#when i tell you i fell down the stairs after receiving this notification

[littlebamflamb]

Dublin Comic Con 2023

[daddyjackfrost]

i wanted a kenma fic so i wrote one.

hehe

prompt 4: “Go home.” 

kenma x f!reader (hurt/comfort) (soft kinda)

You took off your shoes, quietly making your way up the stairs. You had texted Kenma almost four times over the last two hours, telling him you were coming over. 

It was Wednesday, which meant that it was supposed to be Kenma’s day off, though when you received a notification from his twitch, you knew that he was streaming. 

You climbed the stairs, a small smile on your face. You were holding a paper bag from your and Kenma’s favourite bakery. You hadn’t seen Kenma in a few days, and all you wanted to do was lay in his arms as you ate some apple pie, even though you didn’t love it like he did. 

You knocked on Kenma’s door twice, and when you didn’t hear anything besides his quiet mumbles to the screen, you spoke. 

“’Zume? I’m coming in.” 

You pushed the door open and your eyes fell on Kenma’s hunched figure, his fingers pressing keys rapidly. You knew that Kenma hadn’t realized you were here, so you just quietly laughed and put the pie down on his side table.

You stretched your arms and let out a small groan, this caught Kenma’s attention. 

Quickly, Kenma turned his head to find you standing in the middle of his room, your eyes met his confused ones, and you smiled at him.

You heard voices on the other side of Kenma’s screen and your eyes zeroed in on the chat that began to flood. 

“Hey, babe,” you greeted him.

Kenma just turned around, his hands going back to his keyboard. Your smile tugged down but you didn’t let his lack of reaction get to you. When Kenma was streaming or playing, everything else was below it. 

Sometimes even you. 

You plopped down on his bed, your phone in your hands. Now that Kenma knew you were here, maybe he’d end his stream early. You almost laughed, yeah right. 

You scrolled through your phone for almost an hour when your body began to ache. You weren’t in the most comfortable position, and you wanted to cuddle your boyfriend.

Quietly, you got up off the bed and lightly tapped Kenma’s shoulder.

“What y/n?”

You paused, retracting your hand. You rubbed your arm as you stood behind Kenma. “Oh, uh, I just wanted to sit on your lap.”

Kenma muted his mic and turned his chair to look up at you. You stared down at him, your eyes meeting his golden ones. His hair was up in a bun and he looked absolutely breathtaking. 

“Why are you here, y/n? I didn’t say you could come over.” 

You licked your lips, your eyes slightly widening. “I texted you, but you didn’t respond.”

Kenma scoffed. “Well obviously I didn’t answer you for a reason.” 

You frowned and tilted your head to the side, put off because of Kenma’s sudden harsh behaviour. Kenma had never denied you like this before. In fact, he always encouraged you to sit on his lap while he gamed. He claimed that there was nothing better than having his favourite person with him as he did his favourite activity.

Before you could say anything, Kenma rolled his eyes and turned his chair back around. “Go home, y/n. I don’t want you here right now.” 

You slightly nodded, taking a few steps back. You didn’t say anything as you grabbed your phone and made your way downstairs and out of his house. 

It hurt, having Kenma tell you to go home. You hadn’t seen him in a few days because you were busy with your studies and Kenma was busy with his gaming. He hadn’t really texted you and you made the first move. Except now, you wondered if you should have just stayed home and let him come to you.

You shrugged off the negative thoughts and made your way home. You would just avoid Kenma for a few days until he came to his senses. You knew that before you, gaming was everything to him, but even with you in his life, you couldn’t help but think that you were still second to his computer and devices. 

So much for shrugging off negative thoughts.

You opened your front door and trudged past your mother’s slightly concerned face. You made your way upstairs and immediately fell onto your bed, just wanting to sleep. 

Kenma finished his stream about two hours after you had left. He hadn’t even realized that you had gone home, so when he said goodbye to his viewers and stretched, turning his chair around, he was surprised to see his room empty. 

His cat-like eyes scanned the room for you, and he frowned when he realized he was alone. Kenma’s eyes narrowed at the brown paper bag on his table and he walked over, his lips parting at the smell of his favorite pie hitting him square in the chest. 

Kenma opened the bag to see a small apple pie boxed in pink, with two forks sitting on top. Kenma’s brows furrowed. Where were you?

Kenma grabbed his phone, turning on his ringer and taking it off Do Not Disturb. He had a bad habit of making himself unreachable when he gamed. 

Kenma’s eyes scanned the messages you had sent earlier in the day and a small bubble of guilt popped in his stomach. The words he had said to you came back to him like a wave crashing a cliffside, and his thumb hovered over the Call button. God, he felt like an ass. 

After a few small hesitant moments, Kenma pressed it, hoping to call you and apologize. After a few rings, Kenma heard your voicemail and he let out a small sigh. He ended the call and typed out a message instead. 

‘Sorry, y/n. Let’s meet at your locker tomorrow.’ 

You stared at the message with wide eyes. You didn’t want to see Kenma right now, especially since it was only after you left and he told you to go that he realized he was being an ass. 

You didn’t respond and threw your phone on the bed.

You would just deal with it later. You laid in bed and closed your eyes.

Waking up, you got ready as fast as you could. You wanted to be in class before Kenma even got to school. A part of you wondered if you were being petty. Were you? You shook your head, staring at yourself in the mirror. 

When you made your way to class, people smiled at you, some waving. You could only manage small smiles. You were part of the Student Council, and you had arranged a dance last month. The students had all loved you for it.

You quickly opened your locker, wanting to grab your books and then be in class, but of course, luck was not on your side.

Your locker door closed suddenly and you jumped. Your eyes met Kuroo’s dark ones, and the third-year smiled at you.

“Hello, y/n. How are you this fine morning?”

You smiled at him, hoping the ever observing captain couldn’t see through you. “I’m okay, Kuroo. How are you?”

Kuroo’s eyes narrowed at you and you gulped. His eyes fell on your forced smile and his smirk fell from his lips. “Hey, y/n. You okay?”

You quickly nodded and pried your locker door open again, grabbing your books. “Yup, I’m fine. Just a bad night, I suppose.”

You quickly turned around and walked away from the confused captain.

Kenma found Kuroo at your locker, looking a bit lost. 

“What are you doing here?”

Kuroo looked up at Kenma, his eyes taking in Kenma’s pursed lips. A bad night, huh?

Kuroo straightened himself and then pointed to where you had gone. “They went that way.”

With a small nod, Kenma walked towards your classroom. His eyes scanned the room until they fell on you in the back. Your head was down and you were typing away at your phone.

Kenma pulled out his phone and texted you.

‘Can you come outside?’

Your eyes scanned the message and you looked up, meeting Kenma’s eyes. You silently cursed yourself and nodded, getting up.

You slowly walked outside, standing in front of Kenma.

Kenma’s hand were in his pockets, he unconsciously rocked back and forth. Once you stood in front of him, Kenma looked at you.

“I’m sorry, y/n. I shouldn’t have told you to go home yesterday.”

You smiled and nodded at him. “It’s okay, Kenma.”

Kenma frowned. Now he knew that it was not okay. Not when you couldn’t make eye contact with him for more than three seconds. Still, Kenma nodded, hoping that over the week, he could make it up to you.

He couldn’t. Kenma couldn’t make it up to you because you avoided him. And you did a good job at it as well.

No matter how many times Kenma tired, he could not seem to catch you. You would answer his texts as curtly as possible, and make excuses whenever he asked to see you. It’s not that you wanted to be petty, you just couldn’t help it. Kenma had been neglecting you for some time and now all of a sudden he wanted your attention? Now that you weren’t there? It made you upset.

It was four days after he had told you to go home where he finally got to you. Kenma had been watching you like a predator all day. He needed to find you in a secluded area so he could confront you, and lunch was the perfect time.

Kenma leaned against the wall beside the women’s washroom. As soon as you exited the washroom, a firm hand grabbed your wrist and pulled you into a chest.

You struggled against Kenma’s hold, trying to push him away.

“Stop struggling, y/n.”

And you did. You dropped your hands and stood limp as Kenma hugged you. He tightened his hold around your waist and dropped his forehead on your shoulder.

“I’m so sorry. I am. I feel terrible. I know i’ve been neglecting you for gaming, and I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. Let me make it up to you, yeah?”

You nodded softly, bringing your own arms around his thin waist.

“I don’t want to be second to gaming, Kozume. When you told me to go home it hurt, and I didn’t like it.”

Kenma nodded, pressing a small kiss to your exposed neck. “m’sorry, babe. I’ll be better.”

You tightened your hold on your boyfriend with a smile on your face.

“I know.”

yuh babyyyyyy

this was soft

taglist: @h-grangerstudies @ackerpotato @snoozless @elektrosonix @howcanyoubreathewithnozaire

OH LOOK AT THIS—

pls hes so cute i just wanna kiss him

daddyjackfrost © 2021 | all content belongs to me, do not modify

[aereres]

Ready - Sidney Crosby

Summary: Sidney Crosby - ex NHL star, the new coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the man every woman could wish for, a proud father. His daughter, Lily, is his ray of sunlight, the person he'll always love unconditionally, and when his new girlfriend walks in the picture, things take a turn.

A/N: @beauvibaby​ received an ask about this amazing concept and let me write something about it! Thank you sm girl! ❤️ Definitely not one of my best works or something I’m really proud of, but I decided to publish it anyway

Word Count: 7,4k

Warnings: talks of divorce and absent parent, swearing, mentions and allusions to sex, shitty ass writing

Nerves were eating you alive as you waited on the Crosby household’s front steps, your heart hammering against your ribcage. It wasn’t the new environment - you had been inside the mansion many times before - but rather the new acquaintance you were going to make.

She was a character constantly mentioned throughout the first stages of yours and Sidney’s relationship, a really important character. Lily - short for Elizabeth - was Sidney Crosby’s fourteen-year-old daughter, and as much as it scared you to meet your boyfriend’s daughter for the first time, you couldn’t avoid it any longer.

The front door opened quickly, snapping you out of your anxiety-induced trance to meet Sidney’s dark eyes, the smile on his face reassuring you just lightly. “Hi,” he said, voice gentle as always as he took in your sundress-clad body. “Come in, sweetheart,”

The cake you had made for the occasion was slipped out of your hands after a quick second, and Sidney’s hands were soft on your skin as he led you towards the kitchen with a hand on your smaller back.

“Smells good,” you whispered, leaning on the tip of your toes to press a kiss to his cheek. You let your head rest on his shoulder as you looked around the house again, remembering the familiar couch where you had cuddled together many times before, but also the kitchen aisle where more than just breakfast had happened.

Your cheeks heated up as the memories replayed in your head, extremely not appropriate for that moment. You were just about to meet his daughter, why were you thinking about your private time with him?!

“Dad, Kailynn is asking if I can go to her sleepover on Friday,” an unfamiliar voice said from the distance, the sound of footsteps making you panic. You distanced yourself from Sidney, smoothing the material of your sundress just before the younger girl walked inside the kitchen, her eyes focused on her phone.

“Lily-”

“Please? There won’t be any boys, I promise,” she interrupted her father, head still down to face her device.

“Lily, this is my girlfriend, Y/N,” Sidney’s words seemed to snap her attention towards him, her eyes settling on you before giving you a once-over. “Y/N, this is my daughter, Lily,”

“Hi,” you smiled her way, her hand shaking yours hesitantly as she analyzed you. “It’s so nice to meet you, Lily,”

She didn’t reciprocate your words, keeping silent as she sat down at the dining table, looking down at her phone again. You bit your lip, holding back a saddened sigh as you stayed by Sidney’s side, playing with your fingers.

He seemed to sense your discomfort, pushing you closer to his side as he finished cooking, plating the food for the three of you in silence. You found yourself sitting in front of Lily a few minutes later, her eyes looking at you as you awkwardly ate, your hands cold.

“Lily, will you stop that?” Sidney scolded her, dropping his fork on the table as he faced his daughter.

“Stop what?”

“Making things awkward,” he sighed, shaking his head as he poured you a glass of water. “How was school today?”

“Normal,” she mumbled, picking at her peas as she chewed on some salmon. “So, how did you two meet?”

“Oh-” your eyes widened, not ready for her question. “I work as a physiotherapist for the Penguins,”

“So you met at work?”

“Yes,” you nodded your head, taking a sip of your water to push down the lump in your throat.

“Are you in like, college or something?” Lily mumbled, making her father sigh out loudly.

“Elizabeth-”

“She just looks really young, dad!” Lily exclaimed, giving you another once-over as she waited for your answer.

“It’s fine,” you smiled Sidney’s way reassuringly. “I’m twenty-seven, I graduated college a couple of years ago,”

“Dad, what the hell?!”

Your eyes snapped up from your plate when she raised her voice, staring right at her father with anger as she waited for an answer. “She’s basically half your age!”

“Don’t talk about her like that,” Sidney warned her. “I can easily call Kailynn’s mom and tell her you’re not going to the sleepover if you don’t drop the attitude,”

“Whatever, I’m not hungry anymore,” she spat out, pushing her plate away before folding her arms over her chest, a scowl on her face as she glared at you. “Can I be excused?”

“No,” Sidney said, clenching his jaw before muttering his next words. “Y/N was kind enough to make your favorite cake, so you’re not excused,”

“Cheesecake?”

“Yes,” you breathed out, sending her a quick smile as you stood up to grab the container inside their fridge. “Your father told me you’ve always liked it,”

She hummed absentmindedly as you helped Sidney take the almost-cleared plates to the kitchen, focusing on the dessert just a few minutes later. You handed her a slice, cutting yourself and Sidney your own pieces as she tasted the cake, an unimpressed look on her face.

“It good, Lily?” Sidney asked with a smile, pressing a small kiss to your cheek when you handed him his plate. She took a few seconds to respond, standing up from her chair and grabbing her phone from her back pocket, checking the notifications before looking up at you and Sidney again.

“Mom’s recipe will always be better,”

She was out of the dining room just seconds later, leaving a saddened you and a pissed-off Sidney on your own. “Elizabeth!” Sidney yelled after the teenager, clenching his jaw when he got no response.

You sighed out as you ran a hand through your hair, sitting down to enjoy your cake in silence as you tried not to get too affected by Elizabeth’s behavior. “Y/N, I’m so sorry,” Sidney whispered, shaking his head as he sat down next to you, his hand grasping yours on top of the table. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her, she’s never been like that,”

“It’s okay, Sid,” you smiled sadly, putting your feelings aside for one moment to send him a smile. “I probably should have paid more attention to what I was saying,”

“It’s not your fault, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I’ll go talk to her later. Now, let’s enjoy some cake,”

You smiled his way before you pushed your fork to your lips, another bite of the dessert filling your mouth. Your mind moved elsewhere as you thought about the events of the night, and how much Lily’s words had affected you.

You were sure there was more to her, that maybe it just wasn’t the right time. You were convinced she was actually as amazing as Sidney had described her to be: kind, always smiling, the best daughter anybody could ask for.

Thinking about everything Sidney had said about her really made you realize just how close the two of them were, just how much he cared about her. So you gave yourself a mission, a goal.

You were going to make her change her mind about you.

-----

“And God, he was so rude!” You giggled, head resting against Sidney’s chest as you pushed a raspberry in your mouth. “Like, I just asked for this ointment and he literally side-eyed me,”

Sidney chuckled, letting his hand smooth the skin of your thigh as his eyes held yours, fondly smiling your way. “And what did you do?”

“I just paid and left. What else could I do?” You spoke, running a hand through your hair as your eyes focused back on the TV, where a quite boring reality show was playing. “How was work?”

“The usual,” Sidney stated, one of his hands linking with yours as he kept silent, eyes definitely elsewhere. “Evelyn called last night,”

Evelyn. Lily’s mother.

“Said she needed another check to take care of Lily,” Sid sighed, rubbing his forehead as he thought about the conversation again. “My checks are always abundant, generally more than what she could spend for Lily on the weekend, so I don’t get it,”

You sighed, your thumb caressing the back of his hand as the room fell silent. You had wished many times to learn about their situation, just why he had become a single father at such a young age, or why Evelyn had always been barely mentioned throughout the various months spent together.

It was always a silent wish, though, something you kept to yourself. Sidney needed to bring the conversation out on his own, whenever he felt ready. And you were willing to wait.

“I’m home!”

“Hey, Lily,” Sidney called back, muting the TV as you heard various items hitting the floor of the entrance hall. “How was tutoring?”

“Boring,” she sighed, her footsteps coming closer to the living room second after second. By the time she reached the doorway, her eyes found yours, her rather smiley face turning into a frown. “She’s here,”

“Hi,” you smiled, ignoring her glare and Sidney’s clenched jaw. “I brought some snacks, they’re in the kitchen if you’re hungry,”

“No, thank you,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “I’ll be in my room,”

With that, she was out of the room, running up the stairs before Sidney could even try to get mad at her. He sighed, rolling his head back against the couch as he closed his eyes. “I’m sorry about that,” he mumbled, his free hand playing with the ends of your hair as you pushed yourself closer to his body. “I’ve talked to her after dinner, the other day, and I was hoping she’d stop,”

“It’s okay, Sid. I get her,” you whispered, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek as you looked into his dark eyes. “I’d be like that too, if I was in her place,”

Sidney fell silent again, your eyes scanning his face as he focused on the wall in front of him, a serious look on his face. “Hey, mister serious,” you mumbled, positioning yourself on his lap as your hands cupped his cheek, bringing his lips to yours. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”

“Okay,” he said with a sigh, stealing another kiss from your lips before you could pull yourself off his lap. “Where are you going, babe?”

“I’ve got dinner with my friend Sarah,” you reminded him, slipping on your shoes in a rush as you felt his eyes on you.

“Right,” he said, his hands finding your waist as he pulled you closer, your body standing between his spread legs. “Call me later?”

“Of course,” you whispered, leaning down to kiss him once more, struggling to pull away when his hands wandered to your ass. “Hands off, mister. I’m going to be late,”

“I know, I know,” he mumbled, pecking your lips again. “I love you,”

Your heart still hammered against your ribcage whenever he mentioned those three words, no matter how many times you heard them coming from him. “I love you, too,”

Before you could leave the house, you noticed that one of the bags of chips you had brought over was missing. Specifically, the one brand Sidney had told you Lily loved, and you were sure it was still there before the teen came home. She took it.

You left the Crosby household with a smile, that afternoon.

-

“What? No,” you scoffed, digging your fork in your salad as you looked at your friend. “Sarah, drop it. She’s not a brat,”

“Well, it sounds like it,” she rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her wine before she kept the conversation going. “She’s been giving you hell ever since she met you,”

“But I get her,” you admitted. “I’m crossing her territory and she’s not happy to have me there, especially since I’m dating her father,”

“She literally mentioned your age gap as if you were still underage dating her father, Y/N,” Sarah spat out, her eyebrows raised as she spoke the truth, a sigh leaving your lips. “Didn’t she mention she didn’t like your cake? Where did her manners go?”

“She said her mother’s recipe would always be better,” you mumbled, pushing your food around the plate as you really thought about the situation.

“She basically told you your cake sucks,” Sarah said, honesty coming out of her words as she stared at you. “Y/N, you deserve better than that, come on,”

Biting your lip, you sighed. Sarah was right, you didn’t deserve Lily’s treatment, and you didn’t want Sidney’s relationship with Lily to be destroyed all because of you. That was a nightmare that, in some ways, often kept you up at night. You would have never forgiven yourself, if you ruined Sid’s relationship with his own daughter.

“Listen, I’m in love with Sidney,” you admitted, running a hand through your hair. “And I will try my best to make things work between Lily and me,”

“That’s good,” Sarah mumbled. “But I still think you deserve to be treated better, especially by a girl half your age,”

“I know,” you sighed. Silence set between you and your best friend as you ate in silence, both of you clearly in your own thoughts.

“You did deliver a hot guy, though,” Sarah started, holding back laughter when you giggled. “I mean, a total DILF, so I get you,”

“Sarah!”

-----

You were humming under your breath, getting the studio clean and tidy at the end of the day with a smile on your face. It was Friday - almost the weekend - and you wanted nothing more than to go home, enjoy a glass of wine in front of the TV, and maybe even chat a little with Sidney, if he was free.

There was something about the weekend that had always made you happy, ever since you were a kid. In elementary school, you were able to spend entire Saturdays and Sundays outside with your neighbors, playing together until the sun would go down; in middle school, you used to take Saturdays to go out with your friends; while in high school, the weekend would be the only free time for awkward dates.

The weekends had taken a turn in college, where you’d get hammered on Friday nights, and spend the rest of your free days trying to recover from the hangover with your friends. They’d become messy, headache-filled, but still the best days of your life.

A knock on the opened door snapped you out of your nostalgic trance, making you sharply turn around to see Sidney standing by the threshold, a smile on his face. “Hey,”

“Hi, coach,” you smiled, his body embracing yours in a soft hug as he pressed a swift kiss to the top of your head. “What are you doing here?”

“Just came by to see you before I leave,” he mumbled, his face settling in the crook of your neck as he let his lips press a few kisses on your neck. You hummed, leaning into his touch as his hands inched closer to your hips, pulling you firm against his toned chest. There wasn’t room for words as he turned you around, his mouth finding yours hungrily as the two of you acted like teenagers again.

His lips were soft, but their movements were anything but gentle. You had to refrain yourself from letting out a whine - remembering you were still at your workplace and that people were still most certainly around - as your hands made their way in his hair, his arms picking you up and propping you on your desk.

“Come back to mine,” he whispered, breathing uneven as he pushed some strands of hair out of your face.

“What about Lily?” You asked, biting on your bottom lip as he leaned down to press a few other kisses on the side of your neck.

“She’s at her mother’s,” he grumbled, his lips finding yours again in another heated kiss as you smiled, arms wrapping around his neck as you enjoyed another moment with him. Your legs wrapped themselves around his waist, pulling him closer to you just as his hands started to undo the first few buttons of your blouse.

His head dipped to the newfound skin, your head lulling back as pleasure shot down to your core, your mind not thinking straight anymore. His mouth was on yours again after just a few minutes, his hands gentle on your lower back as he kept you close.

His phone was what snapped the two of you out of your trance, your bodies parting as he tugged the device out of his pocket, his brows furrowing when he saw who was calling. There was no hesitation when he accepted the call, his phone pressed to his ear immediately.

“Lily? What’s wrong?”

Your eyes met his worried ones at the mention of his daughter, waiting for any kind of information as he kept silent. “She hasn’t come to pick you up?!” He spoke, clearly angry. Your legs clenched at the sound of his pissed-off voice, but you forced yourself to put the heated making-out session behind you and focus on the moment. “Lily, practice ended an hour and a half ago,”

They exchanged a few other words before Sidney sighed a quick ‘I’m on my way’, pushing his phone back in his pocket as he helped you down the desk. “C’mon, let’s go,”

“You want me to come?” You hesitantly asked, knowing it probably wasn’t the best to intrude between him and Lily.

“Please,” he sighed under his breath, rubbing his forehead as you buttoned up your blouse again. “I’m so sorry, I ruined everything,”

“Hey, hey,” you were in front of him in a second, cupping his cheeks as your eyes met. “It’s no big deal. Let’s go get her now,”

He nodded his head, waiting for you to lock the office before the two of you were headed towards his car, speeding off through the streets of Pittsburgh in silence. Sidney seemed tense, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he stopped the car in front of the gym, where his daughter was standing. When she opened the backseat door, you heard the soft thud of her duffle bag hitting the car floor, soon followed by her silently sitting down.

“You should have called earlier, Elizabeth,” Sidney sighed after starting the car again, his voice slightly rising. “It’s cold outside, why did you even stay there waiting?”

“Can we not have this conversation in front of your girlfriend? Thanks,” Lily muttered, clearly annoyed at your presence. You repressed a sigh, the car filling with silence as you looked out of the window.

“Lily, it’s dark outside, God knows what could have happened to you!” Sidney yelled, carding a hand through his hair as he stopped at a red light, his emotions getting the best of him. “I need you to answer me. Why didn’t you call me?”

Elizabeth stayed in silence, arms folded over her chest as she looked straight ahead, eyes on the street. Silence set between the teenager and her father as he waited for an answer, his jaw clenching as he kept his eyes on the road, almost home. “Elizabeth?”

“I thought she was going to come and get me!” She yelled. “I wanted her to come and get me!”

Sidney had just parked inside their garage, and with her last words, she left the car. She shut the door angrily, leaving you and her father on your own inside the vehicle in silence. A sigh left his lips as he rubbed his face with the palms of his hands, clearly tired.

He hopped out of the car after a few minutes, helping you out of your seat as you silently made your way inside the Crosby household. Lily was nowhere to be seen, the living room was silent, and so was the kitchen. You guessed she was in her room, the place you had learned she loved the most.

Sidney didn’t talk much throughout the night, exchanging a few words with you just to order dinner and to ask you to stay the night. It was a no-brainer for you, with a whispered ‘yes’ you smiled his way, feeling reassured when he sent you a small smile back.

He seemed to be unreadable, no kind of emotion showing as he mumbled something about going to take a shower, his voice barely a mumble. Lily’s plate of food was sitting in front of you, her chair empty. It felt quite lonely to sit on your own at an empty table.

You grabbed her plate, walking towards the kitchen to heat it up as you let your thoughts crowd your mind, a long sigh leaving your lips. It was clear that with her words she wanted to express how much she wished for her mother to actually take care of her, to treat her like a daughter.

You dragged yourself up the stairs with her plate in one of your hands, your nerves yelling at you to go back downstairs. When you were faced with her door, you studied the banner with her name attached to it: it was a deep shade of purple, definitely a big contrast to the white wood of the door.

With your last ounce of courage of the night, you knocked on her door. “Lily? I brought you food,”

There was no answer from her, so you took it upon yourself to leave her plate on the floor, guessing she might have wanted to eat on her own. You headed towards the master bedroom soon after, closing the door behind yourself when you saw Sidney standing inside the ensuite, only clad in a pair of boxers.

You walked up to him, circling his waist with your arms as you let your cheek rest against his back. “I brought her food,” you whispered, pressing a kiss on his shoulder blade.

“Thank you,” Sidney sighed, letting one of his hands slip inside yours. “For everything,”

“Don’t worry about it,”

You stayed like that for a while, your body close to his as he got himself ready for bed, parting only when you decided to take a shower, too. When you climbed in bed next to him, he seemed to be snapped out of a trance, his arms embracing you in a hug.

“I can’t believe Evelyn didn’t pick her up,” Sid sighed, burying his face in your hair. “It was clear in court, she needs to take care of her daughter,”

“Why is she so distant with Lily?” You asked, voice as thin as a whisper as you traced the prints on his shirt with the pad of your index finger.

“I have no idea,” Sidney mumbled. “Ever since we got divorced it’s like she hates the kid that we’ve both created,”

He stayed in silence for a while, carding a hand through your hair as he wondered whether it was a good time to let you inside his life even more, to talk about his past and tell you one of the most important stories of his life. The story of his daughter.

“You know, we wanted her,” Sidney started after pushing all his internal worrying aside. “We had been married for a year, and we were ready for a baby. Evelyn fell pregnant after a few months of trying and we were more than happy to finally build a family.

“Lily was born a little earlier than expected, but she was healthy, and we were happy. I spent almost an entire year off, I was training but not going to games, while Evelyn worked from home, we were organized.

“By the time Lily started elementary school, I went back to playing hockey full-time but Evelyn wasn’t happy with it anymore, so she decided to get a divorce. I- I didn’t think she was feeling that way, I felt so shocked,” he mumbled, his arms tightening around your body. “We went to court, I was able to see Lily only during the weekends, and I could tell she wasn’t happy with her mom.

“I had teachers calling me, telling me nobody had picked her up, or that she had no lunch for the day. Lily even went as far as to say something about the entire situation to a friend, who later told her mom, who told the teacher that later enlightened me about the fact that my kid wasn’t being treated right by her own mother,” he sighed, your eyes veiled by a layer or tears at the heartbreaking story.

“So I dragged her to court and I was able to get custody of Lily on the weekdays. Truly the best day of my life after the day Lily was born,” Sidney spoke, his fingers drawing shapes on your smaller back as silence filled the room again.

“You’re a good father, Sid,” you whispered, letting your forehead rest against his. “Don’t ever think otherwise,”

He stayed in silence, carding a hand through his messy curls before settling your body on top of his, his hands oh so gentle on your skin. “It’s late, we should probably go to sleep,” he mumbled, leaning down to press a gentle kiss on your lips. You nodded your head, agreeing with him as you let your head rest against his chest, hearing the sound of his heartbeat. “Good night, sweetheart,”

“Good night,” you whispered, keeping your eyes open for a little longer when he turned off the lights. Sidney seemed scared: scared to not give a good enough life to his daughter, scared that Lily might not feel loved, scared that it could be his fault.

He didn’t deserve it, was what you thought before falling in a deep slumber, wishing he and Lily could feel better by the time dawn rolled around.

-----

“And where exactly do you think you’re going?”

Sidney’s voice snapped your eyes away from your laptop, making you face Lily standing in the middle of the entrance hall. She was wearing a yellow sundress, dark hair pulled up in a ponytail as she slipped on a pair of sneakers, ready to leave the house.

“What do you mean?” She called, facing her father with a confused look. “I have that date? With the brother of the little girl I tutor?”

“A what?!”

You gripped Sidney’s hand over the table when he slightly raised his voice, side-eyeing him as the teenager’s eyebrows furrowed. “A date,” she repeated. “Dad, I asked you last week if I could go, and you said yes,”

Sidney’s own eyebrows furrowed, making you notice all the similarities the two of them shared just then. Even if Sidney’s hair had silver streaks, Lily shared the same dark shade of curls; you could often see them using the same facial expressions, from the confused looks, to the way their noses would scrunch up any time something didn’t make sense to them. Lily was Sidney’s copy, and the best way to really notice it was during arguments, as bad as it sounded.

“Well, I probably wasn’t in my right mind, back then,” he spat out. “You can take your shoes off, you’re not leaving the house,”

“Dad!”

“Elizabeth, you’re too young to go on dates,” Sidney spoke, his palm leaving yours when he folded his arms over his chest. “I don’t even know who this guy is!”

“Dad, you literally know his parents,” Lily whined, carding a hand through her hair as she sighed out. “And we’re only going out for ice-cream,”

“I don’t care,” Sidney stated, stubbornly keeping eye contact with his daughter. “You’re not going out with him, and I won’t change my mind,”

“Sidney,” you scolded him, his eyes moving towards yours as he turned around to face you.

“What? Don’t you agree with me?” He asked, Lily’s distant footsteps making you realize she had gone to her room.

“She’s almost fifteen, Sid, and it’s just an ice-cream date,” you sighed, lifting your eyebrows slightly at his clenched jaw. “I went on my first date when I was her age, and it went just fine,”

Sidney kept silent after your confession, staring straight ahead of himself as you looked at him, waiting for any kind of reaction. Lily had seemed to be hurt by his words, especially since she looked more than happy to go on her first-ever date, and you at least wanted him to realize that.

“Sid?”

“Fine,” he grumbled, sighing heavily as bit the insides of his cheek. “She can go, but only if we tag along,”

You jokingly rolled your eyes at his rule, standing up from your chair to press a swift kiss to his cheek. “I’ll go talk to her,” you whispered, ignoring the way your heartbeat had just picked up at the thought of having an actual conversation with Lily again.

By the time you reached her bedroom door, you were more than nervous. Your hand was shaking as you knocked on the door, waiting for any kind of response from her. “Lily?”

“Y/N, go away. This is not the right moment,” you heard her say, voice strained and distant.

“Lily, I need to talk to you,” you gently said, playing with your fingers. “Can I come in?”

There wasn’t a proper verbal answer, but the door snapped open after a few seconds of shuffling, and you quietly entered the dimly lit room. It felt strange to walk into her personal world, her room representing her in some kind of way.

A large bookcase filled with novels caught your attention from the start, a smile forming on your lips when you noticed the fairy lights that gave the room its quite cozy vibe. Lily was laying on her bed, face buried in her pillow as she stayed in silence, only sniffles coming from her.

“Lily-”

“I just don’t get it,” she sniffled, sitting up as she wiped a few tears from her cheeks. “I asked him, and he was okay with it,”

You felt shocked at how open she was, considering just how much she didn’t want anything to do with you, but sat down next to her. “What was he doing when you asked him?”

“He was on the phone,” she admitted after a beat, playing with her hands in her lap when you sighed, knowing that Sidney was never as concentrated as he usually was when he was on the phone with someone. “But I thought he had put the other person on hold, and that he was listening to me,”

“I know how you feel, Lily,” you admitted, smiling softly at her as you stood up and reached for her mascara sitting on her desk. “When I was your age, my dad was really protective of me, too,”

“He was a little pissed off when I asked him if I could go on a date,” you mumbled, lifting her chin up gently as you opened the small bottle. “But my mom made him change my mind, and I was able to go play bowling with the weird kid that sat behind me in Spanish class,”

Lily suppressed a giggle. “And how did it go?”

“It was really awkward. Never went on another date with him, after that,” you laughed, applying a light layer of makeup on her lashes carefully as she looked up at you. “And you’re ready to go,”

“What do you mean?”

“C’mon get up,” you smiled, holding out a hand to her as you stood up from your spot on the bed. “Your dad is allowing you to go,”

“What?!” The smile on her face was priceless when she processed your words. “Really?”

“At only one condition,” you lifted up a finger, jokingly mocking Sidney’s voice. “You can go, but only if we tag along,”

Lily giggled, nodding her head as she slipped her shoes back on, a smile on her lips as she did so. You were about to leave the room in silence to get ready yourself, but Elizabeth’s voice stopped you.

“Y/N?” She called for you, voice hesitant. Your eyes met, a frown forming on her lips as she tied her shoes. “I’m sorry, for everything,”

“It’s fine, Lily,” you whispered, sending her a reassuring smile.

“It’s not,” was all she said as she stood up. “I wasn’t ready to see my dad with someone else, and you came in, and you’re so perfect, and I don’t know why I acted that way,”

You wrapped your arms around her at her confession, her body reciprocating the hug in just a few seconds as comfortable silence filled the room. You had to hold back a tear as you pulled back, smiling down at her. “We’re fine, Lily,” you whispered. “Now, it’s better if we get going. Don’t wanna be late, do we?”

She smiled up at you, shaking her head before looking back inside her room, mumbling something about having to find her purse. As you made your way down the staircase, the sight of Sidney standing by the front door with a beaten-up look met your eyes, making you chuckle. “Is she okay?” Was all he asked, his hand finding yours when you stepped in front of him.

“More than okay, now that she gets to go on her date,” you whispered, leaning up to press a quick kiss to his lips.

“Are we ready?” Lily yelled from the stairs, a happy smile on her lips as she made her way down in a rush, throwing herself in her father’s arms quickly before opening the door.

“We are,” Sidney spoke, smiling at her silent way of thanking him as he followed her outside, dragging you along by the hand. The drive was filled with soft music from the radio and excited giggles coming from Lily, and by the time you reached the parlor, the teenager was more than ready to throw herself out of the car.

Sidney was about to follow her - probably to have some words with the guy - but you stopped him, a hand on his bicep as you made eye contact. He sighed, understanding what you meant with just a look of your eyes, sitting back in the driver’s seat.

“Have fun, Lily!” You cheered, sending her a smile as she shut her door, waving towards the two of you as she walked away.

The smile on your face didn’t leave as you took a look at Sidney, who was focusing on the rearview mirror a little too much, trying to see Lily and her date and what was happening.

“Oh, Sidney,” you laughed, slipping your hand in his to give his palm a squeeze. “Let them at least grab ice-cream, before you judge the guy,”

“Hey! I’m not judging anyone!” He scoffed, smiling your way when he saw the look of fondness on your face, your hands cupping his cheeks before you leaned in for a kiss.

“Sure, mister serious,”

-----

The sound of the Penguins’ game playing on Sidney’s TV was filling the living room quite loudly, your eyes following the movements on the screen as you mindlessly stuffed your mouth with popcorn.

It was a Thursday night that would have been perfect, if Sidney was home. He had been in Vancouver for two weeks, instead, so far away from you it almost hurt. You had grown so accustomed to his presence around the mansion, after moving in with him and Lily, that it physically hurt to see him leave, even if it was just for a few days.

The house always felt quite empty when it was missing his laughter, or his music that Lily couldn’t stand, or even his booming voice when he heatedly spoke on the phone. In some way, every single part of you was missing him. Sitting in front of the TV on your own often made you realize that: just how lost you felt without him, without his presence, or his support.

On the other hand, Lily was the ray of sunshine that made your days just a little better, when he wasn’t around. Maybe it was the bubbly personality that she had slowly shown you, or maybe the inside jokes you had grown to share.

Lily had opened up to you after the ice-cream date - and even when you had thought things between you and her still felt quite tense, the smile on her face when Sidney had told her you were going to move in was enough to make you think otherwise.

Sidney appeared on the screen for a quick second, but the sound of the front door snapping shut was what brought you out of your thoughts, a smile on your face when you realized Lily had finally come home.

“Hey, Lily!” You got no response from her, only hearing her shoes hitting the floor before she made her way towards the living room. “How was tutoring?”

“Good, until James decided to be a dick,” she sighed, flopping on the couch with her eyebrows furrowed.

“James as in your-almost-boyfriend? The one from the date?” You asked in shock, pushing popcorn in your mouth when Lily nodded her head. “No way,”

“I was doing maths with his little sister, and he had the great idea to interrupt us by coming in with his friends,” Lily started to explain, clearly pissed off at her peer. “They were screaming and it was so hard to hear the little girl talk,”

You shook your head in annoyance, handing her the bowl of popcorns as you focused for a second on the TV, checking the score. The Penguins were winning, but the Canucks weren’t ready to surrender.

“Eventually, they calmed down and went to the living room,” Lily continued. “But I heard them talk about some bet, and it didn’t take a while for it to click in my brain,”

“A bet?!”

“A bet, that’s all the date was!” she repeated, nodding her head at your shocked face as she let her arms fold over her chest. “I confronted him about it and he even tried to play nice and act as if he had been forced to do it!”

“No way,” you whispered, jaw slack as you watched her for any kind of reaction. “I’m so sorry, L,”

“It’s fine,” she huffed, stealing a handful of popcorns as she gave her phone a quick look. “It’s not like he was the best almost-boyfriend anyway,”

You giggled, pulling her closer as the two of you silently watched the game, your heart skipping a beat every time they showed a concentrated version of Sidney - hair perfectly styled and suit neatly ironed.

He seemed tense, eyebrows furrowed as he shared a few words with the team, or watched his players skate around the rink. His concentrated look was something you had fallen for, painting his face so many times on a daily basis you sometimes got worried his muscles got stuck.

Sidney Crosby was fascinating, to say the least.

“Don’t tell dad, though,” Lily whispered from your side, still thinking about what had happened with James. “He already didn’t want me to go on the date with him, if he had to know about this, he’d probably kill James,”

“I won’t, don’t worry,” you whispered back, carding a hand through her hair just as the Canucks scored, making the both of you groan out in unison.

“Oh no,” Lily sighed, giggling soon after. “He’s gonna talk about this goal for the next week, I’m so sure,”

“He is,” you agreed, holding back a chuckle as you stood up from the couch, heading towards the kitchen to grab more snacks for the two of you. “Ready for girls’ night?”

“We’re having girls’ night?” Lily asked, a smile on her face as she looked at you.

“It’s always girls’ night, when your dad’s not home,” you winked, coming back with enough chips and candy to keep you full for an entire weekend. She giggled at your words, shaking her head before heading upstairs to get changed.

As you got settled while waiting for her, you hoped to stay awake just enough to be able to see Sidney. He was supposed to be home early the next morning, and you were willing to stay up the entire night on your own if it meant you’d get to hug him as soon as he’d be back.

When Elizabeth came back down the stairs in her pajamas, she said the words that in some way, reminded you of Sidney. They left his mouth just so often, and you had connected the phrase to him.

“Are we ready?”

You smiled up at the teen, nodding your head as she sat down next to you, draping a blanket over her legs. “Ready,”

-

The sound of Lily’s bedroom door opening woke you up from your deep slumber, your eyes struggling to adapt to the still dark room as Sidney’s frame sat on the bed next to your half-asleep body.

Lily was still lightly snoring by your side, one of her arms holding the bag of chips she had been nursing before falling asleep, the other draped over your stomach. “Hi, baby,” Sidney whispered, carding a hand through your hair as you snuggled your head closer to his thigh.

“Hi,” you whispered back, breathing in his scent as you relished in his closeness. “I missed you,”

“I missed you two more,” he said, bending down to press a quick peck to the top of your head, soon moving towards Lily’s. He stayed in silence for a few moments, your sleepy eyes holding his as you relaxed. He was finally home.

“Let’s get you to bed, sweetheart,” he whispered after a beat, lifting you up in his arms effortlessly just as your eyes started to droop again. With your head against his chest, you sighed in content, letting one of your hands touch his warm skin as if to make sure he wasn’t just a dream.

By the time you were carefully let down onto the expensive - and way too soft - comforter, your eyes were still staring up at his. The covers were pulled over your body by Sidney, giving you just enough time to read the digits on the clock standing on his bedside table.

It was well past three in the morning, the moon still shining in the darkness of the night as you tried to keep yourself awake to enjoy a moment with the love of your life after the two weeks spent apart. He had turned his back to you, his opened button-up sitting on his shoulders as he took his wristwatch off, the sight leaving you speechless.

“You should close your eyes, my love,” he spoke, a gentle smile on his lips as he looked at your mirror reflection. “It’s late,”

“I need you close,” was all you whispered, biting on your lip when he finally undressed, joining your body underneath the warmth of the duvet. He pulled you in closer, his lips meeting yours in a gentle kiss as you tried to keep a few happy tears at bay, way too tired to contain your emotions.

“Sid,” you whispered as soon as you pulled away, catching his attention as he pressed a swift peck to your forehead. “I love you, so much,”

He smiled at you, biting on his lip as his hands rubbed your smaller back. “I love you more, Y/N,”

“I- I feel so empty when you leave,” you admitted, your fingers drawing shapes on his chest as you revealed the feelings you had been developing for months. “You’ve become the best part of me, and I don’t think I could ever be able to live a life without you,”

Sidney was silent as you talked, carding a hand through your hair as he listened to you, trying to impress your words in his mind. “I don’t want to spend my life with anybody else but you and Lily. Fuck, I don’t even know where I would be, if we hadn’t crossed paths.

“I know that maybe it’s too soon, and that it might not be the right time, but I just felt like telling you. You’re the one that I want, for the rest of my life, even when I’m old and ugly,”

Sidney suppressed a chuckle at your words, leaning his forehead against yours as you stopped for a second. “I don’t think you could ever become ugly, darling,” he admitted, his nose touching yours as you giggled softly.

“That’s not my point,” you jokingly slapped his chest, your eyes meeting his again as you formulated your next phrase in your head. “I’ll be waiting for you, Sid. I’ll be here when you’ll be ready,”

He stared at you with a smile as you finished your monologue, his heart beating so fast against your palm it almost got you scared. After splitting with Evelyn, he never thought he’d be ready. He hadn’t been ready to leave the house, the first few days after the divorce. He hadn’t been ready to love someone as much as he had loved Evelyn, until you came along.

It felt like old Sidney came back, when you became part of his life. He was happy, genuinely ready to love again, and you were the angel that made it happen, the reason why he felt ready, after all that time.

“I’m ready,” was everything he said, eyes staring deep into yours as he let his forehead touch yours, his words making your heart leap out of your chest. “I’m ready,”

Taglist: @thirstyybitch​ @bellaguarneri​ @boqvistsbabe​ @trashforbarzal​ @captaindaddies​ @keithseabrook27​ @heatherawoowoo​ @sidscrosbyy​

[refinedbuffoonery]

Looking Through A Window (2)

macriley married undercover au

masterlist.

Oh man. My dudes. I received so much love and support and excited feedback on the first chapter that I thought my heart was going to explode. Y’all are so wonderful. Keep it up. <3

*****

Luckily, Matty lets them take the Phoenix jet to Houston. Flying commercial would make today even more tortuous than it already promises to be, albeit for a different reason. 

No matter how hard he tries to distract himself, Mac cannot stop staring at the diamond ring on Riley’s finger. The princess cut gem is stunning and ridiculously large, but it suits her cover as a lucrative arms dealer. A white gold wedding band sits below it. Riley left her usual assortment of rings at home, and Mac can’t help but think her long, delicate fingers look bare without them. 

He tears his eyes away from the rings again and again, both on the plane and while driving to the safe house. Riley drives with just her left hand, her right elbow resting on the center console. Mac likes driving, but there’s something relaxing about riding shotgun while Riley drives instead. He’s never been able to put a finger on it, but the sense of ease washes over him all the same. Admiring the way sunlight illuminates her engagement ring is simply a bonus. 

He doesn’t let himself imagine what he might give her, in an alternate future where she reciprocates his feelings and one day wants to marry him. 

Harley obediently lays in the backseat, staring out the windshield. She's been on her best behavior the entire twenty four hours Mac's known her, ever the professional. 

Which puts her completely at odds with Mac and Riley's shenanigans—cracking jokes, dancing on the plane and in the car, doing purposefully bad impersonations of Russ. These are the best parts of going on ops alone with Riley. They can let loose in a way they just couldn’t when anyone else other than Bozer was around. Everyone else is professional all the time; Mac and Riley are only professional when they have to be. 

Riley taps the steering wheel in time to the classic rock song on the radio. “What do you want for dinner?” 

“Dinner? We haven’t even had lunch yet!” 

“True.” Riley chuckles. “Can you tell I’m hungry?” 

Mac gives her a sly look. “Not at all.” 

They settle on Texas barbecue for lunch on their way to the safe house, because that’s what Jack would choose if he was here. If only the old man could see them now, all grown up and getting sent to take down terrorists unsupervised. 

Seated in a booth in the far corner of the restaurant, Mac raises his brisket sandwich in a toast to Jack, in whatever afterlife he found himself in. Hopefully it’s the one with an endless supply of good barbecue. 

“Oh man, Jack would’ve loved this,” Riley says through a mouthful of food. She sneaks Harley a piece of brisket. 

Mac smiles. “Yeah, he would’ve.” 

It’s easier, now, to talk about him. At first, Mac hadn’t been sure he could ever get to a point where talking about Jack didn’t make him want to hit something or just curl up and sob. 

But here he is, on the other side. Him and Riley both. 

Their safe house is another twenty minutes away from the restaurant, in a nice neighborhood full of trees and children playing on the sidewalks. It’s so much greener than a California neighborhood could ever dream of being. There’s even a park across the street from their apartment complex. It’s exactly the sort of place a young, affluent couple would want to live. 

Riley parks in their designated space, and the pair ascend the stairs to apartment number 202. Outside of the car, they don’t dare use each other’s real names until they’re sure the apartment is free of bugs. The place was furnished earlier that week by other Phoenix agents, but Mac and Riley do a thorough sweep of every room just in case. 

It’s a nice apartment. Wood flooring, granite countertops, matching cabinets throughout. There are pictures on the walls, but Mac doesn’t bother to stop and check what they are. 

Riley clears the space from back to front, so Mac does the opposite. He clears the kitchen first, frowning at the absence of any sort of food, before moving on to the living room. 

Mac stops dead in his tracks when he enters the bedroom. The singular bedroom. With a singular, queen-sized bed. 

Oh no. This is not happening. 

Mac shakes his head and rubs his eyes, hoping his mind is just playing tricks on him and that there’s actually two beds. Or a whole other room he missed before. 

The one and only bed seems to mock him. 

He walks back out, finding Riley already sitting at the kitchen table, turning on her laptop. “Uhh, Riles? There’s only—”

“One bed,” she finishes, not bothering to look up. “I know.” 

Oh god. He can’t do this. He can’t. Not with his dignity still intact. Mac stammers, “I’ll, uhh, sleep on the couch. You can have it.”

That gets Riley’s attention. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re going to be here for weeks. You’ll hurt your back sleeping on the couch that long. Just sleep with me.” Riley’s eyes widen as she realizes what she just said. “In the bed,” she quickly adds. 

Mac ducks his head to hide his blush. 

“What are you working on?” he asks in a feeble attempt to distract himself from their sleeping situation. Because it will definitely be a situation if Mac’s not careful. 

“Connecting to the Wi-Fi,” Riley says in a slow, “What else would I be doing?” sort of way. 

“Right.” Mac silently curses himself. Of course that’s what she’s doing. “Anyway, I’m assuming you already know this, since you probably opened the fridge too, but we have no food.” 

“I saw.” She’s multitasking again, manicured fingers flying faster across her keyboard than Mac can keep track of. “Why don’t you unload our bags while I finish this, and then we can go.” 

Unable to help feeling like he’s been dismissed, Mac complies without protest. 

Soon they’re back in the car, headed to the grocery store, and the whole thing feels ridiculously domestic. Mac’s never been a fan of grocery shopping, but Riley makes it almost...fun. For starters, she’s not methodical about it the way Bozer and Desi are. But more than that, getting to spend time with her doing mundane, non-work stuff is a nice reminder that their relationship is more than just the job. They’re friends too. 

Mac wishes there is a way to tell her all that without it sounding weird. 

They come home, unload the groceries, and take Harley for a long walk, and that feels easy too. It feels normal, even though literally nothing about this situation is normal, and Mac already knows he’ll miss this when the op is over. 

But normalcy ends when Riley beckons Mac to sit beside her at the kitchen table, and together they write an advertisement for their arms dealing business. Once they’re satisfied with it, Riley sends it off into the dark web, and there’s nothing to do but wait, like a spider after spinning her web. 

The waiting is the worst part. 

Mac is contemplating taking Harley for a second walk when Riley asks, “Want to help me make dinner?” He takes one look at her hands on her hips and the “you don’t actually have a choice” look on her face and knows he’ll be left to fend for himself if he doesn’t help now. Mac learned that the hard way back when he and Riley lived together. 

“Sure.” 

They work in comfortable silence. Mac chops vegetables and grates cheese for their quesadillas while Riley does the actual cooking part. Even though they are doing separate tasks, Mac is acutely aware of every move Riley makes, no matter how insignificant. Flexing her long, thin fingers around a knife. Itching the back of her calf with her foot. Dancing in place, spatula in hand, while she waits to flip the quesadillas sizzling in the pan. 

Mac smiles softly. Her random little dances are cute. He’s noticed them more and more since realizing he has feelings for her, but if Mac is being honest, he’s always thought the dances are cute. 

Riley hisses as she peeks under the tortilla, checking to see if it’s browned yet. 

“You good?” Mac asks, frowning. 

“Yeah, I touched the pan by accident.” Riley runs her thumb under cold water. 

Her laptop dings while they eat. Wide-eyed, Mac glances at Riley. That was fast. She grimaces before sliding the laptop closer and checking the notification. 

“Is it them?” he asks tentatively. That’s the hard part about this; in order for their business to look more legit, they had to just put an ad out and hope for a response, rather than target the terrorist organization directly. 

Riley exhales. “No, it’s not them. It’s someone else.” 

Swallowing another bite of quesadilla, Mac says, “I don’t know whether I’m relieved or if that’s worse.” 

“Same.” 

There are no more responses that night.

*****

Mac wakes up in the same position he fell asleep in—on his side, facing outward, with as much space between him and Riley as possible. When they crawled into bed the night before, Riley did the same. 

Harley spent the night on the couch. 

She’s a very guarded dog, Mac is slowly realizing. Tolerating, but not trusting. Mac supposes he would be like that too if he was a dog and he got stuck with a bunch of strangers after his human suddenly disappeared one day. 

He makes coffee, feeds Harley breakfast, and takes a shower, all before Riley loses her battle with the snooze button and finally gets out of bed. While she showers, Mac takes Harley for a walk in hopes that the cool, spring air will ease the anxiety that took root the moment Riley released their ad into the void. 

It doesn’t. 

Dark, puffy clouds loom on the horizon, and the few birds Mac hears shriek at each other in warning. It looks like a storm is coming. 

When Mac returns, he’s met with a grim expression, one he understands without Riley uttering a single word. “They answered,” she confirms. 

“What did they say?” Unclipping Harley’s leash, Mac moves to stand behind Riley, resting his hands on the back of her chair. The scent of her shampoo tickles his nose, and he forces himself to ignore it and focus on what Riley’s saying. 

“They want to meet. Today.” 

“Time or place?” 

Riley points at a small box on her screen. “Just an address.” 

“What’s there?” 

“A warehouse,” Riley says. “Owned by the same shell corporation other Phoenix techs already tied to the organization.” 

“Not very clandestine, are they?” 

“No, they’re not.” Riley looks up at him, her head bumping his sternum, and butterflies ricochet inside Mac’s rib cage. There’s something soft in Riley’s expression that makes Mac want to kiss her. “Are you ready for this?” 

Mac sighs. “As ready as I ever am. Are you?” 

“Yeah,” she says, but her confidence falters. Without thinking, Mac squeezes her shoulders in reassurance before walking away to change.

*****

The warehouse is located on the edge of the city, in an industrial area that has certainly seen better days. Even from a distance, Mac can see cobwebs decorating the warehouse windows and rust creeping up the roller doors. Aside from Riley, there’s not another soul in sight. 

As per the directions the organization sent after Riley confirmed the meeting, Mac parks on the south side of the building, near the only functional-looking door. He doesn’t look at Riley as they get out of the car, instead desperately trying not to cringe at the cold, heavy weight of the gun holstered at his side, hidden beneath his jacket. 

High-end arms dealers couldn’t walk around unarmed, unfortunately. 

Although her hands are occupied with holding Harley’s leash, there’s a gun hidden beneath Riley’s suit jacket as well. Mac’s stomach churns. The second Riley emerged from their bedroom earlier wearing that jet black suit, she was a different person. She was wholly Genevieve Turner, and no matter how hard Mac tried, he couldn’t find even a single trace of his best friend beneath the icy exterior. 

Locking their SUV, Mac smooths the lapels of his own black suit and slips into character as well. 

The dark clouds Mac noticed earlier are directly overhead now. Mac has never believed in omens the way Jack did, but he can’t help hearing Jack’s voice in his head, warning him that black clouds are a sign of certain doom. Or something like that. 

There’s no one inside the warehouse, at least as far as Mac can see. “Hello?” he calls, the word echoing slightly in the open space. Aside from a few random wooden crates, the room is empty. 

A door slams, and then an older man comes into view. He’s probably in his late fifties, with graying hair and a beer belly his shirt doesn’t quite cover. The man swaggers like he owns the place, although Mac doubts the leader of a terrorist cell would deign to play tour guide. 

No doubt there’s a quip on the edge of Riley’s tongue about entitled white men, but she doesn’t share it. 

The man extends a hand to Mac in introduction. “Conrad.” His sneer doesn’t reach his eyes. 

Mac frowns, keeping his hands at his sides. “Last name?” 

“Doesn’t matter.” 

What he’s about to say might screw everything up before it even starts, but Mac says it anyway. In his gut, he knows it’s the right call. “If it doesn’t matter, then we’re done here. My wife and I have no interest in entering a business relationship with someone too inexperienced to understand that trust is integral to any transaction.” Mac spins on his heel and strides toward the door, Riley falling into step beside him. 

“Wait!” the man calls. They pause, turning around slowly. “Deacon. Conrad Deacon.” The man seems to know he’s already lost. Good. “Welcome to the cause.” He gestures for Mac and Riley to follow him. 

Mac stands his ground. In his peripheral, Riley stands utterly still, the perfect mask of cool, collected neutrality. Almost bored, even. It’s scary how easily she becomes her cover. 

“Come on now,” Conrad says, taking a single step forward. “We have much to discuss.” 

That’s enough of the power play, Mac thinks, but just as he’s about to give in and follow Conrad, Riley utters a single, sharp command that rings through the room. “Sit.” 

Harley obeys. 

Riley’s lips curve in a cruel, taunting smile. “Then enlighten us.” Mac suppresses a shiver; he’s seen this side of Riley plenty of times before, watched her hone it over the years, but it’s still unnerving. Admittedly, it’s also kind of hot. 

Conrad ignores her entirely. He croons, “Why don’t we start with your names?” It’s phrased like a question. It sounds like a question, but Mac sees the demand for what it really is. 

Mac gestures to Riley. “This is my wife, Genevieve Turner. And my name is James.” His father’s name tastes like ash on Mac’s tongue. 

“And the dog?” 

“Killer,” Riley sneers. Mac isn’t sure if she’s kidding or not. 

Again, Conrad doesn’t acknowledge her. “James, why don’t I give you the tour and explain what we do here.” 

“We’ll go on the tour, but we are not here to join your cause.” It takes every ounce of Mac’s willpower to maintain his neutral tone. “All we care about is what you’d like us to provide and how much you’ll pay for it.” 

Conrad doesn’t hide his displeasure. “Fine. Follow me.” 

Mac and Riley are led through the open warehouse. The layout is straightforward and nearly impossible to get lost in. But after Conrad shows them a room full of rifles—countless hung on the walls, floor to ceiling, the rest in half-open crates—Mac finds himself counting the number of wooden shipping crates scattered around the building. 

He doesn’t like his final number. 

Arming terrorists doesn’t sit well with Mac, even if it serves a purpose. It makes him sick, knowing he will likely be indirectly responsible for their next attack. 

Especially because those crates are no doubt full of the kind of rifles designed to kill people most effectively. The ones hanging on the wall are military grade, probably cutting-edge. Desi would know exactly what they are and how they work. 

Trusting Riley is paying close attention, Mac only half listens to Conrad babble about the cause. But then the older man says something that stops Mac in his tracks. “Our country is being run into the ground by whiny do-nothings,” Conrad asserts, “who waste our money and spew garbage that some people matter more than others. Well, you know what? Hardworking, everyday Americans matter. But no,” he scoffs, “those damn liberals don’t like it when we remind them of the truth. Once we’re rid of them and the insufferables who elected them, this country will be better off.” 

The ground sways under Mac’s feet. He knows these people believe this, read it in Matty’s extensive briefing notes. But it’s another thing entirely to hear someone say it to his face. 

He can only imagine what Riley must be thinking. 

Clearing his throat, Mac tries to redirect the conversation. “Like I said, we don’t care about your cause. Just tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll be on our way.” 

Conrad eyes him suspiciously, but complies. “We’re looking for something a little more than what you can get at the store, you know?” 

Mac doesn’t, not exactly. He’ll have to ask Desi later. “I do,” he lies. 

“Good. Here’s what we’re willing to pay for it.” He hands Mac a folded piece of paper, and Mac does a double take when he reads the number. There are a lot of zeroes. “And as a show of good faith, we’d like it delivered tomorrow.” 

“Tomorrow?” Riley splutters. Mac feels it then, the broiling rage slipping through a crack in her persona. He needs to get her out of there. Now. Not just to preserve the op, but for Riley’s wellbeing. Some audacity Matty has making Riley play nice with men like this. 

Mac slides his hands into his pockets, using the movement as a cover to brush his knuckles against Riley’s fist. I know. I’m here. I’m sorry. 

For the first time, Conrad addresses Riley directly. “Yes. Tomorrow. Unless that’s something you can’t do?” 

“We can do that,” she replies calmly, and the difference between her reactions is like night and day. As quickly as that crack appeared, it was gone. 

“Excellent.” Conrad takes another step toward Riley, offering to shake hands, but Harley’s low, menacing growl keeps him at bay. Rewarding the dog with a quick scratch on the head, Riley closes the gap and shakes Conrad’s still-outstretched hand. 

“It’s a deal,” she says. Following suit, Mac shakes Conrad’s hand as well and follows Riley out the door, neither of them uttering another word. 

Mac drives. One look at Riley’s trembling fist decides for him. 

By the time the warehouse disappears from the rearview mirror, he can’t take the silence anymore. “Hey,” Mac starts, but Riley cuts him off with a hand. 

“Not until we’re inside.” 

They hit every single red light between the warehouse and the apartment, and Mac anxiously taps the steering wheel. Raindrops land on the windshield. They’re small at first, but soon the drops are large and numerous enough to refract the streetlights, and Mac struggles to see where he’s going. He adjusts the windshield wipers over and over, never landing on the right speed. 

Too slow. Too fast. Too slow. Too fast. 

Mac settles on a setting that’s slightly too fast, and the squeak of rubber on glass nearly matches his heart thudding in his chest. 

Riley stares straight ahead, unmoving, unblinking. Mac wants to reach out, to let a gentle touch say what he verbally can’t, but the road is slick enough to make him keep two hands on the wheel. We’re almost there, he reassures himself. 

By the time he parks, it’s pouring hard enough that the ten second walk from the car to the door soaks them to the bone. Riley’s hands shake as she unlocks the apartment door. 

Once they’re inside and Mac unclips Harley’s leash, Riley turns to him with pained, pleading eyes. His heart breaking all over again, Mac draws her in for a long, tight hug. She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t have to. 

Mac just cradles the back of her head and sways gently, wishing he could fix the world for her. 

Neither pulls away, even when Riley suddenly says, “If Conrad was smart, he would’ve had someone bug our car while he paraded us around the warehouse. I don’t think he’s actually smart enough to do that, but we should check first, just in case.” 

Mac curses himself for not thinking of that. “Good call.” He rubs Riley’s back, hoping the gesture is soothing. “I hate the way he treated you,” he snarls. “Like you weren’t even worth acknowledging.” 

“Welcome to being a woman.” 

It was more than that. They both know it. But neither say it.

*****

“You need what?” Matty shrieks over the phone. 

Mac winces. “Sorry.” He’d called Desi first, to ask what kind of guns Conrad meant with his innuendo, and received a verbal lashing for not asking any follow-up questions. But she made her best guess anyway. Now on the phone with Matty, it doesn’t take even a single brain cell to know that her reaction will be much, much worse. 

“He wants us to prove ourselves,” Riley adds. “As a show of good faith.” The words come out dripping in venom, but their boss doesn’t comment. Mac takes a second to study her; Riley changed into leggings and an oversized flannel shirt, and there are still remnants of dark makeup smudges under her eyes. Now, she’s sitting on the kitchen counter with her knees tucked into her chest. It’s weird to see her take up so little space. 

Matty sighs, deeply and loudly in a way conveys her annoyance more than words ever could. “Fine. A few weeks ago, Border Control confiscated a huge shipment of smuggled guns near El Paso, so I’ll see if we can borrow those. But next time, Blondie, don’t make promises you can’t keep.” He doesn’t correct Matty in that it was Riley who made the deal. That would only add fuel to the fire. 

“Thank you,” he says, and Matty hangs up. Mac runs a hand through his damp hair. “That went well.” Riley’s lips twitch, but it’s not the amused reaction he hopes for. He’s at a complete loss regarding what to say to her, so Mac gently asks, “What can I do?” 

Riley slides off the counter, and Mac reaches for her automatically, although he doesn’t actually touch her; his hand hovers just beside Riley’s elbow. She doesn’t shrink away, but she makes no move to touch him either. 

“Help me put him and everyone like him in a deep, dark hole where they can’t hurt anybody. And then just…” she trails off, taking a deep breath. “Keep being you.” 

With that, she walks away, leaving Mac alone in the kitchen, racking his brain to figure out what that last part means.

*****

Later that night, Mac tosses and turns, replaying Conrad’s words. Once we’re rid of them and the insufferables who elected them, this country will be better off. They seem off-kilter, like what the man said and what he really meant are misaligned. Mac sighs, rubbing his face. 

Another bolt of lightning illuminates the bedroom, and Mac automatically counts the seconds until he hears thunder rumbling in the distance. The storm is moving closer. 

Beside him, Riley lies on her back with her eyes closed, although her breathing is too light for her to be asleep. Mac wonders if her mind is just as loud and chaotic as his. 

For Riley’s sake, he hopes it’s not.

*****

Sleep never finds Mac. 

The storm rages all through the night, but by the time dawn arrives, the thunder and wind dissipate, leaving just the steady downpour. The clouds are dark enough that Mac can hardly tell the sun even bothered to rise this morning. 

When Riley’s alarm goes off, it’s like the shrill tone is mocking Mac for being awake. Riley groans as she shuts it off. 

“Morning,” he mumbles. His throat hurts. He needs water. “Did you sleep well?”

Another groan. “No.” 

“At least you slept,” Mac mutters.

Riley rolls onto her side, drawing one of the extra pillows into her chest. “Do you always toss and turn that much?”

It was his fault, he realizes, that she didn’t sleep. Mac suddenly feels guilty. “Sorry. And no.” 

He expects Riley to be upset at being kept awake, but she isn’t. With a look that just might be understanding, she softly asks, “What were you thinking about?” 

Mac can’t say that his thoughts whip around his mind like raindrops in last night’s storm. Not without sounding crazy, at least. So instead he says, “I don’t even know. I just have a bad feeling about this.” 

“Me too,” Riley admits. “It feels off.” Her eyes are heavy, and Mac’s had enough early mornings with Riley to know it’s not just the lack of sleep weighing her down. 

“Go back to sleep. I can handle the delivery.” 

Riley rolls her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not letting you do that by yourself.” 

He doesn’t argue. “Okay.” 

A moment passes between them. It’s been happening more and more lately—holding eye contact a little too long, sharing smirks when no one else is looking, stealing moments where it’s just the two of them and nothing else matters. Each one gives him hope that there’s not a wall between them, but instead, a door. Someone just has to be brave enough to open it. 

Sitting up, Riley quipps, “Just don’t make me regret letting you sleep in the bed with me.” Mac snorts. 

“No promises.”

.

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[n0wornever]

Bad Liar - Reggie x Reader

enemies to lovers with reggie, pretty please?🥺

You got it babe ;) This was so tough to write due to the fact that Reggie is a normally a teddy bear, but I did my best!

“Seriously Y/N, you’ve been playing guitar for how long and you’re still making that mistake,” She looked up to see his smart smirk and rolled her eyes, focusing back on her hands on the strings. 

He laughed a little to himself before walking away. She sighed, dropping her fingers from their placements and muttering “tool” under her breath. 

It was never a contest, but they made it one. Even though Reggie and Y/N’s mothers were best friends and the two were forced into playdates since the age of two, the connection never really stuck. What made it worse was when they both started playing music. 

Their bands started playing similar shows and always competed against each other in their school’s battle of the bands. They were both extremely competitive, trying to throw the other one off until after their performances. Y/N grabbed her guitar and walked inside, meeting her mom in the kitchen.

“I saw you talking to Reg outside, how is he doing?”

She scoffed “How would I know mom? We aren’t exactly...close.”

Her mom shook her head “You two used to be so cute when you were little, practically attached at the hip.”

She rolled her eyes as her mother went on her usual nostalgic tirade. She placed her elbows on the table and leaned her cheeks against her hands as she watched her mom talk. 

She daydreamed about her band’s next performance. The battle of the bands was two weeks away and Jocelyn, Flynn and herself were barely ready. It was hard enough when Julie broke it to them that she was leaving the band to join Reggie’s but when she walked past the phantoms rehearsing the other night, she knew that they were next level. She had to step up her game too as their new lead singer. 

She pulled out her phone and texted the band group-chat.

“Rehearsal tomorrow?”

Flynn replied in seconds “Duh, of course” 

Joce answered with a simple thumbs up emoji, ever a poet with her responses. She shut off her phone and found her mom still talking. She rose out of her chair, interrupting her next sentence. 

“Mom, I’m exhausted, I’m going to go upstairs.”

She jogged up the stairs and sat down on her bed, pulling her guitar onto her lap. She played around with chords for awhile before propping her phone on a mini tripod and pressing record. She played a short cover of She is Love by Parachute, smiling through the lyrics. She reached over and pressed stop, dragging it over into the Instagram app and pressing post. 

She placed her phone down and laid back in her bed, staring at the ceiling. A few moments later she heard her phone ping and picked up her device. She looked at the screen in confusion as one notification stood out of the few she received. 

“UrLeadGuitaristReg liked your video” 

She shook her head, clicking on his profile picture. She scrolled down his timeline, looking at all of the photos of him and the band. A video popped up of Reggie and Luke making instruments out of household items and giggling like schoolgirls at each other and a smirk slowly fell across her face. She quickly shut off the screen and threw her phone down on the bed. 

2 weeks later

It was performance night and she was actually shaking with anticipation. The past few rehearsals had actually went extremely well for her and the girls and she actually thought they may stand a chance against Julie and The Phantoms this time around. She took a spot in the front row to support Jules, clutching Flynn’s hand in hers. 

She watched as her friend flew across the stage and her grin grew. Although she missed her in their group, it was clear that she was in her element....and she smiled watching her pass off the mic with Luke during their shared duet at the end of the song. She took a mental note to follow-up with her on that moment later. 

As the band took their bows and leapt off stage, the girls scurried back to get ready for their set. As she slung her guitar over her shoulder she heard a voice perk up behind her. 

“No acoustic tonight?”

She looked up to see Reggie’s smug expression fixed on her. She rolled her eyes, placing her pick before responding. 

“Nah, not really my stage style.” 

He chuckled “Too bad, I kinda liked it.” 

Her forehead scrunched in confusion as she saw him turn and leave the stage. She shook it off before turning back to her bandmates. Flynn gave her a curious smile but she just moved to talk business. 

“Girls, we got this.” She smiled, placing her hand in the middle, the other two bandmates followed suit. They counted down from three, shouting “Neon Dream” as their hands rose. 

They stepped out on stage and she noticed a familiar face in the center of the crowd. Reggie stood with his arms crossed, whispering something to Luke before bringing his gaze back to her. Their eyes locked for a second but she brought her gaze up to the ceiling, focusing on Jocelyn’s beats before her entrance. 

Their songs went off without a hitch. Y/N couldn’t help but smile as she felt the bass in her chest and her hands flew. After their final verse, the girls moved the top of the stage hand in hand to take their bows. She heard a single “woo!” from the crowd, looking over to be met by those same dark eyes. She smirked, rolling her eyes in his direction before turning to exit the stage.

“Reggie is...interested in you tonight,” Flynn said, taking a swig out of her water. 

“He was just trying to distract me...prick.” 

Jocelyn shook her head at her bandmate, twirling the stick in her hand, “I don’t think so Y/N, his eyes were locked on you during our entire performance. I think I even caught him nodding along to the beat. 

Y/N laughed, turning to set down her guitar, “Whatever ladies, I wouldn’t worry about it-” 

She turned to see both of her bandmates missing, and instead Reggie standing in front of her. She pursed her lips before approaching him. 

“Here to tell me everything I did wrong in that performance I assume?”

Reggie shook his head, letting out a short laugh “Nah, I wanted to congratulate you. You really put your foot into those guitar solos tonight.”

She stared blankly at him, blinking. “Earth to Reggie, did you forget that you hate me?” 

He rolled his eyes at her, moving closer in her direction. She felt her heart race a bit, pushing that feeling down quickly. 

“I don’t hate you Y/N, you’re obnoxiously competitive...but I don’t hate you.”

She thought back to all of the guitar riff offs the two had, the amount of insults they spewed at each other and remained dumbfounded at his response. 

She scoffed at this suggestion before replying “I’m competitive?! Have you met YOU!?” 

His eyebrows rose, an amused smile falling across his lips as his gaze fell from her balled fists up to her scrunched nose. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he moved to walk past her, leaning in to whisper in her ear last minute.

“You’re kind of cute when you’re fired up.” 

She felt her face warm from the combination of his warm breath near her ear and his compliment. She watched as he fell out of view and scurried over to find her bandmates to await the awards portion of the evening. 

All the bands moved toward the front of the auditorium and the room was filled with hushed conversation. She finally found Flynn and Jocelyn and they both gave her a smirk. 

“What was that all about?” Flynn floated her finger between her and Reggie, who stood a few feet away talking with Alex. 

“Nothing, he was just...trying to get me off my A game.” 

Flynn’s jaw locked, looking at her friend in amazement “Uh huh... Right.” 

Their conversation was stopped by the feedback of the mic. The school principal took the stage, a small envelope in her hand. She smiled, thanking everyone for coming out before announcing the winners. 

“And the moment you’ve all been waiting for....the winner of the 2020 battle of the bands is.......” She paused, opening her letter and smiling “Neon Dream” 

Y/N froze for a second before Flynn’s hand slapping her back brought her back to reality. They went up on stage and grabbed their trophy and gave their thank you speech. As they turned to leave the stage, her eyes met Reggie once more. A seemingly real smile plastered across his face as he clapped in her direction. She let the corner of her mouth raise upward before walking backstage.

The girls squealed as they waited at the entrance of the school for their parents to pick them up, taking turns holding the trophy. She saw Flynn’s face change, turning her lips up in a smirk as she looked behind her. 

“Joce, I think I left something inside, can you go in and grab it with me.”

“What do you mean I-” 

Flynn grabbed her friend by the arm and pulled her backward. Y/N felt someone sit down beside her and turned to see Reggie extremely close to her and felt that familiar blush take control over her face.

“Congratulations, Y/N.” 

“Thanks.”

A silence fell over them. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see him staring at her, both of their gazes darting within seconds of meeting. She heard him take a deep breath in before speaking.

“Can we call a truce or something?”

She looked over at him sharply, leaning her head slightly to the right “What?”

He smiled again, rubbing his neck with his arm. “I’m kind of tired of pretending to hate you.”

She laughed, bringing her knees up to her chest “So, you don’t actually hate me?”

He shook his head “Actually, it’s quite the opposite.” She tried to stop her mind from immediately trying to decode that phrase. She let her eyes move toward his again and held out her hand.

“I agree, a truce.” 

He looked at her hand, smirking before shaking it. Their hands stayed locked for a second more before she wiggled her hand out of his grip. 

“So...since we’re cool now, I was wondering if you’d like to maybe jam out some time?” 

She smiled “A band collab? That’d be pretty sweet-” 

He cut her off, putting his hand on her shoulder. “I was actually thinking maybe just a guitar collab, between you and me?” She watched as his face went pink and she looked down to the ground to stop him from seeing her growing smile.

“Oh. That’d be cool too, I guess.”

He exhaled, pushing his hands against the ground to stand back up on the pavement. She looked up at him, his smile lit against the peach sky. 

“Cool...It’s a date.” 

As he walked away, she leaned her chin on her knees and let herself smile fully, shaking her head. 

.

.

.

.

Tag list: @marinettepotterandplagg​, @lukeys-giggle​, @joshy-obx, @epikskool, @daisiesforlacey, @bestdressedandstressed, @txrii, @musicconversedance, @dasexydevitt13, @bathtimejish, @xplrreylo, @lovesanimals, @kiss-themoongoodbye

[ayamari-no-goshi]

Verboten 15 | (T)

ff.net | AO3

Fandom: Danny Phantom (DP)

Summary: AU. When Danny was five years old, he went missing for 2 weeks. In the years that follow, his family tried to make sense of what happened, only for the truth to be discovered years later.

Warnings: rated T for violence, mentions of death, language. Be prepared for some very weird things

Parings: Danny/Sam

Notes: originally uploaded to Ff.net. Cross-posted to AO3 and tumblr. This fic is very heavily inspired by folklore surrounding mysterious wilderness disappearances

Chapter 15

It took almost twenty minutes for Danny’s mom to finish her tirade against the police. Watching her flip out on the officers was almost therapeutic, and by the time she was done, he was more amused then terrified. It made the actual interview much easier.

The police were initially skeptical, especially since his dad took the lead on explaining what happened. His childish excitement at getting to chase something made it sound like some made up fantasy, but that changed when Vlad gave his account. With his reputation, they were forced to take it seriously.

The older of the two officers, O’Brian, took the statements as his partner, Kiziah, reviewed the scene for any clues or evidence of how the creature got in the house. Other police offers were on the way to do a proper investigation.

“You’re the one that reported that murder… That was just, I guess it’s two days ago now,” O’Brian mentioned as he glanced at Danny, who nodded. “We chalked up the weirdness of your original statement due to shock, but if you’re telling me this thing is the same perp, I have no idea what we have on our hands.”

“I… I don’t really know if it was the same thing or not, but it looked like it.”

The officer frowned as his partner returned. “No obvious sign of a break in,” Kiziah stated, “but I don’t want to touch anything without an evidence kit. There’s definitely a weird substance in the living room and near the front door that will need analyzed.”

“You didn’t hear anything?” O’Brian looked back towards Danny and his parents.

“To be honest, our family tends to be heavy sleepers,” his mother explained as she gave him a sheepish grin. “Jack can sleep through almost anything, and I tend to wear earplugs.”

“And I am of the opposite,” Vlad stated as he made himself a cup of tea. “However, it wasn’t until I heard Daniel sprint up the stairs and bang on his parents’ door that I awoke.”

“Sorry about that.” Danny winced at he glanced at the man. Vlad didn’t seem as creepy as he had the previous day, but something still seemed off about him.

The man gave him a dismissive wave. “No worries, my dear boy. I believe your actions were more than understandable given the circumstances.”

“Err… I guess you want me to say if I heard anything?” Danny shook his head as the officers stared at him. “I didn’t. It… it was just a feeling, you know? Like when you get a sudden chill.” That statement was true enough. He figured it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to state the more paranormal aspect of it. “I thought I was just being paranoid until I looked down the stairs and that… that thing stared back at me.”

An awkward silence fell as O’Brian took some more notes. It was only broken when Kiziah received some sort of notification and moved to let the investigation team in. They quickly went to work examining the scene and looking for anything out of the ordinary. While they worked, an older man with a scar down the right side of his face took O’Brian and Kiziah aside and spoke with them. Once they finished, the older officer approached Danny and his family.

“I’m Lieutenant Metzger, and I’ve recently been put in charge of the investigation of the recent murders in the city. You’ve probably heard the rumors this is a serial case. Well, that’s true.” A muscle moved in the man’s cheek as he seemed to debate with himself over how much he could tell them. “Due to some of the details, we were under the impression these were ritualistic in nature and called in the FBI for some help.” He sighed before asking, “Is it okay if I sit?”

“Sure,” Danny’s mother shared a confused look with her husband before she asked the officer if he needed some coffee.

When he agreed, he waited until there was a cup in front of him to continue. “Look, I don’t want this being leaked. We don’t need people thinking the police force is wasting money on chasing fairy tales.” Once the Fenton family agreed, he continued, “You aren’t the first one to report something not quite human around the time of the incidences. Due to shock and figuring it was some sort of disguise, we originally disregarded that. However,” he glanced around before he leaned in, “one of my own officers gave a report earlier this week of glancing something inhuman. It actually attacked his patrol car before it vanished. On top of that, I don’t think whatever that thing spilled on your carpet has any sort of mundane explanation behind it.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes, “Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, I’m going to be frank with you. I would like to contract you for some sort of weapon for this thing. From previous experiences, I’m fully aware your… experiments don’t tend to do harm to people, so if… by the off chance, this isn’t something normal, we’ll have a way to stop it.”

Danny’s father immediately lit up in excitement. After rambling some idea, he ran down to the lab to act upon it before anyone could stop him.

“Don’t mind him,” his mother fondly chuckled. “Jack is very enthusiastic about our work.”

“I… uh… take that you’re willing to help us?”

“Oh, absolutely. If this thing is what we think it might possibly be, we were going to do that anyways. But I do need to ask you something. You mentioned you thought the attacks were ritual in nature. I’m not really sure how to ask this, but for those poor people, was there a part of the body missing?”

Metzger’s shoulders tensed at her question as his eyes narrowed. “How did you know about that?”

“Wait… wait, you’re telling me… that thing… what it was holding in its hand…” Danny couldn’t say it. The memory of the blood dripping from that thing’s hand temporarily overwhelmed him. He must have swayed as his mother gently put a hand on his shoulder.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. If you decide to go help your father, I think he’d gladly welcome the help.”

Danny shook his head at the suggestion. He needed to stay put. It just felt safer with her and the officers around. She must have somehow understood as she gave his shoulder a motherly squeeze.

“You didn’t answer my question.” An irritated edge crept into Metzger’s voice.

His mother calmly turned back to him and returned his gaze. “I didn’t until just now. After Danny relayed his story, it struck a chord with me, and I did some digging. There is folklore in different parts of the US which tells of creatures who steal the life of humans and often a part of the body. If… if that’s what’s happening, then we’re in trouble.”

“What do you think this thing is doing?”

“Nothing good. Throughout history, humankind has offered up blood and other bodily sacrifices to gods, spirits, monsters, and everything in between. While usually the Aztecs come to mind, you can find evidence of this around the world. It’s believed those sacrifices would either strengthen or appease whichever entity was the focus.”

“Maddie, are you suggesting this thing is doing something similar?”

She nodded. “I… We aren’t sure if this thing is trying to strengthen itself or if it’s taking its gains to something else.”

A different memory surfaced in Danny’s mind. “That… when we were being rescued… the… the person that helped us get back… he said the A-listers got targeted for their blood,” he stammered before he could stop himself.

Everyone in the room stared at him. He and his friends really hadn’t talked about Frostbite. They mentioned to the police they thought someone helped them, but purposely left it vague. With how disoriented they were when they were found, the police were under the impression the trauma obscured some of their memories. Well, the cat was out of the bag.

Matzger stared at him. “Are you telling me what happened to your classmates may be related to… to this thing?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? Like I told my mom before you came, the person who grabbed me and my friends isn’t the same… whatever that thing is. But, I don’t know what Dash and them encountered after we got separated.”

“Hmm… what about the person who helped you?”

Danny shook his head. “Not the same person. He called himself Frostbite, and…” How could he even explain Frostbite? He was a ghostly yeti with an ice arm for God’s sake! “I didn’t think he was real,” he eventually stated as he glanced down at his hands. “He was so friendly and helpful. He was so much different than that thing.”

“Honey, you never really talked about this Frostbite person before.” His mother tried to reach out for his hand, but he pulled away.

“I… I thought he was a dream or hallucination or something for a while.” He hoped he sounded sincere. It was somewhat true after all. The fantastical nature of what happen still didn’t seem real to him, but he knew better. “I think he had helpers… there were other voices besides his.”

“That would line up with some of the evidence we have from your case,” Matzger stated as he rubbed his chin. “The injuries of you and your two friends were vastly different than the others who went missing which suggested multiple perpetrators. One of the other boys did mention that he thought they were rescued by a small group of people. I will have to take a closer look at the injuries of your classmates to determine whether or not they match up with our current victims. That should give us an idea if it’s the same thing or something different.”

“Sir,” officer Kiziah interrupted, “we’ve finished our initial sweep. We did have some trouble trying to keep Mr. Fenton out of the way in the basement area, but he’s promised to stay at the one table while we work. He’s apparently drafting some blueprints. Forensics is here and are working on collecting evidence. They’re hoping to talk to you.”

He sighed. “Thank you, Kiziah. Can you explain to them their options during our investigation progress?” After flashing them an apologetic smile which seemed out of place with his features, he told them he would be in touch and excused himself.

After shaking his head at his superior, Kiziah stated while the family could stay in the house during the investigation process, it had the possibility of accidentally contaminating evidence. He recommended for them to stay at a local hotel for a time.

Although his mother seemed hesitant to leave the house, she eventually agreed to head to a hotel after Vlad made a show of being concerned for the family’s safety. It took a bit of time to get his dad to leave the basement, but by the time seven am hit, Danny found himself in the best hotel in Amity Park, per Vlad’s firm recommendations.

After sending his friends a few texts to let them know what happened, that he was fine, and where he was, he told them he’d call them after he got some sleep. Although he wasn’t exactly happy he shared the room with Vlad, the pristine bed ended up being far more important to him than any worries.

…..

Several hours later, Danny woke up to one hundred and three texts, fifty-four missed calls, and eleven voicemails. Sam and Tucker had only one voicemail and call apiece and only a handful of texts. The rest were from his sister. Groaning, he sent Sam and Tucker messages to let them know he’d call them after he contacted his sister.

He really didn’t want to talk to Jazz at the moment. When she was scared, she became spastic, and a spastic Jazz was the last thing he wanted to deal with at the moment. Okay, the third to last think he wanted to deal with. The creepy thing and Plasmius took the top two places.

After taking several minutes to do everything other than call his sister, he finally buckled down and called her. As predicted, she spastically demanded to know if he was okay while berating him for not contacting her sooner. He just let her talk while making the occasional ‘uh huh’, ‘sorry,’ and ‘yeah.’ From experience, he knew it was better to let her get it out of her system.

He put Jazz on speaker while he attempted to find the hotel’s TV remote. Vlad didn’t seem to be in the room which really didn’t bother him. The man didn’t need to listen to Jazz flipping out after all. Eventually, he found the remote next to a message from Vlad stating he and his parents went to discuss something with the police and would be back with food.

“Danny, are you even listening to me?” Jazz demanded. He must have been quiet for too long.

“Uh? Yeah, I just happened to find a note Vlad left. You were saying something about how it was irresponsible for Dad to go running after the thing?”

“Wait, are you telling me you were left alone after everything that happened?”

“Jazz, I’m seventeen. I think I’m perfectly fine being alone for a few hours.”

“You were kidnapped by a crazy man and then were attacked in your own home! Do you really think it’s safe for you to be alone right now?” With that, she flew into a different tirade.

Knowing it would be a while, he decided the TV would be a preferable alternative to his upset sister. He turned it on only to have it immediately turn off. Thinking he accidentally doubled clicked the button, he tried again only to have the same result. Thinking the remote was damaged, he moved to try the button on the machine. Only, it turned on by itself. It and the lights began to dim and flicker, and his breath began to mist.

Glancing around, he watched as a girl emerged from the wall. At first, it seemed she didn’t notice him as she moved towards the opposite wall, but she stopped midway and faced him. She looked human but her entire body seemed insubstantial and almost wispy. Her skin, if it could be called that, was an unearthly white while her blue hair flickered like a flame.

She smirked at him while moving a little closer. “You shouldn’t be here, Baby Pop.” Her sultry and musical voice seemed far away, almost as if it was being broadcasted over an old radio. “Don’t know what you’re doing on this side of the veil, but you shouldn’t stay here.”

“What… what are you talking about? Who are you?” he stammered while vaguely registering Jazz asking him what was wrong.

“I like to slip to this side for some fun, but I might stick around a little longer this time. It’s already chaotic here, and a little more might do me some good. Besides, it seems I need to make a few people remember I still exist.” After appraising him, she gave another smile and headed back towards the wall. “You might want to get out while you can, Baby Pop. Things might get a little hot, and you new guys often aren’t strong enough to deal with the heat.”

“Hey, wait!” He tried to get her to stop, but she just vanished back into the wall. Unsure what to do, he stood in the center of the room dumbfounded until he realized his phone was still on speaker and his sister was calling for him.

“Hey, Jazz, I’m going to have to call you back,” he stated as he moved towards the door. “Something really weird just happened.” He hung up on her as he ran into the hallway looking for some evidence of the ghost.

He barely made it to the elevators when the fire alarm sounded. Not wanting to stick around, he quickly found the stairs and made his way to the lobby as the rest of the guests started to follow suit. By the time he reached the third floor, he began to smell smoke. There had to be a fire. Is that what that ghost meant? Did she somehow set it?

He really hoped that wasn’t the case. He really only needed on potentially supernatural thing causing problems in his life at a time.

[dreamer213]

Broken Machines: Lights The Dark

Chapter 6: Lesson Plan: Proper Greetings

The morning sun begins to raise over the horizon, the light peeking through space between the currents on Penny’s window. Soon Penny begin to stir and squirm until she opens her eyes awaking to a new day. She pulls out her cable and starts stretching until to realize her scroll was still in her hand. She had never let it go even in her sleep. She unlocks it to find a notification, she’s got an new message! She quickly checks through her recently received file and finds it, her new lesson plan. The content of lesson plan wasn’t anything too complexed was relatively the same with a few more topics added and some topics were expanded on which made it a bit easier to understand. Everything seemed normal until Penny looked at sent time.

3:26 am he was awake and messaged her at 3:26 am, a time when most people should be sleeping especially a growing teenage boy. This revelation hits Penny with a wave of guilt and worry. Had he stayed up to work on her lessons? Did he go to sleep after or did this disrupt his sleep schedule? Did he get enough sleep after or did he sleep at all with his schedule interrupted? These thoughts whirl around in Penny’s mind her guilt only growing with every new question.

Penny: If he’s awake right now he would have only slept three hours and four minutes. And that’s only if he fell asleep immediately after sending this which is highly unlikely.

Penny continues to fret over the matter for while until she realizes that, one she’s getting behind schedule, and two her scroll battery is on 25%.

Penny: How is this so low? I thought I plugged it in last night-

It then dawns on Penny that she had only plugged herself in last night and forgotten to do the same with her scroll during her freak out. Knowing she couldn’t waste anymore time she plugs it up then starts getting ready. By the time she’s got her boots secured her scrolls only at 40%. She’s running out of time, with no options left she does the only thing a kid In this situation can do. She opens her bedroom door and worriedly screams down the stairs to her dad.

Penny: DAD! MAY I USE YOUR PORTABLE SCROLL BATTERY PLEASE? I FORGOT TO CHARGE MY SCROLL LAST NIGHT AND I DON’T HAVE TIME TO CHARGE IT BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE FOR PATROL!

Downstairs in the kitchen Pietro hears her screams and chuckles at his little girl’s little mistake then shouts back a simple “OF COURSE!” then resumes he previous task of making breakfast. Meanwhile he can hear her running around upstairs, trying to herself ready in a rush. Soon she’s running downstairs and into his room to find and grab the portable charger then she runs through the kitchen, giving Pietro a quick hug and kiss before heading towards the front door. She does slow down a bit as she unlocks the door.

Penny: Sorry Dad but I can’t eat breakfast with you today, I’m running behind schedule and if I don’t leave for my post immediately I will be late and the city will be unguarded. I have my plate for dinner tonight so you don’t have to make me anything else. I’ll be home at 10 pm if there’s no changes in the schedule or emergencies. See you soon I love you bye!

And with that Penny’s out the door on her way to patrol and protect Mantle. When the afternoon comes it’s time for her lessons and she’s off to the station, on a train up, into the car, and on her way to the Schnee Manor. Upon her arrival Penny is immediately taken to the dance studio where Whitley is waiting for her, standing in the center of the room holding a large book. A manor maid stands watching from the corner of the room. She walks over to Penny takes her bags and returns to the corner as they are about to begin today’s session.

Whitley: Good Afternoon Ms. Polendina, are you ready to start your first lesson?

Penny: Absolutely!

Whitley: Good. Since today’s our first real lesson We’re starting with one of the easier subject in etiquette, first impressions more specifically how to greeting effectively. Now most wouldn’t think that something as simple as greeting people could require any further explanation then what to say and when to say it. But for the elites of Atlas a greeting is a means of making an impression, one that can establish your presence, personality, and to some degree pedigree.

Penny: But how can a greeting communicate so much about a person?

Whitley: Well I could give you a dissertation on the topic but I believe this would be best explained through example.

Whitley walks pass Penny and towards the door, before she can question him he turns around and puts his right index finger up a mere few inches from her face silencing her. He points behind her at towards the ballet bar.

Whitley: Turn around and walk towards the ballet bar.

Penny nods then turns and walks towards the bar. She’s about two feet from the bar when Whitley tell her to stop and stand still.

Whitley: Look into the mirror and say your best greeting, then I’ll tell you the impression you give off.

Penny: Okay.

Her best greeting? Outside of the usual hello, good morning, afternoon, or evening Penny only had one but she had been told it was very cute and it as of recently it had always made people smile. She looks into the mirror, puts her feet together, salutes herself, gives a sweet smile , and says her favorite word in the world.

Penny: Salutations!

The maid in the corner starts laugh, a bit amused by Penny’s actions, but catches herself and coughs to mask it. Whitley, however smirks then gives Penny as small round of applause. From her posture to her salute to the smile on her face and the bubbly way she spoke, everything was the same as that night. For a moment Whitley feels a pinch in his chest but he don’t acknowledge it and moves on.

Whitley: Very nice, your posture is perfect and your smile is sweet and welcoming. Judging by the salute you use this primarily on the citizens of Mantle while you’re on duty, yes?

Penny: Yes but only recently. Before I was stationed in Mantle I used to greet almost everyone I met this way. Some were a bit perplexed by it at first but after awhile they began to like me and we became friends. Others really enjoyed my mannerisms and would smile back and greet me in return. But since I’ve been in Mantle I used it when I have to address large crowds but sometimes I still do it when meeting some…one..new…like….

Whitley: Like when you met me?

Penny: Y…yes.

Penny looks down trying to hide her now flushed expression only to realize that impossible because the wall sized mirror in front of her. She covers her face with her hands, completely defeated.

Whitley: As for the impression, your posture and usage of a fairly uncommon and formal word like “salutations “ hints at your high intelligence, good manners, and a cultured mind. It would come off as a bit stoic and cold if not for your cheery smile and tone of voice, those elements combined conveys the idea of you as a sweet, bubbly, intelligent if not studious girl. And with addition of the informal salute you project the image of the sweet young military prodigy, well trained intelligent but so endearingly nice and sweet no one could possibly find her threatening. A very good first impression.

Penny: You could tell all of that from one greeting?

Whitley: Yes, mostly do to my understanding of body language but that’s a something we’ll go over another day. Right now our focus is teaching you how to greet properly.

Penny looks perplexed by this statement, Whitley just described her impression in a positive way so what was there to improve? What could be wrong? Penny turns around to face him.

Penny: Was there something wrong with my original greeting?

Whitley: Yes and no. The impression is great for you and the investigation , you’re demeanor does make you seem rather naïve and innocent which makes in more like that others assume the same and be less guarded with you then they would be someone like General Ironwood or an average soldier. They’d more likely speak more openly and freely around you making gathering information much easier. It would all be perfect if it not for one small thing.

Penny: Which is?

Whitley: That little salute of yours while adorably patriotic makes your motives painfully clear.

Penny: Really?

Whitley: Yes, it just screams “I’m a sweet little agent of the military sent to investigate your illegal activities!” Anyone with even a hint suspicious about you will notice and use it to discredit you. Which is the exact opposite of what we want to happen.

Whitley continues speaking while Penny looks down at her feet dejected, she had never thought to downplay her loyalty to the military . It had always felt natural to her that she show a great deal of respect as the military was the reason she existed. Her body, her restoration, her home, the energy that powered her, even the clothes she was wearing were only allowed to exist because the military approved it, so how could she not give her respect to the system that allows her existence? so how could she not show her gratitude for the gift of life they afford to her? The idea of not doing so made her feel ashamed and ungrateful but if she don’t she might compromise the entire investigation and ruin they’re chances of getting the project back on schedule. And if the project wasn’t done in time then both Mantle and Atlas….The whole world could be…could be.

Whitley: Ms. Polendina! Are you listening? Can you hear me?

Whitley’s voice pulls Penny out of her fearful thoughts. She had been so lost in own mind that she accidentally ignored him. She looks down again embarrassed by her conduct.

Penny: I can hear you. I am sorry I got distracted.

Whitley: (Sighs) Just don’t let it happen again. Now what I was trying to say that this easy issue to fix. All you need to do is change your motions and pose then it’ll be properly effective.

Whitley walks towards her and Penny turns around to face him. He opens the book he’s been holding to a specific chapter and hands it to her. The book is about first impressions the chapter was on the importance of posture and posing in changing one’s demeanor with detail illustrations and instructions on how to do different types of greeting poses.

Whitley: Look through these and find something you can use to substitute for the salute. Then you can practice until we find one that suits you.

Penny nods and looks through the book, is very expansive having information on greetings from over 100 years ago to around 30 years ago. There was also details on cultural and situational poses for different regions and times of day. Penny finds a illustration, a man with his hands behind his back and his chest pushed out, and recognizes the pose. It was the same posture General Ironwood used almost every time he gave a speech or briefing and would have her do the same if she was standing next to him during. The familiarity makes Penny feel sort of comfortable so she turns the book around and shows Whitley the page.

Penny: I’ve done this one before whenever I stand next to General Ironwood during certain event I have to mirror his posture so I have plenty of practice. It should be relatively easy and look much more natural.

Whitley: Alright, let’s try it.

Penny gives Whitley the book back, turns around, straightens her stance, puts her hands together behind her back, and repeats her greeting.

Penny: Salutations!

There’s a pause as Penny waits for a reaction, meanwhile Whitley is absolutely stunned and the maid is trying her best suppress her laughter. Despite her enthusiasm, Penny’s pose had not conveyed the same “ strong and respectful” image that Ironwood did. Rather she gave off a very “tiny girl trying to look all big and tough” impression. Whitley hangs his head and sighs.

Whitley: That was….an attempt. But it’s still not right, keep looking.

Whitley hands her the book again and Penny starts searching through it again, she stumbles on another familiar pose, a curtsy a formal greeting that was common back in the times of lords and kings. Thinking a classic might yield better results Penny give the book to Whitley and tries again this time with a curtsy. She puts her right behind her left planting the ball of her toes on the floor the bends her knees, holding her skirt on both sides as she bends down.

Penny: Salutations.

When she bends back up she see Whitley looking through the book again. He turns back to the chapter on greetings again and hand off the book. Before she can ask what went wrong this time Whitley speaks first.

Whitley: Good execution but it’s too submissive. While you need to appear non threatening and a little naïve it should never to the point of appearing submissive. In high society submissive stances like are reserved for the service staff, the simple minded, and the easily abused. If anyone with large ego or cruel attitude see you like that they’ll waste no time in destroying your self esteem and self worth for their own sick fun-(yawn)

Damn it he thought he had enough coffee that morning to prevent this but he had been wrong. Not wanting to look weak in front of her Whitley tries to cover up his yawn with a cough but it’s too late Penny had noticed. She looks at him, eyes full of worry and shame, she knows why he’s tired and it hurts her to know her lack of knowledge had cost him sleep but there was nothing she could do about it now except worry. Whitley, knowing he’s caught, tries to give a simple excuse so they can move on and get back to the lesson.

Whitley: Apologies, the afternoon fatigue must be getting to me. But I think I’ve shaken it off so let’s continue with-

Penny: You shouldn’t push yourself.

Whitley: Excuse me?

Penny: You’re young and still growing, you need to take care of yourself so your body can mature properly. That includes getting 8 hours of sleep every night so your mind and body will be well rested and is necessary to keep you healthy

Whitley is a little shocked by her words, it’s been a long time since someone worried for his health like this. It felt odd but not unpleasant to know that someone chose to care for his well being. But what was unpleasant was look on her face. Her smile had been replaced by worried frown and she keeping looking down at the floor like a child about to be scolded. Why was she acting like she did something wrong? Whitley ponders on what it could possibly caused it but he didn’t have much to go on. They hadn’t known each other long and their direct correspondence had been limited to yesterday and the message he se-the time stamped message he sent at the ungodly hours of the early morning. Had she notices the time and blamed herself for it? How immature, he thought that being an associate of Ironwood’s she’d be use to workaholics and how they work but once again she had surprised him. He shakes his head and sighs.

Whitley: Thank you for your concern, but we have more important things to do right now. Let’s focus on our task and keep looking.

Penny nods and they continue with the lessons. They find more poses to try but non have the same flare as her signature pose. After many failed attempts their session almost over, Whitley pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration while Penny is searching through the book, determined to find something that would work. She finds a section on greetings for knights, soldiers, military officials. One paragraph catches her attention.

Penny: Commonly used by knights and soldiers, can be used in both formal and informal occasions and between both higher and lower ranks. There are several variations amongst different social class due to the common use of the same gestures. It coneys a person’s strong spirit and kind heart due to the familiarly of the motions.

Penny, have had a spark of inspiration, close the book and hand it back to Whitley. This surprises Whitley and he returns his attention to the situation, focusing on Penny whose already walk back towards the ballet bar. When she’s at good distance from the mirror she smiles at her reflection then she straightens her stance, placed her right fist over the left side of her chest, and tilts her head a bit to the left and lifts the edge of her skirt with her left hand to add some flare.

Penny: Salutations. My name is Penny Polendina, it’s wonderful to meet you!......How was that?

Whitley is once again stunned by her actions. It was perfect, formal enough not to be leered at but still gave off the sweet non threatening demeanor they were looking for. He had thought this would take a few more days before any true progress was but she proven him wrong. He smirks then walks to her.

Whitley: That was very good Ms. Polendina. It’s just what we’re looking for, how did you come up with this?

Penny: I got from the sections on knights and soldiers, one of the greetings list was one for all occasions and had many variances amongst different classes so it seemed the more practical. So I used the stance and gesture from the knights pose then add some parts from young lady the variant to make it look gentler.

Whitley: Well aren’t you a clever one, you’ve done well today. And since you did so well you shouldn’t have may issues with your next lesson.

Penny: I promise I’ll do my best.

Suddenly a low ringing sound can be heard. Whitley reaches into his pocket and pulls out his scroll, it’s the schedule app notifying him that they’re time is up.

Whitley: It looks like we finished just in time, you need to get to the car soon or you’ll miss the train, Julia see her to the car.

Julia: Yes Young Master.

The maid Julia takes Penny’s things and walks to the door and opens it. Penny walks to the door and retrieves her belongings from Julia, thanks for holding on to her things for her.

Whitley: Have a good day Ms. Polendina.

Penny: Thank you, have a nice day. Oh! And if you have trouble sleeping chamomile tea with two teaspoons of honey can act as a sleep aid and help lower stress levels.

With that she leaves the room with Julia and Whitley is left alone. He leans against the ballet bar and smirks. That girl, and here he thought he might be wasting his energy on her but she proved him wrong. Not only had she been cooperative and pleasant, she had learned quickly, adopted to the situation and when a problem arose she found her own solution. Her execution of each augmented greeting was excellent despite not yielding the desired result and not once had she gotten frustrated or asks to take a break or quit all together. And to top it off she was worried about her instructor’s health and well being, Hmm what a hardworking student. Whitley gets another notification this time alerting him that he’s lessons starts in a few minutes. He puts his scroll away and heads off.

.

.

.

It’s almost sunset and Whitley has just finished the last of his daily tasks. He’s leaving the library and heading to his room when a butler blocks his way. He looks up at the butler Niles and stares at him indignantly.

Whitley: Evening Niles. What do you need from me?

Niles: Good evening Young Master. Master Jacques has called you to his study.

Whitley: (monotone) Wonderful.

Whitley turns around and begins walking towards Jacques’s office. After a few steps he notices Niles following behind him.

Whitley: I know the way to his study Niles, I don’t know to be shadowed.

Niles: Yes Young Master.

Niles bows then leaves, while Whitley heads towards his father’s study. After the long walk around the manor to Jacques’s study Whitley finally makes it to the study door. He knocks three times waits, after a few seconds Jacques gives him permission to enter. Whitley opens the door and steps inside where he’s greeted by the sight of his father sitting at his desk looking over documents.

Whitley: He’s still working , so this isn’t about punishment then. Good evening Father.

Jacques: Whitley.

Whitley: Niles said you called for me.

Jacques: Yes, I wanted an update on the military hound..

Whitley: Oh! Well, we just had our first lesson today and she did surprisingly well. She completely the lesson before the session ended and left for work immediately after.

Jacques: Hmm, any odd or suspicious behavior? Asking any invasive questions, looking around for documents?

Whitley: While she has shown some interest in things around the manor it’s been one of a child like curiosity. She looks at this place like a kid would a castle and besides being a little awkward and nervous she behaves fairly normal.

Jacques: That’s reassuring but still, keep an eye on her. She could just be waiting things until she makes her move.

Whitley: Yes Father. Will that be all?

Jacques: Yes that will be-Wait, one more thing.

Whitley: Yes?

Jacques: She needs to start going to events to investigate the suspects. I need you to find something soon so we can speed this deal up.

Whitley: Of course Father, I actually already have a few feelers and should have a suitable event earmarked in a few days.

Jacques: Hmm, As expected your always prepared. You can go now.

Whitley: Thank you Father, have pleasant evening.

Whitley exits the room let’s put a sigh of relief. He disliked being in his father’s study as he was only ever called there for a two reasons, one was to receive new orders or tasks and the other…..Whitley holds his left bicep and shutters. No… it would do him any good to think about that other reason right now. Right now he needs to focus on fulfill his new task, he takes out his scroll and continue his search hoping to find something before midnight. After an hour or so he stumbles upon something….promising.

[icequeenoriginal]

The Meaning of FamILY

Note: I am so sorry for this taking centuries to come out, I blame laziness and writer’s block. So here it finally is, @khadij-al-kubra, the fic you requested. Again, I am so so sorry this took so long to get out. Also, this takes place a year after Intimacy and All Its Forms. Also Happy Late One Year Anniversary of this AU’s blog. 

Thank you @theromnempire for editing. You’re the best!

Names of side characters belong to @hi-i-love-u-bitch. This AU belongs to @ask-spiderverse-virgil and @sugarglider9603

Trigger Warnings: Deaths mentioned, two past minor character death, crying (Let me know if I missed anything)

Pairings: Prinxiety and Logicality

~

Roman was ushered into the living room by his older sister. He couldn’t understand why. Normally when his father came home, he would see Roman sitting at the kitchen table, doing his homework and his father would walk over and ask about before changing out of his work clothes.

Maybe it was a celebration! Or maybe a surprise! But…why was Amá crying?

Roman’s mother looked up and locked eyes with her confused, innocent son. It made her burst into more tears and Roman ran to comfort her.

“¿Amá?¿Por qué lloras mami?” Roman asked while tilting his head to the side. 

Lupita couldn’t help but smile at Roman, almost forgetting what had just happened. She frowned, and more tears fell as she realized what she had to do now.

“Roman ...mi Valiente chico…tengo algo que decirte...se trata de tu padre…”

~

Roman woke up with a start like he did every year on this day. It’s always the same memory that would wake him up like clockwork, ending right before his mom said the words that shattered his world forever. Roman’s brain liked to torture him but pretend to forget the worst part.

He decided not to think about it and just dressed. 

Roman never noticed how quiet the house actually was on this day. Any other day of the year, even if he was the first to wake up, there was some kind of noise. It could be anything from the humming of the ceiling fan or people rushing to get breakfast ready. But today, nothing. All the sounds of the apartment were swept out as if the family occupying the house needed a reminder of what was happening

Maybe Roman just lost his touch with reality on this day. He was never sure, not that it really mattered. He knew the world did not stop just because he is in a shitty mood. Did that ever make him feel any better? No, but it gave him a false motivation to get up and get ready for school.

He walked to the twins' room, like every day, to get them ready for school. Any other of the 365 days of the year, the twins would already be awake, fully ready to run around and make Roman’s morning even more hectic. Today, both had a blanket over their heads and he could hear his little sister sniffling.

He wished it was because of a cold. It never was.

“Vamos, es hora de levantarse,” Roman said, just loud enough for the twins to hear, worried if his voice went any height they could hear how broke it was. 

“NO!” both Jenni and Marco shouted, pulling the blanket simultaneously over their heads. Roman wanted to laugh at the sight, badly.

Instead, he sighed “No no, you guys gotta get up and go to school.”

“NO!” Marco shouted 

“It’s a bad day today!” Jenni cries

“I know guys but we can’t miss school,” Roman said softly.

“We’ll go to school tomorrow!” 

“Yeah, when it’s not Papi’s death day!”

Roman inhaled sharply, it was the first time of the day someone acknowledged what the 17th of February meant. The house somehow got even muter, if that was possible. His sister and brother burst into tears and Roman felt his face heat up. But he couldn’t cry, he was-

A soft, reassuring hand landed on his shoulder as he took a step forward. 

“Amá…” Roman said, his voice strained

Lupita’s eyes were full of storms of sadness, threatening a downpour. “Roman ... ve y desayuna.”

Roman shook his head. He could do it, he had to. His mother had enough on her plate. “Pero Amá--” Lupita cut him off.

“Está bien. No te preocupes por eso”

Roman sighed “Okay.” He was too tired to argue. This day seemed to already take so much out of him and it had hardly had started.

Roman sulked to the kitchen and made himself some toast. Something quick, easy and he was least likely to get sick from. He stared absently, unfortunately making eye contact with his father in an old happy family photo. He sucks in his breath as silent memories began to haunt him like they always do. He hated those more than any amount of his siblings sobbing or screaming in agony. He could tune those out with music, his one constant. These just got louder and louder no matter what he tried.  

What snapped him out of the pitiful void was a vibration from his phone. He pulled it out to reveal a text notification from Patton.

Bestie <3: I’ll be on the fire escape in a minute! Alex stole my sweater again :(((

Roman frowned, had he really taken that long to get ready? He hadn’t even made anyone’s lunch or even breakfast. He wasn’t even sure he was ready to talk to anyone today. Much less to get their glances of pity. Constantly hearing “sorry for your loss” got old quick. Besides, he didn’t want to bring anyone down, especially his best friends, just because of what today is. He sighed and texted Patton back:

Romaine Lettuce :): It’s okay. I’m gonna swing over to school today, go on without me.

Roman saw that Patton had read his text but he didn’t reply. Roman didn’t think much of it, he figured he was still chasing Alex around, and just grabbed his toast as soon as it was done in the toaster.

“Amá! I’m heading out to school! I love you! Bye!” Roman didn’t wait for a reply and ran up the stairs that lead to the roof as he put on his costume. Web swinging always seemed to calm his nerves, or more accurately, distracted him. Something about one mistake and you can fall to your death really makes your other problems seem small. As he was about to fire his first web, a voice shouted for him to halt. 

Patton ran up to him, also in full costume “Wait for me!”

“Pat?” Roman asked, not trying to hide his confusion. “What are you doing here?”

Although Patton had the mask on, It wasn’t hard to tell he was smiling. “I’m going to swing with you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know but I want to head to school with you like I always do.”

Roman felt a mixture of happiness and guilt swirl around in his stomach, creating an unpleasant cocktail make just for him. Not that he knew what a cocktail tasted like. 

Roman gave a small smile behind his mask “Okay then Pat, I’ll race you” and took off without another word.

They swung without another word, which relieved Roman. He didn’t want to be asked about how he was doing, the answer was obvious and Roman was tired of being asked it.

Unfortunately, this feeling did not last and Roman quickly returns to his self-pity and dark thoughts. Roman was so lost in his brooding thoughts of the bombardment of sympathy that he would receive through the day that he did not see the tall building in front of him. Thankfully, Patton did and webbed Roman quick enough so that he landed on the roof.

Well...landed is a generous term here. With how fast Roman was going, Patton had to quickly web him and throw him on the roof of the building.

Patton landed gracefully next to him. He placed his hands on his hips and said: “Okay, that’s enough swinging for you, mister!”

“I’m fine Patton, I just wasn’t paying attention this time.”

Patton shook his head, “You’re distracted, understandably so and I know you don’t want to talk about it, even though you should, but I won’t make you. It’s not safe Roman! I can’t let my best friend get hurt again! Not on my watch…”

Roman could see the agony swept into Patton’s eyes. He knew that memories of the year before, bad ones brought nothing but pain, were swarming Patton’s mind. Memories of Roman avoiding him, the fighting, the robot battle, all were tearing Patton down. It was a look far too familiar to him.

Roman ran to Patton as he began to shake. Roman muttered an apology that seemed small to himself but was perfect to Patton. Once Patton was able to calm himself down, he hugged Roman tightly, to show he was never going to let him go. 

“Let’s walk to school okay? I know a game we can play. It’s called “Beautiful Things’. As we walk, we point out the beautiful things we see and why we find them beautiful. Alex and Georgie made it up after Frankie…passed…and we played it all the time”

Roman raised his mask just above his lip to show that he was smiling “That sounds great, Patton, I’d love to.” 

So they snuck off the roof, changed, and walked. They pointed out birds, children, babies, and music playing from cars. Roman had no idea that such a simple game could bring him so much calm, but it did. He never realized there is so much good in the world, that was what they, as heroes, fought for. 

When they got to school, Roman headed to his locker. To an outside viewer, it was nothing out of the ordinary. But for the four, it was breaking the sacred tradition. First, they would meet at Logan’s locker as it was the closest to the entrance. Then they would make their way to their own lockers while catching up with one another. Finally, they would arrive at homeroom to get ready for the school day. 

However, as Roman watched Patton saunter over and embrace Logan, his feet didn’t want to go anywhere except towards an island of isolation. He didn’t want to ruin the happy mood, especially after making Patton think of Frankie so early in the morning. What best friend forces you to remember your dead brother?

He opened his locker and slowly pulled out the books he would need until lunch. When that took less than a minute. He stared at the objects he taped onto the door of his locker over the course of the year. At the top was a small mirror that he suddenly did not want to look into. At the bottom is a whiteboard with reminders of tests written by Logan, supportive messages from Patton, and quick doodles by Virgil. He felt the tug of a small smile on his lips, though it went away quickly.

He had only begun scanning the dozens of photographs he had before two arms snaked their way around his waist. He felt warmth in his chest as his boyfriend’s lips were pressed on the space between his shoulder blades.

“Morning” Virgil said, tiredness leaking into his speech.

Roman smiled softly and leaned slightly into the touch. “What leads you to my neck of the woods?” Roman asked as if he did not already know the answer.

“I needed to escape before I drowned in the puppy love.”

It wasn’t the answer he was expecting so he pressed on, “What do you mean?” Roman turned his head slightly to look at Virgil. Virgil, without lifting his cheek off Roman’s back, unfortunately, removed one of his arms from around Roman and gestures to his right. 

In distance, Patton has Logan’s shirt held carefully in his fingers, playing with the buttons as he talked to Logan. Logan watched with nothing but love and appreciation in his eyes. Roman couldn’t help but sigh at the couple, he was part of the team that got them together after all. One of his best accomplishments, if he’d say so himself.. 

“It’s so sweet...disgusting.” Virgil continued. Switching from resting his cheek on Roman’s back to his chin, he looked up and said, “Now give me my good morning kiss.”

Roman chuckled and happily obliged. When they pulled apart, Virgil asks “I’m going to ask you a stupid question.”

“No question is stupid, love, ask away.”

“Are you okay?” “I stand corrected.” Virgil elbowed Roman in the side, both happy for their spider-strength for the opposite reasons. 

“I mean it, Ro. I know you hate being asked that question, especially today, but I rather you get annoyed with me than let something happen like last time. So I’ll ask again, are you okay?”

“I am.”

Virgil raises an eyebrow “Am what?”

“Fine.” “I asked you if you were okay”

“Same difference.”

“Big difference, people only say they’re fine when they don’t want to admit they aren’t okay.”

Roman just looked away, having nothing to really say, plus he didn’t want to argue. Virgil sighed and hugged him again. Roman doesn’t push away, the pressure behind his eyes getting more and more unbearable. His emotions were already becoming too much for him to handle. He hugged back, relishing in the warmth of another person. It was stupid, in his mind, since Virgil was just hugging him moments ago. 

With a sigh, Roman pulled back. He brushed his knuckles gently against Virgil’s cheek and whispered “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay because I’m sorry too,” Virgil said softly.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Virgil couldn’t help but smile at that. “You know what? You’re right. I don’t. And with that, I’m going to spend this whole day cheering you up.”

“Virge…You don’t have to. Really! There’s no reason to-“

Virgil suddenly poked Roman chest, silencing the boy. “Do you remember the day that marked the anniversary of my grandpa’s death?”

“Of course I do, you were so upset. You didn’t even want to leave your room”

“Yeah, and you know what you did? You broke into my room, like some lunatic by the way, wrapped me up like a burrito-“

“It’s called a blanket burrito for a reason.”

“Don’t interrupt me. You wrapped me up, put on all my favorite movies that I wasn’t even aware you remembered and fed me snacks as we cuddled. Not even Logan had thought of doing that, he would just let me lie under my blankets while he just sat in the room.” Virgil paused to smirk before continuing  “And I was never more grateful for you than at that moment.”

Roman’s face began to heat up. He couldn’t help it. No matter how big or small the compliment that Virgil would give him, he would turn into a blushing schoolgirl, ready to throw himself at Virgil and pepper him with kisses. 

He opted to just hug Virgil again, a silent thank you. They were in public after all. They had some class.

Virgil embraced him for a few moments before the warning bell went off. “Listen, I’m going to make sure today is not going to be total shit for you.”

Roman chuckled in response, “Thanks, stormcloud.” Roman took a step to walk to his class but stopped when Virgil firmly grabbed his hand, “Huh?”

“What? I can’t hold my boyfriend’s hand as we walk to class?”

Roman chuckled, if there was one thing he knew about Virgil is that despite his boyfriend’s wariness of physical affection, Virgil always saw things through. Roman gently squeezed Virgil’s hand, absorbing the love that came from that simple gesture. Logan told him a few months ago about Love Languages and how physical touch was definitely his. It was a nice bonding moment for him and Logan, and it made Virgil really happy. Roman was rewarded handsomely for it.

Compared to every other year since his dad died, this was actually a pretty good day. Virgil would bring him to every class, even the ones were Virgil’s classes were nowhere near. Virgil had to keep reassuring Roman that it was fine, “I will just use my invisibility and sneak in. It will be funny to see how confused my teachers will be.” It made Roman genuinely laugh, something seemingly unachievable on this day.

The classes he did share with Virgil were the best. Virgil left his non-writing hand resting on Roman’s shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze whenever he felt Roman quiver, shake or tense up. Which was often since their teacher would not stop shooting Roman sympathetic looks, even after Virgil glared at her. Other classes that Virgil wasn’t in, Virgil would wrap his hoodie around Roman before he headed off to his next class. People would focus on this action and how cute it was that Roman would forget, even for a few minutes.

Around lunch, Roman’s mood changed from melancholy to calm, relatively speaking. He wasn’t walking with his head down, and even partaking. The numb and somewhat painful feeling in his chest was still present, but it was no longer the black pit sucking his emotions into it like usual.

Already seated at the lunch table were Logan and Patton, whispering and smiling at one another. Before Roman could announce his presence to the couple, Virgil tugged him back. He nearly made Roman fall backward in the process, but they both knew it wasn’t intentional. They always forgot how strong their spidey strength actually was.

“Sorry!” Virgil said instinctively though he did start laughing as Roman caught himself.

“What was that for?” Roman asked once he regained his balance.

“I needed to tell you before I forget, I asked Thomas if we could borrow his living room for a movie night and he said yes. Ask your mom if you can stay over.”

Roman smiled, “That sounds great”

Virgil smiled back as the two sat in their normal seats. As soon as the two entered Patton’s vision, his eyes light and he pushed a plate covered in tin foil towards the couple. It wasn’t anything uncommon, Patton using any excuse to make people food, from “Virgil had a headache” cookies to “You saved a bus filled with little kiddos and the city still won’t give you a key!” double chocolate cake. Roman removed the tin foil to reveal donuts. It shocked Roman, he had a bit of an expectation that Patton would make one of Roman’s favorite desserts; like he always did in years past.

Roman looked up at Patton puzzled and Patton reached over the table to squeeze Roman’s arm as it rested on the cafeteria table. “I know you don’t want to make this day all about you, so I made something we all consider a normal snack. Is it okay?”

Patton’s eyes read desperate and Roman, half because he wanted to be a good best friend and half because he did not want Patton to use his Empath powers, smiled, and nodded.

“This is perfect, Pat.”

 Patton pulled back so he could properly muffle his squeal of delight since they were still in school and he did not want to get into trouble for “starting a disturbance.”

Logan whispered to Patton “You told me it was because you did not have enough time to make Roman his favorite cake.”

“...I can have multiple reasons” Patton whispered back, glad that Roman and Virgil were too busy bickering about the best Avenger to listen in. 

Everyone ate their lunches and donuts, just enjoying the time they had together. Logan commented on how he heard that Roman and Virgil would not join them on patrol and he hoped that they “don’t burn down Thomas’ apartment”. That earned him a look from Roman, a “Logie!’ from Patton and a kick in the shin from Virgil all at the same time.

“It was a simple precaution!” Logan shouted, only to be told to quiet down by the cafeteria monitor.

It would later become a memory they would always look back on, Virgil even including it into his best man speech at Logan and Patton’s wedding, much to Logan’s dismay.

~

Once lunch was over, Roman snuck into the bathroom and sent off a text to his mom asking if it was possible if he could stay over at Virgil’s, adding that if she needed him to come home then it would be fine. He didn’t want to be selfish. 

Roman figured he would get his reply by the end of the day since he knew his mom would be really busy at work and he wasn’t exactly sure when his mom had her lunch break. He put his phone in his pocket only to scare himself when his notification sound went off in the silent password. He pulled it out and his phone and had a new text from his mom.

Amá: Of course you can, Your sister is watching the twins today, go have fun. It’s what Papí would want. 

Roman smiled, a single tear fell down his face. His mom was the best.

~

Roman’s afternoon classes came and went, nothing exciting or saddening happened of note. Though it wouldn’t have mattered, the prospect of cuddles and Disney movies filled him with so much excitement and joy. 

As faith would have it, he had no play practice since their show season had just ended and Mr. Bell always gave them a week off so he could tie up any last loose ends and decide the dates for the next auditions. This gave him an extra two hours to spend with his boyfriend, perfect!

Roman ran up to Virgil’s locker and bounced on his toes as his boyfriend got his stuff together so they could head off. Virgil smirked and tilted his head to Roman, “You seem excited.”

Roman smiled and nods “I’m really excited for tonight”

“Oh?” Virgil teased “What’s happening tonight? I can’t remember anything important”

Roman lightly punched him in the arm “You’re so mean, remind me why I love you again?” “It was your choice to get into this relationship, Princey, don’t forget that” Virgil waved his hand as he spoke and Roman, to Virgil’s surprise, quickly snatched Virgil’s hand.

Roman smirked back “I am very aware, and I am so happy to have you.” He then kissed Virgil’s knuckles.

Virgil cursed his cheeks for the blush that always came when Roman did something romantic. He pulled his hand back and nervously giggled “Oh shush, let’s get going already.” 

Man, did he love that boy.

~

After swinging over to Thomas’ apartment with Patton and Logan, Roman and Virgil quickly went to work on their pillow fort as the two other spider children spoke to their spider dad about the details of the patrol. 

Once everything was set up, Thomas said “Great. Patton, you and Logan get my snack bag and go to the bodega on the corner, there is money in the bag so don’t worry about using your own money. Meet me on the roof in half an hour.” 

Patton and Logan nodded and left to get their favorite snacks. 

Thomas turned to Roman “Hey, Ro? Before you guys start, could you come with me to the roof?”

Roman was confused but agreed. He was a bit nervous, he felt like a child about to get yelled at and tried to think of what he could have done wrong recently.

Once they got to the roof, Roman asked, “If this about keeping your apartment clean, I promise Virgil and I will not burn it down. Logan already gave us the rundown.” 

Thomas put his hand on Roman’s shoulder and softly smiled “I can feel you stressing out, even without Patton’s power. Don’t worry, I trust you. I just wanted to tell you something. Sit with me” Thomas patted Roman’s head when Roman released a sigh of relief. 

The two sat on the edge of the roof, Thomas in his Rainbow Weaver costume with the mask on and Roman in his civilian clothes. 

Thomas gazed over the city before saying “I know you are probably expecting me to give you a speech about grief and how to handle it, but I hated those speeches at your age when I got them because of my Aunt Patty. In fact, you remind me a lot of myself when I was younger, and I’m not just talking about being a fellow theatre geek. I never wanted to think about when she died and I would throw myself into helping people, with or without the suit. One thing led to another and I ended up beaten and bloodied in an alley on the anniversary of her death. When Talyn and Joan found me, I swear my Aunt Patty possessed them to yell at me for it. I thought Talyn might kill me themself.”

Roman laughed “I can see them doing that.”

Thomas chuckled and nodded “Oh yes. But what they and Joan did instead was patching me up and we had a FRIENDS marathon, ‘the police will handle crime for now’ Joan said. I broke down after three episodes because I love my friends so much. So before I start crying again at the memories, I just wanted to tell you that your friends--including Joan, Talyn, and I--are always here for you. Don’t make the same mistake I did and forget” Roman threw himself at Thomas for a hug “Never again, I promise.”

Thomas hugged back “Thanks, kid. Now go have fun.”

~

Virgil looked up from his phone when he heard footsteps coming towards him “What did Thomas want? Hey, are you okay?” Virgil pops out from under the fort and cups Roman’s face to wipe the tears away.

Roman smiles “I’m fine, really. I’m just...thank you, for putting up with me”

Virgil kisses him “It’s not putting up with you, it’s loving you. Ready to start Tangled” “Of course my love”

~

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[artxyra]

Another DC TA Marinette Story

*So the other version is strictly a one-shot drabble post while this one might, and I repeat might have more than two parts. 

Part 1: Welcome to Gotham 

Part 1 (here) | Part 2 | 

Marinette’s having a bad day. It started with her waking up late, breaking her five-day streak of waking up early. She nearly fell on her way down the stairs, thankfully she remained unharmed. Then she was late coming to class, but that mainly due to poor time management decisions. Only for her to then realize that she’s no longer a student, but the teacher assistant for Mme. Bustier’s class. 

“Look Mme. Bustier, Marinette’s late again.” Lila points out, as the graduate rolls her eyes and takes her place in the back of the classroom. 

“That’s enough, Lila.” Caline scolds, before turning her focus to her teaching assistant. “Is everything alright, Marinette?” She asks. 

Marinette nods and pulls out a folder filled with paperwork that needs to be grade. The class continues as follows. Caline spoke about the upcoming projects about the American lifestyle in specific cities. Marinette would finish the paperwork, pull out her laptop, and take a few notes on class’ behaviors. 

Everything seemed fine, but that crashed when Lila thought it would be a great idea to once again open her big mouth. 

“Mme. Bustier, I cannot do this project as [insert overly used lie here].” She pouts. 

“Girl, I can help you. She did say that we can do it as a group project.” Alya interjects with a smile. 

Lila ever with the dramatics, “Oh Alya, you can’t be serious. I don’t want you doing all the work.” 

Marinette could feel her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulls it out to see that it was a message from Gotham’s Prince. She smiles and opens the notification. 

Gotham’s Prince: Did you sleep well, Angel?

Gotham’s Fashion Sense: It was good until it wasn’t. 

Gotham’s Prince: What do you mean?

Gotham’s Fashion Sense: You’re not with me. 

Gotham’s Prince: Well, soon I will be. 

Gotham’s Fashion Sense: And I’m counting down the days. 

Marinette looks up from her phone and sees that her former classmates are staring at her. She shrugs and places her phone in her pocket.  

“What city do you plan on doing, Marinette?” Alix shouts out catching the attention of both Caline and Marinette. The teacher and her assistant lock eyes before the former curtly nod. 

“Gotham.” Marinette murmurs, gathering her supplies to neatly present them later. 

“I actually visit Gotham, you know.” Lila states, “If you need any help, I’ll gladly give information to you.”  

Marinette scoffs and forces a smile towards the pathological liar, “Thank you, Rossi, you will be my last resort.”

Lila once again started the dramatics by crying her eyes out. It is amazing how that liar can still be able to cry with the amount she has done. 

It wasn’t long before the class was over. Marinette walks over to the front desk and hands Caline the stack of graded assignments.

“Thank you, Marinette,” Caline says, accepting the assignments. 

“I want to tell you in advance that I’ll be joining my boyfriend in a couple of days. Do you think that you’ll need me during that time?” 

Caline thinks for a moment then she shakes her head, “I don’t believe so, Marinette. Thank you for the heads up in advance. How are your studies going?” 

Marinette smiles, “They’re going great, my business classes are helping me in running my freelancing business. And I already finished my fashion assignments earlier this week.” 

“I’m glad to hear that,” Caline opens the door for the two of them to exit through. Marinette walks out first with a quick curtsy to the gesture. 

Marinette’s phone buzzes again. 

Gotham’s Prince:  You are the only person that my brother will listen too, call them. 

Gotham’s Fashion Sense: Why? 

Gotham’s Fashion Sense: What did they do now? 

She didn’t receive an answer. Shrugging, Marinette places her phone in her back pocket and make a beeline to the main entrance. 

“I’m sure whatever charm you have over Mme. Bustier, will be gone before you know it,” Lila whispers into the graduate’s ear. Marinette rolls her eyes and continues to walk away. Unbeknown to Lila, it was a smirk that presented on the teen’s face rather than a pout. 

“That was very brave of you, Marinette.” Tikki complements when the two are alone. 

Marinette turns to her kwami and smiles, “I have way better things to do than to let some phony ruin my day. Besides what she does will indeed hurt her at the end.” 

“Marinette…” Tikki sighs with a giggle at the end. 

“What? You know that it’s true. As long as the class doesn’t know that I actually graduated last quarter, anything that she throws at me will be seen as an assault.” 

“You’ve been spending to much time with Jason, haven’t you?” Tikki wonders. 

“Only on the weekends, Tikki.” Her chosen jokes before catching the sight of a certain blonde model. 

“Hey, Manette,” Adrien Agreste greets, running over to the graduate.  

“Hey, Adrien, how was your photoshoot?” 

“It could have been better if Lu was there, but I rather suffer in silence and get comforted later.”

“That’s...good to hear.” Marinette’s eyes narrowed unsure of her reply. “Have you thought about the city assignment?” 

Adrien shakes his head. “Honestly, I have no clue. I was planning on doing Smallville, but I don’t know.” He looks to Marinette with kitten eyes, “Are you really doing Gotham?” 

Marinette nods only to lean against a nearby wall. 

“I figure that would be easier to do since I’ve been there and all.” She admits, holding her arms against her chest. 

“Great, Gorilla is here.” Adrien groans. 

“He’s more of a guardian than anyone else,” Marinette states, spotting the large bodyguard and pushing herself off the wall. 

Adrien sighs and wishes the fashion designer a farewell before heading over to Gorilla. Marinette smiles softly seeing how much the model has changed since entering the public school system. Of how he has grown since becoming Chat Noir, granted they did have their ups and downs but once he finally accepted his being, everything has been smooth sailing. 

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

Gotham’s Prince: Check Twitter.  

Marinette’s eyebrow raises at the message and she opens up her Twitter app. 

Dick Grayson @theflyinggrayson Grumpy-pants here is missing his GF

Below shows a picture of Damian Wayne looking at his phone with what appears to be a sad look on his face. 

A chuckle escapes her mouth. 

Manette @GothamsFashionSense  Thanks for the laugh @theflyinggrayson, I pretty sure that you all miss me.

 Marinette then adds a cute kitten gif relating to the post. 

Gotham’s Prince: What the hell, Angel! 

Gotham’s Fashion Sense: You asked and I delivered

Marinette places her phone back into her back pocket and walks in the direction of her family’s bakery.

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

“What do you mean you won’t be able to come?” Caline Bustier asks her assistant in the middle of a meeting. Marinette bites her lower lip and looks between the principal and the full-time teacher. 

“What I mean is that I’ll be overseas staying with my boyfriend’s family around that time. At the very least tell where you’re having the class exchange at and I can make plans around that.” Marinette informs the two with arms cross and an irritated look on her face.

“The exchange is with Gotham Academy, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng.”   

Marinette’s eyes bug out. Her whole demeanor changes. “No,” She denies. 

“Will that be a problem, Mlle. Dupain-Cheng?” The principal asks slightly concern for the alumna’s wellbeing. 

Marinette straightens herself out. “No, in fact, I will already in Gotham. If something does come up, I will only be a phone call away. Will I get there in time that will depend on what I am doing at the moment.” 

Caline’s face brightens, she’s not going to be alone with the class in Gotham. “That’s great news to hear, Marinette.” 

“Yes, I’m sure. The trip is in a month, correct?” 

“Yes, and the exchange will last for about four weeks. Mme. Bustier will only be there to oversee the program and class if something were to go array. They will be living in housing provided by the school as we’ll do the same to their students.” The principal states. 

Marinette nods, “Is that everything or do I need to fill out any paperwork allowing me to supervise the class while at Gotham Academy?” 

“I do have the paperwork here for you to fill to get access into the building. Other than that you--well we should be fine. I will inform you if anything has changed.” 

“Thank you, Principal De La Fontaine.” Marinette exits the office with a smirk on her face.  

Ever since the akuma has begun showing up in France, the Paris school board officials declared Principal Damocles unfit to be a principal and opted for De La Fontaine to oversee college and lycee of the Dupont schools seeing as they are short-staffed. Marinette was able to take the Baccalauréat after pleading to her parents. Thankfully, she was able to pass on her first try and even convinced the school to allow her to be a teaching assistant until the end of the school year. 

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

“I’m telling you Dami, I have everything ready and pack for my trip to see you.” Marinette states into the phone. She sighs and switches shoulders as she is placing the final set of clothes into her suitcase. On the other side of the phone, Damian said something that causes her to roll her eyes. “Damian I will end this call; besides, you know that I would call you if something goes wrong. I’ll see you in two days. Je t'aime.” Marinette ends the call before she couldn’t find it in her to blow up her international data even more. 

 Marinette throws herself onto her chaise sighing, “Tikki, should I take the miraculous box with me or ask Kaalki to open up a portal?” She wonders as her flying ladybug kwami hovers beside her. 

Tikki, munching on a cookie, says, “Marinette would it even matter. You use Kaalki every time you go to Gotham. It’s a miracle that you’re parents haven’t caught on yet.” 

“You say miracle, I say luck.” Marinette plays, “Besides making it look like I go to the airport has covered my quick trips pretty darn well.” 

“Well, what are we going to do about Hawkmoth?”   

“I’m giving Luka and Kagami their miraculous for when the class goes to Gotham as Adrien will most likely be joining them. Hopefully, Hawkmoth doesn’t do anything drastic while we’re gone.” Marinette sighs and kicks herself over to lay on her back. 

Tikki could only smile at how far her chosen has come. From the unsure thirteen-year-old to the now strong level-headed seventeen-year-old woman. Ever since Fu’s amnesia, Marinette has done a great job of making sure that everything regarding the miraculous box is kept secret and safe. She created a box similar to her diary box to protect the miraculous box. 

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

After giving Luka and Kagami their miraculous, she (as Ladybug) informed them that she will be once again going on a vacation overseas. The two wished their friend farewell with the promise of calling her when Hawkmoth attacks.

“I expect details on the proposal when I get back,” Marinette demands, pointing at Luka causing him to blush thinking about a certain cat-themed hero. 

“You’ll give a heart attack if you keep saying things like that, Manette.” 

“I know,” Marinette beams. 

The group of three hugs each other before parting ways. 

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

Gotham’s air may have never been clean as crimes happen all the time, but to Marinette, it was like a second home. She loves returning back to Gotham since she met the Wayne family, which was completely by accident. Well, it wasn’t much of an accident it was through Jagged Stone that they met; however, it was by accident how she met Damian. 

“Angel! You’re here...finally.” Damian greets his lover of two and a half years. Marinette giggles and runs into his arms. She misses the feeling of his body warmth and well just him in general. Just don’t tell the others that.  

“Of course, I’m here and now you’re stuck with me for two months.” 

Damian is taken back, “What happened to being here for two weeks?” 

“A class exchange with Gotham Academy. As the TA of the class selected, I was roped into joining them on their journey to hell.” 

Damian curtly nods his head and wraps his arms around her torso. He kisses her cheek causing the Paris native to blush.

Manette @GothamsFashionSense Look’s who’s back in action. Can’t wait to spend time with you all. 

In the attachment is a photo of Marinette posing in front of the Wayne Enterprises with a smile reaching her eyes. Comments flood the designer’s notifications to the point she had to turn them off. The majority of the comments were from the same people, the entirety of the Bat-family.  

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

“Jay-Jay, I swear if you play a prank on me, you’ll receive no cookies for the rest of the week,” Marinette growls, exiting the guest bedroom--well it’s really hers, but won’t admit it.

“Todd, it’s too early for this.” Damian groans, coming from behind the designer in a personalize pajama design set. 

Jason stares at the two in shock and teasingly asks with a mock sense of seriousness, “Did you at least used protection?” 

Marinette’s jaw drops as murderous intent rolls off Damian. 

“I’m gonna kill you, Todd!” Damian screeches, pulling a katana out from miraculous knows where and chase at the laughing anti-hero. Marinette stood frozen as a rosy pink color spreads across her cheeks. 

“Why would Master Damian and Master Jason be running down the halls, Miss Marinette?” Alfred wonders, appearing in front of the designer. 

Marinette shakes her head and gives the butler a cheeky smile, “Jay-Jay being inappropriate. I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually kills Jason today.” 

Alfred sighs and tells her that breakfast should be done in a moment. Marinette happily nods then returns back to her room to get change. 

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

“What do you mean that Marinette isn’t coming to class?” Chloe shrieks, when Adrien announced that Marinette had left for a trip yesterday. The entire class could only focus their ears on the two blondes for gossip. 

“It’s like I said, Mari, said she’ll be gone for a couple of weeks. She didn’t say where and all I know is that Mme. B let her off the presentation assignment.” 

Chloe scoffs then huffs at the newfound information. “Well, that will explain why Lu and Gami showed up last night instead of her.” 

“I’m sure she’ll give us a call when she settles in,” Adrien adds on just as Mme. Bustier walks into the classroom with a stack of papers in hand. 

“Good evening class.” She greets, setting the stack down on her desk. “As you all know, our class was selected for a class exchange with our American partners. These are your permission slips to sign and date for the trip. If there is any question, please do not hesitate to contact me.” 

“How long will we be gone for?” Alya asks raising her hand without being called on. 

“The program will last for four weeks. What you learn during the exchange will count as a credit to graduate.” The teacher smiles. “Are there any other questions?” 

No one else raises their hands. Caline smiles at this and begins to hand out the permission slips. 

“Have these all turned in by the end of this week.” 

“What about, Marinette?” Surprisingly, this question didn’t come from the protect Marinette squad but instead Juleka, who is usually quiet in the class. 

Caline is taken back, “Marinette will be joining us for this exchange. We have already contacted her parents. Are there any other questions?” 

The room goes silent. Caline nods and turns on the projector. “Today we will be going over your presentation assignment. The only person excused is Marinette as she has completed hers in advance.” 

Of course, the class blows up at that declaration. 

 “What, why does she get special treatment?” Alya’s voice booms through the classroom. “If you one it should be Lila!” 

“Alya, calm down, the reason why Marinette did her assignment is that she won’t be with us these coming weeks. If you have an issue with that take that up with her. Now please, can I continue with my lesson.” Caline could feel a headache coming. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to mention Marinette’s presentation and just use it as a template for the others to follow. 

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

Manette @GothamsFashionSense    Been in town for two days and these idiots are still the same. Mar’i, honey, you the best!

Below the tweet is an attached image of Marinette sitting in the middle with Mar’i Grayson on her lap laughing as Damian appears to be yelling at Jason, Tim’s head smack-down on the table a coffee cup in hand. Dick behind them all with Kori’s arm wrapped around his torso. 

Marinette laughs at the impending struggle Damian has in an attempt to once again harm Jason. She plays with the young toddler on her arms as Mar’i tries to take a scoop of the leftover ice cream. Marinette bounces the young Grayson in her lap and feeds a scoop of ice cream. 

“It’s so nice to have you back, Nette. Mar’i miss her Auntie.” 

Marinette chuckles brushing off the comment, “Mar’i has several other Aunts, how could she miss me? Beside’s I’m not even a Wayne.” 

Kori raises an eyebrow and Dick coughs up a “Yet.” before turning away as if he didn’t spill anything important. 

“Pardon?” Marinette wonders turning her attention to the older Grayson. 

“It’s nothing Bluebird, just a cough that is all.” Marinette purses her lips before deciding to let it go to play with Mar’i. 

Mar’i squeals in delight as Marinette plays with her stomach.

Damian watches from the corner of his eye. A smile sneaks it’s way up onto his face. 

“Wake up, Replacement.” Jason say as he kicks Tim’s leg. 

Tim’s arms grab the nearest coffee cup and drinks from it. He bounces back up with sleep still in his eyes. 

“Tim, you need sleep.” Marinette states. 

“Look whose talking. When’s the last time you slept?” Tim counters, knowing that they would have battles on who can stay up the longest without rest. They’re pretty much tied for first. 

Marinette was about to open her mouth, but one glance at Damian told her otherwise.

“Angel, when was the last time you slept--I mean actually slept?” Damian asks, appearing behind her. He kisses her cheek. She blushes and leans her head into his chest. 

“I’m fine, my prince. I actually slept well last night.” She answers before whispering, “Being next to you and all.”  

Jason oohs but quickly moves to evade the punch that Damian was about to throw. Marinette laughs and pushes away the mess that Mar’i created on the table. What a normal evening with the Wayne’s. 

“So, Bluebird, how are your studies going? I hear that you have a big project coming up soon.” Jason asks, taking a seat across the designer. 

Marinette chuckles, “They’re going great and that big project you supposedly heard about is nearly done, but it’s not for a class.” She teases. 

“Do we at least get to see it? C’mon Bluebird, help your brother out.” 

“Damian doesn’t even know about it.” Marinette narrows her eyes at her boyfriend. Damian chokes on his drink and looks away. “Jay-Jay you will be the first to know.” 

“Hey, what about me?” Mar’i’s voice asks looking up to her aunt. 

“The second person, Jay-Jay, you will be the second.” The designer corrects herself before snuggling the younger Grayson in her arms. Mar’i giggles.

Jason scoffs, but he has to agree that seeing Marinette and Mar’i acting all cute and stuff was a miraculous sight to see. 

Dick Grayson  @theflyinggrayson The two Maris in one place 

Attach is a photo of Marinette holding Mar’i outside the ice parlor smiling at one another with Damian off to the side looking longingly at Marinette. Comments from the surrounding BatFamily, Dick’s followers and co-workers flood the comments section. 

----------

Two weeks of pure and utter bliss. Too bad, it had to end seeing as the worst class at Dupont Public schools in Paris is coming to Gotham Academy the next day or so. Marinette’s mentally preparing herself to the slaughter of comments that will be coming her way. 

“Mme. Bustier, I can assure you that I will check with the academy this afternoon about the arrangement. You can worry about preparing the class for this trip.” Marinette speaks into the phone. 

Damian waits for the call to end to sweep in and be the caring boyfriend. He kisses her cheek and holds her. 

“These next four weeks are going to be hectic. I just know it..” Marinette mumbles to him. Damian huffs tightening his grip. 

“Thank you, Dami.” Marinette pauses, “I really needed that.” 

“Of course, Angel.” They kiss. “Do you need any help?” 

Marinette shakes her head. 

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

Back in Paris, the class gathers at Dupont for departure. Parents came and went saying goodbye to their teens and wish them the best. Lila’s already trying to spin a story that focuses on her and this time she really trying hard to spin her web deeper than ever 

“It’s been forever since I’ve been in Gotham, you know. The last time I was there, it was for a Wayne Gala and my Damibear asked me out. It was so magical. I was dress is this sunset like gown and he was matching me. You know, when I told him that I was coming, he practically jumped with joy…” 

Adrien and Chloe could only wince at the sound of her voice and eluded lie. Everyone in their right mind would know that Damian Wayne has been in a relationship with this girl under the username GothamsFashionSense as the Wayne family tweet about her a lot. Along with that, she look eerie similar to Marinette but with black hair and pink lowlights.  

“I can’t wait to see their faces when the cat jumps out of the bag. Oh, how her empire will crumble to nothing.” Chloe admits to, reapplying her lip-gloss.

“Well, I just hope this all ends before graduation. Do you think Mari will be joining us on the flight or something?” Adrien wonders as he watches Luka say his goodbyes to his sister. 

Chloe shrugs and looks at Kagami, who’s coming their way. 

“‘Gami,” Chloe greets hugging the Japanese fencer. 

“Hey Bee, and hello to you too Adrien.” 

Adrien curtly nods to Kagami. Luka walks over to them and stands behind the blonde model. No one but the two women in front of them notices the interlocking of their hands. 

“You think you can live without your model for a couple of weeks?” Chloe hints with a smirk on her face. 

Luka sarcastically laughs, “Yes, I’m sure Bee.  Though the real question is can you last without your dragon for four weeks.”

Chloe scoffs as Kagami laughs pulling her girlfriend closer to her. 

It wasn’t long before Mme. Bustier called for the class to get onto the bus. The couple gave their significant others a quick kiss or in Adrien’s and Luka’s case a hand tightening before heading off. Oh what they shall await when they reach Gotham. 

~Part 2

As of 12/9/19, the Tag List is CLOSED

Any asks before that will still be added. After that, I’m sorry but can follow my fic tags.

Tag List: @virgil-is-a-cutie | @thejustmesimplyme | @mewwitch | @tamoni112 | @goggles-mcgee | @bb-basbusa | @mochinek0 | @schrodingers25 | @zalladane | @jessigurl-design | @constancetruggle | @tog84 | @shamefullove | @mindfulmagics | @scribblinggraveyard | @clumsy-owl-4178 | @captainmac6 | @vivilakitty | @sonif50 | @mystery-5-5 | @emjrabbitwolf

[resilientdolan]

Drown (G.D) - part 9

A/N: i’m mad again writing this part smh

Word-count: 1.8k

Summary: After a night well spent together, he broke her heart once again.

Tags: @bingexdolan @prettyboydolan @goldenndolan @evergreendolan @grantsairforce @3ooda97 @nikesbailey @abstractstardiva

———————————————————————

The phone rings wake Grayson up in the morning. He lazily takes a quick look at the clock on his wall, only to find out it’s only 7.30 in the morning. He usually drags himself out of his bed around 8 during weekends, so he considers 7.30 is too early for a phone call. But as soon as he notices the caller, he immediately answers it.

“Hello?,” he greets the other person with his raspy, morning voice.

“Baby, can you please pick me up at the airport?,” Isla begs on the other side of the line. “I’m here already.”

Grayson brings his hand up to his face, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand as he mumbles, “Baby? I thought you’re supposed to be here at 9.30?,” he remembers exactly that she told him that her flight arrival’s supposed to be at 9.30.

“Surprise!,” Isla giggles.

“It’s not even my birthday,” he chuckles.

“I missed you, pretty please? I can’t wait to attack your face with kisses,” Isla continues to beg. “We can have breakfast at Maywood later? I’ve been craving for their pancakes,” she suggests.

Grayson shifts his gaze to Bianca; asleep, being wrapped around his arm. His lips form into a smile as he watches her sleeping peacefully beside him. He keeps his arm wrapped around her in her sleep, only to make sure that she’s okay.

“Baby?,” Isla calls for him once again, noticing his silence.

“Yeah?,” he quickly turns his focus back to his girlfriend.

“Can we? Can we?,” she’s getting impatient.

“Uh... yeah, yeah, sure. Breakfast, right?,” he confirms.

“Yeah,” she replies.

“Alright, I’ll see you soon, babe,” he nods, though he knows that she can’t see it. As soon as he hangs up, he turns his gaze back to the girl sleeping beside him.

He promised her last night.

But it’s only picking Isla up from the airport, breakfast, and it’ll be over, right?

So he quietly drags himself out of his bed, not wanting to wake her up since she deserves the rest. He gives her forehead another kiss before he disappears into the bathroom to take a quick shower.

———————————————————————

It’s nearly 10 am.

Bianca’s finally wakes up, only to find her lying alone on Grayson’s bed. She remembers the fact that she fell asleep in his arms that night but he’s nowhere to be found.

Where is he?

Bianca eagerly jumps out of his bed, heading out of his bedroom to find him. He promised her that he’ll drive her to the hospital. So maybe he woke up early to do a little work out before he takes her to the hospital.

She takes a quick look to the backyard through the window from the hallway. Grayson usually has his work out session in their backyard, but she can’t find him there. There’s no one in the backyard.

Maybe he’s taking a shower?

She knocks on the bathroom door, calling for his name. “Grayson?,” she calls. “Are you there?”

There’s nothing but silence.

“Gray?,” she calls once again. She turns the doorknob and finds out the door is unlocked; which means he isn’t there as well. And that’s when she hears some sound coming downstairs, from the kitchen.

Is he there? Preparing breakfast?

She quickly runs down the stairs, making her way to the kitchen, only to find his twin brother sitting on a stool, having a plate of french toast

“Morning, Bi!,” he greets her with a smile on his face.

“Morning, E,” she replies as she hops onto the other stool.

“You woke up late, are you okay?,” he glances over at her as he continues to munch on his toast.

“I’m okay, i’m okay... Hey, where’s Grayson?,” Bianca speaks as she looks around. Her gaze shifts quickly to the family dining room, looking for the other twin.

“He’s out. He’s picking Isla up from the airport,” Ethan casually replies. He grabs his phone from the counter, scrolling down through Instagram.

“Oh...,” she responds in disappointment. Why didn’t he tell her that he has to pick her up? He promised that he’ll take her to the hospital.

“What’s wrong?,” Ethan senses sadness in her eyes.

“No, nothing...,” she shakes her head.

“You sure?,” he squints his eyes, observing her facial expression. Bianca nods her head.

And that’s when her phone beeps.

A message from Grayson.

“Bi, I’m so sorry that I had to leave you. I had to pick Isla up from the airport and she wanted to have some pancakes from Maywood. I’ll be home before 1, and we can go to the hospital, okay?”

You sigh deeply. Sometimes it drives you crazy; the fact that he makes you upset, but you can do nothing about it. You’re just his bestfriend, and it feels like you have no right to be mad at him for choosing his own girlfriend.

“Bianca, you okay?,” Ethan feels the need to make sure that she’s okay. And she only gives him a slight nod.

“I’m okay, Ethan... I just need to take shower, and wait for Grayson to come back. He promised me that he’ll drive me to the hospital to see my Grandma,” Bianca gives him a thin smile as she hops off the counter.

“Okay,” Ethan replies as he watches her walking out of the kitchen. He knows something’s wrong, but he decides to remain silent.

———————————————————————

“Baby, I missed you,” Isla mumbles gently as she continues to attack Grayson’s face with kisses. After breakfast at Maywood, Grayson drove her home, he knows that he promised Bianca that he’ll take her to the hospital.

But here he is. In Isla’s bed. With her sitting on his lap, her legs wrapped around his waist.

“I missed you too, babe,” Grayson replies. He rests his hands on her waist to support her. Isla gives him another smile before she leans a bit closer to plant a gentle, yet quite passionate kiss, onto Grayson’s lips.

His phone, which he put on her nightstand lights up as soon as it receives a new notification.

A text message from Bianca.

Grayson sneakily takes a quick glance at his phone screen as soon as he breaks the kiss, reading her reply to his previous text.

“Alright, Gray. I’m ready to go :) I’ll be waiting for you”

He’s not supposed to be here. He knows it.

“Isla...,” he calls her softly, moving his hand up to her cheek as he continues, “Baby, I gotta go. I need to do groceries, Mom asked me to do so,” he lies.

Isla pokes out her bottom lip as she rests her hand on Grayson’s cheek. “It can wait,” she begs him.

“Isla, please,” he sighs.

Isla remains silent, but she quickly gets off of his lap. Grayson takes his phone from the nightstand as he gets up, but Isla isn’t giving up... yet.

“Grayson?,” she looks up at him. He turns around to face her.

Isla tugs onto the edge of his t-shirt, pulling him closer back to her as she mumbles, “Gray, I need you.”

Not that word, Isla.

“Baby, please?,” she gets up from her bed, and snakes her arms around his neck. She eagerly wraps her legs around his waist to cling onto him.

“I need you right now, Grayson,” she whimpers as she begins to grind her hips against his.

Grayson sinks his teeth into his lower lip, mumbling under his breath, “Fuck it.”

With that, he crashes his lips against hers, kissing her roughly, with a strong passion as he throws her onto her bed.

———————————————————————

5 missedcalls from Bianca Reine.

10 text messages from Bianca Reine.

“Gray, i’m ready! :)”

“Can we get more Sonic’s burgers before we go to the hospital? I’m p hungry :(“

“Graysoooon, can we? can we?”

“Where are you :(“

“Grayson, are you okay?”

“Are you going to drive me to the hospital?”

“Gray, answer me”

“Grayson”

“Grayson, pick up the call, please :(“

“If you’re busy, it’s fine, I’ll go there on my own”

Grayson punches his steering wheel once he notices that Bianca tried to contact him. He quickly starts his car and drives back home. He promised her that he’ll be at home before 1. But here he is, still on his way back home, and it’s nearly 5 pm.

He should’ve just said no to Isla. He promised her. And he doesn’t want to make her sad again and again.

As soon as he arrives at home, he parks his car and hops out of the driver seat. As he makes his way towards the porch, he can hear someone crying, like real cry, with sobs.

If he steps in and find Bianca crying because of him, he’ll hate himself real bad.

So he walks in, finding Bianca, Ethan, and his Mom in the living room. The three of them are sitting on the couch. Ethan’s arm is wrapped around Bianca, as she sobs into his shoulder. Lisa, who’s sitting next to Bianca, runs her hand up and down Bianca’s back to give her soothing rubs.

“Mom? What’s wrong?,” Grayson frowns. He knows there must be something worse other than him breaking his promise to her that she cries that hard. He knows Bianca isn’t a crybaby.

“They took her Grandma to the ICU, and she’s having panic attack,” Lisa whispers to Grayson as she continues to rub her back.

“Ethan, I—I want to s—see her,” Bianca mumbles into his shoulder. “G—Gray promised me that h—he’d take me to the hospital to see h—her,” she sobs. She has no idea that the man she’s talking about is there.

“Shh, you’ll see her soon, Bi,” Ethan responds. He shoots his twin brother with an angry glare, knowing that he promised her, yet he broke the promise.

“Grayson lied to me...,” Bianca sighs deeply. “Now they took her to the ICU! If only he came home as he promised and drove me there,” she continues to cry.

“H—he lied to me,” Bianca says weakly.

Grayson just stands there in complete silence. It breaks his heart to hear her saying such things. He promised to himself that he’d never hurt her ever again, but here he is.

“Grayson, where were you?,” Lisa turns her gaze to meet Grayson’s. “You promised her, but where were you?,” she interrogates him.

Noticing that Lisa mentions his name, Bianca slowly lifts her head up from Ethan’s shoulder to find Grayson standing awkwardly there in silence.

“I— I was at Isla’s...,” he replies. Bianca can sense hurt in his tone as he speaks.

She quickly gets up, shaking her head quickly as she points at him. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she yells at him. “You lied to me! You told me everything’s gonna be okay!,” she sobs. “You promised me, Grayson!,” she screams.

And there comes one thing that Grayson never expected before, coming out of Bianca’s lips as she storms out of the room.

“I fucking hate you, Grayson Dolan.”

[remywrites5]

Taking Care

For @casualmaraudering who was feeling a bit sad tonight (tomorrow? Damn timezones!) Just something short and sweet! Hope you like it!! 

***

  Sirius paced the length of his bedroom as he waited for the Facetime to connect. Every time it rang without Remus picking up it set his teeth on edge. He just wanted to talk to his boyfriend and he didn’t know what he would do if Remus didn’t answer.

           Finally after about the tenth ring Remus picked up. “Sirius?” he said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. “What’s going on? It’s like two in the morning.”

           “I can’t do this, Moony,” Sirius said, shaking his head as he positioned the phone at an angle that was the most flattering. Even though it was late and Remus was sleep deprived it was no excuse not to look good for him.

           Remus rolled his eyes knowingly. “Can’t do what?”

           “It’s still another month before I get to see you. I was looking at the calendar on my phone and I realized how long it would be before we see each other again. That’s too far away, I’m not going to make it.”

           Remus sighed and scrubbed his hand down his face. He turned on his bedside light and put on his glasses. “Sirius, I love you, but I also have a class in six hours.”

           “I’m sorry,” Sirius said, feeling pathetic and needy, the way he always did when he had to go long stretches without seeing Remus. They hadn’t been together since Christmas break. “I know, I’m sorry.”

           Remus flopped down back onto his pillows, holding his phone up with his arm outstretched, quickly fixing his hair so it fell in a pleasing way on the pillow. “Tell me what you need.”

           Sirius let out a whine. “I need you here but I can’t have that so I don’t know.”

           “Is James around to give you a cuddle?”

           Sirius shook his head. “He went to bed hours ago. And if I wake him up he will hurt me unlike you who will just threaten it.”

           Remus chuckled softly. “Want me to read to you?”

           Sirius nodded and snuggled under the covers on his side, holding his phone on the pillow next to his as if Remus were in bed with him. Having Remus read him stories was one of his favorite things. He’d never really been read stories as a kid so having Remus read to him felt kind of novel. It made him feel warm and whole, like a part of him that had been missing was getting filled up.

           Remus waited for Sirius to get settled and then grabbed his copy of Pride and Prejudice. He picked up where he had left off the last time Sirius had called him being dramatic and unable to sleep.

           Sirius pulled the duvet up to his chin and let his eyes slip shut, the calming voice of his boyfriend washing over him. He let out a happy sigh as Remus spoke of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. As much as Sirius wanted to stay awake and continue listening to Remus read to him, he was quickly drifting off to Remus’ soothing tone.

                                                           ***

           Two days later Sirius received a care package in the mail from Remus. He knew Remus didn’t have much in the way of money, being a poor Uni student like Sirius, but most of the gifts were homemade anyway. It made them all the more special.

           Remus had knitted Sirius a black and grey scarf because he was always chiding Sirius for going out in the winter in just his leather jacket. There was a homemade picture frame that was covered in candy hearts that said things like “be mine.” Inside was a picture of Sirius and Remus together the last time Sirius had visited Remus in Ireland, the two of them on the stairs of Skellig Michael. There was also a bunch of chocolate, a box of tissues, and a little jar filled with notes.

           Confused, Sirius pulled out the jar and grabbed the letter Remus had put in the box for him.

           Hi love,

You seemed like you were having a rough time of it, so I thought I would send you something to cheer you up. I hope they do the trick and if they don’t you better not tell me or it’ll crush my spirit. I feel like most of the stuff is self-explanatory but you’ve probably noticed a jar filled with notes. Inside are some things I’ve written out for you, quotes and thoughts and such. Whenever you’re feeling down I want you to reach into the jar and read one of the notes. If it doesn’t work then you know you can always reach out to me. I’m here even if I’m not with you.

           I love you,

           Remus

           Sirius felt his eyes start to well up with tears as he twisted the top off the jar and pulled a random note out in hopes that it would help. Even though he was sad he felt so full of love that he thought he might burst.

           Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. – Oscar Wilde

           Sirius pulled out his phone and immediately called Remus on Facetime. Remus picked up after only one ring and was already smiling. “I had a feeling you might call me today. I got a notification that my package had been delivered.”

           Sirius laughed and wiped the tears from his eyes. “You’re wonderful.”

           Remus blushed and played nervously with one of his curls. He always did that when he was nervous because Sirius’ adorable Moony didn’t know how to take compliments. He was wearing an oversized jumper that Sirius just wanted to crawl into and never leave. “So you like it then? Why are you crying?”

           “Because you love me.”

           “I don’t think that’s supposed to make you sad, Pads.”

           “It makes me sad because all I want to do right now is kiss you but I can’t because you have the audacity to live far away.”

           Remus snorted and tugged again on his curl, driving Sirius absolutely wild. “I was worried it might have been too…soppy.”

           “Not at all,” Sirius assured him. “It was just what I needed. How did you know?”

           Remus bit his bottom lip and then grinned. “Because I know you and I know how you get. And it sucks that I’m not there to make you feel better when you’re feeling rotten, but I figured I could at least help a little. I know it’s probably not enough.”

           “Of course it’s not,” Sirius said, sighing wistfully. “Nothing but the actual you will ever be enough. But I think this will get me through the next month until I see you again.”

           “I really love you, you know?”

           Sirius beamed at him. “Yeah, I know.”

           “This is where you say it back, you dick.”

           Sirius laughed. “I love you more than anything, Moony.”

           “Good,” Remus said, giving a nod of approval. “My birthday will be here before you know it and then you’ll be here with me.”

           “I know it’s your birthday and I should be focused on you, but I will require quite a lot of cuddling,” Sirius informed him, sliding his fingers through his hair in the way he knew Remus liked.

           Remus licked his lips. “Oh?”

           “And kissing.” Sirius shot him a cheeky wink. He watched Remus’ gaze drop down to his lips for a moment. He dragged his teeth across them seductively and then laughed when he saw Remus blush bright red.

           “I think I can handle that,” Remus told him, smiling shyly. “Only twenty-nine more days.”

           Sirius blew Remus a kiss. “I can hardly wait.”

[fluffyvillain]

The Bond

Chapter: 2/?

Summary: Mila finally finds her soulmate, but not everything is as she expected it to be.

Chapter 1

Pairing: Henry Cavill/OFC

Warnings: None

A/N: No one:

        Absolutely no one:

        Me: Okay, Henry is going to be asshole-ish in the beginning

AO3 link

A tray with champagne was shaking slightly in Mila's hand, she really was incapable for this job and now she was sure of it. But, she did her time, full 6 months. She's been looking forward to this day since before she even started. Being careful not to trip, she walked through the crowd with a wide smile plastered across her face, trying to hide her insecurity. When the last glass was off the tray, she went to fill it up again.

"Did you see freaking Tom Hanks?" Martha passed her on the way to kitchen.

"I did, I did." Mila was trying to get rid of the wrinkles on her skirt by pulling it down.

"How come you never get excited with having celebrities around you? I get all giddy every time, like a teenage girl."

"Well, you were a teenage girl up until a couple of months ago. I don't know, it's because I've been in this situation many times before, I guess." She wasn't lying, she has, but not in this position. She was usually the one wearing gowns, not a white shirt and a back skirt. "I have to get back to work."

Her tray was full again and she was back among the crowd when she saw him entering, he was finally there and everything around her stopped, he was the only one she could see in the crowd. It was like every cell in her body started pulsating and she was frozen in space and time, even though she felt like he was a magnet pulling her to himself. She wanted, no, she needed to run to him, to hug him, but something was wrong and she knew it. She felt like a whole new dimension opened inside of her, creating space for his emotions, but here were no fireworks there. He was feeling content, peaceful and she felt he felt profound love at that moment.

"Excuse me, miss, may I get a glass?" An elder lady stood next to her, rolling her eyes.

"Of course, my apology." Mila turned to her, lowering the tray so the lady could help herself. Then her eyes were back on Henry, she didn't know what to expect of her soulmate, but she never really expected him to be famous. To be honest, she wasn't really a fan, but she knew who he was. She watched "Superman" and even if she didn't, it was impossible to miss Henry Cavill, especially after "The Witcher," its content was all over the internet.

With timid steps, she started moving towards him, but he wasn't alone. The girl who held hands with him was one of the most beautiful women Mila has ever seen, compared to her, she felt like a bag of potatoes. On her heels, she was a bit taller than Henry, slim, with incredibly shiny long black hair, and a face of an angel with large eyes and full lips. Definitely a model, Mila thought to herself. She stood in front of them, feeling so tiny and scared before them.

"May I offer you a glass of champagne?" The tray was before the woman, but Mila's eyes were on Henry, expecting some kind of a reaction, but he only thanked her when he took the glass. What is going on? Maybe it's not the time, maybe if I get to be alone with him he will figure it out.

Her family always said that she was great at finding quick solutions to problems that came at of the blue and that exactly what she was trying to do now. A lot of round tables were scattered all around the room and the only one that stood out was a rectangular one, in the back of the room where 4 people were seated, bidders who place bids they get over the phone. That's it. From a young age, she was aware that her family was well off, but she never felt the need to splurge, well, except when it came to traveling, and he never had a feeling that her life was much different than most other people's but she was beyond glad she was rich in this moment. She walked over to the bidding table, still holding a half filled tray. "Good evening," she spoke to the man who was closest to her. "I need you to represent me tonight, if dinner with Mr. Cavill is on auction."

"It is and I don't mean to be offensive, but we are talking big numbers here." He said he meant no offense, but his voice was full of sneer. Two women sitting next to him both had the same mocking expression on their faces.

Mila slammed the tray on their table. "Does the name Robert Radcliffe mean anything to you?"

"Isn't he the owner of this hotel?" The man's sinister smile slowly disappeared from his face, realizing where this might take him.

"Among many others and I am Mila Radcliffe, so what does that tell you?"

There were two options in his head, she was either a lunatic, or she was a part of one of the richest families in New York and he didn't want to take any risk. "I'm sorry, Miss Radcliffe." He gave her a business card. "You should call this number, but they will request an ID validation and a credit card number."

"You shouldn't worry about that. How will things work after that?"

"You will receive Mr. Cavill's e-mail address and the rest is up to you. If you want to, you will also be introduced to him tonight."

"That won't be necessary. Since I will be in no position to be on the phone, you should know that I have no limit, but I guess your colleagues will inform you about that once I'm done talking to them. You need to outbid everyone, no matter the cost. In the end, it is a charitable auction."

"Of course."

She took a break so she could sort thing out with the auction company and it surprisingly didn't take long and she was soon back at her work. Henry didn't even acknowledge her existence, but she couldn't take her eyes off him. She couldn't deny that he was handsome, no one could, but this wasn't about his blue eyes, shape, height or his incredible smile. He was the last one in line to get up on a podium, showing what the person who wins the bid will get. Mila leaned on a side wall, waiting for the bidding to end, even though she already knew the final result.

"10.000$ first time, 10.000$ second time, 10.000$ third time. Sold to a telephone bidder!"

Dear Mr. Cavill,

  Hope this e-mail finds you well.

I'm contacting you regarding the charity auction from yesterday evening.

If you are free, I would like to have dinner with you within the next 7 days, if you are unable to do it then, please, suggest a different period.

  Kind regards,

Mila Radcliffe

 Mila shut down her laptop right away, pushing it away from her, she didn't expect any answer soon as it was 8AM, so she fell back on the bed. Her other side was feeling peaceful and she came to conclusion that he was asleep.

TV was her choice of entertainment for this morning, she found some morning show and she tucked herself in under a duvet. Just when she was about fall asleep again, she jerked, feeling waves of pleasure washing over her. Jealousy kicked in when she realized what was happening, Henry was being pleasured, but obviously not by her. She took a few deep breaths, trying to somehow block what he was feeling, but it didn't help. Then she tried to reason herself. He hasn't realized it yet, you can't be jealous. It's not like he's cheating on you. Get your shit together, Mila. She plumped up a pillow, only to put it over her face.

During the day, she felt different emotions coming from him and the only constant was pure love he felt and for Mila, that was like a pang in her heart, way worse than when he was sleeping with someone else. She tried everything she could think of to try to block his feelings starting from cooking lunch, cleaning the house, plucking weeds in her garden to taking a swim in the pool - which usually helped relieve stress, but it didn't help at all this time.

Defeated, she sat on the edge of the pool, her legs dangling in the water, warm June sun shone over her, heating droplets of water enough to evaporate from her skin. Just when she finally acquired some peace, but it was soon disturbed by the sound of e-mail notification coming from her phone. She stretched her arm to reach the phone from a deck chair behind her and she held her breath from the moment she saw who sent the e-mail until she read it at least 5 times.

  Dear Mrs. Radcliffe,

  Thank you for sending me this e-mail and for being a part of the charity program.

I am free tomorrow night and I will gladly meet you then, just tell me when and where you'd like us to meet, please.

  Best regards,

Henry Cavill

 She did a happy dance before replying. Everything will be fine tomorrow.

  Dear Mr. Cavill,

  Tomorrow at 7PM, then. "Molière" restaurant, reservation will be under my name. Looking forward to meeting you.

  Best regards,

Mila Radcliffe

 She got an almost instant reply.

  Dear Mrs. Radcliffe,

  It's a deal. See you tomorrow.

  Regards,

Henry Cavill

 She ran to her wardrobe, not caring that her hair was still dripping wet. After going through her whole wardrobe multiple times, she chose to go for the classic - little black sheath dress, short sleeves, knee length and black stilettos with high heels which she put on right away to practice walking with them on since she never got a chance to wear them before. Her legs were a bit wobbly at first, but soon she got used to them. She grabbed her phone and dialed a number, continuing with her practice walk.

"Hello, Arthur, what are you doing?"

"Nothing much, I'm about to leave work, you?"

"I'm not really doing anything. Listen, I'm going to need a table for 2 tomorrow at 7." She got down the stairs, only to climb back up.

"You have finally decided to grace us with your presence, your majesty." Arthur gave her a little sarcastic clap.

"Oh, come on. When I agreed to make this investment, I said that I didn't want to have any part in managing the restaurant, it was just a business venture and a mighty good one, if I may add." She didn't really like the restaurant business, but when her friend suggested a joined venture, she agreed. The location was good and the whole concept of traditional service with high quality food was even better.

"With me involved, you couldn't fail even if you try."

"I won't defy you. Anyhow, give me the best table, somewhere secluded."

"Oooh, someone's got a date."

"Oooh, someone has to shut up."

 Mila spent the whole day on the edge of a breakdown, Henry's emotions were definitely too much to handle, the only thing that kept her sane was the fact that she was meeting him tonight. She went to a hair stylist and a makeup artist, she usually did her hair and makeup by herself, but this was a special occasion, she has waited her whole life for this. In her loneliest night, she imagined her soulmate, how he will give the comfort she desperately needed.

Instead of getting more nervous as the meeting time was getting closer, she was feeling more and more comfortable, she will get to talk to him, to see him up close. So, when she entered "Molière," she was fairly relaxed. All of the staff greeted her and she was instantly reminded why she didn't come here often, all of the staff seemed a little distracted when they saw her, not treating her like a regular guest. She made her way to the kitchen, just peering inside, waving at everyone, then a waiter took her to her table and brought her a glass of wine. "Please, put everything on my name tonight."

"My queen, you look stunning tonight." She received a kiss on the template.

Mila kissed Arthur's cheek. "I thought you left. How are you, how's Anna?"

"I stayed longer so I could see you. I'm fine,  Anna sends her regards and she told you to call her soon or she'll get mad."

"I will, I promise. I'm going to start worki... I... Um..." Mila lost her train of though when Henry came just a few tables away from her, walking behind a hostess.

"What?" Arthur turned to see what she was looking at. "Henry freaking Cavill is your date?" He tried to be as quite as possible.

"Yeah." Mila couldn't take her eyes off him, he was in a suit and he looked divine. Goosebumps rose on skin all over her body.

"I know that look, that's how you look at... Oh, ooooh. I'm just going to disappear." So he did, he retreated to his office.

"Mrs. Mila, I assume." Henry shook her hand. "I'm Henry."

Mila could swear she felt a small electric shock when she came in physical contact with him. "Miss, but it's okay."

"I apologize, it's because I expected you to be a middle aged woman." He flashed her a smile and she reciprocated.

"It's alright, thank you for meeting me."

"To be honest, I've never done something like this for charity, but I though - why not?"

"Me neither, I've always done it the conventional way until now."

A waiter approached them and Henry ordered whiskey. "Here are your menus, I will be right back."

"It's okay, I don't need one."

"Of course." He took back hers and left to get the whiskey.

"So, you already know what you want?" Henry went through the menu.

"I do and I can tell you that their meat is pretty good."

"So, you've been her before?"

"I have."

The waiter came back, bringing the drink.

"We have decided what we want. Mila, please, go ahead."

"I'll have a Mediterranean chicken salad, thank you."

"I'll have a steak, medium rare, thanks." He gave back the menu and then continued the conversation with Mila. "You seem kind of familiar, have we met before by any chance."

"Well, I served you champagne last night."

"That's it! But, that means that you gave like three monthly paychecks for this." Suddenly, the atmosphere has changed and Mila started feeling unease coming from his side.

She tried to change the subject, diverting the conversation to his work. "Are you currently filming something?"

"I actually am. I'm on a break now, but I am filming a movie in Atlanta."

Mila continued with asking further about the movie and how he prepares for roles, but his unease never went away, it even grew stronger. When the waiter brought their food, their conversation stopped and there was only awkward silence for a whole minute and Mila couldn't hide what was going on with her anymore. "I have to be honest with you. I'm not really here because of charity."

Henry dropped his fork and knife. "I figured. Let me tell you something, I don't know what you are thinking, but it's not going to happen. I have someone whom I love very much and I would never put my relationship in jeopardy for someone I just met." His pupils widened and Mila felt pure rage coming from him.

"It's nothing like that. Please, let me explain. Last night when you walked in, I felt something, I felt that you are my..." Mila bit her tongue, sadness, anger, feeling of dedication, attraction, need, everything boiled inside her, like in a melting pot.

"Your what?"

"My soulmate and I don't know why you don't feel the same way."

"You are delusional. Listen, we are going to finish what we ordered and that's it, we'll part our ways. Okay?"

Mila out her hand over his, which was clenched in a fist. "I'm not lying. I can feel you, your anger right now, your love for the woman you are dating, your happiness."

He jerked his hand away. "You really are a psycho. You just gave your three month income only to have dinner with me, hoping it would lead somewhere further. Let me repeat, I have someone I love very much and even if what you were saying was true, I wouldn't care. She is the only one for me. I'm going to write you a check for 10.000$ and pay for this dinner, because I don't want to feel like I owe you something. I can't believe this."

Mila stood up, grabbing her purse, her heart shattering in pieces. "You have no idea how I wish it wasn't you. Keep your check and dinner has already been paid for." Mila hurried out, not wanting to allow herself for her staff to see her crying.

Henry gestured for the waiter to come bring him a check.

"Everything is settled, sir."

"I guess she left the tab open, just cancel that and I will pay."

"I'm afraid I can't go against my owner's wishes." Henry turned towards exit, but Mila was already gone.

[littlepurplething]

A little sneak peek of the newest story I’m trying out, thinking about calling it A Web of Flames. tell me what you think. 

Gently, Lucy had shut her door behind her after getting home from school. Knowing that if she slammed it, her father might scream at her again. After losing some business moving here from Acalypha just a few months ago, her father was swamped with meeting after meeting trying to make that business up.

His attitude as getting worse and worse by the day.

Her escape was her laptop, letting the small device load up on her bed, she got herself comfortable in some pajamas; consisting of grey sweatpants with a pink stripe running down them and a pink tank top that hugged her curves but was still fully comfortable.

Seeing the home screen of her laptop gave her a slight bit of happiness. Clicking on the internet icon, it loaded to the same page she always visited, Fumblr. It was her main page she posted her stories, there were others, like fanficstory.net. she had to place them in other sites so more people see them.

Her brown eyes widened when she saw the many, many notes from people reblogging and commenting on their love for her newest chapter. She literally sat cross-legged on her bed and clapped in excitement, maybe even let out a quiet squeak.  

Going to the search and typing in her favorite hashtag, Fairy Tail. It was her most favorite anime that is almost done with the English version of the anime. She wished it didn’t end so soon but it has been going on so long. Hopefully, she can find a new anime or manga to read.

That’s when her curser scrolled down to see some amazing art and funny incorrect quotes from the anime. Taking her time, she looked over some awesome one-shots of different ships and some not so great ones, you know not everyone can write but still, it’s what they want to do. Then she saw his name or his username.

Firedragonslayer.

He did these amazing drawings and edits of manga strips that just look so artsy and just…amazing. He was also very funny when he posted any status update or yelling at some other users like icedevilslayer and scarlettrequipmage and so many others. She even knew his name, which he has in his bio, Natsu. Well, she hoped that it was his real name.

It made her laugh and she, oh so, wanted to join in their banter but she was just so self-conscious of herself and what she might say to everyone. She wasn’t even following him because she was just so scared that he would find her weird.

“Lucy!” she heard a shout from the ground floor of her home.

Her blonde hair pulled up in a bun at the top of her head, almost falling out when she cautiously walked down the stairs to see her father standing at the front door with his business luggage with his hands in his pockets.

“Yes, father?” she quietly with her hands collected behind her back as she stood straighter as she has been told to do over the years.

He checked the time on his watch as he grabbed his bag with his other hand, “I’m going on a business trip for the next week. Stay home and just go to school. No friends over and no going anywhere else,” he stated, already trying to leave as he told her. Also, she didn’t even have friends to hang out with or have over.

She only nodded when he left out the door without a hug or a goodbye. Lucy let out a sigh and slugged her shoulders, slowly walking up the stairs back to her room. Her laptop in the same place on the page of Fumblr but saw a new note in her notifications.

Clicking on it, seeing that firedragonslayer had commented on one of her stories, which had never happened before; saying ‘first fanfic I read, and it is actually good’. Lucy squealed and wiggled her feet on her bed, causing her laptop to bounce and almost close if she didn’t catch it in time.

Lucy reblogged it with a short ‘Thank you so much, I really appreciate that’, and she really was. It really made her day and momentarily forgetting her father just left her alone for a week, at least she wouldn’t hear any yelling for a week.

She spent the rest of the day looking on Fumblr and trying to write a new one-shot at the same time. Lucy had her back leaning against the wall by her bed and her laptop laying her on her legs, per usual on a school night or any night for that matter. Then she got a private message from her favorite person on this site because she really felt like she could actually become real-life friends.

Her username was scriptmage, but her name was Levy. They talked occasionally about Fairy Tail and so many other animes, they even collabed on a story together. That was one of her most commented story on this site. Sometimes they would even text after they talked about giving each other each other’s number.

“Lu, you didn’t tell me that firedragonslayer commented on your story!” Levy told her with a picture of a girl screaming.

The blonde had to laugh, “It only happened like an hour ago, Lev! I’m still trying to comprehend that he even did,”

“Are you going to talk to him more?”

Her toes curled under her blanket in anxiety, she had told Levy about her small, tiny crush on Natsu and she doesn’t even know what he looks like but he’s just so funny and talented with art, it just made her heart jolt in her chest, “Isn’t that weird? I mean he didn’t make conversation with me at all,”

“Girl, you need to talk to him. I’ve heard he’s not that bad of a guy in real life,”

Lucy had tilted her head, “How do you know that?”

It was only a few moments of silence when she finally received a message from her, “I may be talking to his cousin,” and Lucy let out a slight chuckle, wondering how she even knew that this guy was Natsu’s cousin.

Her fingers typed up a message while still trying to contain her laughter, “Lev, I never knew you had a boyfriend,” she typed with winking emoji.

She could hear the slight gasp from the other side of her laptop even if they couldn’t see each other as Lucy opened up the message that simply read, “Lucy!” then a second message, “Guess dinner’s ready, I’ll talk to you tomorrow Lu!”

Now she was alone, in her house and in her social life. It made her upset that she only had one friend in real life and online. She only groaned while shutting her laptop and dropping herself under her covers, hopefully, she could make new friends at this new academy school. She tried to argue with her father about going to an all-girls’ school, but he wouldn’t have it, telling her that he didn’t want her around boys at all.

Well, maybe she was just destined to be alone for the rest of her life, just like her father wanted.

Covering herself to the tip of her nose with her wool blanket, she sighed through her nose and promptly fell asleep in her dark room in a dark and lonely house.

[willows-adventures-in-words]

I’ve finally completely finished a side project I’ve been working on off-and-on for a little more than a month. I’m proud of this and the one person that’s read it says it turned out really good.

The Last of Us: prologue word count: 5489 content warning (even though I would think it’s obvious): character death ________________________

The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock. And the soft sound of the rustle of the fabric of the couch as Sarah readjusted herself. It was late at night, almost midnight, and she had fallen asleep waited for her dad to come home from work. He'd been gone all day only leaving a note on the fridge telling her he'd be home late. But even so she waited up for him. It was his birthday after all.

The sound of the front door opened followed immediately by a voice breaking the silence in the dark living room. “Tommy I-” The door closed as Joel continued speaking on his phone. “Tommy. Tommy listen to me; He is the contractor.” He paused for just a second and spoke back up in a hushed voice when he noticed Sarah asleep on the couch. “He's the contractor, okay? I can't lose this job.” There was a brief pause. “I-I understa...” Tommy started to interrupt him but then Joel spoke up. “Let's talk about this in the morning, okay?” He switched on the little table light next to the couch startling his daughter awake. “We'll talk about it in the morning.” Sarah let out a yawn. “Alright, goodnight.” Joel then dropped his phone on the coffee table in front of the couch.

“Hey,” Sarah greeted him as she started to move from her position.

Joel dropped his keys on the table next to his phone as he motioned for her to move. “Scoot.”

Sarah shuffled to the center of the couch making room for her dad to sit down, which he then did. “Fun day at work, huh?” she asked as Joel tiredly ran a hand over his face.

After readjusting his position, Joel rested his temple lightly against his hand and let out a sigh. “What are you still doing up? It's late.”

With momentary panic, Sarah twisted back to look at the clock hanging on the wall behind the couch. “Oh crud, what time is it?” The clock read 11:50.

“It's way past your bedtime.”

Turning to her dad, Sarah told him, “But it's still today,” before turning and moving off the couch and ducking down to grab something she hid between the couch and the hutch that sat next to it.

“Honey please not right now. I do not have the energy for this.”

“Here.” Sarah held out a small box to him even before she was fully on her feet.

Joel turned his attention to her and the gift. “What's this?” he asked as he reached over and accepted the item.

“Your birthday,” Sarah stated as she sat down facing him; eager to see what he'd think. Joel glanced over at her with a smile before flipping open the lid of the box. A watch. “You kept complaining about your broken watch...” He removed the watch from its case and, leaning forward, set the container on the table. “So, I figured, you know. You like it?”

Leaning back in the couch Joel clasped it on his wrist. He paused as he stared down at the watch. With a slight shake of the head he told her, “Honey, this is...” Lifting the watch to his ear.

“What?”

He tapped the face of the watch. “It's nice but I- I think it's stuck. It's not-”

“What? No, no no no.” Sarah didn't notice the smirk on Joel's face as she grabbed his arm pulling it closer to check the watch. Once she noticed the second hand ticking she shoved his arm back at him. “Oh, ha ha,” she said as she turned away and laid down on the couch, with her head resting on the opposite arm rest. Despite his antics she was still amused but wasn't going to admit it.

He gave his gift another once over. It was a really nice watch. Then, with amusement evident in his voice he asked, “Where did you get the money for this?”

Without missing a beat, Sarah stated, “Drugs.” She looked back to him. “I sell hardcore drugs.”

“Oh, good.” Joel reached forward and picked up the tv remote. “You can start helping out with the mortgage then.” Joel turned on the television.

“Tsk. Yeah, you wish.”

Joel got up from the couch. It was an hour and a half after he had gotten home and Sarah had finally fallen asleep a short time ago. He tilted her knees up and turned her slightly so he could lift her up in his arms. Her head rested against his shoulder as he carried her. Joel took her upstairs and down the hall to her room. Laying her down on her side and he gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Good night baby girl.” He said this softly before he turned to leave the room; pausing briefly at her door he looked back with a soft smile before closing the door, carefully so as not to wake her.

The sound of the phone by her bedside woke her up. Propping herself on her elbow, Sarah reached over and picked it up answering with a hello. “Sarah, honey, I need you to get your daddy on the phone.”

“Uncle Tommy, what time is it?” She stammered a bit, confused and a bit concerned.

“I need to talk to your dad now. There's some-”

Suddenly the line was cut off. “Uncle Tommy? Hello?” When there wasn't a response aside from the beeping she put the phone back on its port. Sitting up she swung her legs over the side of her bed. She pushed herself to her feet before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What was that all about?” she wondered aloud as she started to her bedroom door to look for her dad. “Dad?” she called out after leaving her room. There was no response though.

After reaching the bathroom door, which was at the end of the hall from her room, she glanced over and saw light coming from her dad's room. Maybe he was watching tv and didn't hear her. Sarah called out to him again as she started over to his room. The door was cracked open and she could indeed hear the tv on. It sounded like the news. Pushing the door open she asked, “You in here?” She glanced about the room. The TV and ceiling fan were on, bed was a mess but empty. “Where the heck are you..?”

Sarah wondered in the room as the the lady on the news caught her attention. “We've received reports that victims afflicted with the infection show signs of increased aggression and-” she paused as a man hurried over to the other men behind her and started speaking.

“We need to move everybody out of here now. There's a gas leak. Hey! Move!” He shouted the last part to some of the others.

“There seems to be some commotion coming from behi-”

The man from before interrupted and yelled over to her. “Lady get the hell outta here right-” He was cut off as an explosion went off behind them cutting the video feed bringing static to the TV.

“Uh... what was that?” Sarah questioned. Though barely finished the thought when an explosion was heard. She jerked her attention out the window and saw the last bit of fire and the plume of smoke in the air. Staring out the window it took her a moment to recover. But once she did she turned and hurried out of the room. “Dad?!” she called out more panicked than she was before.

The little night light illuminated the stairs as Sarah started downstairs. “What is goin' on?” She could hear police sirens even before they passed by the front of their house. Sarah paused momentarily to watch the three police cars speed by. Once the sound of there sirens past she could hear the sound of dogs barking outside. Walking through the living room to the dining room she stopped as she heard her dad's phone buzzing. Looking over she spotted it on the extra counter-top in the kitchen. “There's his phone.” Her bare feet were chilled as she stepped onto the tiled floor of the kitchen. Picking up the phone she took note of the missed notifications. “Eight missed calls. Where the hell are you? Call me. On my way.” The two texts were from her uncle and she assumed the calls were too. She set the phone down. What was going on?

She noticed the double doors to their den were open. Maybe her dad was there? Sarah was about to call out again when suddenly, one of the dogs that were barking outside let out a whine and fell silent. With a gasp, Sarah hugged herself. She was on edge as she continued towards the open doors. Pushing them open the rest of the way she slowly made her way inside. She glanced around then jumped when someone ran inside from the open slider than quickly turned and closed the door behind them. He was panting heavily. She relaxed a little once she realized it was her dad. “There you are.”

Joel quickly looked over at the sound of her voice. “Sarah. Are you okay?” He bumped against the rolling chair at the desk. He sent a quick glance to the desk next to him before he looked back to Sarah. The second she told him 'yeah', Joel turned to the desk and quickly opened one of the drawers and removed a box setting it on the desk and opened it. “Has anyone come in here?” he asked her with a quick look to his daughter before turned back to the gun case.

“No. Who would come in here?” Sarah asked as she stepped closer. She watched him as he removed the handgun and started to load the ammunition.

“Don't go near the doors. Just...” He sounded panicked. Everything he'd been saying held a sense of panic to it. “Just stand back...”

Sarah was already unnerved and the way her dad was talking and acting was making her a little afraid. And it showed in her voice as she spoke. “Dad, you're kinda freaking me out.” Though she did as she was told and stepped back towards more of the middle of the room, she asked, “What's going on?”

“It's the Coopers. Somethin' ain't right with 'em. I th- I think they're sick.”

“What kind of sick?” She barely finished her question when there was a bang on the glass sliding door Joel had come in from earlier. Sarah let out a startled gasp and took a couple steps back.

“Jesus.” Joel jerked back, gun in hand, and turned his attention to the door. The bloodied man outside hit the door again. “Jimmy!”

“Dad?”

Joel quickly moved over to his daughter. “Honey, c'mere. C'mere.” He protectively kept one arm back by her as she ducked behind him. The man, Jimmy, banged against the glass again. “Jimmy- Jimmy just stay back!” He banged against it again this time the glass shattered and he stumbled and fell inside. “Jimmy I am warning you.”

Sarah whispered, “Oh my god...” As Jimmy scrambled to his feet and charged at them.

“Don't!” Joel shouted in a last attempt to get through to him. Jimmy was barely a foot away from them when Joel pulled the the trigger. Sarah cried out behind him. Blood splattered and Jimmy went down. He writhed for a second before he was still.

Joel started to back up, ushering his daughter to do the same. “Go.” He grabbed Sarah by the wrist and turned around. “Go.” Joel pulled her from the room while she stared in shock at their dead neighbor. He brought them to a stop in the dining room. Joel tucked the handgun in his jeans.

“You... You shot him...”

“Sarah.” Joel rested his hands on her shoulders.

“I saw him this mornin'.”

“Listen to me; there is something bad going on. We have got to get outta here. Do you understand me?”

She sniffled and paused for a second before nodding. “Yeah.”

Headlights shone through the windows. Joel looked up. “Tommy. C'mon.” He took her by the hand. Sarah sent a glance back to the den. “C'mon,” he said again as he coaxed her towards the front door.

“Okay.” She quickly hurried along only to send one more look back as they were reaching the door.

They were barely outside when Tommy spoke up. “Where the hell you been?” He walked around the front of his SUV towards them as they stepped off their deck and headed to his vehicle. “You have any idea what's goin' on out there?”

“I got some notion,” Joel told him.

“Holy shit. You got blood all over you.”

Joel opened the back door of the SUV. “C'mon baby. Go on in there.” Though she didn't need to be told as she was already climbing in. As he shut the door behind her he told his brother, “It ain't mine. Let's just get outta here.”

“They're saying that half the people in the city have lost their minds,” Tommy told him as Joel opened the passenger side door.

“Can we just please go?” Joel said as he got in the car shutting the door behind him.

Tommy continued talking as he headed back around to the drivers side. “Some sort of parasite or somethin'.” Getting in the car he shut the door then turned to his brother and asked, “You gonna tell me what happened?”

“Later.”

That was good enough for him as he started the car back up. “Hey, Sarah,” he started as he backed the car out of Joel's driveway. “How you holdin' up honey?”

“I'm fine.” Once he was done backing up she scootched to the middle seat and rested a hand on the side of her dad's seat. “Can we hear what's on the radio?”

Tommy started driving down the road. “Yeah, sure thing,” he told her as he reached to the dash to turn it on.

“Thanks.”

He fiddled with the dials for a bit before giving up. “No cellphone. No radio. Yeah, we're doin' great. Minute ago newsman wouldn't shut up.”

“They say where to go?” Joel asked.

“He said, ah... Army's puttin' up road blocks on the highway. No gettin' into Travis County.”

“That means we need to get the hell out,” Joel stated. Police sirens were heard as they approached a T intersection. “Take 71.”

“71,” Tommy said it at the same time as Joel, “that's where I'm headed.” He waited for the cops to pass by before heading in the direction they came from.

Sarah spoke up and asked, “Did they say how many were dead?” Joel looked back at her.

“Probably a lot,” Tommy told her. “Found this one family all mangled inside their house.”

Joel turned his attention to him and grabbed his arm. “Tommy.” A warning telling him to stop.

Tommy quickly looked over then glanced back at Sarah. “Right.” He turned back to the road. “Sorry.”

They traveled in silence for a moment before they spotted a car crashed into a street light. “Jesus Christ, how did this happen?”

Pulling onto the dirt road next to the accident, Tommy spoke up. “They got no clue. But we ain't the only town. At first they were saying it was just the South. Now they're going on about the East Coast, the West Coast...” He stopped when he saw a barn house on fire a distance ahead of them. “Holy hell. That's Louis' farm. I hope that son of a bitch made it out.”

Sarah shuffled over to the window and pressed her hands against it as she stared out at the fire as they drove by. “I'm sure he did,” Joel told him. It was an attempt to being a little positive. Since being a doom thinker, or even thinking realistically given the circumstance, with Sarah present was not something he wanted to do. Not right now.

“...Are we sick?” Sarah asked still looking out at the burning building.

“No, of course not,” Joel told her.

“How do you know?”

This time it was Tommy that spoke up. “They said it's just ah, people in the city,” he tried to reassure her. “We're good.”

Sarah turned back to the front. “Didn't Jimmy work in the city?”

There was a slight pause. “That's right he did.”

“We're fine. Trust me,” Joel told her.

“Alright.” She said this softly. She wanted to believe it.

They drove for a bit longer before Tommy slowed slightly as he saw a family on the side of the road. “Let's see what they need.”

Joel turned to him and demanded, “What the hell do you think your doin'? Keep drivin'.”

Tommy sent a look over to his brother. “They got a kid, Joel.”

“So do we,” Joel ground out.

“But we have room,” Sarah spoke up.

The man on the road side waved his arms to get their attention. “Keep drivin', Tommy,” Joel told him. Tommy reluctantly complied. They could hear the man call for them stop. “You ain't seen what I seen. Someone else 'll come along.”

Sarah twisted back in her seat and watched them grow smaller as they got farther away. “... We shoulda helped them.” It fell quiet in the car after that.

It was only a couple minutes later, as they started down hill, that the medical center came into view. Then the sound of a siren sounded as an ambulance pulled out onto the road and flew past them. Sarah watched as it drove by. “Oh, this is bad.” Sarah turned her attention back to the front. There was a line of cars far beyond what they could see. “Everyone and their mother had the same damn idea.”

Joel sighed. “Well... we could just backtrack and-” He stopped as the driver of the car in front of them got out of his vehicle and started hollering at the people stopped farther down. Suddenly, someone wearing a hospital gown charged out of the brush by the road and slammed the man against his car before throwing him to the ground and attacking him. “Holy shit.” It was said under Joel's breath as the scene unfolded. Someone else ran over, also wearing a gown, and clambered inside the car attacking the passenger. “Turn us around. Tommy.” Joel shook his brothers shoulder and shouted his name when one of the attackers started towards their vehicle.

That snapped him out of his shocked state. “Holy shit!” he exclaimed as he quickly switched his SUV in reverse and backing up. Just as he stepped on the gas the man hit against the back drivers side window startling Sarah. “What the fuck just happened – did you see that?” The road they were now on led into the city.

“Yes. I saw it.” Tommy cursed under his breath. Joel pointed off the their left. “Turn here. Turn here.”

Tommy took a sharp turn causing his passengers to brace themselves. Except the road they turned onto had dozens of people running in their direction. Afraid. He slowed down and inched his way forward trying to get through them. “Come on people. Move.”

“What are they running from?” Sarah questioned. She was wary; bordering on afraid. The people were crying out, terrified.

“Get us outta here.”

“I'm tryin',” Tommy told his brother before slamming on his breaks to stop himself from hitting someone.

“We can't stop here Tommy,” Joel stated.

“I can't fuckin' drive through 'em Joel!”

“Then back up then!”

“They're behind me too!”

The amount of people dwindled and the gap between the crashed camper and buildings on the other side was open. “There. There!” Joel shouted as he pointed out the opening.

“Hold on!” Tommy started through the gap. A couple stragglers jumped out of the way of his vehicle. He turned so they were back on the road and about to cross an intersection.

Sarah gasped and shouted, “Look out!” Joel and Tommy had just enough time to look over as a truck came barreling down the road slamming into them.

Joel woke to his daughter shaking his arm and calling quietly out to him. “What..?” There was also the sound of chaos. Opening his eyes the first thing he saw was a crashed truck with two occupants; one dead and the other violently attacking them. Their own vehicle was on its side. “Get back, baby. Get back.” Joel readjusted his position, bracing his hands against the top of the vehicle and lifted his leg, and kicked hard against the already cracked windshield. And again. He grunted in frustration before he kicked it again, this time shattering and knocking it out of the SUV.

Pushing himself up on his elbow, Joel shifted his position before crawling out amongst the people fleeing the chaos. Climbing to his feet, he leaned for a second against the knocked over vehicle before it sounded like someone shouted something before he saw, just in time, the mad man running at him. Joel got pushed back against the SUV by the growling and grunting man. Pressing his forearm against his chest, Joel tried to keep him at a distance while with his other hand deflecting his attempts to hit him. Then suddenly Tommy ran over and slammed a brick in the crazed man face. He was dead as he hit the ground. A look of shocked relief crossed Joel's face. His eyes caught Tommy's as his brother looked back to him before they heard Sarah call out.

Joel quickly ducked down to the front of the vehicle. “I'm here, baby, I'm here. Come on gimme your hand.” She quickly scrambled over and grabbed his hand stumbling slightly as she exited the vehicle. Sarah let out a gasp as she put pressure on her leg and fell against her dad. “What is it?” Joel asked, concerned.

“My leg hurts,” she told him, out of breath and in pain.

Joel slouched slightly to look her in the face. “How bad?”

“Pretty bad.”

“We're gonna need to run,” Tommy called over as he backed away from acting as a lookout.

Turning to where Tommy was watching, Joel muttered, “Oh my god.” Reaching back he grabbed his gun from where he'd tucked it away to earlier and handed it to his brother. “You keep us safe,” he told him. “Come on baby,” he said as he scooped his daughter up in his arms. “Now hold on tight.”

“Okay,” she managed as Joel ran down the street following after Tommy.

There were shouts and screams around them as they ran. The crazed, infected people ran at them dragging people to the ground. Swarming over the ones that stumbled or tripped and fell. “Daddy, I'm scared.”

Tommy shouted to Joel to watch out. Joel took a second to acknowledge the incoming threat who instead went after someone who was drug down by another. “Keep your eyes closed honey,” he said in response to his daughters fear.

A car was seen crashing into the gas station up ahead causing an explosion. Joel held Sarah closer as he and Tommy started down another road. There was a building on fire with people starting to shamble out. “Those people are on fire...”

“Don't look, Sarah. Just keep looking at me baby.” If she wasn't going to shut her eyes the best he could do was try to keep her focused on him instead of the chaos around them.

Tommy came to a stop in front of a fire truck that was stopped blocking the road. He glanced about for a second before pointing over to the front of the truck where there was a gap. “Over there!” They continued on. Tommy, however, jerked to a halt as a couple cars crashed into each other.

Joel continued talking to his daughter. Continued to try to reassure her. “We're gonna get outta this. I promise.”

As they started to approach the theater at the end of the street they could clearly see the fire emitting from a car before it exploded. Tommy shouted back to Joel, “Get back! There's too many of 'em.” Tommy quickly spotted another path and waved them over. “This way! Through the alley!” he called over as he hurried to the alley and pushed open the iron gate holding it open for his brother.

Joel ran through the open door and past his brother. Once the alley opened up more, Joel noticed movement in his peripheral. He acted quickly. Turning, he dropped Sarah's legs and raised his now free arm to block their incoming assailant with his forearm; much like he's done before. His attacker flailed and hit him in the back before Tommy kicked the man back causing him to fall to the ground. Tommy rushed over, stepped on his chest, and shot him in the head. “He's dead,” he told Joel.

“Jesus,” Joel muttered under his breath. Quickly, he scooped Sarah back up in his arms and followed after his brother. “We're almost there. We're almost there, baby.” Her grip tightened slightly.

They kept moving down the zigzag of the alley. They spotted a fenced wall with three infected men on the other side trying to get through. But according to Tommy they were succeeding, though Joel couldn't see where and wasn't about to stop to look. The alley ended on the next turn. Ahead of them was a dead end. There were a couple large dumpsters and to their right there looked to be outdoor seating for a restaurant. “C'mon!” Tommy ran up the few steps towards the side-door to the diner. “Joel! Move it!” The second Joel got inside with Sarah, Tommy turned to swing the door closed. But the three guys from behind the fence reached the door and stuck their arms through. They were pushing and swinging their arms around trying to grab him. “Get to the highway!”

Joel turned to face him. “What?” He didn't want to leave him in the midst of this.

“Go,” he insisted. “You got Sarah! I can out run 'em!”

“Uncle Tommy!” There was fear in her voice. She's seen enough; she didn't want him to be left behind. She didn't want him to die.

Joel hesitated for a second. Before he concluded that he was right. He had to worry about Sarah.  And Tommy was quick. ...But so were the crazed infected people. “I will meet you there.” He told him this with the tone that said 'you better be there.'

“Hurry!” Tommy called after them as Joel moved through the restaurant to get to he front doors.

Sarah was on the verge of tears as Joel pushed through the door. “Daddy, we can't leave him.”

“He's gonna be fine,” he tried to reassure her. They stepped out to a parking area. There was a wall surrounding the property. Part of the smaller portion of the wall was broken and easy to pass through. Joel crossed the parking lot trying to ignore the man getting mauled by one of the infected people. They were on a dirt path that wound towards the highway. “We're almost there.”

They could hear the infected man behind them. “They're gettin' closer.”

A tipped over ambulance laid on the side of the path. As they passed by Joel saw a paramedic crawling out, grunting and groaning in that non-normal way. He hurried onward up the hill. They were getting closer. He could hear them. Were they going to make?

Suddenly, there was gunfire from an automatic weapon. Sarah hid her face in Joel's shoulder as she screamed out and Joel twisted away trying to keep her out of harms way and held her closer. There was a light flashing at them. Joel looked over once the gunfire ended. There stood a soldier. Turning back to his daughter he said, “It's okay, baby.” She lifted her head. “We're safe. We're safe.” He was out of breathe. All that running and finally, finally they were going to be okay. “Hey!” he called out to the soldier. “We need help.”

“Stop!” The man lifted a hand signaling for them to stop.

“Please.” Joel started a slow, worn approach. “It's my daughter. I think her legs broken.”

The soldier pointed his gun at them. “Stop right there!”

Joel froze. “Okay...” He took a couple slow steps back. “We're not si-sick.”

He spoke into his radio. “Got a couple of civilians in the outer perimeter. Please advise.”

“Daddy, what about Uncle Tommy?” Sarah asked her dad though not looking away from the other man.

Joel sent a quick glance to her, wary of what was going on, before turning his attention to her and saying, “We're gonna get you to safety and go back for him. Okay?” She looked up at him for a moment but when the soldier spoke again they both turned their attention back to him.

“Sir, there's a little girl.” Joel tensed slightly. “But...” The soldier gave a slight sigh. “Yes Sir.”

“Listen, buddy, we've just been through hell.” There was a tenseness to his voice as well. Though it held a bit of desperation as he continued. “Okay, we just need-” He abruptly cut his sentence short as the soldier lifted his rifle. “Oh, shit.” Just as he started to turn away the soldier opened fire. They both cried out and Joel unintentionally dropped his daughter and they went tumbling down the hill.

Joel groaned as he rolled onto his back, a hand to his side. He scrunched himself up slightly as the soldier came down he hill. The light on the rifle blinding him as he looked up. He pleaded with him. “Please, don't.”

Suddenly a shot fired and the soldier's head jerked as blood splattered. Joel watched in shock as he fell to the ground. He lifted his gaze to see Tommy walking over. Tommy gave him a quick nod before he stopped in his tracks; his eyes looked past Joel. “Oh no...”

That's when Joel heard it. The crying. Joel twisted back to look. “Sarah!” Quickly, he crawled over on hands and knees to his crying daughters side. Sarah had her hands pressed to her bloody side. “Move your hands baby.” But she wasn't. He took one of them and she immediately reached up to him with her other. Her gasping cries. Her fear and pain. “I know, baby. I know...” Joel pressed his hands to her wound. “Listen to me. I know this hurts, baby.” She grabbed onto his arm. “You're gonna be okay, baby. Stay with me.” Sarah needed help. Help he couldn't give her. He needed to get her help. “Alright. I'm gonna pick you up.” She cried out. “I know baby. I know it hurts.” Joel looked to Tommy, desperate. “Come on, baby. Please.” Tommy slowly slumped down to his knees. “I know, baby. I know.” Why was he giving up? They had to help Sarah. They... Suddenly there was silence.

Joel looked down to his daughter. “Sarah...” Her eyes were open, but she was quiet. He gripped her hand. “Baby...” He rocked her in his arms. “Don't do this to me, baby. Don't do this to me, baby girl. Come on...” Lowering his head, broken sobs wrecked through him. “No. no...” Joel pulled her close and held onto to her. “Oh no, no, no... Please.” He sat, holding her, rocking back and forth. “Oh, God. Please, please, don't do this. Please, God...”

Joel stopped talking then. He just cried, holding his daughter's body.

[ferrethyun]

He’s my soulmate, unfortunately | Chapter 3

{Requests are open!}

Summary | Previous | You are here | Next

The sun was strong against Y/n’s eyelids, he didn’t want to get up but his alarm begged the difference. He knew he had to get up, check his phone and get on with his day; he sat up in his bed and let out a groan as he rubbed at his sleep-filled eyes. His vision slightly lagged as he looked around for his phone, eventually finding the piece of metal and glass face down on his bedside table. After turning his alarm off, Y/n scrolled through all of his notifications, twitter, Instagram and text messages formed a chaotic image on his screen. His heart now racing in alarm, the idol quickly unplugged his phone from where it was charging and unlocked it while scrambling out of bed. 

Y/n stood there as his stomach dropped deep when he spotted a notification from his manager. He was quick to navigate to his messages with sweaty hands and opened the dreaded conversation; on his screen sat the message “There better be a good explanation for this.” alongside two screenshots of articles. Said articles presented the theory that he and Yoongi were potential soulmates. While they weren’t wrong, Y/n knew that there was only going to be repercussions from this, for him and his soulmate “Shit…” Y/n growled out slightly, a hand going to grip at his hair, “Shit! Shit! Shit!”

It took him all his strength to not throw his phone across the room in anger, anger that questioned how stupid he really could be to let this one thing that seemed small, but was huge, slip. The leader quickly changed into some cleaner clothing, shoved his phone in his pocket,  washed his face and brushed his teeth before heading downstairs as fast as his feet would carry him. He rushed through the doorway of the kitchen, barely having time to greet his fellow members with nothing more than “Mornin’” before his phone went off again. This time it wasn’t a text message but the anxiety-inducing sounds of a phone call coming through; he knew it was his manager by the song that played out, their debut song. Y/ns hands started sweating once again as he pulled his phone out, pressed the answer call button and raised it to his ear “Hello manager-nim…” Y/ns tone was hesitant and anxiety-ridden.

“I’m going to save the majority of what I would like to say for the car journey, but….” Came the voice of his manager through the line, “I am on my way to you, you are to be out here in one minute. We are going to Bighit’s HQ now to get this mess sorted out.”

Y/n couldn’t help but gulp at the older males tone, knowing exactly why they were going to the building mentioned: “I’m sorry manager-nim…”

“You should be!” Came a gruff response, heard by all the members due to the volume of their manager's voice, “You’re so lucky that I managed to get an appointment set out so soon. Tell the others that they are still to go to practice today, no excuses.”

And with that, the call was cut. Y/n lowered his phone and looked at it baffled; after relaying the message to his group mates, the leader rushed off to put his face mask and shoes on to their respective body parts, his heart leaping when he receives another text from his manager. Ignoring it, he rushed out of the apartment and down the building stairs, the apartment wasn’t that many floors up anyways. Y/n clambered into the van that sat in front of the building and quickly strapped himself in, avoiding all eye contact possible with the other male in the car.

 Not even one second after setting off did their manager speak up “What the hell have you done Y/n?” His tone was irritated, “First the radio interview, which spiked enough interest as it is, then you argue with your brothers and now this?! I told you not to do anything idiotic on your vlive and what do you go and do? This!”

Y/n wanted to cry but he wouldn’t. He couldn’t, that would just set the older male in the car off even more.

The younger male hung his head, his hands clasped together in his lap “I didn’t mean to start an argument... If you could even call it an argument. I’m sorry, I genuinely am. I didn’t mean to snap at them or create such a mess…” Y/n barely managed out, still avoiding all eye contact. He could hear his manager let out an angered huff of air as he typed away at his phone. Before anything else could happen, the car came to a stop.

The idol looked out the window to see hundreds of paparazzi and reporters waiting outside of the Bighit building. He glanced at his manager and only received a look that read “I’m pissed off at you but brace yourself”. Y/n nodded and adjusted his face mask as his manager opened the van door; then all hell broke loose. As the two abandoned the safety of the van, thousands upon thousands of camera flashes surrounded them alongside inaudible questions from reporters and screaming words of antis. The two males barely manage to escape the narrow path and into the foyer of the building with no scrapes or scratches; once in the foyer, Y/n followed his manager to the desk where they exchanged quick, hushed greetings. The female informed the two that Bang would see them now and to head up to the fourth floor and into the first door on their right.

Both males thanked the lady and headed into a nearby lift and up to the fourth floor. Once on their floor, they headed out and to the first door that was on their right-hand side. As they approached the door, Y/n could hear a male behind the door talking about something, what it was he couldn’t make out but he didn’t sound happy at all. As his manager knocked on the wooden door, the angry voice fell silent.

“Come in please!” Came a different voice, much older by the sound of it.

The leader followed behind his manager, who entered first, bowing respectfully as he entered the room. Y/n lifted himself into an upright position and let his eyes explore the visuals of the room, it was your standard meeting room with some plants here and there, a long table with chairs and Min Yoongi. 

‘Wait…’ Y/n thought, ‘Min Yoongi?!” 

His eyes ventured further to meet the eyes of the one and only Bang Sihyuk and again to his manager. As the reality of the situation came crashing down on Y/n, he couldn’t help but let the one word that ran through his mind slip past his lips; 

“Fuck.”

[just-existing1]

14 Days of College AUs!

Pairing: Housemate! Rocky x Reader

Warnings: Second Hand Embarrassment

Summary: You and Rocky live together with your other musical housemates. One morning, you decide to listen to Rocky sing, the only problem is he’s in the shower and you’re standing outside the door, like a weirdo. 

Word Count: Almost 2000

You shifted around under your blanket as you tried to reclaim the dream you were going to inevitably lose. After a few minutes of laying there you give up and stretch before sitting up. Grabbing your phone, you lose yourself in scrolling through your social medias. A notification pops up at the top of your phone and you hold it with your thumb before opening the message.

You trudge down the hallway to the bathroom and after washing your hands you make your way to the kitchen. Seeing food out on the counter for you, you being eating. Humming with happiness as you lean against the counter, you pull out your phone and scroll through your unread text messages. Upon seeing a message in one of your group chats you hold the spoon in your mouth while tapping on your screen, texting the group that you were assigned to in your course. Answering the questions you knew the answers to and emailing the professor about the ones that you didn’t. You glanced down at your plate and sat the spoon down before jogging upstairs to grab your backpack. When you came back down you took your bag and your food to the living room and sat on the floor, your things on the table in front of you. You began working on homework that would be do once the weekend was over as you ate your food.

Before you knew it, you could hear a soft melody floating through your house. The sound grabbed your attention as you sat back on your elbows to see down the hallway, wondering if MJ was coming down to join you for breakfast. Upon not seeing any one walking toward you, your eyebrow arched in confusion. Of course, all of your housemates were musically inclined and sang a lot but as far as you know only you and Rocky were awake. You rose to your feet and wandered down the hall slowly, letting yourself be pulled by the voice. You came to a stop outside the bathroom and mentally smacked yourself as you listened to Rocky sing. You knew he could, so why didn’t it cross your mind that he sang in the shower like most people?

The song on his phone switches and you hear G-Dragon’s voice flow smoothly and combine with Rocky’s beautiful vocals. You let yourself lean on the wall outside the bathroom lost in the mini concert you were receiving. Closing your eyes, you sighed softly, smiling to no one in particular as Rocky’s voice began to overpower G-Dragon. You heard feet shuffling down the stairs and took off down the hall tripping on the carpet and started laughing hard as you laid on your back.

“Yah! Y/N, what happened?” Jin Jin questions as he bends over you and you try to breathe but you can’t seem to stop laughing long enough to take in any oxygen. You point to the corner of the carpet as you sit up and hold your stomach, slowing your laughing down slightly enough to start breathing again.

“You seriously tripped over the carpet?” Moonbin starts laughing as he sees the tears streaming down your face which prompts you to start laughing again.

“Are you okay?” You turn your head to face Rocky as he stands there with a towel draped across his shoulders. His eyes are wide as he walks over to you and turns your ankle in his hands. You hold back a wince before removing your leg from his grasp gently.

“Yeah, I just fell. The only thing that is hurting is my pride,” You joke and turn to the table to start eating and working on your project again. A large blush rushed over your cheeks at the thought of them figuring out why you were sprinting down the hall in the first place.

.

You sighed as you sat on the couch. While you had hid the fact that you had hurt your ankle this morning when you fell, you were now suffering from the pain. After walking on it all day back and forth across campus, it hurt immensely. Propping yourself up on your elbows as the front door opens, you see Rocky come in and then look down at the purple and yellow bruise that adorned your ankle. How could you hide it? Panicked, you sweep your eyes around the room and see your salvation, a blanket that had been left behind by one of the seven of you that lived in the house. You throw your legs over the edge of the couch and start to get up but hands on your shoulders stop you.

“Don’t even think about it. This is why I wanted to look at your ankle this morning, you loser.  Now, look how inflamed it is,” Rocky groans as he leaves the room and then comes back with an ice pack and a wrap. He kneels in front of you and holds your foot gingerly. Placing the ice pack on he wraps it, making sure that it isn’t going to fall off. Running his hand through his hair, he sits back against the table, meeting your eyes.

“So, are you finally going to tell me what made you fall this morning? You’re not clumsy enough to just trip over the carpet.”

“I um… I wasn’t paying attention to where I was and my foot got caught. That’s all.”

“You’re a pretty bad liar. There had to be something. I mean, it was all quiet and then I hear running and a huge thud,” Rocky says smirking as he played the sound in his head, “So, what freaked you out enough that you had to run into the living room?”

“Fine… I’ll tell you but you can’t laugh at me,” You mumble glancing away from him.

“Promise,” Rocky took your hand, intertwining your pinkies and pressing your thumbs together. You pulled your hand tucking it in your jacket pocket.

“I was listening to you sing, because your voice is so pretty. Then, I heard everyone coming down stairs and I didn’t want them to laugh at me,” You bit your lip, heat rising to your cheeks.

“So, you ran… and fell,” Rocky finishes the story for him and out of the corner of your eye you can see him bite back a smile.

“HEY! You promised you wouldn’t laugh at me!” You cry out, pouting at his blatant failure to keep his promise.

“I’m sorry, Y/N, it’s just so cute,” He stands up and hugs you tightly, “But next time, if you ever want to hear me sing, you don’t have to stand outside the door while I shower. I’ll sing for you any time you want.”

A small decorates your face as you watch him vanish down the hall, leaving you to lounge on the couch. You lay back, closing your eyes and take a deep breath. As you begin to slip in and out of consciousness, you hear it. Rocky’s beautiful voice carrying down the hallway once again, this time, to lull you to sleep.