#this has been stupid thoughts I get and laugh way too hard at with Kels

[blueautumngrave]

It’d be so funny if fob actually wasn’t from Chicago and they were just four guys singing about how much they love a city they’ve never been in

[theoneguitarguy]

The Day That Mari Left Us.

This is how I personally feel the entire situation went down the day that Mari had died. Be warned, this is spoiler territory, and it will also discuss death in excruciating detail, there is also mention of blood and other disturbing themes as well. If you are faint of heart, please refrain from reading any further.

You have been warned.

Character last names were originated by u/TheMiniRobot. Some story elements are provided by the "Truth Album". I do not own the characters in Omori, and I do not profit in any way by creating this.

________________________________________________________________

It was a cool Autumn late afternoon. Faraway Elementary School was about to have it's very own music recital, with the stars, Mari and Sunny Hidaka playing piano and violin together. Everyone was extremely excited for the event since the two had been practicing to make sure everything went off without a hitch.

At the Hidaka residence, Sunny has been practicing his violin in his room doing some scale runs. His hands are rather sore from overexerting himself. He has trained really hard for this day. He really wants it to go well. His fingers have callouses, and his neck is stiff from keeping his head rested on the violin. However, he could hear his sister on the piano downstairs, as if everything was completely effortless for her. She was playing the song Sunny and her were to rehearse together later like it was nothing. She's only played it once before and she nearly has everything down as if she was a virtuoso.

The Hidaka parents, Mayako and Satoshi were already away for work while the kids were practicing for that evening. Sunny and Mari had the day off from school, so they felt it would be good to use that time to practice. Mayako had left a note saying there was some leftovers in the fridge, as they would be going directly to the school to see their recital after work.

Mari had just finished her second run of the song that day, and thought it would be a good time to stop, since she had other chores to complete. She exited the piano room, and went to her room to put away some laundry.

Sunny was still practicing. It was getting almost painful for him to continue, due to the fact that Mari only had to run through that song only twice that day to completely get her parts down, whilst he had been practicing endlessly for weeks, to the extent that the tips of his fingers began to bleed. The song ruminated in his head, almost as if it was laughing at him. He got frustrated and angry, clenching the neck of his violin. He had finally had enough. He couldn't take it anymore. He threw the violin down the stairs. The violin shattered as it went down each step. The strings, mangled and the body in complete shambles.

"I'm done! I can't do this anymore!", Sunny exclaims out on the ledge of the second floor. Mari comes out of her room to see what the commotion is all about. "Sunny, what's the matter?" She asks calmly, as to not anger Sunny. But that was just entering the lion's cage. "I can't do this anymore. I didn't even want to learn this stupid violin in the first place!" Sunny shouted. Mari looks at the splintered violin. "Sunny, that's not true. I remember how excited you were when Hero, Kel, Aubrey and I bought you that violin. You had the biggest smile on your face!." She mentioned, attempting to de-escalate the situation. "I know that the pressure was high, given that the recital is tonight, but if you were angry, you should have taken a break." she said.

"No Mari, you don't understand! I've been practicing for days. Weeks even! I've been practicing the stupid song more times than I can count on my hands! You've only had to practice it twice, and somehow, you're just as good as me now?! Do you know how that makes me feel?!" Sunny completely lashed out. "You don't know how hard it is to live up to you! Mom and Dad make me feel terrible! Always telling me that they wished I could be more like you!" Mari paused. "It's hard for me too! Mom and Dad constantly foist their expectations onto me, and I feel like I can never make a mistake! Do you know how that makes ME feel?! You have no idea what it's like being your older sister! It’s like I’m always being put under a microscope for every little thing I do! Now because you've destroyed your violin, I have to play this song alone!" she exclaims. Sunny is taken aback. He becomes enveloped in rage and contempt. "I wish you weren't my older sister!" Sunny blurts out, moving towards the staircase. Mari blocked his path, with her arms open wide, barricading him. She shouts "I'm not done talking with you!". Sunny closes his eyes, riposting...

"But I am."

With that, he shoves her backwards, causing her to fall down the staircase. Mari hits the back of her neck on one of the steps, causing her to die instantly. But Sunny is completely unaware. Her body ragdolls down each and every step until she hits the bottom. Everything falls silent. You could hear a pin drop. Sunny's fury turns to dread as he sees his sister's cadaver at the bottom of the stairs. She wasn't crying out in pain. She wasn't getting back up. She laid there as lifeless as the violin.

Sunny's blind rage and fury turned to dread, despair and terror. Regretting what he had done, shuffled down the stairs. He kneeled down to his sister's corpse and called out her name. "Mari? Mari, wake up..." But no answer. Sunny sweeps away all the broken violin parts and wood away from Mari's body. She has some scratches from laying on top of it. Mari looks sound asleep, with an almost peaceful expression. Sunny decides to move her up the stairs. She seems lighter than he expected her body to be. It was like moving a feather, compared to what he thought it would be like. "She must be unconscious, right? She just needs some rest, right...?" Sunny mutters to himself.

His heart is beating out of his chest, feeling dizzy from the shock. He makes his way to her bed, lifting her on top of the bed. Sunny calls her name again and again, but to no avail. It falls on deaf ears. Sunny watches as the light from the window cast a shadow over Mari's face. It's completely expressionless now. The life from Mari's eyes are completely gone. Sunny grasps his sister's arm and bursts into tears. Sunny is internally screaming, wishing everything was all just a sick and twisted dream. Questions start to rush into his mind, "What if they ask what happened? Who would be able to forgive me? Who would believe that all of this was an accident?"

Sunny starts to hear a whisper coming from behind him. He tries to ignore it. He covers his face with his arms completely in denial of everything. "This was some sick, twisted dream. I have to wake up. This isn't real!" he thinks to himself. A familiar voice whispers something unspeakable. Sunny's eyes widen in horror. The voice tells Sunny to follow it's lead. "This is the only way out... Everything will be okay..." it whispers to him. Sunny knows what he must do. So he picks up Mari's lifeless body, and drags it back down the staircase.

Amidst all this chaos, he hears the sliding of a door. Sunny jumps out of his skin in fear. The voice tells Sunny to go towards the trees. Gusts of wind enter the room as the light outside immerses Sunny. He keeps his eyes toward the ground, almost guilty to look up. Every step outside, Sunny hears the crunching of the grass and the fallen leaves, and feels the cool, chilling wind on his skin. Sunny begins to see the sun setting, but he tries to ignore everything going on around him. "It has to be a dream. It just has to be. Mari isn't gone. This isn't real." He thinks to himself.

Sunny lays Mari's body down before the biggest and strongest looking tree in the backyard. One that could hold up a lifeless corpse. Sunny starts to hear pacing and crunching of the fallen leaves and grass. He could have sworn that he saw a figure pick something up off the ground. He keeps staring at the leaves overhead. "Don't worry, everything will be okay." He continues to utter to himself. He begins to tie a noose. There are multiple sounds going on around him. Shuffling, scurrying, creaking, dragging. Something is happening, but Sunny refuses to look away. He tries biting his tongue to wake up one last time. But it was futile. This was all real.

Sunny finally completes the noose and lifts up Mari's cadaver through the hole, then tightens the noose around her. The plan was finally complete. It looked extremely horrifying. Sunny couldn't believe that this was going to work. More questions started to rush through his head. Adrenaline started to rush through his body. The feeling of a cold hand clutches Sunny. He tries to shake it off. The hand drags him backward. The fuzziness starts to dissipate and Sunny sees his best friend, Basil beside him. He sees tears rolling down his eyes while he looks ahead with a thousand-yard stare. With him by Sunny's side, he realizes that none of this was a dream. It's all real.

Sunny and Basil moves back towards the house. Both look back toward the trees to see Mari's corpse swinging in the wind, like a wind chime. For a moment, there was peace. Sunny hates himself for what he had done, but he couldn't bare to tell anyone the truth of how she died. They couldn't know. They won't ever know. 

Suddenly, Basil stops crying. Sunny looks at Basil, but then quickly at Mari's body. He realizes that isn't Mari anymore. He looks straight towards what was left of her, though with instant regret, as an eye meets his gaze. This eye could pierce through the souls of even the strongest warriors. Sunny's heart sinks into his stomach. He wished he didn't look.

Basil runs back into the house, and out the door into the driveway. Sunny tries to catch up with him. "Wait!" Sunny shouts over to Basil. He stops and turns to Sunny. "... what?" Basil meekly responds. "No-one can ever know what's happened here." Sunny firmly states. "... right. No-one can ever know." Basil utters, shuffling across the street, unbelievably traumatized from what he had just seen today. Sunny goes back inside, runs into his room, and locks the door.

From that day forward, the Hidaka family was changed forever.

[walkerwords]

“My Person” Connie x GN!Reader

IMAGE CREDIT:  Gene Page/AMC

Request from @thanossexual​ So I had this idea for Connie x Reader where they were together looooong before the apocalypse happened (imagine if they're engaged 😍) so they are in alexandria for a while now. Connie is friends with Daryl, but Y/n notices that glint Daryl has in his eye when his talking with Connie and she gets a little insecure so her fiancé reassures her, and they have a cuddling session 😌❤️ Lots of fluff with a little bit of jealousy. You can add something there if you want to spice up things even more and make it into more angsty imagine. Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

Word Count: 2123

Warning: None

Song I Wrote To: “Our Love Comes Back” by James Blake

Note: Of course we don’t know Connie’s sexuality for sure, but the reader is GN in this one! All ASL is in italics

--------

The waves crashed into one another on a sunlit shore as an army prepared for battle.

You stood on a watchpoint, keeping your eyes on the formation below as Aaron led the charge. When Oceanside had offered their beach for training, Daryl had roped everyone else into agreeing. While the Whisperers had drawn their lines, nobody was dropping their guard, especially after what had happened at the fair.

Your group had joined Hilltop when Judith Grimes had found you in the woods one afternoon. You, Magna, Yumiko, Luke, Kelly, and your fiancée, Connie, had all been welcomed quite coldly by Michonne at first, but now, everyone had begun to feel like a family. One you were thrilled to have after being on the road for so long. 

You and Connie had been together since before the Turn. The two of you had been High School sweethearts and when the world ended, you didn’t let her out of your sight. As you moved through the world with both Connie and Kelly, you became their main protector. While Connie was the most intuitive of your trio, you had been a strong fighter since before everything had crashed down. 

You acted as their scout and took care of any threat that would try to take the love of your life and your best friend away from you. Since living in the new world, you were wary of strangers. Connie trusted people, or rather she wanted to believe that there were still good people out there. Kelly was more skeptical but tended to be more of an optimist like her sister. 

When you had met Michonne and then more of her people as the days went by, you didn’t know how to feel about being around them in such close quarters. Then, Connie had gone with Daryl to rescue a couple of teenagers from the girl’s homicidal mother, and you were left alone without the woman you loved. 

After the fair, everyone was closer, especially Connie and Daryl. While a part of you knew that they had gone through a lot together, that they had fought together, you couldn’t help but see how much Connie’s eyes lit up whenever he was around. Daryl Dixon was a kind man and a strong leader. He had taken to your family easily and he had even begun to learn ASL.

As much as you liked him, you weren’t too thrilled about how much time he spent with Connie. Since arriving at Oceanside, you noticed that they were never too far from each other. Connie was always watching him train, the way he easily killed the Dead with his dual blades and crossbow. 

Dixon didn’t seem like the kind of man to initiate any kind of physical touches with anyone, but with Connie, it seemed easy. He would squeeze her arm or tap his fist against her shoulder with pride. You knew that he was just being friendly, but you couldn’t stop the jealously that rose in you when you watched them.

One afternoon, you were sitting down by the water when you heard soft footsteps approaching. You smiled over at Kelly as she sat down next to you. “Hey,” she said, her eyes turned towards the horizon.

“Hi,” you said back with a quick sign as well. While Kelly hadn’t completely lost her hearing, you knew that she was having days when it would come in and out and that she was worried. You also knew that she appreciated it when you used ASL whenever you spoke to her, just in case. “What’s up?”

“Are you okay?” Kelly asked. You nodded, not looking at your friend. Kelly sighed and then reached over and touched your shoulder, getting you to look at her. “Talk to me,” Kelly signed. 

“It’s nothing,” you signed back, shrugging your shoulders. 

“They’re just friends, (Y/N),” Kelly said out loud. 

“If you already knew what was bothering me, why bother asking, Kel?”

“I was hoping you would tell me yourself,” she said with a knowing look. She was looking at you with patience, something she always did. Kelly was the one person who could read you like a book. Even Connie didn’t know everything her sister did. It was a bond that you never thought you would have and you cherished it, especially in the world you now were forced to survive in. 

“Have you noticed her acting weird lately?” You asked Kelly. 

“Weird how?”

“I don’t know...distant?” 

“Distant from you?” Kelly asked and you nodded. “Not really, but we are sort of all stressed out right now. With the Skins pissed at us and with what happened to Henry and the others…” Kelly trailed off and you flopped down onto the sand, basking in the warm sun. 

“I know,” you sighed, your hands following your words. “I’m being crazy right? Thinking something is going on between the two of them?”

“I get why your head is goin’ there, but they are just friends. My sister loves you so much and she and Daryl are oddly similar. I guess she finally found her own best friend. Sort of how you have me,” she said with a wink. 

“Daryl Dixon has nothing on you,” you signed, earning a smile from Kelly. 

“Thank you,” she signed back. “Seriously though,” she said, “talk to Connie. I’m sure your thoughts will shut up afterward.��

---------

Later that day, you found Daryl with Dog watching over his niece and nephew. 

“It’s weird, right?” Daryl said as you sat next to him. You were somewhat startled because he was never the one to initiate a conversation with you. 

“What is?” you asked, looking over at him. He gestured forward, pointing at Judith and RJ. 

“That,” he said. “Seein’ the little ones playin’ in the sand like the old times.”

“Yeah,” you agreed. “I guess I never thought I would see something like that again.” It was silent again as the salty air rushed around you two. Eventually, he tore his eyes from the kids again to refocus on you. 

“How are ya doin’?” Daryl asked, catching you off guard again. 

“I’m fine, Daryl,” you said with a small smile, not liking how awkward the energy between the two of you was. “And you? How’s the training going?” 

“You tell me,” he said as he picked at his fingernails with the smaller knife in his hands. “Were the formations lookin’ good from yer spot up top?” 

“So far,” you said, kicking at the stray rocks at your feet. 

“Thanks for bein’ our eyes, (Y/N),” Daryl said. “Usually it’s Carol, but…” he trailed off and you didn’t ask him to elaborate. You didn’t know the woman that well, but you knew that she was grieving over the loss of her son, something you could never even begin to imagine. You also knew that Carol was Daryl’s best friend according to Connie. 

“You know, “ you said, “it’s too bad we can’t just clone you a bunch of times. You’re a hell of a fighter, Daryl.” He gave you a small smile, one that was hard to receive from the stoic man, but he seemed to be warming up to you and the others quickly. 

“Connie tells me you’re pretty great yourself. Told me the other day that you trained her and her sister.” You nodded, smiling at the thought of Connie praising you in front of your new friends. 

“My father was a SEAL,” you explained. “I had to pick up a few things before the end of the world. Though their skills are all thanks to them, they’re quick studies.”

“It’s good that ya knew all that. M’glad you were able to survive this long,” he said with a knock to your shoulder, something he only ever did to his friends. Perhaps he was starting to think of you that way as well. 

“Thanks, Dixon,” you said. 

“Ya think ya can help some of the fresher faces wield their blades? Not sure if many are gettin’ the hang of hand to hand at this point,” Daryl asked, gathering up his stuff. 

“Not a problem,” you agreed. Daryl smiled once more at you before clapping his hands together and getting Dog to chase Judith and RJ, the kids laughing as the canine yipped happily at them. You smiled after them and immediately felt stupid for the thoughts you had expressed earlier. 

Daryl Dixon was a good man.

--------

Later that night you lay awake in the trailer you and the rest of your family were sharing. 

You didn’t know where Kelly or Luke were, but you were grateful for the quiet. It was well after dinner when Connie crept quietly into the room, probably thinking you were asleep. Reaching over, you clicked on the lantern, gaining her attention. She waved to you and you sat up in the bed, watching her peel off her boots and pull her hair out of its tie. 

You loved the moments when she began to relax for the evening. You always felt so lucky to be able to see the more vulnerable side of her. “What’s up, Love?” she signed, sitting down on the side of the bed.

Shrugging, you just signed, “nothing.” Connie rolled her eyes and playfully pushed you, tucking her legs underneath her to fully face you. 

“I know you better than that,” she signed with a frown. You watched her in the low light of the trailer for a moment before giving in. 

“It’s ridiculous. I was just feeling jealous,” you explained.

“Jealous? Why?” You gave her a look, but she still didn’t seem to get it. 

“You and Daryl were just getting closer,” you said. “I didn’t like it.” Connie shook her head, her curls bouncing around her face. 

“Is that what this is about? We are just friends,” she promised. 

“No, I know,” you said. “I was just letting my emotions get to me. Lots of stress.” Connie frowned again and then in a single movement, sprang at you. You tumbled back down onto the bed as she pinned you, keeping your hands locked to your sides so you couldn’t interrupt her. 

“Listen to me,” she signed, her eyes never leaving yours. “I love you. I have always loved you. I know that we have been under stress, but we will beat it. Together.” Connie repeated the sign for “together”, her hands placed together at the knuckles with her thumbs up as she rotated her hands in a horizontal circle. “Okay?” 

You raised your brows, asking for permission to respond when she moved her legs so you can free your hands. “Okay,” you first signed. “I’m sorry I was being so…”

“Jealous?” she asked and you nodded with a roll of your eyes. 

“It has just been a while since I have seen you smile the way you do when you are with him,” you finally admitted. 

“He is a horrible signer, it is funny,” she said with a snicker. 

“You know what I mean, Connie,” you said and she nodded her fist, the sign for “yes”.

“You are my person, (Y/N). Kelly loves you, Luke loves you, Magna, Yumiko, all of them. You are family and you are the only one for me.” A tear fell from your eye as you watched her hands, feeling the emotions that she expressed through her signing.

“I guess I never thought I would have to worry about losing you to anything but the Dead,” you admitted. 

“Never, never,” she signed. 

“I love you,” you said aloud and she read your lips perfectly. With a wide smile, she pinned your arms above your head and kissed you slowly. Your fingers intertwined as you melted into the woman you loved with everything you had. 

Just as she began to slide down your body, the door opened and you froze. Connie furrowed her brow just as Kelly slid into Connie’s view. Used to her sister’s interruptions, Connie smiled at Kelly. 

With a smile of her own, Kelly jumped on top of both of you, hugging her best friend and sister tightly as you and Connie struggled for air. When she sat up, she was beaming down at both of you. You grinned at her and Connie. 

“My two favourite people!” you signed enthusiastically. 

“But you like me more, right?” Kelly signed with a chuckle. With a roll of her eyes, Connie kicked her sister, shoving her off the bed and onto the hard floor.

Kelly looked up at both of you in shock before dissolving into a fit of laughter. You and Connie soon followed and all the worry from earlier in the day washed away.

You were Connie’s person and nothing was going to change that. 

TAGS: @thanossexual​ @yes-sir-hotchner​   @felicisimor

[gamergirl929]

My Defender (Kelley O’Hara x Reader)

Anonymous Request: Kelley O’Hara x reader where kel has had feelings for the r for a while. She know r is gay too but r has been out of a 4year relationship for a year.

A little angst in this one guys, but we’ll get through it.  ❤️

Falling in love with her best friend was far from Kelley’s plan.  

Even worse was having to watch her best friend fall in love with another woman, over the course of 4 years, so much so that you asked her to marry you and she said yes.  

But that was over a year ago, now you were single your 4 year relationship over and Kelley O’Hara was still in love with you, still in love with her best friend.

“What’s wrong?” You ask, your voice pulling Kelley out of her thoughts, the woman jumping slightly.  

“Huh?” She hums and you snort, giving her a nudge.

“You were off in La La Land, thought I was going to have to call Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.” You jest, the woman smacking your arm.  

“Shut up.”  

Alex rolls her eyes as she drops down beside Kelley at the diner’s table, the others still chatting about random things from things that happened at practice, to something stupid that Sonnett did.  

“Do you two ever play nice?” She laughs and you shrug.  

“It’s hard to with Kelley.” You bite your tongue between your teeth and the woman rolls her eyes.  

“You’re not too easy to play nice with either.”  

You gasp, loudly, so loudly in fact that everyone at the table stops talking.  

“You alright down there?” Ashlyn chuckles a brown arched and you scoff.  

“NO. Kelley said I’m hard to play nice with.” You pout and Emily blows a raspberry.  

“I mean you are kind of a dick.” Emily shrugs and everyone turns to her, eyes wide.  

Kelley literally throws a pack of butter at her, smacking her in the side of the head.

“Only I can call her a dick.” She growls and you snort.  

“Thanks so much for defending my honor.” You say dully, you too being smacked with a pack of butter.  

“Shut up while I defend you.”  

You shake your head, laughing.  

“You might be an ass, but I love you.” You smile, taking a sip at your drink, completely missing the way Alex glances at the defender, whose mouth drops into a frown.  

“And I love you too.”  

                                                            ***

“You’re torturing yourself Kel.” Alex whispers as she drops down onto the bench beside Kelley, the defender’s brown orbs leaving you where you’re at on the field to look at Alex.  

“I know.” She whispers, frowning sadly when Ashlyn slips an arm around her.  

“Why haven’t you told her how you feel?” She asks, Ali leaning around her to look at the defender.  

“She just got out of a relationship and...” Kelley shrugs, Ali, Ashlyn and Alex sharing a glance.  

“That was a year ago Kel...” Ali frowns, the defender shrugging.  

“She doesn’t see me that way.”  

The three players sigh, each and everyone of them sharing a glance.  

Meanwhile on field you end up looking towards the bench, seeing your best friend frowning sadly, her brown orbs focused on the ground at her feet.  

Your brows furrow and your heart aches at the sight.  

You’d be sure to ask her about it after the game, but little did you know things weren’t going to end up going that way at all.  

No, because someone was about to make an appearance...

Someone you hadn’t seen in over a year.  

Someone you would’ve been content with not seeing ever again.  

                                                            ***

“Y/N.”  

You freeze, picking your head up, your eyes doubling in size.  

“What are you doing here?” You snarl, turning around to face the woman who’d broken your heart over a year ago.  

She takes a step towards you, her hands up, almost like she’s about to cup your cheeks but you shuffle backwards.  

“You’re kidding, right?” You chuckle humorlessly, stepping back towards the locker room door, unfortunately, you’d been the last one coming in seeing as you had an interview.  

“Y/N, just listen to me-

You scoff, turning around and walking into the locker room, unfortunately for you, she follows you in.  

“What the hell are you doing here?” Kelley snarls, putting herself between you and the woman, your other teammates following suit.  

“I see you all know each other.” Vlatko says, the women all sharing a glance where as you turn his way, eyes wide.  

“Oh yeah, we know each other.” Kelley snarls angrily, brown orbs narrowed as she glares daggers into your ex.  

“Well, this is the newest member of our medical team.”  

Everyone turns to him, eyes wide, your eyes being the widest.  

“WHAT!?”  

                                                            ***

You’re practically inconsolable, considering the fact that your ex fiancé had just joined the USWNT medical team, and you had to see her every day.  

Kelley had been glued to your side since you found out never out of your sight for more than five minutes and if your ex was around, she’d snarl at the woman anytime she came near.  

Your other teammates were the same, every one of them sending your ex venomous glares whenever the woman tried to approach you.  

Every one of your teammates knew the nature of your break up, that your ex had cheated on you and that had led to your break up, but you’d never told them exactly what had happened or the reason WHY she cheated on you, the only other person who knew what had happened was Kelley.  

You let out a lengthy sigh, the defender turning towards you with a sad frown.  

“I’m sorry...” She mumbles and you shake your head.  

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault.” You mumble, glancing away.  

What you hadn’t told her was she WAS in a way the reason you and your ex had broken up, but you weren’t about to tell her that.  

                                                            ***

"Can you at least give me a chance to talk about this?” Your ex asked sadly and you shake your head.  

“No, there’s nothing to talk about.”  

You scoff as you march onto the field, back to practice leaving your ex behind, your ex who was glaring daggers into a certain defender who rushed to meet you, her brown orbs not on you, but on your ex, her nostrils flaring.  

She goes to rush passed you, but you catch her wrist, the defender turning back towards you with a huff.  

“Just let me-

The women stops midsentence when you shake your head.  

“She isn’t worth it Kel.” You whisper, giving her wrist a squeeze.  

Kelley sighs, sending your ex another glare before relenting, turning back towards you.  

“Fine, but if she doesn’t leave you alone, she’s getting these hands.”  

                                                            ***

Unfortunately, when the two eventually go head to head in the locker room, you’re not around to act as a buffer between the two of them.  

“Are you always going to come between me and Y/N?” You ex snarks and Kelley rolls her eyes.  

“I never came between the two of you in the first place, you just thought that and made the biggest mistake of your life, you can’t blame me for that.” Kelley growls, your ex rolling her eyes.  

“You’re still trying to tell me that nothing happened between the two of you?” She scoffs and Kelley sighs, eyes slamming shut.  

“NOTHING happened between the two of us... And even if it HAD, you still could’ve talked to Y/N about it instead of literally sleeping with half the town.” Kelley marches up, poking her in the chest. “You are responsible for what happened and you don’t have anyone else to blame.”  

“But there’s ONE thing, you’re right about.” Kelley whispers, not realizing her teammates have made their way into the locker room, the sound of Kelley’s yelling alerting them to the fact that her and your ex were going head to head.  

Your ex swallows hard, eyes wide, her mouth snapped shut.  

“I do love Y/N...” Kelley says sadly, glancing away. “I’ve always loved her, I’ve loved her since before the two of you even met, and it absolutely killed me watching the two of you be together, but I would’ve never come between the two of you, because she loved you.” She mumbles, her teammates watching on sadly at Kelley’s confession.  

“What the hell is going on here?” You push through the group, eyes narrowed, having just caught the last few words of the argument.  

You walk up between the two of them, your ex frowning when you put your back to Kelley, in a way to shield the defender from her.  

“This has to stop.” You shake your head, glancing at Kelley. “If you’re going to have to work with us, stop. Stop coming at her and stop coming at me, there’s nothing you can ever do that will ever make us okay again. Can we at least TRY to be civil?” You ask, throwing your hands up in the air and Kelley grumbles.  

You turn to look over your shoulder, chuckling when you see the woman’s bottom lip poking out.  

“Come on Kel, she has to work with us...” You shake your head, surprising her by cupping her cheeks. “It was over a year ago, and I’m over it, so let’s just... Try to be civil, please? For me?” You whisper and Kelley sighs, her hands jumping up to cover yours.  

“Fine, but I don’t like it.” She mumbles and you shake your head, grinning.  

“Didn’t think you would.”  

                                                            ***

“She loves you, you know?” You hear your ex’s voice and turn around, your brows furrowed.  

“What are you talking about?” You ask, arms crossed across your chest.  

“Kelley.” She says simply and you shake your head.  

“Yeah, she does, she’s a great friend.” You mumble the last bit, your heart aching a bit at the words that left your mouth.  

“No Y/N...” Your ex says, taking a step towards you, her hands on your shoulders. “She LOVES you.” She says again and you scoff.  

“How can you not see it?” She asks and you shake your head again.  

“She doesn’t see me that way.”  

“Yes. She does, and you need to do something about it before it’s too late...” She frowns, stroking your shoulder with her thumb.  

“Look, I know she was a big reason why we broke up... You love her too.” She whispers and you swallow hard, your heart racing.  

“That’s not-

“It’s true Y/N, you could never love me like you loved her...” She shrugs. “I was jealous... I could see it in the way you looked at her, so I... I did what I did, because I knew you’d never look at me like you look at her.”  

Your eyes dart around her face and you frown, shuffling nervously from foot to foot.  

“Why should I believe you when you say she loves me...?” You ask, your ex smiling patting your chest before turning back around.  

“Civil, right??” She asks and for the first time in a while, you send her a soft smile.  

“Civil.”  

You turn around, taking your leave, your mind racing at the prospect that Kelley O’Hara felt the same about you as you did her.  

What you don’t know is she spotted the two of you, your ex’s hands on your chest as the two of you talked softly.  

Unable to watch the scene unfold, she abruptly left, her heart aching.  

                                                            ***

Alex runs her hand up at down Kelley’s back, her teammates looking on in worry at the tears running down Kelley’s cheeks.  

“That’s why she wanted to be civil...” She mumbles, Christen shaking her head.  

“Maybe it’s not what you think.”  

“What’s not what you think?” You ask as you walk out onto the pitch, your eyes wide when you see tears running down Kelley’s cheeks.  

“Hey... Hey...” You whisper, dropping onto your knees in front of her, cupping her cheeks. “It’s okay, we’ll figure whatever it is out, don’t cry.” You coo softly, wiping her tears away with your thumbs, but that only makes her cry harder.  

“You’re getting back with her, aren’t you?”  

Your eyes widen and you shake your head, smiling.

“I’m not.” You whisper, the woman picking her head up, her red rimmed brown orbs locking with your Y/E/C orbs. “Is that why you’re crying?” You whisper, your ex’s earlier words bouncing around in your head.  

Kelley swallows, attempting to swallow the lump in her throat, her cheeks flushing red.  

“I... I thought.” She stammers and you smile softly, glancing at your teammates.  

“Can you guys, give us a minute?” You ask and they all nod, your eyes widen when Emily points at her own eyes before pointing at you.  

“Watch yourself.” She mouths and you chuckle as her teammates drag her away, but you see Alex nodding.  

“Agreed.” She mouths and you shake your head, watching as they go.  

“Kel...?” You whisper, the woman’s eyes downcast.  

“Please, please look at me.” You whisper, the woman hesitating before slowly picking her head up, her browns orbs locking with your Y/E/C eyes.  

You shake your head, your eyes darting around her freckled covered face.  

“I couldn’t ever get back with her... Not when...” You stop, opening and closing your mouth a couple times.  

“How can you not see it?”  

“She doesn’t see me that way.”  

“Yes. She does, and you need to do something about it before it’s too late...”

You lick your dry lips.  

“I couldn’t be with her when I’m... When I’m in love with you.” You say and Kelley’s eyes widen, meanwhile your teammates are watching from their hiding place.  

Lindsey slapping a hand over Emily’s mouth to keep her from squealing.  

Kelley stares at you with wide, watery brown orbs, the woman in complete disbelief.  

“It’s time I tell you the truth...” You whisper, glancing away. “Cheating wasn’t the only reason I broke up with her...” You mumble, Kelley’s brows furrowing, your teammates stealthily moving closer to listen.  

“I couldn’t love her fully.” You slip a hand behind her head, playing with the hairs at the base of her neck. “I couldn’t love her fully when someone else had my heart.”  

Kelley’s bottom lip trembles, another tear leaking from her brown orbs.  

“After she cheated... It was sort of... Freeing... Because I didn’t have to battle with what I felt for her, and for you... The only difference is I’ve always loved you, I guess I was with her to try and forget my feelings for you.” You shrug, shaking your head. “But let’s face it, I never could.”  

A tear leaks from your Y/E/C orbs, rolling down your cheek.  

“Even if I married her there would be a part of me that would always love you. I just... Hope you feel the same.”  

Kelley slips off the bench, she too now on the ground, the two of you face to face. She cups your cheeks and you swallow hard, your eyes closing.  

“Y/N...” She whispers and your eyes flutter open, red rimmed Y/E/C orbs locking with Kelley’s red rimmed brown ones.  

She leans forward and you gasp, her forehead resting against yours. She bumps her nose against yours and you grin, sniffling as more tears run down your cheeks.  

“I’ve loved you for a long time... And I fall in love with you more every day.”

“Does anyone else smell cheese?” Emily mumbles, Ashlyn pulling her into a headlock.  

“Shhh.”  

Your eyes dart from Kelley’s lips to her brown orbs and back, your tongue swiping against your dry lips, something Kelley immediately zeroes in on.

You grin cockily, Kelley slapping you in the shoulder.  

“What?” You laugh, Kelley shaking her head.  

“Don’t make me wipe that cocky smile off your face.” She warns and you roll your eyes.  

“Oh, how are you going to do that O’Hara?” You challenge, a brow arched, when Kelley slips a hand behind your neck and pulls you towards her, your heart skips a beat.  

“Like this.”  

The second Kelley’s lips meet yours it’s like a jolt through your body, everyone of your nerve endings stimulated at once as stars explode behind your eyes, the woman’s lips who are pressed against yours is in much of the same state, the kiss leaving her breathless.  

The two of you part, neither wanting to open your eyes out of fear that you’ll wake, everything that happened being a dream.  

Eventually, your eyes flutter open, but Kelley’s remain closed, the woman terrified.  

“Open your eyes.” You whisper, bumping your nose against hers.  

“What if this isn’t real...?” She mumbles and you smile, your lips meeting hers again.  

“It’s real, now let me see those brown eyes I love.”  

Kelley peeks one eye open and you chuckle, the other eye flashing open when she sees you grinning in front of her.  

Kelley surges in, throwing her arms around your neck, your lips meeting again, the two of you giggling against one another’s lips.  

“DOES THIS MEAN THAT Y/N IS MY STEP DAD!?”  

The two of you part at the sound of Sonnett’s voice, both of you cackling when everyone on the team basically assaults her.  

“STEP DAD THEY’RE HITTING ME.”  

You roll your eyes, turning back to Kelley with a soft smile.  

“I...” You swallow hard. “I love you.” You whisper, Kelley’s smile splitting into a massive grin.  

“I love you too.”  

Out of sight your ex watches with a smile, glad that you had finally found your happy ending, even if it wasn’t with her. 

She always knew Kelley was your defender.

[yayeetsonny]

Sisterly Love~Big sister Kelley O’Hara x Reader

Prompt: Big sister Kelley and 19 year old reader. Lots of sister love and fluff. Requested by: @cpaeralricey 

Hopefully I did it justice! Enjoy! :)

Kelley PRO//

Okay, let me just say up front that having a younger sister is everything I want in life and more. My little sister Y/N O’Hara is my best friend and I love her more than I am able to even understand. 

You thought I was gonna say I hated her and that I couldn’t stand her didn’t you? Well… Ha! Jokes on you. That is definitely not the case. Now that’s not to say we don’t get on each other’s nerves sometimes, because we certainly do but 95% of the time we get along super well and practically do everything together. We even play soccer on the National Team together, it’s amazing. Y/N blows me away with how talented she is and how good she is at the game. 

Since I’m 31 and she’s 19, the age gap makes it hard for me to take credit for the skills she’s learned. But that’s okay, she is a great player in her own right and has future captain of the team written all over her. Speaking of Y/N, I was so lost in thought I didn’t even hear her come into my room, in the apartment we share in Washington.

“Kelley?! Hellooooo, Earth to O’Hara?!” 

“Huh? What’s up kid?”

“I’m bored, entertain me.” She whined

“And why would I do that?” I asked, playfully shoving her.

“Because, silly. You loooove me!” She said, drastically flopping on my bed.

“Say please and I’ll consider it.”

“Pleaseeee?”

“Mmmm… Okay fine!” I playfully rolled my eyes.

I went over to the bed, picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. I carried her to the living room as she squealed at me to let her down.

“Kelley!”

“Yes young squirrel?”

“I’m not a squirrel, you are!”

“Tell that to the fans, You can jump just as high as I can!”

“Uh huh, whatever you say sis.”

I finally threw her down on the couch giggling at the pout on her face.

“Oh come on, don’t pout. You love when I do that.” I said, pouting back

“Nu uh!”

“Yeah huh!”

“No!”

“Fine, You leave me no choice… Here comes the tickle monster!”

With that, I attacked her sides and her stomach with tickles, smiling and laughing as she giggled and squeal in surprise and delight.

“Admit that you love when I pick you up!”

“Never!”

“Admit it!”

“No!”

“Yes! Yield young one and I will show mercy.” I said in a goofy “monster voice”

“Okay, okay! I admit it!” She yelled, finally giving in to my unrelenting tickling.

“Aha! I winnnnn.” I said smugly.

She stuck her tongue out at me, crossing her arms and once again pouting adorably.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”

“Mmm. What do you wanna do now?”

“Uhhh… Can we go to the park and kick the ball around a little?” She asked

“What’s the magic word?”

“Pleaseee?”

“Then yes, we absolutely can.”

After we gathered our gear we headed to the park by our apartment. Once there we fell into a gave of 1v1 easily. I’d be lying if I said Y/N didn’t give me a run for my money, that kid is fast. She was able to get the better of me more than once and I was incredibly proud of how far she’s come as a player.

After we grew tired of the game we decided to take a break and just lay in the grass cloud watching .

Y/N PRO//

“Hey Kel, look it’s a little birdie!” I said excitedly as I pointed at the cloud I had spotted.

“That it is! Good eyes kid.”

“Hey Y/N, see that one over there?” She asked pointing to one just below the one I saw earlier.

“Yeah?”

“What’s it look like to you?”

“A squirrel.”

“Just what I was thinking.” 

We giggled at the reminder of silly nickname she had earned from our fans long ago. They now tend to call me “Baby squirrel” “Young Squirrel” or “Squirrel Jr.” It’s actually really cute and I love that her fans love me just as much as they do her.

“Hey what about that one?” I said pointing to one that looked like a t-rex

“A dinosaur of course!”

“Exactly!”

We continued on like that seeing everything from Mickey Mouse to a old man with a beard.

After a while we decided to call it a day and head home. When we got there we put away our gear, took turns showering and then once we were both done and ready we decided to just order pizza and play cards. 

We decided to play James Bond, which evidently we’re both pretty good at. Soon enough, what started out as a fun little game to pass the time turned into a full blown competition

“Oh come on! How do you do that?” I said, shocked at my sisters ability to get four of a kind so quickly.”

“I don’t know kid, Maybe a little bit of luck? Little bit of skill?” She said cockily as she once again beat me in our 7th game.

“Again.” I said, determined to be declared the champion.

Sure I had won 3 of the seven games but Kelley had beaten me 4 times in a row and I wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off her face.

“Okay, if you’re sure.”

“Oh I am.”

“You’re on.”

I ended up winning the next 2 rounds but then she crushed me in the next 3, and I had to accept that she was indeed the champion.

“Well now that we know who the true queen of James Bond is, what do you say we watch a movie or binge a show?” She asked, once again picking me up and throwing me over her shoulder.

“Ugh. Okay.”

“What do you wanna watch?”

“Hmmm… How about we binge Grey’s Anatomy?”

“Oh yes! I’ve been trying to find a good time to start that show.” She said

Several Hours later..

After at least 7 episodes of Grey’s we decided that, that was enough for the day and started to get ready for bed. I went off to go change, Kelley doing the same before we met in the hallway between our rooms. I was right across the hall from her so that if I ever needed anything she was there quicker.

“Goodnight little one, I love you. Sleep well.” She said, giving me a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead. I was about 2 inches shorter and she took full advantage of that fact.

“Hey, I’m not little.” I said indignantly.

“Oh, but you are. Who’s older?”

“You…”

“Who’s taller?”

“You…”

“Exactly, so by default you are little. At least to me.”

“I’m 19 now though! That’s not little, I’m legally an adult.” 

“That may be, but you’ll always be my little sister. You know that.”

“Yeah…” I said disappointed

“Hey now, don’t get all sad on me. That’s a good thing.”

“How so?” 

“Well… You’ll always have your big sister Kelley there to protect you. On and off the field. And, you have a best friend to do a bunch of different fun stuff with.”

“Always?”

“Always.”

“I love you.” I said, pulling her into another hug and tucking my head in her neck.

“I love you too. Get some sleep okay?”

“I will. You too, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

We separated into our respective rooms to sleep. Although that didn’t last long as I had decided that I wanted to be with my sister instead. Grabbing my super fluffy, soft blanket, that she gave me for Christmas last year I made my way over to her room.

“Kel?” I whispered into the dark.

“Yeah?”

“Can I sleep with you?”

“Of course you can. Get in here,”

She didn’t have to say anything more, I padded into her room and plopped down on her bed. Making myself comfortable, I turned to face her.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime kid. Now go to sleep.”

When I turned away from her, she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me tightly against her chest and played with my hair, lulling me to sleep. I knew I could always count on my sister to be there for me and to be my best friend for life.

THE END

I hope you guys liked that one! Sorry for any mistakes.

- N

[winchester90210]

The BH 90210 Rewrite. 1x09: The Gentle Art of Listening.

Rewrite Masterlist

Read the previous chapter here!

My work is not to be reposted and/or edited without my expressed written consent. (Reblogging is fine and encouraged!!)

Chapter Summary: Who the hell is Nina? 

Warnings: Mentions of sex, jealousy, swearing. 

Word count: 2,200

A/N: I did skip 1x08 due to there not being a ton to do with it, and if I did write it, it would have been reeeaally short haha. But that means there’s a bonus chapter of some kind coming soon! Next week we’re tackling 1x10: Isn’t It Romantic? which means the start of Dylan and Brenda!

Feedback is incredibly appreciated!

-

Crowds of people gathered around the schoolyard, hip-hop music booming and people cheering as the cheerleaders carried on their routine.

“Brandon, did you sign up for Battle of the Beverlies?” Steve taps his friend on the shoulder as he walks up, sun beaming brightly onto them both. His blonde curls were firm in their place, thanks to the substantial amount of hairspray he applied this morning.

“I would have, but since I work nights it’s difficult. What about you?” Brandon’s dirty blonde hair blew in his face, making him crinkle his nose.

“I’m in the uh, coed tug of war,” He smirks.

“Well, aren’t we all?” Dylan sneaks up behind them, in his usual white tee and leather jacket.

“Hey Dylan, I didn’t think grudge week would be your kind of thing,” Brandon greets.

“Grudge week is every guy’s thing,” Dylan chuckles as Steve snickers and puts on his sunglasses.

“What? I don’t get it,”

“Well, a lot of the girls get into the uh, the spirit of the scene and try to pick up older guys,” Steve grins, “Looks like Y/N’s enjoying this tradition herself.” He nods his head over to where you are– leaning with your back against the lockers, hip jutted out, twirling your hair as you talk up some senior jock. “Brandon, I thought you locked her down already?”

“Nah, she… we… agreed to be friends,” he explained for what must have been the umpteenth time that week. Brandon stiffened as he watched you over there with him, as the guy scribbles something down on a piece of paper and hands it to you.

-

“Mom, this is not funny,” Brandon gripes as his mother scrubbed at the dishes. He adjusts the cap on his head and starts chopping up a tomato.

“I didn’t say it was funny, it’s adorable!” She fawns.

“Adorable? How about psychotic?” He argues.

You roll your eyes, “Brandon, she has a crush on you! It’s cute!”

“Right! You should be flattered!” Mrs. Walsh smiles.

“Flattered that a 14-year-old follows me around all day?! And, you know, the worst part of it is, if I accidentally make eye contact with her she pretends she’s looking over the rainbow or something!” You instinctively roll your eyes for the second time. Boy, he was melodramatic sometimes.

“She’s just shy, honey, that’s all. What’s her name?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care!” He sure acted tough for a guy that was helping his mommy make dinner. And he sure was cute. Even with that dumb blue backwards hat on.

“Oh, you’re such a heartbreaker!” Cindy jokes, moving to set the table.

“It’s because he can afford to be,” you quip.

-

“So, d'ya hear about what Brandon got up to last night with Nina?” Steve wiggles his eyebrows as you both walk through the halls together.

“Nina?” Whatever. You’re friends. And he can talk to other girls. Nothing wrong with that. You don’t care. Nina who?

“Just this incredible older woman he met at the peach pit. They spent some time after work together. Brandon was… pleased,” okay, so you care a little bit.

“And? What’s your point?” You try to hide the eagerness in your voice.

“Get this! She gave him… a foot rub,” your hand immediately comes out and smacks him hard on the shoulder.

“Don’t scare me like that! You think I care if he’s getting massages from people?” You stare at him in disbelief and he laughs, happily.

“That might not be all he’s getting from her soon Y/N/N,”

-

Striding down the hall with Dylan, he begins to speak.

“Y'know, Brandon was asking my advice on making it with an older woman… I’m gonna guess that he wasn’t talking about you,” He grabs your book from you as you walk to study hall in the library. Tread lightly, Y/N. Dangerous territory. Be calm. Cool. Uninterested.

“And? What’d you say?!” Dammit.

“I told him what he wanted to know,” he shrugs.

“No! Don’t do that!” You’re doing great. Super chill.

“It’s fine, the guy has no idea what he’s doing!”

“But you still encouraged him,”

“What should I have said?”

“Anything! "No” or “Stop” or “Hey! What about Y/N?! Do her!”“

"Uh-huh,” the smile on his face was amused, with a familiar yet unknown sparkle in his eye, “And you do realize that would require actually telling him how you feel, right?” You sigh.

“I just can’t believe him, y'know? He refused to sleep with Sheryl because he wasn’t in love with her, but now he’s ready to give it up to some old lady masseuse?”

“…How’d you know she was a masseuse?”

“Steve likes to update me on all things Walsh, whether I want him to or not,” you both enter the library together, quiet chatter fills the room.

You loved talking to Dylan, whenever you talked he listened. Truly listened. He absorbed every single word that fell from your mouth– carefully, intently. It was so drastically different than talking to Steve, who loved annoying you, or Kelly, who you felt was too shallow at times to have a serious conversation with (Okay, it’s not that she’s shallow, she’s great! But she doesn’t like talking about anything more complicated than the sale at Henri Bendel’s or Donna’s impending nose job.)

And… Brenda? You loved her, but you couldn’t talk to her about the raging feelings you had for her brother. And you definitely couldn’t talk to her brother about it, either. Dylan on the other hand… you got each other. As cheesy as it sounds. He could come to you with anything, and you could come to him. And it just worked. You clicked. In like, a total friend way though.

“What about the time he spent the night with you? You weren’t complaining about his pre-marital exploits then,” His eyebrows go up as you both pull out your chairs from the wooden library table.

“Dylan, we didn’t have sex! We talked and I fell asleep in his bed. Fully clothed, platonic, unproblematic,” You sigh defeatedly, resting your chin in your hand, “I haven’t been able to get myself into the peach pit for a few weeks. Because then I’d have to see him in that stupid all-white uniform, looking all… Brandon-like and I don’t know what I’d do with myself. On one hand, I’m totally cool being his friend and on the other… I’m a wreck and I’m missing out on Nat’s apple pie because of it,”

“Well, how about this? We go to the pit around 5, and if you still feel awful after Nat’s apple pie then we can retreat back to my place and watch Animal Crackers. Deal?” You pause.

“You’re on, McKay,”

-

You, Kelly, and Brenda lay on Brenda’s bed, with you in the middle, watching the wooden ceiling fan swirl around and around and around.

“Where do you think we’ll be in 10 years?” Kelly’s voice is quiet under the whirr of the fan. “Like, do you think we’ll be in a good place? Happy?”

“I hope so,” you mumble.

“I’m sure you’ll be in Paris or Rome, with a fashion empire and a gorgeous husband,” Brenda smiles.

Steve and Brandon hold their ears to the bathroom door that connects the two bedrooms.

“Steve, I really don’t think this is a good idea–”

“Relax, it’s a great idea. It’s the only way to hear what actually goes on in there,” Steve scoffs, “Haven’t you spied on your sister before?”

“Yeah, when I was 12. I’m 17, dude,” He scolds him in a whisper as you and the girls chatter on the other side of the door.

“Do you think we’ll be married?” Brenda rests her hands under her head, her brown hair shiny and soft under her palm.

“Oh, totally! Or at least… close to it,” You smile.

“Bren, your husband is gonna be totally cool– like a musician or a race car driver or something. And Y/N/N, your husband’s… ” Her genuine smile morphs into a mischievous smirk “Steve.” You give her an offended gasp as you all erupt into giggles.

“No amount of money in the world, Kel,” you shake your head and sit up against Brenda’s headboard.

Brandon silently cracks up at his friend’s misfortune and perfect timing, and Steve delivers a hard hit to his shoulder.

“Actually, y'know who you’ll probably marry? Brandon,” You’re drop-dead silent. Brenda notices the look you’re giving her and she continues, “No, I’m serious! You guys are like, meant for each other. You’re basically the girl version of him– just prettier, funnier, less annoying, and…actually, majorly out of his league… but still, I think you guys would totally work.”

“There’s no way, he’s too… Brandon,” you reject, “And he’s your brother. I couldn’t do that, Bren. It’d be like Kelly dating my brother!”

“Well… is he cute?” Kelly smirks, blonde hair blowing softly under the fan. “Oh! You got that senior’s number for me, right?”

“Come on, I feel weird doing this,” Brandon protests, “If I want to know something I can just ask, I don’t have to invade her privacy.”

“It’s not like we’re watching them through a window, we’re just listening,”

“Look, you stay here and be creepy, but I have to get ready for work,” He stands up with a huff, leaving his tempestuous friend to his own devices.

-

“So?” Dylan folds his hands as you take your last bite of pie.

“You were right,” You concede, sliding the empty mini tin away from you, “You could say this pie was the answer to world peace and I’d believe you.”

“Want one more?”

“Ah, no I couldn’t. I should probably get going,”

“Crazy, have one more! On the house!”

“Really, I couldn’t,” you insist. Dylan holds up a finger and mouths “One more” and Nat is off into the kitchen.

“The secret is the sour cream,” Nat smiles, small pie in hand.

You look to Dylan, then to Nat. Why are they forcing pie onto you?

“Look, if it’s too much we can share it,” Dylan shrugs. You hand him a fork and leave yours on the counter.

“Brandon should be here soon if you want to stay a minute, I’m sure the kid would be happy to see you, you know… considering,”

“Considering?” You sip from your glass.

“Considering,” he winks, and in one swift motion he’s gone with your empty dish. Okay, you were sure of it. This entire town was on drugs.

Not even 5 minutes later, Brandon comes in through the back, all-white clothes adorning his figure. Heart be still.

“Oh, hey!” He smiles brightly, the scent of his cologne immediately apparent. (When did he start wearing cologne?)

“Oh, hi,” you take one last sip of your water, “I was actually just on my way out.”

“You haven’t even touched your pie yet! You love my pie!” Nat interjects.

“You sit and eat, I’ll be right back,” Dylan’s off into the bathroom and Nat’s disappeared suddenly into one of the booths.

Those bastards.

“So, what’s been going on, Y/N/N?”

“You saw me yesterday, not a ton,” you shrug and stick your fork in your pie, “Hung out with Brenda and Kelly, took a biology test, bought street drugs off some guy in a van,”

He chuckles brightly, “Productive day, huh?” He leans down, propping himself onto the brightly colored counter with his elbows.

“Oh yeah, this might be my favorite part though,” you barely nod as your eyes meet.

“Mine too,” He smiles bashfully, that twinkle in his eye going strong.

“Uh, the– the pie, obviously,”

“Oh yeah, no, the pie’s fantastic,” He grins, “do you want some ice cream with that?”

“Yeah, why not?”

-

The regular hustle and bustle of the hallways was a-go as Steve and Brandon trailed down them.

“Hey Brandon, whatever happened to that older chick that was coming onto you?”

“Oh, we’re just good friends,” He shrugs.

“Face it, you blew it!” Steve shakes his head as he speaks,

“Nothing was blown,” Brandon argued, “I decided against it and called it off.”

“You know what your problem is? You’re hung up on this age thing. What you need is a girl your own age! Someone spunky… annoying… hot, maybe midwestern!” Although those wouldn’t necessarily be Brandon’s choice of adjectives, he knew what his friend was getting to.

“Steve–”

“No, Brandon. I’m sick of you bitching and moaning about this girl, and I’m sick of her bitching about you. Look, I mean this in the friendliest way possible– it’s annoying and you’re both pathetic,”

Brandon’s brows furrow together, “Gee, thanks,”

“No, look, what I’m saying is… Instead of moaning apart… moan… together,” Steve’s eyebrows bounce up and down as he finishes his sentence, paired with his signature Cheshire grin. How long had he been preparing that line for?

“Y'know, that’s very insightful, but I think I’ve got it covered,” Brandon laughs, “But seriously, never give me relationship advice ever again.”

-

-

-

Taglist: @be-patient-be-good @mpmarypoppins @bevelyhills90210 @blueoz​ @harleylilo88 @princess-ghost-alien @hueycat2004

[curiousdamage]

Drabble Prompt 10

49: “Why are you crying?”

Part 2 to You could use a hug

https://curiousdamage.tumblr.com/post/185961348426/angstfluff-prompt-9

Pairing: Becca/Cara (Parental fic)

For me I guess (Sorry!)

Karate Kid: Careless Man’s Careful Daughter Universe

Warning:  Sexual Harassment of a young girl by an older man portrayed.

Also, the idea came from an episode of Family Ties, so credit where it’s due.

"Hey, Uncle Terry. Do you know that you are my favorite Uncle?" Becca asked, leaning on the back of his chair and wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Becca!" Mikey exclaimed with a laugh. "I'm right here. And out of all the other "Uncles" here, I'm the only one with a genetic link to you. I had to put up with your mom for seventeen years. Why does he get to be your favorite Uncle?”

"Aerosmith is playing at the Hollywood Bowl," she grinned.  “Dynatox is a sponsor."

"Carry on," Mikey said with a flourish.

"Anyway, Uncle Terry, you're so handsome and cool, and hip, and nice…,”

“Tell Mikey that I am your favorite Uncle again," Terry smirked.

“For Aerosmith tickets, you can be my favorite Uncle, too," he shot back.

"No thanks." Terry replied, then patted Becca's arms. "I got your tickets last week.”

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she squealed.

"But you have to take Snake," he muttered fast.

“No, not him," she whined. "I want to take Bobby.”

“You'll just end up kissing Bobby," he teased

"I'll just end up killing Kelvin," she replied.

"Take Bobby too. Just keep an eye on Kel and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Terry said.

"Doesn't he have a girlfriend who can do that?"

He shot her a look.

"Right. Dumb question. I'll take care of him, Uncle Terry. Don't worry," she smiled, hugging him again. “Thank you!”

"I know, Honey," he laughed. "Will you get me another beer?”

“Sure. Uncle Mikey?”

"Oh, am I your Uncle again?" he teased.

"Until KISS comes to town," she smirked.

“If he gets you KISS tickets, you’re taking me,” he laughed. "A beer would be great."

"Cool. I'll be right back.” She went into the kitchen, got the beers, and was rummaging through the drawers for an opener.

“Rebecca?"

She spun around. "Mr. Steven! Do you need anything?"

"Um…, I was hoping we could talk," he said, rubbing his neck nervously.

"I guess,” she shrugged, looking out the window to see most everyone outside.

"Look, I..., I think you might have gotten the wrong idea yesterday when we were talking in the front room," he said.  “I think you might have thought I was um, you know coming on to you with that hug."

"Um..., a little," she admitted.

"Well, I want to assure you that that was absolutely not my intentions. I mean, you were such a part of our lives back then, what was keeping us motivated, to keep going, and all that, I feel like I know you like Terry, or Mikey, or some of the others who have been around a little more do. I just forgot that I haven't been around, so you don't know me like you know them, and I could see how you might have gotten confused about that hug.”

"Yeah," she breathed a sigh of relief. "That makes sense. I've never been so glad to be wrong about something."

Steve laughed. "I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable.”

“I'm sorry I thought the worse," she confessed.

"No, Honey, don't even think about it," he said, waving his hand as if dismissing it. "Totally my fault I'm the adult and you're the little Princess."  He stopped and smiled warmly, "And I promise that is all I see you as, okay?"

"Yes, sir," she returned his smile. "I need to take this outside.”  She held up the beers. She breathed another sigh of relief that she had been wrong about him. He just saw her the same as Uncle Terry and the other guys did. She even managed to quiet that nagging thought that reminded her that Uncle Terry had never looked her up and down like that and that in all the hugs they’d shared, his hands had never landed on her behind. Well, she mostly silenced it.

She kissed each Uncle on the cheek. "I couldn't find the opener, so you'll have to be manly men and figure out how to open them without one. I'm going upstairs to call my best friend and tell her that I'm going to see Aerosmith!"

She practically danced into the house. She didn't expect Mr. Steven to still be in the kitchen.

She jumped, startled again when he cleared his throat.

"Sorry," he said, again, running his fingers around the rim of his tumbler.

"It’s okay. Did you need something?" she asked, confused.

"Yeah," he said, drawing out the word. He set his cup down and took a step towards her.  “I just wanted to be sure that we are okay?”

“We're cool," she replied, instinctively taking a step back. The counter stopping her further retreat. "Well, it was nice to see you, M…,"

Her words were cut off as he pressed her against the counter, running his fingers in her hair, and kissing her hard.

She struggled to get away. Her Dad had always told her to knee a guy in the groin to get away, but she couldn't move her legs that much, choosing to stomp his insole instead.

He jerked away as though he'd been shot.  "Becca! Oh, God! I'm so sorry!" He exclaimed as though he hadn’t known what he was doing.

She had her hand over her mouth, staring at him in disbelief and shock, before running up the backstairs to her bedroom.

Steve watched as Becca ran up the stairs. He didn't know what had come over him. She was his friends' daughter. Their very young daughter. And everyone here thought of her as their own, everyone felt like a Daddy to her. And he'd always thought he did too. But then last night, and now this?

He had to get out of here. John was going to kill him. With Terry and Mike helping and the others willing to hide the body. They could all joke and talk shit but there was a line you didn't cross, and the Princess was squarely on the other side of it. Hell, John once broke a guy's nose for just teasing that the Princess might not be his kid, though that one might have been more about Cara than the kid.

He had to go. He slipped out intending to slide out the side gate when no one was paying attention.

That was his plan, but as soon as he stepped out, Robert Racine grabbed him around the shoulder.

"Stevie! Stevie," he laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Back me up. You were there when we had that piece of shit radio. It's a wonder we ever heard anything."

"Yeah," Steve said, looking around, "Listen…,"

"Any way," Racine blew pasted Steve’s protest to tell his story. "Terry was jacking with the damn thing..., again…,"

___________________

Becca slammed her bedroom door. She couldn't believe that just happened. She turned her radio on full blast grabbed a pillow, pressed it to her face, and screamed. She knew she'd promised Susan that she'd go to her house if anything happened, but she didn't know how she'd manage to get out of the house without having to tell her parents anything and if she told them anything right now, she’d tell everything.

“Rebecca!” She heard Cara bang on the door before opening it. “Turn down…,” Her mother’s face went from stern to concerned, seeing Becca curled up on her bed, tears streaking her cheeks. She flipped off the stereo as Becca sat up, wiping her face.

“Mama,” she sobbed, letting Cara hug her.

“What’s the matter, Honey?  Why are you crying?” She brushed Becca’s hair from her face and kissed her forehead. “Did something happen?”

It took Becca a few tries but she eventually spoke up. “Mr. Steven…, he um…, he…, made a pass at me.”

“A pass? What do you mean he made a pass at you?”

“You know, with his hands and his lips and…, oh god!”

“What did he do?!”

“He…, he…, yesterday when I was waiting for Bobby, he was talking to me, and then he hugged me and he…, he grabbed my behind. And then, today…, he said I had the wrong idea and that he didn’t mean it like that and then he…, he pushed me up against the counter in the kitchen and he…, he kissed me. Hard.”  She covered her face and sobbed again.

Cara pulled her hands away from her face and made her look up at her.

“Did he hurt you, Rebecca?”

“No.  He just…, he really scared me, Mom,” she cried.

“Oh, Honey, I know,” Cara held her close and rubbed her back. “It’s okay.  You’re okay. Daddy and I will take care of him.”

“No, Mom.  You can’t tell Daddy. What if everyone thinks it’s my fault?  Maybe I was being too friendly or something?”

“No.  No,” she shook her head.  “You didn’t cause this, Rebecca.  No one is going to think that.  Get that thought out of your head, okay?”

Becca wiped her nose and nodded.

“Steve has to go.  He has to leave.  Daddy and I won’t let anyone make you feel scared in your own home, you know that.”

“I just don’t want anyone to know, Mom.  It’s embarrassing.  And you know Daddy’s going to blow up and it’ll just be a big thing and I just want it to be over and forget that it happened.  I’ll just stay up here in my room until he leaves.  Or I could go over to Susan’s for a little while? I just want it to be done, Mama,” Becca pleaded.

“Becca, Honey, someone needs to talk to him so that he knows he can’t do that to another girl, okay?” Cara kissed her head again.  “You didn’t do anything wrong.  You have nothing to be embarrassed about.  No one is going to think this is your fault. He’s a grown man.  You’re a child. It’s not your fault.” Seeing that Becca still looked unconvinced, she hugged her again.  “Okay, Honey.  I know that feeling.  How about if I just go down and tell Steve that he needs to leave?”

Becca nodded, wiping her eyes again.  

“Okay, Sweetheart.  You can stay here, and I’ll go tell him to leave,” she said.  

“Mom?”

“Yes, Sweetheart?”

“You know this feeling? Did anything like this ever happen to you?”

Cara nodded, “Yeah.  When I was about your age.  A very good friend of our family was over for dinner and when Mimi and Grandpa were out of the room, he grabbed me and groped me.”

“What did you do?”

“Well, I did almost the same thing you did.  I asked to be excused as soon as your grandpa came back in the room, then I ran upstairs and called my best friend, Helen, and asked her if she thought Ryan McHenry liked me.  Like you, I just wanted to forget that it had happened.”

“I told Susan what happened last night.  She said I should have told you,” Becca admitted.

“She’s a smart girl. A bit more…, crass than I’d like you to be, but hey, we all need a friend that our mom doesn’t like.” Cara smiled, kindly.  “I’ll be back soon.”

Becca nodded again.

_____________________

Well, that was the plan anyway.  If for some reason that the jerk was stupid enough to hang around, she was just going to pull him to the side, tell him that she knew what he’d done and that if he didn’t make his excuses and leave immediately, John would know what he’d done, too.

However, when she saw him, she couldn’t stop herself.  She made a beeline for him, by the look on his face, he knew that she knew.  

“Cara, be rea…,”

Her right fist caught him square between the eyes.

“Cara! What the hell?” John exclaimed, not sure what exactly was going on. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back.

“Let me go, John.  This…, this asshole tried to seduce your sixteen-year-old daughter,” she said.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you,” John snapped, releasing Cara and hauling Steven up from the ground, holding him up by his shirt.

“That’s not…, she’s just…, confused…, I told her…, You know I would never hurt your kid,” Steve sputtered out.

“Shut up,” he snarled. He looked at Cara.  “What did Becca say?”

“That he felt her up when he hugged her, then he pinned her against the counter and kissed her.”

“What?!” He flung Steve away from him, knocking him down.  

“It wasn’t like that,” Steve declared as two of the other men pulled him back to his feet.

“My daughter doesn’t lie, and she’d damn sure never lie about something like that!”  He hit the other man, steadily advancing with kicks and punches.  

“Get him up,” he said when Steven fell again.  “He’s not through.”

“No!” Cara stepped between them.  She put her hands on his face and made him look at her.  “I know.  I get it.  But our girls and I need you here.  Calm down.”

She turned to Steven.  “Get out. Never come back to our home or speak to our children again.”

“Go check on the Princess,” Terry said, putting a hand on John’s shoulder and turning him towards the house.  “I’ll take care of things out here.”

“Come on, Johnny Ray,” Cara coaxed, taking his hand and pulling him inside.

Steven slung off those reaching to pull him up and stood, swaying, on his own.

Terry and Mikey grabbed him by the collar, marching him towards the gate.  

“If you even think about calling the cops, or in any way escalating this further against Johnny, there won’t be a place in this world you can hide that we won’t find you,” Terry said, menacingly.  “And Cara won’t be there to save your sorry ass.”

Steven nodded just before Mikey slammed the gate.

______________

A little while later, Mikey was sitting at the dining room table, watching Becca and Terry play some convoluted card game that involved slapping, then grabbing the cards as ‘theirs’ and seemed geared towards Becca always winning.

“I win,” she grinned, slapping down her last card, feeling better about the whole day.

“Alright, Card Shark,” Terry laughed, ruffling her hair. “How much do I owe you now?”

“Ten dollars.” She started shuffling the cards again.  

“Put it on my tab.”

“Want to play again?”

“Later, Princess,” he said as John came into the room.

“Come on, Silver,” Mikey said, getting up.  “You can take me out and show me where you meet models desperate enough to date you.  I’ll definitely make out there.”

“Yeah, sure.  Better go grab your flight jacket so you look interesting enough to talk to.  Better wear the hood up to cover your face while you’re at it,” Terry smirked.

Both men kissed her head as they left the room.  

“Hey, Daddy,” she said, somewhat shyly.  

He nodded, getting a drink from the refrigerator.

“Listen, Daddy, I’m sorry…,”

“No, Becca.  You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” John said, taking a seat beside her.  “I’m just sorry that you had to deal with that. Some guys just never grow up and realize their assholes.”  He sighed.  “You know, you used to talk to me about everything.”

She nodded, “I know, it’s just…, easier to talk to mom about some things.”

“Yeah,” he agreed.  “And I’m sure that’s going to be more and more things the older you get, but I just want you to know that you can still always talk to me, if you’re scared or upset or just because. I may not always understand, but I’ll always try to help, even if all I can do is run get Mom myself.”

“I know, Daddy.” She smiled, laughing slightly, imagining telling him something about her period or sex.  He’d wait for approximately .2 second before yelling, ‘Cara Marie!’

“Come here, Princess.”  He hugged her tightly.  “Now, about this Aerosmith concert…,”

[thisdiscontentedwinter]

Bad Blood - Chapter 5

You can read it here on AO3 or find the Chapter Index here. 

***** 

Allison Argent is like a ray of sunshine, and Stiles is… well, Stiles is like a vampire, he guesses. He’s deathly allergic to rays of sunshine. He doesn’t feel happiness whenever Allison visits, even though he wants to, because it’s Allison. She’s sweet and funny and genuinely seems to care about Stiles, even though she hardly knows him, but all Stiles feels when she talks is a weird sense of envious disdain. She talks about school, and how she worries that she’s not fitting in, and how she misses her old friends in Phoenix, and Stiles is above all that, isn’t he? It’s petty teenage bullshit, because Allison doesn’t even know there’s a war going on—Allison doesn’t know anything about werewolves, or the multitude of other nightmarish creatures that actually stalk the world—and the stuff she cares about is childish and irrelevant, and Stiles wants to laugh at her for it, except he can’t, because whenever he tries to he feels a burn of pure jealousy in the pit of his stomach because she’s so normal. And he knows he shouldn’t want the things that she does, he knows he has a higher purpose, a birthright, but he remembers back when he thought he was just a normal kid too, and… and he thinks he was happy back then.

It’s hard to remember.

It’s harder still to evaluate his memories, because every single one of them has been tainted by his father’s betrayal. Every single one has been poisoned by the shame and the anger and the hatred Stiles feels now.

There was a time when Stiles thinks he remembers loving his father, but what the hell did he know back then? Nothing. He was just a dumb fucking kid.

“Stiles?” Allison asks, her forehead creasing. “Are you okay?”

Stiles jolts slightly. “Sorry. I zoned out. What were you saying?”

Allison smiles and elbows him. “I’m saying that there’s this boy and I think he likes me!”

“Of course he likes you,” Stiles says. “Who wouldn’t?”

They’re sitting on Stiles’s bedroom floor with their books and schoolwork spread out around them. Stiles’s curriculum doesn’t quite mesh with Allison’s, but it’s still fun to have someone to do homework with. Well, Stiles guesses everything he does is technically homework since he’s homeschooled, but it still feels nice. It feels almost normal.

That’s the trap, probably.

There’s a locked box under Stiles’s bed with his Kel-Tec PMR-30 and four clips of wolfsbane bullets in it. Stiles is still getting used to the Kel-Tec, but he likes the European-style magazine release.

Allison dropped a pencil a little while ago, and it rolled under the bed. She touched the box getting the pencil back, and she doesn’t know. They’re sitting here talking about schoolwork and a boy she likes, and she doesn’t know Stiles is a hunter. She doesn’t know he belongs to a very different world than hers. There’s something absurd about it, something jarring. It’s unsettling. Stiles has spent the last six years around hunters. He’s forgotten how to pretend to be a regular person.

Allison laughs, the colour rising in her cheeks. “That’s so sweet!”

“Totally true though,” Stiles says. “You’re smart, and pretty, and just about the nicest girl I know!”

She raises her eyebrows appraisingly. “Am I the only girl you know right now?”

That startles a laugh out of him. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Her expression softens into something uncomfortably close to pity. “I wish you could come to school with me.”

Stiles blinks down at one of his textbooks for a moment. “Yeah, Me too.” He doesn’t know if it’s a lie or not today. He forces a smile. “Anyway, tell me about this guy again. Is he cute?”

“Adorable,” Allison says. “He almost stabbed me with a pen the first time he met me.”

“That doesn’t sound very adorable.”

“It was an accident!” She laughs again. “I don’t even know how he knew I needed one, and then he shoved one at me so fast he almost fell over his feet. Maybe he tries to impress all the new girls with pens.”

“Ah,” Stiles says. “The mating rituals of the awkward teenage boy.”

“Do you have some experience with them?” Allison asks.

Stiles feels it again: that jarring, dizzying sensation. He shouldn’t have asked if the guy was cute, because is Allison… is she asking if…

Stiles flinches before he can stop himself.  

“You seem like the sort of guy who’d accidentally stab a girl with a pen,” Allison says hurriedly, the rush in her words like she realised what she was implying, and backed the hell away again because she saw the flash of panic in his eyes.

“Yeah,” Stiles says with a weak laugh. “That sounds like me.”

Allison hesitates. “His name’s Scott,” she says at last, and Stiles feels a swelling of affection for her for not pushing. “He has floppy hair, and his jaw is a little crooked, and he has the most beautiful smile!”

“He sounds nice,” Stiles says.

Allison ignores the rasp in his voice. “He’s invited me to a party on Friday night.” Her eyes widen. “You should come!”

Stiles shakes his head. “I don’t think—”

“No, it’s perfect!” Allison exclaims. “Because Mom and Dad are being all weird about boys, as per usual, but if I say that you’re going with me, they can’t say no!”

Stiles bets they can. He also bets that Chris and Victoria’s reluctance to let Allison out of the house after dark has less to do with boys and more to do with the fact that there’s a werewolf pack in this town.

“I’m supposed to be concentrating on my schoolwork,” Stiles says.

“Stiles!” Allison rolls his eyes. “It’s one night! Ask Grandpa if you can come with me, please!”  

God. Put him in a dark forest with an entire pack of werewolves and he knows exactly what to do. But navigate the social quicksand of a high school party? Stiles has no fucking idea how to do that.

Not that it matters, of course.

Gerard won’t approve, so it’s never going to happen.

“Sure,” he says. “I’ll ask.”

***

There was this boy, once.

Just a boy on the street in Budapest.

It had been winter, and everything was bleak and cold and grey, and this boy had been wearing a red coat, a flash of colour. A red coat, and a blue woollen hat, and he’d laughed, and Stiles had looked over at him—

He’s beautiful.

—and Gerard had followed the direction of his stare, his eyebrows tugging together in a scowl, and Stiles had torn his gaze away from the boy.

Gerard’s stare had settled on Stiles like he was seeing him for the first time all over again, except that this time he wasn’t pleased with what he saw.  

Stiles never looked at another boy on the street again.

***

Stiles lands on the mat, and all his breath is knocked out of him. He rolls onto his side and gets his knees under him. He tastes blood, and wipes his mouth on the back of his hand.

Shit.

Gerard might be old, but he still has moves.  

Not that Stiles has ever been stupid enough to underestimate him.  

“Get up,” Gerard says, a growl in his voice. “If I was a werewolf, you’d already be dead.”

Stiles climbs to his feet. He sucks in a breath and rolls his shoulders. He dodges Gerard’s next punch, but a jab to his ribs has him twisting the wrong way, and Gerard punches him hard on the jaw.

Everything flares white with pain.

Stiles gets his gloves up in front of his face to protect himself. His vision is swimming, and he’s clumsy on his feet now. Still, he knows Gerard is right. A werewolf isn’t going to give him a chance to walk it off, is it? It’s fight or die in a hunter’s world, and if Stiles can’t handle a few punches from Gerard, how is he going to survive the real thing?

This time he takes a punch to the gut.

And a voice in the back of his head asks him: But if he keeps punching the shit out of you like this, how will you be in any fit state to go on a hunt at all?

Stiles ignores it, and sways on his feet for a moment, trying to find his balance.

A blow to the temple sends him down onto the mat again.

“Useless,” Gerard mutters. “Get up, Stiles!”

Stiles grunts, and tries to roll over. Flops onto his back again instead, and blinks up at the lights in the ceiling. There are more of them then there should be. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment to try to clear his vision.

“Useless,” Gerard says again.

Stiles opens his eyes and squints up at Gerard.

Gerard is unlacing his boxing gloves. “What the hell is wrong with you tonight? You’ve got worse form than a goddamn child.”

Stiles wishes he could say the words sting more than the cut above his eye that Gerard just opened up, but that would be a lie. “Sorry, sir.”

“You’ll get yourself killed out there!”

Stiles nods and swallows, and tastes blood again.

“You think that Kroměříž counts for anything here? You think that the Novákovi are anything like the Hales?” Gerard sneers at him. “You won’t last a second against the Hales unless you get your head out of your ass and remember how to goddamn fight!”

“Yes, sir.” Stiles tries not to wince when he breathes.

Gerard huffs and shakes his head. “We’re done here.”

He tosses his gloves down on the mat, and leaves the basement.

Stiles lays there a while longer, waiting to catch his breath.

He’s not sure how long it is until he’s able to climb to his feet, but the sweat is chilling on his body when he finally manages it. He stoops to pick up Gerard’s gloves, and places them back in the cabinet. It takes him longer than it should to unlace his own, picking at the knots with his teeth.

Gerard’s right.

He was useless tonight. He barely landed a hit before it was all over for him. He needs to train harder. He needs to get better. He needs to remember who he is, and what he’s here for. He’s a Stilinski, and he has a birthright. He’s a Stilinski, and he’s going to make that mean something again.

Something more than cowardice and betrayal.

He makes his way slowly up the steps, and into the kitchen. He fills a glass with water from the tap, and drinks it. Then he grabs a piece of kitchen towel and wads it up to hold against his split eyebrow.

He thinks of Allison and her normal life and her party and her crush on that boy who almost stabbed her with a pencil.

He doesn’t want that.

He doesn’t want anything like that.

He doesn’t.

He’s a hunter, not a kid.

Except later, when he’s curled up in bed trying not to move because it hurts, he finds himself texting Allison back and forth for a while and pretending, just for tonight, that he’s a regular kid after all.

And that, he discovers, hurts a lot more than any of his bruises.

[monsterfanfic]

Chapter 01: Lost and Found

      From the computer to the board. From the board to the computer. The motions continued. Ms. Martin stood in front of the auditorium sized classroom, speaking on cells and DNA as the two smart boards behind her displayed everything the Professor stated. Naturally Eva found herself looking over notes, making sure every key detail was taken down. Most of this would be reviewed once labs started, so no need to stress over it. Besides, this is Eva's third year taking a science course under Professor Martin. By now the professor's antics were memorized. Hopefully, anyways.        Shifting to the right, Eva arched an eyebrow as she faced her roommate and best friend since freshmen year at New York University, Kelly Griffin, as the two clearly had different outlooks when it came to Martin's class. Leaning back in the cushion seat, Eva crossed her arms, plainly giving Kelly her attention.        "What?" Kelly whispered, but her lack of knowledge as to why Eva was looking at her, proved the point as to what the real reason was by itself.       "We will have a test in two days, Kels."       "I know. I don't need to write notes for everything she says to pass. Besides, are you going to even remember half of that shit by Friday?"       "Maybe not," Eva responded honestly, making them of both smirk. "At least I'm trying though."      False hope was more than nothing at all. At least its giving the chance to succeed. Instead of completely ignoring everything by being on Amazon searching for phone cases.  

      "Trying my ass. I rather do it my way then play with my own emotions."        It was the same petty discussion every time. They both believed in different rituals. Rituals that had served both of them over their years. Kelly has been a last-minute study person her life, while Eva believes if you continue to go over the material it has no choice, but stick to you.       "So, what? You’re going to spend damn near a hundred dollars on what? Five phone cases, a new screen protector, and.......a lightening phone charger? Really, Kels?"  "What? I need this stuff. Do you know how hard it is to do my make-up, listen to music while trying to charge my phone, which by the way, has a shortage?"        Eva couldn't master up a response. For one that was bizarre, yet expected. Kelly had no need for any of the objects in her online shopping cart, but it's what makes her happy. So, either she'll buy them now or she'll just give her doctor of a father the task of doing it later.        These two are from two different lifestyles, but that's what keeps their friendship evened out. Their differences became a balance.         Most importantly she didn't have too much time to respond because in just that short timing an Pop Quiz was being displayed on the two smart boards. Sighing, Eva closed the laptop, putting everything away and dropping her phone down by her bag. With only her notebook and pencil out, she headed her paper properly; waiting until Professor Martin flipped the screen to the quiz itself.       Kelly looked up, not an inch of surprise crossing her face. Instead she rose an eyebrow at her beloved friend and went back to her shopping. Which most did. Pop quizzes were a bare minimum of only five percent of the class overall grade; in Martin's. Eva wouldn't take her chances however. Besides, passing these quizzes is known to help Martin lighten up on the red pen during grading.        In a matter of seconds, Eva went from wanting to smack some sense into Kelly to starting with her first written response answer to an DNA cell related question of a total of five. It would take her the rest of class to finish these questions because of how much detail was expected from each student.      By the time Martin's infamous timer went off, Eva was finishing her last sentence.        "Time's up. Drop your papers off on your way out, I'll have them graded by Monday after your test. Have a nice day."        Ripping out the paper from the ridged ends of the notebook, Eva dropped it and her pencil in her book bag before getting up and following Kelly down the stairs.       Together the girls joined the crowd leaving the science related building and into the fall breeze of the October weather. The hurricanes and unbearable heat was finally over, while Eva's favorite seasons start to take over. The changing of leaves, from heat to warm and cool temperature drop lower. Meaning the chance to pull out all her favorite clothes. Sweaters, hoodies, thigh-high boots that were brought during the summer while on fifty-percent off sales, long sleeve shirts whether button or pull overs, and baseball caps even.      The weather of love and fashion.       "We should go out tonight."        Bringing herself out of her head, making up possible outfits with future shopping trips, that may not even happen; Eva looked at Kelly, who was digging in her bag like a crazy woman. Maybe for her phone. The girl wouldn't live without it if you paid her to do so. While, Eva could leave hers unattended for days if she wanted.        "I don't know, Kels."       "Why not?" Snapping her head into Eva's direction, Kelly finally stopped digging in that damn bag. "What do you honestly have to do better? Study?"      "No, sleep."        "Bitch," Eva laughed at her response, walking the path to Kelly's next lab. "How about you resend those pictures for the note packet in Steven's class and give yourself some time to rethink that decision? Its free tonight if we're there before 11. And neither of us have classes tomorrow."        Sighing, Eva went to her pockets then to her bag. Coming up short on both ends. Of course. She forgot her phone when dropping it beside her bag right before the quiz. Professor Martin would have a class in less than ten minutes and even though she had no fancy iPhone, that Note 7 would catch the eye of anyone worthy of wanting it. Including her nosy professor.      "I forgot it......"      "Really, Ev? That's like the third time you've done that."      "I know," Stopping Kelly from walking backwards, Eva held her hands up, declining the offer. "I'll go. You head to class, I'll send the notes before you get there so you can have them up before he starts."       Not wasting a second, both of them split ways and Eva retreated their steps back to the building so many of her classmates had just piled out of. It sounds different, even felt different when walking into the silent hallway. The doors of Martin, Williams, and Mr. Elza's classes were open for the next group of students, thankfully none of them stood outside waiting, attempting to start up conversations. Eva didn’t plan to stop until she was entering the class, and that’s, thankfully, how everything planned out.

     "I know what you're here for."      Sighing, she shook her head, walking into the class. Of course, Martin was a sticker for cleanliness, time, and most importantly someone paying attention. Eva should've known her fear of someone else getting her phone would be nothing compared to Martin getting her hands on it herself.        "I'm sorry," Eva mumbled, but was cut short from an intruder's voice coming from the opposite side of the room. Her phone only inches away from where the man stood.      "Good, because I don’t plan on wasting much more time." He responds, his eyes fixed on the phone and then to Martin. Conforming what Eva thought; neither of them cared that she was even here. Honestly, Eva was too caught up in the secret guest to care why she came back. Call her nosy, but it was surly interesting.       His voice was all male. Deep, masculine, raspy, and commanding all the attention in every corner of the room with each syllable oozing from those pink, plump lips.       His attention was solely on the class room, taking in every detail as if it was his first time being here. The tone of his voice betraying that thought.       Eva kept her distance, easily slipping out the doorway of the class from their visual, but definitely close enough to eavesdrop on the conversation. She's never known Martin to have such a secretive life. The woman had sense the sexy stranger before he even spoke and did so with so much ease that Eva knew this wasn't the first and if she didn't have whatever this predator wanted, it wouldn't be the last.       "I haven't gotten my hands on it yet."      "That's not what I want to hear. It’s been almost two months, Vivien."      "Yeah, well it’s not the easiest task here, East." Dropping her famous red pen, Ms. Martin looked up who Eva could now call East.      "Especially when you're not trying."      The low rumble of Rihanna's singing Consideration caught the conversation, cutting through the tension filled room. Eva sighed in relief, after a second of silence she peeked into the class. Her eyes darting in the direction of her phone once she saw the screen lightening up against the tiled floor.      "I'll be back." The next second his tattooed hand was covering the phone. Eva's eyes trailing the lengths of his arms, both filled of drawings, cartoons, words which she couldn't make out, and random things that her eyes couldn't concentrate on. East heading at her. His long legs getting him across the class, past a terrified Martin, and to Eva in seconds.      Now, she sees him. The man's arms and neck covered in tattoos also the only places she hadn't saw where the areas his black Tommy Hilfiger shirt hid. One even right above his right eye the lone word "Mugga" traced cursively. The scruffy beard and low eyes made her back into the red painted wall behind her. His height causing Eva to tilt her head up.       "Yours?" East holds out the oversize Tinker Bell phone case holding the Samsung device, his raspy voice low as if he's not interested in anyone else hearing their conversation. Maybe he isn't.       Eva looked at the phone, then to his fingers. Each finger having the letters: E A S T written on each one. The name was obviously popular.      East Harlem. The hint of an Spanish roll to his tongue.      "Mines." It was a stupid, stupid response, but the best she could come up with. There's something about a young girl when she's in the presence of a commanding, handsome, and older man that’ll make her act a fool of herself.       Grabbing the cell phone, Eva checked her screen for any scratches or cracks, fortunately for her today was the lucky day. The sound of a low chuckle caught her attention and she looked up to see East shaking his head at her, the sight of a perfect smile staring back at her.       "Be careful." And then he was gone.

     "I cannot believe I let you talk me into this bull." Eva's voice radiated through the dorm room. Her freshly painted nails tracing the leather material of her sleeveless crop top down to ripped jeans hugging her thighs and hips.       For the past two hours, she's been in and out of clothes. From one hanger to the next as each fell to the comforter on her bed. Giving into the idea of clubbing with Kelly wasn't a fight. She knew from the second she asked, they'll be going together. For one, there's the buddy system which they live by. Secondly, it was Wednesday. Fox in Brooklyn was free until whenever every Wednesday night. She wouldn't miss another weeknight outing.       "Please." Looking over at Kelly, Eva shot her a look before grabbing her make-up case and heading to the bathroom that separated their room and the girls next door. Surprisingly, neither Eva or Kelly have introduced themselves to their suite-mates. Maybe if this was their freshmen year, yeah. But now at their junior years, it's a no go. Kelly isn't everyone’s number one, anyway. From her ties with Wall Street moguls through her father, expensive taste in clothes, shoes, and even food. Plus, her loud mouth. Few chose to deal with Kelly Griffin. While Eva simply never makes time for any of it.      "Momma Reed calling you, Ev!"       Plugging in the flat iron, Eva made sure the heat was appropriate before leaving out the bathroom and back to her bed where the flashing phone laid. Luckily, Kelly answered the phone call or she would've been stuck with another river flow of missed calls and voicemail.       "Mama." She took the call back into the bathroom, leaving Nicole Reed on speaker as she parted her wavy hair into sections to straighten.       "Eva, I called you earlier after your afternoon class. Did something happen? You're okay?"       "No, momma. Everything is fine, I just got busy with some papers and a class project," And most of my day was spent thinking of a man who is has an DANGER sign nailed into his chest. "I saw your call, but I just figured I could call you later on."      “You know I worry about you, Eva. Later on isn't promise, sweetheart."      Nicole Reed is an dear woman. She loves hard and means well, but what Eva has learned over the years is her mother has dealt with many misfortunes. Situations that have left tarnished memories in her and burned her joy. Eva only knows of only one disaster that could leave a mother so hurt and scared. Her oldest brother Nick Rita disappeared during the early 2000s, not once showing any signs of worry or hurt to their mother. Eva thought the idea of her mother losing her first born would keep them settle. Just in case, Nick ever showed up again. Instead, they ran months after he disappeared and haven’t been back to Atlanta since.        From house to house, neighborhood to neighborhood, state to state, and even out of the country once where they called Europe home a year.       Nothing helped the trouble soul. Eva knew after some time her mother was going crazy. Or at least losing it. The late whispers of monsters, Nicole mumbling low words with the lone name Nick catching Eva's attention each time.      "Mom, I'm okay. You worry about me too much."     "For God's sake, Eva, you went to New York. Of course, I do. You're in danger's plate."      Monsters live.       Her favorite words.      "Ma......"        Trailing down the pieces of hair, Eva was half way finished and decided that some lipstick and a quick fresh face would be the perfect look for the night.     "I'm fine. I'm promise, but......I gotta go, ma. I'll call you tomorrow afternoon. Love you."       Pressing the red button on her screen, Eva watched the picture or herself and her mother disappeared as her phone log appeared.      "Same ol'?" Eva nodded at Kelly's question before grabbing a rubber hair tie and parting the top of her now straighten jet black tresses. Making a ponytail before fixing it into a high-top knot.       "If same ol' is another way of saying crazy? Yes, same ol'."      "Your mother is passionate, Eva. You'll be glad to have her one day." 

      Those words weren’t as effective as the first time she heard them, but, still forcing Eva to drop her arms and look at the back of her best friend as she walked out the bathroom. Not for too long, but she did dwell on the thought. Of course, death is in everyone's plans, but doesn't make it any easier to accept. Does Nicole drive her crazy? Yes, but, she's her mother. That’s what expected. Besides they do say mother knows best. 

     She stills remember telling her mother that she would be attending New York University. Being accepted mostly from graduating top ten of her high school class. Most parents would die in happiness, trying to make sure the funds would be there for the child's admission just in case FASFA caused any headaches. They'll make sure that the trip there and picking of dorms for their child or children would be an enjoyable and memorable time. Very few would be complaining and crying for the child to change their minds.       Nicole hated every second of the process. Always finding a way to make sure she was getting into Eva's mind.      So far, she's done so, just instead, Nicole is pushing her in the opposite direction. 

     "I need some of this!" Eva shouted over the music playing. She knew the song from riding with Kelly, but the artist's name wouldn't pop up for nothing.       For the past three hours, this has been their sanctuary. From forgetting about test, notes, quizzes, homework, papers, or projects. Even overprotective mothers and handsomely scary strangers. Everything that wasn't club talk was like speaking Creole to both Eva and Kelly. All they wanted for tonight was some peace. Away from the dorms of NYU and to the place of where normal teenagers relaxed and enjoyed their weekend-like Wednesday night.       "Here," Kelly handed over the cup to Eva, the sound of a sudden gasp and a frown meet Eva soon after.        Beside Kelly and Eva, there was a man. Standing at about six feet even, dressed in all black. Eva hadn't notice him before maybe because she spotted her friend across the club with a cup and with only one of them holding the fake ID to be old enough to drink; she didn't care to pay attention to anything else.        Taking a gulp of it, Eva went to hand it back, but Kelly waved her off motioning to have to have it. Nodding, she excused herself from the small moment her friend and the grim keeper were having and finished the shot within seconds.      Tossing the cup away, Eva went outside, past the bouncer who she remembers Kelly calling Devin and outside to the coolness of the late-night air. She wasn't so sure of going back in. What she expected the drink to do; cool her off, give her dehydrated body some liquids. It seems to have done the opposite. Maybe it's the fact it's Hennessy. Regardless, she needed to be away from the loudness, heat, and intoxicating scent of weed the inside of the club provided her with.       It takes all of ten minutes for Eva to realize that she was either a low tolerance person or worst and she was drugged. It couldn't be though. It just had to be that in that small shot of Hennessy, she hit her limit. Kelly wouldn't allow her to drink something drugged.      Her body was going into panic mode, but she couldn’t lift a muscle now. Everything was weary. Sliding down the brick wall of the club, Eva dropped her phone between her legs. The wallet case falling open and her debt card and driver license falling out right in front of her.     "Fuck...."     ‘Deep breaths and keep your eyes open.’       She chanted that over and over before Eva could take control of her posture. Out the corner of her eye, she saw the bouncer moving closer to her, but thankfully for her unalert body he stayed a few feet away as if he was trying to be protective of her.      "I got it." That voice.      Seconds later that same tattooed hand wrapped around her phone, picking up the cards also in the process, but paying attention closest to the license.       "Eva....look up."       The sight of the face she had just encountered hours ago meet her glazy eyes. Eva didn't know whether she should be on guard or accept the help because whatever was going on, she couldn't fight alone. But who was he to help? Some stranger.        "I need to find Kel." She finally mumbles, her tongue feeling too heavy for her mouth in the moment.       This was either happening for a reason or she was in trouble. Out of millions of people in one city how does she run into someone twice, who by the way, she doesn't know, in one day?       There was no time to dwell on her thoughts. Before her reappearing guest could answer to her request of finding her friend; everything was gone black on her.

[capostrophe]

Rec-your-own (fanfiction edition)

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favourite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers.

Tagged by @slightlyintimidating yay!

Reconstruction (Starship, TUp)

This fic got a lot more love than I ever imagined. I wrote it in 2011-early 2012 during the height of Starship’s popularity as a Starkid musical. While there were a lot of TUp backstories I decided to go a little different and go forwards, exploring Taz and Up’s relationship after the events in the musical and I got carried away and had so much fun with it...when I’m in love with an OTP, I go all out and I definitely did with this fic. For a while I got a following from it and people recced it to Karri (LTD author) which astounded me because I didn’t think it was that great,  but I had a lot of fun writing it so I’m glad people had so much fun reading it. I also made a lot of Starkid friends. It was a fun time for me, sharing my OTP with a load of people who also shipped it (I guess that was because it was my first real foray into a larger fandom). Looking back, there are a few things I’d change if I gave it a major edit, including some of my less-than-adequate Spanish translations (I since took a class in Spanish so my TUp fics after that were a lot more accurately translated)and a couple of continuity errors but I’m still proud of it. It was the first really long, serious multichap I finished, standing at 26 chapters, which taught me a lot about persevering with a fic.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7311966/1/Reconstruction

At the End of the Day (Bread, Joetina)

It has some things I’d change, but I look back on this as one of my best works. I’d been reading some fics and original works in new styles, and I was inspired to try out a new writing style, straying from the typical third person, past tense and linear narrative I usually stuck with. And I was very happy with the result. I had a lot of fun world-building for not just my favourite couple, but the wider world of Bread, fleshing out the characters and their lives beyond the show, and the more I wrote, the more I was filled with ideas to the point that I wrote several spin-offs in the same universe to continue building on the other characters. I loved writing a fix-it that undid the annoyance of Joey/Roxy’s marriage at the end of the show and put Joetina together, and it was a challenge doing so in a way that was realistic and in-character, but a lot of fun. I started writing it before I’d even finished Money Angel, which I was working on at the time, and completed several whole chapters really quickly. Something I liked about writing it a bit later, setting it in the 90s and early 2000s rather than the 80s of the show, was that, having grown up in the 90s/2000s I could put in references to products etc. much more easily. This fic also had some personal significance for me, as a few issues I explored, particularly with Joey, mirrored some of my own worries.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9053772/1/At-the-end-of-the-day

A Very Umbridge Sequel (A Very Potter Musical/Sequel, Umbridge/Firenze but not pairing-centric) I was coming up to my trial HSC (mock A-levels/ finals? Idk what they call it outside Aus, but the Year 12 final exams to go to uni basically) and in my free time, wanted to write something light-hearted and fun. And I really, REALLY loved Starkid/AVPM, Joe Walker’s portrayal of Umbridge in particular. So I wrote a fic. All about that interpretation of Umbridge. Having centaur babies. Who were mini Umbridges.  I posted little games at the start of each chapter and gave out imaginary prizes (name mentions really) for reviewers who won. It got a following. I disturbed a few people. I had the most fun writing this fic of any fic I have ever written, or any story I will ever write,  because it was so stupid and hilarious. I think I was grinning/laughing to myself the whole way throughout writing it. 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7068391/1/A-Very-Umbridge-Sequel

Partners in Crime (St Trinian’s, Kelly/Flash)

Though I never finished it (and probably won’t due to being busy), I enjoyed writing scenes from lots of different characters’ points of view, getting into their heads and their way of thinking/speaking as they all gave their perspective on the same narrative. It was a really ambitious fic, exploring dark themes, a weird mafia (who in a coincidental bit of foreshadowing for my eventual Bread love were called the Black Jaguar) and an elaborate plot involving a mysterious USB, on top of the Kel/Flash budding romance. But I thoroughly enjoyed writing it. I think I would have finished it, had my St Trinian’s obsession not slid very quickly into my Starkid obsession with little room for segue (this obsession then made way for my 4-year love of Bread. I changed fandoms very quickly that year, then ended up with a long-term one).  No regrets, though. This was a different pairing for me, after 3 years of Gladys/Jeffrey, and writing for a fresh OTP with a very different dynamic was utterly enjoyable. Some great memories of early 2011 for me were sitting up til midnight typing up chapters of this fic (I handwrote nearly everything first) and hitting post.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6698640/1/Partners-in-Crime

Escape from the Fist of Iron (Starship, TUp)

Another fic I’ll likely never finish, but I regret lacking the time/motivation to do so at the time. It was a what-if fic, looking at how the starship rangers’ lives would have gone if they hadn’t won the Robot Wars, and it did quite well, review-wise. I was proud of the writing and the plot I had planned, although I got a bit bored of writing out times and dates, as I usually do when I try to write them into a fic. I feel bad I never finished it, given I had a fair few reviews asking me to do so, but I started it towards the end of my interest in TUp and near the peak of my interest in Bread, so it didn’t stand much of a chance. Still, it was interesting to write and I liked bringing in crossovers from Holy Musical B@man to spice things up a little. 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8288062/1/Escape-from-the-Fist-of-Iron

Do You Still Believe in One Another? (Bread, Jack/Leonora, Joetina and others, not pairing-centric)

It was possibly a tie between this and There’s a World Outside Your Window for my favourite ATEOTD spinoff, but this one wins as I wrote it during a dark time in my life, put a lot of thought into it, and it was a challenge writing a Jack-centric fic when he’s not normally a character I think about a lot, so it brought me out of my Joey comfort zone hehe. I started writing it in 2014, left it for a while, came back to it in 2015 and then didn’t post it because a few future fics had just come out and I was worried it might be a bit too similar. It found its moment, though, when it could reflect the loss of Carla Lane and be a tribute to her, and I’m glad I could end up writing it to show my appreciation for her work. A bit hard for me to read now, given my granny died last year and it’s all about Grandad’s death. I liked the aspects of the ‘verse I introduced into this fic, though, a few more details about Joetina’s marriage, Jackonora’s relationship, Shifty and Joey’s friendship (something I wanted and still want to explore in some more fics) and some sprinklings of other issues in the ‘verse I was going to flesh out later. Of the ATEOTD fics, and my Bread fics in general, it’s one of the ones I’m proudest of.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11979200/1/Do-You-Still-Believe-in-One-Another

I tag:

@emilyweepsforpilfrey : curious to see which of your fics are your fave!

@wufantastiic : I’d love to see which of your awesome works make it on here!

@goldengaynetto : can be your old or new fics! 

[hellsbellssinclub]

Across the Stars. Part 14

Part 1/ Part 2/ Part 3/ Part 4/ Part 5/ Part 6/ Part 7/ Part 8/ Part 9/ Part 10/ Part 11/ Part 12/ Part 13/ Part 14/  Ao3

I am leaving you on that horrible cliffhanger and are giving you a Qui-Gon chapter instead while I think of actual plot for Obi-Wan and our amazing time travelling duo. I will try and write a Qui-Gon chapter every three or four chapters.And hey! If you guys think it would be easier for you to read, I am happy to put the chapters down into another part in the series if you want! Just let me know!

 Putting on clean clothes was easy. Sending out an order for new food for his rooms was also easy. Making an appointment with his mind healer was like pulling out rotten teeth from a pregnant Nexu. And he would know. He has done so several times.

“Look, I need to make an appointment with Healer Vantie.” He stressed for the eighth time to the healer who answered his Comm call.

“And I keep telling you, you can’t just call and make an appointment. You have to come down and see the healers first.” The bored and higher pitched tone that came from the man on the other side of the Comm made Qui-Gon want to hurt something. Or someone in this case.

“Put me through to Healer Vantie, please.” Qui-Gon gritted out, dropping his head against the wall with a low thud.

“Sorry, you can’t just call the Healer’s directly when they are on duty-“ Qui-Gon gave up and hung up the Comm, vowing to having Tahl find out who that idiot was and have their computers messed with.

Honestly, he has been seeing Healer Vantie for years and he has never had a problem making a damned appointment before. Urgh, there are times when he hated stupid stuck up idiots like that who think they are so damned important because they have a little power to their name.

For the love of the Force, for once, can people just do their jobs and actually help when they are asked to? Like really, was it so hard for that healer who answered to leave Healer Vantie a message for him like Qui-Gon asked?

Qui-Gon ran a hand over his face and slowed his breathing. He needed to meditate and release his anger and frustration, or he will end up meeting Yoda and being scolded because once again ‘he was not in control of himself and he was posing a danger to the Order’ and blah, blah, blah.

Force he hated being back in the Temple. Yes, this was his home. Yes, this was where most of his legal friends were. Yes, he really did like the hot water and bath. But he hated the politics. He hated the way he had to act around everyone.

He hated the way everyone acted around him.

He was the Grey Jedi. The one who toes the line. The one who’s Padawan left the Order and Jedi with another former Padawan who would rather spend time in the far reaches of space then ever be near the Temple. He was the one who could be so great and powerful like the Council if only he followed the Code and rules.

Qui-Gon shuddered and wrapped his travel cloak around him to ward of the chill that came from inside. Another thing he hated about staying in the Temple was that these horrid thoughts would take over his mind. Healer Vantie suggested that it was possible that because he had so much down time in the Temple his mind had an excuse to have these kinds of thoughts. She thought that mediation and the exercises she gave him would help him.

And sometimes they do. Sometimes he is able to overcome these thoughts that plague him and other times… Other times he becomes lost and confused. He hates those times as well.

Sighing heavily and feeling as if the whole planet rested upon his shoulders, Qui-Gon sat down on his old, worn mediation mat and allowed himself to sink into the Force.

Like last night in the bath, Qui-Gon drifted in the currents of the Force. He focused on the feeling of the Light his Jedi brothers and sisters brought and cleared away the troubling thoughts that sought to poison his mind.

It was a slow, almost tortuous process, clearing out his mind. Facing each thought and refuting it or driving it away with logic was draining. When he finally reached a point where he was calmer and feeling clear headed, Qui-Gon let his mind go and delved into the Force completely; letting himself be taken away from his body for a little while.

-

He was not sure how long he had been meditating, but when he finally came up from the embrace of the Force, Masters Mace Windu and Plo Koon were waiting for him on his couch, drinking what smelt to be a very fine strain of tea.

“You know, using your Councillor codes to break into my room is technically against the rules.” Qui-Gon quirked his lips at the two. While he did often and quite loudly disagree with the Council, he was still able to maintain a friendship with several members. These two in particular.

“What is the point of being on the Council if I can’t use all those shiny codes?” Plo asked with a laugh hidden within his voice. The Kel Dor had a straw sticking out of his mug of steaming tea. Not for the first time, Qui-Gon wondered just how his agemate could drink the tea through a straw. Qui-Gon tried once and had ended up choking.

“You know, you all scold me for misusing my own codes.” He gave an exaggerated glare, relaxing slightly as Mace poured him a mug. He took the mug gladly and took a small sip before speaking again. “I highly doubt you broke into my room to bring me tea. Why are the two of you really here?”

Mace and Plo shared a tired and hesitant look before Mace spoke. “Consider this us forewarning you.”

Qui-Gon quirked an eyebrow. That sentence could mean a few things.

One, he could be facing another court case because someone decided to complain that he stopped them from doing something technically illegal.

Two, he was about to be put on probation again because of his arguing with the Council has made several more politically powerful members angry.

Three, his former Master, Jard Dooku, was going to be back at the Temple within the next week.

Or four, Yoda was about to push for him to take on another Padawan, despite the state of his mental health.

Qui-Gon’s shoulders staggered in exhaustion and he waved his hand to signal for his worried friends to continue. “Tell me.” He asked, eyes closed as the sharp pains of a headache began to poke at his left eye.

Mace let out a low sigh and Qui-Gon heard the soft click of Mace’s mug being placed down on the table. “Yoda wants you to take a Padawan.” The Korun Master sounded tired. “He can’t force you to take one, but he is going to make you watch the initiate trials. And… while this may sound wrong and I want you to listen to me before biting my head off; I want you to as well.”

Qui-Gon’s eyes snapped open at Mace’s words in shock and anger. The younger man held up his hands and spoke quickly. “Not for the same reasons as Yoda!” He spoke fast, trying to assure his friend. “I know you are not ready for Padawan and nor do you even want one. We want, no, need to start having Masters who are neutral and not looking for a Padawan assess the younglings. It was made very clear a few months back that the difference in the way we train our younglings in each Temple is potentially damaging. You are one of the few senior Masters who are both in active duty and are able to help notice where a youngling may be lacking or need help.”

Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes at Mace, unsure of what to say to that.

“Basically, Qui-Gon what Mace is trying to say is we want you to watch these younglings as they go through their forms and we want you to see, from both a sabermasters and a teacher’s point of view, on what needs to be possibly changed. There are a few classes before the trials and we would like for you to sit in for them and take a few notes.” Plo placed his own tea down on the table and sighed. “We know you do not feel ready for a Padawan. And we would never push you.”

Qui-Gon gritted his teeth. He did not like the idea of this at all. It sounded too much like looking at a youngling to see if they are compatible or not for him to take them on as a Padawan.

But at the same time…

Qui-Gon will never not like teaching and helping the younger generation. When he is at the Temple for more than six or so months he always gets roped into teaching senior Padawan’s and he loves mediation class with the very tiny younglings who are all interested in what he has to say about the Force.

His head pinged sharply and Qui-Gon forced himself to calm down and relax. Stress induced headaches are never fun.

“I will not take a Padawan.” He said finally. “But… I can do assessments for you, depending on how long I am stationed here at the Temple.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You may want to call some of the other Masters from different Temples down too. See what they have to say.”

Mace gave a small sigh, almost inaudible to Qui-Gon’s ears. “I will look into doing that. We wanted to tell you here in person, rather than feed you to Yoda.”

Qui-Gon nodded, holding his tea in a tight grip. “I have to see him today.” He said, rubbing his face. “I need to call and ask him where he wants to meet.”

“He will be in the creche, near the infants at this time of day.” Plo stated. “There was a small bug going around in the past week and Yoda has been in there occasionally keeping the younglings entertained.”

Qui-Gon nodded and drank some of his tea, wincing at the bitter taste of it. It had cooled down and now tasted horrible. He placed it down on the table and sighed. “Thank you both for the warning. Anything else I should know?”

Mace shook his head as Plo gathered up the dishes. “No. Nothing of concern just yet. Have you made an appointment with Healer Vantie yet?” He asked, standing to help Plo.

Qui-Gon huffed out a bitter and annoyed scoff. “No. Whoever was on today at the reception was a dick. He kept saying I have go down to the ward in person to make an appointment. And he wouldn’t leave a message for me either.”

Mace hummed. “I have had two complaints from other Jedi about a healer who has done similar things in the past month. If you make it three I can go down there and tell Che.”

Qui-Gon stood and grinned down at his friend. “Now that sounds amusing. Please do. And see if you can’t record Che taking him apart.” If there is one thing good and pure in this galaxy, it would have to be Vodkara Che tearing apart stupid people for being stupid. The very idea of her yelling at that idiot who answered his Comm call this morning was almost enough to make up for the fact he was going to have to deal with Yoda soon.

Almost.

Force, when he did start dreading the idea of seeing his GrandMaster so much? He used to love seeing him and seeking out his advice. Now though?

Now Qui-Gon would rather stay the hell away from Coruscant and not have to deal with the green troll who thought he knew best.

“I am sure Tahl will be able to hack into the cameras and let us see the show down. And once again show us the flaws in our apparent security.” Plo pulled Qui-Gon out of his thoughts with a clap on his shoulder. “Why don’t you go get this meeting over with?” Plo said, gesturing to the door. “If you do it quickly then it will be like pulling wax off your chest.”

Qui-Gon glared at his friend, his eyes narrowing. “The only reason why I know how that even feels like is because of you!” He hissed, rubbing his chest at the memory. Oh, there were times when he hated his agemates. They were all evil. Every last one of them.

“Now, now you two.” Mace chuckled. “No need to get into a fight right now. I reserved a sparing room for this evening, at around 1800. You two can deck it out then.”

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes and felt better knowing that at the end of the day he would be able to relax and spar with his friends like old times.

He was not looking forward to his meeting with Yoda. Nor to his apparent new role. And not to mention the fact he still had to make an appointment with his healer. And do Force only knows what else now that he is back home in the Temple.

But he will get through today. He will. He just needs to live in the moment and simply be.