#then Dan broke in and I never wanted to punch him more

[simpcityy]

Location Status: Unknown (Miguel O'Hara x Spider-Person!Reader) *Platonic*

Summary: You turned off your location to be able to enjoy a date, leaving Father Figure Miguel to figure out your whereabouts and to stop it from getting it further.

Disclaimer: I do not own Mavel or any of its characters. This is a 3-part series, so it feels incomplete at the end.

Word Count: 1.3k

Warnings: Use of (Y/N), Father Figure Miguel, father and daughter fluff?, Miguel cursing in Spanish, you curse in English, Very Vague mentions of sex.

Pt.1 Pt.2

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Miguel walked into the cafeteria of the Spider Society scanning around each table. “Lyla, what’s their location?” The AI appears on his shoulder groaning, “For the last time, their location is turned off." Lyla reminded him before disappearing. Miguel only grunts in frustration before he comes across a table where he knows answers will be given. Pav and Miles were eating the Spider-Man 2099 theme burger, Miles was busy stabbing the bun of Miguel's supposed face before seeing Miguel towering over them. “Hey there…Miguel” Miles puts the fork down greeting him nervously once he was caught doing that. “Have you two seen (Y/N)?” He glared down at them, ignoring the fact what Miles was doing. Pav only fidgets in his seat, trying to look away. While Miles tries to play it cool, “(Y/N)? Never heard that person in my life” As you can see, he failed to play it cool. “Ustedes dos me dan un dolor de cabeza. Mientras Hobie me da cinco*” Miguel only whispers to himself before staring right at Pav, knowing the boy couldn’t keep anything to himself. “Pav?” He asked before the boy finally broke, “Okay Okay! Hobie was the one who helped (Y/N) turn off their location. (Y/n) told us to keep quiet so they can go on a date with someone.” Pav finally took a deep breath after spilling everything in one go. “ Qué! A date with who!?” The older man looked down at Pav for more information. “I don’t know, they didn’t tell.” The boy only shrugged his shoulders. Miguel looks at them before heading out of the cafeteria with this new information. 

Lyla sighed watching the stoic man look at all the cameras in your version of New York. “Dónde están, nothing on all security cameras.” he glances over to Lyla, “Check to see if-” “Already did and the location is still off.” She sighs before appearing in front of him. “You know, they are old enough to do whatever they want. They are 19, almost 20.” She reminds him. Miguel only lets out a displeased look. Lyla finally puts the pieces together and lets out a laugh “Oh my! Is papa Miggy scared that your grown child is going to have more than a simple dinner date?” “What? Boys at that age are still stupid, Son estúpidos*” He grumbles before adding on, “And I know because I was that age once” He defends himself. “Aww Papa Miggy is worried, hey, you mentor them so I know they will pick the right guy or girl.” She shrugs before disappearing. Miguel only frowned more before he kept looking through the cameras to find your location. 

“You’re such an idiot!” You laugh, playfully punching your date’s arm. Everything was going according to plan, your location off, you scored a date with the popular boy in the college and Miguel hasn’t found you to interrupt this perfect night. Swinging your legs over the bride of the small lake, you glanced over to your date. “Staring much?” He chuckles, stretching his arms before wrapping one over your shoulder bringing you closer to him. You happily lean into him watching the view of the lake in front of you two. “This is perfect” You mumbled out slowly feeling your eyelids getting heavy. “It would be better if we head to your place.” Your eyes open before looking up at him. Thinking to yourself, are you ready for this? Thinking carefully about it, you stood up. “Let’s go then.” Grabbing his hand, you walked through the busy streets to your two-bedroom apartment. You weren’t scared but rather nervous, it wouldn’t be the first time for you. You were nervous he wouldn’t be satisfied with what you're presenting to him. “Welcome to my place, my neighbors work night shifts so there is nothing to worry about."

You unlock the door only to be met with the smell of something good being cooked. Your date who smelled the air as well looked at you, “you got roommates?” You walked in quickly “No I don’t” Heading over to your kitchen you spotted Miguel placing something into the oven. “What are you doing here?” You walked over to him. “Por fin*, Did you forget I was coming over…for the night” He adds on as he spotted your date. You internally wanted to yell but you looked over to your date, “this is my-” “Miguel O’Hara, their father and you muchacho, who are you?” Miguel made sure to make the scariest resting bitch face he could. Your date only starts to sweat, “Oh would you look at that, I have to go (Y/N)” He slowly inches himself closer to the door before opening it, “See you at class!” He left and you knew you weren’t going to see him again. You waited for the door to shut before glaring at your father figure/mentor. “What the fuck was that?” You frowned. “Oye! Cuida tu tono*” He points his finger at you, frowning. “Solo te estaba cuidando* I didn’t want you to suffer with the consequences later on” You only sigh before sitting up on the counter. “Still, I am 19 years old, I am a young adult…as much as you hate it…I have to make my own life.” Miguel sighs leaning against the counter, “I know you’re 19 but to me, you’re still that 14-year-old I took in and mentor to become a hero for your dimension. Sigues siendo ese pequeño niño(a) asustado a mi*” He admits before rolling his eyes as Lyla appears. “You should’ve seen him (Y/N)!” The AI appears in front of you before showing you a small video of Miguel threatening Pav and Miles for information. The video ends and you look up at Miguel, “Really, you had to threaten them?” “It was the only way after you turned off your location.” You kept quiet as he had a point, you basically went MIA. The ding of the oven broke the silence. “Tienes hambre*?” Miguel looks at you “Yeah…that salad was not enough” You hopped off the counter and walked over to get the plates. 

After a nice warm dinner, you sat on the roof of your building. Next to you, Miguel was sitting with you trying to fix your watch to turn back on your location. You don’t know what the hell Hobie did to turn it off, but you were having issues to turn it back on. “mierda*” He mutters as Lyla tried to guide him how to fix it but gave up as he wasn’t paying attention. You looked at him before grabbing your watch. “Maybe you should take it back to use the right equipment to fix it.” You smile putting it back on your arm trying to fix it yourself but gave up right away. “Pero*... How will you be able to get to the Spider society? How will you contact me or Jess if you need back up?” Before he can give you more questions you stop him “One, Lyla always tells you whenever an anomaly is not where it’s supposed to be and two, you have the cameras of the city so you can watch me if there is a fight, from there you can conclude if I need backup or not. After all, I was trained by the best.” You grinned before leaning your head on his shoulder yawning. Miguel sighs but lets a small smile on his face before picking you up. “Ay niña*” He carried you on his back making sure to support you before walking down the stairs to your apartment door. Laying you carefully on the bed. He took the watch off to take it back before covering you up. Opening a portal back to headquarters, he looks back at you before down at the watch in his hands. ‘You’ll be fine’ He thought as he walked through.

How he wished he took those words back, if he knew that bad luck was lurking around.

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Authors Notes: Thank you Everyone who's been giving me so much support on my first series I posted on my blog! You are welcome to reblog and comment to be on the taglist of this 2-part series. I might make this a 3-part series but that TBD. I always loved reading Miguel x daughter figure reader but there is not enough. As always, forgive me for any grammar error. Stay hydrated and keep on simping. (Simp City Population: 16 *Thank you! 💕*)

Spanish Translation: 1. Ustedes dos me dan un dolor de cabeza. Mientras Hobie me da cinco: You two give me a headache while Hobie gives me 5. 2. Qué: What 3. Dónde están: Where are they? 4. Son estúpidos: They're stupid 5. Por Fin: Finally 6. Muchacho: Young Man 7. Oye! Cuida tu tono: Hey! Watch your tone 8. Solo te estaba cuidando: I'm only looking out for you 9. Sigues siendo ese pequeño niño(a) asustado a mi: You're still that small, scared child to me. 10. Tienes hambre: You hungry? 11. Mierda: Shit 12. Pero: But 13. Ay niña: This girl

[starrypeeps-headcanons]

Headcanon assortment (pt. 3) Shorties editon

-Magolor is very conscious about his age and his looks. With that being said, please, DO NOT call him "old", he will get very much angry.

-Galacta's hair is just superb, wavy, voluminous and just perfect. Of course, touch it and you'll die.

-Zan's nose is pretty ugly. It wasn't like this before though, in one fight with Francisca, she punched Zan in the face and broke her nose.

-Is hard to make Taranza mad, he really has the patience of a saint, but if you manage to make him angry you fucked up big time.

-When in certain mood, Zero Two can and will fight nearly everything and has even attacked his own kind.

-After being liberated from Forgo's possession, Elfilin was really never the same again, and fell depressed for a while.

-Gooey (therefore Blob), like any other member of the Dark Matter race, reacts negatively when in contact with light based objects. Although not as drastic as the other members of the family.

-Instead of not being able to feel (positive) emotions, the Dark Matter community values stoicism and emotionless-ness above everything else. Showing excessive emotion is frowned upon. For them is usually easy, save from some exceptions.

-Magolor has a replica of the master crown and whenever he's feeling cheeky or if someone pisses him off, he threatens the person by putting the crown on.

-Shadow Kirby can use copy abilities but doesn't like to (more like he's too lazy to) so he sticks to a sword.

-Iron Mam is a waddle dee, she just wanted to be ridiculously strong.

-...And Bandana Dee is a huge fanboy of her.

-The souls that DO get a second chance of living, get a new body identical to the previous one but with the scars of their respective deaths previous to their rebirths and no post mortem memories.

-Francisca lost sensitivity in some parts of her body due to frostbite.

-Fairies are born from a huge flower. A flower basically appears on the royal garden, over the time it grows and grows until it blossoms. And there you go: A fairy.

-I said this in a separate post but Meta Knight listens to a lot of old spanish music (Camilo, Mecano, Mocedades, Serrat, Leo Dan, etc.) more or less what your mom, auntie or even grandma listened to.

-Dark Mind is pretty vain and is always checking on himself to look for any cracks around his body to erase.

-Meta Knight is actually extensively trained in hand-to-hand combat (like all GSA members) he just would rather use his sword because he feels he's not as good (nor strong) at it.

-Marx is the very definition of a jock, he's very athletic and strong too. From all the sports he plays, he seems to excel at gymnastics.

-Another odd friendship that came to light during Star Allies was between Flamberge and Taranza. Their personalities are widely different but they still manage to get along nicely.

-Void Termina has a very wide vocal range, maybe not in his voice (which is low and booming) but the noises he makes, from growling like a bear to sound like a shoebill stork or chirping like a bird.

-In Dreamland there are three kingdoms: The Cave Kingdom, Dreamland Kingdom and the Heaven kingdom.

[photogirl894]

"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 14

"Trust Issues"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: So this is where things with the story are gonna deviate just a little. First of all, I'm skipping episode 6 for reasons that do coincide with the story, but also I can't stand the Martez sisters and I just know my strong dislike would manifest itself into the story lol plus I couldn't think of anything involving Kimber that would change things enough, so I'm just bypassing it. Plus, after that, there's gonna be original mission shenanigans soon to ensue, so that's gonna be fun! 😁

Until then, enjoy this chapter! 💜

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @cole-kenxbi , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx

《 Chapter 13

》 Chapter 15

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: The Bad Batch get their promised info from Cid and call upon old friends to help them out.

Together, Hunter and Kimber made their way around to where they could hear Muchi roaring, Hunter holding tightly onto Kimber’s hand to help ease her discomfort and offer her a sense of security after what she’d just endured. They came around a corner to find Tech standing off to the side, watching Wrecker going at with Muchi and throwing punches.

“Kimber, you are all right,” said Tech upon seeing them, a touch of relief in his voice. After she nodded in reply, he stated, “That was a foolhardy and bold decision you made…yet I cannot discount the mettle you displayed in the face of the situation. That was indeed admirable.”

“Thanks, Tech,” Kimber replied.

Right then, they heard the sound of an engine approaching and saw Echo pulling up next to them on a speederbike with Omega sitting behind him, a Zygerrian energy bow on her arm. Omega jumped off first, wandering closer to where Wrecker and Muchi were brawling and getting curious about the fight.

As Echo dismounted the bike, Hunter called to him, gesturing to the slave collar still on Kimber’s neck, “Echo, get her out of this thing.”

Right away, Echo came over and started drilling into the back of the collar with his scomp. “Kim, what were you thinking back there? Have you forgotten the promise you made me about not making such reckless decisions with your life anymore?” he chided her as he worked the collar.

“Apparently, I about broke two promises,” she thought to herself. Then she said back, “I was more concerned with you boys getting freed. Omega needs her brothers and you can’t help her when you’re prisoners.”

“She needs you, too, and so do we,” he countered just as the collar came undone and he removed it from her neck, prompting her to face him as he did so. “Your intentions were good, but you promised you wouldn’t take unnecessary risks with your life like that again. I never want to see you willingly put yourself back into slavery, okay? We didn’t save you from captivity just for you to go back for any reason.”

She lowered her eyes guiltily.

Then he added, "Besides, did you really think he would've honored his word after he was done torturing you? He's a slaver and they don't give up what they deem their property for anything. Despite what you intended to happen, there's no way he would've given us up. Not even for you."

Kimber's eyes squeezed tightly shut and she inhaled sharply. Echo was right. How could she have overlooked that and thought her plan would work? It would've only made things worse, especially for Omega if all of them had been taken. Then she definitely would've never forgiven herself for what she'd done.

“I hadn't thought of that…I’m so sorry. Can you guys forgive me?” she asked, looking to Echo, Hunter and Tech.

“Of course, we can,” answered Echo, laying his hand on her shoulder.

“I thought that was obvious,” Tech added.

That brought a smile of relief to Kimber’s face.

Echo then looked at Wrecker, who was starting to falter and get slower in his punches with the Rancor, who was also getting tired. “How long’s he been at this?” Echo asked, turning back to Tech.

Tech simply answered, “Too long. He’s losing his touch.”

They all continued to watch as Wrecker and Muchi kept swinging and missing each other, both of them getting fatigued and tired from the fight. Finally, Muchi caved in first and collapsed to the ground shortly before Wrecker, who fell on top of the Rancor.

“Go to sleep…there we go,” Wrecker groaned, patting the Rancor who was drifting off to sleep.

“Aw, she’s kind of cute up close,” Omega pointed out.

Kimber chuckled. “If you say so,” she commented.

"Nicely handled, Wrecker," Hunter praised him, who just gave the Sergeant a tired thumbs up in return.

"All right, the real question now is: how are we going to get a sleeping Rancor back to Cid's?” Kimber then asked.

Tapping things out on his datapad, Tech suggested, “We could get her back into her cage and then secure it magnetically to the underside of our ship.”

“She’s asleep. How are we supposed to put her back into her cage?” asked Echo.

“We shall carry her, with Wrecker bearing the brunt of the weight,” answered Tech.

Wrecker groaned as he stood back up, “Oh goody….”

The task of getting Muchi into her cage and then secured to the Marauder was no easy task by any means, but the Bad Batch managed to do it nonetheless. Once the cargo was ready, they returned to Cid’s bar, where a male Twi’lek was waiting outside with some Gammorean guards to collect Muchi. He seemed pleased to see the Rancor, gave Cid a case with the payment and wasted no time in leaving with Muchi.

Once they were gone, Cid commented to the group, “Gotta say, fellas: I wasn’t sure you could pull this job off.”

“You could have told us we were going after a Rancor,” Echo chided her.

“Hmm…must’ve slipped my mind,” she casually answered. Then she pointed at Hunter. “You, dark and broody. My office.” Then she turned around and made her way towards the stairs to her parlor.

Hunter, while perplexed at what Cid had called him, gave a nod to the others.

Then they heard Cid call over her shoulder, “And bring the Missus with you!”

Kimber immediately felt all eyes on her. “Excuse me?” she thought.

“I think she means you,” Echo said to her, grinning from ear to ear and lightly elbowing her in the arm.

Now she felt even more conflicted at being nicknamed “the Missus”, especially since she and Hunter weren’t married yet. Cid must’ve assumed they were, for some reason. Nevertheless, she took Hunter’s hand and the two of them followed behind Cid to the parlor and then to her office in the back.

Cid pulled up on her holotable a hologram once again of the bounty hunter from Pantora and informed Hunter and Kimber, “Your bounty hunter is Fennec Shand. She's new to the scene but has already proven herself to be cunning and ruthless.”

“Who hired her?” Hunter asked, his eyes narrowing at the image.

“Unknown,” said Cid.

“Wasn’t that the entire point of this?” Kimber questioned her, irritated. “We did a job for you and you find out who hired the bounty hunter.”

Cid leered at her and snapped back, “Hey, if this information was easy to get, you wouldn’t need me in the first place, Dollface.”

Kimber just glared at the Trandoshan and Hunter gave Kimber a look that warned her to be careful.

Then Cid went on, “Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, my sources in the Guild say she's working on a direct commission. With someone like her nipping at your heels, you're going to need two things: friends and money. Mostly money.”

“Well, we're not swimming in either at the moment,” Hunter responded.

“I guess it's a good thing ya met me then, isn't it?” said Cid.

When Cid turned her back to pick up the case she’d gotten from the Twi’lek, Kimber whispered to Hunter, “We have the Koriena Force. Maybe they can help us.”

“We’ll comm them when we get back to the ship,” he said quietly back.

Cid put the case up onto her desk and opened it, revealing it to be full of credits. “Here's your cut. There's more where that came from... if you're looking for work,” she offered them.

Hunter stole a look at Kimber first and then simply replied, “I'll think about it.”

The two of them turned to leave the room, but then stopped when they heard Cid speak cunningly behind them, “It's interesting…a bounty hunter of Fennec's caliber being after you. You fellas must be pretty valuable.”

They exchanged apprehensive looks. Cid’s statement sounded on the verge of threatening and they both flipped back around, their eyes narrowing at Cid suspiciously.

However, Cid just gave them a conniving grin and said, “Don't worry. I'm good with secrets.”

Kimber, however, wasn’t convinced and she didn’t trust Cid at all, especially after her comment on how “valuable” they must be. With her eyes still carefully trained on Cid, she fired back, “You had better be…or else your parlor’s going to need a new proprietor.”

“No need to get your blacks in a twist. As long as you guys help bring in some good money, your secret’s safe with me,” Cid said.

“And what if we don’t?” inquired Kimber.

“Well…better hope we don’t find out, then,” Cid replied, sitting down at her desk. “Now get out, I’ve got things to do.”

Without hesitating, Kimber whipped around, her braid almost hitting Hunter, and stormed from the room, Hunter right on her heels. Once the door was shut and they were back out in the empty parlor, she stopped, turned to Hunter and stated in a hushed voice, “I do not trust her, Hunter. We got what we needed, let’s just leave and go elsewhere before she has the chance to sell us out. We can meet up with the Koriena Force somewhere and figure things out on our own, but we don’t need her.”

“I told her I would think about it,” Hunter said.

“What’s there to think about?” she asked back. “She basically insinuated she’d sell us out for money without outright saying it and she’s going to hold our secret over our heads to get what she wants from us. People like that can’t be trusted.”

“We don’t have much of a choice right now, love,” he replied.

She stepped closer to him. “Yes, we do. We can find someone else. The girls may even have connections.”

“Their connections would be just as questionable,” he refuted. He brought his hands up to her arms and softly caressed them. “I understand your suspicion, I do…but we’re in a bind right now and we’re going to have to make hard choices.”

“But at what cost? Our own safety? Omega’s safety?”

“Kimber, listen to me.” Hunter gripped her shoulders a little tighter. “You know I would never endanger my squad like that. I want to run this option by the boys first before making a final decision. If they feel it’s what we should do, then that’ll be it.”

Kimber’s expression hardened. “What about me? What about what I think?” she questioned.

“You’ve made it pretty clear what you think,” he said, “but I still want input from the others and we’ll see what the majority rules.”

She wanted to say more, but just felt too fatigued and defeated to find the right words, so instead she just exhaled loudly and put a hand up to her forehead.

Then she felt Hunter’s hand smooth her hair on her head and he said to her, “We don’t have to worry about this now. You went through a lot today. Let’s get back to the ship so you can rest and I’ll reach out to the girls to see if they can come help us.”

In reply, she just tiredly nodded.

He pulled her into his arms and her head fell into the crook of his neck, her body slumping against him. “I’m not discounting your opinion, you know,” he said softly. “I care very much what you think, sweetheart. You know that.”

“I know, darling,” she sighed. “I’m just afraid of this drastic of a change and what it might mean for us.”

“Do you remember what I said to you when we left Saleucami?” he went on to ask her. “As long as I’m by your side and you're at mine, we can weather any storm together. I believe that…do you?”

She raised her head to meet his gaze. “You know I do.”

“Then there’s no need to be afraid,” he reassured her, running his hand along her cheek, his loving gaze filling her with the sense of calm she needed before he kissed her sweetly on the lips.

The moment, however, was then broken by the sound of Cid’s voice crying out, “For crying out loud, in the middle of my parlor? Really?”

Hunter and Kimber came apart, flinching slightly in surprise, and Kimber responded, “There’s no one even in here!”

“I’m in here,” Cid retaliated. “Now go smooch somewhere else.”

Kimber groaned with exasperation and Hunter just rolled his eyes as the two of them turned away and made their way out of the parlor and back outside. They first relayed the information Cid had given them about Fennec Shand and then they all walked back to the ship, needing some rest. Hunter stayed with Kimber until she was fast asleep and then asked Echo to keep his eyes and ears open in case she started having nightmares while he went to call the girls, which Echo gladly obliged to. Hunter took the encrypted comm Kimber had, went outside, put in Rina’s frequency and waited for her to answer.

It didn’t take long for Rina’s holographic form to appear. “Hey there, boss la--oh! Well, you weren’t who I was expecting, Sarge,” she greeted him.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” he replied.

“I’d make a comment about seeing your pretty face, but I’m pretty sure Boss Lady would skin me if I did,” she said back, eliciting a snicker from Hunter. “Where is she, by the way? She okay?”

“Kimber’s fine. She’s just resting right now, but she wanted me to reach out to you,” he told her.

“Mmm figured you were calling on her behalf and not just for a friendly chat.” Rina lifted her vape mod up to her mouth for a second and then went on to ask, “Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of a call from you, lover boy?”

Hunter shook his head slightly at hearing her nickname for him again, but then proceeded to inform her about Fennec Shand. “Our contact says, with someone like her after us, we need friends and money,” he explained.

“And for which reason are you calling me?” asked Rina, flourishing her mod.

He half-smirked and responded, “Friends, of course.”

“Hey, for all I know, you could be asking for money. Doesn’t hurt to check,” she said back. “Where did you guys land?”

“Ord Mantell.”

“Yeah, that’s about as seedy as they come. If your contact is telling you ‘friends and money’, I’d imagine she’s in some shady business, especially on Ord Mantell. Sadly, any contacts we’ve got won’t be any better and much less reliable, especially for money. If you’ve got this one offering you a chance to make money, I would suggest you take it. It’s better than nothing, even if it is questionable.”

“I’m going to run the option by everyone. We don’t have very many people we can rely on, but you ladies are the few we can. Anyone else, we don’t know where they are. Will you help us?”

Rina took another inhale of sweetblossom, her arms folded and a contemplative look on her face. “To tell you the truth, Sarge, we’re gonna need some help, too,” she relayed to him, “so maybe we can all help each other.”

That concerned him to hear. “What happened?” he asked.

“Some things went down on Pantora shortly after you guys split,” she said. “We were having to hide from the police after chasing that bounty hunter and then more Empire troops showed up. Things got…pretty ugly.” Her voice sounded on the verge of sad as she said the last sentence and her gaze averted to the ground.

Something about that didn’t sit well with Hunter. Something seemed off about her, he could somehow sense it. Now even more concerned, he inquired of her, “Rina…is everything okay? Did something else happen?”

She blinked, lifted her head and was back in better spirits as she answered, “Well, we’re not dead. That’s the important thing. To sum up, we weren’t safe and didn’t want to stick around, so we’ve just been drifting since then.” She inhaled on her mod one more time. “If you guys are in a bind, then we’ll help you, Sarge. I’m sure the girls won’t have any objections. It’ll take us a day or two to get to Ord Mantell, but we’ll be there. Tell the boss lady her Koriena ladies are coming.”

With a pleased grin, he responded, “I knew we could count on you. I’ll send you our coordinates.”

“Catch you soon, Sarge,” she said back, giving him a salute, before the hologram disappeared.

A couple days had passed and Kimber found that her condition since suffering a slew of shocks and whippings was actually getting worse. The day after, she’d been a bit sore and felt she just needed to relax while the Batch took time to figure things out and discuss working for Cid, but by the second day, her pain hadn’t lessened. If anything, she almost felt worse. Having acclimated to not being whipped and tortured like she used to, the consequences of it felt pretty painful and it seemed to last longer than she thought. It seemed what she’d suffered at the hands of the Zygerrians took more of a toll on her than she thought and she wondered if she’d be able to handle another mission right away. It was times like these that reminded her that her physical endurance and pain tolerance was different than the Clones’ because they all were completely fine.

She woke up that second day, feeling miserable, and found that she was alone. Hunter wasn’t in the room and instead, she found a datapad on the side where he usually slept. Sleepily, she picked it up, rubbed at her eyes so she could see what was on it and saw there was a note typed out on the screen.

I didn’t want to wake you and, after how difficult things were for you yesterday, I thought I’d give you the chance to rest as much as possible. When you wake up, we’re back at Cid’s. Omega wanted to try out her new bow. I’m sure she’d love for you to come watch.

Counting down the seconds until I see you.

H

Kimber smiled to herself, realizing it had been a while since Hunter had said that last phrase to her. He really was such a romantic. Unfortunately, it was a bit painful even getting out of the bed and she had a feeling it was going to be quite a trek for her over to Cid’s. Feeling the way she did, she knew getting her armor on was going to be a chore and it probably wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing it. For the time being, she was just going to put on some civvie clothes that were more comfortable and simpler to wear, so she slipped on the red and dark gray dress Hunter had gotten her on Kuat and the leggings that came with it. Once she was dressed and her hair re-braided, she made her way back to Cid’s.

She walked in just in time to get narrowly missed by an energy arrow in the doorway, which startled her. She saw the wide-eyed looks of Omega and the boys all looking her way just as the arrow made contact with the wall next to the door.

“Sorry!” Omega cried out.

“Goodness, if I wasn’t awake already, I certainly am now,” Kimber commented through a nervous chuckle.

As she made her way into the parlor, she noticed there was a makeshift target on the other side of the room that Omega was shooting at as well as several holes in the wall around it while there were only a couple on the actual target. It seemed like target practice was going…interestingly. Echo was standing behind Omega, instructing her on how to use the bow, while Hunter, Wrecker and Tech watched.

She walked past Wrecker, who was sitting atop a holotable, as well as the Weequay and Ithorian--whose names they’d found out were Bolo and Ketch--who were enjoying watching and taunting Omega. They paid her no mind, but Wrecker gave her a pat on the back and a smile as she walked by him. Then she moved next to Hunter who immediately put his arm around her shoulders.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, giving her a gentle squeeze.

She groaned, “In a lot of pain, actually.”

“Still? Aw, man,” said Wrecker.

Right at that moment, Omega fired her bow and the shot landed just to the right of the bullseye, hitting the target. She was excited and cheered that she’d made the hit.

“Well done, Omega,” said Kimber, putting on a smile for the kid.

That made Omega’s eyes light up even more, but then Echo told her to fire again. “But I’ve already hit the target three times,” she argued.

“Out of twelve,” Echo corrected her. “That’s luck, Omega, not skill. Soldiers need to be consistent.”

She then proceeded to take two more shots, missing widely each time. One of the shots even went so sideways, it hit one of the holotables. Bolo and Ketch were still taunting her and taking bets on whether or not she’d hit the target, which irritated her a lot. Echo tried his best to reassure her, but it wasn’t really working.

“Not exactly a natural, is she?” commented Wrecker to Hunter, who just shrugged indifferently.

Right after that, however, Cid came in and declared she wanted to talk business, shooing Bolo and Ketch out of the parlor in the process. First, she asked if the Clones knew what a tactical Droid was and Tech tried superseding her explanation, despite the fact everyone else indicated they knew what she was talking about. Though, she hushed his explanation, calling him “Goggles” in the process. Then she shoved Wrecker off the holotable he was sitting on and pulled up a hologram first of a tactical Droid and then a decommissioning facility that she said was on the planet, Corellia, saying she wanted them to get one of these Droids for her before they were all destroyed.

“We haven’t decided if we’re gonna work for you or not,” Hunter countered with.

“Allow me to decide for you. You’re in!” Cid declared.

Kimber’s hands clenched tightly into fists at her sides. “That’s not how this works,” she said to Cid, shooting her a glare.

“It is when you’re in my house, Dollface,” Cid shot back. Then she looked to Hunter as well as the others, telling them, “I'm talking a mutually beneficial arrangement. You make money, I make money, and I watch your back. With the heat on you, it's the best option you've got.”

Still suspicious of the Trandoshan, Kimber cast a look to Hunter, silently showing him she didn’t like the idea. The others, however, just appeared indifferent.

Hunter released a sigh and said back, “I guess we’re in.”

Kimber had to grit her teeth together to keep from saying something. She didn’t feel good about their arrangement at all, but it seemed Hunter had made up his mind, despite it really being forced by Cid.

“I know you’re in. I just told you you’re in,” said Cid, only making Kimber even more irritated.

Seeing her getting agitated, Hunter gently pulled her aside away from the others and he said quietly to her, “Look, sweetheart, I know you’re not happy about this.”

“You’re right, I’m not,” she snapped. “This is a bad idea.”

“Cid is right: she’s the best option we’ve got and we might not find anything else this easily,” he argued.

“We won’t know unless we try,” she said.

“Kimber, even Rina told me this is the best move,” he reminded her. “Any contacts she or the girls would have would be less reliable than what we need.” He held her arms gingerly and told her, “I know you don’t trust Cid; believe me, I really don’t either…but trust me, all right? This wasn’t a choice I made lightly.”

She sighed loudly in defeat, knowing him asking her to trust him got her every time. “All right,” she conceded.

He rubbed her arms consolingly. “On that same subject, I think you should sit this mission out,” he stated.

“What?” she asked, taken aback.

All of a sudden, Tech appeared beside them, having heard the last thing Hunter said and declared, “Hunter is right, Kimber. Your physical state is still not at peak condition, given what you suffered at the hands of the slavers. If you go on this mission, you will not regain the strength you need to get better and you run the risk of potentially compromising the mission.”

Kimber wanted to argue, but she also knew immediately that Tech and Hunter were right. She was in too much pain to properly function on any mission right now. Even though she hated the idea of the boys going off without her and being separated from them, she knew it was for the best.

“You’re right. I’ll stay,” she said, not attempting to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Just then, her commlink beeped and she heard a familiar female voice come through, “The Koriena Force is approaching Ord Mantell…and by the way, we got a new ride. You’ll know it when you see it. We’d better see you guys at the spaceport, boss lady.”

Taking out her comm, she replied with a pleased smile, “Well, the boys are heading out on a mission, so you’ll get to see them briefly before they take off. We’ll see you soon.” Then she announced to everyone else, “The girls are almost here!”

“Oh yeah! Let’s go!” exclaimed Wrecker, pumping his fist as he almost skipped over to the door. Of everyone there, he was the most excited for the girls to arrive, to no one’s surprise.

The others followed after him, but Hunter and Kimber lingered behind for a moment. “I’m sorry,” Hunter said.

Kimber shook her head. “No, I understand and you’re both right. I’m in no condition to go with you.”

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “At least the girls are here now. That should help keep you occupied.”

“I’m sure,” she replied.

“Hey, dark and broody! Will you and the Missus get a move on already?” cried out Cid from behind the bar.

They both rolled their eyes in annoyance at Cid’s pushiness and left the bar, jogging to catch up with the rest of the squad.

A few minutes passed after the Batch all made it to the spaceport when they saw a ship entering the atmosphere and they were astonished to see a shiny, platinum-colored starship come flying in towards the spaceport.

“If that’s them…they completely missed the point of ‘lying low’,” Echo commented.

Tech tapped some things out on his datapad and then stated aloud, “That is an H-type Nubian yacht, a leisure transport.”

“Hmm curious,” Hunter muttered.

Sure enough, the Nubian starship landed in a port nearby and when they moved closer, they saw the ramp to the ship open up and Rina was standing inside along with Irys.

Upon seeing Kimber, Rina called out, “Told you you hadn’t seen the last of us, boss lady!”

A smile immediately overtook Kimber’s whole expression as the two ladies descended the ramp. “I never doubted you for a second,” she replied, grasping Rina’s outstretched hand.

Right after that, Rina was suddenly swept up off the ground by Wrecker, making her cry out in surprise, and spun in a circle. “Welcome back, Rina!” he exclaimed.

As he set her back down on the ground, Rina grinned and said in return, “Boy, am I glad to see you, Wrecker.”

Irys gave a nod to the other Clones. “A pleasure seeing you all again,” she said. Then she smirked at Tech and added, knowing it was going to get under his skin, “Especially you, hotshot.”

He grimaced slightly. “I wish I could say the feeling was mutual,” he grumbled.

“Where’s Kida and Lex?” Kimber asked.

“Lex is finishing something,” answered Irys.

Then Rina added, “Kida is getting the smol, so she should be out any moment.”

“Smol?” Hunter repeated, confused.

Before anyone could answer, they heard Kida’s voice cry out from inside the ship, “I heard my name, you better not wear it out!”

Then Kimber saw her coming down with little Kori swaddled up in a wrap that she wore around her torso. The fun contrast about her was the fact that she was wearing a leather combat suit underneath the baby wrap and had blasters holstered on her hips. Clearly, being a mother wasn’t going to stop her from being a fighter.

“That’s quite a look for you, Kida. I like it,” Kimber complimented her.

“You know me: everything I do, I do in style,” she said, flourishing her hand.

“Hence why you have one of the shiniest ships in the galaxy, apparently,” Kimber commented.

Kida looked back at the ship and grinned. “Yeah, my dad bought this ship from some higher-ups on Naboo years ago. We had to steal it so we could escape Pantora, so he’s probably going to be mad, but I don’t care.”

“It’s our ship now,” Irys put in.

“My family called it the Paramount, but we felt that didn’t fit for us,” Kida explained, “so we’ve re-christened it the Aurora.”

Rina chuckled and added a bit sarcastically, “Because we’re such a bright and colorful group.”

“I love it. It’s perfect,” Kimber replied proudly. She then looked down at the little baby nestled up against Kida’s chest, his golden-brown eyes looking up at her with curiosity. “Hello again, little one,” she said, caressing the blonde fuzz on his head as light as a feather.

When she turned to look at the Clones, she had to suppress a laugh at the looks of absolute stunned shock she saw on their faces, their widened eyes looking like they were about to pop from their sockets.

“Um…why does Kida have a baby?” inquired Wrecker.

Nonchalantly, Kida answered with a grin, “This is my son.”

“Your son?” Echo repeated in astonishment.

Omega eagerly ran up right away and to get a peek at the baby and Tech immediately went to typing things out on his datapad.

Rina stepped up and proclaimed, “Don’t worry, guys. Unless you’ve seen Kida naked, the smol’s not yours to worry about.” Then she gestured to the other women and said, “We don’t count either.”

The Clones all furrowed their brows in confusion.

“What? We live together. It happens,” Rina simply said with a shrug. “You’re all brothers. Haven’t you guys seen each other naked?”

Immediately, the others all looked incredibly awkward and refused to look at each other. Kimber once again had to put a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh at how timid the boys were at Rina’s question.

“Well…guess Clones do things differently,” Rina commented.

Hunter was the first of the boys to step forward to see the baby and Kimber noticed his eyes subtly light up at seeing him, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “What’s his name?” he asked Kida.

“Kori. From the word ‘Koriena’,” she told him.

His expression softened hearing the meaning behind the child’s name. “A very strong and fitting name,” he said.

Then Tech spoke up, “Kida, if I may inquire: how old is the child?”

She took a second to think before answering, “A few weeks…almost a month old.”

“And you carried him to full term?” he then asked.

“Yes…,” she replied, wondering where he was going with these questions.

He tapped one last thing on his datapad before declaring with certainty, “Just as I suspected. I know who the boy’s father is.”

Everyone’s heads whipped around in his direction, perplexed. Kida simply folded her arms, interested to see if Tech would correctly deduce the answer, and Kimber was just as curious.

“How could you possibly know that, Tech?” Hunter asked.

Returning his attention to his datapad, Tech explained, “If my calculations are correct, with the child being born nearly a month ago and having been carried the full gestation period of nine months, that would place his conception ten months prior…around the time when we were rescued by the Eradicators.” Then his astute eyes returned to Kida. “And during that timeframe, there was only one male who was ever with Kida alone whose phenotypes are already clearly visible in the baby’s appearance.”

Echo was the first to pick up on Tech’s facts and he was almost struck dumb with shock.

“Rex…!” he gasped out, remembering he had asked Kimber after they had been rescued if there was anything between Kida and Rex after observing their behavior with each other. Then he took notice of the baby’s blonde hair and that confirmed everything. One of his closest brothers was the father of Kida’s child!

“Well, I thought it was obvious,” Tech responded, seeing Echo's astonishment.

The others all turned and looked wide-eyed at Kida, waiting for her to confirm or deny Tech's hypothesis.

She smirked deviously, lifting up a hand and placing a fingertip on her chin. “You certainly live up to your reputation as the exceptionally-minded one, Tech. You’re right,” she confirmed.

“It really is Rex?” Hunter questioned.

“Yes,” she said, “and he doesn’t know yet.”

Then Wrecker, after standing there dumbfounded and speechless, finally spoke, “Wait…so Rex has seen you naked?”

Just as everyone began to realize he didn’t quite understand, Omega only made things worse by saying, “But what does that have to do with the baby? Aren’t all babies grown in tubes?”

Everyone all groaned sheepishly, wondering how they were going to get through this awkward situation.

Irys put a hand to her forehead and muttered, “I forgot she grew up on Kamino.”

Rina leaned over and whispered to Kimber, “You wanna take the lead on this one, boss lady?”

“Not really,” Kimber replied nervously, even though she knew someone had to do it. She stepped forward and went on to say, “Omega, Wrecker…regular humanoid children are created differently than Clones are.”

“They’re made by just seeing someone naked?” Omega inquired, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

Then Wrecker asked along with her, “It’s that easy?”

“N--no, it’s uh…more than that,” said Kimber, scrambling to find the words to help them understand, even though she was desperately not wanting to have this conversation at the moment.

Then Hunter stepped in and said, “A woman isn’t going to get pregnant because you see her naked.”

With a slight amused snicker, Echo then folded his arms across his chest and made the comment, “If that were the case, we would’ve needed a bigger ship by now.”

In response to that, knowing exactly what Echo was implying, a strangled cry emitted from Hunter’s throat that he tried to stifle and Kimber pursed her lips and cast Echo a threatening look that said “I’m going to kill you!”

“Wait, what does that mean?” Wrecker questioned.

To speed things along, Kimber just stated, “Hunter will explain it to you on the way to Corellia, won’t you, darling?” As he stuttered in reply, flabbergasted at her throwing the heat on him, she immediately went on, gesturing towards the Marauder, “Speaking of which, you guys should be going right now, so you’d best be on your way before Cid finds out you’re still here.”

As Echo and Tech simply gave waves to the three Koriena Force ladies, Echo happened to look up at the ship and saw Lex was actually standing at the top of the ramp, leaning up against the wall inside and twirling her vibroblade in her hand, much like what Hunter did on occasion. She was in her usual red tank top, leather corset, black trousers and boots, but he noticed that she now had a full arm glove on her left arm. It was a curious fashion choice, but he thought it was intriguing. Her eyes caught his for a moment and she ceased playing with her knife. There was no emotion in her face; it was just a simple stare as if she was trying to read him for some reason. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, wondering if something was wrong. However, a few seconds later, she just raised up two fingers and gave him a salute. Brushing that off as nothing, Echo returned the gesture with a nod and proceeded to follow Tech towards the ship.

Wrecker directed his attention to Rina, waved at her and said, “I’ll see you later, Rina!”

Rina called back, “At least this time, I’ll be here when you get back.”

“I know! I’m excited!” he shouted over his shoulder, making Rina blush.

Hunter sauntered over to Kimber, a faint displeased look on his face mixed with a devious smirk. “You owe me big time for this, sweetheart,” he said, pointing a finger at her.

She chuckled, knowing he was referring to the earlier topic. “Sorry about that,” she said as he approached. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He placed his hands on her arms and she laid her hands on his chestpiece. “Please be careful.”

“We will,” he said.

“I just…I don’t like the thought of you boys going on a mission without me,” she admitted sadly. “What if something happens to you that could’ve been prevented had I been there? What if something happens to Omega?”

He lessened the distance between them, bringing her close to him and touching his forehead to hers comfortingly. “Don’t think like that, love,” he assured her. “We’ll be okay. Worrying won’t make you feel any better.”

“I know,” she replied, leaning into him a little more. “I can’t help but worry over you just as you worry over me. That and it’s been a long time since I sat out on a mission."

"You're gonna be okay. You've got the girls here now." He lightly nuzzled her. "I'll come back to you."

"You always do."

She leaned in and captured his lips in a sweet parting kiss, savoring the feel of his lips to carry with her through his absence.

After which, Hunter gave Kimber one last loving smile before turning away and jogging after the rest of the Bad Batch. Her hand came up to his credit necklace and clutched it tightly against her chest.

"You two are so dramatic," she heard the voice of Lex speak behind her. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw Lex coming down the ramp to join her and the other girls, a smirk on her face.

"There you are, Lex!" she cried. Then she took notice of the full arm glove Lex was wearing. "That's new," she pointed out.

Lex side-eyed the glove and just shrugged. "A new fashion statement I'm trying out," she said.

"It looks good," said Kimber.

Rina muttered something under her breath and Kimber saw her turn away, lifting her mod up to her mouth. When Kimber watched her, it seemed like something was bothering Rina. Then she looked back at Lex and Lex, too, seemed off and irritated.

"Is everything okay?" Kimber asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, I'm just tired," Lex answered. "I haven't been sleeping well the last few nights."

"If that's true, then you should go rest," Kimber said to her. "We'll have plenty of time to catch up."

Lex simply nodded and obliged without any second thoughts, turning on her heel and going back up the ramp to the ship.

After she left, Rina stated, gesturing with her thumb at the ship, "Well, boss lady, come on up and we'll show you our new digs in the Aurora." Without waiting, she too proceeded up the ramp of the ship.

Waiting until Rina was out of earshot, Kimber asked Kida and Irys, "Are those two all right? They seem…different."

Irys answered her, "They've been fighting recently, to put it simply."

"I wouldn't bring it up to them, though," said Kida. "It's a bit of a touchy subject right now, but they'll be okay eventually."

Kimber didn't like that answer and it made her worried and concerned for her friends. She wanted to talk to Rina or Lex about what was going on with them and find a way to help them. Though, if Kida said they'd get things figured out eventually and not to say anything, then she just had to trust that things would all work themselves out.

Just then, Kori started to get a little fussy and squirmed in his wrap. Kida bent her head down and placed a kiss on top of his head.

"I think it's about time for this little guy to eat," Kida observed. "Let's go in and we can all take time to relax."

"I definitely could use that. My whole body is in a lot of pain, hence why I'm still here," said Kimber as they all made their way up into the ship.

Kida's head whipped over to her. "My dear, if you're hurting, I've got some things that can help. You leave your pain relief to me." Then she said to Irys, "Would you mind feeding Kori for me while I tend to our fearless leader?"

"As long as Rina is the one to put him down for his nap," Irys replied.

"I'll be sure to pass along the message," said Kida.

Kimber giggled to herself. It was good to have her Koriena Force back and it was going to be even better now that they were going to be on Ord Mantell for the foreseeable future.

[verawhisk]

my dear friend. i am so mentally exhausted and have shed literal tears tonight. i am so happy. i will catch up on everything you’ve posted for tonight in the morning, but what were ur thotz abt tonight <3

omg hi you dont have to do that! you’re too nice to me rosey. besides i turned into a little autistic creature last night lolol, sorry y’all had to witness that. but im so glad you saw that card! it was INSANE!! i was so prepared for it to be not that great because 2022 has kinda sucked in terms of fights yknow? just lots of dubious, weird moments with injuries and strange decisions within the organization and ofc its not the fighters’ faults but still i was so ready for this to be bad

luckily it was actually amazing all the way from the start of prelims to the end of the main event!! it was incredible!! they said it broke the record for first round finishes! i just cant believe the show they all put on… they have so much heart and courage, every single one of them

i was actually considering not buying the ppv this time because 280 was so bad LOL could you imagine if i didnt buy it? i would have missed possibly the best card this entire year

first of all i was so overcome with joy when dan got the win over puelles, i was damn near crying hahah. i mean a win over costco ryan hall is not SUPER impressive but who cares?? THAT’S MY BOY!! HE’S SO CUTE!! and i want him in perth dammit. give him his flowers dana. (fun fact: i started watching mma mainly because i watched the conor vs. urijah season of tuf and i thought ryan hall was so cool LMAO)

(this crusty ahh drawing from 2021…. yup i thought he was super cool and im kinda sad that he’s less active than other fighters but if i were offered a fight with ryan hall i’d probably turn it down too)

as for frankie vs. gutierrez my stomach dropped when he landed that knee bruh. what the hell was that? bro HAD to know that was frankie’s last fight and to do that to him in front of his family is just sick… i mean good on him for not sandbagging just for someone else’s career to go out on a nice note but did you have to finish him that brutally?? idk man maybe im just a casual but he deserves more than that

poirier vs. chandler… im not even exaggerating when i say that fight made me nearly puke and pass out bro. i got fucked up sweat glands so your girl can’t sweat but if she could she woulda been DRIPPING from head to toe last night LOL. guys i think the reason i went so crazy was because i actually mentally prepared myself for the fight to be bad, for real. that’s genuinely what i did. i went into the fight telling myself that there was a well and good possibility that michael might actually just wrassle him into a decision and i was all good with it because i was still gonna like them no matter what. but HOLY CRAP i need to remind myself to never doubt them ever again because that was AMAZING!!!! start to finish was just an absolute dog fight. they looked so exhausted and broken and blood was pouring everywhere and michael was tossing dustin like a bag of flour only for said bag of flour to start raining punches on him (a la justin gaethje lol) and it was fucking incredible and i cant believe it really happened. not to mention the alvarez-chandler-gaethje-poirier circle of violence is finally complete hahah omg it feels unreal. and i can't believe dustin finished ALL of them.. he's so classy and talented and handsome lul he's really the perfect fighter

but hol on i wanna mention michael cheating because i’m not gonna lie that really made me question him?? not that iron michael chandler cares about what some delusional mma fan in canada thinks about him LMAO but still he always carries himself like a professional athlete everywhere he goes and he seems to pride himself on his ability to stand out among the fighters who don’t have the speaking style or the business etiquette that he does, so when he went into the fight and started pounding on the back of his head and actually HOOKING HIS FINGERS on the inside of dustin’s mouth trying to make him show his neck, it made me scratch my head because why are you behaving like an olympic athlete in front of the press only to go in the cage and treat your opponent like an abused farm animal lmao?

though im ngl… the idea of this polite, charismatic, american psycho type dude entering the cage and turning on mean ape mode is actually fucking hilarious? and he’s kind of more interesting to me now?? so i guess it doesn’t really matter that my opinion of him went down a little hahah silly observation but there’s my two cents. i’m still super impressed by both of them and they both have my heart at the end of the day

during weili vs carla i was playing runescape. i’m so sorry. i was just tryna level up my fishing i really have no clue what happened other than that weili finished carla because she’s really awesome and she kicks ass and i feel really bad that i wasn't paying attention IM SORRY LMAO!! my social credit score is in massive danger rn

izzy vs pereira had me biting my nails into little shreds because i could feel exactly what they were feeling. alex is just one of those “one clean hit and you’re out” fighters but izzy is obviously still a master of striking so watching those exchanges was like watching two people balancing on a plank over shark-infested waters lolol it was crazy nerve wracking. however y’all know that i was rooting for alex so i am super duper happy and i can’t wait to see who challenges him next!! tbh i’d prefer anybody but khamzat because if he really does move up to middleweight and becomes alex’s first challenger he’s fucked lmao cries… please start training in dagestan alex thank u <3

thanks for asking me ahh it really means a lot to me that you actually care about what i think. :D let me know what you thought about it too!!

[obsessing-over-fictionn]

pt. four(and final) of things i gathered from reading nora's extra content :

parts one, two, three

[tws: guns, shooting]

- if kevin were ever to make out with any of the foxes, it would be allison because a) she's gorgeous and b) there would be no strings attached

- "(I was super proud of myself for making Kevin like pineapples because I am not a fan of them and I was like YES NORA THINK OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE)" - nora about kevin liking pineapples

- kevin's best memory that isn't exy related is finding kayleigh's letter and discovering who his father is

- seth could sing! he was a tenor

- seth doesn't hit woman unless it's on the court

- aaron has the second-best grades on the team after kevin

- nicky never reconciles with his family after drake

- and rightfully so luther can die

- neil was matt's best man at his wedding :')

- thea and kevin got married and had a child who got along well with 'grandpa wymack'

- as cute as that is, ew bc imo kev and thea are not it

- but anyway

- jean and renee attempted long distance dating but it didn't work out

- definitely because jean and jeremy are meant to be(this is my opinion tho so)

- renee is the only one of the foxes to marry without the other foxes in attendance, but only because she met someone who worked with her and they couldn't take enough time off of their job to have a wedding and the place that they were didn't take well to visitors

- jean was originally going to commit suicide to alert and bring attention to the abuse faced in the nest but it was changed in the last draft

- neil only ever places one bet the entirety of his time at palmetto state

- aaron proposes to katelyn before starting his fifth year, and they marry soon after graduation

- after graduation allison becomes a fashion designer

- allison had two kids, one son and one trans daughter ! she was fiercely supportive and god i love her

- allison's son develops a crush on kevin's kid💀

- matt proposed to dan on the morning of his graduation ceremony

- later on in the pros, andrew would punch their coach after they let an injured neil onto the court for a sub

- between andrew and neil, andrew is better with babies

- the only reason why robin cross, the freshman goalie that is recruited andrew's senior year, was approached was because andrew specifically asked for her

- if you want to know more about robin(her story is actually pretty messed up), here's the link

- when robin is incepted into the cousin's family, she moves into their dorm

- but because there are only four beds, andrew gives her his and shares with neil

- andrew gives robin his and renee's knives when he graduates

- originally, kevin and riko were dating but they broke up because riko cheated on him with jean, though riko and jean went by different names

- in that draft jean actually broke kevin's hand instead

- riko had capital i Issues

- like we already knew that but still

- "Did you know that from day 1 of All for the Game, when it was a shoddy little comic taking place in a Japanese high school, up until the second-to-last draft, they were lovers? The main drama in the first comic was that Riko had cheated on Kevin with Jean, and Kevin stormed off in a heartbroken fit, and Riko was trying to win him back before Kevin & Neil fell in love together." - nora about kevin and riko

- riko broke kevin's hand by stomping on it

- there was a draft where riko shot both neil and kevin, though neil was the only one to survive

- after jean moves to the trojans, kevin tells jeremy that jean can't go anywhere alone due to being so used too the raven's way of living and functioning

- i take this as confirmation that jeremy and jean get really close and they bond and fall in love and-

- when kayleigh and wymack were a thing, they were in an open relationship because kayleigh didn't have time for monogamy

- it's also helped to disguise kevin's parentage

- "Wymack was definitely sweeter on her than she was on him, and it killed him a little that he couldn’t win her over, but he respected her wishes and never pushed her for more than what she wanted to give him. He did a lot of drinking on the nights she was out with her other lovers, though. His head understood why it was better this way–she had dreams, and he had dreams, and they would spend most of their lives apart because of the paths they needed to walk even if they were each other’s one & only–but it took his heart a couple years to catch on." - nora about wymack and kayleigh's relationship

- half of the canon drafts of tfc ended with kevin dying

- nora says that kevin's straight but no he isn't

- nora's aro-ace !!

- say kandreil(kev, neil, and andrew) had still been a thing. if kevin had died, andrew and neil would have had a massive falling out and the resulting events would result in neil leaving abruptly, taking his money and contacts with him and leaving without warning

- the loss of both neil and kevin so close together sent andrew further into a spiral of self-destruction. he was on the edge when neil finally returned, but it took a long, long time for their relationship to be eveb halfway mended

- nora sakavic is actually a pseudonym !

- tfc was born from the most epic of thoughts: 'i want to write a comic about gay athletes'

- abby and wymack never get married but they do move in together during neil's fifth year

- they grow old and are eventually buried together

[crazy-fangirl2524]

January 19

“I wish you could come,” Neil said wistfully, staring at Andrew who he was FaceTiming. Andrew hummed in agreement. He had extra practices because his pro team is having a match on the coming Tuesday, so he couldn’t free his weekend. Neil hadn’t see Andrew for almost three weeks and he was missing him terribly. It didn’t helped that tomorrow would be January 19, a day he couldn’t help but be conscious of.

“Well goodnight,” Neil said, after a while of comforting silence. At least Matt and Dan would be coming over tomorrow, Neil thought to himself as he turned off the lights and charged his phone.

The next day, he woke up to Robin knocking on the door, asking if he wants to have breakfast with her. With a sigh, he thought that it was better to go out and eat than wallow in his room.

Just as he was getting out of his dorm, someone tackled him and he almost punched them, but then he heard familiar laughter and he hugged Matt back.

“I missed you so much,” Matt cried.

“I missed you too,” Neil said, muffled by Matt’s thick coat.

“Hey Dan,” Neil flashed a genuine smile at her. Dan grinned and joined in on the hug. Matt chatted on and on, gushing and talking animatedly. They were going into Neil’s car when Neil realised that Robin didn’t follow them.

“Oh it’s fine, she told us to get some alone time,” Matt winked at Neil. Dan shook her head in exasperation. She got into the backseat while Matt got into the front, pushing the seat way back. Andrew would be so annoyed the next time he sit there, Neil thought.

Neil drove them to the waffle house and it was really nice to see them in person. Matt talked about his pro team and complained while Dan talked of her pro team and how being an assistant coach actually weren’t that different from being captain because it’s still “ordering around lazy assholes though they are more professional and less complaining”. Neil then complained about the freshman foxes and he and Dan exchanged pointers. Sitting there with them late in the morning in a busy restaurant, Neil felt this quiet buzz of happiness and content. Nothing could ever beat the original foxes that had been there for him through thick and thin. They were his family always, he would burn the world and not let a single flame touch them.

As they were finishing breakfast, Neil went to the bathroom, and when he came out, Matt and Dan were gone. Instead a blond man was at their table and for a split second, Neil’s heart almost beat out of his chest and he remembered all the exits and thought of the fastest way to his car and how he has to find Dan and Matt and he knew what person to ask to find someone and-

The man turned and how could Neil not recognised him sooner? That tussled blond hair styled with care, the brown coat that Neil bought with him last year, and no man would ever be that height.

“Andrew” and Neil felt his chest contracted and everything spilled out of him. All the pent up tension and worry seeped out like someone opened up a locked gate.

Andrew’s piecing gaze never left his face and hungrily drank Neil in. He didn’t move as Neil walked towards him until they were just inches apart and Andrew had to tilt his head up slightly to look into his eyes.

It could have been just a few seconds, or maybe minutes, it wasn’t until a waiter cleared his throat then Neil broke away his stare. “What,” Neil said flatly.

The waiter shrank back, “uh- I- uh the bill, you guys asked for the um bill.” Neil dumped some twenties and the waiter scrambled away, stuttering something about change but Neil waved him off.

Andrew began to walk away and Neil could only follow him, like the sea following the calling of the moon. Neil noticed that his car was gone and he guessed that Matt and Dan drove it away. They walked a bit further and stopped in front of Andrew’s Maserati, a sight so comforting and real that Neil was just getting hit with the fact that Andrew was actually here. He was with him right now, next to him. And Neil suddenly wished to prove it to himself that this was all real and it wasn’t something he dreamed up himself and that Andrew was actually here.

Andrew got into his car without looking back and Neil got into his seat, the cold metal beneath his hand warmed him up more than any fire ever could. Andrew was already blasting warm air out of his car and was taking off his thick coat, leaving a big sweater, Neil’s sweater.

“Yes or no?” Neil asked, facing Andrew, his hand hovering over Andrew’s face, eyes glancing down to Andrew’s lips.

“Yes,” and Andrew closed the distance. Neil couldn’t help but sigh at the first contact of lips. He never thought he would miss kisses this much. But Andrew was everything surreal and impossible that’s right in his life and if he would burn the world for the foxes then he would upheave the whole world and fight the entire universe just to keep Andrew happy and safe.

“I thought you had extra practices.” Neil said pulling away reluctantly as humans unfortunately had to breath.

“I do,” Andrew answered.

“Thank you,” Andrew shut him up by pulling him in again. Maybe January 19 really wasn’t all that bad if he could spend it with his real family.

[essentiallykpopandbl]

I am emotionally damaged. This episode HURT! It was angry at us, angry at its characters, and angry at the situations the show is in. It was violent and dirty and left me reeling in a way I haven't felt in a hot minute.

The two good things in this episode.... Danyok and the two girls. Namo and Eugene are fantastic female characters. They make their own choices and don't drop everything for the boys all the time. Namo calling out Sean for breaking her heart was great. She didn't comfort Sean but gave him a place to vent and think through his problems. She knows he still loves White. She can't be there for him in that way anymore so she is being supportive how she can. And I mean do I really need to say anything about DanYok. Dan's instinct was to protect Yok and I am crying over that fact! I love them.

Oh the brutal parts of this episode tho. At some point, this show became Sean's story. Maybe it has always been that and we were just seeing his story happen through White's eyes. But my man has fallen helplessly in love. He found a reason to fight, a reason to live, a person to stand by in the worst of times. Sean finally broke down his walls. He called his lover to tell him and when they meet up, that person beats him up and yells at him to fight. All Sean can do in this moment is repeat Black's name over and over again hoping something will change. He is pleading, begging, wishing for the one who held him the day before to hold him again. Lay kisses all over him. Touch him softer than Sean has even been touched before. To go back to the happiness he had felt and the joy it brought him. I think Sean knows his Black is different then the original Black, but he also didn't notice that the original Black came to meet him, not his Black. The love he felt just seeing Black's face blinded him to what was right in front of him. Or maybe Sean knew it wasn't his Black and felt that he deserved the beating he was getting. All I know for sure is that watching Sean getting punched by the face he loves was hard to watch. All the growth Sean has gone through was retreating back in on himself. He truly is not the same person without White's love. And now, White has come to rescue Sean. To fight for their love and their relationship. But how much whiplash between the twins can Sean take? How much forgiveness does he have in him? Sean is a good person. He hides his feelings deep down for protection and White drug them back up. Where does that leave them at this point?

Black is exactly who I thought he would be, cruel seemingly without reason. I do think deep down he wants to protect White. That is really the only person he cares for. That being said, I am very angry he beat up Sean and told White to leave and never come back.

So here we are, as the audience, waiting for next week. Nerves high as a kite for the outcome of our loveable criminals. Dan can't die. Yok deserves someone who loves him and puts him first! Gram has to love Black right? Because if not him, who will? White needs to legitimately talk with Sean. A true heart to heart and explain himself and his feelings. Gump needs more screen time. I just love his paternal instincts for the boys. I doubt all of these will happen next week. And we will all be in the hands of gmmtv and the creators of this show. Ready for a week of torture until next Sunday comes around.

[tempobaekh]

Rating Penthouse: War In Life characters

I asked my followers on Instagram to give me Penthouse characters to rate and my thoughts about them so I thought to post it here as well. Now this is my personal opinion about how I feel about the characters and how much I will rate them

⚠️⚠️THIS CONTAINS A FEW SPOILERS⚠️⚠️

My Instagram: Tempobaek

Logan Lee

10/10

Lemme just say I love him SO MUCH

LOGAN LEE BEST BOY

I absolutely loved his character and the fact that he was one of the few people who wants justice and is honest made me love him even more

Him playing Go Hu Dong was amazing as well and I didn't recognize him at all at first like he played it so well with the accent, costume and wig and everything

His accent and language switch in between English and the Busan accent Korean was so fucking sexy🥵

✨Mr. Joo✨

My man was also smart with his revenge

He was also serving amazing LOOKS every episode in the two seasons and I loved every single one of them

And I'm going to be honest here, after watching the preview for S2 ep13 his laugh was creepy in one of the clips and after reading a few theories I lowkey thought that he would be the next villian

I regret suspecting him now

But instead of that they gave us a bigger plot twist and blew up our man with a bomb😩

He literally went ✨LiGhT iT Up LiKe DyNaMiTe✨ (I'm so sorry)

I would've rather have him be a villian than die in the bomb

I MISS HIM ALREADY AND LOVE HIM SO MUCH😭

DID I MENTION THAT I LOVE HIM

Joo Seok Kyung

7/10

Another one that annoyed me angered me so much🙄

Like she was ruthless and had no mercy when it came to bullying and putting people down that she thought were a rival or putting people down in general

She didn't change even when Rona died

She also went as far as to like cheat her way to win the Cheong Ah Art High School trophy and blackmailed Cheon Seojin to win the trophy

But there were times where she would show emotions and those would be often her break down and weak moments

And those moments would really show how she is broken inside and puts up a careless and brave image, she is someone who needs healing even though healing takes time

I also saw someone saying like 'oh Seok Kyung hates her mom so much'

Yeah she hated her mom but she didn't hate her to death like she didn't wish death upon her

Seok Kyung was heart broken when she heard Suryeon's death and that showed that she still loved her mom even though Suryeon didn't give birth to them

I was heart broken when I saw that she cut her hair because here was no one there to tie it for her bc Suryeon loved Seok Kyungs long hair and that's why she didn't cut it but after he mothers death no one was there to tie her hair for her

I started seeing her in a different light after a while bc again it showed that he character was very broken emotionally and needed healing

I'm interested about seeing more of her character development after the last ep where she defended Rona

Also my girl is so hot, another one that was serving amazing looks

Joo Seok Hoon

8/10

He was lowkey annoying at first ngl

Like my man was just🧍🏻‍♂️

It annoyed me so much how he defended his sister so much, fell for her tricks, covered up for her and did anything she said EVEN though its wrong

But after some time I understood that he cared for and that she was the only family left to him

I mean Seok Hoon hate Joo Dan Tae so he doesn't counts and Suryeon was dead at the moment

I will still not forgive him for bullying Seol A even though he regrets it

It also annoyed me how he didn't stood up for Rona at all in the first season even though he liked her

By he got so much better in S2, he was even part in the revenge plan

He is literally the human CCTV camera in Hera Palace like he knows more than even the viewers know

The way he was protective of Rona when he found out she was alive was so aDORABLE

And my man was amazing in the last episodes

I love him

Cheon Seo Jin

4/10

THIS WOMAN MAKES MY BLOOD FUCKING BOIL

Like I sometimes just was to 🤜🏻👩🏻

But sometimes I wanna hug her😩

Idk I feel like she became a horrible person bc of greed and that he father and mother placed too high expectations for her

Instead of praising her for her accomplishments her parents wanted her to do more

Maybe that's why she was desperate for love and affection and found that in Joo Dan Tae even though he pretended to like her

But that definitely does not dismiss her horrible actions

But also the harsh past made her the could hearted person, like she left her father to die

She felt more care towards her daughter after she almost lost her because Eunbyeol tried to commit suicide

She was in alot of pain and you could see it in her cries and when she was on the phone with the person

Soyeon's acting was amazing in that scene

She started to care more about her ex husband and daughter when she saw how much Eunbyeol was suffering and she realized that she genuinely liked Ha Yoon Chul hwen she saw how horrible Joo Dan Tae was

I did feel bad for her sometimes but after seeing that she didn't change I really didn't feel any sympathy for her

She needs therapy

Girlie was shocked when the doctor said she is losing her voice like bestie you are screaming every episode

She was also serving amazing looks every episode

Ha Yoon Chul

5/10

The first male character I simped for

Like I am not going to deny it but he is hot🥵

But the first few episodes he was an absolute asshole and greedy

But I never expected him to be Yoonhee's ex boyfriend

I did like him a tiny bit when he saved Yoon Hee from Kyu Jin

His entrance in S2 with the helicopter was damn hot

And I WAS SO SHOCKED WHEN HE SAID MEET MY WIFE OH YOON HE

LIKE YAY MY SHIP IS SAILING

I spoke too soon

His character development and fighting skills were hot as well

He was ADORABLE with Rona and Yoonhee

I seriously thought that Rona was his daughter

BUT THAN AT THE CHEONG AH FESTIVLE OOF SIR I WANTED TO PUNCH HIM

I WAS SO MAD WHEN HE SABOTAGED RONA'S PERFORMANCE

I began hating him after that💀

Like he went 📈📉 with his character development

AND THEN HE CLEANED EUNBYEOL'S MEMORY FROM THAT NIGHT LIKE SIR SKSHSKSHKS SHE DID HAT TO YOUR DAUGHTER

I actually asked my dad what he thought about what Yoon Chul did and this was his reponse:

"If you look at it from a parents perspective they would want to do anything if they saw their child in pain like he did but I would've also scolded her and had a conversation with her about why she did it instead of wiping her memory from that night like he did. "

So that's that

I LOVED IT WHEN YOON HEE CAME WITH THAT BLOW AND TOLD HIM RONA WAS HER DAUGHTER

Jonghoon's acting was chef's kiss in that scene

I was going to rate him a 4 but I gave him that 5 when I saw how he was at court, he admitted to his wrong doings but also still had feelings for Yoon Hee

I wanna see his reaction in s3 to Rona now bc now that he got to know that is his daughter I wonder how he will be

Lee Kyu Jin

1/10

AN ASSHOLE

USELESS

WHY IS HE HERE

Like I have nothing to say about him rather than I hate him and that he useless just like his wife and son

HE IS LITERALLY NOTHING WITHOUT HIS MOM

I'm only giving him that one bc he was funny in the episodes

THATS THE ONLY REASON HE IS THERE JUST FOR COMEDY PURPOSES

Go Sang Ah

0.5/10

ANNOYING 2.0

USELESS 2.0

ALL SHE DOES IS SPEND HER HUSBAND AND MOTHER IN LAW'S MONEY

LIKE SHE AIN'T EVEN WORKS

UNLIKE KANG MARI

The only thing she does is gossip

And spills the tea☕

SHE IS LITERALLY NOTHING WITHPUT HER HUSBAND AND HIS FAMILY

Giving her a 0.5 bc she is kinda funny eh

Lee Minhyuk

0/10

ANNOYING 3.0

USELESS 3.0

ASSHOLE 2.0

Idk if it runs in the family but again he is useless

And a dumbass

He also nothing without his parents

Why is he there tho like you ain't even funny

All he can do is cause trouble

And bullied Jenny

His dumbass slipped and broke his own arm and blamed it on Rona smh🤦🏻‍♀️

Sometimes I just wanna 🤜🏻👦🏻

Also my dude was trying to sound all intimidating by saying

"Oh Jenny's father is a scary man, yOuR dEaD BaE rOnA"

Like dude worry about yourself bitch you are dead first for bullying Jenny

But like I hate the character but LOVE THE ACTOR HE IS SO HOT OMFG

Joo Dan Tae

0/10

ANOTHER ONE THAT PISSES ME OFF SO MUCH AND MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL

SOMETIMES I DONT WANNA 🤜🏻 I WANNA 🔪

LIKE I HATE HIM WITH A FUCKING PASSION

I DONT CARE ABOUT HIS PAST OR ANYTHING HE IS A GREASY, GREEDY, PSYCHO, OBSESSIVE MANIPULATIVE, POSSESSIVE PSYCHO

Like I legit thought he was nice in he first ep and then I saw him kiss Seojin and-

Me: 🤨😧😃🤮 MY EMOTIONS WENT LIKE THAT

LIKE HE IS SO FUCKING POSSESSIVE OVER SURYEON, AEGYO AND SEOJIN LIKE ITS DISGUSTING

I WAS GETTING YANDERE BEHAVIOUR FROM THAT OLD MAN

PURE TRASH

Bae Rona

9/10

I LOVE HER NOW

RONA BEST GIRL

She was also annoying at first and was very ungrateful

But over time she got better, still a tiny bit annoying sometimes but better

When she came back from the US I WAS LIKE GIRL NO YOU FINNA RUIN THE PLAN

I do feel bad for her bc she went through alot with bullying, her mom going to jail not only once but twice, her getting to know that Yoonchul who she started liking sabotaged her performance, and also literally almost dying

My girl has been through a lot

AND WHEN SHE RUNNED TOWARDS THE STAIRS OUTSIDE WHEN EUNBYEOL WAS CHASING HER I WAS LIKE GIRL RUN TO THE HALL YOU RUNNIN OUTSIDE

I am excited to see her reaction to getting to know that Yoon Chul is her dad

Part 2 is also posted!

[lois-carroline]

A/N: hello guys 👋🏻👋🏻 I forgot to update this before 2 days.😅

Jake X Fem MC.

Forgiveness

It's been 4 months since Hannah was found, we all are happy about that. And I settled in Duskwood, in a rented house. Jake never contacted me after that not even a single text.

I texted him every time, but never got a reply. I got angry, it's been 4 months. I decided to call Jake again, right now.

I took my phone from the charger. I dialed his number, to my surprise he attended. "What do you think in your mind, Jake?! Am I only a Key to you? You used me only to find your half-sister?! Am I not important to you other than that?!" I shouted without a stop and hung up the call.

I sat down on my sofa and held my knees to my chest and cried.

And that is my last call with him. I stopped texting him. 4 months became 7, 8, and 1 year.

We didn't text in this one year. It's been so long, I even tried to forget about him. But I don't think it is possible.

My friends are worried about me. They tried their best to make me forget about Jake. But they know they can't because the reason they became friends with me is Jake.

__________________

Here I am again in Rainbow Cafè to my blind date. I sighed thinking about what happened this morning. Jessy forced me to this blind date again to forget about Jake and start a new life.

It's my 3rd blind date. I looked at the person in front of me. He had chocolate brown hair and hazel brown eyes.

He looked at me with a gentle smile which I returned. "So, you are not from Duskwood?" he asked "Yeah," I confirmed.

"Do you like.....," Before he could finish his phone got a message with a beep. "Excuse me," he said I nodded and as he took his phone from his pocket.

After a second he looked at me with a smile again. "So..." Again his phone beeped. He looked again at his phone, this time he looked around.

I looked at him confused. His phone made a beep sound again. He looked at it and he became nervous.

"Is there a problem?" I asked softly. "Yes, I have to go," he said and left the place just like that.

There is something wrong, the same thing happened the before 2 times on the blind date.

I sighed and paid the bill for the coffee and went to my house.

__________________

It is 8 at night. When I was on my phone, my phone Plopped with a new message. It's Jessy.

Jessy

Hello, MC. How was your date?🤭

Oh, don't talk about that.🙄

Why, what happened?😕

        He just went just like that after a

What?! He went just like that?!😠

message

🤭

😤😟

Stop that, I don't even like him😑

Alright, don't worry. I am gonna search for a new person for you.

Jessyyyyyy, I don't want any.

Why?

Please understand me, Jessy. I don't want

blind dates.

Alright, then.😐

Have a good night 😘

You too🥰

Jessy is now offline

I kept my phone on the table and started to sleep. I woke in the middle of the night when I heard a knock on the door.

I looked at my alarm on the table which showed 1:01. Who could that be at this time? I went downstairs and opened the door only to see a person in a black hoodie.

"Umm?" I don't know what to say when he didn't even look at me. He lifted his head to look at me with his piercing blue eyes.

The stranger frowned "how can you open the door for a stranger at this time?" He asked which confused me.

"If you wish me not to open the door, why did you knocked?" I retorted.  "And, who are you?" I added.

He stayed silent for some time."I...I am Jake..." He said which is more like a whisper, I felt guilt in his voice. I stood stunned processing his words again.

The Jake who I wanted for this 1 year is in front of me. I didn't know what to say, I left some space for him to get inside. We went to the living room.

"MC, I am sorry." He said worriedly. I felt my eyes well up with tears. I am happy and angry at the same time. I don't know which to use now.

"MC...." I heard Jake. "Why are you here after a year?!" I raised my voice angrily. Without my knowing I chose Anger to use.

"Aren't you got your sister back? Why do you need me now?" I asked with a hint of anger in my voice.

"MC, listen to me...," He started but was cut off by me. "Leave, Jake," I said with a hint of pain in my voice.

"MC...," He said with the same pain in his voice. It broke my heart. "Please," I pleaded. He didn't say any other words, he left my house.

And again here I am, crying with my head buried on my knees.

_________________

       

I opened my eyes to see myself on the sofa. That's when I remembered last night's incident.

I felt my eyes became blurry again. I wiped my tears with the back of my hands and went upstairs to take a shower.

After the shower, I went and took my phone from the table near my bed. I frowned at looking at my phone screen. It showed I am sorry, MC.

I know who done this, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath "Stop this now, Jake! I know you can hear me through my phone!" I shouted at the phone, soon it turned back normal.

I am not angry at him now. I want to punish him for some days for not making contact with me for a year.

I went down and ate my breakfast. I took my office materials and opened my door only to see Jake with flowers in his hand.

When did he turn this romantic?  I went past him. "MC!" Jake called, I didn't turn to look at him.

____________________

I sat down on my office chair and started to work on the computer.

__________________

It is the evening at 7 p.m. While I am working the computer started to hang. The screen is starting to glitch.

"What is going on?" The staffs stated, I looked at the computers in the office only to see that everyone's is glitching.

After a second the computer screens showed up with the Nym-Os symbol. I knew, that is you.

"Oh my god, it's creepy!" A staff stated.  Well, I don't think so. I took my phone and texted Jake.

Stop doing this, Jake. for which he replied  Come out :)  I rolled my eyes and went out of my office only to see Jake with his laptop sitting near the fountain.

"What do you want?" I asked trying my best to show him that I am angry. "Your forgiveness," he said innocently.

"I don't have something called 'forgiveness' so stop hacking into my phone and working place!" I said acting that I am annoyed.

"There is no way that you don't have 'forgiveness' so give that to me. As for the hacking I already made your working place normal," he said with a grin.

"What about my phone?" I questioned him. "Well....I had been with you through your phone for 1 year," he said which shocked me.

"What do you mean?" I asked him as he started to walk on the street and I followed him. "I mean, I had been hearing you through phone," he said.

"You watched me every day!" I shouted with a frown. "Yeah, I saw your pain every day, heard you cry most of the night. It broke my heart," he said with pain.

I felt my eyes well up, I looked at the ground while walking on the dark street."Why didn't you contact me then?" I asked him.

"I can't put you in danger by contacting you," he said worriedly. I halted and looked at him with tears in my eyes. He slowly took his hands near my cheek and caressed me with his thumb finger.

I hugged him and buried my face in his chest. I felt his hand on my head. "I am so sorry, it took a year for me to get free from my pursuers," he said and hugged me tightly.

I separated the hug and wiped my tears with the back of my hands. "It's ok, I am happy you are here now," I said with a smile which he returned.

"Alright, let's go to my house. You should meet the others tomorrow," I said, he nodded.

We started to walk again and that's when something strikes to me. I gasped "so, you are the one who ruined my 3 blind dates?" I asked him with a hint of shock in my voice.

He chuckled, "yes," he replied. "But, how?" I asked still stunned. "Well, the whole Duskwood camera is hacked by me," he said casually.

I blinked at his casualty. "And I don't want to lose you," he said which made me blush.

____________________

The next morning I message everyone to meet at Lily's place.  They all came. They were surprised to see Jake, but also happy.

Lily and Hannah gave a tight hug to Jake. Jessy, Thomas, Cleo, Richy gave a friendly hug to him.

"I am happy you came, Hacker boy," Dan said as he came near to Jake and gave a nice punch to Jake!

We all gasped. "What the-" Jake muttered. "What are you doing Dan?!" I shouted as I gave a smack on his shoulder.

"That's what you deserve for leaving MC for a year," he said. Dan behaves like a big brother to me these days.

I looked at Jake who has some blood in corner of his lip. "OMG, Jake you are bleeding!" Hannah said shocked.

"MC, bring him to your house and give him first-aid," Lily said. I nodded. We walked to my house which is near Lily's.

I made him sit on the sofa and ran upstairs to take the first-aid. I came with a box and sat near Jake who is staring at me.

"Is it hurts?" I asked as I took cotton with antiseptic liquid dipped. He didn't say anything but just staring me.

I took my hand near his lip and wiped the blood slowly. He hissed in pain. "Just a moment," I said as I continued.

He stopped me by holding my wrist, "what-," before I could finish, he pulled me into a kiss. It was passionate.

I enjoyed the kiss as I wrapped my hand around his neck. I felt Jake's lip curled into a smile while kissing.

___________________

[pretoriafics]

If I wasn't a goddamn werewolf - Pt. 6

Heyy! The series is ending, but we still have more chapters to come! Enjoy it while it lasts!

You are so done with all of that drama with men! Word count: 2.573 Pairings: Reader x Derek; Reader x Platonic!Laura Contain: Some angst, Original characters (Daniel, your boyfriend; Lafayette, your friend)  Warnings: English is not my main language <3; Inappropriate language TEEN WOLF MASTERLIST PART 1 |  PART 5

Seventeen years later, Santa Monica, California

"Yeah, girl, I know it's annoying. I mean, live in Beacon Hills? C'mon! There's nothing there!"

Lauren was lay down on her mom and dad's bed, talking with her best friend on her cell phone. The room was entirely filled with boxes: Lauren and her parents were moving to Beacon Hills, which had left her completely annoyed. It's hard for a 15 years old teenager to moving away from her friends to live in a completely different - and smaller - city. Then, she heard a voice calling her.

"Lauren..."

You were at the door frame, with your arms crossed and a serious face. When Lauren saw you, her eyes got widen, and she talks with her friend.

"Uh, Brittany, I have to go. You know, my mom is here giving me that glare. I'll call you later, okay? Bye."

Lauren turns off her phone, and you stare at her.

"I thought you were putting the rest of the things from the cabinet in the boxes."

"I was, but Brit called me and-"

Daniel stopped close to you, looking at Lauren with arched eyebrows.

"What's happening? Lauren, I thought you were putting the things from the cabinet in the boxes."

The teenager rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to do it right now, dammit!"

Daniel looks at you, trying to avoid Lauren's sudden bad mood.

"I'll gonna wait for you downstairs."

You nod for him while Daniel moves away from you. Then, you look at Lauren that was taking a few boxes out from the cabinet.

"Look, I'll go downtown with your dad. I'll be here soon, and then we'll leave. Be ready. I'm serious."

"Okay."

You let your older daughter alone in your bedroom, with your stuff being put in the moving boxes. Then, a suitcase caught Lauren's attention. It was beautiful, made with red velvet. She never saw that thing before. Moving by her curiosity, she opened it. Inside it, Lauren found a few things: a photo album, a necklace with a triskelion pendant, and a diary. The first thing Lauren took was the diary, and when she opened it, she saw a plane ticket to Vegas. That travel was made exactly seventeen years before she was born. With that plane tickets, Lauren also found two polaroid photographs. There, she saw you and Laura Hale with eyeglasses on a sunny afternoon in front of the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. On the back of that specific photo, a handwritten quote that made Lauren gave a fun smile:

Who cares 'bout the men?

Today, Beacon Hills

Well, Daniel was not Derek's favorite person at all. Was It due to his jealousy? Oh, probably. However, Derek still has his own moral values. It wasn't fair with Daniel what happened between you and Derek, and Hale was completely sure about it. He felt guilty, and if your relationship with Derek wasn't the best earlier, now it seems to get worse. You were feeling guilty about sleeping with him while being in a relationship with Dan, as well as Derek was. He was a nice guy. Daniel didn't deserve it.

Derek was in the hospital where Daniel was working, inside his office with both sitting at the chairs. He made a few questions that would help him to solve the supernatural problem in the city, and despite he had noticed that Daniel wasn't also his biggest fan, he was being pretty collaborative.

"...And this is all I know and saw. I was lucky, I mean, I could have died that night."

Derek nod. Yeah, he could. Despite all, Derek was glad nothing had happened with Daniel.

"Well, a friend of mine managed to escape, so I'm just trying to understand what has happened there."

Daniel stares at him while sitting in his chair, with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"You know what, Hale? I don't believe you."

Derek arched his eyebrows. He was surely not expecting that.

"...I think I haven't understood you."

"I don't know much about you, but I know you the Hales are different than the most. Inside that bar, I saw things that I can't understand, just like I can't understand things about you and your family."

Well, he really was not expecting that. After a few weird silent seconds, Derek stares at him.

"There a few things outside that could be better for you if you stay away from."

"I noticed."

"I know. You're smart."

"Yeah, Hale. I am." Daniel stood up from his chair, as well as Derek. Daniel gives him a glare, almost deadly "I'm also smart enough to know there three people in my relationship, am I right, Derek?"

Jeez... In that room and in front of that serious man, Derek could feel what feels like a punch at his stomach. Daniel's words made him dizzy.

But he wouldn't let Daniel affects him.

"I don't know, Daniel. You should talk with (Y/N) to find out. I don't have the answers you want."

"Are you sure you haven't?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." Already too annoyed to care, Derek gives his back to Daniel and walks to the door "This is not high school, Daniel. Go talk with her."

And when Derek finally opened the door to leave...

"Derek, wait."

When Derek looks at Daniel, he felt heartbroken. Daniel wasn't with a cold expression anymore. He was surely lost and... heartbroken as well.

"I'm sorry." He started to talk. "I know any of this is your fault. I just know that she is in love with you. She always has." Daniel stares at the floor, melancholic "I envy you. I wish she could love me just like he loves you."

If Daniel's goal was to let Derek without words to say, he achieved it. With the door's handle in his hand, Derek just stares at Daniel without any sign of what he could say. Dammit. It would be the right choice to put all the jealousy to the side to help him someway. Before he could stay anything, Daniel asks:

"Do you love her? Just be honest with me. I need some... Clue of what I should do."

Derek hesitates. However, if it would help him, he would answer. He nods positively, and Daniel lets out a long sigh. This time was Derek's turn to say something.

"I'm serious when I say you need to talk with her."

"I will." Daniel let out a short and humorless laugh. "I'm the intruder here."

"Daniel, I-"

"I will talk with her, Derek. Thank you."

You were heartbroken. You broke up with Daniel. You knew he was bad with it, but when you talked with him about it, you were pretty sure that was the right thing to do. He didn't ask you why you did it or how you decided it. Well, it wasn't like you didn't want to break up with him. It was just the way things happened between both of you. You knew you were being unfair and unfaithful, and that was the reason you felt so bad.

So, he decided to give you a break. You could be back with time, and he was pretty sure he could make you forget all about Derek. And talking about him... Well...

Everyone in the pack knew about you and Daniel, and that's why everyone gave you a break from everything. Without saying things directly, everyone was trying to help you to trespass this phase: Laura appeared at your house with chocolate bars and some movies suggestions to watch. Talia made your favorite food and called you to have lunch at her house. Derek gives you a break about all the supernatural stuff and about himself, and Peter gave you a lot of alcoholic drinks bottles.

But the fact was: You was so done about men! You were so done about all of that drama about Derek and Daniel! Crap! You need some rest.

Two weeks after your breakup with Daniel, you called Laura. It was 1AM, and the older Hale quickly answered your call.

"(Y/N)! What happened?"

"I know it's late, I know." You started to say, sitting on your couch with a glass of wine in one of your hands "But I needed to ask you something."

"...So this is not an emergency? You know, you're not in danger, you didn't say anything-"

"Do you have money?"

Laura's mind got a lack with your question.

"...What?"

"Do you have money? I mean..." You let out a long sigh "Girl... I'm so done with all this shit."

"Wait" Laura sat on her bed "Are you with financial problems or something like that?"

"No, girl. I was thinking about making a trip. We can buy the tickets tomorrow."

The older Hale's sister arched her eyebrows.

"Where do we wanna go?"

"Vegas. You know, who cares 'bout the men? I just want to give me a break, stop feeling guilty and all this shit."

A smile takes form on Laura's lips. She admires your will to move on, and she surely will not let you alone. And Vegas? Oh, it would be fun girls' travel.

"That's my girl. I'll buy the plane tickets right now."

And the next morning, there Laura was! Her suitcase was close to the main door of the house when Derek came from his loft. Confused, he stares at the suitcase and then his sister.

"I didn't know you would travel."

"Neither do I. But you know what? I'm kinda excited. It will be fun."

Derek arch his eyebrows. It was certainly not the answer he was asking for. Then, the doorbell rings. Talia appears from the doorframe of the living room.

"I'll open it."

And when Talia opened the door, there you are: A car was waiting on the street, and you were with a huge smile on your face. Talia's heart got warm when she saw you that way.

"Hi, dear. Laura's ready."

"Oh, really? Great, because I'm already am too."

You got into the house, and despite Derek's heart failed a beat when he saw you, he still with a huge interrogation point on his head.

"Do you talked with that friend?" Laura asked for you while she takes her suitcase from the floor.

"Yeah, he is waiting for us outside. He knows everything about Vegas. The best places to eat, to have fun..."

Completely lost about that matter, Derek followed you and his sister outside.

"Wait, are you going to Vegas?"

Before you could answer him, a car stopped behind your friend's car: It was Daniel, running in your direction. You let out a long sigh in annoyance, and Derek got even more confused. Laura looks at you with wide eyes.

And this is how things exploded: In front of the Hale house.

"(Y/N), wait!" Daniel runs in your direction "I know things got complicated between us, but can we please talk? Wait." Daniel stares at Derek, and then he stares at you "What are you doing here?"

Without any patience for all of that and already too tired to care, you stare at him.

"I'm here to take my goddamn best friend on a trip. Daniel, please, you were being great during those days, but please, don't try to create drama now."

"I'm not trying to create any drama, (Y/N). I just want to talk and solve things. I think you already had time enough to put things straight on your head, so we can talk and try to solve the things that are going wrong between us."

Oh, man... You couldn't believe it.

"Are you serious, Daniel?! What part of "we're done" you couldn't understand?!"

All that drama made the entire pack suddenly appear in the front door: While Talia watches everything with wide eyes and Laura stares at you and Dan like a tennis play, Cora, Isaac, Boyd, Erica, and Peter had run to know what the hell is going on.

Yeah, it was such a scene. A worthy soap operas drama. Oh, and things got even worse when Derek invaded your arguing with your, now, ex-boyfriend.

"Look, leave her alone. She already said what was needed."

That was enough to make Peter look at his niece Cora.

"Well, I miss pop-corn right now."

Derek's presence made Daniel blush in pure rage. His eyes stare at Hale in a homicidal way.

"No one asked anything for you, Derek. This is all your fault! We were great before you come back!"

Your eyes got widen, already knowing what all of that would result in. You knew Derek and Daniel so well to know things probably would evolve. They were two stubborn men wanting the same woman. Things would get worse, surely.

"Look" Derek approaches Daniel, with a low and threatening voice "I'll request you politely one time, and I just do it once: You'll get the hell outta here and leave (Y/N)'s alone, or I swear that I'll rip your throat."

"Enough!"

Your yell was what they needed to finally look at you. The arguing between Derek and Daniel ended with both of them looking at you. It was your turn to say a few things:

"Daniel, look at me: You're being stubborn as hell. I don't want to come back to you. I don't feel anything other than a friendship about you. That's why I broke up. I don't love you."

"You are telling me a thing that I already know, (Y/N). I'm just saying that we just need some time to-"

"We don't need time, Daniel! Do you know what we need? We need to not date! Do you got it, or do I need to draw it for you?" You stare at Derek, talking with him now "I appreciate your gentleman manners, but I know how to defend myself. And you know what?" You look at both men now, raising your middle fingers. "Fuck you both! I'm choosing myself. You guys can punch each other if you want. I don't give a fuck."

Both of them were looking at you in shock, and your face was warm in rage. Actually, everyone was looking at you in shock because you were freaking out. You yelled again, looking at your friend's car.

"Lafayette!"

From the car, a stunning black drag queen with pink hair came out.

"Hi, dear!"

"We're leaving. Could you please help Laura with her bag? Thank you!"

Lafayette approaches Laura and took her suitcase, bringing it to the car. Then, you grabs Laura's wrist and started to drag her to the car. The older Hale sister looks at everyone with wide eyes.

"Let's get outta here, Laura. I'm done with that shit!" You both got into the car, as soon as Lafayette, and you look at Laura "If you bring a man to our hotel's bedroom, I swear by God that I'll get your heart out with my hand."

You were definitely freaking out. You really were so done with all of that shit!

"Girl..." Laura stares at you, scared "You're definitely spending too much time with my family. You even learned how to threaten someone."

"Hey, girls" Lafayette looks at both of you in the backseat "No men, no drama! Let's go!"

Lafayette turns on the car, and Be Happy by CLMD starts to play loud. Then, the three of you were running to LA in the direction of a relaxing and fun trip. And to be happy.

TAGLIST: @teen-wolf-obsessed4life

[kevindayscrown]

The one where Kevin Day falls in love with an ice hockey player.

Part 15

Epilogue 

Anything included in this head canon takes place the semester after the Foxes won the championship against the Ravens.

Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about varsity teams in the United States so excuse any false information. Head over to the directory to find the previous parts, and follow this link for the fan fic version.

Kevin still carried the keys to the Court, so he was the one to lead the hockey players inside and hand them some spare equipment. Each Exy player had at least four spare sets but most of Eric’s team were either Matt’s or Kevin’s size, so they used their equipment.

Eric borrowed Matt’s uniform and gear, and Kevin watched the two from afar as they talked, raising an eyebrow as they seemed to be suspiciously getting along.

This was still a bit surreal for both teams, but so far so good. No fights broke out and, if anything, the Foxes of each team were probably starting to realize that all along, they had been contributing to a useless and pointless feud.

“Mind giving me a hand?” Eric asked Kevin, holding out the pads. Kevin raised an eyebrow as he strapped on his own knee pads and then stood up from the bench. He grabbed the ones Eric was holding out for him and helped him with them, even if he knew that the other had no need of his help.

Eric smiled at Kevin, and even if he got no smile in return, he was still satisfied with whatever intimacy the two shared.

“Here,” Kevin said and handed a spare racquet to Eric, who held it carefully in his hand and examined it. Kevin could tell that it probably felt a lot different to a hockey stick, but Eric did not hesitate.

“Ready?” Nate asked his captain, who spared a glance at his boyfriend before turning and following Matt out on the court.

Explaining the rules of the game to the hockey team was a long and vigorous process. Eventually, they all decided that they would have to learn by actually playing, and got their positions on the court.

Kevin glanced at Eric but couldn’t really read his expression through the grated front of the helmet. He could imagine, however, the other grinning like an idiot. Kevin hadn’t realized he was smiling at the thought of it.

Dan started them off and, if Kevin had been a patient person who played Exy for fun, he would have laughed at the other team’s incompetence. Instead, he didn’t hesitate to run them to the ground, perhaps as pay back for the embarrassment he had felt during his first time on ice.

Despite scoring several times, Eric eventually started catching up. He was an amazing goaltender when it came to Ice Hockey, and as time went by, it started showing on the Exy court as well.

The first time he caught the ball and stopped Kevin from scoring, Kevin halted and stared at him. This time, he could definitely tell the other was grinning. It immediately made his blood start boiling, in a familiar rush of stubborn determination to wipe it off.

The next time Kevin came for Eric, he fired at the goal with everything he had in him. However, the striker knew nothing about how Eric worked as a goaltender, unlike with his usual opponents. So, he had no idea the other was going to easily predict his move and catch the ball. Again.

“Come on Day, is that the best you can do?” Eric called. Kevin was not sure if he could tolerate someone who had no idea about Exy mocking him in such way, no matter who that was.

What started as a friendly game evolved in something else, at least for Kevin. The court was supposed to be his domain, and he wouldn’t stand for anyone proving him otherwise.

The hockey players knew how to tackle, that was for sure. Nate was close to pinning Kevin against the plexiglass, but Matt drove him off of Kevin so he could run for the goal.

He scored this time, and the friendly game ended with the Exy team having gathered more points, as predicted. Kevin was still sour though, as petty as that was. He tugged the helmet off and shoved his armored gloves in it, stepping off court.

“Damn, that went better than expected,” Nicky said with a laugh. “For a moment there, I though you might have a chance to beat us at our own game.”

Kevin sent a glare his way but Caleb laughed and patted Nicky’s shoulder in an unexpectedly friendly manner.

“Give us a bit more time and we will run you to the ground,” he said with confidence that had Kevin scoffing as he headed to the locker room. Eric followed behind and leaned in close to his ear.

“Someone is sour, even for a winner,” he said and Kevin turned to glance at him, before opening his locker and starting to shove his gear inside.

“I have nothing to be sour about when playing with someone who has no idea about the game.”

The sounds of the Foxes moving around and changing while talking amongst themselves occupied the silence between them as they got changed. It was uncharacteristic of Eric to not rebuke, but Kevin took that as a win.

Both teams filed out of the locker room but before he could follow, Kevin found himself trapped between Eric’s arms, the other’s hands pressed on the now closed lockers.

Kevin didn’t move, still facing away from him. “Is there anything you need, Jiang?” He asked, sounding smug only until he felt the other’s breath on his neck. It made Kevin shiver whole, to the point he clenched his hand again and pressed it against the locker.

“It’s kinda hot when you get all angry. But at the same time, it makes me remember why I used to want to punch you in the face,” he whispered into Kevin’s ear. Kevin closed his eyes, forcing himself to keep up the façade with a scoff.

“Did you ever really forget?” He asked. Eric laughed, and the vibrations of it against Kevin’s skin made the striker shudder yet again.

“I suppose that on the rare moments you are being affectionate, I might forget about it. But you are making it harder right now,” Eric mumbled in a soft tone. Kevin had to roll his eyes at the pun that would make Nicky very proud.

He finally turned around to look at him, their faces merely inches apart. The way his heart was pounding reminded him of older times, when the adrenaline of the fight would take over them both until they were at each other’s throats.

“You are so fucking annoying,” he whispered against Eric’s lips and closed his eyes, his hands moving to grip the hem of the other’s shirt and pull him closer.

Eric laughed again, but it was low and taunting.

“Mhm, I like you too,” he said and then pressed his lips hard against Kevin’s, pinning him back against the lockers. Kevin grunted against his lips and pressed him closer on his own body by the waist, until there was no space between them.

Kevin had once thought that he needed no distractions from Exy. Physical relationships, like the one he had developed with Thea, were the only ones he would allow himself to have. Not only that, but there had never been someone willing to try and break through the walls he had built around himself.

Somehow, it now made sense that someone as stubborn and caring like Eric would be the one to achieve that. Kevin felt as if he was genuinely happy for the first time in his life. Not necessarily just because he’d found someone who understood and was willing to be there for him, but also because finding himself in such an unfamiliar situation had tested his limits and had also tested him as a person.

“Shall we get the hell out of here?” Eric muttered as they finally pulled apart. Kevin chased after his lips for a moment until he realized what he was doing and stopped himself.

“Yes. Let’s go,” he whispered and reached to hold Eric’s hand.

He intertwined their fingers and held onto his hand, not looking back at the Foxhole Court as they left together.

[aliypop]

Youth (OC Character)

Wordcount: 635

Warning : Angst 

A/N: so this is my first Lost Boys fic with my new character Tiffany Monroe I wanted to write something to test out her Personality so I hope you guys like it! this idea was made possible by @a-supernatural-writer​

Translations :  Ma chérie s'il te plait arrête cette folie = My darling please stop this madness

Hé, tête de merde =  Hey, shit head

douleur dans mon cul est de retour = pain in my ass is back

Tiffany sat in Laddie's nest as she sang him a lullaby that she sang to a golden curly-haired girl that she once knew: The boys and Star, however, had been out hunting, and since Laddie was so small, Tiffany promised to stay with him. Watching as he fell asleep, she noticed all the toys surrounding him that Max gave him out of guilt for turning a 6-year old into a vampire. Brushing his golden hair from his face, it reminded her of,

"Claudia ... you don't mean that..." Tiffany sighed: what as her heart broke when she heard the young vampire's cries of how much she hated Louis and Lestat.  Her already pale brown skin grew lighter from every shriek and scream. From Lestat taunting her about never growing up to her cutting her curls, " Ma chérie s'il te plait arrête cette folie." Tiffany asked as she stood next to Claudia. 

"Why would you care... you're a part of them too..."  

"Because I want to understand you..." 

"Have you seen the boys..." Max asked, dismissing how Laddie had been fast asleep or the fact there was a tear in Tiffany's eyes. To say that she liked max was an understatement of her icy glare towards him. Tiffany tolerated him, but most importantly, got on his nerves.  "What's it to you ..." she rolled her eyes, lightning bolt earrings dangling from her ear. 

"Show some respect, young lady..."  Max growled, placing his hand under her chin: she knew that if the boys had seen him do that, they'd have gone feral. "I'm 199 years old... so piss off..." she flashed her fangs: as she went back to tending to Laddie, who tossed and turned. "It's okay, I'm here..." she said, as Max placed another dinosaur plushie down next to him. Dark brown eyes looked up while wisps of curly black hair followed suit to fly out of her face.

 " You can buy him all the gifts in the world... but it won't make him hate you, it'll only..." 

"What do you know about children." he snarled. 

"I raised a child that wasn't mine... I  couldn't save her. " a flash of her curls ran across her mind, "Louis couldn't save her..." her head hung low, " Not even whatever god out there could save her..." clinging onto Laddie's hand Tiffany looked up at Max rage and regret in her eyes "I will not let you take of him what Lestat took of her..." 

"And what’s that." 

" His childhood." Tiffany sighed, "Children aren't weapons for murder." she stood up, walking towards the main floor of the cave: she could hear her beloved boys coming back from their hunt. The scent of both David and Dwayne driving her wild. Chinese takeout food was under the arms of Star while Paul was already trying through to the wonton soup.  

"HEY TIF WHERE ARE YA!" Marko shouted from the top of his lungs. 

"Hé, la tête de merde! cut it out Laddie's sleep." Tiffany punched Marko in the arm. Both David and Dwayne walked in as they could feel the pain of memories that Tiffany had, the two wanted to pry, but of course, they knew it was better to wait. 

"Kitten, you okay," he asked, putting out his cigarette giving her a quick feverish kiss.

"What makes you ask that," she mumbled, watching as Max walked out. " Seems the douleur dans mon cul est de retour..."  watching as the boys gave dopey grins at her french. Tiffany wanted nothing more than to uppercut Max into the sun, and yet Marko knew she'd actually do it. 

 "You'll consider it one day dear..." Max said as he walked out of the cave "We'll be a family..." he said in a sing-song tone.

"When you burn in hell..." 

[word-ghost]

so a while back I wrote a depressing lil prologue about my farmer, Peach. Now, thanks to all the awesome people at the grapefruit sky server on discord, I have a depressing lil prologue for Harvey too 😌

late spring, year negative five

Harvey slumped forward over the planner on his desk. The next seven days stared back at him, empty other than their number in the upper right corner. The month was near the end of its climb. Soon it would tumble into the next, and it would be a year since Harvey had left his life behind.

He straightened to match the wooden back of his chair, pushing away from the desk and glancing at the drawer to the bottom right. He reached down to pull it open. The drawer shuddered on its wooden slide, the left edge scraping against its ill-fitting frame. It was still there.

When Harvey first arrived to assume the life of his aged predecessor, Pierre had gifted him a bottle of scotch to celebrate their going into business together. What he’d meant was that Harvey would be writing a rent check in Pierre’s name every month for— forever. Harvey weighed the word against his experiences over the past months.

One of his more regular patients despised him. He was lucky if half of the rest showed up on time for their appointments; if they bothered to come at all. A quarter of those who kept their appointments didn’t take him seriously.

Harvey’s hand dipped into the drawer and carefully lifted the amber-filled glass. He didn’t know much about whisky, but after a brief examination of the label, he knew this bottle was nothing special. He removed the stopper and sniffed it like he might a wine cork. A smoky-sweet scent followed the sharp sting of alcohol. Harvey checked that the closest coffee cup on the desk was empty before he poured himself what he thought to be the standard amount.

Harvey was thankful no one was around to see him flinch at the taste. His college friends had always teased him, the one who brought his own bottle of wine to parties rather than go for the keg or the cooler of punch. They had fallen out of touch after he moved, but it was his failure as much as theirs.

With the smooth burn of courage still sliding down his throat he picked up the phone. He dialed the first number to come to mind. He waited for five rings before he heard his friend’s voice, and then it was only a recorded name.

“‘Benny Lawrence’ is not available. At the tone, please record your message—”

Harvey used a finger to depress the switch, and when he lifted it the dial tone blared in his ear once again. He dialed, wedging the phone to his ear with his shoulder. He swallowed another mouthful before the third ring.

“I can’t believe I’m talking to you right now. How the hell have you been, man?” Dan’s voice was a near shout over a backdrop of car horns and fragmented voices.

“When was the last time we talked?” Harvey chuckled, mild excitement beginning to bubble over.

“Damn, I don’t know. About a year?”

“Ah. Things aren’t much different than then. But I’m not complaining.” He wasn’t sure why he’d added the last bit. Maybe even now the things he liked about Pelican Town still outweighed the things he didn’t. As if seeking confirmation, he asked, “How about you? Still enjoying city life?”

“I have more time to enjoy it these days.”

“What do you mean?”

“Better gig, better hours. I’m in pediatrics now at— oh, damn. Harv, I gotta run if I’m gonna catch my train. Talk soon, okay?”

“Oh— yeah. Soon.” Harvey tried not to sound disappointed. The momentary joy he felt hearing his friend’s voice drained away. He hung up the phone and downed his drink, its burn suffusing in his chest as he poured another.

He picked up the handset once again, fingers putting in the numbers without asking permission. On the second ring, he thought better of his actions. But before Harvey could hang up, she answered.

Hearing her voice after all these months was like rediscovering a song to which he’d forgotten the words. Whatever version of it he’d stored away in his memory paled in comparison.

“Hello?” She repeated.

“H- hi, Violet.” Harvey swallowed. “It’s— it’s been a while.”

“Harvey?” She gasped. “Why are you calling me?

“We haven’t talked since—” he faltered; the absurdity of what he was doing finally struck him. “I guess I just wanted to see how you’re doing—”

“I’m—” she started, but a voice interrupted; muffled, but familiar.

“Who is it, Vi?”

A hand shuffled over the microphone, not entirely cutting out their conversation on the other end. Harvey closed his eyes, making out some words over his pulse pounding in his ears.

“What does he want?”

“I don’t know—”

“Hang up.”

“He sounds—” There was more shuffling, and the voices were stifled.

“Harvey?” Violet said a moment later.

“I’m still here,” he said, though he wasn’t sure why.

“Is— is everything alright?”

“You’re still seeing John?”

“Yes.” She paused. He could practically hear her prickle over the wire from some hundred miles away. “We— we got married.”

“Congratulations,” Harvey said after a moment of shock, unable to control the bitter edge to his voice. He leaned his elbows on the desk and scraped his free hand through his hair.

“I thought you would have heard by now.”

“How could I have? I was— I’ve been—”

“I know.” Her honeyed voice dripped with guilt. “I’m— I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

“From you?” The whisky's warmth set his latent anger ablaze. He hadn’t meant to raise his voice. “That’s what you meant, isn’t it?”

“Don’t call here again.”

With a quiet click, the line went dead. The phone’s bell let out a fearful chirp as Harvey slammed the handset on its cradle. He gripped a handful of his hair, a knot forming in his throat. It shouldn’t have come as such a shock. But his head pounded and his stomach churned.

There was no reason Violet ever should have set her amber eyes on Harvey. He didn’t have the best grades, and he was never the most attractive person in the room. But she’d approached him at a college party, tapped her plastic cup of wine to his, and introduced herself.

From that moment their lives began to slowly merge. Her friends liked him well enough, and his buddies loved her. Their life goals were aligned. Their families got along— every splintered side of them. The years wore on, and the only problem in their relationship was him. Harvey’s eighty-hour workweeks wore him ragged. The patients he couldn’t help weighed on his conscience. And the stress of trying to achieve the dreams they had for their future caught up with him and broke him down.

Harvey couldn’t complete his internship, and Violet couldn’t accept it. Even after he sought help, and worked to improve his mental state, she wouldn’t understand why his plans had to change. Harvey believed they loved each other enough to survive anything. Violet believed she deserved to be a surgeon’s wife. Now she had everything she wanted, and she hadn’t needed him to get it.

Harvey’s thoughts swirled and clouded into a murky mess. He didn’t hear footsteps in the waiting room or the swish of the swinging door in the hall outside his office. He didn’t know anyone was there until—

“Dr. Palmer?”

Harvey whirled around. Maru stood in the doorway, eyes wide.

“Get out.” He glared at her through the tears in his eyes. His own tone gave him pause and he softened. “I’m sorry, but— please. Go.” He turned away from Maru, who hovered in the doorway, indecisive.

“What’s the matter, Harvey?” There was a softness in her voice he hadn’t heard before. Of course, he’d kept her at the same distance as anyone else.

“Please.” He leaned his elbows on his desk. His chest tightened around the breath in his lungs. “I can’t— I can’t be like this.”

What must he look like to her? No one in this town needed another reason to think him inadequate. Incapable. A small, choked sob escaped his throat and he hid his face in his hands, catching his tears before they could fall. His glasses clattered to the desk.

A gentle hand touched his shoulder, lingering there until his breaths came at a more even pace. Then, it moved to put the lid back on the bottle, and the bottle back in the drawer. It retrieved his glasses, wiped them clean, and placed them in his hands. Harvey swallowed the bitter remnants of his pride, put on his glasses, and thanked her.

“Are you okay?” Maru said, emanating patience he didn’t deserve after snapping at her.

“She— after everything.” More tears fell with the bitter laugh that left him. “Six years.”

A few versions of the story had already circled the rumor mill since he’d been around. Harvey was glad someone would finally hear his side of it. It all spilled out, and Maru listened. For a moment he felt a sliver of the warmth he had missed since he moved to the valley. The warmth he felt hearing his friend’s voice over the phone, and, as much as he hated to admit it, Violet’s too.

[flutteringdreams-matw]

Out of Time (14)

First/Last

Read on AO3

Word Count: 7283

Previously: Dan duplicated and went for Jack, Maddie and Jazz. With some help from Dani, Valerie and Vlad, they defeated Dan... not before Jazz revealed that their parents know. Also... "You okay Mr. Lancer? How did you escape?"

Mr. Lancer started to answer, but a different voice beat him.

"Tuck."

"Danny!?"

Now: Meanwhile - Lancer's in trouble. Warning: Violence, ectoplasm, some graphic descriptions.

Please let me know what you think! Feel free to drop a reply or reblog whatever. Next chapter will be out on Wednesday (link will be in the replies!)

Meanwhile...

"And what, may I ask, gave you the absurd idea to come out here in the middle of a ghost invasion?" Mr. Lancer frowned as he glared at the two teenagers in front of him. Dash and Kwan looked at each other sheepishly, neither appearing to have an answer for the vice-principal. Lancer sighed, rolling his eyes slightly as he jerked his arm backward toward the school. "No matter - get to the Nasty Burger. That's the nearest safe zone."

"Isn't the school closer?" Kwan asked, frowning slightly.

Lancer sighed again. "It would be closer, but Phantom's shield caused parts of it to cave in." he shooed them quickly. "Now go on, I don't want Tetslaff on my case tomorrow morning about two freshman on her starting line-up injured in a ghost attack."

Both boys nodded, before they jogged past the school. Lancer watched them go with a slight frown, bringing the walkie-talkie up to his mouth. "Two more coming your way Maria."

He heard the gym teacher scoff. "Only you could get away with calling me that William," she replied gruffly. "I have a reputation to uphold."

Lancer hummed non-committedly, hearing the line click as she signed off. He took a look around the school grounds, making a mental note to figure out who left their cars in the middle of the street on a Sunday during a ghost invasion. He looked up at the dark sky, frowning as he saw jagged pieces of Phantom's shield looking like it would fall.

"Mr. Lancer?"

The teacher turned at his name and his eyes widened in shock. Daniel Fenton was staggering over to him. He looked injured, tripping over his feet as wide blue eyes looked at him in alarm.

"War of the Worlds! Mr. Fenton, what are you doing out here?!" Lancer exclaimed, rushing over to the teen. They met in the middle, Danny falling into the teacher's arms with a small cry of pain. "What happened!?"

"I-" he started, looking around wildly. "The ghost - it attacked. My family - Mr. Lancer, my family!"

Lancer frowned worriedly; the boy was in hysterics. "Danny, I don't understand," he said slowly. "Deep breaths now. What about your family?" He tried to get the boy onto his feet but needed some support. "Why are you out here on your own?"

A look of confusion crossed the boy's face briefly, before it subsided. "He - that ghost," the boy started, seeming to calm down. "He went after all of us. I escaped but my family - they must still be there!"

Lancer looked the boy over - now that he was up close he saw no definite signs of injury, nor did he seem to show any illness that he claimed to have when he was last in school. Lancer frowned; the teacher had been subject to this boy's excuses for two years. Danny may lie, but when he was worried or concerned, you could hear it clearly in his voice. This? This seemed different. It was cold - distant.

"Where? Your parents have been fighting for hours around the city - I saw your mother not too long ago." He turned west, toward the park with a frown. "Are you sure they were captured?" The boy nodded earnestly. "Alright, let's get you to the Nasty Burger and then we can get to your family."

Danny frowned. "The Nasty Burger?"

Lancer let go of the teen, seeing that he was stable now, and headed toward the local hangout, beckoning the student to follow. "The nearest safe area?" he supplied, a questioning eyebrow raised in Danny's direction. Again, a brief look of confusion flashed across his face - Lancer could have sworn the boy's eyes were red - before it disappeared, the boy in question nodding in acceptance.

They walked in silence, Danny following the teacher closely as Lancer spared him another glance. Danny's eyes were darting around but he held a small smile that made the man's skin crawl.

Something was wrong.

"Hey Mr. Lancer?" Danny called out evenly. They locked eyes, Lancer giving a small nod inviting him to continue as he faced forward. "Whatever happened to the test I cheated on?"

Lancer bristled, surprised by the question. "I don't follow."

"You know? Last year?" the boy continued. There was something in his voice that Lancer couldn't place. "The C.A.T.?"

Mr. Lancer stopped, eyes widening and not turning around. He heard the boy do the same a short distance away. He swallowed slightly, licking his lips before he answered. "You didn't cheat on the C.A.T." he said calmly.

"Oh," Danny's voice was tart now, something more sinister underneath. "What happened to the answers then?"

The teacher's gasped slightly, getting unnerved at the line of questioning. "Danny… you gave those to me." He turned around to face his student, suspicion rising throughout his being. What did the Fentons say about overshadowing?

The teen's eyes were dark, a scowl plastered across his face at the answer. "You know," the boy said darkly, not hiding any malice in his voice. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." The teen's body started to glow, red eyes radiating heat around them. Mr. Lancer stumbled backward, trying to get away from whatever was possessing his student. "If you didn't bring my family to the Nasty Burger, telling them about that test… I would have never existed. I suppose I have to thank you."

What!? Lancer thought, mouth opening and closing as green energy started to swirl around the boy's body. "American Psycho!"

The ghost, laughed, mixing in with Danny's voice, unnerving the teacher. "Do you see it yet Mr. Lancer?" he asked sinisterly. "The resemblance? Come on - you're a smart man." The ghost moved toward him, making Lancer move backward to get away. "It's the end for you," the ghost said, smiling as his hand lit up with the same green energy that surrounded him. As it raised its hand in striking position, it gasped - a red vapour coming from its nose. It barely registered the sensation before a black and white blur slammed into the ghost with a yell. The blur stopped, hovering in front of teacher as the ghost was flown backward, skidding across the concrete.

Lancer let out a sigh of relief as Phantom turned around, looking at him worriedly. "Are you okay Mr. Lancer?" His voice was gruff and low, as if it took too much energy to keep speaking.

"Better thanks," he said, eyes still wide as he looked at the scowling ghost thrown back. Phantom's gaze followed, a grim expression washing across his face.

"Still alive, I see," the ghost snarled, staggering upright. It still unnerved the man that he was in his student's body.

Phantom's eyes narrowed. "You seriously need to chill out." Lancer watched as the teen hero's eyes turned blue, as did his hands as he sent a blast of ice toward Danny Fenton's body. As the boy froze, Phantom turned back to the teacher. "You need to get out of here," he said urgently, landing and bringing a hand to his chest. "Dan won't rest until he kills you."

Lancer thought he might throw up. Dan…. Like Daniel? "Me?!" he asked incredulously. The teacher shook his head. "No wait - what about Mr. Fenton?"

Phantom tensed, frowning at the teacher. "That isn't Danny Fenton," he said darkly. "And it never will be."

"Come again?" Mr. Lancer asked weakly, looking to the frozen figure a few feet away. His form seemed to be melting the ice.

"When was the last time you saw him?" Phantom pressed, facing the frozen ghost and holding his arm out protectively to stop the teacher from running over. "Think Mr. Lancer - when was the last time you saw Danny Fenton."

Lancer blinked at the question. "Friday," he answered, looking ahead. "And he was ill."

Phantom raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you really think the Fentons would let him out to fight ghosts if he was ill? He's still hold up at Fentonworks under the ghost shield." Dan broke through the ice with a roar, cutting off their conversation. Phantom's jaw set, eyes narrowing as Dan mirrored his stance. "Mr. Lancer - you need to get out of here. I don't know how long I can hold him back."

Two rings of white light appeared at the imposter's waist, transforming him in a larger, flame haired ghost. Lancer gasped, turning back to the younger ghost in front of him; the boy did not look well.

"Will you-" he started, but Phantom glanced backward, a side glare indicating that he over stayed his welcome. "Be careful." With one last warning, Lancer ran toward Casper High, the closest place away from the feuding ghosts.

:-=-:

As Mr. Lancer finally left, Danny allowed himself one moment of relief before glaring across at his older self. I need to get him out of the city, Danny thought frantically as Dan stalked over. The older Phantom was furious, running toward him with a wordless roar. Danny braced himself, going into a fighting stance before Dan reached him, blocking a punch to the face. Danny ducked, sweeping his injured leg with a wince, knocking Dan off his feet and punching the older ghost in the face. Dan recoiled, growling slightly as he launched at the teen again, tackling him to the ground.

Dan grinned as he pinned the younger Phantom to the ground, punching him repeatedly in the face. After the sixth punch, Danny managed to free an arm and with a grunt threw Dan off of him. He rolled over with a groan, coughing slightly as he attempted to stand, ignoring the small drops of ectoplasm coming from his face. He gasped suddenly, flipping back in the air as Dan came at him again with a flurry of punches. Danny dodged them all. Eventually, he found a small opening and punched Dan clean in the gut. It hit true, sending Dan flying backward with a grunt of pain.

Danny dropped to one knee, wincing heavily as he eyed his evil counterpart. "You won't win," Danny told him, breathing hard as he glared at the ghost in front of him.

Dan smirked as he got up, breathing equally as hard. "Really? I thought I already had?" he goaded. "Face it Danny, you're fighting a losing battle here. Either I waste you now or I wait until you run the clock out on yourself. You may have saved Lancer - for now - but how about our parents? Jazz?"

Danny's eyes lit up in anger as he stood up. Plan be damned. Danny breathed deeply and let out a desperate Ghostly Wail. It caught Dan by surprise, sending him back toward a shop with a crash. The wail didn't last long, Danny cutting it off with a strangled cry of pain as he dropped to his knees. One hand came to his burning throat, the other curled around his side as the rings of light attacked him again. That was stupid, Danny berated, gasping as green sparks of energy attacked his core.

He was exhausted, wondering how he would ever think of getting Dan to the forest now as he doubled over. "Come on," he grunted, trying to focus through the pain. "You're not done yet."

A crash from afar had his head whipping up. Dan flew upward, hands alight with ecto-energy racing toward him. The evil Phantom landed forcefully on the ground, creating a shockwave of energy outward from the impact. It hit Danny in the chest, sending him crashing into a light post. The boy shook his head, trying to clear it and stand up. Another round of sparks attacked him, keeping him grounded as Dan moved toward him.

"It's like I've said before," Dan said as he finally reached him. "I'm inevitable." He picked the boy up by the collar and flung him across the road, hitting one of the abandoned cars with a sickening crash. Danny groaned, moving slowly and glaring at Dan.

Suddenly, Dan stopped - a blank expression on his face. Danny barely had a chance to register it before something shifted. Dan contorted, looking more animalistic than he ever had. He bared his fangs, tongue hanging out and red encompassed his irises. He let out a roar - sonic waves coming out, making Danny fall again. The teen looked up with wide eyes, frozen in the face of sheer power coming from his evil self. The roar caused the car windows to explode outwards as they cracked, bits of rubble started to break apart from the ground; this was no wail. This was raw energy. Red eyes locked with green and with a vicious smile Dan teleported in front of Danny, grabbing the injured teen by the throat. The teen let out a cry of pain as he was choked for the third time that day.

"You told them?!" Dan hissed, his ghostly echo much deeper than it was normally.

Danny let out another cry of pain as he stared at his evil self with wide eyes. What?

"Our parents." Dan continued, eyes narrowing. "They know who we are… and they accepted it." He threw Danny roughly into another car, causing the car alarm to go off. Quickly, Dan flew over again, grabbing him by the arm and put a foot on the boy's back. He pushed Danny toward the ground, hearing the small gasps of pain the boy beneath made. With a dark grin he pulled Danny's arm upward and after a sickening pop, Danny's shoulder came out of his socket. He barely registered the younger's scream through his fury.

Dan snarled, letting go of his arm to grab a fist full of his hair. "You don't deserve their acceptance!" He growled. The evil Phantom hurled Danny in the air; hands alight with green energy and sent a strong ecto-blast toward him.

The blast hit him straight on and with a shout, Danny was sent flying backward. His back hit the school hard, bouncing off it slightly as he slid to the ground. He groaned, looking around blurredly in the direction of his future self. So much for getting him out of the city.

"Was the old man worth it Danny?" Dan jeered at him. Danny's hands curled into fists at the sound of the ghost's voice. "You're weakened and alone, my duplicates are taking care of the family and what are you going to do?" Danny's aura shone brighter in anger as his vision cleared. Dan was staring at him almost gleefully, white fangs shining eerily over the town ahead. He started to walk toward the downed teen, hands alighting in green ghost energy. "Your whole world is ending and you're powerless to stop it."

Danny's core throbbed angrily at those words, filling him almost to the edge with harsh electrical energy. His aura sparked to life again and with a quick change of colour in one of his eyes, Danny released a strong ecto-blast coated with electricity straight from his core. It hit its mark, making the ruthless Dan duplicate disappear with a wordless shout of surprise. Finally free of the onslaught, Danny whimpered slightly, sinking lower into the ground as raw green sparks racked his battered frame.

Why'd I think this was a good idea again? He thought bitterly, wincing as something burned at his side. He moved his good arm slowly, vaguely realizing that it was the same side he was hit earlier and swore as his white gloves were smeared with ectoplasm. Not good.

He fumbled slightly with his belt, ignoring the searing pain from his dislocated shoulder as he attempted to grab the Ecto-Enhancers. Come on! As he finally grabbed the pouch, his fingers twitched, sending the Ecto-Enhancers out of reach on the ground in front of him. Danny glared at the small pouch, trying to levitate it closer but pain erupted through his entire being, letting out strangled moan as his vision blackened.

"Help," he whispered desperately, pushing his injured vocal chords further. To his ears, it sounded like he was yelling. He closed his eyes, finding it too hard to keep them open. "Someone. Help."

His injuries and his exhaustion were finally starting to get to him. Vlad wasn't kidding - this sucks. He tried to move again before he was stopped by sharp pains shooting through his ribcage. Broken rib... great. The distance sounds around started to fade as started to lose consciousness.

Danny didn't know how much time had passed when heard hesitant footsteps. Here, he thought desperately. I'm over here. The footsteps got closer. A clang of metal then he heard a voice.

"Brave New World!"

:-=-:

Lancer thought wildly as he hid under his desk in his office. Ghost shield's broken; can't head for the Nasty Burger while those two are at it. More explosions shook the ground as the two ghosts clashed violently outside. Lancer swallowed thickly, glancing to the flashes of green that illuminated the office. Come on Phantom he thought desperately.

The glass shattered as another explosion echoed outside. The teacher shuddered, glancing at the exit as he heard voices yelling outside. If he got to the gym, at least there would be something he could use to defend himself. He crawled out from under his desk, dusting himself off before he gave the exit another glance.

Another crash, a car alarm and a scream reached his ears. The gym it is. The man took off. He made it down two hallways before the building shook in a terrible explosion. Lancer gasped, watching as some of the lockers broke away from the walls, falling into the hall and blocking the way he came. When the building stopped shaking, Lancer continued his journey. He made it to the equipment room, opened it with a shaking hand only to be blocked by equipment that had fallen over. Great. Lancer looked in the small opening of the doorway, reaching inside to grab the best weapon that he could find. His hand found something cold and metallic, which he withdrew very quickly. It was an old beaten golf club. Since when did we have a golf team!? Nodding slightly at the weapon, he glanced to Tetslaff's office. Frowning slightly, he opened the door, peering into it. Once he realized it was clear, he moved to enter it before stopping.

It was too quiet.

Lancer paused, listening for any sounds from the outside world. No explosions, no screams and no ground shaking. He breathed deeply, waiting for something… anything to give him a clue of what was happening. A few minutes passed before he let out a breath. It must be over. He turned back in the direction of his office, wincing as he assessed the damage. "Insurance better cover that," he muttered, turning back to the gym hallway. He was close to the parking lot exit - not the best escape route but better than a sitting duck.

Lancer made his way slowly, golf club at the ready, as he moved through the corridor. He stopped briefly as he passed a window, sucking in a breath at the debris littering the football field. Careful to avoid the broken glass, he continued, keeping a close ear for anything out of the ordinary. When he reached the door, he paused, frowning. The last time I was outside, Phantom and that other ghost were about to…what do the kids call it? Throw Out? Do I really want to go out there? The teacher listened again, waiting at the door for some sort of sign that it was safe. Did they move elsewhere? No explosions, no signs of any fight nearby. He waited a few more minutes before taking a deep breath and opened the door.

The whole block was destroyed; cars with dents, craters on the ground, a few fires here and there. Lancer's jaw dropped, staring at the utter destruction. Green eyes looked at a particular deep crater with smears of green across the pavement. He felt his body move before he was aware, carefully following the green substance through the parking lot until he saw something crumpled on what was left of the wall of the school.

Rather - someone.

Lancer had never seen Danny Phantom so still; the teen's body was littered in injuries. He had his eyes closed, breathing shallowly while he gripped his side. The green ectoplasm oozed out of his body, looking more and more like blood with every second. Lancer's grip on the golf club loosened, letting it fall with a clang onto the ground. Phantom flinched slightly, curling his fist.

"Brave New World!" the teacher exclaimed, eyes widening at the spectre in front of him. Lancer moved toward the boy, kicking a small black pouch with a familiar logo on its front. "What-" Lancer started, picking it up and glancing back toward Phantom. The man jumped, gasping as Phantom's luminous green eyes looked at him desperately. "Phantom - are you... is that…" Phantom's eyes moved toward the pouch, back toward the teacher and back down to the pouch. Lancer frowned, his gaze following Phantom's to the item in his hand. "You need this?" Lancer asked. The ghost opened his mouth to respond, only voicing a strangled gasp and a wince in pain. Phantom nodded slowly, looking at the teacher with a silent plea.

Lancer un-zipped the pouch as he moved to Phantom's side. The young ghost's eyes followed him, blinking heavily as if he would fall unconscious at any point. Lancer's eyes widened, looking at the glowing green syringes and then back to the teen. "Stay with me," Lancer said gently, ignoring his trembling hands and offered the syringes to Phantom. The ghost moved, attempting to take one before he closed his eyes with a grimace in pain. He swallowed, breathing heavily before he opened an eye and looked at Lancer. Lancer looked at the syringes, then back up to Phantom as he realized what the ghost was trying to ask him. "You want me to give this to you?" Lancer asked slowly. Phantom's eye closed, pushing his head back toward the wall of the school before he nodded. Lancer's frown deepened, taking one of the syringes out of the pouch. His hands were shaking still as he moved it towards the boy's arm. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, noting that his voice too was shaking. Phantom's eyes opened again, green meeting green as they tried to communicate. Finally, Lancer nodded, steadying his hand as he injected the contents of the mysterious glowing substance into the ghost.

Phantom's eyes closed, a sharp gasp escaping his lips as the syringe became empty. "Phantom?" Lancer asked softly. He didn't respond. A small sense of panic and worry shot through the teacher. "Phantom, are you alright?" Lancer moved a hand to the ghost's face, touching it gently as he tried to get Phantom to wake up. Please don't tell me I destroyed our town hero. "Phantom, can you open your eyes? You need to stay awake. You're losing too much… blood? Is that your blood?"

Phantom let out a short wheezy laugh which turned into a small fit of coughs. Once they subsided, he nodded, finally opening his eyes and locked onto the teacher. Lancer sighed in relief, falling back to lean on the school wall. "You have to stay awake - my first aid training only covers humans you know." Phantom sent him a quizzical look. "What? I'm a teacher in the most haunted city in America. You think I wouldn't know first aid?"

Phantom gave him a small smile. "'kay," he rasped, wincing.

Lancer frowned, noticing the dark bruises around the ghost's neck; the evil Phantom might have crushed the boy's vocal chords. He then looked to Phantom's side where his blood seemed to have slowed. Odd. "What did I do to you?" he asked quietly, trying to keep Phantom conscious.

Phantom made a face, attempting to speak but a small groan came out instead. He closed his eyes tiredly, breathing through the pain. "Heal," he managed after a while, his voice still raspy and low.

At least I know I won't kill him. "Okay," Lancer said, swallowing slightly. Green eyes looked over the injured hero, finding the dislocated shoulder. He frowned. Phantom may not be able to stay awake if I reset it. "Phantom?" The boy hummed in response, opening his eyes slowly. "Your shoulder is dislocated, I can fix it but you need to stay awake. Can you talk to me as I'm doing it?"

Phantom groaned. "Hurts," he ground out, grimacing as green sparks appeared at his waist. Lancer's eyes widened as they coursed through the boy for a few minutes before disappearing. Phantom's eyes closed, groaning again as he leaned heavily against the wall of the school. "Story," Phantom whispered weakly, eyes scrunched tight.

"Story?" Lancer repeated, furrowing his brow. "You want me to tell you a story?"

"Distract-" Phantom cut himself off with a gasp as more sparks moved through him.

Lancer swallowed as Phantom's body tensed through the pain. Distraction… he wants me to distract him. "Okay, but you need to pay attention," he said gently. "I've had enough students fall asleep in class - don't want to add you to the list."

Phantom smiled, a hint of amusement on his face. "Teacher…..Boring," he wheezed.

Lancer's eyebrows rose. "Are you calling me boring Phantom?" he asked with a smile. The smile faded as Phantom's jaw clenched and more sparks moved through him. "Okay, okay - I'll make it an interesting one," Lancer rushed. "You just stay with me alright?"

Phantom nodded, relaxing slightly. Lancer frowned, moving to Phantom's left to get closer to his arm. "Did you know I have a playbook to guilt students into studying?" Phantom's eyebrows rose, but didn't open his eyes nor respond. "It's true. In my years of teaching, I had to get creative. Besides, my students - thankfully - don't want to learn much about my social life and figured I could mess with them. Interesting enough for you?"

Phantom opened his eyes and looked at the teacher, inviting him to continue.

"I'll take that as a yes," Lancer said, gingerly taking Phantom's arm in one hand and placing the other on his shoulder. He had to time this right. "So my ultimate play works like a charm. See, I have a photo of my sister on my desk and lead the wayward students to believe I don't have enough time to see her since I spend most of the time tutoring students." Lancer had Phantom's attention now, the boy's eyes swimming with confusion. "Here's the thing Phantom," Lancer continued, prepping himself to move the shoulder back into place. "I don't have a sister." Phantom's eyebrows rose incredulously. Here goes. "That photo? It's of me on Drag night."

"Wha-OW" Phantom yelped hoarsely. Lancer moved quickly, putting the shoulder back in place. The teacher grinned sheepishly, watching Phantom's eyes close tightly as the pain moved through him, hissing through his teeth.

"Derek thinks it's hilarious that no one has figured it out," Lancer said quickly, attempting to have Phantom focus back on the story rather than his pain. "He's even offered to dress up as Edwina Lancer to sell it one of these days as a play on my middle name. I think perhaps Ms. Fenton figured it out but she's never said anything nor told her brother, which worked in my favour last year."

Phantom looked at the teacher with wide eyes, gasping as he attempted to process both the pain and the story. "Derek?" he asked with another grimace.

Lancer smiled softly. "My partner; he travels a lot for work so we only ever see each other on the weekends."

Phantom was quiet for a few minutes, breathing deeply through the pain. "Why this story?" Phantom asked finally, his voice sounding less wheezy as he moved to sit up straighter. Lancer helped steady him when he faltered.

Lancer shrugged. "I get to go home to him after all this is over, thanks to you." Phantom gave him a small smile. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, Phantom throwing his head back against the wall of the school as he healed. It was Lancer who broke it. "Can I ask you a question?" Phantom turned to Lancer, nodding. "What was that ghost? He clearly did a number on you."

Phantom's smile disappeared, a dark haunted look drifting across his face. "Someone who shouldn't exist," he said quietly.

Lancer frowned at the response. "He said I created him," Lancer continued. "He wanted me dead."

Phantom shook his head. "You didn't," the teen assured, swallowing slightly. His voice was stronger now. "He's… a lot to explain." Phantom let out a long sigh. "Do you remember the C.A.T. last year?"

Lancer nodded, remembering the evil Phantom saying the same words.

"There was a timeline that caused some stuff to happen - really bad stuff," Phantom continued, shuddering slightly. "That combined with some really stupid choices on my part caused his existence. I defeated him once with some help, but he escaped."

"Sounds like a lot of time travel and alternate reality stuff," Lancer replied with a small smile.

"Kind of, yeah" Phantom said sheepishly. He swallowed again, pushing his head back against the wall and breathed deeply.

"Wait…" Lancer said, realizing something. "Is that why Danny Fenton turned in those answers? Because you asked him to?"

Phantom chuckled darkly. "Nah. He found out what would happen on his own; realized it was too high a cost."

Lancer frowned at the ghost's tone. Danny had been so relieved when he found out he could do the make-up test, showed up for detention on time and accepted it all in stride. In fact, he seemed like he expected more punishment than what was given. It took him months to realize that it wasn't so big of a deal once he came clean. "What cost was that?"

Phantom shuddered. "You really don't want to know," he said cryptically.

Lancer tried to reply, but was interrupted by a faint explosion in the distance. Phantom's head moved toward the sound, face hardening. The teacher frowned as he saw Phantom's eyes clouding in thought and concern. "You're not healed completely, are you?"

"No." Phantom's curt reply came with a frown. They sat in silence again, a few more explosions coming drifting to their ears before a light sparked in his eyes. "Do you have your cell phone?" Lancer frowned, taking out the older flip phone and showed it to the ghost. "I have an idea - can you call FentonWorks?

"FentonWorks?" Lancer repeated.

Phantom nodded, shifting slightly with a wince. "Yeah - they're supposed to have the ghost shield up soon."

Lancer furrowed his brow, but dialled the familiar number nonetheless. Phantom gave him a stiff nod before he leaned back against the brick with closed eyes. It rang twice before an automated message erupted through the speakerphone.

"You've reached FentonWorks!" Jack Fenton's voice boomed. "If this is a ghost related emergency, please stay on the line - or holler! We're probably there already. For the fudge watch, please press 1, if you're the V-man - HI VLADDIE! - press 2, if you're trying to reach my Jazzy-pants for a date hang up -"

"Dial 4304," Phantom told him. "Jack goes on a while, and that extension goes to the lab."

Lancer gave him a look of bemusement and did what he was told. It rang twice before someone picked up. "Hello?" he said.

Various voices filled the other line, too far and mumbled in the background for the teacher to make out. Lancer frowned, looking at Phantom for some guidance. Phantom's brow was furrowed in thought, perhaps trying to figure out the voices, but said nothing. Eventually, a voice got closer.

"What do you mean you don't know who's on the phone?" a young man's voice asked. Lancer didn't hear the reply. "Did you answer it?" again, the reply was too quiet to hear. "Clockwork, you're the Master of - for the love of all things technology Frostbite don't touch that!" Phantom grinned- actually grinned - as the voice continued to berate Frostbite for touching something called a 'Ghost Gabber'.

"What exactly is going on?" Lancer asked meekly. Phantom shrugged in response, still smiling.

"Check the infirmary for more gauze - Mrs. F has them stacked," the young man's voice continued, getting louder as he got to the phone. Lancer frowned, finally recognizing that he knew this voice. "You've reached FentonWorks Base Operations."

"Sound and the Fury - Mr. Foley?!" Lancer exclaimed. "What are you doing down there?"

"Mr. Lancer?" Tucker asked in disbelief. "What - you know what, never mind. The Fentons have me manning coms while they're out 'kicking ghost butt.' What's wrong - there's kind of a lot going on at the moment."

Lancer raised an eyebrow at the teen's tone. "More than whatever evil ghost we're facing demolishing the entire town? Or rather the school?"

"What!?" Tucker exclaimed. "Damn, he must have duplicated again without us knowing. You okay Mr. Lancer? How did you escape?"

Lancer went to reply, but Phantom chose to intervene. "Tuck," he said.

Tucker was quiet for a few moments before he spoke in a soft, hopeful whisper. "Danny!?"

Phantom smiled. "It's me." Lancer looked between the phone and the ghost in slight confusion. There was something more there that he wasn't privy to. Were these two friends!?

"Dude - where the hell have you been!?" Tucker asked incredulously, the relief evident in his voice. Definitely friends. "Are you okay?" the boy cut himself off. "No - wait Danny! Sam -"

"Is fine," Phantom told him firmly. "She's with Ethelwulf, safe and away from battle."

Tucker scoffed. "You do realize that Ethelwulf is currently holding off Dan's forces from entering parts of the city right? If she's with him, you know she's fighting too."

Phantom sighed, clearly amused. "So much for plan A then," he replied.

Sam… wait. "You're not talking about Sam Manson!?" Lancer exclaimed. His outburst went ignored.

"Danny, what happened," Tucker pressed. "You've been gone for - holy f - twelve hours. Please don't tell me you've been fighting all this time." Phantom was silent and Lancer had a sinking suspicion that was exactly what had happened. Tucker seemed to agree with the teacher. "Dude. Are you okay?"

Phantom's face twisted in concentration as he tried to answer the boy's question. "I - honestly I don't know."

Tucker was silent on the line for a minute before he responded. "Where are you?"

Phantom seemed to be taken aback by the question. "Tuck -" he started.

"Don't you dare lie to me right now," Tucker said angrily. "Danny - where are you." When Phantom didn't respond, the boy changed tactics. "Mr. Lancer - where are you two?"

Phantom gave him a pleading look, making the teacher frown but he answered nonetheless. "Casper's north parking lot Mr. Foley. Near the entrance."

"Tucker - you can't come out here," Phantom pleaded. "You're the only one who can -"

"Figure out the shield, I know," Tucker finished. There were some keys clicking in the background. "But I'm not leaving you out there."

Phantom frowned. "We may not have a choice," he said cryptically as blue and green sparks appeared again. Lancer was impressed at how well the boy weathered them now. "How close are you with the shield?"

Tucker sighed. "I'd say about 90% positive that I accounted for all the variables, but I'm not using it until we know that you aren't affected. We can hold Dan off until that point."

Phantom grunted in acknowledgement but did not reply right away. Lancer frowned at the quiet ghost, watching him in anticipation. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Phantom broke the silence. "You said Dan duplicated," he said quietly. "How're - "

"They're okay," Tucker assured him. "Well, your - Mr. and Mrs. Fenton are. I haven't heard from Jazz but I think Mrs. F went after her. Mr. Fenton went to find you."

Phantom nodded, eyes glancing above toward the last remnants of the green shield. "90%?" he asked. Lancer noted with unease how the boy seemed to glow slightly in anticipation, how he tested the movements of his fists, wincing only slightly if he found something a little sore.

"Yeah," Tucker confirmed. A beat of silence before Tucker gasped. "No. No way."

"Tucker," Phantom said tiredly. "90% is a lot. It's more than we had - and we need that shield."

"No," Tucker repeated quickly. "Don't ask me to do this."

"What are you talking about?" Lancer asked, confused.

Tucker sighed. "Danny, if I put up that shield and we're wrong, I'm going trap you out there. I can't - hell, you look awful."

Both Phantom and Lancer bristled, the former's eyes darting around before finding the surveillance camera near the school entrance. The boy let out a soft "oh", then sighed. Lancer's eyes followed Phantom's as he pieced everything together.

The teacher frowned disapprovingly. "Mr. Foley," he started evenly. "You didn't just hack into the school cameras, right?"

"Technically speaking - no," Tucker replied, a hint of guilt coming through his voice. "The mayor gave the Fentons access to all the cameras in the city."

"And how, exactly, did you know which camera it was?" Lancer asked.

"… I plead the fifth."

Lancer sighed. "Of course you do."

Phantom let out a fast stream of air through his nose before he stared straight into the camera in question. "Tucker, you need to put up the Ghost Shield; if you do, I can take mine down. It'll send Dan and his forces out of the city."

"With you out there like a lamb to slaughter?" Tucker countered. Lancer made a small noise of approval at the simile.

"Look - if I'm stuck out there, I'll have Ethelwulf and Sam out there with me." Phantom smiled ruefully. "Besides, there's something going on with my core. Even if we were at 100% there'd be a chance this wouldn't work."

"So you're saying regardless of whatever we do, I need to let you go out there injured? Fat chance."

"Tucker -"

"No Danny, you listen!" Tucker shot back angrily. "You're my best friend! Don't ask me to do this - it's literally life and death here."

"Don't you mean death and death?" Phantom joked.

"I'm not making this call," Tucker stated firmly, ignoring the small attempt deflection. "You asked me to put up that shield as part of a plan - that plan did not include you sacrificing yourself to save us."

"And what about the town?" Phantom shot back. Phantom's aura flared as he argued with the camera. "What about all the ghosts that Dan pushed out of the Ghost Zone? That shield can protect everyone in Amity and more importantly - I trust you Tucker. You always have my back."

Lancer sat in the silence that followed with his thoughts racing at what he heard. Mr. Foley saying that Phantom was his best friend confirmed Ms. Manson's involvement - meaning that Mr. Fenton must also be involved.

With ghosts. His students were involved with ghosts.

What was even more peculiar was Mr. Foley's hesitancy in his skills. Lancer knew he was a strong student - even stronger when technology was involved - but the oozing self confidence that normally accompanied his skills was nowhere to be seen. It must be dire if he's this unsure.

Phantom looked away from the camera and to the phone still in Lancer's hand. His eyes held a sad resolve as he spoke. "You told me you'd see my self-sacrificing ass from a mile away - I promise you that's not what this is. I'll be back Tucker. We need to get Dan out of the city, then I'll meet up with Ethelwulf and Sam in the forest. Ethelwulf will teleport us back. Tucker - if we get this shield up, I can actually recover."

Tucker sighed. Lancer assumed the young hero was getting through to his student. "What did Sam say?" When Phantom didn't answer, Tucker tried again. "Danny - you and I both know that Sam would not go along with that plan willingly. Especially if you looked half as bad as you do now. So what did you have to say to get her to agree to this plan?"

Lancer watched in slight amusement as Phantom looked flustered and slightly embarrassed by the question. It was almost as if … wait - could it be?

"I told her I'd come back," Phantom replied simply. His eyes avoided the camera, phone and teacher.

"That's it?" Tucker pressed. Lancer suddenly noticed the teasing shift in tone.

"Well - it was more how I said it rather than what I said."

Tucker suddenly laughed, making Phantom scowl. "Dude. You told her, didn't you?" he asked slyly.

Lancer watched Phantom sputter embarrassingly, making a lot of denial noises and looking very uncomfortable. Oh Mr. Fenton - you missed your chance.

Another loud explosion brought them back to reality. Phantom swallowed, any form of embarrassment gone as he tried to reason with the teen. "I get why you don't want to make the call Tuck," Phantom started. "I do - so let's do this together. Put up the shield and I'll be back. Promise."

There was a long silence before they heard Tucker exhaled loudly. "Okay," he replied softly. "I trust you."

Phantom smiled softly. "You're my best friend too, you know."

"I know. Hey Danny -" Tucker stopped, his voice cracking.

"Me too," Phantom said gently. He glanced back at the camera and nodded. "I'll be back."

"Good," Tucker told him, any emotion in his voice was replaced with a happier, joking tone. "Because if you miss my birthday next week cause you died, I'm running up your tab at the Nasty Burger."

Lancer watched as a genuine smile came across Phantom's face at the abrupt shift in tone. "The usual?" he asked.

"With extra everything," Tucker confirmed. More key clicks. "I'll get the shield up in 5 minutes. Be careful."

With a soft click, the line disconnected. Phantom sighed and looked at the teacher. "Thanks Mr. Lancer," he said, pushing himself upward. Lancer scrambled upward to help, but the teen simply jumped in the air and hovered in place. "Thanks to you, we can get that shield up and protect the town. And for you know… not letting me bleed out all over the parking lot."

Lancer frowned, looking the boy over. "Why do I feel that Mr. Foley was right? That going back into a fight like this would do you more harm than good?"

Phantom smiled, shrugging with one shoulder. "Probably because he is," he replied simply. "Besides, I'm not fighting alone. Between the Fentons, the Shield and my allies, we got a pretty good shot of getting him out of Amity Park. This will work."

Lancer nodded. "I can't stop you then?" he asked. Phantom shook his head. "Then perhaps a reminder, Danny Phantom, that Amity Park is with you."

With a determined nod and a small smile, Phantom disappeared. Lancer sighed heavily, looking down at the spot Phantom occupied just a moment ago. He knelt down, picking up the discarded pouch with one syringe left in it. Pocketing it with a frown, he then took out the Walkie Talkie. "Tetslaff - it's me. I'm on my way over. And do I have a story for you."

[extremelyblackandwhite]

handmaid - 33

PAIRING: mob!sebastian stan x ingenue!reader

WARNINGS: age gap, guns

A/N: we’re a few chapters away from the end and i’m much too emotional. hope you enjoy this chapter x

NEXT CHAPTER

Her reflection in the mirror was quite clear: the handmaid was dressed like a bridesmaid. She observed the tiny details of the dress which reached all the way to the ground, the same tiny details reproduced on every single dress any of her bridesmaids were wearing and in that exact moment, Y/N never felt more hypocritical than ever before wearing a celebration dress for a celebration she didn’t want to celebrate. She really wanted to be happy for her and if she were marrying anyone else, she would’ve been so excited, but she wasn’t. Gwen was marrying Sebastian, she was marrying the man she was in love with and the man who was unknowingly the father of her baby. 

Everything just seemed to happen in slow motion and she felt herself leave more and more from the scene as she stood there in her bridesmaid dress and berry coloured lipstick with no one talking or even noticing she was there. For the first time in her life she realised how invisible she was to everyone in that room. Every single person in that room had once asked for her help being with homework or lying and she was still as invisible as ever. As the bridal party exchanged various gifts to be used on her “first night” along with unholy amounts of champagne and expensive gourmet canapés, Y/N took away from the bedroom, slowly and quietly closing the door. The halls of the Ritz were filled with several guests from mob families’ heads to their friends, celebrities, public personalities and rich people waiting for the time to get a peek the blushing bride. Y/N would have easily swayed through the crowd and returned to her bedroom had it not been for a few flower girls running around in their puffy taffeta baby pink dresses with their hair up in silky ribbons with some flowers peppered around. 

She didn’t know if it was her hormones playing tricks on her or if the lack of sleep had finally caught up to her but she couldn’t help but stare at them with an inherent sadness as her hand rested against her stomach. Was she gonna even have enough to provide for her child? The pay checks coming from being in Sebastian’s employment wouldn’t be enough for more than the first year and with the economy, Y/N didn’t think someone would be looking for an English Literature major. She had never even had experience in the field, being forbidden to do a internship year at the British Museum with the excuse that it would be much too dangerous. How was she gonna provide for the baby? Maybe she could get a job as a waitress in Paris, the city was filled with cafés and restaurants. 

Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but feel worry as her thumb caressed her stomach. Turning her head away from the playing children she continued her way down the hall until the lift that would take her to her bedroom. Y/N watched the numbers of the doors go down until she noticed Sebastian’s door. Unlike Gwen’s door, there was no one awaiting outside, it was void of any seemingly curious people about the groom. She should really keep walking and not get in, yet she felt pity for him not having his mother or his father on his wedding day and so she knocked softly on his door, opening it to see Sebastian walking from side to side, a condensed glass of orange coloured whiskey on his left hand and a untied tie hanging from his neck.

     - Liquid courage? - she walked into his room. He looked at her for a few seconds before gulping the rest of his beverage, cleaning his lips with the back of his hand afterwards. - Where are your groomsmen? 

     - In the same place where non-existent things belong. - he replied, turning to his floor length mirror to try and tie his tie to no avail. Y/N sighed, placing her hands in his shoulders and turning him to face her before her hands moved to his tie to tie it into a Windsor not. 

     - You surely must have someone close enough to be your groomsman or best man. - she straightened his crisp cotton dress shirt before sliding her hands back to his shoulders. She let out a sigh, looking to the other side and contemplating what she was about to ask him. - Let’s run away.

     - What?

     - Let’s go to France. There’s a place I know which would definitely take us in until we found a place since I’m sure Mr. Forrest wouldn’t allow me to keep the house. Let’s just go, please.

     - What? Angel, we can’t just run away, my whole money is dependent on this marriage. How am I supposed to take care of you? Do you know how many enemies I have? I couldn’t possibly hire enough security for you. - he cupped her face, trying to make her understand her point. - I will never have enough to give you if we leave.

     - As long as you’re with me, that would be enough. Am I not enough? 

     - Angel, there is a legally binding contract between me and Genevieve. I can’t just ... I promised my father. - Y/N took a step back, hitting the door while her hand held the knob. - We can’t rush in, we need to have a pla ...

     - Why do you care so much about what your father made you promise when you were a child. The same child whose mother he forbad you from seeing ... you know Sebastian, just because your father was a great man, doesn’t mean he was a good one. 

Before he could reply to her, she opened the door and exited, rushing through the hall and punching the button of the lift so she could return to her bedroom before she completely broke down. She could feel her chest clenched and the warmness of her tears which almost burned the brim of her eyes. All she could hear was her heart pounding in her ear mixed with the soft music of the lift and nothing made her want to break down more in tears than she should.

As she rushed into her bedroom she collapsed on her bed, the tears finally rolling down. Mr. Williams was right, she was a mistress and a innocent mistress at that. Why would she believe he would run away? Why would he gave up on what he knew for her? But will all of that, what would she do with the baby? She clearly couldn’t stay, Gwen and Dan would be quick to notice her growing bump along with other pregnancy symptoms? No, she had to leave. Start again, start again Y/N. She can’t spend her whole life dreaming despite it being all she seemed inclined to do. She was about to be a mother and needed a brand new start. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she opened the bedside drawer to pull out the key to her apartment in France but instead of it she found a blanket. Her eyes couldn’t believe the picture they saw as she realised it was the same blanket she had left back in Sebastian’s penthouse. 

     - My, my, there must be quite a story to go with that blanket. - her blood froze as she turned her face towards one corner of the bedroom to see Mr. Williams sat on her arm chair. - Won’t you tell me? 

     - Get out. - she held tightly onto her pillow, fear installing itself in her whole being?

     - No? Alright then. - he grinned darkly. - I will tell you a story. Once upon a time there was a man who was deeply in love with a beautiful young woman. He used to sit in the box of her operas every single night just to hear her sing and all was well ... But, one day, the beautiful woman shows up engaged to a mob boss. He quickly understood that in this world love is meaningless and all that matters is power so, he decided that he was gonna get as much as he could and maybe win the woman as a treat too. He planned everything, he had her unborn daughter’s safety put in risk knowing the young woman would rush to his employer for help. He thought that surely offering his employer the only family that stood in his way would make him overcome with joy and he would finally promote the man to the type of power he wanted. However, the employer instead decided to make sure that family would never stand in his way by ensuring his son would marry the young woman’s precious daughter. The man knew his only way to power was if that daughter disappeared so he decided he would kill her yet when he tried the beautiful young woman stood in the way and he couldn’t finish the job. 

      - Why are you telling me this? 

      - The father of the young woman’s daughter grew worried that his precious little daughter would be harmed again so he made an orphan baby pass out as his daughter to ensure she would never be harmed. However, the father was much too weak to completely give the baby up and instead kept her around as a handmaid. The man thought power was just on the horizon but then at a masquerade he saw the eyes of the same woman he loved controlling the man who held the power he deserved. And so, I lived unhappily ever after. 

     - You’re lying. - she could feel her heart pound harder as she felt into an abyss of existentialism. What do you do when you see that who you think you are isn’t what you think you are. 

     - I knew I would have to get some concrete proof so I asked a few favours. I knew Michael Forrest wouldn’t leave his only child, his only daughter completely penniless and so when I saw your name as the sole benefactor of his will I had my proof. 

     - But Dan ...

     - Daniel Forrest is nothing but an affair gone wrong whom he took pity on but you ... you were born more powerful than I have ever been. Not only are you the sole benefactor of a whole entire family’s work and prestige, you also were born rich enough to never work a single day on your life. Everything was given to you and you didn’t even know it while I paid and I suffered only to see that petulant man child grab the spot that I rightfully deserved. - Y/N looked at her door hoping Elias would be there to help her out, she really hoped someone would pass be. He had to be lying, he had to be lying. - Here is how you’re gonna pay me if you were to have what you so want. No one will believe you, a pregnant mistress who isn’t even smart enough to dispose of her own pregnancy test and your daddy would never allow you to be married to someone from the Stan family, but with me on your side, with my evidence, they will listen. When you are married, you will make me a personal adviser and you will put forward my good name and I shall manage that clueless little man child who should’ve never been born in the first place.

      - He’s not clueless. - her voice was low but full of intention.

      - And who are you? How are you gonna rule two mob families if you can’t even piece together who your parents were even with me giving you clues. Best give it to me, that way both of us will have exactly what we want. 

      - No. - she stood up from her bed, looking him down from where he was standing much to his surprise. - I couldn’t defend my mother from you but I will protect Sebastian.

      - Well, birdie ... - his hand grabbed something from his side and as it hit the light, Y/N realised her was holding a gun in her direction. - Who will protect you? 

      - Please, don’t do this. - she pleaded. - I ... I told Sebastian not to be harsh with you, I helped you, I was kind to you. 

      - Kindness doesn’t get you anywhere in this business. - he noticed her eyes on the door and chuckled. - Your bodyguard thinks you’re in the bridal suit, no one is gonna come looking for you. Now, you’re gonna be a good girl to me and go with me to the car or I’ll make sure they find your bodyguard in a pool of his own blood.

He got up from his seat and rushed to her, putting her in front of him, one hand gripping her arm while the other one held the gun against her spine. She could feel her heart beat and flashes of everything she had done since she remembered living. Was she gonna die? Was this how she ended? Nevertheless, there was nowhere she could go as he led her drown the stairs and onto the lobby, stopping as he noticed the telephone on the entrance table. He turned her harshly towards the desk until her ribs hit the edge and before the assistant could say anything, he pointed his gun at her. 

     - Sebastian always thinks he has everything under control, I’m about to show him just how wrong he is. - he ordered the woman to type in a number on the hotel’s phone before grabbing it himself. - If you want this lovely lady not to have a bullet in the middle of her eyes you are gonna tell him you’re pregnant and how scared you are. 

He shoved the phone against her ear, hurting her in the process and she could feel her tears burn the brim of her eyes yet again as the loud beeping played around and around before he picked it up, a rather upsetting hello coming through. She, however, couldn’t say anything which quickly changed as he pressed the gun against her back rather forcefully. 

     - Go on. - he whispered against her ear as Sebastian said another hello on the phone. 

     - S...Sebastian, it’s Y/N ... - the gun pressed harder on her back. - I’m scared, Sebastian. I’m scared.

     - Are you alright? 

     - Now, don’t play games with me Y/N. Go on ... tell him

     - I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry. 

     - Angel, whatever it is, you can tell me. 

     - I’m pregnant. 

tag list: @lilya-petrichor​​​​​​ @xoxohannahlee​​​​​​ @irespostthingsiwanttoseelater​​​​​​ @nikkipea​​​​​​ @madisonpillstrom​​​​​​ @cevans98​​​​​​ @thelostallycat​​​​​​ @sideeffectsofyou​​​​​​ @anxiousdreamersworld​​​​​​ @captainchrisstan​​​​​​ @lookiamtrying​​​​​​ @sarge-barnes-sir​​​​​​ @stuffforreferences​​​​​​ @thebadassbitchqueen @sebastianstansqueen​​​​​​ @nsfwsebbie​​​​​​ @strangerliaa​​​​​​ @emzd34​​​​​​ @everything-is-awesomesauce​​​​​​ @dreams-in-blxck​​​​​​ @krismeunicornbaobei

[renaerys]

PPG One-Shot: Mall Santa (Boomer/Mike and Brick/Blossom)

Summary: To earn a little extra cash over the holidays, Brick, Mike, and Boomer agree to help out their buddy Todd at a Mall Santa gig. Shenanigans ensue.

This one is for @snailbutters, @genovah, and @hanaokm. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Enjoy some Boomike, Blossick, and Capri Sus on me. 

[Cross-posted to AO3]

xxx

There were a lot of things Todd needed: a haircut, for one. His black hair was getting too long for gel and it was really pushing the boundary between greaser sexy and sad trash hobo. Money, for another. But like any other 21-year-old townie with a high school education and two restaurant jobs, he always needed money.

A new best friend, for yet another.

“I’m not your best friend,” Brick snapped as he tied a black tie around his neck. He needed to leave in ten minutes if he was going to be early for his dinner meeting with Oliver Morbucks.

Todd put a hand over his heart like it might fall out of the wound Brick’s words had stabbed there. “Dude, of course you are. I’m totally sorry if I ever gave you the wrong idea.”

Brick grimaced so hard he was sure he’d end up constipated. “No, you idiot. I know you think I’m your best friend. You’ve never shut up about it, even after we graduated high school. I’m pretty sure the whole fucking Peninsula knows it the way you go around shouting it when you’re blasted.”

Todd looked like he’d just received news that his favorite nana wasn’t dying of cancer after all. “Oh, cool. For a second there I thought I really hurt your feelings. You know you’re kinda sensitive, right?”

Oh god.

“What do you want, Todd? I have a really important meeting and I’m not missing it for your bullshit.”

Brick checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror in his one-bedroom apartment in downtown Townsville. It was a shitty hole-in-the-wall kind of place, but Brick was used to squalor. His break was coming, he could feel it. If tonight’s meeting went over well, he’d have a more steady revenue stream and, more importantly, the connections and clout the Morbucks name brought to open doors. All the long days at Red’s Auto Shop saving and scraping by would finally pay off, and just in time for Blossom to graduate from college. It was perfectly planned, meticulously manipulated, all down to this last pivotal dinner.

“Cool, no big deal! I just need to know if you’re free this weekend.”

“Free to do what?” Brick indulged him, because Todd was one of the few people on this planet who wasn’t 100% intimidated by his very presence.

“To help me with this Mall Santa gig I got. Harry Pitt was supposed to be my number two elf, but he ate some bad prawns and they had to, like, airlift him to Citiesville General.”

Brick stopped everything he was doing and glared at his second-to-best friend, which was a key fact because second was not the same as first. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”

“I know, right?” Todd knew his way around Brick’s embarrassingly small bathroom, opened up the hair wax, and fixed Brick’s styling job. “Dude always had a weak stomach, you remember. But you don’t fuck with bad prawns. I mean, obviously.”

Brick swatted Todd’s hands away and checked his reflection. It was definitely an improvement. “Not that; the Mall Santa thing, obviously!”

“Oh, yeah. So you’ll help me out?”

“Fuck no.”

“Aw, Briiiiiiick,” Todd whined.

Brick grabbed his dinner jacket from the closet barely big enough to fit a small, starving child. Todd, who had latched onto Brick in the seventh grade like a goddamned barnacle and never let go no matter how hard Brick tried to push him away, followed. “Not if you paid me.”

“You’ll get paid! It’s $20 an hour!”

Brick hesitated over the threshold. “That’s higher than minimum wage.” It was higher than his hourly rate at the garage too.

“Seasonal gigs, man. That’s how you win.”

“It’s seriously fucking not.”

Todd, one of three people in the universe who actually cared about Brick on a personal level even though he wasn’t obligated by blood, made his blue eyes big and wide in a way that reminded Brick of Puss-n-Boots from Shrek, Todd’s favorite movie. “C’mon, bruh. Do your bestie a solid? Just this once? I really need the money and they won’t let me keep the gig without two elves to fill in. So please? Pleeeeeeease?”

And Brick, former scourge of Townsville, a Super with the power to literally raze the planet if it so much as tickled his fancy, and the dictionary definition of the boy every father dreads his perfect, pretty little girl falling for against her better judgment, cracked like an egg.

“For fuck’s sake,” he groused. “Just text me the time and place and get out of my face already.”

Todd punched the air with both fists. “Yes!! Oh, hell yes! I love you so much, dude.”

“Blow me.” Brick checked his watch. Shit, now he was merely on time.

“I’d consider it an honor,” Todd said, probably literally serious.

xxx

Boomer rolled glitter on his cheeks and around the edges of his dark blue eyes with the help of a compact as he huddled behind the North Pole set on the first floor of the Townsville Mall. When he was satisfied that he sparkled like the tinsel-festooned Christmas trees in Santa’s twelve-by-fifteen-foot “forest” themselves, he discreetly re-emerged just as the latest child slid off Santa’s lap.

“Merry Christmas, Dan!” bellowed a red and white-clad Todd behind an enormous, curly beard. “Remember to brush your teeth!”

The little boy ran back to his parents, who were having a word with the photographer about purchasing a picture of their son on Santa’s lap. Before Boomer could follow them, Brick was quick to cut him off.

“Where the hell were you?” he demanded. Sour as an un-sugared plum in his festive, candy-striped elf costume, Brick may have absolutely intimidated the seven-year-olds waiting in line with their parents for a turn on Santa’s lap, but Boomer only allowed him a bemused smile.

“Why, I was making toys for the good little boys and girls who came to visit us here at the North Pole,” Boomer said in a raised voice. He looped his arm through his brother’s and let his power surge with enough force to turn Brick around and face the crowd that was definitely within hearing range. “Isn’t that right, Elf Mursten?”

Brick pushed back with inhuman force, but Boomer held his ground with a smile as bright as the glitter on his cheeks as a little girl in overalls trotted forward.

She giggled. “I like your hat.”

“Thank you!” Boomer gushed, and he tipped his pom-pom-topped cap. “And what’s your name?”

The little girl giggled again. “My name’s Alynn.”

“Well, Alynn, why don’t you step right up and take a seat on Santa’s lap? I’m sure he has a great present for a cool girl like you. Right, Elf Mursten?”

Brick glared medieval torture at him, and he managed a smile that showed too many teeth to be anything other than life-threatening. “Of course, Elf Buller.”

Boomer’s smile tightened.

“Ho ho ho! Come on over, Santa doesn’t bite,” Todd said.

“What a psychotic reassurance,” Brick said soft enough for only the Super brothers to hear.

“Hey, Brick?” Boomer said, just as softly. “Cheer the fuck up.” He gave his brother a bone-crushing squeeze around the arm and broke from him. Brick could be a sourpuss when he wanted to be (all the time), but he wouldn’t mess up Todd’s Mall Santa gig when he’d bothered to show up and actually put in the effort at all. Complain as he might about Todd’s exuberance, Brick had always come through for his best friend since the seventh grade.

Boomer, on the other hand, had been very happy to accept Todd’s offer to work the two weeks leading up to Christmas. The hours were reasonable, the pay was good, and Boomer loved children. It was easy money in between local shows he and his garage band had booked over the holidays.

Plus, the photographer had a nice rack.

“Okay, Santa, Alynn. Look over here and say ‘jingle bells’!” A flash went off, and Mike Believe stood to his full height behind the tripod he’d set up for the day’s pictures. Even in reindeer antlers and a bright, red-painted nose, Mike filled out every fold of his brown Rudolph outfit almost to the point of popping a button. His broad chest puffed out when he put his strong hands on his hips and grinned brightly like he wouldn’t pick anywhere else to be right now.

Their eyes met, and Boomer flushed and smiled like a fool.

When Mike winked back at him coyly, his heart leaped into his throat. Mike had gotten home from college just two days ago, but the three weeks he had off for Winter Break would surely fly by like they did every year, and Boomer was determined to spend every moment together.

A tug on Boomer’s green tunic drew his attention. “Can I take a picture with you? Please?” the little girl asked.

Boomer beamed and scooped her up onto his hip. “Of course you can. Hey, Mike? Can you take one of us, please?”

“You bet! Get in close, now.” Mike readied his camera.

“Oh, wait a sec. Why don’t you take this too?” Boomer removed his festive hat and put it on Alynn’s head. It was big on her, but she laughed happily.

They posed for the picture, and Boomer hugged her cheek to cheek.

“Thanks!” The little girl tried to give him his hat back, but he pressed it to her chest.

“You keep it. Merry Christmas. Remember to be good, okay?”

Alynn’s father was waiting with a hand for her to take when she ran back to him, yammering about how she’d met Santa and his super cool elf friend, and Boomer watched them go.

“You know you’ll have to pay for that hat,” Brick said.

Boomer sighed and ran a hand through his cornflower hair. “You know I look better without it.”

Brick frowned deeply. “Uh-huh.”

“If you keep frowning, your face will stick like that.”

“Moron.”

He always had to have the last word. Brick went to stack the empty boxes wrapped in bright, shiny paper, which was probably more productive than blowing up the entire display. Boomer left him to it. It was time for their mid-morning break, anyway.

Todd got up to stretch. “Man, who knew sitting could be so tiring, huh? Whack.” His phone buzzed, and he grinned when he saw the caller ID.

Boomer, however, had eyes only for Mike as the latter turned off his camera and put a sheet over the tripod to protect it. “Working hard, I see.”

When Mike smiled, his dark eyes crinkled in the corners. He had a face made for smiling. “Oh, you know. Just helping out some friends.”

Like Brick, Todd had asked Mike to help out behind the camera for this gig. Mike didn’t exactly need the extra cash given his lacrosse scholarship that covered his college expenses, but the three of them had been as thick as thieves all through high school no matter what Brick said when he was annoyed. No way was Mike going to bail on the chance to help out a bro.

“This is cute,” Mike said, running a thumb over Boomer’s sparkly cheek.

“If only I could convince Brick to wear some,” Boomer said, lacing his fingers in Mike’s as they shuffled to the side of the exhibit behind a blinking Christmas tree for a bit of privacy.

Mike chuckled. “That’ll take a Christmas miracle. But anyway, I don’t want to talk about Brick right now.”

Their kiss was soft and mostly chaste, considering the venue, but Boomer didn’t mind at all. He rose up on his toes to lean into his boyfriend’s superior height and smiled into their kiss. Even in the middle of the Townsville Mall with shoppers mere yards away, for a few seconds Boomer got lost in the fantasy of the forest and the snow drifts, bright lights and magic that came around only once a year and had always touched his heart in a way nothing else quite could.

“Babe! You got here quick!” Todd’s excitement and a small commotion around Santa’s throne drew the lovers’ attention, and Boomer reluctantly broke the kiss. His Super hearing quickly picked up on what was going on.

“What is it?” Mike asked.

Boomer smiled wryly. “That Christmas miracle you wished for. Come on.” He took Mike’s larger hand in his and pulled him back toward the front of the display, where Todd had scooped up a very small, very fashionable Asian woman in his arms.

“Oh my god, don’t do shits in front of the innocent children, Toddy.” Hana patted her high bun and smoothed out her oversized black jacket once Todd released her.

“Hey, I just missed you is all,” Todd said with a genuine smile like he had really, truly missed his girlfriend since this morning when they had last seen each other.

“You guys are too cute,” said Bubbles with a giggle. As usual, she was adorable in blonde twin tails and a holiday-appropriate sweater dress. Shopping bags hung from both her arms, also as usual.

“Right?” Hana said, her deadpan façade melting completely as she beamed at her closest friend.

“No contest.” Bubbles set down her small nation of shopping bags. “Oh! Hi, Boomer!” She dashed to hug him in a flash of blue, and he caught her easily. “Oh my gosh, I love your glitter. You look like a supermodel!”

Boomer laughed and hugged her back. “Thanks for letting me borrow it. I really owe you.”

“Don’t worry about it. Oh, but you definitely need some touching up. Here, let me just…”

Mike had wandered over to Todd and Hana. “Hey, Hana. Are you staying for the holiday?”

Hana shrugged. “Yeah, my art show isn’t until after New Year’s. You know, I’m always looking for more models.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Mike laughed. “I’m honored, but I’m really nothing special, honestly. You might try Butch.”

Todd guffawed. “Oh man, Butch is, like, one of her top models! She painted him for what, six weeks last summer, babe?”

“Seven,” Hana said, dead serious.

Mike smiled nervously. “That’s a lot of inspiration.”

“He is very inspiring,” Hana said, deader and more serious.

“That dude is goals,” Todd said, totally unironically.

“I guess I can’t argue with that,” Mike said.

“Aaaaand done.” Bubbles stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Honestly? You’re the most beautiful elf the North Pole ever employed.”

Boomer snickered. “Don’t tell Brick that.”

“Don’t tell me what, now?” Brick emerged from his useless empty box stacking task, glitter-less and severely lacking in Christmas cheer.

Bubbles gasped, right on cue. “Brick! Where is your glitter? Get over here.”

Brick made a weird face. “What are you talk—hey!”

Bubbles all but accosted him with the glitter pen. Hana cheered and applauded, and Todd joined in because he liked to cheer and applaud in general.

“What are you—get off!” Brick shoved Bubbles hard, but a flash of pink caught her before she could crash into anything.

Blossom peered around her totally unfazed sister, a tray of lattes in one hand and her perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised. “Brick,” she said.

Brick swallowed. “Blossom.”

She looked nice in leggings and a sweater dress that matched Bubbles’ style, except where Bubbles’ was white, Blossom’s was a scarlet that rivaled the shade of Brick’s eyes.

“I brought you guys coffee,” Blossom said, her eyes trained on Brick even as she held out the tray.

Mike took the tray before it could become collateral damage in whatever was going on between the two of them.

“Here you go.” Mike offered one to Boomer, who gratefully accepted it.

“Thanks!”

“I thought you weren’t getting home until tomorrow,” Brick said, as if he and Blossom were the only two people there.

“Change of plans,” Blossom said. “Problem?”

Brick seemed to remember what he was wearing and snatched his elf hat from his head. He bunched it up between his hands like that would hide his imagined shame. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine, clearly. But it wasn’t Boomer’s place to intrude. He would have been extremely happy for it to end there, but sadly Blossom, like his brother, had a flair for the dramatic and an affinity for the center of attention.

She sauntered up to him and smeared the bit of glitter Bubbles had managed to draw on his cheek before he’d shoved her off. “Good,” she said, half an invitation and half a challenge.

Brick didn’t bend easily. Boomer knew his brother as well as he knew himself, and he knew Brick didn’t relent, never gave in unless he was well and truly beaten, which was rare. But he slackened now, lips parting and eyes falling. Even though his arms stayed stubbornly at his sides and he didn’t do something as scandalous as hold his girlfriend’s hand in public, he melted under her touch and attention.

“All right! Bloss, you’re back early! This is massive, like, supernova massive,” Todd said. “Hey, I know! Let’s throw a party at mine tonight! Brick said you weren’t coming back for another couple of days, so this is like a cool early Christmas present to all of us.”

Bubbles gasped. “Oh my gosh, yes! Let’s all go to Todd’s tonight, just like we used to. I’m calling Robin right now.”

“We can make it a real Christmas party,” Blossom said. Somehow, she’d gotten ahold of Bubbles’ glitter pen and now smeared a generous amount on Brick’s cheeks until he gleamed without suffering a nuclear meltdown. A Christmas miracle, indeed.

“You’ll wear the Santa suit,” Hana said. Demanded.

“Ho ho ho! You got it, babe.”

“That thing’s a rental,” Brick said. “And it’s, like, 75 degrees outside.”

“If he gets too hot, I’ll hose him down,” Hana said.

Brick smartly decided not to press her on that one.

“I like your elf costume, Brick,” Blossom teased. Maybe.

“I’m burning it as soon as I get paid,” Brick said.

“I thought it was a rental like Todd’s?”

He hesitated, trapped by his own logic, and she laughed softly and kissed the side of his mouth. Brick froze and played it off like it didn’t affect him, but his eyes were drawn to Blossom’s lips for the next six whole minutes. Boomer really didn’t get why he had to make everything so damn complicated.

“Hey, hombres, our break is up and I see a super cute kid waiting to sit on the softest lap in Townsville,” Todd said, sinking back onto his candy cane throne and patting his lap.

Brick visibly cringed.

“It could be worse,” Mike whispered to Brick. “At least this time we get to keep our shirts on.”

Boomer smiled at the memory of Todd’s last seasonal gig he’d roped Brick and Mike into over the summer. The shirtless carwash had admittedly been one of his more rewarding part-time jobs, and Boomer had the photo evidence to cherish the memory extremely fondly.

Blossom and Hana retreated behind Mike while Bubbles finished up her phone call with Robin and Brick admitted the next child on set.

“Welcome to the North Pole,” he said with all the cheer of an old tire. Nonetheless, his cheeks dazzled. “What’s your name, kid?”

She looked up at him but didn’t say anything. Boomer noticed her shyness and decided he better intervene.

“Hey there,” he said, taking a knee so he could be on her eye-level. “Merry Christmas.”

That alarmed her even more, and she hugged Brick’s leg.

“What the—” Brick put his hands up like he didn’t know what to do with them. “Great.”

The girl’s parents were busy talking to Mike about the picture packages and didn’t seem to notice what was going on.

“Uh,” Boomer said, ready to flag them down before the little girl got scared or started to cry. They’d been lucky this morning with only one child throwing a temper tantrum out of the tens they’d seen.

“All right, kid. I hope you have a good grip.” Brick floated off the ground with the little girl clinging to his leg and flew over to Todd’s throne.

Boomer was so flabbergasted by his brother’s gross disregard for this child’s safety in front of her parents that he was momentarily stunned where he kneeled. It was over in about two and a half seconds, with her parents none the wiser and the little girl still in one piece, miraculously. Brick peeled her off him and dropped her on Todd’s lap.

“Name,” Brick demanded. And then, reluctantly: “…To check you off the Nice List.”

The little girl looked up at him with wide-eyed wonderment, or maybe fear. “Morana.”

“Morana. Super. Tell Todd—I mean, Santa—what you want. And smile for the camera.”

Todd didn’t miss a beat and wrapped his arms loosely around her to hold her safely in place. “Morana, that’s a pretty name. Wanna tell me what you want for Christmas?”

Morana pointed at Brick. “That one.”

Brick turned as red as his messy man bun. Todd wheezed.

“Oh, yeah? Well, that one’s taken, but I bet I can get you a picture together. How ‘bout it?” Todd asked.

Boomer was up and moving in a blue flash. “That can be arranged.” He shoved his brother with a healthy burst of Super strength, and Brick all but fell on his knee next to Todd’s throne. Boomer waved back at Mike for the picture.

“Big smile now!” Mike said cheerfully, and snapped the picture.

“What the hell is up with these kids?” Brick asked when Morana skipped back to her parents and started chattering at them in a language Boomer didn’t recognize but assumed must be all good things from the way she grinned from ear to ear. “They get bolder every year.”

“Or you’re just getting softer,” Boomer teased.

“Yeah, right.”

Blossom laughed at something Hana said on a nearby bench, drawing both their eyes.

“Whatever you say, man,” Boomer said.

xxx

Todd’s party was a nostalgic and long-overdue affair later that evening. Unlike Boomer, who had to make do in a small studio apartment on the outskirts of Citiesville where the rent was more manageable and his commute didn’t matter when flying anywhere took only minutes, Todd lived in a big house he took care of for his often absent, globe-trotting parents. Blossom, Bubbles, and Robin had taken the initiative and strung up Christmas lights, while Boomer created and managed the playlist for the night. They had a good crowd with old friends from high school and new ones from work and college gathered for no excuse other than to have a good time.

Butch, Buttercup, Mike, and Todd had set up beer pong in the basement, where most of the festivities were taking place. As usual, the shit talking and macho bravado had soared to ludicrous heights.

“Come on, BC,” Todd goaded. “Money shot, right here.” He fluffed his Santa beard, the ends of which were damp with beer. Buttercup had one cup left to hit.

“I’m about to straight-up tea bag you with this ping pong ball, Todd, I swear to god.” Buttercup tried to focus on her aim after too many beers and the distraction of Todd’s stupid Santa beard.

“Do it, fucking do it,” Butch said, bobbing on the balls of his feet and slightly manic with the competition and holiday cheer, probably.

“I’m gonna fucking do it!”

“I don’t think you can fucking do it,” Mike said.

“Ohhhhh!” Butch hollered when Buttercup lost her temper and threw the ball too hard. It bounced off Todd’s beard and fell on the floor, leaving the last cup untouched.

“Mike, you cheater!” Buttercup shouted.

Mike burst out laughing.

“All riiiiight, the Toddster’s final shot. You filming, babe?” Todd asked.

Hana, across the table from Boomer, had her phone out and poised. “Kick their asses, Toddy.”

“Yeah, bring it on, Toddy,” Butch jeered.

“Oh, it’s about to be brought.”

“Oh god, please, you peaked in high school,” Buttercup said.

“Hey, he plateaued,” Mike said. “There’s a difference.”

“Just take the damn shot!”

Todd shot, hit the rim of the solo cup, and missed. Buttercup and Butch threw up their hands and whooped. They were still in the game, and the stakes were even higher now.

Boomer squeezed Mike’s arm in a silent excuse and went to change the music…only to find Brick and Blossom making out in the hallway like it was their last night on Earth.

The music was fine, he decided. No need to interrupt Brick and Blossom trying to fuse with the wall and face his brother’s cock blocked wrath. Discreetly, Boomer snapped a picture on his phone and texted it to Bubbles.

[Boomer: Shooketh]

Bubbles’ reply was lightning fast.

[Bubbles: More like shattered!!]

[Bubbles: Better get out of there before they catch you lol 💀]

After another hour (and Brick and Blossom’s reemergence from the wall in one piece with not a hair out of place because god forbid), Boomer and Mike decided to head out early. They went back to Boomer’s apartment, where a very excited Pomeranian welcomed them home.

“Hi, Pumpkin!” Mike brightened like the sun and scooped up his favorite girl, left in Boomer’s care while he was away at college. “Who’s ready for a walk?”

They walked Pumpkin and let her tire herself out running around the suburban neighborhood where it was too late at night for any cars to be out. A half hour later, they were curled up on the loveseat with Pumpkin snoozing in her fuzzy bed at their feet and an old black-and-white Christmas movie playing on low volume on the television.

“Hey,” Boomer said, lifting his head from Mike’s chest to look at him properly.

Mike set aside the hot chocolate he’d been drinking and pulled Boomer up by his waist. “Hey, you. What is it?”

Boomer smiled. It was silly, really. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh?” Mike returned his smile and leaned closer. He smelled like soap, a hint of chocolate, and something else that made Boomer want to bury his face in his neck.

“Just happy,” Boomer said.

“Really? I can’t tell.”

Boomer sat up a little higher. The neck of Mike’s old lacrosse jersey he wore dipped down his shoulder, too big on him and softer than a cloud. He pressed a chaste kiss to the underside of Mike’s jaw. “How about now?”

“Hm, nope, I don’t think I quite got that.”

Boomer threaded his fingers though Mike’s short, dark hair at the nape of his neck. Feeling coquettish, he gave his ear a nip. “How about now?”

Mike shifted on the couch and pulled Boomer’s bent legs onto his lap. His voice was as warm as the hot chocolate he’d been drinking. “I think I’m starting to get a vague understanding.”

Boomer laughed and painted a trail of kisses along Mike’s jaw, up his chin. He pressed a strong hand to his chest and put a little power behind it. Centimeters apart, he could taste the lingering heat of the hot chocolate on Mike’s breath. “And now?”

Mike’s eyes drooped and darkened. His hands slipped around Boomer’s waist, under the jersey, a silent entreaty. “I think you can do a little better than that, Angel.”

The secret nickname broke Boomer’s resolve, and he kissed his boyfriend full on the mouth with all the confidence and shamelessness he couldn’t give him that morning at the mall surrounded by children and their parents. Mike’s shirt soon found its way to the floor along with Boomer’s borrowed jersey. The loveseat was too short to accommodate Mike’s height comfortably, and after a few moments Boomer held him close and flew them to the bed in a flash.

“I’ll never get over how hot that is,” Mike said, breathless.

Boomer blushed, unable to help it. He was careful with his strength around Mike, but sometimes the X bonded to his bones pushed him to the raw, carnal boundaries of humanity. Mike’s hand on his cheek drew him out of those spiraling thoughts.

“I mean it,” Mike said. “I love that part of you. And I trust you completely.”

Words did not come easily, nor did they seem appropriate in that moment. Boomer bent to kiss Mike again and pull him as close as he could get. Wrapped up in the warm sheets and each other, Boomer’s silly little thought that he had never been happier grew and swelled to heights he never could have imagined before Mike. They lay there together, lazy and sleepy, as the credits of their forgotten holiday movie played on the television.

“One more semester,” Mike said, “and then I graduate.”

“I can’t believe you’re almost a college graduate,” Boomer said. “It feels like you left ages ago.”

“Four years is a long time, but it’s not forever. And you should get ready.”

Boomer looked up at him. “Ready for what?”

“To move, of course.”

“Move?”

“Hey, I love how cozy your apartment is, but I’m pretty sure Pumpkin would appreciate her own room once we’re living together full time.”

Boomer sat up properly. “You… You want to move in together? With me?”

“Of course! The only question is, where do you want to go?”

Boomer covered his mouth. Of course he had thought about getting a place with Mike, but that always seemed like the distant future. What if they didn’t stay together? What if the long distance was too hard? What if Mike met someone else at college? Brick didn’t talk about it much, but after a few too many drinks one night the year Blossom and Mike both left for college, he’d confessed how afraid he was that he would lose her forever. How can the old be exciting and fun compared to the amazing, new adventures she would be having?

But from the way Boomer had caught them all but absorbing each other at Todd’s tonight, Blossom seemed perfectly happy to keep him. And Mike…

“You’re serious,” Boomer said.

“I’ve never been more serious.” Mike took his hand and kissed his knuckles carefully. “I can’t wait to start our lives together.”

Boomer could have cried. He almost did. Life was hard, even for a Super like him. With endless bills to pay and the occasional monster to dispose of, sometimes he felt like he was being pulled in too many directions without anyone there to help pick up the slack. But this… This was his.

“Me too,” Boomer said. “And I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s together.”

“Well, cool. In that case, if you’re not opposed to it, was thinking farther north, like Metroville. There are some great photography jobs there that I want to apply for, and the music scene is bigger than it is here—”

“Yes! A hundred percent yes, let’s do it. When do we leave?”

Mike laughed. “June 1st, as soon as they hand me my diploma.”

Six months. It had a date now. Unthinking, Boomer threw his arms around Mike’s broad shoulders and hugged him tight. “I’ll mark my calendar.”

“It’s a date.”

Incidentally, they did not get much sleep the rest of that night.

xxx

I told myself I wasn’t going to do a ton of fluff, but damnit all, Boomike is SUPER CUTE and I couldn’t help myself. Let them have the happy ending they deserve. Thanks for reading!