissfully, getting lost in each others eyes, and some of the waiters even cuddling together. Some of the dates even started slow dancing to the song with sighs of content. Hiro looks at his girlfriend and then at the crowd, wondering why they are all acting so weird with Cora singing, before they were just being normal! They were just chatting and having dinner while the servers worked! Now they were all in some blissful, lovey-dovey trance or something! But Hiro didn't think on this for long as he finally spots Krei and Cass, who are leaning over the table as they are slowly inching their faces closer as if they are about to-*

Hiro: *Starts panicking* Oh no!

*Hiro runs fast while Cora continues to sing, hoping to prevent Krei and Cass from kissing and therefore fall in love! For real!*

Cora: Oh how could I face the faceless days? If I should lose you now?... We're so close to reaching that famous happy end, almost believing that this was not pretend. Let's go on dreaming for we know we are~

*As Hiro was heading over to the table Krei and Cass are sitting he sees something for him to hide in when he got there. The waiter was passing through between Krei and Cass' table while pushing a rolling tablecloth-covered tray when Cora began singing. He hides on the other side of the table crouching. meanwhile, Mel finally found his way into the center where he is absentmindedly heading straight for the wires connecting to Cora's microphone.*

Cora: So close... so close...and still so fa-!

*Cora's microphone is suddenly pulled from her hand, causing the speaker to screech and therefore snap out the patrons out of their trance. With the waiter out of the trance, Hiro sticks out his foot and trips the waiter. The waiter drops the food onto Krei's suit just as Krei and Cass are about to kiss.*

Krei: Augh! I am so-!

Waiter: *Scared* Mister Krei!

*Krei is about to give the waiter a piece of his mind before he sees Cass just sitting in her chair awkwardly.*

Krei: Ah... Not going to have you fired. Cause just what kind of monster would get a guy fired for a simple mistake! Not me, not a monster!

*He hands the waiter a spare 20 dollar bill.*

Krei: Hey here's 20 bucks! Bye yourself some chicken toes...

Waiter: *Slightly shocked* O...kay?

*The waiter walks away confused over the whole situation*

Cass: That was sweet, but you got a little something from..yeah.. pretty much all over.

*Krei looks down at his suit to notice the food stains.*

Krei: Right!

*Krei walks away to the restroom as Hiro is still hiding underneath the rolling tablecloth-covered tray.*

Hiro: *Sly and smug* Sorry uncle Krei.

*Just then, Cora joins him under the rolling tablecloth-covered tray as well.*

Hiro: *Now back to being confused over what just a few moments ago* Hey! what happened out there?

Cora: I saw Papa here! And he's with that-that lady! I don't think she likes him for him!

Hiro: *Slightly annoyed* I already know that Cora! I was trying to call you out of it when I saw you starting to walk over to their table! But that's not what I meant! I mean, why were you singing up on stage? And second,*Now slightly in awe at finally seeing his girlfriend's natural hair and eye colors* you're an ocean-blue-eyed golden-blonde just like your Mom?

*Cora notices her hood is still down which causes her to blush under her boyfriend's awestruck gaze.*

Cora: *Kinda embarrassed* Some guy thought I was a performer, so I had to sing otherwise they would figure out I wasn't really suppose to be here and kick me out. Also, Aunt Cass would recognize me in an instant if she saw me! So I removed my blue hair-dye and purple eye-contacts just for this one time so she wouldn't! I have to admit though, I definitely did not expect to see my Papa here, so it might be a different story if he sees me...

Hiro: *Confused* But how did you remove the hair-dye so quickly?

Cora: It's a special hair-dye of my own invention. it washes out in hot water. So I always shower in cold water.

Hiro: *Impressed* Huh. That's pretty cool. *Now being in awe again and starting to feel as he did the night he first met Cora* I have to say though... seeing you blue-eyed and blonde-haired is...wow... I'm so used to seeing you with blue hair and purple eyes...but seeing you like this... And I know this is gonna sound really cheesy and stuff, but...I think...I'm falling for you all over again...

Cora: *Looking at her boyfriend in shock at his words as a heavy blush colors and warms her cheeks and she asks him in a small voice as looks deep into his eyes* R-really... Y-you're really serious?...

Hiro: *He looks back into her eyes just as deeply as he answers her* Yeah...I'm really serious...*But also feeling confused too* But there is one thing I don't understand, don't get me wrong, I still love the blue-hair, purple-eyes you that I've known and loved like crazy for long while now, But...if you don't mind me asking...why did you dye your hair and get color-contacts in the first place?

Cora: *Sighs before turning slightly away and breaking eye contact with Hiro.* Well...long story short, there were, and still are times when Papa and Grandmama would cry at Mama's shrine...and it didn't help that I looked a lot like her. One time when I was younger, Grandmama accidentally called me Akemi... So I made this hair dye and got color eye contacts and it's been my style ever since I started it. Papa and Grandmama were surprised at first but they accepted it.

Hiro: A little surprised* Oh wow... That...must not have been easy, for any of you... I mean, when I first saw you up on stage...I didn't recognize you at first, but...than you opened your eyes...and I was instantly reminded of those pictures of your Mom that you showed me before...and I just knew it had to be you... *Sighs dejectedly* I'm sorry Cora...

Cora: *Tries to cheer her boyfriend up* Hey, don't sweat it Hiro. If I were in your shoes I don't think I would've recognize me either. I'm so used to looking the way I usually am that even I don't quite recognize myself without the dye and contacts. But it's okay. I am flattered that you like the real me too. I've... been wanting to show you for awhile now... But I didn't know what you would think...

Hiro: *Smiles bright and sweetly to her as he cups her still warm cheeks in his hands* Hey, no matter what colors your hair and eyes are, whether you have blue hair and purple eyes, blond hair and blue eyes, or even blue hair with blue eye or blond hair with purple eyes*This causes both of them to laugh a little*. The point is, no matter what you look like, you're still Cora Mizichio, you're still, and always will be my girl.

*At this point, Cora's eyes started to get a little watery from the sweet, and somewhat funny, declaration of love Hiro just pronounced to her. And having no words to describe how it made her feel, she grabbed Hiro by his hoodie and crashed her lips to his in a deep, heartfelt kiss. Hiro was a but startled from the sudden moves his girlfriend made that it took him a few moments for it to all register before he finally started kissing her back. At the moment, they had temporarily forgotten that they were hiding under a tablecloth-covered rolling tray in an uptown restaurant with the intent of ruining Aunt Cass' date with Krei. But at the moment, they didn't seem to care or mind and just continue on with their special moment.

*Meanwhile in the restroom, Krei is cleaning up from the incident, but finds it a little difficult to remove.*

Mel: Surprise!

*Mel takes off his invisibility cloak behind Krei.*

Krei: *Badly startled* Augh! Stop doing that Mel!

Mel: I'll be needing your key card...Alistair.

*After that, Mel walks out the bathroom, dressed in a identical suit as Krei. He looks around before wrapping his head to make himself look like Krei.*

Cass: Alistair?

*Mel stops in his tracks when Cass sees him.*

Cass: Wow, you cleaned up nice.

Mel 'Krei': Oh uh... yeah uh... I'm sorry, something came up at the office and I have to go!

*Mizuchi, looking away from his date for a moment, spots Cass and 'Krei' together.*

Cass: Wait! Are you ditching me?!

'Krei': Well yeah I do have to leave now and alone!

*'Krei' walks away from Cass.*

Cass: *Annoyed and ticked off* You have to at least give me a ride home Buster! And what happened to your voice?

'Krei': What happened to your voice?

*Mizuchi watches as this scene goes on and his mind starts to race as he notices some things that seemed off with his boss. If he remembered correctly, Krei's shirt is made of silk. And stains on silk are impossible to remove, which means that either Krei had a spare shirt hidden carefully on his person for emergencies or... Mizuchi stands up and walks to follow them*

Moira: *Confused* Wait! Where are you going?

Mizuchi: *Quickly and awkwardly* ThankyouforthedatebutIdon'tthinkit'sgoingtoworkoutsorryfortroublingyougoodbye!

*The tall man slams his cash onto the nearest waiter as he quickly walks out of the restaurant while Hiro and Cora peek their heads out from under the tablecloth-covered rolling tray. Having stopped making out a few minutes ago so they could get back to work with ruining Aunt Cass' date. But now there seemed to be a change in plans as both teens had overheard the whole thing and thought there was something off about 'Krei' and how he suddenly blew Aunt Cass' off out of the blue like that.*

Hiro: *Contacting Baymax* Baymax! Krei and Aunt Cass are leaving but...Krei's acting weird.

*Outside, Baymax is scanning the two people.*

Baymax: Mr. Krei appears normal. But his DNA has changed.

Hiro: Hmmm...

*Hiro looks at the bathroom door where Krei had just exited out of a moment ago.

Hiro: Stay here.

Cora: Okay.

*Hiro walks into the bathroom, looking for anything suspicious until he hears a muffled voice. Hiro opens a bathroom stall to find Alistair Krei tied up and gagged. Hiro rips the duct tape from his mouth.*

Krei: He stole my ID! And my buy nine sandwiches get the tenth sandwich free card!

Hiro: But if you're here then who's- Aunt Cass!

*Hiro revs up his brother's moped with Cora and Krei sitting behind him, driving off to catch the stranger.*

Hiro: Gogo! A Krei impostor has Aunt Cass!

*That's when Cora notices someone behind the limo but in front of them. Mizuchi is following the car on his Black Harley Motorcycle wearing his black helmet.*

Cora: And not only that, My Papa is following right behind them! He must've notice something was off and decided to go after them to try and protect Aunt Cass!

Krei: *Trying to call out to Cass* Cass! He's not me! I'm me! And I'm paying for that Limo!

Hiro: Get the others and meet us at Krei Tech!

*Back in the Limo, Cass is currently chewing out 'Krei' for his sudden change in behavior.*

Cass: *Very annoyed* What is so important that you need to go to your office in the middle of our date!

'Krei': Uh it's uh... it's a surprise.

Cass: I'm not a fan of surprises.

'Krei': You know there's nothing like a surprise party. The bond shared by a group of people hiding and waiting together in the dark.

Cass: I guess...

'Krei': Wouldn't it be great if there was something that would make you invisible so you can have the ultimate surprise party?

Cass:*A bit unnerved now and slightly backs away from her 'date'*...Are you feeling okay?

'Krei': Yes sorry. I just get really excited about things sometimes.

Cass: Like surprise parties?

'Krei': Yeah uh it's uh...rich person thing you wouldn't understand.

Cass: *Muttering* Yeah you're right about that.

*The Limo finally reaches Krei Tech where 'Krei' goes inside.*

'Krei': Hi... I'm-

*The security guard stands up when he sees his 'boss'.*

Security Guard: Mr. Krei! Working late?

'Krei': Oh is..that something I would do? Then-then yes! Yes I am.

*the security guard lets out a sigh of relief until he sees another person come in, this time it's Mizuchi.*

Security Guard: Oh hey Mizuchi what's up? Working late too?

Mizuchi: You could say that.

*The tall man walks past the guard as he follows the 'boss' into his office. Mel uses Krei's ID to open the file and finally retrieve his blue prints.*

Mel: Check and mate-!

Big hero 7: Surprise!

*The rest of Big Hero 7, and Cora quickly dying her hair back to blue, had already arrived with the real Krei in hand. *

Baymax: Suprise.

Krei: Hand over the plans! Mel.

Mel: You win, but you should know that you're helping a man who's using my surprise party invention for something much less festive!

Krei: *Takes the plans back* It's called good business!

Gogo: Sure, call it what you want. You can't sell those drones.

Honey Lemon: If they get wet there programming scrambles and they attack everyone around them!

*Krei sees the dead serious looks everyone is giving him... And then Fred slightly burps out flames from his suit.

Krei: *Annoyed but relents* Fine! I'll delay shipping until they get fixed.

*Mel removes the cloth to show his real face.*

Mel: What a nice surprise.

Krei: Yeah? How's this for a surprise?

*Krei activates the buddy guards to escort Mel outside.*

Mel: *Runs and hides behind Fred while trying to also use him as shield* Oh keep those things away from me they give me nightmares!

*Just then the door opens behind them to reveal Mizuchi.*

Cora: *Surprised(And not in a good way)* What?!

Mizuchi: Alright, Just what is going on here?

Krei: It's already taken care of-

*But Mel's constantly trying to hide behind Fred inadvertently tickles him.*

Fred: *Laughs* Not cool man! Ticklish!

*And because of Fred being ticklish, he accidentally lets out his flames which causes the emergency sprinklers to activate.*

Wasabi: Oh...that's not good.

*With the water hitting the buddy guards, there programming goes on a fritz, identifying everyone as an enemy. And they immediately cloak themselves to plan their attack.*

Fred: What are we gonna do? Let me check... No I don't have ketchup guys!

Honey Lemon: I'm on it-

*But the laser blast hits Honey Lemon before she can pull out a chem ball and entangles her in a net.*

Gogo: Woman down.

*Gogo goes to help Honey Lemon but she also gets knocked out and tied up as well.*

Wasabi: Cora and I should be able to hack into the Buddy operating system and turn those things visible!

*Wasabi and Cora rush to Krei's computer and begin to hack into the program.*

Hiro: Guys!

*The rest of the team dodge out of the way leaving Mel exposed.*

Krei: Looks like you guys have it under control, so I'll jus-

*The laser blast hits Krei which causes the billionaire to also be entangled by the net.*

Fred: *Pleased at this outcome* Alright! Nice one drone-

*But Fred is blasted and trapped by the nets as well.*

Fred: *Not pleased anymore* Agh! Bad one drones, that was a bad one!

*The invisible drone ties Wasabi and Cora in its net, preventing them from hacking into the system. Wasabi leans forward to use his chin to type*

Wasabi: Typing with your chin isn't easy!

Cora: Hey guys! I think he did it!

*The drones turn into floating Krei heads.*

Wasabi: Ahh! I think I did something else!

Baymax: the Buddy Guards are now visible, but different.

*Baymax is soon joined by Mizuchi who starts to punch the drones straight into the walls as they explode. The Krei drones zaps Hiro down.*

Hiro: Ow!

Baymax: I was alerted to the need for medical attention when you said ow- Oh no.

*The remaining Krei drones surround Baymax as they entangle the rest of him.*

Baymax: Oh no! I am unable to tend to your healthcare needs.

*The drones continue to throw nets at Baymax before Mizuchi grabs one of the drones and crushes it with his bare hands. The pressure causes the drone to glitch before bits and pieces fall down with oil oozing from its 'eyes' and mouth. The drone head then turns back into its real form as Mizuchi drops it, the drone officially dead. three of the drones are surrounding Mizuchi as the remaining ones follow Mel as he runs out the door.*

Mel: I'm outta here!

Hiro: No! He's leading them right to-

Mizuchi: Miss Cass!

*Mizuchi grabs two of them and swings them to hit the other drones and smash them to pieces. He snaps the bonds from Krei before he runs out to follow Mel...leaving the rest of the team alone.*

Wasabi: *Starts out calm, that finishes annoyed as he struggles to break free from the net* Cora. You know very well I don't mean any disrespect towards your dad, But the least he could do before he left was untie the rest of us!

*Back at the limo, Cass is showing pictures of Mochi to the driver.*

Cass: And that's Mochi sleeping on my bed. And that's Mochi sleeping on the couch. Aw and that's Mochi sleeping in a sun beam.

*Just then Mizuchi rushes to the limo and opens the door.*

Cass: *Surprised* Mizuchi? What are you-

*She then sees Mel running towards them with an army of Krei Drones.*

Cass: *Shocked and confused* What the!?

Mizuchi: No time to explain just run now!

*Mizuchi pulls Cass out and puts her over his shoulder and starts running off into the darkness as the limo drives off.*

Mel: Wait for me!

*And so the people are running for their lives from an army of Krei Drones zapping lasers at them.*

Cass: Who is he?! And why are we being chased by Alistair heads?!

Mel: *Shouting* It's a long story you're not going to like it!

Cass: and this is why I don't date.

*Mel trips and is about to be zapped before Mizuchi grabs him and puts him under his arm and continues running like hell.*

*Meanwhile, Krei is untying some of the gang while Wasabi uses his laser blade to start cutting through their nets.*

Hiro: Nice Wasabi!

*Hiro leans a little to set himself free from the bondage. After they are all finally free, Hiro and Cora get on Baymax to follow Mel and rescue their family.*

Baymax: Scanning for Aunt Cass and Papa. Scan complete.

*They fly in the direction of the people they're looking for while Mizuchi still runs with Cass and Mel in his arms.*

Mizuchi: Hold on tight Miss Cass and random stranger!

*Mizuchi picks up his pace as he takes a sharp turn to the left.*

Mel: I know things started off weird with me impersonating your date but something about being with you while we're both carried off by a giant just feels right-look out giant man!

*Mizuchi sees a car drive in front of him and so he quickly jumps up and walks over the car and back into the street.*

Cass: That's very sweet but could you not talk?

Mizuchi: Yes. Please stop talking.

*Just behind the drones are Hiro, Cora, and Baymax flying right behind them. Two of the drones fly up and zap at them, but Baymax dodges them and smashes their heads together. *

Hiro: Thank you Baymax!

*The drones soon reveal their true selves as Baymax flies in front of the drones and just behind Mizuchi. That's when Cass looks up and sees them.*

Cass: Hey! That's the big guy from Big Hero 7! Hi! Thanks for your help!

*Hiro and Cora duck behind Baymax to avoid being recognized by Cass or Mizuchi, which the tall man turns his head to see them.*

Baymax: *Waves to them* Hello.

Mel: Watch out!

*Mizuchi turns his attention as they are facing a steep slope of the street which he quickly jumps through the air before running again. The drones appear behind the three.*

Hiro: Cora look out!

*Hiro jumps at the drone and restrains it.

Baymax and Cora: Hiro!

*Baymax stops at his tracks to rescue Hiro with Cora. Hiro tries desperately to hold onto the drone without falling to the street below. The drone flies up and knocks Hiro off and sends him flying through the air before he lands back on the drone again and they zoom through the city. Soon they are heading towards the billboard of Krei, which Hiro lets go as the drone crashes but he is soon falling down fast until Cora grabs him and pulls him back onto Baymax.*

Cora: I gotcha Hiro.

Baymax: Hiro, you are safe.

Hiro: Come one, we gotta get Aunt Cass and Mizuchi.

*The three adults arrive deep in the woods where Mizuchi slows down and gently drops the two before he falls to his knees, gasping for air.*

Mizuchi: *Panting heavily* I...I think we lost them...

Cass: Yeah...Thank you Mizuchi.

*Then Mel spots the one remaining drone in front of them.*

Cass: Or not!

*Mel and Cass run to hide until she sees Mizuchi still on the ground, still trying to get some air while the drone approaches him. Cass pulls off the largest branch she could find and runs in front of Mizuchi. The drone flies through the air before it resumes its position, it leaves the drone disoriented but now more aggressive then before. Cass holds Mizuchi up but soon the three are cornered.*

Mel: If this is it, I just want you to know... My names Mel. Hi.

Cass: Yeah I don't really care.

*The drone is about zap them when Baymax's rocket fist slams the robot into a tree, destroying it for good. Cass looks up to find the drone destroyed and a lone rocket fist on the ground. Soon after the tall man stands up and looks around, wondering who saved them. Behind the trees Baymax, Cora, and Hiro are watching the whole thing. Mizuchi then grabs Mel roughly by the arms.*

Mel: Ow! Hey what did I do?

*Cora and Hiro hold Baymax down to prevent him from carrying out his coding.*

Mizuchi: Last I checked, it was you who caused those drones to go haywire and start attacking everyone and it was you who impersonated my boss. And not to mention that it was also you who put Miss Cass in danger. So until Authorities arrive, you're in my charge.

Mel: *Dejected* oh...

*Mizuchi looks at Cass as she stares to the side, frowning over this disastrous night. Mizuchi sighs before he talks.*

Mizuchi: *Second to feel dejected* I guess we both had crappy dates tonight huh?

Cass: *Third to feel dejected* Yeah... I thought this would go so well and maybe be something more...but now with all this... I just don't think so anymore...

Mizuchi: True..to be honest I never really wanted to go out with Moira in the first place.

Cass: *Confused* Then why did you?

*Cora cranes her neck to see what her Papa is going to say.*

Mizuchi: I only agreed because I wanted Cora to have a mother...someone to be there when Kaguya or I aren't around. But I couldn't stomach it...Akemi will always be the one and only woman I could ever truly give my heart to, She was truly the love and light of my life, along with my daughter.

Cass: *Feeling touched to the love and devotion Mizuchi still had for his late wife after all these years* That's very sweet Mizuchi, your wife must have been very happy to be with someone like you. Just as Cora is very lucky to have you as her father.

Mizuchi: *Smiles and laughs a little* Yeah... they're my whole world.

*Cora's eyes start to tear up but her smile shows that she is happy, for her father for trying his best and loving her mother through and through all these years. Hiro hugs his girlfriend, happy with how this resulted in the end. Finally the police arrive with Krei, running over to check on Cass while Mizuchi hands Mel to the police.*

Officer: You wanna press charges Mr. Krei?

Krei: Absolutely, throw the book at him.

Cass: Really Alistair? I mean sure he's a creepy surprise party weirdo but he told me why he did all this. You kind of used him.

Krei: Cass, Cass Cass Cass Cass Cass, you are a sweet person.. but I am still pressing charges.

Mizuchi: Hate to say it but he's kind of right. He did cause those drones to attack us and is responsible for basically committing Identity Theft.

Mel: *Trying to get away* Let me go! I don't wanna go to jail! I've heard the food is terrible!

*Mel pulls out his invisibility cloak and covers himself with it to disappear but his feet are still exposed.*

Mel: So long forever! You'll never find me! Do you hear me! Never!

Cass: We can still see your feet Mel.

Mel: How do you know they're my feet?

*Mizuchi walks over and rips the cloth off him and pushes him into the police car, where the officer slams the door.*

Mel:...W-will you come visit me in prison?

Cass: Probably not.

Mel: Can I write you?

Cass: Sure, why not.

Mel: Yes!

*The police car drives off as Mizuchi turns to the two.*

Mizuchi: And by that you mean never don't you?

Cass: Yep.

*After that night, Hiro is fixing up Baymax's arm while he puts his phone on speaker to listen to Cora with Baymax nearby.*

Cora: Looks like things went well for the both of us huh?

Hiro: Definitely, as far as I'm concerned, chances of them getting hitched are zero.

Cora: Mhmm...You know, when I heard Dad was out dating..you know...

Baymax: You felt like Papa was betraying your Mother and that you will not be in his focus anymore.

Cora: *Sighs* Yeah, what you said Baymax. I don't really need a new Mom, I have Papa and Grandmama with me...And I got the gang... Aunt Cass...you Baymax...and you Hiro. I know I've said this like a million times before, But I'm happy you're here with me babe.

Hiro: Don't worry Cora, I never get tired of hearing you say that. And... I'm happy you're with me too.

Baymax: *To Hiro* Will you find another date for Aunt Cass?

Hiro: No Way! Her personal life is her business! I don't know why I got involved in the first place!

*Just then a ladder appears with Cass climbing up nearby Hiro's window. Hiro hides the rocket fist. Which causes it to malfunction and fly up into the ceiling. Luckily Aunt Cass doesn't see it.*

Hiro: *Now remembering* Oh yeah...

Baymax: Hello Aunt Cass

Cass: Hey guys! Get your movie clothes ready, it's movie night and Cora's family is gonna join us!

*Cass continues to climb up just as the rocket fist comes falling back down and crashes right next to Hiro as Baymax pulls out a shirt that has a picture of a film reel and the words movie time.

Cora: ...I think the movie we're watching tonight is Disney's Coco. I saw it before and it's so amazing! I think you'll like it too Hiro, even if it has musical numbers.

Hiro: *Not totally believing her* Really?

Cora: *A little nervous*...If I sing one of the songs' verses for you...will you consider it?

Hiro: *Intrigued and a little excited at the idea of hearing his girlfriend sing again after listening to her last time* Alright, Go ahead, try me.

*He can hear Cora sigh as she begins to sing.*

Cora: Say that I'm crazy or call me a fool... But last night it seemed I dreamed about you~

*Hiro's eyes widen before he slowly smiles, lying down on his bed as he closes his eyes blissfully and listens to nothing but his girlfriend's beautiful singing, feeling like the luckiest man in the world.*

A.N: Cora does have a pretty voice. But if you’re wondering how it could have affected those people...well..lets say I added a special spice to this story. Love you~