#traveling operating room nurse

[flowering-thought]

So uhhh guess who kinda has a lil brainrot about the psych ward AU and wanted to write an official chapter??

Rip the other stuff I'm working on why did I have to go and get brainrotted fuck- Came from this

Anyway have a lil intro chapter <3 Who should I add to the mix do you think?

Masterlist

WARNING - MINORS DNI

AFAB reader and reader is described as feminine and chubby/plus sized.

Yandere themes, obsessive behavior, things will progressively get more obsessive as I add to this lil series-

COD Psych Ward Unit × Reader

Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, a 30-minute drive from the nearest town lies a highly secure hospital, containing multiple countries' top assets and operatives, whether, in service or retired, only a few know of its existence.

All staff, even janitorial staff, are picked carefully. The doctors who are chosen are in the know along with the head nurses and security staff. Knowing what is in that hospital in itself is a security risk. It's why the staff who know are not a majority.

The main staff, nurses, janitors, and cooking staff lack the knowledge that the hospital holds retired and highly dangerous military personnel on top of criminals from different countries.

So when you're picked and recommended to move to Alaska to work for a multinational hospital in the psych unit one look at the pay is all you need to say yes to moving.

I mean that kind of pay?? In this economy? You nearly thought it was a scam until it was certified by the United States government along with multiple other UN countries.

Moving was surprisingly easy, and you were a little sad to be leaving your current psych ward, but you got a good send-off from the few patients who you managed to help.

And now there you were, a new badge displaying your last name and horrible ID photo, a cute kitten badge holder clipped to the pocket of your scrubs. It was the only little bit of personality you could spare for Psych units you had to be careful about what you exposed about yourself and not have things on you that the patients could harm themselves with.

The first night shift in the unit was eerie. It was completely silent and the little windows that peeked into the individual patient rooms only provided so much light to check on patients.

Hell, three hours into your shift you wondered if anyone was even in these rooms.

It wasn't till three am that you noticed a patient buzzed a call button. So naturally you got up from your little traveling desk, taking your badge, and opening the door to room 142, "Hello? Is there anything I can do for you?" You called out into the semi-dark room, checking your charts for the patients' name, only finding the name "Ghost" typed in.

You raised your brow but didn't think anything of it, squinting your eyes a bit to see the hunched figure on their bed.

You heard him before you saw him, the sound of the mattress springs and a raspy accent following the figure, "Could ya get me some tea? I can't sleep." The figure spoke before coming into view, a baklava with a skull covering the individual's features.

You took a glance over his features, how tall and big he was, the muscles bulging from his shirt, and his eyes which focused on your form. You glanced at his chart, noticing his refusal to take medication, especially sleep medication. The doctors' notes told you to force him to take 100ml of trazodone, but when you took a glance up at the noticeable eyebags the man had you decided to go with your gut.

"Yeah I can get you some, just wait here I'll be right back." You said, giving a small smile before you closed the door and went to the staff break room, rummaging around for what you were hoping would be chamomile.

Sadly you had to make do with plain black tea as it was the only thing you could find the the cabinets. You brewed it in your mug before transferring it to a paper cup and leaving the break room.

You knocked on the door before opening it with your badge, and the familiar figure of Ghost appeared at the door. You gave him a smile as you held out the paper cup, "This was all I could find but I'll pick up something decent for my next shift okay? If you need anything else let me know.".

Ghost only observed you, taking the warm cup from your hand, his dark eyes watching the small smile tug at the corners of your lips, how you lifted your hand to give him a little wave before you closed his door.

You were the first nurse to not try and force sleeping medication down his throat. He tried the tea but it was one of the worst cups of tea he's ever had. But somehow he figured whatever tea you managed to scrounge up was expired at best. But still, the mere gesture made him relax a bit on his bed, keeping the cup between his hands to warm his skin.

Maybe the new nurse wasn't so bad.

As the days came and night fell, he didn't expect to see you come into your shift around dinner, getting a small paper bag checked in at the desk in the common area.

He sat with the rest of the boys, Price reading a book while Gaz and Soap grumbled about the horrible dinner they had. But Ghost couldn't help but watch you beg the person at the front desk that the snacks and drinks were just for the break room and nothing else.

He also noticed the little victory smile you wore when they approved the contents of the bag and let you pass through to the common area. Ghost couldn't help but smirk at the little spring in your step as you walked to the break room.

And the tea you gave him that night was the best cup he had ever since he was forced into this hellhole.

It had only been four days since you brought him tea, he had actually been getting a slightly better sleep, which led to him telling Price about you.

And once again, at the start of your shift, you had two observers of you checking into the front desk, Gaz and Soap noticing that their captain and lieutenant were a bit distracted from their tangent about the disgusting slop they called dinner. Both had grins as now four men were observing you while Soap tried to get Ghost to tell him about the pretty lass walking through the halls.

That night, when checking on patients, the second one you would come to meet was Price, who had kept his light on that night so he could read and hopefully catch you at a good time. He noticed the click of his door opening, how you opened the door and leaned against the doorframe and gave a small friendly smile, just like how you had with Ghost, "Hi? Price right? Is there anything I can do for you?".

Usually when the lights were on it meant they couldn't sleep or they needed something. That's what you learned at your first ward so you figured you'd do a check-in just in case.

"Don't need anything sweetheart, don't worry 'bout it." Price assured, his tone authoritative but a little soft, you assumed that had to do with how late it was. You noticed that he had a little reading light built above the bed and a shelf that had stacks of books built over the desk that came with all the rooms.

"You know there's a library here, right? I could get some books if you're running low on things to read." You mention, watching as Price eyes you. He didn't know what to think of you. Yeah, you were nice, and it didn't seem like you knew about the truth of this ward, but how was he to know if you did or didn't know what you were getting into?

You watched as his gaze went back to his book, his hand raising to turn a page, "As nice as that sounds sweetheart, the only thing I want is the daily paper and these damn muppets won't even let me have that." He grumbled.

You frowned, looking away from him to check his chart, noticing nightmares and slight paranoia on his chart but you also knew other patients with far worse delusions were allowed to read the newspaper.

After glancing over some rules and chewing on your lip a bit, you decided to do something a little foolish. After bidding Price a goodnight and delivering tea to Ghost, you finally had a weekend off.

During that weekend you bought some more things in town. Among them was a cheap kettle for the break room as it didn't look like the nurses used anything other than the coffee machine. You bought a couple more teas and a few papers. You got a few from the Alaskan sources but also noticed a couple papers that came from other countries and decided to sneak those in the Alaskan papers you were already gonna sneak into work.

By the next Monday evening, you were knocking on Prices' door with a small smile and a suspicious hand covering your stomach that looked oddly ruffled under your scrubs.

"Alright, Price, since you don't seem like a snitch, you better remember that these didn't come from me alright?" Price only looked up to see you pulling out a couple folded-up newspapers from underneath your scrubs, a little wrinkled and battered from you having to make sure they didn't slide out.

His eyes were widened and his eyebrows were up in complete surprise. He really didn't expect you to actually bring him the paper, "Are you sure about this? Won't they know about this?" He asked, approaching where you stood, putting a hand on his hip, hesitant to actually take the papers.

"Well this ward isn't technically allowed the paper which is odd cause other wards are but it shouldn't be too bad. And as many restrictions they have here they don't go through your trash looking for things so it should be fine!" You say, a big smile reaching your lips as you shove the papers into his hands, "Now you enjoy and I can't do this too often so next time I have a day off I'll get you some more. Just remember I'm not the one handing you them hm?".

While you did these small acts of kindness not really expecting anything, what you wouldn't know is that during the day, when you're off shift and sleeping the day away, Price and Ghost would start talking about you to Soap and Gaz after Soap started teasing about their crush on the new nurse.

Their thoughts were, if you're truly so kind then surely you could do something about the slop at dinner no?

This started a full week campaign of Soap saying "Come on lass surely you could do something huh?" and Gaz joined in with, "Please love, if you had to have the bloody mess of what these idiots call dinner you'd understand."

Price had attempted to get them off your ass but a few whines from Gaz was enough to make Price back off.

Soap was the first to get a knock on his door, his messy sheets strewn about his room as you handed him the flimsy pen and a sheet of paper, "Write down simple snacks and I can get you some, the cooking staff are assholes that refuse to change anything so this is all I can do.".

The grin that formed on his face was surprisingly cute to you and you watched as he started writing on his desk quickly only to hand it to you in 30 seconds with a "Thanks bonnie!". You watched as just before he handed the list to you he hesitated and his hand moved to the back of his neck, lightly squeezing before he looked you straight in the eye, "I'm real thankful for all this lass. Ever since we came here its' been the same shite daily but you've made it more bearable so thank you.".

You weren't expecting such a heartfelt thanks but just smiled and pat his shoulder while telling him not to worry. The last thing Soap saw that night was your back as the door closed.

The next stop was Gaz with the same protocol, the same flimsy pen they deem safe for patients, and a little sheet of paper.

Unlike Soap he was more quiet, his eyes not showing anything but you saw his leg shake up and down as he contemplated taking the sheet of paper from your hands.

You saw his mouth open and close until finally he asked, "Why are you doing thing you don't have to do?".

Part of you understood it. I mean, they were just patients. He'll all the other nurses just did the bare minimum and from what you heard of the day shift nurses they practically left them in the common area and fucked off.

But maybe it was the part of you that had too much empathy, the part of you that knew what it's like to sit in a psych ward, lonely and depressed and stuck in a cycle you can't get out of. You shook those thoughts from your head and Gaz swore the smile you gave him in this moment was probably the prettiest he's ever seen.

"Cause if I was here, I'd want someone in my corner, ya know?" Was all you stated as you handed him the paper.

Next weekend and you had snacks that you'd sneak the boys after dinner at the beginning of the night shift. Some of the other nurses noticed your habit of giving the boys some snacks but you offered to help fun for a better coffee machine as silence so they never ratted you out to the head nurse.

And your relationship with them definitely got better as the days flew by, a full month at the ward with the pay you were getting and you were considering changing your shift to day shift.

Unknown to you, the boys were attaching to you far quicker than you'd expect. All their flirty comments flying over your head as you kept it professional.

But with the day shift comes more interactions with other patients. I wonder how many patients will soon be at your beck and call.

[luvvixu]

mind over matter pt. 3

synopsis: witness how your marriage was bound to fall apart with you on the front seat and your husband gojo had missed the show—now, he gotta figure out the story on his own.

content: arrange marriage au, angst, husband!gojo, mean!gojo, mention of blood, strong languages, some unsettling scenarios, emotional trauma, read at your own risk

a/n: yooooo, finally an update!! thanks for waiting everyone~ i actually took a small break because my friends and i had a beach outing and that was great!

previous / masterlist / next

you feel like you had the longest dream in your entire life the moment you slowly open your eyes and reveal the white plain ceiling with matching beeping sound coming out from the machine.

it takes a second or two to realize that you're in a hospital.

like a seemingly newborn, your half lidded eyes traveled across the room until it reached the sight of some peculiar white haired male with his face buried on your arm, sleeping uncomfortably while sitting on the cold hard chair.

you could feel your whole body ache when you tried to move some parts of your body to stop it from numbing when you noticed some kind of empty feeling—like something was missing.

it did not take you a while to realize that your stomach feels so empty right now, and you know it's not because you're hungry, but because you couldn't feel your baby anymore.

an anguish screech escapes from your mouth when you realize that the baby isn't part of your body anymore. tears stream like a waterfall as your body automatically sits up and hugs your lower body, specifically your stomach, because you cannot accept the fact that your baby has been taken away from you.

this immediately woken satoru up and started to console you. “hey, hey, y/n! i’m here. i'm here.” his voice was soft and comforting but there's a hint of shakiness due to your sudden outburst.

“satoru, my baby! i can't feel my baby! my baby is gone!” as an upcoming loving mother, it hurts you so bad that you'd rather die than to accept this.

the sound of the machine keeps on loudly pulsating, meaning that your heart rate is rising quickly and it's dangerous for you to get stressed since you just came out from the operation.

“y/n! the baby is fine. our baby is fine. they were being cured by the best doctors so don't worry.” pulling your body close to his, satoru caresses your hair and keeps on murmuring some comforting words to calm you down.

but it seems that his actions were no avail when he saw your lower stomach bleeding. feels like his own blood had disappeared, his pale face becomes more paler when your extreme sadness cry turns to extremely painful cry.

his body seemingly moves on its own and presses the button to call for help while still managing to calm you down.

“where's my baby? g-give me back my baby! satoru, do something!” it pains satoru to see you like this. a whole crying mess who cannot even digest the fact that her baby was in intensive care so they can become better.

suddenly, the door in your room opened, revealing the doctor and their nurse—shoko was there too. they immediately inject you with midazolam to calm you down and it works almost instantly. satoru watches your body go limp as your wound continues to bleed.

satoru and shoko were instructed to wait outside as they transfer you to another room to tend your wounds. after you were scouted to exit the scene, satoru fell on his knees and leaned his back on the wall.

god, what did you do to deserve this kind of thing?

letting out a soft sob, satoru prayed once again—something that he just learned yesterday. he prayed that all of your pain, burden, suffering, and all must disappear because satoru couldn't list any single reason why you must suffer like this.

“you should go back at least for now, gojo. i’ll handle things here while you freshen yourself up.” shoko suggested but satoru just shook his head, refusing to leave your side.

“don't be a fucking stubborn. you still have other things to do, don't forget that.” shoko hissed.

“but i need to be by her side. i need to be there to support her whatever i can.” satoru slowly let himself up and looked shoko straight in the eye.

“do you think she still needs you to be by her side? oh please, not after what you had done.” the doctor rolled her eyes as she toys with the unlit cigarette on her lips.

for some reason, satoru was having a deja vu, it was like they're in her clinic once again and they argue where you heard things that you shouldn't have. as much as satoru would like to shut her down, he's worried that you might hear him say nasty things that he didn't mean to say.

“shoko, please…i know you're mad at me and you wanted to be hostile towards me. i actually don't care if you hurt me or insult me, just not now. i need to stand by her side and i don't need you to tell me what to do.” satoru stood up and his gaze on shoko became hard.

the doctor just tsked and decided to drop the conversation for your sake. there's a whole silence in the atmosphere when satoru suddenly thinks about your little breakdown earlier. you're looking at your child and he is too. he really wants to go to the baby but he thinks it would be better if the two of you are together.

satoru was excited to see his baby, sure. but something inside stirs up something that he personally couldn't explain. was it because he remembers your conversation when he first knew of your pregnancy? that he found himself unable to answer your questions during that night?

but whatever the reasons are, satoru was ultimately willing to ignore it and just focus on becoming a better husband and now a new father towards his child with you.

the strongest sorcerer of his generation, the one and only satoru gojo, the pride of his clan, your husband on papers, your most hated person, your child's father—swore to himself that he will treat his son as his own flesh and blood, not as the heir that will dethrone him from being the pride.

and most of them all, he swore to himself that you will be treated way, way better than everyone, specifically and especially him. satoru will patch up the wounds that he had caused you.

but not all wounds can be treated by a mere bandaid.

an hour had passed and now you're once again in your room, but this time, you're more than calm as you finally understood the situation—thanks to shoko who patiently explains everything to you.

like right now, she's standing by the end of your bed while satoru was on his seat just like the first time you saw him in this hospital. shoko carefully and softly explained what was going on with you and gave you some sort of assurance.

“you suffered from placenta abruption which caused your placenta to detach from the inner walls of your uterus. it unables the baby to receive oxygen and nutrients with the placenta detached. that is why the doctors had no choice but to put you into a cesarean delivery so it can save both of your lives.”

“and about your baby, don't worry, they're in safe hands. currently in the neonatal intensive care unit where the baby is under process of developing it since it came out during your six months of pregnancy and is premature.” she continued.

then, shoko put a hand on your shoulder, slightly massaging it to give you some comfort. “worry not, y/n. we're not going to let anything hurt your baby. they're safe here and are guarded with blessings and restrictions so no other curses or unauthorized people could touch your child.”

all this time shoko speak, your head was hanging low and it seems like you're having a hard time digesting everything. but you still get what she meant by putting you under a cesarean because it's the only way to save you and your baby's life—which you're incredibly grateful for.

“c…can i see my baby?” your tone was quite hushed, probably because you hadn't really talked to anyone after what happened to you.

shoko gently shook her head and gave you an apologetic smile. “i am so sorry, y/n. but you need to rest first and we, the doctors, recommended you to not move too much since it can open up your cesarean stitches once again.”

to everyone’s relief, you nodded at her words, like you agreed to get better first before seeing your child.

“alright, i gotta excuse myself now. i have an appointment later this afternoon.” shoko gives you a smile before sending a knowing gaze at the man beside you, saying ‘you better not forget that you still have other things to do’ look.

“mhm. take care and thank you for helping me during all of this, shoko.” you replied tried to return the same smile but it only reached a have, you just wished she could feel your sincerity towards her.

“i don't accept thank you’s, yet. i can only accept it if i see you in a much better condition. so if you want me to say you're welcome, then get better.” her words make you giggle a little but you take that as a note.

giving you a one last smile and a secretive glare at your husband, she finally left the scene…and that leaves you two, you and your husband. silence engulfs the whole room, only the sound of your beeping monitor keeps on echoing and adds awkwardness to the atmosphere.

you take a small peak at satoru who's looking at an empty space somewhere, looking like he's in a deep thought. you're not sure if you want to talk to him or not, but taking the preceding events from earlier, you see no reason.

on the other hand, satoru was lost in his thoughts because he's trying to construct everything that he needed to say to you. he's kinda bad at impromptu when it comes to you and mostly forgot his points and other subtopics because he's being blinded by the emotions that keeps on distracting him.

satoru also noticed your small gazes towards him and it feels like you're not planning to talk to him first, so he finally initiated a conversation.

“do you feel any pain in your body?” he asked you.

however, it took you a while to answer because you're not sure if your following responses are gonna be normal, sarcastic, or not answering at all. but you choose the first one because the two other choices would most likely put you into stress and makes your healing process becomes slower.

“my tummy hurts but i'm fine…and i'm also hungry.” you replied, that's it.

satoru was glad that you're answering him…well. anyway, he smiled at you and carried on with the conversation. “if the pain gets worse or it causes you discomfort, you must tell me immediately. and about that hunger, we still need to wait at least eight hours for you to eat something heavy. but for now, you can only take liquids and…the doctor said you could eat oatmeal and eggs—maybe we should get that. the doctor also to avoid greasy food and it would take at least six weeks for you to recover, and then…what are the other things he said again?”

while satoru was busy yapping, you slowly think that he's speaking to himself more than he's speaking to you because of how concentrated he looked and it somehow brings some sort of warmth in your chest because he really tries himself to remember all of the things that the doctors had prescribed him for you.

“satoru…” you called out to him, but he's still busy talking about do’s and don'ts and keeps on going while you occasionally call his name.

“satoru.” he's still busy talking.

“...satoru?” yep, still talking.

his yappings are getting too long and you're running out of thin patience, so you hold into his arms and that makes him look at you and stop talking instantly. breathe in relief, you finally stopped him from his own shenanigans.

“i—i’m sorry, i talked too much.” satoru awkwardly chuckles to himself, but you just shrugged it off. “anyway, what is it?” he asked.

“satoru, i was wondering…how did i end up here? all i know is i was in my room, i feel my tummy hurts really bad and it got me so worried about my baby. then all of the sudden, there's blood seeping down on my legs then everything black out.” you said.

“well…” then satoru proceeds into another minutes of yapping about what happened based on what they had said to him back then. you'd understand that yuuji and megumi were planning to cheer you up by a surprise room visit when they smelled blood and that made them instantly realize that something was going on with you. so they called shoko and yaga to break into the room, and there they saw you lying in your own pool of blood.

nodding slowly, the question that was formed because of the preceding events were finally put into the end. “oh, so that's what happened. anyways, do you think yuuji and megumi could be here tomorrow? i wanted to thank them.”

“sure. i’ll come with them tomorrow. but now, let's get you some light foods so you can sleep tonight.” satoru stood up but he froze as his feet were not walking. you watch him turn back to you while you give him a confused look.

“will you be alright being alone for like…five minutes? i’m just gonna be quick and get you some food. i promise i’ll be back before you know it.” you just let him do what he wants and just continue watching him. satoru looked at you for a long seconds, rather seemingly so hesitant. but you told him you'll be fine and just do his thing, so satoru assured you once again that he'll be back then uses his teleportation.

now, you're alone (for a while) in this room. your thoughts wandered towards your baby who you knew is in the same building as yours. you really want to run towards that room where they are located but you forcefully shut yourself because it'll just make things worse. you're still in the process of healing and you want to be at your strongest when you're with your baby.

but something was still arguing inside your head. it's the desire to run towards your child and the desire to get better—

“y/n.”

“shit!”

something—no, someone was suddenly in the room. it was satoru who's pouting at you like a puppy who got lost. his sudden appearance makes the beeping machine beside you go wild as you curse out profanity because you're that shocked.

thankfully, your heart beat becomes normal again and nothing bad happens. but you'll be sure to send out a death glare to your husband who's still pouting.

“what the actual fuck, satoru?! do you want me to die of a heart attack?!” you glared at him, still your hand is at your chest.

“i'm sorry about that. but i cannot bring myself to leave you like that even for a minute.” he said.

“i told you i'll be fine. you don't need to guard me 24/7 anyway, so go and grab or do whatever you want.”

“no!” satoru whined…and that surprises you, because this might be the first time you saw him whine like a child, especially without any involvement of alcohol or sugar to activate this kind of his system. this was just a new sight to you.

“then how are you going to get some food?”

“i’ll just have them deliver it here.”

“seriously? you're going to order and deliver oatmeal and eggs?” your eyes were wide at his crazy idea. like yeah seriously, for an oatmeal and eggs? he could literally get it from a convenience store.

“what? i'm gonna order some food for myself too, you know.” he pouts, again.

“okay, you order your food online. and we'll get mine at a convenience store.”

“what? no! i told you i don't want to leave you alone.”

“then i’ll come with you. we'll go and buy my food together if you're really that worried about leaving me alone.” you said sarcastically.

“what the hell is that suggestion? absolutely not!” satoru gasps. he's so dramatic.

“well then, i’ll just starve!” you huff at him before turning your head away from him.

“i—wait, i'm sorry. i really can't force myself to be away from you. i'm just scared that when i'm gone even for just a minute, s-something might happen again and i’m not there to help you out instantly.” the sad look on his face is back, similar to what he looked like when he confronted you in the hallway.

after hearing his explanation, you turned back to him and said, “there are things that come unexpectedly. you cannot also force yourself to stick with just in case an emergency would occur, you'd be there. for all that i know, you still have other things to do, like you have your priorities.”

“but you're my priority,” he said seriously. well that caught you off guard.

“whatever, just go and get me some food.” you brush it off.

“...”

“...ok.”

the night ended with satoru eating his ordered food happily while you were still glaring at the man because he really stick to his words and ordered your food online instead of just running to a convenience store or buying the hospital once. although, it makes you wonder, how is there a plain, plain! oatmeal and a boiled egg that has been selling online?

well, whatever it is, at least your hunger has lessened and your relationship with satoru has gotten…at least a little better.

[part 4 is up tomorrow! and you know the drill, for those who would like to be added to the taglist , just comment — ©luvvixu2024]

taglists: @mistymuii @kalopsia-flaneur @sherryuki-callmeyuki @aish777 @tttttttf @username23345 @slyhersophia @netyxms @rirk-ke @lvstru @roscptalsaa @labelt-san @shinruo @yaninnaacu @testrella @sad-darksoul @kurookinnie @mountvesuvu @chwesuh-imnida @cole-silas @elernity @buttermilktea11 @berenevenstarzetaestelar @maddie-jayne @yozora7154 @kawaiivillainess98 @jiupark @forourpoets @aishies-stuff @numblytemporary @souyasplushie @hotsauce247 @catarinemirandax @aerithsthingss @h1gh4ru @ssetsuka @jskodn @khoiyyu @the2ndl @veryverysadauthor @vebbiewuzhere @kouyoumarryme @dreamyescapesfromreality @local-mr-frog @haesify @openthenyoor01 @blkmystery @slowlyshycomputer @babybarbs12 @thickemadame @bleppt @leavem3al0n3 @arminloverlol @roscpctals99 @megumisthirdog @shirabane @skepticalleo @sheismaryy @tragicgirl444

a/n: istg guys i'm trying my hardest to get y'all tagged but some really did not appear when i @ your blogs huhu. but don't worry, that won't stop me from tagging y'all, so i am just going to manually mentioned you on every chapter update ;)

[discopaddock]

ALL ABOUT THAT NOSE - DANIEL RICCIARDO

PAIRING: dad!daniel ricciardo x fem!mum!reader

WORDS: 1,9k+

GENRE: fluff

WARNINGS: baby's crying, max and lando being silly boys

Daniel Ricciardo was like a good wine - if he was getting older, he was looking better.

That was something that Y/N L/N knew too well. She had known Daniel since she was 16 years old.

The woman remembered too well the moment when they met. It was summer break before girl's second class in high school when the L/N family was in Perth to meet the wealthy aunt.

“Oh my, I'm so sorry” the young girl gasped, when she collided with a taller boy. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know if she was going to cry or she was just going to throw up, because she had gotten into a fight with her father, then ran away from aunt's house without phone and got lost in Perth.

“It's okay, no need to worry" was said in a cheerful voice. “I'm Daniel, by the way” a black haired boy said with a large smile on his face.

“My name is Y/N” “Then, it's a pleasure to meet you, Y/N” he spoke, making L/N cry. “Why? What? No crying! Stop crying, please!” Daniel started calming her down due to the fact he had no idea what to do. “There's no need to cry, Y/N” he told her slowly but she started to cry even worse. “What happened?” he asked finally, after getting her to sit on a bench.

“I got lost,” she answered with a tiny voice. Daniel felt sorry for the girl.

“You're not from here, are you?” the boy questioned while getting a seat next to her. “No, I'm from Canberra actually” she said, making Ricciardo raise his eyebrow.

“From Canberra? Are you related to Mrs. Elodie Fanning?”

“Um, yes. She's my aunt” she told him, trying to wipe her tears.

“Great then! I live in a house next to her! I'll walk you there, Y/N” he announced, getting up from the bench.

“Thank you” she said and the boy only smiled at her. Next he trip over shoe laces and almost fell down.

“Ow, sorry, miss Y/N” he laughed and walked her home.

And after that day, they stayed in touch. For the rest of their lives.

Y/N was his biggest fan and supporter. She supported him in his rights and wrongs.

Daniel was also her biggest supporter and fan. He was for her every time, when she got a new role in some film or theatre play, same as her - she was trying her best to be at his every race or just watch them on TV.

It was pretty hard for her, because she wasn't so wealthy, her parents neither, but when aunt Eloide heard about her relationship with Ricciardo, she gave her some money for travelling.

And they were here, in the car on their way to the hospital.

“I know you can stand it for just a moment, love,” the man said, looking at his wife, who was holding her belly, where was the cause of her pain.

“Daniel, faster, because I'm about to give birth to him in this car, for fucks sake” she said and Ricciardo only pressed the gas pedal even harder. this car.

“We're here, little frog” he announced after two minutes, and quickly got out of his newest Ferrari.

“Don't call me like that!” she screamed.

He helped his beautiful woman get out of the car, and then walked her to the reception, where the nurses gave her a wheelchair and took her to the operating room, leaving Daniel alone.

“First kid?” asked one of the nurses, while the one was helping Y/N to breathe. “Yes, my husband is freaking out,” the woman answered. “He says all the time that Otto must have had my nose, because mine looks better than his. I'm hoping that it will be true either”

The nurses laughed, and then Y/N felt another cramp. They started to appear an hour ago, and then they were systematic, appearing every two minutes.

After ten hours of painful labour, Daniel could finally meet with his exhausted wife and sleepy son.

“You did so amazing, baby,” he said to the woman, before kissing her forehead. “I couldn't be more proud of you my love” Daniel added, watching her feeding the newborn baby.

“Thanks, Dan. He's like two hours old and yet he has your Ric Energy” she said with a tiny voice, making the man laugh.

“He's a Ricciardo, isn't he?”

“He is, definitely”

“He's such a beautiful boy,” said Anna, Y/N's mother, looking at her smiling grandson.

“He's my son, of course he's beautiful,” Daniel joked, making everyone in the living room laugh.

“It's mostly because he has got my nose, not his” was said by the actress, which made Ricciardo roll his brown eyes. “Don't even do that again, Daniel. It was you who wanted him to have my nose” she added and then took a seat on her husband's lap.

First time when Y/N and Daniel had shown up at the paddock was totally different than all the previous times, even if the woman had shown there with a pregnant belly.

“Where's the kid?” was said by Lando and Max and it was the first thing that the couple heard, when they entered the Red Bull's hospitality.

“At home, he's four weeks old, what did you expect?” Daniel asked with raised eyebrows.

“We wanted to meet him! Everyone wanted it!” Max answered, making the couple laugh. “It's not our fault, that you don't want anyone in your house since he was born”

“And that's why none of you is his godfather” Ricciardo said, making his friends go away.

“Don't talk to us ever again!” was screamed by Lando, which made Y/N laugh. “It's about you too, Y/N!” Max added.

“I love them,” the woman started, when they took seats on the couch in Daniel's room. “but they are more like our kids. I wouldn't let none of them to be Otto's godfather” “Me either, love”

“So who is the godfather?” Verstappen asked, while his and Norris' heads were sticking out of the door.

“Timothée” Dan said shortly and after that both drivers entered the room. “What?!” Lando and Max were shocked.

“What what? He's a nice guy after all, not like you two” Dan joked. He was laughing at his friends. They were cute actually.

“What about godmother? Who is she?”

“Oh, we don't know yet” Mrs. Ricciardo said, shrugging. “We'll tell you both, when we find an ideal person, don't worry” she announced and sent them kisses, which also did Daniel. “Now bye bye, you both are needed. Bye!” Ricciardo led them out the door and again sat near to his wife. In next three hours he gave an interview, that melted everyone's heart.

“Thank you, Y/N, for these amazing fifteen years that you spent with me. Thank you for your support and that you had never despaired in me. And then thank you for our son, who you just gave birth to a month ago, I couldn't be more proud of anyone in this world than you. I also wanted to thank you for saying yes to me twelve years ago. I loved you then, I love you right now, and I will love until my death. Thank you for everything” Daniel ended his monologue and started looking for his beloved wife, who was crying because of his words.

“I love you endlessly, Dan,” she whispered, when they hugged. “And I love you, dolly” he replied with his biggest and prettiest smile on face. “You're crying again” he laughed, starting wiping the tears. “Just like on the first day, right?” she joked. “Yep, just like then” he said, kissing her nose after. “I want to see all of these photos that they took. We should have one of them at home” the woman said quietly to his ear, making his smile even bigger. “Yes, we definitely should”

liked by pierregasly, danielricciardo and 450,273 others

f1 “(...) I loved you then, I love you right now, and I will love until my death. Thank you for everything”

That's just a short piece of @ danielricciardo's monologue. Watch it all on formula1.com.

4517 comments

charles_leclerc My favourite couple on the grid!❤️

↑ charles_lecat omg charles this is soo cute!!!!

yourusername and i love him endlessly since i was sixteen and i will love him till death do us part.

↑ danielricciardo 🥲❤️

↑ danandyn @yourusermane ur both were made for each other 🥺🥺🥺

lewishamilton and I still remember this little danny who was asking everybody on the paddock if they had met his beautiful girlfriend in 2011

↑ f1wags NO WAY HE DID THAT

↑ dr3love omg hes too much😭😭😭

tchalamet my beloved parents idc

↑ tchalametdaily WELL HELLO THERE T

↑ liochalamet cant believe ur commenting on f1 post timo

landonorris I LOVE THEM WITH MY WHOLE HEART 💓 💓💓

↑ carlossainz55 Honestly same Lando😊

maxverstappen1 My favourite couple in the world, both deserve all the best ❤️‍🩹

↑ ilovef1 one time max speaking facts

sebastianvettel Ahh my favourite people, deserve the best!💝

First time the Ricciardo family showed up at the paddock was during the Austin Grand Prix. Of course Daniel was dressed as a cowboy. He just loved that GP.

Even though he wasn't participating that year.

Otto was looking everywhere from his stroller. He was looking at his papa, who was wearing a big, unknown hat and smiling.

Little guy was only three months old and was not ready yet to see his father dressed like that, so he started to cry.

“No, no, no, sweetie, no crying” Y/N started, pulling her son from the stroller. She hugged him and told her husband to take off his cowboy hat. “You will dress as a cowboy for Halloween instead” she announced cradling the baby in her arms.

Otto finally stopped crying, when all of them went to Daniel's room and Y/N fed him.

“We will stay here, okay Dan?” she asked, looking at the man, who was singing his son lullaby, so he could fall asleep easier. “Everything for him” he whispered, putting the sleeping boy to his stroller. “Give me a kiss” he said walking to his wife. She stood up and when he was In Front of her, she placed a kiss on his lips. “I'm so lucky that I have you. If I didn't meet you, I wouldn't be me” he announced holding her in a thigh hug.

“I'm hearing Lando's coming” she said after a while, hearing Brit's footsteps. And yeah, she was so right, because like thirty seconds later a curly haired guy entered the room. He had rosy cheeks and a huge smile on his face.

“There's my favourite boy! And his parents” he said and hugged Y/N. “It's amazing to see you. You look so good and healthy, oh my!” Lando announced, making the woman blush because of the hormones. “And you look the same as last week” he said to Daniel, who only rolled his eyes.

He finally stepped in front of the boy and started to cry.

“He- Oh- He's so pretty” Lando said with his shaky voice and tears on his face. “I can't believe that Daniel is one of the creators of this miracle,” Norris said. “The little one is too perfect”

“Oh, Landon, don't cry” Y/N hugged the younger one and rubbed his back. “We know that he is the prettiest baby on the globe, we do. It's because he has my nose, not Daniel's”

“Hey!” Ricciardo delicately slapped his wife's back.

It was always about the nose.

liked by yourusername, landonorris and 1,012,567 others

danielricciardo 3 months of having you on the world little one. 3 best months of my life❤️

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masterlist

[mistydeyes]

the butterfly effect: you die because of their actions

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊

summary: The butterfly effect "the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system. The concept is imagined with a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon." Everyone never believed the saying, that was until you died at the hands of your love.

pairing: 141 x fem!Reader

warnings: SWEARING, character death (previously established relationship)

a/n: my first angst piece for the rest of the 141!

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊

price

Price's mind raced as he shoved the doors open to the post-operation recovery wing. If he had known you would end up on the end of a gun, he would have never put you in this position. He never would have introduced you to General Shepherd.

When you met John, still known as a Lieutenant at the time, you were a First Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. You were an expert at planning travel and assault routes and the SAS used your skills to their advantage. You worked together in a joint-op in Canada, one that required you both to find refuge in a snowed-out cabin. No one was surprised when you both emerged as a couple. Now after 13 years of dating and a happy marriage, you lived a comfortable life together. You had two daughters, both away in college, and lived close to Price's home in England. You made sacrifices, dividing your time in the English countryside with an apartment in DC.

Price was away on a mission as you sat in your countryside home. Last you heard, he was in Amsterdam with Sergeant Garrick. He was unreachable but you knew there was a fair share of times when you had the same status. Laswell had informed you that something had gone on with his unit and after reassuring you John was safe, she encouraged you to stay low in your home. You informed your daughters and they would soon be escorted to your house. Laswell had arranged a security detail for you and you sat at your living room table with a concealed firearm for protection.

As you tried to drink some tea, a series of knocks were heard from the door. You recognized it and holstered your gun as you answered. You opened the door to reveal General Shepherd, an old friend that John had introduced you to at a military ball. "General Shepherd, what a pleasant surprise," you said as you ushered him in, "can I get you anything?" "Just some water if you don't mind, Captain," he said and followed you into the kitchen. As you turned your back to him, he made polite conversation. "Captain, you didn't tell John about the op in the Middle East, right?" he asked and you remembered providing input on a cargo route earlier last year. "Of course not, General," you answered as you finished pouring the glass." "Then no harsh feelings, Captain," was the last thing you heard before you fell against the counter, a bullet lodged in the back of your head.

Back to the present time, Price shoved past the queue and slammed his fists on the receptionist's table. Laswell informed him that he was needed at the hospital immediately as you were in critical condition. He had taken the first flight home from Chicago and was now helplessly begging to see you. "Where is my wife?" he roared as the nurse sheepishly asked him for the name of the patient. "Captain Y/N Price," he said and she quickly typed it in for him. "She's not here, sir," she said quietly as he shook with rage, "she's in the morgue."

Your funeral came with all the proper traditions for a Captain. As the decorated Marines played Taps and folded a US flag, Price held onto your daughters' hands tightly. As a soldier presented him with the flag and your dog tags, he broke down in tears as your daughters joined. The last Price saw of you was your casket being lowered into the Arlington dirt.

As Price prepared to finally kill General Shepherd, he clutched your dog tags and wedding ring close to his neck. He pulled out a picture of you and your wedding day and kissed it before heading to finally end the bastard.

soap

After months of waiting the day was finally here. You and Johnny were expecting your first child after trying for so long. As you rested in a recliner, he had decorated the nursery with all the preparations for a newborn. You decided on a space theme for their room and Johnny would call the baby "our little astronaut." For the last month before you were due, Price let Johnny head home to be with you as he had known this is when you needed him most. When your water broke that morning, Johnny quickly rushed you to the hospital. The baby was two weeks early and you could feel the painful contractions as you entered the delivery room. You were in agonizing pain as the doctors delivered an epidural. Johnny could only watch helplessly as you were in labor for 10 hours.

He held your hand tightly as you screamed. "I see a head!" the doctor exclaimed and the nurses encouraged you to continue pushing. Even with the epidural, you felt dizzy and your eyes watered from the torment of childbirth. The room smelled of iron and blood as it pooled around your body. The doctor's hands were coated in the red liquid as you continued to push. "Almost there, love," Johnny reassured you as his hands turned white from your grip. "She's coming out beautifully, Mrs. Mactavish," the doctor reassured. "You hear that, it's a girl," Johnny exclaimed, "she's going to have my charm and your looks." You gave him a weak smile as the doctor updated him on how far out the baby was.

Finally, as the child exited into the doctor's arms, you released Johnny's hand. You slumped back into the bed as a nurse tended to your sweating face with a washcloth. The doctor delicately wiped the baby and swaddled her in a fresh blanket. "You can cut the umbilical cord, Dad," another nurse said as your baby girl cried. "Hi little one" he whispered as he cut the umbilical cord. He held her small hands with his and went to give her to you. But as soon as he turned, he saw your face was ghostly white. The monitor loudly beeped as the nurses and doctor began to panic. "She's losing a lot of blood," the doctor said as the room was thrown into chaos. Your vitals were beginning to drop and a nurse screamed for a crash cart. The delivery unit's PA system informed other attending nurses of a Code Blue and a variety of new staff rushed into the room. "Sir, you need to leave," a nurse demanded as he saw someone perform chest compressions. "She's not breathing," someone else yelled and Johnny tried to fight his way to the front. Everything was happening in slow motion as he held the baby close and saw you convulse under the shocks of a defibrillator.

"What's happening to her?" he demanded before he was shoved into the hallway. The nurses quickly closed the curtains as Johnny pounded on the glass. His hand grew numb as he fell defeated with your daughter in his arms. After 5 minutes, the doctor emerged. "You better tell me right fucking now what's going on," Johnny screamed at her. "I'm sorry sir, she's gone," she said and he could barely hear her say that you flatlined after a tremendous loss of blood. When she finished, he broke down and let the entire hospital hear his cries and screams.

As he cradled your daughter's head, the baby wailed and Soap joined his heartbroken song. A new life in exchange for one lost.

gaz

"Kyle, I don't know about this," you said as you boarded the plane. "C'mon love, teenage recruits do this," he encouraged as you both strapped in. Kyle had heard about a skydiving experience and convinced you to go. He used the fact that it was his birthday and you swallowed your doubts about flying. As the plane ascended, you gripped his hand tightly. You always had a fear of flying and even had a psychic tell you that flying would be involved with your death. Kyle comfortingly drew circles on your hands as you approached the descent level.

“Alright, flyers! It’s almost time!” you heard the pilot announce through the cabin. Kyle helped you unbuckle and guided you to the tandem diver. He introduced you both and the tandem diver promised a safe descent. “This is my 1000th flight, doll, you’ll be fine,” he reassured and helped to strap you in. You smiled nervously as Kyle similarly strapped into his flyer. He insisted you take a picture together as you shakily gave a thumbs up.

“Here we go!” Kyle’s tandem flyer shouted and they leapt out of the airplane. You tried not to look down as you swallowed your fear. You then felt your legs leave the plane as you and your flyer jumped into the sky. As you felt the rush of air on your face, you kept your eyes shut closed. “Look at me baby!” you heard Kyle shout and you peeked through your fluttering eyelids to see him smiling widely and holding his arms out. You tried to emulate his actions but as you looked up at your flyer, you could see him panic.

Something was wrong as Gaz also saw that your parachute had not yet deployed. He saw the tandem diver struggle to deploy the reserve but that too seemed to fail. He screamed at you as you both flew closer and closer to the ground. You looked up at him in fear and tried to reach out before gravity and the lack of a chute pulled you forcefully to the Earth's surface.

Gaz could only watch helplessly as you and your guide plummeted to the ground. He let out a flood of tears and screams but they too fell and followed along with your deadly descent.

ghost

Ghost watched in horror as two people sat next to one another on a platform. From what he could see, one of the people was a clear head taller than the other and they squirmed in their bindings. Their heads were covered in burlap and they both were sporting matching jackets that hit their figure. "Make the choice, Simon," Makarov said as his voice crackled through the comms, "your wife or best friend." Ghost's eyes dilated in horror as he realized Makarov's implications. "Before you try to be the hero, just know that I'm watching you," he taunted and Ghost knew there was no way out.

His mind flooded with any possible solution but he could not find any. This was supposed to be an easy fucking recon mission that only he and Johnny had to handle. Now he was without allies, without options, and an alternative plan. He shakily put his hand on the sniper's trigger as he fluctuated between looking at you and Soap. Beads of sweat pooled at his neck as he tried to think of any way to get you both out of this alive.

"Time is ticking, Simon," Makarov spoke again, "If you don't choose, they'll both die." That moment, two fluorescent dots appeared on your heads and he knew that somewhere two snipers were ready to take you both out if he didn't decide. Ghost's mind was clouded, he wondered if there was any way to save both of you but came up empty. The deadline and the thrashing of the two figures under their restraints made him finally decide. He made the most difficult decision of his life, he would save you instead of Soap. He couldn't live without you.

He said a silent prayer for his friend as he lined his sights. "Just stay still, Johnny," he painfully whispered as you both fought against your bindings. He knew a bullet straight through the heart would result in a quick and painless death. He held his breath as the gun fired, making a direct target with the body. It fell back in with a sickening thump and Ghost dropped the gun before rushing towards you.

Makarov was always one step ahead of the team. Ghost ran to the scene to see that the chair's size had deceived his eyes. One of the people who Ghost had assumed was taller than the other, was sitting on an elevated crate. The other figure thrashed about but Ghost was more focused on the one in front of him. As he went to pull the bag over what he believed was Soap's body, he was horrified to discover it was you, a single gunshot through the heart. A bullet he had sent into you. You died choking on your blood because of his actions.

As Ghost clutched your body in agony, his tears and screams echoed in the empty lot. In his haste, he had killed you and was now alone again in the world.

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊┊

[lilacgaby]

day six

~2k

chapter select!

[a/n: i was a bit sad that this ends next chapter soo i uploaded the start of my other bkg series early... serenity out noww :>]

she woke up to that familiar smell of caramel.

she looked, and there he was, katsuki bakugo in all his sleeping glory, with his arms wrapped around her.

she took the chance to take a quick picture of him, her phone thankfully not too far away, laying on the desk next to some manga that she was planning on taking to her room.

she snickered a bit to herself, before unwrapping his arms from around her, and effectively escaping his room.

he'd be pissed if he woke her up so early, so she quietly grabbed the nana issue she fell asleep reading, and snuck out his room.

the sun wasn't out yet, so it had to be extremely early morning.

she saw that the coast was clear as she slowly crept through the hallways back to her room. all she needed was to get to the elevator--

"name?"

damn it.

she turned to see todoroki, who seemed to just have returned after a mission. he was still dressed in his hero outfit, eyeing her suspiciously.

"what are you doing here?"

"i slept in bakugo's room last night, i was trying to get back to my dorm secretly."

she slapped her forehead as she let it slip.

"okay, listen, i was hit by a truth quirk and today is my last full day. don't bring this up and ill give you some cold soba or something."

"i wouldn't have said anything anyways, but thanks for the soba." he shrugged, walking on to his room.

"yeah, bye todoroki."

she called the elevator, put in her floor, and waited silently for the door to open.

as soon as it did, she crept right to her room, and crashed right back into bed.

today was the last full day with the quirk, and it'd be fully gone by noon tomorrow.

she sighed in relief and threw herself under the covers once more. she winced as she accident laid on the side of her wound, she'd still need to go find recovery girl today and ask for a kiss.

she eyed the stupid chalkboard that was still in her room, the operation only standing to remind her of her accidental confession. but as she laid, pondering over her interactions with bakugo over the the past week, she thought that maybe her feelings weren't as unrequited as she once thought.

she stared up at the roof of her bedroom, the slightly faded neon green glow-in-the-dark stars staring back at her.

the sun started to peak out through her balcony window, the tiny bit of energy it provided to her helping calm the storm of thoughts she was facing in her mind.

she decided to start her day early, hoping preoccupying herself would make her feel better.

after fully getting ready for the day: showering, cleaning her room, brushing her teeth, and doing her routine, the clock read at eight o'clock.

recovery girl should be in her office by now.

she walked out the dorms, her purse the only belonging she brought, as she traveled to the main building.

after a short walk, she reached the medical wing of U-A.

recovery girl questioned her harshly about the injury, badgering her to stay more safe in battle, and to not be so reckless.

"these types of injuries can leave you disabled or seriously hurt! be more careful young lady!"

"yes ma'am."

and with a small kiss on the head from the small, yet fierce recovery girl, she was back on her way.

as she strolled through the halls of U-A, she thought idly about what she wanted to do for the day.

she really didn't have anything planned for the day, so she decided just to relax in her dorm for the day, since she couldn't remember the last time she did so.

she took the time to actually thoroughly clean her room this time, hoping it'd fix her mental state like it always seemed to do.

her arm already felt good as new, but she was still careful for it, because of the nurse's words that had actually scared her.

the wound would heal, but it'd still leave the scar, the remnant of that battle.

but no matter what she'd try to distract herself with, even the nature of her scar wasn't enough to keep her thoughts from always coming back to him.

katsuki.

she now knew that her feelings were somewhat mutual, but she still couldn't help but feel worried about how things would turn out. they'd held hands, they'd slept together, and they'd went through a somewhat scary situation together.

what more did a good couple need?

after she fixed up her room, she surprisingly did feel better, but not by much.

she called mina into her room and ranted about what had happened to her over the past week, while mina relayed some stuff that had gone public.

apparently a news channel had reported on the fight between her and those villains, and had caught the end, where she won, on camera.

it had also caught the moments between her and bakugo on camera, which is why majority of the things she wanted to let mina know was already out in the open.

[name] still ranted on about what had transpired on the train ride, in the hospital, and in his dorm.

it felt good just to tell someone, to speak the truth without being forced to.

but after she grew bored of her rant, she sent mina off with the inconvenient ass chalkboard.

since it was saturday, everyone else also had the idea to just relax from their missions from the past few days. [name] finished up the volume of nana, and decided to go get some more from katsuki's dorm.

she walked in.. he was still sleeping? it was like two in the afternoon at this point.

still, she didn't want to deal with being the one to wake him up, so she grabbed another issue of nana and walked right out.

not before looking back and noticing his suddenly off posture.

she shrugged and headed back to her room.

the day passed on boringly,

her days since today were all so action packed or at least had something going on, so sitting around and doing nothing felt so foreign. so,

boring.

she sat in the common rooms, playing some weird racing game with denki and kirishima.

she lost, making them comfort her jokingly.

"it's okay [name], you're not good at everything and that's fine!"

"shut up!"

"yeah, you may have lost this but you're gonna win in life tomo--." denki joked, before sero flung a piece of tape on his mouth.

"dude shut up!"

[name] stared at them, so confused they could've swore a question mark popped up beside her head.

"what do you mean ' win in life'?"

"it's nothing, he's just being stupid again. must've overused his quirk or something." kirishima said, trying to save the secret.

"...but he didn't even use his quirk?"

"he meant that uh.. you win in life all the time because your so strong?" sero tried to reason.

"but why would that just be for tomorrow--"

"hey let's just play again okay? winner gets four-hundred yen."

she got the sense that they really wanted her to drop it. must be some weird guy stuff, she reasoned.

"you guys are being weird as hell and i know something is up.

....

but, okay. i want a head start since you're being so secretive though."

the guys all let out sighs of relief. "you got it!"

as she won because of her unfair advantage, over and over again, she wondered if tomorrow had something to do with bakugo.

oh well. that's tomorrows problem.

*＊✿❀𓂋❀✿＊*

bakugo had been out since noon, he woke up at eleven, and left pillows shaped as his body in his wake because he knew [name] would go back in his room.

he was storming through the mall, looking for the perfect gifts for [name].

he was the best, destined to top in every single category.

and that included in confessing.

he had already stopped by a corner shop and picked out small things she'd enjoy, snacks, candy, and a small beaded bracelet with a yellow flower on it.

mina had texted him some new specific snacks that she liked, so he had to admit being in that dumb operation group chat actually helped.

just a bit though.

but it still just wasn't enough in his head.

he needed something so beautiful, so that [name] would feel as though she'd never get such a great gift ever again.

as he walked through the shops, glaring at the windows as he tried to spot something fit for her, he thought back to what he thought would look nice on her.

he decided to get her some jewelry, fancy shit too, so it wouldn't get damaged or turn green.

he walked into a shop, gorgeous jewels shining brightly as he walked in.

as he walked in, he noticed that the sparkly weird guy was there.

"ah, bakugo! what are you doing here today?" the guy said, sending sparkles in bakugo's direction.

bakugo shook it off him as he answered.

"i'm looking for a nice necklace."

"for you? wow! i'm you'll look gorgeous with this twinkle--"

"no dumbass, i meant for [name]."

"oh, for [name]! well this will surely leave her a star!"

"okay."

aoyama ducked off and ran behind, searching through the shelves as he suddenly pulled out a cute, dainty necklace with a detailed tulip on it.

"what do you think? twinkles right?"

"yeah, it does." bakugo scoffed, it was actually a good choice.

"how much?"

aoyama dramatically took on a thinking pose, pointing his finger directly as bakugo, as more of that sparkley stuff flew around him.

"this is twenty-one thousand yen! but with my friends discount...

it'll be seven-thousand! what do you say bakugo?" aoyama decreed, while pointing his fist towards bakugo, acting as a mic.

"i'll take it."

aoyama smiled brightly, and handed him a velvet covered box with the necklace inside.

bakugo nodded and walked out, now satisfied with his gifts.

now he just had to think about the perfect spot.

‎°❀⋆ .ೃ࿔*:･ 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

[name] had gotten bored of winning a while ago, and she had forgotten get enough time in the sun to fully eat so now she was upset, frustrated, and hungry.

her only possible salvation was drinking plant growth tea, which tasted gross but was the only thing she could eat to get full temporarily, besides the sun of course.

as she sucked it up and chugged the drink down in one go, she eyed bakugo who walked in with a huge bag of stuff.

hey, i never saw him leave, weirdd. [name] thought.

after resisting the urge to gag at the taste in her mouth, the hunger disapates and leaves her satisfied.

she lurked around, noting that everyone had gone to bed early except for tokoymai. she got bored and went back to her dorm,

the quirk would finally dissipate and all would be good in the world again.

she jumped onto her bed, ignoring the loud creaking sound that she heard from the force she exterted onto it.

she slumped over and even though she didn't want to...

doom scrolled through her socials.

mina wasn't lying, the news had covered both her and bakugo's victory the other day.

she felt herself flush at the sight of bakugo gently picking her up and walking her to the medics.

people in the comments were commenting on how cute the two rookie heroes looked together, and how they had never seen dynamite with a face like that.

they complimented her drive, and the fact that the two were so strong yet both still in school.

she promptly turned her phone off and held it to her chest..

tomorrow she'd talk it out with him.

or at least she'd try.

prev | next!

taglist (comment to be added!): @cc1306 @reads-stuff-quietly @dazqa @teenagetrash00 @jennapancake @sakurarr1122

[vroomvroomcircuit]

hi lea. finally out of the mental hospital (school)

LETS GO SPRING DANCING!! umm, how abt adopting ur first cat with lando hehe

"Are you ready to become first-time parents?" Lando asks his girlfriend while putting the blue hairnet onto his head, covering his curls. But (Y/N) only shrugs her shoulders nervously. "I guess. I'm excited to finally meet her after waiting all these months. But..." The Brit furrows his eyebrows, urging her to continue her sentence. "But?" The woman looks up into his eyes. "What if we are going to be bad parents to her? I have been super excited to get to meet her ever since we found out about her. But I just want to give her the best life possible. What if all the traveling we do, especially you, makes her hate us when she gets older. I can't bear that thought."

Landl sees the distress (Y/N) is putting herself into. It breaks it heart to see that the woman he is sure will be the best mother to ever walk the earth doubts herself before she ever gives herself the chance to experience parenthood. He gathers his girlfriend in his arms, making the hospital gown he is wearing crinkle. "You are going to be the best mother to our little bean imaginable. The way you prepared yourself for everything that will start from today onwards, you already showed me that I want nothing else but to raise living beings with you."

Before (Y/N) is able to say something, maybe to spout some more doubts, a nurse enters the room. "They are ready for you now."

The two of them take a deep breath, smile at each other and take their partner's hand.

And there she lays, a tiny little kitten next to her siblings and mom on the operating table. "Look at how small she is," Lando coos while the woman is just in awe. Right in that moment, she falls in love and can't wait to bring that cute creature home in a couple of weeks. Just like Lamdo said, she will be the best cat mom to exist.

[cassieoz]

Delivery

"Next contraction is approaching rapidly, Doctors! Intensity is 70 and rising. Ultrasound indicates baby's size to be 22 pounds. Fetal heart rate is strong and steady!"

Monica looked frantically around her as the room filled with numerous medical staff ready for the birth of her enormous baby. Her body arched and her opening was on fire! All she wanted to do is to push away this mounting pressure between her thighs. Monica trembled as she felt surgical gloves press into her entrance. The pain of the growing contraction gripped tightly around her middle. Her heart pounded wildly with anticipation.

"Maternal heart rate is fast. Blood pressure rising. Contraction intensity is still rising : 75. Monitors checked and operating, Doctors!"

Monica felt the surgical gloves inside of her travel deeper. She gasped and moaned out loudly. The gloved fingers pushed harder upwards. She clutched swiftly to the side bars as the powerful contraction intensfied. Monica felt feverish! Her face was damp and her hands were cold. She was anxiously waiting now for the call to battle. The battle of delivery.

"Patient is fully dilated. More sponges, Nurses. 30 seconds to contraction peak. Patient is ready for active second stage pushing. Head is downwards position. Correct direction. Abnormally large crown."

Beep, beep, beep, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEEEP!

The main monitor alarm sounded loudly. Monica yelled out and bore down with all her strength. She felt the gigantic head surge forward. The pain was blinding. The heaviness in her core was unimaginable. Monica gripped the side bars until her hands throbbed. She grunted loudly as the pain grew and expanded through her entire lower body.

"Head is downwards and descending through the birth canal. Abnormally large crown is moving with strong contraction efforts. Patient is pushing hard. Efforts are effective."

The delivery room's lights were dimmed. The main lamps were angled and shone directly between Monica's legs as the first appearance of the tremendously large head occurred. Monica was damp, shaking and shouting out with the increasing agony of the birthing pangs.

"Contractions are less than 30 seconds, Doctors! Intensity is still rising and 80. Fetal and maternal heart rates, strong and steady!"

Monica pushed and cried out as she felt the humongous crown press through her aching lips. Her folds were throbbing. The fire storm between her thighs was now out of control. Monica knew that it was not long until she would be facing the worst part of delivery. The crowning of her huge baby was only moments away. She braced herself for the most powerful pain of birth.

The monitors beeped louder and louder. Monica felt the need to push explode all the way downwards. She screamed out as she bore down with all her might. The gigantic crown stretched her widely as she pushed, grunted and howled out of control.

"More sponges, Nurse. The head is crowning nicely. Prepare for delivery. Patient is ready to deliver the head on the next contraction!"

Monica roared out as the head split her opening at the widest point. The intensity was excruciating. Monica closed her eyes and fought with determination. She pushed, shoved and heaved down on the massive head until she felt the explosion she worked so hard to achieve. Moments later, the rest of the baby was delivered.

"Delivery is successful. 22 pounds. Healthy boy. Contact the director that Patient 15701 has birthed another abnormally large offspring."

Monica was wheeled to recovery. She was exhausted but relieved. She had been apart of this delivery program for two deliveries. She had one more to achieve. She knew it was difficult but secretly she loved the process. She smiled as she rested in her private suite. Monica loved birthing! Delivering huge babies was the most exciting experience.

[infiniteeight8]

I love your dabbles!! And time travel is my favorite!

Can we get more if the ironstrange time travel when Tony shows up in the hospital room? Maybe an outsiders POV?

Oooh, one of my favourites of the ficlets and outsider POV! This is a very fun prompt. :D

We could get more outsider-y than Christine, but I felt like her familiarity with pre-accident Stephen would make the contrast more interesting.

It also occurred to me when I was almost done that you might have wanted something a little further along in the development of this timeline, but this is what I thought of when I pondered outsider POVs. Hopefully it is still enjoyable!

-

Christine could hear Stephen’s voice, crisp and animated, long before she approached his hospital room. That could mean only one thing: Mr. Stark was visiting. 

In the days after Stephen was recovered from the wreck and before he woke from surgery, Christine had braced herself for denial, or fury, or depression. Operating was everything to Stephen. It had certainly meant more to him than their relationship. She’d braced herself for a viciously rocky road to whatever recovery he could make, and for the first few hours, it had seemed like depression had won the lottery. Stephen had been so silent. It was an unsettling reaction from a man who had opinions on everything, especially everything medical. 

And then Tony Stark had arrived and it was like the entire world went screwy.

Not only had Stephen snapped out of his nascent depression, he didn’t even seem to care about his hands. He didn’t denigrate the work of his doctors, he didn’t ask for a second opinion. He didn’t even ask to see his own films! Instead he spent every waking moment—literally—deep in discussion with man he’d once described as the worst possible expression of the military-industrial complex. And that had been after Stark’s establishment as Iron Man. Just because now he’s keeping the bombs for his personal use, Stephen had said once, doesn’t make him a hero.

Honestly, if Stephen hadn’t been in a hospital, closely monitored, Christine would have suspected Stark of… of… something. She couldn’t think of any drug or bribe or whatever that would turn Stephen’s opinion around so dramatically, but it still made more sense than reality! Christine couldn’t even call it a nervous breakdown—Stephen somehow seemed better adjusted than before his crash.

Shaking her head, Christine continued on her way to Stephen’s room. She’d promised herself she’d be there for him, even if the role she’d expected to take had somehow been co-opted by Tony Stark.

“…not sure,” Stephen was saying as she approached. “The first time I was in hospital for a month, but I didn’t have anyone to help me care for myself. Christine tried, but I was… not receptive.” 

The first time? Christine didn’t think he’d ever been hospitalized before. 

Stephen looked up and saw her in the doorway and any chance at more information was lost. “Christine!” Stephen said warmly as Mr. Stark dismissed a hologram. Christine only glimpsed enough to guess it was some sort of timeline before it was gone. “Tony and I were just speculating when I might be released. I don’t suppose you have any inside information?”

“Ah, no, I’m afraid not,” Christine said, somehow thrown off balance again. “It would probably depend on how much support you have. Your apartment—“

“Nah, he’ll be staying with me,” Mr. Stark jumped in. “I can get you whatever support you need,” he told Stephen. “Nurses, accessibility features, you name it.”

Christine’s gaze flew to Stephen, expecting him to flinch at ‘accessibility,’ but he just nodded. “Thank you, that will help. The sooner I can get out of here, the better.”

“Stephen, are you sure you’re comfortable with that?” Christine jumped in, glancing at Mr. Stark. 

“I won’t be freeloading,” Stephen assured her, as if that was the problem. “Tony and I have a big project to get started on.”

“Huge, world changing project,” Mr. Stark added brightly. Then he got a considering look on his face and turned to Stephen. “We’re going to need support staff. Do you think—?”

Stephen hummed thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t have worked before, but this time, maybe.”

“We’ll add it to the list,” Tony said.

Christine could only glance between them. It felt like she was missing half the conversation, but, somehow, she suspected it was a lot more than half.

[television-overload]

of our own making

(an X-Files fanfic)

Chapter 30/34 - battery operated radio

[Read on AO3]

The next morning over a breakfast of bland oatmeal, some bacon, and orange juice, Scully makes a few calls. Skinner is delighted to hear from them, and promises to stop by in the afternoon, repeating his heartfelt congratulations before ending the call. As for the Lone Gunmen, you’d think they’d just discovered evidence of the lost city of Atlantis, with the way they whoop and cheer over the phone. No one is surprised when, a few hours later, the three unlikely friends make an appearance in the doorway of their hospital room, bearing colorful balloons and stuffed animals that look like they’d been won in a claw machine at an arcade.

The nurse leading the way glances at them with suspicion, but loosens up a little when she sees Scully’s eyes brighten in recognition. She supposes they do make quite a group of misfits, but to them, they’re family. You can never have too many weird uncles, and Madeline’s got it made in that department.

“Let’s see the little stinker!’ Frohike says excitedly in lieu of greeting, setting the balloons onto a table by the entrance. He wastes no time at all in making his way over to them, coming to a stop next to the couch where Mulder has been laying with Maddie resting on his chest, reading the newspaper while she sleeps.

“Hey, fellas,” Mulder says, slowly easing himself up so as not to disturb the slumbering infant. Her face bunches up, her brows furrowing a little as she stirs. Oh well, no harm in her waking up now to greet their visitors.

“Wow,” Byers says, his eyes wide. “You guys really did it.”

“I’m a man of my word,” Mulder deadpans, and Scully can’t help but smile as the three Gunmen crouch down to get a good look at Maddie.

“So, like… you have a daughter,” Langly muses aloud.

Mulder chuckles. “Crazy, huh?”

Frohike reaches out a finger and tickles her chin, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ve got some weird parents, kiddo,” he says. “I wish you luck.”

“Trying to turn her against us already?” Scully asks, her eyebrow raised quizzically.

“Maybe,” he responds. “If I have to.”

“Congratulations, you guys,” Byers says, beaming at them proudly. “She’s a lucky kid.”

Mulder lays Madeline on top of his knees, letting her stretch out and survey the faces hovering above her.

“If Mulder ever needs some sense knocked into him, Scully, you call me,” Frohike says seriously, glancing in her direction. “He’d better pull his weight, or else he’ll have us to answer to.”

Scully wants to laugh at his thinly-veiled threat, but she finds it sweet, not that she’ll ever need to take him up on the offer. Mulder has been a saint ever since they got here—ever since they began this process, really. She couldn’t ask for better.

He had smelled like his usual travel shampoo and that new baby smell last night when he came to bed. It was intoxicating. And this morning, he even made sure to order their breakfast before she woke up, and had the baby brought in so he could feed her without her having to tell him to.

She’s not exactly sure what their routine will look like when they get home, but she’s confident that they’ll find a good balance. She can’t wait.

“Got room for one more?” a voice calls from the door, and in walks Walter Skinner bearing a bouquet of flowers.

“You’re just in time,” Scully says, walking over to him to accept the gift. “She’s just now waking up from her nap.”

Skinner smiles and approaches the gathering crowd around the couch, peering down at the subject of all the attention.

“Wow, look at that,” he says. “How’s it feel, Mulder?”

Mulder picks Madeline up and holds her in front of him, bringing her close enough that he can press tiny kisses to her cheeks before laying her on his shoulder.

“Feels pretty good, Skinman,” he answers. “You wanna hold her?”

“Not so fast,” Frohike says, pushing himself in front of the much taller man. “I called dibs on the way over here.”

Mulder merely chuckles and gets to his feet, transferring the baby to their friend’s arms with all the grace of a seasoned parent.

“Hi there, little miss,” Frohike says, rocking her back and forth. “I’m your uncle Melvin.” Madeline stares up at him in wonder, completely captivated by the silly faces he makes.

After Frohike, Byers gets a turn, and Langly politely declines, opting instead to give her a tiny fist bump. Then it’s their boss’ turn.

“Alright, give her here,” Skinner says, reaching to take her out of Byers’ arms. His posture is a little stiff, but the warmth of his smile is a dead giveaway as she settles in his hold. His pointer finger pulls back the blanket swaddling her so he can get a better look at her. “Well, you guys, looks like your harebrained little scheme worked out, after all,” he says.

Scully chuckles. She’s so thankful that they’ve had the support of Skinner and the Lone Gunmen throughout all this, despite how unconventional their plans were. She’d been so afraid all along that something would come and take away this opportunity from them too, but here they are at the end of one journey and the beginning of another. 

She feels like she can finally let herself be happy.

After another minute or so, Madeline seems to realize that she’s in unfamiliar arms and starts to fuss, her chin jutting out along with her bottom lip.

“I think someone wants her mama,” Skinner says, bending forward to hand her back to Scully. It’s too early for another feeding, so she probably just wants to be held and rocked the specific way she seems to like it.

“What’d you call her?” their boss asks, shoving his hands in his coat pockets.

“Madeline,” Scully answers.

“Well, I’m happy for you two. Or three, I guess. Gonna take some getting used to, huh?”

“Don’t pretend you’ll miss having us around,” Mulder jokes.

“You know I will,” Skinner says seriously. “Although I can honestly say that I hope your successors are a little more adept at staying out of trouble, or at least getting out of it without my intervention. I’m pretty sure I’m running low on the Director’s good will.

“I have a good feeling about agents Doggett and Reyes,” Scully says. It will be strange, to not be the ones in the driver’s seat, so-to-speak, but they’ll still get their doses of a good X-File every now and then. It’s not really goodbye.

“We should get out of your hair,” Byers says when the room has fallen silent.

Frohike nods in agreement, taking a step toward the door. “Hey, if you ever need babysitting, you’re looking at the owners of the most secure daycare facility on the eastern seaboard,” he says, jabbing a thumb at himself and the other two Gunmen.

Langly snorts. “Yeah, it’s so exclusive, we only have space for one client. And we’re highly selective. You might not get in.”

“Alright, alright,” Mulder laughs, leading them toward the door by the shoulders. “Thanks for stopping by. It really does mean a lot.”

And after a few more firm handshakes, hugs, and well-wishes, they’re gone.

-.-.-

The door closes behind Byers, and the four men stand in the hall awkwardly, waiting for someone to state the obvious.

“You saw the rings, right?” Langly states, glancing between his compatriots who each nod in turn.

“I don’t know who they think they’re kidding,” Skinner says in exasperation. “That diamond would have had to cost at least three grand, minimum.”

“How long do you think they can keep pretending they’re just friends?” Byers asks. “I mean, realistically?”

A look of horror dawns on Frohike’s face. “This is Mulder and Scully we’re talking about,” he says. “It could be forever, for as stubborn as those two are.”

They mull that one over for a moment, each with a look somewhere between frustration and concern.

“That’s it,” Skinner says suddenly, gritting his teeth as he turns to face the other direction. “I’m taking matters into my own hands.” The Gunmen watch in puzzlement as the bald-headed man approaches the nurses’ station, digging his wallet out of his pocket.

Langly looks at Byers and shrugs. The three of them follow behind and stand beside him at the counter.

“How much for you to put on some cheesy romantic music in that room over there?” Skinner asks the nurse on duty, pulling out a couple $20 bills.

“I’m sorry?” she asks, looking up at him in confusion.

Skinner waves the money in the air and points back in the direction of room 509. “Do you have a radio or something? Maybe the intercom?”

“Can I ask what this is about?” the woman asks, clearly suspicious of such an odd question.

“Our friends are complete idiots and won’t admit that they’re in love with each other,” Langly answers bluntly.

The nurse’s eyes go wide, lighting up in interest. “Those two? With the baby?” she asks. “But I thought they were married.”

“They are,” Frohike says. “The key detail here is that they’re idiots.”

The other three nod, confirming that assessment.

The nurse purses her lips, her eyes traveling to the cash in Skinner’s hand, then back up to each of the four of them in turn.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

-.-.-

Mulder is just finishing up washing his hands in the en suite bathroom when, from somewhere in the hall, he hears the faint sounds of a piano playing. A few seconds later, the whine of a saxophone joins the melody, and he chuckles to himself. He’d never been a huge fan of smooth jazz himself, but he could appreciate the musical stylings of Kenny G every now and then.

He’s about to hurl some lighthearted joke about the song at Scully when the sight of her stops him in his tracks.

There she stands in the middle of the room, right where he left her, except now she’s swaying along with the music, Madeline still in her arms. The soft, easy smile on her face emanates a warm glow on the room, and he’s absolutely in awe of her.

He leans against the door frame of the bathroom, fighting back against the sudden pounding of his heart as he watches her.

She’s so beautiful.

In the space of a few seconds, he makes a decision, stepping carefully toward her.

She spins slowly along with the music, humming softly to Madeline and unaware of his presence until he gently taps her on the shoulder, almost startling her.

“May I cut in?” he asks, his voice hardly more than a low whisper.

There’s that shy smile he so loves to see. She used to smile at him like that a lot, back when he could shamelessly flirt with her in the first few years they worked together. She glances up at him briefly now from underneath thick eyelashes, and he takes that as a yes, wordlessly taking Maddie from her arms and placing into the nearby bassinet.

She looks content enough there for now. Relaxed, perhaps by the sourceless hypnotic music. Mulder quickly returns to Scully’s side, scooping her hands up in his and guiding her left hand to his shoulder.

“Does this song take you back, Scully?” he asks, pulling her close and swaying along with her.

“Mmm,” she hums softly. “Missy bought me this CD for Christmas back in ‘92.”

He throws his head back in exaggerated exasperation before dipping his head to meet her eyes teasingly. “I knew it,” he says. “I bet you crack open a bottle of wine and sit in the bubble bath while it plays, don’t you, Scully.”

The look she gives him is just proof of why the FBI Behavioral Science Unit used to pay him the big bucks.

“Lucky guess, Mulder,” she says, smirking up at him. 

He pulls her just a little bit closer and feels a chill run up his spine when Scully moves her hand to the nape of his neck, brushing against the short hair there.

“You know, this song is actually called ‘The Wedding Song,’” she states conversationally.

“Oh really?” Mulder spins her out and then back into his arms, keeping pace with the slow rhythm. “You know, we never had a proper first dance. With actual music playing, I mean.”

“No,” she agrees, “we didn’t.”

Their words hang in the air, the implications as clear as they’re going to get for today.

The saxophone croons in dulcet tones, and Mulder feels himself surrendering to its pull. Scully’s hand, the one he holds in his, moves to rest on his shoulder along with the other one, leaving his arm hovering in the air. 

With deft fingers, he pushes back some escaped tendrils of her hair, tucking them neatly behind her ear before bringing his hand down to her waist. She’d opted for a thin sweater this morning, having no use for her professional attire any time soon. Its fabric is soft beneath his fingertips, and he revels in the sensation that being near her evokes.

Over the years, he’s seen enough hospital rooms to last a lifetime. But, he thinks, he could spend the rest of his life here in this one, so long as Scully and their daughter—their daughter—are there with him.

That wouldn’t be so bad.

-.-.- 

“It’s working!” the nurse—Andrea—says excitedly, peeking into the room through the small window in the door.

“What’s happening?” Frohike asks from his place on the ground. He holds the battery operated radio Andrea had provided up against the door, the volume turned up enough that they should be able to hear it through the crack at the bottom.

“They’re dancing!”

Skinner stands away from the group, somehow embarrassed even though this had been his idea to begin with.

“Wait! This might be it!”

Langly’s head joins hers at the window just in time to see Mulder adjust his hold around Scully’s waist, pulling her closer.

“Come on, man! You can do it!” he says in a hopeful cheer. Andrea turns to look at him, then peers back into the darkened room.

They’re gazing at each other now in that way they always do, their swaying starting to slow almost to a halt. It’s nearly imperceptible at first, but they see Scully lean in, tilting her head up toward Mulder in a way that looks very promising.

“Come on…!” Langly repeats, holding his breath. The nurse gasps, grabbing the sleeve of his t-shirt.

Now Mulder is leaning forward too, craning his neck lower and aligning his mouth with Scully’s. The speed at which they move nearly sends Langly into a fit of rage. Even a sloth would be telling them to hurry it up already.

“What are they waiting for?” Andrea asks, her brows furrowed in an accurate representation of the frustration the four men have felt toward this duo for the past several years.

They get closer, and closer, and closer, and finally, just when they think the moment has finally arrived—

The sharp cry of the baby sends all their progress crashing to the ground.

“Ugh!” Langly groans, throwing up his hands in annoyance. “Why?”

“No dice?” Frohike asks from the ground.

Byers shakes his head, and Frohike sighs, switching the radio off in an admittance of defeat.

“They’re like that all the time?” Andrea asks, looking alarmed at the thought.

“Sometimes worse,” Skinner says. He rubs his fingers over his bald head in an attempt to stave off an oncoming migraine.

The nurse lets out an astonished breath of air. “Well, I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help,” she says, her hands perched on her hips. “It was sweet of you to try.”

“Eh, they’ll figure it out eventually,” Langly says optimistically, waving a hand through the air. “If they don’t, we’ll just lock them in a room until one of ‘em lets it slip.”

“It was worth a shot,” Byers says in consolation, helping Frohike to his feet. “We almost had them.”

“How hard is it to tell your best friend you love them?” Skinner asks rhetorically. Frohike shrugs and hands the radio back over to the nurse.

Langly spares one last glance at the door to Mulder and Scully’s room. A thought crosses his mind, and he feels his stomach drop. 

“You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?” he asks, suddenly afraid they might have just messed everything up.

“Tell anyone?” she asks, her head cocked in confusion.

“You know… that they might have exaggerated a little on their adoption application?” he bites his lip worriedly, wishing they’d just left the hospital instead of meddling in their friends’ business. “If they find out that we ruined their happy ending, I think they’d kill us,” he says. “That is, if I don’t jump off a bridge myself first.”

Andrea laughs, shaking her head. “Are you kidding? They obviously love each other more than half the couples I see come in here. Of course I won’t say anything!”

Langly lets out a breath of relief, and so do the others.

“Well, thanks again for your help,” he says, offering her an awkward smile.

She shrugs. “Sure beats whatever soap opera they’ve got playing in the break room.”

Sometimes, Langly thinks, it would be nice for Mulder and Scully’s lives to be less like a soap opera. But beggars can’t be choosers.

A silent moment passes, and he shares a look with the other Gunmen. Time to roll out, ideally before they do any more potential damage to their friends’ lives.

He gives a parting nod to the nurse, then turns to start the trek back down the hall. Frohike grumbles something about Mulder’s wasted good looks as they walk, and Skinner just looks tired.

Just before they reach the elevator, they hear Andrea call out, stopping them in their tracks.

“Wait!” she says, jogging to catch up with them, a small smile on her face. “Um…” Taking a pen out of her pocket, she clicks it once and grabs Langly’s arm. “If you ever want to grab dinner or something,” she says, writing down her number while carefully avoiding his eyes.

Langly watches in astonishment as she completes the strand of numbers, punctuating it with a smiley face. With one quick, shy glance up at him, she disappears back to her station, leaving them all completely awestruck for a good few seconds. The elevator comes and goes before they snap out of it, forcing them to wait for it to cycle back to them.

“In a shocking turn of events, Langly might actually have more game than Agent Mulder,” Byers narrates in an amused tone.

“Puh-lease,” Frohike counters, giving Langly a good-natured shove in the arm as they start moving again. “We all know that I’m the real chick magnet around here.”

~~~

Linking because I can...

Lovely tag list ♡: [if you would like to be added or removed, let me know!]

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[sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog]

greetings awesome coffee club, and welcome (back)! How do you suggest someone who can’t have caffeine support your mission?

Why buy coffee when you could buy nothing and directly support a stronger healthcare system in Sierra Leone?

Although the healthcare system in SL has improved a lot in the last decade, there are still many primary healthcare centers that lack consistent electricity and running water. Giving birth remains a life threatening emergency for many people--around 5% of Sierra Leonean women can expect to die due to pregnancy or childbirth, a staggering injustice that is the result of long-term structural injustices including colonialism, enslavement, and racism.

Until recently, there was only one psychiatrist in the entire country, and only one cardiologist. It was impossible for Sierra Leonean doctors and nurses to pursue most specialties within the country. But that's starting to change.

The Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Jalloh has recently been accredited as a teaching hospital, so now nurses and physicians can specialize in mental health within Sierra Leone. And an expansion of Koidu Government Hospital will soon mean the hospital has a NICU, a blood bank, 24-hour electricity, over 100 maternity beds, and operating rooms. This maternity center will also serve as a teaching hospital so that midwives, traditional birth attendants, nurses, community healthworkers, and physicians can all train in eastern Sierra Leone without having to leave the country or travel to the capital of Freetown.

Long-term, systemic problems demand long-term, systemic solutions. In our experience, the most important way this happens is not through donations but through political activism--those of us who live in rich countries can pressure our governments to spend more to address the global crises of needless maternal and child mortality. Like, our community has raised around $35,000,000 to strengthen Sierra Leone's healthcare system, which is a lot of money, but also it amounts to about what the U.S. government spends on its military every four hours.

That noted, we think direct support from individuals and institutions also has a role to play, which is why we started the awesome coffee company. But if you don't drink coffee and do have a few extra dollars (or more!), you can join over 4,000 monthly donors to this project here.

[reds-skull]

Not Alive, Nor Dead

[PREV PART] [AO3]

This one started horrible to write and ended up fun, so if the beginning feels off that's why.

Love reading the theories in the tags! Not gonna say which one of you is right though, if any...

Price’s temporary office is about as big as a broom closet, with barely enough space to fit a desk, 2 chairs, and a couple of huge 141 operatives.

The Captain has been rubbing at his temples for the past few minutes, no doubt unsuccessfully trying to ward off a massive headache. Ghost shares the sentiment. This entire day was nothing but misery.

They’ve been debriefing about their shitshow of a mission for several hours now.

“Let me get this straight”, Price starts, “you brought Soap with you to Limbo… and he came out unharmed?”

“Yes sir.”

“How could you possibly know he wouldn’t get dragged in?” Price shoots a glare towards him.

“I didn’t.” Ghost swallows, “I… I was certain he’s dead either way.”

Ghost flexes his hands, eyes drifting away from Price as he returns to his thoughts. It stands to logic that whoever was in the protective light around him would’ve been safe from the grasping hands of its victims.  But he never actually tried it.

Nobody lives through Limbo, is the first rule of his powers.

There’s a reason his personal file reads “Limbo survivability: 0%”.

Price’s voice cuts through the air, “this changes everything about how you could operate on field… Shepherd would be ecstatic.” he finished with a bleak tone.

A sudden chill shoots through his veins. The General would squeeze every drop he could off of Limbo. Ghost can see how he would react, ordering him to use it on field again and again, now while Price and Garrick and Johnny are all in the line of fire-

“Which is why he won’t know about this.” Price asserts.

Ghost falters. “You’re breaking regs for me?”

The Captain offers him a tired but kind smile, “won’t be the first time, son.”

Ghost’s shoulders slumped in relief, and he projected his gratitude to Price’s mind. He doesn’t think words would do justice to what he’s feeling right about now.

The Captain sighs, “I reckon I tortured you enough for one day, Lieutenant. Dismissed.”

Ghost rises to leave when Price adds, “don’t think I’ve forgotten about what your Reaper said, Simon. We’ll talk about it another day.”

Ghost truly can’t wait.

His feet take him to medical, where Soap still better be. If the Sergeant minimizes his injuries now, after everything they’ve been through, Ghost swears he’ll actually send him to Limbo.

The nurse he left Johnny with rushes to stop him from wandering around and probably scaring her patients dead.

She informs Ghost that Sergeant MacTavish is in one of the resting rooms, and that Garrick is currently visiting him. He mutters a vague thanks and makes his way towards his room.

From a distance, he can already hear the Sergeants’ shared laughter, and a stone is lifted from his stomach.

“-I don’t think I’ve seen Cap make that face before, he squished his face like a confused babe-” Gaz’s words travel through the half opened door. Ghost takes a moment to just listen to the two of them giggling with no care in the world, and pushes the door fully open.

The two immediately quiet down and snap their gaze at him. Gaz talks first, “finally out of Price’s clutches?” he says with a half smile.

Ghost continues to stand in the entrance, “looked almost as tired as me by the end of it.”

Garrick smirks, and stands up from the chair situated besides Soap’s bed. “Well, I’ll go make sure he doesn’t fall asleep in his office again. Can’t forget the time he messed up his back for a week because of it.”

He passes by Ghost to walk out, but before he leaves completely, whispers, “he’s gonna be fine, don’t worry too much”, and with a pat on the shoulder leaves Ghost staring at Soap.

The Scot dimmed a little after Gaz’s departure, “ye can sit down, I’m sure yer dead tired.” he nods to the newly vacated chair.

Ghost takes him on the offer and lowers to the sit with a long exhale. He looks over Johnny, trying to figure out how far along his healing is, but is unable to due to the clothes he still wears.

“Can I see the… gunshot wounds?” He relents eventually.

Soap raises a brow, “curious huh? Wanna see how fast I can heal-”

“Sergeant.” Ghost warns.

Soap sighs and pouts, hesitating for a moment before lifting his shirt. Ghost leans forward to examine the injuries more closely - the holes are almost completely sealed, muscles and skin woven together, tightening in front of his eyes.

“Does it still hurt?” he looks up at Johnny.

Soap frowns, “a wee bit”, he drops the hem and lets the shirt fall.

They sit in silence, Ghost becoming increasingly overwhelmed with which question he wants to ask first, if he should be happy, or if he should be screaming at the Sergeant for making him believe for one horrible second that he’s going to die.

The Sergeant saves him from his downward spiral, “I dinea know they redacted that power on my files.”

Flaming fingers fidgeting over the thin blanket catch Ghost’s attention. “Your file rivals mine with how much is blacked out.” And he doesn’t say it lightly; his own file doesn’t even have his legal name.

“I knew they’ve been removing things since… my Reaping.” the small flames continue to be put out by Johnny’s movements.

“Why?” 

And isn’t that the question of the century. Ghost looks at Soap’s face, the taut features that tell him the answer is as always. 

‘I can’t tell you.’

Soap surprises him however, when he huffs, “they don’t want people getting the wrong idea on how strong I am.”

He must see how confused Ghost is, because he continues, “I uh… did something on my Reaping. If I could do that again, well… I don’t know if they would’ve let me on the team.”

“I assume you can’t tell me what.”

Johnny laughs, “if I could, I would’ve a long time ago, LT”.

Ghost crosses his arms. He’s sure he’ll have about 50 working theories on what Soap has done by the end of the day, but for now he wants to focus on the Sergeant in front of him.

He miserably remembers what he’s done, how he forced him into Limbo…

“Did you close your eyes?”

“Huh?”

“When we were in Limbo, did you close your eyes?”

Soap tilts his head in perplexity, “aye… why?”

Ghost shakes his head, “rather you not see how fucked up that place is.”

He was never too proud of Limbo, not with the origins of the power, but after it became such a hateful place he lost any reason to like the void.

“You make it sound like it's literal hell, Ghost.” Johnny mutters.

Ghost rolls his eyes, “would be an apt comparison.”

The Sergeant straightens, “it’s not! It’s far too…” he slumps again, “sad. I could hear them crying down there.”

Ghost doesn’t want to tell him Limbo isn’t usually like that. Doesn’t need Johnny to know his victims were sobbing because his own emotions effected them.

Instead, he veers the conversation away, “don’t tell anyone you’ve been there.”

It’s Soap’s turn to ask why.

“No one ever went into Limbo and left alive beside me.”

The Sergeant’s eyes widen, “yer gonna hide it from Shepherd…”

“The Captain suggested it. I’d rather you not ruin his entire career.” Ghost drawls flatly.

“Aye sir, yer secrets are safe with me.” Johnny gives him a reassuring smile.

Ghost doesn’t think he understands just how much he trusts that statement. He exhales, “don’t make me think you’re about to kick it again, that clear?”

Johnny’s smile dampens, his eyes fill with guilt, “yes sir.”

Soap was released not long after they finished their little chat, the medics deeming him stable enough to walk around. They appeared more experienced with healing-type revenants than other bases he’s been on.

Ghost kept watch by his side while they walked down to mess, the two of them famished and tired after everything.

The cheering coming from the large room proved to be caused by the Vaqueros’ return. Alejandro and Rodolfo, along with Gaz and Price, were sitting in one table and talking among themselves.

When Rodolfo picked them out from the crowd he rose to stand in front of Johnny, “I heard you were in medical hermano, are you well?”

Soap gave him an easy grin, “aye, had a couple of bullets in me, but I’m all good now.”

Rodolfo’s mouth dropped, and his eyes jumped between Soap and Ghost, “I uh, I’m glad?”

His Sergeant turned to give him a bold smirk that told him Soap enjoying messing with Rodolfo, the poor man a little too out of the loop.

The three of them were called to the table and they joined the rest.

“El Sin Nombre is looking for revenants” Alejandro began. Him, Rodolfo and the 141 were summarizing what each squad found during their last missions, “the stronger, the higher their value.”

Rodolfo added, “his other target is civilians, specifically poor and young, at recruitment age.”

“But he’s not recruiting them, is he?” Gaz asks.

“No. You don’t give weapons to people you kidnap and let them loose on the streets, expecting they’ll stay loyal to you.”

Not unless you torture them to the point of breaking, Ghost muses darkly.

He throws the dog tags he snagged from the body at the cartel’s house, “one of the four bodies we found was one Sergeant Anderson, a revenant with an ability to breathe underwater.”

“The other three, appeared to be civilians, died from drowning.” Soap remarks.

Price narrows his eyes, “sounds like they’re playing with revenant powers.”

“It’s never gonna work”, Garrick snarls, “you can’t transfer powers, you can’t choose who will become a revenant, and you can’t choose what power you get.”

The room becomes silent, until Johnny murmurs, “unless you kill them the same way other revenants died.”

“Still won’t work”, Ghost retorts, “too many variables. Revenant might attract a different Reaper.”

Price stops them both, “whatever they’re trying to do, they’re messing with powers beyond anyone’s understanding. If they figure out a way to reliably make revenants…”

“They’ll have an army of supernatural soldiers.” Alejandro snarls.

The Captain nods firmly.

 Ghost shifts in place. There’s much more on the scale than any of them originally thought.

“What’s our next move?” Soap questions determinedly.

Rodolfo points to the file on the table, “we need to get El Sin Nombre. He’s our only connection to the international trafficking.”

Alejandro grins widely, “exactamente”.

The Captain starts collecting his own files, “I’ll get in contact with Laswell, see what she can give us.” He glances at Ghost, “we need to inform Shepherd as well.”

They’re all preparing to leave when a knock sounds on the door.

Alejandro calls them in, and a soldier pops their head, “Comandante, the American PMC is here.”

“Captain Price! Good to see you again, pal.”

Price’s moustache twitches, “Philip Graves.” Ghost can hear the thought leaking from his head, ‘can’t say the same.’

The Shadow Company commander is non the wiser, and does a quick sweep on the soldiers on the tarmac, when his eyes land on Ghost.

“Lieutenant Ghost! Heard great things about you. Terrible, but great things”, the American smiles in a way that makes Ghost’s eye twitch to close.

He hates him already.

Ghost decides to answer, as this muppet will work with them for the next few weeks, “haven’t heard shite about you mate.”

The way Graves stops his flaunting is quite amusing, Ghost decides. “You a revenant, Graves?” He goes on with his ribbing.

Graves licks his teeth before smacking his lips, “no.”

He huffs in return, in what might be interpreted as a laugh. Johnny seems to be holding back his own giggles, having an overtly serious face that Ghost finds hilarious.

Alejandro spares Graves from Ghost’s public shaming (and what a pity that is), “welcome to Los Vaqueros base, Commander.”

The men shake hands. Ghost looks behind Graves, at the PMC soldiers unloading crates after crates of weapons and firearms.

Oh well, he supposes he can deal with the yank as long as he has a use.

Okay I know Ghost roasting Graves is ooc but it's so funny to me

[sofasoap]

Come what may.

Pairing: König x  f!Reader ( OC aka “Mini” MacTavish ) 

Summary: family life.

Warning: M rated. Talking of pregnancy and birthing. nothing major. swearing. You are responsible for your own media consumption. turn away now if this isn't for you. minors DNI.

A/N : Character of Mini MacTavish is from @saltofmercury fic “ “The Favorite MacTavish” ” which she graciously let me borrow and write bit more expanded universe. Please go read her wonderful story to get bit of background, while you are there, go read her wonderful CoD fics too!

 “masterlist” for more stories to this Mini MacTavish expanded verse.

König couldn't stop fidgeting.

What if she changes her mind? What if she doesn't want to be with me anymore? What if I am not the one for her? what if .... " She WILL turn up. Stop thinking so loud." " .. Sorry."

König and Simon standing by the altar, most of the guest already taking their seat now. Simon gave a light smack on König's back.

" You should have more faith in her. She chose you." König didn't miss the hidden meaning behind Simon's words. " Alright, everyone is in place, the ladies should be walking in soon." Soap walked in from the side, taking his place beside König and Simon. You two decided to have the wedding at König's home town.

" You sure Liebling? Didn't you say you want to have the wedding at your parent's farm once?" You shook your head. " Oma is too old to travel, she mentioned she always want to see her grandson getting married. it will easier if you have it at your home town." You patted his arm.

The door to the chapel opened. Pulling König back from this thought. The bridesmaids lead the procession. König's took in a sharp breath as he saw you walking in. You look ethereal. König heard a sniffle beside him, from his peripheral vision he saw Soap on edge of tears and Ghost elbowing him. Stopping in front of the altar, you look up to your husband -to-be through the veil, gave him a shy smile. He took your hand gave it a firm kiss. He swore in his heart, from that day onwards, he will protect you, treasure you, until the end. "Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz"

König paced up and down the corridor. You have been in labour for 24 hours and there's no sign of progression. "Any update?" Soap hand over a cup of coffee to König, who shook his head as he mumbled, " None. Your wife kicked me out and Rachel nearly tore my head off." Soap rolled her eyes, " You know not to piss them off by now." " Why is my wife tearing your head off." Gruff sound came from behind Soap. Ghost appeared with two paper bag in his hand. " Probably getting in their way. Ok, stop pacing König you are making me dizzy!" Soap said with exasperated tone. "Sorry." König finally sat down on the seat outside the room.

Passing the paper bag over, König and Soap took the food out and started eating the sandwich. Suddenly the door opens, König can hear you sobbing from the room. His anxiety level shot up again. He wants to comfort you, making sure you are okay. Rachel poke her head out, shooting König a look and warning tone.

" You got one minute. We have to operate on her soon, the baby is showing sign of distress." König ran towards your bedside. Your eyes were closed, with expression of pain, quietly sobbing. The nurse and Emma are preparing you for the surgery. König wish he could take the pain away from you, or suffer it for you. "Hey teddy bear.." opening your eyes slowly, hold your hand out towards him. König grabs it. You look utterly exhausted from hours of labour. He doesn't want to let you go. " I will be alright. Go wait with the boys. " Now you are comforting him. " But liebling..." " Go. I love you. Just think you will be meeting your child for first time soon. " You winced as another wave of contraction hits you. " You better get out of the way before Rachel threaten to tear your head off again. Not even Simon or Johnny can save you. " Emma warned as she came around the other side to put more drugs in. All three of the boys had been on the receiving side of Rachel's wrath. Simon's wife, Ex-New Zealand SAS Medical doctor, takes no nonsense from people. The two stubborn people met at you and König's wedding, and also to your surprise, soon after your brother and Emma announced their engagement. You were really happy your two brothers have found their happiness. " Alright, times up, out you go König." Rachel commented. " Don't worry. We'll take good care of her. " She added softly while patting on his back. Three hours later, you and König became proud parent to a healthy baby boy Alex John. ... and with Soap crying his eyes out again meeting his nephew for the first time.

Standing by the fence, König fidgets with his finger as he waits. " Sorry teddy bear, but can you please go pick the children up? Things are getting really crazy at work, I don't think I will be home until dinner time." König stiffens as he heard your request. " I know you don't like crowd, Alex can walk home by himself but Riley has to have someone picking him up..." Taking a deep breath König assure you he will complete the challenge task you ask him to do. So here he is, with other parents standing around whispering to each other as they eyeing him suspiciously. Bringing him bad memories of being bullied at school, it took a lot of constraint not to run away from where he is standing. " Pa? what are you doing here?" Alex appeared from the senior school side. König sighed with relief when he saw his son approaching. 16 year old Alex is nearly as tall as his father, from the look of all the girls and some of the boys gawking at him, he must be pretty popular at school. At least he has a happier time than me. König thought. " Your Ma is busy at work. She ask me to pick you two boys up." " Riley should be out soon." Alex look around for his brother.

" Da!!!!" Little Riley spotted his dad and ran towards him. Very hard to miss him in the crowd. König sweep up his younger son into a hug.

" Hello Mäuschen, had good day at school?" " Mmmhm! I'll show you what we drew in art class! Where is Ma?" " Busy at work. I thought three of us can go shopping for dinner tonight. Your Ma been working hard lately." König commented as they walk towards the car. When you came home later that night, you were greeted by the sight of three boys standing side by side, cooking dinner together. Little Riley standing on the stool his brother once used when he started learning to cook, chopping up fruits, while his older brother and father cooking food on the stove top. You smile at the sight. This is home.

"König." " Simon." " So. Your son and my daughter?" "... you got a problem with that?" " A few things actually." "" You two , BEHAVE."" " Well, this is interesting." " You too Johnny. Shut your mouth." "... yes hen."

Soap is a cry baby. They named their second kid Riley. after Simon. Don't worry, Alex carries his uncle's name as middle name. and yes with the age gap, Riley was a happy accident. And never piss the wives off. That's what three men learnt very fast. This is the end of König's route! might add in life drabbles here and there. but thank you for reading! any likes and comments and reblogs are highly appreciated :)

[whohasthecards]

Top Gun Medieval Fantasy AU Idea

IceMav operating an adventure guild/inn/tavern. Iceman is the head of the guild and Maverick is his right-hand man. Ice and Mav co-own the establishment. Most people don't know this, they just assume that Mav is pretty high up, because he's one of the top adventurers, and when he's not out and about, he trains or guides the newer adventurers (Mav does the dirty work Ice can't visibly do).

Potential additional idea: Iceman and Maverick used to knights, but stop and established a guild.

Rooster is a traveling warrior, but he is not part of the guild. He goes their only when it is necessary for a job, but he doesn't linger or stay. Bradley wanted to be a knight, but Mav used his connections to block his application to the academy. Bradley found out and left, cutting contact and went to find his way. Bradley was bitter, thinking, it all makes sense. Why Mav was reluctant in training him, only got involved in his training when he was older, and why it was mostly Ice who taught him. Mav never thought he could do it, he never had faith in his abilities. (Goose was Mav's partner and died in one of their adventures. Mav couldn't bear the thought that if he taught Bradley, and Bradley died, it would be because of the skills he passed down to him. Because Mav's skills at the time wasn't enough to save Goose, so it is not good enough for Bradley. Also Carole made Mav promise before she died.) On a side note, during his travels, Rooster picked up playing different instruments and is quite good at it. He's trying to remember the song his dad used to play him, but it's been so long that he can only really play the tune of the chorus. The lines lost in time (part of Rooster wants to ask Ice or Mav, but his pride won't allow him to). On the bright side, Rooster displays himself as a bard, allowing him to gather money and information easily as no one is suspicious of him. At least until he draws his hidden sword.

Hangman was raised to be a knight, he was taken in as a ward of a Knight's order, went through the academy, and was knighted young. He was well-known and people admired him. However, one day he and his partner were dispatched far to deal with a horde of demons. He and his partner figured out that there was corruption in the order that spread to the town folk, allowing for exploitation, which grew to warriors being hired despite barely having any fighting experience. The problem grew, until the town was overwhelmed by monsters every night. In the final battle, his partner died. When Hangman went to report what happened, the order decided to push the incident 'under the rug', with his partner's death being declared as an 'accident'. The order's reputation was far more important than the life of one man. Hangman was pissed and left the order, swearing revenge (and succeeding). Hangman still keeps the sword he used as a knight, but he never unsheathes it. Instead he transitioned to dual wielding two short swords. Hangman works alone, travelling and doing mercenary work. He doesn't care about anything else, but results. No one knows that Hangman used to be a knight.

Javy is from a blacksmith clan, realized that blacksmithing wasn't for him and decided to go on a journey. Found this creature, nursed it to help, and now follows him around. Someone eventually suggested that he use the creature as a mount. He did and he fell in love with it. He became well-trained in fighting while on his mount. Easily maneuvering any weapon while the mount charges. Coming from a family of blacksmiths, he understood how to use most weapons and that came handy in times of improvisation.

He became friends with Jake when they were travelling. They were forced to share a room together in an inn rather than camp outside and they got to know one another (Jake was sharpening his sword, Javy told him he was doing it wrong, they bickered, Javy impressed Jake and wrangled a thank you out of him). They keep on meeting each other throughout the next year or so, Jake even allowing Javy to work with him occasionally. After more than a year, Jake told Javy everything, Javy was heartbroken for his friend.

I have more thoughts about this AU, but maybe I'll write them down sometime else.

[delvalentine]

Typical chaotic AO3 Author’s Note life update but:

I got engaged 💍🎉 ! It was a sweet just us moment in front of the Tokyo Tower 🗼 and I couldn’t be happier 🥹 and we bought a house before we left for our vacation! So I’m picking up overtime on top of my full time schedule 💀💔 but now that I’ve passed most of my operating room training and become a well established registered nurse on the roster, the stress levels have really gone down and I can confidently say I love my job and what I do these days!

(But I would love being a travel content creator more for sure 😔😮‍💨)

I’m still writing 😌 and reading more because that’s my 2024 resolution. I aspire to feel the way I felt when I was reading The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games… Percy Jackson, Harry Potter… though I don’t know if I can get behind those viral booktok ones like CoHo/ACOTAR/First Wing… like I have to agree with the people who say those books are for people who missed having a Wattpad phase 🤷🏻‍♀️ but anyways. I digress.

I hope everybody that reads this is happy, healthy, doing the best they can in these very troubling global circumstances (🍉), and that you find luck and love in every day.

💘 V

[fearfulachilles]

9. wunderkind.

chapter nine to buop (nanami kento x reader jjk medical au.) .

full contents here.

summary: working with dr. geto proves to be more difficult than you thought, but you have an enjoyable lunch break.

tw: american healthcare.

Satoru Gojo was a wunderkind. He graduated high school early, finished pre-med in half as much of time than normal, and aced his way through med school at an incredibly young age. He was a medicine prodigy. He was sought out by many hospitals for his neurosurgery fellowship, but decided to accept a fellowship at Jujutsu Metropolitan Hospital.

During his fellowship, he created and developed a new technique that is still used by nearly all neurosurgeons across the country, even years later. Up until a year ago, it had been known as the Gojo technique.

During and after Satoru's fellowship, he quickly noticed that he hated how the hospital was managing things. The owners of the hospital were old men who didn't work with patients anymore, instead they worked closely with insurance companies to milk money out of patients looking for care.

Satoru had to constantly turn away sick patients in need of surgery, and even the ones who needed simpler treatments such as medication and routine examinations, all because the patients couldn't afford to pay for it, and pro-bono services were forbidden. Patients waited months for post-operative visits and some had to hold off on returning after surgery completely, all due to money. He saw how the staff around him, nurses and scrub techs, were always shorthanded and overworked because the higher ups refused to hire more people, just to save themselves money.

Eventually, it all came crumbling down on the members of the hospital board. Patients were seeking care elsewhere, strung out employees were quitting, and the Jujutsu Hospital reputation was going to shit. Money doesn't last forever, but they were in need of it. That's when an anonymous buyer came in with a generous offer, in exchange for the board to be changed immediately, of course.

It didn't take long for senior hospital board member, Dr. Yoshinobu Gakuganji, to trace the money back to the one and only, medicine prodigy, Satoru Gojo. He wished he never did find out where the buy-out offer came from, because he had no choice but to take the offer. So, now he stood in an office room located in one of the higher floors of the hospital building with the young white haired physician.

“I'll accept the buy-out under one exception,” Gakuganji started, wrinkling fingers tapping against one another.

Satoru only scoffed, his arms crossed on his chest. His voice is smug, laced with his usual know-it-all attitude, “you have no room to bargain, you're out of options. No one wants you bail you out of your shitty hospital but me.”

“For this, it's worth the risk. No surgery for four years.”

How evil. Brain surgery was Satoru's passion. He worked hard, studied long nights, developed his own technique for his surgeries. His eyes widened and he bared his teeth, slamming his hand down on the old man's desk.

“Fuck no, you can't do that!” Satoru had always been out of line as a subordinate, but he was well aware that his brain and talent were too prestigious to reprimand or hold accountable so he got away with a lot, much to Gakuganji's disliking. It explained why Gakuganji was always looking for reasons to get rid of him.

“I can have the hospital’s lawyer on retainer add it into the contract. You want to turn this hospital around? Time to make some sacrifices, Gojo.”

Satoru grunts, chewing on the inside of his cheek, his fingertips digging into the palm of his hand in a shaking fist. Gakuganji can't be serious.

“One more thing...”

“You’ve asked for enough.” Satoru rolls his eyes.

“The Gojo technique, it's brilliant. Forfeit your name to it.”

Gakuganji was going for the jugular. The Gojo technique was pretty much flawless and it had never failed to save a life in surgery. It was Satoru's creation, his baby. He had traveled the country to teach this technique to other neurosurgeons, articles were published about it, it was his.

“To what, your name? The Gakuganji technique is a mouth full and an eye sore.” Satoru spat. Though surgery was his life, he was willing to step down for a short amount of time, if it was for his vision of this hospital he had, then four years wasn't too long.

“Preferably, but as long as it's out of your name, I'll be satisfied. Make a public announcement about forfeiting the ownership of your technique, and we can move forward this deal.” Gakuganji said, stroking his thin-haired beard, it always creeped Satoru out.

Satoru glared daggers at the old man. He was wrinkly, fragilely thin, shaking like a leaf in the cold air conditioning of the the office. He could croak at any time and Satoru wished it'd happen now more than ever.

“You're acting like a man with nothing to lose.” Satoru’s eyes sized up the shrinking old man.

“I don't anymore.”

The deal closed the day after Satoru made a public announcement, giving titleship and credit to Dr. Geto for his the technique.

He walked into work like nothing had happened, as if he hadn't just become the owner of Jujutsu Hospital, as if he hadn't just agreed to sacrifice the next four years. He struck a deal with Dr. Geto to take over his surgical cases from now because he'll be “too busy with paperwork” for a while.

He hires back the old chief of surgery, Dr. Masamichi Yaga, who had been forced to retire by the old hospital board members, despite them hitting critical ages themselves. He confides in his old mentor that he has no clue what he's doing with this hospital he had just bought, but he may know where to start.

“I'm sick and tired of insurances denying everything. I'm the doctor, I know what my patients needs, not them.” Satoru complains, resting his cheek on his palm.

“It is a pain dealing with them.” Dr. Yaga agreed.

They sat in Satoru's new office, a place he was told to get used to; he'll be spending most of his time in there, rather than the operating room.

The young physician had a vision for the future of medicine: no red tape from insurance companies, no gouged up prices for medicine that patients need, fair wages and generous personal time off for employees.

Satoru sighed, blowing the air out of pursed lips. His eyes fall on to a pile of rejected proposals by the last hospital head. He finds an old one he had proposed—the free clinic. He had brought this idea up during his fellowship, the idea of offering free medical care for post-op patients, and once established, expand to offer free care for all patients.

His long fingers flip through his old proposal, a smile creeping on his lips as he comes to realization that he can approve this with a simple sign of his signature.

“I've got four years of free time, anyways.” Satoru tells himself.

More than half the employees who quit due to an unfair working environment had been rehired the first month of Satoru taking over, and new employees were hired to share the workload. He opened the hospital for med school students to come there for their clinical rotations and for residents to come work for their residency, and he found room in the budget for medical scribes to be hired.

_________

Your first day working with Dr. Geto couldn't have gone worse.

Dr. Geto requested to start work in the clinic two hours earlier than when it usually opens, so you have to show up two hours earlier than normal.

You wake up with exactly 10 minutes left before you have to leave. You rush through brushing your hair and tying it back, brushing your teeth, and you change into a pair of scrubs. Then you spill your homemade coffee on yourself by accident. Changing again makes you five minutes late to the clinic, and your gas tank is nearly on empty, so you'll have to pump more after work.

Dr. Geto is already standing and waiting at the nurse station when you walk in. You run to grab a scribing laptop from the supply closet at the back of the clinic, frantically opening it and logging into the electronic health system the clinic and hospital use.

You finally catch your breath as you wait near Dr. Geto for the first patient to be ready for him. You lose your breath again when Dr. Geto addresses you directly.

“Satoru told me you're interested in neurosurgery.” His voice is silk smooth, almost hypnotizing. He's prettier than the images you saw of him when you Googled the surgeon. His hair is so dark and shiny, it's long enough to go down his back, and he has half of it tied up. He takes care of it, you can tell.

You can't seem to find your voice, so you just nod. You're not necessarily interested in neurosurgery solely, but you're really open to it. You're not going to tell that to Dr. Geto, a neurosurgeon, though.

Dr. Geto works differently than Satoru or Kento. He likes to move quickly, even wasting less time than Kento does. He moves so swiftly, almost like he's gliding across the floor. You're barely able to keep up with his pace, once he's done with one patient, he moves on to the next room. He doesn't look back, he doesn't ask if you have any questions, he doesn't check your notes, you have no idea how he prefers them. You try stopping him, but it does no good.

“Dr. Geto, if I can just ask—” Your words don't reach him, he's already stepped into the next available exam room and began exanimating his patient.

You take your lunch break earlier than everyone else, since Dr. Geto had you start work earlier today.

“Goddamn it,” you curse to yourself as you realize you've gotten lost on the way to the hospital cafeteria again. You don't think you'll ever learn where it is. The hallways are so identical, other than different variations of some CPR posters pinned up in certain hallways.

“Need help?” You hear in a very familiar deep tone.

You turn your head to the direction of the voice and see Kento walking towards you. He looks handsome in the scrub cap he's wearing. He still lacks the white doctor coat so his muscular forearms are out for all to see, like usual. You can't help but stare at them, tracing each vein you see with your eyes. You remember how he held you with those arms as he fucked you four times.

Your gurgling stomach brings your focus back to him. “Uh, yeah, I always get lost on my way to the cafeteria.”

Kento chuckles, he thinks that's cute. “I was just heading there myself. I can show you.”

He really tries to continue a conversation with you, but it's awkward at first. You feel nervous, like you want to throw up, but despite not feeling any bile come up, the fluttering sensation stays in your stomach.

Kento opens each door at the end of the hallways for you like it's natural instinct. You tried opening one for him, but he gently replaced your hand on the steel doorknob with his own. His hands are so much bigger than yours, he can almost engulf your hand in just his palm alone.

He asks you how your day is going, and you respond by automatically pouting and dropping your head down. He laughs briefly as he watches your sulking. He opens one of the double doors that finally belongs to the cafeteria entrance, placing his large hand on the small of your back and guiding you inside as you continue pouting with your head down.

You pick up your head, and whine. “It's going horrible! I can't keep up with Dr. Geto, he's impossible to stop once he's started, it's like he can't hear me, I have no idea how he likes his notes, it's like he expects to know how he wants it—”

Kento nods, he's aware of how... difficult Suguru can be to work with. He expects everyone to be on his level from the get-go; he wants his scrub techs to know what instruments he's going to ask for during surgery before he needs to ask for it, he likes his nurses to write their supervision notes in a particular format so he can learn the most information without needing to ask the patient more questions himself. He has high expectations from everyone he works with, with little remorse or thought to new employees around him.

“—I like working with you way more.” You say quietly, finishing your rant.

The corners of Kento's lips turn up slightly, a small smile appearing at your confession. He notes how your cheeks turn pink, so he decides to not respond to it. You're thankful, thinking he hadn't heard you.

The hospital cafeteria is almost nearly empty, a few family members of patients eat, but there weren't many staff members there, most likely because you're taking an earlier lunch than normal. You and Kento grab food and he pays for your portion without exchanging words and without a second thought. You want to hate how he does that because you can take care of yourself, but you can't.

“About my parking ticket—” you begin, both of you moving to an empty table in a private corner of the cafeteria. He carries his food, a chicken sandwich with wheat bread, in one hand and pulls out a chair for you with his other.

“Already paid.” Kento replies, quickly shutting you down on it. He's smiling, smugly if you squint hard enough to see.

“You didn't have to do that.” You insisted. You take a seat in the chair he's pulled out for you, and he sits beside you.

“I know.” His voice is kind, traced with unwavering certainty. How odd. You're not used to that: someone doing something like that for you because they wanted to. It sends a chill down your spine, ringing an alarm in your head. Kento causes it, but he also helps dull out the noise of it.

You didn't think you'd really talk to Kento again after having dirty, hot sex at his home—other than having to talk to him during work. But you're not working with him today and you're here talking to him. It feels like it did in the bar, now that you've gotten over the one-sided awkwardness you were feeling.

Kento had your full attention and you had his. Your legs brush against one another's underneath the table and it makes you aware of how close he was. You remember how you brushed shoulders at the bar and how your bodies felt pressed together in his bed. You have to bring yourself back to reality.

Your lunch break breezes by a lot faster than you'd like it to. You have to return to Dr. Geto's service and the thought of it makes you dread it. Kento chuckles to himself as you pout and drag yourself up from the table you both shared and then joins you in doing so. He has a couple more surgeries to do before he's done for the day, some routine procedures that won't take long.

Kento had enjoyed spending his break with you. He didn't want to return to wondering when he'd be able to talk to you again or wait until his days in the clinic to see you. As you both walk out of the cafeteria with brushing shoulders, he finds it in himself to ask you for your numbers.

“I was wondering if I could have your phone number,” Kento's cringing at himself, he sounds old and out of sync with this hook-up dating culture that people your age are doing. “So it'd be easier to...”

To what? Bootycall you? He almost wants to say never mind, and go back to bland coffee and tasteless foods. No, he knows that's not enough for him anymore. He wants more of your touch, your body, you.

Thankfully, you don't make him say it. “Sure, yeah.” You sound cool, nearly aloof, but you're anything but that. Kento hands you his phone for you to input your number. Just as you finish saving the contact, you realize the time at the top of his screen—you're gonna be late at returning from your lunch break.

“Shit, I gotta go.” You push his phone back to him and quickly leave, fast on your feet as you walk away.

“Talk to you later.” Kento says, though you're gone already. He stares at his phone screen.

_________

The second portion of the day goes by a lot slower than you would have preferred. You feel like you can finally catch your breath after keeping up with Dr. Geto the whole day. You close your work laptop slowly, sighing out tiredly.

“Good job today.” You hear Dr. Geto's smooth voice day to you. You perk up and look at him. If you were a dog, your tail would be wagging.

“Oh—thank you!” You reply brightly. “I really enjoyed working with you.”

That's a lie. Dr. Geto didn't slow down for a second after lunch, if anything, he had started working faster. He also didn't take time to go the extra mile to talk or teach you about neurosurgery, like Satoru and Kento had. He wasn't required to, but it would have been appreciated on your part. Still, there's no denying Dr. Geto was a genius at what he does for a living. He had a lot more complex post-operative patients today, so you still had the opportunity to learn about his surgical cases and their treatment plans by being in the room and listening as you scribed.

Dr. Geto isn't much of a talker if he doesn't need to be, so he nods at your words in acknowledgement before leaving for the day.

You take a look around as you come from down that people-pleasing high you just experienced and see Yuji grimly working with Dr. Ieiri, the surgical oncologist, in one part of the clinic. You spot Nobara's eye twitching with near annoyance as she works with Dr. Haibara, the OBGYN, in the other part of the clinic. They would be better suited if they switched physicians.

Your roommates still have some time left in their workday, while you were able to go home now since you had started earlier today. You wave at them, Yuji brightly smiles at you and waves back, Nobara scrunches her nose in friendly envy that you're able to leave now, but waves back too.

You make it home after leaving work and stopping at a gas station for your car. Your phone had been more silent the entire time despite turning on your ringer for the first time in a long time—you always preferred your phone on vibrate. Not a peep from an unknown number you were hoping to hear from.

What's gotten into you? Looking forward to Kento hitting you up? Get a grip.

You shower when you get home and change into some loungewear. You finally feel your body relaxing as you lay in bed freshly showered and in clean clothes. You try to scroll mindlessly on your phone, but you feel your eyes getting heavier and tired until you finally give into the sinking feeling. You've sunk too deep into a quiet nap when your phone finally does ring.

xxx-xxx-xxxx

This is Kento. I hope your day improved.

sticky note:

i didn't want to specify where this au takes place or what specific ages the characters are because i wanted to give readers free reign on that, if that makes sense. though, since i am from america then most of my writing may be american-based (like the insurance part of this fic lol), but i'm am trying to stay unspecific in those areas. but even tho an age gap is intentional, i may never specify what ages everyone is because that way anyone reading can imagine an age gap they're comfortable with, if that makes sense too.

ps. when i worked as a scribe i saw an insurance company deny cancer treatment for a patient with prostate cancer bc the insurance company believed “it was not necessary” :O 

[yesmaddyposts]

Loyalty Comes Soaked In Blood

Fandom: The Gray Man (2022), The Place Beyond the Pines Word count: 2k Tags: Hurt No Comfort, Crossover, Fix-It, Luke Glanton Lives, Hurt ! Sierra Six, Post-Canon, Morally Gray Characters AO3 Link

Description: While Luke Glanton recovers in the hospital from his run-in with the police, he is visited by a CIA agent offering gum and a shot at a new life.

2000

He wakes up in the hospital after hours of surgery and barely surviving his botched bank robbery. His wrists are cuffed to the bed frame as if he is in any state to make a run for it. He has thirty staples in the back of his skull, his right leg in a cast, and is post-blood transfusion.

Romina, of course, isn't at his bedside. Neither is Robin. It seems he has burned all his bridges for good this time. He starts wondering if he is better off dead so he can't hurt anyone else when the door to his hospital room opens. A nurse walks in followed by a stranger in a suit jacket.

“Your lawyer is here,” the nurse says disdainfully.

Luke can't say he blames her. It seems kind of a moot point to get him representation now after all he's done. He knows what is next for him when he goes to court. The nurse leaves them alone and his lawyer that he didn't ask for and doesn't want pulls an armchair over to his bedside.

The first thing his lawyer asks is: “Want some gum?”

He sets a manila folder on the bed and takes a package of gum out of his breast pocket. Luke is high on pain meds but not that high. He doesn’t need some justice-loving cop sympathizer to patronize him right now.

“The hell kind of lawyer are you?” Luke grits out.

“Oh, I'm not your lawyer. That's just something I told the front desk to be let in through the doors.” His Not-Lawyer introduces himself as Donald Fitzroy. Turns out he’s worse than a lawyer, in fact he's CIA, and he wants to recruit Luke for an elite unit called The Sierra Program.

“Go fuck yourself,” Luke tells him. 

But Donald Fitzroy doesn't take his words at face value. Luke knows why— they both know he has very limited options. Life in prison at best, death row at worst. Or he could go with Fitzroy and work for The Sierra Program. On paper he will have died in the hospital due to complications during surgery. His son, Romina, and anyone who ever had the unfortunate luck of meeting him will never know what becomes of him. Luke Glanton will be a ghost. A Gray Man, as Fitzroy puts it. And when he says it like that, the choice is clear.

Luke's never been the type to make good decisions.

2024

Luke Glanton is gone. From traveling-stunt-man-turned-bank-robber-deadbeat-father to CIA spy. He is Sierra Three. Sort of. 

The Sierra Program is dead in the water, but he knows how to stay afloat. Something serious went down in Europe last year, and the CIA has been scrambling ever since. With Fitzroy dead and this Carmichael asshole at the forefront of CIA operations, Luke plays his cards carefully. As Sierra Three, he works at Carmichael’s beck and call so long as he doesn’t want a bullet in the back of the head for just being associated with Fitzroy's defunct program.

In his time working under Fitzroy, his roles were often the same. Undercover work in gang settings, gathering information on low lifes and eliminating threats to national security. He was plenty good at blending in with the criminal scene. Even though he's learned several new languages, a dozen different fighting techniques, and how to assimilate into different classes and societies with ease, he still often feels like the uneducated screw up he was in his youth. If anyone from his past could see him now, he is sure they would think the same.

But he puts aside his identity crisis in favor of survival. That means he doesn’t argue when he is sent on his latest mission to a strip club of all places, and not even a high end one. It's a run down club in the outskirts of Seattle. His target is a bouncer at the club. According to Carmichael, his target is the cause of all of the CIA's woes for the past eighteen months. Sierra Six.

They finally tracked him down here in the bustling city, living the quiet life with Fitzroy's niece. Luke knows Six's mindset in choosing this place to lay low. It's a tourist-frequented city, which means it's populated enough to blend in but not so riddled with crime as to have too high of a police presence. If Six is anywhere as skilled as Luke is, which he suspects is more than likely the case after reading about the events that unfolded in Prague, Six chose to work nights here because no one would suspect a super spy to be a club bouncer of all things.

Luke has no loyalty ties to anyone from The Sierra Program. He has never been that attached to his identity as Sierra Three, nor has he ever felt the need to kiss up to Fitzroy for pulling him out of that grave he dug for himself. Fitzroy picked him because he was young, desperate, and knew his way around a motorbike. Not because he cared about second chances. With this in mind, his mission is simple: eliminate Sierra Six.

He bides his time, spending a couple hours at the bar, occasionally tipping the dancers to give him an excuse to stick around. The club bouncers have two shift changes as the men switch out for their lunch breaks. Luke is getting a lap dance from a freckled redhead (she's probably a lovely woman, but he chose her on purpose because she looked nothing like Ro) with his eyes on the front door to keep watch. Around two in the morning, Six heads outside after his break to stand guard. Ten minutes later and the lap dance is done. Luke gets up and tips the dancer extra well because it isn't his money anyway and she deserves it. 

He stumbles out of the bar, playing the part of drunken clubber with ease. It's a show he has put on a hundred times before, because people tend not to question someone who looks like him behaving like a fool. He leans heavily against the dirty wall of the club, standing close to Six but not too close.

He fumbles with a pack of cigarettes, pretends to almost drop one, and asks Six, “You got a light, man?”

Six's face is neutral, the skin around his eyes creasing just a little in a betrayal that he feels something from this interaction. Maybe disgust, maybe pity, maybe irritation from being disturbed at his post. But he silently pulls a lighter out of his pocket and lights up Luke's cigarette when he holds it out. As he does this, Luke deftly pulls his pistol and presses it against the soft part under Six's ribs. 

Six's neutral expression turns cold and he makes a low sound in his throat. Before he makes a move, Luke hisses in his ear, dropping all pretenses of drunkenness, “If you want the girl safe, you listen first.”

The girl is Claire Fitzroy, who appears to have become something akin to Six's adoptive daughter. She is obviously important to him from the way he stills and levels Luke with a killer glare. Too bad looks aren't deadly, otherwise they'd both probably be long gone.

Luke walks the both of them around the side of the club into a darkened alcove. The back door of the building leads out to the dumpster here. There's a security camera pointed right at the back door, which will come in handy in a moment. For now Luke stays in its blind spot and keeps his tone clipped. He doesn’t lower his gun.

“You have been compromised. Carmichael knows where you work, where you sleep, where you shop. If you want him coming after you then you should stay put. But if you want to stay alive you will leave tonight.” It's clear that these words are not what Six expected to hear. He doesn’t untense or lower his guard in any way, but he does give Luke a cursory once over. 

Here's the thing: Luke has no love lost over the death of Donald Fitzroy. He doesn’t care much for what happens to The Sierra Program, or how much the CIA is willing to sweep under the rug to keep business as usual. But Carmichael is a prick. He thinks he is the puppet master of all puppet masters, and believes people like Luke are born to live and die at his whim. People like Carmichael—who tout their status as Harvard graduates while walking over the real hard workers, who spit on people just trying to get by every day— they're the reason Luke got into this mess. And even though he can't get out of it, he can at least do something to make sure others have the chance.

Six asks, “Why don’t you just kill me? Afraid I might haunt you?” He's goading Luke, trying to get a rise out of him to see if he changes his mind. But Luke just smiles, tight-lipped and just short of sentimental. 

“Guess I have a soft spot for people trying to do right by their kids.” The words don't soften up Six's steely exterior. They aren't meant to. “Back up to be in view of the camera. I'm gonna shoot you in the right shoulder. It's gonna hurt like a mother fucker but I won't hit anything major."

“Then what?” 

“Then you drop dead and I shoot out the camera. You go ghost, and we never see each other again.” He hesitates for a moment. When Carmichael looks back on the footage, he's going to wonder what took them so long to get in frame. He'll need an alibi to avoid suspicion. “Punch me in the face first.”

Six either comes to the same conclusions about the alibi, or he is just that eager to land one on the guy who dared upend his carefully crafted retirement. Without hesitation he lands a mean right hook on Luke, the ring on his middle finger splitting skin and turning Luke's vision white for a hot second. He stumbles back but regains his footing moments later. He aims his gun. Six nods his assent and puts up his hands, backs himself up to be in view of the security camera.

“You're Sierra.” The way Six says it makes the words a statement rather than a question. It doesn't matter what Luke responds, because the truth is clear.

Maybe Luke has some loyalties to the program after all.

“And you're dead.” He fires a single, clean shot into the meat of Six's shoulder. Six goes down instantly and doesn't bother to muffle his groan of pain.

Luke steps up to him and shoots twice more in succession. His bullets find the concrete around Six, but Six jolts like he's been shot again. To the cameras it'll look like Luke is finishing the job. Maybe Carmichael will be fooled, maybe not. It's definitely possible that all this will have been for nothing, and he'll have someone eliminate Luke then send someone after Six once more. But there's still the chance that they'll both get out of this alive. Six will go off the grid with Fitzroy's niece and Luke will go back to doing the CIA's dirty work. It’s a chance they're both willing to take.

He looks down at Six and lowers his weapon. Six's eyes are shut and he holds his breath in a mimicry of death. The blood pooling under his shoulder is real. Luke looks into the security camera dead on. He makes sure whoever looks back at this footage gets a good look at his identifying tattoos, the unmistakable frown on his face. He points his gun up at the security camera. The blinking red dot speaks to him in a silent language. You'll never be free. Someone will always be watching over your shoulder. You’re just somebody's broken plaything.

Luke shoots out the camera.