#we'd had him since he was very tiny. we were fine with him being on the couch or bed if he wanted

[pastafossa]

This is ABSOLUTELY Pippin, this is the perfect description for what he does as a herding breed??? Rules he follows but was not taught:

If the stair chair takes his Grammie upstairs where He Cannot Go, he must alert all of us and bring us to the stairs to watch her go up safely.

Normally, he wants to be where the most people are. If there's a room with 3 people and a room with 1 person, he's choosing the room with 3 people, unless that room with 1 person is in the kitchen. It's not even that he wants to get food off the floor if dropped, he doesn't really care about that. It's just that, for reasons known only to him, all kitchen activity, even getting a glass of water, must be Collie Supervised TM at all times.

He must walk through the bushes and not around them on walks. All bushes on his side of the sidewalk must be walked through or over.

When the cats are fed for the last time at night, you MUST open his crate and put him to bed. It doesn't matter when. You can feed the cats two hours early, before his bedtime, and he will STILL require you put him to bed. He'll open the crate himself if he has to, and sit inside staring a hole into the side of your head until you come put him to bed with his final treat. You also can't trick him by giving him the treat and leaving the crate open. The door must be closed. The Crate Rule is something he just came with, the rescue has no idea where from (when he lived on that horrid farm, he was just left outside at all hours. At best he slept in the barn in the hay. He had no crate). But damned if he has not created The Crate Rule and follows it to the letter.

He has a rule about refusing to bark to go out. He will bark at everything else - other dogs, wind noises, package trucks, a leaf falling in Australia. He'll bark to alert us to things in the house. But he will never. ever. EVER. Bark to go out. Instead, he does a Blair Witch reenactment at the door: he stands, face mashed against the door, and waits silently until he is noticed because for some reason, he's allowed to bark about everything but his desire to go out and pee (or eat snow).

Chaotic lawful sounds about right.

fun thing about herding and/or generally neurotic breeds: they are really good at following rules you have instituted, but they will also make their own Dog Rules they will follow stringently whether or not you like it

[fairlyang]

Prank 🕷️

gwen and miles convince you to help distract Miguel so they can set up yet another prank but there's an unexpected plot twist

w/c: 4K

pairing: miguel o’hara x f!reader

tags: fluffy, no smut soz, cute, soft spot for you, completely oblivious to his feelings for you, you like him, plot twist

part one

"Hey Y/n c'mere real quick!!" Gwen yells as I walk into the cafeteria and head on over to her and Miles.

"What's up guys?" I ask and plop down next to them noticing some boxes on top of the table they were chilling by.

"We thought of a funny prank to do on Miguel....." Miles starts to say as Gwen smiles.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It was only a week since they pulled off their last prank on him, with a tiny bit of my help.... I open my eyes and look at them. "Of course you guys did," I start to say and laugh then put on a straight face, "no"

"But Y/n-" Gwen chimes in but I wasn't having it.

"NO- I'm one of the people he can barely tolerate and even now a tiny bit less so if I help again he's gonna actually be mad at me- and for all we know he might be mad as we speak!" I say and shake my head.

"He'll be more more mad at us!! You just gotta distract him for us while we set it up..." Gwen says and makes pleading eyes at me.

"I don't know...."

"Pleaseeee" she says pulling her best puppy dog eyes and nudges Miles' side to do the same.

"I am not doing the eyes-" he mutters and she nudges him again harder.

"Please Y/n- I'm doing this against my wi-" He starts to "plead" but then Gwen covers his mouth and grins at me.

I roll my eyes and shake my head, "He got so annoyed at us last time!!"

"Last time was so harmless though-" Gwen starts to say but I interrupt.

"And this one won't be??" I question and laugh.

"Not what I meant- but look this one is something nice for him-" Gwen starts to explain but I shake my head.

"You guys giving Miguel a nice prank? Miguel O'Hara?" I raise an eyebrow at Gwen then look at Miles.

"In what world-" i start to say but Gwen holds a finger up.

"We felt bad that he got upset last time so we thought we'd make it up to him..." she says slowly and I sigh.

I look at them both and roll my eyes. "Fine but you owe me." I say already regretting my decision.

"YES!!! Thank you!!!!! I promise you won't regret this!" Gwen says excitedly.

"So distract him how?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"Well I was hoping you'd think of something....." she says and bites her lip.

"Now Gwen-"

"You literally have to do the easiest part!! I mean how hard can it be to distract him...." She says and gives Miles a look.

"I guess I have no choice but to wing it..." I reply and chuckle.

She nods and motions for me to go. "Oh you meant like NOW?" I laugh and shake my head. Crazy.

"Yes now go! We need like an hour or so, good luck!" Gwen says and waves me off.

I wave at them and walk out of the cafeteria. Sneaking one more glance at them and they're whispering and laughing while opening one of the boxes. What did I get myself into?

I sigh as I walk the halls of HQ and heading to Miguel's office. Now the thing about Miguel is he's a very sarcastic, sometimes cold, very angry man. I somehow ended up kind of befriending him by just being nice to him. It wasn't a hard thing to do, I've always been kind to those around me.

Thinking I started on the wrong foot on my first day when I bumped into him like a dumbass but he didn't care. I slowly was gaining his trust and he started opening up to me, he started letting me hang in his office, I'd bring him extra food, we'd be conversing a lot which apparently shocked the other spider people.

I didn't question it, just assumed maybe he wanted a friend, someone he can be normal with. I didn't wanna accidentally read the situation wrong so I just make sure to be there for him when I can.

Although after spending that much time with him it had played with my mind a lot and I only recently started looking at him differently. Feeling something more than what you do with friends, but still I kept it friendly and tried to push those thoughts away even though I couldn't throw the butterflies in my stomach away.

And even with last week's prank he wasn't that cold towards me, he was still civil. Somewhat...

But even then it wouldn't be odd of me to go to his office, I usually visit him anyway and he doesn't really care unless he's in a mood, though he's never exactly rude to me.... But for the sake of allll of us I hope he's chill today.

I made it outside his office and I peep through the window and he's looking at his screens. I open the door as quietly as I can only to be met with his screams at the screens. So he definitely didn't hear me.

I quietly close the door and lean against the wall. He's swiping along muttering swears in English and Spanish and I widen my eyes. Then he turns around to look me right in the eye and snarls, "You're breathing loud Y/n, what do you need?"

Before quickly turning back and muttering, "Chingdada madre-" (mother fucker)

I cover my mouth to hide my laughter and shake my head. I'm fucking breathing loud??? They owe me big time.

"Be nice Miguelito, I just came to... check up on you.." I say and walk up to him.

He turns back around to me quickly pressing a button on his watch to remove his mask, and scoffs. "Check up on me? Oh so now I need hawk eyes all over me at all times? People are always coming in and out asking if I'm okay, if I need help, and I am tired of it. Do I look like I need help?!?"

I bite my lip to keep me from laughing and give him a knowing look. He sighs and turns back to his screens. "I'm getting exasperated. Why do you do it? I'm shocked you aren't sick of coming in daily. I know you're one of the very few who is around me a lot and surprisingly always in good moods, but how do you do it?"

He turns back to face me and crosses his arms "Oye nomas quiero ser buena amiga." I say and laugh sitting on a chair in front of him. (I just wanna be a good friend)

"And I don't know maybe y'know because that's what friends do..... plus i don't like seeing that vein on your neck that looks like it's gonna pop when you're mad. It is not a pretty sight.." I say shaking my head and jokingly shiver.

"That's what friends do, huh? Well, lucky me, then." He says sarcastically making me roll my eyes before he continues.

"That vein is what makes me. So maybe if everyone could leave me be sometimes, that'd be juuuuust perfect. And it won't ever explode." He says and I cover my mouth to not laugh.

"You're acting as if you hate my company. I'm one of the only people you can tolerate." I tease and laugh again. "And not just that one, also the one on your forehead, you could see that one from a mile away on special occasions." I snicker then cover my mouth with my hand. "and hey I never have your vein like that!"

He rolls his eyes, groaning. "Oh, really, never?" He teases. "Are you sure about that?" I stick my middle finger up at him earning me a glare.

"But you're one of the only ones who don't drive me completely insane whenever I see you, that much I'll admit to." He says raising an eyebrow at me.

"Yes I'm sure because otherwise you would've kicked me out, thrown something at me, or wouldn't have let me even take a step close to you." i say with a laugh spinning on the chair. "And awww que amable eres Miggy." I tease and smile. (How nice of you)

He chuckles, and when he speaks, it sounds like he's joking and being sarcastic, "Maybe the reason why I'm so calm around you compared to everyone else, is because I'm secretly love with you, or have a crush on you." I nervously chuckle and shrug, huh?

this man is so random...

He laughs again, and then he stops, he looks more serious. "No, but seriously, you're right, you don't make me want to rip my hair out. I'm not saying we're best friends or anything... but you're at least tolerable."

"Now that would be such a plot twist." I say and let out a nervous laugh. "I'm offended you don't think we are best friends but y'know what, we could get there." I reply with a genuine smile.

"I'm actually a really good guy deep down. I'm only really harsh and nasty to the ones who deserve it." He says with a shrug. "If someone cross the line, it's not my fault for having a bad attitude, it's their fault for making it happen." He says and I shake my head.

"And hey if you haven't noticed it already, I tend to be a very, very stubborn man." He says and I bite my lip. "VERY deep down." I joke making him roll his eyes. I gasp and widen my eyes, "and noooo really? I had no idea." I say sarcastically with a little smirk on my lips making him roll his eyes.

He crosses his arms and looks away. After a few seconds, he turns back to me, and his expression is different. "Why are you here, anyways?" He asks, sounding curious rather than angry. "I know the official reason is to check up on me, but what's the unofficial reason, hm?"

I bite the inside of my cheek and shake my head. Shit. "Unofficial reason? What are you on about?" I say and chuckle. Don't panic don't panic.

"Oh, come on, I'm not that blind. You're here for more than just checking up on me." He folds his arms and has a straight face. "Well, I'm all ears, 'm waiting. Spill it."

His voice sounds like it's a mix between annoyed and teasing, but more of the second than the first. Why does he know me so well???

Then I think of the perfect excuse. "Well I was kinda hoping you would tell me... two little birdies told me to come up for some reason and wouldn't stop giggling." I say letting out a chuckle.

Not a complete lie.

He looks at me, his eyes widening slightly before he lets out a short laugh. "Those fools are up to something, aren't they?" He snickers. "And I'm assuming they didn't tell you what it was?"

"Wait- I thought you would know." I say and shake my head laughing. Thank god he bought it.

"You think I know? There's not a single fucking clue in my mind of what those little gremlins are up to at any given time. They could be pranking someone, pulling the strings behind some kind of elaborate scheme, or planning my downfall. Honestly, who knows?" He says then groans.

I burst out laughing and smile. Too bad he knows them well enough too. "Or potentially all of the above." I say and laugh when a phone rings.

I pull mine out of the pocket of my suit and it wasn't it so I look up at him. He looks back seeing his phone on his desk and shrugs. "Do not tell me they planted a phone in here somewhere to be obnoxious-" he starts to say and I feel a buzzing on the jacket I had on, I widen my eyes and gasp. There it was. HOW THE FUCK????

I take it out and scoff. Those little shits- I answer the phone and scoff. "What are you guys scheming huh?" I ask now completely confused considering I didn't even notice them slip it in.

"Come on down to the cafeteria now!!" Gwen says with a little giggle. "And with Miguel!!" She quickly says before hanging up leaving me speechless.

What the fuck.

Then I look up at Miguel and he looks at me dumbfounded. He takes a step forward and points a finger at me. "Let me find out you were lying to me-"

"I didn't even know the phone was there!!!" I say and shake my head laughing. Sneaky fuckers.

"Well we gotta go to the cafeteria so let's go." I say walking towards the door and motion for him to come.

He groans and soon follows. "If it's anything sticky or stupid-"

"You'll yell at them?" I finish and he shakes his head.

"Oh I could do much worse than just yell-" he says and the protective older sister came out.

"Miguel!!"

"What? They're beyond irritating." He says and lifts his hand up in defense with a smirk.

"They're just kids. Don't tell me you're scared of teenagers....." I tease and nudge him.

He rolls his eyes at me and we continue walking towards the cafeteria. "They're harmless pranks anyway. At least the ones they pull on me... I can imagine they might vary though..." I say and bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

"What's the worst they've done to you?" He asks looking at me raising an eyebrow.

"I think switch up the salt for sugar. My tacos didn't deserve that treatment." I say and laugh.

He scoffs and rolls his eyes making me snicker. "Do I wanna ask?" I say looking up at him.

"I'll tell you, two days ago, esos cabrones me hecharon salsa tan caliente en mi agua, en frente de mi." He says and I smack my hand on my mouth about to burst out laughing and he gives me a glare. (Those fucks put some extremely hot hot sauce in my water in front of me)

"What do you mean in front of you??? You didn't see the color change???? Or hell- THEM? " I ask before covering my mouth again feeling my stomach hurt because I'm not letting the laughter out.

"I wish I knew how they did it, they're sneaky, quiet, like actual fucking spiders because I didn't hear them but I was just in the office and I took a sip and boom my whole face is red in seconds." He says annoyed making me widen my eyes.

"Did you swallow???!?!" I say finally bursting out of laughter and he glared harder but then looks away.

I gasp and cackle. "Estas ciego?" I ask teasingly and he growls. (Are you blind?)

"Shut up."

I lift my hands up in defense and laugh. "At least it wasn't poison." I say and snicker.

He nudges me but harder than I did it and I laugh harder. "You know what you're right, at least they didn't kill me." He says looking at me and rolled his eyes.

I giggle shaking my head as we walk into the cafeteria and I widen my eyes, my mouth falls open. Oh my fucking god.

I blink and cover my mouth suddenly feeling a flush suddenly creep onto my cheeks. They set up a fucking candlelit dinner for two in the middle of the cafeteria. Was I- was I set up????

I step closer to the table and see Miles and Gwen in waiter suits behind some decorations they set up. I look at them absolutely shocked and they just have little smirks on their faces. I then raise my eyebrows at them and look at Miguel behind me and he's holding two wine glasses with a small smile on his face. "YOURE FUCKING LYING-" I scream hiding my now flushed face and bursting out laughing.

I felt my face turn red, and I was unsure if it was from embarrassment or the fact that I didn't mind it.... I calmed myself down and just stared at everything with a shocked expression.

"Th- this was a prank on ME?" I say laughing and shaking my head.

There is no way......

He smirks and nods. I cover my face and wipe the tears that were falling out from laughing so hard. I turn to look at Gwen and Miles and shake my head. "You two owe me a HUGE favor." I say, playfully glaring at them.

They laugh and Gwen motions for me to take her arm so I grab it and she escorts me to one of the chairs making me grin while Miles just stands up there getting the bottle of wine trying to open it. I bite my lip watching him struggle a bit and Miguel turns his attention from looking at my reaction to Miles. "Oh my god- Miles give me that-"

Miles puts a hand up and waves him off to sit down. Miguel hesitantly sits down across from me but doesn't take his eyes off him. "Did you not get the corkscrew???" He growls and runs a hand over his hair looking stressed as hell.

I laugh and cover my face shaking my head. "No lo quiebres cabron-" he says standing up to grab the bottle from him. (Don't break it bitch)

Miles lets him get it and looks at Gwen who widens her eyes at him. He makes a face back and I turn to look back at Miguel who somehow popped it with his bare hands. Obviously this man is jacked but a cork???

I chuckle and shake my head. He looks back to me and smiles, sitting back down. He serves us both a glass and I happily take the glass from him, taking a sip. "So how did this come to be?" I ask curiously taking turns looking at the three of them.

"Can't say I'm shocked, about these two," I say nothing towards Miles and Gwen before turning back to look at Miguel, "how did you get involved? And why this?" I ask and cross my arms over my chest now looking at all of them.

Miles and Gwen both turn to look at Miguel, I look at him raising an eyebrow, when he speaks, "it was my idea."

"What-"

"I'm gonna be honest with you alright? But I just- I need you to hear me out." He says nervously and I nod.

He then looks over at Miles and Gwen and motions for them to leave which they do, walking over to the kitchen before Gwen gives me a sly wink when Miguel turned to look at me. I bite my lip and look back at him, his eyes looking so sincere and I was just appalled. My stomach felt like it was flipping in circles and I was getting a little nervous myself.

"Over the past few months... I've felt myself open up to you, a lot. I usually don't do that but with you it felt like I could just relax and not have to worry so much and just be myself with you." He explains and I feel my heart racing. Oh my god-

I gulp my nerves down and nod as he continues, "You give me a sense of normality and tranquility in this place and I haven't had that in a long time. You've barely been here six months and I feel like you've changed the way I view things, and how I act towards others. You've changed me for the better." He says then lets out a deep breath, his hands slightly shaking against the table.

"I- I think- no-" he stutters and then takes another deep breath and leans forward still looking deeply into my eyes. "I've grown to like you... a lot... and more than just friends."

I felt my heart race and I bite my lip to try to hide my smile from appearing so quickly. Miguel O'Hara likes me?

I was speechless, I couldn't believe the words just came out of his mouth- I didn't think he, of all people here, would think of me that way.... It made my heart flutter knowing he likes me back and suddenly it clicked, that's why he's been so open to me.

He looked at my face carefully, probably to see if he'd make me uncomfortable at all, but he continued, "so I thought this would be a... alright idea for me to uh admit this to you." He says now looking away from me as I take notice of his pink cheeks. Holy shit-

"Well I'm really glad that I was able to help you, I guess I understand why everyone was shocked when you let me in." I say and chuckle, I continue looking at him as he looked off to the side.

I take a deep breath and smile, "I like you too." I say and his face perks up.

"I've really enjoyed spending time with you, and having all kinds of conversations together. I didn't really want to assume you liked me back, I didn't wanna seem cocky or anything, or accidentally cross a line I wasn't meant to-"

He cuts my rambling off by looking up at me and reaching over to softly grab my hands, rubbing his thumb gently on my skin. I bite my lip and hold his hands back. "So let's have this be our first date, yeah?" He says softly and I nod, giving him a wide smile making him return it back.

Suddenly I hear the sounds of giggles and I didn't need my spidey senses to tell me where it came from. "Alright you guys can come in." Miguel shouts out and instantly the sounds of their footsteps are heard.

They run up to us with Gwen carrying a tray and Miles smiles at me. I smile at them both as I hear Miguel sigh, I turn to him and he gives me a soft smile. Suddenly Gwen is putting down the tray of a very clearly homemade pizza in a decent shaped heart. "Thank you madam." I say and she winks.

She set me up. She and Jess are the only ones who have known my true feelings for Miguel..... I doubt she'd told him, but that's why she knew I would be cool with this. So sneaky...

"You're a real one Gwen." I whisper to her and she mouths 'I know' as she takes a step back to stand next to Miles.

They both whisper to each other as I turn to look at Miguel and realize we were still holding hands. I couldn't help the rising heat on my face, I'd never been one to confess my feelings like that, for anyone, ever. Maybe he changed me a bit too...

I squeeze his hands making him grin and I hear the snap of a picture, or multiple actually. He closed his eyes and breathed in, "Miguel it's fine." I say and smile at Gwen who was holding up her phone.

'Send me them later' I mouth to her and she excitedly nods. "Alright thank you guys for your help-" Miguel starts but Miles cuts him off.

"Wait you're not gonna let us join you-"

"No-"

"We're kinda hungry man-"

"I don't care-"

"Malo." Miles mutters and Miguel lifted a hand up probably to throw something at him, and I reached over and intertwined our fingers together. (Bad)

He looked back at me and let out a deep breath, rubbing his thumb on my skin again. His chest was no longer heaving and his breathing was steady. "It's fine." I whisper and he sighs.

He nods and gives me a small smile, almost like a little thank you. I return it back and grin until Miles decided to speak up again, "No fucking way you calmed down the beast-"

"That's fucking it-" Miguel says and letting go of my hands to stand up and quickly stormed over to Miles who made a run for it as soon as he heard Miguel speak.

I roll my eyes and watch as Miguel began to chase after Miles all over the cafeteria. Gwen sat down across from me and looked down at the pizza, I sigh and nod. She gives me a grin and instantly takes a piece, I follow her lead and grab one as well while we watched the free entertainment in front of us.

[borrowedtimeandspace]

December Without Roses

AU: A Patient, and Time (Donna AU)

Note: "God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December." ~J.M. Barrie

~~~

“I thought we'd try the planet Felspoon,” Donna– or rather, the Doctor-Donna– mused to the tiny woman on her shoulder.

“Felspoon?” Zepheera echoed, amused by the odd syllables. More than that, it was still strange to hear Donna speak this way. Since the Metacrisis, she could hear inflections that were very much like the Doctor. They truly had combined in her.

“Yeah, Felspoon! Good name, isn't it?” Donna grinned as widely as Zepheera had ever seen as she slowly circled the console, manipulating the controls as she went. “Apparently, they've got mountains that sway in the breeze. Mountains that move! Can you imagine?”

“Oh, I can, easily! I mean, I live with you two, don't I?” Zepheera chuckled with a glance at the Doctor. 

The mirth died on her lips when she saw him leaning gloomily against a pillar to the side. It dawned on her that he'd been perfectly silent since they'd returned to the TARDIS.

“Donna,” he said, just above a whisper. “She doesn't understand. It's not fair.” 

Something went cold in Zepheera. His expression gave away nothing that he was thinking, and something about his voice, his eyes…not cold, but… Zepheera couldn't put her finger on it.

Turning to look up at Donna, she also noticed that she hadn't met the Doctor’s gaze even when he called her name. “What's he talking about?” she asked Donna.

Donna shot her a glance and a smirk that Zepheera might not have thought was forced, if not for the sudden shift in the air. “Oh, y'know. Now that I've got Spaceman’s brain, he's not the only one who can fly us to Felspoon and back! ‘Cause anything he can do, I can! And you know, he's always running around the place in flight, but juuuust a tweak here and there could make flying this ol’ girl a breeze-breeze-breeze-breeze–”

Zepheera bristled to hear Donna start to repeat herself, like a skipping record. It seemed out of her own control, and the borrower turned a frantic gaze toward the Doctor. 

He looked the same as before, only a slight furrow in his brow and a shift in his weight taking him from leaning to standing. He wasn't surprised, he couldn't even bring himself to look concerned. 

Donna was still– Zepheera didn't have a better word for it but glitching– so she whirled back and gave a good handful of her red hair a firm tug. “Donna!”

“I'm fine!”

With that insistence and another overly-cheery smile, Donna continued to fuss with the controls. Zepheera had to crouch and cling to the lock of hair still in her hand to keep upright. It occurred to her that Donna was putting more and more of the console between herself and the Doctor as he slowly stepped closer. 

“Nah, never mind Felspoon. Y'know who I'd like to meet? Cole Porter. Zepheera! We were just talking about Cole Porter the other day, weren't we? What’dya say? How's about meeting Cole Porter? Cole Porter, Jane Porter, Harry Potter- no, they're fiction- friction- fiction- fixing- mixing- rickston- Brixton–!”

A sharp gasp cut through Donna’s mile-a-minute meltdown, and she convulsed until she was bent in half over the console, leaning on it for support. Zepheera, stunned by her friend being in clear distress, didn't see the movement coming. Her grip on Donna’s hair had gone slack, leaving her with nothing to catch her fall when her boots slipped on the slick material of Donna’s jacket.

Next thing Zepheera knew, she'd landed in a heap. Not on the cold, unforgiving console, but an outstretched palm. Looking up, she was surrounded by the curtain of Donna's red hair, her pained breaths kicking up Zepheera's own messy bob in the gusts. Fingers curled over her head, just enough to brace her through the movement of being pulled away from Donna. She found her gaze meeting the Doctor's when they unfurled.

Just like always, he'd rushed in to help when she needed it.

“Tell me what's happening,” Zepheera demanded, her voice tight with concern.

A hint of emotion flashed in his eyes, a fraction of a second of pain. Then he gave a long blink, and it was gone.

“There's never been a human-Time Lord Metacrisis before now,” he explained evenly. He cut his eyes to Donna, who'd just begun to recover from the last overload. “Tell her why.”

Donna gave a sigh, then faced Zepheera and the Doctor by extension. She met his gaze briefly before letting it drop to Zepheera's. “Because there can't be.”

Zepheera frowned, trying her best to put together what it all meant as she looked between her friends. “I…I don't…”

“The part of me inside her is burning her alive,” the Doctor clarified, maintaining that level tone. Zepheera's eyes shot wide open, mouth agape as Donna pointedly averted her gaze once again. ��It's going to kill her if she stays as she is.”

“Well, you can stop it, right?” Zepheera asked desperately. Her eyes had already begun to well up at the thought of losing one of the closest friends she'd ever made in over a century and a half. “I mean there's- there's gotta be a way to fix it!”

Once again, Zepheera caught sight of a hint of sadness in those brown eyes before it was pushed down. After a deep breath, he simply said, “There is.”

It should have been happy news. But it wasn't.

The Doctor's hand moved Zepheera away from that gaze and towards his shoulder. A numbness set in, her mind swirling and setting her body to automatically slide off of his palm and sit heavily next to his collar.

She knew what that look meant. Understood why it was so scary to see, after all the freaky things Zepheera had seen and experienced in their travels. The Doctor was hopeful to the point of stubbornness, always looking for a way out, a way to win, a way to save as many as he could. He never gave up on anything or anyone.

Seeing complete and total resignation in him tightened Zepheera's chest and made her breaths come quick and shallow. No amount of grounding exercises could bring her down from the overwhelming dread that whatever happened, they were about to lose Donna for good.

Something jostled the Doctor’s shoulder, and Zepheera became aware of the vice grip she had on the fabric of his collar. Her vision began to clear as she looked out from her perch and found the Doctor’s hands outstretched, holding Donna in place. She in turn clung to his forearms, and Zepheera's heart broke as her words finally made it through the fog in her head.

Donna was begging.

“Please don't make me go back!”

“Donna…” the Doctor murmured. Zepheera felt the vibrations of his voice through her tingling fingers, and she yanked them back as though she'd been burned. “Oh, Donna Noble, I am so sorry. But we had the best of times.”

Blinking through tears that had long since begun to flow, Zepheera finally brought herself to look up. Donna's expression was completely shattered, tears of her own falling as her head began to hang. She paused when her gaze fell on the borrower, and somehow she looked even more devastated. 

“The best,” the Doctor breathed.

That drew Donna's eyes back up to meet his, and Zepheera felt the loss of their gaze like a physical sensation. Like a warm blanket removed in the cold. “Wait…” she uttered.

The Doctor whispered “Goodbye,” and his hands lifted from Donna’s shoulders. She once again began begging as his fingertips settled on her temples.

“Stop it!” The cry escaped Zepheera in a flurry of raw emotion. Logic and reason did her no good when no one would explain to her what was happening, so her most basic impulses won out. She found herself on her feet and throwing herself into the Doctor’s neck as though it would do anything to hinder him. The Doctor’s eyes remained closed, barely even a twitch.

With a final “No!” from Donna, whatever the Doctor had done took its final effect. Zepheera watched all energy drop from the woman as she fell forward into the Doctor’s arms. 

“Donna!!” Zepheera shrieked, but it was too late. And she was too little to do anything about it.

[annabtg]

Okay for the director’s cut ask I want all the details on this little scene from NDP:

By lunchtime, he’d made decent progress on his report for the Department of Magical Planning and Construction. He figured it was a good time to take a break, and then come back to work on the Diagon Alley Apothecary one, have something to shut Pimhill’s mouth with.

He stretched his arms and back, and looked at Lily at the desk across from him; she moved from one report to the next with quiet speed and precision. A stack of papers teetered next to her; he had no idea when it had got so big.

“I’m going to get lunch,” he told her. “Want me to get you anything?”

“I’ve packed my own,” she replied without looking up.

“Coffee? Tea? A Muggle treat?”

She made a tiny pause at the last one; it seemed to have tempted her. “No, I’m fine,” she ended up saying. “Just don’t take too long.”

“You know me.” He grinned at her, even though she wasn’t looking.

“That’s why I’m saying it.”

Ask me for director's commentary here!

NDP my beloved! ❤️ I was hoping to get some asks about it!

Putting this under a cut for length.

As I've said before, I write mostly linearly, with no detailed outline in mind. So this was one of the first parts I wrote, and to the best of my recollection, did not go through any edits/revisions. It came out like this and stayed that way.

At that point, I hadn't yet decided a) whether we'd be getting a Lily POV or not and b) what exactly her feelings towards James were. I was sure that James would be perceiving her as hostile - or, more hostile than he'd like - and that he'd be a bit of a nuisance for her. He initiates conversation and pressures her despite her disinterest - but he means well, it's his way of being thoughtful and caring. (He's like my mom.) At the same time, we know he's a bit of a cocky prat, so of course he grins and teases ("You know me") but Lily, of course, isn't falling for it.

Lily, at this point, doesn't have any feelings for James yet. She knows about his background and career, she knows his outward personality, but she doesn't know him deep down, as a person. To her, she's just a colleague. She doesn't hold resentment towards him since the Academy - it's been years - but she's not making a habit of thinking about him/pondering him either. She's single-minded, there to do her work and leave. She's always known him as a distraction, and while she's not actively avoiding him, she just resists.

This dynamic - James pursuing contact, Lily resisting despite the fact that his presence draws her attention - is pretty consistent with their canon dynamic, I think, so I enjoyed recreating it here in a slightly different context! Lily's problem, in any universe, is that she refuses to acknowledge James - the moment she does, it's impossible not to know, if only somewhere deep inside she won't admit, that she is head over heels for him.

In other news, this scene is set up to give us a glimpse at their daily routine without having to do another round of exposition like we did for James's childhood: Lily has packed her lunch, whereas James hasn't - they obviously don't get lunch together, don't seem to spend any time together outside the office while they're both working. James still refuses to adhere to strict norms - he's perpetually late, he takes long breaks, goes out to get lunch - while Lily keeps a low profile, and is even thrifty.

Also - this is something I've been worried wasn't very clear in the text, but James is impressed by Lily's skill, intelligence and work ethic (he notices the stack of papers). In his introspection, we see him mostly lust after her, but in reality he appreciates her for much more than her good looks. I think his whole interaction with and attitude towards her here shows - without telling! - that his interest in her is genuine and deep. That's not how you act towards someone you just think is hot, and it's not how James would act towards any random colleague (note how different his thoughts about Pimhill are, and he's his superior). James doesn't make a habit of being nice for the sake of being nice - but when he cares about someone, he can't hold it back, and this is what's happening to him here.

Wow, I had more to say about this than I thought I did! xD Thank you for this ask, Ray, it was so much fun!!

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Ruggie Bucchi Outdoor Wear Personal Story: Part 3

"Come play magical shift!"

(Part 1) (Part 2) Part 3

[Sports Field]

Ruggie: …Yeah, just like you guys're sayin', sometimes it's real hard work.

Ruggie: But…

Ruggie: If you join our magift club, you'll definitely feel fulfilled every day!

Ruggie: There's no sport as fun as this one! Ever since I joined the club, my love for magift grew even more!

Heartslabyul Student B: Urgh…

Heartslabyul Student B: No way, I can't believe it! This was all to recruit us for the magift club!

Octavinelle Student A: I thought something weird was going on. You tricked us!

Ruggie: Hey, don't put words in my mouth. None of you even asked what club I was a part of, y'know.

Ruggie: Anyway, what I'm trying to say is…

Ruggie: Since you guys all got accepted to Night Raven College, it'd be a waste to not join the magift club!

Epel: Um… If you've got a smaller stature like me, would it be hard to play…?

Ruggie: !!

Ruggie: Not at all! If anything, if we take advantage of your size, you'll be able to play a super important role!

Epel: Eh… A super important role, with my size!?

Ruggie: In a scenario where all the players are in tight formation, it'll be easier for you to move between the opponents and quickly nab the disc.

Ruggie: Speed and dexterity are also very useful skills to have. That's the kind of sport magical shift is about!

Jack: If I recall… On this school's team, there's a well-known support player whose nimbleness is their key point.

Heartslabyul Student B: Oh, I heard of them! That unpredictable player who steals the disc away before the foes realize, or passes discs out of nowhere!

Diasomnia Student D: He's a starting player, right? I think they called him the "Disc Thief" in the broadcasts.

Savanaclaw Student C: Wasn't that player a hyena beastman?

Epel: Wait, you're saying…

Ruggie: Maan～ I can't believe I've gotten so famous too～!

Everyone: Wow～～ Awesome! Now that I look at him, it's really the same guy!!

Jack: I didn't realize at all, 'cause your vibe is completely different now than how it is during a match…

Epel: How were you able to become a starting player good enough to take part in the tournament…?

Ruggie: I didn't really grow up playing magift as a kid, nor do I have the physical stature to back it up.

Ruggie: It's all thanks to Leona-san, the team captain, that someone as inexperienced as me was able to nab a spot as a starting member.

Ruggie: The practice is grueling, and Vargas-sensei's coachin’ is super strict. To be honest, there were times I wanted to quit.

Ruggie: But Leona-san would always order me around, giving me directions and tasks to do…

Ruggie: One day, I realized.

Ruggie: But while I was doing all of Leona-san's unreasonable… I mean, while I was doing his many tasks, I found that my endurance had greatly improved.

Ruggie: Nowadays, it's like even the hardest training regimen is super easy! Thanks to Leona-san, I'm feeling enriched every day.

Epel: So that’s the captain of the famous Night Raven magical shift club. He really is an amazing person…

Ruggie: Yeah! During a match, he's a brilliant leader, but otherwise, he really respects us having our own independence.

Ruggie: By doing that, he helps us figure out what it is that we're lacking in. He's an amazing captain!

Ruggie: If you stick with Leona-senpai, there's not a doubt that any student can one day be a starting player.

Ruggie: So, you guys, too… Come play magical shift with me!

Epel: Ruggie-senpai…!

Epel: …I'm going to join the magift club! And one day, I'll become a starting player!

Heartslabyul Student B: If a guy that frail and small is gonna join, I bet we'll also be fine, yeah?

Octavinelle Student A: Yeah. If anything, I don't think we'd have to worry about being the most useless guy in the club.

Heartslabyul Student B: I'll join the magift club too!

Everyone: Me too!

Everyone: I'll also join!

Ruggie: (Shishishi, all according to plan! I knew that if I got that tiny one hooked, I'd be able to snag everyone else too)

Ruggie: (Maan～ What a great haul! I'm gonna be swimmin' in doughnuts for a good while!)

Ruggie: (But, these guys really are chumps, getting spun up and saying they'll join just with that bit of acting.)

Ruggie: (I don't know how many of them will actually stick around, but I'm sure this kid from our dorm with the muscles will be fine, at least.)

Ruggie: I'm sure you'll practice hard and contribute plenty to our team… E-Eh?

Ruggie: (W-wait. Why's he glaring…!?)

[Dwarfs' Mine – Campsite]

Ruggie: Aah, right, that was something that happened.

Epel: When I first joined the club, I thought you were a passionate guy, but… The real Ruggie-san's completely different… I think.

Ruggie: Yeah, I remember thinking back then that you'd be the first to tuck your tail between your legs and quit, Epel-kun.

Epel: S-So mean…

Ruggie: Hey now, just listen to what I gotta say. I'm just sayin’, you surprised me in a good way.

Ruggie: Unlike those guys that ran away from us as soon as they could, you'd practice hard every single day, and never complained or whined.

Ruggie: You'd also always jump onto me and Leona-san's plays! Despite how you look, you got guts, kid.

Epel: Hehehe. I mean, yeah, the practice is difficult, but… I'll keep working hard so I can become stronger!

Ruggie: Haha… Well, take it easy.

Deuce: We finished setting up the tent with no problem.

Jack: Yeah. Next, we gotta get some provisions…

Ruggie: (Maaan, I really regret being all stupid with that act, sayin' "Come play magical shift with me!")

Ruggie: (Since I didn't know Jack was a lone wolf type, I pushed the team cohesion and failed to nab him.)

Ruggie: (Who knows, maybe even if I hadn't screwed up there, he still woulda joined the track and field club.)

Ruggie: (Every time I watch Jack's plays during Savanaclaw's morning practices, I remember just how big of a fish I let get away, man.)

Epel: Ruggie-senpai? Got something on your mind?

Ruggie: (…Well, I guess there's no sense crying over something that's already passed.)

Ruggie: (As soon as we decided to go with quantity over quality, the bait and traps we used definitely weren't gonna work on Jack-kkun, so it can't be helped.)

Ruggie: ('Sides, we got a pretty straightforward and gusty new member outta it, so it wasn't a bad haul.)

Ruggie: (Thanks to Epel, I got my fill of doughnuts for almost a whole month!)

Ruggie: Sorry, sorry, I was just thinking of the best way to gather food.

Ruggie: I'm relyin’ on you during this camp, Epel-kun.

Epel: …Yessir!

Ruggie: Alright, let's get a fire goin' and go get some fish.

Ruggie: You can count on me. We'll have a basketful soon enough.

Ruggie: That's 'cause I've always been good at fishing.

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

[swigglecroissant-blog]

Huh - JTK smut

Tw: nsfw, sexual content, uno.

Of all the things he'd done, this, was by far the strangest.

Seated across from me was a damp, messy, black haired man I'd been married to for two years.

We decided to keep in tonight, and since our home had little in terms of fun and boredom killers, we settled on playing card games, the tv droning in the background about the life of a serial killer.

Heh, ironic.

I placed a yellow seven on the pile of multicolored cards, giving him a look as I drew back.

He matched my intensity with a yellow three, holding my gaze with equal ferocity. I glanced at my hand, getting my bearings, and settled on a green three, leaving me with a single card.

"Uno"

His eyes snapped back to mine, his two cards firm in his hands.

A red three.

I couldn't help it, and I released a haughty chuckle at his unsuspecting scrutiny.

He simply looked on, daring me to make the next move. So I did.

My draw four had been saved for almost 7 whole rotations, giving me the strength I needed to not crumble under Jeff's glare.

Slamming it down I jumped off the floor we were seated giving a shout of victory as the loser on the flip side of the coffee table groaned and flopped backwards, head in his hands.

"Grahh! You always winn! There's no wayyyy you're not cheating!" He complained, throwing his arms up to somehow prove his statement.

"Hah, I do not! You're just a sore loser. We can play again if you'd like to test that theory," I teased him back, hoping we'd give it another go so I could take him down one last time.

"No way! My ego's fragile enough!"

I began packing Uno carefully into it's box, looking to see if we dropped any others, and set it back in the center drawer of the coffee table separating us.

We both got up and stretched our legs and arms, the intensity of the game not so welcome on our joints. This gave me a great view of Jeff's lower back and almost, his buttocks. I gazed at my husband's physique, something that always amazed me.

No matter how scarred or blanched his skin was, how greasy or damaged his hair could be, how dirty his clothes and under his fingernails got, he was still as fine as the day I met him.

He turned around, almost catching me checking him out, and made his way to sit down on the couch. I sat next to him, my feet pulled to my left as we sat and watched the documentary.

At some point as the hosts were explaining the gruesome murders of BTK I dozed off, Jeff's arm wrapped around me had given me comfort and I fell asleep against him.

___

I awoke to the jingle of the antique grandfather clock signaling twelve o'clock.

The second to last chime was out of tune of the rest, a sort of ominous sound that used to scare me, but now I welcomed the discord of the hand-me-down piece. I had picked it up from a sale in town, the knick knack shop had kept it on display for years, even more evident in the newspaper snippets in the library and school bulletins.

Its wear and tear evident in the sun damage and moisture in it's woodwork. Its hands were almost two hours slow, and the doors to let the rotating track out had to be oiled and repaired.

Even now I can hear the tiny whirring noises as bears, deer, birds, and wolves come out from behind their mahogany doors and spin or lift their heads to greet the outdoors.

A very beautiful clock, one of our first decorations as we settled into our married life.

I slowly raise my head from Jeff's lap being careful not to wake his snoring form. He doesn't stir, and I stand with a yawn and stretch.

The late night show host is talking with a celebrity I didn't recognize, a new movie about social injustice for women in the workplace. I turned to Jeff, wanting the company, and gently shook his shoulder, being careful not to be too aggressive, as he'd accidentally knocked me in the nose once before.

He shifted and his eyes opened, giving me a good look at those beautiful blue pools. I stared at him as he yawned and look back at me. "What time is it, baby?" He asked between a grand yawn. I chucked and replied, "about three minutes past twelve."

"Oh shit, we were out two hours then."

I sat back down and cuddled up next to him, reaching for the remote and browsing until settling on an old cartoon channel playing reruns of Tom and Jerry.

We sat in silence for the most part, save for the chuckles as Tom would hit Jerry with a frying pan, leaving him in that shape, or Jerry would catch Tom's tail in a mousetrap.

I would occasionally sneak glances to my right, seeing Jeff's reactions and if he was falling asleep again. I would catch him looking sometimes, though he quickly turned his head away, focusing on the show. I could feel his fingers twitch around my shoulder, making me jump at certain points.

I could slowly feel his hand start to creep up my shoulder, my neck, into my hair, caressing my scalp and running his fingers through my locks.

"Am's"

I turned to look at Jeff, curiosity as well as excitement leading me on.

He pulled my head to his, crashing our lips together. Our teeth clacking slightly, making me give a muffled giggle, and he smiled against my lips. Our mouths melded together, saliva getting mingled, our tongues playing together, dancing almost. He was holding the back of my head, entangling his fingers deeper into my blonde roots.

Our kisses got even hotter, even closer, as he brought his hands to my chest, opening his eyes for the okay from me, receiving it as I touched his chest and thighs. We ravaged each other as we went into heat, grasping for the air the other breathed, the feelings the other felt.

I let out a yelp as I was pulled onto his lap, his hands making easy work at removing the tank top I chose to relax in, my sweatpants being discarded as I unbuttoned his jeans and practically ripped off his black T-shirt.

We were left in our undergarments as we continued our lustful interaction. I hadn't worn a bra for the sake of being comfortable, and I had caught him taking glances at my hardened nipples from the cool spots in our house, this made my excitement for the main event even stronger. There was a hole in his navy blue boxers, alerting me that he hadn't thrown them away like I'd asked.

"Why" a kiss, "do" another, "you still" a longer one this time, him sucking on my tongue roughly, "ha-aaave these?" I finally express, he simply ignores it and begins pawing at my throbbing heat.

"Mmh, baby you're so wet for me huh?" He slips a finger aside my panties, ones I probably should have changed, considering they were of the "granny" variety, and drags it along my folds, almost slipping it inside, but catches himself, probably to make me beg for it.

I don't even give him the chance.

I quickly grab his hand and arm and position his finger to go straight inside me, practically melting into his touch as his warm hand touches the spongy underside of my dripping c*nt.

"Hna- aahh ohh GOD Jeffy that feels so good." I twitch and writhe as I ride his finger for all it's worth. He crooks it inside me and I see stars, my vision blurring as I collapse into him.

God did I need this.

He pushed another digit alongside the other one, scissoring them immediately, causing me to give a gasp and a moan into his collarbone.

I'm roughly pushed down by my shoulders onto his fingers as I try to make sense of my own name, the pleasure being too great as I nibble and suck at his neck, to try and get him to stop perhaps, but also to let the ministrations never end.

My p*ssy aches and clenches as he removes his fingers, bringing them to my mouth so I can suck them and taste my salty fluids. He brings his other hand to his boxers and brings them down past his sack.

I am met with an almost mouth watering sight. His head is dripping with prec*m, the shaft fully hard, it twitches as I look at it, giving away his arousal. I look up to meet his eyes, the fire blazing in sync as we share a wordless gaze.

Let's make love.

Let's procreate.

Let's f*ck.

Hold me.

Touch me.

Love me.

F*ck me.

F*ck me right now on this discount couch from a two year old Sears catalogue.

And oh did he.

I could barely comprehend what had happened when I was pulled forward and his tip breached my aching heat. He bottomed out in a matter of seconds, filling me completely, with some to spare.

"H-h HAAHH NO nonononoooo mmmngh!"

I couldn't even form coherent sentences as he dragged his c*ck in and out of my heat. It wasn't even painful as my abused insides grasped at the intrusion.

I bounced in tandem with his hands on my hips, his thrusts matching mine. Our skin clapped together, reverberating around the room, overlapping the tv and whatever Jerry or Tom or whoever were doing. I couldn't tell at this point, the only thought on my mind was the man inside me.

Our breaths were staggering as we swayed to find release. His grip got tighter and he began roughly f*cking up into me. The wetness I was feeling was all over his thighs and I could feel it every time my cheeks slapped against them.

"C'mon, Am's, c*m for me. C*m on my c*ck. You're such a good girl, riding me like that, a f*cked out mess soaking my lap."

"Mmnh, ah! O-oh Jeff it's co-ooominggg! Ha aaahhhh it feels so goooood!" At this point I was humping him like my life depended on it, my moans coming out like a p*rn star.

He feels so good, his length was so big it left no area inside me untouched, barely having to aim for any specific spot, leaving me listless and writhing in almost any position.

"Yeah c'mon c*m, c*m on my c*ck inside you. I wanna feel you squeeze me." He removes a hand from my waist, trading positions to rub my puffy cl*toris, the extra stimulation making my hips buck into his hand, giving me even more pleasure.

"Hmmn-AHHH AH HAAA! OH GOD NNNNGHH." I came. Hard.

It was almost concernably long as his ministrations on my overstimulated nub drove me over the edge and a mile down. I was sputtering and crying, tears welling in my eyes as sobs wracked my body, causing me to twitch and rub against his pubic bone.

I buried my head in his shoulder, holding onto him for dear life, biting his collarbone to silence the shout that was inevitably going to rise, and ground against him. I could feel his hot seed flow into me, filling me even further and seeping out around his pulsing member.

I collapsed completely into him, our bodies relaxing and calming down. We held each other's sweaty and panting forms as we came down from our highs.

He pulled out with a deafening "pop" and a squelch. I could feel the warmth between my legs slowly run out, sliding down my no doubt pink thighs. Jeff fell limp and slid himself back into his boxers. I raised myself up and flopped down to his left again, spreading my legs to be more comfortably and cool down.

Not wanting s*men on the couch,  I got up and walked to the hallway bathroom. I quickly relieved myself before grabbing a wash cloth and wetting it to wipe the mess between my legs. Jeff came into the door frame, glass of water and T-shirt in hand, and sent both on the counter. I grabbed his T-shirt and shrugged it on, pulling my hair out of the collar to be more comfortable.

I grabbed the glass of water and drank a few sips before rising shakily to my feet.

"Whoa there bambi, let me help you." Jeff took my arm over his shoulder, leaning me into him, and we walked to the master bedroom. Sitting me at our king sized bed, he went to our dresser to get me a new pair of underwear. He pulled the soaked panties from my quivering legs, throwing them to the dirty hamper, missing, and helped me put on the new ones.

"Thank you baby," I said with a hoarse voice, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Anytime, hon."

We got on our sides of the bed, me on the left as I liked the light of the morning, and him on the right, to save him from the burning of the sun as it shined in. He also took frequent bathroom breaks, leading me to always ask him to stop drinking so much coke before bedtime. He never listened though, his love for the sugary beverage put it on the shopping list every week.

We lay in bed looking at each other for a while, before I roll over and allow him to be big spoon as we drift off into a deserved sleep.

Huh, when did our life become so peaceful?

[get-shiggy-with-it]

#1 Victory Royale

✧ pairing: college student!spinner x student!afab!reader

✧ word count: 4.4k

✧ warnings: college au/no quirks, light angst, mostly soft/fluff, smut, could be hate fucking if you squint, afab reader but no pronouns, this is pretty tame, by like my standards, I wrote this at work, not really a warning, but it felt like you needed to know that

✧ summary: relationships suck and Spinner is starting to think maybe he does too

✧ ao3 mirror

✧ a/n: Hey y'all, welcome back to more college au bs from me. This is set in the same universe once again as all my other college pieces. A very sweet anon asked if we'd ever get to see more of Spinner, so here he is! Also with another cameo from shiggy's bitch (endearing) cause I can't help myself.

“Ughhhhhh….”

Spinner’s groaning echoed through the tiny apartment, the heavy sound of creaking couch cushions under his weight following.

“What?” his long-suffering roommate shouted out their bedroom door, rapidly shoving clothing and a toothbrush into an overnight bag.

“Uggghhhhhhh!”

He let out with another, louder dying animal wail. He’d been like this since they woke up—wallowing in some strange concoction of self pity and Red Bull on the kitchen floor when they walked in for water two hours ago.

“Motherfucker,” they mumbled, tossing their bag to the floor and marching, more than a little disgruntled, into the hall. “What do you want?”

Spinner was sitting upside down on the couch now, feet up against the wall tapestry and cotton candy hair splayed out on the floor. He stared blankly as his friend came into view—arms crossed, frowning at him from the end of the hall—and opened his mouth once more, letting out another garbled grunt that had one of the neighbors pounding twice on the wall to shut his dramatic ass up.

“Dude seriously, are you gonna tell me who pissed in your cereal or are you just gonna scream until the guys next door kick a hole through our wall?”

They almost felt bad as he looked away, sniffing and letting himself slump farther off the sofa until he was sprawled completely on the hardwood and staring, glassy eyed, up at the ceiling.

When he finally spoke a full sentence, his gaze was locked on the water stain above him from a year ago when the upstairs neighbors flooded their apartment trying to make jungle juice in the bathtub.

“I don’t know, I’m just in my feels as the kids say,” he sounded so dejected—strange for someone who was perpetually energized to a frustrating degree—that their shoulders immediately slumped from a hardass square to a softer, more sympathetic angle

They padded over to join him on the floor.

“Care to elaborate, oh roomie of mine?”

There was a pause and Spinner tapped his nails against the hardwood idly before responding.

“I guess I’m just feeling, like, fucking I don’t know,” he sighed, knocking his head against the dusty boards, “left out I guess? That’s not quite right, but it’s just Magne mentioned last time she came to The League meeting that Jin was seeing somebody and it just got me all introspective and weird…”

“Hm,” his roommate hummed thoughtfully and studied the way the textured white ceiling gave way to the rings of brown water damage, like a dead and dying flower, “I thought you and Jin weren’t ever that serious?”

“We weren’t,” Spinner groaned again and rubbed his eyes. “We went on like, one date a year ago and I haven’t thought about it really at all since then. I’m not sure why hearing he’s got someone else now made me so fucking...jealous I guess.”

“I mean, maybe you just never really gave yourself the time to process it?” they asked and received only an annoyed huff and accompanying groan. “Sorry, should have asked if you were looking for advice or just wanting to rant. My bad.”

“No, it’s fine. I think it’s just…”

Spinner trailed off and they shifted as the hard floor bit at their back and made it ache. The muscles were sore already as it was, and Tomura blowing their fucking back a few times a week wasn’t really helping. They’d created some kind of perpetually horny monster, but something told them cracking a joke about it wasn’t really going to help the situation much. Thankfully, Spinner found his way to filling the silence a minute later.

“I don’t think it has anything specifically to do with Jin. Yeah I liked him, we’re still really good friends and I don’t feel like I need him to be more than that. It’s just that—and this is gonna make me sound like a massive asshole—but with you and your new fucking boyfie and now even Jin finding someone to date I just keep seeing reminders everywhere of how motherfucking isolated I am.”

“Oh,” they felt their face burn a bit, guilt frothing as they were forced to acknowledge the fact that in all the time they’ve spent holed up with Tomura, Spinner had been discarded like an old Steam game, bought impulsively on sale and never played again. “I’m sorry I haven’t been prioritizing you—”

“No, no, no shut the fuck with that,” he waved his hand to cut them off and pushed himself up on his palms. “I know I’m not being fair about it, and I really am happy for you guys, but idk man….I just feel like I’m never gonna find that you know?”

Beside him, his roommate remained sprawled out on the floor like a homicide tape outline and was just as deadly quiet.

“I just,” he continued, running an angry hand through his hair, “I know I could be such a good partner. Like I’m funny and I’m not a fucking creep, which is actually a plus to most people.”

He shot a side glance down and they rolled their eyes, sitting up and knocking his shoulder roughly till he toppled back to the dirty floor and they stood above him.

“Fuck off,” they chuckled.

His roommate watched as the laughter seemed to infect him like a bad cold, creeping down the back of his throat and shaking in his chest.

“No I’m serious, I would be such a fucking great boyfriend. I give goddamn top quality cuddles and I actually know how to do laundry, what more does one need truly?”

“Damn bro, you’ve known how to fold your own clothes this whole time?”

The giggling spread into the quiet space, rocking through both their shoulders and leaving the air feeling light—fresh like the first nights of Spring. When it finally petered out into friendly silence, they were both far lighter.

“I just like the way you fold my t-shirts, the sleeves don’t get those weird creases when you do it,” he muttered and stood, doing his best to fix the wild pink locks that stood on end from his fidgeting.

“Yeah I’m sure,” his roommate rolled their eyes and turned back down the hall.

When they left for the night to stay over with their boyfriend, Spinner tried not to acknowledge the way he subconsciously glared at their back as they walked out the door, skipping yet another League meeting to swap spit with that guy from their English class.

He tried even harder not to think of how their bed would be warm and their legs would have legs to tangle with, their chest have a chest to lay against, while he heated up instant noodles in the microwave and fell asleep alone on their living room couch.

Not to mention that tonight was the big tournament with that new group on campus. He was really banking on his bff (best fucking friend as they were always sure to clarify) and him teaming up to crush those assholes from The Commission or whatever they called themselves.

Fucking lame as shit name in his opinion.

In any case, he’d have to settle for Magne again, and she was such a loose cannon they were sure to get their asses handed to them. She was a great fucking tank, he’d be the first to admit, but strategy was not a strong point of hers and they desperately needed that tonight.

He could feel the sinking weight of failure rolling in the pit of his stomach already even as he dragged himself into his room to tug on an old pair of jeans.

It bothered him way more than it should, the idea of losing some gaming tournament that, by all means held little to no actual significance.

Spinner knew the stock he’d started placing in games was growing to an unhealthy degree.

He knew that.

But self awareness rarely did anything to alleviate the irrational fear of failing at one of the only remaining consistencies in his life.

It stung worse when the tournament kicked off and by the third round, Spinner was the only remaining League member in the brackets.

“Fucking shit…” he muttered to himself, the small basement room alight with the blue glow of the monitor and the sound of frantically smashing controllers.

Behind him on the couch—stolen long ago from the theater building—Magne held him by the shoulders as he grit his teeth and leaned into the movement of his avatar on screen.

“You got this babe,” she shouted, cheek pressed up to his ear. “Make ‘em eat shit for me!”

“I would if you stopped distracting me,” Spinner hissed back.

Really it wasn’t Magne’s aggressive and somewhat bloodthirsty style of encouragement that shook his focus so badly.

It was his opponent.

The fucking president of The Commission sat, thighs spread and pressed to his, resting your weight on your elbows and snarling beside him in the couch.

Your face was split in this heart stopping grin as you quite deftly dodged all his attempts to get a hit in and managed to land a few of your own in the process.

And you looked really hot doing it.

Which was definitely just a side effect of the punch he (didn’t) drink and the body heat fueled temperature of the room—sweaty skin against sweaty skin making his mind wander against his will.

The shifting in his seat was absolutely just to illogically make him move faster and had nothing to do with how tight his pants now seemed.

So much for not being a fucking creep.

Your teammates were gathered in a circle behind you, enraptured and exuding the kind of smug confidence that said quite clearly The League was fucked from the second they walked in.

Not even two minutes later your hands were thrown up, punching the air and your team piling over the back of the couch to drown you in a sea of celebratory limbs.

Spinner felt himself deflating even as he was toppled off the couch by your screaming members and The League collectively cursed in the background.

Truthfully he’d known the chances of winning were slim.

Ever since his roommate started getting busy with classes and clubs that ‘looked good on their resume,’ The League had gone downhill rapidly. It was a problem since long before that Shigaraki guy swooped in and stole them away, but Spinner couldn’t stop himself from lowkey holding that against him.

The League had consumed so much of his life in college, functioning as a haven where he was finally respected and belonged to an extent he’d never experienced before.

The stink of failure and loss, not of the game but the only space he’d ever really occupied without complaint, burned his face and made the room feel more suffocating than usual.

Magne looked as though she wanted to give him one of her signature—and admittedly very comforting—hugs, but the deadly look of disappointment on Spinner’s face must have made her think twice.

The rest of his team seemed to read this sudden downward shift in the room as they began to filter out, climbing the steps onto street level and away from the suddenly stuffy, uncomfortable meeting spot. Normally everyone would stay and finish off the drinks snuck past the janitorial staff, eating Doritos until well past midnight. This time they couldn’t wait to be rid of him.

He couldn’t really blame them.

The multimedia building was a strange place after hours. Once Spinner might have called it something rare and liminal, now it felt more like a prison.

He stood, packing up the consoles a bit more roughly than necessary when someone cleared their throat behind him.

He turned to see you, standing alone with hands on your hips and scowling like you were the one who just got their gaming reputation ruined.

“Dude what the fuck was that?”

Spinner bristled at the knife sharp point of your tone.

“Really?” he asked incredulously. “You seriously waited around to rub your win in my face?”

You rolled your eyes and took a step closer around the couch. “I’m not talking about the fucking game dumbass. Why the hell are you pouting like I stole your fucking candy or some shit? You ruined the vibes man.”

“If anyone was ruining the vibes, it was you and your cocky ass team.”

Spinner felt himself stepping closer too, pulled in by the celestial weight that accompanied any kindling argument.

“Me?” you pointed to your chest and scoffed, “Wow, I was really hoping you’d actually possess a bit of emotional maturity, but if this is how you get after a loss I’m not shocked your fucking club is bleeding members.”

At some point the two of you had gravitated close enough that he felt the puff of your last breath on his cheeks. Two comets, ready and willing to collide.

“I’m not being the asshole in this situation, you know that right?” Spinner glared down his nose at you, heart pounding in his ears. “Maybe you shouldn’t make fucking unfounded assumptions about people you don’t know.”

“So then why are your panties in a twist over a fucking game?” you retorted.

He was peripherally aware that your eyes had taken on the same laser focused quality as they had during the last round. Determined and locked onto him without sparing a glance to anything else.

It was this same undivided attention that he’d envied in you as you played, and as Spinner felt it trained on him, his pants once again felt uncomfortably restrictive.

“It’s not about the fucking game okay!?” his voice came out hoarse and far more petulant than he’s been aiming for.

Though he quickly felt the embarrassment give rise to a secondary heat as you both breathed each other’s air and searched the face across from you.

“Then what is it about?”

That strange, unexplainable, inexplicable rush of potential filled the small gap that remained between your bodies—the kind of tension Spinner was beginning to think he’d never feel again.

He’d kissed plenty of people. Almost more than he’d like to admit, or that they’d like to admit more accurately.

But when his flickering eyes found your hard stare still and unwavering from his, it felt incredibly natural to lean in and press his lips against your fading frown.

It was slow going, the few centimeters that separated you seemed like miles as he moved slowly, never breaking eye contact until his mouth was finally slotted over yours and you weren’t pushing him away.

There was still a bit of lingering confusion, as this was decidedly not what either of you appeared to be expecting from the prior conversation. That coupled with the fact that Spinner wasn’t entirely sure he remembered your first name made the feeling of your tongue prodding at the seam of his lips all the more startling.

When he gasped, you slid your hands up his chest and licked into his mouth. Tongue tangling between breaths, Spinner felt himself getting lost in the familiar and coveted taste of another mouth, another body, another hand that grasped, that desired, that wanted him.

***

Your knees dug into the cushions on either side of Spinner’s thighs as you bounced in his lap. He fought to keep his eyes open against the pleasure of his cock sinking into you over and over again, so he could watch the way your head was thrown back and your chest heaved with the exertion.

He dug his hands into your hips and let his head hit the back of the couch, feet planted on the floor to help his hips thrust up into you, earning him some of the prettiest, stifled moans he’d ever heard.

Truthfully, he had not expected to fuck you. He figured you might be down to just make out for a bit until the cleaning staff came and booted you from the building, but both your pants had quite quickly and naturally found their way to the floor.

Neither of you spoke much, which he was thankful for. That would have been far too complicated of a conversation, especially considering you really didn’t know each other all that well.

Spinner usually liked to do a bit of ‘getting to know you’ type activities before he hooked up with people, which he did with surprising frequency for somebody so starved for a long term thing. Sex just fucking felt good and it was this eagerness that was his downfall. Most people he’d fucked around with seemed to read the urge to get into their pants as a diminished interest or emotional attraction and Spinner ended up with more friends with benefits than actual friends...or benefits.

Regardless, it was fine by him that the only form of communication passing between you for now were scattered groans of pleasure and the wet slap of your ass against his thighs.

He’d nearly forgotten how fucking amazing pussy felt.

For no particular reason, Spinner had always found himself fooling around with bodies more similar to his own. Not that he had any real preference, though the lack of experience often made him a bit nervous in the whole ‘pleasing your partner’ department, despite many helpful lessons from his roommate.

That was all to say that Spinner was incredibly thankful you reached down to guide his hand that had clumsily begun rubbing circles on your clit. That is until you simply knocked it away and went back to riding his dick like a fucking champ.

Then he did speak.

“Wanna make you cum,” he mumbled and really did sound like he was pouting this time.

You peered down at him, slowing your pace so you sat flush in his lap, grinding his cock deep against your walls. Spinner keened as you clenched around him, pussy so deliciously warm he felt himself near to drowning in the feel of you.

“Mm fuck,” you panted, leaning in to steal a few more messy kisses from him before lifting up and enveloping him in the slick heat all over again. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No,” he nipped at the column or your throat, careful not to leave any lasting marks just in case. “If I’m finishing, you’re fucking finishing.”

You pulled back and stared at him for a moment. He felt you purposefully tightening around him just so he would squirm under your curious gaze. After a moment you smirked and rolled your eyes again, taking his hand and guiding his fingers back to that little nub just above where his thick length was seated inside you.

Spinner was proud of his dick, it was hefty but not so long that it was a hassle to fit—just enough to reach all the important bits. He was sensitive as hell too most of the time, so just about any pressure felt amazing. But the best part of it was watching whoever he was fucking fall apart on his goddamn perfect cock.

So when you whispered, “Like this,” and showed him the rhythm and motion you liked, he pulled himself back from the brink to pay attention, speeding up until that look of cooled control slid right off your face.

“Ahh, yes fuck...” the words tumbled from you freely now. “Shit, yeah just like that—”

Spinner could get fucking drunk off the low groan that left you as he planted his feet more firmly and bucked his hips up. He must have hit something good by the way you choked and moaned boarding on too loud, though he had neither the heart nor self control to stop you.

“Feel good?” he grunted, picking up the pace and force he thrust into you, so that you had to loop your arms around his neck and hold tightly as he speared you on his cock.

“Fuck...yes..” you whimpered into his shoulder which did wonders for his ego.

Spinner kept up his rubbing frantic patterns on your clit and feeling the gradual constriction of your walls around him—the coil growing tight and ready to snap. He nudged your cheek with his until you pulled back a bit to face him.

“I want to see you,” he murmured, sucking your tongue into his mouth for a moment and tearing himself away so he could watch as you came undone around him.

You gave him a strange, soft look and pressed your forehead to his, eyes zoned in on only him.

The rest of the room, the whole fucking basement and campus melted away under that stare.

Your nipples peaked through your shirt, brushing against his as you were jostled into him by the movement of your hips. As you reached your peak, words devolved into increasingly breathy gasps. It took Spinner an incredible amount of concentration not to fucking paint your insides then and there.

Your pussy was so goddamn tight and warm and milking him just right, it was a fucking impressive feat to remain staunchly at the edge of his peak as your mouth fell open and your fingernails scratched at his back when you finally came—the telltale spasms around his cock and the near sobs coming from you more than enough indication.

He lost himself well and truly then.

Lost in the false sense of intimacy that came with being allowed to see you fall apart, this person he barely knew yet made him feel immensely important in that moment. Your breath and spit was in his mouth, the smell and feel of you soaking his length pushed him beyond the realm of conscious thought.

There was only a deep and burning need to be closer to you. So, so much closer.

His hands moved of their own accord, hooking under your thighs and flipping your bodies so your back hit the cushions and he hovered above you. The angle allowed him to slide deeper, pulling out and thrusting his hips in fast, hard strokes that hurtled him towards release.

Spinner couldn’t keep himself quite now either, panting and moaning and gasping unashamedly with his eyes screwed shut as you took his cock so unbelievably well.

It wasn’t until your hands, softer than he’d imagined, cupped his jaw and pulled him down to meet you that he was brought back down from whatever higher plane of existence his impending orgasm whisked him too.

Your lips weren’t nearly as frantic as the rocking of his thighs, the slap of his balls against your ass. The sweetness was an odd but welcome contrast.

“I’m gonna—fucking mm...” he tried so hard to get his tongue to form the words but he could feel himself slipping further as you started clamping around his length again.

“I know,” you breathed against his lips, faces pressed together and unmoving eyes steady on his own. “Ahh, inside if you want.”

He did want.

Oh fuck did he want nothing more in that moment to stay sunk in your warmth and pump you so full, but the last few remaining logical braincells reminded him that was not a great idea. Not without a more in-depth conversation neither of you was in a state to have.

“Shouldn’t...” he groaned and moved to pull out but your ankles locked around his ass and forced him back down.

“It’s okay,” you huffed and rocked into him, squeezing around the sensitive head of his dick just once, just right and that did him in.

It was something in the way you looked at him, so that he could feel nothing but secure—nothing but safe wrapped up in you. Something about the way you pressed him closer, in the movement of your thumb on his cheek.

It scratched some deep seated, lonely itch in Spinner.

Made it feel like this meant a hell of a lot more than it probably did.

In seconds he was blowing his fucking load right into you, milking himself in your heat until he was spent and overstimulated. You were kind enough to pull him to you, turning your bodies so you laid side by side on the coach, his softening cock slipping from you in a gush of release.

For a minute or so, neither of you spoke, just stared, long and comfortable at the stranger you’d just fucked on the gaming club couch.

Well.

Fucked wasn’t really the word he’d use at that point to describe what you’d just done, but anything more than that felt presumptuous.

You broke the silence as he nuzzled into your palm.

“You really needed that didn’t you?”

Spinner couldn’t help the familiar, infectious laugh that rattled in his chest. He liked the smile it earned him, far more genuine than any others you’d worn that night.

“Uh, yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

You hummed, nodding in response. “Mm, me too.”

And somehow, for no real logical reason, Spinner knew you understood. That you felt the same isolation, the same starvation for love, for holding weight in someone else’s world.

That the games were just a placeholder, a way to fill the space, to get lost in other lives, in other stories where he did matter. Where his actions had foreseeable and measurable worth. That’s why it hurt to lose. Not for the glory, but for the destruction of the only remaining diversion from how empty his reality felt.

Even if it wasn’t really.

Even if there were friends and benefits and friends who offered both. His roommate could let him rest his head in their lap on movie nights or sleep in his bed on occasion when the heat went out and he got cold too quickly. But none of that quite filled the hole like you now, holding his face and knowing the struggle without him having to explain it.

Nothing like you pulling him in and kissing him too familiarly for someone he’d only known a day.

Magne used to say something about shit like this. Something like how people bond in train cars when there’s a rat eating a slice of pizza and you all watch it happen. Some weird camaraderie forged in the shared experience of life being a little fucking freaky a lot of the time.

That was how it felt when you slipped your leg between his and brushed your lips together again. Content to lay, half naked in the media building basement, making out with some guy you beat at Smash and fucked right after.

Reveling in the brief but meaningful feeling of mattering in some small, strange way to someone else.

Of holding weight.

Of being held.

[heaven-in-a-wild-flower]

Crows Headcanon: Wesper Headcanon (Wylan Van Eck and Jesper Fahey)

If you’d rather read this and more Crows headcanons on ao3 here’s the link.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Previous Chapter (Chapter 5)

Chapter 6 (the chapters aren’t related and do not continue the story, each can be read separately)

Wylan

It was inevitable. Their first fight. Of course, they'd fight at some point, living together. It began as everything does, small and barely noticeable. There would be tiny squabbles about clothes strewn about in the room, trinkets never returned to their places. Then it grew and grew, never-ending poisonous vines wrapping around them, strangling them. They spent every moment apart thinking of flaws with the other and every moment together pointing it out.

Just this morning Jesper grumbled about being too warm when Wylan woke up wrapped around him in the morning (even in sleep, his body knows what it really wants, too bad his mind isn't as smart right now). And Wylan knew, he <i>knew</i> that Jesper probably meant nothing by it. But his mind immediately began spewing venom into his heart. <i>You will only ever be a burden. He says he loves you, but he's already tired of you. How much longer do you think he'll stay here when he could have anyone?</i> But he's stubborn and strong and, he refused to show his heart because what else is that but an invitation to stab? So he pulled away and said, "Fine, then. If it's such an inconvenience then I won't touch you at all." And he walked out of the room, tears stinging in his eyes.

Jesper

I know I messed up. I've been messing up constantly. All of this is so new to me. I didn't know it would be this difficult to stay with someone. I've shared so many beds but I've never before shared a room. I didn't realise that it would bother someone else that my clothes aren't always in the cupboard. At first, it frustrated me that he would find faults with me all the time. It reinforced those voices in my brain that told me that I'd never be enough. So I took out those frustrations the way I always have, in cards and drinks and coins.

For a while, it was fine. I thought I'd fixed it somehow. Then, he started noticing more money missing. And he was so so angry. What else did I expect from a bomb-maker, if not an explosive temper? I knew that it wasn't working. I knew it was wrong. I knew that it wasn't truly helping me at all. But it scared me, terrified me that he'd already noticed all the worst things about me, and had to be stuck with that all the time. I realised then that this wasn't going to last much longer. So I gave up. I stopped trying to fix anything between us and just continued to feed the fire. If this is going to end anyway, what was even the point? What would be the point of telling me to please stay, please let me stay? How could I even convince him? He'd seen the worst things, the darkness behind my flirtatious smiles. He's let me stay for months now, and he hates it. He hates <i>me</i>, here. What could I ever do about that?

Even this morning, I complained about being too warm when he'd wrapped his body around me. I'd just gotten up, and for a single moment, I'd forgotten. I'd forgotten that we'd gone from being lovers, loved, loving, to...fighting. I'd forgotten that every word would be taken as a bullet. He'd flinched away from me (it made my heart <i>hurt</i>) and snarled, "Fine, then. If it's such an inconvenience then I won't touch you at all." And he'd stormed out of the room.

I raised a hand automatically, about to stop him. But what could I say? I'd only ever been good at destroying things, not fixing them. So I dropped my hand and laid back on the bed, eyes closed to keep the tears in, not succeeding in the least.

Wylan

It got so bad that even Inej and Kaz began to notice. They'd visit from time to time, either for his help or Jesper's. And naturally, they felt the crackling tension in the air. They never said anything about it, but he could see them exchanging glances, communicating in that way that only they could. It reminded him of the way he and Jesper used to communicate. The gentle brushing of their hands, stray touches on the elbow or shoulder, and he had to stop and take a deep breath to clear the constriction in his lungs.

They were both so tired of fighting all the time that even that had stopped. He never thought he'd miss fighting, but he did. At least then, Jesper was paying attention to him, even if he was smirking thoughtlessly. But now, nothing. They simply avoided each other around the house. He'd enter the kitchen, and Jesper would walk out. Jesper would enter our bedroom, and he'd leave. Even at night, Jesper would stay out so late that they never went to bed together. They did still sleep in the same room, the same bed. They still had that, but he didn't know how much longer even that'd last. So when he inevitably woke up first every morning, he'd stare and stare and stare. He'd caress every inch of Jesper's brown skin that he could see, just with his eyes, hand itching to touch.

He made sure never to get close to him, knowing that he wouldn't be able to let him go. He'd latch onto him and hold on forever.

Jesper

The silence was so loud it was deafening. It made his hair stand on end. He hated this silence, but he also didn't know how to break it. It'd grown so huge, a looming monster growing between them, and he knew no way of vanquishing it. So he let it be. He let Wylan avoid his touch like he had something contagious, and he let him keep as much distance as he wanted, even as his heart shrivelled every time it happened.

The only way he now knew to protect his heart was to stay out of the house. He didn't think that he'd ever need to protect his heart from Wylan. He couldn't believe that this is what it'd come to.

He came home every night, skin chill from the wind outside, aching to sink into Wylan's warmth and knowing he wasn't allowed. So he stared and stared and stared and drank whatever warmth he could from those bright curls and freckled skin. And in his dreams, the only thing he saw, over and over again, were those azure eyes gazing at him like they once did, in love.

Kaz

He'd had enough. What now that they didn't have any problems those idiots decided to make some of their own? He would not let this stand, not a chance.

Inej

She knew that gleam in his eyes. He had a plan, and since it was Kaz's, it was expected that it'd be devious. But, she knew for once that it was with the best of intentions. So she listened attentively when he told her and smiled a tiny proud smile when he was done.

Wylan

It was an overcast evening, and he shivered as he made himself a cup of hot chocolate. Jesper was out, of course, doing whatever he did every day. He didn't know. How could he if they didn't talk anymore? So he took out his flute and tried to practice, tried to ignore his trembling hands. Suddenly there was a loud banging on the door. He dropped the flute and ran for it, only taking a second to check who it was. Inej.

He yanked open the door. She wouldn't bang it like that if there wasn't an emergency. She looked worried, eyebrows furrowed and eyes wide.

What's happened?" he asked.

"Jesper...he's missing," she said, suddenly wilting. His heart stopped.

"What?" he whispered, his voice breaking.

"Kaz needed him for a job, so I went to get him. I checked all his usual joints, and he wasn't there anywhere," she looked pitying now. She'd definitely noticed the way his skin grew paler. If even the Wraith couldn't find him, where could he be? What-what could've happened to him?

"But," she said and he perked up immediately, "we think we know who could've taken him."

It takes them half an hour to make a plan to rescue him, hoping desperately that they were going to the right place. Inej instructs him on which bombs they need, and they set off.

Jesper

It can't be true. It could not be true. Not again. Kaz just told him that one of his rivals had kidnapped Wylan. They were now waiting for him to come to them and demand the ransom. How could this have happened? Why Wylan? He hoped with all his heart that they were at least treating him well, knowing that that wasn't very likely. As they sat there, a fire burned in his belly. He felt hatred rise like a storm inside him. He would not be merciful with whoever had kidnapped Wylan.

He didn't understand how Kaz could just sit there, relaxed as though nothing had happened. No, he knew that maintaining a veneer of calmness would make it easier to negotiate with the kidnapper. But he still couldn't stop his fists from clenching and his jaw from tensing. He tried to breathe deeply, telling himself that the kidnapper wouldn't kill Wylan because that would get him nothing. Wylan would be okay. He had to be. He couldn't die. He couldn't die, with Jesper not able to recollect the last time he touched him, the last word he told him.

So they waited. Jesper grew more and more jittery, legs shaking and fingers tapping and fidgeting. Kaz somehow grew calmer and calmer, cane resting gently on his lap, utterly in his element, ready to do his part.

When the outer door slammed open, Jesper stood up abruptly, and Kaz gripped his cane tighter. The door opened and in came charging...

Wylan

Finally, they got through the gate, and the soldiers posted outside and entered an empty room. He didn't waste a second. The moment he noticed the other door in the room, he rushed at it, pushing it open. And there he was. He ran to Jesper and hugged him, holding on so so tightly. He was so relieved to find him that he didn't even wonder why Jesper wasn't tied up and gagged.

"You're okay, you're okay," he chanted, under his breath, still unwilling to let go of his sharpshooter. Jesper held him in return, nestling his head in Wylan's curls, speechless for once. After a few minutes, or seconds, or hours, or an eternity, he pulled back a little to see Jesper wide-eyed, looking at him like he was a ghost.

"I'm sorry," they both blurted out at once, and they laughed and sobbed at that.

"No, no, I should be the one to apologise. I'm so sorry for being such a mess. The clothes and my other things and the gambling. Oh, I knew I needed to stop, and I couldn't and then- and then-" Jesper babbled.

"No! Don't be sorry. I'll help you, we'll do it together. Okay? I'm sorry too. It was all so perfect, and it scared me. I was so scared that you'd leave that I nearly drove you to leave myself," he said, staring right into Jesper's eyes so he'd understand.

"Okay. But just so you know, I never would've left," Jesper tells him, looking back just as intensely.

"Okay. That's good," Wylan says, chuckling, suddenly embarrassed.

Jesper tilts his chin back up and gazing into his eyes the whole time, kisses him. Wylan responds ravenously, and well...it all works out. They remind the other that they love them, that they always have and always will. And when they realise what Kaz and Inej tricked them into, Wylan is outraged, and Jesper just laughs and laughs and laughs (Wylan then kisses him, hearing the laughs echo in his heart).

Next chapter (Chapter 7)

Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list.

[doyelikehaggis]

Rowing the Rarepair Rowboat: Kaleb Hawkins x Jed (Legacies)

Requested by anonymous, encouraged by @lemon-patches and @antopazas

It's been hours. Kaleb lost track a little while ago, somewhere around eleven, he thinks. When he happens to glance at the clock now, because this is basically Hogwarts where he's not even allowed a phone, it tells him it's four-thirty in the morning.

He should be surprised; he's not even tired, and honestly, he didn't think it was possible to talk for so long without running out of things to say. Somehow, he and Jed have managed perfectly fine.

It started off from after Lizzie's fake funeral, both needing to vent about Alyssa. Then at some point, after they had moved up into Kaleb's room, the conversation just shifted. It went from their dumb rivalry, to some lightehearted joking about werewolves vs vampires, to Jed telling him about the person he killed and Kaleb telling him how he turned. And now they're just here, sharing the most random, tiny details, anything that comes to mind.

He now knows that Jed doesn't like being Alpha. He sussed that his favourite colour is some very light shade of yellow from the amount of things he's mentioned that have been that colour in his life, including the times Penelope used to paint his nails. He was actually super into Harry Potter as a kid, and they both appreciate old music, as well as the beauty of vinyls.

Jed also knows way more about him now than anyone else in the school, which wouldn't be hard, but still. It's easier to talk to him when they're not at each other's throats over some crush on the same girl. Except, that's not really all it was.

He gazes at Jed with a faint smile. Talking has certainly made things a lot clearer, at least for him.

"Do you think we're idiots?" Jed asks, switching from his topic of constellations as he rolls his head to the side to meet his eyes. "Truthfully. The way we were acting?"

Kaleb shrugs, but he huffs out a quiet chuckle. "Truthfully? For sure. We... certainly did and said some things."

Jed sighs, then shakes his head, staring back at the blue wall of books and records across from them. A gentle crease forms between his eyebrows, but he wears a ghost of a nervous smile.

"It's so weird," he tells him, and suddenly he seems tense for the first time in the whole night. "I've never done anything like that before. Fought because of a crush. It felt like there was something to prove, you know?"

Kaleb hums in agreement. Even with the pointed, emphasized way that Jed said it, he still asks, "To Alyssa?"

A beat passes. He studies Jed's expression, the flutter of nerves, then watches him shake his head. His voice softens.

"No, that's the funny part," he says, but his smile is even more nervous than the glint in his eyes as he looks at him again. "I don't think I really cared since she never really paid much attention to me anyway. It's like I was trying to prove something to you, which... must have some really weird, messed up logic behind it, because even I don't really get it. I just know I felt like I needed you to see me in some way. Probably makes no sense, right?"

There it is. Kaleb smiles. He can feel the worry coming off of Jed, the need to cover for himself in case, after everything, he says something that just manages to step over a line.

"Nah, I get it," Kaleb says quietly, to his surprise. "I was doing the same. The whole thing turned less into trying to impress Alyssa and more into... well, getting your attention. Good or bad."

Jed just stares at him, eyes wide, and evidently thrown by the confident admission. He sucks in a breath, and Kaleb sees the moment it hits him, spreading through his eyes. The wave of realization comes back around to crash into his own chest one more time as well.

"What does..." Jed hesitates, doubt and wariness sticking through in his voice, "...does that mean...?"

Kaleb's pretty sure he knows the question he's asking. He's been silently asking it himself for two hours, and only come to an answer within the last thirty minutes. He couldn't care less about some dumb species rivalry, and his feelings for Alyssa o ly seemed to present themselves when shr wasn't alone. Because Jed was there with her.

"Uh, well..." Kaleb might be at a loss for the right words for the first time.

It means he's spent a good hour give or take stealing glances at Jed's hand, so close to his own, wondering how different it would feel to hold opposed to it shoving him in a fight. Glancing at his mouth when he smiles, the sight of it digging into his heart like some rabbit burrowing itself a home. Hearing his laugh is another feeling entirely. Just wondering about the idea of him.

Jed's still watching him, waiting with his lips parted the slightest bit though scarcely breathing. As soon as the idea forms in Kaleb's mind, he sees it in Jed's expression as well, the simultaneous decision.

They both lean, slowly, a little uncertain. When their lips meet between, Kaleb knows he was right. The hesitation falls away enough for them to kiss properly, still moving slowly, but with more certainty.

Time already feels like it stopped existing a few conversation topics ago. Kaleb honestly can't say how many seconds tick away before he feels them both pulling back.

Jed's eyes open after Kaleb's. He sees the look in them right away. The glimmer of surprise, but knowing. Understanding, and relieved about this newfound revelation.

It wasn't about proving who was better for Alyssa, or who was the superior species. It was just a way of trying to work out what they were feeling, the emotions getting tangled up and confused with something else.

"Yeah," Jed says softly, almost on an exhale. His gaze is fixed on Kaleb's. "That's... that's what I was thinking. And makes a lot of sense, actually."

Kaleb snorts, and he can't help but huff out a laugh a second later, Jed joining him after a beat.

"If only we'd talked it out like this before the whole sing-off thing," Kaleb jokes.

Jed groans at that. "Oh, no, don't remind me. It's still too fresh. I'm surprised Lizzie didn't kill us."

"There's still a good chance she will," Kaleb says, half-serious.

"Well, I guess our fates are sealed then," Jed plays along, the corners of his mouth turned up in a bright smile, eyes dancing.

Kaleb just smiles back at him. The tiredness may be catching up now. It shows in Jed's gaze as well. Even so, neither of them suggest sleep. They keep talking. The sky slowly lightens outside. All Kaleb is really sure of is that, at some point, he goes for it and slips his hand into Jed's while he's talking. It makes him pause, glancing down, but he recovers quick and just continues on, locking his fingers with Kaleb's.

[ayanacam]

Stand Still

:05

Two Months Ago

November 24th, 2022

Thanksgiving Day

Christen slowly rubbed her belly as the car started slowing down to stop in front of her parent's house. It was a maternal habit she had immediately picked up around her fifth month of pregnancy. She was now eight months, due sometime in mid-December. She was huge, something she had been struggling with for a time but Dallas had always reassured she was beautiful each and every time. Christen was ready for her little one to come out, anticipation of having a mini-me around seemed so exciting. She could hardly wait.

Dallas had parked, turning to Christen.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Dallas looked concerned, scared that his wife was hiding something from him.

"Yes, I'm sure. Just feeling a little big today." She sighed.

"You're beautiful baby, and even more so that you're carrying our angel. It'll never change." Dallas reassured, pulling her head down to meet his lips. His hand smoothly rubbed over Christen's belly as Christen sighed in contentment. Sometimes she needed to be reassured.

Dallas smiled at her before exiting the car to come to her side, helping her out. Christen heaved herself up against Dallas's weight before straightening her black sweater dress. She had taken a waddle up once she hit her third trimester, her back consistently making her ache, but she didn't mind.

"Ready?" Dallas questioned, making sure all of the food packed and Christen were okay.

She nodded, beginning her penguin walk while Dallas quietly chuckled in the background. He loved her walk. The fact that it was caused by their own creation made it special to him. He wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Christen stepped up the stairs slowly, huffing breaths from exhaustion. It seemed like every time she did anything, she was short of breath.

Christen immediately opened the door as she stepped in front, seeing no reason to wait as this was her own home.

Everyone had cheered as they walked through door, swarming around Christen and her big belly. Her mood had immediately shifted from calm to annoyed. She hadn't been big on touching lately, besides from Dallas. The feel of having multiple people around since she had revealed she was pregnant had been challenging. She normally would want tons of hugs and warm touches, but lately she hadn't wanted any of it. Being uncomfortable pregnant was enough without all the maneuvering she had to do to even hug someone. She'd rather avoid it.

"Did you guys make it safely?" Christen's mother asked once they got settled.

"Yes mom." Christen rolled her eyes, her mother the epitome of worrisome.

"We did Maria, thank you." Dallas replied, his hand smoothing over Christen's bangs as she leaned into him appreciating the warmth he'd given her.

"I know baby, you're ready for this to be over." Maria sat down next to her daughter, patting her knee. "She'll be here before you know it."

Christen groaned, "I want her out now. I'm ready to sleep normally again."

Dallas chuckled lowly into Christen's head, rubbing her shoulder.

"Alright guys, time to eat." Christen's dad called from the kitchen.

Dallas removed himself swiftly, his hands held out to pull Christen up. She stumbled slightly as he pulled a little too hard, but quickly balanced herself again. They all led themselves into the kitchen, cousins and grandparents crowded around the table.

"So, how long are you going to be off work after the pregnancy Dallas?" Christen's grandpa, Jack Collins, asked.

"About three months, longer if we don't find a nanny within that time frame."

"A nanny?" Christen's grandmother, Lucille Collins, exasperated. "In my day, the wife was a stay at home mother. You don't want to do that Chrissy?"

Christen screamed internally, her grandmother always a "do-it-my-way" figure. She didn't like when someone stepped out of those boundaries, and being a full time wife and mother was one of those boundaries.

"I figured we'd both go back to work, me in the gallery and him at the office. Life doesn't stop even when children come into the picture Gam." Christen forced a smile, her voice short.

Lucille scoffed, "You should always be in your children's life. You miss all the important milestones when you hire someone to take care of your child."

"Well it's 2022, not 1963." Christen snapped, her patience wearing thin. She wanted the discussion dropped and she wasn't in the mood to argue. Everyone around the table had gone quiet, their utensils clanking awkwardly against the expensive china Christen's parents always pulled out for the holidays.

"I think it's time to play White Elephant, don't you guys?" Her father announced, the tension relieved once the family tradition had been suggested.

Everyone piled their dishes into the kitchen and immediately moved into the family room.

Present Day

January 19th 2023

"Can we come in?" Andrew asked softly, not wanting to set the woman off.

Caroline debated silently, her mind reeling as she looked over the two people in Dallas's life she knew about very well. Christen especially. Dallas and Caroline had met three years ago at a bar in Times Square. Unfortunately she had learned the next morning that Dallas was married when he had lost his mind over the drunken mistake. Caroline had felt terrible, both of them highly intoxicated without anyone to stop what had been done.

Dallas had apologized profusely, leaving shortly thereafter. Unfortunately a month later, Caroline had found she was pregnant and a few more weeks later, with twins. A boy and a girl. She knew she had to contact Dallas, he had deserved the right to know.

Dallas had been less than happy to hear the news the day she had called the office. He went ballistic, cursing to the Gods. He calmed over the next few days eventually giving Caroline a sensible situation, her to be a secret.

They had gone no further than a friendly hug and a doctor's appointment but after the third trimester, they had quickly become more. Lingering touches and stolen kisses had become a thing and before they knew it, sex had been involved along with feelings. The twins had been born and Dallas promised to leave Christen. In the mean time, however, she would stay up here and wait.

"Sure." Caroline swallowed.

"I'm sure you know who this is?" Andrew pestered, seeing if the woman would lie.

Caroline nodded her head, ashamed and guilty. "Yes, it's nice to meet you Christen."

Christen found herself to be strangely quiet, not quite feeling the moment to be real. She was looking her husband's mistress in her face on her own porch and Christen couldn't help but feel her blood boil.

All three of them walked through the home, a hallway dividing the rooms in between. Overall the house was lovely, hints of Dallas everywhere Christen looked. Pictures of him had been posted everywhere with their family. Christen's heart tugged in hurt as she eventually looked down at her feet.

Andrew was disgusted, silent murderous rage filling his body as he thought about bringing Dallas back to life just to kill him again. He was utterly appalled, he never knew his best friend since college could do such a thing. His fingers interlaced with Christen's as he noticed her state. She wouldn't look anywhere, her curls covering most of her face as she kept eye contact with the floor.

"Would you guys like anything to drink?" Caroline offered.

"A water would be nice." Andrew suggested.

Caroline nodded and pulled herself to the fridge, producing two bottles of water.

"May I ask why you two came to visit me?" Caroline finally sliced the room full of tension.

"The insurance policy needs to be handled." Andrew curtly stated, infuriated by the fact that this woman was bold and daring. In a moment like this, she didn't have the right to ask any questions.

Caroline nodded, "What did you guys need to know?"

"Did you even feel guilty sleeping with a married man or is that the whore in you?" Christen asked, her courage had finally found a voice.

Caroline was taken aback, not surprised by the accusation but nevertheless shocked that Christen had asked it in this certain way. She cleared her throat and swallowed," Listen, what happened between Dallas and I will stay between us, even if he no longer is here."

"Well it's Christen's business now since she now has to file for you to be taken care of, so make this trip worth our while and she may consider giving you a part of her trust." Andrew worded slowly, driving each word home.

Caroline felt intimidated, Dallas had said Andrew was a gentle giant. It was nothing like the steel gentleman before her. "Ask away then."

"When did the affair start?" Christen murmured.

"May 2020." Caroline offered. "We met at a bar in Times Square and we had sex."

"That's the night you conceived the twins?" Andrew questioned.

Caroline nodded and Christen became sick. That was the month she had had the third miscarriage. Each one hurt more than the last, she would make it tiny bits farther but it would always end up with her in a hospital bed for 24 hours and bed rest immediately after. Caroline had conceived just fine. Christen knew it had been her. The reason conceiving had been impossible was on her end.

"Did you ever feel any remorse?" Christen swallowed, her mind unraveling.

Caroline sighed deeply, "In moments I did, but I won't lie, for the most part no."

Christen nodded, taking in her words.

"And what were Dallas' thoughts?" Andrew pressed.

"H- He felt guilty, every night and day. He would always talk about you and how much it hurt to cheat. He said that his fear of hurting you overrode his guilty conscience." Caroline admitted.

Christen finally had gotten a good look at Caroline. She was wearing a ratty old tee, no doubt Dallas' and a pair of leggings and white fuzzy socks. Her blonde hair was in a sloppy bun and her face was swollen as if she had been crying all night.

Christen was mindful of her next question. She wanted to stir the pot.

"Why didn't either one of you stop if you both felt guilty?"

Caroline took a deep breath, "We loved each other."

Christen froze, as did Andrew. Andrew wanted to strangle her from across the coffee table that was placed strategically in front of them. She had the audacity to claim such a thing but in Andrew's mind, Dallas had loved neither one of them. He loved the game of forbidden treats. He knew Dallas too well, that Dallas wanted his cake and to eat it too. Andrew thought he had changed when he met Christen but he had been dead wrong.

Andrew flicked his eyes over to Christen, her reaction being gauged. He didn't know what Christen was feeling, she wasn't even looking up from the coffee table. She simply had her arms folded under her chin with her fingers splayed across her mouth.

Christen didn't want to ask any more questions, it seemed like all the ones she had before had disappeared into thin air. She didn't want to learn any new secrets about Dallas. Everything she had learned already had been enough. Although, there were a couple questions she needed answered.

"Did you know Dallas was part of illegal activity?" Christen voiced.

Caroline nodded sheepishly.

Another thing Christen didn't know.

"It wasn't by him telling me. I had just caught a couple of transactions going through his bank when he asked me to check his bank account. A lawyer only makes so much. He confessed when I started asking too many questions." Caroline admitted.

So she had known everything, from the imminent danger that always lurked around to his relationship with Christen. She had known his finances and every back door about Dallas. So exactly why had Dallas kept Christen around? It seemed that he had everything and more up here with Caroline.

"He loved you...Christen," Caroline started. "He loved you so much that he wouldn't leave. He talked about you all the time, and I know you've got so many things coming through you right now but do not ever doubt what he felt for you." She sounded broken, as if this was hard for her to admit.

Christen shook, in hurt and anger. "Do not tell me what you think. It doesn't justify what I know."

Caroline nodded, preceding to back off. She didn't want to cause any more harm to anyone. She had the damage in front of her. Christen looked, in literal terms, broken. She had bruises on her face, her tight brown curls layered around her forehead and cheeks. She looked to be breathing hard and from what Caroline had heard, she had been beaten with a bat before she was knocked out.

"I think it's time to go. The lawyers will be in contact." Andrew softly spoke, standing up from the teal colored couch.

Caroline stood along with him, Andrew reaching out to pull Christen from the couch. Christen winced, the sharp pain of her ribs catching her.

"Are you okay?" Andrew worriedly questioned.

"Are the meds in the car?"

"Yes, should be in the glove compartment." Andrew answered to Christen.

Caroline stayed quiet, her heart hurting for Christen. She had no right, that she knew. But she couldn't help but place herself at the scene, imagining herself in Christen's shoes. Caroline watched Christen cautiously, ready to jump to her aid. She may have done heinous acts but that didn't take away from her caring nature.

Christen made it to the front door slowly but surely, Andrew's aid helping immensely. Caroline held the door open so no further obstruction could hinder Christen's progress.

"I know this really isn't my place. I just want to say I'm sorry. Things between Dallas and I...they should have never happened. There's nothing I could say or do, that would make this better." Caroline ejected.

Christen's blood boiled but she held her tongue. She had nothing further to say to Dallas's mistress. Andrew nodded to her apology before escorting Christen to the car. Andrew slid Christen in the car softly, aware to not stir her abruptly before he grabbed the pills and put them in her hand.

Christen gulped the pills down quickly, begging internally for the pain to stop. Nothing could make the pain in her heart go away. Dallas had ripped her to shreds and seeing Caroline today had done the final tinge on her heart. She had kids with the love of her life. She had gotten everything in life that Christen had wanted.

Christen hadn't realized that tears were now streaming down her face until Andrew gripped her hand from her face and shushed her. Christen wailed, her body racked with sobs. Andrew didn't know what to do, however streams of tears followed his face as well. After a few minutes, Christen finally calmed. Her body shook from time to time but Andrew could tell the worst was over, for now.

Christen stayed silent as Andrew gripped her hand and started the car. His thumb pressed against the push to start and off they were.

Christen for the most part had slept throughout the car ride. The darkness enveloping them as the trip to the motel back in town was almost over. Andrew quietly looked over at Christen's sleeping frame, detailing her. Her curls draped across her face as she breathed quietly. Her pink lips were parted slightly due to the positioning of her hand against her right cheek. Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she moved slightly to make herself comfortable. Andrew was entranced. He saw Christen for what she was, not for what she put on. 

Andrew pulled into an empty parking lot, the motel lights lit up the dark scenery. Trees lined the property, slightly moving in the wind. There were a couple of other cars, but for the most part the motel was vacant.

He triple checked Christen's sleeping state before moving out of the car to grab a room for Christen and him. The steps to the reception office had him on edge, but his feelings were kept in check. He couldn't be a weakling now.

The receptionist, the same from the night before was here again.

"Another night?" the clerk asked. 

Andrew breathed out a snort, "Unfortunately." 

The clerk rolled his eyes and took the card that was held between Andrew's slim hand. Andrew looked around the place briefly. The lights were dingy, the floors were dirty, and the furniture in the lobby was tore in multiple places. Andrew wondered how this place was even still open, what with the lack of customers and upkeep. 

Andrew quickly gripped his card back and stumbled out of the office area to help Christen upstairs. As he grasped his thoughts, he opened Christen's door to find her awake. Her curls were pulled towards the back of her head in a messy bun. Strands of small curls framed her face, blocking some of the damage done by her attackers. He still thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, despite everything she'd been through in the last week. 

Christen clung to his arm as she pulled herself out of the sedan. She hated feeling this way, helpless. It only made her thoughts worse. She still had so many unanswered questions for Caroline and Dallas. But one was someone she hated, the other is dead. She couldn't bare sitting another minute with the woman who got her life way before she had actually started hers. 

As Christen started to move, her ribs began to throb heavily. With a sharp intake of breath, she doubled over, causing Andrew to catch her immediately. 

"What's wrong? What hurts?" his frantic voice and hands moving around her. 

"Meds, please." Christen gritted out. 

He immediately moved Christen to the side of the car to hold her weight before going to grab her medication. The rattle of the pills in the bottle calmed Christen down, at least she wouldn't be in any physical pain for awhile. The emotional pain was something she hadn't quite grasped yet. After swallowing her two white pills, she stretched up slowly to ease her pain. Andrew caught her as she stumbled and pulled her arm around his neck so she could have some balance. 

The walk to the room was silent, no words spoken between Andrew and Christen. Neither one of them knew what to say. What exactly was there to say? 'I'm sorry your husband cheated on you and got himself killed by doing illegal business?' or 'I'm sorry that your best friend wasn't who you thought he was?'. Neither option sounded like one the other wanted to hear. 

As soon as they had stepped into the room, Andrew had placed Christen on the couch and went to the kitchen. 

"Coffee?" Andrew's voice sounded. 

Christen nodded, even though it was late, she couldn't help but want coffee to soothe whatever she was feeling. The Keurig coffee machine began to whir, keeping Christen occupied with her thoughts. 

Christen stared out of the window to the empty parking lot, "What am I supposed to do Drew?" 

Her voice was soft, tears laden in the thickness. 

"I don't know." He answered quietly.

[punkscowardschampions]

Buster & Ava

Buster: What the fuck have I gotta lay the law down for? Ava: Oh, and a howdy to you too Buster: Start talking Buster: Mum is really pissing me off Ava: Welcome to the club Buster: Come on, I ain't got the time or the patience for this off you as well Ava: You ain't my lawyer and I don't want you present Ava: I know my rights Buster: For fuck's sake, someone give me a straight answer Ava: God, fine Ava: but this is NOT how I wanted to do this, let the record show Buster: It's out of your hands, yeah, noted Ava: I've got a new boyfriend and they're not happy Buster: What's that gotta do with me? Ava: I didn't tell you Ava: It's someone you know, alright Buster: Who? Ava: Knew, even, back in the day Ava: Your old friend, James Buster: I know loads of lads called James Buster: It better not be the one I first thought of Ava: Well how would I know Buster: Don't Ava: What do you want me to say? Buster: I don't want to hear another word unless it's you telling me I've got it wrong and it ain't him Ava: Then that's that Buster: What's wrong with you? Ava: Nothing Ava: I met him at Kings, I like him Buster: Bullshit, you're better than this Ava: Better than what, exactly? Buster: A fucking married dad, Ava Ava: He's getting divorced Buster: So you're someone's dirty little secret and then what, exactly, a surrogate mum? Ava: Of course not Buster: Just 'cause he's never had any drive or ambition and his soon to be ex is cracked, that don't mean you've gotta step in on either Ava: You don't know him anymore Buster: You don't know him, it's been like a month, yeah? Ava: and who do you think I am anyway, captain save a hoe? Buster: You tell me Ava: No, you think you know so well, go on Buster: Jesus Christ Buster: You're proper acting your fucking age Buster: Don't get me started on that Ava: It isn't that big of a gap Buster: Not like when Nance tried to get on her teacher no, but is that what you wanna be measured against now? Ava: She's already gone there, try again Buster: Okay, try this, it's really fucking hard raising someone else's kid Buster: I know, I'm doing it Ava: Like you said, it's been like a month Ava: I'm dating him, I'm not raising any children Buster: It doesn't matter, you like him, you'll wanna help him Buster: Then you'll get attached and you'll be stuck Ava: No I will not Ava: and he's not going to introduce people to his kids that easily either, he's not an idiot Buster: I don't care what he is, you're being stupid Buster: End it before you're in up to your neck Ava: How am I? Buster: Come on, you don't need the list Ava: Then I disagree Buster: Go ahead, I'm right Ava: Enjoy that Ava: it changes nothing in my life Buster: You think you're grown now, yeah? Ava: You think you can tell me what to do? Buster: When you're this determined to fuck up, I've clearly got to Ava: Focus on your own family Buster: You're my family Ava: Then trust me Buster: I fucking love you, stop it Ava: I love you all too Buster: You told Nance before you told me, you weren't even gonna tell me, what the hell, Ava? Ava: I was going to Ava: I changed my status and she pounced so I just told her there and then Ava: I was thinking how to put it Buster: He's got you lying already Buster: Keeping important shit from me Ava: It's not like that Ava: I am telling you Buster: I'm gonna kill him Ava: No, you aren't Ava: come on Buster: You come on Ava: He's had a hard enough time, alright Ava: and he's not done anything wrong here Buster: He's not gonna be any good for you after being with her Buster: She's fucked Ava: He is though Ava: she's left her kids, you know Buster: Listen, she ruins everything she touches Ava: He isn't ruined Buster: You can't see it Ava: You literally haven't seen him in ages Buster: I'm not talking about him, I'm talking about her Ava: You weren't trying to help him then, when it all happened Buster: You don't know what I did or didn't do then, alright? Buster: Shut up Ava: Don't tell me to shut up Buster: Fucking hell Ava: Calm down Buster: Don't Ava: If this is the extent of the conversation we're gonna have then yeah, we're both too busy for this Buster: Ava Ava: What? Buster: I'm trying to calm down, alright Ava: Alright Buster: Shit happened back then, I'm not proud of it and I try not to think about it Ava: It's the same for him, and lots of people Ava: I'm sorry if he brings that up for you Buster: Yeah, well that ain't your fault, it ain't even his Buster: I'm sorry Ava: You've reacted as expected Ava: Meaningless death threats aren't nothing compared to mum asking if I'm doing it for attention, soz to you and dad Buster: I just wanna protect you, so does she Ava: Appreciated Buster: She's so shit scared to lose you, any of us, but you know Buster: You especially Ava: Rule number one is don't chase them into the boyfriend's arms, is it not Buster: When has she ever played by any rules but her own? Come on Ava: Well I'm not a baby Buster: You're exactly the fucking same as her, is what you are Ava: Shut up Ava: If I was we'd have no problem Buster: Well, I was gonna say nicer but you've fucked that now Ava: I don't feel like being nice Buster: Fair enough, me either Ava: Oh no, however will we cope without your kind words and ways Buster: Do you love him or what? Ava: I'm the one being stupid and moving too fast, now you wanna marry me off Ava: okay Buster: Do you? Ava: Yes Buster: Alright Ava: Is it? Buster: It won't always be but it'll feel worth it anyway Ava: How is it different with Venus? Buster: Everything is harder with or without that cunt actually around to undermine me Buster: I second guess myself all the time, if I don't love her enough, if I love her too much Buster: I'd die for that kid and I have no idea what I'm even gonna mean to her Ava: Yeah Ava: it's fucked up Buster: Caleb gave everything to Edie and it didn't save her Ava: No Ava: How could they let it happen again Buster: I love Rio more than anything and I still couldn't stop it Ava: It's really messed up Buster: Yeah Ava: Do you think you should give her to her dad Ava: full time Buster: He doesn't want her full time, he barely wants her part time Ava: I just think Ava: that maybe that's because Rio wouldn't give her up Ava: he was going to have her, obviously, that was the plan, when Junior was still around Buster: Plans change and he only wants it his way Ava: okay Ava: do you talk to Caleb? Ava: you should Buster: Yeah 'cause that wouldn't be weird Ava: Act your age Buster: That means not being a selfish cunt, no good is gonna come of me raking over his grief for my own benefit Buster: Oh and while I'm at it, let me slag your daughter off for not listening to me, cheers Ava: He probably would like to talk about it Ava: doubt anyone ever asks him Buster: You talk to him then Buster: Be the best step mum you can be, like Ava: 🙄 Buster: Like you said, everything's fucked Ava: Don't include me in that Buster: You ain't exempt, kid Buster: You wish Ava: Alright, then I'm not and get over it Buster: Act your age Ava: Rich Buster: Yeah, I am Ava: Not yet, boy Buster: Take your jinxes elsewhere Ava: Will do Buster: Good Ava: Can report back now, Judas Buster: Fuck that, I don't do what I'm told either Ava: 😏 Ava: Bullshit, you don't want to admit you failed horribly Buster: Fuck you, that's never happened Ava: Sure, you convinced me Ava: definitely not going to do exactly what I want and planned to Buster: 'Course and 'course not, respectively Ava: But seriously, you can't actually lie to them about this because I won't be Buster: Hilarious, I ain't that cunt and I ain't looking to turn into him today Ava: Well I hope they go back to annoying about whatever they usually do and not me then Ava: you* Buster: Unlikely Ava: Serious question Ava: do you think I should let him talk to them Ava: he offered but is that the worst idea or actually might help Buster: Why not? Buster: He loves you too, yeah? Ava: Yeah Ava: but if dad tries to hit him or something as shaming I swear to God Buster: Mum wouldn't let that happen Buster: She'd kick him out well before he could kick off, she knows every tiny trigger even before he does Ava: Hmm, maybe Ava: you have more faith in her as an impartial ref Ava: but she's not been shouting at you for however long so Buster: 'Cause she don't shout at me, she goes quiet Buster: James can still form a coherent sentence when prompted, can't he? Ava: Well that's unfair Ava: I'll ask her to change her method back Ava: and fuck off Buster: It's a fair question, he was partying really hard last I heard Ava: He went to rehab actually Buster: Leave that out of the introductions and calm down then Ava: Don't tell me to calm down Ava: tah very much Ava: like they just want to meet him Buster: I'm just saying, he offered Buster: If you don't have to do this on your own, why the fuck would you wanna? Ava: You don't get it 'cos your relationship is different Ava: you wouldn't subject someone to this family if you didn't have to Ava: in fact, definitely waiting 'til they've calmed down, I can just imagine the ridiculous things they'd say and nope Buster: Take the support, Ava, Christ's sake Buster: He was married to her, he's handled crazier Ava: Yeah 'cos that's how I want to be Ava: how I wanna treat him Ava: I'm more than capable, thanks Buster: Yeah, really capable of letting someone help you, as evidenced right there, like Ava: I don't need it Buster: Whatever Buster: Maybe he needs to give it Ava: He's mid-divorce, I think he's busy enough Buster: If he loves you, he ain't too busy for you Ava: 🙄 Okay Ava: you can go now Buster: You can think again on trying to tell me what to do Ava: Okay, I'm gonna go then Ava: thank you for your advice etc Buster: Don't ask me what I reckon and then dismiss it Ava: I've taken it on-board Ava: I didn't say I'd do what you said Buster: It'll help show them that you're both serious Buster: They reckon nobody under the age of about 35 has been since they were Ava: Exactly Ava: that's what they don't wanna hear Ava: ever since you shit the bed Ava: they can think it's not serious if they like, fine by me Buster: The sooner they hear whatever the truth is, the sooner they can deal, 'cause they'll have to Ava: I'm not even gonna be here this time next year Ava: they need to deal with that first Buster: You're not a baby, it's all part of the same issue Ava: You need to move here or they need to be there so they can be all over your kids Buster: I've already got a place there and they've got one here Ava: I'm talking permanently, like Ava: or they'll have their own baby or something Buster: No they won't Ava: If Ro can Ava: wonders never cease Buster: Yeah and that was such a good idea Ava: She wouldn't know one if it called itself 0 cals Buster: Like you said, in a year you'll be at uni wherever the fuck you want Ava: I'll suggest knitting and golf then Buster: If you've got a death wish Ava: Can't dampen the mood any harder Buster: Come on Buster: I'll have another kid or something, take the heat off Ava: Tah Ava: no chance Nance will so you have to really Buster: Don't Ava: What? Buster: Imagining her as a mother is such a headfuck Ava: She won't Ava: she's heartbroken rn, apparently Buster: Standard then, yeah? Ava: obviously Ava: standard she managed to get that in to this convo, like Buster: If anyone can Ava: you know Ava: as well as a meaningless offer of a trip out there Buster: And you still told her before me Buster: Fuck you Ava: Got to be faster on the socials Ava: I technically told Grace ages ago if you want to be really upset Buster: What? Ava: Not literally the whole debacle, I'm not mental Ava: just to talk about it, when you last came over Buster: What do you reckon all your friends are gonna say? Ava: I dunno Ava: a mixed bag, no doubt Buster: I can like actually try and talk to mum and dad if you want Ava: If you wanna smash your head against that particular brickwall Ava: you're welcome to try Ava: I don't mind Buster: 'Course that wouldn't actually hurt me so Ava: Thick skull Ava: sure Buster: Yeah Buster: And loads of practice at exactly that pursuit Ava: Cheers then Ava: enjoy the brain damage Buster: Will do

[cocomaxley]

Friendly Wagers

This is a part of a TRR A/U called Cordonians Gone Wild, a collaborative effort by @ao719 @speedyoperarascalparty @leelee10898 @riseandshinelittleblossom and yours truly. Catch up HERE.

Summary: Drake and Rashad have a friendly bet. Who wins?

This was a prompt request for Pam x Drake: "Can you feel what you’re doing to me?"

Rating: NSFW

Tag List: @fullbeaumonty @brightpinkpeppercorn @alj4890 @zaffrenotes @annekebbphotography @carabeth @moneyfordiamonds @give-me-ernest-sinclaire @3pawandme @indiacater @ooo-barff-ooo @ownworldresident @tornbetween2loves @perfectprofessorherokid @stopforamoment @editboutique @wannabemc2 @enmchoices @lauradowning29 @lodberg @smalltalk88 @gibbles82 @heatherfilliez @drakesensworld @nikkis1983 @sweetest-marbear @classylady1234 @daniv2278 @rainbowsinthestorm @jared2612 @liamxs-world @notoriouscs @blubutterflyy @captain-kingliamsqueen @lynne1993

Drake and Rashad stood at the bar sipping their drinks. They both watched their wives across the room talking with some of the donors for the clinic. Pam and Genevieve had been very busy the past month coordinating the event. Since they opened, the clinic was thriving and it was necessary to expand in order to help more people.

Drake’s eyes didn't leave his wife. She turned and flashed him a smile. He felt his member twitch in his pants as he took in her white backless dress with plunging neckline. He let out a sigh knowing they were stuck at the ball for another few hours. He looked at Rashad who was staring longingly at his own wife. Her tiny baby bump visible in her fitted dress.

“Rashad...how about a friendly bet?” Drake asked.

Rashad raised his brow, “What do you have in mind, Walker?”

Drake turned to him, “Seeing how we'd rather be at home with our wives than here, the first to convince his wife to leave early wins. Winner gets to pick the location for the next fishing trip and has to pay for everything the entire weekend.”

Rashad smirked, “You sure you want to do this, man? We both know Pam is more likely to follow the rules. Plus, Gen’s been more insatiable than normal since she's been pregnant.”

Drake thought for a second before responding. “You have a point, but I'm feeling confident tonight. Do we have a bet?” He extended his hand and Rashad shook it. “It's on,” Rashad replied rubbing his hands together.

Earlier that afternoon, Pam stepped out of the shower and reached for her towel. She dried off her body and then wiped the steam off the mirror, looking at her reflection. The bathroom door opened and there stood her husband in all his naked glory. He walked up behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered, “How about I give you a reason to take another shower, baby?”

Pam felt a shiver go down her spine. “Drake...as much as I'd love to, we have to get ready for the ball. Tonight is very important if we're going to raise the money to build a second location.”

Drake kissed her neck while his hand removed her towel and threw it on the floor. “I promise it will be worth being late.” His hand cupped her breast and his fingers teased her nipple into a hardened bud. His other hand moved down her body stopping between her thighs.

“Drake...we should…” she couldn't complete her sentence as fingers teased her wet folds. She threw her head back and rested it against Drake’s shoulder. He slipped a finger inside her. Pam let out a loud moan, “Drake...baby, that feels so good,” She reached back and started pumping his rock hard cock. He closed his eyes and groaned as his hands continued to work her body.

Her breathing became shallow as he continued to pump his finger. She could feel her legs start trembling as her orgasm approached, when her phone started ringing. “Don't answer it,” Drake growled. Her phone continued to ring incessantly. Drake let out a sigh knowing Pam would answer it.

“It's Gen. She wouldn't call repeatedly unless it was something important,” Pam said with a concerned look on her face. “I doubt it,” Drake replied, huffing before got into the shower.

She called her best friend back. “Gen, is everything alright?” Genevieve was hysterical. Pam could barely understand what she was saying. “Ok, slow down and tell me what's the matter?”

“My dress is too tight, Pam! It won't zip! And...and I tried my other dresses and those don't fit either,” Genevieve sobbed on the other end of the phone. Pam let out a giggle, “I'll be right over. It'll be ok.”

Both men approached their wives. They were greeted with smiles. “Hi, honey,” Genevieve said as Rashad placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Drake stood behind Pam, wrapping his hand tight around her hip, whispering in her ear, “Hey, baby. Have I told you how stunning you look tonight? Can you feel what you’re doing to me, Pam?” A blush crept on her cheek when he pushed his hard dick against her. He continued to speak softly in her ear, his breath on her neck sending a shiver down her spine, “I think we should slip out early so we can finish what we started earlier.”

She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck, “I know you're eager to get home, but we can't leave yet. Gen and I are hosting this event. So just hang on for a little bit longer, I promise I'll make it worth your while later.” She pushed her body tight against his already stiff length. He groaned wanting to take her right then and there.

He looked over at Rashad and Genevieve. He had his arm around her waist, his face close to hers. She was blushing and giggling as he whispered in her ear. He noticed her nod her head as Rashad grinned from ear to ear. He had to think fast because he knew Genevieve was going to fold any second.

“Baby, I need you and I need you now. Gen looks like she's got this under control. Besides it was her fault that we got interrupted. She owes you,” he tried not to sound desperate, but he really did need his wife. Winning the bet was just an added bonus. “Drake, she's pregnant and all of her dresses were too tight. She was upset! Gen doesn't owe me anything because she would have done the same for me,” Pam snapped at him.

Shit, shit, shit! He thought to himself. “You know that's not what I meant, Pam. I'm just saying that it's a good time to leave. People are starting to take off, and there's no need for both of you to be here. So why can't we end the night now and go home, to our bed, with me on my knees?” He kissed her neck. She let out a soft moan feeling his stubble gently scratch her skin, thinking about their unfinished business. He had her and they both knew it. She grabbed his hand and walked towards the other couple.

“Gen, we’re going to leave now. Can you cover for me for the rest of the night?” Pam asked. Genevieve smirked understanding why they wanted to leave. Rashad cleared his throat, “Actually, we were planning on leaving early. My pregnant wife should probably get out of her heels and put her feet up…”

“Honey, I'm fine. These two clearly need to go home and bang. Look at Drake. He's dying to let out his inner pussy cat... ” Genevieve cackled as she grabbed her husband’s hand and led him towards some of the clinic’s board members. Drake said in a sexy whisper, “I don't need to let mine out…I need to get in yours.” Pam’s blue eyes were dark with lust. She took him by the hand and replied, “Let's go. Now.” He quickly led her out of the party.

Pam and Drake burst through their front door with their lips locked in a heated kiss. He lifted her up and carried her up the stairs. Once in the bedroom he put her down in front of the bed. His hands quickly unzipped her dress, allowing it to fall to the floor. He removed her bra and let it fall on top of her dress. He leaned down and kissed her neck, she threw her head back enjoying his soft lips and scratchy stubble on her skin. Her fingers made quick work of the buttons on his shirt and she pushed it off of his shoulders. Pam ran her pointer finger across his waist just above his pants causing him to shudder. She pressed soft kisses across his toned chest as her hands worked his belt and the fastenings on his pants. His pants and boxers fell to the floor and he stepped out of them. He pushed her back towards the bed, the backs of her knees bending when it hit the mattress.

She climbed on the bed and laid down. Drake hovered over her. He made the slow descent down her body. His mouth stopped at each breast, licking her nipples into hardened peaks. She gasped as his hands continued to venture lower on her body. He continued to kiss down her body and settled between her thighs. He stroked her through her panties, before he tugged on the elastic and slid them down her silky legs. Drake flung the lace garment across the room and let out a growl. His eyes roamed her naked body. She was perfect in every way and she was all his. “What are you waiting for, Drake? I need the Hulk,” she purred.

“Here, Kitty Kitty,” he smirked. His fingers parted her lips and his mouth captured her sensitive nub making her moan out in pleasure. “Oh baby, that feels so good!” She ran her fingers through his dark hair as he continued to lick her clit. He delved a finger inside her throbbing core and pumped in and out at a leisurely pace. He added a second finger, increasing speed. Her body tensed as she came closer to the edge. The pleasure became more and more intense until her body trembled as she came undone screaming his name. “Drake, that was amazing…” she said trying to catch her breath. He came back over her and kissed her hard. “I love you, Pam.”

“I love you too,” she gasped as he thrust into her. He let out a loud groan, savoring the feeling of her stretching around his thick hard cock. He kept a steady pace, pumping in and out of her. “Fuck, you feel so good.” He could feel himself getting close. His hand found her clit, and he stroked tight circles around her already sensitive bud. “Cum for me again, Pam. Let me feel you.”

“Oh god, Drake! Yes! God, yes!” She yelled as electricity jolted through her body when she climaxed again. He could feel her pulsing around his length causing him to moan loudly, “Fuck, baby. Meeeooowww!” He increased his speed continuing to pump in and out of her before coming with a guttural groan. He collapsed on the bed next to her before gathering her up in his arms.

Drake chuckled, “You know, I didn't think you'd leave…”

Pam smiled at him, “I knew you and Rashad had a bet. I didn't know what it was until I noticed Rashad trying to leave first. The Walkers don't lose to the Domvalliers.”

He kissed her forehead as he continued to stroke her hair, “You're damn right about that, baby.”

[ewshannon]

I Love My Mother's Killer

Photo by: E. W. Shannon (c) 2020

I Love My Mother's Killer

by

E.W. Shannon

At three a.m. on a Sunday morning, through a glass door, I saw mother take her last breath. The ICU doctor warned it wouldn't be a long drawn out process, but I think even the nurse and the respiratory therapist were a bit surprised at how quickly she stopped. Stopped being alive. Stopped being Mabel Harper. Stopped being Mom and Grandma. I was a little shocked at how fast she went from being my mother to being 'the body,' almost as if I could see the tether between her and the ethereal part of the universe sever in front of me.

I stood outside, in my hospital booties, gown, gloves, hair cover, mask, and face shield while they removed her breathing tube. Her nurse, Vanessa, looked up at me when she realized how quick death had come. She came out of the room, took a deep breath, and gave me the news. "I'm sorry Mr. Harper, she's already gone." She paused to let me process and perhaps breakdown. When it became obvious, I wasn't going to go into hysterics, she continued. "Just let the respiratory therapist come out and then you can go in."

"No, that's okay." I started taking off the protective gear and felt guilty at having wasted it just to stand in a hallway. Talking to strangers has never been a strength of mine and the circumstance of my mother's death, or I guess any death, made it even worse. All the autistic tics and traits I had worked so hard on to lessen or get rid of came back like somebody poured them over me from a bucket. The stutter, the inability to look someone in the face, the sweating, all descended upon me at once. "I-I-I-Is there a-a-a-anything else y-y-y-you need from me?"

Vanessa placed a hand on my arm. Even through my shirt and the gown and her glove, I could still feel her warmth. "You want to sit down?"

"N-n-n-n-no, I-I-I-I'll b-b-be okay. I just need to go d-d-d-d-do a b-b-breathing exerc-c-c-c-ise." On top of all the sweating and stuttering I had unconsciously begun crying and hadn't even realized it.

"Okay. Um, no, there's nothing else we need right now from you. We'll call the mortuary and they'll be in contact with you." She half looked at me with pity and half with awe. For months now her world had been a constant dialogue about COVID; for over a week she had seen me as a competent sane man, and now a certified medical freak stood in front of her coming apart at the seams. Having an evolving medical curiosity in front of her must have been a nice change of pace from the pandemic.

"Thank you for e-e-everything."

"No problem. Sorry for your loss." She patted my arm again and I felt her shift internally. Her voice changed into a hospital administrator to catch my attention. "Make sure you leave the face mask on until you leave the building and use hand sanitizer as you exit this unit, as well as when you exit the building downstairs.

"Thank you."

She went back into my mother's room and pulled a curtain across the glass door.

I don't remember leaving the unit, how I got downstairs and exited, how I found my car in the parking garage, or if I ever used any hand sanitizer. I just remember sobbing with my head leaned against the steering wheel, my tears snaking their way through the Chevy emblem before falling into my lap. Eventually I started the car and headed home. At first, I tried to craft what I would say to my daughters, Lily and Layla, but found I could either drive or work on a speech for my girls, but not both. So, I just drove and let my subconscious wander and it wasn't long before it took me back to that innocent day less than a month ago.

It's so stupid really. As a family we had been so careful to self-isolate as a group; it felt like Swiss Family Robinson, but with Wi-Fi. A drive-by birthday party for a seven-year-old is what started the death knell for mother. A boy named Asher, a friend of Lily's, stood in the driveway as, one by one, friends (and their obliging parents) stopped and sang Happy Birthday, hooked a gift bag onto a six foot metal pole usually used for skimming a pool, and then waited for the little boy to yell out "Thank you!" showing off all the open spaces in his mouth where teeth had fallen out as he grinned like an idiot.

The thought of giving Lily a list of rules never occurred to anyone. Her ten-year-old sister held only a tentative grasp on the word 'pandemic.' To Layla it meant the bully she'd acquired at the beginning of the year was now null and void, she could go to class in questionable states of dress at the dining room table, she was no longer the weird kid who ate hummus and sprouts sandwiches alone in the cafeteria, and, most importantly to her, she got to sleep in for an extra hour.

Lily, however, was quite different. Every teacher's report we'd gotten on her included the phrase "social butterfly" or some variation of "very verbal." In every group picture from school, Lily grabbed the focus by placing herself dead center, usually with half the students looking at her rather than the camera. Since birth she had always been everybody’s friend and greeted everyone with a hug. I always imagine her studying Layla and seeing how heavy and dour she was and deciding to be the complete opposite.

So, there we were on a warm day in May, I drove, my wife, Joy, sat up front with me, and my mother sat between Layla and Lily in the back seat. I don't know why I put the car in park that day as we sang and put our bag on the pole. Remembering the 'clunk' of the doors unlocking sometimes wakes me up at night. I can vividly remember the bright green bow falling off the bag and how fast Lily had been at getting out of her booster seat and out of the car. Before my wife or I could comprehend what was happening, she had picked up the bow off the asphalt, playfully stuck it to Asher's forehead, and hugged him. No mask, no gloves, no ridiculous two-foot wide piece of plexiglass like at the grocery store, just two children doing what you want children to do, being caring, thoughtful, kind, unreserved, and picking up their litter.

I wouldn't say our family has any real germaphobes, but we did exercise a bit of caution as the tallies of deaths and infections continued their upward trajectory on the news. Joy and I had surrendered to the idea of life with COVID rather than life after COVID. My wife still went to the grocery store with the girls in tow. My mother made them each twenty masks with different patterns, each girl getting their name embroidered in one of the corners, so instead of telling them they 'had' to wear a mask we just had to say, "Go pick out a special mask to go with your outfit." Of course, they weren't wearing masks that day, as we weren't supposed to be near anyone.

When Lily got back into the car and buckled herself into her booster seat, a noticeable silence that accompanied her. Joy broke the hush. "Here Lily, put some hand sanitizer on." She then covered Lily's little hands with ten pumps of hand gel from a Costco-sized container.

I looked back at Lily's glistening dripping hands and whispered in my wife's ear, "Unless you're going to pump it down her nose and throat, the damage is done."

She turned back around in her seat, put a single pump of hand gel on her own hands and took a deep breath as she nervously rubbed it in. "Yeah, you're right. I mean, what are the odds?" She shrugged her shoulders and gave me an unconvincing smile.

The next day Joy sent an email to Asher's mother to ask, with the utmost of political correctness, if their family might be harboring a deadly contagion. The reply came back quick assuring us that we had nothing to worry about and asking if we might be harboring a deadly contagion. "Remember when these emails were about kids biting and organizing bake sales," I asked her after reading the reply.

The day after that I caught my wife typing in 'how many days for covid symptoms after possible infection.' Before she could press 'enter' I answered her, "Two to fourteen days." She pressed 'enter' anyway and then let out a sigh with her head resting in her hands. "Told ya so."

"It might have updated since you looked." Her tense reply made me get up and massage her shoulders.

"It'll be okay. None of us are sick. Mom's been fine since she moved in after her hip surgery. Worst case, we get sick and we get over it." I tried my best to fill the statement with confidence, but the tiny bit of doubt I let slip by was all she heard. I looked across the foyer and saw Lily in my mother's room, sitting in her lap having a story read to her, and hoped I was right.

Two more days went by and then Joy woke up with flu-like symptoms, achy, fever, a slight cough, but nothing too alarming. The next day Layla woke with similar symptoms, but not as extreme. We tried to go through a drive-up testing site, but once my wife saw the line, she gave the order to turn back. "It's like Schrödinger’s cat, let’s just hope we only have to open two boxes," she said. They each had symptoms for three days and then they cleared. My wife attributed their miraculous recovery to the vegan diet she had put the family on the previous year. I gave more credit to luck.

Day twelve I woke to the sound of a duck on fire quacking from downstairs, at least that's what it sounded like to me. I found my mother in her chair coughing and felt her hot clammy head. "Get dressed Mom, we're going to the hospital." She didn't answer, just shook her head, and shuffled over to her closet. A few hours later she became a patient in the special COVID ward of our local hospital.

A few days later I got a call from Vanessa, just starting the night shift, telling me they had transferred my mother to the ICU and asking if she had a living will. While having a living will makes you feel prepared for death, when somebody outside your family asks to see it, it's the most ominous feeling ever.

Two lights away from the entrance to our neighborhood, in the small hours of the morning with a few of my mother's effects in a hospital bag on the floorboard, I pulled the car over into a 7-Eleven parking lot and vomited all over a Japanese Boxwood. It wasn't a virus causing me to hurl, but a thought, a window into the future. Someday Lily will look back on this, maybe she'll come across one of those masks with my mother's embroidery on it, maybe she'll just remember waking up to the horrible news, but at some point she might make the connection to the bow on Asher's head and her grandmother dying.

[aimee-does-things]

The Big Easy Decision

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller

The whole world can change in a week. We've seen it happen over and over again in 2020. We started the year with the devastating loss of our cat Soggy. He was a stray who showed up at my doorstep when I moved into my last apartment in mid-2019. He would greet me whenever I got home, rolling over to show his belly. He was always happy, and because of the constant rain in Florida, always wet, thus the name, Soggy. When Hurricane Dorian was on the way, I got worried about the little cat that seemed to live on my front porch. I took him in, bathed him, treated him for fleas, and let him ride out the storm in my apartment. Once the storm had passed, my boyfriend George and I took him to the vet to get his shots. He stayed with us for three months. One fateful day in January of this year, I walked into the hallway and noticed a trail of feces. "These damn cats!" My first thought was to grab the paper towels and bleach. But why would they have pooped all over the floor? 

I looked toward the bedroom and saw Soggy's tail twitching. "Soggy?" I said nervously as I peeked behind the door. There, curled on the floor, was Soggy. Mouth open, tongue hanging out, eyes fogged over, twitching. We were immediately in the car driving down the street to the vet. We were too late. The vet said she thought it was a stroke. We buried him in the back yard and spent the next week in tears. We had lost our baby, and the year had just started. It was devastating, but we were optimistic; it was January, and we had plenty of time to make happy memories for 2020. February and early March were sprinkled with good and bad. George lost an old friend to depression, but we got to see one of his best friends get married, and we took a trip with his Nephews and my son to the NBA Experience in Orlando, Florida, and had a fantastic time.  

In mid-march, COVID-19 had become a worldwide pandemic, and we were in lockdown. George is an actor, so he was entirely out of work, and I was worried that I'd soon lose my job. The bad of 2020 certainly seemed to be taking over. In June, I tested positive for COVID-19; even though I hadn't gone out (I had even been having my groceries delivered), I was supposed to paint a sign for The Riverside Children's Arts Center, where I work. I had been delaying it because I didn't want to go to the hardware store to buy the supplies I needed. On June 24th, I decided to wear a mask and get the stuff. I walked in, stealthily dodging people, staying ten feet away from everyone I saw, went straight to the lumber section, grabbed my piece of wood, and did self-check-out. I got back to my car, doused myself in hand sanitizer, and went straight home. Later that day, I realized that I couldn't smell anything. I was hesitant to tell George because I didn't want to be locked up in a room by myself for 14 days. But I did the right thing. I quarantined myself and got tested. It took ten days for my results to get back to me, but I was sure I had it. I was coughing, had shortness of breath, going to the bathroom made me feel like I had run a marathon. I had so much resentment for that stupid sign. 2020 was totally sucking, but I am happy to say I have made a full recovery, including regaining my sense of smell.

It's been a prolonged year. It's August, and losing Soggy seems like something that happened ten years ago. Since March, George and I have started a nightly routine of drinking hot tea on the front porch in the evenings before bed. This past Friday, during our porch time, we came up with a crazy idea. What if we went on a road trip out to California and back? We talked for over an hour; I gushed about my love for California; it's my home. The next morning when I opened my eyes, George was already awake, he greeted me with his bright blue eyes and sparkling smile, "So, are we doing this?" I knew exactly what he was talking about, "Yes!"

At breakfast, we had a more serious discussion about it. Could we actually travel across the country with only a few day's notice? More importantly, could we travel across the country during a pandemic? I guess the even more important question was actually, should we travel across the country during a pandemic? I know that the most obvious answer is no, we shouldn't. But I had spent most of 2020 indoors, and our recent venture out to Americus, Georgia, had me aching to travel again. So I justified it like this: we want to go. That's it. Now, I'm not thinking that I'm immune to COVID just because I already had it, and I don't believe that a mask is going to protect me from everything, and I'm not one of those people that's like, "Fuck the coronavirus, I do what I want." But I am someone who wants to enjoy life, and see the world. So we decided that we would go, and we would be as careful as possible. As someone that's done a decent amount of traveling, I was very uncertain about how exactly we'd have a fulfilling vacation with so many things being different. So we packed our things, and plenty of hand sanitizer and face masks, and we headed out on the road.  

Our first stop was New Orleans, Louisiana. While I had been to Louisiana many times, I had never been to New Orleans, and George visited last when he was eight years old. So it would be a new experience for both of us. The first day of the trip included driving through Alabama and Mississippi. When I was younger, I looked really young. I mean, when I was in 7th grade, I could have passed for seven years old. I spent nearly all junior high feeling insecure, and like I was being judged for what I was wearing because my mom would dress me in matching short sets meant for 7-year-olds. I thought those feelings had long been forgotten until I wore a face mask in Alabama. At one of our restroom stops, there was even a man that looked at me, smirked, and stood so close he was touching my shoulder as he browsed the donut case. He let out a light chuckle as I immediately stepped away, not just because of COVID, but because, ew!

We arrived in New Orleans around 3 pm, and checked into our Hotel. We had a goal to try to spend no more than $50 per night on hotels and had managed to find a Motel 6 for $47 per night taxes included. I love staying at fancy 4-star hotels, which probably goes without saying, because who really is against luxury? That said, I'm not above staying somewhere cheap, especially if it means more money for my favorite part of travel; the food. It was everything you'd expect a $47 per night motel to be, no-frills, and pretty shabby. The room itself was okay; they provided us with two towels, a tiny soap, and sheets that looked clean, minus the cigarette burns. We wiped everything in the room down with disinfectant wipes (just to make sure.) After resting awhile and getting cleaned up, we headed out to check out the French Quarter about which we'd heard so much. I was delighted with the Creole townhouses and cottages that lined the streets, New Orleans Square was always my favorite area of Disneyland as a kid, and seeing the real-life version was very exciting. We decided to go for a walk down Canal Street and Bourbon street because as tourists, that was our job. It wasn't terribly crowded, but there were still plenty of street performers out filling the air with music and a sense that everything was fine, and life is entirely normal, which is everything I would expect from Louisiana in general. The city's downside was a massive homeless population and panhandlers that ask for money seemingly every few feet. We decided to risk going inside a restaurant for dinner; we ate at Olde Nola Cookery, which we found based on online reviews. We both had catfish, which was terrific, and the restaurant staff took extra care to keep germ free. They wore masks properly, gloves when serving food, and even had digital menus so that we didn't have to touch a menu used by anyone else. After dinner, we were exhausted from our trip and returned to our rented rat's nest to sleep.

We awoke the next morning at 7 am, and by eight we were out at breakfast. We chose Two Chicks Cafe because it was highly rated for breakfast, and it didn't disappoint. We had their special eggs Benedict, with a cajun hollandaise sauce, and a croissant instead of an English muffin. The croissant was decent, not the delicate thousand-layer dream you'd get from an authentic French Bakery, but far from a Pillsbury recent roll. It was a respectable croissant. The poached eggs were really poached eggs; they didn't use any kind of egg-poaching device, someone actually poached this egg with expert skill.

After breakfast we stopped by the Metairie Cemetery, these beautiful old cemeteries are something I've always wanted to see, and I was so happy that we got to stop. We're now on our way to Dallas Texas!